Table of contents for 18 June 2025 in MCN

PICK OF THE PACK MCN’s experienced female road test team take four of the hottest bikes of 2025 for a test in the Peak District SHEER INSPIRATION From passing her bike test to riding the length of the country, Lizzie Southwick tells the story of how she conquered two wheels with a bionic arm BARGAIN KIT Finding the best bargains this week on top-quality women’s riding kit Out in the wild We caught up with off-road instructor at the Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Academy, Louise Hodgkinson who ventured on an off-road trip to Morocco with a small group of other like-minded ladies. Like Louise, her fellow riders all ended coming to motorcycling relatively late on in life, but had the trip of a lifetime in the Moroccan desert. This trip…

• Hodgson wins at a packed Silverstone • We say goodbye to David Jefferies • Loris Capirossi wins in Germany DUCATI TAKE MOTOGP WIN Hard to believe but this time in 2003 Ducati were just six weeks into their first MotoGP campaign in the modern era when hard-riding Italian Loris Capirossi put the Desmosedici on the top step for the first time in Catalunya. It wasn’t just Ducati’s first modern win in the premier class though; it was also the first time an Italian rider had won on an Italian bike in the blue ribband category since Giacomo Agostini took to the top step on 1976 West German GP on an MV Agusta, and it was all thanks to a mistake from the championship leader, Valentino Rossi who had run…

Thousands are expected to take part in this weekend’s Dave Day in a mass show of community spirit. The two-day event – now returning for a second year – takes place on June 21-22 in honour of late Hairy Bikers star, Dave Myers. This year’s route follows the same format as before, with a Saturday morning departure from London’s Ace Cafe and hopes of reaching Barrow-in-Furness at around 3pm. Following the mass ride-in, the event offers attendees a weekend of music, food, and fundraising for Childline and CancerCare. Highlights include a rock concert, a football match between former pros and bikers, and more. “What we did last year was very spontaneous,” Dave’s wife, Lili Myers, told MCN. “It was something that was born out of the wish to honour Dave’s…

Oxford Stormex Pro cover from £149.99 Oxford’s range-topping dual-layered cover is essentially an all-season tent for your motorcycle. The waterproof outer is hard-wearing 600D polyester, with large vents to prevent condensation and a breathable soft, stretchy inner. Adjustable straps keep it snugly in place. oxfordproducts.com Eleveit Proton boots £169.99 These technical touring boots have a lightweight microfibre upper with a breathable waterproof membrane and soft mesh comfort lining. A triple compound rubber sole provides grip both on and off the bike, and the long side entry makes light work of getting them on and off. eleveit.it Alpinestars GP Plus R V3 £189.99 The latest version of Astars’ sports glove features an allnew dual density TPU knuckle protector, aramid stretch fabric cuff and a racing derived finger bridge. Construction is leather,…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER IN ASSOCIATION WITH Helmets off to TT+ What a fantastic job Paul Phillips and his team have done with promoting, organising, and running this year’s TT and, once again, making available live and playback coverage through the TT+ app. The app is fantastic and has done so much to increase the global profile of the island; it must have recruited so many new TT and racing fans, via its low-cost, yet high-quality production. The presenters do a great job too (get Grace into the short circuit paddock, what a star!). Chris Newcombe, email With the summer very much upon us, Zerofit are now offering the winner of the weekly MCN Star Letter one of their fabulous Cold Skin baselayers, worth £55! Independently tested for…

It was the Banbury run the weekend before last, and it was an epic day for me. The run celebrates vintage bikes and the organisers are very strict on the ages of bikes allowed to attend, pre-January 1931 machines only. However, I’d been given special permission to bring my V-twin Velo even though it’s 1939. Anyway, as it was going to be a 190-mile day, once I’d ridden down there and back and done the 40-mile run itself, I’d planned to take the bike in my van; 190 miles would be a big day on a Fireblade let alone a 1930s bike! But when I woke up, I thought, 'sod it, it's a lovely day I'm just going to ride'. So off I went, up the A34 and M40 to…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday June 18 BIKE MEETS ■ Sycamore Cafe, Great Billing, Northamptonshire. 4pm-9pm www.facebook.com/SycamoreForestCatering ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Seaways Bike Night, Fridaythorpe, East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ Wheels Cafe, Sykehouse, South Yorkshire 5.30pm-8.30pm 01405-5785635 ■ Chequered Flag Bike Night, Liskeard, Cornwall 7pm. Facebook: Chequered Flag SW ■ English Riviera Bike Night, Eastern Esplanade, Paignton, Devon £2 cash only 6pm. Facebook: English Riviera Bike Night ■ Loomies, West Meon, Hants. Until 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe RIDEOUT ■ Burgess Hill & DMC, Station Road Car Park, Burgess…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop 'Vintage travels' SIMON RELPH I went for a 95 mile ride round the Lake District last week on my 1949 Ariel 350, travelling up to Haweswater before stopping for a cuppa at the Orton Scar café. 'Yorkshire yomp' JON ASHLEY A Yorkshire raid! Nice flowing roads from Manchester, to Squires, Scarborough, Bridlington, Flamborough, Fridaythorpe and home. 'Lock and load' ROBIN KIRKLEY The Foxton Locks Inn near Market Harborough is a lovely restaurant with outdoor seating next to the canal and the Old Boathouse tea room next door for coffee and cakes. 'What a cuppa' DAVE JEROME The best coffee I’ve tasted in a long time at The Bee Hive on the B709, near Eskdalemuir, along with a visit to the Kagyu Samye…

Age 66 Current bike 1975 Norton Commando 850 Interpol Keith Mills owns our test example: a much-loved former police bike converted to Interstate spec. “I bought this in 1982, after looking at Triumphs I felt the Commando was better made – things like the levers made it just a nicer thing. The Isolastics interested me over the vibey Triumph too, and I didn’t want a Japanese bike – I think it’s an overall nice package. I’ve obviously changed it a bit, but not a great deal and it could be easily put back, if you were mad… I tend to buy things to keep: I came close to exchanging it with a Bonneville once, but I’m glad I didn’t… “It’s taken me all over the place, to the TT twice…

CATCH UP WITH OUR LONGTERM TESTS Go online now: www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn-fleet @dan__sutherland Lover of 90s sportsbike and garish colour schemes, happiest at a racetrack. When it comes to motorcycling, I prefer to stay off the grid. I don’t use an intercom, I have no mobile phone mount, and I have no desire to ever answer a call on the move. I will be the first to admit though that my sense of direction is woeful, so when it was time to head north to catch the ferry to the TT, I decided to bite the bullet and pair my iPhone with the Yamaha R9 for some onboard navigation. To do so, I downloaded both the Yamaha MyRide and Garmin StreetCross apps, which were both free and ready to go in seconds.…

I recently received a call from a friend who was having a starting issue with his Kawasaki ZXR400; the bike had run out of fuel and was reluctant to restart after being refuelled. On older bikes that use carbs, there is often a delay for the fuel to travel through the fuel pump and fill the carburettors after it has sipped the last of its fuel. For bikes that rely on a vacuumtype switch without a fuel pump, there can be a significant delay in coaxing fuel to the carbs and into the combustion chamber. When my friend called for advice, I suggested that he get some carburettor or brake cleaner and spray it into the air intake, as this should help the bike fire up until it draws enough…

Looking ahead to this weekend’s Italian round MotoGP returns to the picturesque Tuscan circuit of Mugello this weekend with Ducati’s local hero Pecco Bagnaia searching for a turnaround in form. Mugello is a circuit at which he’s dominated in recent years, but 2025 has been a rough campaign in the shadows of Ducati teammate, and runaway leader, Marc Marquez. Bagnaia hasn’t been able to get anywhere near his title rival. Perhaps this is his best chance so far in 2025 to beat Marquez in a head-to-head fight, but he will have to fend off the other four Desmosedici riders in order to do so. Yes, Mugello is Ducati territory, so Bagnaia won’t be the only rider on the pace and battling hard. REWIND TO 2024… Pecco Bagnaia’s love affair with…

Going behind the headlines at the Italian WSBK round ‘Thoughts of him joining Marquez in the factory Ducati squad’ If you want to see the ups and downs of a top-class racer, then look back at the Misano World Superbike weekend and the days leading up to it for Nicolo Bulega. Although a grid penalty and collision with Axel Bassani put black marks against his second home round of the season, the Italian has been bolted firmly into Ducati’s long-term plans with a new contract leading him from superbike racing to MotoGP. Summing up Bulega’s Misano, he grabbed pole with a lap that shattered Toprak Razgatlioglu’s record and was within a second of Pecco Bagnaia’s MotoGP time. Then came a three-place grid drop in Race 1 for being judged to…

Ryan Vickers received a standing ovation from Motocorsa staff as, in only his tenth race run to full distance, the Norfolk rider finished 11th at Misano. At GRT Yamaha, Domi Aegerter suffered an injured left knee in an incident with Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing). Aegerter was fortunate that his bike’s shattered screen, puncturing his neck and causing a deep wound, didn’t sever any blood vessels. TBA is down but ride looks secure Stefano Manzi and Can Oncu shared the World Supersport wins, while Tom Booth-Amos was challenging for victory on Sunday when taken out by a lunge from MV Agusta’s Filippo Farioli; how the Italian has gone unpenalized remains a mystery. “Tom wants to stay with us next season and we want to keep him,” PTR Triumph team Principal, Simon Buckmaster,…

'Toprak breaks the mould…' Toprak was awe-inspiring at Misano. The control, the way he was sliding the bike… all with 50°C track temperature was incredible. Normally, the Pirelli tyres drop off, but his lap times were unreal. He just kept pushing to the flag and the only time he celebrated was by doing an endo across the line – he had that much of a lead! It was a pretty special riding demonstration and he did it in Ducati’s back yard. It’s like Toprak was stressed about the whole move to MotoGP – but now that the deal is signed, the pressure is off and he’s thought: ‘right I’m going to tighten the knot on you boys’. It was a real champion’s performance in Misano. The way he was braking…

A mother and daughter from Kent are planning to ride a sidecar outfit from Land’s End to John o’ Groats raising money for brain injury charity Headway. Claire and Susie Colston will take to the road next April, riding a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 bolted to a 1969 Watsonian Squire sidecar borrowed from their friend Sylvie. “We are riding in memory of my father who died of brain cancer, and a friend who sadly died of a brain haemorrhage. Both were only in their 50s,” Claire explained. They are now hoping to find companies and sponsors ahead of the ride to provide motorcycle riding gear and accessories, as well as accommodation along the way – with the ride set to last between four and five days. “I currently have a…

SAVE 40% MotoGirl Zip Leggings -were £169, now £100 Big savings on women's kit Most of us are feeling the pinch these days, but we still want to buy ourselves good quality kit. I’ve been trawling the shops on your behalf to pick out the best deals I can find on women’s riding gear. I’ve worn some of MotoGirl’s kit and found it to be excellent gear; you can really tell that it has been designed by women for women. The fit is great and genuinely flattering. So our first deal is these Zip Leggings, they’re CE AA rated, which means decent protection, and have zippers at the ankles and waist to make putting them on and taking them off nice and easy. They even have a connection zip so…

Lizzie shares her three essentials to keep biking with a smile on her face It’s a mindset. “I don’t call it a disability, I call it a difference, because I just do things differently” Prove them wrong. “Live your life the way you want to live it and don’t let anyone say that you can’t. Show them how you can instead – that’s something that I’ve always done. If someone told me I can’t, let me show you I can” Support is key. “I’ve had a lot of help from my husband as well with the riding, he’s been a good encouragement and all three of my children are behind me with the riding”…

'It's the easy route to extra school run kudos!' Harriet Ridley (49) mum to Holly (13) and Harry (11) “I’ve been riding motorcycles for more than 30 years, and have done everything from commutes, touring, trackdays, off-road trail riding, enduro, motocross, trials, and road racing. I’ve also worked as a journalist on many of the UK’s major motorcycle publications… and now I’ve graduated to motocross mum! “When my daughter Holly started secondary it was a big change. Suddenly, the little girl who wanted me to walk her right up to the school gates then shouted ‘I love you!’ until she was out of sight, morphed into a pre-teen mortified if I dared breathe in the same postcode of her school. So one sunny morning I offered her a pillion on…

'If I can do it, you can do it' Fiona Neale, 62, paediatric speech and language therapist. Rides: Triumph Scrambler, CRF300 Rally, CRF250L, KTM EXC-R 250, Beta Alp 200 “I was pillion but then thought: ‘I’ve got to ride for myself’. I passed my test in 2016. My husband would take me up to Yorkshire and I’d point my Beta uphill and scream. I thought I’d better do some training, so I went to the Sweet Lamb Festival in late 2022 and I’ve been back every year since. “Morocco was a fantastic opportunity. I don’t think I would have ever had the confidence to go with a company on my own or even with a friend. You’ve got that imposter syndrome and don’t think you’re good enough. But what Louise and…

They say travel broadens the mind, which is why my brainbox was blown apart after a visit to India to witness one of Honda’s mega factories (see page 40). While the scale of the plant itself, not to mention its production capacity of two million scooters a year, was almost beyond comprehension, it was the bustling streets beyond the factory’s gates that were truly spellbinding. You could see the impact that two-wheelers were making on communities; this was mobility in more ways than one. Honda’s motorcycles (as well as Hero, Bajaj and others) were moving people physically and also socially. The city of Ahemedabad, the nearest to Honda’s fourth Indian plant, is ambitious and aspirational – covered with billboards for universities inspiring the next generation to become the engineers, doctors…

Ahead of the 2025 Isle of Man TT races, Michael Dunlop’s racing achievements were celebrated with the reveal of a new ‘MD’s’ corner on the circuit. The left-hander is located on the approach to the 27th milestone – a nod to his record-breaking 27th TT win the previous year. Speaking at the time, Dunlop commented: “I’ve said plenty of times since matching and passing [Joey’s] record that records are there to be broken and they will be broken again. “But for me, it has always been important that the Dunlop name continues on at the top of the sport, and for it to be a Dunlop that takes things to that next level.”…

With much of MV’s output in recent years either based on existing platforms, or special editions, the Varese brand have now confirmed that a new engine platform is coming later this year – and they say it shares just 1% carry-over parts with the previous generation. The first prototype will be seen at the 2025 Eicma trade show in Milan this coming autumn, with the firm also stating that the transfer of MV back to the Art of Mobility team is now also nearing completion. “Considering the challenges we’ve faced since the early days of KTM’s financial difficulties, the progress made in such a short time speaks volumes about the strength and dedication of our people,” MV Agusta Executive Director, Luca Martin said.…

SAVE £3732 £13,995 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 DE A great choice if you’re after a no-nonsense do-it-all machine. Suzuki’s big V-Strom oozes mile-munching comfort, while still being suitably sporty and rock-solid reliable. Better still, this one comes with lockable aluminium panniers and topbox, plus a genuine Suzuki tank bag – so it’s ready to tour out the door. www.biketreads.co.uk SAVE £2086 £11,494 Kawasaki Versys 1100 S Kawasaki’s Versys is another no-nonsense tall rounder, offering plentiful touring performance, excellent comfort and proven reliability. wheelsmotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 1099cc • Power 133bhp • Weight 257kg • Seat height 840mm SAVE £2300 £15,199 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S KTM’s adventure touring flagship is a feature-packed missile with a smattering of sophistication and is superbly comfortable too. www.juddracing.com • Engine 1301cc • Power 160bhp • Weight…

'Alarm bells were ringing' A recent social media ad flagged by a rider led me to a business claiming to be based in Paris on Facebook but listing New Mexico on its website. It was promoting ‘tactical pants’ that are allegedly CE-certified to EN 17092-3 ‘AA’ classification and boasting they had sold out seven times. Priced at under $50 (£37), they appeared a tempting bargain. But alarm bells rang when I noticed the company charged extra for impact protectors. EN 17092 requires AA-rated trousers to include hip and knee armour as standard. Without it, garments can only be classed as EN 17092-5 “B”; the lowest level of protection under the standard, with reduced test requirements for abrasion, tear, and seam strength. This is more suited to urban commuting than higherspeed…

You might wonder how this differs from simply winding on more preload before you set off on a ride. Preload is a static adjustment that compresses the spring before movement begins, altering how the energy is stored. It doesn’t change how much acting force is required once the suspension is moving. All it can do is change ride height by altering sag. The slope of the forceversus-displacement curve remains unchanged. In contrast, spring rate is a measure of stiffness - it defines the force required to compress the pring a given distance. A 10N/mm spring always requires 10 Newtons for the first millimetre, 20 Newtons for the second, and so on. What DSA does is alter the effective spring rate by introducing a dual-load arrangement when more support is needed.…

Q ‘They tried to close the gap’ I have received a “letter of claim” from a solicitor claiming compensation from me for their client’s injuries in her car accident. They say that their client had various injuries and post-traumatic stress. I was riding behind a Tesla and, as it was clear, I went to overtake. The driver accelerated quickly, which closed the gap between me and an oncoming car faster than I’d anticipated. I did just manage to get back onto my side of the road in time, but the oncoming car swerved to avoid me and crashed into the hedge on the side of the road. I stopped but the Tesla driver did not. Will the driver succeed with a claim against me? Richard, Swindon A It is important…

I’ve been doing some trail riding on my Kawasaki KDX200 recently and needed something to take away a bit of the range anxiety. We’ve got miles and miles of brilliant byways near when I live, but my KDX goes on to reserve after about 60 miles and then has about 20 miles left, so it doesn’t quite have enough to do the same distance as some of the bikes my trail-riding friends are on, things like KTM 690s, Yamaha Serows, Honda Transalps, and the CRF300Ls are popular too. That’s why I bought a Fuel Friend (£24) from eBay. It’s simply a two-litre polypropylene fuel can with a screw-on lid which I can stow on the bike, and it totally kills range anxiety for me because it takes my potential range…

1 June 21 Dave Day To celebrate the memory of Hairy Biker Dave Myers, Dave Day is back, and bikers from all over the country will be riding to Barrow-in-Furness for charity and are asked to bring donations and non-perishable food items for the local food bank. See p4-5 of the WoMCN supplement for more. daveday.org 2 June 21-22 Cock o'The North Oliver’s Mount Road Race Circuit is hosting Cock o’The North this weekend from 9am-6pm on both days. Get up close to the action at the mainland's only road circuit in what's effectively the ‘miniature TT by the seaside’. Tickets are £50 for the weekend, or £25 for the day (£30 for Sunday). oliversmount.com 3 June 21 Beaulieu Bikers' Day Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum are hosting their annual ride-in this weekend. With…

Ace Cafe The world-renowned biker café in the heart of London made for petrolheads of all persuasions and there’s always an event on. Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, London NW10 7UD london.acecafe.com Biker's Cove On the outskirts of Edinburgh, namely Queensferry under the three bridges, it’s a small but inviting stop with a great vibe. 6 Newhalls Rd, South Queensferry EH30 9TA Facebook: The Biker’s Cove community Legends Café at GT Motorcycles Sitting on the outskirts of Plymouth, this makes for a great stop off before exploring the south coast… or grabbing an MoT. 10-12 Elburton Rd, Plymouth PL9 8JQ www.gtmotorcycles.com/legends-cafe…

'Dirt bike… but refined' Of all the R12 retros it’s the most generously proportioned, making it perfect for taller riders. It carries its weight well enough to be fun on and off-road too, especially compared to big top-heavy adventure bike. It has niceties like electronic aids, deep paint finishes and creature comforts, but it feels every inch the dirt bike, albeit one with refined suspension, butter-smooth throttle and excellent road grip. THE FACTS £18,020 (as tested) BMW R12 G/S…

In 1968, the MCN team gave the new Commando the big award for bike of the year. No real surprise: it was the most advanced machine amid a Brit-dominated industry with slow development pace. But from 1969 (when the Honda CB750 had arrived, as well as other decent but less notable Japanese mid/large capacity machines) through to 1972, a reader poll decided who got the main prize, and Commando owners were the majority vote to hold off not only the Japanese, but BSA/Triumph with updated twins and brand-new triples. Punters loved not only the performance, but also the refinement, value and ease of maintenance. It was simpler to work on than the Japanese machines, though it seems we hadn’t yet caught onto the fact that they didn’t need it to…

There are very few names that can be in the running to be the greatest rider of all time, but Mike Hailwood is certainly one. In fact, even at the time of his death in 1981, Mike Hailwood was acknowledged as the greatest motorcycle racer of all time, backed up by bagging the MCN Man of the Year award no fewer than four times across his career, in 1961, 1963, 1967 and 1978. And he truly deserved it too, with an incredible record. In total, Hailwood managed 76 Grand Prix wins, 112 podiums, nine world championships, 11 British championships, and more TT race wins than any competitor in history at that point in time, which was 14. Hailwood was a man of many talents, and he also enjoyed success on…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 12 months ON TEST Richa Camden £349.99 'Looks great, but only AA?' Tested by Ben Clarke for one year/2000 miles I’m rarely so conflicted as I am about the Richa Camden jacket. On the face of it, it’s a solid piece of kit that captures the aesthetic of the North Circular café scene or the Rocker movement it spawned. The build quality is excellent, too, with chunky zips, reassuringly stiff snap fasteners and not a stitch out of place. The trouble is, I wouldn’t spend £350 on a leather jacket with a AA CE certification these days, no matter how pretty it is. There are simply too many AAA options out there around, or even below, this price. That said, if you like…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Get fully fired-up Dealing with a bike that won’t start isn’t the end of the world… 1 Keep it tip-top If your bike won’t start, the most common problem is that the battery has discharged to a point that won’t allow the starter motor to crank the engine over fast enough. A simple fix for this is to have a remote charge lead fitted to the battery, allowing a battery conditioner to be connected, keeping the battery in peak condition. 2 Give it some fresh gas Stale fuel is another reason for a starting issue – in many circumstances it’s a combination of old petrol and a partially discharged battery. After an extended period without use, the fuel essentially loses its volatility. So, draining the old fuel…

Going behind the headlines in the BSB paddock 1 Ducati's grunt fest If there’s ever a circuit that allows Ducati riders to fully utilise the V4 engine beneath them it’s Snetterton. Providing they’re able to master Williams and get the perfect launch onto the straight, Ducati riders can use the grunt of the V4 R to get in the slipstream and launch themselves down the inside heading into Brundle. It may not come as much of a surprise to know that Ducati are the most successful manufacturer at Snetterton with 22 victories, five of which have come in the last six races. Glenn Irwin did the Snetterton double last year and is the favourite heading into the weekend, but fellow Ducati riders Leon Haslam and Rory Skinner may have something…

ROUND 6 MISANO WSB CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 BULEGA 292 Pts 2 RAZGATLIOGU 283 Pts 3 PETRUCCI 179 Pts 16 Montella 46pts 17 Gerloff 40pts 18 Rea 16pts 19 Vickers 15pts 20 Sofuoglu 12pts 21 Mackenzie 9pts 22 Rabat 3pts 23 Nagashima 2pts 24 Rinaldi 2pts WSB POSITIONS RACE 1 16 Mackenzie +1’05.935 17 Zaidi +1’27.347 DNF Gardner 10 laps, van der Mark 8 laps, Iannone 2 laps, Bassani 1 laps DNS Aegerter 0 laps, Sofuoglu 0 laps WSB POSITIONS SP RACE 11 Gerloff +14.215 12 van der Mark +16.278 13 Redding +16.623 14 Vickers +17.307 15 Sofuoglu +25.423 16 Rinaldi +25.513 17 Iannone +26.67 18 Zaidi +39.64 DNF Montella 6 laps, Mackenzie 3 laps DNS Bulega 0 laps, Bassani 0 laps WSB POSITIONS RACE 2 16 Redding +1’06.225 17 Zaidi +1’27.539 DNF…

Welcome to WoMCN Rider 2025. Can you believe we’ve been doing this for four years now? In that time, we’ve met, spoken to, and ridden with hundreds of brilliant female motorcyclists. But the question still remains, how do we get more women to join in and wake up to the world of biking? That’s why we’ve dived into the latest numbers behind licence pass-rates thanks to guest columnist Biker Kaz to see what the industry are doing to support new female riders, alongside celebrating the women that have made the headlines over the past year. But the other side of getting new bikers to join us is inspiration. Also in this issue, we’ve picked out some of the most uplifting stories from women you may know, and some you may…

Meet up SAMMY MILLER LADY RIDERS' DAY If you’re at a loose end this Sunday (June 22), head down to the Sammy Miller Museum for their Annual Lady Riders’ Day. The event runs from 10am to 4pm and you can park in the museum courtyard for free. Fund raising is in aid of the breast cancer charity, Going Bust. If you do fancy a stroll round the museum entry costs £16. • sammymiller.co.uk/event/lady-bikers-day-fundraising-for-breast-cancer WOMEN IN MOTO WEEKEND Women in Moto returns to Uttoxexter racecourse on August 16-17 for the annual get-together. You’ll have a busy day with loads of stalls and attractions to keep you entertained. These include Honda’s riding experience, with test rides available for all, including complete novices. Early bird tickets start at £17 for the day, with…

Klim Sedona jacket £506.52 This new women’s adventure jacket is made from breathable four-way stretch fabric and features Level 1 armour to the elbows and shoulders. Ideal for warmer climates the jacket has zippered vents and a mesh lining to provide excellent airflow. The multiple adjustment straps allow for a tailored fit. klim.com Roadskin Freya leggings £159 These slick leather-look leggings are CE AA rated featuring Rheon CE Level 2 hip and knee armour for protection. The high-waisted cut with wide waistband are more comfortable and flattering and help to prevent that back gap. The Coolmax lining aims to provide moisture wicking freshness. roadskin.co.uk Richa Brighton jacket £337.67 Made from cowhide leather, this classic-styled jacket is AA rated and features CE Level 1 D3O shoulder/ elbow armour. There are four…

ROYAL ENFIELD TRIUMPH KAWASAKI TRIUMPH TIGER…

Meet adventure riders Louise (56) and Paul (66) Hodgkinson “We were late to biking and started in 2005. Early on we realised we could go on holiday on bikes by either hiring in faraway countries or packing up the bike to travel around the UK or further afield into Europe and North Africa. “We are not about speed, we are about enjoying and accomplishing the terrain we choose, we love discovering new countries and experiencing other cultures. “From April to October, we enjoy sharing our biking knowledge as instructors at The Sweet Lamb Adventure School in Wales (SY18 6SY). The joy we have found in instructing has surprised us both, with our main focus being ladies, couples and gentlemen (guys that are not about full throttle but share our passion…

Before you even start packing, make sure your bike is up for the trip! If it’s due a service, then of course, make sure you’re up to date. But even if not, you should do an oil change, check your bearings and brake pads as well as your sprockets and chains. We tend to save changing our tyres until just before the trip. Use your travelling tool kit when you are tinkering on your bike at home. That way, you know you have everything you need while you’re out on the trails. We prefer to run with tubeless tyres as plugging a tyre is so much quicker and easier, but we always carry spare tubes. Writing this article, it sounds as if we are bit over the top with our prep. But…

London’s Ace Cafe will now close from 6pm Friday to 8am Saturday to curb anti-social behaviour. The move follows a spate of “illegal and unacceptable” antics outside. Wheelies, burnouts, excessive revving, and drug use – including cannabis – are banned, and offenders will be barred. Vehicles without number plates will be refused entry. CCTV with ANPR is in place to improve security. Rogue vendor shuts down A kit retailer that was fined over £10,000 for selling unsafe helmets and eyewear that failed UK safety standards has ceased trading. Bikers Lifestyle Ltd closed on May 27, having been found guilty of seven offences at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on January 20, 2025. Three out of four helmets tested failed impact tests – one showing a 100% fatality risk. • Fight for proper…

Warwickshire’s Ragley Hall is set to welcome thousands of bikers for three days of live music, test rides, live talks, and brand-new metal as the annual Adventure Bike Rider (ABR) Festival rolls into town. Taking place from June 27-29, the celebration of motorcycle exploration will include a mixture of self-guided riding routes, and trail rides for visitors to experience – plus a huge range of manufacturers including Honda, KTM, Aprilia, Kawasaki, Kove, BMW, BSA, and more. The UK arm of Austrian brand KTM have now confirmed their full fleet of motorcycles for the event, including the 450 Rally machine ridden by Daniel Sanders to 2025 Dakar Rally victory (see P9). On top of this, road bikes will include the 890 SMT, 390 SMC R, and even an exciting new version…

Police could soon wield greater powers to seize ‘nuisance’ motorcycles under a proposed change to public order legislation that would strip away the need for officers to first issue a warning before confiscating a vehicle. The tweak is currently making its way through Parliament within the Crime and Policing Bill, and targets Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002. As it stands, officers can seize a vehicle if it’s being used in a way that breaches Section 3 or 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and causes or is likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance. ‘The changes target Section 59 orders’ That description extends to activities such as pulling wheelies, or riding off-road in an unauthorised area. Riders who are otherwise legal, with an appropriate licence and…

'You meet the nicest people…' The other week I did a column about Royal Enfield selling a million bikes in a financial year, which I still think is an outstanding achievement, but Honda have well and truly taken the wind from their sales when it comes to sales announcements. A few weeks back Honda announced they had just built their 500 millionth bike. Yes, Big H have produced a mind-bending half a billion bikes since 1949. With my mind set into motion, I had a think about some of the more memorable machines within that number. The headline acts are obviously the FireBlade, NR750, RC30, RC45, SP-1, RC213V-S, CBR600 range, Cub, CB750, Gold Wing, CB400 Four and many, many more, but for me there is one Honda that holds a…

HJC R-PHA 71 Pinna £299.99 Get ahead with a hot new helmet If there’s one bit of kit that should always be in tip-top condition, then it’s your helmet. Day in day out, it’s subjected to UV rays, exhaust fumes and general road grime, not to mention human sweat, all of which will conspire to erode its effectiveness. How often you should replace it depends heavily on usage, but whenever the time comes it can be a big outlay -unless you shop smart. Brands release new designs and colour options for their existing range on a regular basis, and a keen eye will spot the price drops when retailers need to make room for them. Which is exactly what we’re looking at this week, highlighting a bunch of deals on…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? BMW have become the first manufacturer to offer electronically adjustable spring rates on a production upside-down fork, with their new Dynamic Suspension Adjustment (DSA) system debuting as an option on the 2025 R1300R roadster. Previously, electronic suspension systems largely focused on changing damping characteristics – how quickly the fork compresses and rebounds. DSA steps things up a notch, mimicking the effects of switching to a stiffer or softer spring entirely, depending on the particular riding mode selected. “You have an external reservoir [at the bottom of the fork leg],” explains Matthias Hillebrand, Product Manager for the R1300R. “Normally, when you compress the suspension, you are just compressing the spring from the top down. All the oil that you displace with the damping cartridge goes into this…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE WORLD’S WARMEST BASELAYER® www.zerofit.co.uk On my first bike, a Hurricane Scrambler, shortly after passing my bike test, mid-late 60s. John Mook I recently came across pictures of my dad David from 1960 on his first bike a BSA Bantam aged 16. Brett Young My dad is 81 in July so no more BSA Bantam (see above) but he does get to sit on my bikes when he visits. Brett Young With my YBR125. First ‘manual’ bike and my son Harry Umpleby cleaning it in 2015. David Umpleby My first big bike in 1971, a Triumph 350. My current bike is a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. John Walton This was 1972. Oh to be 17 again! Don Coull Me in 1977 on my…

THE DETAILS • Ride, Coffee and Moto • 5 Fish Row, Salisbury SP1 1EX • 8.30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 9am-4pm Sun A new biker-friendly café has just opened in the heart of Salisbury. Just a stone’s throw from the city square where bikes frequently park (previously home to a great bike night) sits Ride, Coffee and Moto - a new coffee shop with an industrial biker theme. Owned by Darren Robinson, the old butchers has been completely renovated with plenty of metal to make it welcoming for bikers. “We tried to keep some of the original features, such as the tiles on the wall and the name above the door. I liked the building as it was, so it made sense to keep as much as possible. There’s still lots we…

'If you go down to the woods…' Steve's four-hour forest loop is full of nice surprises The idea with this northern route is a remote lunch in the woods, so loading up a picnic at Barnard Castle or Alston before is a must. The Pennines are a fantastic thrill ride of gnarly, tight, twisty roads and epic scenery. Starting out at Barnard Castle, take the cross-country climb up to Alston on the brilliant B6277. If it’s wet be careful on Alston’s steep cobbles! Turn right onto the rollercoaster A686 and its triple-hairpin just after Cupola Bridge (worth turning back for another go). The B6319 and B6320 – also known as the Pennine Way – will lead you up to Bellingham, where a left turn at the fire station will take…

What's happening? Supporting Blood Bikes, Prescott Bike Fest is back for its 13th running. There will be Run the Hill, where you can watch bikes take on the hill climb as well as displays, clubs, traders and special guests too. The Norton Owner’s Club will be there in force with a whole host of activities. The essentials The festival will be held at the Prescott Speed Hill Climb in Gotherington (GL52 9RD) and you can book tickets online in advance. Run the Hill entry has closed, but for general admission, it’s cheaper in advance (£20 rather than £25 on the gate). Gates are open from 8.30am with bikes on track from 9.30am and it runs all the way until 5pm. That’s a lot of bang for your buck! • Head…

'One final, brilliant big bike' No doubt this is a mildly contentious choice: the CB750’s long-term impact often diminishes the credibility of the British industry’s final machines and their quality is overlooked… But the archive copies of MCN don’t lie: the UK public were almost begrudging in their acceptance of the Japanese bikes, and you’d have to think that a credible, next-generation range of Nortons might have fended them off. But that never came: and while the Commando suited the UK, the Japanese bikes did everything the US market needed, so that lucrative market was lost to Honda and Kawasaki earlier, cementing the troubles of Norton-Villiers-Triumph. A real shame: because while the Commando was dated in its way, it was an effective package that still outshone the Japanese on the…

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. 2000-2016 Triumph Bonneville Owners’ rating You might have expected the older air-cooled 865cc Bonnie to score better than it has but the 35 owners who have left reviews online don’t seem that impressed by it. The ride quality lets the side down and a lack of ABS seems an issue. 2018-2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan Owners’ rating A solid plodder that is hard to fault, the Enfield’s basic nature and low price have made it a hit worldwide. The 41 owners who have left reviews online score it fairly solidly across the board, which is to be expected. 1994-2002 Kawasaki ZX-9R…

When a novice rider rolled his Honda SH125i into Japs Motorcycles complaining of back pain, workshop boss Stephen Fryatt was left scratching his head as to how the bizarre fault had come about. “He said that it was hurting him to ride it. It’s no wonder, because it had absolutely no suspension at the rear,” says Fryatt. “He thought it was supposed to be like that – it was his first bike, so he simply didn’t know. It turned out to be a bent shock, meaning it had compressed then wouldn’t come back up again.” With no signs of crash damage anywhere else on the scooter, the cause remains unclear. “It baffles me how that had happened. There were no marks on the spring like someone had crashed into it, and…

Ready for Snetterton From the tight hairpin at Agostini to the flat-out charge down Bentley Straight – the longest in British motorsport – Snetterton’s stop-start nature presents a unique set of challenges for HEL’s engineers. The Agostini hairpin tests riders’ ability to brake late and trail brake effectively into the apex. The corner’s tight radius means riders must balance lean angle with deceleration, ensuring stability whilst positioning for a clean drive into Hamilton. Hamiliton is one of the trickiest corners at Snetterton, demanding a tight inside line as it tightens mid-turn - making it all too easy for riders to exceed the limits and run wide. Built to excel HEL Performance brakes are engineered to excel under Snetterton’s demanding conditions. From the heavy braking required at the end of Bentley…

The last time a Bimota motorcycle achieved a podium finish in World Superbikes, David Coulthard won the British F1 Grand Prix which, once only, was ridiculously staged in April as Silverstone’s saturated grassy car parks became quagmires. Down under in Australia, the late Anthony Gobert had claimed one of the most memorable wins ever by taking the chequered flag for Bimota by almost half a minute. A quarter of a century later, Alex Lowes repeated his 2024 Misano Superpole race podium for Kawasaki but this time doing it for Bimota, literally just up the road from the Bimota workshop. Axel Bassani has also had a huge part to play in the development of the KB998 Rimini (which is powered by Kawasaki), the Italian having qualified superbly on the front row.…

Delivering the news from the heart of the WSBK paddock TOP STORY Bike racing’s worst-kept secret is out: Toprak Razgatlioglu is heading to MotoGP next year with Pramac Yamaha. The Turk was sensational at Misano World Superbikes last weekend, sweeping all before him to collect a treble victory for the second year in succession, despite having to cope with an ill-handling BMW. However, there is definitely a ‘before’ and an ‘after’ aspect to Misano 2025. As he was confidently striding up to MCN for an interview, it only took milliseconds to spot a new look in Razgatlioglu’s eyes. During a weekend on which he emotionally dedicated his eighth treble win to his late dad, Arif, Father’s Day saw Toprak at his very best. His WSBK commitments, needing to beat Ducati’s…

• New KTM 690 spied • Ducati Diavel rocks our world • Suzi Perry guest edits MCN • Shakey Byrne in action SUZI PERRY BOSSES MCN In 2011 we handed the keys of MCN over to MotoGP TV presenter and all-round bike nut, Suzi Perry, for the week. It was the first time in MCN’s history a woman had been at the helm, and there was a female focus to the issue. Suzi headed up the team and had to get to grips with the nitty gritty of pulling a weekly paper together, including editing pages, writing articles and the editor’s column. Her words gave an insight into her biking history including: “My affair started with the sharp bursts of drama and eyefuls of mud you get with speedway and…

When it comes to being inspirational few can match Claire Lomas MBE who raised almost £1 million for charity but sadly lost her life aged 44 last summer following an accident in the Middle East. Claire became paralysed from the chest down in 2007 in a horse-riding accident and learned to ride a motorcycle despite her injuries. She went on to gain her race licence and rode tracks across the UK including a lap of the NW200 course, raising thousands of pounds for good causes with every ride. “Once I got out on the course it just felt incredible to have the opportunity to ride on the road despite being paralysed – plus I didn’t have to stick to speed limits!” Claire told MCN after her experience at the North…

Money can be tight these days, so any ways that we can find to save money are always welcome. Many of us struggle to justify spending big money on expensive motorcycle gear, so we look out for great deals from retailers. But there are some other clever ways to keep the budget under control and still get the kit you want. We spoke to some female MCN readers and they told us that they frequently keep an eye out on sites like Vinted and Facebook Marketplace for motorcycle kit bargains. Sometimes you will find brand new kit that people just didn’t get around to returning in time when it didn’t fit, or a pillion who bought the kit but decided it wasn’t for them. There is also plenty of used…

Alison Silcox, 55, MCN Office Manager, 5ft 10in, 33in inside leg Riding for 21 years, owns a Ducati Monster 695 and Yamaha XMAX 400. She loves long-distance solo rides. Saffron Wilson, 31, MCN Senior Content Creator 5ft 8in, 30in inside leg Riding for 14 years, Saffron’s got a Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail in her garage, and racks up big miles every year. Charlotte King, 33, Products Writer, 5ft 3in, 27.5in inside leg Sportsbike lover Charlotte has been riding for four years and in that time has owned a Honda CBR600RR, a Suzuki SV650 and currently owns an Aprilia RS660 Emma Franklin, 44, MCN Editor, 5ft 6in, 29in inside leg Riding for 21 years, Emma’s a fan of performance bikes and owns a Ducati 999S and Honda RS125 GP. She loves trackdays,…