Inhaltsverzeichnis für October 2019 in RiDE

Ducati SuperSport From £12,141 • 937ZZ • 110Yhp Won praise for its looks on its debut two years ago but despite a smooth, potent ex-Hypermotard engine (also used in the Multistrada 950) and typically sweet, sporty handling, the compact SuperSport hasn’t ignited sales charts. This is a shame because it — especially the S (pictured below) on Öhlins suspension — delivers sport-touring ability mixed with on-track chops in a way Honda’s current VFR800 could only dream of. Kawasaki Z1000SX £10,445 • 1043ZZ • 140Yhp Now with a suitably long model life going back to 2011 and a revamp in 2017, the Sa is still one of Kawasaki best sellers in the UK. It’s big, it’s heavy and it doesn’t steer but once you get your head round the handling, it’s also comfy, fast and…

THE RETURN OF THE F Honda CBR600F (2011-2014) > 100bhp > 47lb·ft > 211kg With the world turning its back on the supersport class, Honda reintroduced the CBR600F in 2011 as an easy-going versatile commuter with a sporty side. Powered by a re-tuned RR engine in a budget-conscious aluminium back-bone frame, the CBR600F is effectively a CB600F Hornet with a full fairing. What to pay £3400 (less than perfect) £5000 (late, tidy example) THE SPORTY NUMBER Honda CBR600F Sport (2001-2002) > 110bhp > 48lb·ft > 168kg Launched alongside the F in 2001, the Sport was designed to see if CBR riders wanted a sportier edition. The Sport came with split rider/pillion seat and an upgraded motor that featured dual valve springs, a lighter flywheel and altered cams. On the road,…

WHO ISN’T UP for a two-wheeled adventure? It needn’t be as extreme as exploring deepest, darkest, Africa. An adventure simply involves going somewhere a bit more off the beaten track than your average road bike can manage. Something all of these adventure bikes are more than capable of. The next six pages contain some great options for those looking to take on the semi-rough stuff, armed with tyres that offer a bit more grip when the tarmac gives way to loose gravel. So, load up your panniers, ignore the overcrowded GPS-guided roads and head out for an adventure, however small. You never know where it will take you...…

Why you want one Claimed by Ducati to be unstoppable on any terrain, when you look at the spec list it is hard to argue. As well as boasting close to 160bhp from its Testastretta DVT V-twin, it also comes with a beefed up chassis, off-road size spoked wheels, a full electronics package and a really rugged look. Aim it down a dirt track and the Enduro is one bruiser of a motorcycle that merrily smashes its way through or over all obstacles. Ducati’s highly advanced electronics are incredibly effective both off and on-road, managing to tame the Enduro’s obscene power without losing its thrilling edge. Yes it’s a very powerful and fast bike, but it is also remarkably grunty and civilized when the appropriate power mode is selected. Add…

WITH THE PRICE of some premium helmets easily topping £700, it is extremely tempting to opt for a more budget-conscious alternative. And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing because the features and quality delivered by mid-range lids nowadays is remarkable. All ten of these crash helmets can be bought for less than £300 in a plain colour option. They may cost a little extra for a graphic or pattern, but if you want a single colour you won’t have to break the £300 barrier, which should be an affordable price tag for most riders. As dark visors can currently still be technically illegal on the UK’s roads, we tried to ensure that all came with an integrated sun visor, something that is very popular with RiDE’s readership, as it is…

1 ENGINE It’s a big Ducati so it always sounds like it’s about to blow up, but it’s under far less stress than in its original superbike guise, and few owners report any problems at all. Poor running is usually fuel system related — the injectors are a bit prone to clogging, especially if the bike’s been left with fuel in over the winter. Not a bad idea to drain the tank out after storage and refill with fresh premium 98 before the first fire-up of the new season. Random stalling could be a throttle position sensor problem or, for those prone to really bad luck, it could be a melted inlet manifold on the rear cylinder. One thing that annoys DIY owners is the need to reset service and…

‘It’s booming, responsive and packed with grunt’ THERE’S NO DENYING that any Monster 1200 is huge fun — but not all the time. It’s a bit lumpy round town and the turning circle’s not great. So head for the open road instead, and you won’t be disappointed in the power, handling and braking available. The Monster 1200 is wonderful street bike – booming, responsive and packed with midrange drive. They’ll go as fast as you want but are perfectly happy cruising two-up, too. In fact, in a world of the latest cut-down superbikes posing as naked bikes, the Monster makes a whole lot of sense, a bit like an Italian, better-looking BMW R1200R. In general we’d say the S model is the one to go for — the Öhlins suspension…

Price £12,599 Engine 998cc inline four, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 134.3bhp @ 10,500rpm (measured) Torque 71.6lb·ft @ 8250rpm (measured) Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame Tubular steel backbone Front suspension 43mm forks, fully adjustable Rear suspension monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound Front brakes 310mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 256mm disc, 1-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 cR17 Rear tyre 190/55 cR17 Wheelbase 1455mm Rake/trail 25°/99mm Seat height 830mm Kerb weight 212.6kg Fuel capacity 16.2 litres…

BEFORE THIS MONTH, we knew the Multistrada was already a pretty accomplished road bike, and I’d already improved the comfort, thanks to Ducati’s Gran Turismo screen and comfort seat. The first 3000 miles had proved it to be entertaining, practical – and above all fun. The question now was, how wide was the breadth of the bike’s abilities? To find out, I thought I’d put the Multistrada in two situations that seemed at the edge of what it could do – a fast group trackday at one of the UK’s quickest tracks and a stint of boggy greenlaning on the Cambridgeshire Fens. If it did OK at both of these it could really live up to the Italian translation of its name – ‘multi strada’ means ‘many roads.’ On the…

I LOVE RIDING the BMW so much that I will hop on it any chance I get and that includes my daily 90-mile commute to the office. Carrying the stuff I need for a day in the office means some form of luggage and I’ve been experimenting. The R came with a pair of pannier frames but really… who’d actually fit panniers to a bike this gorgeous? I prefer not to wear a rucksack unless I’m carrying a lot of stuff, as I find they make me sweaty. So the first option I tried was my small Oxford drypack secured to the pillion seat by a cheap luggage net bought from a stall at the Royston bike night. While this leaves the bike looking relatively uncluttered when there’s nothing on…

Battery life I read your article regarding the cero SR/F with interest as, despite electric vehicles having been around for some time, range and charge times do not seem to have improved very much at all. But something that never seems to get mentioned in any article regarding electric bikes and cars is how many times the batteries can be charged before they degrade and have to be replaced. And when that time comes, what will a new set of batteries cost? Mike Green The cero comes with a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty on its battery and the firm claims its 14.4kW item is expected to retain 80% of its capacity after 220,000 miles. It also has a set of charging and operation guidelines to help riders maximise the life of…

2000 Suzuki SV650S Rider Gary Northeast Age 65 Total miles 90,246 Miles per year 7850 I BOUGHT THIS in 2010 with 19,600 miles on the clock for commuting to university in Wrexham, an 80-mile round trip. I found it on eBay and although it hadn’t been terribly well looker after, it just felt right, so after a quick test ride I took it home. It cost me £1200 and I’ve never regretted buying it; it’s been brilliant. “The first day I went to uni I got knocked off it — I was passing a milk tanker who decided to overtake a tractor when I was halfway alongside. He shoved me up onto a grass verge which sent both me and the bike sliding along sideways. I was unhurt and the…

WE ROLL OFF the ferry at the Hook of Holland after Europe’s most expensive breakfast. It was necessary, though... we’re not stopping. Traffic builds quickly and we have to filter round the Rotterdam ring road, but thankfully it clears as we head for Utrecht and then Germany. This is all motorway - the fastest way to get clear of the coastal flatlands. “I had wondered if I’d spot when we entered Germany,” says photographer Weeble when we’re filling up. “But I did. Suddenly we were cruising 30mph faster...” There’s a simple pleasure in a de-restricted autobahn: sit there just shy of the stop, gobbling up distance, with one eye on the mirrors for looming Mercedes and seven-series Beemers that make our bannable-in-Britain pace look like a schoolboy dawdling on the…

THE SOUTHERN GERMANS are a bit dismissive of this corner of their own country: “Want to know who’s coming for dinner?” they joke, “Look out of the window at breakfast.” It’s true this is flatter than much of the rest of the country, but that doesn’t mean there’s no good riding - just that it generates a more relaxed kind of route than you find in hillier areas. Rather than peaks, this area is all about the great coastline - two great coasts, in fact. As well as the North Sea, there’s the Baltic. If you like big skies and a windswept landscape, this is for you. With plenty of history in the older towns and ports, it’s a great destination. Part of the attraction of this north-eastern corner of…

EVEN THOUGH I know it’s coming, the river still catches me out. We roll through the trees, the road twisty and rewarding as I’ve come to expect, throwing out a hairpin as it drops… and suddenly there it is. The Moselle, sitting in the bottom of its broad valley. We spiral down to meet it, joining the broad B49 running along the banks. This is not haring-around territory. This is laid-back riding - not quite so laid-back as the boats cruising elegantly along the river, but a definite change of pace from the twistier roads we’ve been riding. Terraces of vines loom above us, the sun beats down and it is all just very relaxing. Then, just as I think it can’t get any more scenic, we round a corner…

THERE’S SO MUCH to see the further east you head in Germany - and so much to ride as well. The area most riders have heard of is the Harz, the low mountains that were once bisected by the Berlin Wall. Head past that historic divider, into the old GDR and you find towns that preserved more of their traditional character than those in the more-rapidly modernised west. You also find fewer motorways and really big cities (though there are still plenty of those). Out in the countryside, though, are riches for the touring rider. The traditional twisty roads that worked for centuries have been upgraded since reunification, with great surfaces now the rule rather than the exception. Those quirky old towns have many welcoming hotels and if you do…

TODAY IS GOING to be special. I can feel it from the moment we push the bikes out of the hotel garage. There’s that crisp early-September-in-the-mountains edge to the air and, as we ride out of town, the early morning mist still cloaks the meadows beside the road. But the sky is a deep, cloudless blue and the sun is warm. We’re in Bavaria, riding the DAS - the Deutsche Alpenstraße (German Alpine Road). The road is broad and smooth, well-painted and decorated with chevron boards on the tight bends and reflector boards on the open ones. It’s easy to read, easy to ride and easy to enjoy. By mid-morning, plenty of people are enjoying it: it’s a Sunday and there’s a mix of road users, with spirited sportsbikes and…

THERE IS ONE road that tends to dominate discussions and draw people to ride in Baden-Württemberg: the B500 in the Black Forest. The Schwartzwaldhochstraße (Black Forest high road) was originally created to draw tourists into the forest and it’s worked. Thing is, a lot of it now carries lowered speed limits and it’s busy. It's still a great road, but there are so many other great roads to ride in the Schwarzwald it’s a shame to ride just that one. Indeed, it’d be a shame to ride just the Black Forest. There’s top riding all over the state - especially in the Odenwald outside Heidleburg. That’s like the Black Forest without the tourists… But as long as you don’t get sucked into the orbit of Stuttgart, there’s fine riding everywhere……

I’M EXCITED TO be in Austria. I’ve been a few times and I know what quality awaits us: not just good roads… great roads. The kind that draw riders not just from across Europe but from all over the world. And today we’re going to ride one of the biggest: the Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße - the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. Weeble has never been. I pay the tolls and lead the way - but even from a few corners ahead, I can hear the sound of his mind being blown. “It was really difficult to ride,” he says, when he catches up with me at Kaiser Franz-Josef Hohe, opposite the glacier. “I was just looking at the scenery. This is definitely Europe’s most beautiful road. There’s an amazing view on every…

FROM SALZBURG TO Vienna, Austria is a pretty as a picture-postcard. The landscape unrolls in rich green hills and dark green forests, dotted with perfect blue lakes, red-roofed villages and the occasional towering castle. There’s a fair network of motorways keeping the majority of the nation’s traffic moving, leaving the older and more interesting roads relatively quiet. And as hills give way to mountains - as they do with impressive regularity - the roads become more interesting. There are so many great roads in this half of the country that it’s no surprise to find it’s home to Austria’s racing circuits. But touring here isn’t all about racing around. There’s plenty to see and do off the bike - especially in the cultural hotspots of Vienna and Salzburg - whether…

IN A BUMPER month for Triumph, the British manufacturer has confirmed that a Moto2-inspired Daytona 765 is in the works, as well as two brand new Rocket 3s (see right). The new supersport machine will come in two flavours; one for Europe and Asia, the other the US and Canada, and will arrive as a limited-edition model in spring 2020. Each market is limited to just 765 bikes, and only a fraction of that number will be available in the UK, meaning demand is likely to be very high. Some dealers are claiming to have sold out already. At the core of the new Daytona is the 765cc engine that started life in the Street Triple RS, before being further developed and supplied to the Moto2 championship as the control…

HEAD DOWN, EYES straining through the top of the Honda’s low screen, wringing out the CBR’s throttle like a saturated dishcloth, revs pinging off a 12,500rpm redline as four screaming 162.25cc pistons suck, squeeze, bang and blow in a micro-maelstrom of optimum volumetric efficiency, fast enough to make old Otto’s head spin. Take aim, line it up... and thread the red missile on an inch-perfect, Showa-supported trajectory down the twisting road, skimming between tall hedges marshalled on either side of the quadruple chicane turning it into an imposing twisty green tunnel. The sensation of speed is magnified by the vegetation’s proximity — and when the Honda rockets out into the blazing sunlit blue beyond, it’s like the Millennium Falcon bursting from an exploding, leafy, Death Star. Huzzah! Take that Lord…

Overcoming capacity prejudice might be the CBR650R’s biggest challenge. Where the mighty middleweight inline four was once ubiquitous, it’s now an endangered species limited to a pair of Yamaha and Kawasaki supersports bikes, and the CBR. All the kids have grown up and bought litre sportsbikes. Or adventure bikes. But riding the CBR 350 miles into Cornwall has shown this middleweight is anything but a demotion from a flagship — any more than a 1995 CBR600 was somehow ‘less’ than a mid-90s Blade. The new CBR650R has enough build quality, enough engine and chassis performance and enough stylish presence to be a viable machine in its own right, not a reduction of something else. In fact because it carries less weight of expectation, it’s an easier bike to just get…

Why you want one Named after a particularly torturous section of the Dakar Rally, the original Ténéré model was launched in the 1980s and quickly became the adventurer’s weapon of choice due to its rugged nature. However while the re-imagined 2008 model failed to achieve quite the same heights of popularity, it is still a great option as a lightweight bike that can take on the rough stuff. Powered by the tried and tested XT660 liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor, the fuel-injected Ténéré is a solid plodder that will just keep on going when many throw in the towel. It may be low on power, but thanks to a 22-litre fuel capacity and economy figures in the 60mpg area, it has a tank range of close to 250 miles. Add to this…

‘There are countryside roads aplenty with hardly any villages to interrupt the route’ STUCK FOR WHERE to go this summer? Who better to ask than a couple who have been everywhere - literally. The GlobeBusters duo have spent the last 20 years touring the world on two wheels and know a few good roads. Here’s eight of their favourites, that are mostly road-based but are great places to ride your adventure bike. They range from a local jaunt to an all-out trip of a lifetime… 1 Aviemore, Scottish Highlands, UK Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/5Scenery. . . . . . . . . . . . .…

1 INTEGRATED SUN VISOR Extremely useful when touring, an integrated sun visor means you can quickly and easily reduce the sun’s glare without stopping to change your visor. They are also fully legal in the UK, where only certain tints of dark visors are legal for use on the UK’s roads. 2 HELMET FASTENER Some lids come with double D-rings, some with a ‘seatbelt’ style of clip and others a push-through ratchet fastener. This is a personal choice as some riders don’t get on with certain styles of fastener. 3 PINLOCK One of the best anti-fog inserts on the market, many lids come with a Pinlock included in the price while others simply have its fixings and you need to purchase the Pinlock insert itself separately. 4…

WHAT IS REMARKABLE is how much bang you are getting for your buck with helmets in this price range. All the lids we tested came with a Pinlock system, most had excellent features such as removable linings, emergency systems, integrated sun visors, accommodation for spectacle arms: you name it, if it is on a premium lid it was also on one of these budget-conscious offerings. And, just as importantly, we were also impressed by how they all performed on the road. ‘The Shoei is the only helmet with a five-star rating’ It is hard not to be impressed by the Scorpion EXO-1400 Carbon Air. But far from just a carbon shell, this lid was packed with smart features and was very nice to wear, earning a Recommended Triangle. The Shark…

2014-2018 Monster 1200 Supernaked based on detuned (to 133bhp) 1198 motor, in trellis frame with single-sided swingarm, radial brakes, 43mm Kayaba forks and Sachs shock. ABS, traction control and switchable riding modes. Slight modification to footrests and exhaust hanger in 2016. £6000-£9500 2014-2018 Monster 1200S As per the base model but with Öhlins 48mm forks and rear shock, bigger brake discs, plus a little more power (143bhp claimed). Pillion seat cover, carbon mudguard and LED indicators standard. Slight modification to footrests and exhaust hanger in 2016. £8000-£12,000 2016-2018 Monster 1200R Significantly more power (158bhp claimed) from higher compression and more sophisticated fuel injection. Black finish for the Öhlins suspension. Forged wheels, wider rear with 200/55 tyre, pillion seat cover, carbon mudguard and flyscreen standard. £10,600-£13,000 2018 Monster 1200 Anniversario Limited…

SUZUKI HAS CAUSED a right royal rumpus by bringing the iconic Katana name back to a big-bore motorcycle after nearly 40 years. And now, as then, it’s causing controversy thanks to its striking looks. Beneath its skin, the Katana is a GSX-S1000. It has GSX-R1000 Brembos, KYB suspension, and a cast-aluminium beam frame. The riding position is more upright than a GSX-S’s and suspension settings are tweaked to suit its new clothes. But is it any good? To see, we put it against Honda’s hugely capable CB1000R+ on a 500-mile head-to-head shootout. Released last year, the £11,499 CB gets a splash of Honda’s ‘Neo Sports Café’ design (whatever that means) and the new £11,545 Katana’s styling is inspired by the 1981 GSX1100. Both inline fours, the Suzuki is powered by…

Pirelli Angel GT II £240 a pair www.pirelli.com Tested by Matt Wildee, editor PIRELLI’S ANGEL GT II is the latest evolution of the company’s long-lasting sports-touring tyre and is available in sizes for every mid-to-large capacity bike. It has also been designed to fit everything from sportsbikes to tourers to adventure bikes. I’ve been trying the Angel GT IIs on my Ducati Multistrada 950S and the last 1000 miles have shown the tyre to offer impressive grip and feel on the road, in the rain and even on the track — first impressions show them to be an excellent all-rounder. The tyre is an evolution of the first Angel GT, which I rated thanks to its intuitive steering and good wet-weather grip. The new Angel GT II carries on that…

IT’S BEEN A month of electrical enquiries, wiring worries and plug-in ponderings for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE. The first sign something was amiss was the gear indicator showing ‘2’, despite cruising in sixth at the time. Then the dash decided to not show any gear position. Then the traction control failed, a CHECK ENGINE warning message flashed up, and the cruise control wouldn’t work. Turning the ignition off and on didn’t solve it and neither did disconnecting the battery overnight. I was out of ideas. After a couple of days’ wait for a slot at my local dealer, the Scrambler was plugged into Triumph’s diagnostics kit. A gear-position sensor fault it reckoned, though the mechanic explained that didn’t necessarily mean a component failure. Before pulling it apart, he did…

KEEN-EYED READERS WILL notice on p20 that I’ve written about riding the CBR650R to Cornwall. It was a 48-hour ride: a day there and a day back (on a different route across Dorset); over 800 miles on the middleweight sports tourer. And we both loved every second of it. Well, I did. Comfy in a sporty way; quick enough in a 94bhp way; and fun in a thrashy way. The fairing is narrow, but there is adequate wind protection; it is a bit short-geared but it suits the character of the bike; and the handling is neat, even if the Thai-made Dunlop tyres are rubbish. I arrived at St Ives not in agony after a day in the saddle. The even-more eagle-eyed will have noticed last month’s SHAD panniers and…

I don’t have a problem taking my helmet off to fuel up; it feels like basic manners. But at the Co-Op fuel station at Solstice Services, for the first time ever, I was told to get off my bike before the pump would be turned on. Having never actually fuelled a bike up this way I realised how awkward it actually is trying to hold up a bike that only has a side stand to get a full tank. Definitely seems less safe than the normal way! When I asked the reason, I was told it was ‘company policy’ and I was directed to this sign. Surely this must be rubbish? Or are we all at risk of bursting into flames at the cruel hands of undischarged static electricity that…

‘THERE IS LOTS TO SEE AND DISCOVER — IT'S SO ACCESSIBLE' THE NORTH-WESTERN CORNER of Germany butts up against Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland and the North Sea - and it’s busy. South-east of England busy - with major cities and their satellite suburbs, ports and a host of major roads linking Germany’s industrial heartland to Western Europe. Yet there’s so much more to discover here than just the bustle around Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Dortmund, Essen and the rest… Outside the alphabetically indexed urban areas are stretches of heavily wooded hills packed with twisty roads - and surprisingly little traffic. The land is flatter the closer you get to the coast, but by the sea there’s a wild beauty to the landscape - not dissimilar to North Norfolk. There’s a lot to…

6 RÜGEN AND PEENEMUNDE A full day’s ride exploring Germany’s largest island, Rügen, before heading down the coast to Peenemünde. NB: requires two ferry crossings. Start/finish: Stralsund Distance: 230 miles Riding time: 7 hours 7 SWISS HOLSTEIN Who says it’s all flat in north-east Germany? This route takes in the region of lakes and gentle hills south of Kiel that’s known as 'Swiss Holstein'. Also heads out to the Baltic island of Fehmarn. Start/finish: Neumunster Distance: 160 miles Riding time: 4.5 hours 8 MÜRITZ MILES (LAKELAND) There’s lovely, relaxed riding in the Mecklenburg lake district. It has scenery, quiet roads and villages for regular stops. Start/finish: Neustrelitz Distance: 170 miles Riding time: 5 hours 9 ELBE ROOM There’s great riding in the countryside around Hamburg -…

THE FURTHER YOU get from the cities of northern Germany - the conurbation of Dortmund-Essen, Cologne, Bonn and the rest - the better the riding gets. Partly this is because the hillier landscape lends itself to forests and farming more than cities and industry, but mostly because tighter contours always means twistier roads. So much of Germany is covered in forests that it’s hard to comprehend if you’re used to Britain, and especially England, where farmland dominates the landscape and our surviving woodland tends to be a modest rarity. It’s a massive contrast with the vast swathes of forest that proliferate between central Germany and the borders with France and Luxembourg. Of course, you do emerge from the woods to find a rich landscape of well-tended farmland and quaint villages.…

21 HARTZ – NORTH  Start/finish: Bad Lauterberg Distance: 175 miles Riding time: 5 hours Looping out to the fabulous town of Goslar, this decent day’s ride packs in more bends than MC Escher’s plumbing - and still plenty to see if you want time off the bike. 22 HARTZ – SOUTH  Start/finish: Bad Lauterberg Distance: 160 miles Riding time: 5 hours Same starting point, very different ride: this route loops out through Wernigerode before heading south to Kyfhäusser and its 36 bends. Best ridden mid-week, as it's busy at the weekends. 23 EASTERN PROMISE  Start/finish: Frankfurt an der Oder Distance: 240 miles Riding time: 6.5 hours Frankfurt an der Oder is right on the border with Poland - and this route takes a relaxed amble thorough the…

SOUTHERN GERMANY IS a delight - and the huge and varied state of Bavaria is the jewel in its crown. From fairytale castles and half-timbered towns to lush forests climbing steep mountain sides, this is everything that’s attractive about the rest of the country dialled up to 11. So many of the things we Brits think of as 'German' - such as oompah bands in lederhosen and beer-toting waitresses in dirndl dresses - are more 'Bavarian' in origin. It’s as bustling and modern as the rest of the country, but there’s something about the traditional touches in tourist spots that makes touring here feel intensely German. From a riding point of view, it’s a fantastic place to visit. As it’s so large, there’s all kinds of riding - but the…

36 BLACK FOREST ONE  Start/finish: Baden-Baden Distance: 230 miles Riding time: 7 hours There’s more to the Black Forest than the B500 - as this route demonstrates, using very little of the famous road while delivering a full day of brilliant riding. If you want a slightly shorter ride, it’s easily adapted… by using the B500 on the return leg. 37 BLACK FOREST TWO  Start/finish: Freiburg Distance: 185 miles Riding time: 6 hours Discover the southern end of the Black Forest, as our route spirals through the woods and around the Feldberg, the highest peak in the Schwarzwald. A full day in the saddle but possibly even better than riding the north end of the forest. 38 TWO-CASTLE ROUTE Start/finish: Tübingen Distance: 90 miles Riding time: 3…

51 LOWER AUSTRIA HIGHS Start/Finish: Horn Distance: 250 miles Riding time: 6.5 hours A full day’s ride in Lower Austria, swooping down to track the Danube. But don’t feel blue… most of the riding is on quiet, twisty roads looping out towards the Czech border. 52 SALZKAMMERGUT LAKES Start/finish: Bad Ischl Distance: 165 miles Riding time: 5 hours A full day of amazing views, lakeside cafes and the most astonishing mountain roads (including the Postalm toll road). Easily shortened to allow for sightseeing stops along the way. 53 MARIAZELL EAST LOOP Start/finish: Mariazell Distance: 230 miles Riding time: 6 hours A full day on a relentless succession of fabulously twisty roads - the mountain-lover's ride for those who don’t want the ultra-tight hairpins and dizzying exposed drops…

IF THERE ARE three things you can rely on life, it’s that politicians lie, footballers dive and prices rise. You only have to walk into a bike dealership these days, pick a model you fancy, add the bits you want and you’re presented with an astronomical bill. Surely it wasn’t always like this was it? Well, no, but it’s not quite as straight cut as you might imagine. Using the Retail Price Index, which tracks the cost of a huge range of products, prices generally have risen by 73% in the last 20 years. But what does that mean in practice? While some things are much more expensive, such as houses which have gone up by 300%, other items are cheaper than they were 20 years ago. In the same…

THERE’S A NEW Africa Twin on the way and Honda has all but confirmed it by asking people to register their interest for a new ‘True Adventure’ model to be unveiled later this year. With Euro5 just around the corner, the new machine is expected to get a revised engine to bump capacity up to 1084cc and power to just over 100bhp. The standard model is also expected to get the larger fuel tank and screen from the Adventure Sports. It’s also believed that Honda will introduce a new version of its Dual Clutch Transmission, perhaps with a view to smoothing out low-speed performance, or even adding a seventh gear. It’s also expected that Honda will include a full-colour TFT dash as well as improved connectivity, like the current BMW…

SOME RIDERS HAVE little mechanical knowledge of their bike and to be honest, most of the time it doesn’t really matter: modern motorcycles are — on the whole — reliable; dealers are plentiful and within easy reach; average annual mileages are pretty low; and the majority of those will be clocked up in relatively sedate road and weather conditions. Take your bike into a less-developed country; through remote and challenging terrain; or inclement weather though, and it’s a very different story. Knowing what’s likely to go wrong on your bike and how to fix it if or when it does, can make the difference between a short delay and ending your trip altogether. Of the issues we deal with on our expeditions, only a tiny number relate to mechanical breakdowns…

The aim is to keep off motorways, but still make progress: the ride starts by getting across to the A14 from Peterborough via the A47 and A43, then leaving the A14/M6 at the first junction to skirt Rugby and pick up the B4455 Fosse Way at Princethorpe. Follow the Fosse onto the A429, through Stow-on-the-Wold, to Cirencester. Pick up the A433, join the A46, then go west on the M4, south on M5, come off at junction 23 onto the A39. Follow the A39 Atlantic Highway for 130 miles or so through north Somerset, Devon and Cornwall — passing Bridgewater, Minehead, Porlock, Barnstaple, past Bude, Camelford, St Columb Major, then (reluctantly) onto the A30 for the final run into St Ives. As a bonus, the B3066 from St Ives to…

TAKING AN ADVENTURE bike green-lane riding can be quite a daunting prospect, especially if you own a new machine with a price tag north of £15,000. But if you overcome your initial trepidation, a whole new world of riding will open up to you. RiDE asked Mark Molineux, chief instructor at the Sweet Lamb KTM Adventure Bike Experience, for his top tips for those new to the dirt… 1 Look where you want to go So many riders tend to fixate on the ground right in front of them rather than actually looking where they want to go. Look as far ahead as possible so you can plan a route through the terrain; don’t get fixated on what’s 20-30 metres ahead. When you look ahead into the distance, your…

Why you want one When Honda relaunched the Africa Twin, or Twinky to its legions of fans, in 2016 the firm took a conscious decision to ensure it lived up to its predecessor’s reputation. Unlike some adventure bikes that look rugged but have very little off-road ability, the Africa Twin was designed to cut it on the dirt and as such it delivers a different riding experience to its rivals. Powered by a parallel twin motor, the Twinky feels remarkably relaxed and lacks the instant hit of torque that you get on bigger capacity rivals. However, when you start to get going you notice it is also really smooth, which makes for a chilled-out ride. It’s a pleasant motor and one that certainly suits off-road use, or riding in tricky…

RiDE’s rigorous testing procedure ensures a fair result Weight Using a set of Salter digital scales, we weighed each helmet as they would be ready for road use, which means any Pinlock systems fitted and the visor attached. A heavy lid can put extra strain on your neck, leading to fatigue, so a lightweight lid can be an advantage when it comes to touring. Features A straightforward visual check of each helmet, with items such as a Pinlock, helmet bag, removable lining, vents, integrated sun visor and chin-strap fastener all assessed and scored. Ease of use Using a gloved hand, the lid’s main features were assessed while riding a bike. How easy are the vents and sun visor to locate and operate? Visor change Despite most lids having an integrated…

IN A WORLD where high-performance nakeds have 160bhp and a track-ready attitude, BMW’s road-focussed R1200R makes ever-more sense. BMW introduced the original R1200R — a naked, air-cooled boxer-twin roadster — back in 2006. A major revamp in 2014 gave us the now-familiar trellis-framed 1200R. Updates to the by-then liquid-cooled twin included conventional upside-down forks, radial Brembo calipers, 125bhp and, on the Sport model, electronically adjustable suspension. In short, a capable, fast roadster. BMW has increased grunt and power in the latest incarnation, the R1250R that comes in three specs: standard, Sport (as seen here) and Exclusive. With 136bhp and over 100lb·ft of torque the new bike is faster, quicker and more powerful, but is it better? We put it back-to-back with a 2016 R1200R Sport to find out. 2016 BMW…

KTM 1290 Superduke 2014-on > £8800-£13,0000 > 1301cc V-twin > 175bhp > 189kg Superbly grunty engine, low weight, supple suspension and an upright supermoto riding position mean you can muscle this round mountain hairpins or thrash it on a racetrack. Get the GT version and you can go touring on it too. 2016 bikes have cornering ABS while 2017 adds lean-sensitive traction control and cruise control. Aprilia Tuono V4 2011-on > £5500-£12,500 > 1077cc V4 > 173bhp > 205kg Genuinely a full-on sportsbike with the fairing ripped off, and to underline that fact, it came with the option of Aprilia’s full suite of electronics. ABS arrived in 2014. For 2015 the Tuono went up in capacity to 1100cc and there was a new Öhlinsequipped Factory version for those who needed…

Price £11,545 Engine 999cc inline four, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 147.5bhp @ 10,000rpm (measured) Torque 78.5lb·ft @ 9500rpm (measured) Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame Cast aluminium twin spar Front suspension 43mm forks, 120mm travel, fully adjustable Rear suspension monoshock, 130mm travel, adjustable preload and rebound Front brakes 310mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 250mm disc, 1-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 cR17 Rear tyre 190/50 cR17 Wheelbase 1460mm Rake/trail 25°/100mm Seat height 830mm Kerb weight 216kg Fuel capacity 12 litres…

QI KNOW NOTHING at all about maintaining my bike. I have never adjusted the chain, checked the oil or even the tyre pressures. I had a single vehicle crash. I was riding along an A-road when my rear wheel just shot out from underneath me. I got away with pretty modest injuries, but my bike is a mess. The recovery guy pointed out the sump plug on my motorcycle had come out. My bike has always been serviced by a local independent trader, who has always stamped my book. I asked him to fix the damage. His words to me were “You can piss off!”, followed by the suggestion I had crashed then removed the plug to run a scam on his shop. I used to pay him £20 cash…

‘WELL SURFACED ROADS CRISSCROSS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE, AND THE LOCALS ARE FRIENDLY’ Why ride in Germany? Or Austria, come to that? Why go to a country with a network of well-surfaced road that criss-cross beautiful countryside, between quaint villages? Where the locals are friendly and many speak decent English, where the food and beer are good and the summers are warm and dry? Why wouldn’t you want to go there? The thing is, those who haven’t been seem to think the riding in Germany consists of handful of roads: the B500 in the Black Forest; the Nürburgring; and the autobahns. That’s so far from the truth. There are miles of brilliant roads in places most Brits have never heard of: the Odenwald, the Thüringerwald, the Pfälzerwald, the Bayerisherwald… Yes, there is…

NORTHERN GERMANY 1 Paderborn, p13 2 Monschau, p13 3 & 4 Hameln, p13 5 Oldenburg, p13 6 Stralsund, p15 7 Neumunster, p15 8 Neustrelitz, p15 9 Luneburg, p15 10 Itzehoe, p15 11 Siegen, p16 12 Leverkusen, p16 13 Celle, p16 14 Bremerhaven, p16 15 Lübeck, p16 CENTRAL GERMANY 16 Cochem, p21 17 Gollheim, p21 18 Bad Orb, p21 19 Kassel, p21 20 Eisenach, p21 21 & 22 Bad Lauterberg, p23 23 Frankfurt an der Oder, p23 24 Altenburg, p23 25 Brandenburg an der Havel, p23 26 Mayen, p24 27 Weisbaden, p24 28 Trier, p24 29 Dresden, p24 30 Gardelegen, p24 SOUTHERN GERMANY 31 Berchtesgaden, p29 32 Füssen, p29 33 Würzburg, p29 34 Furth im Wald, p29 35 Eichstatt, p29 36 Baden-Baden, p31 37 Freiburg im Bresigau, p31 38 Tübingen, p31…

1 RHUR DAMS  Start/finish: Paderborn Distance: 215 miles Riding time: 6 hours A good day’s ride around the Ruhr Valley, taking in the key sites of Eder, Sorpe and Möhne dams. Remember, it’s historic interest rather than schadenfreude… Some cracking roads through wooded hills linking the now-restored dams. 2 EIFEL TOUR  Start/finish: Monschau Distance: 115 miles Riding time: 3.5 hours So much great riding in the Eifel. Just note that this route needs to be ridden mid-week as some of the roads are closed to motorcycles at the weekend. Often well-policed, so ride sensibly and enjoy the amazing roads. 3 HAMELN SOUTH LOOP  Start/finish: Hameln Distance: 135 miles Riding time: 4 hours Once great city, two satisfying routes carving out through the countryside. The southern loop from…

16 COCHEM CASTLES  Start/finish: Cochem Distance: 95 miles Riding time: 3 hours A short day packed with great riding - and great sites. Burg Eltz, Burg Schönburg and the Reichsburg: three magnificent castles. Just choose the one you want to explore; you might be able to visit two if you make an early start. 17 PFALZERWALD  Start/finish: Gollheim Distance: 170 miles Riding time: 5.5 hours The crowning glory of the heavily wooded Rhineland-Palatinate is the Pfalazerwald - so much quieter than the more famous Black Forest, but every bit as glorious to ride. Our route passes through Frankenstein - and it’s a monster of a ride. 18 RHÖN ORBITAL  Start/finish: Bad Orb Distance: 190 miles Riding time: 5.5 hours The Rhön mountains (think Peak District with trees)…

31 BERCHTESGADEN SPECTACLE Start/finish: Berchtesgaden Distance: 115 miles Riding time: 3.5 hours Two short but satisfying loops, linked by a great bridging road. It’s a short enough day to allow time to visit the Kehlsteinhaus (site of Hitler’s old summer house: www. kehlsteinhaus.de) 32 NEUSCHWANSTEIN & PLANSEE Start/finish: Füssen Distance: 120 miles Riding time: 3.5 hours Another deliberately short route to allow time for a bit of sightseeing: get round the Neuschwanstein in the morning, then have a glorious afternoon on the quiet roads out to beautiful Plansee. 33 WÜRZBURG WANDERER Start/finish: Würzburg Distance: 235 miles Riding time: 6.5 hours The north of Bavaria has stunning roads and loads to see. Take the Romantic road from Würzburg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, then romp through the stunning…

'IT'S A FANTASTIC DAY ON FLOWING, REWARDING ROADS' 41 SIN-SATIONAL  Start/finish: Sinsheim Distance: 160 miles Riding time: 5 hours Looping south from Sinsheim, skirting Phorzheim and heading out past the Porsche factory (keep your eyes peeled for prototypes) into the hills before returning to base. A fantastic day on flowing, rewarding roads. 42 GARMISCH & LAKES  Start/finish: Garmisch-Partenkirchen Distance: 200 miles Riding time: 6 hours Dipping in and out of the DAS, this relaxed route runs past eight of southern Bavaria’s most scenic lakes. Some stretches may get busy at weekends so it’s best enjoyed midweek. 43 SWABIAN MILES  Start/finish: Schwabisch Hall Distance: 150 miles Riding time: 4.5 hours A fabulous ride through the rolling hills of the Swabian Jura. Short enough to allow time for stopping…

46 GROSSGLOCKNER  Start/finish: Lofer Distance: 195 miles Riding time 5 hours A fantastic ride - over one of Europe’s greatest mountain roads. Allow a full day, as you’ll want to spend a few hours just riding the Grossglockner itself. Mind you, the rest of the ride is pretty awesome, too… 47 TIMMELSJOCH  Start/finish: Zams Distance: 190 miles Riding time: 5.5 hours A full day in the saddle… but most of it in Italy, after taking Timmelsjoch over the border. A bit of valley riding (with a scenic mountain detour for lunch) before taking Reschenpass back to Austria. A lovely, relaxed ride. Using motorway at the start of the day saves 10 minutes. 48 THREE VALLEYS  Start/finish: Zams Distance: 195 miles Riding time: 6.5 hours Three dead-end roads,…

THREE-DAY TOURS Tour 1 Eifel three-day tour Distance: 650 miles Crossing: Calais Easily reached from Calais, Germany’s Eifel mountains rub shoulders with the rolling hills of the Belgian Ardennes - two great riding regions in one trip. Make an early start if you plan to pack in a lap of the Nürburgring while you’re there. Keep the race-track speeds for the circuit, though… DAY ONE: Calais to Spa Distance: 220 miles Riding time: 4.5 hours DAY TWO: Spa to La Roche en Ardennes Distance: 205 miles Riding time: 5.5 hours DAY THREE: La Roche en Ardennes to Calais Distance: 215 miles Riding time: 4.5 hours Tour 2 Ruhr tour Distance: 800 miles Crossing: Hook of Holland Germans might wonder why you’re so interested in the dams of the Ruhr valley…