Britain's biggest FREE bike newspaper

The V-Strom is better than ever...

We really like the idea of bikes that give a nod to times gone by - find out how the Kawasaki W800 and Triumph Bonneville measured up in the retro roadster stakes on page 16.

Back to the learner legal market and we've tested the very well specc'ed new Rieju Pro Black 125 SM on page 22. And it goes as good as it looks...

What about road racing on the Isle of Wight? Yep, it could just happen. Read our interview with the main campaigner Kara Rann on page 14.

Itchy feet? How about getting yourself to the UK's biggest adventure travel festival? Check it out on page 32.

Talking about adventure, one MCM reader recounts how he rode his brand new Norton 750 Commando across Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan - almost 40 years ago. And he's still riding it over in Manila where he lives now - read all about it on page 28.

On the tech watch front, we've got the latest in ABS on bikes developments plus BMW's bold new technological plans, including semi-active suspension - go to pages 20 and 24 to find out more.

We also attended the Voices for Veterans Riders Day parade that took place in Edinburgh - it was an emotional day for all the bikers that attended - see page 26 for the full story.

Plus we've got nine new products, an interview with TT supersport winner Gary Johnson and all the best events happening this month.

We've also got a new Really Useful Section, packed full of everything you need to know when buying a used bike, starting on page 37. Used bikes include the Yamaha FZ1000 Fazer, Honda CBF1000 and Triumph Tiger 1050.

And of course, there's loads more in the issue: don't forget to check out all the latest news, and have a look at the rest of our action-packed features and get commenting on them. Visit our letters page and add your own: one star letter each month wins a V2MAL Essentials Touring Pack worth over £40. On the subject of free stuff, there is a fantastic competition for a lucky reader to win almost a pair of BSV VIP tickets to Brands plus a set of Maxxis tyres on page 36, and a pair of new Pirelli Diablo Rosso IIs on page 35. Also, if you're looking for a new bike or want to sell your own, take a look at a selection of our free bike classified adverts. And don't forget, if you've got any news, events or ideas you think we might like to feature in MCM, just drop us a line here. We want to hear from you!

Melanie Falconer
Editor, MCM