RiDE April 2020

RiDE helps you get more from your motorcycle. Put together by a team of enthusiastic experts, with help from thousands of committed readers, every issue of RiDE is full of recommendations on bikes, kit, routes, destinations and technique. We speak directly to our readers about their biking lives & use our expertise to steer them towards the good-value option in bikes, trips and kits. We’re famed for our regular Product Tests and eery month provide a comprehensive used-bike buying guide, helping potential owners find the right bike at the right price. Finally... every issue features touring guides and riding advice to help readers explore the world on their bike.

3,95 €(IVA inc.)

en este número

IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome...

‘It’s all buying once – and buying right’ With spring starting next month (honest), a new riding season is almost upon us. And for many of us, that means it’s time to make a few sneaky purchases. Depending on what you can get away with from the other half, this could range from a pair of gloves to, if you’re lucky, a new bike. This issue of RiDE is dedicated to helping you get the most from that purchase. We’ve done the research on the top 20 used bikes in the country, grilled experts on kit and found some of the best deals going right now — I think we’ve got the bases covered and there will be more next month, too. This isn’t about buying cut-price rubbish but instead, helping make the…

1 min.

IN THIS ISSUE

This month’s highlights

Steve Herbert-Mattick, art editor My usual route to Scotland is up the A68. Clearly I’ve missed some great riding either side... PAGE 38 Jim Blackstock, product editor I like my cake and eating it. So does BMW’s new F900XR really blend fun and practicality? PAGE 28 Martin Fitz-Gibbons, contributor At 18 I lusted after an MV. At 38 I own a GS. What draws riders to superbikes or adventurers? PAGE 58 Introducing Ownable a new way to buy kit We’re introducing a new feature to RiDE’s rated pages. You can now use the Ownable app to buy what you see on the page.…

1 min.

FRONT END

YOUR RIDES

Lake Obersee, Germany A group of us from Norwich rode to Italy for the MotoGP (note the 46 sticker) last summer. It took eight days there and back and this picture was taken by the stunning Lake Obersee. Matty Fitch Nepal I have recently returned from the adventure of a lifetime, riding Royal Enfield Himalayans in Nepal. Nothing can prepare you for the roads (or lack of); the traffic of Kathmandu; the people; the scenery and facing Dal bhat (lentil curry) for every meal! Life will never be the same again and the bikes were perfect for the challenges we faced. Aside from the Dal bhat... Terry Rose Yorkshire Dales National Park I couldn’t resist pulling over and snapping the bike in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales on the way to Ribblehead from Sedbergh. Considering she’s…

2 min.

FRONT END

STAR PICTURE

Picos de Europa, Spain Here are a couple of pictures from our ‘Swanny and Skippy's 55 tour’ that we embarked upon in September and October last year. We rode down through France into Spain and across to Portugal and then back to England on the Santander ferry, covering a total of 2800 miles in 18 days. We used the RiDE routes as much as possible, which were absolutely amazing so thank you very much for your hard work in compiling them — they were really appreciated. Hopefully our picture will inspire others to also make the most of RiDE’s routes! Paul Swan Get your bike in RIDE & win a BikeTrac system Each month the Star Picture will win a BikeTrac security tracker with a year’s BikeTrac subscription. As well as helping recover your…

1 min.

FRONT END

WINTER-BUSTING ADVENTURES

‘I enjoyed a 425-mile rideout to the Elan Valley and back with the Ducati Owners Club, West Midlands. It was almost eight hours in the saddle!’ Andy Main ‘I went for a ride around the Lammermuir Hills in southern Scotland, on my trusty BMW K75 and couldn’t resist a photo.’ Mike Taylor ‘Overlooking Loch Droma, in Scotland, from a viewing spot on the A835 heading towards Ullapool on my Triumph Tiger 1200.’ Michael Pumfrey ‘Enjoying a two-up tour of Lanzarote with partner Martin Shipley. We’re also touring the Black Forest, Spain and Gran Canaria later this year.’ Julie Lench ‘Sitting on my new bike, which husband Andy bought me for Christmas. I can’t wait to head off-road on the Welsh lanes.’ Lorraine Thomas Sign up now! www.facebook.com/#ride5000miles…

1 min.

FRONT END

‘It could be the south’s best ride’

WITH SEVEN KIDS at home clamouring for attention, Steve Holmes hasn’t always got time to indulge himself with the long trips he loves: “Fortunately I still like riding on my own doorstep! Living in the south east, you really do need to search for good routes but with a bit of bedtime reading and research, you can put a really good ride together.” This particular route is part of a longer ride that Steve usually does as a day trip, with lunch over the channel at Le Touquet in France. ‘This is the best section on the UK side and it contrasts perfectly with the D940 coast road in France – I’ll show you that one day too!” We’ll look forward to that but for now, we meet up near the M25…

5 min.