Table of contents for 12 April 2017 in MCN

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rookie duo of Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger showed again why they deserve to be in the premier GP by storming to a pair of impressive top-six finishes. Coming home in fifth to help make amends for crashing out of the lead in Qatar last month, reigning Moto2 world champion Zarco says he still feels like he’s got a lot more potential as he learns to adapt to the bike. “Starting from 14th was a new experience for me, but to control your bike as you overtake the others, to not touch them, it all helps. I took time to control that in Moto2, and I’m taking time to control it in MotoGP as well.” Folger finished one place behind in sixth and conceded that…

‘Egli attributed his victory not to his riding but to the chassis’ Fritz Egli made a name for himself in the 1960s when he stormed to victory in the Swiss National Championships aboard a 1000cc Vincent that sported a frame of his own design – and he attributed the win not to his riding skill but to his chassis. Egli went on to build a 20-year career producing frames for almost every major firm but after a three-decade hiatus the brand have returned. This new bike, dubbed the Egli Fritz W.1300, started life as an XJR1300 but only the engine, exhaust and rear shocks remain. Due to strict homologation rules the engine has remained stock, producing 98bhp and 79ftlb of torque. The frame is steel, with the signature Egli oil…

HELD CROW JACKET £246.99 The Crow jacket is a distressed-look canvas jacket with a waterproof liner and CE approved shoulder and elbow protectors. The hood is removable and there’s a pocket for a back protector. www.held.de STYLMARTIN WAVE BOOTS £189 Stylmartin have been at the front of the retro boot scene and you can see why. The new Waves are manufactured using full grain leather, so comfortable, waterproof and breathable. www.stylmartin.it SPIDI GARAGE GLOVE £84.99 Made from the finest goat leather (presumably made from the finest goats!), the Garage gloves not only look great among a crowd of super-cool café racers but they should protect you well if the worst happens. www.spidi.com BUILT ISSUE 4 £4.99 If you can’t get enough custom, then Built is the magazine for you. There’s…

When I was younger and my legs worked properly I used to go running. With a vest and everything! As my 17-year-old self attacked every run like a dog with a squeaky toy, it was always boom or bust. From a three-mile training run to a 10k race, it was 100 per cent all the time. And it amazed me to see someone who jogged about a bit in training cruise effortlessly past me in a race. What my idiot teenage brain failed to compute was that training is practice. Practice is about learning and refining the art. The race is where it actually matters. Valentino Rossi continues to jog about at the back in training, only to cruise effortlessly past most of the field in the race. And while…

1 WHAT’S THIS? It’s an uusual British machine from the 1920s but what is it? 2 YOUNG MOVIE STAR Not sure about the outfit but this celeb biker loves a big adventure. 3 WHAT BIKE? Name the bike that boasts these much-loved ‘hoover tubes’. 4 SAM OR ALEX? Can you tell one Lowes twin from the other? It’s not always easy... 5 NAME THE TRACK A new arrival on the MotoGP scene last year, this track has a connection to a well-known energy drink. But can you name the circuit? 6 WHOSE LOGO? Which custom king do you associate with this design? 7 NAME THE BIKE WALLACE RIDES He might wear the wrong trousers but he rides the right bike. 8 CARICATURE OF WHO? Looks like one of those dodgy…

‘There isn’t much the 390 Duke can’t do & it has enough power to keep you interested’ KTM has made a giant leap forward in quality, performance and fun with its new £4599, A2 licence-friendly 390 Duke. It’s the 390’s first major overhaul since its launch in 2013 and KTM have left no stone unturned. As fun as the previous model was to zip around on, the build quality wasn’t exactly, let’s say, premium. Now things are different. From its new 5.2in full colour dash, illuminated switchgear, to its superb panel fit and deep paintwork, the Indian-built 390 Duke is every inch the baby 690 Duke R or luxury 1290 Super Duke R. In fact, it’s not such a baby because the 390 has a genuine, chunky, big bike feel…

It needed dry roads and three rivals to show its brilliance, but finally the new Supersport has captured our hearts. The Ducati is comfortable for long distances, but not quite up there with a more opulent sports tourer like a Z1000SX, but it’s not far off and on the flip side is sportier and more fun. It’s sort of like a VFR800 in terms of its riding position and the way it looks, but the Supersport S is lighter, faster, more agile and is crammed with technology. And it’s every bit as fast as a race replica on the road, but with a more supple ride, less weight on your wrists and easier-to-access performance. Take the comfort of the Z1000SX and the riding position of the VFR800F, mix it all…

‘You can guide it to each apex with your fingertips’ Beautifully styled by renowned designer John Keogh, the Spirit is tiny – more compact than any 600 and full of stunning details, from the braised frame, to the delicately-machined yokes, to the beautifully-manufactured Harris swingarm. The level of fit and finish shows that Spirit mean business. Once you get over the limited steering lock, everything feels familiar. Despite being small, the riding position is fine for six-foot riders, with wide bars and enough room to move around. The bike’s running a near-stock 130bhp Daytona 675 motor, but when it’s combined with a wet weight of less than 150kg, you’ve got the recipe for some seriously quick acceleration. Race-style gearing and a whip-crack race quickshifter means the Spirit growls menacingly and…

‘It recalibrated my understanding of performance. I still regret selling it’MIKE WOOD, MCN READER GPZ900R FACTFILE 1984 to 1993 908cc liquid-cooled four + 154mph + 10.5sec ¼-mile Contacts www.ninja30.com, www.gpzzone.co.uk Want one? £1750 (scruffy) to £5200 (immaculate A1 resto) When it comes to so-called modern classics there’s one bike that arguably outshines even Ducati’s 916 – the hugely important, significant and successful 1984 Kawasaki GPz900R Ninja. The original Ninja had it all. It not only redefined the superbike in engineering and performance terms, it was great-looking, had an evocative name, proved successful in racing (mostly at the TT) and even starred in themovie Top Gun. In fact, the huge popularity that the new Kawasaki’s all-round success created is probably the only reason the Ninja isn’t mentioned in the same…

FACTFILE How to ride it Take the B3081 south from Shaftesbury. Turn left after the used car garage to stay on the B3081. Follow the B3081 uphill till the corners run out. Turn around and ride back down the hill. Repeat. When to ride it Anytime. Where to eat Ye Olde Two Brewers at the foot of Gold Hill. If you can think of a more fun short stretch of tarmac, we’d like to hear from you – don’t forget there’s a free MCN T-shirt for anyone who has a route published in the paper. Zig Zag Hill is a stretch of road between Tollard Royal and Cann Common that’s less than a mile in length but still packs in five hairpins and another four or five bends of varying…

RIDING EXPERT Mark Edwards Retired police motorcyclist, now Class One certified instructor for Rapid Training Start off small The best way to learn to use a gearbox is to ride a low-power 125 on which you will have to work the gearbox efficiently to make any respectable progress. What’s happening ahead? The best gear to use will depend partly on your speed but also what you are approaching. For example, when planning an overtake, a responsive (in other words, lower) gear will give you the power and control to complete a pass quickly and safely. Likewise, when entering a bend a responsive gear will give you good control through the throttle to fine tune your speed as you negotiate the corner and provide acceleration on the exit. They’re not brakes…

‘I want to spend my summer enjoying this unique little Yamaha’ 1987 YAMAHA SDR200 Price £1400 Weight 105kg Power 34 bhp @ 9000rpm Torque 20.2ftlb @ 8000rpm BRUCE DUNN MCN speed testing expert and vastly experienced 250GP racer Height 5ft 6in Weight 65kg This little bike is my SDR200. If it’s unfamiliar to you then you’re not alone. It’s not a very well-known model because Yamaha only produced them for one year during 1987, and even then they were for the Japanese market only. A unique design, the chrome trellis neatly houses a 200cc power valved, single-cylinder two-stroke engine, and everything about it is just dinky. I came across it while browsing the bikes at Extreme Imports near Norwich and it piqued my interested because I’d never ridden one…

Lower the compression If an engine is going to cope with the hike in power from a turbo it needs to be set up so that it won’t melt when the dynamic compression climbs as the boost increases. A standard, first-generation Hayabusa with an 11:1 compression ratio can only take 6-7lb boost to give 260bhp, as it’s then nearer 13.5-14:1 and on the limit for road-going fuel. But if the compression ratio is lowered to 9.5:1 it can run 12lb of boost and deliver 450bhp. Cooling is key If you’ve ever pumped a bicycle pump with your thumb over the end you’ll know how hot compressed air can get. That temperature increase limits your power gain, but an externally mounted ‘charging air radiator’ known as an intercooler, married to a…

NEIL MURRAY: USED BIKE WHEELER DEALER. HE’S ON YOUR SIDE Don’t buy a used bike without an MoT. Don’t buy a used bike without an MoT. I use repetition to drive the point home. OK, there are times when it’s justified, like when you’ve bought a project bike, or you’ve taken a good long look at it and determined exactly what it needs to get its ticket, but in both cases that presupposes that you have the ability to assess a bike properly and also to fix it. And that’s asking a lot of the typical road rider. The main reason why a bike is being sold without an MoT is because it won’t bloody pass. Getting a bike MoT’d is simple – you ride it to the testing station…

‘Get yourself a new bike for less’ Personal Contract Purchase now finances 20-30% of all new bikes sold in the UK, and it’s a method of ownership that is growing fast. But it might not be right for you, so make sure you understand the ins and outs. You can have these new bikes for less than you might have ever imagined – and what’s more you can have another new one in three years’ time, probably without increasing your monthly outlay or having to find a fresh deposit. This is how it works… • Work out what you can afford as a deposit and in monthly repayments for the duration of the contract. • You can get PCP on any amount from £1500 upwards. • Choose your new motorcycle…

‘I want a bit more power. A little bit better, might be good enough’JOHN McGUINNESS John McGuinness suffered a blow to his TT 2017 preparations when he dislocated a thumb in a crash during the Honda Racing squad’s first superbike shakedown test at Castle Combe last week. McGuinness and his team-mate Guy Martin were completing the two-day test on the superbike versions of the new CBR1000RR SP2 Fireblade when the crash occurred on the approach to The Esses section of the Wiltshire circuit. The 44-year-old was in good spirits after being X-rayed and released from hospital after having his dislocated thumb put back in place. He did not break any bones. “When I told the nurse I was a motorbike racer she asked me did I know that Guy Martin…

When racing resumed at the TT after WW2 in 1947 a new type of event, the Clubman’s TT, was introduced in an attempt to preserve the original ethos of the event as races for everyday riders on everyday machines. Mass starts were also introduced for the smaller solo and sidecar and in 1954 the action for these machines shifted to the 10.79-mile Clypse course. Inge Stoll-Laforge became the first female TT competitor as a sidecar passenger. Moto Guzzi dominated the Lightweight class in the post-war years but it was Norton that triumphed in the Senior class with riders like Harold Danniell, Ray Amm, Reg Armstrong and Geoff Duke claiming the honours.…

Moto3 ace John McPhee says he’s doing all he can to learn from British Talent Team mentor and former Grand Prix winner Jeremy McWilliams – something reflected in Sunday’s result when he made it two second places from two starts in 2017. The Scotsman’s race in Argentina was almost an exact repeat of the Qatar season-opener, with only a small mistake on the final lap denying him the chance to challenge Joan Mir for the win. He said: “It was nice to show that we can be strong at different tracks. I had a few ideas going into the race about how it would pan out and I knew I had to be in second on the final lap because he was better on the brakes but I was stronger…

SCOTT REDDING Qualified: 15th Finished: 8th Another good result on the Pramac Ducati means that he now sits fourth in the championship. “Top 10 was my target and I got gifted with a few guys crashing out, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. I did struggle with the tyre in the beginning though and I had to dig deep not to give up when I knew it would be a struggle.” SAM LOWES Qualified: 22nd Finished: DNF Sunday’s race saw a malfunctioning gearbox end Sam’s challenge. “I’m a little bit upset with the result, but we made a big step forward – I could have been in the battle for 12th. I was a second off the group and feeling good when we had the problem, and I would…

‘It wasn’t the best day for us, but we need to stay positive’LIVIO SUPPO HONDA RACE BOSS ‘Maybe the tyre wasn’t ready. Sure, I was pushing, but not a lot’ World MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has come back down to earth with a bump – a big bump – after crashing out of Sunday’s Argentina GP while leading. The Repsol Honda star gambled by starting fast and he powered away from the chasing pack until a mistake on only the fifth lap left him down and out, knocking not only his confidence but his title chances as he slumps to eighth overall. Sunday’s mistake harks back to the wild and loose Marquez of old – a characteristic style he learnt to control in 2015 and 2016 as he realised…

‘Riders like Petrucci and Dovizioso made it difficult for me’ALVARO BAUTISTA The Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati pair of Karel Abraham and Alvaro Bautista had another strong race in Argentina. Abraham stormed to second on the grid, before his Spanish team-mate brought the GP16 Ducati home in fourth place. And it’s a sign of just how comfortable the pair are with their newfound pace that instead of being content with his best result in years, Bautista was instead dejected after the race. He felt a poor qualifying position prevented him from getting involved in the podium battle. “I was seven seconds from the leaders, but it could have been less. Starting from the back is always difficult, and I was lucky in Qatar that I was able to overtake a lot of…

‘I’ve learned in my long career that you must never give up’ Valentino Rossi marked his incredible 350th GP start by once again delivering his traditional Sunday miracle by turning a poor weekend of qualifying at the Argentinian Grand Prix into a strong second-place that keeps his title hopes very much alive. Continuing to struggle with the problems that have been plaguing him since he first jumped on the 2017-spec M1 machine, Rossi looked adrift during free practice. He managed to salvage seventh place on the grid but even then it didn’t look like it would be of much use to him come Sunday’s race. Yet, the old campaigner was able to fight through the field, stalking Cal Crutchlow for most of the race, before pouncing in the later stages…

1 Bargain kit Grab a bargain. More retail stands than ever before selling top brands and loads of discounted kit. 2 Demo rides Test ride all the new 2017 models. Huge test fleets from ALL major manufacturers will be available to book on the day. 3 Great racing Watch awesome action. The Dirt Track Riders Association will run a round during the Festival and on Saturday night there’s a speedway match to watch!* 4 Classic start-ups Historic race bike fire-up. Fifty classic and historic race bikes will be firing up at the Festival with something from every era. 5 Top autojumble Start a project or finish one! Tons of parts, whole bikes, tools and more will be on offer in the huge autojumble. *Access to the speedway racing costs £16,…

Radial brake calipers were first developed by Brembo for use on single seat race cars in 1982 and were first tested on a 500GP bike way back in 1992. However, the idea didn’t catch on in the two-wheeled world, and the first GP team to use radial brakes for a full season were Aprilia with Valentino Rossi, Tetsuya Harada and Loris Capirossi on their RS250 GP bikes in 1998. So effective was the system, that for 1999 nearly the whole of the 500GP grid had dumped conventional calipers and started using radial ones, a trend that has continued to this day. They are now on most road bikes – from budget scooters right through to the most expensive superbikes. The first standard production road bike to use a radial calipers…

Like the 390 the new 125 Duke gets a major makeover. The original 2011 model didn’t exactly have quality written through it like a stick of rock, but this one does. It has the 390’s full colour dash, illuminated switchgear buttons, LED headlight, new exhaust, revised chassis, larger fuel tank, nonadjustable WP suspension, four-piston radial caliper (with 300mm discs), fat 17in tyres (Metzeler Sportec M5) and a breathed-on (non-ride-by-wire) Euro4 spec engine that has a wider spread of power. Unlike many 125s the Duke is solid, crisp and has the same roomy, big bike feel as the 390. The gearbox is slick, the brakes strong and the new WP suspension is nice and sporty - not the usual budget wet mush mixture of cooking-oil-damping and biro-spring support you get on…

THE ULTIMATE GPZ After the first GPz1100, then 550, then 750, then 550 Unitrak (then 305, ahem), the 900 was unequivocally the Ultimate GPz. THE MODERN SUPERBIKE 16 valves, DOHC, liquid-cooling, starter and alternator behind block… it’s basically the same layout today. That's how far ahead of its time the bike was. PRODDIE TT DOMINANCE The late Geoff Johnson dominated the 1984 Proddie TT on a GPz. Another, ridden by Howard Selby, was second. TOP GUN DREAMS Admit it, for a while during the late 1980s we all fancied ourselvesas Top Gun’sPete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell. THE NINJA NAME The 900 was the first GPz to be called Ninja – a name suggested by Kawasaki USA marketing boss Mike Vaughan.…

‘Ride to Misano MotoGP via these two amazing mountain passes’ ITALIAN PASSES ‘The Stelvio Pass in a right of passage ’ Nominated by Gareth Harford, KTM 1190 Adventure Route Dash to Interlaken in Switzerland and then ride the Stelvio and Pinzolo pass in Italy before heading to the MotoGP in Misano. Length 600 miles What makes it special Watching the GP on the TV is one thing, but if you ride to Misano for the round in September you’ll get more action than the racers. The route to Misano will take you through Interlaken before heading to the Alps and the dramatic Stelvio pass. The Pinzolo isn’t as well known, but just as good so don’t miss it. The beautifully smooth tarmac and thousands of hairpins are incredibly addictive. We’d…

Price £9900 Fuel 17.4 litres @ 43mpg = 164 miles Weight 166kg Seat 825mm Power 121bhp Torque 57ftlb JOE DICK His riding Lifelong bike lover with five years road riding experience Height 5ft 6in Weight 68kg joe.dick@motorcyclenews.com ‘Switch on the ignition and the excitement gets amplified by 50’ Excitement is so stressful. I’d been counting down the days until the arrival of my new Triumph Street Triple RS like a giddy kid with a birthday approaching. And when it finally arrived two weeks ago, I discovered it’s been worth every second of my eager anticipation. From the moment I clapped eyes on it, I was blown away. Even before you’ve turned the key in the ignition, you get the sense that you’re in the company of a really high-quality machine,…

‘If I was still working I would have likely gone up the ranks’ Q Crash means I have missed out on promotion I suffered a badly broken wrist after an accident a year ago. I am in the armed forces and because of the injury I have not been declared medically fit to return. I’m still having treatment and it is likely I’ll need further surgery on my wrist. My solicitors have told me that I can claim for the pay I have lost to date which is fine. The problem is that if I was still working I would have likely gone up the ranks and had promotions but now I am worried I will not. Can I claim for this? Alex F, Salford A As long as financial…

‘You can pick up ex-demo Trophies for £1500 off the list price’ If your idea of an all-inclusive package deal is a two-week trip to the sun on an overcrowded Airbus then look away now. But if you fancy setting your own agenda on a brand new tourer, loaded with all-inclusive extras like hard luggage, comfy seats and 12v connectors then you’re in luck. Not only have we identified four of the best value-for-money pre-registered and nearly new tourers available, but we’ve also worked out which would be the cheapest to run per mile over a 3000-mile touring trip. Trophy takes top honours For those who want a proper, fully-loaded tourer that’s brilliant value to buy and even better value to run, the Triumph Trophy 1200 SE is currently the…

HJC’s head start HJC have slashed the price of their FG-ST Cinnati full face lid from £199.99 to £139.99. The lid has scored top marks in the Government’s Sharp safety test and features top-spec vents, removable anti-bac lining, and a Pinlock Max Vision visor complete with insert. Available in blue, red and white schemes. www.oxfordproducts Green and dirty bikes cost less Kawasaki have added their mud-plugging KX450F and KX250F to their 0% APR finance packages. The scheme, which sees the £6849 four-stroke 450 available on hire purchase for £171 per month, over three years after a 10% deposit, runs until June 30. To find out more, and customise your own quote, visit www.kawasaki-kalculator.co.uk Free charger with new Zero Electric motorcycle firm Zero Motorcycles are offering a free quick-charger worth £800…

GRIFF WOOLLEY Owner of Aprilia Performance 2003 APRILIA TUONO RACING “The Aprilia Tuono Racing would top my list! It’s a super-cool, rare, factory carbon bodywork version of the award winning Tuono. It came with Öhlins suspension at the front and rear and OZ lightweight wheels. Aprilia only ever made 300 and they came with a full carbon race bodywork package as standard – very trick.” SCOTT BULLETT Workshop Manager at Doble Motorcycles 1991 HONDA NSR250 MC21 “A sensible option would be an RR7 Honda Fireblade, but the other side of me would go for a Honda NSR250 MC21. With the Fireblade, you get a lot of bike for your money and they never really had any problems. With the NSR, you don’t see many around and I love a two-stroke.…

2009-2012 Yamaha XJ6-S Diversion Colours Black, red or blue Dealer £3750 Private good £3500 Private average £3200 This one 2012 model in black showing 18,000 miles, £3799. 2010-2012 Yamaha XJ6-F Diversion Colours Black, red or blue Dealer £3850 Private good £3500 Private average £3300 This one Fully-faired variant. 2012 model in red with heated grips and engine bars. 9000 miles, £3495. 2013-2015 Yamaha XJ6-S Diversion Colours White, black or ‘race blu’ Dealer £4500 Private good £4200 Private average £3750 This one 2014 model in Race Blue with rack and 8000 miles, £3999. 2013-2015 Yamaha XJ6-F Diversion Colours White, black or ‘race blu’ Dealer £4750 Private good £4500 Private average £4200 This one 2013 model in black with ABS and crash bobbins. 3975 miles, £4500. Insurance MCN COMPARE Sample MCNCompare.com quotes…

Chaz Davies could not hide his satisfaction following a one-day test at Aragon after the race at the Spanish circuit last week where he crashed out of race one before winning race two. Having expressed his concern to MCN prior to the race weekend about the pace of development within his Ducati team compared to his main Kawasaki rival Jonathan Rea, Davies was clearly impressed by the work done in the latest test. He said: ‘We had a lot of test items to work through, we’ve ticked them all off and I’m pleased with them all.” Upgrades included a new swingarm along with suspension and electronic changes. Davies sits second in the world championship standings, 50 points behind Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea after the opening three rounds, but hopes to close…

Incredibly, the only factory bikes to score any points in the race were the Yamahas of Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi and the brand new Red Bull KTMs of Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaró, as Ducati, Honda, Suzuki and Aprilia all crashed out (or failed to finish). Yet it wasn’t down to track conditions or tyres, as the weekend saw the lowest number of crashes over a Grand Prix weekend since records began, with only 30 fallers across all three classes. So what caused it all to go so wrong for the factory boys? Quite simply, pressure. MotoGP has never ever been as competitive as it currently is, as demonstrated by an incredible showing from satellite bikes, a whole host of riders at the front, and six manufacturers battling it…

Macbor grow up Spanish motorcycle manufacturer Macbor have expanded from children’s bikes to include six 125cc and 250cc models. They are a naked bike, an adventure bike and a cruiser, with each available in two displacements. Testing times The DVSA have announced their five-year plan to make Britain’s roads safer. As part of their plan they are intending to increase the quality of motorcycle instructors by applying more rigorous testing of instructors and insisting they all pass a DVSA assessment. XSR’s a winner Yamaha’s XSR900 has won the ‘Best of the Rest’ award at the 2017 Red Dot Product Design competition. The Red Dot competition awards outstanding product design and Yamaha have previously won with the MT-07 while Ducati have previously taken top honours for their 1199 Panigale and XDiavel…

Campers at the Festival get access to two FREE extra attractions! The Yamaha Dark Side party on Friday and Saturday night has live music and a licensed bar. The speedway on Saturday night is a full round of the Speedway GB Championships with the Peterborough Panthers taking on the Newcastle Diamonds. Only campers get into the party and speedway, luckily camping tickets start from just £30! The Carole Nash MCN Festival takes place at the East of England Arena in Peterborough on May 13-14. There’s a lot to pack in so camping is a good plan. Camping tickets start at just £30, day tickets from just £15. If you can’t camp you can still get in to see the speedway, but you’ll need to purchase an additional entry ticket on…

Airoh ST 701 £399.99 What’s good Sport-touring lid made from a 100% carbonkevlar outer, the ST 701 is seriously lightweight. In fact, the Italian brand say that the 1400g lid is the lightest in its category. It’s practical too with an advanced ventilation system and integral drop-down sun visor. What’s not At this price point, it’s a bit disappointing that you have to pay extra for a Pinlock insert. www.bikeittrade.com Powerbronze rear hugger from £95 What’s good Suzuki’s latest GSX-R1000 may now have cutting-edge electronics but it doesn’t have a hugger as standard. So Brit firm Powerbronze have sprung into action to make this high quality, fully fitted aftermarket item. Available in a range of colours, and in carbon fibre, complete with all fitting materials. What’s not The mesh sections…

India cleans up The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that all new vehicles must comply with stricter emissions regulations, causing Hero and TVS to be up in arms over unsold non-compliant stock that’s estimated at 800,000 units. However, Royal Enfield are sitting pretty, as they adopted the new standards some time ago. Husky’s injection After KTM announced that they are to release a new range of fuel-injected two-strokes it comes as no surprise that Husqvarna have announced they’re following suit. Husky will release two new bikes, a TE250i and TE300i, which will share KTM’s transfer port injection tech. Calm down dear A study of 2000 commuters commissioned by Lexham insurance has shown that the motorcycle is considered one of the least stressful ways of getting to work. 41% of respondents…

Raining Qatars and dogs That’s one dodgy round we’ve had at Qatar and Mr Seamly of Durham (MCN Letters, April 5) wants to cancel the event? That round was a corker because of the weather! More outsiders in the top 10 than you could shake a stick at and, as ever, the cream of the crop reading the race perfectly and finishing one, two, three, four. We’ve had lots of great racing at Qatar in the past, and I hope we have many more races at that venue. Pat Keenan, email Why so expensive? I have read the letter from David Shaw in last week’s MCN and agree with him wholeheartedly. The cost of modern motorcycling is out of control and I feel that the problem starts with the fact…

TRIUMPH TIGER 90 Me at 18 in 1964. Still riding 53 years later, although not on the Tiger... worse luck. Chris Elcome YAMAHA DT125R With my younger brother Ian on our first road bikes in 1994. S tuart Russell YAMAHA YBR 125 I passed my CBT last week and bought my first bike. Louise Cullen ITALJET 50 Age 10, 1976 and already pulling wheelies! Geoff Potts HONDA CUB My first bike at the age of 12 with my sister Georgina on the back. I spent ages riding around the fields. Paul Freeland YAMAHA TY80 Me back in 1982 on my Yamaha. As you can see, I loved it. Trevor Soal send pics to: yourpics @motorcyclenews.com…

As our panel of testers have shown, the standard Blade is far from being some kind of softie because it doesn’t wear an SP badge. In fact, this Blade’s teeth are so sharp it feels more of a racer with lights than the posh version. While the SP’s electronic Öhlins are set soft and comfy until the time it needs to support itself under load, the stock machine’s Showa suspension is stiffer to cope with the whole spectrum of road riding conditions. This harder set-up makes the short, squat, lightweight Blade feel even pointier, nimble faster-steering and accurate than the SP. The seat is 12mm higher, making it feel racy and its supposedly lower-grade Tokico calipers have just as much bite and power as the SP’s Brembos. They’re the best…

‘There aren’t many circuits in the world that you can just rock up to for a lap’ FACTFILE How to ride it Oliver’s Mount, Pickering, Whitby, Scarborough. Where to stay The Atlanta Guest House in town or Harmony County Lodge (owned by three time World Sidecar Champion Tony Hewitt) on the outskirts. When to ride it Any time. Where to eat Oliver’s on the Mount. Scarborough makes a great base for touring the North of England; not only are some of the UK’s finest roads on its doorstep, it also has a lion’s share of biker friendly accommodation. The latter might have something to do with the close proximity of Oliver’s Mount, England’s only natural ‘road’ race track and the starting point for this special ride. There aren’t many circuits…

1 Poole Quay, On Tuesday nights from now until September Poole Quay is rammed with bikes. www.pooletourism.com 2 Willingham Woods, Market Rasen, LN8 3RQ. Bike nights every Wednesday until September. www.willinghamwoods.com 3 Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics. Super-friendly venue. www.vicbikerspub.co.uk 4 Square and Compass, Darley Dale, four miles from Matlock Bath. Thursday nights. 01629-733255 5 East Coast Motorcycle World, Beverley Road, Hutton Cranswick near Driffield, East Yorkshire YO25 9QE. Expect stacks of bikes, food and more at this popular dealership. Bike nights every Thursday in the season. 01377-271200 GET YOUR MEET ON THE MAP If you have a bike-friendly venue and want to get your meet on the map , email : sam . williams @ motorcylenews . com…

1. Sort some luggage I plan on fitting soft luggage so I can rid myself of the monstrous backpack that’s been anchoring me down. I’m currently using an Oxford F1 tankbag, which has been working well, but I plan to try some factory-fit options. 2. Take it on a tour I plan to visit a mate who, luckily for me, lives near some of Europe’s finest biking roads in the Alps. I can’t wait to put the Triple to the test on a properly long trip and also test its mettle on those amazing Alpine bends. 3. Fit a screen OK, purists would say that a naked bike should stay naked, but I think I’ll want a bit of extra protection, especially as I’ll be using the bike as a…

Simpson Venom £249.95 Tester Jordan Gibbons Time tested 3500 miles What’s good Let’s get the looks out of the way, then get down to the tech. In short, the Venom looks cool. I don’t know if it’s the reference to 1980s rebellion or because it’s the helmet of The Stig but with the black visor it’s 100% badass. The shell is Maxx-3C, a carbon, Kevlar and fibreglass composite. The result, Simpson say, is a high-strength and lightweight shell. Has it worked? Evidently, as this is the first Simpson to receive the Gold ACU sticker. The Venom has a very wide aperture, which translates to an excellent field of vision and swapping back to my AGV felt quite narrow by comparison. The visor is Pinlock ready to keep fog at bay…

12p PER MILE 2016 Triumph Trophy 1200 SAVE £1500 Pick one up for £12,000 from Carl Rosner Triumph, www.carlrosner.co.uk Fuel economy 52mpg Servicing every 10,000 miles at an average cost of £250 Average fully comp insurance from MCNcompare.com – £200.30 15p PER MILE 2016 Yamaha FJR1300 SAVE £1700 Pick one up for £13,495 from Millennium Motorcycles, 01744 357897 Fuel economy 45mpg Servicing every 6000 miles at an average cost of £215 Average fully comp insurance from MCNcompare.com – £170.39 18p PER MILE 2016 Kawasaki 1400GTR SAVE £1300 Pick one up for £12,499 from Orrell Motorcycle Centre, 01942 566728 Fuel economy 42mpg Servicing every 3750 miles at an average cost of £197 Average fully comp insurance from MCNCompare.com – £215.60 16p PER MILE 2017 Honda VFR1200X Crosstourer Highlander SAVE £2000 Pick…

1991 Triumph Trophy 1200 £913 Seller says 33,000 miles, 319th one made, new MoT, good C&S and tyres, some history Neil says Viable ZZR alternative, and possible future classic. 1981 Kawasaki Z550LTD £907 Seller says 22,000 miles, all original, two previous owners, MoT Neil says Oddball US custom style machine, but people are hunting these out now, and this one looks superb. 2011 Yamaha YZF-R125 £920 Seller says Trade sale. Police impounded due to no insurance, some damage, not HPI registered Neil says The rider fell off and was nicked. Spend £500 on bits and pieces and you have a bargain.…

Bikes like the original V-Max don’t come around very often. Which is why, although now over 30 years old and with performance since bettered by virtually all big bikes, the monster Yamaha retains a cult following. The first 1200cc V-Max (it was succeeded by an all-new, 1700cc, premium-priced model in 2009 which is actually called the VMAX) was very much a one-off – or, at least, that was the idea. Conceived as a US-only machine, inspired by US V8 hot rod cars and ‘bridge racing’ bikes, and sketched out by Yamaha USA in California, it’s about as American as a Japanese bike can get. Best of all, though, the V-Max truly was a mould-breaking hot rod. With the novel V-Boost system helping it produce a truly shattering 145bhp, the Max…

‘Chain adjusters are straightforward and oilers are easily fitted and worthwhile’ “From a mechanic’s point of view this has been a good bike. The finish is reasonably durable, and with a little care and attention they have proved to be solid and reliable. “Home maintenance is straightforward. The sump plug and oil filter are easily accessed, as is the air filter once the tank is up. There are a couple of front infill panels that need to be removed then the tank can be unbolted at the front and hinged upwards on its rear fixing to give access to the air filter. Take care not to stress the fuel pump electrical connections. It’s best to unplug them first. “The spark plugs can be found by removing the airbox and peeling…

Winning Dakar and cementing his place in the history books is one thing, but the fact that Sunderland has come out and won the next big race of 2017 is a big warning shot to his rivals. While there is no disputing his pace, fitness or commitment to racing, Sunderland has endured some big injuries in his career, which have ultimately affected his results. As a rider he always tried to make up the difference by pushing harder and, having ridden with him, trust me when I say he is a rider with unbelievable natural speed with the balls to twist the throttle! However his light bulb moment to change his tactics came when he was lying in a ditch with a broken Femur after crashing out of the Morocco…

‘The new superbike was too agressive’LEE JOHNSTON Lee Johnston has turned his WSB Ten Kate Fireblade into a ‘pussycat’ so that he can make it purr at this year’s TT. The Ten Kate-built machine’s World Superbike pedigree was smoothed out with alterations to the brakes, gearbox, suspension and electronics. Johnston said: “The new superbike was too aggressive but we have made a lot of changes and it is a little pussycat now. “We made the changes on day one of the test and then started to put in some fast laps.” It was the Irishman’s first visit to the tricky Wiltshire circuit, but he found it a good testing ground to assess his shift to Nissin brakes and from K-Tech to Maxton suspension for 2017. Johnston has drafted in experienced…

Shane Byrne will be looking to fight back in the second round of the 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch this weekend after missing the opening races at Donington Park with concussion. The five-time British Champion fell heavily in warm-up at the Leicestershire circuit, taking a hard bang to the head as he was tossed across the track. But in true champion style Byrne says it only adds to his motivation to come back and win this weekend. “The way this year has gone so far has really opened my eyes,” said Byrne, who admitted to being rusty at Donington Park after limited pre-season testing. “This winter I’ve spent a lot of time thinking what I’d like to achieve in my career and I’ve finally set my mind…

Tyco’s trackday Tyco BMW and Davide Giugliano tested on a track day at the Brands Indy circuit last Tuesday so the Italian could familiarise himself with a circuit he hasn’t ridden at since 2008. Blade battles on Honda took the opportunity to test during a dealer event at Cadwell. The BSB test was difficult, but they are confident they’ve found something to get closer to the sharp end at Brands. Joining the club To get more track time Taylor Mackenzie raced, and won, in a club meeting at Mallory Park on Sunday, while Sylvain Guintoli was also hopeful of getting a few laps at the team’s Hinckley base. Extra BSB test Given the lack of dry time at the opening Donington round, BSB bosses have added a one hour 15…

‘The last five laps were demanding because it was all over the place’CAL CRUTCHLOW Cal Crutchlow has come away from Sunday’s Argentinian Grand Prix pleased to have finally returned to the podium after a series of disastrous results – but disappointed that he wasn’t able to challenge for the win after struggling with technical problems. Finishing a race for the first time since he won the Australian Grand Prix back in October, the LCR Honda rider was on fine form during the 25-lap battle, doing well to stick with race-leader Maverick Viñales and to hold off the attentions of Valentino Rossi until the final stages of the race. The two-times race winner in 2016 told MCN that while he was pleased with his performance, he believes that if circumstances outside…

Iannone hits out at race control Andrea Iannone has hit out at race control after being penalised with a ride-through penalty for a jump start during Sunday’s race. Arguing that he had gained no advantage, the Suzuki rider came home outside the points in 16th despite making valuable progress with the GSX-RR over the weekend. He’s alright Jack Jack Miller has had another strong weekend in Argentina and took home a solid top 10 finish and more valuable points. Admitting he’s made a step forward this season, he is now seventh in the championship. WSB stars to join the Argie party WSB will join MotoGP in South America from 2018, it was announced at the weekend. However, they won’t race at Termas de Rio Hondo, instead heading to the new…

Crashing out of the race with an almost-identical crash to teammate Marquez, Dani Pedrosa was perhaps quicker to identify the exact cause of Sunday’s crash, putting it down to the bumps that the riders say have got a lot worse since their last visit to the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. “I was feeling good on the bike and wanted to close the gap on the others to fight for the podium, but unfortunately I crashed. There are a lot of bumps in that turn, and they create a tricky situation, as the grip is kind of on-off. When you’re pushing really hard, the limit becomes quite narrow. Of course it’s a shame about the crash, but on the other hand I’m happy I felt good enough to try and…

‘People said they wanted more feel’ The weekend saw controversy erupt in the paddock after a move by Michelin to bring a new type of front profile tyre was turned from a molehill into a mountain over allegations of favouritism. A number of riders requested that the French firm help them find more stability mid-corner, resulting in plans being put in place to allow them to try it out during the weekend – plans that were immediately claimed to be solely to aid Valentino Rossi. The plot then took another twist at Friday’s safety commission when the attendees voted to remove the new tyre from the allocation after general strikes in Argentine capital Buenos Aires saw their arrival at the circuit delayed until Saturday. Speaking on Saturday night, Michelin boss…

History has repeated itself for the luckless Andrea Dovizioso, after he was torpedoed off his bike during Sunday’s Argentine Grand Prix for the second year in a row. T-boned in 2016 by then-team-mate Andrea Iannone in the last corner (a move that cost the hot-headed Italian his seat in the team), this year it was Aleix Espargaró who took him out. However, despite saying that Aprilia rider Espargaró was partly to blame for the incident, Dovizioso was quick to lay the lion’s share of the culpability on fellow Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci, who the pair were chasing at the time. “When I was behind Danilo he’d completely used up his rear tyre and was riding in a bad way. He was braking in a strange way, and I think it…