Evel Knievel Motorcycle 

If the Motorcycle Radio Network guys, Bill and Todd, were wine afficionados, you might hear them say that 2009 was a very good year. Come to think of it, you'll probably hear them say that anyway... The motorcycle manufacturers have brought out some amazing motorcycles this year, but Bill has pointed at one all year as his favorite, and to nobody's surprise that motorcycle is a Harley-Davidson.

Ultimate Motorcycling online siphoned one from Harley-Davidson's demo pool and goes all out this week with an extra special Real Time Road Test.  We go to the super secret M1 test facility on Harley-Davidson's modernized retro tribute to its dirt-track racing roots, the XR1200 Sportster. Disproving the myth that it never rains in California, our favorite test editor gears up, connects the Cardo Scala Rider wireless headset and tells us whether this street legal standard Sportster lives up to its racing heritage.

To nobody's surprise, the discussion takes a turn to the new Harley's roots, including the all-conquering XR750 that continues to dominate dirt tracks around the US and is better known as Evel Knievel's steed of choice for all his famous motorcycle jumps. Mike obviously spent far too much time watching Evel as a kid (didn't we all?) and decided that the best way to finish the test was by setting up a ramp and using Harley-Davidson's own loaner XR1200 to jump over two buses!

Don't miss our best Real Time Road Test yet - Here is our impression of Harley-Davidson's new XR1200!

Listen: Harley-Davidson XR1200 Review