Table of contents for 17 September 2025 in MCN

THE KIT YOU NEED MCN’s off-roading experts show you exactly what kit you need for every ride, from adventure to enduro MAIN TEST The start of the Adventure It’s now well over two decades since BMW’s R1150GS Adventure made its way into showrooms around the world – and bikes were bought up as fast as they could be built! The R1150GS Adventure is not only the next machine in our Motul Bikes of the Era series, but it’s also a bike that changed the whole landscape of motorcycling, and opened up the world to a new epoch of exploration. PAGE 33 FEATURE Farewell to the Nürburgring The Nürburgring has always been a biking magnet like no other. The 12.8-mile Nordschleife circuit essentially acted as a no holds barred toll road,…

Motorcycles were involved in a third of all collisions where defective surfaces were a factor in 2023, a new study has shown. Analysis by Go.Compare found 84 of 242 reported accidents involved motorcycles. Kent recorded the highest number, followed by Essex. In total, there were 17,765 collisions involving bikes, with around 13% affected by conditions such as roadworks. New Husky singles ready for action Husqvarna have announced the release of a refreshed 701 range, consisting of an updated Enduro and Supermoto – based on the latest KTM 690 platform. Priced at £10,499, the updates to the pair’s orange siblings carry over to the new Husky duo, meaning a heavily revised engine with roughly 50% of its internals new. There’s also fresh bodywork and new tech, including improved rider aids. Zapp…

SAVE £2635 £19,965 BMW R1300GS Adventure TE BMW’s R1300GS is still the creme de la creme of the adventure world. Now better than ever, it genuinely is do-it-all capable, from crossing continents two-up, to commuting, green laning, or trackdays – whatever you envision, if you’ve got the skills to back it up, the GSA can deliver. www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/sycamore-peterborough SAVE £1300 £17,299 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa Suzuki’s cult classic is still among the best in the business for churning out big miles at eye-watering speeds. www.kcsuperbikes.co.uk ● Engine 1340cc ● Power 187bhp ● Weight 264kg ● Seat height 800mm SAVE £1000 £25,210 BMW M1000R Superbike quick, BMW’s super naked flagship is a serious bit of kit – yet it manages to be just as flexible and easy to ride as the less powerful…

‘Winglets, or £7k in your bank?’ Just when everyone aside from BMW seems to have decided that making a litre sportsbike for the road is a bit of a waste of time, Suzuki have decided to relaunch the GSX-R1000R. And I use the term ‘relaunch’ rather than ‘launch’ because when you dig through the spec sheet, the ‘new’ GSX-R1000R looks a lot like the old GSX-R1000R aside from small engine tweaks to help it meet emissions, sharper bodywork with winglets and a bigger exhaust. But hey, if it worked for Honda with the CBR600RR who am I to argue? I don’t want to bash a bike before it has even arrived (that won’t be until early 2026) but I just don’t get it. Even when sportsbikes were selling the GSX-R…

Monimoto 7 Tracker £109.99 Safe, secure and well looked after The advent of autumn and inevitable trudge into winter is as much a part of biking in the UK as scorching bank holiday weekends and trackdays – some might even say it’s the bigger part! Happily, there’s still plenty of riding to be done, whether you crack out the heated kit and textiles to brave the conditions or wait for a bright, dry Saturday to sneak in a quick blast. Whatever autumn/winter means to your riding, it’s an excellent time to do a spot of servicing or even start a project, and this week’s bargains are perfect for that. Whether you’re parking up for the winter or riding through, a tracker is a great addition to your security armoury and…

The first Zyon is a modular design, targeting riders who already invest in premium helmets and want added protection for their health. But the company are already looking ahead, telling MCN that a conventional full-face version with a sealed neck-entry system is in the works, alongside more affordable options which may lose extras such as the brake light system but which will retain filtration as standard. Longer term, Zyon plan to licence their patented filtration technology to other helmet makers, opening the door to wider adoption in Asia where pollution is particularly acute. “The mission is to improve safety and health,” Tanguy Uzel concluded. “We don’t want to be another niche brand – we want to compete with the big ones.”…

Q ‘Can ChatGPT win my case?’ I recently used ChatGPT to help me figure out who was responsible for an accident. Is there anything stopping me from using it to run the case myself? I feel it could save me money, and every penny counts right now. Oliver, email A Using ChatGPT or another AI language model to manage a personal injury claim on your own may seem like a cost-effective solution; however, this approach would carry significant legal and practical risks, and I strongly advise against it. While AI can be a helpful support tool, it is not a substitute for professional legal expertise. You may not know whether you’re asking the right questions, and, more importantly, you won’t be able to tell when the answers given are incorrect…

The Dirt supplement in this week’s issue is a great resource for anyone who loves off-road already or is thinking of giving it a go. I’ve got a KTM 300 EXC TPI in the garage and I do a little bit of green laning on that. Me and some friends tend to go around North Wales because it’s close to where I live, but we also go and do a little bit of enduro riding on tracks. In terms of training for bike racing and keeping fit it’s fantastic. It’s really fun and is certainly a lot cheaper than racing. Maybe I should try and do it professionally, it is cheaper after all. I was thinking about maybe trying trials as I have a trials bike as well – that…

THE UK’S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite short routes If you fancy breaking your continental riding duck, or have limited time for a big trip, the run from Calais to Le Touquet is perfect. Taking the coast road on a sunny day, through quaint villages and onto the Cannes-a-like Le Touquet makes you feel like you’re deep in France… but you can still see England when it’s clear. If you live in the southeast you can easily do it in a long day. Once you’re off the train head to Blériot Plage and follow the D940, keeping the English Channel on your right. It’s scenic all the way and if you do a dawn raid to get an early Eurotunnel crossing, there’ll be time to stop for a…

The Buccleuch Arms Hotel The perfect biking stop on the way to the highlands or to experience everything that southern Scotland has to offer. High Street, Moffat, DG10 9ET www.buccleucharmshotel.com Seaways of Fridaythorpe With holiday lets, camping and glamping, if you’re planning to ride in Yorkshire, this is the perfect stop for you. Fimber Road, Fridaythorpe, Driffield YO25 9RX www.seawayscafe.co.uk Tan Hill Inn Ever been to the highest pub in Britain? Well, with rooms for the night, space to camp and cracking homecooked food why not make a night of it? Long Causeway, Richmond DL11 6ED tanhillinn.com…

‘Different in every sense’ While the LFC 700 may not have the go, it does have an abundance of show and a presence that will turn heads. Different in every sense, it’s well put together with plenty of attention to detail, although some elements, such as the rear mudguard, do feel like something of a regulation-meeting afterthought. It delivers the goods with a feel-good factor that only comes with certain oddball machines – as a fun, fair weather cruiser with little concession to practicality, it’s bang on. For all its bonkers image, it’s easy to live with, manageable, and will no doubt make sense to somebody. THE FACTS £9199 OTR Benda LFC 700…

Brendon Ball Age 75 Current bike Honda MT250 Elsinore “My wife Natasha is Ukrainian, and for several years we had been supporting a dental supply charity called Smile Menders, running supplies out there. “I had some involvement with Horizons Unlimited, and the talk was that the outgoing 1150 was the thing to have – not the new, 1200 just coming in. I went to my local dealer to look at the 1200 anyway, and realised you couldn’t switch the lights off. I asked about the possibility, in case I wanted to keep a low profile somewhere in the world you don’t want to be seen – the dealer advised it wasn’t possible. So that made the decision: I bought a 2005-built, new 1150 from Germany because it was a considerable…

THE FACTS ‘Arguably the most beautiful 125cc motorcycle ever built’ Everyone has to start their two-wheeled journey somewhere and if you were a 17-year-old in the early 1990s, you wanted a Cagiva Mito 125. In fact more than that, you lusted after one and would probably have done just about anything to scrape together the quite frankly terrifying £3369 (including sticker kit…) it cost to have this achingly beautiful bike in your parents’ garage. So, what made the Mito so special? Everything. Making its way over to the UK in 1991, the Mito (which means ‘myth’ in Italian) was a learner-legal superbike. After the Yamaha RD250LC caused the new rider laws to be ripped up and replaced with a blanket 125cc and 12bhp limit in 1983, learners turned to twostrokes…

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. 2004-2010 SUZUKI V-STROM 650 Owner’s rating Powered by an SV engine, Suzuki’s adventure bike is a brilliant do-it-all. It scores well in most aspects but its old-school nature (TC arrived in 2017) sees it drop a few points. 2003-2010 CAGIVA RAPTOR 650 Owner’s rating The SV engine is a tried-and-tested unit but the rest of the bike seems to suffer from a few issues. More so later ones (post-2006) with Cagiva’s own fuel-injection system. 2004-2009 KAWASAKI KLV1000 Owner’s rating Effectively a re-badged Suzuki V-Strom 1000, the KLV is a better bike due to its improved fairing as well as…

When an under-loved Honda CB125F limped into the yard of Mark 1 Motorcycles, it quickly became apparent that the pair of tyres it was booked in for were the least of the little commuter’s worries. On his way to the Edinburgh-based mechanic, the rider had lost all use of his back brake. The culprit: a rogue nut on the braking torque arm, which had left the whole drum assembly free to spin around unencumbered. “You’d usually have a locking nut, or a split pin, so it could never happen. Whoever last attached it hadn’t bothered, and it’d unscrewed itself and fallen off,” said workshop owner Mark Stanford. “The rider said he’d crashed the bike on his way in because the back brake locked up when he pressed it. “With the…

The Italian fans won’t have enjoyed watching Marc Marquez win the MotoGP race, but they did at least get the chance to celebrate one VR46 Academy member’s triumph on Sunday. For the second consecutive Moto2 race at Misano, Celestino Vietti was the one who came out on top, having enough in the bag to fend off the resurgent Barry Baltus. It’s Vietti’s first victory of 2025. Rueda sneaks it Jose Antonio Rueda edged closer to the Moto3 title in Misano when he dived down the inside of Maximo Quiles at the final corner to secure his eighth win of 2025. The super-fast Spaniard is now 78 points clear of Angel Piqueras heading to the flyaway rounds. Adrian Fernandez completed the podium for Leopard Racing. Scott Ogden finished 15th, but Eddie…

Paddock veteran delivers his Misano GP verdict A season defining victory in the San Marino GP has effectively cemented Marc Marquez’s claim to a seventh MotoGP world title – completing an extraordinary comeback from physical and mental demons. Marquez has put a lock on a seventh premier class crown equalling the record of Italian legend Valentino Rossi, adding another dimension to their infamous and long-running rivalry. Marquez clearly sensed the significance of this exhausting victory, his 73rd MotoGP win and 14th for Ducati, at what is Rossi’s home track. He resisted the relentless speed and pressure of Aprilia ace Marco Bezzecchi in an absorbing contest, arguably the toughest of 11 wins so far this season. And the path to ending the nightmare of five years in the championship wilderness. A…

Yamaha’s chief focus was elsewhere. But as the V4 YZR-M1 made its race debut, their full-time riders struggled to impact the race with Fabio Quartararo once again left frustrated by the inline four’s lack of performance. And Monday’s test with the V4 didn’t help. The Frenchman worked miracles on Saturday to qualify third. And both races started promisingly, as he circulated in fourth, just behind the podium fight. Yet he crashed out on Saturday, and was powerless to stop a wave of Ducati attacks into Turn 8 on Sunday. ‘I’ll not answer what potential there is…’ A combination of a lack of power plus high levels of vibration and rigidity meant the current Yamaha M1 was difficult to ride in both outings. “Physically that was really tough,” he said. “We…

‘When will Fabio race on the V4?’ Yamaha’s new V4 didn’t complete its first race weekend in a blaze of glory but the all-new machine (it’s NOT just a new engine) showed great promise in the hands of test rider Augusto Fernandez. The former Moto2 world champion qualified 1.3s off pole and his best race lap was 1.4s off winner Marc Marquez’s and nine tenths off Fabio Quartararo’s on Yamaha’s inline-four. And he finished both races, even scoring points on Sunday, though only because six riders crashed out. The new M1 uses a 90-degree vee, like Aprilia’s RS-GP. Ducati’s Desmosedici, Honda’s RC213V and KTM’s RC16. (In fact the RC16’s vee is 86 degrees, to save a few millimetres in engine length.) A V4 can make more power than an inline-four…

“If your stance is poor you have to work so much harder to get into the right position. When people put their knees forward and their elbows are low, then the bike gets loose. The bike will also want to understeer and you’ll be having to hold on, which causes fatigue. “Riding with your toes on the pegs means your heels drop and you run a risk of snapping your Achilles if you hit a hole or land a jump. “Riding with your head down means you’re not looking far enough ahead. It’s easy to focus on logs or rocks in our way. We want to see obstacles but not look at them.”…

Greg Gilson’s ‘old lady’ started life as a 1980 Honda XLS 125, but was fitted with a Zongshen 200cc motor for the race. “I had tested a 28mm carb for more power to attack the dunes, but it was consuming too much petrol. In Morocco there are absolutely no parts for this kind of machine, but I had a 27mm Chinese carburettor, that I bought for €25, and it worked well with the original airbox right away.” The larger tank is from a Honda XLS 125 Jumbo. “There are only two complete bikes in France. An Instagram follower let me borrow it.” Greg regularly rides the dunes with a stock frame bike (he has a few of these bikes), but this is an exact copy of original frame, made from…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 2500 miles ON TEST DMD 865X Tablet £735 Remote 2 £215 OMD Scan M1 £75 ‘21st century navigation’ Tested by Michael Guy for one year The DMD 865X is a tough, shock and waterproof 8in Android tablet that comes with its own DMD mapping and offers a wide range of additional navigational features. These include distance to the next turn and clearly identifiable types of tracks. The size of the screen, combined with the handlebar-mounted DMD Remote means you can quickly zoom in and out of where you are riding and where you’re heading without having to take your hands off the bars, which is an absolute game-changer. This, combined with the extremely crisp and bright screen, makes navigating on the fly so…

KTM have confirmed the production start dates for their missing larger capacity models first seen at the back end of 2024 – with assembly beginning on many machines later this year, and the 1390 Super Duke GT now set to arrive in 2027. “The excitement surrounding the new model lineup has been tremendous, especially after the announcements at EICMA and other national trade shows,” KTM CEO Gottfried Neumeister said. “By focusing on achieving complete readiness, we are confident that the new models will offer superior performance and innovative technology that will set new standards in the motorcycle industry. We can’t wait to bring these bikes to our riders soon.” KTM restarted some production in Mattighofen, Austria in April this year following financial turmoil and a 90-day ‘self-administration’ period, which began…

MCN dealer of the year revealed New Yamaha models incoming Green lanes under threat After years of competing across various capacities in motocross (namely the 125, 250 and 500 classes) Yamaha made the shock decision during this week in 1988 to focus on solely the 250cc class. Yamaha’s Lin Jarvis (who went on to head their MotoGP squad) said at the time: “It’s a gamble we’re taking, but we believe the future of the sport lies with the 250 class.” New model news Sticking with Yamaha, the firm also announced the imminent unveiling of three new models, and one of them would be in the UK. Although Cologne would get the first look of the FZR1000 and the FZR600, the FZR750 was expected to be held back for the Earls…

GRAB YOUR WELCOME GIFT TODAY Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer Thame Museum in Oxfordshire is honouring the life and career of local businessman, road racer, and Velocette specialist, Ralph Seymour. The R.F. Seymour Exhibition began on Saturday, September 6 and will run until Saturday, October 25. The opening day attracted around 300 visitors – including a number of classic vehicle owners, whose vintage bikes and cars lined the street. A number of motorcycles were also brought along by the family on the opening day in tribute, including a 1967 Velocette 499cc Thruxton, and 1939 Velocette 348cc KTT Mk VIII. Ralph was a famed for his Velocette restorations, tuning and race preparation – operating out of his multi-brand motorcycle dealership in the town, which opened in 1960. Prior to this,…

Oxford Syphon £6.99 Not even the petroliest of petrolheads likes a gob-full of dino juice when syphoning a tank. This cheap and simple gizmo from Oxford will do away with the need for that gruesome taste test and will give you great satisfaction every time you think ‘I have just the tool for that’ and head out to your shed. www.oxfordproducts.com Laser Tools Emergency Tyre Repair Kit £25.15 Laser Tools’ take on the tyre puncture repair kit comes in a handy carry case and includes a rasp and insert tool with heavy-duty handles, valve fitting tool, pencil-style tyre pressure gauge, spare tyre valves and caps. You’ll have to supply your own inflator, as there are no canisters included. www.lasertools.co.uk Nexx Y.100R Subsonic £209.99 This new sports-touring option from Portuguese firm…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE WORLD’S WARMEST BASELAYER® www.zerofit.co.uk…

THE DETAILS Open for camping all year 220 Sixtowns Road, Draperstown, Magherafelt BT45 7BH If you ever find yourself looking to camp in Northern Ireland, set your satnav for the Shepherd’s Rest. “We’re dead centre of Northern Ireland,” says owner Colin Doyle, keeping it in the family since it was founded by his grandfather in 1930. “You can spend five days here and go somewhere different every day.” Along with a free pool table, showers, toilets and even a dedicated cottage where you can make a brew and get a fire going, the pub is open every day for a feel-good stop off (yes, they serve tea, coffee and chocolate as well as beer, and have earplugs and WD40 on the counter) or an evening filled with entertainment with bands…

1 September 19-21 National Finals The National Drag Racing Championships are heading to Santa Pod (NN29 7XA) this weekend for the finals. Whether you camp or go for the day, it’s the perfect weekend for the family with drag bikes, junior dragsters and plenty more. Admission is £69 for the weekend or £27 for the day. santapod.co.uk 2 September 20-21 Pistons and Props Get ready to ooh and ahh at the sky and ground at Sywell Aerodrome (NN6 0BN) this weekend. Squeezed full of classics, there will be displays, live music, air displays, vintage stalls and more. Tickets are £18 for the day. www.sywellclassic.co.uk 3 September 21 Show and jumble This Sunday at Hamstreet, Kent (TN26 2JD) the Romney Marsh ride in show and jumble is go! There will be…

Yes, we’ve touched upon on it already, and you’re probably well aware of Ewan/Charley’s televised exploits. The first episode beamed into Sky boxes in October 2004: while their round-the-world effort was heavily supported compared to other prominent solo efforts by the likes of Ted Simon, Nick Sanders and Kevin/Julia Sanders (no relation), it still told a story of people, nations and ways of life that were relatively closed off to us in pre-social media, limited web access times. The pair also clearly weren’t high-level riders, or experienced moto-travellers: in spite of a crew following (let’s not forgot cameraman Claudio on a third bike, who didn’t have a licence and failed his test shortly before departure), the naivety and humility of two ordinary riders getting stuck into a tough trip resonates.…

Throughout its life, the main thorn in the Mito’s side both on track and the road came from Aprilia. Initially it was the AF1 Futura but in 1992 the RS125R Extrema emerged. Powered by a Rotax-designed 125cc two-stroke, the Extrema looked just like the firm’s 125GP racers and as well as a polished aluminium beam frame and inverted forks, the Aprilia came in GP livery and even had an SP version. Aprilia continued to build the RS125 throughout the 1990s and it was generally more popular than the Cagiva due to better distribution and the ease of getting spare parts, which is why it became the bike of choice for the Superteen series. The RS125 two-stroke was officially discontinued in 2012 when the new four-stroke RS4 replaced it.…

Brake bleeding is one of those maintenance jobs that might sound intimidating, but it’s an essential part of keeping your motorcycle safe and responsive on the road. Over time, air can creep into the brake lines, whether through fluid changes, pad swaps, or simply from long periods of use. Old or contaminated fluid can compromise stopping power, making the bike unpredictable in emergency situations, as the air in the brake lines compresses when the lever is squeezed, giving a spongy feel instead of a firm bite – not something you want when relying on your brakes! The good news is that bleeding brakes isn’t just for professionals. With some patience, the right tools, and a methodical approach, it’s a task you can do at home. The process involves forcing fresh…

Looking ahead to BSB’s Assen pilgrimage 1 Redding’s the favourite PBM’s Scott Redding heads to the Netherlands, arguably, as the favourite. Time in MotoGP and World Superbikes means he has a tonne of experience at Assen, whilst he also did the double in British Superbikes in 2019. His winning margins in 2019 were 4.977s and 3.385. Redding podiumed twice in Moto2, once in MotoGP and twice in WSBK. Redding has the speed, momentum, machine, and the mindset to hit the track and scoop all three races. His reason for being back in BSB is to have fun, enjoy racing again and to improve race by race. Redding doesn’t have a title fight to think about either due to his late arrival into the championship this year. Kyle Ryde and Brad…

Looks into the other side of the Ducati garage It’s tough to watch Pecco Bagnaia struggle so badly this season. Such is his popularity, helped by his polite, friendly nature, those within the MotoGP world don’t like watching him flounder. Bagnaia’s Sprint race woes continued on Saturday as he finished 13th for the second time in the last three sprints [finishing 14th in the other]. This was followed by a crash from eighth on Sunday. His disastrous season has taken a turn for the worse in the last four rounds. Let’s be fair, at the beginning of the season, whilst still being comfortably beaten by teammate Marc Marquez, Bagnaia was still bagging podiums, and even took a single win at CoTA courtesy of Marquez’s crash. Over the last four Sundays…

ROUND 16 MISANO MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 MARQUEZ M 512 pts 2 MARQUEZ A 330 pts 3 BAGNAIA 237 pts 16 Ogura 69pts 17 Miller 58pts 18 Mir 50pts 19 Rins 45pts 20 Martin 34pts 21 Oliveira 24pts 22 P Espargaro 16pts 23 Nakagami 10pts 24 Savadori 8pts 25 Fernandez A 8pts 26 Chantra 2pts FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP 11 Fernandez R +24.592 12 Miller +27.492 13 Martin +29.937 14 A Fernandez +61.504 15 Chantra +61.932 16 Zarco +1 lap DNF Bastianini 16 laps, Rins 18 laps, Bagnaia 19 laps, Acosta 20 laps, Viñales 23 laps, Ogura 25 laps, Mir 27 laps FINAL POSITIONS SP RACE 11 Zarco +15.49 12 Ogura +15.6 13 Bagnaia +16.129 14 Miller +16.727 15 Vinales +16.861 16 Oliveira +17.576 17 Rins +18.716 18 Fernandez A +27.893…

Welcome to MCNDirt our 32-page supplement where we get into everything off-road. Away from racing the TT or competing at Dakar, one of my favourite things to do is to ride off-road. It’s always been my passion and I just love the freedom it gives me, along with the camaraderie when I’m out riding with my mates. I normally ride an enduro bike, but I’ve recently bought a 1990 Honda Africa Twin and I love it! It really is a bike I never knew I needed until I got it (you can read all about it on page 16). Now I’m making plans to do some events and some proper travelling. I really want to start making some memories with the old Honda because there definitely is something special about…

It’s not just about looking the part, having the right kit for your ride is paramount for not only safety but also comfort and enjoyment, too. We’ve all been wet and cold, desperately wishing we’d put on another layer or remembered our waterproofs and on the flip side we’ve all overheated at some point – neither scenario is fun. Riding off-road is physical. You need to be able to move, but it’s also the environment where you’re most likely to fall off – making protection key. We’ve looked at three different types of riding to explain what to wear and why you need it.…

A safety initiative has launched in Wales with the introduction of ‘PRIME’ road markings, designed to help riders negotiate bends more safely. Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates said: “Motorcyclists are amongst the most vulnerable road users… PRIME is an effective way to help reduce risks.” Four trial sites have been installed across Gwynedd, Llangollen, Llanbadarn Fynydd, and Newtown. Honda SP-1 could be yours for a fiver One lucky winner is set to nab a Honda VTR1000 SP-1 for just £5 as part of a competition running next month with dealership Doble Motorcycles. The V-twin is up for grabs with entries closing at midnight on October 12. Entrants must answer a question correctly to qualify, with the winner revealed on Facebook Live the following day. It’s open to UK residents aged 18+.…

Stars of superbike racing past and present were out in force last weekend as the annual Goodwood Revival once again provided a window to a bygone era of motorcycle racing. While the weather may have done its best to soak through the period costume that many of the 150,000 attendees likely spent weeks, if not months, preparing, it did little to dampen the spirits. The theme as you entered through the main pedestrian gate this year was the Summer of Love, channelling the spirit of San Francisco in 1967. It was a similar feeling within the motorcycle paddocks, with the 2025 edition of the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy catering for Grand Prix motorcycles of the 1960s. Manx Nortons accounted for more than half of the entry list, accompanied by a…

‘Beware of slide times’ At MCN’s 70th anniversary event at the National Motorcycle Museum I was asked why so few clothing brands quote slide times in their marketing. What are the rest hiding? The truth? Nothing. This is because ‘slide time’ doesn’t appear in clothing standards. The original standards for clothing (EN 13595), gloves (EN 13594) and footwear (EN 13634) measured relative abrasion resistance, calibrated against a reference fabric, with samples tested to destruction. Clothing and footwear faced a harsher abrasive belt than gloves, so a fabric may appear to last three- to three-and-a-half times longer on the glove test. The current clothing standard, EN 17092, works differently. It’s the apparatus coming to a stop that ends the test, not the failure of the test specimen. The question isn’t how…

ORDER BOOKS OPEN WHAT’S NEW IN TECH? Spanish startup Zyon are shaking up helmet design, creating a new lid that promises not just crash protection, but a healthier ride, too. Their debut modular helmet, now open for pre-orders, offers a number of smart features, including a brake light, electronic safety monitoring, and a filtration device, which (along with a near totally sealed fit) can prevent over 80% of exhaust fumes, toxic gases, and allergens from being inhaled. The latter system is a potential lifesaver with bikers reportedly 100 times more exposed to pollutants than car drivers and the World Health Organisation (WHO) now marking air pollution as the second biggest killer worldwide. The idea came to CEO and co-founder Tanguy Uzel while commuting through Paris during his engineering studies. “I…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER IN ASSOCIATION WITH ‘Pace of life is spot on’ I enjoyed Saffron’s account of her ride around Kerry (MCN, September 10). I rode it last year having caught the ferry from Holyhead. The roads are brilliant – far better than in the UK and once you’ve left Dublin you have it virtually to yourself. The differences between the UK and Eire are dramatic and the pace of life is slower and more peaceful. The scenery around The Ring and beyond is breathtaking but as Saffron discovered – it’s not green for nothing and I find May/June are the drier months. I’ll be doing it again, but as a retiree I’ll wait for a sunny dry week! Mike O’Callaghan, Leeds Continuing our partnership with Zerofit…

I’ve just got back from a three-day trackday at Mugello. We arrived just after the Dainese testing, which was quite cool because everyone was coming out as we were going in and there were a load of fans outside waiting for autographs. I saw James Hillier and had a chat with him, and he said how much of a good time he’d had on the track. I’ve been lucky enough to have been to a Dainese event in the past, namely at the TT in 2010 and I got to meet Lorenzo there. I would have loved to have been on track with them last week, but they would probably have just obliterated me! Obviously, Mugello is a pretty iconic Italian racetrack so the opportunity to ride it is always…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Denis Mallett The ride To Hell and back Bike Kawasaki Versys 650 How many miles? 5124 / 18 days When to do it July/August Tell us about the trip… Inspired by the article from Saffron Wilson last year about crossing the Oresund Bridge to Sweden, I felt I had to go and experience it for myself. Broadly the journey was Eurotunnel, through France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and return via the same countries but taking different routes. Temperatures ranged from 32°C in the Arctic Circle to about 12°C near Fortun in the Norwegian mountains where snow was still evident. Some funny place names too like Rebbelberga in Sweden and, of course, Hell itself. Highlights? Seeing Santa Claus in July. Visiting Hell (it’s in…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop ‘Garage grandeur’ TONY PEEK Doesn’t come out of the garage often, it has zero rider aids and is uncomfortable for my old bones… but just look at it! ‘Slink around Scotland’ JIM KELL I took a ride to Kirkcudbright then Girvan and finally back to Dumfries, then home. It was a sweet 350 miles in the sun. ‘Kielder cruising’ GARY MILLER Cracking 188 miles up the A68 from home to Kielder Forest drive and then home via Bellingham and Allendale Stanhope with Jason Lee. ‘Dorset to Devon’ TONY STONE I’ve had a delightful few hours visiting some favourite locations in West Dorset, with a foray into East Devon – a 171-mile sortie in total! ‘Summer lovin’ SIMON BOYLE The lads and I…

‘I could take it for lap two’ The original GSA barely feels its age – only its modest power and awkward feel when stationary really separate it from more recent models, which have got both faster and more rider-friendly. It’s superbly designed, engineered and produced by a team who knew touring, or overlanding, is about more than a spec sheet – it’s about finer details, and almost subconscious comforts to the rider to give them the best chance of cracking out big trips, on road or not. After a day in the Cotswolds meeting Brendon, I hopped on the M4 to return the GSA to Stuart with a genuine tinge of sadness (not least because I’d be swapping back to a spartan naked bike for the 175-mile trip home), because…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 7551 miles ON TEST LS2 Dragon Enthum £379.99 ‘Well-trained Dragon’ Tested by Justin Hayzelden for five months The carbon-shelled Dragon is new to LS2’s line-up for 2025, dropping in below the race-ready Thunder range with intentions for sporty touring and everyday riding. I’ve been using it as my on-the-road office for road testing, commuting and generally getting about, finding it versatile and comfortable enough for all-day use, whatever the weather. As with most of LS2’s helmets, the Dragon has the intermediate oval shell shape. I’m generally a size M, and the fit is bob-on straight out of the box, reassuringly cosseting, with no troublesome pressure points conspiring to ruin my ride. The interior fabric feels smooth and soft against the skin, and even…

Braking challenges With bikes generally set up for the faster, more flowing parts of the track, the first section is a stark contrast – incredibly tight, technical, and demanding maximum precision from both rider and machine. The Northern Loop sets the tone for the lap with its tight and technical sequence from T1 to T4. This section requires sharp braking and careful throttle control to maintain momentum whilst setting up for the exit onto the straight. The transition from the slow T5 (De Strubben) onto this high-speed stretch is critical for maximising acceleration and achieving top speeds of over 170mph. Stekkenwal (T8) presents a heavy braking challenge as riders decelerate into the tight right-hander after carrying high speed through Ruskenhoek. Precision is key to maintaining control whilst preparing for the…

‘It’s horrible to watch Pecco’ I don’t care what anyone else says, but being on home turf is worth a couple of tenths a lap, just ask Bezzecchi! If you arrive there thinking this is my local track, I love the place plus I’m a VR46 man and Rossi is watching (and you owe it all to him) then you’re either going to go up the road or you’re going to go fast. And it wasn’t just Bez, Marini was seventh after the best part of two years being last. Bez kept Marc honest right to the flag, which is something that hasn’t been done for a while. But even then, if you dissect things down you’re left asking the question ‘where are Marquez’s limits?’ How fast can he go?…

Reporting from the heart of MotoGP for over 35 years 1 Stars align in Misano Marco Bezzecchi didn’t win at Misano on Sunday. But something inspired him to come achingly close. Was it the location… close to his Rimini home town and the VR46 training ranch? Was it the record crowd… many waving “72” banners in his own dedicated grandstand? Was it the Aprilia… best-yet version of the other Italian V4, in the team where Bez has taken the leading role? Or was it a moment that has been threatening all season, with growing force since his opportunistic victory at Silverstone back in the summer? Probably all of those things, combining for the 26-year-old to produce what he acknowledged was “the best race of my life”. It took everything that…

‘Unlike any dirt bike’ In more than ten years of road testing, I’m hard pressed to think of a bike that has both surprised and impressed as much on its debut. The Varg EX has such a broad operating window; it can be ridden slowly and precisely and has an incredible balance to it for the slower, more technical stuff. Yet when its upper modes are unleashed, it’s unlike any other ‘dirt’ bike; it goes like a superbike on treaded rubber, yet it still offers a high degree of finesse and ease. And all of this in a package that lasts for longer than I can off-road, and that can be easily charged. It’s impressive to say the least. Compared to internal combustion, there’s less maintenance, fewer vibes, and no…

First aid You can’t prepare for every eventuality, but a basic first aid kit that includes a tourniquet is a real must. Leatherman Comes in handy for all sorts of minor fixes. Depending on where you’re riding, consider a spare inner tube and the tools to change it, along with gaffa tape, cable tyres etc. Dog tags Gives emergency services your name and next of kin as well as detailing any medical conditions. Tyre pressure gauge Given the need to lower pressures off-road to increase grip, it’s wise to take out the guess work. Hydration A camel back means you can stay hydrated all day long – a must for concentration. Power pack There’s no point in having a phone if it goes flat. A small power pack will easily…