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Since the original model was launched in 1998 the Fazer family has been a mainstay of Yamaha’s range, a model that many (actually 250,000 to date) took their first steps into ‘big’ bikes on and one whose popularity over the years has soared.

MV Agusta have been quiet of late and it’s 11 years since they made any kind of notable impact with the launch of the F4 750. The F4 was a superbike originally intended to propel Cagiva’s comeback, a bike that Ducati would have loved to have in their range but instead it put MV back on the map. Then came the Brutale and things looked good.

It’s not often these days that a major manufacturer makes a complete balls-up of an updated bike, but that’s what Kawasaki did in 2007 with the Z1000. Four years before that, they relaunched the Z1000 name with a fiery naked four whose dramatic looks and lively performance made it a well-deserved hit.

Much more in keeping with an original V7 Sport from 1969, the Café Classic sports the bump-stop seat for one, clip on bars and tank, and panels as faithful as modern construction techniques allow. The metallic greeny gold paint is supposed to be reminiscent of the original paint on the original bikes.

First impressions are positive. The bulbous frog-like expression of the Multi’s front fairing now looks razor sharp and bang up-to-date, with a hawk-like appearance thanks to the aggressively styled twin air ducts and purposeful looking twin headlights.

This is the Suzuki GSX 1250 FA – a fully-faired, wallet-friendly, four-cylinder sports tourer aimed at capturing a sizeable chunk of the UK’s 40-something market.

To be fair this is little more than a standard Fat Boy with a different paint scheme and lower suspension and seat, but who cares. The Fat Boy is, in my opinion anyway, the ultimate Harley. The Special gets a covering of satin chrome on its wheels and oil tank, black bodywork and few millimetres off its seat height, which is now 680mm.

One of the best big scooters on the market if getting there in time is more important than getting there in style

When I took it out for a spin I was impressed. Here was a machine with a fast, but torquey motor and with a really positive front end to it.

The thinking man's superbike

For a comfortable, tourable Harley without going the whole Hog (sorry!), this model makes a lot of sense

Triumph's softly tuned naked roadster is more about cruising than out and out road-attack

Vespa says: The Vespa GTS 250cc is one of the very first two-wheelers – and the first in the 250cc category – to meet the strict upcoming 2006 Euro 3 standards. Supreme handling and performance, enhanced by the 12” wheels, structural re-enforcement’s, and 220 Ømm disc braking system, give the Vespa GTS its winning formula.