Table of contents for 22 June 2016 in MCN

‘You can shoot up gravel tracks and fly over jumps and generally mess about all day long’ Suzuki’s oddball VanVan 200 is nothing new. Both the VanVan 125 and 200 have been around since 2003, but with only the 125 so far available in the UK. For 2016, Suzuki have decided to treat us to the 200cc variant. You’d be forgiven for not noticing any differences and, to be fair, there aren’t any important ones. The engine has been bored and stroked to 200cc and it has lost a gear, making it a five-speed. Everything else is the same; it retains the distinctive and simple design, that fat seat, diddy 6.5-litre tank and ridiculously large tyres, which look like they’ve been pumped full of Botox – all characteristics that make…

The mission So the Europeans produce the fastest, sharpest-handling, most impressive super-naked sports-bikes, do they? Well Yamaha could be the first Japanese brand to buck that trend with their all-new MT-10. To find out if their naked R1 can live with Europe’s best, we’re pitching them all head-to-head on the road and track. The riders Michael Neeves MCN Senior Road Tester Age 46 Height 6ft CV Rode on the MT-10, S1000R and Tuono launches. Adam Child MCN Road Tester Age 39 Height 5ft 6in CV Rode on the Monster 1200 R and Super Duke launches. Emma Franklin MCN Road Tester Age 35 Height 5ft 7in CV Rode the new Speed Triple at its launch this year. Bruce Dunn MCN Road Tester Age 50 Height 5ft 6in CV MCN data and…

‘MT-10 is a real achievement’ Aprilia’s magnificent Tuono V4 1100 Factory is a clear winner on the road and track, but the Yamaha slots straight in as runner-up, which is some achievement for the Japanese firm. The MT-10’s crossplane engine is special and without it the Yamaha could have been just another forgettable naked. Costing less than £10k it’s also the best value here. The Ducati claims third and was near the top of everyone’s list of favourites. It’s pushed the BMW, our previous super-naked runner-up, down to fourth. Costing six grand more than the Yamaha the KTM finishes fifth and the new Speed Triple R brings up the rear.…

2 JULY Lincolnshire (York) or August 13 (East Kirkby) The old days of turning up on your road bike and racing have largely been consigned to the past – but the tradition lives on in the Straightliners championship. For a relatively small fee you get to take part in a day of sprinting with well-matched bikes. Classes for road bikes are based around the time to complete a quarter-mile from a standing start. Whoever gets closest to their pre-determined time (which depends on your machine) without dipping under the ordained time is the winner. Events have a great feeling of camaraderie and there’s no shortage of advice on how to get a good launch and set a decent time. Inside line Make sure your bike and kit are in good…

12-14 AUG RED BULL RING , Spielberg, Styria, Austria New on the calendar for 2016, the Red Bull Ring could well deliver some of the closest racing of the year. And with it being a brand new race, it’s completely up for grabs, so expect some strange results – and maybe even a high-profile wildcard or two. Inside line Riding through undiscovered yet stunningly beautiful mountain roads to a MotoGP race where anything could happen – what could be better? Best for KTM fans. The Austrian manufacturer will have their own grandstand and will be demonstrating their new RC16 MotoGP machine. Contact www.motogp.com/en/event/ Austria Entry From €95…

9-11 SEPT TURIN Piedmont, northern Italy Imagine riding with your mates from the UK to the Italian Alps, and then taking part in one of the most epic 24-hour rallies in the world. The Rally covers hundreds of miles off-road through the beautiful Alps and across some of the most stunning scenery in Europe. It’s extremely well run with proper food and rest stops. Inside line You must have a three-man team to enter and your bike has to weigh over 150kg. Best for You’ve got to be the adventurous type, but you don’t have to be a pro off-roader. It’s for big adventure bikes and is noncompetitive so anyone can ride. Contact www.over2000riders.com Entry £150…

24-25 SEPT SYWELL AERODROME Hall Farm, Sywell, Northamptonshire Nestled in the Northamptonshire countryside, the 1940s Aerodrome comes alive with the sound of humming engines from bikes, cars and planes. With the runway converted to a drag strip for the weekend there’s plenty of chances to see bikes and cars from all ages in action. In the air there are performances from various display teams. It’s a petrolhead’s dream. Inside line Grab a good vantage point by the hay bales and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the day. Best for It’s like a mini Goodwood Revival, but with shorter queues, better access and lower entry fees. Period costume is optional. Contact www.sywellclassic.co.uk Entry Advanced day tickets £18, weekend £30. (£22/£35 on the gate).…

16 JULY GUERNSEY St Peters Port (also August 13, 29, and Sept 3) Despite having a blanket speed limit of 35mph, Guernsey adores motorsport, and the Le Val des Terres Hillclimb is the tiny Channel Island’s number one event. With a paddock packed full of exotic bikes, cars and quads, the hillclimb starts on the seafront at St Peters Port then winds its way up to the cliff top on closed public roads. Inside line The hillclimb is all-action, with the course record standing at 33 seconds for motorcycles. Best for With its palm trees and harbour, Val des Terres has all the glamour of Monaco but without any of the tedious Formula One nonsense. Entry Free, ferry from £59 return. Contact www.condorferries.co.uk…

Set up in 1977 to give the TT some kudos after it lost its world championship GP status, the series was originally a one-round championship. Over the years, however, it grew to include up to eight rounds and took in not only roads circuits such as Dundrod and the TT, but also top short circuits including Misano, Assen and Jerez. The series catered for four-stroke Superbikes at a time when Grand Prix was all two-stroke and it paved the way for the World Superbike Championship which started in 1988. The TT F1 series was dropped in 1990 as WSB took over as the world’s premier four-stroke motorcycle championship.…

2011 BMWK1600GTL  Colours:Silver or black Dealer: £10,200 Private good: £10,500 Private average: £9900 This one: Top-of-the-range Executive model with high level brake light and oil cooler guard. 15k miles, £10,300 2012 BMWK1600GTL Colours: Silver or black Dealer: £11,000 Private good: £11,500 Private average: £10,750 This one:Low mileage Executive with private reg, satnav, ABS, ESC and more. 8k miles, £11,399 2013 BMWK1600GTL Colours: Silver or maroon Dealer: £11,750 Private good: £12,000 Private average: £11,250 This one:Ultra low mileage dealer example with three-month guarantee. 1734miles, £12,995 2014 BMW K1600GTL  Colours: Silver or dark grey Dealer: £14,000 Private good: £14,000 Private average: £12,500 This one: 2014 example with BMW’s Comfort Package. 13,893 miles, £14,495 Insurance Sample MCNCompare.com quotes for similarly-priced full-dress tourers, from cheapest to costliest…

Fitted with the Honda Adventure package, the Africa Twin came complete with the optional high screen. While the wind protection was good for my 5ft 10in frame, I found that the top of the screen was right in my line of sight, forcing me to either peer over it or look through it. Before the 1200-mile round trip to Scotland I re-fitted the significantly lower standard screen. The Honda engineers clearly did their wind tunnel homework when developing the bike, as the smaller screen not only looks better but also performs brilliantly with good wind protection and minimal buffeting, despite its size.…

HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET 750 £5795 FUEL 13.1 litres @ 66mpg = 190 miles WEIGHT 223kg SEAT 710mm POWER 52bhp TORQUE43ftlb ALISON SILCOX Experienced rider with 12 years on the front and over 20 as pillion. HEIGHT 5ft 10in WEIGHT 72kg alison.silcox@motorcyclenews.com ‘The dyno run showed the engine runs at its most efficient in a very small window at around 5000rpm’ It’s a standing joke in the office that whatever bike I get on and whatever conditions I’m riding in I have an ability to get in excess of 50mpg. This is even the case when riding on track, and I’m rather proud of the fact. So when I found that the Harley-Davidson Street 750 was averaging just over 40mpg per tank I was pretty disgusted and embarked on a quest…

‘Buildbase BMW return to BSB buoyed by two TT victories with Michael Dunlop’ The MCE British Superbike Championship heads to Knockhill this weekend for the fourth round of the 2016 season, and with five winners from six races so far, it’s game on. Series favourites Leon Haslam and Shane Byrne may be leading the way but they haven’t had it easy over the first three rounds with numerous contenders snapping at their heels. Byrne was relieved to take his first win on the Be Wiser Ducati in the second race at Brands Hatch and after a strong test at Knockhill earlier this year, he is sure to come out of the blocks fighting as he looks to repeat his double victory at the Scottish circuit in 2015. As the only…

‘The 25-year-old Kent racer will join the Platinum Bay Real Estate Mahindra team in place of the departing Hanika’ Former 125GP pole man Danny Webb will make the incredible step off a TT superbike and back into the GP circus next weekend at Assen, as he returns to Moto3 after a three-year absence. The 25-year-old Kent racer will join the Platinum Bay Real Estate Mahindra squad in place of the departing Karel Hanika, with a view to finishing the season with the Dubai-sponsored team. Webb hasn’t raced in the lightweight class since 2013 after parting ways with the Ambrogio Racing squad half way through the season. He instead turned his attentions to the roads, debuting at the TT in 2014 and since taking a best result of tenth in the…

At the second and final Italian round of the 2016 season, Davide Giugliano had the opposite experience of Davies in race two, scoring the podium that Davies wanted and showing the possibilities of the Panigale when it all goes to plan. “Race one was a big disappointment for us, because we had strong pace but a crash took us out of contention,” said Giugliano. “We knew we could bounce back today, and we’ve made another small step forward with our set-up. Early on, I was trying to manage the tyres because I was expecting a drop in the second half of the race, like yesterday, from Rea and Sykes. However, that didn’t happen.” Giugliano is currently fourth in the championship, two points ahead of Honda man Michael van der Mark.…

‘We will see a naked Duke model first, closely followed by an Adventure bike’ Last week saw the official opening of KTM/Husqvarna’s all-new headquarters in the UK, based at the world-famous Silverstone circuit. Cutting the ribbon was company owner and architect of KTM’s phenomenal rise to power, Stefan Pierer – and MCN was granted an exclusive interview to find out what’s next for the Austrian brand on road and track. How broad can KTM’s road bike range get before it changes the firm’s identity? Stefan Pierer: KTM could go through all different displacements in line with the brand concept – Ready to Race. It’s always about performance; it’s for the sporty rider. I wouldn’t say that KTM is limited, but we have to focus on our core content. The new…

Audi boss Rupert Stadler has told MCN Ducati will not be sold by the parent German car company despite recent speculation that it is under consideration. Speculation has been mounting that an internal review of the brands owned by Audi’s parent company Volkswagen Group was going to see some of the smaller elements and more fringe parts of the company sold off. Professor Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management at Audi, who is also a board member of Volkswagen, told MCN: “Ducati is not for sale,” when we asked about the Italian firm’s future. Much of the speculation stems from a report by Bloomberg, which states: “To navigate the company out of the emissions-cheating scandal, the biggest crisis in its history, Chief Executive Officer Matthias Mueller is undertaking…

Fancy a £22K 1990 Norton Rotary F1 for £2? Of course you do! This pristine, limited-edition 588cc superbike is the first place prize in this year’s National Motorcycle Museum summer raffle. There’s also a fully restored 1951 Norton ES2 500cc in second place and a luxury weekend break for two in third. The raffle is part of the NMM Live Open Day, held November 5. Tickets are available now from www.thenmm.co.uk.…

6-7 SEPT MUGELLO Scarperia e San Piero, Italy Good track tuition unlocks doors that seem bolted shut, adding speed without adding to the chances of leaving the circuit in an ambulance. It makes you float on air for a few days too. And if it’s held on a classic race track, preferably one on the far side of a European mountain range, well, pass me that tailpack. Summer doesn’t get much better. Right up among the best is the Ducati Riding Experience held expensively and exotically throughout the summer at Misano, Monza and here, my choice, Mugello. DRE has courses and levels for all. In the paddock gleeful newcomers in the Intro and Precision groups scrape their Monsters’ pegs between the cones, while out on the circuit it’s all about…

21 AUG ACE CAFÉ Ace Corner, North Circular Rd, London The Ace Café gets taken over for one day a year by lady riders, who turn up from all over the country on all manner of machines. Last year’s event saw the car park full to capacity, with bikes spilling over onto the surrounding pavements and footbridge. Inside line Being able to spend an afternoon chatting with like-minded, bike-loving ladies really is a great way to pass the time. Best for The grub is great at the Ace Café: chilli and chips go down a storm but, be warned, it does get busy so queues can be a bit lengthy. Contact www.ace-cafe-london.com Entry Free…

24-25 SEPT OLIVERS MOUNT Scarborough, North Yorkshire This year’s Gold Cup at Oliver’s Mount promises to be a cracker as the prestigious event celebrates its 70th year. As well as hard-fought racing there will be a parade of racers past and present who have competed at the last remaining true road race in England. The Gold Cup is Olivers Mount’s largest event of the year, attracting the very best of road racing at the only circuit in the UK where you can get up close to racing between-the-hedges. I love the atmosphere and the intimacy of the action, plus the way Scarborough turns into a mini TT as race fans enjoy the festivities on Friday and Saturday night. Inside line Take walking boots in a backpack as the track is…

9-11 SEPT GOODWOOD Motor Circuit, Chichester Motorcycle racing’s best-kept secret, the Goodwood Revival is the place where legends come out of retirement to race again. But these are no choreographed parade laps, it’s no-holds-barred, elbow-bashing racing on classic machines, made famous by the great battles between former GP champs Barry Sheene and Wayne Gardner in the early noughties. Since then the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy has played host to the likes of Jeremy McWilliams, Kevin Schwantz, Freddie Spencer, former F1 driver Gerhard Berger and dozens of former BSB stars. Inside line Go in period fancy dress – turn up in jeans and a T-shirt and you’ll feel the odd one out. Best for The dedicated petrolhead and nostalgia lover. Get close to some of the best two (and four)-wheeled classic…

‘I really should have bought that XT350…’ There is no single class of bike to compete with medium-size trail bikes when it comes to resale value. By ‘medium-size’ I mean bigger than 250cc and smaller than 600cc, so we’re looking at 350s and 400s, really. There’s a sad dearth of new offerings in that capacity group, which only strengthens the values. The thing about this size of bike is that it’s got more power and torque than the 250s, while being about the same size and weight – certainly none of the unwieldiness on the dirt of plenty of 600s and 650s. You’re looking at Suzuki DR350s and 400s, Honda’s XR400, Yamaha’s old XT350 and, really, well, that’s about it unless you want a Moto Morini Kanguro! Used XR400s are…

‘A full service history is important as cosmetics’ ‘There’s not really anything in particular that goes wrong with the K1600 – it’s a good bike. And there’s been no significant recalls that I can remember, either, apart from the usual software updates. ‘We don’t really see any problems with the switchgear anymore but that’s probably because most of the affected bikes will have been fixed by now under warranty and we don’t see as many of the early machines as we used to do. ‘So no, we don’t now see many issues of switchgear anymore. We used to, a long time ago, but not so much now. ‘If you buy a really early one, say from 2011 or so, then yes, the gearbox is a bit clunkier, but it’s not…

TRIUMPH TIGER 955I Full service history, new MoT and fresh tyres help this 2001 model with 44,000 miles stand out. Has new heated grips fitted, too. TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 The previous owner of this 16,869-mile 2008 model had an eye for decent upgrades with Nitron shock, upgraded fork internals and more. TRIUMPH TIGER 800 Has covered less than 5000 miles in five years. The private-sale 2011 model also has handguards, heated grips, aux lights, a chain oiler and 50 litres of luggage. TRIUMPH TIGER 1200 EXPLORER 2012 model with a full service history (this year’s annual service is due, though). It’s a launch model, which was sold with extras like screen, engine bars and fog lights.…

SUZUKI SV650 £5495 FUEL 13.8 litres @ 56mpg = 170 miles WEIGHT 197kg SEAT 785mm POWER 75bhp TORQUE 47ftlb RIDER Tony Hoare. Experienced rider and former racer who seems to be losing his appetite for going fast HEIGHT 5ft 10in WEIGHT 95kg tony.hoare@motorcyclenews.com There’s no substitute for time in the saddle when it comes to bonding with a bike. A 500-mile trip to the Isle of Man for the TT has done the trick. After seven hours of rural roads, dual-carriageways and motorways on this side of the Irish Sea – plus sorties around the Island to reach vantage points and sample some of the TT course – I feel at one with the SV. I instinctively know what will happen if I push the bars a little harder, and…

Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran and Dan Linfoot were able to make an impression on the timesheets in testing after finding improved feeling with the CBR1000RR Fireblade at Snetterton. O’Halloran’s time in the final session placed him third in the overall classification after a dramatic improvement in engine braking saw a significant step forward for the Aussie. “It’s been a good test for us,” he said. “We’ve worked quite hard with the forks and engine braking, as soon as we put new tyres in for Thursday’s second session we went straight to the top and were only dropped by Leon [Haslam]. We maybe even went too far with the engine braking as I tucked the front a few times on my fast lap as it felt like the throttle was still…

‘Moto2 teaches race craft, tyre management and intelligence’SIMON PATTERSON This year looks set to be the first year in the history of the Moto2 class where we see a really strong crop of riders all make the step forward to MotoGP, with more of the front group set to move up than at any other time since the series’ launch. Reigning champion Johann Zarco, Alex Rins, Jonas Folger and Sam Lowes join Marc Marquez, Tito Rabat, Maverick Viñales, Scott Redding, Pol and Aleix Espargaró, Andrea Iannone and Stefan Bradl as the Moto2 graduates currently in the premiere class. Yet despite that track record, Moto2 is still derided as a wholly unsuitable class for training racers. Running on identical engines, and almost identical frames now that most of the grid uses…

Hand this voucher to the cashier at your chosen Little Chef restaurant when you place your order to claim your free tea or coffee. Please tick the box above to also claim your discounted bacon or sausage butty. See full terms and conditions below. TERMS & CONDITIONS 1. This voucher entitles the holder to a free coffee (America/Latte/Cappuccino – Mocha not included) or Pot of Tea. Customers can also use the voucher to purchase a Bacon/Sausage butty for £1. 2. Voucher valid between June 22-23, 2016. 3. Voucher has no cash value. 4. Photocopies will not be accepted. 5. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. 6. One voucher per customer only. 7. Promoter is Bauer Consumer Media Ltd.…

A full production version of the 2017 KTM 390 Duke has been snapped inside the firm’s Indian factory in Pune where the bikes are manufactured for KTM by Bajaj. Although the bike is still partially covered, and missing its seat and fuel cap, changes to the front light and side panels can still be clearly seen. The headlight appears to be a new LED unit that works with the updated side panels for a new and slightly more aggressive look. An update for the big-selling 390 Duke was expected because the bike needs to make legal for forthcoming Euro4 regulations. Previous spy shots have shown other visual changes to the bike including a reshaped fuel tank and what appears to be an updated seat unit and a revised rear light…

Missed Guy at the TT? Need a fresh fix of the Lincolnshire truck driver before he next graces your telly-box with his daredevil world record breaking lunacy? Grab yourself a copy of this then: MCN’s special 100-page glossy magazine all about the enigma that is Guy Martin. You can find it in your local WH Smith, or order it direct online (with free P&P) at www.greatmagazines.co.uk/ motorcycling. • MCN would like to make it clear that a picture used on page 36-37 of the Guy Martin Bookazine, was taken by Noel O’Reilly. The picture was wrongly credited to Pacemaker Press when it should have been credited to Noel O’Reilly. MCN would like to apologise for any confusion caused.…

Have TT risks got too great? As a motorcyclist of 43 years I have thought long and hard about this letter. I don’t want to jump on the safety-at-all-costs lobby, as motorcyclists we all know and accept the risks we face every time we leave the house, but I do feel that the TT has got to the point where something needs to be done about safety. Five riders and two fans died this year. Luis Salom died at the Catalunya GP and there are investigations, track alterations and more repercussions. If five riders died in MotoGP there would be an outcry. Chris Upton, email Who ate all the TT pies? I have been watching the TT over the years and am appalled by the present race classes. We now…

The Longest Day has been and gone, it’ll be Christmas soon! As the rain hammers against the window and grey clouds hang ominously overhead, it’s hard to believe we are meant to be enjoying Britain’s summer months. It’s easy to get down when the weather does its very best to dampen our spirits. Then again, this false start to summer is nothing new for UK bikers. If we refused to venture out due to the threat of an imminent downpour, we’d spend a long time indoors, looking morosely out of the window, shaking our heads in never-ending disappointment. At the risk of being called a ‘fair-wether biker’ I have to admit having a preference of riding when the sun is shining. Or at least when the rain isn’t raining. But,…

1-2 JULY SKERRIES, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland One of the highlights of the Irish road racing season, you’re normally guaranteed amazing racing, great hospitality and sometimes even a bit of sunshine at the most prestigious race in the Republic of Ireland. Only minutes out of Dublin, it’s the perfect base for exploring Ireland’s capital as well as taking in some incredible racing. And because of its blue riband status, expect the cream of the crop to be in attendance. Michael and William Dunlop will be firm favourites, but between the locals and the visitors they won’t have it all their own way. Inside line You haven’t properly experienced road racing until you’ve been to Gillies Leap for the superbike race – ten 200bhp machines blasting over a blind crest…

27-28 AUG VALE OF NEATH , South Wales The Dawn to Dusk is one of the UK’s top enduro events. You don’t have to be a pro to enter and can even compete as part of a team with your mates in relay style. There aren’t many events where complete novices can find themselves side-by-side (if only for a split second) with international pros. There’s a six, 12 and 24-hour event to choose from, so take your pick! Inside line If you’re going for the 24-hour enduro then… good luck! Best for D2D attracts around 5000 spectators, so you can definitely go to watch, but why not join in with the 500 riders instead? Contact www.dawntoduskenduro.com Entry from £60…

14 AUG ROYAL HARBOUR APPROACH Western Undercliff, Ramsgate The Ramsgate Rev-Up is a celebration of classic, vintage and post-modern road and racing bikes. Held at the coastal town’s Undercliff Road next to the sea, on a clear day you can see over the Channel to the cliffs of northern France – the perfect backdrop for a day mooching around motorcycles. Ramsgate is my home town so I’ll be there watching with an ice-cream. Inside line The Rev-Up is just around the corner from Ramsgate’s bustling harbour, which has an almost St Tropez feel to it on a sunny August day. Best for A great chance to see a vast collection of old and new road and race bikes in south east Kent. Entry Free…

1-3 JUL GARMISCHPARTENKIRCHEN Bavaria, Germany Not just for BMW owners, the Garmisch festival remains one of the biggest and best biker events in Europe and is no-holds-barred fun. The premise for the event is simple: ride to stunning Bavaria from wherever you live and then set about trying to reduce Germany’s beer and meat mountain by a significant margin, all the while being entertained by bands in a giant marquee with long, traditional German tables and benches. Dancing on the tables is fully endorsed as the night carries on late. Aside from that, there are loads of exhibitions, stunt shows, trade stands, riding experiences and locally run tours showing off the best of the Bavarian scenery. Inside line The bike scenes from The Great Escape were filmed nearby and can…

9 OCT DARLEY MOOR CIRCUIT Ashbourne It’s club racing’s annual end of season extravaganza, where the superstars of real roads racing and BSB go elbow-to-elbow with hardcore clubbies at one of the UK’s fastest circuits. The Stars at Darley meeting sees top riders like Peter Hickman, John McGuinness, Michael Rutter, Richard Cooper and Lee Johnston do battle with a full grid of the club’s quickest riders, for a prize fund of over £7000. With average speeds in excess of 100mph and excellent track-side viewing, Darley offers spectators thrills that are unrivalled by any other UK circuit. Inside line Pop down on Saturday lunchtime for the official test session. Best for True race enthusiasts Entry Race day is £16 adults and £10 seniors, under 16s go free.…

3-4 SEPT LUGANO Switzerland Grab yourself a couple of cheap mopeds, throw them into the back of a van with a couple of mates, and bomb it over to Switzerland and ride stunning, twisty, gorgeous mountain roads with thousands of fellow nutcases in fancy dress. You’ll have the time of your life. Inside line Your moped must have pedals and you must have a sense of humour. Best for If you crave speed then this isn’t for you. Contact www.redbull.com Entry price £20…

Joey’s 1986 Honda RVF750 was about as factory as it gets. Intended mainly for the world endurance championship and the Suzuka 8-Hour race, it was hand-built by HRC and, until the modern era of four-stroke MotoGP, was arguably the greatest four-stroke racer ever built – and was Joey's favourite bike of all time. Debuted in 1984, the V4 was dripping in magnesium and titanium and made around 150bhp while only weighing 130kg. “The RVF750 and the road-going VFR750 were mainly developed with Joey’s skills and knowledge so the bikes suited him perfectly,” Barry Symmons says. “Joey was the only man outside of Honda’s official World Endurance team to be given a works RVF. It was a real hand-crafted jewel from HRC. The engines had to be more or less standard…

‘Still the American legend’ If you fitted new tyres to the Victory it would totally transform it – but I’d still choose the better looking and more desirable Harley, even though it’s not as quick and doesn’t stop as well as the Octane. The Roadster is one of the best bikes to come out of Harley-Davidson’s factory gates in recent years, and delivers an overall package that makes it our firm favourite in this shootout. HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROADSTER£9695 Engine1202cc air-cooled V-twin Power66bhp @ 5500rpm Torque71.5ftlb @ 4200rpm Weight259kg (kerb) Suspension43mm conventional nonadjustable fork, twin rear monoshock with adjustable preload Brakes2x 300mm discs with two two-piston caliper. 260mm rear disc with two-piston caliper Seatheight785mm Fuel capacity 12.5 litres Tyres 120/70 R19 front, 150/70 R18 rear VICTORYOCTANE £9799 Engine1179cc water-cooled V-twin Power104bhp @…

HONDA AFRICA TWIN £10,499 FUEL 18.8 litres @ 48mpg = 197 miles WEIGHT 232kg SEAT 870mm POWER 93bhp TORQUE72ftlb MICHAEL GUY Former short circuit racer with a love of off-road racing and adventure riding HEIGHT 5ft 10in WEIGHT 63kg michael.guy@motorcyclenews.com ‘With plenty of hours in the saddle, it’s fair to say the Africa Twin stays loyal to its ‘True Adventure’ mantle’ The miles on the Africa Twin are beginning to mount up fast – 5000 and counting – but disappointingly they’ve been largely made up by time spent commuting on the motorway. So with the weather picking up it was time to do something about that. I’ve always wanted to go and watch the world-famous Scottish Six Day Trial (SSDT) so this year I took the plunge and set…

BMW R1200RT LE £17,445 FUEL 25 litres @ 54mpg = 297 miles WEIGHT 274kg SEAT 805mm POWER 123bhp TORQUE92ftlb ADAM CHILD Vastly experienced road tester who also indulges in pure road racing HEIGHT 5ft 6in WEIGHT 80kg adam.child@motorcyclenews.com ‘The R1200RT was the perfect machine for my journey’ Normally my route to the Isle of Man TT is agony, crunched up on a sportsbike in uncomfortable leathers with far too much luggage strapped to the pillion seat. To add to the misery I usually have a huge tankbag pushing into my chin and an oversized rucksack crushing my spine. Only if I’m really lucky I’ll avoid freezing to death as I cross Yorkshire to the port at Liverpool; but not this year on the RT. Believe it or not I…

‘It’s nice to throw down a decent one-off lap... but we’ve also got good race pace’MICHAEL LAVERTY Michael Laverty was able to make a significant step forward with the set-up of his BMW superbike at last week’s official Snetterton test using data gathered by Tyco stable-mate Ian Hutchinson during the Isle of Man TT. Hutchinson took one victory and two podium places for Tyco BMW two weeks ago at the legendary road race and the progress made by the Bingley Bullet on the 37.73-mile mountain course enabled Laverty to overcome a problem he’s been struggling with on the short circuits all year. “We’ve been suffering with movement when on the edge of the tyre all season, but after trying something Hutchy learned with the rear shock at the TT it…

• Despite ranking 15th fastest on the combined classification, John Hopkins was smiling after a single day testing with the ePayMe Yamaha team. The former MotoGP star was in the mix throughout the first day and claims to have found a much-improved feeling with the YZF-R1. • Another rider only to test on Wednesday, Luke Mossey rounded out the day second fastest (fifth overall) despite a number of problems plaguing the Tec-care Quattro Plant team. • Jake Dixon enjoyed a successful first test with the RAF Briggs Equipment BMW team. Shane Byrne’s protégé may have only been 16th fastest overall, but made enough progress alongside Alastair Seeley for team boss Lee Hardy to confirm Dixon will race at Knockhill. • Aussie racer Josh Hook will line up with the Team…

‘I’m really happy with my deal. It’s a great option, and the bike is only going to get better’SAM LOWES Sam Lowes will finally make his debut on the Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP machine that he will ride in 2017 and 2018 in the coming weeks, with the Italian firm scheduling a test in the days following the Dutch GP next weekend. Given this will be the Brit’s first taste of Grand Prix power after a career spent mainly on Supersport machines, he remains his usual confident self and says the jump from 140bhp to 250bhp won’t be that big a shock to him. “I think the stopping power with the carbon brakes is quite big. Plus I think the electronics side of things will be a lot different; I have…

‘Today I did not feel anywhere near the limit when I crashed’CHAZ DAVIES In the space of seven weeks and three rounds, Chaz Davies has gone from double winner and the man most likely to overhaul runaway leader Jonathan Rea to relative struggler on his factory Ducati. Despite his unquestionable talent, Davies has found problems and a lack of pure race pace in recent rounds, which has dropped him to third in the championship, 99 points behind Rea and out of realistic title contention. Davies said that there is no reason why he could not be competitive at any circuit, but he has not managed to deliver that in recent weeks. He toiled again at Misano after being caught up in an opening lap clash that left him last before…

Of the main protagonists in the World Superbike paddock, only Jonathan Rea, Tom Sykes and Nicky Hayden are confirmed with their current teams in 2017. Chaz Davies is on course to remain with Ducati, but the next two riders in the championship rankings are not yet certain. The future of Davide Giugliano with the official Ducati team has been the subject of discussion since the start of the year. Current MotoGP rider and former 13-time WSB race winner Eugene Laverty was in town at Misano and has been linked to Giugliano’s ride, as well as a potential Aprilia slot. Michael Van der Mark could go to MotoGP with a Honda team like Marc VDS, but he is most likely to stay with the Japanese manufacturer in WSB, who may sweeten…

‘You have two races each weekend so it is important to be clever’JONATHAN REA ‘I was four points shy of having the most successful season ever’JONATHAN REA Last year he was almost unbeatable and Jonathan Rea started his title defence with five wins in the first eight races – but then things became more challenging with rivals grabbing the top spots. Even so, Rea has still taken a podium at every round. Over that time he has watched his fellow racers wax and wane as they’ve gone from winners to sinners, with Rea capitalising on their problems to extend his championship lead as he goes. And that means he could potentially take the 2016 title without needing to win another race. Nothing, however, beats winning races. Especially when you are…

Ex-MotoGP man Nicky Hayden says he has never had much luck at Misano – and that proved to be the case again as he crashed out of race one, despite having started out as the fastest man on track on Friday. The Honda rider’s race one crash had an element of misfortune to it. “I made a pretty good start and had just closed the gap down to the front three. Then in Turn 13 Giugliano crashed in front of me and I had to wait a little bit to pick up the gas. “The Kawasakis pulled a jump on me and I pushed too hard to close the gap back down.”…

‘We still have 250 points to play with. It is a tall ask but I will try everything’TOM SYKES After winning three of the past four races, and pulling himself ahead of Chaz Davies in the points, Tom Sykes had built up some real momentum in his quest to catch Jonathan Rea. Despite being the only rider to go with Rea in real race situations at Misano, Sykes clearly dropped a couple of potential full-points opportunties. The first came in race one, as he tailed Rea to within 0.090 seconds in the run to the flag. The other came when Rea pulled in the final few laps, after an audacious pass into the first chicane. Sykes, who has just resigned with Kawasaki for another two years, knew race one should…

‘I wasn’t the fastest but I was the one who had a decent pace and stayed on the bike’MICHAEL VAN DER MARK Normally a podium finish, especially for a Honda rider in these days of Kawasaki and Ducati domination, is cause for celebration. At Misano, third place in race one for Michael van der Mark was simply a relief. His season has been a story of two halves so far. He started the season strongly but has recently been struggling to regain that form. Looking to a potential GP ride, and being gently courted by other WSB teams, the last thing you need is to have gone from third at your home round in Assen to seventh, ninth, seventh, sixth, eighth and eighth. And to have your former MotoGP team-mate…