Table of contents for 8 February 2017 in MCN

‘He requested they collect the bike and issue a refund’ Asif Salam told us that he bought a Dragster 800 RR from Hampshire Motorcycles Ltd last year. He says that he phoned up and paid a deposit on what he was told was a brand new 2016 model. Asif was given a registration and an invoice, then says he paid the balance totalling £12,966. Four days later the bike arrived, but he says that all was not well. Asif says that when the bike arrived it had a trade plate stuck over the top of the numberplate and that when he questioned this with the dealer he was told that his registration documents had not arrived in time, but that he was safe to ride it around. Asif says that…

Shoei X-Spirit III Marquez TC-6 replica helmet £699.99 What’s good Fans of the troublesome, triple MotoGP champ now have the option of a more monochrome replica of his top-spec Shoei X-Spirit III race helmet. Based on Marquez’s winter testing lid, the design still features the signature ant motif and trademark 93. What’s not Your riding’s going to have to be pretty hot to get away with wearing the replica of possibly the world’s most naturally talented rider ever – just sayin’… www.shoeiassured.co.uk Draggin Jeans Rebel £219.99 What’s good All the attributes of a fashion jean on the outside with all the protection you’d expect from Draggin on the inside. With abrasion-resistant material covering the backside, hips, knees, side of leg and thighs, you’re pretty much covered. What’s not Although there…

Scrambler safety Ducati have recalled the Scrambler to fit a revised sidestand pivot. The company warn the original can come loose causing problems with the sidestand switch resulting in the bike possibly cutting out on the move or allowing the bike to be ridden away with the stand down. Owners should contact their dealer. Harley sales down Harley-Davidson have announced that 2016 sales fell short of their estimates. HD expected to sell 264,000-269,000 motorcycles, but only sold 262,221. This, combined with modest accessory sales, meant turnover fell from $1.01 billion in 2015 to $933 million. Bonnie grip issue Triumph US have issued a recall for the Bonneville T120 that affects models with heated grips. Triumph say it’s possible for the heated grips to swell and jam the throttle. Dealers have…

How can Andy McLaughlin (MCN Letters, February 1) say Guy Martin ‘hasn’t got the skills to win a TT’? All Guy has had at the Isle of Man is bad luck. Many a good rider in the sixties had the same experience at the TT as Guy and missed out on victory. Don’t forget that Guy served his time on some of the most dangerous roads in Ireland with great success – and none of that was on short circuits with loads of run off. And as for his TT podiums? Many were only off the top spot by seconds, so don’t say that he lacks the skills. If Guy concentrates on the last two laps he will be on the top step this year. He will surprise many and…

WHAT SIZE ARE THESE? 1 What is the diameter of the front brake discs on a 2000 FireBlade? WHO WON BEFORE CAL? 2 When and where was the previous Brit premier class win before Cal? WHAT IS THIS? 3 They were founded by two cousins in Thrapston in Northamptonshire in 1909, but who made this bike? WHAT SIZE WAS THE ENGINE? 4 This 10-cylinder ‘bike’ made us laugh in 2003. But what engine capacity was this metal behemoth? WHAT’S THIS? 5 This machine is the world’s smallest hub-centre-steered race-rep. But what the hell is it? WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT THIS? 6 This sports tourer was Kawasaki’s first bike with what particular piece of engine technology? WHEN DID THEY STOP PRODUCTION? 7 It was the first bike for most of us. When…

‘LC JOHNNIES’ Speed and wheelies attracted bad boys with DMs and Simpson Bandits. No bike in the ’80s was more attractive (or subversive). AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOYS IN BLUE If you had an LC at some point you either got pulled or binned it. Or both... probably at the same time. There was no other way. PRO-AMRACING There were, and have been, other one-make race series. All were rubbish compared to the Pro-Am on ITV’s World of Sport. 125LICENCELAW The 250LC was so good it spawned ‘100mph Learners’ headlines, fuelling the end within two years, of 250 learner laws.…

How you feel about the new MT-09 largely depends on how you ride. Unless you want to push your MT-09 reasonably hard you are unlikely to feel dissatisfied with the suspension of the older bike. However, if you’re a sporty soul and already thinking about forking out for a new shock, the 2017 bike could be for you – especially as it has that quickshifter. If you own a 2014 MT, the 2017 bike will have extra appeal as it runs smoother fuelling and traction control. Whichever way you go – or if you are completely new to the MT-09 – you’ll still be on one of the best-value middleweights on the market.…

London ExCeL Centre, February 17-19 Discount ticket prices Standard admission (before Feb 14) £17 (£21 from Feb 15 onwards) Senior citizen (Over 65) £15 (£18 from Feb 15 onwards) Student Friday ticket £15 (£18 from Feb 15. Student concessions for Friday only) Child Free (15 years and under) Includes show and live action NEW FOR 2017 Adult Paddock Pass £40, tiered seating, plus the chance to get your favourite rider’s autograph and see the action with the best view in the house. Child Paddock Pass £20 (under 15) Currently the only paddock passes left are for the Friday morning shows. Book now via www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com…

SUZUKI SV650 £5495 Fuel 13.8 litres@55mpg=167 miles Weight 197kg Seat 785mm Power 75bhp Torque 47ftlb ANDY DAVIDSON Adventure and long-distance rider with nine years’ experience Height 5ft 7in Weight 73kg When I first rode the Suzuki SV650 I wasn’t sure I’d picked the right bike. I’d just come off Ducati’s Multistrada Enduro - an absolute weapon - so understandably, half the speed, half the power and half the size wasn’t the most exciting prospect for my 100-mile stints to work. But after just one week of ownership I was an SV convert – and all it took was a little push. At 5ft 7in, the Multi towers above me, heaving it in and out of my garage, tip toeing as I try to park and clambering aboard every morning…

1 Production The frames are produced using Resin Transfer Molding (RTM). The production time is only a few hours and when the parts leave the mould they are ready to go, like an aluminium part. This differs from a handmade carbon fibre alternative, which would take days to produce. 2 Alteration You can modify the stiffness by changing the characteristics of the fibre, the directions of the fibre, the material thickness or the geometry of the frame. You can design a carbon frame to be softer in some directions if needed without breaking it. 3 Strength A carbon frame is much stronger than a traditional aluminium chassis, in fact in strength terms it’s much closer to steel. In the case of a hard crash, the frame will not break completely…

Navigator boost BMW have added the new Navigator VI to their existing satnav range. The new system features improvements to the ‘winding roads’ function, which now avoids main roads. The internal storage has been doubled from 8 to 16GB, and riders can now stream music via Bluetooth from their smartphone. Like the Navigator V, the new version can be controlled via your BMW’s ‘wonderwheel’. Price is TBC and the unit is expected in dealers in March. Plug in and save Zero Motorcycles announced this week that their electric bikes now qualify for the Government’s plug-in grant. The subsidy gives a £1500 saving off the list price of eligible bikes. That means you can now pick up a 2017 Zero S ZF 6.5 for £9190. While it’s still a lot of…

‘I’d recommend getting the forks rebuilt and buying a new shock’ “The key factor when buying a used FZS600 Fazer is seeing if it goes into second gear. First gear on the Fazer is quite short and the jump to second puts a lot of strain on the gearbox. This can cause the second gear selector fork to bend and that leads to a really stiff change and eventually a broken gearbox. On a cheap bike such as a used Fazer, that can write the bike off as replacing it is not economically viable as a complete gasket kit costs £500. That said, when I destroyed my Fazer’s gearbox on a trackday I bought a new motor for £400 and swapping them over was fairly simple. “The sprocket retaining nut…

MotoGP teams began the crucial final phase of development at the first official test of the year at Sepang last week. Not only is each team focusing on getting the right engine spec before their motors are sealed for the rest of the season, they are also adapting to a host of new rules. The controversial ‘wings’ have been banned, meaning that teams are now working to improve anti-wheelie, cornering and braking stability without the now outlawed aerodynamic aids. The test was the first opportunity to test what their engineers have been working on over winter. The name of the game is to continue to go as fast, if not faster, than last year despite the performance restricting rules. MCN were on the ground, trawling the pit lane in Malaysia…

‘It’s going to be exciting, and everyone is itching to go racing!’ Yamaha Racing boss Lin Jarvis says that the addition of the youth of Maverick Viñales to the experience of Valentino Rossi for the 2017 and 2018 seasons mean that the he now has his dream team. “This coming season has the potential to be very exciting. MotoGP is at a very high level and having six manufacturers present is exceptional. “From our own selfish perspective, we’ve got a really super team with Valentino and Maverick. We have a living legend with an extraordinary career who’s been second the last two seasons and is super attractive for fans on one side of the garage, and the best possible hungriest young talent on the other side. “We don’t underestimate our…

Make no mistake – Maverick Viñales goes into the 2017 season not only a title contender, but as one of the favourites. Fast in testing and gelling quicker than anyone expected with the Yamaha, he’s already shown that he has both the skill and the intelligence to come out on top. He’s also shown incredible consistency for a rider so young and relatively inexperienced in the class. And it is this consistency that could be the key to his success, just ask Marc Marquez who was crowned champion in 2016 due to his results week in, week out. Viñales’ title bid will also be helped by the fact that his 2017 rivals are already on the back foot. Reigning champ Marquez appears still to be mired in development issues on…

BUILT MAGAZINE £4.99 Built is a new magazine all about handcrafted motorcycles and the lifestyle that surrounds them. Order at www.builtmag.co.uk CABERG FREERIDE RUSTY £199.99 The rat look doesn’t have to stop at your bike… The Caberg Freeride Rusty is based on the firm’s Jet open-face and features a removable, washable lining, vents and a micrometric buckle. www.cabergcares.co.uk FUEL TANK £599 Beautifully made alloy fuel tank from the metal-bashing, flat-track riding artists at Redmax Speedshop. This is a quality British-made item, and boasts a billet fuel cap. www.redmaxspeedshop.com…

‘There’s no smoother, more refined way to tour on two wheels’ HIGHLIGHTS • Dynamic ESA as standard • New side winglets • Optional reverse • Optional automatic emergency call out BMW’s K1600GT is pure luxury. There’s no smoother, more refined way to tour on two wheels. Honda’s Gold Wing had previously ruled this category but it doesn’t have the versatility or handling of the K1600. When the six-cylinder BMW was launched in 2010 it set a new performance benchmark and left every other big tourer in its considerable wake. Now, for 2017, BMW have upped the stakes even further, adding more luxury and innovative ideas while making the sublime 1649cc Euro4-compliant without losing any power, torque or character. This is the engine, remember, that makes 70% of its torque at…

Harley dismisses The Donald Harley-Davidson has cancelled a planned trip from President Donald Trump. HD were concerned that the planned visit to their Milwaukee factory may attract protestors unhappy with the President and that these protests may reflect badly on the brand. Instead HD executives visited the White House. Hot for Husky Husqvarna have announced that 2016 was a record year for motorcycle sales, having increased their total sales by 32% to 30,700 units. This increase in sales pushed their turnover to over €200 million for the first time. Husky are hoping the expansion into road going bikes with the upcoming Svartpilen and Vitpilen will help continue their success. Radical Ducatis Ducati have announced that their Scrambler customising competition Custom Rumble will return. While last year it was only open…

At a time when the prices of new bikes seem to be sneaking upwards, Suzuki have weighed in with an eyebrow-raising price for their new GSX-R1000. In a good way! Since BMW recalibrated the 1000cc sportsbike market with the incredible (and more affordable) S1000RR in 2009, the price war intensified as Italian and Japanese bike builders (mostly) tried to compete with, in some cases, technically inferior products. You can bag a new 2016 Blade on mcnbikesforsale.com for as little as £12k right now. More recently Yamaha, Kawasaki and now Honda and Suzuki have released some pretty serious pieces of kit. With major revisions of metal come major revisions of prices. And a top-spec R1 M and Blade SP2 will set you bike nearly £20k – with standard versions £15,599 and…

The riders Adam Child MCN Senior Road Tester Age 40 Height 5ft 6in CV 15 years road testing all kinds of bikes Bruce Dunn MCN Performance Tester Age 50 Height 5ft 7in CV Over 30 years of riding experience ‘The new bike makes the older one appear dull by comparison’ YAMAHA MT-09 2017 £7936 New for 2017 with revised styling, uprated suspension, additional quickshifter and slipper clutch. Now Euro4 compliant. YAMAHA MT-09 2016 £7399 (MODEL TESTED) Introduced in 2014, the inline triple was a sales success despite poor fuelling and budget suspension. Yamaha added TC in 2016 and remapped the fuelling. They say that at the heart of every good bike is a great engine, and Yamaha thoroughly nailed that theory with the very first MT-09 back in 2014. Its…

‘There’s an Armco armoured tearoom in the centre of Singleton village’ This ride begins just off the A3 in Milford, Surrey, where the A286 originates. This is a lithe, meandering road that scythes its way southward through the Downs to make up the majority of this route – just follow the signs for Midhurst and Chichester. Fuel is available in the centre of town; fill up here and there’ll be no need to stop again. After a straight mile or so things start to get a wriggle on, as steeply-banked sides funnel the tarmac beneath a dappled forest canopy. Sunlight pings and glints through the leaves as you roll from left to right, gently climbing from the flanks of ancient roots to crest the first of the Surrey Hills in…

1 The Plough, Cadsden Rd, Cadsden, nr Princess Risborough, Bucks. http://plough-at-cadsden.co.uk 2 No Limits trackday, Mallory Park, Leics. £65. 01727-899173 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com 3 MAG Fred Hill Memorial Ride out, Ace Café, Stonebridge, London. Celebrate the helmet law campaigner on Sunday at 1pm. 020-8961-1000 or www.ace-cafe-london.com 4 The Footman James Great Western Autojumble , Bath & West Showground , Shepton Mallet , Somerset . www . classicbikeshows . com 5 The Pit Stop Diner, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, Co Durham. Tuesday meet, 5-9pm. www.thepitstopdiner.co.uk GET YOUR MEET ON THE MAP If you have a bike-friendly venue and want to get your meet on the map,email sam.williams@motorcyclenews.com…

2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET 750 PRICE £5995 WEIGHT 223kg SEAT 710mm POWER 52bhp TORQUE 43ftlb While everyone else was making new year’s resolutions to drink less booze or eat fewer pies, Team MCN were making promises of an altogether cooler kind. Yes, this year we have resolved to join the flat-track revolution – and we’re going to make our debut on this Harley-Davidson Street 750 at the MCN Festival of Motorcycling in May. In the next four months between now and the first day of the Festival on May 13, we’ll be transforming this 52bhp entry-level Hog into a super-stylish and stupendously slidey Hooligan-class racer. Hooligan racing is a relatively new category of flat-track, and if you were at last year’s Festival you will have seen the inaugural round where everything…

THE EXPERT Josef Mächler The Product Manager for all four and six-cylinder bikes in the BMW Motorrad range. He was part of the development team for the HP4 and all of the other S1000 models. BMW are now just months from the launch of their carbon-framed, track-only S1000RR-based HP4 Race. As well as being much lighter than traditional chassis materials, a carbon-fibre frame allows engineers to play with every geometrical item in an almost unrestricted way, much more than they can with aluminium. The aim of the carbon-fibre frame used in the HP4 Race is to provide the stiffness of aluminium with the hardness of steel. One major benefit is the ability to make the frame to an exact tolerance of just 0.4% deviance when calculating stiffness, flex and torsion…

‘There’s some new talent arriving in BSB, but Shakey is the man to beat’LEON HASLAM WSB WILDCARDS Suzuka and MotoAmerica on the cards Haslam has big plans alongside his BSB duties for 2017 with options to wildcard in the Superbike World Championship, MotoAmerica series and participate in the 2017 Suzuka 8 Hour. “There is talk about wildcards,” Haslam said. “All of them are a possibility but it’s a matter of talking to Kawasaki and seeing what they want me to do. I’d race every weekend if I could, but these trips take up a lot of time and I don’t want to burn out, especially when it comes to the Showdown.” Mossey looking to up his game Joining Haslam in Jerez was MCE BSB’s leading young gun Luke Mossey. Having…

‘You have to keep going, no matter what gets thrown at you...’ ‘I’ve spent my career getting back to fitness after some big crashes’ It’s taken 38 years, but on January 14, 2017 Sam Sunderland became the first ever Briton to win the Dakar. In doing so the 27-year-old claimed one of the biggest and most prestigious prizes in motorcycle racing. Dakar is a race like no other; over 5000 miles in 13 days with this year’s event literally pushing the world’s best rally riders to the absolute limit across South America. The 2017 race will be remembered for its extreme terrain, altitude and navigation along with unprecedented weather conditions, which saw two stages cancelled due to devastating floods and landslides. Riders also had to contend with near-freezing riding conditions…

Repsol Honda men Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa might have made a considerable jump up the time sheets on the final day of testing at Sepang, finishing third and fifth overall, but the issues with Honda’s new and updated engine continued for the factory squad. Masked by the fast times set by wonder kid Marquez and Sepang specialist Pedrosa, the pair are still a long way off deciding what specification of their new ‘big bang’ engine they’ll use. And even champion Marquez admitted the situation was far from ideal. He said: “One of the things we tried on the final day is a step forward. We need to work on electronics and on some other big problems that we have in other areas. It’ll be important to fix those big…

‘It’s not just road bikes that are implicated, but also track bikes’ KEY POINTS • Up to 50 UK MV Agusta ‘owners’ could be affected • Road and track bikes implicated • Bikes could be seized • Owners risk losing bikes and money There could be as many as 50 MV Agusta motorcycles being ridden in the UK by owners who may have no legal title to their bikes – despite having handed over thousands of pounds to franchised dealers. An MCN investigation has uncovered allegations of serious incidences at two UK dealerships – both of which have now ceased trading. One customer now says that he does not have the bike or his money, while others have an MV Agusta that they may not legally own and say they…

‘I fell off during a victory lap at Silverstone and felt such a pr**k’ Q1. What are you riding? It’s quite embarrassing really – I’m riding a BSA Bantam trials bike. Q2. Who do you most admire? Valentino Rossi. Q3. What’s your worst habit? I find it very hard to say ‘no’. Q4. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Eternal life! I want to live a bit longer. Q5. What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone on a bike? 200mph with MCN at Bruntingthorpe on a tuned Fireblade. Actually it was 199mph and that reading was from the timing lights, not the speedo. Q6. When were you last scared? I had a dream just the other night that I was racing at the TT and got both…

BSA A7 My dad’s BSA A7 back in the day when open toe sandals were acceptable safety gear. Andrea TRIUMPH T100A Me at 18 on my new Triumph T100A on holiday in a “5*” shed at Hemsby in Norfolk. John Tench HONDA 100 Aged 10 on my ‘mostly’ Honda 100 built by my grandfather. Ben Thomas YAMAHA DT100 This little bike helped me to pass my bike test and go on to an awesome Yamaha LC 250. Rosie Carney HONDA XL80 This picture was taken before I stalled it 783 times as I was learning to master the clutch! Junior Pitre YAMAHA FS1-E My first bike after I left school in 1977 got a job within a week and got my Dad to sign the HP forms at the dealership.…

‘I never had the intention of racing – the LC changed that’ ‘I won my second race on the LC and started to realise that I was OK at riding’NIALL MACKENZIE RD250/350LC FACT FILE 1980-1983 247/347cc two-stroke twin 103/110mph + 35mpg Contacts www.lcclub.co.uk www.rdlccrazy.co.uk Want one? £2000/£3000 (scruffy) to £5000/£6000 (immaculate resto) IT CEMENTED OUR NAME! “The LC was the bike that cemented our name,” says legendary tuner Stan Stephens. “The Yamaha was light, powerful and handled. For four or five years virtually every bike in the 250 or 350 top 10 was one of ours. For five years I developed it. And I worked with the ACU to thrash out some modern rules. We had bikes with three times the power they were meant to have running…

JACK DOOLAN owns a 2016 MT-09 Miles covered: 6000 It’s a great combination of torque, light weight, wheelies, comfort and price. The traction control is very basic, though, and quite intrusive. Same with the ABS, which activates too soon. The suspension isn’t top notch but isn’t too catastrophic compared to most budget bikes. Am I considering the new MT-09? No, I could get Öhlins suspension front and rear, plus a quickshifter and an ECU flash for less than what it would cost me to replace my current one. I’m not crazy for the new styling, either. FIÓNA TOOGOOD owns a 2016 MT-09 Miles covered: 5600 I didn’t even realise I wanted one until I test rode one at the MCN Festival in Peterborough. By June I had one and was…

Everwatched Top Gear and thought ‘that looks a fantastic road, I’d love to ride that’? Well nowyoucan. Top Gear (theprevious incarnation with the three old men) frequently filmed on the A4069, Wales’ best road and worst-kept secret. The A4069 isn’t a road to go flat-out on, it’s one to be enjoyed at a gentle pace as it reveals some of the most spectacular views Wales has to offer over the Black Mountains. Starting at Llandovery, which is easy to locate as it is at the junction of the A40 and A483, drop off the main road and enjoy the start of the A4069 as it runs alongside the far busier A40 before turning at Llangadog. Picking up the A4069 again, this is where the fun really starts and once you…

LEARNING EXPERT Mark Edwards Retired police motorcyclist, now Class One an instructor for Rapid Training TESTING TIMES Your bike has amazing braking power but don’t wait for an emergency to find out what it can do. Explore and sharpen your skills. DON’T FEAR THE REAR Don’t dismiss the rear brake – it’s not only essential for low-speed manoeuvres but can be used to scrub off speed in a corner. Get to know your brakes It is possible to ride many miles without the need for hard braking. In fact, if you are frequently using heavy braking in your everyday riding then it is a sign that your planning and anticipation skills are falling short. However, when confronted with an emergency, your brakes are your best friend, so it’s worth getting…

‘As long as it’s made by Harley the owner would be welcome at their respective HOG Chapter’ Price £5995 Fuel 13.1 litres @ 57.5mpg = 165 miles Weight 223kg Seat 710mm Power 52bhp Torque 43ftlb ALISON SILCOX Been riding for 12 years and over 20 as pillion Height 5ft 10in Weight 72kg It’s an age ago that I was welcomed by the Rutland Chapter, my local Harley Owners Group (HOG), for their Easter Egg Run on my shiny new Harley Street 750. Some 10 months and 8000 miles later, it’s with a heavy heart that I have parted with the bike. It was my introduction to the Harley lifestyle and one I wanted to experience to the maximum. With this in mind I crammed in as much riding as…

Malcolm Smith Racing Voyager Jacket £239.64 and Summit Trousers £157.05 Tester Simon Relph Time tested 1500 miles What’s good? I have been getting back into off-road riding but all my gear was well past its sell-by so I have brought myself up to date with a Malcolm Smith Racing (the amazing off-road rider in the film On Any Sunday) Voyager jacket and Summit pants. The suit’s first outing was in sub-zero conditions but, with a couple of additional layers, I was comfortably warm. The jacket does not come with armour, just the pouches for it to go in, but this is fine as I wear separate armour anyway. Both jacket and trousers come with plenty of zipped vents – a godsend in Italy last year where it went from chucking…

‘If you take it back you are handling stolen goods - a criminal offence’ Q Should I buy a ‘ringer’ back? I purchased my bike just over a year ago but didn’t really get on with it so recently sold it on. The purchaser has established that the bike has a dodgy frame number, something that neither I nor he checked. I feel bad so I’ve offered to buy the bike back from him but he’s decided to keep it with a view to using it or selling it on. Where do I stand and what will happen if he does sell it on, it gets identified as a ringer and is traced back to me? Name and address supplied A I am assuming the bike is stolen, hence the…

I like big singles. Sure, I know they’re not very powerful or fast, but they’re almost all huge fun, have wonderful low and mid-range throttle response, and are relatively cheap to buy and to keep running. Servicing is quick and simple and fuel consumption miserly. They’re a dying breed. Yamaha’s Ténéré is being replaced by a twin, Kawasaki’s KLR650 hasn’t been sold in this country for years, Suzuki, Honda and Aprilia no longer offer a big single so, really, only KTM’s 690 Duke and Supermoto and Yamaha’s overpriced SR400 are left. Once they’re all gone, of course, then people will be hunting them out. Old Yamaha thumpers are already rising in price. If you want a big single trailie (the best thumpers are trail bikes) then it pretty much has…

1998 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer  Colours Silver, gold, blue Dealer £1400 Private good £1200 Private average £1000 This one Having covered 52,000 miles, this £1499 Fazer has seen some action, but the stainless exhaust is a plus point. 2003 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer  Colours Red, blue, black Dealer £1600 Private good £1400 Private average £1200 This one This updated (larger tank) model has 30,000 miles on its clocks, and costs £1595. 2003 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer Colours Red, blue, black, silver Dealer £1900 Private good £1500 Private average £1300 This one This foxeye model has covered 25,000 miles and has a few blemishes for £1950. 2003 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer  Colours Red, blue, black, silver Dealer £2100 Private good £1700 Private average £1500 This one This foxeye model is a beauty with just 12,000…

‘I’m chuffed with my times and I could have gone 0.5s faster’SHANE BYRNE Five-time MCE British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne has got his 2017 preparations underway over the last few weeks with tests at Portimao and Jerez with the Be Wiser team. Starting his year’s testing on the Ducati Panigale R with which he won last year’s championship, Byrne put in rapid laps at both two-day tests. While he’s won five British titles, he has never successfully defended his crown the following year. He said: “It was good to get out and blow off the cobwebs after the winter,” Byrne told MCN. “We didn’t have any new parts so we were basically working on the same bike we had at Brands, but it’s fair to say we’re in a lot…

Jorge Lorenzo may have finished a lowly 10th fastest in the three-day test in Sepang, but the 29-year-old Spaniard remains confident that he can win races in 2017. Practically written off at the end of the opening day after languishing down in 17th, Lorenzo made clear progress although admits there is still a long way to go to get himself and his Ducati up to speed following years of racing at the very front for Yamaha. “I think at this moment without any of the modifications we’ll have in the future, we can win races. I don’t know about the championship yet, but we can win races. To win we need to improve the bike, the results will come.” But while the Spaniard admitted that the opening day caused him…

‘I am very satisfied, the feeling with the Suzuki GSX-RR is very positive.’ANDREA IANNONE Andrea Iannone stunned the MotoGP field, posting the second fastest time and showing that he is perfectly capable of leading the Suzuki team. “The test was positive and my feeling is good,” he said. “We tried to focus on the race pace, finding a good balance of the bike and consistency. We made some improvement with the front and cured the vibrations in braking and slow corners. “Overall I am very satisfied with these three days; we worked very well with my team and the feeling with the GSX-RR is very positive. Of course, we have many areas we can improve upon, but now our engineers have much data to work on and for sure we…

19 th  SCOTT REDDING 2m 00.645s “I’m struggling mainly with chatter on new Michelin tyres on the Ducati, but we fixed some issues with turning and the front closing, which is good. The chatter is incredible, though – at the point where I just couldn’t go around some corners. It meant we didn’t show our full potential, but our used tyre pace is good, which is reassuring.” 22 nd  BRADLEY SMITH 2m 01.338s “We’ve certainly made progress. Both myself and Pol are still working in a similar direction, and it’s nice that we’re doing the same times on a similar bike (he posted the exact same time as his team-mate). We still have things to improve, but there are other things that I’ve seen where we’re actually really…