Innholdsfortegnelse for 10 September 2025 i MCN

‘I wouldn’t say it’s fortunate; I’ve ridden well’ KYLE RYDE ON HIS TRIO OF WINS, P70 SPORT Taking control It’s been a tale of two halves in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this year, as Brad Ray dominated the start of the year with a run of 10 wins from 12 races. But the current champ Kyle Ryde has come out fighting, finishing off the podium just once in the last 13 outings. Donington Park proved that Ryde is very much a force to be reckoned with, racking up a trio of wins – his first triple in the class. The Nitrous Competitions Yamaha rider put on a sensational show over the four races, and goes into the next round at TT Circuit Assen with a 28-point lead just as…

Montesa have announced updates to their 2026 trials range, with new accessories launched and the model line-up changed. Customers will now be able to purchase the Cota 4RT 301RR, Cota 4RT 260R, and 4Ride – with the Race Replica version of the 301RR now discontinued. All three remaining bikes get updated graphics too. The 4Ride has been updated to meet Euro5+ compliance too. Harley Hooligan winners crowned Following four consecutive victories aboard his modified Pan America 1250 ST, factory Harley-Davidson rider James Rispoli has claimed the USA’s 2025 Super Hooligan title after winning both rounds at the double header event at Mid-Ohio. Rispoli joins fellow Harley rider Kyle Wyman who has also tied up the US ‘King of the Baggers’ title aboard a race-prepared Road Glide. Kawasaki cruisers freshen up…

Star of TV’s Casualty, Charlie Dale, has wrapped up his gargantuan tour of UK bike cafés by dropping in on London’s Bike Shed alongside some celebrity pals – and all in a brilliant cause. Charlie embarked on a mission to visit 100 biker cafes within a month to raise money and awareness for the Brain Tumour Research Charity and Headway, in honour of his friend Shaun who passed away after a brain injury. He completed the mission having sampled a total of 103 cafés and has currently raised almost £7000 for the charities and you can still donate using the QR code below. ‘Every café is brilliant in its own way’ “I loved it and hopefully we’ve raised awareness for both charities,” Charlie said. “I’ve met some extraordinary people, and…

These are the latest pictures of Honda’s first full-size electric motorcycle, which is scheduled to be fully unveiled this autumn. Dubbed the ‘EV Fun Concept’ the new middleweight roadster was first seen as a prototype at the 2024 Milan show and has been undergoing rigorous testing on European roads this year – hence the camouflage livery – and is now set to be officially unveiled as a production machine in the coming months. Honda, who supplied the teasers, say the EV Fun Concept is ‘a mid-sized naked equivalent’ with a fixed battery pack and ‘automobile-grade CCS2’ quick-charging compatibility. The pictures also reveal the new machine has a single-sided swingarm with monoshock rear suspension, belt drive, inverted forks with twin discs and radial calipers, a charging dock in the dummy fuel…

Roadskin Rhiannon Ladies gloves £219 These gloves are tailored to fit women’s hands comfortably. Made from premium goat leather, they have touchscreen capabilities and integrated knuckle protection to achieve a KP 1 safety rating (see left). A hook and loop wrist closure and range of sizes from S to XL ensure a comfortable and secure fit. Roadskin.co.uk LS2 Scope II helmet £129.99 This updated flip-front helmet from LS2 is ECE 22.06 approved and has a stronger locking chin bar than before. The removable COOLMAX lining will keep you fresh, and it’s ready to take LS2’s intercom. Has a Pinlock and drop-down sun visor. ls2helmets.com Weise Norvic jeans £159.99 These single-layer jeans are designed to be as comfortable off the bike as they are on it. They are AA-rated and feature…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER IN ASSOCIATION WITH ‘Who needs more power than a 916?’ I have just read and enjoyed your article about middleweight tourers. I am the owner of one such bike, a Ducati Multistrada V2 S. It then occurred to me to consider my bike, and thus similar bikes, in the light of your article on the Ducati 916 (MCN, August 20). My bike produces 1bhp more than the 916! When did people start to imagine they needed more power, on a public road, than a 916? Alec Burns, Northumberland Continuing our partnership with Zerofit – King of Baselayers® – we are changing up the prize for the winner of the weekly star letter. The Heatrub Move Baselayer (£40 RRP) is twice as warm as a…

My youngest son’s got a BSA M21 from 1960 which he’d left in his shed for a couple of years because he’s not had time to ride it. Trouble is, the shed’s been slightly damp so it looked like a barn find when he finally pulled it out! So I said I’d give it what I call an ‘oily rag service’ – you know, the minimum amount needed to get it rideable – I find them really therapeutic to do. Now, the M21 is a 600cc side-valve single based on the M20, which was a 500cc used in WW2; they’re super resilient and can run on anything due to them having low compression (around 6:1). My son’s had his for about 10 years and he said it never fails to…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Stephen Bulpitt The ride Wales to Northern France When to do it Summer How far? 467 miles over four days Tell us about the trip… Considering my daughter was relatively new to bikes and that she was riding a 125 (Piaggio Liberty) on L-plates (so no motorways), our short break in France last summer was quite an experience. After a period of settled weather, on the day of our departure the heavens opened and the rainwater running down our road was as deep as the kerb stones. So, kitted up in waterproofs we left south Wales for the old Severn Bridge where Laura could use the cycle path. Watching her emerge from the clouds on the bridge was the highlight of my day. An…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop ‘New Pit Stop?’ SIMON WILSON Here is a lovely little spot. The White Monk tearooms in Blanchland, near Derwent Reservoir. Excellent food and drinks and surrounded by stunning views and roads. ‘Monster brew up’ EMMA FRANKLIN Enjoying a Ducati Monster of a view with my brew at Hungry Hogs on the A47 in Rutland. ‘Monkeying around’ RICHIE SALT No wind or rain so decided to take the wee monkey out to Kielder for dinner at Falstone Tea Rooms via the military road. Chilled ride through the forest to Newcastleton. ‘Bank holiday sunshine’ CHRIS HOOD Impromptu ride out with a mate today. Some normally dodge Bank Holidays due to traffic, but by avoiding the main roads of East Yorkshire and The Wolds, we…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor Five months ON TEST Roadskin Ladies Easyrider II £149 ‘Cool and casual option’ Tested by Charlotte King for 3500 miles I like to have a casual and comfortable option in my riding wardrobe and this ladies’ version of the Roadskin Easyrider II hoodie fulfils that brief perfectly. The fit is quite relaxed for women’s kit (which is usually quite hugging), and this makes it very comfortable to wear both on and off the bike. The material feels similar to a softshell, with a mesh lining and waterproof membrane. So far I haven’t had the chance to put the waterproofing through all of its paces, but it has kept me dry in light showers so it’s fine for summer rides – and we all…

No wonder Chloe Jones, team owner Brent Gladwin and the rest of GR Motosport were smiling as they dined in Nevers on Sunday. The Daventry rider has finished second in the last four races in the Women’s World Championship, and taken the first British pole position. The 21-year-old’s pre-France test paid off, and more test days are coming ahead of the Jerez finale at the end of September. Yamaha R9 on top of the World The Yamaha R9 has clinched the World Supersport Manufacturers’ Championship in its first season, winning 14 of the 18 races to date. Stefano Manzi’s Magny-Cours wins were spectacular, including an unbelievable save and incredible overtakes on Can Oncu. Alberto Surra podiumed on debut, subbing for the injured Aldi Mahendra, and Tom Booth-Amos is back to…

ROUND 9 FRANCE WSBK CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 RAZGATLIOGLU 469 pts 2 BULEGA 430 pts 3 PETRUCCI 260 pts 16 Gerloff 72pts 17 Montella 64pts 18 Rea 50pts 19 Vickers 30pts 20 Sofuoglu 23pts 21 Mackenzie 20pts 22 Rinaldi 10pts 23 Garcia 6pts 24 Rabat 6pts 25 Nagashima 2pts 26 Zaidi 1pt WSBK POSITIONS RACE 1 16 Bautista +3 laps 17 Vierge +5 laps DNF Gerloff 3 laps, Rea 10 laps, Van Der Mark 12 laps, Mackenzie 14 laps, 21 laps,Montalla, 21 laps Iannone WSBK POSITIONS SP RACE 11 Gardner +14.502 12 Locatelli +14.686 13 Mackenzie +16.067 14 Gerloff+16.219 15 Sofuoglu +22.838 16 Garcia +25.555 17 Rinaldi +25.781 18 Rabat +27.439 19 Zaid +43.358 DNF 1 lap, Bautista 3 laps, Lowes S 4 laps, Vickers 4 laps WSBK POSITIONS RACE 2…

Norton say that, while production of the V4SV superbike and V4CR café racer production has already ended in Solihull, Commando 961s are still being built with all of the last consignment already purchased by dealers. These, however, are still available to the public (while stocks last), with the Commando 961 Sport at £16,999 and Commando 961 CR at £17,499. Norton say they are continuing to offer finance packages and that dealers are also offering collectible last-of-the-line units to a handful of customers.…

GRAB YOUR WELCOME GIFT TODAY Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer The second annual Red Bull Tyne Ride drew big crowds to Newcastle’s Quayside, and saw local lad Billy Bolt clinch victory, pipping last year’s victor Jonny Walker in the final. Thousands gathered at the free-to-attend event to witness the world’s top enduro athletes going at it in urban head-to-head racing. After qualifying, the 16 riders competing battled it out on a dual-lane track designed by trials legend Dougie Lampkin, featuring jumps, a rock garden, logs, shipping containers and a wall ride berm. Five-time SuperEnduro world champion Bolt commented: “It feels so good. I had to watch from the sidelines last year, so it gave me the opportunity to appreciate how big and how amazing this event is.” Second place…

‘Why are 2 KP gloves rare?’ It’s a question people often ask. The EN 13594:2015 standard for gloves defines three performance levels, with many qualifying for the lower standards. Level 1 sets basic requirements for abrasion resistance, tear strength, palm cut resistance, seam strength and restraint (resistance to removal). The cuffs must extend at least 15mm beyond the wrist joint, too. Level 1 KP adds optional knuckle protection but is otherwise identical to Level 1. Then there’s Level 2 KP, which demands tougher performance in all respects, and cut resistance testing extends to the back of the glove. The cuffs must be at least 50mm long. While Level 1 and 1 KP gloves are everywhere, Level 2 KP options are relatively scarce. Why? Part of the problem is design. Many…

Although now aimed at tarmac and trail riding audiences, the new 690’s DNA remains rooted in racing. The platform was originally introduced for the Dakar Rally before a 450cc capacity cap, introduced in 2011, outlawed the LC4. That’s why the frame design features a large trellis structure at the top, with an open lower section of chassis. It was conceived so mechanics could drop out and swap an engine mid-race, without the added complexity of lower frame spars getting in the way. The original 450 Rally KTM introduced following the capacity rule change was essentially a 450 in a 690-factory frock, before a new purpose-built model came along in 2012.…

‘Not invested in Norton’s past’ I have a tricky relationship with Norton, mainly because – like many – I still struggle to disassociate the brand from its former owner’s illegal antics. With this in mind, I have to say I was quite glad to see they are ceasing production of their V4 sportsbike and Café Racer, as well as the Commando 961. For me, these models are tainted by the Garner era and if I’m being brutally honest, it is good riddance. Admittedly I’ve not ridden the Café Racer, but I tested the ‘new’ TVS-era ‘fixed’ V4SV sportsbike and it left me underwhelmed. While it all looks very impressive, the simple fact of the matter is that the superbike game moved on while Garner’s Norton were playing with other people’s…

Q ‘Should I take the £10,000?’ I had an accident in July and was only recently able to return to work. The insurance company for the van driver that knocked me off has made contact to tell me I don’t need a solicitor and they will deal with it. They have paid for my bike repairs and kit and offered £10,000 compensation. This seems reasonable, but do I need a solicitor to check the value of my claim? Frazer, email A It is in the insurer’s interests to pay as little as possible. It is important that you receive the correct compensation. Claimants don’t normally have experience of a personal injury claim, so the insurer may be able to get away with paying less than they should by settling your…

I found a crack in my KDX’s clutch cover which I decided to weld (after discovering it wasn’t actually made of magnesium; I have welded magnesium before, but it’s tricky). Anyway, I’ve got a new R-Tech TIG welder that is fully computerised. Most TIG welders have a million and one settings, but you just tell this one the thickness and type of metal you’re working with and the computer does all the setup for you. When I got it, R-Tech arranged for me to go and having a training session with Bob at the Machine Shop [MCN’s How To expert, see page 54], which was well worth doing. The half-day’s training and the new welder has transformed my welding. A quick tip on the gas, though, you can ask the…

1 September 12-13 London Motorcycle Film Festival The first of its kind, the festival has bags of short films about motorcycles and motorcycle culture with awards for the best films. Based at the Old Timber Store, tickets are £12.50 but be quick as they may sell out! www.londonmotorcyclefilmfestival.com 2 September 12-14 Goodwood Revival Take a step back in time and head to Goodwood for a weekend of historical racing. Racers will be taking to the track on old-school machines for nail-biting action. There are numerous ticket options available depending on your budget – make sure you dress up to play the part! www.goodwood.com 3 September 13 South Midlands Autojumble Head down to the Ross-on-Wye Livestock Centre (HR9 7QQ) for a chance to bag the bargain of the year. For £4…

The Nook A cracking farm shop and café along one of the best roads in the North Pennines, and they welcome bikers with open arms. Castle Nook, Alston CA9 3BG www.thenookfarmshop.com The Filling Station Sitting in the middle of the Lake District, it’s the perfect stop off before a day of riding in the hills and around the lakes. Crosthwaite Road, Keswick CA12 5PP www.facebook.com/TheFillingStationCafe Penny Garth The quaint town of Hawes is home to the Penny Garth which makes an ideal stop off for a day riding through the Yorkshire Dales. Market Pl, Hawes DL8 3RD pennygarthcafe.co.uk…

There is no nicer feeling than swinging your leg over an immaculately prepared bike. We don’t all have time to prepare to show standards, but something that can help you achieve that is a highly effective layer of Oxford’s Mint Corrosion Control. Designed to protect your bike from existing and new corrosion, this product is easy to apply, and once used it forms a thin film that creates a protective barrier against moisture, salt and other environmental elements that can cause rust. It is also very clever in that it actively stops existing corrosion in its tracks. Mint Corrosion Control can be used on various parts of your bike and other vehicles, including electrics, engines, and undercarriage. It is great for those hard-to-reach areas, displacing moisture and therefore preventing corrosion…

‘Raising the bar’ In a class defined by its price point the new 390R has the potential to be a winner. With vastly improved ergonomics and an increased off-road focus it has all the ingredients to surpass its rivals off-road, while being superior on-road. Its willing motor, quality (although soft) suspension and impressive electronics move the class on significantly, which is exactly what KTM had to do. The bike feels well considered with decent off-road ABS and traction control that can be turned off easily, plus it has a ‘memory’ so it stores your settings. There’s also a USB-C point and connectivity – all at a seriously impressive price. Welcome back, KTM. THE FACTS £5699 KTM 390 Enduro R…

Alongside a day on track, we took to the road, with all three offering a slightly different slant on the meaning of supersport. As you might expect, the Honda CBR600RR is the most focused of the bunch, with an aggressive riding position and a motor that needs to be revved to be enjoyed to the max. For fans of old school sportsbikes, the Honda doesn’t disappoint – although on the road it’s the most uncomfortable and the least flexible in terms of having fun at a slower pace. On the flipside, the Ducati’s engine has a lovely relaxed feel and the riding position is far more comfortable than the Yamaha’s, it doesn’t really scratch that sportsbike itch in anything like the way the R9 does and as such, the Italian…

Valentino Rossi has long been nicknamed the GOAT - the Greatest of all Time - but what does that really mean? If it was down to pure race wins and world titles, then Giacomo Agostini (with 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 championships) would be the rightful holder of the title. If it was down to sheer domination, then Marc Marquez would surely be in with a shout. By the end of this season, he looks almost certain to equal Rossi’s nine world titles, too. But it’s about more than race wins and titles: much more. What Rossi did for MotoGP is beyond measure, and that’s why he deserves the title – and why he has to be a favourite in MCN’s quest to discover the all-time Legend of Motorcycling.…

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 dozens more. 2012-2015 HONDA VFR1200F Owners’ rating Scoring a 4.8 out of 5 in the Reliability and Build Quality section, Honda’s big-capacity sports-tourer seems a safe used buy. A lack of popularity makes it surprisingly cheap in the used market, which is good news! 2018-2021 HONDA CB1000R Owners’ rating Much sexier-looking than the CBF models, the CB1000R scores a 4.5 out of 5 for its reliability from the 35 owners who left online reviews. Just watch out for a seized eccentric chain adjuster. 2006-2015 HONDA NT700V DEAUVILLE Owners’ rating A bulletproof machine. Practical thanks to its integral panniers and with an excellent…

When a humble Honda CB125F landed in Doncaster Motorcycles, seasoned spannerman Kevin Hollingsworth was greeted with a fairly run-of-the-mill fault, but one he’d rarely seen so bad in decades of fettling. “The cush-drive rubbers were absolutely demolished,” Kevin recalled. “The wheel was almost making a quarter of a rotation before the sprocket even moved. There was a lot of movement, without there being any movement. “It had only done 13,000 miles. Not much really, especially with that little power, but it came to us with a long list of woes.” Cush-drive rubbers are supposed to smooth out the power delivery from the engine to the wheel – but these had clearly endured a torrid life. Kevin suspected the cause went beyond simple wear and tear associated with the bike’s commuter…

GRAB YOUR WELCOME GIFT TODAY Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer Three factory World Superbike teams still have 2026 vacancies. Andrea Locatelli needs a teammate at Yamaha, Danilo Petrucci awaits news of who will join him at BMW, and Honda have no rider contracted. The next few weeks will be key in deciding the look of 2026, not least as a significant test is to take place following the season-closing Jerez races in October. Pol Espargaro’s manager is sniffing around superbike options, with his man’s impressive top eight form for KTM at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix having done his cause no harm. The 2013 Moto2 world champion has been named by Petrucci as a candidate for BMW. “We need someone quick and experienced – Pol is a possibility,” Petrucci…

Going behind the headlines in the WSBK paddock TOP STORY Everybody left Magny-Cours on Sunday with emotions varying from admiration to pure bewilderment at the stunning performance delivered by Toprak Razgatlioglu. It was the perfect example of an athlete absolutely at one with his team and equipment, leaving the competition in his wake. Rubbing salt into the wounds for the rest of the World Superbike field, all this was happening at a track for which the Turk had almost no prior data with BMW, having missed last year’s races due to injury. With just three rounds to go, starting with Spain’s Aragon at the end of September, it’s ominous for the others. Magny-Cours has long since been a favourite track for Razgatlioglu, with positive memories aplenty. He won on his…

After changing his telemetry engineer before Hungary, Jake Dixon made a podium return – and thanked Marc VDS spotter Chaz Davies after. “I felt there was a clash of heads,” he said of the personnel change. “I’ll put my hands up when I don’t do well. But I felt it wasn’t reciprocated. Credit to Chaz. In Hungary he noticed something with our electronics. From there we were 1.2s faster.” Strong weekend for Luca Marini Luca Marini was eighth, but could’ve been higher had he not burned up his rear tyre when chasing Pedro Acosta. The Italian was 14s quicker than the quickest race time set by the Honda RC213V at the same round in 2024. Marini and Joan Mir were continuing with a new chassis and swingarm all weekend –…

Barcelona was Aprilia’s domain two years ago. But that advantage around the slippery Montmeló track was sorely missing last weekend as factory riders Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin struggled. Yet both insisted it wasn’t as bad as the timesheets suggested. Bezzecchi was twice taken out and left to rue a poor qualifying. “We weren’t good enough to turn around the weekend [like Austria and Hungary].” And Martin’s race was impacted by an off-track moment on lap one. He was, in fact, delighted to recover to tenth. “Today is like a podium,” he said. “Starting from 18th… I wasn’t better than 17th in any practice, so, finally P10. I know there were a lot of crashes, but it was a difficult situation today.” Now is time to play with bike balance,…

At the heart of the MotoGP paddock for over 35 years TOP STORY Marc Marquez can be beaten. But it takes another Marquez to do it. So it seemed, after the brothers from a small town some 60 miles from Barcelona’s daunting grand prix circuit took almost complete control of the Catalan GP at the weekend. The same control they hold over the World Championship. It’s only ‘almost’ because of a single small but hugely costly error in Saturday’s Sprint, robbing younger brother Alex of a perfect weekend. In dominant form with just four laps to go, having broken the challenge of the pursuing Marc’s factory Ducati, Alex folded the front into the notorious Turn 10. Blaming over-confidence was a poor excuse. It was an unforced error of such proportions…

Aussie racer Henry Snell was crowned the second, and final Kawasaki British Superteen Champion on Sunday after winning Race Two. Snell has dominated in 2025, winning 11 races and securing two further podiums so far. With two races still to go, Snell is a massive 70 points clear of James Cook, brother of BSB racer Max Cook. “I’m over the moon! I’ve worked so hard for this my whole life, and to come back after last season and do it, I’m honestly lost for words.” Double for Sparks 2023 MCN Young Rider of the Year Ethan Sparks is now just 14 points behind British Talent Cup series leader Filip Surowiak after doing the double at Donington. Sparks pipped Ryan Frost and then Surowiak to victory in the opening two races,…

For the Rule Breakers. Reigning British and World Superbike Champions After returning to the top step at Cadwell Park there was hope that Tommy Bridewell and his side of the Honda Racing UK garage could carry that momentum into Donington Park. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case and there’s still plenty of head scratching, and shaking, going on as the 2023 champion desperately searches for a solution. “The bike isn’t working quite like I want it to,” Bridewell said. “We’re really struggling to stop the bike, but also with rear grip. For some reason we’re not able to use the rear tyre like the others can. It’s hurting us because we’re not able to get off the corner, and then as the rider, I’m trying to make it up on entry,…

‘Kyle flies under the BSB radar’ I have to say that I really didn’t see the turn-around in BSB from Ray to Ryde coming. I thought Ray was away with it and he had the championship in the bag and now it’s gone the other way and it feel like it’s happened really quickly. I don’t know why, but somehow it goes under the radar that Kyle is the reigning BSB champion. There is no controversy with Kyle, he just goes about his business, doing what he’s doing and I like that. What the weekend also showed was just how competitive BSB is. Bradley dropped a valve in the opening session and it showed that to be there for race day, session one has to roll into session two and…

Reporting direct from the BSB race paddock TOP STORY There hasn’t been a back-to-back Bennetts British Superbike Champion since Shakey Byrne successfully defended his crown in 2017, but given the evidence on display at Donington Park last weekend, this could be about to change. To say Kyle Ryde was sensational would be an understatement. This was a champion’s performance, and provided further proof that he is a million miles away from the Kyle Ryde of a couple of years ago. Second to Scott Redding on Saturday, there was just no way that Ryde was going to finish second again on Sunday. Not at Donington Park. Not in Ryde Country. Ryde was aggressive and tactical throughout, knowing, for example, in Race Three that Bradley Ray could be in with a sniff…

Suzuki have updated their Address 125 scooter with refreshed styling, improved ergonomics, new LED lights and a revised engine with peak torque coming lower down the range due to a revised cam and air intake. There’s also a lighter frame, new wheels and an updated fuel tank that is both larger and lighter. Underseat storage space has grown, too. The Suzuki comes in blue, white, or black and is on sale now for £2599. Stark secure new €100m booster Electric off-road specialists Stark Future have netted more than €100million (£86.67m) in total capital contributions in their latest round of investment. The previous round was spearheaded by Royal Enfield’s parent company, Eicher Motors, but this latest funding effort came mainly from current shareholders, plus some fresh investors from MotoGP. Triumph’s under…

SAVE £3900 £15,099 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT KTM’s 1290 Super Duke GT combines superbike power with pin-sharp handling. But outright speed isn’t all that’s on offer here, and the big Duke is exceptionally user-friendly and practical. Weather protection is good, comfort is top-notch and there’s no shortage of gizmos to play with either. With a saving just shy of four grand, it is worth a pop. www.thepotteries.co.uk SAVE £2091 £12,229 Yamaha MT-10 Already one of the most accessible supernakeds on the market, this Yamaha MT-10 comes with over two grand off to make it even more tempting. crescent-motorcycles.co.uk ● Engine 998cc ● Power 164bhp ● Weight 212kg ● Seat height 835mm SAVE £1000 £9197 Honda XL750 Transalp Honda’s adventure all-rounder is well-mannered, but thanks to improvements to its fuelling,…

GPz600R revealed BBC accuse ACU boss Dunlop clinches third world title This week 41 years ago, MCN published exclusive images of the machine that would go on to drive the era of the modern 600cc supersport – Kawasaki’s GPz600R – a week before its official unveiling at the Cologne show. A scaled-down version of the ground-breaking GPz900R, the bike that set the design brief for pretty much the next 40 years of sportsbikes, the new 600 version followed the same template – inline four, liquid-cooled, 16v – and also featured a steel perimeter frame with an aluminium swingarm, anti-dive forks, a pair of large front discs plus 16in wheels with radial tyres – so you can appreciate why back in 1984, we hailed it as a ‘hi-tech crown stealer’, saying:…

A cutting-edge Acusensus ‘Heads-Up’ system has been trialled by police in Devon and Cornwall for three years, detecting over 10,000 motoring offences in the last year alone. Two cameras take high-speed front-facing and overhead images of vehicles, with AI then used to detect potential seatbelt or mobile phone offences. These are then verified by human reviewers. Recent data showed a 50% decrease in seatbelt and 33% fall in mobile phone offences.…

Shark Spartan RS £219.99 Will you bite on this Shark deal? Hard to believe but September has rolled around again… the good news is that there is still stacks of decent riding time ahead this year and, even better, there are deals to be had on late-season clobber. Whether it’s riding gear or tech equipment, it is all to play for. We’ll kick off with a super-tempting helmet deal that we’ve found online this week. This ECE 22.06 helmet from Shark scored well when we reviewed it, owing to its practicality and comfort. It has a drop-down sun visor plus a Pinlock insert to keep your visor clear and mist-free. Triple intakes allow ventilation and are easy to adjust with gloves on. The lining is soft and removable, so it’s…

WHAT’S NEW IN TECH? KTM are bidding to reclaim the single-cylinder performance crown - edging Ducati out of their short-lived time at the top with a revised LC4 motor that promises to not only offer more punch than ever, but also greater reliability and smoother running. Now displacing 692.7cc and churning out a claimed 77.9bhp and 53.9lb.ft of torque, the Austrian thumper edges out Ducati’s Hypermotard 698 Mono – which now suffers a 1.5 pony deficit. The engine will live in the refreshed 690 SMC R supermoto and Enduro R dual-sport, which are both priced from £10,499 and due in UK dealers from September – making them cheaper than Ducati’s £11,295 rival. Alongside more power, KTM say the revised engine delivers a flatter torque curve and improved efficiency. Five years…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE WORLD’S WARMEST BASELAYER® www.zerofit.co.uk My first bike in 1968 was a 150cc BSA Bantam with scooter wheels. Loads of fun. Martin Bush Passed my test on this KH250 back in 1981. John Eaton My younger brother and I on my father’s CZ in Exeter in around 1975. I went on to have dozens of bikes. Arron Thomas Me with my Honda CB500F. I passed my test September 2024, this was taken April 2025. Elaine Evans My grandson Oakley just had his birthday. We gave him his present yesterday and had a bit of a party for him. Dave Hill Late to bikes but loved the Honda CB125R. Just passed Direct Access, so on to the next one. Simon Beresford My best mate…

THE UK’S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite short routes The run from King’s Lynn to Sunny Hunny is one well-worn by bikers on their way to scoff some fish and chips, but holiday traffic and average speed check cameras can make it feel like a chore. So, try this route instead to put some excitement back into the ride. From King’s Lynn turn right at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital roundabout on the A149 to join the B1145. Pass through Gayton (including the excellent Crown Inn) and then on to open, sweeping B-road bends until the A1065. Quick right/left shimmy to continue on the B1145 through Litcham and on to Brisley where the roads become tight and technical. Turn left at the King’s Head in North Elmham to join…

What’s happening? We all know the Motorbike Show with Henry Cole, Allen Millyard and Guy Willison, and now the show is getting even better. With a launch event this weekend, the guys will be unveiling what’s next for the show – namely motorbikeshow.com. You can get up close with the stars, have a chat about everything biking and be one of the first to find out the details of what’s to come. The essentials The event is being held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull (B92 0EJ) on Sunday, September 14. It’s free to enter and join, and if you want to make a day of it, then you can have a mooch around the museum itself for half price. With free parking (for both cars and bikes) it’ll…

THE MCN TEST THE HOTTEST BIKES EVERY WEEK £10,999 Honda CBR600RR 599cc liquid-cooled inline four DOHC 16v 118bhp @ 14,250rpm 193.8kg kerb £17,171 Ducati Panigale V2 S 890cc V-twin, liquid-cooled, DOHC 8v 118.3bhp @ 10,750rpm 191kg kerb £12,254 Yamaha R9 890cc inline triple, liquid-cooled, DOHC 12v 117.3bhp @ 10,000rpm 195kg kerb Over the last ten years, it’s felt like the supersport sector was destined to go the way of the dodo bird. The once-dominant class was shrinking at a rate of knots, as the likes of the Daytona 675, ZX-6R, YZF-R6 and CBR600RR disappeared from showrooms as tightening emission regulations and falling sales signed what appeared at the time to be their death warrant. Yet we’re now in 2025, and there’s been a serious resurgence; not only have Kawasaki’s ZX-6R…

‘The class is thriving’ For the first time in years, the supersport class is absolutely thriving with a real variety to cater for every taste. The Ducati is a softer, easier way into the class that will hold your hand as you get up to speed, the Honda is a cut-throat supersport savage in every way and the Yamaha sits somewhere in the middle, offering a supersport feel, with a little more flexibility from its engine until it gets pushed to the limit. Yet none of them are perfect; the Honda is still the same revvy beast it always has been, with very little changing from the model that dropped out of production in 2017, and just a few niceties thrown in for a great price. The Yamaha is quite…

‘Case of cost versus value’ As a proper dual-sport adventure tourer, the DS800X Rally takes a major step forward from its tarmac-biased siblings. But Voge still have work to do in terms of electronics. While the engine is strong and has Ténéré-beating performance (on paper at least), it’s let down by poor fuelling which – together with the basic traction control – makes it feel that a substantial investment in algorithms is needed. As a result, the DS800X comes up short on rideability, so although it’s a lot of bike for the money, there’s still a question over value when compared with more expensive rivals. THE FACTS £7199 Voge DS800X Rally…

We’ve all got that one mate whose chain is a right state – whether it’s hanging off, orange with rust – or both! There really is no need for it, as chain care is simple. Motorcycle chain tension is a key indicator of chain health. Over time and miles, the joints in the links will slowly wear. Having your chain at the correct tension will help it wear evenly, and last as long as possible. A chain that is too tight may wear prematurely, or in extreme cases snap. A chain that is too loose may jump off the sprocket. Neither scenario is good news and should be avoided! Proper motorcycle chain tension is crucial for both safety and the longevity of your motorcycle’s drivetrain. The chain, a series of…

Going behind the headlines in the WSBK paddock ‘This proves how well the bike is working’ From early last week the positive energy and optimism were there for Alex Lowes, predicting a good weekend in Bimota by Kawasaki’s pre-event press release for the French Round. Sure enough, the new KB998 Rimini had its best weekend so far: a first full-length race podium on Saturday followed by two more top three results on Sunday. Ahead of this weekend, it was a tremendous early birthday present for the Lowes twins. One of the highlights was Saturday’s live TV interview for Alex, choking up and beginning to cry in a moment that went viral on social media. The return of Bimota to World Superbikes is a big deal. The small and bespoke brand…

There were great moments in Sunday’s Race 2 as Jonathan Rea fought for a rostrum finish for Yamaha. It was a poignant weekend for the six-time world champion following his announcement to retire from racing at the end of the season. The Northern Irishman has singled out Wales’ Chaz Davies as his career rival, hoping they are able to enjoy a beer together following their frosty past relationship. In a heartfelt message, Davies described Rea as ‘a prolific pain in the ass!’. At Magny-Cours, Rea managed seventh and sixth place Sunday finishes but the highlight was his fight for third with Alex Lowes. Andrea Locatelli rode well on the other Yamaha, fighting to fifth and ninth in the long races despite coming from the back of the grid following a…

Michael van der Mark has confirmed he will not remain in World Superbike next year. The Dutchman, who was 2014 Supersport World Champion, aims to stay with BMW but stateside in MotoAmerica; some well-paid rides are usually available there, as the USA switches of Danilo Petrucci and Loris Baz have proved in recent years. The Endurance World Championship is also an option following a positive Suzuka. The Rotterdam man, who possesses six WSBK wins and 42 podiums, enjoyed a far more upbeat Magny-Cours with two fifths. “A lot of people said I’d lost it but I clearly haven’t,” he laughed, highlighting a large mental reset during the summer break.…

Paddock veteran delivers his Catalunya verdict 1 Beast is back Enea Bastianini, aka The Beast, ended a gloomy period of under-performance since joining Tech3 with his first KTM podium, showing sparks of the robust racer who won seven GPs at Ducati. Key has been a willingness to embrace the higher downforce aero and tech upgrades since Austria and adapt his deep-braking, tyre-friendly style to the RC16. Bastianini said: “Earlier in the year I tried to do something different to change the bike. Now I’m doing the opposite and it’s working.” He is at his best when he is relaxed and a new seat coming from KTM should help further. Perfect timing following confirmation that former Haas F1 team boss Guenther Steiner has completed a takeover of the Tech3 squad from…

ROUND 15 CATALUNYA MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 MARQUEZ M 487pts 2 MARQUEZ A 305pts 3 BAGNAIA 237pts 16 Ogura 69pts 17 Miller 54pts 18 Mir 50pts 19 Rins 45pts 20 Martin 29pts 21 Oliveira 17pts 22 P Espargaro 16pts 23 Nakagami 10pts 24 Savadori 8pts 25 Fernandez A 6pts 26 Chantra 1pt FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP 11 Fernandez R +19.489 12 Mir +20.159 13 Viñales +22.792 14 Miller +24.351 15 Aldeguer +24.592 16 Chantra +37.393 17 A Espargaro +43.202 DNF Mobidelli 21 laps, Savadori 19 laps, Rins 14 laps, Giannantonio 12 laps, Zarco 10 laps, Binder 6 laps, Bezzecchi 1 lap FINAL POSITIONS SP RACE 11 Fernandez R +9.788 12 Miller +10.165 13 Mir +11.593 14 Bagnaia +14.463 15 Rins +15.936 16 A Espargaro +16.909 17 Viñales +17.04 18 Chantra +22.439…

‘New low or the start of a high?’ Did Pecco Bagnaia reach the bottom of his spiral at Barcelona? The 2022 and 2023 champion has been in freefall since the start of the season, his results going from bad to worse after the summer break. The 28-year-old Italian was more often than not on the podium until last month’s Austrian and Hungarian GPs, which he finished a grim eighth and ninth. He ended Sunday’s Catalan GP in seventh, but this was a good result, considering he started from 21st on the grid so he was moving forward and his fastest lap was only three tenths off Alex Marquez’s new lap record. What exactly is wrong with Bagnaia this year? Ducati’s GP25 is a backward step from the GP24, partly because…

Going behind the headlines in the 2025 series Donington Park holds fond memories for Scott Redding. It was here 17 years ago that he became the youngest-ever motorcycle grand prix race winner aged just 15 in the 125cc class. Fast-forward to 2025 and Redding was back on the top step and were it not for Kyle Ryde’s sublime efforts, there’s a chance the 2019 champion could have made multiple trips to the top step of the rostrum. Redding looked good from the get-go with super consistent race pace. Not surprising, given his love of the circuit. Three more podiums followed his victory, including an impressive fightback in the finale after a slow getaway, as well as running on at the Foggy Esses, put him down the order. Still, Redding believes…

ROUND 8 DONINGTON BSB CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 RYDE 354pts 2 RAY 326pts 3 SKINNER 235pts 16 Jackson 40pts 17 McPhee 38pts 18 Swann 31pts 19 McConnell 15pts 20 Hedger 4pts 21 Talbot 4pts 22 Todd 2pts 23 Van Sikkelerus 1pt BSB POSITIONS RACE 1 11 Cook +8.023 12 Brookes +10.432 13 Stacey +14.495 14 Swann +14.981 15 Talbot +23.305 16 Kerr +25.065 17 Hedger +26.445 18 Rogers +26.482 19 Todd +26.834 20 Hickman +29.972 21 Davis +30.847 DNF McPhee 25.218, McConnell 3 laps, Sikkelerus 4 laps, Nesbitt 6 laps BSB POSITIONS RACE 2 11 Brookes +13.237 12 Nesbitt +13.695 13 Cook +14.32 14 Stacey +17.383 15 Swann +23.918 16 Rogers +24.125 17 McPhee +27.638 18 Talbot +28.551 19 Kerr +32.821 20 Hedger +33.261 21 Hickman +33.563 22 Todd +33.874 DNF…