Simon Hargreaves
BikeSocial Road Tester
Ferociously lazy, 49 year-old veteran bike hack Hargreaves took to motorcycles early in life when he realised twisting a throttle was less effort than pedalling. His first field bike was a BSA Bantam D15, which he was given for free and sold to a proto-Hipster for £15 in 1983. It was the first, only and last time he sold a bike for profit.
Simon H, has been, a professional motorcycle journalist for 25 years, although he prefers “writer” because, “I’m an enthusiastic amateur; I just love bikes and writing about them.” Over the years of contributing to Performance Bikes, Bike, RiDE, Motorcycle News, Practical Sportsbikes, MCN Sport and Motorcycle Sport & Leisure among others, he’s ridden almost every motorbike there is to ride, from an Italjet Tiffany to Honda’s RCV211V MotoGP bike. He’s toured Europe, ridden on most major racetracks around the world, and raced a Bugatti Veyron on an S1000RR.
As one half of Front End Chatter, Britain’s longest-running biking podcast, Simon H admits in same way some people have a face for radio, he has a voice for writing.
Simon also plays bass in a successful function band, the High Rollers, and especially enjoys writing biogs about himself. Like this one.
Recent Posts
- Features
Front End Chatter - episode 219
On this episode: FEC Tour 2026, Triumph's Tiger Sport 800, Honda's new bikes, and much much more
By Simon Hargreaves16/12/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - Episode 218
On this episode: Trident, KLE, Monster and CB1000F
By Simon Hargreaves03/11/2025 - Yamaha
Yamaha Tracer 7 and Tracer 7 GT (2025) – Review
Review of the latest Tracer 7 GT with its new look, improved chassis, longer range and updated tech
By Simon Hargreaves31/10/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - Episode 216
On this episode: Triumph, Kawasaki, Yamaha and BMW under review
By Simon Hargreaves08/09/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - Episode 215
Suzuki's GSX-R1000R is back, KTM are back, BSA's Bantam is back, and FEC is back.
By Simon Hargreaves31/07/2025 - Royal Enfield
Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 (2024) – Review
The parallel-twin engine bobber, cruiser, retro Royal Enfield gets the Geek Test treatment
By Simon Hargreaves31/07/2025 - Features
New Suzukis, CCM & Dainese Troubles, UK Sales Down | Front End Chatter 214
On this episode of FEC we discuss pitiful UK bike sales, Suzuki's new TT, CCM going bust and auto gearboxes
By Simon Hargreaves10/07/2025 - Bike Features
How fast is a supercharged Kawasaki H2?
The UK’s biggest gathering of supercharged Kawasaki’s
By Simon Hargreaves27/06/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 213
On this episode of FEC: we discuss Triumph's Tiger Sport 800 and BMW's R1300GSA, why MotoGP might get interesting again, the Supercharged Showdown, and much much more
By Simon Hargreaves03/06/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 212
On this episode of FEC: the rise of Chinese bikes, US tariffs, KTM woes, the future of motorcycling and much, much more.
By Simon Hargreaves19/05/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 211
On this episode of FEC: news of BMW's R1300R, how to make a 25k GSA better for a tenner, Yamaha's hybrid MT-09 and KTM in more trouble?
By Simon Hargreaves25/04/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 210
On this episode of FEC we chatter about: Honda's Hornet 1000, Ixon and Canon Basil H Davies and a game of 'if bikes were family members'... plus lots more
By Simon Hargreaves07/04/2025 - Honda
Honda CB750 Hornet (2023-24 & 2025-) - Review
Honda revives the Hornet name in new lightweight, high-revving, 90hp twin-cylinder roadster
By Simon Hargreaves21/03/2025 - BMW
BMW R 1300 GS Adventure (2025) – Review
Replacement for BMW’s best-selling R 1250 GS Adventure is almost all brand new.
By Simon Hargreaves18/03/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 209
On this episode of FEC we chatter about: the latest news from the ailing KTM factory, bad news from the Nürburgring, FEC highland Fling 2 and much more
By Simon Hargreaves27/02/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 208
What’s actually in the podcast? I’d tell you but, honestly, on this occasion it’s easier to just listen!
By Simon Hargreaves24/01/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 207
We look back at Bike Magazine from 2005, including the MT-01, Super Duke 990, R6, Monster and lots lots more
By Simon Hargreaves09/01/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 206
On this episode: our fave bikes of 2024 (and a few of 2025), more KTM woes, the last new bike news of 2024 and a whole heap of nattering on topics raised by you…
By Simon Hargreaves02/01/2025 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 205
On this episode: MCL - was it any good? KTM - More financial woes! Does the Government really hate biking that much? and much more
By Simon Hargreaves09/12/2024 - Features
Front End Chatter - episode 200
On this episode: we take a deeeep dive into Honda’s new three-cylinder electrically supercharged concept engine
By Simon Hargreaves15/11/2024
