Motorcycle Sport & Leisure July 2022

Motorcycles are marvellous things. I was reminded of just how marvellous they are in all their various guises, during a test day that included a rich mixture of shapes, sizes and designs of bikes… The day started on a big boxer twin, the BMW R18 Transcontinental, that I needed to return to BMW after we had tested it. The ride on big roads during the morning rush hour would have been decidedly dull, had it not been for the 1800cc boxer-twin keeping me entertained. It’s not the most powerful bike ever (it can even be bought with further reduced power, restricted for A2 licence holders, would you believe), but the amount of grunty torque means that it will keep chugging along steadily all-day long. With the R18 returned, I picked…

Motorcycles are marvellous things. I was reminded of just how marvellous they are in all their various guises, during a test day that included a rich mixture of shapes, sizes and designs of bikes… The day started on a big boxer twin, the BMW R18 Transcontinental, that I needed to return to BMW after we had tested it. The ride on big roads during the morning rush hour would have been decidedly dull, had it not been for the 1800cc boxer-twin keeping me entertained. It’s not the most powerful bike ever (it can even be bought with further reduced power, restricted for A2 licence holders, would you believe), but the amount of grunty torque means that it will keep chugging along steadily all-day long. With the R18 returned, I picked up my…

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 and a handy off-roader, too. 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 he’s the first to admit there’s still loads…

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 and a handy off-roader, too. 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 he’s the first to admit there’s still loads to experience and learn. Maynard Hershon Maynard…

Following the announcement that three-time 500cc World Motorcycle Champion Wayne Rainey will ride his championship-winning Yamaha YZR500 at the Festival of Speed, Goodwood is delighted to announce that he will be joined by three of his greatest motorcycling contemporaries: Mick Doohan, Kenny Roberts and Kevin Schwantz. Rainey, who is paralysed from the chest down following an accident at the 1993 Italian Grand Prix, will be making his Festival of Speed debut, riding a racing bike for the first time in 29 years. Rainey’s ride will be made possible by the innovation of the Yamaha Motor Company as they reconfigure the 30-year-old Yamaha YZR500 so it can be ridden using handlebar controls alone. In what’s surely a sight to be behold, Rainey will not tackle the iconic hillclimb alone. Holding a phenomenal 12…

The motoring industry and wider sector have come together to try to improve rider safety and encourage riders to be more socially aware. Road safety continues to be a major challenge, with 20% of all killed and seriously injured road users being motorcyclists, whom in turn only represent 1% of road miles travelled. In support of the Elite Rider Training Initiative, the Elite Rider Hub has been launched, where you will be able to find information and support to improve your skills. Visit www.eliteriderhub.co.uk to see which participating post-test training provider can help you enhance your skills to keep you safer on the road.…