Enduro

Don't be fooled by the looks: the furthest this bike will go offroad is to the end of your driveway

Just a few years ago the very idea of serious enduro riding on something with BMW on the tank would have been preposterous. Huge trans-globe adventure busters, absolutely. Rounded commuters with off-road style, brilliant.

A KTM 990, Honda Transalp and BMW HP2 get stuck into the muddy action at the WRC Wales Rally as we go searching for freestyle legend Travis Pastrana

BMW has taken a bold step into the off-road arena with its giant HP2 enduro. But is it a real mud-plugger or merely an urban posing tool?

With wheelie-happy monsters like Honda's new CRF450X, never has there been a better reason to get stuck in the mud.

Honda goes for the youth market with the supermoto-styled FMX650. But is it just a re-hashed Dominator for a new generation, and will today's youngsters shell out this much cash when less can buy more?

With wheelie-happy monsters like Honda's new CRF450X, never has there been a better reason to get stuck in the mud

Kawasaki have been cleaning up in motocross this season. And their '08 range are direct descendants of their world beaters. You man enough to ride one?

It's like this. You're on a 950cc V-twin. You're in third gear, you're powering out of a turn, and you've got the rear spinning. It's about two feet out of line. And it's staying out there, because you've planned this and you can do it. You are, my friend, rear wheel steering.

“A Derbi Mull-who-son?” I queried. “It’s pronounced Mull-hass-en,” said Tim, clearing up how to say it properly. Cheers.

The long-term significance of the HP side of the HP2 (High Performance 2-Cylinder) may take some time to emerge, equally its merit as part of the Motorrad model line-up will need time to clarify.

Urry loons around on the supermoto DR-Z400