Categories
Bite Tests

Bite Test: 2020 Star 8 Avant

After my experience with Star 8’s Dart e-Scooter (https://youtu.be/oqOnUL5szQ8), I was receiving messages here in YT and FB if the Dart EV was street-legal in the Philippines.

Turns out to be, I was not aware that the Dart EV is NOT a street-legal scooter!!! (Kinda violating my code of riding/driving all things street-legal, lol.)

So, this Avant according to the Land Transportation Office in the Philippines is STREET-LEGAL. Then this is my first ‘street-legal’ Star 8 EV motorcycle/scooter, what joy! (sarcasm)

How does this 1.5kW street-legal version differ compared to the non-street-legal 1kW Dart from my previous ‘Bite Test?’ Will the Avant be competent enough to keep up the average Southeast Asian traffic sphere? Time to check it out and see!

[NOT AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA]

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XRt

The Middleweight Adventure Bike category is growing as one of the fastest motorcycle genres right now!

One of the pioneers in this class is the Triumph Tiger 800 series! On its 3rd generation and accompanying the newbie for 2020, the Tiger 900. Along with the recently revamped Tiger 1200 & Scrambler 1200, Triumph continues the onslaught on this genre!

The Tiger-8 I had the opportunity to ‘Taste Test’ is their top-spec on its XR line, the XRt is their flagship Adventure-Touring (road-biased) bike. On the other end of the spectrum, Triumph also offers the Adventure-Dirt (offroad-biased) XC line.

By far, I still haven’t ridden a bad Triumph yet (675 Street Triple R, Bonneville Speedmaster 1200, & 1050 Speed Triple RS). Will this Tiger 800 XRt continue the streak? Here’s what I think of it.

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2020 TVS XL100 Premium

There is a difference between wants and needs. For example, a brand-new smartphone and basic transportation.

No bike blurs the lines between the two better than this India-made moped, the TVS XL100 series! Since the Philippines never got the awesome Honda Cub/Super Cub series, this is the closest thing the country can get!

For a bit over US$730 / PHP37,000, you can say goodbye to your daily commute and enjoy the life of motorcycling! The XL100 is more of a utilitarian bike than others in its class and that makes it special.

I’ve been waiting a long time wanting to ride this affordable moped, what do I think about it?

[NOT AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA]

Categories
Taste Tests

Taste Test: 2019 Royal Enfield Classic 500 (base)

Are you sick and tired of seeing all the modern bikes roaming the streets these days? Do you just want to ride an honest, simple, mecha-analog machine on two-wheels?

Well, here’s your bike! This is the Royal Enfield Classic 500, a British brand made in India. I think this might be the closest thing to an old-school as you can get in 2020!

This will be my first-ever time to ride a motorcycle as analog as this one! So I keep an open mind as I look around this classically-designed motorcycle!

I’m just excited to ride bikes like these, as what I always say: #AllBikesMatter, any bike I ride provides a unique experience. This bike is no different!