RiDE April 2020의 목차

‘It’s all buying once – and buying right’ With spring starting next month (honest), a new riding season is almost upon us. And for many of us, that means it’s time to make a few sneaky purchases. Depending on what you can get away with from the other half, this could range from a pair of gloves to, if you’re lucky, a new bike. This issue of RiDE is dedicated to helping you get the most from that purchase. We’ve done the research on the top 20 used bikes in the country, grilled experts on kit and found some of the best deals going right now — I think we’ve got the bases covered and there will be more next month, too. This isn’t about buying cut-price rubbish but instead,…

Triumph’s new Street Triple S will cost a reasonable £7900. Unlike the R and RS, the S has a smaller-capacity 660cc triple, with peak power of 94bhp at 11,250rpm. It can also be restricted to 47bhp for an A2 licence. The biggest update comes to the styling. That means new LED headlights that throw a whiter beam plus new positioning lights. Despite being modestly priced, the spec isn’t bad, with Showa separate- function forks and a piggyback shock. Brakes are Nissin and Brembo while tyres are Pirelli Diablo Rosso IIIs. It gets two riding modes plus some basic rider assists.…

IF YOU’RE PLANNING on a long-haul destination for your ride, or your trip is more than three or four weeks long, using your own bike can be more cost effective than renting one. And while it’s feasible to ride your bike all the way to South Africa or India, South America or Australia need a bit more thought. Riding your own bike also comes with the added bonus that although in unfamiliar territory, you’ll be on a familiar machine, ready for the journey. It will also become a personal souvenir, displaying every scratch, sticker and adornment it will pick up along the way. Shipping your bike somewhere isn’t that difficult these days. Here’s how: Red tape First things first — you need to sort the paperwork. To temporarily export your…

I represent the Tigers Children’s Motorcycle Display Team, which was founded and remains based in Hampshire. We are heading into our 40th anniversary season and beginning a campaign to locate as many former members as possible. We are a team comprised of young people aged 5 to 16 years, formed to teach children to ride and perform stunts safely. We are run voluntarily by the parents of the riders. During the winter months, we train in Gosport, Hampshire then in summer, we tour the UK performing displays. We are a non-profit organisation and donate sums of money (raised through show bookings) to children’s charities each season. Last year we raised around £8000 in total. We love inspiring youngsters to get into biking and our shows appeal to all ages. Can…

THE FACTS Cost £13,000 Engine sohc, parallel twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Capacity 1200cc Power 103bhp @ 7500rpm Torque 83lb·ft @ 4250rpm Fuel tank 13.7 litres Seat height 810mm Wheelbase 1415mm Weight 197kg (dry) Rider aids ABS, 3 riding modes, TC TRIUMPH’S NEW RANGE-TOPPING £13,000 Thruxton RS is more than just a Thruxton R with a few fancy bits thrown on. Good job, too, at that price! Based on the brilliant R, the RS keeps all of its good stuff; the polished top yoke, stainless tank strap, Brembos, fully adjustable twin piggyback Öhlins and Showa Big Piston Forks. It retains the old-school Smiths-style analogue clocks, lightweight 32-spoke wheels, sleek exhausts (that cleverly hide the cats) and carb-shaped throttle bodies. What is new, however, is the power output — there is…

FOR A LONG time, Triumph’s Street Triple played the impetuous, exuberant Luke to the Speed Triple’s veteran, esteemed Obi-Wan. But in recent years the ‘junior’ model has grown up and turned more serious, the Street evolving a racier riding position, a larger and more-powerful 765cc motor, and a heap of electronic cleverness. This year the gap between Street and Speed closes tighter still, the 2020 Street RS gaining a stronger motor, sharper styling and even more hi-tech treats. And yet despite this, the Street RS’s price hasn’t increased, meaning it’s £3300 less than its flagship Speed Triple sibling. Has the student now taken over from the master? Performance Ridden on its own, the Street Triple RS’s 765cc motor gives no sense of being any kind of lesser, smaller, inferior choice.…

This is an excruciatingly close comparison. If that sounds like a lazy cop-out, we promise it isn’t. Both are genuinely superb machines in their own right. The new Street Triple is a definite improvement over the 2019 bike, filling in the previous RS’s midrange and feeling more like the gutsier R model. It’s what the RS should have been all along. Firm and aggressive, the Street remains at its best in experienced hands but novices will still find it welcoming and useable. Forget the potentially condescending ‘middleweight’ tag — the Street is simply a belting motorcycle, irrespective of capacity. However... ride the two bikes back- to-back for several hundred miles and it’s clear the Speed Triple still offers a more complete riding experience. It’s even more characterful, thanks to its…

WHEN RiDE WAS in its infancy in the late 1990s, buying riding kit and accessories could be a tricky business. Leathers masquerading as grand-prix-spec protection tore apart at little more than bicycle speeds. ‘Unbreakable’ locks and chains could be smashed or drilled in seconds. Waterproof meant, well, absolutely nothing. And, famously, RiDE’s product testers once found that a pair of welder’s gloves offered more abrasion resistance than some top-of-the-range Italian racewear. Thankfully, times have changed. Today we live in a golden age of aftermarket shopping, in which we have rarely been so informed or had so much choice. One look at our pampered motorcycles confirms this is a wonderful time to be in need of an upgrade. Dodgy dealers and under-whelming products are still out there, of course, often lurking…

All riding kit must be CE (Conformité Européenne - European conformity) approved to be sold in the UK. The older standard was EN 13595 and rated the impact-protective ability of the garment’s armour only. In 2018, riding gear became classed as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and a new standard introduced, prEN 17092 (the pr means provisional, as it still hasn’t been finalised), which rates the protection in the event of both an impact and sliding. The key is the CE label — the older version (above left) will specify the standard, the area and the category and level of impact protection only. However, the new rating system is becoming more common as manufacturers introduce it ahead of its eventual compulsory adoption and rates both impact and abrasion resistance, as well…

BEST PCP DEAL 2019 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade What it is 0% finance as well as £2000 off the RRP What makes it great With the launch of the all-new 2020 Fireblade, Honda is desperately trying to shift old stock with 0% interest on three-year PCP and HP finance packages, alongside a £2000 price cut that is disguised as a ‘dealer and Honda contribution.’ It may be on the 2019 bike but for road riders, this could prove the better Blade as the new model is higher-revving and more track-focused. A new Blade for £99 a month on PCP after a £2749.51 deposit? Tempting… Also consider The retro 2018 CB1000R is also on three-year 0% finance with a £1500 contribution and it only gets new lights for 2020. BEST NEW-BIKE DEAL…

Away from the showroom, check how much material is left on the brake pads; if the discs are getting thin; how much tread is on the tyres and if the chain adjusters are right at the end of their travel, hinting the chain is worn out. Replacing these consumable items can make what appears a budget bike suddenly very expensive. And the same goes for its suspension, so bounce the forks and wipe a bit of tissue over the seals to see if any oil is escaping and see if the shock’s adjuster ring turns or is seized. Then check for crash damage, as its role as a newer rider’s machine often sees them dropped. Walk to the back of the bike and look to see if the subframe is…

THE YAMAHA FJR is a monster of a thing, with a reputation as a fearsome mile-muncher and I’m looking forward to running it for the remaining three months of winter. It’s a deceptive beast — it looks sleek and lithe but it’s 292kg wet, so man-handling it or low-speed manoeuvres need care and a fair bit of brute strength. Having said that, the two-position adjustable seat is low enough that I can get both feet on the ground and by the time you’re able to get both feet on the pegs, it feels like a completely different animal. It flows, leans, steers, goes and stops easily and without drama. You just have to remember how much mass is between you and terra firma. The 1298cc inline four makes short work…

‘The calm Scrambler keeps up with the frantic Honda’ DEEP BREATH, CLENCH teeth, here we go… No matter how many times I do it, taking a massive adventure bike off-road still fills me with a gut-tingling mix of excitement and nerves. Those first few metres are the worst, kissing goodbye to predictable asphalt and embracing deceitful dirt. No idea what grip there’ll be, no idea how tricky the terrain is, no idea if you’ll make the end of the lane unscathed, and no idea how you’ll fix it if you don’t. But conquering the challenge leaves you walking tall for days. Today I’m reintroducing the Scrambler 1200 to the mucky stuff. Back in May we completed the Wales 500 rally. In June we rode Yorkshire’s Rudland Rigg. Today should be…

‘I enjoyed a 425-mile rideout to the Elan Valley and back with the Ducati Owners Club, West Midlands. It was almost eight hours in the saddle!’ Andy Main ‘I went for a ride around the Lammermuir Hills in southern Scotland, on my trusty BMW K75 and couldn’t resist a photo.’ Mike Taylor ‘Overlooking Loch Droma, in Scotland, from a viewing spot on the A835 heading towards Ullapool on my Triumph Tiger 1200.’ Michael Pumfrey ‘Enjoying a two-up tour of Lanzarote with partner Martin Shipley. We’re also touring the Black Forest, Spain and Gran Canaria later this year.’ Julie Lench ‘Sitting on my new bike, which husband Andy bought me for Christmas. I can’t wait to head off-road on the Welsh lanes.’ Lorraine Thomas Sign up now! www.facebook.com/#ride5000miles…

LOOK AT THE raw licence data from the DVSA and apart from a few blips, the number of people passing their test is actually on the rise. However, they’re older riders coming to biking later in life — there are just as many licence holders over 59 as there are under it. In fact, if you stretch the data out even further, for every single current full Cat A licence holder in the UK under 30, there are 35 times as many over 30. But why? Damning data “The core numbers of bikers are there but the real young people have dropped away,” says Nick Broomhall, Spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Association. “Young people have been moving away from biking for a while but the numbers have been propped up…

HJC has launched a stack of affordable lids for 2020. The C-70 Koro is based on the existing IS-17 and features an improved aerodynamic design and a new sun visor. Priced at £149.99, it’s in two shell sizes and various colours. HJC has also revealed the CS-15 Tarex, which is even cheaper at £89.99. It comes in three sets of graphics and sizes XS to XXL. The quick-release visor can accommodate an anti-fog insert and there’s also a glasses groove too.…

I was intrigued by the RiDE investigation in the last issue about parts prices. For years I’ve been stunned by the prices of some parts — I recently dropped my VFR800 and had to pay £35 for a lens and was quoted £95 for the indicator socket! And while I do feel that prices should be lower, it is just the same in the car world — spares aren’t cheap and we need to face up to that as the infrastructure behind them means they never will be. In the past I’ve tried Chinese bits and pieces for previous bikes and found quality to be variable, though the eBay seller Auctmarts seemed to provide good-quality bodywork for not a huge outlay for most sporty bikes — they did a great…

THE FACTS Cost From £9825 Engine dohc parallel twin, 270˚ crank, 4v per cyl Capacity 895cc Power 105bhp @ 8500rpm (claimed) Torque 68 lb·ft @ 6500rpm (claimed) Fuel tank 15.5 litres Seat height 825mm (high and low options) Wheelbase 1521mm Weight 219kg (wet, claimed) Rider aids ASC, ABS, modes (optional quickshifter, dynamic TC, corner ABS, cornering lights) IMAGINE A BIKE halfway between a GS and an S1000XR. That’s pretty much the new F900XR. Proportions, stance and rumbling engine give a convincing hint of BMW’s adventure bikes, while road-focused manners, agility and composure are reminiscent of its ballistic sports-tourer. And it’s as good as it sounds. The F900XR is based around the parallel twin from the F850GS but with a 2mm wider bore to increase displacement from 853 to 895cc. With…

THE FACTS Cost £24,795 Engine dohc 90° V4, 4v per cyl, l/c Capacity 1103cc Power 211bhp @ 13,000 rpm Torque 92lb·ft @ 10,000rpm Fuel capacity 16 litres Seat height 835mm Wheelbase 1465mm Weight 195kg (kerb) Rider aids Traction/wheelie/slide control, cornering ABS, launch control, quickshifter/autoblipper, engine braking management THE 2020 PANIGALE V4S is the classic second-generation European superbike: all the good bits from the first one, but everything owners moaned about fixed. Ducati focused on making the 200bhp V4 less intimidating for ordinary riders, on track or on the road. So with this in mind, the relationship between the twistgrip and the throttle butterflies has been made more predictable, and in gears one to three, torque is metered out more gradually to make it less ferocious. It doesn’t make any more…

IMAGINE A GREAT ride in Scotland and, like us all, you’d probably tick off the NC500, Applecross, Glen Coe, Cairngorms... basically, anything above a line between Glasgow and Edinburgh is almost certainly a great place to go ride a motorbike. But as anyone who’s visited the Highlands knows, there’s a whole heap of Scotland to ride across first — and in our rush to get north and chase the big-name locations, it’s often and mistakenly overlooked. Scotland’s softer, southerly topographies have a lot to offer. The Southern Uplands — made up of Dumfries and Galloway, and The Borders — cheerfully ignores national boundaries, crossing into Northumberland in a broad swathe of low mountains, hillsides, moorland and wooded glens. They trace the Anglo/Scots boundary from Berwick-upon-Tweed on the east coast, encompassing…

BEST FOR RACING HISTORY Hawick Museum, Wilton Lodge Park Permanent exhibitions showcasing the life of Steve Hislop and Jimmie Guthrie, as well as collections of art and local history. Price of entry Free liveborders.org.uk/culture/museums/ our-museums/hawick-museum Hermitage Castle, Newcastleton Impressively forbidding and with a long history of violence, the castle is worth a visit for a sobering reminder of a bloody past. Price of entry £6 historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/ hermitage-castle Carter Bar Popular layby on the A68 straddling the Anglo/ Scots border across the Cheviots — and scene of the Raid of the Redeswire in 1575; the last battle between the two nations. Price of entry Free scotlandinfo.eu/england-scotland-bordercarter-bar BEST FOR VIEWS BEST FOR PERSPECTIVE…

MOTORCYCLING IS A tribal game. From favourite racers (Rossi! Marquez!) to preferred brands (Honda! BMW!) to specific styles (Sportsbike! Adventure!), we’re subject to our prejudices and loyalties every time we even think about bikes. But what’s the origin of all these elements that make up who we are as riders? Where do all the influences and forces that shape and mould us into a sportsbike nut, or an adventure geek, come from? And what happens when we swap them over? To find out, RiDE has assembled a team of six riders and two bikes; three riders are devout adventure-bike advocates who’ll be riding Ducati’s Panigale V4 and three are pure sportsbike nuts who’ll be sampling life on Ducati’s Multistrada 1260 S. The plan is to explore their biking backgrounds for…

‘Phenomenal. But I couldn’t own one’ Andy Welbourn, 52 Current bike BMW R1200 GS Adventure Bike history Yamaha 125, Yamaha XT600 Ténéré, Honda 900 Hornet Why adventure bikes? “I had a 25-mile commute, so there was an element of practicality and the XT600 fitted me — at 6ft 3in with a 36in inside leg. When I was 17, I went to a bike shop and sat on a Suzuki GSX-R1100 and I literally didn’t fit on it. So I went for a Dakar-style, sit-up-and-beg machine. “But also I don’t think you can find anywhere on the roads these days to do the kind of speeds you need to do any justice to a performance bike. Even the old GS Adventure I’ve got has plenty of performance on the road. And…

‘Adventure lids are incredibly complex bits of kit’ ADVENTURE LIDS ARE incredibly complex bits of kit — something that was highlighted during out test. And unlike some tests, the results were very close, with just six points covering the best and worst lids. Why was this? As adventure helmets are a relatively new trend, many manufacturers have started from scratch, using new design techniques. This is something that isn’t always the case with road lids, as some brands often retain a certain style or way of producing a road lid. Due to this, manufacturers have ensured their lids tick every box, leading to similar results. There are a few areas that some stand out but generally speaking, they are all fairly close. But there is always a winner and in…

1 Demonstrate your change in speed Rather than just rolling off the power and using engine braking to slow down into speed-limited areas, Ian suggested using the brake as it helps alert other road users of your change in speed. When going from 60mph to 30mph, not everyone is as vigilant and it’s a great safety tip. 2 Bubble of protection Ian describes what he calls a ‘safety bubble’, which is an imaginary zone surrounding your bike and the aim is to keep any potential dangers outside by altering your road position. If, for example, a lorry is coming the other way you move to the left-hand side of your lane, while parked cars are given extra room by moving to the right in case a door opens. It’s simple…

It’s part of Norton’s fraught past, present and future Founded in 1898, Norton stopped producing its ever-decreasing range of bikes in the 1990s, though there were attempts to revive it. US Norton tuner Kenny Dreer acquired the brand and ended up making his own Commandos but the business wasn’t successful and the rights were bought by Brit Stuart Garner. Since 2010 Garner’s team has been producing re-engineered versions of the original concept from Donington. Sadly, as RiDE went to press, the firm had fallen into administration. Don’t expect it to feel modern Dreer’s pushrod air-cooled parallel twin can trace its lineage back to Norton’s post-war designs and although modernised by Garner’s Norton, it feels like a ‘classic’ and about at its limit producing 80bhp. Slow to rev, it’s happier thudding…

THE HILL IS steep. Water streamed down it overnight, and it’s frozen; a slippery sheet kerb-to-kerb for 20 yards. I’ll cope with one wheel on ice, but both at once, up a hill... sod that. I paddle around and head back. A weekend in the Peaks at the tail end of winter has its challenges. Honda’s 2020 Africa Twin is all new and kinda looks the same — still a stunner though. The engine is bigger and more powerful, with new internals. The frame is modified for more flex and feel, with new swingarm and subframe. Bodywork is new. Updated electronics include flagship IMU control over traction control, engine braking, cornering ABS, cornering lights, cruise control and semi-active suspension if fitted. The dash is a customisable touchscreen. Heated grips are…

Lake Obersee, Germany A group of us from Norwich rode to Italy for the MotoGP (note the 46 sticker) last summer. It took eight days there and back and this picture was taken by the stunning Lake Obersee. Matty Fitch Nepal I have recently returned from the adventure of a lifetime, riding Royal Enfield Himalayans in Nepal. Nothing can prepare you for the roads (or lack of); the traffic of Kathmandu; the people; the scenery and facing Dal bhat (lentil curry) for every meal! Life will never be the same again and the bikes were perfect for the challenges we faced. Aside from the Dal bhat... Terry Rose Yorkshire Dales National Park I couldn’t resist pulling over and snapping the bike in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales on the way to…

WITH SEVEN KIDS at home clamouring for attention, Steve Holmes hasn’t always got time to indulge himself with the long trips he loves: “Fortunately I still like riding on my own doorstep! Living in the south east, you really do need to search for good routes but with a bit of bedtime reading and research, you can put a really good ride together.” This particular route is part of a longer ride that Steve usually does as a day trip, with lunch over the channel at Le Touquet in France. ‘This is the best section on the UK side and it contrasts perfectly with the D940 coast road in France – I’ll show you that one day too!” We’ll look forward to that but for now, we meet up near…

JUST AS RiDE went to press it was announced that Norton Motorcycles had gone into administration, putting 100 jobs at risk and striking fear into the scores of bikers who have put down deposits on the British machines. The Donington firm, which was revived in 2008 by Brit Stuart Garner, was recently battling a winding-up order from HMRC over £300,000 in unpaid taxes. Late last year, it started a crowdfunding campaign to help finances. Garner claimed the firm had a bulging order book but needed crowdfunding to help finance it. However, the offer was withdrawn after a day when it was claimed a backer appeared. None of this seems to have been enough to rescue the company from its current plight though. Lee Causer, of administrators BDO, told the BBC:…

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman have finished riding a pair of electric Harley-Davidson LiveWires up through the Americas for a new TV series. The route went from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Los Angeles, California in the USA. Once they got into the US, charging stations were apparently plentiful, enabling them to up their average daily distance to 300 miles from around 150 in the south. For much of the journey they were followed by petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, which ferried battery packs around. The show should air sometime in the spring of 2020.…

QI WAS INVOLVED in a fairly minor off when a driver failed to give way. Speed has been alleged against me. I have an action camera which shows I was not speeding. Unfortunately it also shows prior to the collision, I had made some very lively overtakes, gone over a few solid white lines and had been doing about 85mph in a 60 zone. I went with a claims management company and was provided with a replacement motorcycle which I was reassured I would never have to pay for. My solicitors have said that if the driver’s insurers do not pay for the repairs to my bike and a massive hire charge for the replacement bike and ancillary fees (running just shy of £20,000) then I will have to sue…

You don’t need the upgraded spec Standard spec is good, with adjustable screen, LED headlights (new ‘more yellow’ light that’s closer to sunshine), ASC (basic traction), ABS, proper pillion grab handles, multifunction switchgear and a colour TFT dash loaded with trip data. It also has connectivity — download the app to your smartphone, link-up via Bluetooth and the dash can show turn-by-turn navigation. Or record your trip info to your phone. Screen is simply ace The screen has two heights, with a big enough difference to make a difference — low allows enough breeze to feel like a bike without being hard work, and high knocks away the blast and draws rain off your visor. The best bit is the adjustment lever, though. The simple action is easy, satisfying and…

Best for History and geography Length 200 miles Route Ponteland to Corbridge via Carter Bar, Hawick, Moffat and Kielder Roads A696, A68, A6088, B711, B709, A708, B7009, A7, B6399, B6357, A68 again Love it because Most tourist traffic bypasses the Southern Uplands heading further north, so it’s one of the quietest areas of Scotland; dramatic scenery and loads of room to ride any bike at any time of year Take a picture at Carter Bar at the border crossing; Hizzy’s memorial in Hawick; anywhere along Moffatdale; and Kielder is pretty impressive too Stop for a cuppa at Rocky Road café in Bellingham — open all year round and the hot chocolate is worth the wait ALSO TRY... B-Road Bliss Best for Roman roads, a Buddhist temple and blooming heather Length…

‘Really easy to handle and a great laugh’ Mike Mace, 29 Current bike Triumph Daytona 675 Bike history Suzuki TS50, Suzuki SV650 x 6, Kawasaki ZX-6R x 3, Triumph Daytona 955i, various race bikes, Yamaha R6 x 4, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Triumph TT600, Triumph Daytona 650... etc Why sportsbikes? “Adventure bikes look big, bulky and top heavy — great if you want to go and do 3000 miles around Spain but if you’re going out for a blast, they don’t look like they’re going to give you the excitement a sportsbike will, with the speed and ability to get round corners. They’re designed for a different job. With that and my racing, they just never meant anything to me.” After riding the Multistrada “I’ve never ridden an adventure bike and it’s…

IT’S SLIGHTLY SURPRISING that in a selection of six riders, we’ve managed to immediately find perfect illustrations of the forces that shape us as riders. The first thing to note is the average age of the adventure riders is higher, suggesting sportsbikes are a young rider’s game. And clearly there’s an argument about being physically fit enough to get on and ride a 200bhp litre sportsbike, and how the iniquities of time persuade us perhaps a more upright riding position might be preferable. Matt and Mike are still young enough to get a kick from pure speed and performance, although Matt is now thinking of moving halfway, onto a BMW S1000XR. Mike, though, still sees sportsbikes as the ultimate expressions of the best handling and the best engines. Feeling comfortable…

ADVENTURE BIKE SALES are on a high, with more and more riders turning to these high-bar do-it-all bikes for their two- wheeled transport. And this gradual change in motorcycle style also often necessitates a swap in kit as adventure bikes open up a whole new riding proposition — with many deciding a peaky lid is the way to go. But choosing the right one can be a minefield. Pick the wrong one for you and you can end up with your neck wrenched by poor aerodynamics as the peak battles the wind flow on the motorway, or sweating away with poor airflow if you ever head down a green-lane or get stuck in traffic. And that’s aside from the normal helmet buying factors like noise, stability, venting and comfort. With…

MY TRAINING SCHOOL is quite unique because of my background as an examiner with both the IAM and RoSPA,” explains Ian Speight, as we meet in a café before our day together. “A lot of riders come to me who want to do a RoSPA or IAM test but don’t necessarily want to go down the group route due to time constrains. I can cover in an intensive day what may take several weeks or even months with a group, due to the time involved. I can tell the pupil confidently afterwards if they are up to the standard required to pass their advanced riding test. I also get riders who are doing their IAM or RoSPA test again and want a refresher, those returning to riding and people who…

2006–2016 | £13300-£4800 | 120mph | 71bhp THE KAWASAKI ER-6n is one of the success stories of the middleweight class that often fails to receive the recognition it deserves. This quirky-looking parallel twin broke the mould both in terms of styling and the capacity and format of its engine when it was launched in 2006 and throughout the next decade, was a huge seller. And not only in its naked ER-6n guise, it was soon followed by the fully-faired ER-6f and even the Versys 650, which owes much of its bare bones to the original ER model. Initially released in 2006, it was subsequently updated in 2009 through changes to its styling and chassis (the new clocks containing a white-faced rev counter are the most noticeable difference). Then in 2012…

OUR MULTISTRADA 950 S has had a tough life and is seriously well-travelled. It has been to Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man — and done so via the fast group of a Snetterton trackday and a bunch of Cambridgeshire green lanes. During that time, it’s been an engaging conveyance with sweet handling and enough Italian soul to compliment its practicality. New for 2019, the 950 S was conceived to offer the premium experience of the high-end 1260 Multi with the fizz and fun of a smaller bike. It’s certainly got the toys but we all know there is more to a bike than that. This is what we learned... 1 It’s been a master of flexibility The Multi has coped with everything from 30°C mid-summer swelterers to the…

Put stainless steel (spokes) and aluminium (rims) together, as on the Africa Twin, add some mild steel (nipples) and electrolyte (water) and you have all the ingredients for galvanic corossion. Two different metals in contact will always result in corrosion and in our case, there are early signs already. The process is sped up by the presence of salt on the roads, and the only real remedy is to remove moisture from the equation with a corrosion preventer.…

Bike 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure Total miles 67,852 Rider Dave Wilson Age 50 Miles per year 20,000 I LIVE IN Somerset but commute to London as well as client meetings all around the UK, so I rack up some fairly high miles. When you consider a train pass is £800 a month and congestion is a nightmare in London, a bike is by far the best option. I need to know I can put it away filthy and it’ll start the next day. “I don’t want my bike to be just a tool, I also want a bit of spirit in it and that’s why I ended up with the KTM. I tried a KTM 990 SMT and after testing one, the dealer suggested I also try the 1190 Adventure.…