Table of contents for 14 July 2021 in MCN

‘You forgive its quirks for that meaty V-twin’NEEVESY ON THE PAN AMERICA HEAD-TO-HEAD ‘The PanAm is seriously impressive’ Beating BMW’s R1250GS is a tall order for any new adventure bike – but it’s also the goal that underpins every one of its rivals’ development briefs (regardless of what those manufacturers claim). So what chance has a company famed for its laid-back cruisers got of gatecrashing the party with a credible, engaging and viable alternative? Few bookies would risk their profits on giving you decent odds, but as any lottery winner will tell you – odds can be beaten. MCN250 TEST – PAGE 29 TRIBUTE Derek Rickman 1933-2021 All innovations in biking come from people, but while the modern bike industry is dominated by businesses rather than individuals, it wasn’t always…

Somerset-based Kiddimoto have teamed up with Marc Marquez with their ‘Marc Marquez 93 Wooden Balance Bike’ and accessory range, including helmet, gloves and bell. Complete with twin pipes, tank, aero tailunit and twist grip it’s every bit the wannabe GP star’s beginner machine. The MM93 MotoGP Wooden Balance Bike retails at £119.99, with the full range at www.kiddimoto.co.uk. Clear the roads The National Motorcyclists Council and the Trail Riders Fellowship have growing concerns about the application of Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) on sealed roads. TROs are used to prohibit use of routes by certain classes of traffic. Misuse of TRO powers has become a bigger problem as councils try to create ‘safe spaces’ for walkers and cyclists. MX range revamp Yamaha are aiming to get the holeshot on the competition…

EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING Suffolk Police are launching a new operation to tackle motorcycle and moped theft in Lowestoft after a spate of crime in the town. Since January this year there have been around 50 reported thefts of bikes and scooters from the Lowestoft area. To put that in perspective, during all of 2019 (the last year with data available) there were 106 thefts across the entire county of Suffolk. In response to this sharp rise local police will be launching dedicated patrols, increasing engagement with motorcycle enthusiasts and clubs, collecting and analysing intelligence and running proactive investigations in a bid to snare offenders. “Having a mode of transport stolen is extremely upsetting as well as disruptive for the victim, which is why we are determined to crackdown on this issue,”…

Aprilia are recalling 700 of their 660cc models worldwide for an engine replacement, after problems were discovered with the conrods. Although the firm say it would be possible to swap out the defective part, each customer is now being offered a full replacement parallel twin unit free of charge, with the two-year warranty on the bike which is then restarted once the procedure is finished. All affected customers are now being contacted via a letter, with instructions on what to do next. This isn’t the first time the 660 powerplant has been recalled, with some bikes previously returned to dealers for work concerning ‘an engine shut-down while the vehicle is stationary’. Have your say on the TT The Isle of Man TT organisers have launched a huge survey to get…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Norton’s V4 dilemma Much as I wish the best for the new Norton company owners, I fear that the poisoned chalice that’s been created by the flawed V4SS produced by the old regime won’t be emptied unless their owners are provided with new bikes free of charge. Parent company TVS may argue that it’s not responsible for the errors of old Norton but ‘goodwill’ gestures are thin when most of the outside world won’t be able to see the difference between ‘old’ bikes and ‘new’. The V4SS is bad news in their eyes. TVS has a mountain to climb in building credibility as it is without having to having to start making new V4SS machines on the back foot. Why not cut your losses new CEO…

1 Ryka’s Café This Box Hill mecca has a weekly bike night on a Wednesday, but at the weekend there’s always a good reason to rock up at Rykas. www.rykas.co.uk 2 Ace Cafe On Friday, July 16 London’s Ace Cafe is hosting a general bike meet from 6pm. All makes are welcome, and the food is great. www.london.acecafe.com 3 Revved Up tea bar The Walton on the Naze destination welcomes bikers all week long, but Sundays see the designated bike night. www.facebook.com/Revved-Up-493717504018738 4 Sammy Miller’s The New Milton, Hants, museum has an adventure ride-in on July 18, 10am-3pm. Enjoy all the museum has to offer. sammymiller.co.uk…

THURSDAY July 15 8.30am, BTS2, FIM Sidecar Cross World Championship FRIDAY July 16 6am, EUR2, Bennetts British Superbikes Extra: A round-up of the support races from Knockhill 1pm, EUR2, Australian Superbikes from Hidden Valley SATURDAY July 17 2.45pm, CH4, Guy Martin’s World Tour KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT - DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC - DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD - DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS - EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) - EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT - MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 - CHANNEL 4 CH5 - CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI - BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN - ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST - DISCOVERY TURBO SHED - DISCOVERY SHED INST - INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) - SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 - BT SPORT 1 BTS2 - BT SPORT 2 TVL…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK £15,500 (£20,218 as tested) Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special ●1252cc 8v V-twin ●150bhp/95lb.ft ●£152.24 per month PCP £16,949 (£20,970 as tested) BMW R1250GS TE ● 1254cc 8v flat twin ● 134bhp/106lb.ft ● £168.64 per month PCP BMW’s R1250GS has become the adventure bike to beat, despite its weirdness. The front suspension is funny, its flat twin engine is mounted the wrong way in the frame and there’s a shaft drive running through its single-sided swingarm, but it’s all been refined to perfection. And it got a whole lot gruntier when BMW slotted in their brilliant 1250 ShiftCam engine two years ago. But many will glaze over when you tell them how strong the GS is.…

Harley-Davidson’s Pan America has seriously impressed us. It’s the rugged, no-nonsense Jeep to the BMW’s more lavish Range Rover and if you were going to do a bank job, you’d use the GS as the getaway bike and the Harley to smash through the vault wall to get your hands on the cash. With years of development it’s no surprise the GS is dynamically better in every way and any situation, not just than the Pan America, but just about any road bike you care to mention, which is why they sell so many. Unsurprisingly for a first generation model the Pan isn’t quite as well resolved – the dash isn’t quite as bold as the Beemer’s, its electronic suspension doesn’t work quite as well and attention to detail can’t…

At current rates, you can top up the battery and cover 100 miles in Eco mode for little more than the cost of a litre of petrol. With next-to-no maintenance requirements, the FXE makes a great twist-and-go urban or suburban commuter; the bike is both emissions-free and carefree too. Switched into Sport mode, it’s the ultimate urban assault vehicle that, thanks to near-silent running, will attract less than its share of unwanted attention. It’s also a fantastic play-bike for anyone lucky enough to live within a few miles of interesting B-roads. And for almost any rider, it will prove the fastest way around a supermoto or go kart track. There are probably quite a few Millennial and Gen-Z riders who’ll be drawn to the new look. Can they pony up…

‘I can’t wait to get on track’ MAX CALLAN, 56, BENFLEET ‘I’ve had my RS660 a couple of weeks. I test rode it and loved it straight away. I had an RSV4 before, but this is just a much more comfortable bike, and I don’t ache when I get off it! Everything about it I prefer – barring the sound of my RSV4. The RS660 is more suited to the road. I’ve yet to try it on the track and I can’t wait but you feel at home, and you feel like it doesn’t want to try and throw you off at every corner. I think it would be good for going on bike trips, too. Plus it’s got the power there when you need it to overtake something quickly.…

‘I was going with the flow’ “Having done the California Superbike School in the past, I’d heard about active steering. But I think as time’s gone by, I’d just become a lazy steerer! I was just going with the flow and had got into a bit of a bad habit with regards having a rigid upper body. Ryan pointed out that it was causing me to run wide on exits; I was having to use an early turn-in point because I couldn’t turn the bike quickly and efficiently enough. Now I’m conscious of active steering, I need to stop being complacent and incorporate it into every ride. Hopefully it’ll stop my elbows getting sore on rideouts – and may even stop my brother taking the mick!” THAT’S BETTER! Ryan said:…

RST Tractech Evo 4 gloves £89.99 ‘Comfortable, warm, but stain your hands’ Tested by Dan Sutherland, 1300 miles, three months So far I’ve done around 1100 miles on the road in these RSTs, plus two days on track and I’ve been impressed. There’s CE Level 2 carbon knuckles, fused outer fingers to help prevent injury in a slide, Kevlar lining throughout and they are warm enough on rides above 10°C which makes them perfect for those first early morning trackday sessions. They’re all-day comfortable despite their sporting nature and the double fastening system and long cuff allows you to secure them comfortably and tightly over leathers. I’ve also managed to squeeze them inside the sleeves of my textile jacket. Overall, I’m more than happy, that said, the stitching around the…

All of the main brands do their own ‘road legal’ silencers that comply with the latest regs. However, it’s worth mentioning that if you buy an exhaust that’s not been officially approved for your model by the manufacturer, it may affect warranty claims. If you choose an aftermarket exhaust from your bike’s official list of accessories it will not usually upset any warranty. Oh yes, and about the noise… Most of the approved stuff these days will not be noisy. The acoustics will be different but it will not be antisocial. We’ve all matured a bit now so most of us don’t want to be drawing attention to ourselves like we did in our 20s. If you notice, a lot of the noise problems seem to be coming from the…

‘There is no room for kindness… ’ The first person to beat is your teammate. It’s a cliché, but (like most clichés) deeply true. He’s on the same bike. No excuses. To use another cliché, wriggle room comes in the way you interpret the word ‘beat’. And at world championship level, for the most successful, there’s no room for kindness. ‘Beating’ means more than just reaching the chequered flag first. Your teammate must also be mentally pulverised. It can be done in a variety of ways. False friendship followed by betrayal is one. Backstabbing another. Anything that works. Properly accomplished, they’re beaten before the race begins. And a true master of the art has by then made sure that his bike, while nominally the same, is several steps better. Racing…

SPORTS REPORTER Josh Brookes is facing a huge uphill battle if he’s to challenge for an elusive third Bennetts British Superbike crown. Despite high hopes heading into the weekend after some successful testing at Knockhill, the Aussie now finds himself 73 points behind championship leader, and PBM teammate, Christian Iddon after securing a best finish of 10th. At Oulton Park, Brookes had no edge grip, at Knockhill he had zero grip. It didn’t matter if he was on the edge or upright on the tyre. Brookes and the team are at a complete loss in terms of a cause. “All the obvious things that could be wrong have been checked,” Brookes told MCN. “The bike is exactly the same as it was when I rode really well during pre-season. I’ve…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR Italian sports fans experienced wild celebrations for their football team and wild speculation for its MotoGP stars last weekend. Amidst the euphoria at defeating England to win Euro 2020, the summer rumour mill clicked into overdrive for some of Italy’s top racing talent. ‘Espargaro says Dovi wasn’t that competitive’ The world is still awaiting confirmation of Valentino Rossi’s decision on his future. But MCN sources are adamant Rossi will retire to focus on his new Ducati MotoGP project while continuing to race, albeit on four wheels. Andrea Dovizioso’s planned return in 2022 remains shrouded in mystery, with no significant progress made after initial talks with Yamaha. It seems interest has cooled from Yamaha’s side while senior management take stock of a limited rider market after Maverick Viñales quit…

The great Valentino Rossi is often considered to be a ‘Sunday Man’. A rider who has struggled to qualify well throughout his illustrious career yet has been at the sharp end come race day. Tarran Mackenzie is following a similar path but in BSB it’s arguably even harder to recover from than in MotoGP. A poor grid slot for race one makes it harder to set a fastest lap, which limits your chances of a front row start in race two, and so on. Mackenzie’s crash in qualifying put him down in 15th for the opening race yet he still managed to finish sixth before going on to two podiums. Knockhill isn’t the easiest place to fight your way through the pack, but, as he has several times before, Mackenzie…

There’s never been a better time to book a test ride at your local Indian Motorcycle dealership and gear-up to experience the Roadmaster, Chieftain, Springfield or Challenger. Better still, you can reboot your summer with a £400 trade-in bonus and a £200 customisation contribution with selected new MY20 Roadmaster, Chieftain, Springfield and Challenger models while stocks last at authorised dealerships. It doesn’t cover 2021 models but there is still plenty to choose from. Find out more at www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk/offers/detail/re-start-your-ride-heavyweight/ Chieftain’s the boss The Indian Motorcycle Chief is almost a household name, but this new take on the classic has shaken up its heritage. The Chieftain’s styling makeover involves more than just the fairing, front fender/ mudguard and wheels. The hard panniers are reshaped, too, and are slimmer and sleeker than the…

There’s never been a better time to book a test ride at your local Indian Motorcycle dealership and gear-up to experience the Roadmaster, Chieftain, Springfield or Challenger. Better still, you can reboot your summer with a £400 trade-in bonus and a £200 customisation contribution with selected new MY20 Roadmaster, Chieftain, Springfield and Challenger models while stocks last at authorised dealerships. It doesn’t cover 2021 models but there is still plenty to choose from. Find out more at www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk/offers/detail/re-start-your-ride-heavyweight/ Chieftain’s the boss The Indian Motorcycle Chief is almost a household name, but this new take on the classic has shaken up its heritage. The Chieftain’s styling makeover involves more than just the fairing, front fender/ mudguard and wheels. The hard panniers are reshaped, too, and are slimmer and sleeker than the…

There’s never been a better time to book a test ride at your local Indian Motorcycle dealership and gear-up to experience the Roadmaster, Chieftain, Springfield or Challenger. Better still, you can reboot your summer with a £400 trade-in bonus and a £200 customisation contribution with selected new MY20 Roadmaster, Chieftain, Springfield and Challenger models while stocks last at authorised dealerships. It doesn’t cover 2021 models but there is still plenty to choose from. Find out more at www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk/offers/detail/re-start-your-ride-heavyweight/ Chieftain’s the boss The Indian Motorcycle Chief is almost a household name, but this new take on the classic has shaken up its heritage. The Chieftain’s styling makeover involves more than just the fairing, front fender/ mudguard and wheels. The hard panniers are reshaped, too, and are slimmer and sleeker than the…

One swallow does not make a summer, apparently, but as soon as the first one rocks up, you can be pretty sure you’re going to see another one soon. Of course, in racing - as with any sport - predicting a solid pattern is nigh-on impossible. There’d be dramatically fewer billionaire bookies if it wasn’t. Rory Skinner was on the radar well before the Bennetts British Superbike Championship rolled into Knockhill at the weekend, but if anyone had failed to spot the signs, they’ll be well aware of them now. Could this be the start of a serious title assault - or was it is just a happy home soil blip? I couldn’t pretend to possess any clairvoyance having lost many a sporting bet, but when the rest of the…

SAVE £2850 £5995 Yamaha SCR950 Scrambler The Scrambler borrows its chassis and engine from Yamaha’s XV series of cruisers to give you a throwback to simpler times. It may not be an all-singing techno-marvel that could win the Dakar, but it’s a capable motorcycle that has enough about it to deliver plenty of fun and games – and at under £6k, it’s a real bargain. • www.wiganyamaha.co.uk SAVE £1500 £9799 KTM 790 Adventure The 790 Adventure is perfectly suited for any rider who wants to adventure fun without the giant bulk of a full-on machine. • teasdale-motorcycles.co.uk ● Engine 799cc ● Power 95bhp ● Weight 189kg ● Seat height 850mm SAVE £1000 £11,800 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC Triumph dealers are offering £1000 off 2020 1200XCs and XE. Offer ends September…

French energy storage company, Nawa Industries displayed their hubless electric concept in the UK for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The bike uses an ultracapacitor system to create what Nawa call the world’s first hybrid battery and a lightweight carbon fibre frame. This tech, they say, could be used to either halve the size of an EV’s battery or double its range and is scalable to any number of vehicles. Look out for that lorry! Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that the Government will be extending lorry drivers’ hours in an attempt to tackle a labour shortage, a move that is ‘likely to make the situation worse’ according to Unite National Officer for Road Transport, Adrian Jones, who fears there will be implications for safety…

Muc-Off Pressure Washer Bundle £134.99 No high-pressure selling needed… It’s important to look after your pride and joy, and getting into a regular washing routine makes doing that so much easier. This week we’ve focused on cleaning and protection, there’s loads of great products on the market and some hot deals available. Boston-based, internet giant, Sportsbikeshop, have a massive range of cleaning stuff including this bundle from Muc-Off. Specifically designed for use on all things two wheels, this strikingly coloured, fuchsia and black pressure washer comes with three lances which are designed to clean your bike without jetting water into places where it might cause harm. There’s an adjustable pressure lance for heavy grime and a low-pressure ‘snow foam’ lance which, when used in conjunction with the Nan Tech Bike…

NEWS EDITOR New player to the European two-wheeler scene, Sunra have just released their Robo S 125cc equivalent electric scooter in the UK. If you’re not familiar with Sunra, it’s because they’re new to the UK, but they’ve been making electric vehicles in China since 1999 – and build around four million machines a year. The range in the UK includes the Robo (a 50cc equivalent) and Robo S scooters plus the Miku Super and Miku Max, which essentially use the same gubbins inside as the scooters but in a naked bike package. Given that most people are going to buy these machines for dashing around town, the practicality and extra power of the Robo S mean it’s likely to be their top seller. The Robo S is powered by…

PRIZE WORTH OVER £3000! Rapid Training – one of Britain’s most respected advanced training firms – have created Bikemaster to take you from average to awesome in three dear steps and you can win this motorcycling masterclass. Comprising one-to-one training on the road, plus time on track where you can really extend the lessons, the Rapid Training coaches will not only teach you the systems you need to underpin your riding skills – but also how to translate them into real-world riding. Entries close on July 21, so don’t miss this chance to radically transform your riding skills. To be in with a chance of winning this brilliant prize, head to www.rapidtraining.co.uk/mcn-rapid-competition Terms and conditions This prize draw is promoted by Rapid Training and is open to UK residents aged…

MCN staff and readers share their favourite routes An old favourite for our test team and over the years we’ve ridden numerous sports tourers and adventure bikes around the Scottish borders, hammering the motorways north before hooking the A701 from Moffat for some truly fantastic roads. Head out of the pretty spa town and the undulating stretch of tarmac leads you into heather-strewn hills. Sheep are you main spectators with the odd hamlet or village are dotted along the route, to break up the endless twists and turns. At times, you’ll nudge the banks of the River Tweed, valley views are breath-taking. Take a moment to enjoy them and stop for a coffee at the fantastic Laurel Bank Tea Room in Broughton along the way, too. Take a right at…

A motorcycle autojumble could be just the thing for your latest project, or the perfect excuse to have a chat with like-minded people. Either way, it’s a great day out! What’s happening? Housed in the fabulous location of Kempton Park Racecourse, on Saturday, July 17, traders from all over the country will set up more than 250 stalls with motorcycle bits and bobs which could be exactly what you’re after. But it’s not just the jumble, the event is packed with variety. Don’t forget to check out the motorcycle mart where you can exhibit your restorations and projects, and there are plenty of catering units on site, so you won’t go hungry. The essential stuff Tickets are available to buy online up to 1pm on the day before the event…

DAN WILLIAMS Age 47 Height 6ft Been riding 16 years First bike Honda Transalp 650 Dream bike Ducati V4 Pikes Peak Multistrada “Having only seen it in pictures before I would say the Pan America is far better looking in the flesh and very well proportioned with a cool utilitarian and industrial feel which definitely adds to the appeal. Not only that but the level of technology is impressive and I am surprised just how much they enhance the ride. My 2012 GS Adventure is totally analogue where this is fully digital. “On the downside I’m not that keen on going back from the BMW’s shaft drive to the Harley’s chain drive, purely because I like the ease of a shaft. The exhaust made my leg get really hot to…

The best single-word description for the new Speed Twin is ‘balanced’. Low-speed balance is excellent, and on twisty roads there’s a great balance between handling and performance. The brakes are nicely balanced between power and feel, and even the overall specification is a carefully-engineered balance between finish and price. I liked the old Speed Twin, but this is just that little bit more exciting, more capable, more – yes – balanced. Whether it’s worth nearly £4k more than the capable Trident 660 is questionable but it does ooze quality and substance and the updates all work well. THE FACTS £11,200 Triumph Speed Twin…

‘Their bow wave made me fall off…’ ‘Straight on at the roundabout…’ “I’ll tell you a story about a fella we had in the Oxford branch years ago,” David laughs. “His nickname was Paddy, but his proper name was Kieran, with Irish parents but born in England. Talk about total nutcase on a bike… He had an XL250. You know to give someone directions you’d say, ‘at the roundabout go straight on’? Well he used to. Literally over the top. I’ve seen him do that a few times. “He was ever such a nice fella but should’ve been racing bikes, not riding them on the road.” Taking the plunge “Can I tell you a brief story about Graham?” asks Michael. “It was when he fell off his bike in a…

1 Oxford Mondial Advanced £249.99 I bought it for my 54-mile-a-day commute and it’s been perfect so far in all weathers. It was on offer for £189 and I’ve no idea how they make such a good jacket for that price. Mike Bell, Frome 2 Dainese Carve Master 2 £529.95 It features Gore-Tex and I’ve spent four hours in it in heavy rain and it didn’t leak a bit. Blazej Jedryka, Huddersfield 3 Alpinestars Andes V2 £199.99 It never let in a drop of rain, while remaining comfortable, warm(ish) and practical. Karl Mariner, Devon 4 DXR Roadtrip CE £133.99 It’s comfortable as anything and has kept me dry but you’ll be sweating at a standstill on hot days. Ralph Davey, Brighton 5 Richa Ladies Infinity Pro 2 £329.99 Very comfy,…

‘The disc looked like lace, there were so many cracks in it’ MoT test revealed a right shocker Suzuki’s Bandit has a reputation for being a good, solid bike that soldiers on for tens of thousands of miles. So the owner of this particular 600 from the early noughties was confident that his steed would sail through an MoT at Zenith’s place in North London. But mechanic Bernie Roe was not impressed with the state of the veteran Suzuki –specifically its very tired brakes. He said: “We failed him on the state of the rear pads and scoring on the rear disc, which he wasn’t too happy about and kept arguing the toss. Our workshop is dimly lit at the best of times, but we could still see that it…

It’s always been said that Ryan Vickers has the potential to become a top rider on a superbike and so far in 2021 he’s more than matching that statement. Armed with the 2021 Kawasaki ZX-10RR – with the Royal Air Force Regular & Reserve team – Vickers secured a trio of top nine finishes. This follows two top 10 results at Oulton Park, and he now sits ninth overall, just a point behind a spot in the Showdown places. Another impressive stat is that he beat FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider Lee Jackson in all three races. ‘Previous years have seen him hit by injury’ It’s an important turnaround for Vickers, whose problem up until this year has been a tendency to hurt himself in crashes. He’s missed a handful of…

Our man on the inside of the BSB race paddock 1 He’s not afraid to fight One thing that stood out at Knockhill was his willingness to fight. Skinner was able to defend himself and hold his own against seasoned racers like Christian Iddon, Peter Hickman and Danny Buchan. This is exactly what is needed if you’re going to make it in BSB. You need to show that you won’t be pushed around by more experienced riders. Skinner has sent a clear warning shot to his rivals. 2 He’s super relaxed Half the battle, especially as a rookie, is being able to keep calm and not get flustered. This is a skill which Skinner has. He’s one of the most laid back, relaxed characters in the paddock. If he has…

Glenn Irwin’s Knockill was hampered by fatigue and ended miserably with an unfortunate crash in the final race of the weekend. Irwin voiced his worries over some health problems he’s been having in recent weeks and confirmed to MCN on Sunday evening that he’d suffered from Covid-19 in April and is still feeling the effects. Irwin is due to undergo further tests this week. Physicality aside, it was another difficult round for the Honda Racing team, who are yet to match their fantastic start to the 2020 campaign. Irwin finished outside the top 10 in both races which he finished and is now 79 points behind series leader Christian Iddon. Still, Irwin left the circuit hopeful. “On Saturday night we were nearly at loggerheads with each other within the team,…

‘He’s definitely got the minerals’ I’ve got a lot of time for Rory Skinner. I think he’s been under the radar for long enough to gain loads of experience and then when the time is right he’s delivered with a couple of podiums at Knockhill. Every track we go to the man doing the most laps in practice is Rory. He’s not coming in asking for a turn of preload, he’s out there learning the bike and in my opinion you really do have to learn a Superbike. He’s still got a 600 style, but so has Jason O’Halloran and that works! I don’t want to give the kid the kiss of death, but he looks solid, he’s not sticking it in the fence. He’s got a nice balance, the…

KTM’s twin-spark 690 is a serious gem, and arguably the cleverest and most accomplished single ever. It’s smoother and easier to ride than its twin-cylinder rivals, and getting 65mpg is easy, with up to 80mpg possible with a delicate hand. Yet it also wheelies off the throttle, hits 125mph and has a taut, light, precise chassis for B-road antics that’d tie an MT-07 in knots. The quality improved immensely from 2016 onwards, with more power and an extra balancer, but early bikes start at a bargain £3k. As you’ expect, R-models are pricier and are a bit too stiff on the road, but ace on the track. Be sure to check the gear position sensor if you’re looking to buy. Some eager owners may have snipped or unplugged it to…

KTM’s twin-spark 690 is a serious gem, and arguably the cleverest and most accomplished single ever. It’s smoother and easier to ride than its twin-cylinder rivals, and getting 65mpg is easy, with up to 80mpg possible with a delicate hand. Yet it also wheelies off the throttle, hits 125mph and has a taut, light, precise chassis for B-road antics that’d tie an MT-07 in knots. The quality improved immensely from 2016 onwards, with more power and an extra balancer, but early bikes start at a bargain £3k. As you’d expect, R-models are pricier and are a bit too stiff on the road, but ace on the track. Be sure to check the gear position sensor if you’re looking to buy. Some eager owners may have snipped or unplugged it to…

KTM’s twin-spark 690 is a serious gem, and arguably the cleverest and most accomplished single ever. It’s smoother and easier to ride than its twin-cylinder rivals, and getting 65mpg is easy, with up to 80mpg possible with a delicate hand. Yet it also wheelies off the throttle, hits 125mph and has a taut, light, precise chassis for B-road antics that’d tie an MT-07 in knots. The quality improved immensely from 2016 onwards, with more power and an extra balancer, but early bikes start at a bargain £3k. As you’d expect, R-models are pricier and are a bit too stiff on the road, but ace on the track. Be sure to check the gear position sensor if you’re looking to buy. Some eager owners may have snipped or unplugged it to…

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT The new boss of Norton has outlined ambitious plans for the firm and a renewed determination to treat owners of the V4SS bought from the ‘old’ company (NMUL) fairly, in an exclusive interview with MCN. Dr Robert Hentschel has only been in the hot seat since June 1 but has already got to grips with key issues and is ready to take Norton forward with a state-of-the-art new factory and a range of exciting new models on the drawing board. But he is also fully committed to coming up with a solution for customers who have been left with a V4SS that has all sorts of problems and been deemed unsafe to be used on the road. New Norton, bought by Indian firm TVS Motor Company for…

East to Zero travel book £12 Following a difficult trip through parts of Africa, as chronicled in his first book, The Unseen Walls, explorer Christian William Brix continues his journey throughout parts of Asia on his Yamaha Ténéré 700. The latest book sees the wily author ride more than 12,000 miles across parts of southeast Asia, India and China as he travels far outside of his comfort zone. The books cover what it’s like to ride across the developing world solo, and the personal challenges such an epic mission throws up. www.amazon.co.uk Pyramid Plastics Honda CB500X hugger £136 This hugger has been designed to fit the 2019-current CB500X. As well as protecting the expensive rear shock and associated linkage, the bolt-on should keep some of the muck off the rider,…

‘Take it to XS’ I am delighted with the 750SS I won on eBay. It actually belonged to James May of Top Gear and ancient toys fame before the guy I bought it from, so I’ve written to Mr May to see if I can get some back-story. It’s still as glorious a lightweight sportsbike as I remembered and prices can only go up. The garage and lock-ups are now filled to bursting point, so, of course, I bought another motorcycle. An XS650. Yes, another 1970s relic, but hear me out. This was Yamaha’s first four-stroke and they built it right. The engine is staggeringly strong. It was Yamaha’s bestseller in the US for years. It was supposed to be killed off by the 750 triple but continued to out-sell…

YOU’RE NEVER RIDING ALONE When it comes to bikes, I’m constantly looking at what I’m going to buy next. I’m obsessed by all the gear, as well. But the larger part of obsession is borne out of two things: Firstly, I just love riding. I love that feeling every time I walk towards my bike. I’ll never have a Bluetooth headset in my helmet - I don’t want to know that I’ve missed a call, had an email or a WhatsApp. Nothing is going to distract me from the joy of being on two wheels. Time on the bike allows you to work through things in your mind and start filing things away in a more ordered fashion. It also allows you to get to places you might not usually…

Q ‘Has justice Q been served?’ Nine months ago someone drove into me while I was riding my bike on a roundabout, I fractured my back and my leg in three places. I was in hospital for two weeks and still walk with a crutch. Yesterday I got a letter telling me the verdict of the criminal prosecution. The offence is described as: “Driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road/in a public place without due care and attention.” He was punished with nine points on his licence and a fine of £120, £90 costs and £34 to fund victim services. Can you explain what has happened here and how to get rid of this nagging sense that justice has not been served? BH, email A “Driving a mechanically propelled…

Readers Andy ‘Moose’ Muse and the Magnificent Seven The ride Bristol – Lincoln – Newcastle – Kendal – Chester – Bristol. With a ride from Newcastle to Alston and another to Jedburgh, plus a loop of the Lakes How many miles? 1099 When to do it We went in June and had generally good weather with just a couple of showers Time required Six days Tell us about the ride It was thrown together as a last-minute replacement for a trip to France and Spain. We met up for the first night in Lincoln – riders were coming from Reading and Colchester, too. Called in at Oliver’s Mount for a lap or two on the way to Newcastle where we stayed for three nights. The rideout to Alston was good,…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday July 14 BIKE MEETS ◼ Squires Cafe Newthorpe near Sherburn in Elmet West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ◼ The Blue Anchor Southport Merseyside 7pm Facebook: Southport Carousel ◼ Seaways Bike Night Fridaythorpe East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ◼ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn Mold Flints 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ◼ The Plough Cadsden, Bucks www.plough-at-cadsden.co.uk ◼ Ryka’s Cafe Box Hill Surrey www.rykas.co.uk ◼ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon Hants Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ◼ Paignton Seafront Devon www.bmad.co.uk SPEEDWAY ◼ Birmingham Brummies www.birmingham-speedway.com ◼ Eastbourne Eagles www.eastbourne-speedway.com/ ◼ Poole Pirates Dorset www.poolepirates.co/ TRIALS ◼ Scarborough & DMC Low North Park Harwood Dale, Scarborough North Yorks www.scarboroughdmc.co.uk Thursday July 15 BIKE MEETS ◼…

‘Wedding venue tour’ R5K MEMBERS ANDREA PALFREY AND DANIEL JARDINE We are getting married in Peebles in September, so we rode up from Lincolnshire to see the venue as part of a five-day tour. We also took in parts of Cumbria and there were some amazing roads and beautiful scenery. ‘H Café social ride’ R5K MEMBERS SHAUN NAPIER, FLICK SWAN, KEVIN PERRY AND JAMIE ANDERSON We met in Farnborough at 8am and then headed to H Café where we met a few more friends. There are some great twisting country roads in between but because the weather was looking quite ominous, we kept it quite short. ‘First meet-up of the year’ KAREN AND SON JOEL WEBB PLUS RICHARD AND SON MARCUS WEST We met at TGI Fridays in Coventry for…

Need help with your riding skills? MCN expert can fix it THE STUDENT Justin Cook, 50, Peterborough Did his Direct Access in 2006 and jumped straight into sportsbike ownership with a Suzuki GSX-R600. He mainly rides on the road with his friends and brother and owns this Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 plus a BMW R nineT Racer. The problem “I feel like I turn in too early, especially on right handers, and I don’t know why. My brother always takes the mick out of me for being so upright.” THE TUTOR Ryan Decarteret, Rapid Training Pro Coach A former surveillance motorcyclist for the National Crime Agency, police-trained Ryan now teaches fellow motorcyclists to become smoother, faster and safer. Ryan’s action plan Even a small about of upper body tension can really…

Why it’s the time to just twist and go What scooter means to you depends on your age. It might bring images of post-war transport, or mods on modified Vespas. Or it might be less appealing thoughts of kids on stolen scoots or criminals using them as getaway transport. Trouble is, whichever of the above you fit into there’s a chance that, as a motorcyclist, you’ll turn your nose up. And you shouldn’t. Scoots have two wheels and an engine, so obviously they’re going to be fun to ride. Simple operation and practicality mean they’re the peak of freedom and convenience. They’re also easy to park, cheap to insure, tax and put fuel in, and your other half’s friends won’t assume you’re one of those ‘maniac bikers’. And this makes…

It’s a sound plan Ten easy steps to fitting a slip-on aftermarket silencer 1 It’s a pipe dream Fitting a slip-on can is one of the most noticeable modifications that you can make to your machine and fortunately it’s one of the easiest to do at home, too. But that’s not to say you should attack the task like a bull in a china shop. Before you get the spanners out, check out the removal and installation procedure specific to your bike. 2 Expose the clamp It’s common sense, but make sure the bike hasn’t been ridden recently, ideally the engine should be stone cold. Before you remove the standard silencers, look to see if any covers, shields or bodywork need to come off in order to allow access to…

MATT LLEWELLYN ‘He’s blown me away’ “Rory’s blown me away. His feedback is really good, it’s analytical, accurate and the data backs up with he is saying. He hangs on every word I say, he’s not looking around the garage, he’s focused on what I’m saying. He listens and he absorbs, he’s like a sponge.” SHAKEY BYRNE ‘It’s great to see’ “It’s great to see him treat the Kawasaki like a motorbike, it’s got two wheels, an engine and a throttle and he put all those things exactly where he wanted to put them. It’s been the same guys at the front here week in, week out and its nice to see somebody new take it to them.” CHRISTIAN IDDON ‘He has my respect’ “He led the race and led…

SPORTS REPORTER It finally happened. BMW are back on top in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship after a dominating display from SYNETIQ BMW’s Danny Buchan. It was a weekend of celebration for everybody involved within the team; Buchan’s first victories since 2019, taking his overall tally to four, and BMW’s first victory since Peter Hickman’s success at Thruxton in 2017. Four years of hurt, finally over. Both victories were convincing, too. Buchan was clearly the fastest rider out on track and always seemed to have something a little extra in his back pocket. If not for his mistake at the final corner in Saturday’s race one, there’s a high chance that BSB would have seen its second hat-trick of the year following Jason O’Halloran’s treble at Oulton Park. Buchan has…