Table of contents for 31 December 2025 in MCN

‘Commitment to go racing was always there’ KTM’S PIT BEIRER, P58 MOTOGP Future’s bright After an annus horribilis for KTM, the Austrian factory squad have batted off rumours of buy-outs and confirmed that they’re not only here to stay for 2026, but that they’re also going all-in on 2027. Speaking with MCN contributor, Neil Morrison, KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer confirmed that KTM’s new owners, Bajaj, have committed to the sport for next year and beyond and that the new 850cc engine for the 2027 season is already up and running. Plus, the German former motocross ace reveals how he intends to keep star signing Pedro Acosta by having “the best ’26 bike and a good outlook on 2027”. PAGE 58 THE BIG TEST Scramblers with soul Both Royal Enfield…

SAVE £2204 £21,495 Honda Fireblade SP A razor-sharp superbike packing 215bhp, semi-active Öhlins, Brembo stoppers and a revamped chassis – the Blade SP is a serious bit of kit. Despite being track focused, it’s also surprisingly roomy compared with the previous generation RR-R, and the WSBK-like rumble it makes thanks to split throttle bodies is simply brilliant. www.twowheels.co.uk SAVE £1100 £7299 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Suzuki’s ever popular ‘Wee’ Strom has been around forever. It may have been superseded by the 800, but the 650 still has plenty to offer. kingstwowheelcentre.co.uk ● Engine 645cc ● Power 69bhp ● Weight 216kg ● Seat height 835mm SAVE £1000 £7999 Suzuki GSX-8R Great value, even at full price. The Suzuki GSX-8R is adept at anything you ask of it, from commuting to B-road scratching,…

‘The fight continues’ The year began with my Implement a strategy to protect motorcyclists from imports of unsafe clothing petition designed to protect riders from unregulated bike kit available online from overseas. It sadly didn’t reach the threshold for a government response, but it did succeed in spotlighting the sheer volume of untested, non-certified kit being pushed on the internet. Over the past year, more than 100 rogue online vendors have been challenged. Many were flagged by MCN readers after unsolicited ads appeared in their social media feeds and more recently, concerns have arisen over influencers promoting dubious products. Where a UK address could be found, Trading Standards have been contacted – although one memorable case concerned a company using a parking space as its registered address! Several investigations remain…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER IN ASSOCIATION WITH Was a bit of a tight fit… I wish I’d read Jenny Tinmouth’s column before I bought my first set of Alpinestars leathers as I selected a snug-fitting set which were fine until I broke my leg in a bike accident. Six months later I found that it wasn’t just the titanium nail/rod holding my tibia together and my reduced flexibility that was the problem but that with being stuck in a bed, then wheelchair and finally on crutches, I’d put on weight. I finally managed to get in the A-stars but when they were zipped up found I couldn’t breathe as my lungs were so constricted. So I had to get a new set of RST leathers, this time not…

Well first of all, Happy New Year to everyone reading this, I hope you had a good festive break. I know it’s still winter outside, but it won’t be long before testing and then the season starts. I’m looking forward to it. In MotoGP there are a few things I’m really interested in. The first is Marc Marquez, because I think he is so interesting and the question now is how much more can he dominate? I feel a bit sorry for him because he won his championship at a flyaway and it was like no one was really bothered… and then he got injured again! He was spectacular during 2025 and you’d struggle to come up with a theory as to how anybody is going to challenge his authority.…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Philip Weston The ride Four-day trip to San Marino and back How many miles? 2300 with 45 hours of riding Tell us about the trip… I set off on Thursday morning and after Le Shuttle, headed south to Lyon. Turning east through the Alps, the lights from castles and towns looked spectacular. I had a good sleep in a service station. Friday morning I arrived in Rimini on a lovely sunny day. After a seafood and ice cream lunch, I booked into a fantastic B&B. With a good night’s sleep and breakfast I spent Saturday sightseeing in San Marino before meeting Iron Butt riders from across Europe for an evening meal. After dinner I headed back to Le Shuttle through Switzerland, Germany (including Wankum!)…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop Wednesday December 31 BIKE MEETS Squires Cafe, Newthorpe near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe TRIALS Yeadon Guiseley & DMC Ltd, Dob Park, Otley, North Yorks www.yeadon-guiseleytrials.co.uk Waltham Chase Trials MCC The Dick Hoyles, Hut Hill, Eastleigh, Hants www.walthamchasetrials.co.uk Thursday January 1 BIKE MEETS Nadee Bike Meet, Lagon Bar & Grill, Findern, Derbyshire. 6pm. Facebook: Nadee Bike Meet Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk The Whistlestop Motorcycle Club, Rhyl Rugby Sports & Social Club, Rhyl, Denbighshire. From 5pm 07544-143494 Vintage Metals, Coleford, Gloucestershire. 6pm-10pm www.vintagemetals.co.uk…

THE MCN TEST THE HOTTEST BIKES EVERY WEEK £6749 (paint options extra) Royal Enfield Bear 650 648cc air-cooled parallel-twin SOHC 8v 46.7bhp @ 7150rpm 214kg weight (kerb, 90% fuelled) £5999 BSA Scrambler 650 652cc liquid-cooled single DOHC 4v 44.4bhp @ 6500rpm 218kg weight (wet) There is something rather pleasing about witnessing the re-emergence of historic British motorcycle brands. True, dig a bit deeper and their parentage and/or places of manufacture might be far from our shores (see p30), but does that matter? It is much better to have the option to buy a modern Triumph, BSA, Norton or Royal Enfield and keep these brands alive on our roads than read in a book about how they once dominated the two-wheeled world before collapsing into administration. If you are prepared to…

‘Going on a Bear hunt’ Both bikes have a slight feeling of being frogmarched into a new role, which in fairness is exactly how scramblers emerged back in the 1960s. However, where clever development work ensures that the Royal Enfield manages to mask this sensation to the point it is hardly noticeable, the BSA doesn’t pull off the same trick and that is to the detriment of its ride, especially when it comes to front-end feel. And that’s the key difference here. If you buy the Bear 650 you are purchasing a considered machine that shows just how much Enfield have evolved since the days of their unit and pre-unit construction singles. The fact it is built in India is irrelevant, the important part is that it has been through…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor Design and construction rated Every product tested in real-world conditions Ease of use and value scored 5 years ON TEST Clarke CML3 table lift £538.80 Give your bike a little lift… Tested by Richard Newland for five years If you love getting the spanners out, nothing improves that quality time more than having a bike lift. The ability to ensure your bike is properly secure while working on it is invaluable, and being able to get it to a height that means you can work effortlessly when seated or standing is worth its weight in gold. My aging knees and back are endlessly grateful for being spared from crawling around on cold floors. I’ve been using this Clarke CML3 workbench for five years…

Going behind the headlines in the MotoGP paddock It’s fair to say things were not looking good for KTM at the end of 2024. The company’s future was in serious jeopardy thanks to a financial crisis of mammoth proportions, meaning participation across numerous racing categories was in no way guaranteed. Twelve months on and the outlook is more positive. KTM have a new majority shareholder in Bajaj, and MotoGP results drastically improved after the summer break. Plus, their new 850cc MotoGP engine was up and running on the dyno in October. MCN caught up with Motorsports Director Pit Beirer to assess the situation and see what lies ahead. After an exhausting 12 months, is there light at the end of the tunnel? “Absolutely. It was a really difficult period for…

‘It must be a hell of feeling to win’ To me Dakar is a bit Russian roulette which I know might sound a bit rich coming from a TT rider, but at least I know if it’s left or right or what’s over the next crest. I hate riding my off-road bike when I don’t know where I’m going; I’m cautious, but how cautious can you be at the Dakar? You could be doing 60mph across the desert, which is fast, but when you’re doing that speed all day it will start to feel slow… until you hit something. I’ve met the factory Honda riders Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes this year and they’re good eggs. I also had a good look at their bikes – and they’re no motocross…

These new-model spyshots come just a few months on from Triumph revealing both Desert and Alpine editions of the existing Tiger 900 line-up. Prices started at £14,395 for the 900 Alpine Edition, before rising to £14,995 for the 900 Desert Edition – with the former based on the road-friendly GT Pro and the latter using the Rally Pro as a base. Both get an Akrapovič exhaust silencer and new colours, with the Alpine getting engine bars and the Desert receiving rugged fuel tank protection. Specials of this kind often occur shortly before a significant model update, as manufacturers work to clear existing stock before production of something new begins.…

Bike sales figures for November show the market is still tracking around 15.3% down on last year – but industry chiefs remain optimistic. The year-on-year decline has been largely driven by market distortions seen at the back end of 2024, where more than 8400 new units were pre-registered in dealerships ahead of the Euro5 phase-out. Tony Campbell, CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Association, said: “We remain on track for a full year of circa 95,000 new vehicles registered by the end of December. “Whilst the market is not where we would have liked, it was extremely encouraging to see a growing audience at this year’s Motorcycle Live in Birmingham. “It was inspiring to see the halls busy throughout the event, with ticket sales increasing by circa 10% compared to 2024.…

CFMoto have given their 800MT adventure touring line-up a boost with the announcement of a new 800MT-ES featuring semi-active electronic suspension. The ES is an update on the 800MT Touring featuring fully electronically adjustable suspension developed in conjunction with KYB. It’s designed to respond in real time to road irregularities, load, and riding style – with the machine also equipped with Bosch stability control, a six-axis IMU, and four riding modes. ‘It’s designed to respond in real time’ CFMoto claim 160mm of travel at the front and 150mm at the rear, with the Euro5+ friendly 799cc liquid-cooled twin delivering a claimed 89.8bhp at 9250rpm in this guise, as well as 49.4lb.ft of torque at 8000rpm. Braking is again taken care of by twin 320mm discs gripped by J.Juan radial-mounted four-piston…

‘Prepare for an electric shock’ I was chatting to a mate in the industry the other day when they mentioned what a disaster the whole LiveWire experiment has been for Harley-Davidson. I’m not going to go into exact details as it was secondhand news but to say it has tanked is somewhat of an understatement. So, with this in mind, I decided to look at used values – however, before I did I got a heck of a shock. The LiveWire brand range now consists of three models – the S2 Del Mar, S2 Mulholland and S2 Alpinista, so out of interest I decided to see their RRPs. Clicking on the link to them through Harley’s website the banner at the top of the screen read ‘up to £10,191 off…

GET SIX ISSUES FOR JUST £6 Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer Thieves have stolen what is believed to be the UK’s only surviving 1904 Riley motorcycle after it was taken during the night of Monday, December 15, from a property in Newmarket. The 121-year-old bike belongs to the great-grandson of the Riley Motor company’s founder, and represents a unique example of British manufacturing history. It was taken between 6.30pm on Monday and 7am on the Tuesday. The owner has said he had hoped to pass it down to future generations, adding that it is an irreplaceable part of his family’s past. The bike, which is believed to be worth around £10,000 – but will be impossible to replace – was taken alongside several other items of lesser value after…

Shark RS Jet Carbon £169.99 Hard as a diamond, cheap as cut glass Lightweight and strong, carbon fibre has been kicking around in some form or another since 1860 when Joseph Swan used it as a filament for his lightbulb. It wasn’t until 1976 that anyone decided it might be a clever material for a motorcycle helmet, and that was Shoei with their GR-Z. Now, however, it’s hard not to spot the slightly higher priced versions of many helmets built with carbon shells. They are usually lighter than fibreglass alternatives, and the motorsport look is very appealing to some. Whether you love carbon or can’t quite see the point, you should have a quick peruse of these knockeddown numbers. Jet helmets such as Shark’s Carbon RS offer a better level…

Back in late 2022, Shoei demonstrated a planned HUD system at the Osaka and Tokyo shows – a concept that followed an initial idea at the CES tech show in Las Vegas back in 2019. It was known as ‘Opticson’ and was available on the Japanese market for a brief period. It used an inverted image of whatever you wanted to see on the HUD that was then projected onto a semi-transparent, angled surface – called the combiner – in front of your eye, so when you saw its reflection, it sat the right way round. Shoei packed the projector section into the helmet’s chin bar, firing the image up to a combiner mounted on a multi-adjustable bracket to then hang down in front of the rider’s right eye. It…

Q ‘Am I too late to make a claim?’ I had an accident in 2022 caused by a hit-and-run driver. My fractures healed but I have ongoing psychological issues – my wife says my character has changed. I now know that I should have claimed compensation for my injuries and financial losses, but when I spoke to my then insurance company they told me that I am out of time. This does not seem fair to me as I did not know before that I could claim compensation. Can I still claim? Simon, email A The standard time limit to start a compensation claim at court is three years from the accident date. There are some exceptions, for example cases involving injured children where the clock starts to run when…

I’m always busy in the summer so in the winter I try and spend a bit of time on my own bike projects. I’ve got a 1994 FireBlade I’m working on. It’s really nice and I’ve actually had it ten years, but it hasn’t been fired up for at least a couple of years so I’m going to recommission that. And I’ve just finished a Suzuki GSX-R750M, which is nice. It’s a Gen 1 from 1985. It’s a good one to have, but in reality they were actually too light. It had really thin wheel spindles and a short wheelbase. Suzuki went a bit mad with it at the time and then spent the next two years beefing it up. It’s the first of the slab-siders and to be honest…

FIRST RIDE Triumph’s Bonneville Bobber, available in dealers now for £13,759, gets a handful of upgrades for 2026 in a bid to make it safer, sharper handling, and even more enjoyable to live with. The original was launched in 2017 and styled to mimic the custom bobbers of the 1940s, with balloon-shaped tyres, single seat, short mudguards, flat bars, a hardtail-a-like rear end and ‘peanut’ fuel tank. It was an instant hit with customers who couldn’t get their hands on one quick enough, thanks to its funky looks and surprising performance. We’re at the new Bobber’s world launch in Southern California to see what makes it tick. 1 In for the long haul When it arrived in 2017, the Bobber had a piffling 9.1-litre fuel tank. It may have been…

THE FACTS ‘No other bike has received such unwavering passion” What separates an average bike from a good, or even an outstanding one? Along with the riding experience, it’s the passion and dedication that is invested into every stage of the bike’s evolution that makes the crucial difference. And that’s the reason the Ducati 916 stands head-and-shoulders above so many other excellent models and makes it the winner of MCN’s reader poll for the Greatest Bike of All Time. No other bike has received the same level of sheer single-minded no-compromise determination to allow it to succeed the very highest level possible throughout its entire life. And it all started many years before the 916 was even conceived. The heart of any bike is its engine and the Desmoquattro motor…

MCN’s website has expert opinion and buying advice on hundreds of used bikes, regularly updated and packed with insight. Here are three of the latest – visit motorcyclenews.com for dozens more. 1998-2004 YAMAHA FZS600 FAZER Owner’s rating The original Fazer is a popular bike. With a bulletproof engine and few reliability concerns, it makes for a practical and cheap commuter for anyone who holds a full A licence. 2015-2018 KAWASAKI Z300 Owner’s rating The naked version of Kawasaki’s A2-legal sportsbike was never as popular as the Ninja. As an A2-legal urban hack, it is worth considering but owners note soggy suspension on B-roads. 2019-CURRENT SUPER SOCO TC MAX Owner’s rating An electric equivalent of a 125, the Soco has removable batteries to make it a practical commuter. Ten owners have left…

Good intentions don’t always equate to positive results where motorcycle maintenance is concerned. Japs Motorcycles owner Stephen Fryatt came across one such example of that when a Yamaha YBR125 arrived on his bench filled with almost three times the correct volume of oil. After ticking off a selection of tasks, next on the list was a routine check of the little commuter’s oil level – a procedure Fryatt completes with all bikes that he works on. With the YBR on its main stand, the Essex mechanic undid the filler cap to access the dipstick and found the bike be full to the brim to the point of overflowing. “He must’ve checked the level with the bike on the sidestand,” Fryatt said. “Which a lot of people do, to be fair,…

In Light of KTM’s financial woes, Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola recently said MotoGP has a responsibility to keep costs under control for its five factories, KTM’s Pit Beirer agrees. “Most of the people in the paddock are under budget pressure,” he said. “We want to spend money on amazing technology which can also be used on future street bikes, or in your company with technical knowledge. But if you have a ride height device on your bike, which costs hundreds of thousands of Euros and you take two people to the track just to service the thing, it needs to be thrown in the bin. “It’s not helping our company be better in the future, or helping the spectator see great racing. They come to watch riders fighting -…

MCN Sports Editor and adventure riding expert TOP STORY On Saturday the toughest, most arduous and most extreme race on the planet kicks off in Saudi Arabia. Ever since its inauguration in 1979, the Dakar has pushed competitors and adventurers to breaking point and it continues to do so some 47 years later. For many the aim is simply to survive the challenge and reach the finish, while for others it’s about winning or standing on the podium after a fortnight of brutal terrain and high-risk action. The 2026 race starts on Saturday, January 3 and concludes two weeks later on Saturday, January 17. A total of 116 bikes are due on the start line and if history is anything to go by, expect just over half to finish. This…

Riders could see speeding fines cancelled after National Highways uncovered a fault affecting variable speed cameras on motorways and major A-roads. The issue, caused by a mismatch between cameras and changing speed limit signs, led to 2650 wrongful activations since 2021. Tens of thousands of speed awareness courses have been cancelled as police review cases. Toasty hands for free on Suzukis Suzuki are offering free, multisetting heated grips until January 31 on new GSX-S950, GSX-S1000, GSX-S1000GT+, or GSX-S1000GX+ models, plus any GSX-8S, 8R, 8T, or 8TT. Suzuki’s V-Strom range also benefits from the offer, with the V-Strom 800RE and 800DE and the V-Strom 1050RE and 1050DE also coming with complimentary grips, as do the Hayabusa and the Katana. Log in to catch No Limits Racing The No Limits Racing club…

Buyers of Suzuki’s Burgman 400 maxi scooter will benefit from a free commuter pack worth nearly £1000. The bundle includes a 47-litre topbox, handguards and heated grips, adding to the 42 litres of storage available under the scooter’s seat and backed by a further 6.3 litres via the upfront compartment, the right-hand side of which also houses a 12V socket. Offer closes January 31. Get down to the KTM Motohall KTM’s Motohall museum in Austria will host a run of showcases in early 2026, starting on January 14 with Pedro Acosta unveiling his 2023 Moto2 title-winning bike, with a meet and greet afterwards. On February 11, there will be an ‘Inside Factory KTM Racing’ tour, followed by a workshop run by Hard Enduro champ Manuel Lettenbichler. Then on March 1…

Oxford Roamer £199.99 to £249.99 This industrial-design aluminium topbox from Oxford is available in 45- and 65-litre formats. It is sealed with silicone and includes a neoprene liner to keep your kit dry and free from the condensation that can often build up in metal cases. The lid features an internal, removable zipped mesh pocket and external grab rails that can be used to secure extra luggage. www.oxfordproducts.com Honda GB350S fly screen from Pyramid £69.99 Pyramid Parts have just revealed their accessories for the infinitely popular Honda GB350S. This windscreen stands out as looking particularly stylish and useful. It’s designed to deflect the wind and keep flies off your visor. Promising to be simple to fit, it mounts onto existing points, and will soon be offered in a selection of…

Send your bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE WORLD’S WARMEST BASELAYER R www.zerofit.co.uk…

THE DETAILS Monday-Friday 7am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm billysontheroad.co.uk Stane St, Billingshurst RH14 9AE After a career on the road with nothing but disappointing food, Billy Willison decided she was going to ‘reinvent the roadside café’ on a former Little Chef premises in the South Downs. “I wanted to reinvent the old Little Chef in a positive way,” she says. “I kept the same format but completely updated the menu. I brought it into the 21st century and added dishes from all over the world because I travel a lot and have been a chef for 40 years.” The roadside stop quickly became a favourite for bikers. “We love our bikers – or our ‘leathers’ as we call them!” says Billy. “They all love our big breakfast, but they are quite creative…

‘A better Bobber’ Triumph’s Bonnevile Bobber impressed from day one and for 2026 it’s better than ever, with extra safety, convenience, crisper handling, more comfort, and an improved tank range. Brakes are strong, tyres are grippy and the ride is on the firm side of plush. It’s no lightweight, but its appetite for corners never fails to take you by surprise. The new Bobber is still characterful and beautifully built. It’s happy cruising around town, on motorways, and even on B-roads, but with just room for one, it’s single-minded… if that’s an issue you can opt for the Speedmaster version for the same price. THE FACTS £13,795 Triumph Bonneville Bobber…

Royal Enfield set up a plant in Madras, India, in 1955 and when the British side of the business closed in 1970, the Indian company continued to produce Bullets. In fact, in 1977 they even began exporting them to the UK and Europe. Nowadays Royal Enfield are owned by the Eicher Group (they have a UK-based R&D department) and in the last financial year, sold 1,009,900 bikes, which were built in their Chennai facilities. After BSA shut their doors in 1973, the brand remained largely dormant until the name was bought by Classic Legends, a subsidiary of engineering conglomerate Mahindra Group, in 2016. Their bikes are designed in the UK but built in India. If you are talking British bikes, Triumph are still a 100% privately-owned British company with John…

Achieving a properly adjusted clutch cable is one of the simplest yet most effective maintenance tasks you can perform, and it makes a noticeable difference every time you ride. Too much freeplay, and the clutch won’t fully disengage, leading to stiff gear changes, difficulty finding neutral, and extra strain on the gearbox. Too little, and the clutch may slip, overheat, or wear prematurely. Over time, normal use stretches the cable, the lever pivot wears, and the clutch pack settles, so even bikes that felt perfect a few months ago may need attention. Checking and adjusting your clutch cable is straightforward if you take your time and measure accurately. With the right combination of lever-side and engine-side adjustments, you can restore smooth, predictable clutch action. It’s a small investment of time…

1 Marc completes his comeback Marc Marquez received plaudits and respect from around the sporting world as he became world champion for the first time since 2019. It’s no secret that he’s been to hell and back in order to recover from his now infamous broken right humerus bone and reach the top of the mountain with four operations, mental struggles, diplopia, concussions, shoulder and hand injuries, soul-crushing weekends with Honda, and a gamble to move to Gresini in 2024. It’s the comeback of all comebacks and Marquez deserves all the respect in the world for what he’s accomplished. Even his biggest critics have to stand back and admire his will to survive and conquer. 2 Zarco wins at home Johann Zarco gave the record-breaking Le Mans crowd a moment…

MCN Sports Editor and adventure riding expert British riders have a long history of competing at Dakar. The late, great John Deacon paved the way during the 1990s before Sam Sunderland stepped into the breach. Sunderland was a front runner for a decade and the only British winner in the history of the event – taking the big prize in 2018 and then again in 2022. For 2026 there are no fewer than five Brits to cheer on, each with their own hopes, goals and unique backstory. MCN caught up with them all prior to the January 3 race start… James Hillier Back for more! Race number 50 Age 40 Bike Kove 450 Rally Class Original by Motul Dakar results 2023: 76th, 2025: 87th For James Hillier, the 2026 race…