Table of contents for May 30th 2018 in MCN

After such a tediously lingering winter, summer appears to have leapfrogged spring and arrived with an almost violent explosion of sunshine, warm air, sticky tarmac, and slow-moving flies. It’s inspired an equally rapid dusting-off of mothballed bikes and riding kit – and with that comes a deluge of social media viral wannabees trying to out-do each other with riding footage. My timeline has been flooded with clip after clip showing the sort of reckless lack of respect for other humans that I thought was solely the preserve of politicians. My particular ‘favourite’ was an appallingly inept fast wheelie between cars and across a junction in a residential area. Not only was his lack of skill so apparent that I’m surprised he wants anyone to see it, but he’s building the…

As if the eight-litre V10 Viper or the aeroplane-engined Flying Millyard weren’t enough, Allen Millyard has now produced this RC374: his tribute to Mike Hailwood’s race-winning RC166. And he’s built it for less than the cost of buying the genuine bike’s front wheel! Building the dream “It all started when I met Guy Martin at Castle Combe last July and he was parading one of the originals,” says Millyard. “I’ve always fancied one but the price is out of my league. Riding home I started thinking: where can I get a couple of engines? “So I called DK Motorcycles. I was after the Honda NC23 ‘Baby Blade’ engine but they’re so rare, so I went for the Yamaha FZR250R because they rev to 18,000rpm. It took from July to October…

When it comes to air-cooled twins, no one does it quite like Harley-Davidson. That off-beat rhythm has enchanted bikers all over the world for decades and the Sportster has been the way into the brand for 60 years. Harleys have some of the best residuals of all bike brands, so even old scruffy bikes can fetch a pretty penny. If you are in the market, try to pick one in good visual condition; that’s often a sign of how they look inside, too. 2018 1200 IRON What is it? The 1200 Iron takes the urban bruiser image of the 883 and adds 30% more power for only £500 more. Service intervals are 5000 miles and hydraulic lifters mean valves never have to be adjusted. It’s £3000 cheaper than the first…

‘Multiple-stage tests, and high insurance costs are big obstacles’ SAM WICKS In contrast to the news last week that more 55-year-olds than ever are taking their test, our #ride5000miles members are proving that motorcycling is a long way from just being an old man’s game. One prominent, high-mileage member of the R5K group is 19-year-old Sam Wicks. The student and kennel-worker has already completed over 10,000 miles on his A2-spec Triumph Street Triple since he bought it in August last year. “I just love riding,” he says. “Before the Triumph I had a Yamaha YZF-R125, which I did 25,000 miles on. I ride my bike everywhere, for fun, to bike meets, over to the British GP and with a pillion, too.” Being a biker if you are under 23…

Dutch satnav experts TomTom have unveiled a brand new model, packed with more features and a faster operating speed. The new system boasts a quad-core processor, allowing four centres of processing to work independently for reduced power consumption, enhanced performance and efficient, faster multi-tasking. Anyone who has bought a PC in the last decade will be familiar with quad-core processors. They’ve become widespread as devices are asked to do more than one thing at once. They have become particularly useful in things such as satnavs, which as well as navigation devices have become more complicated as users demand more options and multimedia interactivity. Extra speed The multi-core processor has other advantages. While you could just have a number of processors, a multi-core has a faster connection between the processing centres.…

AJS 350 I passed my test in 1949 on a Triumph Tiger but this is the earliest picture I have showing my AJS in 1956. Terry Stevens YAMAHA DT250 This is me in 1981, aged 17, on my DT250 in DT400 colours. I took my test on it before the 125 rules came in, and put it back on the road in 2016, 33 years after I last rode it! Jason Williams MATCHLESS G11 Here’s a picture of my dad and his pride and joy. This shot was taken in either the late 1960s or early 1970s. Paul Carter SUZUKI K11 This is me on my Suzuki K11 Sports 80 in 1967. I’m now on to my 15th bike. Colin Brown TRIUMPH OUTFIFT That’s me at the front. My parents…

Thirty grand, as I’m sure I don’t need to remind you, is a heck of a lot to spend on a motorcycle, but then the new Gold Wing is one heck of a machine. Yes, you could buy a couple of bikes, a car and a nice holiday for the same money, but few two-wheelers will give you such bragging rights when you park up and the inevitable crowd gathers. It has a flat-six, 1.8-litre engine, seven semiautomatic gears and 0.75mph reverse, you’ll tell them. A blast of the stereo and a whizz of the electric screen will make them swoon with child-like joy. You’ll show them the new Gold Wing’s boot, its electronic pannier door buttons, heated grips, heated seats and airbag. You’ll scroll through the colour TV-sized central…

You could easily miss them, but hidden away on a nondescript trading estate in leafy West Sussex is a British world-beater. Nova Racing and their small team of 14 design, create and perfect the gears, clutches and transmissions that drive some of the fastest and most famous bikes on the planet. Leon Haslam’s British Superbiketopping ZX-10RR uses Nova; much of the Moto3 grid use Nova and at next week’s TT, sidecar TT favourite Dave Molyneux favours Nova, too. Their modern strengthened transmissions dominate UK classic racing; they’re favourites with endurance racers in Europe and off-roaders in the US, and are fitted to everything from road bikes to 700bhp drag-racing Hayabusas. Not a bad CV for a business set up by one man in Peterborough. Nova were founded by Graham Dyson…

‘It actually goes as well as it looks, just like a production bike’ Handcrafted, low-production exotica like the £59,999 Brough Superior SS100 you see here is, for many, the stuff of motorcycling dreams. Built with fastidious attention to detail, interesting engineering solutions, little concession to cost and an alluring back-story, it’s a bike designed to evoke emotions. MCN has been lucky enough to ride many machines like these over the years. But whether they’re produced as a labour of love and tinkered with in a shed every night for 20 years, or built by new companies with revived vintage badges, they all have one thing in common: they’re mostly pretty rubbish to ride. Specials builders and niche motorcycle makers are usually so wrapped up in creating the perfect carbon-fibre piece…

‘A day like no other in road racing history’ Thursday, May 15 Robert Dunlop spent what was to be the final day of his life at an agricultural show in Belfast with his wife, Louise. An accomplished horsewoman, Louise was exhibiting at the event. The pair made their way home early for that evening’s North West 200 practice session. Fifteen North West 200 victories had seen Robert become the most successful rider of all time at Ireland’s biggest race meeting. They also helped the 47-year-old step out of the perpetual shadow of his older and more famous brother, Joey. Joey had died in a crash in Estonia in 2000 but Robert had vowed to carry on racing. Many of his NW200 victories had come on superbikes, including the iconic John…

THE STUDENT Matt Luker, 44, Oxfordshire Recently back to riding after a confidence-knocking non-fault crash, Varadero rider Matt is an IAM advanced rider. THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training A police motorcyclist for 18 years, Mark has been training people to be faster, safer, better riders on the road for 20 years. Matt’s riding problem ‘I’ve been trying improve my countersteering for three years now. I’ve read about it, but I’ve never managed to get it right.” Mark’s action plan ‘I’m going to break the corner down into clear movements, so Matt has a process to help him get the stages of steering sorted.’ THE LESSON 1 Fifty-pencing the corner If Matt is tipping into a corner and isn’t sure of the line, he turns too early. This is partly…

‘I’ve got the height of a big adventure bike’ Riding off-road really is fun. It’s different and it’s challenging and having the bike move around underneath you stands you in good stead if you are ever caught in a slide. It makes you a better rider. I’s also bloody good exercise and absolutely knackering. People think the bike does it all for you, but it absolutely doesn’t,” says Chris Wheal, a London-based financial journalist, . Chris has owned trailies for almost his entire riding life and is a passionate off-roader - splitting his time between long-distance tours and exploring trails around Kent. But what actually drew Chris to the Honda CRF250 Rally was the announcement of the London Ultra Low Emission Zone and the fact that he would soon have…

Speculation growing that Lorenzo could be reunited with the M1 Running out of options as Mir heads to Suzuki Jorge Lorenzo may be set to make a spectacular return to Yamaha machinery for the 2019 MotoGP world championship. The 31-year-old Spaniard is understood to have lost out on a chance to join the Suzuki squad and remains on rocky ground with current employers Ducati. Lorenzo’s time with the Bologna firm has been difficult to say the least as he tries to adapt his smooth riding style to the aggressive nature of the Desmosedici. Able to make some headway and still showing glimmers of his old form (like when he led the opening laps of the French Grand Prix two weeks ago), he has nonetheless struggled to maintain any level of…

At present the rumours are largely centred around three-time World Champion Jonathan Rea’s next move. Rea confirmed he is in talks with Kawasaki to extend his contract in WSB, but hinted at an ‘interesting’ offer from the MotoGP paddock that surfaced in recent days. What the offer is remains unclear and it’s hard to see where he’d fit in although it’s believed he’s had contact from Aprilia. Naturally, Ducati and Yamaha are interested in the champ for WSB, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to meet his high salary demands, although the prospect of him winning on another bike, in this case a Ducati V4, could be tempting. Even prior to his two stunning wins, rumours are strong that Michael van der Mark is set for a move to Kawasaki…

‘I was spinning up because I was struggling to hold on to the throttle’ Jonathan Rea was unable to hide his disappointment at Donington Park despite finishing on the podium in both races. The series leader came to his home round with one goal - to eclipse Carl Fogarty’s longstanding record of race wins by taking victory number 60. It says a lot about a rider’s mindset when they’re so disappointed with a double podium, but then Rea isn’t a three-time champion for nothing. His biggest issue at Donington Park was arm pump, that all-too-common condition amongst motorcycle racers. Long periods of stress bring swollen muscles, a lack of blood flow and reduced feeling in the hands. This affected Rea’s ability to flick the bike from one side to the…

Michael van der Mark stunned with a historic double victory at Donington Park this weekend to take Yamaha’s first World Superbike triumph since 2011. Saturday’s win also saw van der Mark become the first ever Dutchman to win a World Superbike race and the victories were the first non-Kawasaki wins at Donington Park since Jonathan Rea won with Honda in 2012. The PATA Yamaha squad have been knocking on the door of victory for some time now with van der Mark coming close to winning at Misano last year, but the stars aligned for the British-run squad this weekend with the Dutchman taking the double win. And the victories didn’t come in freak circumstances, van der Mark outright beat World Champion Jonathan Rea to victory. After a strong end to…

‘Visitors are getting a poor impression’ LUDLOW TOWN COUNCIL A row over parking could see motorcycles banned from one of Britain’s best-loved biking spots Castle Square in historic Ludlow, Shropshire, is a regular stop for bikers drawn to its pretty location in the shadow of Ludlow Castle, as well as the area’s great roads. Bikers regularly park in the square in front of Ludlow College. Cars, meanwhile, as there’s no ‘official’ parking in the square, use the Castle Street car park 150 yards away down a side street. But now the local town council is considering officially banning bikes by creating a restricted parking zone in response, it says, to complaints from locals – and bikers and even a local councillor are up in arms! The council is proposing…

‘Any bike over 40 years old will no longer need an MoT test’ NEW DVLA REGULATIONS Big changes to the MoT test have just come into force with the authorities aiming to improve the safety of all vehicles on the road. There are now five categories that the tester can use to categorise the condition of your bike: Pass, Minor, Advisory, Major, Dangerous. Pass, Minor and Advisory are all counted as ‘passes’, but the latter two are used to highlight problems needing attention and, ultimately, fixing. Items marked as Major will result in a fail for any fault that could be a danger on the road, while Dangerous is for something that presents an immediate threat – meaning the vehicle cannot be returned to the road until it is…

‘It’s crucial we protect the people who protect us’ Changes in the law are being proposed to prevent scooter and two-wheeled criminals evading police pursuit simply by driving recklessly. Under current rules, and in the midst of a wave of scooter crime that is sweeping London, any motorist, including police officers, who fails to drive in a ‘competent and careful’ manner could be prosecuted for careless or dangerous driving, even during police pursuits. The Police Federation has argued this deters some officers from pursuing suspects as they are worried they’ll be charged if they have to break the speed limit, jump red lights or drive on the wrong side of the road. As a result, there have been increasing cases of two-wheeled criminals riding recklessly – even to the extent…

'The Bike Shed is created by punters not the industry' Last weekend thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts descended on London’s East End for Bike Shed 2018. With more than 240 of the latest customs on display, queues stretched around the block long before the doors opened. We joined the happy throng eager to experience the world’s most accessible bike club. Bike Shed London is more of an exhibition than a show, but it’s an exhibition with a festival feel – the kind of place you can spend the whole weekend soaking up the atmosphere whilst checking out the work of some of the most influential builders on the custom bike scene. We caught up with the Bike Shed’s founder, Anthony ‘Dutch’ van Someren, to find out what makes this event so…

Don't let thieves win Well done Omar (MCN, May 23). I’m sure there are more riders like you out there who haven’t had a mention in the hallowed pages of MCN, but you’re a shining example of how to tackle these scumbags. I collect and deliver motorcycles in London and the South East and wear a stab vest in readiness to fight off any ‘scrotes’. The Police say ‘don’t put up a fight’ but that’s not exactly the Dunkirk spirit, is it? Pat, email Don't defend the crims The police are worried about chasing thieves who steal scooters and motorbikes and/or use scooters and motorbikes for violent theft. Why? Because there are ‘specialist’ solicitors making a good living defending these thieves. Garry Porter, email Letting the side down I have…

Spectacular roads and stunning scenery often go hand in hand, but it’s a combination that can lead to one of motorcycling’s greatest dilemmas: finding that perfect spot to pull up, switch off and chill out. Opportunities slip past all too easily when you’re focused on the road ahead, but if you’re riding the A708 from Moffat to Selkirk (or vice versa) there’s an idyllic loch-side location just waiting for you to roll in. This week we take a break along one of Britain’s best biking roads to spend time at The Glen Café. “Bikers have been stopping off here since the 1930s,” says The Glen’s Kriss Stephenson. “Just look at that view, what more could you ask for?” There was one thing actually, but once our order was placed it…

People seem amazed when bike racers crash and just want to get back on the bike! They think we must be bionic… But it’s embarrassing crashing; all you want to do is scramble back to your bike get on it, get back to the pits with your tail between your legs and pretend it never happened. Sometimes you’re hurting like f**k, but you won’t admit it! ‘SOME PEOPLE CALL US MAD, BUT THAT’S JUST BOLLOCKS’ Recovery is all about determination; we’re different gravy. It’s funny because the surgeons just can’t put a finger on it… They’re always in total disbelief at the things we do and the timescales we can recover in to get back on a bike again. The big improvements in track safety and kit helps, without a…

It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B roads, a stretch of busy motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy tarmac. There are two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time for sportsbikes, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 Fuel cap confusion It might have a sea of buttons dotted around its cockpit, but none seem to be the one I need to release the fuel cap. It doesn’t take much to confuse a road tester. After I’ve looked for what seems like an eternity, MCN Office Manager Alison Silcox, who’s joined us for…

They make world championship-winning superbike engines, so creating the SS100’s was a piece of cake for Biarritz-based Kawasaki WSB engine builders, Akira. Unique to the Brough Superior, the fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, 8v, 997cc 88° V-twin has its cylinders integrated into a horizontally split semi-dry sump crankcase, with aluminium alloy forged pistons. Engine cases are machined on the inside, as well as out, despite the fact they’ll never be seen. Although the motor makes a modest 100bhp, which actually delivers the perfect blend of easy-to-manage power and thrust for the road, it can be mapped to give up to 140bhp, depending on how fruity the customer wants his bike to be. The eagle-eyed will notice a huge amount of fresh air in the ‘V’ between the cylinders, which is where Brough are…

1. APPROACH Position yourself on the left of the road, eyes on the vanishing point. Set your speed and gear, and do all your braking. 2. TURNING IN With your turn-in point spotted, initiate the turn by using a positive push on the inside bar (right for a right) to tip the bike in. 3. GET ON LINE How aggressive you are will determine how fast you tip in. Once the bike in on your chosen line, relax the bar pressure. 4. BALANCE Your inputs are now about maintaining the correct line, but should now be minor unless the radius alters strongly. 5. EXIT STRATEGY As the corner opens out, introduce throttle to help you pick the bike up, and go neutral on your bar inputs as you get vertical.…

1 Choose the right plug Plugs might all look the same, but the devil is very much in the detail. All petrol engines use one or more spark plugs to ignite the fuel/air mix and when you consider the number of times a minute a cylinder fires it’s no surprise they have a hard life. Your manual will let you know how often you should change the plugs and will give you the spec on which type to fit. 2 Remove the plugs Make sure you have enough room for a plug socket and ratchet. Depending on your bike, you may have to remove some bodywork and even the tank. Take the plug cap off and move it to one side, then use a dedicated socket to remove the plug.…

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi says he can finally see light at the end of the tunnel for the struggling Yamaha M1. The team has gone months without tasting victory due to issues with the bike’s grip levels, especially in high temperatures or in the rain. But, after a season of trying to fix those issues by concentrating on chassis development, Rossi says that their pace in Le Mans shows that the chassis is not the problem. “In Le Mans historically you spin less because the corners are short and the asphalt is good. When you get those two things together, the electronics are less important. It shows that this bike is good, that we just have to improve in some other areas that aren’t easy.” But improvement in that…

In terms of results, this weekend’s British round of WSB at Donington Park will be one Ducati will want to forget. Saturday saw Chaz Davies eighth, Michael Ruben Rinaldi 12th, Marco Melandri 22nd after a crash and Xavi Fores out. Sunday was better: Davies fifth, Melandri 11th, Fores out again and Rinaldi stranded on the starting grid. ‘We lost the race in the first corner... Chaz’s pace was very fast’ There are claims that Ducati has put all resources into next year’s new V4, but they insist this is not true. Either way, Chaz Davies is a world-class rider and despite his lack of results on paper, a deeper analysis shows that he has in fact lost none of his pace. By the seventh lap on Sunday he was six…

Donington proved a tough weekend for the brace of Bennetts British Superbike wildcards lining up on the grid to showcase themselves against the world’s best. ‘I think we can be really happy with two point-scoring finishes’ There were high hopes for BSB front runner Bradley Ray, who was able to be competitive throughout practice and qualified a strong tenth. However the difference in machine specification between the factory World Superbikes and his BSB-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000R  particularly the lack of traction control  proved too much in race conditions. Ray crossed the line 14th and 15th in the two races, and said: “We had a really enjoyable and productive weekend. We couldn’t compare ourselves to the World Superbike teams, we had to compare our performance to when we were last…

What a start it has been to TT 2018, with an unofficial lap record and speeds never seen before during the opening practice sessions. Those performances from Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison have erased any fears that this year’s races would be a pale shadow of recent TTs in the absence of star racers John McGuinness and Bruce Anstey through injury and illness. Any suggestion that Michael Dunlop might dominate TT 2018 has also been sidelined by Dean Harrison and Peter Hickman’s early pace. Dunlop’s outright lap record of 133.962mph is still much quicker than any of the speeds set so far in 2018 and it is early days for the Ballymoney man who is finding his feet with the Tyco BMW S1000RR superbike. But Harrison and Hickman have already…

BMW have unveiled what they are calling ‘a look ahead to what an exciting new Adventure Sport model might look like.’ Called Concept 9cento (pronounced ‘nove cento’, which is 900 in Italian) this isn’t some pie-in-the-sky concept  there’s no doubt that a road-going version is on its way. “We see the essence of two wheels not necessarily linked to 250kg and over 150bhp  agility, light weight and around 100bhp are enough for a new mid-range class,” explains Karl Viktor Schaller, BMW’s head of R&D. “That’s the thinking behind Concept 9cento, it’s a fun bike that can cover miles and also be enjoyed in the bends – a modern all-rounder.” Using longer travel suspension and 17-inch wheels to provide a comfortable ride with sporty handling, Concept 9cento is powered…

After announcing their new road safety initiative, which we reported on two weeks ago, Police Scotland have said they’ve stopped over 200 bikers to help promote road safety. Patrols stopped the bikes on the A82 and the North Cast 500 route to encourage safe biking. But for some it was more than just a friendly chat. A number were given £100 and three points for their transgressions, while others were tackled over registration, insurance and licensing issues. One rider was reported to the Procurator Fiscal for travelling at over 90mph along the Rannoch Moor road. Presumably, he will be encouraged to spend six months travelling by bus while thinking about how he can ride safer. With 87 riders losing their lives on Scottish roads over the last three years, it…

Peak power is only a claimed 24.7bhp If you thought the days of big trailies such as Honda’s XL650, Kawasaki’s KLX650 or even Suzuki’s DR-Z400S are over, think again. Here’s Honda’s all-new, street legal CRF450L. It was unveiled this week alongside Honda’s new CRF450R motocrosser and CRF450RX enduro and the L, being both derived from and styled like those bikes very much looks the real deal. Its frame is a similar aluminium twin spar; suspension is similar meaty and adjustable 49mm USD Showa forks and monoshock rear. The brakes use wavy discs while the styling is familiar, too – albeit with extra LED lights, speedo, horn, and mirrors. But it’s the changes to make the L’s engine road legal that leave us with our biggest question mark. Although based on…

Does it work? Yes. You slip the clutch to the point you can let it fully engage and if the front rises, you just need to trust the electronics. Throttle Held wide open, the messages from the IMU actually control the position for the fuel-injection butterflies Wheel speed Using comparative data between the front and the rear wheels lets the bike to know if it is wheelieing or losing traction Clutch Feed it out as normal, but don’t slip too hard or it will overheat. Only three launches are allowed by the system. KTM’s 790 Duke is the first middleweight naked with launch control – an automated system that, in theory, enables you to make a perfect getaway from the lights every time. GP bikes have been using it for…

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I've been reading and following with interest the campaign by Ria Brisland, mother to Nick who lost his life when on his way to a meet in Hampshire, to get the driving theory test changed to include better awareness of motorcycles. I work for Hampshire Constabulary and one of my roles is to present speed awareness courses. Within our course we do include a section on raising the awareness of motorcycles and play a short video of a car pulling out of a junction in front of bike. The film was originally part of the Think Bike campaign ran on TV back in the late 90s. Hampshire is a great destination for biking and if we can help prevent an accident by highlighting the causes then it can only be…

LOVE IT STEWART TOYE Age 50 Height 6ft 2in Current bike Ducati 1098/ BMW K1200 Been riding Over 30 years First bike Yamaha TZR125 “Old Gold Wings are massive, but this is a lot smaller than I expected and not as heavy. The finish and equipment level are very good. I’m a bit of a gadget fan and there’s plenty there. For what it’s designed for I think it would be really good and I could see myself riding one.” LIKE IT RONNIE PETERS Age 43 Height 5ft 11in Current bike Kawasaki ZX-10R/Honda Africa Twin Been riding 23 years First bike Kawasaki KMX125 “I admire and appreciate everything about them and there’s plenty of comfort with heated seats, power screen and the DCT gearbox. It would be fun to go…

You certainly couldn’t ask for more gadgets, a smoother engine or plusher ride. And for such a behemoth of a motorcycle, it’s surprising just how incredibly well the new Gold Wing goes, stops and handles. The Honda is a technological marvel that does the sporty stuff better than ever, but it’s physically too big for most sections of our MCN250 test route, its DCT transmission is slightly too fussy and for rider and pillion alike it doesn’t offer the consummate day-long comfort you’d expect. HONDA GOLD WING TOUR…

1 In-house design Production is usually in small batches although one-offs are considered. A job then begins when Nova’s designers headed by ‘Aussie Mike’ Payne use CAD to create a design drawing. 2 Machining Gears start as billets of special M121 ‘Bohler’ steel from Austria then turned down to the basic proportions. 3 Gear cutting Nova use three gear-cutting machines plus different machines for internal teeth, gearshaft splines and so on. 4 Treatments All gears are heat hardened (the only process done externally, in Luton) then ‘hard-turned’ to rehone. Some are ‘superfinished’ via two ‘rumblers’ containing ceramics for a total of 20 hours. 5 Assembly Most sales are solo gears, but Nova also work with whole gearboxes, especially when developing new products. 6 Quality control Rejects are few. “But it’s…

IRELAND BIKEFEST, KILLARNEY JUNE 1-4 ‘Admire the valley view’ The picturesque Irish town of Killarney becomes home to thousands of bikers at this annual, free-to-enter event. With live music, organised rideouts and a fleet of 2018 Harleys to test, it should be a top weekend. The route From Killarney join the N71 and take the tree-lined road, which makes up part of the Ring of Kerry. It becomes narrow and climbs to Ladies View, where you can admire the valley view. The road continues to narrow as it cuts a path through a dramatic rock arch and on towards Moll’s Gap, after which the road widens and turns towards Kenmare. Follow the Ring of Beara by turning right on R571 to follow the River Kenmare and a series of sweeping…

In the ’90s, it was Ducatis that got pulses racing. But their price tags were almost as heart-stopping as their looks. That’s where Aprilia came in... With its own range of V-twins, Aprilia brought exotica to the masses, with a glorious superbike and the world’s first super-naked. Despite high-spec parts, they were only marginally more expensive than their Japanese rivals. Now you can pick one up for as little as £3000. £2999 2002 APRILIA TUONO 997.6cc | 181kg | 128bhp | 820mm seat height • Dealer price £2500–£3800 • Private £2250 – £3500 • This one £2999, private sale I was working for Aprilia as Technical Manager when the Tuono first arrived and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it in 2003. It is literally an RSV with…

This weekend sees MotoGP head to one of the series’ grand old venues - the beautifully scenic Mugello circuit. Nestled in the hills of Tuscany not far from the heartland of Italian motorcycling in Bologna, it’s guaranteed to be a sell-out crowd of fans willing on Valentino Rossi to take his first win for over a year. Start-finish One of the fastest of the year and with a crest in the middle that can upset a bike easily and lead to a terrifying tankslapper, it plays to the strengths of bikes with lots of top end and a good aero package to keep the front wheel on the ground. Turn 1 (San Donato) Braking from 220mph to 30mph in 300m, this is one of the hardest braking corners of the…

Leon Camier could barely climb off his Honda on Sunday, the legacy of the broken ribs and punctured lung sustained in an Aragon crash six weeks earlier. However a gutsy ride from the 31 year old meant that he finished the Donington races tenth and eighth to collect 14 points, but it could so easily have been zero. Camier’s Honda team-mate, American Jake Gagne grabbed a 13th place on a clean weekend, his task of track learning seriously compromised by Friday’s poor weather.…

With the weather men predicting two weeks of hot weather, records look set to be smashed at this year’s TT. Dean Harrison set the island alight during the first Superbike practice session on Monday night, lapping at 131.376mph on the Silicone Kawasaki ZX-10RR. That speed is the fastest ever recorded on the opening night of Superbike TT practice. The Bradford rider laid down a 130mph lap on his first circuit before upping the ante on his second run. 15 times TT winner, Michael Dunlop was second fastest with a speed of 131.09mph on his first run around the Mountain Course on the Tyco BMW. Smith’s BMW’s Peter Hickman was third quickest with a 129mph lap to confirm predictions that this trio will be the favourites for this year’s TT big…