MV AGUSTA F4 CLAUDIO LOUD, PROUD, AND DRAWS A CROWD

As far as tributes go, nothing comes close to the Claudio.

2003 PETRONAS FP1 BRIGHT GREEN BUT BARELY SEEN...

Kicking off our run of truly special bikes is a super trick triple, built first and foremost for racing.

HONDA FIREBLADE CBR1000RR-R SP JOHN MCGUINNESS TT REPLICA...

Have you ever found yourself in two minds, arguing with your own thoughts as to whether something is better, worse, or simply indifferent?

THINK YOU'RE SPECIAL?

In a world rammed with super trick, super fast and super saucy motorcycles, what does it take to be defined as truly 'special'? We ponder that question, then offer up some of best bikes we've ever ridden...

LIMITED EDITION DUCATIS

Winning is becoming a serious habit for Ducati's Corse racing division.

2024 TRIUMPH DAYTONA 660

Return of the Daytona

Steve Parrish

I was heading over to the Suzuki Live event at Cadwell Park the last time we spoke and it turned out to be a great do, apart from dodging the showers we seem to be getting accustomed to during our great British summer.

Mark Eilledge

Sometimes, it’s hard to work out what qualifies someone for a job. But when it comes to SHARK racing and technical manager Mark Eilledge, it’s much easier.

DUCATI 749R RED ROCKET...

Just under a decade ago, Ducati pulled the covers off a very special supersport bike. Here's Timmy's take on the iconic 749R.

BEEMERS BOOZE AND BURN-OUTS...BMW MOTORRAD DAYS 2023

Back in July, some 37,000 people flocked to BMW's Motorrad Days, held for the second time in the German capital, Berlin. I was one of them...

GROUND-BREAKER

The time is right to buy Yamaha's class-defining litre bike.

ON ROAD...DUCATI V4R

This is a hard bike to criticise, to the extent that I'll jump in with both feet and lay my biggest hang-up on the table from the get-go... I don't like the number one sticker on the front number board.

ON TRACK...DUCATI PANIGALE V4R

Ducati settles for nothing less than perfection, and the V4R is right at the very forefront of that. Experience is the first word that springs to mind; it's a truly special experience to ride this Panigale (just like the rest of the V4 range), and you can just tell that every last detail has been thought about with this bike.

UNDER THE SKIN...DUCATI V4R

I've said it before, and no doubt I'll say it again - Ducati doesn't do things by halves.

ON ROAD...HONDA FIREBLADE RR-R SP 30TH ANNIVERSARY

I Know the Blade well. I had one of these back in 2020 and did the best part of 5000 miles on it. Not much has changed since the inaugural version, aside from a tooth on the rear sprocket and some slightly revised electronics.

ON TRACK...HONDA FIREBLADE RR-R SP

To kick things off, I decided the Fireblade would be the weapon of choice to get my senses sharpened and the ball rolling for this year's Ultimate Sports Bike track test.

UNDER THE SKIN...HONDA FIREBLADE RR-R SP

What's interesting about the Fireblade is that unlike the other bikes on this test - pumped-up trick homologation versions of existing bikes in their ranges, so BMW and Ducati can go racing the Fireblade was made from day one as a race bike.

ON ROAD...BMW M 1000 RR

Just like that, our three days of testing were done and dusted, barring a final blast over the Mountain. The question was, what bike would I be doing it on?

ON TRACK...BMW M 1000 RR

When I first clapped eyes on this carbon-covered kryptonite, I can't say I was particularly dazzled by the new styling and upgraded aero package. Now I've seen one in the flesh, I've turned a full 180 and can completely appreciate the bodywork overhaul and the detail within.

UNDER THE SKIN...BMW M 1000 RR

The latest M 1000 RR must surely be the first bike to be faster in a straight line as well as around corners than the bike it’s replacing without getting a single upgrade to its engine or chassis.

HOMOLOGATION Special

Sportsbikes… they’re bloody awesome. They always have been, and for us, they always will be.

Charlie Nesbitt

Our last chat with SHARK Helmets’ 2023 crop of British riders is with Swindonborn Hawk Honda man Charlie Nesbitt.

SHED FIND TO SUPERBIKE...

It’s been out of the mag for a few months, but Bruce has finally pulled his finger out and made some solid progress on his ZX-7R.

WHAT THE TECH: AIRBOXES

As we recently discovered with Project R7, which concluded last month, an airbox can make a massive difference to the performance of an engine and, therefore, motorbike.

FACTORY RACER

In 2012, Aprilia armed its RSV4 models with a WSB-derived electronics package.

DUCATI DRE - RACETRACK ACADEMY

Some days just start better than others... like when you open your bedroom curtains and stare down at one of the sauciest racetracks in the world – Silverstone.

BABY BLADES...HONDA'S OTHER CBRS

Sportsbikes come in all shapes and sizes, as Honda’s middleweight CBRs hammer home.

SPORTSBIKE VS SUPERNAKED - WHICH is FASTER?

It’s a question that needs answering. With a chunk of help from Ducati, Pirelli and a certain BSB star, we pitched one of the finest sportsbikes on the market against its technically similar supernaked sibling.

Christian Iddon

Iddon's one tough cookie, as we're sure you'll agree after reading this.

Heal like Wolverine

Unfortunately, crashing is part of the job when it comes to racing motorcycles, and completing an entire season without copping for the odd spill is relatively unheard of... even the most successful riders get a little too intimate with the tarmac every now and then.