Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

let it snow!

How cold does it have to get before you abandon your plan to ride a motorcycle? My personal limit is ice on the roads. I’m not so bothered about icy temperatures (I was born in Finland, after all), but the lack of traction that black ice brings with it puts me right off getting on two wheels. So, if it’s slippery underfoot when I walk the dog first thing in the morning, there will be no riding for me until the roads have cleared. If it’s just cold then let’s go for it. I would rather be cold on a motorcycle than warm in a car – I’m sure many of you know the feeling. But the thing is that these days, you don’t necessarily have to be cold when riding…

motorcycle sport & leisure’s contributors...

Alan Cathcart Alan Cathcar t has been writing about bikes for more than 30 years, and riding them for even longer. He’s regularly given the keys to factory prototypes and being on first name terms with the bosses of bike companies around the world allows him to bag many scoops. Roland Brown A bike journalist for more than 30 years, Roland has contributed to countless publications worldwide and authored a dozen books on bikes. He has tested machines ranging from Rossi’s YZR-M1 to a 1923 Douglas, but still can’t decide which type of bike he most enjoys riding. Chris Moss Mossy has made a living from bikes since 1985 – first as a motorcycle courier in London, and then as a journo from 1995. He’s raced, ridden and tinkered with hundreds of different bikes, but…

motorcycle sports & leisure

EDITOR: Mikko Nieminen mnieminen@mortons.co.uk DESIGNERS: Charlotte Turnbull, Fran Lovely PRODUCTION EDITOR: Mike Cowton PICTURE DESK: Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schofield PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: Dan Savage PUBLISHER: Tim Hartley GROUP KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGER: Steff Woodhouse: swoodhouse@mortons.co.uk 01507 529452 / 07786 334330 GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER: Sue Keily DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER: Zoe Thurling zthurling@mortons.co.uk 01507 529412 ADVERTISING SALES: Charlotte Mountain: cmountain@mortons.co.uk 01507 529538 SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER: Paul Deacon: pdeacon@mortons.co.uk CIRCULATION MANAGER: Steve O’Hara: sohara@mortons.co.uk MARKETING MANAGER: Charlotte Park: cpark@mortons.co.uk COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Nigel Hole ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES: Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk 01507 529423…

new triumph tiger 900

Triumph’s highly anticipated new Tiger 900 features an all-new 900cc triple engine, new ride-enhancing technology, new styling and less weight than the previous models. So this promises to be much more than just an update on the existing bikes. There are five models in total, with the standard Tiger 900 and its GT and GT Pro derivatives being the more road-going versions (like the old XR bikes) with Marzocchi suspension and cast alloy wheels. The Rally and Rally Pro are the more off-road oriented models with higher spec Showa suspension and wire-spoked wheels. All of the variants share the new 888cc liquid-cooled, 12 valve, dohc, in-line triple engine with power and torque figures of 94bhp at 8750rpm and 64lb-ft at 7250rpm. Triumph also promises that the soundtrack from the new powerplant is…

concept motorcycles

HUSQVARNA NORDEN 901 The twin-cylinder Norden 901 concept is Husqvarna Motorcycles’ first ever tourer, touted by the factory as a serious versatile long-distance explorer. The powerplant is the existing 889.5cc parallel twin, wheels are 21” front, 18” rear, and suspension is from WP. This one has already been confirmed for production. APRILIA TUONO 660 Building on the base of the recently revealed RS660 sportsbike, Aprilia’s also revealed a naked version, the Tuono 660. But at this stage, it’s only a concept. With its excellent power-to-weight ratio, top-quality technical features, exceptional electronics and 95bhp twin cylinder motor, we’re really excited about the prospect of this new baby Tuono going into production next year. The bike features adjustable suspension and Brembo brakes with 320mm diameter discs, radial-mount callipers and pump, in addition to Aprilia’s seriously sophisticated APRC…

middle-class refinement

Just a few laps into my second session at Jerez, and already the Panigale V2 is in its element. Ducati’s mid-capacity sports bike rips round the Spanish circuit feeling sorted, quick and most of all supremely controllable. It’s the sort of bike that flatters its rider and makes relearning a racetrack rewardingly easy. The sharply styled red V2 looks much like its big brother the Panigale V4, thanks to its flared nostrils, bright red paintwork, single-sided swing-arm and a stubby silencer tucked in neatly on its right side. But if I were riding the V4 I’d be experiencing very different sensations – battling G-forces and trying to prevent a wild beast from tearing the bars from my hands. Aboard the Panigale V2 it’s much more civilised; almost relaxed, if circulating a racetrack…