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.
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
Honda VFR800 – Cool, calm and collected
If you want a quick bike with a great racing heritage why not opt for the bike that just gets down to business of being quick and capable without the need to shout it from the roof tops….I give you the 2004 Honda VFR800. If a V4 Honda was good enough for a certain member Continue reading
Kawasaki Z900RS Café – Retro clothes, modern performance roadster
I’d been hankering after a retro-style bike for quite a few years. I’d read and heard positive views on the Z900RS, but the bike was never really on my radar. After a little research, I found that they produced the bike in the lime green Café version with the old school style headlight cowl. There Continue reading
KTM 990 SM-T – Troubled Transition to the Temptress Twin…
Another review from my friend Paul Beasley; This time it’s his own KTM…a 990 SMT. He struggled to come to terms with his new machine at first after the thick end of two decades of four cylinder smooth Yamaha Thundercat ownership….have a read and see how he come to grips with the Austrian temptress… I Continue reading
Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird – Cheap thrills await you!
In a biking world where you can easily pay around £20K and beyond for a new sports tourer there is an easy way around it: Buy a used bike of course! Ok the world of TFT screens, multi mode traction control and engine mapping will be alien to you, but do you really need all Continue reading