Motorcycle First Ride Reviews

First Ride: 2008 Honda CBF600S

An easy learner friendly machine, or a bike with about as much soul as a sandbag? Honda’s middleweight goes for function over style...

First Ride: 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Jim Bowen managed to completely spanner a ZX-10R the last time we put him on one. He has never been to the Qatar MotoGP circuit. So, who better to make a complete arse of himself...

First Ride: 2008 Ducati 848

It’s just like the 1098 but smaller, right? Er no, actually it isn’t. Ducati has taken a completely new change of tack with its 848

First Ride: 2008 BMW HP2 Sport

BMW finally go for the jugular with their most focused sportsbike ever. It looks stunning and sounds glorious, but does it have any teeth?

Honda SH300i - review and road test

Honda's CRF-derived motor powers this superscoot

First Ride: 2006 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 GT review

Suzuki's V-Strom never hit the big time but it's been a solid seller, loved by owners. But is it any good on a blast to France?

First Ride: 2006 KTM 950 Adventure review

KTM's first 950 Adventure won over a horde of fans when it first hit the market with rave reviews. So what's it like on a blast to France?

First Ride: 2006 Triumph Tiger 955i review

Triumph's trusty Tiger is comfortable, reliable and good fun to ride. But does it fall short anywhere? We find out

First Ride: 2006 BMW R1200GS review

BMW's all-conquering flat twin reviewed and rated on a French thrash

First Ride: 2006 Buell Ulysses review

If you like adventure bikes and you want that air-cooled Harley character, then your choice is pretty limited. Enter the Buell Ulysses

First Ride: 2006 Yamaha FZ1 Fazer

Why build one bike when you can have two at twice the price? Yamaha's new FZ1 naked and half-faired FZ1 Fazer emerge into the cold light of day

First Ride: Triumph Scrambler

No barbed wire fences to jump, so Whitham sticks to the roads on Triumph's Scrambler and gets nostalgic

First Ride: 2007 KTM 990 Adventure review

KTM's Adventure 990 takes over from the 942cc carburetted v-twin 950, using a bigger LC8 engine and fuel injection. Geordie beer sponge Chris Moss on the launch of KTM's 2007 Adventure

First Ride: 2006 Piaggio X8 250

Tabloid journo Keith Jackson on the PIAGGIO X8 250

First Ride: 2006 Kawasaki ER6f review

The world launch review of the Kawasaki ER6F, a Kawasaki budget middleweight naked aimed squarely at the SV650 and Honda Hornet

First Ride: 2006 Suzuki GSR 600

Launch report written by freelance journo Bertie Simmonds

First Ride: Yamaha Tricker

The kids are alright but they ain't buying enough bikes. Yamaha hopes the Tricker will tempt the young tikes onto two wheels

First Ride: 2006 Honda Fireblade

Visordown attended the world launch of Honda's tweaked for 2006 flagship sportsbike

First Ride: 2005 Aprilia Tuono R

Some would say there was nothing wrong with the old Tuono R, so is the new one better?

First Ride: 2006 Yamaha FZ-1

Rob Hoyles rides the all-new FZ-1 in South Africa

First Ride: 2006 Yamaha MT-03

Rob Hoyles writes about Yamaha's new MT-03

First Ride: 2006 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille review

Aprilia is back on track thanks to Piaggio, with refreshed versions of their top-selling Mille

First Ride: 2004 BMW R1200C Montauk

Named after a town in New York State, the new R1200 C Montauk boasts more chrome and retro styling than a fifties diner. But it's also BMW's most successful foray into the cruiser market to date

First Ride: CCM 404DS

Our Niall has a bit of history with off-road specialists CCM - they gave him a break into racing, and he's owned one of their bikes. Before they knew it he was riding their new 404DS

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