Table of contents for November 14th 2018 in MCN

The average man spends 115 hours a year shaving, apparently. The same, highly scientific study (I’m sure), concluded that men spent 91 hours on the loo every year, while women got the job done in just 74 hours. Our mobile phones take our attention for 724 hours in an ear-burning 12 months, while our eyes had to cope with 1460 hours in front of the old gogglebox. Few of us record the time spent performing the aforementioned activities and even fewer work out the total amount of time spent on such tasks, but it’s fair to say that I don’t always feel that I have truly maximised every minute of every day. If I start shaving a bit quicker, or simply grow a beard, I could use that time, or…

‘The Atlas is a game-changer for new Norton’ Norton will unveil this all-new Atlas at Motorcycle Live this weekend; the most important bike in the firm’s modern history, and the first mass-market affordable Norton for generations. Designed to be the first ‘everyday Norton’ since the firm’s 2008 rebirth, it’s now the entry-level model, sitting beneath the pricier Commando and super-exclusive V4 RR and SS superbike. The Atlas Nomad, which uses a V4-derived 650cc parallel-twin in a steel trellis frame, will cost just £9995 when it goes on sale this weekend, with a more off-road focused Ranger edition costing £11,995. “It’s a game-changer for us,” says Norton CEO, Stuart Garner. “It’s our first modern affordable bike.” An all-new Norton The new 650 might look like it’s following the V4 as a…

A crackdown on motorcycle disorder in Northumbria has seen more than 26 people arrested and dozens of suspected stolen motorcycles seized in the last three months. Since the summer, Northumbria Constabulary have become the latest in a line of police forces to launch a campaign against bike-related crime. Operation Benelli has been set up to track down stolen bikes and the people behind bike crime in Newcastle and Gateshead. The campaign came about after detectives found that a large number of bikes involved in antisocial riding were stolen. During their investigations into the anti-social riding, the cops have also made discoveries of illegal weapons and drugs. ‘The people involved are not just bored teenagers’ DET INSP MAL STRATTON “Those involved in this type of disorder are not just bored…

From anonymous wooden huts to glass fronted art deco edifices, the no-nonsense transport café was once a familiar sight at truck stops throughout the land. As popular with motorcyclists as they were with hauliers, these once ubiquitous havens have largely fallen victim to faceless motorway services and global fast food chains. However, there are a few notable survivors. And this week our quest for Britain’s best takes us to one of the original roadside rest stops, Jack’s Hill Café on the A5 near Towcester. From the outside Jack’s Hill still appears very much as it did back in 1955, its architecture a trademark of the long-defunct Tower Café Group. The nostalgia continues with the layout and decor inside, but this is no rebuild or restoration, Jack’s Hill has remained a…

I’ve been checking out the new bikes at the shows because I like to keep up to date and love seeing what’s coming up. Some of them are a bit odd though! ‘WITH A BIT OF TECHYOUCOULD MAKE A CLEAN STROKER’ I’ve seen MCN doing quite a lot with that three-wheeled Yamaha thing and now I see from the shows that it is coming out in a GT version with luggage and more bulk. What the hell is it? Does it fall over? Is it a bike or is it a trike? I don’t understand. It’s a motorbike, with three wheels; so it’s not a motorbike! Having said all that, I’d like a go on one but I wouldn’t run over hot coals for it. I don’t really get the…

Both machines have essentially the same TFT colour dash (the standard MT-10 has a black and white display). The R1M, with its additional slide control feature, displays more information, which includes gear position, speed, revs and settings for the rider aids and electronic suspension. A graphic on the right side shows brake pressure and front to rear pitch, which is impressive, but ultimately meaningless when you’re riding along. FUNCTIONALITY…

Fish Hill offers a small slice of heaven on the R1M and if all Britain’s roads twisted so majestically, we’d probably all be whizzing around on superbikes. Winding steeply uphill and carpeted in smooth, grippy tarmac, you’d need to do be doing something seriously wrong to lose the front here, especially with a sticky Bridgestone RS10 and the latest semi-active Öhlins. The camber is with you on the way out of every corner, so it’s hard to unstick the rear, too. Actually, with the traction and slide control working for you in the background, I’d say it’s almost impossible. Armed with so much grip and confidence, all you have to worry about is guiding the R1M from turn to turn, using MotoGP-style V-shaped lines: brake on an angle, lay the…

1 Design time Dymag’s design team is led by chief engineer Mike Wilson with three design engineers. Here design engineer Stuart Adam works on the hub design for a bespoke CA5 carbon wheel. 2 Raw carbon Tyler Lynch cuts some of the UK-supplied raw carbon for a wheel. A kit of parts then goes to the laying out area. 3 Laying out Bike carbon wheels are laid out by hand in a mould in two halves, with ten layers of carbon, Kevlar and resin. 4 Carbon future Dymag’s carbon auto wheels are made with a high-tech injection process, here demonstrated by James Chapman, which the firm are currently in the process of bringing to their bikes wheels. 5 Trimming Carbon wheels are ‘deflashed’, trimmed and polished by Bryan. The finish…

‘Bored and with bad weather they resorted to scuffles’ The original Mods v Rockers seaside battles developed through the spring of 1964. Over the Easter weekend up to 1000 young Londoners had descended on Clacton and, bored and with bad weather, the separate ‘tribes’ resorted to scuffles, all reported furiously by the press. With this template set, repeats occurred at the next public holidays along the south coast peaking at Brighton on the Whitsun weekend of May 16-18 and, due to the press expectation, all extensively photographed and reported. Although there were further incidents later in the summer it was never again to the same scale.…

‘A trackday crash at Cadwell had left my confidence shot’ It’s 9am on a Wednesday and the Donington Park pitlane has disappeared under a sea of polished and precisely parked Hondas, rows of them glinting in the morning light as wide-eyed students and their business-like instructors attempt to locate their steeds for the day. The atmosphere is like a busy club racing weekend, only better, with little of the feeling of stress and mounting tension among the participants. Instead, the bustling assembly of paying riders can barely contain their excitement as they talk road bikes and the possibility of knee-down action, while pointing out to one another the various racing stars instructing that day. Making my way between a long line of bright-red CBR600RRs and stealth-black Fireblades for my riders’…

The Zero DSR is a good bike, there’s no doubt about that. It fires off the line like Usain Bolt with his socks on fire and handles way better than its semi-knobbly Pirelli MT60 tyres suggest it ought to. And at just 195kg, the DSR also dismisses any worries about electric bikes being heavier than an elephant. I convinced myself at the start of the year that the Zero would be the perfect commuter tool. A quiet and cool 20-mile morning ride along the back-lanes, followed by an all-day charge up at work and a bimble back home at the end of the day all seemed like a perfectly sensible way to embrace the joys of electric motorcycling. Only that’s not all I want a motorcycle for; I just didn’t…

1. TAKE IT IN Scan the road for clues about the severity of the bend ahead, traffic, the condition of the road surface and hidden hazards. 2. GET A VIEW Get the best view of the bend. For right-handers this is towards the left of your lane; for lefts it’s near the centre line. 3. SET A SPEED Use the vanishing point to set the speed and gear. If the bend tightens the vanishing point will move towards you. 4. HOLD THE LINE Correct entry speed will give you confidence to hold your approach line for longer, maximising your view of the road. 5. ALL CLEAR? As soon as you can see the road is clear, power out of the bend smoothly as you stand the bike back up. CONDITIONS…

1 So long lube An automatic chain oiling system is a real benefit for year-round and long-distance riders. By constantly supplying a precise amount of oil to your drive chain, it does away with the need for maintenance and keeps the chain in peak condition as you ride. Before you start, familiarise yourself with the instructions and the kit’s components. STICK’S TIPS Get bike-specific instructions at www.scottoiler.com/installation 2 Lay out and check Once you have started to gain an understanding of how the system works, lay all of the parts out so you’re familiar with them and cross reference against the instructions to ensure you have everything you need. With this Scottoiler X System (£199.99) there are three main parts: a delivery tube, mounting bracket, and the reservoir/main…

Glenn Irwin says he already feels ‘a connection’ with the Bournemouth Kawasaki he’ll ride in 2019’s British Superbike championship following a two-day test at Guadix last week. “It’s a massive difference, of course,” the former Be Wiser Ducati rider told MCN. “The first session was weird. I’d often find myself in the wrong gear and stuff. But once I ironed that out the bike felt incredible. I can see the potential and there is a connection between me, the bike and the team so it’s all feeling good for this time of year. “It’s basically Leon’s bike from this year, but we’ll have new bikes next year and the engine is slightly different on the new ZX-10RR. Without this test, I’d have gone into winter not knowing what to expect…

Dani Pedrosa has his last chance of taking a MotoGP win every season when he lines up for his last race in Valencia this weekend. A winner every year since his MotoGP debut in 2006, he’s gone the entire 2018 with not only no wins but not even a podium finish. His last win came 12 months ago at Valencia when he rode away from the title scrap between Repsol Honda team-mate Marc Marquez and Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso to eventually take victory from Johann Zarco. However, it’s unlikely Pedrosa will be able to bow out on a high this weekend. At only 48kg and 5ft 2in tall, he’s struggled this year to make the most of the Michelin control tyres unless factors like track temperature are just right. And…

HALL 4 Ramp it up with Moto-Cirque! Moto-Cirque is a totally new, FREE live action arena that promises intensely choreographed daily performances featuring world-class street bike stunt riding, BMX, freestyle motocross and moto trials in an intoxicating mix of lights, lasers and theatrical performances. Moto Cirque is the brainchild of pioneering show creators Arena Sports Live, the people behind the excellent ArenaCross series, and will be set within a new layout of ramps, structures and platforms, all surrounded by 2000 seats so that Motorcycle Live showgoers can get a birds-eye view of all the action at this stunning new live-action event. Catch the show Performances take place at: 12.00 and 14.00 Monday to Friday 11.30, 14.00 and 15.30 Saturday and Sunday…

By bike or car Situated eight miles east of Birmingham city centre, the NEC is at the hub of the UK motorway network. Visitors can travel to the NEC site from the M1, M5, M6, M6 Toll, M40 and M42. The NEC is signposted from motorways and major roads and is marked on most maps. If you are travelling by car, we recommend that you allow plenty of time for your journey. If you are using a satnav system please use the postcode B40 1NT, but be aware that this will get you to the NEC, not direct you into the bike park, which is clearly signposted from all venue entrances. Parking Secure indoor bike parking is provided by Motorcycle Live and is FREE OF CHARGE (subject to availability). The…

Never a firm to do things by half MV Agusta have ‘pulled the pin’, ‘turned it up to 11’ and ‘blown the bloody doors off’. The result is the Brutale 1000 Serie Oro; quite simply the most powerful production naked ever made. Its raging heart is a 205bhp 998cc inline four from the F4RC WSB bike that revs to a spine-tingling 13,600rpm. But it’s not just a straight copy; MV have improved it. The engine has a reshaped combustion chamber, new titanium valves and guides, low-friction piston rings, new cam timing and crankshaft. They’ve also redesigned the airbox, which allows them to ditch the variable intake tracts saving 1kg alone, as well as a new ECU and mapping system. Of course, if 205bhp is not enough, you can always opt…

Husqvarna have unveiled the new Svartpilen 701, the flat track-styled big brother to the 401 and sibling to the café racer style Vitpilen 701. The Svartpilen shares a lot of parts with the Vitpilen. Both have the same liquid-cooled 692cc single-cylinder engine and steel trellis frame and suspension. But unlike the Vitpilen, which is characterised by its aggressive stance and clip-on bars, the Svartpilen is more upright with flat handlebars and 18in front, 17in rear wheels that give it a more upright posture. ‘It’s a sibling to the café racer-style Vitpilen 701’ It also has the same electronics including ride-by-wire throttle, switchable ABS and bi-directional quickshifter. The only thing that might let it down a little is its teeny-weeny 12-litre tank, although whether you’d want to ride one for over…

Few things are more fun than learning to ride and Yamaha’s new YZF-R125 is a stunner to look at, but it isn’t just a facelift. The new bike’s engine boasts Variable Valve Actuation to fill out the midrange without flattening the top-end and a next-generation Assist & Slip clutch. But if you are a cash-strapped learner there are sporty Yamaha 125s stretching back 30 years to choose from. 2019 YZF-R125 £TBCC What is it? The best 125 sportsbike gets a radical redesign and VVA for 2019. MCN says “A gorgeous looking bike that deserves to tempt fidgety 17-year-olds out of their shonky Fiestas and onto two wheels in 2019. We love it.” Want to buy one? £TBC 2014 MT125 £2789 What is it? Essentially a naked version of Yamaha’s YZF-R125…

It might be the new ‘Shift Cam’ variable valve-timing technology that is making the headlines, but there is more to the 2019 S1000RR than a new motor. It also includes a new frame and swingarm that is lighter and more flexible than before in a bid to make the bike easier and more forgiving to ride. Stressed member “The main aim was to develop further enhanced riding dynamics as well significantly reducing weight, compared to the predecessor model. We were able to meet this target by means of the new main frame: the engine is now much more closely integrated as a load-bearing element, and there are a whole range of optimised details,” explained Marcus Mund, Project Engineer Suspension. Dubbed the ‘Flex Frame’, the concept behind the frame is similar…

Thousands of bikers in red filled the M25 on Sunday in an attempt to turn the 117 -mile ring into an enormous poppy. Meeting at nine different staging points, riders defied the wet and windy weather before making a carefully-choreographed clockwise circuit whereby each group’s lead bike caught the tail of the one ahead to complete the Ring of Red. The event has taken place every Remembrance Sunday since 2013, but this year’s ride marked 100 years since the armistice that ended the First World War. Organiser Ali Scott made an early start from Poole in Dorset to marshal the riders assembling at Fleet services on the M3. We caught up with her as they reached their destination of South Mimms. “I’m delighted with the turnout,” she said. “There are…

There is no question Michael Scott is a very well informed reporter. I’ve been a fan for many years and enjoy his, at times, blunt writing, but there are times when he talks RUBBISH! And this is one them (MCN, November 7). What humiliation is Rossi suffering? Everyone is going on about his age, yet Rossi is beating 85% of the field every week. His reign has clearly ended, and a new era has started, but give Rossi a break. He should be applauded for what he is doing. He has changed his style to compete, he never gives up, he is fighting for wins as and when he can and has done more for MotoGP than any other rider. Yes, he will retire and yes some of his records…

Most British motorcyclists know the name Dymag. The Wiltshire firm were founded in the 1970s and sprang to prominence with their distinctive, three-spoke magnesium wheels which graced the bikes of racing greats such as Eddie Lawson and Barry Sheene before the brand went on to pioneer carbon-fibre in the 1990s. And although the original concern went into receivership in 2009, Dymag are now back, bigger than ever and targeting expansion through car and bike original equipment (or OE) production in addition to their road, race and heritage business. Bought from the receiver in 2009 by Chris Shelley, who ran the company between 1993 and 1997, Dymag resumed production with a skeleton staff in 2011, working out of a solitary unit on an industrial estate on the outskirts of Chippenham. “I…

Forty years ago this autumn the shooting of one of the most memorable, two-wheeler-related, British youth movies of all time – Quadrophenia –was completed before being released the following summer and going on to inspire a whole new Mod movement. Born out of The Who’s 1973 album of the same name and produced by the band themselves under the Who Films banner following the success of their earlier Tommy rock opera, it’s a tale of discontented London youth in early 1964 leading up to the infamous bank holiday Mod v Rocker beach riots. And although focused on the Mods, and in particular the character Jimmy (played by Phil Daniels), it was criticised for a raft of errors which include a 1978 Cortina and a cinema showing Grease in supposedly 1964…

Understated and far from flashy, the NC750X is Honda’s unsung middleweight hero and since it first arrived in 2012 (as a 700) it has been satisfying a specific corner of the motorcycle market. This isn’t a bike designed to grab headlines, it is a no-frills commuter that delivers exactly what its band of loyal buyers demand: reliability, ease of use, excellent fuel economy and lots of practicality. Honda gave the two NC models several updates including traction control, but have the changes made much of a difference? 1 All torque Level 1 of the two-stage traction control system allows some rear wheel spin while Level 2 is more intrusive. It’s easy to switch between modes via the bar-mounted button (hold the button down to de-activate the system). It’s a welcome…

THE STUDENT Will Brinkley, 24, Grantham Will started riding in 2014 on a YBR125. He passed his full test in June and uses his CB650F for commuting and group rides. Will’s riding problem “My friends tell me that I barrel into corners too fast and then brake halfway round, which causes them issues when they’re following me.” 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 over 20 years. Mark’s plan “It’s slow in, fast out. I’ll give Will a system for planning his corner entries that’ll both give him more time to process information and make it a safer, more enjoyable ride.” THE LESSON 1 Limiting view Too much speed on…

RATINGS POOR ★ AVERAGE ★★ GOOD ★★★ VERY GOOD ★★★★ EXCEPTIONAL ★★★★★ LS2 Vector-C Evo £249.99 Tested by Emma Franklin, six months, 3000 miles It’s both light (at just 1150g for small) and packed with top-spec features. It features a layer of woven carbon fibre over its fibreglass composite shell, which is available in three sizes across the lid’s XXS-3XL range. The drop-down visor works smoothly via a switch on the left-hand side, the main visor gives a wide field of vision, is easy to remove and comes with a Pinlock Max Vision insert. The removable lining’s plush and well made, and features an emergency quick-release system, neck roll and chin curtain. On the downside, the sizing is a little on the small side; I needed a size larger than…

BMW sell almost as many big-capacity GSs a year as Triumph build motorcycles. Yes, around 60,000 GS models roll off the production line a year, which is remarkable for a machine whose creation in 1980 was down to a pet project between a couple of BMW designers. Put simply, there is nothing you can’t achieve on a GS. It is the ultimate go-anywhere, do-anything bike and buying one needn’t cost the earth. £5750 BMW R1200GS 1170cc | 223kg | 108bhp | 850/870mm seat height Dealer price up to £7500 Private up to £6700 The one 2010, 40,216 miles Having revealed their new double overhead cam motor in the HP2 Sport, BMW rolled out this technology to the rest of their boxer-engine models starting with the 2010 R1200GS. With the change…

‘I thrive on the idea of beating the official team on a satellite bike’ Tommy Bridewell will race Ducati’s new V4 R for the new-look Oxford Racing Ducati squad in the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike championship. After a stellar end to 2018 that saw Bridewell on the podium four times in the final seven races to clinch the Riders’ Cup for the best-placed non-showdown rider, the Devizes ace will remain with Steve ‘Wilf’ Moore’s Moto Rapido squad as they re-branded having secured a new title sponsorship deal with Oxford Products. “I was at a point in the middle of this year where it looked as though my career was dead,” Bridewell told MCN. “I had been sacked by Halsall Racing and last year wasn’t great either, but luckily Wilf at…

Factory Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales have finally made a return to form during the last four races of the 2018 season. The pair now seem able to run at the front and, following Vinales’ Phillip Island win, are enjoying their best form of the last two years. The improvement has come, not through new parts, but due to set-up changes on the M1 machine, changes both riders feel have taken too long to make. Rossi explained: “We’ve modified the bike a lot, to try to make everything about the rear tyre. And in the end it has worked, because I was able to be competitive in all sessions at Sepang. In the last few races, we’ve improved the electronics after getting something new a few races ago,…

Honda back with all-new, HRC squad New BMW S1000RR team Ducati V4 R to debut, too The World Superbike championship looks set for a major shake-up in 2019 following news that two key manufacturers are returning to the series with full factory efforts. As well as Ducati releasing their MotoGP-inspired V4 R, a bike that produces a staggering 234bhp with a race exhaust in road trim, BMW Motorrad and Honda Racing Corporation have confirmed they’ll both be officially returning to the series next year. World Superbikes has been crying out for more manufacturers in recent years with the full factory involvement from Kawasaki and Ducati placing the two marques a cut above the rest of the field, Kawasaki have won the last four world titles with Jonathan Rea and while…

SHOW INFORMATION Opening times Sat & Sun – 09.00 to 17.00 Mon to Fri – 10.00 to 17.00 The show will be run over nine consecutive days, with live features running every day. Ticket information Advance ticket sales close at 5pm on November 16. To book, call 0844 581 2345 or see www.motorcyclelive.co.uk. In advance • Adults £19.50 • Adult+Oxford disc lock £25 • Child (11-16) £1.00 • Senior (65+) £12.00 • Under-10s go free with a paying adult – no ticket needed On the door • Adults £25.00 • Child (11-16) £1.00 • Senior (65+) £15.00 • Under-10s go free with a paying adult – no ticket needed • Tickets include entry to Moto Cirque live action arena • Bike parking is free, subject to availability. Car parking: £10…

After months of teasers, prototypes and spy shots, KTM have finally unveiled the much-anticipated 790 Adventure and Adventure R; two long-distance travel enduros with the potential to turn the mid-sized adventure market upside-down. KTM say their target for the new bike was to create a machine that was truly capable off-road, without the intimidation factor of their 160bhp Super Adventures and on the face of things, that’s exactly what they’ve done. Sharing the same 799cc parallel twin as the 790 Duke, albeit with a retune for more midrange, the 790 Adventure produces just shy of 94bhp. Enough to haul you around quickly but not enough to terrify. The chassis is all-new and, once again, accessibility is key. Without the big rear cylinder of a V-twin, KTM have been able to…

We loved Fantic’s Caballero Scrambler 500 when we rode it earlier this year and now the Italian marque has unveiled an even more capable off-road version of the 449cc, 43bhp single; the Rally. With longer, fully-adjustable USD forks, as well as a new aluminium swingarm, off-road handlebars, high mudguards and adventure tyres, the Rally could be a lightweight, low-tech alternative to Triumph’s new 1200s. There are no prices yet but Fantic say it will be in dealers by spring next year. Fantic also unveiled the Caballero E-Cab; a new electric concept. The E-Cab maintains the existing Caballero silhouette but it has a brand new chassis which houses the 11kW motor and 7.5 kWh battery. This gives it a top speed of 70mph and a range of up to 90 miles,…

‘It’s pretty icy in the mornings but I’m still riding’ Scores of #ride5000miles members have vowed to keep on biking despite the first frosts of the year and a premature appearance of the dreaded gritter. An early cold snap in late October saw the first ice of autumn but many of our most hardy members are keeping going despite the freeze. One such member is Paul Copp. BMW R1200GS rider Paul made the most of a cold but crisp day to pile on the miles on some of the UK’s best, most scenic roads. “It was cool in both senses today,” he said. “I managed 230 smiles around Glenshee and Deeside. I’m well over the 5000-mile mark now, and I guess I will do less over the winter, but definitely…

This Harley-Davidson Street Bob has been named the best custom machine of 2018. The Battle of Kings competition was held throughout the worldwide Harley dealer network, with hundreds taking part. The winning bike came all the way from Thai dealer Bangkok Harley-Davidson. The team there decided to create a retro looking machine by chopping the front and rear fenders and using parts from the Harley-Davidson range, including the fuel tank from the 48 and the handlebars from the Roadster. The bike boasts custom-made 21in front and 16in rear wheels, while engine parts are highlighted with gold powder-coating while the reshaped and recovered leather seat uses gold thread to match. ‘The winning bike beat off more than 300 machines’ The winner was announced at last week’s EICMA show in Milan after…

Readers Phil and Sharon Coxon The Ride Route 66 When to do it Spring to autumn Miles 2850 Time required Two weeks (and we got married en route!) Don’t miss this “As we were quite close we left Route 66 and headed over to the Grand Canyon which was awesome... the views are beyond words.” VEGAS We stopped off at a Harley dealer on our hired Electra Glides CROSSING THE US There are so many incredible places to stop along the route GRAND CANYON It was awesome beyond words and definitely worth the detour ROUTE 66 It's iconic and Electra Glides (hired from Eagle Riders) were perfect THE TRIP SEND US YOUR TRIP PICS EMAIL YOURPICS@MOTORCYCLENEWS. COM…

HONDA TL125 My Honda was the absolute business back in 1976. Ian Hodgson HONDA XBR500 On the trusty XBR after my first long ride down into Cornwall in 1991. Wendy Briant NORTON ES2 My dad, Dave, in the 1950s on his Norton ES2. He’s still riding. Steven Fidgett KAWASAKI KR-1S Here I am back in 1990 complete with period riding gear. I’ve recently bought myself another KR-1S! John Wisdom HONDA C50 I started young! This was taken around 1969 in our back garden. The bike was my grandfather’s Honda C50. Dave Given YAMAHA MT-03 My partner Janette just passed first time. Andrew Horton SUZUKI GSX-R600 It’s 2001 and here I am looking cool on my GSX-R600 SRAD on a dull Middlesbrough day. Richie Strickland TRIUMPH TIGER 90 This is my…

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but for a sportsbike nut like me, nothing makes me drool like a superbike. And few make me sizzle like the R1. Yamaha’s latest-generation superbike has been with us since 2015 and drips with MotoGPaping electronics, styling and chassis tech. A fiery short-stroke inline four crossplane crank motor makes 197bhp and its soundtrack could be used for Rossi’s on-board footage. This stubby-nosed R1 signalled the return of the Japanese, after the dominance of BMW’s S1000RR, and it won MCN’s 2015 superbike shootout. I ran one that year, hoovering up as many trackdays as I could. Each year Yamaha have produced a special, limited-edition (around 750 to 1000) R1. Badged the R1M, it has magnesium wheels, a lacquered aluminium fuel tank…

There are golden moments where the R1M is the most perfect, magical motorcycle ever. Its speed and stability into fast, sweeping corners defies belief and its crushing, MotoGP acceleration is ably contained by some of the best electronics in the business. Not only is it otherworldly rapid, this M version, with its carbon and Öhlins, is knee-tremblingly sexy, too. For the rest of the time the R1M is brutally uncomfortable and its limit is so far removed from the real world, there’s little impression of speed. That’s a modern-day superbike in a nutshell; epic in small doses and I hate to say it, slightly pointless the rest of the tine. The MT-10 SP might not make your heart skip with lust and it’s not as stable at high speed, but…

‘On a ten-lap track session you’ll be seven seconds faster’ Yes, I know, carbon wheels are an expensive indulgence on a bike already costing the national average wage for a whole year, but if you’re in a position where you can afford to splash out £2937 on these ten-spoke BST Rapid Teks, you’ll want to know what they’re like? At your service… BST worked closely with Ducati (with Audi looking on) to meet the exacting standards required to supply carbon wheels for the current Superleggera. These Rapid Teks are produced using the same manufacturing methods, so they’re not only bombproof, they elevate my V4 S to new levels of sexiness and improve performance, too. A few years ago at Rockingham we tested a set of BST carbon rims back-to-back with…

‘It isn’t trying to be something that it’s not’ It’s not every day your partner orders you to buy a brand new motorcycle but that’s exactly what happened to reader Richard Craven. “I’d been left some money after my dad passed away and was looking at buying a used bike,” he told MCN. “But my wife said: ‘No you’ll have a new one!’ And that was that!” As being the owner of a pristine 1972 Honda CB750 K2 suggests, Richard is a self-confessed fan of traditionally-styled, proper-looking, old-school motorcycles, so he considered most of the current crop of retro offerings from BMW, Yamaha, Ducati and Triumph. But it was a search that came to a stop as soon as he took a test ride on the British firm’s latest Street…

Shane Byrne faces one of the toughest decisions of his life after a recent CT scan revealed that his neck was only 70% healed. The BSB superstar was also told that it’s only likely to get another 5% better, but he has been given the green light to start training again. Given that his neck isn’t yet fixed the Londoner now faces a very difficult decision about whether he should race again. And with deals currently being done by top BSB teams, he could be left without too many options if he keeps delaying his decision on whether to make a comeback in 2019. ‘Unless I can guarantee they will get 100% I won’t bother’ SHANE BYRNE Byrne said: “The doctors have told me that if I was a normal…

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow is battling hard for fitness after three breaks to his right ankle after a gust of wind pushed him off the track at Phillip Island’s notorious 180mph turn one. Following two operations he’s facing weeks of physiotherapy to return full mobility to the ankle and with Honda test rider Stefan Bradl again substituting at this weekend’s final MotoGP at Valencia, Crutchlow’s most likely to target a return to action at the first of 2019’s tests at Sepang in early February. With no major changes to his plans for 2019, as he remains on his factory-backed contract with the LCR Honda team, it’s unlikely that missing the tests at Valencia and Jerez before the winter testing ban comes into force will hinder Crutchlow significantly. However, is will mean…

Kawasaki Make no mistake: Kawasaki and Jonathan Rea will remain the benchmark next year. The title-winning ZX-10RR now revs higher but is otherwise unchanged while Rea’s riding better than ever, and with other manufacturers upping their game with the sole aim of beating him it’s surely only going to motivate him further. Getting the better of him will not be an easy task. Yamaha The team made big advances in the last two years and both Michael van der Mark and Alex Lowes won in 2018, Yamaha’s first since 2011. The task is to keep improving, difficult with what is technically the oldest bike on the grid (although there always seemed more to come). Yamaha’s effort is also bolstered by Marco Melandri and Sandro Cortese joining the party with the…

HALL 3A STAND 3F20 1 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE It’s the real deal with substance as well as style Most retros manage to blend timeless styling with decent modern performance, but in an age of scramblers being a style statement rather than a promise to get you across a muddy field, the new Triumph Scrambler 1200 might just be the exception we’ve been waiting for. Available in two versions, the XE is the one we’re most excited by. Yes, it looks great and boasts a huge array of clever tech, but the fact that Triumph are racing one in the Baja 1000 really gives it some authentic kudos. The T120 engine (from the Bonneville range) delivers just over 89bhp at 7400rpm and 81ftlb at 3950rpm, and comes with its own…

See a whole host of top race stars including Foggy HALL 3/3A Eurosport Entertainment Zone featuring the Blackhorse Stage The Eurosport Entertainment Zone featuring the Black Horse Stage will again provide nonstop entertainment with a whole list of race stars including Carl Fogarty who’s there for five days. There’s quizzes, game shows, daily Q&As all hosted by Steve Parrish and James Whitham with a healthy dose of witty banter. Isle of Man TT feature Hall 2 If you’re an Isle of Man fan, head to Hall 2, where you can immerse yourself in all things Tourist Trophy. Many of the headline-makers from this year’s spectacular TT races will be available on the stand to meet race fans and to sign autographs. The TT organising team will also be present to…