Tabla de contenidos para June 2025 en RiDE

‘It's hard not to fall for a sports tourer's breadth of abilities’ Confession time: I'm a born-again sports tourer fan. In a world where adventure bikes, modern classics and nakeds rule the showrooms, it's easy to discount sports tourers. But for brisk, enjoyable road riding, they may be the best bikes on the roads. I've just returned from a 400-mile day on three ace sports tourers, heading from Cambridgeshire to Wales and back on three of 2025's best. It was the stuff of dreams: lovely scenery, superb roads and perfect spring weather. But for me, the highlight was the bikes – you couldn't help but admire the Honda NT1100's workmanlike way of eating miles, I was seriously impressed by the Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX's sophistication, and I was blown away by…

RiDE reader Seb Seal made the leap to a £7099 CFMoto 800NK Advanced last winter, swapping from a 200hp-plus supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX to the Chinese-made twin. “The fit, finish and quality of the machine is genuinely outstanding,” he said, “And the feisty, crackling twin is more than enough for mere mortals on the road. The bike is great fun and does everything the Ninja did apart from the ballistic and unusable top end. “The only downside I have experienced is general xenophobia – something similar to that of when people still harped on about ‘Jap Crap’ when I was starting out. “The 800's cruise is the most glitch-free I've ever come across and contrary to reports is terminated by any additional throttle, clutch or brake input. “The J.Juan…

Suzuki have released a special GSX-8R Kiiro edition, finished in a striking yellow livery and limited to 60 bikes. Yellow is a new colour for the UK market but a standard option in other territories, such as the US. The name Kiiro was chosen as it means yellow in Japanese. To help further justify the £9599 price (the standard GSX-8R is £8999), the Kiiro gets a smoked screen, Gilles billet aluminium levers, single seat cowl, a tank pad, and a two-tone seat with GSX logo.…

‘I bought knock-off gloves and they fell apart in a crash – can I sue?’ Q I BOUGHT MYSELF a pair of motorcycle gloves from a well-known internet sales site. They cost about £8 and were heavily branded as well-respected primarily adventure/off-road brand Klim. They looked very much like genuine gloves and when I got them, they seemed decent quality. However, I came off my bike and my hand took a beating. The gloves were not leather; they were plastic – and the plastic embedded itself in my hand, resulting in an extremely painful 40 minutes as a nurse picked bits of plastic out from my hand with tweezers. I also had a fracture to my forearm. The spill was down to me. I fell off on my own on…

Forking out One element where previous generations of the standard Ténéré fell short was on the softer-sprung suspension and its lack of adjustability. But for the first time, the base model has fully adjustable front suspension. The set-up has also been tweaked to offer a little more support as standard. A (little) more tech Some will love it, some will loathe it. The Ténéré 700 now comes equipped with a new 6.3in TFT dash and a switchgear set-up that mimics the larger-capacity Yamaha models, such as the MT-09. With a ride-by-wire throttle for the first time, the Ténéré offers two riding modes, switchable ABS and traction control, and phone connectivity as standard. The finer details Sometimes it's the little things that go a long way – and Yamaha tell us…

Oh yes! The Tiger Sport 800 is a thoroughly enjoyable motorcycle to ride. Thanks to an excellent natural balance, it's more than happy to fulfil the Sport part of its name. Up the pace and its light handling gives you lots of confidence to push on, although there is a certain point when the suspension starts to display characteristics that it's not a sportsbike and is built to provide comfort on a tour, too. It's not drastic, but there is a slight vagueness when cornering hard – and occasionally it will run a touch wide out of bends as a result. A bit of tweaking the suspension's settings to firm it up and all should be good.…

Q How much does it weigh? Fully fuelled, the Tiger Sport 800 weighs 217kg, 3kg more than Triumph's claim. Our test bike was fitted with the belly pan and heated grips. 1 Engine It is hard to comment on the motor as it's an all-new engine; however, it is unlikely that Triumph will have got it wrong. The triple has 10,000-mile service intervals with a valve clearance check at 20,000 miles, but as it has separate throttle bodies it will cost more than the Sport 660 to get serviced. 2 Details It does look like the Tiger Sport 800 has a few cost-saving measures. It's a shame the forks lack preload adjustability and the clutch lever isn't span-adjustable (the brake lever is). Small details, but on a motorcycle that costs a smidge…

The ignition key unlocks the singe seat unit, which comes off fairly easily to reveal a hex key/crosshead screwdriver tool attached to its underside – and that's your toolkit. A bit disappointing on a touring bike. You should really be able to adjust the chain with the bike's tools on a machine designed for covering distance. Speaking of chain adjustment, a centrestand is an option; thankfully it isn't too expensive. With the seat off you have access to the battery and fuse box but there is no underseat storage to speak of. Handily, the shock has a remote preload adjuster but there is no flat-head screwdriver supplied to alter the forks’ or shock's damping adjusters.…

BMW F900XR From £10,890 › 103bhp › 69lb·ft › 216kg (claimed) Updated this year with fully adjustable inverted forks and a 3kg weight saving, the XR has angle-responsive ABS and TC as standard as well as an Akrapovic end can, heated grips and the option of Dynamic ESA. The 895cc parallel-twin motor has lots of stomp and the XR is fun to ride, if a little compact. Yamaha Tracer 9 £11,300 › 117bhp › 68lb·ft › 219kg (claimed) The stock Tracer 9 model lacks the GT's semi-active suspension but you still get lots of tech including a 7in dash, fully adjustable suspension, cruise control, an up/down quickshifter and angle-responsive TC and ABS. Big, roomy, easy-going and cuts the mustard, but the GT is a better buy. Ducati Multistrada V2 £13,995…

› 2014-2021 › 105bhp › 242kg › 789/809mm seat › £4000-£7500 WHICH 2014 VFR800F ride to choose? The one threading up the Bealach na Bà in a howling gale followed by a ‘spirited’ ride back through Glen Coe? Or the epic 1300-mile dash across France and Germany, via the Nürburgring? Or the surreal blast from John o’ Groats to Land's End in one day when I was dying from Manthrax? They're all testament to the remarkable staying power of Honda's VFR800F – not just the way the effortless V4 motor enables extreme rider endurance in the umpteenth hour on the road, but also the bike's resilience itself: until 2021, the VFR800 had been around in one form or another since 1998 (and if you include the VFR750, since 1986). Until…

THE FACTS The route An easy-going, low-stress, 65-mile loop starting and ending in Newmarket on the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border, dipping into Essex and through sleepy villages between winding country lanes. Why it's great It's the perfect spring jaunt though freshly flowering fields and meadows to kick-start the riding season at a gentle pace. When to go While there are none of your obvious coastal or tourist destinations, it can get busy in the school holidays. Early spring mornings or lazy summer evenings are best. Where to visit Finchingfield is the halfway point of the ride, and its village green provides a popular resting point for motorcyclists. WAKEY-WAKEY, RISE AND shine, summer's here. What are we waiting for? Mid-morning sunlight soaks down into Newmarket's busy High Street out of a beaming blue…

DOWNLOAD THE ROUTE www.ride.co.uk Best for An easy-going, laid-back schlep through rolling English farmland and chocolate-box villages. Length 65 miles. Route Newmarket, Balsham, Ashdon, Thaxted, Great Bardfield, Finchingfield, Wethersfield, Sible Hedingham, Great Yeldham, Clare, Newmarket. Roads B1061, B1052, West Wickham Road, Dean Road, Ashdon Road, Radwinter Road, Ashdon Road, B1053, B1051, Bardfield Road, B1057, B1053, Wethersfield Road, A1017, Clare Road, Bradley Hill, B1063. Love it because Lots of history, lovely villages, easy-going pace. Take a picture at Finchingfield green – as seen in every calendar of Essex. Stop for a cuppa at Picture Pot Tearoom, Finchingfield. ALSO TRY… Best for Slow riding, twee villages, English history. Length 212 miles Route Downham Market to Downham Market via Thetford, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury, Dedham, Mistley, Aldeburgh, Diss, Thetford Roads B1112, B1107, B1106,…

Vango Beta 350XL £200 www.vango.co.uk THE CLAIM “Dynamic Weave 100 is crafted using a unique cross-hatch construction that intertwines 70D and 100D fabric fibres. This ensures you get the best of both worlds: the strength and durability of 100D fibres while keeping the overall weight to a minimum. Dynamic Weave 100 boasts a tensile strength 23 per cent stronger than standard 68 Denier fabric and tear strength 13 per cent stronger.” THE REALITY The Beta 350XL three-person is the smallest tent in the new-material range from Vango, yet despite this it's a decent size. Packed up, it is the same length but 7cm wider and deeper than the Tay 300 example I tried a couple of years ago (September 2023 issue). However, once erected, it is significantly larger, with loads…

2013-2025 | £2300-£4500 | 105mph | 44bhp KTM'S 390 DUKE is hugely popular. Little wonder given it's one of the perkiest, most engaging A2 machines. These funky singles are plentiful on the used market, having been part of KTM's range since 2013 – and tidy early examples start at just over £2000. What makes the 390 Duke such a hit is its irresistible combination of precise handling, ample performance (for a first bike), light weight, easy manageability, and striking styling. Early models (2013-16) are fairly basic but by 2017 it had a ride-by-wire throttle, slipper clutch, TFT dash, reworked chassis, uprated suspension (WP) and brakes (ByBre), switchable ABS, and a bigger tank (up 2.4 litres to 13.4 litres). The last update, in 2024, saw a 90 per cent refresh with…

There is plenty to be mindful of before even swinging a leg over the seat. They require fastidious maintenance to keep them in fine fettle. Suss out the seller, ask questions of their ownership: what engine oil do they use? How often is it serviced and by whom? Where is it kept? Starting with a poorly maintained 390 Duke won't end well. Once you're satisfied the bike's been well looked after, pick a test route with bends – the 390 loves them. Quality suspension, a stiff tubular steel chassis, and a sub-150kg dry weight will make light work of back lanes, city streets, and roundabouts. Performance should be perky too – the 390 Duke is a genuine 100mph single, so there should be enough oomph to whip past A-road traffic…

‘Bought new and ridden for 24 years’ Bill Jones has owned his BMW R1150GS for a quarter of a century – and it's equally at home on gnarly trails as it is on long road rides Name Bill Jones, 57 Bike 2000 BMW R1150GS Total Miles 102,500 Miles per year 4000 “HOW DID I get this to a high mileage? Mainly by keeping it for 24 years. My mileage the past few years has been less than 5000 a year, but in my younger years the average was twice that. “I bought the bike new in Germany when I was stationed there with the US Army – saved me about $6000 on the purchase price. For 18 years I rode it only on roads. Then in mid-2018 my riding buddy…

MEET THE BMW R1300R - a new naked roadster that shares the same 1300cc boxer twin engine as the R1300GS family. Replacing the R1250R, it is said to be a sportier, more aggressive proposition than before – power is a claimed 143bhp at 7750rpm with 110lb·ft of torque at 6500rpm. New 17in cast wheels at either end have shed a claimed 1.4kg, too. Prices start at £13,200, rising to £15,500 for an SE version. Those wanting BMW's semi-automatic ASA gearbox will have to stretch to £16,255. Available in dealers from July, BMW state the riding position has been brought further forward, with flatter handlebars coupled with footrests now set further back to draw the rider in towards the front wheel. The aluminium bars can be rotated if desired, moving the…

‘Should I adjust my suspension or leave it alone?’ Q SEVERAL OF MY riding buddies get very animated about their suspension settings, so last year I twiddled a few clickers on my Triumph Street Triple 765's suspension. But I couldn't notice much difference. With the good weather on its way, should I persevere this season or just leave it be? Neil Hislop, email A IT'S A GOOD question – and the answer depends on whether there's a problem you want to solve. If you're happy with the Triumph's ride quality, how it steers, how it feels on the brakes, and so on, then I'd leave it alone and spend your time enjoying it rather than tinkering. However, like all modern bikes, the Street Triple's suspension has been built to work…

FIRST RIDE CFMOTO 675SR-R THE 675SR-R REPEATS CFMoto's now-familiar trick: it's cheaper than rivals but with a high spec and competitive dynamics. And it has decent styling too – which isn't particularly common with Chinese machines. The 675SR-R stands to be extremely tempting for anyone considering the likes of the Honda CBR650R, Yamaha R7 or Triumph Daytona 660, which are its realistic rivals despite the temptation to compare it with Triumph's long-defunct 675 Daytona. The steel-framed SR-R makes a claimed 88bhp, so is ideal for newly qualified riders – whether they're restricting it for A2 purposes or not. In that context it's a fun, capable bike with not too much to complain about. The engine is tuned for a spread of friendly power – its stroke is longer than the…

CONSIDERING TRIUMPH HAVE both the Tiger Sport 660 and a range of Tiger 900 models, the unveiling of the all-new Tiger Sport 800 for 2025 initially seems a strange decision. Or does it? Triumph have trimmed down their Tiger 900 model range and discontinued the Tiger 850 Sport, so the Tiger Sport 800 slots quite neatly into the middle ground. Offering the handling benefits of a crossover bike compared to an adventurer thanks to its 17in wheels, the Tiger Sport 800's engine has been allowed to breathe and produce more than 94bhp – should anyone want to restrict their Sport down to A2-legal, they can do so with the 660 model instead. Not only that, the fact the Sport runs the ‘old style’ triple motor rather than the new T-plane…

Yes. Despite its angle sensitivity, the Tiger's safety assists don't feel as precise as other bikes. Braking hard, you can feel the ABS pulsing. Once, while braking over some ripples, the front tyre locked for long enough to let out a squeal from the rubber. The ABS did its job, but it gives the impression the system isn't as developed as it could be. Traction control is better, but, again, doesn't feel cutting edge. On a more positive note, the dash is wonderfully clear with an easy-to-navigate menu system and intuitive switchgear placement. But it's a shame the switchgear isn't backlit.…

GT Pack £1101 Consists of panniers with a total capacity of 57 litres, heated grips, hand guards and colour-coded pannier infill panels. It's 20 per cent cheaper than buying the parts separately. USB port £27 The worst aspect of the Tiger Sport 800 is the paucity of auxiliary power sources, but this integrated underseat USB port helps. Should be standard, though… Centrestand £195 Arguably, a centrestand should come fitted as standard. But at least it is an option, unlike on the Tiger Sport 660. All necessary mounting hardware is supplied with the kit.…

ONE HUNDRED AND seven miles before breakfast. With the family still tucked up in bed, I'd already set off for two hours of straight-line saddle time on an empty stomach. Why? Because some roads, some destinations and some experiences are worth the effort. Today RiDE swaps familiar east of England for exotic west of Wales, swapping blank skies and featureless fields for magnificent mountains and stunning scenery. Spring has sprung, and we've a ravenous appetite to get the year off to a flying start. That, and a mid-morning bap at a tax-dodging coffee shop. Heading off on a long-haul day trip in search of challenging routes and rewarding riding remains the definitive sports-touring dream. The appeal hasn't changed across multiple decades, predating the first purpose-built sports tourer (1976's BMW R100RS)…

TAKE A SPORTSBIKE, and make it comfier and more practical for longer rides. Doesn't sound difficult, but we don't have to go too far back in history for a time before anyone had it. Back then, most bikes were basically a swirling mass of naked roadsters. Modern bike genres hadn't yet coalesced into a definable series of categories, and full fairings – not introduced until the 1976 BMW R100RS – were a novelty reserved mostly for a few premium machines (in fact, ‘RS’ stands for Reisesport, which means ‘travel sport’). So, before you could have a sports tourer, you needed a sportsbike and a tourer – and it wasn't until the mid-1980s, when manufacturers’ ranges began to blossom into specific styles of bike, that either of those properly evolved as…

› 2015-2018 › 125bhp › 236kg › 820mm seat › £4500-£7500 IT'S MID-AFTERNOON HIGH on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, early spring 2015. A deliciously wafty mingle of hot coffee, freshly baked bread and woodsmoke spirals up from the village below. Chunky walls of snow still flank mountain passes like giant marshmallows – but a strong, warm sun floods down from a brilliant blue sky onto a bone-dry series of hairpins. Carving up corners like these is what sports motorcycles were invented for – and plenty of raucous locals are honing about on sportsbikes proving the point – but for me there's the small matter of a further 950 miles across France, and another 200 on the other side. Enter the then-new BMW R1200RS; a sports tourer in concept,…

Victor Victoria Coffee, Newmarket Bustling coffee shop and café in the centre of Newmarket with plenty of seating room outside – perfect for a pre-ride toastie and tea. However, you may need to find somewhere to squeeze your bike off the road. Don't double-park either – because traffic wardens are conscientious. www.victorvictoriacoffee.com Picture Pot Tearoom, Finchingfield Picture-perfect tearoom in a picture-perfect village – hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes on tap, plus plenty of space to park up, sit outside and chat to fellow riders. And see if you can name all the old black and white Hollywood stars whose photos are hanging inside the tearoom. www.facebook.com/The.Picture.Pot The Old Butcher's Coffe and Shop, Balsham Magnificent little coffee shop and café in Balsham that offers a fabulous range of hot drinks,…

CROSS KEYS BRIDGE marks the spiritual gateway between Lincolnshire and Norfolk. This stunning Grade II-listed, 128-year-old structure isn't just an eye-catching local landmark – it has a hidden dynamic side. It's a swing bridge, the whole plot pivoting 90° out of the way when tall boats or ships need to pass through. Spectacular to watch in action, infuriating if you find yourself stuck in the resulting tailback along the A17… Point is, this isn't just a bridge between two sides of the River Nene. More significantly it links the past and the present. It's a 19th-century design, tackling 21st-century traffic. An endearing slice of old-school engineering, but also something of an anachronism. Not the most modern or efficient solution, and definitely not what you'd build from scratch today – but…

‘Choice will depend on trip size and how easily you'll want to remove the bags’ The Enduristan kit can be expanded, but once bought that's the system you have to use. The Kriega, on the other hand, allows a huge range of flexibility through the packs you can fit to the harness. Ultimately, the choice comes down to whether you may want to swap bags around or change their capacity, depending on the size of your trip and how easily you'll want to remove the bags from the bike. It may only take just shy of three minutes to remove the Kriega bags, but if it's chucking it down with rain it'll feel a lot longer. As the two brands operate and expand differently, we feel that neither offers a…

BMW R1300GS ADVENTURE TE TROPHY |0|2|0|9|4| MILES UPDATE 02 I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND the depth of editor Matt's pain at giving me the (remote) key fob for RiDE's long-term BMW R1300GS Adventure TE Trophy, to give the bike its full name. Partly because he won't shut up about it, and partly because he's absolutely right – to willingly hand over stewardship of a bike as jaw-droppingly immense in every conceivable way is an act of extreme… I want to say ‘stupidity', but he might not give me any more work. Or, worse, take the GSA back again. Let's settle on ‘masochism'. This isn't my first rodeo with the GSA – I tested one alongside Ducati's V4 Multistrada Rally and Triumph's Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer for RiDE's sister publication MCN just before…

THE STORY OF the British motorcycle industry's fall from grace is already a well-worn one – complacent about its superiority, it noticed only too late that customers were turning to Japanese bikes in droves. And today we're witnessing a leap in technology and capability from Chinese bike makers that could put them in a position to carry out a similar coup. The rate of development today is breathtaking, even if many aren't aware yet. Take QJMotor, for example: the brand was created by Benelli and Keeway owner Qianjiang in 2020, with a single bike – the SRK600 – that was essentially a restyled Benelli TNT600i. Five years on and QJMotor's global line-up includes more than 140 models – from 50cc scooters to 1000cc four-cylinder sportsbikes, electric bikes and even a…

Honda Europe have set up a warranty scheme that will look after bikes for up to six years from first registration – providing owners continue to follow the official service plan at authorised dealerships. Launched at the start of April, it's open to all road-registered Honda machines and takes cover past the standard two-year window to a maximum of 72 months. Following the initial two-year warranty, it will be extended annually once the bike has been serviced and logged on a digital service record. The warranty will live with the bike rather than the owner – meaning it can be transferred to a new rider at the point of sale. It's available at more than 800 dealers across 14 mainland European countries, as well as the UK. Visit www.honda.co.uk for…

Email ride@ride.co.uk Write to us RiDE, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA LETTER OF THE MONTH The pleasure principle I read Martin Fitz-Gibbons’ article in April's issue on the benefits of biking, and felt compelled to write in. Like many, I started riding later in life – as a 51-year-old woman on a Kawasaki Ninja 125cc – after years of watching life from the pillion seat. So, I started writing about the journey. I didn't expect people to read my blog Full Throttle Half Century (medium.com/full-throttle-half-century) but they did – and they wrote back. My inbox is full of stories from riders who are reclaiming their joy, freedom and mental health through two wheels. They have fought cancer, lost loved ones, battled anxiety, PTSD and menopause, or simply have the…

FIRST RIDE YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700 MIDDLEWEIGHT ADVENTURE BIKES are brilliant. For a short rider (like myself at 5ft 7in), they're far easier to manage than a big-capacity brute – and they're easier on the wallet, too. Since 2019, Yamaha's Ténéré 700 has been one of the best at blending on and off-road prowess with a reasonable price tag and a charming lack of technology. And with some small tweaks, the 2025 is a step up – albeit, a very small one. While the core of it chassis and CP2 motor remains largely unchanged, a fair few changes have been made across the board: the forks are now fully adjustable with tweaked settings; the rear has a new shock and linkage with a longer stroke; the tank has been redesigned to…

FIRST RIDE MOTO GUZZI V7 SPORT THIS IS MOTO Guzzi's most advanced V7 yet – but its 1970s personality remains intact. Now Euro5+ compliant, the air-cooled 853cc V-twin makes 66bhp – up 2bhp – and torque rises 4lb·ft to 58lb·ft. That's down to new cams, exhaust and airbox, and 14mm-larger throttle bodies. It still won't rip your arms off under hard acceleration, but that's not what the V7 is about. The motor oozes character, and has a bulging midrange and friendly delivery, and it still has ample performance to make you smile. A new ride-by-wire system, six-axis gyro and superbike-spec ECU facilitate cornering ABS and traction control that add a layer of safety and never get in the way of the riding experience. Racy new upside-down forks and Brembo radial…

For road riding, no. Triumph have done a great job with the new motor – it's perfect for easy-going motoring yet never feels mundane. Thanks to the nature of a triple, there is lots of smooth low-end performance – and its capacity means that where the Sport 660 struggles, the Sport 800 is happy being kept below 4000rpm. Even with a pillion on board you can short-shift at 3000rpm using the quickshifter and slick gearbox, and it never feels like it's getting breathless. On a motorway it sits merrily at 5000rpm at 70mph in top. At this speed the engine can feel a bit buzzy; however, the vibrations aren't as intrusive as the ones on the older T-plane Tiger 900 motor. Allow it to rev and it's pleasingly sprightly. There…

Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE Tourer › £15,175 › 134bhp › 83lb·ft › 234kg › 835mm seat Beloved, bestselling sports-touring veteran gets a bigger engine for 2025. Less peak power than the 1000, but a lot more midrange. Fourteen years of refinement has honed this into a smooth, polished and complete package. Best for you if… • You've ridden sportsbikes all your life • You think centrestands are a scam • You never tire of instant acceleration Triumph Tiger Sport 800 › £10,995 › 113bhp › 62lb·ft › 214kg › 835mm seat Nimble, simple and keenly priced tall-rounder mates light, agile steering with a rorty 800 triple. Don't confuse this for any of Triumph's previous Tiger 800s – it's a completely different bike, with no off-road ambition at all. Best for…

HIT Honda VFR750FR-V › 1994-1997 › 748cc › V4 › 93bhp › 209kg (dry) The original modern sports tourer, rumoured to be so expensive to build it was years before Honda turned a profit on the bike. Clockwork-smooth V4 motor, gear-drive cams, gorgeous build quality, crazy cheap used bike. HIT Triumph Sprint ST 1050 › 2005-2009 › 1050cc › inline triple › 120bhp › 210kg (dry) Triumph's comeback at the VFR800 updated the previous 955cc Sprint ST with an all-new 1050cc triple, with distinctive underseat trio of tailpipes and headlamps. Good effort, but dated quickly. Later Sprint GT handled badly. MISS Aprilia RST1000 Futura › 2001-2004 › 998cc › V-twin › 101bhp › 210kg (dry) Futuristic-looking V-twin with an RSV Mille motor and aluminium beam frame. One of the widest,…

Wunderlich flat bar conversion £289 www.nippynormans.com If you find the RS’ clip-ons too extreme, try a Wunderlich flat bar conversion. Fairly easy to fit, reversible, and no extension to brake or clutch cables required for a more upright riding position and lighter steering leverage. SW-Motech engine bars £227 www.sw-motech.co.uk 27mm steel tubing in black powder coat protects cylinder heads when toppling over and can even make the difference of keeping the fuel tank off the ground. Also handy for resting your feet on motorways. SW-Motech engine guard £77 www.sw-motech.co.uk Protect the BMW's vulnerable front engine cover from stone chips and, ultimately, corrosion and peeling paint with a powder-coated, 3mm-thick aluminium plate in either silver or a more discrete black.…

BEST FOR CASTLES Hedingham Castle Just outside Sible Hedingham is the best-preserved Norman keep in the country and an impressively intact reminder of the country's past. Only open on selected dates – check out the website for details. There's an on-site tearoom, too. www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk BEST FOR CHURCHES St Mary's, Dullingham Impressive stained-glass windows in this largely 14th century church, which is good for a wander around if you're into church organs – as are the grounds if you like an ancient graveyard. www.raddesley.com/st-marys-dullingham BEST FOR BIKE CLOTHING Hideout Leathers Based on the outskirts of Ashdon, Hideout Leathers is long-established and one of the last remaining bespoke leather and textile suit manufacturers in the UK – and you can't beat the personal touch! Wonderful shop in a converted barn, well worth…

Sena Outrush R £249 www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk Comfy and connected I've used this helmet throughout winter and it's been great. Comfortable, quiet and not too heavy, and the built-in intercom has been really useful – particularly for my first few rides with dad (products editor Jim) behind me, helping me build confidence and road craft. The flip front is easy to use even with gloves on and the Pinlock works really well despite venting that isn't particularly good. This isn't such an issue in winter but it may get a bit warm in summer. It's nice to be able to listen to music occasionally, too. Noah Blackstock Monimoto 9 £149 www.monimoto.com Reassuring protection It's difficult to determine how effective an anti-theft device is when the bike hasn't been stolen. But notwithstanding that,…

2016-2025 BMW G310R › 34bhp › 21lb·ft › 159kg Light, agile and fun to ride, the 310R shares many of the KTM's attributes, but with fewer reliability concerns. It is, however, a full 10bhp down on its rival… 2019-2023 Kawasaki Z400 › 45bhp › 27lb·ft › 167kg Lightweight parallel-twin with a sporty edge. Better for longer runs than the KTM – having an extra cylinder helps. Less vibey, too. Build quality, finish and reliability are strong. 2016-2025 Yamaha MT-03 › 41bhp › 22lb·ft › 168kg Very close to the KTM in terms of power and torque, but almost 20kg heavier. Better built and more reliable though, so for regular commuting and packing on miles the MT is a better bet.…

HONDA CB1000 HORNET |0|1|7|8|6| MILES UPDATE 02 WE'RE ALMOST 2000 miles into our tenure with the Hornet and every day is still a school day. Since the last update what's been most apparent is the sense of fun and rabid acceleration meted out by its Fireblade-derived engine. It's been helped by adding the optional quickshifter – a bargain at £195. The official Honda shifter is an up/down unit, can be configured on the TFT and helps you surf the midrange even easier. I've also added heated grips (£295) for cool mornings with summer gloves – also a welcome add-on. But it hasn't all been plain sailing. Now spring is here, a few more miles have shown the shock is weaker than I first thought. Its damping isn't as consistent as…