Table of contents for 22 April 2026 in MCN

TOP STORY KTM have taken their 1390 Super Duke R V-twin super-naked to the next level, launching a lighter and more advanced RR model limited to just 350 units worldwide. The UK will get a sizeable chunk of these, with 40 coming to our market, priced at £24,999 on the road - a £7200 increase over the standard naked, and £5500 over the Evo model complete with its electronic semi-active suspension. The RR is distinguished from its mass market siblings by a new colour scheme that incorporates large blocks of white, punctuated by streaks of jagged blue. The signature orange trellis chassis remains - with a new italicised seven-spoke forged rim design replacing the standard five-spoked cast aluminium units. Unleash the Beast Built in Austria, it now sits as the…

Aprilia's RS457 has been given a racing makeover, ready to compete in a one-make national series in Italy, open to riders as young as 14. The Trofeo RS457 series kicks off just north of Rome at Vallelunga on May 17, before progressing to Mugello, Cremona, Mugello again, and then rounding out at Misano on October 4. It's designed to help discover and nurture the next generation of racing talent, with the Noale brand also running a similar series for the slightly larger RS660. It's also aimed at keeping costs down for families and sponsors, with road-going components such as the single ByBre radial front caliper carried over to the racer. The standard £6675 RS457 is powered by a 457cc parallel-twin - producing the A2 licence maximum of 47bhp without a…

Riders holding an A2 licence will soon be able to ride on a range of UK race circuits owned by MotorSport Vision (MSV), thanks to a new Trackday Licence Course. Combining a mixture of classroom and on-track sessions, the initiative will see riders gain an ‘MSVT Trackday Licence’ allowing them to ride on MSV-run trackdays at Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Cadwell Park, and Bedford Autodrome. “Motorcycle licence regulations have evolved, and our long-standing requirement for a full unrestricted licence has naturally pushed the average age of trackday riders higher,” said MSV Trackdays Manager, Mark Rusted. Although A2 licence holders are welcome at other venues, such as Mallory Park in Leicestershire, MSV rules currently state riders must hold either a full A, or ACU race licence to take…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? Away from the MotoGP paddock, metal has long been the go-to material for two-wheeled suspension and braking hardware. After all, it's cheap, reliable and easy to handle. That was until Ducati revealed their £135,000 Superleggera V4 Centenario, equipped with the first carbon-ceramic discs and carbon fibre fork uppers ever seen on a road-going motorcycle. Limited to 500 units (plus 100 in a Tricolore paintjob) and built to celebrate the company's 100th birthday, the Centenario follows the Bologna brand's tried-and-tested Superleggera recipe of stripping weight and adding power. Here that's achieved with lavish use of carbon fibre throughout the chassis construction paired to a new 1103cc Stradale R 1100 V4 power plant. The result is a bike that, despite churning out 243.6bhp in track configuration, tips the…

Wednesday April 22 BIKE MEETS Poolehall Cafe, Bridgnorth, Shropshire 5pm-7pm Facebook: Poolehall Cafe Wheels Motorcycles, First Drove, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire 10am-3pm 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 Wheels Cafe, The Old George Inn, Sykehouse, South Yorkshire 5.30pm-8.30pm 01405-5785635 or enquiries@oldgeorgeinnsykehouse.co.uk Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe SPEEDWAY Oxford Cheetahs, Oxford Stadium, Cowley, Oxfordshire 7.30pm www.oxfordspeedway.club TOURING Adventure Rally - Tour of Portugal, Portugal Rallymoto.co.uk TRACKDAYS MSV General, Donington Park National, Leics from £175 www.MSVTrackdays.com MSV General Track Evening, Donington Park National, Leics from £99 www.MSVTrackdays.com TRIALS Leamington Victory MC & LCC, Dry Hill Quarry, Edgehill, Warks…

‘Winner stays on’ We'll soon be testing the Rieju Aventura Rally 307 R against the winners of the next two rounds featuring the more powerful KTM 390 Adventure R – the £6199 44bhp offering features an electronics package including cornering ABS, traction control and cruise. At the other end of the scale we'll have the £5750 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Now with a 40bhp water-cooled engine, it promises to deliver more but without losing any of its charm. BSA's new 334cc, 30bhp single-pot Thunderbolt will also join the fray. Estimated to cost between £3999 and £4499 its bash plate and handguards complete the serious look. Kawasaki's new £5999 44bhp KLE500 looks like it'll put up a good fight. It'll need to be good to beat BMW's new F450GS. The plush…

From the moment the RC8 and RC8 R arrived, they found themselves surrounded by fierce competition from the likes of Kawasaki's ZX-10R, Yamaha's YZF-R1, Suzuki's GSX-R1000, Aprilia's RSV4 and Honda's latest Fireblade. And then of course, came its closest rival – Ducati's 1098 and 1198 V-twins. The Italians had the edge over the Austrians here, offering more power and more tech, even if the capabilities of the machines’ chassis weren't too dissimilar, ultimately hammering the first nails into the coffin of KTM's superbike project.…

Tip one: Body position Nailing the ‘attack position’ will help everything else drop into place. Standing up on the pegs will allow the bike to move around underneath you while you move to counterbalance. When standing, get your head forward over the handlebars, elbows up, knees ever-soslightly bent (and gripping the bike), heels down and hips hinged forwards. The bolt upright ‘adventure meerkat’ look is mighty comfortable and nice for admiring the views, but when the going gets tough, bend those hips and get your head forward! Tip two: Smooth operator There's far less grip available on dirt, gravel, and rock compared with tarmac, so be gentle with your inputs. Scanning the trail far ahead will allow you to be more proactive with your inputs, as will staying relaxed –…

@sherbs_bikes A big fan of long days in the saddle. Loves firing tent-laden adventure bikes at mountains and coastlines All my best rides have been on big adventure bikes. I'm a keen button-pusher and an unashamed tech nerd, which usually means the bikes I enjoy most sit well beyond anything I could call affordable. But maybe there's another way. Enter the 95bhp Voge DS900X. With pretty much every rider aid and electronic whizz you can list (minus radar cruise and self adjusting suspension) but with a sub‑£10K pr-ce, Voge's take on a F900GS promises much. Delivered with zero miles, a warning about warming it up properly, an even sterner warning about only filling with E5 (I'm not sure what impact E10 would have), and an amusingly translated manual that talks…

MCN's website has expert opinion and buying advice on hundreds of used bikes, regularly updated and packed with insight. Here are three of the latest – visit motorcyclenews.com for dozens more. 2021-2025 DUCATI MONSTER Owner's rating Replaced by the Monster V2, the older Monster runs the 937cc V-twin and is a brilliant machine that delivers in thrills as well as style. Owners score it a near perfect 4.9/5 overall. 2021-CURRENT MOTO GUZZI V7 Owner's rating More a retro than a sporty naked, the Guzzi has bags of easy-going charm and is a firm favourite with stylish urban commuters. Suspension and brakes are a bit substandard. 2018-CURRENT ROYAL ENFIELD INTERCEPTOR 650 Owner's rating Although a score of 3.8/5 in ‘Equipment’ demonstrates how low-tech it is, in many ways that also adds…

Although the Uggly&Co team will be a new addition to the world of road racing, it's being run by the highly regarded Classic Suzuki team headed by Steve Wheatman and Nathan Colombi. Brookes confirmed that the involvement of personnel with such pedigree was a huge positive in making his decision. “Steve and Nathan have got years of experience of running bikes including Shaun Anderson at the TT and Michael Dunlop on the Classic Suzuki,” explained Brookes. “The people preparing the bike and running it have a lot of experience.” The performance of Brookes’ GSX-R750 will be managed through the ECU to meet the ‘next generation’ technical regulations. The bike will run an essentially stock motor where no machining and stock gaskets must be used, with restricted throttle openings based on…

Tom Booth-Amos took a maiden 2026 podium in World Supersport, the PTR Triumph rider finding his mojo with a composed ride back from the gravel trap following an off. It was almost a double rostrum, with fourth in Race 2. Jaume Masia strengthened his title lead with a Race 1 win, with Philipp Oettl victorious on Sunday as Roberto Garcia escaped serious injury in a crash. Brit success at Le Mans 24 The 2026 24-Heures Motos was another absolute rollercoaster. YART Yamaha bagged the top spot, followed by Yoshimura SERT Motul Suzuki in second with Brits Gregg Black and Dan Linfoot on the podium. In Superstock, former BSB stalwarts Tom Ward and Tom Oliver both achieved their maiden world championship podiums, with third position on their TRT27 AZ Moto Honda.…

“I'm really happy, first to split the Aruba bikes in qualifying. I'm particularly proud of Sunday. It's been nice to hit the ground running with three podiums, plus there's good tracks coming up for me. Massive credit to the team, while Ducati have done a great job with the bike,” Lowes told MCN. “Hopefully others can join in so we can have some closer racing, but I need to catch the two at the front! I'm looking at what they're doing. In some parts of the track, I'm still riding a bit Moto2 style – luckily that works in two sectors at Assen! The harder tyre allocation helped Ducati, making the difference look bigger.”…

Unpicking Bulega's methodical WSBK rampage Nicolo Bulega is on another planet right now, utterly destroying the competition as he confidently takes the World Superbike Championship by the scruff of the neck. Having just left Assen after equalling Toprak Razgatlioglu's record for 13 consecutive race wins, why is it that the rampant 26-year-old Italian is so far ahead of everyone? He's on the best bike, clearly, but there's so much more to it – and it's looking ominous for his rivals. 1 Smoothest operator When technical genius Gigi Dall'Igna switched from Aprilia to Ducati in late 2013, nobody could have predicted just how much of a turnaround there would be to follow. One of the key things Dall'Igna introduced – which initially was met with criticism from several Ducati teams –…

It started with an OS map. A turning onto a gravel trail I'd ridden past countless times suddenly pulled me in. Knowing I had a Suzuki DR-Z4S for the weekend, a quick check confirmed the red crosses of a Byway Open To All Traffic, so I flicked the indicator on and ventured onto unfamiliar ground. From the moment the 50/50 tyres hit dust, my mindset shifted. Eyes scanning for every new detail, brain tuned into the terrain – familiar yet unfamiliar, unusual but not intimidating. I felt in a far-off place, yet I was barely 15 minutes from home. Tarmac returned all too quickly, but the effect lingered long after I'd put the bike away – uplifting, inspiring, addictive, even. It was a reminder that adventure doesn't need distance, danger…

Back on Thursday, January 8, KTM issued a press release to the media showcasing what was then their entire naked bike range for 2026 and hinting that there would be a couple of new surprises arriving in April 2026. So far, we've only seen the new limited-edition RR, suggesting that there is more to come later this month. “April changes everything,” Product Marketing Manager, Gareth Davidson said at the time. “Two of the most extreme Duke models in the history of KTM will hit harder than ever before! “Sharper. Lighter. Meaner. Power that resets expectations, precision that hunts apexes, torque that could turn the world on its own axis. “Watch this space!” Exactly what this might look like remains to be seen, but it appears that the company's appetite for…

Goodwood kicked off a year of celebrating the late Barry Sheene this past weekend, with a parade of Grand Prix motorcycles of the late 1970s gracing the Goodwood Motor Circuit for the season-opening 83rd Members’ Meeting. An impressive collection of bikes once ridden by Sheene and his contemporaries brought the sights and sounds of ‘70s Grand Prix racing to the South Downs for the first time. It's the first of three major Goodwood celebrations marking 50 years since his first Grand Prix world title. Leading the parade were two of those closest to Barry himself, with son Freddie Sheene and former teammate Steve Parrish receiving a warm welcome from the crowd. “It's lovely to see all of the bikes out – I've probably never seen this many of my dad's…

‘Once owned by John Surtees’ Hundreds of motorcycles will go under the hammer this weekend at the International Classic MotorCycle Show, spearheaded by two slices of Grand Prix royalty – one believed to have been ridden by Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini, and the other raced to World Championship glory by Britain's Barry Sheene. Taking place on April 25-26 at Staffordshire County Showground, the event once again combines show hall displays with the Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale – featuring more than 350 lots across two days. Leading the charge is the 1965 MV Agusta four-cylinder 500cc Grand Prix machine, offered without reserve and carrying an estimate of £160,000-£220,000. The bike is a genuine ex-works example from the marque's dominant mid-1960s period and is believed to have been raced by Hailwood,…

West Sussex-based bike garage Mono Motorcycles has become the first Royal Enfield Authorised Service Centre in the UK. The move marks the initial step in a planned rollout of multiple similar facilities nationwide as the brand look to expand their customer support network away from main dealer only. “This initiative further demonstrates our commitment to Royal Enfield riders, making sure we provide accessible, quality service right across the country,” UK Country Manager, George Cheeseman commented. “With this first appointment, we now look forward to adding, strategically, additional Authorised Service Centres, in areas where our riders most need them.” Founded in 2017, the husband-and-wife business located in Funtington, Chichester officially went live under the new banner on March 29, now standing as the current go-to location for Enfield owners looking for…

Dainese Unruly Ergo-Tek gloves £77.39 Keep your mitts cool for less The only thing patchier than the roads right now is the temperature, but there have been enough glimpses of the sun to get us dreaming of consistently hotter days. Anyone who's worn the wrong gloves for the warm weather knows how quickly it becomes a drag. It might sound minor, but if your mind is fixed on clammy palms and sweat-soaked linings, your focus isn't fully on the traffic ahead. With prolonged spells of hot weather becoming increasingly common, it makes sense to consider gloves designed specifically for warmer conditions, such as these Unruly Ergo-Teks from Dainese. These summer gloves combine seamless stretch fabric with a sheepskin leather palm designed for comfort and feel. Dainese say the Ergo-Tek knuckle…

The braking breakthrough is matched by an equally significant step in suspension development from Öhlins. The Centenario becomes the first road bike to use carbon fibre fork tubes, technology first introduced in MotoGP in 2017. The unidirectional carbon weave cuts around a tenth of the weight compared with the forks fitted to a standard Panigale V4, which Ducati says delivers a noticable improvement to direction change and front-end sensitivity. Brembo's Mario Almondo said: “The feeling transmitted from the stiffness of this kind of suspension is, I report what a lot of professional riders say, better than metal. “On a bike like the Centenario, these outer tubes paired to our discs, make the inertia behaviour of the bike completely different and the benefit is huge.” Just how huge? “If you, let's…

Well our jameswhitham.com trackdays have started and given it's still early they've been going really well. We had two days at Anglesey at it was absolutely cracking. It was a couple of weeks ago, you know those few days when it was 20 degrees – so it was perfect. There's still good demand for trackdays, but probably a bit less than it was because I think everyone has a bit less disposable income at the moment. Our days are good though, our instructors are current BSB riders so it's great for our customers to be on track with them. We've done a day at Croft which was almost full and we've got Cadwell Park next week, which is always a great one. And looking ahead to May, some of our…

April 26 Yamaha Day If you've got a Yamaha, head down to the Ace Cafe in London on Sunday as this week's bike day has a Japanese flavour. Not only will the parking area be filled with likeminded riders, but you can grab a good bit of grub at the capital's most historic biking venue. london.acecafe.com April 25 Squires autojumble This great motorcycling pit stop just off the A1 is hosting its monthly autojumble this weekend. If you're after some space in the shed then pitches are only a fiver, or if you fancy a browse and a brew, then why not head over? www.squires-cafe.co.uk April 22-23 MSV trackdays With spring finally sprung, it must be time to get out on track, right? Well, you're in luck as there are…

Oxford are continuing to expand their line-up of ATLAS wearable luggage, designed to keep essential items secure, accessible, and protected, whether on the bike or on the move. Leading the charge is the ATLAS L-2 Advanced Leg Pack – which is a streamlined, ergonomic option that keeps everyday essentials close at hand without restricting movement. Joining it is a versatile family of waist-mounted packs, including the ATLAS W-3 Advanced Waist Pack and ATLAS W-3 Advanced Waist with Belt pack, both offering more storage capacity while maintaining a secure, low-profile fit. For riders seeking even greater flexibility, the range also includes the ATLAS Advanced Belt pack and ATLAS Advanced Strap pack. These allow multiple carry configurations, giving riders the freedom to tailor their setup to suit their riding needs. Each product…

FIRST RIDE It may be a surprise to learn that Ducati's V-twin Hypermotard, is now 20 years old. The original air-cooled, 90bhp 1100 became a sensation when backed-in, thumb raised, by superbike star Ruben Xaus before evolving through liquid-cooled, 110bhp 821 (2013), enlarged 112bhp 939 (2016) and 2019 112bhp 950, all with an up-specced SP sibling, lightly updated in 2021. Characterised by a hooligan attitude, those bikes, although brilliant fun, made very little practical sense at all. But that's all changed. Well, sort of… The new V2 follows Ducati's latest V-twin family in using the all-new, lighter, more compact ‘non’ Desmo 120bhp 90-degree V-twin. The steel trellis frame/single-sided swinger is also now ditched in favour of an aluminium monocoque / double-sided swingarm combo’ (although both are modified for Hypermotard use…

With 11 sub-500cc adventure bikes on offer this year, MCN is on a mission to find out which one is worthy of your cash. Three knock-out rounds and a grand final will give us the answer. Let battle commence £5139 (£6039 as tested) Rieju Aventura Rally 307 R 293cc, dohc, 4v single 24.2bhp @ 8900rpm 159kg kerb weight £4099 Voge 300 Rally 292cc, dohc, 4v single 22bhp @ 8300rpm 167.4kg kerb weight £6599 Honda CRF300 Rally 286cc, dohc, 4v single 22.4bhp @ 8200rpm 154.2kg kerb weight Within the ever-expanding choice from the massively popular adventure bike class, is a broad selection of more affordable and manageable smaller capacity A2-compliant options. In the first of three knock-out contests to ultimately discover which of these lightweight models this the best, we're taking…

‘Ready to search and destroy’ KTM's RC8 R drew serious praise when tested by MCN at the world launch, at Portimao in 2009. MCN's Chief Road Tester at the time, Trevor Franklin, was left impressed after sampling the KTM in both wet and dry conditions on track. “‘Race bike with lights’ is exactly what KTM's RC8 R is. Even though it's a track tool, it has all the ingredients to search and destroy roads with ease. It might take a little careful set-up of suspension and geometry – like the RC8, the RC8 R's suspension and front and rear ride height are fully adjustable. “There's plenty of room to move around on the seat and the riding position isn't uncomfortable at all – adjustable footpeg and subframe height helps here,”…

It doesn't matter how much power, skill or courage you have, the tyres are the connection to the road. Without good grip you can't accelerate, brake or turn without loss of traction. Over time and with use, tyres wear out, lose tread depth, and can crack or become ‘wooden’. Changing a tyre requires mechanical skill and specialist tools, but we're going to cover how to change them out effectively. Whilst we're covering how to change the tyre using a machine, a lot of these steps apply to any method. You can absolutely do this with just tyre levers (I'm sure someone's told you they can do it with a pair of spoons) but a proper machine makes this process easier. There's a bunch of different products out on the market…

Going behind the headlines at the Assen WorldSBK The human endeavour shown by Sam Lowes since the end of February has been nothing short of unbelievable. On just the second race day of the season, at Phillip Island, the Lincolnshire rider crashed and badly broke his wrist. Since then, he's put on an out-of-this-world performance to achieve a trio of fifth places at Portimao, while at Assen he wasn't off the podium all weekend. It was a remarkable feat of willpower, bravery and dogged determination from the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team rider who is third in the World Superbike standings. “Bloody hell!” exclaimed Leon Camier, racer turned rider coach, talking on the phone with MCN on the plane back from Amsterdam. “The Australia crash broke his wrist and hand:…

On just their second World Superbike outing, Tommy Bridewell and Superbike Advocates qualified a remarkable 11th in a field of 22 riders. The 2023 BSB Champion was unlucky in the races. Forced wide in Race 1, he dropped to 20th but fought back to 13th. In Race 2, he missed the points by just a few bike lengths, while in the Superpole Race received a track limits warning and unintentionally took a Long Lap penalty after misreading Bassani's #47 for his own #46 on the pit board. “We've got to be really happy,” Technical Director, Mick Shanley, tells MCN. “From the team that didn't really exist in January, we've put together the infrastructure in a short space of time. “The bike is very good and all of the Ducatis are…

The Motorcycle Industry Association are calling for national action to tackle the rapid growth of what they describe as “illegal, high-powered and tampered e-bikes”, following extensive engagement with police leaders ahead of the second reading of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Bill. The group warns that the illegal machines damage legitimate moped sales. Aprilia sell-out in two weeks Aprilia have sold all 30 examples of their limited-run X 250TH in just 14 days, after the bike's US Grand Prix debut. The machine is the first and only customer off-the-shelf bike to feature carbon-carbon brakes, similar to those used in MotoGP – not to be mistaken for the homologated carbon-ceramics fitted to Ducati's recent Superleggera V4 Centenario (see page 14–15). BMW announce new dealerships BMW have new locations in Stevenage and…

A new feature film, inspired by the Isle of Man TT road races, starts production at this year's two-week event, with actors Channing Tatum and Eve Hewson set to star. Called Isle of Man, it's being produced by Amazon MGM Studios, and forms part of a wider package that also includes a four-part Formula 1: Drive to Survive-style docuseries that was filmed during the 2024 TT. This year's races will provide the backdrop to the feature. “This is a major moment not only for the Isle of Man TT Races, but for the Isle of Man as a whole,” Political Member responsible for Motorsport and Tourism, Sarah Maltby MHK said. “To have filming begin at this year's event is another step forward in taking the TT to a global audience,…

Royal Enfield UK have extended a range of tasty finance deals across a variety of current models until the end of June. Announced on April 20, the offers include a 0% APR PCP on the Super Meteor 650 cruiser, with no deposit needed. Available to bikes in Celestial trim, it runs across 48 monthly payments of £92, with an optional final fee of £3264. Alternatively, customers can also take advantage of 0% and a 50/50 payment plan across a range of models, including the Bear 650, Classic 650, Himalayan 450, and more. For the full list of offers, go to royalenfield.com today.…

Advanced skills provider Rapid Training have announced a partnership with Honda UK. The move sees a brand-new fleet of Hondas made available for the firm's multi-level road and track coaching, plus new ‘Honda Bespoke Coaching’ courses. “I'm delighted we can bring world-class coaching to customers of the biggest name in biking,” said Rapid's MD Dave Hewson. ABR get tough on bike crime Adventure Bike Rider have announced a ramped-up security presence at this year's festival after five motorcycles were stolen at the Ragley Hall event in 2025. Organisers say nearly 200 security staff and 14 dog units will patrol the upcoming event. Nonetheless, they are urging attendees to be particularly vigilant, encouraging that bikes be kept locked or in vehicles where possible. MARK mental health support Mental health charity and…

QJMotor have introduced a pair of 125cc trail and supermoto singles to tempt the A1 licence and CBT riding crowd with low-cost biking. Distributed by MotoGB, both machines are available now and are mechanically almost identical, with the only major difference being in the wheel set-up. The COV 125 X gets the traditional off-road focused 21/18in dirtbike rims, meanwhile the COV 125 S gets 17in wheels front and rear. At the heart of each is a six-speed, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing the class maximum 14.8bhp at 9500rpm, alongside 8.9lb.ft of torque at 7000rpm. Suspension, chassis, and brakes are identical across the duo, with 43mm upside-down forks and a rear monoshock handling suspension duties, and braking taken care of by a 320mm front disc and 220mm rear, supported by dual-channel Bosch…

A motorcycle road safety roadshow held across Scotland has raised more than £9000 for the country's Charity Air Ambulance, while delivering biker safety talks to more than 1300. The multi-stop tour visited five venues, building on the success of its 2025 debut, and attracted 1344 attendees across the week. Organisers confirmed a total of £9172.73 was raised for the Perthbased air ambulance service, which is kept in the air almost entirely by public donations. Thomas Mitchell, Partner at Motorcycle Law Scotland, said: “We're incredibly proud of what's been achieved through this Roadshow. Not only have we raised significant funds for an essential service, but we've also brought riders together to learn, share experiences, and improve safety on our roads.” Each round of the event brought together a mix of emergency…

Send your bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com I've owned it for five years now and it's gone through various evolutions of colour and spec. Love it. Darren Rothwell My fourth BMW GS. I decided to trade in the 1250 for the 1300. Bring on the sunshine. Gary Giles My son's first bike was a CLR 125 which I took on. I re-badged it a Montesa, that's what it says on the VIN plate! Frank Smith This is my 2011 Harley-Davidson Road King, love the comfort and the looks. Steve Clark A shot of my 2000 Honda SP-1. Never should have sold it, what a great bike! Leon Harding Proper brass monkey weather. Heated grips on full and a light hand on the throttle for the bends. Terry My 2011 Fat Boy…

What's happening? This weekend might well be the biggest gathering of classic bikes in one place in the UK this year. If you're into your old metal, then get yourself down to the Staffordshire Showground (ST18 0BD) for a generous helping of metal including a classic racer GP paddock and classic motorcycle cavalcade. There will be trade stands and an autojumble along with special guests, TT racers John McGuinness and Dean Harrison. The essentials Doors open for the show at 9am on both Saturday and Sunday and shut at 5pm. Bear in mind if you buy a ticket on the gate then it's entry from 9.30am. It's also cheaper to buy tickets in advance online rather than on the gate, with a day e-ticket £18 and VIP e-ticket £50. Camping…

Next gen’ engine Latest ‘non-Desmo; V-twin (as in Panigale/Streetfighter V2 et al) is more compact, lighter and, with 120bhp @ 10,750rpm and 69lb.ft @ 8250rpm, the most powerful Hypermotard yet. Cocky monocoque Aluminium monocoque/double-sided swingarm is similar to previous V2s but bespoke (eg arm is longer than Panigale's), has a tubular steel subframe and, at 177kg, is 14kg less than old SP. Special Parts Up-specced SP version gets fully adjustable Öhlins, Brembo M50 calipers, forged wheels, steering damper, lithium battery, carbon mudguard stay and fancy paint for £3800 extra.…

HONDA RIEJU VOGE…

THE FACTS ‘The RC8 R's silhouette remains iconically individual even to this day’ KTM may have had a turbulent few years, but that hasn't stopped them on the racing and performance side; from briefly leading the 2026 MotoGP standings with Pedro Acosta to winning the Dakar Rally with Luciano Benavides, they've been hard on the gas. And then there's the new 990 RC R, which impressed both on road and track. Yet it's not KTM's first foray into a fully faired machine for the road. That all started with the RC8 – KTM's V-twin superbike which was first teased in 2003 at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, and finally released in 2008 towards the end of the noughties’ superbike boom. Its aggressive silhouette and the accompanying growl from the big V-twin…

Be ready to learn Riding the trails requires a whole new skill set. The quickest way to acquire that is by heading to one of the many training schools dotted across the UK. These centres cater for all abilities and allow you to learn without the worry of dinging your own bike. There's plenty to pick from, too, from adventure bike-specific providers to trail, enduro, motocross, and trials-centred schools. ‘Plenty of resources to help you discover exactly where and when to explore’ Think you've already sampled the very best riding the UK has to offer? Well, unless you got muddy, sweaty, and potentially a little bruised while doing so, then I'd say that you ought to think again. If you want the ultimate bang for your buck; the best scenery,…

Night Cat Instant Popup Tent 2-3 persons £96.77 One year ON TEST The Night Cat Instant Pop-Up tent is pitched mainly at campers but can be utilised by riders who want quick setup and plenty of living space. After a year of use spread over five camping trips, mostly by bike, it's proved easy to live with. When it comes to putting it up-, the pop-up system feels mechanical rather than damped, though it's solid and dependable, making solo pitching effortless after a long ride. Inside, there's ample room for two bikers and their kit without feeling hemmed in. Ventilation is excellent, and the generous internal height makes getting changed wrestle-free. Weather protection has been reliable through spring to autumn, coping well with heavy rain, although the four-season label feels…

Richa CRGO rucksack £39.99 1100 miles ON TEST This rucksack has been ideal as a day bag for bringing my laptop to the office or carrying water when I was out riding off-road in Portugal. The mesh padding that sits against your back stops you from getting sweaty and the chest strap makes the load comfortable to bear all day. It has proven to be waterproof in the rain, but I tested it further when an entire bottle of water spilled out inside and none escaped. The front pocket is handy for my office pass however, I do wish it was larger as it is too tight to get your hand in (and I only have small hands!). It would also benefit from a bottle pocket to make it easier…

There is a tendency to assume that the best sporty middleweights come out of Japan with the likes of the MT-09 or MT-07, GSX-8S, Z900 and Z650 and CB750 Hornet dominating. In reality this is far from the case and European firms make some very tempting options. This week we are highlighting five sporty nakeds that all carry European brand names. OK, they might not all be actually built here but we will gloss over that point for now and instead concentrate on the motorcycles themselves. YOUR EXPERT Jon Urry is MCN used motorcycle guru. He loves a sporty naked bike and has ridden all five of these bikes extensively. £4999-£8999 (2020-2024) BMW F900R Live out those F900R Cup racing fantasies BMW's naked middleweight has always been underrated and despite…

YOUR EXPERT BOB TEAHAN Bob is Director of The Machine Shop, Hinckley – a workshop that operates like a gym and offers its members access to tools, workbenches, knowledge and help. Bob's been engineering, racing and welding for over 15 years, and he's as comfortable chasing records as he is teaching in The Machine Shop workshop. When he's not fabricating or racing, Bob's passion is passing on hard-won skills to the next generation of welders and riders. • www.the-machine-shop.co.uk Switching rubber Need tyres fitting? Here's how to save cash by doing it yourself 1 Time to make a change This tyre is worn beyond safe limits and needs replacing. The first step is to remove the wheel. Loosen the axle/caliper bolts then securely raise the wheel off the ground. An ABBA…

MCN: How does it feel seeing the bike for the first time? Cox: It feels amazing, I've been watching Josh on his race campaigns for many years and I very much respect him as a person and a rider, so to have him signed up ride for us at the NW200 is incredible. MCN: But this isn't your first rodeo when it comes to supporting riders… Cox: I've been doing this for quite a few years now and I support people from the top echelons through to the grass roots. I like what Uggly&Co do and we've been collaborating for several years now, so I suppose it's only natural we've come to this point. It's been a rite of passage for me. I started Carl Cox Motorsport in 2013 getting…