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.

Hello

Young guns go for it • Ducati chase younger riders with their new, lighter, techier and funkier Monster. And the trellis frame has gone too…

Wheelies are cool again • Aprilla’s new tuono 660 promises fun, frivolity and harmless hooliganism…

Meteor hits Earth • From out of nowhere Royal Enfield’s new 350cc Meteor is set to wreak havoc on the tiddler market, with a little help from Google…

Analogue, at a price • If you’re tired of modes this and bluetooth that then Guzzi welcome you to their new V7. But… less doesn’t mean cheap

Monstrous CB • The brief called for a ‘classic bike with a new look that could be used on a race track’. The solution: cross a Honda CB900 with a Ducati Monster

Time gentleman, please • If you suspect you’re too old for racing, sportsbikes, or general misbehaviour, take a leaf out of Tony Serra’s book...

McPint joins the MBE crowd • Morecambe motorcycle racing legend added to already illustrious roll call

Lorenzo’s up and downs

Buy Casey’s Desmo

Return of the Green Card

New Ducati clobber out

Team-mate perfection

Deals on wheels • New year, new showroom stock... which means dealers doing eye-rubbing deals on last year’s demonstrators. Buying ex-demo really is the way to save a fortune

Seamless gearboxes • Just like the MotoGPers the next generation of sportsbikes will have seamless shifting. Ben Purvis takes a close look…

52.579708, -0.646246 • Type into Google Maps and go here.

‘I’d just written off my XS500’

‘No tech may be my undoing. So be it’

Bike

A SPORTING CHANCE • ‘A new era begins’, say Aprilia, but does their road focused RS660 really reignite the sportsbike spark? The most thorough – and first –UK test reveals all…

The Dakar 2021 • Despite all the current Covid world could throw at it, this year’s Dakar Rally went ahead in its usual spectacular style…

Confessions of the... Shed Heads • The next best thing after riding a motorcycle is faffing, in a shed, with one. Better still if it’s a full-blown project…

The family project

The full-circle project

The eternal dream project

V85 goes into extra time… • Guzzi raid the extras cupboard for their latest version of Bike favourite, with mixed results…

Peter Williams: Godspeed • Innovator, engineer and multi successful racer Peter Williams was a unique mix of talent and lack of confidence. A skilled competitor more at home beating the track and getting the best from his bike than he was going elbow to elbow with his fellow racers…

CUT PRICE NOT CORNERS • When it comes to shaking up markets and redefining what bikes can be, little is off the radar for Triumph. Their latest target? Well, if you’re looking for your first big bike you’re in luck…

Lowes aims high • In 2021 Sam Lowes aims to become the first British rider to win the intermediate grand prix world championship since Phil Read took the 250cc world title way back in 1971.

The comfort of strangers • When you pack your life onto the back of your motorcycle and head off round the world two things are certain: you will have problems, and you will need help. From other...