Table of contents for 8 May 2024 in MCN

‘The GSA is a hard bike to pick faults with’ BIG ON ADVENTURE – NOT PRICE THIS WEEK KTM's stunning mini MotoGP rep' Once upon a time, the boss of KTM was emphatic about how their then nascent MotoGP project was definitely not going to lead to the development of future sportsbikes. It appears he may have changed his mind, with official confirmation finally coming that there WILL be a new KTM sportsbike arriving – and it looks stunning. Based on the 990 platform, it's dripping with MotoGP kudos and styling cues. PAGE 4 FIRST TEST Rocket 3 cruiser missile ridden Triumph's Rocket has always been an exercise in tamed insanity, but the recent generation of Rocket 3 took all that gargantuan excess and packaged it in a bike that…

THIS WEEK Bike industry bosses at the MCIA are calling on ministers to make it easier for new riders to get on two wheels as part of their A licence to Net Zero campaign which aims to make acquiring a moped, motorcycle or other powered light vehicle licence simpler, fairer and safer. The group has written to Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, urging him to review the licensing regime. MCIA chief Tony Campbell said: “Our campaign is crucial for fostering a cleaner and greener future.” GS-cyclopedia Calling all GS fans… former MCN staffer Phil West has just published a new book about the big-selling boxer. BMW R 1300 GS The Complete Story relates the history of the flat-twin GS family and the origins of the 1300. Phil…

Fox Ranger Gore-Tex ADV Jacket £599.99 Motocross and mountain bike powerhouse Fox Racing have entered the adventure sector with three new jackets; the Recon (£999.99), Defend (£789.99) and Ranger (featured). Featuring fully seam-sealed Gore-Tex materials and D3O protectors for elbow, shoulder and back, the Ranger is a lightweight jacket aimed at offering exceptional performance in all weathers. foxracing.co.uk Roadskin Waterproof Jacket & Trouser Bundle £69.98 A new addition to Roadskin's range of highly rated riding jeans, these two-piece waterproofs are available individually or as a bundle with free travel pouch. They have fully bonded seams to keep you dry in even the heaviest of downpours and feature a mesh lining for comfort and breathability. Sizes range from S to XXL. roadskin.co.uk Oxford NEXUS 1.0 leather suit £499.99 Boasting a CE…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER Explosive price of MotoGP With reference to Richard Newland's comment column (MCN, April 17), I think the reason fans are moving away from MotoGP is due to the cost of TNT sports. If, like me, you don't enjoy football or cricket, it's a lot of money each month just for a few races. MotoGP used to be on Eurosport a few years ago and it was great with Moody and Ryder's commentary. World Superbikes is free on Eurosport and the racing has been great. The MotoGP highlights on ITV4 are OK but not the same as watching it live. Hopefully Liberty Media will work towards getting MotoGP on other more affordable channels. Joe Marretta, email BMW's bad vibes Just read the test on the…

THE UK'S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite riding routes WIN A Yamaha MT-09 simply by getting a quote at www.mcncompare.com Peel off the A1 just north of Morpeth and on to the A697 to bring your traffic-dulled senses back to life. A short tree-shaded section swoops through the Rothbury forest, complete with stark double white lines, twisting off into the distance. Ride it to Wooler, then on to Coldstream. As the compass swings to the west, join the A698 as it flits between Scotland and England. Picture-perfect villages built entirely from stone and slate pop up along the route's path as it chases after the burbling brown River Tweed. The A68 from Jedburgh provides the perfect launch pad for getting back across the border. Well surfaced, twisty and…

GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer 02000 ‘Countryside ride' DAVID DOUGLAS LEWIS Nice chilled ride from Abergavenny along the old Monmouth Road. There was hardly any traffic but it was a little muddy. I spent the afternoon exploring the back roads. ‘Dam!' DAMIAN MCAFEE This is a pic of my Triumph Tiger 1200 at Spelga Dam, near Newcastle on a cool spring day. 02500 05000 ‘On the road again…' RICH AND EWA We are on our travels again, this time Spain, Portugal and wherever else the road may take us and the Twins! We are on a month-long moto camping tour for the first time. 01000 ‘Chilly miles' NATHAN SKYRME Lovely, but cold ride. Have been out a few times, took my…

MIDDLEWEIGHT ADVENTURERS £14,690 BMW F900GS Adventure* ● 895cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin DOHC 8v ● 103.5bhp @ 8500rpm ● 246kg kerb weight Looking at the current crop of big-capacity adventure bikes, I have a concern about history repeating itself. Let me explain, in the early 2000s sportsbikes suddenly experienced a huge hike in performance as the litre class exploded into action. Overnight, power figures leapt up by around 30bhp as the new breed arrived and then, as is always the way, the figures continued to rise as manufacturers tried to outdo each other, leading to where we are today – too much performance for road use and sales at rock-bottom. Not to mention models such as the iconic R1 being dropped as a road bike. £14,495** Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro ●…

£14,690 BMW F900GS Adventure* £14,495 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro*…

The Triumph Rocket 3 Storm R and GT are a celebration of excess. They may weigh well over 300kg, roll on chunky balloon tyres, and command a road presence like nothing else, but thanks to composed handing there is so much more to both machines than point and squirt muscle bike antics. They're easy round town, too – with a light clutch and impressive slow-speed balance that makes them unintimidating for even the shortest of riders. That said, unlike other big cruisers such as the BMW R18, there is no reverse gear to assist with parking, and the motor gets uncomfortably hot in traffic. THE FACTS Triumph Rocket 3 Storm R £23,195 and GT £23,895…

The Honda Blackbird was the bike that the Hayabusa was born to beat – and it did so immediately. For a long time, Kawasaki played catch-up to the mighty Suzuki – first with the 2000 ZX-12R, which was great fun through the bends, but not as pokey in a straight line. Then in 2006 Kawasaki really gave the Busa a run for its money with the excellent ZZR1400. Kicking out a claimed 197bhp and 113lb.ft torque from its 1352cc motor, it reached its limited 186mph top speed with a gear to spare. Although more powerful than the Suzuki, in terms of a riding experience, endurance and outright acceleration, the ZZR never quite match the achievements of the Suzuki.…

HANDS ON WORKSHOP Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician BRUCE'S TIPS Quality aftermarket bits will be superior to and safer than worn originals 1 When rads go bad… Right in the line of fire, your radiator takes some abuse. On older bikes, signs of a rad that's past its best will be bent fins and repair patches, all of which degrade efficiency and could contribute to leaks. It's a similar story with the hoses. If the components of your cooling system are in a state, then it's high time you ordered some replacements. BRUCE'S TIPS Check the workshop manual for specific detail for draining coolant 2 Drain the coolant Locate the coolant drain bolt, it is often found around the bottom of the water pump. Another method…

NEIL MORRISON INSIGHT Going behind the headlines in the grand prix paddock T here has never been a better time to be Joe Roberts. Back in the familiar surroundings of the American Racing Team in Moto2, the 26-year-old feels happy, settled and, most importantly, faster than ever. Roberts’ hot form sees him leading Moto2 after three successive podiums. With talk of a step up to MotoGP for 2025, MCN sat down with the Californian to talk speed, racing and what the future holds. Did returning to American Racing after three years feel like coming home? “Aside from my crew chief who I worked with last year, and a mechanic I had in 2020, my side of the box is brand new to me. It's awesome as we've all come from…

2 Ducati's top five in the Jerez GP was only the second time in 21 years the Bologna factory has locked out the top five 5 There have only been five French wins in Le Mans, with none since Louis Rossi won in Moto3 back in 2012 11 of the 22 MotoGP races to have taken place at Le Mans have started wet or rain has fallen during the race 14 Pecco Bagnaia's stunning Jerez victory was his 20th in MotoGP, and now only 14 riders in history have won more premier class races 36 This weekend is the 36th time Le Mans has hosted a GP and 2024 is the 25th year in a row it's been on the calendar 105 Bagnaia and Martin have led 105 of the…

The opening qualifying session of this year's North West 200 will be delayed until 9am-3pm on Wednesday, May 8 from its usual Tuesday slot to accommodate teams travelling from Oulton Park to Northern Ireland. After the second day of qualifying on Thursday, May 9 from 9am-3pm, the racing will commence in the evening from 4.45pm. The Thursday evening programme will have a new look this year with three four-lap races in the programme. These will include the Superbike race that opens proceedings followed by the Supersport and Superstock race. Saturday's programme begins at 10am with the four-lap Supertwin race followed by the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock race. The schedule continues with the penultimate four lap Supertwin race and culminates with the final six-lap Superbike race.…

Glenn's performance was a bit of a statement. He's good round here and the Ducati is good round here – it's the complete package. In many ways he's picking up where he left off. It's the set-up he had in 2023 and he'll be feeling comfortable. Iddon was also impressive, and I think a part of that was that the two guys at the front were on the bikes they were riding last year. Can they go any faster? Probably not and you'd think the rest of the guys are going to catch up. It was an encouraging weekend from Tommy though. A fourth, second and sixth in what is only round two with a new bike – it's definitely got a lot of potential. It's not been that easy…

SAVE £5000 £10,995 Harley Pan America Debuted in 2021, the Pan America was a huge step away from Harley-Davidson's usual repertoire. It may carry the Harley badge, but is just as techladen, powerful and sharp-handling as any of its adventure rivals, and with five grand off, it's a rock solid bargain. If you like adventure machines but want to stand out, give one a shot. www.warrs.com SAVE £2000 £12,995 Indian FTR1200 Don't be fooled by the cruiser-inspired engine platform, Indian's FTR is a bona fide sporty naked. It's properly fast and handles beautifully well. moorespeedracing.co.uk • Engine 1203cc • Power 123bhp • Weight 233kg • Seat height 780mm SAVE £2000 £16,199 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R KTM's adventure heavyweight has almost 160bhp on tap, genuine off-road prowess and it's all…

THIS WEEK The Bike Specialists in Sheffield are selling this ex-Troy Bayliss Ducati MotoGP bike which saw battle in the 2003 season. The 989cc Desmosedici GP3 marked Ducati's return to the premier class after 30 years as the bike, and team, finished second in that season's constructor's championship, with Bayliss scoring a number of podiums – including third in Spain and Germany. “The Desmosedici we offer is ‘GP3TB1’ (GP3 referring to the 2003 model),” Bike Specialists said, “its number being recorded on the tamper-proof metal sticker on the frame, a feature missing from Ducati's show bikes.” According to the Sheffield dealership, who specialise in rare and collectable motorcycles, this particular bike can be traced back to the first half of the 2003 campaign thanks to a frame design change part…

Q ‘Can I claim for four wheels?' About a year ago I had a crash with a car that pulled out on me, resulting in some fractures and psychological issues. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder but the symptoms have now mostly resolved. My fractures have healed but I had to buy a car as I am too nervous to get back on a bike. The car costs me a lot more to run and as I am only 42 this is going to be a big sum of money over my lifetime – can I highlight these losses in my claim? Jason, email A You may well be able to claim this from the third party's insurer. Your solicitor should send you to a clinical psychologist who will…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Steve Lee & Jamie Duffy The ride Teesside to Assen WSBK When to do it April Tell us about the trip… The planning included an overnight stay near the tunnel. Friday saw an easy crossing during which we had a natter with a Harley group doing the war memorials. The journey through France and Belgium was, apart from the weather, without incident. Holland proved more challenging with strong winds which nearly caught us out on one of the longer bridges. Biker friendly traffic eased our motorway sections. Arriving late afternoon at our camp, we enjoyed the local hospitality and a ride around the area. The weekend's racing was excellent with the weather playing its part in some surprising results. The locals were friendly and…

Thursday May 9 King's Lynn Stars, Adrian Flux Arena King's Lynn Norfolk www.kingslynn-speedway.com Friday May 10 Scunthorpe Scorpions, North Lincs www.scunthorpe-speedway.com Glasgow Tigers, Glasgow 7.30pm www.glasgowtigers.co.uk Redcar Bears, Cleveland 7.30pm www.redcar-speedway.com Caledonian Riders’ Championship, Edinburgh Edinburgh 7.30pm Saturday May 11 Workington, British Youth Championships, Gtr Manchester www.workingtoncomets.com Berwick Bandits, Borders 7pm www.berwickspeedway.com Sunday May 12 Leicester Lion Cubs, Leics 3pm www.leicesterspeedway.com Monday May 13 Birmingham Brummies, West Midlands 7.30pm www.birmingham-speedway.com Belle Vue, Gtr Manchester 7.30pm www.bellevue-speedway.com Sheffield Tigers, Yorks 7.30pm www.sheffield-speedway.com Tuesday May 14 Plymouth Gladiators, Devon www.plymouth-speedway.com TRY IT YOURSELF Ride & Skid It Speedway Experience Days Not content with watching from the sidelines? Get a first-hand appreciation of the skills involved with racing speedway by trying it for yourself. Ride & Skid It offer speedway experiences for riders…

‘BMW ticks all the boxes' Considering how much I loved the updated Tiger 900GT Pro, I can't help but feel disappointed and let down by the Rally Pro. It's a bike that, especially in the UK market, I can't help but feel is left a bit lacking in purpose. I totally get the F900GS Adventure. BMW have moved the positioning of the F900GS and it is now very much an off-road focused model with a lightweight and serious mud-plugging ability and to counter this they have left the GSA a long-distance milemuncher with added tech, better weather protection and a huge tank range. It has a purpose as a counterfoil to the GS and is also cheaper and more manageable (financially and performance-wise) than an R1300GS. But what is the…

ICONS THE FACTS ‘MCN's tester had to defend the bike on BBC Radio 2' GET MORE OF THE INSIDE LINE WITH A PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP greatmagazines.co.uk/mcnpremium Born into an epoch of unashamed speed, the 1999 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa stands out in motorcycling history - and not just for being the fastest production bike of the Twentieth Century. No other model has made such an impact – from being debated in parliaments to starring in big-budget ads - there's so much more to the Busa than just pure speed. Launched at the Munich show in late 1998, it was Suzuki's first salvo in a speed war which had been simmering since ‘96 when Honda's CBR1100XX Blackbird set the new top-speed benchmark at 178.5mph. With its bigger capacity motor and claimed 172bhp, it…

I'm stunned by just how many features you get on the new 125 Duke – it blows the socks off all its rivals, and if I were an A1-licence-holding teenager, I'd be camped outside my local KTM dealer. With A1-legal 125s power is much of a muchness, so what is important is that they need to stand out – and with its inverted forks, brash styling and cool tech, the 125 Duke is leagues ahead. And to keep worried parents happy, it even has some cutting-edge safety assists (which you can turn off for skids where they aren't looking). THE FACTS £4889 KTM 125 Duke…

Regular readers will know only too well that I have a general distrust of pattern parts and always favour OE wherever possible. That said, with the exception of safety critical parts, I do concede that there are instances when fitting pattern stuff is not only necessary but also actually makes much more economic sense than fitting OE. For example, if you've got a bike of a certain age and condition – perhaps a workhorse or winter bike – there's little point lobbing out OE prices when you can get a decent pattern part of a quarter of the cost. Take the radiator I used in this week's How To: it cost just £155 whereas the original Suzuki replacement is £602.21. It's a similar story with the hoses – shop around…

Time was when Moto2 was of little use as a school for MotoGP. From its inception in 2010 until 2018, elite riders were condemned to a sort of glorified production racing, with better brakes. The bikes were too similar, too clumsy, and too gutless. With portly obsolescent Honda 600 four engines, using road gearing designed for the traffic-light grand prix, they offered few quirks for a creative rider to exploit. They sounded like vuvuzelas on speed, but the performance was more oxycontin. No wonder they followed one another round in a dispiriting parade. There were exceptions. Well, one exception. 2012 champ Marc Marquez. To be fair, 2018 winner Bagnaia hasn't done too shabbily. Other champions, even the only double winner Zarco, haven't done anything very special in MotoGP. Stefan Bradl,…

JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Reporting direct from the second round of 2024 TOP STORY C omplete domination! That was the story at Oulton Park as Glenn Irwin completed a sensational hat-trick in front of a huge Bank Holiday crowd at Oulton Park. The Hager PBM Ducati man was the favourite heading into the weekend given that he'd won three of the previous four races at the Cheshire circuit, and he made an instant impact with two comfortable victories on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. The finale wasn't as simple and he was made to work hard by Christian Iddon, but Irwin utilised other weapons in his arsenal with some superb race craft and defensive riding in the final few laps. Adding to the significance, they were the first victories for the…

THIS WEEK A one-off tribute Harley-Davidson Sportster has been built to honour the late Ayrton Senna on the 30th anniversary of his death. Owner of Lord Drake Kustoms, Francisco Ali Manen created the custom machine in Malaga, Spain, to pay homage to one of his idols. The tricked-up Harley features a Rothmans inspired paintjob, restyled body and several performance upgrades, including a two-into-one exhaust, complete with carbon fibre collector. Lucky Cup Rally back for more The BMF have announced dates for their 2024 Lucky Cup Rally. The event, which the organisers describe as having a “festival twist” will take place on September 13-15 at Muncaster Castle, Cumbria. Tickets are £32 for members and £38 for non members for the whole weekend. Visit britishmotorcyclists.co.uk for tickets and more info. Funds needed…

The 2024 Bike Shed Moto Show will roll into London's Tobacco Dock from May 24-26, promising the latest in custom and bespoke motorcycles, expert talks, proper food and drink, plus much more. Now in its thirteenth year, the show will feature around 300 carefully curated bikes, a screening of the weekend's MotoGP action from Barcelona, ‘Shed Talks’ with industry experts, plus entertainment for the kids. Organisers are hoping for around 18,000 attendees over the weekend, which kicks off on the Friday evening with a special VIP event running from 7pm-11pm with limited tickets available. “I think that the main thing for me is that as every year goes by, we bring in more genres and get a bit broader,” Bike Shed founder, Dutch van Someren, told MCN. “We are trying…

PART 2: CHEST Guy Martin once rode my No Budget Cup race bike. For those 5 minutes, my old boat had an extra 50bhp. At least. Sometimes you don't need all the fancy stuff, not if you're super talented, or prepared to work hard with what you've got. Press-ups are a cheap and cheerful way to train your upper body. There are a zillion adaptations, but here's a check list that applies to most of them: • Start in a plank position with your toes (not knees) on the floor. • Place your hands in a neutral position slightly wider than shoulder width apart. • Set your feet slightly narrower than hip width apart. • Keep your form tight and stable by engaging your stomach muscles and glutes. • Rotate…

‘Automatic for the people' I've been kicking around on a 2024 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin Dual Clutch Transmission Electronic Suspension (what a mouthful), which has left me a bit confused. According to Honda, 49% of the Twins (I'm not typing that all out again…) sold in Europe have the firm's DCT gearbox. While I'm not a huge fan of the system I can appreciate why people like it, but that's a massive percentage considering it is quite a Marmite addition. I simply can't believe that half of UK buyers, who are generally quite traditional in their tastes, also opt for DCT over a conventional gearbox. So what does the used market tell me? Considering DCT generally adds about £1000 to a new Twin's price, the fact that used prices for…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer…

1 May 11 Kempton Classic Bike Show Along with this month's Kempton Park (TW16 5AQ) jumble there's a classic show. Entry from 9.30am is £7 on the gate, with kids going free. kemptonautojumble.co.uk 2 May 11 Dapper Do An evening of fun at the West Brewery in Glasgow (G40 1AW) supporting Distinguished Gentleman's Ride charities. Tickets are £18 in advance. www.dapperdo.co.uk 3 May 11 Welsh National Road Rally Ride around Wales as part of the Welsh National Road Rally. You can enter online for £33 and if you're a passenger it's £15 to enter. www.nationalroadrally.co.uk 4 May 12 Stratford Autojumble Time to have a garage clear out, or perhaps the opposite and embark on a brand-new project. Either way, Stafford Autojumble will help. stratfordautojumble.co.uk…

What's happening? With the sun starting to shine at last, why not try your hand at something a little different this weekend? A Run What Ya Brung is a brilliant chance to see just how quickly your bike can accelerate in a straight line, and it's open to any rider or vehicle. It's stupidly good fun and you can gawp at the other, often weird and wonderful, vehicles taking part, too. The essentials Held at Santa Pod Raceway (NN29 7XA) this Saturday, you need to prebook if you want to take part in the action. Starting from £65, Santa Pod reckon it's the cheapest track time in the UK, and you can also bring the kids along for £6 each. The Northants venue opens from 8am, and track time runs…

‘BMW gets my vote for pillion rides' Alison Silcox, Office Manager (5ft 10in) “From a pillion's perspective, the GSA feels anything but a compromise. The seat is typical GS, flat and comfortable, and I was very impressed at how absorbent the suspension was on bumpy back roads. “I'd like a grab rail behind me to hold onto, or a topbox to lean against, but the motor was lovely and smooth and overall I'd be more than happy to go touring on the back of the GSA. The only real negative points we found during our ride was it being a touch top-heavy when fully-fuelled, making T-junctions a bit daunting and requiring the rider to place both feet on the ground to hold the bike securely. “In comparison to the GS,…

WITH DAVE HEWSON CHIEF TRACK COACH Dave's done a 123mph lap of the TT, rides an Aprilia Tuono V4 on the road, and is crew chief for Rapid Honda's British Superbike Welcome to the second instalment of MCN's Riding Masterclass series. Having covered cornering lines last week, the experts at Rapid Training now turn their attention to steering, which sounds like an easy skill to master, but in fact limits the progress of most road riders. Like the other seven instalments, this one is based on Rapid's hugely successful road and track coaching, which combines the knowledge of their team of elite police-trained coaches and their British Superbike and TT riders. And when it comes to steering technique, racers can teach road riders a huge amount. Steer consciously For many…

MCN's website has expert opinion and buying advice on hundreds of used bikes, regularly updated and packed with insight. Here are three of the latest – visit motorcyclenews.com for plenty more. 2014-2017 Honda CBR650F Owners’ rating An total of 19 owners have reviewed Honda's do-it-all middleweight sportsbike, however they have only rated it an average of 3.9/5. Its lack of equipment (the CBR650R gained HSTC) lets it down. 2012-2017 Kawasaki ER-6f Owners’ rating This final generation of ER-6f has attracted 11 reviews online. Most owners love its ride quality and reliability but its basic nature and lack of tech drags down its overall score. 2017-2021 Ducati Supersport Owners’ rating 17 owners have reviewed Ducati's Supersport. The V-twin motor is praised by all with an average of 4.8/5 and so is…

Having a crack at your own mechanical jobs is a great way to save a few quid and learn how your motorcycle works, but just because you can buy the tools, it doesn't mean you can buy the necessary know-how to go with them. Chief tool-twirler at Doncaster Motorcycles, Kevin Hollingsworth, was getting stuck into a routine tyre swap on a customer's Yamaha MT-10 when he noticed something was amiss with its gleaming gold chain. “The owner had fitted a new chain and used a tool he bought online to fit the rivet link,” Kev told us. “Trouble is, he'd nearly pushed the pins all the way out, so the outer plate was barely holding on.” It was a minor oversight, but the consequences could've been catastrophic if the insecure…