RiDE -julkaisun November 2018 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

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…

POWER! What’s the last thing Kawasaki’s barking supercharged H2 needs? Even more power - and that’s exactly what it’s getting for 2019. Next year’s model will boast a claimed 228bhp - a 15% increase on its existing (and not exactly wheezy) 197bhp. The extra oomph comes from new parts including its intake chamber, air filter, spark plugs and ECU. Holy moly. COMEBACKS John McGuinness made a victorious return to road racing at the Classic TT, just 15 months after breaking his leg at the North West 200. Riding a Roger Winfield Paton, McGuinness won the Bennetts Senior Classic TT race more than a minute ahead of second-placed Jamie Coward. Fingers crossed the taste of champagne spurs on his return to the regular TT next year……

Each month the Star Picture will win a BikeTrac unit, plus a year’s subscription. As well as boosting security, it logs journeys and even gives live battery voltage information, too. How to send us your photos Email your most inspirational biking photos to us at ride@ride.co.uk with ‘Your Rides’ in the subject line. Please send us the original unedited photo file, ideally at least five megapixels in size. And don’t forget to include your full name, too.…

Start/Finish Peterborough Time 2 days Distance 422 miles In our eagerness to get away from Peterborough, we trolled glumly along the A605 and A14 to the M6, past Birmingham and onto the M54 past Telford and A5 towards Shrewsbury. We stopped for fuel at Bayston services on the A5/A49 junction before starting the route proper. From Church Stretton we picked our way up over the tiny lanes on Long Mynd, then joined the A489 to Newtown, south down the A483 to Crossgates before heading west again on the A44 to Rhayader, then another few miles to our overnight stop at the Elan Valley Hotel. Next day was exploring the Elan Valley itself, and then a quick, twisty circuit taking in Devil’s Bridge and various unpronounceable villages before looping back to…

The V-four choice Honda Crossrunner > £3500-£6500 > 2011-2014 > 782cc 90° V-four > 100bhp > 240kg YOU WANT A relaxed riding position and do-anything flexibility, but don’t want an adventure bike’s compromises. You’re in luck — that sounds just like Honda’s first-generation Crossrunner. Beneath its slightly lumpy styling you’ll find the trusty underpinnings from the supreme VFR800: same V-four engine; same cast aluminium frame; same road-focused suspension, brakes and wheel sizes. No towering seat height, no boingy long-travel springs, no ferris-wheel front end. The Crossrunner is pure sports tourer, just with added comfort. Its high, wide handlebars give a much more easygoing stance than the head-down VFR, while the added leverage lightens low-speed steering. You still have a 21.5-litre fuel tank which can just about stretch to 200 miles…

Q I’ve bought a GS, a tent and a ferry ticket but have no fixed plan. What’s a good destination in France for a first-time European traveller? I have seven days. A There are so many options. You could take a gentle meander to Normandy and Brittany. You could maybe take some motorway to help cover the distance down to the Auvergne or the Limousin. If you’re a confident rider, despite your lack of Euro experience, you could go to the Tarn or Cevennes (see p40). But with seven days, we’d head across the Ardennes to the Vosges, down to the Jura and back to Blighty through the Morvan. Find routes at www.ride.co.uk/france17 Q I keep trying to download your routes and when I click on the files, my computer…

“The hidden grab rails are a nice touch – if they worked” Pillion Though that deeply padded bench seat looks plenty spacious enough for two, our pillion reports that space is a bit limited as, even during steady cruising, their chest ends up pressed against the rider’s back and helmets seems to clash with every input to the brakes. The hidden underseat grab rails are a nice touch — a clever way of giving the pillion something to grab hold of without corrupting the Scrambler’s back-end styling. Or at least they would’ve been clever if they actually worked. But the grab handles are too shallow to hold so passengers can only just get fingertips into the underseat recesses, resulting in a less-than secure place to hang on to. Luggage and…

“I go away to Belgium with my dad a fair bit, so I do plenty of miles as a pillion. Dad’s Gold Wing is much better than his Harley — it’s more like a proper seat than just jumping around on the back on a pad. And when you hit a bump on the Harley it feels like you’re about to fall off; it’s hard to relax. On the Gold Wing, you just sit there and don’t need to do anything. There’s so much more room than on the Harley too — I often fall asleep on the Honda. The seat is quite high — I can see a fair bit over my dad’s head. “The first thing I noticed about the new bike is the seat is a lot…

“They’re really good. Do you want me to say any more? All right then... The initial appeal is the price, but they’re a right laugh to ride — enough power but very easy to get on with and very forgiving — you can be a bit clumsy and get away with it. We sell loads of them, new and used. It’s mostly new riders who buy them but they don’t like the 35kW versions — they prefer a full power version with a separate restrictor kit. Quite often owners will keep them a while, then there’s a natural progression and they want to trade up, so we’ll buy them back in. It’s just the usual things we look for — condition, mileage, service history. And accessories. Younger buyers want the…

Q I love long rides and biking holidays but as a pillion, I want a bit of bum room and comfort and not to be just perched on the back in mid-air. What would you recommend? A Clearly, all the big tourers are built with pillions very much in mind. Depending on your budget, we would suggest starting by trying a BMW R1200RT or a Triumph Trophy 1200SE. Some of the adventure tourers can also be great for a passenger: the Yamaha Super Ténéré and Triumph Tiger Explorer especially. If something more road-focused is needed, then you could consider the Kawasaki Versys 1000 — and the first-gen bike (from 2012-2014) is particularly good two-up. Q I’m looking for something small and cheap, for having fun on backroads. You can’t seem…

STRAPS Load straps pull the bag in if it’s part-full but other straps can attach smaller items or turn a rucksack into a tailpack HANDLES Carrying handles can be useful to move a rucksack around without putting on SECTIONS More than one section to a bag helps keep load items separate. This one can take a crash helmet CLOSURE Two main methods are rolltop or zip. Even waterproof zips benefit from a rain cover in bad weather POCKETS External pockets are useful but few are genuinely waterproof MOST OF THE bags here have something to recommend them and the majority could serve perfectly well for light commuting or the occasional shopping trip. The best of them, though, are tough enough to take years of heavy use, adapt to carry any…

“Not a single drop of water got through to the wearer” Waterproof textiles used to mean waxed cotton. Then waterproof membranes were invented. Early ones were sweaty, but this changed. Then came laminated waterproof membranes, where the surface material is treated and has a membrane behind it. So water simply runs off the fabric. For a long time there was only one: Gore-Tex Pro and garments were expensive. But it worked and was used by top-end manufacturers. Other materials firms began to develop their own laminates. They’re not as expensive as Gore-Tex Pro items but they tend to still be £500 for a jacket or £1000 for a suit.…

Q Last month Simon talked about cleaning leather gloves. What is the best way to do it? A It’s simple, really. Just like washing your hands — with gloves on, in a lukewarm solution of non-biological washing powder. You can gently scrub any areas of stubborn dirt with a soft brush if it isn’t shifting easily. Make sure there’s plenty of water inside the glove too: you want to get the insides properly clean as well to stop them getting smelly. When the exterior is looking clean, pat all of the gloves dry with a cloth then let them air dry slowly, away from heat — on a washing line or a clothes airer is ideal. Then the leather needs to be fed (with something like Chelsea Leather Food, £7.99,…

Bob Watson “This is my first time at Cadwell. I’m on my 2005 Fireblade; it’s my price and joy. The track has lots of blind sections and it’s quite hectic but I’m enjoying it. I’ve always wanted to do it, and it’s living up to expectations. I can see why it’s better on a 600; I think I got into third twice!” Tim Schofield “My first trackday, and I’m renting a Ducati V4S from the CSS. I’m a bit apprehensive because though I’m a qualified riding instructor, it’s all road and they put me in the intermediate group. I’ve always had quick bikes on the road, so I’m just going to try it and see how I get on.” Ellis Wheatley “I’ve ridden Cadwell a couple of times but not…

As a new rider of almost 50 years of age, tootling round on my little 125 these past few weeks, I feel I must apologise to all the motorcyclists out there who I must have inadvertently pissed off over the past 33 years of motoring in my car. It is only now that I realise what total morons a lot of car drivers are and how selfishly we drive, with a total lack of respect for motorcyclists and their safety. I feel that everyone would benefit from riding round on a bike for a few days, to appreciate how vulnerable bikers are before being allowed to drive a car. It might just make a few more people think. Production Editor Jim Blackstock knows what you mean. He too was 50…

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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…

BRITISH CIRCUITS (#1) Rockingham Motor Speedway has announced that all motorsport activity on the track will finish for good by the end of the year. The race circuit near Corby has recently been sold, with the new owners expected to turn the facility into a car storage, de-fleeting and auction centre. If you want to ride it before it shuts for good, now’s the time to book that trackday. BRITISH CIRCUITS (#2) Racing was cancelled at the Silverstone round of MotoGP, after riders declared the track conditions unsafe. Rainfall on Saturday failed to drain, leading to stretches of standing water that immediately caused multiple accidents. The problem recurred on Sunday, and after hours of delays the decision was made to scrap racing entirely. Races at the British Superbike round a…

Is there any sight more beautiful than the Lake District in summer? Steve Normanton sent us this shot of his wife Trudi and their 2014 BMW R1200GS at Wastwater — and it wins him an SDoc100 Classic Cleaning Kit, worth £64.99 because the one thing we like more than a picture of a beautiful landscape is the sight of a beautifully maintained motorcycle. There’s still the chance for you to win an SDoc Classic Cleaning Kit too. We have drawn up a shortlist of our top ten favourite entries from this season. Go to www.ride.co.uk/love-your-motorcycle and vote for your top shot from the list. Everyone who votes for their favourite will be entered in a draw to win a kit as well. The most popular pic will then win a…

The sports-touring version of the Tracer 900 has a few modifications over standard. It gets a pair of 22-litre panniers as standard — if you want a topbox you’ll need the extra rack too. The seat is wider, the handlebars narrower and the rear grab handles are different. The swingarm is 60mm longer than the MT-09’s swinger, forks legs are gold-finished and suspension is adjustable. The forks have rebound damping adjustment on one leg and compression on the other. There’s a remote rear preload adjuster too. Radial brakes and ABS are the same as the Tracer, as is the engine and transmission but fuel capacity is up, to 18 litres. Up front there’s a full-colour TFT display, quickshifter, three engine modes and switchable traction control. Cruise control is standard, as…

The Versys 1000 uses the same engine and basic drivetrain as the 2014 Z1000SX, with three-way traction control and two engine modes, but with a detuned engine — 118bhp and 75lb·ft vs the SX’s 140bhp and 82lb·ft. Softer, longer-travel suspension, a larger fuel tank and vaguely adventure bike styling complete the look. Suspension is adjustable for preload and rebound while a centrestand is standard. As this is the Grand Tourer SE version, you get large panniers — just about capable of taking a full-face lid - and large topbox as standard, all with colour-coded accents. Inner bags come as standard, as do handguards and a tank pad. You also get spotlights (normally £347), frame sliders, a 12V socket and a GPS bracket. What you don’t get - even as an…

Goose camping system £299 www.wingmanoftheroad.com Putting up a tent can be a pain, but this new bike-specific system claims to do away with all that hassle. The designers say the Goose can be set up or taken down in just five minutes. The high-density foam mattress and sleeping bag are packed up with the tent rather than separately - roll it all up and stick it in the bag, then bungee the bag on the back. It uses the bike as part of its structure, reducing the amount of poles and pegs, and an extra flap goes over the bike seat, keeping it dry and providing a dry area for storing boots etc. Both sides and ends unzip for access and all four openings have zippable flyscreens too. There’s also…

DAY 1 Calais to Avallon, 320 miles DAY 2 Avallon to Alès, 350 miles DAY 3 Alès to Millau daytrip, 210 miles DAY 4 Alès to Joigny, 360 miles DAY 5 Joigny to Calais, 270 miles The route This was a big trip, crammed into five high-mile days — brilliant fun but tiring... and possibly more difficult now the French have lowered the speed limit to 80kph on N and D roads. It needs a 9-10am tunnel out and a 4-5pm return crossing. You can build a more relaxed version (taking three days to get to Anduze, where there’s a daytrip that includes the Corniche des Cévennes and the D986 but not Millau) using the routes at www.ride.co.uk/france17…

Originally Swedish, Husqvarna was bought by Cagiva in the late Eighties, with production moved to Italy. BMW bought it in 2007, but sold it to KTM after six years. “Husqvarna is part of the KTM group and all models are built at the same factory in Mattighofen in Austria,” says UK Marketing Manager, Simon Roots. “But Husqvarna is a separate company in both Austria and the UK and run as such. Husqvarna dealers are separate from KTM dealers, though in some cases, such as Fowlers in Bristol, they’re under the same roof. “There are currently 22 Street dealers in the UK, though we’re planning to increase that number this year. You’ll only be able to buy the 701 Enduro from them in future. The 701 Enduro is part of the…

Engine 1832cc sohc 12v flat six, l/c Power 116bhp @ 5500rpm Torque 123lb·ft @ 4000rpm Transmission 5-speed, shaft Chassis aluminium twin spar Front suspension 45mm forks, 140mm travel, no adjustment Rear suspension monoshock, 105mm travel, adjustable preload Front brakes 296mm discs, 3-piston calipers Rear brake 316mm disc, 3-piston caliper Front tyre 130/70 R18 Rear tyre 180/60 R16 Wheelbase 1690mm Rake/trail 29°/109mm Seat height 740mm Kerb weight 402kg Fuel capacity 25 litres…

2011 – 2014 Aprilia Tuono V4R £6000-£9000 165bhp 168mph 204kg (kerb) 1000cc 65° V-four “The gnarliest, snarliest supernaked ever” Ask any pub expert or forum troll and they’ll tell you that Aprilia’s Tuono V4R is just an RSV4 superbike with the plastics ripped off and some high bars. And they’re wrong. The V-four is detuned by 15bhp, with tweaked cam timing, longer fixed-intake trumpets and a heavier flywheel, while the bottom three gears are shorter. The motor is mounted lower in a re-engineered frame whose headstock is set further forwards and raked out at a more relaxed angle for stability. Lower footpegs and new seats improve comfort for rider and pillion. The brakes are different. So it’s exactly the same as a stripped superbike, apart from having every major component…

2014-2017 MT-07 Lightweight roadster based on all-new parallel-twin engine, MT-09 wheels and steel chassis. Non-adjustable suspension, ABS optional. £3500-£5000 2016-on MT-07 Moto Cage Stunt-style version, with crash bars, skid plate, knuckle guards and radiator protectors. Rare in the UK. £4350-£6000 2018-on MT-07 Overall restyle, uprated suspension (stiffer and with adjustable rebound), more comfy seat (wider at the front), solid-mount handlebars, better headlight. ABS standard. £5000-£5700…

Engine 698cc dohc parallel twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 74bhp @ 9000rpm Torque 50lb·ft @ 6500rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Chassis steel-tube diamond Front suspension 41mm forks, 130mm travel, no adjustment Rear suspension monoshock, 130mm travel, adjustable preload Front brake 282mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 245mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 ZR17 Rear tyre 180/55 ZR17 Wheelbase 1400mm Rake/ trail 24.8°/90mm Seat height 805mm Kerb weight 179kg Fuel capacity 14 litres…

“Everyone can find a reason to be grateful for a rucksack” THE GOOD OLD rucksack is one of the most useful bits of biking kit — from commuters to campers to casual shoppers, there are times when everyone can find a reason to be grateful for a backpack when they’re on the bike. Throw it on and off you go. Simple. Of course, not all backpacks are equal — as is reflected in the vast range of pricetags. From the basic budget bag to the heavy-duty, feature-packed luxury item, there can be a world of difference between rucksacks. Never mind how large they are, some are unnoticeable when worn while others sag and drag and sway when you ride; some are packed with useful pockets, others are just cavernous holes;…

RUCKSACKS ARE A brilliant way of transporting your stuff by bike. But they’re not right for every rider or every ride. You still have to take the weight of whatever’s inside and even the best exert some degree of drag on the rider – and that can be tiring if you’re doing 300-mile days. Equally, sometimes you’re only carrying a few things and having them rattling around inside a huge rucksack seems redundant. For longer distances, tailpacks or panniers can make carrying a tour’s worth of kit much simpler. For shorter trips, a tankbag — especially a compact one — can be an easy way to move wallet, phone, visor wipe and other essentials. All the options have the merit of switching away from a rucksack and putting the load…

TIGER 1200 59.73s I’m not sure if I’ll be any good at this, but the Tiger should be. It only takes first gear, rolling speed on between the cones, then taking it off as the throttle is shut. Turn the head, try to get the bars to the lock-stops, drive… more drive… And repeat. By the time I’ve done the second lap I’m dizzy and using too much juice, adding too much speed to make the circles too big — but I’m also tuning harder and tighter. I’m enjoying myself, but the Tiger is definitely better at this than me. SW SV650X 1:29.17s My heart sank as MFG explained this challenge. Having only taken my Module 1 test a few weeks ago, the rest of the RiDE team reckoned this…

Honda’s new-for-2018 Gold Wing is a very different beast from its predecessor, as our Old v New feature on page 60 explains. But if we ran the same experiment today, the results would likely be pretty similar. From a distance most riders still think of the latest Wing as a daunting, divisive machine, expecting it to be cumbersome, unwieldy, ponderous and pointless. But give it a chance and the reality from the saddle is a well-developed, well-balanced machine that drives, stops, steers and handles much like a ‘proper’ motorbike should. One thing would be different today though: the expert. “Mr Gold Wing” Barry Walton retired earlier this year after working at Colin Appleyard for more than four decades. The event was marked by a gathering of Gold Wing owners from…

YOUR NEXT GREAT RIDE VALENCIA 39.954783, -1.263769 IT’S ONE OF the staples of the biking calendar: the Valencia MotoGP. One last chance for the best riders in the world to show what they’ve got (maybe even to decide a title) and one last sensible chance for a riding trip. Warm winter sun isn’t guaranteed, of course. It’s generally bright at the southern Spanish circuit, but getting there can often mean riding across high plains or through the mountains — and in November, that can mean all kinds of weather. But it also means all kinds of roads and many of them are brilliant. Like this one, the N330A near Teruel – easily enjoyed on the way to the circuit. This part of Spain’s studded with sierras in which twisty roads…

With the adventure bike segment covered by the 1200 and 800 Tigers, the Sport is in no-man’s land. With no off-road pretensions, it has cast wheels and road tyres and a single-sided swingarm. The well-proven 1050cc engine has ride-by-wire engine management, with three-way switchable riding modes and traction control. It also has cruise control as standard, and there’s a slip/assist clutch. Showa suspension is multi-adjustable, as is the screen, in five positions. Hand guards are standard as well — our test bike was fitted with heated grips, a £193 option. There’s a 12V socket and a USB outlet as standard. If you want luggage, Triumph’s panniers are a £685 option, plus £136 for the colour-matched lids. A top box (with integral 12V socket) is £255 plus £105 for the colour-matched…

For me the price is the first of the Kawasaki’s two main problems. It’s 1300 quid more than the Tracer GT — enough to put it out of contention as far as I’m concerned. Yes, it comes with the topbox and box liners and spotlights as standard but the Tracer has cruise control, heated grips and newer generation electronics to balance that. I’m a bit torn over the Triumph. The engine’s magnificent, the handling’s solid and it’s properly all-day comfortable but to me the whole package feels old-fashioned and the muted matt paint doesn’t do it any favours either. Simon agreed, but Martin didn’t care: “If I had a bigger wallet I’d consider apologising to my Tracer and swapping. Sadly, by the time you’ve added the panniers and fitted a…

Passport Must be valid for six months past entry and you will need a Tajik Visa. A special permit is needed for Pamir Highway. Obtain in Dushanbe from Migration Police or when applying for Visa. Driving Licence Take UK driving licence and International Driving Permit from the RAC, AA or Post Office. V5C Vehicle Registration You’ll need the original to temporarily import your bike. Bike Insurance No UK insurer will cover your bike in Tajikistan. You will have to get local insurance at the border, third-party only. Insurance Travel and medical, for treatment and repatriation.…

Sometimes a ride needs a target, a destination to aim for — something to provide a bit of structure and a sense of achievement. If you’re just plucking places out of a hat, the Millau Viaduct in the Tarn region of southern France is pretty much hitting the jackpot. But what other French landmarks are worth building a trip around? Here are our five favourites: 1 Gorges de Verdon In the mountains of Provence is France’s Grand Canyon: an unforgettable ride 2 Carcassonne The pristine Medieval citadel is easily explored in a relaxed afternoon spent off the bikes. 3 Mont St Michel Swap your bike boots for walking boots to explore this fabulous fortified monastery. 4 Rocamadour Fascinating town (and huge church, naturally) carved into a cliff. 5 Thiepval A…

How to get there We’d cross the Alps from France towards Genoa, then follow the coast down past Pisa to Livorno or Cecina and then inland. How long for? It’s a long way down, so worth spending a good few days exploring the region. When to go? Summer’s hot and busy. Spring and early autumn are best for quieter roads. How much? Plenty of hotels, starting from €70 a night in September. Or there’s a campsite — Camping Colleverde Siena — from about €32 a night.…

Engine 1079cc 90° V-twin, 2v per cyl, a/c Power 86bhp @ 7500rpm Torque 65lb·ft @ 4750 rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Chassis Tubular-steel trellis Front suspension 45mm forks, 150mm travel, adjustable bump, rebound and preload Rear suspension monoshock, 150mm travel, adjustable rebound and preload Front brake 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 245mm disc, 1-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 ZR18 Rear tyre 180/55 ZR17 Wheelbase 1514mm Rake/trail 24.5°/111mm Seat height 810mm Kerb weight 206kg Tank size 15 litres…

Price £8599 Engine 693cc single, SOHC 4v, l/c Power 74bhp @ 8000rpm Torque 52lb·ft @ 6750rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Chassis steel-tubed trellis Front suspension 48mm forks, 275mm travel, adjustable rebound and compression Rear suspension rising-rate monoshock, 275mm travel, adjustable preload, rebound and high- and low-speed compression Front brake 300mm disc, 2-piston caliper Rear brake 240mm disc, 1-piston caliper Front tyre 90/90-21 Rear tyre 140/80-18 Wheelbase 1504mm Rake/trail 27°/114mm Seat height 950mm Kerb weight 158kg Fuel capacity 13 litres…

Engine 1833cc sohc 24v flat six, l/c Power 125bhp @ 5500rpm Torque125 lb·ft @ 4500rpm Transmission 7-speed DCT, shaft Chassis aluminium twin spar Front suspension double wishbone, 109mm travel Rear suspension monoshock, 104mm travel, adjustable preload Front brakes 320mm discs, 6-piston calipers Rear brake 316mm disc, 3-piston caliper Front tyre 130/70 R18 Rear tyre 200/55 R16 Wheelbase 1695mm Rake/ trail 30.5°/109mm Seat height 745mm Kerb weight 383kg Fuel capacity 21 litres…

AFTER A LONG period in the doldrums, Yamaha came out swinging with the MT-09 in 2013, neatly followed up the next year by this - the MT-07. All-new, with a lightweight twin-cylinder engine in a simple frame, with budget suspension and plasticky bodywork, it should have been a worthy commuter or the ideal first bike after passing your test. And so it was, but it was also huge, huge amounts of fun - and not just for newbies. Like Suzuki’s Bandit, SV650 and Gladius, Honda’s CB500 and Kawasaki’s ER-6, it drew enormous grins from experienced riders as much as new licence holders. It helped that it was cheap — hundreds less than the Gladius and ER, and thousands less than the Triumph Street Triple that was its only serious rival…

Metzeler Roadtec 01 £243 a pair Good grip, good mileage, if a bit pricey. Janis recommends the Sportec M7RR (£252 a pair) for outright edge grip and stability, but for most road riders, the 01 is fine. Continental Road Attack 3 £235 a pair You ought to be able to squeeze 10,000 miles out of a pair of these, which helps to offset the price premium over the Bridgestones. Very good all-weather grip too. Bridgestone BT023 £173 a pair These are original fitment on the MT-07, and a lot of owners stick with them, partly due to the price, and partly because they do the job both predictably and reliably. Prices are mail order. Add £6 per pair for P&P. Source SMD Tyres: 01942 604511…

Service schedule The basic service interval is 6000 miles, which covers an oil (but not filter) change plus throttle-body balancing and a fairly extensive list of minor lubrication tasks which are widely neglected, as is the spark-plug check. Plugs are due to be changed at 12k (but again it’s often skimped) along with the oil filter, and the head bearings and rear suspension pivots are due a greasing at the same time — which they usually don’t get. Valve clearances are checked at 24k, though they rarely need adjustment the first time, and the air filter’s changed at the same time. Brake fluid’s changed every two years, coolant every three and brake hoses every four. Access for servicing’s not too bad though there are lots of fiddly bits of plastic…

Build Quality Does a bag use a quality closure or a cheap zip? Is the stitching robust? How strong and padded are the straps? How tough is the material — and is it lined? Do strap ends flap in the breeze? The construction of each bag appraised according to an exacting checklist. Features Is there a helmet carrier? A carrying handle? Straps to adjust the load when the bag is only partly full? If there’s a rain cover, how well does it fit (and does it stay on when riding at speed)? Does the bag have useful external pockets, a laptop pouch, a waterproof headphone outlet or other detail touches? Packing Never mind volume claims: can you use the available space? We had three packing tests: five days’ clothing; an…

IF YOU WERE asked to name a top-end textile suit, what would spring into your head? Is it Rukka, Dane, Klim or BMW? Something from the premium end of the Dainese, Alpinestars, Held, Halvarssons or Rev’It ranges? All offer high-end gear, but it’s all slightly different in terms of design and approach to layers and details like collars, cuffs and fasteners. But it all has two things in common: a laminated waterproof exterior; and a hefty price-tag. Now Oxford Products is looking to radically change the perception that laminate kit is for only the wealthiest motorcyclists. The firm is launching a new suit using a Dry-to-Dry laminate material – for a fraction of the cost of the big-name brands’ offerings. Where a jacket using the tried-and-trusted Gore-Tex Pro laminate will…

KEY: B = Best Buy R = Recommended The Nexx X.D1 dual-sport helmet is versatile, with a removeable peak for road work and taking goggles with the visor fully up. Drop-down sun visor, Pinlock-ready and low weight with superb confort make this an easy Best Buy and a great lid. When we tested the TCX S-Speed GTX back in 2015, we found it comfortable despite a relatively long break-in period and best suited to a narrow foot. But protection and padding were superb, comfort and waterproofing excellent from the Gore-Tex and they sit nicely under trousers. You know a product is good when it consistently wins a Best Buy triangle and that’s the case with the Richa Typhoon, gaining the top accolade in two group tests. Superbly waterproof, well-fitting and…

GARETH ASHMAN BMW F850GS SPORT £13,365 • 853cc parallel twin • 94bhp • 242kg • 15-litre tank • 860mm seat • 51mpg • Mileage: 1989 JIM BLACKSTOCK SUZUKI SV650X £6342 • 645cc 90° V-twin • 75bhp • 198kg • 14.5-litre tank • 790mm seat • 63mpg • Mileage: 2200 SIMON WEIR TRIUMPH TIGER 1200 XRT £16,150 • 1215cc inline triple • 139bhp • 266kg • 20-litre tank • 835/855mm seat • 43mpg • Mileage: 8797 LEE SKELLETT DUCATI SCRAMBLER 1100 £10,838 • 1079cc 90° V-twin • 84bhp • 206kg • 15-litre tank • 810mm seat • 44mpg • Mileage: 1047 MARTIN FITZ-GIBBONS YAMAHA TRACER 900GT £10,792 • 847cc inline triple • 113bhp • 227kg • 18-litre tank • 850/865mm seat • 53mpg • Mileage: 2886 CAROLINE BARRETT HONDA CB1000R+ £12,299…

I have come to realise that I must own the most disliked/forgettable 600cc motorbikes ever. I often see questions posted on social media sites asking ‘Just passed my test / Need a commuter/all-rounder — what shall I get?’ Among all the obligatory Mickey-taking, more often than not, the recommendation is a Suzuki Bandit or Yamaha Fazer. Both are very good options, I’m sure. Now I see that RiDE is also getting in on the act (October issue) by suggesting several bikes up to the task - Bandit, SV650, V-Strom, Fazer, Hornet or even a CB500X. But never a mention of my ride of choice. I have a 2004 Honda CBF600 which I’ve owned for almost five years. I realise that it’s each to their own and all that, and that…