Martin Fitz-Gibbons
@mufga.bsky.social
Rider, writer and Front End Chatterer, plus Bike magazine editor
www.frontendchatter.com
www.frontendchatter.com
Had a spare hour on my day off so ripped through a charge on the LiveWire S2 Alpinista. Huge fun to ride - instant whoomph everywhere, 194lbft of torque and a compact, engaging chassis. And the wheelies... oh the wheelies. Here for a good time, not a long time: 95% to 5% rinsed in just 40 miles...
November 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Had a spare hour on my day off so ripped through a charge on the LiveWire S2 Alpinista. Huge fun to ride - instant whoomph everywhere, 194lbft of torque and a compact, engaging chassis. And the wheelies... oh the wheelies. Here for a good time, not a long time: 95% to 5% rinsed in just 40 miles...
Congratulations to Marc Márquez, seven (or is it nine?) time world champion. Ahá!
September 28, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Congratulations to Marc Márquez, seven (or is it nine?) time world champion. Ahá!
Here 'tis: the new issue of Bike, "my" first. There's loads inside, from a @sihbikes.bsky.social group test, to Nick Sanders riding a Royal Enfield Bear to the Arctic Circle, to the world's fastest R1300GS, to @matoxley.bsky.social interviewing Alex Marquez + tons more.
Let me know what you think!
Let me know what you think!
September 20, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Here 'tis: the new issue of Bike, "my" first. There's loads inside, from a @sihbikes.bsky.social group test, to Nick Sanders riding a Royal Enfield Bear to the Arctic Circle, to the world's fastest R1300GS, to @matoxley.bsky.social interviewing Alex Marquez + tons more.
Let me know what you think!
Let me know what you think!
22 years ago this month I rode this bike to this building to start a new job as staff writer at Bike magazine.
Today I rode the same bike to the same building to start a new job as editor of Bike magazine.
It's been a two wheel trip, alright. Here's to the next leg of the journey.
Today I rode the same bike to the same building to start a new job as editor of Bike magazine.
It's been a two wheel trip, alright. Here's to the next leg of the journey.
August 1, 2025 at 6:38 PM
22 years ago this month I rode this bike to this building to start a new job as staff writer at Bike magazine.
Today I rode the same bike to the same building to start a new job as editor of Bike magazine.
It's been a two wheel trip, alright. Here's to the next leg of the journey.
Today I rode the same bike to the same building to start a new job as editor of Bike magazine.
It's been a two wheel trip, alright. Here's to the next leg of the journey.
Well, it'll keep me busy.
July 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Well, it'll keep me busy.
A #wheeliewednesday from 17 years ago this week on Triumph's Speed Triple 1050.
What a tool for the job. That original 1050 was such a willing wheelie bike, with its millpond-flat torque curve and rearward weight bias. Big, butch, brawny, beefy and British.
Wonder how the new 1200 RS compares…
What a tool for the job. That original 1050 was such a willing wheelie bike, with its millpond-flat torque curve and rearward weight bias. Big, butch, brawny, beefy and British.
Wonder how the new 1200 RS compares…
July 2, 2025 at 8:26 AM
A #wheeliewednesday from 17 years ago this week on Triumph's Speed Triple 1050.
What a tool for the job. That original 1050 was such a willing wheelie bike, with its millpond-flat torque curve and rearward weight bias. Big, butch, brawny, beefy and British.
Wonder how the new 1200 RS compares…
What a tool for the job. That original 1050 was such a willing wheelie bike, with its millpond-flat torque curve and rearward weight bias. Big, butch, brawny, beefy and British.
Wonder how the new 1200 RS compares…
After 3000 miles and a year with Kawasaki's Z7 Hybrid, I've written an extra huge pile of words covering the recall, the recent discounts, testing EV mode through London, and what it tells us about the future of hybrid motorcycles
👇
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
@bennettsinsurance.bsky.social
👇
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
@bennettsinsurance.bsky.social
June 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM
After 3000 miles and a year with Kawasaki's Z7 Hybrid, I've written an extra huge pile of words covering the recall, the recent discounts, testing EV mode through London, and what it tells us about the future of hybrid motorcycles
👇
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
@bennettsinsurance.bsky.social
👇
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
@bennettsinsurance.bsky.social
1.17pm - bike passes MOT, no problems
1.32pm - pick up screw in rear tyre on ride home
1.32pm - pick up screw in rear tyre on ride home
June 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
1.17pm - bike passes MOT, no problems
1.32pm - pick up screw in rear tyre on ride home
1.32pm - pick up screw in rear tyre on ride home
Awoke my poor old Suzuki SV650S from hibernation yesterday and gatecrashed an MCN event (🙏) to see whether it (and I) could still wally about on one wheel. Wheelies seem a redundant skill, like being able to hunt a woolly mammoth or repair a Betamax. But the world would be far duller without them.
June 5, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Awoke my poor old Suzuki SV650S from hibernation yesterday and gatecrashed an MCN event (🙏) to see whether it (and I) could still wally about on one wheel. Wheelies seem a redundant skill, like being able to hunt a woolly mammoth or repair a Betamax. But the world would be far duller without them.
Isle of Man TT races preview from the Framlingham Weekly News, Saturday 27th May 1922 - so exactly 103 years ago today.
Reads like a parody but it's 100% legit.
Poor old Thacker on his Beardmore Precision.
Reads like a parody but it's 100% legit.
Poor old Thacker on his Beardmore Precision.
May 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Isle of Man TT races preview from the Framlingham Weekly News, Saturday 27th May 1922 - so exactly 103 years ago today.
Reads like a parody but it's 100% legit.
Poor old Thacker on his Beardmore Precision.
Reads like a parody but it's 100% legit.
Poor old Thacker on his Beardmore Precision.
20 years ago this week I took a group test into London; it was a disaster, of course.
Retreated and headed for the roundabout outside Bike's office on the winner; Suzuki's SV650S, of course.
Wore a hole through my jeans - and my knee. Foreshadowing…
#throwbackthursday
@suzukibikesuk.bsky.social
Retreated and headed for the roundabout outside Bike's office on the winner; Suzuki's SV650S, of course.
Wore a hole through my jeans - and my knee. Foreshadowing…
#throwbackthursday
@suzukibikesuk.bsky.social
May 22, 2025 at 8:37 AM
20 years ago this week I took a group test into London; it was a disaster, of course.
Retreated and headed for the roundabout outside Bike's office on the winner; Suzuki's SV650S, of course.
Wore a hole through my jeans - and my knee. Foreshadowing…
#throwbackthursday
@suzukibikesuk.bsky.social
Retreated and headed for the roundabout outside Bike's office on the winner; Suzuki's SV650S, of course.
Wore a hole through my jeans - and my knee. Foreshadowing…
#throwbackthursday
@suzukibikesuk.bsky.social
Took this for a spin today. Voge's DS625X - 581cc twin, 63bhp, £6199.
Centrestand, crash bars, TPMS, backlit switches, handguards, tubeless cross-spoked wheels, hoooge TFT dash, and even a 1080p dashcam in the nose. 26k valve clearance checks. Three-piece ally luggage costs just £699. Tempting?
Centrestand, crash bars, TPMS, backlit switches, handguards, tubeless cross-spoked wheels, hoooge TFT dash, and even a 1080p dashcam in the nose. 26k valve clearance checks. Three-piece ally luggage costs just £699. Tempting?
May 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Took this for a spin today. Voge's DS625X - 581cc twin, 63bhp, £6199.
Centrestand, crash bars, TPMS, backlit switches, handguards, tubeless cross-spoked wheels, hoooge TFT dash, and even a 1080p dashcam in the nose. 26k valve clearance checks. Three-piece ally luggage costs just £699. Tempting?
Centrestand, crash bars, TPMS, backlit switches, handguards, tubeless cross-spoked wheels, hoooge TFT dash, and even a 1080p dashcam in the nose. 26k valve clearance checks. Three-piece ally luggage costs just £699. Tempting?
2700 miles in 10 days
The best roads in Scotland, twice
30 lovely FECers
Sun and fun by the tonne
Quite a bit of Belhaven 🍺
FEC's Highland Fling tours were very special. The bar has been raised ridiculously high.
Blown away by the Tiger Sport 800. Proper write-up once my head's stopped spinning 🤯
The best roads in Scotland, twice
30 lovely FECers
Sun and fun by the tonne
Quite a bit of Belhaven 🍺
FEC's Highland Fling tours were very special. The bar has been raised ridiculously high.
Blown away by the Tiger Sport 800. Proper write-up once my head's stopped spinning 🤯
May 12, 2025 at 11:04 AM
2700 miles in 10 days
The best roads in Scotland, twice
30 lovely FECers
Sun and fun by the tonne
Quite a bit of Belhaven 🍺
FEC's Highland Fling tours were very special. The bar has been raised ridiculously high.
Blown away by the Tiger Sport 800. Proper write-up once my head's stopped spinning 🤯
The best roads in Scotland, twice
30 lovely FECers
Sun and fun by the tonne
Quite a bit of Belhaven 🍺
FEC's Highland Fling tours were very special. The bar has been raised ridiculously high.
Blown away by the Tiger Sport 800. Proper write-up once my head's stopped spinning 🤯
Racked up 1750 miles on Triumph's Tiger Sport 800 so far on FEC's Highland Fling tours.
It's been spectacularly good. Spacious, comfy and smooth for the long-haul, then agile, eager and frisky in the twisty stuff. Hasn't put a paw wrong.
Two more sunny riding days, then a final 500-mile dash home!
It's been spectacularly good. Spacious, comfy and smooth for the long-haul, then agile, eager and frisky in the twisty stuff. Hasn't put a paw wrong.
Two more sunny riding days, then a final 500-mile dash home!
May 7, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Racked up 1750 miles on Triumph's Tiger Sport 800 so far on FEC's Highland Fling tours.
It's been spectacularly good. Spacious, comfy and smooth for the long-haul, then agile, eager and frisky in the twisty stuff. Hasn't put a paw wrong.
Two more sunny riding days, then a final 500-mile dash home!
It's been spectacularly good. Spacious, comfy and smooth for the long-haul, then agile, eager and frisky in the twisty stuff. Hasn't put a paw wrong.
Two more sunny riding days, then a final 500-mile dash home!
Och aye and away...
Heading north for FEC's Highland Flings, a pair of back-to-back tours of Scotland's best bits. Riding so good I'll get to do it all twice!
Couldn't ask for a better bike to be doing it on than Triumph's Tiger Sport 800 either. Three-piece luggage is loaded to the Sally's!
Heading north for FEC's Highland Flings, a pair of back-to-back tours of Scotland's best bits. Riding so good I'll get to do it all twice!
Couldn't ask for a better bike to be doing it on than Triumph's Tiger Sport 800 either. Three-piece luggage is loaded to the Sally's!
May 1, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Och aye and away...
Heading north for FEC's Highland Flings, a pair of back-to-back tours of Scotland's best bits. Riding so good I'll get to do it all twice!
Couldn't ask for a better bike to be doing it on than Triumph's Tiger Sport 800 either. Three-piece luggage is loaded to the Sally's!
Heading north for FEC's Highland Flings, a pair of back-to-back tours of Scotland's best bits. Riding so good I'll get to do it all twice!
Couldn't ask for a better bike to be doing it on than Triumph's Tiger Sport 800 either. Three-piece luggage is loaded to the Sally's!
Rode Triumph's 2025 Trident and Tiger Sport 660s recently. Check out the reviews on Bennetts BikeSocial here:
Triumph Trident 660
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
Triumph Tiger Sport 660
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
@bennettsinsurance.bsky.social
Triumph Trident 660
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
Triumph Tiger Sport 660
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
@bennettsinsurance.bsky.social
April 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Rode Triumph's 2025 Trident and Tiger Sport 660s recently. Check out the reviews on Bennetts BikeSocial here:
Triumph Trident 660
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
Triumph Tiger Sport 660
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
@bennettsinsurance.bsky.social
Triumph Trident 660
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
Triumph Tiger Sport 660
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/r...
@bennettsinsurance.bsky.social
Some sparky malarky for a #throwbackthursday ahead of BMW's R1300R reveal.
This was April 2019, shot for RiDE's first test of the R1250R. A comfy, gentle, capable roadster that never wanted to play the lairy supernaked game, it could still get a decent wriggle on in its own, quiet, unassuming way.
This was April 2019, shot for RiDE's first test of the R1250R. A comfy, gentle, capable roadster that never wanted to play the lairy supernaked game, it could still get a decent wriggle on in its own, quiet, unassuming way.
April 10, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Some sparky malarky for a #throwbackthursday ahead of BMW's R1300R reveal.
This was April 2019, shot for RiDE's first test of the R1250R. A comfy, gentle, capable roadster that never wanted to play the lairy supernaked game, it could still get a decent wriggle on in its own, quiet, unassuming way.
This was April 2019, shot for RiDE's first test of the R1250R. A comfy, gentle, capable roadster that never wanted to play the lairy supernaked game, it could still get a decent wriggle on in its own, quiet, unassuming way.
A wonky #wheeliewednesday from 2019 aboard the quirktastic Moto Guzzi V85 TT. Reminded of this pic because I've just picked up the 2025 version (right) ahead of a spin tomorrow.
Six years back I was shooting for MCN; tomorrow I'll have my RiDE hat on.
Anything you'd like to know about the V85 TT?
Six years back I was shooting for MCN; tomorrow I'll have my RiDE hat on.
Anything you'd like to know about the V85 TT?
March 26, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A wonky #wheeliewednesday from 2019 aboard the quirktastic Moto Guzzi V85 TT. Reminded of this pic because I've just picked up the 2025 version (right) ahead of a spin tomorrow.
Six years back I was shooting for MCN; tomorrow I'll have my RiDE hat on.
Anything you'd like to know about the V85 TT?
Six years back I was shooting for MCN; tomorrow I'll have my RiDE hat on.
Anything you'd like to know about the V85 TT?
A #wheeliewednesday from 16 years ago today, on a Bike mag 1000s test at Ye Olde Rockinghame, before the place was upgraded to Corby's costliest car park.
Suzuki's GSX-R1000 K9 (woof etc) felt friendliest of the four, the least offended at lowering itself to my level.
@suzukibikesuk.bsky.social
Suzuki's GSX-R1000 K9 (woof etc) felt friendliest of the four, the least offended at lowering itself to my level.
@suzukibikesuk.bsky.social
March 5, 2025 at 11:34 AM
A #wheeliewednesday from 16 years ago today, on a Bike mag 1000s test at Ye Olde Rockinghame, before the place was upgraded to Corby's costliest car park.
Suzuki's GSX-R1000 K9 (woof etc) felt friendliest of the four, the least offended at lowering itself to my level.
@suzukibikesuk.bsky.social
Suzuki's GSX-R1000 K9 (woof etc) felt friendliest of the four, the least offended at lowering itself to my level.
@suzukibikesuk.bsky.social
A #wheeliewednesday from exactly 8 years ago today, at the launch of Kawasaki's revamped Ninja 650.
Ah, 2017. When you could fall off a brand-new bike at 0mph in the hotel car park right in front of Kawasaki's top brass, have it caught on film, and the footage never make it on to the internet.
Ah, 2017. When you could fall off a brand-new bike at 0mph in the hotel car park right in front of Kawasaki's top brass, have it caught on film, and the footage never make it on to the internet.
January 29, 2025 at 11:15 AM
A #wheeliewednesday from exactly 8 years ago today, at the launch of Kawasaki's revamped Ninja 650.
Ah, 2017. When you could fall off a brand-new bike at 0mph in the hotel car park right in front of Kawasaki's top brass, have it caught on film, and the footage never make it on to the internet.
Ah, 2017. When you could fall off a brand-new bike at 0mph in the hotel car park right in front of Kawasaki's top brass, have it caught on film, and the footage never make it on to the internet.
It's Burns Night. This is our pet haggis. Her name's Harris. Anyway, blah blah blah, come ride motorcycles in Scotland with me and @sihbikes.bsky.social this May: bit.ly/fecfling2
January 25, 2025 at 5:24 PM
It's Burns Night. This is our pet haggis. Her name's Harris. Anyway, blah blah blah, come ride motorcycles in Scotland with me and @sihbikes.bsky.social this May: bit.ly/fecfling2
"You've lost the news!"
January 24, 2025 at 6:54 AM
"You've lost the news!"
A dinky Ducati #wheeliewednesday from four years ago today, on the Multistrada V4S.
These were real; no larking for the camera. The Multi was naturally digging in to the freezing road and lifting out of a corner. Top snapper Adam Shorrock caught 'em.
🏍️ @ducatiuk.bsky.social
#ducati #multistradav4s
These were real; no larking for the camera. The Multi was naturally digging in to the freezing road and lifting out of a corner. Top snapper Adam Shorrock caught 'em.
🏍️ @ducatiuk.bsky.social
#ducati #multistradav4s
January 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
A dinky Ducati #wheeliewednesday from four years ago today, on the Multistrada V4S.
These were real; no larking for the camera. The Multi was naturally digging in to the freezing road and lifting out of a corner. Top snapper Adam Shorrock caught 'em.
🏍️ @ducatiuk.bsky.social
#ducati #multistradav4s
These were real; no larking for the camera. The Multi was naturally digging in to the freezing road and lifting out of a corner. Top snapper Adam Shorrock caught 'em.
🏍️ @ducatiuk.bsky.social
#ducati #multistradav4s
7. 2024 Enduro Veloce. Ace road-going tall-rounder; less good as an adventurer.
8. 2009 Brutale 1078RR. Fastest 40-120mph top-gear roll-on we'd seen.
9. 2010 F4 1000. Rode it round Snetterton one evening on a test of posh Euro 1000s with Kevin Schwantz.
10. 2015 Turismo Veloce. The one I bought.
8. 2009 Brutale 1078RR. Fastest 40-120mph top-gear roll-on we'd seen.
9. 2010 F4 1000. Rode it round Snetterton one evening on a test of posh Euro 1000s with Kevin Schwantz.
10. 2015 Turismo Veloce. The one I bought.
January 20, 2025 at 2:18 PM
7. 2024 Enduro Veloce. Ace road-going tall-rounder; less good as an adventurer.
8. 2009 Brutale 1078RR. Fastest 40-120mph top-gear roll-on we'd seen.
9. 2010 F4 1000. Rode it round Snetterton one evening on a test of posh Euro 1000s with Kevin Schwantz.
10. 2015 Turismo Veloce. The one I bought.
8. 2009 Brutale 1078RR. Fastest 40-120mph top-gear roll-on we'd seen.
9. 2010 F4 1000. Rode it round Snetterton one evening on a test of posh Euro 1000s with Kevin Schwantz.
10. 2015 Turismo Veloce. The one I bought.