Inhaltsverzeichnis für 30 August 2017 in MCN

Sintered brake pads are so called due to the process used to create the friction material. 99% of motorcycle brake pads are made in this way because the process results in a hard-wearing pad that also offers high friction properties while resisting the extreme build-up of heat generated during braking. Sintering is the process where heat and pressure are used to fuse metallic particles with other elements. Copper (iron was tested as a cheaper alternative but deemed a failure) is combined with more than 20 different ingredients including carbon, zinc, brass and a resin before being placed in a mould and fed into either a vacuum furnace or belt furnace in a controlled atmosphere. The heat and pressure in the furnace cooks the mixture, causing it to combine and the…

The Association of British Insurers has said that unless the European Commission takes urgent action to clarify a European Court of Justice ruling, owners of non-road-going vehicles could be forced to take out third party insurance. In 2014 the ECJ ruled that compensation for injuries suffered by a farm worker from a tractor while on private land should have been covered by compulsory insurance. Unless the EC clarifies their position, the UK Government will need to change domestic law and extend compulsory insurance to all motorised vehicles. This mean anyone who owns a track bike, motocrosser or a golf buggy would need insurance. “We recognise that victims of accidents on private land should be entitled to compensation, but making insurance compulsory for off-road vehicle users is unnecessary, unworkable and unfair,”…

‘The pipes came from Japan and cost, well, don’t ask’ “It started life as an über-ugly and very worn out American imported F1 model,” says Aaron Hughes, the owner and creator of this superb CR750 reboot. “I fitted a K-series swingarm and hub, and then drilled and vented the hub. It has a GL1100 front end and twin disks, custom made fork adjusters, and vented discs (very time consuming!). We welded all the original race-spec re-production parts to the frame, including the frame bracing, foot hangers, tail unit stays, and oil tank holders, while the under-tray was made from sheet alloy. “The entire loom was rebuilt from scratch, and we managed to retain starter-motor (the battery is hidden under the seat). I waited a long time for the fuel and…

‘It’s time to shine a light on those who go above and beyond in their biking quests’ There are people who are always keen to lend a helping hand, put the time in to aid other people’s enjoyment, pass on their wisdom or do something truly heroic on two wheels. Carole Nash’s Biking Heroes is about rewarding these people. All you need to do is visit the Carole Nash website to nominate your hero and in 50-250 words explain why they deserve the accolade. The prize is worth the effort – with £2000 shared between to the top-three heroes and their nominators. The nomination judged to be the overall winner will be presented with the Carole Nash Biking Hero award at Motorcycle Live bike show at the NEC and you…

‘We’ve been blown away by the demand’ “We are a Ducati dealer but took on an MV franchise three months ago and it has been a very positive experience. There is some scepticism about the brand from dealers, especially after the recent bad publicity largely due to one specific UK dealer, but we have found MV very good to deal with. Stock currently isn’t the quickest to come through, with a wait of around six weeks depending on their build pattern, but it is getting far better and production is speeding up. Dealers have to pay for the bikes upfront, which can put them off as it’s a big investment to fill your showroom, but that’s just how it is. Parts can be a little slow to arrive with two…

Yes they both do, but for different reasons. The TL1000S is an intoxicating, muscular bike that has the charisma and soul to be a modern classic. It may be heavy and slow-steering, but you can’t help but marvel at how effective, handsome and important it feels 20 years on. Buying one now is a great idea – they are only going to go up in value. As for the Firestorm, it a lovely bike, but just doesn’t have the excitement or cachet of the TL. It’s a brilliant road bike and a machine that can be turned into something more special with a few choice mods. And at the price they are right now, they make a very astute used buy.…

‘The acceleration from 7000rpm was like sitting astride a lit moon rocket’ MCN READER JOHN JAY ‘The most exotic TZRs remain simply mouth-watering jewels and cost up to £5k... but you still would!’ TZR250 FACTFILE 1986 to 1996 249cc two-stroke twin + 50bhp + 125mph More info www.pure2strokespirit.net or www.yamahaclub.com Want one? £2500 (reasonable 2MA) to £6500 (immaculate 3XV) For those of a certain age, now probably in their 40s and 50s, whose introduction to motorcycling came in the mid-to-late ‘80s, there’s nothing quite like a 250cc two-stroke GP replica. Bikes like Suzuki’s RGV250, Kawasaki’s KR-1 and KR-1S and Honda’s grey import-only NSRs were, simply, the closest thing possible to a GP bike on the street: screaming, ultra-lightweight strokers with repliracer looks, ultra-sharp handling and brakes and addictive power bands that…

‘Ride this Scottish route and no-one would blame you for selling-up and moving to the region’ Not many 80-mile rides will change your life, but the two-hour run around the eastern side of the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands just might – no-one would blame you for selling-up and moving to the region. It’s an unmissable north/south alternative to the busy, speed camera-tastic A9 trunk road to Inverness. And for box-tickers, the route also takes in the highest road in the UK. The route starts, north to south, just outside Grantown-on-Spey on the A95. After crossing the Spey, turn left following the A939 for Tomintoul. You’ll climb steeply towards the Lecht ski centre and then, as you drop towards Cock Bridge, the magnificent vistas are kill-me-now breath-taking. At…

RIDING EXPERT Michael Neeves MCN Senior Road Tester and Elite instructor at the Honda Ron Haslam Don’t just turn up Study the circuit before the big day. Seek out onboard videos, track guides and even computer games to give you a feeling for what to expect, but these should only be used as a rough guide. The circuit will look completely different when you actually ride it. Do a dummy lap If you can get onto the track the night before, walking, running or cycling around it will help you learn it more comprehensively. This is your chance to suss out the shape of the corners and to look out for things you can use as braking, turn-in and exit markers. Look out for bumps, cambers, kerbs and anything you…

‘It’s taken a while but I am now starting to get the look I wanted with the Multistrada’ Tyre options I’ve opted for Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR (£190) as they perform well on and off-road. My other option was the Continental TKC80 (above) but they are more off than on road. Price £11,332 Fuel 20 litres @ 48mpg = 210 miles Weight 205.7kg (dry) Seat height 840mm Power 113bhp Torque 71ftlb simon.relph@motorcyclenews.com It feels like it’s taken a long time to get the Ducati Multistrada 950 from its off-the-peg guise into my motorcycle for all seasons. My latest additions have seen off-road protection put in place. Ducati offer an engine cover plate (£425.98), side protectors in steel tubing (both of these are manufactured by Touratech on behalf of Ducati and…

‘765 engine in a Daytona? That would be a compelling ride’ TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE RS Price £9900 Fuel 17.4 litres @ 49mpg = 187 miles Weight 166kg (kerb) Seat 825mm Power 126bhp Torque 57ftlb Joe.dick@motorcyclenews.com I’ve almost clocked 6000 miles on the Street Triple and I reckon I’ve answered most questions asked of the bike. I’ve used it for commuting, Sunday blasts and travelled all over Europe on it for work and it has mostly excelled. But more recently people have been asking what it’s like compared to a Daytona 675. The Street Triple range has been a real success since its launch back in 2007, but we must never forget that over that time it’s been based on the platform of the Daytona. Though there are still a few…

THE EXPERT Neil Spalding The author of MotoGP Technology has been prowling the MotoGP pit lane with his camera and notebook for 15 years, using unrivalled access to all the development engineers and crew chiefs to gather info during an unprecedented period of development. Pneumatic valve springs were introduced by Renault in the mid-80s for their 1.5-litre turbocharged Formula One engines and Aprilia were the first bike firm to use them in their Cosworth-designed Cube three-cylinder in 2002. Then they were gradually adopted by all the manufacturers by the 2009 season, apart from Ducati who have stuck with their desmodromics. As the four-stroke engines in MotoGP were developed from 2002, peak revs climbed towards 16,500rpm and in the 2005 season, first Honda, then Yamaha reported valve failures using conventional steel…

I’ve mentioned early Street Triples a few times over the last couple of years, because used ones have never been out of demand. You’d have thought that with the various changes and updates made since 2007, never mind the latest 765 model launched recently, that demand might have waned, but not a bit of it. I chopped in my own Street Triple (bought new in 2009) plus my pair of airhead BMWs in a straight swap for a mint BMW K1600GTL – a deal that suited me and the dealer (Sunami of Morden, South West London) because I’d got the airheads cheap and I knew they’d get more for all three bikes than I could have. My Street sold very quickly, for four grand – admittedly one owner, under 6000…

‘Suzuki designed and manufactured a bike for the masses, and it suits everybody’ “It’s a shame they don’t do the Bandit 650 anymore – it’s a cracking bike. It’s very, very easy to ride and although it’s a no-frills machine it just does everything really well. It can be a basic bike if you want it to be, but you can still go off and tour with it. You’ll also still see boys out on trackdays on them – they will do everything. Best of all, it’s a brilliant all-round bike for not a lot of money. “They have absolutely solid motors, too. We’ve had no issues with them at all. It’s one of those where I use the term ‘no frills’, but that’s exactly what the Bandit 650 is.…

 Sam Lowes is taking a step back in 2018 to hopefully take a huge leap forward in 2019, as the Aprilia rider returns to the Moto2 series next year with the Interwetten Technomag squad in a bid to finally take the title in the middleweight class. ‘I’m going to try to win the Moto2 championship, and the British GP’SAM LOWES Left high and dry in MotoGP following Aprilia’s decision to break contract with him at the last round of the championship, he’s been extended a lifeline by the Swiss squad as he steps in to replace the MotoGPbound Thomas Luthi. But, signing up with one of the strongest and most successful teams on the grid and going into next year confident that he can be a championship contender – if…

‘We worked on the electronics to try and save the tyre, and it worked’VALENTINO ROSSI Viñales ‘We are close’ He might not have repeated his 2016 victory, but having achieved his best result since six rounds ago at Mugello, Maverick Viñales was buoyed by his second-place finish. Sitting third in the title chase, Viñales is just 13 points from series leader Andrea Dovizioso and four behind Marquez, leaving him positive about fighting for his maiden premier class title. “Six races is a lot of points and we are quite close,” Viñales said. “The first five riders are still close. We’ve really improved our bike, which is good as it seemed that the other firms had improved more in the summer break and we were struggling but now we are coming…

Rabat to Avintia? Spanish rider Tito Rabat has been all-but confirmed this weekend as joining the Reale Avintia Ducati squad for 2018, as they look to replace Loris Baz. Despite the lack of official confirmation, it’s believed that he’s already signed a deal with the team for next year. It remains to be seen who their second rider will be, but with Mika Kallio in the mix to step up from test rider to racer at KTM, it seems that Belgian mid-pack Moto2 rider Xavier Simeon and could well be in the frame. Luthi confirmed at Marc VDS Swiss Moto2 veteran Thomas Luthi will get the chance to show what he’s capable of in the premier class after signing a deal to replace Rabat at the Marc VDS team. However,…

‘My rear tyre melted because I had to ride in such a different way’CAL CRUTCHLOW Local hero Cal Crutchlow was gutted to miss out on a home podium as he was unable to challenge Andrea Dovizioso and the Movistar Yamahas despite his fast pace. Impressive across practice and qualifying, he was never outside the top three in any session with the exception of FP3 in sketchy conditions and promised it was ‘win or bust’ after securing a front row start. However, reality kicked in for the LCR Honda rider, running an Aaron Slight-inspired Castol Honda livery this weekend. He used his head in Sunday’s race to cross the line fourth after struggling to overtake his Yamaha and Ducati rivals despite running a similar pace. “I’m disappointed,” he said after the…

‘The arrival of Jorge helped to confirm to the engineers how the bike is’ANDREA DOVIZIOSO Andrea Dovizioso’s incredible domination over the 2017 MotoGP championship took another decisive step at Silverstone, as the Ducati racer took his second double victory of the year to become the man with the most wins to date this season – and to steal back control of the championship lead. Riding an almost faultless race to snatch the win from Valentino Rossi in the closing laps of Sunday’s race, he proved more than ever that he’s a serious threat for the championship come the end of the season in November if he can maintain his form until then. While the Italian currently leads Marc Marquez by only nine points, his championship advantage should be double that,…

The 2018 contract for the British GP is up for grabs. Both Silverstone and Donington have said they are interested in having the event and Dorna have said they are in talks with both circuits. But where should it go? This is what you thought… Silverstone! Karl Stuart, Bolton “My first British GP was in 1989 and I’ve not missed one since. Donington is a brilliant place to watch from, but the facilities are absolutely atrocious. Silverstone is still a good track if you get a grandstand ticket, but the facilities here are second to none. I think the facilities here are on par with some of the GPs abroad and I think it would be a crying shame if it went back to Donington Park. It’s about more than…

‘By 2027, 50% of bikes will be electric’ “Europe is further ahead of the US with electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure,” says Sam Paschel, CEO of Zero Motorcycles. “But when it comes to bikes, adoption is slower. Our biggest challenge is awareness – we need to get people to try electric bikes as, once sampled, our uptake rate is very high.” But what about the high prices? “Price won’t be such an issue in the future, in fact I believe it will be an electric bike’s main selling point. Currently, around 40% of the cost of an electric bike is the battery, but this will reduce. In the future you will get a higher value electric motorcycle than a petrol-powered one for less, as petrol bikes are only going to…

‘The charity provides support to those who have a brain injury’ Colin Pountney, an active member of the Cambridgeshire TRF and a trail riding fanatic, has been riding motorcycles for 35 years. Over the last two years Colin has organised a long-distance trail ride to the Norfolk coast and back called Dawn to Dusk. A small group of trail riders ride their motorcycles from Little Abington to Hunstanton and back, navigating a 210-mile route that consists mainly of byways and unsurfaced, unclassified roads. Participants are asked to make a donation to a JustGiving page that benefits Headway Cambridgeshire, a charity that provides support for those who have suffered a brain injury. They offer a programme of activities aimed at recovery and social rehabilitation in a therapeutic environment where individual needs,…

WHO ARE THEY? 1 It’s 1988 at Donington Park for the first ever WSB – name all three riders WHICH FAMILY? 2 Which 2018 family of Harley-Davidsons gets this new chassis? WHO’S THIS? 3 Who’s the fresh-faced rider having some down-time with Bazza? WHO’S DRIVING? 4 Name the daredevil record-chaser piloting the Rocket III Streamliner WHAT MAKE? 5 There are very few truly legendary scooter firms – but which one is responsible for this silhouette? TRACK NAME? 6 Name this world-class MotoGP circuit that’s been in the news recently (and no, it’s not in Wales...). WHAT YEAR? 7 Paul Smart paves the way for Chaz Davies and Andrea Dovizioso with Ducati’s first big race win. Which year? WHICH FIRM? 8 Which eccentric British motorcycle manufacturer also makes this bonkers looking…

‘The Velcro on my gloves stuck to my slider and I toppled over’ Q1 What are you riding? I have quite a collection. I’ve got a 250 Kawasaki motocrosser, I’ve just had a 450 Supermoto built, I’ve got a TT-style 450 flat-tracker (with a front brake) that I use a lot. I’m big into pit bikes as well so I’ve got a home-built 160cc with slick tyres for go-kart tracks and I’ve got trials bikes too and a Kawasaki Z900 for the road. Q2 Which living motorcyclist do you most admire? Probably Valentino for what he’s achieved and for his enthusiasm and his character in general. Q3 What’s your worst habit? Over-training and pushing myself too hard. I also get moaned at a lot for being untidy around the house.…

SUZUKI TL1000R 1998-2003, 135bhp, 192kg The ‘sports’ version of the TL1000S with reworked engine, a new chassis and a steering damper as standard. As stock it felt heavy (230kg wet) and slow. It was a missed opportunity for greatness. CAGIVA V-RAPTOR 1000 2000-2005,103bhp, 192kg Crazy Italian styling and a great chassis, combined with the strength of Suzuki’s TL unit should have been a match made in heaven, but the bikes suffered from poor build and electrics. BIMOTA SB8K 2000-06, 132bhp, 179kg Suzuki’s TL engined bike came in SB8K and SB8R forms. Both used a carbon/ally composite frame and SB8K actually won a WSB race in the hands of Anthony Gobert. HONDA XL1000V VARADERO 2001-2010, 93bhp, 244kg Using a detuned V-strom engine, the Varadero was Honda’s answer to the success of…

GOING THE EXTRA MILE ‘Everything feels better after a long ride’ MCN Deputy Editor, Richard Newland, has racked up nearly 11,000 miles in 2017 – and he’s still got a long way to go There’s something endlessly exciting about riding motorcycles. Whether it’s discovering somewhere you’ve never been before, finding a new favourite road, seeing a view for the first time, or scything along your most treasured route – it never loses its allure. But my real joy, the thing that really fires my brain into overdrive, is covering serious mileage in one hit. It’s a rare treat with so many other things vying for my free time – but whenever I get the chance to stick a pin in a map a long way from home, I invariably turn…

THE ORIGINAL GP REP 250! The TZR was officially imported into the UK from 1987, the NSR and KR weren’t and the first RGV didn’t arrive until 1998. ONE-MAKE CUP CARNAGE Created, like the LC Pro-Am before it, to generate publicity, the 1987 International Yamaha Cup created utter carnage. THE REVERSE CYLINDER The 2MA was succeeded (in Japan) by the reverse-cylinder 3MA in 1989, then by the V-twin 3XV in 1991. Both are worth a packet today. A TASTE OF THE TRACK In the ‘90s, cheap TZRs were a great first bike in proddie racing or on track days. They still are.…

TOOLS • T-bar Allen keys • Grease gun for lubing • Loctite or similar • Torque wrench 1 Remove the clutch The controls for the brakes, gears, clutch and throttle are two-way; we input and get feedback from them. If you have a cable-operated clutch, undo the pivot nut and bolt and remove the lever. You will need to slacken the adjuster off, undo the locking outer and wind in the adjuster so there is maximum slack in the lever. Be careful when removing the lever as there is often a micro-switch actuator that can be fragile. 2 Check it over Check the condition of the pivot bolt and clean if necessary. Apply a small amount of grease for lubrication. While the lever is out, check the operation of the…

• Tools 36mm socket (must be the splined type to fit on the rear wheel nut), Allen keys, rubber mallet, a couple of track stands and a torque wrench. • Rear wheel This is the only real tough part of the job as the rear wheel spindle nut is torqued up to 150ftlb. When swapping over the wheels make sure the spacers are swapped over too! • Front wheel There are two Allen bolts in the bottom of each fork leg, make sure these are slackened off first. Both calipers need to be undone and moved to the side so the wheel can be swapped, along with any spacers. • How long and how hard? I took me longer the first time as I had to dig all the right…

Muc-Off Clean, Lube and Protect Kit £25 We’ve got this great kit, which will keep your bike shining like a new pin, up for grabs. It includes bike cleaner, protector and chain lube. Enter until: August 31 EDZ Merino Boot Socks £20 Smelly feet will be a distant memory if you are the lucky winner of these extra-long socks. Made from merino wool they have anti-bacterial properties. Enter until: September 30 Rossi Kiddimoto £212 If you win this Rossi liveried Kiddimoto balance bike, it could be the first steps to your toddler being the next MotoGP World Champ. Enter until: September 30 Optimate 4 Dual Battery Charger and Maintainer £66 Keep your battery in tip-top condition with this Optimate Battery Charger and Maintainer. It will fully recover a completely flat…

HITTING THE CEILING Metal springs need more time (duration) and can’t travel as far (lift) to safely run at up to 16,500rpm in a race. But, having to allow longer intake valve duration after bottom dead centre (BDC) allows the rising piston to push out some of the fresh fuel charge into the exhaust at low to medium revs. With less charge to play with the torque is reduced. Then there is the valve overlap, which is when the intake and exhaust valves are both open as the piston travels up to top dead centre (TDC). This allows the exhaust pressure waves, which are positive at medium revs, to push inert exhaust gases back into the combustion chamber and produce a flat-spot in the power delivery just before the torque…

Barry the Bike This is a new children’s book series, which centres on classic bikes, cars and trucks. Barry the Bike is the centre figure of the tales and takes the form of a cheery postal bike ridden by Tom the postman. The series can be ordered online. www.barrythebike.com Commanders for Kawasakis Performance gurus, Dynojet UK, have created a new unit designed to fit bikes from the 2017 Kawasaki range. Costing £388.48, the Power Commander V fits such bikes as the Versys 650 and Z650 and allows you to get your bike fuelling perfectly. www.dynojet.co.uk You can join the Resistance Help rid the galaxy of the threat of The Sith with this Star Wars X-Wing pilot-inspired helmet from HJC. A special design for the open-faced FG-70S, the helmet is full…

‘When Dovi overtook I realised he was the guy, he was riding well’MARC MARQUEZ Marc Marquez saw his MotoGP title lead go up in smoke at Silverstone on Sunday when a rare mechanical problem for the Repsol Honda team saw him fail to finish and his rivals made the most of his zero points at the 12th round of the season. Despite his disappointment the Spaniard said it was hard to be angry with Honda, given that it was his first technical retirement from a race since joining them in the premier class in 2013. Engine blow-outs are rare for Honda – the last time a HRC motor blew in a race is thought to have been at Phillip Island in 2007. “The engine was working perfectly all race but…

‘Great to be here with the series on a high’ “What a great race! The weather was hot so a few riders, including Cal and Marc, seemed to be worried about the tyres. I thought they both rode a brilliant race as there’s no point in trying to stretch things out at the start as the tyre would be shit at the end. “I didn’t expect Dovi to win, but when he passed Viñales and Viñales fought back, he just seemed to have that little bit extra. I hoped Cal could stay on the back of him and he did but this place is so hard on tyres. Both Cal and Marc seemed to have a lack of trust in the front, you can’t just dive up the inside of…

Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi says he believes that a large reason for the reinvention of Andrea Dovizioso so far in 2017 is that the Italian racer has taken on the lessons of Ducati test rider, and former world champion, Casey Stoner. An important – if occasional member – of the Ducati MotoGP project since his return to the fold at the start of 2016, Stoner has played the role of trackside spotter and rider coach as well as tester for the Italian firm and their full-time racers both factory and satellite. And Tardozzi told MCN that he believes that that advice is playing a key role in Dovi’s newfound form. “Dovi is so clever, he is using very well the words of Casey Stoner. That is to use the…

Lines online Brake line manufacturer Venhill have a new online application that allows you to make up custom lines then order them in just a few clicks. The hoses are made in the UK factory and dispatched within two days. Visit www.venhill.co.uk Forget-me-MoT The DVSA have developed an MoT reminder service that will tell people their vehicle’s test is soon to expire. When signed up, users will receive an email one month before the expiry date and another two weeks before if they have still not had the vehicle tested. Theft database As organised raids on dealers become worryingly more common, the Motorcycle Industry Association have established an online database where dealers can report thefts. The hope is that collating the data will help establish how the criminals target showrooms.…

Guy Martin to F1 Everyone’s favourite truck mechanic has been turning his spanners to the more finely tuned world of Formula 1 as he joined the Williams F1 team at the Belgian GP over the weekend – helping the team to build and strip the car over the race weekend. Kushi new place The UK (and Europe’s) first dedicated Kushitani store opened its doors for the first time last Friday. Based in Boston, Lincolnshire, the new store will supply the full range of leathers, boots, gloves, textiles an and accessories from the Japanese factory – www.kushitani-uk.co.uk Surtees on TV TV channel Yesterday will be airing a documentary about legendary star of two and four wheels, John Surtees, on September 10. The programme, John Surtees: One of a Kind will run…

‘I wanted something different, so I had the tank covered in leather’ If you’re not familiar with them, Siderock Cycles have graced these pages a few times because, quite simply, their builds are fantastic. Pete Hodson has built plenty of boxer twin customs but this one, based on a 1986 BMW R80, was his pride and joy – until the owner of the local surf/bike/hot-rod café clocked it in the workshop and offered to buy it off him! Pete wanted that stripped-for-action, desert sled look, so the bike’s got his own Siderock Cycles (SRC) subframe to take the new seat. “I knew from the start I wanted something different, so I had the tank covered in leather,” says Hodson. “The centre section is glued and then the sidepanels are stretched…

So, now we’re going to get driverless lorries on the road?! We have enough issues with the ones that do have drivers! Lorry-on-lorry overtakes often cause major disruptions and frustrations on our roads as the rolling 50mph road blocks move ever so slowly up and down the country’s major roads. The Government has announced that there will be a pilot scheme by the end of next year where a convoy of three lorries will take to the highways. The lead lorry will be driven and the other two will be manned, in case any actual steering is needed, but there’ll be no gear changing or pedal pushing. This, apparently, makes the following two lorries more fuel efficient, therefore saving the planet. So they are not really driverless at all and…

YAMAHA FS1-E My Fizzy at Weston-super-Mare 1979. I rode it from Birmingham to see my parents. Steve Owen NORTON DOMINATOR My dad on his 1956 Dominator. He’ll be 78 this month and still enjoys riding. Ian Midgley R6 & CBR600 Me and my brother Ricky on our first bikes. James Hilton HONDA CB750 This CB750K7 was my first big bike and this was taken in 1979 as we headed off to Switzerland (from Scotland). Russ Quinlan GREEVES Having fun on my mate’s Greeves in in 1978. He used to love it when I did massive wheelies on his bike! Tony Beavis SUZUKI VANVAN My first bike was this Suzuki RV125. Brilliant fun even if I did look a bit of a muppet. Jonathon Southam YAMAHA TY175 Here is my first…

MCN’s campaign to get as many readers to cover 5000 miles in a year is all about getting the most enjoyment possible from your motorcycle. We realise that life is full of pressures that stop you biking, but there’s always a way. So #ride5000miles is all about finding time on a Sunday to go for a blast, or doing that tour or trip that you’ve always wanted to do. It can even be about just riding your bike to work more. There’s a great network set up to help you achieve this – and thousands of bikers have already signed up to our #ride5000miles Facebook group. It’s a wonderful place full of friendly faces happy to share routes, experiences and tips. Even if you’re not going to be able to…

‘Keep an eye out for Roadkill Customs for a great burger and a brew’ East Anglia is the flattest part of the UK, but that doesn’t mean it’s dull and this special ride takes in some of the best roads the region has to offer by making a loop around Norfolk via The Broads and the North Sea coast. As it’s also the driest part of the country, this route can be a pleasure almost all year round; be prepared for a full day’s ride regardless as this run may well take longer than you think. Start from King’s Lynn at the A47/ A10 junction; there are a couple of opportunities for fuel on the nearby retail park, so top up before you set off to Swaffham on the A47.…

1 Roadkill Customs, Old Station Yard, Upper Norwich Road, Cromer NR27 0HF. Great bikes and a friendly café thrown in. www.roadkillcustoms.co.uk 2 Revved Up Teabar, 133 High Street, Walton on the Naze, Essex CO14 8AT. Search Revved Up on Facebook 3 Gawsworth Jesters, Harrington Arms, Macclesfield, Cheshire. 7pm, 07843-223593 4 Bikers Breakfast, The Dog Inn, Nether Whitacre, Warks. 9am/ What better way to kickstart your Wednesday mornings? 01675-481318 5 Bike Shed, Old Street, London EC1V 9LT. Call in to check out retro customs or watch MotoGP on a big screen with a cracking breakfast. http://thebikeshed.cc GET YOUR MEET ON THE MAP If you have a bike-friendly cafe venue and want to get your meet on map tact email: sam.williams@motorcyclenews.co.uk…

SUZUKI GSX250R Price £4399 Fuel 15 litres@77mpg = 254 mile range Weight 181kg (no fuel) Power 24.7bhp@8000rpm Torque 17.3ftlb@6500rpm (measured) dan.sutherland@motorcyclenews.com I’m still getting used to the GSX250R. This is my first long-term test bike for MCN and I’m clocking up the miles, commuting from Lincoln almost every day, which is what a practical little bike like the GSX is built for – especially at 77mpg. It has already proven adept at the daily grind. But there is another aspect of that practicality that interests me – taking a pillion. Amazingly, in my almost six years of road riding, the Suzuki is the first bike I have ever had with a rear seat and pillion pegs. To try it out, I roped in the services of my younger brother. Though…

Nitron NTR R3 shock £816 Tested by Matt Wildee Time tested 18 months/4000 miles What’s good? For the cash, very nearly everything. Nitron shocks are high-end items custom-built in the UK, yet when it comes to value for money plus quality they still beat everything else. Nitron’s shock bodies are hard-anodised ally and are available in a variety of levels of complexity and adjustability. Mine has the third out of four levels of adjustability and has adjustable shock length, preload, rebound and high and low-speed compression damping. I’ve used the shock on both the road and track and it gives a glorious combination of support under load and sublime ride quality – and it does this for less than most rival brands. It’s very, very good. The range of adjustability…

‘During the surgery they severed a nerve in my left hand’ Q Docs made a slip during my post crash op I had a filtering accident in March. Liability is still in dispute as the car driver that hit me is saying it was 50% my fault. However, that is not my main issue. I went to hospital for some surgery to my left wrist but during the procedure they managed to sever a nerve. My hand now has only partial function. I wanted to know if I could sue the surgeon or hospital because this is going to cause me lifelong difficulties. Janet Ainsworth, email A I am assuming the surgery was required as a result of the bike accident so that claim may well encompass this further injury…

8 th  SCOTT REDDING Started: 11th A tyre gamble paid off for Redding, after electing to take a risk on a soft Michelin. Deciding to go with the medium rear – the only to do so – he was able to cut his way through the field from eleventh to eighth – his best result since Argentina. 30 th  TARRAN MACKENZIE Started: 26th Taking a gamble on a set-up change that worked for a few laps in Saturday’s qualifying session, Mackenzie was left with a shredded rear tyre only laps into the Moto2 race saw him crash, and eventually limp it home in last. 17 th  BRADLEY SMITH Started: 18th Despite a strong start that saw him battling for points in the first few laps, a wrong…

Aron Canet has helped his 2017 Moto3 title hopes by closing the gap to championship leader Joan Mir at Silverstone, after a last-lap red flag stopped the race and handed the Spaniard a relatively easy win by Moto3 standards. Canet was one of a large group of riders still in the tussle for the win when Juanfran Guevara crashed heavily at Brooklands. Knocked unconscious by the fall and needing trackside medical care, Canet’s previous lead across the line translated into an unexpected win for the Estrella Galicia Honda racer.…

‘I really gave it my all and our pace was better than in the practice’DANI PEDROSA While Marc Marquez and Cal Crutchlow were able to run at the front despite their front end issues, Dani Pedrosa struggled throughout the Silverstone weekend to bring his Repsol Honda home in a disappointing seventh place. The lightest rider on the grid, Pedrosa struggled to manage his RC213V over Silverstone’s notorious bumps but it could have been much worse for the Spaniard, who rounded out Friday’s free practice just 17th quickest. “The whole weekend was quite difficult for us,” Pedrosa said. “I really gave it my all and our pace was better than in the practice, almost one second faster but it wasn’t enough to stay with the front group in the race. “I’ll…

Espargaró suffers Aprilia blow-up Aleix Espargaró was frustrated again by his Aprilia team after struggling through the pain barrier all weekend at Silverstone to a good position in Sunday’s race – only to be denied the chequered flag by yet another engine blow-up from his RS-GP machine. Struggling to breathe after he damaged the ligaments between his ribs while training, the Spaniard put on a strong performance in Sunday’s race until his engine blew for the third time in a race this season while he was on the penultimate lap. Taka Nakagami confirmed at last Takaaki Nakagami has finally been confirmed as stepping up to the MotoGP class in 2018, months after MCN reported the story back in May. The Japanese rider will join Cal Crutchlow on a factory HRC…

‘I’m convinced that one race can change everything – look at Marc’ANDREA DOVIZIOSO The 2017 MotoGP season has delivered another stunning twist in the tale, after an incredible race at the British Grand Prix, coupled with a rare engine failure for Marc Marquez, compressed the championship battle into an almost inconsequential number of points between the top four. The series goes into the final third of the season with only 13 points separating new championship leader Andrea Dovizioso from Marquez and Maverick Viñales, with both Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa within touching distance in fourth and fifth. So close is the title battle that Dovizioso admitted after his stunning fourth win of the season at Silverstone that he’s almost lost for words when it comes to describing the battle. Having…