Fast Bikes Magazine

03/06/2026

TT fans!

Wherever you're following the TT action, don't miss out on the essential guide

👉 Buy your copy here - available while stocks last!
shop.kelsey.co.uk/ISLANDRACER-2026

02/06/2026

I've just thrown a leg over KTM's new(ish) 990 RCR and one thing became clear almost immediately – there's more than a little RC8R running through its veins. Not just because of its gangly riding position and quirky bodywork angles, but because of its character too. It's got that same sense of occasion, that same slightly unruly personality that made the RC8R such a cult hero. In a world of increasingly polished sports bikes, the 990 RCR feels refreshingly different.

But what do you reckon? Has KTM nailed it with the 990 RCR, or is it a miss rather than a hit?

01/06/2026

Kicking off your Monday with a question.... are underslung exhausts better than side mounted or underseat options? 🤔

From a massive centralisation point of view, it's the pinnacle. And with such large catalytic converters on stock bikes these days, it's a good way of hiding the unsightly bulk. But would you sooner see a return to more conventional side mounted systems, or even saucier underseat styles? Let us know 👍

28/05/2026

It’s hard to believe Ducati’s 748 is over 30 years old, but we reckon it still looks an absolute stunner! 😍

Despite forever living in the shadow of the mighty 916, the 748 wasn’t just the ‘smaller one’. In many ways, it can be a lot more fun to ride, revving higher and pitching into bends that bit easier, whilst lacking none of the Massimo Tamburini design genius possessed by its bigger bore brethren. Virtually identical to the 916 (right down to the single-sided swingarm, underseat exhausts and impossibly beautiful bodywork) the 748 remains one of the most stunning motorcycles ever built. We don’t test the model enough, but whenever we do, it never fails to hit the spot. Who’s had one? Who wants one? Who wouldn’t touch one with barge pole? We want to hear it… 😁

27/05/2026

Who remembers the R71? Well, just in case it’s slipped your memory, we’ll do a recap on this special creation…

Before aero became a buzzword and “homologation special” got thrown around every five minutes, the V&M Yamaha R71 was quietly rewriting Isle of Man TT history. And despite the name, the legendary R71 wasn’t some exotic R1/R7 hybrid. In fact, there wasn’t a single genuine R7 component on the bike. What V&M Racing actually created was arguably even cleverer. After David Jefferies took Yamaha’s first Formula 1 TT win in years aboard the R1 in 1999 — ending Honda’s staggering 17-year winning streak — the team knew they needed to evolve the package for 2000. But rather than reinvent the wheel, Jack Valentine and the crew focused on refining what already worked brilliantly. The answer? Use the ultra-exotic Yamaha R7 as inspiration.
At the time, the R7 represented peak race-bike design: slimmer, stiffer, more aerodynamic and purpose-built for speed. V&M borrowed those ideas — particularly the bodywork shape and riding position — and applied them to the already devastatingly fast R1 platform. QB Carbon supplied beautifully made R7-style fairings and fuel tank covers, giving the bike a taller, smoother aero profile that better suited the high-speed nature of the TT course and the physical size of Jefferies himself. Underneath though, it remained pure R1.
The frame was subtly strengthened around the headstock, geometry revised with different yokes and reduced offset, and the bike fitted with trick endurance-racing swingarm tech for rapid wheel changes. Weight was slashed wherever possible too. The result was the now-iconic R71. And it worked.
Jefferies became the first rider to lap the TT course at over 125mph and dominated the 2000 Senior TT. Michael Rutter joined the team too, helping V&M lock out a famous 1-2 finish as Honda scrambled desperately to respond. The R71 proved you didn’t need factory prototypes or unlimited budgets to beat the establishment. Just smart engineering, obsessive detail and riders brave enough to exploit it. Decades later, it remains one of the most important TT superbikes ever built.

26/05/2026

Keeping with the TT theme... this is Ian Lougher's Suter MMX500 🔥

He raced it in the Senior TT back in 2016, and I had the pleasure of tickling it around Lausitzring just a few weeks afterwards. It was every bit as awesome as you'd expect from a Suter-crafted creation, being ridiculously lithe and hellishly fast. The V4 motor made around 190bhp and the bike weighed around 130kg. It wasn't the easiest of bikes to get my head around, because the power was all up top... and it kicked in ferociously when the engine was on song. Genuinely mind-blowing how Lougher did what he did on it with no rider aids. One of the most exciting bikes I've ever tested. And don't even get me started on the exhaust note 🙌.

25/05/2026

It's TT time 👌. Guess the corner?

24/05/2026

The only proven defense against heatwaves 👌😂

24/05/2026

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🔥GB Racing Kit
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🔥Silkolene Care Package
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𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁:

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22/05/2026

It's been a busy few months, but one of the highlights in recent weeks was ripping through Welsh woodland on the Triumph Adventure Experience. With a bunch of mates, I got to ride on the brand's awesome TF 250-E and the even fruitier TF 450-E. An experience to remember and one you should get in your diary if you like the idea of getting down and dirty on some of the best and most varied legal trails and terrain the UK has to offer. There's also expert tuition on tap, so it's appropriate for everyone from novices to pros 🙌.