Inhoudsopgave van September 2019 - RiDE

THERE IS NO getting away from the fact that motorcycling is an expensive game in every respect. Nothing about being a biker is ever really cheap – if it is, there’s usually some kind of catch. This issue of RiDE isn’t about cheapness for the sake of it. It’s not about riding around on aged, knackered bikes while wearing wellies and a 30-year-old lid when you don’t have to. Instead, it’s about getting the most from your hard-earned biking pound. To help with this, we’ve spoken to experts throughout the motorcycling community to uncover the best deals and the secret hints and cheats that help you get more from all aspects of biking — and for less dosh while you’re at it. And remember — for any money you save,…

“Of course, there are a number of key differences between a ‘Polite’ over- jacket and a real police jacket but as a road user, I’ve been mistaken before – and I’m sure others have too. “My first moment of confusion was when I stumbled on a rider on a white VFR800. I was abiding by the speed limit in an urban area so there was no panic but it’s not surprising if others have been confused. After all, there is only one letter’s difference... “Many bikers have an opinion on these vests — good and bad and I can understand why riders feel the need to be seen. The rise of flouro kit in recent years is testament to that, but wearing one of these isn’t the way forward when…

New universal airbag Dainese has released an airbag system that can be worn under any jacket — the new D-Air Smart. The £569 airbag vest fits under normal riding clothes and does not need to be connected to the bike. It can be stuffed in a rucksack or topbox, too. The vest can be worn either over or under any jacket and is available for both men and women. It covers the chest and back, claiming the same protection as seven Level-1 back protectors and is in shops now. dainese.com Luggage for a Katana A tough and stable new tailpack for Suzuki’s 2019 Katana has been unveiled by luggage experts Ventura. The Evo Bike Pack System uses a strong bracket that attaches quickly and easily to the subframe and then…

‘I’m honouring our boys’ “Did the Lee Rigby Memorial Ride in May and I’m doing the Blind Veterans UK Ride For Life Beyond Sight Loss in August. There is the annual Ride to the Wall later in the year, too.” David Neale ‘I’m going to a police bike show’ “I’ll be going to Bikewise at Durham police station. It’s ran by the Durham police force, has stunt shows, minimoto racing, trade stands and the C5 Police Interceptor. It’s on 21 July.” Stew Taylor ‘Don’t forget the small guys’ “Big events are great but sometimes we forget about the small and more regular ones. Hideout Leather has some rides during the year where you get to see the workshop and how they create their made-to-measure leathers.” Inigo Min ‘I’m partying in…

The supercharged one Kawasaki H2 SX > £18,649 > 198bhp > 256kg For those that don’t feel a standard 1000cc motorcycle is fast enough, Kawasaki decided bolting a supercharger to their new version of a sports-tourer was a good idea. The result is a bike that can deliver huge thrust in any gear, with a whining, growling malevolent whoosh. Perfect. The lanky one BMW S1000XR > £12,890 > 159bhp > 228kg Using the same 160bhp, tuned-for-midrange version of the BMW’s S1000RR superbike motor that you see in the S1000R, the aR offers huge performance in an adventure-shaped package. But there is more to it than that, thanks to wonderful comfort and great handling. The lairy one Yamaha MT-10 Tourer Edition > £12,649 > 159bhp > 212kg Yamaha bolted heated grips,…

Explorer Pack (right) £1,690 Aimed at globetrotters, this collection of go-further goodies includes aluminium side cases (37 litres each) with fitting kit, a centrestand, a 33% thicker skid plate, a rear seat rack and an engine guard. Rally Pack (below) £1,486 This pack will turn your Ténéré 700 into a competitive rally bike and includes a rally seat with narrow profile and high-grip sides, an Akrapovic exhaust, a chain guide and guard, a radiator protector, a neater numberplate holder, LED indicators and a tank pad.…

Price £5499 Engine 500cc parallel twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 47bhp @ 8500rpm Torque 34lb·ft @ 5000rpm Transmission 6-speed chain Frame Tubular steel trellis Front suspension 41mm forks, 125mm travel, no adjustment Rear suspension monoshock, 50mm travel, adjustable preload Front brakes 280mm discs, 4-piston caliper Rear brake 240mm disc, 1-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 cR17 Rear tyre 160/60 cR17 Wheelbase 1580mm Rake/trail 27°/120mm Seat height 750mm Kerb weight 220kg Fuel capacity 21.5 litres…

Best adventure BDN J1000OI • £12,890 • 162Yhp Whether BMW’s S1000aR is an adventure bike or a sportsbike on stilts is moot but the RRbased 999cc inline four beats Triumph’s base Tiger 1200aR (£80/bhp) into second and Honda’s surprise Crosstourer (£90/bhp) into third. Small-bore adventure bikes don’t get close. Best big naked BDN J1000I • £11,190 • 162Yhp A close contest, with Suzuki’s GSa-S1000 and Kawasaki’s c900 both coming in at £70/bhp, and the c1000 and Yamaha’s MT-10 at £75/bhp. Yamaha’s MT-09 is notable value at £74/bhp (but only 847cc; is that a big naked?). But BMW’s cheaty RR-based S1000R steals the deal. Best litre sports Juzuki GJO-I1000 • £13,799 • 199Yhp Beating BMW’s £74/bhp S1000RR into second place, Suzuki’s unfashionable-but-good GSa-R1000 takes the honours. The base bike is showing its age in…

Best A2 Royal Enfield Continental GT, £5699 Most A2-class bikes are built to a tight bottom line, for obvious reasons. This doesn’t imply a reduction in reliability but it does mean lower desirability in the long term. The only bike that gets close to the superb-value Royal Enfield is Honda’s stylish CB650R. Best heritage BMW R nineT Racer Sport, £11,730 Good-looking bikes are few and far between (for some reason — is it more expensive to design good looks?) but BMW’s take on the café racer is a sweet thing. You can have one for £109 per month on PCP with a £2500 deposit — keep it safe and it’ll be an investment. Best exotic MV Agusta Superveloce Serie Oro, £25,000 No shortage of potential classics if your budget is…

Best all-round A2 licence Yamaha Tracer 700, £7545 For budget versatility on an A2 licence, Yamaha’s middleweight sports tourer is hard to beat. It combines the fun and funky virtues of the best-in-class base MT-07 and adds, among other things, the benefits of a fairing and a bigger tank. Best naked Honda CB650R, £6999 If you’re a cash buyer and you’re after a sporty middleweight, then the Honda CB650R is probably the best buy around. At a quid under seven grand, the bike offers the spirit of the original Honda Hornet, but with modern styling, a strong engine, great performance and a playful nature. Best tourer BMW F800GT, £8640 It’s amazing how few manufacturers make full-blown tourers these days. Honda and BMW have a couple of heavyweights; the Wing, R1250RT…

Price £13,999 Engine 998cc parallel twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 94bhp @ 7500rpm Torque 73lb·ft @ 6000rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame steel double cradle Front suspension 45mm forks, 224mm travel, adjustable preload, compression and rebound Rear suspension monoshock, 240mm travel, adjustable preload, and rebound Front brakes 310mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 256mm disc, 1-piston caliper Front tyre 90/90 R21 Rear tyre 150/70 R18 Wheelbase 1580mm Rake/trail 27.5°/113mm Seat height 900/920mm Kerb weight 253kg Fuel capacity 24.2 litres…

Hire Purchase (HP) is financing’s bread and butter. Put a deposit down, pay the remaining balance in equal monthly instalments and once its paid off, it’s yours. Easy. So why would you opt for PCP over it? HP is the better option if you want to keep the bike and can afford the higher monthly payments. But PCP means far lower monthly payments and the option to not purchase after three years. That flexible option allows you to move onto another bike without having to fork out the full balance on the original and deal with selling it. There is no walking away or swapping halfway through an HP. While with the BMW example (right), the HP option is over a grand cheaper, the gap can be a lot closer-fought,…

HP Hire Purchase. A system of paying for something in instalments while having use of it PCP Personal Contract Purchase. A type of Hire Purchase GFV Guaranteed Future Value. What a finance company calculates a vehicle to be worth at the end of a term Balloon payment Another term for GFV and the amount you must pay at the end of a term. If you’re planning on purchasing, then make sure you’re prepared financially when the balloon payment comes around Equity If your bike is worth more than the GFV at the end of your agreed PCP term, then that amount is called equity Negative equity If it’s worth less, then it’s negative equity OTR On the Road price. Everything you need to pay to get the bike on the…

PCP can be a fantastic way to get your hands on the bike of your dreams when it is used by the people it’s designed for. If you don’t want to commit to purchasing a new bike because you want a new model every couple of years; like the sound of low monthly payments; and aren’t riding to Siberia on your two weeks off work, then PCP is perfect for you. It does come with caveats and isn’t for everyone. But, if you understand that and it fits with what you want, then it’s certainly the smartest way of financing a new motorcycle.…

1 Look for quality not gimmicks There are many new helmets out there that are festooned with features but build quality and protection are always the most important factors. 2 Check when it was made If a lid is very cheap, it might be because it is old stock. It is recommended to change helmets every five years, as the energy-absorbing liner deteriorates. There will be a date of manufacture on the lining, strap or inner liner. 3 Don’t EVER buy secondhand Two very obvious reasons: firstly, see above and second, you don’t know the history, do you? 4 Do your research The most important purchase of your biking life, but it’s amazing how many people go in blind.…

1 Ask yourself what you really need Value isn’t about finding the cheapest price online, it’s about getting the tyre your bike and your riding need. Two riders may own the same type of sportsbike but if one uses his daily to get to work and rides mainly on dual-carriageway, he should be choosing performance where he needs it: in good mileage and wet-weather performance, quick warm-up from a cold start and good cold running — a tyre that’s good at everything rather than the master of one thing. That’s very different from the other rider who uses his bike for Sunday afternoon blasts and trackdays and genuinely needs a sports tyre. 2 Remember that best value may not mean buying the cheapest Buying cheaper tyres with less-familiar brand names…

FIRST, ASK YOURSELF what you need your insurance for, and what things matter to you: are you price led or product led? If it’s just price and you don’t care about the options that come with a policy, like legal assistance and cover for helmet and leathers, that will drive your choice. No frills insurance will offer good value. If you care about extras like breakdown and what will happen in the event of a claim, that will help you make choices between insurers. Once you’ve got down to a couple of insurers whose policies you like the look of, have a good read through their policy documents and terms and conditions or, better still, pick up the phone and speak to them. That’s what they are there for. But…

THREE YEARS AGO, Kawasaki announced the end was nigh for its cult-favourite air-cooled retro. After 18 years of the W650 and W800 paying homage to Kawasaki’s 1966 W1, the modern world of emissions regulations and compulsory ABS had finally caught up. The ‘Final Edition’ was unveiled in June 2016, its fancy orange paint scheme a fitting choice for the W800 to ride off into the Candy hued Sunset. But ‘Final’, it seems, doesn’t mean final in the literal or factual sense. The W800 is back for 2019, although Kawasaki claims it shares just 10% with the previous model. Its frame, suspension, brakes and wheels are new, its engine is now Euro4 compliant, and there’s a worryingly modern LED headlight. And it comes in two flavours too: the Street, a traditional…

The standard screen is an astounding £220 yet is, as you would imagine, a well-made and high-quality item. Formed in clear plastic, it has rolled edges for strength and rigidity, reinforced sections to mount to the arms and a Kawasaki logo. During the initial test and set-up phase, I opted for the lowest setting, as this gave me the best combination of noise at the helmet and air-flow, as I have learned that I need air to the front of the lid for cooling and demisting. At this setting, the airflow over the helmet created some noise but it wasn’t turbulent, which can make it worse. Jon went for the middle setting for fundamentally the same reasons — he wanted some windblast on the chest to reduce weight on the…

Fun — and fast. Here’s our impression from 2016. “The MT feels light between my legs. It feels low too, with a seat that narrows at the front. Steering lock is good, although there’s a tall first gear that asks for a lot of clutch slip. The MT might look like an animal but tootling through town, it feels like a kitten. The kitten grows teeth as we hit the edge of town though. In fact, it turns into a sabre-toothed tiger as its crossplane motor unleashes its distinct growl. But while it can be a snarling monster, Yamaha got the fundamentals right. The riding position’s great, wind protection really good. It even has cruise control as standard. Handling is plush, controlled and confidence-inspiring. I enjoyed the strong acceleration, the…

“They’re good news for us. Unbelievable to ride — I can’t describe how much fun. Just like an R1 but with the upright riding position. I love the way they look — the front end is angry but I know some people don’t like it. It gets a reaction — that’s better than being bland. Same with the engine response — some people say it’s snatchy but others say it’s responsive and exciting. You can remap them for smoother drive but you’ve got switchable modes, so keep A and B mode for racetracks and use STD to calm it down on the road. “They sell well. Most buyers tend to be in their thirties — trying to stay young. We do get some older riders who’ll test one and say…

I must comment on your recent article on electric bikes (RiDE August 2019) as it’s been playing on my mind ever since I read it. Next year, I will have held a motorcycle licence for 50 years; I easily slot into your 5000 miles a year group; and motorcycling has been the single greatest pleasure of my life so far. My problem is this; of recent years a bit of guilt has been creeping into my mind during my rides and I find I can no longer turn a blind eye to the damage I’m causing to my planet — no matter how small — every time I fire the engine up. I have little doubt that within a generation, electric bikes will be comparable in every way to my…

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Martin Fitz-Gibbons Contributor I’ve seen – or rather heard – the difference an aftermarket screen can make when I was part of an experiment measuring hearing damage (RiDE, June issue). So, which screen is best for the UK’s most popular sports-tourer, the Kawasaki Z1000SX? PAGE 80 Jim Blackstock Product Editor I rode MFG’s Yamaha Tracer 900 GT test-fleet bike last year and really enjoyed its combination of practicality and fun. However, I — like Martin — found it wanting and I’m keen to see how long-term owners have dealt with its shortcomings. PAGE 32 Simon Hargreaves Contributor Triumph’s Scrambler 1200 XE promises retro-styled adventures. Ever the optimist, MFG puts it to the test in Rallymoto’s Welsh rally — 300 miles of forest trails, mud baths and river crossings. Place your…

‘No valid reason for wearing one’ “I see no valid reason for wearing one of these ridiculous vests/jackets other than to look like a police motorcyclist. Wear hi-viz if you believe it will improve your safety but I think anticipating other people’s moves, reading the road and being prepared are far better options.” Dave Wilmot ‘I stopped wearing hi-viz’ “I stopped wearing hi-viz vests after I had three people pull out in front of me at junctions. I found learning to ride the IAM way, you move about on the road more and aren’t stuck in the middle.” Jonathan Dorward ‘Nearly 40 years and no accidents’ “I wear a white crash helmet sometimes on a police-style bike wearing a hi-viz yellow jacket identical to the police one. My life and…

IT MIGHT BE one of the flattest counties in the UK but Cambridgeshire offers plenty of deserted roads, big skies and joyous riding. This time of year is when it’s at its best — yellowing cornfields and endless evenings full of golden light. There are some wonderful, challenging roads too. The B660 is one of the most photographed roads in the country. Thanks to the proximity of most of the UK’s car and bike mags, chain-smoking, belligerent snappers have plied their trade in the hedgerows of most of it and despite more 50 limits than there used to be, it is still a lovely piece of tarmac. There are some wonderful roads off it too — if you’re heading east and turn left just after Great Gidding, you’re on Bullock…

1 Crash protection It’s pretty much guaranteed you’re going to go down, even if it’s just a simple drop in a car park or a fuel station. So make sure vital components are protected. Think engine bars, bash plate and handguards. 2 Aluminium panniers Strong, secure and watertight, they act as another layer of crash protection and can double as a chair and table if you’re camping. 3 Footpegs Standard footpegs can be too narrow. If you’re going to be riding on gravels roads and standing for longer periods, upgrade them to wider, grippy footpegs. 4 Radiator protector Get a hole in your radiator and you’re in trouble, especially if you’re somewhere remote. The same rule applies to oil coolers as well. 5 Additional lights…

Price £8399 (£8699 from July 31) Engine 689cc parallel twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 73bhp @ 9000rpm Torque 50lb·ft @ 6500rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame Tubular steel Front suspension 43mm forks, 210mm travel, fully adjustable Rear suspension monoshock, 200mm travel, fully adjustable Front brakes 282mm discs, twin piston caliper Rear brake 245mm disc, twin-piston caliper Front tyre 90/90 R21 Rear tyre 150/70 R18 Wheelbase 1595mm Rake/trail 27°/105mm Seat height 875mm Kerb weight 204kg Fuel capacity 16 litres…

‘It’s an imposing bike... and a good-looking machine too’ SINCE 2008’S CREDIT crunch and the introduction of PCP deals, signing on the dotted line has become the most popular route into new bike ‘ownership’. In fact, see page 56 for a full explanation of the pros and cons of PCP addiction. ‘Nought percent finance’ always sounds good and when manufacturers offer it, it’s a sure sign either the bike concerned isn’t selling well or they’re keen to shift an outgoing model to make way for a new one. Sometimes outgoing models are discounted heavily enough to undercut identical, lightly used, secondhand bikes – KTM is particularly noted for this; for example slashing value off new 1050 Adventures before the 1090 arrived. Then it happened again with the 1090 before the…

To PCP or not to PCP? PCP can work out as a better deal even if you have the cash to buy a bike outright. Dealers and manufacturers offer PCP incentives like deposit contributions and 0% APR. Restrictions like mileage limits wouldn’t matter because you’re going to buy the bike anyway. Dealer deals Dealers like PCP because they’re more to get a return customer and a well looked-after second-hand part exchange. That means there are always deals to be had so don’t be afraid to ask for a lower APR. A manufacturer’s APR is always set high and can be dropped by 5% for example by a dealer. Become a PCP watcher Dealers and manufacturers often offer 0% APR if they want to shift a certain number of bikes, meet…

1 Buy new old stock The best advice I can give is simply to buy last year’s kit — when it’s priced to be cleared. That is tip number one every time. 2 Get your timing right Timing is key too. If a distributor holds lots of stock they may delay bringing in the new model but traditionally, we start looking to next year from the summer. We’ve already looked at Alpinestars’ 2020 range of clothing and will look at Dainese’s in June or July. By November, we will have seen all the 2020 kit. So getting on towards winter is when the old stock generally gets discounted. 3 Price match At SportsBikeShop we get between 80 and 100 price matches a day. People are out there…

YOU CAN SAVE a small fortune on tour this summer by figuring out what you spend your money on and then cutting corners. The biggest and most obvious players are accommodation, food, drink and petrol. But there’s a silent one, one that’ll get you without you even knowing — your bank card. Smarter banking Debit and credit cards from high-street banks can charge extortionate non-sterling transaction fees for foreign payments and fees for each withdrawal. Get yourself a mobile app-based bank account like Monzo or Revolut instead. Download the app, order your bank card and transfer money from your bank account to your Monzo and use it like a regular card in the UK or abroad. You don’t need to change your bank account; it’s free and will save money.…

> We got a factory-fresh Kawasaki c1000Sa sports tourer as our test mule. As a bike with an already decent screen, the aftermarket items will have to be good to beat it. And it’s the UK’s most popular sports tourer. > We selected two testers — myself at 5’8” and Jon Urry, at 6’2” — to see how each screen would interact with different sized riders to get a better idea of their relative performance. > We began the test by each riding the bike on the A1 at 70mph to establish which of the three available positions we would have the screen set at for normal use. Having established that, we would then fit each aftermarket screen and ride the same route, at the same speed and with the…

Bridgestone S21 £208 a pair Bridgestones are far and away the most popular tyres for the MT. This is the favoured sporty option, with the T30 Evo also getting good marks for grip and longevity, at £205 a pair. Michelin Road 5 £241 a pair Taking over from the Pilot Road 4 as the all-weather tyre of choice for many. You can expect around 3-4k miles from a rear, up to twice that for a front. A couple of owners also rated the older 2CT. Metzeler Sportec M7RR £271 a pair Not cheap, but seriously sticky once hot, making them ideal for track days. For the road, the Roadtec 01 at £267 a pair is more practical, with around 5k from a pair easily achievable. Prices are mail order. Add…

Tucano Urbano Network Jacket £114.99 Zipster trousers £114.99 www.tucanourbano.com Tested by Jim Blackstock, product editor WHEN THE WEATHER gets really hot, like it did in 2018, just about the only way to stay cool while properly protected is with some well-designed mesh clothing. This A-rated Network jacket from Tucano Urbano features CE-approved Level-1 armour at the shoulders and elbows and has a pocket for a back protector. Its solid polyester outer (the white sections) covers areas considered high-risk for abrasion but the lower-risk, lighter-grey areas are formed in polyester mesh and hence, allow air through to keep you cool. There is loads of adjustment — Velcro at the waist and cuffs and poppers on the upper arms and the collar mean getting the right fit is easy. In use, the…

TF YOU’VE NOT heard of the case of Darren Emanuel, then take a moment to hear his plight. Darren was your average biker with a VFR800 for weekends, who decided to start commuting to his job in central London. So he bought himself an R1200RT for comfort and ease of maintenance, then stuck a hi-viz Polite vest on to stay safe. One day while riding home from work, a copper on a bike pulled him over, claiming that, in his bike gear, on his bike, he looked like a police officer. He wrote him up for it and sent him on his way but not before contacting his insurers, resulting in Darren’s cover being cancelled. Months later it went to court, where Darren was convicted. Various news outlets got hold…

Each month, the Star Picture will win a BikeTrac security tracker with a year’s BikeTrac subscription. As well as helping recover your bike if it is nicked, it logs journeys and gives live battery voltage information, too. How to send us your photos Email your most inspirational biking photos to us at ride@ride.co.uk with ‘Your Rides’ in the subject line. Please send us the original unedited photo file, ideally at least five megapixels in size. And don’t forget to include your full name, too.…

YAMAHA HAS GONE back to basics with its all-new middleweight adventure offering. Instead of going down the road of ever-increasing capacity, power and weight (1260cc, 160bhp and 254kg in some cases) plus electronic complexity akin to a superbike, the Ténéré boasts 74bhp, 187kg (dry) and, ABS aside, no electronics. It is also £8699 (£8399 if you order before the end of July), less than half the price of its most expensive, fully-loaded rivals. KTM’s similarly light and flighty 790 Adventure bears closer comparison but costs nearly £3k more. There’s a satisfying bark from the Ténéré’s exhaust as you hit the starter. Powered by the same 689cc 270°crossplane-mimicking motor used in the MT-07, it feels responsive and free-revving thanks to updated fuel-injection and a lower final-gear ratio. The bike’s lines are…

Price £19,999 Engine 999cc inline four, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 189bhp @ 13,000rpm Torque 84lb·ft @ 11,000rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame Aluminium twin spar Front suspension 43mm forks, 120mm travel, semi-active damping Rear suspension monoshock, 60mm travel, semi-active damping Front brakes 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 220mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 cR17 Rear tyre 190/50 cR17 Wheelbase 1404mm Rake/trail 23.3°/96mm Seat height 820mm Kerb weight 195kg Fuel capacity 16 litres…

Price £12,399 Engine 1441cc inline four, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 197bhp @ 10,000rpm Torque 117lb·ft @ 7500rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame aluminium monocoque Front suspension 43mm forks, 117mm travel, adjustable preload, compression and rebound Rear suspension monoshock, 124mm travel, adjustable preload, compression and rebound Front brakes 310mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 250mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 cR17 Rear tyre 190/50 cR17 Wheelbase 1480mm Rake/trail 23°/93mm Seat height 800mm Kerb weight 269kg Fuel capacity 22 litres…

Price £10,899 Engine 853cc 90° transverse V-twin, 2v per cyl, a/c Power 79bhp @ 7750rpm Torque 59lb·ft @ 5000rpm Transmission 6-speed, shaft Frame steel tube Front suspension 41mm forks, 170mm travel, adjustable preload and rebound Rear suspension monoshock, 170mm travel, adjustable preload and rebound Front brakes 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 260mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 110/80 R19 Rear tyre 150/70 R17 Wheelbase 1530mm Rake/trail 28°/128mm Seat height 830mm Dry weight 208kg Fuel capacity 23 litres…

Price £15,290 Engine 999cc inline four, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 204bhp @ 13,500rpm Torque 83lb·ft @ 11,000rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame aluminium twin spar Front suspension 45mm forks, 120mm travel, adjustable preload, compression and rebound Rear suspension monoshock, 117mm travel, adjustable preload, compression and rebound Front brakes 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 220mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 R19 Rear tyre 190/55 R17 Wheelbase 1441mm Rake/trail 23.1°/93.9mm Seat height 824mm Kerb weight 197kg Fuel capacity 16.5 litres…

Best A2 Yamaha MT-07, 2.9%, £69.00 per month If you can stomach the meagre 41bhp of the Ducati Scrambler Sixty2, £63 month on a £2000 deposit makes it the most affordable Ducati. But the winner is Yamaha’s MT-07, with one of the most loveable and entertaining small-bore motors to grace two wheels. Best litre sports Honda Fireblade, 0%, £99.00 per month At the time of writing, Honda is offering both 2018 and 2019 model Blades, in RR, SP and even SP2 guises, with 0% finance. The catch? A fat deposit and a balloon payment after three years that looks uncomfortably close to the value of a three year-old Blade today. Best big naked Kawasaki Z900, 6.3%, £87.00 per month Special mention to Honda’s big retro, the CB1100 and the Neo…

1 What if I lose my job and can’t pay? You can settle early but the GFV isn’t applicable until the end of your term. You may be in negative equity if you sell your bike for less than the GFV (likely if you want out before your term is up). You will have to pay the difference to the finance company. 2 What happens if I want to change brands after my term? Search for a dealer who stocks multiple brands and part-exchange with them instead of the branded dealer you bought from. You’re not obligated to a dealer. 3 Can I make modifications? Yes. However, the finance company won’t reimburse you for them so keep the OE parts and change them back. Check that you’re allowed to use…

‘PCP is perfect because I get bored easily!’ ‘The mileage is too restrictive for me’ I’m on my second PCP bike and will do it again at the end of this term. I’ve always had issues with used bikes from dealers ever since I started biking. I decided to bite the bullet and bought a brand-new Triumph Street Triple RS, which would have otherwise been out-of-reach. Now I don’t have any issues, the mileage is fine for me and it’s brilliant being able to get a new bike every couple of years.” “I bought a Honda CB650F on PCP a few years ago and felt the deal was too restrictive. Just 5000 miles a year wasn’t enough and I also spent the whole time worrying about its condition. It’s a…

It’s not for you if… • Pou want to keep the Yike at the end of the term (HG may Ye the cheaper option) • Pou don’t like the idea of not owning the vehicle • Pou don’t want to Ye restricted Yy mileage and servicing requirements It’s for you if… • Pou want Yrand-new and the latest model… and another new one in a couple of years • Pou don’t mind not owning the vehicle at the end of your term • Khe asking price for the Yike you want is otherwise out of reach…

WHEN YOU WALK into a showroom full of helmets, it’s easy to have your head turned by gimmicks such as inflatable cheek pads but forget all that and ignore fancy graphics and paintjobs too. Instead, fix your attention on getting the maximum level of protection you can for your budget. That means: A good fit Use the expertise of your dealer to get it standard. There are too many sub-par helmets on sale. A fibre shell  construction Stay away from plastic shells A plain colour Because graphics are more expensive A brand name you  know Because while it’s true that all the helmets in the showroom will conform to ECE 22.05 you have no idea by how much each helmet model has surpassed this minimum Beyond that essential checklist there…

THE TYPICAL LIFE of a tyre design is three to four years. Whenever it’s replaced by a new generation tyre is a great time to buy. For example, Bridgestone’s S22 has replaced the S21, demoting a premium tyre to a more humble ‘mid-price’ bracket, but that doesn’t mean it’s suddenly become a poor performer — it simply means it has become cheaper. Even better value can be found with entry level sports tyres, designs that have slipped down a manufacturers’ hierarchy over a period of years but are still manufactured. Many of these ‘legacy’ tyres have barely increased in price in 15 to 20 years. They have greater limitations than the latest rubber — but will still exceed most riders’ needs for the road.…

Q Do you think price-comparison websites help motorcyclists find better value? Or are they purely price driven? They do what they say on the tin: compare prices. What they don’t do is tell you the actual scope of the cover. They are not bike specialists and their websites are configured for 40-odd companies to work on, so are an average of things. So if you want to be comfortable you’re getting the right cover for you and your motorcycle, you should phone up the insurer and question them about the detail to ensure you have what you actually need. Q If ‘value’ also means getting satisfaction and support in the event of a claim, what are the important questions we should ask when buying insurance? There’s no independent body that…

For more than two decades, the RiDE Best Buy and Recommended triangles have stood for performance and value for money. > A RiDE Best Buy award means that a product has been tested under real-world and where appropriate, laboratory, conditions to assess its performance in all relevant criteria and has excelled in its field, while offering exceptional value for money. > A RiDE magazine Recommended triangle means that a product has either done an outstanding job at a higher price or a reasonable job but at a significantly lower price. So while not worthy of a Best Buy, it still performs very well in one of these criteria. > Our product tests are carried out by real bikers with years of experience and on real bikes and are combined with…

YAMAHA’S CROSSPLANE INLINE four engine, as fitted to the firm’s flagship R1 and R1M superbikes from 2009, is one of the great power units of our time. The offbeat firing order (the pistons hit top dead centre one after the other, rather than in two pairs as in a conventional layout) gives it a unique feel and a growl somewhere between a triple and a V4. On the road, that translates as great drive in the midrange, while still allowing a howling top end that needs a racetrack to explore properly. The only downside was that this fantastic engine was only available in superbike form, with all the compromises of comfort and practicality that entails. Until 2016 that is, when the MT-10 hit the streets, to an enthusiastic response. With…

Aprilia Tuono V4 2011-on > £5500-£12,500 > 1000/1077cc V4 > 160/173bhp > 205kg A full-on sportsbike with the fairing ripped off, and to underline that fact, it had the option of Aprilia’s full suite of electronics and three-way switchable engine modes. ABS arrived in 2014. For 2015 it went to 1100cc but also got a softer feel and there was a new Öhlins-equipped Factory version. They’re all barking but the later models are a little bit more civilised. BMW S1000R 2014-on > £7300-£12,000 > 999cc inline four > 160bhp > 207kg Plenty of power, the same suspension and brakes as the S1000RR superbike but a more sensible riding position. And it’s so well developed. It’s easier to use more of what it’s got to offer, more of the time, than…

Service schedule Based on 6000-mile interim and 12,000-mile main services, with a super-service at 24,000 including valve clearances and air filter change. 6k sees oil changed, spark plugs checked and checks and lubrication. 12k adds a spark-plug and oil-filter change, suspension pivot and head bearing re-grease and EaUP valve check (better every 6k). Brake fluid’s changed at two years, coolant at three, brake hoses at four. There’s no interval for fork-oil change but we’d do it at 12k or two years. Access isn’t too bad, but there are a LOT of fiddly bodywork fasteners. New and used parts prices Genuine service parts are pricey, with oil and air filters £14.76 and 53.44 respectively. Brake discs are £161 each, pads £54 a pair. A chain and sprocket kit is £260 and…