What have been the big new stories affecting biking and motorcycling in the last month? What new bikes have been announced? What licence or market changes have been made? And what interesting bikes or people have hit the headlines?
In our continuing series of monthly news round-ups, we find out!
Italjet is back!
After an absence of three years, exotic Italian scooter specialist Italjet is back in the UK with a new distributor and new range of exotic machines.
Founded in the 1960s, Italjet sprang back to fame in the early 2000s with its two-stroke ‘pocket rocket’, the Dragster. The latest 125cc version now returns (from £5050) joined by a 300 version (from £6080). While, for the more ‘well-heeled’, Italjet UK is also now bringing in: the 69bhp Dragster 700 Twin (£11,937); the 47bhp Dragster 459 Twin (£9100) and the funky-styled, 41.5bhp Roadster 400 (£8624), of which this limited edition ‘Founders Edition’, with just 777 built, sold out in just 46 minutes!
All are now offered through new UK importer/distributor Italjet UK Ltd, headed by scooter scene veteran Ian ‘Iggy’ Grainger.
He said “I’m really excited for this new opportunity. I’m a passionate rider, consumer and scooterist, so I know what riders expect when buying a new scooter. I already love the Italjet brand and want it to do well in the UK. Scooterists have been crying out for the larger capacity Italjet machines, and now we’re in a position to make them happy.”
For more go to: www.italjetuk.com
Rossi’s ‘first’ winner goes up for grabs!
The very first grand prix winning bike ridden by MotoGP ‘G.O.A.T.’ Valentino Rossi went up for auction recently and was expected to fetch £85-130,000!
The Scuderia AGV team Aprilia RS125R was ridden by Rossi in his debut GP year in 1996, winning at the 11th round at Brno on August 18. The then 18-year-old finished that season 9th and in January 1997 his team sold the bike to a private buyer. That year, on a new RS125R, Rossi won his first world crown before progressing to 250s then 500s ultimately totalling 115 GP wins.
The bike, meanwhile, was owned by a Rome resident until February 2013, then sold to its current owner who kept it in storage before being put up for auction by RM Sothebys.
Hero launches new XPulse 200
Huge Indian bike brand Hero MotoCorp, which entered the UK market for the first time last autumn with its novice-friendly Hunk 440, has followed that bike up with the launch of not one, but TWO further new models, the XPulse 200 4V and XPulse 200 Pro. Both are adventure style singles based around the same 199.6cc, four-valve, oil-cooled engine producing a claimed 18.9bhp.
The £2499 (+£200 OTR) XPulse 200 4V is an all-rounder with an 825mm seat height which is claimed to be perfect for commuting and light trail riding. The £2,699 (+ £200 OTR) Pro, meanwhile, gets extra off-road ability via adjustable, longer travel suspension, taller 891mm seat height plus handlebars risers and more.
Harshavardhan Chitale, Hero MotoCorp CEO, said, “The launch of the XPulse 200 series marks an important step in strengthening Hero MotoCorp’s global adventure motorcycling portfolio in the UK. The XPulse has created a strong identity globally as an accessible yet highly capable adventure motorcycle that appeals to both everyday riders and off-road enthusiasts.”
For more information, visit: www.heromotocorp.com
Suzuki GX-7GT price announced
Suzuki’s eagerly anticipated new middleweight sports-tourer, the SV-7GX, will be available from just £6,999 OTR when it arrives in dealerships later this summer, the company has announced.
Unveiled at EICMA last November, the 7GX revives Suzuki’s much-loved SV650 V-twin engine in a new ‘crossover’ chassis likely to rival Yamaha’s popular Tracer 7. Updated to meet the latest Euro5+ emissions standards, the motor is claimed to still deliver the same punch and characterful delivery and also gets a new magneto, transmission, ride-by-wire throttle and exhaust.
It also has a standard bi-directional quickshifter, three traction control and power modes, plus a colour TFT screen with smartphone connectivity.
It comes in four colour schemes, with a simple, white version available from £6,999 and blue, grey and black versions at £7,399.
Suzuki GB’s head of motorcycles, Jonathan Martin, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to bring the 7GX to market at such a competitive price point and with a great spec sheet to match, which really reaffirms our commitment to value.”
The 7GX will arrive in Suzuki dealers in the summer. For more information visit https://bikes.suzuki.co.uk/bikes/sport/sv-7gx/
BMW M1000RR ‘TT’ Limited Editon launched
And finally, to mark the 2026 TT, BMW has unveiled what is surely the ultimate TT bike!
The German marque’s new M1000RR ‘Limited Edition Isle of Man TT’ has been created to mark the 115th anniversary of the Tourist Trophy 2026 on the Mountain Course with just 115 being made.
It’s based on the already dominant M1000RR as ridden to numerous TT wins by the likes of Peter Hickman and Michael Dunlop and combines exclusive TT design elements with carefully selected equipment features and collector attributes.
As such it gets the ‘M Competition package’ (without pillion package), comes in bespoke British Racing Green paint, selected Mountain Course graphics, sequential numbering milled into the top yoke and a certificate of authenticity.
The aluminium tank is painted in satin chrome, there’s a black Alcantara seat,
A matt ‘M’ carbon airbox cover, an M Race Cover Kit, black swingarm, TT branding and lettering on the rear frame, rear paddock stand, an assembly stand mounting and even an M motorcycle mat (250 x 105 cm) with M and TT logo, all for £43,990.
Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad, said: “Racing is part of BMW Motorrad’s DNA. The BMW M1000RR Limited Edition Isle of Man TT is therefore the logical evolution of a special model based on the BMW M1000RR. This model bridges our successful TT heritage and our M models, and is a strong expression of racing DNA, technical precision and exclusivity.”
