Wind Burned Eyes

Inside Marc Wilmington’s 2009 Ducati Hypermotard Raptor Build

Ducati introduced the Hypermotard 1100 in 2007 as a supermoto-style machine with a 1078cc air-cooled Desmo V-twin. Pierre Terblanche designed it to combine supermoto agility with a heavier, torquey V-twin character.

The 1100S was the up-spec version with improved suspension, brakes, and forged Marchesini wheels. MCN described the original as having a “pathological penchant for wheelies.”

Marc Wilmington, a UK builder who has owned more than 30 motorcycles since a teenage Suzuki TS50X, chose a 2009 Hypermotard 1100S for his first full custom build. He wanted something that looked like a manufacturer concept before the boardroom watered it down.

Marc Wilmington Raptor Ducati Hypermotard 1100S studio shot — Photo: Marc Wilmington, via BikeBound.

Zero Motorcycles Adds DC Fast Charging to Bikes Back to 2022

Zero Motorcycles has confirmed that Level 3 DC fast charging is coming to its Street and Dual Sport lineup in late 2027. The bigger news is that the CCS port and charging module will also be retrofittable on models dating back to 2022.

That means thousands of existing Zero owners could upgrade their bikes rather than buying new ones to get faster charging. The system targets a 20 to 80 percent charge in under 30 minutes, a meaningful jump from the current Rapid Charge System’s 45-minute window.

Could Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 440 Fill the 411’s Shoes?

Royal Enfield is bringing back a simpler kind of adventure bike. The Himalayan 440 launches in India on September 4, 2026, filling the gap left when the original 411 went out of production in 2023.

It uses the same 443cc air- and oil-cooled single-cylinder engine from the Scram 440. Output is 25.4 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 34 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.

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.