Table of contents for 11 February 2026 in MCN

TOP STORY Revealed at last November's Milan show, Norton Motorcycles’ striking new design direction has proved a real talking point. The smooth, ultra-modern lines of the new Manx R sportsbike, Manx naked and Atlas middleweight adventure ranges represent a clear departure from Nortons of old, as the now TVS-owned brand forges a confident path into the future. The man charged with delivering that aesthetic transformation is Simon Skinner – a familiar name in Norton circles – who, backed by a clearly defined design strategy, new creative talent and the security of well-resourced owners, is leading what he admits is a defining period for the company. Speaking to MCN at Norton's Solihull design studio, Skinner describes the current phase as a landmark one for the marque, underpinned by the long-term stability…

KTM's parent company has reported a provisional 46% drop in revenue for 2025, having spent a large chunk of the year with tools down while navigating a prolonged period of financial difficulty. Bajaj Mobility, formerly known as Pierer Mobility, have posted revenues of €1.009 billion, down from €1.879 billion in 2024 – with net debt also said to be slashed by 51.4% in the same period. As of December 31, 2025, the company owed €798 million, while day-to-day cash flow turned positive in the second half of 2025. Last year also saw the discontinuation of the X-Bow sportscar project and the sale of a controlling stake in MV Agusta. ‘Day-to-day cash flow has turned positive’ Despite a collapse in early-year sales, brought on by a pause in production, Bajaj report…

Think early noughties Moto Guzzi cruiser and the last thing that rumbles into your head is a pared-back café racer. But that's exactly what boutique Polish bike builder Eastern Spirit have unveiled with their latest creation based on a California 1100, and after hours of graft, with no panel left unfettled, the 24-year-old machine bears almost no resemblance to its former self. Eastern Spirit's Sylwester Mateusiak first set about modifying the transverse twin's frame, fabricating a new, shortened rear section with an integrated light unit, as well as remodelling the engine mounting points. Attention was next turned to the bodywork and – to create the ‘ultralight sport’ look, as the firm call it – Mateusiak hand-crafted the fairings and air intakes, tank, tail section, headlight, and fenders in aluminium, leaving…

RealRider are rolling out a major update to their crash-detection app, stripping back under used secondary features while improving global performance and adding a new ‘test’ function that lets users check the system is working correctly. The overhaul follows what the company describes as a “massive change of leadership and personnel,” with Chief Operating Officer Steven Robertson steering the British-developed platform back to its core purpose. “Where we're pointing the business now is directly at the one thing we do best, and that is crash detection,” Robertson told MCN. “We need to concentrate on the core function and the reason we exist in the market, which is to keep motorcyclists safe.” As part of the update, RealRider has removed mapping, route recording, and group riding features from the system. “There…

‘Proceed with caution’ When you buy from an established retailer, the risk of being duped is extremely low. Online, with retailers you may not have heard of, it can be the opposite. If that's where you choose to shop, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk. Start by asking to see the product's EU or UKCA type-examination certificate – those words matter – or a Declaration of Conformity. If the seller won't provide either, or offers a document with a different title, walk away. If they do supply paperwork, check for a certificate number and details of the issuing body and that the name and address, brand, and product name or catalogue number all match up. Even then, caution is required. Some rogue sellers use docs issued…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? Top level circuit racing has brought aerodynamic developments to road-going motorcycling at a breakneck pace over the last decade. Ducati brought winglets to the modern era with their 2016 Desmosedici GP16 MotoGP bike, and they have since become the de rigueur feature on homologated road-going sportsbikes, in order for them then to be used in production-based racing competition such as World Superbikes. Now, a new patent application from Aprilia has revealed plans to take things further by introducing rear winglets to road bikes. Instead of being horizontal, like those on the front which generate downforce on straights to prevent wheelies by driving the front wheel into the tarmac, the new aero elements are mounted vertically below the seat unit and aim to improve both straightline speed…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Kev Black-Smith The ride Three Devils Tour into Wales on small bikes When to do it Spring to autumn How many miles? 428 in total Tell us about the trip Each year four of us undertake tours on our 125s (three Honda Groms and one Benelli TNT). In 2025 we all travelled from Swindon to Wales to undertake what I have called the ‘Three Devils Tour’, taking in the Devil's Elbow, Devil's Staircase and Devil's Bridge. We completed 428 miles over two days, staying in Tregaron overnight at the Y Talbot (highly recommended). Our route went through the Gospel Pass, Garth Ranges and The Elon Valley. The little 125s are excellent for touring, being light, nimble and great on fuel. They're certainly suitable for…

Wednesday February 11 BIKE MEETS Poolehall Cafe, Bridgnorth, Shropshire. 5pm-7pm Facebook: Poolehall Cafe Wheels Motorcycles – Bikemate, First Drove, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire 10am-3pm The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 Facebook: Old Stores Motorbike cafe Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe Thursday February 12 BIKE MEETS Nadee Bike Meet, Lagon Bar & Grill, Findern, Derbyshire 6pm Facebook: Nadee Bike Meet Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk Whistlestop Motorcycle Club, Rhyl Rugby Sports & Social Club, Rhyl, Denbighshire 5pm 07544-143494 Vintage Metals, Coleford, Gloucestershire 6pm-10pm www.vintagemetals.co.uk Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk Friday February 13 BIKE MEETS Woodys, Holmrook, Cumbria 4pm-8pm Woodys.seascale@gmail.com Bike Night Friday, The Custom Cafe, Bexhill-on-Sea,…

It's been 34 years since Ducati lifted the covers on their all-new Monster 900 at the 1992 Cologne Motorcycle Fair, and it was instantly destined to join the ranks of the Bologna firm's most famous models. We say all-new, but in the Frankenstein-esque fashion conjured up by its iconic name, it was a master stroke in pulling existing parts together to create something truly special. The frame, although modified for the Monster, was developed from the 851, it used forks from the 750SS and was powered by a 904cc air-cooled 90° V-twin they just happened to have quite a few of. The design, including that distinctive ‘bison-backed’ fuel tank, was the work of Miguel Galluzzi, and the result redefined the classic stripped-back café racer from an Italian perspective - cool,…

SUPER ADVENTURE S SUPER ADVENTURE S EVO…

Although motorcycling's first production turbo, the 500TC, lasted only a year, Honda's pioneering machine lived on in the succeeding and much improved 1983 CX650TD. Both bore and stroke were increased, taking swept capacity from 498 to 647cc; there were bigger valves, a larger 51mm IHI turbo, the compression ratio was raised (from 7.2 to 7.8:1), the fuel-injection system revised and maximum boost pressure lowered, altogether producing an extra 18bhp but also more flexibility and a smoother transition from off- to on-boost. Elsewhere, the Pro-Link rear suspension was revised, styling tweaks were made with some colours reversed and, in a cost-cutting measure, the fairing was now ABS plastic rather than fibre-glass. The overall result was much improved dynamically, eradicating much of the original's turbo lag yet adding performance – but was…

@carlstevens17 Loves anything sporty, exciting or with a tendency to get dirty. Spent many years racing, still loves scraping ‘sliders. Riding sportsbikes in sub-zero temperatures or through torrential rain on salty roads just isn't that fun. Even so, with the electronics dialled up and the heated grips set at their highest, the S1000RR makes the best of a bad situation when winter feels like it's never ending. Firstly, the RR is a big, roomy machine. That means that not only is it comfortable for a bigger rider, but it also makes it far easier to ride when covered from head-to-toe in a silly amount of layers too. It might sound odd, but because there's a lot of legroom (the adjustable footpegs are a godsend) and the bars are set forward…

Fork oil plays a critical role in how your motorcycle handles. While springs support the bike's weight, fork oil controls how quickly the suspension compresses and rebounds. Over time, fork oil degrades through heat, moisture, contamination, and microscopic wear particles. As it breaks down, the damping becomes inconsistent, the front end can feel vague, dive excessively or react harshly over bumps. Unlike leaking fork seals, tired fork oil doesn't leave obvious signs, but performance just fades. Riders often mistake this for worn tyres or poor road surfaces, when the real issue is suspension that's no longer controlling movement properly. Manufacturers specify fork oil change intervals for good reason, yet it's one of the most commonly skipped services. Changing fork oil isn't difficult, but it does require care, patience, and working…

The orange army arrived in Sepang with boxes and boxes full of ammunition. The best of that turned out to be a new carbon chassis and swingarm that finally reduced the front tyre killing understeer which cost them so dearly in 2025. There was also a different shock absorber that helped reduce chatter and the usual aero packages. Most noticeable was the introduction of leg wings (see p14), one of which Acosta accidently kicked off when he returned to the pitbox. ‘KTM have cured our weakest point’ Acosta didn't hide his relief, saying: “With the new parts KTM have exactly cured our weakest point, which was understeer. It seems that also tyre consumption is not too bad but we need to wait a bit longer to be sure.” Understeer (a…

Aprilia's RS GP has a new chassis and a set of small upgrades around the engine in order to boost power. A new and very different front aero came in both a normal and an extra narrow width. The benefit of a narrow upper fairing is that the rider becomes a part of the aero. Moving the body inwards during cornering increases drag on that side of the bike, which helps turning. The new front fairing came in combination with bigger leg wings (see p14). Three very different types of seat aero were seen, probably to check which one works best in combination with the new upper fairing.…

Another positive for Ducati bosses was the fortunes of Pecco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio – regular strugglers on the GP25. “From the first lap on day one I felt better,” said a quietly confident Bagnaia. The unpredictable front-end issues from last year also weren't apparent to Diggia. “The biggest issue last year was to find consistency in feeling from the front. And here, with all the ‘tries’ we've made, the front was feeling good,” he said. Team Manager Davide Tardozzi liked what he saw. “When he came back from his holidays, he was a completely different Pecco with a completely different attitude, reminiscent of 2024!”…

Where to start with Yamaha? The early months of 2026 were always going to be a challenge as they attempted to rush the new V4 YZR-M1 up to speed. Yet not even the most pessimistic could envision their week in Malaysia. Fabio Quartararo breaking the middle finger in his right hand was bad enough. The Frenchman flew back to Europe with two days of the test still remaining. Even then, the 2021 champion was dismissive of the new bike's performance. “I cannot say I'm confident because we see how much we suffer. Our lap times are not very good,” he said. And worse was yet to come. For the first time in modern history, a top MotoGP team had to sit out a full day of running after Quartararo and…

If only I'd been a tiny bit taller, I could've peeked over the screens hiding Norton's next new model. Despite not being able to sneak a look what's coming next, I can safely say there's plenty of exciting things going on as I discovered recently when I had a mooch around the firm's Solihull HQ. As you'll read on page 4 of this issue, while I was there Norton's design boss explained how their next new release, expected sometime this year, will be targeted at younger motorcyclists in such a way that us traditional riders might not fully understand it. Now, we're all more than aware of biking's increasing average age, and we've seen manufacturers attempt to address this issue before. However, what's been produced in the past often results…

One of the most striking features of the new Norton Manx R and naked Manx is the stubby single-seat tailpiece, with its distinctive slatted rear light design. Unsurprisingly, comparisons have been drawn with the rear end of Jaguar's controversial Type 00 concept – a project overseen by Norton Creative Advisor Professor Gerry McGovern OBE. So did McGovern have a direct hand in shaping Norton's new look? According to Head of Design Simon Skinner, the resemblance is purely coincidental. “The back end of the bike was challenged internally – we were pushed to come up with something really distinctive,” Skinner explains. “I went away and sketched a solution, and only later realised how similar it looked to what Gerry was doing elsewhere. It was one of those moments where you think,…

INDUSTRY NEWS Indian Motorcycle have confirmed that they will double down on their roots for the foreseeable future, focusing solely on cruiser, bagger, and touring models after being acquired by private equity firm Carolwood LP for an undisclosed sum. Following the split from former parent company Polaris, newly appointed CEO Mike Kennedy told MCN the brand is sharpening its direction after becoming fully independent on February 2, moving away from what he described as recent “distractions”. In practical terms, that means no plans to bring back the recently discontinued FTR1200, or delve into cheaper small-capacity machines, and they certainly won't be dipping a toe into the world of electric bikes. “I think it's an exciting time,” said Kennedy. “We're going from being part of a $12bn, 10,000-employee organisation with a…

‘The green revolution is happening in the West Midlands’ Greater support is needed to boost motorcycling if the country is going to hit bold environmental targets, amid concerns that the Government's car-centric transport policies are slowing the road to net zero. The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has submitted evidence to the Transport Select Committee's inquiry into supercharging the EV transition, arguing that while billions continue to pour into electric cars, targeted support for bikes, both electric and combustion-driven, has been largely withdrawn. This has contributed to dwindling public uptake of battery-powered bikes, meaning that last year just 3282 new electric motorcycles and mopeds were registered in the UK, accounting for 3.5% of the total market. That figure is declining annually, too, so much so that in just four years, the…

West Midlands Police have conducted an operation to tackle anti-social motorcycle use in Solihull, seeing two riders reported and two bikes seized. Officers from Chelmsley Wood and Smith's Wood were joined by the force's off-road bike team, Roads Policing Unit, drones team, Guardian Taskforce and Safer Travel officers. The latest sting took place on January 24 and resulted in two riders being reported, plus a Honda PCX125 scooter and a Chinese 125cc trail bike being recovered. Inspector Jenny Willetts, from Solihull Police, said the action had been carried out in response to calls from residents: “This latest operation is just one way we're targeting those causing issues in our communities.” She added that the bikes seized as part of the operation were being ridden illegally – often in public areas…

Go Pro Hero 13 Speciality bundle £319.99 Touring goodies for happy holidays Now's the time to start planning your big summer touring trip (see touring guru Simon Weir's essential guide on page 40 of this issue), and after booking ferries and planning routes, it's time to turn your thoughts to ensuring you've got the kit you need to make it comfortable, memorable and, most of all, enjoyable. This week we've rounded up a selection of touring essentials with sizeable discounts so you can save your money for those biking holiday essentials, like continental beers, daft souvenirs and delicious meals. To capture the glorious scenery and roads on your summer adventure, you'll need an action camera. This is GoPro's flagship, boasting 5.3k recording, voice control, and a larger battery (up to…

Despite the pictures of me going off snowboarding, I'm not particularly flush. It's actually made me think it would be cool to do a series on how to do really fun, seemingly expensive things extremely cheaply, because that's my strategy. I talked to Catherine today and the first time that they took me was in 2012. So that's a long time ago now. But it's not been consistent. I just go when funds allow and it's usually squeezed onto a deal or shared holiday to reduce costs. I also get all my kit used from eBay. £10 boots and a £100 snowboard back in 2012… and I'm still using the same board and boots now. I sound like a right cheapskate, but it's about managing to do fun things on…

‘Getting out there’ ANDREW McKINLAY Yesterday during a wee local run – Larkhall, Strathaven, Muirkirk, Glespin, Douglas and Lesmahagow (A70). Mostly twisties and my favorite test road! ‘Happy birthday!’ DES SOUTHON This was arriving at my accommodation in a Shepherd's Hut on Dartmoor yesterday to celebrate my 70th birthday. ‘Damp but not out’ HARRY HAWKINS Just been round the Lakes and down the west coast on Sunday with this bunch of misfits. 115 miles of smiles, just about. Damp on the way out but even got the sun shining on the way home. ‘The cold doesn't bother me’ ANDREW HARRISON Been riding every day in January apart from three days when there was snow on the ground. This was a cold day training new riders in Telford for Complete Bike…

Stand by for the biggest biking celebration of the year as Moto Fest Anglesey, in association with MCN, takes over the spectacular Trac Môn Circuit from July 24–26. It's an event you won't want to miss, so make a date in your diary today. This all-new three-day motorcycling festival is for everyone – whatever you ride and however you ride – bringing together test rides on road and track, world-class trials competition, expert advice, live entertainment, top brands and unforgettable moments, all set against the dramatic backdrop of Snowdonia's mountain peaks. TICKETS AND PACKAGES Full three-day access (Fri-Sat-Sun) Tent camping (Fri-Sat nights) - £95 per person Van/motorhome/caravan camping (Fri-Sat nights) – £105 per person Tent camping (Fri-Sat nights) + 2×15-min track sessions – £215 per person Van/motorhome/caravan (Fri-Sat nights) +…

Automatic gearboxes, or at least clutchless transmissions, are starting to become more and more prevalent. Here are your clutchless options… Yamaha tested the water back in 2006 with the FJR1300AS, which lacked a clutch but relied upon the rider to change gear manually. This was abandoned in 2022 alongside the FJR and in 2024 they released Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission (Y-AMT), which uses servos to operate a traditional clutch and gearchange with a bar-mounted gear change override switch. It's fitted to a variety of CP2 and CP3 models as an extra. Honda's Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) has been around since 2010 and is an automated twin clutch and gearchange system with a manual override while E-Clutch is simply an automated clutch (with a manual lever override) that removes the need…

THE FACTS ‘Post fuel crisis people wanted both power and mpg’ The CX500TC was one of the most futuristic bikes of the 1980s. The first production turbo-charged motorcycle, it was also among the first with fuel injection, had a space age spec and dramatic styling by car design legend Michelotti. As such it also spearheaded a short-lived turbo era including not only a 650 successor but also rivals from Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. And yet… it was also dynamically disappointing, flawed, expensive and a commercial failure, going out of production after barely one year. Although often considered a ‘vanity project’ like 1978's CBX1000 or 1992's oval-piston NR750, the turbo was conceived as a response to a number of factors potentially shaping motorcycling's future. Post fuel crisis, the demand for performance…

Drop-down visor and vents that really work Shoei GT-Air 3 £649.99 6000 miles ON TEST The GT-Air 3 boasts a slick drop-down sun visor, aerodynamic design, and efficient vents – all bundled up in a helmet that feels well-sorted. Superbly comfortable and cosseting from the first wear, it has lost none of its comfort or fit over the last 6000 miles. On the road, wind noise is minimal and turbulence is basically non-existent. Stability is top-notch, even at motorway speeds or when doing life-savers and the included chin curtain and nose guard keep chilly air at bay. At a measured 1802g (without comms) it's not featherweight, but you don't notice the mass when riding. It's not a cheap helmet, but worth every penny. MCN rating www.shoeiassured.co.uk…

Whether you are a new rider taking a first step into biking after passing your test, an experienced motorcyclist after a second machine for the commute while your main bike is kept tidy for weekend action, or just looking to downsize and extend your two-wheeled years - a naked middleweight like the ones here can make perfect sense. Fun and easy to ride in equal measure, they can be had from as little as a grand in the used market so no need to raid the piggybank too badly. Time to check out what's out there… YOUR EXPERT Jon Urry is MCN's used bike guru. With a keen eye for a bargain, Jon's ideal price range for an affordable ride is less than £1500. Preferably under £1000, which is what…

YOUR EXPERT BOB TEAHAN Bob is Director of The Machine Shop, Hinckley – a workshop that operates like a gym and offers its members access to tools, workbenches, knowledge and help. Bob's been engineering, racing and welding for over 15 years, and he's as comfortable chasing records as he is teaching in The Machine Shop workshop. When he's not fabricating or racing, Bob's passion is passing on hard-won skills to the next generation of welders and riders. • www.the-machine-shop.co.uk Fettle those forks Keep your suspension tip-top by changing the fork oil at home 1 Remove the front wheel Secure the bike so the front wheel is fully off the ground and the forks are unloaded. Remove the front brake calipers and zip tie them to a suitable section of the frame…

The manufacturer that made the biggest steps forward in 2025 was Honda. Paolo Bonora steered the RC213V from the lowest concession ranking of D, up to C in only his first year as technical director for HRC's MotoGP project. Having ended the season with a strong base, Luca Marini isn't expecting any huge technical breakthroughs from now on. He said: “On this level in MotoGP, you do not make huge steps any more, from now we should try and keep adding small improvements to what is already a good bike.” HRC tested various aero packages, traction control strategies and as one engineer explained, something that “should help against the vibrations”. That something was probably the carbon swingarm we first saw last year when test rider Aleix Espargaro used it at…

The Noale factory was celebrating even before the test got underway with Marco Bezzecchi's two-year renewal for 2027 and ‘28 being greeted by a mock-up in which the Italian ‘married’ his RS-GP. Bezzecchi gave little away regarding motorcycle development over the three days. Yet his speed on track was fearsome as he immediately praised the early version of the ‘26 bike. As well as featuring heavily modified aero, with a halo type shape on the tail unit, electronics have been revised. And Bezzecchi was the only non-Ducati in the top four. Even if his Sprint simulation was, on average, 0.9s slower than Alex Marquez per lap, there was some sandbagging going on. Last year's triple winner had started his ten-lap run on used rubber. Behind the scenes, Aprilia management were…

Optimism abounded at Honda with Joan Mir fifth fastest. “We're very pleased,” said Team Manager Alberto Puig. “We made big progress. It's not been a revolution. But small things we needed to improve that make the final result quite big.” The Spaniard ended on a bullish note. “The target is to win as soon as possible, clearly.” The new engine is better, while the RC213V is lighter than before. Rookie Moreira underwhelms Honda new boy Diogo Moreira had a tricky six days in Sepang, ending the test 20th, two seconds off the top, and 1.6s off top Honda. It was the first time a rookie had been so far off since Thomas Luthi in 2018. In his defence, the Brazilian missed huge chunks of the Shakedown test due to engine…

Serious savings can now be enjoyed on Suzuki's easy-going 125cc scooter range, with all three models in the line-up coming with an up to 10-year warranty plan when regularly serviced at Suzuki dealerships. The Address 125 is now £2099 OTR – down £900 on a year ago – with the Avenis 125 and Burgman 125 Street EX both dropping £700 to become £2249 and £2499 respectively. Harley crown dealer of the year Sykes Harley-Davidson, just outside Brighton, have been crowned H-D's 2025 Dealer of the Year for the UK and Ireland, taking home the prize after being judged on a number of criteria including bike sales, parts, and accessories. Awards were also given out for categories, including Technician of the Year (Maidstone), Best Marketing Campaign (Warr's) and Customer Experience (Waterford).…

Owners of R-series Yamaha sports models are being invited to Misano in June for two days of track riding with the brand's top-level racing stars. The Yamaha Racing Experience (YRE) will head to Misano World Circuit on June 18-19, with limited spaces open to owners of the R1M, R1, R9, R7, and R6 (plus their track-only GYTR variants). Priced at €499 (around £430) for the two days of riding, the event will provide customers with a factory-supported racer feel. Riders will gain access to race engineers in pit lane and share the 2.63-mile course with some of the brand's top stars. The line-up is yet to be announced, but already confirmed are the official Pata Maxus Yamaha World Superbike team of Andrea Locatelli and Xavi Vierge, plus GYTR GRT Yamaha's…

Indian have confirmed a multi-year factory commitment to MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers (KOTB) championship, announcing a new partnership with Vance & Hines Motorsports for the 2026 season. Since the inaugural season in 2020, Indian and Vance & Hines have combined to win four of the six available titles. This year, the action kicks off at Daytona on March 5–7. The factory team will contest the championship with a three-rider line-up: 2024 Baggers champion Troy Herfoss, 2023 title winner Hayden Gillim, and Rocco Landers. All three riders will compete aboard all-new Vance & Hines-built Challenger race bikes powered by Indian's 112 cubic-inch PowerPlus V-Twin motor – a platform that grew to 1834cc last year from its previous 1768cc (108 cubic-inch) after development during the 2023 and 2024 KOTB series, before…

A new Indian Motorcycle dealership has arrived in Cheshire. Oakmere Motorcycles signed on the line at Motorcycle Live 2025 and will offer new and used sales, test rides, servicing, accessories, and more. The venue can be found at Brook Garage, The Village, Prestbury, and Indians will sit alongside car brands, plus Norton. Visit indianmotorcycle-cheshire.co.uk for more information. Trials ace wins Pinhard Trophy Trials rider George Hemingway, 17, has been awarded the Pinhard Trophy for 2025 by Sunbeam MCC. Running since 1950, the award is presented to the best rider under 21 competing in either ACU or SACU events. Although still only a teenager, the Leeds rider has already become an FIM Trial 3 World Champion, Junior European Champion, and Trial 2 British Champion. Swansea gets new Smarks kit store A…

Bikers in Scotland are once again invited to visit a national Motorcycle Road Safety Roadshow heading across the country from next week. The event's return follows its debut last year, which saw around 1000 attendees head to five free evenings. The 2026 programme expands on the original format, with organisers promising “bigger and better” shows aimed at reducing the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured on Scotland's roads. Five nights are planned across the country, bringing together emergency services, police, legal experts, and training organisations for a series of talks and panel discussions. This year's roadshows will visit Ayr on February 16, and Whitburn on February 17 (both of which are sold out) before heading to Dunfermline on February 18, Aberdeen on February 19, and Inverness on February 20.…

GBRacing covers for CFMoto 675 SR-R £159.91 per set GBRacing have just launched their first products to fit Chinese brand CFMoto. Made from high-impact glass-fibre nylon to FIM standards, they cover the alternator and clutch cover. The protectors bolt on using the original bolt placement. They also make a paddock stand bobbin set to fit the 675 SR-R. www.gbracing.eu Oxford Toolkit Pro V2 £39.99 This freshly revamped toolkit now comes with soft gel handles and an extra eight-piece Torx bit set all within the same-sized carry case. The keen-eyed of you might also notice the addition of a small bundle of zip-ties, an invaluable resource when disaster strikes. MCN gave its predecessor a five-star rating last year, so this looks to be a winner. www.oxfordproducts.com Muc-Off Foam Sprayer £30 For…

Watsonian have created a new fitting kit for one of the most outrageous bikes on the market, the Triumph Rocket 3. Developed to work with 2020-onwards models, which produce up to 180bhp at 166lb.ft of torque, the kit features a bespoke subframe to provide mounting points for the lower arms from the outfit. According to Watsonian, these arms must be precisely positioned to make sure everything stays firmly in place between the sidecar and the bike – especially important when dealing with such big performance. Not only this, but the subframe will allow the fitters to ensure the right amount of axle lead. This is the distance the sidecar wheel spindle sits in front of the Rocket's rear axle – an important factor to ensure it corners as smoothly as…

Send your bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com My wife Claire doing her bit for men's mental health and taking part in the DGR 2025 on her Bobber. Paul Fowler Latest addition to my garage. Always wanted one! At 70 years young, I have finally managed to buy one! Jerry Turton My ever-faithful 2023 Versys 650. This picture was taken at the Marsk Tower, Denmark, in June last year. Denis Mallett Took this one on a chilly rideout to Scarborough with the Tiger 800. Richard Beaumont Note the leading shoe front brake! Sounds more like 1960s British bikes than anything out there today. Colin Northern Unwrapping my new pride and joy after it arrived from Italy. Gary Haffenden My Ducati two-stroke purchased in 1969 when I was 15. Would do an indicated…

Ducati struck gold when they unveiled the Monster back in 1992, hitting upon a formula that resonated with the buying public to such an extent that they've shifted more than 380,000 units across four generations. For many, it was affordable exotica, a way of buying into a brand that was notching up superbike wins at such a pace that it would soon become synonymous with the world championship itself. The Monster performed, too. The team at Borgo Panigale had wrapped a punchy, characterful V-twin in a lightweight trellis, given it the geometry and suspension for precise, agile handling and the kind of kerb appeal that simply made you lust after having one. It felt special to ride, and by extension, imparted that almost indefinable special quality to the rider. Three…

Honda's bitterest rival at the time was first to respond to the CX500T, but while Yamaha's XJ650T, with its aircooled engine and twin shock rear, couldn't match the CX for tech, it compensated with 90bhp performance and Dan Dare styling popularised via 1983's Sean Connery revival Bond flick Never Say Never Again. Derived from Yamaha's aging XJ650, the ‘T’ was simpler and arguably sportier than the Honda, yet with its turbo mounted behind the block, still suffered from turbo lag and a high price. But it looked different, was slightly more affordable and, with around 6500 built in 1982 with further 1500 in 1983 for a total run of 8000 units, arguably more successful.…

1 Luxembourg Easy to get to from the Eurotunnel, the wooded hills of the Ardennes – in France, Belgium and especially Luxembourg – are packed with brilliant roads. Perfect for a short tour to dip your toe in the water. First tour rating 10/10 2 The Vosges These French mountains are lower than the Alps and closer to the UK. You can pair them with the Black Forest, over the Rhine in Germany, or stay in France and explore the Jura too. First tour rating 9/10 3 The Picos de Europa A ferry-to-Spain trip. Amazing mountain roads within sight of the sea. They're worth exploring properly – the riding gets better heading west, the further you go from Santander. First tour rating 9/10 4 The French Alps Whether it's the…

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. 2005-2008 KAWASAKI ER-6N Owner's rating Kawasaki's parallel-twin naked middleweight is both cheap and stylish and the 38 owners who have left online reviews rate it highly. Build quality isn't always the best so check carefully. 1998-2006 HONDA CB600F HORNET Owner's rating The Hornet was the first truly sporty naked middleweight and aside from occasional camchain tensioner issues and an annoying 16in front wheel size on older models, there is little to complain about. 1996-2005 SUZUKI GSF600 BANDIT Owner's rating The air-cooled middleweight Bandit has won a worldwide army of fans due to its robust nature and muscular looks. The motor…

The switch to Ducati brings with it a reunion for the Rutter family and the Italian manufacturer. Michael's late father, Tony won four consecutive Formula Two World Championships between 1981 and 1984 onboard the Ducati 600 TT2. There was also success on the roads, with Rutter victorious in the Formula Two TT races onboard the Ducati 750 TT1 in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1985. Michael followed in his father's footsteps in BSB with Renegade Ducati in the early 00s. Rutter finished second overall in 2002 with eight victories, and third the following year with two race wins. Further campaigns onboard Ducati followed in 2008 (sixth), 2010 (fifth) and 2011 (eighth), whilst Rutter also has six North West 200 and five Macau GP victories onboard Ducatis. “We've got some history with…

The GP25 was clearly an extremely good motorcycle, it wrapped up the title with four rounds to go, but only in the hands of Marc Marquez. Both Pecco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio struggled to perform well and lacked consistency. If anything, we learned last year how good the GP24 bike has been all this time. As shown by Alex Marquez, cruising to second place and Fermin Aldeguer, winning a GP in his rookie year. The 2026 bike has clearly changed its character. It's a more user friendly package that gives more simple, easier-to-understand feedback from the front. Bagnaia told us he could feel within the first few laps that the bike was better suited for him. The rear ride height device has also been updated, making it more subtle…

‘Everything looks to be in a good way’ Going behind the headlines in the MotoGP paddock Not content with winning 17 of 2025's 22 races (plus 19 Sprints), Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall'Igna was keen to re-establish the domination the team lost in Marc Marquez's absence last autumn. “Next year is time to [take] risk[s] again,” he said in November. That much was clear in Malaysia. There was real reason for Aprilia, KTM and Honda to feel optimism with each of their bikes making tangible gains. Only thing was, Ducati appear to have taken just as big a step forward – if not more. As well as having five riders inside the final top seven, three of their runners – Alex Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia and Marc – showed fearsome…

Compared to previous years, Sepang was a standout success for KTM and Pedro Acosta was pleasantly surprised to see an almost new RC16: “I was surprised. I think they made a really big step.” While Acosta was a regular crasher at last year's test, with occasional mechanical issues thrown in, here he noted how the new RC16 felt better on the front end. “Generally, this KTM feels more natural,” he said. “You don't have to push to your 100% to find a correct lap time. Everything is coming more easily. It's quite nice to have something that makes your life easier.” Thursday's Sprint simulation was a reality check for the Spaniard, who rated the test “six out of ten.” But on this evidence KTM are surely closer to the front…