Sommaire pour 2nd January 2019 de MCN

When deciding which bike to buy, which route to ride or which bit of kit to purchase, trial and error is one way to proceed. Although, in this day and age, that’s an expensive and time consuming way to find out if something suits your needs or is any good. Or you could just ask people who know stuff. Assuming the person, or people, you are asking are trustworthy, what could go wrong? Ask enough people and you may get a few sensible options or even a consensus. The inter-web is one such place you can ask for advice, but the answers can come from unknown sources and often the responses are conflicting. MCN’s #ride5000miles community has proved to be a great source of advice and information. With more than…

Knowing Triumph, this will be the start of a whole new family of models based on the same chassis and engine platform. The previous Rocket III family included cruisers, roadsters and tourers and Triumph are highly unlikely to develop a new platform without having further models planned. A bagger and a full-dress tourer are likely to follow in 2020, and with the new Triumph Factory Custom division, who knows, we might even get a ‘special’ new X version.…

This NCR Ducati replica, identical to the bike Mike Hailwood rode to historic victory at the 1978 TT, is the star lot at the Mecum auction in Las Vegas later this month. NCR were a tuning shop down the road from Ducati in Bologna that made the factory race bikes of the era. Unlike many tuning houses that port and polish, NCR completely rebuilt their machines from the ground up. They cast their own crankcases, which were both narrower and stronger, made their own cranks and rods, put in a dry clutch and built a recess in the sump for a spin on filter; all of which made for a bike that put out 80bhp reliably. The frame and exhaust were made from thinner steel tubing, which gave them a…

SUZUKI GP100 September 1985, touring the North Yorks Moors on my first bike: a Suzuki GP100. Happy days. Carol Gawthorpe BSA BANTAM This is me on my first bike, a D7 Bantam. I was 17 and the picture was taken on a roundabout in West Belfast. I’m now 67 and ride a Honda VFR800. Gerr y Sheeran ENFIELD CONSTELLATION On my Uncle Colin’s Royal Enfield Constellation in about 1962. This is where my love for bikes began and continues today. Mick Corten  This 1961 Triumph was my first custom bike and featured many handmade parts. The picture is from 1972. Trev TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE PREMIER 500 This is a picture of my paternal grandparents taken in 1923. My dad is in the sidecar on his mother’s knee. My research suggests that…

With just six weeks to go before the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show, there are new bikes, stars and features being announced all the time. Featuring an impressive array of newfor-2019 machines, an all-action arena where biking celebs lock elbows and stacks of bargains, there is something for everyone. Enter the world of classic bikes The Bonhams Classic zone includes the all-new Classic Dealer Village feature. Premier classic restorers and dealers will be selling machines right at the show with nostagia-laden machines on sale for every taste and pocket. Great gear for brilliant prices All the biggest clothing, kit and accessory brands will be at the show. From technologically advanced race leathers to no-nonsense casual jackets plus retro riding gear, the show is the best place to buy bike…

Both have a clear gear position indicator. The analogue rev counter, with digital speed readout, gives a slightly dated feel to the Kawasaki and there’s no ambient temperature display either. The Yamaha clocks are a little easier on the eye, and clearer to read, but they miss a fuel range readout. Instead you get a fuel trip on the digital dispaly, which can be reset and counts the mileage until the next fuel stop, but the buttons are fiddly. KAWASAKI YAMAHA FUNCTIONALITY…

Hidden away on a small, industrial park on the outskirts of Nuneaton lies one of the jewels of the British bike industry with a CV including not just the likes of Triumph’s Moto2 prototype, but also racers such as Michael Dunlop, Steve Hislop and Niall Mackenzie. ProMach are the specialist machining firm set up by ex-racer Mick Edwards in 1995 and now renowned for arguably the best precision-engineered rearsets, and adjustable yokes available. Now 62, and ably assisted by long-time colleague Spud (Brian Hudspith), Mick is ProMach personified. With an engineering background he started supplying machined parts for Devimead Ducati before, recognising an opportunity, he took over the old Devimead unit in October 1995 where he launched ProMach. He quickly gained a reputation for quality race rearsets and formed close…

● ‘I didn’t get accustomed to the cold. There were moments when I feared for my life’ You know the (lack of) feeling. The moment when you realise that the merciless, stabbing wind chill of January has penetrated deep into your bones, freezing your spirit and crushing your riding ambitions. Suddenly you feel a long, long way from home; bleak, desolate, and despite riding among hundreds of car drivers, very much alone. Yes, you may well be on the same road as the general population but your agonised toes and fingers are on another planet. Where, you ask incredulously, are all the other heroes who claim to be all-year riders? They’re in their cars, of course, too ashamed to look at you, and the worst thing of all? You wish…

● ‘It was too much for my brain to take in’ When was the last time you held your bike’s throttle open? And I mean wide open for a sustained period of time not just a quick blast to get your pulse racing. Chances are very few riders have ever experienced the thrill of hitting their machine’s top speed as the UK’s maximum speed limit is 70mph and if you get caught hitting the 186mph many modern sportsbikes are capable of, you will be spending more than a few months at Her Majesty’s pleasure and then commuting on the bus for the foreseeable future. Quite simply, it’s not worth the risk. “In the 1990s I remember hitting some serious speeds on my GSX-R1100 Slabby,” says MCN reader Jon Ashley. “But…

● ‘It’s all about taking it easy and enjoying two wheels’ It won’t have escaped your notice that the retro scene is booming. New machines, inspired by old ones, are being churned out on an almost daily basis, so much so the choice can be overwhelming. The major manufacturers have got in on the act, complete with contrived back stories and clothing ranges; the Chinese have some pretty tasty looking offerings; and of course there are the cut-and-shut varieties created by men with nice facial hair. And because these bikes are less about performance and more about style, it doesn’t matter what kind you go for, as long as it tickles your nostalgic taste buds. Surprise hit Bolton-based CCM may be most famous for off-road exploits, but their Spitfire range…

‘It’s one of my all-time favourite rides’ With rural Lincolnshire on his doorstep, Kawasaki Z1000SX rider Tony Hubbard is spoilt for choice when it comes to picking his best One Gallon Challenge. Tony says: “This is one of my all-time favourite rides, I regularly set out from my home in Melton Mowbray and ride this route with friends. “It’s mostly open countryside but where we do head into Grantham we stop off for a slap-up BSB Breakfast at Chris Walker’s dealership; the ride is worth it for that on its own. “The run out of Grantham is the best bit of the ride, the B6043 has loads of bends and there’s rarely any traffic along that stretch. Give it a go and you won’t be disappointed.” FACTFILE Grantham Gallivant, 40…

DON’T PANIC Urban riding can cause stress, which has a negative effect on your ability to process hazards. Keep calm and carry on. 1. CHILL OUT Few people enjoy riding through an unknown, busy city centre so don’t feel like you’re the only one feeling under pressure. 2. HANG BACK Riding too close to vehicles limits your view and gives you less time and space to think and react. Create space. 3. SCAN THE ROAD Use your eyes to scan your environment; the distance, the mid-ground, sides and rear, getting clues about any hazards. 4. BE CLEAR Use your indicators, that way other road users will be aware of your intentions and may even leave you a bit of a gap. 5. FILTERING It’s usually necessary to filter past other…

This year’s Dakar may not be anywhere near as long as previous year’s events, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be tough. Run over ten stages and exclusively in Peru, the riders will have to deal with sand, sand and more sand. Peru is famed for its enormous dunes which make for not only seriously physical riding, but extremely difficult navigation. Start Lima Stage 1 Lima-Pisco: Total 205 miles (52-mile Special stage) Stage 2 Pisco-San Juan: Total 343 miles (212-mile Special stage) Stage 3 San Juan-Arequipa: Total 495 miles (205-mile Special stage) Stage 4 Marathon stage. Arequipa-Moquengua: Total 317 miles (218-mile Special stage) Stage 5 Marathon stage. Moquengua-Arequipa: Total 482 miles (214-mile Special stage) Rest day Stage 6 Arequipa-San Juan: Total 521 miles (197-mile Special stage) Stage 7 San Juan:…

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, appears to be listening to the concerns of bikers over London’s incoming Ultra Low Emission Zone. The ULEZ will levy a £12.50 per day charge on any non-Euro3 certified (pre-2007) bikes that enter the congestion charging zone from April this year. This has been questioned repeatedly over concerns that bikes should be treated differently from cars. The Motorcycle Action Group highlighted this recently in a meeting with the Mayor, who agreed to look further into the matter. He also reiterated his desire to see motorcycles allowed to use all bus lanes across the capital. While the ULEZ will only cover the congestion zone, by April it will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will expand to the North and South…

Just as the electric bike market is heating up with more manufacturers and increasing sales, US firm Lightning have entered the next stage of mass production with their LS-218 sportsbike. While they officially delivered their first customer bike in 2014, they have been quiet in recent years but new images of bikes working their way down the production line show Lightning are serious. Early beginnings Lightning first stormed onto the scene in 2010 when a prototype set an electric bike speed record of 173mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Two years later that record was raised to 215mph and they later set the outright record for a production motorcycle at 218mph (hence the bike’s name). A year later Lightning took the outright record at Pikes Peak, 22 seconds ahead of…

A community safety partnership in Newcastle has helped fund DNA spray for a new police taskforce to help tackle motorcycle crime in the North East. Northumbria Police first set up a specialist team for motorcycle-related crime in October after investigations found that stolen motorcycles often enabled more serious criminality. Just before Christmas, the team used this information to seize stolen property, fake numberplates, drugs and even weapons. ● ‘We knew that there was serious criminality’ DET INSP MAL STRATTON This work, supported by the use of DNA spray, has already led to a significant reduction in crime, with the pilot scheme in Sunderland and South Tyneside reporting a 70% fall. The Safe Newcastle board has now provided the police with much-needed funding to deploy the spray more widely. A greater…

The winter sun is on our backs cascading long shadows. It might be early December, but with heated kit we’re warm and the roads are dry. We’re deep in the Cotswolds, meandering through the many picturesque villages. Now the leaves have fallen from the hedgerows and trees the roads feel wider and more visible. The views are more open. Our speed is sedate to moderate, which means I’ve got time to take it all in, I love riding bikes this time of year. Both machines are easy to manage, enjoyable and comfortable. In the real word, you don’t need any more power, especially in cold wintry conditions. Bibury is normally congested with tourists, but today it’s empty and we take the opportunity to park up. Bruce is enjoying the riding,…

● Wear overlapping layers of clothing. Layers allow you to regulate your body temperature. But make sure they overlap at the seams (neck, face, gloves, waist, and boots) otherwise the wind will force cold air in between your clothing and cause frostbite. ● Bike batteries don’t perform well in sub-zero temperatures. Take a back-up battery and a way to warm up your engine if it’s really cold. ● Take lots of breaks to warm up and dry your gear. Take your kit off when you stop at a warm location to check for frostbite. Stay hydrated to help keep yourself alert on the road. ● Most important of all is testing your gear. If you’re on a serious winter ride then you need to know how to use all your gear and test it…

● ‘Do it in the sun and it feels almost Mediterranean’ SCOTLAND The North Coast 500 A pre-packaged destination may be an easy way to plan a ride, but who cares when it’s as stunning as the North Coast 500? Starting in Inverness, we’d go clockwise, arcing towards Strathcarron before heading over the infamous Applecross Road and on up the West coast. When you pop out at the North Coast proper it’s an incredible run to John O’Groats. Do it in the sunshine, and this section feels almost Mediterranean, with a ton of white sandy coves and a rocky coastline. JOG isn’t exactly a must-visit destination, but the ride from there back down the East coast is fantastic as you scythe through switchbacks and swooping valleys on the return to…

Gorgeous details Tubular frame is a lesson in steel artistry. Plastic tank is Acerbis. Spoked wheels are shod with Maxxis dual purpose rubber and with no front ’guard expect a muddy face wash when it rains. Back end is a work of art... Subframe has a built-in rear light and braces a hand-stitched leather seat made by the same firm who make interiors for Range Rover. Carbon hump holds receiver for key fob ignition control. …and so is the front Chunky yokes, bar-end mirrors, fuel filler cap, LCD digital display mount and headlight bracket are all in machined billet aluminium. Headlight shroud is carbon fibre.…

1 The type is right There are a few different types of headlight bulb most of which relate to the shaped base or flange of the bulb and how it fits into the housing. The three most common types are (l-r): H7, H4 and H1. When handling halogen bulbs, only hold them by the metal base, as oils and contamination from your skin will create a hot spot on the glass and cause it to fail. 2 Become enlightened Ensure you know the type of lights your bike uses. The conventional bulb needs no introduction and is readily available and easy to fit. The various types of LED lights, however, need a bit more consideration. Check your owner’s manual for instructions. Problems can be costly. An LED headlight assembly and…

‘I’m practising wheel changes in the garage’ ‘I’m banking on things not going too badly wrong’ What do you do when you’ve successfully completed the world’s hardest race for the last two years and are looking for an even tougher challenge? Well, if you’re Max Hunt you go back and do it all again, but this time on your own without a team or any outside assistance. ‘I need to take it easier than before’ In 2018, Hunt finished an impressive 37th overall riding for the HT Husqvarna team, which meant he had a full support package of mechanics to service his bike, a comfortable place to sleep and daily massage to keep the aches and pains at bay, but in 2019 it’s going to be different as he’s entered…

Twelve months ago Sam Sunderland was the reigning Dakar champion and was heading into the 2018 race as one of the favourites for overall glory. Four stages in and it was all going exactly to plan with the Brit leading the race but then disaster struck and he suffered a serious injury. In a bid to get to the top of a dune, Sunderland went down an unseen dip at high speed which resulted in a heavy compression to his back. He never actually fell-off but within minutes of the impact he had lost feeling in his legs and had to be airlifted out of the race and into hospital. He said: “Last year was a difficult one. I was out on day four while leading the race and hurt…

The Bennetts British Superbike championship gets its biggest shake-up for a decade this year as major changes for the season ahead throw the series wide open. With the likes of Shane Byrne, Leon Haslam and Jake Dixon all absent, no fewer than three new motorcycles joining the grid and an impressive game of winter musical chairs, the 2019 BSB season could be the most unpredictable yet. And despite all the upheaval, series bosses have thrown another spanner in the works by banning testing in January and February. Instead there’s a proposed official Spanish testing period in March, meaning riders will have less time than ever before to acclimatise to their new steeds before the series starts at Silverstone in April. We take a look at the 2019 grid and rate…

Triumph will release an all-new Rocket III in 2019 and the styling and spec suggest it will be serious weapon, aimed at kicking Ducati’s new Diavel squarely in the V-twin. This official Triumph design sketch was revealed to dealers at Triumph’s annual conference in late October last year, swiftly followed by a pre-production test mule being briefly ridden across the stage. But despite the firm releasing a raft of new models since, there has been no official public confirmation of the return of the Rocket III. However, MCN has learned that the new bike is scheduled for release in 2019, and will boast class-defining performance figures. When it was revealed to dealers at the closed-door event in October, Triumph claimed the new Rocket III would deliver in excess of 180bhp…

Developments with Tesla’s autopilot system are now enabling their driverless cars to ‘see’ bikes that are filtering between moving traffic. This is a huge step forward for autonomous vehicles as motorcycles present numerous problems for them. Not only are bikes small but they tend to move erratically, unlike cars that are large and (with some obvious exceptions) tend to stick to a single lane. This makes tracking bikes, and therefore predicting their next moves, very difficult and presents a huge challenge for autonomous vehicle adoption. ● ‘This is a huge step forward for autonomous vehicles’ To combat this problem, Tesla have been working on a more advanced ‘neural net’ that can identify the presence of numerous vehicles, both large and small, around the car. In a video of a Tesla…

It’s now 20 years since Yamaha released the first R1; a model that redefined sportsbikes and set litre bikes on the path they’re still following to this day. Even back in 1998 it had a claimed 140bhp and weighed just 190kg. More amazing still was the chassis, which, thanks to the revolutionary stacked gearbox, was light, stiff and had a wheelbase of just 1385mm (20mm shorter than the Blade of the time). It is this model that Yamaha are celebrating with this new ‘GYTR Special Edition’. Although based on the standard R1, the GYTR (which stands for Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) is a very special, hand-built, ultra-limited edition track special slathered in exotic parts. Just 20 will be built by Yamaha’s race team rather than on the regular production line,…

When Royal Enfield unveiled the gorgeous KX Concept recently, we were left with more questions than answers. What on earth were a value-focused company doing building an outrageous concept? Well it turns out they were simply pleasing the boss. “Of all the models in Enfield’s history the KX is my favourite,” says Siddhartha Lal, CEO of Royal Enfield. “It’s from such a fascinating time in motorcycling history. It was before the English and American markets split into parallel-twins and cruisers, so it has style elements that we would associate with both. My personal favourite part is the tank; there are no other shapes like it out there.” So just how did the model come about? “Well it’s good to give the team something to do without the restraints of a…

For a long time, I used to think F1 car racers were a bunch of wimps. But then I got quite pally with Mark Webber and realised his work ethic, his commitments and what he had to do to compete at the top level were second to none. I used to think that car drivers just sat on their arses steering about a bit. But I remember going testing with Mark in Barcelona and it was a bloody intense day. They sure put the work in. ‘I USED TO THINK THEY JUST SAT ON THEIR ARSES’ Holding on to those cars at 200mph for two hours is not easy. They have to cope with hard braking and G-force, while having to be millimetre perfect with thousands of gear changes. They…

ADAM CHILD SENIOR ROAD TESTER Despite its age, Kawasaki’s Versys Grand Tourer has impressed us. Excellent comfort, a huge tank range, just enough punch from the motor, plus a raft of extras as standard make it a tempting buy. But is it worth £650 more than the Yamaha? I don’t think so (although Kawasaki are offering some excellent PCP deals). The Tracer has more power, which in turn makes it more fun. It’s noticeably lighter, easier to manage around town and the fuelling is cleaner. Brakes, tyres and the standard handling are all better on the MT. The Yamaha is only let down by the suspension when the going gets bumpy and its fiddly, diminutive switchgear. But both bikes have proved their worth on the demanding MCN250. Why would you…

1 Measuring up must be spot-on New rearset designs commence by precision-measuring the original stock item using a CMM machine. These rearsets are from a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. 2 Design From the measurements and spec, Mick uses CNC (plus many years of experience) to create the new design. 3 Machining ProMach have two Hurco mini-mills. Here, Spud holds a part-finished yoke for a Smiths Racing BMW S1000RR. 4 Anodising comes next Once machined and finished, the various rearset components; back and heel plate, levers etc, are sent off for anodising, which is the only process done externally. Most are black, some silver. 5 Assembly Rearset assembly is by hand. Only a few parts, such as the footpegs, are off-the-peg. These are for a GSX-R1000 L7. 6 Completion ProMach make around…

Racer Bruce Dunn has been MCN’s speed tester for over 15 years and knows better than anyone what it takes. ● “I’m not surprised Jon didn’t hit 180mph. There are so many techniques not least accelerating as fast as possible in every gear or you’ll run out of space.” ● “I actually log acceleration at the same time as the top speed run, to see how fast I can accelerate.” ● “You must make yourself as small as possible with elbows tucked in and chin on the tank.” ● “Top speed runs aren’t for the fainthearted; you need to be confident, accelerate brutally and be prepared for the unexpected. I’ve cut a few hares in half and hit a flock of geese at 185mph…”…

THE STUDENT Caroline Ash, 55, Warwickshire ER-6F owner Caroline has been riding since 1988 and does so purely for pleasure, as well as observed rides with the IAM. Caroline’s riding problem ‘I feel overwhelmed when riding in busy town centres. I feel under pressure to take in all the info, and navigate while being safe.’ THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training A police motorcyclist for 18 years, Mark has been training people to be faster, safer, better riders on the road for 20 years. Mark’s action plan ‘I’ll show Caroline how she can give herself more time and boost her observation in town to help her figure out where she needs to be.’ THE LESSON 1 A bubble of calm Urban areas are frantic but there’s no need for your…

THE OWNER Phil Aspinall, 47, from Lincolnshire. Phil passed his test 12 years ago and rides either his trials bike, a Honda CBR600RR, road and track Fireblades or this workhorse Africa Twin. Phil Aspinall knows what he wants when it comes to bikes.“I’d rather ride the bike than take the car,” the MCN reader and sportsbike lover says. “And I can’t resist a twisty back road.” Trouble is, sportsbikes just aren’t very practical or forgiving when it comes to wet and wintery rides. And it wasn’t until a chance test ride on a Honda Africa Twin that Phil found what he hadn’t actually realised he’d been looking for. “I popped over to Padgett’s to take my CBR600RR in for a service and my mate came, too. He was interested…

Adventure-sport bikes are supposed to give you the best of several worlds; the ability to cope with our potholed roads, handle the daily commute as practical workhorses and even morph into competent tourers that can handle some dry trails up in the Alps during your summer holiday adventure. Better still, there is a lot of choice out there. Here’s what £4000 will buy you. YOUR EXPERT Scott Bullett is the Workshop Manager at major Honda dealer Doble Motorcycles in Surrey and has over 15 years’ experience on all marques. £2499 SUZUKI DL650 V-STROM 645cc | 68bhp | 835mm seat height • Dealer £1650-£9000• Private £2200-£6300• This one 2005, 33,500 miles The DL650 has been around in one form or another for 14 years and the SV’s V-twin engine matched to…