Road tests and reviews
Some fantastic road tests and first impressions from a diverse group of riders. We're interested to hear what you think about any bike, big or small, that you own or have road-tested.
Kawasaki KR1S – Way More Fun Than a DeLorean!
Two Stroke Time Travel! It’s amazing what a motorcycle can do: I don’t mean the way it performs, stops, corners or even how comfortable it is. No, the real magic is how it can make you feel: How it can melt away your troubles. Genuinely I cannot think of another machine that can connect with Continue reading
Mutt Mastiff 125 – The Return of the Prodigal Son
Another one of our Real Riders Review and this time it is the Mutt Mastiff 125 that is coming under the spotlight. The Mutt is the comeback bike for Bill Voyce, who is a like a prodigal son returning to biking after a break of many years. Quite a common thread in modern motorcycling. He Continue reading
HONDA VFR1200F (2010) – Sporting Tourer or Touring Sports Bike?
Glynn Williams is a highly experienced biker and he gives us a great insight into the often misunderstood Honda VFR1200 with his Real Rider Review: Vilified By the Press Vilified by the press on its launch for being too sporty, lardy, thirsty, technically underwhelming, expensive, unsuitable for touring with no storage pockets, small panniers; the Continue reading
Ducati Scrambler Classic – Pastiche or the Real Deal?
Well I don’t have a beard, sleeve tattoos, braces and an aged leather man bag. I don’t even put my hair in a bun or have a ‘piss-pot’ crash helmet with goggles. Apparently these are all prerequisites of Ducati Scrambler ownership, at least according to the stereotype or so I am told. However what I Continue reading
Lexmoto Vendetta 250 – Is it me or are Chinese bikes getting cooler by the minute?
Recently I was at a local bike shop and parked outside was a cool V twin bike. Styled somewhere between a 60’s dirt bike and a cafe racer. It looked so good I had to have a closer look…to my surprise it was a Lexmoto! It is a good looking machine and for me marks Continue reading
Yamaha MT07 – What a fun little bike!
What a great little bike the MT07 is. I recently rode its sensible brother the Tracer 700 GT and while a hugely capable (and great value for money) that motorcycle was perhaps almost too sensible for me. The basic MT 07 is one of those rare machines that adds up to far more than the Continue reading
Yamaha T7 Tenere – The Bike of the Moment – Or is it?
The new Yamaha T7 Tenere is very much the darling of the biking press at the moment . One of my old friends, Michael Bell has bought an example. However a certain little bug you may be aware of has stopped him using as much as he originally planned. Nevertheless he still has managed to Continue reading
BMW R1200RS – Better than the all conquering GS?
I have been assimilated… To be honest I can scarcely believe it myself, but after years of ridiculing the whole fascination the UK biking scene seems to be afflicted with when it comes to all things BMW flat twin 1200 shaped. Indeed after going as far as labelling the bikes themselves as ‘ditch-pumps’, I have Continue reading
Royal Enfield Himalayan – Rugged, simple, affordable. What is not to like?
Another ‘Real Rider Review’. This time Freddie Sheddington, a very experienced long-time biker has treated himself to perhaps the Adventure bike we actually need as opposed the the one we actually are told we want… It might have been September 2020 when I bought a Royal Enfield Himalayan but the story behind why really starts Continue reading
BMW S1000XR….Sensibly Stupid! Is it just too good?
Steve, who gave us such a superb insight into the work of ‘Bloodbikers’ has been pondering what he thinks of his own ride…a 2017 BMW S1000XR….seems it might actually be a bit too good. That light thudding noise you can hear is a BMW development engineer head butting a wall in Berlin (Not that one Continue reading