Sommaire pour October 17th 2018 de MCN

‘There’s no such thing as a bad motorcycle these days,’ the bloke in the pub states. Others nod sagely at this piece of wisdom. I guess it just depends on how you define ‘bad’. Sure, rewind 30 years ago, ride a bad bike from that era and then compare it to a bad bike from now. Today’s bad bike will probably not spew oil everywhere or break down or take all of your mind and body to keep it going roughly where you want it to. And yet there are still some bikes that are better than others. As this week’s Awards special shows, there are some bikes that are less good. Or maybe more bad than the best. We have simply redefined bad. And bad now may not be…

One of the lairiest sports-tourers on the planet has just got even madder. The updated 1290 Super Duke GT takes engine and tech from its super naked R sibling. Sharing the near identical 1301cc V-twin LC8 engine as the R, with revised resonator chambers (try saying that quickly), titanium inlet valves and a remap, the GT has received a slight boost up to 172bhp and a whopping 103ftlb of torque. As well as some extra oomph down below, chasing the redline has never been easier thanks to KTM’s Quickshifter+, which provides for clutchless up and down shifts. The first generation bike’s quickshifter set-up wasn’t the slickest, so hopefully the new one will be a big improvement. Matched to this madness is a plethora of rider aids, including cornering ABS, lean-sensitive…

Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-6R is back for 2019 with more power, a major styling makeover and a host of go-faster electronic gadgetry. The new bike’s new-generation styling makes it look remarkably similar to the firm’s 400 at a glance. The same but different Kawasaki haven’t released full details of the new model, but they have confirmed that the new Ninja is still a 636cc inlinefour, while they claim that there’s improved power and torque ‘feel’, which suggests tweaks to the fuelling and gearing are highly likely, while any significant improvement in claimed peak output on either score seems equally unlikely. The similarities between the last ‘current’ model from 2016, and this 2019 model are abundantly clear if you can divert your eyes from the redesigned nose cowl, fairings and sleeker tail…

Royal Enfield have mined their heritage from the 1960s to offer their new air-cooled, twin-cylinder engine in two packages; the café racer Continental GT and the more rider-friendly Interceptor. But if you want to get closer to that heritage there are plenty of other Enfield models to give to give you a shake, rattle and roll taste of pre-Japanese British biking. Here’s our pick of living motorcycling history. 2018 CONTINENTAL GT What is it? The first of a new generation of twin-cylinder Enfields channelling its well-known café racer 1960s forebear. MCN says “The Continental GT is great if a little one dimensional.” Want to buy one? UK pricing not confirmed, but expected to be just under £6000 2015 CONTI GT 535 What is it? Harris-framed single with sweet styling, but…

• ‘They’re the best roads I’ve ever ridden’ Changeable autumn weather that fluctuates between sun and rain and gusting winds hasn’t stopped MCN R5K members from getting the most of their bikes and it seems they have two ways of tackling the elements; either face the weather head-on or make the most of the still-summer conditions over in Spain. Jim Worland and Lee Parson elected to go for the former, enjoying the sunny weather of Saturday before gritting their teeth and bracing themselves for the constant rain of Sunday. Jim clocked 650 miles to British Superbikes at Brands Hatch and back, taking in a detour to the Ace Café, while Lee went for the picturesque option. “I clocked up another 650 miles this weekend exploring Norfolk,” he told MCN. “It…

1 All looks Honda will need to up the sportiness if it is to compete with mid-sized sporty nakeds such as the KTM 790 Duke 2 Softly softly The CB650F makes 89bhp as standard, but Honda may up the ante for the new model 3 Modern meets retro The CB1000R has a ‘love-it-or-hate-it’ look and the CB650R will continue that theme 4 Exhaustive engineering This beautiful full titanium SC Project exhaust could be an official accessory 5 Keeping competitive Based on the price of the CB650F, we’re expecting the CB650R to be around £8000 After the excesses of the Cologne show, all eyes turned to France last week where Honda revealed another Neo Sports Café concept at the Paris Motor Show. The machine was designed at Honda’s R&D Centre in…

Brands Hatch was the place to be at the weekend for the finale of the Bennetts British Superbikes championship and MCN joined the thousands of race fans to find out what makes it so special. “The racing’s always exciting and following what goes on is like a world within a world; much better than a crappy soap on TV,” race fan Anthony White told MCN. “Plus we love the camping, it’s just a proper party weekend.” • ‘It’s just brilliant. Brands has such a good atmosphere’ There’s a great sense of community among the campers too, as Colette Oliver explained: “Quite a few tents blew away in the night, but we all help to sort things out. We had tied ours to the car!” Lynn Morris came up from Swansea…

Scotsman John McPhee's hopes of success at the first ever Thailand MotoGP came to an abrupt end when he crashed his KTM Moto3 bike during the race. But where is his machine gone? Stick a cross in the box where you think his front wheel spindle is and we'll print the answer in next week's paper. There's no prize for this one, it's just for fun. And better luck to McPhee at the next outing at Motegi next weekend. Turn to page 71 for a full preview of the Japanese round as Marquez fights to tighten his grip on the title.…

1 Identifying a need The first thing the team at Rally Raid Products do is select a bike, then ride it until something breaks. This is the Honda CB500X undergoing its full evaluation. 2 CAD and 3D printing All products are designed in house to RRP’s exacting specification. 3 Raw materials Cylinders of billet aluminium sit ready waiting to be transformed into wheel hubs for a range of bikes. 4 Machining The sophisticated CMZ TA-15-Y CNC lathe has the ability to produce perfect parts time and time again. 5 The human touch All items are finished and assembled by hand as part of a rigorous quality control process. 6 Packed up to ship out RRP ships products all over the world, including the US, Australia and the Far East.…

2018 HYDROGARDEN WESTON BEACH RACE, WESTON BEACH FRONT, SOMERSET OCTOBER 19-21 ‘Beach party to end all others’ Weston Beach is transformed into the home of one of the maddest, baddest and biggest off-road UK event. The Route Coast-to-coast with a difference on this 57-mile blast that sets off from Weston-Super-Mare seafront to join A370 to run parallel with the M5, at Bridgewater continue south on the A38 towards Taunton. Avoid the town centre by passing through Blackbrook Business Park and Holway before crossing the M5 to Shoreditch. The B3170 takes you through the Blackdown Hills, an area of natural beauty, until it joins the A303. Turn right, a quick blast and as soon as the road joins the A30 turn left down Stockland Hill, it’s a rolling seven-mile stretch to…

Jonathan Rea is the boomerang of World Superbikes. Throw him wherever you like, he always comes back. Whether it’s reserve grids, reduced revs or even food poisoning, no obstacle appears too great. And in what was another double win for the imperious 31-year-old on the championship’s first visit to Argentina he also broke yet another record of ten consecutive race wins; eclipsing Neil Hodgson and Doug Polen’s long-standing record. Rea missed out on WSB’s first South American pole position to Marco Melandri but in Saturday’s opening race made a customary lightning-quick start to steal a lead he wouldn’t lose, finishing a massive 9.1 seconds ahead of Melandri at the chequered flag. Sunday was much trickier, committing several uncharacteristic errors which saw him out of the seat under acceleration and running…

Toprak Razgatlioglu was back with a bang as he charged to a second career podium. More impressive than the result itself was the way in which he did it with the Puccetti Kawasaki man picking off heavy hitters Chaz Davies, Alex Lowes, Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty in a series of daring, but calculated overtakes. “There was a lot of fighting, but I like fighting,” he said. Toprak is a Kawasaki favourite and there are already rumours of him being lined up to join Jonathan Rea in the factory team in 2020. So the pressure is on Leon Haslam to perform next year before the season has even started.…

Richard Cooper took his second ever British Superbike victory in a sodden final race at Brands Hatch. Bolting off the line, the Buildbase Suzuki rider took the lead of the final race of the year at Druids and didn’t look back, building a seven second lead over second-placed Tommy Bridewell as he looked to secure his future in the class with a strong end to the season. ‘This may be my last BSB race so to finish with a win isn’t bad’ Cooper has been somewhat in the shadows of team-mate Bradley Ray this year, who shot to success with his double victory at Donington. But former Superstock 1000 champion Cooper has enjoyed a strong end to 2018 on board the GSX-R1000R. Despite that, Cooper now looks destined to return…

Glenn Irwin signed off his tenure with Be Wiser Ducati in impressive fashion at Brands with his first dry race win and third in the championship. The 28-year-old has been winless throughout 2018, but that changed as he powered to a start-to-finish victory in race one. The win helped Irwin build enough of a buffer to secure third in the series over rivals Josh Brookes and Peter Hickman despite a seventh in Sunday’s race two before a DNF in the final outing of the year. Completing the championship rostrum has to be considered a success for Irwin, who went into the season as the clear number two to Shane Byrne in the Be Wiser team. However, when the six-time champion was injured, the Ulsterman was thrust into the limelight and…

‘Sixth place in race one was enough to seal 2018 BSB title’ ‘Desipte being champ Haslam risks all to win race two’ ‘Byrne labels Leon a deserving champion’ Leon Haslam will return to World Superbikes next year as reigning Bennetts British Superbike Champion after finally winning the championship trophy at the 2018 finale at Brands Hatch. The JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider was deservedly crowned champion with a sixth-place finish in Saturday’s opening race after dominating the 2018 season with 15 wins, points finishes in every race in a campaign that saw him finish off the podium just five times in 26 races. Haslam’s 70-point winning margin is the largest in BSB Showdown history and comes as a welcome relief for the 35-year-old, who dramatically lost out on the title 12…

In a motorcycle world that values evolution over revolution, seismic changes in design are few and far between. Look back at the last 30 years and even the things that we think are impressive at the time are actually just engineering piffle. But Yamaha’s Niken takes the concept of a motorcycle and reinvents it, adding a third wheel for more stability and grip in an attempt to make the fear of losing the front a thing of the past. Yamaha’s quest to improve the motorcycle’s fundamental problem of falling over while going around corners started over a decade ago when they unveiled their first leaning four-wheeler and in 2014 first saw a practical application with the three-wheeled Tricity 125. But a proper three-wheeled leaning motorcycle, on paper at least, moves…

‘The aim is defibrillators at every black spot’ RIA BRISLAND, SAFETY CAMPAIGNER Road safety campaigner Ria Brisland’s mission to save lives reached a major milestone this week with a defibrillator installation at Loomies Moto Cafe in West Meon, Hampshire. Ria, who lost her 19-year-old son Nick in a motorcycle accident, joined forces with Loomies regular Nigel Wotherspoon, to raise the £1620 required to purchase this potentially life-saving device. “I met Nigel on my son’s memorial ride out,” Ria told MCN. “He had already raised the first chunk of money and I was thinking along similar lines, so the campaign was born from there. After reaching the total for our first, we’re now aiming to have defibrillators installed at every accident black spot and bike café.” “We’d had a couple of…

Yamaha have been bossing the bottom end of the superbike market for years with their YZF-R125, and 2019 sees an even more radical version of that model (see MCN, Oct 3) and the firm have confirmed this sharper YZF-R3 will join the range in the New Year. The headline-grabber is new styling for Yamaha’s A2 Licence-friendly mini supersport R3. Safe and conservative looks are now replaced with a dramatically sharper aesthetic, which Yamaha say is inspired by its R1 big brother – itself heavily drawing on their MotoGP YZR-M1. Slap and tickle It’s not all about looks – there are useful updates set to improve the R3’s handling and rider satisfaction. Leading the charge is a new inverted fork to replace the current bike’s right-way-up budget item. It’s hardly superbike…

Arc Vehicle is a brand-new British manufacturer, and brainchild of founder Mark Truman. He conceived the idea in his previous role as head of Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘Whitespace’; a skunkworks division for ‘crazy ideas with commercial opportunities’. Truman’s team includes a MotoGP chief engineer and the project is supported from major investment funds including Jaguar Land Rover’s. Claimed to be the first fully electric café racer, it looks set to be the first with Human Machine Interface (HMI) technology. it features clothing with sensors and reactive panels that interact with the bike, the rider, and surroundings. The aim is to provide warnings such as a shoulder tap if you’re about to pull out in front of a car. Mark Truman, CEO, Arc Vehicle Ltd said: “Technology, performance, safety and experience…

‘It’s a risky job sometimes, but if we don’t do it we can’t work’ LONDON COURIER EMON Motorcycle couriers pair up in a bid to stay safe The daily plight affecting dispatch riders and couriers in London as they battle with bike thieves is the subject of a special news report by the BBC. Broadcast last week, the ten-minute investigation explores the bike theft epidemic in London with chilling results. To capture the reality of life on London’s streets, the BBC gave 20 couriers a GoPro camera and asked them to film their comings and goings. Within two minutes of starting, one of the riders was attacked when a gang of youths attempt to distract him by asking for directions. They then encircled him and tried to steal his bike.…

A few weeks ago I put my KTM up for sale. Customer turns up and says: “I want it, I’ll be back at 5.30pm with the cash”. (All captured on our CCTV.) He doesn’t turn up, but texts to say: “Sorry got a problem, can I pick it up in the morning?” Again no show. Then (and we only saw this the following day), he does come back, at around 10.30pm, and bolt-crops the two security devices while we are watching TV. Then returns around 3am and quietly wheels the bike away. We have the guy's vehicle on CCTV, and his mobile number, and have photographed and protected all the evidence for prints etc. The police clerk takes the details and says “you’ve done a great job. Here’s a crime…

‘A HANDSHAKE IS AS GOOD AS A CONTRACT IN RACING’ I’ve seen some teams getting stick recently for splitting with riders before the end of the season. But the way I look at it, these people own the teams, they are putting the money in, it’s their choice. Ultimately, if the team boss isn’t happy, the rider can’t be happy. And if you are honest with yourself, then sometimes you are actually better off to split and go a different way. Contracts aren’t worth the paper they are written on; a handshake is as good as a contract. You have to be in agreement, especially with racing; if you aren’t happy and aren’t getting the results then why would you continue? I was like that in 2005. I walked away…

I’D BUY ONE MICHAEL PRICE  Age: 70 Height: 6ft 2in Current bike: Honda Gold Wing GL1800 Been riding for: 53 years “I remember these and Honda have done a great job of recreating that style. I like the older model’s skinny exhaust, but the disc brakes and the LED lights are a great improvement. I love the stance and it’s surprisingly roomy; about town it would be ace. Can I fit it in the Wing’s top box?” SIZE WORRIES PAUL ADAMS  Age: 54 Height: 6ft 1in Current bike: Honda Gold Wing 40th Anniversary model Been riding for: 37 years “I’m not sold on the small bike thing. I worry about safety. My daughter learnt to ride recently and I wouldn’t have wanted her on something so small, as cars bully…

The adventure and overland market has been growing exponentially for well over a decade now, but while upgrade accessories are plentiful, it takes hard-won experience to know which parts really will make a difference, which is why those looking for a serious solution turn to expert engineering firms such as Northamptonshire-based Rally Raid Products (RRP). Rally Raid Products was founded in 2010 by John Mitchinson, a highly experienced off-road rider with over 40 years of competitive motocross, trials and enduro riding. John’s passion for racing had naturally progressed to navigation rallies and it was during the extensive bike prep required for the Tuareg Rally that RRP was born. “The very first product was a top-clamp for our KTM 690,” says John’s son Adam, who runs the fabrication side of the…

‘You can’t fail to be amazed at the riders’ bike control’ How hard can riding around a bunch of cones in a car park actually be? Well, if you get the Japanese involved in creating a sport based on it, the answer is remarkably tricky. And that’s exactly how Moto Gymkhana started. Moto Gymkhana is effectively an obstacle course that pits you against a series of tests that involve manoeuvring a motorcycle around cones as fast as possible. While this may sound easy, there is an added complication not only in a set of inflexible rules, but also the fact you have to memorise the course. And it’s all done against the clock. Now if this sounds slightly bizarre on paper, in the flesh it is equally as baffling. However,…

‘It’s a great stopoff for a chat with other bikers’ When Matt Sutherland isn’t studying at college, you’ll find him blasting through the Lincolnshire countryside on his Yamaha YZF-R125. And this is one of his favourite rides, taking him from the centre of Lincoln out to the biker-haunt of Willingham Woods. Matt told MCN: “This 50-mile route is mainly on back roads, it’s fun to ride as it’s packed full of tight corners and twisties. It doesn’t matter that I’m only on a 125cc bike, I still find it’s an enjoyable ride because there aren’t really any long straights. “Willingham Woods holds year-round bike meets and it’s a great stop off point for a chat with other bikers. Everyone is welcoming to new riders and I’ve been given lots of…

HOW TO STAND UP SECURELY OFF-ROAD 1. STAND UP, LOOK OUT Get stood up and place your weight through the pegs, relaxing your arms, and survey the best path ahead. Don’t look down. DANGER ZONE It’s tempting to use as little throttle as possible, but a stall often leads to a crash. Keep the revs up and cover the clutch. 5. USE YOUR VISION As you move on, keep looking as far ahead as possible to plan the least stressful route, implementing steps 1-4. 2. WEIGHT FOR TURNS To turn hard, weight the inside peg and push the bars down, then transfer your weight to the outside peg for control. 3. LIFT AND DRIVE Pulling out of a turn, weight the outside peg before adding throttle for more control and…

‘Seat’s like a cushion and pegs are well placed’ ‘The first test ride put me off,” admits MCN reader Neil Goulding when asked how he came to own an exotic, year-old Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory. “I’d never ridden anything that accelerated as quickly and I thought it was just too much for me. My heart was saying yes but my head was telling me no, so I walked away.” Originally lured by the exotic Italian’s looks, the desire to own an Aprilia V4 still simmered away and a few months later Neil was back at Wheels Motorcycles, Peterborough. “I concluded that even though a bike’s capable of performing in a certain way it doesn’t mean that you have to ride it like that. So I took a test ride…

Jorge Lorenzo is fighting to be fit for this weekend’s Japanese GP after a bruising last two races. Now three races without a finish and still suffering the effects of two monstrous highsides, he’s looking to return to his race-winning success of earlier this season. The Spaniard sat out the last race in Thailand after a huge practice crash caused by mechanical problems left him with contusions to his ankle and wrist. That was on top of a still-broken foot from a turn one fall at Aragon two weeks earlier. But the five-time world champ can turn things around this weekend at his 2019 employer Honda’s home track where he’s already won three times before. Tied on three wins this season with Ducati team-mate Andrea Dovizioso who won last year’s…

Tommy Bridewell took two rostrums at Brands to round off an impressive end to the season with MotoRapido Ducati. It marked a remarkable turnaround for the Devizes rider who was dumped by Movuno Halsall earlier this year. “As soon as I joined the MotoRapido, my season improved leaps and bounds,” Bridewell said. “I can’t thank them enough for getting me out of the hole I was in. Not in my wildest dreams did I think I’d end up seventh in the championship. It sounds silly saying it as I’ve finished third in the championship before. But to take the Riders’ Cup after such a tough year means so much to me.”…

Irishman Jack Kennedy was crowned Dickies British Supersport Champion at Brands to end a rollercoaster year. The Integro Appleyard Macadam Yamaha rider started 2018 with eight consecutive victories, but disaster struck in July as he sustained a broken hand in a testing crash. He went on to win at Thruxton and ended up heading the series by 86 points over Gearlink Kawasaki’s Ben Currie. “This has probably been my most enjoyable year’s racing,” he told MCN. “The injuries made things difficult but to end the season with a win here at Brands makes it complete.”…

‘It steers and swoops from lean to lean with speed and accuracy’ 1 Systems check There are three riding modes: Street, Sport and Race. Each offers varying levels of throttle and power strategies, suspension control and electronic rider aid intervention. Each mode can be customised, honed, mixed and matched by toggling the switchgear buttons, guided by the Mission Impossible-style colour graphics on the dash. We start off in Street mode. 2 Chicken strips Pirelli’s new ‘Version 3’ Diablo Super Corsa SPs have a hard-compound centre (and racy SC2 shoulders) and is what we’re riding on – upright all the way from Oundle to the start of the B4525 near Silverstone. The rear 200/60 has such a balloon shape it’s impossible lean over far enough to use all the tyre. Only…

Dan Smith  Age 45 Height 5ft 11in How long riding? 20+ yrs Job Army Officer Current bike Ducati V4S First bike Yamaha TZR 125 Dream bike Ducati 1299 Superlegerra I was hooked from my first ride. I love the way it handles and the V4 engine isn’t intimidating, it’s mile after mile of wide eyed, sensory filled fun. My favourite moment still has to be to the day I got it home, I stood in my garage and stared in disbelief that I actually own one. Geoff Hurst  Age 36 Height 5ft 8in How long riding? 19 years Job Programme Manager First bike Suzuki RG125 Gamma Current bike 2018 Ducati V4S (road), Triumph 675 (track), KTM EXC 250 Sixdays (enduro) Dream bike Ducati Desmosedici 990 MotoGP The immense power combined…

‘The RS oozes easy speed and joyful handling’ Kawasaki upset the retro applecart when they released the Z900RS at the beginning of 2018. The modern classic scene had been dominated by European manufacturers: Triumph’s classy Bonnevilles, BMW’s superb R nineTs and Ducati’s funky Scramblers. But now the Japanese have fought back. Inspired by the 1972 ‘900 Super 4’ Z1, we knew the new Z900RS would be an instant hit the second we rode it. Starting with the brilliant Z900 as its base, the RS oozes easy speed, refinement and joyful handling. There’s performance aplenty but it’s friendly for newcomers too. Bursting with Zeddy detail, the RS apes the Z1’s ducktail back end, oval rear light, machined engine fins, handsome metal tank and side panel badges, replica cam covers and clocks,…

The logic of a hugely complex and expensive mega-enduro bike might be hard to justify, but you can’t fault how amazingly effective Ducati’s Multistrada Enduro is. And the evidence suggests the new 2019 model has taken a big step forward. Now boasting the 156bhp 1262cc DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing) engine, the new Enduro will be able to punch 85% of its torque to the back wheel at just 3500rpm. In performance terms, it’s got 18% more shove at 5500rpm than its 1198cc predecessor. This longer stroke engine also breathes better with an almost completely new exhaust system that nestles under the limits for Euro4, and presumably it’ll pass the imminent Euro5 regs too. The gearbox gets a shorter first gear for improved off-road control and drive, and its impressive grunt…

Custom kings MRS Oficina wowed the Paris show last week with their latest collaboration with Kawasaki France – a stunning café racer evolution of the hugely popular Z900RS. This is the third time MRS have transformed a Kawasaki with a liberal dose of extra panache. The unlikely first build was a Vulcan S, followed by a flat-track recreation of the Z650 naked bike. “When the Z900RS was unveiled at the 2017 Milan Show, I immediately wanted to prepare a bike from that base,” said Mario Raphael Soares (MRS). “The model really appealed, and although I did not know if somebody would contact me for a new project, I instinctively imagined the result I could achieve. Finally, Kawasaki France trusted me to achieve this third collaboration. I tried to keep many…

The endless battle to claim rights to being the oldest motorcycle firm on Earth took a twist in Paris, with Peugeot pointing out that they attended the Salon du Cycle show 120 years ago. And in celebration they rocked up Mondial de la Moto in Paris with their first new bikes (as opposed to scooters) since 1956. Their new P2X was shown in two distinct flavours; a 125cc roadster and a 300cc café racer. To underpin the release, Peugeot Scooters have become Peugeot Motorcycles; while they’re actually owned by Indian giant Mahindra. Both bikes feature double overhead cam, liquid-cooled singles, inverted forks and twin shocks. The 125 takes its cues from the Peugeot 515 of the 1930s, including the ‘Legend’ Peugeot Motocycles logo and spoked, white chromed wheels. The café…

Timed to perfection A fairly mellow cam set-up has given the FTR good low-down torque and made it easy to ride Slipping and sliding The close-ratio six-speed gearbox and slipper clutch are very different to the cruiser items Made to measure The bore and stroke of the new engine allow it to rev easily and give it the potential to produce a lot more power It’s very rare that you see a totally new motorcycle. Most bikes are variations on a theme but Indian’s FTR1200 is a totally new machine. Although the machine is inspired by the FTR750 short-track racer when it comes to looks, the characteristics of its competition-based motor meant very few parts could cross over to the road bike. Likewise, the much higher demands for performance meant…

Best arrive on a red bike We visited the Ducati Museum on the way back from a great trip to The GOAT’s home town in Italy last year. I agree with everything in your article regarding the museum but one word of warning: If you turn up on any bike other than a Ducati you will be told to park on the street outside the factory. Not ideal in an Italian city with all the associated risks of theft etc. It did not encourage me to buy red next. Mike Searle, email Full beam's no dream There is a good reason why Mark Edwards did not suggest use of main beam while filtering (MCN Letters, October 10), it is a very dangerous tactic! If a bike approaches on main beam…

RD350 YPVS It wasn’t quite my first back in around 1984, but was always the prettiest. (The bike that is, not the hat). Phil Mainwaring COTTON My father Brian Elson, riding a Cotton which my mother Maureen bought him. He is 81 now and still riding. Dale Elson HONDA CRF50 This is my daughter Izzi when she was four. She loves bikes! Vincent Wright MINI-SCOOTER This is my friend Ciaran McCrory. He loved his first mini scooter so much! It started his two-wheel obsession. Tom Wright KAWASAKI Z250 On my Kawasaki at Oliver’s Mount back in 1980. Stephen Farley YAMAHA RD250 F Me and my new Yamaha RD250 F in 1979. Took me a year saving up £17.50 a week as an engineering apprentice. Graham Roper AFRICA TWIN/TRANSALP My first…

Whenever you ride a long distance there is a sense of satisfaction at reaching your destination, but on the Monkey this was heightened. Having covered 274.2 miles on a machine that most dismiss as a styling folly, the Monkey had demonstrated it’s a very competent, if a little small, bike. And for that reason I had a day of wonderful experiences that add up to one overall golden moment. People instantly warm and respond to the wacky Monkey bike. From the petrol pump attendant who laughed at its size to the builders on the M40 who filmed the Honda as it crawled past a lorry, everyone reacted positively to it. Throughout the day we spent together there were so many small moments as people reacted to the diddy Honda that…

• ‘The Ace R can be enjoyed through the corners’ Ariel Motor Company specialise in low-volume bespoke vehicles and they don’t get much more exclusive than the top-spec Ace R. Only ten of these two-wheeled showcases of British engineering (with a dash of Japanese and Swedish flavouring) will be built in Ariel’s Somerset factory, and each commands an eye-watering £60,000 price. But this is a bike like no other and while its price is jaw-dropping, so are its spec list and performance. 1 Practical touches The R is no show pony whose only role in life is to be admired; should your budget allow it could be used on a daily basis, something that was always key to the Ace’s design. The clutch is light, you have a fuel gauge…

1 Fix well, fix once A broken electrical connector can sometimes can go unnoticed, especially if the joint is only responsible for a minor electrical function such as a daytime front riding lamp. But quite often a failed connector makes its presence known by causing the bike to break down. A proper repair now will stop it happening again. 2 Crimp or solder? There are two ways of repairing a broken wire or connector, soldering or crimping, and both make a good fix if done properly. Crimping is how most looms are put together at the factory and creates a weatherproof joint that’s able to resist vibrations. Soldered joints are less common but can still make a successful repair if done properly. 4 Choose wisely When crimping it is important…

WSB series owners Dorna have announced that there will be a new three-race format starting in 2019. Saturday and Sunday races will stay while a new, shorter sprint race will kick-start proceedings on Sunday morning and the move has been met with mixed reactions. “We want to give more to our fans,” said series boss Dani Carrera. “We’re happy with the Saturday race, it’s been positive from all sides, but we know the traditional format of two Sunday races was well accepted, so we’re bringing it back.” ‘The Saturday race just doesn’t work. Put it back to how it was’ How much shorter will the sprint race be? We’ll find out over the next few weeks, but Carrera confirms points will be handed out for it; perhaps half the usual…

Jake Dixon was gracious in defeat at Brands Hatch this weekend as he conceded Haslam was the better rider in this year’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship. With three race wins and a further 12 podiums, Dixon was by far Haslam’s closest challenger over the season’s 12 rounds but it wasn’t enough for the 22-year-old, who eventually finished 70 points behind his more experienced rival. “I lost the title to a great, experienced rider in Leon,” Dixon told MCN. “Over the season he has been the better man; he’s done a fantastic job. He’s won 15 races this year and nobody else has come close to that so you can’t take anything away from him.” Dixon finished second in Saturday’s opening race but it wasn’t enough to take the title battle…

As you’ve no doubt noticed, MCN has undergone a bit of a transformation this year, well, ok… a huge overhaul. It’s now packed with more juicy stories, riding and maintenance tips, sports coverage, destinations and everything in between. New bike reviews have never been more considered, with launch reports drilling down even deeper into what makes the latest and greatest tick. But the biggest change is the way we review new metal when it arrives here on our shores; with every new model ridden around our MCN250 route. Taking a whole day to loop from Oundle to Northampton, past Silverstone, up the M40 and past Stratford, Cirencester, Bicester, Milton Keynes, Bedford and back again (and another day to photograph the whole thing), our route is as challenging as they come.…

With the kind of brutal power from the V4 motor that gets to 150mph in just 9.85 seconds and with a chassis good enough to challenge for the 2019 WSB title, only a race track can reveal what the new Ducati is really about. This Brands Hatch GP trackday with MSVT fits the bill perfectly. This undulating ‘mini-Nürburgring’ is a test of speed, stability and confidence. Few machines have the poise to enter the daunting downhill drop of Paddock Hill Bend with such velocity, rail round Druids with the speed of Shakey, or make mincemeat of trackday superbikes along the fifth gear blast to Hawthorn Bend. Flying into corners, changing direction with the delicacy of a perfectly-honed race bike and shrinking the straights with its bombastic motor, the V4 was…

Many heads were scratched when it came to choosing this year’s best all-rounder. Yamaha’s new Tracer GT and the evergreen Kawasaki Z1000SX are worthy winners as both offer an enviable mix of comfort, practicality and performance with affordable price tags. But there could only really be one winner: the marvel that is the new supercharged H2 SX. If you want a relaxed tourer or a 200bhp superbike, there are better options. But if you want a genuine continent-shrinking sports tourer, something capable of carrying plenty of luggage, cosseting you in comfort, whisking you to your destination, and indulging lurid hedonism on everything from autobahns to Alpine passes, choose the H2 SX. The supercharger is more than a compressor of air, it forcibly shrinks roads and time, and makes an otherwise…

The 125cc naked bike class used to be the realm of the dull commuter, however in recent years this class has taken over from the race-rep 125 as the category where manufacturers are really pushing the boat out in terms of styling and technology. And all while hitting very tight budget constraints. As a cash-strapped new bike buyer, or even a monetary-flush one, you are spoiled for choice and the arrival of Honda’s CB125R this year has demonstrated what an exciting and vibrant class this is. ‘The technology that comes as standard is impressive’ Boasting an instantly recognisable family similarity as its bigger capacity siblings, it is the level of technology that comes as standard on the CB125R that impresses the most. Its inverted forks are made by Showa, its…

• £4699 •44bhp •27ftlb •164kg •13.4litres When it comes to value for money, the KTM 390 Duke is in a class of one. Whether you gauge value on technical specification or smiles per pound it doesn’t alter the result, the KTM is still a winner. The Duke is built in India and not Austria, but that doesn’t matter as this cost-saving manufacturing decision has allowed KTM to lavish its naked bike with top-quality components. You get WP suspension, a Bybre (a subsidiary of Brembo) radial brake, a slipper clutch, a ride-by-wire throttle, ABS, a full-colour dash with connectivity built in and even a brake lever with an adjustable span. And all in a great-looking bike that is A2-legal and costs just £4699. Consider the smiles per pound value and the…