Joseph Shin
1. Yakima ForkLift, $159
BEST FOR: The lone-wolf biker with a roof-barred Prius.
Bike racks that mount on the roof can produce wind drag and noise at highway speeds. On the other hand, a roofie anchors bikes vise-tight and won’t obstruct the trunk or hatchback. There are cheaper one-bike carriers, but the ForkLift is the best: It fits any roof bars, holds practically any bike, and installs without tools. Just remember to save room in the trunk for the front tire.
2. Küat NV, $549
BEST FOR: Two-cyclist households with a taste for mud.
The Küat NV uses a hitch-mount design with a traylike rack—there’s no need to remove tires or hoist bikes onto the roof. It’s the perfect rack for hauling fancy rides and preserving spendy paint jobs. There’s even a built-in repair stand for on-the-fly adjustments. And when you need to open the hatch of your Evoque, the whole assembly pivots down out of the way, bikes and all.
Styling by Mikhael Romain/Aubry Balk Inc.; Illustrations by Brown Bird Design
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Let your phone ride shotgun, where it can make sure you see more sights and hit fewer roadblocks.
Navigation
Waze Free (IOS, Android, Windows Phone)
This is the best of the real-time, crowdsourced traffic apps. Millions of users constantly update info about accidents, roadwork, and traffic. Skirt the logjams; find the shortcuts.
Roadtrippers Free (IOS, Android)
See more between points A and B. Plot your route on the in-app maps and let experienced travelers tell you which detours are most worthy. No real agenda? Pick a premade itinerary and let the app lead the way.
Foursquare FREE (IOS, Android, Windows Phone)
Instantly become a local in a strange town. Search for food, drinks, or stuff to do. Tips are listed for every spot too—you’ll always know which local IPA is best.
Findery Free (IOS, Android)
Everything’s better with an awesome tour guide. Findery shows you not only nearby places but also notes left about them by others—personal stories, photos, tips, etc. Compose your own notes and keep them private or make them public.
Entertainment
TuneIn Free (IOS, Android, Windows Phone)
Passing through nowheresville? Forget spinning the dial—TuneIn contains livestreams for 100,000 radio stations from around the world. Check in on the game from six states away. Goodbye, static and shock jocks. Hello, epic road trip soundtrack.
Overcast Free (IOS)
The best of the myriad podcast clients, Overcast helps you find new shows with simple directories and suggestions from Twitter. You can set all your favorite shows to download automatically, or just stream them a la carte. All of the features that used to be in-app purchase are now free, like speed controls and a voice booster.
Diagnostics
Automatic Free (IOS, Android)
Plug Automatic’s tiny $100 dongle into your dash, then sync it with the app. Get stats on your driving, find your car in the parking lot, and learn why that check engine light is on. It tracks your gas usage too.
Openbay Free (IOS)
If there’s no YouTube video to show you how to fix what’s wrong, this app will help you find a nearby mechanic at the right price. Openbay helps diagnose the problem and compare labor rates for the fix.
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Joseph Shin
The road doesn’t always have to lead somewhere. It can be a destination in itself.
1. Shinola Runwell Chrono 41mm | $800
Rely on this gorgeous quartz-movement wrist clock to keep track of your drive time. The sapphire-topped stainless steel case houses a dual-dial chronograph, and the stitched American leather strap oozes character. And it’s all hand-assembled in Detroit, just like your dad’s Buick. More Info | Amazon
2. OluKai Akepa Moc Kohana | $160
Working the clutch for hours on end calls for footwear that offers maximum comfort but a sure feel on the pedals. Enter the driving moccasin—a flexible leather loafer with a grippy rubber sole. The Akepa’s topside perforations keep your tootsies cool, and the washable footbed is supremely cushy. More Info | Amazon
3. GoPro Hero4 Black With Suction Cup Mount | $540
Affix this rig to the hood of your car and capture the drama of the open road. Use it to record only the twisty bits, or set it to time-lapse mode and let it roll all day. When you hit the water, stick it to your kayak. More Info | Amazon
4. Salt + Aether Explorer Sunglasses | $600
These shades are built for going fast. The windscreens on the temples have tiny holes to preserve your peripheral vision while blocking the cross-breezes from that dropped ragtop. The photochromic lenses darken when the sun’s rays grow intense. And they just look badass. More Info
5. National Geographic Road Atlas Adventure Edition | $20
When you need the shortest route, use a maps app. When you want to live a little, use this analog road atlas. Maps of all 50 states include details like where to find trailheads, hiking spots, parks, and campsites. Now you know where to stop and stretch your legs. More Info | Amazon
Styling by Mikhael Romain/Aubry Balk Inc.
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$8,099* HONDA NC700X DCT ABS. Styling by Mikhael Romain/Aubry Balk Inc. Joseph Shin
Commuting by motorcycle is like being able to see invisible spectra of light: extra dimensions interlaced between unknowing denizens of a flatter world. While they creep down the boulevards of a metal-box hell, you ride private pathways, engaged with the pavement instead of isolated from it. Honda’s nimble NC700X DCT ABS was bred for this. Its upright posture gives you great visibility and a seating position that offers the leverage to make quick direction changes, while its stout brakes and suspension keep you safe. The cavernous storage compartment securely swallows your backpack or even a full-face helmet while you grab doughnuts for the team. And its push-button shifters let you rip through gears without hand fatigue. (It will even shift for you, if you want.) Of course, a factory bike’s features always get dialed down to hit a certain price point. But WIRED doesn’t compromise; we kitted this NC700X out with all the best commuting accessories, including tail bags, a custom seat, LED lights, and a louder horn. Buy Now
The base price of the bike is $8,099, but the NC700X DCT ABS, as shown in the photo is $11,218.29. We added these custom bits and pieces to this motorcycle:
• Saddlemen GelCore Seat, $215
• Pirelli MT 60 R tires, $381.61
• Acerbis Rally Pro X-Strong hand, $105
• Honda center stand ($150), heated grips ($25), heated grip attachment kit ($230), and tall windscreen ($170). Total: $575
• Denali Lights ($250), horn ($50), JetPack tail bag ($277). All by Twisted Throttle; Total: $566.93
• Hugger rear fender ($169), sidecase hardware ($211), mounting kit ($42), saddlebags ($679), electronics smart bar ($149) and mounting hardware ($11) by Givi; Total: $1261
• Astra USB $15.55
Total ultimate commuter bike accessories added: $3,119.29
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Caption: BMW i3 BMW
Caption: Tesla Model S P90D Tesla
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Nissan Leaf | Best Compact
As the EV market has matured in recent years, we’ve gotten more cars that blend in with the pack. But if you want everyone to know you’re riding on Zeus power, the ever-funky Nissan Leaf is the way to go. The popular electric can ride 84 miles on a charge, typical for a non-Elon electric. And government incentives mean you can get a new one for $2,400 down and $199 a month, for 36 months. If you want the electric power without the stares, wait for next year’s revamped Leaf, reportedly coming with a more mundane look. $29,010
BMW i3 | Best Family
Munich’s urban electric doesn’t look like a BMW—the exterior resembles a haphazardly designed jigsaw puzzle—but it sure drives like one. The engine puts out 170 horsepower, and the car’s 2,700 pounds (thanks, carbon fiber–reinforced plastic body!) are perfectly distributed between the front and rear axles for optimal handling. Sans the gas-burning range extender, the 22-kWh battery’s good for 81 miles, and suicide doors make it easy to pack your stuff, or two kids, into the backseat. Too bad it’s only for sale in select (mostly coastal) cities. $42,400
Tesla Model S P90D | Best Performance
If you’re looking to burn cash, not gas, there’s nothing better than the P90D, the fastest, most capable version of Tesla’s Model S sedan to date. Two motors and a 90-kWh battery pack give it 300 miles of range and a supercar-quick 0-to-60-mph time of 2.8 seconds. Throw in sexy styling, a 17-inch infotainment screen, room for seven people, plus an autopilot setup that does some highway driving, and you can’t beat this EV. $108,000
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