Indice dei contenuti per 6 November 2024 in MCN

UK-based lightweight electric motorcycle brand, Maeving have been awarded the Simms Medal for ‘an outstanding contribution to motoring innovation’ by the Royal Automobile Club. The honour, named after RAC founder, Frederick Simms, was presented to Maeving co-founder Seb Inglis-Jones at the club's prestigious Pall Mall venue. “As a founder, you very rarely get the chance to sit back and look at the progress that's made because you're so stuck in the business end of making progress and driving that growth,” Inglis-Jones told MCN on the day of the ceremony. ‘These are old school petrol heads’ “This is a huge privilege, and to rub shoulders with the likes of Ariel, and Williams, and to be right now sitting next to the team at Cosworth, it's great to have the privilege of…

The idea of Honda developing a new model in an attempt to compete with the popularity of Royal Enfield would've been laughable just a decade ago, but the Japanese firm are set to bring their 348cc air-cooled GB350S retro to the UK for 2025. And it is set to cost just £3949. The GB350 name already exists in other Honda markets, such as Australia, with the same engine found in a wider CB350 model family in countries including India. When it arrives in Britain, it will go toe-to-toe with Enfield's J-series 350 single family, which currently comprises the Bullet, HNTR, Classic, and Meteor. All four have proven to be big sellers, thanks to their keen pricing and impressive build quality. Although prices are yet to be announced by Honda, the…

Aprilia have taken their already capable Tuareg 660 adventure bike and turned it up to 11, lifting the lid on a hardcore Factory version inspired by the works racer that dominated this year's Africa Eco Race with factory rider, Jacopo Cerutti. This hardcore iteration is set to challenge the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Extreme and KTM's 890 Adventure R Rally, offering a lighter, more focused ride with rally-inspired upgrades. ‘With the Rally, we've taken it a step further’ Cerutti said: “The goal was to make it as similar as possible to the bike with which we won the Africa Eco Race, and I can say we succeeded! The Tuareg was already an excellent starting point for problem-free off-road riding, but with the Rally version, we've taken it a step further, coming…

Ahead of the launch of their Classic 650 twin (see right) Royal Enfield lifted the lid on a new Bear 650 scrambler, with prices starting from a wallet-friendly £6749. With Enfield being the kings of platform sharing, it features the same air/oil-cooled 648cc parallel twin engine as the rest of their 650 parallel twin range, with 47.6bhp on tap at 7150rpm and 41.7lb.ft of torque also arriving at 5150rpm. Torque is increased over existing twins thanks to the inclusion of a two-into one exhaust system, rather than the usual dual exit design. The compact silencer is also designed to reduce weight, coming in at an overall 216kg with 90% of its 13.7-litre fuel tank. Based on the Interceptor 650 launched back in 2018, the motor is housed in a stronger…

KTM don't like to take things easy and despite the Super Duke GT being their relaxed sports-touring option, 2025 sees it gain not only new tech but also a sportier focus with enhanced performance and a sharper chassis. The GT now boasts the updated 1350cc version of the LC8 V-twin. It's identical in spec to the motor that powers the 2024 1390 Super Duke R EVO, which should mean a claimed 187.7bhp with 107ft.lb of torque, although KTM are yet to officially confirm the GT's performance stats. To go with this more powerful engine, KTM have given the GT a centrally mounted ram air intake, redesigned airbox and a wider radiator in a fairly substantial facelift - all measures aimed at ensuring it doesn't lose any performance, which is important…

Shortly after taking the covers off their new, 890cc V2 engine, Ducati have released the first two bikes that it will be powering: the 2025 Panigale V2 and Streetfighter V2 models. Although the new motor offers less power, capacity and torque than the previous generation V2, the big news is a huge weight reduction, with the Panigale V2 S coming in 17kg lighter and the Streetfighter V2 S 18kg lighter than the outgoing models – alongside a more road biased approach to their characteristics. With the Panigale, there's also a slightly less aggressive riding triangle, yet even so, Ducati claim it's only a couple of tenths slower around a racetrack, which should still make it a weapon for trackdays and supersport racing. Both models will feature a monocoque chassis that…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Me aged 14 in 1974. I had fun on a disused aerodrome while my dad flew radio-controlled planes! Guy Martin (not THAT one!) This is my first bike on tour. Picture was taken in Norway in 1985. Finn Simonsen After many years of not being on or owning a bike, this year saw me get my first proper bike. Peter Newell Fourteen years ago, this is me with my ZX-12R. Mustafa Atesel My first big bike, a Honda 250 Dream. Absolutely loved this bike, way back in 1982. Gary Williams This was from my first week on the road. And I am still riding today. Gary Yandell My dad, Stuart Twitchell (who we sadly lost this year), with his best friend Harry Lobley…

‘On the Round Britain Rally’ VANESSA GRUNWALD Back from an eight-day 1750-mile trip on the Round Britain Rally. Set off from Daventry, up through Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, the Lakes and beyond. ‘Got a three-day pass’ AIDAN TOUGH Day one was Norwich via the Yorkshire Dales to the Lakes. Day two we did most of the passes in the Lakes including the Hardknott. Day three was through the Forest of Bowland. ‘It's a family thing’ PAUL WEATHERLY Out on Romney Marshes with my son Callum on his H2 SX. Although I've done around 10,000 miles so far this year, I expect to do another 4000. ‘Summer hits Scotland’ PETER CHISHOLM Summer arrived in Scotland in September! Took advantage of the decent weather with a 250-mile round trip up through Glen Coe.…

‘Sales rising by 40% pa’ Kove are one of motorcycling's fastest growing brands. Established in 2017, the Chinese manufacturer had already exceeded 20,000 units sold by 2021, with sales growing by an average of 40% per year, making Kove China's fourth biggest producer of bikes over 400cc. Unlike many of its rival Chinese brands, Kove hasn't as yet ventured into the small capacity scooter and commuter markets, preferring to concentrate on building a reputation grounded in exciting, sporting machines. The strategy is already beginning to bear fruit. Kove 450 Rally EX machines won eight stages and the overall championship in the 2024 Taklimakan Rally season, and the company are already preparing to enter a team into the 2025 Dakar Rally with James Hillier in the saddle. The brand are making…

THE FACTS ‘Yamaha designed a brand new 749cc inline four for the OW01’ In 1988 a new race series began that very quickly started to gain momentum – the World Superbike Championship. Conceived as a showcase for production-based bikes to demonstrate their prowess on track, the main draw was not only the fierce racing, but also that the machines you saw on track were the very same ones you rode to the circuit on. Or at least they looked the same. But then, as is always the way with racing, manufacturers found a way to bend the rules through homologation specials. With both Honda and Ducati stealing a march on their rivals with the exotic RC30 and 851 (which were developed for the similarly production-based FIM Formula 1 championship), Yamaha…

FIRST RIDE BMW's R1300GS Adventure is an impressive machine, continuing the trend set by its predecessors of being not only capable and comfortable over long distances, but also friendly and easy to manage too – whether that be smashing miles with a pillion and a load of luggage or tackling your local green lane. The standard model impressed in our test last week, but it didn't truly blow our socks off; it's an amazing machine, yes, but it's one that doesn't feel far enough removed from the previous 1250. However, when the new Adventure is equipped with a large chunk of the accessory catalogue (including the new ASA system) it takes the big BMW to the next level. Here's why the additional technology is sublime, and worth the additional chunk…

DAY ONE We start off in the city of Copenhagen onto the E20 motorway then turn off and keep to the coast to Vallø Castle. From there, we follow the coast, but head across country towards the town of Næstved for lunch. Then we go back into the countryside and dash across Denmark to complete the loop back to Copenhagen. Then we detour slightly further onto the toll tunnel/bridge over to Sweden and back again. It's worth it for the experience. DAY TWO We join the E47 motorway and head south to the edge of Denmark. We clamber onto the ferry and cruise over to the German coastline where we continue on the motorway into Hamburg (where we are hit by protests and roadblocks). Emerging from the city, we head…

1500 miles ON TEST 4SR Monster Evo gloves £65 Summer gloves are great, thanks to just how comfortable, light and practical they are for those shorter rides. The Monster Evo offerings from 4SR have been spot on for this, packing a good mixture of security, breathability and comfort. Not only do they look smart, but they're easy to get on thanks to the amount of space in the wrist opening but they also feel secure with a big chunk of Velcro to close them, which is reassuring – although for those more spirited rides, a little more armour in the knuckle area would be nice. However, that's not really what they're made for and although summer already feels like a distant memory, there's still the odd sunny day out there…

It's been a roaring good summer with the Monster SP, but now it's time to release it back into the wild to make way for a Bolognese bike with a slightly different beat, but more on that later… After collecting the naked back in May with just 11 miles on the clock, I've racked up the best part of 2000 more, mostly down B-roads with a long trip or two thrown in for good measure. The biggest day was in early September, where I used it to catch up with my family on holiday after I'd spent the weekend at a bike show in Staffordshire. Following an early start, leg one was a 90-mile B-road blast to Uttoxeter, and the SP provided the perfect wakeup call. Sexy shimmy The SP…

Braking just fine The Stash comes with a sweet four-piston radially-mounted front caliper – biting a 240mm single disc – with gold plugs that echo the look of Yamaha's R1 calipers from a few years back. Air-cooled powerplant The mid-mounted air-cooled motor has smart looking cooling fins, and is mounted concentrically with the braced aluminium swingarm. Chain final drive, no gears. Appy technology The bike has a full-colour TFT LCD dash, downloadable smartphone app, bike tracker, keyless remote and cruise control. A boost button gives an extra dollop of short-term grunt.…

WELCOME Wings, they're a thing now, right? Everywhere you look sportsbikes are being festooned with aerodynamics – even small, low-power machines, like Yamaha's R3, are being fitted with aerofoils, canards, scoops and winglets. While I appreciate their place in the engineering class that is MotoGP I don't care much for them on road bikes – and I have to admit that the latest ‘carbon moustache’ on the new M1000RR (page 4) is a bit too much for my tastes. It's mightily impressive that this aero addition creates 30kg of downforce at 186mph, but that's not going to be much use to me on the A47! Although, I had to smile at the weekend when I pulled up outside my local independent bike specialist here in deepest, darkest Cambridgeshire and came…

BMW's S1000R and M1000R head into 2025 carrying a host of revisions. The cheaper S-badged model takes the lion's share, with the naked now packing 168bhp (up from 162bhp). To extract the extra ponies from the 999cc DOHC inline-four, the German marque's engineers have adjusted the geometry of the intake ports and tweaked the fuel mapping. Torque remains the same at 84lb.ft, but a shorter second gear and final drive ratio should give it more punch. Both ‘Drag Torque Control’ (MSR) and ‘Engine Brake’ control now feature as standard on the S1000R. Controlled electronically, MSR stops the rear wheel slipping due to abrupt throttle closure or downshifting. The system makes use of an anti-hopping clutch that relaxes pressure applied to the clutch plates. It also opens the throttle valves within…

Yamaha have given their premier maxi scooter a tickle for 2025, unveiling a refreshed TMAX Tech Max which will be in dealerships from March priced from £14,300. As you'd expect, the new TMAX is all about convenience and practicality, featuring a plethora of useful trinkets including keyless operation (including underseat access), a 110mm electronically adjustable screen, backlit switches, adjustable backrest, heated grips and a heated seat. ‘Cornering ABS and a stack of refinements’ The biggest addition, however, comes in the form of cornering ABS that can meter available braking force based on lean angle thanks to an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). As with the 2024 model, there are switchable ride modes and traction control in place to restrain the scooter's A2 licence-compliant 47bhp. Accompanying the shift to Euro5+, Yamaha have…

KTM are adding to their 990 Duke family with a more focused R, ready to go up against the sportiest of mid-sized super-nakeds. Building on the £12,999 990 Duke, which arrived at the beginning of 2024, the R adds more power and features a new colourscheme inspired by the 990 Super Duke R V-twin from 2011-13. The 947cc parallel-twin engine has been tweaked to extract an additional 6.9bhp courtesy of new mapping. Overall punch now sits at a claimed 128.2bhp, with a healthy peak torque of 76lb.ft achieved at 10,500rpm. Weight remains as before at 190kg. ‘The twin's been tweaked for an extra 6.9bhp’ The bike has a landscapemounted 8.9inch TFT dash, with new switchgear for cycling through the connectivity, navigation, riding modes, and more. ABS can be deactivated at…

More details have been released about the 2025 Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show and we are delighted to be able to reveal an all-new feature that will see Henry Cole and Friends take to the stage at London's ExCel on February 14-16. The new concept will see Henry and riding chums Allen Millyard and Guy Willison on stage at various times throughout the three-day event to regale fans with stories, reveal hilarious outtakes and share unseen footage from TV's longestrunning bike series, The Motorbike Show. You're guaranteed plenty of laughs, top tips, and much more. Creations come to life Legendary engineer and MCN contributor Allen Millyard, best-known for his Viper V10 bike, will bring one of his amazing two-wheeled projects along to the London Show to wow the crowds. Not…

The OW01 entered the world championship during one of its most competitive times. Ducati and Honda were leading the way with the 851 and RC30, the Kawasaki ZXR750 was coming of age by the end of 1991, and Bimota were still winning races with the YB4 (which was powered by an FZ750 engine) in 1989. However as an ‘over-the-counter’ racer, the RC30 was the OW01's main rival as it was also a bike that privateers could buy and convert into a race-winning package. Who won the battle between the RC30 and OW01? Aside from its two factory-backed WSBK titles, the RC30 was the more successful racer in privateer hands.…

MachineArt Avant Fender Extender £74.90 I've used an Avant on an R1200GS, R1250GS, and now the R1300GS, because they're so good that you'd be mad not to fit one. The increased area (6in longer and 1.25in wider than the fender) makes a significant difference to the amount of detritus being flung from the front wheel straight into the BMW's big flat front engine plate. The fit is absolutely perfect, too. Simply add the protective film to the fender, slide the Avant into place, and tension the two gripping retainers – one on each side. And that's it. No drilling, cutting or sticky pads. And that also means that you can remove it and reuse it without leaving any marks or damage. 3750 miles ON TEST Quality Value www.nippynormans.com…

It doesn't take a genius to work out that the CBR600RR is a focused, rider-centric machine. And yet, over the last 5000 miles, it has proven to be a frugal filtering dream – demolishing big rides and commutes while achieving more than 50mpg when you aren't pushing. Yes, it gets heavy on your wrists on the motorway, but daily life has been fuss free. The next task I was keen for it to perform was carrying a pillion. The thin passenger perch and tall pegs would clearly make it an odd choice for a few weeks away in Europe, but I wanted to investigate its ability to perform short jaunts to and from town, as well as the occasional weekend run to a café. For this, I roped in the…

A two-year deal provides you with great security… “I now have one year on the existing V4 R – which I still believe is a competitive package, one which we must work on to try to improve in any way we can – and then one year with the brand-new 2026 V4 R. “I look back and I left PBM in 2018, and missed the chance to be a part of the new bike which arrived in 2019. We saw the knock-on effect that had on my career, and I had a rocky year or two, with plenty of rebuilding to do. “This time, the timing is right, and there's no other distractions or racing commitments, it's purely about winning the BSB championship.” How can you combat the hard tyre…

Paddock veteran delivers his verdict on Sepang 2024 TOP STORY Jorge Martin has an iron grip on the MotoGP championship and only a mindless act of recklessness can prevent him from being crowned at the final round now scheduled to run in Barcelona (see right). The time has come for Martin to capitalise on his raw speed and instinctive talent to claim the MotoGP title he craves. After an adrenaline-charged Malaysian GP, Martin carries a 24-point lead into the final round after a fast, almost faultless show. Sepang was an epic contest between Martin and entrenched rival Pecco Bagnaia. It was also the first close contact racing between the pair on identical Ducati GP24s in what's been an oscillating, absorbing season-long battle. And it was a weekend during which Martin…

Pedro Acosta was true to his word in Malaysia. Having crashed out of the Sprint in Thailand, the rookie resolved to “understand a top five isn't bad at all.” After a shaky qualifying of 13th, the 20-year old duly delivered, fighting through to challenge Alex Marquez for fourth before: “losing the front in last corner. Then I said, ‘F***, OK, let's not put the race in the bin.’” On an otherwise disastrous day for KTM, with both factory riders out following a lap one crash which brought out the red flags, Acosta proved his credentials again by finishing as the top non-Ducati, and showing plenty of daring during his rise up through the order. “Don't get me wrong, I was pushing to get a fourth position,” he said. But finishing…

There were plenty of reasons for Fabio Quartararo to have endured a torrid time in Malaysia. A new Yamaha engine with more top end expired after a lap and a half on Friday morning, then couldn't be mended. And on Sunday he was collected in a first lap collision with the factory KTMs which forced him onto his spare bike and a used rear tyre for the restart. Yet Yamaha's main man capped a fine late stage of the year with a strong sixth. “We can take positive from all the circuits,” he said, pointing to a significant change with the M1's electronics. “We have a lot of ideas that we didn't try yet and the winter will be really busy.”…

TOP STORY BMW have unleashed a flurry of updates for their 2025 four-cylinder superbike range, with both the S1000RR and M1000RR benefitting from mechanical and cosmetic updates in a bid to stay ahead of the exotic competition. Just weeks on from clinching their first ever World Superbike title with Toprak Razgatlioglu, the German powerhouse have confirmed a multitude of changes across the fleet – with revised aerodynamics, a bump up in electronics, and even more power for the M model in a bid to retain that WSBK crown. Six additional brake horsepower have been extracted from the M1000RR's 999cc four-cylinder motor, bringing the total to a claimed 215bhp as BMW strive to keep Nicolo Bulega's Ducati Panigale V4 R at bay. These gains have been achieved via newly designed full-shaft…

‘Track kit includes an Akrapovic can’ HIGHLIGHTS ● Based on F3 RR supersport ● 157.8bhp @ 13,500rpm (race trim) ● 14kg weight reduction ● Limited to 300 units Boutique brand, MV Agusta have launched their most extreme supersport machine to date, announcing a short run F3 Competizione based on the £21,700 three-cylinder F3 RR. The track-focused triple will be limited to just 300 units and will be built by hand at the firm's Varese factory. The F3RR it's based on arrived for 2022, featuring sidemounted winglets plus a new IMU, ABS, and single-sided swingarm. These wings remain and generate a claimed 8kg of downforce at the front end at around 150mph. Despite already being light, the Competizione is said to weigh 14kg less than the RR and comes with a…

HIGHLIGHTS ● 37.4bhp @ 8000rpm ● 27lb.ft @ 6500rpm ● 920mm (890mm SM) seat height ● 151kg kerb (154kg SM) ‘It's a bike that looks to tick all the right boxes’ Suzuki are stepping back into the small-capacity singles market with a DR-Z4S trailie and DR-Z4SM supermoto. For decades, Suzuki's ‘old as the hills’ DR-Z400 maintained a healthy fan club among trail riders, supermoto enthusiasts and round-the-world adventurers and now, finally, it's undergone a ground-up refresh to bring it into the 21st century – gaining fuel injection and a six-speed ‘box. Both machines appear almost identical at first glance - barring the obvious difference in wheel size, but the differences go deeper still, with the S featuring longer-travel suspension and different electronics – including the ability to fully disengage the…

Just days after the launch of their Bear 650 scrambler, Royal Enfield have pulled the covers off a new Classic 650 upright – again powered by the firm's tried and tested air/ oil-cooled A2 licence friendly parallel twin. The Classic's arrival takes Enfield's army of twins up to an impressive six, having started with just the Interceptor and Continental GT back in 2018. This latest offering is also the second in the current UK range to bear the Classic name – following the launch of the air-cooled Classic 350 single back in 2022. This line-up looks set to spread further too, with Enfield using the bike's arrival to announce the ‘Year of the Classic’ before further promising to introduce more: “Formats, flavours and expressions of the Classic through the year.”…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? Only a few months ago, Ducati released news that their Superquadro twin-cylinder run would be coming to an end; a configuration that has been around in one variation or another for over 30 years. It powered the likes of the 748, 749, 848, 899, 959 and the current Panigale V2, but it's not the end of the road for the V-twin - more the beginning of a new one. For 2025, Ducati will be using a new 890cc V2, which will make a claimed 120hp at 10,750rpm, alongside 68.8lb.ft torque at 8250rpm. At 54.4kg it's the lightest twin to ever make its way out of the Bologna factory's doors. For the eagle eyed among you, you will notice that that's 30 horsepower and 9lb.ft torque less…

Schuberth E2 £614.99 Lifting the lid on late-season deals There's never a bad time to invest in a new helmet, after all it's where all the decision making takes place when you're out for a ride, so it should be as pleasant, comfortable and safe a place to be as possible. Now could be a particularly good opportunity to upgrade, however, as we're starting to see some tempting offers on helmets certified to the latest, and more stringent, ECE 22.06 standard. We've picked the cream of the crop from across the board, with a deal to suit every budget. Schuberth's E2 is the epitome of versatility, as a flip-front adventure lid with an adjustable peak and integral drop-down sunshade. It comes ready for the firm's Bluetooth intercom, with speakers and…

JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS • Tues-Thurs 10am-4pm, Friday bike night until 9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm • Whitwell, Reepham, Norwich NR10 4GA This isn't like your normal railway station. Sure, it's got trains, tracks, a museum and plenty of history, but this one also hosts one of the biggest and best bike nights in the region. Mike Urry, a rail enthusiast, bought the station after selling his previous business, turned it into a charity and worked the derelict site back to its former glory. Tracks were replaced, buildings made usable, and a steam train was rented for the opening event in 2007. Ever since, Mike has been looking for things to bring people in, whether it be Lindy Hop lessons, NYE parties or Sunday…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday November 6 BIKE MEETS ■ Amici Coffee Biker Night, Girtford Bridge, Sandy, Bedfordshire www.amicicoffee.co.uk ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ The King Billy Rock Bar, Bike & Burger Night, Northampton. 6.30pm Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe RIDEOUTS ■ Burgess Hill & DMC, Station Road Car Park, Burgess Hill, Sussex…

HONDA KOVE…

‘The pipe was barely holding on’ The OW01 was involved in what has become known as the greatest TT race – the 1992 Senior TT battle between Carl Fogarty and Steve Hislop. Foggy was on the Loctite OW01 and Hizzy the Abus-backed rotary Norton NRS588, nicknamed the ‘White Charger’. An epic showdown that saw Foggy start at No4 on the road with Hizzy behind at No19, the pair were almost inseparable over the next six laps, never more than 7.5 seconds apart on corrected time. Trading fastest laps and smashing the existing lap record, all while their bikes struggled to hold together as the pair pushed them way past their limits (Foggy's exhaust was barely hanging on by the end of the 228-mile race), it was incredible. Although Hizzy won…

DREAM RIDE DENMARK ‘Like riding on water’ Erected in 2000, the Øresund Bridge connects Sweden and Denmark, unusually the crossing dips below the surface of the water into a tunnel via a man-made island, used in case of emergencies. Stretching 9.8 miles, it's a costly way to go at around £50 for a return crossing, but the experience it provides and the views you see are nothing short of stunning, making it a must-ride road if you're touring the area. ‘Everyone does Spain and the Pyrenees, we thought we'd do something different…” If that doesn't sound inviting, I don't know what does. This irresistible invite from Suzuki involved spending three days touring Denmark, Germany and Holland then returning to the UK. With no more info than that, there's nothing for…

500 miles ON TEST Richa Titan 2 £159.99 “Aren't you going to put a proper jacket on?” my wife asks as I take one of our nippers out for their first pillion ride, “You don't look safe.” It's a fair comment when a black hoody is something I often wear during the day. But this is far from riding in boardies and flip-flops in summer. This discrete, vegan-friendly zip-up jumper with its detachable soft shell hood also packs an impressive AA safety rating and D30 Level 1 shoulder, elbow and back protectors into its thick, poly-cotton fabric. As far as riding kit goes, it's the real deal. Waterproofing? Forget it. And while the fabric is as windproof as a sieve it can get hot on warm days when you're moving…

Chigee AIO-5 Play Smart Riding Display £305 After wrecking two iPhones due to excessive vibrations on my bike, I decided to invest in a more rugged display unit. I chose the Chigee AIO 5 Play, which offers Apple CarPlay, allowing it to handle everything my phone did, but with much more durability. The unit comes with a 5in touchscreen, a universal bar mount, and two power options. You can either connect it to your bike's battery or, if you have a USB port (as on my Royal Enfield Himalayan 450), you can power it that way. Setup is simple – you pair the screen with your phone once, and it connects automatically every time you start your bike. No need to pull your phone out! 5000 miles ON TEST Having…

It's been a long time coming, but the Vmoto Stash is finally here and we've spent a few days living with one around the streets of south London and Surrey. Vmoto is the firm behind the biggest-selling electric two wheelers in the UK in recent years but up until now, the focus has been on utilitarian urban mobility – battery-powered scooters for delivery riders and commuters. The Stash is different, it's a ‘proper’ 125cc-class learner-legal bike with a motorcycle-style chassis, sleek full fairing, high equipment level and surprisingly decent performance. In its natural environment – city streets – the Stash works well. The 12bhp electric motor (with a 19bhp peak ‘boost’ output) gives torquey, instant drive away from the line, and the lack of gears, clutch or automatic transmission means…

Going behind the headlines in the 2024 WSBK paddock TOP STORY Almost three decades on from his own racing career being curtailed through injury, team boss Shaun Muir can call himself a World Champion. In a season that featured a terrifying crash for his star rider Toprak Razgatlioglu, there have been the most spectacular ups and petrifying downs in World Superbikes. Team Principal Muir took time out with MCN to reflect on the journey. You've done it at last, how does it feel? “I'm still trying to get my head around it! Next year we'll be defending Champions and will run the #1 plate. What makes me proud of my team is bringing them through the bad times. I've juggled sponsors and tried to keep harmony in the camp. Imagine…

ROUND 19 SEPANG | MOTOGP The Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya looks set to host the final race of 2024 on November 15-17 after devastating floods destroyed many towns in the Valencia region of Spain, including those around the Ricardo Tormo Circuit itself. Series owners Dorna initially indicated they planned to plough ahead with the final round at the original venue. But that possibility made many in the MotoGP paddock uncomfortable, with a current death toll in the hundreds and poised to rise further, while thousands of homes have been affected and many destroyed. Marc Marquez stated it would be “unethical” to race there, even if the event date was delayed. And reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia went one step further, stating “Even at the cost of losing the title, I'm not willing…