John Milbank
BikeSocial Consumer Editor
I started riding relatively late in life, after a pillion ride on a Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP in 1996, but since then I've owned an ever-growing list of bikes with '90s sports 600s seeming to be particularly prominent – I've currently got a 1999 Kawasaki ZX-6R that I bought without testing, then stripped and rebuilt (it feels like new now), and a 2019 BMW R1250GS. I've just sold the Honda MSX125 that I customised to look like an Africa Twin – the Africa Grom – and only recently traded in my BMW S1000XR for the GS.
I've worked in media since 1995, the majority of which has been in motorcycling and a self-confessed geek, I’ll find things to tinker with in the garage just as an excuse to get the spanners out. I'm also more than a little obsessed with product testing, firmly believing that whether kit costs £1 or £1,000, bikers should be able to read the most thorough and honest reviews possible.
I ride every day, unless I absolutely have to take the car (our dog doesn't sit well on the back of the bike) as I hate being stuck in traffic. I enjoy track time but lack the competitive spirit to want to race – it's just a chance to enjoy getting my knee down.
Recent Posts
- New Riders & Training
FREE training and security kit for new motorcycle riders
16-35 year-olds offered new FREE course
By John Milbank13/06/2025 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Best motorcycle airbag 2025 | Unbiased testing
Alpinestars, Dainese, Helite, In&Motion, MotoAirBag & more TESTED
By John Milbank06/06/2025 - Boots
Best motorcycle boots
Touring, street and adventure boots buying guide
By John Milbank06/06/2025 - Motorcycle Technology
Best motorcycle phone mount
Quad-Lock vs SP Connect vs Peak Design & more
By John Milbank06/06/2025 - Boots
Daytona Road Star / Pro boots review
£469.99 | Level 2222 | Gore-Tex waterproof | Eight-year test
By John Milbank02/06/2025 - Boots
Oxford Canyon boots review
£129.99 | 1222 | Waterproof hiking-style motorcycle boots
By John Milbank30/05/2025 - Boots
Fox Ranger ADV review | Protective alternative to adventure boots
Teaser Description
By John Milbank29/05/2025 - New Riders & Training
New rider guide
Everything you need to know as you get started in biking
By John Milbank28/05/2025 - Advice
Motorcycle warranty - Main dealer vs independent.
The facts about servicing and your motorcycle warranty
By John Milbank27/05/2025 - Motorcycle Technology
DJI Flip review
From £369 | 249g | 4K 24-100fps | 31 mins flight time
By John Milbank25/05/2025 - Security: Portable locks
OnGuard RockSolid 8590 review
£199.99 | Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Diamond | Angle-grinder resistant
By John Milbank15/05/2025 - Textile Jackets, Trousers & Suits
Spada Hooded Air jacket review
£149.99 | AA rated | Level 2 armour | Level 2 back protector
By John Milbank14/05/2025 - Latest News
UK motorcycle theft news, videos & stats
Regularly updated Police National Computer data
By John Milbank09/05/2025 - Helmets
Nexx X.LifeCountry review | Flip-front adventure helmet tested
From £439.99 | Flip-front adventure helmet | Drop-down sunshield
By John Milbank08/05/2025 - Textile Jackets, Trousers & Suits
Best motorcycle riding jeans in 2025: Single layer vs lined
Which motorcycle jeans YOU should buy
By John Milbank06/05/2025 - Biking tips
Do you have to wear proper motorcycle gear? UK law explained
If you're unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, does it matter if you're wearing shorts? Do you need to wear CE-approved clothing? What is 'appropriate riding kit'?
By John Milbank06/05/2025 - Maintenance and Servicing
Oxford Snapjack V3 review | Easier chain lubing
£49.99 | Excellent maintenance product to ease chain lubing
By John Milbank06/05/2025 - Helmets
Which is the right helmet for you? Expert advice
Best helmets reviewed for any rider
By John Milbank01/05/2025 - Helmets
Bell Bullitt GT review
From £434.99 | Full-face retro-style helmet | ECE 22.06 certified
By John Milbank01/05/2025 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Mo’Cycle Patrick Airbag jeans review
£693 | CRITT-certified airbag / Level A jeans | Mechanical trigger
By John Milbank25/04/2025 - Honda
Honda ADV350 (2025) - Review
Increasingly popular Honda ADV350 adventure scooter gets a revamp for the 2025 model year
By John Milbank24/04/2025 - Motorcycle Technology
Insta360 X5 review with sample download
£519.99 | 360° action camera | Replaceable lenses | Waterproof
By John Milbank22/04/2025 - Gloves
Best motorcycle gloves in 2025: Summer and winter reviews
Best motorcycle gloves for any budget
By John Milbank11/04/2025 - Gloves
Five TFX-1 GTX gloves review
£220 | Gore-Tex waterproof summer gloves | Level 2KP
By John Milbank11/04/2025 - Gloves
Five TFX-2 gloves review
£109.99 | Waterproof | Level 1KP
By John Milbank11/04/2025 - Boots
Richa Apollo boots review
£149.99 | Level 2 2 2 2 | Waterproof
By John Milbank11/04/2025 - Helmets
Bell Lithium MIPS review
From £214.99 | ECE22.06 | Sunshield | Polycarbonate
By John Milbank07/04/2025 - Textile Jackets, Trousers & Suits
Pando Moto Boss Dyn 01 review
£279 | AAA-rated | Level 1 armour | Part-lined
By John Milbank02/04/2025 - Textile Jackets, Trousers & Suits
Best motorcycle textiles in 2025: Waterproof, mesh & Gore-Tex bike kit reviews
Best textile riding kit for all seasons
By John Milbank31/03/2025 - Textile Jackets, Trousers & Suits
Adventure Spec Supershirt 2.0 review
£249.00 | AA-rated | Level 2 armour | Optional back & chest armour
By John Milbank31/03/2025 - Helmets
Nexx X.LifeTour review
From £359.99 | Flip-front modular touring | ECE 22.06
By John Milbank27/03/2025 - Textile Jackets, Trousers & Suits
Held Lonborg review
£389.95 & £284.95 | Protection: AA / L2 armour | Laminated waterproof | Ventilated
By John Milbank25/03/2025 - Motorcycle luggage
Tested: Shad SH58x / SH36 top box & panniers motorcycle luggage review
Are these panniers and expanding top box the best motorcycle luggage?
By John Milbank17/03/2025 - Reviews
Bennetts High Performance Award | Safest motorcycle clothing database
Find the best protection in your riding kit
By John Milbank14/03/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Oxford Beast disc lock review
£99.99 | Sold Secure Diamond | Some fitting issues
By John Milbank06/03/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Squire Barricade review
£99.99 | Tough motorcycle disc lock
By John Milbank06/03/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Hiplok Z Lok Combo review
£19.99 | Lightweight combination luggage / helmet lock
By John Milbank05/03/2025 - Latest News
More power for Police to recover stolen bikes
Warrantless entry to be authorised
By John Milbank26/02/2025 - Helmets
AGV Street Modular review
From £239 | Flip-front | Micrometric ratchet | ECE 22.06
By John Milbank24/02/2025 - Maintenance and Servicing
Best rust inhibitor 2025. PLUS Ceramic coatings TESTED
TESTED: Pro & consumer rust proofers & ceramics
By John Milbank20/02/2025 - Gloves
Held Inuit heated gloves review
£229.95 | Heats palms and / or fingers | Battery-powered
By John Milbank06/02/2025 - Heated kit
Wunderlich Active Comfort heated seats review
£499.90 | Hand-made in Germany | Sculpted, heated seats
By John Milbank05/02/2025 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Pando Moto Commando & Skin review
£359.99 & £199.99 | Abrasion-resistant fully armoured base-layers
By John Milbank04/02/2025 - Maintenance and Servicing
Optimate PRO-1 Duo review
£169.90 | Lead-acid & lithium | Supply mode | Bike & car
By John Milbank03/02/2025 - Maintenance and Servicing
CTEK MXS 5.0 Test & Charge review
Around £125 | Charges, maintains and tests | Up to 5.0A
By John Milbank31/01/2025 - Helmets
Schuberth S3 review | ECE 22.06 full-face touring helmet
£429.99 | Drop-down sunshield | ECE 22.06 | 1,661g
By John Milbank28/01/2025 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Held eVest Pro review | Motorcycle airbag with impressive coverage
£524.95 | CRITT certified | Covers chest, back, sides & shoulders
By John Milbank27/01/2025 - Heated kit
Oxford Hot Seat review
£79.99 | Heated seat for any motorbike
By John Milbank21/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Hiplok XL Chain review
£89.99 | 4.92kg | Noose-end | Sold Secure Powered Cycle Gold
By John Milbank16/01/2025 - Latest News
STOP unsafe bike kit imports
Sign the petition to help UK riders
By John Milbank15/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Hiplok Home Gold review
£119.99 | 3.86kg | 10mm links | Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Gold
By John Milbank15/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Hiplok X Chain review
£64.99 | 2.36kg noose chain | Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Gold
By John Milbank15/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii Alarm Grip Lock review
£25.99 | Alarmed lever lock
By John Milbank14/01/2025 - Security: Home locks & anchors
The best motorcycle chains, locks, disc-locks and security | REVIEWED
Full destruction reviews of the best security for your bike
By John Milbank10/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii ZD10S alarmed disc lock review
£44.99 | Great value alarmed disc lock
By John Milbank10/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii ZD15S Heavy Alarm Disc Lock review
£49.99 | A good lock, but more than necessary
By John Milbank10/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii ZD6 alarmed disc lock review
£29.99 | Alarmed disc lock | Low level of protection
By John Milbank09/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii ZV10 disc lock review
£22.99 | Very effective budget disc lock
By John Milbank09/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii Heavy Disc Lock ZVS14 review
£29.99 | Tough and effective
By John Milbank09/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii ZD10 Solid Alarm Disc Lock review
£32.99 | Alarmed motorcycle disc lock
By John Milbank09/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii ZK6 disc lock review
£12.99 | Compact but easily defeated
By John Milbank08/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii ZT6 alarmed disc lock review
£16.99 | Alarmed disc lock | Easy to defeat
By John Milbank08/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Zovii ZV6 motorcycle & scooter disc lock review
£14.99 | Cheap motorcycle / scooter disc lock
By John Milbank08/01/2025 - Maintenance and Servicing
Best motorcycle cleaner 2025 | 69 reviewed from dish soap to S100 & Muc-Off
69 motorcycle cleaners tested. How much should you spend?
By John Milbank06/01/2025 - Security: Trackers
Best motorcycle tracker | GPS, RF and Thatcham explained for 2025
Self-fit to Thatcham-approved: all you need to know about trackers
By John Milbank06/01/2025 - Security: Portable locks
Squire Stronghold D16 MAX review
£289.99 | 2.82kg | Sold Secure Powered Cycle Diamond
By John Milbank18/12/2024 - Security: Home locks & anchors
Hiplok Mega Chain review
£169.99 | 11.98kg | Sold Secure Powered Cycle Diamond
By John Milbank18/12/2024 - Latest News
Amazon to recall dangerous motorcycle riding kit
Jacket & trousers deemed unsafe by OPSS
By John Milbank13/12/2024 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Furygan Fury Airbag Evolution+ review
£369.90 + control box | Wear over or under other kit | CRITT certified
By John Milbank13/12/2024 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Hit Air MLV2 review | Motorcycle airbag tested
From £458 | Part EN1621-4 certified tethered airbag
By John Milbank11/12/2024 - Latest News
DfT Rejects universal bus lane access
Local authorities will decide if motorbikes can use lanes
By John Milbank22/11/2024 - Motorcycle Technology
Cardo Packtalk Pro review
£404.99 | Bluetooth & Mesh | Auto on/off | Crash detection
By John Milbank22/11/2024 - Body Armour & Base Layers
MotoAirBag M1 review
£438| EN1621-4 Level 2 | Prevents hyperextension | Huge coverage
By John Milbank20/11/2024 - Helmets
Schuberth C5 vs Shoei Neotec 3 | The best flip-front
From £519.99 | 1,000s of miles of honest opinion
By John Milbank18/11/2024 - Helmets
Schuberth C5 review | Honest helmet road test
From £519.99 | The benchmark modular helmet?
By John Milbank15/11/2024 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Dainese Smart Air review
£599 | EN1621-4 Level 2 chest & back | User-replaceable inflator
By John Milbank30/10/2024 - Motorcycle Technology
Unbiased Insta360 Ace Pro 2 review
£389.99 | Single lens action camera with flip-up screen
By John Milbank29/10/2024 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Helite Turtle 2 & E-Turtle 2 review
From £550 / £675 | CRITT-certified tethered and electronic airbags
By John Milbank16/10/2024 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Ixon IX-U05 review
£499.99 | In&Motion-based electronic airbag system
By John Milbank10/10/2024 - Helmets
Axxis Draken S review
From £59.99 | ECE 22.06 | Micrometric fastener | Thermoplastic shell
By John Milbank04/10/2024 - Helmets
Ruroc EOX review
From £399 | ECE 22.06 | Carbon composite shell | Integrated Cardo option
By John Milbank03/10/2024 - Helmets
Tested: Arai Quantic review
From £499.99 | Full review of the first ECE 22.06 helmet
By John Milbank02/10/2024 - Textile Jackets, Trousers & Suits
Belstaff Long Way Up textiles review
£1,250 & £850 | Laminated Gore-Tex Pro | Ventilated adventure suit
By John Milbank01/10/2024 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Dainese Smart Jacket review
£599 | Airbag Level 2 & Level 1 | Wear over or under other kit
By John Milbank25/09/2024 - Body Armour & Base Layers
Alpinestars Tech-Air 3 review
£519.99 | Airbag Level 2 | Wear over or under other kit
By John Milbank19/09/2024 - Motorcycle Technology
Insta360 X4 review & lens guard test
£499.99 | 360 camera | Lens guards destruction tested
By John Milbank17/09/2024 - Leather Jackets, Trousers & Suits
Spada Turbine flight jacket review
£349.99 | AAA-rated | Level 2 armour including back | Aviator flight jacet
By John Milbank05/09/2024 - Textile Jackets, Trousers & Suits
RST Pro Series Ranger review
£399.99 & £299.99 | Level 2 armour, full venting, removable waterproofing
By John Milbank04/09/2024 - Motorcycle luggage
Oxford Atlas backpack review | B-30 rucksack tested
Despite some similarities to Kriega kit, the Oxford Atlas rucksack has its own brilliant design touches, and could be the best motorcycle rucksack!
By John Milbank28/08/2024 - Textile Jackets, Trousers & Suits
Spada Temper review | Trucker-style motorcycle jacket tested
With Level 2 armour, a CE AA rating and Cordura / denim construction, the Spada Temper proves style and safety CAN work together
By John Milbank27/08/2024 - Body Armour & Base Layers
MotoAirBag review | Is the V4 the best motorcycle airbag?
Airbags offer the highest levels of safety in motorcycle riding kit, and this could be the best…
By John Milbank23/08/2024 - Buying & Selling Bikes
Insurance write-off categories explained
Cat A, B, C, D, S & N explained. Should you buy one?
By John Milbank19/08/2024 - Motorcycle Technology
Peak Design motorcycle mounts review
From £87.98 | Strong, secure mount | Wireless charging option | Vibration dampening
By John Milbank22/07/2024 - Helmets
Axxis Panther review | Budget motorcycle helmet
From £99.99 | Sunshield | Removable lining | Plastic shell | ECE 22.06 | Micrometric ratchet
By John Milbank22/07/2024 - Security: Trackers
SPOT Trace review
€129.99 + €11.95/month | GPS tracker with satellite communication | Self-powered with option to hard-wire
By John Milbank16/07/2024 - Gloves
Richa Cold Protect gloves review
£129.99 | Goretex | Winter, Spring, summer | CE Level 1
By John Milbank10/07/2024 - Boots
TCX Climatrek Surround boots review
£199.99 | Gore-Tex waterproof | Raised sole | Low-mid / short height | Laced | Grip walking sole | Level 1 2 2 2
By John Milbank10/07/2024 - BMW
BMW F 800 GS (2024) - Review
Don't be fooled by the name, the 2024 BMW F 800 GS is really a 900cc class bike
By John Milbank09/07/2024 - Biking tips
Best motorcycle clothing for hot weather
Choosing the best bike gear for summer riding
By John Milbank26/06/2024 - Motorcycle Technology
Why I switched to filming with DJI | Honest Osmo Action 4 review
£289 | Waterproof 4K action camera with front and rear touchscreens plus excellent audio quality
By John Milbank26/06/2024