Tabla de contenidos para August 2023 en RiDE

The naked bike class is currently red-hot, with 10,902 bikes sold in the 12 months to the end of May 2023, an increase of 9.7% over the previous 12 months. This is because of some highly anticipated new bikes hitting the showrooms, such as the all-new Honda Hornet (which sold 271 models in March alone), the Suzuki GSX-8S and the updated Triumph Street Triple range. In fact, the Street Triple RS – traditionally the most popular model – topped the sales charts in May (its month of release), selling 188 units in that month alone. It has to be noted, however, that 125s are included in the overall naked bike sales figure, with the Honda CB125F significantly bolstering the numbers.…

The suspension is incredible The WP XPLOR suspension set-up feels nothing short of incredible. But the real beauty of it is that it can tackle abuse on-road just as much as it can off it without the need to reach for your toolkit and tape measure to adjust settings. Beat that for user-friendliness. Tyres work on road AND dirt Considering how brutal and knobbly the Mitas ENDURO TRAIL+ tyres look, they offer an impressive level of feel and feedback on tarmac, certainly in the dry. In mud, they perform as well as their appearance suggests – exceptionally. You have to pay to keep the tech Equipped with Demo mode, the Adventure R gives new owners the functionality of a ‘Tech Pack’, which includes cruise control, quickshifter and Rally mode (a…

The arrival of the new Suzuki V-Strom 800DE, hard on the heels of the Honda Transalp, a reintroduced KTM 790 Adventure and others, has suddenly turned the revived middleweight adventure category into one of the most competitive, and possibly confusing, of all. But after initially appearing that the new V-Strom would neither match the performance nor value of the Honda, the reality is extremely different. Its impressively grunty, flexible and characterful twin-cylinder motor more than compensates for any lacking top-end, and benefits from a slick quickshifter. Its roomy proportions, tall roadster stance and sweet handling make it a fun, edgy road bike and its off-road credentials are better than many. It’s not perfect – its screen in particular is pitiful. But it’s a welcome alternative in the class; is more…

BEST FOR WATERFALLS Glenmacnass waterfall Set on the southern side of the Wicklow mountains just off the R115, the waterfall has a layby at the top for access – then it’s a short walk down the road for a stunning look back at the drop. Price of entry Free visitwicklow.ie/listing/glenmacnass-waterfall BEST FOR HISTORY Dunbrody famine ship Tour an authentic 1840s emigrant ship moored on the river, and get an ‘interactive’ experience with period crew members. Price of entry Free dunbrody.com BEST FOR RAMPARTS Cahir Castle One of the country’s largest and best-preserved castles, built in the 13th century and survivor of several sieges – as well as the Excalibur movie in the early 1980s. Price of entry Free heritageireland.ie…

STILL (A BIT) CRAZY Aprilia Tuono V4 ❯ 173bhp ❯ 209kg ❯ £15,500 Something of a reformed lunatic, its most recent update saw it gain a raft of sensible upgrades – yet it will still gladly launch you at the horizon alongside an addictive soundtrack. BEST OF BOTH Suzuki GSX-S1000 ❯ 150bhp ❯ 214kg ❯ £11,665 Neatly straddles the line between old-school and modern tech, blending a gutsy motor with just enough contemporary comforts – for a cracking price. Solid spec includes adjustable suspension, radial Brembos and two-way quickshifter. IT COSTS HOW MUCH…? Honda CB750 Hornet ❯ 91bhp ❯ 190kg ❯ £6999 Deceptively potent twin packed into an agile chassis, with an impressive roster of electronic assistance and a wrecking-ball price that must leave rivals despairing. Inspires confidence in newer…

Muc-Off AirTag holder £50 muc-off.com THE CLAIM “The Muc-Off Secure AirTag Holder For Powersports offers a secure way to install an Apple AirTag to your ride, so you can track down or keep tabs on your pride and joy using the FindMy app.” THE REALITY This AirTag holder is beautifully made and comes with high-security fixings and spares to securely mount an AirTag to your bike. It’s a basic form of locator in case your bike gets nicked but, for the price of a couple of tanks of juice, you can check in on it any time. Quadlock Mag battery pack £54.99 quadlockcase.co.uk THE CLAIM “Power on the go with the fast-charging Quad Lock MAG. The 5000mAh battery provides fast wireless charging for your phone.” THE REALITY If you have…

HOW MUCH TO INSURE? £134.30 Fully comp, £800 excess £99.50 TPF&T, £850 excess 2018 model, worth £5000. Based on a 52-year-old male engineer, married, licence held 8 years, 9 years NCB, no claims or convictions, for social, domestic and pleasure use. Bike is garaged with postcode of WA14 1NU and annual mileage 5000. Quote as of 24 June 2023. HOW FAR ON A TANK? HOW MUCH TO SERVICE IT? First service/600 miles Oil and filter change, £154.45 Minor service/8000 miles As above plus general inspection, £312.85 Major service/16,000 miles As above plus air filter and spark plug change and valve clearance inspection (adjustment if needed), £762.50. Additional: brake fluid change every 24 months (£144 plus fluid cost); coolant change every 36 months (£144 plus coolant cost). WHAT IF I DROP…

SC Comfort seat, $265 Not cheap, but a favoured choice of many owners. It offers extra comfort for both rider and pillion – the front of the seat doesn’t splay your legs as much as the OE fitment does. Fits all CB500X models. seatconcepts.com LedPerf LED lights, £62.91 Increase your night vision with these LEDs from UK company LedPerf. They come as either a long-range ‘spot’ view or a wide ‘flood’ for better peripheral vision. Both give 1500 lumens of power. ledperf.co.uk Honda hand guards, £67.50 Keep your hands warm in winter, dry during wet rides and protected from stray branches should you try a little gentle greenlaning. These genuine guards are £7.50 cheaper than RRP through Padgetts Motorcycles in Batley. padgettsmotorcycles.com…

Kinghorn, Fife Here is my 2021 Speed Twin on the ‘kissing trees road’ behind Kinghorn on the Fife coast. I spent a beautiful hour bimbling around wee back roads. Duncan Bowman Arizona, USA This photo was taken somewhere between Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon in the Arizona desert. My friend and I rented a pair of BMW R18s as a 40th birthday treat. It was an absolutely fantastic experience, and the hottest ride I’ve ever done – 40°C! Marc Glastonbury Bardenas Reales, Spain This is a photograph taken in early May in the semi-desert nature reserve of Bardenas Reales, just two and a half hours’ ride from a very rainy (and heck of a lot colder…) Bilbao. Eugene Thomson Slieve Croob, County Down With summer arriving and some decent…

Best time of year to ride it Any time, but now is best – as long as you don’t suffer from hay fever because the pollen gets a bit fierce. Avoid copious farm mud in winter. Best corner There are too many to mention. I’ve only done the route five times, so I can’t remember them all! I like the resurfaced section between Caldecott and Uppingham, where the A6003 comes over a crest and you can see Rutland Water in the background. Be careful When new housing estates are being built, trucks drag a lot of muck into the road. There’s a new development just outside Corby Glen. Just be aware that’ll probably mean lots of lorries – and lots of mud – around there for the next year or…

FRONT END MONTH IN BIKES YOU DO THE TESTING FANCY RIDING THE best bikes of 2023? If so, you’ll love People’s Bike of the Year. This is the chance for you to have your say on the best machines on sale today. As part of it, you’ll come to RiDE’s offices in Peterborough and, together with us, test six newfor-2023 bikes on great Cambridgeshire roads in early September. We’re seeking normal bikers from various backgrounds to allow us to assemble a panel of six riders that represent a cross-section of the biking public to help us discover the best all-round bikes on sale. There’s room for everyone, from experienced riders to novices; tall or short; women and men; and owners of each and every kind of bike. Riding six different…

FIRST RIDES 26 KTM 890 Adventure R It isn’t cheap but adventure class-leading quality never is 29 CFMoto 450SR Giving A2 licence holders everything they wish for 29 Suzuki GSX-S1000S Katana tribute gets revisions but will they satisfy the critics? 30 Five things you need to know about… Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary Edition BIG QUESTIONS ANSWERED 32 Suzuki V-Strom The new 800DE has us rethinking middleweight adventure choices SUBSCRIBE TO RIDE FOR JUST £4.30 A MONTH! See pages 23 and 107 for details 29 Second chance for Suzuki’s GSX-S1000 Katana reboot…

THE REBORN KATANA didn’t cut it when it was released in 2018. Poor fuelling, cheap suspension and slightly underspecced brakes undermined its performance credentials, and the styling job inspired by the ’80s original meant it wasn’t even comfy enough to see out the pitiful range from the 12-litre tank that was also stipulated by the design… The GSX-S1000 base-bike received a big update to rectify the performance issues, and the Katana now benefits from it too. Euro5 compliance, mostly courtesy of more sophisticated fuelling management via ride-by-wire, an up/ down quickshifter and detail chassis improvements are the main headlines. The digital throttle allows it to run as lean as it needs to, without spiky throttle response in any of its three modes. Revised suspension has improved the handling, removing some…

On first impressions the V-Strom comes over as worthy but also lacking a little peak power and touring ability compared to the Honda. And it’s £1200 dearer. But the V-Strom is a grower the more you ride it; its grunty engine compensates, and then some, for the bhp deficit; its quickshifter is a bonus; its handling is sportier, more engaging and better off-road than the Honda; its switchgear is better; its beefier proportions will appeal to some and there’s also the sense that the V-Strom is a blank canvas that can be accessorised to become exactly the bike you want. All of that probably still doesn’t make it £1200 better than the Honda, but it’s close.…

High screen £67 Genuine Suzuki accessory bolts straight on. It’s 80mm taller than the pitifully low original; enough, in theory (we haven’t tested it yet), to vastly improve wind protection. Aluminium top case £505 Another genuine Suzuki option. Has a 38-litre capacity and embossed Suzuki logo. Also available in black. Do note that you’ll also need to buy the optional £280 top case carrier in order to fit it. Low seat £145 Replacement genuine Suzuki item fits straight on and provides a 20mm lower seat height than standard. There’s also a 30mm taller high-seat option, costing £151.40.…

Getting exact figures for the V-Strom is difficult because, as soon as the bike encounters the strange and unexpected conditions of a dyno, power output is reduced to 42bhp. Our operator reckons it’s to do with the mixed signals coming from the stationary front and spinning rear-wheel speed sensors. Whatever, the Suzuki’s electronic brain simply refuses to take any chances. The best we can offer you is an estimate, and we expect the curve and figures would look just like the impressive GSX-8S’s below. THE FACTS…

1 Modifications A lot of naked-bike owners alter things such as handlebars, which can lead to major safety issues. If the bike has non-standard bars, check that the brake lines and throttle cable aren’t compromised by being stretched. Move the bars from lock to lock and listen for a rise in the engine’s revs (also see if the bar ends hit the tank) and fully extend the fork legs to see how tight the brake lines get. 2 Corrosion With no fairing to hide behind, corrosion is more of an issue on nakeds. Inspect the radiator well for stone damage and rust. If mud collects on the rad it will trap water, leading to corrosion, then holes – and a new, and expensive, radiator. Exhaust systems are exposed, so check…

PROTECTION A single layer of Oxford’s own ‘Armourlite’ denim forms the main body, held together by triple-stitched seams for strength. Protection has proved itself to be excellent, with a 0-30-0mph drag test leaving the jeans intact CERTIFICATION Originally – and erroneously – certified as AAA, these are now AA-rated and come with Level-2 SAS-TEC flexible armour, which is reassuring while being very inconspicuous FIT AND COMFORT Because I have chunky thighs and calves, I prefer the straight ones – they fit me as well as any pair of normal jeans that I’d choose. Editor Matt, taller and leaner than me, tried a slim design and said he preferred them OXFORD ORIGINAL APPROVED DYNAMIC £149.99 oxfordproducts.com THE CLAIM “Featuring Armourlite - Oxford’s lightweight bi-composite stretch denim for outstanding fit and approved…

We mounted each pair of panniers to our long-term-test Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT. We then went for a ride with a test load in all pairs of panniers, over our usual test route of mixed roads. We also subjected each pair to a waterproofing test. > Quality We visually assessed the quality of each product. We looked at the material, the quality of the zips and how they closed, and the style and arrangement of securing systems. We also looked at the waterproofing method. > Ease of use We determined how easy each was to fit to the bike using the instructions, where supplied. We also looked at how simple it was to secure them to the bike and how easy they were to load with our test contents. > Stability…

AUGUST 2022 T-HANDLE HEX-KEYS Draper Expert 33873 £18.49 (list) £16.06 (online) drapertools.com (toolden.co.uk) A well-thought-out set of keys with large handles, and seems to have good strength and hardness. Online savings – but even the list price is less than £20. RECOMMENDED Teng TTHex7 £31.89 (online) SEPTEMBER 2022 TWO-PIECE LEATHERS Rev’It! Combi Apex £899.99 revitsport.com Yes, it’s expensive – but the Combi Apex specifically designed two-piece suit from Rev’It! has all the quality and safety attributes you would expect, plus the comfort and convenience of a two-piece garment. RECOMMENDED RST TracTech Evo 4 £529.98 Furygan Raptor Evo 2 £779.98 OCTOBER 2022 SUB-£200 SPORTY TEXTILE JACKETS Spada Calgary £159.99 spadaclothing.co.uk Good-looking jacket with a nice cut and shape, plenty of features, a full suite of Level-2 armour and decently waterproof. Outstanding value…

'Great on fuel; 250 miles on a tank, easy' Steve Larson, 67, Washington, USA 2019 Honda CB500X Mileage 13,000 “I bought mine new in March 2020. I wanted a light, user-friendly bike to take off-road. The engine is superb, and Honda reliability is a plus. My one gripe is that this ‘adventure’ bike has no skid plate or crash bars, so I added these. It’s great on fuel; 250 miles on a tank, easy. Go for the 2019-on bike, which saw big changes – 19in front, slipper clutch, more steering lock, etc. A great machine.” 'Easy to maintain and ride; cheap to insure' Mark Jenkins, 52, East Hampshire 2016 Honda CB500X Mileage 95,000 “I've owned it for six years. I do 15k miles a year, averaging about 90mpg. It does…

THE GLOVES ARE well and truly off. Two years ago, Ducati’s all-new Monster controversially ditched its famous steel-trellis frame and instead mated a minimal, Panigale-style front-frame to the flexible Testastretta 11° V-twin found in Ducati’s SuperSport and Multistrada V2. But the new Monster wasn’t a hard, snarling beast — far from it. It was a vivacious mix of punchy, thumping midrange grunt and a manageable, unintimidating chassis that was a blast to ride and impossible not to love. For 2023, the Monster SP has stepped up its game with an A-list of premium components including Öhlins suspension, Termignoni exhausts, a steering damper, Brembo Stylema calipers and Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV sports rubber. And a much heftier price. Over in the Hinckley corner, Triumph’s top-of-the-line Street Triple RS was already a…

SUZUKI GSX-8S 2023 IS A big year for affordable, sporty naked bikes. Honda’s Hornet 750 was the first of a new breed of Japanese parallel twins to break cover and wowed everyone with its perky motor and great value. It seemed it had beaten the Suzuki GSX-8S before we’d even ridden it. But the riding is the real proof; and last month the GSX-S impressed us with its all-round ability and great midrange. We think it could be the new market leader. Over the next six months, we’ll find out as much as we can about the diminutive Suzuki, a bike that packs decent punch in a tidy, pint-sized package. Here are my first impressions. 1 The engine is pretty damn good On paper, the GSX-S lacks a bit compared to…

TIGER 1200 RALLY EXP 03240 MILES THERE IS ARGUABLY no keener test of a motorcycle’s long-distance cred than to give it to a rider for whom the express purpose of their working life has been to ride almost every bike built in the last 30 years as far and as quickly as possible within the law, sometimes not necessarily entirely aligned with the law and, in the old days at least, often in egregious violation of the law (did the crime, did the time, etc). That’s not an idle boast, it’s context for riding Triumph’s Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer – the 21infront off-road one, with the 30-litre tank – 1533 miles to the start of the NC500, do a lap, and back again, in four days, in one piece. Not…

Its seat is comfy, the screen not terrible in the class, engine vibes are tolerable – I can understand why it puts some riders off, though – and the Triumph has a good level of build quality and the right gizmos. Niggles include temperamental cruise control – getting it to resume is hit or miss – and the keyless ignition sometimes needs rearming. And call me impatient, but there’s still enough of a delay thumbing the starter to make you think it’s not firing, so you press it again just as the engine wakes up. Is the Tiger the perfect bike to take on the NC500? Not 100% – but then the ride is so varied that no one bike is.…

KTM 790 ADVENTURE 00399 MILES UPDATE 01 TO SAY I was eager to get my hands on the KTM 790 Adventure’s keys is something of an understatement. So I was full of anticipation as I met colleague Alison who’d kindly ridden it from RiDE towers in Peterborough to the golden arches in Cheltenham – pretty much halfway between my home and the Boro’ – to swap with me. I was so grateful I even offered a McFlurry to say thanks but it was politely refused. After an obligatory caffeine top-up, we swapped keys and I turned the bike in the car park for a piccie. Immediately, its low-speed manners were apparent. It carries its weight low, thanks to the same split fuel tanks as other Adventure models, and its chuffy…

GARAGE LONG-TERM TEST BIKES BMW R1250GS TROPHY 02041 MILES AFTER A COUPLE of months’ use as RiDE’s workhorse, it’s been a period of tweaks for our long-term GS. The first was about making it more practical. I reckon 95% of GSs that you see on UK roads boast luggage of some kind, but making sure you choose the right kit can make a big difference to the enjoyment of your bike. I have an aversion to riding around with empty boxes and I find unused pannier racks ugly – so the ideal solution is BMW’s variable pannier system, which uses the integrated pannier mounts that come when you tick the touring pack on the options list. They use an internal lever to expand and contract, meaning they can be discreet…

‘A pothole ruined my wheel and tyre. Can I make a claim?’ Q I WAS ENJOYING a ride along a country road on my Suzuki V-Strom when I hit a pothole. The impact was severe and almost threw me off the bike. I managed to stop safely but had to recover the motorcycle because I’d burst the tyre and bent the wheel. I need a new wheel and tyre, which will cost several hundred pounds. Can I bring a claim? If so, how? A YES, YOU HAVE a claim but buckle in: it isn’t going to be an easy ride. First things first, get some evidence of the pothole – take photographs and, if it’s safe to do so, use a tape measure to show its depth, length and width.…

KTM-OWNED CFMOTO’S SECOND attempt at a restricted-licence sportsbike is not only better than the first, it’s better than its rivals too. The parallel-twin has 270o crank phasing and twin balancers, like all of the 700cc+ twins on offer – but with but with a 180o crank, unlike all its rivals. Radial Brembo brakes, controlled by Bosch ABS, TFT dash, crash protectors, adjustable seat height and little things like span-adjustable levers make for a segment-leading spec sheet. There’s even an optional IMU-based ‘T-Box’ datalogger/Bluetooth/tracker/nav unit. It rides as good as it sounds: the motor is smooth and free-revving, whipping to 10,000rpm and getting through all six of the slick-shifting gears quickly. Our first ride was on the Istanbul F1 circuit in the rain so a full handling assessment is reserved, but…

Yes, sort of. On board, at first at least, the new V-Strom 800 comes across as less an adventure bike and more a taller, big-wheeled, wide-barred roadster. Although upright and reasonably comfortable, there’s little of the touring comfort that most associate with an adventure tourer. Its waist is slim, firm and relatively tall, a bit like Yamaha’s Ténéré 700, but it doesn’t have that bike’s tall touring screen and wind protection. In fact, the V-Strom’s tiny, non-adjustable screen is almost laughable and achieves virtually nothing apart from creating a bit of turbulence at motorway speed. All that said, you can tour on it. Its seat isn’t bad, the grunty, flexible engine is an easy joy, the ride is good, the 20-litre fuel tank gives plenty of range and its roomy…

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? £10,655 On-the-road cash price £103.13 PCP per month × 36 N/A HP not yet available HOW MUCH TO INSURE £264.09 Fully comp, £450 excess £293.70 TPF&T, £1350 excess 2023 model, worth £10,655. Based on a 52-year-old male engineer, married, licence held for 9 years, 8 years’ NCD, no claims or convictions, for social, domestic and pleasure use. Bike is garaged with postcode WA14 1NU and annual mileage 5000 miles. Quote supplied by www.MCNcompare.com in June 2023. HOW FAR ON A TANK? HOW MUCH TO SERVICE IT? First service/600 miles Oil and filter change. Estimated cost £100 Interim/annual service/every 7500 miles Estimated cost £250 Major/valve check service/every 15,000 miles Estimated cost £500 WHAT IF I DROP IT?…

Yamaha Ténéré 700 From £10,110 > 72bhp > 50lb>ft > 205kg MT-07-derived Ténéré was a big hit when launched in 2019, reigniting the middleweight adventure class. Punchy twin remains the star, along with true on- and off-road ability; and Rally and World Raid (pictured) variants add options. But it’s not as cheap as it once was and the competition has caught up. Honda XL750 Transalp £9499 > 91bhp > 55lb ft > 208kg Revived historic model is based on the impressive new CB750 Hornet roadster complete with slick and powerful 755cc parallel twin motor. It’s stylish with a hint of retro, classy, comfortable and fine-handling, but it lacks the grunt of the new Suzuki and is more of an adventure tourer than a true dual-purpose machine. KTM 790 Adventure £9999 > 94bhp > 64lb ft > 199kg Relaunched for…

Wicklow Heather Restaurant, Laragh Gorgeous whitewashed restaurant set in the heart of the Wicklow mountains, with a fabulous menu and – if you’re staying within staggering distance – an amazingly stocked bar. Cheers! wicklowheather.ie The Captain's Table, New Ross Set on the first floor of the visitor centre on the quayside in New Ross, the Captain’s Table serves the largest, tastiest cod and chips in Ireland. For the, er, dieting visitor, other options are available. dunbrody.com/restaurant River House Cafe, Cahir Perfect setting across the bridge in Cahir, opposite the castle and next to the river and weir. Tremendous range of cakes as well as breakfasts and dinners. facebook.com/river.house.9887…

Ring RTC4000 compressor £55 ringautomotive.com THE CLAIM “The RTC4000 is easily chargeable via a USB Type C cable or 12V DC cable and is quick to inflate a tyre, even from flat.” THE REALITY Carrying a compressor on a bike tour is essential for many and this rechargeable one from Ring is handy and portable. Although it’s about the size of a couple of paperbacks, it fully inflated the rear tyre on our long-term Suzuki GSX-S1000 from flat in less than five minutes, with no apparent effect on battery life. It has memory functions so you can set your pressures and leave it to it – it’ll shut off automatically when it reaches the right pressure.…

Bering Alaska jacket £329.99 bikerheadz.co.uk This was one of two Recommended winners in our recent laminated jacket test and I’ve been using it for long-distance rides in good weather – what we felt it would do well at. I remain impressed by it. It’s flexible and lightweight, and the thermal liner is plenty warm enough for early starts or chilly days. There’s no annoying draughtiness around the edges and, when things warm up, the zip vents on the front admit a decent amount of cooling air, particularly if the rear vent is open and the thermal liner is removed. It sheds water well and dries quickly. It has proved itself to be an excellent summer touring jacket. Jim Blackstock MICHELIN ANAKEE WILD £280 michelin.com I used these 50/50 adventure bike…

Our product tests are carried out by real bikers with years of experience and on real bikes and are combined with empirical testing developed and carried out by qualified engineers. WHAT THE TRIANGLES MEAN For more than two decades, the RiDE Best Buy and Recommended triangles have stood for performance and value for money. > A RiDE Best Buy award means that a product has been tested under real-world and, where appropriate, laboratory conditions to assess its performance in all relevant criteria and has excelled in its field, while offering exceptional value for money. > A RiDE magazine Recommended triangle means that a product has either done an outstanding job at a higher price or a reasonable job but at a significantly lower price. So while not worthy of a…

Brakes are ace These monoblock Nissin four-pots used to grace sportsbikes. They have all the power you need, combined with great lever feel and ABS that lends an invisible helping hand. A million miles away from the budget fare of old. Back brake is good too. Dash does the job Taken directly from the tech first seen on the GSX-S1000GT, it is clear, easy to use and has an interface that is logical and makes it simple to toggle between modes. It tells you everything you need to know, no more, no less. The rear shock could be improved It’s not terrible, but it could be better. It is certainly more supportive than a Honda Hornet’s but still a bit ‘meh.’ Larger riders with luggage or a pillion will overwhelm…