Table of contents for 1 December 2021 in MCN

IOMTT EXCLUSIVE McGuinness is back on a Fireblade! Hands up if you honestly believed we’d ever see John McGuinness riding a Honda Fireblade again at the Isle of Man TT. His near-death NW200 accident caused what appeared to be an unbreachable rift between the two parties, but 2022 will see McPint line up at the top of Bray Hill for his 100th TT start aboard the bike he’s become synonymous with. EXCLUSIVE STORY PAGE 40 ‘There is nothing like the feeling you get at the TT’MCPINT LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS 100th TT START TOP STORY Bimota set to shake up market Back in the days when the Japanese could make great engines but all their chassis had hinges in the middle and were made of tin foil and cheese, companies…

Ever wondered what would happen if you strapped a turbo onto the side of a nearly 2L V-twin motorcycle? Nope, us neither but that hasn’t stopped the clever folks at West Coast Harley-Davidson from bolting a Trask turbo onto a Lowrider S. The result? 173bhp at the back wheel and it’s not even run in yet. Given a bit more time (and throttle) power is expected to hit 200bhp. Who says Harleys aren’t fast? Bouncing around Shock feeling a bit tired? Touratech may well have the answer for you with their new E1 range. Aimed as a direct replacement for both mono and twin-shock machines, the new E1 shocks are built as entry-level units to the Touratech range. Infinitely adjustable for preload and with 50 clicks of rebound damping adjustment,…

KTM have waved their magic wand over the ultimate sports-tourer for hooligans, resulting in a plethora of small but welcome upgrades to the 1290 Super Duke GT. Internally the motor has been given a gentle tickle to make it Euro5-friendly, while managing to keep power exactly where it was, at 173bhp. Weight has crept down a little, in part thanks to fitting the wheels from the Super Duke R, which have saved 1kg on their own. The new wheels are now shod with Continental SportAttack 4 tyres, which KTM say deliver a sportier riding experience. The biggest change comes in the electronics department with an all-new 7in full colour TFT dash, which is complemented by new switchgear. The highlight of the new dash is what KTM describe as ‘Turn by…

NEWS EDITOR Yamaha have unveiled an off-road focused concept based on the Ténéré 700 – and they say it “is just the beginning”. The Ténéré 700 has been incredibly successful thanks to its combination of engaging engine, decent spec and competitive price. And now Yamaha have built a more extreme machine. The biggest changes have come in the suspension department, with both front and rear stock items replaced with units from KYB. Not only do these bring increased adjustability they also offer 60mm extra suspension travel at either end, bumping it up to 270mm front and 260mm rear. The forks and shock now sit in custom made yokes and linkage respectively. Yamaha have also done some work to the engine, including a new airbox and filter, oversized radiator with twin…

Royal Enfield have built a faithful working replica of their first motorised bicycle, the machine that marked the birth of the firm as a motorcycle maker in 1901. The original bike was conceived and built by Royal Enfield Co-Founder Bob Walker Smith and Frenchman Jules Gobiet and was displayed at the Stanley Cycle Show in London as there was no motorcycle industry at the time. The bike was unveiled in Milan but see it for yourself at Motorcycle Live this weekend. Heritage club Yamaha have launched a new club for owners and racers of historic competition machines. The Yamaha Racing Heritage Club (YRHC) is open to owners of bikes from every competitive discipline and includes GP bikes from 1955 to the end of the two-stroke era in 2003, WSB and…

Sealskinz mid length sock £35 This all-weather sock is waterproof, breathable and protects from wind, mud, cold and blisters – making it perfect for a ride in the rain and just as good in dry conditions too. www.sealskinz.com Tickets to the National Motorcycle Museum £11.94-£30.94 Gift wrapped tickets to the NMM. You can get senior citizen tickets from £11.94 to a family pass for £30.94. Free pen too! www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk Tyre repair kit £34.99 This essential kit could get you out of a bind at the roadside. Included are five sealant sticks, and insertion tool, three CO2 canisters, a valve, knife, reamer tool, canister cover, rubber solution and carry pouch. www.oxfordproducts.com Kriega tool roll £29.00 Although you don’t get the tools included, there are more than 30 elastic loops to keep…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR This radical, 650cc, twin cylinder concept cruiser has been created by Royal Enfield to explore possible future directions. Called the SG650, it’s based on the GT650 retro roadsters, was created in-house by a team lead by Royal Enfield’s Chief of Design, Mark Wells, and received its public unveiling this week in Milan. The idea, according to Wells, was to challenge the design team to explore how Royal Enfield’s bikes might evolve from the classic-styled machines they have produced until now to more modern ‘digital’ interpretations. Wells said: “We are a company in transition, for so long a representation of the analogue age and now developing new products that keep that same pure soul yet are fully integrated into the digital present. “We wanted to develop a project that…

A new MotoGP behind-the-scenes TV series is starting soon. The Amazon Prime series will feature eight 50-minute episodes from the 2021 season and will take viewers behind doors that, until now, have often been closed. From training sessions to team meetings and everything in between, viewers will get unique insight into the day-to-day workings of the teams and riders. It costs £7.99 per month to subscribe to Amazon Prime in the UK but that fee also gets you free delivery on most purchases, too. See red next year! World Ducati Week is back with a bang in 2022. The event, from Friday-Sunday, July 22-24, will be held at the Misaono race track and will feature stacks of amazing machines, track action, parades and a raft of Ducati’s racing aces on…

1 Kempton Park Autojumble On December 4, the autojumble is back at Kempton Park. Early bird tickets are £10 for 7.45am entry, but if you want to enter at 9.30am then it’s £7. Children 15 and under can get in for free. www.kemptonautojumble.co.uk 2 Santas on bikes Santa’s on a Bike is back in Bristol and Plymouth on December 4. All welcome, and routes are posted on the website. Donations will be going to a children’s hospice. (Devon and Midlands rides are taking place on December 11.) www.santasonabike.org.uk 3 Rufforth autojumble Rufforth autojumble is back on December 4 at Rufforth Park in York. Doors open at 8am for buyers with entry costing £2, and if you’re a seller you can arrive anywhere from 6am-9am with pitches from £17-£25. www.rufforthautojumble.com…

‘Three weeks riding in Spain and Portugal’ R5K MEMBERS ESTHER AND DAVE CARROLL This was taken on the N621 in the Picos de Europa during a three-week tour of Spain and Portugal. This is the second time we’ve ridden that road and it’s absolutely fabulous. Going during the pandemic meant there was next to no traffic, too. ‘Exploring Costa Blanca’ R5K MEMBER RUSSELL HEAVEN Here I am out for a ride among the mountains of the northern Costa Blanca. I stopped for a bite to eat alongside one of the many reservoirs in this area. ‘A great day getting muddy’ R5K MEMBER LEWYS PRIEHS Riding the trails through Thetford Forest on my Yamaha Ténéré 700 with my brother on my Honda CRF250L and our cousin on his CRF450X. It was…

MCN GUEST TESTER When you ride one you instantly see why so many riders fall for the simple charms offered by Honda’s CRF range and the new CRF300 Rally takes all the good bits of the old CRF250 and improves upon them. The result is an incredibly versatile bike that genuinely can be used for anything, and not just by experienced riders, by anyone. A 286cc single cylinder engine with just 27bhp on tap may sound too slow for long-distance work but the CRF holds motorway speeds and does so with minimal vibrations. Need to head into town? Its light weight and tall bars make it a brilliant traffic-buster that effortlessly slices through congestion and over kerbs. Looking for some weekend fun? Novice and expert off-road riders alike can explore…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR While I get the point of the GSX-S950, I struggle to see many new riders wanting to spend that amount of cash on their first bike and even then it only works for a very small slice of the market. That said, taller or heavier riders may appreciate the ‘big bike’ size of the GSX-S, and it is cool to be riding a machine that looks identical to its full-power sibling. Also, as it can be derestricted, it is far more of a long-term investment than a pure A2-legal bike, which helps justify the outlay. Its main problem, however, is that rival 94bhp bikes are lighter, more fun to ride and cheaper. THE FACTS £10,150 2021 Suzuki GSX-S950 Engine 999cc 16-valve DOHC inline four Frame Aluminium twin spar…

★★★★★ Shark Spartan GT Carbon Skin Mat DMA £449.99 ‘Like putting your head between two cushions’ Tested by Laura Thomson for 1200 miles/one month The Shark Spartan GT Carbon was incredibly comfortable straight out of the box, cocooning my head in a cloud of cushioning. This comfort comes slightly at the expense of weight, however, with the Spartan Carbon weighing in at 1440g. However, that’s negligible once it’s on your head, and the small (55/56cm) is comfortable for hours on end. I have taken to slipping a balaclava underneath for warmth, but it’s neither stifling nor too tight. Visibility is decent from the wide aperature, but it wasn’t helped when the Pinlock failed after just a few weeks, as I circumnavigated the M25 in a torrential downpour. Similarly, the £69.99…

The benefits of upgrading to LED are that, not only do they produce a clearer, brighter light for less power (because they produce less heat), but they last longer than conventional bulbs, too. However, retrofitting LED bulbs to a bike isn’t technically road legal. The reason for this is that the legislation governing bulbs and headlights for road vehicles (ECE Regulation 37 – a whole 188 pages!) was drawn up in the late 1980s. Therefore, it’s currently impossible for LED bulbs to have the required E and British Standard type-approval. Fortunately, although a bike with these bulbs should fail an MoT, in practice it is not a requirement that is currently checked by an inspector. I’m sure the regs will catch up which will be a good thing, as it…

The 13-round 2022 World Superbike calendar has been announced and includes three flyaway rounds in Argentina, Indonesia and Australia (TBA). All dates remain provisional given the Covid situation. The action kicks off in Spain in April as Toprak mounts his title defence. ● April 8-10 MotorLand Aragon, Spain ● April 22-24 TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands ● May 20-22 Circuito Estoril, Portugal ● June 10-12 Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’, Italy ● July 15-17 Donington Park, UK ● July 29-31 Autodrom Most, Czech Republic ● September 9-11 Circuit de Nevers, Magny-Cours, France ● September 23-25 Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain ● October 7-9 Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal ● October 21-23 Circuito San Juan Villicum, Argentina ● November 11-13 Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Indonesia ● Dates to be assigned Phillip Island…

‘They are doing all this for us, the riders’ It’s good to see the new safety proposals for the TT. I was on the Isle of Man last week so got to hear about them first hand. You have to commend the TT organisers for the changes they’re making. It’s hard to say if it will actually make it any safer because it doesn’t make the walls turn into blancmange, but there are lots of good changes. Being released on your own rather than in pairs in qualifying is probably safer because it’s stops you racing and riding like a loon right from the start. The red light system will obviously be better because it means they will be able to shut the track down immediately if they need to.…

It’s time to make the pilgrimage... We’ve all been robbed of a lot of shows over the last two years, so it’s even better than normal to see Motorcycle Live return to Birmingham’s NEC this year, to tempt us with next year’s new bikes and all the kit we can afford (or carry home!). The show kicks off this weekend and is set to be a cracker – so we’ve pulled together a whistle-stop guide to the bikes you can’t afford to miss, the activities you can get involved in, and the other unmissable highlights to make the most of your time at the show. We can’t wait to make the annual pilgrimage, and hope to see many of you there, too.…

See the full VIP list online at: motorcyclelive.co.uk Saturday December 4 ■ Carl Fogarty MBE ■ Neil Hodgson ■ Niall Mackenzie ■ Steve Parrish ■ James Whitham ■ Peter Hickman ■ John Reynolds ■ Dougie Lampkin MBE Sunday December 5 ■ John Reynolds ■ Lee Jackson ■ Rory Skinner ■ Dave Thorpe ■ Michael Laverty Monday December 6 ■ Maria Costello MBE ■ Steve Plater ■ Dave Thorpe ■ Tai Woffinden ■ Chris Walker Tuesday December 7 ■ James Hillier ■ Gary Johnson ■ Dave Thorpe ■ Rachel Stringer Wednesday December 8 ■ Gary Johnson ■ Mick Extance ■ Dave Thorpe ■ Tom Neave Thursday December 9 ■ Julian Ryder ■ Keith Huewen ■ Ben and Tom Birchall Friday December 10 ■ Sylvain Guintoli ■ Danny Webb ■ Tom Neave…

I never thought we’d see John McGuinness line up on a start line aboard a Honda Fireblade again. Ever. But that’s exactly what we’re going to witness in 2022 as the TT legend looks to further swell his trophy cabinet at what will be a momentous year of road racing at the NW200 and on the Isle of Man. It’s an incredible move, one that speaks volumes for the respect that exists between McGuinness and Honda Racing UK boss, Havier Beltran. It also reveals how deep John’s love is for Honda – a brand that he is synonymous with, and on which he has recorded so many of his major career milestones. One can only imagine how strong that bond is to be able to overcome the long-lasting effects of…

Honda have revived the Hornet model name with a surprise naked concept revealed at last week’s EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. A new, raked-out naked design lays the foundations for the model’s return, and while there are no official details on the bike at this stage we can tell you that it will be powered by a combustion engine rather than an electric motor. The soundtrack playing as Honda unveiled the futuristic-looking model suggests it will be a revvy, mid-sized parallel-twin (rather than the old Hornet’s inline-four), complete with a quickshifter. Outside of that, the front nose piece bears an uncanny resemblance to KTM’s 890 Duke range – a likely rival for the new bike when it arrives. Also visible are aggressive shoulders on either side of the tank, which…

A petition has been launched online to have a five-year minimum prison sentence introduced for stealing a motor vehicle. The petition has almost 1000 signatures at the time of writing and was created by Aleksandar Stoilov who says: “We believe current sentences are inadequate, as the consequences for the victim can be huge. People can struggle to get to work, which can lead to reduced income or even losing a job, and it can have a significant impact on families with children in particular.” You can find the petition at: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/600561…

Nick Sanders has just returned from an epic 5000-mile ride on an Indian FTR S. The cool naked completed the London to Istanbul round trip in style. Nick, who set off on the latest of his epic adventures in early October, said: “It was a hard, fast, cold, wet ride but I still loved it. The Indian FTR kept up with me no problem. “The Indian didn’t fail on anything; there wasn’t a rattle and it felt very solid, safe and fun.”…

‘It’s time to grab a pre-reg bargain’ As the new 2022 bikes are announced, a few 2021 models are starting to pop up as ‘preregistered’ in dealerships. So what exactly is a pre-reg bike and is it really a bargain? Pre-registration is exactly what the name suggests. When you buy a new bike it is registered with you as the first owner. With pre-reg, dealers register the bike in their name so when you buy it you are technically the second owner. What’s the point? Although sometimes it is down to changing legislation and dealer sales targets, it is more often due to sales. Or a lack of them. Dealers like a deal (the clue is in the name) and when a nation’s distributer ‘optimistically’ orders stock of a model…

YOU’RE NEVER RIDING ALONE ‘Give me a mission Alexa.’ It’s that kind of mindset that got me out of the malaise I was in after cancer treatment. Give me a fight and I’ll fight. But you have to be sure you’re fighting the right thing. I have testosterone replacement now, but didn’t have the frequency right initially, so I was running pretty hot. I found myself cycling in through London one day literally growling at people as I passed them. I was just fighting everything. One of the biggest moments that I had during talking therapy was when the counsellor said to me, ‘Have you ever congratulated yourself?’ Which seems like an odd thing to say. And I was like, ‘Well, no, why, what have I achieved?’ And she said:…

Q ‘Can I claim from cyclist?’ I was riding along the Old Kent Road in London when a cyclist came out of a side road to my left without stopping at the junction. I managed to avoid him, but lost control and came off. I ended up with lower leg injuries and am still on crutches. Although the cyclist did not stop, a witness caught up with him and called the police. He is being prosecuted for failing to stop and the police have provided me with his details for a compensation claim. What are the chances of making a claim stick given that most cyclists don’t have insurance cover? Scott King, London A While motorists must have (at the very least) third party liability cover, it is not compulsory…

One of the best loved events in the UK, the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show, promises to deliver a golden year with all the major manufacturers confirming huge displays, including some exclusive bikes and UK debuts. The show takes place at London’s ExCeL from February 11-13 and thrilling live action will be at the heart of the London show with superstar riders racing around the specially built track designed for plenty of sideways sliding action. TT legends John McGuinness and Peter Hickman will captain two star-studded teams as they fight for the title of ‘MCN King of the Roads’. When they’re not giving it their all on the track, McPint and Hicky will also be interviewed on the show stage. The perfect show gift Looking for the ideal Christmas…

GUEST ROAD TESTER Start a pub debate about which is the best two-wheeled all-rounder and the majority of those asked will opt for BMW’s GS. Which is a fair shout; BMW’s big adventure bike makes for a superb tourer, solid commuter, remarkably sporty B-road blaster and also has genuine off-road abilities. However, there is a catch… that word ‘big’. Tipping the scales at 249kg the GS is far from a lightweight. In fact it is quite a monster and in Adventure guise, which adds another 19kg to the bulk alongside taller suspension, it can be quite a handful. Which is why, while it is billed as the ultimate do-it-all, in reality very few venture far from tarmac. As well as the big financial worry of watching £13,625 (realistically you are…

DEPUTY EDITOR Sportsbike lover with 18 years of experience, road and race. 2021 has been a funny old year. All the lockdown ‘must do’ lists dreamed up during 2020 have mostly failed to happen. Whether it was due to ongoing restrictions or just a case of readjusting to life, time and opportunity have not been on my side. That said, the Hayabusa has been a light in the dark; an unfailing source of proper pleasure whenever I’ve opened the garage door. However, with 4000 miles of B-road blasting, long-distance days, and even a track session thrown in, I’ve definitely reached some conclusions about the new Busa… 1 Engine performance I’ll admit that I scratched my head a bit when Suzuki said they’d beefed up the 2021 Hayabusa’s mid-range performance –…

1 Held Sambia 2 in 1 Gore-Tex £179.99 They’re brilliant. Warm and waterproof being Gore-Tex and the ventilated side is ideal when using heated grips in winter as it lets more heat through. Jade Clarke, Middleton-on-the-Wolds 2 Rukka Chamb GTX £124.99 They are waterproof and mega comfortable. Only negative is that I would have loved them to be a tad longer at the cuffs. Male Broadbent, Hyde 3 Held Air N Dry Gore-Tex £200.99 They’re mega comfortable, waterproof, breathable, safe, and warm enough circa 95% of the time. Andy Meakin, Newcastle-under-Lyme 4 Gerbing XR Heated £169.99 I’ve got a pair that I’ve used for years. They’re waterproof and warm. When it’s cold they keep your digits properly warm. Graham Bell, Essex 5 Richa Hurricane Gore-Tex £119.99 I use these combined…

MECHANIC Adrian Clancy of Total Triumph in Somerset When this 2009 Triumph Tiger 1050 arrived at Adrian Clancy’s Somerset workshop it was in a sorry state. “I’d worked on the bike before, as it had over 90,000 miles on the clock and the camchain had been getting noisy on a previous service,” explained Adrian. “I’d raised it with the owner, but as he’d put all those miles on the bike himself and he had a touring holiday coming up, he thought it would be fine. Now it had a conrod through the cases and pistons that looked like crushed Coke cans.” At first glance Adrian thought the camchain had finally let go, but it was still intact, and the tensioner was doing its job too. But once he started to…

You can’t say Toprak isn’t true to his word. Now he’s champion, he’s able to think more clearly about potentially becoming the first rider ever to claim both the WSB and MotoGP titles. “Yes, maybe! Hopefully we’ll do a test soon. Everybody says I’ll like it – but I need to see. Maybe I could race there in 2023 or 2024, but if I’m to leave my home in WSB it needs to be something good.” PATA Yamaha Team Principal Paul Denning sheds light on the situation. “I’d like to keep Toprak with us!” he laughs. “However, if he wins again in 2022 and his MotoGP chance comes, he’ll have our full support and blessing. The important element is whether it’s the factory Yamaha MotoGP team. He’d only go to…

HALL 3 STAND E15 Suzuki’s Magnificent Seven Suzuki will be showcasing their ‘Magnificent Seven’ world championship-winning machines at Motorcycle Live. Joan Mir won last year’s title in only his second season in MotoGP’s premier class, the sixth rider to win a premier class world championship with Suzuki, and the first to do so on four-stroke machinery, after Kenny Roberts Junior became the 2000 world champion aboard a Telefonica Movistar-sponsored RGV500. That bike will be displayed alongside the RGV500 raced to title glory by legend Kevin Schwantz in 1993, and the 1981 and 1982 RG500s of Marco Lucchinelli and Franco Uncini, along with Barry Sheene’s 1976 and 1977 titlewinning 500s. Have a sit with Whit Racer-turned-commentator James Whitham takes to the stage to grill MotoGP, WSB, BSB and TT stars, giving…

Visitors with a CBT or licence will be able to test ride an electric bike of their choice on the special indoor track at Motorcycle Live. There are motorcycles and scooters on offer, but also electric bicycles. If you’ve never ridden electric before, are already an electric bike convert looking for your perfect ride or have questions you’d like to talk to experts about before taking the plunge with this style of machine – get down to the Electric Feature in Hall 2, to see what the future of mobility looks like. Among the bikes are the Ducati TK-01RR – a mountain bike on electric steroids intended as an e-enduro all-terrain fun giver, the new street-focused Harley-Davidson x Serial 1, with its 706Wh or 529Wh battery powering you to a…

£15,799 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory The Tuono V4 Factory is basically an Aprilia RSV4 fitted with motocross bars and pumped full of midrange. It howls like a MotoGP missile and goes like a superbike, but with its upright stance and tourer-like wind protection you don’t have to suffer with crushed wrists and a sore back for your speed. www.via-moto.co.uk £6995 Yamaha Tracer 700 As a capable, lightweight, characterful, well-made, great value sports tourer the Tracer is right up there. And this is a weighty saving! www.paddock-mcs.co.uk • Engine 689cc • Power 72bhp • Weight 196kg • Seat height 840mm £7499 Yamaha XSR700 This XSR has been fitted with Yamaha accessories worth over £800. There’s £200 knocked off the list price, too. www.alfordbros.co.uk • Engine 689cc • Power 74bhp • Weight…

ASSISTANT EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING Police in the south east of England have been getting help from volunteer officers in the fight against motorcycle and moped theft and associated criminal activity. Volunteer police officers with the Essex force, better known as special constables, volunteered a total of over 1300 hours in just one day, during which arrests were made for vehicle theft and a stolen scooter was seized. “During the day, as well as carrying out high-visibility patrols, officers attended various rural events, which added to the brilliant community engagement carried out,” said Special Superintendent Chris Gliddon. “Then we had a very successful night, taking some dangerous offenders off the streets and safeguarding the public.” And just the other side of the Thames in Kent, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have also…

Lid lamp £104.17 Whether you’re at home or work, you can keep the biking passion burning bright with this LED lamp. Colours include blue, white, red, pink and green. lidlamps.com Keis V501 heated vest £140 If you are braving winter on the bike, this lightweight vest will keep you comfortable. It’s unobtrusively thin, loaded with pockets, and toasty warm. It comes with a power lead, while a battery pack and temperature controller are also available as a total bundle for £191.25. keisapparel.com LighTech LED Indicators (3 LEDs) £53.90 With three LEDs and the ability to install on any bike, this indicator upgrade is perfect for a stocking filler. They’ve got an angled shape and are fully legal and approved, although you’ll need to buy the resistor kit to install (£7.15).…

The Oxford Oximiser 3X, worth £99.99 (RRP), is the ideal piece of kit to keep your batteries in tip-top condition all year round. It has three automated charging programs for differing battery sizes and works for bikes and cars. So it’s the only battery optimiser you are ever likely to need – and we’ve got five up for grabs! It even has a two-year warranty included as standard. How to enter Enter your details at www.motorcyclenews.com/winoxfordoximiser3x to be in with a chance of winning. Terms & conditions 1. The prize draw closes at midnight on December 21, 2021. 2. This competition is open to UK residents aged 16 and over. 3. There are five prizes consisting of an Oxford Oximiser 3X Advanced Battery Management System RRP £99.99 4. The winners…

Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Nick’s pick... If you want a Kawasaki to go fast, there is one man to turn to – Nick Morgan. Owner of MSS Performance, Nick has been helping Kawasakis win races since 1979 and is currently the technical partner for Team Green, Kawasaki’s racing arm, in British Superbikes, Superstock and Supersport. His choice of used bike? Naturally, it would have to be green. “There is one Kawasaki I adore: the ZXR750R-M. It was the firm’s limited-edition WSB homologation special,” says Nick. “It doesn’t carry the ‘hoover pipes’ that earlier generations of ZXR have and instead runs a single left hand air scoop, which…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Faster online? No chance I read with interest the article on page 11 of the Nov 17 MCN regarding driving licences. It stated that the DVLA had said that licence renewal was cheaper and quicker online. My wife renewed her licence online on August 13 at a cost of £14. Up to this date she has not received her new licence. When we check the website with her ref number it just states ‘in progress’. We have tried phoning the DVLA several times, and each time a recorded message either says ‘this number is unobtainable’ or ‘all of our lines are busy’. We have also tried the webchat, but that perpetually states all of the advisors are unavailable. Applying online may be cheaper but as for…

MCN staff and readers share their one-hour routes Start at Cafe Corsa in Gillingham, Dorset, and take the B3081 east. Approach the climb up the aptly named Zig Zag Hill with caution as it includes four wonderfully insane switchbacks. However, the ensuing run down to Sixpenny Handley is sublime. Take the Left turn into Cranborne, then left again for Martin – this stretch is particularly narrow so best to go easy. Turn left at Tidpit, ride through Martin and across the A354 to Broad Chalke. Turn left at the Queen’s Head, then left unto the A30 and just around the next bend, left to Dinton. Take a Left again onto the B3089 for a fabulously undulating run across acres of rolling fields. Stay on this; road until you reach the…

Age 56 Height 6ft 1in Current bike Honda CRF300 Rally, multitude of old bangers Been riding Since nine years old First bike Suzuki AP50 Dream bike Laverda Jota 1000 “I’ve always been a fan of lightweight trail bikes and the CRF300 Rally is fantastic, it does everything asked of it, and after 2000 miles together since June and a few modifications, I’m struggling to find fault with it. “The standard tyres are OK for the tarmac but not great off-road and so I swapped them for chunkier Dunlop D606s. The OE shock was weak, so I swapped that for a K-tech Razor R, and got them to upgrade the forks. This transformed the handling for about £700. “Although it’s not the fastest bike, when you are stuck in a bog an…

STARTING THE TRIP – OCTOBER 2017 The Sidecar Guys joined the London to Paris rally which departed from the Ace Cafe to begin their trip and were joined by 65 other bikers. “We just never thought we’d actually leave.” REACHING CAPE TOWN – APRIL 2018 “We’d driven a scooter and sidecar from London to Cape Town. It was a huge sense of accomplishment. It was like the first chapter of our trip was completed.” From Cape Town, the scooter and sidecar were air freighted to Santiago. BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS – SEPT 2018 “We followed the route Ewan and Charley took and the sidecar was hanging by a thread. We couldn’t get the sidecar very far on it because the salt had a layer of water on it.” SIBERIA BREAK DOWN…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER Triumph’s new Speed Triple 1200 RR is stylish, beautifully made, generously equipped and tastefully mixes strong performance and track-ready handling with a relatively sensible riding position. Its electronic suspension is a highlight and delivers a plush ride and its fairing will make long distance riding more comfortable. On the flip side we wish Triumph hadn’t gone quite so sporty with the clip-ons, its Brembos don’t offer the delicious feel you’d expect, it lacks a little character and isn’t cheap. But the RR is still impressive and a mouthwatering middle ground between a superbike and super-naked. THE FACTS £17,950 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR Engine 1160cc 12v inline triple Frame Aluminium twin spar Front suspension 43mm Öhlins forks, adjustable preload, semi-active damping Rear suspension Single Öhlins shock, adjustable…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician 1 Having a light bulb moment Before we begin, a word of caution: understand the type of lights fitted to your bike. The conventional bulb needs no introduction but the various types of LED systems require a bit of consideration. If your bike has LED lights that aren’t functioning correctly, check the user manual for a troubleshooting guide, as replacement lamps and control units can be costly. 2 Don’t blame the bulb If your lights have stopped working, don’t always assume it’s the bulb that’s at fault. It is quite common for the lights, especially headlights, to have their own individual fuse so check these first. Then check the fuse terminals for corrosion and clean if necessary. There…

After an unexpectedly brilliant 2020 in which expectations were exceeded, KTM approached 2021 as potential title contenders. It was their fifth season in MotoGP, exactly the deadline Stefan Pierer, president of the Austrian brand, had given to be fully competitive when he gave the go-ahead to enter as the sixth factory in the ultra-competitive world of MotoGP. They arrived without any experience, but with the resources and determination that have characterised KTM in all the challenges they have faced in the past. But despite winning two of the three GP titles this season (Moto2 and Moto3), they did not meet their expectations. And that has had unexpected consequences. Veteran Spanish journalist Manuel Pecino investigates… NOVEMBER 6 Algarve GP... Pedro Acosta becomes Moto 3 World Champion The sensation of the season,…

The 2021 season was an historic one for Yamaha, and one that few will forget. The Iwata manufacturer reasserted its dominance across the three major championships around the world: MotoGP, the World Superbike Championship, and the British Superbike Championship, along with success in World Supersport (Dominique Aegerter), MotoAmerica (Jake Gagne)and Japan’s JSB100 championship (Katsuyuki Nakasuga). Fabio Quartararo became France’s first Grand Prix champion for Monster Energy Yamaha, while Toprak Razgatlioglu was able to unseat six-times WSB champ Jonathan Rea. Meanwhile, Tarran Mackenzie kept the scriptwriters happy in BSB by claiming his maiden title 25 years after dad Niall won his first, also on a Yamaha. This year’s achievement comes 12 years after Yamaha’s first triple victory. In 2009, Valentino Rossi secured his final MotoGP title, while Ben Spies and Leon…