January 2020 - Celebrating the motorcycles that'll smash continents
‘Few things are better than a long ride to great roads’
Not for the first time, we spent most of the month being insanely jealous of our writer Simon Hargreaves. While the office-dwelling members of RiDE endured days of torrential rain, 1°C commutes and the first frosts of winter, Si was thrashing around Spain in the warmth on lovely bikes. Git.
It was all part of the mile-munching special that’s in this issue. With winter now rearing its icy head, we always start remembering — and mourning — the sun-kissed roads of summer. But it’s not winter everywhere: for us Brits there are parts of Europe that feel like summer all year long — and they’re just a long ride away. We headed to Spain to count the cost of a winter escape and find out if it was all worth it.
Talking of winter, if you’re planning on riding your bike through it, there is plenty of useful stuff in this issue. The RiDE Product Test, conducted in controlled conditions over many weeks, rates the best anti-corrosion sprays while our guide to winter prep has more than a few tips that even experienced bikers will gain from.
Enjoy the mag.
Matt Wildee, RiDE, Editor
ps - to find the routes from this issue of the magazine, as both Google Maps links and GPX files, CLICK HERE
Escape Velocity
BMW’s R1250RS and Yamaha’s FJR1300 should be the perfect sporty tourers for a late-season blast to Spain. But are they? And is heading south when the weather turns bad really worth it?
Duel of the Dukes
KTM brought a host of upgrades to its latest Super Duke GT. Is it worth trading in your old bike for? An expert owner gives the answer…
