Peak Motorcycles

02/09/2026

It’s meteorologically autumn, which for me means motorcycle show season. Every year I spend a bit of time at the EICMA show in Italy taking a look at what’s coming the following year. It’s a busy week where I film, edit and publish 50-55 videos from the show. To those of you who make videos, you will have an idea of the amount of work involved.

I usually follow it up with a visit to Motorcycle Live to check out 10-12 brands that don’t make it to Milan.

It’s been hard to miss the rise of the Chinese manufacturers over the last four years, from Kove motorcycles completing the Dakar, to CFMoto’s success in Romaniacs, ZXMoto’s in World Supersport, to Voge offering BMW alternatives but not BMW prices. This year QJMotor landed in the UK, showing off the results of their collaboration with MV Agusta (yes, really!).

There was lots to see at EICMA last year, though the innovation wasn’t from the established brands we’ve know for years, it was Benda with their boxer 250 hybrid, or Letbe with their fat tyred Flygon 250, so in an attempt to reduce the workload in November, I’m heading to the source.

In a couple of weeks, I will be in the home of Chinese motorcycle manufacturing, the megacity of Chongqing for CIMA Motor. It’s a 4 day show with more than 1,000 exhibitors including 100 manufacturers with over 3000 vehicles on display with an attendance of over 250,000 visitors.

I’ve no idea if it will be possible to film (it isn’t at EICMA on the public days) but the organisers have said they’ll work something out.

If you’re interested in seeing what’s coming out for next year from CIMA Motor, EICMA and MCL, it’ll all be on the Peak Motorcycles YouTube channel in the next three months.

CIMAMotor

29/08/2026

Today is a service day for the VOGE Motorcycles UK 300 and 800, so a visit to Bennetts Motorcycles and a wander round the fabulous MV Agusta UK selection while I wait. Some other interesting things in the rest of the shop too. As my closest Voge dealer, I’m sure I’ll be back again soon. Thanks chaps!

22/08/2026

but an ask that if you choose an exhilarating hobby that may involve injurie with possible blood loss, that you consider giving blood.

I used to, back when I was younger. It was easy. Once a quarter a trailer would turn up in the car park of the office where I worked and it was an easy wander downstairs to donate in exchange for a cup of tea and a biscuit.

With moving and travelling, I’m sorry to say that I stopped. And quite reasonably, my donation data was deleted.
Living in Edale isn’t particularly convenient for giving blood, and a visit to Sheffield is a 2-3 hour round trip.
When Crista was unwell I was frequently reminded of the importance so I started donating again. It’s not every quarter, as my travels to areas with interesting insect bites often involve a wait on my return, however it’s always as soon as I can, and it’s now always on my calendar for the next one.

In the post today, I received a small thank you for the 10 donations I’ve made since 2022. I will continue. If you can, I’d urge you to do the same. You never know if you, a loved one or a complete stranger will need it to survive. You can find your nearest centre by calling 0300 123 23 23 or at www.blood.co.uk

Motorcycle service to resume shortly. Thank you.

NHS Blood Donation 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️

22/08/2026

As the summer rolls on, and festival season comes to an end, I’m now looking ahead to show season. For me, this means filming, editing and publishing 50 videos in a week from different manufacturers at the annual Eicma show in Milan in early November. Later that month there’s a further 10 or so brands from MCL at the NEC in the UK.

In an attempt to start earlier, and show people something new, in September I’ll be heading to CIMA Motor in Chongqing, China to see what they have to offer. They have around 250,000 people attending across 4 days, and while that is fewer than the 600,000 that attend EICMA, it’s still significant.

I’ve always self funded my trips, and still will, however I did wonder if there might be a sponsorship opportunity that would help with some of the costs. I’ve avoided it in the past as I didn’t really think I had something to ‘sell’. Looking back on my YouTube this year, finding time to do any content with my tours and Summer Social festival has been a challenge. Some of this is because YouTube is a lot of work, for very little return, and it’s an easy thing to drop when time is short. The coverage will definitely return for the shows.

In preparation, I did wonder if any brands would be interested in either having a logo on the opening and closing screens on my show content or having me wear a T-Shirt with their brand for the pieces to camera at the start and end of every show video. It is a global audience (YouTube kindly dub me into several languages…) that gathers over half a million views from EICMA alone. If the repeated showing of your brand to a mostly trail and adventure motorcycle market would be something of interest to you, please get in touch. If you’re interested to see the brands and coverage from last year, here’s a playlist. Every opening sequence and piece to camera could feature your brand, shown multiple times to prospective customers.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWdZgXoN6t-PONILgQNbBbyphszo1KEXB&si=52Js0uvPgQZtRKsL

And to those who have watched and enjoyed my show content in the past, if you know of any brands who you think may benefit, please tag them in the comments 🤣

This playlist is a collection of all 61 videos I produced from visiting EICMA and Motorcycle Live in 2025. It is a showcase of 58 motorcycle and accessory br...

19/08/2026

AJS Motorcycles Ltd. (UK) have the Ridgeway 125 arriving soon. Sometimes we are sold bigger, better, faster, more, and sometimes enough is enough, whether that is for a ride across a field for a shower, or crossing continents at a more leisurely pace!

👀 First Look at the new Ridgeway 125
Powered by a 4-speed semi-automatic transmission, and with front, middle and rear luggage racks as standard, the Ridgeway will take you on an adventure like no other.

Just £2699 + OTR - nearly all pre sold! Reserve yours now with your nearest AJS dealer https://www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk/find-dealer

16/08/2026

I live in the middle of the Peak District, almost on the border between the Light and Dark Peak, so it’s easy to stay local for a trail ride. So thanks to Alex K for the suggestion of trying out the lanes around Holmfirth for a bit of a change.

There’s not many legal lanes, and it is a bit of an island on the Green Roads Map, but there’s a wide variety from wide open gravel lanes on the moors to technical descents (or climbs if you go the way we should have) if you do every lane.

I must have driven the A57 out of Sheffield hundreds of times over the years, but never tried out the cross of lanes at Moscar, so had a small detour on my way home to give them a go. Also a bit of an island, but I came out at the Wet Shaw Lane end of the Ughill Moor lane, and took an indirect route home via Clough Lane in the Mayfield Valley and Houndkirk Moor.

For a glorious sunny Saturday in August, the roads and lanes were empty. We also stopped for lunch at the always excellent and Season Starter regular lunch stop The Carding Shed in Holmfirth for possibly the widest range of gluten free food and cakes anywhere.

That’s both my VOGE Motorcycles UK 300 and 800 ready for a service and a winter of upgrades! (I’ve been very impressed with how they have both performed as stock, but then there’s always tweaks to be made!)

08/08/2026

Friday Night Trail Rides should definitely be a thing! An excellent end to the week to get out and ride with Danny Lilwall Daniel Hunt Nigel Leicester!

The evenings are still light enough, and the patio at The Bulls Head Monyash was warm enough for tea before riding home at sunset.

Thanks to Nigel Nigel for the riding pics that I don’t often get (though hopefully you’ll be out on the V-Strom next time).

VOGE Motorcycles UK VOGE Global

03/08/2026

This is an amazing bit of kit! Perfect for moving things around a festival site, from 3-phase cable,
to lamp posts, even moving trailers, it was a massive help.
Looks good for trails, farms, anything else really. Even motorways 😳

31/07/2026

I have a Honda CT125. It’s fun, but 9hp and sometimes I wish it’d do a bit more (and was less expensive…) AJS Motorcycles Ltd. (UK) have these Leten LT190’s arriving in September. Similar concept but that 188cc, water cooled single makes 20hp, and the CVT transmission would be easier than the rotary gearbox. It’s a little heavier than the CT at 149kg, but it’s still light. And it’s £3495+OTR. I think it’ll do very well based on the popularity (and scarcity) of the CT’s. Need to work on the one in, one out vs n+1 dilemma.

https://www.letenmotorcycle.co.uk/

Ride. Explore. Reconnect.

Rediscover your freedom with the Leten LT190. Available September 2026.

Reserve yours now.

https://www.letenmotorcycle.co.uk/