RiDE November 2018

WHEN I STARTED riding (shortly after Noah) the only luggage I had was a 1980s camping rucksack. It was great — huge and sometimes showerproof… and heavy and tiring to wear for long distances, as it had the drag coefficient of a block of flats. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I came to prefer tailpacks... But that’s the thing with riding a bike… rucksacks are always useful. Maybe not on every trip (especially if you ride mostly for pleasure) but whether you’re popping stuff round to a mate or commuting every day, you can’t beat a backpack. As long as it’s a good one. They hide the weight, keep your gear dry and aren’t a tiring drag to wear. We gathered 20 biking rucksacks for a back-to-back test. I said back-to... oh, forget it. Anyway,…

Martin Fitz-Gibbons Deputy editor It’s not often a £250 jacket is called a “game-changer”, but Oxford’s new Mondial is just that. It offers technology that, until now, has only been available on kit costing three or four times as much. RiDE has the full story, and an exclusive first test. PAGE 88 Jim Blackstock Production editor Martin and I swapped longtermers for a couple of days this month. I was keen to see how his Yamaha Tracer 900 GT felt in the flesh, after reading about the all-round ability it — and its competitors — displayed when we took them to Wales. PAGE 14 Caroline Barrett Editorial assistant You can’t beat a good summer bike trip. My last one was to the Nürburgring, which was great but busy. Simon says the roads in France’s Cévennes are “like your…

CHARLEY BOORMAN HAS confirmed that plans are underway for a third series in the ‘Long Way…’ franchise. More than a decade since the pair’s previous adventure, Long Way Up will see him reunite with Ewan McGregor, as well as producer Russ Malkin. Boorman first teased the idea on social media in early August, posting a photo of the trio with the hashtag #longwayup. Later that day he confirmed: “If all goes well it’s going to happen.” Weeks later he posted a photo from Long Way Down, saying that he was “Really looking forward to our next adventure.” Having circumnavigated the planet for 2004’s Long Way Round, then ridden from John o’Groats to Cape Town for 2007’s Long Way Down, the route for Long Way Up is still being discussed. Their expected plan…

ALL NEW BMW motorcycles now come with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty — that’s an additional 12 months over the previous offering. The warranty covers the cost of all repairs and replacement parts, providing the issue is caused by either material or manufacturing defect. Customers also get Europe-wide Roadside Assistance for the same three-year period. says New-bike buyers are sometimes all-too familiar with the benefits and reassurance offered by a warranty. Two years is standard for most firms, while some (like Kawasaki) offer extensions of up to four years for an additional cost. Hopefully others will follow BMW’s lead.…

THE 2019 INDIAN Chief, Roadmaster and Springfield tourers get an innovative piece of technology called “Rear Cylinder Shutdown”, which stops one of its V-twin’s cylinders from firing when the bike is idling at a standstill. By cutting the fuel, the intention is to reduce the amount of heat generated and improve rider comfort in traffic, rather than reduce emissions or improve economy. Indian claims the automatic transition back to twin-cylinder mode when the throttle is opened is “seamless”.…

HARLEY-DAVIDSON CONTINUES TO be new-bike bonkers. Here’s yet another new model: the 2019 FXDR. Based on the Softail platform and powered by the 90bhp, 1868cc “Milwaukee-Eight” V-twin, Harley describes it as “a power cruiser” that’s inspired by “a drag racer crossed with a fighter jet” (which sounds like the plot from a 1980s Tom Cruise film). Harley claims it has focused on reducing weight (though the FXDR weighs over 300kg), and highlight its sporty side by talking up its inverted forks, rear monoshock and apparently impressive 32° lean angle. Check out next month’s issue for our First Ride.…