The Last Word Archives - Motorcycle Mojo

Future Technologies

First, a confession of sorts. Back when the world was young and bikes wore carburetors, I wrote my engineering thesis on anti-lock brakes for motorcycles. I was 21 years old and, like all callow...

Powerful Innovations

The V3R has landed. Or, at least, has almost landed, with Honda gracing this year’s EICMA show — the most important motorcycle exposition in the world — with a fully finished example of its...

Riding in Italy

As you can see from that incredible Bimota on the cover, I spent some time in Italy this summer. Actually, truth be told, I spend some time every summer in Italy and it’s specifically because of...

The EV’s Future

Did Donald Trump just kill the electric motorcycle That’s not a rhetorical question. Or even, believe it or not, an inflammatory one. It’s a serious question for which — loyal readers prepare...

A Milestone Like No Other

A few days before I wrote this column in late May, Honda announced it had built its 500 millionth motorcycle. Yes, half a billion bikes. That’s five followed by eight zeros, with a bunch of commas...

OCD to the Rescue

You don’t find many true motorcycle artisans anymore. Oh, Alan Millyard can seemingly craft a V12 superbike out of some junkyard 50-cc minibike engines and there are countless East Indian YouTube...

What’s Next?

If you’ve read The Last Word at all lately, you’re probably aware that electric motorcycles have been an unmitigated failure so far. Unlike the auto industry, where the EVs have established...

Motorcycle Subscription Model

Whether we like it or not, modernity is coming for motorcycles. You can curse Gen Z’s addiction to all things cellular and deride anyone who needs an iPhone while riding as less than a...

Energy Density Fail

I’ve made much of late of the fact that electric motorcycles don’t work very well for serious motorcyclists. Oh, electric scooters are most assuredly a good idea, especially if they’re built...

Clutch Evolution

We motorcyclists seem to be on a quest for the perfect clutch. At least that’s the lesson I’m gleaning from the spate of (semi) automatic gearboxes that have been unleashed these last few years....

What’s Become of MotoGP?

MotoGP has become as boring as snot. An even worse insult: it’s become as boring as Formula 1. The recent Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi — a hard-braking track normally noted for exciting passing...

Increase Your Riding Time

I think I’ve hit the trifecta. No, not the horses. Nor have I surreptitiously won the MotoGP championship, the WSBK title and Daytona 200. I’m a never-was when it comes to racing and I’d sooner...