RiDE -julkaisun December 2025 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

‘The dream of smashing big miles is always alluring’ As autumn closes in, we’re keeping ourselves warm with a tourer-packed issue. Our cover story puts BMW’s R1300RT through its paces, with Simon Hargreaves deep-testing its comfort and cutting-edge tech over 3000 miles. If the RT’s £19k starting price has you wincing, don’t worry: we’ve also lined up a raft of brilliant tourers starting from just £3000 (I would love a tidy Kawasaki 1400GTR). All are road trip heroes and there’s something for every budget, meaning there’s never been a better time to plan the next big ride. Looking beyond metal, we know keeping dry is vital this time of year, so we’ve gone all out with a comprehensive test of do-anything sporty boots. Whether your ride’s a windswept blast, damp…

IT’S EASY TO look at the leaps being made by the Chinese motorcycle industry and conclude that it will emulate the success that saw Japan rise to dominance in the 1970s. But the real threat to the two-wheeled establishment may come from India’s vast bike-making industry. The contrast between the approaches of Chinese and Indian manufacturers is distinct. China is rushing into direct competition with the established brands, with the likes of CFMoto, QJMotor, Voge and Kove launching increasingly convincing and technologically advanced alternatives. It’s an approach that, like the Japanese motorcycling revolution 50 years ago, asks customers to abandon brand loyalties and take a risk on a relative unknown with higher levels of equipment at a lower price. By contrast, India’s motorcycle companies have grown quietly in their home…

Kawasaki are returning to the road-biased super-naked category with a Z1100 range. The £11,099 base model and £12,699 SE share a look similar to the Z1000, last seen in Europe in 2020. Powering them is the 1099cc inline four engine used in the Ninja 1100SX sports-tourer, producing a claimed 137bhp at 9000rpm and 83lb·ft at 7600rpm. Further features include a 5in colour TFT dash used to control multiple riding modes, and phone connectivity. The engine is nestled in an aluminium twin tube chassis, with 41mm upside-down forks. The SE’s front stanchions are gold, while the rear end is suspended by an Öhlins S46 shock featuring a remote preload adjuster. Front brakes are also different on the SE, with Brembo calipers biting 310mm Brembo discs aided by steel braided brake lines.…

It loves the dirt The previous model wasn’t really suited to trail riding, but this one feels ready to handle most trails within reason. It’s still not an enduro bike, and really rough stuff will be punishing (unless you’re a grizzled hard enduro veteran), but it should be up to the kind of trail and adventure riding its target buyers will expect to tackle. KTM will soon offer upgraded shock/fork internals if it’s still not gnarly enough for you. Extras are worth it Cruise control isn’t standard (although, to be fair, it isn’t on any rival either), but to add it costs a mere £89.70. An up/down quickshifter is also on the optional extras list and costs £225. Together, they still keep the overall price below £7000. Sophisticated assists Motorcycles…

THE AVERAGE AGE of the UK’s motorcycling population is continuing to rise, which presents various challenges for riders. While age generally brings with it more financial stability and spare time, it also comes with less strength than we all enjoyed a few years earlier. Which is why many riders are now looking at downsizing their ride – especially in the touring segment. Tourers by their very nature tend to be heavy; when you add a pillion and luggage, quite quickly this weight can become intimidating. All it takes is a few low-speed topples for a rider to have their confidence dented for what should be an enjoyable pastime to quickly lose its appeal. Which is where lightweight touring options are there to help. Easy to manage both financially and physically…

IT IS ALWAYS tempting to think that BMW have cornered the touring market. However, three of the four Japanese manufacturers have made rivals to the RT that have all proven very successful, lasted several generations and, as such, are plentiful in the used market. If you are after a bargain mega-tourer that is just as adept at effortless mile-munching as the BMW, here are three great alternatives that could be your ticket to a fantastic touring holiday for a snip of the price of a new R1300RT……

THE ST1300 PAN European is a bike that should have ruled the world. Replacing the ST1100 Pan European in 2002, the bigger-capacity version upped the game by bringing not only a new V4 motor but also a thoroughly modern chassis and even greater emphasis on handling to the party – all without compromising its outstanding comfort levels. While the celebrations were initially tarnished slightly by reports of ‘Pan weave’, an unpleasant issue that saw some bikes become unstable at speed, with modern tyres fitted this is no longer worth worrying about. (Generally it only affected police-issue bikes that had lots of heavy additional equipment fitted. And when they were doing more than 100mph…) So, with this elephant in the room covered, why would you want a Pan European? As its…

WHAT TO PAY £6500 buys you a tidy 2016 bike privately. £7200 a decent 2017-19 Tourer from a dealer. £9000 is the starting point of the first-gen SP and buys an upgraded 2022 machine. EVOLUTION 2016 MT-10 launches with R1-based motor and chassis, decent suspension, basic electronics and a bargain price of £9999. Produces 158bhp and weighs 210kg. 2017 MT-10 SP launches with Öhlins Smart EC semi-active suspension, a TFT dash from the R1 and lots of brushed aluminium. It costs £13,399. 2018 MT-10 Tourer Edition joins line-up. It adds panniers, a high screen, knuckle guards and a satnav mount for £11,649. 2022 Major evolution with more power and torque, more fuel range, up/down quickshifter, and IMU-led rider aids from R1. £13,300. SP with even cleverer Öhlins suspension was £16,000.…

THE FACTS The route An 87-mile romp along the Welsh coast, from the southern Snowdonia foothills to Fishguard on the A487. Why it’s great Variety is the name of the game, dramatic mountain roads giving way to picturesque villages and seaside towns, with countless diversions down to coastal bays. When to go Any time of year, but obviously it’s more pleasant in the warm and dry. Where to visit Plenty of spectacular viewpoints at the start, and towns like Machynlleth and Aberystwyth are worth exploring. GREAT ROADS COME in all shapes and sizes – from nadgery B-roads to long, winding As and everything in between. But what makes a road great isn’t necessarily its geometry or topography, or its A to B-ness – sometimes, they’re great because they’re part of…

DOWNLOAD THE ROUTE www.ride.co.uk Best for Mountains and coastal diversions, rich history, and importantly, food Length 87 miles Route Cross Foxes Inn, Machynlleth, Talybont, Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, Cardigan, Fishguard Roads A487 all the way Love it because Amazing scenery at the start around southern Snowdonia, followed by loads of coastal diversions along the way. Take a picture at Fishguard old harbour is pretty in the evening. Stop for a cuppa at Ambassadors shop and café in Aberaeron. ALSO TRY… Fishguard figure of eight Best for Zany B-road loop antics across hills, moors and farmland in the tip of Pembrokeshire, starting and finishing in Fishguard Length 60 miles Route Fishguard, Greenway, Maenclochog, Narberth, Haverfordwest, Greenway, Eglwyswrw, Fishguard Love it because It’s off the beaten track, not much traffic, and plenty of opportunity…

AS DECADES GO, the 1990s were a good one for Honda. Having set the competition reeling by redefining the sportsbike with the 1992 CBR900RR FireBlade, Honda also nicked the fastest production bike crown with the 178mph CBR1100XX Super Blackbird in 1997. The Blackbird was much more than an exercise in engineering machismo, however. In contrast to the big beasts that came before, such as the Kawasaki ZZ-R1100 whose top speed crown it stole, the Honda combined its 165bhp brute power with sophisticated aerodynamics and ergonomics, plus handling that made the ride more of a pleasure than a battle. Honda borrowed the ‘Blackbird’ tag from the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft, which, with its Mach 3 capability, was and remains the fastest-ever operational jet aircraft. The Honda’s bullet-shaped fairing was…

Given that even the newest Super Blackbird is now 18 years old, the test ride will mostly be about looking out for old bike woes. However, these Hondas have usually received a lot of love from their owners and tend to be well maintained and preserved. Don’t be overly concerned about a little clutch knock at idle on a high-mile example; it should disappear when you snick it into gear and get moving. Listen out for cam chain rattle, too. Some Blackbirds seem to have an appetite for tensioners. It’s an easy fix but one to factor in. Feel for pulsing through the brake levers that may point to warped discs. Brakes work hard on a big hyperbike and if caliper maintenance has been neglected, binding can lead to disc…

APRILIA’S SECOND-GENERATION RSV1000R drew on the earlier model’s WSB-race-winning pedigree, and boasts a claimed 143bhp (15bhp up on the first incarnation) and a chassis spec that makes many rivals look ordinary. Yet a tidy RSV can now be had for less than some 40-year-old project bikes. Packing punchy performance from its eager-revving, magnesium-cased 60° V-twin and delivering delicious handling from a track-developed aluminium beam chassis – all wrapped in a razor-sharp exterior – the second-gen RSV is a very tempting alternative to Ducati’s 999 and Japanese four-cylinder superbikes. Unlike the original RSV that came in several flavours – Mille, R, Factory and SP – the 2004-on model appeared in just R and Factory specs. The former wears quality Showa forks and a Sachs shock, while the Factory enjoys more exotic…

Bosua Pass, Namibia At this year’s ABR Festival it was clear very few young riders are travelling the world by bike. So, I ensured my newly A2-licensed son had an adventure of a lifetime – it was definitely one for me. A self-guided two-week trek on the gravel and sand roads of Namibia. After a week of off-road training in Portugal, we went on a self-guided tour of Namibia – all off-road on Royal Enfield Himalayans. This is the Bosua Pass – a 340km blast from Swakopmund to Windhoek. We saw four trucks the whole day. Highlights included the Dorob Desert and the amazing Erongo Mountains. A bucket-list trip for everyone. Richard Connor Get your bike in RIDE & win a BikeTrac system Each month the Star Picture will win…

Harley-Davidson is going through a rough time. Sales are plummeting – just over 150,000 bikes were sold in 2024, the lowest since 1998 and well under half the 344,000 sales achieved at their peak in 2006 – and the company has revealed that part of the solution will be a sub-$6000 (£4400) machine called the Sprint that’s joining the range for 2026. The name harks back to the Aermacchi Harley-Davidson Sprint models of the Sixties and Seventies – foreign-made, single-cylinder machines that filled the same slot in the range – and there’s a strong chance the new bike will be built in partnership with Hero in India. While Harley has a partnership with QJMotor, making the X350 and X500 twins for Asian markets, Hero’s Indian-built X440 is a closer rival…

Ducati’s Multistrada V4 Rally has been given electrical and mechanical tweaks to make it easier to live with. The 168bhp Granturismo V4 engine is unchanged, but the swingarm pivot mount has changed in a bid to reduce squat during acceleration. A big update is the ability to adjust the semi-active suspension on the move while retaining the existing automatic levelling system. Working alongside this is the Ducati Vehicle Observer algorithm – first seen on the Panigale V4 S – that uses physics modelling to estimate the bike’s position and weight distribution more accurately. Safety tech takes a step forward too, with forward collision warning joining adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection. The first UK bikes are expected in early 2026.…

Q I REALLY STRUGGLE with downchanges and get a lot of backlash and locking up. How do I blip the throttle better, or am I doing something else wrong? Kev Dewhurst, Ealing, London A IT SOUNDS LIKE you’re either getting the timing of your blipping wrong, or you’re letting the clutch out too fast. But before giving some tips, let’s talk about what’s going on with the engine, gearbox and clutch when you shift down. Say you’re approaching a corner in fourth gear and want to slow to take it in third. If you try to hook third as soon as you shut the throttle, the engine and gearbox revs won’t match, so as you let the clutch out in third, the rear wheel will try to speed the engine…

HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S NEW ST (Sports Tourer) version of the Pan America 1250 adventure bike seems a little odd at first. Desperate even, considering how the original dual‑purpose version has failed to catch on. But with consideration and miles it may be something of a masterstroke. The ST has been inspired by Harley’s ‘Super Hooligan’ racer (the stripped, modified Pan Am that dominated this year’s US street bike race series), and although nowhere near as extreme, it’s effectively a Pan Am with sportier street wheels, tyres and suspension, chopped-down bodywork, lower sports seat and saucier colour schemes. As such, the Pan Am’s 19in x 3in front and 17in x 4.5in rear wheel are replaced by a lighter, wider, 17in x 3.5in and 17in x 5.5in duo wearing Michelin Scorcher Sport street tyres.…

WHAT TO PAY £3000-£5500 A clean, one-owner, low-mileage example of a first-gen 1200. £3500-£7000 A full-spec, 90-year special edition second-gen 1200. £4500-£9000 A third-gen liquid-cooled RT with pointy fairing and modern electronics. EVOLUTION 2005 Successor to the 1150RT with 15 per cent more power, less weight and cruise control option. 2010 Upgraded DOHC motor, more power, ESA suspension and conventional switchgear. 2014 Revised pointy styling, water-cooled motor, semi-active and modern electronic options. 2019 R1250RT replaces the 1200 with bigger 1254cc ShiftCam motor, more power and torque, updated electronics.…

REPLACING THE FJR1200 in 2001, the FJR1300 was an instant hit thanks to its sporting ability and practicality. More than 120,000 units were sold worldwide during its 20-year lifespan. But unlike rivals, Yamaha refused to stand still with the FJR’s development – and that means the used market has lots of options to pick from. While the range of choice can initially be a bit intimidating, if you know your stuff it is easy to pick an FJR that fits your needs perfectly. So, what are the options? The first FJR (2001) was sold in one format, but in 2003 Yamaha introduced an A model that came with ABS and was sold alongside the stock version. In 2006, the FJR was heavily revised to make it more comfortable (better aerodynamics…

Alpinestars Tech 5 Plasma airbag £699 www.alpinestars.com THE CLAIM “Engineered for ultra-lightweight performance, superior comfort and an ‘invisible’ fit, it provides comprehensive upper body coverage – including the chest, ribs, back, and shoulders – while featuring a Plasma back protector for the optimal blend of comfort, flexibility, airflow and rider protection.” THE REALITY I’ve been using the previous Tech Air 5 airbag for the past four years and it’s one of my favourite pieces of kit: faff-free, easy to use and giving me a level of confidence because of the implied protection. But initial testing of the new Plasma version indicates that the game has moved on in every way. For a start, it’s better to wear. At 1530g, it’s 25 per cent lighter than the previous version and is…

THERE’S NOTHING WORSE than the moment our boots’ waterproofing fails and we feel that awful sensation of chilly rainwater seeping through into our socks. Within seconds it feels like our feet are slopping around in cold soup, and we know we’ll have wet feet all day and spend all night with socks cooking on the radiator and boots upside down hoping they’ll dry in time for tomorrow. Grim stuff, and why reliable waterproofed footwear is such an important part of our kit routine. (I even remember once gaffer-taping a hotel room hairdryer over a pair of sodden boots, taping the switch on then going out for something to eat - at that point I was past caring if they caught fire.) But waterproofing is only half the story. Obviously, our…

TO LIVE UP to its name – a portmanteau of ‘versatile’ and ‘system’ – Kawasaki’s Versys 650 twin needs to be flexible. It’s only when you’ve racked up a few hundred miles across several hours that a bike’s true capabilities – and their compatibility with yours – begin to reveal themselves. As the new custodian of RiDE’s Versys, I’d intended to take a couple of day trips to get acquainted before attacking the 400 miles from Cambridgeshire to the Scottish Highlands to cover a couple of Big Rides for the magazine. However, time and work commitments conspired against me, so I found myself loading factory luggage and pointing the bike northwards. The 1200 miles I covered were a great way to get to know the bike. 1 It has a little…

HONDA HAVE REVEALED a retro-cool CB1000F naked, set to combine old-school looks with creamy midrange, quality running gear and a pretty tempting price. Anticipated to hit UK dealerships from February and priced at £10,599, the F shares most of its core components with the CB1000 Hornet platform, but retunes the package for more laid-back use. At its heart sits Honda’s familiar 998cc inline four -originally derived from the 2017 Fireblade – but heavily retuned for a more relaxed personality. Peak power now sits at a claimed 122bhp at 9000rpm, with an impressive 76lb·ft of torque at 8000rpm. Honda say the focus is more on real-world usability, with improved low-to-midrange grunt. This is always a good move. Cam timing has been revised, and the bike gets a 4-2-1 ‘megaphone’ exhaust. Longer…

LETTER OF THE MONTH Speed, camera, action. Warning? I read with great interest the article about speeding (RiDE, November). The speed enforcement element of traffic policing is now so outdated it can only be seen as a ‘cash cow’. Historically we were told cameras would be placed in collision hot spots. That seemed sensible and would, undoubtedly, offer a degree of prevention. Speeding prevention must be cheaper, more beneficial to road users, and better for the environment. The use of mobile vans and cameras hidden from view is not to improve safety or prevent speeding; it’s about income generation. Instead, why not erect signs stating ‘speed cameras operating here between X-Y times’ then remove it when they’re not? It goes without saying that some will never obey speed limits, but…

KTM NEARLY WENT under with its well-documented troubles; a massive cash injection from Bajaj has kept the wolf at least outside the door, if not all the way from it. The Indian manufacturer now owns 75 per cent of KTM, having previously owned a tad less than half the shares and built most of their smaller road bikes. Bajaj will be building them all now – and the heavily redesigned 390 Adventure R is one of the most anticipated by buyers. The outgoing model was little more than longer-travel suspension and a larger (cast) wheel tacked on to a 390 Duke. It was fine as a light tourer/commuter, but lacking off-road despite KTM’s expertise. The new one’s steel trellis is close to the Duke still, but reinforced for the dirt,…

BEFORE ADVENTURE BIKES bestrode the globe, we needed a tourer for racking up big, comfy miles with luggage and a pillion. Luckily, we had lots of choice: Kawasaki’s vigorous 1400GTR, Yamaha’s redoubtable FJR1300, Triumph’s chunky Trophy 1200, and Honda’s avuncular ST1300 Pan European all boasted gizmos and performance. But BMW’s wheezy R1200RT beat them all at shooming along wrapped in a bubble of still air and exemplary comfort mile after mile. Over time, its rivals petered out – none of the above are still in production, bar the RT. In 2019 it grew to 1254cc, and this year it became the R1300RT with a completely new engine and chassis, benefiting from an evermore head-scratching array of technology, personalisation and optional extras. If there was any competition, the RT would still…

'TRANSCONTINENTAL SUPERSPORT BIKE.’ Kawasaki’s description of the 1400GTR on its launch in 2008 may have seemed odd, but the more you dig into the spec sheet, the more you understand the definition. Heavily based around the ZZR1400, the 1400GTR takes all the top-spec parts of the firm’s hyperbike and, after a few subtle alterations, blends them together in a sporty tourer that is both practical and fun to ride. And best of all for a canny used-bike buyer, generally under-priced in the second-hand market. The GTR uses a similar aluminium monocoque frame as the ZZR, matched to a beefy set of inverted forks (adjustable for rebound damping and spring preload; the shock is the same) and radially mounted brake calipers with a radial master cylinder. That’s certainly a sport-focused set-up…

THE INEXORABLE RISE of adventure and touring bikes has led many to suggest that the age of the sportsbike is a thing of the past or, at best, on its last legs. They’re wrong. Sporty bikes continue to prowl our roads, just in a different form. There are tall-rounders with big power, razor-sharp middleweights, and naked bikes that offer big power and performance that operates in a slightly saner envelope. Yamaha’s MT-10 is a prime example. Granted, this 998cc inline four doesn’t look like a traditional sportsbike. It doesn’t wear a full or even a half-fairing. It isn’t equipped with clip-on handlebars. And there’s no ‘RR’ sticker anywhere on its minimalist plastics. But point this Yamaha at a twisty stretch of tarmac, dip into its considerable well of performance and…

Editor Matt looks back at a decade of fun and fury Ten years ago, as editor of Performance Bikes magazine, my life was steeped in sportsbikes. But the first MT-10 changed all that. Back then, 1000cc superbikes had already reached the point no return: too fast, too expensive, much too much. The MT was different – at a quid under £10k it was accessible to anyone and delivered its ‘mere’ 158bhp with a glorious combination of intensity and accessibility. It was everything I liked in a bike. Strong midrange, decent suspension, lack of electronic faff, and a riding position that agreed with my middle-aged back. Once the Touring Edition came out a year later, I was smitten – every ride combined lunging acceleration with a sense this was also a…

OXFORD ATLAS B-30 ADVANCED BACKPACK £169.99 > www.oxfordproducts.com THE FACTS USED BY Jim Moore, RiDE contributor USED FOR Commuting, touring, runs to the shops, ride-outs USED ON Tourers, sports-tourers, roadsters, nakeds and sportsbikes TOTAL MILES THE CLAIM “The best luggage allows you to explore wherever, whenever. “Our range-topping Atlas modular luggage range can take to the shops or around the globe. Your kit will stay dry and easy to access thanks to its waterproof construction. Just four turns of the roll-top opening creates a watertight seal. “The internal waterproof compartment can be fully removed or even doubled up to keep contents separated, and additional waterproof inserts in 10 litres, 20 litres or 30 litres can be added. “And because it’s built to last, we offer the peace of mind that…

‘Wide range of prices for boots that claim to do the same job’ It’s a wide range of prices for boots that claim to do the same job of waterproof sporty riding. At the bottom of the range, both the Oxford and Richa flatter to deceive with the right protective bracing and features, but both are weighty and neither are particularly comfy – and both leak early in the waterproof tests. The Richa is heavy, and the Oxford is difficult to zip up. The Eleveit is more comfy and waterproof, and arguably more stylish, but costs significantly more. A good boot, but pricey for its performance. The RST is outstanding value for money – equal cheapest, comfy, fairly waterproof – but it’s just behind the Alpinestars which, although it costs…