MCN

FIRST RIDE Best MT-07 yet? In 2014, Yamaha's cheeky 689cc parallel-twin roadster, the MT-07, made the biking world sit up and take notice. Fun, frisky and very temptingly priced, it brought simple fun to riders both experienced and less so. Now 11 years and three generations later, the MT-07 has evolved into a more refined but no less exciting machine. Its Euro5+ motor still kicks out the same 72bhp and meaty midrange, but profound updates to the chassis and electronics have made it feel like an altogether more grown-up option. But does it still have the widespread mass appeal? MCN's Michael Guy has been riding it in Spain to find out PAGE 28 ‘It delivers 72bhp in a measured but fun way’ NEW MT-07 TESTED, P28 THE BIG TEST Fight…

When it comes to products for keeping our pride and joy safe and secure, we're in a golden age. With the Sold Secure Diamond standard helping create locks and chains that can shrug off an attack with a cordless angle grinder, there's more protection than ever when it comes to making sure your bike stays exactly where you left it – provided you use them as intended. Another security product that has come of age recently is the tracker – once only available as a customfitted and subscription-only service, plenty of us use cheaper, simpler tracking devices such as Apple AirTags, to give us peace of mind that, should our bike disappear one day, we'll be able to direct the police to its whereabouts and be reunited with it. But…

NEW MODEL BMW are once again expanding their air/oil cooled retro twin offering, this time with a new dual-purpose R12 G/S range, inspired by the original R80 G/S launched in 1980 – and it can come equipped with an Enduro Package for genuine off-road ability. Starting at £14,420 on the road, the bike uses the same 1170cc boxer twin as the rest of the R12 family, and follows a recipe first introduced with the R nineT Urban GS in 2017. Sitting at 229kg ready to ride, it kicks out the same claimed 107.3bhp at 7000rpm as the R12 nineT roadster, with a healthy 84.9lb.ft of torque at 6500rpm. The engine is a stressed member inside a tubular steel space frame, with the chassis itself kitted out with two steel eyelets…

Bimota have revealed the price and availability of their hand-built KB998 Rimini superbike, which is set to hit European showrooms from April 9. Priced at a hefty £37,777 for UK buyers, the homologation special forms the base for the World Superbike racing machines piloted by Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani at last weekend's Portimao round. Visit bimotauk.co.uk for more. Ride better with BikeSafe Wales North Wales Police are gearing up for the 2025 BikeSafe workshops, aimed at improving rider safety. Running from April to October, these police-led sessions will take place in Porthmadog, Colwyn Bay, St Asaph and Llay. Riders will receive classroom theory and an observed ride, with feedback from police motorcyclists. The £84 fee includes a full day's training. Head to bikesafe.co.uk for details. Make friends with an…

The BMW R12 G/S is not the first 1170cc retro-inspired off-roader from the brand. Back in 2017, the BMW R nineT Urban GS arrived – based on the naked R nineT Scrambler of the time. Initially priced at £10,550 it featured a raised front mudguard over the smaller 19in front wheel. There was also a lower 850mm seat height, plus larger 17 litres of fuel onboard. Non-adjustable forks and a rebound and preload adjustable shock made the bike more of a road-biased proposition but it looked cool and proved popular.…

Northamptonshire-based technology specialists White Motorcycle Concepts (WMC) have begun a new partnership with Italian design house Pininfarina, delving into the potential aerodynamic properties of future two-wheelers. The British brand grabbed headlines in 2021 with their WMC250EV land speed record bike – which showcased a large cylindrical hole through the centre for a claimed 70% reduction in drag compared to the best conventional road bikes. The technology has since been used on a hybrid WMC300FR three-wheeler, based on the Yamaha Tricity and has been used by Northamptonshire Police. “The duct concept has always been about improving efficiency no matter the fuel source,” WMC founder, Robert White said. “This collaboration has taken this to the next level showing how the duct can provide functional performance as well as be an aesthetic feature.”…