Table of contents for 2 March 2016 in MCN

‘Looks are subjective and while the GT is dramatic I wouldn’t say it’s sexy’ KTM say the new 1290 Super Duke GT has been designed to give you all the dynamic thrills of riding a sportsbike but over a longer distance, in total comfort and with the maximum amount of fun. The Austrian company’s motto is ‘Ready to Race’ but surely that doesn’t translate to their new sports-tourer with its adjustable screen, heated grips, cruise control and 23-litre fuel tank? KTM’s new GT is sporty; save for a few Euro 4 tweaks, it shares the same LC8 engine as the 1290 Super Duke and produces the same power and torque, but the torque has moved lower in the rev range. The main chassis elements are also identical to the Super…

'Lap times aside, we all felt very confident on the Kawasaki' Stick race gearing on to shorten the long ratios and this Kawasaki would really fly, but in standard trim it takes a relative age to ping through the slick, quickshift-assisted gearbox, and with the bikes being so close, that’s its lap time gone. You feel the ZX-10R’s extra kilos when changing direction, but again this could be easily rectified with a lighter race pipe, which would also release more power. Like the Yamaha, the electronics interfere with the brakes on track and the ABS, which you can’t turn off, is constantly pulsing the lever. Lap times aside, we all felt confident and comfortable on the Kawasaki. SEE THE VIDEO www.motorcyclenews.com Watch the new ZX-10R take on its rivals on…

‘It helps if the owner is an ‘old-school’ biker’ Richard Llewellin, boss of Louigi Moto near Bristol “It helps if you are an ‘old-school’ biker, as those boys have them as investments that they like to polish. ‘Modern’ Duke owners sometimes think they own Japanese bikes and can get caught out by corrosion and some models’ foibles. “If you own a bike from the 748-to-996 era the swingarm pivot bolt that goes through the cases can seize and mean you can’t get the engine out. Those bikes also had an issue with cush-drives delaminating. As the metal backing for the cush drives comes off it fires out and can destroy the hub and chain adjusters if not caught in time. Check for any kind of swarf in that area before…

‘He’ll have taken an angle grinder to the best bits’ The perils of project purchases Listen very carefully: I shall say this only once. Don’t buy project bikes. Don’t buy project bikes. OK, that was twice, but the first command probably skated off the surface of your consciousness. On any given day, there are about 300 ‘project bikes’ on eBay. Of those, I’d guess that 250 are not worth considering, another 40 might be good for parts, and a dozen or so might make sensible purchases. There are two types of project: one is where the previous owner has tried turning it into a café racer or something equally horrible, and given up after taking an angle grinder to any of the components that might be worth selling. The second…

‘The results were amazing. There was no corrosion’ YAMAHA MT-09 TRACER £8149 Andy Downes Senior Reporter andy.downes@motorcyclenews.com Miles 7995 MPG 48 The Tracer is a big seller and is the kind of bike that will happily work through all seasons of riding but just how well does a bike costing just over £8000 really hold up against winter? Preparation for the colder, salt-laden months was helped by the standard adjustable screen and handguards and the Yamaha accessory heated grips (£145), which are excellent, good value and have three temperature settings. Protecting me from the cold was one thing, but fighting corrosion took more effort. I’m a huge fan of ACF-50 anti-corrosion treatment and have used it for years, but I’ve been trying a new product called XCP Rust Blocker (£14…

1 Dojo Miura £89.99 Entry-level jacket with a waterproof and breathable membrane, and a quilted thermal liner to keep the rider warm. The outer is made from 600-denier polyester with two waterproof pockets on the outside and three internal pockets. Shoulders and elbows have CE-approved armour. 2 RST Striker £59.99 The price is rock-bottom, but the spec is solid with a waterproof and breathable membrane, thermal lining, CEapproved shoulder and elbow armour and helpful fit adjusters at the waist and sleeves to keep a close fit. Four colour options. 3 Spada Energy £89.99 This jacket boasts a waterproof and breathable membrane, CEapproved shoulder and elbow armour and a connecting zip to attach to trousers. Available in four colour options. 4 Oxford Estoril Air £89.99 This one is more suited to…

‘As professional racers we can pretty much throw our leg over anything and ride’ ‘I just wanted to have a go on my own, not to set a lap time or break any records’ It might seem hard to believe that a factory racer would pack his new bike into the back of a van, buy a ferry ticket and drive from Yorkshire to Spain to have his first test on a new machine but that is exactly what Tyco BMW’s 2016 recruit, Ian Hutchinson, did last week. The 11-times TT winner chose to go it alone to Almeria, without any mechanics or electronics wizards in tow, as he completed his first test on the new BMW S1000RR that he hopes will bring him TT glory in June. “I had…

“We have been received really well and made sure everything is covered from freight, from the logistical side of things to having the riders at chat shows and the unveiling of the team and the launch. It has been absolutely exceptional. To get our own dedicated slot to do a launch was really impressive and every effort has been made. “The on-track side of it was difficult to measure so the only benchmark we could really use was to see how we compared to the other BMW riders. “On Monday afternoon in testing we were slightly concerned as to where we were on the grid. Come Tuesday we consolidated that because we knew we were having difficulties. “Every session we have made big steps, not taking tenths like the top…

Phillip Island saw the start of a new era for World Superbikes with proper races on both Saturday and Sunday. Two hour-long practice sessions took place on the Friday and on Saturday there was a 15-minute session before Superpole, the two-part Superpole itself and then race one. A warm-up session and one final race were all the Superbike riders had to do on Sunday. Australia was one of the territories most against the new format in terms of the initial public reaction, but overall weekend pre-sales were up. The final crowd attendance was up by 7%, to 61,097 across all three days compared to 2015. Sunday saw over 31,000 fans after Saturday’s 19,000. We asked some of the top superbike runners how they felt about the changes, after their first…

‘This year there are more guys who can get in the podium mix’JONATHAN REA There were plenty of people who thought last year’s dominant world champion Jonathan Rea was going to find things a lot tougher this time round – but Rea himself was not one of those people! The fact he failed to top the Super-pole shootout did suggest he was going to face some tough competition but, while he didn’t have things all his own way, he did walk away from the opening round at Phillip Island with a double win. The new Kawasaki ZX-10R was expected to suit Rea’s British team-mate Tom Sykes better as he’d helped develop the machine, but after his stunning double the reigning champ left Oz with a 14-point championship lead. To take…

‘It was a risky move, and ideally I wouldn’t have had to try it. I’m not disappointed’CHAZ DAVIES Chaz Davies may have finished tenth in race two, but he showed that he will be a potent force on his Ducati year. After a spectacularly close and combative race one he and Rea were left to fight for the win. An audacious pass down Lukey Heights and into MG so nearly worked for Davies and he lost out by just 0.068 seconds. “Nearly there,” he sighed from the back of the podium ceremony. “I was 100% sure my attack on JR was going to work. I was confident, but the difference was that Johnny just changed his line a little bit over Lukey Heights and although he did not close the…

Changing of the guard Kawasaki’s new ZX-10R has superb rider aids, a plush ride and an easy-to-manage motor, but it’s still not special enough to beat its rivals. The BMW is still hugely competent, has a bonkers engine and lots of rider refinements, but isn’t as polished as the newer competition. Last year’s winner, the R1 still impresses, but after living with it for a year, it’s too track focused and uncomfortable for the road, so drops down the order. But the Ducati takes the overall win, thanks to its track speed, road poise and superb electronics. If it wasn’t for the Aprilia's slipping clutch there’s no doubt it would’ve challenged for victory, but it couldn’t complete our test. DUCATI 1299 PANIGALE S £21,050 Engine 1285cc, 8v, V-twin Power 196.39bhp@10,250rpm…

‘The shorter gears makes for quicker acceleration in the lower half of the gearbox’ Two days of blasting around Spain’s Almeria race track and chasing twisty tarmac through the gorgeous, sun-drenched surrounding mountains wasn’t the test route I’d imagined for the Yamaha FJR1300 launch. But the Japanese firm reckon they’ve got touring and comfort nailed so to show off the new performance-focused upgrades we ditched the straights and tasted more fruity corners than a Müller yoghurt factory could have supplied! The FJR’s big update is the long-awaited (and overdue) sixth gear. It also gets Yamaha’s new Slip and Assist clutch, LEDs front and rear, adaptive cornering lights for peeking round bends, a redesigned tail unit, tweaks to the dash, and now has Dainese’s D-Air Street airbag system as an option.…

Stoner is a genius There are the good, the great and the extra special. Last week I avidly watched Ronnie O’Sullivan compete in the Welsh open in the hope that he might produce the extra special, and he didn’t disappoint. One black to pot to be on for a 147 maximum break and he pots the pink instead because he considered a £10,000 prize derisory for a maximum break – fantastic. Now if Stoner only entered one race this season and won, to my mind that would be extra special. Paul Bredael, Leigh The growing mobile menace I use my bike to commute and every day I am seeing an ever-increasing number of drivers using mobiles at the wheel. Studies prove that a person’s attention levels while using a mobile…

I wait until I am well and truly out of the corner, both wheels in a very straight line before tentatively opening the throttle. The motor momentarily bogs down a little as I’m going so pitifully slowly in third gear. Then, as the revs creep upwards, the 999cc inline four motor clears its throat and my peripheral vision blurs. The BMW S1000RR is getting into its stride now. Two gears later and the speed is building as are my adrenalin levels. Determined to get into top, I kick in one final gear and give the throttle one more twist before I bottle it. A glance down at the speedo suggests I should have bottled it a bit sooner! I am massively impressed by the supersonic German sportsbike and completely understand…

KAWASAKI VERSYS 1000 £9749 THE BIKE Claimed weight 250kg Seat height 840mm MPG 54.3 Mods to date: £462.65 (Power-bronze screen £75, topbox £248.80, handguards £138.85) THE RIDER Michael Guy, Sports Editor michael.guy@motorcyclenews.com Height 5ft 10in Weight 68kg His riding Former short circuit racer with a love of off-road racing and adventure riding After nigh-on a year and more than 13,000 miles, it’s time to say goodbye to the Versys. I’d like to tell you it’s been emotional, but it hasn’t and that’s because it’s been the most competent, hassle-free, easy-to-use bike I’ve ever done such big miles on. No, it’s not the fastest or most exciting – but I’ve grown to like it, and more significantly I depend 100% on its no-fuss approach to motorcycling. Versys life in numbers... 120…

Wrapup Cuff and wrist closures are the norm, to help the glove stay on your hand if the worst happens. The wrist strap does most of the work, so gloves with them are the safest option. Membrane Waterproof gloves use a membrane with microscopic holes too small to let through raindrops but big enough to let out sweat vapour. Gore-Tex breathes better than cheaper membranes. Sliding scaphoids No, these aren’t about deliberately sliding your palms on the road. They are designed to help your hands slide out from under you and help prevent a broken wrist if you have an accident. Security One of the bugbears of some waterproof gloves is a lining that pulls out with your hand. GoreGrip or McFit are both membranes designed to remain firmly in…

‘They made changes and immediately I was a second faster’JOSH BROOKES Josh Brookes had high hopes in WSB after storming to the MCE British Superbike title in 2015, but after a tough time in testing things weren’t looking good for the confident Aussie at his home round. Some typically straight-talking at a key time gave Brookes a bike he could work with and find a set-up that was good enough to give him a tenth and a ninth-place finish. He was behind the rival Althea BMWs of Jordi Torres and Markus Reiterberger in race two, but literally in the German’s slipstream. Brookes explained how he managed to turn things round: “Friday was the breaking point. I was so numb with emotion that I was thinking: ‘How can we continue to…

WSB 1 Jonathan Rea 50 points Perfect start for the reigning champion 2 Michael van der Mark 36 points One to watch in 2016 3 Davide Giugliano 29 points Strong start as Ducati’s star overcomes injury Length: 4.445km/2.76miles Corners: 12 - 7 left, 5 right Longest straight: 835m/0.519 miles Conditions Race 1: Dry. Air temp 22°C, Track temp 36°C Race 2: Dry. Air temp 22°C, Track temp 41°C TOP SPEEDS WSB RACE TOP SPEEDS FASTEST TIMES LAPS LED THIS SEASON POSITIONS Biggest gainers R1 (grid v finish) BiggestgainersR2 WSB CHAMPIONSHIP Riders after one round WSB CHAMPIONSHIP Riders after one round LAPS LED AT ROUND 1 Top4 WSB RESULTS FINAL POSITIONS RACE1 FINAL POSITIONS RACE2 WSS RESULTS FINAL POSITIONS SUPERSPORT…

‘This track was associated with bad memories for me, given that I had a bad injury here’DAVIDE GIUGLIANO Ducati have worked hard to turn Davide Giugliano into a consistent finisher and not just a one-lap wonder. With a fourth in race one, just 0.647s behind the winner, and a third in race two, just 1.4s back, it looks to have worked – and all at a track where he fractured vertebrae at in testing last year. New crew chief Aligi Deganello has mentored many top Italian riders and his work with Giugliano to build a race-long strategy had instant results. He threw in some swashbuckling overtakes on his team-mate Chaz Davies, Tom Sykes and anyone else who got in his way. He had a better race one than race two,…

‘We are already faster than last year but we will get better’PERE RIBA “We would like to have been more excited after the winter tests. Or maybe we should have put in a qualifying tyre to do fast lap times. We could have. But as you saw last year our approach, our strategy and our philosophy is just to work hard. This is what we do. It is not more serious than before but we are working all the time to understand the bike. “It seems like this new bike is working very well and Jonathan had a great first race, much faster than last year. But the other competitors are close. I am sure that our bike still has a lot of potential – we just need more time.…

After winning Superpole and saying throughout winter testing about how the latest ZX-10R is the bike he has been waiting for, Tom Sykes expected much more than a sixth and a fifth-place finish at the opening WSB round. Sykes started strongly in both races but couldn’t quite muscle his way onto the podium. He explained: “We made a couple of small changes, one on the rear and a little change on the front geometry, just to enable me to get it through the corners a bit better in race two,” said Sykes, who left Australia sixth in the championship table. 29 points from the top spot. “I feel with our set-up we could have certainly built on that if the weekend was longer. Kawasaki has done a great job, and…

£199/month Kawasaki Ninja H2 It doesn’t get much more wild than this. You can have Kawasaki’s supercharged H2 for just £199 a month after a £5492.30 deposit. £299/month Ducati Panigale R Yes, you could be tearing up trackdays on this £29k super-rare superbike for a relatively paltry £299 a month after an £7158.88 deposit. Pimping. £329/month Honda GL1800 Gold Wing Fancy the ultimate tourer? It’s a tall order at £25,399, but could be yours on PCP with a deposit of £5710.47, followed by £329 per month thereafter. £299/month BMW K1600GTL Exec Luxury, handling, and a superb straight-six motor. It’s Jekyll and Hyde at the same time for £5035 up front, and £299 per month. Like a great deal? Head to THE MCN GARAGE P39…

FACT FILE Frank Thomas Born January 29, 1982 Went into administration February 8, 2011. Dissolved 28 April, 2013 Frank Thomas? Didn’t he used to be a TV comedian? No, you’re thinking of Frank Skinner. Or maybe Frank Sidebottom, Or Frank Carson even. No, Frank Thomas was the name of what became Britain’s leading brand of motorcycle clothing in the 80s, 90s and Noughties – although, come to think of it, some did think they were a bit of a joke. Why? Was it rubbish? No, anything but – well, the business wasn’t at least. The clothing itself, especially with hindsight, was sometimes good, sometimes less so – basically it became so omnipresent it was easy to mock. But there’s no doubt the company was hugely successful. Where did it all…

The MT-09 was the first bike in the now hugely successful MT range. In the last two years Yamaha have sold over 20,000 MT-09s, paving the way for a wider range of capacities under the MT banner. But that doesn’t mean the three-cylinder Yam is perfect; on the world launch back in 2013 MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves wasn’t convinced by the snatchy ride-by-wire throttle response and soft suspension, two factors which let down an otherwise fantastic machine. Yamaha released a revised engine map last year but it wasn’t a significant enough change. So now, for 2016, the MT-09 has finally been treated to a softer map to smooth out the jerky throttle, it also comes with traction control and a new colourscheme, but no updates to the suspension.…

KTM FREERIDE 250 R £5999 Tim Thompson, Head of Content tim.thompson@motorcyclenews.com Time 12 hours Mods None 1 Mud is good In my old life I struggled to sleep if one of my bikes was put away dirty. Now I embrace mud like a team of U11s on a boggy pitch in February. Cured! 2 Two-strokes don’t have to be peaky This 250 R version of the KTM Freeride makes all the right stroker noises plus the traditional cloud of premixed blue smoke as it warms on the choke, but it’s the opposite of peaky. It churns out soft pulses of torque, wafting me over (minor) obstacles on a mil‘ of throttle. 3 Lightness beats fear This is a bike that says, ‘I’m here for you, please relax.’ It has…

CLEVER FLIP FRONT The visor can be dropped down while the chin bar is up, which is a nice touch. DROP-DOWN SUN VISOR Works well but steams up in cold weather with the main visor down. SCRATCHED VISOR Either the top visor seal or the helmet shell has scratched the Pinlock. Shark Evo One helmet £329.99 Tester Andy Downes Time tested Six weeks/1000 miles What’s good? This is a very cleverly designed flip-front helmet that lets the rider flip the front section over to the back of the helmet, so you get to choose whether it’s a full-face or open-face lid. This allows the rider to have the chinbar up but still have the visor down for riding around town. The comfort is first rate and the liner is very…

Q Driver says I was riding in the chevroned area While filtering past a line of stationary traffic, a car pulled out from my left and hit me, causing me to crash. I would have thought this was obviously his fault. But I was in the area to the right of the vehicles with a chevroned area with broken white lines to my right. The driver who hit me claims I was in the chevroned area but I definitely was not. Even if I was, does this make a difference or is it just a red herring? James Davies, Abergavenny The Highway Code states that areas of white diagonal stripes or chevrons painted on the road are there to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right. If the…

The might of the official Pata Yamaha WSB team rolled into Phillip Island, but race day results did not live up to Sylvain Guintoli’s pulverising pace in practice sessions on Friday. Guintoli was in the leading group in each race, and finished sixth and fifth. Yamaha’s project co-ordinator Andrea Dosoli said it was a good first effort, exceeding some expectations but also showing where more work is needed. “Considering that we are just at the beginning of this project, putting together different people, support from Japan and Yamaha Europe, I am happy with the way it is coming together,” said Dosoli. “We came here with, let’s say, the hope that we could stay between fifth and eighth position and the results that Sylvain have given show that at least on…