For this What Makes This Bike Great episode it’s all about the original 1994 Triumph Speed Triple. In the early 90s naked superbikes were usually home-made ‘streetfighter' specials... loved especially by the French. Triumph were arguably the first to produce a full-blooded production streetfighter by simply ripping the fairing off a Daytona 900 and sending it out for sale. The Speed Triple paved the way for the super naked class we know and love today. This beautiful example belongs to Phil Roberts and not only has he restored it to its former glory… his Dad was the Chief Engineer at Triumph at the time. Enjoy…
This WMTBG video it’s all about the original Triumph Street Triple. This immaculate example belongs to owner Sean Jarrett. He's returned it to standard condition and it looks as fresh now as it did when it left the Hinckley factory, resplendent in its iconic ‘Roulette Green’ paint. The Triumph is a modern-day icon powered by a 675cc three-cylinder engine that has been stretched and shrunk over the years to power everything from Tiger Sport 660s to Trident 800s and Moto2 racers.
Welcome to What Makes This Bike Great and for this video it’s all about the ‘baby RC30’: Honda’s iconic VFR400 NC30. This beautiful example belongs to owner Danny Bearfoot and he’s undertaken a painstaking nut and bolt restoration, bringing it back to its former glory. These high-revving four-stroke 400s and two-stroke 250s were the ‘pocket rocket’ poster bikes of the day and the NC30 was without doubt one of the prettiest then and only seems to have improved with age. Enjoy! Neevesy
Suzuki's RGV250 is one of the iconic 250cc two-stroke 'pocket rockets'. Launched in the late 80s at a time when Grand Prix racing's premier class was dominated by hard-as-nails legends like Wayne Rainey, Wayne Gardner, Eddie Lawson, Mick Doohan and of course Suzuki-mounted Kevin Schwantz, the RGV250 was the closest thing you could buy in the UK that looked, sounded and smelled like a factory 500. In this video James Jackson talks me through his RGV250 collection that includes the original VJ21, VJ22, Japan-only VJ23 and a very rare VJ22 with a special story. I also get to ride them, which takes me right back to when I raced a VJ21 and owned a VJ22 for the road - which didn't end too well back then. Enjoy this video. Neevesy
It may be a humble 43bhp single-cylinder nod to the past, but the Fantic Caballero Scrambler 500 punches way above its weight. In this video, we take a look at why it's more than just another knobbly-tyres retro.
Honda’s ultra-rare NSR250 is arguably one of the most iconic 250cc two-stroke production bikes of all time, and this ‘MC28’ SP model is one of the most sought-after. In this video, owner James Jackson tells us how he came to own it, what happens when the swipe key fails, and the story behind its number plate. I also get to take it for a spin and relive my youth. Enjoy! Neevesy
Yamaha’s FZR400RR was one of the legendary ‘pocket rockets’ of the late ’80s and early ’90s. The screaming 399cc, 66bhp inline-four was built to race and featured an aluminium frame, unlike many of the 600s of the day, which is just one of the reasons it was so special. In this video, owner James Jackson talks us through his journey of owning it… and I get to take it for a spin. Enjoy! Neevesy
Just five years after their MotoGP debut, Ducati produced a road-going replica of their race bike. The 2008 Desmosedici RR was based on the 2006 Desmosedici GP6 racer and, at the time, was as close as you could get to the real thing. It was decadence overload, featuring a retuned V4 engine, carbon bodywork, and top-drawer components. In this video, owner Rob Nesbit talks us through his journey of owning it... twice, and I get to take it for a spin. Enjoy! Neevesy
Kawasaki’s ZXR750R-K was one of the iconic homologation specials of the early ’90s. Back in the day, it sat pretty on superbike race grids around the world, ready to battle with the greats, like the Honda RC30, Suzuki GSX-R750RR, Yamaha OW-01, and Ducati 888. In this video, Roger Tillotson shows me his stunning ’91 machine and lets me take it for a spin. Enjoy!
Neevesy
MV Agusta’s F4 1000 is a superbike icon. It burst onto the scene in 2004, replacing the old F4 750, and immediately set pulses racing with its searing performance, blood-curdling soundtrack, and drop-dead gorgeous styling. In this video, I catch up with Brendan Flanagan to talk about his gleaming example, find out what it’s been like to live with, and take it out for a blast. What a bike!
Enjoy.
Neevesy
Yamaha's FZR1000 EXUP was one of the sportsbike behemoths of the late ’80s and early ’90s - revered and lusted after in equal measure. I catch up with my old mate Paul Berryman to see his ’94 example, chart the EXUP’s evolution through the years and take it for a spin to find out what made it so special. Enjoy! Neevesy
A bike that needs no introduction, but here’s one, anyway: Yamaha’s 1989 FZR750R, otherwise known by its iconic ‘OW-01’ code name. Built to satisfy World Superbike homologation rules, it’s as rare as you-know-what and regarded by many as even better than the Honda RC30. We speak to owner Kevin Berry to find out what it’s like to own one and take a spin to discover it’s every bit as impressive now as it was back then. Enjoy! Neevesy
You could argue that KTM’s 990 SMT started the whole tall-rounder genre that's become so popular today. Sure, bikes like the Yamaha TDM850, original Ducati Multistrada, Triumph Tiger Sport 1050 and Benelli TreK all came before, but the KTM was the first of the breed to enter the mainstream. In this video we delve into the bike's history, from starting life as a big supermoto, to still being one of the best all-rounders today... and get to ride Paul Baker's superb example. Enjoy! Neevesy
It might often be regarded as the understudy to its more glamorous 916 sister, but the Ducati 748 is a thoroughbred Italian sportsbike in its own right. Revvier, nimbler and more involving, some might say the 748 offers even more drama. In this video we ride Paul Berryman's pride and joy and find out how he transformed it from a Facebook Marketplace basket case into a trackway weapon...and how similar it actually is to the 916. Enjoy.
A cross between a sports tourer and a scooter, Yamaha's TMAX is adored my riders from Milan to the south of France. They're not as popular in the UK, but that hasn't stopped it getting under my skin. Check out my video to see why I think it’s so great. Enjoy!
Without the humble 1993 Monster 900, Ducati may not have been the company it is today. With the help of owner Paul Lang we take a trip down memory lane to see what makes Miguel Galluzzi's Frankenstein creation tick and how it came to be. We also take it for a spin to see how it's stood the test of time. Enjoy.
Dakar reps might be all the rage now, but Yamaha were producing them back in the late ‘80s, in the formidable shape of the magnificent XTZ750 Super Tenere. We get our hands on one in evocative Gauloise colours and speak to owner Paul Berryman, to find out what it's like to live with. Enjoy.
It was a poster bike of its generation and sounded like an F1 car on acid. We ride a pristine example of Honda's iconic six-cylinder CBX1000 and speak to lucky owner Brendan Flanagan, to find out what it's like to live with. Enjoy.
Suzuki's 2005/6 GSX-R1000K5/K6 has attained iconic status over the years, but is it really that good? We take it for a spin to find out (spoiler alert: it is!). Enjoy.
A homologation special built to race in the World Supersport championship, the Ducati 749R was a riot to ride, but never captured the imagination of the Ducati fans of the day. But now it’s come of age and become desirable and in this video I find out what makes it so special? Enjoy.
What is it that made the Suzuki GSX-R750 such a great sportsbike back in the day and continues to impress now? In this video I explore its history and get to ride this immaculate K0 25th Anniversary model. Enjoy.
In the first of my What Makes This Bike series, I kick of in style with Ducati’s 1299 Superleggera. Following hot on the heels of the magnesium-tastic 1199 model, this version is all carbon fibre, from its airbox frame its bodywork, wheels and swingarm. It’s a work of art and angry as hell. I delve deep into what makes it tick and take a spin to discover just how light and powerful it really is. Enjoy.
