Good crew today!
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season is one-third completed but it’s been an incredible start to the campaign. Four different riders have led the standings so far in just four riders as riders battle it out in style this season. The four riders have come from three different manufacturers – Kawasaki, Ducati, and BMW – to show how competitive WorldSBK is this season and plenty more drama to come.
THE STORY OF 2024: four Championship leaders in four rounds
Four thrilling rounds of the current campaign are done and each one has had a different rider lead the standings when the rounds concluded. After Australia, it was Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in top spot, while Aruba.it Racing – Ducati duo Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista led after the Catalan and Dutch Rounds respectively. Finally, the Emilia-Romagna Round finished with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) leading the standings after his first BMW hat-trick. It also means three different brands have led the Riders’ Championship this season.
A HUGE DIFFERENCE: a big contrast between 2022-2023 and the current situation
The run of four different riders leading the standings came after a run where Bautista was the sole Championship leader for two whole seasons and 24 rounds in total. From the season-opening Aragon Round in 2022 to the 2023 season finale at Jerez, the #1 was the only rider to lead the standings at the end of a round as he claimed his two WorldSBK titles in commanding fashion. The contrast between those two seasons and 2024 could not be more distinct in terms of riders leading the standings
HISTORY MADE: four different riders lead the standings after four rounds for the first time
When looking at the end of rounds – rather than after each race – 2024 has made a small bit of history. Looking back through WorldSBK’s history, this is the first time that there have been four different riders have led the Championship in the first four rounds of any season. Previously, the best was three in 1988, 1996, 2004, 2014 and 2020; although it’s worth stating that if you look at races and not rounds, there were four in 2020 too: Razgatlioglu, Lowes, Scott Redding, and Jonathan Rea.
AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB: only the third occurrence in WorldSBK
Having four Championship leaders after four rounds is rare, but so is having four Championship leaders across a whole season. It’s only happened three times including this season, with the other occasions coming in 1988 and 1998. On those occasions, Marco Lucchinelli, Fred Merkel, Davide Tardozzi and Fabrizio Pirovano led in 1988 and, in 1998, Carl Fogarty, Noriyuki Haga, Troy Corser and Aaron Slight took turns leading the standings.
Will more history be made this season? Follow all the action in WorldSBK using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Source: WorldSBK.com
This 2025 motorcycle buyers guide highlights new or significantly updated street-legal models available in the U.S. As with previous buyers guides, we will also include 2026 teasers as soon as manufacturers let us know about them. We will continually update this guide as new models are available, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back often.
Check out our 2024 Motorcycle Buyers Guide: New Street Models
Organized in alphabetical order by manufacturer, our guide includes photos, pricing, key update info, and links to first looks or – when available – Rider‘s first rides, road tests, and video reviews of the motorcycles.
The 2025 CFMOTO 450CL-C is new cruiser from CFMOTO powered by a liquid-cooled 449cc parallel-Twin with DOHC, a 270-degree crank, and dual counterbalancers mated to a 6-speed transmission, a slip/assist clutch, a Gates belt final drive, and a dual-chamber exhaust coated in a matte ceramic finish. Braking is provided by J.Juan, and ABS and traction control are standard. The 450CL-C rides on a 58.5-inch wheelbase and has a 28-degree rake, 4.25 inches of trail, and a 27-inch seat height.
The 2025 CFMOTO 450CL-C will come in Bordeaux Red and Nebula Black and start at $5,699.
Read our 2025 CFMOTO 450CL-C First Look Review
The 2025 CFMOTO Ibex 450 features a liquid-cooled 449cc parallel-Twin with DOHC, a 270-degree crank, and dual counterbalancers mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slip/assist clutch. It has a standard Ride mode and an Off-Road mode. The bike has J.Juan braking components with ABS that is switchable at the rear, as well as switchable traction control. The Ibex 450 has a fully adjustable KYB inverted fork and a central-aligned, multi-link rear monoshock with adjustable damping and preload.
The bike has an adjustable handlebar and a 32.3-inch seat height/ride height that can be lowered to 31.5 inches via an integrated lowering link. It has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and it rides on tubeless, cross-spoke rims. The 2025 CFMOTO Ibex 450 will come in Zephyr Blue or Tundra Grey and start at $6,499.
Read our 2025 CFMOTO Ibex 450 First Ride Review
In its first major revamp since its 2015 debut, Indian’s Scout cruiser platform is all-new from the ground up, and the 2025 Indian Scout lineup includes five models: Scout Bobber, Sport Scout, Scout Classic, Super Scout, and 101 Scout. Three trim levels will be available, as well as more than 100 dedicated accessories.
At the heart of the Scout platform is a new engine called the SpeedPlus 1250. The V-Twin remains liquid-cooled but is redesigned, punched out from 1,133cc to 1,250cc. Power goes up to 105 ponies and 82 lb-ft of torque, and the 101 Scout gets a bump to 111 hp. Also new is the Scout’s frame, switching from an aluminum design to a simpler steel-tube chassis. It supplies a 61.5-inch wheelbase with a 29-degree rake and 4.8 inches of trail. The Scout has a low 25.6-inch seat height. There are also new features and technology offered on certain Scout models and trim packages. All models except for the 101 Scout use a single 298mm front disc brake with a 2-piston caliper, and ABS is standard.
The Indian Scout Bobber has an MSRP of $12,999, the Scout Classic is $13,999, the Sport Scout is $13,499, the Super Scout is $16,499, and the 101 Scout is $16,999.
Read our 2025 Indian Scout Bobber First Ride Review
The 2025 KTM 990 RC R is KTM’s only street-legal, liter-class supersport is powered by a LC8c powerplant with a new ergo-crafted and condensed stainless steel muffler and a shifter that can be reversed to race-shift as standard. The steel frame has increased weight bias towards the front end and a steering head angle of 25 degrees. It also features a new fuel tank shape, adjustable footrests, fully adjustable WP APEX Open Cartridge Suspension, and lightweight cast aluminum wheels wrapped in Michelin tires.
Pricing for the 2025 KTM 990 RC R has not yet been announced.
Read our 2025 KTM 990 RC R First Look Review
The 2025 Moto Morini Corsaro 750 naked and fully faired Corsaro Sport are both powered by a new 749cc 90-degree V-Twin and share Brembo braking components, standard ABS, a fully adjustable inverted fork, and a progressive link rear shock. The Corsaro Sport gets a wider rear tire, clip-on handlebars, a taller seat, and more bodywork compared to the Corsaro 750.
Pricing on the bikes has not yet been announced.
Read our 2025 Moto Morini Corsaro 750 and Corsaro Sport First Look Review
The 2025 Moto Morini X-Cape 1200 features the new 1,187cc V2 Corsa Corta EVO engine, an 87-degree V-Twin designed and engineered in Italy and making a claimed 122 hp. The new adventure bike features Brembo braking components, switchable cornering ABS, a fully adjustable fork, and a progressive link shock.
The Moto Morini X-Cape 1200 has a tubular trellis frame and a 33.8-inch seat height. An aluminum luggage rack is included as standard equipment. Pricing has not yet been announced.
Read our 2025 Moto Morini X-Cape 1200 First Look Review
The 2025 Triumph Bonneville T120 Elvis Presley Limited Edition is limited to only 925 units worldwide and celebrates Elvis and his Memphis Mafia group of friends who rode on Bonnevilles. The Bonneville T120 Elvis Presley Limited Edition has been crafted to honor its namesake, including its Carnival Red color scheme, “ELVIS” gold lettering on the tank, Elvis’s signature on the tank and side panels, and the “Taking Care of Business in a Flash” emblem on the front fender.
The 2025 Triumph Bonneville T120 Elvis Presley Limited Edition will be available starting at $15,495 and will arrive in dealerships starting in September 2024.
Read our 2025 Triumph Bonneville T120 Elvis Presley Limited Edition Preview
To celebrate 20 years of the Rocket 3, a muscle bike with the largest engine in a production motorcycle, Triumph has unveiled the 2025 Triumph Rocket 3 Storm R and Rocket 3 Storm GT. Their 2,458cc in-line Triple cranks out even more power – up 15 ponies to a massive 180 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque (up 3).
The Rocket 3’s 16-inch rear and 17-inch front wheels have been updated with a 10-spoke cast-aluminum design. They have an lightweight aluminum frame that uses cast and forged elements, dual Brembo Stylema front calipers with 320mm discs, and a Brembo M4.32 rear caliper with a 300mm disc.
They come with lean-sensitive cornering ABS, traction control, Ride-by-Wire, a Torque Assist clutch, Hill Hold, four ride modes (Road, Rain, Sport, Rider-configurable), cruise control, a keyless ignition and steering lock, and a USB charging socket. Instrumentation comes in the form of a color TFT.
The 2025 Rocket 3 Storm R will be available in Carnival Red with Sapphire Black, Satin Pacific Blue with Matte Sapphire Black, or Sapphire Black with Granite for $24,995. The 2025 Rocket 3 Storm GT will be available in the same colors but with the color split of the tank reversed, retailing for $25,795.
Read our 2025 Triumph Rocket 3 Storm R/GT First Ride Review
The 2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR Breitling Limited Edition will be limited to only 270 units, and Breitling will also launch a special Triumph watch in conjunction with the motorcycle. The bike features a bespoke paint scheme with premium gold hand-painted detailing, a leather seat with French stitching, a high-spec Akrapovič silencer, and lightweight carbon fiber parts. It will also include a custom Breitling start screen, the Breitling logo laser-etched onto the machined rear wheel finisher, and a gold Breitling badge on the tank.
The 2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR Breitling Limited Edition will be available starting in June 2024 with an MSRP of $25,995.
Read our 2025 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR Breitling Limited Edition Preview
Celebrating Triumph’s rich racing history is the new 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition, which features a race-inspired graphic scheme, Triumph Shift Assist, and a flyscreen. The Trident 660 is powered by a liquid-cooled 660cc Triple that makes a claimed 80 hp at 10,250 rpm and 47 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm. It has a seat height of 31.7 inches and a weight of 416 lb. Throttle-by-wire allows two ride modes (Road and Rain), and it comes with ABS, switchable traction control, and a combined TFT and LCD display.
The 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition adds a white, blue, and red graphic scheme inspired by “Slippery Sam,” as well as a Number 67 race graphic, a flyscreen, and Triumph Shift Assist, which enables clutchless up and down gear changes with an autoblipper on downshifts for smoother changes.
The 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition will be available for one year only with an MSRP of $8,595.
Read our 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition First Look Review
The post 2025 Motorcycle Buyers Guide: New Street Models appeared first on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com
The 2024 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship has officially kicked off with the first of six rounds completed after two races at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” in Italy. Ahead of track action beginning, we caught up with one of the headlining names in 2024 in Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno), who after race wins in the the CIV300 series and podiums in the ESBK paddock, her move to World Championship competition is one that comes with excitement. The interview took place before the track action it was thus recorded before the 21-year-old’s Race 1 crash which took her out of Race 2 as well; you can follow Howden’s story and see her season get properly underway at Round 2 at Donington Park, LIVE and FREE on YouTube!
EARLY BEGINNINGS: from her father’s passion for motorsport to rider in first-ever WorldWCR season
Starting out when in Zimbabwe, Howden’s ambitions to race in motorcycle racing were inspired by something she saw when racing, whereas she described her dad’s first thoughts: “I grew up in Zimbabwe and my dad used to race cars, so I’d go to the track all the time. I saw a woman on a bike there who won the race and I said to my dad ‘I really want to start’ and since then, I’ve loved bikes. My dad was obviously sceptical about it but of course, he wanted to help because he loves motorsport. We used to watch MotoGP™ and WorldSBK so I’ve always been into it.”
“The first person I told was my dad, we were very, very happy that we got to do it and especially in the first year of the Championship. I think the first thought was pure happiness but then, I was thinking it was a lot of pressure, also from South Africa. I hope this opportunity will show South Africa who I am.
INSPIRATION AND RIVALS: admiration for fellow South African trailblazer Nicole van Aswegen
Speaking about when she was younger, she had her sights on replicating Nicole van Aswegen (Andalaft Racing) and now, they’re together on the grid: “When I was young, I looked up to Nicole van Aswegen and I always wanted to be like her. I feel like she’s a sister to me here; she helps me stay calm and other things outside of the track, so I think it’sa useful to have her around. I speak with her when I am going through the tough times, so it helps me a lot.”
AIMS AND TARGETS: “I’d be happiest with a podium”
Talking about the difference between a Superbike and the Yamaha R7, Howden explained before moving on to her goals and objectives for WorldWCR in 2024: “Coming from Superbike, you have to learn the corner speed again but for the first year, I think it’s perfect for the women because we’re all coming from 300s. I’d really a like to get a top six but weekend by weekend, I’d be happiest with a podium.”
JOIN THE COMMUNITY: be part of WorldWCR across Instagram, X and Facebook, whilst watching all races on YouTube!
Source: WorldSBK.com
A little while back, I took a ride up the coast. It was around 75 degrees outside, the sun was shining, and the ocean was waiting just nine miles from my driveway. I remember smiling, a bit embarrassed at myself for getting caught up in the coolness of my Vanson riding jacket and my retro Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. Maybe I even started feeling like Top Gun’s Maverick – if he wore a helmet. But there I was, effortlessly clicking through gears on my way to a much-needed reset button in the form of sun, sea, and wide-open air. God Bless America!
But as the ocean revealed itself, I knew I wasn’t the only one looking for coastal therapy. As I turned onto the Pacific Coast Highway, I was immediately wedged into heavy traffic in both directions. Sure, I could see the ocean, but I was stuck in 1st gear, engine fan humming, beads of sweat trickling down my back. It looked like I was going to have to skip the gratuitous beach volleyball session and practice my slow-speed balancing work.
Lucky for me, riding really slow was always part of my gig as a motor officer. Parades, escorts, crowd control, and just plain old everyday traffic. And like anything else, you get good at the things you practice. I learned key concepts and skills that eliminated duck-walking, in-lane weaving, grabby clutch and brake work, and the general sense of fear when stuck in stop-n-go.
What components of slow riding are involved in creating magical on-bike-balance bliss? Slow riding can be broken down into three parts: the rider, the motorcycle, and the rider’s inputs. Let’s look at each one, starting with the rider.
The first thing to appreciate is that slow riding is all about balance points: the bike’s balance point, the rider’s balance point, and the relationship between the two. This means we need a good sense of our own body’s center of balance to minimize any negative impact it might have on the motorcycle’s equilibrium. In other words, if you can’t control your own balance, things only get worse when you get on the bike.
Now let’s look at the motorcycle. No matter what you ride, big or small, long or short, your motorcycle was engineered to have a magical spot where it maintains vertical balance. In fact, the motorcycle is capable of slow-riding on its own, but then we come along and screw up the program by throwing our weight around like a mid-level manager at a big box store on Black Friday.
The last ingredient in our slow-riding skills concoction relates to the rider’s controls and how we exercise them. If we’re prone to on/off, light-switch clutch work and grip-it-and-rip-it throttle action, then we’ll struggle to keep the bike in balance each time we engage the controls. But when you get the proportions right, you’re in for a sublime slow cruise through the worst traffic imaginable. The key is to engage the controls sparingly and calmly, with the goal of having them support rather than upset our balance.
Below I’ve condensed my slow training into two simple (but not necessarily easy) parking lot drills. These, along with a few ideas to keep in mind, will help your slow-speed skills improve exponentially with minimal risk or effort.
Slow Weave Drill: This drill helps you understand how your bodyweight shifts as the motorcycle changes direction. Our goal here is to become sensitive to subtle weight shifts as we sit on the bike and how they impact our overall balance profile.
Find a traffic-free area and set up six cones in a line, approximately 9 to 18 feet apart depending on bike type and skill level (if you don’t have cones, use parking stall markings, which are usually 9 feet apart). With the bike in 1st gear and the clutch partially engaged, weave through the cone pattern. Do your best to control your speed to around 2-3 mph with minimal bike lean. To keep the speed down, you can gently drag the rear brake but avoid mashing it. We want to upset the bike as little as possible when using the controls.
Now position your body so it’s aligned with the motorcycle’s center line. Our objective is to take two parts – you and the bike – and make them move as one balanced mass. And once we arrive at this perfect balance spot on the bike, we want to live there as long as we can, deviating from it as minimally and as infrequently as possible. Easier said than done, but you get the idea.
A great way to help keep you and your bike working together is by using your windscreen as a “level.” Keep your eyes tracking the top edge of your windscreen, and you will spot even the slightest body movement in relation to the bike using this visual cue. With practice, you’ll make fewer big weight shifts and more micro adjustments to remain balanced. Rinse and repeat the drill until you and your bike feel like Maverick and Goose going inverted in the F-14 Tomcat. Feel the need…the need for (slow) speed!
Bar-to-Bar Drill: While parked, sit on your bike and slowly turn the bars lock-to-lock. Did you notice that the bike shifted a few inches in either direction? It did, and it’s this side-to-side movement that we’re going to exploit to help the bike balance beneath us when we come to a complete stop without putting our feet down. Welcome to hyper-slow mode.
Now that you understand my little handlebar trick, let’s go back and rework the Slow Weave Drill. Only this time I want you to go slower each time, eventually challenging yourself to come to a stop – with your feet up, steady clutch engagement, and light rear brake – at several points along the path.
The task here is to recognize and correct the subtle instabilities in balance by smoothly but assertively moving the handlebar in either direction to regain stability beneath you. If you need to roll forward to find balance and reset, that’s fine. Stay relaxed and keep at it. Your sense of balance will improve over time, and you will see huge gains.
For a live-action example of all this, go to Police Motor Training with Quinn Redeker on YouTube and watch the video “Quinn Redeker Riding Slow.” If it’s easier, you can swing by my house, and we’ll set up some cones over here. But it’s currently 5:30 p.m., so you might hit some traffic.
Quinn wears Lee Parks Design gloves exclusively. Find Quinn at Police Motor Training.
See all Motor School with Quinn Redeker articles here.
The post Motor School with Quinn Redeker: The Art of Being Slow appeared first on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com
Safe to say this was an EPIC day out… Thanks Monster Energy Crescent Motorcycles … Full vlog next week >>
Imagine for one second you had private hire of Silverstone for a whole day with the best riders in the world? Well….. That just happened! Massive thanks to…
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship saw yet another brilliant weekend of action, with Round 4 returning to Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. The junior class of the Championship, WorldSSP300, saw some incredible, wheel-to-wheel action across the entirety of the weekend, with Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) picking up a big win in Race 1 and a podium in Race 2. Conversely, Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) secured a silver medal in Race 1 before going one better in Race 2.
Race 1 saw an absolutely epic finish, with a last corner duel that literally went down to the wire (more accurately, a tyre width). The margins were so fine that winner and P2 were ultimately separated by just 0.007s. When the smoke had cleared and everyone had caught their breath, it was Iglesias who had won the day.
Reacting to his success in the titanic tussle for the win, Iglesias said this: “Yes, for sure it was a really tough race! I spent the race fighting with Mahendra, and it was a great fight – I like the race like this! I think I had a good strategy; I tried to make good pace from the start, and I caught up to the race leaders, but I was not saving the tyre. When Aldi overtook me, I was like “I can’t believe it!”. But anyway, I was able to keep the feeling into the last straight and get the win.”
Race 2 on Sunday was as equally dramatic an affair, and was a race saw Iglesias and Mahendra once more locked in an intense battle for the win in a three-way war with reigning Champion Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing), only this time Mahendra was able to overcome his Spanish rival and Dutchman Buis to achieve a very hard-fought victory.
Discussing his victory, Mahendra had this to say: “I’m very happy because this is my first victory this year. The race today was very hard, because I started from P10. I tried to push from the beginning until the end, but in the middle of the race I felt that the rear brake was broken. I just wanted to stay focused and stay strong. For Most, I will do my best. I know the track, and I really enjoy that track.”
Make sure to follow all the WorldSSP300 action using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Source: WorldSBK.com
The Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round provided plenty of drama at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, with some overtakes at some unusual places as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field took to the majestic Italian venue. Here, we have a look at some of the unexpected passing places or the best moves that took place across the weekend.
PETRUCCI UTILISES TURN 2: ‘Petrux’ continues heroic comeback with stunning overtake
Most moves that come in the first sector take place under braking for Turn 1, but Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) had other ideas when battling with Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) for P6 in Race 2. He moved to the inside of the left-hand Turn 2 to jab his Panigale V4 R up the inside of Bassani’s ZX-10RR to move into P6, capping off an incredible comeback for the #9 who, on Thursday, admitted he didn’t know whether he’d be able to race before going on to take three top-ten finishes.
FROM FIRST TO THIRD: Gardner demoted as Ducatis force their way through
Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) grabbed the holeshot as lights went out for Race 1, but soon found himself demoted to third. First, reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) came through at Turn 10, putting the #87 off the optimum line, which allowed Bautista’s teammate, Nicolo Bulega, to get a better exit and pass the Australian through the iconic Curvone corner.
DIFFERENT LINES CREATING PASSES: Lecuona beats Bassani in Race 1
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) enjoyed his best weekend of the 2024 season so far at Misano, and that included fighting hard with Bassani in Race 1. The #7 and #47 were fighting hard into Turns 9 and 10, with the pair taking slightly different lines through the trail braking zone and Turn 10, with Lecuona able to come out on top against ‘El Bocia’.
OUTBRAKING RAZGATLIOGLU: Bulega gets ahead of the Turkish superstar
Passing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) under braking is arguably one of the most difficult things to do, but Bulega was able to do just that in the Tissot Superpole Race. The #11 was on the charge at the start of the 10-lap race, closing in through sector three before getting alongside ‘El Turco’ heading into Turn 14. ‘Bulegas’ was on the side and used this to his advantage, briefly moving ahead of the 2021 Champion, although Razgatlioglu went on to win the race.
FIGHTING BACK: Razgatlioglu bounces back from poor start
Another move at Turn 14, although this time the roles were reversed with Razgatlioglu coming out on top against Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). The pair were close running into the slowest corner on the circuit and the #54 was able to outbrake the Brit heading into the right-hander as he battled back from losing ground at the start.
TEAMMATES FIGHT IN RACE 1: Bulega passes between Turns 4 and 5
The two Aruba.it Racing – Ducati riders came home with lots of trophies from Misano, with Bulega leading their charge despite Bautista being ahead in the early stages of Race 1. The #1 was struggling and ran wide at Turn 4, giving his rookie teammate the chance to move ahead and ‘Bulegas’ did so without hesitation. He used the short run between the two right-handers to move ahead of the #1, before going on to finish second.
Watch more WorldSBK action throughout 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Source: WorldSBK.com
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook