BIKE

BIKE is packed with road tests of new bikes and inspirational riding stories, with fantastic places, amazing races and extraordinary people. Created by a passionate and expert team of motorcycle riders, Bike makes you feel part of the amazing motorcycling world. Our three main areas of content are... Road tests: We ride and test all the latest bikes, from tourers to retros. Riding: We take motorcycles to the four corners of the UK, and the four corners of the world Extraordinary travel stories: amazing races, extraordinary events and astonishing bike people.

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Team Bike • This magazine is made by the most talented team of bike journalists, writers and photographers in the universe. Here's what they've been doing this month.

BIKE

‘Ridiculou s? Of course’ • Got some wheels from an off-road lorry and a 150bhp KTM V-twin engine lying around? There's only one possible solution: build a monster chopper…

Smoother Tiger • Triumph remove some of the Tiger 1200‘s growl with a modified crank and balance shaft. Will that fix the vibey mirrors?

Against all odds • To ride a bike in Beijing costs £55,000 per year. Really. No wonder custom builders can relate to underdogs…

Red Bull gives them wings • KTM's collaboration with the Red Bull F1 aero gurus means the RC16 MotoGP bike has sprouted yet more wings. KTM technical director Sebastian Risse explains what's happening where

Future Shotgun • This is an almost standard Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 cruiser. Really. The company's design chief explains how they did it

Paton S1-R Lightweight • Paton have been making racers since 1958 so the 60th Anniversary model of their S1-R was a tad late when it arrived last year. But who cares when it's so lovely? Here's what the road version of Michael Dunlop's TT bike actually does…

GET IN GEAR • The latest word in swanky riding gear, desirable bolt-ons and must-have goodies for your pride and joy

‘Dramatically changing temperatures as I descend on to Highway 1’

‘No fool like an old fool’

The greatest Italians of all time • Some of the world's most iconic, desirable and plain handy bikes have rolled out of Italy. We assemble a panel of experts and engage in a verbal bunfight to decide the best of them all

‘From the very first time I saw it, I knew it was special’ • It's 30 years since Ducati launched the sportsbike that changed the shape of motorcycling – and that still influences design and expectations today. Ducati's chief test rider during its development, Andrea Forni speaks exclusively to Bike and reveals the background story of project 2887: the 916

‘We nearly didn't even go to the launch…’ • Phil West recalls how we almost dismissed the 916… before the world changed forever

Centre of the biking Universe • ‘Made in Italy’ is the tag you'll find on some of the most desirable bikes, clothing, parts and accessories. These are the brands that put Italy on the biking map…

GREATEST OF THE GREATS • Statistically there is no question who is the greatest bike racer of all time. We wangle an exclusive interview (and go for a ride) with the legend that is Giacomo Agostini

Leading the techn ology fight • Italy's bike brands are racing ahead when it comes to cutting-edge electronics and tech – and Ducati's new Hypermotard 698 Mono shows they're not slowing down

Brembo • They employ 15,000 people in 15 countries, have eight R&D centres, supplied the brakes used to win 35 of the last 37 MotoGP titles, and have an annual revenue of over €3 billion. We take a rare poke around Brembo's factory…

DECISION …D S… ECISIONS • Fancy some charismatic Italian adventuring in 2024? Who wouldn't? Well, good news: Moto Guzzi don't just have one new adventure bike for this year, they...