Table of contents for 26th June 2019 in MCN

MV Agusta are planning less costly versions of their new, limited edition Superveloce and Brutale 1000 and say we can also expect more ‘accessible’ and heritage-inspired machines in the future. In an exclusive interview with MCN, the Italian firm’s CEO, Timur Sardarov, said that the initial, limited-edition, ‘Serie Oro’ version of the new Superveloce was being built first to give priority to customers wanting a little more exclusivity, but that work was also underway to create a more affordable, mass market version. “MV Agusta started with the Serie Oro to give priority to our top customers, but now we have started work on the production of a more accessible bike,” he said. “We want to bring the bike to as many customers as we can and so want a bike…

Daley Mathison’s widow, Natalie, is appealing for the return of his mobile phone after it went missing at the TT. Mathison was killed in a crash during the superbike race, and his widow is asking for the phone to be returned as it contains many photos and messages that will otherwise be lost forever. It was last seen by Daley’s father in the awning of the race tent while Daley was racing. A cash reward has been offered for its return, details of which can be found on the TT Facebook page.…

THIS WEEK FRIDAY 28-30TH British Superbikes, Knockhill, Fife Entry See website for various ticket combinations. Adult race day tickets £32. Children under 12 free Info www.britishsuperbike.com SATURDAY 29TH Classic Suzuki Track Day, Cadwell Park, Lincs Featuring an all-star line-up of bikes and riders. Entry £139 Info www.classicbiketrackdays. com/classic-suzuki SATURDAY 29-30TH Ton-Up Day - Bike Show & Autojumble, Jacks Hill Cafe, Towcester Bikes, food, live music and more. Entry free Info 01327-351350 or Facebook: @jackshillcafe SUNDAY 30TH Summer Santa Cruise Rideout Ride to Little Bridge House Children’s Hospice starting from various points across the southwest of England. Entry free to ride, but donations are appreciated. See website for destinations. Info www.santasonabike.org.uk TUESDAY 2ND Teesside Bikers, Pitstop Diner, Stockton Regular meet at this Co Durham venue from 6pm. Info www.teessidebikers.co.uk YOUR HANDY…

A Gofundme page has been set up to help support TT star Bruce Anstey in his return to racing following a two-year absence as he battles cancer. Set up by former MCN road tester and TT racer Adam Child, the fund is hoping to raise £10,000 for the popular Kiwi. Anstey has 13 TT wins to his name across a career that has spanned 20 years. Anstey announced that he would have to step back from racing in April last year after several tumours were found on his lungs and his spine. Bruce is hopefully firmly back on the road to recovery and is aiming to be ready to race again in time for the Classic TT in August. Donations of any amount are welcome, with the info on how…

I love a bit of technology me. In the kitchen I’ve a fancy internet radio that lets me listen to breakfast news from Venezuela. In the living room I’ve a vacuum that does the cleaning without me actually lifting a finger. And in my garage I’ve a car that will park itself when I can’t be bothered. Brilliant! But what about motorbikes? I must admit I’m very fortunate to own four motorcycles, and this is soon to go up to five. Two of these, a BMW R1200GS and my Ducati 899 Panigale, are what I would call ‘modern complex’ machines. The other two are more, ahem, down-to-earth, back-to-basics type vehicles: a 2012 Triumph Street Triple R and Honda CRF250L. The Triumph and Honda lack ABS, traction control or any riding…

Give a dog a bad name and it sticks. The Kawasaki Z750, the modern version, not the ancient air-cooled things, is one such. When it came out it was good-looking and powerful enough, but it vibrated a bit, the handling wasn’t up to scratch (literally) and the Street Triple aced it in every department. There again, the Street Triple aced everything, but lacklustre early road tests can be the death of a model and it did for the first Z750 when it appeared in 2003. Two problems: it was a bit pricey and the suspension was built down to a price. Kawasaki revamped it in 2007 and made it a bit cheaper, which was a smart move, but another of the moves was to make the suspension even more budget.…

Check your policy In response to Dave Thomas’ letter (MCN, June 19), it appears most weeks there is some issue raised about insurance and in most instances it is the customer who is left out of pocket. I worked in the industry for nearly 40 years and without doubt, insurers treat customers appallingly. In the circumstance explained in Dave’s email, the insurer documentation, and I don’t mean the “small print” policy wording but the Key Facts document or Policy Information Document MUST clearly state any European cover is third party only – if it does not the insurer cannot avoid a claim, regardless of the actual policy wording. Mark Stevens, Eckington Lid-off fuelling is a pain I am sorry I moaned about taking off my helmet to fill up with…

Q Who takes the blame at a chicane? I was riding my Honda Hornet 600 and had right of way through a road-narrowing traffic calming measure. Although it didn’t have priority, a car coming the other way drove through towards me. The driver slammed on the brakes but unfortunately we collided, sending me over the car. I clearly had priority, the ‘give way to oncoming vehicles’ sign proves this, but their insurers are saying it’s 50/50 blame. It seems ridiculous. Alan Stewart, email A These chicanes are also known as ‘single lane working chicanes’ or ‘priority narrowing’. Single lane chicanes require one direction of traffic to give way to oncoming vehicles. ‘You must make sure it is safe to enter the chicane’ A known disadvantage of these is that…

Benelli have created a very capable mid-sized cruiser with the new 502c. It might not be dripping in X-factor goodies but it has its own rumbling character, a refined Honda-like motor and is great value for money. It’s packed with lots of tasty equipment and performs well around town and beyond. If you’re into this style of bike and you have an A2 licence it’s the perfect place to start your biking journey. The Italian/Chinese company have turned a corner producing well-made, genuinely desirable machines and the new 502c cruiser is just the beginning.…

1959 - 1967 1959 Honda enter the TT for the first time. 1961 The Argentine Grand Prix is the first GP to ever be held outside of Europe. 1962 Mike Hailwood wins the first of four consecutive 500cc titles for MV. 1963 The Japanese Grand Prix is the first GP ever to be held in Asia. 1964 The United States Grand Prix is the first GP held in North America. 1966 Honda wins the constructors’ title in all five solo classes. 1966 Giacomo Agostini wins the first of seven consecutive 500cc titles for MV. 1967 Honda withdraw in protest at rule changes. 1968 - 1977 1969 Godfrey Nash becomes the last winner of a 500cc GP on a single-cylinder machine – a Manx Norton. 1971 Jack Findlay takes the first…

MICK DOOHAN Five-time world champion from 1994-1998 Only lost out in 1992 as well due to injury Dominated for five seasons Every now and again in Grand Prix racing, there arrives the perfect storm of technically-advanced bike and truly great rider. The 1960s saw it with Agostini and MV Agusta, the present era is seeing it with Marc Marquez and Honda – but in the mid-nineties it was the turn of Australian Mick Doohan to romp to title after title on the all-conquering Honda NSR500. Yet it didn’t come easily. A practice crash at the 1992 Dutch TT very nearly ended Doohan’s winning ways before they even got started. He suffered permanent, serious damage to his right leg due to medical complications and, at one stage, faced amputation. At the…

Mark Wong, Age 44 “I rode the WR250 and it was my first time at an off-road school. Before this I hadn’t ridden off-road since I was ten, so this was the first time trail riding for more than 30 years. “What was great was the initial instruction we received, but then as the day progressed we were all pulled aside and given specific instruction tailored to us. They watched everyone and helped everyone improve their technique. After that the trails were challenging at times, but we were given plenty of time to do our own thing and get a feel for the terrain and the bikes we were riding, but the team were always there to support us if anything went wrong. “We had plenty of time on the…

1. Wolf GT-S Titanium Outlast jacket £189.99 I really like this jacket – it’s robust, feels secure and it’s warm. But the bottom of the zip has started to fray, which is disappointing. We rode through horrendous weather and water got in eventually, but it put up a good fight. 2. Oxford SP-J2 jeans £99 These were a subs gift from MCN and they’re what I wear for general riding. They’re not too bulky so they don’t make you too hot on warm days. They don’t come with knee armour but to be honest, I think wearing external armour would be more effective anyway. 3. Shox Axxis helmet £89.99 I’m not a helmet snob and don’t believe that one costing £500 is five times better than one…

Shoei Neotec 2 £599.99 Tester Simon Relph, one year, 4300 miles Flip-front lids are great; all the safety of a full-face, but at the press of a button you can feel the breeze, which is especially nice on a hot day (this one is homologated for use in both positions). I also like the built-in drop-down sun visor, which is something I now can’t ride without. The chin bar makes a reassuring solid click when it locks into place and is easily opened using the button on the chin. When riding at speed the wind noise is noticeable, some of which comes from the join where the chin bar meets the helmet, when I put my hand over it, the noise becomes less. Ventilation is good and the Pinlock keeps…

12-14mm spanners A set of good quality, flat-sided, ring spanners are essential for workshop tasks. For this job they are just the ticket for loosening your bike’s front wheel spindle nut. 3/8 ratchet and sockets Using a socket and ratchet to loosen/tighten the fork caps allows you a greater deal of control than just using a spanner. The socket’s depth also gives better purchase onto the cap head, preventing damage to your motorcycle. Torque wrench You don’t need an electronic torque wrench like this – although they are very simple to use – but you definitely need a torque wrench in your biking toolkit. Fork oil level tool A handy, inexpensive tool to help you set the correct oil level and air gap, as described in your bike’s workshop manual.…

Avintia Racing rider Eric Granado took Grand Prix racing’s first electric win, topping a practice race held at the culmination of last week’s three-day test at Valencia for the new MotoE class. The plan was to give the 18 riders on the grid their first taste of racing in the Energica Evo one-make series and the nature of the victory for the Brazilian former Moto2 rider gave hope that the class will make for close racing. Negating worries that the 240kg machines might be too unwieldy for overtakes, Granado and Tech3 rider Hector Garzo swapped the lead multiple times on the final lap, before a do-or-die move from Garzo at the final turn left Granado to take the victory and ride away with an Energica Eva road bike as a…

Ducati top brass, including company CEO Claudio Domenicali and technical head Gigi Dall’Igna, made the short trip from the Bologna factory to Misano to witness 23-year-old Michael Ruben Rinaldi shine brightest of all their Panigale V4 R riders. The large Ducati presence was in preperation for Monday’s post-race test and also included wildcard Michele Pirro and the test team led by Giovanni Crupi. Rinaldi, riding for the Barni team, beat Chaz Davies (who struggled to a best of fifth), Pirro and Lorenzo Zanetti to take his Panigale V4 R to a top five finish, backing up his fourth at Jerez.…

Honda’s leading concept creator has sights set on the 80s ‘Endurance racers are my favourites’ ‘Electric bikes are a challenge’ Valerio Aiello, the man who penned Honda’s entire Neo Sports Café range including the CB1000R, CB650 and CB125R as well as the CB4 and CB1100TR concepts, is falling back in love with the 1980s. His last concept was the CB4 Interceptor – a wild neo-retro endurance racer based on the CB1000R and it’s in this direction he’d like to head. “For me the endurance bikes are my favourites – my favourite Honda ever is the VF750F,” says Aiello, Styling Manager at Honda’s European R&D centre. “Right now we are eating from the 1970s, then it will be the 1980s and then the 1990s. Then when we are finished it will…

Bike thieves are openly selling stolen vehicles on social media accounts, with some even taunting their alleged victims. A group called ‘Weston Repo Guys’ have been stealing bikes in the Weston-Super-Mare area before posting pictures on Instagram. The account (which has since been made private) claimed that the group ‘repossessed’ neglected bikes and invited victims to smile if they saw their bike listed. Referring to theft as ‘repossession’ is a growing theme on social media, with countless ‘repo gang’ style accounts on Instagram alone. An account named ‘Repogan’, for example, claims to offer stolen vehicles for sale. In one such post, a 2015 Kawasaki ZX-6R is shown and another Instagram user has asked if the bike is ‘chordy’ (meaning stolen – we had to ask a young person to translate…)…

The ninth annual Prescott Bike Festival and Hill Climb was a roaring success with a stack of cash raised for Blood Bikes. The event has raised in excess of £200,000 over recent years and has helped Blood Bikers provide a free, out-of-hours delivery service for the NHS. This year the organisers handed over a fully-paid-for 4x4 vehicle which will enable Severn Freewheelers to deliver fresh blood supplies to the Midlands Air Ambulance base all year round. The vehicle will also be used to transport frozen human milk from donors to milk banks and special baby care units when the quantity exceeds the carrying capacity of a motorcycle. Severn Freewheelers currently deal with roughly 400 calls per month, operate from 7pm until 7am on weekdays and offer 24-hour cover at weekends…

Spanish helmet brand MT have upgraded their popular Blade full-face design. The new Blade 2 features a redesigned, injected thermoplastic shell, has removable and washable cheek pads, comes in two different shell sizes, has a new, quick-release, Pinlock-compatible, visor, a flip-down sun visor and a central locking vent, It comes in a huge range of colour schemes including plain gloss and matt and five different funky designs, is EC and Snell approved and it retails at £134.99. For further information go to www.mthelmets.com.…

Over 600 bikers celebrated the longest day of the year by attending the weekly Biker’s Night at Whitwell and Reepham Station in Norfolk last Friday. This informal get-together regularly draws an eclectic mix of bikes, so MCN decided to come along and see for ourselves. Although the station closed to passengers back in 1959, it has since been restored to the halcyon days of the 1930s/40s. Refreshments are available from the Sidings, a licensed cafe offering tea, cake, burgers and beers. “There’s such a broad cross-section of bikes,” says Jason Hunt, who rode in on a ZZ-R1100. “It helps out the station out as well,” adds ZX-10R owner Ivan Farrow. “The people who run it are biker friendly and the revenue from the café goes towards keeping it open.” ‘It…

Do you know a stunning biker café that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves? Head online to MCN’s #ride5000miles Facebook page and nominate your favourite nosh-pit or alternatively drop your recommendation to mcn. letters@motorcyclenews.com. Entice us with pictures of floury bacon baps and sizzling big breakfasts, and we’ll consider it for inclusion in this year’s hunt. We’ll be visiting one café each week and as Autumn creeps into our bones, we’ll reveal the top ten best ranking cafés on tour, and open them up to a public vote to pick the 2019 winner of MCN’s Golden Sausage Award. So get out there and get involved!…

JORDEN HUNTER Age 22 Height 5ft 5in Been riding Two years Current bike 2006 Honda CG125 Dream bike Panigale 959 “I think the build quality of all of Honda’s machines is brilliant. I purchased a CBR125R when my CG125 was with the insurance company and around a month after selling the CBR, I began to miss the feeling and riding position of a sportsbike compared to my CG. “I can only imagine that feeling you get when riding a sportsbike only grows with a bigger machine and I prefer the looks of the CBR to its competition, so when I do step up I think it’ll be to a CBR. “My dream bike would actually be a Ducati Panigale 959, but the CBR500R would be a brilliant entry point into…

With their comfortable, road-biased stance and frugal twin-cylinder engines, it’s all too easy to cast A2-compliant sportsbikes off as little more than a styling exercise, with none of the traditional thrill power or cornering prowess that we seek when choosing a bike. However, 500 miles on the Yamaha R3 and Honda CBR500R  have smashed that preconception to pieces, with both offering bags of cornering ability and enough poke to keep up with and stay ahead of the traffic – all wrapped up in a set of sleek, superbikeinspired plastics. Both would make the perfect poster bike for the aspiring sportsbike enthusiast, but top honours have to go to the CBR. Although £800 more expensive, there’s more road presence, a better soundtrack and plusher suspension. Capable, frugal and comfortable, it’s the…

1949 - 1958 1949 Harold Daniell wins the first ever 500cc Grand Prix race at the TT. Leslie Graham takes inaugural title. 1951 Carlo Ubbiali wins the first of nine world titles. 1951 Geoff Duke wins the first of four 500cc titles for Norton and Gilera. 1956 John Surtees wins the first of seven titles. 1957 Gilera, Mondial and Moto Guzzi withdraw citing increasing costs. 1957 Bob McIntyre wins the longest ever GP – 301.84 miles, or 8 laps of the TT. 1958 MV Agusta win the constructors’ and riders’ championships in all four solo classes.…

1978 - 1990 1979 Kenny Roberts is the first American to win a premier class world title. 1982 The last year of the 350cc class. 1984 50cc class replaced by 80cc class. 80s then disappear in 1989. 1987 Wayne Gardner is first Australian to win premier class championship. 1987 Push starts replaced by grid clutch start. 1988 Wayne Rainey is first to win a Grand Prix using carbon brakes. 1990 500cc class switches from five to four bikes per row on the starting grid. 1991- 1999 1992 Honda introduce the ‘big-bang’ engined NSR500 grand prix racer. 1993 Rainey tragically paralyzed following a crash at the Misano round. 1993 Shinichi Itoh breaks the 200mph barrier on a Honda in Germany. 1994 Mick Doohan wins first of five consecutive titles. 1998 500cc…

2000 - 2012 2002 Four-stroke 990cc MotoGP bikes replace the 500cc two-stroke class. 2003 Valentino Rossi wins the first four-stroke title after also winning the last two-stroke one. 2004 Premier class grid switches from four to three bikes per row. 2008 MotoGP runs its first night race in Qatar. 2009 A single tyre brand is introduced with Bridgestone chosen. 2010 The Honda-engined Moto2 class replaces the 250cc two-strokes. 2012 MotoGP raises the engine capacity to 1000cc and introduces claiming rule teams. 2013 - 2019 2013 Marc Marquez wins title as a rookie and becomes the youngest ever premier class champion. 2014 Marquez wins first 10 races of season. 2016 Tyres go to Michelin from Bridgestone and control ECU is introduced. 2017 KTM join Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki and Aprilia in…

A ride through stunning Scottish scenery and the chance to stop off at the Grampian Transport Musuem is a favourite route for Norton Commander owner, Tony. “I use it as a quick fix when I feel the need for two-wheel action, to clear my head, think about nothing but riding, to smell the the countryside and, most of all, enjoy being a biker. “The jewel in the crown is the Old Military Road from Huntly to Alford, it’s a really great road with a number of challenging sections that can really test your riding skills. “I stop off in Alford to visit the museum and view the collections of bikes. I’d also recommend their Guy Martin Experience.” THE ROUTE • Historic roads • Museum stop off • Good for the…

In these times of austerity, money’s tight, but the owner of this 2001 Kawasaki ER-5 went a bit too far when he tried to save a few quid by getting new tyres fitted to loose wheels. “It was all good up to that point, then he goes home and gets the half-inch drive ratchet out to ‘just make sure it’s nice and tight’…and oops, there’s a crack as the bottom of the fork leg shears,” said Jason Atreides from M&M Motorcycles. ‘This is why a torque wrench is essential’ Like a lot of bikes these days, one fork leg is threaded for the front wheel spindle to screw into, while at the other end is a clamp with a pinch bolt. If it is a single-disc model like the old…

Assen is the senior GP venue, and – at or near the middle of the season – a traditional pivot point. Also the greatest of circuits: a complicated lap rewarding only the most stylish of riders… there’s some of that left, in spite of the 2006 emasculation. But that’s just history, and – pfffff. Who cares? The furthest back we need to go is to last year… without much doubt the best premier-class race of all time. A lead pack more than ten strong was trading paint, rubber and places for the full 26 laps and 73.4 miles: 41-and-a-quarter minutes of holding one’s breath. Some people counted the number of overtakes, a tricky job. There were at least 100. And over the line four of the world’s best riders were…

‘He’llmissthe Brit and US rounds and Suzuka, too’ Luck deserted Pata Yamaha at Misano. Regarded by many as the favourites at the Italian track, the team left the circuit without the win that would have backed up Michael van der Mark’s victory in Jerez. Instead the Dutchman was ruled out following a heavy crash while teammate Alex Lowes could only salvage a single second place. Van der Mark’s crash was horrific and prompted a great deal of concern around the circuit. The 26-year-old suffered concussion, a broken wrist and two bruised ribs. A plate was fitted to his wrist at Rimini Hospital, with sources close to the rider suggesting a five-week recovery period was required, threatening his involvement not just in the British and American rounds but also the prestigious…

“Maybe we’ll now see a different approach from Alvaro Bautista. He is a tenth or two quicker in race pace but will he continue trying to pull away, or think: ‘Do you know what? Let’s sit back and see what happens...’? That’s two rounds on the bounce when he’s crashed and said, ‘I have to learn from this’. What I believe he will be thinking, is: ‘That’s two Sundays when I’ve tried to get away and I’ve crashed. Maybe we should keep the speed in our pocket and attack at the end of the race.”…

Tucano Urbano have launched a second generation version of their popular Pol jacket. The Pol 2G is now fully CE-certified with stronger and more resistant fabrics, as well as coming with CE Level 1 armour in the shoulders and elbows. It also now has diamond stitched quilting on the shoulders, two chest pockets and two lower cargo pockets with watertight zips. There’s even a vent on the chest for when things get steamy. It’s available in black and khaki, in sizes S-3XL with an RRP of £159.99.…

A man in his 20s and a woman, 19, have been arrested by Operation Venice officers, the Met’s moped-enabled crime division. The pair are suspected of committing 10-15 thefts across London in 2019 using a stolen moped on a stolen number plate. Officers found the stolen moped parked in south London and waited for the pair to return before making the arrest. “Operation Venice continues to identify and bring to justice offenders who steal mopeds and use them to commit crime,” said Sergeant Callum Rodgers of Operation Venice.…

SAVE20% Shark Evo-One helmet, £319.99 Modular lid which brings a slice of city chic to flip-front lids. Certified as both a full and open-face lid, the Evo-One 2 has a thermoplastic shell, Pinlock Max Vision insert and a five-year warranty. www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk SAVE£50 Alpinestars SMX-6 boots, £139.99 Hugely popular, sport-focused boots that are ideal for summer road rides or trackdays. There’s flexibility and protection, with moulded armour at the ankle, toe, heel and shin. Easy to wear and immensely comfortable. www.jsaccessories.co.uk SAVE£159 Spidi H2 Out X Tour jacket, £274.99 Amazing price for an all-year-round laminate shell touring jacket, with an outer that guarantees not to become saturated. Removable polar fleece, full CE armour, and waterproof zips. www.infinitymotorcycles.com SAVE32% Snell Conic Universal silencer, £79.99 Stainless steel, universal-fit silencer claims to be suitable…

Reader Mark Rowlands The Ride Cork in Ireland to the Spanish Pyrenees When to do it Now Miles 1437 Time required 16 days Don’t miss this “Campdevanol to Montserrat. Fantastic empty roads that lead to a stunning monastery. Defies description." GREAT WEATHER We had some snow on high passes but brilliant sunshine on 14 out of 16 days, so no complaints! THE BIKE Had no problems at all with the Honda CBF1000. We took a pump and cable ties but didn't need a thing. THE ROUTE Where possible we used Google maps set to avoid motorways and it took us to some great places. JUST DO IT! Brilliant views over the open plains and past huge reservoirs, as always, plot the route avoiding motorways and tolls and the roads are…

Once upon a time, motorcyclists were able to pass their full test at 17 and go on to purchase any bike they wanted. Sadly, those days are long gone and, in their wake, lies a convoluted minefield of licences, designed to put youngsters on more appropriate machinery. This shake-up has given birth to a new breed of affordable sportsbikes, designed to tempt aspiring head bangers moving onto an A2 licence at 19-years-old. With many major Japanese and European manufacturers now offering scaled-down superbikes, both Honda’s CBR500R and Yamaha’s YZF-R3 have been updated for 2019, boasting more grown-up, racy looks and high quality components. Both offering A2-licence friendly, Euro4-compliant parallel-twin engines, complete with sporty, yet forgiving riding positions, the pair will cut it for back-road thrills, as well as seeing off…

The Grand Prix paddock celebrated its 70th birthday at the Catalunya Grand Prix. Now called MotoGP, the first motorcycle road racing ‘Grand Prix’ world championship started way back in 1949, and the championship has come a long way in the 70 years since Harold Daniell won the historic first 500cc race at the Isle of Man TT. But sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same, and if there’s one lesson to be learned from Grand Prix history it’s that great riders and stories play out generation after generation. MCN takes a look back at the seven eras that have defined the premier class.…

Alex Morrison Northern Enlightenment – 50 miles Take North Road out of Ponteland and then turn left onto the B6524 to Belsay. Turn right then head for a quarter mile then left on the B6309 to the Military Road Crossroads with the B6318. Swing left to Heddon on the Wall on the B6528, before you take the A69. After a quick left onto the B6324, you head back to Ponteland via Wolsington. THE ROUTE • North/South • Stunningscenery • Into ‘Toon’ Richard Newland Ranch Raider – 70 miles Go north from the Iron Horse on the A15. At Bourne go left on the A151 into Corby Glen then follow the Bitchfield signs to Grantham. Nip along the A607 to Melton Mowbray, where you join the A606 to Oakham and ride…

I LIKE • I love the aesthetics – it’s purposeful and no-nonsense • The torque – there’s always plenty of go regardless of what gear you’re in • The build quality – it’s really nicely made and the finish is solid I DON’T • There’s nothing to stop water getting into the 12v socket whilst you have something plugged in • USB connector under the seat – why? It should be in the cockpit somewhere QUICK SPECS • 800cc • 94bhp • 205kg • 840mm seat height PRICE NEW £1,1400 VALUE NOW £9000…

When people think of classics it’s natural to make the mental leap to investment opportunities. Surely design classics like the Ducati 916 or game-changers like the Honda FireBlade have left such an indelible mark on the history of motorcycling that, in 50 years’ time when combustion engines have long since been replaced by some as-yet-undiscovered fuel cell technology and driverless vehicles rule the roads, these legends of the mechanical age will be worth a fortune. Well, maybe. If you’re buying a bike as a means to make money then you’ve got to do your homework and track down the right example, especially if it’s something that’s been mass produced like the models featured here. For a machine to be in any way collectible in the future it has to be…

A weeping fork seal might seem like a trivial problem, or a messy annoyance that leaves your fork stanchion covered in a gritty oily residue that needs regular wiping off. But it’s more than that and can stand between you and a renewed MoT certificate. Leaking fork seals can, and do, contaminate braking surfaces. After a hard ride the warm oil can more easily permeate the worn or damaged seal and drip and dribble its way down the fork leg and down onto the brake discs and pads and well, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that oil has an ability to seriously reduce friction which is great in engines but not so good in braking systems. So, don’t ignore a weeping seal – replace both…

A privateer team leading BSB - what’s not to like? The Oxford Racing Ducati squad and rider Tommy Bridewell have proved how a privately-funded operation with common sense, clear direction and pure guts can beat factory-supported outfits. Why haven’t you used the newest swingarm yet? A Cost. I think our decision has been justified. We tried to understand the benefits of the swingarm before rushing into it. Our budget can win BSB but we have to be careful. If there is something which might give me a couple of stronger corners a lap, that swingarm could now be what we need. Just how good is Scott Redding? A He’s not got even a minuscule disadvantage to Josh Brookes. Scott is a very, very experienced rider. It’s 100% true that he…