Great Bikes? Yamaha V-Max

Some bikes earn reputations, be it for speed, looks, wayward handling, whatever. Some bikes are spoken about in hushed tones, generally tones of awe or fear. Some bikes achieve greatness, some have it thrust upon them! Some we forget.

MV Agusta's Timur Sardarov Russian Relaunch

Exclusive interview with MV Agusta’s russian owner, its president/ceo timur sardarov, who purchased 100% of MV Agusta equity in december 2019

The Custom Builders - Part 3: Reconstructed

I first became aware of Theunis from Reconstructed custom workshop a few years ago, when he arrived at a Triumph Day in Modderfontein with his radical Rocket 3 custom. It drew a lot of attention and comment, which was exactly what Theunis was aiming for from his first build.

Think Bike Giving Back To Biking

[I’m always ready to acknowledge those among us who give of their time freely to help others. I’ve been aware of the ThinkBike initiative for many years but never really understood how it worked. So, when Quinton van Eeden reached out to me and asked if I would like an article explaining ThinkBike, the work they do and the volunteers who do it, it was the perfect opportunity to learn more about this body of men and women who do so much to make motorcycling safer for all of us. Ed]

KTM 890 DUKE

You can’t say that KTM isn’t prolific but, when motorcycles are as good as they generally always are from the Austrian manufacturer, who are we to complain?

ZONTES 310V

A while back, we covered the Zontes ZT310-X1 as part of the small bike feature. There was no way we could not help but be impressed by nearly every aspect of the bike, be it equipment, performance, frugality, price, comfort, looks or quality. It was clearly a bike that was punching way above its weight.

27/08/1939 – 20/12/2020 PETER WILLIAMS Obituary

Britain’s Peter Williams, often acclaimed as the finest GP racer/engineer of modern times, passed away quietly on December 20 in his sleep, after a long illness. He was 81 years old.

The Greatest Comeback?

The greatest British bike racer? Surtees? Sheene? Both have good claims to the title but, in reality, there can be only one king. This is the story of the race that only served to enhance an already glittering reputation.

Tales From The Hood

SA & Motorcycle Commuting

Great Bikes? The Ariel Square Four

Elsewhere you will have read about the Ariel motorcycle company and here I intend to talk more about their most famous design, the incredible Square Four.

Gone But Part 5 Ariel Not Forgotten

Turner’s Square Four remained in production from 1931 to 1959

So, What Really Happened To The British Motorcycle Industry?

It’s a story that no-one is unfamiliar with; how the British motorcycle industry withered and died through the 1960s and into the ‘70s. What was once a thriving industry that sold state-of-the-art motorcycles from world-famous manufacturers, by the hundreds of thousands, was reduced to first a handful and then just one manufacturer, producing an outdated design in the face of modern and reliable machines from Japan.

WHAT NEXT FOR NORTON AND BSA?

Following on from the success of the Triumph revival, a lot of noise was made about the arrival of Norton back on the motorcycling scene in 2008. The new owner of the brand, Stuart Garner, got everyone excited when he announced that he would be making not only a new Norton Commando motorcycle but would be returning to the Isle of Man TT with a new superbike, powered by an Aprilia V4 motor.

TRIUMPH Bonneville

In the world of motorcycling, it is rare, if not unique, for a manufacturer to have two bites of the cake - both with a cherry on top - with two iterations of one particular model, especially when separated by a couple of decades.

NORIYUKI HAGA SULTAN OF Slide

Rare in-depth interview with Nori-chan himself explains how the Sultan of Slide rode the bike - and the crucial differences between Superbike and 500 GP

RUNNING LATE

THE GXCC’S PUSH THE SEASON TO THE LIMIT IN 2020

Engineering DEAD-ENDS Part 2: Hub-Centre Steering

Motorcycle development never stands still, although maybe recently, it would be more accurate to say that motorcycle electronics development doesn’t stand still; it is very little in the physical architecture of a motorcycle that is likely to change. But it wasn’t always so and one innovation that was tried not only on road bikes but also 500cc Grand Prix bikes was hub-center steering.

Africa GP Academy

You only have to listen to the commentators at each MotoGP round to hear them talking about how many riders have come through GP feeder series to sit on the grids of the Moto3 races.

The MotoGP Round-Up - Title Goes To Mir And Suzuki 15 November - Valencia, Spain

Most Exciting Season Highlights the Most Boring (But Most Useful) Trait

The West Coast Tour

PART 1: Yzerfontein; Lambert’s Bay and Doringbaai.

Suzuki V-Strom DL1050XT

On a clear day you can see forever. The view from the summit of Oliviershoek Pass was simply breath taking.

Kathu To Velddrif 2019

Louis and Mike Pieterse (jnr) adventure Tour, 2445km’s on two 125cc Suzuki VanVans

Retro Tours & Joel Samick - Touring The Collection

Introduction to Retro Tours Classic bike touring operation in Pennsylvania, USA, using the comprehensive collection of 1970s Big Twins amassed by American Joel Samick

Michael Scott - How To Cheat Without Even Trying

If Yamaha was to write a navel-gazing book about their 2020 season, that would be the title. And the sub-head: “And without gaining anything either”.

Engineering Dead-Ends

Part 1: The Triumph Sprung Hub

Mv Agusta Superveloce - It's A Motorcycle But Is It Art?

A motorcycle is a means of transport. Let there be no argument about that. It is simply an engine in a frame with two wheels connected by a collection of ancillary components to make it work. And yet we are prepared to place some of them on the same pedestal of aesthetic purity as any Old Master painting or Rodin sculpture.

APRILIA RS660 - SPEED TWIN ROAD TEST

Ultra-accessible performance of this finely honed sportbike certain to deliver satisfaction to riders of all levels of experience, while being completely versatile on road or track

Yamaha Ténéré 700- The Next Big Thing In Adventure Bikes?

The Next Big Thing In Adventure Bikes?

BMW R18

The BMW R 18 is a cruiser motorcycle manufactured by BMW Motorrad and was officially introduced in April 2020 and launched in September 2020 in Germany.

Charley's Chat

Another story of charley and friends’ madcap adventures...