Inhoudsopgave van August 2020 - RiDE

Great being back on a bike, isn’t it? Some of us will have carried on riding but many of us will be feeling somewhat rusty. I know I am — my first ride back wasn’t the fun-filled comeback I’d been dreaming of. Instead, everything felt like it was coming towards me far too fast and everything I used to do automatically I now had to relearn. This issue of RiDE is designed to help if you feel the same. It’s not about teaching you how to ride; just reminding you of the fine details that allow you to get on with enjoying yourself. Told by some of the most experienced riders in the UK, their insights are useful and I made a point to apply some on my next ride.…

Due to the lockdown many of us have been unable to make the most of the lowest petrol prices in years. Cheap petrol isn’t much use if you can’t go anywhere. Will prices stay down now we’re coming out of lockdown? The chances are they’ll rise a bit but there will still be massive oversupply of fuel keeping the cost down. Gordon Balmer said: “As the Government starts to lift lockdown measures, fuel prices have remained very volatile. There will be a massive overhang of product in the market so it could be months before demand matches supply.” Normally, fuel prices increase in summer months as additives put in summer-fuel mixes add to the cost, but the current oversupply means that’s far from certain to happen this year.…

WHEN YOU SEE a famous Italian brand name on a bike, you expect a premium specification and a hefty price tag. But the new Benelli 752S actually retails at just £2 more than Yamaha’s budget-friendly MT-07. Despite being designed in Italy and boasting top-quality components, the Benelli is built in China by parent Qianjiang. In the fiercely-contested middleweight class, price is key and cash-strapped commuters or newer riders’ buying habits are heavily influenced by how much a bike will cost to buy and run. In this context, the fact the class-dominating MT-07 lacks ‘modern’ tech is often overlooked because it delivers on value. Thanks to the cost-saving measures resulting from being built in China and not Japan, the Benelli offers riders the same style of parallel twin as the MT-07,…

Breakfast Restaurante El Portillo, Teide Open from 9am, it’s the perfect destination if you’re aiming for an early run up Teide. Usually packed with bikers and cyclists, the views and atmosphere are as good as the coffee and cakes. Lunch Restaurante La Sabina, Puerto de la Cruz Wonderful open-air restaurant, just off the motorway with sea views and a nice terrace. Traditional Spanish food — so lots of meat and reasonable prices. Good starting point for an afternoon ride. Dinner Restaurante la Cabana, Buenavista del Norte  Specialising in traditional seafood. Our fave is paella or Veija (Parrotfish) which tastes like haddock with Canarian potatoes and salad. Reasonably priced too.…

Spring in your step From £150 MCT in Stowmarket offers a range of upgrades for the CBR650F, starting with basic service, through to fork springs, oil and set-up or even a re-valve, re-spring and service. Janette went for a full fork rebuild with heavier oil, stiffer springs and a re-valve for £260, with the option for a Nitron shock at a later date. mctsuspension.co.uk Hot hands £79.99 Oxford Products’ Advanced Hotgrips are easy to fit (plug and play), have nine levels of heat with memory function, and ‘intelligent’ battery-saving auto-off. Life-saving stuff when it’s nippy out. Janette got hers free with a subscription to RiDE. oxfordproducts.com Sitting comfortably £65 The CBR650F hasn’t got an uncomfortable seat but you can make it more comfy still. Elsemade seats will add gel and…

‘There's no point rushing in city traffic’ RIDING IN AN urban environment is mentally taxing as you need to be on your toes and watching out for danger. However, it can also be very rewarding and if you get it right there is a lovely flow as you skip through congestion. Reading the situation ahead is key and looking out for the unexpected – and listening to your sixth sense… 1 TAKE YOUR TIME There is no point rushing in city traffic, you will only gain a few minutes at best but your risk and stress level will go through the roof. Ride at a reasonable speed, don’t rush it. Find your own rhythm through the traffic. 2 USE OTHER MOTORCYCLISTS If I’m in busy traffic, the first thing I’m…

There are various techniques when it comes to picking up an adventure bike but I like to use leverage. Lock the bars on their lock-stop, place two hands on the end of the bar and then walk into the bike, keeping your back straight and lifting the bike. Other people put their back against the seat, grip the bike with their hands behind their backs and then walk the bike upright. The best way, however, is to not do it on your own if you can avoid it. Always ride off-road with friends and wait for them to come over and help you pick it up — what you don’t want to do is pull your back in the first 100km of a 1000km trail.…

SHOEI GT-AIR II £549.99 SENA SRL2 £259.00 The claim “The all-new GT-Air II. Improved design, functionality and performance have further evolved Shoei’s premiere full-face touring helmet. Featuring the all-new “first position” shield opening for advanced ventilation and defogging, enhanced aerodynamics and noise-reduction technology, and the ability to seamlessly integrate with the all-new Sena SRL2 Communication System, the GT-Air II is equipped to be the perfect answer to any condition.” The reality First, the good. It’s all-day comfortable, with plush padding and no pressure points. It’s pleasantly quiet and stable at speed. The drop-down sun visor (enlarged from the original GT-Air) moves smoothly up and down with an intuitively located slider on the left of the lid. The micro-ratchet chinstrap is quick, convenient and doesn’t dig into my chin (unlike some).…

IN THE END, there were two that stood out from the crowd. The first was the LS2 Swift, the first item of clothing from the helmet manufacturer we have tried. The fit was good, comfort was better and feel on the bike was very good. They were well-stacked with features — a visor wipe and touchscreen compatability — and were the only glove on test here that had a CE level-2 KP rating, meaning they offered the highest protection of all. On that basis, and the fact they cost less than £70, they would be our choice from this group of gloves for protection. Giving them a very close run for their money though were the Spada Covert CE gloves. Comfort, fit and feel were slightly better than the LS2…

HOW MUCH TO INSURE? £329 Fully comp, £500 excess £256 TPF&T, £200 excess 2018 model worth £8000. Based on a 52-year-old male engineer, married, licence held 25 years, 9 years NCB, no claims or convictions, for social, domestic and pleasure use. Bike is garaged with postcode WA14 1NU and annual mileage is 5000 miles. Quote as at April 2020 HOW FAR ON A TANK? HOW MUCH TO SERVICE IT? 6000 miles Oil and filter changes and suspension service, £197 12,000 mile service Full service and valve check, £630 Prices average of several dealers WHAT IF I DROP IT?…

RG Aero crash protectors, £134.50 Subtle but stylish bolt-on protection for your engine, frame and other critical exposed components in the event of a crash. rg-racing.com Remus custom slip-on silencers, £690 Twin matt-finished, tapered cans that improve looks, power and torque and also save weight. Matt black is also available. performanceparts-ltd.com Triumph leather panniers, £144 Triumph’s own bespoke panniers offer combined 27.6 litres capacity, are quick release and come complete with all mounting hardware. triumphmotorcycles.co.uk…

TIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 MINUTES DIFFICULTY LEVEL . . . . . . . TOOLS YOU’LL NEED Chain splitter, chain riveter, chain lube, grease, torque wrench 1 Remove the old chain Find the ‘soft link’ which is the split-link and will look different to the other links. Using a chain splitter, remove the link, pressing it off evenly by alternating between the two pins. Ensuring the chain is tight helps to make this process easier. 2 Feed in the new Join the old and new chains together using the split-link but DO NOT secure the split-link firmly in place. Rotate the rear wheel with…

Finish and looks The ATAS looks a million dollars — the white frame and subframe, the depth of paint and plastics, the switchgear... Banjo bolts still go white after one winter ride, though. Two-up touring performance Matching the R1250GS and Multistrada Enduro on sheer tech spec, the ATAS still lacks outright poke by at least 30bhp. 100bhp isn’t quite enough for painless two-up flagship adventure bike touring. Heated grips ‘Blimey, these are hot!’ said the snapper, grabbing them with bare hands. No, not 0°C with thick gloves on they aren’t. Still need heated gloves in winter. COSTS SO FAR…

WELCOME TO THE Pure Triumph dealership in Wellingborough on a sunny Monday in March. The new ‘20’ reg plates are out and a bunch of grinning fools are cluttering the showroom, waiting for their gleaming, factory-fresh motorcycles to be wheeled outside. I have done my paperwork, drunk three complimentary coffees and now — finally — it’s my turn. I follow Nina into the car park where she manoeuvres a ‘silver ice’ Street Triple RS into position before nonchalantly plonking it onto its sidestand. She smiles a knowing smile and, in ultra-slow motion, hands me its key… That, of course, was supposed to be the beginning; the ride home at a running-in ceiling of 5000rpm and 58mph merely the precursor to a week of building revs and speed, then a first…

San Bernardino Pass, Switzerland Last May and June, I did a 5000-mile tour around Europe on my Triumph Bonneville T100 taking in some epic rides including The Vosges, the Black Forest, Swiss Alps, Lake Como, Ardèche, Verdon and Tarn Gorges and the Millau Viaduct, eventually meeting up with my mate Gordon. We then spent an amazing week riding around the Sierra Nevada, before heading north via the Picos de Europa to Santander. Here is my Bonnie on the San Bernardino Pass, which I took because the Gotthard Pass was closed due to avalanche risk — a long but wonderful detour. John Cooke A chip off the old block With little prospect of riding in the current state of the country (and as a key worker in the public sector I'm…

Best time of day A weekday, starting around 10am, for the best chance of minimal traffic. Best corners The three or four miles after you turn off the main Hutton-to-Castleton road, heading towards Rosedale Abbey, make one long flowing, brisk, well-surfaced sequence. Don’t forget there are always sheep at the edges. Be careful at… The downhill corners before Danby. The mile or two before is straight and open, so it’s easy to unwittingly build up speed. Before you know it you’re quickly pitched into a 90° right which immediately becomes a walking-pace 180° downhill hairpin. It feels like falling off the edge of the world — just don’t take that too literally. Best place for a cuppa At the southern end, there’s plenty of places in Kirkbymoorside. The Corner Café…

2014-2016 Honda CBR650F Price £4000-£6000 Engine dohc inline four, 4v per cyl, l/c Capacity 649cc Power 86bhp @ 11,000rpm Torque 46lb·ft @ 8000rpm Fuel capacity 17.3 litres Seat height 810mm Wheelbase 1450mm Kerb weight 211kg Rider aids ABS 2019 Honda CBR650R Price £7949 Engine dohc inline four, 4v per cyl, l/c Capacity 649cc Power 94bhp @ 12,000rpm Torque 47lb·ft @ 8000rpm Fuel capacity 15.4 litres Seat height 810mm Wheelbase 1450mm Kerb weight 207kg Rider aids ABS, traction control…

‘It’s great quality’ Nick Hoath Shoei GT-Air II Used on Kawasaki c900RS RRP £549 “Owned my GT-Air II for about six months now. I bought it with the integrated Sena unit as I’ve used these before and they’re one of the best in my opinion. The integration keeps the lines of the helmet. Top quality interior, removable for washing. Visor action is very good, creates a good seal when it’s raining, although changing the visor is fiddly. The price, at well over £700 with the comms, is a little fruity I suppose.” ‘Perfect everyday helmet’ Iain Grimes Shoei GT-Air II Used on Honda VFR1200F RRP £549 “Pinlock as standard and venting is great. It is quieter due to the improved design. I miss a double-D ring strap as it feels…

THIEVES, BY THEIR very nature, are lazy creatures and a visible security system on your bike, such as a hefty lock, will deter many from attempting to steal it as the easiest form of theft is to break the steering lock and then, push it away. Increasingly however, especially in urban areas, ever-more-bold thieves are using power tools to cut through items such as disc locks and chains. So what should you do to protect your pride and joy? There is obviously an argument for doubling the number of chains but the simple answer is to delay the thieves as long as possible. In an era of every mobile phone containing a video and stills camera, the last thing a thief wants is a crowd of onlookers all gathering evidence…

They say time is money and in the case of a chain and lock set, that is quite literally the case. The longer you can delay a thief, the higher the chances are that they will abandon the attack and move on to an easier target, especially if they are using noisy power tools. With this in mind, the extra spent on an Abus lock, which doubles the time it takes to cut the chain/lock, is a very worthy investment. Unless, of course, you buy more than one of the cheap chains (you could afford five for the same price, though the weight would go up considerably!) and use one at each end of the bike, doubling protection. However, add the ability to easily get replacement keys for the more…

‘I have a huge grin every time I ride’ RICK ASKERN, 55 Bike 2017 Triumph Bonneville T120 Mileage 3950 “I wanted an original Bonneville but knew it could sit for months between rides and would mean cleaning the carbs before I took it out so I settled on a modern classic. It’s superb to ride, more than enough power and it easily handles two up riding. It is one of the best-mannered (and prettiest) bikes I’ve owned and I have a huge grin on my face whenever I ride it.” ‘The same feels as my 1979 twin’ TERRA TATTON, 61 Bike 2019 Triumph Bonneville T120 Mileage 4283 “After 30 years riding progressively bigger cruisers I went upright and naked. The T120 is light and fast and I can put two…

THE MOST COMMON way of transferring drive from a motorcycle’s gearbox to its rear wheel is the chain and sprockets. They may require maintenance but they are cheap to produce, easy to replace and above all, widely accepted by motorcyclists. Are all chains the same? Yes and no. All use a ‘roller’ design; a hollow tube (roller) that sits on bushing and pins and is sandwiched between two steel plates before being joined to other links. There are three main types of chain design — non-O-ring, O and X-ring. The O and X refer to the shape of the cross-section of the seals that sit between the two plates to retain the roller’s lubricant. The O-ring is a round seal where the X-shape cross-section is claimed to reduce friction as…

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1 IT’S MORE THAN JUST A BIG 790 On the face of it KTM’s new £10,399 890 Duke R is a slighter bigger, more expensive 790 Duke with a few more bells and whistles. That is indeed the case, but it’s also one of the finest handling road bikes money can buy, thanks to new fully adjustable WP Apex suspension, stiffer yokes and super-sticky tyres. It’s fun, focussed and fast but doesn’t intimidate 2 JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF POWER With an extra 91cc and higher compression ratio, the 166kg (dry) 890 makes a claimed 119bhp — up 16bhp on the 790. It’s a juicy power-to-weight ratio that will give its rivals sleepless nights. The throttle action is light, the ride-by-wire perfect and the gearbox and up/down shifter as crisp…

Best for Inspiring scenery and great roads Length 65 miles Route Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, Tiede, Santiago del Teide, Buenavista del Norte Roads TF-21, TF-38, TF-436 Love it because It’s fast, flowing and gives every kind of riding challenge, from smooth flowing corners to nadgery switchbacks. There’s a reason many of the world’s manufacturers, including Yamaha, launch bikes here — it’s a real challenge for rider and bike, plus it looks great in pictures. Take a picture at The TF-436 after Masca towards Buenavista is the best-looking stretch of road in the world and is stunning at sunset. Stop for a cuppa at Teide visitor centre — the food’s ok too. ALSO TRY... Heading North Best for Hairpins Length 81 miles Route Playa de las Americas, San Miguel,…

Upgrading to a CBR650R from a CBR650F makes an assumption; that you consider the R an upgrade on the F in the first place. Janette’s modified 650F shows the CBRs are, in fact, quite different bikes — with the 650R skewing in a sporty direction. Yes, it’s got superior dynamics in the sense the suspension, brakes and performance are improved. However, the rest of the package — riding position, comfort and styling — is different enough to offset a decision. Either way, both bikes are good value; the PCP deal on the 650R looks less attractive when you consider that HP is only £80 more per month for three years even with a slightly higher deposit — £1388 for PCP against £1767 on HP. You also won’t have to find…

‘You'll be amazed how much grip there is off-road’ A LOT OF PEOPLE like the idea of taking their adventure bike off-road but are, quite rightly, nervous about damaging something that can cost upwards of £10,000. So my first piece of advice would be to go to a school such as the Honda Adventure Centre to try it on someone else’s bike (with a damage waiver) and learn the foundations of how to ride off-road. What you don’t want when you are riding your own bike is a scenario you aren’t prepared for — this can make a great day out end very badly. 1 USE PROTECTION There is a higher chance you will drop a bike when off-road — it goes with the territory but using a computer program…

Tyre pressures on track is a grey area as manufacturers are unwilling to recommend anything for normal tyres used on the track. They will quote ‘hot’ pressures for track tyres but not road ones. So what should you do? On track, your tyres will get worked harder than on the road and, as a result, will heat up more. The heat increases the pressure and makes the tyre harder. The best advice is drop 5psi from the recommended road pressures and then check them after a session on track when they're hot. If this pressure is roughly the same as the recommended (solo) road pressures (or just under), you should be okay. Tyres are key to enjoying a trackday, so make sure yours will be good for the whole day.…

THE CLAIM ChainMate £23-£35  www.chainmate.co.uk “If you’re wondering how to oil a bike chain with minimal mess and fuss, then look no further than the ChainMate. By enclosing the chain, the ChainMate eliminates overspray onto the wheels and brake discs, while completely coating the chain and the sprocket teeth with oil.” THE REALITY ChainMate is the brainchild of engineer Gary Venning, a British biker tired of aerosol chain lube blasting onto his wheel and disc instead of the chain. The ChainMate unit (the green part in the photo) is two pieces of machined plastic that clamp around your rear sprocket, enclosing the chain. Stick the straw of your chosen chain lube into the metal tube on the ChainMate, then spray while you spin the wheel. At first glance it might…

CONSTRUCTION Look at the fingers to see how the seams are joined. Single top pieces joined at the bottom with flat, external seams mean fewer or no joins inside to annoy. The third and fourth fingers may be sewn-together to stop them pulling apart in a crash DESIGN Some gloves may feature pre-curved fingers to give the hand a more natural relaxed riding position. There may also be high-grip areas inside the palm, usually on the thumb and forefinger but also possibly across the bottom of the fingers, to grip the, er, grips without having to exert pressure FEATURES A visor wipe is useful but probably not essential on a non-waterproof summer glove while touchscreen compatibility can be useful for sat navs or smartphones MATERIAL Probably leather — either cow,…

2016-present | £6900-10,600 | 130mph | 79bhp THERE ARE FEW names in motorcycling as evocative as the Triumph Bonneville and the latest, 2016-on T120 remains the benchmark retro roadster. The Hinckley firm effectively invented the genre when it re-launched the famous ‘Bonnie’ name with its first, all-new 790cc Bonneville in 2000. With 1960s styling, novice-friendly manners and reasonable versatility and price, it appealed both to older types wanting a reliable, usable ‘classic’ plus newcomers attracted to the fashionable retro style and novice-friendly performance. And with the growing popularity of all things retro, it proved a massive hit. Today Triumph’s ‘Modern Classics’ range, comprising ten different Bonneville variants, is its biggest family by far. The latest versions were launched in 2016 with all-new, subtly liquid-cooled engines in both 900 and 1200cc…

S100 chain cleaner £12.99 Claimed to help improve the life of your chain by getting in between the links and removing stuck-on grit and grime, you spray on the S100 power gel, leave it for 15 minutes and then wash off. Agitate with a soft brush to remove stubborn grit. www.motohaus.com Rock Oil chain lube £8.99 Suitable for O and a-ring chains, this mineral/synthetic lube from British firm Rock Oil comes in a huge 600ml aerosol and is claimed to be highly resistant to fling. It isn’t as messy to use as some other lubes and goes on well. www.rockoil.co.uk Renthal sprockets British company Renthal has been making sprockets since 1969 and is a world-leader in its field. It produces over 150,000 front and 150,000 rear sprockets a…

SPORTING MORE BELLS and whistles than a Morris-dancing PE teacher, Honda’s re-vamped, tech-heavy 2020 Africa Twin Adventure Sports has so many buttons it almost runs out of handlebar trying to fit them on. But even a machine as broadly accomplished as the ATAS still needs a spot of tweaking to make it work exactly as an individual rider would like. So, over the course of nearly 4000 miles, here’s what I’ve done to make the Africa Twin Adventure Sports fit me, and hopefully it might give you some ideas on how to make it work better for you too, whatever you want to be doing with it. 1 Set the suspension up properly to make a huge difference Soggy on stock settings, the ATAS squats at the back and the…

WE HAD GRAND plans for the Ninja 1000SX but lockdown meant it sat frustratingly taking up space in my garage and not Martin Fitz-Gibbons’. I was tasked with putting 600 miles on it, ready for its first service, a dyno run and a few touring features. Having ridden a fair few SX models before, I was confident this wouldn’t be much of a chore — but I’m only halfway there… Let’s talk about good things... The 2020 Ninja gets a two-way quickshifter as standard, which I’m generally not a fan of as on most bikes, downshifters don’t work well on the road, feeling slow and clunky. Not so with the Ninja, whose gearbox is slick in both directions when using the shifter. Or so it started. As the miles racked…

BMW S1000 R From £11,570 162bhp 205kg For No-nonsense super-naked proven on road, tour and track. Against Pricey if you opt for all the goodies. Showing its age. KTM 790 Duke £8999 103bhp 169kg (dry) For High energy and beautifully balanced lightweight that mocks cars and corners. Against Suspension struggles on poor surfaces. So-so build. Yamaha MT-09 SP £9747 113bhp 193kg For Öhlins shock and fully adjustable forks add edge to a cracking all-rounder. Against Not sure it’s worth a grand more than the standard MT-09.…