RiDE (UK) - 1 Okt 2025
ALL-ROUND GENIUS
THE RIDE GUIDE TO RETRO BIKES
EXOTICA FOR PEANUTS
Lightweight allweather gloves
Worth going Chinese?
Perfect autumn Scots road trip
R1300RT: the big test
‘Bikes that mix nostalgia and modern handling do it for us’
This month’s highlights
Steve Herbert-mattick, art director
Simon Hargreaves, contributor
Alison Silcox, all-round legend
Month in Bikes GSX-R1000R returns, plus CCM lifeline
Your Rides
THE BIG RIDE
THE RIDE GUIDE TO RETROS
BMW S1000XR
Big Questions Answered
Suzuki’s neo-retro GSX-8TT: does it justify £10k price tag? Five things you need to know about…
Four more ace options
Ask the Lawyer
RIDE Investigates
Letters
Ask the Coach
BSA Bantam 350
Kove 800X Rally
Voge DS625X
Continental highs
Latest Kit Rated
SUBSCRIBE TO THE UK’S MOST USEFUL BIKE MAGAZINE
Ducati 999
Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
BIKES IN THIS ISSUE
Suzuki GSX-R1000R
Lightweight all-weather gloves
BMW R1300RS
Kawasaki Versys 650 Grand Tourer
Yamaha Ténéré 700
Smart-money Test
High-mile Test
Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE
Royal Enfield Classic 650
Triumph Tiger Sport 800
Honda XL750 Transalp
Kawasaki Versys 650
Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+
Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+
Yamaha Ténéré 700
Yamaha XSR900 GP
BSA Bantam 350
Kove 800X Rally
BMW R1300RS
Suzuki GSX-8TT
Zontes ZT703-F
BMW S1000XR
Suzuki Katana
BMW R1300RT
Voge DS625X
BMW R12G/S
Ducati 999
Culdaff, Donegal, Ireland
São Mamede de Ribatua, Portugal
Austrian Alps
Austrian Alps
Riaño, Spain
Llyn Gwynant, North Wales
Grossglockner, Austria
Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries
Flüela Pass, Switzerland
Bøyabreen Glacier, Norway
Mirador del Corzo, Spain
Vosges Mountains, France
Kirskstone Pass, Cumbria
IS BIKE LICENSING BROKEN?
‘We believe it should be simpler and progressive’
WHAT CHANGES SHOULD HAPPEN?
Return of the king
GS Trophy heading to Romania
CCM get lifeline from auctioneers
Compulsory eye tests for over-70s
Can old be gold?
Middleweight marvel
Living – and planning – the dream
More Euro travel
A ‘hole’ big drama
practical, characterful, fun to ride, and affordable.
The wild side of camping
‘My frame’s failed out of warranty. What can I do?’
‘My partner’s a nervous new rider. How can I help them?’
R1300RT: still the definitive big tourer?
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Kove 800X Rally
BSA Bantam 350
Voge DS625X
Suzuki GSX-8TT
BMW R1300RT
It’s a pint-sized prizefighter
LOGO LOCO
HOW FAST?
FRUITY TUNES
It’s a pint-sized prizefighter
BEYOND THE HYPE
One for the (off) road
Voge raise their entry level
5 things you need to know about…
Q Is the RT still the best tourer?
Q Is the RT still the best tourer?
Q Is all the tech good?
Q Can it still eat up the miles?
Q Is DCA just a gimmick?
Q Have updates made it targeted too much towards performance?
Q Have updates made it targeted too much towards performance?
Q How well made is it?
Q What are the best options and add-ons
Q
How much does it weigh?
Q What will it cost to run?
Q What power does it make?
Q How easy is it to work on?
Q How well made is it?
Q Is it a good bike for riding as a pillion?
A ‘It’s still the ultimate tourer – and now even more fun on an Alpine pass’
Q What are its main rivals?
Q Is it a good bike for riding as a pillion?
Subscribe to the UK’S most useful motorcycle magazine £29.99 SIX MONTHS FOR JUST
Ayr Miles
Ayr Miles
THE FACTS
Feed me, feed me, feed me...
Three great places to visit
THIS MONTH’S BIG RIDE ROUTE
Galloway Gallop
THE RIDE GUIDE TO RETROS
THE RIDE GUIDE TO RETROS
Yamaha XSR900 GP
Yamaha XSR900 GP
THREE OTHER TOP SPORTY CHOICES £14,695 104bhp 83lb·ft 216kg 810mm seat
THE SCRAMBLERS BMW R12GI/S
THE FACTS
£5750 39bhp 30lb.ft 196kg 825mm seat
£7399 43bhp 31lb·ft 150kg (dry) 860mm seat
£13,295 89bhp 81lb·ft 230kg 870mm seat
ULTRA-CLASSICS THE
OLD LOOKERS THAT RIDE LIKE NEW
THE FACTS
So, which should you choose?
TALL-ROUND GENIUS
TALL-ROUND GENIUS
MOSSY’S ROAD TEST NOTES
FANCY A USED ONE?
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
2 Triumph Tiger Sport 800
2 Triumph Tiger Sport 800
WHAT MAKES IT S0 GREAT
3 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE
5 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+
4 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+
CONTINENTAL HIGHS
VISITING SLOVENIA
CONTINENTAL HIGHS
‘Perfect for touring’
THE FACTS
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Getting a grip on lightweight all‑weather gloves
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HIGH‑MILE TEST
LATEST KIT RATED
THE
PRODUCT TEST
‘Good value, great performance’
Dry, good value
Stylish and feminine
Useful and smart
‘Good value, great performance’
‘The best riding jeans I’ve used’
Lightweight all‑weather gloves
How we tested them
Simon Hargreaves
Lightweight all‑weather gloves
WHAT THE TRIANGLES MEAN
6 Richa Polar Vortex WP £79.99
5 Furygan LR Nomad £109.99
4 Knox Coniston £179.99
THE FACTS
3
Alpinestars SP-365 Drystar £111.99
THE FACTS
2
RST Fulcrum CE £69.99
THE FACTS
Lining
Overall length CE Rating Fastening
1
Oxford Omega 1.0 Dry2dry £59.99
THE FACTS
- LIGHTWEIGHT ALL-WEATHER GLOVES - THE VERDICT Three out of six fully waterproof
Oxford Omega 1.0 Dry2dry £59.99
RST Fulcrum CE £69.99
NEXT MONTH...
Zontes ZT703-F vs Honda Transalp: which is smarter buy?
Ténéré’s multi-terrain versatility, and Katana gets some upgrades
Why it’s the best-value big bike money can buy Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
Ducati 999
SUBSCRIBE TO THE UK’S MOST USEFUL BIKE MAGAZINE
Smart-money Test Honda XL750 Transalp defends its honour against Zontes ZT703-F
What we’ve learned
Ducati 999
WHICH MODEL?
BATTERIES
RECALLS
Ducati 999
EXHAUST
MOTOR
ELECTRICS
The best alternatives
‘Easy to work on and still looks modern’ Andy Matthews,
55, Wigan
COILS
What to look for on the test ride
Three ways to make it better
FORK SEALS
Honda XL750 Transalp vs Zontes ZT703-F
Honda XL750 Transalp vs Zontes ZT703-F
Handling
Zontes ZT703-F £7199
Honda XL750 Transalp £9899
NEXT MONTH...
BMW R1300RS What we’ve learned after 1000 miles
THE FACTS
BMW R1300RS What we’ve learned after 1000 miles
WHAT WORKS WHAT DOESN’T
How grand is the Grand Tourer?
THE FACTS
Kat’s wagging a new tail
How grand is the Grand Tourer?
IS IT JUST AS GRAND VALUE?
THE FACTS
Ténéré’s almost a perfect ten
THE FACTS
Ténéré’s almost a perfect ten
SO, WHAT’S DIFFERENT FOR 2025?
#1 Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
WHAT TO PAY?
GENERATOR
LINKED BRAKES
CAM CHAIN
CLUTCH
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