Table of contents for 10 July 2024 in MCN

Alongside revealing the R1300GS Adventure (see right) BMW have announced a handful of smaller changes to other incoming 2025 bikes. Chief among these is the addition of a removable battery for the CE 02 electric scooter. Meanwhile the F800GS will receive Headlight Pro, heated grips and hand protection as part of the Touring Package. Electric success Stark have claimed gold and silver at the 2024 X Games with their electric Varg model, marking a milestone for the brand and the extreme motorsport community. Patrick Evans piloted the Varg to gold in the Best Whip competition and Colby Raha secured silver in the Quarter Pipe event. Pat Bowden was expected to compete aboard the electric crosser, but had to withdraw from the event. Hit the Malle Mile Malle London are gearing…

The organisers of the ABR Festival say over 14,700 attended this year's event, marking the 2024 running as the biggest to date. Now in its fifth year, the meet is both the UK's largest bike festival and, they claim, the biggest celebration of adventure biking globally. Attendees enjoyed access to 940,000 square-metres of festival space at Ragley Hall, Alcester, filled by a wide range of entertainment options from live music, to talks from accomplished adventurers, and some off-road racing legends. More than 60 speakers enthralled guests with tales of their travels, whilst top-tier riders such as Chris Birch, Adam Riemann, and Jake Edey demonstrated their skills in the Go-Pro arena. Test rides from the 20 manufacturers present were hugely popular with around 10,000 demos taking place across the festival duration.…

Dainese London are hosting an in-store meet and greet with special guests from the world of bike racing this evening (July 10). Toprak Razgatlioğlu and Guy Martin will be there to share riding tips and fun facts with the audience as well as signing autographs for fans. You will also be able to enter Dainese's Lean&Win contest, with prizes including riding gear and MotoGP paddock passes. Celebrating the little things The Lightweight Adventure Festival returns to the Peak District on July 12-14. It's a celebration of travelling light, with a focus on small bikes. Several speakers have been confirmed for the weekend, including enduro star, Austin Vince and MCN's Nye Davis. Head to lightweightadventurers.co.uk for more information. No deposit needed Suzuki UK have upgraded their summer offer with 4.9% APR…

Bonhams have revealed early details of their Autumn Stafford Sale line-up, taking place on October 12-13 – with pre-war vintage machinery expected to fetch big money. Headlining the sale is a 1936 Vincent-HRD Rapide Series-A up for £240,000-£280,000 and a 1928 Brough Superior SS100 Alpine Grand Sport at £140,000-£180,000. The Vincent, described as “arguably the most significant V-twin of the Twentieth Century,” is just the second of only 78 machines to roll off the production line pre-war and is believed to be the oldest surviving complete example. Following a “painstaking” 18-year restoration, the Rapide Series-A received the accolade of ‘Best Machine of Technical Interest’ at the Classic MotorCycle Show, Stafford in 2017 before being displayed in the owner's living room. Bonhams say the Brough featured is a “unique opportunity for…

THIS WEEK THE FACTS ‘Get a quote and you could win this Yamaha’ Fancy a new bike? We're giving you the chance to win a brand-new Yamaha MT-09, a model which benefits form a raft of updates for this year. To be in with a chance of winning, you simply have to tick the box when getting an insurance quote with us. It really is that simple. No questions, no payment, no tricks – get an insurance quote, tick the box, and cross all your fingers and toes (not while riding) that you're the lucky winner of our Yamaha triple. It's one of the best nakeds you can buy MCN's Carl Stevens rode the new MT-09 at its world launch earlier in the year, and to whet your appetite, this…

JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS •Open 7 days 7am-9pm •Find out more www.westendcafe.co.uk •Llandovery SA20 0AR Sitting bang on the A40 in south Wales - and a cracking riding route to the sea - is West End Café. With owner Mark Vince at the helm, it has been part of the Llandovery landscape for the past 30 years and bikers have been rolling up to the venue's welcoming doors since day one. “I remember in the early 90s, they just started turning up,” says Mark. “But whoever comes through the door always has a welcome, whether they are wearing a helmet and leathers or coming off a coach!” Originally two cottages, transformed into a coffee shop in the 60s and brought together…

What's happening? With an autojumble and stacks of classic bikes, it's a packed day full of bargains and machines that's not to be missed. This year's theme is classic women, so female riders are encouraged to join on their classic motorcycles, and as it's all under cover, it doesn't matter what the weather forecast says either. The essentials Held at the South of England Showground in Ardingly (RH17 6TL) on Sunday, tickets are £7 to enter from 10am. But, if you want to bag a bargain before anyone else, then you can slide in from 8am with an earlybird ticket. Head to www.elkpromotions.co.uk for information.…

FIRST RIDE Costing just £2301, or £45 per month on PCP, Yamaha's new RayZR is the cheapest 125cc twist-and-go scooter from any of the mainstream manufacturers. That includes the likes of Piaggio, Kymco, Honda and Suzuki. Of course, you can find any number of cheaper offerings from Chinese brands, many of which do the job, but if you want the peace of mind that a Yamaha badge and wide dealer network bring to the party, look no further. Sprightly performance Available now, the entry-level RayZR will do around 60mph, although it takes its time to get there. It isn't the fastest 125cc scooter in the world, but its ‘Yamaha Blue Core’ engine has enough performance to leave cars in its wake at the lights and keep up with town traffic…

GO BACK TO SCHOOL Feet forward… As a road rider, I instinctively positioned my feet so that my toes were on the DesertX's footpegs. This meant that when I tried to stand up, I was both unbalanced and canted forward, which then made me lock out my arms to support myself. Moly suggested that I move my feet further forward so that I had a more central position on the pegs. I was instantly more balanced and could stand up without holding the bars at all. Not just standing up… With my feet in the correct position on the pegs, I instantly felt more balanced standing up. Keeping a slight bend in my legs and a gentle tilt forward at the hips, I could grip the sides of the DesertX's…

1300 miles ON TEST LS2 Acrux short boots £114.99 The L2S Acrux are a good quality pair of casual-style boots suited for urban riding or short-distance leisure rides. They're comfortable and well made, and although they don't feature a waterproof membrane or coating, they do offer a limited amount of shower resistance courtesy of their tough, unvented Cordura fabric upper. With padding around the ankle and reinforcement around the toebox and heel, they feel as though they offer a limited amount of protection. The only downside is that they're not especially comfortable to walk around in, feeling almost flipper-like due to their inflexible sole. At this price point, they're also up against big competition from the likes of Alpinestars and TCX – two very well-established boot brands – meaning the…

Let me start by saying this: Android Auto is the worst thing to happen to motorcycling, ever. With running-in miles to click off and the slimmest window of opportunity for an adventure, I ditch work early and throw my camping gear into a roll bag. Destination: Robin Hood's Bay – an old favourite that I've not revisited for almost a decade. I connect my phone to the Africa Twin's USB and, for the briefest moment, my GMaps route appears on the screen (the dream!). But as I'm riding, it's replaced by the black screen of doom. ‘Must connect Bluetooth headset’ it insists. I don't have one. I can't cancel the message without stopping, and it persistently reappears, minimising the nav on my phone each time. One full teeth-grinding, sweary hour…

£10,000-£14,000 (2018-on) MV introduced the SCS (Smart Clutch System) as an option. Available on the Turismo Veloce, SCS was actually built by Rekluse for off-road use and is a gyroscopic clutch that makes the bike impossible to stall. Alongside an up/down quickshifter, SCS basically makes the clutch lever redundant and is a good system that makes the sporty MV great fun to ride. BUYER BEWARE ● The MV requires a service every 9000 miles and its valveclearances checked at 18,000 miles. Expect to pay about £300 and £600 respectively. ● Be sure to complete a test ride and check that the semi-active suspension is working and inspect it for leaks, especially from the shock as it isn't rebuildable and a new unit is over £1000. ● Check the eccentric adjuster…

Checks out runners and riders at Donington Park WSBK SPORTING HISTORY BEING WRITTEN It's impossible for World Superbikes to travel to Donington without recalling that first-ever race for the series at Easter, 1988. That was the only time WSBK ran under its original format: two races to decide an overall winner. Davide Tardozzi (Bimota-Yamaha) won the first. All the Italian needed was to finish behind compatriot Marco Lucchinelli's Ducati to claim overall victory, but Tardozzi fell off at Starkey's Bridge in the closing stages, so Luchchinelli took the spoils. From the next round, it was decided that each race would score points – a format which remains to this day, albeit with the three-race format since 2019. NO WILDCARD FOR TOMMY…YET Reigning BSB Champion Tommy Bridewell was set to make…

‘I was so scared we were going to be robbed’ Storm Stacey became a BSB winner at the 128th attempt at the weekend when he overcame treacherous conditions to become the eighth different winner of 2024. The ever-popular 21-year-old has shown plenty of potential in the last year or two, but finally put everything together to make his debut on the top step of the podium. He did it the hard way too, seeing his original lead ruined due to a red flag and being forced to do it all over again in a five-lap sprint. “It's surreal,” Stacey told MCN. “I was so scared that we were going to be robbed in that first race, after being so courageous to put an intermediate rear tyre in and leave everybody…

Reporting direct from the British Superbike paddock At one stage over the course of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship weekend at Snetterton Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell were level on points. After 12 races, the two prize fighters could not be separated, just like last year when half-a-point decided the title. After 14 races there's only four points in it following a stunning double win from Irwin, and remarkable double podium from Bridewell, who rebounded from a crash on Saturday and 16th on the grid in race two. The two are once again in charge of the championship. Here's the elements which make up the ultimate BSB title fight… 1 Honda versus Ducati For 2024 Irwin remained on the package to beat, whereas Bridewell made the bold decision to swap…

Miguel Oliveira was the best non-Ducati rider at the Sachsenring with a mid-season boost for MotoGP newcomers Trackhouse Aprilia. On Sunday Oliveira's RS-GP24 was the first non-Ducati home in sixth, a result that did not match the high ambitions following his dazzling second place in the Sprint. It was impossible to repeat in the GP with Oliveira stunned by the race pace of the Ducatis and battling his own reduced grip levels. And he had a warning for manufacturers hopeful of ending Ducati domination: “We know our weak points. But Ducati have an answer for everything. This season they are working even harder. They are building an even more complete bike for the future.” Oliveira shared a front row start with teammate Raul Fernandez who had a deflating weekend and…

Weekends don't come much better than Alex Marquez’ Germany Grand Prix. The double World Champion announced he'd earned a new two-year deal with Gresini Ducati on Thursday, citing the fact the team “saved my career in MotoGP two years ago” as a main reason for the decision to stay. After a solid Sprint outing, the 28-year old wasn't expecting a great deal more on Sunday, until an overnight set-up change pushed him toward the front. “P7 was already a real target for us because we didn't have the pace this weekend,” he said after his first podium of the year. “But we made some changes for the race that worked really well.” ‘We made some changes for the race’ The younger Marquez has struggled to extract the maximum from Ducati's…

When it comes to pivotal new bikes being launched, they don't really get bigger than BMW's flagship GS models. And that's never been truer than it is this week, in more ways than one, as the covers came off the firm's latest R1300GS Adventure in southern Germany (p4). We were there to witness it live, and there were gasps of appreciation, and gasps of surprise – some of which turned to appreciation after a bit of pondering. Some of which didn't. Adventure bikes are rarely contenders for ‘most conventionally beautiful bike of the year’ awards, but some look more like they've fallen from the ugly tree, and hit every branch on the way down, than others do. Is BMW's new GSA one of them? When it first assaulted my retina,…

The R1300GS Adventure will be available with the option of an Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) function. Revealed as a concept in early May, the system does away with the need for a clutch lever and even offers a fully automatic mode. It's been worked on by the German brand for the past five years. “The uniquely powerful propulsion and smooth running of the 1300cc boxer engine contribute significantly to the harmonious riding experience of the new R1300GS Adventure,” Project Manager, Patrick Gürlich said. “With the optional Automated Shift Assist (ASA), it also offers an innovative technical solution to make long-distance touring and adventure riding even easier and more comfortable.” The ASA system is essentially a computer-controlled conventional motorcycle transmission, with electrical actuators working the clutch to pull away and stop…

Moto Morini have confirmed their full Calibro cruiser line-up and UK pricing ahead of their arrival this summer. The low-slung machine will be available in two flavours: a £6699 bobber, and a £7499 Calibro Bagger – complete with a small batwing style fairing and dual 19-litre rigid side cases. Both will be powered by a 693cc parallel twin, producing a claimed 68.1bhp at 8500rpm – with an A2 licence restriction kit available. This makes them competitors to the likes of the £7229-on Kawasaki Vulcan 650, and £6799-on Royal Enfield Super Meteor – with the standard Calibro set to arrive at the end of August, and the bagger at the end of September. In its A2 restricted state, it could also be considered a competitor to the £6399-on Honda CMX500 Rebel,…

Royal Enfield are preparing to launch a new roadster model called the Guerrilla 450, which could be a replacement for the Scram 411. According to social media posts, more information will be revealed following a debut in Barcelona on July 17, but for now, it seems apparent that the new machine will share the same 452cc ‘Sherpa’ motor fitted to Enfield's current Himalayan, meaning power and torque are likely to be likely to around 40bhp and 29.5lb.ft. Sporting road orientated 17 wheels at both ends and practically no bodywork, the Guerrilla looks to step away from the travel focus of its adventure orientated sibling – with Enfield also sharing a teaser video featuring Guy Martin. The engine cases, TFT dash, radiator and exhaust all appear to be borrowed from the…

Rev'it Apex £157.49 Get great feel as summer hots up Keeping your hands cool and comfortable on a warm day can be almost as crucial as ensuring they're warm and dry in winter. It's an aspect of passive safety, whereby if you have nothing nagging on your mind you can focus fully on enjoying the ride. Lighter weight gloves also make the whole riding experience more tactile, giving you closer contact with the controls and allowing more feel through the bars. This week our trawl of the net has targeted hand protection best suited to a summer's day, with options on textile, leather and perforations. Dutch firm REV'IT! make some top notch kit, and these Apex sports gloves are no exception. Built from full-grain leather with a goatskin palm, they…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? Yamaha have announced their new ‘Y-AMT’ automated manual transmission and patents suggest the MT-07 will be among the first bikes to benefit. The button-operated shifter, which also offers a choice of fully auto, looks set to be fitted to the popular twin, alongside an air intake sound amplification system found on the three-cylinder MT-09. New smart shifter Y-AMT uses electro-mechanical actuators to operate the clutch and the gearshift, allowing two fully-auto modes and a push-button manual via the left bar. While those elements are simple enough, the acid test will be the computer that controls it and how well it can coordinate the clutch, shifter and the ride-by-wire throttle to achieve smooth gearchanges at suitable times. Yamaha's MT-07 patent illustrates the electronic control unit (numbered ‘15’…

Off-road and adventure accessory experts Rally Raid Products Ltd have got stuck into Triumph's Scrambler 400X, transforming it from an easygoing retro, into a capable lightweight all-terrain explorer. Rally Raid's new range of accessories include heavy duty spoked wheels, an updated rear shock and cartridge fork kit, a rack to replace the pillion seat, and more besides. “The Scrambler 400 X was a nice product from Triumph that was an entry level bike that seemed very interesting to us,” Rally Raid owner, John Mitchinson told MCN. “I found the engine was really good, and it doesn't ride like a smaller bike. It's not cramped and that's why we thought it was a good platform to start from.” The £5795 Triumph was launched for 2024 and has proved an instant global…

‘Focus on the right things’ The team might have 10 rider titles, yet winning is not the main thing on Ajo's mind. Rider development and mental health is high on the agenda. “Our philosophy is to keep it simple, focus on the right things, and try to get the maximum out of the right things. Racing is simple if we keep it simple. Sometimes riders come here with pressure and make things too complicated for themselves, so I say, ‘trust us, we are an experienced team, we can focus on things we can touch, and you can focus on the points you can do better.’ “If you focus, you have a chance to improve, and when you're improving, the results are coming. I focus on the mental part, and when…

Henry Cole Rider, presenter, author, producer, director… you name it Henry has made his name producing TV series such as The Motorbike Show. Henry's latest book Riding Route 66: Finding Myself on America's Mother Road is out now and is available from bookshops as well as online ‘It's just you and the bike and America’ If you've never ridden Route 66, it can be hard to describe what it's like. Sure, you could draw a route and label points on the map, telling people it's a mustsee or dub them as your ‘highlights’. But without that raw emotion that's achieved from sitting in the saddle for mile after mile while taking on such a momentous journey, it feels somewhat shallow and empty. Henry Cole has ridden from the east coast…

Ultimate Ear SoundEar Pro £289 I didn't realise just how much I would come to depend on these earphone earplugs, which have become an essential part of my riding setup. At first I was sceptical that they would do their job of protecting my ears from wind noise while enabling me to listen to music on the go – without the volume being maxed out. But that is exactly what they do. Made from super soft medical grade silicone and tailor-made to your ears using a mould that is taken by the team at Ultimate Ear they are both comfortable and effective. I plug them into my Cardo intercom, meaning I can control music or directions through my phone. I never ride without them. Quality Value www.ultimateear.com 9500 miles ON…

In my last report I spent a day testing my KTM's new five-stage wheelie control system at an airfield. We discovered that while it won't turn you into a wheelie god, it's a useful tool to make this fiery super-naked easier to ride. Now to fiddle with the electronic suspension at Brands Hatch and Donington MSVT trackdays, using Pirelli's super-sticky Diablo Super Corsa V4 SP trackday rubber. You can simply choose a racy mode to automatically stiffen everything up (in either semi-active or manual mode), or dive into the menu to adjust electronically, as you would with screwdrivers and spanners. The system lets you adjust compression damping (high and low speed for the shock), rebound damping and rear preload, all at the press of a button. Front preload is non-adjustable.…

£3500-£6500 (2014-2020) Honda's DCT gearbox arrived in 2009 on the VFR1200F and since then has been rolled out to the Africa Twin, NT1100, Rebel, NC750 range and more. The best of the bunch is the NC750X, which is a fantastic do-it-all that has remained a constant feature in Europe's top-ten best-selling bikes ever since it was launched. Thanks to its adventure styling the X is comfortable to ride while its ‘frunk’ makes it practical. BUYER BEWARE ● The front caliper is known to stick on its slider if corrosion starts to build up. Feel for any juddering and also watch out for bent or rusty ABS sensor rings as they can damage the expensive (£334 from Honda!) sensor. ● Owners report the NC tends to wear out wheel bearings at…

£4999-£8499 (2012-2020) The TMAX may ‘only’ be powered by a 530cc parallel twin, but the level of detail, technology and ride quality make this a genuine alternative. With a traditional twist-and-go CVT, the TMAX has no gears as such and that makes it very easy in town. Out of the city, its sporty chassis means you can enjoy bends and R1-derived brakes have more than enough stopping power. BUYER BEWARE ● Feel for any slipping from the drive belt at high revs as they cost about £250 plus labour to replace. ● Check the rear parking brake isn't seized on its slider due to a lack of use and also the rear brake isn't sticking as they can suffer a bit from corrosion. ● The TMAX needs a valveclearance inspection…

Donington Park is synonymous with British motorsport for two and four wheels alike. Opened in 1931, the course took in a farmyard as well as meandering between the arches of Starkey's Bridge and featuring Melbourne Rise where competitors got airborne on what is now an access road. No longer there, the lodge previously situated on the outside of Redgate used to serve as a pub and welcomed all of the stars, not to mention alcohol-fuelled antics. Before the Second World War, the Donington Grand Prix captured the imagination of the British public as Germany's Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz went head-tohead. During WWII, the venue was closed to make way for a military vehicle park, but re-opened in 1977. Late circuit owner Tom Wheatcroft, after whom the main straight is named,…

Josh Brookes ended his weekend with a pair of top 10 results onboard the FHO Racing BMW M1000 RR. While the results were positive compared to some of the difficult rounds he and teammate Peter Hickman have endured this season, it was a vast difference to the double podium he achieved at the Norfolk circuit last season. New technical rules mean that the BMW riders are using the ShiftCam system the bike comes with as standard, which has played a part in the performance of the 2024 bike. “We have a different engine spec this year and as I said during preseason, we were worried the engine change would damage our results,” Brookes told MCN. “It hasn't affected the top speed or power of the bike as much as we…

‘I tried to be as clean as possible with Pecco’ Aresurgent Franco Morbidelli has staged a remarkable turnaround in a career that looked destined for the scrapheap just four months ago. An invigorating return to form at the Sachsenring delivered his best result of the season and was highlighted by his mid-race bid for the lead with title contenders Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin. That performance reinforced Morbidelli's belief that he had not lost his capacity to battle for podiums on the Ducati GP24. “I tried to be as clean as possible with Pecco. Unfortunately, I didn't get to Jorge, but as I approached him I kept wondering how and where I would pass him. This is not the time to have that kind of fear, so I will work…

Josh Whatley's Moto3 career is over after there was a mutual parting of ways with MLav Racing due a tough start to the year. The 18-year old started the season on the back foot as he recovered from a careerthreatening leg injury sustained last November. He then missed most of a preseason test at Jerez after crashing on the opening morning and breaking a thumb and finger. The team were patient with his recovery, but there were few signs of improvement in recent rounds, when he failed to finish higher than 20th. “We need a change and Josh needs a change. It was quite amicable,” explained a team insider. No replacement for the second half of 2024 has been found, with efforts now going into finding a replacement before Silverstone.…

What better way for Bagnaia to start his summer holidays? Off home to Italy to get married, he takes with him not only the championship lead, but also the knowledge that before the mid-point of the season he has built up the same momentum that won him two successive titles. The past four races, and five wins in the past six, have bolstered his confidence, and burnished his reputation. Martin's crash had robbed Sachsenring fans of a repeat of 2023's last-lap battle, which Martin won by 0.064s, but Bagnaia admitted that while he'd been nursing his tyres earlier in the race, he'd also been close to the edge. ‘I'm feeling fantastic with my bike’ The result was a welcome reset before the season resumes at Silverstone after the break. “I'm…

TOP STORY BMW have pulled the covers off their incoming R1300GS Adventure, revealing the bike in front of thousands of fans at this year's Motorrad Days festival in the Bavarian ski town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The reveal comes following countless spy shots, comments from senior BMW staff, and even an official social media teaser. The bike will take over from the outgoing £16,360 R1250GS Adventure, which has been with us since 2019. “The appearance of the new BMW R1300GS Adventure is sure to attract attention,” said Head of BMW Motorrad Development, Christof Lischka. “Never before have seating comfort, ergonomics and wind and weather protection been so harmoniously combined with precise handling, exceptional suspension and smooth running.” Underpinning the new GSA is the same 1300cc boxer twin found in the standard R1300GS,…

MV Agusta have revealed a new 205bhp four-cylinder retro superbike limited to just 500 units, called the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro. The arrival of the bike has been anticipated for some time, with a concept first shown at an exclusive Milan dealer event in 2022, and a more detailed prototype version proudly displayed at last November's EICMA trade show in the Italian city. Now the production version has arrived, priced at £61,400. That might sound expensive, but much of the limited stock has already been snapped up by MV's most affluent customers. It's not known whether a more mass market version will be produced, but we would expect that to be the case. It follows a number of previous Serie Oro specials, which began with the F4 750 in 1997…

THIS WEEK ‘I'm delighted Michael will be making his debut’ Twenty nine-time Isle of Man TT winner, Michael Dunlop is poised to appear at next weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed in celebration of his record-breaking road racing achievements on the island. Dunlop set a new record for the most race victories around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course at this year's TT fortnight, taking over from his uncle Joey Dunlop's 26-win tally. He will be joined at the West Sussex motorsport event by fellow TT winners John McGuinness and Peter Hickman, with all three making runs up the 1.16-mile hill climb across the weekend. Further riders confirmed include former grand prix riders Casey Stoner, Stefan Bradl, Mick Doohan, and Giacomo Agostini (himself also a 10-time Isle of Man TT winner) – with…

THIS WEEK BEATING BIKE CRIME SAVE OUR BIKES! Merseyside Police tackling serious and organised crime in parts of Liverpool and Knowsley have arrested a man on suspicion of stealing a KTM after he was spotted riding the machine in a dangerous manner. Cops swooped on June 29 after the rider was spotted pulling wheelies in a residential area. The machine was apprehended and officers arrested a 19-yearold on suspicion of theft, drug driving, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and possession of criminal property. He has been bailed as enquiries continue. “Off-road motorbikes driven recklessly in residential areas cause significant danger and instil fear in residents and other road users,” Inspector Jen Murray said. “Merseyside Police and our partners work hard to prevent the dangerous use of these bikes on…

Vespa have revealed this new ‘Primavera Batik’ special edition scooter, featuring a new livery inspired by the traditional Indonesian fabric dyeing process. Based on the standard Primavera, which comes in either a 50, 125, or electric configuration, the bike comes in a light green design with a cream coloured seat, finished off with striking coloured strips inspired by the Batik method. The seven different patterns refer to prosperity and the origins of life, strength and longevity, respect for origins, charm and charisma, leadership and wisdom. Alongside the bike, a matching top box is available separately. Other special editions of the Primavera include a £4000 Mickey Mouse edition 50, plus a £5000 version with a 125 engine. Visit vespa.com for more.…

The annual Aberdare Park Road Races will take place on August 3-4, promising two days of non-stop action around the 0.9-mile Welsh track. Bikes as small as 50cc two-strokes will compete alongside race-prepped 125s, with other classes including screaming 600cc supersports. Supermotos will also be in attendance, as well as classic superbikes up to 750cc, and even race-modified Honda CB500s and Suzuki Bandit 600s. Parades will take place, with other attractions including trade stalls, and food stalls. Tickets are available online now, with adult weekend access priced at £30 each. This can be upgraded to a camping ticket for £55, with day and family tickets available. ‘A chance for us to get on the world stage’ Unlike previous years, this August's event will be televised in two one-hour highlight shows…

Gloucestershire-based Watsonian have developed a new fitting kit, allowing their sidecar outfits to be bolted to the side of single-cylinder Husqvarna Svartpilen 401. The kit features a new subframe that bolts into the Husky's steel trellis chassis. This allows the sidecar to be set-up for stability and handling. The combination can only be fitted to the previous generation Svartpilen, which was replaced for 2024. The bike seen in the photos sports a 73-plate registration, however the company told MCN that a fitting kit could be built for the newer model's revised trellis frame, if desired. This particular generation of Husqvarna featured a 42bhp, 375cc liquid-cooled single cylinder engine shared with the KTM 390 Duke of the time, making it A2 licence compliant. Predominantly used for solo riding, it's unlikely you'll…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com My husband John's first bike which he bought new in 1978, and still has to this day. He rides it occasionally! Annette Frew 17 years old and still at school. Worked every afternoon and all day Saturday in Primark to afford it. Roger McClenaghan Here is my 13 year old grandson Kian on his first bike, well first time he's sat on one, my Scrambler 900. Paul Williams My son, Paul, on a friend's crosser. Fast forward 20 years, and he's in the fast group at group Cadwell. Kevin Benton My first big bike was this Z650 at age 18 in 1980. I still have it along with my first bike, a Honda CB125S. Denis Lowden Me and my nephew's on my first…

FIRST RIDE OSET have made their name by selling electric trials and off-road machines which are predominantly built for a younger audience. Started by a dad who wanted to make a bike for his son, OSET grew into a serious operation selling over 40,000 bikes worldwide. So serious in fact that Triumph acquired the brand in 2022, and for 2024 there's a new range of electric off-roaders too, starting with the TXP-24. OSET claim that it's a fun, affordable machine that can do anything, from rolling along a gravel lane to doing some hard trials sections. So as an electric small-capacity alternative, just how good is it? Fun, but fraught Although the TXP-24 doesn't look particularly special, it has to be remembered just how affordable it is - setting you…

DOING YOUR OWN? Asteroid City “26 miles out, there is Meteor Crater Natural Landmark. This colossal scar on the Earth's surface is a reminder of our planet's place in the cosmos.” Sedona “Sedona is a whole different world, man. It's all about alternative lifestyles there – meditation, yoga, passive houses, composting toilets.” The Grand Canyon “There's hardly a place on Earth that makes you feel as fragile and insignificant.” Cadillac ranch “The brainchild of a nutter I once interviewed; he planted maybe 30 Cadillacs straight up out of the ground, and you could come by, grab a can of spray paint and spray whatever you wanted all over them.” Oatman “The landscape undergoes a dramatic transformation. The terrain ahead begins to resemble a mountain pass. It's not exactly a mountain,…

There's an elephant in the room, and I'm not talking Cagiva. When it comes to the very latest premium adventure bikes, who's really riding them as intended? With promo images of Dakar riders dune surfing at full-send, the factories are certainly selling the dream. The thing is, for the average owner, the thought of properly testing the limits of a bike you've spent at least £15,000 on (or forking out a triple-figure monthly PCP payment for) isn't very appealing. Even then, for the plucky few who have the confidence to furrow their spoked wheels through mud or sand, there aren't many places in the UK where you can stretch an adventure bike's legs off-road; pottering down a firetrack or a green lane will barely scratch the surface of what these…

EXPERT GUIDE TO BMW have recently displayed systems that aim to remove that tiresome clutch lever from the bars and minimise the requirement of moving your left foot while Honda have also just released their new E-Clutch… but auto and semi-auto gearboxes have been around for a while, as these used machines show. With electric bikes pointing to a fully-auto future it could well be that the conventional gearbox will be consigned to the history books alongside hand gear changers. So what's out there now? YOUR EXPERT Jon Urry is MCN used bike guru. He owns a bike with a right foot gearchange (Velocette), left hand gearchange (Rudge) and a left hand twist gearchange (Lambretta) – as well as some more normally-geared machines……

£3000-£5000 (2007-2011) It's decent enough but the Mana never quite caught on. Powered by a V-twin motor (developed from the Shiver's engine), the Mana's clever part is its gearbox, which as well as seven gears has both a hand or foot change as well as a fully-automatic function. With three modes (Touring, Sport and Rain) the Mana is quite practical thanks to a ‘frunk’ (the tank is under the pillion seat). BUYER BEWARE ● The exhaust is made from stainless steel. Just check the state of the front exhaust studs because they rust in place. ● The engine requires a minor service every 6000 miles and valveclearance check at 12,000 miles. ● The Mana runs a dry sump with a separate oil reservoir, which makes it a bit tricky to…

‘I'm just not making as many mistakes’ Reporting direct from the British Superbike paddock Christian Iddon cannot be ignored in the fight for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship crown. While the spotlight remains on Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell, Iddon continues to, you could say, fly under the radar onboard the Oxford Products Racing Ducati. Two more podiums at Snetterton take his season tally to seven, meaning he's taken to the rostrum in 50% of the races held so far in 2024. Of course, one of those was victory in race three at Knockhill. It puts him a mere 21 points behind Irwin, and Iddon's title credentials cannot be ignored now that he's once again performing like this on the V4 R. Let's not forget, Iddon was in the hunt…

Kyle Ryde led the Yamaha charge on a weekend which proved to be full of ups and downs for the three riders in blue. Ryde podiumed in Saturday's restarted race in the wet, the same race that McAMS Racing Yamaha's Danny Kent crashed out of while leading, before bagging two more top-five results on Sunday. Ryde and Kent, who, despite being a little battered and bruised from the race one crash, are now level on points, 30 behind Glenn Irwin. Kent finished Sunday's races in sixth and fourth, taking his top-six season tally to 11. ‘It was a bit of a dog fight. I had to muscle it’ Ryan Vickers’ home round started brilliantly when he secured pole, but the rest of the weekend didn't go to plan as he…

Jake Dixon is back in the hunt for podiums and victories after an impressive second in Germany. The Brit enjoyed his most competitive weekend of the year to date as he qualified on the front row before unsuccessfully attempting to chase down eventual winner Fermin Aldeguer. “Now we're starting to figure out how the bike works. We still have our issues, but we're starting to close the gap. Happy but unhappy as I thought we could fight for the win today, but I took too long to get past Celestino Vietti.” Ai Ogura was third and informed MCN he is leaning toward stepping up to MotoGP in 2025 with Honda. ‘Now we're starting to close the gap’…

Goes behind the headlines at the latest MotoGP round For the first time since 2009, when just 16 years old, Marc Marquez failed to win a race he started at the Sachsenring. Victory eluded him here. Yet his weekend could be celebrated in so many ways after a brilliant fightback from 13th to second after mechanical issues, a 120mph crash and painful rib injury put his participation in some doubt. In a gritty display, Marc and brother Alex became the first siblings since 1997 to stand on a premier class podium on Sunday. “It was not a good weekend, but this second place covers everything,” said the 31-year old. This is how he did it. 1 sky-high promise Despite winning each of the past 11 races he started at the…