Tabla de contenidos para November 2022 en RiDE

'Two brilliant bikes topped the sheets' Welcome to a celebration of people power. We’re not the first magazine to host a Bike of the Year competition but we are the only title where the best is decided by the bike-buying public. From hundreds of readers, we selected a crosssection of British bikers to judge the best machines of 2022. The lucky readers each became RiDE's road-testers, riding all six of our shortlisted bikes on the same set course and the same roads as we test on. Each had to rate performance, practicality and value; it was a fascinating couple of days. Because of their feedback and scores, we know the two machines that have won RiDE Recommended triangles (awarded to bikes for the first time) are the best all-rounders. Both…

Killough, County Down My dad Peter on his Honda Africa Twin accompanied me on a last ride with my 2010 Yamaha Ténéré XT660Z before I sold it and bought a new Ténéré 700 World Raid. Making use of some rare fair weather, we stopped off at Rossglass Beach in Killough to take in the stunning view of the Mourne Mountains before heading home. Charlie Watson Get your bike in RiDE & win a BikeTrac system Each month the Star Picture will win a BikeTrac security tracker with a year’s Bike Trac subscription. As well as helping recover your bike if it is nicked, it logs journeys and gives live battery voltage information, too. How to send us your photos Email your most inspirational biking photos to us at ride@ride.co.uk with…

FRONT END RiDE INVESTIGATES ARGUABLY MOTORCYCLES HAVE never been safer and greener than they are today. And yet, some local authorities are reducing speed limits in the name of safety and to tackle noise pollution and climate change. But is this the right approach to the problem and where does it leave bikers seeking out new routes? The latest location is south and south-west Surrey, with the local County Council preparing to remove all 60mph limits in an area between the Mole Valley, Guildford, and Waverlev, Although some will become 40mph zones, a map given to RiDE by the authority shows a substantial amount of new 30mph and 20mph zones. "The motive is to reduce the risk and severity of road collisions, and to support people who are walking, cycling…

BMW’s R1250GS replacement looks ready to be revealed in the next few weeks; fresh spy shots show portions of a road-ready machine with factory-fitted accessories. News leaked in March after a glitch on BMW's website allowed people to book servicing for an R1300GS, R1400GS and M1300GS. Although a tarpaulin obscures much of the machine, it’s clear the traditional beaky GS silhouette will remain, with plenty of ground clearance. There is an electronic module nestled between the forks, which could be part of a new radar-assisted cruise control system and the 1300cc boxer twin looks to be a stressed member. Further evidence the motor is productionready is the polished exhaust headers and collector box.…

Your November 2019 issue of the mag featured my BMW 1150GS, then 17 years old and with 225,000 miles on the clock. It is now 20 years old, with 252,000 miles. Following some mid-life TLC (engine change, gearbox rebuild, brakes refurb, powder and ceramic coating, general sprucing-up) it's ready for the next 250,000. Meanwhile, my ‘newer’ 14-year-old 1200GS, which was decidedly third-hand when I bought and used it for the 2018 TransAm Run (Prudhoe Bay to Ushuaia) while keeping the 1150 for domestic use, has been quietly clocking-up foreign miles, I limited the 1200 to 'only' Scotland (three times), France, Corsica, Sardinia, Italy (twice) etc etc. Oh, and Wales/lreland last week… On the way back from Ireland, I saw the 1200 has now clocked its first 100K miles too. So…

With Rapid Training Coach Ryan Decarteret 'When I ride in the dark, I always feel like I'm crawling. Any tips?' Q THIS SUMMER I started commuting on my new bike - a Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT - and I'd like to continue through the winter. My only concern is that I'll be riding down B-roads in the dark and whenever I've done that in the past, I rarely seem to crack 40mph and always feel like I'm crawling along. Any tips? Sue Holland, email A YOUR GSX-S HAS decent LED lights so you might find night rides a bit easier than in the past but you'll still have to accept that speeds will be lower in the dark. The problem is that almost every bike, except a handful of highend machines with…

FIRST RIDE ITALJET DRAGSTER 200 CRAZY TO LOOK at, the Dragster gained an instant cult following and sold 70,000 units worldwide from its launch in 1998 until its demise in 2003, And it's back and is as striking as ever. But gone is the screaming two-smoke motor, replaced by a Euro5-compliant four-stroke in either 125 or 200cc guise. The 200 tested here makes a claimed 17.3bhp with 11.4lb-ft of torque. Not a patch on the old two-stroke, the 200 is reasonably nippy with a top speed of just over 70mph - eventually. It’s not outstanding in any way, which is a bit of a shame considering its heritage. It's okay, just not fun or memorable. The Dragster is initially a bit unnerving as its small wheels (12in front, 13in rear)…

TAKING INSPIRATION FROM the 1977 Kawasaki Z650 Bl, the Z650RS is basically a Z650 in disguise. However, is that necessarily a bad thing? Rather than do the bare minimum, Kawasaki has actually thought about and carefully considered how to pay homage to the Bl and the final result (although undeniably not as pretty in grey as it is in trademark green…) thoroughly hits the mark. “I had a B1 back in the day and I really like what Kawasaki has done with its styling,” says Andrew. “It has the teardrop tank, the squishy seat and 'duck-bill’ rear end, everything. I wouldn’t say you can feel the heritage in the ride but, styling-wise, it definitely hits the mark.” As a Trident owner who only passed Ms test less than a year…

St Mary's car park Perfect pick-me-up to start the day, where would bikers be without a hot coffee and a bacon bap? There’s always a couple of luggers parked up in St Mary’s selling breakfast and/or ice cream, depending on the weather. Mind the seagulls though. Drift Café Cresswell The Drift Cafe, just up from Cresswell beach car park, is split between a chip shop one side and a cafe on the other, with indoor seating, a patio area or outside on the grassy bank. Always good food, and always busy too. thedriftcafe.co.uk The Geordie Banger Amble Locally-produced sausages come in loads of flavours, plus sausage rolls to absolutely die for, pork pies and hot dogs sold from pod 10 at Amble Harbour Village. Online ordering for delivery too. www.geordiebangercompany.co.uk…

YOU MAY RECALL that we were once a nation of sportsbike lovers. Head-down, knee-down superbike-toting nutters. Then, as our joints matured and stiffened, we tired of riding really fast all the time on bikes that were becoming ridiculously powerful and, technically, of diminishing relevance to the roads we rode, Instead, we began to hanker for machines that were still lots of fun but less intense and less painful to ride. These were nakeds. In time, people began noticing that some of these nakeds were becoming as powerful as the superbikes we rejected. Super Dukes, Tuonos and, latterly, Streetfighter V4s bristled with increasingly baffling electronic technology that focused more on a lap time than on a fun Sunday afternoon just mucking about. Questions weren’t raised in the Commons exactly, but eyebrows…

Oxford Delta £119.99 www.oxford.products.com THE CLAIM "A sporty, short-length jacket packed full of features for casual sport riders. Versatile, waterproof with a Continental cut, lower at the back and aggressive styling with a high specification." THE REALITY Oxford’s Delta 1.0 arrived too late for last month's jacket product test but we tried it in the same way - same test route, bike, method and criteria (unfortunately the weather wasn't as hot, but we couldn't help that). On its performance, we are confident the Delta is right up there. It's as good as its rivals in many areas, lacking in only a few and cheaper (recommended is £119.99 but it’s currently £100 at SportsbikeShop, www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk). The Delta neither feels cheap nor lacks features. For protection, CE rating is A, armour is…

Quad Lock MAG From £31.99 www.quadlockcase.co.uk THE CLAIM "The Quad Lock MAG range includes new cases, two new car mounts and an expanded desk range. Quad Lock MAG makes mounting your phone faster." THE REALITY The new Quad Lock MAG cases are thinner and flatter than the predecessors and will still work with your existing bike mounts as before. The difference is with a range of other quick-release mounts, such as for your desk or in the car or van. You just offer the phone, in its case, up to the mount and the magnets pull it in and hold it securely. You wouldn’t rely on it on the bike, where the company's huge range of mounts still works but in less extreme conditions, it works really well and adds…

Alpinestars Tech 5 boots £229.99 www.alpinestars.com If you ride adventure bikes off-road it's a great idea to have a sturdy set of boots. These are proper motocross boots and, as such, they're stiff in the sole, heavily armoured and weigh a ton. Because of this, they take loads of getting used to but, once you do, they're excellent. Supremely comfortable, their ratchet system means a snug, supportive fit and I can feel the brake pedal more than I thought was possible. You may need to raise the gear lever though, because of the size of the toe box. Protection is impressive: I've had an R1250GS land on them without even a bruise! MATT WILDEE Litelock Core Moto £199.99 www.litelok.com This flexible circular lock comes in 125cm or 150cm lengths, is…

USED BUYING GUIDE 2013-current £2500-54950 105mph 44bhp LEAKY DASH The post-2017 model’s flashy new 5.2in colour TFT dash Is the later Duke's most widely reported problem, being prone to water Ingress and subsequent condensation. Many have been replaced under warranty but It doesn’t necessarily solve the problem. One owner reported that he’d had four replacements IN 2011, KIM’S first 125 Duke redefined the lightweight naked with its mix of aggressive style, punchy single-cylinder performance and ultra-nimble handling. It was so dandy that it was quickly followed up by a 200cc version. And this success led to an even-punchier 390 version in 2013, based on the same rolling chassis but with lively, A2compliant, 44bhp performance. Appealing not just to A2 riders but also more mature types wanting an easy-toride but fun…

Original launched in 2013, following the 125 and 200cc versions. Essentially the 125 with a 44bhp 373cc single, it’s an immediate hit slipper clutch was added in 2015 before a Euro4 makeover for 2017 with new ride-by- | wire, ECU, airbox and side-mounted exhaust; new chassis with bolt-on subframe, swingarm, sharper geometry, revised suspension and brakes, new styling with larger 13.4-litre tank, LED headlight, TFT dash and backlit switchgear. Updated again in 2021 for Euro5 ACCESSORIES As a naked, slightly budget performance bike, the 390 Duke is also a natural for official (via KTM Power Parts) and aftermarket accessories, many of which can be desirable and boost value. A lot of used examples come with tail tidies, crash protection, screens and Akrapovic (or other) pipes. More all-rounder owners prefer heated…

GARAGE WORTH THE EXTRA? WORTH THE EXTRA? WHEN IT COMES to deciding on an adventure bike, for many riders BMW’s R1250GS is the natural choice; a fact that has made it the UK’s best-selling bike for about as long as anyone can remember. However, while picking a GS is an easy decision to make, choosing which model is far harder. In 2021, the UK split was 1766 bikes to 1427 in favour of the Adventure over the base GS model as riders are attracted to its greater tank range and more rugged styling. But is tills the right decision? Just what are the benefits and drawbacks of paying £1575 for a GSA over a GS? lime to find out… How they feel The GSA may only carry an extra ten litres…

Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports From £14.749 lO1bhp 78lb-ft 238kg You have the choice of the stock model or the Adventure Sports with its larger 24.8L tank and options of semi-active suspension and a DCT gearbox. Not as assured on-road. Triumph Tiger 1200 From £14,600 > 148bhp > 96lb-ft > 255kg (GT Explorer) The GT is the road-targeted model with the Rally the off-road one and both are available in big-tank Explorer guise. The triple engine is a beauty and the level of tech impressive. A proper GS rival but not quite better. Ducati Multistrada V4 From £16.795 > 168bhp > 93Ib-ft > 217kg (dry) Very much a road bike with a small off-road pretence, the V4 engine is staggering and the electronics very hard to fault. The higher-spec S…

Steve Herhert-Mattick, art editor An interest in Vikings means I've long wanted to visit Lindisfarne. Didn’t know you could ride there! PAGE 50 Jim Blackstock, product editor Electric bikes are coming and the Zero DSR/X is bringing the price down. But is it any good? PAGE 26 Simon Hargreaves, contributor I've had my three-season gloves for a lot more than that. I wonder what the current crop is like? PAGE 72…

RIDE READER JOHN FRANKLIN RiDE reader John, 53, is a sociai/care worker and co-ordinator, has been riding since he was 16 and has owned everything from lairy two-strokes to Harley Sportsters. He currently has the MT-09 he’s brought out to play today, plus a Royal Enfield Himalayan for green laning and pottering round in the hills I'VE MET UP with John near his home and he's talking me through the route before we leave. “There are loads of great roads and places to visit round here,” he says. “But they won't fit into two hours, sadly.” I'd said we needed to keep it to a couple of hours as we don't have the space in four pages to do a longer route justice, and because stopping for photos and notes…

Despite some local authorities cutting limits, Prime Minister Liz Truss hasn’t ruled out the possibility of scrapping the mandatory motorway speed limit of 70mph, instead letting drivers decide a safe speed for themselves. The new PM was asked about smart motorways and the possibility of implementing an ‘advisory’ limit instead by an audience member at the final Conservative Party hustings, ahead of being appointed for the leadership role. Addressing the speaker, she said: “On speed limits, I would be prepared to look at that, I can't give you a precise answer on the point, but I do believe that the smart-motorways experiment hasn’t worked." Should any change go ahead, the plan could lead to an 80mph advisory’ limit while allowing drivers to determine higher speeds if weather and traffic allow,…

Ducati is set to release a hotter version of its middleweight Monster naked. The base, £10,895 Monster is a RiDE favourite for its fun and usability and while it has basic non-adjustable suspension, it works brilliantly on the road. The new Monster SP features fullyadjustable Öhlins suspension, Brembo Stylema brakes and a MotoGP-inspired paintjob. However, there is a huge price to pay; £3100 over standard. The new bike will be £13,995.…

It would seem that almost every month, there is a debate about the increasing amount of technology that we now have in bikes. I recently returned from a week in Morocco during which I rented an XT660 for on and off-road riding. The bike had nearly 100,000km on the clock and what struck me most was its basic simplicity. None of the rider aids that I've been used to for years now; it was back-to-basics riding - I loved it. Then I returned home and got back on my ATAS. It was nice to be back. I love my bike, it’s a great place to be. Do I need the rider aids that the tech gives me? No. Do I like having them though? Yes, of course. I remember too…

FIRST RIDE YAMAHA MT-10 SP 1 THE GAP HAS CLOSED In its previous incarnation, the SP came with a few notable trinkets aside from Me just the Ohlins suspension that separated it from the base bike, such as a TFT dash and (for a year! a quickshifter. For 2022, Yamaha has decided to arm both bikes with a full i electronics package and that means buying the SP basically boils down to whether you want whether you value the kudos, improved looks and the Ohlins semi-active supension or not. You still get a few cosmetic upgrades with the SP but the gap is closer between them 2 THE SEMI-ACTIVE SUSPENSION IS EXCELLENT Featuring spool valves rather than traditional needle valves, which Ohiins claims deliver faster adjustment and a more-accurate responsiveness…

PEOPLE’S BIKE OF THE YEAR Sounds like it, shouldn’t work: ail adventure-bike engine and frame on road suspension with cast 17in wheels and huge fairing as a flagship sports tourer? But work it does. Africa Twin owner Paul is amazed: “What a fantastic bike,” he says, before he even takes his helmet off after the ride. “When I saw it I thought, hmmm, boring. Doesn’t do anything for me visually. But after riding it - wow!” First impressions of the NT are deceptive: “I thought it’d be a fish out of water,” says Peter. "But no - it’s got some weight but once it’s rolling, it’s lovely. Well balanced and I’m happy leaning it over. And when you ask it, it really goes. You don’t have to rev it to…

NORTHUMBERLAND IS, FOR many of us, a transit comity - a place we pass through on the way up to Scotland or down to the rest of England, but rarely stopping for an exploratory poke around. Northumberland’s central expanse of high moorland - the bit bisected by the A68, with Kidder Water and forest on the southern side - has a remote, mythical feel of the far north about it; a bit like the place beyond the big icy wall in Game Of Thrones. Every time you climb to the summit of Carter Bar at the border, you half expect to see Jon Snow in a bloodied leather tabard stomping around beside a castle. Across to the east, down by the coastline, there are plenty of castles but no Snow…

BEST FOR SAND Druridge Bay Beach The Northumbria coast is studded with miles of white sand and deserted dunes - stroll for a few minutes and it can feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. But there’s none more remote than Druridge Bay Beach, just up the coast from Cresswell. Plenty of nearby parking behind the dunes, too. BEST CASTLE Bamburgh Castle Imposing and historic, Bamburgh Castle covers a nine-acre site with its Norman inner keep, two museums, state rooms and armoury. The grounds contain a cafe and chapel ruins and amazing sea views, too. Price of entry £14.10 (e-ticket) www.bamburghcastle.com BEST FOE CROSSING THE WATER Holy Island Of Lindisfarne Three miles wide and one-and-a-half miles long, Lindisfarne is famous as the seat of Christianity in the north, with…

Ducati Monster £10,895 > 110bhp > 166kg (dry) With nimble handling, suspension that works at low speed and a brilliant torque-to-weight ratio, the 937cc Monster is an underrated masterpiece. With an operating window that works at lower speed than the V4 and with performance that seems in excess of its figures, it may be our favourite naked Ducati, Yamaha MT-10 £13,500 >163bhp > 212kg (wet) The MT-10 is far less advanced than the V4 and doesn’t have the outright performance but is more usable, more comfortable and has a cheaper price of entry. It doesn’t feel as special, doesn’t have the build quality and magic suspension that make the Streetfighter so desirable, but does have a similar, booming soundtrack. Suzuki GSX-S1000 £11,199 >150bhp > 214kg (wet) Riding and performing far…

Pharao Robson boots £69.99 www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk THE CLAIM “Microfibre boot with waterproof membrane, protective inserts and dual buckle fastening." THE REALITY Another SportsbikeShop exclusive, these short adventure/touring boots from Pharao are a proper bargain, at less than £70. They’re fairly chunky and, initially at least, stiff, which is reassuring rather than annoying but does mean that they are better suited to something that doesn't necessarily need finesse, like a large tourer or adventurer rather than a sportsbike. Grip from the sole is good though feel is diminished and they are comfortable and reasonably sweat-free. In the brief rainstorm we tried them in, they proved to be waterproof as well, with more testing to come.…

Ultimate Add Ons balaclava £4.99 www.ultimateaddons.com THE CLAIM "Ultimateaddons new balaclava has been designed to allow the user to breathe and hear better than a normal balaclava. THE REALITY This balaclava is formed in Dryarn to wick moisture away from the skin yet help keep your head warm. It’s comfortable even with a seam down the centre and has panels over the mouth and the ears. You’ll hardly know you're wearing it. Good value for the quality. Muc-Off kickstand pad £4.99 www.muc-off.com THE CLAIM "Our new Motorcycle Kickstand Pad is designed to stop your kickstand slipping or sinking.” THE REALITY A simple idea done well. It's an ABS plastic pad to spread the load of your sidestand over the cross shape. The lips locate on the foot of the stand,…

- THREE-SEASON GLOVES - ‘Waterproofing is key for threeseason gloves' Waterproofing is key for three-season gloves and it’s no coincidence the three topscorers kept all water out. But after that, they did things a little differently. The Alpinestars SP-365s were sporty and comfortable and, though a little clammy and stiff, were nice to ride in. Their lack of feel let them down slightly but they are worthy of a Recommended tag, as great all-rounders. The Knox Coverts had a heavyweight appearance but fit very well, are comfortable and gave decent feel. They were also great all-rounders with confidence high and as a result, deserve a Recommended triangle. Topping the charts were the Oxford Mondials. They pat in a great all-round performance, of fit and comfort with excellent confidence thanks to…

Puig light smoke sport screen £67 Like all nakeds, if you're planning major miles the 390 Duke benefits from an aftermarket screen. Puig products are recommended by many owners. www.pyramid-plastics.co.uk R&G tail tidy £111.99 This tail tidy from R&G neatly tidies up the rear end of the ’17-on Duke, also fits the 125 version and is widely recommended by owners. www.rg-racing.com Motorbatt High-Torque battery £52.45 This High-Torque battery has a higher cold-cranking-Amps rating than stock, allowing easier cold starting. Maintenance-free and high quality, there are no electrolvtes or acid. www.wemoto.com The 390 Duke is as pure, simple and raw as bikes get. Budget build quality and limited distance ability mean it’s not for everyone but few bikes deliver as much fun for the money. WHAT’S GOOD? Punchy, nimble, ultra-light performance,…

R1250GS TE R1250GSA TE…

> £9349 > 73bhp > 54lb-ft > 146kg dry We tried the ES700 for the first time last month on a tight, rutted enduro track but the road/ byway loop of this test is far better suited to its abilities. On the road, it is actually faster in a straight line and punches out of corners harder than our Ténéré World Raid - the step in top-end power and sweet quickshifter make it an exciting machine to work through the box. It’s astoundingly smooth too - twin balancer shafts work well. Unlike most traillies, the suspension is good for brisk road riding, with adequate brakes when you're on tarmac (and brilliant off-road ABS when you’re not). Aside from needing taller bars, on the loose, it’s a dream. The 250mm-travel WP…

FRONT END month in bikes V-STROM RANGE REVAMPED SUZUKI'S NEW 2023 V-Strom 1050 adventure bike replaces the two-year-old XT in favour of a new DE model with more promising off-road credentials. The DE drops the XT's 19in front wheel for a Dunlop TrailMax-shod 21 in rim and is designed to cash in on the demand for off-roadready adventure bikes. To help it cope with the rough, there is longer-travel, fully-adjustable KYB suspension, plus 190mm of ground clearance - a whole 30mm more than the old XT. There's also taller first and sixth gears and the DE gets a stronger drive chain, plus a dedicated mode for a greater focus on off-road riding. Three power and tractioncontrol modes are provided with the DE model featuring a ‘G’ mode - for gravel…

LETTERS Email ride@ride.co.uk Write to us RiDE, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Why is everyone happy to let biking slide away in front of our eyes? With electric being literally forced down our necks like it’s the answer to every eco problem, you miss vital components of riding itself that everyone seems to forget or protect. Biking is not just about propulsion on two wheels; it's the freedom to be different and included at the same time, to feel the labour of your tinkering. It’s the smell of warm oil and hot exhausts, the noisy rasp of a two-stroke, thump of a twin or a rev of a four-pot - the choice and variety are what make it interesting! We must remember to not put eco values ahead at…

NEW BIKES FIRST RIDE P GASGAS SM700 SPANISH OFF-ROAD FIRM GasGas is set to break into biking's mainstream. Now with a presence at every level of MotoGP and new models on the way, owner KTM looks set to turn GasGas into a proper roadbike company. The SM700 you see here is just the start; based on KTM’s 690 SMC R, it is essentially the same machine but with red bodywork and new wheels. The SM700 is a world away from the wobbly, shaky supermotos we saw when they were touted as the ‘next big thing' a couple of decades ago. This is sophisticated, fast, handles very well and has all the toys and rider aids the market expects in 2022. The engine is simply astounding 73bhp is huge for a…

OUR WHEELS HAVE barely stopped turning during this incredible summer which means, between us, the RiDE team has covered thousands of miles all around the country on every significant new bike of 2022. it's a cracking year tor new metal too, with fantastic new blood in almost every category. But to find the very best, we had to whittle our selection down to just six - and then hand-pick six lucky RiDE readers to test-ride them. And now it’s up to them to choose a winner… How we did it Our six favourites of 2022 fall into three handy categories: two adventure bikes, two sports tourers and two naked roadsters with a classic vibe. But picking six RiDE readers from hundreds who applied is much harder; in the end, we’ve…

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN huge fans, of Triumph’s Tiger family on RiDE: With superb comfort and wonderful mile-munching ability, big-bore Tigers have always been wonderful road bikes even if historically they’ve never been the most dynamic - but this year the Tiger changes all that. There’s lower weight (25kg), more power (9bhp), more sophistication (it out-toys a GS) and now, a proper off-road-ready version, too. Sitting alongside the touring-spec GT model, we reckon the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro is the Best bike in the family - sharper handling, better looking and just as practical as the GT, the Triumph is a true contender for top adventure-bike honours. But what will our readers think of it? Let's start with tire readers it HAS to impress. Mile-munclring BMW R1250GSowner Andrew is a fan…

THE GSX-S1000 GT+ goes into tlie test as something of an underdog' - we already know how effective its combination of potent 150bhp inline-four GSX-R motor; competent chassis and sensible riding position is. However; compared to the showy adventure bikes and retros parked alongside it, will our testefs, find the Suzuki somehow unappealing? “Oh my god! What a bike - that is unbelievable!” says Paul, socks knocked clean off “I’m almost speechless. It’s so good - so fast, it handles; does everything you want it to and everything you hope it’ll do, and it’s quite forgiving too.” Well, that’s a good start, “I was a bit hesitant early on because the steering’s a bit heavy at first, ” he says. “But once I settled into it, trusted the bike and…

DOWNLOAD THE ROUTE www.ride.co.uk Best for A steady ride beside the seaside - with lots of local history and culinary delights to take in. Length 80 miles. Route Whitely Bay to Holy Island via St Mary’s Island, Blyth, Lynemouth, Cresswell, Amble, Alnmouth, Craster, Embleton and Bamburgh. Roads A193, B1329, A189, coast road, A1086, B1338, B1339, B1340, B1342, A1, Lindisfarne Causeway Love it because With sun, sea, sand and castles - what’s not to like? Take a picture at Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island causeway. Stop for a cuppa at The Drift Cafe is the ideal spot to stop and chill - the beach is just the other side of the dunes. Choose between cafe fare or chips. ALSO TRY… Northumberland Loop Best for The remote, hilly side of Northumberland. Length…

This graph depicts the power-to-weight ratio of the mostpowerful naked bikes in Ducati's range since the Monster in 1993. It’s as good an indication as any as to where the class has gone. For consistency, we've used manufacturer's claimed dry weights (most readily available) and claimed power figures. You can draw your own conclusions. 'There's still a place in motorcycling for this'…

RIDE TELLS IT LIKE IT IS Our product tests are carried out by real bikers with years of experience and on real bikes and are combined with empirical testing developed and carried out by qualified engineers. >A RIDE Best Buy award means that a product has been tested under real-world and, where appropriate, laboratory conditions to assess its performance in all relevant criteria and has excelled in its field, while offering exceptional value for money. >A RiDE magazine Recommended triangle means that a product has either done an outstanding job at a higher price or a reasonable job but at a significantly lower price. So while not worthy of a Best Buy, it still performs very well in one of these criteria. >The RiDE Best Buy and Recommended triangles stand…

NOVEMBER 2021 SUB-£100 SOCKET SETS www.sealey.co.uk No overall winner as three sets each did a great job but in different ways. DECEMBER 2021 SINGLE-LAYER RIDING JEANS Knox Shield £249.99 www.planet-knox.com Bull-It Tactical Icon £139.99 www.bull-it.com As the winning products are no longer available, these two are Recommended options. The Knox gave the best protection in the test while the Bull-lts also did well with a lower price and Level-2 armour. JANUARY 2022 CHAIN CLEANERS Oxford Products Chain Cleaner £8.99 www.oxfordproducts.com Well priced, effective and simple to use, it did exactly what was asked of it. And it smelled nice too. RECOMMENDED WD-40 Motorbike Chain Cleaner £8.49 Sportsbikeshop Chain Cleaner £4.99 Prices and avaliability correct at time of testing. Check online for latest actual prices FEBRUARY 2022 SUB-£100 WINTER GLOVES www.nevis.uk.com Across…

GARAGE APRILIA RSV MILLE | 1998-2093 £5000-£13,000 >127bhp>76lb.ft> 210kg THE GREATEST ROAD sportsbike? It’s right up there. The RSV’s mix of thumping V-twin drive, light yet composed handling and ample proportions is something you can't get these days. Add its exotic polished chassis and big-name components, and resistance is futile. But you need to know what ownership brings… 1 It'll be a pig to start Yes, it probably will. Big V-twins can be bothersome to turn over at the best of times but the RSV’s problematic charging and so-so battery (both made worse by an alarm) can mean reluctance to play - and can lead to sprag-clutch issues. Upgraded batteries, better wiring and later RSV-R (20CS4-on) solenoids are the cure. How common? Annoyingly so. But fixes are well known and quite…

R1250GS TE R1250GSA TE PROJECTED RESIDUALS HOW MUCH TO INSURE? £462.43 (£350 excess) £441.24 (£775 excess) Comprehensive quotes based on a 52-year-old male engineer, married, licence held 25 years, 9 year's NCB, no claims or convictions, for social, domestic and pleasure use. Bike is garaged at postcode WA14 1NU. Quote supplied by www.MCNcompare.com in August 2022. PROJECTED COSTS PER MILE GS TE 63.4p GSA TE 58.2p Based on fuel, tyres, depreciation, servicing and insurance over three years and 15,000 miles. WHAT ABOUT FINANCE? £163.52 a month x 36 £3500 deposit 4000 annual mileage, 7.9% APR £10,696.68 final payment £203.08 a month x 36 £3500 deposit 4000 annual mileage, 7.9% APR £11,082.79 final payment Verdict The only real difference in running costs is depreciation, where the Adventure seems to suffer slightly…

Tyres Michelin Trackers (£153) lasted 1500 miles and were amazing. Dunlop D606s (£254 pair) have slightly more road bias, run quieter on tarmac and are wearing better. Suspension OE suspension is fine on tarmac, too soft off-road. Rally Raid’s £498 nitrogencharged shock adds plushness and control that transforms the ride. Hyperpro progressive fork springs with lighter oil massively improve the front end for £100. Brakes SBS sintered ATV pads (£17) work perfectly on the road and feel like they add bite when wet and crudded up. But stopping power is still a weak point. Hoses are originals and replacing these may help to improve things. COST OF OWNING Pictures Jason Critchell, Steve Herbert-Mattick, Matt Wildee…

GARAGE LONG-TERM TEST BIKES YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700 WORLD RAID |0|2|6|4|0| MILES 05 UPDATE YAMAHA’S TÉNÉRÉ WORLD Raid is the most off-road focused adventure bike the Japanese firm has ever made. Compared to the standard T7, it has longer-travel, more-advanced suspension, a desert-eating long-range fuel tank and detail changes to the ergonomics to allow it to be ridden all-day-long on the loose. So, RiDE’s fellow greenlaner Steve and I planned a day at Thetford Forest on the T7 to find out how it would cope. By means of context, we also took along GasGas’s ES700 - identical to KTM’s 690 Enduro R and the Husqvarna 701 Enduro, the bikes that represent the best trail machines money can buy. The GasGas is an interesting comparison to the Yamaha; both make around 70bhp,…

HIGH-MILE HEROES Celebrating the people and bikes that go the Name Matthew Francis, 45 Bite: 2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000 L2 Total Miles 100,480 Miles per year 15,500 THIS HIGH-MILE HERO, Matt, hails from Adelaide in South Australia where his GSX-R1000 L2 has ferried him on the 60-mile round trip to and from work since he bought it new in 2012. "It’s 50 minutes there and over an hour to get home,” he says. "I use it for commuting, Monday to Friday, year round.” The roads Matt rides are mostly motorway and then across town, so it’s not twisty rural stuff you’d think would suit a sportsbike. But Matt finds the GSX-R ideal: “It's slim so it filters really well! It's pretty agile." He's even geared the Suzuki down to make it…