John Milbank

Peterborough

Consumer Editor at Bike Social

I might not be fast, but I'm having fun...

Articles

New rider guide | Motorcycle kit, security & riding advice

1 week ago | bennetts.co.uk | John Milbank |Michael Mann |Steve Rose

Welcome to motorcycling! Whether you’re starting out on a 125cc scooter or you’re on a bigger machine, BikeSocial is your free, independent resource for advice, reviews and things to do. We’re here to help you get more from motorcycling, so use the links below to find out everything you need to know. And if you have any more questions, join us and industry experts at our exclusive motorcycle forum; BikeClub, or come and say hi at our friendly Facebook group.
DJI Flip review | Honest, unbiased review: Best travel drone

1 week ago | bennetts.co.uk | John Milbank

Date reviewed: May 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: From £369 | dji-retail.co.ukLike any action camera or drone, the DJI Flip on review here has had a huge amount of coverage, with plenty of videos on YouTube telling you why it’s the ‘best camera drone ever’ (and a couple that question whether it really is).
Best motorcycle boots in 2025 | Touring, street, sport & adventure

2 weeks ago | bennetts.co.uk | John Milbank

Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocialMotorcycle boots are a hugely important purchasing choice – we expect them to keep us safe, but we also often want them to be comfortable all day, to not get too hot in the summer yet also keep us dry, be easy to put on and take off, and be affordable.
I know I shouldn’t like this helmet, but I love it!

1 month ago | bennetts.co.uk | John Milbank |Bycity Roadster III

Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocialDate reviewed: April 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: From £434.99 | uk.bellhelmets.comNot everything makes sense. We rarely choose bikes solely on their practicality, comfort and fuel economy – aesthetics are a key part of purchasing decisions when it comes to buying things for our passion – and the Bell Bullitt GT on review here is a good example of that.
Oxford Snapjack V3 review | Easier chain lubing

1 month ago | bennetts.co.uk | John Milbank

Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocialDate reviewed: May 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank| Price: £49.99 | www.oxfordproducts.comThe Oxford Snapjack V3 on review here is made under licence from Tirox, the maker of the Tirox Snapjack V2. It’s not just a rebranded copy either – Oxford has added some useful extras and made some valuable tweaks that are more than just slapping a ‘one’ on the model version.
Best motorcycle riding jeans in 2025: Single layer vs lined

1 month ago | bennetts.co.uk | John Milbank

Do you trust your jeans to keep you safe? Motorcycle riding jeans are now incredibly popular – as bikers move away from sportsbikes and focus instead on adventure, street, custom, naked and cruiser machines, denim is often the trouser of choice.
Nexx X.LifeCountry review | Flip-front adventure helmet tested

1 month ago | bennetts.co.uk | John Milbank

Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocialDate reviewed: May 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: From £439.99 | nexx-helmet.co.ukThe Nexx X.LifeCountry on review here is a flip-front adventure helmet that, on paper, offers pretty much everything I’d want. The modular design means it’s easier to pay for fuel, talk to people and get a good burst of air when it’s hot, while the peak should keep low sun out.
OnGuard RockSolid review | Angle-grinder-resistant D-lock independently tested

1 month ago | bennetts.co.uk | John Milbank

Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocialDate reviewed: May 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | RRP: £199.99 | Weight: 1.34kg | www.onguardlock.comThe OnGuard RockSolid 8590 on review here is primarily aimed at the bicycle market, but it’s been attracting a lot of attention from motorcyclists that have seen claims of it ‘outperforming every lock’ in angle-grinder testing, and of it taking up to 11 discs to defeat. So we bought one.
Front End Chatter - episode 211

2 months ago | bennetts.co.uk | Simon Hargreaves |Ben Purvis |John Milbank |Dale Lomas

Hello and welcome (and a special hello and welcome to Adam Danger, who reads this 'sometimes')... to Episode 211 of Front End Chatter, the motorbicycling podcast prefrontally-lobotomised by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons, two motorcycle journalists who've been doing since their own, personal Day Ones.
Is E10 fuel safe to use in my bike?

2 months ago | bennetts.co.uk | Ben Purvis |John Milbank |Dale Lomas |Michael Mann

Back in March 2020 the Government published a consultation into proposals to make E10 the standard 95-octane petrol on UK forecourts – doubling the amount of ethanol allowed in petrol to the concern of many riders. Despite concerns raised by many respondents about the potential damage that E10 could cause to their vehicles the rules were pushed through into legislation and came into force in September 2021.