Table of contents for 4 March 2020 in MCN

For the second year running, Indian Motorcycles are offering an amazing prize to ticket holders at the Wheels and Waves festival held in Biarritz, France. Anyone who buys a five-day pass to the festival will also automatically be put into a draw to win a 16-day tour of the USA on an Indian motorcycle. Wheels and Waves is a custom motorcycle festival held in the south of France that runs from June 10 – 14, with a five day ticket costing €90 (approx. £80). For more info on the event, visit wheels-and-waves.com.…

Cal Crutchlow “Sad situation for riders, teams, fans and everybody involved. But we have to think of the bigger picture and it’s more than just racing a bike next weekend.”. Fabio Quartararo “So sad and disappointed but it is what it is. Let’s see when will be our first race.” Marc Marquez “Qatar GP cancelled for coronavirus and travel restrictions. We’ll have to wait to start the action.” Cal Crutchlow “We have to think of the bigger picture and it’s more than just racing a bike next weekend.” Alex Marquez “We start the week but without the Qatar GP. I really wanted to debut in MotoGP but we’ll have to wait.”…

Voting has opened in Ducati’s 2020 ‘Custom Rumble’ competition, which allows you to pick from 74 different customised Scramblers to see who will be crowned the winner. Of those 74, five finalists will be selected to go to the Bike Shed London 2020 in May, where one winner will be chosen. The contest runs every two years and this year the bikes are split into five categories: rocker, cut-down, all-terrain, outsider and ‘bully’. Builders can chose any Scrambler 800 for the build, with 1100s only allowed in the bully category. The machines in the competition range from café racers, to hardcore off-roaders, blacked-out bobbers to genre redefining specials. All 74 machines can be viewed at scramblerducati.com where you can vote for your favourite before the competition’s closing date of March…

There’s no such thing as a good cheap trail bike. If a trailie is going for peanuts then it’s either stolen or knackered. Or both. Big trail bikes have all morphed into adventure bikes – bog-basic things like the Suzuki DR650, Kawasaki KLR650 or Yamaha’s XT600 (once Europe’s best-selling bike) aren’t made any more and the ones that are left are geriatric. Good ones are expensive and, anyway, they’re all a bit hefty for anything more than gentle off-road use. Learner (125cc) trailies abound, but most are in a hell of a state. And you can’t park one anywhere for more than five minutes (three minutes in London or Manchester) without some scrote trying to steal it. So, sorry, but you’re going to have to go recent and low mileage…

Suzuki snub#1 Great issue February 26. I bet Suzuki love you guys! They spend money advertising their GSX-S750 on page 14 and right next to it on page 15 you have an article by Neil Murray saying what poor value the very same bike is. I can’t help thinking about the glowing endorsements you gave Norton when their warranty issues were well known – in contrast to the treatment you gave Suzuki. I am all for independent journalists and I really like Neil Murray, but feel you have treated Suzuki very harshly. Why not wait a week before Neil’s article?A bit unfair to a manufacturer who supports your paper and at least delivers bikes and fixes warranty issues... unlike Norton. Eddie Foreman, email Suzuki snub #2 I couldn’t disagree more…

YAMAHA PW50 My mate Andrew on his Yamaha PW50 in 1995 aged five in Ordsall, Manchester. Terry Rule SUZUKI TS250 Me on my first bike, a Suzuki TS250 in 1977. Forty-three years later, I’m still riding – on a BMW S1000XR. Dave Turner BSA STARFIRE Here I am on my 1969 250cc BSA Starfire in 1974. I’m now 62 and ride a Triumph 1050 Tiger sport and still love riding bikes. Ade Sturt BSA BANTAM On my 16th birthday in 1956. The Bantam was the first of many bikes. I’m still riding today approaching 80 years old. Ian Robinson NORTON DOMINATOR Going all the way back to 1964 on my Norton Dominator 88SS. What a great bike that was. Trev H SUZUKI GT380 My Suzuki GT380 complete with 3 into…

•250-MILE ROAD TEST • THE BEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK Riding Yamaha’s Tracer 900GT and the new BMW F900XR around the MCN250 is like playing sports-touring ping pong. At every twist, turn, roundabout, town and dual carriageway one nudges ahead of the other in your affections. The Yamaha is roomier, but the smaller BMW is more manageable. The Tracer’s clutch lever is so far from the ’bar it may as well be in another county and it doesn’t have an autoblipper, but the XR’s side stand is a worry; flick it down and you always feel like you’re leant past the point of no return, until it finally touches terra firma. The silver one has more grunt, but the red one has more grip and so it goes on. Yamaha…

Even if you’ve never heard of Riders for Health there’s a good chance you’ll have heard of Two Wheels for Life. They’re the fundraising side of the outfit and MotoGP’s charity of choice having run The Day of Champions at the British Grand Prix now for three decades. Last year’s event raised £300K by auctioning off exclusive merchandise, race-worn riding gear and even selfies with racers past and present. One fan bagged a selfie with Valentino Rossi for £3700, while a signed replica Rossi AGV Pista GP-R helmet went for £7100, as well as £4800 for a place at Colin Edwards’ Texas Tornado Boot Camp. And it’s not just about the auction, either, as fans are treated to appearances from British Superbike riders, live music and the chance to pay…

The Zero SR/S is exciting enough to convince the most committed petrolheads The noise, smell and vibes of internal combustion aren’t missed and there’s a thrilling, surrealness to its startling, seemingly effortless acceleration. Handling, braking, rider aids, size and weight are all up to motorcycle standards, too. There really is a lot to like. But it fails to tackle the issues that hamper widespread electric uptake: range, recharge time and price. As a commuter you could live with the first two, but that £20k tag remains a huge hurdle.…

1 Don’t rely on swingarm adjustment marks Rear wheel alignment is usually taken care of by chain adjustment. It’s done by aligning the chain adjusters with the correct marks on the swingarm, but relying on these marks can cause issues as they’re often inaccurate. Measure from the spindle to a fixed point on the swingarm forward of the adjuster and adjust both sides until the measurement is the same. 2 It’s easier with a single-sided swingarm Some bikes don’t require alignment checking on both sides of their swingarm. On shaft drive bikes with no chain, for example, the wheel is permanently fixed in position with no adjustment needed. Single-sided swingarms adjust the drive chain within the hub, and therefore tension the chain without the faff of checking rear wheel alignment…

McAMS Yamaha had a packed schedule in Monteblanco with the team getting to grips with the improved 2020 R1. The team have been working closely with Yamaha Racing in Italy and Jason O’Halloran and Tarran Mackenzie were able to try out a range of new parts, including fairings. “It’s definitely a step forward,” O’Halloran told MCN. “The aero is better and there’s more protection for the rider. It feels like we’ve got less wheelie from them, which is a good thing.”…

BMW had a somewhat low-key start to the 2020 season despite Tom Sykes becoming the first rider in WSB history to achieve 50 pole positions. For Race One, the 2013 world champion fitted an alternative rear compound tyre to that of his rivals which duly backfired, dropped off the cliff and left him ninth. The second long race saw him in tenth place, having finished sixth in the sprint. New team-mate Eugene Laverty was also out of the picture, still striving for an improved power delivery. The 13-time race winner was 11th in Race One but was ruled out of both Sunday races following a heavy crash and subsequent concussion in Sunday morning warm-up.…

Newcomer Max Scheib finished seventh in Race Two after the 24-year-old Chilean delivered a mesmerising performance for Orelac Kawasaki. The Spanish team tested with Kawasaki Racing at Jerez but this takes nothing away from their privately-run effort. Ten Kate Yamaha also had reason to be cheerful but also huge disappointment as Loris Baz led Race Two before twice taking evasive action. The Dutch team deserved at least a podium finish but hopes to take their pace to Qatar.…

‘It was very impressive how Alex managed the races. Several times he dropped back into seventh but he still managed to fight back and not use too much tyre, which depends on how you have your bike set up. It shows just what he is capable of. My group of mechanics have worked together since 2012. We’ve survived real ups and downs over the years. At the moment we’re number 1 but that is only a number on paper. Alex is very professional and motivated. He fits so well in our group, we share the same mentality. It’s been a great weekend.’…

‘Dunlop relishes a challenge’Stephen Davison, Roads Reporter After winning the ’16 Superbike TT and setting a 133.962mph lap record, Michael Dunlop made an audacious prediction. “There’s definitely more in me and I think 134mph is possible.” he said. “Maybe even 135.” Dunlop’s failure to fulfil that prediction brought the superbike TT racing dominance he enjoyed between 2013-17 to an abrupt end. The 30 year old has continued to win TTs, three in 2018 and one last year. But Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison have pushed the lap speeds beyond his reach. Harrison punched through the 134mph barrier in the 2018 Superbike race and Hickman blasted to the current lap record of 135.452mph in the Senior. Joining Birdy’s PBM squad to race the V4R is Dunlop’s bid to get back on…

MARC MÁRQUEZ (REPSOL HONDA) “Of course my target for 2020 is the championship. Last year it was already difficult to finish in the top two at every race but I can already see that it will be very, very difficult to do that this year. “Honda need to keep working because especially Suzuki and Yamaha have improved a lot over the winter. In fact I’m more worried about the technical side of things than about my shoulder. “The character of the new bike is similar to 2019, it’s an evolution. With the latest engine we need to understand how it affects the electronics and adjust all the parameters. It looks like we have a bit more top speed and acceleration, but we still have the same pushing from the engine…

Former racer and Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi is at loss to explain why Dovizioso is under-valued by many in MotoGP. Dovi is noted for his physical fitness and mental resilience, especially against Marquez and Honda in the title fight. “I absolutely feel that Andrea is underrated. I don’t understand why some speak about him like a loser,” Tardozzi said. “For three years he’s shown his potential in MotoGP so what about all the other riders, what do we say about them? “After Marc, Andrea is the rider who has won many more races over the past three years. And when he is not winning it is not always his fault, perhaps our bike has not been suited to that circuit. Andrea is a very clever guy with a great…

Suzuki star Alex Rins faces a fight on two fronts this season. A title challenge on the impressively competitive GSX-RR and an internal battle for supremacy at Suzuki against Joan Mir. It is perhaps a year late in coming but winter test speed suggests that Mir, the 2017 Moto3 champion, is ready to turn hype into reality. Mir won 10 races in that scintillating Moto3 title campaign, but his 2019 MotoGP rookie season was disappointing. Rins is established as a Suzuki winner, now entering his fourth season with the team. Mir is the highly rated newbie setting the scene for an intriguing battle. So which one of Suzuki’s young guns – Rins is 24 and Mir is 22 – will come out on top? ALEX RINS ‘Rins and Suzuki are…

The man at the forefront of the entire KTM MotoGP project is Pol Espargaro. Year by year the RC16 has been improving, with Espargaro scoring a best-yet 100 points and bagging 10th in the final standings. He also put the bike on the front row at Misano and scored seven top-10 finishes with a best result of sixth. As every winter, KTM’s development has been relentless and has this year seen them experiment with no less than four different frames in a bid to not only push towards the top five, but also ensure they’re not caught by the rapidly-improving Aprilia. A key factor in their continuing improvement has been KTM’s inspired decision to secure the unquestionable talents of Dani Pedrosa as test rider. His knowledge has been invaluable for…

ALEIX ESPARGARÓ (APRILIA) “The new bike isn’t a new chapter for Aprilia, it’s a new book! From my first run on the bike I felt great. The bike is a revolution, a good step forward, even though we are still missing some things. “During the tests we tried many different things, including different crankshaft inertia [like MotoGP’s other V4s the RS-GP has an external flywheel, so that engineers can adjust crank mass, which affects traction and turning]. “The bike is a lot better in terms of agility and stability, and the turning is much, much better, but we’re still missing some acceleration from the bottom. This is very important because Ducati, Honda and KTM have really, really strong acceleration, so it’s difficult to fight with them, because it’s impossible to…

Founded in Sweden in 1934 to provide protection against fires and intruders with just three staff, Securitas now employs 10,000 in the UK and over 370,000 globally. In Avon and Somerset they work with the police by guarding crime scenes, freeing up officers to work in front line duties. Over 600 Securitas officers have also been trained to stand in as fire crews in London and have faced a number of domestic, industrial and electrical fires and road traffic collisions since 2010 including 600 incidents during the 2014 industrial action period.…

Millions of miles and thousands of riders have helped Spidi improve their range year after year. This SPIDI Allroad Jacket represents the ultimate evolution. Waterproof, windproof and breathable, the main chassis integrates high-tenacity Extra Tenax 3-layers nylon 6.6 - offering excellent abrasion and puncture resistance. Featuring an innovative InsideOut System, a waterproof 3-layers H2Out 10K/10K membrane that can be worn inside the jacket during a light rain, or outside in case of thunderstorms. CE certified to the Pr En 17092-3:2017 Class AA standard, it comes with ForceTech removable protectors in the shoulders and elbows, that are CE Level 2 certified to the EN 1621-1:2012 standard. HOW TO ENTER Simply submit your details at www.motorcyclenews. com/winspidijacket to be entered into the prize draw. Terms & conditions The draw closes midnight April…

Triumph have announced that their Bluetooth connectivity system is now available for the new Street Triple RS, Tiger 900 GT and Tiger 900 Rally. From March 2, customers were able to purchase the bits needed to add the connectivity already found on the new Scrambler 1200 and Rocket 3 which gives a full suite of electrical doohickeys including turn-by-turn Google navigation, phone connectivity plus GoPro integration, letting you plot a route to a mate’s house, record the car pulling out on you then phone them to whine all about it. The module costs £200 plus fitting cost.…

FIRST STUNT SHOW “After appearing in Performance Bikes, I was asked to perform at the Day of Champions in 1992 at Donington Park,” Gary remembers, “I learnt to do sitting on the tank wheelies the day before the show as I had no routine!” IT’S SHOW TIME… “We shot the video Showtime in 1995, which was sold all over the world. We did Showtime 2 as well in 1999,” remembers Gary. “It was great publicity and people still talk to me about the video as clips are on YouTube.” SKI RECORD Gary still holds the Guinness World Record for fastest skiing behind a bike at a terrifying 156.3mph! “My feet used to get really hot,” he remembers. “I did try wooden clogs, and steel, but titanium was much better for…

This new XR is less biased towards brisk riding than previous. The ride quality and comfort are better for day-to-day use and motorways, plus it’s got more relaxed ergonmics. The trade-off is you’ll need the optional Pro suspension if you prefer lean angle to long slogs. It’s also not noticeably better than the old bike; if you own an earlier bike, don’t rush to trade in. The XR still delivers everything expected of BMW’s tall-rounder, however. It remains the go-to ‘adventure sports’ bike.…

There are electric superbikes, cruisers, scooters and commuters… yet nobody has yet made a battery powered motorcycle that can do a bit of everything. Until now. The new SR/S is the first faired machine from Californian electric veterans Zero. But, despite appearances, it isn’t a superbike. With its high bars, pillion grabhandles and optional luggage, the SR/S instead straddles the line between commuter and sports-tourer. Think Kawasaki ER-6f or Honda VFR800F, rather than ZX-6R or Fireblade. Beneath the plastic it’s mostly an SR/F, Zero’s next-generation naked and MCN’s Best Electric Bike of 2019. Surprisingly, ergonomics and suspension are a whisker more relaxed on the S. A new handlebar brings grips higher and wider, pegs are lower, while springs and damping have been softened. The pillion seat is longer and broader,…

I LIKE • So much comes as standard (cruise control, heated grips, quickshifter etc.) • The acceleration is just phenomenal which means loads of fun. • It’s so comfortable – the riding position is perfect for me. I DON'T • The standard rear hugger doesn’t stop filth spraying up your back. • With the performance it’s got there should be some sort of screen as standard. • I don’t like the look of the stock exhaust can. QUICK SPECS •999 cc •160bhp •207 kg •814mm seat height PRICE NEW £11,700 VALUE NOW £9495…

Shake off all those tired assumptions Back in 2000 my mate slipped off his Aprilia Falco (half-faired sports-tourer with the RSV engine). It wasn’t the biggest of shunts and his pride was more damaged than the bike, but the Falco did need some parts. Simple stuff: fairing panel, indicators, couple of levers. It was through his insurance and Aprilia supplied the parts – and it took them 18 months. Yes, a year-and-a-half. Madness. Experiences like this one rightly gave Aprilia a ropey reputation. Just like how coils that couldn’t stand the rain and haywire clocks tarnished Ducati, and oil consumption and saggy rear shocks affected Triumph. But these stereotypes are now years out of date. Partly because manufacturers try extra hard to square things back up when something has dented…

The wheel alignment process depicted here relates to the correct adjustment of the back wheel with regards to chain tension. It’s a way of fine-tuning the alignment for the perfectionist. If your wheels are badly out of alignment you may notice instability or a reluctance for the bike to steer – particularly more one way than the other. If they’ve been out of line for a long time there may even be some uneven or unusual wear on the front tyre and your sprocket. Relying on the chain adjuster marks alone won’t be enough because they’re notoriously inaccurate. If, however, you find that your wheels are out of alignment following a crash or a spill, then this is something that needs to be checked over by a specialist as it…

Life after Suzuki has begun brilliantly for the OMG Racing team, with Héctor Barberá and Luke Mossey putting their new BMW S1000RRs inside the top five. Both riders were closely matched throughout the three days, with just 0.042s between them overall. “It’s stronger in every area,” Mossey told MCN after only one day on the new bike. “It’s different in every way, but in a good way!” Barberá switches to the BMW after starting his BSB career with Kawasaki a few rounds into the 2019 season. “I like it,” he added. “The engine is sweet, and the feeling is getting better and better every time.”…

For the second year in succession, Ducati’s Chaz Davies qualified only 16th. He finished eighth in Race One and 13th in the Sprint Race after running into Leon Haslam’s Honda. Fifth position in Race Two was a salvage job. Just what was the reason for a weekend of such ups and downs? “It’s been tough,” the Welshman reported. “It was good to have the leaders in sight but I got a bit lucky because some guys dropped out. There’s a lot to work on. I’m not happy with the feeling I had here. I was at the back of the front group for most of the race, probably helped by the hotter temperatures which lowered the pace and changed it into a conservation race. I hope to struggle less in…

Michael Dunlop has joined forces with Paul Bird in a sensational deal that will see him compete on a Ducati V4 R at the Isle of Man TT and NW200 this year. The 30-year-old has penned a one-year deal with Paul Bird Motorsport, who will provide Dunlop with a factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati V4 R in both Superbike and Senior races. Dunlop joined the team at the official two-day BSB test at Jerez, riding PBM’s V4 test bike and both of the V4 R superbikes ridden by Josh Brookes and Christian Iddon. Across the four timed sessions on the opening day, Dunlop completed a total of 49 laps. “It went really well to be fair,” PBM team co-ordinator Johnny Mowatt told MCN. “He came in and appeared to have enjoyed it.…

Ian Hutchinson will bid for Supersport success at this year’s Isle of Man TT and North West 200 on a Yamaha R6, but his Superbike plans remain very much a work in progress. The 16-time TT race winner will line up on the Boyce Precision Engineering YZF-R6, with Russell Racing and support from Raceways Yamaha. Hutchy got to grips with the bike at at the Monteblanco and Jerez last week. The 40-year-old has tasted success on the R6 before. In 2015 and 2016, Hutchinson won both Supersport races on board Keith Flint’s Team Traction Control Yamaha R6. “It’s a bike that I’ve always had a lot of enjoyment and success on,” Hutchinson told MCN. “It’s nice to be back on the bike, I feel good and I’ve put a lot…

Since arriving on the world stage in 2012, Alex Marquez has had to contend with constant comparisons to older brother Marc. A Moto3 and Moto2 World Champion in his own right, Alex has never fully escaped the shadow cast by his all-conquering sibling. That task looks considerably harder now that he’ll form one half of the first all-brother factory line-up in history, having joined Marc at Repsol Honda. Marc will be like an open book and do everything in his power to ensure Alex is a success in MotoGP. And Honda have put him under the stewardship of crew chief Ramon Aurin, who has one of the best technical CVs in the pit lane and vast inside knowledge of HRC. But the RCV is the least rookie friendly package and…

Honda and Ducati have together dominated recent MotoGP campaigns but this season their rivals seem to have made bigger technical advances and closed the gap. Suzuki and Yamaha, who both won races in 2019, have been working harder than ever to close up while KTM and Aprilia have also taken big steps forward for 2020. ‘Honda and Ducati’s rivals have closed the gap’ This means that more riders are threatening the dominance of Marc Márquez and Honda. Ducati’s two biggest hopes are Andrea Dovizioso and Jack Miller. Suzuki’s Alex Rins and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo were on fire during pre-season testing. And Pol and Aleix Espargaró might shock a few rivals on the KTM and Aprilia. Lap times in testing were close, suggesting another frantic season of racing. And as the…

VALENTINO ROSSI (MONSTER YAMAHA) “This year, like always, everyone is very fast and strong, but it seems like we are not so far from the top. Yamaha have worked hard and the new bike has better potential than last year’s, but we need to continue working because the other manufacturers have also made a step. “The idea of the new chassis is to improve rear grip. Also the new rear tyre from Michelin is better for grip, but unfortunately this tyre is for everybody! We have worked a lot and made a step in the right direction to improve tyre degradation for the last part of races which was always our main issue. We have found some good things, especially for grip and for race pace. The new bike is…

JACK MILLER (PRAMAC DUCATI) “I’m really happy with the work Ducati have done over the winter. We’ve got a new engine which feels quite similar to last year’s, but there’s a bit more power and the delivery is good, so the bike is still rideable. Sometimes when you increase power you lose rideability, but the new engine isn’t too aggressive, which is really important with the Michelins because you have to be very smooth with the rear tyre. “I felt good with the latest chassis right away. We’ve gained some more turning, not a massive difference, but another step in the right direction. “I’m happy with the new Michelin rear, too. If we can take the positive out of the tyre, which is drive grip, it’ll be good for us.…

WINNERS • The walking wounded Marc Marquez was the highest profile star entering the season below 100% fitness following shoulder surgery. Takaaki Nakagami and Miguel Oliveira were also in the process of intensive rehabilitation from surgery. All three now have another month to recover. • Those off the pace Cal Crutchlow had a nightmare final pre-season test finishing 18th while struggling with corner entry on the LCR Honda. He did rebound in 2019 to finish on the podium but the Brit was more pessimistic about a repeat turnaround this weekend. LOSERS • The favourites Maverick Viñales was the big pre-race favourite heading to the Middle East after a stunning display in the final pre-season test, with Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli both looking strong, while Suzuki’s Alex Rins and Joan…

THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY-4TH McGuinness & Whitham on Tour Ffos Las Racecourse, Carmarthen Entry £25 per ticket plus booking fee Info 07932-724462 or www.mjksportsevents.co.uk SAT-SUN 7-8TH The Carole Nash MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, East Lothian Entry 9am-5pm both days. Single day adult ticket £18 on the gate, under-12s free Info www. scottishmotorcycleshow.com Dirt Track Show Adrian Flux Arena, King’s Lynn, Norfolk Entry Two-day ticket, adults £35 children £27, one-day £20/16, U10s free, advance discounts online Info www.dirttrackshow.com SUNDAY 8TH Malvern Drive-In Classic Car & Motorcycle Autojumble The Three Counties Showground, Malvern,Worcestershire Entr y 9am-2pm,£7,£2.50 (7-14yearsold) Info www.classicshows.org Classic Bike Day AceCafe, Stonebridge,London Entry 9am Info 020-8961-1000or www.london.acecafe.com YOUR HANDY EVENTS GUIDE Find more great things to do in your area…

Hollywood star Eric Bana could play Mike Hailwood in a movie about the Brit’s epic 1978 TT comeback which saw him claim victory in the F1 race, 11 years after retiring. Bana’s Pick Up Truck Pictures and Robert Connolly’s Arenamedia have secured rights to the movie and Mike’s son David and widow Pauline said: “We are delighted that Mike will be played by Eric Bana, an actor with an immense passion and knowledge of motorsports and Mike’s career.” There’s no news yet on when the film will be shot or released.…

The Women Riders World Relay has come to an end after the baton was passed along 63,400 miles and across 79 countries in 333 days. Now the event is over, the baton has found a permanent home at The National Motorcycle Museum. The relay started on February 27 2019 at John O’Groats, Scotland before coming to its finish on January 31 2020 in the UAE. To mark the achievement, the relay baton will now be displayed in the ‘Motorcycling Through Time’ cabinet, located in the foyer of the National Motorcycle Museum in Coventry. The display was unveiled at the start of March and the museum will also be exhibiting some of the WRWR’s memorabilia along with a map of the route across the world. WRWR founder Hayley Bell who announced…

Together as one As exhaust gasses leave the engine, they spin the turbine in the turbo, which is connected to the compressor. Compress yourself The air is sucked into the turbo and compressed to 50% greater than atmospheric pressure. Complete waste The turbo has a waste gate that lets out pressure when you throttle off creating that famous woosh sound. Feel the force A turbine wheel spins incredibly quickly – typically up to a dizzying 160,000rpm, and the heat generated is immense. Yamaha are working on turbocharging for their next range of bikes. This isn’t Yamaha’s first use of the tech as they briefly made an XJ650 Turbo in the early ’80s, however this new system is completely different. So, what exactly is a turbo? Turbocharging is a forced induction…

Readers Allan and Mary Freeman The ride New York to Idaho via Yellowstone Park Miles 5028 Time required 13 days Don't miss this “We did 12 states in 13 days in all kinds of weather, from snow to hot sunshine. The scenery – especially the miles on miles of cornfields – and people we met along the way were amazing.” ONLY BIKES IN TOWN The only bikes in Sturgis; we borrowed the FJR from friends Ed and Carol who were on the BMW. UP THE CREEK Spokane Creek is a popular spot for camping in Yellowstone, with cabins and spectacular views. IN IDAHO Reaching Idaho, the most westerly point on the trip, where we spent a week exploring Yellowstone Park. HOT SPRINGS Yellowstone is well worth the miles and time…

Q ‘Filtering claim is in question’ I was filtering slowly past a long line of stationary cars on the right hand side using the area with broken chevrons. Whilst next to one car, he pulls out to the right and knocks me off. I couldn’t have avoided it by braking or steering to the right, I was next to his window when he started his action. Luckily there was no oncoming traffic and I was only slightly hurt. His insurer is claiming I was overtaking and hence I am more responsible resulting in them wanting to offer me only 30% of the compensation. Is this worth pursuing with a lawyer as I’m not happy with just 30% and although I realise you should only use this area whilst necessary and…

SEAN DYSON Age 53 Height 5ft 8in Current bike BMW S1000XR SE Been riding for 33 years First bike Yamaha RD50 Dream bike Ducati Superleggera V4 “I’ve had lots of bikes over the years including a 2015 Kawasaki Versys 1000 Grand Tourer, Triumph Tiger 1050, two Blackbirds, two Ducati 748BPs, an R1 and Kawasaki ZX-6R. “I bought my S1000XR in 2015 from Blade BMW. Its styling appeals to me, as well as the riding position, which lets me travel a good distance in comfort. Sitting high gives me a good line of sight, too. I also love the way it accelerates. I’ve only had a blown bulb since owning it, but It does suffer from vibes. “I mainly tour and I also commute 20 miles-a-day through London on my Honda…

Belt up for the big drive Final drive is a carbon belt. It’ll stretch during its first few hundred miles, which will mean it needs adjusting, but after that it should be maintenance-free for its 24,000-mile service life. Super-flash dash The TFT display is centred around a large, clear speedo, while trip info includes the battery’s state of charge and the remaining range. The colours change according to riding mode selected. Secret storage stash There’s a small lockable storage box containing two USB charging sockets where a petrol tank normally sits. You’ll probably want to carry the bike’s charging cable in here, though.…

NAME: Stuart McLaughlin AGE:41 BIKE: BMW R nineT “I had no idea the Pioneer Run even existed until I happened to be on a rideout to Brighton a few years ago and saw Madeira Drive was packed full of old bikes. I spoke to a few of the owners and realised what a huge event it was and made a note to watch the next year’s run. I love watching the bikes ride past and you can really see how much effort the riders put into attempting to make the finishing line and how much it means to them. The crowds are brilliant and I thoroughly recommend getting to one of the pubs on the route, parking up with a bacon buttie and cheering the entrants on. It’s an early…

“I’m looking to brush up on my skills and wanted to know if any have dropped off over the years. Ryan focused in on my hazard awareness – although I’m perfectly happy riding in my normal position, I need to think about what other people can see and adjust my position accordingly. I was unaware that I had let certain aspects of my riding slip, so it was nice to be put back on track again. Ryan’s calm manner and concise feedback helped make everything clear about what needed to be done to improve. The day was really good, very enlightening and ticked all the boxes as far as I was concerned - it was definitely worth doing.” THAT’S BETTER! Ryan says: “This is not so much about skill level…

1. Alpinestars Stella SP X leather jacket £299.99 I’ve tried loads of different brands and find that the Alpinestars range fits my shape really well. It’s not the ideal winter jacket, even with a removable lining, but it is really well made and has enough pockets to hold all my stuff. 2. Alpinestars Santiago Drystar gloves £69.99 I prefer textile gloves for winter as I find leather too restrictive and bulky. These keep my hands warm, however they’re not full wet weather gloves as my fingers do get a bit damp when it’s really bad. 3. BMW Motorrad Street X helmet £330 Love it. Great fit. Build quality is excellent and it feels really secure and solid when I’m wearing it. 4. Sidi Vertigo 2 boots…

Kriega OS-Combo 54 Pannier Kit, £682.00 Tested by Richard Newland for three months, 2500 miles Kriega are revered for their clever design and quality. I’ve used their backpacks for years, racking up over 100,000 miles of use. And these soft panniers look set to deliver everything that I’ve come to associate with their kit. They’re beautifully made and constructed using abrasion-resistant Hypalon + 1000D Cordura, with Kevlar webbing and alloy buckles. There are built-in security loops to enable you to lock the bags onto your bike, while the bags themselves mount to the back plates with the simplicity of straps and buckles. They’re 100% waterproof, and are constructed ‘square’ so they have a structure to them, rather than being formless bags. Apart from being inherently less secure or easy to…

Steel ruler The lack of flex in a steel ruler makes it better suited and more accurate than a tape measure, and accuracy on a steel rule is far greater than a shatterproof plastic one from your kid’s pencilcase. Allen T bars These are perfect for spinning adjusters and bolts with speed and precision. Don’t buy cheap ones, they’re often misshaped and will damage your fixings. Chain alignment tool Tools like this – which is a Tru-Tension Laser Monkey (£34.99) – can take a bit of practice to use accurately, so make sure you understand how to use it correctly before you start adjusting your wheel alignment. 10- 12mm spanners Good spanners are an invaluable addition to your toolbox. Spend as much as you can afford and they’ll last a…

‘Dunlop has never been in better shape’Paul Bird, PBM Ducati Team owner When debating whether or not to make a return to the roads, Paul Bird says it was Michael Dunlop’s fitness that sealed the deal. “He’s in the best shape I’ve ever seen him in. Honestly, as soon as I saw him my mind was made up, I said ‘right, we’re going to the TT!’ “We only go racing to win so I’m excited to have somebody like Michael Dunlop back on our bike. He has a great chance of winning; he’s on the best bike, in the best team. Hickman and Harrison have taken it to another level, but I’m sure Michael can deal with it. At the end of the day they’ve got to get their bikes…

“Hello and welcome to MCN’s 40-page MotoGP season preview and what a year it promises to be although I’m still thinking about last season – seven podiums, six pole positions, Rookie of the Year and first independent rider... who could have imagined such a first season! “Honestly, I was the first one surprised. Then of course, everybody is now speaking to me today about the world title in 2020. We must remain humble, we are not yet ready to play the championship. “I still have a lot to learn, I will try to be consistently in the top five and of course I will try to be on the podium as often as possible! “We have done very good tests this winter. We went from Sepang to Losail doing a…

‘18 inside one second at Qatar... as Rossi said: “It’s more like Moto2”’ Slip-sliding away for the past three seasons or more, Yamaha have pulled out all the stops to try to regain their former prominence as more than just another Honda rival. And have elbowed Rossi aside in the process. The triple-tuning-fork marque’s last championship was back in 2015, with Jorge Lorenzo being the only rider to defeat Marquez in the premier class. Return of the champ Jorge is back with Yamaha for 2020, in a surprise about-face after his equally surprising retirement triggered by horrible struggles in the first of two projected years on the Repsol Honda. It is only as a test rider, with some expected wild card outings – a fascinating prospect, for his smooth style…

JOAN MIR (ECSTAR SUZUKI) “We have a new frame and swingarm that turns easier and gives us more braking stability, which is important because top speed isn’t our strongest point. We also have a new engine – there’s not a huge improvement in top speed, but the power delivery is smoother and the first touch of the throttle is nice, which is an advantage because you can ride more easily and more smoothly, which is better for race pace and for tyre life. “The changes aren’t huge but we can feel them and for sure they will make a difference, so we hope that there are no areas where we are struggling anymore. But the chassis is so new that we still have a lot of work to do because…

POL ESPARGARÓ (RED BULL KTM) “The bike gets better and better – it feels like things are getting real now. Our race pace is up there with the fastest, so I’m really happy. “The new engine is a big improvement – it’s fast and it controls the electronics in a better way. It’s much better coming out of corners, so it gives us the grip we were looking for. Also the engine helps me stop the bike better, which is super positive. “The new frame is also really important, especially in fast turns. With the old frame it was easy for the bike to start shaking and then lose stability out of corners, which made everything harder because you couldn’t use so much corner speed, so you needed to stop…