Wind Burned Eyes

What Motorcycle Travel Teaches You About Packing Light

Saddlebags are not very big. That constraint, which seems like a problem at first, turns out to be one of the more useful things motorcycle travel hands you.

The first time most people pack for a motorcycle trip, they overpack. They bring everything they’d bring for a car trip and then discover that none of it fits. The second time, they start editing. By the third trip, they’ve usually figured out most of what felt essential the first time wasn’t.

Saddlebags are not very big. That constraint, which seems like a problem at first, turns out to be one of the more useful things motorcycle travel hands you.

BMW’s R 1300 GS Aurum Edition Packs Every Factory Option

BMW Motorrad has built exactly 100 units of the R 1300 GS Aurum Edition for the Dutch market. The name comes from the Latin word for gold, and the bike wears gold spoked wheels, gold accents throughout, and an Alcantara saddle over a Triple Black base colorway.

Each example carries a numbered “XX of 100” badge on the handlebars. BMW also included the Touring, Dynamic, and Innovation accessory packages as standard equipment rather than optional add-ons.

Kawasaki Confirms Z650 S and Z900 for 2027

Kawasaki has confirmed the Z650 S and Z900 will return for the 2027 model year, keeping its naked bike lineup intact across the middleweight segment.

The Z650 S reaches dealers in September with prices starting at £7,099. Three color schemes will be offered, including a Candy Persimmon Red over Metallic Carbon Gray option and a Pearl Blizzard White with Ebony and Candy Lime Green combination.

What Can-Am’s Origin Discount Means for Electric Trail Riders

Can-Am is giving its first electric motorcycles a much lower entry point, but the offer is tied to older inventory and expires at the end of August. The 2026 Origin now starts at $11,499, while some remaining 2025 models qualify for a $4,000 rebate and a $1,500 accessory credit.

RideApart reported the promotion on August 31, 2026, after finding the incentives listed by Can-Am. The discount applies to eligible 2025 Pulse and Origin motorcycles in the United States, making the semi-off-road Origin the more interesting case for riders who want electric power away from daily traffic.

Best Adventure/Dual-Sport Helmets for 2026

Adventure helmets need to handle pavement, gravel, and everything in between. Here are the best dual-sport helmets for 2026.

Adventure helmets need to handle pavement, gravel, and everything in between, which makes them one of the more demanding categories to design well. Helmet technology keeps moving too — GoPro’s helmet camera patent shows where integrated features might be headed. Here are the best dual-sport helmets for 2026, each verified as genuinely built for on and off-road use, with a full review linked for every pick.

Quick Answer: The Arai XD-4 is the best adventure helmet overall for 2026, with a proven track record for on and off-road versatility. For riders on a budget, the GMAX AT-21 delivers solid ADV features at a fraction of the price.

Norton Reveals 2026 Atlas Adventure Bike

Norton has entered the middleweight adventure market with the 2026 Atlas, a 585cc twin aimed at riders who want touring equipment without moving into the biggest ADV class. The world launch took place in Iceland, where Australian Motorcycle News tested the new bike on paved roads and rougher tracks.

The parallel-twin engine produces a claimed 69 horsepower at 9,300 rpm and 42 pound-feet of torque at 7,300 rpm. A 270-degree crank gives the Atlas its character, while the 188-kilogram quoted wet weight, without fuel, keeps it close to several established middleweight rivals.

What Bultaco’s Rally GT 300 Means for Small ADVs

Bultaco is returning to petrol power with the Rally GT 300, a small adventure motorcycle developed with fellow Spanish company Leonart. Motorcycle News reports that the bike is now available to reserve in Europe for €3,999, while UK pricing and availability remain unconfirmed.

The name carries history, but the mechanical package is thoroughly modern and shared with the Leonart Rally 300. That puts a liquid-cooled 292cc single, Bosch fuel injection, a six-speed gearbox, and claimed outputs of 28 horsepower and 25 Nm of torque under the Bultaco bodywork.

Droog Moto’s UNIT-1 Reworks the Onyx RCR as an E-Moto

Droog Moto has unveiled the UNIT-1, a one-off electric motorcycle built from the Onyx RCR platform. The collaboration leaves little of the original machine untouched, turning Onyx’s compact electric bike into a much more aggressive [custom motorcycle build](https://windburnedeyes.com/custom-1976-bultaco-340-tss-by-jets-forever/).

The reveal appeared on August 30, 2026, with Droog handling the redesign and Onyx supplying the RCR foundation. It is the first electric motorcycle project from the custom builder, which has previously focused on combustion-powered motorcycles.

ZXMoto’s 820X ADV Packs a 117-HP Triple

ZXMoto has revealed the production 820X ADV, a three-cylinder adventure motorcycle that trades the stacked headlights of last year’s EICMA concept for a wider fairing and side-by-side lamps. The Chinese brand is still building its European footprint, but this machine also appears aimed at riders who want a large adventure bike without the usual price tag.

Type-approval details reported by Visordown point to an 818cc inline-three producing about 117 horsepower, along with electronic suspension, adaptive cruise control, an E-clutch, and front and rear cameras. The report places the Chinese price near €6,100, although taxes, shipping, and local equipment would change the final figure.

What Moto Guzzi’s New Factory Means for Riders

Moto Guzzi will open its redeveloped factory and new museum in Mandello del Lario, Italy, during GMG Moto Guzzi World Days 2026. The event runs from September 3 through 6 and also marks the company’s 105th anniversary.

The site remains in the same location where Moto Guzzi has built motorcycles continuously since 1921. This new facility expands the historic footprint with updated production areas, visitor spaces, a Motoplex Store, a café, and rooms for workshops and events.