Choosing

If you’re new to biking or thinking about getting a motorbike, there’s a lot to take on and it can be confusing. One of the best places to start is to work out what sort of bike makes you think…

Adventure bikes started life as basic off-road pluggers that would get you anywhere. They were simple bikes, like the Yamaha XT500, Suzuki DR650, and even the R80GS. Back in the day, an Adventure motorcycle was essentially a motocross chassis with…

While the market might have shifted its focus (and buying power) to Adventure bikes, manufacturers are still working hard to produce even lighter, faster and more tech-packed superbikes than ever before. For me, there’s no better thrill than thrashing a…

The term Naked, in the world of motorcycling, is actually hard to define. From the year dot, motorcycles were ‘naked’ i.e. they had no fairing. But then along came fairings and motorcycles needed classification. So by default, a normal motorcycle…

Cafe Racers look fast even when they’re parked up. There’s something about that hunched look you get when you add clip-ons to a naked bike, that makes them look primed for speed. They originated in the UK in the ’60s….

20 years ago (which, I appreciate, is a long time), Supermotos were on everyone’s lips. In a market dominated by Superbikes, they were the ‘next big thing’. While they did gain a cult following, they never really hit the mainstream….

The topic of conversation amongst the Biker Rated team this week has been our kids. Apart from having a good moan and wishing they came with manuals, plus laughing at their funny escapades, we noticed how much they all want…

A factory-made Bobber is a bit of an oxymoron in the motorcycle world. Bobbers came about when owners wanted to strip their motorcycles of everything they deemed superfluous. Out went any bodywork, the passenger seat and usually the rear suspension…

For me, a Sports Tourer should be 70% sport and 30% touring. If it doesn’t come with factory-fit hard luggage then it’s, at best, just a soft sportsbike. BikerRated’s best Sports Tourer motorcycles BMW F800GT Honda VFR800F Kawasaki Z1000SX KTM…

Am I the only one that thinks cruiser riders are different from other bikers? Not different in a bad way, just ploughing a different furrow. You rarely meet someone on a cruiser that owns any other type of motorcycle. Likewise,…

Three-grand is a decent chunk of change when it comes to buying a motorcycle. You can get some almost-new smaller capacity motorbikes with that kind of dough, but you’re looking at a bike that’s probably around a decade old if…

Honda introduced the first automatic motorcycle in 1976 , the CB750A. Despite the advert above, with the pretty lady draped over the fella, Hondamatic went down like a roast chicken at a vegan BBQ. After the Hondamatic, for 30 years,…

When you think about an adventure bike, what comes to mind? Kudos to you if you don’t immediately think of BMW’s big GS Adventure. It is the poster-boy for a mid-life crisis and the go-to adventure motorcycle. BMW just can’t…

Three-wheeled scooters can be a better choice over a two-wheeled scooter.  Providing almost all of the stability of a four-wheeled vehicle and a lot of the benefits of a two-wheeler, they are safer on the road and often the preferred…

You can get a lot of bike for £2,000 but you’ve got to know what you’re looking for. From big ’90s classics to smaller newer bikes, the market offers a range of great choices. Most of our picks are over…

Whether you’re looking for your first affordable big bike or just got your CBT and need a cheap entry model, there are literally 1000s of motorbikes out there under £1,000. From entry-level 125s to big-engined beasts, there are many inexpensive…

For decades, owning a scooter is a milestone in any young person’s life. Being able to get from A to B without taking public transport or Mum or Dad’s taxi service adds an extraordinary level of independence.  How old do…

Best Touring Motorcycles  There is hardly anything more exciting than embarking on an on-the-road adventure. When it’s just you and your bike, though, you must be sure to have a trustworthy ally. There are many rides out there, but only…

Kawasaki Ninja 125 What better way to hello to motorcycling than with a brand new Kawasaki Ninja 125? An unmissable deal if you’ve just passed your CBT and look for a punchy first bike. This Performance Edition version comes with…

Best Modern Retro Motorcycles Bullit Spirit 125 Bullit Spirit stands out as one of the most affordable café racers out there. It might be a bit skittish in bends and lacks ABS brakes, but these are small annoyances considering its…

You’ve just obtained an A2 licence. Congrats! This means, however, that it’s the time to upgrade your ride. Bye by 125! There’s a huge amount of choice out there. If you want the performance of a sportsbike but you don’t…

An A2 motorbike licence opens a new world of possibilities in terms of bikes you can ride. Forget about the pros and cons of a 125cc; you can now hop on any saddle as long as the engine below it…

Riding a scooter to school or work can save you time and money on your daily commute. An electric scooter can be even cheaper to run and it’s also better for the environment. If you commute around 300-miles a month,…

Cars have paved the way for electric vehicles and like it or not, it’s time for motorcycles to feel the electric power. Are you amped-up for the electric generation or feeling flat about the demise of petrol-powered bikes? You might…

Let’s face it; an adventure bike is not for everyone. By definition, they’re built with an eye to rugged-road riding and for that, you need long travel suspension to soak up the bumps and ruts (and ideally a front wheel…

An A2 motorcycle opens up a whole world of new riding possibilities. If you’ve done your CBT and ridden around on a 125cc bike for a year or two, the step up to an A2 motorcycle will be rewarding and…

A maxi-scooter is a great two-wheeler choice if you’re after both comfort and performance in a package that’s easy to handle and effortless to ride. More powerful than regular scooters, a maxi-scooter is defined as a scooter with an engine…

If you’re tired of spending hours stuck in traffic or squeezing yourself into a stinky train carriage, you’re in the right place! A 125cc scooter will revitalise your commute, save your time and mean you’re never held to ransom by…

What can be more exciting than passing your CBT? Getting your first bike, of course! Your CBT or an A1 licence allows you to ride bikes up to 125cc, the perfect size for a starter. Just because you ‘only’ have…

Below is a list of all the A1 licence friendly motorcycles you can buy new from UK motorcycle dealers today. Essentially this is a list of 125cc bikes, which is the upper engine capacity that you can ride on a…

Below is a list of all the A2 motorcycles you can buy new in motorcycle dealers in the UK in 2019. If you want a full list of every A2 motorcycle then click the link. A2 in a nutshell You…

If you’re new to motorcycling, you have a few hoops to jump through. The new(ish) category A, A1 and A2 motorcycle licence structure can be a bit confusing at first. It used to be that you either rode a 125cc…

Motorcycle insurance groups range from 1 to 17 for a majority of insurers. The lower the number, the cheaper that motorbike or scooter is likely to be to insure. When you’re comparing motorbikes during the buying process, it’s worth thinking…

How is motorcycle insurance calculated? Just like in the car world, motorcycles and scooters are grouped by the insurance companies to help them calculate your insurance premium. A bike’s group will have a pivotal effect on the premium you are…

In order to enjoy the awesome power of your bike on the road, it must be insured.  This is a legal requirement, and quite frankly, there are no excuses not to hold valid insurance for your bike.  Road tax, insurance,…

It looks clean but does this motorbike have a hidden past? No time to read this guide? Click here to grab our recommended HPI check In this guide, we’ve highlighted the pros and cons of all the different motorcycle history…

Ah, the old moped vs scooter debate – it never goes away but we’re here to settle it, once and for all! Mopeds and scooters offer a cost-effective transport option for new riders, or those looking to keep costs down. The…

Ex-demo stands for ex-demonstrator and it’s usually a new-model motorcycle that the dealer has registered so that potential customers can test ride it or it may also be used by the dealership staff to commute with or use to go…

Diesel has long been the fuel of choice for car drivers who want to save money or eke out a few more miles per gallon over their petrol equivalents. Motorcycles and scooters can already return a higher miles per gallon…

Cat B, C and cat D (N&S) Salvage Codes Explained If you have ever thumbed through the for sale ads or browsed online for a new motorbike, you will probably have seen bikes noted as being Cat B, C or…

In the car world, you can forgive an automatic gearbox but for us bikers, we want to be able to change gear manually, right? Well, kinda. Automatic gearboxes used to be the preserve of old grannies in the car world,…

Motorcycles are great in so many ways but the fact they sip petrol like a budgie drinks water is an added bonus. Most motorcycles can carry between 10 and 16 litres of fuel and will easily manage 50mpg. With a…