When word got out about the RS 660, we were all pretty gosh darn excited. We rode the RS last year and, despite not being able to firmly place it in a particular motorcycle genre, were pretty impressed with its peachy little engine, the way it handled and its space-age tech. That said, the...
When you’ve sold as many Monsters as Ducati have – more than 350,000 – you know you’re onto a winner. But whilst the Monster 1200 always seemed to be exactly what it said on the tin (a Monster), its smaller sibling, the Monster 900 never seemed quite as monstrous as I’d have liked….
BMW has finally given the S 1000 R a long-overdue update; it’s 5.1kg lighter, it’s got a new chassis and yes, before you ask, it does include the newer spec S 1000 RR based engine… sort of. Ok, it’s not in the same 200bhp+ state of tune and you don’t get shifting cams, but essentially, it’s…
This weekend, BSB are back at Thruxton, one of the best circuits in the world, and the fastest circuit on the BSB calendar. The Hampshire circuit is fast, flowing and mega grippy, but apart from seeing it on the telly, or watching it from the side-lines, you’ve probably never... Read more
The news that Dani Pedrosa and Cal Crutchlow will once again be on the MotoGP grid has got me a little bit excited. I know it’s unlikely either of them will be at the very sharp end (although I’d love it if they were), but it’ll be fantastic to... Read more
BMW have just announced a brace of new R 18 models, and they’re as whopping as ever. The R 18 Transcontinental and the R 18 B… B is for Bagger. They are calling the Transcontinental a ‘Grand American Tourer’ and the B, well, a ‘Bagger’. Both models come with... Read more
As I write this, I’m celebrating my 31st birthday. Happy birthday to me, and all that. And, as per every other birthday I’ve ever had, I woke up this morning feeling exactly the same as I did the day before. Certainly not feeling a year older, anyway. And although... Read more
Most of us have, at some stage, had a run-in with the law. We might have accidentally crept over the speed limit or ran a dangerously small numberplate. These days, the most minor misdemeanour could land you in serious hot water, if you don’t know how to play the... Read more
After much speculation as to who would replace Franco Morbidelli at the next rounds of the MotoGP Championship, it’s been revealed. Yamaha’s official test rider Cal Crutchlow will replace the injured Morbidelli at the next three rounds. That’s the Styrian GP (Red Bull Ring), the Austrian GP (also Red... Read more
Its just been announced that Kawasaki’s second fastest superbike rider Alex Lowes has signed a new multi-year contract to remain with the Japanese factory for another year at least. Despite getting off to a bit of a rocky start at the beginning of the year, missing a bunch of... Read more
Whilst watching the Knockhill round of the British Superbike Championship a few weeks ago, I was reminded of a very busy weekend there, almost fifteen years ago. It was back in the day when I was racing an old CBR600RR in the British Superstock 600 Championship. It was an... Read more
There was more edge-of-your seat racing from Assen this weekend, as the World Superbike Championship continued it’s stunningly unpredictable form. All three nail-bitingly close races were won by non-other than the Kawasaki riding, BBC Sports Personality of The Year short-lister Jonathan Rea. With a commanding championship lead of 37... Read more
Lots of us like the idea of having a bike with all the bling bolted to it. Akrapovič this, Dymag that, and Öhlins the other. And I think we’re right to. The right aftermarket kit can make even the blandest standard motorbike, that little bit more special. It might... Read more
With 52 victories, 94 podiums and three World Superbike titles, Ducati golden-boy Troy Bayliss doesn’t need any introduction. Neither, to be fair, does the Panigale V2 (despite it not winning any world championships). But this does. It’s the epically named ‘Ducati Panigale V2 Bayliss 1st Championship 20th Anniversary’. Because... Read more
