Table of contents for 12th June 2019 in MCN

An off-duty police officer has won plaudits after he fought off armed burglars in nothing but his underpants. The 29-year-old, just days into his career as a police officer, was off-duty when he was awoken by a disturbance near his home at 3.30am. He realised a group of suspects were attempting to break into a jewellers. Acting instantly he ran out in the street in just his pants, challenging them. The suspects threw a pickaxe at him but it missed, so he picked it up and ran at the suspects before they all fleed on mopeds.…

Many have tried to analyse why we get such a thrill from riding motorcycles. What is it about two wheels that gets under our skin and keeps us addicted? Is it simply that riding ignites every sense in the human body: touch, sight, hearing and smell, opening up a door to a mass of sensations and emotions that very few other activities bring? You’re alert, absorbing your surroundings, exposed and vulnerable to the elements. But have you ever wondered what it’d be like to ride a bike with one of your senses missing? Try standing on one leg. Okay, so that’s easy. Now close your eyes? Wobble much? It’s certainly a bit tougher. I decided to put my senses to the test and try riding blind on the world’s largest…

KTM have been spotted testing a supermoto version of the 790 Adventure, likely to be dubbed the 790 SMC. As the name suggests the 790SMC we see here is using the existing 799cc parallel twin engine. KTM have produced two versions of this engine for the Duke and Adventure, making 105bhp and 96bhp respectively (plus a rumoured R version making 115bhp on the way). It’s not clear which engine will be fitted, although we’d guess at the Adventure lump for the fat midrange. Matched with that is the Adventure chassis and suspension, albeit with the 17in wheels from the Duke. The biggest conundrum is the petrol tank. On the Duke it’s conventionally placed but on the Adventure, there are two fuel pods that hang low around the engine. The SMC…

McGuinness is right McPint’s comment on where the next generation of riders will come from is simply answered. The testing procedure from first licence to full licence at 24 is ridiculous. When is someone going to challenge the ruling on the grounds that it is against their human rights to be denied the right to ride a big capacity bike through age? Isn’t that what’s called ageism? Steve Edwards, email Is the TT just too risky? Surely I can’t be your only reader who loves watching MotoGP and BSB, but am not so keen on the Isle of Man TT. How can anyone enjoy watching a sporting event knowing that the risks involved are so high? Luke Stapley, email Rossi should do WSB I think last weekend we finally saw…

Q ‘ Driver hit the brakes in front of me’ I was injured in an accident which was caused by the driver in front of me suddenly slamming on the brakes when a traffic light turned to amber. I am now wanting to make a claim against her insurance as I am out of hospital and it will be a few weeks until I am back at work. Everyone has been telling me I am wasting my time here because I ran into the back of the car, but I think the driver made a dangerous manoeuvre. Am I barking up the wrong tree with this one? Chris Oliver, email A The standard rule of thumb is to leave a sufficient space between you and the vehicle in front to…

PETER HAMIDZADEH Age 36 Height 5ft 10in Current bike 2017 S1000RR Been riding for 12 years First bike FZS 600 Fazer Dream bike BMW HP4 Race “I’m an armed response motorcyclist for the Metropolitan Police Diplomatic Protection Group. I ride every day, have a R1200GS and am on my third S1000RR. “I’ve got my 2017 RR, just the way I like it: set up suspension, a full Akrapovic system, MWR filter and mapping by Hilltop Motorcycles. It’s beautifully smooth with 205bhp at the rear wheel. “I instruct on IAM skills days at Thruxton and Mallory and do 8-10 track days a year. I plan a trip every year and take 12 riders on tour. Last year was the Alps and this year we are off to the Picos. “The RR…

1960s Peter Lee (right) and John Newby (in the doorway) at the Unity shop in Castleford, which specialised in Manx Norton parts and café racer kits as well as stock parts for rare and vintage machines. 1980s Peter’s son-in-law Ray Hardman set up Unibend Engineering as an ‘in house’ supplier to Unity. Ray also raced for Unity Equipe and later for respected Honda K4 tuner Dave Gawthorpe. 1997 Ray sadly passed away after an accident at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough in September 1997. His passion for bikes and skill at producing tuned race exhausts lives on through his son Ben. 2015 Building on his family’s tradition of fabricating exquisite exhausts and proven competition designs, Ben Hardman started Raysons UK to offer a bespoke exhaust service.…

I struggle to see how BMW can claim the GT is a Grand Tourer due to its limited storage. Yes, the fairing is more protective and the seat comfier than on the X, but in my book that doesn’t constitute a tourer, it simply makes the GT a more relaxed commuter. For an extra £905 you can get a bit more luxury with the SE that comes with both heated seat and grips and a TFT dash with connectivity which are very welcome but still don’t make it qualify as a Grand Tourer. Tech spec…

Stephen Ellis Gleneagles golf-dodger, 66 miles Start at Dunblane and head north on the A820 then the A84 to Callander. Follow that to Lochearnhead then turn right onto the A85 and ride along Loch Earn. At Crieff, turn right onto the A822 then the A823. Go past Gleneagles as you pick up the A9 to Blackford, then it’s the A9 back to Dunblane. THE ROUTE • Scenic Scotland • Golf ball avoidance Richard Newland Cheesy rider, 46.5 miles Strike out from Bristol and head to the Mendip Hills on the A38, wend south through Shipham, and see Cheddar Gorge rise above you. Hang left on the A39 to Chewton Mendip, before you take another left towards East Harptree and Chew Valley Lake. Head for the north until you hit the…

It’s unusual for a new model to come out so late in the year, but the new S1000RR was always due to arrive in dealers in June. It hasn’t stopped me, or many of you who slapped deposits down, getting impatient. But if it’s any consolation for those still in the queue, you won’t be disappointed. This is the RR I’ll be running this summer. It’s in M Package spec, so, as well as the M-Sport paintjob (BMW have dropped the ‘HP’ moniker for their special bikes and parts), it has carbon wheels, a lithium battery, race seat, adjustable swingarm pivot and rear ride-height adjuster. It also has the full range of electronic riding modes, including slide control. As you can see in this week’s MCN250, I’ve been lucky enough…

I LIKE • Weight – it’s light so easy to pick up if you drop it on a trail • Fuel economy – it does 70mpg and over 200 miles to a tank • Something different – I like the fact it’s not a clichéd adventure bike • Rally Raid parts – they’re such good quality I DON’T • Original screen only had two heights and both were useless • Original tyres – not great, and even worse in the wet QUICK SPECS • 471cc • 47bhp • 196kg • 810mm seat height PRICE NEW £5799 VALUE NOW £3800…

By their very definition, a retro is a modern machine styled to look like something much older, giving the owner the best of both worlds: charming, old-school looks with the benefit of modern reliability (well, hopefully…). But if you want more authenticity then you’ll be wanting a proper classic. The definition of what classes as classic these days is a little blurry. Technically, a classic motorcycle is one that was built more than 40 years ago, whereby it gains ‘historic’ taxation status and becomes exempt from road fund licence charges and MoT. Then you’ve got your modern classics: these are bikes that are 20 years or older and can benefit from specialist classic insurance. This means that if you’ve got a 1990s sportsbike like a Honda FireBlade or original Yamaha…

The humble valve stem can be an often overlooked item, but ignore it at your peril. I once met a Honda Blackbird owner looking perplexed at a motorway services airline after his tyre valve blew out across the forecourt. The bike was new to him and the tyres looked OK, but he had no idea how old the valves were. Although inconvenient, he was glad the tyre had chosen that moment to shed itself of its valve rather than at motorway speeds minutes earlier. Like any rubber item, valve stems can degrade over time owing to environmental contaminants, over inflation, as well as the pressure placed upon them from braking, turning and acceleration. The metal core inside can also become damaged and fail, especially if valve caps aren’t used. The…

It seems Alvaro Bautista is fallible after all. Following a Jerez weekend where he looked more dominant than ever riding to two easy wins, it’s ironic the Ducati rider’s series lead has decreased by two points due to a rare crash in Race Two. Round six started with a ‘here we go again’ feel. Bautista came home to Spain and dominated Saturday’s Race 1 and Sunday’s Sprint Race. But when Rea saw the the red bike crash out in the final race, it was clear an enormous opportunity had come knocking. While Bautista remained philosophical about the reason for the crash, rivals suggested his front tyre choice may have been a factor. The general consensus was simple: track temperatures were nudging 50 degrees, there was a new surface, Bautista asks…

In a TT initially characterised by poor weather and delays, race organisers got back on track with five shortened races on Thursday before squeezing in a full length six-lap Senior TT on Friday morning. The lack of track time and rubber on the track prevented record breaking laps but that failed to detract from the spectacle with brilliant racing across all classes. Peter Hickman joined an elite club by winning three races in a week, Superbike, Superstock and the second Supersport, but couldn’t make it four after a technical problem in the Senior. Senior honours instead went to Dean Harrison who secured his first big bike victory having scored podiums in the Superbike, Superstock and Supersport races. SENIOR RACE 1st Dean Harrison Silicone Kawasaki Dean Harrison became the first…

18-times TT winner Michael Dunlop struggled home in sixth place aboard the Tyco BMW in the Superbike TT, finishing almost a minute behind winner Peter Hickman after two laps. The 30-year-old had not raced since his brother William lost his life in a crash at the Skerries 100 last July until last month’s North West 200. Dunlop finished on the podium at Portrush in the Superstock race. Dunlop managed four laps on his Tyco Superbike during Tuesday’s TT practice night, posting a best speed of 126.93mph. An engine problem during the final qualifying session left him stranded at Mountain Box without completing a lap. It is understood Dunlop and the Tyco BMW team requested more practice before the Superbike race was run but the under pressure TT organisers went ahead…

Ben and Tom Birchall continued their domination of three wheel racing on the TT’s Mountain course as they secured another double on their Haith LCR Honda outfit. Their 2019 victories made it seven in a row for the Mansfield brothers and a career total of 10 to match Rob Fisher’s tally. Tom also became the most successful sidecar passenger in TT history as he surpassed the eight wins of Dan Sayle and Rick Long. The record-breaking brothers battled to dial in their new Honda LCR outfit with just three laps of practice before cantering to a pair of start to finish race wins. They had been on course to break the 120mph barrier on the second lap of race one before being slowed by waved yellow flags at Waterworks. “The…

James Hillier reckons he was surprised when he saw his first board saying he was leading the initial stages of the opening Supersport race on his Quattro Plant Kawasaki ZX-6RR. “I didn’t really believe it, but I tried to keep the momentum going. Usually I ride with mechanical sympathy, listening to the engine maybe too much but in that race I was just hanging it out,” he said. Like Johnston, Hillier arrived at this year’s TT on the crest of a confidence wave after winning a Superstock race at the NW200 and claiming two more podium finishes. “Every second counts, every millisecond, because the level is so high at the TT. My plan was to go for it as soon as the flag dropped and it nearly worked,” said the…

Dean Harrison admitted he wasn’t happy after finishing off the podium in the opening 600cc encounter at TT 2019 but made amends in the second Supersport outing of the week. “I had a bit of huff on after the first race and we put a better engine in for the second one,” the Silicone Kawasaki star said. But a cautious start and a mistake on the final lap cost him dear against Hickman, a rival who usually capitalises on every weakness. ‘The rear came round on me and I ended up jumping across the kerb’ “I got off to a slow start as I felt my way a bit with the conditions.’ Harrison said. “The first board I got said ‘P4’ and I thought I am messing about and need…

Honda Racing’s David Johnson was ecstatic to claim his first TT podium after holding-off Michael Dunlop to claim third spot in the Superstock race on his Honda CBR1000RR. “It feels unreal to finally take a podium and it’s about bloody time too after four fourth places, the Australian joked. “It took me a while to wake up on the first lap and I don’t seem to be able to go fast straight away but the boys did a great job at the pit stop and it gave me a chance of the podium.” Johnson also had to battle a gear selection issue on the Honda. “I had a problem with the bike hitting false neutrals but I just cracked it into gear and carried on,” he said. Johnson hunted Dunlop…

Lee Johnston overcame tyre issues on the Ashcourt Racing/KMR ER-6 to add a rostrum finish in the Lightweight race to his maiden Supersport TT win. “Sometimes you just get a dodgy tyre. It was just like it was cold and it took me until Ballacraine before I even committed to go,” he said. Johnston was lying 6th on the first lap, 5.1 seconds down on Michael Dunlop, but by Ramsey he had worked his way up to 4th before moving into third on the second lap. “The tyre came good and I got stuck in. Once I knew I was in third position I chipped away until the end,” he said.…

The SES TT Zero electric bike race produced a podium with a combined age of 149 as three of the TT’s longest serving competitors claimed the honours in an event which showcases innovation and the very latest automotive technology. 47-year-old Michael Rutter won from Bathams Mugen team-mate, John McGuinness, also 47, as 55-year-old Ian Lougher took third place on the Team Mirai machine. Rutter broke his own lap record to set a new mark of 121.909mph and claim his 5th electric victory by 8.6 seconds to maintain his record of having won every electric bike race he has taken part in. Mugen is owned by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda Motor Company founder, Soichiro Honda, who first brought his race bikes to the Isle of Man in 1959. On…

A biker’s life has been turned upside down after being convicted, then subsequently acquitted, for wearing an item of clothing that resembled police uniform when he rode home from work in a ‘POLITE’ vest. Darren Emanuel, 47, an independent financial consultant, has been a biker for many years and was riding his white, ex-police BMW R1200RT when he was stopped by a police officer who had seen him from the opposing carriageway. After checking his bike over, the officer then claimed Emanuel’s choice of clothing (a white helmet, hi-viz jacket and ‘polite’ tabard) combined with the bike constituted that of a police officer’s. He made some notes and then sent Emanuel on his way. Only after Emanuel later made a complaint to the police about his treatment was he called…

THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY JUNE 12 Lancaster Bomber Lincolnshire Bike Night, Lincolnshire Aviation Centre, Spilsby, Lincs Engines start 8pm Info lincolnshirebikenights.co.uk FRI-SUN JUNE 14-16 British Superbikes, Brands Hatch, Kent Entry Adults weekend admission £38. Sunday only £28. Ages 13-15 weekend £23, Sunday £17. Under 13s free. Info britishsuperbike.com SAT-SUN JUNE 15-16 Gloucester Hill Climb and Festival Inc. Prescott Bike Fest, Kickback M/C Show and National Custom Championships, Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, Cheltenham. Entry Preview day 12pm-5pm, £12 (advance) on Saturday, £15 (advance) on Sunday, accompanied under 16s free. Info prescottbikefestival.co.uk SUNDAY JUNE 16 Father’s Day Charity Rideout Tesco Caernarfon, Gwynedd Entry£5 per bike Info07816-549539 MONDAY JUNE 17 Ride your Motorcycle to Work Day 2019 You know it makes sense! EntryFree Inforidetowork.org YOUR HANDY EVENTSGUIDE Find more great things to do in…

SAVE£52 TomTom Vio scooter satnav, £75 Cool-looking waterproof 3-inch touchscreen designed to mount to the mirror of small bikes or scooters. Linked to the app on your smartphone, it provides navigation, traffic info and caller ID. www.halfords.com SAVE£98.74 LS2 FF397 Vector Vantage helmet, £71.25 Amazing value for a good quality lid. The Vector has a lightweight fibreglass shell with drop-down sun visor. There’s also a removable lining, quick-release buckle, and it comes with a Pinlock MaxVision insert. www.mandp.co.uk SAVE33% Dainese Avro D1 ladies jacket, £298.99 Sports-style ladies’ jacket. Elasticated inserts ensure fit and comfort, while protection comes from internal elbow/shoulder protection and external shoulder armour. www.mcaleicester.co.uk SAVE50% Proworks 2-in-1 stand, £24.99 Designed to be used as either a front or a rear paddock stand via an adjustable handle, it also…

Do you know a stunning biker café that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves? Head online to MCN’s #ride5000miles Facebook page and nominate your favourite nosh-pit, or drop an email to mcn.letters@ motorcyclenews.com. Entice us with pictures of floury bacon baps and sizzling big breakfasts, and we’ll consider it for inclusion in this year’s hunt. We’ll be visiting one café each week and as Autumn creeps into our bones, we’ll reveal the top ten best ranking cafés on tour, and open them up to a public vote to pick the 2019 winner of MCN’s Golden Sausage Award.…

BMW have again bought something fresh to the superbike party, just like they did in 2010. It might give away cubes to its Italian rivals, but its ShiftCam motor gives the RR the ability to be more flexible on the road without sacrificing speed on track. Barging through manic Sicilian villages, cruising Autostradas, or scratching Etna’s back, the BMW is light, refined and glides over the roughest terrain. Easier to ride, road and track it’s also the cheapest here. Ducati’s Panigale V4 S Corse comes a close second. Unapologetically stiff raw and track-focussed compared to the BMW, it’s glorious on fast, smooth Tarmac, but through town and on slow bumpy roads is aggressive, hot and hard on bum and wrists. Unutterably gorgeous, its superb build quality and designer labels go…

Mike Wilby Age 62 Track bike Honda VFR750 “When I got here I had some reservations because I’ve never raced before, but straight away, everyone got me into the swing of things and, to be honest, I am really glad it rained. That way, I saw what it was like in the wet and dry. If anyone’s thinking about racing, no matter what age, a one make series like this, is one of the best ways to go. “It was a good weekend. I really enjoyed it. Everyone’s been fine and there’s been no hiccups and no dramas. “You’re going to get mechanical issues on these things. It’s not Japanese and not simply a case of pushing a button to start it. But it’s different and I like to do…

1. Alpinestars Andes V2 Drystar jacket £199.99 Mississippi welcomed me with the biggest deluge I’ve ever experienced. It held up for all of about 10 minutes, but that’s nothing against the jacket, it was like the Niagara Falls. For day-today riding it’s really good. 2.Shoei Neotec £399.99 I didn’t go for a dedicated ADV helmet just because I thought a flip-front would be more practical. And it’s been great – I rode with it open on really hot days, and the lining comes in and out really easily so that you can keep it clean. 3. Sedici Torini gloves $40 I bought these in America. I took some three-season gloves but when I got there it was baking hot. 4. RST Adventure 2 WP boots £119.99…

Tyre levers Sold as a different length pair, one long one short, tyre levers are shaped to get in between the rim of the wheel and sidewall of the tyre. One holds part of the tyre away from the rim whilst you lever over another part with the longer length lever. Always use rim protectors. Valve core remover Specialist tool designed to reach inside the valve stem, grip the core and allow you to unscrew it. Can be bought for just a few quid. Take care the valve doesn’t fly out into oblivion once it’s unscrewed. Large spanners or suitable sockets Just the ticket for loosening wheel spindle nuts. It helps to crack the nuts whilst your machine is still on the sidestand, then you are ready to raise it…

Tommy Bridewell Four podiums from the last five races. He might be in a different team, but the Oxford Ducati man is on the same bike as Redding. Jason O’Halloran It’s hard to believe the man who ruled testing is yet to win. Brands should suit the Yamaha’s sweet handling and easy power. Tarran Mackenzie The baby-faced assassin hasn’t won since Silverstone, but is expected to be running at the very sharp end this weekend. Glenn Irwin Terrible start to the season, but Irwin won at Brands GP last year. Five of his 12 BSB podiums have come at the world-famous venue. BRANDS HATCH GP STATISTICS • Length 2.433 miles / 3.916 kilometres • Corners 11 – 3 left / 8 right • Lap record Josh Brookes / Yamaha / 1:24.873 /…

Former world championship-winning Dutch team Ten Kate made a popular comeback at Jerez when they debuted their new Yamaha squad. Loris Baz raised eyebrows with impressive pace in practice until a high-speed crash destroyed his R1. Nevertheless, after just two days of wet testing at Misano, the Frenchman sandwiched a non-finish with 12th and ninth places. Whispers in the paddock suggest Ten Kate could also return to World Supersport and debut in Supersport 300 in the foreseeable future.…

The official Honda Racing squad were unable to challenge for top honours in the Superbike TT with the best placed rider David Johnson securing seventh spot. The Australian, who joined the factory team this year, was over a minute and ten seconds behind winner, Peter Hickman, but was able to out pace Ian Hutchinson who finished 13th. Johnson had been quicker than his 16-times TT winning team-mate throughout practice after Hutchinson was lucky to walk away from a high speed crash at the 11th Milestone during the Tuesday evening qualifying. Despite the lowly finish, by his high standards, Hutchy remained philosophical after the race. “Just when I started to push again and tried to get any speed I was limited to the bike’s behavior but overall this was what was…

Dean Harrison became the nearly-man once again in the opening race of TT 2019 after narrowly missing out to arch rival Peter Hickman in a shortened Superbike race. The Silicone Kawasaki rider was brimming with confidence the moment he got to the Isle of Man and was the clear fastest man throughout practice week as he made the most of the poor conditions to post a best lap of 129.53mph on Tuesday evening. In the Superbike race, Harrison set off at number two behind Conor Cummins and made his usual rapid start on the ZX-10RR to lead Peter Hickman by 1.15 seconds at Glen Helen. “I had a really good first lap and the bike never missed a beat so when I came onto the Cronk y Voddy and could…

Peter Hickman’s customary TT charge was cut short by the rain after yet another slow start in the opening Supersport race onboard his Trooper Beer Triumph. He said: “I caught John McGuinness just going into Kirkmichael and he was a little bit cautious. I was wondering why and as I passed him it was raining. But when we came to Rhencullen it was dry so I got my head down again. I think we lost three or four seconds through that sector.’”…

The bad weather that dogged practice week continued to disrupt the race week programme. All of Wednesday’s races were wiped out when heavy rain fell on the Glen Helen to Ballaugh area and the opening stretch of the mountain section. With just two days left and a monsoon predicted on Friday afternoon, beleaguered Clerk of the Course, Gary Thompson, had little choice but opt to run five shortened races on Thursday plus several outstanding practice laps. The two-lap 2nd Supersport race was the opening event of an unprecedented and manic five TT races in a day. After narrowly losing out to Lee Johnston in the opening 600cc encounter, it was Peter Hickman who claimed his first Supersport TT win on the Trooper Beer Triumph after blazing to the front from…

Touratech UK are setting up an off road riding academy at their base in Wales. Run by Managing Director Nick Plumb, himself a four time Dakar competitor, the academy has been set up to help riders develop their skills and enhance their riding experiences on overland trips. To begin with the academy will be offering two-day courses on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, with Nick and Paul Clayton helping riders develop their skills on their own machines. Bespoke sessions will be available shortly and tours are planned in the future. Tuition will take place on local trails as well as a private facility. A two-day course will cost £299.…

MotoGP race-winner and three-time championship runner-up Dani Pedrosa will make his return to racing this year at the 2019 Goodwood Revival. He’ll ride a Paton when he takes to the hallowed circuit to compete in the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy. The Duke of Richmond commented: “It is fantastic news that Dani has agreed to compete at the Revival this September. The quality of this year’s entry list is strong from top to bottom, and is sure to be a real classic.” Dani will be racing against an raft of TT, BSB, WSB and ex-FP riders. Tickets are available online from www.goodwood.com, starting at £59.…

Three very special 200bhpplus superbikes require an equally special stage, so we’ve brought the MCN250 to Sicily. It’s a chance to let these incredible machines off their leashes, where there’s less traffic trying to get you – replaced with just one very angry, active volcano. MCN’s 2018 superbike shootout-winning Ducati Panigale V4 S is the bike to beat. It faces stiff competition in the shape of Aprilia’s new RSV4 1100 Factory and the long-awaited new S1000RR. The BMW may ‘only’ be 999cc compared to the 1100 Italians, but has a few tricks up its sleeve… With no significant updates from the Japanese alternatives, we’ve left them in Blighty, while we ride Etna and pummel the twisty motorway from Catania then west to Targa Florio country. Heading back east we’ll tackle…

Not only was the actual British GP unfolding at full pace as Roger Marshall lapped on the increasingly ailing Silver Dream Racer, but it also developed into a legendary battle between British superstar Barry Sheene, and the American upstart, Kenny Roberts. Sheene was suffering a terrible season as the circus rolled into Silverstone for the British GP. He’d failed to finish in four of the first six races, and having lost the 1978 title to Roberts the scene was set for an epic dust-up. But while Roberts took pole, Sheene – struggling with his Suzuki RG500 – languished 1.7 seconds off the American’s pace. Roberts was suffering a tumultuous year, too. He’d broken his back and ruptured his spleen in pre-season testing, had split from his wife, and missed the…

Its Chinese motor may not have the power or kudos of its big gun retro rivals and the Fantic lacks their electronic wizardry, too, but it’s all the better for it. A simple joy to ride, it’s packed with meaty, real world punch, charm and a generous level of equipment. Light, smooth and accurate it’s happy to burble serenely through town, flow through B-roads and even get its tyres muddy. When it comes to dirt bike-inspired retros the Caballero 500 Scrambler is a surprising gem and as easy on the wallet as it is on the eye. Tech spec…

The Peak District is blessed with beautiful scenery, fantastic roads and some green lanes which MCN reader Mark Collins often explores while he rides this loop. “I love riding this route through the Derbyshire Peaks for a few reasons – mainly because it gives me a bit of everything good that the Peak District has to offer and a bit more on top of that,” says Mark. “It’s a route I can add extra bits in or I can cut short depending on my mood. It takes me close to off-road sections, so if I fancy doing a byway or two, it gives the ride an adventure feel and puts me in mind of some of the more challenging foreign roads that I’ve encountered on my travels.” ‘I can take…

I’ve been looking forward to this bike ever since the concept appeared a few years ago. As a man who worships at the big twin altar, this machine has always seemed to offer something that others have promised but never quite delivered: function to go with the fashion. The plan for the year is simple – ride the absolute devil out of it. But all stories start somewhere and this one begins at a close call with rider self-immolation. My first ride was a relatively uneventful trundle across central London after picking up the bike from Krazy Horse, my local Indian dealer. I say ‘relatively uneventful’, as it’s quite hard to watch where you going when you’re swooning over the lustrously deep glitter paint on the tank. But after 20…

When a 1999 Honda Deauville was booked in for a fork seal change and a pre-MT check at Doncaster Motorcycles, mechanic Kev Hollingsworth didn’t think he’d be inspecting a refugee from a Hollywood film set. But this ‘Dullsville’ owner was determined that his bike would be anything but that, and it was festooned with extra lights and gauges. ‘I had to show the owner that it was literally burning’ “It had that many lights and dials I thought: ‘he’s been watching too many Fast and Furious movies with all their turbo boost gauges and the like’. There was an oil pressure gauge, ammeter, fuel gauge, spots and strips of neons to light up the engine too,” said Kev. The trouble was that the steering wouldn’t go lock-to-lock because there was…

Silverstone flooded last year, World Superbikes was cancelled at Imola this year for the same reason and hit by snow at Assen. Although far apart, these incidents within the same 12 months had depressing similarities. Crazy weather. There are certain conclusions to be drawn. One is that the tracks are inadequately engineered and drained. Alternatively, that climate change has become so severe that not even the best civil engineers could predict the consequences. The truth probably lies not exactly halfway between the two, but perhaps biased towards the latter. This is an uncomfortable topic for fans of the internal combustion engine. When I say fans, I mean fanatics. Us. People so crazy about the sights and sounds that we don’t just go racing or follow racing as a passing interest,…

All was great for Alex Lowes until the last corner of Race 1. After putting on a stunning show with Jonathan Rea, trading positions and performing incredible saves, the Yamaha man was unceremoniously wiped out in a collision with Rea. The impact ripped off Lowes’ glove, but the Lincoln man remained diplomatic as his television appearances highlighted. “He’s obviously made a mistake and gone in too fast. It’s racing. It happens. It doesn’t help me now. I can’t get my points back or turn back the clock. I need to focus, be stronger and beat him. That would be the best way to make up for it,” Lowes said. ‘He’s obviously made a mistake and gone in too fast. It’s racing’ Speaking about the heated fall-out after the race when…

“Chassis-wise, team boss Paul Denning says the bike is completely different from last year. It’s the same engine and they reckon they’re lacking engine speed, but the bike seemed to suit this circuit and especially the faster corners here at Jerez. They have a new ‘tank’, as we say. The actual fuel tank is at the back, while the front is a cover containing things like electronics. The idea is to get the fuel lower and rearward; the tank extends under the seat and behind the rider to improve lower the mass and centre of gravity. It’s all about mass centralisation.”…

Peter Hickman used a hybrid Smiths BMW S1000RR Superstock/ Superbike machine to win the opening Superbike race and secure his third Isle of Man TT win In a race postponed to Monday from Saturday and shortened to four laps because of the bad weather during TT 2019’s opening week, Hickman claimed victory after he had renewed his 2018 Senior TT rivalry with Dean Harrison on the Silicone Kawasaki. On the first dry roads the riders had seen for almost a week, fast-starting Harrison led from the drop of the Manx flag. The Bradford man built a four-second lead on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR before Peter Hickman eventually closed him down and moved into the lead as they pitted at the end of the second circuit. As the leaders went through Glen…

‘I’ve lost a lot of laps… There’s no denying I’m behind the ball’ John McGuinness’ return to the TT with Norton after a two year absence because of injury turned into a nightmare when the SG8 superbike appeared to lose oil pressure and he retired at the end of the first lap. “The light came on and rather than risk destroying an engine I had to pull in at the end of the first lap although it turned out to just be a sensor that had gone,” McGuinness said. McGuinness suffered more than most with the lack of practice time in 2019 after missing two TTs with a leg injury. The 47-year-old managed just six laps on the Norton, posting a fastest lap of 124.72mph. “All I’ve done around the…

Daley Mathison died after crashing his Wepol/Penz13.com BMW at Snugborough on the third lap of Monday’s Superbike TT race. He had been lying 13th in the race. The 27-year-old Stockton on Tees rider had served his road racing apprenticeship on the Irish roads before making his Mountain Course debut in the 2013 Manx Grand Prix. He stepped up to the TT in 2014, and went on to compete in 20 races – finishing in 14 – during a career that saw him set a fastest lap of 128.054mph in last year’s Superstock race on a Stobart BMW. He was the 34th fastest TT rider of all time. Mathison’s best TT results came in the TT Zero electric bike races aboard a University of Nottingham built machine. After finishing third in…

Lee Johnston enjoyed an emotional, and slightly confusing, first TT win in a shortened opening Supersport race. Johnston was leading by just 3.641 seconds as the race reached the end of the second lap when the organisers put out the red flags after rain began to fall in the Kirkmichael area. There had been no warning before the riders approached the Glencrutchery road and some, like Dean Harrison, entered Gasoline alley instead of crossing the line. Johnston, meanwhile, wasn’t sure he had won. “There was just a chequered flag and a red light and I wasn’t sure whether I should pit or go over the line,” he said. “I had to stop and ask someone if I had won but he was so excited he couldn’t tell me!” For the…

Although the conditions were far from perfect for setting personal best times, Jamie Coward laid down a new 600cc marker when he lapped at 128.889mph on his way to a 5th place finish on the Prez Racing Yamaha in the second Supersport race. It was a major jump forward for the Hebden Bridge rider after a previous best of 124.273mph, set in 2016 when he finished 12th. The winner of the opening Supersport race, Lee Johnston, was unable to make it a double after finishing ninth. He suffered an electrical problem on his BMW Superstock bike during the morning practice lap before the Supersport race which scuppered his hopes. “I stopped before I had a chance to have a look at the course conditions,” the 30-year-old said. “Because of that,…

Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s James Hillier had high hopes of taking his first 600cc TT victory in the second Supersport race after finishing runner-up to Lee Johnston in the opening encounter and the Ringwood rider made a good start and held second place at Glen Helen on the opening lap. “I knew a two lap sprint race on these little 600s was going to be tough,” he said as he tried to push his way between Hickman and Harrison. “After second place in Monday’s race, I was hopeful of going one better today particularly as conditions were good.” Hillier arrived at the TT off the back of a good North West 200 where he won the Superstock race, his first international big bike road race victory. Like Harrison, he struggled to…

Dean Harrison declared himself ‘over the moon’ after finishing second to Peter Hickman in the Superstock TT on the Silicone Kawasaki. Despite having topped the Superstock qualifying timesheets, the Bradford rider admitted he had struggled with the stock version of the new ZX-10RR. “The bike was faultless and smooth as anything mechanical wise,” Harrison said. “There wasn’t a lot in it and I thought I would push a bit harder but I had a few moments. I had a big moment going over the Black Dub. The bike was kicking off the bumps and landing on the front. It had a bit of a castor sort of feel to it and I couldn’t push any harder. “Peter [Hickman] was inching away a couple of seconds and then a couple of…

Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s James Hillier was unable to replicate his NW200 Superstock victory on the Mountain course after receiving a 30-second pit lane speeding penalty. “That ruined the Superstock race for me and having seen my pit board go from P4 to P9, my head fell off a little bit!” Hillier said after a successful TT race week that saw him claim two Supersport podiums. “It took me a while to get going after that but the bike felt good so I pushed on as best I could and got a half decent finish. Hicky’s got that bit more than anyone at the moment and I need to find a bit more speed on the big bike.” Hillier eventually finished 7th, 1min 15 seconds behind winner Hickman.…

Michael Dunlop’s Lightweight race win marked the 50th TT victory for the Dunlop family with the 30-year-old’s 19 victories standing alongside his father, Robert’s five and uncle Joey’s 26. The Ballymoney man said he was proud of the family’s record but admitted he had struggled in his return to racing after almost a year away. He said: “I’ve tried to carry the name as much as I could, but I haven’t been doing it justice this week which is a sad affair. I’ve lost something this week but slowly but surely I’m starting to get it back. The lack of practice hasn’t helped.”…