RiDE August 2018

AFTER AN ENDLESS winter and a spring that gave up and went back to bed, it finally feels like summer is here. Barbecues, bike racing, a cold beer after a run to the local bike meet… Perfect. We seized the opportunity to enjoy the early summer sun with both hands — inadvertently with a bit of a war-like theme. Martin followed in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia, riding the modern descendent of the great man’s Brough Superior around the East Midlands (p44) while I headed to Normandy for a one-day ride taking in all of the D-Day Beaches (p52). If you’re looking for ideas for summer rides, we have extended UK rides for the longest day (p50) and a range of European trips (p56). Plus there are great ideas in the…

Martin Fitz-Gibbons Deputy editor Thinking back to my 22-year-old self makes me cringe. Zero life experience but thought I knew it all, I had the self-sufficiency of a wet paper bag. I am in awe of RiDE’s new columnist Henry Crew – just 22 and currently riding around the world for charity. PAGE 37 Kev Raymond Features writer When Yamaha announced the Niken I couldn’t see the point - three is not the correct number of wheels for any powered vehicle, in my book. But if it really offers loads of extra front grip, am I going to have to eat my words? We’ll see… PAGE 58 Caroline Barrett Editorial assistant I love naked bikes with a bit of personality and some fire in their bellies, so the Yamaha MT-09 SP and Triumph Street Triple…

CAROLE NASH MCN FESTIVAL Sun shines on MCN Festival THE SUMMER’S BIKING season got off to a flying start, when bikers flocked to Peterborough for the Carole Nash MCN Festival of Motorcycling. The two-day event basked in sunshine and saw more than 20,000 people pass through the turnstiles. There was plenty to see and do, with manufacturers offering test rides – 550 over the weekend. There was flat-track racing, stunt shows, club and trade stands and celebrity appearances – including three-time GP champion Freddie Spencer. There were live bands and plenty of entertainment in the evening for the hundreds camping on site. The format is set to hit the road for Scotland, with the next festival scheduled to take place at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh on the weekend of July 21-22. A…

YAMAHA IN WSB The British round of the World Superbike Championship saw the first double victory for the new Yamaha R1, in the hands of Dutchman Michael van der Mark. With British Superbike stars Leon Haslam, Bradley Ray and Gino Rea taking wildcard entries and two days of racing, it should have been like the heyday of WSB — especially as the titleholder’s a Brit, Jonathan Rea. Sadly, attendances were low: not even 14,000 on Sunday and just over 11,000 on the Saturday. HARDCORE TRAVELLERS The Honda CRF250L has been the dark-horse round-the-world bike for a while: a road-legal but capable motocrosser that can handle anything. The catch is the small engine. Now Honda has announced that in 2019 it’ll be joined by a CRF450L. The 499cc single will be based on the…

SHAKEY Defending multiple British Superbike champion Shane Byrne had a massive crash on a test day at Snetterton on May 17 that left him with a broken neck, four broken vertebrae, multiple other back fractures (not to mention fracturing all his ribs, breaking his nose and collarbone, as well as bruising his lungs). We wish him a speedy recovery. DRAG RACING After 45 years, it looks like drag racing at Warwickshire’s Shakespeare Country Raceway could be at an end. Large chunks of the Long Marston airfield site are being developed for housing and though the strip saw some action in May, that seems to be the end of it. Thank goodness for Santa Pod……

Fanad Head, Ireland Here’s a picture of me visiting one of Ireland’s most northerly spots, Fanad Head Lighthouse. My partner Amanda and I stayed here for three nights and travelled on our 2012 Triumph Trophy SE. Nigel Douglas Midi-Pyrénées, France My BMW R1200RT during our seven-day trip through Spain, across the Pyrénées and up through France in July. Spectacular views. Andy Brown Stelvio Pass, Italy My Triumph Tiger 800 and Michael with his KTM 1050 Adventure at the foot of the Stelvio Pass after covering over 2000 miles in two weeks in the Alps and Dolomites. The scenery, roads, people and food were brilliant. Colin Buchanan STAR PICTURE Snowdonia, Wales My Aprilia RSV Tuono on a detour through Snowdonia National Park, en-route from London back to the Holyhead ferry. Michael Doyle County Durham, England Sunshine on the Multistrada with…