Featured Ride · Voting open

You Pick the Bike.We Ride It.

The spec sheet tells you horsepower, seat height and tank size. It won’t tell you what your back says at mile 300, how the bike feels two-up in a crosswind, or whether you’d still want it after a month of real life. So we’re going to find out, and you decide which bike goes first.

Live leaderboard

The Bikes Listeners Want Ridden First.

#1

BMW Motorrad

#2

Triumph

#3

Ducati

The order can still change. Your favorite isn’t on the board yet? One vote puts it there.

Order from listener votes as of October 21, 2026.

How the Featured Ride works

Four Steps. One Verdict.

You vote.

Pick the brand and model you want us to ride, and tell us why.

We ask the manufacturer.

The top picks go to the brands as press-bike requests, with your votes as proof people want it.

We live with it.

Commutes, highway miles, back roads and a full weekend away. No staged photo laps.

Everyone hears the verdict.

It airs on NextWave radio first, then the full road test lands here.

Find your type

What Kind of Rider Are You?

Every rider has a type. Find yours, then vote for the bike your crew would actually buy.

The Adventurer

Pavement ends, the fun starts. Think BMW GS, KTM Adventure, Triumph Tiger, Honda Africa Twin.

The Tourer

500-mile days with the music on. Think Honda Gold Wing, BMW RT, Harley-Davidson and Indian baggers.

The Sport Rider

Corners first, coffee second. Think Ducati Panigale, Yamaha R-series, Kawasaki Ninja, Aprilia, MV Agusta.

The Cruiser

Low, loud and in no hurry. Think Harley-Davidson, Indian, Triumph Rocket 3.

The Modern Classic

Old-school looks, new-school reliability. Think Royal Enfield, Triumph Bonneville, Moto Guzzi, BMW R nineT.

The Electric Early Adopter

Instant torque, zero gas stations. Think Zero Motorcycles and Energica.

Cast Your Vote: What Should We Ride First?

Brand, model and one line on why. That’s it. The more votes a bike gets, the stronger our case to the manufacturer.

    Make your vote count twice: share this page and tag the manufacturer. Brands notice when riders ask for them by name.

    The 30-Day Truth

    Three Episodes. One Verdict.

    A test drive tells you what something is like for 20 minutes. We tell you what it’s like to own it. Miss an episode and you miss the twist.

    Day 1

    First look

    The unboxing, the setup, the honeymoon, and the first thing that surprised us.

    Day 7

    Real life

    The commute, the quirks, and what the brochure skipped.

    Day 30

    The verdict

    Would we buy it with our own money? Crank It, Keep It On or Skip It.

    What we’ll put it through

    Real Miles. Real Answers.

    • A highway day long enough to find out if the seat is a friend or an enemy
    • Back roads, stop-and-go traffic, and a parking lot U-turn test
    • Real fuel or battery range, measured, not quoted
    • Wind, heat, and rain if the weather cooperates (or doesn’t)
    • Luggage, passenger comfort, and phone and comms setup
    • The one thing that annoyed us most, because there’s always one
    How we score

    Three Verdicts. No Fence-Sitting.

    Never stars. Never 4.3 out of 5. Every product we test earns one of three verdicts, and we tell you why.

    Crank It

    Top pick. We’d buy it with our own money.

    Turn it up

    Keep It On

    Good, with trade-offs we spell out so you can decide.

    Worth a listen
    Want to ride it too?

    Stay Tuned for the Ride-Along.

    A NextWave listener may get the chance to experience the Featured Ride bike as well. Details, eligibility and official rules will be announced once the first bike is confirmed. Vote now and tick the updates box so you don’t miss the announcement.

    Motorcycle manufacturers

    Your Riders Are Asking.

    We’ve invited leading brands to provide press bikes for extended evaluation, including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle, KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas, Royal Enfield, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, Moto Morini, CFMoto, Benelli, QJMotor, MV Agusta, Zero Motorcycles, Energica and Can-Am.

    Your bike gets 30 days of real-world riding, original photos and video, and a verdict heard across NextWave’s network of music fans. You supply the bike. The verdict stays ours.

    FAQ

    Featured Ride FAQ.

    Which motorcycle will NextWave test first?

    The one listeners vote for, as long as the manufacturer can supply a press bike. BMW Motorrad, Triumph and Ducati currently lead the vote.

    Can I vote for a brand that isn’t on the list?

    Yes. Choose “Other” in the form and type the brand and model.

    Do manufacturers pay for the review?

    No. Brands may loan a press bike, and we disclose that in every review and on air. They don’t see the verdict before it’s published.

    Where will I hear the verdict?

    On NextWave radio first, then in full here on NextWave Tested.

    Kit the Featured Ride

    The Bike Needs Gear Too.

    Helmets, intercoms, jackets and luggage go through their own 30-day tests. Vote for the gear we ride with.