Press

For most riders, global politics feels a long way from the garage. We think about tyres, fuel range, weather and the open road. Yet every time you fill the tank, you are quietly connected to events happening thousands of miles away.

We tell ourselves younger riders are choosing retro bikes because they crave authenticity. Because they want steel frames, analogue dials and “real feel.” Because they’re rejecting rider modes and radar cruise control in favour of purity.

There was a time when blatant theft in broad daylight caused a scene. Voices would rise. People would gather. Someone would intervene. The shock alone would stop a criminal mid-act.

Motorcyclists across the UK have become used to one unavoidable reality: insurance is rarely cheap. Yet recently a new question has begun surfacing in garages, cafés and rider forums across the country. If a motorcycle is simple, modestly powered and relatively inexpensive to buy, why does it sometimes cost so much to insure?

Motorcycle racing produces many kinds of champions, but none are judged by the same criteria. A rider who dominates a circuit may struggle on the roads. A TT legend may look anonymous on a grid of 24 bikes braking at the same marker.