Indice dei contenuti per August 2025 in RiDE

Welcome to the August issue of RiDE. There has been a change in motorcycle-buying habits over the last few years – we’ve been downsizing. Scores of bikers have been making a choice to buy lighter and buy cheaper, and the result has been a small-capacity revolution. And when you see the price-points of these bikes, it obvious how temping they are. We tested some of the biggest sellers in this issue: the Triumph Speed 400 (£5195), the Honda GB350S (£3999) and Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 450 (£6250 but with haggling potential) and after spending time on all three, it’s easy to see why people are falling in love – they remind us of a time when biking was simpler and more fun. In short, they make us feel younger. Riding any…

The Honda CB1000 Hornet is arguably the bargain of 2025 – with an RRP of £9099 and 150bhp on tap it’s a remarkable deal. But the SP is perhaps even more appealing – it’s £1000 more but gains 5bhp, Brembo Stylema brakes and an Öhlins shock. Honda’s GB350S is also strong value at £3999, undercutting rival 350cc singles from Royal Enfield, and its unshakable spot atop its class sales charts shows customers are jumping on that deal. Other machines with notably appealing RRPs include several CFMotos – the 450NK is just £300 more than the GB350S and has twice the power, while the 675SR-R sportsbike looks a bargain at £6699 and the naked 675NK more so at £6199. Fancy something more left field? Kawasaki’s Ninja 7 Hybrid and Z7 Hybrid…

THE FACTS The route From Cardiff in South Wales, up through the Brecon Beacons, central Wales, Snowdonia National Park, to Llandudno on the North Welsh coast, using only the majestic and winding A470. Why it’s great The A470 slices vertically through the centre of Wales. Variety is the name of the game, in scenery and topography as well as the twists and turns of the road. When to go When the forecast looks good. Parts of the route can be quite bleak in the wet, but when the sun’s out the A470 is truly magnificent to ride. Avoid bank holidays, particularly around Brecon and Snowdonia. Where to visit You’re spoilt for choice. From Castell Coch near Cardiff, the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Park, to a 70mph four-person zip line…

DOWNLOAD THE ROUTE www.ride.co.uk Best for A breathtaking snapshot of Wales’ amazing scenery and topography. Length 185 miles Route From M4 J32 onto A470, to A40 at Brecon (take A40 Brecon bypass to next roundabout, then rejoin A470), Bronllys, Llyswen, Builth Wells, Rhayader, Caersws, Glantwymyn, Cross Foxes Inn, Llanelltyd, Trawsfynydd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Betws-y-Coed, Llansanffraid Glan Conwy, Llandudno. Roads A470, A40, A470, A489, A470, The Royal Welsh Way, Conway Road. Love it because It’s engaging to ride and (mostly) beautifully surfaced. Take a picture at Bwlch Oerddrws, between Dolgellau and Dinas Mawddwy, especially if you’re lucky to capture a jet fighter flying low through the valley. Stop for a cuppa at Terry’s Burger Van. Superb views across the valley, too. TOP TIP Be prepared for low-flying jets through the Bwlch Oerddrws pass.…

Model history Introduced in 2005 with an all-new engine and chassis, the Speed Triple wasn’t just a step on from the previous two generations – it changed the game. Early bikes are the purest in looks, but the 2008-onwards bikes are a bit more refined, have nicer wheels, Brembo brakes and boast a larger pillion seat. A mint, original 2005 model will be a classic. The riding experience The 131bhp is delivered through an ultra-perky midrange, which is why it gained a reputation for being a wheelie monster. Today it feels less naughty but just as effective, with fuelling that feels sharper and more direct than many bikes saddled with ride-by-wire and with Euro5+ to deal with. Handling is tidy, the gearbox crude. Upgrades There is an aftermarket full of…

2004-2005 | £2500-£4500 | 175mph | 146bhp ASK A LOT of sportsbike fans for their favourite machine over the years, many will more than likely say the Suzuki GSX-R750 – and for very good reason. Suzuki combined the philosophy of a 600cc chassis with a 750cc engine that still requires to be worked but also has a decent amount of low-down grunt. It’s why it proved popular for the road compared to the GSX-R1000; you could get more out of the 750 and feel content rather than feel beaten up by the 1000. The 2004 GSX-R750 was a big upgrade for Suzuki. Lighter and more powerful than before, it felt far more advanced and racier, but is still flexible for road riding. It’s aged well, too. Despite being 20 years…

A lot of K4 and K5s have been used on track, so check the bike rides normally from the moment you set off in case of hidden damage affecting the riding dynamics. Check the suspension damps correctly with no leaks, and when applying the front brakes check for a spongy feeling that may indicate moisture in the front master cylinder. Other issues of poor braking performance can be old fluid, incorrect or worn pads, or caliper pistons not working effectively. Get the engine warm, go through all the gears when riding and check for slick operation – any issue you experience with shifting, or false neutrals, could unravel all sorts of problems that will cost you a fair amount of your hard-earned. When going through the gears, wind it up…

THE HONDA CB1000 Hornet has redefined value in the motorcycling world. With a ballsy, grunty engine, neat handling and all the gizmos manufacturers are convinced modern bikers want, it’s been a massive sales success. Forget Chinese-made bikes, this is a Japanese-made performance naked with a Fireblade engine for a week’s shop over nine grand. There are two models of Hornet, the £9099 base bike and the £10,099 SP. We’re testing the cheaper bike, which you can walk into a showroom and buy without a waiting list. But what’s the reality of owning one? Over the past few months it’s been subject to some proper work – firstly in the hands of two-wheel torturer Simon Hargreaves, then myself. This is what we’ve found out… THE FACTS £9099 ❱150bhp ❱211kg MILES THIS…

Name Gregg Jarvis, 57 Bike 2004 BMW R1150GS Total Miles 117,450 Miles per year 5600 GREGG IS A qualified mechanic (he owns a repair business working on bikes, boats… pretty much anything with engines), so high mileage didn’t put him off this R1150GS when he was looking for a bike for his long-planned round-the-world ride. “I bought the bike used a couple of years ago with 80,000 miles on the clock,” he says. “Since then I’ve added nearly 40,000 more on her. I’ve got a Suzuki V-Strom 650 at home as well but this is the one for the long trip – she’s called Gisele.” So, how’s the trip going so far? “I’ve just come out of the far north of Alaska, through Canada and into the US on the Alaska Highway, and…

KOVE ARE INTRODUCING the 800X Rally to the UK market this summer after revealing it to the public at the Adventure Bike Rider Festival. The £9499 Rally (which undercuts even a base model Yamaha Ténéré 700) builds on the existing 800X by stripping unnecessary bulk while incorporating a host of fresh chassis parts to elevate its off-road nature to new heights. It calls on a 799cc parallel twin, with power and torque quoted at 95bhp at 9000rpm and 69lb·ft at 7500rpm. With a quoted fuel economy of 60mpg, that should be enough to see just north of 260 miles before the 20-litre tank runs dry. Suspension has been beefed up considerably over the standard bike – most notably up front where the forks have grown in all dimensions. Kove have…

Q I’M CONSCIOUS THAT I’m not smooth enough when it comes to my riding. How do I improve? Ian Mullen, Gloucester A THERE ARE TWO main culprits that affect smoothness. The most common is not looking far enough ahead, which stops you planning your way round hazards in plenty of time and results in a jerky, inconsistent, stressful and potentially dangerous ride. Typical symptoms of this are braking harshly in town or near junctions when you notice a car appear, grabbing a handful of brake as you’re close to a corner because you’ve realised it’s quite tight, or jinking your bike to the other side of the lane when you see a pothole… basically any scenario where you could avoid the sudden change of speed or direction by seeing the…

BMW’S R12 G/S is a stripped-down, feel-good, road-going dirt bike with an engine that oozes charisma and handling that shines on and off-road. It’s the newest addition to BMW’s R12 line-up (replacing the R nineT), which share the 107bhp air/oil-cooled 1170cc boxer twin engine, tubular steel spine chassis and basic electronic rider aids. The G/S gets bespoke off-road bodywork, fully adjustable long-travel suspension, twin-piston Brembos, a 21in front wheel and Metzeler Karoo Street rubber. It’s the most generously proportioned of all the R12s, making it perfect for taller riders, although with its hard seat and lack of wind protection it doesn’t offer the last word in day-long comfort. The boxer twin is a whirring, metallic cacophony of off-beat throbs and growls that deliver potent acceleration and meaty low-down grunt. Despite…

MUCH LIKE THE big-capacity adventure bike segment, the middleweight class is divided into two categories – those with genuine off-road ability and those with more of a tarmac focus. And of those with an eye on tackling tricky trails, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 is the class leader. Combining the easy-going nature of Yamaha’s CP2 parallel-twin motor with a chassis that is more than capable of taking on the most challenging terrain, the Ténéré 700 is the middleweight adventurer you see out and about exploring the most remote areas of the UK, as well as dealing with a tarmac trip to get there. But it wasn’t perfect – so in its first major update Yamaha have given the Ténéré 700 more road-focused tech, ironed out its weaker design points that serious…

MOTORCYCLE DEALERS HAVE more big used bikes in stock than usual because British bikers are trading in for lighter, cheaper, small-capacity machines – sometimes as their second bike, sometimes as all the bike they need. They’ve certainly been popular, especially as bikers get older and new machines get ever-more expensive and festooned in electronics. They’re also within the power and weight limits for the A2-spec licence as well, meaning newer, younger riders can enjoy them, too. Last year Triumph’s Speed 400 was one of the UK’s best-selling bikes and this year, the Honda CB350S is following suit. But what’s the reality of owning a bike like this – and are they too weedy for normal biking? It’s time to find out… ‘The Enfield is not intimidatingly large, but has a…

IT’S BEEN 20 years since Triumph turned the high-performance naked bike category on its ear with the launch of the Speed Triple 1050. A chunk of the leanest British beef, its sawn-off looks, midrange grunt and appetite for bad behaviour made it about as subtle as a punch in the gob. Powered by a grunty, sonorous 1050cc triple, with a chassis and silhouette that defined minimalism, it still somehow afforded the basics of being a decent road bike, too. Its influence can still be seen today. Back in 2005, the world of motorcycling didn’t really know what it was: sportsbikes were in decline, adventure bikes were starting to rise and big nakeds were somewhere in the middle. They were a mixed bag – many had a sportsbike basis (think Aprilia…

Bridgestone T33 From £350 a set, depending on size www.bridgestone.co.uk THE CLAIM “The Battlax Sport Touring T33 is Bridgestone’s latest‑generation touring tyre, ensuring long‑distance travel and touring under any condition. “It has unprecedented mileage, with a 47 per cent increase in tyre life versus its predecessor, one spec to fit both lightweight and heavyweight bikes, and smooth handling in all conditions.” THE REALITY The old Bridgestone T32 was a pretty decent tyre, but subtle tweaks have made the T33 a great choice for a wide variety of bikes. We tried the new rubber at its world launch in Croatia on a very broad cross-section of bikes and were very impressed with the stability, feel and performance it gave. The new tyre turns with real accuracy at both high and low…

‘Very close test – as you’d expect from six top manufacturers’ As you’d expect from six of the world’s top helmet manufacturers, this is a very close test to call. Topping the scores are the Nexx and Schuberth – hardly surprising as the most premium lids tested. The Nexx is superbly comfortable and a great fit, but ventilation leaves a little to be desired. The Schuberth has better ventilation, and while less comfortable the fit can be tweaked, but not out the box. Both excel at most aspects that makes a helmet great, but the Nexx slightly edges it overall. Giving them a good run for their money is the HJC i80. Another great all-round lid, it seems to suit a particular shape of head – if you have that…

DISRUPTOR IS AN overused word in the 21st century – all but guaranteed to appear in spiel announcing a new product. But Honda’s CB1000 Hornet has genuinely disrupted the new bike market with a performance-to-price balance that’s in a different league to those we’re used to. It’s the most aggressive example of Honda’s new approach to bike prices since the CB750 Hornet entered showrooms three years ago. It’s also been used for the sub-£4k GB350S, and has helped Honda dealers to weather tough times in an industry that’s seen numerous outlets for other brands close. Not only are customers happy with more affordable bikes, but dealers are too as they keep sales up; the fact Honda top the National Motorcycle Dealer Association’s satisfaction survey is little surprise. At £9099, the…

Michael Dunlop has been made an MBE for his services to motorcycle racing in the King’s Birthday Honours List. The Ballymoney rider is the most successful-ever competitor at the Isle of Man TT, having taken 33 wins around the 37.73-mile Mountain course since 2009. He overtook his uncle Joey Dunlop’s record of 26 wins in 2024. This year he also claimed the most podium finishes at the event by a single rider – surpassing John McGuinness’ previous record of 47. This year’s TT fortnight also saw Dunlop take victory for his seventh manufacturer, winning the Supersport races aboard a Ducati Panigale V2, and he broke the Supertwin lap record in on his way to winning both races in the category. “I’ve spent years pushing through every high and low life…

LETTER OF THE MONTH Embrace the pothole I read with interest the recent reader letter over the state of UK roads and how he feels they make motorcycle riding dangerous. While I respect that everyone’s experience on two wheels is different, I must say I couldn’t disagree more. I find the roads in the UK to be perfectly suited for motorcycling. Yes, like any road network, there are occasional imperfections, but they are, in my view, part and parcel of real-world riding. They keep you sharp and engaged, which is what motorcycling is all about. More importantly, I believe that modern bikes, with their advanced suspension setups and responsive handling, are more than capable of coping with whatever the UK roads decide to throw at them. I ride regularly across…

WE WOULD HAVE liked more time on the R1300RT than we had on the press launch: a morning on the Autobahns and back roads of Bavaria. Nice, but BMW’s tourer with a hint of sporty frolics offers so much more. Why only a handful of hours on a bike built to cross multiple borders in a day? Confidence. The outgoing 1250 (and 1200 before that) effectively defined the market: as Honda dropped the Pan European, and Yamaha let the FJR1300 stagnate before opting not to bring it up to newer emissions standards, BMW kept the RT on the ball. Now, only the Honda NT1100 is a remotely similar offering, albeit at a lower spec and price… Sales are assured, like its boxer brethren, the GS. Maybe that’s why it’s not…

HONDA NX 500 The most versatile A2 all-rounder you can buy ❱ £6899 ❱ 471cc parallel twin ❱ 47bhp ❱ 196kg ❱ 830mm seat GREAT FOR MILES Updated from the popular CB500X in 2024, the newly-named NX (‘New X-ver’, apparently) refreshed the CB’s styling and added a TFT dash, lighter wheels, uprated suspension and traction control to the CB’s already flexible, peppy little parallel twin (it also got an ECU tweak for better acceleration). The result is basically the a slightly better version of its predecessor – which is no bad thing because the CB500X was in many ways the ideal A2 bike. At 47bhp the NX makes the most of the A2 power limit, with a surprisingly exciting power delivery that combines excellent, easily manageable manners with enough charismatic…

1994-1996 Speed Triple 900 ❱885cc ❱98bhp ❱60lb·ft ❱209kg dry Based on the Daytona 900 sportsbike, those looks made it an instant hit. It spawned a race series, but was still a heavyweight as standard. Clip-ons gave an aggressive riding position, but backache never looked so cool… 1997-2005 Speed Triple T595/955/955i ❱888cc ❱108bhp ❱62lb·ft ❱196kg dry Now derived from the Daytona T595, there was an all-new engine and aluminium chassis, plus it pioneered the twin-headlamp look. Capacity rose to 955cc with a corresponding name change in 1999. It became the 955i in 2002 – and by then power had risen to 120bhp. 2005-2011 Speed Triple 1050 ❱1050cc ❱131bhp ❱77lb·ft ❱189kg dry Still the most iconic Speed Triple, it boasted more power, torque and capacity than ever before and had a chassis…

AUGUST 2024 SPORTY SUMMER GLOVES Knox Orsa Textile OR4 £109.99 Lightweight, flexible and with a great fit and comfort, these would make great everyday or touring gloves. Confidence is good but could be better. RST TracTech Evo 4 £79.99 Flexible, comfortable despite a slightly baggy fit (try before you buy) and with high confidence, these would suit sportier riders or bikes. SEPTEMBER 2024 ADVENTURE TOURING HELMETS Scorpion ADF-9000 £299.99-£395.99 A great all-round performance, with decent noise figures, fit, comfort and features. And a bargain, with prices starting at less than £300. OCTOBER 2024 LEATHER JACKETS Spada Hanzo £319.99 A lovely jacket with top-line protection, great design touches and stacks of cooling airflow. Also a very nice price. Richa Charleston £389.99 A proper heavyweight jacket, though this disappears when you wear…

The glory of flowing, green French countryside. It’s why we cross the pond TRIUMPH SPEED TWIN 1200 |0|4|7|4|1| MILES UPDATE 04 I LOVE NOTHING more than escaping for a few days and what better place to head to than the stunning Dordogne. But before I leave the Speed Twin needs to be made more touring friendly. The Triumph has a turn-by-turn navigation and phone connectivity if you opt for the My Triumph accessory module. But without ticking that on the options list, the choice was either my trusted scrap of paper with directions on (affectionately known as Ali-Nav) or I venture into the 21st century and use an actual sat-nav. I’ve used my Tom-Tom before, so go for what I know, it’s easy to install and use. I have no…