Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Motorcycle Sport & Leisure is a monthly 116 page full colour magazine covering all aspects of modern leisure bike riding. New bike reviews, product news and events add to the unique mix of touring features and long term road tests.

Modern life is rubbish. And brilliant.

Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

News • Need to know ◆ New models ◆ Industry info

BMW’S A2 adventure • We first caught a tantalising glimpse of the BMW F450 GS as a prototype back in 2024, before excitement rose at last year’s EICMA show when BMW unveiled the real thing: a 420cc and 48hp adventure bike that brings the GS brand to new and less experienced riders.

Caveat emptor • For Sale, 3512mi, Been Sitting $1,000

The MIDDLE WAY • It’s easy to get carried away these days. Whether it’s the hellscape that is the daily news headlines on TV and radio, the wild wild west of current social media ‘content’, or the dark approach of an AI-generated ‘slopoverse’ taking over every facet of our existence, you can easily find yourself overwhelmed, and losing a sense of proportion.

Products

Letters

GRASS-ROOTS Groover • Bargain basement motorcycles need more than just a rock bottom price to stand proud in the market - they need character, ability and a sense of fun to balance that budget-busting price tag.

CURRENT changes • Honda’s launch of the WN7, its first-ever electric production motorcycle, is not only big news for Honda but also big news for motorcycling. We have seen excellent scooter-style electric bikes from BMW and other manufacturers. We have also seen specialist electric bikes from smaller brands like Zero, Livewire and Can-am. But this is the first time Honda, the largest player in the market, has entered a fully electric motorcycle into mass production. Furthermore, it will be available from regular dealers, not specialised stores.

Legal Eagle • Our motorcycling man of law answers questions big and small

BACK IN THE DAY...

Hard or soft A LUGGAGE CHOICE • The official start to spring sees the covers coming off and people starting to think about going away on their bikes. Every year I hear the same question about what to take for a trip away and, more importantly, how to carry it. The biggest conundrum seems to revolve around hard or soft luggage, so here we shall take a look at the pros and cons of each system.

And Now For Something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT…. • Twelve years ago, at California’s annual uber-exclusive Pebble Beach Concours, French engineer Olivier Midy unveiled a new limited production motorcycle completely unlike anything else ever built for sale.

Grand AMERICAN TOURING • While much of the world now looks to bikes of an ‘adventure’ style for a long distance machine, it’s easy to forget the more traditional kind of touring motorcycle as epitomised by American vee twins. And that would be a mistake.

STAND TALL, MY TWIN • With competition hotting up all through the adventure bikes market, in all capacities, the German firm who could be said to have created the sector with the very first G/S are having to push hard, especially in the midrange and smaller capacities.

TOURING Write about your ride! • Share your travel story, and bag yourself a free magazine subscription!

Ardennes • Our final of three day rides in a row, with the third country, the third racetrack and, finally, some sunshine!

Gateau, Beer and Zeppelins • There’s nothing like an early start to the first day of a tour. While Ashford slumbered, I crept out of my overnight hotel (as quietly as a Triumph triple can creep) and rode the half hour to the Shuttle, knowing that the rush of cold air through my jacket would soon be replaced with the hot midday blast of France.

Croeso i Gymru • Its reputation of being fierce and...