Your Ride

  • DAY RIDE: Wales in the winter

    DAY RIDE: Wales in the winter

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    Heading from Shropshire over to Cardigan Bay, this stunning 84-mile joyride is sure to put a smile on your face. Dave Manning reveals all… The ride in brief: The route covers roads great and small. This is not a fast ride; the roads can be busy, and they are best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.…

  • RIDDEN: Yamaha NMAX 125

    RIDDEN: Yamaha NMAX 125

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    It’s not Bruce’s usual style of ride, but he’s whizzed around Barcelona on the NMAX. Here’s what you need to know… Yamaha’s sold nearly 400,000 NMAXs globally in 2024, and it’s likely to prove even more popular next year after a comprehensive overhaul. Here’s our take on the next-generation NMAX 125 It’s time to be…

  • BMW: Concept & updates

    BMW: Concept & updates

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    BMW’s ‘F’ range has sometimes been overlooked in the past, which is a shame. The Bavarian bike-mongers was ploughing a lonely furrow in the parallel-twin world nearly 20 years ago with the original F800 models, and now everyone’s in on (arguably) the dullest of the two-cylinder layouts. It must be fuming. But not too much,…

  • Flying Flea: From Royal Enfield

    Flying Flea: From Royal Enfield

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    One thing you can’t accuse Royal Enfield of is underselling its heritage (and rightly so). The firm’s British ancestor firm built small, folding 125cc R.E. model motorbikes for Allied paratroopers in the Second World War, nicknamed the Flying Flea. They were dropped into battle alongside the soldiers, giving quick, easy field transport and communications in…

  • CFMOTO: V4 Engine

    CFMOTO: V4 Engine

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    Here’s one from the left field: Chinese budget bike maker released imagery of an all-new V-four superbike-spec engine at the Milan Show – and just about no facts about it. Dubbed the V.04, it’s a 999cc 90° V-4, making around 210bhp, and will, according to the firm, be ‘competition ready’ which, we assume, means a…

  • DUCATI: Panigale and SF V2

    DUCATI: Panigale and SF V2

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    Last issue we got our first sight of the new Ducati V2 engine – an 890cc DOHC non-desmo 90° V-twin, making 115 or 120bhp, but with a new lighter construction, tipping the proverbial scales at 54.5kg. We pondered whether such a unit would be phat enough (he means powerful enough – plain English Ed) for…

  • HONDA: 750 twins updates

    HONDA: 750 twins updates

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    It’s fair to say that both of Honda’s latest 750 twins – the XL750 Transalp and CB750 Hornet – weren’t crying out for any updates… Alan Dowds tells us what we need to know… Launched less than two years ago, the naked roadster and upper-middleweight adventure machines have wowed customers with their solid performance, high…

  • SUZUKI: DR-Z4S/M

    SUZUKI: DR-Z4S/M

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    Alan Dowds reports… There were plenty of famous guests wandering around Birmingham NEC at Motorcycle Live last month, and we half expected to see Marty McFly and Doc Brown on the Suzuki stand. Because it was back to the future for the Japanese brand, which unveiled the new DR-Z4S and SM at the show. The…

  • MV AGUSTA: F3 Competizione

    MV AGUSTA: F3 Competizione

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    Its parent firm Pierer might be suffering financial woes, but MV Agusta keeps turning up to bike shows with outstanding machinery. This F3 Competizione is a solid upgrade to the firm’s 800 supersports weapon, with radical aerodynamic bodywork, and an even more radical weight loss programme all over. The engineers have cut wet weight to…

  • APRILIA: 2025 updates

    APRILIA: 2025 updates

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    Alan Dowds reports… Aprilia had a heap of updates and new kit at the Milan show, with the neat little Tuono 457 catching the eye. As with the RS457 sportsbike, the mini-Tuono has kept things premium, with the only aluminium frame in its class, together with preload-adjustable suspension: 41mm USD front forks and a rear…

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