horsepower

BMW know that the market for this bike in the UK is limited.

In this molly-coddled, nappy-wearing world Kawasaki stick out like a sore thumb. The Kawasaki marque has always been about power and speed and despite ever-increasing legislation they stick to their guns. Big Kawasaki guns. For this, they are to be saluted.

The bigger version of the 450, more power, bigger balls. Nutters need only apply

IF YOU WERE as surprised as we were that Aprilia could not only get their V4 project right first time, but then offer it to us fully laden with GP technology and exotic cycle parts for a penny shy of fifteen grand, then the launch of the more affordable ‘R’ version can only be good news.

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Benelli describes its Tre-K 899 as an entry-level sports-tourer, and by the Italian firm’s standards that’s exactly what it is. Along with the 899 TNT, the Tre-K has the smallest engine and lowest price in Benelli’s range of triples. And, like its big brother, the 1130 Tre-K, the new 899 is a relaxed alternative to the naked TNT.

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.

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.

Yamaha says: The new BW's 125 is a commuter scooter designed for city life. Its 125cc, 4-stroke, fuel-injected, air-cooled engine gives you the kind of quick acceleration that's ideal for stop-start urban journeys, while the chassis provides agile handling to glide through smaller spaces.

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.