RiDE November 2017

AS THE NAME implies, RiDE is all about riding your bike: yes, we test the bikes people are talking about and the kit we all need… but at heart, this magazine is about actually getting the motorcycle out and going somewhere. It’s why the Your Rides pages, with shots from readers’ trips, are so important. So this issue, I got out from behind the desk to go for a ride. A long ride… from Lowestoft, the most easterly point of the British mainland, to Ardnamurchan lighthouse, the most westerly point. Between dawn and dusk – using big bikes but avoiding big roads. Meanwhile, Nathan Millward was working out how to get from Land’s End to John o’Groats on minor roads and on small bikes. But it doesn’t matter where you ride –…

Martin Fitz-Gibbons Deputy editor I’ve always wondered about Iceland. Is there an easy ferry to get there? Is the riding practical for someone like me or do you have to be a seasoned adventurer? Is it ludicrously expensive? Nathan Millward went, so he can explain it for me. PAGE 46 Kev Raymond Features writer I’ve always though ‘adventure bike’ was a bit misleading: things like the GS are big enduros. I have similar feelings about ‘adventure suits’ - you can have an adventure in any form of clothing. But I do need help finding a suit for a big enduro bike… PAGE 84 Caroline Barrett Editorial assistant Having done my first European tour last year, I’m always looking for good ideas for short breaks on the Continent. I’m keen to see what Si Hargreaves makes of Luxembourg, as…

TOURATECH AG, THE German adventure motorcycle parts and accessories giant, has filed for insolvency. The firm blames the move on the ‘delayed implementation’ of a 20,000 square-metre, €10m logistics centre that it considered necessary to meet increased demand. The crisis leaves nearly 400 jobs in the balance. The future for Touratech will be decided over the next three months. Under German law, the process for insolvent companies is very clear. An administrator will enter Touratech AG and assume full control of the business. They have three months to produce a report to a committee, which then ultimately decides whether the company is to be restructured or dismantled. In Germany, the latter option is more common though for a company this size, it is unlikely this will happen. For customers, the coming months…

HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS UNVEILED the eight new bikes forming its 2018 Softail range in what the American firm is calling “the largest Product Development Project in company history”. The models – overhauled versions of the Fat Boy, Heritage Classic, Low Rider, Softail Slim, Deluxe, Breakout, Fat Bob and Street Bob – all boast a lighter and stiffer frame, larger-capacity engines and more sophisticated suspension. None of the new bikes stray from their traditional styling but there seem to be significant changes underneath. The new tubular steel frame uses 50% fewer parts, with fewer welds, and claims to be 65% stiffer than the previous Softail design. It helps contribute to a substantial weight saving too, with some 2018 Softails weighing as much as 17kg less than their predecessors. Harley’s latest Milwaukee Eight engine (four-valve…

THIS IS THE Charlie – a traditional-looking leather jacket just launched by Alpinestars. It’s made from full-grain leather, has CE shoulder and elbow armour and a removable flannel thermal liner. But look closely at the left forearm and you’ll notice three little LED lights - the only giveaway that the Charlie is ready to work with Alpinestars’ Tech-Air system – their hi-tech, road-ready airbag. It’s the next step in the firm’s long-running airbag project, evolving since 2001, developed in MotoGP racing and only recently available for road riders. The mix of style and protection comes at a premium though. Prices aren’t confirmed yet but expect to pay at least £500 for the jacket and £1000 for the Tech-Air system.…

SUNSHINE August’s bank holiday Monday was the hottest ever recorded, according to the Met Office. A high of 28 . 2 °C was noted in Lincolnshire , with plenty of sunshine across much of the country . Britain’s motorcyclists were reportedly left utterly bemused at being able to make the most of the uncharacteristically inviting weather without needing to pack waterproofs. Reassuringly, just two days later it chucked it down again. Phew. YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE Kane Avellano, from South Shields, has been confirmed with a new Guinness World Record for the Youngest Person to Circumnavigate the World by Motorcycle. Kane rode his Triumph Bonneville more than 28,000 miles in 233 days, visiting 36 countries on six continents, before finally arriving home a day before his 24 th birthday. Kane was also riding for…