The cold of a New York City morning bites just a little bit harder than anywhere else. The skyscrapers on every corner block out the morning sun’s warming rays, and act as ice cubes in the drink of my late-December being. Climbing aboard the cold saddle of the 2026 LAND Moto District ADV Electric Motorcycle for a rip roaring adventure around the city, however, warms my soul, if not my fingers. There is nowhere in the world I’d rather be right now than zipping through the well-trod corners of America’s second greatest city—Cleveland being the greatest, obviously. 

First thing’s first; coffee.

Riding away from my accommodations for the night, my level of awake slowly grew with the biting cold wind increasing with speed. I knew I needed a hot cup of creamy brown caffeine to fully arrive to the day, however, so I plotted my coordinates for the shop of our lovely friends at Jane Moto. The trendy motorcycle-themed coffee spot was on my way, and the beans they grind are among the best in the biz. 

Inside for a warm up, cheerful conversation, and a truly delicious vanilla latte. The city has been awake for hours, but I’m finally catching up with them. 

Back on the bike to get my jaunt started in earnest. Despite the chill, it’s a beautiful day in the city, and I’m on perhaps the perfect bike for it. This being a prototype, you’d be forgiven for thinking it requires the utmost in care, but LAND Moto built this thing for the battle. With a laser-welded tubular steel cage frame around a 5.5 kWh battery, new fully-adjustable suspension with a full nine inches of ground clearance, and knobby dirt/street tires wrapped around tubeless external-spoke wheels, this bike is ready to rumble. Consider its sub-250 pound weight and nearly 300 lb-ft of torque, and it’s totally ready to rip. 

If you’re already familiar with the LAND Moto District, you’ll be right at home in the cockpit of the ADV, as the seat, switchgear, “tank” and handlebars remain, but the updates are well worth your attention. I was instantly taken by the crisp and clear backlit TFT digital screen up front and center. It provides all the data you need to make your ride simple and effortless, but not so much to distract your eyes. 

Taking the bike into Manhattan from Brooklyn, I welcomed the extra suspension travel and ground clearance with the city’s rough and tumble streets. With the adjustments to rebound and compression set just right, the bike handles just about anything these potholes and bridge expansion joints can throw at it with a deft hand. With very little weight to carry, especially considering its electric propulsion, the ADV feels as fleet of foot as anything else. It can hop over, zip through, or rip around whatever obstacle you put in its way. 

I decided to pick my way up along Central Park to see an iconic piece of city history, a sight I’ve seen thousands of times before, but never in person. Even without the neon lights illuminating, the beautiful blue visage on the corner stopped me in my tracks. My heart began beating in time with a bass riff that was playing only for me. I’ll have the chicken salad on rye, thanks! What’s the deal with electric motorcycles, anyway? 

I know for a fact that my good pal Jerry would have had a better time living in the hustle and bustle of New York City comedy if he’d been riding a LAND Moto instead of driving his Saab convertible or whatever. Not only would the bike’s ability to cut through traffic have saved him from a number of sticky situations, but he could have saved a ton of money on parking and fuel. With removable batteries, Jerry could have brought his LAND batteries up into his apartment every night to charge and never had to worry about stopping for fuel ever again. It’s the perfect city commuter, but it has the speed and the chops to handle itself off-road as well. That's the beauty of an electric motorcycle. 

With that sojourn completed, and lunch consumed, I jumped back on my trusty steed for my mid-afternoon date with a beautiful lady. Back south along Central Park West for some of the greatest architectural views in the city, past the famed Tavern on the Green, and back into the quagmire of lower Manhattan. Big lights, big city, Broadway, all that jazz. 

I parked just shy of the Brooklyn bridge and traded my tires for tennis shoes, walking among the tourists to meet my tall and charming date. I’d never seen her before, but I knew who she would be, because she’s the one holding a flame and she told me she’d be dressed in green. Going shoulder to shoulder with the gathered thousands who need that one photo of themselves on the bridge for Instagram. After a few minutes walk, I saw her, looking as stunning as ever. 

She stands for love, beauty, welcoming, and everything great about these 250 years of American independence. She is here to remind us of our best strengths as members of the world community. This LAND was made for you and me. 

At the end of my day in the city, I’m reminded of what makes this country so incredible. Whether it’s a hand-assembled electric motorcycle, a community coffee shop, one of the most beautiful parks in the world, a Jewish-American comedy show that has been off the air for most of my lifetime, or a statuesque beauty gifted to us by the French to remind us of our humanity and humility, there’s more to this city, and more to this country, than can be boiled down to any simple catchphrase. 

The LAND Moto ADV electric motorcycle is made by Americans in America, for a global audience. We love what we do, we love our motorcycles, and we hope you do, too. This new machine is ready for whatever you can throw at it, from the city to the riding trails in the wide open southwest, it’s built for fun, it’s built for life, and it’s imbued with the spirit of America. Get out and explore some of it, why don’t you?