Motorbike

With company finances back on track and production delays a thing of the past (for now...), the long awaited F4 1000S is finally, eventually, here. At last...

The Nevada name has been part of the Moto Guzzi catalogue for more than a decade now, but this year it's a 90% new bike.

Mossy goes over the hills and far away on Honda's new CRF250-X enduro tool. Off-roading just got a whole lot easier.

The most gorgeous motorcycle ever? Harley-Davidson's Porsche powered flagship V-Rod receives sharp new clothes for 2004

Victory hopes to attract a younger generation by producing a versatile, powerful cruiser. Can Victory pin down the kings for the full count?

Confusingly enough, this new Tiger is actually designated a 2005 model, even though it is already in the shops. Why? Supply and demand - the 2004 Tiger has sold out already! So what's new?

Escape the rat race and get away from it all in the peace and quiet of Southern Ireland. Leave work at 5:30pm and the next day you could be here for just £82 plus a few tanks of fuel

The 2004 Rocket III has an engine larger than most family estates, so naturally Triumph launched this flagship model in the land where excess is the name of the game.

"So, gentlemen, as you can see, the new XB9S Lightning is the latest generation in the street-inspired Buell family and a different take on the Buell XB series."

What on earth could Aprilia do to improve their already-ace Mille-R? Not an enormous amount as I discovered at the launch of the 2003 bike in Italy.

Aprilia launch the production version of their Tuono-R concept bike, the Tuono Fighter. With a Mille engine and chassis, near-on full superbike power and streetfighter styling, you just know this is going to be a bad boy.

Picture the scene if you will. It's 2006, we're in the middle of a recession and another Government still ignores the benefits of motorcycles to the detriment of UK road users everywhere.

I think it's fair to say the old ZZ-R1100 was more than a bit past its sell by date. I last rode one about three years ago, on a flat out European speed mission in the company of a Suzuki Hayabusa and Honda Blackbird.

Straight off the bleary early morning flight into a sodden Malaga and first sight of BMW's new R1150GS Adventure knocks me out with a hammer blow of sheer presence - it's big.

Yamaha's project leader for the new R1 was a chap called Yoshikazu Koike, and his brief was just two words: "jinba atai." Confused?

And so to the 2002 ZX-9R, also tweaked for this year and feeling distinctly healthier for it. The motor feels the same, but the handling (once adjusted) is definitely better...

NOW WITH 36cc EXTRA FREE! If you can't beat 'em, cheat. Works for us and there's a decent chance it'll work for Kawasaki as they wheel out their new oversquare 636cc ZX-6R. Any good or dead horse flogged?

Look, children, here he comes. It's Tweedle Dee in the blue and silver Kushitani leathers on his dinky Fisher Price 'My First Ideal Sportsbike.'

By winning the World Superbike Championship in 2000 in its very first year of production, you could argue that Honda’s SP-1 doesn’t have much to prove. But race development waits for no man, and so for 2002 we’ve got the SP-2.

The 2002 Fireblade CBR954RR isn't just a face-lift. Beneath the fresh styling is a bigger, cleverer motor, updated suspension and brakes, new swingarm, a refined frame and lighter wheels and exhaust system.

I wasn't sure about the styling of BMW's new baby the F650CS when I first saw it, but the style loving Italians loved it. Wherever I parked the BMW in and around the launch city of Florence it drew admiring glances and comments.

Let me see now. Ten years ago British biking was on the verge of something big. Our bike buying trends were going to be challenged by a bug-eyed kid from Yamaha - the TDM850.

Feet stretched to way-out-front highway pegs. A single, fat, white-faced chrome-edged speedo dominating a chunky ally top-yoke. Heavyweight tank-mounted console for the basics and a nacelle headlight reflecting the whole world in its seamless perimeter.

Spring 1993 and the most cutting-edge and outrageous looking teutonic two-wheeler was launched by BMW. The BMW R1100RS was one of the first of the new generation Boxers and was a bit of a departure for BM in its (then) 70-year history.