NBNL blog

Heatstroke, blow-ups and the right clothing – safely through hot summer tours

High temperatures are more than just unpleasant on a motorcycle. They sap your concentration, make you tired – and in extreme cases, heatstroke, breaking road surfaces or the wrong riding suit can become genuinely dangerous. What you really need to bear in mind in summer heat.

First road-legal Ducati enduro – what the service intervals and price mean

In 2026, Ducati is presenting the first road-legal enduro in the brand's history: the Desmo450 EDS. We take a look at what the short service intervals, the still undisclosed price and the comparison with the competition really mean.

Brands, models, dealer network – and when the Chinese brands will really arrive

Germany's motorcycle market is recovering from the Euro 5+ shock in 2026: BMW narrowly leads Honda and Kawasaki, while Chinese brands such as CFMoto and Voge are pushing ahead through the dealer network.

Three collector's models for the anniversary – a gift and introduction for the next generation

The Vespa will be a proud 80 years old in 2026 – and Playmobil is bringing the scooter icon into the children's bedroom with three collector's models. A lovely gift for young and old fans, and a playful introduction for the next generation.

115th edition – 60,7 km of public road, five classes, 17-minute laps

Today marks day 2 of the 115th Isle of Man TT. Until 6 June, the Mountain Course belongs to the motorcycles. What makes the Tourist Trophy the toughest route in the world – and who is racing this year.

Dutch EXR with removable battery versus Stark Varg – who sets the benchmark?

The Radian EXR is a new electric enduro bike from the Netherlands with a removable battery in under 30 seconds, 70 PS and 1,060 Nm of torque. Market launch Q4 2027 from 14,450 Euro. Is it essentially a Stark Varg with additional features?

Harley subsidiary’s first acquisition targets electric dirt bikes

The LiveWire Group (NYSE: LVWR) acquired US start-up Dust Moto on 19 May 2026. With the first acquisition in its history, the electric motorcycle pioneer from Milwaukee is moving into the growing market for electric dirt bikes.

645 V-twin from 7.999 Euro – market launch autumn 2026, Touring Edition from 8.999 Euro

Suzuki has announced the prices for the new SV-7GX. The crossover tourer based on the 645 V-twin will be available from autumn 2026 from 7.999 Euro – half a year after its world premiere at EICMA 2025.

All-black paintwork, DQS and Termignoni silencers from 13,990 Euro

Ducati is expanding the Hypermotard range with the new Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera. All-black paintwork, standard DQS and homologated Termignoni silencers – available from June 2026 from 13,990 Euro at all European dealers.

How reliably does Apple’s tracker find my bike? Experiences since 2021 — as of 2026

Since 2021, an AirTag has been stuck underneath the seat of my Ducati Hypermotard. Five years later, I take stock: what can Apple’s little tracker really do on a motorcycle — and is the newly released AirTag 2 worth it?

One-off study with 1.800-ccm inline-six at the Concorso d'Eleganza

BMW Motorrad presents the Vision K18 at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este — a one-off design study with a 1.800-ccm six-cylinder engine and Concorde flyline. Not a production bike, but a glimpse of what is to come.

Carbon brakes, 173 kg, 500 numbered units – Ducati's 100-year gift

For its 100th birthday, Ducati is building the Superleggera V4 Centenario, the most extreme road-legal motorcycle of all time — in 500 numbered examples. A collector's item made of carbon and titanium.

Zero SR/F, SR/S and FXE: 190 km to the reservoir, all the answers in the series

Day 2 of the Zero reader testride: 190 kilometres through the rain to Hohenwarte reservoir, all three bikes compared and all ten initial questions answered. Part 3 of the series.

Masserberg, 100 km of mountain roads and six first impressions of the electric motorcycle

Day 1 of the Zero reader test ride: meeting in Masserberg, a 100-kilometre introductory ride through the Thüringer Wald — and six surprising insights into the electric motorcycle. Part 2 of the series.

Two days with Zero in the Thuringian Forest — anticipation, doubts and favourite models

This weekend it begins: two days of Zero electric motorcycles in the Thuringian Forest. I want to answer ten questions for myself — and three bikes have particularly piqued my curiosity in advance. Part 1 of the series.

Gasket for €7.50, TÜV for €19 – this is how I fixed the defect

What happens after a police check for being “too loud”? My journey through the workshop, TÜV and police station — in chronological order. Part 2 of the series.

Traffic check in the Munich area: 90-euro fine despite original condition

Traffic check in the Munich area: The police officer declares my Ducati Hypermotard too loud — 90-euro fine, TÜV appointment and a report for a missing seal. Part 1 of the series.

Hearing protection, grandstand choice, breaks – how to make the race weekend work with kids

Is a MotoGP weekend at the Sachsenring worthwhile with children? Yes — if you plan hearing protection, grandstand choice and breaks properly. Five practical tips from personal experience with my daughter and son.

With a paddock invitation from the Sky VR46 Team – images from the pit lane and paddock

With a paddock invitation from the Sky VR46 Team at the Sachsenring in 2018: images and impressions from the paddock, pit lane and race — right up close to Vale, Marc and Pecco.

YouTube star under the microscope – what the wheelie king is like to ride on the road

YouTube hero on test ride: What the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto feels like on the road — nimble, light, with quickshifter and 74 hp single-cylinder engine.

Four days with the electric enduro – MotoGymkhana, off-road riding and range

Four days with the electric enduro Zero FX 7.2: MotoGymkhana, off-road riding, battery and range — my test ride with the fun machine without gears and clutch.

Ducati’s first road-legal enduro makes its debut in the 100th-anniversary year

On 9 June 2026, Ducati will unveil the Desmo450 EDS — the brand’s first road-legal enduro. 450 single-cylinder, desmodromic valve system, market launch in the second half of the 2026 season.

Suzuki cuts prices, BMW prices aggressively — middleweight class under China pressure

Suzuki has cut prices, BMW has priced the F 450 GS aggressively, Chinese brands are putting pressure on the middleweight class. What this means for your purchasing decision in 2026.

13,000 miles on the Harley-Davidson LiveWire: from Ushuaia to Los Angeles

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman have done it for a third time: with the Long Way Up series, the two friends embark on their most elaborate motorcycle journey to date – and this time entirely electric. 13,000 miles (approx. 21,000 km) through 13 countries, from the southernmost tip of the world to Los Angeles.

Joe and Renate Pichler – 27.145 km on a KTM 1190 Adventure R from Salzburg via Iran, the Pamir and the Karakoram to Ladakh

There are plenty of glossy GoPro influencers. Drone shots, dramatic music, three minutes of adrenaline. And then there is Joe Pichler. An Austrian from Salzburg who, together with his wife Renate, has been travelling the globe by motorcycle since 1984. His presentation style is the exact opposite of influencer cinema – and that is precisely why it is so addictive.

From Easy Rider to Mission Impossible: How BMW, Triumph, Ducati and Kawasaki conquered Hollywood

Without motorcycles, many action films would only be half as good. But which bike makes it onto the big screen is rarely a coincidence. The key phrase is product placement – and hardly any industry pursues it as consistently as motorcycle manufacturers.

From BMW R 1200 GS to Kawasaki Ninja H2R – the complete overview of all major LEGO motorcycle sets

Anyone who has ever built a motorcycle from LEGO Technic bricks knows: it is therapy. Hours spent on connecting rods, chain, shock absorber, gearbox – and in the end there is a model on your desk that you do not really want to touch any more. I did some research into how many proper LEGO motorcycles there actually are. The answer: surprisingly many.

Christian Vogel gives up everything and sets off in 2015 – USA, Russia, Mongolia, Pakistan, India, Iran

Christian Vogel is 34 years old, a television editor, newly in love – and still has a plan: to ride around the world by motorcycle. He gives up his flat, quits his job, says goodbye to his girlfriend and family. He does not know how long he will be away.

Margot Flügel-Anhalt – first time on a motorcycle at 64, then 18,046 km through 18 countries to the Pamir Highway

There are these motorcycle travel documentaries with years of preparation, high-tech equipment and a 1200cc adventure bike. And then there is Margot Flügel-Anhalt. 64 years old. Never sat on a motorcycle before. Gets her licence and rides her 11 HP Honda through 18 countries. Respect.

Cone slalom, full steering lock and maximum control – tested firsthand in Munich

Full steering lock, scraping footpegs, short bursts of acceleration followed by hard braking, fast slalom around the cones, circles in the tightest of spaces – that is MotoGymkhana. A motorcycle discipline where it is not about top speed, but maximum control.

Daniel Rintz and Josephine – 100.478 km, 1.140 days, 43 border crossings

The first film was already convincing: „Somewhere else Tomorrow" – Daniel Rintz alone on two wheels, without money, around the world. Now comes the second chapter with „Somewhere else Together". This time with his girlfriend Josephine. And a route that reinvents itself during the journey.

Daniel Rintz on a BMW R80 GS – 2 years 8 months, 27 countries, no money

Two wheels. One world. No money. That is the promise with which Daniel Rintz sets off in 2008. On "Marianne", a BMW R80 GS built in 1982. Without a team. Without a sponsor. Without a budget. What emerges in the end is one of the most honest motorcycle world travel documentaries out there.

Triumph in 2025, Le Mans crash in 2026, MotoGP reset in 2027 – the 2023 book has more to say about the current situation than any press conference

In September 2025, Marc Márquez clinches his ninth world title in Motegi – his seventh in MotoGP, his first on a Ducati. 2,184 days since his last title. The comeback seems complete. Eight months later, on 9 May 2026, he is thrown through the air in a highside during the Le Mans sprint and breaks his right foot. Two days later, he is on the operating table in Madrid – foot and shoulder. The book “Being Marc Márquez”, published in 2023, has never been more relevant.

Complete 2026 overview: vignette, route tolls, prices and a money-saving tip via the NBNL route planner

Anyone riding long distances through Europe on a motorcycle can hardly avoid tolls. Here is the complete 2026 overview: all vignette and route-toll countries, motorcycle prices and a money-saving tip for tour planning.

NBNL growth comparison from 2021 to 2026: BMW doubles, Ducati catches Harley

In October 2021, NBNL collected the Instagram follower numbers of the major motorcycle brands for the first time. Five years later, we are taking another look – and the shifts are dramatic: BMW Motorrad doubles, Ducati catches Harley-Davidson, and Indian Motorcycle is the only brand to stand still.

Why Euro 5+ is killing the 600 class and twins are the new middleweight sports bikes

The 600cc four-cylinders are dying out. Euro 5+ and declining unit numbers are making twins the new benchmark for the middleweight class: more torque, less rev hysteria, more character.

Ducati and MOTORRAD are giving away 4 test slots – apply by 7 June 2026

Ducati and MOTORRAD magazine are giving away four test slots for the new Multistrada V4 Rally – for four weeks, free of charge, including 200 euros in fuel money. The application deadline is 7 June 2026.

Through the Alps on the new CB1000GT – and you can be there

Honda is writing the next chapter of its X-Ride format in 2026 – and this time it is heading for the Alps.

Lars Eidinger and Bjarne Mädel on a moped tour across Germany – a film about brothers, beer and missed opportunities

Two brothers, two mopeds, thirty years of silence – and an idea that had already failed when they were 16: to ride a moped across Germany. “25 km/h” is one of those stories that actually has nothing to do with motorcycles – and yet everything.

Eight friends from Thuringia, Simsons more than 40 years old and one dream: the Formula 1 circuit in Belgium

Sometimes you do not need a 1200 boxer or a V4 superbike to tell a real motorcycle story. Sometimes a Simson is enough.

Testride Roadshow at Audi Forum Ingolstadt, 18 April 2026

Today was the start of the season. Not just any start – the Ducati Roadshow at Audi Forum Ingolstadt, and I had secured no fewer than four slots: 11 am Hypermotard 698 Mono RVE, 12 pm Panigale V4 S, 1 pm Streetfighter V4 S, 2 pm Diavel V4. Four completely different machines in one afternoon – and, as it would turn out, four completely different feelings.