Motorcycle Sport & Leisure December 2021

I can’t claim that it was all meticulously planned to be like this. Or that it was a result of an innovative, tour de force, ‘blue skies’ brainstorming session. No highly-paid, charging by the minute, consultants were employed to come up with this. It just happened this way. Or Covid made it happen this way, more like. But if anyone asks, I’m taking all the glory, thank you very much – because what we have here is an issue of MSL with all the bikes tested in the UK. The realisation of what we had here came early in the print cycle. As I was going through the pages of this issue when they were still just a bunch of messy side notes with post-its stuck on them, it suddenly looked very…

Peter Henshaw Peter is our history man – he’s written more than 60 books and is a former editor of this very publication. Now a freelance journalist, he writes about transport of all kinds, though bikes are really at the heart of it all. He’s an all-year-round rider who does not own a car. Dave Manning As a self-confessed motorcycle anorak, Dave’s particular two-wheeled penchant is for customised bikes – in each and every modified form they come. He’s a strong believer that every single bike ever made is worth trying, whether they have been customised or not. Ross Mowbray Ross works across several motorcycling magazines. That means he gets to ride all manner of two-wheelers, from Monkey bikes to trikes. Don’t let his youthful appearance fool you, he’s a seasoned petrol-head, respected test rider…

Adventure bikes have been all the rage for the last few years, but their popularity has left a gap in the market as tourers have been overlooked. In Honda’s case the gap in its line-up may be its own doing – no VFRs, no Pan Europeans and no Deauvilles in the range any more; in fact, there’s no touring machine smaller than the Goldwing. This gap is one that the big H needed to plug. And here is the plug, the NT1100, a new sporty(ish) tourer based on the 1100cc parallel twin engine and steel frame from the Africa Twin. As you’d expect, a lot around the basic blocks has been changed for a more touring biased feel. For starters, the suspension is lower and more road-oriented, tyres are both 17-inch,…

Engine: 1084cc parallel twin with 270° crank and uni-cam Power: 100bhp (75kW) @ 7500rpm Torque: 77lb-ft (104Nm) @ 6250rpm Fuel tank: 20.4 litres (4.5 gallons) Fuel consumption: Claimed 56.5mpg (20km/L) Transmission: MT: 6-speed manual transmission / DCT: 6-speed Dual Clutch Transmission. Chain final drive Frame: Steel semi double cradle Seat height: 820mm (32.3in) Kerb Weight: MT 238Kg, DCT 248Kg Suspension: (F) Showa 45mm SFF-BP USD fork with preload adjuster, 150mm stroke. (R) Monoblock aluminium swing arm with Pro-Link with SHOWA gas-charged damper, preload adjuster, 150mm axle travel Wheels/tyres: Multi-spoke cast aluminium / (F) 120/70R17 M/C, (R) 180/55R17 M/C Brakes: (F) Radial mounted monoblock four-piston calipers, 310mm floating discs, (R) Single piston caliper, 256mm single disc. 2-channel ABS Contact: www.honda.co.uk/…

The Italian factory has unveiled an all-new Multistrada V2, which replaces the much-loved 950 as the entry-point into the adventure/sports tourer range. The newest model from Ducati uses its 937cc Testastretta 11-degree V2 unit, which powers the Panigale V2 and the latest generation Monster. Power output remains much the same as the outgoing ’strada 950, with 113bhp on tap – but oil changes now are extended to every 15,000km (9320 miles) and valve checks are now needed every 30,000km (18,640 miles). The Multistrada V2 gets an updated gearbox, a 19-inch front wheel, Ducati’s Skyhook EVO semi-active suspension system (on the more expensive S model) – and a wide array of technology nicked straight from its bigger brother, including Vehicle Hold Control, Traction Control and four riding modes (Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro).…

Powered by the same 660cc motor as the Trident 660, the Tiger Sport 660 kicks out peak torque of 64Nm at 6250rpm and peak power of 81bhp at 10250rpm. There’s a sophisticated engine management system with a ride-by-wire throttle, Road and Rain rider modes, ABS and switchable traction control (which can also be turned off). Suspension comes in the form of a set of 41mm Showa upside-down cartridge forks at the front which offer 150mm of wheel travel, while a Showa monoshock with a dual rate spring and remote hydraulic preload adjustment looks after things at the rear. Stopping power is provided by Nissin 2-piston sliding calipers with twin 310mm discs up front, and a Nissin single-piston sliding caliper grabs a single 255mm disc at the rear. There’s a pair of 5-spoke,…