Table of contents for 13th November 2019 in MCN

It’s been a few years since I first saw a prototype Brough Superior SS100 engine strapped to a static bench dyno sporting a whopping great turbo sandwiched between its cylinders. With each passing year it’s been conspicuous by its absence. But rather than being released as ‘just’ another model in the Brough stable, the firm have pulled a genuine shocker from stage left (p5). This week sees them reveal the new engine in collaboration with Aston Martin – proof, as if we needed it, that even supercar makers know bikes are cooler than homogenous tin boxes driven by footballers. ‘But it’ll be awful!’ I hear you cry. Well, people said that about the SS100 too, but anyone who’s ridden one – and I have – will tell you that it’s…

‘The Tesi H2 should hit the UK at around £45K’ Bimota are back with a brand new purpose, brand new bike and brand new bank balance, too. After weeks of speculation, and following years of legal wrangling, Kawasaki have announced that they have bought just under half (49.9%) of the legendary Italian brand, with a view to helping the firm return to its glory days by producing incredibly special (read expensive) motorcycles. The first bike that has come out of this partnership is the Tesi H2 you see here. The original Tesi hit the road back in 1990 and for many it represents the most well-known bike with a ‘funny front end’. That original, just like this new bike, has hub-centre steering at the front, which is suspended by a…

Thought the days of screaming 250cc sports strokers like Suzuki’s RGV250 and four-stroke fours like the ZXR250 were long gone? Think again. A whole new breed of hot quarter-litre screamers was on show in Milan including the Vins 250 two-stroke (above), Kawasaki’s new ZX-25R 250 four (below left) and even a new Aprilia 250 sports (below right) although it’s not yet clear which – if any – will make it to the UK. Most likely is the Italian Vins Duecinquanta. It’s a fuel-injected, 249.5cc V-twin that comes in ‘Strada’ (road) and ‘Competizione’ (track) versions and which has just received full UK homologation. The Strada produces 74bhp at 11,700rpm and has a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis including Hossack front-end plus carbon wheels and bodywork resulting in a featherlight dry weight of just…

The already impressive KTM 790 Duke has gone one better for 2020–or ‘100 better’ as it turns out, to become the 890 Duke R. With its parallel twin engine bored and stroked from 799cc to 889cc plus a raised compression ratio, larger valves and more aggressive cams giving extra lift, performance is up across the board. The 890’s headline figures are 119bhp and 73ftlb, up from the 790’s 103bhp and 64ftlb. Imagine the 790’s power curves, just yoinked vertically up the graph paper. Remarkably, it even revs higher than the 790. Don’t expect it to be peaky though – all those mods means there’s a boosted bottom-end and meatier midrange on tap, too. The new 890’s also been uprated in other areas. The ‘cost-cutting’ components evident on the 790 Duke…

Husqvarna have done their usual ‘if you like, we might make it’ trick with this prototype Norden 901. We love it. Claimed to be an all-rounder that can be ‘used on daily commutes, extended adventures and everything in between’, it uses an 899.5cc parallel-twin engine, 21in front wheel, 18in rear and WP suspension. Given Husky’s close ties with KTM you don’t need to be a brain surgeon to realise it’s probably the new 890 Duke R engine (see left) slotted into the capable 790 Adventure R chassis and wrapped in Husky’s usual styling language. We think the Norden looks ace, with a different air to the KTMs it’s derived from and is so near to production-ready it could easily make it into Husqvarna’s 2021 model line-up. Elsewhere, Husqvarna’s existing road-going…

BMW have created a ‘rough-around-the-edges’ version of their custom cruiser Concept R18 using an 1800cc boxer. While we were hoping to see a production-ready performance cruiser strut its stuff at last week’s Milan show, this is yet another toe being dipped in the Harley and Indian-infested waters. BMW first revealed a stripped-back, raked-out version of this bike in May, but have now given it a complete overhaul and called it the Concept R18/2. This version seems squarely aimed at the sportier American cruisers from Harley-Davidson and Indian as BMW bid to muscle in on the market. It has striking cast wheels; 19in at the front and 16in at the rear to create a dynamic dragster look. The candy red paintscheme is eye-catching and the teardrop tank certainly gives it plenty…

I’ve heard the news this week that the 2020 Ulster GP looks like it’s off and it could be the end of the race (see page 55). I can’t believe it, what a great shame because it’s a fantastic event. Reading between the lines, there are riders who have ridden their balls off and haven’t received any prize money. When you’re doing 190mph between the hedges and you’re wheel-to-wheel with the best racers in the world and you’re not getting your slice of the pie, it’s difficult, because that’s the deal. ‘I CAN’T SEE WHY FANS AREN’T TURNING UP TO THESE EVENTS’ But it will be horrific to see the race disappear, it’s got so much history about it. Hickman’s lap time this year was over 136mph and if you’d…

‘The Suzuki’s gruntage spills over like a flooded sink’ It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B roads, a stretch of busy motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy different tarmac. There’s two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time for sportsbikes, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 Passing poke With an ex-GSX-R1000 K5 motor, the big Suzuki’s colossal gruntage spills over at any revs like a flooded sink. But the Tracer 900’s burgeoning triple midrange and quickfire throttle means when it comes to skipping past morning traffic on the A605, the Yamaha…

‘I was good at football, earning a trial with QPR’ If you were into motocross in the 1980s, one man stood head and shoulders above all others: Dave Thorpe. The sight of HRC factory rider Dave wrestling the evil Honda CR500 to three world titles provided an inspiration to his legions of fans. But it could have been the catalyst to a totally different generation of sports stars. “I rode from the age of three as my father was mad into bikes, but he wanted me to enjoy all sports so growing up in Bracknell I played football, rugby, cricket, everything. I was pretty good at football, earning a trial with Queen’s Park Rangers when I was 15, but a week later I got a call from Honda offering me…

‘It’s biggest selling point is its sub-£6K price’ Oooh! Backlit switchgear! And a colour dash! And LED lights! There isn’t usually much to be gained from straddling a new bike for the first time in the dark, but the CFMoto 650GT is keen to impress. And it’s an important bike, too. This isn’t just a mid-capacity grand tourer, it’s a Chinese-built machine that’s out to prove it can cut it with the big boys – not just in the way it rides but in how it’s built, as well. And it needs to be good because, although at £5799 it’s cheaper than its closest rivals, the £7399 Yamaha Tracer 700 and £6599 Kawasaki Ninja 650, the price gap between China and Japan isn’t as big as it once was. A…

On a small promontory in a remote region of Niger there is an acacia tree, notable for being the only one in a desert wilderness called Ténéré. It was here that Thierry Sabine, a French wrangler with film star looks thought up the Paris-Dakar rally, subsequently dying when his helicopter crashed near this spot. His ashes were spread at the base of the tree. A plaque placed there reads: ‘For those who go, a challenge, for those who stay a dream.’ Like all great quotes, there is something in it for all of us, so I grabbed a few bits of clothing, a couple of spanners just to be authentic, inner tubes and a camera and set off from the Yamaha factory in Saint Quentin, France, in search of the…

‘If I’m behind a GS there’s no way it’ll shake me off’ A mechanical breakdown that leaves you 1000s of miles from home requiring a protracted recovery can be enough to turn anyone off a whole motorcycle brand, never mind a particular model. Not so for Alex Carter-Silk. The MCN reader and Ducati fan originally turned to the 1200 Multistrada in 2010 after tiring of the discomfort of his 999S. Then, still besotted with the ’Strada even after it stranded him in Andorra, he bought another, this 1260S, as soon as it became available. “When I saw the spec of the 1200 Multistrada in 2010, I had to have one,” says Alex. “I’d been travelling back and forth to Cornwall on my 999S and not only was I doing a…

THE STUDENT Leon Wilkins, 51, Chester A rider since 1997, Leon enjoys touring both at home and abroad. He’s currently the owner of BMW’s mighty S1000XR. Leon’s riding problem “My corners are a bit hit and miss. Some feel great but others make me feel all at sea. How can I be a bit more consistent?” THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training Ex- police rider Mark’s been training riders for over 20 years. As well as his F800GT he also rides a Honda CB1000R and Fireblade. Mark’s action plan “There’s a formula for corner entries that’ll ensure Leon will enjoy every bend he rides around. I’ll show him exactly how it’s done.” THE LESSON 1 All a bit hit and miss… Mark follows Leon through twisty lanes and notices…

Everyone wants to be an individual. It’s why the manufacturers sell so many accessories to ‘personalise’ your bike. So why not do it properly and ride something out of the ordinary? As well as standing out, you’ll also be treated to sensations and experiences that most riders don’t experience. These bikes are all from major manufacturers too – being different doesn’t mean a duff dynamic or risky reliability. £4500 APRILIA MOTO 6.5 669cc |150kg |42bhp |780mm seat height • Dealer up to £5000 • Private up to £4750 • This one 1996, 4000 miles Designed by Frenchman Philippe Starck, the Aprilia was intended as a super-cool, less-is-more town bike. Its unique looks and single-cylinder engine got a frosty reception back in 1995, but the Moto 6.5 makes great sense…

1 Pick a kit and make sure it fits A blessing in winter, heated grips should be standard issue on every bike but if yours hasn’t been graced with a set from the factory, aftermarket kits can be picked up from just £50. Take advice from your dealer to see if they have a kit to recommend for your specific bike. Once purchased, open it up, check the contents and read the instructions thoroughly. 2 Take the weight off and compare lengths Remove the bar-end weights. Usually these are fastened with an Allen bolt or screw. With these removed, check the length of the new grips against the old ones. They should be the same, if they differ check the instructions and see if they can be trimmed.…

The future of the world’s fastest road race, Northern Ireland’s Ulster Grand Prix, in serious doubt. Peter Hickman reclaimed the record for the 7.4-mile Dundrod circuit from the TT with 136.415mph in practice last August. But a severe weather warning decimated the number of paying customers for the races. This resulted in attendance being “perhaps the smallest the event has ever witnessed” according to organisers the Dundrod and District Motorcycle Cub, who say that the resulting loss of income now means “that in the absence of significant financial support, the Ulster Grand Prix is in real and imminent danger of disappearing from the road racing calendar.” The Ulster GP is already missing from the scheduled calendar of 2020 Irish races published this week and the Dundrod club said a decision…

Global circumnavigator, record-setter and world-traveller, Nick Sanders, collected his MBE at Buckingham Palace on Thursday last week, after being bestowed the honour in the Queen’s birthday honours list. The medal presentation ceremony saw Sanders – who attended the Palace with his wife and daughter – presented with his gong by HRH the Prince of Wales. After regaling Prince Charles with news of his imminent global adventure, Sanders jumped back on his Yamaha Ténéré 700 to make the final preparations for his latest and most ambitious big-mileage expedition yet, riding 100,000km around the world in eight months. Sanders also rode into MCN’s office (literally) to talk about the trip before heading for the airport to load his bike onto a plane bound for New York. The route will cross every continent…

Yamaha have announced an ‘Ultimate Edition’ of their long-serving super-tourer before Euro5 sees it become extinct. It gets a new black and gold paintjob to mark its 20-year run, with gold, three-spoke alloys featuring the FJR logo. The seat also features gold stitching and a gold FJR logo to distinguish the bike from the existing model. The bars and risers, control levers, top clamp, filler cap, rear grab handles, brake calipers and passenger footrest brackets are all finished in black. There are two versions; the AE and the AS. The AS features an automatic gearbox, similar to Honda’s DCT system. Prices have not yet been confirmed but with the current model costing a fairly hefty £17k, it certainly won’t be cheap. FAST FACTS • Engine 1298cc inline four • Power…

KTM’s range-topping 1290 Super Duke R, has received a complete makeover for 2020 with a new frame, uprated engine, new bodywork and more in a bid to be the ultimate super-naked. Referred to as ‘The Beast’ by the Austrian firm, although this new version has more power, KTM say it can be as mild or as manic as you want thanks to the latest electronics managing the mischief. The frame has fatter tubes but with thinner walls saving 2kg. The subframe is now cast aluminium (like the 790 Duke), while the single-sided swingarm is longer and pivots 5mm higher for better traction, say KTM. With the engine a stressed member, KTM claim the new Super Duke has three times the torsional rigidity of old version, which was hardly a blancmange…

Andy Barnes took a huge chunk off his 5000-mile annual target with a mammoth 3800-mile trip to Morocco aboard his trusty Yamaha FZ8 – and now he has plans to ride across the Arctic Circle! Setting off in mid-September from his home in Reading, Andy’s Morocco trip lasted three weeks. He took the ferry to Santander, Spain, then rode into Morocco before returning home via Portugal. “I’ve now got to think about how I can get to the Arctic Circle,” he told MCN. “Really, it’s all about seeing the world and Europe is already well-trodden with lots of people doing it.” “I follow quite a lot of adventurers through Facebook and I was a kid when Long Way Round came out and I watched that with my dad,” the 29-year-old…

Loved the Best of British about Neil Hodgson (MCN, November 6). It reminded me of the time my son and I met Neil at a Ducati dinner evening at Silverstone the Thursday before this year’s MotoGP. He was hosting, and being a bit cheeky I went up to his table and asked him if he would sign a piece of bodywork off my bike, he happily obliged. My son, who isn’t as forward as me and is more polite, then went to Neil’s table and asked him if he wouldn’t mind signing a part off his bike. “Of course,” was the answer, “great I’ll just go and get it” said my son. “Don’t worry I’ll come to you table,” which he duly did, not only that but he stopped for…

YAMAHA The Tracer has the most modern display; colour TFTstyle, incorporating modes, TC settings, dual trip data as well as a scrolling gear position and heated grips level. But the display is difficult to read for certain ages (ahem). The Ninja 650’s display is a conventional analogue tacho and LCD digital speedo with gear position, and fuel gauge and range, but although the display is clear and obvious it’s not aimed at the kind of younger rider who might be a potential owner. The GSX-S dash is between the two – a wide, full LCD digital tacho and speedo with large, easy-to-read digits. TRACER 900 GT SWITCHGEAR Access to the dash menus via the small scroll wheel on the right cluster isn’t easy while riding; the left bar does cruise,…

Thread carefully Clever attention to detail is shown in the manually-adjustable screen’s left screw which has a reverse thread, so both knobs can be spun the same way when you’re on board. Dashing in colour The 650 GT’s auto-dimming 5in colour TFT dash has two layouts (Sports or Touring), a black-background night mode, trip, gear position indicator and a fuel gauge. Funky front end Metzeler Roadtec Z8 rubber, petal discs and ABS give it a quality feel. Spanish ‘J Juan’ brake calipers are already used on everything from KTMs to Ducatis and BMWs.…

‘Roads are quiet as the M1 takes most of the traffic’ After a 45 year lay-off from the world of two wheels, this was the first route that MCN reader Jim took on his return to biking and it’s been a firm favourite ever since. With technical twisties and fast sweepers on both the A413 and A428, it’s a great biking route. There’s two biker friendly cafes – Jack’s Hill and the Super Sausage – both within easy reach, so there’s also a chance to take a break and enjoy a quick cuppa. “The roads are fairly quiet, because the M1 takes most of the traffic in this part of the world,” comments Jim. “It’s a great run in-between the morning and afternoon rush hours and a really pleasant way…

1. PERFECT POSITION Get in a position to maximise your vision around the corner. But be flexible – never sacrifice safety for position. 2. SET YOUR SPEED Based on what you can see ahead, use the brakes to set the correct speed to take you into and round the corner. 3.GET INTO GEAR Get to know where in the revs your bike is most responsive. Being in the right gear will boost control. 4. THEN TURN Spot your exit then turn the bike. With your position, speed and gear spot on, all that’s left to do is enjoy the corner. READ THE ROAD Use your position to gain info about the corner. How tight or open is it? What is the surface? Are there hazards?…

The lure of the Ducati, as the Italian team prepares to make a rider poaching raid on Yamaha for 2021, is simple – the horsepower, top speed and acceleration of their V4 that is the current benchmark for success in the MotoGP championship. That, plus the generous salary that will be freed up as Ducati seek to refresh their title campaign with a lead rider other than Andrea Dovizioso. With Marc Marquez safely tucked away at Honda, the Ducati carrot is being dangled to both Maverick Viñales and Fabio Quartararo about the appeal of a ‘power-up’ V4. While the precise corner speed of the Yamaha M1 is a weapon for frontrunning race wins there are more rider options, at more tracks aboard a top speed dominant, late-braking V4 that also…

‘Our mission is to win against him on a Honda’YAMAHA MOTOGP BOSS LIN JARVIS Yamaha’s GP boss Lin Jarvis has ruled out bidding against Honda for Marc Marquez as he instead plans a future for fast Frenchman Fabio Quartararo. And Yamaha will have to counter big money offers from other teams, including Ducati, to retain the hottest young rider on the grid. “Yamaha has no intention of making a move on Marquez,” Jarvis told MCN.“Our mission is to win against him on a Honda and beat him with one of our own riders on a Yamaha. It would be a very big surprise to me if Marc wasn’t at Honda in 2021 and I think it’s unlikely Ducati will make another big, aggressive move for a rider like they did…

HALL 2 STAND 2B10 1 Ducati Streetfighter V4 It has to be seen to be believed, so go see it at Motorcycle Live this week Ducati have a knack of building bikes everyone wants to see and the new Streetfighter V4 is the latest in a long line of lovelies. The super-naked stunner is powered by the same engine as the existing Panigale V4 range and produces a monster 208hp alongside a punchy 90.4ftlb of torque. When fitted with a full Akrapovic racing exhaust system (track only) it’s capable of producing around 217bhp against a dry weight of 170kg. The Streetfighter also features biplane wings, producing 28kg of downforce at 270kph (168mph). “An early prototype of the bike was built without wings,” Jérémy Faraud, the bike’s designer told MCN.…

Brough Superior and Aston Martin have joined forces to create what’s set to be the most exotic, expensive and rarest new bike of 2020. As its name, the AMB 001, suggests, it’s the first collaboration between Aston Martin and Brough Superior. Limited to 100 units, each costing €108,000 (around £93,000), it’s a track-only, non-road-legal machine. At its heart is a claimed 180bhp turbocharged version of Brough’s current 997cc V-twin. In normally-aspirated guise this engine currently makes 101bhp so given that turbochargers usually boost power by around 30% the base Brough motor will need to be in a substantially higher state of tune to account for the remaining 50bhp. Not having to meet any noise or emissions standards will certainly help here. Further information describes the turbocharger as having ‘variable geometry’…

Want a big adventure bike? You want a BMW R1250GS you do… unless you don’t. Moto Guzzi went off in a new direction this year with their retro-adventure bike, the V85TT. And now Harley have brought us something significant, too. Something very different and bold. H-D’s all-new Pan America is now here – for real. First unveiled as a concept in the middle of last year, it goes on sale in late-2020 powered by Harley’s new, liquid-cooled ‘Revolution Max’ engine, which has been designed to be used in various capacities as the driving force of the American firm’s future. The DOHC, 60º V-twin displaces 1250cc in the Pan America, with claims of more than 145bhp and over 90ftlb of grunt. By comparison, market-leader BMW claims 134bhp and 105ftlb for the…

Small-capacity adventure bikes have been quietly surging in popularity lately, thanks to newcomers like BMW’s G310GS and Kawasaki’s Versys-X 300. But the most successful name in off-roading has been conspicuously absent – until now. KTM’s new 390 Adventure takes the fun, feisty Duke as its starting point, then adds taller suspension, new wheels and a larger fuel tank to lend it some off-road credentials. But the 390 is not a hardcore rally bike – instead it’s for riders dipping a toe in muddy waters for the first time. The longer suspension, with 170mm of wheel travel from the adjustable WP forks and 177mm from the longer shock plus taller 19in front wheel means seat height rises to 855mm, but with a slim saddle and a 172kg kerb weight it should…

Indian’s new Challenger will be powered by this new-from-the-ground-up ‘PowerPlus’ motor when it hits dealers early next year. A nod to the vintage Indian of the same name (made between 1916 and 1924), the 1769cc (108 cu in), liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin produces 121bhp @ 5500rpm and 131ftlb @ 3800rpm. That’s a big hike over the current air-cooled 1811cc ‘Thunderstroke’ engine used in their big capacity cruisers, which will continue to run alongside the Challenger. ‘Milwaukee-Eight’ rival The American firm claims that the new ‘bagger’ style machine (think low-slung, feet-forward fully-faired tourer with hard panniers) has the performance to beat its closest rival: Harley-Davidson’s new Road Glide Special, which is powered by a slightly bigger 1868cc ‘Milwaukee-Eight 114’ V-twin, but produces ‘just’ 94bhp and 123ftlb of torque. Indian’s engineers say they…

A bike recovery firm who tracked a stolen machine to an abandoned office accidentally uncovered a huge ‘bike-chopping’ operation. Stolen Motorcycle Recovery London reported on their Facebook page that they were searching for a stolen BMW fitted with a BikeTrac unit in the Isle of Dogs area and ended up finding more than they bargained for. “We got to the location but couldn’t spot the bike, so requested police assistance to locate it,” the group said in a statement. “They were there in 10 minutes and it was then ‘game on’. They searched the initial areas we thought it might be but to no avail, before identifying a building entrance hall and abandoned office space that was locked and smelled of petrol. ‘We gained entry, and it was shocking’STOLEN M/C…

HOME-MADE BIKE My son Jamie age six in 1993 on his home-made bike. He went on to be a successful club racer. John Medhurst YAMAHA RD350LC This was 1981 and I’d just passed my test, here I am on my Yamaha RD350LC. Wish I’d kept it! Eric Wilson SUZUKI GZ125HS A late starter, so my first bike was a little GZ125HS. I’m now on an Electra Glide to accommodate my 6ft6 son on pillion! Bob Bogle BSA C15 SPORTSMAN My first bike bought new in 1964 was this BSA C15 SS80. This is in winter mode with crash bars on. Brian Barrow HONDA HORNET I bought my dream bike after my test. I had a CB125F while I was learning and enjoy every second on the Hornet. Piotr Siudzinski HONDA…

Neither Kawasaki’s sporty 650 Ninja parallel twin, Yamaha’s sports-touring Tracer 900 GT triple nor Suzuki’s half-hypernaked GSX-S1000F inline four have made front page news in a long time. That’s not because they’re bad, or because no-one buys them – it’s because they’re the kind of solid, dependable, practical, day-to-day all-rounders that make a virtue from being – let’s be brutally honest – unspectacular. All three do the biking basics well, but they sure don’t boast about it. The best bikes to own are often the least showy. Instead of whizzbang, the 650 Ninja, Tracer 900 GT and GSX-S1000F deliver a deep-rooted riding and ownership satisfaction that earns an army of admirers without ever turning heads in the bike park. They’re masters at sailing under the hype radar. And today, on…

And it is, literally, a golden moment; flowing fast as the road winds through a tunnel of golden autumnal colours, occasional rays of sunlight piercing the leaf canopy and dappling the tarmac with dazzling intensity – this is where all three bikes shine together. The Suzuki’s brazen performance and calm handling holds a steady, implacable pace, gently shifting back and forth between mid-gears to hold momentum without so much as a stroke of the brakes. The Yamaha’s active throttle and chassis character is minimised by the road’s smooth surface and wide, open bends, letting the bike sit in the engine’s 5500rpm sweet spot. And the Kawasaki’s nonsensical tyres are nullified by sine wave undulations in the tarmac’s topography, allowing the motor to thread a gurgling, droning path under the trees.…

BIG STARS, AMAZING METAL AND MORE The Classic TT is one of the best loved and most exciting races on the calendar. A unique 10-day event in August that boasts top riders on exotic machines riding the best road racing circuit in the world. Now in its eighth year, the 2020 Classic TT will officially be launched at the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show on February 14-16. The Classic TT will be bringing the bikes and stars to showcase this truly unique event including four race winning machines from 2019 (see right). Check out awesome Classic TT machinery The Classic TT are bringing some evocative machines including… • Alistair Cowan Racing Kawasaki that David Johnson rode in the Classic TT Superbike Race • Bruce Anstey’s Milenco by Padgetts Racing…

Dad’s home-built special “Dad’s mate Dennis made a frame and dad put a 50cc Suzuki motor in it. Dad used to chase me around the woods shouting when to change gear.” Suzuki TM-125 “When I was about 10 my sponsor Graham Beamish bought me a Suzuki and that’s when my career gained momentum.” Honda CR250 “Racing for Honda UK in the AMCA on a CR250 was an amazing experience as I got to race against adults on a huge variety of tracks.” Kawasaki SR443 “The SR was a 443cc two-stroke and felt like far less of a lump than its rivals. It was the perfect bike to ride for someone learning their trade.” Honda CR500 “It felt like a wild stallion. Dad used to describe watching me as like seeing…

MOTORCYCLE LIVE, NATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE, BIRMINGHAM. NOVEMBER 16-24 All roads lead to Birmingham for this year’s Motorcycle Live at the NEC. You’ll see all the latest models, kit and gear, under one roof. There’s free, undercover motorcycle parking, so it’s a great excuse for a winter blast. The route Leave the suburban sprawl behind and head for the peace and quiet of the Peaks. Join the A446 through Coleshill, to run parallel with the M42. At Bassetts Pole, take the A38 north and at Wychnor Bridges look for a left to Barton Green. Hang left on the B5016 and as you arrive in Yoxall, swing right on the A515. As you head north, tower blocks make way for trees and sweeping bends lead you into Sudbury. Follow signs for Ashbourne…

KTM and Aprilia both have MotoGP championship ambitions and are not short of money or motivation but what they lack is race-winning machinery. Both need to raise their games in engine, electronics and chassis development to turn their potential into race winning performances. Without that step up, there’s no way a MotoGP ‘alien’ like Marquez would risk going the team. The upside for KTM and Aprilia is that there is currently a raft of fast and talented young guns all eager to make name for themselves. Suzuki, meanwhile, have the appeal of the race-winning GSX-RR and a policy of taking young riders with championship potential. But enticing Maverick Viñales, just 24, back into their fold would not be without merit.…