Honda’s Rebel 500 or CMX500 is a custom-styled alternative to the sporty CBR500R and naked CB500F. It uses the same 471cc parallel twin engine, with the same claimed performance of 49.6 horsepower (35kW) and 43Nm peak torque, with the latter figure shifted 1000rpm lower in the rev range than the other Honda 500cc class models.

The chassis is bespoke to the Rebel 500, with a steel tube double cradle frame continuing to loop round the back of the single seat, a steel tube swingarm, 41mm unadjustable Showa forks, Showa preload-adjustable rear shocks, and a 264mm single front brake disc with Nissin two-pot caliper and, of course, ABS.

Wheels are 16-inch front and rear, the fuel tank holds 11.2 liters, seat height is only 690mm and kerb weight is 190 kilograms. This makes the Honda Rebel 500 extremely compact and highly manageable – a small child could ride it, so nobody will have trouble finding their feet on the ground.

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The rumor mill suggests that Yamaha’s YZF-R3 will be updated next year.

And following the debut of the 2015-on YZF-R1 and this year’s revamped YZF-R6, the smaller YZF-R3 is due for a styling update.

Yamaha’s YZF-R3 changes – which will of course be mirrored in the fractionally smaller-capacity but otherwise identical YZF-R25 – are also expected to react to the release of Honda’s CBR250RR and the widely-expected CBR300RR derivative that’s likely to debut in 2018.

The Honda already boasts an upside-down fork and multiple riding modes, and there’s speculation the upcoming larger-capacity version – at least 300cc and possibly as large as 350cc – will get other upgrades.

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Ducati may be on the brink of another buyout as the Volkswagen Group looks set to unload the booming motorcycle business, but it does not seem to have distracted the men driving the famous Italian firm forward.

Ducati may have suffered a few ups and downs in their colorful 91-year history, but one thing they’ve always been is brave. And with an incredible V4 four-stroke engine about to rewrite the sportbike rule-book, Ducati just got even braver.

Ducati, under the guidance of CEO Claudio Domenicali, have managed to branch-out into new areas of motorcycling without diluting the brand. The Ducati Diavel and XDiavel, the Scrambler and the Multistrada have been big plays into parts of the market Ducati have not been famous for in the 21st century – and yet people can’t get enough of them.

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BMW have issued a major recall for all BMW R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure models manufactured between November 2013 and June 2017.

BMW say that the fork stanchion can suffer damage if subjected to ‘momentary high stress’, which can result in the fork tube coming loose. In worst case scenarios this can result in the fork becoming completely separated from the yoke, resulting in an immediate front-end failure.

It’s important to note that there are no known instances of this happening as a result of normal road use, but motorcycles which have been used extensively off-road, or which have experienced high-impact shocks to the front fork, could have sustained damage.

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When it comes to motorcycle luggage, my preference is usually a set of soft saddle bags; you can throw them on and off easily, and they make sense whether you’re packing for a day trip or a months-long adventure. This was all good and well, until I tried to install my trusty old saddle bags on a modern sportbike; it just doesn’t quite work. The narrow and sloping tail, and the minimal strap points can make it all a bit difficult, so I looked for something else.

Having bought their stuff in the past, it wasn’t long before I found my way to the Thai re-seller of Kriega luggage. Kriega is an English brand that specializes in tough motorcycle bags for the road and adventure. They make all kinds of stuff, but I was drawn to their Tailpacks because they can sit over the pillion seat and have been designed to work with modern sportbikes.

I settled on a 40-liter combo, which consists of the 10-liter bags and one 20-liter bag (which I already owned). The bags strap together in a variety of configurations, or you can just use one depending on the application and need. I find that the 20-liter on the bottom and a 10-liter on top works well for me, but it’s nice to know that I have more space if need be.

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Do you travel a lot on your motorcycle? Do you want to transform your motorcycle into a completely new riding machine? Do you often ride with a pillion passenger? Do you often carry luggage? Are you looking for refined technology with advanced functionality and durability?

It you answered yes to any of these questions, then Touratech suspension is just what you’re looking for. Touratech suspension will transform your motorcycle into the ultimate adventure riding machine, providing enhanced rider comfort and a more sensitive response than the standard units.

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Originally meant to be exclusively for the Japanese market, the Yamaha Aerox 155 has become a popular scooter in Thailand, prompting local scooteristas to fall in love with the Aerox 155.

The modern features of the Yamaha Aerox 155 have pushed the scooter to a higher level, going against previous impressions that it’s only good as a daily commuter. With the Yamaha Aerox 155’s improved styling and design, riding on the crowded city streets is now an enjoyable experience.

Even scooter fashionistas will love the the Yamaha scoot’s blend of smartly graphics and contemporary design. The twin-eye LED headlamps add to the sporty and aggressive stance. There’s performance to back up this image, too.

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Marc Marquez took his second win of 2017 and his eighth in a row at the Sachsenring after starting from pole position, with teammate Dani Pedrosa joining him on the podium to complete the fourth double-podium finish (Austin, Jerez, Catalunya, Sachsenring) for Repsol Honda in nine races.

Marc and Dani got away from the front row brilliantly at the start, entering the first corner in first and second places, respectively. On lap five, Jonas Folger moved past Dani, and he overtook Marc on the following lap. Marc moved back on top on lap 11 and went on to take a momentous victory that earned him the lead in the Championship before the four-week summer break. Marc dedicated his 31st MotoGP win (the same tally as Eddie Lawson) to Nicky Hayden, who passed away in May.

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Just one day after Ducati started teasing the final version of the Ducati 1299 Panigale, the first spy shots of its successor – the long-awaited V4 superbike – emerged.

Ducati teased that it will reveal the production version of the V-twin Panigale at the WSBK round at Laguna Seca a week ago, and it promises to be the culmination of all the lessons learned during the six-year-old model’s life.

We already know that the V-twin Panigale is set for the chopping block, to be replaced in 2018 by a new MotoGP-derived V4 superbike, but Ducati has also made clear it will still produce, sell and race the older V-twin in WSBK in 2018, giving it a year to work towards an R-spec version of the new V4.

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Some people zig while others zag, and it’s no different for companies. Vozz Helmets, an Australian company, is one that zags and is taking a different approach to designing what it claims to be a safer motorcycle helmet than the traditional pull-on, pull-off full-face helmet.

Let’s face it, in its most basic form, the traditional full-face helmet has not changed in several decades – you pull it on and do up the chin strap until it’s tight, then reverse the operation to remove it.

Starting from a clean slate, Vozz Helmets has redesigned the full-face helmet in a staggering way by creating a rear-access, dual-locking helmet, and hopes to make the chin strap-equipped, pull-on, pull-off motorcycle helmet history.

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