Jon Urry
Freelance journalist
Jon's a massively experienced road tester, having work on all the bike magazines you could shake a stick at, bike hoarder and all-round top bloke.
Has owned pretty much every bike at some time or another and can currently be found swanning around in a DeLorean.
Second-hand bike guru, Jon is BikeSocial's go-to journo for used bike reviews and can spot a lemon from a peach at 500 paces.
Recent Posts
- Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson XR1200 (2008-2013) - Review & Buying Guide
If you are after a head-turning Harley that has bags of character thanks to its air-cooled motor and is fun in the bends, the XR is worth checking out
By Jon Urry10/06/2025 - BMW
BMW R 1200 RT (2006-2013) - Review & Buying Guide
The RT has long been the go-to mile-munching option and is BMW’s best-selling touring model.
By Jon Urry20/05/2025 - Yamaha
Yamaha YZF-R1 (2009-2014) - Review & Buying Guide
As a road-sportsbike, the 2009-2012 YZF-R1 remains an outstanding choice.
By Jon Urry16/05/2025 - Triumph
Triumph Bonneville (2001-2016) - Review & Buying Guide
It may be sold on nostalgia but this is a pleasingly timeless machine that reminds you of the delights of two wheels during a carefree sunny Sunday potter.
By Jon Urry03/04/2025 - Yamaha
Yamaha NMAX 125 (2020 - ) - Review & Buying Guide
Regularly one of the UK’s best-selling scooters, the NMAX offers excellent value for money when new and an incredibly tempting prospect used.
By Jon Urry25/03/2025 - Honda
Honda VFR800 VTEC (2002-2013) - Review & Buying Guide
Honda’s VFR model range set the standard for reliability and practicality throughout the 1990s and well into the 2000s.
By Jon Urry17/03/2025 - Yamaha
Yamaha FJR1300 (2013-2021) - Review & Buying Guide
Yamaha’s surprisingly sporty full-dress tourer has been making waves since its introduction in 2001.
By Jon Urry05/03/2025 - Kawasaki
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (2015-2018) - Review & Buying Guide
More than happy to commute, it is a wonderful two-up tourer that has bags of luggage capacity as well as sensible features such as a centre stand and adjustable screen as standard.
By Jon Urry09/01/2025 - Ducati
Ducati Streetfighter & Streetfighter S (2009-2013) - Review & Buying Guide
If you want a lairy naked bike with a storming V-twin at its heart, the original Streetfighter is a fun, brawler, of a bike.
By Jon Urry15/11/2024 - Yamaha
Yamaha SR400 (2014-2018) - Review & Buying Guide
A bike with a genuine heritage to Yamaha, the SR400 was originally introduced in 1978 and won an army of fans worldwide for its simplicity and rugged nature.
By Jon Urry05/11/2024 - Honda
Honda CBR500R (2013-current) - Review & Buying Guide
If you are after a cool-looking A2-legal runabout, the CBR500R is hard to beat.
By Jon Urry15/10/2024 - KTM
KTM 1090 Adventure (2017-2019) - Review & Buying Guide
A wonderfully friendly and assured bike, it is fun to ride and has enough performance to thrill
By Jon Urry08/10/2024 - BMW
BMW K1600GT and GTL (2011-2017) - Review & Buying Guide
These two straight-sixes make light work of any long distance excursion.
By Jon Urry30/09/2024 - Suzuki
Suzuki GSX1250FA (2010-2016) - Review & Buying Guide
For a very reasonable amount of cash you get a beautifully smooth, big-capacity, bike that just loves to demolish miles
By Jon Urry04/09/2024 - Suzuki
Suzuki GSF1250S Bandit (2007-2012 & 2015-2016) - Review & Buying Guide
A good seller for Suzuki, the Bandit is a real no-frills bike that does exactly what it says it will.
By Jon Urry15/08/2024 - BMW
BMW K1300R (2009-2015) - Review & Buying Guide
Don’t think of it as a super naked, think of it as a very powerful do-it-all that happens to be lacking a full-fairing.
By Jon Urry05/08/2024 - Kawasaki
Kawasaki 1400GTR (2008-2017) - Review & Buying Guide
A great long-distance hyperbike that has lots of neat touches and a very good reliability record.
By Jon Urry24/07/2024 - Suzuki
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT (2022-current) - Review & Buying Guide
Replacing the fairly ill-conceived and pretty ugly GSX-S1000F, the GSX-S1000GT arrived in 2022 and was bang on the mark.
By Jon Urry15/07/2024 - Triumph
Triumph Trident 660 (2021-current) - Review & Buying Guide
Well built, effortlessly easy to ride and great handling, the Trident is a brilliant middleweight option.
By Jon Urry24/06/2024 - Yamaha
Yamaha Ténéré 700 (2019-current) - Review & Buying Guide
A very tempting option for anyone who likes their adventure riding to include something other than tarmac.
By Jon Urry14/06/2024 - Suzuki
Suzuki GSX-S750 (2017-2021) - Review & Buying Guide
A bike that is hard to criticise but, by the same token, tricky to really build up much enthusiasm for.
By Jon Urry30/05/2024 - Suzuki
Suzuki Katana (2019-2021) - Review & Buying Guide
If you aren’t a Katana nerd, here is why it is such a well-regarded name.
By Jon Urry14/05/2024 - Yamaha
Yamaha XJR1300 Racer (2015): Review & Buying Guide
A somewhat misguided machine, Yamaha fell for the trap of believing the hype around café racers and produced a bit of a lemon.
By Jon Urry24/04/2024 - Aprilia
Aprilia Caponord 1200 (2013-2017): Review & Buying Guide
If you want something a bit different, it represents great value for money (especially if you get the Travel Pack)
By Jon Urry23/04/2024 - Kawasaki
Kawasaki Ninja 650 (2017-current): Review & Buying Guide
If you are after a cool-looking sporty middleweight, a Ninja 650 makes for an excellent used buy.
By Jon Urry27/03/2024 - Suzuki
Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT (2015-2016): Review & Buying Guide
The V-Strom 650 is a brilliant bike that is far more capable than many give it credit for.
By Jon Urry14/03/2024 - Triumph
Triumph Speed Twin 1200 (2019-current): Review & Buying Guide
If you want a naked bike that is huge amounts of fun to ride and looks fantastic, the Speed Twin will certainly deliver
By Jon Urry23/02/2024 - Honda
Honda CB500X (2013-2023): Review & Buying Guide
A hugely popular model in Honda's range, the A2-legal CB500X has gone on to become one of Europe's best-selling bikes.
By Jon Urry06/02/2024 - KTM
KTM 950 SM (2005-2007): Review & Buying Guide
If you want a day-to-day bike that is heaps of fun, the KTM 950 SM is well worth considering. And it has carbs!
By Jon Urry29/01/2024 - Yamaha
Yamaha MT-09 Street Rally (2014) - Review & Buying Guide
If you are after an original MT-09 but want something a bit different, this is a great option
By Jon Urry18/01/2024 - Suzuki
Suzuki GSX-R750 (2011-2018): Review & Buying Guide
Arguably the finest example of this sublime machine, the 2011 GSX-R750 is a wonderful sportsbike
By Jon Urry26/12/2023 - Triumph
Triumph Street Cup (2017 - 2020): Review & Buying Guide
The relative rarity of the Cup, classy high-end finish and sportier look make it stand out in a carpark.
By Jon Urry19/12/2023 - Triumph
Triumph Daytona 600 and 650 (2003-2006): Review & Buying Guide
Walking the line perfectly between sporty and practical
By Jon Urry12/12/2023 - Honda
Honda VFR800X Crossrunner (2015-2021): Review & Buying Guide
Well worth considering if you are after a bike that does everything with no fuss or complaints.
By Jon Urry14/11/2023 - BMW
BMW R1150RT (2001-2004): Review & Buying Guide
The BMW R1150RT is a brilliant, and extremely reliable, full-dress tourer that is worth every single penny.
By Jon Urry24/10/2023 - Suzuki
Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom (2002-2008): Review & Buying Guide
A hard bike to really get excited about, it is a workhorse that offers good reliability, a low used price tag and lots of comfort.
By Jon Urry17/10/2023 - Triumph
Triumph Tiger 955i (2002-2006): Review & Buying Guide
A solid, comfortable and fairly reliable workhorse of an adventure bike that doesn't cost much to buy.
By Jon Urry10/10/2023 - Honda
Honda XL1000V Varadero (1999-2010): Review & Buying Guide
A solid workhorse, not a show pony...
By Jon Urry03/10/2023 - Ducati
Ducati Monster S4R S Testastretta (2007-2008): Review & Buying Guide
The S4R S was effectively a 999-powered Monster super naked and had absolutely no corners cut.
By Jon Urry26/09/2023 - Yamaha
Yamaha TDM900 (2002-2010): Review & Buying Guide
A bike that never seemed to hit the mainstream
By Jon Urry26/09/2023 - BMW
BMW R1150GS (2000 - 2003): Review & Buying Guide
Solid, reliable and with a do-it-all nature
By Jon Urry20/09/2023 - Honda
Honda VTR1000 Firestorm (1997-2005) Review & Buying Guide
A solid machine, the Firestorm has lots of fans and is plentiful in the used market.
By Jon Urry05/09/2023 - Kawasaki
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R (2000-2006) review and buying guide
If you are talking punch for your pound, it is hard to argue against just how much performance you get with a Ninja ZX-12R
By Jon Urry29/08/2023 - Triumph
Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (2005-2010): Review & Buying Guide
A bike that is a brilliant do-it-all that looks cool and also has a soulful triple motor.
By Jon Urry16/08/2023 - BMW
BMW F800ST (2006-2012) - Review & Buying Guide
If you are after a lightweight do-it-all, the ST won't disappoint.
By Jon Urry08/08/2023 - Fantic
Fantic Caballero Scrambler 500 (2019-current): Review & Buying Guide
Classy-looking with some lovely details, it certainly turns heads and although not the fastest bike in the world
By Jon Urry01/08/2023 - Honda
Honda ST1300 Pan European (2002-2018): Review & Buying Guide
If you want a tourer that is fun to ride as well as practical, the ST1300 Pan European is a hard act to beat.
By Jon Urry24/07/2023 - BMW
BMW R1150RS (2001-2005): Review & Buying Guide
A solid mile-muncher that is reliable, frugal and fairly cheap to buy
By Jon Urry18/07/2023 - Ducati
Ducati Monster S2R (2005-2008): Review & Buying Guide
The S2R is a great middleweight Monster model and one that is certainly worth searching out.
By Jon Urry11/07/2023 - Honda
Honda ST1100 Pan European (1990-2001): Review & Buying Guide
The Pan European is Honda displaying what they do best - engineering a rock-solid machine.
By Jon Urry04/07/2023 - Honda
Honda CBR650F (2014-2018): Review & Buying Guide
The CBR650F is one of those bikes that ticks every box
By Jon Urry27/06/2023 - KTM
KTM RC8 R (2009-2016): Review & Buying Guide
The RC8 R may be lacking in tech, but it has a brilliant V-twin engine, great chassis and stand-out looks.
By Jon Urry20/06/2023 - Triumph
Triumph Street Triple & Street Triple R (2013-2016): Review & Buying Guide
If you want a simply amazing middleweight, look no further than the Street Triple.
By Jon Urry13/06/2023 - Ducati
Ducati 1098 and 1098S (2007-2008): Review & Buying Guide
Stunning to ride, beautiful to look at and also impressively reliable...
By Jon Urry06/06/2023 - Aprilia
Aprilia RSV4 R and RSV4 Factory APRC (2012): Review & Buying Guide
Full-on, aggressive and very small and compact, the RSV4 is a proper race bike with lights
By Jon Urry15/05/2023 - Ducati
Ducati 1199 Panigale and 1199 Panigale S (2012-2014): Review & Buying Guide
Stunning to look at, mind-bending to ride, the 1199 Panigale is a truly remarkable motorcycle.
By Jon Urry09/05/2023
