Table of contents for 3 January 2025 in MCN

TOP STORY Ducati stole the show in late 2023 when they launched their new 659cc Superquadro Mono engine – the highest revving and most powerful road-going single-cylinder yet produced, kicking out a claimed 76.4bhp in standard spec. Pretty soon, it found a home in a brand-new supermoto family consisting of an £11,295 Hypermotard 698 Mono and £12,195 RVE variant, going toe-to-toe with KTM's £10,399 690 SMCR for top dog in the road-legal hooligan class. Although fast, focused, and great fun, many had hoped last November's 2024 EICMA trade show in Milan would be the launchpad for a more mass-market model using the Superquadro engine – with the existing stance, chassis, and architecture already lending itself to a rugged all-terrain travel bike. Those dreams have now been squashed, with Head of…

The rugged middleweight adventure bike market is experiencing a resurgence and 2025 looks set to see this multi-purpose class hit new heights of competitiveness. Alongside established models, such as the KTM 890 Adventure R, Husqvarna Norden 901, Yamaha Ténéré 700, BMW F900GS and Suzuki V-Strom 800DE, there are new budget-conscious Chinese-built arrivals entering the scene in the shape of the CFMoto 800MT-X, Voge DS900X and now the Benelli TRK 902 Xplorer. Despite its historic Italian name, the Xplorer is built in China by Benelli's parent company, Qianjiang Group (also known as QJ Motor). One of China's largest two-wheeled manufacturers, Qianjiang produce more than 1.2 million vehicles a year. However, only the production is done in China, the Benelli Style Centre and R&D facility is still based in Pesaro, Italy, to…

Former Grand Prix motorcycle racer and Isle of Man TT winner Tommy Robb died late last year at the age of 90. The Northern Irish rider's racing career highlights included multiple North West 200 victories in the 250cc class between 1959 and 1965, as well as an Isle of Man TT race win in 1973, competing in the Ultra Lightweight category aboard a Yamaha. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather and of course everyone's racing hero Tommy Robb,” a statement from his family read. “Thank you for all you did for us as a family and all the years of memories not only with us but that you have given across the world of racing with all the fabulous stories…

An MCN reader from Lancashire is celebrating winning a brand-new £10,656 Yamaha MT-09 Y-AMT, and over £600 worth of Furygan riding kit, courtesy of our insurance comparison site MCN Compare. George Stoddart, 72, from Clitheroe won the 890cc semi-auto naked after entering the competition online when getting a quote for his beloved Triumph Tiger 100 SS. “I can't believe it. Christmas came early this year,” Stoddart told MCN after taking delivery of the bike from Raceways Yamaha, in Fleetwood. “I was already looking for a Yamaha MT-07, or Suzuki GSX-8S, but I couldn't believe it when I was contacted,” he continued. “Last Christmas I got a Lego MT-10 to build and this year I've got a full MT-09! I still couldn't believe it until I'd got it home in the…

‘It has made all the difference’ Ride to the Wall has not only given motorcyclists an opportunity to come together to remember the fallen, but it has also given those who have served and their families a chance to come together and remember, too. For some, it has made all the difference in the world. “My family liaison officer is John Foster,” says Martin. “John lost his son in Afghanistan and his name is on the wall. “John came to the Arboretum for two years. He rode up from Essex, got into the car park and had to turn around and go home. He couldn't come in. The following year one of my committee brought him in and brought him up to the wall to see his son's name. “John's…

months ON TEST Big Dug 2x 200kg Garage Shelving, 1790h x 900w x 450d mm £192 My garage storage capacity has been completely transformed thanks to Big Dug's shelving units. For the sake of roughly 90 minutes of construction, they've been worth their weight in gold, but that wasn't my first impression. When I unboxed them, the metal frames themsevlves felt so featherlight that I had the impression they were going to topple over before I could finish them. But I persevered, joining the constituent parts using a rubber mallet on the double lip connectors, and by the time I was putting the high-density fibreboard shelving in, it seemed to have the weight and solidity to hold serious loads without any difficulty. It's rated at 200kg per shelf, which is…

Grand Pitstop Puncture Kit £26.99 1 use This kit comes in a handy leatherette pouch a bit like a small washbag and as soon as you pick it up you notice the weight. I've used the Ranger Stork kit (also an Amazon special) previously, which weighs considerably less with its simpler and more manual tools. I've only repaired one puncture with the kit but it's really easy to use. If you want to use this kit as a wilderness repair option then you'd have to get some CO2 canisters (adding to the cost) or carry a pump (extra luggage) but the repair itself could be done anywhere. Quality Value www.amazon.co.uk…

What better way to celebrate the arrival of 2025 than by buying a new bike? It certainly beats staying up to watch fireworks or singing Auld Lang Syne arm-in-arm with people you don't really know. There is nothing guaranteed to bring a smile to your face faster than the thought of a new (to you…) set of wheels all ready to make 2025 a year to remember. If that sounds like a good idea to fend off the winter blues, here are five great used bikes that guarantee to make the New Year very happy indeed… YOUR EXPERT Jon Urry is MCN's used bike guru. He's ridden all of these bikes on both the road and track, even managing to get his knee down on occasions. Let him guide you…

£10,000-£12,000 (2017-2018) The first homologation-special Ninja ZX-10RR arrived in 2017 in the cool ‘Winter Test Edition’ flat ebony paint scheme complete with snowflake on its screen. Featuring a tweaked head to allow racers to fit high-lift cams, DLC-coated tappets, reinforced cases, 7-spoke Marchesini wheels and a quickshifter, this RR isn't as high-spec as later models and that means its price tag is lower. BUYER BEWARE • Check the lightweight wheels for dings, they can be a touch fragile when subjected to potholes! • The RR is designated as a single seater, so no taking passengers. • Ensure you get the ‘RR-branded’ ignition key, it's unique to this model. • Give the radiator a good inspection for damage or corrosion. A new unit will rinse your wallet for £600. • 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. 2018-2019 Yamaha YZF-R1M Owners’ rating Aside from a poor OE brake pad compound choice and a high price tag, owners seem very happy indeed with their sporty R1M purchase, scoring the bike 5/5 overall. 2018-2021 Kawasaki ZX-10R SE Owners’ rating Three owners have reviewed the SE version of Kawasaki's litre sportsbike with its semi-active suspension. They love everything aside from the price, a blow softened if you buy used. 2017-2023 Suzuki GSX-R1000R Owners’ rating Suzuki's R makes for a great road sportsbike that the seven owners who left review online rate highly. That said, the bike's lack of equipment…

After retiring in August, Sunderland couldn't stay away from Dakar for long and will start a new desert chapter as a co-driver in 2025. He said: “Jumping in the car with Toby Price is a super-cool opportunity that came up pretty last minute. It's going to be a case of jumping in at the deep end with a couple of weights tied to our feet – I'm just hoping we can swim! We've got a lot to learn and I've actually been quite surprised how violent it is in the cab because I always thought the cars guys had it cruisey and just sat there! Like all sports, you don't know until you try. “In most parts it's easier than being on the bike, it's just the way your head…

Happy New Year! I hope you had a brilliant Christmas and managed to get out on your bike for some of it. My family took our annual trip to the Plum Pudding Races at a very foggy Mallory Park; there was talk about one or the other of us competing, but concerns about leathers being too tight put pay to that! But here we are in 2025 and it's a big year for us here on MCN as we celebrate our 70th anniversary. We've lots of special activity planned, and it all kicks off at the Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show from February 14-16. Turn to page 16 to find out more about what's in store as well as how to book your tickets. In the paper itself, we'll…

Aprilia have given their geared 125 range a tickle for 2025, upgrading the four-bike line-up with a smattering extra technology and a cosmetic refresh to sharpen them up. The single-cylinder, four-valve, liquid-cooled motor powering the quartet has now been overhauled to meet Euro5+ standards. In terms of performance, there's 14.8bhp at 10,500rpm and 8.5lb.ft at 8500rpm to play with – which puts the Italian machines at the limit of CBT and A1 licence restrictions. The sportier pair in the foursome, the RS125 sportsbike and Tuono 125 naked continue to use the same aluminium twin spar frame as before – making them the only bikes in their class not to use cheaper steel kit. Despite their modest outputs, both also get traction control and ABS at both ends. They come with…

The British Motorcycle Racing Club (better known as Bemsee) is set to host an all-new Honda CB500 series for 2025, the winner of which will officially take the accolade of British Champion thanks to the series gaining ACU championship status. Dubbed the Bemsee Thunderbike 500, the series will run on its own grid next year and thanks to sponsorship from Fyne Audio and SF Parts, boasts a £5000 prize pot. The season kicks off for the year at Brands Hatch Indy on March 14-16, with further meetings to follow. Racers will be split between four classes which are intended accommodate newcomers to seasoned racers alike. These include a rookies-only division and three weight-based categories: lightweight (sub-75kg), middleweight (75-95kg), and heavyweight (95kg+). And don't forget that CB500 racing brought to the…

Neil Hodgson and Chris Walker will join MCN in celebrating 70 years of being Britain's biggest and best loved motorcycle publication at next month's Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show. The pair, who need no introduction, will reignite their rivalry from 2000 when they fought to take the 2000 British Superbike Championship, and will also face off against 23-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness, current TT lap record holder and British Superbike star Peter Hickman, plus BSB ace Lee Jackson in a barbashing battle of the ages! Flat track pros will be in the mix, too, with multiple British Flat Track Champion and FIM Flat Track World Championship competitor Jack Bell and rival world championship challenger and former British Superbike rider, Tim Neave, on the grid. With the…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com My very first bike was an Autovap moped, then this Tiger Cub bought with a dismantled engine in 1966. Chris Aisthorpe With my first new bike aged 16 in winter 1981. I've still own and ride my second new bike a 1982 DR125S. Adrian Warren It was originally white but I trashed it on third party (no talent). Brought it back to life in black. Ross Stothard This is a picture of my old Suzuki in 1988. It was 12bhp and the first five-speed gearbox on a bike sold in India. Moses Meskin Taken around 1986, me, age four channelling my inner Evel Kneivel on my little PW50. Mark Ryan My late father-in-law, Desmond Asprey, a captain in the Scots Guards on a…

JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS • Fri-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-2.30pm, bike nights 6pm • Unit 9, Rockhaven Ind Est, Gloucester, GL1 1AJ Oily Rag are primarily a motorcycle lifestyle clothing operation, but in 2018 they branched out and created a café in Gloucester. The idea was to not only make sure there was a fresh brew available for any bikers that wanted to come and hang out, but to make the place into a proper destination. More recently, Oily Rag have changed hands, and now co-owner Archie Mann is at the helm, fresh from his previous job at lid brand Ruroc next door, and he's keen to keep the brand thriving. “We're six months into it now. Since we took over it's been…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday January 1 BIKE MEETS ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ Amici Coffee Biker Night, Girtford Bridge, Sandy, Bedfordshire www.amicicoffee.co.uk ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Hangover Meet, Ace Cafe, Stonebridge, London 10am 020-8961-1000 or www.london.acecafe.com ■ Brooklands New Year's Day Classic Gathering, Brooklands Museum, Surrey 01932-857381 or www.brooklandsmuseum.com ■ Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe RIDE-IN ■ New Year's Day Ride-In,…

BMW TRIUMPH…

It's already looking like a huge year for biking. There's a whole host of new tech hitting the market, such as the introduction of semiauto gearboxes, some of the most powerful and exotic machinery we've ever seen in the sporty and naked sectors and on the flipside, there are some absolute bargains. Combine that with incredible new additions in the smaller capacity segments, and we're absolutely spoilt for choice, no matter what flavour of motorcycling floats your boat. So, what are we most keen to see this year and what should you be getting excited about in 2025? Time to check out what's coming up… CARL STEVENS DEPUTY EDITOR Ducati Panigale V2 S • £16,995 • 890cc • V-twin • 118bhp • 68.8lb.ft • 172kg (wet) Having owned a Panigale…

Optimate 4 Quad Program £82.90 There's nothing worse than getting all dressed, only to prod the starter and find your battery has given up the ghost. A trickle charger can prevent such an occurrence by drip feeding juice when the bike's not in use, and I've been using the Optimate 4 to ensure my bike is always ready to rock. It does a lot more than just manage the charge though, as it conditions battery health through a series of programs to prolong life. The Optimate 4 can also recover a battery that appears completely depleted – a reg/rec failure on my TRX850 left the battery with no detectable charge, but the Optimate 4 brought it back to life in a matter of hours. Quality Value optimate.co.uk 3 months ON…

The last five months with Honda's enormous adventure tourer have been a real joy. Few bikes I've ridden over the years have clicked with me like the Africa Twin. Wonderful engine, classy styling, commanding stance, excellent handling… there's so much to like. Compared it to its rivals, its OTR price is appealingly cheaper (Ducati's Multi V4 S is £21,495, BMW's R1300GS TE is £19,145) – but I'd swap Car Play for a quickshifter any day. Here are my top five recommendations for making the ATAS as good as it can be. 1 Quickshifter £337 Noticeably missing on a flagship big adventure bike – and once fitted, it is so good and makes riding the Africa Twin so much more pleasant that it feels like it really should just come with…

£3500-£5000 (2003-2006) When Kawasaki relaunched the ZX-6R B1H they made it 636cc, which meant it wasn't eligible for World Supersport so it had to have a homologation-special RR sibling. Identical to the 636 bar an adjustable swingarm pivot and 599cc motor with a close-ratio gearbox, slipper clutch and forged pistons, it makes less power than the road bike but adds kudos. BUYER BEWARE • The B1H runs a slightly odd 120/65 size front tyre. Most riders simply fit a 120/70 but always check it is recommended by the manufacturer for use on the Ninja. • Check it is a true RR via the VIN plate. All RRs were green. • Check for warped or worn front discs. New units are £250 each from Kawasaki. As the Ninja runs individual pad-per-piston…

We really are in a golden age of accessories. All of the stuff that's available these days is spot on, both in terms of the range of stuff available as well as its quality, so let's give credit where it's due. The GBRacing products fitted to this Honda CBR600RR go on absolutely perfectly, and that's no coincidence – it comes down to good design and tight production tolerances by the UK manufacturer. I've visited their factory here in the UK and it's staggering how much care and attention goes into designing and producing each and every item. They even have their own proprietary blend of material, which contains glass fibres for superior heat resistance and sliding properties. It really is top-notch stuff. However, that reputation comes with a downside, as…

KTM have confirmed that former Grand Prix race winner Jeremy McWilliams has been dropped as a test rider by the brand after 15 years of development work. “Due to the changing economic conditions affecting KTM AG, we have decided not to renew our contracts with external research and development test riders. Instead, we will rely on our internal test ride teams to continue developing future KTM models,” a statement read. “We extend our gratitude to Jeremy for his significant contributions over the past 15 years in keeping our products Ready to Race. We hope to maintain a positive relationship and look forward to the possibility of collaborating again in the future.” Officially confirmed to MCN on Thursday, December 19, the news came little more than a month on from the…

The world's biggest BMW meet-up will return to Garmisch-Partenkirchen for 2025, with Motorrad Days once again taking over the Bavarian mountain town from July 4-6. Marking the 20th anniversary of the event, the three-day celebration at Garmisch's Hausbergbahn promises a host of activities to please Beemer fans. Last year's show acted as the launch venue for the brand's flagship R1300GSA adventure bike, equipped with a monster 30-litre fuel tank and controversially chunky looks. Full details for 2025, including the list of activities and ticketing, will be announced closer to the event.…

Husqvarna have teased a tricked-up concept version of their Vitpilen 801 naked, adorning the middleweight roadster with a selection of high-performance aerodynamic goodies. The one-off special is purely a concept at this stage, but it could hint at future plans to introduce a racier, more hard-edged Vitpilen in the future – perhaps similarly specced to KTM's 990 Duke R. The standard machine is hardly lethargic, but Husqvarna have further stripped away the excess mass while adding a smattering of carbon throughout. A handful of handmade custom components take the sports styling up a gear, too. The Husky's riding position, meanwhile, is more committed with different bars and more aggressively placed rearsets. Performance figures aren't mentioned, and the concept's KTM 790 derived 799cc DOHC LC8c parallel twin motor appears unchanged on…

Two men have been jailed for assaulting a man in his 60s, after he confronted them for riding off-road motorcycles anti-socially around children in a public place. The offence occurred on Keresley Recreation Ground in Coventry at just after 4pm on June 20 of last year and left the victim in need of hospital treatment. Jamie Townsend, 36, and Thomas Black, 29, were arrested the following day and sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on December 9, 2024, having pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH). “Townsend and Black attacked a man who was concerned for the safety of children who could have been injured by their irresponsible use of motorbikes in a public park,” DS Rich Walker of Warwickshire Police said. “In a better world, they could have…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH A collection of unremarkable white factory buildings in Sakura, Japan, could house the key to Honda's future – all-solid-state EV batteries. The New Year will see it come to life as a demonstration production line begins rolling, using equipment and methods developed to mass-manufacture the solid-state batteries intended to power a future generation of lighter, cheaper and longer-range electric motorbikes. Solid-state batteries are widely seen as the silver bullet for electric vehicles and promise huge strides to address all the shortcomings of today's state-of-the-art lithium-ion options. They're smaller, lighter, more resilient, faster-charging, use more easily sourced materials and pose less risk of fire, as well as promising reduced costs. Honda's initial design, due in production EVs in the second half of the 2020s, is expected to…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader James Giggins, aged 58 ¾ The ride Grand Tour of New Zealand's North and South Islands How many miles? 4326 Tell us about the trip… My Grand Tour was a recce for where I might settle in my plan to emigrate. I hired a BMW F800GS from Randal at Auckland Motorcycle Hire based by the beach at Maratei. That set the scene for the rest of the tour. Starting in Auckland I headed north into sub-tropical rain forests, then open vineyards and mile after mile of twisties. Back down through Auckland on the only three-lane motorway, then up to the Coromandel. Down through Hobbiton at Matamata to Lake Taupo. Day rideouts included a long loop around Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro aka Mt Doom…

The BMW R1300GS comes in two main options – R1300GS or R1300GS Adventure with the standard bike's prices starting at £16,470 and the Adventure's at £18,870. Both use the same 1300cc engine (with identical gear ratios), but the ‘big tank’ Adventure is the more rugged option and as such comes with 20mm more suspension travel front and rear, spoked wheels, a taller seat height (870/890mm) and a 30-litre tank (up 11 litres on the GS). As a result, it weighs 32kg more wet. Both come with the option of BMW's new Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) fully automated clutch for £755 extra and both can be specified in TE, which adds a stack of optional extras (sold individually as Packages) including DSA, Gearshift Assist Pro and more. The BMW GS TE…

After Martin Dickinson retired from a career made up of being in the police force, the army and the prison service, he didn't take a load off and think he'd done enough - he just couldn't sit still. So, instead of sticking on the slippers and grabbing the nearest book, he put his time to good use and became the brains and the drive behind the annual Ride to the Wall (RTTW). Thanks to Martin, every year in October thousands of motorcyclists from all over the country, and the world, descend on the National Memorial Arboretum in Burton-onTrent to pay their respects to the fallen. Now in its 17th year, the numbers have ballooned to 13,000 people with 8000 bikes and are showing no signs of slowing down. Martin is…

FIRST RIDE If you want to look like you've ridden in from the year 2050, few bikes are as convincing as the Naxeon IAM Pro. It's not just the striking silhouette, unusual front end and electric powertrain that make it feel futuristic, but the dizzying wealth of gadgets. It boasts front and rear cameras, blind-spot radar, touchscreen dash and connectivity. There's no key. It can even perform a song-and-dance show, flashing its multicolour lights while playing drum & bass through a concealed speaker. Cringe or cool? It probably depends on your age. Light and lean Despite its radical looks the IAM Pro (and no, it's nothing to do with the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists) doesn't feel weird to sit on, with a 800mm seat height, a flat handlebar position, and…

Halfords Advanced Torque Wrench Model 60 £115 I've always felt I had a pretty good feel for how tight bolts should be on my bike – treading that fine line between being too loose or, equally bad, over tight. But a friend of mine once questioned my unjustified confidence and said. “If you're not following manufacturer's settings and using a torque wrench then the chances are every bolt on your bike will either be too loose or too tight.” He had a point, which is why three years ago I got one for Christmas from my dad. It covers from 12-60Nm and has a 3/8in drive meaning that it does everything I need it to apart from wheel nuts as they are out of range. It's easy to use and…

I had some outstanding rides on my KTM in 2024. Riding Spa Francorchamps was pretty special, as was a tour of the Picos and Pyrenees with my mates, but the highlight has to be the day I rode from Antibes to Grenoble. The south of France plays host to some of Europe's most breathtaking roads and scenery. Best of all, you can get there in a couple of days from the UK, or even one if you do your best Nick Sanders impression. Basking under golden skies, the rocky coastline from Marseille to Monaco doesn't seem to know the meaning of bad weather and unless you're unlucky it's generally warm and sunny, even in the winter. The locals are motorbike mad and just inland from the deep blue Mediterranean are…

£6500-£7500 (2011-2012) The first top-spec Daytona model is based around the old platform (underseat pipe) and adds Öhlins, Brembo, a quickshifter (up only) and a dash of carbon. Relatively short-lived, it has a feeling of being a bit special thanks to its eye-catching paint and smart components and does ride better than a stock model. It's worth the extra £1000-£1500 it will set you back over a basic 675. BUYER BEWARE • Look for an Fi warning light, the Daytona's exhaust valve (located where the three header pipes merge into one) seizes in position. • The reg/rec is a weak area. Check using a multimeter across the battery's terminals when the bike is running. It's not expensive to replace but can damage other systems. • Listen for a rattle from…

£8500-£14,999 (2014-2017) The Blade SP has more upgrades than you might imagine. As well as the usual Öhlins and Brembo, the SP's riding position is more aggressive, it is a single seat only and the inline four has been gas-flowed to up its performance. Yet, despite all this, the SP is still very much a Blade at heart and that means it never feels out of place on the road or overly harsh. BUYER BEWARE • ABS wasn't standard fitment, but most UK bikes have it fitted. It adds 10kg but is a good system that was used by the TT Legends team in World Endurance. If fitted, ask when it was last serviced as it is expensive to get its fluid changed. • Check for damaged lugs on the…

Looking ahead to the toughest race on the planet RACE READY Starting today (January 3) the 47th edition of Dakar kicks off in what promises to be another brutal, highly contested race. Running for the sixth time in Saudi Arabia, the battle for supremacy between factory HRC and KTM riders is at fever pitch, but don't rule out a surprise from newly crowned world champions Hero Motorsport or new kids on the block Kove. To gain an understanding of the challenges ahead and which riders and teams are in the best shape, MCN spoke to Britain's most successful ever Dakar competitor, Sam Sunderland. The 35-year-old has won the arduous event twice during what has been a stellar career, but announced his retirement from racing bikes earlier this year. However, he…