Table of contents for 6 September 2017 in MCN

‘I will begin the rehabilitation as soon as possible’VALENTINO ROSSI ‘I’m sorry about the incident. Now I want to be back as soon as possible’VALENTINO ROSSI Valentino Rossi’s hopes of lifting a tenth world title in the 2017 MotoGP championship have been brought to a screeching halt after the Movistar Yamaha rider crashed while training on an enduro bike on Thursday, breaking his leg and being forced to undergo surgery to fix the damage. The injury means that he will almost certainly sit out two of the remaining six rounds of one of the tightest title races in history, all but ending any hopes he had of beating Andrea Dovizioso, Marc Marquez and Maverick Viñales come Valencia in November. Rossi was riding enduro near his hometown of Tavullia on Thursday…

One man who knows a thing or two about exactly what happened in 2010 – and Rossi’s road to recovery back from it – is current Suzuki MotoGP team boss and former Yamaha chief Davide Brivio. One of Rossi’s inner circle of friends, and his team boss at Yamaha back when the Mugello crash happened, he told MCN that despite the Italian’s age he doesn’t think that this crash will be a significant setback. He said: “The accident is a real shame. Foremost because the injury looks to be pretty serious. It reminds me what we went through in Mugello in 2010. Then also, the fight for the 2017 championship is still very fierce and now we will miss one of its stars, until he comes back. “I’d like to…

1 Vintage racers Goodwood Revival Where Goodwood Motor Circuit, Sussex When Friday-Sunday, Sept 8-10 Entry From £53 Info www.goodwood.com From 1948 to 1966, Goodwood was the home of British motor racing, and the Revival honours this era. It’s known for its period dress code, with the men in tweeds and trilbies while it’s fur and frocks for the ladies. We say You’ll see a host of special classic bikes in action at the Revival, and many famous racers also take part including Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness, Freddie Spencer and Steve Parrish. 2 All set for the triple BSB Round 9 Where Silverstone GP, Northants When Friday-Sunday, Sept 8-10 Entry From £15 Info www.britishsuperbikes.com Barely recovered from the exploits of MotoGP, Silverstone hosts Round 9 of BSB, which is…

‘The plan was simple: to make it lighter, cleaner and tougher’ Rough Crafts are becoming the hottest bike customisers around due to the startling regularity with which they produce beautiful new bikes – and the ‘Jab Launcher’ proves it. The base 2016 Ducati Scrambler Icon has been dressed with trick parts to make the bike both more aesthetically pleasing and handle much better. “The build was for a good friend, who’s always liked Ducatis and race-styled street bikes,” says Rough Crafts’ Winston Yeh. “A Panigale is too much for him, as he never sees himself taking it to the track, so when the Scrambler was unveiled he told me it’d be the best base for his cafe racer. The plan was simple: to make it lighter, cleaner and tougher.” The…

WHO’S THIS? 1 This Brit star of the future impressed at the British GP – can you name him? WHICH ENGINE? 2 Yamaha’s T7 concept will be a real bike for 2018, with which engine? WHAT BIKE? 3 Widely accepted as the first faired production bike, what’s it called? WHERE’S THIS? 4 This Italian circuit always delivers amazing races – which track is it? WHAT BIKE? 5 Stick all these bits back together and you’d have the rolling chassis of which iconic Italian superbike? TRACK NAME? 6 No prizes for guessing that it’s Foggy aboard the RC45 in 1996, but can you name the circuit? WHICH DECADE? 7 Triumph have had a fair few logos through the years – which decade is this one from: 1910s, 1920s or 1930s? NAME…

 Q1 What are you riding? ‘Adjust my own suspension? Never. Haven’t got a clue’ Mainly a BMW S1000RR with Focused Events for trackdays and a Yamaha 450 for dirt track with the Lowes brothers. Q2 Which living motorcyclist do you most admire? I’m going to say Rick Johnson the motocross rider because when I was a kid I wanted to be him. I met him and he actually gave me his telephone number, which I’ve never used because that would be weird. Q3 What’s your worst habit? I’m too slow! I blame my riding style. It’s really old school – it’s all about elbow-down these days. Q4 If you could have one riding super skill, what would it be? To be comfortable getting my elbow down! It looks so cool…

 TT winner James Hillier is just as happy off-road as he is on it. He’s already competed at the iconic Erzberg Rodeo this year, and is hoping to compete at the Roof of Africa rally in November, too. ‘The 950 isn’t an off-road bike. It’s pit of its depth’ “If I were to repeat the off-road ride again I’d choose the KTM first. You feel a lot more in control – the KTM is off-road-ready straight away. On the others you’re sat more in the bike, more angled towards touring, whereas the KTM feels like a big enduro. The engine is strong, but not over-powerful – the grunt is just there when you need it. It’s got great brakes, good suspension and there is plenty of room in big motocross…

“I passed my test in 2012 and bought a used Harley Sportster,” reader Baz Smith told MCN. “But I soon realised it wasn't the most comfortable bike for distances over 100 miles. So in 2014 I part-exchanged it for a V-Strom 650. "Three years on, it is now coming up to 20,000 miles and still does everything I want or need it to. It’s all-day comfortable. Averages over 60mpg and has a range of over 240 miles. I have just bought Givi panniers for it, and will be doing the NC500 in October.”…

Starting in Newquay, keep the sea to your left and head north, via Porth Beach, on the B3276. Watergate Bay is first up and there’s a steep left-handed downhill hairpin on the approach – the nature of this terrain is such that similar turns lie ahead, so be sure to ride with caution. After dipping through Mawgan Porth the B3276 carves a serpentine path atop the prehistoric Bedruthan Steps, its low lying hedgerows rising and falling with the rolling undulations. There are several tight sections on the section each side of Porthcothan Bay (stop at the beach stores for a snack) so don’t rush through. Padstow is a great place to stop if you’re feeling peckish as this Cornish port is bristling with culinary establishments. Leave town on the A389…

‘Like any skill, there is no substitute for practice’ RIDING EXPERT Mark Edwards Retired police motorcyclist, now an instructor for Rapid Training Your brakes are your friend It is possible to ride for many miles without the need for hard braking. In fact, if you are frequently using heavy braking in your everyday riding then it is a sign that your planning and anticipation skills are falling short. However, when confronted with an emergency your brakes are your best friend, so it’s worth getting to know them well. A bike’s brakes are many times more powerful than its engine, so they need to be used with skill. Build your skills Like any skill, there is no substitute for practice. If the first time you have to do an emergency stop…

‘I’ve really fallen for the Ninja 650’s versatility and friendly do-it-all feel’ Price £6549 Fuel 15 litres @ 49mpg = 163 miles Weight 193kg Seat 790mm Power 63bhp Torque 45ftlb james.archibald@motorcyclenews.com I’ve had an interesting time with the Kawasaki so far. It’s a really useful and fun bike that makes me grin regardless of what I do or where I take it. So far it’s been used for commuting, trips to Cornwall, trackdays and a foray into Europe. It’s done all of them well, too. The bike brilliantly combines comfort, sweet handling and a perky engine. It’s a simple, honest machine, and with the exception of Euro4-compliant ABS, it has no rider aids or electronic wizardry. I prefer that. There are no riding modes, endless traction-control settings or complicated on-board…

KTM 125 DUKE £4099 Fuel 13.4 litres @ 47.1mpg = 178.6 range Weight 137kg (dry) Seat height 830mm Power 15bhp Torque 9ft lb Colours Orange, white maria.vallahis@motorcyclenews.com My long-term test bike is definitely one of the coolest looking 125s out there and riding it is a joy. I recently took the Duke to Silverstone to watch the MotoGP and its great low-speed balance and smooth power delivery, combined with a slick gearbox got me out of traffic jams at the end of the day with such ease. Updated this year from the original 2011 model, getting an LED headlight, new exhaust, revised chassis, larger fuel tank, and stunning full-colour, Bluetooth-enabled TFT dash, it has everything I need. The only thing missing is power, my little KTM makes a learner-legal 15bhp…

There’s one thing I don’t do any more, and that’s hand over cash before a test ride of a bike I’m thinking of buying. Some years ago, a clown selling a CBR (which he was having trouble starting as I arrived) claimed the fact that it conked out a mile or two down the road was due to fuel starvation (I suspected a failed pump) and refused to hand back my money. It was my calling Plod that brought him to his senses. There was definitely a back-story there somewhere. I can understand why people do this, though – and not everyone is a con merchant like this clown was, but still. Equally, I’m sometimes loath to carry large sums of cash around. People do get ambushed through fake sales…

‘This is an amazing opportunity to show what you can do’THOMAS STRUDWICK Twenty-two young British hopefuls will line up on the grid for the inaugural British Talent Cup next year after an intense selection event at Silverstone. From more than 200 applicants, 90 youngsters were picked to attend the British Talent Cup selection at the Stowe Circuit last week, where they showcased their skills in front of Dorna’s talent promotion team. The panel includes Alberto Puig, the man responsible for bringing the likes of Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa onto the GP scene, Jeremy McWilliams and former HRC boss, Shuhei Nakamoto. There were riders of all backgrounds and experience, including candidates from the British Motostar category that runs alongside the British Championship, Aprilia Superteens and some who had little to…

‘After summer testing I feel stronger with the bike and the team’DANI PEDROSA Dani Pedrosa goes into this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix in a very different position from the one he was in only 12 months ago. He’s both the defending champion at Misano and a genuine title contender for the first time since Marc Marquez arrived in the premier class back in 2013. With his new-found change in pace that’s elevated the diminutive 32-year-old into title contention in 2017, he sounds more relaxed than ever before going into the final third of the season – with a definite (if outside) chance of finally lifting the crown after 12 seasons with the Repsol Honda team. Rewarded this season with a good bike, after a difficult few seasons on the…

One of the most debated subjects in the wake of Valentino Rossi’s accident is why riders still take to the track every week to ride motorbikes during the MotoGP season, when the safest option would be to train in the gym instead. But thanks to the ultra-competitive nature of the class, it’s even rarer to see top riders who don’t engage in some form of motorsports away from the track in order to keep their edge. MotoGP’s current restrictions on testing see riders on track for only 19 days (apart from racing) each year, with most of that taking place in the off season, meaning that most racers turn to something else to help them prepare both mentally and physically for racing. Led by Marc Marquez and his unique style,…

Fast burner Pirelli have helped establish six new Scooter World Speed Records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Riding a 50cc Benelli 491, wearing Diablo Rosso tyres and tuned by Malossi, they managed a fruity 71.347mph average speed. Scooter loopy. Clean burner Bosch have developed a synthetic fuel that is carbon neutral. The fuel is created from water and carbon dioxide, and if electricity from renewable sources is used, burning the fuel creates fewer greenhouse gases than went in. The price is double that of petrol. Not so good... Long burner Polish stunt rider Maciej Bielicki has set a new World Record of 2.78 miles for the longest rolling burnout. Bielicki rode a Harley-Davidson Street Rod fitted with an Avon Storm 3D X-M for the attempt. A video of the record…

‘There’s still time for you to nominate your biking heroes’ We’ve teamed up with Carole Nash to find the UK’s biking heroes. We’ve had plenty of entries from up and down the country, nominating all different kinds of heroes. The shortlist will be revealed on Wednesday, September 20, so there’s still time to get your nomination in. For now, here are a couple of entries to get you inspired. Chrisy Thomson Chrisy has dedicated many hours of his own time to supporting, helping and fundraising for others in order to bring together a hugely successful and enjoyable biking group – Midlands Riders. The group formed in 2015 and since then Chrisy has created something truly amazing: he has given endless hours of support to people in and out of the…

Bol D’Or Classic Where Circuit Paul Ricard, France When Friday-Sunday, Sept 15- 17 Entry €62 (approx. £57) Info www.boldorclassic.com Bikes must be pre-1991 and the two man teams are made of one amateur and one professional. Steve Henshaw International  Gold Cup Where Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough When Saturday-Sunday, Sept 23-24 Entry Sat £25, Sun £40, Weekend £60 Info www.oliversmountracing.com Road-racing weekend includes final round of the King of the Roads series. Classic Bike Live Where East of England Arena, P’boro When Saturday-Sunday, Oct 28-29 Entry £9 Info www.classicbikelive.co.uk A classic bike lovers’ paradise with loads of oldies, concours, fire-up paddock and big autojumble.…

This is Bumblebee, a Suzuki RM370 that’s had some serious love poured into it. Starting with a 1976 stocker, the owner – Jamie Clark – has grafted on the front end from an RM400, with black nitride-coated fork stanchions, complemented by twin FOX black nitride air shocks propping up the rear. The fork bottoms were then colour-keyed yellow to match the rest of the retro paintjob, continuing the pure yellow, black and white aesthetic. The rims are DID, while the performance-tuned exhaust is hand made. Despite looking like it could only ever live on a motocross track, the cheeky retro RM is road registered, and has a daylight MoT. Can you beat it? Ace Builds is a competition conceived by the team behind Motorcycle Live. It’s open to all exhibiting…

MCN’s campaign to encourage as many readers as possible to cover 5000 miles in a year is all about getting the most enjoyment possible from your motorcycle. We realise life is full of pressures that stop you biking, but there’s always a way. So #ride5000miles is all about finding time on a Sunday to go for a blast, or doing that tour or trip you’ve always wanted to do. It can even be about just riding your bike to work more often. There’s a great network set up to help you achieve this – and thousands of bikers have already signed up to our #ride5000miles Facebook group. It’s a wonderful place full of friendly faces who are happy to share routes, experiences and tips. Even if you’re not going to…

‘Aimed firmly at new riders looking for an exciting ride from their first road-going bike’ The GSX-R125 is Suzuki’s first assault on the sporty learner market since the raucous two-stroke RG125 of the 1980s and 1990s. With its keen power-to-weight ratio and precise handling, the new bike is indeed a chip off the old block. Taking the legendary GSX-R name, the 125 is aimed firmly at new riders looking for an exciting ride from their first road-going machine. The market is already heavily populated by the other Japanese and European brands. At the bike’s heart lies an all-new dohc 124.4cc single-cylinder engine producing 14.8bhp and, for such a busy little engine, it’s silky smooth and free-revving. Acceleration is more than adequate for a bike of this size, partly thanks to…

The sheer breadth and depth of its versatility and skills means that the KTM 1090 Adventure R is our adventure bike of the year. It dominated the off-road sections and it didn’t let itself down on the tarmac, either. It’s light, fun and punchy, has excellent brakes and is reasonably comfortable. At just over £12,000 it’s not smashing the budget either. Second spot goes to the Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro. It has more gadgets, more power and more rider aids as standard, but is also the most expensive on test. Close behind is the BMW R1200GS in third. It’s great for touring and easy to ride on and off-road. Then comes its smaller brother, the F800GS. – it’s punchy, roomy and easy to ride with real off-road potential. And that…

A BRILLIANT, VALUE ALL-ROUNDER Until the first V-Strom 650 bikes were either budget or versatile – Suzuki’s newcomer was both. AN ALL-NEW CLASS Middleweight adventure bikes like the NC, Tracer, Versys and Tiger are now everywhere. The V-Strom was (arguably) the first. AN EVEN BETTER ONE While the first V-Strom was good, 2011’s facelifted version with 8bhp extra, new clocks and more, was better still. THE LATEST 2017 ONE …and it’s been thoroughly updated again for 2017. ‘The king is dead, long live the…’ etc.…

BMW RNINET RACER £11,615 Fuel 17 litres @ 40mph = 149 miles Weight 220kg Seat 805mm Power 108bhp Torque 86ftlb matt.wildee@motorcyclenews.com When I took possession of the R nineT Racer I wanted to accentuate the ‘Racer’ part of its character. My idea of biking heaven is fast, flowing road riding, combined with a bit of track action at the end of it. And for that the R nineT has largely delivered. Two things held it back though – the first, a lack of ground clearance which meant scraped hero blobs as the pace got higher and second, a lack of suspension control. For normal riding a stock Racer is fine, but push it really hard, and it the forks dive too fast, it bottoms out on the brakes and rebounds…

Sidi B2 Gore-Tex £229.99 This armoured sports touring boot uses Sidi’s patented Vertebra system and has a Gore-Tex lining. There’s also a shock absorbing heel cup and two anti-impact shock absorbers. There’s a non-slip rubber sole and replaceable toe sliders for a sporty edge. TCX S-Sportour Evo £169.99 Available in sizes 6.5 to 13.5, these boots have a breathable lining and an elastic zip, as well as a wide Velcro band to allow for easier fastening. There’s also a replaceable foot bed and the sporty design is completed by a small toe slider. Spada Curve Evo WP £129.99 These Spada waterproof race boots come with metal toe sliders and an anti-slip sole. Available in sizes 6 to 14, they include a reinforced toe and heel and a Hippora waterproof membrane,…

‘It’s important that experts have full access to your medical records’ Q Do I have to reveal my medical history? I’m claiming for a collision in March. I was hit from behind while stationary on my Ninja. I’ve been asked to sign a form of authority to give the other side’s insurers access to my medical records. While I think my previous injuries have nothing to do with my claim, I’d rather them not delve into my chequered history. Can they insist on me signing the form? I don’t mind them seeing the paramedic, hospital and GP notes – but only relating to this accident. JG, Brighton A Your General Damages claim (for pain, suffering and loss of amenity) will be based on one or more medical reports from independent…

2006 Yamaha XT125 £1120 Seller says 9400 miles, Renthal bars and brace, aftermarket exhaust. Neil says This is the X model, which looks the part but is glacially slow. Economical, but you can probably do better. 2011 Honda CBR125 £1200 Seller says 11,000 miles, unrecorded light cosmetic damage. Neil says Minor scrapes and panel damage – rideable, fixable, and at the price (from a dealer) good value. 1976 Suzuki GT125 £1120 Seller says French registered, runs nicely, some marks to tank. Neil says Manically fast little stroker (over 80mph): lovely classic, and much cheaper than a Yamaha RD125LC. MCN BIKES FOR SALE  13,403 bargain bikes for sale right now!…

1998-2003 Suzuki Burgman 400 Colours Black, blue or silver Dealer £1500 Private good £1400 Private average £1200 This one 2001 model with topbox and backrest fitted, 15,000 miles, £1450. 2003-2006 Suzuki Burgman 400 Updated with fuel injection and revised bodywork. Colours Blue, red, silver or white Dealer £1995 Private good £1750 Private average £1500. This one 2006 model with top box, 7800 miles, £1495. 2007-2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 Colours Black, white, grey or burgundy Dealer £3200 Private good £2750 Private average £2500 This one Our test bike. A 2012 model with tall screen and hand guards. Just reduced by £500 to £2995. 2012-2016 Suzuki Burgman 400 Colours Black,white, grey or burgundy Dealer £4500 Private good £4200 Private average £3800 This one 2015 model with heated grips, topbox and tall screen…

One catalyst in Pedrosa’s pace change in the early part of this season may be the addition of former MotoGP championship contender Sete Gibernau to his camp. But while twice runner-up Gibernau might have a keen eye for on-track action, Pedrosa says the biggest contribution he’s made is in the pit box and away from the circuit. “Sete’s experienced, and having his eyes now after so much time looking from the outside and not being inside the paddock gives you a different insight. We’re working on other things apart from just racing, though – like having a good time! A lot of the work’s on the approach to the GP, trying to be more relaxed and focused.”…

With Rossi likely to miss at least two races, and with the MotoGP rule book saying that while his team can sit out the first race they need a replacement for the second, the debate is already raging over who will step in to replace the nine-time world champion in his absence. But with a number of contenders for the seat, it isn’t yet apparent who the Japanese manufacturer will elect to promote to the factory bike. JOHANN ZARCO One case being made is for Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rookie Johann Zarco, but traditionally satellite riders don’t get promoted at Yamaha the way they do with other firms, with neither Ben Spies or James Toseland being given the chance to ride Rossi’s bike at the Brit’s home race in 2010.…

Like their Telelever system, BMW’s Duolever (as found on the K-Series bikes) is nothing new – they simply evolved an existing design. In 1981, British inventor Norman Hossack appeared on BBC’s Tomorrow’s World demonstrating his new front end and it is this system that BMW used as a base for their Duolever. So how does it work? Instead of a pair of forks, the Duolever system uses two solid arms (often called blades or girders) to hold the front wheel. These arms, which are solid aluminium, are hinged on two rose joints and connected to the frame by two struts with a centrally mounted monoshock. Connecting these arms to the top yoke is a trapezoidal shear joint (also called a scissor joint) that transmits the steering inputs from the handlebars…

Green meanies Kawasaki have revealed a range of new colours for 2018 including a green, black and grey KRT replica ZX-10R. A highlight is the H2 Carbon, which now comes in two-tone ‘mirror coated spark black’ making it look even more like the Batbike. Classic lovers The Isle of Man Steam Packet Ferry company transported more bikes to the Classic TT this year than last year. They shipped 4237 bikes – an increase of 5.6%. Oddly the passenger count was down on last year, perhaps suggesting self-driving bikes have taken off quicker than we first expected! Team players Clothing manufacturer Held have said they intend to increase their partnership with Schuberth helmets by introducing five new models. The new ‘Held by Schuberth’ helmets will be available in 14 versions and…

Buffalo Explorer jacket £139.99 What’s good? The Explorer uses a robust ripstop fabric, reinforced with leather for extra strength. There’s CEapproved armour in the shoulders and elbows, and space to fit a back protector. Reflective stripes and detailing help with visibility. What’s not? Costs a bit more than some other adventure jackets with a degree of back protection. www.thekey collection.co.uk HJC CL-XY II helmet – Marvel Avengers edition £119.99 What’s good? Avengers design means kids can finally have a super-hero lid, just like mum and dad. Available in four sizes from 50-54cm, it has a removable, washable liner and replaceable, shatterproof peak. What’s not? This is quite pricey for a children’s helmet. www.oxfordproducts.com Tucano Urbano Beak Pack £74.99 What’s good? Stylish rucksack is designed to look the part both on and…

Motorsport can be dangerous. We’ve all seen the signs, hardly noticed the same slogan on the back of raceday tickets and grown accustomed to the occasional crash when racers try to go faster than one another. Crashing is an occupational hazard and part of the entertainment package. Of course, you never want to see anyone get hurt, but there’s a limit and the real skill is staying just the right side of that limit, while making it look like you are way beyond the wrong side of things (Marc Marquez is the master of that art)! Crashing is part and parcel of racing motorcycles . What about in training? Valentino Rossi was very much in the 2017 MotoGP title fight until he came a cropper on his dirt bike, sparking…

TANDON Me aged 13 in 1965 on my Villiers-engined Tandon. I paid a bank-breaking £2 for it! Duncan Long BSA A10 Here is a picture of my first bike. An old BSA A10, which swapped to an A7 engine when I blew up the 650. Ooops. Bill Bradford HONDA CBR400RR My beautiful CBR400RR. I’d love it back! James Earnshaw T140V BONNEVILLE My Bonnie long, long ago in a universe far, far away! Steve Parry YAMAHA DT125 Me and my L-plated DT125 in the Isle of Harris in 1990. Angus Morrison DOUGLAS DRAGONFLY My dad Philip Mayo in 1958 on his Douglas Dragonfly trying to catch Percy Tait (Triumph development rider) on his Tiger 100, both on their way home, who won the race? Harvey Mayo YAMAHA RD250LC This is my…

The Mission We’re pitching our five 2017 adventure bike group test winners, head-to-head, on and off-road. The Route Adventure bikes are all about riding big miles through beautiful scenery, so we went to north east Sicily to the Nebrodi mountain region and scaled the magnificent Mount Etna. Broken roads, smooth tarmac, nadgery dusty trails, parched riverbeds, towns and motorways are the perfect way to test these rugged machines to the full. The Tyres To create a level playing field we used control tyres from Pirelli. For the road part of our test we’re on their dual-purpose Scorpion Trail II rubber, which, despite their blocky design offers superb wet and dry grip, stability, confidence, bump absorption and comfort. We swapped to Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR for our dirt-plugging exploits. The heavily…

There’s an organic quality to certain roads around the South West as they tend to either follow a river course or coastline, making for a particularly flowing and at times technical ride. This route explores some of the finest examples by taking a sweeping loop through Devon and Somerset via the Exmoor National Park. The start point is the junction of the A396 and A361 just to the north of Tiverton; to find the nearest filling station follow directions for the town centre/superstore before heading off. The A396 makes up the first leg by tracing a route deep into Exmoor alongside the River Exe; for much of its length this twisty two-lane tarmac is buried beneath trees or shielded by dense hedgerows and features a barrage of bends as you…

1 The Red Lion, Kings Langley, Herts. 6.30pm onwards. Tuesday night meet. 07411-939954 2 TT Pit Stop Super Sausage Cafe, A5 Watling St, Potterspur, Towester, Northants. Handy for Silverstone and the food is pretty good too. www.supersausagecafe.co.uk or 01908-542964 3 Teesside Bikers, Pitstop Diner, Stocton,Co Durham.Tuesday night meet from 6pm. www.teesidebikers,co.uk 5 East Coast Motorcycle World, Hutton Cranswick Driffield, East Yorks. Regular meet at this growing dealership. 01377-271200 5 Haynes Breakfast Club, Haynes International Motor Museum, Yeovil, Somerset. 01963-440804 or www.himm.co.uk GET YOUR MEET ON THE MAP If you have a bike-friendly venue and want to get your meet on the map, email: sam.williams@motorcyclenews.com…

Honda CB650F • 89bhp • 205kg Great-value naked gives great sporty handling and a sense of fun that’s very un-Honda-like. Suzuki SV650 • 71bhp • 197kg Boasting excellent fuel economy, a good riding position and a great V-twin engine, it also features a great price. Yamaha Tracer 700 • 75bhp • 179kg Affordable, fun, practical and engaging to ride, the Tracer is a class act – but a little less sporty than the Ninja. Kawasaki Z650 • 67bhp • 187kg Got more of a penchant for nakeds? This is the Ninja 650’s undressed sibling.…

BMW R1200GS RALLYE SPORT £16,270 FUEL 20 litres @ 47mpg = 206 mile range WEIGHT 244kg (kerb) SEAT 850/870mm POWER 125bhp TORQUE 92.2ftlb THERIDER Richard Newland. Sportsbike addict with a love of big miles Buying accessories that you can’t see smacks of the emperor’s new clothes – but I can assure you that a) there’s a new product in this photo, and that b) it works well. Few things are more disappointing than stone chips and scratches, and if you ride in all weathers on and off-road, then you’re going to end up with plenty of both – so I’ve fitted a full set of Nippy Normans’ (www.nippynormans.com) paint protector kits. The 100µ thick film comes pre-cut to the very same shape as the panel you’re fitting it to. Simply…

1990 Yamaha VMAX £4999 This bike has done, on average, less than a 1000 miles a year in its 27-year existence. A dealer sale, the VMAX is in good condition and is standard. US import. 2001 Yamaha VMAX £5999 This bike has covered fewer than 10,000 miles in 16 years and is for sale in a Staffordshire dealership. The US import will come with a full service. 2015 Yamaha VMAX £12,475 This private sale in Portsmouth has done just 6700 miles in two years and has received a few tasteful extras. There’s a full service history and the seller has all original parts.…

Never look at your dash again This fully-integrated heads-up display system has just hit the market. The NUVIZ heads-up display attaches to the outside of your helmet and displays navigation, communications and music. There is also a built-in camera and it is available from £615. www.ridenuviz.com Dunlop Hog out on tyre deal Dunlop are celebrating providing more than 10 million tyres to Harley-Davidson. In a relationship that has spanned over 30 years, the two manufactures have been working in tandem with Dunlop producing rubber for Harley’s new models since 1981. www.dunlop.eu 1299 owners get DTC upgrade Ducati are offering owners of both 2015 and 2016 Panigale 1299 and 1299 S the opportunity to upgrade their electronics to their newer DTC EVO system. Initially featured on the 2017 Anniversario, owners can…

PHIL WILCOX Sales Executive and Suzuki specialist, Wheels Motorcycles, Peterborough ‘They’re not just for old guys. Some have been bought by riders with sportsbikes’ “You don’t see many 400s, I have to be honest. You tend to see more 650s. People often think: if you’re going to have a maxi scooter you may as well have the big one – which is a shame because the 400 will do everything the 650 will do. The 400 is a slightly scaled-down version and quite a lot lighter. It might not have all the electronic gadgetry or electric screen and so on but it’s a 400 that will cruise at motorway speeds all day long and still have a bit in reserve. It’s perfect for touring around and for a pillion. “Big…

HRC test rider and Japanese Super-bike star Takumi Takahashi will be wheeled in to the Red Bull Honda team for two of the remaining four rounds of the 2017 World Superbike Championship. The squad have struggled to make the new Fireblade competitive through its debut season, so appointing three-time Suzuka 8-Hour winner Takahashi as the latest replacement for the late Nicky Hayden marks an interesting move given his links with HRC. Takahashi will ride the Blade alongside Stefan Bradl at next weekend’s Portimao round and the Jerez round at the end of October, but the team have not made any comment as to who will ride the bike at Magny Cours or Qatar. There is also no mention of Davide Giugliano, who rode the bike at the Lausitizring. “I’m honouredthat…

‘For the fans and media this year is so exciting; for the riders, it’s stressful’MARC MARQUEZ Marc Marquez has admitted that the pressure is well and truly on him. As he prepares for his closest-ever championship battle in the final six races of the 2017 MotoGP season, he’s locked in battle with three rivals. A mere 26 points cover them, in what’s possibly the tightest title battle in Grand Prix racing’s 68-year history. That pressure hasn’t been helped by an incredible engine failure last time out at Silverstone. It dropped Marquez from podium contention and out of the championship’s lead, as he conceded valuable points to Andrea Dovizioso, Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi. Speaking exclusively to MCN, the five-time world champ admitted that – despite last year’s ultra-competitive season which…