Sommaire pour January 2022 de RiDE

MV AGUSTA HAS dived headfirst into the adventurebike market, revealing two models inspired by the Dakar Rally success of the Cagiva Elefant. Dubbed the 9.5 and 5.5, the bikes are MV’s first true adventure offerings and sport liveries reminiscent of the ‘Lucky Explorer’ design used by Cagiva in its heyday – possible as MV belongs to the same group. Both bikes share a similarly-styled front end, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the current Honda Africa Twin and share the same blackedout finish above their LED headlight arrangements. The 9.5 sports a new 931cc triple based on the firm’s existing 798cc unit, achieved by increasing the bore and stroke, with the overall unit dimensions unchanged. Producing 121bhp at 10,000rpm and 75lb·ft at 7000rpm, the revvy unit also gets…

TAKING INSPIRATION FROM the 1977 Z650 B1, the new Z650RS is effectively a Z650 wrapped in a set of periodpleasing clothes. The engine and frame (aside from the subframe) are identical to those used on the current Z650, and so is the suspension. To give it the required retro look, Kawasaki has changed the light, tank, side panels, seat and tail unit and also fitted dual ‘artillery shell’ clocks while the discs are now round rather than petal-shaped and the new cast wheels have been designed to mimic spokes. On a retro, you want a bit of soul and the way Kawasaki’s twin feels more mechanical and less light and ‘whirry’ gives the RS a lovely bit of old-school charm. It’s not as fast-revving or quick on the throttle as…

Alpinestars Venture-R suit £199 + £129 www.alpinestars.com This dedicated off-road suit is worth thinking about if you’re a greenlaner. Made from rip-stop Nylon and polyester, it’s far tougher than the MX-style kit some off-roaders wear in dry weather, with far better resistance to abrasion and snagging on thorns. Waterproof enough for a small shower – the jacket has one waterproof pocket and two large outers – it’s more practical, too. It has advantages over lined adventure kit; it is lightweight, well-ventilated, and the sleeves zip off for summer. But you’ll need a separate armoured baselayer, as the jacket has none, nor any pockets for any. Clarke CHT204 torque wrench £33 www.clarketooling.co.uk I bought this wrench a few years ago to match my 3/8in sockets rather than use an adaptor with…

Steve Herbert-Mattick, art editor I’m a big fan of the Ténéré but a soft-spot for Aprilias should put the Tuareg right up my street. PAGE 30 Jim Blackstock, product editor I really enjoy tinkering with bikes. What are the options for making some money out of it, I wonder? PAGE 67 Simon Hargreaves, contributor Dealers always get the better of you? Me too. I’m intrigued to see what I’ve been doing wrong. PAGE 53 SUBSCRIBE TO RIDE For more details, see page 24 or 107 or visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk…

“We do agree with the MPs that there should be no more smart motorways built until they are safe. “We are willing to give national roads one last chance to get it right, and that is to install stopped-vehicle detection, more frequent refuge areas and complete CCTV coverage. When smart motorways were first proposed, we were told that they would have the ability to detect a broken-down vehicle immediately and protect it, and that is not the reality. “People are used to having a hard shoulder. You’re talking about years and years of driving on motorways and expecting a hard shoulder and people feel less safe without it. “They could put a stop to new schemes and get more data from the existing schemes. We already have several hundred miles…

It’s a little torque monster A 270° firing order lends a V-Twin feel, which is particularly noticeable off-road. Torque is abundant across the gears, and it was easy to slip the clutch and spin the rear wheel. It doesn’t sound half bad either, with a deep gargle rising to a guttural roar. Mode swings The Tuareg brings four different riding modes to the table. There’s the pre-set Urban and Explore and the user-adjustable Individual and Off-road – as standard this deactivates ABS at the rear, with the option to switch off the front, too. Function over form It ain’t the prettiest, but the Tuareg does everything it has to. Designed at Piaggio’s Advanced Design Centre in California under Miguel Galluzzi (who did Moto Guzzi’s stylish V85TT), the Tuareg’s muscular forward…

1 IT’S EASIER TO GET YOUR FEET DOWN Shorter riders who struggled on the Multistrada 950 will be pleased the seat is now 10mm lower (down from 840mm to 830mm), and slimmer to help get feet flat on the floor. Rubber-topped pegs are 10mm lower, so legroom stays the same. There’s also a lower seat option (810mm) and lowering kit, dropping the seat height down to 790mm. As before, the V2 S is all-day comfortable for distance work 2 IT’S LIGHTER THAN BEFORE It was called the Multistrada 950 and now the V2, but the Ducati is also 5kg lighter; 225kg for the S model and 222kg for the base version without electronic suspension. As well as its lightened engine internals, the mirrors, brake flanges and wheels – all taken…

WORTH £520! Keis J501RP Heated Jacket › Size 46 to 60 (chest size 36 to 50in) The Keis J501RP Heated Jacket combines the very latest micro carbonfibre heat-generation technology with a lightweight, stylish design. This premium heated jacket comes standard with a free £36 Keis power controller and is powered from your bike’s battery. Keis G701S ‘Shorty’ Motorcycle Heated Gloves › Glove sizes 5 to 13 (XXXS – XXXL) Brand-new for this winter, the G701S heated motorcycle gloves incorporate the superior warmth, protection and waterproofing technology of the Keis G701 bonded-textile motorcycle glove range, with a shorter, tighter-fitting cuff, for riders who prefer their heated gloves underneath their jacket cuffs. Keis S302 Heated Socks › Sizes M to XL (shoe size UK 7 to 10+) The Keis S302 Heated Socks…

Negotiation is easier in some ways with a private purchase because you’re usually buying from a fellow amateur. That means the techniques mentioned on page 62 can often have a dramatic effect – particularly using silences and walking away. The deal itself is also simpler because it’s usually based on a pure price negotiation. The key extra technique to apply is the down-sell, where you list the faults you or a mechanic mate have spotted, add up the values to get them fixed and subtract those from the asking price. Difficulties usually arise when the owner suffers from sunk-cost bias. This tends to happen when they have lavished thousands on the bike and expect all those costs to add a similar amount to the value, which they generally don’t……

A CAREER IN MOTORCYCLING – riding, servicing, building, maintaining, chasing and racing them – must be every young rider’s dream. But, despite the wide variety of jobs out there involving bikes, it only comes true for a small number of people. RiDE speaks to a few of them, to find out what they do, how they got there, and what it’s like to spend your working days in, on and around motorbikes. ‘People thought I was mad but it’s been an amazing journey’ Ian Davis, 55, gave up a steady job and pension to become a fabricator, craftsman and bike builder. He hasn’t looked back…. I AN LIKES TO talk, and makes conversational tangents an artform. Maybe it comes from so much time on his own in his workshop but…

Oxford Protex outdoor stretch-fit cover £99.99 www.oxfordproducts.com THE CLAIM “A premium stretch-fit outdoor cover which offers protection against rain, sun, snow and dust. Fitted with a PVC window to hold a solar panel charger.” THE REALITY The weighty triplelayered construction is soft and easy to handle. Add in the fact that it’s stretchy, too, and this becomes a breeze to fit. We opted for a large version but it’s still a tight fit on a large adventure bike with a top box. Proven to be waterproof so far. Silkopen penetrating spray £9.99 www.sikolene.com THE CLAIM “This graphited penetrating spray eases seized fasteners. When used with a cable oiler, it penetrates the full length of the cable, forcing out corrosion, leaving a thin graphite and oil lubricating film for a silky-smooth…

JANUARY 2021 20L ROLL-BAGS Oxford Aqua T-20 £64.99 www.oxfordproducts.com Completely waterproof in the main compartment (a little entered the external pocket), it took our test load with ease and was stable on the bike. Comes with a padded shoulder strap. RECOMMENDED Kriega US-20 £129 Lomo Drybag £13 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORTS-TOURING HELMETS Shoei GT-Air II from £449.99 www.shoeiassured.co.uk The GT-Air II was the quietest in the test as well as comfortable. It comes with a drop-down sun visor and vents at the chin and top of the head. RECOMMENDED HJC RPHA 70 Carbon £449.99 MARCH 2021 BATTERY-POWER HEATED GLOVES Furygan Heat Blizzard £269.99 www.furygan.com/en-GB These were an excellent fit, supple and had a soft, plush lining. They worked well on the bike, with good feel for the controls and kept cold…

‘I love the triple engines’ GARY SPEAK, 62 2019 Triumph Tiger 1200 XRX Low Mileage 15,000 “Bought new with full luggage in February 2019 for long days out and European trips. I also have a Daytona 955i; my wrists and age made it challenging, but I love the triple engines. Gearbox is faultless and the adjustable screen is a great feature. Slow manoeuvres can be challenging but once rolling it handles surprisingly well. It has Denali lights and an Evotech sat-nav bracket.” ‘I’ve been drag racing on it’ DAVE GRUNDY, 65 2015 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC Mileage 38,500 “Bought new for a daily 150-mile round trip commute. I also have a Street Triple 765RS and Daytona 955i. I’d considered a BMW GS or K-series, as I prefer shaft drive for…

New electronics Perhaps the biggest change between Gens 2 and 3. It now has rider aids like cornering ABS and traction control, plus conveniences like a better dash and cruise control. ..but no 12v socket For all the Busa’s new rider aids, Suzuki couldn’t find room for a 12v socket, much less a USB port. Nippy Norman’s 12v socket for £19 to the rescue, plus a few cable ties. Tank range Some folk (me) worried about the Gen 3 Hayabusa’s predicted tank range. But it still manages around 140 miles on a tank before reserve, which I reckon is plenty. COSTS SO FAR Servicing (600-mile service) £150-£170 *(varies from dealer to dealer) Fuel 5350 miles @ 43.6mpg £674.89 (@ £5.50/gal) Givi tail bag £164 Metzeler M7 RR set £267 Nippy…

COMMITMENTS MEAN THIS month I’ve only ridden the Tracer to Heathrow and back – a few hundred miles – but I’ve been lucky enough to have a go on two of the Tracer 9 GT’s 2022 rivals: Honda’s NT1100, at its launch in Barcelona and, at the other end of the horsepower scale, Suzuki’s GSX-S1000 GT in Scotland. Whether the Tracer, NT and GSX-S are sports tourers or not seems to trigger the mass debaters but I can see a lot of us making a choice between the three because they do a similar job – agile, sporty, road based touring comfort. The Tracer sits in the middle in terms of performance and, on price, there’s not much between them. The Tracer comes with heated grips, panniers, centrestand, quickshifter and adjustable…

OUR TIME WITH Ducati’s Monster is coming to an end, and we’re all sad to see it go. A bike which many had discounted at the start of the year (RiDE was the only UK mag to run one as a long-termer) has turned out to be a revelation and that monster (sorry) 937cc V-twin is full of character and usable speed. Everyone who rode it fell in love with the thing – and I’d go so far as to say it’s definitely our favourite ‘performance middleweight’. Despite having lower-spec suspension than the likes of a Street Triple RS or MT-09 SP, the B-road ride quality is far better than either – and nothing in the class has the same torque-to-weight ratio. It’s the perfect bike for semi-sensible B-road tomfoolery…

Exmoor Here I am during a quick stop on a six-day tour of Exmoor, Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor, with my wife Tina on our R1200RT. Stunning scenery, quiet roads and we saw more animals than humans! Phil Church Glen Quaich, Scotland A view of the Glen Quaich hills above Kenmore looking north towards the Munro mountain called Schiehallion. It was a wee bit chilly but my Triumph loves being out and about and always attracts comments from non-bikers. Ian Pilmer Llyn Crafnant, Snowdonia A quick snap taken during a cheeky 120-mile post-work ride in Denbighshire on the YZF-R3. We are stopped at Llyn Crafnant, which is a wonderful part of the world. Richard Evans Thetford Forest, Suffolk With the good weather starting to fade and the roads becoming greasy, I’ve…

Best day to ride “Any time of the day is good, but it’s better in the week rather than weekends, as there’s hardly any traffic – you will probably see a fair few other bikers, though.” Best bit “All of it! It has everything from tight twisty and technical B-roads to long, wide, sweeping bends. You can have fun whilst taking in the beatiful scenery with the roads more or less to yourself.” Be careful at... “The Military Road from Saughtree towards Kielder – it’s a narrow road with no markings and LOTS of sheep...” Best place to eat “Carter Bar is always good for a quick coffee, otherwise Hawick has a good choice including the Pickled Orange, Damascus Drum and Horse and Hound. There are a couple of good…

Email ride@ride.co.uk Write to us RiDE, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA ‘Beware buying from Germany’ Your readers may be interested in my experience of purchasing motorcycle parts from Germany for my classic BMW. In the past three months I have bought several items with very different consequences – resulting in some nasty and expensive surprises. The problems arise from a lack of notice, clarity and very different applications of additional charges when buying from abroad. In the first instance, the website seemed clear about prices. There were no warnings about additional costs, but prior to delivery I received a demand from the carrier for an additional payment of £79 comprising Customs Duty, Excise Duty, Import VAT, handling and clearance fees – all on top of the £140 price I…

Adjustable screen could be better The manually adjustable, five-position screen raises by 164mm and its angle straightens the higher it goes. But it’s stiff to adjust and can’t be done on the move, while it also fails to stop buffeting when the pace increases. Hands and feet get extra wind deflectors and they all work well. Decent dash but extra LCD display is pointless Multi-function, 6.5in, colour TFT touchscreen from the Africa Twin has three layouts and features Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The additional LCD display seems a bit pointless, though. It can carry ALL the luggage The NT is approved to carry both top-box and panniers, increasing luggage capacity and pillion comfort by providing a back-rest. Its new, sportier rival, Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT, can’t do that.…

YOUR EXPERT Gareth Roberts Sales negotiation expert who’s worked for dozens of major companies and governments. He now runs a negotiation consultancy company – brasstacksnegotiation.com. Here are Gareth’s top tips for getting the best deal. RIDING AWAY FROM a showroom on your new bike is one of life’s sweetest moments whatever deal you got. But there’s definitely an extra frisson of pleasure to be had from knowing you negotiated yourself a bargain. The difficulty is that you’re up against professional sales staff who spend their days dealing with amateur hagglers. Strolling in and barking a daft number at them just isn’t going to work. What you need is knowledge: of how the sales staff are bonused and when; how dealer stock turns over; and what negotiation techniques actually work. If…

1 Part-ex or private sale? A lot of the solus dealerships have to sell non-brand used stock into the trade rather than on their showroom floor, so you won’t get a good part-ex deal on a Honda at a BMW franchise, for example. Better to sell privately or to a multi-franchise dealer. If your bike is more than three years old, sell it privately rather than part-exchanging it at a big dealer. Main dealers want bikes they can put straight out onto the showroom floor and know they’re not going to come back. We don’t want older bikes. 2 Work out what you want the cost of swapping to be If you hope to get the new bike for £9000 and you want £5000 for your bike in part-exchange, the…

➤ 16 ace biking destinations in the UK & Europe ➤ Brilliant kit that’ll do the miles ➤ The best milesmashing bikes, new and used ON SALE JANUARY 12 2022 PLUS... RATED SUB-£100 WINTER GLOVES Tested for comfort, insulation and feel + SUPERB £22 WATERPROOF RUCKSACK BIKES YAMAHA TRACER 9 GT: 2K-MILE TEST The reality of churning out big miles on Yam’s sports-tourer + APRILIA RS660 v NEW YAMAHA R7 GARAGE BRILLIANT ROADS SOUTH OF THE M25 Local secrets away from the hustle and bustle + RIDE READER’S FAVE MIDLANDS ROUTE RiDE TELLING IT LIKE IT IS SINCE 1995…

TRIUMPH ALDER GORE-TEX SUIT £650 (JACKET) £400 (TROUSERS) www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/shop THE FACTS USED BY Simon Hargreaves, contributor USED FOR 8 months, all weathers USED ON Big-mile touring across the UK TOTAL MILES The claim “The Alder Gore-Tex Adventure Tourer is our ultimate jacket, tried and tested for serious miles in all conditions. Every design aspect has been considered, from the strategic positioning of the large offset cargo pockets to ensure they don’t sit on your lap while riding, to the padded collar which is removable and washable and incorporates a stretch tab you can pull closed to keep the wind and rain out. Pair with Alder jeans for the ultimate technical offering.” The reality Initially heavy, bulky, with a stiff, cardboard feel, as the miles have rolled by, the jacket and…

A RiDE Best Buy award means that a product has been tested under real-world and, where appropriate, laboratory conditions to assess its performance in all relevant criteria and has excelled in its field, while offering exceptional value for money. A RiDE magazine Recommended triangle means that a product has either done an outstanding job at a higher price or a reasonable job but at a significantly lower price. So while not worthy of a Best Buy, it still performs very well in one of these criteria. The RiDE Best Buy and Recommended triangles stand for quality and value for money. Look for them when shopping. RiDE TELLS IT LIKE IT IS Our product tests are carried out by real bikers with years of experience, and on real bikes, and are…

IN 2019, AS the Hayabusa was consigned to history in a new world of average speed cameras, emissions regulations and decaying roads, it felt as if we’d left that kind of bike behind. Long, low, heavy, stiff short-travel suspension, cramped riding position, no heated grips, traction control or cruise control... So, does the 2021 model – essentially the same bike with added electronics – make more sense now than it did then? In the past six months, in my work for bikesocial.co.uk, I’ve put more than 5000 miles on one, including two 1300-mile rides to Scotland, to find out. THE FACTS £16,650 〉 178.5bhp 〉 264kg MILES THIS MONTH 1950 MPG THIS MONTH 43.6 1 It feels like it’s going to hurt, but... There are two types of bike journey;…

ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN THEY SAY YOU can only make a first impression once but Royal Enfield’s diminutive adventurer, the Himalayan, has made two on me so far and I predict there is another to come. I first rode it when I went on Nathan Millward’s A2 adventure-bike try-out day and of the four different bikes on offer, instantly fell in love with the Himalayan. A puncture meant I didn’t get the chance to try it off-road but on narrow, nadgery north Devon lanes, it was superb. And now, having spent a week with it on slightly large (sometimes) south Devon lanes, it has made the same first impression again. Seven days with it and I’m grinning… Various others have tried the Himalayan and denounced it for its lack of power…

AFTER A MONTH of motorway monotony, I have finally set the 1290 loose, with a 200-mile adventure through Scotland’s finest lowlands. It wasn’t all play, however, for here I faced the task of herding a wayward group of military motorcyclists (I’m an Army Reservist and member of the British Army Motorsport Association) around a navigational rally. But the KTM was the perfect tool for the job. It made light work of the convoluted country roads, rolling through sweeping bends and flying along undulating straights, the instantaneous throttle unleashing unlimited torque, before the twin Brembos brought me back to cornering speeds. I rarely touched sixth – as a tall, overdrive gear it’s redundant for all but the fastest of stretches – but despite my relatively low average speed, it was thirsty…