MCNの 7 October 2020 の目次

‘We all do this for the true passion of racing, not money’ZEF EISENBERG ON CHASING SPEED RECORDS LOSING A LEGEND Goodbye to speed’s real ‘Mad Max’ “I’m one of those people who, when people say ‘no, you’re never going to do that again’, I say ‘screw you’, and I go out and do it. We all do this for the true passion and excitement of the racing. We don’t do it for money or accolades. It’s just to try to push the boundaries.” And Zef Eisenberg certainly pushed hard, coming back after near-earth crashes and continuing his obsession to go ever-faster. Tragically, we lost him to his obsession on Thursday. OBITUARY P8, TRIBUTE P38 TOP STORY 40 years of going their own way When BMW invented the R80 G/S 40…

X-Lite X-803 Ultra Carbon Puro £324.99 ‘The lushest and lightest around’ We spent 12 months and over 2500 miles with this stylish, carbon shell, full-face helmet and awarded it a five-star quality rating. With it weighing in at just 1340g, our tester found the X-803 to be the lightest, lushest and loveliest sports helmet, he’d worn. While it’s classed as a race item, most of the testing took place on roads where it proved to be quiet and was all-day comfortable. There’s a combination of four vents, two on top, one at the forehead and one on the chin, which provide a good level of airflow, and there’s an adjustable spoiler at the rear, which makes the X-Lite more stable when riding at speed. There’s an anti-fog Pinlock insert, which…

WEDNESDAY 7 October 11.30am, ITV4, Isle of Man TT Documentaries 2020 Best Supersport Races of the Decade FRIDAY 9 October 8am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Le Mans, France: Free Practice 1. Free Practice 2 at 12pm SATURDAY 10 October 7pm, CH4, Guy Martin’s World Speed Records 8am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Le Mans, France: Free Practice 3. Qualifying at 11am. MotoE at 3pm. SUNDAY 11 October 7.45am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Le Mans, France: WarmUps. Moto3 at 9.30am, MotoGP at 11.30am and Moto2 at 1.15pm. Chequered Flag at 2.30pm KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT - DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC - DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD - DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS - EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) - EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT - MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 - CHANNEL 4 CH5 - CHANNEL FIVE BBC…

‘Cheap Ducati? Go for the ST’ I said I was going to sell the K1600GTL, and I have. I reckoned it would fetch £6750 and it made £6900 on eBay, so my estimate was pretty much spot on. Always nice to be £150 to the good, of course. My little Suzuki GP100 is also up for grabs, at the time of writing, and has been bid up to £925. I’ve had my summer dose of two-stroke smoke. I paid £1400 for it and I think £1500 is feasible. And I’ve bought a cheap Ducati. Normally, this is a recipe for mechanical and financial disaster because there’s no such thing as a good cheap Duke. Ah, but there is: the ST. In the late 1990s, Ducati only built sportsbikes, so the…

“Electric is the future, especially in off-road, and I wanted to demonstrate how competent one could be - so what better way than in an Extreme Enduro? “I raced it in 2016 and 2017 but could only do two of the four rounds due to the format. Some Enduros are loops, so I could swap the battery, but those that weren’t I obviously couldn’t compete in as I couldn’t leave batteries in hedges. “The E-XC was so good it almost felt like I was cheating as it was that easy to ride. I race in the veteran class and I finished as good, if not better, on the E-XC as I did my four-stroke. I was never lower than 29th and had a best of 12th overall out of 129…

• Readers Jif Fairlamb • The Ride Four Compass Points of Scotland on my trusty 13-year-old BMW R1200RT which never missed a beat. • Miles 1205 • Time required 4-6 days depending on the weather • Don’t miss this The Ardnamurchan Peninsular is a highlight of this trip but watch out for the million sheep on the road. THE PLAN I’d done the NC500 before they even gave it that name, so this time I did the Four Compass Points ride of mainland Scotland. GOING UP The most northerly point, I made it here before the weather turned nasty. WILD RIDE The narrow roads on the peninsula were a challenge but the R1200RT did the job. THE SOUTH Compass point No4. I had near monsoon conditions, but what a great…

Q ‘I didn’t realise my mate had been drinking’ I have a compensation claim due to an accident last summer. I was on the back of my friend’s bike as he was giving me a lift home. We had been at a party and I didn’t see my mate drink any alcohol, so I thought it was safe to go with him. He lost control on a bend and we both came off. He was breathalysed and convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol and banned and fined. His insurers are now saying they won’t pay me compensation because I knew he was drinking but decided to get on the bike anyway. This is not fair as I had no idea he had been having anything to drink. Ryan,…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER It’s more of a retro styling makeover than anything, but that’s fine because the Deluxe’s extra goodies and new finishes broaden the appeal of what is an already classy and above all affordable piece of kit. Mechanical updates may be subtle, but like the Scrambler 500 it’s based on, the Fantic is a joy to ride at any speed, is nicely put together and comes with a badge loaded with Kick Start cool. Like the new-generation Royal Enfield 650s, the new Caballero is proof that you don’t need to spend silly amounts to get your two-wheel kicks. THE FACTS £6599 Fantic Caballero 500 Scrambler Deluxe Engine 449cc 4v single Frame Tubular steel backbone Front 41mm upside down suspension Fantic FRS forks. Non-adjustable. Rear Single Fantic FRS shock,…

Simon Ingle Age 59 Height 5ft 7in Current bike Triumph Thruxton R, Ducati Hyperstrada and a few more… Been riding 10 years First bike Suzuki Bandit 600 Dream bike Norton TT bike! “Living in Lincolnshire I’m lucky enough to have some fabulous riding roads on my doorstep, which means that I can save my Thruxton R for sunny days. That’s the key to the Thruxton, it is a bike you take for a ride to enjoy the actual ride rather than popping on a pillion and going somewhere together. “I’ve owned lots of bikes in the past but primarily naked ones, which is why the Triumph appealed. I have a Bonneville 790, which I love as it sounds and looks fantastic, but the R takes this retro base to a…

With Covid-19 continuing to blight our everyday existence, more people are discovering 125cc scooters as a transport alternative. Honda’s PCX125 is by far the most popular choice and has been the UK’s best-seller for years. Its last update brought a new tubular steel frame, wheels, tyres, revised rear suspension, front ABS and more power – and it’s yours for around £60 per month on a PCP deal. 1 Same twist, more go Powered by a 125cc twist-and-go single-cylinder engine, the 12bhp available is more than enough to keep up and stay ahead in and around town, as well as hold your own on faster multilane roads at a comfortable indicated 60-65mph. In its last big update, Honda increased the airbox volume by a litre, after moving the rear shocks back.…

225.4 MPH Guinness World Record for fastest two-way average speed over measured mile on a turbine motorcycle 234.01 MPH ACU British record for fastest speed on a naked motorcycle 186 MPH Fastest production motorcycle ridden at Pendine sands 201.5 MPH World record speed for motorcycle on sand 197 MPH World record speed for unfaired electric motorcycle 231.5 MPH Record for the world’s fastest streetfighter set by Eisenberg…

• Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum, Timmelsjoch, Hochgurgl, Austria The Top Mountain Crosspoint with Europe’s highest motorcycle museum at 2175m is open every day from 9am to 5.30pm. The connected restaurant is open from 10am to 5pm. The entrance fee is €10 but if you are staying in the area and have the Ötztal Premium Card, then the entrance is free. To visit the museum you don’t have to pass through the road toll but you are sure to want to ride the spectacular Italian side of the pass. The access road is open daily from 7am to 8pm all year round, but the section after the toll is normally only open between end of May and end of October. It’s worth checking whether it is open on www.timmelsjoch.com/en. The one-way…

We’ve already been through so much together, that at the moment I don’t ever want to let this bike go. I had it professionally cleaned a while ago and it actually made me well up to see it looking like new again – I just love this bike! Next year I want to go touring, so I’m planning on a full set of Kriega luggage. I might look at doing something with the seat comfort, but when the time comes for travelling you won’t see me for dust. HOW GOOD IS THE RUBBER? OE Metzeler Roadtec 01 I remember how new they felt to begin with, I was so careful back then, but now they hold the road really well, even in the wet. I love the tyres, especially on…

When a tyre is completely illegal it sets alarm bells ringing that all may not be right with the rest of the bike. And Jason Atreides’ hunch was proved correct. When the M&M Motorcycles mechanic took the rear caliper off a 2008 Kawasaki Z750 to get the rear wheel out he could see the brake was in a sorry state. He said: “One pad was down to the metal and the other was wafer-thin, so much so that the piston seal was hanging out. The pad metal hadn’t scored the disc so it was reusable, and I managed to clean up the caliper piston itself.” Looking the owner’s size 12 boots made Jason think part of the problem was a ‘duck foot’ riding position. Instead of taking their bodyweight through…

WSB REPORTER ‘We will give everything and fight to the end’SCOTT REDDING Scott Redding seized a surprise victory in the third and final World Superbike race of last weekend in France. Having never before raced at Magny-Cours, the reigning BSB Champion ended a run of four races off the podium and took his rookie title fight with Jonathan Rea to Portugal in ten days’ time. Just as Kawasaki prepared to unbox the six-time World Champion T-shirts following Rea’s 98th and 99th career wins, Redding and Ducati turned things around. Although the red team jettisoned a further eight points to their green rivals over the seventh race weekend of the season, Redding defied the odds to ensure the WSB fight goes to the final event for the first time in four…

There were lots of things I wanted to talk about in welcoming you to this week’s edition of MCN. From exciting new bike news to brilliant in-depth tests, inspiring features and the weekend’s thrilling sport. What I didn’t expect to be talking about this week was Zef Eisenberg - a man who brought effervescent new energy to one of motorcycling’s oldest obsessions: the pursuit of speed. He didn’t need to race, didn’t need to chase the obsession, didn’t need to return to the track to push harder still after nearly losing his life in a horrific 230mph crash at Elvington back in 2016. Except, of course, he did. While the multimillionaire could have sat at home directing his businesses and counting his cash - that wasn’t Zef. He was a…

£13,999 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory Aprilia dealers are clearing the decks with offers on the 2020 Tuono Factory. One of the best is from Colchester Aprilia (part of Colchester Kawasaki) who are lopping £3200 off and throwing in an Akrapovic carbon end can worth £999 on this exceptional supernaked with semi-active suspension. • www.colchesterkawasaki.co.uk SAVE £1000 £10,600 Triumph Bonneville T120 Grab a £500 personalisation contribution and a £500 clothing voucher on the T120. • triumphmotorcycles.co.uk. • Engine 1200cc • Power 79bhp • Weight 224kg • Seat height 785mm SAVE £800 £7599 Kawasaki W800 Street Bridge Motorcycles in Exeter have this Street on offer with its ‘traditional’ upright look. • bridgemotorcycles.com • Engine 773cc • Power 47bhp • Weight 223kg • Seat height 790mm SAVE £715 £9679 Yamaha T700 An…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Old-school simplicity It’s great to see BMW coming out with such a radical new bike as the R18 - a classic big-capacity, air-cooled, pushrod twin but with modern touches such as fuel injection and electronics. There is sure to be a market for such an old-school machine with simplicity combined with today’s reliability. However, the phrase ‘what goes around comes around’ has never been truer and there is not much that is completely new in the world of motorcycling. I would argue that Yamaha were ahead of BMW when they brought out the MT-01 in 2005. This also was a big-capacity (1670cc), air-cooled, pushrod, long-stroke twin with four-valve heads, 12-point fuel injectors and hydraulic tappets and producing 90bhp at 4750rpm and 110.9lb.ft at 3750rpm - very…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR £13,000 Triumph Thruxton RS • 1200cc parallel twin 8v• 103.5bhp @ 7500rpm• 197kg dry weight £17,780 MV Agusta Superveloce 800 • 789cc triple DOHC 12v• 145.9bhp @ 13,000rpm• 173kg dry weight Beauty doesn’t come without a degree of sacrifice. A washboard stomach requires countless hours in a gym (so I’m told…), make-up takes more than just slapping on (again, not my area of expertise) and creating a painting that will leave admirers open-mouthed needs talent and dedication (neither of which I possess). And if you want to get the best out of MV Agusta’s beautiful Superveloce 800, you also need to put some effort in. Starting an MCN250 with rain already falling is never a good thing but on a bike like the Superveloce 800 it is even…

MANX SUCCESS “It was a great start on the roads for me. We had two weeks of glorious weather and loads of practice – everything just fell right.” BEATING JOEY “We had a fairly good relationship. That was something I’ll remember obviously, but it was always fantastic to ride with him.” ULSTER VICTORIES Griffiths won four times at the Ulster GP, including the 1995 Supermono and 1997 Superbike races, followed by a Superbike and Supersport double in 1998. TT PODIUMS Although he never won there, Griffiths still secured 13 podiums at the TT, 11 of which came on Yamaha machinery.…

SENIOR WRITER With the machine consistently dominating the UK sales charts, the popularity of the Honda PCX125 really does speak for itself. Available for a quid shy of £3000, or £60 per month over three years on finance, it offers a surprisingly nippy, practical urban travel solution for little more than your monthly phone contract. Although it can’t swallow a full-face helmet, despite claims to the contrary, and the front brake lacks feel, the impressive comfort, engaging ride and tested 105.1mpg help cement its place as a genuine cost-saving alternative to public transport during Covid-19 and beyond. If I lived closer to the office, I’d consider one myself! THE FACTS £2999 Honda PCX 125 Engine 125cc single-cylinder, liquid cooled SOHC fourstroke Front 31mm telescopic fork, suspension non-adjustable Rear Twin shocks…

Premier Devil helmet £259.95 plain / £289.95 graphic ‘Nothing old-school about this Devil…’ Tested by Martin Fitz-Gibbons for 2600 miles Premier Helmets might feel like a name from the past - started in 1956, best known for sponsoring Phil Read in the 1970s – but there’s nothing old-fashioned about the Devil, the Italian firm’s sports-touring lid. Its shell is made from a carbon/aramid composite fibre, the drop-down sun visor is superb, and there’s a quick-release seatbelt-style chinstrap. Overall it feels a good-quality helmet, from the reassuringly solid clunk of its chunky central visor catch, to the luxurious liner and soft neoprene chin curtain, to the smooth action of its vents. However, there are a few areas that could be better. While an anti-mist insert is included in the box, it’s…

MATT TRUELOVE “I’ve owned every significant Blade since 1992 and my last one was the 2008 model. I ordered the CBR1000RR-R SP on spec alone, and after 1000 road miles I can honestly say I’ve not ridden a bike like it. The chassis is spectacular - it feels like your hands are holding either side of the front spindle. Initially, the comparative lack of low-down torque and tall gearing frustrated me, but now I’ve adapted my riding style to basically just riding it like I stole it, I’m enjoying it much more. I guess my old Blades made me lazy! The new bike still has more than enough torque, it’s just very different to previous Blades.”…

‘Use the time of year to your benefit’ Lights on riding home from work, thermals on for the weekend blast and the other half insisting that the central heating should be on. Autumn has taken hold and winter is lurking over the horizon. So it’s the perfect time to buy a new bike. Seriously. Your local dealer is looking at what they’ve sold, nervously eyeing-up the manufacturer’s sale targets, and realising they need to shift all the bikes on the showroom floor before the influx of new bikes for 2021 makes them as desirable as velvet trousers. There’s no better time to get a seriously hot deal on new metal. And it’s also a great time to buy a pre-loved machine, for exactly the same reasons. We’ll take loads of…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’S expert technician 1 Lift up and remove Tyres aren’t exactly uniform around the circumference and have heavy spots in certain areas. If weights aren’t applied to the opposing side, you’ll notice severe vibrations as you ride. Balancing is taken care of when you have new tyres fitted, but it’s also a job that you can do at home with lowcost kit and a bit of skill. First, put the bike on stands and remove the wheels. 2 Slip in the spindle All you need is a static wheel balancer and some sticky wheel weights. A simple static balancer costs about £40 and comes with three or four different sized spindles. Select the appropriate spindle and insert it through the wheel’s bearings then mount the wheel in the…

Just eight seconds after the starting lights went out for Race 1, BMW’s euphoria of a first ever 1-2 qualifying was replaced with utter dismay as both Tom Sykes and pole-sitter Eugene Laverty crashed at the opening corner. The incident was triggered by Barcelona podium finisher Garrett Gerloff as contact with Sykes caused the Brit to crash, the bike collecting his team-mate. After Sykes made a hand gesture of disgust on live TV, both he and Laverty made scathing remarks about the American. “I’m really angry,” stated Laverty, who suffered a light leg injury. “It’s unforgivable. In a wet race, to come in at that angle is not smart.” “Thoughtless and reckless,” was Sykes’ description. “The line was closed. I’m disappointed, frustrated and angry that another rider puts me on…

Jam packed with twists, turns, undulations and stunning scenery, the Brecon Beacons is a mecca for bikers from far and wide. Our journey begins in Aberdare, where, when Covid-19 rules permit, the park will once again come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of road racing. We head out of the town centre and aim for Merthyr Tydfil, as we join the A470, to turn north, and follow signs to Nant-ddu and on to Libanus. Here the road will lead directly to Brecon and if you fancy a quick tea stop, there’s a chance to explore the pretty town, or, if you prefer, turn onto the A40 towards Llanspyddid. You’re on the northern edge of the Beacons and the road twists through to Sennybridge and into Llandovery. At the…

Start off from the filling station on the A153 to the east of RAF Coningsby. Take the A155 from the roundabout and enjoy a meander across open farmland to East Kirkby, where you’ll find the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. At West Keal turn left to follow the A16 to the Ulceby Cross roundabout, then take the second exit for Louth and the A1104. The twisties will unfold beyond Alford where the road wriggles around what was once RAF Strubby; be sure to turn left at Maltby Le Marsh for the A157. You’ll rejoin the A16 just after Kenwick – head towards Boston, take the first exit at the Elkington roundabout and bear right for the A361. Keep a look out for the little black and white rural signpost for the…

This ride starts at Junction 51 on the A1(M), signposted A684 Bedale. Take the A684 in the direction of Bedale and a newly-opened bypass will whisk you away from the madness of the motorway; turn right at the roundabout towards Leyburn and after a mile or so there’ll be an opportunity to top up for the duration in Little Crakehall. Kinked straights blend into long sweepers as the road quickly evolves, but take note of the warning sign as you pass Akebar Park – the crossroads ahead is blind following a downhill left/right twist, so be aware. Turn left in Leyburn by the Bolton Arms to ride the tarmac snake that glides along the valley. Flick right to left over Bishopdale Beck, then duck and dive among the encroaching hills…

NEWS EDITOR Multiple world and British speed record holder Zef Eisenberg has tragically lost his life in an accident during a record attempt at Elvington airfield. Zef, 47, was a businessman, TV presenter and keen motorsport competitor, having amassed more than 70 speed records across two wheeled and four wheeled disciplines. As a young man, Zef was a keen bodybuilder and founded the Maximuscle supplement brand in 1995. He built the business over 15 years, ultimately selling it to pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKlein for £162million. Just one year later, he founded the Madmax racing team with a vision of building the fastest racing machines possible. This pioneering spirit resulted in considerable personal success with his records including the fastest turbine powered bike (234mph), the fastest naked bike (225.6mph) and the fastest…

Back in September 2019 we rated the LS2 Challenger at 5-stars for quality and value and now we’ve snagged one worth £299 to give away! This helmet has a 100% carbon shell, offering safety, comfort and practicality for both road and track, in an ultra-lightweight package. Designed and developed in LS2’s European HQ in Barcelona, with input from MotoGP riders, the Challenger features the latest race technology offering high penetration resistance and energy dispersion, yet weighs in at just 1350g. The helmet is both ACU Gold and ECE 22.05 certified for track and road use. The Challenger has a quick-release, 3D Optically Correct visor, which is ready to accept tear-offs, and comes with a Pinlock Max Vision Anti Fog System as standard and is also fitted with a flip-down sun…

WHAT’S NEW IN TECH You might think of Gore-Tex – as used in Charley and Ewan’s kit for their latest TV epic – as a bit of a wonder material. It magically stops water getting in while letting sweat get out. But you might not know it was discovered almost entirely by accident in 1969 and that the formula has remained virtually the same ever since. Panning for gold Gore-Tex is made up of three layers: the inner material, the Gore-Tex membrane itself and the outer material, sometimes known as a ‘face fabric’. The central membrane in the sandwich is the key part of the puzzle and it’s what does most of the work. That central layer is made from polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE for short. You might know it by…

Some people are going to say that the 2020 MotoGP championship doesn’t count as much as other years because it’s been so disrupted, but that’s not true. Whoever wins will be world champion. It hasn’t been a full season with the flyaways, but it’s still absolutely credible. On one hand you’d think that having such a weird season would favour the experienced guys, but it seems like it’s worked the other way round. I think one reason why the less experienced riders have been so fast is because they do what they’re told! If a rider like Quartararo or Mir gets told by their engineer that this is the way to ride it, they just go out and do it. They haven’t got the experience to say they want something…

It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A- and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. ROUTE 1 122.73 miles of fast-flowing A and B-roads ROUTE 2 126.94 miles of open A and B-roads and towns ROUTE 3 117.88 miles of big A roads and motorway WEATHER WATCH Overcast with rain, 11 degrees, 15mph westerly…

ROAD TESTER The Superveloce is a stunning bike that easily puts the Thruxton RS in the shade. The attention to detail, the styling, everything about the MV is beautiful - but you pay for this in terms of its ride. This is a bike for sunny days, light traffic and smooth roads as its suspension is harsh, the riding position uncomfortable at anything under 60mph and the motor aggressive and angry. However, when the moment is right it is fantastic to ride and makes you feel a million dollars. Calling the Thruxton utilitarian would be harsh but the truth is that this is a good-looking day-to-day café racer that is easy to ride whatever the conditions. If you accept that life with the MV won’t be plain sailing it rewards…

Shark Race R Pro Carbon £649.99 I’ve had the lid for about four years and I was lucky enough to grab one of the original Zarco reps. I love the fit and the wide view. Hannah Leigh, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man Shoei GT Air 2 £549.99 I’ve been wearing GT Airs for the last six years. They work well and they fit. Freddie Sheddington, Uppingham AGV K5-S Guy Martin rep £299.99 I like having the internal sun visor and love the hawkish shell shape. Julia Mundy, Norwich Arai RX 7 £789.99 I had it fitted so it’s comfortable but I do always make sure I wear earplugs. It is light and well vented. Paula Holmes, Derbyshire Schuberth E1 £599.99 I wore Arai for years then tried the Schuberth. It’s…

When your dealer fits a brand new tyre to your wheel, making sure it’s balanced will be part of the service. To save them time, they’ll be using a high-end, automated balancer like a ProBike K22, which costs around £2500. But if you want to learn the skill of balancing wheels and tyres at home, you don’t need to go to the same expense, all you need is a basic static balancer which can be picked up for around £40 – and some even come complete with a few strips of wheel weights, too. This means that if you’re fitting your own tyres at home, the balancer would’ve paid for itself the first time you use it. Having said that, although simple in design, a static balancer does need to…

MICHAEL SCOTT Inside MotoGP for 34 years One short of century of wins, one place short of a sixth world title. But rainy-day Rea can still count last weekend at Magny Cours as yet another triumph. The championship may not be numerically certain, but it remains a cinch for a rider who has surpassed Barry Sheene and Carl Fogarty to rival Hailwood as Britain’s GOAT. It’s still a pity he didn’t take make it a triple weekend, as he did three times last year and again at Portimao in 2020. Not because it would have clinched the crown, but to preserve that Hailwood-like achievement of three wins at a single meeting. Mike did it twice in GPs. In East Germany in 1963, he beat the Hondas on Saturday on the…