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 UK

Ducatis in the desert (and Cagivas on the road)

Desert X lands • Like an adventure bike, but lighter, leaner and better looking. Ducati’s new Desert X is a reality and we can’t wait to ride it…

The weight is over • Triumph’s big capacity adventure range gets a radical revamp; more power and T-plane crank, but they’ve lost weight too

Norton focus on luxury • New prototype V4CR cafe racer has crowds swooning, though expected price is a worry

Working 9 to 5 • 2022: year of the adventure bike? Very possibly. John Westlake inspects MV’s new 9.5 and 5.5…

A Gold Star for effort • Half a century after disappearing from dealers, one of biking’s most famous names is set to return with an audacious retro

A decade of dapper • 2022 will be the 10th anniversary of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Founder Mark Hawwa tells Bike how £23,600,000 for charity is just the start

McPint’s Joey moment? • John McGuinness will ride a factory Fireblade at this year’s TT, aged 50. Can he emulate Joey Dunlop’s 2000 win?

If it were my money… • Electric bike convert John Westlake on the machines he’d actually shell out for

R1 rules the world • In 2021 a Yamaha R1 won every major superbike championship on the planet. Yamaha’s racing boss tells Bike how

2022 new bikes at a glance • This lot should keep showroom doors revolving throughout 2022. Well apart from the Ténéré…

Deals on wheels • This issue is full of spankin’ gorgeous new metal and it’s all hugely tempting – but the arrival of 2022 bikes also means wild discounts on departing favourites

Yamaha Tracer 9 GT • They say it’s the sportiest Tracer ever and produces ‘remarkable acceleration’ – so it’s time to put all Yamaha’s claims to the test. Nobody else tests a bike’s true figures as thoroughly as we do...

Wankel: best engine ever • The engine, engine aficionados love to love is the Wankel. Jamie Turner considers these compact, high power, low weight marvels

53.348634, -1.813366 • A celebration of UK tarmac

‘He lent me his all-areas pass’

‘Not a lockdown regret in sight’

THE TIME IS RIGHT TO SPORTS BIKE AGAIN • Superbike performance with real garage appeal? Doff your cap at Triumph’s Speed Triple 1200 RR

Wheel of fortune

‘I started to cry, thinking about where life had brought me’ • Danilo Petrucci has enjoyed a unique journey in MotoGP, from late starter to Mugello winner. And now he’s all set for a switch to the wild world of Dakar desert racing…

BIGGER ISN’T BETTER... • Each of this month’s test nakeds has a bigger, tougher, faster and blingier sibling. Yet we’d take a Monster over a Streetfighter V4, or a 890 Duke R over a 1290 Superduke R any day of the week. Ten grand really is where today’s value lies. And here’s why…

The fine art of smokin’ • Langen’s fabulous Two Stroke (name and configuration) is a joy to behold and to ride…

Norton • This new factory near Birmingham is a massive step forward for Norton. Can it stabilise...