First Impressions

First Impressions

  • LAUNCH RIDE: First impressions of Moto Guzzi’s new V85 range

    LAUNCH RIDE: First impressions of Moto Guzzi’s new V85 range

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    Last month, we got the chance to head out for a brief blast on the three updated middleweight adventure bikes from the Italian firm – but we weren’t allowed to tell you about it until now. Here’s what you need to know about the latest version of Moto Guzzi’s much-loved V85 TT and TT Travel,…

  • QUICK SPIN: Suzuki V-Strom 800RE

    QUICK SPIN: Suzuki V-Strom 800RE

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    There’s big demand for off-road ready adventure bikes; but what if you’re only interested in riding on the road? Suzuki reckons it’s got you covered with the latest version of its much-lauded V-Strom 800. We’ve been for a quick blast to see what it’s made of. WORDS: Chris Moss / PHOTOS: Suzuki In March this year…

  • QUICK SPIN! Kawasaki Z650RS

    QUICK SPIN! Kawasaki Z650RS

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    Following the (deserved) success of the retro-styled Z900RS, it was only a matter of time before Kawasaki brought out a middleweight version.  Late 2021 saw it finally arrive in the form of the Z650RS. Essentially a Z650 wearing a vintage dress, the Z joins a rapidly growing range of retro-styled 650s. We rode it out…

  • At a glance.. Benelli’s 2022 Leoncino 800!

    At a glance.. Benelli’s 2022 Leoncino 800!

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    Following the success of its A2 licence-friendly retro-ish roadster, the Leoncino 500, Chinese-owned Italian factory Benelli has just released a new, more powerful version of the same bike. Here’s what you need to know… We’ve spent a fair bit of time on the various incarnations of the Leoncino 500 over the last few years. It…

  • Dirt-Ready Ducati!

    Dirt-Ready Ducati!

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    The Italian factory has revealed all the information about its most off-road oriented motorcycle for years: the Desert X. Here’s what you need to know. The DesertX’s beating heart is a tweaked version of Ducati’s infamous 937cc liquid cooled Testastretta Desmodromic valvetrain engine which offers a healthy 110hp at 9250rpm and 92Nm of torque at…

  • CFMOTO confirms the 800MT is coming!

    CFMOTO confirms the 800MT is coming!

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    The latest motorcycle from the Chinese firm looks to be a very exciting proposition, with its list of impressive specifications and innovative features. There will be two models available: an entry level Sport model and a premium Touring model which will be fully loaded with extras, though both models will be fitted with dustproof, waterproof…

  • First Ride: WK Bikes SX125 Scooter

    First Ride: WK Bikes SX125 Scooter

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    Scooters are important. They bring you takeaways, ferry people to work and give youngsters their first taste of freedom… and they don’t tend to break the bank. There’s no need for a lot of power or technological trickery, it’s all about keeping it simple, straightforward and cheap. That’s WK’s SX 125 in a nutshell. Sales…

  • WORLD LAUNCH: First impressions of Yamaha’s new MT-09 for 2021

    WORLD LAUNCH: First impressions of Yamaha’s new MT-09 for 2021

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    Kev Raymond is out in France to put Yamaha’s latest version of its much loved MT-09 through its paces. Here’s his very brief first impressions after a day in the saddle. “The MT range has been a huge success for Yamaha – they’ve sold over a quarter of a million of them so far in…

  • Throwback Thursday: Exclusive interview with Kenji Morita

    Throwback Thursday: Exclusive interview with Kenji Morita

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    Out on the launch of Honda’s THREE new Africa Twins for 2020, we sat down with Large Project Leader Kenji Morita to ask him YOUR top TEN questions (and a few more). We’ve recently been out on the world launch of Honda’s new Africa Twins. Over two days in Sardinia we got the chance to…

  • Battle of the Scramblers: Indian’s FTR1200 Rally, Ducati’s Scrambler 1100 Pro and BMW’s R nineT Scrambler go head to head. First Impressions.

    Battle of the Scramblers: Indian’s FTR1200 Rally, Ducati’s Scrambler 1100 Pro and BMW’s R nineT Scrambler go head to head. First Impressions.

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    We’ve been on a road trip to put the big scramblers from Indian, Ducati and BMW through their paces. It’s always good to get a bunch of bikes together and go out for a blast as a group. It’s even better if you’ve got a bit of time to cover some miles across some cracking…

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