RiDE April 2019

Martin Fitz-Gibbons Deputy editor Having felt the gut-punch and guilt trip of waking up to an empty space where I’d parked a bike, security feels as crucial a part of biking as a crash helmet. But with thieves now wielding angle grinders, it’s vital to buy smart. Our test has the answers. PAGE 50 Jim Blackstock Product editor Having sat on the back of it for the pillion element of the RiDE Road Test, I’m intrigued by what Royal Enfield’s new Interceptor 650 is like to ride. It sounded great and felt like it pulled strongly, even two-up. As I like old-school, I want to know more. PAGE 42 Caroline Barrett Editorial assistant Twisting Tuscan tarmac, charming bikes to ride and a nice hotel every evening… does biking get any better? If only I had…

THE BIGGEST PRODUCTION motorcycle in history looks like it’s about to get even bigger. Within Triumph’s announcement of its new Triumph Factory Custom range is this ‘Concept Rocket TFC’. Triumph is keeping the specs up its sleeve until May 1 but promises it will be ‘ultra-rare, ultra-premium’ and ‘nothing short of the ultimate motorcycle’. On close inspection it looks like a new engine, almost certainly larger than the original’s 2294cc capacity, in a new monoshock chassis. Fingers crossed a less-rare, less-premium version is planned.…

FANCY A BRILLIANT do-anything motorcycle for free? Yamaha and Motorcycle News are offering the chance to win a new-for-2019 Tracer 700GT in a free prize draw. Powered by the punchy and characterful parallel twin from the MT-07, the 700GT also comes with a high touring screen, a comfort seat and 20-litre panniers. At £8142 the Tracer 700GT already looks like a great-value machine, but you could own one without spending a penny if you enter this competition. To enter, just visit www.motorcyclenews.com/winayamaha by May 31 2019. See entry page for full terms and conditions.…

Under pressure Checking your tyre pressures is something we all do regularly but if you’re on a long ride and something starts to go amiss, this Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) from Michelin could help alert you in plenty of time. Developed by licensee Fit2Go TPMS, the system comprises a front and rear pressure sensor and a rechargeable magnetic display unit to show the pressures in real-time and highlight any potential issues. Watch out for a test in a coming issue. www.fit2gotpms.com Feeling tyred There’s a new sports touring tyre on the block from Pirelli, the Angel GTII. Taking inspiration from its wet racing tyres, the GTII features two circumferential grooves, for water dispersal, stability and low-grip performance. A new construction offers a more consistent footprint as the bike leans and there is…

ALMOST 9000 BIKERS in total have now signed up for our mileage challenge, full of plans and excitement for the new biking year, with nearly 1000 just since Christmas. The past two years have seen thousands of mile-hungry bikers take the 5000-mile challenge and join the Facebook community that is at the heart of it. R5K is about riding yourself happy: the whole idea is to use the target of hitting 5000 miles as an excuse to ride your bike more. By pledging to hit 5000 miles it means that you might simply use your bike more for commuting, come up with new ways to ride your bike or make more of an effort to not miss a Sunday blast. Some members have already started piling on the miles, making the best…

52.662748, -0.924360 MEANDERING, TWISTING AND reflecting the rise and fall of the land around it, a great British B-road is a thing to behold — and few are better than the B6047, a serpentine blast that has the rewards of the country’s best pie shops at the end. We love the B6047 on RiDE for its challenge, its scenery and the pastry-cased meaty pleasure promised at the end of every ride. A destination for local bikers, it stretches from Market Harborough to Melton Mowbray, cutting through the East Midlands countryside. Fast and well-surfaced, it never asks too much of you but is exciting and flowing enough to create a sense of joyful equilibrium — and best of all, it works on almost any bike. With tarmac that finds confidence-inspiring traction even in the…