Indice dei contenuti per 2 February 2022 in MCN

‘It’s every inch a GSX-R1000 you can go touring on’MICHAEL NEEVES ON THE NEW GSX-S1000GT + WIN A NEW R7! PLUS EXTRAS, WORTH £9900! SEE P24 FOR DETAILS MCN250 TEST Getaway bikes to thrill you Sports-tourers are dead. Long live sports-tourers! The genre may have gone from all-conquering to an almost forgotten class of one, but the arrival of the new Suzuki GSX-S1000GT has given fast tourers a real shot in the arm. So is this really a GSX-R to tour on, and can it really compete against the polished SX? Only one way to find out... MCN250 TEST PAGE 31 TOP STORY Harley and Indian target Europe Poor old Harley. They’ve been making radically improved bikes for years, but still the stigma of clunky old iron sticks. But those…

British helmet brand Ruroc has just taken the wraps off its latest model, the Atlas 4.0. Certified to the all-new ECE 22.06 standard, the streetfighter style lid is the first of its kind to feature impact absorbing Rheon inserts in the lining, which Ruroc say help the carbon-fibre shelled Atlas 4.0 exceed the requirements for the new tougher standard. Available in a dizzying array of styles from Feb 18. Transformer pad Oxford Products have revealed a new Transformer modular tank pad – allowing you to keep your paint protected in a design of your choosing. The £19.99 pad comes in a textured finish for grip and is designed to fit a variety of petrol tanks, with the precut adhesive elements constructed to stick to your bike in a number of…

Facebook group Moto Advisor are attempting to break a world record for the largest all-female biker meet. The gathering will take place at the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience in Hinckley this summer. The current record was set in the UK in 2017 when 1132 female bikers attended a meet in Shropshire. Sherrie Woolf, of Moto Advisor, said: “We are keen to show the motorcycle industry that the female market is financially worthwhile catering to.” The meet is set for July 24, search Moto Advisor on Facebook for more info. Thunderstruck! LS2 have added two fresh new liveries for their Thunder helmet. Based on the kit used by the firm’s riders in BSB, WSB and MotoGP, the Thunder uses a carbon fibre shell and weighs just 1400g. The new Racing 1…

Guardsman Garage Bundle £749.99 Turn your garage into Fort Knox This week we use our bargain-hunting prowess to track down some of the best deals on security products. Not the sexiest or most glamorous items you can invest in, but they are ones that can give you peace of mind and keep your pride and joy safe. This unique invention from Image4Security is a great bit of kit and we know, because we’ve tested it and awarded it five stars. Forming a barrier, the kit fits to the edges of your garage and once it is locked in position nothing is going in or out. A stainless steel, telescopic arm extends to fit into posts at either side of the garage and locks in place. A hydraulic support takes the…

‘Fashion victims step this way’ As anyone who knows me will testify, I’m not big into fashion. I have a beard as I’m too lazy to shave, if my jeans are turned-up, it’s because they got caught in a welly. I guess that’s why I get annoyed by bikes that I view as built purely for fashion such as the plethora of scramblers, café racers, etc that we have seen of late. Yet, as a used bike buyer these models can be bargains because once fashions change, they are hard to shift. One bike that made my blood boil was Yamaha’s SCR950, a complete turkey that they tried to claim was a ‘scrambler’ but was basically a cruiser with tall bars. To be fair it rode OK (on tarmac...) but…

‘More fun than petrol bikes’ Alan Bradshaw takes his 2019 Zero S out for client visits and loves the move to electric “I have been looking at electric bikes for about ten years now and knew that I had to have one. “The day finally arrived just over a year ago when I had the opportunity to buy one at a substantial discount because it was an insurance write off. With a combination of repairs and replacements, it was delivered one cold Tuesday morning and I got out on it immediately despite needing to go to work designing and printing circuit boards. “I had heard stories about the sudden power being a handful, so used Eco mode. Once I was happy, I got to the bottom of a slip road…

Q ‘Do I have to wear boots?’ I was knocked off my Vespa back in September when a car driver pulled out in front of me at a junction. I tried to brake but it was too late to do anything about it. I suffered left leg injuries but fortunately nothing too bad. My solicitor is telling me that the driver’s insurers want to deduct 25% from my compensation because I wasn’t wearing CE-approved boots. They say my injuries would have been less serious if I had been. Geoff, email A This is not correct. Bikers are legally required to wear helmets. There is no law requiring bikers to wear protective clothing such as gloves, boots, jackets or trousers. The Highway Code advises that ‘strong boots, gloves and suitable clothing…

1 Get the perfect fit at Bike Stop On February 5, Bike Stop in Stevenage are having a day dedicated to tailoring. So if you struggle to find kit that fits, you could get measured up for some tailor-made clobber or have existing gear adjusted to fit. By appointment only. www.bikestop.co.uk 2 Get ready to jumble at Rufforth Rufforth Autojumble is back this Saturday, February 5. Held at Rufforth Park in York, it’s just £2 for admission with up to 350 pitches to browse. www.rufforthautojumble.com 3 MAG Fred Hill ride at the Ace On February 6, the annual Fred Hill ride will be departing from London’s Ace Cafe at 11am for Pentonville prison in memory of the helmet law rebel. london.acecafe.com…

BMW must be applauded for daring to produce such a dramatic bike, which not only Looks amazing – but works. If money is no object then I’d recommend the CE 04 as it’s a giggle to ride with rapid and silent acceleration, it is easier to commute through urban traffic thanks to its slimness, comes with a reverse gear, and is packed with style and tech. It’s a masterpiece of design and engineering. But £11,700 is hefty price to pay for the equivalent of a 400cc scooter, and you really need the fast charger, which is an extra £850, and the Dynamic Package, which is £380. Almost £140 per month on PCP is less eye-watering and it will be cheap to run, especially if you can charge up at work.…

Magnifying glass is not required... We’ve got a preloved Honda Africa Twin in our showroom at the moment. Nice bike – one owner, modest miles, full history, heated grips, and keenly priced too. However, it’s also got a few scuffs and some light wear on the frame and heel guards from the previous keeper’s chunky adventure boots (gotta look the part, right?). And this is putting potential buyers off. But it shouldn’t. If you’re buying a used go-anywhere adventure bike you’ve got to expect that someone has used it as intended, and while wearing the expected attire. So don’t focus on getting a bike that looks box-fresh. If a bike has hazy plastics from riding through hedges then by all means haggle, but don’t let it be a deal-breaker. Same…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Not all grips are created equal… Ask your dealer for advice on which heated grips will suit your bike, as there are many types available. Ideally purchase a set with a remote off/on button and selectable settings. Some pricier kits have a low voltage cut out to prevent the battery discharging if you forget to turn them off. Unpack the contents of the kit then familiarise yourself with the instructions. BRUCE’S TIPS The throttle-side heated grip will have a bigger bore 2 Do some weight-lifting Bar-end weights are fitted as standard to damp out discomfortcausing vibrations. They are usually held in place with an Allen bolt or screw, so find the appropriate tool and remove them. With the weights off, check the…

MotoGP testing kicks off this week and I can’t wait. From everyone involved, from the riders, teams and fans, I think it’s brilliant as we’re going to see MotoGP bikes going around again. It’s also in Sepang which is a proper flyaway circuit and a track we haven’t been to for two years – so it feels like everything is getting back to normal. Testing is great but what I’ve learned is that whatever happens in this test, it won’t be what happens in race one! We’ve seen riders dominate in preseason, Vinales is a good example, but when it comes to the race it doesn’t work out like that. I’m sure we’ll see Aleix Espargaro up there in the test, but will he be there come race day? All…

NEIL MORRISON REPORTING FROM INSIDE THE HEART OF THE RACING AR0UND THE WORLD After an absence of 78 days, MotoGP resumes at the Sepang International Circuit for a two-day test, starting February 5. Along with Marc Marquez’s return from injury, there are a whole host of stories to follow this preseason. In many ways this is a new era of MotoGP. Valentino Rossi may have retired, but it could be argued the class is more competitive than ever with as many as 14 riders capable of at least challenging for wins. Long time MotoGP journalist Neil Morrison looks at the big storylines ahead of the first test... 1 MARQUEZ IS BACK Many question marks surround the eight-time champ. Marquez has been in a race to regain fitness after suffering a…

Fashions come – and fashions go. Once upon a not-so-long-ago there was a seemingly endless plethora of sports-tourers to choose from; bikes that could whisk you to the south of France in just a couple of tank-fulls and without the need to carry an inflatable cushion so you could still sit on a deck chair in comfort on arrival. But their market shrank, along with that of their sportsbike cousins, and the rise of the adventure bike just kept rising. Now it feels to me like there’s a mini revolution taking place. Many riders struggle with the sheer scale of biggest adventurers – and the accompanying wind noise – but still want the effortless power, superb comfort, a commanding riding position and a bike with prestige. So, is the sports-tourer…

ASSISTANT EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING ‘He is off our streets and is serving time in prison’DETECTIVE CONSTABLE CHRIS FOX A Leicestershire man has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to a litany of offences including handling a stolen motorbike. Christian Chauraya, 21, of Rempstone Road, Belton, was brought to the attention of police after a member of the public reported that they believed him to be driving under the influence. Officers from the local Roads Policing Unit saw him in a silver BMW the same afternoon and attempted to stop him. Chauraya made off from officers, driving through Loughborough in a dangerous manner and narrowly avoiding several parked cars. At one point, he was recorded driving at 55mph in 30mph limit. The chase ended when Chauraya deserted the car and…

The Retromobile 2022 sale catalogue has been released with some tasty two-wheeled machines, including classic racebikes and even a custom Triumph built exclusively for the sale. Created from a carbed Thruxton, Tamarit’s Jade is one of the real stars of the auction, requiring over 250 hours of painstaking work to achieve the finished piece. The bike is the 100th machine built by the Spanish workshop with elements crafted from gold, chrome and jade. There’s function as well as fashion with a new swingarm and monoshock, Beringer calipers and a Zard exhaust. There’s no reserve but estimates are in excess of £45,000. Also in the sale is a replica 24 Hour of Le Mans-winning Kawasaki, built by endurance racing tuners Georges Godier and Alain Genoud. Based on a ZXR750, the bike…

The British weather can be a bit unpredictable at the best of times, which is where this Hydra jacket from Weise comes in – and we’ve got one to give away to one lucky MCN reader. Made from top-quality 1.2mm-1.4mm Monaco Performance leather, the Hydra features a removable waterproof membrane – we have tested the jacket at MCN and found that it kept the rain out during some pretty grim weather conditions. Not only is it waterproof, the Hydra also has a removable 120g thermal quilted lining for chilly days and zipped venting to the chest, arms and lower back for sunnier rides. CE-approved and rated AA for safety, it is fitted with CE armour to shoulder, elbow and back as well and 3M Scotchlite reflective piping for added nighttime…

‘What I’d buy right now with’ £4000 2002 Honda 954 FireBlade GILES HARWOOD Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Giles’ pick... Giles Harwood established Harwood Performance Source (HPS) in 1998, a company that has since grown to be one of the UK and Europe’s most respected technical mail order suppliers. HPS specialise in performance mods and stock everything from shocks to lightweight wheels, uprated brake calipers and electronic upgrades. What would the man who has access to a smorgasbord of goodies buy himself? A bike that makes the perfect starting point… “The used bike I want doesn’t actually exist,” says Giles, “which may sound daft but is the truth.…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Being ripped-off again After moving we contacted our insurance companies to amend the details, and found that this incurred admin charges from the companies that covered our bike and scooter to a total of over £50, but the car policy was amended with no charge. Is this a situation where bikers are being penalised? The only ‘admin’ is to press a few buttons on a computer. Colin Holt, email Why the need for cooling? I loved the Claudio Domenicali article (MCN, January 19) but it prompted a question. He commented that cooling is more important with electric motors than combustion. My physics on the conservation of energy is rusty but doesn’t this suggest that the electric engines are less efficient? Matthew Scott, Abingdon Albie’s ready to…

‘Pickering to Whitby loop’ Heartbeat and excellent chips on Phil West’s North Yorks route Starting and ending in Pickering, this is loop of the North York Moors is half fast A-road and half pottering B-road with a stop off at beautiful Whitby in the middle and a short diversion to Goathland, home of TV’s Heartbeat, before that. From the market town of Pickering take the A169 Whitby Road north on a run over the Moors that’s been described as one of the most scenic in the UK. After dropping steeply down Saltergate Bank you skirt the radar base of Fylingdales. The enormous old ‘Golf Balls’ are now gone, but it’s still striking. Shortly after there’s the opportunity to turn left, back on yourself into Goathland – it’s worth a coffee…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER Kawasaki have been left to fly the sports touring flag alone in recent times, as adventure-style bikes have become the new all rounders and the Ninja 1000SX has been the only choice for those who want a low, long, road bike-shaped way to enjoy big, sporty miles. BMW have the R1250RS, of course, and we pitched it against the Kawasaki around our old MCN250 in 2019. The German was the more characterful of the two, but it doesn’t have the same kind of mass appeal as the SX. It’s more expensive, too, especially when you start ticking options boxes. Kawasaki’s SX has been around since 2011 and is quite rightly their biggest UK seller. Then called the Z1000SX, it was basically a Z1000 super-naked with added wind…

Both the Kawasaki and new Suzuki do what traditional sports-tourers do best: neatly mix all-day comfort with headbanging performance. They’re affordable, well equipped, very fast and slip through the air almost silently compared to adventure-style all-rounders. We saluted the GSX-S1000GT was when we rode it at its launch last year and here on the MCN250 it’s every bit as impressive. It’s easy to ride, roomy and – of the two – has the most raucous and powerful engine, so it’s every inch the GSX-R1000 you can go touring on. Of all the GSX-S1000 models produced since 2015, the new GT is easily the best. But it doesn’t take many miles on the Kawasaki to realise what a class act it is. It’s more refined in every area: the engine is…

★★★★★ RST TracTech Evo 3 boots £129.99 ‘A great-value starter boot for summer fun’ Tested by Ben Clarke for eight months/3000 miles These sporty summer boots from RST are priced at the budget end of the market and it shows if you wear them back-to-back (foot-to-foot?) with a more premium pair. But in isolation, there’s not an awful lot wrong with them, especially if you are a newer rider. There are, of course, even cheaper options out there but in my opinion none are as stylish as the RSTs for the money. What’s more, the Evo 3 manages the higher CE level 2 rating for abrasion and impact resistance, dropping to the minimum 1 standard for transverse rigidity. Not bad at this price. The ventilation is also top-notch and your…

When fitting heated grips, or anything electrical that relies on wires being run around the headstock and handlebar area, I can’t stress enough how important it is to ensure all the wires are correctly routed. If you’re a bit slap-dash, you may find that over time and miles, some of your wires become chafed or get nipped by the steering, which will cause the inline fuse to keep blowing and your heated grips or accessory to stop working. Annoying, but hardly serious… Although, it’s a different matter if you accidently disturb some of the more important wires within your bike’s main loom that are routed around the headstock area. Recently I was riding a new adventure bike on a photoshoot for a road test and I went to perform a…

£8299 KTM 790 Adventure This is the ever-so-slightly tamer and more road-biased version of the flagship 790R and well suited to any rider who wants to get more out of their adventure bike while feeling less intimidated by the size and power of 1000cc-plus machines. This is a new-old-stock 2020 model, hence the hefty discount. • www.kestrelktm.co.uk SAVE £750 £17,599 Kawasaki Z H2 SE Indulge in a supercharged naked with electronic semi-active suspension and Brembos. • colchesterkawasaki.co.uk • Engine 998cc • Power 197bhp • Weight 240kg • Seat height 830mm SAVE £1200 £5799 Suzuki SV650X Retro version of the popular V-twin roadster makes for a bargain first big bike. • prestonmotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 645cc • Power 75bhp • Weight 200 kg • Seat height 790mm SAVE £1054 £9895 Honda X-ADV…

Durham Police Specials managed to track down and recover a stolen motorcycle so quickly last month that the owner didn’t even know it had gone. The officers spotted two people riding the bike in balaclavas in Spennymoor in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, January 15. When approached, the suspects decamped and made their escape but the officers recovered the bike and returned it to the rightful owner – who was still none the wiser that anything had happened. Enquiries are ongoing to find the thieves.…

An ex-John Wayne Honda SL350 sold for £22,500 in America last week. The Hollywood legend, who died in 1979, used the little Honda to buzz about sets and between locations, often in full cowboy attire. Based on the wildly successful Honda CB350, the SL350 was a civilised trail bike. Beautifully restored to a very high standard, the bike’s provenance (documentation showed Wayne owned it from 1971) saw it sell for something like £15,000 above the price a ‘normal’ SL350 in the same condition would fetch. New Scrambler kit A whole new range of Ducati Scrambler kit is about to hit the streets. The Italian firm have teamed up with world renowned American fashion brand RefrigiWear to create a stylish collection of jackets, sweatshirts and backpacks. Although no prices have yet…

I opened your Jan 12 issue and was amazed to see my father, on his new BMW G310GS as the Star Letter! I’m 33, been driving since I was 17 and for the past five weeks I have been riding my Honda 125 to work, and down every country lane I can find. I can honestly say it is the best decision I have made and I have already booked A-Licence training. I am loving the world of bikes, the community, the freedom, the feeling and the looks on my primary school students’ faces when they see my bike outside the classroom window. It’s a joy to see how much my father is enjoying being back on two wheels, I know our first ride out together will be a special…

‘WE’RE FANS’ Peter Horvath Honda NC750X A K5 engine combined with long distance comfort and everyday practicality? Hell yes! It’s on my shortlist of new bikes to try. Rob Blake Honda CB1100 I have a deposit down! I want to do longer tours and overnighters. Timothy Mills Triumph Street Triple/trackday Suzuki SV650 I am looking at one because to me it’s the embodiment of an open class all-rounder – there have been too few of as late. It could tour, be sportier than an adventure bike and less cumbersome than a pure tourer. Add in the K5 engine and it could be the only bike you need. Suzuki have a good history of building well developed bikes that are greater than the sum of their parts. Can’t wait to try…

Good kit Multiple thin layers are better than a few thick ones, nonmotorcycle specific thermals work fine, and heated kit is an absolute godsend. Getting wet sucks out heat, so keep your outer layer coated with a fabric waterproofer. If you’re going a long way and it’s going to be wet, carry spare gloves and socks. Good vision Make sure your visor is clean and scratch free, and always carry a visor cleaner in winter. Products such as Nikwax Visor Proof help rain and dirt roll off your visor. Pinlock visor inserts are a must. Be smooth In winter you don’t have to ride gently, but you must be smooth. Throttle, brakes, and steering all have to be controlled with a velvety touch. Look at the forecast Especially important if…

1 Oxford Hampton £299.99 Had it for around three years and it’s still going strong. It’s comfy, warm and looks sweet with a café racer or retro style. Matt Taylor, Stafford 2 Hideout Touring Jacket £600 They even put two chest pockets in for me. Hideout’s customer service is second to none, too. David Neale, Suffolk 3 Alpinestars Crazy Eight £299.99 Super soft, thick leather with a removable liner, a great fit and feels so comfy to wear on or off the bike. Graham Bell, Essex 4 Jofama Katla £329* Very well made, a perfect fit, waterproof, and attaches to trousers. Great quality and a good price. Sally Weighill, Lincolnshire 5 Scott Venom £260 I always ride in leathers and this jacket is perfect for the colder Icelandic climate, due…

MECHANIC Nick Nomikos of the 2 Wheel Centre When this Zontes Tiger 125 arrived at the 2 Wheel Centre in Harpenden recently to get the chain and sprockets overhauled, owner Nick Nomikos was ready with his spanners, but something didn’t seem quite right with the bike’s front end. Nick explained: “When I examine a bike that’s in for work I am looking at the small details, like the chain slack, meat left on the brake pads, throttle freeplay, stuff like that. “So, I was looking at the front wheel hub because there’s something not right about the way the speedo cable is routed, but I couldn’t quite work out what was going on. Then I stood back and it slapped me in the face. The forks were on the wrong…

He’d said he’d do it but now it’s a dead cert: Toprak Razgatlioglu will use the prestigious number one plate this season. As previous Yamaha World Champion Ben Spies headed to MotoGP in 2010, it means 2022 is the first time in WSB history that a Yamaha carries the famed single digit. Jonathan Rea reverts to the number 65 he last used in 2015, when it carried him to his first of six consecutive world titles. My generation... The new World Supersport rules are entitled ‘Next Generation’. The allconquering Yamaha R6 is joined by the Kawasaki ZX-6R and debutants the Ducati Panigale V2, MV Agusta F3 800 RR and Triumph Street Triple RS. Combined rider/bike weights will also be introduced. Flying the flag for Britain are Kyle Smith (Yamaha) and…