Table of contents for 21 February 2024 in MCN

SAVE £11,000 £39,000 Kawasaki H2R Simply the fastest production bike ever. Simultaneously mental and utterly sublime, Kawasaki's blown hyperbike is in a class of one. The fact that you can't ride it on the road, or most UK circuits for that matter, is trivial; the H2R is an engineering marvel that offers unmatched exclusivity and truly epic performance. mmcbikes.co.uk SAVE £1700 £8999 KTM 790 Adventure A2 restrictable and considerably cheaper than its 890 sibling, the 790 is none the less an impressive performer. This one comes fitted with KTM's Tech Pack. thepotteries.co.uk •Engine 799cc •Power 94bhp •Weight 218kg •Seat height 860mm SAVE £1400 £12,495 Suzuki DL1050 V-Strom Suzuki's big ‘Strom uses the same 1037cc motor it has for donkey's years, only now it has a suite of electronics bringing it…

JON URRY BUY IT NOW I was wiping up some oil from my garage floor the other day when I noticed what I was using to absorb the damp patch - a T-shirt given to me during the launch of the Honda FMX650 Funmoto back in 2005. It was a somewhat eventful few days which was a good thing because the bike itself was fairly forgettable. Powered by an aging 644cc air-cooled single (derived from the Dominator), with just 40bhp the Funmoto didn't really have enough power to be fun and despite its supermoto styling, it lacked that spark of naughtiness. The end product was a machine that was flaccid in its ride and as a result all hell broke loose as child-like journalists tried to find other ways to…

Adventure Spec luggage racks from £125 Now available to fit the Husqvarna 701, AS's lightweight luggage racks are manufactured from 5mm aluminium alloy and come in a variety of colours. Providing multiple tie down points to securely mount any kind of soft luggage, the rear rack can be complemented by a pair of side racks priced at £249 the pair. adventurespec.com Touratech Guardo Ultimate GTX gloves £173.19 Topping Touratech's glove range for 2024 is the all newGuardo Ultimate GTX. Constructed using full grain leather, the glove has a breathable and waterproof Gore-Tex membrane for full climate control laminated to the inside to ensure a crease-free fit and a lining that won't pull out. Certified to CE LeveL 1. touratech-uk.co.uk Laser Tools Spray Can Trigger Handle £12.05 Whether it's squirting paint,…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER ‘Great chat with Garry Taylor’ I was sad to read about the death of Suzuki MotoGP boss Garry Taylor. I remember sitting in my car years ago waiting for my daughter to finish her horse riding lesson. A car pulled up next to me and the driver's daughter ran in dressed for her riding lesson, the driver then got out and stood at the fence watching the riders. I thought: “Bugger me, that's Garry Taylor!” Long story short, we got chatting and he came across as a genuine, caring person. What an absolute gentleman. Nick Strange, email Nothing will stop me Sometimes I think bikes and work aren't compatible. I am 76 and, apart from a brief spell when the kids were small, I…

VERDICT It's always difficult to be objective about bikes like these. Blacked-out baggers are so American that anyone other than Harley or Indian building them feels like sacrilege. And yet… BMW should be commended for giving it a not just a good, but a great go, while at the same time remaining true to their identity. All of the R18s have impressed, mostly for their stonking engines, fabulous build quality, equipment and classic BMW-cum-cruiser style. But having compared it to its class benchmark, the new Roctane is probably the least successful. By most objective measures it's as good or better than the Indian. But it's aLso a little blander, a little more conventional and its forced footpeg placement is more than a little annoying. Don't get me wrong: the Roctane's…

The new Glides offer a step-up for previous owners, with better ride quality as well as comfort, convenience and style. But they still have a way to go to offer a seriously compelling premium touring option that's better suited to European tastes. To me, it's a prime candidate for semi-active suspension, so you can have comfort or control at the touch of a button. Maybe even an automated gearbox option: it has the torque to pull it off, and it'd sidestep the issues of a heavy clutch/clunky gearbox. The ‘American Dream’ makes its way into their marketing sporadically: it's time they embodied the boldness that underpins the idea, and took these models even further. THE FACTS £26,795 Harley-Davidson Street Glide 117…

Safe to say that if you notice smoke coming from anywhere other than your exhaust, the best course of action is to stop and let the experts have a look immediately! When this Honda Vision 110 started smelling a little hot, its owner entrusted his usually reliable workhorse to Tomasz, of Henc Garage, hoping for a quick and simple fix. Initially, the customer was convinced that it was merely a troublesome headlight. Rationalising that since his front light had given up at the same time the problem arose, it was likely just a bulb getting a little too toasty. When the Hinckley-based master mechanic got on the job, however, he noticed the issue was a little more serious than that. Removing the front panel revealed a mess of exposed wiring,…

SPORT NEIL MORRISON INSIGHT Reporting direct from the pre-season testing in Qatar The first day of testing in Qatar was well underway as MCN went to press on Monday night and it's shaping up to be Ducati v KTM. Ducati's pre-season form has been ominous, but KTM believe they are well placed to have at least one rider among the Bologna bikes after a winter when they “left no stone unturned” as they seek to reduce the gap - and Motorsport Director Pit Beirer is looking for his squad to fight for the championship There have been a number of updates to the RC16 during the tests in Malaysia and Qatar, with the chassis, suspension, engine, electronics and aerodynamics all addressed. More than that, KTM have sought further gains by…

WELCOME What better way to begin the 2024 riding season than by investing in a new machine? And there are some hot deals as the latest PCP offers provide an easy way to own a new, or nearly new, bike. The overall outlay is less with PCP, just as long as you don't pay the final settlement figure. Equally, if you want to change machine during the contract period that's easy, too. Despite what you might think, there are affordable routes to ownership. Just look at the likes of the latest Yamaha MT- 09 on p4. It could be in your garage for £99 per month with an APR of 9.9%. Or how about the BMW F900R for an appealing £89 per month? With a bit of careful budgeting those…

Triumph Scrambler 400X From £5595 | 398cc | 179kg (kerb) | 39.5bhp | 835mm seat height Taking its inspiration from Triumph's factory Scramblers from the 1950s, the all-new Scrambler 400 X is a lightweight bike that is an absolute bargain at just £63.05 a month. Powered by the all-new 398cc single-cylinder ‘TR’ motor, which features water-cooling as well as a six-speed gearbox and makes an A2-legal 39.5bhp with a peppy 27.7lb.ft of torque, the Scrambler is the more off-road styled bike where its Speed 400 sibling takes its cues from the firm's retro road bike range. Featuring a 19in front wheel, high bars and a cool upswept stacked silencer system, the Scrambler looks anything but a budget purchase and it also comes with a very impressive spec list. Alongside long-travel…

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 £21,695 | 1868cc | 317kg (kerb) | 92.7bhp | 675mm seat height To many riders the Fat Boy is the quintessential Harley-Davidson cruiser. And rightly so, this two-wheeled institution has been around since 1990 and was designed in part by Willie G Davidson, grandson of Harley founder William A Davidson. And that's before we even mention its starring role in the film Terminator 2. Powered by the air-cooled MilwaukeeEight 114 engine, which makes 92.7bhp with 114.4lb.ft of torque, the Fat Boy both sounds, feels and looks authentic Harley. A superb motor, it has bags of effortless grunt that is accompanied by the evocative potato-potato exhaust note that is so associated with this famous American brand. For laid-back, easy-going, cruising it is hard to beat. As the…

Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX £11,515* | 1043cc | 235kg (kerb) | 140bhp | 835mm seat height The Ninja 1000SX manages to tread the fine Line between sporty and touring without ever swaying too far in one direction. If you are after a great-value and well-specified do-it-all, you could do a lot worse than the Ninja 1000SX. At the heart of the SX is Kawasaki's slightly over-size inline four motor, which uses its 1043cc capacity to deliver lots of smooth midrange drive, making it ideally suited to life in a sports-tourer. But don't think it is a slow bike, far from it, with 140bhp and 82lb.ft of torque, the SX is very much a Ninja at heart. Thanks to a sporty chassis, the SX is a blast in bends. More than happy…

Action camera firm, GoPro have acquired helmet manufacturer, Forcite Helmet Systems, with the aim of providing a safer, more dynamic motorcycling experience through tech-enabled motorcycle helmets, GoPro founder and CEO, Nicholas Woodman says the company aim to create their own branded range of helmets in the future and that they are open “to partnering with other leading helmet brands to help tech-enable their own helmet lines”. Zapp attack Funky British electric scooter firm, Zapp, have announced an investment deal, to kickstart production of their i300 “high-performance electric urban motorcycle” with 19bhp of poke and a kerb weight of 120kg. An initial payment of $1.5 million will begin the commercial rollout of the scooter to European markets in the coming months, with further plans to expand into Asia. Prices start at…

More than 31,000 motorcycle fans headed to the capital at the weekend for the annual Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show. Taking place at ExCeL, the show played host to the latest new metal from the likes of Triumph, Yamaha, KTM, Suzuki and more - plus test rides from Honda and Norton. Friday saw a guest appearance from current MotoGP superstar Jorge Martin, while 25-time TT winner Michael Dunlop was Friday saw a guest appearance from current MotoGP superstar Jorge Martin, while 25-time TT winner Michael Dunlop was crowned MCN Rider of the Year. Manufacturers reported loads of interest on their stands. “Harley-Davidson celebrated an upbeat season opener at MCN Show, unveiling their next-gen Grand American Touring models,” a spokesperson said. “A favourite on the H-D event calendar, this year…

Tougher speed restrictions have been introduced on a popular Lincs biking road. The A631 runs between Louth and Market Rasen and is home to biker hotspot Willingham Woods. The decision to approve 40 and 50mph limits on three sections was agreed unanimouslyby councillors. The renewed restrictions follow the installation of average speed cameras. Dutch cops check power of electrics In response to soaring accident rates involving over-powered e-bikes, Dutch police are rolling out 247 portable dynos. Similar measures may become necessary in the UK amid a continuing scourge of illegal battery bike use. Crackdowns are already in place in the capital, with the Metropolitan Police reporting that around five illegal e-bikes are seized every week. Make this your year of adventure KTM have announced dates for their Adventure Experience throughout…

The Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show is back for 2024, entering its 44th year at the Bath and West Showground on February 24-25. The event- known for attracting thousands of enthusiasts, club members and traders - promises an exciting showcase of machines from the likes of Triumph, Norton, BSA and Sunbeam. Expect trade stands, club stands, privately entered bikes, autojumble, and guest stars. Dozens of owners will be offering their machines for pubLic scrutiny, displaying everything from meticulously polished and immaculate concours motorcycles to heavily patinated barn finds. ‘We're working to create a jam-packed show’ Alongside the extensive showpieces, attendees can enjoy an auction by Dore & Rees, with over 100 classic and collectors’ motorcycles up for grabs. This includes everything from a 2013 Confederate Hellcat, to a 2002 Ducati 996…

Your tricky legal questions answered Q ‘In a state over US licence’ I got my licence 20 years ago in the USA and have owned several bikes, my latest being a Triumph Scrambler l200XE. I have just returned to London and have learned that after a year I'll need to take a Direct Access course. Not a chance! I've done every course I can think of and I'm now 50. I'll buy a 125cc scooter before I allow this government to take advantage of me. Can you shed any light on why a USA licence cannot be transferred? After I was told this, the DVLA said that if I fly back to the USA within 12 months (I do it every three months as I own a business and a…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Ian Speight and Daren Garraway The ride European trip Best time to go Summer How many miles 2001 Tell us about the trip… We decided to head to the Alps, so Andermatt in Switzerland was our turn-around point. At the time, I owned Versys 1000GT and an S1000R, and Daren had an R1200GS. However, we had both recently bought Honda X-ADVs so there was really only ever going to be one bike to go on…. our X-ADVs, of course! We left Hull on the ferry to Rotterdam and headed for two nights in Cochem. The day after arriving, we did a 250-mile loop, taking in some great roads around the area and called in at the Nürburgring, where Daren did a lap on his…

00569 ‘It's a family thing’ ANDREW BLANCKLEY I had a nice little ride down to Skipton, so I could meet up with my brother-in-law and niece. 04000 ‘Euro-tourer’ LAURA GAVRILLA I've done just over 2000 miles on Royal Enfield Himalayan in Holland, Belgium, France and Germany. ‘End of an era’ PHIL BOYES Manor Farm Cafe is closing, but their people are setting up out of a catering trailer called ‘Rachel's food and snacks’. 00400 00300 ‘Feeling fresh’ ROY THOMPSON Short ride to Blithfield to blow away some cobwebs. It was a bit fresh but I saw two peacocks strolling out of a farm shop! 01200 ‘Low cloud ahead’ PAUL CORTHORN This is my Honda CBR600F on the edge of Exmoor overlooking a cloud-filled Bristol Channel! 00354 ‘Layering-up in 2024’ BILL…

Marc VDS are one of the most successful teams on the Moto2 grid and have also sprayed the champagne in MotoGP. Owned by Marc van der Straten, the team are the successor to the four-wheeled Racing Team VDS, run by Marc's late father, Rudi. A former racer himself, Rudi's team contested single-seater, GT and Touring Car championships at events across Europe and the US in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, including the Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Spa (in Mini Coopers), Le Mans 24-Hour, Formula 5000, Can Am - winning the 1981 title with Geoff Brabham - and CART/IndyCar. Marc learned alongside his father in the workshops, fettling the engines of landmark race cars such as the Lola T70 MK3B and Alfa Romeo GTA andTZ2. Over the years, TeamVDS raced…

VERDICT KTM have moved the Duke story on with the new 990. It's more than just a slightly bigger, more powerful, evolution of the old 890, it's far tougher and knocks on the door of super-naked territory when it comes to delivering white-knuckle excitement at road speeds. Engine upgrades put an extra spring in its step without it ever being a handful, so it's just as easy to ride flat out as it is to cruise to the shops. It handles and stops like a track refugee, is roomy and relatively comfy. But the KTM is ultra-exposed and more suited to backroads than motorways, which may make it too single-minded for some. THE FACTS £12,999 KTM 990 Duke…

1000 miles ON TEST ‘My Honda CRF is transformed’ Tested by Steve HerbertMattick for 19 months My Honda CRF, with its tired Hagon shock, kept hitting the bump-stops so much that the rear Dunlop was catching on the numberplate. Time, then, for an upgrade to something better suited for off-roading's big hits. Rally Raid's replacement shock is a serious piece of kit. It has a 46mm piston and 20 clicks of combined compression and rebound, easily adjusted with a single tool. The standard, non-adjustable Honda shock has a 40mm piston, while the Hagon's is 38mm. That bigger piston makes a real difference - as it flows more oil, it is easier to control the travel up and down the stroke, and the larger volume of damping oil means it is…

If you've never thought about cleaning and re-greasing your gear lever, you really should. Often when a lever starts to bind it does so gradually and the effects creep up over time, meaning you don't realise quite how bad it's become. On the Suzuki we used in this week's How To, the gear lever was starting to feel like it was binding - it felt sluggish when the lever was returning and sometimes made changes difficult. A closer inspection revealed the mechanism was binding around the footrest. Fortunately, fixing it was simply a case of stripping down, cleaning and rebuilding. We also discovered that there was a bit of slop, but this was because the actuator arm had worked loose. Again, it was simple to rectify this by making sure…

‘I'll be glued to the WSBK race’ I can't believe it's WSBK this weekend. We seem to have been wishing the winter away and now it's finally come round again. Phillip Island always throws up a bit of an odd result, but it's a fantastic venue. It's going to be an interesting season, Johnny Rea has new motivation and has to do better on the R1 than he did on the Kawasaki last year. From a championship point of view, I don't think you can look past the top three. I know Bulega has been super fast in testing, but I just can't see a rookie winning the championship. The top guys know the bikes and the tracks inside out. I can see Bulega winning races but also making mistakes…

Yamaha MT-09 £10,100 | 890cc | 193kg (kerb) | 117.3bhp| 825mm seat height Yamaha have given their barking MT-09 a fairly serious update for 2024 and while the bare bones of the bike remain the same, it is now packed with cleverer tech and has some very welcome added extras, as well as a sharp new style. At the front a new more compact LED light gives the MT's face a fresh look, while a slimmer tank and tail unit help create a more comfortable riding position. Not only that, the rider and pillion seats are now separate units, the airbox has been tuned for extra aural pleasure and a new 5in TFT dash, with connectivity to Yamaha's free MyRide app, has been added. While the fantastic 890cc triple remains…

Suzuki GSX-8R £8899 | 776cc | 205kg (kerb) | 81.7bhp | 810mm seat height Suzuki have joined the middleweight sportsbike class this year with the all-new GSX-8R – a highly anticipated machine that has certainly hit the ground running. And you could have one in your garage for just £99 a month. Based around the GSX-8S platform, which was released last year, the GSX-8R takes the naked bike to a whole new level thanks to an upgraded chassis, lower bars and that stylish full-fairing. Sharing the same 776cc parallel twin as the naked bike, the sportsbike comes with a punchy 81.7bhp and 60.2lb.ft of torque, delivering real-word performance that is backed up by a sophisticated electronics package which includes an up/down quickshifter, traction control, ABS and variable power modes. When…

NEW PCP DEALS / CUSTOM Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114 £13,995 | 1868cc | 297kg (kerb) | 92.7bhp | 680mm seat height The Street Bob is a stripped-back custom bike with tall bars and mid-positioned pegs that at first can feel more than a Little unusual due to its ‘angry monkey’ stance. But, stick with it because as soon as you get used to its riding position, you will discover a brilliant machine that is great fun to ride. Inspired by the post-war bobber movement, the Street Bob carries virtually no excess weight and as a result looks lean and mean. A hugely popular model in Europe, the Bob is powered by the excellent Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine and uses the Softail platform to give it remarkably good handling considering its skinny…

ALVARO BAUTISTA WSBK'S PAIN IN THE NECK The most successful sporting competitors in any arena always cause a stir, whether it be for their rivals or the organisers who constantly do their best to make the show as entertaining as possible. In the case of World Superbikes, the ‘annoyance’ is Alvaro Bautista. In the same way Jonathan Rea ruled the roost for years, Bautista's excellence has raised the bar and given numerous people a headache. He may have been the quick and nimble thorn in the paddock's side for the past two years, but it's his literal pain in the neck that's been a problem this time. Back in November, Bautista hit one of the dreaded damp patches at the last corner in Jerez. Underneath the track is a stream…

In terms of concessions, the organisers are able to review things after every two rounds instead of three. That means performance penalties will come sooner, but not all at once. It'll probably be three quarters of the way into the season before they add up to any significant extent. Championship bosses want to limit power (one of the reasons we've gone from a fuel allowance of 24 litres to 2l); that stops people revving as hard. It's about slowing them down to make a few corners and circuits that bit safer. There are weight changes, too. Riders under 80kg once suited and booted must add half a kilo for each kilo they fall short. I reckon Bautista will need four to six kilos; it won't be more because he can…

JONATHAN REA PATAPROMETEON YAMAHA People can become addicted to all sorts of things. For Jonathan Rea, it's winning… and a single rain-affected race victory in 2023 is nowhere near enough for the man who has a staggering 119 victories and 263 podium finishes to his name in World Superbikes. So strong is the obsession, the Northern Irishman has even gone to the lengths of leaving behind his beloved Kawasaki ‘family’ in his quest to get back on the top step. At 37, Rea is super-experienced and will increase the record for WSBK race starts to 414 when he lines up in Yamaha blue in Australia this weekend. He's the master of adaptation, and that could come in very useful on Phillip Island's new track surface. Can he do what Toprak…

1 February 24-25 Bristol Classic Bike Show If you love old metal, then you'll love this show at The Royal Bath and West Showground (BA4 6QN). With racing icons Jamie Whitham and Steve Plater sharing stories, and auction house Dore & Rees bringing their sale to the show - it's not to be missed. Tickets are £18, children go free, and there are no parking fees. bristalclassicbikeshow.com 2 February 25 Mablethorpe sandracing It may be winter, but that doesn't stop the action on Mablethorpe beachfront. Although it's too late to enter the race, there's no reason not to bundle the family up and take them down to the seafront to watch the action - completely free. The town will be open with pubs and cafes aplenty, so go on and make a…

THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK BATTLE OF THE BAGGERS GET PROTECTED WITH MCN - AT MCNCOMPARE.COM £24,103BMW R18 Roctane • 1802cc air-cooled boxer twin • 91bhp/116.5lb.ft • 374kg (kerb) £25,695 Indian Springfield Dark Horse • 1890cc air-cooled 4vV-t win • 91bhp/111lb.ft • 358kg (kerb) You can't help but admire BMW's determination to take on classic US cruiser brands Harley-Davidson and Indian with their all-new R18. First, in 2020, they came up with the standard R18 which, with an all-new, 1800cc, air-cooled big twin and laid-back attitude matched its American cousins’ performance and approach. It had a blend of cruiser yet classic BMW style that was credible and added a boxer twin layout plus lots of tech and quality, that remained true to the German marque's values.…

What better way to prep for an action -packed year of motorcycling than spending a bit of time with MCN's Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves as he shares some wise words in a special series of Bootcamp videos? Whether you've been battling through Britain's wet and windy winter or tucked up indoors awaiting warmer weather… there's sure to be something in this new video series that makes this coming year of biking the best yet. It's all too easy to get a bit giddy once warmer weather arrives and the opportunity to wind it on through some finally-dry sweepers presents itself, joined by the sun on your back and smell of warm tarmac in your nostrils. A brief pause for thought and a sit-down with a cup of tea while…

FIRST RIDE Harley-Davidson's struggle to keep the interest of baby-boomers, or attract fresh blood to their big- twin range, is no secret. The tradition and consistency that once made them unique now serves to invoke apathy among owners who don't see the need to buy near-identical current models. The 2024 Street Glide (and its twin, the Road Glide) are signs they may finally be gripping hold of that situation with meaningful changes. The two models have gained power and better infotainment kit, while also losing weight and enhancing rider comfort. So the question is, do the 2024 Hog baggers really offer anything new? 1 Three-figure power play Capacity has risen to 117ci (1917cc) from 114ci in these ‘base’ model, baggers. The 2022-23 ST models also had a 117 lump, but…

HANDS ON WORKSHOP Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Sloppy or binding? Your bike's gear linkage takes a bit of stick-just think of the hundreds of pulls and pushes it endures on every ride and it's little wonder that it can get a bit slack or tight. Fortunately it's easily fixed. First, feel the lever action with your hand to check for play or tension in the lever, and look for movement along the link rod and rose joints. BRUCE'S TIPS Make a note of the lever's height if you're happy with the position 2 Loosen the lock nuts Identify the lock nuts either side of the link rod on the gearchange mechanism - when loosened, these will allow you to adjust the height of the gear lever rubber by…

Following Josh Brookes’ highly successful return to the TT in 2023 where he simply got quicker and quicker as the event progressed, the Australian has signed to ride for the proven Boyce Precision Engineering by Russell Racing team for TT 2024. Brookes will be joined by the ever-improving talents of Irishman Mike Browne, with the pair set for an assault on the hotly contested Supersport class. For Brookes it will be another piece of the puzzle to give him more track time around the 37.73-mile TT circuit. He already has some impressive Supersport pedigree having been an Australian Supersport champion and a World Superport race winner earlier in his career. “I had a bit of FOMO in the Supersport races last year and had a couple of opportunities pop up…

Honda are hopeful of competitive positions in the second half of the year. That was the view of Alberto Puig, team manager, at the reveal of the 2024 colours. “We've made some real improvements with the weight, the power delivery and the engine,” Puig said of the changes for 2024, “We had a lot of people in Sepang so we were able to find a really good direction. We think we know where we have to work. We have the concessions this year and we'll try to utilise them as much as possible. The aim is to be more competitive in the second half of the year. We expect this. The goal of all this is to go back to winning mode. Joan has recovered his confidence. Let's see how…

MotoGP will undergo a significant technical shake up in 2027. And after much discussion, manufacturers have a dear idea of some of the changes that will be implemented for that year. A reduction in aerodynamics, ban on ride height devices and reduced engine capacity are all under consideration for 2027. KTM's Pit Beirer revealed: “The room where we can play [with aero] will be limited and that's a good direction, because the more it's limited, the more you give the tools back to the rider to control things and it's not the wind machine controlling your rider. Getting rid of right height devices? It's a clear request from our side. And reduced engine performance was not our wish, but after discussing and with our colleagues, we are also in favour…

NEW PCP DEALS / NAKED Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono £11,161 | 659cc | 163kg (kerb) | 76.4bhp | 904mm seat height We aren't sure what they have been putting in the water at Bologna but someone in Ducati's R&D has gone wild – and here is the proof. The Hypermotard 698 Mono (presumably named due to the fact it will spend the majority of its life on one wheel) is a full-on, no-holds-barred, supermoto that looks like it is going to be absolutely hysterical to ride. And naughty, very, very naughty. Powered by the all-new Superquadro Mono motor, which is basically a 1299 Panigale's motor minus a cylinder, it makes an impressive 76.4bhp with 46.5lb.ft of torque and features titanium valves, a desmo system and stacks of attitude. This new…

BMW R1250GSA This year will almost certainly be the last chance to buy a new R1250GSA before it becomes an R1300GSA, so if you are a fan of the old-school boxer motor, don't hesitate as stocks won't last forever. Especially as it currently has a £1000 discount. A machine that has set the standard in the adventure bike class for as long as anyone can remember, this final incarnation of the R1250GSA is incredibly well refined to the point it is nearly faultless. Powered by the ShiftCam version of the boxer motor, the GSA delivers huge amounts of mid-range drive that arrives with a beautifully raw boxer spirit. Add to this a remarkably rapid top-end and it all results in a bike that is considerably faster on the road than…

NEW PCP DEALS / TOURING Indian Pursuit Limited £29,295 | 1768cc | 416kg (kerb) | 122bhp | 672mm seat height Indian have always ensured that their model range, despite being mostly cruisers at heart, also have decent performance. And the Pursuit Limited certainly packs a punch. This full-dress touring model is a real powerhouse of a bike that is brimming with modern tech as well as loads of creature comforts. The American firm's top-of-the-range model, the Pursuit Limited has the liquid-cooled PowerPlus V-twin motor at its centre, delivering a huge 131lb.ft of torque. Aligned to this is an angle-responsive electronics package with ABS, TC, semi-active suspension and cruise control as well as a chassis that combines straight-line stability with impressive handling. But it wouldn't be a full-dress tourer if it didn't…

Alvaro Bautista Reigning double World Champion “I can't risk saying the top three, but Bulega wilt be the big surprise to everyone… although it won't be a surprise to me. He is good!” Toprak Razgatlioglu 2021 World Champion “I don't know! If Alvaro isn't risking it, neither am I! Bulega looks strong. Supersport and Superbike are more similar these days.”…

ANDREA IANNONE TEAM GOELEVEN DUDATI With his four-year drugs ban over, Andrea Iannone's professional motorcycling career resumes. It wasn't a four-year ban to begin with, it was 18 months, but the FIM handed him even more time to mull over his decisions after he cheekily appealed their original verdict. Lesson learned. The jury is out on whether he should be allowed back, some saying he doesn't deserve it while others argue he has served his time and the slate is clean. Iannone has become a bit ot a celebrity in his native Italy with an appearance on their version of Strictly Come Dancing. He's also going out with Elodie, a famous musician, actress and model. They're the Posh & Becks of the World Superbike paddock! Enough of that… can Iannone…