Table of contents for 24th July 2019 in MCN

Regardless of your own biking predilections and peccadillos, it’s fantastic news that Triumph have confirmed the Daytona 765 that MCN spied in February is the real deal, and will arrive in dealers next spring to reinvigorate the supersport class. OK, so it’s not really a supersport bike by any conventional definition. But with the rest of the class propped up by a rev-happy screaming 600, a mildly-cheating 636, or bikes that have gone as soft and saggy as my midriff – the new Daytona 765 sounds like the perfect road-going sportsbike. The old 675 R was an absolute peach on road and track, blending creamy inline-triple midrange mumbo with a frenetic top-end rush and glorious soundtrack. And it’s still such a formidable tool that Peter Hickman won a TT on…

Only 765 bikes will be built for Europe and Asia The ‘final edition’ for this style of Daytona Triumph have officially confirmed that the Daytona 765 MCN spied testing, and have been desperate for them to build, is real - and will arrive as a limited edition in Spring 2020, capitalising on what they have learned from Moto2. Named the ‘Daytona Moto2 765 Limited Edition’, the new supersport machine will be built in two versions, one for Europe and Asia, the other the US and Canada. Each market is limited to just 765 bikes, and only a fraction of that number will be available in the UK, meaning demand is likely to dramatically outstrip supply. The billet aluminium top yoke of each bike will be laser-etched with the bike’s unique…

A motorcycling father and daughter have enjoyed their sixth annual tour together exploring the Isle of Wight and the east coast as they pile on the miles. Martin Potts, 57, and Claire Potts, 26, began their yearly tradition after Claire decided she wanted to learn to ride in her late teens. The pair have only missed one year due to university study. “My son wanted to ride a bike when he was 16, but I point-blank refused,” #ride5000miles member Martin explained. “The following year, Claire said she wanted to ride. I said ‘no’ and she just said ‘you’re either helping, or you’re not!’” This year’s trip was devised by Martin, who chose locations the pair had visited when Claire was a child. “Every year we go for three or four…

It can sometimes feel like there are no safe places to leave a motorcycle these days, no matter how much security you use or where you lock it away. But the figures are actually starting to look much more positive than you might think. Back in 2017, a decade-high 32,000 motorbikes and scooters were stolen in the UK. This dropped to 27,000 in ’18. Figures suggest that the number will be more like 23,000 by the end of ’19. This is great news, especially at a time when Met Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick, says that detection rates are woefully low and the Home Office reports that only 8.2% of crimes recorded by police in 2018 resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed to appear in court. Realising that something…

Yamaha British Superbike star Tarran Mackenzie pulled the wraps off the new R1 and R1 M at Snetterton last weekend as prices were announced for the firm’s uprated superbike duo. The standard bike will cost £16,799, with the limited-run M model priced at £21,999. As well as a host of engine improvements (see tech story, left), Yamaha also claim a 5.3% increase in aerodynamic efficiency and greater comfort for a broader range of riders. The limited-run R1 M will feature the same engine and electronic improvements as the base bike and sheds extra weight thanks to a set of carbon-fibre front fairings, mudguard and tail section, alongside magnesium wheels and rear subframe. A titanium lower fairing cover completes the look. The bikes can be seen at top Yamaha dealers this…

Draw up a list of legendary biking landmarks and our latest target will feature near the top, for this week we retrace the wheel tracks of the Ton-Up Boys to visit the spiritual home of cafe racing, London’s Ace Cafe. The Ace has been a fixture on the North Circular (A406) since 1938, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that it became the hang out for a new breed of motorcyclist – the rocker. As we roll onto the forecourt it’s easy to imagine those neon-lit nights of a bygone era, when British bikes, leather jackets and Brylcreem were de rigeur. At the counter we find no shortage of choices on the menu, but decide to keep it simple and order the large breakfast – it duly arrives as traditional…

The question that always gets asked is: What makes a great racer? Looking at Marquez, I see a happy boy. Playing on his motocross bike, riding his flat tracker, he’s into Barcelona football club, he’s young, he’s hungry and his state of mind is the absolute key. ‘MARQUEZ IS HAPPY. HE’S GOT THINGS WORKED OUT IN HIS HEAD’ Mentioning no names, but some riders out there are completely obsessed with what they eat down to what chemicals are or aren’t in their chicken. I don’t think for one minute Marquez worries about chemicals in chickens. He’s just got things figured out in his head. People say you make your own luck. That’s rubbish, but you do need some luck. For example, Dani Pedrosa was made of glass; when he crashed…

It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B- roads, a stretch of 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 Look sharp Heading out of Oundle on a busy market day, the Husky’s diminutive back end and minimalist flat-track aesthetic means it looks at its best with a smaller rider on board. The bigger, heavier XTribute has a more conventional retro-scrambler style, and feels less toy-like for taller (or wider!) riders. 2 Gearing aid…

After a rollicking day’s ride enjoying every molecule of Husky’s Svartpilen and Yamaha’s XSR700 XTribute, a closed trunk road right at the tail end of the MCN250 means taking an improvised cross-country route after Weston on the B660. It’s exactly the kind of moment the 701 and XSR are built for; taking the scenic way home on a whim, wringing every last drop of fun and sheer riding pleasure from the bikes and, even after a long, hot eight hours in the saddle, both machines are a gift that keeps on giving; they’re still simply hilarious to bomb about on. The roads are typically bumpy, country back lanes with high hedges limiting vision. With a couple of seriously rapid sections and excellent visibility across fields, it’s one of those moments…

• BATTERY TECH Harley’s ‘Renewable Energy Storage System’ (a 15.5kWh high-voltage lithium ion battery pack with a built-in power generation system) is the centrepiece of the LiveWire’s power source. Featuring horizontal cooling fins its cast aluminium case doubles up as a stressed chassis member with the frame and headstock bolted to it. This modular design surely points to more diverse models in the future. • HIGHLY CHARGED A cable and three pin plug that lives under the seat plugs into your 240-volt household supply, giving 13 miles for every hour of charging. An on-board DC Fast Charge (192 miles for every hour’s charge) lets you use the petrol pump-like car chargers you’ll find are increasingly commonly at service stations and selected Harley dealers from September. • POWERPLANT Placed beneath the…

THE STUDENT Craig Nelson, 45, Bedfordshire Since passing his test last October, Craig’s done over 8000 miles on his Kawasaki Z1000SX. He rides whenever he can. Craig’s riding problem “I get caught out by double bends. I go in too fast, struggle to get the bike turned and I have run off the road once or twice.” THE TUTOR Ryan Decarteret, Rapid Training Former Police fast-response rider, Ryan now uses his experience and training to help road riders become swifter and safer. Ryan’s action plan “I’ll show Craig how to slow things down, and focus on technique. This’ll make esses a safer and more enjoyable experience.” THE LESSON 1 Know the signs Observation and forward planning go hand-in-hand here. Looking as far ahead as possible allows you to spot…

‘It’s all the bike that I need at the moment’ Sensible. There comes a time in every rider’s life when that word falls from their lips. However, it’s not usually followed up by rushing out and buying the craziest bike from the world’s nuttiest manufacturer, as was the case with MCN reader Graham Bell. A few years ago, Graham found himself uttering the ‘S’ word, which resulted in him becoming the proud-if-a-little-disappointed owner of a BMW R1200GS. He says: “I’d always loved sportsbikes – I guess you could’ve said I was a bit of a Sunday warrior. I had loads of Fireblades and a BMW S1000RR, but my knees were really suffering. Then after a couple of operations, I thought it time to start slowing down and being sensible, so…

Unless you are a Be Wiser Ducati rider, you probably didn’t leave Snetterton very happy. That was certainly the case for the McAMS Yamaha team as riders Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran both ended the weekend in the gravel. Mackenzie’s Sunday began with a third place after initially and impressively leading the three Ducatis of Redding, Brookes and Bridewell while team-mate Jason O’Halloran excitingly rose to ninth from 21st. In the second race, O’Halloran crashed on Lap four while Mackenzie followed suit seven laps later. “Well, that’s motorcycle racing, isn’t it?” summed up ever-realistic team owner Steve Rodgers. “Taz was the only rider who was able to go with the Ducatis. He’s riding really well and we’re really impressed with him. I feel for Jason. Things have not been on…

Zero Motorcycles CEO, Sam Paschel, says the Californian brand can remain competitive – despite mainstream manufacturers climbing aboard the electric vehicle bandwagon. The latest development has seen BMW revealing their Vision DC Roadster (MCN, July 3). The BMW is only a concept right now but looks well resolved and takes cues from the German firm’s traditional boxer range. Meanwhile, Ducati are also concentrating on electric projects. But Paschel remains upbeat that Zero can lead the charge, despite the company’s relatively small size. Zero have a 13-year head start on rivals ‘We created this category’ ‘I hope others take it seriously’ In an exclusive interview with MCN, Paschel said: “We’ve been the brand that’s actually created this category and has been the flag-bearer and protagonist for electric motorcycles, so we knew…

When Triumph started developing the Moto2 engine they took a 675 chassis and added adjustable headstock and swingarm pivots to allow them to tailor the chassis to the more powerful engine package. Ironically, after testing extensively with Julián Simón and examining other Moto2 chassis data, the development team realised that the optimum settings were near-identical to the original 675 R’s frame geometry. So if the clear anodized main frame and swingarm on the production Daytona 765 look familiar, it’s because they’re actually identical to the old 675’s. Differences do exist though. The subframe is revised and removes any option for a pillion, and the suspension is Öhlins NIX30/TTX hardware front and rear, optimally tuned to support just a solo rider. Hanging at the fork bottoms will be Brembo Stylema monobloc…

Piotr Krzyczkowski wanted to create something that could cut through terrible congestion in Poland’s major cities. Without the backing of a major corporation, he knew that building a prototype would be almost impossible, so he teamed up with local company Zortrax to 3D print one instead. The result is a fully functional electric bike that cost around seven times less to develop than if he’d gone down the traditional route. The 3D printing process allowed Zortrax to build a complex shape quite easily, while also managing to reduce material waste. Krzyczkowski says the whole thing took around a year to complete and based on this mock-up the final thing should weigh around 90kg. According to Zortax the prototype can travel nearly 45 miles on a single charge, albeit at a…

Ever thought what type of person it takes to win 15 world titles? My wife and I were sat by the hairpin at Mallory's Festival of 1000 Bikes at around 5pm on the Saturday for road machines. It was our first visit and we couldn't believe the variety and number of bikes taking part. We laughed as we were the only ones there. Next thing, three guys walk up and start watching. After a few laps, a couple of the guys moved away. The third guy continued to watch intently lap after lap as all manner of machine and rider negotiated the hairpin. This man watched constantly and passionately until the last rider had finished.The next day, of course, he took to his MV and polished off several laps. Bravo…

The Svartpilen 701 and XSR XTribute are different riding philosophies separated by a shared theme. The Husky is a tight, coiled-up spring of a bike. It’s not spiky, angular or overly aggressive, but very much a more serious style of fun and games and wouldn’t be out of place (or left behind) on a trackday. The Yamaha is softer, lolling about and taking nothing seriously. Its looks are less challenging, but it’s easier to find the limitations of its suspension and ground clearance. What isn’t fun on either bike are their prices; nearly nine grand for the Husky will take some convincing. But the Yamaha isn’t home and dry either. And add the admittedly wonderful Akrapovic exhaust and the XTribute tops the 701, at £9399. Salty. But bundle the pros…

Back in the late 1980s Honda’s VFR750R, or the RC30 to you and me, was about as exotic as superbikes got. A road-going take on Honda’s factory RVF750 TT-F1 Suzuka 8-Hour racer, it cost an eye-watering £8455 when it hit showrooms in 1988 – twice the price of the Suzuki GSX-R750J Slingshot of the day. Homologated to compete in the inaugural World Superbike Championship, the 112bhp, 185kg, 748cc, V4 wide-eyed dream machine was about ready-to-race out of the box, just like the Ducati Panigale V4 R is now, more than three decades later. The HRC-developed race-bike-with-lights dripped with the latest techology and sported an Elfdevloped single-sided swingarm, quick-release front spindle and a sculpted aluminium frame designed to flex in key areas to offer racers more feel. It was a dream…

Silverstone has seen some of the fastest and closest racing in all of the classes that use the track and can trace great races as far back as the epic duel between Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts in 1979. Silverstone Moments is a new competition for 2019 to find race fans’ favourite pictures from a Silverstone motorcycle racing event. The competition is being run by the circuit hosting the pinnacle of the UK’s motorcycle racing events with the GoPro British MotoGP on August 25. All you have to do is share your favourite picture from any year the World Championship has been held at the Silverstone circuit to be entered into a prize draw to win a chance to meet Cal Crutchlow and spend a Friday afternoon practice session in…

Two 2019 race winners failed to even start Sunday’s second race at Snetteron as oil on the track caused crashes on the sighting lap before forming up on the grid. Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) lost control at Oggies leading onto the Bentley Straight, while Josh Elliot (OMG Racing Suzuki) went down at the other end of the straight, losing the front end through Nelson. Following a track inspection, the spilt fluid was cleared up. At the end of the previous British Supersport race, the GP2 class machine of JB50 Racing’s Jorel Boerboom was pouring out oil when the Dutchman stopped in the pit lane, while mechanics hurriedly placed catch trays beneath the machine. “I went into Oggies, turned right and the next thing I know I’m on my arse,”…

Exactly 12 years on from the passing of his brother Ollie, Tommy Bridewell had a very emotional weekend at Snetterton with a mixed bag of results. A cracked exhaust – discovered on the grid before Race One – was hastily replaced before Bridewell then chucked his Oxford Racing Ducati into the scenery while leading. “Do I know what happened? I ran into the corner 10km/h faster than I ever have done!” said the straight-talking 30-year-old. This time last year at Snetterton, Bridewell was sacked from Halsall Suzuki and left without a ride before later signing for the Moto Rapido squad where he now resides. The Devizes rider regrouped for Sunday’s second race and followed the Be Wiser Ducati pairing home for another podium in third, to retain second place in…

Michael Laverty stepped in for injured Keith Farmer at Tyco BMW and impressed, claiming a best of ninth in Race Two. “I’m relatively happy on what’s a brand new bike to me,” said Laverty, who’s been juggling world endurance, TV punditry and helping Chaz Davies in WSB. “It’s better in a lot of areas. The only thing lacking is the top-end speed of the old engine. “In endurance you ride at 98% for an hour pretty comfortably. But to come here and ride at 100% in every corner, I was regretting not doing as much training, drinking too much beer and eating too many desserts!”…

The Sportster 883 series has been Harley’s entry-level ride for 30-plus years. Over time it’s gone from four-speed and chain drive to Kevlar belt, cartridge forks and keyless ignition. If you want to take advantage of the latest model, £800 off the cost of an Iron 883 (down to £8095), be quick as the offer ends on 31 July. Or you could sample the delights of a used Sportster, with some of the lowest depreciation in the market. 2019 SPORTSTER 883 What is it? The entry-level Harley in their stripped-down, blacked-out Dark Custom style with a low seat and slammed suspension. MCN says “It’s not the greatest cruiser in the world, but it is a Harley and it’s affordable to most.” Want to buy one? £8095, £1620 deposit, £91.44…

Cheap online helmets safetytested Fakes from SE Asia now commonplace ‘New and young riders are the ones who are most at risk’ Dangerous fake crash helmets that fail mandatory safety standards are posing a serious threat to British riders. Readily available to buy through online auction sites, international marketplaces and social media, the illegal helmets promise big-name branding but offer frighteningly little protection. As part of an investigation by ITV News, two fake helmets – one branded AGV, the other carrying a fake Arai logo – were put through simulated 30mph crashes by the British Standards Institution. Both failed the tests dramatically, the outer shells splitting apart on impact, with visors and other external parts separating. Wearing such a helmet on British roads is illegal, as they haven’t been tested…

A new biking festival run by the Bike Shed Motorcycle Club is set to take place at Lydden Hill in October, giving custom bike enthusiasts a tempting mix of on-track and off-road action. Spawned out of the success of their first Café Racer Cup, which took place at the circuit last year (and was won by MCN), the Shoreditch club have modified the event to include a variety of other classes, including 125s, carbed sportsbikes and supermotos. Run from October 4-6, also included is The Commuter Cup category, which is open to riders in hi-vis on bikes with panniers and top-boxes. Overtakes must be made with indication, or riders will be penalised. The potentially hilarious event is primarily designed for those who have little to no trackday experience and have…

1 Sharper skills A set of fully adjustable Öhlins suspension will help improve road holding, ride, handling and braking stability. 2 Stop it now Twin Brembo monobloc calipers will sharpen up the braking – one of the only areas that let the standard model down. 3 New boots This model is still running Avon Cobras, but Triumph might opt for a stickier Pirelli rubber if they’re serious about grip. 4 Terrible top box Don’t worry about the Forth Road Bridge hanging off the back end in support of the top box. This is purely for test telemetry. 5 High life If this Bobber is a new R model, it could cost circa £14,000, while a TFC version would be likely to cost nearer £16,000. Photos…

The second annual Ladies’ Day at Sammy Miller’s motorcycle museum was a roaring success on Sunday as over 100 female bikers gathered in the courtyard of the New Forest motorcycling mecca. “We’re very proud to be riding together as females,” said Paula Barret-Pow who rode in with a group of friends from the Isle of Wight. “There’s a lovely culture among female bikers – it’s not about what we ride, it’s about who we are.” “It’s been really enjoyable,” said Suzuki Gladius rider Cassie Fletcher, from Portsmouth. “I’ve chatted to all sorts of people, had a good look around the museum and spent some time with the IAM group. I generally don’t see many other women motorcyclists or have a big circle of biking friends, so it’s great to have…

SUZUKI GT250 This was my first bike and I bought it new in 1978. Barrie Langlois HONDA CG125 This was my Honda CG125, complete with top-box. I used to do a 238 mile round trip with it nearly every weekend. Robert Miller HONDA HORNET My first bike was a ’99 600 Hornet. I loved it. I considered buying it back, but I’m on a 2008 GSX-R1000 now. Jason Redmond YAMAHA TY175 This is me and my first bike in 1995. I still ride and have a Honda Firestorm and Varadero. Matthew Plaziuk HONDA CR80R This is me on my 1999 Honda CR80R as a young 14-year-old. Plenty of fun on the moors of Yorkshire. Liam Tindall EXCELSIOR SKUTABYK This was 1964. What a pathetic first bike. I had to push…

Both bikes have one circular, digital dial. The Husky’s is the larger but hardest to read, with a lot of info crammed in and low-contrast LCD lettering. The dial screen is made from cheap plastic and scuffs easily, and the two mode and set buttons are stiff and clumsy. The XSR’s dial has better-contrasted white letters on black and, with less info, is easier to interpret. Raised buttons are good too. But the Yam dial picks up the sun easily and becomes totally unreadable. Being able to adjust its angle would help. HUSQVARNA HUSQVARNA SWITCHGEAR On/off rocker kill switch and starter on the right; horn, winkers, main beam and pass flasher on the left. Ride-by-wire throttle is quick-action and light. YAMAHA YAMAHA SWITCHGEAR No frills: standard-issue Yamaha kill/ start slider…

‘I went from my first race to factory 500 rider in six years’ Now a familiar face on TV through his pundit work and supporting his sons, Tarran and Taylor, in the BSB paddock, it is easy to overlook just what an accomplished racer Niall Mackenzie was. Thrown into the 500GP paddock at the age of 25-years-old with only six years of racing under his belt – during the golden era of legends when the 500cc two-strokes were at their most vicious – Niall gave as good as he got. A factory 500GP rider for Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha, he can count the likes of Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner and Kevin Schwantz as his team-mates and has defeated such greats as Randy Mamola, Eddie Lawson, Christian Sarron, Wayne Rainey and…

‘It has a cheeky side, reminiscent of a Ducati Monster’ Before we dive in and unpack all that is electric; charging, range, the absence of a hot, throbbing engine and the price of Harley’s new LiveWire when it hits UK dealers in September, let’s talk about what it’s like to ride, because it really is rather good. Like all electric vehicles the LiveWire’s powerplant (103.5bhp, 86ftlb) is eerily smooth. With no gears or clutch to worry about, this twist-and-go H-D is as easy to manage as a big scooter and with no hot engine parts thrashing around beneath you, it won’t fry you on a hot day in traffic either. The motor isn’t without character. Bevel gearbox cogs whine like a tube train around town and scream like a jet…

•‘Being able to rebuild a ’box is a very useful skill’ When it comes to working on a motorcycle, I apply a simple theory: I’m no master with the spanners, but I’m fairly competent and approach a problem on the principle that if someone in a factory managed to put this together, I should be able to do the same. After all, a motorcycle is just a bunch of nuts and bolts holding together a number of larger parts. However, while this ethos has seen me through several chassis strip and rebuilds, there is one area of a bike I’m just too scared to dissect – a gearbox. To me, gearboxes are pure witchcraft. My head just can’t fathom how turning a spline can make varying cogs engage. And there…

We were a private team in WSB and didn’t get any help from Honda. They were concentrating on TT F1 at the time with factory riders, Joey Dunlop and Virginio Ferrari. I raced cars before setting up the team and my old engine builders helped to solve a few problems the RC30 had at the time. We bought our parts from HRC Belgium. We won the world title in 1988 and 1989, but what was important in ’89 was our adventure with Pirelli. We worked very well together. When there was a problem we’d solve it. They were very professional, helped us a lot. In Hungary we won by 18 seconds. Our big rivals were Pirovano, Mertens, Tardozzi, Roche and Luccinelli. The Ducatis were hard to beat. They had a…

ARMOY ROAD RACES, ARMOY, CO ANTRIM. JULY 27 ‘Jewel in the Emerald Isle’ An action-packed Saturday, with a full programme of races is the highlight of a whole week of events taking place in the small village of Armoy this week. The route With tree-lined country lanes and scenic A-roads, this is a great route that sets out from Armoy to Ballymoney, where the racing icons, Joey and Robert Dunlop hailed from. It’s worth spending a moment to pay your respects in their memorial garden or have a cuppa in Joey’s Bar. Back on the road and head south to Toome where you pick up the A6 through the county town of Antrim before you arrive at the port town of Larne. Pick up the stunning coast road…

1. ABSORB INFO The double bend sign tells you what’s ahead. It’ll also show the order of the oncoming bends to help you plan. 2. TAKE IT SLOW The correct entry speed, especially for blind bends, is slower than feels right. Go in like a kitten and out like a lion. 3. HOLD IT! Position yourself as if it was a single corner but hold your position longer to allow you to see more of the next bend. 4. SWITCH OVER See the next bend, then switch to the opposite side of your lane. Neutral throttle will prevent the bike running wide. 5. SAFE SIGHT Expect the unexpected; oncoming traffic cutting the turn. You may have to compromise some vision for a safer position. DANGER ZONE Excess entry speed makes…

1 Get familiar with the kit Installing a camera on a bike to act as a dash cam needs more consideration than fitting an action camera. A dedicated bike dash cam such as this Thinkware system has a rear and forward-facing camera and a separate main unit hidden out of view. The main unit needs to be mounted so it can be accessed, so check the instructions specific to the kit you are using. 2 Make a plan before you start Next, you need to decide where to locate the main control unit. On most bikes this will be under the rider or passenger seat. Wherever you decide to mount it, keep the unit away from exposure to both the weather and heat. Remove fairing panels and the…