RiDE June 2017

AFTER WHAT SOMETIMES felt like an endless winter, I finally feel safe to say that spring is here. Sure, there have still been some cold mornings, but at last the sun is out and I’m seeing more bikes out on the road. Which is great – but I wonder how sharp some of those riders will be if this is the first time they’ve touched a bike in months? Mind you, I may have ridden all through the winter but I’m aware that – after months of tiptoeing around on slippery roads – I’m a bit rusty too. To help combat this, we asked the police BikeSafe scheme for advice on getting safely back up to speed. See what they recommend on p42 – and enjoy your riding this spring.…

Matt Hull Technical editor CCM’s new Spitfire started as a chat over a cuppa in the factory and is the most exciting bike I’ve seen in ages. Our photographer, James, was so impressed when he took pictures of it for us that he ordered bike No101 (of 150) on the spot! PAGE 74 Kev Raymond Features writer Having ridden the updated Suzuki V-Stroms, I particularly enjoyed the 650. But where does it fit in relation to the bigger, more powerful adventure bikes launched this month? Perhaps RiDE’s adventure decoder will make things clear. PAGE 60 Caroline Barrett Editorial assistant It’s not always easy to find a good set of gloves, especially for lady riders. But with 45 sets of all-year gloves tested in this issue, there must be a pair that’s the right fit – and the right…

BMW S1000R Naked power Slightly more power, a little less weight Sharper styling and fewer vibes BMW HAS REVAMPED the S1000R for 2017, with tweaks to its engine, chassis and electronics. The 999cc motor is mechanically unchanged but intake mods and a new exhaust with titanium Akrapovic silencer boost power 5bhp to 163bhp. This adds 5kg, but a reworked aluminium frame sheds a couple of kilos, trimming the kerb weight to 205kg – 2kg less than the original. Bodywork is slightly cut-down while keeping its familiar lop-sided stare. Other mods include a new rubber-mounted handlebar, to counter vibration, a more steeply angled instrument console (to combat glare) and slimmer tail section. There’s a huge list of options, most of which are fitted to the S1000R Sport model: extra Dynamic riding modes, semi-active suspension, two-way quick-shifter,…

TWO-STROKE DIRT BIKES KTM has announced plans to bring out two brand-new two-stroke enduro bikes. While two-stroke engines have long been popular with off-roaders, thanks to light weight and power delivery, they haven’t been able to meet modern emissions standards. The Austrian factory has developed a ‘Transfer Port Injection’ system that cleans up the emissions, as well as getting rid of the age-old hassle of mixing oil with petrol and changing jets if the sun goes in. The 250 EXC TPi and 300 EXC TPi are due out in the summer. HONDA IN HOLLYWOOD Bikes are still a big hit on the big screen, with Scarlet Johansson riding a modified Honda Voltus in her latest movie, Ghost in the Shell. Hollywood adapted the Integra-based Voltus to make it look even more futuristic. The…

BIKE SALES New-bike registrations were down by more than 20 per cent in February, from the same time last year, with 50cc and 125cc bikes the hardest hit. February’s traditionally a slow month anyway, just before the March madness, but the start of this year was hit by a bumper December when dealers pre-registered Euro III models before the New Year. However, dealers we spoke to are looking forward to a good March. SAT NAV FIDDLERS Last month we reported that drivers caught using their phone or sat nav while driving are liable for six-points on their licence and a £200 fine (even if stationary in traffic). Now we’ve learnt that we’re not immune on two-wheels: sat nav on bikes is covered by the new law, with the same penalties. So no fiddling…

STAR PICTURE Namibia This was on a recent fly-ride tour of Namibia and South Africa – right on the on the rim of Fish River Canyon, Namibia’s answer to the Grand Canyon. Our rental bikes were Yamaha XTZ 1200 Super TŽnŽrŽs – Sean and C Gearoid Scotland Here is my 1989 Kawasaki ZX-10 Tomcat at Loch Lomond. First ride out on it this year and the weather was lovely, if not a bit chilly - Derek Miller France Last year my girlfriend Emma Townsend and I joined a group for a long weekend in Reims. We had rides to the Armistice Carriage at Compiegne and a circular route to the east, but on both days we ended up at the Circuit de Reims-Gueux – Steve Witt Yorkshire Tony and myself visiting the Yorkshire Dales. New bikes, new…