Motorcycle First Ride Reviews

Ducati's latest take on the Monster theme is a refreshing mix of old and new, with up-to-the-minute styling married to a simple, effective air-cooled motor. And it's bang on the money

The Daytona 600 has always had the legs; it's one of the best-handling 600s around. With an extra 47cc - and a load more mid-range - the Daytona 650 might nearly be the perfect middleweight.

When the going gets tough, Ducati brings out a new model to beat the opposition. Cheating? No, just bending the rules...

Ducati's flagship sportsbike gets a new look as well as a whole load more power for 2005. Jon Urry samples the delights of the new 999

It's apocalypse now as Buell unveil their see-through CityX. Is it the must-have new machine for the urban wasteland?

BMW's take on 'race bike for the road' makes a refreshing change from the usual Jap fare.

From the Eastern Block to the East End, MZ has come a long way. But can the firm's new MZ1000S sports tourer really take on the likes of VFR, Sprint and ST3?

Haven't I seen you before somewhere? Deja-vu strikes as Urry rides Kawasaki's KLV1000.

Following its launch at a soggy Valencia, we try Ducati's beautiful 749R in the dry at Donington.

Heralded as the sportiest BMW motorbike ever, can the K 1200 S really rival the current hyper-sports bikes? Jon Urry travels to Munich to sample the delights of the German Autobahn and Austrian curves

With company finances back on track and production delays a thing of the past (for now...), the long awaited F4 1000S is finally, eventually, here. At last...

The Nevada name has been part of the Moto Guzzi catalogue for more than a decade now, but this year it's a 90% new bike.

Mossy goes over the hills and far away on Honda's new CRF250-X enduro tool. Off-roading just got a whole lot easier.

The most gorgeous motorcycle ever? Harley-Davidson's Porsche powered flagship V-Rod receives sharp new clothes for 2004

Victory hopes to attract a younger generation by producing a versatile, powerful cruiser. Can Victory pin down the kings for the full count?

Confusingly enough, this new Tiger is actually designated a 2005 model, even though it is already in the shops. Why? Supply and demand - the 2004 Tiger has sold out already! So what's new?

"So, gentlemen, as you can see, the new XB9S Lightning is the latest generation in the street-inspired Buell family and a different take on the Buell XB series."

What on earth could Aprilia do to improve their already-ace Mille-R? Not an enormous amount as I discovered at the launch of the 2003 bike in Italy.

Aprilia launch the production version of their Tuono-R concept bike, the Tuono Fighter. With a Mille engine and chassis, near-on full superbike power and streetfighter styling, you just know this is going to be a bad boy.

Picture the scene if you will. It's 2006, we're in the middle of a recession and another Government still ignores the benefits of motorcycles to the detriment of UK road users everywhere.

I think it's fair to say the old ZZ-R1100 was more than a bit past its sell by date. I last rode one about three years ago, on a flat out European speed mission in the company of a Suzuki Hayabusa and Honda Blackbird.

Straight off the bleary early morning flight into a sodden Malaga and first sight of BMW's new R1150GS Adventure knocks me out with a hammer blow of sheer presence - it's big.

Yamaha's project leader for the new R1 was a chap called Yoshikazu Koike, and his brief was just two words: "jinba atai." Confused?

And so to the 2002 ZX-9R, also tweaked for this year and feeling distinctly healthier for it. The motor feels the same, but the handling (once adjusted) is definitely better...