Table of contents for 29 September 2021 in MCN

‘It’s a balls-to-the-wall naked superbike…’TALKING TRIUMPH’S SPEED TRIPLE RS THE BIG TEST Time to ride the naked revolution The assertion that ‘sportsbikes are dead’ might have some level of statistical backing– but you can make statistics say whatever you want them to (83% of the time). And if these naked hooligans aren’t sportsbikes, no-one told their performance figures. So which one of these naked nutters manages to tame its insanity most effectively and deliver serious sporty thrills? GROUP TEST PAGE 29 TOP STORY Suzuki target a slice of Ninja sales Could this finally be the breakthrough model for Suzuki’s often overlooked GSX-S1000 family? It’s been a valiantly resilient performer, chipping away at the competition for years without ever busting into the big time – but this new GT version might…

Triumph have handed over the keys to their Tiger 1200 prototype to brand ambassador Ricky Carmichael for some serious airtime. The 12-time AMA Motocross champ described the handling as ‘phenomenal’. Compared to previous models of Tiger 1200, the new version has taken a big step towards being more off-road capable with 21/18 wheels and long travel suspension. The new machine should be unveiled later this year to go on sale in early 2022. Bright and bold Kawasaki have updated their CBT-friendly Ninja 125 and Z125 for 2022, adding fresh colours. Available from late January, the Ninja will be yours from £4199 and grows from a single WSB-mimicking green, black and red design to a choice of three liveries. The naked Zed will also be sold in three designs and prices…

The family of 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn have reached a settlement in their civil case with his alleged killer, Anne Sacoolas. Harry was killed in August 2019 when he was struck by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road. Sacoolas subsequently admitted being behind the wheel but fled back to the US having claimed diplomatic immunity. With the legal case stalled due to Sacoolas’ refusal to return to the UK, the family were forced to pursue a civil case in the US. Just before Sacoolas and husband Jonathan were due to give evidence, the proceedings were abruptly paused with family spokesperson Radd Seiger now confirming they had reached an agreement. “Harry’s family will never be able to move on from his loss, but they are more…

Ducati are planning to unleash an array of red-hot new machines between now and Christmas with the all-new Desert X adventure weapon being the headline machine for the firm’s 2022 line-up. MCN has already managed to bag a world exclusive first ride on Ducati’s new Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak machine (see page 8) and another six motorcycles will be unveiled in fortnightly intervals, up until the December 9 reveal of the eagerly anticipated Desert X. The Desert X first appeared as a concept model in 2019, but it seems that a lot has changed since then. The latest teaser images of the bike being blasted through massive sand dunes show that it keeps the concept bike’s twin circular headlights, to give it that classic Dakar style, while things have moved…

Blitz Motorcycles Book £60 Back in 2009, Fred Jourden and Hugo Jezegabel couldn’t find any bikes that grabbed them by the scruff, so they decided to make their own. They set up Blitz Motorcycles in Paris, creating a garage where they could build unique bikes. Blitz Motorcycles: A Vision of Custom Motorcycles is a strikingly illustrated book with many picture stories covering their epic adventures. A visual treat. www.whsmith.co.uk O’Neal Split Chest/ Back Protector PRO V.22 £129.95 This lightweight plastic chest and back protector is easily adjustable and has plenty of padding. Aimed at off-road riders, the armour can slip under a motocross jersey or lightweight jacket and shouldn’t get you too hot and sweaty. There’s also a Lite version, for £99, which comes without the shoulder armour. www.oneal.eu Oxford…

London bikers are the friendliest in the UK, according to a new survey. Asda Money quizzed 1000 motorcyclists across the UK on various aspects of two-wheeled life and when they were asked to nominate the most friendly riders outside of their own region, London came out on top, with southern Scotland at the bottom of the league. More than half said they were part of a club, whether as a group or through social media, with riders claiming an average of 23 riding friends. Many also said that life on two wheels helped keep them happy. Mountain TOP rescue! The lofty motorcycle museum at the top of a mountain that was wrecked by fire in January is due to reopen in November. The incredible collection of motorcycles at the top…

Ride further in 2021 with a little help from our one-stop event guide Ride out to Britain’s best biking cafés If you’ve ever ridden the Hastings May Day run, you’ll have spotted Route 1066. Being the only café right on the route. Bikers have been filling up the car park for years, and now, with mother and son Sandra and Sean Wells at the helm, the café is on the up. Sandra told us: “I’d been fostering children for a long time. I had a longterm placement but he moved on to an adult service so I was at a loose end and wanted to change direction. “I was looking for a café, and this one came up. With Sean and his biking and me looking from the food side,…

MCN readers share their favourite one-hour routes Meet at Thompson’s on the A64 – a great fish & chip restaurant with parking. Then trundle up the A64 before leaving the A-roads behind and heading into North Yorkshire’s stunning countryside. Mains Lane turns into The Stray halfway along, before sweeping past the beautiful Castle Howard estate. Turning left at Slingsby, follow the B1257 into Hovingham, then pick up Park Street for the jaunt to Yearsly, where you head onto North Moor Bank. In Ampleforth it’s right onto Beacon Bank, then left onto the B1257. Picking up the A170 takes you through Helmsley, then rejoin the B1257 for an epic ride all the way to Stokesley. Do a right and join the A173, then another right onto the Middlesbrough Road/ A171. Pass…

FRIDAY October 1 10.25am, EUR2, Live WSB from Portugal: FP1 and FP2 at 2.55pm 2.45pm, BTS2, MotoGP, FP1&2 SATURDAY October 2 9.30am, EUR2, WSB. 12.30pm, 2.15pm, EUR2, BSB. 3pm, BTS2, Live MotoGP from CoTA, Texas SUNDAY October 3 2.30pm, BTS2, MotoGP from Texas: Warm Ups. Moto3 4.15pm, Moto2 6pm and MotoGP 7.30pm. KEYTO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORTTV 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…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER Super-nakeds are fast replacing superbikes for those who crave big performance but don’t want to fold themselves into a racing crouch to get it. It’s for that reason the European manufacturers have fallen over themselves to give us ever more power, sharper handling and clever tech for this year. Triumph decided they did want to join the super-naked party after all and produced a racy new Speed Triple 1200 RS and BMW have finally ripped the fairing off the current Gen 4 S1000RR to give us the latest S1000R. Ducati have tweaked the Streetfighter V4 S, just one year after its release to boost the midrange and the class-leading Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory has been given a face lift and some tasty new parts in a bid…

1981 MACAU “I was the first four-stroke rider to win Macau for ages. All the GP boys turned up on their strokers and I beat them on a Honda Britain CB1100R.” 1980s GP CAREER Ron may have crashed out of his first GP in 1977 but he went on to race in 110 GPs (taking nine podiums) in the 1980s and was teammates with Schwantz on the Pepsi RGV500 and Spencer on the Honda NS500. 1997 RACE SCHOOL Ron and Ann opened the Ron Haslam Race School at Donington Park in 1997. It ran for 24 years, helping an estimated 83,000 riders get their first taste of track or two-wheeled action. 2018 PROUD DAD When Leon took the 2018 BSB title, Ron was there in his garage. “I had a…

SENIOR WRITER With its 41mm shining gold Showa forks and gravelly soundtrack, the 2022 CBR500R combines superbike style with everyday usability. A light clutch, low seat height and progressive new braking set-up are ideal for new riders taking their first steps into sportsbikes and there’s oodles of comfort from the cushioning seat to tackle big miles without fatigue. The easygoing twin-pot motor will happily burble its way across town without fuss but requires a good thrashing to get the best out of it when the roads open up. Committed riding along a backroad is huge fun, but the soundtrack is lost above 65mph. Despite the various refinements for 2022, the standard trim is fairly basic – with the Honda still lacking the a connected TFT dash, found on rivals like…

“Trials riding is fantastic for your fitness and really good for mental health, because you really have to concentrate. All the worries in life go out the window when it’s just you and the bike focusing on clearing the section ahead, and when you do clear it you’re absolutely buzzing and elated. “It gives you a massive adrenaline rush and a completely different sense of satisfaction from any other form of motorsport. Whatever your level of ability, you’ll leave here with the same feeling of achievement – we want everyone to go away with a smile on their face.”…

★★★★★ Richa Colorado Lady Trousers £159.99 ‘Warm and waterproof’ Tested by Saffron Wilson for 2419 miles / five months These trousers do what it says on the label: they are waterproof, comfortable and warm. Although I’ve not yet ridden much with the detachable thermo liner fitted as it works too well, but the D30 knee protectors are comfortable even on my Harley, and the zip-open vents prove ideal for wet-but-humid conditions. The other zip pockets are useful for a phone and other small items, too. I had a small issue with the leg length which resulted in wet ankles on the odd occasion, but taller boots should help out here. The fit was also bit snug if you needed to throw them on over jeans in sudden rain, nevertheless, they…

It really is a bike for all seasons, very light, easy to ride, good for distance work and great through the corners. It really does live up to its name and can do everything that I expect of it. I’ve covered a lot of miles on it, all for fun, and will definitely be keeping it. I’m off to Spain and Portugal next month and hope to cover 3000 miles doing a loop of the peninsula. The routes are already saved on my TomTom and I can’t wait to get out there! HOW GOOD IS THE RUBBER? Dunlop Sportmax The OE Dunlop Sportmax were OK on dry roads, but after less than 4000 miles they were squared off. I swapped them for a set of Michelin Pilot Road 4 which…

MECHANIC Kev Hollingsworth of Doncaster Motorcycles The recent run of warm weather got one Honda Blackbird owner hot under the collar as his newly acquired bike’s temperature gauge spiked alarmingly seven miles into a sun-soaked ride. Fortunately, he was able to drop it off at Doncaster Motorcycles before things got dicey. Mechanic Kev Hollingsworth picks up the story: “When he rolled up we thought it was because it had been stuck in heavy traffic as there weren’t any signs of coolant splashes on the bodywork when we lay underneath the bike. But then we saw that the corroded lower edge of the radiator looked like it had been dredged up from the bottom of the North Sea.” The 20-year-old machine had been a workhorse for most of its life, but…

GREG HAINES WSB INSIGHT Our man reporting from inside the World Superbike paddock ‘Toprak knows all the Kawasaki’s weak points’ Jerez 2021 will forever be remembered for the accident which claimed the life of 15-year-old Supersport 300 rider Dean Berta Viñales. As a sombre mood hung over the paddock from Saturday afternoon, Toprak Razgatlioglu claimed both World Superbike victories (the Superpole race was cancelled) to extend his lead over Jonathan Rea to 20 points ahead of the next race at Portimao this weekend. Not only did Jerez signal the second of three back-to-back events, sandwiched between Barcelona and Portimao, but the season finale in Indonesia has now been confirmed meaning WSB is set for its latest-ever curtain-closer on Sunday, November 21. That means nine more races, with 186 points on…

MICHAEL LAVERTY THE INSIDER BT Sport’s technical guru unmasks secrets at the sharp end of MotoGP Honda’s 2022 prototype – which was seen in action during the recent Misano test – is the biggest change we have seen from HRC since the switch to the RC213V in 2012. An all-new machine in terms of engine, frame, aeros, exhaust and rear tail unit tells us this is a big deal for HRC. The team spoke of a new concept and the riders of some serious changes with the RCV and the way it feels – changes that Honda desperately needed to make. Exhaust and mass damper The exhaust has been moved offcentre where it exits the tail unit to allow for a mass damper inside the seat. The seat unit, reminiscent of…

Given the way that this season has gone for Josh Brookes, finishing the opening Showdown weekend with two second places would usually be seen as a huge positive. However, the overarching story of the weekend – with nine points now covering the top three riders after two crashes for Jason O’Halloran – means that Brookes’ spill in race two has left a sour taste. It’s the perfectionist inside him. Never mind the fact that he’s turned his season round, Brookes is a winner, a two-time champion and he wants, maybe needs, to be challenging for another crown. He sees this as an opportunity missed. Brookes is 51 points adrift, 11 more than he would have been had he not crashed out of fifth on the final lap of race two.…

The provisional 2022 BSB calendar has been released, with the campaign getting under way at the Silverstone National Circuit on April 15-17. There will be pre-season tests at Snetterton (March 25-27), Donington National (March 31), and Silverstone National (April 6-7). There will also be a test at Oulton on April 21 ahead of the race at the Cheshire circuit. Cadwell returns to its August Bank Holiday slot. Hicky consistent Peter Hickman remains fifth in the Showdown after a consistent weekend at Oulton Park. Two fifths and a fourth consolidated a strong weekend, despite the FHO Racing rider being unable to truly challenge for a podium. Hickman is only 10 points adrift of Christian Iddon in fourth, and is now 13 points closer to the top of the mountain – 43…

Back in 2002, Aprilia set the benchmark for the streetfighter class with their original V-twin Tuono, by basically stripping the fairing off their RSV Mille superbike and adding flat bars. The Italian manufacturer kept the recipe the same for subsequent models, with the 2012 model morphing into a V4 to follow suit with the RSV4 sportsbike. With a 165bhp V4 as well as a WSB-winning chassis and APRC electronics package, the Tuono is a full-on machine, and you can get a lot for your money. The 2011 model has a small tank range, hard seat and lacks ABS, although Aprilia solved these issues with the more powerful 2014 Tuono 1100. The V4’s cam chain tensioner has suffered a few problems, and while noisy on the Tuono as standard, be aware…

Back in 2002, Aprilia set the benchmark for the streetfighter class with their original V-twin Tuono, by basically stripping the fairing off their RSV Mille superbike and adding flat bars. The Italian manufacturer kept the recipe the same for subsequent models, with the 2012 model morphing into a V4 to follow suit with the RSV4 sportsbike. With a 165bhp V4 as well as a WSB-winning chassis and APRC electronics package, the Tuono is a full-on machine, and you can get a lot for your money. The 2011 model has a small tank range, hard seat and lacks ABS, although Aprilia solved these issues with the more powerful 2014 Tuono 1100. The V4’s cam chain tensioner has suffered a few problems, and while noisy on the Tuono as standard, be aware…

Back in 2002, Aprilia set the benchmark for the streetfighter class with their original V-twin Tuono, by basically stripping the fairing off their RSV Mille superbike and adding flat bars. The Italian manufacturer kept the recipe the same for subsequent models, with the 2012 model morphing into a V4 to follow suit with the RSV4 sportsbike. With a 165bhp V4 as well as a WSB-winning chassis and APRC electronics package, the Tuono is a full-on machine, and you can get a lot for your money. The 2011 model has a small tank range, hard seat and lacks ABS, although Aprilia solved these issues with the more powerful 2014 Tuono 1100. The V4’s cam chain tensioner has suffered a few problems, and while noisy on the Tuono as standard, be aware…

The nights may be drawing in with speed right now, but in my tiny little brain, the earnest onset of Autumn is synonymous with the thrill of new bikes exploding onto the scene to keep us excited about what the New Year will bring. They’re the warmth and sunshine of promised good times ahead. And this week’s biggest three reveals are all laced with intrigue and expectation. While Ducati’s new V4-engined Pikes Peak promises the sort of mega-supermoto manners that you’d expect (think punch-up in a tuxedo – Bond style), Kawasaki’s new Z650 RS looks like a far more genteel affair. And it looks pretty damn cute, too. As a life-long fan of the 4-pot Z650 B1, I think Kawasaki have done a great job of visual mimicry with the…

£10,800 Triumph 1200 Scrambler Triumph are offering a grand off their last few 2020 Scrambler XC and XE models through their dealers before the Euro5 deadline. You can use the cash to finance your deposit or as a fund for some of their extensive riding kit or accessories such as heated grips, a tracker unit or tyre pressure monitoring system. • www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £1000 £9999 Honda CB1000R Neo Sports Café HGB in West London have lopped £1000 off this slick roadster that’s daringly different. • hgbmotorcycles.co.uk ● Engine 998cc ● Power 143bhp ● Weight 212kg ● Seat height 830mm SAVE £750 £7549 Kawasaki Versys 650 Versys 650 buyers can get a free tourer kit worth £750 on standard, Tourer or Grand Tourer models at Colchester Kawasaki. • www.colchesterkawasaki. ● Engine…

British Moto2 star Sam Lowes is running a marathon at the end of the season to raise money for the winner and runner-up in the British Talent Cup series. To kick off the fundraising, Sam has put up £5000 of his own money towards the total. He said: “It’s a challenge I’ve always wanted to undertake and what better way than to raise money for the careers of two up-and-coming motorcycle riders.” Visit www.gofundme.com/f/samlowes-marathon-fund-raiser Jet-set lifestyle California-based Jetpack Aviation have announced a flying motorcycle called the Speeder. The bike uses diesel-powered jet engines and can run for 20 minutes at a time with a top speed in excess of 150mph and a maximum altitude of 15,000ft. The first 20 are available for pre-order now with a base price of a…

Schuberth C4 Pro Women helmet £374.99 ‘Helmet built for women riders’ For years women riders didn’t get much of a look in where motorcycle kit was concerned, but times have changed and with more women learning to ride, female-specific kit is becoming big business. We set ourselves a challenge to find some of the best kit deals and have spotted some tempting offers, including this lid from top German helmet manufacturer Schuberth, now on sale at SportsBikeShop. It’s a flip-front touring lid and has been specifically designed to fit women’s faces, which are generally slimmer than men’s. The helmet comes in white or matt black and is available in a full range of sizes. There are numerous well-placed vents, a removable and washable lining, and grooves to accommodate the arms…

Recently, every time I speak to my friends in the used bike industry they all say the same thing – they are desperate for quality used stock and as a result, the prices they are willing to pay are through the roof. If you have a tidy supersport 600, litre sportsbike, naked bike or basically anything with two wheels that is popular and fairly current, you are quids-in. Which makes me wonder if now is the time to take advantage of this and sell. Usually as winter approaches dealers are less keen to buy, simply down to the fact that as biking is seasonal they don’t want a stack of unsold stock. That’s why there are always ‘end of season’ deals. However, due to the chaos of Covid/the chip crisis/shipping…

YOU’RE NEVER RIDING ALONE If a friend rang you up and said: “I’m not in a good way, I need to chat,” would you take the time to speak to them? Of course you would, everyone would. But if I asked you whether all your friends would do the same for you, you might not be so sure. It’s one of these weird social phenomena; we’re all ready to listen but we think no one else is. Each year Royal Enfield do a series of organised rides under the ‘One Ride’ banner. In the UK, Enfield have teamed up with CALM to help deliver a positive message around mental health awareness. This year they organised a big ride out, with 30 of us jumping on bikes, chatting, eating and generally…

Q ‘Driver failed a drugs test’ I visited an out-of-town shopping centre at the end of June, but as I was riding out of the car park and onto the main road I was knocked off by young man in a car. He obviously didn’t see me. The police and an ambulance attended. The police tested the driver and he had cocaine in his system. I am told by the investigating officer that he has been summoned to appear in court. My solicitor is making a claim for me; however, the insurer for the car driver claims that I pulled out on him and is blaming me. Surely, if the other driver was on drugs then I am not to blame for the accident? Stuart Hamilton, Croydon A Without seeing…

Readers Brian Russell and friends The trip Five days touring France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg from the base of AE Adventures near Spa (info@aeaventures.com). Fantastic hosts who will guide reasonable size groups (4-10) to some of the best roads in the Ardennes. How many miles? About 1000 Time required Add a day each end for easy travel. There are some good deals on 4-5 day stays. Best time to go? We had 27° and constant sun in early September. Don’t miss this... The roads curve back and forward through thick forests and open out on the top of the Ardennes with routes where you can see for miles what the road will do next and generally are much better surfaced than here at home and you are lucky if you…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday September 29 BIKE MEETS ■ Squires Cafe Newthorpe, West Yorks, 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ The Blue Anchor Southport, Merseyside, 7pm Facebook: Southport Carousel Bike Meet Q Seaways Fridaythorpe, East Yorks, 4pm-8pm, mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ The Plough Cadsden, Nr Princess Risborough, Bucks www.plough-at-cadsden.co.uk ■ Paignton Seafront Devon www.bmad.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Ryka’s Cafe Box Hill Surrey www.rykas.co.uk SPEEDWAY ■ Birmingham Brummies West Midlands www.birmingham-speedway.com ■ Poole Pirates Dorset www.poole-speedway.com TRACKDAYS ■ MSV Snetterton 300 Norfolk £149 www.MSVTrackdays.com ■ MSV Oulton Park Cheshire £192 www.MSVTrackdays.com Thursday September 30 BIKE MEETS ■ Krazy…

On its 38th anniversary, the Weston Beach Race brings a new meaning to a relaxing day at the seaside. What’s happening? On October 1, 2 and 3, the beach at Weston-super-Mare will be dug out into a massive six-mile off road course. As well as sand dunes, there will be a 2km start straight, and it’ll take a whopping 200,000 tonnes of sand to make the course. There’ll be a mix of professional and amateur riders taking part, but aside from the track, there’s plenty going on to keep the whole family entertained for the whole weekend. The essential stuff There is a wide range of tickets available if you’re heading down to watch. Day tickets for adults are £25, and the weekend is £50. Kids tickets are £5 for…

APRILIA Dash New 5in colour dash is less busy than before Switchgear Features cruise control button and up/down paddles for the traction control BMW Dash 6.5in colour TFT. Menus, including the turn-by-turn satnav are easy to navigate Engine No ShiftCam but it is smooth and easy to manage DUCATI Dash Same as the Panigale’s and packed with functions Switchgear Plenty of buttons, but it’s the only bike here without cruise control TRIUMPH Dash 5in colour anti-glare, Bluetooth-enabled dash is easy to read. Forks Öhlins NIX30 forks are a good compromise between comfort and control…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER The super-naked class of 2021 is faster, crisper-handling and crammed with more tech – but they’re easy to live with, too, which has always been their appeal over a superbike and why they’re now so popular. Each impresses in its own inimitable way. The BMW might lack drama but it’s the one you’d choose to live with every day, the stiff Triumph is more at home on the track and for something that will sizzle your senses the Ducati is the ultimate temptress. But the Aprilia easily hangs on to the super-naked crown. Its engine is still a heart-melting masterpiece and the way the tyres grip the road and the suspension floats along the tarmac borders on spiritual. Its rivals are closer than ever, but the Tuono…

DEPUTY EDITOR (MOTORCYCLING) Though not as brisk away from the school gate as a rev ‘n’ rip scooter, the Scrambler 50 is otherwise as speedy (legally a sixteener’s moped can only do 28mph) and has the advantage of looking and sounding, in the words of my own stroppy teen, Ed: ‘like a proper bike’. He wasn’t interested in getting on two wheels as he thought it would have to be a ‘plastic tinny scooter’, but the Scrambler has kickstarted his interest – that’s all six-foot of him riding in the pictures. OK, the WK is unlikely to be the FS1-E of the Snapchat generation. But it’s robust and feels worth each of its £1999. Sure, garish scooters cost less but they’re just nothing like as cool. THE FACTS £1999 WK…

ANDY KENT, 43, Bromsgrove “Approaching 40 I wanted to try something in motorcycling that I hadn’t done before. I’ve ridden sports, adventure and enduro bikes for years so decided on a day at IPT. Resident instructor Aran got me started with slow figure-of-eights with emphasis on balancing the controls and how to use my body weight to best effect. The instruction was delivered in bite-sized, easy chunks that allowed me to tackle rocky stream climbs, slippery tree logs and steep embankments that I may have shied away from on my enduro bike. A post lunch trail ride put my new skills into practice; I was hooked and bought a trials bike. It changed everything! I can manoeuvre my BMW GSA like it’s half the size and my green-laning has also…

JOHN O’CONNELL, 59, CORK ‘I really enjoy the RS660. I feel I can use its power without putting myself in danger on the public road. The RS seems to compliment my riding, and I like to stay in fourth or fifth and use the torque to launch me out of the corners. With the standard exhaust fitted I’m not drawing unwanted attention and I love the induction noise onboard. That said, the cheap look of the kickstand drives me nuts and I’m going to get the rear wheel painted to match the front. Overall, I thoroughly recommend the RS660 and I’ll purchase a Factory version if one is brought to market.’…

1 TCX SP-Master Gore-Tex, £229.99 I’ve been wearing TCX for a long time as they are a good fit and top quality. These are great Gore-Tex boots for touring and sporty riding and offer good all-round protection. Jon Ashley, Manchester 2 Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex, £329.99 With waterproof trousers over the top it’s job done. They’re warm and fine to walk in and didn’t take much time to break in. David Forbes, Liverpool 3 Alpinestars SMX Plus V2 Gore-Tex, £399.99 Ridden in all weathers, torrential stuff abroad, and cold stuff here, as well as when the sun comes out. They are great boots. Wayne Marrison, Mansfield 4 Forma Adventure Boots, £209.99 Five years old and working well. Quite comfortable for walking, they fit under Kevlar jeans. A little warm in…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Wind in the adjuster The humble clutch cable will function for years with minimal maintenance. Over time though, this hard-working part can gradually bind up, resulting in a lever that feels heavy to pull in. Replacing the cable will cure this. First you need to undo it from the clutch lever, so screw in the knurled adjuster on the handlebar bracket to create slack in the cable. 2 In search of more slack Trace the clutch cable down towards the engine, here you will find another adjuster – usually in the form of a threaded section of the cable mounted on a bracket with a locknut either side. Release both locknuts so that the cable is completely slack. Now that you have…

Triumph have extended their contract to supply their 765cc triple to the Moto2 paddock for a further three years. It marks another significant chapter in the British company’s history and further underlines their commitment to racing. MCN sat down with Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent to find out what’s in it for them, planned development and whether it could lead to even more racing activity. What’s the motivation for extending the Moto2 deal? It’s introduced us to a lot of people that didn’t know a lot about Triumph. People that maybe knew we did some classic or adventure bikes, but our performance side has been a little bit underrepresented. What’s it like having 30 top riders using your engine? It’s given us a massive amount of data which feeds into…

If Razgatlioglu, Rea and Redding are the ‘A’ side single then Rinaldi, Locatelli and Lowes are an excellent B-side. A mammoth 222 points off the championship lead, things are hotting up in the coveted triangular shootout for fourth. After Jerez, Italians Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Ducati) and Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha) are equal on points, while Alex Lowes (Kawasaki) is only 28 in arrears. Twenty-five-year-old Rinaldi is Ducati’s baby and since Barcelona has found a big break-through with base setup, expected to put him near the front for the rest of the season despite a large crash in Jerez. A Moto2 exponent, 24-year-old Locatelli dominated last year’s Supersport season unlike anybody had done before. It’s hard to know what’s more impressive: his phenomenal partnership with crew chief Andrew Pitt, or rookie season…

While Honda showcased the biggest suite of changes, they weren’t the only ones putting their 2022 bikes to the test… Aprilia Tested two aero packages, one with less surface area to reduce drag and another with a steeper wing for more downforce at lean. Ducati The factory tested new bodywork, with a slimmer nose cone, targeting increased agility on direction change. Yamaha The MotoGP series leaders deployed a new frame and a revised engine in what is their prototype 2022 machine. KTM The factory tested a new frame and a new aeros with increased downforce, adding aeros to the sidepanels similar to Ducati. Suzuki The 2020 world champions tested their 2022 engine once again and also a variation with their chassis.…

Since Rowan Elliot, 36, had a major heart attack nearly two years ago he’s done 11 trackdays – and would have done plenty more without the lockdowns getting in the way. His track addiction started when he completed Rapid Training’s first-ever Bikemaster course (and starred in MCN) just before his cardiac arrest. Since then he’s become a regular at his local circuit Oulton Park, and Blyton, where Rapid run their track training. “I had my cardiac arrest in November 2019 and was dead for seven minutes,” says Rowan. “I was playing football and got defibrillated back to life – they think I had a hereditary condition called hypercholesterolemia. I had a month off bikes because you’re not allowed to ride for four weeks, which was annoying because the weather was…

The CEO of MV Agusta says electric vehicles are still years away for the brand as they want to focus on what they’re already good at. Speaking at the launch of a new flagship UK store in London, Timur Sardarov said smaller brands like MV have to choose their battles wisely. Instead, Sardarov wants to focus on increasing the factory’s ability to build more of their existing models. “Motorcycles don’t need more torque,” said Sardarov. “When we electrify it will be from the bottom up, starting with entry level machines not premium and performance models. “When I took over we were making just 2000 bikes a year. This year it will be 6500, but still we have sold out of many models.” Instead, the focus for now is still on…

FANTASY SHOPPING ON A REAL-WORLD BUDGET ADRIAN MORTON Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Adrian’s pick... British-born designer Adrian Morton has spent most of his working life showing the Italians how to create beautiful motorcycles. Having cut his teeth at Ducati alongside Pierre Terblanche and Massimo Tamburini, he then moved to Benelli where he created the Tornado and TnT before switching to MV Agusta, where he penned the likes of the Superveloce and F3. Adrian is now Design Director at his own San Marino-based company C-Creative. “The motorcycle design world is such an exciting place right now because there is a feeling we are just at the brink of…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Guess the baby’s name Who wants a guess on the name of the Doctor’s new baby? I’m going with Valentina Rossi. Andrew Smithers, email Ed: Anyone else got a suggestion? Guzzi’s step too far Having seen and read the articles on the upcoming Guzzi V100 Mandello (MCN, September 22) I was surprised to see water-cooling and as a Guzzi fan was disappointed to see the direction taken. Gone are the traditional exhaust headers sticking out front, to be replaced with the head and barrels rotated by 45 degrees just like a bloody BMW! This must be the biggest change and perhaps most controversial for us Guzzi diehards. Love the looks, but if chasing more power means changing tradition then I’d rather see them continue as they…

1 The Edinburgh trial October 1-2. Don’t be fooled, it’s not in Scotland but starts at Lichfield Rugby Club in Staffordshire. www.themotorcyclingclub.org.uk 2 Rufforth Autojumble October 2 at Rufforth Park in York. £2 for admission. Pitches £17, indoors and out. Doors open for buyers at 8am. www.rufforthautojumble.com 3 Sunbeam Motorcycle Club Pioneer Run Event for pre-1915 motorcycles. October 3 from 8am-2pm. Chessington to Brighton. sunbeam-mcc.co.uk 4 Classic Motorcycle Day Crich Tramway Village is hosting classic bike day on October 3. 10am-5pm. Entry forms for bikes can be found on website. www.tramway.co.uk…

One lucky reader could win a beast of a prize worth £479. The bundle from Oxford Products includes an Oxford Beast Lock, a (22mm x 1.5-metre chain) Beast chain, a Beast Anchor and Rainex cover to keep prying eyes away. The Beast is so big it comes with a health warning on the box: WARNING – HEAVY! The lock alone weighs 3.6kg. The lock body has a 90mm girth (the same as a pint glass) and it is made from solid steel. The 22mm hardened steel chain links each weigh the same as a bag of sugar. The Beast Anchor is an extra strong bolt-down item. Double layered and with a hardened steel construction, it really does live up to its name and will keep your bike safe. The Beast…

‘Anti-clockwise NC500’ R5K MEMBERS MARK ISHERWOOD AND MACARENA MESA BARJE We had mixed weather while doing the NC500 anti-clockwise. We then headed over to the Isle of Skye and it rained for two days! We stopped at Hawick to pay our respects to the late Steve Hislop on the way and we loved the ride over Glencoe pass as the weather was clear. ‘Electrifying evening ride’ R5K MEMBER MARTYN FORDHAM I rode to Hunstanton one evening on my Energica Ribelle. It got a lot of interest and did the 100-mile round trip without charging although I then extended the ride to over 150 miles. The ice cream was from Kay’s – located next to the bike parking along the seafront. ‘Clear run up Sutton Bank’ R5K MEMBER ROGER COCKBURN This…

Kevin Valley Age 50 Height 5ft 9in Current bike 2019 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory Been riding 34 years First bike YamahaV80 Dream bike Mine “I bought my Tuono last May and have covered 3000 miles. I’m still using the original tyres. It’s used for local rideouts and blasts. I’ve fitted a Powerbronze screen for a little more wind protection and added the green tailpiece decals from the 2017 model for better looks. It has plenty of power, so no need for performance mods and adding aftermarket extras is only likely to make it unreliable. I was apprehensive about buying an Aprilia due to reports of poor reliability, fragile engines and poor spare parts availability, but I’ve had no issues so far.”…

Inch Perfect offer days for everyone from novices to regular riders, starting at £60 for a two-hour taster to £115 for a full day. Their attention to detail is second to none and by focusing on the individual rather than the group everyone leaves with a sense of achievement. For more experienced riders they can tailor training to specific disciplines. There’s also the opportunity for a masterclass with Dougie Lampkin himself. www.inchperfecttrials.co.uk…

Owns a Monster and XMAX Scooter and adores touring on two wheels. There’s something about bikes that brings people together and friendships can form over a mutual appreciation of all things two wheeled. I first met Nigel, a former traffic cop turned advanced trainer, in 2006 when I was a relative newbie to riding and he took me out for a session on my Kawasaki ER-6n. His method of training was new, at the time, he had his bike rigged with cameras and videoed my ride. Fast forward 15 years and here we are at the same McDonalds in Melton Mowbray for a morning to brush up my skills on the Tracer 9GT. I’ve already ridden over 2500 miles on the Yamaha and feel at home but know that there’s…

The symptoms of a saggy or snaggy clutch cable creep up slowly, so quite often you don’t appreciate just how much feel you’ve lost at the lever. Modern cables may be made from metal and coated in a protective outer, but years upon years of stretching and releasing in all weathers takes its toll and the adjustment at the lever soon runs out. Sometimes you can buy a bit more tension via the secondary adjuster located nearer the engine – you should always set the lever adjuster to minimum before taking up slack with the lower one – but there’s no greater boost to clutch feel than splashing out £20 on a new cable (OE, of course!). Hydraulically operated clutches self-adjust but still need maintaining. The master cylinder fluid needs…

‘You can never make it safe’ It’s been another tragic weekend with the death of Dean Berta Viñales and my thoughts are with his family. It’s not the first time we’ve been in this situation and it goes back to one of my columns earlier in the year. Unfortunately, it’s been boiling up and it comes down to the fact that the riders and the parents think that with big run-offs, air fences and air bag suits that racing motorbikes is safe, but it isn’t – and it never will be. Motorbike racing is massively dangerous and you’re never going to stop people being killed. The riders on track have to respect each other, but it doesn’t seem like there is much respect between them right now. The question everyone…

‘Dull, worthy and full of irony’ Hold the front page! MotoE has a new world champion! It’s Jordi Torres! And if this news had passed you by, that’s understandable. Nobody much cares about MotoE. Contested over a handful of laps by riders ranging from superannuated to up-and-coming, all on identical race-prepped Energica motorcycles with identical performance, MotoE is consequently pretty close. But also intrinsically boring. Least impressive is the noise. There isn’t any, aside from tyres and brakes swishing, knee-sliders scraping, and a sort of Hornby-Dublo model-train-set whining. Overlain with the shrill shriek of the Dorna commentary, trying to whip up enthusiasm. MotoE is of course hugely important. It’s future-friendly, develops possibilities of postpetrol bike racing, contributes to development, and buys Brownie points for otherwise unrepentant MotoGP petrol-heads. Dull, but…