Sommaire pour 3 February 2021 de MCN

‘The facility creates the foundations for the future of Norton’SUDERSHAN VENU, TVS MOTOR COMPANY COVER STORY New Norton is ready to build bikes Since buying the messy remains of Norton Motorcycles last year, TVS Motor Company have been quietly getting on with the significant job of giving the business some firm new foundations. A crucial part of that jigsaw was moving from Donington Hall to a purpose-built new manufacturing base in Solihull. The new factory is now nearing completion, and production restarting. PAGE 7 TOP STORY How safe is your helmet? With new regulations now in place to ensure even more rigorous real-world testing of helmets, we take a look at what the changes mean for the helmet you wear now — and will wear in the future. Don’t worry,…

Fundraising motorcyclist Captain Sir Tom Moore has been hospitalised with coronavirus. The 100-year-old former racer and army despatch rider had been suffering with pneumonia, so has yet to receive any form of coronavirus vaccine. At the time of writing Capt. Tom was in hospital but his condition was not severe enough for intensive care. Everyone at MCN wishes him all the best with his recovery. More flow, more go Tuning experts S&S Cycle have produced a new version of their air cleaner kits to flow more air than before. The new filter replaces the traditional ‘stinger’ portion of their cover with a similarly shaped element. The result is a 55% increase in surface area over an OEM Milwaukee-Eight filter, which means the engine can suck in more air. Kits start…

1 Always buy the best you can afford ‘If you’ve got a £50 head, buy a £50 lid’ was the old saying, but fortunately these days the SHARP helmet rating scheme allows you to be shrewd and safe by proving that you don’t have to spend a king’s ransom to get a high protection lid. Airoh’s Valor scores SHARP’s maximum five stars and costs just £99 — the same protection rating as AGV’s £999 Pista GP R! www.sharp.dft.gov.uk 2 Replace it every five years Both the internal EPS and the external shell will start to be broken down by contaminates and UV light from the moment you start wearing it, which will weaken the helmet over time. If you’re doing average mileage per year (around 5000) you should replace it…

They say you sometimes have to look back to be able to move forwards – and never has that been more accurate in MotoGP than during 2020 and 2021. The 2020 season produced wild results, with so many different winning combinations that took everyone by surprise. While it could have been disastrous year, it actually proved to be one of the greatest of all time – as you can relive with our season review content. Going into 2021 there are some big changes on the grid: Pol Espargaro now at Repsol Honda but there’s still a huge question mark over injury-hit Marc Marquez; Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia now lead Ducati’s charge; Fabio Quartararo swaps places with Valentino Rossi at Yamaha – and just what will Rossi be able to…

Muc Off have released a YouTube video featuring MotoGP legend Andrea Dovizioso getting down and dirty on his motocross bike near his home in Italy. In the video, Dovi discusses his early years of riding and the things he loves about the sport of motocross, in which he will compete for at least a year now he has left MotoGP. Watch the video for yourself at www.youtube.com/user/mucoffltd. Literary feast There are three new books due out from Motorbooks. The Motolady’s Book of Women who Ride by Alicia Mariah Elfving focuses on women trail blazers. The Riders by Henry von Wartenberg celebrates biking in pictures and The Harley-Davidson Source Book by Mitch Bergeron delves into the US brand. A feast of biking, at: quartoknows.com/Quarto-Drives. Loud and clear Sena have launched an…

RST F-Lite textile jacket £129 Made from abrasion-resistant mesh and weighing next to nothing (so have a guess what the F stands for in F-Lite!) it’s just the job for getting maximum ventilation on summer rides or touring trips to hot places. Inside there’s a shower resistant/windproof removable liner, too. www.rst-moto.co.uk Kenda KM1 Sport Touring £180 (pair) Kenda’s first entry into the sport touring market is said to offer excellent grip in all conditions without sacrificing tyre life thanks to its rubber compound and steel belt constuction. The first stocks are due to arrive in early February, initially in three key sizes: 120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) TL – front; 180/55 ZR17 M/C (73W) TL – rear and 190/50 ZR17 M/C (73W) TL – rear www.kenda-moto.co.uk Sprint Filters Aprilia RS660 air…

UK-based charity DocBike are due to install motorcycle safety road signs across accident hotspots in Dorset and need your help to finalise the design – all you need to do is visit their website before February 19 and have your say on the various options. The signage, which has been created with help from psychologists, will aim to combat a reported spike in motorcycle fatalities in the springtime, a problem the charity believe could be worse this year due to prolonged periods of lockdown. According to BikeDoc, the most common collisions on Dorset roads occur when another vehicle pulls into the path of an approaching motorcycle. DocBike’s Dr Ian Mew said: “The examples aren’t the final designs, and we’ll have a look and see what bikers have said. We’ve had…

FANTASY SHOPPING ON A REAL-WORLD BUDGET STEVE SARGENT Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Steve’s pick… 2005 – 2020 PRICE DROP NEW TO USED £3839 Steve Sargent has worked for Triumph since 1994 and has spent the last nine years as Chief Product Officer, overseeing the development of bikes including the Rocket 3, Bobber, Street Triple 765 and Daytona 765 Moto2 Edition. So what would he buy given a budget of £4000? “There is one bike that has had a huge influence in my life at Triumph – the Speed Triple,” says Steve. “Back in 1994 I turned up for an interview (which was conducted by Triumph’s owner John…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Keeping it real I, like many other bikers, can’t afford the astronomical prices of bikes like the new Speed Triple, either on PCP, cash or finance, so I don’t bother reading about something that is out of my reach. The pieces about the affordable bikes, I read, consume and digest in earnest though. So much so that I’m thinking about buying an affordable Zontes T310. How many other of your faithful readers feel like I do? Steve Goodman, North Yorkshire Courts need to crack down It is good to hear that the police are taking bike crime seriously but a pity that the courts are not consistent in following this up with tougher sentences for those caught by the police. Take for instance the four-month jail…

DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING £10,150 Aprilia RS660 • 659cc parallel twin • £128.23 x 36 (with a £2500 deposit) £10,500 Triumph Street Triple RS • 765cc inline triple • £120.48 x 36 (with a £2500 deposit) In recent years 600cc sportsbikes have vanished one by one, picked off like nauseating American teenagers in a naff late-90s slasher film. Their passing leaves a gaping chasm. What if you don’t want to commit to a 200bhp dance with the devil, nor a £15k+ hole in your pocket, but still want serious sporting ability and cuttingedge technology? Where’s the sportsbike for the rest of us? Aprilia have an answer. The appeal of their new RS660 is as spectacularly simple as it is simply spectacular: take half an RSV4 motor, mount it in a minimal…

POLICE RIDER “It took me 12 years of waiting, but in 1991 I eventually qualified as a police rider, that was a massive life-time ambition achieved. I retired from the Police in 2009, and my last police bike was a BMW RT.” RACING SUCCESS “I did five years of racing, starting on an RD350LC and finishing on a GPZ900R. I wasn’t as quick as I thought I was, but I won the 1985 Sun free day at Brands in front of 30,000 spectators.” RAPID TRAINING “It was 1996 and we were all in the back of a Volvo estate driving to the NEC Show when we hatched the idea for Rapid Training. Somehow we brought it into fruition the following year.” MCN RIDER CLINIC “Being asked to do MCN’s Rider…

JON URRY GUEST ROAD TESTER When you consider the base model BMW S1000XR is £14,290, KTM Super Duke GT £17,249 and Ducati Multistrada V4 £15,495, with its new higher spec the Versys S still represents good value at £12,999 in stock trim or £14,699 in fully-loaded GT spec as tested here. It’s arguably not as sexy as some rivals, the shock isn’t great and the dash underwhelming but if you are seeking a value mile-muncher, the Versys S still hits the mark. THE FACTS £14,847 (OTR) Kawasaki Versys 1000 S Grand Tourer…

KEITH COX “I find the standard lights brilliant as they are. I don’t ride much at night, so I don’t need the extra spot lights. I swapped bikes with a friend once, and noticed when they were following me on my bike how good the DRL stands out. It gives me a lot of confidence coming up to junctions. If I could change anything, I would add cruise control, but for the money I can’t really fault it. Put a fruity pipe on it, it sounds great, and can really hustle too. I wish it didn’t get such a bad press for being dull and old tech. People should take it for what it is: a great value, comfortable, fast, reliable, tourer.”…

I absolutely love it. It does everything I want it to do – you can go out and hustle through the twisties or tour for hours on end in comfort and it’s always a pleasure to ride. Build quality is very high and reliability so far has been faultless. I think as long as you put the time in to keep it maintained (I plaster it with ACF50) it should last a long time. I’m going to hang on to it for now and have plans to take it abroad as soon as we’re allowed! HOW GOOD IS THE RUBBER? Metzeler Tourance I’m still on the OE Metzeler Tourance Next tyres, which have been fine. I don’t get any problems with them. Also consider Continental ContiTrailAttack3 £204.48 Reassuring feel with…

1 It’s time to check the air filter Although easily forgotten, hidden away inside the airbox, cleaning and replacing your bike’s air filter is an essential part of routine servicing and should happen in regular intervals. A clogged, dirty, old filter can cause loss of power, reduced MPG, overheating and even engine damage. Check the intervals in your bike’s service booklet. 2 ‘Hello, is that the parts desk?’ Although popping into your dealer is a bit difficult at the moment, give them a ring to discuss the parts you need for this task, rather than opting to order stuff online, as your dealer will help ensure you get the correct item for your bike. Fitting the wrong type of filter can run the risk of disrupting the bike’s sensitive air-fuel…

Ducati They have room to improve front-end performance, so expect work to focus on chassis and weight distribution. Ducati have some fresh faces jumping onto a machine that could well work with their Moto2 riding style. Ducati struggled most with front-end issues brought on by the increased grip from the rear so expect a revised frame. Knowing Ducati, they won’t rest in their quest to boost BHP. KTM Now KTM have lost concessions, they’ll be subject to an in-season development ban but they have scope to improve over the winter. They get to homologate a new engine at the opening round of 2021, yet the challenge is to retain the performance found in 2020 whilst increasing the engine life to cope with having two less engines at their disposal for…

Take a light supermoto with punchy V-twin motor, slap on a fairing, screen and luggage provisions, and you’ve got a bike that’s as practical and usable as it is rowdy and engaging. KTM’s 990 motor is a torque-rich and free-revving delight, the long-travel suspension is plush and controlled, and the adventure-style riding position is as good for seeing-off motorway slogs as slicing up B-roads and pulling massive wheelies. More robust than current KTMs, too. There’s no better mix of sensible and silly. Finish and build quality are good – the SMT has the dependable feel of the old 950/990 Adventure. You still need to look for corroded chassis parts and tatty plastics, though. A dealer service history is desirable as KTM dealers made rolling updates for free. Failing this, you…

Take a light supermoto with punchy V-twin motor, slap on a fairing, screen and luggage provisions, and you’ve got a bike that’s as practical and usable as it is rowdy and engaging. KTM’s 990 motor is a torque-rich and free-revving delight, the long-travel suspension is plush and controlled, and the adventure-style riding position is as good for seeing-off motorway slogs as slicing up B-roads and pulling massive wheelies. More robust than current KTMs, too. There’s no better mix of sensible and silly. Finish and build quality are good – the SMT has the dependable feel of the old 950/990 Adventure. You still need to look for corroded chassis parts and tatty plastics, though. A dealer service history is desirable as KTM dealers made rolling updates for free. Failing this, you…

They say that hope springs eternal, but sometimes it also runs out or simply goes up in flames. The catastrophic failure of Norton last year felt like it had been coming for almost a decade — and yet the business had kept limping on, sometimes delivering on its great promise — other times not. When it eventually went into administration there was enormous sadness; for those still waiting for their orders, those who’d sunk their pensions into the firm; and for the staff who also fell victim to the mismanagement that drove the business to failure. When TVS Motor Company stepped in with a salvage package to save Norton, it hardly seemed possible that such a promising deal could be true. But the Indian giant has been delicately unpicking the…

There’s a lot of uncertainty at the moment but one thing we can be sure of is that we’ll keep working as hard as we can to bring you all the latest news, reviews and sport from the world of motorcycling. As the situation develops, it might be difficult to find the paper in shops, so more than ever we recommend picking up a subscription. You will save on shop prices too, with attractive offers for both digital and paper subs. Turn to page 22. In the unlikely event Covid-19 means we can’t deliver the paper to your door, we’ll swap your sub to a digital edition. So if you can’t get to a newsagent or struggle to find us in-store, please consider getting your weekly MCN by: ● Downloading…

£15,995 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE If you like your sports-tourer to have a supercharger, then this zero-mile 2019 Ninja H2 SX SE could be right up your street. Offering speed, quality, comfort and practicality in one chirping package, opening the throttle in the mid-range is like being fired from a giant catapult in a sumptuous armchair. Bargain! ● www.mandp.com SAVE £1000 £3700 KTM 390 Duke The Duke is one of the most refined, fun to ride, involving and high-quality machines in the A2 class. ● www.onthewheel.co.uk ● Engine 373cc ● Power 44bhp ● Weight 149kg ● Seat height 830mm SAVE £704 £3695 Aprilia Tuono 125 2019 Euro5 regulations mean the three Tuonos left at Teasdales in Yorkshire have got to be sold soon. ● teasdale-motorcycles.co.uk ● Engine 124cc ●…

HJC R-PHA 11 Cal Crutchlow Replica £379.99 Monster saving on Crutchlow tribute Save yourself £100 on this cracking Cal Crutchlow rep from internet giant, SportsBikeShop. Based on the popular R-PHA11, the shell is made from a combination of carbon fibre and fibreglass. It’s aerodynamic and there are vents on the front that lead to rear extractors plus side vents that help prevent fogging. The removable cheek and crown pads are washable plus they benefit from an anti-bacterial, anti-odour and anti-perspirant treatment to keep things sweet. Fitted with an anti-fog insert, the visor is quick release and the helmet comes with a complementary light smoke visor. The aperture is wider than many helmets, so offers a great field of vision. There’s a double D-ring closure and for glasses wearers, grooves accommodate…

WEDNESDAY February 3 12pm, EUR2, World Superbikes: Season Review 8pm, DISC, Bad Chad Customs THURSDAY February 4 5.30am, DST, A Bike is Born: Harley – Part 1 FRIDAY February 5 11.25am, ITV4, The Motorbike Show with Henry Cole KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVER SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT SPORT 2 TVL – TRAVEL UK…

NEWS EDITOR Ural have updated their venerable sidecar outfit with a new Euro5 engine securing its future for years to come, while also introducing a first for a left-handed sidecar: selectable two-wheel drive. Two-wheel drive is nothing new for Ural, their popular off-road capable Ranger has had it for years but until recently it’s only been available for the right-handed bikes which aren’t much use for UK riders. Chiefly it’s because the drive for the third wheel comes off the end of the driveshaft, just like the rear wheel of a traditional shaft driven motorcycle. On a right-handed outfit, the third wheel sits on the outside of the bevel box (the item that converts the rotational motion of the shaft into forward motion of the wheel). That meant that lefthanded…

BMW have announced they will no longer focus all their new model releases on the EICMA and Intermot shows in November. Instead they will release motorcycles at various points throughout the year. It’s likely more brands will follow suit. BMW will still take part in local market events, so bikers will still be able to see the bikes in the flesh at Motorcycle Live and the MCN London Motorcycle Show. Biker beard off Sympathy is requested for the wife of Devon Freewheeler Blood Biker Stephen Nash, who shaved off all the hair on his head to help raise funds for the organisation. Nash originally joked about removing his beard with the aim of raising £150 but the donations poured in. In the end Nash raised £470 for the group, although…

DEPUTY EDITOR MOTORCYCLING The cold truth is that, dynamically, Triumph’s Street Triple 765 RS offers more than Aprilia’s RS660. It’s faster, better suspended, better braked and generally feels better put together. To an experienced rider raised on a diet of serious superbikes, it makes the Aprilia feel slightly amateur. Which isn’t really fair. Let’s not forget the RS660 packs the kind of power that serious, detonate-any-second Minitwin racers were making recently. It’s astonishingly light too. With a full tank the RS660 weighs 183kg on our scales, making it 7kg lighter than the Triumph and lighter than any 600 supersport bike of the past 15 years. The RS660 is loads of fun. But there’s a lingering sense that less costcutting would make the difference between ‘fun’ and ‘phenomenal’. So, if you…

James Allen Maintenance electrician at Crosshouse Hospital “Myself and my friend Rab, me on a Hayabusa and Rab on a Vmax, rode the Gavia Pass in both directions back in 2009, en route to the Stelvio. On the way there it was 30 degrees and beautiful riding conditions. The initial climb on a very narrow road was both challenging and exciting due to the not-so-great road surface at the time. It’s a very steep climb with breathtaking views and tight hairpin bends (try it with a Hayabusa!). The run down the other side was every bit as exciting and a very worthwhile experience. On the way back the temperature as we climbed went from 30 degrees and sunny to 12 degrees and cloudy, and when I say cloudy I mean…

Forma Cape Horn £209.99 I bought these in a sale four years ago and have ridden over 20,000 miles in them. They’re comfortable, warm and waterproof. Roy Thompson, Stafford Merlin G24 Titan Outlast £159.99 Many rivals were too narrow but these fit well. They’re comfy, dry and a good temperature balance. Simon Long, Hull Daytona Strive GTX £430 Costly but with Daytona’s servicing you can get them repaired rather than forking out for another pair. Terry Collins, Glasgow Altberg Roadrunner £279.99 They look as good now as they did three years ago when I got them. They are top quality boots. Richard Young, Camberley RST Tractech Evo III Short Waterproof £109.99 The boot that I would mostly wear with textiles or a long trip is these RSTs. Mark Kennedy, Cork…

One of the things I’m constantly banging on about is the poor quality of most pattern stuff, but in this case, don’t confuse that with some of the aftermarket performance filters that are available. K&N filters, for example, meet and exceed OEM quality, and as well as being washable they come with a 10-year/million-mile warranty! If you do decide to go for a known brand of aftermarket filter, make sure you understand which type you are buying. Often their range will include filters that are designed for racing so have a much lower restriction of air flow than the original. If you decide to fit this type of filter you may have to get your bike’s fuelling modified to suit. If you own a sportsbike, you’ll notice on the applications…

Maverick, his dad and the new WorldSSP300 team have been busy testing at the Alès circuit in France and it’s been going well. Viñales said: “I’ve been coming to this track for two years. It offers good conditions. You can do minimoto on the go-kart track, and the main circuit is perfect. It is not very long, but it is technical and varied, plus safety is excellent. The weather is nice and the grip is good. It means I can work with my father, corner by corner. I think this track is perfect for the R1 because it allows me to find the same sensations that I have with my M1 on a longer circuit. At Jerez or Barcelona the R1 feels super slow. This is not the case here…

After being left without a ride Taylor Mackenzie is attempting to raise money through a unique and interactive new project. Mackenzie broke his leg in two places and tore a ligament in his right knee before the start of last season, with on-going complications hampering his campaign with SYNETIQ BMW. As a result, Mackenzie launched YouRide, a YouTube project, in order to get fans involved and raise some money, which he can then offer to teams to get a ride in Superstock 1000 class in 2021. Over the course of 2020 Mackenzie built up a following of over 10,000 YouTube subscribers, and those who view his videos can help by watching the adverts in full and clicking through Amazon affiliate links in the video’s description to purchase their products on…

New and updated Harley-Davidson models for 2021 is good news all-round for owners and fans of the brand. New bike sales invariably lead to partexchanges, meaning an influx of high-quality used stock for dealers. Harley-Davidson Originals – the official Harley term for dealer stock of secondhand bikes – has a dedicated page at www.originals.harleydavidson.com, which features pre-loved Harley-Davidson machines. The Harley of your dreams can be sourced with ‘Search by cash price’ or ‘Search by model family’. H-D Originals is proving popular because it allows for customers to buy affordable clean examples and have money to spare for customisation, parts or projects. The benefits of buying H-D Original machines are plenty, including a 12-month warranty, or balance of original warranty, Roadside Assistance (European Cover with Homestart), 120-point check pre-delivery, and…

A super-light electric bike has been adapted to sneak up on poachers in Africa. Swedish firm CAKE have built the 80kg Kalk AP (Anti-Poaching) to help rangers working to protect endangered wildlife. The project aims to help officials combat the devastating effects of poaching on the continent’s most precious species. Staff at the Southern African Wildlife College have helped make the bike completely fit for purpose in high temperatures and often hostile environments. The bike can even be charged using solar power. CAKE founder and CEO Stefan Ytterborn said: “Solar power, new technology, and a new category of vehicles can help save endangered species in Africa. “We are honoured to be able to work with our partners on this initiative and to contribute to developing the means to help curb…

‘These are Trixie times…’ It’s proving difficult to buy anything at a price that I’d consider reasonable (ie that offers a decent margin). Demand for good used bikes after Lockdown V1.1 sent prices soaring and Lockdown V2.1 has meant people are simply not putting their bikes up for sale, coinciding as it does with winter. They’re waiting for sunnier times, literally and figuratively. I’ve been looking at modified bikes, since they tend not to command higher prices than stock and people spend fortunes on them. All the trick bits can be sold on and replaced by used OE, and that’s where the profit lies. I’m also looking at TRX850s. Yes, the Yamaha trellis-framed Ducati clone with a parallel-twin engine. First models were stupidly expensive and suffered from poor brakes, poor…

‘What happens when my electric motorcycle dies?’ It may not be that battery that gives up… Chances are the thing that eventually kills off your electric motorcycle won’t be the battery as many expect. It is more likely that the bike itself (especially on cheaper machines such as scooters) will wear out beyond economic repair, devalue or become damaged beyond its resale value. Although it is hard to be certain as the technology is relatively new on bikes and therefore there are no old bikes to draw definite conclusions from, looking at the car world a lot of Nissan Leafs have gone over 100,000 miles without their batteries degrading much below 80%. As the battery tech is the same on two and four wheels, and electric two wheelers seldom cover…

CHANGE OF PLAN We hadn’t planned to go to Scotland at all. We had intended to go Spain and booked our trip before Covid-19 arrived. THE ROUTE ● Readers Simon Creasey ● The Ride Unst and back ● Miles Around 1500 ● Don’t miss this With only three days on Orkney, we wanted to cover as much ground as we could. The majority of the attractions are beauty spots or historical and Neolithic sites (5000 years old). We decided on a route that would take us close to the attractions that we wanted to see, so that we could either call in and look around or drive by if shut due to the pandemic. THURSO The campsite is next to the sea and we had a view of the Orkneys;…

Q Can I use an old 125 on my CBT? Many years ago I rode a two-stroke 125cc which was factory- restricted to 12bhp. I’m coming back to motorcycling after a long lay-off, so I need to redo my CBT. I still have the stroker in the back of the garage and hoped to use it again as it’s still a runner. But I’ve been told I cannot ride my 125cc from the 1980s. The reason given is that although it is kicking out a legal 12bhp, it could theoretically be taken to 22bhp, meaning it is no longer CBT-legal. Are CBT riders confined to the four-stroke 125 tractors in this day and age, or can I brush the dust off my stroker and legally go for a spin on…

Griff Woolley Age 47 Height 5ft 11in How long have you been riding? For over 30 years Occupation Mechanic Current bike Too many to mention… plus the missus would kill me if she found out! First bike Honda CG 125 Dream bike Moto Guzzi MGS01 “I wanted an RS660 the second I heard about it. There’s been a gap in the line-up that has been screaming to be filled since before I can remember so I couldn’t wait to get one. “It’s a real-world bike suited to real world riders. It’s punchy enough to get the heart pumping, but not so powerful that it leaves skids in ya pants like the current crop of litre sportsbikes do. I admit to having given up trying to be fast these days. I…

Passes usually open in the second half of May and close again at the start of November, so you’ve plenty of time to start planning – restrictions permitting. Mid September usually provides the best weather and is a little quieter in terms of tourism. But, like anywhere in the Alps, be prepared for cold or adverse conditions. Base yourself at Bormio to be central to all the passes as well as taking your pick of the hotels – some are biker friendly with garages. Or you can choose to stay in one of the smaller outlying ski resorts. Bormio is 600 miles from Calais.…

‘Bargains in unexpected locations…’ A certain auction-based website has become the default for buying and selling bikes (and everything else). But for a 125 you should try the less obvious. Talk to a local rider training school. Their bikes see car park tumbles, but are usually well maintained, low mileage and have been ridden by nervous newbies who don’t thrash them. Your teen is only going to scuff it themselves, so why not save a few quid on a cosmetically-imperfect bike? Look at more traditional classified ads too. 125s attract senior riders after something small and light, who are likely to list their bike somewhere other than an auction site. You won’t get sucked into a bidding war either. Or go really left field, and join an online motorhome forum.…

This Peugeot Tweet 125 scooter was in a sorry mechanical state when it got dropped off with Kev Hollingsworth at Doncaster Motorcycles last week. It was another all-too familiar tale of a lack of basic maintenance as the little commuter had burnt up all 970cc of its engine oil trying to keep going until it eventually stopped altogether. Kev said: “The piston was stuck solid in the barrel, but the crank had kept rotating and the conrod had ripped the gudgeon pin out of the piston, so the cases would have been full of shrapnel.” You can pick up a Tweet piston kit online for less than £100 but getting all those bits of the previous piston out of the bottom-end as well as making sure the crankshaft and conrod…

New and updated Harley-Davidson models for 2021 is good news all-round for owners and fans of the brand. New bike sales invariably lead to partexchanges, meaning an influx of high-quality used stock for dealers. Harley-Davidson Originals – the official Harley term for dealer stock of secondhand bikes – has a dedicated page at www.originals.harleydavidson.com, which features pre-loved Harley-Davidson machines. The Harley of your dreams can be sourced with ‘Search by cash price’ or ‘Search by model family’. H-D Originals is proving popular because it allows for customers to buy affordable clean examples and have money to spare for customisation, parts or projects. The benefits of buying H-D Original machines are plenty, including a 12-month warranty, or balance of original warranty, Roadside Assistance (European Cover with Homestart), 120-point check pre-delivery, and…