Alan Dowds

2021 Yamaha XSR125 released

by

Alan Dowds

–

12th May 2021

Just the job for the learner hipsters out there We say that actually – but from the evidence up in that London, plenty of trendy beard-wranglers seem content to stick with a stylish 125 for urban commuting duties these days even after passing the test. So Yamaha’s lightweight, snappy XSR125 makes a lot of sense…
Continue reading »
Panigale V4 Tech Secrets Videos

by

Alan Dowds

–

10th May 2021

Ducati releases series of videos showing behind the scenes development of the 2021 Panigale V4S ON the face of it, the 2021 Panigale V4 didn’t look that different. A set of carbonio wings, yes, but the rest of the bike looked pretty much as you were. But, the firm had been flat-out optimising and tweaking…
Continue reading »
2021 Aprilia RS125 and Tuono 125 released

by

Alan Dowds

–

4th May 2021

New engine and styling for slick Italian learner tools Okay, we know you really all want 30bhp two-strokes when it comes to eighth-litre machinery. But this is 2021, so all you learners will have to cope as best you can with the likes of these – Aprilia’s new RS125 and Tuono 125s. The Noale outfit…
Continue reading »
YAMAHA ALL AT SEA

by

Alan Dowds

–

30th April 2021

Tonnes of Yamaha bikes and parts stuck up the Suez Canal on impounded Ever Given mega-ship We all gawped at the enormous container ship that blocked the Suez Canal last month – and the Ever Given’s plight spawned a million chucklesome memes. But the aftermath of the ship’s grounding isn’t so funny for Yamaha, which…
Continue reading »
BMW launches range of saucy M performance parts for the S1000RR

by

Alan Dowds

–

17th March 2020

Carbonio rims, forged alloy loveliness, baubles and jewellery galore for BM’s mighty superbike WE’RE all stuck at home now, so a bit of fantasy online retail therapy won’t go amiss will it? And news reached us the other day of a new range of performance goodies from BMW. The firm is transferring the ‘M’ motorsports…
Continue reading »
Suzuki’s Classic Racing team goes modern for the TT

by

Alan Dowds

–

27th February 2020

Team behind the XR69 and RG500 racebikes having a go with Suzuki GSX-R1000s at 2020 TT It’s one of the most evocative paint schemes in the classic race paddock – and has done some amazing work with a load of sweet old Suzuki race bikes. And now the Team Classic Suzuki outfit is jumping in…
Continue reading »
MV Agusta goes up The Arsenale

by

Alan Dowds

–

4th February 2020

Coming soon: Burnley Brutale, Fulham F3, Celtic Superveloce or Tottenham Turismo Veloce? Sadly no – fans of North London’s currently under-performing soccer team aren’t getting a special limited edition Agusta Brutale model. Rather, it’s a chi-chi luxury website called TheArsenale to which this model pays homage. TheArsenale is based in Miami, and positions itself as…
Continue reading »
MV Agusta celebrates its 75th birthday

by

Alan Dowds

–

22nd January 2020

Exotic Italian marque first appeared in 1945 They’ll need a massive cake in Varese this week – because the good folks at the MV Agusta factory will be blowing out 75 candles as they celebrate three-quarters of a century making sweet motorbikes. Launched by Count Giovanni Agusta as a subsidiary of his aviation firm (which…
Continue reading »
Triumph updates Street Triple S for 2020

by

Alan Dowds

–

10th January 2020

Novice-friendly version of loony roadster gets a heap of tweaks The first week of January is maybe a bit of a weird time to release a new motorbike – but us hard-pressed news hacks will thank Hinckley for something juicy in these quiet times. Okay, we say new bike, but it’s more of a revamp…
Continue reading »
Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc’s custom Husqvarna

by

Alan Dowds

–

8th January 2020

‘Apex 2.0’ based on Vitpilen 701, built by French custom builder Bad Winners What bike would you expect a young F1 driver to ride? A full-on superbike maybe, for track fun and honing skillz? Or a hyper-naked roadster dripping in high-tech? Or maybe they’d go the other way, and cruise about Monte Carlo on a…
Continue reading »
Alpinestars releases new standalone airbag

by

Alan Dowds

–

8th January 2020

Tech-Air 5 vest can be worn under any leather or textile jacket, giving airbag protection without needing bespoke airbag kit To the CES Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (not literally, sadly), where Italian kit-capos Alpinestars have released a new airbag vest, the Tech-Air 5. The novelty here is that this protective gear is a…
Continue reading »
Andrea Iannone suspended from all competition after failed drug test

by

Alan Dowds

–

17th December 2019

Aprilia MotoGP star tested positive for performance-enhancing steroids at Malaysia round. Italian racer Andrea Iannone has been suspended from all competitions by the FIM after failing a drug test at the Malaysia round of MotoGP on November 3 2019. According to a release from GP bosses, a WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) approved laboratory found an…
Continue reading »
2020 Honda Fireblade – a chat with the engineer behind the bike

by

Alan Dowds

–

26th November 2019

While we were at the EICMA show the other week, we grabbed a chat with Yuzuru Ishikawa, the Large Project Leader for the 2020 Fireblade. Here’s what he was saying… THE 2020 Honda Fireblade was, by some margin, the bike of the show at Milan this season. Part of that is down to many of…
Continue reading »
BMW expands 800 twin range to 900s, updates S1000 XR for 2020

by

Alan Dowds

–

5th November 2019

All-new F900 R and F900 XR plus revised S1000 XR launched in Milan The old F800 R wasn’t a massive hit for BMW, although I quite liked it in an understated kinda way. But for 2020, BMW has replaced the middleweight roadster twin with a new 900 version, and added an XR sort-of adventure version…
Continue reading »
KTM unveils hot new nakeds at EICMA show

by

Alan Dowds

–

5th November 2019

Updated 1290 Super Duke R, new 890 Duke and 890 Duke R for 2020 TO MILAN, where the Matighofen Massive has been showing off its wares for next year. And juicy wares they are for sure. First up was the 1290 Super Duke R, which has been well trailered online. It’s had a full-beans update,…
Continue reading »

Alan Dowds

Latest Issue

Free Digital Issue

Search

Tags