Table of contents for December 12th 2018 in MCN

Ducati’s Multistrada has been redefining biking since 2002, combining sportsbike power and cutting-edge rider aids in a do-most-things package. In that time there’s also been the S-version, Pikes Peak and Enduro with the new 2019 1260 Enduro the cleverest, lightest version yet. But if you’re not going to get muddy and haven’t £17,000 there are plenty of less extreme Multis out there, starting from just £3000. 2019 1260 ENDURO What is it? A 1.3-litre, 254kg off-roader will always be a beast but Ducati has softened it with friendlier ergonomics, polished electronics and easier-to-access, low-down grunt. MCN says “The clever, lighter Enduro is very able off-road and will be easier to live out your globe-trotting dreams on” Want to buy one? £17,755, £233 per month on a three-year PCP deal. 2018…

THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY 12TH 40th Birthday Party at Ian Bell Motorcycles James Whitham, Niall Mackenzie, Tarran Mackenzie and Dean Harrison will be helping raise money for the Rob Vine Fund. Entry 6pm-8.30pm Info 01670 822311 or www.ianbellmotorcyles.com SATURDAY 16TH ACS Custom Moulds Winter prep, Bike Stop There are limited spaces for the Treatment, so please book now. Entry Website for prices and times Info Stevenage, Herts. www.bikestop.co.uk/events SUNDAY 17TH Bike Day and Christmas Toy Run, Ace Cafe Please take an unwrapped gift. Stonebridge, London Entr y 9am-5pm. Toy Run departs at 10.30am Info 020-8961-1000 or www.london.acecafe.com Yondermann Cafe, Wardlow Mires, Derbys. Great place to warm-up and fill-up on that Winter rideout. Entry Open 8am-3pm 7 days Info 01298-873056 or www.yondermanncafe.com Revved Up Tea Bar, Walton on the Naze, Essex Local…

ONLY £49.99 Alpinestars Defender backpack Stylish 17-litre rucksack is ideal for summer commuting. It’s not waterproof but does have an internal laptop sleeve for stashing your delicate devices. www.getgeared.co.uk £49.99 Official VR46 women’s hoodie This super-bright, cotton-mix, ladies’ hoodie is the stand-out design of the VR46 2018 range and is now available with a chunky £20 discount off its usual RRP. www.allstarsdirect.co.uk £42.99 Ride 3 for PS4, XboxOne and PC Ride, modify and race over 230 fully licensed models, from the Ducati Panigale V4 to the KTM Duke 690 and everything in between, in this cutting-edge new computer game. www.game.co.uk £42.99 UltimateAddons phone mount kits This waterproof ToughCase comes complete with U-lock handlebar mounting kit and lets you use your smartphone as a GPS satnav. There are versions to suit…

When people start stealing Chinese 125s you know that bike theft is out of control. But it’s a symptom of how commuting on two wheels has changed. For some, commuting in the city is now simply a case of buying the cheapest used vehicle available, insuring it Third Party Only, and regarding it as disposable if (when?) it gets nicked. When you think about it, it’s not hard to see why. Amazingly, it’s possible to get basic cheap wheels today for under £250. I’ve spent a long time hunting around the very bottom of the motorcycle gene pool, and if you’re prepared to put up with some dents, scrapes and the odd missing panel, it can be done. Mostly you’ll be looking at scooters, 50cc and (trust me on this)…

Reader Colm and Dermot The Ride Le Mans/Alps/ Pyrenees When to do it Sept/Oct Miles 3000 Time required Nine days Don’t miss this “The N-260 is possibly the best road I’ve ever ridden with its alpine forests, dry plains, aquamarine lakes that seem to be miles long and, of course, hairpin after hairpin as man and machine are dwarfed by the Pyrenees.” THREE COUNTRIES This is the amazing N-260 and this view shows Spain, France and Andorra all in one shot. SAN ANTON The temperature was 30 degrees as we took this picture on the road from San Sebastian. LE MANS It's a pilgrimage for any rider. We had to park the KTM outside to grab a picture with the sign. LAKE VIEWS This lake between Jaca and Pamplona looked…

ALAN WALKER Age 58 Height 5ft 6in Current bikes Indian Roadmaster and Honda Deauville First bike Honda ST50 Dream bike Honda Gold Wing GL1800 How long have you been riding? 40 years “I bought my Roadmaster in 2016 and it was my first full-dress cruiser, before the Indian I owned a BMW K1200LT. I’ve always enjoyed touring and my wife and I went to New Zealand on a motorcycle touring holiday where we rode a Harley, which opened my eyes to the idea of a big V-twin cruiser. I’d seen the Indian at the NEC, but I wasn’t convinced I’d get on with it; riding the Harley changed my mind. Big twins have a lovely low centre of gravity, far lower than the BMW, and that makes them manageable at…

Clews Competition Motorcycles were born in 1971, founded by off-road ace Alan Clews. They quickly made a name for themselves in the motocross world championship and carried on their success in trials, supermoto and dirt track. TT WINNERS Steve Tomkin won the Junior TT on a CCM Armstrong in 1981. Clews says: “My dad was watching the race and the Kawasaki guys were sitting behind him. They were so p*ssed off that this little team was beating them. It was a proper case of David beats Goliath.” METTET At the height of the supermoto boom CCM entered Chris Walker (and MCN’s Kev Smith) on their R30 in the prestigious Superbiker road race in the Belgian town of Mettet. Walker finished sixth against the world’s best. SPITFIRE Clews says: “It’s been…

It’s outstanding. The old R1200GS was a fraction underpowered, noticeably so when fully-loaded but that can’t be said of the new bike. With more power and torque BMW have given GS Adventure more spice, it’s more fun than ever, yet still easy to ride with perfect fuelling. It’s almost impossible to find fault with it. It’s still a physically large bike, but that aside, it’s pretty much perfect. But be warned: if you own a current GS Adventure and you take the new model for a test ride, you’ll immediately feel the difference, and your old 1200 will never feel quite the same. Tech spec Front suspension Telelever with nonadjustable monoshock Rear suspension Paralever, monoshock with rebound/preload adjustment, (Dynamic ESA optional) Engine 1250c, 8v, flat twin Front brakes 2x 305mm…

‘I burst through the clouds into bright sunshine’ Riding a motorcycle so high that you’re actually above the clouds sounds like an impossible dream, especially if you spend the vast majority of your life riding below sea level on Cambridgeshire’s dead flat roads and trails as I do. But the dream has been on my bucket list for years and, as it turned out, is far easier to achieve than you might think. My planned destination was Bourg St-Maurice, an Alpine town at the heart of the Savoie department in the French Alps that sits in the centre of Europe’s highest mountain range, and is only a nine-hour drive away from Calais. Setting out from there it’s possible to get pretty high up on a road bike in these parts…

1. HJC RPHA Ben Spies rep helmet £279.99 All of my lids are HJC. I’ve got a flip-front that I use for touring in the summer, but I tend to opt for this one in the winter because it’s a little bit warmer. They’re good quality lids that make me feel confident. 2.Interphone Sport Intercom £179.99 It’s really useful on tours. I use it bike-to-bike to speak to my cousin who I go touring with and I also use it to make calls and listen to the radio. 3. RST Thermotech heated gloves £189.99 These battery-powered gloves have had four winter’s worth of use now, and I love them to bits. 4. RST Adventure III textile jacket £199.99 With removable thermal lining, removable waterproof lining and vents, it’s an all-weather…

When riders are hit hard in the wallet, a lesson is often learned. But the owner of a Lexmoto XTR125 failed to learn that lesson when he had to buy a new engine after running out of oil. Chris Self, who runs his own dealership in Ipswich, feared the worst when he saw the Chinese 125 arrive back in his workshop. ‘When we wheeled it in you could hear it crunching’ He explained: “This time he was coming in for a new chain adjuster, but we soon spotted that there was a bigger problem with the chain itself and that the adjuster was just collateral damage. “The chain had already come off its sprockets once and when we moved the bike into the workshop you could hear the links crunching.”…

There are just two unregistered new Suzuki Hayabusas left in the UK. They are the last bikes available before the model is killed off at the end of the year; one of the last casualties of Euro4. In black or white they’re available now from JW Groombridge and Laguna Motorcycles. Rumours persist that Suzuki will release a successor, however, having teased us with the ‘Concept GSX’ on more than a few occasions over the last couple of years. But it won’t arrive in 2019 and factory sources say it looks unlikely that we’ll see it in 2020, either. The firm’s legendary GSX-R750 and GSX-R600 are also now completely sold out in the UK and there’s nothing in Suzuki’s 2019 line-up to replace either. And there are absolutely no hints that…

Olympic gold medal skeleton daredevil Amy Williams has been braving the weather to keep her licence training going, and is now a fully-fledged motorcyclist, having passed her Mod2 in the same lashing rain that plagued her Mod1. Since retiring from competition Williams has been increasingly involved in biking, having presented the Isle of Man TT coverage in 2018, and now helping to bring two wheels to a whole new group of fans.…

Resurgence have released a new pair of jeans in an innovative new material that gives it CE Level II abrasion resistance using a single layer. The key is new fabric Pekev Ultra. In a regular pair of motorcycle jeans, an abrasion resistant fibre is woven into the denim in one direction. This provides some protection, but once the denim in the weave wears away, it can split the fabric, reducing protection. ● ‘The result is the highest for a single layer jean’ In these New Wave jeans, the abrasion resistant fibre (Pekev) is surrounded by elasteen (for stretch) then wrapped in cotton. This Pekev/cotton thread is then woven together in both directions like regular cotton, giving a material that not only looks and feels like regular denim but also performs…

Loving #Ride5K Thanks to all at MCN for the #R5K initiative; it has got me out on the bike a lot more but more importantly it’s become a good-natured community to support all riders. Nick Wright, email The great Brit biker rip-off John Edwards asks why the cost of tickets and parking at the NEC is so high compared to other events at the same venue. I will tell you why, it’s because we pay through the nose for absolutely everything. From accessories to clothing and helmets, where the quality doesn’t justify the extortionate prices. And don’t get me started about new and used bike prices; £5000 for a bike over ten years old? Do me a favour! Phil Hughesdon, email Don't bash my KTM dealer There were plenty of…

Q Can I claim from council for gritting my bike? I was riding along an A-road in Derbyshire and keeping a safe distance from the truck in front when all of a sudden big orange lights lit up and it started chucking grit out of the back. Turns out it was a council gritter and my Vespa was in the eye of the storm. It was lucky I stayed on because I wasn’t expecting it and got in a bit of a panic. When I got home, still shaking from the near miss, I found that the paintwork on the front of the 125 was damaged and needs restorative work. Can I claim the cost from the council? Jonno, email ‘Whether you succeed is a real conundrum’ A Contact the…

1 Dress appropriately and for all eventualities. Weather is extremely unpredictable and changeable in the mountains. It can be scorching on the valley floor and below freezing and snowing at the top, all on the same day. Make sure your kit offers crash protection too. 2 Carry enough food and water (and fuel) for the entire day’s riding. There’s nothing available to buy at altitude in the remote Alps so it’s all down to you. 3 If you’re riding a carbed bike consider re-jetting for about 1700m above sea level. This will provide a suitable compromise for fuelling. 4 Check your tyre pressures. Competition enduro bikes generally run at between 12 and 15psi for racing but much of the riding is very rocky, so run a touch higher to avoid…

Spread some Christmas cheer by taking part in this popular toy run into central London to deliver gifts to the children’s wards of three hospitals. Take an unwrapped gift (no stuffed toys or sweets). The route With Santa hat in place, head out of the smoke in search of the Super Sausage Café, deep in the wilds of Northamptonshire, take the A40 and at Uxbridge join the A413 to cut a path through the Chilterns. Pass through Chalfont St Peter, Little and Great Missenden before you reach Wendover. Continue to Aylesbury where you join the A418 towards Leighton Buzzard, skirt round the town and follow signs for Bletchley. Stick to the A5 and navigate towards Towcester. The Super Sausage Café is on the right with plenty of parking. Info 020…

Poor idle, stalling when revved, or running on when at full revs… they’re all signs of a carb that needs a bit of love. Many people hold the carburettor up as some mystical item, too afraid to peer inside, when in reality they’re very simple to clean and maintain. Prior to removing them, make sure you have a clear area with plenty of light, and always be sure to work over a baking tray or a large, clean section of cloth or workshop towel to ensure any small parts don’t fall out and bounce away beneath a cupboard. You’ll need your dexterity, so avoid using gloves when disassembling (remember to put them on when using carb cleaning sprays). When reinstalling jets, take care not to overtighten them; they don’t need…

‘I’m not afraid of going down the road at 200mph’ ‘My anxiety level before the NW is bananas’ ‘I honestly don’t know if I’m going to do the TT’ The 2019 season is looking pretty rosey for Glenn Irwin. The Northern Irishman finished third in the Bennetts British Superbike championship with Ducati in 2018 and the men that beat him to the title, Leon Haslam and Jake Dixon have moved on. He’ll also inherit Haslam’s title-winning ZX-10RR, so it’s fair to say that he is a contender. Irwin may never have a better shot at Britain’s premier title but while that’s his focus, he’s also got some thinking to do about his road racing ambitions. Proven pedigree Irwin has enjoyed whirlwind success between the hedges. Having competed at just three…

Four-time WSB champion Jonathan Rea is now ‘Doctor Rea’ following his receipt of an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster, Jordanstown. The award, which is from Rea’s local university, was given in recognition of his outstanding achievement in sport and comes after the Northern Irishman was bestowed with an MBE. And Rea says its receipt makes up for missing out on university when he chose to instead pursue a racing career. “While I did very well at school and was an A* student, my passion for motorcycling and ambition to follow my dream of becoming a world champion meant that I didn’t get the chance to go to university like many of my family and friends,” he said. “I have to say though, it’s quite ironic that it was…

While the 231bhp V4 R may seem tame for the likes of Redding, it’s a huge step up according to 2015 champ Josh Brookes. He said: “I’ve ridden quite a few superbike and supersport machines all over the world, but this is the biggest step I’ve made in terms of machinery. It doesn’t feel like a superbike at all. The bike feels very precise, the best way to describe it is that it’s very stiff. If you watch videos of Troy Bayliss on earlier versions of the Ducati it was almost like the bike was loose and moving a lot whereas this one feels a lot more stable. “It feels like what I’d expect a GP bike to feel like. Anyone who I’ve spoken to says GP bikes are really…

Back before #R5K was begun, early December used to often be about denying the existence of Christmas. But now we look forward to the festive season in a whole new way as it’s when many #R5K members hit the 5000-mile landmark. So let’s celebrate some of those achievements. Chris Garratt (Yamaha MT-09) and Andrew Cook (BMW G310R) both busted five thousand miles last week and are set to mark the occasion by looking for new bikes. “It turns out I passed the 5000-mile mark a couple of weeks ago,” reports Chris. “Now what would you replace the MT-09 with? It’s got to handle my commute (which doesn’t require much wind protection), be relatively efficient and fun enough to entice me out at a weekend.” Erm, how about a Yamaha MT-09,…

Spyshots show KTM are testing a new RC390 that should bring it bang up to date and put it on a par with the 390 Duke. KTM updated the RC390 (for Euro4) fairly recently, but it was all a bit of a disappointment. Where the 390 Duke (which shares the same engine) received loads of updates, the RC was only given a ride-by-wire throttle and a bellypan. For 2020 though, it is getting a whole lot more. The biggest change externally is all-new bodywork with a huge one-piece clear screen, something that is becoming a KTM hallmark. Behind that hides a new LED headlight plus a full-colour TFT dash: as seen on the 390 Duke. The screen looks to be much larger than on previous models, which should mean improved…

Back in September BMW launched their latest R1250GS starring the all-new ShiftCam engine, which is packed with more power and torque. BMW normally wait a year before launching the Adventure model, but this time they’ve split the launches by just a few months. The new Adventure benefits from the same engine tech plus globe-trotting goodies, like a 30-litre tank and longer-travel suspension. So what’s it like? 1 Feeling punchy Ingenious ShiftCam tech allows the charismatic boxer to switch electronically between high and low-lift cams. The step-free shift doesn’t just respond to revs or wheel speed like some systems, instead it monitors throttle position and how quickly it’s being opened, and reacts accordingly to deliver maximum drive when you ask for it. Capacity is up from the 1200’s 1170cc to 1254cc…

Royal Enfield As everyone knows, modern Royal Enfield, although originally from Redditch, are today Indian-owned and re-acquired the Royal Enfield name in 1999. As such they’re about as British as a chapatti. Yet that’s not the whole story. Re-invigorated by new CEO Sid Lal and now with global ambitions beyond its original, antiquated singles, an all-new, multi-million pound R&D facility has been established at Bruntingthopre, Leics (staffed by more than a few ex-Triumph personnel), Harris Performance chassis nous was snapped up and more modern, retro style bikes like the 650 Continental GT and Interceptor are starting to flow. So British? Sort of. Brough Superior There’s arguably no more British biking name than Brough. The ‘Rolls-Royce of motorcycles’ was the ultimate in the ‘20s and ‘30s and remains so on the…

● Route planning There are a few sources of downloadable routes on the internet such as www.wikiloc.com but these are only a starting point and can be road bike biased. Look out for the particularly good off-road route that takes you over from Bourg St-Maurice to Italy. ● Maps Use local maps which you can find online via https://dash4it.co.uk/european-maps ● Accommodation For a great source for accommodation, visit: www.ownersdirect.co.uk Or contact the local tourist office: www.savoie-mont-blanc.com ● Guided tours There are also a few specialist tour companies that can take you on guided routes in various parts of France, including the Alps with great routes guaranteed. www.sport-adventure.com…

‘It’s hard to believe I’ve had it over eight months’ With the sun dropping below the horizon at 4pm and the temperatures regularly falling below zero, it’s hard to believe I’ve now had the SV650X for the best part of eight months. After one of the best summers on record and 11,750 miles of commutes, trackdays, and weekend blasts, the Suzuki remains the same charming do-it-all roadster it always was (albeit a little more rusty). And it is still capable of putting a smile on my face whenever called upon. At just over £6k, it’s a bargain, too. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing. 600 miles The SVX is the first bike I’ve ever had to run-in and I was determined to do it properly. According to the manual,…

‘Know what you’re buying’ Bikes bought at this price will almost certainly take you into the world of the private sale. With one biker buying from another, these sales usually go smoothly as in most cases you’re buying what has been someone’s pride and joy. However, there are some things to look out for. Unlike buying at a dealership, there won’t be any form of warranty, you have fewer rights and key parts of the Consumer Rights Act don’t apply. For example, there’s no legal requirement for the bike to be fit for purpose. That said, contractually the rules about misrepresentation still apply so the seller must accurately describe the bike and not tell you something about it which isn’t true. You also need to be aware of smalltime dealers…

Small cross-head screwdrivers You’re dealing with tiny delicate screws which hold float bowls and valves in place so make sure you use small, good-quality screwdrivers. For Japanese carbs use JIS spec screwdrivers to prevent screw top damage. 10-14mm spanners A good quality spanner is just the job for gripping any nuts used to retain clips or fasteners, or for unscrewing the float bowl drain plug if you carbs. Heat gun Used on the low setting, constantly moving a heat gun over old, tough carb rubbers will be enough to soften them and make installation and removal a stress-free job. It should also prevent them cracking too. Long straight screwdriver Ideal for accessing the hard-to-reach screws that hold your carbs to your airbox beneath the bike’s fuel tank without running the…

Irwin is good friends with World Superbike champion, Jonathan Rea. The pair trained together in Spain last winter and seeing how Rea prepared for his record-breaking fourth world title campaign inspired his fellow Northern Irishman. “The guy has pulled together a unit that has so much positivity,” he says. “His team are all behind him and they have such a strong working group.” Ultimately, Irwin says his main ambition is not on the roads but to emulate his fellow countryman and win the WSB title. “I want to do things in my career my own way in the same way Jonathan has done things his way. If he had followed the traditional route he would be in MotoGP on a bike that could finish 10th. He has ignored everybody and…

After a brief runout at Mallory Park’s Race of the Year, Luke Mossey was back on the OMG Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 he’ll race in 2019 in a private test at Cartagena last week. The young gun, a Showdown contender in 2016, is trying to rediscover his mojo after a tough couple of years in the factory Kawasaki squad. He spent three days on track familiarising himself with the Suzuki and his new team. “It was a really good test,” he told MCN. “We got through a lot of things and ticked a lot of boxes with things we wanted to try. “We’re not far off where we need to be so I’m really happy. For me this is all about getting back where I need to be. We’ve had a…

Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna is aiming high with the all-new V4 in 2019, stating that his goal is to win titles in World and British Superbikes with the bike in its first year. The V4’s predecessor, the V-twin Panigale, is Ducati’s only superbike not to have won a WSB title and the bike hadn’t even won a race in Britain until Shane Byrne and the PBM team took it on in 2016. However, with the V4 R looking like a world beater on paper, Dall’Igna, the man responsible for turning around Ducati’s MotoGP effort, has set his teams a big challenge. “There is only one goal; to win,” he said. “Winning both WSB and BSB is the ideal solution. Ducati has to win. We are quite happy with…