Table of contents for 6 April 2016 in MCN

£99/month Ducati Hypermotard 939 It’s so close to being every bike you might ever need, but ultimately it’s the lack of comfort that relegates it to ‘thrasher’s delight’ status. £99pm after a £2471.38 deposit. £100/month KTM 690 SMC R Even more focused and pure than the Hypermotard above, KTM’s SMC R is a whole lot of fun, but you wouldn’t want to go touring on it. Yours for £100 per month, with a £2330 deposit. £199/month Kawasaki Ninja H2 Surely the supercharged H2 is the very definition of lunatic bikes? It’s a complete assault on your senses for £5492.30 up front, and £199pm thereafter. £208/month Yamaha VMAX Still the king of the dragstrip, the immense V4 is a brutal experience. Go batty for a £3949 deposit, and £208.91 per month.…

The Multistrada Enduro is Ducati’s first real off-road bike for some time yet it out-performed the BMW and the KTM – the off-road establishment – and, despite being far from ideal for short riders and the most expensive, it has to be our overall winner. The GS is still a brilliant bike: easy to ride both on-road and off. The Triumph has a slight edge over the Beemer in terms of power and comfort, but the British bike can’t match the GS’s handling. The 1190 Adventure is fun, but a little disappointing off-road, because it's the Africa Twin that's the easy off-road winner – and its price makes it a bargain. Although it is out-classed on tarmac in this company, if you are serious about off-road riding and want a…

Guy got me in a spin I am extremely pleased and surprised Guy Martin survived his successful record attempt on the Wall of Death. I still don’t know how he remained able to ride a bike at over 6G! George Allen, email Sticking the boot in In reply to Andrew Gush’s letter (MCN March 23), on no account should you wear wellington boots on a motorbike. They may be waterproof but they offer zero crash protection and could actually increase the risk of injury. Should Andrew be unlucky enough to slide down the road, the rubber would instantly melt when it made contact with the tarmac. That could cause a complicated twist fracture to his leg as the boot glues itself to the tarmac but his body keeps going or,…

Motorcycling is all about freedom and doing something a little out of the ordinary. Most bikers embrace that slightly anti-establishment persona. And while most of us won’t admit it, we also enjoy the slight hint of danger that riding a motorcycle gives us. Chuck a leather jacket on and a full-face lid with a tinted visor and most of us think we’re about to star in the latest Mission Impossible film – even if we are just popping to the shops for a pint of milk! For many the joy of motorcycling is about getting away from it all. About getting out on the open road without anyone demanding a piece of your time. It’s when you can explore the universe incognito. It’s time away from daily pressures, from ringing…

Only MCN can undertake a road test like this one – the 16 key new bikes for 2016 gathered together to create the world’s most comprehensive examination of the bikes you care about most. We’ve already reported from the press launches but the MCN long-term test fleet tells us something deeper – what they are like to live with. Every member of MCN’s team with a bike licence is handed the keys to a machine and tasked with being at the vanguard of knowledge about it. If by midsummer our riders haven’t learnt everything important about their bike, and swallowed the owners manual, then we’re doing something wrong. Last year our 16 riders covered a total of 120,489 miles in pursuit of that knowledge – and this year we have…

KAWASAKI ZX-10R 13,799 Michael Neeves Senior Road Tester michael.neeves@motorcyclenews.com Weight 206kg Miles 250 MPG 42 For 2017 new bikes will have to be Euro 4 compliant – cleaner and more efficient. It’s the reason so many manufacturers have compliant bikes this year and we’ll see even more rolled out at the bike shows this autumn. Euro 4 is the reason the new Ducati’s baby Panigale has spouted ugly pipes and why the new Kawasaki ZX-10R is 8kg heavier and doesn’t have the bottom-end power it was designed to produce. ‘I plan to get rid of that Euro 4 fat cat exhaust and head closer to 200bhp’ Luckily you don’t notice any of this on the road. I’m running the KRT Replica Kawasaki in at the moment and it feels great. It…

Twisty Ride iPhone Mounting Kit £640 Not only do we have a fully-waterproof Twisty Ride iPhone Mounting Kit to give away but there’s an iPhone 6S to go with it! Enter until: September 30 Richa Savage Gloves £99 These gloves offer both crash protection and waterproofing. They have friction resisting sliders on the palms plus tough Pittards leather on the heel of the palm. They are available in sizes XS-3XL and we have a pair in size large to give away. Enter until: April 30 Danny Kent X-Lite X802RR helmet £400 X-Lite have made 200 of their X802RR race helmets in the colours worn by the Brit after he claimed the Moto3 world title. The X802RR is the same top-spec composite-fibre lid as used for the regular Kent rep and…

‘When Chaz passed Tom on the straight, he really passed him!’JONATHAN REA From the moment Kawasaki’s new ZX-10R hit the track in 2012, a new era of World Superbikes arrived. With full factory backing, the team have won the title twice in four years. They’ve out-tested, out-developed and outperformed their rivals and for over a year they’ve had it all their own way – making their defeat to Chaz Davies and Ducati a humbling affair. It’s been rare to see one Kawasaki beaten, never mind two, but it was Davies’ winning margin in Aragon – over four seconds in race one and six in race two – that has led to calls from Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes for Kawasaki to make a step-up. Reigning world champion, Rea said: “Chaz…

‘The upgrades have helped the top end. They keep me in the mix’CHAZ DAVIES Factory Ducati man Chaz Davies broke Kawasaki’s WSB stranglehold with a dominant double win at Aragon. Davies used his sublime understanding of the Spanish track, along with a seriously upgraded Ducati, to demote the Kawasaki pairing from the top step of the podium. Having overtaken both Kawasaki men in the races through a combination of accurate and totally committed passes, Davies’ margin of victory was huge. Once he’d dispensed with his Kawasaki rivals, the Welshman dominated proceedings cementing a 4.168-second lead from Rea in race one and he beat Sykes by 6.471 seconds in race two. “I thought the gap would be a bit closer over the last laps so I was really focused on not…

‘When it said P4 on the big screen I thought “what the hell?!”’EUGENE LAVERTY After a winter testing season marred by confidence-sapping crashes and injury, Eugene Laverty showed his resolve, keeping his head when others didn’t to secure a stunning fourth place finish in Argentina. The 29-year-old Irishman managed the conditions perfectly and highlighted just how far he has come despite the struggles he’s had throughout the transition from Honda to Ducati machinery since the end of 2015. During pre-season testing it looked like the entire season could be a write-off for Laverty, as he languished at the bottom of the timesheets while never really looking comfortable on the bike. But with a new specification engine bringing him to the level of the other GP14.2 machines ahead of the opening…

 SIMONPATTERSON ‘If you told me in February that we’d be leading the title now, I’d have said you were crazy’MARC MARQUEZ IN ARGENTINA MOTOGP REPORTER simon.patterson@motorcyclenews.com Marc Marquez blasted back to his best by taking a brave and commanding victory in Argentina. His victory saw him top the MotoGP title table and also showed the clear progress his Repsol Honda team have made after a frustrating winter development schedule left them off the pace. Marquez’s performance had all the hallmarks of the style and aggression he showed during his record-breaking 10 straight wins at the start of the 2014 season. Still struggling to drive out of corners with the below-par acceleration of the 2016 Honda RCV213, Marquez was forced to return to what he knows best, which means an…

Throughout winter testing Honda were the factory team with the most problems. At times they were a second off the pace, but despite their obvious issues Marquez somehow conjured up a podium in Qatar and a win in Argentina. The results were far better than Honda could have hoped for, so what changed? Where the Yamaha, Suzuki and Ducati are all designed to roll through corners on a long arc the Honda has historically used a more V-shaped line – something they are looking to change by reversing the direction of their crank. MCN spoke to Shinichi Kokobu, HRC’s Technical Director, who explained what they’ve done. “Both the new engines trialled last year were similar in concept with some small differences; now SHINICHI KOKOBU, HRC BOSS the engine crankshaft turns…

Spend a day or a weekend at a British Superbike round and it isn’t just the full complement of racing, expert commentary and big screens that’s going to keep you entertained. At every round there is the opportunity to meet your racing heroes in the paddock, and by participating in the ‘pit lane walk’ you can get up close and personal with the stars. Unlike world championship racing, BSB spectators are actively encouraged to mix with the stars and see their bikes and garage set-ups. At every MSV-owned track (not Knockhill, Silverstone, Donington and Assen) there’s a children’s play area to keep the little ones happy, and circuits such as Cadwell and Oulton are nestled in the some of the UK’s most beautiful scenery making them a fantastic place to…

Suzuki have announced details of a new Vintage Insurance scheme, which offers owners of classic models bespoke policies with a great range of added benefits. Available on machines over 20 years old, Suzuki’s Vintage Insurance continues their support for the servicing needs of older models, with Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme already providing parts support for a growing range of machines since its launch at the end of 2013. The name of both is still baffling, as ‘vintage’ refers to the period 1919 to 1930 in automotive nomenclature – so surely ‘classic’ would have been a better fit? Suzuki didn’t even make their first motorcycle until 1952. Nonetheless, Vintage Insurance policies from Suzuki come with a fair few benefits, including cover at club rallies and when on static display, no excess,…

British brand Wolf are relaunching their range for 2016 and it’s headlined by this new one-piece race suit that’s made from cow and kangaroo leather. The Racing-K maintains the understated and subtle approach that has served Wolf so well in recent years. It’s only available in this black colour scheme, though there are colour-coded details across the suit and patriotic Union flag designs on the Wolf logos and more prominently on the elasticated stretch panels above the knees. The leather used within the suit is 60% cowhide and 40% kangaroo, which offers greater flexibility than cow without reducing the abrasion-resistance. And it’s flexibility that’s key for the new suit, which has elasticated panels behind each arm and also on both sides of the ribcage to allow the rider more movement…

The Mid Antrim 150 road race in Co Antrim opened the Irish road racing season last weekend. The meeting had been revived after a two-year absence but torrential rain turned the paddock into a quagmire on Friday and threatened the meeting with cancellation. With the organisers facing certain financial ruin, the competitors gritted their teeth and got on with things in what have been described as the worst conditions ever seen at an Irish road race. Race bikes had to be wheeled through two-foot deep mud to the start line, where they were hosed down ready for action. In spite of the mud the full practice and race programmes were run over Friday and Saturday. Twenty-year-old Malachi Mitchell-Thomas won three races on the Burrows Engineering machines on his debut at…

Chaz Davies was able to exploit more power and less weight thanks to a new exhaust and bigger radiators first tested at Valencia in the week leading up to the Aragon race weekend. Ducati are making the most of WSB’s new 115decibel noise limit with their new titanium Akravovic exhaust system reducing mass and increasing power. Although the team were reluctant to give exact figures, MCN understands they have reduced the weight of the bike by close to 3kg and given it as much as a 5bhp increase. Ducati did confirm that the bike now needs to have additional ballast added to reach the 168kg minimum weight limit. Ducati’s Superbike Project Leader Ernesto Marinelli told MCN: “We’ve been working on the exhaust for a long time. We planned to have…

‘As I slid I realised that I’d expected something like that to happen’ANDREA DOVIZIOSO Factory Ducati rider Andrea Iannone lived up to the ‘maniac’ nickname he has emblazoned across the back of his leathers when a moment of madness saw him wipe out team-mate Andrea Dovizioso in the very last corner of Sunday’s Argentinian MotoGP race. It was a move that cost Ducati dearly and could have a serious impact on the young Italian’s imminent contract negotiations. With Jorge Lorenzo strongly linked to a switch to Ducati next season (see page 74), current riders Iannone and Dovizioso could well both be fighting for just one seat in the squad. For Dovizioso, Iannone’s move was unacceptable. On course for second position in the race Dovi would have been second in the…

With tensions still running high between the duo, Argentina was the first time since the fateful Sepang clash last year that Rossi and Marquez have really come together on track. Despite the elbow-to-elbow racing both men remained good natured about the fight they had in the middle of the race. ROSSI: “It was a good battle and very good fun, because the two bikes are very different. They have strong points and weak points. It could have been interesting for the rest of the race but unfortunately I had to stop for the pits.” MARQUEZ: “When he went wide on turn seven, the memories [of Sepang] came back to me! I was waiting to see what happened, once I got through to the front. It was a nice battle though,…

‘Reports claim Lorenzo has been offered over £8.5 million to make the switch’ Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo looks odds on to become a Ducati rider for the 2017 and 2018 MotoGP seasons, ending a long and lucrative partnership with Yamaha. MCN understands that the move, which has been speculated about for weeks, is now believed to be a verbally done deal and there will be an official announcement of the tie up between the three-time MotoGP champion and the Italian manufacturer when the championship returns to Europe at Jerez in three weeks time. Lorenzo has been able to see the GP16 specification Desmosedici up close in recent weeks and, like the rest of the paddock, can only be impressed by what he’s seen. His expected switch also comes…

One big question mark that remains to be answered if Lorenzo does switch to Ducati is who exactly would step in to take over from him at Yamaha. With so many riders out of contract, Yamaha would have the pick of the grid. A key factor is likely to be finances. With title sponsor Movistar set to remain with the Yamaha team, it looks almost certain that a Spanish rider would be favoured to replace Lorenzo. The team will also be after someone young and full of promise; someone they can use to build an order of succession for Rossi’s almost-inevitable departure in two years time. And the perfect candidate already exists in the form of Suzuki rider Maverick Viñales. Tipped by Rossi himself as the next big thing, the…

The MCE British Superbike Championship blasts back into action this weekend so now is the time to get up to speed with the most competitive and innovative superbike series in the world. Our guide will transform you from an armchair critic to a BSB expert on the areas that matter most including tyre allocation, the 200bhp-plus bikes themselves, the racing and the weekend format. And for the latest updates on BSB visit www.britishsuperbike.com Testing, testingÉ Teams can do as much testing as they like from January 1 up until the first round, and again after the final round until December 31. However, during the season, testing is restricted to 12 days at permanent circuits for registered BSB riders and teams. No testing is allowed at a circuit hosting a championship…

Mark Phillips was one of Britain’s top racers of the late 1980s. He won the 1986 British TTF1 title on a bike powered by an RG500 street engine, which had been hugely breathed on by Padgett’s Motorcycles. Two years later that success got him a ride with the highly regarded Loctite Yamaha squad, but the dream nearly turned to tragedy when his brakes failed at Donington in September 1988. Phillips actually died by the side of the racetrack before medical intervention brought him back. Phillips made a successful return the following year but lost his Loctite ride at the end of the season. He made a comeback in 1995 to win the Triumph Street Triple series, finally hanging up his racing leathers at the end of 1999. How come Phillips…

"The Honda is in a different class, and feels like an off-road bike. Any one of us, regardless of ability, felt most confident on it, which makes it more fun. You feel like you’re on top of it, the bars are in a good position and it’s more accurate, thanks to the more off-road wheel sizes. If you want to change line by a couple of centimetres, you can. It only weighs a few kilos less than the BMW, but it feels lighter. It’s a bit too high-geared, but it’s not a big problem. "Just getting the Ducati off its sidestand takes some doing and it looks huge, but I’m amazed how natural the riding position is off-road. It’s a bike where the faster and more confident you are, the…

To find out which nine grand sportsbike is fastest around a track, we headed to the Rockingham National circuit, fitted control tyres to both bikes and asked MCN Tester Bruce Dunn to cut some fast laps. The more powerful, track-focused Honda was three seconds a lap faster than the KTM, which felt slightly out of its depth away from its B-road comfort zone. Here’s what Bruce had to say: “With the KTM it’s all about the engine. It’s so impressive for a single – so refined and head and shoulders better than any other single. It’s smooth, free-revving, punchy and only three seconds down on the CBR. I’d love to see that engine in an RC-style race replica – it would be fantastic. But it loses out with its chassis.…

 Paul Harris, 56, is co-owner of Guzzi dealer Corsa Italiano in Surrey and has worked on the Maranello V-twins for 40 years. ‘Since switching to fuel injection Guzzis have got better and better’ “If you are interested in a day-to day bike rather than a £12,000 Le Mans Mk1, the newer the better. Since Guzzi switched to fuel injection they have got better and better. The Breva 750 was the first small-block engine to have FI in 2004 and it transformed the bike. Then the 2005 Breva 1100 brought Guzzis into the 20th century. “A full service history is important, as DIY mechanics often think an oil change is enough. The paperwork will also let you see if there’s been any warranty work in the past. “There were some cam…

‘Crap bikes with prices being driven up by a craze’ Customs and excess More and more people are buying custom bikes. Why, I'm not quite sure. I think it’s got something to do with the explosion of café racers and bobber bikes being churned out by custom shops, and diametrically inept would-be owners. Stick a 'custom’ tag on any used bike, and interest and the price seems to double. Recently, I saw a 20-year-old Yamaha Virago 1100 sell for well over two grand. And it was in Scotland, so not exactly easy to get to, unless you’re Scottish yourself. And it was horrible. Home-made chrome side covers, extra chrome lights, studded chrome metal mudflaps, and a chromed pair of wings on the front mudguard. Even Liberace would have pursed his…

‘The razor-thin 701 can scythe through virtually any gap’ HUSQVARNA 701 SUPERMOTO £7999 Liam Marsden Web Producer liam.marsden@motorcyclenews.com Miles: 652 MPG: 50 Having spent 2015 on a Kawasaki 1400GTR, an armchair of a motorcycle that weighed 305kg and could easily carry the weekly shop, 2016 will be a little different. This year’s bike – a Husqvarna 701 Supermoto – weighs less than half as much as the GTR at 145kg, doesn’t have pillion pegs and has a seat made from what feels like the hardest material known to man. Sometimes you know you’ll enjoy a bike from the moment you get on the road and open the throttle, but that wasn’t the story with the Husky. My initial reaction was one of indecision. The smooth shaft-driven inline four was gone, replaced…

Q How do I get myselfan interimpayment? I had pretty bad injuries in May 2014 when I was side-swiped by a car. I am still not at work (I am an electrician by trade) as I still need further surgery. I have required a great deal of care, which my wife has provided. I have also spent a lot of money on physio and gym equipment to try and get back to my former self. The car driver’s insurer admitted that the accident was his fault but their solicitors are refusing to give me enough money to get by. I have no more savings and am at a loss as to how I am meant to survive without an income. They have only paid me £5000 so far in addition…

Martin Lampkin has died, aged 65. He was truly a larger-than-life character in the sport of trials and the wider motorcycling community. Nicknamed ‘Big Mart’, his career in trials spanned a period of great change in the sport as it evolved from European to World status, and he was indeed the first ever FIM World Trials Champion in 1975. In his career Lampkin will be best remembered for battles with longtime rivals Malcolm Rathmell and Yrjo Vesterinen as well as spearheading the equally legendary Bultaco trials bikes. Martin’s heyday was during the 1970s and early 80s when he notched up a European and World title, three British trials championships, three consecutive Scottish Six Days Trials and four Scott trials. Brothers Arthur and Sid (Alan) Lampkin were equally well-known to many…

After three rounds and six races the Milwaukee SMR BMW team have found life in WSB tougher than expected and for 2015 BSB Champion Josh Brookes, two 13th places at Aragon were not what he was hoping for. The deflated Aussie said: “It is difficult to gauge our progress and what we are working on. From the outside you would say you can only look at results and two 13ths is in some way under-achieving.” The BMW has a reputation of being a fickle machine, which has to be set-up in a particular way for each rider. Right now Brookes and his rookie Milwaukee team are not at that point. Even Jordi Torres (Althea BMW) who was fifth in Aragon was 15 seconds back from the winner. But Brookes was…

“I think a big percentage of the double win is because Chaz is strong here – he’d already won here on the BMW and last year, on the Panigale. The second factor is that this bike has grown up. It is a good compromise now and the rider is able to use all of its potential. ‘With the extra power Ducati can compete for race wins’CARLOS CHECA “It will be interesting to see if Chaz will be able to keep this level but for sure he did a great, great job at Aragon. “Ducati made improvements with the bike and maybe the last modifications with the exhausts help a little bit - but I do not think we can say that is the sole reason for the double victory. “Giugliano…

MotoGP control tyre manufacturer Michelin suffered a disastrous weekend in Argentina. Less than a fortnight after being heralded for the huge advances their tyres have made over winter testing, the French manufacturers were left reeling following an explosive de-lamination of Scott Redding’s rear tyre during Saturday’s Free Practice Four session. The Pramac Ducati man was lucky to walk away with only minor injuries from rubber hitting his back and destroying his bike’s rear end. With potential causes ranging from a failure within the tyre itself to a build-up of excess heat caused by a combination of Redding’s aggressive riding style, weight and the power of his Ducati, it may be weeks before a definitive answer is found. However, while there may be blame to be laid at the hands of…

Valentino Rossi has made a strong start to the season after a stellar performance in Argentina. He made a similarly impressive start in 2015 and last weekend showed his appetite to win is still very much there. Rossi was the only person able to stay with Marc Marquez for the first part of the two-part flag to flag race. And even a disappointing second half of the race didn’t diminish the positives he took from being able to run at such a pace. Rossi was ultimately left bitterly disappointed, though as he inherited second place after the two Ducatis crashed in front of him. “It’s a shame because in the first part I was a lot more competitive. I think that I could have had a very good fight for…

Welcome to MCN’s 12-page MCE British Superbike season preview celebrating 20 years of the championship and what promises to be an epic year of racing. With 26 races over 12 rounds, including the edge-of-the-seat three-round final Showdown, the season will be both long and intense. In terms of riders and teams it promises to be a golden year for the championship with an intriguing mix of established old guard up against an exciting breed of young guns desperate to make their mark on the world. Four-time champion Shane Byrne remains the benchmark every other rider on the grid has to aspire to. Byrne may be one of the oldest on the grid at the age of 39, but he is also one of the fittest and most focused. And for…

GREEN, WAVED Indicates the course is clear at the end of a controlled area and course is clear to resume racing speed. It is also waved for the first lap of each practice, sighting lap and warm-up lap. YELLOW AND RED STRIPED Deterioration of adhesion (eg oil, water or debris) on the track. RED WITH DIAGONAL WHITE CROSS The safety car has been deployed. Riders must reduce speed slowly and line up in order behind the car until racing resumes. Overtaking is strictly forbidden during a safety car period. BLUE Waved to alert a rider who is about to be overtaken or lapped by a faster rider. CHEQUERED The finish of a race or practice session. YELLOW, STATIONARY Danger, slow down, no overtaking. YELLOW, WAVED Imminent danger, slow down, no…