Indice dei contenuti per 28th August 2019 in MCN

Almost everything looks better when the sun’s out – fireworks and the moon being obvious exceptions. But while there was already a spotlight focused on Silverstone after 2018’s catastrophe, the blazing sunshine only served to better illuminate the world-class stature of the circuit. The riders loved it, the crowds flocked back to deliver a huge weekend attendance, the traffic management worked, the catering held up, the campsites were bone dry and a festival atmosphere presided over some fantastic racing. I took the whole family and sat in the Village grandstand, gently toasting in the sunshine while the action played out right in front of us – and my only pang of sadness was that there were so many empty seats. So what kept people away? Was the weather too good?…

The lean, mean, burnout machine is back. When Harley-Davidson launched the Low Rider S in 2016 with its Screamin’ Eagle tuned 110 engine, it was an instant hit. But it was only in the range for two years before the Dyna line-up became Softails, so used ones now sell for more than the original RRP. For 2020 it’s back alongside a whole load of new tech for the tourers. The centrepiece of any Harley is its engine and the new Low Rider S comes with the 114ci version of the Milwaukee-Eight powertrain. This 1868cc behemoth puts out a whopping 119ftlb of torque at 3000rpm, which is more than a V-twin Panigales. The engine breathes through a gloss black ventilator intake and blows through a set of 2:2 shotgun pipes. Naturally…

When Moto Guzzi launched the entry-level V7-series in 2008 they were invoking a heritage that goes back 48 years, to the 1971 V7 Sport, Guzzi’s first superbike. That bike’s small-block transverse V-twin has been the basis of Guzzi’s range since and the firm’s current offer of £500-worth of factory accessories on a new V7 gives you plenty of scope to channel one of its illustrious ancestors below. 2019 V7 SPECIAL What is it? The Gen III bikes arrived in 2017 with much-improved handling and a bulging accessory book. There are three versions – the Special, Stone and Carbon. MCN says “Effortlessly combines the spirit of a classic Guzzi with modern refinements.” Want to buy one? £8699, £1720 deposit, £116/month on a three-year PCP 2016 V7 II RACER What…

Melvin ‘Mel’ Schott, the man who launched leather motorcycle jackets into the mainstream, has died aged 94. He spent his lifetime perfecting the construction of leather jackets. His commitment to build quality, innovation and fresh ideas helped turn a simple protective garment into a cultural icon. His greatest success came in the 1950s, following his return to the USA after being injured during the war. Here he took his father Irving’s Perfecto jacket (named after his favourite cut of cigar) and helped distribute it to a wider audience through dealerships across the US. The big break came in 1953, when Marlon Brando wore their simple utilitarian piece in The Wild One. The Perfecto shot to fame almost overnight with its asymmetrical lapels and belted waist influencing the style and design…

KTM’s new 1290 Super Adventure will be a tech marvel and it’s on course to be the first bike in the world with radar-controlled cruise control. Spyshots of the new range-topping machine have emerged, which suggest not only is it set to take the sporty adventure touring top spot but that it will likely do so imminently. As the name suggests, KTM’s new 1290 Adventure range (it’s the S model pictured here) will likely stick at its current 1301cc capacity. With Euro5 on the horizon, they will have had to retune it – hence the whopping exhaust as well as new split radiator system. We imagine KTM will want to keep their place in the horsepower race, so don’t be surprised if it creeps up by the odd bhp. Matched…

Fans who made the trip to the British MotoGP at the weekend were rewarded with clear blue skies, a party atmosphere and a feast of close racing. The campsites were filled with smiling faces and the party was in full swing long before the on-track action even got going. “I’ve been here since Wednesday and it’s brilliant,” said Johnny Gray, 34, from Essex. “We’ve been coming since 2011 and Valentino Rossi brings us back every year!” Some, like Emma Wilkinson, 40, from Carlisle were attending for the first time. “We walked around the edge of the whole track and I couldn’t believe how big it was and how much stuff there was to do. It’s surpassed my expectations.” Emma’s husband Martin hadn’t been to Silverstone for over 20 years. “I’ve…

Reader Darren Wiltshire The Ride Cheltenham -Sandander- Jaca – Nimes - Nice – Monaco – Turin – Mont Blanc – Geneva – Dijon – Laon – home When to do it Summer Miles 2002 Time required 12 days Don’t miss this “The Lingotto building in Turin where they filmed the Italian Job roof top chase and the Alps SEND US YOUR TRIP PICS EMAIL YOURPICS@ MOTORCYCLENEWS.COM…

TRIUMPH Here is my mum sat on my dad’s bike in about 1948. Anyone know where the bike is now? Peter Foreman SUZUKI SV650 Aged 79 and on my first sizeable bike – a 2000 Suzuki SV650 – after a 19-year interruption to my 62-year riding career. John Edwards FRANCIS BARNETT Here’s me on my 175 Franny Barnett in 1970. In those days I had my full licence at 16! I now have a very nice Tiger 800. Sean Dunkley DEMON X 110 Jake Carter, aged 10, following in grandad Col’s footsteps on his first bike – a Demon X 110 Pit Bike. Tracy Morrison YAMAHA THUNDERCAT After passing my test this was a great all-round bike to gain experience before I upgraded. Andy Benge HONDA MT5 This is me…

‘Dad and Don took a chance on Japanese bikes back in 1958’ If you think of Clive Padgett many conjure up images of him leaning over the pit wall cheering on Ian Hutchinson on his rainbow-striped Honda Fireblade as he takes five wins from five at the 2010 Isle of Man TT. Or of him on the shoulder of Bruce Anstey in the winner’s circle after the Kiwi won the 2014 Classic F1 TT aboard the Valvoline-liveried Yamaha YZR500. But there’s so much more to the Padgett’s of Batley frontman than masterminding road-racing glory. He has also been a successful racer in his own right, a GP team manager who got the better of Valentino Rossi, as well as someone who’s helped countless thousands of everyday bikers buy or build…

‘The 400/4 also got a six-speed ’box – a world first’ While Honda’s first CB750, launched 50 years ago this year, is rightly celebrated as the first mainstream four-cylinder superbike, it is arguably its smaller spin-off, also celebrating an anniversary in 2019, which was even more significant in that it introduced a whole generation to affordable Japanese four-cylinder fun – the CB400 Four. Receiving its global unveiling 45 years ago at the Cologne IFMA Show in the autumn of 1974 and later in the UK at Earls Court, the ‘400/4’, as it’s more commonly known, was much more than just a junior version of the landmark CB750. Styled specifically for Europe as a street sportster with a sinuous 4:1 sports exhaust which remains a style icon to this day, the…

CORNWALL MOTORFEST CRANTOCK, NEWQUAY, TR8 5JR AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 1 ‘Fun-packed Cornish cracker’ Set in the beautiful Cornish countryside, the Cornwall Motorfest is a fun-packed weekend to keep all the family entertained. There’s a large display of the latest Indian motorcycles, a soap-box race, lots of stalls and live music will keep you rocking from dawn till dusk. The route Leave Newquay on the A392, at Quintrell Downs take a right. Pick through the lanes to the A30 and go straight over the main drag south and head to St Austell. Pick up the coast road through Pentewan, Mevagissey and on to Portmellon. Follow the rural route through to Trewithian and join the B3289. King Harry ferry aids your journey and at Carnon Downs start your journey back to…

Cal Crutchlow was miffed and mystified by his inability to compete for an elusive home victory. The LCR Honda rider was forced to wrestle his spinning and shaking RC213V for 20 laps and said that his sixth place, 19 seconds adrift, was “not the reality” and “something strange” contributed to his disappointing result. “If I finished sixth I expected to be two seconds off the win given how close the times were in practice and Jack Miller had similar issues,” Crutchlow said. “We need to investigate what happened.” Crutchlow said it was “just ridiculous” that Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci was 1.5 seconds per lap faster at the end of the race, with both on the hard compound rear. “I had no grip from lap one, a problem with the rear…

Valentino Rossi is urging Yamaha to join the MotoGP space age and upgrade the YZR-M1 with a carbon fibre swingarm. Rossi’s glaring weaknesses are with tyre degradation and corner exit speed, highlighted by a humdrum fourth place in the British Grand Prix after squandering a front row start. Ducati have long favoured the use of a carbon swingarm with Honda and KTM more recently adopting the material for more controlled stiffness ratios and weight saving. World champion Marc Marquez has exclusively used a carbon swingarm – and won 15 races – since its introduction by HRC at CoTA in 2018. “I have asked many of times as I think a carbon swingarm can help us so I hope Yamaha can bring one as soon as possible,” Rossi said. The Italian…

‘I knew I had only one chance to win and I took it’ Forty years after Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts starred in their own epic British GP battle, Alex Rins and Marc Marquez delivered a modern-day Silverstone stunner on Sunday. In a showdown reminiscent of the famous 1979 tussle between Sheene and Roberts, Rins powered past Marquez inches from the line to take victory by just 0.013s, the fourth closest finish in the 70-year history of the premier class. But it wasn’t a success for Suzuki star Rins without scares along the way. The 23-year-old almost high-sided at the first corner and, before his late swoop on Marquez, he thought he’d pinched his second MotoGP win only to realise there was still one lap remaining. After his wonder move…

The annual Day of Champions charity event at the Silverstone GP celebrated its 30th anniversary last Thursday by raising more than £290,000 for Two Wheels For Life. Thousands of fans turned out to bid on exclusive merchandise, race-worn riding gear and the chance to bag a selfie with current and former MotoGP stars. Away from the auction, which took place from 3-8pm and raised £90,300 alone, fans were also treated to appearances from British Superbike riders, live music and the chance to pay for parade laps of the circuit, led by father and son racing duo Niall and Taylor Mackenzie. “I’ve been waiting 20 years for that photograph and I thought I was going to burst into tears,” said Rose Carte, from Rutland after bagging a selfie with Valentino Rossi…

Hidden GPS trackers are increasingly being used by criminals to locate desirable bikes, then steal them at a more opportune moment. And if you think taking a quick look around your bike for such a device will keep you safe, think again. “It’s worth bearing in mind that thieves hide their bugs in places that only pro bug hunters with the right equipment could find,” says vehicle crime expert Dr Ken German. “Most of these devices require some sort of internet connectivity and whilst experts can tell if there is surrounding Wi-Fi activity or if hotspots and SIM cards are used including who might be responsible, not many of us can. “That said, the sale of DIY debugging devices has rocketed and many bug finding gadgets are advertised on the…

‘Biker friendly’ is the key quality for all the cafes on our list, however one destination in particular practically redefines the term. This week we rode out to Chequered Flag, a home from home for many a weary motorcyclist on the A38 near Liskeard in Cornwall. There’s plenty of stunning scenery and sensational roads in the South West and our route in had plenty of both, with a trundle across the wilds of Dartmoor followed by a run down the A390 from Tavistock. It’s worth noting that Chequered Flag lies on the westbound side of the A38, but it’s easy enough to double-back at the next right turn if coming from the opposite direction. It’s late in the day as we park up, but this happens to be Wednesday when…

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 tarmac. There are 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 A real rock and roller Firing the V85’s engine up for the first time reveals a heavy-thumping idle – more dramatic and bombastic than BMW’s latest boxers, but not nearly as lumpy as a Harley Sportster. Blip the throttle at a standstill and you can feel the Guzzi trying to twist itself clockwise around its…

Although the CB400F was only built for three years, and only two distinct versions were ever officially imported into the UK, there’s still some confusion over the different models. The earliest 1975 machines were called, simply, CB400F, had plain Ruby Red or Varnish Blue tank and side panels and ran up to frame number 1073399. The tanks bore the words ‘Honda Super Sport’ and the side-panel logo used a font where each character was represented by three parallel lines depicting 400FOUR. Up to frame number 1056883 it had its pillion footrests mounted on the swingarm, but from then on they moved to frame-mounted loops. It’s often wrongly assumed this change happened with the F2. The 1976 F1 model was not marketed in the UK or Europe and instead was primarily…

THE STUDENT Richard Ladbrook, 47 BMW S1000XR owner Richard passed his test in 2016. Joining an advanced riding group has shown him he can still learn. Richard’s riding problem “I want to find out how my inputs affect the way the bike behaves mid-corner. That way, I’ll make fewer mistakes.” THE TUTOR Andy ‘Smithy’ Smith Military aircraft engineer Andy has been riding for 11 years, and a California Superbike School coach since April 2018. Smithy’s action plan “I’ll show Richard the California Superbike School Level 1 method for carving through corners with speed and smoothness.” THE LESSON 1 Good throttle control At the school’s Level One day, Smithy asks Richard to ride a session in only one gear and no brakes to make him focus on throttle control. That…

‘I let it go over the Mountain and was really impressed’ Compromise isn’t usually something to relish – it means settling for something when you’d rather have something else. Compromise is something sportsbike-loving riders used to have to do when they could no longer face hours spent hunched in a racing crouch for those fleeting moments of cornering perfection. Compromise is what MCN reader Mark Thornley thought he’d have to do when he decided his 2005 Honda Fireblade was no longer the bike for him. “I’d always wanted a Blade,” admits Mark, “but after 15 months I realised that it just wasn’t happy at low speeds. It wasn’t the most comfortable of bikes either. I’d calmed down a lot and was happier just enjoying the roads and scenery with friends…

There isn’t really another configuration combining the performance, sound, looks and feel of a V-twin. The heart of so many landmark models, from the Vincent Black Shadow, to the Moto Guzzi V7, Ducati 916 and oh-so-many Harley-Davidsons, it’s surely the defining motorcycle engine. So indulge your senses and – with these iconic and unique models – get a great dynamic with bugger-all depreciation too. £6500 HARLEY FORTY-EIGHT 1202cc |257kg |55bhp |681mm seat height • Dealer up to £10,000 • Private up to £6500 • This one 2011, 4500miles Forget the quality and reliability issues of past decades, and ignore the dated ‘tassels and chaps’ stereotype. Based upon the proven Sportster platform, the Forty-Eight offers cool looks, an engaging ride and more than enough laid-back performance from its rubber-mounted Evolution…

1 Style, the law and what’s in the box? Before you fit an aftermarket exhaust, you need to consider your type and style choices carefully and also make sure that it is legal for road use. Before you start removing anything from your bike, check the list of parts supplied against what’s in the box, making sure it is all there before you even consider picking up a spanner. 2 Read, read again and then lift Although your can, link pipe and mounting bracket may at first glance look straightforward to fit, you should always check the procedure in the manufacturer’s fitting instructions – which may be in the box or listed on the firm’s website. When you’re confident in the process, put the bike on a paddock…

A bargain 1997 Kawasaki ZX-9R non-runner may have only cost £500, but its owner almost ended up shelling out an awful lot more after a spark plug mix-up. Changing the plugs when he got the bike home, one of them wouldn’t pick up the thread in the cylinder head, so he took it to Doncaster Motorcycles. ‘We thought it might be an engine-out job!’ Mechanic Kev Hollingsworth explained: “We checked the plugs but could feel the cap on cylinder no. 1 wasn’t engaging. When we shone a light into the hole we could see the electrode and threaded end – he’d put the plug in upside down! “We thought it might be an engine-out job to turn it upside down, but in the end we modded the end of a…

Last year’s Senior Classic winner, John McGuinness, cruised to victory in the 2019 race on the Winfield Paton. The TT star finished 27 seconds ahead of Stefano Bonetti on the Speed Motor Paton, with Jamie Coward third on the Woof Craven Norton. “I thought Stefano pulled a bit of a master stroke when they asked to be moved up after being second fastest in practice and it sharpened me up a little bit,” said the three times Classic TT winner after Bonetti was shifted from No22 to start ten seconds behind the Morecambe man at No2. The original four lapper was restarted over three following Chris Swallow’s fatal crash (see right). McGuinness put the hammer down immediately, posting the fastest lap of the race at 111.679mph from a standing start.…

While it may not have been the weekend he had hoped for after finishing seventh despite being a front runner all race, John McPhee left Silverstone in an Aston Martin that had been loaned to him and a contract with arguably the best Moto3 team in the paddock in his pocket for next season. Despite rumours of a move to Moto2 in 2020, McPhee will now stay with Petronas Sprinta SRT next year in a bid to win the Moto3 crown. ‘To be honest it was proving to be difficult to go to Moto2’ “Knowing 100% that I’m here next year means we’ll be recording every last little bit of detail we can in to our paperwork so that when we arrive next year we’ll have every possible piece of…

The final divorce between Johann Zarco and KTM cannot come soon enough after the failing Frenchman took both himself and Tech3 KTM rider, Miguel Oliveira, out of points positions at Silverstone on Sunday. Zarco’s early release from his two-year KTM contract has resulted in the emerging Oliveira as the obvious choice to replace him in the factory team. “I think he was too optimistic about overtaking there,” Oliveira said. “He is going through a negative period but he is a two-time world champion. He should know better.” A contrite Zarco said: “I slowed down to make the apex thinking he would see me. He told me that he saw me, but a bit too late.” Zarco was handed a three-race grid penalty for his actions.…

The latest new jacket in Alpinestars’ Tech-Air enabled range was released on Monday, along with their entire new 2020 collection. So, if you want a sports jacket with Italian design and world-class safety, there’s a good chance this is where your money will be spent. The ‘Missile Ignition’ is a bovine leather jacket that’s Tech-Air ready, made from 1.3mm leather, features lots of stretch panels, CE armour and external sliders, and even a waterproof phone pocket – all for £469.99.…

Big-mile riders are hailed as heroes on the #ride5000miles Facebook page – and rightly so. But this week we focus on the unsung heroes; pillion passengers. Sharing an incredible road or adventure can make motorcycling even better, but those sat on the back are simply expected to soak it up. But countless #ride5000milers have been busy totting up high mileage two-up. “My girlfriend Sarah and I have done over 8000 miles together this year,” R5K member, Lee Parsons, from North Wales, told MCN. “We spend most of our time two-up on the bike and have just come back from two weeks in Europe. I couldn’t ask for a better passenger.” As well as touring and weekend rides, some use their shared love of motorcycles to mark life milestones. This includes…

A technological revolution is transforming biking as cornering ABS and lean sensitive traction control, powered by inertial measurement units (IMUs) become the norm even on mundane models, all thanks to tiny electronic components called Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, or MEMS. These miniscule devices, which look much like a computer chip, are central to the gyroscopes and accelerometers that the on-board computers on modern bikes’ safety systems rely on. They can detect lean angle, acceleration, and whether your bike is pitching (tilting forwards or back) or yawing (turning in relation to the direction of travel). With that information, the bike’s on-board computers can tell the ABS and traction control systems exactly when they need to intervene. While computer chips have their origins back in the 1950s, MEMS weren’t mooted until the late 1980s,…

I wanted to say a long overdue thank you. In Feb 2009 MCN featured an article on my Captain America bike; a replica of the one Peter Fonda rode in Easy Rider. With the recent sad news of Peter's death and your mention of it in MCN it prompted me to write and tell you what happened after your article was featured. After researching your article, the BBC's The One Show asked me to bring the bike to the studio for Peter Fonda to ride in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Easy Rider. An unbelievable event for me! In 2013, I again was asked by Goodwood if they could borrow the bike for him to ride at their FoS. I cannot put into words what a privilege it was…

Racing can be a tough and lonely place, you know. Just look at Lorenzo at Silverstone, he’s one of the best in the world, but he spent the weekend trying as hard as he could just not to be last. ‘I WANTED TO CURL UP IN A BALL AND DISAPPEAR’ As a racer you try and do everything right, but it doesn’t always work out. For example, I went to World Supersport in 2002 and I absolutely hated every minute because the bike was shit. I was going to tracks like Monza and I went there wanting to be world champion and I knew from the off that I didn’t have a chance. I came from nearly winning the British Championship on a 600 – Karl Harris beat me –…

‘VERY TIDY’ GEORGE HEDLEY Age 64 Height 6ft Current bike 2009 Ducati Monster 1100 “It’s very tidy. They’ve tucked the catalytic converter away nicely, got the colours right and I love all the little detailing – someone’s put thought into it. It’s eye-catching. It’s surprisingly tall when you sit on it, but the clutch lever is light and the whole bike doesn’t feel as heavy as it looks.” ‘NOT TOO BIG’ NICK JONES Age 52 Height 5ft 9in Current bike 2017 Honda Crosstourer “My local dealer has a V85 kitted out with luggage –it looks fantastic. The bike isn’t too big either. My Crosstourer is just so heavy and the weight’s really high up, whereas maybe the Guzzi is a good compromise. I like that it has shaft drive; I’m…

No matter how sensible you are and how seriously you take your adventure bikes, it’s impossible not to find a soft spot in your heart for Moto Guzzi’s V85TT. It makes every ride an eminently enjoyable experience, from the feel-good first glance of its tasty twin-tone colourscheme, to studying the considered detailing up close; and from feeling the motor’s Richter-scale tickover, to pulling away and realising it’s far more usable and multi-skilled than you might first imagine. No, it isn’t as all-round talented as the similarly-priced Triumph Tiger, BMW GS or KTM 790, and for most riders £11k is simply too much for a 79bhp bike. But the V85TT brings something fresh, interesting and exceedingly attractive to the often staid and po-faced adventure market – and that’s no small feat.…

‘Village children were intrigued by a group of dirty bikers’ You’ve got your motorcycle and you’ve explored your back garden, overdosed on your regular coffee stops, and exhausted every green lane within 100 miles. You’re yearning for more, but that three-month expedition to some far-flung exotic nirvana is just never going to happen. But you can cheat. Targeting the fly-aways In a nutshell, fly-rides are package holidays for bikers, an all-the-miles-you-can-eat buffet of globe-shrinking hedonism. Pick your destination, jump on a flight with your helmet and riding gear (you can even borrow the kit with many packages) – it really is that simple. Bikes, guides, and extraordinary rides await you. Some say its cheating, but in today’s busy world, finding the time to research every mile of a country thousands…

1. GET A GRIP Roll on evenly, smoothly and constantly, shifting weight from the front contact patch to the rear. Don’t snatch the throttle. 2. RELAX Breathe! Grip the tank with your knees so they support your weight. Relax your hands, so your wrists don’t take any bodyweight. 3. BRAKING Braking transfers weight to the front tyre and you get a countersteering force standing the bike back up – and you run wide. 4. THE PLAN Looking through the corner early to the vanishing point gives you space and time – the corner becomes less hasty. 5. WAIT IT OUT Wait until you have enough information about where the corner goes and its characteristics before choosing a turn-in point. 6. GET IT OUT As the corner opens out, add more…

After battling cancer for two years, Bruce Anstey made an emotional return to racing by winning Saturday’s Lightweight (250cc) Classic TT race on the Milenco Padgett’s Honda RS250. Amidst ecstatic celebrations, the 50-year-old claimed victory by over a minute from Padgett’s teammate, Davey Todd and 19-year-old James Hind, who finished third on a Denis Trollope Yamaha. “I didn’t think I’d get the chance to do this again so to be back here now as a winner after such a brilliant, enjoyable race is amazing,” beamed Anstey. The Windsor-based Kiwi has endured operations and gruelling chemotherapy during his cancer fight, and just a few months ago doctors warned him the outcome did not appear hopeful. “My blood count was wrong and they were preparing me for the worst,” he explained. But…

Sam Lowes was denied the chance of a top ten finish by a costly off track excursion before suffering a last lap crash out of the race. Speaking to MCN the 28-year-old found it hard to hide his disappointment having been on good form throughout the weekend onboard his Gresini Kalex. “It wasn’t the British GP I wanted, but I’m just not on that level at the moment. I’m gutted, but the support from the fans has been amazing. I’m not going to apologise for crashing while trying to get another place on the last lap. It’s a tough class. You only have to look at Bradley Smith who’s a top rider but he’s further off in Moto2 than he was on the Aprilia when he rode it in MotoGP.”…

With his body wracked by pain and his mind full of fear Jorge Lorenzo was in survival mode at Silverstone. Back in the Repsol Honda garage after a bizarre dalliance with Ducati and a two month lay-off due to back injury the Spaniard’s quest to regain his confidence and fitness has begun. But he says it will be the Aragon GP next month before he can ride with freedom. “I’m not pushing at the limit because it’s a priority in my current condition not to crash,” he told MCN. “But in Aragon my muscles will be stronger and I’ll have better bike feeling.” At Silverstone Lorenzo trundled home 14th, 56 seconds behind the winner and is now 19th in the series standings having scored just 21 points, with a best…