Table of contents for November 2024 in RiDE

‘Make the most of this autumn' I'd be lying if I said the best, sunniest, warmest days of the year were still in front of us, but there is still lots of good riding to be had – you just need to pick and choose the days, plan for the good weather and you can be rewarded with fun while others are prematurely laying their bikes up for winter. There's plenty in this mag to help you get the most out of the dying embers of an Indian Summer, though. Our Big RiDE feature, shot near the Scottish Borders, is inspirational and will be truly spectacular on the right day in autumn. While you're at it, the roads we chose for our adventure bike feature in Shropshire are well worth…

LETTER OF THE MONTH Going coastal We have just got back from the UK Coastal Challenge, riding around the coastline of mainland UK and raising money for Andy's Man Club mental health charity on the way. We managed to camp all the way round, which was an experience in itself. We also met some great people, who approached us to ask about our challenge and shared their experiences, which was very humbling at times. We have some more donations to come in, which will take us over the £6000 mark – even more than we initially set out to achieve. It was also great to meet up with RiDE's Jim at The Jolly Roger in Bovey Tracey… what a place! Thanks to RiDE, and all our supporters, partners and friends…

NEW BIKES FIRST RIDE VOGE DS900X LUGGAGED UP Steel boxes come as standard and they're decent quality. Velvet-lined, you can get an adventure helmet in the top box, though the righthand-side pannier is compromised by the exhaust. BUILT FOR TOURING 17-litre tank is bigger than a stock GS, so you should be looking at an easy 180-mile range. Luggage, adjustable screen and heated grips and seat should help make long-distance trips feel manageable. It all seems well-conceived, rugged and simple. BACK-UP You get a two-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. Importer MotoGB has a large network of dealers all over the UK. WITH AN ENGINE based on BMW's F900GS, a decent selection of components, an extremely high level of standard equipment – and a £9k price tag – the Voge DS900X is set to…

BEST ROAD ADVENTURE BIKES These three are the cream of road-going adventure bikes. All quite different, all catering for slightly different audiences but sharing a common ability for hoovering up distance, smoothing the worst of roads and all kind to the backs of RiDE's sorry bunch of testers, who, let's face it, have seen better days. The plan is to bungee the bikes up with camping gear, clear off in the direction of Shropshire, taking the motorway to get us there in time for sunset. I've drawn the GS; Matt has the Africa Twin and Jason is on the Tiger. They're the best of the 19in adventure bike breed, but all three come at the front wheel compromise from different angles. The Honda is new for 2024, and the first…

GARAGE USED BIKES USED BUYING GUIDE FACTORY RECALLS Early bikes received updated cam chain tensioners to alleviate insufficient tension and resultant slap. Speedo accuracy was an issue on 2020-2022 models – SX and SE – cured with a software update. Most notable, however, is another issue that can lead to expensive mechanical damage. If fourth or fifth are not correctly engaged, the bike can jump out of gear, and potentially fracture the gear teeth when re-engaged. An ECU reflash should cure the problem. THE H2 SX is the most powerful sports tourer on the planet; 197bhp and 101lb·ft says so. Developed from Kawasaki's bonkers supercharged Ninja H2 and H2R models, the SX is a sub-category all its own – ballistic touring. The SX has grown into a popular, accomplished, and…

GARAGE LONG-TERM TEST BIKES 2024 YAMAHA TRACER 9 GT+ IN JUST OVER two months, RiDE's Tracer 9 GT+ has almost doubled its mileage, adding nearly 4000 miles to its tally of travel. Scotland has been the destination of preference for many of those, some under my guidance – I took the Yamaha on a tour of Dumfries and Galloway and The Borders with my Front End Chatter podcast pals – and some in the steady hands of RiDE photographer Jason Critchell, who has similarly ridden it to Scotland and back. Twice, in fact. We've also ridden it two-up from Peterborough to Central London, with him on the back and me at the front. So, here's what we can tell you about it so far… THE FACTS £15,016 > 117bhp >…

UPGRADES “An extended screen and bar risers to ease my back, plus a Russell Day-Long saddle – like a tractor seat! I also had her remapped at Hilltop Motorcycles – that was the best £300 I ever spent.” SERVICING “Basic servicing is easy and can be done by anyone I had the valves checked at 24k and 60k and no adjustment was needed – I haven't bothered since.” ELECTRICS “Can suffer from water ingress. I use dielectric grease on all connectors and ACF-50 on all hidden parts. Touch wood, no issue in the last 60k miles.” TYRES “Metzeler Roadtec 01 HWMs were great and I got 12-13k miles a set. But I'm now evangelical about Michelin Road 6 GTs – fabulous tyres and I'm at 14k on my second set.”…

Chiang Rai, Thailand Our three-week ‘little steed' northern Thailand trip earlier this year created miles of smiles for my husband and I. 2000 miles covering both the Mae Hong Son and Nan Loop. This photo was taken outside the white temple in Chiang Rai. Brilliant roads, amazing people and so much fun on the Honda Monkey and CT125. Zoe Thompson Hirnant Pass, Wales I followed your suggested route from the Brilliant B-Roads supplement on the B4391 to Lake Bala - brilliant ride. Then from Lake Bala I took the lovely Hirnant Pass to Lake Vyrnwy on my trusty Triumph Tiger 800. Russ Purdy Great Orme, Wales Here we are on our fantastic Wales 360° Tour at the fab Caffi Cynefin just below the Great Orme viewing point car park. Great…

FRONT END MONTH IN BIKES EVEN CLEVERER THAN BEFORE! DUCATI HAVE UPDATED the Multistrada V4 adventure range for 2025, with prices starting from £21,495 for the popular S model. At the heart of the changes is a clever new electronics package, much of which is borrowed from the new Panigale V4. A complete front-end redesign houses improved headlights and is said to create “more aggressive proportions”, giving it a Panigale-esque appearance. There's also a restyled exhaust silencer and three choices of paint colour to choose from. The engine has also been altered to meet more stringent Euro5+ regulations, plus there are changes to the front styling and small alterations to the ergonomics and chassis. The 1158cc Granturismo V4 motor puts out a claimed 170bhp and 91.3lbft of torque. Equally impressive…

▶ It's got a proper engine The motor is based on that of an F900GS, and while Voge are reluctant to say what's been changed, they admit the fuelling and mapping are different. It's a great basis for a budget bike and makes 10bhp less than the latest GS but actually slightly more torque. GS motor is well-proven over the years, though this doesn't feel quite as refined as the latest BMW version. ◀ The running gear is pretty good Lots of positive things going on here. The 43mm KYB forks are adjustable for preload and rebound and have a decent action and good control, while the rear shock has a remote preload adjuster, which is a nice touch. Two-pot Brembo brakes are good quality, but struggle a little with…

THE BIG THE FACTS The route A classic raid across the Borders to coastal Northumberland. Why it's great A cornucopia of corners and landscapes, from low-lying tight and twisty through pine plantations up to high, windswept heathery moorland where the grouse roam free and pheasants cluck. When to go Between now and September to avoid mossies, midges and motorhomes. Where to visit Plenty of castles, cafés and local landmarks – plus the odd battlefield. ‘Roads sway like hypnotised cobras' THE MERE THOUGHT sends a shiver down my spine, every time. We're turning onto the A6088 at the junction of the A698 just outside the Borders town of Hawick, Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ fuelled at the garage just behind, sun beaming down with benign grace, the scent of summer heavy on…

Best for a real mix of riding, from technical tight and twisty through to wide open, flowing hills and moors. All of it is a joy, most of it is a challenge. Length 56 miles. Route Hawick, Bonchester Bridge, Carter Bar, Rochester, Otterburn, Hepple, Rothbury, Alnwick. Roads A6088, A68, A696, B6341. Love it because The corners, castles, crags and cafés along the route are packed with history. Take a picture at The Steve Hislop statue at the start, Carter Bar halfway, and Alnwick Castle at the destination. Stop for a cuppa at Rochester Relish on the A68. If it's open. ALSO TRY… Best for An alternative route from the Borders back into England (or vice versa). Length 56 miles. Route Hawick, Bonchester Bridge, Saughtree, Kielder, Bellingham, Hexham. Roads A6088, B6357,…

From £6K! BMW R1200GS > 2013-2018 > 123bhp > 238kg What makes it good First water-cooled GS feels very much like a modern bike with a chassis feel that's akin to the latest model and boasts 123bhp. As a road bike, they simply feel unstoppable, ploughing through bad weather, terrible roads and bumps like they're not there. Comfort is sublime, while optional semi-active suspension and up/down quickshifter work as well as on many 2024 bikes. If you want the most modern, opt for a later, 2017 bike with the TFT dash and a visual facelift. Superb for pillions and on long tours, they are great value used. What to look for This generation of GS was subject to recalls including oil leaks and, most importantly, front suspension failure, so please…

RATED THE RiDE PRODUCT TEST ‘Eleveits felt slightly more reassuring and were waterproof' Things are very close in this test, but we have a winner. First off, there's a surprising result for the Alpinestars. Traditionally, the company's boots have done well, winning a couple of tests in the past. But the RT-7s didn't stand up: they didn't fit well, were not comfortable and leaked – a disappointing result. The Rebelhorns did reasonably well though they felt a little more ‘budget' than their price tag suggested and allowed a little water in. The TCXs and Sidis gained similar scores but the more expensive TCXs ranked higher. Both performed well but each felt slightly narrow, with the more flexible TCXs giving slightly better comfort, earning the higher position. The top two scored…

GARAGE LONG-TERM TEST BIKES BMW S1000RR IT'S BEEN AN interesting month with the BMW, taking in some long journeys as well as a cobwebblowing trackday, and the opportunity to use the S1000RR to help a RiDE reader out. With its heated grips, built-in navigation and cruise control, this is the most road-friendly of superbikes, but there is no getting away from the fact that you can only really get close to exploring its very high limits on the track. I had the opportunity to at least scratch the surface of its abilities on last month's BMW Club Ride Friendly event at Snetterton. A road-bike only trackday (for all makes, not just Bee Emms) it features free instruction for new and novice track riders and is without the slicks, tyre warmers…

FRONT END IT ALL STARTED with ABS. Then came traction control, engine modes, quickshifters, hill hold, radar cruise control, and now anti-crash systems. Over the past 20 years, the proliferation of electronic rider aids has been one of the biggest changes in new bikes. Lowly machines now have ABS; start moving up the ladder and budget middleweights have traction control, cornering ABS and a host other assists, all linked up to lean and motionsensitive measurement units that meter out engine and braking power. So, why has this happened? The answer is because it can. Car technology has rightly evolved in the way of safety and that tech has filtered over to bikes. Combined with the electronic revolution since MotoGP went fourstroke in 2002, and the hardware has got cheaper and…

‘How hard should I be revving when exiting corners?' Q I'VE BEEN RIDING for 20 years and have had everything from a BMW R1250GS to my current Honda Fireblade. But I'm never quite sure how hard I'm meant to rev the engine. For example, what revs should I dial in when I pick up the throttle coming out of a corner? Bob Crowland, email A I'LL TACKLE THE corner exit question first, Bob, because it's one that many riders struggle with. A common mistake I see is riders going into corners with too few revs. This means there's not much engine braking so they often find themselves going too fast at the apex, and then the bike feels sluggish on the way out because the engine isn't making much torque…

NEW BIKES TRIUMPH SCRAMBLER 400 X BIG QUESTIONS ANSWERED LAUNCHED THIS YEAR, Triumph's all-new range of single-cylinder middleweights has been an instant sales sensation. The Speed 400 has topped the naked bike new-registration charts in almost every month since its release. However, its sibling, the urban enduro-styled Scrambler 400 X, has been running it close, also selling in impressive numbers. Costing £600 more than the Speed 400 – a not-insignificant 12 per cent premium – the Scrambler 400 X uses the same basic platform but increases its kerb appeal through not only a more rugged look but also a few neat details, giving it a higher-quality overall feel. The differences extend to the componentry, with a larger-diameter 19in front wheel compared to the Speed 400's 17in item with associated geometry…

BEST ROAD-GOING ADVENTURE BIKES GIVE 'EM AN inch and they take a mile. Give 'em 19 inches and they'll be touring Scotland before you know it. Because 19 inches has become the front wheel diameter of choice for road-based adventure bikes. It's the best compromise with a range of factors – better tarmac performance than a 21in, suits longer suspension and more wheel travel than a 17in, and has steering characteristics that sit between the two. It's the Goldilocks of wheel sizes for modern road conditions – and means it's ideal for road-based adventure bikes. So, if you like the riding position and touring ability of an adventure bike, but don't need the off-road ability, these 10 bikes are the best… 10 CFMOTO 800MT SPORT ‘The best-value adventure bike on…

START THEM YOUNG! JIM MOORE, 50, THE DAD A motorcycle obsessive for 30+ years, Jim loves sharing biking with his lad HARRY MOORE, 15, THE SON Loves bikes like his dad, loves going on the back. Can't wait to get his CBT SHARING PASSIONS AND interests with your kids is one of life's great joys. Especially if that pursuit is motorcycling. Bikes are fun, exciting expression of freedom – all things that'll get a young mind fizzing with endorphins and endless possibilities. But the question is, how do you best foster youthful interest in two wheels, and maximise this brilliant parent/child bonding opportunity when you hear those words, “Can you take me on the back of your bike, please?” As someone with skin in the game – otherwise known as…

DRY LINER Liner has proven to be 100% waterproof and is removable for cleaning. OUTER POCKET With five litres of capacity, it's just right for wallets, phones and gloves. Key holder is a nice touch but could be better. Kriega R25 £219 www.kriega.co.uk THE CLAIM Q “We have re-engineered this everyday bag and everything that helped create the world-renowned best-seller remains: our innovative Quadloc™ harness design; industry-leading construction, and big load capacity. Now the R25's main compartment is 100% waterproof, thanks to our well-proven roll-top closure and removable liner.” THE REALITY I've been using Kriega R25s for over 20 years and swear by them: they're high quality, tough, easy to use and last forever, so I was eager to try the new one. The headline changes are all with good…

FOR MANY, BIKE kit is for use on the bike only and that's that – that's where you need the protection, though comfort is always a big factor. If it's the riding itself that you love, then that's all you need – when the ride is over, you simply change into non-riding gear. However, others may enjoy not only the ride but also the option of taking time to stop and look around – and in this case, they may want to do some exploring or check out interesting sites and locations along the day's route. In this case, a pair of lighter-weight touring boots can help protect your feet and keep them dry on the bike yet allow you to walk a distance off the bike so you can…

We've been busy testing in the past year. Here is what we've found that works OCTOBER 2023 RIDING JEANS Furygan K11 X Kevlar £189.99 A great-fitting pair of jeans that are comfortable, supple and don't look like riding jeans, with acceptable protection. Pictured right. Resurgence Gear Café Racer £245 Superlative protective abilities in a stylish and well-made pair of jeans. Design won't suit everyone though – and neither will the price. Pictured far right. NOVEMBER 2023 ADVENTURE TOURING BOOTS Alpinestars Corozal Adventure £319.99 Superb fit and comfort for road riding, backed up with excellent feel and confidence for off-road adventures. A great boot. RECOMMENDED Forma Terra Evo Dry £309.99 TCX Drifter £319.99 DECEMBER 2023 DISC LOCKS £199.99 A monster of a lock that resisted attack and damaged the tools used…