Table of contents for 20 October 2021 in MCN

‘It was so surreal, standing on the podium with dad’2021 BSB CHAMP, TARRAN MACKENZIE BRITISH SUPERBIKES Mackenzies’ family affair Huge congrats to Taz Mackenzie and McAMS Yamaha who took the BSB crown in emphatic fashion at the weekend with three tooth-and-nail victories. The occasion was all the more poignant as it coincided with the 25th anniversary of dad Niall’s first British title, and also the final race (and victory) for his former Superstock 1000 champ brother, Taylor, as he retires. But what next for young Super Mac? John McGuinness and MCN’s own Josh Close share their thoughts PAGE 63 TOP STORY Plans to criminalise modifying The spectre of ‘anti-tampering’ has loomed into view again with new Government proposals that would make it a crime to modify any part of a…

Triumph have opened a new Adventure Experience Centre in Spain, with courses running from now until April. The centre makes use of a purpose-built arena at the foot of the Sierra de la Nieves natural park and is just 15 minutes from Malaga airport. The new facility will offer a range of courses to suit riders of varying experience levels and offer both Tigers and Scramblers. For more info visit triumphadventure.es/en/ Classic show returns The Autumn Classic Bikejumble & Show is returning to the South of England Showground on Sunday October 31. A popular event among the classic crowd open to pre-1980 bikes, with displays from both clubs and individuals. There’s also a huge autojumble and garage clear out section, as well as a bikemart. Tickets are available from www.elk-promotions.co.uk.…

SENIOR WRITER GasGas have had a recent past as chequered as a finish line flag, passing through the hands of multiple manufacturers before KTM’s parent company, the Pierer Mobility Group, bought a majority share in the company in 2019. This heralded a new era for the Spanish-born brand, and a surge back onto the world stage of off-road riding. The previous models (with the exception of the multiple-championship-winning trials bikes) were sold to Spanish firm Rieju and nothing but their names carried over. In 2020, the new GasGas launched its KTM/Husqvarna-platform-sharing enduro and motocross range. EC designated the former, and MC the latter, with an ‘f’ distinguishing the four-stroke models from the two. I climbed aboard the 2022 EC300 for a blast around Butts Quarry in Derbyshire. While the EC300…

The Sammy Miller Museum have several seasonal events over the coming months. First up is the Halloween Half Term Trail, offering spooky fun around the site from October 25-31, with free entry to children in fancy dress. Next up is the Christmas Market and Santa Charity Toy Ride between Dec 4-5 and then the New Year’s Day Ride In on Jan 1. Visit www.sammymiller.co.uk Get VIP treatment A VIP weekend with the Petronas Yamaha MotoGP team is up for grabs in a charity auction. The winning bid will secure the ultimate MotoGP weekend at Valencia for two people as guests of Petronas Yamaha with four-star hotel accommodation included at the race from November 12 to 14. The auction will raise money for Two Wheels charity. Visit www.twowheelsforlife.org to find out…

Dainese Carve Master 2 D-Air Gore-Tex jacket £769.99 Keep on riding We’ve all heard the saying about there being no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong kit… and there is more than a grain of truth in that. Nobody is saying you are less of a biker for not going out in blizzards, but the right gear can help extend your biking year and quality needn’t cost a fortune either. Stevenage-based Bike Stop have deals on high-end brands which are well worth checking out, for example they’ve cut the price of the airbag-equipped Dainese D-Air Gore-Tex Carve Master by 40%. This textile jacket is ideal for year-round riding with its removable, thermal lining and collar, plus there’s a breathable and waterproof Gore-Tex membrane. The shell has a…

‘Hidden hacks are found bargains’ I’ve been having a bit of trouble with my (t)rusty Fazer 600 of late. Nothing serious, just the battery failing to hold charge (luckily it is easy to bump-start…) but it has got me keeping an eye out for a replacement. The best way to buy a hack is always from a mate, that’s how I secured my Fazer for £1000, however I’m lacking that route so it’s down to the classifieds. If the amount of junk my wife manages to clear is anything to go by, Facebook Marketplace seems a good place to find deals (nothing is cheap on eBay anymore). A quick skim on this (with the filters set to local) and I’m tempted by a 2002 ZZR600 for £1600 but that price…

YOU’RE NEVER RIDING ALONE When social media was invented, I’m sure the creators thought ‘how great would it be to have a platform where people can follow their friends, their family, but also people they aspire to know’. They would have thought it all through and decided it was amazing – and it is. But there’s always a flip side. The benefit is enabling people to share positive and supportive content – but the downside is that it gives an open channel for negativity and for people to be monumental idiots, too. In Wales, rugby is life, it’s in the blood, and people are really passionate about it. Social media enables those people to reach you directly, and they don’t hesitate to tell you if you’ve had a shit game.…

Q ‘Do I need to get a drop kerb?’ My neighbours have recently complained about me parking my bike on the tiled area at the front of my property and crossing the pavement to get it there. They think that I need permission to keep my bike there and that I need to apply for a dropped kerb directly outside my property, instead of using the one at the end of the pavement. I have parked this way for over 20 years, but they have now threatened to contact the council. I have checked with the police and am satisfied that I’m allowed to keep my bike on my property, but I’ve had difficulty finding a definitive answer about what the law says about crossing the pavement. The situation is…

Readers Ben Swain, Paul Norman and Nathan Beck The trip Tour of Wales (Mid and North) How many miles? 900 How long do you need? Three to five days Best time to go Spring or Autumn (Snowdonia in summer gets v busy) Don’t miss… The A483 between Crossgates and Newtown is a fantastic road, the tarmac is glorious and there are beautiful sweeping corners at every turn. The A44 from Aberystwyth to Llangurig is another big open road with sweeping corners, albeit slightly ruined by the reduction to a 50mph limit! The A5 from Capel Curig gives you the opportunity to blast past Snowdon whilst looking overhead for jets screaming past, if only the tarmac in England was this good! The Devils Staircase (B4574) requires a lot of concentration but…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday October 20 BIKE MEETS ■ Squires Cafe Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints. 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Seaways Bike Night, Fridaythorpe, East Yorks. 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ The Plough Cadsden Road, Cadsden, Nr Princess Risborough, Bucks. www.plough-at-cadsden.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk DRAG RACING ■ Run What Ya Brung Santa Pod Raceway, Podington, Northants. www.RWYB.com Thursday October 21 BIKE MEETS ■ Iron Horse bike Night Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping, Lincs. 6pm-9pm 01778-346952 or www.ironhorseranchouse.co.uk ■ Vic Bikers Pub Coalville, Leics 01530-814718 or www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ■ Manor Farm Diner Bellerby, North…

‘Ten-day trip to the Picos’ R5K MEMBER DAMIAN MCAFEE This ride was around the Picos de Europa starting and finishing in Potes. I was with a friend on his Tiger 900 GT Pro as part of a 10-day trip to Spain and Portugal. The total miles on that trip were 2400. ‘Forest trails in mid-Wales’ R5K MEMBERS KAI SAMLOFSKI AND MARK ISHERWOOD Mark and I at the RallyMoto Wales 500 after day one on the forest trails and back roads of mid Wales. ‘On the Healy Pass’ R5K MEMBER IVOR MCCULLAGH Here’s my Kawasaki Z1000SX on the Healy Pass in Cork. I had a week in Ireland catching up with old school friends and family and stopped in for a photo during a ride. ‘My first tour’ R5K MEMBERS JASON,…

It may seem like Suzuki have given up lately. Sure, they’re reigning MotoGP champions and have just claimed the World Endurance title, but they haven’t been at the cutting-edge of road bike development since the halcyon days of the GSX-R1000 K5 in 2005. Even their latest bikes are remastered classics. The Busa is the same as it always was, bar its new clothes and some sizzling electronics, and the GSX-S1000 still uses that old K5 engine. Both are great, but they don’t cut it like the latest and greatest. You could say the new £11,599 GSX-S1000GT (replacing the GSX-S1000F) will be just another remix when it arrives in dealers in November, but Suzuki have taken a simple idea and executed it so brilliantly, it has the makings of an instant…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician 1 Become all-knowing Fitting a new shock is a straightforward job and requires little more than unbolting the top and bottom mounting bolts, then swapping the old shock for the new one. Often, however, you may need to remove some panels to gain access to the top shock mount, so refer to a workshop manual or the fitting instructions, if they’re model specific. 2 Get a raise Place your bike on its centrestand, if it has one. If not, you need to jack it up from the middle or use a stand that lifts the bike so that the swingarm is free. An ABBA Superbike stand is the perfect tool for the job as it supports the bike…

SPORTS REPORTER Scott Redding insists a change in style is what gave him victory at Sunday’s final World Superbike race in Argentina. Having criticised Toprak Razgatlioglu’s ultra-aggressive style all season, the Englishman said “If you can’t beat them, join them” to end his weekend on a high after a first-corner crash on Saturday. Although the former BSB champ is no longer in WSB title contention, he can still beat Jonathan Rea to be runner-up. Redding’s San Juan pole position – his first since Jerez 2020 – was well-timed and made the disappointment when he crashed at Turn 1 even greater. Redding insisted it was caused by an electrical problem, with paddock talk suggesting his traction control cut out. Unsurprisingly, Ducati’s press release made no reference to such an issue. Redding…

Stand by for another ‘Showdown’ finale How tense do you like it? Are you still holding your breath? Are your fingernails getting tired, hanging on to the cliff edge? One major championship was decided last weekend, an even bigger one wasn’t. The common ground is that both BSB and World Superbikes remained (and remain) open until the final round. BSB of course has a bit of help in this regard, thanks to the Showdown system, that levels the scores and opens up chances to the top eight scorers (up by two this year) in the early rounds. Artificial, yet workable, and in a way fairer than the all- scores-count system, in that it rescues riders who may have missed points through injury or breakdown. This year it also reversed the…

SPORTS REPORTER Tommy Bridewell gave it his all but despite being the only rider to push Tarran Mackenzie to the limit, he ultimately had to settle for the runner-up spot. At one stage it looked like Bridewell was going to repeat his Oulton heroics and claim a pair of runaway victories, but Mackenzie’s Yamaha was just too strong – with the new champ using its tyre-friendly, smooth cornering characteristics to the max in order to catch, and eventually pass, Bridewell. As predicted though, Bridewell certainly didn’t make it easy. “I rode my heart out,” Bridewell said after losing out to Mackenzie at the final corner. “There was nothing more I could have done. There’s not one corner on the track where I felt I could have got anything more out…

If you’re going to win a championship, you want to do it in style. Tarran Mackenzie did just that. You wouldn’t have thought that he had a title on the line when he continued to push to the very limit in order to win the second race of the weekend. He wouldn’t let Tommy Bridewell go, even though a crash, which almost became a reality with a big moment out of Stirling’s, would have given him a real headache in the final race. However, he pulled off a move which will be replayed for years to come, down the inside at the final corner on the final lap. Cue celebrations. He’d done it. A quarter of a century after his dad Niall won the first title of the modern BSB…

Are we at the end of the era where we’re free to choose what parts we fit to our own bikes? New DfT proposals to make it a crime to modify or ‘tamper’ with a vehicle’s standard parts, mean that this could soon be the case. The UK Government wish to make a preemptive strike ahead of the advent of ‘self-driving’ autonomous vehicles and make it illegal to tamper with “a system, part or component of a vehicle intended or adapted to be used on a road”. Rather than say, ‘these bits are allowed but those bits aren’t’, there’s a risk that Government will put a blanket ban on the fitting on all nonstandard parts. These proposals, if they’re brought in, will affect us all, as it could force us…

NEWS EDITOR What’s the single best bit of kit to improve your chances of keeping your bike? A tracker… and the story of Mike Philip’s Super Soco is a case in point. Just minutes after Mike locked his bike up outside his house (disc lock and all) he received a knock on his door from a neighbour who had noticed one of his bikes was missing. Remembering it was fitted with a tracker, he fired up the Super Soco app on his phone to see its live location while someone else called the police. “After informing the police of the situation, I got a call from the officer in the chasing vehicle, asking me to keep him updated with the location of the bike,” says Mike. “I received a message…

There will be a stack of hot new machines on show at this year’s Motorcycle Live at Birmingham’s NEC and you could even win one of them. Kawasaki have teamed up with the show organisers to give away a cracking new-for-22 Z650RS, worth £7699. The bike has only just been revealed and is a retro style version of the popular Z650. The show, which was cancelled last year due to Covid, takes place on December 4-12 and promises to be a comeback corker with stacks of new bikes on show as well as star-studded sessions on the stage and plenty of activities for all ages. To be in with a chance of winning the Z650RS, all you have to do is fill in your details and answer a few very…

ALEC SHARP Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Alec’s pick… Founder of the English Electric Motor Company, Alec Sharp, is obviously an advocate of electric motorcycles. Having set up the company in 2017, Alec’s business is now the UK’s largest electric bike dealer with brands such as Energica, Zero Motorcycles, Surron, Super Soco, NIU, UBCO and KUBERG. So what would the man who sells 200 bikes a year buy with his own cash? “The secondhand electric bike market is very strong, so there aren’t really any amazing deals to be had,” says Alec. “But there is one bike I always look at and consider buying, the Zero FXS. “We…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Don’t ride like idiots I went for a ride to a bikers café near York and what I witnessed was truly staggering. I was travelling on a mud-covered country road from the venue and what I was seeing has left me shocked. There were waves of motorcyclists overtaking and undertaking through blind crests and blind bends! It was truly horrifying. It beggars belief how sane folk can ride like that. Mark Wardle, email Don’t knock DCT bikes Honda’s DCT is not for everyone, of course, and bike testers don’t always get on with it, but despite this it does have many users. To get the best from the system, the rider needs to use it as it was intended by the engineers for different road scenarios…

1 Heritage Sprint Meet Final monthly Sunday meet on Oct 24 at Betteshanger Park from 10am-1pm as Kent Ducati owners celebrate their 10th anniversary. www.facebook.com/heritagesprint 2 Staffordshire Triumph B’day Bash An open day is being held on October 23 with a raffle to win a Trident. www.facebook.com/events/1221532901654578 3 Kempton Park Autojumble Autojumble at Kempton Park Racecourse on Oct 23. Early bird tickets are £10, and adult tickets are £7 for 9.30am entry. www.kemptonautojumble.co.uk…

FRIDAY October 22 8am, BTS2, MotoGP from Misano, Italy: Opening day SATURDAY October 23 7.20am, ITV4, WSB Argentina 8am, BTS2, MotoGP. Qualifying SUNDAY October 24 9.15am, BTS2, Live MotoGP, Misano, Italy. Warm Ups. Moto3 at 9.15am, Moto2 at 11am and MotoGP at 12.30pm. Chequered Flag at 2pm KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 –…

GUEST ROAD TESTER MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK FROM £7395 Triumph Trident 660 • 660cc, DOHC, 12v inline triple • 80bhp@10,250rpm • 189kg (kerb weight) £6999 Suzuki SV650X • 645cc, DOHC, 8v, 90° V-twin • 72bhp@8500rpm • 198kg (dry weight) £6449 CF Moto 700CL-X Heritage • 693cc, DOHC, 4v parallel twin • 74bhp@8500rpm • 196kg (kerb weight) The market for stylish middleweight roadsters is in rude health. Manufacturers are falling over themselves to take centre stage with a variety of different options, from twins – parallel and vee – to inline triples and fours, all aiming to deliver an engaging experience that provides maximum bang for your buck. There’s depth and breadth to the class too. Suzuki’s SV650X is a fresh twist on…

John Allen Age 58 Height 5ft 10in Riding 40 years Occupation Data Administrator Current bike Triumph Trident 660 First bike Honda 125 Superdream Dream bike BMW M1000RR “I liked the look of the new Trident as soon as I first saw pictures of it and reviews in print and online helped with my decision to buy one. Because it was such a reasonable price in the first place, I have been able to personalise it and still not spend stupid money. I have stayed within my budget, despite getting official Triumph heated grips, connectivity, scrolling indicators, engine guard, fork and frame protectors and a few other bodywork bits from companies like Evotech. “I’ve mainly used it for commuting and around town, with a few A and B-roads thrown in… so…

GOING GLOBAL Riding a bike around the world was life-changing for Elspeth. Not only did it set her on her architecture career path, but it also now sends her on trips and talks about motorcycling. BUYING THE TOWER “The two things that have defined my life – the trip was my biking side of things and the water tower is my architectural side of things.” Elspeth bought the tower as a shell in 1988. TELLING THE TALE “My book sent me off on whichever path I’m on now!” Lone Rider has been printed in multiple languages and there is also a book of photographs from the trip. HAVING HER SON “Tom was born in 1990 and I’m now a grandmother. It’s the only time where you care for somebody more…

MICHAEL NEEVES CHIEF ROAD TESTER Suzuki’s new GSX-S1000GT is effortlessly quick, comfortable, practical, reassuring and thanks to its K5-derived engine, exciting, too – exactly what a sports- tourer should be. Its crisp colour dash, quickshifter, cruise control, smooth grunt and peachy throttle will make journeys, near and far a breeze and even better is the price. It isn’t exactly loose change, but is superb value for the all the metal, tech and performance you get for your money. Brakes are slightly wooden, but work well and its tyres could be better, but they’re minor and easily fixable blemishes on Suzuki’s best bike in a very long time. THE FACTS £11,599 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT Engine 999cc 16v inline four Frame Aluminium twin spar Front suspension KYB 43mm USD forks, fully adjustable Rear…

● Fit and comfort rated ● Design, construction and CE scores noted ● Waterproofing tested in all weathers RATINGS Exceptional ★★★★★ Very good ★★★★ Good ★★★ Average ★★ Poor ★ MCN BEST BUY Altberg Touring £229.99 ‘Dry, warm & comfortable’ Tested by Simon Relph for two and a half years/10,000 miles These boots have faced all conditions… wet, dry, warm, cold… and have remained comfortable throughout, which is pretty special when you rely heavily on a product to do its job. They are my go-to kit, especially if it is wet, or I will be doing a fair bit of walking at the other end of a journey. It all started with a trip up to Altberg headquarters in Richmond, Yorkshire, where I had my feet measured by one of…

Once the preserve of racers, upgraded shocks are now commonplace on road bikes. Many bike firms cut costs by fitting basic shocks which work fine for most people, but for riders that want a little bit more in terms of ride quality and functionality, fitting an aftermarket unit is a logical step. Although it’s easy to just order a suitable shock online, my advice is to find a specialist who can take you under their wing and tailor the shock to best your weight and the type of riding you do, because the results can be dramatic. In the mid-90s I raced a CBR600 with standard suspension and it’s fair to say it was no good for racing. Yet I noticed all the quick CBRs had what appeared to be…

Still in his maiden season and aged only 22, Axel Bassani was in stunning form in Argentina. The Italian achieved his first front row qualifying performance and sealed fifth position in Race 1 on Saturday. Then on Sunday, he grabbed a pair of fourth places and kept up with Scott Redding, Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu for most of the race, even exchanging positions with the title contenders. Having already raised eyebrows with second place in Barcelona, this was another reminder of why he continues to be linked with a factory Ducati ride in the future. As MCN went to press, Bassani was yet to be confirmed as staying with Motocorsa Ducati in 2022 although this is a mere formality. As rumours continue to circulate that the GoEleven team could…

GREG HAINES INSIGHT Our expert on the inside of the WSB paddock In any usual season, a double win and 30-point advantage heading into the final round would warrant the above headline without the question mark. However, World Superbike 2021 is a golden example of why we should expect the unexpected. Argentina demonstrated once again how fine the margins are and how great the number of variables. Toprak Razgatlioglu had only raced in San Juan on a Kawasaki, while Yamaha had sealed not a single podium, but the Turk’s fantastic relationship with crew chief Phil Marron saw them fine-tune their strong base setup and submit another impressive race simulation in Friday practice. On the same day, Jonathan Rea crashed, lost half an hour and gathered no data on the super…

There’s no doubt about it, Jason O’Halloran fell victim to the Showdown format and the pressure cooker environment that it creates. In a ‘traditional championship’ there’s a good chance that O’Halloran would have been the one celebrating under the confetti with his team. But it wasn’t to be. Those two crashes at Oulton Park wiped out his podium points advantage and he was unable to get close to Tarran Mackenzie thereafter. “I’m obviously gutted to lose, specially after the year we’ve had; we’ve won the most races, had the most podiums and scored the most points,” O’Halloran told MCN. ‘It is more of a game than a championship’ “To be honest, the hard thing to take is not winning the championship when you’ve put a year like this together. “It’s…

Tom Neave kept his cool to clinch his maiden National Superstock title for Honda Racing UK. Neave held a healthy 22-point lead over Billy McConnell coming into the weekend, and he duly converted that into championship glory after finishing eighth. McConnell did everything he could to try to turn things around by taking his first win of a season full of consistency. He’ll be hoping to go one better with the Rich Energy OMG Racing team, who will now switch to Yamaha machinery, in 2022, whilst Neave will be hopeful of a promotion to Honda’s Superbike squad as a reward for his achievements. ‘Neave will be looking to move up to BSB now’ Jack Kennedy is now a three-time British Supersport champion after another accomplished display at Brands Hatch. Kennedy…

I actually know Taylor Mackenzie pretty well, but I don’t know Taz as much. He’s tiny, I was looking at him on the grid and I was thinking how does he wrestle that Superbike around. That night I saw him at the Yamaha party and I gave him a hug and he’s like a piece of iron – f*** he’s solid. He’s not sat around eating pie and chips I can tell you that – he’s putting a lot of effort in. When he crashes it’s always a big one isn’t it, but how can you b*****k someone when they’re trying to win a race? I like to figure people out, but I haven’t been able to with Taz. I loved his emotion when he won and I find him…

Originally conceived to topple Ducati in World Superbikes, the racy TL-R never got to see on track action, and on the road it was overshadowed by the lighter and faster 916/996. But you have to ask whether any of that matters. The slightly heavier build means that you’ve got greater stability on today’s pothole- infested tarmac, the V-twin engine still has a presence as a strong, booming and most importantly, usable road unit, and the ’90s looks are still fantastic. It’s common to see big miles on the clock, and the engine is strong, but ensure that second and third gear don’t jump out. When you start the bike, give the wires underneath the ignition a wiggle to see if any of the connections are iffy. Also, take a look…

Originally conceived to topple Ducati in World Superbikes, the racy TL-R never got to see on track action, and on the road it was overshadowed by the lighter and faster 916/996. But you have to ask whether any of that matters. The slightly heavier build means that you’ve got greater stability on today’s pothole- infested tarmac, the V-twin engine still has a presence as a strong, booming and most importantly, usable road unit, and the ’90s looks are still fantastic. It’s common to see big miles on the clock, and the engine is strong, but ensure that second and third gear don’t jump out. When you start the bike, give the wires underneath the ignition a wiggle to see if any of the connections are iffy. Also, take a look…

Originally conceived to topple Ducati in World Superbikes, the racy TL-R never got to see on track action, and on the road it was overshadowed by the lighter and faster 916/996. But you have to ask whether any of that matters. The slightly heavier build means that you’ve got greater stability on today’s pothole-infested tarmac, the V-twin engine still has a presence as a strong, booming and most importantly, usable road unit, and the ’90s looks are still fantastic. It’s common to see big miles on the clock, and the engine is strong, but ensure that second and third gear don’t jump out. When you start the bike, give the wires underneath the ignition a wiggle to see if any of the connections are iffy. Also, take a look at…

£20,999 Indian Chieftain Limited The Chieftain sits at the top of the Chief range as the fully-specced touring model with heritage and style to match. The engine is smooth and refined, issuing the requisite V-twin vibes, damped, balanced and corralled into a pleasing massage rather than the drumming, numbing tedium of some rivals. • thunderroad.co.uk £20,425 BMW R18 Classic First Edition Bowkers are matching a current BMW £1000 deposit contribution with another £1000 and offering a 0% deal on the giant boxer. • bowkermotorgroup.co.uk • Engine 1802cc • Power 91bhp • Weight 365kg • Seat height 690mm £17,999 Honda CBR1000RR-R Bransons have doubled Honda UK’s £1000 discount with another £1000. • bransonsmotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 1000cc • Power 201bhp • Weight 210kg • Seat height 831mm £11,499 Kawasaki Versys 1000S One…

Bike thieves in London have switched their tried and tested moped stealing tactics over to robbing cyclists. In the last couple of weeks there has been a spate of thefts in Richmond Park, with one involving thieves on scooters ramming a cyclist, then using a machete to threaten him into handing over his bicycle. Now the Met have scrambled officers from Op Venice, their specialist team in charge of stamping out moped-enabled crime in the capital. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 5103/07Oct or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.…

A stunning 1973 MV Agusta 750GT sold for a world record-breaking £126,500 at a recent Bonhams bike auction – more than doubling its presale estimate. The bike was part of a collection, belonging to German film critic Hans Schifferle, who died in March. The rare Italian grand tourer set a new standard for the model and with most of Schifferle’s other 40 bikes to go under the hammer selling for big numbers, the collection brought in a massive £2.1 million. The Phil Morris Collection, a group of amazing TT and MotoGP racers, also sold well with 22 machines finding new homes. An ex-Steve Hislop (1995) Yamaha YZF750 sold for £35,640, double its pre-sale estimate. Big-block knobbles without wobbles Bridgestone have whipped the covers off a new road-going adventure tyre. Bridgestone…

Ride further in 2021 with a little help from our one-stop event guide Ride out to Britain’s best biking cafes REVVED UP TEA BAR ● Every day is bike night at Revved Up ● Everyday 8am-late ● Find out more / www.facebook.com/Revved-Up-493717504018738 ● 133 High St, Walton-on-the-Naze Revved Up tea bar, isn’t just a biker café. It sits on the sea front at Walton on the Naze and has one of the best views around – what’s more, it’s a great rideout. Paul Barnes, owner of Revved Up, had a kiosk in the area that bikers frequented, but it wasn’t smooth sailing with the presence of bikers and Paul was labelled ‘the ice cream man from hell’. “The motorbikes were parking along the sea wall. Basically, I couldn’t renew the…

MCN staff and readers share their one-hour routes Starting in Tiverton and ending up in the seaside settlements of Lynton and Lynmouth for fish and chips and a piping hot cuppa, there are breathtaking coastal views, sudden drops and awesome tarmac to test your mettle. Leaving Tiverton on the A396, head towards Dulverton. Hugging the River Exe, stay on this road until you reach a roundabout outside the Exeter Inn Hotel. Take the first exit and continue to follow signs towards the Dulverton, following the A396 until you reach Dunster. With the blue of the Bristol Channel appearing in front of you, take a left out of the town on the A39 to Porlock. From here, it’s more of the A39 as you climb the spectacularly steep Porlock Hill. With…

MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A- and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. ROUTE 1 122.73 miles of fastflowing A and B-roads ROUTE 2 126.94 miles of open A and B-roads and towns ROUTE 3 117.88 miles of big A roads and motorway…

JIM MOORE GUEST TESTER These are three very different machines. If you’re in the market for a Trident it’s unlikely you’ll look at the CFMoto – not for long, at least – or even the SV. They all have their merits, however. The CL-X is a good effort. It’s pleasant to ride, performs reasonably well, and offers a credible alternative to more familiar models. But it doesn’t feel as crisp or as well put together as the others, and there’s no residual value in the CFMoto name – yet. It’s also only £150 cheaper than a basemodel SV650, and on HP payments it’s more costly per month than a Trident on PCP. The SV650X is £400 more than its plainer sibling, and that’s a fair chunk of cash for a…

I opted for an Oxford M40R magnetic tankbag in its non-expanded configuration and an Oxford T8 tailpack. I also wore an SW Motech Baracuda backpack with as little in it as possible. In hindsight, a smaller tankbag and bigger tailpack would have been a better option as a tankbag this size was a little obtrusive even once I got used to it. It did mean I could take the weight off my arms on the motorway, though. Only the rear magnets had anything to stick to but it held on just fine. If I hadn’t been travelling for work reasons and therefore carrying a laptop I wouldn’t have used the backpack but it was actually very comfortable and I barely knew it was there.…

1 Kriega US20 dry pack, £129 I use this with two 9.8-litre SW-Motech Legend panniers. It’s a totally secure set-up and the US20 bag is totally waterproof. The dry bag inside the panniers was perfect, too. Mark Davis, Shifnal 2 GIVI Maxia 56-litre top box, £286 After 300-odd miles from Windermere back to Devon in monsoon rain, I highly recommend this topbox. Chris White, Devon 3 Oxford Aqua T-50, £74.99 Just back from a very wet tour of Wales. It worked a treat and kept everything dry and secure! Andy Mckeag, Newtownards 4 Biltwell Exfil-80 Bag, £145 I love this bit of kit. It only really works with a certain style of bike, though – ones with big sissy bars. Carlo Dileone, Cwmbran 5 Lomo 40L Dry Bag Holdall, £26.95…

MECHANIC Kieran Donnelly-Shard of Mad Slick Motorcycles One Yamaha XMax 125 owner was really getting the most out of his diminutive steed with a 50-mile-a- day round-trip from Basildon to Ebbsfleet. The twist-and-go scooter was great for filtering through the daily chaos and he had racked up 11,000 miles S in just 10 months. But he’d noticed a ‘grinding noise’ from the rear, so popped into Mad Slick Motorcycles on Canvey Island in Essex to get it checked out. Sure enough, the rear pads had taken a pounding, so much so they caught out Mad Slick’s boss, Kieran Donnelly-Shard, when he took them off. “I don’t like to worry my customers, but I said ‘Wow!’ out loud and turned to show them to the guy. He looked at me and…

Christian Iddon’s Brands weekend ended with a trip to the medical centre following a huge accident with Danny Buchan at Paddock Hill Bend on the final lap of 2021. TV footage showed the latter running in too hot and clipping the back of Iddon, sending both airborne. The pair were seen to by medics at the scene, with Iddon coming away with a cracked bone in his hand, and Buchan leaving the circuit with a sprained ankle. It was a painful ending for Iddon on a weekend in which there was a very real chance of the title remaining at PBM for a third straight season. In reality though Iddon was unable to match the pace of Tarran Mackenzie and Tommy Bridewell, and he was visibly having to fight hard…