road test

For 10 years now Honda's Pan European has been one of the sharpest touring tools in the box.

It's 2007 already for Harley-Davidson. Grant Leonard rides the new big cruiser range, from stripped Street Bob to full-dress FLHTCU. Eh?

Kawasaki enter the super-tourer class with their blistering GTR1400. Well-appointed and refined, this top-end tourer also comes with a strong helping of brutish Kawasaki performance.

Another new Boxer hits the road. On looks alone this one won't set the world on fire, but surprise, surprise, it's quite good fun.

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

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?

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.

Look, children, here he comes. It's Tweedle Dee in the blue and silver Kushitani leathers on his dinky Fisher Price 'My First Ideal Sportsbike.'

By winning the World Superbike Championship in 2000 in its very first year of production, you could argue that Honda’s SP-1 doesn’t have much to prove. But race development waits for no man, and so for 2002 we’ve got the SP-2.

Let me see now. Ten years ago British biking was on the verge of something big. Our bike buying trends were going to be challenged by a bug-eyed kid from Yamaha - the TDM850.

Let me see now. Ten years ago British biking was on the verge of something big. Our bike buying trends were going to be challenged by a bug-eyed kid from Yamaha - the TDM850.

Spring 1993 and the most cutting-edge and outrageous looking teutonic two-wheeler was launched by BMW. The BMW R1100RS was one of the first of the new generation Boxers and was a bit of a departure for BM in its (then) 70-year history.

Sons getting embarrassed by their mums as we went last-minute Christmas shopping on the best sport-tourers in the country

Grant puts his feet up and enjoys the relaxing H-D Ultra Classic Electra Glide

Hogan earns the respect of BMW owners astride the funky G650 Xmoto

Simon calms down with the big Bandit

Urry swaps the speed of sports bike for the sedate Tiger 1050 to experience the sense of adventure

The office puts the V-Strom through some hard miles

After the hype comes the reality. And for lucky Niall that reality is served on the silver platter that is Kyalami circuit in South Africa. And the verdict? Oh my word, are you ready for this?

Two men fall in love with the Honda CBF1000