Simon Hancocks
Editor
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
Prior to Visordown, Toad worked in the motorcycle insurance industry, before creating a role at a small motorcycle website and starting his journey as a journalist and road tester.
Since then Toad has launched bikes on all of the world's continents that aren't permanently frozen, covered hundreds of thousands of road test miles and always maintains that a bad day on a bike is better than a good day in a car!
Toad is happiest when touring through Europe, hammering a big adventure motorcycle up a trail, or riding around a race track, his favourite is Jerez, accompanied by a Panigale V4! He had a go at trials once, but it'd didn't go terribly well - his ambition definitely outweighed talent!
Now Toad is working through the restoration of a classic Ducati sports bike, and yes, it's taking much longer than he planned.
Peter Hickman Provides Update and Reason Behind Scary TT Crash
A couple of weeks after his Isle of Man TT crash, Peter Hickman has finally broken his silence on his condition and the cause of the off.
Matchless G80S Formerly Owned by The Great Escape Star Heads to Auction
The bike used to belong to Bud Ekins, famous for performing ‘that jump’ in the Steve McQueen blockbuster The Great Escape.
Suzuki GSX-8T and GSX-8TT Certified – Mid-weight Sport Touring Twins Incoming?
Suzuki could be about to add a new sports tourer to its lineup, as filings in the USA point to new GSX-8T and GSX-8TT
Honda V3 Compressor and EV Concepts Heading to Goodwood FoS
The event will mark the Honda V3’s first public outing in the UK.
Damon Motorcycles Seems Unable to Build a Bike, so it's Building Ai Instead
Damon I/O is aimed at last-mile delivery and will be used to collect data and “enhance rider safety” - if they ever get it finished.
Mick Extance Has Multiple Bikes and a Van Stolen From Adventure Riding School
The off-road legend and Dakar racer Mick Extance has been the victim of a burglary - we spoke to his son, Adam Extance.
Fuel Prices Drop Again – Lowest Petrol Costs in Nearly Four Years
Fuel prices fall for the third month running, with petrol now at its lowest level since 2021.
FCR Goes Full Cafe Racer on a Triumph Trident 660
The custom bike builder FCR has been waving its magic wand again, this time creating cafe racer-spec Triumph Trident 660s.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Exhibition Confirmed for ABR Festival 2025
Royal Enfield ramps up its presence at Ragley Hall with an “immersive” Himalayan showcase, full test ride lineup, and Nick Sanders finale
Honda GB350S Takes Centre Stage at Wheels & Waves 2025 With 11 Jaw-Dropping Builds
Eleven custom GB350S builds from across Europe take centre stage at Wheels & Waves 2025 as Honda’s Hondacustoms competition returns with retro flair and wild creativity.
New Royal Enfield Himalayan 750 Joins HIM-E in Khardung La Ride
Following on from the spyshots we covered earlier this week, Royal Enfield has now published images showing the Himalayan 750 and HIM-E electric prototype
Alpinestars Circal Capsule: Futuristic Riding Kit With a Space-age Feel
Eco-conscious motorcycle gear that looks like it just stepped off a sci-fi film set - welcome to Alpinestars’ Circal Capsule.
Stuntman Wheelies Vespa up a Mountain While Blindfolded
Guenther Schachermayr has managed to wheelie a Vespa without a front wheel 4.5km up a mountain in Austria - all while wearing a blindfold.
Toyoda Gosei Develops Motorcycle Airbags in Push for Safer Rides
The Japanese company, Toyoda Gosei, has already developed the system and has begun crash testing the airbags.
The UK Government is Fast-Tracking Self-Driving Taxis - Could be on the Roads by 2026
Self-driving taxis, buses and shuttles are set to be on the UK roads in 2026, as the UK Government looks to fast-track pilot schemes
Fuel from Thin Air? New Tech Promises Fossil-Free Petrol for Motorcycles
The Aircela fuel generator scrubs CO2 and water vapour from the atmosphere and turns it into bike-ready fuel wherever you want.
It’s Official: Toprak Razgatlıoğlu Joins Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP for 2026
The ink is currently drying on Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s Prima Pramac Yamaha contract, as the Turkish sensation moves to MotoGP in 2026
QJMotor Lands in the UK with a 16-Bike Line-Up for 2025
QJMotor enters the British market with an ambitious range, including everything from 125cc sport bikes to adventure-ready 900s.
Bikers Lifestyle Dissolved Following £10,000 Fine and DVSA Prosecution
You may remember the Company Bikers Lifestyle, which was fined for selling "catastrophically” unsafe motorcycle helmets - well, the company is no more.
MV Agusta Provides Post-PMG Update: New Model Incoming
Now that MV Agusta has officially broken away from KTM, it’s wasting no time reasserting its independence, with a new bike on the way from Varese.
Royal Enfield is Back at Wheels & Waves 2025 with Custom Builds and a trip to Goa up for grabs
Royal Enfield returns to Wheels & Waves with a fresh fleet of custom builds, a fire-breathing sprint racer, and a golden ticket giveaway to Goa up for grabs
New Bike Market Shows Signs of Life, But Worries Linger
UK bike sales dipped again in May, with industry insiders saying recovery is sluggish, consumer confidence shot, and a dithering government isn’t helping.
Better Late Than Never: Government Wants to Speed Up Disposal of Nuisance Bikes
The Home Office is to launch a consultation which could speed up the process of seizing and crushing nuisance motorcycles
MCN London Motorcycle Show Scrapped After 15-Year Run
The London Motorcycle Show has been axed, with organisers calling time on the south east’s biggest biker get together