Table of contents for February 14th 2018 in MCN

COP’S ADVICE ‘Anyone can make an arrest but you don’t know who you are facing’ For London-based MCN reader Adam Smallman, January 24 2016 was a day he will never forget. “I’d already seen some guys checking out my BMW S1000RR at the weekend. It was double-chained to the house, on a path, off the road, and kept under a cover. Two days later, four men arrived on maxi scooters and, in broad daylight, used electric angle grinders to saw off the chains.” Flagrant daylight attacks are the new normal when it comes to stealing high-value bikes. But what made Smallman’s case different was what happened next. “My wife was in the house. Once they realised she was in, one of the gang smashed the door in with a hammer,…

HIGHLIGHTS • New 850cc engine • Brand new frame and suspension • Bigger fuel tank • Three-piece screen • On sale 2019 While their sportsbikes might be weapons and their retros some of the best, BMW’s big business is adventure. The GS family has taken the world by storm many times over and they’re about it do it again. BMW unveiled the new F850GS in November and now spy pics show the Adventure version isn’t far away. Back to basics If you’re not familiar with the new F850GS, it’s all change for 2018. For a start it’s received a new engine, which is more than just a capacity increase. The twin has been redesigned with a new crank and 270-degree firing order, so it’s got that V-twin noise. It’s also…

Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are becoming more common on new motorcycles. However, unlike on cars and light goods vehicles, where they became mandatory in February 2011, they are not mandatory by law. The government say research has predicted that DRLs are likely to reduce multiple-vehicle accidents and fatalities by 6% once all vehicles are equipped with them. With this in mind, most bike makers have already voluntarily opted for Automatic Headlight On (AHO) systems, which is why most motorcycles no longer have a headlight-off switch. DRLs are only allowed to run in daylight, and automatically switch off at night through sensors. There are legal requirements for DRLs, such as their area of light produced, spacing and the fact they need to turn off at night, but they are actually brighter…

LE VELOCETTE Dad and I on his LE Velocette in 1962 – he used it in all weathers to commute. A hardy fella! Graham Clark SUZUKI TS50ER This is me in 1984, on my first ‘legal’ road bike, a Suzuki TS50ER. John Somerscales TRIUMPH TIGER 110 My 1961 Tiger 110 café racer; it cost £30 in 1969, and was written off three months later… Peter Haase HONDA CB250N Me and my Honda CB250N Superdream in 1979. I wish I had kept it! Ronnie Close ROYAL ENFIELD CRUSADER This is my Crusader Sports in 1962. l am not in the photo, as I was still in hospital Joe Paris YAMAHA FZR1000 Here’s a picture of my first big bike after moving up from RD350LCs – my 1990 Yamaha FZR1000 Genesis. Darren…

Triumph’s Tiger has a long history of adventure and off-road riding. The first Tiger officially competed for the brand way back in 1939, and many readers will remember the Tiger Cub from the late 1950s. The first modern Tiger emerged in 1993 as a 900, while the 800 appeared in 2010. Since then, the Tiger has gone on to sell close to 70,000 units, and remains one of the most popular Triumphs in the UK. Clearly Triumph are confident that the new Tiger – which comes in no fewer than six variants – will continue in the grand tradition. The new bike was launched last week in Morocco, with two days of extensive testing, both on and off-road. We sampled both the 19in-front-wheeled XRT and the more off-road-biased XCA, which…

It’s Valentine’s Day! And how better for bikers to spend this day of love than to celebrate the motorcycles we adore the most? To do just that, we asked you to vote for the machines that have the biggest place in your hearts and you’ve been doing just that in your thousands. With almost 10,000 votes, this is the UK’s biggest biker poll in ages. But what came out on top? Well, now it’s time to reveal, in ascending order, the results – and they make fascinating reading. Of course we could have come up with a list of the fastest, lightest, or most powerful bikes – factors which are easily proved on the test track, scales or dyno – but with it being the most romantic day of the…

X-Lite X-803 Danilo Petrucci £459.99 With a double D-ring retention strap and an emergency release cheek pad system, the X-803 is littered with neat with features. It comes complete with a vibrant Petrucci MotoGP paint scheme, and there is also a removable and washable liner. Arai RX-7V Kenny Roberts £789.99 Live out your 500cc Grand Prix fantasies with this evocative ‘King’ Kenny Roberts design. Packing the firm’s latest visor system and an adjustable skull cap, the lid comes with a five-year manufacturer warranty, a Max Vision Pinlock insert and a fully removable/ washable interior and cheek pads. AGV Pista GP-R Rossi Mugello 2017 £1100 When it comes to racers’ helmets, none come more spectacular than Valentino Rossi’s special Mugello designs. Now something of a tradition, the 2017 helmet sported a…

THE EXPERT Neil Spalding is the author of MotoGP Technology and is often called in when Eurosport need something complicated explained on the TV. The V4 made its track debut with conventional pistons (it was first seen in the oval-piston NSR500) in 1982 with the Honda RS1000RW. It made so much power (148bhp+) that it required a new generation of tyres to be designed. This concept morphed into the RVF750 and finally the RC30, which dominated production bike racing. Ducati, Honda, Aprilia and KTM now all run V4s in MotoGP, while Yamaha and Suzuki run inline fours with unconventional firing orders designed to replicate the power characteristics of a V4 but without the packaging issues.…

Hat-trick for Triumph Glasgow Scotland’s newest motorcycle dealer, Triumph Glasgow, have cleaned up at the Triumph Motorcycles UK Dealer Launch event by winning three awards. The 2017 MCN Dealer Award-winners took home Top Sales Performance of the Year, Clothing Dealer of the Year and Tristar Dealer of the Year. w w w.triumphglasgow.co.uk Fuel leak hits KTM KTM have recalled the 2016-on 690 Duke and Duke R, due to problems with bikes leaking fuel. The recall will replace the fuel tank filler neck, including the gasket and fuel level sensor sealing. Owners are being contacted by letter and are advised to speak to an authorised dealer immediately. www.ktm.com SX appeal KTM are offering 0% finance on the entire 2018 SX off-road range from now until March 31. Ranging from 50cc to…

There was a time when grey import sports 400s were a thing. There’s a 400cc licence limit in Japan and all the builders made exotic 400cc sports bikes to service that requirement. Because used bikes are worth little in Japan when the ‘Shaken’ (a very tough sort of MoT) approaches, they made enticing buys and several companies specialised in bringing over boatloads of them. Actually, a lot were available as UK models anyway. The horniest was the Kawasaki ZXR400. It had a lot of what the ZXR750 had: USD forks, adjustable suspension, a fairy green/white/blue colourscheme, rock-hard suspension and (most importantly) Hoover-style pipes across the tank. It was launched in 1989 but didn’t reach UK shores until 1991. It stayed in production until 2003 and dominated proddie racing, with over…

The 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship kicks off at Donington Park in just over a month with 27 of the world’s finest riders lining up for the closest-fought series on the planet. And this year will see the championship launch a new look as they confirm motorcycle insurance giant Bennetts will take over as title sponsor. Last week’s announcements confirming Tommy Bridewell, Martin Jessopp and Jakub Smrz see the 2018 grid complete and ready for action with testing set to get underway in the next few weeks. BE WISER DUCATI Shane Byrne 67 • Wins 84 • Podiums 186 • 2017 finishing position 1st • CV ’03, ’08, ’12, ’14, ’16, ’17 British Champion Glenn Irwin 2 • Wins 1 • Podiums 5 • 2017 finishing position 12 • CV…

“In 2017 I raced in the Isle of Man ZeroTT finishing seventh on an Energica. “On paper the Energica Ego is impressive, a quoted top speed of 150mph, 136bhp and 144ftlb. Initial testing felt very alien, no clutch, no gears and all in perfect silence – I never realised how noisy knee sliders are when they come into contact with the track. “Initially I simply rode the Energica like a normal bike, 100% throttle, jump on the brakes, turn, hit the apex and back on the power again. Acceleration is impressive and so is the top speed. But hard and aggressive riding vastly reduced the battery life. “Weight is the biggest issue compared to a conventional bike. The steering is good, stability is excellent but you’re really pushing the front…

A Paddock Pass gives visitors exclusive access to the all-new Michelin Thunderdrome live action and racing stars. It’s your chance to enjoy the racing action while having the best view in the house AND get a chance to meet the stars of the show. Adult Paddock Pass tickets start from £40 with Child tickets starting from £20. WHO’S RACING WHEN? Friday racing Foggy, Whitham, Walker, Hodgson Friday Paddock Pass: Meet and Greet McGuinness, Foggy, Whitham, Walker, Hodgson Saturday racing Xaus, Whitham, Walker, Hodgson, Saturday Paddock Pass, Meet and Greet: McGuinness, Xaus, Foggy, Whitham, Walker, Hodgson Sunday racing Xaus, Whitham, Hodgson, Walker Sunday Paddock Pass, Meet and Greet: McGuinness, Whitham, Walker, Hodgson, Xaus…

F850GS | £9,400 93.8bhp | 860mm seat height | 229kg The star of BMW’s 2018 show has to be this great-looking new F850GS, which brings styling cues from the old F800 – but little else. At the heart of the new bike is the 853cc parallel twin (which it shares with in detuned form with the F750GS), that’s gone through more than just a capacity increase. The engine has been completely redesigned with a new crank and 270-degree firing order, to give it more of a V-twin soundtrack and power characteristic. Paired with this new engine is a new electronics package that includes Road and Rain riding modes plus optional Pro modes that include Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro Pro. Assuming these rider modes ar ones on the R 1200GS, it…

On this year’s Adventure stage there will be a fantastic selection of globetrotters brimming with fascinating tales and invaluable touring tips. From packing your bike properly to riding the Pan American trail, there’s something for riders of every experience level on the Adventure stage. Adventurer and author, Nathan Millward, will once again be hosting the stage and has also secured nine of the most interesting adventurer’s bikes to be on display, including Ed March’s 120,000-mile Honda C90 that’s taken him across countless countries including Thailand, India, Norway, Alaska and Argentina, and Aaron Mitchell’s Suzuki DR-Z400 that’s been everywhere from Mongolia to Colombia. Both machines are surprisingly lightly modified to cope with such gruelling global adventures. After each talk, the adventurers will be on hand to answer your questions, sign books…

Café 125 | £2450 9.9bhp | TBCmm seat height | 126kg Herald a a Motor Company is a great UK brand n , based in Cambridgeshire, that produc d es highly attractive small capacit a a y bikes. Cult customs straight out of the showroom, their range of cafe racers, brat-style nakeds and scramblers are a lovely antidote to the more conservative 125 and 250cc options in dealers. This cheeky little Café 125 is a great example of the brand. Gifted with the sort of style you might expect from a custom builder, or a brand like Triumph or Norton, it’s a well balanced recreation of a ’60s icon. From the black painted engine, to the vibrant cafe racer tank and spoked rims, to the brown leather style seat and…

E go | £27,999 136bhp | 810mm seat | 258kg The Energica Ego has one of the most exciting power deliveries of any engine we’ve ever tried. It’s easy to ride and handles superbly, despite its weight. It’s cheap to run, if not buy, and that jetpack soundtrack is a magical surprise. There’s also a limited edition, high-spec Ego45 version with a fast charging system, Öhlins, Brembos and OZ wheels – who wouldn’t want that? Lok out, too, for the Eva, which is a naked version, and even nicer to ride on the road, and the new EsseEsse9, too. All have beautiful build quality, and are astoundingly good to ride. Visit the Moto Corsa stand (M38).…

Using a spade on two strangers might not be advisable, but it’s understandable. So what’s the legal position? We asked Superintendent Mark Payne. What legal rights do you have to defend your bike from theft? Superintendent Payne pointed us to Section 3 Criminal Law Act 1963, which says: “A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime….” The wording here is contentious and came to prominence in 1999 when Tony Martin shot at two intruders who were fleeing from his home. Martin was subsequently found to have used excessive force. The 2008 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act attempted to clarify the position. It stated that defence against prosecution should take surrounding circumstances into consideration in determining whether a prosecution is in the…

Back to school Bennetts have continued their partnership with California Superbike School, and have announced new dates for 2018. The first one is on Monday, April 16 at Bedford Autodrome, with another the following week at Snetterton. More dates and info can be found at www.superbikeschool.co.uk. In the dock In 2016 Harley-Davidson were fined $12 million for selling tuners that broke emissions laws. They were let off a further $3 million to combat pollution; however, it’s now emerged that ten separate states are suing H-D for the damage. That electric bike can’t come soon enough. Blood bikers Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes have been named Merseyrail’s charity of the year, and been awarded a £10,000 donation. The MCBB provides free round-the-clock support to health authorities in the Mersey area. Big…

‘My GSX-R750 hit 195mph on the salt flats, it was flat-out’ QUICK-FIRE ROUND • Fast, intermediate or novice group? Pro • Mud or tarmac? Mud • Four-stroke or two-stroke? Two-stroke • Dark visor or clear? Clear • Gloves in or gloves out? In • GPS or map? Map Q1. What bikes are you currently riding? I’m mostly on the dirt stuff, but my dad was always a Harley fan, so I have a full-dress Harley and a Suzuki 1500 Intruder. I prefer the cruisers. Q2. Which living motorcyclist do you most admire? Doug Henry was someone who just had so much fun on motorcycles. He broke his back, came back to motocross and broke both ribs and then won the championship the following year. Doug is paralysed and still rides…

ROAD BIASED There are four road models; all run a 19in front wheel and Metzeler Tourance rubber. Seat height is 810-830 unless stated. XR £ 9100 The base model, with LCD clocks, conventional lights, no rider modes, no cruise control and optional heated grips. XRX £10,550 Middle-specification model, with daytime running lights, four rider modes, heated grips, Brembo brakes and TFT clocks. XRX LRH £10,550 Middle spec, but for shorter riders. With daytime running lights, four rider modes, heated grips, Brembo brakes, TFT clocks, adjustable 760-780mm seat height. XRT £12,050 Top spec road tiger. With back-lit switchgear, LED/ daytime lights, heated grips, heated seat, lighter alternator, adjustable Showas, Brembo brakes, TFT clocks. OFF-ROAD BIASED Two off-road-biased models, run 21in front wheel and either Bridgestone Battlewing or Pirelli Scorpion Rally rubber.…

By now you’ve probably had your fill of glowing reviews enthusing about how the Panigale V4S handles on a dry, sunny MotoGP track in Spain. But what about in the real world? How does £23,895-worth of cutting-edge superbike feel on the UK’s roads when the sun is hidden behind a cloud and the surface is damp? Having speed and dyno tested the bike two weeks ago, we’ve now put some miles on the Panigale V4 S to see how it fares away from the circuit, so we can answer the questions that really matter. 1 What’s that V4 motor like on the road? John Anderson Amazing. Ducati bust the 1000cc four-cylinder convention to produce a 1103cc motor in an effort to produce big power while retaining flexibility. It makes 198bhp…

A flurry of new-bike purchases have provided the perfect spark for R5K members to kick-start their 5000-mile campaigns. This includes new member John Woolls, who added 110 miles to his total on his new-to-him Aprilia RSV1000 Mille, which he purchased at the start of last December. Speaking on the group’s Facebook page, John said: “After today’s ride through Gloucestershire, I’m now used to throwing the bike into corners with the different feel of a V-twin. It was a good ride and the roads were nice and dry.” Mike Britt also caught the new-bike bug, purchasing his K4 Suzuki GSX-R600 on January 20 for the purpose of trackday scratching. “I drove up to Cannock in what can only be described as ‘mixed’ weather (snow, sleet and rain – all in near-zero…

1 The benefits For the same capacity, a V4 has a shorter stroke than a V-twin, allowing it to rev higher and produce big power, while mimicking the V-twin’s smooth torque characteristics. On track, the V4 has predictable throttle response and a good drive out of corners with a smooth torque curve. It’s also a narrower layout than an inline four, allowing chassis designers to optimise weight distribution and also increase ground clearance, while in 90-degree format its primary balance means that there is little need for heavy balancer shafts to be added to the motor. 2 The disadvantages V4 production bike engines are very expensive to build – and then there’s packaging! The V4 format has hot exhausts exiting from both the front and rear of the motor, and…

Two bikes are cheaper to run than one. Seriously. I discovered this for myself when I was a despatch rider back in, well, never mind. At that time, you could make a very good living out of it, anyway… I soon discovered that having one single bike – in my case, a 250 MZ of uncertain pedigree and even less certain reliability – was a mistake. When it conked out (and it did, often) and you couldn’t get it going again, then you weren’t working. If you weren’t working, you weren’t earning. Simples! Soon I had three bikes. I see commuters on just about every kind of bike known to man, and I often wonder why. Threading through traffic on a BMW R1200GS, complete with huge tin panniers, is like…

‘You can have a new bike for less’ Personal Contract Purchase now finances 20%-30% of all new bikes sold in the UK, and it’s growing fast. But it might not be right for you, so make sure you understand what it is and how it works. 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 (or a…

Seven races set for a cut Seven rounds of the MotoGP championship will see a reduction in race distance for 2018, with Valencia losing three laps, Jerez two, and Brno, Austin, Le Mans, Barcelona and Misano one each. MCN understands it’s in an effort to fit better into TV schedules. Cavendish eyeing two-wheeled switch Tour de France superstar (and close friend of Cal Crutchlow) Mark Cavendish has told journalists at this week’s Dubai Tour that he wants to take up motorbike racing when he retires from professional cycling. Rossi reveals 2018 Team Sky bikes Valentino’s Team Sky have revealed a largely unchanged livery, but a revised rider line-up sees rookie Dennis Foggia step up from the Spanish series. He’s joined in Moto3 by Nicolo Bulega and Rossi’s half-brother Luca Marini…

MotoGP bosses have unveiled the format for MotoE – the new electric class set to debut next year,– revealing details about the new one-make series at an event near electric bike manufacturer Energica’s base in Rome. Set to run at five European MotoGP races from 2019, the series will see 18 riders line up on race-modified versions of Energia’s Ego sportsbike for an eight to 12-lap race that will sit between MotoGP’s warm-up session and the Moto3 race on a Sunday morning. The move marks MotoGP organiser Dorna’s second foray into electric racing after an ill-fated TTXGP support class ran alongside the American MotoGP rounds back in 2011. But after learning a hard lesson last time about how easy it is to go wrong with such an innovative and divisive…

Seeming to defy the laws of physics, Steve ‘Mr Showtime’ Colley will be showcasing his truly remarkable display of trials riding skills for the first time at the London show. From riding up and over impossible obstacles to his famous mono wheelie stunt (riding over obstacles without a front wheel or forks!) his skills will leave you amazed. The show takes place 15 minutes before every Thunderdrome performance so make sure you find a good spot to watch.…

Ninja H2 SX SE | £18,099 207bhp | 835mm seat | 260kg Kawasaki always intended to bring their forced induction to the masses – and with the H2 SX they’ve definitely got closer. At its core is a 998cc inline-four with the firm’s second generation balanced supercharger, gifting the engine a claimed peak output of 207bhp. That’s enough to haul even the heaviest of packers. Luggage, a pillion and touring are the goals here, too. Huge swathes of engine components, the chassis, and the bodywork are all new – so don’t think that this is just the original H2 with a new dress on. Despite the 207bhp peak power and 101.3lbft of gut-churning torque, Kawasaki say the SX will achieve much-improved emissions, and the same sort of fuel economy you’d…

Venue details The Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL Show times Friday, February 16 10am-5pm Saturday, February 17 9am- 6pm Sunday, February 18 9am-5pm Ticket prices You can purchase your tickets on arrival at ExCeL, or online at www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com – allowing you to beat the box office queues on the day. Ticket prices available online and on the door… Adult £21 Concession £18 Student (Fridayonly,withID) £18 Child (under 15 years, withapayingadult) Free Discounted tickets available online now – offer ends February 14. Paddock Passes Paddock Pass holders should make their way to the Paddock area 30 mins prior to the Michelin Thunderdrome performance selected at point of purchase. The Paddock is an extension to the Michelin Thunderdrome, situated at…

Fat Bob | £14,295 107ftlb | 710mm seat height | 296kg Harley-Davidson have ripped the Soffftail and Dyna families apart for 2018, a and glued them all back together as o one family under the Softail banner – w with an all-new shared monoshock chassis. The net result on all models has bee e en a massive reduction in mass, and sweetter t handling to boot. They also get the Milwaukee 107 engine as standard, with four models being available with the bigger 114 version, too. The Fat Bob is one of the hottest of ttthe new range. Its lighter carbon steel tubular frame is claimed to be 65% stiffer than the outgoing version, while Dual-Bending V Valve l ffrontt suspension i – ffir i stt iinttroduc d ed d…

Pendine Sand Racer | £57,999 100bhp | 820mm seat height | 196kg Brough Superior are very much still the Rolls Royce of motorcycles, and with the full production SS100 MK2 now on sale in the UK, the firm is genuinely back – and we reckon George Brough would be delighted by what they’ve built. But just as we’ve become used to their bold modern interpretation of the vintage Brough styling that makes the SS100 stand out in any crowd, the firm have created an even bolder new bike for 2018 – the Pendine Sand Racer. Drawing on the rich speed-record history of the firm at Pendine (and indeed Bonneville), the new Sand Racer is a wild steam-punk reimagining of the SS100, sharing the same engine and running gear, but using…

Suzuki recall Suzuki have issued a recall for the GSX-R1000 and GSX-R1000R due a problem with the gearshift. It’s possible for a missed shift to cause the chain to come off, so Suzuki are replacing the ECU on affected models. Suzuki are currently contacting owners of affected machines. Braking bad Although not listed by Brembo at the time, Husqvarna have now said they too are affected by the huge Brembo master cylinder recall. The track-only FS450 supermoto has been recalled and Husky are contacting owners. Sunshine at last After the doom and gloom of slow sales in 2017, January 2018 has bucked the trend and shown an 11.8% increase in registrations compared to last year. Touring bikes had the biggest uplift (48.8%) followed by Trail/Enduro (33.1%). Special CB H&H Classics…

As the Carole Nash London Motorcycle Show fast approaches, there’s some exciting news about what to expect.TT legend John McGuinness will be pulling pints behind his very own bar. McPint will also be sharing fascinating anecdotes from his road-racing career, as well as sharing extra insight on his future with Norton. There’s also an exciting last-minute addition to the Coys bike auction. Last week we told you about a special-edition Indian Scout that had been commissioned by Activision, maker of the Call of Duty video game series. The intention was to use the Scout to raise money for veterans in the UK. We are proud to reveal that Activision will auction the bike at the Coy’s show sale, in aid of the Call of Duty Endowment program to help veterans…

Icon Airflite helmet, £199-£249 What’s good Stand out with this new Icon Airflite. With a distinctive full visor available in a multitude of colours, it also has an internal sun visor. MCN has the first three Airflites in the UK, so keep an eye out for updates. What’s not While there are plans to sort it, this helmet is not yet ACU approved. www.partseurope.eu LS2 Metro Evo, £179.99-£189.99 What’s good The Metro Evo is a flip-front adventure-style helmet, which is homologated for use both open and closed. There is a detachable peak, and it is ready to accept the LINKIN Ride Pal Bluetooth comms system. There’s also a drop-down internal visor. What’s not Colours are limited and the styling won’t suit everyone. www.ls2helmets.com BOS exhausts for middleweight BMWs, £332-£437 (Euro…

BARBOUR INTERNATIONAL JACKET £399 Modern interpretation of the classic jacket is designed for biking – unlike the ones on the high street. It has a waterproof lining, reflective belt and pockets for D3O armour. www.the-cafe-racer.com TCX METROPOLITAN BOOTS £199 Easily the smartest-looking motorcycle boots out there, the Metropolitans are also practical as they’ve got a fully waterproof GoreTex lining. www.tcxboots.com REV’IT CUBBON GLOVES £54.99 The Cubbon is a simple-looking glove with plenty of modern tech. The design is vented, with knuckle armour and short cuffs, making it ideal for dashing around town. www.revitsport.com BUILT MAGAZINE £4.99 If one retro story every week isn’t enough, then Built magazine is what you need. Jam-packed full of the latest and greatest customs, it’s perfect for those with oil in the blood. w w…

A few weeks ago, London Mayor Sadiq Khan called a meeting of motorcycle makers to talk about crime and encourage them to make bikes harder to steal. He rightly got some stick. It’s not the makers’ fault bikes are getting stolen – it’s the scum who nick ’em, knowing there is little chance the underfunded, understaffed police force will catch them. Yet while it was easy to look at Khan’s comments and say he’s an idiot who’s trying to shift blame from the Met, he does have a point in a roundabout way. We should all be more vigilant against theft. Recently, a mate had his Fireblade stolen. He’d left it overnight in the car park of a city hotel in an area known for bike crime, with just the…

‘Adventure Sports has a more off-road bias and ability to eat up miles like never before’ HIGHLIGHTS • 45mm fully-djustable Showa forks • Easy to set-up electronics • Off-road performance • Colours and styling • Exhaust note The overnight snow has thankfully disappeared, and there’s a satisfying bark from the exhaust on Honda’s new flagship as we ascend one of the many twisty mountain roads that dominate this area of southern Spain. A new model designed to sit alongside the stock Africa Twin, the Africa Twin Adventure Sports has more of an off-road bias, but also the ability to eat up miles like never before. Having enjoyed significant sales success since its re-birth in 2015, the Africa Twin has now undergone its first round of serious upgrades in a bid…

‘The national park is full of perfectly surfaced mountain passes’ Sitting atop a peak of shattered granite, The Eagle’s Nest affords a vista that stretches across Bavaria into Hitler’s Austrian heartland. With huge skies, deep valleys and roads that wend their way through topography that’s like rucked-up carpet, this improbable lair demonstrated the power of nature, but also the engineering power of the Third Reich. From here he could watch the weather turn, witness clouds roll in and storms fizzle out. He was literally on top of the world. But as well as the location of an infamous hideout, Berchesgaden National Park is also one of the most inspiring and engaging places in the world to ride a motorcycle. Straddling the Austria/Germany border, it’s full of perfectly surfaced mountain passes…

Price £9999 Fu e l 20 litres @ 47mpg = 200 mile range Weight 233kg (kerb) Seat 850mm Power 99.2bhp Torque 74.5lbft RICHARD NEWLAND Richard Newland. Riding addict with a love of big miles. Rides all year in all weathers. Height 5ft 11in Weight 111kg richar d.newl and@motorcyclenews.com ‘As the mileage has started to climb, so too has my confidence’ January was a cruel bastard of a month. Repetitive snow and relentless cold made almost every journey a battle, mainly on country back roads so mud-caked that they looked more like byways than roads. It’s been a filthy, freezing and treacherous month on two wheels – and I’ve loved every minute of it. The big Strom thumped out 1167 miles between January 1 and 31, and revealed some interesting truths…

Michelin l Power RS tyres £280 Tester Matt Wildee Time used 2000 miles/ three months What’s good? Introduced at the start of last year, Michelin’s Power RS is designed to be a sporty, grippy road tyre that can handle reasonably fast track use. Sitting between the Pilot Power 3 sports road tyre and the Power Cup Evo race tyre, they have been designed to warm up quickly, offer good grip at road-going speeds, yet still perform on the track. And from my first impressions, they work well. I fitted them to my tweaked BMW R nineT Racer last year and for my needs and in this specific application, they were better than both the conservative OE Metzeler Roadtec touring tyres and the very racy Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SPs SPs II…

Q How do I prove cause of my injuries? I had a no-fault accident six months ago and the driver’s insurer admitted liability. They instructed a rehabilitation company, but the insurance company is refusing to pay for physio to help my back and neck pain as they are disputing the cause of my injury. What is going on? They have admitted fault! Colin Watts, email A In your claim, you must prove the accident caused the injuries for which you are claiming compensation. This is evidenced by obtaining expert medical evidence in the form of a medical report. Things that can be relevant are any pre-existing conditions (for example, previous back or neck ache), either constitutional, or as a result of a previous accident. It is important your medical expert has…

You only have to have read the test of Ducati’s Panigale V4 on page 32 to see that it is the fastest, most powerful sportsbike the world has ever seen. But there is no getting away from the fact that it costs a huge amount of money. The base model costs a whopping £19,250 and then it’s a further £4645 for the Öhlins-equipped V4 S which starts at £23,895. That’s a lot of money in anyone’s book. But fortunately you can experience much of the thrills and great looks of the new bike with the old V-twin Panigale – and with prices that are far more palatable. Used prices of the original 2012-spec 1199cc Panigale start at about £11,000 and examples of the updated 2015-spec 1299 S can be bought…

1996 Triumph Trophy 900 £700 Seller says 45,546 miles, panniers, no MoT, right-side fairing resprayed. Neil says Worth a punt. Those 885cc triples are bomb-proof and the panniers are worth £150 alone. 2002 Kawasaki GPZ500S £700 Seller says: 37,949 miles, MoT, good condition. Neil says: Looks very good indeed to me. Better description would have gained a better price. 1998 Suzuki GSX600F £750 Seller says: 26,800 miles, new chain, sprockets and rear tyre. Neil says: Unfashionable budget sports-tourer 600, but amazing value at this price. Looks good, too. MCN BIKES FOR SALE 15,421 bargain bikes for sale right now!…

MATT SUTHERLAND 16, riding less than a year SUZUKI HAYABUSA ‘I’d buy the most up-to-date Hayabusa I could for the money. Despite not being able to legally ride it yet, it’s been a dream bike of mine since I was young, and the th sleek l k looks l k just appeal to me. I’ve grown up in a household of sportsbike riders so the fact that this is one of the fastest production bikes in the world really appeals to me.’ NICKI SUTHERLAND 54, riding since 2004 1998 YAMAHA YZF-R1 ‘I would have an original R1 in white/red. It’s a beautiful bike and has achieved iconic status for the way it moved the sportsbike class on. I really like ik th the sttyling li of the tail section in…

Matt Woodland Yamaha, KTM and Ducati Technician at SMC Bikes, Sheffield. “We don’t see many of these bikes any more. Many years ago, they were quite popular because they were a very cheap 600 to run and buy at the time. Now, a lot of them are being phased out and replaced with more modern and fuel-efficient bikes and we only see them occasionally for MoTs. “They are now mostly used as a day-to-day commuter bike and they are run and run until they go wrong – that’s when we see them for the repair. They are not the best looked after, but as long as they are running, folk keep running them! “Previously, they came in for their main services, tyres and general wear, tear and repair. As far…

‘We’re doing it for the bikes not the cars’STUART PRINGLE Silverstone have staked their claim as the home of British motorcycle racing for the foreseeable future, as they embark on an ambitious multimillion-pound resurfacing scheme with MotoGP in mind. They originally planned to resurface the bottom section of the track as part of their agreement with MotoGP bosses Dorna to extend their deal to host the British Grand Prix for a further three years. However, they decided instead to lay new asphalt on the entire 3.7-mile circuit ahead of this year’s race. And, with the decision being made specifically to cater for two-wheeled action despite also being the home of the UK’s F1 round, Silverstone CEO Stuart Pringle told MCN the move is intended to stake the track’s claim as…

‘We’ve been looking at riders in the Italian and British series’FRANCESCO GUIDOTTI One question that wasn’t answered by the presentation confirming key details about the MotoE championship was who we can expect to see lining up on the grid – but it’s starting to look more and more likely that it’ll feature familiar faces, even if they’re not regular Grand Prix racers. Original suggestions hinted at the teams who will be running bikes in the class – the seven independent MotoGP teams and one each from Moto2 and Moto3 – would field their regular riders. But with the time schedule seeing the MotoE race slotting in between MotoGP warm-up and the Moto3 race, that now looks likely to be rejected. Another suggestion was that we could see teams fielding their…

There are some big and exciting changes at this years Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show and they don’t get much bigger than the Michelin Thunderdrome – the all-new live action show featuring WSB icons Carl Fogarty, Ruben Xaus, James Whitham, Neil Hodgson, Chris Walker and a host of BSB stars! For the past four years, Slide, the celebrity packed live action show in the centre of the main hall, has been thrilling showgoers with exciting wheel-to-wheel and shoulder-to-shoulder racing. For 2018 we’re taking the action up a couple of notches and bringing you the Michelin Thunderdrome, a live action show like you’ve never seen before. See racing stars Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty, James Whitham, Chris Walker, Neil Hodgson and the king of slide, Ruben Xaus, take on the new Michelin…

Welcome to ExCeL London for the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show 2018. We’re thrilled to be here in the capital surrounded by some of the country’s biggest bike fans, and we can’t wait to catch up with you all over these action-packed 72 hours – whether you’re a visitor, exhibitor or manufacturer. There’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do at the Carole Nash stand (M110) so don’t forget to make sure a quick visit is part of your schedule. We’ll have bike start-ups by three very special guests from the JG Speedfit Kawasaki BSB team: James Hillier, Leon Haslam and Luke Mossey. We’ll also be running a free daily prize draw, where you’ll have the chance to scoop some fantastic biking prizes. If you’re feeling a…

790 Duke | £8499 103.3bhp | 825mm seat | 169kg (dry) We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this little nutter. Touted as the ‘ultimate street weapon’ it’s set to stir up the middleweight naked market, and possibly steal some thunder from the like of Triumph’s Street Triple. This is KTM’s first parallel-twin four-stroke engine, and comes with electronic fuel injection, two balancer shafts, semi dry-sump lubrication with oil cooler and six -speed transmission. The engine is used as a stressed member to save weight and wittth its LC8c parallel-twin kicking out 103.3 3bhp, and a low dry weight of 169kg, it shoulld d ffeell rather dynamic on an open thrrottle. It’s not short on spec, e e either. Cornering ABS with a a Supermotomode,lean-angle sensitive traction control, quickshifter+ and…