Motorbike

HONDA HAVE just released this image of their new CBF125.

Sky, earth, sky, earth, sky, earth … as I lay in a winded, battered heap next to the smoking and steaming remains of what was an example of Ducati’s latest piece of engineering excellence, I take a few breathless moments to reflect on how I got here. And it had all been going so well.

I don’t quite understand Buell, infact I’m convinced no-one does. The bikes they produce are genuinely surprising and when I hear rumour of a new model, I have absolutely no idea whether it’s going to have the fuel in the mudguard, or if the engine’s going to be mounted on the pillion seat.

If the SMT is a more rounded kind of KTM supermoto, then the SMR is the Austrian factory doing what they love best – balls out. This is KTM’s V-twin supermoto concept tweaked to the ‘nth degree, and they are clearly pleased with the result.

Ducati’s Hypermotard EVO SP costs over £1200 more than the Hypermotard EVO, but you don’t get any more power and you only save 1kg in weight. So what exactly do you get for your money?

Let’s get straight down to it. The Hypermotard 1100 EVO has shed a shed-load of weight. The more compact engine is 5.2kg lighter and the chassis loses 1.2kg. Ducati has also upped the compression ratio from 10.5:1 to 11.3:1. The result?

Calling a bike the 796 when its capacity is 803cc could be viewed as a triumph of marketing over logic, but in other respects the new Hypermotard makes perfect sense.

Anyone out there packed in smoking for a New Year’s resolution? I didn’t, but I can definitely recommend the K1300GT for those looking for something to do with their hands. I counted ten things that I could poke, push, pull and prod that didn’t involve the clutch or just hanging on.

Kawasaki gives the ZX-6R MotoGP technology with it's Big Piston Forks.

Did anyone really think Aprilia could pull off a four-stroke masterstroke and build a world-beating V-four powered superbike? I know I didn’t.

The 2009 Yamaha R1 is without doubt the most user-friendly 1000cc sports bike to date.

Ducati did a good job keeping this one quiet. Even when launch invitations are sent out without stating the model to be launched you can normally take an educated guess as to what bike it will be.

With the excitement surrounding the 1098, MV's 1000F4 has been somewhat forgotten. The launch of the latest 312R indicated we've been negligent. Perhaps grossly. A track focused beast of beauty, works on every level

Last year Aprilia's Tuono and Triumph's Speed Triple topped the street bike sales charts in the UK. What makes these bikes catch rider's imaginations

The new Moto Guzzi V7 Classic could be the perfect bike if you are looking for a classic but don’t want to get your hands dirty.

Bimota, sadly now without a UK importer, continue making some of the prettiest bikes in the world. The 1098-powered DB7 is divine...