Table of contents for July 25th 2018 in MCN

The two blokes working on a broken bracket at a motorway services did not want or need any help. But I offered it anyway. And while the pair soon had the GSX1400 ready to complete its journey without any incompetent interfering from me, they seemed happy to chat about their epic European adventure and anything else vaguely bike-related. Motorcycling does that for you. The moment a crash helmet cradles your grey matter, you automatically get entered into a worldwide club. A club that has millions of members ready to talk to you, help you, ride with you and generally share the experiences of life on two wheels. Because riding a motorcycle creates such strong emotions, there is a deep connection between bikers, an understanding of the challenges, hardships and dangers…

Sarolea’s 161bhp Manx7 Limited promises to be the lightest electric superbike you can buy. Derived from their TT-Zero racebike, which set a best lap of 108.064mph with Dean Harrison in 2017 and with a claimed weight of 217kg, it also destroys the perception that all electric bikes are excessively heavy and means electric sportsbikes are now within 20kg of their petrol counterparts. It also means it is over 40kg lighter than an Energica Ego, widely renowned as the market leader. Light is right The Belgian brand, who were revived by engineer Torsten Robbens, are owned by a composites firm and it isn’t a surprise that carbon fibre is featured throughout as a means to keep weight down. Like the racer, there is carbon-fibre bodywork, a carbon monococque chassis and a…

‘It’s one of the remotest places on earth’ ‘Dreaming of a big trip? I’d say ‘Just do it!’ R5K MEMBER ANDY DAVIDSON At the start of this year Andy Davidson did what many of us dream of doing; he gave up his job, rented out his house, loaded up the bike and set off to ride around the world. Since then he’s ridden where few dare and completed covered 10,000 miles. “Anyone contemplating a big trip should just do it. It’s an amazing experience and you get to know your bike so well,” said Andy. We’ve followed Andy since he set out in January, but he says the trip keeps getting better the more miles he covers. He takes up the story on his run through Tajikistan into Afghanistan. “I…

Sitting down to catch up on MCN after arriving back in the UK from holiday I was surprised to see you pretty much review my trip in your centre pages (MCN, July 11). Your bucket list article on the best road in Europe, Germany's B500 through the Black Forest, described my holiday almost exactly. You do only tell half the story though. While the sweeping curves and super-smooth tarmac of the 500 are indeed a joy, the many other roads winding their way through the forest offer an intoxicating and varied mix of corners and terrain with minimal traffic that left us exhausted and exhilarated. We often arrived at the end of certain roads only to turn around and ride them again. The beer isn't half bad either. Matt Shearsby,…

I LIKE IT PAUL JONES Age 50 Height 6ft 2in Current bike Triumph Tiger XRT, Thruxton R Been riding for Over 13 years “I’ve just downsized from a Tiger 1200 to an 800. I loved the distance ability of the bigger bike but as soon as you get in the garage you realise it’s a big, heavy bugger. If I knew this BMW was coming at the time, I’d have been interested, but I prefer more cylinders.” I LIKE IT ALAN BRADFORD Age 60 Height 6ft 1in Current bike MV Agusta F4 Senna Been riding for 43 years “I’ve had a Pan European and GSX and now I’m interested in another tourer. I’ve looked at the R1200GS, but it’s huge. I like the look of this and the idea of…

1 Preparation Most modern screens are formed from cast acrylic (usually 3mm, but 4, 5 and 6mm are available). Race screens are usually 2mm) using Skidmarx’s own moulds. 2 Rough cutting The screen shape is rough cut using a band saw. Waste acrylic, is recycled into paint by a London company. 3 Mould forming The acrylic is heated for four minutes at 215°C to become completely flexible and then formed to shape in moulds. 4 Blown forming Older, ‘bubble’ screens are ‘blown’ using a bespoke table which forces compressed air through a form to blow the pliable acrylic into the correct shape (this one’s for an 1985 GSX-R750 ‘Slabbie’). 5 Trimming and polishing The screen is cut to size again on band saw and its edge sanded then polished and…

‘Start the ride with a cuppa and a bite’ Richard Platt loves to let his Triumph off the leash on this 59-mile blast around the Welsh/English border. He said: “All of the roads around Welshpool are good, but this little route has it all. “I head straight to Lychgate Tea Room which is only about five miles from Welshpool but it means you start the ride after a decent cuppa and a bite. It gets you off to the perfect start. “It can get a bit busy at the weekend but a midweek outing is usually very quiet. The road surfaces are amazing and there’s a cracking mix of sweepers and tight hairpin bends. As you ride through The Bog, it’s worth a leg stretch because it’s part of Stiperstone…

THE STUDENT Dan Sutherland, 22, Lincoln Dan has been riding since he was 16 and commutes by bike every day, but he rates himself as a relative newbie on track. Dan’s riding problem “I’m not sure how hard I can brake. Other riders seem to out-brake me easily on track, so I must be doing something wrong.” THE TUTOR Michael Neeves, MCN Road Tester Neevesy has been testing bikes at MCN for over 15 years, instructs at the Ron Haslam Race School and races a BMW S1000RR. Neevesy’s action plan “I will correct Dan’s body position, smooth his transition from throttle to brakes to balance the bike and then work on how hard he brakes.” THE LESSON 1 Balance your braking Dan grabs the brakes too hard and leaves too…

‘It accelerates like nothing I’ve experienced before’ “I’m a technical manager for a gas company, so I do over 40,000 miles a year in my company car travelling all over the UK as well as abroad with very irregular hours, so for me the bike is a pressure release,” explains MCN reader Simon Gargun. “I don’t do as many miles as I’d like, but the times I do get out I make the most of it. When I get home from work in the evening, or I get a spare weekend, my first thoughts are to fire up the BMW and clear my head of work-related matters.” Having only covered just over 1500 miles on his BMW since he bought it last year, you may think that Simon’s riding has…

599cc | 162kg | 123bhp | 820mm seat height • Dealer price £3000-£4000 • Private £2600-£3600 • This one £3450 on MCN Bikes for Sale The R6 used to be viewed as the nutter of the supersport class, but when it gained fuel-injection in 2003 this changed. While it still has a sporty chassis (Yamaha claimed the new Deltabox had the same rigidity as the YZF-R7 homologation special) the addition of fuel injection and the reworked motor gave it a welcome boost of midrange to add to its traditional top-end rush. It’s not the most practical of supersport bikes, but for solo riding it’s a lovely road bike with stacks of potential should you wish to enjoy the odd trackday. Buyer beware Build quality is high but the gearbox is…

599cc | 169kg | 108bhp | 810mm seat height • Dealer price £2700-£3300 • Private £2000-£2800 • This one £2995, MCN Bikes for Sale Launched in 2001, the Sport is a tweaked CBR600F that allowed Honda to win the World Supersport championship. Featuring a split rider and pillion seat for a sportier look, dual valve springs, a lightened crank, different cams and no centrestand, the Sport retains all of the F’s practicality, but in a bike that is far more visually appealing. Buyer beware As with all early CBRs, the cam chain tensioner is a weak point so listen out for a rattle on start-up. It’s not a huge issue as a replacement costs £98.65 and takes a mechanic about an hour to fix. Older bikes suffer reg/rec issues, but…

1 Find the adjuster and slacken the cable Poorly maintained cables and linkages result in reduced feel and compromised operation of your bike’s brakes, throttle and gears. If you have a cable-operated clutch, undo the pivot nut and bolt and remove the lever. You will need to slacken the adjuster off, undo the locking outer and wind in the adjuster so there is maximum slack in the lever. STICK’S TIPS ‘Be careful with the micro-switch when removing the lever’ 2 Apply some grease Check the condition of the pivot bolt, clean if necessary and apply a small amount of grease. Make sure the cable is routed correctly and inspect the cable outer for damage caused by rubbing. In the case of excessive wear replace the old cable with a new…

Modern hydraulic brake systems are incredible things, managing to stop bike and rider from a given speed in less time and distance than an engine can accelerate up to it. Even on small bikes and scooters, the pressure generated by the brake fluid acting upon the piston, which in turn applies pressure to the pad to grip the disc, is simply astonishing. ‘He topped it up with water instead of brake fluid’ Which is why, apart from the obvious safety implications, brake systems need to be taken care of. Unlike one young Yamaha Aerox rider who popped in to Steve Powell’s independent Cambridgeshire workshop to have a new rear tyre fitted. Steve explains: “It was a posh, year-old sporty scooter with hydraulic brakes front and rear. This lad had bought…

‘I have beaten Jonathan Rea just as much as he has beaten me’ Leon Haslam will return to World Superbikes in 2019 alongside Jonathan Rea in the factory Kawasaki squad. The move has been rumoured for some weeks but was officially confirmed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, seven days after Kawasaki announced they had parted ways with 2013 World Champion Tom Sykes. Haslam raced in WSB in 2004 and again between 2008 and 2015 before returning to BSB. The 35-year-old turned down offers to return to the world stage for the 2016 and 2017 seasons with the Puccetti Kawasaki squad because he was unhappy with the level of machinery on offer. However, the opportunity to join Rea in the factory Kawasaki squad that has dominated the series for…

‘It’s funny that the Kawasaki guys are saying they’re the underdogs’ Suzuka 8-Hour champion Alex Lowes says that defending his crown at this year’s prestigious endurance race won’t be as easy as it has been in recent years, thanks to the all-star line-up of factory teams out to knock him and his team-mates Michael van der Mark and Katsuyuki Nakasuga off the top spot. The Brit, who announced this week that he and van der Mark will be remaining with the PATA Yamaha World Superbike effort for at least another year, has now won the race on the last two outings. The duo took over the all-conquering R1 from fellow Brit Bradley Smith and his Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Pol Espargaro, meaning the squad go into this weekend’s race looking…

Josh Brookes launched himself into Bennetts British Superbike title contention with a stunning double victory at Brands Hatch last weekend. Sporting a special livery to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Yamaha’s YZF-R1, Brookes held off Glenn Irwin to win both races. The double win comes after a tough start to 2018 for Brookes and the McAMS Yamaha squad. He was one of the hot favourites heading into 2018 after finishing second in the title chase with the private TAG Racing effort last year, but things just didn’t gel for the 2015 BSB champ in the factory-backed effort at the start of the season. However, a breakthrough with engine spec saw Brookes challenging for wins at Snetterton and his double at Brands makes him the most likely man to rival Haslam…

‘Tariffs won’t change what we do’ INDIAN PRESIDENT STEVE MENNETO Indian Motorcycles have reaffirmed their commitment to the UK and Europe, despite a series of retaliatory tariffs leaving them with a £11.5m hole in their finances. The tariffs, which started in June as a reaction to Donald Trump’s steel tariffs, rose to 31% from 6% adding thousands of pounds to the cost of importing American-made motorcycles. Speaking candidly with MCN, Indian President Steve Menneto admitted the opening salvos of the trade war have been a massive blow. “Tariffs are tough. As a business person, you’ve just got to look at the landscape and react to it. I can’t change what’s going on. We’re assessing what we can do to offset the financial challenges.” Harley-Davidson have already admitted they will be…

‘We’ve got the fuel low without it being too wide’ CHRIS BIRCH KTM’s new 790 Adventure R has been looking like the hottest bike of 2019 for a while now. In short they’ve paired a retuned engine from the Duke 790 with an adventure bike chassis and long-travel, fully-adjustable suspension. Combine all that with a world-class electronics package and you’ve got some serious potential. We spoke to development rider Chris Birch at KTM’s Welsh Adventure Rally and he gave us the inside line on what it’s actually like to ride. How does it differ from the competition? With the engine being so small and narrow, we can have the fuel low without it being excessively wide. With competitors’ bikes, their engine is too wide, so they can’t do what we’ve…

Bike manufacturers and members of the Met Police Motorcycle Crime Unit were out in force last Thursday advising commuters on the best ways to prevent bike theft. In a concerted effort across the capital, representatives were stationed in bike bays giving tips on how best to lock bikes as well as handing out free bike covers, which have been shown to dramatically reduce the likelihood of theft. The covers are a part of the ‘Lock, Chain and Cover’ approach to preventing motorcycle theft, which the Met have been pushing heavily in recent months. “Police are working hard to keep the public safe and make the streets hostile territory for criminals who steal scooters, mopeds and motorcycles and then use them for other offences,” says Detective Superintendent Lee Hill. ‘They were…

It will get the Wing’s 1833cc flat six engine 1 Big torque New engine will mean a boost to 122bhp and 12ftlb of torque as well as the option of a new 7-speed DCT gearbox 2 Electronics Expect a full electronics package including ride-by-wire throttle, traction control, ABS and rider modes. 3 Wing chassis The bike will get the chassis from the current Wing but the suspension arrangement is still undecided 4 Ru ne styling Sources tell us that the styling is influenced by the original Rune, including the unique headlight A naked Gold Wing could soon be landing as Honda make their bid to rule the big cruiser roost –and our computer image shows how it could look. Outside the UK, Honda still sell two naked versions of the…

Thousands flocked to the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh for the first-ever MCN Scottish Festival. From manufacturers showing off their latest bikes to outrageous customs and gorgeous classics there was something for everyone. Michelle and Rod Cooper came along with their sons Jamie and Charlie. “There’s a proper festival feel,” Michelle told MCN. “It’s very family orientated and there’s loads for the kids to do. There’s so much more to it than just a bike show.” The Club Zone included vintage bikes, racing machines, the Royal Naval Association Rider’s Branch and the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service. Perhaps most significant was the Kirkcaldy and District Motor Club who brought along the County Motors Challenge Trophy, also known as ‘Wee Jimmie’. This award was traditionally presented to the senior winner at…

YAMAHA YPVS This was the first bike I actually owned, a 1983 YPVS 350 in black ’cos they were faster than the white ones. Front tyres seemed to last forever back then. Tim Plant KAWASAKI Z250 I purchased this bike with money I’d saved serving with the Army in West Germany. Flares where still in, honest. Aidan Lees BSA C11G 250 I used it daily for work and also for what seemed an epic voyage, from Kent to Snowdonia, down to Land’s End and then home via Stonehenge. Geoff Hickmer SUZUKI PE175 This was summer 1984. I’m still riding today but the fun of those early biking days has never been matched. Martin Magee SUZUKI TS250 The Fonz was cool but I was cooler (or so I thought!). This is…

It almost doesn’t matter how good BMW’s new F850GS is on the MCN250 (and it is) because most adventure bike fans will just buy the R1200GS anyway. You can’t blame them, or the thousands who’ve kept the big Beemer at the top of the sales charts for over a decade. It might be a monster of a thing, but the big GS is a delight to ride and perfect for carrying you, your pillion and a load of luggage around the world. The R1200GS would be even better if it was, say, 15kg lighter, slightly slimmer and cheaper, but still loaded with all those lovely BMW goodies that make life that bit brighter: cruise control, rider modes, heated grips, LED lights, traction control, ABS, Brembos, spoked wheels and Tonka Toy-like…

It’s been a slow slog from Oundle, battling through dense traffic and getting stuck behind lorries all the way to the Super Sausage. But the F850GS has been nothing but charming with its light controls, smooth, motor and fingertip-steering. The back roads to Silverstone provide some light relief but it’s on this 9.8-mile swooping, ribbon of tarmac where the MCN250 first lets the BMW off its leash. It might have been conceived as an off-roader, but on the B4525 the F850GS is surprisingly sensational. The revised parallel twin delivers swift acceleration and a yobbish motocross roar and, for a machine with a 21in front wheel, it steers unbelievably sweetly. A tall riding position lets you see for miles over hedgerows and although that big wheel means slow direction changes, the…

When it comes to aftermarket motorcycle screens, whether an extended or ‘double bubble’ for the road, a replica for a restoration project or a thinner, lightweight one for racing, there’s one British name head and shoulders above the rest. Founded back in 1990 and based in the Dorset seaside resort of Weymouth, Skidmarx have grown to become not just the UK’s biggest screen manufacturer with the largest back catalogue of models (and the only one to also offer a bespoke, custom-made service), but they’re also a leading maker of headlight protectors, fairings, huggers, bellypans and more. Skidmarx’s fitting list covers over 2000 models and dates back to bikes from the 1960s. They produce around 10,000 screens a year all from their Weymouth factory, selling 60% of them in the UK,…

I’m having a good day. The sun is out and it’s close to 30 degrees. I’m comfortable in a leather jacket, jeans, an open-face helmet and shades on-board Ducati’s very cool Scrambler 1100 Sport. Sometimes light, fun handling and genuine charm and character are all you need, but does it offer value for money too? So what is the Scrambler 1100 Sport? The 1100 Sport is based on Ducati’s new Scrambler 1100, which is the big brother to the 803cc Scramblers launched back in 2015. There are three different models in the new range, all powered by the same air-cooled 1079cc, two-valves-per-cylinder V-twin, similar to the old Monster 1100’s engine. You now have the standard 1100, the Special and Sport. The Special is easily distinguishable by the chrome exhaust, brown…

‘You could put a penny on the track and he’d hit it every time’ ‘He had natural ability and you can’t learn that ’ In the 15 years since I sat down with Steve Hislop to write his autobiography, I’ve been astonished to hear so many top-level riders and team bosses speaking of him in awe. Time and time again I hear them saying things like” “He was the fastest rider in the world on his day.” Or: “He was the greatest TT rider of all time.” Steve had no idea he was so highly regarded by his peers. So what was it that made him so special on a motorcycle? What did he have that even his fiercest rivals looked up to so much? I spoke to his former…

DANGER ZONE Braking too aggressively into the corner will unsettle the bike, and could lead to a front-end wash-out. 1. GET SET Body position is key. Brace yourself before you brake with your outside thigh gripping the tank and one bum cheek off the seat. 2. ONE MOVE Roll the throttle shut and start to load the front tyre by braking gently. Once loaded, you can increase the brake pressure. 3. GEAR C HOIC E S Near the end of the braking zone, shift down the required number of gears for the bend. Use the lowest gear possible. 4. TAKING AIM Towards the end of your hard braking, gradually start to aim the bike into the corner to reduce the corner entry angle. 5. AND RELEASE As you enter the…

599cc | 165kg | 110bhp | 815mm seat height • Dealer price £2500-£3500 • Private £1800-£3000 • This one £2795, MCN Bikes for Sale It’s amazing the effect a restyle can have, as underneath the Daytona’s cool bodywork is essentially a reworked TT600 with Keihin replacing the TT’s terrible Sagem fuel injection. But it worked and the Daytona 600 struck a chord. Buyer beware The Daytona’s gearbox is pretty clunky, not helped by a poorly designed shift linkage. Swap the standard arrangement for aftermarket rearsets and the action is far more precise. The clutch failsafe switch can work loose in its mounting, causing the bike to refuse to start, and suspension linkages are prone to seizing. If a bike has been left standing the engine management light can become stuck…

636cc | 174kg | 118bhp | 820mm seat height • Dealer price £3250-£3800 • Private £2750-£3300 • This one £3295, online auction site The 2003 ZX-6R, or B1H as it is also known, was a hugely significant bike for Kawasaki. A new look, the first mass produced bike to have radial brakes as standard, the Ninja had it all. Even a 636cc motor. The fact the ZX-6R has a bit of extra capacity makes it a really appealing road bike. Like the R6, the ZX-6R is more track-focused than its rivals, but it is the most thrilling of this generation of supersport bikes to ride. Buyer beware The ZX-6R runs an odd sized front tyre (a 120/65), so be wary of what rubber is fitted. Finish is weak with the…

1 Save 34% Merlin Columbia Outlast 2-in-1 airbag-ready jacket Was £199.99, now £131.97. This highly technical touring jacket is perfect for all seasons. The airbag is £329 extra. w w w.getgeared.co.uk 2 29% off Abus Detecto disc lock Featuring a built-in alarm, this easy-to-use disc lock from trusted security experts Abus was £121 but now Nippy Normans are selling it for just £86. w w w.nippynormans.com 3 Save £55 Triumph Navigator gloves Was £80, now £25. Ideal for cooler conditions, these waterproof touring gloves feature a Sympatex lining to keep hands cool and dry. w w w.triumphfactor youtlet .com 4 Save £23 Oxford Stormex Bike Cover Starting from just £47.61, this tough cover features a soft lining to cosset your bike, reflective panels and has a reliable weather-proof outer. www.sportsbikeshop.com…

‘I’m learning every time. I feel like we’re getting somewhere now’ British Superbike newcomer Tarran Mackenzie produced a strong showing throughout the Brands Hatch weekend. Quick from the off, the 22-year-old was rarely out of the top five throughout practice and achieved a career-best fourth place in qualifying. While he crashed out of what looked to be a certain podium on the penultimate lap of race one, he took a strong fifth in the second outing to show that despite being small he can control a 220bhp bike. “Things just clicked for us this weekend,” the Yamaha McAMS rider explained. “Our bike clearly suits the track which helps but I do think a lot of the step forward is in myself. I’ve had six rounds on the superbike now and…

‘It’s something we’ll have to look at before the Showdown’ Leon Haslam left Brands Hatch concerned about his lack of pace despite salvaging two rostrum finishes from a circuit where he’s struggled in the past. While the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider extended his series lead with two third places in Sunday’s two races, he lacked the final few tenths to compete with Brookes and Irwin at the front. And that does not bode well for the title fight the final round being held at Brands in October. “This has never been my best circuit,” Haslam said. “We didn’t have the pace to win this weekend so it’s something we’ll need to look at before the Showdown as it’s no good coming into the final three races here knowing my rivals…

150bhp Diavel is cleverer, sexier and sportier than ever Öhlins forks and rear shock Launch control, DTC and autoblipper The 2019 Ducati Diavel 1260 S is set to be the most advanced super-cruiser the world has ever seen. With over 150bhp and gut-wrenching torque, combined with cutting-edge electronics and top-class running gear, it should handle as well it goes and looks. MCN were given a sneak preview at World Ducati Week in Misano last weekend and spoke in depth to Ducati’s engineers about the machine. We weren’t allowed to take photographs, so the images you see here are based on those conversations, plus sketches taken during the secret preview. Dubbed Project 1309, the bike uses a version of the XDiavel’s Testastretta DVT V-twin. This is used as a stressed member…

Lydden Hill has played host to the inaugural Café Racer Cup. The all-new single-day event run by The Bike Shed was parttrackday, part-race and saw modern classics going toe to toe with actual classics on the 0.8-mile Kent track. Bikes and riders varied hugely, from former racers on modern café racers, to track novices on air-cooled hand built machines. Charley Boorman joined in the action on a Triumph Thruxton R as did MCN’s Senior Road Tester Adam Child, who eventually took Saturday’s race win on his Kawasaki Z900RS Café long-term test bike. “It’s not often you get the chance to ride a café racer around a race track, with lots of like-minded people and a little bit of competition,” said Boorman. “Brilliant fun, could do it all day, every day.…

With revisions for 2019 just announced, the R nineT model range has expanded and evolved to meet the changing face of retro fashion and styles, but the air-cooled boxer engine has remained at its core and will do so for the foreseeable future as BMW insist it has a life beyond 2020’s tighter emission regulations. But now in its fifth year, there are some great used bikes to choose from. Here’s our pick of the bunch. 2019 R NINET What is it? The 2019 R nineT range will feature a dynamic brake light as standard and BMW Motorrad Spezial paint with traditional aluminium no longer an option. MCN says “Some colours detract from the raw beauty, but they also freshen up a range in danger of becoming stale.” Want to…

Mechanical master and custom bike builder Allen Millyard will be taking his huge brain and a few of his stunning creations along to this September’s Devitt MCN Ally Pally Bike Show and Supersprint including his newest build: a tribute to the fabled Honda RC174. Famed for multi cylinder creations such as Honda V-twins made from C90 and SS50 motors; four, five and six cylinder Kawasaki two-strokes and even a 200mph Dodge Viper V10-engined leviathan, it’s fair to say that Millyard is as imaginative as he is gifted. His latest creation, a tribute to the Honda RC174 six-cylinder GP racer Mike Hailwood rode to the 1967 350cc world championship, winning seven out of eight races, has been made by Millyard marrying together parts from two Yamaha FZR250 engines. Millyard will also…

No excuse for mud Mud left on the road by farmers has caused serious injuries and probably fatalities (MCN Letters, July 18). There is no excuse for this. It is a simple matter to put a few bales of straw down at field exits and it is also easy enough these days to wash down wheels if necessary. The truth is that farmers are both too lazy and too selfish to bother doing so and the law are too busy with speed cameras to police the roads properly. Dave Ewan, Fife Let's look after the kids I write as Gateshead’s Named GP for Safeguarding Children. The article, in Workshop War Stories about a 16-year-old’s father putting his son’s life at risk raises the question of safeguarding children. The rider may…

The list of bikes I’d like to buy is long. I’d love to get my NSR500 V-twin back, the bike I raced in 1998/1999/2000. One of those would be nice. I remember it being for sale for £25,000 but back then I didn’t have £25. They’re gone now and I don’t even know where they are. It used to stay in the back of the van and we’d take it around places like Scarborough, Darley Moor, Race of the Year at Mallory Park, the North West and I even raced it at the British GP. When do you do that now? ‘I’D RATHER BUY BIKES THAN STUFF TO MAKE ME LOOK GOOD’ I’d love a MotoGP bike too; I’m not sure what era though. The modern ones have gone a…

It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B-roads, a stretch of busy motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy tarmac. There are two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time for sportsbikes, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 Must dash Our test machine is fitted with the £595 accessory 6.5in TFT colour dash. It has a plethora of functions, none of which I end up using during our test as all I want right now is to know how to set the trip. After pressing just about every button and going deep into the…

A bonus of owning any Ducati Scrambler is that they are a delight on loose surfaces. Gravelly tracks, hard-packed dirt trails and that grassy lane that might just lead to an empty beach are well within their scope. And the 1100 Sport is no different. Its linear power and easy, docile torque help its Pirellis find grip. There’s no off-road riding mode but the rain setting suits gentle off-roading perfectly. You can stand on the pegs without feeling too distanced from the bars or sit down flat-track style. The downside is that the Öhlins suspension lacks the travel to absorb serious potholes and bumps, and the bike (the beautiful air-cooled engine especially) is completely unprotected from stones and grit thrown at it by the tyres.…

MOTORCYCLE SOCIAL, CANAL MILLS, BRANDON ST, LEEDS, LS12 2EB. JULY 28-29 Pile on the miles with style Motorcycle Social is an indoor exhibition showcasing the best of British custom bike building in the unique location of Canal Mills. With guest lectures, a film show and the Saturday night party it’s set to be a true celebration of the new wave custom scene. The Route Turn left from the venue, then left again onto the A58 then A58(M) and follow signs for the A61 to Harrogate. At the third roundabout turn left onto King Lane. At the end turn right onto Arthington Road and then left onto the A659 to Pool in Wharfedale then turn right onto the A658. Turn left onto the B6161, follow the signs to Farnley and join…

Supersport bikes used to be the superbike alternative for those who liked going fast but wanted value for money and a bit of practicality. The arrival of Honda’s CBR600RR signified a seismic shift as track focus overtook practicality and brought about the beginning of the end for the class. But there are some old-school gems out there. Here is MCN’s pick of the bunch that can be found for less than £3500. YOUR EXPERT Jon Urry With over 18 years of experience in bike journalism, Jon tested these machines when new and has seen them mature over the years.…

599cc | 161kg | 122bhp | 825mm seat height • Dealer price £3200-£3800 • Private £2500-£3300 • This one £3295, online auction site Suzuki’s sportsbikes tend not to hold their residual values as well as their rivals, so you can often get a newer GSX-R for the same price as an older rival’s bike. With this in mind, the GSX-R600 K5 is a great buy. Updated in 2004, this generation of GSX-R strikes a wonderful balance between power, comfort and agility and comes with modern components such as inverted forks, fuel injection and radial brakes. Buyer beware They don’t tolerate neglect. Once corrosion has set in you are fighting a losing battle. Check the dash for any warning codes or lights that hint at either the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)…

11th Karel Abraham, 28 Nieto Ducati MotoGP Honours Moto2 race winner Fastest lap 1:40.750 8th Xavier Simeon, 28 Avintia Ducati MotoGP Honours Moto2 race winner Fastest lap 1:39.860 2 nd Tito Rabat, 29 Avintia Ducati MotoGP Honours Moto2 champ Fastest lap 1:38.171 4th Jack Miller, 23 Pramac Ducati MotoGP Honours MotoGP race winner Fastest lap 1:39.304 9th Danilo Petrucci, 27 Pramac Ducati MotoGP Honours MotoGP podiums Fastest lap 1:39.877 10th Jorge Lorenzo, 31 Ducati factory MotoGP Honours 3 x MotoGP champ, 2 x 250GP champ Fastest lap 1:40.252 7th Andrea Dovizioso, 32 Ducati factory MotoGP Honours 125GP champ Fastest lap 1:39.149 1st Michele Pirro, 32 Ducati factory test rider Honours Italian Superbike champ Fastest lap 1:38.010 12th Troy Bayliss, 49 Australian Superbikes Honours Three-times WSB champ Fastest lap: 1:39.652 5th…

‘It is possible to have four factory Yamahas in WSB’ Yamaha are pulling out all the stops in a bid to end Kawasaki’s current dominance of WSB. They are convinced that Jonathan Rea and his ZX-10RR can be beaten and, having confirmed last week that they will retain the services of Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark in the official PATA team, they intend to double their factory effort and sign Italian Marco Melandri in an all-new squad. The team most likely to run the machines is GRT, which would leave World Supersport where the void would be filled by an increased presence from the GMT94 squad. “Our goal was always to move into World Superbikes as an official team,” Filippo Conti, the GRT Team Manager, told MCN. “Our…

Glenn Irwin believes his two second places at Brands Hatch this weekend confirm him as a championship contender despite narrowly missing out on the win to Josh Brookes in both races. “I’d have loved to have got my first win of the year, but it’s important to be quick here as we come back to Brands,” he said. “The target was to close the podium points gap down and we’ve done that and now we know we can fight for wins. “To get 40 points and six podium credits is not a bad weekend. Of course it would have been lovely to get the win but we got our first pole. There are more than two people in this title fight and it’s going to be close.”…

Jake Dixon used his head to bring the RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki home in two strong fourth places to make the most of a tough weekend at Brands Hatch. Dixon and the Norfolk-based outfit have always struggled at Brands, only finishing in the top ten once on the Grand Prix layout last year, but after a big step forward for 2018 he was able to salvage valuable points. “If this is a bad day for me I’ll take it,” he said. “I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. I could have quite easily thrown it up the road today but I realised I needed to keep control of my emotions and bring it back in one piece.”…