Table of contents for 6 August 2025 in MCN

‘Quick-revving nature makes it feel peppy’ NEW BSA BANTAM RIDDEN, P28 FIRST RIDE Beezer good? Competition is hotting up in the low capacity retro singles market, as we look to add something fun, lightweight and uncomplicated to our garages for those sunny Sunday rideouts. BSA are next to join the party with the launch of their all-new Bantam 350. With an introductory price of just £3499, the 334cc liquid-cooled single kicks out a punchy 28bhp – a few more ponies than its closest rival, Honda’s GB350S. But while it looks promising on paper, how does it actually ride? MCN Road Tester Justin Hayzelden headed down to the big smoke to spin a few inner city laps aboard the reborn BSA. PAGE 28 BIG TEST Going to extremes There’s now so…

TOP STORY Good news for sportsbike lovers as the GSX-R1000R returns to the UK market – now sporting revised engine internals, winglets and striking paintjobs harking back to GSX-R models of the past. The inline four makes its return as part of the brand’s ongoing celebrations of 40 years of the GSX-R – with the first GSX-R750 leaving the factory in 1985. The new machine (which is only available as an R model) is littered with small touches marking the anniversary and builds on the previous model first introduced in 2017 – rather than a ground-up redesign. That bike was last available in the UK as a Phantom edition at the back end of 2022, before the full introduction of Euro5 emissions regulations. Suzuki are yet to confirm when new…

KTM parent company, Pierer Mobility, have shared financial figures for the first six months of 2025, stating that demand remains strong despite a 62,212 drop in bike sales compared to the same period in 2024. According to data released by the firm, 85,284 new KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas machines were sold wholesale from January to June – down from 147,496 the previous year. Pierer say this drop is partially caused by a reduction in new models hitting the market – brought on by the radical restructuring process in the second half of 2024 and early 2025. Some of these model lines, including the long-awaited 390 Adventure R, will be available soon, but timelines for some larger models are still to be confirmed. The firm said: “KTM is excited to announce…

Vespa will mark their 80th anniversary in 2026 at the firm’s annual World Days event in Rome. Thousands of riders from across Europe are expected to attend the four-day celebration, which will feature rideouts, exhibitions, special displays commemorating the brand’s history, lashings of la dolce vita, and maybe even some new-model reveals too. Suzuki reveal summer sizzlers Suzuki are offering summer savings of up to £1300 across their 650cc-and-above motorcycle range. Highlights include £1300 off the Hayabusa, £1000 off the GSX-S1000GX, GT, and Katana, and £800 off the GSX-8S and 8R. V-Strom 800 and 1050 models also receive between £800 and £1050 in dealer contributions. The SV650 and V-Strom 650 each get £650 off the listed OTR price. Knievels raise nearly £40,000 A special charity event marking 50 years since…

‘Chasing iconic speed blocks’ Wasn’t it a delight to see Yamaha roll out their red and white ‘speed block’ livery for the MotoGP at Assen in celebration of their 70th birthday? Every time I see that paint scheme it makes me smile – it just looks fantastic. In fact, being the nerd that I am, I have a framed team shirt from Valencia 2005 when Yamaha celebrated their 50th by dressing the team in these colours – and it is signed by Rossi. Just thought I’d mention that because I am very proud of it… A Yamaha in red and white paint always makes me remember the launch of the all-new YZF-R6 in 2006, which is when it went all radical. The ride took place at the Qatar circuit and…

‘AAAA? One too many…’ A rider recently shared a listing for a pair of jeans advertised as achieving an ‘AAAA’ score. Under European standards, that rating doesn’t exist: EN 17092, the recognised standard for motorcyclists’ clothing, stops at AAA, the highest available. According to the advert, the jeans are certified to EN 17092-2:2020 AAA, but the company claim to have applied a ‘straightforward mathematical calculation’ to create a nonofficial ‘quadruple A’ level. No further explanation is offered, and it is unclear whether this extra ‘A’ is based on additional laboratory testing or simply theoretical data. The claim gets murkier when the company cite a ‘distance resistance comparison’ using EN 13595-2, and a ‘slide time and speed comparison’ with EN 17092:2020. In reality, EN 13595-2 measures abrasion resistance in seconds, not…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com ZEROFIT – KING OF BASELAYERS® www.zerofit.co.uk £250 in 1975, 10k miles that year. Great times Yammy-thrashing on the one-way system! Mark van Blommestein My first (big) bike after passing my test aged 55. Wish I’d done it years ago but life got in the way. Rob Stewart I bought my first bike in 1984 after turning 16 and passing my test. Absolute freedom and joy! Juri Keyter My first ever bike, a TZR125 – had 70mph out of it. Passed my CBT on the Monday, bought this on the Tuesday. Kev Baugh My grandson getting into bikes ready for a go on Gramp’s Triumph T100 when he is older. Robert Smith My first bike, not for the road, but I learnt a lot…

THE DETAILS A38 Business Park, Unit 2 Owen House, Ashburton, Newton Abbot, TQ13 7FF Tues-Sat: 8.30am-4pm Sun: 10am-4pm www.rainbowmoto.co.uk The Re-Charge Café at Rainbow Moto in Ashburton has become a must-visit location for bikers in the South West. Hugging the outskirts of the Dartmoor National Park, it received a radical transformation for the start of this year after the building was badly damaged by flooding. Now taking up a full upstairs mezzanine floor, it serves a wide variety of breakfasts, hot drinks, local ice cream, cakes, and more. There’s even a Wednesday lunch club, and the possibility of a full roast dinner on Sundays. “When we first started, I was going to do a coffee shop,” co-owner Christine Fairhurst told MCN. “We do a Full Charge breakfast, which is two…

1 August 7-9 Yorkshire Rock and Bike Show The Yorkshire biking hub, Squires, is hosting the Yorkshire Rock and Bike Show. With bands on every night, tickets are available from Squires or on the gate (too late for online) and there are extra costs for car parking and campers. Day tickets £25, weekend tickets £35. yorkshirerocknbikeshow.co.uk 2 August 8-10 Indian Riders Rally Cornwall will be rumbling with live music and motorcycles all weekend at the Indian Motorcycle National Rally. With goodie bags, live bands, street food and of course, Indian and Victory bikes, why not go along and meet likeminded enthusiasts? Tickets are £49.46 for admission, camping and the bike park. www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk 3 August 10 Autojumble at Sammy’s The summer autojumble is back at Bashley Manor in the New Forest…

Chequered Flag A great roadside café with brilliant food, a workshop and you can even buy yourself a bit of biking clobber too. Plymouth Road (A38), Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 5GD chequeredflagcafe.co.uk Ramshackle Rosie A bijou Pit Stop that’s just a stone’s throw from the sea with a great rock and metal theme. Patio Furniture Site, Par Moor Road, Par PL24 2SQ www.facebook.com/ramshacklerosie Leather and Lace With unique décor and great vibes, this is the perfect spot to have a natter and grab a bite to eat on your way to the coast. 114 Broadway, Chilton Polden, Bridgwater TA7 9EW leatherandlacebarandgrill.com…

FIRST RIDE Kove may be a relatively young brand from China, but they’ve made a big impact thanks to their 800X Pro – a cheaper, lighter alternative in a middleweight adventure sector packed with strong rivals, such as Yamaha’s Ténéré 700, KTM’s 790 Adventure, Suzuki’s V-Strom 800 DE… the list goes on. But as with so many adventure bikes now, Kove have gone down the hardcore ‘rally’ route with their latest release, and their new 800X Rally offers a substantial 14kg weight saving thanks to a host of changes including chunkier, longer-travel suspension, an enduro-style disc setup and more aggressive CST rubber. So, can it cut it on the dirt, and does it still perform on tarmac? 1 It’s light and easy Forget about that 890mm seat height; not only…

‘Ends of the spectrum…’ The F900GS and Multi V2 S are at opposite ends of the middleweight adventure spectrum. One is designed for serious off-road use with less attention paid to road miles, where the other is a fully loaded middleweight adventure tourer that has off-road styling but no real enthusiasm for attacking much beyond a light gravel trail. With this in mind, there isn’t really a winner or loser. If you want to tour the UK, Europe or further afield, the Multistrada is a great choice and should be seriously considered over the Multistrada V4 models. And we’d pick the S over the stock V2 as the semi-active suspension is worth the extra. It’s a shame radar-assisted cruise isn’t an option (as on the V4), but that’s a small…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor HJC RPHA 60 Quid £469.99 + Smart HJC 11B comms £149.99 4450 MILES ON TEST ‘Be Quids in with the RPHA’ Tested by Richard Newland for four months After tens of thousands of miles in Arai’s Tour-X4, and tens of thousands more in Shoei’s Hornet ADV, one might expect the more affordable HJC to feel like a less premium option – but that’s most definitely not the case. The updated-for-2025 RPHA 60 is a remarkably well-spec’d helmet, loaded with features and design touches that mark it out as a fabulous option. But it’s not perfect. The first thing you notice is the feel and finish. This is a very nicely made helmet, and the closer you interrogate it, the better it looks. The…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Make it your own Alter your bars, pegs and levers for the perfect riding position BRUCE’S TIPS Always check the position while wearing your riding gear 1 Start with the bars Every biker is built differently, and even the most basic machine offers a reasonable degree of adjustment. Check the position by jumping on and getting a feel for your upper body and the reach to the bars, adjusting if it’s a stretch. On naked bikes like this Triumph, adjustment is made by first loosening the handlebar clamp bolts evenly in a criss-cross pattern. BRUCE’S TIPS Make sure nothing catches when the steering is on full lock 2 Alter and tighten When the bolts are loosened, adjust the handlebars backwards or forwards to the position that feels…

Our man reporting direct from Suzuka in Japan Last weekend saw the staging of what manufacturers consider the most important single event of the motorcycle racing season: the Suzuka 8 Hours. The 2025 edition was the 46th to take place on the Japanese circuit since the event’s inception in 1978, with MotoGP’s Johann Zarco maintaining his 100% success rate as he and Takumi Takahashi were given the unenviable task of managing the race as a duo. Business as usual at Suzuka involves three-rider squads contesting the battle, which started at 11.30am on Sunday morning, with those who watched live in the UK needing to be in front of their screens from 3.30am. However, a triangular line-up for the #30 Team HRC Fireblade was not to be (see separate story, right).…

WELCOME Jon Urry, MCN’s PCP guru Summer is here at last! And to celebrate the warm tarmac, all the best manufacturers are battling to get their hands on your money. That means they’re making it as easy as possible for you to have a new bike in your life. We’ve unearthed 90 of the hottest tempting offers on the market. So what’s the deal? The overall outlay is less with PCP, just as long as you don’t pay the final settlement figure. Equally, if you want to change machine during the contract period that’s easy, too. It’s a surprisingly affordable route to ownership. You could be riding the incredible Ducati Streetfighter V4 for just £169pm (p4) –or how about go exploring on the legendary BMW R1300GS for just £118pm (p10)?…

BMW R12 £11,990 | 1170cc | 227kg (kerb) | 93.7bhp | 754mm seat height The R12 is a laid-back take on the R12 NineT that is aimed more at the custom market than the roadster one and as such comes with a lower seat, more forward peg position, wide 19in/16in wheel sizes and less fussy styling than its stablemate. It’s got that classic cruiser silhouette, which slopes down towards the rear, formed by the solo seat in conjunction with the large rear-wheel fender. The teardrop-shaped steel tank adds a traditional design touch and blends with the overall cruiser aesthetic. The rear section looks compact and coordinated thanks to the function-integrated indicator lamps with the near integrated rear light. The basis is the backbone concept with a classic tubular spaceframe, with…

Silverstone GP preview Jock Taylor leads sidecar fight Roberts becomes best in US ALL EYES ON TAYLOR The August 6 issue was packed with racing insight ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. All eyes were on Scottish sidecar ace Jock Taylor, who was leading the world championship. Speaking to MCN’s Norrie Whyte, Taylor told of his concerns coming into the round – with a good top speed being essential for success on the Northants track. He would later go on to win the title – becoming Scotland’s first motorcycling world champion. Ones to watch Alongside the British riders, we also previewed a pair of fast Italians competing in the 500cc class. Among them was one Graziano Rossi – father of Valentino. Up-and-coming Freddie Spencer, in only his second…

Motorcycle industry giants including Yamaha, Alpinestars, Beeline and Bike Shed Moto Co. have thrown their weight behind Two Wheels for Life’s new fundraising ride to Mallory Park on August 16. Dubbed The Big Ride, the treasure-hunt style event ends at the Festival of Motorcycling, with challenges en route. MCN has lined up a discount code for members of our #ride5000miles and MCN Pit Stop Facebook groups, too. Join today for more.…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Bit short? Don’t give up’ Like Dianne Tudor (MCN Letters, July 30), I am not that tall. I had an MT-03 for a year but struggled to touch the floor, even with a lowering kit. I switched to a Grom, regained my confidence and last July I popped into Blade Honda in Stratford-upon-Avon and got chatting to Ed Cheshire. He was really helpful, and despite the fact that I had only arrived on a Grom, he wheeled out a Rebel 500 and encouraged me to have a test ride. Well, I was delighted, the seat is so low I can get both feet on the floor with knees bent! I really recommend trying one. Don’t give up! Pamela Connell, email The Zerofit IceSkin Baselayer was first…

Historically, the first person I ever heard getting slated for making things boring by being too good was Mick Doohan. I remember him saying: “What do you want me to do… slow down?” People disliked him for being better than everybody else, and I don’t think it helped that he was on a Honda. They were seen as the biggest team, with the best machine and the biggest budget, essentially buying their way to success, especially compared to Yamaha and Suzuki. Before Doohan’s era, nobody really had that outlook on it. The generation before Doohan celebrated the [Mike] Hailwoods or [Giacomo] Agostinis if they won by over a minute in the Grand Prix. Yes, they wanted to see a race, but they didn’t mind if they didn’t because people understood…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Bob & Eddie The ride Jersey/Morzine to the Wheels & Waves Festival When to do it June Don’t miss this A loop in the Pyrenees without luggage! Tell us about the trip… We were supposed to be at the TT, but couldn’t get a boat. I saw an ad for Wheels & Waves near Biarritz and had seen Henry Cole’s visit, so thought why not? A night near Lamballe after the boat from Jersey, then off to a mate’s place near Bordeaux to meet Eddie. He’d ridden across France from Morzine. We both had similar distances and trips: N-roads to start, then autoroute to gain time back… An overnight, then the ‘Calimoto’ twisty route to St Jean Pied de Port in the Pyrenees. Next…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday August 6 BIKE MEETS ■ Sycamore Cafe, Great Billing, Northamptonshire 4pm-9pm www.facebook.com/SycamoreForestCatering ■ Wheels Cafe, Sykehouse, South Yorkshire 5.30pm-8.30pm 01405-5785635 or enquiries@oldgeorgeinnsykehouse.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Seaways, Fridaythorpe, East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ English Riviera Bike Night - Paignton Seafront, Eastern Esplanade, Paignton, Devon £2 cash only 6pm Facebook: English Riviera Bike Night ■ Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe RACING ■ Andreas Racing Association, TT Grandstand, Isle of Man www.andreasracing.com RIDEOUTS ■ Burgess Hill & DMCC,…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop ‘Euro traveller’ JOHN ALBONE A photo from a recent European trip. This is my BMW F750GS at Port Bessin, France ‘What a ride’ IAN BURGESS Peterborough to the Lake District with a stop in Leeds before the Yorkshire Dales. Did all the passes and then stopped in Kendal for the night before returning home. ‘Bussing it’ JUDITH EASON Top of the Stelvio/Stilfersjoch Pass yesterday morning. Got the bus up from the Franzenhohe Hotel the evening before, it was marginally more hair-raising than riding the bike up! ‘Blurring lines’ GARY CHANTRY This pic taken last week during our 2500-mile Germany/Poland trip. We crossed three borders connecting Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. ‘Respects given’ DAVID NEALE I recently attended the funeral of a…

‘When Rally really does mean rally’ When Kove stuck the word Rally next to their 800X, they certainly weren’t messing around – it’s not a marketing ploy, Rally really does mean rally. The 800X was already an impressive machine when it came to both on- and off-road prowess, but the Rally takes it one step further, as a serious off-roading weapon that is not only easy to ride, but is superbly capable too. For experienced and new riders alike, it works wonders. However, it still has some rough edges; on the road, the 800X Rally isn’t as refined as its rivals, while the finish up close and the electronics simply aren’t as good either. THE FACTS £9499 Kove 800X Rally…

‘A world of mid-size machines’ If you are serious about dirt riding, Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 (£10,404) is very trail-focused and updates for 2025 have made it even more suited to the rugged stuff. The Rally variant (£11,404) ups its off-road capabilities. There are also the ‘big-tank’ (23L) models. Suzuki’s V-Strom 800DE (£10,199) is the firm’s off-road swayed model with a 21in front, while the V-Strom 800RE (£8899) has a 19in front. Honda’s XL750 Transalp (£9899) has improved suspension for 2025 but is more tarmac than dirt-targeted while BMW’s F900GS Adventure (from £12,350) has a 23-litre tank and more road-focus (D-ESA is an option). The Ducati Multistrada V2 (£14,171) is identical in spec to the S but with conventionally damped suspension and minus a few of the S electronics as standard,…

THE FACTS ‘Demand immediately outstripped Suzuki’s initial batch of bikes’ If you wanted to build an affordable middleweight in the 1990s, you stuck to a well-trodden path. Detune an old 600, shove it in a forgettable steel frame, then bolt on the simplest running gear you can find. Yamaha kicked things off with the Diversion, Suzuki’s Bandit added some attitude, then by the end of the decade Honda’s Hornet and Yamaha’s Fazer joined the party. What you certainly didn’t do was anything innovative or indulgent, like build a brand-new engine from scratch. Or house it in an eye-catching frame that formed part of the bike’s styling. Or spend much time on styling, come to think of it. No, why bother doing any of those difficult, time-consuming things you do for…

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. 2017-CURRENT SUZUKI GSX-R125 Owner’s rating The smallest GSX-R model is still on sale and is a cheap and cheerful A1-legal offering. Pretty low-tech compared to rivals and owners aren’t impressed with its brakes. 2006-2007 SUZUKI GSX-R600 Owner’s rating The first aggressively styled and track-focused GSX-R model scores 4.4/5 overall, its reliability and handling are praised but owners note the fact it does like to be revved. 2017-2021 SUZUKI GSX250R Owner’s rating Not quite a GSX-R although it does contain all the right letters, Suzuki’s 250 was short-lived. Even by A2-legal standards the engine isn’t the most powerful, but it…

When a learner-legal scooter rolled into Mark1 Motorcycles in Edinburgh with no drive, workshop boss Mark Stanford suspected a snapped belt – but what he found was something a little more unusual. “We had a 50cc Chinese scooter in, with the customer complaining of no drive,” Mark told MCN. “Usually on these things, it’s a case that the belt has gone. When we took the side case off, we found that there was a big chunk missing out of the rear variator pulley.” The damage wasn’t caused by neglect or user error. “It’s just down to cheap Chinese metal, poor design, and the overall build quality,” he continued. “The scooter hadn’t done a huge amount of miles, nobody can get access to it without taking the case off, and the…

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship was represented as Josh Brookes, Leon Haslam and Davey Todd swapped the UK summer for the Suzuka sweatbox Brookes, BSB champion in 2015 and 2020, was part of the #71 Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda squad which finished 10th. Former BSB star Jason O’Halloran, now an EWC regular for YART-Yamaha, suffered a crash onboard the R1, as did teammates Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika. The latter suffering a heel injury Haslam, a triple Suzuka winner, showed tremendous pace for the #3 SDG-Ducati Team Kagayama, run by former BSB and WorldSBK rider Yukio Kagayama. ‘Todd had the task of taming the #76 BMW’ Teammate Ryo Mizuno was scheduled for just one stint due to shoulder injuries, while Haslam and Marcel Schrotter had four apiece. Sadly, the…

There was supposed to be a Spanish rider in what proved to be the winning team but each was ruled out after a series of unfortunate events for the World Superbike teammates. Iker Lecuona was first, his wrist and arm broken in the previous Saturday’s WorldSBK carnage in Hungary triggered by Andrea Iannone. The injury also means Lecuona misses a couple of MotoGP races he was supposed to do in place of the injured Somkiat Chantra. Xavi Vierge was drafted in and completed the test sessions at Suzuka, only to be sent home for entering Japan without the correct visa documentation, required because Suzuka is a race which awards prize money.…

Thousands of motorcyclists turned out for the 25th annual Calne Bike Meet in Wiltshire. The one-day event drew an estimated 10,000 attendees to the area, with displays, stalls, and club stands spread throughout the town centre. The two-wheeled gathering also raised money for good causes, with £2850 so far collected via an online fundraiser for local and biking charities. Free Husky rides Husqvarna’s Escape the Ordinary roadshow lands in the UK this August and September, offering Svartpilen and Vitpilen 801 naked bike test rides. August dates include London (16th), Keighley (23rd), and Gloucester (30th), with four more stops in September in Ipswich, Bonvilston, Perth, and Bristol. The tour also includes events in Austria, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. New Desmo450 leaps into dealers Ducati’s Desmo450 MX motocrosser is now arriving…

‘Available as a manual or semi-automatic’ BMW are close to launching their new ultra-lightweight adventure bike – as these exclusive spy shots taken just last week clearly show. We first caught wind of the F450GS as a running concept at the EICMA trade show in Milan last November. At that point, details were limited with Product Manager, Sepp Mächler, telling us: “Generally, it’s around 175kg, with 48 horsepower, and the engine has a 125° crankshaft for the ignition.” At that time, the concept was dressed in aggressive angular bodywork clearly inspired by the larger R1300GS boxer twin. It also featured a raised Akrapovic exhaust can, a switchgear button for rider modes, plus the firm’s latest full-colour TFT dials. Fast forward to August 2025, and these new images provide a much…

SAVE £2304 £11,695 KTM 890 Adventure R For dirt-based adventuring activities, the 890 Adventure R is the cream of the crop, providing top-drawer components, excellent ergonomics, and dirt-bred geometry. But it’s no one-trick pony, and for all its capability off-road, KTM’s middleweight tourer is a tech-filled mile muncher, too. www.destinationmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £2000 £12,320 Yamaha MT-10 Bonkers-fast, with a sublime midrange delivered from its intoxicating cross-plane cranked motor, the big MT is an intoxicating hoot to ride. crescent-motorcycles.co.uk ● Engine 998cc ● Power 164bhp ● Weight 212kg ● Seat height 835mm SAVE £1000 £14,949 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Electronic Suspension DCT Honda’s Africa Twin offers round the world capability, tonnes of tech and exceptional build quality to boot. 1stlinemotorcycles.co.uk ● Engine 1084cc ● Power 100bhp ● Weight 244kg ● Seat height…

Rev’It Altair H2O Don’t let the winter sports-inspired looks fool you, the Rev’It Altair comes with an AA CE certification, Level 1 shoulder and elbow armour and a pocket for a back protector. We think it looks pretty cool, too, perfect for a rainy dash across town to the office when a full-weight textile would be overkill. There’s plenty of pocket space for your bits and bobs so you might even be able to ditch the rucksack. revitsport.com Nippy Normans Pannier Protector £44.90 (pair) Get your leg over without scuffing your bag! Nippy Normans have come up with this simple stick-on protector for owners of the new BMW R1300RT touring model fitted with matching factory panniers. Keep your expensive paint job pristine and your resale value high. www.nippynormans.com MT Le…

Q ‘Sneezing fit was to blame’ In May 2023 I was riding my GSX-R1000 on a dual carriageway when a van on the inside lane crossed right into my lane, sending me off my bike. My full recovery took seven months. The driver has blamed his actions on an unexpected sneezing fit and his lawyer has told my lawyer that they don’t accept their client was to blame for the accident, arguing their guy was not negligent since the sneezing fit caused the loss of control and it was not his fault. Richard D, email A They are relying on a legal defence called ‘automatism’. This is when a person cannot be held responsible for his or her actions if they had no knowledge or control of them. For example,…

I recently did a big charity ride for the Midlands Air Ambulance with Carl Fogarty and Dougie Lampkin. Four and a half thousand motorcyclists met in a car park in Shrewsbury and we had a police escort closing the roads, and we rode 25 miles to Western Park where we joined the Bike4Life festival. British WorldWCR rider Chloe Jones was also a guest, and I think they assumed she had a road licence but she doesn’t, as most in the racing paddock don’t, so she couldn’t ride with us and had to go in the police car instead! I’m very impressed with Chloe, especially after her back-to-back podiums. She’s going very well and I thought she would do after watching her in BSB last year. She’s a nice lass, level-headed…

THE UK’S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite one- hour routes Fast and flowing corners, gorgeous scenery and even a waterfall at the side of the road for a photo – the A702 really does deliver so much of the Scottish goodness we all love, without you having to venture too far north of the border. This road is a cracking little slice of tarmac that is just off the A74(M), leading to the A76. To get there, just take the exit at junction 14 which will get you onto the A702, and head towards Elvanfoot and Thornhill. Cheeky corners, some reasonably long straights and a fair amount of visibility make it a welcome opportunity to open the taps and break up the motorway mileage. Keep your eyes peeled…

What’s happening? Taking place at Betteshanger, near Deal, aside from a great vibe, there will be over 300 race and exhibition bikes – and many of them will be embarking on the sprint, so plenty of high-octane action too. Stages will belt out ballistic live entertainment and activities throughout the day will keep you amused, whatever age you are. It’s one not to miss. The essentials Although the chance to ride has now passed (they’re at maximum capacity, which means there should be some great racing happening!) you can still grab tickets to attend the event. They’re £13.50 for a day ticket, with under 16s free, and if you want to stay the weekend (not including camping) it’s £25.50. Camping is £5.50 per night. Head to heritagesprint.co.uk for more information…

‘Surprise hit of the year’ At £3499 (+OTR charges), the new Bantam undercuts pretty much all the competition, while leading the pack in terms of performance. It’s light, manageable and easy, packing a small but punchy motor that is capable of making you smile. Handling is sure-footed and direct, it’s got a versatile riding position with a comfortable seat and looks good, too. In fact there’s very little not to like about it. For a new rider, it’s unintimidating and user friendly, with enough about it to give you room to grow. The six-speed gearbox gives it the legs for exploring beyond the suburbs, and for more experienced riders, the Bantam is a fun and rewarding bike to ride. No warranty details have been announced yet, and although the price…

THE MCN TEST THE HOTTEST BIKES EVERY WEEK From £11,995 (£15,783 as tested) BMW F900GS 895cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin DOHC 8v 103.5bhp @ 8500rpm 219kg wet (225kg tested fully fuelled) £16,566 Ducati Multistrada V2 S 890cc liquid-cooled V-twin DOHC 8v 114bhp @ 10,750rpm 202kg wet weight no fuel (218kg tested fully fuelled) Nothing stays the same for very long in the adventure bike market. Originally the focus was on big-capacity bikes that looked like they could defeat any terrain thanks to knobbly-tyred 19 or 21 inch front wheels. Then 17in front-wheeled bikes with more tarmac-focus grabbed the limelight. These morphed into 19in models that took advantage of modern tyres to offer the best of both worlds - rugged looks with sporty handling. And now another shift is underway as middleweights come…

BMW F900GS £11,995 (£15,783 as tested) Ducati Multistrada V2 S £16,566…

When the SV650 arrived, the budget middleweight king was Yamaha’s FZS600 Fazer. An MCN Award winner, the Fazer bossed tests against Honda’s Hornet and Suzuki’s Bandit. It was both powerful and practical, with 95bhp from its detuned Thundercat motor, plus a half fairing and all-day comfort. Instantly popular, Yamaha shifted 83,000 Fazers across Europe in its first five years. The Fazer kept its crown in MCN’s first group test against the SV650S, but in the long-term the Suzuki had greater staying power. The Fazer’s successor, the FZ6, proved revvier and less popular than the original. It later grew into the 779cc FZ8, but dwindling sales saw the Fazer discontinued in 2015.…

We’re all guilty of riding around problems and issues with our bikes, and levers/controls are definitely things most of us learn to live with as they are rather than taking action to change. But if you’ve never sat and thought about the position of your brake, clutch and gear levers, it’s really worth spending five minutes in the garage doing so, especially if you’ve got a long trip coming up, or are looking to go for a bit of high-octane track action. It’s astonishing just how many aches and pains can be avoided by tweaking the positioning of your bars and levers slightly – try it, you might find that it makes a whole world of difference. If you’ve already adjusted your controls but find that you still can’t get…

Looking ahead to this weekend’s BSB action 1 Ray v Ryde: Game on… Sunday at last month’s Brands Hatch round felt like a pivotal day in this season’s title fight. We witnessed Bradley Ray make his first mistake of the year as he crashed in Race Two, which was followed by his first non-podium finish in Race Three. In the other corner, Kyle Ryde celebrated his first win of the year and closed the gap to Ray in the standings to 34 points – down from 52 heading into the weekend. Suddenly Ryde will be filled with confidence that he can indeed beat his former teammate, and continue to take points away from the 2022 champ. The duel will now intensify as Ray fights to rebound from his first ‘disappointing’…

Bringing you the lowdown from the Suzuka 8 Hours ‘Finishing under the lights is amazing’ It wasn’t quite a first Italian victory at the Suzuka 8 Hours since Valentino Rossi in 2001, or even the first Australian success since Wayne Gardner and Daryll Beattie did the honours in 1992, but still a tremendous result for the #21 Yamaha Racing Team as Yamaha Japan put out an official entry for the first time since 2019. Alongside Katsuyuki Nakasuga were MotoGP’s Jack Miller and WSBK’s Andrea Locatelli, wanting more but pleased nonetheless. Miller’s previous Suzuka best was fourth in 2017, while ‘Loka’ has achieved the feat of making the podium on his debut having already become a WorldSBK race winner for the first time at Assen this year. It was certainly eventful…

Suzuka is a lone survivor from a handful of legendary events, where the world’s top riders play away from home. That’s GP riders, I mean. Elevated beings who tend to win, no matter what they ride. Once the Isle of Man was like that. Of necessity, as a world championship round. Until the danger saw it dropped from the calendar. Happily, the TT survived on its own inner strengths. But you wouldn’t catch a current MotoGP rider anywhere near it. Once the Daytona 200 started the international season, with any rider who was anyone taking part. It made and broke reputations (and Barry Sheene’s legs). It survives as a shadow of its former self, albeit with Supersport bikes. Again, MotoGP riders? Forget it. And the Imola 200. Once the glittering…

I’d love to go back to Suzuka, even as just a punter. It’s a weird and wacky place. The old Suzuka hotel is like going to your gran’s house in 1981! But it’s immaculate. There’s no graffiti or chewing gum on the floor, everybody is polite and there’s no hassle. You walk through this random fairground and there you have it; one of the most iconic circuits in the world. There aren’t many figure-of-eight circuits out there! You have the Dunlop Curve and 130R. It’s just mega to ride. You have Honda fans in one grandstand, Kawasaki in another, Suzuki in another… It’s a funny experience. All the fans have their little red torches on. There’s no pushing or shoving. You go down to the pit-lane walkabout and everybody is…

Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 £8399 | 799cc | 195kg (kerb) | 103.3bhp | 820mm seat height There is plenty to love about Husqvarna’s stylish and highly-capable urban scrambler – not least of which is its price. With an extremely tempting £2100 slashed off its RRP, you can have a Svartpilen 801 parked in your garage for just £69 a month. That makes it a proper bargain. Powered by a KTM-developed 799cc parallel-twin, the Svartpilen produces a thoroughly engaging and playful 103.3bhp that is delivered with real spirit and a fun-factor that is often left lacking in modern retros. And it is aligned to a top-rate electronics package that includes a quickshifter, traction control, variable power modes and more. As you would expect from a KTM Duke-derived product, the Svartpilen’s chassis also…

Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic £24,245 | 1923cc | 326kg (kerb) | 91bhp | 690mm seat height A classically modern cruiser, it blends traditional cruiser looks with hot rod swagger. A bike that screams for attention, it is also pleasingly versatile as the studded-leather panniers can quickly be removed or added alongside the screen so you can choose to load it up and tour or strip it back for city cruising. Unlike many leather-style panniers, they’re lockable, meaning they’re significantly more useful on tour. And it is perfectly happy to turn its hand to either role thanks to the 117 motor, which delivers modern performance and tech, and updated suspension to improve the ride quality. And don’t believe those who say Harleys are tech-free – the Heritage has three ride modes, cornering…