Table of contents for 15 January 2020 in MCN

“For the first time since May 2017 when McGuinness crashed at the NW200, the greatest living TT rider is fit and back on a race-winning bike. “The last time he was at the TT fit and on competitive machinery was 2016 where he podiumed behind Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson. His three-year absence from the sharp end of road racing means he’s not been part of the new TT era that has seen Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison re-write the rules with regular 133, 134 and even 135mph laps. With a 132.701mph best, McGuinness would be the first to acknowledge he’s adrift. But if he can replicate his best he could easily be in podium contention. “A podium in 2020 would rival his incredible 2015 Senior comeback when he was…

Bosch are now big players in safety technology and used CES to unveil new ideas that could keep us bikers much safer. After researching car sensors and sensors for autonomous driving, Bosch concluded that current camera and radar systems are not good enough at detecting motorcycles, specifically at a junction where the bike is approaching at speed. To improve this Bosch have created the first LIDAR (light detection and ranging), which can measure the speed and distance of an approaching bike without being confused by the shape or silhouette. Connected to the car’s computer, it would be able to perform an emergency stop and prevent the vehicle pulling out in front of an oncoming biker.…

THIS WEEK FRI-SAT 17-18TH Arenacross, SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland The first installment of this year’s tour sees high-octane racing action set to a thumping soundtrack. Entry Prices vary depending on where you sit, two-night passes are also available. Info 08448-472455 www.arenacrossuk.com FRIDAY 17TH An evening with Shakey Byrne, Gillingham FC, Gillingham, Kent See BSB’s biggest hero interviewed by TV’s Matt Roberts live on stage. Entry £25 plus a booking fee. Info 07932-724462 www.mjksportsevents.co.uk SATURDAY 18TH Kempton Park Autojumble, Kempton Park, Middlesex Get ready for a rummage for that sought-after part or the genesis for a whole new project. Entry £7 for adults from 9.30am, there is an earlybird entry from 7.45am priced at £10 for serious bargain hunters. Info 01507-529529 kemptonparkautojumble.co.uk SUNDAY 19TH AJS & Matchless Founders Day, Ace…

MCN has teamed up with Yamaha UK to offer one reader the chance to win a brand new Yamaha Ténéré 700. You can also win one-to-one expert off-road training at Yamaha’s Ténéré Experience in Wales, plus a Yamaha Adventure jacket and trousers. The new Ténéré has seriously impressed everyone at MCN. The MT-07-derived adventure bike is well thought-through and, at just 187kg dry, it’s pure unadulterated fun with an impressive spread of power that works well on and off-road. What’s more, the winner’s bike will come kitted out with the full explorer pack, making the bike alone worth £10,559. How to enter Go to www.motorcyclenews.com/ winatenere and submit your details to enter the prize draw. T&Cs: Draw closes at midnight May 31, 2020 and is open to UK residents aged…

Just months after a renewed Bimota unveiled the radical Tesi H2, the Italian firm have confirmed there will be another bike coming later this year. The KB4 will be a retro-inspired sportbike, as seen in these official renders, with the first pre-production version expected to appear as early as summer 2020. The second new model to arrive since Kawasaki purchased a 49.9% stake in the company late last year, the bike will feature the engine found in the 2020 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX, wrapped within a new Bimota trellis chassis. “The first test prototype is scheduled to be on the road during spring 2020, so it’s reasonable at the moment to plan a pre-production bike for the summer of 2020,” the company told MCN. “The idea shared by Bimota technicians is…

Q Will I be stung in a collision? I was riding down a dual carriageway in September on my Honda Firestorm when a Land Rover swerved across the grass central reservation and hit me, knocking me off and injuring me. The driver of the Land Rover has blamed his swerve on a bee sting from a hive he was transporting and his lawyers are arguing I have no case because the sting wasn’t his fault so he wasn’t negligent. Are they right? Dan, email ‘Vibration from a vehicle can aggravate bees’ A The lawyers are relying on a legal defence known as ‘automatism’. This is where someone cannot be held responsible for their actions if they had no knowledge of them. For example sleep walking or having an epileptic fit…

1986 “I’d just turned 17, had returned to England, my first race was a British championship support race and won both legs on a totally stock Kawasaki. I only lost the British 250 championship at the last round and won supercross races all over Europe.” 1994 “Britain hadn’t won the Motocross des Nations for 27 years and the US was on a 13-year winning streak, so it was a really big deal. Myself, Paul (Malin) and Kurt (Nicoll) all got on, the track suited us and it was one of those days when everything falls into place – it hasn’t been done since.” 2013 On his Screen Actors Guild Award for stunts on Skyfall: “It was really good to be involved in but challenging. I had the camera bike, which…

The recipe for a supermoto is tasty. Take a fruity off-road bike with an eager engine intent on wheelies and wheelspin (possibly both at the same time); fit wide smaller-diameter wheels with sticky tyres to quicken the handling and allow ’bar-dragging lean; tweak the suspension to work on tarmac instead of muck; and cause chaos. Given this doesn’t require an engineering degree, there are plenty of motocross and enduro machines that have been converted. They’re hilarious. And I wouldn’t buy one. Factories spend money and time developing bikes. Buy a supermoto from, say, KTM or Yamaha, and it’ll have the same reliability, safety and build quality as anything else they make. Buy a supermoto built by a bloke in a shed, and the fact that he owns a lathe and…

Unless you take your tank off regularly, you’ve probably not given your fuel lines very much consideration at all. But if your bike’s 15 years old or more then you should give them a quick once-over to check that they’re still in good condition. Over time, the wide temperature range the pipe is exposed to under the tank, as well as the chemical battering from the gallons and gallons of fuel, degrades the pipe causing it to go hard and potentially split. I’ve seen the results of a split hose dripping on to a hot exhaust and soaking into a toasty tyrewarmer, and, well, watching a grown man cry isn’t pretty… When it comes to replacing your pipes, always use OE hoses and clips. Yes, you can buy huge lengths…

Of the nine Brits that started the 2020 Dakar, just three remain following a brutal opening seven stages. Dakar rookie and official Yamaha rider, Jamie McCanney, continues to do a brilliant job and is currently holding 22nd place as the riders prepare for stage nine. The former world enduro runner-up does not lack pace but has cited his first Dakar as a learning experience and is doing just that. The second remaining Brit is 42-year-old Craig Keyworth on board his Adventure-Tech Husqvarna who holds 87th position 17h57m 36s behind race leader Ricky Brabec. Dakar veteran Mick Extance was believed to have abadoned his race, but as MCN went to press it was confirmed he’s still competing. A total of 158 riders started the race. OUT... PHILLIP TURNER BAS KTM 450…

By his manager Kenan Sofuoglu: “There were two offers for Toprak – one from Yamaha’s factory team and one from Kawasaki’s factory team. We chose Yamaha for some detailed reasons but it’s no big issue and not money related. I advised Toprak to go to Yamaha for a number of reasons, for example, Kawasaki have won titles with Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea, so winning with Kawasaki means being the next Kawasaki champion whereas, if you can do it with Yamaha, it would be much more successful because there hasn’t been a Yamaha title for over 10 years. It will be very interesting to see Toprak on the R1. “The decision to move to Yamaha was very difficult because we respect Kawasaki, but we wanted a change in Toprak’s career.…

After weeks in the saddle and days wolfing down breakfasts, our man Justin has come up with his shortlist of the ‘Best Bike Cafés in the UK 2019’ – and now it’s your turn to choose an overall winner. There are actually 11 cafés this year, as the final place was just too close to call. There are some old favourites, including last years’ winner, but there’s just as many new places, keen to get you down on your bike for a cuppa. Perhaps you like Caffeine & Machine in Warwickshire to see the vehicles on display, or prefer to meet up with local bikers at The Super Sausage in Northants. Perhaps the bikes at Harry’s do it for you, or maybe a bacon butty at Krazy Horse. Whatever you…

Over recent years bikes have made huge gains in performance while also improving their emissions and economy, as well as stretching to ever-longer service intervals. This seemingly impossible ability to go faster for longer while using less fuel is down to dozens of improvements, but one of the biggest unseen reasons is the increasing adoption of Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings. DLC has long been used on parts like fork legs to reduce ‘stiction’ and improve durability, but it’s also becoming increasingly important in reducing friction and wear inside engines and gearboxes, too. But what is DLC exactly? It’s actually pretty much what it says on the tin: carbon with a diamond-like structure and properties including the immense hardness, smooth surface and resistance to scratching you’d associate with the girl’s best…

All aboard for the ride of the Valkyrie I don’t like cruisers much, but I’ll make exceptions for the Moto Guzzi California and the Jurassic Yamaha XS650 Custom, one of the oldest (and best) factory customs. And I have fond memories of a Kawasaki Z440 Custom I ran a while back. The Honda Gold Wing 1500 was a fabulous tourer. Still is, but they’re long in the tooth and can be picked up very cheap. How about three grand for a superb 1989 model with just 35,000 miles up? But there’s a variant that holds its money like nothing else. Actually, it’s appreciating now. That’s the F6C Valkyrie, basically a stripped-down Wing, the flat-six engine equipped with six carbs, lower gearing and no reverse gear. The closest thing these days…

Reader Clive Jeffries The Ride Brailes, Warwickshire; to Le Harve and Reims, Baden-Baden, Basel, back to France via Bourges, Les Sables-d’Olonne, Saint Malo and finally back to Portsmouth then home. Miles 1700 Time required Ten days Don't miss this “Roads and scenery were absolutely amazing. Cracking trip and can't wait to do it again. No potholes!” DIY How many riders does it take to change a lightbulb? Turns out that it's not as easy as you'd expect. GREAT WEATHER The temperature hit 38 degrees and we certainly didn't need those umbrellas. Absolutely brilliant! STMALO Our group included two Suzukis, an Indian, three BMWs, two Harleys, a Triumph and two KTMs. BEER 0'CLOCK Very fine ales on offer in the picturesque spa town of Baden-Baden (obviously this is for when the…

NIGEL WRIGLEY Age 45 Height 6ft 2in Current bike 2019 CRF1000L Africa Twin Been riding for 50 years First bike Triumph 3Ta Bathtub (with the ugly tub cut away) Dream bike I’ve already got it... “My wife and I took two months researching bikes that seemed to suit our lifestyle and test-rode all the different Africa Twin models. I love its agile handling and how easy it is to ride. Once a choice was made both of us were more than happy – We’ve ended up with a bike with the power and comfort to enable us to tour two up with full luggage, or to go out for a blast through the local country lanes. I’ve done 9000 miles since March, so around 12,000 a year. It has run…

1 Bike4Life April 26 3000 riders on a 23-mile fundraising ride in Shrewsbury in aid of the Midlands Air Ambulance. bike4lifefest .com 2 RTTW October 3 A ride to honour fallen armed forces members ending at the National Memorial Arboretum. rttw.org 3 Dist. Gentleman’s Ride September 27 Join 1000s of well-dressed riders raising money for men’s health. gentlemansride.com 4 Manx Knievels April 24-27 Dress up as Evel and join 100 others on a charity tour of IoM. ridecymru.uk 5 Squires Egg Run April 5 Charity egg run from Yorkshire bikers’ cafe delivering eggs to local children’s charities. squires- cafe.co.uk…

• Twelve new bikes • Thousands of real-world test miles • What works, what doesn’t and what fails • How to get the most out of your new bike • The best mods, parts and accessories tried, tested and reviewed • No punches pulled • See the whole fleet story so far online at motorcyclenews.com 3917 MILES 8616 MILES 4677 MILES 12,908 MILES 14,664 MILES 4812 MILES 10,427 MILES 3929 MILES…

1. Scorpion ADX-1 helmet £219.99 I wanted a flip-front helmet with good ventilation for a trip to India. It’s very comfortable, has a useful internal sunshade and the clip-type fastening means no faffing with D-rings. I think it’s good value for money. 2. Rukka Armaxion trousers £649.99 These have all the same features as the jacket but you have to be careful with the lining as it can end up too hot. They zip to the jacket with a full-length zip and have braces for extra security, too. 3. Alt-Berg Roadrunner boots £269.99 Been around the world and perform flawlessly – waterproof, easy to get on and comfortable. 4. Rukka Nivala Gore-Tex jacket £1249.99 My second Rukka and it’s bone dry. Has D30 armour, vents, pockets,…

• Every one tested for over 1000 miles • In all weathers • For at least one month Gerbing XRL £179.99 Tested by Mike Armitage for 1 month, 2000 miles Power source Bike (or optional battery packs from £59.99) Suffer with insomnia? Ask me about heated clobber. I can bore the hind leg of the most resilient donkey. As a year-round rider, I almost exploded with joy after discovering heated gloves about 16 years ago. And these are the best yet. Old heated gloves seemed better suited to pruning roses but these CEapproved XRLs (there’s a short-cuff XR too) are proper bike kit, with confidence-inspiring armour, secure fastening, waterproof membrane, visor wipe, and a patch of stuff for touchscreens. Power is from the bike’s battery: attach the supplied harness, run…

Pliers You’ll need a decent set of pliers to help you unclip those fiddly little hose clips. If access is tricky, have some long-nose pliers to hand. T-bars A pair of 10mm and 12mm T-bars are just the ticket for spinning off the tank fasteners. T-bars give you speed and good feel. OE fuel line clips Your fuel system is a safety critical part of your machine so don’t skimp by using generic jubilee clips. OE is the only way to go. OE fuel line The original fuel line will be shaped to the specific components beneath your bike’s tank; it’ll also be of proper grade rubber that won’t degrade as quickly. • Tell us about your favourite at mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com…

As MCN went to press on Monday, KTM’s 18-year domination of the Dakar was under threat. Thanks to American Ricky Brabec, Honda are on target to bag the big prize with the Monster Energy Honda rider currently leading the standings by a significant 24m 48s from Husqvarna’s Pablo Quintanilla. Honda made a full HRC return to Dakar in 2013 with the sole aim of displacing KTM at the top of the tree. While they have made progress every year since, success hasn’t come as quickly as expected. With four days of the race still to run, it’s far from over, especially given the brutal nature of the event.…

•‘I’m surprised at how well the Yamaha turns’ It’s not a name that’s easy to write, pronounce or even recall, but you’d better get used to it because Turkish star Toprak Razgatlioglu’s meteoric rise shows no sign of slowing up. Over just a handful of years, the now 23-year-old has progressed from junior Superstock rider to a World Superbike winner who has shown he can beat five-time champion Jonathan Rea in a straight fight. That, combined with his on-the-limit style and ruthless nature, make him one of the most exciting prospects in years. Dealing with adversity Toprak’s journey has featured the highest highs and lowest lows, with 2019 topping the tree. With hard-as-nails Kenan Sofuoglu as mentor, the five-time World Supersport champion has kept his protégé on the straight and…

2020 – WSB Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team 2019 – WSB Turkish Puccetti Racing (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), 5th, 315 points (2 wins, 13 podiums) 2018 – WSB Kawasaki Puccetti Racing (ZX-10RR), 9th, 151 points (2 podiums) 2017 – EUROPEAN SUPERSTOCK 1000 Kawasaki Puccetti Racing (ZX-10R), 2nd, 130 points (3 wins, 5 podiums, lost title to M. Rinaldi by 8 points) * 18th September, Portimao: 1st WorldSBK test with Puccetti Kawasaki (62 laps / 285 km) 2016 – EUROPEAN SUPERSTOCK 1000 Kawasaki Puccetti Racing (ZX-10R), 5th, 70 points (2 podiums) * Broken ankle rules out WorldSBK debut in Australia as Grillini Kawasaki substitute for Josh Hook 2015 – EUROPEAN SUPERSTOCK 600 Kawasaki Puccetti Racing (ZX-6R), Champion, 157 points (5 wins and podiums in all…

Aprilia are the team with the most to do but with new engineers and a cash injection from parent company Piaggio, there’s genuine excitement heading into 2020. Their current engine lacks power. Aprilia have persisted with a narrow angle V4 but its perceived advantages have not converted into track performance. For 2020 they will switch to a wider V4, with rumours suggesting they’ll follow other V4s (Honda, Ducati and KTM), by switching to a completely redesigned 90 degree V4. Aprilia have worked hard on their electronic strategies, having been unable to extract maximum acceleration in 2019 due to the throttle disconnect riders experienced with the Magneti Marelli system. Chassis-wise they can be competitive especially over a single lap but have yet to land that sweet spot where performance is stable…

“At Valencia and Jerez the focus was mainly on electronics. We tried to develop the traction control as much as possible. During 2019 we had many comments about a poor feeling with the rear of the bike. We have really pushed hard and have found a new setting that will form the base strategy for next season. First of all we have taken a big step with the traction control and secondly we have made a step with the engine braking, and on the initial touch of the rider’s torque map. “The second test item, especially with Bradley Smith, was to work on weight distribution. We need to understand the best configuration. Focus went into understanding weight transfer during braking as we suffered a lot this season compared to our…

For many, John McGuinness’s esteemed career looked to be coming to an end. But his performance on the PBM Ducati at Macau in November where he qualified fourth turned that on its head. He himself admits as much. “I think if Macau had been disastrous it could have been different. If I’d been running in 12th and struggled on the best bike on the grid there would have been questions asked and teams would have lost a bit of faith in me – people would have forgotten me. I probably had it in my head that if Macau was bad then it’s probably over. But I jumped off Birdy’s Ducati feeling fresh while running at the sharp end and that pricked up a few people’s ears. “After that I never…

Representatives from Norton Motorcycles appeared at the Insolvency and Companies Court in London last week to contest a winding up petition regarding £300,000 of unpaid taxes. Norton’s owner, Stuart Garner, says he is working with HM Revenue and Customs to resolve the matter, claiming the money owed is largely covered by outstanding research and development tax relief currently owed to the company. Leicestershire Live online news reported that the court heard how the Donington-based manufacturer originally owed around £600,000 to HMRC – however, half of that figure has now been paid. HMRC’s barrister told Judge Sebastian Prentis that because the company is making payments and the debt figure had reduced, they were seeking an adjournment, requesting 63 days for the outstanding amount to be settled. Judge Prentis adjourned the hearing…

YAMAHA RD200DX My awesome RD. I’d saved all summer of 1979 to buy MCF 445P and snuck out on it a ‘few’ times before my 17th. Jed White YAMAHA RD400 My first bike after passing my test in 1985: a 1979 Yamaha RD400. Wish I still had it now, a true Japanese classic! Gary Puckering ARIEL ARROW Me on my dad’s bike many years ago. I wonder if this machine is still out there as someone’s prized possession… I’d love to know. Simon Faure YAMAHA JT1 MINI ENDURO It was an early ’70s JT1 that I had help building from parts. I’m 54 now with a Street Triple R and a S1000XR. Britt Smith DOT ‘DEVOID OF TROUBLE’ My first bike was a DOT back when I was 14. Here…

As impressive as ever, the Thruxton is now an even cooler customer in its new RS guise. Its extra grunt and willingness to rev adds sparkle to an already fast and formidable machine and its new-found lightness, braking power and extra grip lets you ride the RS harder than any Thruxton before… Thirteen grand is a lot of money for a single-seated retro-shaped sportsbike, but the Triumph is a quality object, packed with tastefully hidden tech. For the last word in off-the-peg café racer-styling, sounds and performance, the new Thruxton RS is it. Tech spec What it costs £ 13 ,000 PCP example 36 x £155…

1 Cassington Bike Night, June 29 Be there as this quaint Oxfordshire village gets taken over by bikes. cassingtonbikenight.wordpress.com 2 Poole Quay, every Tuesday, April-Sept. Bikers meet from near and far to enjoy coastal fish & chips. pooletourism.com 3 Sportsbike Shop Bike Nights, 1st Thursday of month, April-Sept. Popular meet at Boston bike kit specialists. spor t sbikeshop.com 4 Boston Bike Night, July 2 More a mini festival than a traditional meet. bostonbikenight .co.uk 5 Weston Bike Night, various May- Sept. Themed and general bike nights on Weston’s Marine Parade. westonbikenight .co.uk…

‘So many people move on before finishing a job’ When the owner of a newly-purchased KTM 690 Supermoto brought it into Stourbridge Motorcycle Centre for a service and MoT, he was pretty pleased with himself. Not only had he got a clean bike for a very fair price, but he had saved a few more quid by changing the oil and filters and replaced the worn out brake pads himself. So far, so good. Experienced mechanic John Birchill’s first impressions were promising: “He had done a pretty good job on the caliper. He had cleaned off the crud on the caliper body, the pistons looked like they were in good nick and the pad clips were in place as they should be. “There was just one thing… he hadn’t tightened…

The Dakar paddock spent Monday in mourning at the loss of rally legend Paolo Goncalves who lost his life on stage seven on Sunday. The 40-year-old Portugese crashed his Hero Motorsports 450 276km into the stage and despite treatment by his fellow riders and medical teams he was transferred to Layla hospital where he was pronounced dead. With 13 Dakar starts to his credit, stage wins and a best finish of runner-up to Marc Coma in 2015, Goncalves was one of the sports highest achievers but it was his mentality, personality and Dakar spirit that made him such a popular and well-loved figure in the bivouac. Having played a fundamental role in Honda’s return to the event in 2013, Goncalves took on a new challenge in 2020 in riding for…

Britain’s Bradley Smith is ready to stand in for Andrea Iannone and believes, given the circumstances, that Aprilia are in a fortunate situation. Iannone’s future is uncertain after failing a drugs test held after the Malaysian GP. Both samples were positive for the steroid Drostanolone. Iannone’s defence team will argue his case at a disciplinary hearing, where a verdict can take up to 45 days. This may be followed by further appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. These legal procedures rule Iannone out of pre-season testing; however, Smith has played down the effect on the team. “The position for Aprilia is that they have both of us under contract, so they can play it out to the very end,” he explained. •‘Aprilia have the situation where I’m sat…