Table of contents for 27 September 2017 in MCN

Face the future The new headlights brood menacingly under LED eyebrows. The main lamps are not illuminated here, suggesting auto-on daylight running lights just use the eyebrows. Knife-like fork Öhlins are used on the S model, with next-generation semi-active electronic control. This is thought to be an evolution of the current system. Rad-ical cooling The frontal aperture of the new V4 is dominated by an enormous pair of radiators. Exhaustive output Just look at the size of those dustbins mounted under the back of the engine. These are needed to meet new Euro4 noise and emissions levels. Singles club The new V4 still uses a trademark single-sided swingarm. The race teams could still use a twin-sided item if the R model homologates one next year, but don’t hold your breath.…

‘See Sheene machines burst into life’ Tickets are selling fast for this year’s Classic Bike Live with punters angling to see some awesome machines bursting into life in the Fire-Up Paddock. It’s your opportunity to see machines once raced by the biggest names in biking – Barry Sheene, Phil Read and Kevin Schwantz – up and running. Confirmed so far are Kevin Schwantz’s RGV500 XR94, Phil Read’s RG500 Mk1 and Barry Sheene’s XR27 RG500 as ridden at the 1979 Silverstone GP. There will also be an ex-Sheene Yamaha OW53 and Bazza’s old XR14. This year’s event at the East of England Arena on October 28-29 is a must for fans of British machinery, with a display of many historic Nortons. Visitors to the show can see Ian’s 1926 Maudes Trophy-winning…

Aging gracefully From May 2018, vehicles over 40 years old will be exempt from MoT tests with the theory being that vehicles of such age are used rarely and well cared for. It remains the owner’s responsibility to ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicle. Indian on the up Indian Motorcycles have seen a 17% percent growth in motorcycle sales this year, which is incredibly impressive against rival Harley-Davidson’s 6.7% decline. Indian now make up 16% of the sales of parent company Polaris. Blood biker boon Blood Bike Cumbria have had a new bike donated by the Freemasons, so they can continue their good work. The Freemasons of Cumberland and Westmorland donated a Yamaha FJR1300 to help with the transport of emergency supplies to hospitals across Cumbria. White Helmets won’t ride…

Launching the #ride5000miles campaign a little over six months ago seemed like a good idea at the time. But the response and interaction we have had from those who have signed up to the #ride5000miles Facebook page has been, frankly, humbling. In a relatively short time we have smashed through the 3000-member mark, but it’s the tales and images that riders are posting that makes this such a worthwhile project. Our 16-page special inside this week’s issue highlights some of the experiences that are getting shared and many are truly inspiring. But there is also a lot of really useful stuff being shared, too. Like the best roads to ride in a certain area, or which sat-nav to buy and so on. Whether you end up riding 5000 miles this…

DUCATI MONSTER M900 I rebuilt my 1998 Ducati Monster last year. Did myself. Diamond DeVille BSA C15 Here I am on my first bike 50 years ago with my sister Kay on the back. Nigel Young COTTON CONTINENTAL I had a 250cc 2T Villiers twin bought new in 1963. I have not seen any since I sold it in 1973. Dave Thomas YAMAHA XT500 Getting to grips with my newly acquired XT500 on August Bank Holiday 1982. £200 got you a lot of bike back then and no I didn’t loop it. Happy days. I’m 64 now and moving on to my fourth Speed Triple. Alan Taylor HONDA CB750 F2 Us in Sydney in 1979. I’m on the F2 Honda CB750 left of shot with my cousin, a couple of…

‘I went out without my glasses on – that was scary’ QUICKFIRE ROUND • Fast, intermediate or novice group? Fast • Mud or tarmac? Tarmac • Four-stroke or two-stroke? Two–stroke • Dark visor or clear? Clear • Gloves in or out? Out • GPS or map? Map • Dealer service or do it yourself? Do it myself on a classic Q1. What are you riding? A Ducati 600 Pantah and a 1972 Norton Commando in café racer trim. I bought the Ducati about three months ago. Q2 Which living motorcyclist do you most admire? Jorge Lorenzo. Anyone who breaks a collarbone, gets it operated on overnight, then jumps on a MotoGP bike the next day and gets a result is a proper hero. But ultimately it has to be Ian…

The Honda CB1100RS looks great but left us feeling a little short-changed. It’s heavy and doesn’t have the power or torque to match its muscly image. In this company it’s smooth and effortless to ride at low speeds but when you switch into fun mode, it feels flat and unexciting. The other two are both excellent but in very different ways. The BMW R nineT is a brilliant all-round bike: comfortable, easy to ride and absorbing fun. The Triumph is more like a café racer, proper old-school in spirit but with modern handling and a powerful engine. If you want something a bit different opt for the Triumph, if you want a brilliant all-round everyday bike with retro styling then splash out the extra on the BMW.…

‘Here the tarmac is separated from the sea by a narrow strip of rugged rocks’ There’s little doubt that most of the UK’s best roads are in Scotland and those around the Highlands and Islands are particularly spectacular. However, with the North proving such a popular draw there are some areas that get bypassed and this special ride focuses on the somewhat overlooked routes of Scotland’s South West – a region that due to its kinder climate can often be ridden year round. The start point is junction 14 of the A74(M), near Elvanfoot. Filling stations will be few and far between, so it’s worth topping up at the motorway services around seven miles north before kicking off. Take the A702 in the direction of Thornhill, this road runs a…

1 Ryka’s Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey. Always a big crowd at this time-honoured motorcycle meeting spot. 07730-661013 2 Willingham Woods Kiosk, Market Rasen, Lincs. Call in for a cuppa at this biking hotspot before the weather turns. www.willinghamwoods.com 3 Cabin Dairy Tearooms, High St, Burnham on Crouch, Essex . 01621-782404 4 The Old Red Lion, Tetsworth, Oxon. Monday night meet from 6pm. 01844-281274 or www.theoldredliontetsworth.co.uk 5 Pit Stop Sundays, Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping, Lincs. 9am-6pm. 01778-346952 or www.ironhorseranchouse.co.uk GET YOUR MEET ON THE MAP If you have a bike-friendly cafe aenue w and nt wan et yo get r mee you on tmeet monthe comap tact,ema sonl: mcn sam. @ williams motorcyclenews.co.uk@motorcyclenews.com…

Q How comfortable is it for a pillion? Leigh Kellaway My missus is a bit reluctant… wimp! Well, there’s actually no pillion seat, so I haven’t found anyone brave/ stupid enough yet! Q Do you get annoyed with going to every petrol station en route because the tank’s capacity is so pathetic? Marc Johnson Yep, and after 5000 miles it’s still annoying, but sometimes it’s nice to take a few more breaks on a longer trip, isn’t it? Q How feasible is it as an only bike for commuting, touring and pleasure rides? Florian Wulfert The Bobber is definitely feasible to use as an everyday bike and can be used for longer trips, if you don’t mind spending plenty of time at petrol stations! As with any stripped-back cruiser you…

2003 Honda CBR600RR • 115bhp • 49ftlb • 163kg With a revvier-engine, sharper handling and more aggressive styling, the RR was worlds apart from the CBR600F. The bike was cutting-edge and was relatively unchanged until its demise last year. Buy one now at mcnbikesforsale.com mcnbikesforsale.com from £2495 2003 Suzuki GSX-R600 K3 • 101bhp • 48ftlb • 163kg Suzuki gave the GSX-R a much-needed makeover in the early noughties. It got better styling and more power and torque. It was slightly let down by its thin paintwork though. Buy one now at mcnbikesforsale.com mcnbikesforsale.com from £2391 2003 Yamaha YZF-R6 • 108bhp • 55ftlb • 169kg Yamaha’s R6 was (and still is) an incredibly revvy machine. Its 15,000rpm redline was high for a bike of this period and you had to work it like…

Built for Speed by John McGuinness £20 This ripping yarn tells of what it takes to be a winner in the most dangerous sporting event on the planet, and to keep winning even though all logic tells you to stop. Enter until: September 30 Rossi Kiddimoto £212 If you win this Rossi-liveried Kiddimoto balance bike, it could be the first steps to your toddler being the next MotoGP World Champ. Enter until: September 30 Optimate O105 Dual USB Charger £25 We’ve got one of these great chargers up for grabs. You can fast-charge two of your mobile devices at the same time. Charge a combination of your phone, GPS, camera or tablet from your BMW, Triumph or Victory motorcycle with a standard bike power socket. Enter until: October 4…

‘I would insist on full disclosure of his medical history’ Q Does driver’s fit mean he can’t be blamed for accident? I was on my side of a dual-carriageway on a Honda Fireblade when a Toyota Hilux came across from the other side and hit me, injuring me badly. The driver of the Hilux believed he had an epileptic fit and his lawyers are arguing I have no case because his fit means that he wasn’t negligent. Surely this is not the case? RP, email A The Defendant’s lawyers are relying on a legal defence known as “automatism.” This is where someone cannot be held responsible for their actions if they had no knowledge of them. The Defendant has to show that his total lack of control was through no…

Triumph Street Cup floweth over Triumph are currently offering a £500 personalisation contribution when you purchase a new Street Cup. This money can be spent on Triumph clothing, accessories, insurance or a reduced TriStar finance offer. www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk A helmet revolution CrossHelmet have created a new style of lid with an integrated heads-up display (HUD) system inside. HUDs are becoming increasingly popular, with firms like Nuviz and Zona already offering displays that attach to your helmet externally. www.crosshelmet.com FMX stars at Motorcycle Live This year’s Motorcycle Live will see the return of the FMX Live show for the final time. Determined to go out with a bang, the event’s organisers, Arenacross UK, claim this year’s free show will be the biggest ever, lasting 30 minutes and displaying the most cutting-edge, daredevil…

We all know that two-strokes are rising in price, almost on a weekly basis. Things like Kawasaki triples, the Suzuki GT750 Kettle, and Yamaha RD500s have always been expensive. Now they’re very expensive. There was a time was when more humdrum strokers were affordable, but even the Suzuki GT500 twins are three grand and counting for a half-decent one, and you can easily pay close to a grand for a superb-condition Yamaha RXS100 or Kawasaki KH100 – I know, because I’ve sold machines at that sort of price. So how would you feel about a truly race-bred, fabulously engineered, stunningly styled sports stroker, equipped with the best components in the world? No, not things like the Japanese market-only supersports 250s, these have already gone way past £5000 for the exotic…

 “In terms of reliability, there have been no issues with the 2005 Fazer 1000; it’s been a bike that has had a mostly trouble-free history. Thinking back, there might have been some early issues with a few models needing replacement throttle position sensors, and some that weren’t set properly out of the factory, but that’s all I can really think of regarding official stuff. ‘It’s a lot of bike for the money and is a bit undervalued, which is a mystery’ “These bikes were really popular with riders who wanted a workhorse during the week and a plaything at weekends, so it’s not uncommon to see Fazers with above average mileage for the year. With bikes that have been used a lot some of them had paint flake of the…

Sylvain Guintoli looks set to make a WSB return on the Puccetti Kawasaki that Leon Haslam turned down. It’s understood the Frenchman is keen to move back to World Superbikes after a disastrous season in Britain with the Bennetts Suzuki team. Despite some progress shown at Silverstone, Guintoli has struggled to make it into the top ten this year and has often been beaten by his younger, less experienced team-mates, Bradley Ray and Taylor Mackenzie. Haslam has shown the Puccetti Kawasaki has podium potential and Ant West, deputising for the injured Randy Krummancher for the remainder of the year, finished eighth last weekend in Portimao so it has the potentiual to be a regular top five challenger in the hands of the 20 14 World Champion. MCN sources claim an…

Senior TT winner Michael Dunlop’s only mount at Scarborough was his MD Racing Yamaha R6. The Ballymoney remained tight-lipped about why he didn’t ride either his superbike spec Bennett’s GSX-R Suzuki or his own MD Racing stocker. Dunlop retired from both legs of the David Jefferies Supersport event. Rumours have been rife about his future with Stuart and Steve Hicken’s Suzuki squad after the 15-times TT winner’s dismal showing at the Ulster Grand Prix. The GSX-R was clearly lacking power compared to the ZX-10Rs and BMWs and Dunlop is understood to be frustrated by a lack of development with the new bike.…

‘I thought it was possible to get to the front’ALEIX ESPARGARO When Aprilia-mounted Aleix Espargaro crossed the line in sixth at Aragon, one place ahead of title contender Andrea Dovizioso it marked not only a great result for his Italian team but also further dented the Ducati’s man’s ongoing title aspirations. After 72.5 miles and over 42 minutes of racing, Espargaro finished sixth, just 6.962s behind race winner and new series leader Marc Marquez. The result matches Aprilia’s best ever finish in MotoGP and marks a huge jump in race pace with the 28-year-old finishing under five seconds from the podium and just over a second behind Rossi. Speaking to MCN Espargaro said: “This result is very important for us and it shows that we are growing up. Last year…

DNF CAL CRUTCHLOW Qualified 4th Crutchlow crashed out Crutchlow crashed out of the race on lap 16 after experiencing front brake issues on his LCR Honda. The 31-year-old Brit was locked in a battle with Pedrosa, Espargaro and Zarco when he fell after being unable to adjust his front brake due to the cast he is wearing on his injured finger. “The lever was far away and as soon as I grabbed the brake I locked the front.” 14th SCOTT REDDING Qualified 22nd Redding in the points Although he improved significantly on his grid position to score two championship points it was another disappointing weekend for the 24-year-old Brit. “I can’t say I’m satisfied with this weekend. Qualifying went badly but I tried to stay focused and tried to catch…

‘Jorge is getting better. He will be a title contender next year’DAVIDE TARDOZZI While Jorge Lorenzo might have come close to taking his first Ducati win on Sunday and Andrea Dovizioso might still sit second in the championship race, both riders are circumspect about the issues that they still face with the GP17 machine. They are still struggling with mid-corner turning – long the bugbear of the Italian manufacturer. But Ducati boss and former WSB race winner Davide Tardozzi believes that they’re edging closer than ever to putting those issues to bed once and for all – thanks to the assistance of Ducati test rider and former world champion Casey Stoner. Stoner took to the track last week at Valencia for a final test on the GP18 machine that will…

Despite taking a stunning victory on the last lap of Sunday’s Moto3 race to put one hand on the 2017 title, Joan Mir sparked controversy after the battle when race control hit him with a penalty for dangerous riding that will see him docked six grid places next time out in Japan. Riding the final straight like a slalom skier in an attempt to break Fabio Di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini’s tow, the race stewards hit him with the post-race penalty. “It was a really difficult race to manage, so I’m happy to have won at home. It was an incredible last lap and I tried to push a lot, and now despite the penalty in Japan I have the first chance to win the title.”…

Dani Pedrosa once again demonstrated his talent as the perfect wingman to Marc Marquez at Motorland Aragon by storming to a brilliant second place to take valuable championship points off Marquez’s title rivals. But while he might have played the team-mate role to perfection for his fellow Repsol Honda rider, Marquez did admit after the finish that he wasn’t entirely sure that Pedrosa was going to end his charge and settle for second place! “He was pushing me! I was watching my pit board and he was pushing me trying to win, and even on the last lap I saw the gap was only 0.8 seconds. I mean, even then he believed he could win!” Pedrosa played a smart strategy of his own in Sunday’s race after opting to start…

With a broken leg ruling Valentino Rossi out of title contention for this year, the nine-time champion says that after Sunday’s performance he now believes that the title is Marquez’s to lose. Speaking after the race, he says that after the improvements Honda made over the summer break, the momentum is with his rival. “They made a very big step after the Brno test and improved the performance a lot. Marquez won in Brno after that, lost the race on the last lap in Austria, was strong at Silverstone until he broke the engine, won in Misano in the wet and won in Aragon in the dry. The championship is very difficult now for everyone else.”…

Rossi might have received almost universal praise from his rivals in Sunday’s race, but he also drew anger from Dani Pedrosa after shutting the door on the Repsol Honda rider as he tried to overtake on the long back straight at Motorland Aragon, with the Spaniard lashing out after the race. Pedrosa said: “I cannot judge what he saw, but you know when you’re getting overtaken – and when you’re alongside someone you try to give them room. I was on the white line, the handlebars were inches apart and we were at 180mph. You don’t need to force the issue at that speed, because the margin for error is very small.” However, Rossi was quick to launch his own attack on Pedrosa, saying that he hadn’t treated him any…

Most inspirational Sally Weighill Sally has been dubbed ‘Queen of the 5000 Smiles’ by the R5K group. She’s only been riding for a year and has covered 12,000 miles and has had three bikes. Best charitable act Paul Bowles The Bowles Biking Challenge saw husband and wife team, Paul and Tracy, ride 1950.1 miles from John O’ Groats to Land’s End and raise £4500 for the Missing People and MJCC charities. Best Selfie Chris Hood Chris’s posts, destinations and adventures stick out. thanks to his charismatic selfies. Members wrote ‘Master of the Selfie’, ‘cheerful and enthusiastic’, ‘having the biggest smile’ and ‘embodies the R5K group’ Epic Hero Ziggy Milemuncher A fellow R5K member mislaid his keys in Romania, so Ziggy left home in Scotland to collect a spare set of…

HELMETS ‘The design allows for very good peripheral vision’ X-Lite X-802RR Ultra Carbon £380 Stuart Leighio ‘My X-Lite X-802RR Ultra Carbon is very light and has very good ventilation. I got a great deal on this lid at the NEC in 2016 and use it every day for commuting, but have also used it on trackdays and foreign trips. It has survived everything I’ve thrown at it so far and nothing has failed or fallen off. The design allows for very good peripheral vision and also helps keep your head cool while on trackdays.’ Shoei NXR £450 Lorraine Thomas ‘I bought my Shoei NXR in a shop, rather than online, where the fitting service was fabulous. For me, this was more important than saving money elsewhere. It’s quieter and lighter…

Just like the archetypal Plain Jane at school who put on a pretty dress, ditched the glasses, and brushed her hair for the prom, astounding those who couldn’t see she’s always been a beauty – this gem is actually based on a Virago. “The base bike was a 1981 XV750 Virago Midnight Special,” says creator Phil Price. “ I chose it because I liked the look of the air-cooled V-twin engine sitting in the frame. “This is my second Virago Café Racer (named PP2), which I started building six months after my first. I decided to build a second bike after finding a person who had an original unused Benelli Mojave Tank in his loft. The bike took five months to complete. “All the custom-made parts were designed and drawn…

SIZE MATTERS 1 Ducati’s new V4 will be here soon, but how many cc does it have? FAST FEMALE 2 History was made recently when this woman won a world championship race – name her. GOLDEN OLDIE 3 Moto Guzzi have just celebrated a birthday, but how old is they? FLAT ATTACK 4 Indian have dominated the US flat-track series in 2017, but who lifted the title for them? A THAI RIDE 5 A new track has been added to the MotoGP (provisional) calendar for 2018, but which one is it? And we’re not talking about it potentially being Donington! COUNTING COST 6 The Yamaha R1 was first seen 20 years ago, but how much was it? RECORD-BREAKER 7 Who recently broke John McGuinness’ 1999 250 TT lap record? WIN…

MCN Reader Ian Bendall “I’ve been riding bikes all my life, but I moved away from two wheels because of a problem with my back that caused my right leg to collapse every now and again. “One time I stopped at some traffic lights with my wife on the back, my leg gave way and it tossed her on the road. She had no injuries, fortunately, but she wasn’t keen on doing it anymore after that! So I looked for something that would satisfy my desire to have a proper motorbike and her desire not to be tipped off. “I didn’t fancy the idea of a trike, but when I saw my very bike on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage I knew I had to have it. Tilting Motor…

‘500 miles is far from the whole story. Hence the NC767’ The North Coast 500 has become famous in touring circles; it’s a convenient number describing a loop around the Highlands, starting and ending in Inverness. But really, 500 miles is far from the whole story. Hence the alternative NC767. Helpfully for those of us arriving at the NC767 from England, it starts in Glasgow and ends in Edinburgh – meaning you can link up with the M74 and M6 in one direction, and the A68 and A1 on the return. Taking the ride clockwise, it kicks off alongside Loch Lomond, just north of Glasgow, on the A82, pivots north through the spectacular glacial grandeur of Glen Coe, rockets north to the steepest climb in the UK over the Bealach…

Can you see clearly? Obviously you need a clear visor but make sure it’s free from scratches and clean. Scratches will distort your vision at night, especially with oncoming headlights. The eyes have it Cat’s eyes are your friends: they help guide you at night and give you some indication of what is ahead. They can not only indicate which way the road twists and turns but if it’s legal to overtake, as double white lines have a heavier concentration of cat’s eyes. Don’t forget that motorways have different coloured reflectors, red on the hard shoulder, amber on the outside lane and green on slip roads. Make yourself known It still might not be perceived as being fashionable, but it’s important to be seen; fluorescent or reflective clothing really makes…

‘The sculpted standard seat distributes weight better across my boney rear’ ‘The noise set off another bike’s alarm when I stopped at a London bike park’ Price £10,500 Fuel 9.1 litres @ 55mpg = 112 mile range Power 76bhp Torque 78ftlb Weight 228kg Seat 690mm liam.marsden@motorcyclenews.com It seems to have been a hectic time for myself and the Triumph Bobber recently, with plenty of longer trips putting more miles on the bike and seeing it blast through my #ride5000miles goal with ease. First, it was a weekend of camping in Brighton, setting off after work on the Friday evening. Until that trip, I’d been impressed with the comfort provided by the minimalist saddle, but thanks to several road closures pushing the riding time up to three-and-a-half hours, my arse…

‘The rider aids help not hinder and without them I wouldn’t have felt as comfortable’ YAMAHA YZF-R6 £10,999 Fuel 17 litres @ 43mpg = 160-mile range Weight 190KG (wet) Seat height 850mm Power 114.9bhp Torque 45ftlb Adam.child@motorcyclenews.com Those of you who’ve booked a trackday expecting summer sun but getting a monsoon instead will know just what a frustrating experience that can be – especially if you’ve only got dry-weather tyres. In that circumstance, most don’t venture out, but after hours of standing around recently on a Rockingham trackday, I decided to bite the bullet. It couldn’t be that bad could it? My R6 is the only 600cc Supersport machine on the market with traction control and ABS as standard. In theory it should be able to cut it in the…

There comes a time when you’ve got to work out whether it’s actually worth selling a duff bike, or whether you’d be better off breaking it for spares. The latter option usually makes more sense. And money. Someone I know has just had the ECU pop on his Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré (a chafed wiring loom shorted it out). We were planning to stick it on my Ten to see if it really was the ECU, but the ECU is coded to the ignition key and it all gets horribly complex. A new ECU and key is ‘How much???’ territory and an electrickery expert had determined the ECU can’t be fixed. My advice was to break it. There are always lots of people looking for Ténéré bits – wheels, brakes, bodywork,…

‘Get yourself a new bike for less’ DEPUTY EDITOR RICHARD NEWLAND 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. •…

Leon Haslam has turned down an offer to return to World Superbikes in order to remain in the MCE British Superbike Championship with JG Speedfit Kawasaki for 2018. Italian team boss Manuel Puccetti had been pushing hard for Haslam’s signature after the 34-year-old secured a stunning second place onboard the team’s Kawasaki in a wildcard appearance at the Donington Park round of World Superbikes earlier this year. But with Kawasaki unable to guarantee Haslam machinery at the same level of factory men Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes, he has instead opted to remain in Britain with the JG Speedfit team alongside Luke Mossey. “I moved back to BSB at the end of 2015 after winning the last race in WSB and to be fair, it was a no-brainer,” Haslam told…

‘I had to save some moments on my elbow – that’s the Marquez style!’MARC MARQUEZ Marc Marquez has once again shown he’s willing to put everything on the line in order to win his fourth premier class crown with a high risk performance in front of his home crowd at Sunday’s Aragon Grand Prix that paid off with a win and a big championship lead. Going into the 14th round of the season on equal points and race wins with Ducati rider Andrea Dozizioso, Marquez knew from the beginning that he would have to push hard at one of his favourite tracks if he wanted to start making progress towards his championship goal – and that’s exactly what he did. But while Motorland Aragon, located not far from his hometown…

‘I thought… f*** if I give up now I will finish the race in tenth’VALENTINO ROSSI Valentino Rossi put in a super-heroic performance at Motorland Aragon to secure an incredible fifth place during Sunday’s MotoGP – only 24 days after breaking his right leg and undergoing surgery to have a titanium nail inserted into the fractured bone. The incredible performance from the nine-time world champion came at the end of a stunning weekend-long return to action, as he not only showed that he was fit and ready to do battle at the Spanish track but also managed one of his best qualifying results of the season to start Sunday’s race from the front row of the grid. However, while Sunday’s performance might have been heroic, Rossi conceded after the race…

Wheelie stupid A rider has been sentenced to eight months in prison and been given a 28-month driving ban for speeding and using a mobile phone while riding on the road. Pawel Zietowski pleaded guilty after the court was shown footage of him repeatedly pulling wheelies, taking a selfie, and riding stood up with his hands off the bars on the M6. London calling The Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle show returns to ExCel on February 16-18. Book your tickets now and you’ll get two adult tickets for the discounted price of just £14 each. This early bird ticket offer is available for a limited time only. Book online today at www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com Get the low-down Triumph have added the promised Street Triple R Low to their line-up. The Low Ride…

All fuel sold at the pump comes with an octane rating and the higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before it detonates. The most common octane rating used is the Research Octane Number (RON) and fuels sold in the UK tend to be between 95 and 101 RON. In other countries, such as America, they use the Motor Octane Number (MON), which gives an octane number around 10 octane lower than RON, but there is no direct link between the two. The octane rating of fuel varies throughout the world, with 91 RON (or even as low as 85) common is less developed countries. It’s possible, even in modern engines, for small amounts of unburnt fuel to remain in the combustion chamber. If the heat…

We’ve teamed up with Carole Nash to search out Britain’s most inspiring biking heroes. The campaign has been incredibly popular and we’ve been inundated with entries. From the bulging inbox, we’ve whittled it down to 20 who we think have all achieved remarkable things. Now it’s your turn to have a say by voting for the person you think should receive this new accolade. Voting for the is already open on the Carole Nash Facebook page – www.facebook.com/insidebikes. Voting for the top ten closes on October 4. The top ten will go through to the next stage, where you will decide how to place the top three. All three, plus the people who nominated them, will attend Motorcycle Live, where the winner will be crowned. Here are the heroes… John…

‘Increase the revs to just over 7500rpm, and 75mph is easily achievable’ HIGHLIGHTS • Entry level GS only £5100 • Based on BMW’s group test-winning G310 R • Unique reverse single-cylinder engine • Long-travel suspension and 19in front wheel. • Ready-to-run weight of 169kg BMW’s new mini-adventure bike has a lot to live up to. It is, after all, a GS – a new recruit to the most famous, best-selling adventure bike dynasty on the planet. No pressure, then. The G310 GS has much in common with the excellent G310 R. Both share the same reverse single-cylinder engine and frame, and both are built in India. Around the city streets of Barcelona initial impressions are positive. The small, 168kg GS is easy to manage and manoeuvre, has a roomy…

A PROPER JAPANESE SPORTS TOURER Big, grunty four? Check. Decent handling? Check. Shaft drive? Check. The FJR was the first to have it all, and more. ELECTRIC SCREENS A tilt adjust screen was something of a novelty back in 2001. It's been updated since, but remains one of the best. SOMETHING FOR BM TO WORRY ABOUT FJR proved a true rival for BM’s long-reigning RT – not least with the police, paramedics and the likes of the AA. AUTOMATIC GEARBOX Introduced in 2006, the AE isn’t a true auto – there’s an auto clutch rather than gearbox, but there is no clutch lever.…

‘The Harley is beautiful’ Three-wheelers are a lot more fun and involving than you might think. And if buying one means you can keep riding when two wheels are off the agenda, it can only be a good thing. The tilting Harley feels the most like a two-wheeler with the way it leans, but its vague steering takes some getting used to. The Can-Am is comfortable and solid on the move, but the Harley Freewheeler is a clear winner. It’s short, agile, smooth, beautifully made and surprisingly stable.…

Indian Scout Bobber • £11,299 • 72ftlb • 251kg A variation on the standard Scout, the Bobber has its ride height lowered by an inch. The footpegs are moved forward 1.5in, the handlebars are wider and mudguards shorter. Cool factor: 8/10 Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber • £9002 • 46ftlb • 199kg In the true bobber tradition, with a wide front tyre, flat seat and fantastic looks. It’s also the cheapest bike here, meaning an easier time on your wallet, too. Cool factor: 9/10 Harley Forty-Eight • £9995 • 71ftlb • 252kg This bike is based on the running gear of a Sportster 1200, but with 16in 150-section balloon tyres front and rear. You also get wider forks. There’s short front and rear mudguards, too. Cool factor: 8/10…

2003 KAWASAKI ZX-6R B1H £2200 Fuel 18 litres @ 38mpg = 150.48 miles range Weight 161kg Seat 825mm Power 112bhp Torque 46ftlb dan.sutherland@motorcyclenews.com Since I was a kid, I have been compiling a list of bikes that I either want to have ridden or owned by the time I stop riding – well into my 100s hopefully! The long list stretches from the ordinary, to the ridiculous; including bikes like Suzuki’s SV650 alongside Ducati’s mouth-watering V4 Desmosedici – all having at least one trait interesting enough to mean it makes the cut. Somewhere in the middle of this list was a Kawasaki ZX-6R– the B1H model. A sign of Kawasaki’s comeback after a few years in the shadows, it was lean mean, and combined a storming midrange with a wailing…

Tester Richard Newland Time used Three months/ 2500 miles What’s good? The beauty of a well-fettled carb was always its ability to deliver a sublimely silky interpretation of your throttle inputs – something which partly vanished when fuel injection (FI) arrived. Some bikes suffer terribly from glitchy FI, and Suzuki’s GSX-S1000 is one of them. But, to iron out most of the horrors, you can fit a Power Commander V with a Dynojet map installed, or even take it to your local dyno guru for a bespoke setup. It’s not a cheap item, but what price do you put on a smooth and accurate throttle response? After just an hour in the workshop, the GSX-S was ready to go. The PCV’s plug-and-play connectivity means that it’s a doddle to fit,…

2017 Yamaha YZF-R1 £7100 Seller says Cat C damage, buyer’s responsibility to make it road-worthy again. Neil says Nasty fairing damage, and looks like crankcase damage. I wouldn’t touch it. 2015 Indian Scout £7100 Seller says 4350 miles, full-on 1133cc not the Sixty model, FSH, excellent. Neil says More exclusive than a Harley and well-priced. Single seat only, though. 1976 Kawasaki Z900 £7100 Seller says New MoT, Morad alloy rims, Metmachex swingarm, Micron fork brace, stainless 4-1 exhaust and more Neil says People prefer original spec now, but this would be fun. MCN BIKES FOR SALE  13,952 bargain bikes for sale right now!…

LEE HUFF APRILIA RSV1000 FACTORY “Like most 17-year-olds I just want a fast, cool bike (I’m actually 44). My current bike is a Ducati 999, which I can’t fault, so ideally I would just get a better, faster Ducati. However, for the budget this is not possible. So, taking the 17-year-old’s mindset I’d go for an Aprilia RSV1000 Factory from around 2004. You can’t get much faster or cooler for £4.5k.” TREVOR SHARPE DUCATI 749 “I would have to go for a Ducati 749, having ridden Lee’s 999 (see left). You get the same tidy package as the bigger bike but with more useable power, for the road at least. The looks have grown on me, especially in yellow. While not commanding 748 money, I believe they are a worthwhile…

2004 Yamaha FZS1000 Colours Dark Purplish Blue Metallic, Silver, Blueish Silver Dealer £2900 Private average £2400 Private good £2500 This one 26,120 miles on the clock and extras including heated grips. £2795. 2004 Yamaha FZS1000 Colours Dark Purplish Blue Metallic, Silver, Blueish Silver Dealer £2900 Private average £2400 Private good £2500 This one This private sale has done 34,980 miles and has had one owner from new, £2400. 2004 Yamaha FZS1000 Colours Dark Purplish Blue Metallic, Silver, Blueish Silver Dealer £2900 Private average 2400 Private good £2500 This one Fully serviced with 26,000 miles, fitted with a quality topbox, £2495. 2005 Yamaha FZS1000 Colours Dark Purplish Blue Metallic, Dark Blueish Grey Metallic, Deep Red Metallic Dealer £3100 Private average £2500 Private good £2600 This one Last pre-injection model with 30,000…

Adam McLean continued his impressive 2017 season at Scarborough. The 21-year-old, who was the fastest newcomer at this year’s TT, took three second places in Saturday’s Supersport, Supertwins and Superbike races on his Hanna ER6 and MSS Performance ZX-6R. But he left his ZX-10R at home. He said: “I have done two Irish short circuit meetings with the big bike but I want to be sure I can be competitive before I bring it to the roads.” McLean’s superbike has been prepared by MSS Kawasaki but remains in road bike spec. “I’ve got a bit of money to bring the spec up but I don’t need anything more until I learn to ride what I have,” he smiled. Looking forward to 2018, McLean intends to take in more short circuit…

Aleix is a very good rider and a lot of people completely underestimate him. He is fast everywhere, but I think now the package we give him is more stable and he understands how to ride it. This was the first weekend where we did not make any big changes. Before we were always searching for something that compromised our early laps, now everything with the bike and the settings is more stable. We are working on the next step for the bike which will mean looking at every area from aerodynamics to ergonomics, but this may not come now until the end of the season. What is amazing in MotoGP is the level and the closeness of the class. I have never seen anything like it and if you…

‘I wish Marc had gone away and been happy with second place’JORGE LORENZO Jorge Lorenzo came close to taking his debut win for Ducati, after yet another strong performance during Sunday’s MotoGP race at Motorland Aragon. Leading the race for 15 laps the five-time world champion feels he is not far away from that elusive first victory. And with the strong performance in the race backed up with both his second Ducati podium and his fourth front row start on the Italian machine, he had a lot to be happy about. “In one way, it feels worse than the podium in Jerez did, because of how close to the victory I was. But at the same time I was very close to winning, and that is the most interesting thing.…

Franco Morbidelli has once again extended his grip on the 2017 Moto2 season by delivering a knockout blow to his main title rival Tom Luthi at Aragon. Morbidelli went head to head with Mattia Pasini and defied team orders to take the safe option and launched a risky last lap attack on his fellow Italian to win. The victory means he has now extended his series lead over Luthi to 21 points. “Nothing changed with my approach – I raced as I always do, giving the maximum. I tried to push at the beginning and open a gap but Pasini was closing fast and I had a decision to make. Stay calm and ride for the championship or fight. I kept fighting.”…

Carrasco honoured alongside GP stars Ana Carrasco, the first woman to win a FIM world championship road race was honoured at Aragon when she went up on stage in the Qualifying press conference alongside Maverick Viñales, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi. The 20-year-old won the Supersport 300 race at Portimão WSB round 10 days ago. 2018 Moto2 grid falling into place The 2018 Moto2 grid started to shape up at Aragon as a number of teams announced their line-ups for next year. Perhaps most exciting is the return of MotoGP racer Hector Barbera to the middleweight class, joining Rossi protégé Lorenzo Baldassarri at the Pons Racing team. Rossi re-jigs his Moto3 line-up The Moto3 grid for next season also got a shake-up at the weekend, with Valentino Rossi’s Team Sky…

August 31 While enduro riding near his home in Tavullia, Rossi puts the entire weight of the bike onto his right leg at slow speed and snaps both the tibia and fibula he broke back in 2010. September 1 The injured Italian undergoes surgery, having a nail inserted into the tibia. He only spends one night in hospital and is sent home again only 24 hours later. September 8 Action gets underway for the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano without Rossi for the first time in two decades, Marc Marquez wins the race and extends his title lead over Rossi. September 11 The Movistar Yamaha team announce that World Superbike rider Michael van der Mark will be called up for Aragon in case a replacement for Rossi is needed…

MARC MARQUEZ “No-one expected him to be there with that kind of fracture, let alone finish half-a-second behind Viñales on the same bike. He’s still injured, and his talent is the thing that made the difference in the race.” DANI PEDROSA “It’s incredible to recover that fast from that kind of injury. Every injury is different – as I know – but sometimes you heal much faster and don’t know why. That’s how it is, but for sure his determination to be at Aragon made a difference too.” JORGE LORENZO “He was impressive all weekend. The way he qualified, the way he raced, and especially the way he recovered. The body of a 38-year-old isn’t the same as a 16-year-old’s, but clearly he felt better every day and it was…

MCN’s campaign to get as many readers to cover 5000 miles in a year is all about getting you out on your bike as much as possible. We realise that life is full of pressures that can stop you biking, but we want to help you find the time to ride more. So #ride5000miles is all about making the most of your bike, the great country and continent we’re based in and the great events that make up Biking Britain. It’s about finding time on a Sunday to go for a blast, or doing that tour or trip you’ve always wanted to do. It can even be about just taking your bike to work more. There’s a great network set up to help you achieve this – and thousands of…

‘The challenge helped me see the world!’ Name Eddie Armitage Bike 2016 Kawasaki Z1000SX “The #ride5000miles group inspired me to go on a big trip this year, which is something I wouldn’t have even thought about before joining up. I normally only ride around 2000 miles a year, but I decided to up the ante to hit the 5k mark and thought a European adventure was the perfect way to do it. “Seeing what other people are doing is really encouraging. It’s been great reading everyone’s posts and just picking up on all their hints and tips on where to go. It gave me so many ideas for places I’d like to visit in Europe. “So my wife, Angie, and I loaded up the Z1000SX and headed off on a…

‘My top snack is a dry breakfast bar and I avoid caffeine’ ‘Take a kip on the grass at a service station… nobody takes any notice’ Ever raced down the motorway and stopped for fuel, only to watch in befuddlement as a lorry whirs past… the same lorry you passed two hours ago? These men are that lorry: the long-distance, mile-munching kings of the road - The Iron Butt riders. By the time we’ve fuelled up, had our fix and later tucked the bike away in the garage, these chaps will be in some far flung corner of Europe sipping a Turkish coffee. The Iron Butt Association is dedicated to safe, long-distance endurance motorcycle riding and their members cover seemingly ridiculous mileages for fun. So to learn how to…