Innehållsförteckning för April 2025 från Fast Bikes

I'm not one for fads. I know what I like, and I like what I know. Perhaps that's a prerequisite to living in Lincolnshire, but the point is that I like the life I live, the things I do, and the familiarity that comes with the changing times of the year. For instance, I embrace the winter months as a bit of a reprieve… a chance to take stock, catch up with friends, chill out, and reflect on the fantastic two-wheeled endeavours that've come my way over the past season. Twenty years into this way of life and it goes to reason that I'm somewhat conditioned to the annual cycle of a motorcycle journalist… with this particular window in time being the best of them all – the chance to…

The season is only just kicking off and the bike firms are pushing hard for sales already. It's a buyer's market out there, as evidenced by deals like this from Suzuki GB. The brand is offering 0% finance for four years across a number of models, on either PCP or HP, with a minimum deposit of £1000, and runs until the end of March 2025. The deal covers the GSX-S1000 family, including the GX and GSX-S1000GT, as well as the naked GSX-S1000 roadster and the Katana. It's also available on the V-Strom 1050 and 1050DE and Tour versions, as well as the GSX1300 R Hayabusa. The deal means you could have the GSX-S1000 naked for just £79 per month with a deposit or trade-in of £2970. Meanwhile, the new-for-2024 GSX-S1000GX+,…

“TO HARDCORE DUCATISTA OUT THERE, THE LOSS OF THE DESMO TECH MIGHT BE CONSIDERED SACRILEGE BUT THE REASONS FOR DOING SO ARE QUITE SIMPLE – IT WASN'T NEEDED, IT SAVED WEIGHT AND IT SAVED COST.” Some people swear by the notion that less is more, such as limiting alcohol intake after being sick on your boss's shoes at a works do… but when it comes to motorcycles and the prospect of offering less power than the model that preceded it, that's a tough one to sell. Especially when, in the case of the new Panigale V2, the drop isn't a mere one or two ponies, but a whopping 30bhp-plus. Could less really be more? Well, probably like a lot of people on hearing the news, I was hung up on…

Who doesn't say yes to the chance of a blast from Blighty to Sweeden, ticking off Holland, Germany and Denmark along the way? Especially when said test takes place on a mile-munching masterpiece such as the GX, which seemed to be the consummate travel companion during a three-day soiree. I say seemed because I'd not really had that much time in the bike's saddle to get to know it and it's 150(ish) bhp output all that well. On paper, it sounded every bit the bike you'd want for a task like this, but surely, the proof would be in the pudding. So, after signing on the dotted line, I met up with a bunch of other like-minded motorcyclists to sample the goods on offer. For all of us, the choice…

When Fast Bikes tested the 2008-2011 Honda Fireblade back in the day, we described it as 'like a comfortable pair of slippers.' While this initially seems a derogatory comment about a top-level litre sportsbike, in fact it highlights what a great machine this generation of Blade actually is. It may not be the most powerful litre bike of its day, and it lacks the pizzaz of Yamaha's unique and headline-grabbing crossplane engine, but the Blade is such a refined and balanced overall package – it's the bike you return to at the end of the day as it just feels so good to ride. Like your comfortable pair of slippers, you may experiment with alternatives, but you always return to what you know suits you best… Honda has always had…

Following hot on the heels of the Daytona 675, Triumph pulled another blinder when it unleashed the naked Street Triple. In the near two decades it's been around, it has become one of the brand's best-loved and most popular models, offering an abundance of character, timeless looks, and a soundtrack that could make its rivals weep. At its heart is a 675cc inline-triple motor, packed full of torque throughout its rev range, making it a prime choice for road or track-inclined shenanigans. A sign of its success is the continuation of the model in Triumph's fleet today that's arguably a very different proposition (and capacity), but the playful, versatile and alluring nature remains the same. Why would you want one? What's the best bit about this bike? That's a tricky…

“WHEN I UPPED THE ANTE, I DID FIND IT ON THE SOFT SIDE, WITH A LOT OF WEIGHT TRANSFER WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES HARD OR GOT ON THE GAS.” Irolled out on the Suzuki to kick things off, firstly because I'd spent a lot of time on it prior to this test, so I knew it would feel like putting on an old pair of slippers, but also because it gave me a chance to get my head back into riding these midweight bikes and set a great benchmark. The first thing I noticed with the 8R was the sheer weight of it. The highly-positioned fuel tank, when brimmed, really stacks the weight up top, and you definitely notice it when you're wheeling the bike around or doing those…

“IT WAS SMOOTH, PUNCHY, AND PACKED WITH CHARACTER, BUT THAT ONLY REALLY SHINES AFTER 6000RPM.” Last but certainly not least, it was time to ride the Daytona 660. As the only three-cylinder bike in the sector, I was eager to see how it stacked up against the twins. And for good reason – the sound alone is enough to make you smile, with that signature Triumph triple whirr and the unmistakable induction growl. When I twisted the throttle on the open roads, the engine delivered in spades. It was smooth, punchy, and packed with character, but that only really shines after 6000rpm. Below that? It's a bit tame, so you'll need to keep this motor singing in the sweet spot. In terms of rider positioning, the cockpit felt surprisingly roomy,…

On-board radar equipment has been available on some of the fancier bikes for a few years now. And now, aftermarket electronic specialist Garmin has developed an aftermarket add-on rear-facing radar set-up to add the safety tech to older bikes. The new Zumo-R1 radar unit provides warning lights on your dash covering your rear blind spot areas, warning if another vehicle is getting too close. You can even link it to a smartphone app or suitable Garmin Zumo sat-nav unit for a heads-up radar display showing vehicles behind you. You also get audio warnings through a linked Bluetooth headset, and optional rear and side-facing lights make you more visible to other vehicles. The discreet R1 radar unit mounts unobtrusively on the rear mudguard and comes with the handle-bar mounted warning lights…

Love 'em or hate 'em, electronic rider aids are here to stay. That particular technical genie got out of the bottle a long time ago, somewhere between 2006 when the first ride-by-wire production bike landed – the Yamaha R6 – and probably 2010 when the first-generation BMW S1000RR gave us rider modes, traction control and electronic semi-active suspension all at the same time. Since then, the performance envelope of a sportsbike has been defined by 1s and 0s as much as it has by bhp, lb.ft and kgs. Things have still moved on in the analogue world, especially when you consider how much cleaner engines must be today compared to 2010, but they haven't moved on anything like as much or as rapidly as they have in the digital world.…

Few people saw Yamaha's MT-09 on the cards when it unveiled a triple motor more than two decades ago, but from little more than a concept and a big roll of the dice, the Japanese brand unleashed a class-leading sub-litre naked that promised great character, loads of torque and everyday practicality for a fraction of the price of its rival's propositions. Since its inauguration, it's proven to be a massive hit for the brand, fuelling a whole family of other MTs too, solidifying its place and purpose on the naked bike market. If you're after an exciting, affordable and versatile naked bike, a used Yamaha MT-09 for under £5000 is one of the best buys in the market. First launched in 2013, the MT-09 was Yamaha's answer to the growing…

“THERE'S NO QUESTION WHICH ONE LOOKS THE RACIEST, AND THIS CATEGORY REALLY NEEDED THAT SHOT IN THE ARM BEFORE THE R7 DEBUTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.” Ijumped straight onto the R7 after riding the Suzuki, and the first thing that hit me was the sheer size… or lack of it. The Yamaha felt like a kid's bike. I was genuinely surprised by how much smaller and more cramped the rider position was in comparison. But, carrying the 'R' in its name isn't for nothing; sportiness is clearly at the forefront of the design, and Yamaha nailed it. If the racy fairing wasn't the biggest giveaway, the combination of high footpegs, swept-back handlebars, tall seat height, and a narrow chassis really hammered home that this bike was built with one…

To conclude, I think each manufacturer has cleverly catered to a slightly different audience with their midweight sportsbikes, all while staying true to their cores. And despite fitting into the same category, they don't really overlap. Whether you prioritise comfort, outright performance, agility, or sheer fun, there's a bike here to suit your riding style. To sum it up, the GSX-8R rider is in it for the long haul, offering genuine levels of comfort alongside it torquey and playful motor. The R7 is for those who crave the racer image and want a bike for quick thrills and scuffed sliders. As for the Aprilia, the RS 660 is arguably the most refined all-rounder of the lot… but it'll set you back that little bit more. And then there's the Daytona…

WIN A FAST BIKES HOODIE! To be in with a chance of winning this most tasteful of tops, just email us (letters@fastbikes.co.uk) or post on our Facebook page with a pic of you, your bike and a few words about it, where you've been on it and why you rate it so highly. We'll then pick our favourite post each month and that lucky person will be the proud owner of their very own Fast Bikes hoodie – which is proven to make you at least 60% faster!* Send yours to letters@fastbikes.co.uk WINNING RIDE FastBikesMag.com/FastBikes-Forum Facebook.com FastBikesMagazine @FastBikesMag…

BMW's enormous R18 mega-boxers have had some very minor tweaks, aimed at meeting the tighter Euro 5+ emissions rules. So the 1802cc air-cooled flat twin motor has a new ECU, which keeps power the same at 91bhp, but adds an extra 5Nm of torque. The new engine is shared among the range – the R18 Classic cruiser, Transcontinental megatourer, B bagger and Roctane chopper. There's also a load of small chassis and equipment changes, aiming at improving handling and comfort. No sign as yet, though, of the R20 S sporty roadster behemoth we're desperate to see, which appeared as a concept last year.…

The £10k and below sector is arguably where all the exciting stuff in motorcycling can be found these days. Whether it's the reintroduction of Kawasaki and Honda's supersport bikes last year, or the increasing amount of rider-friendly parallel twin-cylinder bikes, or the crashing-ball introduction of the Honda Hornet 1000, or indeed the contentiously heavily discounted KTMs in the wake of financial woes – this sector is crammed full of variety and is clearly an area where manufacturers are putting a lot of their efforts into. There are old bikes with new technology, there are all-new bikes, there are bikes made with old formulas and new technology, and there are bikes that just get the bare minimum of incremental updates to keep them kitten-friendly, and this is the category that the…

When I was a lad, endurance race bikes were some of the sauciest pieces of kit out there – on a par with 500GP bikes, and sometimes actually even more interesting. The immense engineering power of the Japanese firms, the obsession with track-ready supersports machinery, and the prestige of the legendary Suzuka 8-Hour endurance race all combined to ensure the very fanciest of chassis and engine kit. The bikes also had to be built to cope with the outlandish demands of the endurance class – lapping within a few per cent of a 20-30 lap race distance, but doing it for hour after hour, up to 24 hours at Le Mans, with three racers, swapping in and out. Quick-change wheels, brakes and bodywork made the difference between a win or…

It beggars belief how much motorcycle you can get for under a grand these days, with a prime option in the naked bike category being the SV650. If you didn't own one of these back in the day, chances are your mates did… and chances are they got up to all kinds of antics on the much-loved v-twin-powered middleweight naked. Launched back in 1999, the model still features in Suzuki's line-up today, albeit being a wholly different proposition to the carb'd apex killer that offered versatility, affordability and reliability at a snip. A prime option for wheelie lovers and commuters alike, chances are any early option at this kind of money is likely to have picked up a few battle scars along the way, but thanks to their hard-earned, bulletproof…

The middleweight sportsbike category has never been hotter or fuller. With manufacturers upping their games and a fresh wave of accessible, high-performance machines hitting the market in recent years, riders are spoilt for choice. Whether you're after a partner in crime on track or a capable, everyday road companion, the current crop of 600-800cc sportbikes offers something for everyone. Adding to the excitement, the introduction of the Sportbike Cup series at British Superbike last year has given these middleweights a true proving ground. Off the back of last year's Project 37, where I got the chance to push the Suzuki GSX-8R to its limit on track, I was keen to see how it cut it on the road, up against its nearest and dearest rivals. Enter the Yamaha R7, Triumph…

“APRILIA ABSOLUTELY NAILED THE ERGONOMICS OF THE 660 WITH A COMFORTABLY WIDE SEAT AND A CARVED-OUT TANK THAT YOUR LEGS ALMOST CLIP INTO.” With a pristine paint job and a glistening chassis, the RS 660 screams Italian sophistication. From the moment I laid eyes on it, it was clear that this bike had been built with attention to detail and refinement. When I swung my leg over, I was pleasantly surprised at the room on this bike… a tall saddle height, low pegs and over-the-clamp handlebars – I couldn't have asked for a more spacious cockpit. The handlebar design is a work of art, not covering any part of the elegantly machined top yoke, while getting the bars high and forward with just the right degree of angle. Aprilia absolutely…

MOTOGP IN FOCUS BOOK Most hardcore MotoGP fans will already have this year's Motocourse bike racing bible on their shelves, but here's another top-notch book rounding up the 2024 season. MotoGP in Focus is an official DORNA-licensed product, packed with large-format imagery, including some exclusive behind-the-scenes pics. The 128-page book costs £45 but if you hurry you can get it for £35 using code EARLYBIRD. https://mtcm.link/hpda RRP: £45 ALPINESTARS MISSILE V3 LEATHER JACKET High-end leather jacket from Alpinestars, which comes in vented Airflow or standard unvented form. The firm says it's used lessons learned from MotoGP, and that the jacket has the latest in protection – Nucleon PLASMA armour in elbows and shoulders, plus a back protector pocket. It's also compatible with Alpinestars' various Tech-Air airbags including the latest 7X…