Table of contents for 4 January 2017 in MCN

‘It’s dangerous. I say a few word to whoever is watching over me’SAM SUNDERLAND While most of us are still recovering from excessive consumption of mince pies, over 143 riders ready their bikes and spend two weeks battling one of the toughest races on Earth: the Dakar Rally. The 2017 running started in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Monday, before making its way to Buenos Aires, Argentina, over 12 gruelling days and 5878 miles of punishing terrain – including six days above 3000m on the Bolivian Alto Plano. But before the start, there’s scrutineering and mental preparation. Sam Sunderland is Britain’s best hope of a top 10 finish. The Dakar stage-winner and factory KTM rider said just moments before the start: “Everyone has their own little things that they do. I kind…

‘There was a time when no-one wanted Boxer twins, but now the price of donor bikes has soared’ This has to be the coolest BMW R80 ever created. Pete Hodson, of Siderock Cycles in Poole, wanted to build a bike that would satisfy a longing for carbon. “I bought this R80 as an abandoned project,” he says. “I wanted to do a full carbon effect bike for some time – and finish it in the iconic black and gold JPS livery. The black and gold Nortons of the 1990s were truly amazing.” Pete, who raced at national level in the 80s and 90s has dubbed this cafe racer ‘Carbonesque’ and it’s based on a 1977 R80. He’s totally rebuilt the motor with fresh parts and fitted late 1980-onwards Nikasil barrels…

‘Doohan was recovering from a badly broken leg and was fighting to be fit for the New Year’ Edvard Munch’s angsty Scream painting had just been nicked from a museum in Oslo but motorcyclists had better things to scream about as Carl Fogarty was about to begin his domination of World Superbikes on the wonderful Ducati 916. Mick Doohan, meanwhile, was recovering from a badly broken leg and was fighting to be fit for the New Year. He’d finished fourth in the 1993 World 500 GP championship but had yet to win his first title. He was ready for testing and the start of the season and 1994 would be the year he comfortably lifted the crown. The Aussie went on to win four more 500GP titles and these days…

I’ve just read your article ‘Just how Good Was Barry’ (MCN, December 14) and I agree with everything you say. He truly was spectacular to watch, but not just that. Many people forget that between GP races he was busy winning the MCN/Shell Oils Superbike title (a few times!) and competing in the Hutchinson 100, the Transatlantic Trophy Series, Mallory’s Race of the Year, The Race of Aces and many more. Now that to me makes him special but better than that, I met him many times while trawling the pits (yes, you actually got to talk to the racers in those halcyon 70s and early 80s days) for that elusive autograph (he was always happy to oblige), down to Earth and ready to share a joke. Tim Wombell, email…

Ducati SuperSport S 115bhp | 210kg | Seat height 810mm • 937cc V-twin • Fully-adjustable Öhlins suspension • 3 riding modes, 8-stage traction control, Ducati’s two new SuperSport models mark a significant change of heart for the traditionally sportsbike-focused company. These bikes, according to the factory, “blend Ducati’s sporting side with road focused performance and accessibility.” What this means in practice is an everyday Ducati sportsbike. To achieve this, Ducati have done something that other manufacturers have failed to do – they have designed a ground-up new model rather than simply take the shortcut of sticking a fairing on an existing machine. So while on the face of it the SuperSport models appear to share many components with the Hypermotard and Monster range, in actual fact very few items are…

‘Those fourth gear power wheelies won’t have been subdued by more horses’ KTM 1290 Super Duke R Bhp tbc | 190kg Seat height 850mm • Updated LC8 engine with 177bhp • New 48mm WP fork & shock • LED headlamp and running lights The current bike already delivers one of the most visceral experiences money can buy, and those fourth gear power wheelies aren’t going to have been subdued by adding more horses – although it has also managed to gain a somewhat porky 6kg – even if it’s impossible to see where. With the full effect of 177bhp arriving like a tornado at just 9750rpm, there’s no point trying to pretend that the new Super Duke R is anything other than a force of nature. Just like the rest…

Suzuki Burgman BHP tbc | KG tbc | Seat height 750mm For 2017 the ‘Burgervan’ has gone on a diet, and now sports sleeker and more classy bodywork, LED lighting all round and more creature comforts. The seat is a full 20mm deeper and the footboards are now sculpted with cutaways. The engine has been given a light tickle to both clean it up for Euro4 and deliver more midrange. The 14in front rim has also been ditched in favour of a 15in item for improved stability, and road manners on bumpy roads. Yamaha TMAX 46bhp | 213kg | Seat height 800mm The TMAX has had a major revamp for 2017, including traction control and an inbuilt tracker (on the DX model). There’s a more compact face and LED lighting,…

1 Get well lubricated A four-stroke retains its oil, swilling it around in the crankcase until you change it, but two-strokes burn their main engine lubrication. Most have oil injection – just keep the tank topped up and the pump keeps it fed. Pre-mix requires you to mix oil with fuel at a precise rate eg x-amount per litre of fuel added. High-performance two-strokes should be run on fully synthetic. Simpler models are fine on semi-synthetic. 2 Don’t just get on and go Warming up is a crucial part of ownership, more so than four-strokes. The ports in the barrel wall mean the metal expands unevenly, so it can develop localised friction and overly-tight tolerances, causing damage and seizures. The method of lubrication by its nature is less efficient too,…

‘If you want to stay in the green zone, you have to stay below 2500rpm’ HONDA NC750 PRICE £6749 WEIGHT 220kg SEAT 830mm POWER 54bhp TORQUE 50ft MPG 65.92 OLI RUSHBY BSB reporter and long-distance commuter. HEIGHT 5ft 8in WEIGHT 85kg oli.rushby@motorcyclenews.com When Honda gave the super -practical NC750X a facelift for 2017, included on these updates was an all-new colour changing eco dash to inform you of just how economically you are riding at any given time. While the multi-colour dash can be used in a number of ways, including to determine which gear you’re in or which rider mode you’re in (on the DCT version only), set as a solid colour from a choice of nine options, its function as delivered is primarily to inform you of…

MARCEL DUINKER WSB Kawasaki Crew Chief for Tom Sykes 2017 KAWASAKI KX110 “Obviously I work for Kawasaki so it makes sense to buy one from them, but I want to start my kids riding and I think this is the correct bike for the job. The KX110 is better than a pocket bike or some unreliable rubbish from China which will break. I’m sure that in 25 years the Kawasaki will still be running for their kids to use.” PAUL WILLIAMSON Honda BSB Crew Chief for Jason O’Halloran 2004 HONDA CBR600RR “I’d probably buy a bike for £500 and spend the rest going on holiday! But on a more serious note, I’d go for a Honda CBR600RR and turn it into a track bike. I think I could pick up…

1 Fast and furious Arenacross Arenacross, round one Where Manchester Arena, Manchester When January 7, 7.30pm Entry From £15.40 Info arenacrossuk.com Arenacross is a three-hour lesson in the madness of motocross. Expect an evening of no-holds-barred racing interspersed with Freestyle MX. We say There’s nothing else quite like the high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled, smash and grab of an Arenacross event. The tracks are short and twisty, and require a serious amount of commitment combined with a cavalier attitude. But we can’t do it justice, as the only way to truly experience it is to get yourself to an event. 2 Time for a classic Carole Nash Winter Classic Where Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire When January 7-8, 9am-5pm Entry £8 (£10 on the door) Info classicbikeshows.com The Carole Nash Winter Classic is…

What started life as a £1300 Yamaha XS650 eBay special has been transformed into this head-turning beauty. Paul Robson, from Northumberland, wanted to create something different and it took him a year in his shed to turn the well-used XS650 into his dream machine. He said: “I wanted a bike that meant something to me. I have always liked the old Board Tracker style, so I thought I’d create a modern twist on a classic. “I wanted to make sure that it was a true one-off. I used the XS engine and headstock and the frame came from Voodoo Vintage. I really loved the curved style. The fork is from a 2014 Yamaha R1 and I made most of the other bits myself.” Paul fabricated the tank and machined all…

GO ENDURO KTM 250 EXC-F £7449 Can a sportsbike addict make the change? CHOOSE TO CRUISE Indian Scout Sixty £8999 How will an adventure bike rider cope? SPORTY SPICE Honda CBR600RR £8999 Will a Harley lover get it? Despite being united by a shared love of riding, we motorcyclists are a disparate and conservative bunch. Whether we own sportsbikes or adventure bikes, cruisers or tourers we live in our own corners of the biking world, knowing what we like while often ignoring the possible pleasures of riding something completely different. So what happens when we force ourselves out of our comfort zone? Three of the MCN team chopped in their usual rides for a week, and swapped to something entirely different. This is what happened. The riders Adam Child Senior…

‘This new Rallye opttion is the best of both worlds’ BMW R1200GS Rallye 125bhp | 224kg | Seat height 850/870mm • Two new factory options • Drive train modifications • Optional next-gen Dynamic ESA BMW’s 2017 GS adds a raft of dynamic improvements to the significant drivetrain upgrades already bestowed upon the platform in late 2016. The R1200GS aftermarket catalogue has always been big enough to exceed a pannier’s weight limit, meaning that you could build pretty much whatever version you want, but this new Rallye option panders to those who wanted the stock GS blended with some of the more off-road focused cues from the GS Adventure – without having to buy the more imposing GSA. The GS Rallye comes on cross-spoke laced rims for improved off-road capability and…

BMW R nineT Racer 110bhp | 220kg | Seat height 805mm • Air/oil cooled 1170cc boxer twin • Half-faired café racer • Five-spoke alloy wheels The new Racer takes the basic R nineT platform and adds some of the most understated and classy café racer styling seen on any modern classic. Long and low looking, the similarities to the Concept 90 revealed in 2013 are clear to see. It gets dropped bars, rearset rider footpegs, and a neat – if perhaps slightly short – café seat unit. The back end is a lesson in minimalism, and the fact that BMW have given no option for a pillion means that the R nineT’s slightly cumbersome pillion peg/ seat subframe is missing here, cleaning up the rear end. But the most obvious…

Cut out the problem If a connector is broken or worn you’ll need to chop it off and replace it. Cut it off using pliers and be sure to leave 5-10mm of wire so you can see the colour of the insulation. Strip the wire Remove some plastic insulation using wire stripping pliers to expose the strands beneath. You can also do the job manually by scoring the outer casing with a knife before cutting. Know your connectors Bullet connectors have two crimping wings. Crimp the insulation sleeve first then crimp the exposed wire loosely before going down a size to make a firm connection. Keep soldering on Using a soldering iron, get the area just hot enough to drip-feed flux into the crimped area. Finally, slide the insulating sleeve…

THE EXPERT Bob Grey, Former road tester now technical journalist, who’s spent the last 16 years working as technical advisor, engine-management technician and crew-chief for numerous BSB race teams Throttle bodies have spent years trying to mimic carburettors. But it’s only in the last five years that they’ve found their niche at the heart of many performance-enhancing systems. Packed with sensors, motors and injectors they look complicated, but compared to carburettors, they’re one of the easiest parts on your bike to understand. Packed with sensors, throttle bodies are all about getting fuelling spot on 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 1 Primary injector Mounted close to the engine, it is responsible for delivering fuel most of the time. They’re normally angled to aim fuel at the back of the inlet…

‘The wolf climbing the hill is hungrier than the wolf at the top of the hill’ Marc Marquez has beaten the pick of the world’s flat track talent at their own game by dominating this year’s Superprestigio race in Barcelona, taking the overall victory from former Moto2 world champion Toni Elias, with American dirt specialist Brad Baker back in third. Marquez, the host of the annual stadium race in Barcelona, was almost unstoppable on the night, making the most of his experience with not only the 450cc single cylinder machines but also with a much shorter track than usual, running on only a 180-metre oval rather than America’s usual mile-long track. However, he was experienced enough to make the right call on tyres for the final race of the night…

British rider, Sam Sunderland has landed at the Dakar, looking to take his previous stage win and turn it into something a little bigger. Riding with the insanely successful factory KTM squad team alongside Toby Price, Laia Sanz, Matthias Walkner – he’s chasing the big win. While the rider is often the weakest link, the bike has to be utterly bulletproof, and Sunderland reckons his KTM is more than up to the challenge. “You can have a bike which is 10kmh faster but the Dakar is for so many days and you’re on your own for so many hours that it needs to be reliable,” Sunderland told MCN. “The KTM is strong, fast, and 70-odd horsepower out of a 450 is crazy really. Sometimes we are flat-out for 30 or…

‘Among the dead bodies were hoards of stolen motorcycles’DR KEN GERMAN “I used to race at the Isle of Man TT and quite a few other events. Of course, at that time – around about the early 60s – I had to get a job as well, so I joined the police. “I volunteered for the frogmen team to allow me to keep racing and among the many dead bodies I recovered, I managed to salvage and identify hundreds of motorcycles. Because of this, I became part of the Flying Squad in their stolen car division, as the motorcycle expert. “It was a time when bike theft was rife and so having an interest in it quickly got me involved. I stayed on the Stolen Vehicle Squad for 30 years…

‘I stood on the seat and one foot slipped off’ Q1. What are you riding? I am too ashamed to tell you. Q2. Who do you admire? Rossi. He’s a legend. Q3. Your worst riding habit? Not riding my bike enough. Once the season starts I don’t get the time. It’s terrible. Q4. If you could have a riding super skill, what would it be? In general I’m way too slow, but I as long as you’re having fun it’s OK. Q5. What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone on a bike? I’ve done 175mph on an old carburetted Blackbird on a German autobahn. It was ages ago and it scared me. Q6. When were you last scared on a bike? Apart from the Blackbird in 2005, I lost the front…

WSB’s gone bonkers The not-by-merit starting order for WSB race two in 2017 is a travesty. Penalising the fastest riders for their success is not my idea of fair racing. They may as well start in alphabetical order of their mother’s maiden name. Tetley, East Yorks Foggy is bang on! So if Foggy ruled the world he would scrap the helmet law (MCN December 14) – I could hardly believe my eyes! After 43 years, during which time MAG has taken on board many issues and had many wins, there are still people who don’t get the stance on helmet laws that prompted our formation. Essentially the issue is one of principle. The law brought about no drop in fatalities but leaving that aside, this is all about the government’s…

‘It all adds up to the most technologically advanced Brtiish production bike ever built’ Norton V4 RR £28,000 (V4 SS: £44,000) | 200bhp | 179kg | Seat height 810mm • The most high-tech Brit bike ever • 1200cc liquid-cooled V4 • Full electronics package When was the last time a British motorcycle firm released a 200bhp TTdeveloped superbike? Never, that’s when. Until now. This is the all-new V4 RR – a British-designed superbike boasting a bespoke Norton 72-degree V4 engine, and it promises to be the fastest Norton road bike ever produced. Developed from the SG5 TT bike that lapped the Mountain Course at nearly 131mph, each one will be hand-built at the East Midlands factory, and you can even opt for a TT replica chrome finish, just like the…

BMW S1000XR 165bhp | 228kg | Seat height 840mm BMW say they’ve addressed the XR’s vibration issues this with some new vibration-reducing handlebar mounts. That 165bhp motor, already nuts enough, is now Euro4 compliant, and in the round of nips and tucks they actually found another five bhp lurking, so they’ve added it to the pot, making a claimed 165bhp at peak. Meanwhile the payload has increased 10kg, but the XR handles well and should be able to cope with the extra mass. MV Agusta Turismo Veloce RC 108.6bhp | 192kg | Seat height 850mm Nothing says fast-tourer like a race replica paintjob and a number! The new TV also gets a carbon fibre front mudguard, a new damped sprocket to improve transmission smoothness and the pillion seat has been…

CF Moto 650 MT 189bhp | 196kg | Seat height 832mm CF Moto’s new 650MT is aimed squarely at the touring market. Built around a new tubular steel frame and swingarm, the MT has a water-cooled 650cc parallel-twin – which is Euro 4 compliant and claimed to push out a peak of 71bhp at 8750rpm. The seat height is adjustable between 820mm and 840mm and the front and rear suspension are fully adjustable. And it comes at a very competitive price. BMW F800GT 90bhp | 214kg | Seat height 800mm Those looking for a less physically imposing sporty tourer that’s also ideal for the daily commute could do a lot worse than take a look at the F800GT. The 90bhp parallel-twin engine is the same as the F800R’s, and benefits…

‘You just look like a dork if you can’t control your bike’ LEARNING EXPERT Rupert Paul MCN Contributor Author of Pass the Bike Test (And be a great rider too!) available on Amazon Take any bunch of long-experienced, rufty tufty bikers going on holiday and you can guarantee one thing. Eight out of 10 of them can’t ride for toffee at low speed. You don’t believe me? Watch those flailing, paddling feet as they wobble up the ramp on the Isle of Man ferry. Or down the ramp to the Channel Tunnel train. They can be riding Harleys, grand tourers, sportsbikes or 125s – it makes no difference. Eighty on the M20 is a piece of cake, but doing 1mph confidently on a slippery ramp is another thing…

‘I loved the Yamaha MT-03, but wouldn’t want one as my only bike ’ YAMAHA MT-03 PRICE £4499 FUEL 14 litres @ 68mpg WEIGHT 168kg SEAT 780mm POWER 41.5bhp TORQUE 21.8ftlb SIMON BROWN Been riding 20 years, has a Scrambler FT in the garage at home HEIGHT 5ft 9in WEIGHT 70kg simon.brown@motorcyclenews.com My time with Yamaha’s 321cc twin has come to an end and I’m not ashamed to say that I’m going to miss it. For easy-going fun and practicality, the bike has properly won me over. It’s more than 20 years since I passed my test, so I was worried that running such a modest machine would turn out to be a backward step, but it made more sense when I’d done some soul-searching and thought…

Q How do I know if my KTM 690 Duke is off its rocker? I’ve just bought a used KTM 690 Duke only to read some horror stories on forums about rocker arm failures. How can I prevent this happening on my new pride and joy? Leslie Beckett, email A Answered by Daren Butler, KTM technician This problem has been about since the 690 was launched in 2007. What happens is that the pressed pin between the fingers of the rocker arm works itself loose and starts to creep out until it clips its neighbouring rocker arm. When that happens, the pin breaks and its needle roller bearing falls apart. It won’t clout the piston as the timing isn’t affected and the broken arm means the affected valve stays shut,…

‘It’s not just new bike buyers who can benefit from a bit of added extra’ If you thought the season for receiving gifts was over, the UK’s dealerships are keeping that festive feeling alive for a little longer by offering thousands of pounds worth of free extras on selected new bikes. As an incentive to clear the decks ahead of the springtime influx of new models, as well as to entice buyers into otherwise sleepy winter showrooms, there are some excellent clothing and accessory deals to be bagged. Fancy a lightweight Akrapovic for your brand new R1, or what about a stack of factory-fitted hard luggage to get you and your GS ready for adventure? There are even some deals that promise buyers up to £2000 of clothing, kit and…

What we said then “The Honda CBF600 is undoubtedly a supremely competent motorcycle, but lordy, is it dull! Bulky and heavy, the CBF600 lacks any real ‘go’, despite being well designed and built. It’s a good, safe, choice for a new biker but for those with more experience, it’s unlikely to satiate your need for a rush. Once you’ve mastered the basics, the CBF600 is unlikely to inspire you with passion.” MCN launch report, 2004 But what is it like now? It is far too easy to criticise a bike for not being exciting. But for some riders, exciting isn’t what they crave. Let’s be honest, a commute is rarely going to be a thrilling ride, so why not have a bike that is designed to simply churn out the…

‘It’s time for me to step up and I’m looking forward to the change’ Joining Hickman at Smiths BMW for the 2017 season, MCE British Superbike young gun Lee Jackson will be looking to raise his game after an impressive year with the Buildbase BMW squad in 2016. At 21 he’s the youngest rider on the grid and he turned a few heads with his pace in 2016. He finished 13th overall and had a handful of top ten finished. Now he’s signed for the Smiths team and feels it’s time to push for a Showdown spot. Making the move in spite of an offer to remain with the Hawk Racing squad, which will switch to Suzuki machinery for the 2017 season, Jackson has told MCN the time was right…