The past year has had its share of great motorcycle launches, and while we can’t quite go out riding the way we used to yet, the market is rife with options for when we can finally get out there. We’re taking a quick look at some of the best bikes you can get your hands on right now, so you can plan your next two-wheeled adventure.
Yamaha XSR155
Regardless of your feelings on the style, you have to agree that Yamaha knew what they were doing when they designed this bike. Borrowing heavily from the XSR 900’s sport heritage look with strong cafe racer vibes, the 155 might be the most practical XSR in the line for Metro riding.
LED lights and an LCD gauge cluster give it a modern feel, while the classic seat styling, old-school tank, and heritage design details give it that unmistakably classic look.
Its solid single cylinder, liquid-cooled, 155cc engine gives it reliability and power, and the 6-speed manual transmission with slipper clutch lets you downshift with no worries. The deltabox frame, upside-down forks, and aluminum swing arm all come together to give you a bike that rides just as good as it looks.
Suzuki Raider J Crossover
The Raider J Crossover is an interesting bike. With dimensions and features that make it a fit for the riding conditions in the Philippines, it’s a vehicle that’s built with the Filipino rider in mind. With spoked wheels and a generous 156mm of road clearance, it’s made to be able to handle bad city roads, as well as the kind of rough, unpaved roads one might encounter away from the cities.
A seat height of 775mm is comfortable even for shorter riders, and a narrow, elevated seat puts you in a comfortable position with space to move. Double tube rear suspension absorbs the bumps well, and the 113cc fuel-injected electric and kick starter engine gives you reliability and a great balance between power and fuel economy.
Honda AirBlade 150
On the market for a scooter that’s more on the edgy side? Take a look at Honda’s AirBlade 150. The scooter is a zippy 150cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke single with Honda’s special sauce, notably their PGM-FI system, and the ACG starter. The scoot delivers a maximum of 12.9hp and 13.3Nm of torque, comes with ABS, a side-stand switch, and a massive 22.7liter utility box, making it the perfect candidate for a city scoot. Additional conveniences include a fuel fill cap that lets you top up without having to lift the seat, a USB outlet, and a smart key system for keyless ignition.
The styling is also top-notch, with lines that give it a toned-down X-ADV look that’s as great to see as it is to be seen on. Overall, it’s a neat little scooter that looks great, has the performance to back it up, and a great match for city roads.
KTM Duke 790
The KTM Duke 790 is a monster of a bike. With the great street carving characteristics of the Duke series and a massive 790cc, liquid-cooled thumper that can hold its own against liter bikes.
There’s also a lot of tech in this bike. With features such as a full-color TFT display for all your bike information, a four-way adjustable handlebar, and even track mode for smile-inducing launches and performance, this bike is everything you could ever want, condensed into a single-cylinder bike.
With maximum output of 103hp and 87Nm of torque, as well as a quickshift-enhanced 6-speed gearbox, you’ll have a whole lot of motorcycle to play with. What really makes the Duke 790 great though, is that it’s now also proudly made in KTM’s Laguna plant.
Words by Ren Alcantara
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE September 2020 Issue