BIKE

BIKE is packed with road tests of new bikes and inspirational riding stories, with fantastic places, amazing races and extraordinary people. Created by a passionate and expert team of motorcycle riders, Bike makes you feel part of the amazing motorcycling world. Our three main areas of content are... Road tests: We ride and test all the latest bikes, from tourers to retros. Riding: We take motorcycles to the four corners of the UK, and the four corners of the world Extraordinary travel stories: amazing races, extraordinary events and astonishing bike people.

Hello

Team Bike • This magazine is made by the most talented team of bike journalists, writers and photographers in the universe. Here’s what they’ve been doing this month.

BIKE

185mph bagger! • This Harley Road Glide clocked 1 85.5mph at Daytona and can now lap faster than a factory supersport bike

Just £1916 per cylinder • Star of a recent Bonhams auction was this world record-breaking 4200cc, 48-cylinder two-stroke which sold for £92,000

Eco GSX-R • Well, as eco as any 230bhp petrol-powered endurance race bike can be…

Just £49 a month! • New CFMoto 450MT adventure bike looks like the PCP deal of the year. Prepare to be tempted

World's coolest Virago • Yamaha XV920 V-twin is transformed from a humble, plodding 1980s cruiser into a hyper-cool café racer

GET IN GEAR • The latest word in swanky riding gear, desirable bolt-ons and must-have goodies for your pride and joy

Write Off • Bike, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA

'Indescribably satisfying'

Construct the perfect summer • Want to make this your best motorcycling summer ever? Our five experts show you how

See some epic racing • Best circuit? Best corner? Best grub? Paul Clarkson reveals all for a great day out

Have a classic summer

See the world • But where to go? Simon Weir shares his top destinations for a memorable tour

Adventure awaits • Off-road jaunts can take summer to the next level – as Andrew Dalton explains

Watch a bit of telly

Golden memories • Sunshine, motorcycles and top-class shindigs: here’s your guide to this summer’s greatest events and finest destinations

Want to stay healthy? Ride your bike… • We all know that riding bikes feels great – and it’s good for your brain, too. John Naish reveals why

MotoGP's most successful engineer • Alex Baumgärtel has won more Grands Prix than any other engineer in the MotoGP paddock. Having worked with 75% of the current MotoGP grid, few people know more about the challenges of GP racing – which is why he’s now helping Honda with their RC213V

YOUR SUMMER ADVENTURES START HERE • Great rides, flies, sunny skies – oh, and cheeky 99s. Nothing opens up the riding season like an adventure tool. Bike takes the best from across the spectrum – new Himalayan, Ténéré 700 Explore, updated Africa Twin and new R1300GS – to find which will get the most out of your 2024…

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 • Small, cheap, simple. And wonderfully desirable. Size doesn’t matter after all…

Yamaha Ténéré 700 Explore • Yet another version of the capable, popular and test-winning twin. And it’s a corker

Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin • Not as powerful, blingy or capable as the you-know-what. But let’s talk value…

BMW R1300GS TE • This, we’ll have you know, is an Option 719 Tramuntana. And it’s ruddy marvellous

Verdict

BACK IN THE SUMMER OF '89… • …there was sunshine from May to September, Yamaha’s FZR1000 took the top eight places in the Production TT, and Niall Mackenzie led the British GP on a Marlboro YZR500. Relive these heady sun-drenched days with the new Yamaha XSR900...