revtothelimit - motorbike forum

I was reminiscing with a mate and we remember the days when we all knew what was coming out, what was THE bike to own, etc.
But these days even though we've both got bikes neither of us had a clue what the trend was or what was coming to market.

Does anyone sit anticipating the latest bike anymore?
I've got old bikes and he's got a fairly new one but middle of the range because it's all anyone needs, but is there a market for the latest kit and what bikes are out or coming out that you're looking at?

For a good few years I'd see a marked shift from sports bikes to ADV bikes, but I reckon its retro bikes that are nailing it now. No idea on actual stats, just what stands out when I see bikes parked up at the coast etc.

I've been disappointed a few times buying or test riding newly released models so I'm more likely to look at things that have been out at least a year now to iron out gremlins.

Delivery issues on the Ducati Scrambler when it was launched led to me cancelling my order after losing a summer worths of riding waiting for it.

Fuelling in this age of Euro 5+ seems to be awful on anything out of the factory these days needing either a fix from the manufacturer or a device to fool the ECU.

In this day and age forums/FB/YT do a great job putting the info out there after the early adopters get on the new gear.

There's a lot of people excited about the BMW 450GS this year I suppose but I'm now in a position where anything I buy would have to be used anyway and one of the bikes I have would have to go which won't be easy given their age and condition.

IccyV2 wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:31 am I was reminiscing with a mate and we remember the days when we all knew what was coming out, what was THE bike to own, etc.
But these days even though we've both got bikes neither of us had a clue what the trend was or what was coming to market.

Does anyone sit anticipating the latest bike anymore?
I've got old bikes and he's got a fairly new one but middle of the range because it's all anyone needs, but is there a market for the latest kit and what bikes are out or coming out that you're looking at?

I've stopped buying/reading the magazines, so I've no idea what's coming out, and I have no real interest in new bikes because I'm happy with what I've got (which makes me an outlier, I know ).

I occasionally pick up a magazine in the supermarket and have a glance, but they all look like generic bikes and I can't tell the difference.

Every now and then someone will post up an old cover from a Performance Bikes magazine from the 80's or early 90's and I can remember the cover, they all had something really distinctive on, a Bimota or a two stroke special or something, the bikes were memorable, but these days every cover looks the same.

I reckon potholes, camera vans and average speed cameras must have killed off the race replicas, the ADV bikes were all 9ft tall and everything else is crazy expensive.

I just wondered if there is still a buzz anymore and it's just me being an old man not seeing it.

IccyV2 wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:08 pm I occasionally pick up a magazine in the supermarket and have a glance, but they all look like generic bikes and I can't tell the difference.

Every now and then someone will post up an old cover from a Performance Bikes magazine from the 80's or early 90's and I can remember the cover, they all had something really distinctive on, a Bimota or a two stroke special or something, the bikes were memorable, but these days every cover looks the same.

I reckon potholes, camera vans and average speed cameras must have killed off the race replicas, the ADV bikes were all 9ft tall and everything else is crazy expensive.

I just wondered if there is still a buzz anymore and it's just me being an old man not seeing it.

I think there is still a lot of enthusiasts out there... however I know that I'm not going out every weekend to the gathering places (Boxhill, Loomies etc etc) and seeing it, and so I'm not getting involved any more. But there's still a lot that do.

IccyV2 wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:08 pm I occasionally pick up a magazine in the supermarket and have a glance, but they all look like generic bikes and I can't tell the difference.

Every now and then someone will post up an old cover from a Performance Bikes magazine from the 80's or early 90's and I can remember the cover, they all had something really distinctive on, a Bimota or a two stroke special or something, the bikes were memorable, but these days every cover looks the same.

I reckon potholes, camera vans and average speed cameras must have killed off the race replicas, the ADV bikes were all 9ft tall and everything else is crazy expensive.

I just wondered if there is still a buzz anymore and it's just me being an old man not seeing it.

I parked next to my colleagues R1 fof a year before I realised it was a BMW!

My mate bought a new bike and sent me a picture, I had to ask what it was, as in what manufacturer.

Yeah, wouldn't have a clue, but then I've always been a late adopter, much the same with modern cars. Only bikes I've test ridden in more recent years was a r1250rs & nt1100 when looking for a reliable bike to compliment my Morini scrambler.

When I was a kid, it was all get a 'ped at 16, 17 get summat to pass your test on, then get summat big. Then as soon as you could, get summat faster, ad finitum. I got a GT750 at 18. We wanted a real buzz

All the bike mags were looking for the fastest bikes to test.

Now the best selling road bikes seem like 2 wheel Mondeos. Most have same power as the same capacity bikes from the 70s. For example, somebody yesterday mentioned the Kawa Z650 so I looked and it had67 BHP. About the same as the 1979 Z650 ???

The market speaks for itself, but seems strange to me

I'm 66 and still want a bike that can scare me if I want it to.

Bloody kids nowadays etc...

I'd say the best selling bikes are more like Nissan Qashqais than Mondeos, I see poxy "adventure" bikes everywhere.

IccyV2 wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:08 pm I just wondered if there is still a buzz anymore and it's just me being an old man not seeing it.

Speaking only for myself,the ability to access 'the buzz' largely lies with the individual. In simple terms,any motorised two wheeler will suffice if you have a mind to use it as a tool for entertainment. C90 or Fireblade,it's all wheels turning.

We very probably live in an age where we are spoiled for choice,there's a model for every mood swing.
When I started riding (1972) your bike was your bike and the same machine covered everything from taping up the lights to race,to taking your lady friend on a camping trip,or commuting to work.
Bikes now are fast,reliable,handle well and have good brakes. They do everything and better from stock,than all our expensive attempts to make 70s wobblers perform as we desired.

But. Something vital has been lost. I understand the question.

'Involvement' is a word that springs to mind to inadequately express what I mean. When you are hands on with your machine,you get to know it inside out. You know what it's capable of and also the things it does not so well. It's your bike. It isn't leased or on a pcp contract,where it will be used until you fancy a change,it belongs to you and you know it. Yet that's not the whole story.

It's very much strokes for folks. Not everyone wants to lay a spanner on their bike,they may want as a tool for the places it takes them,the trackdays. A means to an end.

But for those of us who get oddly attached to the machines,there's a difficult to define extra dimension. That for me,is where real enjoyment lives. I'm riding my bike for the sake of it and for a brief span of time,nothing else matters.

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 3:43 pm I'd say the best selling bikes are more like Nissan Qashqais than Mondeos, I see poxy "adventure" bikes everywhere.

I specified ROAD bikes

I still see a big mix when out and about. Great big adv bikes to smaller cc stuff. The 400cc types have become very popular, so have scramblers for the road. As most bikers are getting on a bit, they're mostly multibike owners so it's different bikes for different jobs.

I just buy what I fancy.

The latest BMW GS with extra bits and spotlights < must have spotlights and huge aluminium boxes.

See groups of them marauding around the road of bones/magadan erm, chilterns.

Rockburner wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:57 am I've stopped buying/reading the magazines, so I've no idea what's coming out, and I have no real interest in new bikes because I'm happy with what I've got (which makes me an outlier, I know ).

Ditto.

Yorick wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:58 pm I'm 66 and still want a bike that can scare me if I want it to.

An old Kaw will do that, but not in the way you want it...

Rockburner wrote: I think there is still a lot of enthusiasts out there... however I know that I'm not going out every weekend to the gathering places (Boxhill, Loomies etc etc) and seeing it, and so I'm not getting involved any more. But there's still a lot that do.

Mole Valley council has just slapped a PSPO on the area around Ryka's. I don't think it was 60+ year olds causing the problem.

https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/a24/

Scootabout wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 7:52 pm

Rockburner wrote: I think there is still a lot of enthusiasts out there... however I know that I'm not going out every weekend to the gathering places (Boxhill, Loomies etc etc) and seeing it, and so I'm not getting involved any more. But there's still a lot that do.

Mole Valley council has just slapped a PSPO on the area around Ryka's. I don't think it was 60+ year olds causing the problem.

https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/a24/

Tbh I'm not that surprised, it was bound to happen eventually.

It's an exciting time to be interested in motorcycles.
Whether you're into A2 adventure bikes (KLE500, 450GS), bigger adventure bikes (himi 700ish, 690 adventure) or hyperdoopersports bikes (vr5 Augusta) or anything in between, there's a lot happening. Or electric which is really getting close, especially for city commuting (Enfield flea).

And the excitement is no longer limited to the big 4 Japanese marques with a few exotic sideshows, as the Chinese are really bringing some good bikes.

If you're bored of bikes or not excited by what's coming, it's more likely you're out of touch, than that the bikes got boring. If what you really wish for is a modern (insert thing you loved 20,40,60 years ago) then it's the former. And no, two strokes aren't coming back. Ever.