MCNの 13 August 2025 の目次

‘You must evaluate the whole situation’ GLENN IRWIN LATEST, P66 BSB Glenn speaks… BSB 2025 has had more drama than a TV soap opera, and most of it off-track. With the shock news last week, shortly after MCN went to press, that Glenn Irwin would be returning to Thruxton not on his PBM Ducati but instead as teammate to Kyle Ryde on a Nitrous Competitions Yamaha, fans were left scratching their heads. While it was brilliant Glenn had recovered from his injury well enough to be back in action, we were all left feeling a bit confused as to why he’d split with the PBM team with whom he’d enjoyed so much support and success. MCN’s Josh Close caught up with Glenn at Thruxton to hear his side of the…

Stunt sensation Jonny Davies is gearing up to attempt not one but two Guinness World Records, as he prepares for a return to high-speed antics at Elvington Airfield aboard a modified Kawasaki ZX-10R. The British rider, who previously held the accolade of the world’s fastest handlebar wheelie (known as a ‘high chair wheelie’), is plotting a comeback attempt on that very record – while also launching a new assault on the fastest speed riding backwards. Davies is aiming to achieve 135mph on the high chair wheelie, then for the second record he will be aiming to ride his motorcycle at 160mph – while facing the wrong way! Just last year, he bested the record for the ‘Fastest speed being dragged behind a motorcycle’ using a supercharged Kawasaki H2 SX, which…

SAVE £5154 £20,495 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE Kawasaki’s big blown super-cruiser seamlessly combines mind-blowing amounts of effortless grunt with all-day comfort. Despite its weight, the H2 tourer also handles superbly – and this being the bells-and-whistles, electronically suspended SE version, its unflappable handling qualities are only amplified further. www.hysidemotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £2151 £7699 Aprilia Tuono 660 Combining sweet handling with plenty of go, the mid-sized Tuono is plenty of bike for any occasion. www.onyerbike.net ● Engine 659cc ● Power 94bhp ● Weight 183kg ● Seat height 820mm SAVE £1851 £12,999 Moto Guzzi Stelvio Characterful, comfortable and packing bags of charm. If you fancy an adventure bike that goes against the grain, here it is. www.thepotteries.co.uk ● Engine 1042cc ● Power 113bhp ● Weight 246kg ● Seat height 830mm SAVE £1709…

Joey Dunlop wins F1 round at Ulster New pollution-busting mask on sale Lawson to quit King Kenny squad? Dunlops on top The Ulster GP was dominated by the Dunlops in 1990. Joey ruled on his 750 Honda and Robert was right behind him on a rotary Norton. Joey decided to replicate his actions from Portugal and opted not to refuel while Robert had to stop to quench the Norton’s thirst. Robert also came second in the ‘King of the Roads’ Superbike race, losing out to the great Steve Hislop who got the new lap record at 123.35mph. ‘Just like 40 a day’ A mask was designed for commuters and couriers as pollution fears grew. Respro used an MOD approved filter designed for use in germ warfare. After all, being in…

A new discount scheme has been introduced to get young people into motorcycling. ‘Try Ride’, from the National Young Rider Forum and Phoenix Motorcycle Training gives first-timers bike riding experience for as little as £20. It’s aimed at 16-24 year-olds yet to take their CBT and comprises two online modules followed by a ride. Normally £40, a £20 refund is offered to the first 300 to complete both sessions. Head to newriderhub.net/try-ride/ for more.…

Airoh Commander £189.99 Gear up with summer deals The back end of the popular riding season often throws up some excellent deals on bike kit as retailers seek to capitalise on the last of the good weather (remember that?) and clear space on their shelves for fresh stock and new models. That’s good news for keen-eyed bargain hunters and this week, everything we’ve found has at least a third off RRP. Some of it, like this Airoh adventure helmet, is discounted by a lot more than that! The Commander may ‘only’ meet the previous ECE 22.05 safety standard, but it’s a versatile adventure lid that can be worn in several configurations to suit your riding and preference and boasts a drop-down sunshade, removable lining and ACU Gold approval. Goodies in…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com ZEROFIT – KING OF BASELAYERS® www.zerofit.co.uk This is me with my Honda MT50 back in 1988. Shane Bradshaw On the Honda in Saudi Arabia in the mid-1970s. Fred van der Eijk Got me to college and back, unlike the Fizzy I owned until I got so fed up with it breaking down I ditched it. Nick Cleaver My first bike at 16, a 1976 FS1-E. Replaced a year later with an SL125, the same as the one in the picture. Nick Whellens Within five years of the FS1-E and SL125 I was riding the Katana (still own that one). Nick Whellens Neil’s BSA C12. Andrew in control with younger sister Rebecca and Neil on the bike with Keith and me behind. Stephen Taylor…

THE UK’S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite short routes It doesn’t matter which direction you do this route in, the views and roads are just as epic. I keep the coast on my right as I head up through Bempton to continue north for Scarborough on the A165, before heading west and picking up the fast and flowing A170 Pickering road. You have a choice here: carry on to Helmsley for a swoop along the undulating B1257 to Stokesley, or follow me over Rudland Rigg. From Kirkbymoorside it’s narrow up through Fadmoor then opens out as you start to get onto the Moors. As the road hooks left, carry on straight for the off-road Rudland Rigg… 10 miles of dirt road over the top of the Moors. It’s…

What’s happening? For the fourth year, the Wilshire Motorcycle Rally is back and raising money for local charities. Along with a staggering 11 hours of live music (and cover bands aplenty) special guest Josh Herdman (you’ll probably recognise him as Goyle in the Harry Potter films) will be on hand all weekend for pics and signatures. Topped with tattoo artists, great food and drink and even a bouncy castle, it’s sure to be a great weekend. The essentials The rally will be held at the Salisbury Rugby Club (SP1 3SA) and camping tickets are £35 but have to be prebooked. If you want to pop along for the day, then you can turn up and pay £20 on the gate. Under 16s are welcome for free, and bikes and campervans…

‘It’s the best Ninja SX yet’ Kawasaki’s development of the Ninja 1000SX into the 1100 has produced obvious and welcome improvements. The four-cylinder motor already made serious power, so a refocus on midrange performance and delivery at cruising speed has tweaked an already excellent sports-tourer into an even more effective package. The new option of SE spec further enhances the SX’s appeal, particularly to those looking for a machine with a premium feel, as well as increasing the 1100’s model range to eight different specs (with the 1000 still sold new, the Ninja SX range now totals 12 different options). For those buying new, the 1100 is the one to go for. Not only is the engine better for the role, but the differences between the non-SE spec 1000 and…

@bennycclarke Long-time cruiser admirer looking to explore new riding experiences. I have never claimed to be a particularly fastidious motorcycle owner. My approach to cleaning and maintenance is – and always has been – built around a laissez-faire, light-touch, less-is-more philosophy of my own creation. Do I flirt coquettishly with full-blown neglect? It has been said. But I always swoop in with a bucket and sponge - like apology flowers behind my back - before any real damage is done. The main thing I wish to convey here is that all of my personal and long-term test bikes over the years have received exactly the same treatment – the same frequency of washes, the same level of anti-corrosion treatment (although the products have been various) and the same outdoor but…

Wind back 30 or so years and mirror polishing was all the rage – and the average GSX-R was sporting a frame so shiny you could see you face in it. Then there was the other extreme – those owners who decided to go down the powder coating route and treating their stock frame to a new colour. I have a vague recollection of a certain Kawasaki KR-1S with a black frame as it attempted to become some sort of ZX-RR MotoGP replica… enough said about that, the better. These days, the trend has swung back the other way, so owners are looking to restore anything that’s been polished back to somewhere near factory. But be warned, this sort of polishing is also highly addictive. Hours pass and your dinner’s…

Previewing MotoGP’s return from its summer break 1 More of the same Despite there being just three left-hand corners at the Red Bull Ring, it’s hard to look past Marc Marquez extending his ridiculous run of form this weekend. The runaway series leader has done the double at the past five rounds and heads to a circuit where Ducati have dominated even before they perfected the Desmosedici and perched themselves on top of the mountain. Aside from Miguel Oliveira’s win in the 2020 Styrian GP and Brad Binder’s Austrian GP success in 2021, Ducati have won every race since the circuit joined the calendar in 2016. Andrea Iannone, Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo and Pecco Bagnaia have all been victorious. The only man to really put up a fight against those…

Braking challenges The first significant braking zones come at the Complex section – a series of corners which offer a rare overtaking opportunity on this high-speed circuit. Riders must decelerate sharply into Campbell before navigating the left-hand Cobb and accelerating out of Segrave. Smooth braking and throttle control are critical through these first corners to set up a good lap. Over the other side of the circuit, Church is arguably the most important corner on the circuit. Riders must brake lightly while maintaining max speed through this fast and bumpy right-hander. A clean exit here is essential for carrying momentum onto Brooklands Straight, where bikes reach top speeds of around 190mph before braking hard for the Club Chicane – the final passing opportunity on the lap. Race-proven tech HEL Performance…

Reporting direct from the BSB 2025 paddock ‘I’m enjoying riding, and I’m loving being in this team’ Yamaha may have extended their winning streak at Thruxton last weekend but AJN Steelstock Kawasaki’s Christian Iddon and Max Cook certainly made those on the R1 work hard for it. It was another impressive display from ‘Team Green’ as both riders picked up from where they left off at Brands Hatch last month. On the Saturday it was Cook who put on a show for the fans. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind watching Race One that Cook was desperate to finally claim his first win in British Superbikes. He was aggressive, fast, sideways, and, truth be told, riding on the absolute edge with several scary moments. Whether it was his front…

‘So much going on off-track…’ I’m pleased we still get to go to a circuit like Thruxton for BSB because it’s so unique, different and super-fast. If you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s it. You can do everything right, record the fastest lap or whatever and still end up fifth and question what on earth happened. You’ve got to get the timing right, and risk everything in those final two laps. Push, push and push. I’m pleased for Danny Kent. His demeanour has changed a little bit now and he has the bike how he wants it. From the outside looking in, it didn’t look much fun for him earlier in the year but it looks like they’ve turned a corner and suddenly he’s third in…

Both bikes were shown in action during the ‘CB Special Run’, where they were joined on track by a heavily modified Moriwaki Engineering version of the CB1000F concept and the RCB1000 endurance racer. The Moriwaki is a modified interpretation of the base bike designed with racing in mind. It features a more aggressive riding position via low-mounted handlebars and rearset foot controls, plus a revised seat and bodywork. Braking is upgraded to Brembo calipers complemented by slotted discs, while an enlarged radiator improves cooling. There’s also a belly pan and aftermarket exhaust, and suspension modifications are likely too for track action.…

A pair of motorcycle adventurers are preparing to resume their global journey, riding two Honda CG125s from Zambia back to the UK. Tom Gould and Lauren Board set off in December 2023 and travelled south through 22 African countries. After 326 days on the road, they reached Zambia, covering close to 23,000 miles. “It was six months, or 186 days and about 17,000 miles to get to South Africa,” Gould told MCN. “Then we did another five months, the majority in South Africa, before ending the trip in Zambia. So just shy of 23,000 miles.” They plan to fly back out in mid-September, with a brief detour to South Africa for tyres, before continuing north towards Kenya over the course of around three months. From there, the pair will either…

Who says send-offs have to be gloomy? A Lancashire man has created what could be the world’s only superbike-powered hearse outfit, built to give sportsbike fans the ultimate send-off. Darren Abey, the man behind Superbike Funerals and Only Fools & Hearses, has spent around £30,000 developing a one-of-a-kind Suzuki GSX-R1000 K4 hearse rig – complete with a bespoke sidecar built for a coffin. “If somebody who rode sportsbikes wants to go out in style, it’s ideal,” Abey told MCN. “It’s totally bespoke – it’s never been done before. I don’t think anybody will build another.” ‘It’s different, it’s colourful, it’s not morbid’ Originally built to Superstock spec, the 1000cc Suzuki was then adapted with leading-link forks and significant other chassis mods. “It’s been hard work to be honest with you.…

RST Spectre Air £109.99 RST have unveiled their new 2025 urban range, including this lightweight mesh jacket called the Spectre Air. It has a single A CE-certification with a focus on staying cool – huge K300 mesh panels cover most of the torso. It’s available in four colours, just in case this silver option is a bit too ghostly for you. www.rst-moto.com Alpinestars CSF T-shirt £29.99 The new Alpinestars autumn sportswear collection includes several bold, new product designs including this CSF (cut sew fit) T-shirt with its eye-catching, blue logo across the front. Complete the factory look with hats, hoodies, sweatshirts and accessories, all available now. gb.alpinestars.com DJI Osmo 360 £409.99 DJI have entered the 360-degree camera market with the Osmo 360, featuring 8K/50fps video, a 1-inch sensor, and 100-minute…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘What a 24 hours!’ Last week, I made the last of the Joey25 celebrations in Ireland, over a 24-hour ride there and back. I’d already been to Ballymoney for the Joey25 in May and Estonia for the rideout. I got the ferry in Liverpool, after a six-hour ride from Canterbury, overnight on the ferry to Belfast, from there I rode for 90 minutes to Ballymoney. Spent the day at Bishopscourt with the likes of McGuinness, McCallen, Gary Dunlop, Roger Marshall, Danny Kent to name but a few and of course enjoyed the last time Joey’s bikes will be on track together. What a 24 hours! Gerry McCorriston, Canterbury With the summer very much upon us, Zerofit are now offering the winner of the weekly MCN Star…

It’s been a busy few weeks, what with my regular filming at Henry Cole’s place, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and sorting the Nemesis. Goodwood was especially cool this year because I was invited to take my RC374 Honda Six replica up the hill. Just two days before, the Goodwood crew phoned me and said: “Jim Redman is there and he’d like a bike to sit on, and you can run it up the hill too, if you like?” That’s the sort of invitation you don’t turn down. It was a scramble to get it ready with only two days to prepare before the bike moving company collected it. I charged the battery, checked the spark plugs and fuel system… but I couldn’t do a comprehensive service because I can’t…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday August 13 BIKE MEETS ■ Lancaster Bomber, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, Spilsby, Lincs £5 a bike. 8pm Facebook: Lincolnshire Bike Nights ■ Sycamore Cafe, Great Billing, Northamptonshire 4pm-9pm ■ Chequered Flag, Darley Moor, Derbys 5pm-9pm darleymoorcentre.co.uk/chequered-flag-cafe/ ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Wheels Cafe, Sykehouse, South Yorkshire 5.30pm-8.30pm 01405-5785635 ■ Seaways, Fridaythorpe, East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ Loomies, West Meon, Hants. Until 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ English Riviera Bike Night, Paignton, Devon £2 cash only 6pm Facebook: English Riviera Bike Night ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe ■ Brit Bike Night, Ace Cafe, London 6pm www.london.acecafe.com RIDEOUTS ■ Burgess…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop ‘Piston power’ RICHARD FLEMING This shot of the FireBlade was taken while we were at the Piston Club by Jake the Canon Guy photography. ‘Spanish sun… in Scotland’ DAMIAN MCAFEE This is the Loch Ruel Viewpoint on the A8003, Scotland. The best part is we had some Spanish-stye weather too – what’s not to like about that? ‘Annual trip’ PETER IRELAND Scotland 2025, the annual long weekend to see my eldest brother’s place of rest. A brilliant weekend dodging the rain and having the best times on the bikes. ‘Bus stop hopping’ RUTH CLARKE One from when I was out I was exploring Kevin McHugh’s art on bus stops around Fermanagh. ‘The big rock’ GARETH BAILEY This was on a bike tour…

Joey Dunlop needs no introduction. The two-time MCN Rider of the Year winner had such an illustrious career over a truly incredible timespan, that he was first nominated in 1984, and then again in 2000 - the year he both achieved so much, and also lost his life. Joey’s trophy cabinet is nothing short of legendary, with achievements that include 26 TT wins, 24 Ulster GP wins, 13 North West 200 wins and five consecutive TT Formula 1 world championships. But domination of a sport doesn’t automatically make you beloved in the eyes of the wider public; in fact, quite the opposite can be true in some cases. So why was Joey so loved by so many? And what made him so different from all his rivals? Born into a…

Starting with the older bike, the 1000SX comes as a base Ninja SX – i.e. with a stock Kawasaki pipe, no panniers, and a base spec. Prices start at £12,149 for the metallic black, silver or grey options; other colours are £200 more. Next in line is the 1000SX Performance, which gains an Akrapovic end can, frame sliders, a gel tank pad, a TFT screen protector, plus a two-tone seat. Prices for the Performance model range between £13,149 and £13,349 depending on colour. The 1000 SX Tourer starts at £13,299, rising to £13,499 with colour options. Upgrades over the base model include colour-coded 28-litre panniers, a taller screen, heated grips, phone mount, 12v outlet and a TFT screen protector. The 1000SX Performance Tourer comes with all of the above extras…

For the last three years the Classic TT races have been run under the umbrella of the Manx Grand Prix, but for 2025 they revert to the standalone event we enjoyed so much from 2013-2019. With the likes of Dunlop, Harrison, Todd, McGuinness, Hutchinson, Coward and Cummins plus others riding some incredible machinery at the event, it looks set to be better than ever. Here’s what you need to know about every race… Historic Junior Classic TT (3 laps) When: 10.15am, Wednesday, August 27 Race Record: Dominic Herbertson (350 Honda) – 1hr05m51.460s, 103.122mph (2018) Lap Record: Lee Johnston (350 MV Agusta) – 21m30.660s – 105.239mph (2014) The three-lap Historic Junior gets race week underway and although previous races saw MV Agusta, AJS, Aermacchi and Norton, this year’s entry is dominated…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 3500 miles ON TEST Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ £399.99 ‘Safety you’ll want to embrace’ Tested by Adam Oldfield for four months No one likes being on the receiving end of a safety sermon – as bikers we already know the dangers out there – and most of us will just crack on with what we’re comfortable wearing. Fancy tech is also tempting, but not if it means shelving your holiday plans or that dream exhaust system. But that’s where Furygan’s Fury Airbag Evolution+ and In&motion have moved the goalposts, letting you buy the jacket at a more approachable price then spread the cost of the airbag brain via a £12 monthly subscription. I was as guilty as anyone, running with whatever foam back…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Get your shine on A simple guide to restoring a brushed-aluminium appearance 1 Remove the unit If you have an older (or perhaps even a retro) machine, there’s a chance you may have something satin aluminium like this swingarm, and over time the finish can start looking a little bit second-hand. But don’t fret, as it’s easy to restore that beautiful brushed aluminium look. To start with, remove the component you wish to work on. 2 Get it stripped Being careful, remove any additional bits that are usually on, or attached to your part. For this swingarm, I have removed everything including the chain guard, chain adjusters and the rear mudguard. This is a great time to give your component the once over, such as inspecting the…

MotoGP tech expert and journalist lifts the lid Technical developments in MotoGP never stand still. New bikes are built over the winter before being continuously updated throughout the season. With half of the 2025 campaign complete, it’s time to analyse how the manufacturers are doing. What are their strengths and weaknesses? And how can they address any issues in the second half of the season? Ducati continue to lead the way, but the GP25 is far from perfect; Aprilia are demonstrating that they have the potential to close the gap; KTM’s financial resources may be limited, but Maverick Viñales in particular is demonstrating how much potential remains. It appears that Honda didn’t have to travel too far to find some initial improvements, but Yamaha continue to ask their riders to…

“I know Glenn is fit to ride, there’s no doubt in my mind, however, I don’t consider him fit to race competitively or fit to crash. On one hand I have Scott who’s fit, riding well and doing great. I wanted him for Thruxton and Cadwell, and I wanted Glenn to return after Cadwell and we’d run two bikes. “I have the bike, there was no problem with any of that. We could build that from our spares, whilst we had a few other avenues we could go down. “Glenn’s absolute priority was to ride at Thruxton, my absolute priority was winning the teams championship and to get ready for 2026. “Having signed Glenn for two years, I didn’t want him to crash or hurt himself. That could have been…

ROUND 6 THRUXTON BSB CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 RAY 260pts 2 RYDE 234pts 3 KENT 170pts 16 Jackson 51pts 17 Swann 32pts 18 McPhee 29pts 19 McConnell 24pts 20 Hedger 11pts 21 Hickman 4pts 22 Todd 1pts 23 Sikkerlerus 1pts BSB POSITIONS RACE 1 16 Irwin G +12.613 17 Swann +13.88 18 McPhee +17.934 19 Hedger +18.151 20 Kerr +24.041 21 Baker +30.173 22 Todd +30.607 23 Davis +38.141 24 Webb +46.259 25 Sikkelerus +46.462 DNF Giannini 1 lap BSB POSITIONS RACE 2 16 McPhee +9.556 17 Hedger +10.744 18 Swann +10.787 19 Kerr +15.344 20 Todd +15.727 21 Davis +20.676 DNF Sikkelerus 7 laps BSB POSITIONS RACE 3 16 Rogers +11.938 17 Irwin G +13.09 18 McPhee +14.076 19 Giannini +20.642 20 Kerr +21.107 21 Todd +28.083 22 Davis +42.118…

Zero have announced the prices of their new, more affordable, entry-level models, the XB and XE. The XB is an all-new, MX-style, AM-licence compliant option which weighs 63kg and costs just £3890. The XE is the slightly larger (101kg), more powerful and faster (53mph versus 28mph) A1-compliant version, and will cost £5590. Go to zeromotorcycles.com to find your nearest dealer. Zed colours-up for 2026 model year Five Kawasaki Z models will get new colour schemes for 2026. The Z500 will come in Ebony/Carbon Gray, Candy Lime Green/Carbon Gray, Graphene steel Gray/Spark Black plus Ebony/Carbon Gray, with the SE also in Pearl White/Ebony. The Z650 gets a new Pearl White option and the Z900 gets Ebony/Carbon Gray, Candy Lime Green/Carbon Gray and Graphene steel Gray/Spark Black, with the SE also in…

GRAB YOUR WELCOME GIFT TODAY Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer America’s Sturgis Rally is usually best known for massed Harley cruisers, but one of the highlights of this year’s extravaganza was a new motorcycle jump world record – again on a Harley. At a special ‘Record Breakers’ event at the historic North Dakota rally, X-Games stunt maestro and former motocrosser Colby Raha, set a new world record for the longest Harley-Davidson V-twin jump when he cleared 205 feet aboard a modified Harley Sportster. The distance, completed at his fourth attempt in front of a crowd of 5000, beat the previous record set by Seth Onslow in 2010 aboard a modified Harley XR1200. Thirty-year-old Raha said afterwards: “This jump channelled the spirit of Evel Knievel, an absolute legend of the…

‘Consider your rights’ For more than a month, a post in a Facebook riding group I belong to has been sparking debate about the legality of a new brand of riding jeans. Several members, myself included, contacted the company asking for proof of certification, specifically the Declaration of Conformity: a statutory document. The company ignored every request, which is never a good sign when safety gear is involved. Later, a new member posted that he had bought the jeans two weeks earlier. After he too asked for the declaration, the company eventually supplied him with the EU type-examination certificate for the jeans. The bigger issue? The certificate was dated after he had purchased and received his jeans. Certification cannot be applied retrospectively, so any stock sold before certification is not…

ON SALE IN 2026 WHAT’S NEW IN TECH Last week we revealed Suzuki’s GSX-R1000R will be making a return for 2026, and while it may look familiar on the outside, there’s a whole host of technical tweaks going on under the skin to catapult the big-bore superbike into the modern age. At the heart of the comeback is the familiar 999.8cc, liquid-cooled, inline-four – now sporting 192.3bhp @ 13,200rpm, with torque figures of 81.2lb.ft @ 11,000rpm. Not only is the bike fully up to scratch with today’s emissions standards, but Suzuki say they’ve enhanced the motor’s durability and tuning potential, too. Although slightly down on power over the old model, the compression ratio actually rises from 13.2:1 to 13.8:1 thanks to revised piston crowns, which now also accommodate larger exhaust…

‘Amazing deals for new riders’ I’ve been up to my ears in numbers making MCN’s PCP supplement. There has been a fair bit written of late about how slow sales have been so far in the first half of 2025 (down a worrying 19.8% when compared to the same six-month period last year) and the deals that are out there display a hint of desperation. But it’s not all bad news, especially if you are new to two wheels. The motorcycle industry faces a perpetual struggle to get new riders onto bikes but if the current crop of finance deals can’t sway anyone who’s already tempted, I don’t know what will! KTM are throwing everything at their single-cylinder models and they are incredibly cheap. The firm has knocked £900 off…

Q ‘Is filtering always legal?’ A friend and I have been debating the legality of filtering on the approach to a junction after he was recently knocked off by a car. The police are prosecuting him, not the car driver who knocked him off. Can you explain it? Morris, email A The starting point is that filtering is perfectly legal. However, filtering past junctions or even open entrances is considered by the courts as inherently dangerous. Therefore, when you are approaching any gap in the traffic where a vehicle could pass through you should stop or slow down to the point that you can confirm that nothing is going to emerge. A judge’s starting point is to consider whether both parties were entitled to carry out the manoeuvre that they…

I dug out my old Gunson compression tester as my Z1 was a bit fluffy on one cylinder -you know when you kick it over, you just feel it, don’t you? So I thought it was best to check the compression. The tester is probably 50 years old – but still does the job. It helps to indicate where the issue might be. First I do a compression test on all cylinders, then add a drop of oil to the cylinder that reads low then test again; if it stays the same then the rings are OK, this could indicate that the valves are leaking. You can tell a lot without taking it apart. Anyway, the Z1 turned out to be fine – I think that because I hadn’t used…

1 August 16-17 Women in Moto The event dedicated to women’s motorcycling is back at Uttoxeter Racecourse (ST14 8BD) this weekend. Tickets are £62 for the weekend, £28 for Saturday or £21 for Sunday, and there will be a whole host of inspirational speakers, workshops, rideouts and more to enjoy! womenmoto.co.uk 2 August 17-25 Manx GP This year, the Manx Grand Prix will be sharing time with the Classic TT from the 20th, so that’s two lots of racing for one! Get a great spot as you line the route and take in some of the best road racing that the island has to offer. manxgrandprix.co.uk 3 August 16-17 Oliver’s Hillclimb Oliver’s Mount Hillclimb is always a cracking opportunity for a weekend of fantastic racing. This weekend is no different…

Tea at the Shee It might be in a ski centre during the winter, but during the rest of the year bikers flock to the mountain top resort for proper grub and a ski lift ride. ● Glenshee Ski Centre, Old Military Rd, Ballater AB3 55X ● www.ski-glenshee.co.uk/Tea-The-Shee-Cafe Glen Café If you’re looking for a venue with a view, then make sure you stop at Glen Café. Sitting Lochside, there are homemade cakes year-round. ● St Mary’s Loch, Selkirk TD7 5LH ● www.theglencafe.co.uk The Green Welly Stop A staple on your way to the highlands popular with walkers, tourists, and of course, bikers. Complete with a shop and petrol station too. ● A82, Tyndrum, Crianlarich FK20 8RY ● www.thegreenwellystop.co.uk…

‘One for the enthusiasts’ Part of me is very pleased to see Buell return because I have an affection for this leftfield brand and I like the fact the latest reinvention remains true to some of Buell’s unique design features. But it remains a choice for Buell enthusiasts only and the SX does nothing to tempt anyone away from a mainstream alternative, and that worries me. So while it rides well, it is basically a 10-year-old design given a fresh lease of life and that makes it hard to justify that £22,500 asking price. The faired Hammerhead machine is even more dated but I think Buell’s future lies with their upcoming all-new performance cruiser, which should spark the imagination of a new breed of riders, not necessarily its heritage models…

‘Desmo450 destined to be a winner’ At £11,245 you’ll pay the usual premium commanded by Ducati’s high-end build and performance, but as with their road bikes, the Desmo450 MX offers solid value for money. The MX feels as special as it looks and oozes quality. The spectacular engine, plastics that don’t look plasticky, big-name components, electronic wizardry and familiar family styling all conspire with the brand’s established pedigree to ensure it will be a winner for the pros on a Sunday, and for owners on any day of the week. I’ll happily admit I want one, but purely to use for supermoto. Ducati and motocross aren’t synonymous yet, but give it a few years… because this bike suggests that’s about to change. THE FACTS £11,425 Ducati Desmo450 MX…

THE MCN TEST THE HOTTEST BIKES EVERY WEEK £15,175 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE 1099cc liquid-cooled DOHC 16V inline four 134bhp @ 9000rpm 234kg kerb weight £13,149 (2024 model) Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX Performance 1043cc liquid-cooled DOHC 16V inline four 143bhp @ 10,000rpm 235kg kerb weight Kawasaki’s litre-class SX has been around in one form or another since 2011. Tweaked over the years to accentuate both the sports and touring aspects of its package the Ninja SX, as it’s been known since 2020, has been updated again for this year with a capacity hike and increased midrange oomph. But is this latest version of an already an excellent all-rounder – that’s more than capable of chomping through mileage-heavy motorway blasts, then turning on the charm when the going gets twisty – a…

£13,149 2021 Ninja 1000SX Performance * £15,175 2025 Ninja 1100SX SE…

MCN’s website has expert opinion and buying advice on hundreds of used bikes, regularly updated and packed with insight. Here are three of the latest – visit motorcyclenews.com for many more reader reviews. 2020-2024 KAWASAKI NINJA 1000SX Owners’ rating A big seller for Kawasaki, most owners on MCN’s website score it highly. There are no real weak areas with the Ninja and most owners agree it is a lot of bike for a reasonable price. 2014-2019 BMW R1200RT Owners’ rating Aside from a few grumbles about corrosion, it generally scores very highly when it comes to reliability. Its strong point is, unsurprisingly, comfort with a near-perfect 4.9/5. 2001-2017 HONDA GOLD WING Owners’ rating The ultimate in luxury, Honda’s Wing is a two-wheeled institution. The flat-six engine scores a near perfect…

What started as a simple rear tyre swap on a Kawasaki Z900RS turned into a brush with disaster, after Japs Motorcycles boss Stephen Fryatt spotted a shocker on the bike’s final drive. “He’d only brought it in for a tyre,” Fryatt told MCN. “I said to him: ‘Mate, your chain and sprockets are knackered. I’d advise you not to even ride that bike – it’s so dangerous.’ “He had a lucky escape – the middle part of the links had fallen off. Once I’d told him, he just limped it back to where he lived – a mile away – and left it until I got the chain and sprockets in.” Several of the naked bike’s chain links had begun to break apart and were threatening to snap at any…

Reporting direct from the BSB 2025 paddock Glenn Irwin and Hager PBM Ducati going their separate ways in 2025 will not have been on anyone’s bingo card. The news shocked everybody. Not only had the seemingly unbreakable partnership come to an end, but Irwin had found a new home in time for Thruxton BSB in Nitrous Competitions Racing. Irwin was now a Yamaha R1 rider, lining up alongside the reigning champion, Kyle Ryde. The surprise split is just the latest story in what has been a crazy year in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship off the track. The BSB paddock is full of rumours surrounding this situation and why it’s taken place. Whether it be the public dispute over Irwin’s injury status and whether or not he should have returned…

‘An antidote to sterile stadia’ Two things coloured Thruxton for me. Neither had much to do with motorcycle racing. First, the moronic death-threats scandal concerning Glenn Irwin’s split with PBM. The words ‘social media’ give a clue to how feebly this should be regarded, the seriousness of such threats also mean the opposite. A 21st-century phenomenon both highly disturbing and deeply pathetic. The second was personal. Scanning for some live info on Saturday the words ‘BSB commentary’ came up with an instant feed. I listened in growing puzzlement. I’m not as hands-on familiar with BSB as with MotoGP, but the names of the interviewed competitors meant nothing. Worse still, what they were saying, talking about “hybrid boost allowances” and compulsory tyre choices for the next day… What? What had happened…

Reporting direct from the BSB 2025 paddock TOP STORY It’s funny how quickly things can change in motorcycle racing. Rewind to the conclusion of the fourth round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill and things were looking extremely difficult for Danny Kent and McAMS Racing Yamaha. They were all at sea after a rough start to the year. Kent had gone from being a presumed title contender to a man with all the weight in the world on his shoulders. They needed to find a cure for their setup woes. Kent needed to perform. Two rounds later and Kent is now celebrating five straight podiums, including an incredible double at Thruxton last weekend. In what was by far his best performance yet in BSB, Kent went to…

“For the whole team, the sponsors and supporters, this is a real shot in the arm. We knew we had turned the corner at Brands, where we made the change to give Danny the feeling he was looking for. “That was the first step in the right direction. We probably should have done it slightly earlier, but we’d tried everything else so it was the last step to try. “Danny was absolutely brilliant this weekend. He showed aggression, he showed that he really wanted this, which is what we wanted to see. He put the hard work in, on his race craft and watching races back to learn. “It’s our first dry wins and double and it’s honestly just what we needed.”…