MCN -julkaisun July 18th 2018 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

The local village boozer runs a bike night regularly; once a year! And it’s allegedly for classics, but anyone who turns up on two wheels is made most welcome as it’s hardly the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In fact, I think ‘classic’ refers to the riders more than the bikes. There’s usually more bar staff than there are bikes, but this year’s super summer saw a record attendance of almost 20 glistening machines. And it was bloody brilliant. Most of us need little excuse to go to a pub and wander about looking at bikes and talking to like-minded souls. Even the non-believers joined in, pretending they were interested. And yet by the end of the night, and a few more pints of Scruttock’s Old Derigible, maybe they were. A…

‘We’re on target for figures around 120bhp’ Revived British brand plan five-model range ‘The V6 will sound a bit like three Harleys all firing together’ Levis are poised to make a return to motorcycle manufacturing with a five-bike range that will be spearheaded by this bold and revolutionary V6 Café Racer. The brainchild of two pioneering automotive engineers, their dream to revive the defunct British brand has now moved to the next level, with this prototype build following hot on the heels of their first engine castings. And it looks sensational. Phoenix from the ashes Levis motorcycles date back to 1911 when their two-strokes ruled the road and track. They even took a win at the Isle of Man TT in 1920, but the business never recovered after the war,…

Subscribe today and... • Never miss an issue • Free delivery to your door or free download to your digital device • Save on shop prices Choose from 3 options 1 Print only First four issues for only £1 followed by a three-monthly direct debit of £21.25 2 Digital only Pay just £1 for four issues followed by a three-monthly direct debit of £16.75 3 Print & digital – best offer Pay just £1 for four issues followed by a three-monthly direct debit of £23.75 Visit www.greatmagazines.co.uk/news or call the hotline NOW on 01858 438884 (quote HEAA) Terms & Conditions Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. You will not receive a renewal reminder and the Direct Debit payments will continue to be taken unless you tell us…

HONDA XL125 Sitting on my XL125 at Aberdeen Motorcycle Training in 1986. Great instructors and happy memories. Robbie Rennie KAWASAKI AR125 It was the summer of 1985 and I went with my week’s wage as an apprentice and put a deposit down on this little beauty. Dave Donovan CAPRIOLO 125 My first Italian bike was this 1962 125cc Capriolo. Years later I’m still riding Italian machines. I currently have a 2018 MV 800 Dragster RR. Bruce Taylor APRILIA RS50 This was my Aprilia RS50 (well, 70 actually but don’t tell anyone). At 16 life didn’t get any better than this. Tom Wright COTTON VULCAN SPORTS Here I am trying my brother’s first bike: a 1961 Cotton Vulcan Sports. He is 75 now and still riding his Honda Firestorm. Ann Read…

The Sportster 883 has long been the most popular entry route to Harley-Davidson ownership. That’s partly thanks to its classic styling, air-cooled 45-degree V-twin and surprising affordability at £8895. With the arrival of the new 1200 version, Harley hope to broaden the Iron’s appeal while retaining its blacked-out cool and affordability. To do just that it’s got the 1202cc version of Harley’s V-twin which produces a useful 16 extra bhp and has a roomier riding position thanks to new mini-apehanger bars plus a smidge of weather protection and all for a smidge over nine grand. But is it enough to extend the Iron’s appeal? And what does it all add up to on Britain’s most challenging test route, the MCN250? To be honest, things weren’t looking great from the word…

Rather than long-haul cruisers or A-road carvers, Sportsters are in their element on short hops preferably involving a squirt through a town where there are people you can pose in front of. This was proved on the Iron 1200 first in Stratford where the little Harley was a joy to wiggle through traffic then sit astride, proudly, comfortably, at traffic lights as all the pedestrians had a gawp. So much so that I did another lap. Then even more so during a slight detour into Buckingham for a coffee stop. In just 10 minutes two women and one bloke came up for an ‘I love your Harley’ chat. There was even more of that at the Super Sausage. Other bikes simply don’t have that affect. Larger, comfier tourers eat miles…

Oberon Performance, near Portsmouth, is Britain’s best-kept biking secret. Despite nearly two decades making quality aluminium accessories for all kinds of bikes, the name isn’t at the top of biking consciousness. It’s something boss Steve Street knows: “When we go to a show, we get people saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t know anything about you.’” That’s changing. Last year sales were up 12%; this year it’s over 20%. Why? Because it’s good stuff: “We don’t make parts because we think we can make some money,” added Steve. “We do it because we’ve spotted something we can replace with something better we’ve made ourselves.” Steve cites Oberon’s two-way adjustable Harley levers and their replacement clutch slave cylinders as perfect examples. All with a lifetime guarantee. Before Oberon, Steve and his business partner,…

For the past 30 minutes I’ve been crawling through the city streets close to MV’s factory in Varese. Sitting on one of the prettiest bikes ever to grace Italian tarmac it’s hard not to check yourself out in shop windows. The new Turismo Veloce Lusso SCS has everything, from those sultry looks, to electronic suspension, sharp handling, comfort and the most evocative exhaust note around. But right now I’m more fascinated by the fact I haven’t used that lever on the left since I set off. Welcome to MV’s new Smart Clutch System. 1 Clever clutch The MV has a normal manual gearbox with an automatic Rekluse clutch. Think of it as a reverse slipper clutch. Its default position is always neutral and it only engages with the increase in…

1. WORK IT OUT When you know you need to do a U-turn, pull to the kerb and stop, then evaluate the turn before trying to move off. 2. MOVING OFF Check around you, then move out from the kerb and initiate a tight turn. Move your weight to the outside to help the turn. 3. GET TURNED Balance the throttle, clutch and rear brake to make a clean arc at walking pace. And look where you want to go. DANGER ZONE Initiate the turn from too far into your lane, and you’ll run out of road for the turn meaning you’ll then have to paddle backwards. 4. PULLING OUT As you complete the arc you can re-evaluate your exit. Be aware there could be faster traffic approaching from behind…

595cc | 45bhp | 855mm seat height • Dealer £1200-£2600 • Private £1000-£25000 • This one £2499 dealer sale Last in a long line of big Yamaha air-cooled thumpers, it happily falls into the A2 category. It is very rugged, very durable, and will just hit 100mph with a following wind. Built down to a price, early models didn’t even get a rev counter, with chrome rims, polypropylene bodywork and a total absence of frills but that makes it impressively crash-resistant and more than a few people have taken them round the world. They are brilliant in traffic, with plenty of steering lock and a nice soft torquey engine. Buyer beware At best you’re looking at a bike that’s at least 14 years old, but some are almost 30. So,…

487cc | 47bhp | seat height 790mm • Dealer £1300-£2500 • Private £1200-£2000 • This one £1395 dealer sale This is an air-cooled dinosaur that sold until 2007, but the engine harks back to the 1970s. The GS500 is cheap to buy, run and insure. It’s also very reliable, faster than modern A2 250s and has an excellent tank range. But it is basic, has soggy suspension, poor finish and lacks modern tech. Some used ones have had the suspension improved (spacers and heavier oil in the front: a replacement shock at the rear). It’s a sub-47bhp sports tourer capable of 500-mile days. Buyer beware You need to know when the valve shims were last checked. They close up with wear and the engine sounds quiet but the valve seats…

JAKE DIXON Championship: 2nd With six straight podiums Dixon grabbed second in the series with his first win of 2018 at Knockhill last time out. GLENN IRWIN Championship: 4th Promoted to No1 at Ducati in Byrne’s absence, Irwin is running at the front but is yet to stand on the top step. BRADLEY RAY Championship: 3rd After a double in the series opener followed by a strong ride at Brands, Ray has been off the boil in recent races. JOSH BROOKES Championship: 7th Ex-champ Brookes has struggled this year, but in his title season didn’t win a race until the summer. With six wins in seven races, Leon Haslam enjoys a huge 74-point lead as the championship reaches its halfway point at Brands Hatch this weekend. However, Haslam has struggled…

John McPhee returned to the podium for the first time in a year with third at the Sachsenring. And now he’s launched his name into the mix for a number of top teams for next year. Previously keen to move to Moto2 for 2019, McPhee told MCN that the quality of offers that have come his way since finding form in recent weeks means he now most likely to remain in the lightweight class. “My future is unclear for now, but it’s looking promising and the offers are there. Nothing is fully secure but I’m really happy with what is on the table. Moto2 was my main focus until the first few races which didn’t go to plan. But with the way things are going in Moto3 right now there’s…

Sam Lowes believes he’s ready to return to winning ways in Moto2 and is keen to build on a strong fifth position at the German GP and return to where he left off before making an ill-fated move to MotoGP with Aprilia last year. Running a strong race on Sunday before making a last-corner pass on home favourite Marcel Schrotter for fifth, the Brit seems to have fixed the mental bock that had been holding him back. It hasn’t been an easy two years for Lowes after having to deal with not only the blow to his confidence of the disastrous year with Aprilia and their premature end to his two-year deal but also the metaphorical ‘kicking’ he took when Johann Zarco knocked him out of the lead of his…

Scott Redding admits his goal for the remainder of his MotoGP swansong is simply ‘to enjoy himself’. Already replaced at Aprilia by Andrea Iannone, unable to find another ride and looking at a rapidly-filling WSB grid, he says his new attitude helped him to a decent 15th place in Sunday’s race. In Sunday morning warm-up Redding demonstrated just what that means by re-enacting the stunt first done in 2014 by getting not only his knee, elbow and shoulder down, but also his head!…

WSB bosses are getting a new RR in February BMW often use their Garmisch booze-fest to unveil some new model updates and this year is no different, with a host of model changes emerging from the Weise beer smog. The most heavily updated models, and by far the coolest changes, are from the R nineT family. The R nineT, Pure, Scrambler and Racer are all available with a new Spezial paint scheme (see picture below) as well as a range of matching accessories. The Scrambler and Urban GS now have the cross-spoked wheels available as an option, while the entire range comes with a dynamic brake light (quick pulses under heavy braking) as standard. There’s plenty of new technology too. The entire K1600 range now comes with Hill Start Control…

‘UK riders are already some of the highest taxed’ The Government is said to be close to lifting the freeze on the fuel duty. The so called ‘fuel duty escalator’ was put in place in 1993 and saw rises in fuel duty over the rate of inflation until it was put on hold in 2010. But that could be about to change as ministers look for ways to increase revenue. An inflation-linked increase would raise approximately £800 million next year alone with cumulative raises having the potential to bag the Treasury billions over the next decade. In fact, Treasury figures estimate that the current freeze has cost the government £46 billion over the last eight years while saving the average motorist hundreds of pounds. It has come at a price,…

‘The Police are working hard to keep people safe’ Operation Venice, the Metropolitan Police crackdown on the scooter crime wave, is starting to have a positive effect with officers even celebrating success on social media. The Roads and Transport team have been pointing out their successes on Twitter, posting how they used ‘tactical contact’ to end a pursuit after the riders thought taking off their helmets would stop the chase. Many of those arrested have been found to have committed other crimes such as drug offences. Operation Venice has now expanded to include violent crimes and robberies involving mopeds, with officers arresting three men aged between 16 and 17 after recovering a stolen moped, bank cards and a machete. The successes have been echoed in the courtroom too as Jamie…

Building up a picture Radar reads the road, monitoring multiple vehicles at the same time to watch for potential dangers Hazard ahead The system senses that a car is slowing, it can warn the rider or in the future reduce speed or brake It’s good to talk Each vehicle will be able to communicate with each other, using autonomy to avoid collisions in the first place Blind spot alert Radar system can let the rider know that it’s in its blind spot by with a warning light in the rear-view mirror ‘It’s a step along the path to accident-free riding’ DR DIRK HOHEISEL, BOSCH Manufacturers are in a race to make collisions a thing of the past with new tech that allow bikes to sense and communicate with other…

All this points to the 1262cc XDiavel engine 1 Big torque The 1262cc twin from the X Diavel puts out 93ftlb of torque but the VVT gives it a huge midrange as well as a 151bhp peak. 2 New frame A new engine means a new frame, even if it is covered here. The new frame should mirror the XDiavel and show off the big twin. 3 Top-spec suspension Fully adjustable Öhlins is new. There may be a Speciale version with electronic semi-active suspension. 4 New tech We expect XDiavel electronics including IMU based lean-sensitive traction control, cornering ABS and riding modes. When Ducati unveiled the Diavel in 2010, we were bowled over by the combination of its cruiser stance with sporty handling and superbike engine. Now spy pics show…

William was a true gent Absolutely gutted to hear of William Dunlop’s passing. He walked around the paddock with his head and shoulders down at times, but as soon as you said his name he would lift his head up with a big smile and was always happy to talk. The guy was a true gentleman. Our deepest sympathies to Janine and the Dunlop family. Tomo & Linc, Isle of Man I shed a tear Tonight at 6.45 pm I shed a tear. Me, a 60-year-old dinosaur, for a man I never met but admired from afar. A road racing gladiator on my TV screen being carried towards his God. God bless, William RIP. Dave (aka Gromit), email Cops got it right I read the letter last week from Ryan…

Speed limits make me laugh. We’re supposed to be limited to 70mph on the motorway but you can easily buy a motorcycle that’ll do 160mph or more and people are surprised when not everyone obeys the limit. Seriously, 70mph can feel slower than walking pace on some machines. I think we should have an autobahn system like they do in Germany. They’ve got it right out there. They’ve all grown up with it and know exactly how to behave. If you’re in the fast lane and slowing people up you get a flash and you get out of the way. People are polite about it, but they don’t mess about. There might be a bigger shunt in the end but it seems to work most of the time for them.…

It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B-roads, a stretch of busy motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy tarmac. There are two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time for sportsbikes, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 Judged with dread There’s no getting away from it: a Harley sportster isn’t the sort of bike I’d normally happily tackle a 250-mile day on, being small (especially for my 6ft 3in) relatively slow and, in this new 1200 Iron form, with mini apehanger bars. But as I head off it’s actually not that bad. It…

MCN SCOTTISH FESTIVAL, ROYAL HIGHLAND CENTRE, INGLISTON, EDINBURGH, EH28 8NB, JULY 21-22 Scottish festival fever The inaugural MCN Scottish Festival takes place this weekend, with riders from all over the country heading to the Royal Highland Centre. But don’t just follow your sat nav, there are some fantastic roads to explore. The Route Start in Moffat and you’ll have a great ride both to and from the festival. Head east on the A708, a sensational road that begins with a twisty technical section before flattening out to skim along the edge of St Mary’s Loch and the Glen Café which has views that’ll knock your socks off. Push on to Selkirk and join the sweeping curves of the A7 to Edinburgh – once you hit the A720/city bypass follow the…

Don’t sneer at 47bhp. It’s enough for enjoyment: it was, actually, the power output of the original Yamaha RD350LC and today it is the maximum power new licence-holders under 24 can live with. But a new wave of experienced bikers are falling in love with A2 licence-spec bikes, too, and with good reason. Many look great and are fast enough for fast-lane motorway speeds while costing peanuts. YOUR EXPERT MCN’s resident used bike expert Neil Murray has been buying and selling for decades and can sniff out a bargain, or a dog of a bike at 50 paces.…

373cc | 44bhp | 800mm seat height • Dealer £3500-£5000 • Private £2500-£4000 • This one £3995, private sale Essentially, it’s the 125 chassis with a 400cc (or thereabouts) engine shoehorned into it. The engine is lumpy below 4000rpm but gets sweeter and smoother as the revs rise. Although the 390 Duke doesn’t produce 47bhp, it has the maximum legal power-to-weight ratio. It handles well, too, and plenty of steering lock makes it nimble in town. It’s also very light, easy on fuel, but used values have taken a knock after the improved 2017 model came along with a bigger tank, and better quality throughout. Buyer beware Early models were a bit iffy when it came to build quality and reliability. Look out for issues with the dash and electrics.…

‘We need help from Japan to improve the electronics’ Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales have pleaded with their Yamaha bosses for an improvement to the bike sooner rather than later after coming close to victory again at the weekend’s German Grand Prix. Coming home second and third after a strong race, the pair were satisfied, rather than elated, feeling that the first victory in a year was once again just beyond their grasp. Rossi admitted after the race that the chassis of the bike is now as good as anything else on the grid, which will come as a huge relief to Yamaha after spending most of last year changing frames and swingarms to find a set-up that would let them be fast. But now they face new problems. “Compared…

‘With Kallio out there could be a continued role for Bradley Smith’ A best-ever result for Bradley Smith on the Red Bull KTM and misfortune for team-mate Mika Kallio could be enough to help secure the Brit’s future in the premier class, albeit in a part-time role. Replaced at the Austrian manufacturer by Johann Zarco for next year and seemingly left without a ride as the grid rapidly fills up, Smith has made it clear that he wants to stay in MotoGP, even if it is as a test rider. He says that he’ll retire if he can’t find a ride in the premier class. He is also in talks with Yamaha to join a newly-created European test team that sees them ape their rivals as they plan a more…

Alvaro Bautista embarrassed his factory Ducati colleagues by taking an impressive fifth place in Sunday’s German Grand Prix, finishing the battle only five seconds from race winner Marc Marquez and ahead of both Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso. Able to make the most of his two-year old Angel Nieto Ducati, the result comes at the right time for Bautista as he hunts for a World Superbike ride for 2019. The result compounded what was a disappointing day for the factory bikes, with both Lorenzo and Dovi struggling for rear grip despite the Spaniard leading the way early on.…

‘He always brought quality to the racing’ ‘The Dunlop family’s grief is immeasurable’ Thousands of race fans lined the streets of Ballymoney last week for the funeral of William Dunlop. The winner of 119 road races was laid to rest beside his father Robert and uncle Joey in the small country graveyard behind the church. William’s brothers, Michael and Daniel, and his cousin Gary carried the coffin. Dunlop died in a crash during practice for the Skerries 100 on July 7 and bikers braved the rain and travelled from all over Ireland to pay tribute. They were joined by his family and partner and a host of road racing stars, past and present. The Reverend John Kirkpatrick, one of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland’s race chaplains, delivered the eulogy. Kirkpatrick…

‘There was a huge reduction in traffic. It had to be exploited’ R5K MEMBER JOHN JESS Over 10 million people watched Sunday’s World Cup final and a massive 26 million watched England’s semi-final last week, but it seems not many were bikers. Bike meets were packed on a scorching weekend and even the midweek Southern 100 on the Isle of Man, which clashed with the England game, was full of spectators. The call of the empty roads and beautiful weather proved a golden opportunity to make the most of the best biking summer in a decade. “The weather’s been far too good to waste it inside watching football,” said R5K member Ian Jones. “Even for Sunday’s final there wasn’t much on the road. A month of riding heaven.” Bikesport…

Riders included Foggy, Agostini, Haga and Spencer We joined over 200,000 sun-kissed petrolheads at this very British motorsport garden party over the weekend, to witness the planet’s greatest celebration of racing, past and present. In one of the biggest turnouts of stars in Goodwood’s 25-year history, riders included Foggy, Agostini, Haga, Van Der Mark, Alex Lowes, Johnny Rea, Hutchy, Hillier, Corser, Mamola, Spencer, Parrish, Brookes and more. Fans were able to get close to their heroes in the paddock as well as see them fly up Goodwood’s famous 1.16-mile hillclimb. MCN also got to ride some very special machines, including Dan Linfoot’s BSB Blade, Brad Baker’s Indian FTR750 flat-tracker, John Hackett’s Ducati 888 Corsa, Bruce Anstey’s RC213V-S TT bike and a BMW HP4 Race. Bikes have become an increasingly significant…

It's always dreadful when our sport loses another one of its brightest stars, but for it to happen again to the Dunlop family seems incredibly unfair. It goes without saying that the Dunlops are steeped in road racing tradition; a sport where tiny fractions can make the difference between triumph and tragedy, but you have to wonder how Louise Dunlop (William's Mother) and Janine (William's partner) are managing to cope . Hopefully Ella, (William's daughter) is too young to comprehend what's happened. And of course our thoughts go out to Michael. He is as tough as they come, determined, unwavering and blessed with a colossal amount of talent. It's heartbreaking to think about how he must be feeling. Deepest and sincerest condolences to the Dunlop family. Ian Macfarlane, Glasgow MCN…

LIKE IT CHRIS ALCHIN Age 54 Height 5ft 7.5in (“That half’s important”) Current bike Royal Enfield Himalayan Been riding for 39 years “It’s surprisingly light. I was expecting it to be heavier plus I’ve got both feet on the ground. I like the authenticity and the uncluttered minimalism. The reason I got my first Royal Enfield was that it ticks a lot of the same boxes as the Harley but it’s a lot cheaper.” HATE IT STEVE WHITE Age 63 Height 6ft 3in Current bike Triumph Sprint Been riding for 45 years “It looks really nice but they’re not really my sort of thing. I like sportsbikes and have had things like a TL1000R and GSX-Rs but I’m so old they’re a bit radical for me so I’m into sports…

1 CAD/CAM design Sam from Oberon takes a basic idea for a new product (usually originated by one of the two Steves) and produces a one-off component, checking for its viability in production. 2 First machining Steve Evans with one of his two CNC milling machines. This one’s machining an adjustable Harley brake lever. 3 More machining Oberon’s 5-axis milling machine has two tables, meaning it can work on multiple faces, on both sides. 4 Checking specs B (“just the letter B, mate”) checks every component to make sure it’s within specification, and has a ready-assembled control version to compare it to. 5 Lathe heaven Oberon’s 7-axis lathe can take a single bar of aluminium and turn it into a fully-machined footpeg at the other end. 6 Final packing Wendy…

‘There’s a great mix of challenging A and B-roads’ Neil Staughton loves his V-Strom 650, but even he admits this ride is pushing it on a gallon of fuel. But it’s such a great ride he insisted we let MCN readers have a crack at it. He said: “The scenery on this ride is simply stunning. From the Ribblehead viaduct to the River Wharf just before Buckden, this route just keeps giving. “The roads are good too with a mix of challenging A and B-roads. There is something for even the most experienced on these roads. Every mile offers something totally magical. And there are loads of decent stop-off points, including the White Scar Cave and Coniston Lake. “The best place for a brew is at Tanglewood Tea Rooms at…

THE STUDENT Stuart Fergusson, 32, Northants BMW R1200GS rider Stuart passed his Direct Access in 2012 and hasn’t had any training since. He rides 3000 miles a year. Stuart’s riding problem “I’m really nervous on slow-speed manoeuvres. When negotiating car parks or U-turns in tight spaces I worry about dropping my GS.” THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training A police motorcyclist for 18 years, Mark has been training people to be faster and safer on the road for more than 20 years. Mark’s action plan “I’ll help Stuart work on his control inputs and balance so that he can make slow, confident U-turns without putting his feet down.” THE LESSON 1 Forcing it round the U-bend Stuart was really coming unstuck when he tried to make a tight controlled turn.…

THE OWNER Kevin Merrick , 58, from Kent has been riding bikes since he was 18 after starting out on a Yamaha RD250LC. Last year, he chopped in his modified Ducati 1098 for his Pikes Peak Multistrada, which he uses for weekend blasts and the occasional big trip. I’ve always been a Japanese sportsbike man and have owned an SP-1, GSX-R1000, Fireblade,” says Kevin Merrick. “Despite looking at Ducatis, I’d never really hankered after one. A mate was right into them and so when a tricked-up 1098S popped up for sale, I thought I’d try it. But it was a bit of a mistake.” It’s amazing Kevin’s first taste of Ducatis didn’t put him off for life as a modified Bologna sportsbike is seldom an easy machine to live…

249cc | 26bhp | 780mm seat height • Dealer £1900-£2700 • Private £1000-£2500 • This one £2450 private sale This is a really neat, well thought-out sports 250 single and is available in naked (Z250SL) or faired trim (Ninja 250SL). Performance isn’t class-leading but it’ll (just about) top 90mph, return nearly 80 miles per gallon, handle very well and is super-smooth thanks to its balancer shaft. It has a good LCD instrument display and even looks the part. For the cash it’s possible to pick up a bike that is still in warranty and has covered less than 2000 miles. This means you don’t have to worry about all the question marks often caused by multiple owners either. It’s hard to fault. Buyer beware The forks are a bit soft…

249cc | 26bhp | 780mm seat height • Dealer £1800-£3000 • Private £1000-£2500 • This one £1695 dealer sale Very much in the same mould as the Ninja 250 being a single and producing about the same amount of power. Again, it’s smooth, sophisticated and well styled, but being a Honda it lacks the Kawasaki’s naughty streak and, it must be said, it’s a bit basic. While the Kawasaki is sporty, the Honda is more an everyday sort of ride. Because it’s been around for quite a few years, it’s available quite cheaply, which the Ninja isn’t. And it can return 80mpg easily. Buyer beware As long as the bike has had decent service history you don’t need to worry about reliability but there have been problems with the engine…

1 Buy the right bits Use either original parts, or branded hoses from a UK supplier. Either option will offer you consumer protection and technical support. Check that the kit contains the correct hoses for your bike; they should have a pre-formed shape which matches the originals. Offer them up for comparison and identify which hose goes where before you take off the old hoses. 2 Undo the clips Many original clips are of the crosshead type and can become corroded, so spray with a little maintenance fluid. Or, if you have a quarter-inch drive kit, it is often better to use the hand driver and a socket. The most common sizes are 6mm and 7mm. These single-hex type sockets will give a more positive and stronger feel than a…

‘He was certain to play a leading part in the future of the sport’ ‘He didn’t have a high opinion of himself in any way’ In what was already a tragic week for road racing following William Dunlop’s death at the Skerries 100, the sport was dealt another hammer blow when James Cowton was killed at last week’s Southern 100. The 26-year-old was involved in a four-rider pile-up at the Manx event on Thursday afternoon. “We regret to announce that, following an incident involving four competitors at Stadium Bends during the 600cc Challenge race, Driffield rider James Cowton succumbed to his injuries,” organisers said in an official statement. ‘Cowton was one of the sport’s Young Guns’ Ivan Lintin was also critically injured in the crash and was air lifted to…

MCN has negotiated a fantastic offer with Silverstone to save you a huge 20% off Weekend or Race Day General Admission tickets for the British MotoGP this August 24-26 Bank Holiday weekend. Booking with the MCNGA20 code, you can get up close and personal on Friday and Saturday evening with rider interviews, followed by on-stage entertainment throughout the weekend with award-winning hip-hop and soul artist Plan B now confirmed as the headline stage act on Saturday: all at 20% off. A Weekend General Admission ticket gives you access to the roving grandstands on Friday and Saturday, under-10s go free all weekend with a General Admission adult (be sure to order a free ticket for your kids). Whether you’re going for a single day, or the whole weekend, you won’t get…

‘I have to try. I gave it my all and it didn’t work out’ Cal Crutchlow threw away a golden opportunity at Sunday’s German Grand Prix by crashing out of what could have been an easy podium position for him on the LCR Honda. Running with top five pace all weekend, he looked certain of a strong finish until old problems ended his race prematurely. All five Honda RC213V riders admit to struggling when they’re forced to run in close company with other bikes in hot conditions. The nature of the machine’s required heavy braking style overloads the front tyre and subsequently forces up the pressure which reduces grip. And while Crutchlow says he did his best to manage the issue, he nonetheless threw away not only his shot of…

Marc Marquez added yet another victory to his winning streak at the Sachsenring on Sunday, extending his lead in the 2018 MotoGP championship. Taking his ninth consecutive win from his ninth pole position at the German Grand Prix, the Repsol Honda rider stamped his authority once again as he continues to demolish the best MotoGP riders in the world. But it wasn’t his easiest victory with beautiful sunshine and high temperatures at the former East German track handing his rivals a chance that they haven’t had in recent years. Only managing to secure pole position from Danilo Petrucci by two hundredths of a second and forced to sit behind Jorge Lorenzo in the race until the Ducati rider made a mistake 12 laps into the 30-lap battle, Marquez admitted that…