Table of contents for 2 April 2025 in MCN

Bimota have revealed the price and availability of their hand-built KB998 Rimini superbike, which is set to hit European showrooms from April 9. Priced at a hefty £37,777 for UK buyers, the homologation special forms the base for the World Superbike racing machines piloted by Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani at last weekend's Portimao round. Visit bimotauk.co.uk for more. Ride better with BikeSafe Wales North Wales Police are gearing up for the 2025 BikeSafe workshops, aimed at improving rider safety. Running from April to October, these police-led sessions will take place in Porthmadog, Colwyn Bay, St Asaph and Llay. Riders will receive classroom theory and an observed ride, with feedback from police motorcyclists. The £84 fee includes a full day's training. Head to bikesafe.co.uk for details. Make friends with an…

A pair of straight-line racing enthusiasts are attempting to set a new world record for the fastest speed two-up on a motorcycle, already achieving 224.762mph in practice ahead of an official attempt in May. The current accolade for ‘Fastest speed on a tandem motorcycle’ sits with TV personality Henry Cole, and legendary engineer Allen Millyard. The pair recorded 183.5mph at Elvington Airfield, York, in May 2023 aboard Millyard's home-brewed 8-litre Viper V10 machine. The challengers looking to break the record are Jarrod ‘Jack’ Frost of Holeshot Racing, plus accomplished motorcycle customiser and top speed competitor, Paul Milbourn. They will attempt the feat during Speed Week, which runs from May 22-25 at the York circuit. Frost will be riding his own turbocharged second-generation Suzuki Hayabusa for the attempt, having previously achieved…

A new Watford-based Ducati dealership, which opened its doors on Saturday, March 15, has got off to a positive start, with sales already in double figures and long-term plans to capture new audiences. Ducati North London was launched after a £1m investment from parent company Lind, who own a chain of dealerships comprising four Triumph showrooms, two Harley-Davidson stores, plus outlets for Yamaha, BMW, and Porsche. “We are well into double figures [with sales] now,” Executive Chairman, Russell Dacre told MCN. “The Ducati product line-up is really strong, and the service business is growing as well.” Situated in Unit 1, Trade City, Watford, the team are hoping to get more bikes into the workshop by offering free MoTs on Ducati models until April 30. “There's a high number of Ducati…

Potential good news for bikers as the Department for Transport (DfT) have confirmed that local authorities will begin to see a share of £1.6 billion from mid-April to help fight against potholes, with councils now having to prove the repairs they've done or face missing out on funds. “Fixing the basic infrastructure this country relies on is central to delivering national renewal, improving living standards and securing Britain's future through our Plan for Change,” Prime Minister, Kier Starmer commented. The 10-figure sum includes an additional £500 million cash injection and is said to be enough to fix seven million extra holes. As part of the deal councils in England must publish a full progress report on their annual road repairs – with those lagging behind losing their share of £125…

Oxford Bullet mini rear indicators £39.99 Chunky indicators can often look out of place on retro, classic or custom machines, however these road-legal replacements from Oxford Products should give you a more subtle rear end while still doing the job. E-marked and fully waterproof, with amber lenses and bright LEDs. oxfordproducts.com Dainese Torque 4 race boots £409 An updated version of Dainese's race boots, the Torque 4 claims to offer enhanced protection with the company's D-Axial system, which is designed to protect the malleolus from twisting and crushing in the event of an impact. They're also available with a perforated upper for additional ventilation. dainese.com LS2 Dragon £349.99 The Dragon is LS2's latest premium lid, made from 6k twill-weave carbon fibre. Available in three shell sizes, it's claimed to be…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Mark Skilton The ride France to Barnstaple How many miles? Around 1000 Tell us about the trip… I was 70 last year and retired to France 12 years ago. I had some major health problems in 2023 so this trip was on my bucket list and fitted in with my intention to grow old disgracefully! Both my sons wanted to see the bike, so this was a chance to do it all. My bike was a testament to Honda reliability, and still is even after all the potholes in the UK. I did the trip to Ouisterham (Caen) over two and a half days, including two overnight stops. I stuck to main roads and a few back roads, no Autoroutes. Stayed at Blois in…

‘Europe calling’ CHRIS FAHEY This is at Lake Brienz in Switzerland. The bike handles amazing fully loaded. Can't beat seeing such beautiful places by bike! ‘Nip to the Nook’ RICHIE SALT I visited my two favourite cafés, Falstone Tea Rooms and The Nook Farm Shop & Café. I had Kielder Forest to myself and 8°C felt like -8°C but good to be out on very quiet roads. ‘Soul food’ MARTIN POTTS I stopped at the Dragon Soul Cafe for coffee and a cake. Just before I left ‘Ride, Relax, Repeat’ (a Mancs based group) showed up and I was glad I wasn't in the queue behind them! ‘Still smiling’ SHAUN AKROYD It was cold and wet at times on this rideout between Kirkby Lonsdale and Hawes via Dent, but when…

Lean, green and on the scene Phenomenal fuel economy tends to go hand-in-hand with fewer cylinders, smaller capacities, reduced revs and less power. You could go all the way to Honda's CB125F (188mpg claimed), but that's a pretty extreme compromise – let's assume you're after something with a bit more kick. Honda's GB350S (94mpg) or Royal Enfield's HNTR 350 (102mpg) offer twice the power for half the efficiency, but can still struggle on faster roads. A 500cc twin gives more complete speed and size, with Honda's NX500 (79mpg) and Kawasaki's Z500 (74mpg) proving impressively frugal. But they both fall short of the outright performance and efficiency offered by the NC750X or Z7 Hybrid. Stepping up again takes us to a vast range of middleweight twins, including Suzuki's V-Strom 650 (67mpg),…

FIRST RIDE A lthough the Streetfighter V4 S has always been extreme, Ducati have taken things a step further with the 2025 model. The chassis has been tweaked, the braking and suspension components have been uprated and the power has been upped. It's 6kg lighter, too. The electronics have been updated and are powered via a new, TFT dash, while the riding position has been altered in order to create a little bit more space. The result? Well, the V4 has always been a potent beast, but for 2025 it's even more so; yet not only is it a machine that can be as brutal as a superbike, it also has the ability to be docile and friendly. 1 V-for victory Updates include a new cam profile, a new alternator…

REAL-WORLD ‘I sleep loads better now’ MCN's Sport Editor Michael Guy has a BikeTrac fitted to his KTM 690 Enduro R: “Having spent a lot of time and money turning my KTM into a serious lightweight adventure bike I'd be absolutely heartbroken if it was to get stolen. And while nothing in life is guaranteed, I sleep a whole lot better knowing exactly where my bike is and that I'd be alerted if it moves. “The phone app is supereasy to use with loads of bonus information such as battery status (you can set a minimum voltage and it will notify you if the bike drops below that) as well as every start and stop of your ride being recorded. You have to remember to put it in service mode…

‘Barry Sheene got me a ride’ 1993 500GP World Champion Kevin Schwantz is a Suzuki folk hero second only to Barry Sheene but it might never have happened without the GSX-R750. In 1985 Schwantz was racing for Yoshimura Suzuki in AMA Superbike on the GSX750 (the GSX-R750 didn't arrive in the US until 1986) coming seventh after missing half the races. In early 1986 he came second on the GSX-R to Eddie Lawson's FZ750 in the Daytona 200 then came to UK for the Transatlanic Trophy. “I went to the UK to race a GSX-R that belonged to Tony Rutter,” Schwantz recalled. “That year we didn't have great conditions at Donington. It rained, it snowed… but the bike was fast enough and it was a dream to ride.” (Schwantz and…

@carlstevens17 Loves anything sporty, exciting or with a tendency to get dirty. Spent many years racing, still loves scraping 'sliders. Motorcycling is something that conjures up different feelings for different people – but a quick twist of that (even sharper) quick-action throttle on the new S1000RR for the first time sums it up for me; exhilarating. As a little bit of background, I've always been a sportsbike nut, with a bike history that includes a Kawasaki Ninja 250, Ducati Panigale 899, Suzuki GSX-R1000R and a Ducati Panigale V2 – all of which were built as race bikes. Sticky tyres and scrubbing ‘sliders is basically in my DNA, which is why I've been itching to swing a leg over the sales king of big-capacity sportsbikes in the UK. Although I've ridden…

Important meetings were staged at Portimao, one of them being Nicolo Bulega's manager, Alberto Martinelli, with Ducati as they attempt to agree terms for 2026 and beyond. On a more global scale, all of the manufacturers have been discussing with governing body the FIM and commercial rights holders Dorna Sports the future of the series MotoGP will switch to 850cc engines and Pirelli tyres in 2027. There is no way Dorna will risk superbikes lapping much closer to GP machines, plus the fact 1000cc sportsbikes (the current superbikes) are not selling like they used to due to stricter emissions regulations. The general school of thought, although some slam the idea, is that ‘Next Generation’ Supersport (based on old Superbike rules) will become the premier class of WorldSBK, with the SportBike…

Going behind the headlines at the Portimao WSBK TOP STORY Despite being a gentleman, Toprak Razgatlioglu has proved he can be just as selfish as any successful motorcycle racer and that he will play the game to get what he wants. As the season started in Australia at the end of February, the BMW rider labelled WorldSBK a ‘Ducati Cup’ as the Italian machines locked out the top six of a race for the first time since 2004. According to his rivals, he's made himself look silly by achieving his own hat-trick in Portugal last weekend… and all this after missing out on 45 minutes of practice due to technical problems. A recent test with Pirelli's new development tyre (which Ducati hadn't used) helped him to three superlative wins. Phillip…

Alex Lowes suffered a pointless weekend leaving him 13th overall. It began with a qualifying crash, before his next lap was removed due to yellow flags which left him at the back of the grid. He crashed again in both long races. Twin brother Sam, on his first Portimao WSBK appearance, crashed his Marc VDS Ducati from fourth in Race 1 but managed sixth and 11th positions on Sunday. Massive scare for Vickers Following a big crash in Australia, Ryan Vickers suffered another during practice at Portimao as his Motocorsa Ducati became airborne over the famous crest before Craig Jones corner. The Norfolk rider sustained a deep abrasion to his right elbow but completed the weekend with two points for 14th place in Race 2, not helped by the fact…

Jack Miller is unconvinced that the highly anticipated switch to a V4 is the complete solution to restore Yamaha to title contention. And despite his charge to fifth behind a squadron of Ducatis, it is clear that even the GP24 remains a better package than the Yamaha. This despite a massive investment in engineering and the poaching of acclaimed Ducati tech operator Max Bartolini. “Absolutely that's the case but Yamaha are working away just like Honda chasing the red bikes. They hit the number with the 2024 bike which is really strong,” Miller said “But we are plugging away with good and bad days. You never know; Ducati arguably took 10 years to get where they are.” ‘Ducati took 10 years to get where they are’ When it arrives the…

When it comes to products for keeping our pride and joy safe and secure, we're in a golden age. With the Sold Secure Diamond standard helping create locks and chains that can shrug off an attack with a cordless angle grinder, there's more protection than ever when it comes to making sure your bike stays exactly where you left it – provided you use them as intended. Another security product that has come of age recently is the tracker – once only available as a customfitted and subscription-only service, plenty of us use cheaper, simpler tracking devices such as Apple AirTags, to give us peace of mind that, should our bike disappear one day, we'll be able to direct the police to its whereabouts and be reunited with it. But…

The BMW R12 G/S is not the first 1170cc retro-inspired off-roader from the brand. Back in 2017, the BMW R nineT Urban GS arrived – based on the naked R nineT Scrambler of the time. Initially priced at £10,550 it featured a raised front mudguard over the smaller 19in front wheel. There was also a lower 850mm seat height, plus larger 17 litres of fuel onboard. Non-adjustable forks and a rebound and preload adjustable shock made the bike more of a road-biased proposition but it looked cool and proved popular.…

The National Motorcycle Museum (NMM) in Solihull played host to the H&H Classics auction last Wednesday with more than 270 lots under the hammer. Among the options was a 1930 Brough Superior SS100, built for and ridden by company founder, George Brough, which sold for £241,500. “If you're looking for a seriously rare and special motorcycle then you don't need to look much further than this 1930 Brough Superior SS100,” Senior motorcycle specialist at H&H Classics, Mike Davis said. Just 21 SS100s were produced that year, with this particular machine ridden at the Edinburgh Trial by George Brough. It underwent a restoration in 1980 with expert Tony Cripps and has been on loan to the NMM in the past. “When you also consider it's a works-prepared machine which Brough used…

‘We're proud to continue riding dapper for men's health’ Dust off those tweeds because the annual Distinguished Gentleman's Ride (DGR) will return to over 1000 cities on May 18, gathering smartly clad bikers aboard retro machines from around the world to raise money for men's health charities. Organisers expect this year's ride, which celebrates its 13th birthday, to be the biggest yet, with a host of goodies available for the most successful fundraisers – including a brand-spanking Triumph from the firm's modern classic range. Other items up for grabs include MotoGP experiences and Hedon helmets. At the time of writing, Chicago's John Rapacz occupies the top spot, with £8751 raised so far. As they have been for the past decade, Movember are the primary beneficiaries of money raised. The charity's…

Organisers of the 2025 British MotoGP round at Silverstone have unveiled an actionpacked weekend of off-track action, with live music, stunt shows, and more. The world championship returns to the Northamptonshire venue for the May Bank Holiday weekend, kicking off on Friday, May 23 and running until Sunday, May 25. Each evening will see crowds entertained by live music, starting with highly acclaimed DJ and radio presenter, MistaJam. On Saturday evening, Hard-Fi will take to the stage for a series of rock anthems, with singer Jake Bugg closing proceedings on Sunday with a series of hits. The British GP had previously taken place in August for more than a decade, but this year's event will be held just a day before the start of the Isle of Man TT road…

Petition tops 4000 names The petition, Implement a strategy to protect motorcyclists from imports of unsafe clothing is at the halfway stage and has received over 4000 signatures of support to date. It closes on July 6, so you still have time to sign using the QR code below. The need for the petition has been made starkly clear in the past two weeks. Industry contacts have provided me with evidence of counterfeit clothing being produced in huge numbers in factories in Sialkot, Pakistan. As one of my sources explained: “The extent and volume of counterfeit clothing is unbelievable. Factory owners openly admitted that the items are destined to be sold direct to the consumer, using the e-commerce and social media platforms. In one factory I saw more than two…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH Radar-based rider assistance has been a hot field of development in recent years and has introduced ideas such as adaptive cruise control and auto-braking crash mitigation to the world of motorcycles. However, despite building their reputation on cutting-edge tech, Honda still haven't joined the fray. That's likely to change soon and unlike purely radar-based rivals, Honda's system looks increasingly likely to employ stereoscopic cameras to scan the road ahead. The technology that's expected to form the basis of future Honda ARAS (Advanced Riding Assistance Systems) is under development at Hitachi Astemo, a company that you might not have heard of but one that's been created specifically to help integrate the increasingly complex systems on bikes. Under the Astemo banner, three famous motorcycling names – Showa, Nissin…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Not a motorbike but aged three and you can see which way it's all leading! Dave Johnston The trike got me on the right track! Here I am on my 1976 Suzuki on my way back to Army barracks. Dave Johnston Self-destructing exhaust, square-section tyres, no brakes… but started me on a life-long love of bikes. Nick Owen I love retro bikes, the history, legacy and styling appeals to me, which is why I chose the Triumph. Natalie Zouch Mid-90s when I was at uni. Rode to France with a heavy backpack. Handling was ‘interesting’. Mark Goldie My old Honda VFR with its brilliant V4 engine. Steve McEvoy I was in awe of the Suzuki rotary when it was released in 1975. I…

1 April 5 Rufforth autojumble With better motorcycling weather just around the corner, get your goodies and bargains at this month's Rufforth Autojumble. Held at Rufforth Park in York (YO23 3QH), it's just £2 for entry and doors open to the public from 8am. www.rufforthautojumble.com 2 April 5 Saturday night at Santa Pod It's like Run What Ya Brung but this time, you can do it until late in the evening. Just turn up and pay to play (it's cheapest from 5pm-8pm at £20) as well as the admission (£26) then have a great time down the quartermile at Santa Pod! santapod.co.uk 3 April 6 Festival of Transport The Three Counties Showground (WR13 6NW) will be filled with automotive brilliance this weekend. Along with classic cars and bikes, there will…

THE FACTS ‘We were building the bike too well, too conservative’ There is no better known (or arguably more successful) modern superbike family than Suzuki's GSX-R. Whether in 600cc, 1000cc or its original 750cc guise, the ‘Gixxer’ has done it all: won championships, become the go-to bike for street loons and sold over a million units. That success is largely down to the impact of the original, the GSX-R750F. Unveiled at Cologne in autumn 1984 it caused a sensation with clip-ons, a full race fairing, twin headlights and a lightweight aluminium chassis; no sportsbike had ever looked so focused. And, with a dry weight of just 176kg (33kg less than Yamaha's FZ750) and 100bhp on tap it promised the performance to back up its style. It delivered exactly that. In…

@moby_snap Prefers performance to plodders and big days in the saddle – rides all year in all weathers. The majority of my mileage over the last decade has been smashed out on a host of enormous adventure bikes – but one bike has largely evaded me: the Tiger 1200. I last lived with one in 2012/13, when I racked up just under 10,000 miles during a five-month period. It was a largely positive experience, but also unearthed frustrations that I hoped would have been addressed over the intervening years. The most persistently frustrating was the inescapable wind noise that dogged every mile spent above 40mph, and which multiple screen options failed to eradicate. The other centres on the dash interface. I've ridden most of Triumph's current range, and find their…

Former MotoGP teammates Alvaro Bautista and Scott Redding, neither of whom likes the other, collided four corners into Race 1. The Bonovo rider labelled it a racing incident but the factory man was less sympathetic. “Scott hit me,” Bautista complained. “I don't want to speak to him. You should respect your factory teammate and not f*** with me as he has [about weight advantages] all these years.” “I can't even say I'm sorry because I didn't do anything,” said Redding. “I was in front going into Turn 3. I needed to pass Remy Gardner into Turn 5; as I was planning that [at Turn 4], I felt a push on the left side. “I wanted to go and speak with Alvaro but couldn't get close. I hear he's saying I…

‘We'll see the level at Assen’ As his teammate swept all before him with a hat-trick of wins and fastest laps from pole position, Michael van der Mark qualified seventh before notching up sixth-seventh-eigth place results in the races. The Dutchman reckons his home round next time out on April 11-13 will be the true test. “We made good steps during testing,” he says. “I struggled on Saturday but had extra speed on Sunday. Portimao has a lot of hard braking and slow corners, which suits us better. Assen is a combination of both Phillip Island and Portimao, so it's there where we will see the real level.”…

Delivers the inside line on Jake Dixon's perfect weekend Jake Dixon dominated Moto2 for the second weekend in succession, showing he has the potential to go all the way in 2025. The 29-year-old topped every session he entered, and for the second time in three races he led every lap. His commanding performance, in which he controlled the gap to Tony Arbolino with ease, displayed none of the nerves Dixon had felt on the grid. “Everything felt out of control with the rain falling. I didn't know what was going on and felt so stressed,” he said. Dixon was untouchable in Austin. MCN looks at how he did it. Added maturity Ben Doe was Dixon's mechanic during two tough seasons in 2020 and 2021 in the Petronas team. Now at…

Paddock veteran delivers his verdict on the US round Staying calm under the huge pressure to pull back from the brink of a championship crisis was pivotal point in Pecco Bagnaia's American victory. And the timing was perfect according to MotoGP legend Kevin Schwantz, on a day that Bagnaia really needed the maximum result – a win and 25 points. It was a result that lifted a huge weight from the shoulders of the twice MotoGP world champion, going some way to silence critics. And it was a day where factory Ducati teammate Marc Marquez scored zero points with a crash DNF which enabled Bagnaia to pounce. “Pecco absolutely needed something special from CoTA. It is so important not dig yourself into a huge hole before you get to Europe…

Alex Marquez's hopes of emulating 2024 champ Jorge Martin and becoming the next satellite team rider to win a MotoGP title took a flip in Texas, as his sixth successive second place gave him the series lead. Albeit by just one point. It's a significant moment for a rider who, Moto3 and Moto2 titles notwithstanding, has spent a lifetime overshadowed by his hugely successful older brother. At 28, Alex is four years younger, and while his run of seconds in every 2025 race underlines his junior status, it marks huge success for a rider with just five main-race podiums in five years. ‘Leading on last year's bike is amazing’ Sibling rivalry has been remarkably absent, at least outwardly. Alex has smilingly shadowed Marc, who played a big part in a…

NEW MODEL BMW are once again expanding their air/oil cooled retro twin offering, this time with a new dual-purpose R12 G/S range, inspired by the original R80 G/S launched in 1980 – and it can come equipped with an Enduro Package for genuine off-road ability. Starting at £14,420 on the road, the bike uses the same 1170cc boxer twin as the rest of the R12 family, and follows a recipe first introduced with the R nineT Urban GS in 2017. Sitting at 229kg ready to ride, it kicks out the same claimed 107.3bhp at 7000rpm as the R12 nineT roadster, with a healthy 84.9lb.ft of torque at 6500rpm. The engine is a stressed member inside a tubular steel space frame, with the chassis itself kitted out with two steel eyelets…

Northamptonshire-based technology specialists White Motorcycle Concepts (WMC) have begun a new partnership with Italian design house Pininfarina, delving into the potential aerodynamic properties of future two-wheelers. The British brand grabbed headlines in 2021 with their WMC250EV land speed record bike – which showcased a large cylindrical hole through the centre for a claimed 70% reduction in drag compared to the best conventional road bikes. The technology has since been used on a hybrid WMC300FR three-wheeler, based on the Yamaha Tricity and has been used by Northamptonshire Police. “The duct concept has always been about improving efficiency no matter the fuel source,” WMC founder, Robert White said. “This collaboration has taken this to the next level showing how the duct can provide functional performance as well as be an aesthetic feature.”…

Honda Europe have announced a new warranty scheme of up to six years, providing owners continue to get their bikes serviced through authorised dealerships. The new scheme is open to road-registered Honda motorcycles only and extends coverage past the standard two-year period. It will be available for up to a maximum of 72 months from the date of first registration. Owners must continue to follow the official service and maintenance schedule, with the warranty extended in 12-month increments after the initial two years. The extension occurs once the bike has been serviced and logged on the Digital Service Record.…

The Motorcycle Action Group is calling on bikers to join in a ‘Riders’ Resistance Weekend’ on July 5-6 against what it describes as the continued threat of a Government ban on the sale of new conventional internal combustion engine motorcycles. MAG Chair, Neil Liversidge, called the ban “an attack on riders”. Norton go Krazy in the capital Norton have extended their dealer network to include Krazy Horse Central London, located in Kensington. The partnership, which represents Norton's fourth Krazy Horse showroom, brings the firm's complete lineup to the heart of the city. Chris Bexon, Head of Sales at Norton, said: “We are excited to be expanding.” Classics head down to Kent The Ashford Classic Motorcycle Show and Bike Jumble is gearing up for Easter Monday (April 21) at Ashford Livestock…

A bunch of nuisance electric off-roaders have been taken out of the hands of criminals and put into the jaws of the police crusher, while their riders have been reported for a series of offences. As part of the continued efforts of Operation Capio, Northumbria Police reported the seizure of five electric machines across a five-day stretch in March, with these bikes having been ridden illegally in an anti-social manner in the Silksworth area of Sunderland. Capio, launched in December 2023, is a force-wide initiative aimed at tackling anti-social motorcycle-related crime. In the latest action, the taskforce teamed up with Sunderland City Council to respond to reports of two-wheeled disorder, seeing dedicated motorcycle crime officers carry out patrols to catch offenders in the act. As well as the seizure of…

Triumph have lifted the lid on a pair of road-legal enduro machines, which will be available to customers next month. Called the TF 250-E and TF 450-E, the dirty duo have been developed with the help of riding legends Iván Cervantes and Paul Edmondson, who collectively hold nine world titles. Both have been set up for enduro racing, getting new powertrains, chassis tweaks, and an assortment of electronic goodness. The Hinckley firm have already seen strong results in enduro racing, with factory rider Jonny Walker claiming second overall in the 2025 FIM Super Enduro world championship. “We are entering the competitive enduro scene with new models that introduce cutting-edge advancements in performance and technology,” said Triumph's Chief Product Officer, Steve Sargent. “Featuring a brand-new chassis and engine platform, the 2026…

Alpinestars GP Plus R V3 £329.99 Save a packet on leather jackets Leather jackets have been the garment of choice since motorcycling began, and even with today's advanced textiles, there's still a place for cowhide kit thanks to its highly abrasion resistant properties. Not only does it offer protection, but the casual combo of riding jeans and a leather jacket can be practical too, particularly if you're after a classic low-profile look. With the weather finally warming up and the need for bulky thermal linings waning, we've tracked down the best deals on the web so you can hang up your old musty gear and upgrade to a fresh new jacket for summer. There's no denying the sporty intentions of Alpinestars’ GP Plus R V3, and those race-ready looks go…

THE FACTS ‘Corner speed makes it a real smile machine’ Just months after one lucky MCN winner picked up the keys to their brand new motorcycle, we're about to make dreams come true once again. This time you've got the chance to win our reigning Sportsbike of the Year, the Suzuki GSX-8R, simply by ticking a box when you get a bike insurance quote with us. It's as simple as that – just head to MCNCompare.com to be in with a shot. Not only will you be smug in the knowledge you've found a great deal on your insurance, but you'll also enjoy the tantalising prospect of potentially becoming the owner of this sensational parallel-twin performance bike. A worthy winner Want to know why we named the GSX-8R our Sportsbike…

What's happening? Brooklands Museum are hosting a barrage of pre-1940s metal this Sunday. There will be motorcycle displays, rides up Test Hill (as long as it stays dry) along with race starts, demos and moto gymkhana style events. There'll be a live band and talks including ‘pioneer motorcycle development’, so one thing you will need is plenty of time to check it all out. The essentials If you want to go along and look around the museum, then normal admission applies which is £24 (kids under four and members are welcome for free.) Head to KT13 0SL for the free car park for 10am when the event opens, and it finishes at 5pm. Entry for pre-1940s competitors is from 8am-9am. Head to www.brooklandsmuseum.com for more information…

FIRST RIDE It was 2014 when Yamaha launched the MT-07 and it marked a turning point for the Japanese manufacturer. It kick-started a new chapter; delivering a bike that set a new high in the middleweight naked class thanks to its impressive, easy-access performance and class-leading price. Above all, it was fun. Fast forward 11 years and 2025 marks the launch of the fourth-generation MT-07 in what is now an increasingly popular and highly competitive class. Knowing the relentless desire of their competitors to eat into their market share, Yamaha have taken the evolution of their popular middleweight seriously, delivering a comprehensively upgraded package in a bid to remain top of the class. 1 Sign of the times There's no longer a traditional throttle cable in sight as for the…

KAWASAKI HONDA…

Always wrap up Although a tracker can be a seriously effective tool, it should be something that is used as a last line of defence. Always use at least one lock, and if possible double up, especially if there's something you can attach to with a chain. A cover will also help as a small, extra layer, but if it helps to stop a theft, then it has to be worth it. ‘There was a notification in under a minute’ If you're reading these words, there's a strong chance that you've at least one bike stored away somewhere, whether that be your tool for getting to and from and work, your pride and joy, or anything that may sit in between. Now, imagine that some toerag has the audacity to…

The all-new FZ750 was not only Yamaha's first big liquid-cooled four, it also introduced five-valve heads and the ‘Genesis’ concept where engine and chassis were designed to work together for optimum performance. It worked, too. On road, many magazines rated the FZ slightly ahead of the GSX-R and its 103bhp was slightly better, too. On track, especially in the MCN Streetbike series, the lighter, more focused GSX-R had it beat. Yamaha responded with the 999cc FZR1000 in 1987, which usurped Suzuki's GSX-R1100, introduced the Deltabox frame and is regarded as the finest superbike of the era. So, while the first Gixxer invented the ‘racer replica’ and won on track, the core concepts of the FZ were arguably just as significant.…

Evotech Sidestand Extension £44.99 10,000 miles ON TEST There's nothing more aggravating than stopping somewhere with no hard-standing and realising that you forgot your sidestand puck – again. But you can beat that (literal) sinking feeling by simply boosting the size of your sidestand's footprint. The big foot that you see here – designed and made in the UK by Evotech Performance – is fitted to an R1300GS. Designed to ensure it doesn't foul any part of the bike when raised, but big enough to provide security on soft or uneven ground, it's proved invaluable. It's all-metal construction means it copes with a lot of abuse, while it only takes about 30 seconds to fit. MCN rating evotech-performance.com…

Going behind the headlines at the Portimao WSBK round It seems the weather gods were smiling on Portugal's Algarve last weekend. Following endless weeks of terrible weather, round two of the season was blessed by a heat wave as umbrellas were used to avoid sunburn as opposed to their more conventional usage. There was a carnival atmosphere in the paddock and some stunning racing; a total of nine races took place across the various categories, every one of them highly entertaining. Add together the gaps between winner Toprak Razgatlioglu and runner-up Nicolo Bulega from all three superbike races and the total is just 0.317 seconds: Race 1 was decided by 0.067, the Superpole Race by 0.055 and Race 2 by 0.195. The respective BMW and Ducati riders look more evenly…

Michael Dunlop loves nothing more than keeping everyone guessing. The unveiling of his plans for each new season has become something of a cloak and dagger ritual and 2025 has proved to be no exception. During the past week Dunlop made his first appearance on a BMW M1000RR in a private test at Kirkistown in Northern Ireland. The move points towards a much-rumoured shift to the German manufacturer from the Honda superbikes he has ridden for the past two seasons. ‘Dunlop loves to keep people guessing’ The first hint of such a move came in the 35-year-old's announcement that he would ride a BMW in next month's Le Mans 24 Hour race for Team LPR Poland. That will follow his outing on a Milwaukee/MD Racing Ducati V2 that signalled his…

As MCN went to press on Monday, it was unclear whether Jonathan Rea would be at Assen next weekend after the six-time World Champion cast doubt upon his participation. The Pata Maxus Yamaha rider was present in Portimao last Sunday, returning to a race track for the first time since the February crash which shattered his left foot during testing at Phillip Island. “I'll see my surgeon on Tuesday and make a decision on Assen,” the Northern Irishman explained in Portugal. “It's a very common injury with jockeys when they get their foot stuck in the stirrups. My high energy fracture came from the bike cartwheeling in the air [and hitting me]. I'm well ahead of schedule after being in a cast for three weeks and then the boot. The…

‘To be back where we should be is a super feeling’ Fabio Di Giannantonio was exalted after taking a first podium since 2023 in heroic circumstances in Austin. Having missed most of preseason testing, the Italian was back among the best in just his third weekend back since serious surgery on his left shoulder last October. He then broke his left collarbone on the first day of testing, delaying his return to fitness further. That was apparent in Austin, where he was low on strength, and began to fatigue by lap eight of Sunday's race. “I'm just so happy. We put so much work on it,” he said. “This winter has been too long for us. Too many injuries, too many hours at the physio. To be back where we…