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BRAP Pitstop
Motorcycle news, garage tips, interesting facts and in-depth articles for riders.
Worth a read · Articles
Strava for motorcyclists: record your rides and build your season in BRAP
Looking for Strava for motorcycles? BRAP records your rides, tracks your season’s distance and saves your routes. Explore its features and limitations.
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Engine stalls at idle: where to start looking
A bike that pulls fine on the move but dies at the traffic light rarely has a sudden big failure: the cause is usually simple and cheap. In November, when a cold engine is at its fussiest, it shows up most.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 750: the twin-cylinder Himalayan has finally arrived
Royal Enfield has unveiled the Himalayan 750, a middleweight adventure bike with a parallel twin that fans have wanted since the original Himalayan 411. The engine is air/oil-cooled, so there is no radiator and no plumbing to damage in the mountains.
Chain slack that keeps changing points to wear
Rotate the wheel and watch how the chain slack changes. If it varies significantly from one position to the next, it can indicate uneven wear.
Tube vs tubeless tyres: how the repair differs
A puncture is fixed differently depending on the tyre type. The wrong method wrecks a tube quickly, or leaves a tubeless tyre with an unreliable plug.
EICMA 2026: ten bikes Visordown is itching to ride
Visordown has picked ten new bikes from EICMA 2026 in Milan. It isn't a ranking of the most powerful or expensive machines, just the ones the team most wants to ride. The list runs from superbikes and middleweight adventure bikes to Yamaha's scooter-like RW700 and Benda's first adventure bike.
Liquid vs air cooling: what to check on each
The cooling type decides what you inspect in the garage. November is a good moment to check the system after summer loads, before cold weather brings surprises.
Benelli's Tre 903 concept: a revving triple with active winglets
At EICMA 2026 Benelli went back to triples, unveiling the Tornado Naked Tre 903 Concept: a naked bike with an all-new inline-three of roughly 900 cc. It nods to the brand's exotic 2000s triples, such as the TNT 1130. Benelli hasn't confirmed whether it will reach production.
Sportbike wings: downforce has a price
Aerodynamic wings on sportbikes generate downforce, but they also increase drag. There is no free grip.
Signs of a worn chain and sprockets
Chain and sprockets wear together, and running a tired set costs more than replacing it on time. November is a good moment to check: the bike sits more often, so you have an hour to do it without rushing.
2027 Harley-Davidson Sprint 440: a lightweight single-cylinder cruiser
Harley-Davidson has unveiled the 2027 Sprint 440, a compact cruiser built around a 440 cc single. It was developed with India's Hero MotoCorp. US-market bikes are assembled in York, Pennsylvania, and reach dealers in spring 2027. Pricing has not been announced.
Chain care: when to clean and when to lube
A dry, dirty chain wears out the chain and sprockets together, and a new set is expensive. November mud, water and road salt strip lubricant off especially fast.
Voge R800: 94 hp Chinese naked with heated seat and cruise control
At EICMA 2026 Voge showed the R800, its new flagship naked sitting above the R625. It targets the Suzuki GSX-8S and Honda CB750 Hornet, so the middleweight class gets another contender with a long equipment list.
Endurance at night: lit-up numbers and headlights
Part of a 24-hour endurance race is run in complete darkness, so the headlights on these bikes are no decoration. The race numbers are illuminated too, so riders can be told apart at night.
Pre-ride check: two minutes that can save your day
Most small faults show up in the garage, not on the road. In November, with slick asphalt, wet leaves and cold mornings, a quick walk-around matters even more.
2027 Suzuki SV-7S: the SV650 gets a new name and fresh electronics
Suzuki has renamed the SV650 as the SV-7S and updated it for the 2027 model year. For riders the point is simple: the proven hardware stays, and the modern electronics it lacked have arrived.
Spoked wheels: care and tightening the spokes
Spokes carry constant load and slowly loosen over time. A slack spoke overloads its neighbours and the rim starts to wobble. November is a good moment to inspect the wheels after the season and wash them without rushing.
Bezzecchi takes Qatar pole with a new lap record
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) took pole for the Qatar Grand Prix and broke the Losail lap record doing it. Marc Marquez (Ducati) will start second and Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) third. Rivals now know Bezzecchi has the pace.
Gold Wing: fuel tank under the seat, not where you expect
The first Gold Wing had its fuel tank under the seat. Where the tank usually sits, you'd find electrical and other components.
Starter clicks but won't turn: what to check
A click with no cranking almost always means not enough current is reaching the starter. In November's cold the battery is the first thing to fail, so start there.
CFMOTO unveils 550MT and dirt-focused 550MT-X at EICMA
At EICMA 2026 CFMOTO showed two middleweight adventure bikes: the 550MT for long-distance touring and the 550MT-X for off-road riding. Both use a new parallel-twin and come with a bi-directional quickshifter. The 550MT will also be offered with an electronic clutch.