May 2024
There has never been a more diverse range of bikes available to the riding public and we have tested what we feel are some of the best and most interesting between the ends of the budget range. From the latest version of BMW’s market leader, the R1300GS, to the astonishingly good-value Triumph Speed 400, we put six great bikes to the test to give you the full low-down on this year’s best new metal.
In The Big Ride, we head across the channel to trace the route of the Western Front from the Great War, rolling through deserted French countryside and over a century of history to end in Ypres in Belgium.
We put Suzuki’s big V-Strom, the 1050DE, against Honda’s Africa Twin in our Smart Money Test while we also put Nexx’s ECE22.06 dual-sport helmet, the XWED.3, under the microscope. Our product test assesses and rates six anti-vibration smartphone mounts to see which put your phone front and centre while keeping it protected from the elements and potentially damaging vibrations.
Finally, there is the 2024 RiDE Kit Showcase, a 28-page pull-out special featuring the latest and hottest gear for you and your bike.
April 2024
It finally feels like spring has sprung and the April issue celebrates the advent of longer days, sunshine and blooms – with ten of what we feel are the best rides in the UK. Our selection takes us from the Scottish islands to the Cornish Atlantic coast to East Anglia – some of the UK’s most rewarding rides through stunning countryside. And if you like the look, then as always, head along to the RiDE website – ride.co.uk – and download either the Google Maps links or the GPX files so you can follow in our tyre treads and enjoy them as much as we did.
We have a guide to how to thrive on today’s roads, with a variety of techniques to ensure you get the very best riding from your season and we also have our annual round-up of the best events and days out for the upcoming summer – it's not far away, after all.
We put six sets of two-piece waterproofs through our product test, to establish which are the best at keeping you dry when the clouds open yet are comfortable to wear and we test a new style of hard luggage, as well as helmets, jeans, rucksacks and more.
We also have our annual PCP special, looking at what you can get for your money when you decide to follow this increasingly popular purchasing route. We have the best deals on adventure tourers, nakeds, tourers and retros from all the major manufacturers.
March 2024
We all know that times are tough for almost everyone. However, if you are lucky enough to have the budget for a new (to you) bike, then we have plenty of inspiration for you. We have rounded-up what we reckon are the top-ten used bikes from every genre of motorcycling; adventure, touring, nakeds and sports. Massive amounts of fun for used prices. We have also taken a look into the pitfalls to avoid and the tricks and tips that will help you get the maximum value for minimum fuss when you go searching for your next ride.
Our Big Ride takes us to Scotland at the tailend of winter for a stunning trek across three passes between snow-capped mountains while our skills features helps you build experience – and confidence – with low-speed riding.
We test the latest versions of the Ducati DesertX , the Rally as well as the revised Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro and Royal Enfield’s newest retro, the Shotgun 650. Our product test puts eight corrosion preventers against the worst the British winter can throw – salt, rain, wind and frost - to see which will keep your machine protected against everything.
We also test the latest Arai adventure helmet, the Tour-X5 and TCX’s latest high-spec, high-leg boots and put a few thousand miles on Oxford’s women’s Mondial 2.0 laminated suit through some of Europe’s worst weather.
February 2024
Our annual Tour special has become something of a tradition at RiDE; we love producing it and you seem to love the inspiration that some of the most amazing riding routes provides. This year is no different; we have amazing routes ranging from Scotland, where we cover 455 miles of stunning scenery and roads, to Normandy where we tour the D-Day beaches and Cherbourg peninsula. We also head south through the Route Napoleon in France and mix a little on and off-road in Spain. Five touring experts offer their words of wisdom so you can maximise your enjoyment on the roads.
With winter now well and truly upon us, we take a look at what you need to consider if you are planning on continuing to ride through the darker months. On a run from Peterborough to the Peak District, editor Matt passes snow and ponders whether high-end kit is worth the investment while Product ed Jim highlights five winter essentials if you are one of the riders who doesn't feel there is a riding ‘season’.
Jim also spends a day learning to ride his KTM 790 Adventure off-road, ticking the last box on his list, at the Sweet Lamb KTM Adventure Bike Experience. He learns a huge amount from the vastly experienced Molineux father-and-son team including how to pick a bike up off the ground… In our Product Test, we put six rechargeable tyre inflators to the test to see which is the best for longevity and accuracy.
January 2024
The modern tall-rounder brings together some of the most thrilling elements of motorcycling in a friendly yet exciting package. Typically, they feature everything that makes sports tourers so popular – performance, long-distance ability and fun – but add a little extra comfort thanks to a more relaxed, upright riding position.
One of the most interesting is the new Suzuki GSX-S1000GX, the upright version of the marque’s super popular and enjoyable S1000GT, which we give a thorough test in this issue. We also look at BMW’s bonkers M1000XR, the upright with a superbike engine and pit the ever-successful Yamaha Tracer 9 GT against KTM’s newcomer, the 890 SMT. We also look at three of our favourite tall-rounders from just £4000.
Our Big Ride takes editor Matt to the Forest of Bowland for a tour of this undiscovered delight while we also try the all-new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, the marque’s first water-cooled bike.
In our Rated section, Prod Ed Jim tests sub-£100 winter gloves, with an intriguing outcome from an unexpected quarter while he also tries a heated anti-fog visor insert and reports on 3000 miles in Furygan’s laminated suit. There’s a buying guide on the Honda CRF250L/Rallye and a round-up of our long-term test bikes, including goodbye to the BMW R1250GS and a good buy of the KTM 790 Adventure.
December 2023
Value has been a keyword of what RiDE stands for since the magazine was launched in 1995 and this issue takes that one step further; we round up the best bikes you can buy on the market today for less than £10,000. And while a low price doesn't necessarily mean good value, the ten bikes we have chosen are all about the value. We start with the UK’s toughest road test on Honda’s Transalp then look at its nine closest sub-£10k competition, including nakeds, retros, adventure bikes and sportsbikes. It’s fascinating how much fun you can have for just four figures…
Continuing the value-for-money theme, our product test pits five disclocks against the thieves’ weapon of choice – the angle grinder. The results are very interesting and again demonstrate that price and value for money are not necessarily the same thing.
We complete our trip around the coastline of the south-west of England, riding from Falmouth in Cornwall along the pirate, Riviera and Jurassic coasts to the end point in Poole while Ed Matt takes our long-term BMW R1250GS test bike on the UK GS Trophy qualifier. Product Editor Jim takes his KTM 790 Adventure on every conceivable element of adventure possible and we put 1000 miles on Harley-Davidson’s Pan America in a weekend to find out how it works as a tourer.
November 2023
This is the third year we have run the People’s Bike of the Year, the only kind where the best bike of the year is chosen by our very own readers. And this year, we have six readers choosing from a pair of nakeds, two adventure bikes and two sports tourers, all selected from the most important new additions to their respective manufacturer’s ranges. Each bike is rated in a variety of areas by real-life riders and we think the outcome may well surprise you!
Also in this issue, Editor Matt spends a day on and off-road on a Yamaha Ténéré World Raid on the Taffy Dakar, an orienteering challenge for motorcycles, held in - not surprisingly - rural Wales. Product Editor Jim takes us round the first part of the South-West 660, which travels round the Devon, Cornwall and Dorset coasts from Watchet to Poole; this first part pauses at Falmouth after covering the Atlantic Highway.
We also have the battle of the retros, pitting the Kawasaki Z900RS against Suzuki’s Katana to see which delivers that crucial blend of modern riding ability with retro charm while our product tests sees six pairs of adventure-touring boots ridden and soaked to see which offer the best comfort and protection.
October 2023
The used-bike market is particularly strong at the moment but nonetheless, there are still some bargains to be had, particularly if you look for bikes that have either recently been updated or superseded by newer models. Typically by buying bikes a couple of years old, the majority of the early depreciation will have already been swallowed by the showroom purchasers so your value proposition increases with huge savings possible on some of the most interesting bikes in recently years. We round up four prime candidates as well as ten alternatives and look at how to get the best deal possible.
Our Big Ride feature is a lap of the island of Angelsey just off the top north-western corner of Wales and reader Richard Burton takes us on a run along his favourite road, the Atlantic Highway on the west coast of Cornwall.
We put the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ under the microscope in the UK’s most in-depth road test to find out if motorcycling’s technology has gone to far while, at the opposite end of the spectrum, we pit the Honda CB750 Hornet against the Suzuki GSX-8S to find out which middleweight naked offers the best fun-per-buck.
We put seven pairs of AAA CE-rated riding jeans to the test, both on the bike and on the road, as we drag test them to destruction to see which actually offer the best combination of fit, comfort and real-life protection. We also test waterless bike-washing wipes, an LED-lit helmet and riding jeans with zip-off legs and more. There’s also what to look for on a second-hand BMW R1250GS, reports on our long-term test fleet and lots more...
September 2023
One of the many things RiDE is famous for is providing routes to inspire and excite riders and this issue is a celebration of the very best road trips in the UK and farther afield. We ride from Oporto in Portugal to the capital Lisbon, concentrating on smaller roads and soaking in the incredible Portuguese hospitality. We also spend a weekend threading through the quiet and engaging roads around Normandy in northern France and if that’s not enough, our Bucket-List Routes supplement, produced in association with Triumph Motorcycles, covers three key UK rides - the North Coast 500, the Snowdonia 360 and the South West 660 - in enormous detail.
Also in this issue, Product Editor Jim and Ed Matt spend a weekend away at the ABR Festival comparing budget and high-end camping equipment and offer tips on packing and bike prep. Our product test assesses combination spanners, one of the most useful additions to any home mechanic’s toolkit and we also test adventure clothing, disclocks, cleaning products and much more.
We put the KTM 790 Adventure through the UK’s most in-depth road test, as well as take it off-roading as part of our long-term fleet testing and put the two heaviest of heavyweight long-distance adventure bikes – the BMW R1250GS Adventure and the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally – against each other, to see which carries the most clout.
August 2023
The August issue of RiDE – on sale on July 12 – is a celebration of all things naked – bikes with no fairings or bodywork.
If you like wind-in-the-hair (if you weren’t wearing a helmet, which of course you are) and bugs-in-the-teeth motorcycling, then a naked may be for you. Unencumbered by screens or fairings, the visceral enjoyment afforded by the direct connection between you and the environment is, for many, what motorcycling is all about.
We pit two of the ultimate nakeds – the Yamaha MT-10 and the BMW S1000R – against each other to find out which offers the best liberated experience. We also put the Triumph Street Triple RS and the Ducati Monster SP head-to-head to see which is more deserving of your money while we also consider the top-ten used sporty nakeds for less than £5000: you can get some very serious metal for your money…
Our Big Ride takes us to the Republic of Ireland for a loop of the south-eastern corner, from Cork to Dublin and back again on a range of semi-automatic Hondas and the Product Test assesses how effective throw-over panniers are at carrying your essentials on a sporty or naked bike.
Our Riding Masterclass looks at the benefits of correct throttle control and we also find out how to spot a great used Honda CB500X. There is also the latest kit reviews, new-bike tests and reports on our long-term test fleet.
July 2023
The July issue of RiDE features our most in-depth road test ever: 24 hours and more than 2000 miles on two of 2023’s most talked-about bikes.
The all-new Honda Transalp and the epic Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally are two ends of the adventure-tourer spectrum – a cheerful, budget all-rounder and a serious, premium powerhouse respectively. And while both are aimed at similar potential buyers, how to properly test them? Well, ride them non-stop for 24 hours through three countries and rack-up more than 2300 miles on them, of course.
We sent contributors and staff out from our base in Peterborough to Scotland and Wales, to the south and east coasts and to the Peak District and the Pennines: we even took the Transalp for an off-road foray. Our six riders found out exactly what works and what doesn't on each bike.
We also test six sub-£200 crash helmets that conform to the latest standard – ECE22.06 - and discover that you don't have to spend huge money to find comfort and features you might expect in much more expensive lids.
Editor Matt goes for a cruise across Norfolk and Suffolk on a Harley-Davidson, re-discovering the landscape of his youth and we try the latest all-weather suit from French manufacturer Bering, made from recycled plastic bottles removed directly from the world’s oceans.
June 2023
In this issue, we celebrate motorcycling’s go-far, go-fast all-round hero, the sports tourer, with a special theme running through the magazine. We start by taking three key sports tourers to Wales to see how they fare on the motorway trip across from East Anglia as well as enjoying some of the UK’s best riding roads when they arrive.
We also test the latest version of arguably the best all-round sports tourer, the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+: just as capable and fun as ever but now with even more tech. We put the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX up against the BMW R1250RS as well, to answer the archetypal question; big-capacity twin or inline-four motor?
We have three great destinations to ride to and a round-up our favourite ten used sports tourers for less than £5000: you can get an awful lot of bike for your money. We also put our testing heads on with six sets of the latest sports-touring tyres on the road in the wet. We discover you can get plenty of grip, performance and performance, even in the rain…
May 2023
The UK has some stunning motorcycle riding and we have selected our favourite 20 roads; some are short, some are longer but all are guaranteed to get the pulse racing and put a smile on our faces. As always, you can download the routes from the RiDE website and give them a try yourself – hopefully you’ll agree.
It feels like spring may finally have sprung and if you prefer not to ride over winter, our friends at Rapid Training have identified ten common mistakes that returning riders often make and how to avoid them, allowing you to get up to full enjoyment as quickly as possible.
If you’re planning on buying a new bike, we’ve also gathered together what we reckon are the 48 top PCP deals around at the moment. PCP isn’t for everyone but if you like the idea of keeping monthly payments low, then you can’t afford to miss this. Speaking of value, we put six sub-£400 laminated textile jackets to the test to see if it is possible to combine performance and comfort in what many regard as the ultimate touring clothing. We’ve also ridden the new Honda Transalp and the Ducati Multistrada and put Moto Guzzi’s lovely new Mandello V100 through the UK’s most stringent road test.
April 2023
The April 2023 issue, on sale March 8 – has a massive Ridden & Rated special, where we test 2023’s best new bikes. From BSA’s beautiful retro Gold Star to BMW’s searing S1000RR sportsbike and the best electric bike so far, the Energica Experia; we ride and rate all the year’s most significant metal. If you’re considering a new bike, then this is the place to start.
Editor Matt takes a ride around Northumberland and across Kielder Forest Drive, a smooth ten-mile gravel road that cuts through the famous forest and can be ridden on most bikes, not just adventurers. Si Hargreaves puts six spray-on/wash-off bike cleaners to the test on a fleet of filthy machines to see which is best for a Sunday-afternoon wash while the Buying Guide explains exactly what to look for if you are considering a used Yamaha YZF-R1 – arguably one of the best road sportsbikes around.
Last, but by no means least, is this year’s Kit Showcase supplement; 30 pages of the latest helmets, clothing and accessories from some of the biggest names in motorcycling gear. If you need kit inspiration, RiDE’s Rated section and the Kit Showcase have you covered.
March 2023
The latest issue of RiDE is your knowledgeable friend when it comes to bike-buying. It might not feel like it but, in many ways, if you’re thinking about buying a new bike, NOW is the time. As I write this, manufacturers are doing their best to keep prices down in the wake of inflation and cost rises. Our Buy Smart new-bike special is full of amazing bikes that either make good ownership sense or have great discounts attached.
There’s plenty of other stuff to keep your interest as well – we’ve got great routes to ride in East Anglia and the Midlands, proper scientific product testing (clip-on tankbags this month) and we give the first proper UK test of BSA’s new Gold Star (hint: it’s really very good). As well as this, we’ve got a great guide on equipping your garage plus the usual mix of buying advice and real-world road testing. RiDE: Britain’s most useful bike mag.
February 2023
The Feb issue of RiDE is packed with great suggestions for this year’s best biking holidays. Hand-picked by our resident globetrotters, there are trips for every budget from great UK weekend escapes to European epics, plus some amazing adventure riding. We know that money doesn’t go as far as it used to, so we’ve costed each one out to make sure they offer the most bang for your buck as well as offering 15 free downloadable routes.
As well as all the dreams of awesome summer riding, there is plenty of top-notch consumer journalism, too. In this issue we give you the verdict on KTM’s new 890 Adventure, explain which is the best budget retro scrambler on the market and we provide the definitive used guide to Honda’s Africa Twin. As well as this, we’ve got a super-comprehensive guide to the best heated grips on the market, including fitting, riding and temperature testing. Perfect for winter ride-outs!
January 2023
The latest issue of RiDE is packed with useful, value-packed stuff. First off, there is no getting away with the fact that adventure bikes have grown hugely in popularity in the last decade, but is bigger always better? We’re not so sure – so we’ve tested the pick of the mid-capacity adventurers. The results are eye-opening: not only are the best examples great to ride, but bikes like Triumph’s Tiger 900 GT Pro, KTM’s 890 Adventure and Aprilia’s Tuareg 660 offer excellent value for money too. We show you how best to bag a bargain in our 20-page special.
There’s plenty to get your teeth into if you’re still riding, or just planning your rides and biking for next year. There are great downloadable routes around Hebden Bridge and Exmoor, a comprehensive buying guide for Honda’s Fireblade and more products and kit tested than any other mag. RiDE: Britain’s most useful motorcycle magazine since 1995.
December 2022
The latest issue of RiDE is jam-packed with brilliant, affordable and underrated bikes. Our Unsung Heroes edition celebrates the machines that might have fallen off the radar for some but offer great value and superb ability.
With one of the warmest autumns on record, there is still plenty of great riding to be done in 2022 and we showcase two amazing routes in Wales and the Scottish Borders. They’re both worth a ride-out and you can download the routes to your phone or satnav for free, too.
Also, because it ‘might’ get a little chilly soon, we feature a scientific windproof base-layers test, with the UK’s best-sellers rated for warmth and breathability. Combined with great riding stories, the most comprehensive buying guides for kit and bikes, plus all the latest news, RiDE is the most useful bike magazine you can buy.
November 2022
The latest issue of RiDE is packed with info and inspiration when it comes to buying, riding or fettling your bike.
The highlight is People's Bike of the Year, where the best bikes of 2022 are tested by the biking public. The only bike of the year feature where readers are the road testers, it is essential reading if you're after a new bike.
But there is more than that in this issue. We have amazing routes to download, a wonderful investigation into supernakeds and their crazy power outputs and a three-season glove test - perfect for autumn riding.
We are the worlds most useful motorcycle magazine!
October 2022
The latest issue of RiDE is packed with everything you need to get the most out of early-autumn biking. In the October issue, we showcase the best GTs on the planet with a head-to-head between the Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT, Yamaha Tracer GT and KTM Super Duke GT, plus we reveal the best bits to make your own bike into a mile-muncher.
If you fancy aride-out, there is a wonderful guide to the undiscovered biking paradise that is Pembrokeshire in Wales, plus a wonderful loop in Essex. All routes are downloadable for free, too.
As usual, RiDE is also packed with buying advice. We rate sporty textile jackets back-to-back, long-term test Michelin’s new Road 6 sports-touring tyre and reveal the tricks of the trade when it comes to buying a Kawasaki Versys 1000. We’re Britain’s most useful bike magazine.
September 2022
It’s a bumper, 2-in-1 issue of RiDE this month. In the mag we reveal the top-10 naked bikes on sale today, showcase some amazing routes on the Welsh border and hold on tight as we test Kawasaki’s wild 197bhp Kawasaki H2SX SE. As well as all of this, we’re loaded with consumer advice, including an ultra-comprehensive two-piece leathers test, Best-Buy kit from the last year and a BMW S1000RR buying guide.
But if you’ve got a tour or ride-out planned, our Britain’s Best Ride-Out supplement will prove invaluable. In this special edition we reveal our favourite B-road, seaside and adventure routes, plus great rides to UK’s best destinations. And each route is available to download onto your phone or satnav. It’s full of inspiration – and the facts you need for a great roadtrip.