Tabla de contenidos para 26 March 2025 en MCN

HOW TO BUY USED What does £5000 buy you at a used bike mega-dealer? Our man shares his bike-buying experience… FIRST RIDE Tamed insanity In the super-naked stakes, we’re always wow’d by peak power figures, but apart from bike meet bragging rights, 180bhp+ outputs for unfaired bikes are pretty irrelevant. What matters is that instant hit as you crack the throttle – that’s what performance-loving road riders crave. Which is why BMW have sharpened the latest S1000R to give you more of that easy punch. Here’s our verdict. PAGE 32 NEWS ALARM-ing reading The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey only served to reinforce what we all know as riders and motorists -that the state of the UK’s roads is rapidly getting worse. Despite investment and rolling repairs, the…

Kawasaki are gearing up for the return of their Dealer Demo Days, offering riders the chance to sample the brand’s 2025 collection. The 15-strong line-up ranges from the company’s laid-back Eliminator 500, right through to their full-fat ZX-10R and supercharged H2 models. The tour kicks off on April 5 at Greenham, moving around the country until June 13. Head to kawasaki.co.uk for the full list. Champion day out at Silverstone Two Wheels for Life have announced the launch of the ‘GP of Champions’ at the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The new format replaces the ‘Day of Champions’, and sees activity spread across the weekend. The GP of Champions will feature a ride-in and paddock access on Thursday May 22, plus an entertainment zone with stunt shows, and a…

SAVE £4500 £12,999 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S KTM’s adventure touring flagship is a continent-shrinking, feature-packed missile with a smattering of sophistication woven in. It’s superbike troublingly quick, yet can easily carry the kitchen sink when required. It’s also all-day comfy, whether solo or lugging a pillion, and with £4500 off, this one’s a real bargain. www.ironcitymotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £2000 £17,995 Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer Triumph’s big Tiger is a superbly plush mile muncher with exquisite handling, bags of torque, and respectable off-pavement manners too. www.puretriumph.co.uk ● Engine 1160cc ● Power 148bhp ● Weight 261kg ● Seat height 875mm SAVE £1206 £8989 Ducati Scrambler Icon Ducati’s fun-loving Scrambler is agile and effortlessly cool. Steering is light, its air-cooled motor eager and all wrapped in a user-friendly package. www.blademotorcycles.com ● Engine…

● The first test of the R7 ● News of a better FireBlade ● Mackenzie’s like a virgin MCN were partying like it was 1999 (it was) and getting very hot under the collar about our first ride on Yamaha’s much-touted new YZF-R7 – the bike that would replace the long-in-the-tooth YZF750 as their homologation hotshot for World and British Superbike action. MCN’s Andy Ibbott was the man in the saddle for a six-page exclusive first ride, kicking off proceedings with: “This bike is not comfortable, it won’t do more than 100 miles on a tank of fuel and there’s no place for a pillion – but I don’t give a monkey’s.” Ibbott was on location at Spain’s Jerez track and the bike he was riding wasn’t the £20,000 base…

A motorcycling bishop is planning to hit the road aboard his BMW R1200GS for a week of special visits in the run-up to Easter. The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, will be riding his boxer throughout Holy Week, starting with a service at St. Catherine’s Church, Birtles on Palm Sunday, April 13. Alongside fellow riders, the bishop will be raising funds for life-saving health charities in Africa. “I love it when I get to combine biking and faith: there is something about the open road, the sense of freedom,” Bishop Mark said. “This will be a new way for me to journey through Holy Week, and I hope it enables folk who wouldn’t normally engage to experience something of the joy of Easter for themselves.” Holy Week marks the seven…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘R9’s a real-world hit’ Having just read the new Yamaha R9 review (MCN, March 12), I must say it sounds brilliant, but my first thought was: Have Yamaha gone round the houses to create a new ‘real-world sportsbike’ and have they actually produced a 21st Century version of the Kawasaki ZX-9R? The nineties’ ‘least sporty’ sportsbike but the most real-world usable of the bunch (even though everyone wanted the R1!). Terry Dunn, email Continuing our partnership with Zerofit – King of Baselayers® – we are changing up the prize for the winner of the weekly star letter. The Heatrub Move Baselayer (£40 RRP) is twice as warm as a regular product, but also regulates temperature and wicks away sweat, so it’s perfect now the weather is…

The weather’s been so nice, hasn’t it? So of course I’ve been wanting to ride my own bikes, and decided to get my four-cylinder Kawasaki 500 out. I didn’t ride it last year so it’s been in my shed, leaning up against the wall, because it hasn’t got a mainstand and I like to keep them upright. So I pulled it backwards and put it on its sidestand and left it overnight, and when I got back to it in the morning there was the biggest pool of oil I’ve ever seen in my life! It was three feet in diameter and filled the space between the front and rear wheels. A massive flood of black, shiny oil – gearbox oil. It was a horror scene. I thought: “Oh my…

Notice something new? Now that we’ve had out first blast of sunshine we wanted to introduce you to our brand-new initiative – MCN Pit Stops. In association with Oxford Products, MCN Pit Stops showcases the best motorcycling destinations be they cafés, pubs, restaurants, campsites, hotels, mechanics, dealerships, museums – you name it! So, if you’re out on the road and are in need of anything, you should be able to find it here. We’re super excited to help you discover everything you need for a great ride out all in one place, and of course, get out and see them for ourselves too. We’ve even got a Facebook group so you can chat with like-minded bikers and share the latest spot you’ve visited. Plus, we’re always looking for recommendations so…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday March 26 BIKE MEETS ■ Amici Coffee Biker Night, Amici Coffee Cafe & Grill, Girtford Bridge, Sandy, Bedfordshire www.amicicoffee.co.uk ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Ryka’s Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe RIDEOUT ■ Burgess Hill & DMC, Station Road Car Park, Burgess Hill, Sussex 7pm-7.30pm burgesshillmc.com Thursday March 27 BIKE MEETS ■ Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop ‘Mean breakfast’ AIDAN TOUGH Regular haunts of ours are the roads around Newmarket, Haverhill and Finchingfield. Cafe 33 does a mean breakfast and The White Hart at Coggeshall does excellent B&B. ‘Highland heaven’ KRISTIAN GRUNDY Just been for a blast from Tyneside up to Orkney on my Multistrada. Superb roads and thankfully, it was too early in the season for the monstrous ‘campervan snake’. ‘Four countries and counting’ STEPHEN LEE The Nook, near Alston. Took in four counties and also a couple of cafes in Grassington. Weather was great, roads relatively empty but plenty of two wheelers out and about. ‘A bit of history’ IAN SPEIGHT Only around 90 miles, but very enjoyable all the same and takes me to around 1200…

1 Experiment with corner entry If you’re used to going into corners on a positive throttle it will seem very odd going in with engine braking slowing you down. To start with it may feel like you’re going too slowly mid-corner. But stick with it. Rapid’s coaches often find they carry less speed mid-corner than their clients, but are far quicker overall because they can get on the power so early. They’re also safer because lean angle generally increases risk. 2 Check your vision If you’re struggling to get on the throttle early when exiting corners, it might have nothing to do with your throttle control. Notice where you’re looking as you go through a bend, because you can’t safely open the throttle if you’re not looking in the right…

‘It’s a hell of a machine’ You’ll be pushed to notice its extra 5bhp or shorter gearing in isolation but no matter because the S1000R still delivers just the right amount of drama without ever being difficult. It still dishes out brain-shredding acceleration, the chassis oozes confidence and its brakes are packed with feel. Best of all are the upgraded electronics that will let you ride a wet racetrack with sports tyres with complete control. Yet the S1000R remains roomy, practical and this Sport model comes loaded with toys and semi-active suspension. It’s very hard not to like. THE FACTS £15,750 (£17,540 as tested) BMW S1000R Sport…

Last year wasn’t a great one for bike sales and as a result, there are quite a few 2024 models for sale with either price reductions or low-rate finance. And as the new 2025 models start to filter into showrooms, deals can be had on the older models. Starting with the NT1100. The 2024 bike has an RRP of £12,679 (£13,679 with DCT) but if you are prepared to forgo the 2025 bike’s updates (the 2024 model’s screen adjustment system is also poor), 2024 models come with a £1465 accessory pack of your choice for free. Pre-registered 2024 bikes can be had for £11,000 (£12,000 with DCT), representing a saving of £1670 and they also come with the accessory pack deal. There are lots out there so further reductions are…

The name ‘Mackenzie’ is synonymous with two wheels. Niall Mackenzie is a legend in his own right, with a career spanning 500cc grand prix, alongside British Superbikes. But his legacy didn’t end there, oh no; one of his sons, Tarran, is still flying the flag in World Superbike, and his eldest, Taylor, has had a far more varied career that actually started later, and quite differently to most. “Dad used to race, and we used to go with him,” Taylor said. “I don’t really remember a time without bikes! The funny thing is, I was never planning on racing, but when I was about 11 we were riding minimotos on a field, and I was trying to get my knee down on the grass. Dad took me to a go…

One thing I’ve never understood is the high price of OE brake discs. Why are they so expensive? I recently checked the price for a front pair for a Honda CBR600 and was shocked to discover it was around £600! My intention was to compare prices and see how much better value a pair of EBC discs would be, which turned out to be half the price of the originals! While browsing online, I also found loads of extremely cheap brake discs, but I’d be cautious about these options, since I haven’t heard of most of the brands. It goes without saying, brakes are the most safety critical component on your bike, so why risk your wellbeing – and enjoyment – for the sake of a few quid? When it…

Getting you closer to the paddock action in 2025 A new book by award-winning journalist Adam Wheeler promises to take MotoGP fans beyond the track action and into the lives of those in the paddock. Motorcycle Grand Prix: Insider Stories from World Championship Racing goes behind the scenes and details exactly what life is like for those who travel around the world, exploring the positive, negatives and the sacrifices that have been made in order to do so. MCN sat down with Wheeler to learn more about his new publication. What was the inspiration? “Most of the books I’d read about racing were biographic, autobiographies, technical books or retrospectives. There was nothing really written in first person, taking readers trackside or right into the paddock; letting people know what it…

The new technical rules and tyres coming into MotoGP in 2027 have got me thinking and the question is: Why are they trying to slow MotoGP down? Is it down to cost or is it to improve safety? The thing is, MotoGP went to 800cc back in 2009 and it wasn’t long before they were matching the speeds of the 1000s anyway. MotoGP is all about the speed and the power, and people love that. Some people think that all the aero in MotoGP looks ridiculous but to me it doesn’t; the bikes are amazing and they’re pushing the limits – which is what Grand Prix racing is all about. I don’t honestly think companies like Ducati or Yamaha are going to be bothered about saving a few million, especially…

We found these for sale right now… www.motorcyclenews.com 2019 Yamaha Tracer 900 £6599 This 2019 model has had three previous owners and has 20,660 miles on the clock. Not only does it come one of the Tracer’s sleekest colours, but you also get Shad panniers, a Yamaha topbox and engine protection too. www.lings.com 2017 Yamaha Tracer 900 £6890 A 2017 model with just 3611 miles on the clock? That’s not bad going for a machine that’s so brilliant at racking up the mileage. With three keys and a part service history as part of the package, this Tracer 900 comes as standard in blue and is well worth checking out. www.superbikefactory.co.uk 2019 Yamaha Tracer 900 £7850 With one previous owner, this Tracer 900 has been sold and serviced by Ian…

We found these for sale right now… www.motorcyclenews.com 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa £9786 This current generation Busa has racked up just 7839 miles in its four-year life. Listed as being in excellent condition, the Gen 3 Busa is gutsier and more tech laden than previous generations. A great example for a fair price. superbikefactory.co.uk 2018 Suzuki Hayabusa £8490 Stunning Gen 2 example with a smattering of useful and tasteful extras, such as heated grips and cool-looking Coffmans exhaust to really slick up the rear end and lose a bit of weight. Features switchable power modes and ABS. This example has done 11,550 miles. optimumbikes.co.uk 2017 Suzuki Hayabusa £7995 Striking in blue, this 14,700-mile Busa comes complete with a taller screen (most useful) plus a pair of Yoshimura end cans to help…

If you’re getting a new ride from a dealer or private seller, ensure you carry out these five essential checks 1 Inspect every inch of rubber Check pressures and tread depth as you should anyway, but also rotate the wheels and examine the whole tyre for any damage, foreign objects or dodgy repairs you may have missed in the excitement of buying the bike. Dodgy rubber has left many a new owner at the side of the road surveying the wreckage and wondering what went wrong. 2 Check it’s not a chain fail A cleaned, lubed and adjusted chain is a must. But examine the chain up close – search out the soft or split link. Ensure it is correctly assembled, rivets are securely peened over or the clip is…

We found these for sale right now… www.motorcyclenews.com 2017 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin £6491 One of the earlier generation Africa Twin examples for sale, this 2017 model is still tidy, with a respectable 19,966 miles on the clock. The Honda has had five previous owners, comes with two keys and a partial service history. superbikefactory.co.uk 2019 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin £8750 In that iconic blue, white and red colour scheme, this 2019 Africa Twin comes with a full service history and has covered 20,730 miles. With Honda panniers, a Kappa topbox, engine bars, spotlights, heated grips and a centrestand, it’s fully loaded too. www.bellevuemotors.co.uk 2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin £7999 This 2018 example with two previous owners and 14,828 miles on the clock. There’s a full service history, a Givi…

‘Looking back, it was blatantly stolen…’ Jon Urry, MCN used bike expert Buying: Yamaha RD350LC “Many years ago, I went to buy a cheap RD350LC YPVS. The bike was rattle can painted all black, the engine numbers started YAM and weren’t even close to being in a straight line, the seller was as dodgy as hell and the bike didn’t start (and never did). As I had turned up with a van and the cash in my pocket I felt I was obliged to buy it when I should have just walked away. Lesson learnt – never be afraid to say ‘no thanks’ and go home empty vanned.” ‘Trusting seller helped when bank blocked cash’ Tom Willard, Digital Reviews Writer Buying: Yamaha R6 “When it was time to buy my…

In December 2024, the Labour Government pledged £1.6 billion to local authorities in England to help with road repairs and fill in an additional seven million potholes across 2025 and 2026. According to the Department for Transport, more than £327 million will go to councils in the North West, North East, plus Yorkshire and Humber. An additional £372 million will be allocated to the East Midlands and West Midlands, with over £244 million given to local authorities in the East of England. From there, over £322 million will be given to the South East and London, with £300 million-plus handed to the south west. Although welcome, it’s billions short of the AIA’s findings.…

The National Motorcycle Museum is gearing up to host a Bank Holiday ‘Ride In’ event on May 5. The day itself promises to be packed with attractions, including a stage show hosted by Lili Myers, widow of the late Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers, alongside ‘Dave Day’ organiser Jason Woodcock. Set to take place from 1pm in the museum’s Britannia Suite, the event will see the pair will delve into the success of 2024’s Dave Day celebration, which saw 46,136 riders band together to ride 300 miles from London to Dave’s hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, raising £83,000 to support Childline and the Institute of Cancer Research. Lili and Jason will discuss plans for a 2025 follow-up Dave Day, which is due to take place on the weekend of June 21-22…

11Malle London have opened registration for their inaugural Arctic Rally, taking place this August 8-17. Riders will embark on a 2000-mile journey from Copenhagen to Nordkapp, crossing Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Prices start at £3290 through to a £5990 ‘Deluxe plus’ option. Visit mallelondon.com to book. ‘Does it come with a side-dish too?’ Watsonian Sidecars will be opening their onsite café, Mr Watson’s Café, on Saturdays starting March 29, 2025. Located on Northwick Business Centre, Blockley, the café will welcome visitors from 10am-1.30pm. The site currently opens Monday to Friday from 8:30am-3pm. You can check out the sidecars, too. Indian fest is go Indian have confirmed the dates for the 2025 IMR UK National Rally, set for August 8-10 in Cornwall. The event promises a weekend of live entertainment, local…

‘What zips are strongest?’ I was looking through the rails at a motorcycle clothing retailer – a brand that exclusively use high quality metal zips on all their garments. They do so because metal zips are appropriate to the traditional style of the kit, and a chunky plastic zip or a fine spiral zip would look out of place. “And why wouldn’t they use metal zips?”, you might ask. “Metal is stronger than plastic, and big metal teeth are tougher than those thin wire zips.” That isn’t necessarily true. Testing of a metal zip, a chunky plastic zip and a spiral zip on the EN 13595-3 burst test apparatus revealed the metal zip returned the lowest result, the chunky plastic zip had a figure two times higher, and the spiral…

‘On the road to great savings’ I used to think it was only Ducati who attempted to conjure more cash from their customers with endless ‘special editions’ but another Italian company has just released a bike that takes the biscotti. Step forward the Moto Guzzi Stelvio Duecento Tributo – a machine launched to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Stelvio Pass being opened to traffic. Really? Are Guzzi that desperate that the best they can come up with is a special edition based around a road being built? And, worse still, it is just a paintjob special – from what I can deduce, nothing else about the Duecento Tributo is different to a stock Stelvio PFF Rider Assistance Solution model aside from the ‘inspired by natural elements’ livery. And I…

Q ‘Who pays for the hire’ I was hit from behind at a junction last year. My bike was returned after three months when the repairs were complete. I was provided with a loan bike by my insurers and was assured I would not be required to pay any charges. However, the third party’s insurers are refusing to pay the hire charges, and the hire company’s solicitors have issued a claim against me to recover their losses. What can I do? John, email A Credit hire is a popular option for those in need of a replacement vehicle while theirs is being repaired after an accident. While such agreements offer initial convenience, they can be precarious and the terms of the agreement will dictate what can and cannot be done.…

When I opened the shed door, I could smell my 500’s oil even before I could see it, and that’s because I put ATF in my two-stroke gearbox oil, which has a very distinct, almost sweet smell. ATF – automatic transmission fluid – prevents clutch slip, so that’s why I use it. It’s an old trick I’ve been doing for years, ever since I had a Malaguti with an FS1-E engine in it. Putting ATF in with the oil and mixing it in 50/50, prevents the clutch slipping. It works really well. It’s designed for automatic gearboxes which obviously have slip-rings and clutches, and ATF was developed for that. So when you use it in your two-stroke gearbox, because it’s thinner than normal oil, it stops the clutch from slipping…

1 March 28-29 McGuinness and Whitham McGuinness and Whitham are back. This week, they’re in Carlisle on March 28 and Doncaster on March 29. Tickets from £25 (£30 for Doncaster), and for the VIP treatment with a meet and greet, food & drinks it’s £79.99. bikesandbanter.co.uk 2 March 28-30 Springspeed nationals The National Drag Racing championships are at Santa Pod with cars and bikes taking to the quarter mile. Tickets are £53 for the weekend, with day tickets £27. You’ll have to pre-book if you want to take part in the action. santapod.co.uk 3 March 30 Ardingly classic The South of England showground (RH17 6TL) is playing host to Adingly’s classic bike show and jumble this Sunday. Grab a bargain with general entry tickets valid from 10am for £7, or…

With the sad news that Ponderosa isn’t reopening yet, we thought we’d share a few of our top Welsh stops you can visit instead, all in the hopes Ponderosa will be back soon! Owl’s Nest On the edge of the Brecon Beacons with a warm welcome and plenty of banter. Lower Rd, Llandovery SA20 0DJ Old Stores Café The closest café to the Ponderosa, it’s like walking into a museum with plenty of amazing stuff all over the place! Pontblyddyn, Mold CH7 4HR Baffle Haus: The Cedars Great coffee, great food and a great location. The Cedars, Goytre, Pontypool NP4 0AD Baffle Haus: Old Post Only opened at the end of last year, this Baffle Haus has loads more parking space and the same vibe as The Cedars. Old Post…

Make sure you don’t miss an episode by heading to bikertek.co.uk #1 Reading the road The better we are at reading the road, the faster and safer we can be. This video explains how to use visual limit points to improve your cornering, how to scan without getting overwhelmed by information and how to use peripheral vision. #2 Braking We go to an airfield to prove how much more effective your front brake is compared to the rear, then head onto the road to explore how braking interacts with steering, when to use the back brake and why expert riders use their brakes more, not less. #3 Overtaking Light, fast and slim, motorcycles are overtaking weapons. But they can get us into trouble. We highlight the main overtaking risks, and…

THE MCN TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK £14,099 Honda NT1100 DCT ES ● 1084cc liquid-cooled inline four SOHC 16v ● 100.6bhp @ 7500rpm ● 249kg wet weight (without panniers) £17,521 (£15,821 for standard Versys 1100 SE, £16,491 for SE Tourer) Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE Grand Tourer ● 1099cc liquid-cooled inline four DOHC 16v ● 133.1bhp @ 9000rpm ● 259kg wet weight (without panniers) There is a stigma attached to the word ‘practical’ as it is often misinterpreted as ‘boring’. Announce you are after a practical two-wheeler and you can expect a wisecrack about which shade of grey it will come in – but buying a bike based on it being a sensible option isn’t something to be ashamed of. Far from it. Practical bikes are ready to…

£14,099 Honda NT1100 DCT ES £17,521 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE Grand Tourer*…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor ● Each helmet tested for hundreds of miles of real-world riding ● Comfort, fit and noise rated Two months ON TEST Shark OXO £369.99 ‘It’s two helmets in one’ Tested by Al Silcox for two months I’m a big fan of the Shark OXO, which is the latest dual-homologated lid from French manufacturer Shark. I’ve been wearing their helmets for a quarter of a century and have always been impressed with the quality, from the very first Foggy rep in 1996 through the entire evolution of the flip-fronted models. Over the years they’ve gone from strength to strength, and this one is a vast improvement on the earlier versions. Made from polycarbonate, the OXO has a fully removable liner, which is plush and…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Renew your rotors Bike’s brake discs wearing a bit thin? Here’s how to fit a fresh set BRUCE’S TIPS Use a cable tie or bungee cord to secure it to the side, out of your way 1 Off with the caliper A brake disc problem can often be felt as a juddering sensation at the brake lever, whether that’s front or rear. This juddering is typically caused by a warped disc, which may occur due to wear or damage. To inspect the condition of the discs, place the bike on a stand so that the wheels can spin freely. Next remove the caliper bolts and carefully detach the caliper. 2 Check with a torch One common issue that can affect brake discs is cracking, which is especially…

Looking ahead to this week’s WSBK clash at Portimao 1 Time to rethink The drama and politics have been brewing for some time. In recent years, ‘Super Concessions’ have been introduced which allow teams who struggled in the previous season to bend the rules and run parts on their bikes which wouldn’t ordinarily be allowed. This means different sets of technical rules for each manufacturer. Whenever somebody gets to run something special, it has resulted in a culture of everybody else moaning until they get something themselves. Is it time the teams and manufacturers worked together to develop a single set of rules? Manufacturers very rarely agree, so WSBK could benefit from a committee such as IRTA in MotoGP to represent the teams as one; this would certainly help them…

MCN Sports Editor on MotoGP’s 2027 tyre switch TOP STORY News that Pirelli will become MotoGP tyre supplier in 2027 at the same time the series introduces new technical regulations sent a ripple through the racing world. But these new rules could in fact have the potential to kick start a tsunami of change; a change that could have serious effects on World Superbikes and even British Superbikes and the Isle of Man TT. This is why… Too close Despite MotoGP bikes being the absolute pinnacle of racing technology and costing millions to develop, they are not always that much faster than a WSBK machine. With over 300bhp and weighing 157kg, ride height devices, ground effect aero and them being ridden by the best riders on the planet, you would…

A dealer once told me that we motorcyclists are in a constant state of choosing when it comes to bikes. We might have a bike or two (or more) in the garage, but there’s always another one that we’d quite fancy owning, if space and/or finances allowed. He told me this as I was walking around his showroom, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at various bits of stock while my credit card gently trembled inside my purse… According the DVLA, around 500,000 bikes change keeper every year, a number which reinforces the dealer’s wisdom perfectly. Luckily, the used market is chock full of choice, from nearly-new machines with big savings off their brand new RRPs, to five-year-old models which still pack modern technology and looks but at an altogether more affordable price.…

£9000-£13,000 BMW R1250GS (2019-2020) ● 134.1bhp ● 1254cc ● 850/870mm ● 249kg BMW unveil the new R1250GS with its revolutionary new ShiftCam boxer engine. Sharing a similar chassis to the R1200GS, the more powerful and bigger-capacity 1250 version features enhanced technology as well ‘next generation’ ESA and more. £9999-£13,999 BMW R1250GS Adventure (2019-2020) ● 134.1bhp ● 1254cc ● 890/910mm ● 268kg Shortly after the GS arrives, BMW release the Adventure version. Powered by the same ShiftCam boxer motor, the GSA adds a 30L tank, longer travel suspension and a more rugged outlook on life with spoke wheels fitted as standard. £12,000-£16,000 BMW R1250GS Adventure (2021-2023) ● 134.1bhp ● 1254cc ● 890/910mm ● 268kg Both GS and GSA are updated with a new 40th Anniversary paint option, Eco riding mode and…

£4999-£6999 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin (2016-2017) ● 93.9bhp ● 998cc ● 850/870mm ● 228kg Arriving in late 2015, the all-new Africa Twin is powered by a parallel twin and has been developed to be a ‘go-anywhere’ product with 21/18in wheels, making it true to its heritage. Although not in engine configuration! £5999-£8999 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin (2018-2019) ● 93.9bhp ● 998cc ● 850/870mm ● 230kg Second-gen gains a ride-by-wire throttle that brings with it three riding modes, enhanced HSTC settings and a quickshifter as an option. The engine is also refined with a lighter balance shaft and the styling is upgraded. £6500-£8999 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports (2018-2019) ● 93.9bhp ● 998cc ● 900/920mm ● 243kg More adventure-targeted, the AS model has a 24.2L tank (up 5.4L) as well…

SAVE 35% Alpinestars SMX-6 V2 Drystar £194.99 Time to re-boot your biking season Sporty boots can suit anything from a trackday to the daily commute, providing both protection and on-bike comfort. The focus is on riding in them, rather than walking, so they tend to offer less of a compromise than footwear intended to be flexible for wandering about in. Hinged ankle plates, designed to keep your joints within a natural range of movement, are common, along with replaceable sliders and ventilation. We’ve been marching through deals on the web to find the best offers on racy road boots, with the Alpinestars SMX-6 V2 Drystar offering one of the most attractive packages. The upper is abrasion resistant microfibre, with an antislip rubber sole and a waterproof membrane, plus mesh vents…

MCN’s Dan Sutherland got the chance to test the assistance system during the world launch of the Speed Triple 1200 RS at Portimao circuit, in Portugal: “To demonstrate the tech, Triumph insisted I approach the start finish crest on the circuit, pin the bike in second from the middle of the revs and hold the throttle flat. With the front wheel hoisted, I simply had to keep my right wrist twisted and throw gears at it where necessary, via the smooth quickshifter. “Initially, my brain forced me to bail out of the lift – scared to trust the technology to catch me. “Soon enough though I was able to go through second, into third, and onto fourth gear on the back wheel without any real skill at all. In this…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE WORLD’S WARMEST BASELAYER ® www.zerofit.co.uk Here is a picture of my first motorcycle – a Yamaha RD125. Tony Thorpe My Z650 B1 in 1977 and one of the best dogs I ever had, Caesar. Unfortunately, I wrote the the bike off in France. Paul Walker This was my 16th birthday – and it had snowed overnight! Didn’t stop me getting out there. Julian Challis 1978, and a secondhand Fizzy that I rode everywhere. Still riding now. Mick Goodall Back in the 80s I got my first taste of motorcycling riding around the Greek island of Santorini. Richard Beshong My first road bike – a Kawasaki ZXR400 in 1995. Clive Bell Patersonia in North West Tasmania 1975. I was 14-years-old and on my…

THE DETAILS ● 7 days 8am-4pm, Thurs-Friday 6pm-10pm ● thecustomcafe.co.uk ● Barnhorn Road (A259), Bexhill-on-Sea TN39 4QR What was originally a bungalow on the edge of the A259 is now a hub for everything motorcycling, and almost everything else too. The décor-laced interior is enough to start a conversation in itself, and as it’s only a stone’s throw from the May Day run route, the venue has proven popular with motorcyclists from across the country. But the café’s success didn’t happen overnight. Owner Caroline Sweby built the place from scratch, but was convinced it was jinxed when she broke down outside, and spent nights on a mattress in the bar as she completed renovations. But she persevered, and now the acre of land has two stages, a BBQ, sofas, car park…

The throttle is responsible for much more than just acceleration. It also affects weight transfer, suspension movement and grip, which makes it crucial for fluid, fast, safe cornering. In the latest episode of MCN’s video series – in partnership with National Highways’ BikerTek initiative – the Secrets of Better Riding, we’ll reveal all the top tips to fine-tune your throttle control. “Advanced riders will often talk about using ‘acceleration sense’ to describe using the throttle to match road conditions as they ride,” says Rapid Training coach Giles Lamb, an ex-police motorcyclist who presents the videos. “But in reality this is more about reading the road than skilled throttle twirling. If you read the road well in advance it’s usually fairly simple to adjust your speed using the throttle rather than…

FIRST RIDE BMW have updated their S1000R for 2025. The supremely popular super-naked was conceived in 2014 when the German firm ripped the fairing off their S1000RR superbike and fitted it with straight bars. Such was the dominance of the RR, it was a big deal back then. It has been tweaked over the years since, before it got its first major overhaul in 2021 with the chassis, electronics and retuned engine from the latest-generation S1000RR. Now the R gains a further set of upgrades, and we’re riding it here at its world launch at the Spanish Almeria circuit to see what difference they make. 1 More oomph Compared to most European supernakeds, including BMW’s own M1000R, the S1000R’s power figures don’t jump out at you. The outgoing model, with…

‘Versys is hard to fault’ The upgrades Honda have made to the NT for 2025 have very nearly made it the ultimate all-rounder, but they have fallen short of the mark. Quite how a company as vast as Honda can fail to design a decent screen adjustment system is a mystery – and their switchgear/dash interface needs a total redesign. The Versys isn’t perfect, its dash feels like something from a bygone era when compared to most rivals, but what the Kawasaki has in its court is the fact the rest works so well. Refined and evolved to the point that there are very few, if any, rough edges, the latest version of the Versys is hard to fault. The extra spirit the new 1100 motor injects is a welcome…

When a young learner rider found himself on the wrong side of a particularly nasty pothole, he decided to take the DIY approach to repairs. Upon discovering his front wheel was dented and no longer holding air, the biker attempted to bash it back into shape – which, unsurprisingly, didn’t exactly go to plan. “It was a Chinese Lexmoto 125 of some description,” said Keith Bousfield, owner of Inverness Motorcycles. “The customer claimed to have just caught a pothole and said that’s what caused the damage, but in reality, it looked like he’d made an attempt to straighten it himself with a hammer, causing it to crack. “He came in looking to get it fixed, but the problem is, especially all the way up here, it’s difficult to find somewhere…

Looking ahead to round three of MotoGP in America Marc Marquez has dominated so far in 2025 and there’s a strong possibility that his winning streak will continue this weekend as MotoGP heads the Circuit of the Americas (CoTA) in Austin, Texas. Marquez has seven victories at CoTA and would likely have had more if not for technical issues in the last two years. Elsewhere, plenty of eyes will be on Pecco Bagnaia as he looks to finally get his season up and running, while Alex Marquez will be pushing hard to finally get that maiden GP win added to his CV. Here are the key points heading into the weekend. Here to reclaim his throne Marc Marquez loves CoTA. CoTA loves Marc Marquez. The Spaniard was unbeaten at the…

What about BSB? While MotoGP’s switch to Pirelli doesn’t directly affect BSB, there could be another reason why the British championship may have to look at revising its technical regulations at some point in the future – UK race tracks. With Superbikes getting quicker and more powerful year on year they are simply out-growing the race tracks in the UK. Series owners MSVR have done an impressive job of improving circuits, slowing corners and extending run-off, but there will simply come a point where the current Superbikes are too fast-regardless of the amount of recticel or air fencing. The championship has already out grown circuits including Mallory Park and Brands Indy. Will road racing have to change? Due to the fact that the International road races don’t operate under FIM…

£3499-£6999 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer (2015-2017) ● 113bhp ● 847cc ● 845/860mm ● 210kg The original Tracer model adds an 18-litre fuel tank, more relaxed ergonomics and a semi-fairing to the MT-09 platform to create a budget-friendly sports tourer that comes with a decent level of technology alongside that stunning three-cylinder motor. £4999-£7500 Yamaha Tracer 900 (2018-2020) ● 113bhp ● 847cc ● 850/865mm ● 214kg Now called the Tracer 900, the first update sees the Tracer’s suspension upgraded and a longer swingarm fitted to improve stability at speed. The screen adjustment system is also redesigned and its ergonomics made more relaxed. £4999-£7999 Yamaha Tracer 900 GT (2018-2020) ● 113bhp ● 847cc ● 850/865mm ● 227kg The GT model adds 22-litre colour-matched panniers, upgraded suspension, a TFT dash, cruise control, heated grips…

£2999-£3999 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa (1999-2002) ● 172bhp ● 1298cc ● 805mm ● 238kg The original unrestricted model is launched and shocks the world with its staggering top speed and blistering acceleration, so much so that in 2000 its performance was pegged back to 186mph. A steel subframe was fitted in 2002. £3499-£5500 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa (2003-2007) ● 175bhp ● 1298cc ● 805mm ● 238kg Small upgrades to the ECU see Suzuki squeeze 3bhp more out of the Busa’s engine (torque is unchanged at 104lb.ft) and its fuel economy figures improved. The six-piston brake calipers change colour from black to gold. £4999-£9999 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa (2008-2018) ● 194bhp ● 1340cc ● 805mm ● 266kg Second generation sees the capacity increased to 1340cc with titanium valves, a new fuelinjection system and power…

We found these for sale right now… www.motorcyclenews.com 2022 BMW R1250GS Adventure TE £14,349 With panniers, engine protection bars, heated grips, adventure sidelights and electronically adjustable suspension, this 2022 R1250GS Adventure is loaded with goodies. It has 11,132 miles on the clock, and looks a clean example. www.shirlaws.com 2018 BMW R1250GS Adventure £9091 It’s hard to find a good GS Adventure for under the five-figure mark, but this example at The Superbike Factory comes in at £9091. With two previous owners and 27,385 miles on the clock, there’s still pLenty of life left in the big BMW which means this one is definitely worth a look. www.superbikefactory.co.uk 2020 BMW R1250GS Adventure TE £11,990 At £11,990, this R1250GS Adventure TE has two previous owners and has 44,928 miles on the clock.…