Table of contents for 15 March 2017 in MCN

‘I know what it takes to feel at one with a bike and this feels good’GUY MARTIN The growl of the new Fireblade as it left Monteblanco’s pit lane at 9.24am last Thursday signalled the return of Guy Martin to road racing following a 19-month break. Clad in the same black retro leathers he wore when he last raced a Honda in 2010, the 35-year-old reignited his TT challenge in the blazing Spanish sunshine. Guy hasn’t raced on the roads since breaking his back in a crash on a Tyco BMW at the Ulster GP in August 2015 but there was nothing slow or steady about the popular Lincolnshire man’s official Honda Racing debut. Struggling with electronic issues, Guy slid off his superstock-spec SP2 at the final turn on the…

Over 1000 people have already signed up to our 5000-mile challenge. Together with our partner Bennetts, we’re encouraging readers to ride further than ever in 2017. During the year we’ll be showcasing great routes, events and places to go to, as well helping you get more from motorcycling. But probably the best part of it all is the new community. Our exclusive Facebook group now already has over 1000 members, all intent on sharing their wisdom, journeys and encouraging others to do the same. As well as this, being a member will allow you access to exclusive offers and competitions. For example, #ride5000 members can get a free bike check at Chris Walker Kawasaki at the start of the season as well as a half-price service when they’ve completed the…

As the last hurrah for the aging Z50, aka the Monkey bike, Honda have released a special edition to celebrate 50 years of the little rebel. The 50th anniversary Monkey is powered by a fuel-injected 49cc air-cooled motor that puts out a whopping 3.3hp and 2.5ftlb of torque, although it does only weigh 68kg. It comes in Magna Red, with Shasta White highlights, along with a 3D emblem on the tank and a 50th anniversary logo on the seat and key. Honda are making 1800, but they won’t be officially available in the UK, so if you’re desperate for one you’ll have to import it yourself.…

INDIAN SPIRIT LAKE BOOTS £238 Made (or should that be built?) by Red Wing Shoes – a Minnesota-based firm with a heritage nearly as long as Indian’s – these Spirit Lake boots are pricey, but will last a lifetime. This 8in boot is also superbly comfortable, has double-layer toecaps, Vibram sole and triple-stitch quality. www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk BIKE SHED MOTORCYCLE CLUB HELMET GIRL TEE £20 You can’t beat a good T-shirt, and there’s something rather cute about the Helmet Girl tee, designed by Chris Watson. Available in blue or white, sizes Small to XL, they’ve currently got a fiver off their list price of £25, and are disappearing fast, so grab one while you can. thebikeshed.cc BUILT MAGAZINE £4.99 Built is a new magazine all about handcrafted, customised motorcycles and the lifestyle…

Scorpion Exo 490 helmet £129.99 What’s good Brilliant value for this pleasing and practical lid, the Scorpion Exo 490 features a drop-down visor, removable Kwikwick2 lining, and comes with a five-year warranty. If you want even better value choose a plain colour for just £99.99. What’s not The visor is Pinlock ready, but you’ll have to splash out £28 for one. www.tranam.co.uk Pro-Bolt Black Stainless Steel range from £5 What’s good New finish from the first name in aftermarket bike bolts. Pro-Bolt now offer their entire stainless steel range in this attractive black finish. Made from A316 stainless and coated in a Diamond Like Coating of black that Pro-Bolt claim will increase the bolt’s longevity. What’s not Pro-Bolt make some of the finest fasteners but they’re certainly not cheap. www.pro-bolt.com…

 Q1. What are you riding? ‘I’d let everyone have two free speeding tickets a year’ If I were at home I’d be riding either my Suzuki V-Strom 650 or RMZ250. Q2. Which living motorcyclist do you most admire? Myself [laughing]... that’s what Wayne Gardner would have said! But, seriously, Barry Sheene was my hero. If it has to be a living legend it would have to be Ago. I’ll always look up to the older guys instead of the younger ones. Q3. What’s your worst habit? Looking too close to the front of the motorcycle, so everything is a reaction instead of an anticipation. Q4. If you could have one riding super skill, what would it be? Not crashing. Q5. What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone on a bike? A…

‘He did something very historical. I’m very sorry for him and his family’ Valentino Rossi It’s a great shame, because he was obviously the only one to win Formula One and the 500cc championship, and he did something very historical. I’m very sorry for him and his family, but I was very lucky to have met him three or four times while he was still in a great shape. ‘It’s a big, big loss to the sport. What he achieved will never be repeated’ Sammy Miller We did our first Grand Prix together. It was in 1955 at the Ulster. We were both riding NSU Sport Max’s, and John was first, I was second, and Umberto Masetti was third. We became very close friends after that and spoke to each…

WHO’S THIS? 1 Who is this young race ace riding a super-rare MV Agusta 600GT? NAME THIS BIKE 2 It’s not often you see one of these out in the real world – what is it? WHAT BIKE? 3 This digital dash was full-factory for a production bike back in 2000. WHO’S THIS? 4 He defected from the East and brought his secrets with him. NAME THE MANUFACTURER 5 They build some of the funkiest creations ever made from metal and rubber, and count many celebrities among their customer base. But who are they? WHAT’S THIS? 6 It’s just a concept – for now – but what is this nuts three-wheeler? NAME THE BIKE 7 It’s rare to see a current race bike with spannies, what is this beauty? WHAT…

2004 Z750 748cc • 100bhp • 195kg dry Cheaper, less powerful understudy to the modern-era 2003 Z1000. A decent all-rounder but lacked sparkle. 2007 Z750 748cc • 105bhp • 207kg kerb New styling and slightly more power but it now has the new Street Triple to contend with. It doesn’t stand a chance. 2013 Z800 806cc • 111bhp • 229kg kerb Smoother, more powerful and sharper- handling, the Z800 was a leap forward. It beat the old MT-09 in MCN group tests. 2017 Z900 948cc • 123bhp • 210kg kerb Now Kawasaki’s ‘baby Zed’ has grown to be just 5cc and 2bhp shy of the original Z1000. Ultra-refined, but lacks electronic rider aids, apart from ABS.…

ACCESS TO ‘HARLEYDOM’ That first step into the world of Harley-Davidson is a crucial one. The affordable 883 Sportster provides it. A TICKET TO DAYTONA Go to the world’s biggest biker festival by all means. But if you don’t own a Harley you’re something of a fraud. EVEL KNIEVEL STORIES Yes, the legendary stuntman rode Nortons and even Laverdas but he’s mostly associated with small-block Hogs… THE DREAM OF ROUTE 66 Admit it: it’s every biker’s dream. You don't have to do it on a Harley, but you kinda do!…

HONDA CB750 DUNSTALL Price £265 Weight 226kg Seat 800mm Power 67bhp Torque 44ftlb With the Dunny’s wiring woes largely sorted – barring what will doubtless be a frustrating final push to connect the lighting, indicators and horn successfully – and new switchgear connected, I was desperate to ditch the crude and rusty clip-ons. It’s impossible to know their origin, but they looked entirely home-brew in quality. Years of searching eventually revealed a genuine set of new-old stock Dunstall items in Ontario, Canada – and I just couldn’t resist. Nasty ones removed I went through the laborious process of feeding the new switchgear looms through the clip-ons, before finally bolting them to the fork tops. They look gorgeous, too. But what I wanted most of all was to see if it…

Handguards get happening Powerbronze have developed a new range of handguards. Costing £65 and made from tough-but-light ABS plastic, the sleek guards are available to fit a wide selection of machines, from BMW’s GS range, to the Yamaha MT family, most Suzukis, Kawasakis, Triumphs, Aprilias and even the Ducati Diavel. Check out www.powerbronze.co.uk Book your GSX-R demo ride now Suzuki dealers are gearing up to receive the long-awaited all-new GSX-R1000, and prospective buyers will be able to get their chance to experience it for themselves at their local Suzuki dealership on Sunday, April 2. You’ll need a full licence and places are limited so book now.www.suzuki-gb.co.uk Spread the cost of a new lid Premium helmets are pricey but online kit retailers are now offering attractive interest-free finance packages, meaning you…

2005 Suzuki GS500F Colours Black, white/blue Dealer £1600 Private good £1300 Private average £1100 This one This private seller is hoping a FSH and MoT will tempt buyers to pay an ambitious £2100 for his 16,462-mile bike. 2008 Suzuki GS500F Colours Black, white/blue Dealer £1900 Private good £1700 Private average £1500 This one The £1650 price tag is a result of the clocks showing over 24,000 miles, which could be a worry if it wasn’t for the FSH. 2007 Suzuki GS500E Colours Black, silver/black,white/blue Dealer £1700 Private good £1500 Private average £1400 This one Loads of extras such as heated grips, justifying its high £1899 price tag and explaining its 21,000 miles. 2008 Suzuki GS500E Colours Black, silver/black,white/blue Dealer £1800 Private good £1600 Private average £1500 This one This naked…

‘When you crash after pushing only 80% it is not a nice feeling’EUGENE LAVERTY The hoped-for change in fortunes of the factory-backed Milwaukee SMR team failed to materialise despite the squad trying a 2013-style, heavily braced headstock on Eugene Laverty and Lorenzo Savadori’s RSV4s. Both riders were off the pace almost all weekend in Chang and to make matters worse Savadori had a bizarre oil leak that brought out the race two red flag. And it wasn’t any easier for Laverty who then fell after showing strong pace in the first and second half of race two. Fortunately, he got going again to score a point. “It was really tough today as the conditions were more slippery and the front tyre was moving a lot,” said Laverty. “I had a…

‘The team did a great job and we kept improving’DANI PEDROSA While it might have been a difficult test for the Repsol Honda team’s number one rider at Qatar, on the other side of the garage Dani Pedrosa came away with one of his best results of recent months, finishing third overall and delighted with the work done by his squad over the three days. “We gained confidence and this was a positive end to the preseason. This track is not one of my favourites, but the team did a great job and things kept improving. We’re in better shape than last year and we’ll try to add this confidence to the motivation for the GP and to do our best at the first race.”…

‘When I feel good with the bike I can be very fast with it’JORGE LORENZO Jorge Lorenzo has admitted that ‘anything is possible’ when the 2017 MotoGP season kicks off in 10 days time at Qatar, after a highly successful test at the Losail circuit. Lorenzo’s pace reignited his hopes that he could be the first person to score back-to-back wins for different manufacturers since Valentino Rossi switched from Honda to Yamaha in 2004. Bouncing back after a torrid time at the previous Phillip island test to finish fourth overall, Lorenzo used the strengths of the Desmosedici to land his best result since moving from Yamaha in November. And now he’s a lot more positive than previously. “Anything is possible,” he said. “At this track we can be competitive, especially…

Honda race boss Neil Tuxworth is the man who pulled off the coup in acquiring Guy’s signature for Honda. He was delighted with his new protégé’s progress at Monteblanco. “We know where we need to improve and there are no major issues,” he said. “This is a shakedown test and Guy needs the mileage.” Although there were no times released from the test, as expected Guy was off the pace of McGuinness and the BSB and endurance riders out on track. Opting to build his pace steadily may have been the best policy for his return on his new Fireblade debut but the Lincolnshire man is aware of what is required from him if he is to convert the perfect combination as he calls it – “a Honda on Dunlop…

Police pioneer The UK’s first female police motorcyclist has passed away at the age of 77. Janet Knott joined the Met Police in 1959, and enjoyed a career that saw her promoted from WPC through to Chief Inspector. She joined the traffic division in 1977. In it to win it BMW’s 2018 GS Trophy will take place in Mongolia. The Trophy – which is open to all non-professional riders – invites teams from all over the world to compete for the number one spot. Hopefuls need to progress through regional qualifiers to earn their place on the rally – head to www.gstrophy.com for details. Speedy turns 20 The Peugeot Speedfight is celebrating its 20th birthday (blimey, that makes us feel old) with an Anniversary Edition. With over 500,000 sold since…

The latest bikes – especially the range-topping ones – have ever-expanding brain power, and central to their artificial intelligence is a processor that can knit together all the inputs and make them mean something useful. That little box of tricks is the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The IMU takes readings from sensors, accelerometers and gyroscopes to allow the bike’s brain to develop a 3D picture of the bike’s velocity and orientation. This enables it to calculate all the likely outcomes based on the forces acting on the tyres and suspension, and plot them against the rider’s inputs, before allowing the rider the optimum level of performance for the available grip. In terms of traction control this manifests itself as drive at the back wheel, in terms of ABS this means…

‘We work with stunt rider Craig Jones and he helps us do the training’ Marcus McCormick has achieved more than most in his quest to advance motorcycle safety. He says: “For 24 years I was either working police traffic on bikes or in the driving school as the police car and bike instructor. It was predominantly bikes though, because cars are boring. “We started the Birmingham Advanced Motorcyclists Group 26 years ago and I’ve run it ever since. “Because we were on traffic, we were involved with advanced motorists and the local guy with the Institute of Advanced Motorists said they hadn’t got a bike group and there were three of us that offered to give it a go. “We went around all the local bike groups and said we…

Surtees was the man who made MV Agusta great, developing their 500-four from a lethal piece of machinery into a Grand Prix dominator. He was utterly devoted to his craft, so much so that he begged Count Domenico Agusta to allow him to do more races. Agusta refused, so he took up car racing, which eventually led to his unique achievement of adding the Formula One car crown to his bike titles. “1960 was one of the most exciting years of my life,” Surtees told MCN. “Over the previous year or so we had got the MV going very well. I also wanted to ride my own Norton and AJS in non-championship races but the old man [Count Domenico Agusta] told me, ‘no, you only ride in world championship races’.…

‘Charging around the twists, turns and sweeps of the Spanish coastline it’s captivating’ Fast, frenetic, friendly and flexible, BMW’s new S1000R Sport is much like the old one – and that’s no bad thing. Now in its fourth year of production, BMW’s top-spec supernaked has been treated to a host of tweaks to improve performance and meet the latest Euro4 emissions and noise laws. One of the most obvious changes is the new chassis, which is derived from the current S1000RR. The cast ally beam frame is lighter than before and takes most of the credit for the bike’s claimed 2kg weight loss. Then there are new electronics. The S1000R now has a similar Bosch IMU as its RR big brother, meaning the bike now boasts cornering ABS and lean-angle…

John Surtees’ greatest achievement may not be his seven world motorcycle GP titles or even his Formula One car world title. It may just be that he stayed in and around the sports he loved his whole life. From the moment he won his first bike race at the age of 14 (in the chair of his Dad’s grass track sidecar outfit), Surtees was bitten by the racing bug. And it was a bug he never recovered from or sought treatment for. After dominating bike racing until 1960 he turned his attention to cars and resuscitated Ferrari (in the same way he did MV in the two-wheeled world), winning the Italian factory’s first title in 1964 after a three-year drought. Surtees stayed behind the wheel until 1972 and ran his…

‘Flick on the cruise control, sit back and enjoy the ride’ The new MT-10 SP and eagerly-anticipated R6 may be grabbing the headlines, but this is Yamaha’s most important bike of 2017. Since the launch of the TMAX in 2001, Yamaha have sold over a quarter of a million of them in Europe alone, making it their best-selling bike to date, and arguably their most important bike ever. Yamaha still have the largest share in the maxi-scooter market, but as sales have dropped slightly in recent years, and with Euro4 adding further pressure, Yamaha have released an all-new model. Available in the UK as two models, a standard bike and the range-topping DX (there is an SX in other markets which sits between the two), we’re concentrating on the DX,…

It may not be dripping in electronics or breaking any design moulds, but the new Z900 is a class act. Packed with easy speed, attitude and bullet train stability, it’s smooth, fast, fun and manageable. Yamaha fights back with useful electronic rider aids, a lower price tag and less weight. It’s hugely capable and fun, but it isn’t such a polished, well-balanced package. Now the scene is set to see if the Z900 has what it takes to do battle with the new 765cc Street Triple. Watch this space……

1 Road Runner Riders, Chequers Inn, Gt Blakenham, Suffolk. Wednesdays at 7.30pm. 07883-271610 2 Battlesbridge Motorcycle Museum, Battlesbridge Essex, SS11 7RF. battlesbridgemotorcycle museum.wordpress.com 3 East Coast Motorcycle World, Cranswick Industrial Estate, Hutton Cranswick, Driffield, East Yorks. 01377-271200 4 The Victoria Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics. 6pm-11pm, 01530-814718 or www.vicbikerspub.co.uk 5 Chequered Flag, A38, Liskeard Cornwall. Cafe and Cornwall’s first community motorcycle DIY workshop. www.chequeredflagcafe.co.uk GET YOUR MEET ON THE MAP If you have a bike-friendly cafe aenue w and nt wan et yo get r mee you on tmeet monthe comap tact,ema sonl: mcn sam. @ williams motorcyclenews.co.uk@motorcyclenews.com…

Q Will new whiplash laws hit me hard? I have read that the Government are banning whiplash claims and increasing the small claims court limit? I have just had an accident and although I was lucky enough not to break any bones I am suffering from a sore shoulder and neck. Will I still be able to get a lawyer? Rhiannon, Bangor A Last month the Government introduced changes to the compensation victims of road traffic accidents can get for soft tissue injuries and to the legal fees paid to their lawyers if successful. These changes are not due to come into force until October 1, 2018, so for now, you will have no problem in obtaining legal representation. Once the new regime is in place, a tariff system of…

2012 Ducati Diavel £9195 This is probably the best value Diavel for sale in the UK, showing 3500 miles, the ad says it has loads of service history too. Wheels Motorcycles, 01733 465207 2015 Ducati Diavel £11,495 Just one owner from new, a stunning example of a Diavel Dark. With only 3000 miles up its jumper, it’s in absolutely pristine condition. Chris Walker Kawasaki, 01476 850644 2014 Ducati Diavel £11,500 Lavished with extras such as a screen and passenger sissy bar, it’s a bit of a curiosity why this bike’s only covered just over 1000 miles. Roy Jervis Bike Shop, 01773 848 522…

1998 Honda Fireblade £1800 Seller says 22,000 miles, really good condition for year, bargain. Neil says It’s been resprayed in solid blue, no decals. I’d spend a few hundred more on one with original paint. 2009 Kawasaki KLX250 £1808 Seller says 1880 miles, rides well, MoT until June 2017. Neil says Nice condition, but this is a gutless bike. You can do better for the money. 2004 Honda XR400 £1800 Seller says New MoT, recent tyres, good chain and sprockets, just had oil and filter change. Neil says Looks in very tidy condition, and a better bet than the KLX250 seen here.…

‘Electrical faults will always leave home mechanics stumped, so check it all works’ “They are about as reliable as it gets when it comes to the motor and that’s probably why Suzuki sold so many of them. However, production finished a while ago and that means any used examples you are likely to encounter nowadays will be deteriorating through age. “In general terms the GS has no Achilles’ heel, so you don’t have to look out for a specific issue, but age and the often very high mileages that they cover conspire against them. “Older, high-mileage bikes have issues with the rear suspension linkages as it is seldom stripped and regreased. This can lead to seized linkages or bearings in the swingarm and that can be a nightmare. Most times…

Endurance team gets sharper Blade Honda’s Monteblanco test also saw their Endurance World Championship team try the new Blade. While the 2017 EWC season got underway last September (the championship is changing to become a winter series), Freddy Foray, Sebastian Gimbert and Julian Da Costa got their first taste of the CBR1000RR SP2 last week. Haslam’s happy JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Spanish testing ended on another high in Guadix as Leon Haslam beat the circuit record as he concluded a six-day test in Spain with his new team. Testing alongside team-mate Luke Mossey, Haslam says he could not be in a better position ahead of the 2017 season’s start in two weeks’ time at Donington Park – a track he knows well. Iddon is on it The Tyco and Smiths BMW…

‘The bike is the best it’s been and I feel like I am riding the best I ever have’ Getting Kawasaki and his team to get the Ninja ZX-10RR exactly how he wants it has been the quantum shift that has made Jonathan Rea unbeatable so far in 2017. The opening two races of the year two weeks ago in Australia were close battles. But in Chang it was like the rest of the field had been blindfolded at half race distance and Rea had gained X-ray vision. Rea was a little surprised in race one that he ended up over six seconds ahead after 20 laps and that none of his rivals were challenging him. “I was a little surprised because Chaz looked so fast in practice, as did…

‘We just need a better balance. Sounds easy but it’ll take time’ALEX LOWES Yamaha stars Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark proved once again that Kawasaki and Ducati won’t get things all their own this year. Van der Mark had a season-best fifth in race one and Lowes was fourth (for the third time this year) in race two. Lowes said: “We miss a bit of speed on the straights but honestly some areas my bike is better,’ he stated. “In some of the longer corners where the bike turns I have some advantages. The first time I raced with the other guys was in Phillip Island and it was obvious to me that in some areas the Yamaha was better and that was something that hadn’t really happened…

‘It was going to be a good lap… then the footrest snapped!’ CAL CRUTCHLOW Cal Crutchlow came away ninth fastest and pleased with the progress made during the LCR team’s winter programme – despite a late crash. Caught out by a very basic mechanical failure, he was lucky to escape injury at the penultimate corner in the closing moments of the test. He explained: “I crashed in a straight line – normally our bikes are bulletproof, but something happened with the footrest – it could have been cracked from the day before. I had two corners left of the whole test, and it was going to be a good lap, because I was rolling – but before I knew it the footrest snapped! “It happened just as I went for…

Bautista on fire Alvaro Bautista once again impressed at the Qatar test with his pace on the Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati, taking the satellite machine to fifth overall after the three days. Setting his best laps of the weekend during a race simulation, he could be a real dark horse for podium contention in two weeks’ time. Back in style Bautista wasn’t the only Aspar rider to impress at Losail, with Karol Abraham showing how much he’s learned after a humility-inducing year in World Superbikes by finishing the second day in fourth and the overall test in 14th. Suzuki tension Andrea Iannone’s woes at Suzuki continued at Qatar, as he slumped to 13th after a series of crashes. Making slow progress on the GSXRR, it’s rumoured that his lack of speed…

Andrea Dovizioso has set his sights on Maverick Viñales as the man to beat at the opening race of 2017 if he’s to have any hopes of replicating his maiden win from Sepang last year when the MotoGP season kicks off at Losail in 10 days time. Consistently one of the fastest men of the test across the three days, the Italian nonetheless conceded that at the minute he’s no match for the Spaniard. He reckons he’ll need to work really hard during practice and get a bit of luck in the race if he is to be victorious. “I’m quite happy with the test overall, but not too happy, because my pace is quite good until you compare it to Maverick’s, then it’s not that good! He’s really fast,…

Last year was an exceptional one for MotoGP, with nine different winners setting a record that’s unlikely to be broken anytime soon – despite the best intentions of a number of people once the season gets under way in a few weeks! However, if the Qatar test is anything to go by, we’re in for something even more impressive in 2017, as the season shapes up to be one of the closest we’ve seen. Gone are the days of tens of seconds separating first and last and riders being lapped half way through races, replaced by an ultra-competitive series where even the slowest rider is only two seconds off the leaders. And it’s not just the factory teams in the mix, with Bautista, Redding, Folger, Crutchlow and Zarco all coming…

‘It’s great that Jonas was so quick because we can grow together’ JOHANN ZARCO The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rookie duo of Jonas Folger and reigning Moto2 world champion Johann Zarco enjoyed a highly successful test at Qatar on the satellite Yamaha machines, coming away eighth and tenth respectively. Impressing not only with their speed but also with their consistency throughout testing, Folger says that after a solid series of tests he finally feels ready to race the M1. “The team and I kept the momentum going and completed another positive test here in Qatar and now I think that we are ready to start the season. Our priority was to run a race simulation which we did at the end, and this was very good for us. It was…

‘Guy enjoys a good relationship with McGuinness’ What was obvious from the Spanish test is the work Honda still have to do to turn the new machine into a race bike. Neither Guy nor John McGuinness’s superbike spec machines have been built yet, something that must cause the pair some concern when 2016’s dominant duo Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop were whizzing around on their new BMW and Suzuki superbikes in the Spanish sunshine a week earlier. There are still two-and-a-half months before TT practice begins. During that time Honda’s world superbike squad, the endurance racers and the BSB team will all be developing and learning about the new Fireblade, information that can be fed back to the roads outfit. As for Guy, he was his usual irrepressible self in…

‘Ten Kate have made the Honda turn a lot better than the BMW’ The Jackson Racing squad joined the official Honda test at Monteblanco with Lee Johnston having his first outing on the Ten Kate-built, 2016 spec Fireblade and CBR600RR he will race on the roads in 2017. The former North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix winner last rode Hondas in 2014 before moving to BMW. “The Honda feels very different after two years on a BMW with fly-by-wire throttle but the bike feels strong,” the Northern Irishman said. “I gelled straight away with the 600 and as a whole package I am confident. “Ten Kate have made the Honda turn a lot better than the BMW and it also has the stability of the Honda chassis and that…

STREET ROD £6745 A beefier proposition than the base model, for just £750 more. It looks sharper and more aggressive, and should be a much-improved ride, too. STREET 750 £5995 Cheapest bike in H-D’s UK range, it’s a great alternative to the base model Sportster if you’re looking to use it all year and are on a tight budget. IRON 883 £7995 What aficionados would refer to as the first ‘real’ Harley in the range, the Iron is also one of the best looking offerings from H-D. Pure, classic, and great value.…

Volcano toppers Metzeler have set three world records by riding Africa Twins and CRF450s up the Nevado Ojos del Salado volcano in Chile. The records stand for riding from sea level to 5900m in 22 hours 30 minutes, reaching 5960m on a twin-cylinder bike, and reaching the highest altitude ever on two wheels – 5977m in 22 hours 40 minutes. Indian sprinter Swiss-based bike-meddling duo Fabian and Nik of the Young Guns Speed Shop are getting stuck in to a sprint project based on Indain’s Scout. The bike has been stripped back and the guys are embarking on a deluge of performance mods from Öhlins, LSL and the Wizard of Nos. Helmet man Australian motorcycle royalty, Rosco Holden, is selling off his signed GP helmet collection to help fund his…

‘Yeh wanted to build easy-to-install kits for customers’ Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts in Taiwan has released two style kits for the Yamaha XSR700 as part of Yamaha’s Yard Built programme. Previous Yard Built bikes have been one-off custom builds, but Yeh wanted to design two different XSR700s that customers could easily modify at home. The result is two easy-to-install kits transforming the XSR700 into a cafe racer or street tracker. The café racer version, named The Corsa Scorcher, features lightweight carbon wheels from Rotobox and Gilles clip-ons, while an Akrapovic titanium tail pipe for the YZF-R1 wraps up the performance side. The scrambler version, or The Soil Scorpion, features lightweight forged wheels from Wukawa Industry Co, a handmade flat bar, and a modified Akrapovic titanium XSR700 high exhaust. Sprint…

1 TEST RIDES Test ride all the new 2017 models: Huge test fleets from ALL the major manufacturers will be available to book on the day. 2 BARGAINS Grab a bargain: More retail stands than ever before selling both premier brands and discounted kit. 3 ACTION Watch the action: The Dirt Track Riders Association will run an entire round at the Festival and there will be plenty of stunt shows! 4 NOSTALGIA Historic race bike fire up: Fifty classic and historic race bikes will be firing up at the Festival with something from every era and genre. 5 PARTS Start a project, or finish one: Tons of parts, whole bikes, tools and more will be on offer in the huge autojumble.…

Isle of Man TT Wins 1958: Junior TT, Senior TT (MV Agusta) 1959: Junior TT, Senior TT (MV Agusta) 1960: Senior TT (MV Agusta) GP world titles 1956: 500cc word champion (MV Agusta) 1958: 350cc and 500cc world champion (MV Agusta) 1959: 350cc and 500cc world champion (MV Agusta) 1960: 350cc and 500cc world champion (MV Agusta) Formula One cars Surtees won six Formula One GPs and scored a further 18 podiums as well as eight pole positions and 10 fastest laps from 111 starts. 1964: Formula One world champion (Ferrari). Third in Le Mans 24 Hour race (Ferrari) 1966: Can-Am (Canadian-American Challenge Cup) champion (Lola Chevrolet)…

HONDA VTR250 Much fun was had! Only dropped a couple of times, when I was just sitting on it too, embarrassing! Sophie Fox BSA C12 My brother giving my BSA a handful – I didn’t let him ride it too often. John Wilson YAMAHA RD250E My RD250E with expansion chambers and 350B top end. Mark Stanton SUZUKI AP50 My first bike, an AP50 in candy red, great little bike. Martin Barber YAMAHA PW50 Aged 6, in 1988. Now 33 and still riding. Michael Parkin HONDA SS-125 1975 at my home in Slieverue, Waterford, Ireland. Gerry Byrne send pics to: mcn.letters @motorcyclenews.com…

‘My Sportster made me feel like something out of Sons of Anarchy’MCN READER TOM HAYNES ‘When I buy something, I like to get quality. It keeps me feeling young’DJ ANDY KERSHAW HARLEY SPORTSTER FACTFILE 1957-current 883cc-1200cc four-stroke V-twin + 80-90mph + 50mpg Contacts www.v-twinforum. com, www.hdforums.com Want one? £3000 (decent used) to £10,195 (new 1200 Roadster) Harley-Davidson have long done things differently. After all, as the old adage goes: ‘If I had to explain, you wouldn’t understand’. But for the most part the American marque has also usually been hugely successful. And no model typifies this more strongly than the long-lived and much-loved Harley Sportster. Simply, if you’re after an American-style V-twin motorcycle, you want a Harley more than any other. And the most affordable, most novice-friendly way…

‘It’s about giving yourself the time and space to react’ RIDING EXPERT Rupert Paul Author of Pass the Bike Test (and a road tester for over 25 years) Probably the best thing about riding a bike is not having to sit in a queue with all the other drongos. But there is a snag: making use of your superior narrowness and manoeuvrability brings you close (often extremely close) to traffic. And the more you do that, the better you need to get at predicting what might be about to happen. Stationary traffic on the motorway, for example, might sound the safest time to filter between the queues. No car can suddenly change lanes in front of you. But that won’t stop you riding into a car door when some berk…

Price £6749 Weight 220kg Seat 830mm Power 54bhp Torque 50ftlb MPG 65.9 ‘Determined not to call it a ‘front box’, I’m still stuck for a name for the storage compartment’ HIGHLIGHTS • Front storage box Handy, but not big enough to fit all full face helmets • Panniers A little on the small side, but they look quite nice • Underseat tank Lowers the centre of gravity • LED headlights Impressed me for such a budget model I’m not going to lie. When Honda told me my NC750X wouldn’t be ready until August but they’d give me a CB500F while I waited, I was worried. While the CB500F is as basic as basic gets, it’s a lightweight 500 that’s both incredibly fun to ride on the limit while also super…

Shoei GT-AIR £499.99 Tested by Oli Rushby Time tested Three months/800 miles What’s good? When looking for a new helmet I wanted something that looked cool and sporty while also being practical enough for my long daily commute, and in the GT-Air, Shoei’s first full-face helmet to feature a drop-down sun visor, I’m fairly happy I’ve found that. I thought my old X-Lite X661 was quiet, but the GT-Air takes it to another level. I guess that’s helped by Shoei’s medium fit suiting my head size to a tee. The only thing I didn’t like when first looking at the GT-Air were the bulky air vents, but they’re actually quite smart and pleasingly easy to operate, even with winter gloves on. The UVblocking drop-down sun visor is also easily accessible,…

THE EXPERT Peter Whittaker Technical Support Engineer at GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK, with 18 years’ experience in engineering. Chemical energy is what wakes your bike up. The stored electrical power in your battery is there to start your bike when you press the starter. Once the engine is running the alternator is quite capable of keeping up with the bike’s electrical demands. The type of battery fitted to most motorcycles hasn’t changed for a long time. Despite huge advancements in battery technology for other applications, such as personal devices and electric vehicles, the battery on your bike will almost certainly use more established technology. There have been developments of lithium-type batteries for motorcycles, but these are not compatible with standard charging systems as they can suffer longterm damage if…

Good news, the brace of Suzuki TS250s I dragged out from the back of my lock-up (one of them needed a lot of dragging as the chain had seized and the other required multiple drags as it was all in boxes) sold easily. I’d reckoned they’d make two grand, and was smack on the money – the pair sold for £1970. Even allowing for the £500 I’d spent on paint and parts, that’s an easy £500 more than they owed me and all they did was sit in a garage. I’m beginning to think that restoring Japanese bikes for money is a mug’s game – just let project bikes quietly appreciate on their own. From the ridiculous to the sublime: I’ve just heard, a bit late in the day, that…

‘We aren’t far off last year and I was literally hanging it out back then’ JASON O’HALLORAN ‘We need to break into that potential ASAP so it’s a bit of a race against time’ JASON O’HALLORAN Honda’s MCE British Superbike duo Jason O’Halloran and Dan Linfoot made their debut on the all-new Fireblade SP2 at Monteblanco last week. Despite the bikes arriving late and a number of parts having still not turned up, the two remain confident that the new bike is a big step forward over the 2016 model. With the Fireblade now featuring an electronic fly-by-wire throttle connection as opposed to the conventional cable system, the first part of the test conducted in blisteringly hot conditions saw the team work on perfecting this before moving on to refine…

Reigning Endurance World Champion Anthony Delhalle died on Friday following a serious crash while testing alongside Suzuki Endurance Race Team team-mates Vincent Philippe and Etienne Masson. The Frenchman was a five-time world champion – one of the incredibly strong SERT squad that has dominated the series in recent years to take the EWC title in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. They also led the 2017 championship after winning the opening round at the Bol d’Or in September. The 35-year-old crashed while testing at the Circuit Paul Armagnac in South West France, he was immediately taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Paying tribute to his close friend, rival and former team-mate, Honda Racing Endurance star Freddy Foray said: “I’ve known him since 2006, we started out together…

‘I went over a bump and the front went really light and tucked’ Chang has not been kind to Chaz Davies in the recent past, with crashes and a lack of competitiveness. This time around a second and a sixth – despite throttle issues in race two – were actually real improvements. Davies suffered two very different crashes over the weekend – as he explained: “The first on Saturday was so weird. I went over a bump and the front went really light and tucked. Pretty amateur but it caught me out big time.” Davies’ second crash came in Sunday’s red-flagged race. He said: “That time I lost the back not the front. I had paced Marco in there and all of a sudden he slowed down. I thought I…

Camier fights on Leon Camier managed a best of eighth place in a weekend full of engine issues. “Our competitiveness is better this year and for us to be here, in this race, battling in that group is pretty amazing really.” He failed to finish in race two after another technical problem with his MV Agusta. Brits kicked out Another astounding World Supersport race saw most of the title contenders rule themselves out of contention. British riders Kyle Smith (above) and Gino Rea were disqualified for not noticing penalties displayed trackside. New R6 wins The Supersport race was won by first time winner Federico Caricasulo on the new R6, who held off fast 35-year-old local wildcard Decha Kraisart (Yamaha Thailand) and young Finnish rider Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing). British rider…

‘People just see the crashes but overall I think we’re not too bad’ MARC MARQUEZ He was lucky to escape unscathed, physically at least, but five falls during final testing left the normally upbeat Marc Marquez dazed and confused as he continues to struggle with the difficult development of Honda’s radically different big bang configuration engine. Coming away from the three days’ action a distant 11th in the timesheets, the Spaniard tried to put a brave face on things. “The preseason was quite difficult, especially the last hour when I managed to crash twice during my long runs! It’s better for it to happen in testing than in racing, though, and we’re still quite positive because the rhythm is good and we’re faster than the others – except Viñales. “We…

7 th  SCOTT REDDING 1m 54.750s Scott Redding has come away from Qatar pleased to have finally made a significant breakthrough with his Pramac Ducati, after they reverted to their 2016 Öhlins forks and found an immediate improvement that allowed him to finish inside the top 10 for the first time this year. “Having the front feeling come back to me has been the main thing, and it’s given me a lot of confidence. Now, when the front locks, I know what it’s going to do and I can control it, and it seems everything we did at this test has improved that feeling.” ‘I nearly told them to leave the bike as it is!’ 19 th  SAM LOWES 1m 56.167s ‘It’s better than it looks’ While 19th…