Tabla de contenidos para December 2020 en RiDE

Apart from a recent flurry of rain, the last month or so has been brilliant biking weather – and I’ve been making the most of it, with trips to North Wales, the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District all ticked off. And judging by the amount of bikes I’ve seen out, I’d say you’ve been doing the same. A recent survey by our advertising department revealed that bikers are now more likely than ever to carry on riding later into winter, because of all of this year’s dramas. So if this is you, there is plenty in this issue to help you along, from great places to ride (local lockdowns permitting) to some excellent riding tips if you get caught out in the rain, which – let’s face it –…

A European tour My boyfriend and I have just came home from our first tour together, from London to the French Alps, lunch in Italy, over the Pyrenees to Spain, a day out in Gibraltar, one night in Portugal and then the ferry home from Santander. I was riding my Honda Rebel CMX500 and Ben was on his Honda CBR650, clocking 4500 miles over five weeks. It was the trip of a lifetime, with the two highlights riding the ‘Pots and Pans’ in the Picos in Northern Spain (dodging rogue cows on mountain tops) and spotting the marmots in the evening sun in the Vanoise National Park in the Alps. Amy Bee Sting and Ben Scott Get your bike in RiDE & win a BikeTrac system Each month the Star…

THIS MIGHT BE the common-or-garden version of the new Fireblade but it’s still 20 grand. This is lots for a bike without the electronic Öhlins suspension or posh Brembo brake calipers of the SP version. It’s not even got a quickshifter. It’s not as usable as key rivals either. The Blade’s 1000cc inline four has shrieking top-end power and a claimed 215bhp but it doesn’t get into its stride until the giddy side of 10,000rpm (redline is a 600-like 14,500rpm). There’s none of the previous model’s tractability and bugger-all below 6000rpm - BMW’s S1000RR feels like a supercharged Hayabusa in comparison. The Blade’s riding position is now racier too, with lower clip-on ’bars and footpegs that are higher and further back, making it more cramped than a Suzuki GSX-R1000R or…

MOST OF US prefer dry roads because there’s more grip for fun stuff like braking, cornering and accelerating. Also, we don’t get soaked or filthy. Everyone backs off in rain. But some also feel tense and uncomfortable to the point of a mild anxiety attack – and who wants to ride around fretting at every dark cloud in the sky? But don’t worry – the wet is nothing to fear. We know a wet road has less grip, because a layer of water is introduced between normal road/rubber contact. But how much less? It’s this knowledge gap that makes us tense, lose confidence, and ride in a way – locked elbows, hunched shoulders and clenched bum – that makes feeling what grip there is even harder. Yet many of us…

TRACKDAYS CAN BE an intimidating atmosphere for anyone new to circuit riding, with the fear of crashing your bike or being too slow a common theme amongst those who fancy the idea but are too nervous to try one. This is something ex-racer and general all-round good bloke James Whitham spotted and is why, alongside Paul Drinkwater, he created his Motorcycle Track Training Days in 2012. Unlike most trackdays, Whitham’s Training Days operate on limited numbers with only 20 riders out on track at a time to ensure quality traffic-free track time and so the coaches can easily assess and monitor riders. It is this small-group environment that sets his training days aside from other track-based schools - not to mention the standard of instructors. “We have a very strict…

THE MT-07 HAS not just been a huge success for Yamaha since its launch in 2014 – it’s become a motorcycling phenomenon. The affordable but fun roadster twin has sold around 17,000 units across Europe every year since, to become both the Japanese giant’s most popular bike and the ‘first big bike’ market leader. And that success is well deserved. Being a modular spin-off of 2013’s MT-09 triple helped it to be mouth-wateringly cheap – initially just £5200. Its 689cc parallel twin is simply fantastic while its nimble chassis is both unintimidating for novices and entertaining for experienced riders. It’s not perfect, of course: over-soft suspension and suspect styling and comfort led to a 2018 update where all were improved, if not completely rectified. Fasteners remain prone to corrosion and…

‘MAINTENANCE-FREE’ CHAIN THE IDEA OF never having to clean, oil or adjust your chain is a compelling one – and it’s the reason that so many owners plump for shaftdrive bikes, despite the extra weight and complexity that they bring. Many of those shaft-seeking owners have bought BMWs, so it’s with some irony that the German firm has now introduced the first claimed maintenance-free chain, with the launch of the M Endurance chain system. However, unlike many supposed technological advances, it doesn’t look like it’ll break the bank: initially a £100 option that can be ordered with new S1000RR and S1000XR models, the Regina-made chain is a development of the X-ring design but using new materials which could potentially banish chain lube and cleaning oil-fling from wheels and bodywork. Diamonds…

KAWASAKI NINJA 1000SX TOURER 0 3 4 2 8 MILES MONTH 04 A TRIP TO Wales and then to the Yorkshire Dales in the hands of editor Matt and then being taken by me and snapper Chippy Wood to The Pennines and then Scotland, RiDE’s Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX has had its hardest- working month yet. And all the way though, it has proved a faithful, useful distance-muncher: smashing out nearly 200 miles between tanks and cosseting the backside for the many hours of motorway pain that always precedes those with limited time getting somewhere interesting. But now, compared to the older bike it also seems more fun when you get there, too. This year, we’ve already spoken at length about the 1000SX’s upgrade but, after spending quality time on one…

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Finding positivity IN a lethal global pandemic isn’t an easy task but motorcycling is proving to be a major beneficiary, as commuters abandon public transport and turn to two wheels instead. As we’re being encouraged to return to our offices while still being told to avoid close contact and stay off public transport where possible, it’s no surprise that people are turning to two wheels. However, few could have predicted the scale of the influx of new riders. Despite being forced to close their doors for months during the initial British lockdown, many bike dealers have now made more sales in the first eight months of 2020 than in the same period last year, with huge growth particularly since lockdown measures were loosened. The numbers are impressive. The slump after…

‘I want my lost TA pay and benefits – am I being greedy?’ Q I HAD JUST passed selection for an especially tough Territorial Army unit. Before you go all ‘weekend warrior’ on me, it was one of the toughest selections within the British military and I got to wear a different-coloured beret. Having become a trained soldier, I was eligible for various courses and I was signed up for my HGV licence for rigid lorries and provisionally booked onto a military plant-operators’ course. Then I got knocked off my bike; my pelvis was quite badly broken and I had to leave the TA. While I loved being a TA soldier, this has cost me some real money; my TA pay and all the other benefits that go with it,…

TRIUMPH DOES PLENTY of trumpeting about the rangetopping Street Triple RS. Most people are attracted by technology and performance, so it pushes the version with bells-and-whistles electronics, greatest power and highest-specification chassis. But for most of us, the new S model is better: it’s more comfortable, has oodles of usable grunt and a simplistic air that recaptures some of the light-hearted charm of the 2007 original. And at £8100, it’s £2400 cheaper than the RS. It’s been three years since Triumph reinvented the Street Triple and took its three-cylinder engine from 675 to 765cc. Based on a bored-and-stroked Daytona motor, it created a trio of variants to propel three different Street Triples: a trackday-ready RS with 121bhp, the sporty R making 116bhp, and an everyday S with 111bhp. All good.…

5 WALES THE ROAD TO BALA Why it’s worth the trip Most riders aim straight for Snowdonia via the A5 when they head into north Wales but, by taking a less-direct route via Bala, you get to experience what is arguably the best slice of tarmac in The Valleys. Picking up the B4391 at Penybontfawr (which itself is just 30 miles from Shrewsbury), this wonderful road takes you through some gorgeous Welsh scenery and small villages before hitting you smack in the face with the jaw-dropping section at Llangynog on the northern outskirts of the Coed y Brenin Forest Park. Hugging the side of a valley, this nine-mile section of the road takes you high up as it winds and twists along the Milltir Cerrig mountain pass, reaching an altitude…

Best for Inspiring scenery and great roads Length 50 miles Route Settle, Ribblehead Viaduct, Hawes, Thwaite, Bowes Roads B6479, B6255, Cliff Gate Rd, Pennine Way, Stang Lane Love it because If you can catch a stolen mid-week ride, you can get the place to yourself. There’s all sorts of corners, from fast sweepers to nadgery hairpins and some of the most amazing views in the North. Take a picture at The Ribblehead Viaduct and the Buttertubs Pass, both demand spending time at and lots of pictures taken. Ribblehead especially is the starting point for some great hikes, so you might want to bring your walking shoes. Stop for a cuppa at Kearton Tearooms, Thwaite. Great selection of cakes. Tan Hill Inn serves great food and is always warm inside… DOWNLOAD…

Like any kind of all-round machine, choosing a sporty tourer is all about the compromise – and there is no getting away from the fact that both the BMW and the Yamaha offer real sporting ability and with enough practicality and comfort to go anywhere and do anything. It’s easy to see why many bikers currently prefer them to a faired, old-school style of sports tourer. If we were in the market for a new bike, a naked-sports-tourer or an adventure-sports-tourer would be at the top of the list. However, when it comes to valuing dynamics over stretched-out legs, the bikes that aren’t on stilts do offer more. We’ll take an MT-10 Tourer Edition, or an Ninja 1000 SX, or a Super Duke GT, thanks.…

‘Bargain boots are holding up well’ VANUCCI VTB 15, £118.59 Miles so far 4500 I’ve practically lived in these touring boots (louis-moto.co.uk) since May. An average year’s miles later, they’re still comfy, the leather still looks in pretty good condition and the full set of Level 2 CE scores still inspires confidence. They’ve kept my socks dry so far too, so the Sympatex lining is still working, though this summer hasn’t been too challenging. I’ll report back once they’ve seen autumn and winter. MARTIN FITZ-GIBBONS ‘Perfect for warm, summer rides’ RST TECH X COOLMAX BASE LAYERS, £67.98 Miles so far 1750 I’ve been using these throughout the summer and they have been perfect for warm rides. They are super thin and comfortable, so you barely know you’re wearing them and wick…

HONDA AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORTS PLUS 05215 MILES MONTH 09 THIS SUMMER’S NEEDLESS tarmac/bike interface (when not in RiDE’s hands, thankfully) left the ATAS in need of a lie down. One hefty insurance pay-out later, it’s back with a new fairing, tank, subframe and various other bits - it was perilously close to being a write-off. Good news is there’s no bad news - it’s always hard when a crashed bike gets rebuilt, as some never ride the same again. However, a first ride reacquainted me with the Africa Twin’s gutsy motor; for a given effort, its cruising speed is higher than the CB1000R+ I had while the AT was being fixed. It sounds louder though - the crash unseated the exhaust somewhere and it’s blowing. The Honda acquired a few…

COOLING PIPE “There is a small metal link pipe in the cooling system behind the radiator which corrodes and fractures. It’s a cheap item and easy to replace but quite a fight to get to, as you need to remove lots of bodywork.” RADIATOR “I’m on my third radiator as they seem quite prone to clogging up and then corroding despite the guard I fitted. A Yamaha replacement is about £700 but I got one from a firm in Glasgow called East End Radiators that was £280.” BRAKES “I’ve been through three front disc sets and one rear, which isn’t bad considering I do a lot of touring on Alpine roads two-up with luggage.” CAM CHAIN “I got the cam chain swapped at 138,000 miles alongside a valve-clearance check as…

NICK STARTED OUT on small bikes as a youth before marriage and a family got in the way. “Then, after the divorce, I had a ZX-6R, a Blade, a TL1000S, Varadero, Hayabusa and now the Crosstourer, which I’ve had for a couple of years. Next I fancy a Goldwing Bagger - love the look of those.” Hmm, looks aside, I suspect that might be a bit less handy across the often-dodgy road surfaces of the Fens than the competent - and terminally under-rated - Crosstourer. Not great in crosswinds either, and you get a lot of those here in the winter. No such worries today though - it’s a beautiful day and the flatlands are on their best behaviour: “Yes, the Fens are flat, but they have a beauty all…

LETTER OF THE MONTH ‘Advanced training doesn’t have to be prescriptive’ I enjoyed reading the Riding School Rated, Rapid Training piece in the November 2020 issue, and read many of the comments made about RoSPA and IAM. As a RoSPA Diploma holder myself, I agree – training can seem prescriptive which is a shame, as that’s not what it is meant to be about. I would almost suggest that if being tutored and told this is how you ‘must’ do it, then walk away. Advanced riding is not prescriptive; it uses a flexible system which is adaptable to any situation: there are no rules in Roadcraft – the only rules we abide by during training are found in the Highway Code as well as the Road Traffic Act. It can…

It’s got all the power you need for the road With 94bhp at 11,250rpm and 49lb.ft at 9250rpm, the 660cc inline-three engine produces less peak power than the previous 765cc Street Triple S. It’s not lacking, though. In fact, those figures are virtually the same as tested numbers for the original 675cc Street Triple – and nobody ever accused those of feeling flat or lifeless. Set up for the road, not the track Suspension is by Showa, with fixed 41mm upside-down forks and a monoshock with adjustable preload. Damping refinement is nothing like as good as the big-piston forks and Öhlins shock on the RS but crucially, the S has lower spring rates and more compliant damping. Outright potential is lower, but you won’t run out of handling on the…

JUST THE VIEWS alone mean this has been worth the slog up the A1. Ahead of me, the B6479 stretches out; rising, falling and following the rugged contours of the Ribble Valley. Dry-stone walls trace the twists and stretch off into the middle- distance, framing the kind of coarse, grippy tarmac, that builds confidence and breeds pleasure. This is motorcycling heaven. One of RiDE’s more-excitable editors (there have been a few) called this stretch, and then the route through to the famous Buttertubs Pass, the ‘best route in Europe’ and while that’s a bold claim, right here, right now, I can’t think of a better place to ride. With great roads, gob-stopping vistas and a good dose of history, the Yorkshire Dales are a wonderful place to be on a…

AS SNAPPY AS a sportsbike, as lairy as a super-naked and as ergonomically-cosseting as an adventure bike, BMW’s S1000XR feels alive, cutting, carving and climbing the B4931 as we head towards Snowdonia. To my left, hundreds of feet below, the Afon Eirth river runs though a gorge smashed from the granite by the melt-water of a forgotten ice age. Below me, that vibey, slightly coarse 165bhp 1000cc four is working hard and the XR thrusts forward and flicks and steers with an effortlessness that takes some getting used to. Right now, revelling in the dynamics, I’m wondering why the hell anyone would want a full-on tourer. However, 100 miles ago on the M6, as I hid in the bubble of perfectly-judged wind protection, I was wondering why anyone would…

 A JACKET IS ONE of the key items in any rider’s kit and finding one that is capable of withstanding as many conditions as possible can be tricky. We tested winter jackets back in the February issue and found that at that price point – £500 – it was possible to get very good, warm and waterproof jackets for the winter months. However, for a budget of just £200, what is available to keep you warm and dry as well as allowing you to stay cool when the weather warms up? We decided to assemble a selection of sub-£200 jackets from across the spectrum to see what does what. We found a wide variation in the ways that manufacturers approached the task. All claimed to be waterproof and windproof but…

‘We find that compromises are inevitable’ THIS IS AN incredibly difficult test to call a verdict on. The overall scores show just how close these jacket are to each other. However, you need to look in more detail at how those scores are made up and we see that some compromises are inevitable. The first thing is how the jacket feels on. For example, a jacket with a drop liner will feel very different to one that has a waterproof membrane and just a thermal liner. Generally, they can feel more bulky in use and the liner will need removing to get any cooling effect from vents. One advantage though, is that they can offer excellent waterproofing, as we saw with the RST and Oxford jackets. Some jackets offer exceptional…

1 Concentrate on your markers Most trackday riders are weak on the brakes because if you get this bit wrong, the next trip is into gravel. James’ top tip here is to pick a braking marker and focus on it as you approach a bend rather than looking at the corner. If you know 100% that when you hit that marker you can scrub off enough speed to make the bend, you can start to gradually move the marker to improve your braking whereas, if you look at the corner, your mind will always tell you to brake early and you will never improve. If you only move the marker by a meter at a time, the worst case is a slightly-missed apex. 2 Go high before the bend Mallory…

Its finish isn’t brilliant Suzuki developed a bit of reputation for so-so finishes during the 1990s and the DR-Z is cut from the same flimsy cloth. Paint will wear off the frame where you make contact and also flake off the engine, and the bodywork will have peeling decals and plenty of ‘patina’. And that’s if the bike has had an easy life; well-used trailies will be another level. It’ll need looking after The DR-Z will lap up abuse but the more you’re encouraged by its usability the more maintenance its requires. Spares are cheap and available, and it’s easy to work on, but keep an ear out for bottomend rumbles. Water pump seals leak and if it’s an early example, there might be camchain tensioner bother as well. And…

KTM BILLS THE 790 Adventure R as “a serious travel-capable off-road motorcycle equipped for the most extreme escapes” and so far, it ‘s lived up to that, though it does underplay its on-road performance. Despite videos of ‘dudes’ leaping the 790 from crest to crest, it’s actually an accomplished road bike, capable of tackling any ‘road’ put in front of it. During the last six months, it has done everything from local green lanes to hours up the A1 to the Peak District and everything in between. The range of its abilities has been refreshing. Here’s what I’ve learned in 3000 miles of highways, byways and motorways. THE FACTS £10,999 (Inc £1600 discount) ›94bhp ›188kg MILES THIS MONTH 977 MPG THIS MONTH 58.9 1 The chassis is astounding The natural balance…