Table of contents for 7 January 2026 in MCN

‘My body doesn’t like Dakar but my brain does’ JAMES HILLIER, P62 DAKAR Hillier heartbreak Sad news from Saudi Arabia: James Hillier’s 2026 Dakar Rally is over on Stage one of the tortuous event. The TT ace-turned rally raider is a very familiar and hugely respected face for MCN readers, and one whose toughness and commitment has blown us all away over the years he’s been chasing his Dakar dream – which is precisely why the news of his early retirement comes as a real kick in the teeth. MCN’s Michael Guy has caught up with James to find out how he’s feeling and what went wrong. Plus, we’ve got the latest news from the other brave Brits who are still battling the shifting desert sands. PAGE 62 BIG TEST…

SAVE £2000 £16,699 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa At over a quarter of a century old, Suzuki’s revered ’Busa is still amongst the best machines on sale for dispatching big miles at even bigger speeds. Long, low, and certainly not lightweight, few other bikes offer the unflappable stability or sheer presence of the 1300. This pre-registered example includes heated grips and comes with £2000 off. bikes.fowlers.co.uk SAVE £1000 £13,945 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro Triumph’s mid-sized Tiger is a package that never fails to impress, it offers a slick triple cylinder motor, excellent ergos, and impressive handling. www.puretriumph.co.uk • Engine 888cc • Power 106bhp • Weight 228kg • Seat height 860mm SAVE £1000 £18,715 BMW S1000RR Sport BMW’s S1000RR has been a massive hit and this latest generation doesn’t disappoint – mixing…

'We can't just stand still' Steve Jobs once said: “Some people say, ‘Give the customers what they want.’ But that’s not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they’re going to want before they do… People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” Sometimes, though, consumers are precisely what drives development in industries that face the risk of being constrained or falling stagnant. A recent survey asked riders: “Do you believe the testing standard for motorcycle garments (EN 17092) – currently rated A, AA, and AAA – would benefit from additional, optional higher levels to show where garments, like leathers, can offer greater protection than the current standard demonstrates?” Almost 300 responded, and 95% said yes. Those involved in preparing EN 17092 almost a…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews THIS WEEK'S STAR LETTER Wearing my shirt with pride Wanted to thank Emma Franklin for the MCN T-shirt that she gave me at the NEC. I’m putting it to good use. At the show I had a mocha with a leaky top and found out it was leaking all over my white shirt. New MCN shirt on and stain gone! Perfect. I made one more round of the show to come back to the MCN booth to say thanks again, but John McGuinness had just showed up with some friends! I’ve attached a photo showing that the shirt is still being put to good use. On an unusually warm Christmas weekend I needed to break in my Christmas present to myself, Bridgestone T33s. One ride, 200…

Last month, I told you that I’m seriously considering buying myself a new Honda Transalp. Well, that’s still very much in my mind, but it did get me thinking about the last new bike I bought – which was also a Honda but this time a CX500. The CX was my first big bike, a W-reg I bought from my local Honda dealer. At the time, it was only £1089 on the road. Amazing! But it was while I was buying that CX500 that I first clapped eyes on the legendary CX500 Turbo. I remember speaking to the salesman about it; it was £3500 – so three times the price of the standard CX500 – and really expensive at the time. I didn’t actually aspire to own one (or the…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Martin Rue The ride Route 66 road trip. We hired three Street Glides from Eagle Rider in Chicago for our 16-day run to their Los Angeles depot When did you go? Sept/Oct 2025 Tell us about the trip… We did not follow all of the ‘66’ religiously, but started in the east staying at Springfield, Joplin (via quick lunch in the Ozarks), then onto Elk City, Oklahoma and Amarillo, TX for a meal at the famous Big Texas Steak Ranch. We did the Cadillac Ranch and the El Rancho hotel in Gallup. From there we headed to Monument, and the Forest Gump road, then two of us did the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Zion, while one of our chaps did a couple of…

JOIN THE MCN PIT STOP BREW CREW www.motorcyclenews.com/pit-stop Wednesday January 14 BIKE MEETS The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe OFF-ROAD Dakar Rally, Saudi Arabia www.dakar.com Thursday January 15 BIKE MEETS Nadee Bike Meet, Lagon Bar & Grill, Findern, Derbyshire 6pm Facebook: Nadee Bike Meet Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk The Whistlestop Motorcycle Club, Rhyl Rugby Sports & Social Club, Rhyl, Denbighshire From 5pm 07544-143494 Vintage Metals, Coleford, Gloucestershire 6pm-10pm www.vintagemetals.co.uk Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk OFF-ROAD Dakar Rally, Saudi Arabia www.dakar.com Friday January 16 BIKE MEETS…

'It has poise and grace' Triumph’s new Scrambler 900 isn’t just a pretty face – it’s fun, easy to ride, and thanks to its new chassis upgrades, flows through corners with poise, grace, and a feeling of lightness, despite its relative heft. The parallel twin’s power delivery is still soft and friendly, making the Triumph easy to ride in traffic or through corners, and it purrs at cruising speed, but it’s also happy to bark angrily on the throttle. It’s safer than ever, too, thanks to its lean-sensitive rider aids, which you’d never know were there until you need them. THE FACTS £10,395 Triumph Bonneville Scrambler 900…

These three bikes are essentially entry-level as far as litre-plus super-nakeds are concerned, and line up as budget options in the bigger picture. The next step up is a big one and takes us away from the conscious re-purposing of engines from bikes of yore, effective though they still are, into the realms of cutting-edge engineering and technical exotica that is almost exclusively populated by European manufacturers. Ducati’s Streetfighter V4 S, for example, makes almost 217bhp and is tricked out with the same chassis, engine and electronics as the latest Panigale, and could be yours for a wallet-bothering £26,795. Keep it to sub-£20k and we’ve got the bonkers KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo pushing out 187bhp, or the 180bhp Triumph Speed Triple 1200RS with its electronic wheelie assist. Aprilia…

Ernst Degner played a starring role in racing’s greatest story, one which had a huge effect on racing and far beyond. The Degner affair was essentially James Bond on bikes – a spy scandal that took stolen East German two-stroke knowhow to Japan. But it wasn’t an easy ride. Degner had the grimmest of childhoods, raised an orphan in war-torn East Germany, ruled by its vicious Soviet-backed regime. He fell in love with motorcycles, trained as a mechanic and started racing in 1952, winning second time out. His skills on the racetrack and in the workshop were soon noticed by Walter Kaaden, a World War Two weapons engineer whose technical skills transformed the two-stroke engine from no-hoper into the dominant force in GP racing. Degner and Kaaden formed a brilliant…

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. 2018-2020 KAWASAKI ZX-10R SE Owner’s rating 4.8/5 The SE adds semi-active suspension to the Ninja but despite receiving praise and a high 4.8/5 overall score, it never sold that well and was discontinued in 2020. 2007-2010 BUELL 1125R Owner’s rating 4.1/5 Erik Buell’s liquid-cooled sportsbike came and went in the blink of an eye. And then returned and died. And has now returned again. Originals drop points for reliability. 1998-2004 SUZUKI TL1000R Owner’s rating 4.5/5 Rapidly becoming a cult bike, Suzuki’s V-twin has a cracking engine but slightly lazy handling due to its bulk. Owners praise its motor but…

Max Bartolini had worked with many special riders during his time at Ducati. Even so, the blinding speed of former champion Fabio Quartararo took him by surprise. “I think in terms of speed Fabio is one of the fastest riders I’ve ever seen,” he said. “He has a great talent at finding the limit always. For sure, if we can find the right package, he can fight for the championship again.” Yet one of the winter’s big stories centres around Quartararo’s plans for 2027. The Frenchman is running out of patience aboard a machine that is clearly inferior to its MotoGP competitors and has stated that he will leave unless Yamaha can provide him a consistent top-five bike for 2026. Is this demand realistic? “I think it’s quite normal,” said…

Well I just found out that my mate James Hillier is out of Dakar. We said it last week, but it really is a bit a bit Russian roulette. You can drop your bike at zero mph and break your arm or go over the bars at 70mph and walk away. James landed awkwardly and that’s that. It’s like going to the TT and crashing at Quarter Bridge and breaking your collarbone in first practice. You’ve spent all year preparing… and it’s all over. I feel for him because of all the work, all the effort, all the emails, all the prep; it’s huge so to go out so early is heart breaking. I guess the question is do you want to have to crash and retire at the start…

Zero Motorcycles’ Country Manager for the UK and Ireland, Dale Robinson told MCN it’s vital to give customers a choice to help nurture the uptake of new technology. “People will choose to ride electric when they can find the right bike for them and not because they’ve been forced to do it,” Robinson said. “There isn’t a deadline for motorcycles yet so really it’s now a choice and I think that’s the best way to do it.” Despite the EU’s stance leaning into this element of choice, Robinson says the announcement could have some negative impacts for electrics. “The announcement has spawned a whole load of free rein for misinformation,” he continued. “People who really don’t want electric for whatever reason have now been given the armoury to manage their…

KTM have pulled the plug on the RC 390, ending global sales of their small-capacity sportsbike after over a decade on the market. The Austrian firm told MCN that the fun-packed single-cylinder machine has failed to secure enough demand in recent years, while the cost of updating its 373cc motor to meet Euro5+ emissions rules would have pushed prices higher at a time when many markets are already feeling the squeeze. As a result, the model will disappear from European, UK, and other international line-ups, with existing dealer stock expected to be sold through during 2026. There is one notable exception, however. Production will continue for the Indian market, where KTM say demand for the RC 390 remains strong enough to justify keeping the bike alive. India is currently the…

Two Wheels for Life are offering a pair of MCN readers the chance to take part in this year’s sold-out Brighton Marathon with MCN Editor, Emma Franklin. As the official charity of MotoGP, Two Wheels for Life raises funds for Riders for Health, an organisation providing motorcycles to help deliver healthcare to rural African communities. In 2026, you can support the charity by joining Team Two Wheels in any running event -whether that’s a marathon, a long walk or a 5k – using two feet as well as two wheels to do good. When you sign up, you will even receive a Team Two Wheels vest. ‘MCN is doing the marathon, you could too’ MCN Editor Emma Franklin will wear her Team Two Wheels vest in April as she tackles…

'Far from being all tyred out…' I was chatting to someone involved in the tyre industry when he mentioned a trend that was causing him some concerns. He works for a leading brand that has been, and still is, involved in sponsoring top-name motorcycle race series. Obviously this tends to put the focus on their sportsbike rubber – however despite the investment it was this market sector in recent years that was causing him issues. According to my mate, an increasing number of riders are doing so few miles that new bike owners are often trading-in their machines as the three-year PCP plan has matured before they have worn out the OE tyres! If you are in the business of supplying replacement rubber, this is a bit of a worry.…

RST Paragon 6 heated gloves £179.99 Winter wonders to really warm you Winter can be a tricky time to ride a bike. Bright sunny days can lull you into a false sense of security as temperatures drop and weather quickly turns. If you’ve recently found yourself getting cold, damp and uncomfortable only to look down at your bike and realise that it too could do with a bit TLC, then you’ve come to the right place. This week, we’ve gathered together some of the best deals on garage essentials and wearable bits to make winter on two wheels just that little bit more pleasant. Take these RST Paragon 6 gloves, for example. They are perfect if you want the thermal warming of a winter glove without all the bulk of…

Although the rival Yamaha TMax is a fully fledged twist-and-go, Honda’s X-ADV operates a semi-automatic DCT system -giving riders the option to either change gear via a hand shift or let the machine take care of it for them. In theory, this would be a similar system to that offered on an eventual Kawasaki hybrid scooter, with the Ninja 7 and Z7 using a semi-automatic push-button set-up, located on the left-hand switchgear. There’s also a pure EV mode for short bursts across town, plus a forward/reverse ‘walk’ mode – handy for paddling in and out of tight parking spaces.…

Q ‘You can claim for surgery’ I had a bike accident in October 2023. It is looking like my claim is not far from completion and my solicitor has sent my financial losses, past and future, to the other side’s legal team with a list of the expenses that I am claiming. I was advised to claim for the private cost of a wrist fusion that my expert orthopaedic surgeon said I will need in the next ten years. The other side is disputing the cost of this surgery. They have said that medical advances over the next few years will mean that I don’t need the surgery and even if I do need it then I can have it through the NHS. Can I still claim the private cost…

My Honda CX500 Turbo was mostly reliable. It had a few issues with the charging system, which I had to upgrade, then the cam chain tensioner would stick (I actually modified my bike’s engine casing by drilling a hole in it so I could tap the sticky tensioner with a screwdriver to un-stick it!), and also my particular CX Turbo liked to blow head gaskets every 10,000 miles or so – but I ended up sorting that problem by making solid copper gaskets for it. But Honda certainly kicked off the whole turbo era – and they did it in the most technologically advanced way, too. Obviously you had the CX500 Turbo, then Kawasaki’s Z750 Turbo, Suzuki’s XN85 Turbo and the Yamaha XJ650 Turbo. I’ve actually got a turbocharger from…

'The Hornet is still king' The new Z1100 SE is a class act, not just in the way it’s put together, but in its sensationally smooth power delivery and confident, assured handling. Kawasaki have refined the platform to make it a real pleasure to ride, and of the three bikes here, it feels the most complete road package. But, and here’s the thing, as a super-naked it lacks edge, which is due in no small part to the sports-tourer characteristics of its engine. Both the Hornet SP and GSX-S have superbike inspired, streetfighter souls, and when it comes to fun factor, that urgency is hard to beat. The Honda in particular has a touch of the hooligan that makes it exciting, involving and addictive; it’s what made it our Bike…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 12 months ON TEST Oxford Heritage 30L Backpack £99.99 Retro style, modern benefits Tested by Ben Clarke for 12 months/ 4000 miles I’ve been especially thorough in my testing of this rucksack, checking its robustness by having it run over by a car – but more on that later. I chose the Oxford Heritage based entirely on its aesthetic, which fits perfectly with the Indian 101 Scout I’ve been riding on the MCN fleet this year. But the added benefit of its waterproof design (waxed cotton outer, waterproof liner which has never let me down) and its cavernous 30-litre capacity made it a practical choice, too – ticking both head and heart boxes. The rucksack has a 1940s military surplus chic and it…

The setup of your front suspension plays a huge role in how confident a motorcycle feels, yet it’s often left untouched for years. If the front end dives excessively under braking, feels vague mid-corner, or chatters over bumps, incorrect setup could be the cause. Like the rear, front suspension needs to operate in the middle of its travel so it can both absorb bumps and maintain tyre contact with the road. Getting this balance just right improves braking stability, steering accuracy and rider confidence. Most bikes allow some form of front suspension adjustment, typically preload, and sometimes rebound and compression damping too. Preload adjustment is the foundation; it sets how much the forks compress under the bike’s weight and the rider’s load. Adjusting preload doesn’t change how stiff the springs…

Neglected transmissions are an all-too-common sight in workshops up and down the country, with many owners failing to give their chain and sprockets the necessary time and attention to keep them in safe order. Here, a motorcycle courier presented his hard-working Honda CB500X to the safe hands at Zenith Motorcycles for an unrelated job, only to be informed that he urgently needed a fresh set of cogs – as his current transmission set-up was way past its prime. Karen Neill, Zenith’s owner, spotted the problem during a routine once-over. “The bike hadn’t come in for the chain and sprockets to be replaced, but while I was checking it over, I saw what a state they were in,” she said. “The rear sprocket wasn’t quite as bad as the front, but…

Looking ahead to the new season of MotoGP action Even a winning machine as well-drilled as Ducati felt the loss of Max Bartolini at the end of 2023. The Italian left to become Yamaha’s first nonJapanese Technical Director, leading Pecco Bagnaia to state the Japanese factory had gained a “huge advantage”. There’s a lot riding on this winter for Yamaha. The Iwata factory is attempting to hone the new M1 V4 into a competitive challenger and convince lead rider Fabio Quartararo to sign for 2027 and beyond. MCN sat down with Bartolini to understand how the company have changed since his arrival, and whether the V4 project is on track. How have Yamaha changed since 2023? “When I arrived, it was the first time that I’d worked in a Japanese…

MCN Sports Editor and adventure riding expert An innocuous low-speed crash near to the end of Stage one has brought a premature end to James Hillier’s Dakar 2026. It’s a bitter blow for the 40-year-old who was competing in the Original by Motul class where riders are allowed no outside assistance. Hillier had finished 52nd in the Prologue and completed Stage one in 59th place despite having to ride the final 70km of the timed special stage and then the 100km liaison with a fractured right arm. Speaking to MCN, a devastated Hillier said: “It was just a shitty little fall onto some rocks, but I just ended up landing on a rock on my arm. It was literally walking pace, my airbag didn’t even go off, but it was…

New RAC research shows 82% of surveyed UK drivers believe tougher measures are needed to tackle drink-driving, as fatalities have risen to their highest level since 2009 – accounting for a fifth (18%) of all road deaths. According to the RAC, the number of motorists who know or suspect they have travelled with a drink driver has doubled in 12 months. The RAC spoke with 2395 drivers. Sharpen-up with Ducati's experts Ducati have opened registrations for their 2026 Riding Experience Academy, expanding the line-up with the new Panigale V4 R, fifth-generation Monster and Hypermotard V2. Courses for the year span Road, Rookie, Track Warm Up and Racetrack programmes, including one-to-one options on MotoGP circuits Mugello and Misano. Visit www.ducati.com to take part. AJS get retro with new scrambler AJS Motorcycles…

Ducati are strengthening their UK dealer network with the return of Ducati Nottingham, now operated by the Startin Group. The refreshed East Midlands dealership will offer the full Ducati and Scrambler range, apparel, accessories, and authorised servicing. Based in Beeston, the showroom is scheduled to open in early 2026, with an official relaunch event planned to mark the occasion. £2399 Kymco scoot arrives Kymco are bringing a new scooter to UK roads with the introduction of the Micare 125 – priced at £2399 plus OTR charges. There’s no details on specs yet, but Kymco describe it as a ‘feature-rich urban commuter-without the premium price tag’. The Micare will debut in two colours: matte black or silver, and comes with a two-year warranty and a free Datatool stealth tracker. Mallory Park's…

Send your bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com…

THE DETAILS Thursday-Tuesday 9am-4pm, Wednesdays 9am-8pm The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, United Kingdom, CH7 4HR Fresh from being voted the UK’s best motorcycle café for 2025, the Old Stores is most definitely one Pit Stop you don’t want to miss. Located in the gateway to Wales, the café has been going strong since it opened in 2019 and part of its success has to be the exquisite décor inside. “We’re a motorcycle café full of motorcycle memorabilia,” says Jack Ledward, co-owner of the café with dad David. “It’s a private collection by my dad that’s been ongoing for 40 years. But it’s all biker themed. We’ve got one of Barry Sheene’s helmets as well as one that belonged to Kenny Roberts. In fact, we’ve got hundreds of helmets on display…

Behind the scenes in the world championships MAX BIAGGI MotoGP > WorldSBK 13 500cc/MotoGP victories 21 WorldSBK victories 2 WorldSBK titles The biggest success story between the two world championships concerns Max Biaggi. A four-time 250cc World Champion and nearly-man in a Rossi-dominated era of MotoGP, Biaggi walked away from the premier class at the end of 2005. After a year’s sabbatical, he entered WorldSBK with Alstare Suzuki and became the first rider to win both his first 500cc and World Superbike race – and only the fifth rider to win their first WSBK race. Biaggi reconnected with Aprilia in 2009 and just as it was in 250s, this was a dream partnership. In 2010 Biaggi won 10 races and secured the title with a 75-point lead over Leon Haslam,…