Table of contents for 15 July 2020 in MCN

WEDNESDAY 6pm, EUR1, Live Speedway: European Champs from Rybnik, Poland THURSDAY 8pm, TVL, The Motorbike Show SATURDAY From 8am BTS2, Live MotoGP from Jerez, Spain: Free Practice 3. Qualifying at 11am. MotoE Qualifying at 3pm SUNDAY From 8am BTS2, Live MotoGP from Jerez, Spain. MotoE at 8.45am, Moto3 at 9.30am. Moto2 at 11am and MotoGP at 12.30pm. Chequered Flag at 2pm KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT - DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC - DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD - DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS - EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) - EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT - MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 - CHANNEL 4 CH5 - CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL IT V DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X)…

We’ve teamed up with Rapid Training to offer one lucky reader the chance to have a free one-to-one ‘Bespoke Coaching Session’, with a Rapid Pro Coach. It’s a great way to combat skill fade and fine-tune certain aspects of your riding technique. It’s also a useful stepping stone for those riders considering the full Rapid Roadmaster or Bikemaster programme. Now you have a chance to win one of these fantastic sessions, for free! To enter simply visit rapidtraining.co.uk/ mcn-bespoke. Just be sure to get it done before midnight, July 31, 2020. T&CsThis prize draw is promoted by Rapid Training and is open to UK residents aged 18 and over, holding a minimum of a valid UK A2 class motorcycle licence or international equivalent. The prize consists of one place on…

We’ve got together with Spada to give away £500 worth of clothing vouchers to one lucky biker. The Spada collection was created to be practical, feel comfortable – both on and off the machine – and all at a price that helps you put more fuel in the tank and more miles on the clock. With a huge range of products, the Spada Collection spans textile and leather jackets, trousers, suits and gloves for both men and women. There’s a range of sports, touring and urban styled boots plus full-face, open-face and flip-front helmets. And if it’s accessories you’re after there’s everything from luggage to body armour and bike covers, just take your pick! How to enter Simply visit motorcyclenews.com/ winspadaclothing and submit your details to be in with a…

Shark Race R Pro £269.99 ‘It’s rated five stars for safety’ This top-spec carbon-composite race lid from French company Shark is loaded with features –removable anti-sweat lining, advanced ventilation system, huge Optical Class 1 visor, as well a maximum five stars in the Sharp safety tests. In a 6000-mile road test, the Race R Pro impressed our testers with its quiet, lightweight, turbulancefree and stable shell as well as its comfortable and plush lining. After intensive use it still looked as good as new, with only light wear to the interior lining. The visor release mechanism was also praised for its ease of use. And with a 40% saving, this is a great deal and there are various graphic options and a range of sizes (but this particular colour…

BEN McKEE Age 38 Height 5ft 10in Current bike KTM 790 Duke Been riding for 12 years First bike Kawasaki ER-5 Dream bike Honda VTR1000 SP2 “I’ve previously owned a 690 Duke, as I wanted something completely different to a sportsbike. While the 690 was being serviced I had a 790 as a courtesy bike and I knew I’d own one at some point. KTMs aren’t to everyone’s taste, but I think they look awesome. “I got the 790 last November and have done around 1500 miles on it – lockdown hasn’t helped. It’s on PCP, so I haven’t really done anything to it, apart from adding some bobbins for a rear paddock stand and removing the pillion grab rail. I’ve changed the front brake pads for SBS, as the…

1996 DAYTONA DEBUT “Paul Taylor of Taylormade racing invited me to Daytona to work on his Saxon Triumph in the BEARS race. We came second behind Andrew Stroud on the Britten. It was a fantastic first taste of international bike racing.” 1999-2003 BUELL BAPTISM “I did some drawings and the next thing I know I’m on a plane to Chicago. Erik was always over-stretching himself but I’m glad he did because you wouldn’t have had such quirky bikes…” 2010-2012 T VS/INDIA “I’d be flying out three or four times a year, advising the team, I was working with management and after each trip I’d give them a detailed report. It was like being a member of the big team with none of the downsides.” 2013 GOODWOOD FOS “The champagne moment…

Honda have done an about-turn with the Blade. It’s no longer the do-it-all road-going superbike that you could also enjoy on the track, it’s now been designed with pure performance in mind. It oozes HRC specialness with a high level of finish. It handles beautifully and is sensational when it’s on song, but it’s peaky, tall geared, cramped, single-minded and pricey – yet none of that ever did the RC30 any harm… Tech spec What it costs…

Riding to Morrison’s for my shopping and the local farmer’s egg vending machine, was about as exciting as it got in the depths of lockdown. It’s not exactly what my Streetfighter V4 S was designed for, but for a naked superbike with 186bhp at the rear wheel and a 15,000rpm rev limiter, it was still happy to prowl the near-empty streets at 30mph. As restrictions slowly eased, I braved the great outdoors and spooled-up more miles - enough for its 620-mile oil change service, which costs around £145. It’ll need that same service every 7500 miles or annually, whichever comes first, but the big valve-checking ‘Desmo’ service isn’t until 15,000 miles and costs around 500 quid. That’s a long way off for most owners. It’s also screamed its head off…

Brakes need to be in top order so when this Blade was dropped off for a service at A55 Motorcycles in Penmaenmawr, North Wales, Paul Knight got a shock. He explained: “Whenever something is brake-related, even professionals can go overboard tightening everything up, relying on ‘mechanic’s feel’ more often than not. But the torque setting for a pad pin is generally tiny compared to caliper mounting bolts. But that doesn’t stop people ‘making sure’.” ‘The rider had no idea… so I suspect a dealer did it’ Those Blade pins are 6mm with a 10mm head and their setting is 15Nm, little more than finger tight, while the mounting bolts are 45Nm. If you over-tighten them the pin bottoms out in the hole and pulls the outside of the caliper down,…

It didn’t take long for the fireworks to reignite! As World Superbike convened in Barcelona for a test last week, World Champion Jonathan Rea and BSB title holder Scott Redding engaged in an entertaining battle as they exchanged lap times and gave a foretaste of the show they are likely to put on in their title fight. The gathering at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was vital: the last test before racing resumes at the start of August with sky high temperatures akin to what will be on offer at Jerez and Portimao. Kawasaki had done a short test at Catalunya in January but, using his MotoGP knowledge, Ducati’s Redding was quick out of the box. On Wednesday, Rea’s Kawasaki Ninja followed the Panigale to check out his lines. On Thursday,…

The 2021 grid continued to take shape after a spate of rider signings as MCN went to press on Monday. The biggest move takes place at Honda, with HRC finally confirming that Pol Espargaro will become Marc Marquez’s teammate at Repsol Honda in 2021. The Spaniard has signed a two-year deal and will depart KTM after a four-year stint. Espargaro has been KTM’s project leader since they entered MotoGP, securing their first front row start and podium finish. Espargaro’s move to Repsol has huge consequences for Alex Marquez and Cal Crutchlow. The former has lost his ride in the factory team without having completed a single race for them. Instead, he’ll be at LCR Honda for the next two years, presumably alongside Takaaki Nakagami. HRC have confirmed that Crutchlow will…

An ideal solution for Honda would be to move Crutchlow into their full HRC-run WSB project. Honda have made no secret of their desire to win WSB with the all-new Fireblade – and Cal, given his experience, would be a stellar signing. He said: “While there are things in MotoGP that I want to do I’ll continue to ride here. But I never say never, I’ve just said in the past that I wasn’t interested to go to WSB. I’ve had a great career in MotoGP and I don’t look at WSB as downgrading – it’s a great championship but at the moment I don’t want to do it. Whether that changes with the situation here I don’t know, but I see myself continuing in MotoGP.”…

NOVEMBER 2019 VALENCIA Yamaha rule but riders request more power Outright speed has long been the Achilles heel of the Yamaha YZR-M1 and despite an increase, Maverick Viñales was left wanting more. In fact, all of the Yamaha riders were hoping for more. Despite using the ‘third development edition’ of 2020’s power-boosted engine, Viñales was only 0.16s faster than Fabio Quartararo on the B-spec M1 used during the season. “A little bit more power arrived but it’s not enough, our competitors are still far away, there is a 5mph difference,” Viñales complained. Elsewhere, Alex Marquez (using LCR machinery), Brad Binder and Iker Lecuona made their debuts as full-time MotoGP riders. Lecouna ended the test as the quickest rookie on the Tech3 KTM. VALENCIA TEST TIMES Lap Record 1:29.401 (Lorenzo,…

In the absence of any MotoGP racing so far in 2020, we’ve all been kept on our toes with a frantic silly season which, when complete, promises to bring an all-new look to the grid in 2021. With the majority of the paddock out of contract at the end of this season, it was always going to be a manic time for negotiations, extensions and signings – and the enforced pandemic lockdown only seamed to fuel the fire. As teams look to the future, we’ve been treated to some intriguing, shocking and exciting moves. It all started when Yamaha gave fans a week to remember in February, securing their factory line-up for the next two years. Suzuki finished their dealings during the early lockdown days, whilst Honda made yet more…

When four-strokes returned to MotoGP in 2002, running alongside the existing 500cc two-strokes for two seasons, the new bikes had a 990cc capacity limit. By 2004 the two-strokes were gone and the 990s remained until 2007 when the limit dropped to 800cc. There were no limits on engine allocation, and weight limits remained unchanged but fuel capacities were gradually reduced from 24 litres to 21. Since 2008, the series promoters have been changing the rule book to cut costs and ‘to improve the show,’ introducing more and more restrictions……

JOSH BROOKES VISIONTRACK DUCATI 201910 wins / 18 podiums / 2nd overall New calendar  Brookes secured three wins at Oulton Park and five at Brands Hatch GP in 2019. Testing  Brookes topped the Jerez test and has tested at Croft and Knockhill in recent weeks. Five points were all that separated champion Scott Redding and teammate Josh Brookes at the end of 2019. The duo fought tooth and nail all year long on the brand-new Ducati V4R. Redding ultimately came out on the top, with 11 wins to Brookes’ 10. In theory, 2020 presents Brookes with a fantastic opportunity to become a two-time BSB champion. Redding has moved to WSB, while Brookes remains with Paul Bird’s team, onboard the near-perfect Ducati. The highly experienced Australian has taken Redding’s smash and…

EXPERT OPINION PAUL PHILLIPS TT Motorsport and Development Manager Once we’d got over the disappointment and dealt with the practicalities of the cancellation we were able to stop and appreciate what this opportunity meant and really start to evaluate where we were at. We have to appreciate the landscape will be different when we put on our next event – whenever that may be. We’ve embarked on the biggest ever market research programme and as a result we’ve learned a huge amount about our own event; information that will be super valuable for us. We’re now at a point where we are going to start sharing the results of the research internally and start to work out what happens next. While the cancellation has caused us pain economically, I think…

Opt for the top-spec XT version, and there are extra electronic aids in the form of SIRS – the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System. SIRS is in charge of pretty much everything the bike does from the ride-by-wire throttle to the cornering ABS. At the heart of this is a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which means it can deliver Suzuki’s clever linked braking system. During mid-corner braking – the IMU tells the combined braking system just to put the rear brake on, both to slow you down and to stabilise the bike. Then, as the bike stands up on to the fatter part of the tyre and gains more grip, the IMU tells the braking system to start applying the front brake. When you’re fully upright and the weight has…

Opt for the top-spec XT version, and there are extra electronic aids in the form of SIRS – the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System. SIRS is in charge of pretty much everything the bike does from the ride-by-wire throttle to the cornering ABS. At the heart of this is a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which means it can deliver Suzuki’s clever linked braking system. During mid-corner braking – the IMU tells the combined braking system just to put the rear brake on, both to slow you down and to stabilise the bike. Then, as the bike stands up on to the fatter part of the tyre and gains more grip, the IMU tells the braking system to start applying the front brake. When you’re fully upright and the weight has…

For the Haslams it’s always been about giving back to motorcycling, whether it’s helping new riders to use the clutch, throttle and gears for the first time, or showing racers how to go faster. There’s no safer way to learn how to ride on track. Ron’s more than just a figurehead. He’s there all day, giving pillions the ride of their lives, showing customers the line, tyre smoking Blades with Leon, or teaching low speed bike control to newbies. There’s nothing like the Haslam School anywhere. It’s an institution and not having them there will be a huge loss to biking.…

Triumph are working on an updated Speed Triple that will host a brand-new engine, bringing with it a significant boost in firepower, as well as a host of other changes. Although a popular machine, Triumph have lost ground in the super-naked stakes against horsepower-monsters such as Ducati’s Streetfighter V4 and KTM’s Super Duke R, and Hinckley will be hoping these changes redress the balance. At the heart of the new bike is a new motor, which judging by the cases appears to be a complete redesign rather than a tickle of the existing engine. To compete with the best, Triumph will have boosted capacity, up from 1050cc to around 1200cc, as well as copying the new Street Triple internals to shed some weight. Given the competition, we imagine Triumph will…

2011 Triumph Bonneville T100 •10,315 miles, • East Midl and Superbikes, • Derbyshire With just one former keeper and only 10,315 miles on the clock, this bike’s well worth a look. It also comes with Datatool alarm, grab rail/rear carrier, Triumph leather panniers, chrome engine bars, sump guard and headlight cowl. eastmidl andsuperbikes.co.uk 2008 Honda NT700V Deauville •17,000 miles, • Good condition • Private seller, Kent Clean bike, rarely ridden due to health problems. Recent rear tyre, heated grips and some service history available. It’s been kept garaged and is in overall good condition. Tel: 01369 551522 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa •8886 miles, • Superbike Factory, • Cheshire The original speed-seeking missile, the Hayabusa changed biking forever. This low-mileage example has some striking cosmetics and a few bolt-on extras. w w…

Reader Pete Somerfield The Ride England to the Outer Hebrides Miles 1600 Time required Seven days Don’t miss "The road to Oban was made for bikes and we felt like turning round and doing it again but had to collect our tickets from the ferry office for the next leg of our adventure." THE PLAN The five of us met up early to start the journey. Mitch, Ade, Bow, Ben and myself. 400 miles on day one. SCENERY The weather was warm and sunny although we did get to meet some of the dreaded midges… APPLECROS S Low visibility made the pass a bit exciting with Ben doing a bit of unplanned off-roading. BUTT OF LEWIS We headed north to the Butt of Lewis – the 'top of the isles'.…

Q‘What’s the law on satnavs?’ Am I allowed to use my phone’s satnav whilst riding my bike? It is in a holder fixed to the bike so is not being touched in any way and instructions are blue toothed to my helmet. Brian, email A The starting point is section 104 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 which states “No person shall drive or cause or permit any other person to drive, a motor vehicle on a road if he is in such a position that he cannot have proper control of the vehicle or have a full view of the road and traffic ahead.” The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No 4) Regulations 2003 amended the above to prohibit a person from driving a motor…

KTM have done such a fine job in creating the 890 Duke R, it’s hard to imagine why you’d want the 1290 Super Duke R. Little is as quick as large on the road and the 890 is lighter, lither, more involving and cheaper. It stops, goes and handles so much better than the old 790 Duke, it’s hard to believe they’re related. But KTM have moved the 1290 on from the previous model, too – and with its sharper chassis, smoother motor and more refinement everywhere you look, it’s now one of the best of the super-naked breed and the more rounded machine here. It has a more premium feel, deeper reserves of performance and can do more than just get your rocks off on a Sunday morning. 1290…

‘Surprisingly easy to get to’ You might not know where Sturgis is (about half-way between Chicago and San Francisco, then up by about 200 miles) but it’s surprisingly easy to get to, with numerous organised trips. Here’s a couple to choose from… Orange and Black The North American arm of HC Travel offer 11-day riding tours aboard Hogs that take in the Sturgis Rally. 2020 is sold out but 2021 prices start at £7550 for two on one bike. EagleRider The specialist touring company are running a 10-day guided riding tour taking in this year’s Sturgis starting Denver. Prices start at $3500pp (around £2700), flights are extra. OTHER POSSIBLES Daytona Bike Week, March 5-14, 2021 With Florida sun in March and Orlando 45 minutes away it’s a beach/themepark holiday with…

•Ten new 2020 models •Thousands of real-world test miles •What works, what doesn’t and what fails •How to get the most out of your new bike •The best mods, parts and accessories tried, tested and reviewed •No punches pulled •See the whole fleet story so far online at motorcyclenews.com Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR-R SP Honda Africa Twin AS ES Yamaha Ténéré 700 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT…

2019-current BMW R1250RS The new BMW R1250RS carries over all its predecessor’s practicality – spacious riding position, adjustable screen, shaft drive – and adds a gtangible boost in power , , modernity and refinement. 2015-2019 BMW R1200RS The RS completed the German firm’s new boxer-twin line-up, all of which featured its then new 125bhp water-cooled motor, but it (and the naked R version) always lived in the shadows of the headline-grabbing R1200RT tourer and the globe-trotting R1200GS. 2001-2005 BMW R1150RS Updated version gets a capacity increase and five extra BHP, and a six-speed gearbox. It’s lighter than its predecessor too. Smooth, comfortable and well made, they’re actually a lot of bike for the money. 1993-2001 BMW R1100RS Pretty high tech in its time, the R1100RS used…

It’s nice when there’s a bit of authenticity. Doesn’t matter if it’s a classic Gibson Firebird with worn paint from many heavy gigs, or a vintage pub table with fag burns and stained-in ring from pint-glass bottoms – if something has evidence of its life and history then it can’t help but add charm. On two wheels, classic buffs have always got frothy about Triumphs and BSAs with ‘matching numbers’; where the bike’s stampings show it’s the original engine and frame combo. But in recent years the restoration crowd have gone crackers for ‘originality’, spending countless hours and a small fortune making sure each and every part of the bike is the right spec, year and brand. The problem is that it usually involves lots of new parts and heavy…

Done regularly at service time, a compression test measures the efficiency of the piston rings and valves to seal the compressed air-fuel mixture prior to it being ignited, and can indicate potential problems long before they become serious and expensive to fix. A poor compression reading on one or more cylinder will need further investigation. The next logical step is to have a good visual check around the joint of the cylinder head and barrels for a head gasket leak. Any signs of oil or coolant are signs of it needing replacing. If the gasket appears to be OK, the valve clearances should be checked. If not checked the valve clearances diminish as the mileage racks up, so much sometimes that the valves don’t seal at all. In this case,…

Nobody could have predicted back at the start of the year that we’d have to wait until July for the opening round of the MotoGP championship and August for BSB. But, after months of waiting, the racing is finally kicking back into life this weekend in Jerez and we’ve produced this 32-page supplement to celebrate the season ahead. With just 13 rounds scheduled for MotoGP, drastically reduced numbers of personnel in the paddock and empty stands, it’s going to be different. Expect socially distanced podiums, an exhaustive protocol for riders and teams to follow and reduced on-site TV coverage. But while it won’t look and feel the same as other years, what will remain unchanged in 2020 is the racing and we can be sure that when the lights go…

Back in March, Yamaha and Suzuki were in the driving seat. Unfortunately for them, while their bikes are still strong, the coronavirus delay has taken some advantages away. Marc Marquez’s shoulder is now healed, and Honda have had more time to consider their aerodynamic problems. Also, Qatar won’t appear on the calendar and it’s unlikely that Sepang will be added to the jam-packed 13-round schedule. Away from calendar complications, all of the new 2020 engines, aero packages, parts and tyres appear to have brought the field closer together.…

EXPERT OPINION Piero Taramasso Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager “As soon as we were aware of the potential restart, we planned the different options for the races and looked at what would be needed to start again; we needed approximately five weeks to start to build the tyres, so for Michelin it was important to get some confirmation as early as possible. We have a new rear construction for 2020, which is aimed at increasing performance and stability for all riders and machines, this will still be introduced from the very first race in Jerez, but with the expected higher temperatures at the Spanish track we have had to change the compounds to meet this requirement. We have been able to spend the time in the lockdown analysing how all the…

Honda and Ducati have dominated recent seasons but this year their rivals seem to have made big advances. Suzuki and Yamaha have worked harder than ever, while KTM and Aprilia have also taken big steps. Ducati’s two biggest hopes are Andrea Dovizioso and Jack Miller. Suzuki’s Alex Rins and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo were on fire during preseason testing. And Pol and Aleix Espargaro might shock a few rivals on the KTM and Aprilia. Lap times in testing were crazy close, suggesting another frantic season of racing. And as the gaps get tighter the factories have to work harder for the smallest gains. Factors like negative torque, once rarely discussed, have become a big deal, because riders are using engine overrun to help stop and steer them into corners. Engines are…

KAWASAKI • Championship positions after Round 1 How did they do in Australia? Australia was an expected strong start for Kawasaki, but more for Lowes than Rea. The world champion bounced back to win the Sprint Race after crashing out of the season-opener, pushing too hard in a bid to overhaul the pack after being nerfed out of the lead by arch enemy Tom Sykes. Fourth in the championship after Round 1 is the lowest for Rea since he joined Kawasaki at the start of 2015. In the final race, Lowes beat JR in a straight fight to secure victory on his debut weekend with the team; it meant a trio of riders had won the encounters for the first time since the three-race format came in last year. How…

Taking the B3400 west from Basingstoke offers relief from the roundabout-strewn town, and whilst it’s littered with speed limits it’s a lovely road for a ride. If you’re a fan of a drop of ‘Mother’s Ruin’ you’ll be interested to see the world-famous Bombay Sapphire distillery. Continue into Whitchurch you need to be careful to follow the signs for Andover to make sure you don’t end up on the A34, which is an easy mistake to make. Once out of Whitchurch and back on the open roads it’s a mere eight miles before you hit Andover and need to look for the A343, skirting to the north of the town before heading towards Newbury. The A343 is a scenic, tree-lined road with mild undulations and gently flowing bend, it’s a…

From miles around you can see the famous Boston Stump, as it towers above the Fenland market town and it’s where our 65-mile route commences. Our clockwise route heads directly north from Boston on the B1183 towards Horncastle, in places it’s a poker straight road but be aware of farm vehicles, you’re in the depths of rural Lincolnshire. As you pass through Revesby and head towards Horncastle there are a series of 90° bends that can catch bikers (and car drivers) out, so make sure you take care. Stop off in Horncastle for a bag of chips at the Mermaid Fish Bar, they are some of the best you’ll taste. Continue your journey, the A153 becomes more undulating and the pace will quicken. You’ll ride through a corkscrew of bends…

It’s a short but sweet route from Haydon Bridge to Alston and the 36.5 miles is a blissful ride, through stunning scenery. Gently meander through a funnel of foliage, steadily rising into open farmland before a steep descent via a series of incredibly tight hairpins to Cupola Bridge and on to Alston Moor. The wind can get a bit blustery across the top, but the road surface is good and the tarmac gets some amazing twists on for the run into town. Alston itself is famous for being one of the highest market towns in England, as well as the inspiration for the League of Gentleman’s Royston Vasey. Beyond town the blacktop starts to weave once more, darting between low stone walls as it climbs through a ribbon of sinuous…

Section 59 refers to the Police Reform Act 2002 and applies to “vehicles used in manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance”. A constable in uniform has the power to stop a rider if they are driving in a careless or inconsiderate manner, or off-roading where it is illegal to do so. A warning is normally given the first time a person is stopped but if they are stopped again, the vehicle can be seized and impounded (even if it is a different vehicle this time). The rider can also be fined up to £1000.…

Got pipped on another CBR600: a 2000 model, the last of the carbed CBRs, with just 6000 miles on the clock. I was watching it time-out on eBay, determined to bid if anybody met the £1250 starting price but hoping nobody would, which would give me wiggle room to contact the owner and offer £1150. And some git, playing the same game, snuck in a bid of £1250 in the last few seconds, leaving me no chance to outbid. Well batted, bidder. You got the best bargain I’ve seen this year. I’ve also been trying to find a replacement for my K1600 and am thinking about another Hinckley Triumph Trophy – not the modern shafty, but the old chain-drive bike. I had a late T312 model 1200 a few years…

Oxford Hinterland Dry2Dry Jacket £299.99 The jacket uses the clever Dry2Dry Trilaminate material which claims to offer outstanding waterproofing, breathability and tear strength. Impressively for a textile jacket, it meets the CEstandard’s AA rating for impact and abrasion resistance. It also has a removable thermal inner jacket. www.oxfordproducts.com Richa WP Racing gloves £69.99 These fully waterproof leather gloves are made with goatskin leather and an Aquashell LTZ membrane. They also feature CE-certified hard knuckle protection in addition to leather fingers, and palm reinforcements for protection against abrasion. For a secure fit, the wrist has a Velcro closure. Touchscreen-compatible, the WP Racing gloves are available in sizes XS-3XL. w w w.nevis.uk.com Guardsman garage security £599 The Guardsman is an internal barrier that sits behind your garage door at…

£16,529.80* KTM 1290 Super Duke R • 1301cc 8v V-twin • 177bhp/103lb.ft • £201.69 per month PCP £10,399 KTM 890 Duke R • 890cc 8v parallel twin • 119bhp/73lb.ft • £132.25 per month PCP Little or large? That is the question. For some, having more is always better so when it comes to our two-wheeled friends, the ones with the most power, the fattest rear tyre and the most toys is a no-brainer. But are big bikes actually more enjoyable, easiest to ride and most flattering? KTM offers this exact dilemma with its newest two nakeds: the 890 Duke R and 1290 Super Duke R. KTM: coming of age It’s a choice made all the more agonising by the fact that the 890 Duke R isn’t just a…

Honda’s Fireblade has always been the go-to superbike for the discerning road rider. Simple, light, effective, easy to get on with and beautifully built, others have come and gone, surrounded by their own fanfares, but the Blade has continued to be a best-seller. Now, desperate for racing success, Honda have changed tack for the 2020 model. We rode the CBR1000RR-R SP at its track launch earlier in the year at Qatar and again on the road, before and postlockdown easing in England, to find a very different beast – more powerful, but tall-geared, revvy and small. But you wanted to know more… 144mph in second gear, really? Kenny Russen A Yes! Last week MCN’s tame performance tester, Bruce Dunn, speed tested the Blade on a disused RAF runway and saw…

Sound, handling, ride quality, looks and finish are entirely convincing. In fact, you could pop a black-and-white pressed aluminium numberplate on the back, enter it into a classic show and fool plenty of visitors. Yet at the same time the W800 still works as a bike in the modern world. The motor is unstressed while jostling with today’s traffic, and though clearly basic the suspension and brakes are more than up to dealing with crappy road repairs and U-turning delivery drivers. Yes, there are faster and more capable rivals. Cheaper ones, too. But for feel-good rides the W800 has real charm. Tech spec What it costs…

It’s been a strange summer for us all. With the Covid-19 crisis, delivery of the F900XR was delayed and with lockdown rules in place, like many of you, my riding plans for the year have had to change. I’d got ferries booked for a trip to the Outer Hebrides, planned to visit my mates in Le Mans and aimed to take part in the Iron Butt Round Britain Rally (www. roundbritainrally.co.uk). But for now, I’m making do with rides to explore some of my fantastic local roads and short hops to visit family and friends, all in a socially distanced manner, of course. From the first ride, the XR has felt familiar, it’s going to be perfect for touring and long days in the saddle. It’s exactly the kind of…

“That simple change in approach position has done wonders for my confidence. Prior to today every corner I encountered scared me. I’d be worried about the severity, whether there was stopped traffic, or debris in the road. Because of this I’d be going in on the brakes and holding them on all the way round. It got to the point where I was coming up with reasons not to ride. But by just opening up my vision it’s made me feel so much more in control because I can see what I’m riding into. There’s no surprises because I’m looking ahead, I’m going in at the right speed and I know that I’d be able to act if something were to pop up unexpectedly. I’m so much happier now.” Mark…

“I’ve owned the RS for just short of three years and in that time covered 20,000 miles. When riding solo, I think it’s absolutely brilliant and I love it. It’s a delightful balance of sportsbike and tourer. I find it comfortable enough to ride a full tank (220 miles) in one sitting, without making me walk like John Wayne afterwards. Through twists and turns it sticks to the road well (I’ve fitted Michelin Road Pilot tyres) and has a delightful responsive feel; its ability to transfer the ‘feel of the road’ to the rider gives the rider a great deal of confidence even at low speed and the bike’s low centre of gravity makes it easy to manoeuvre. “On the downside, keeping it clean through the winter can be a…

RATINGS POOR ★ AVERAGE ★★ GOOD ★★★ VERY GOOD ★★★★ EXCEPTIONAL ★★★★★ Litelok Moto 108, single £119.99twin £229.99 Tested by Richard Newland for three months I’ve not carried a big lock and chain with me since about 2000, when the space under pillion seats ceased to be capable of swallowing such a security indulgence. For the last 20 years – overnight stays aside – I’ve only ever carried a disc lock. Now, I carry one of these. Why? Firstly, it’s light, at a claimed 1.46kg (1.57kg on my scales). Second, it’s Sold Secure Gold, has a drill-resistant alloy steel casing, looks good, and I’ve not yet found a bike or ground anchor it doesn’t work with. Third, its neoprene-wrapped Boaflexicore 107.5cm belt means you don’t have hard edges dinging your…

Compression gauge Use a compression tester that has adapters to fit different sized spark plugs, some of the cheaper ones have just a rubber shaped cone that simply wedges in, which isn’t good enough for an accurate reading. Torque wrench Every biking home should have one, possibly even two. In this case, a good quality torque wrench is essential for tightening up delicate spark plugs correctly. Spark plug socket This deep-reach tool has a rubber insert inside which helps grip the spark plug as you extract it from the cylinder head. A normal long-reach socket will also do the trick. Allen T-bars Most bikes have Allen-head bolts securing trim panels, airbox lids or other parts, a set of T-bars will make slick work of their removal with excellent feel and…

Buildbase Suzuki and Synetiq BMW both tested at Mallory Park last week. Both teams are eager for track time having missed the official Spanish tests earlier in the year. Buildbase spent two weekdays at the Leicestershire circuit, before returning at the weekend for two more sessions. Both BSB riders, Keith Farmer and Kyle Ryde, were present, as was Superstock 1000 rider Tim Neave. Meanwhile, Bradley Ray and Taylor Mackenzie hit the circuit on their fully liveried BMW S1000RR machines. Track time is important for both riders ahead of the season, especially Ray, who switches from Suzuki to BMW power this year. Elsewhere in the country, Honda Racing took their brand-new Fireblades, both Superbike and Superstock spec, to Cadwell Park.…

“Sabbatical: A period of paid leave granted to a university teacher… for study or travel, traditionally one year for every seven years worked.” Well, some do call Andrea Dovizioso ‘The Professor’, and this year marks his seventh as top dog at Ducati. But the suggestion that he might elect to take a sabbatical in 2021 is pushing the academic analogy a little too far. He’ll be 36 by 2022, after this presumed break. And seriously, likely to get another half-decent ride on his return? I hardly think so. The speculation was started by the Italian one-time 125 champion’s manager, smoothy Simone Battistella, talking on a Spanish web forum; and reflects stalled negotiations with Ducati, where Dovi has been growing increasingly disillusioned with the continued failure to solve the bike’s cornering…

To all the MotoGP Family, The Covid-19 pandemic is and has been one of the biggest challenges our sport has faced. Very soon it will be time to get back on track with two consecutive GPs in Jerez, and we are very excited for the restart of our sport. We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every single member of the MotoGP family, including manufacturers, teams, riders, officials, circuits, marshals, volunteers, broadcasters, journalists, photographers, sponsors, partners, service companies and organisation staff for their incredible efforts during this time, and for the hard work put in by so many to make it possible for us to go racing again. After a lot of hard work and effort, in conjunction with authorities we have been able to produce…

JORGE MARTIN RED BULL KTM AJO Jorge Martin is expected to be a race winner and title contender this year… before moving up to MotoGP in 2021. A FERNANDEZ EG 0,0 MARC VDS After recovering from an injury which ruled him out of two rounds in 2019, Fernandez went on to win three races in his first full Moto2 campaign. TOM LUTHI LIGUI MOLY INTACT GP Tom Luthi is a Moto2 veteran who is now up to speed with the Triumph engine. The Swiss rider is always a threat for the podium. L BALDASSARRI FLEXBOX HP 40 After winning three of the opening four races in 2019, his year fell apart. He’s since left the VR46 Academy and back on form, finishing second in Qatar. LUCA MARINI RED BULL KTM…

STUART HIGGS SERIES AND RACE DIRECTOR BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP I’m relieved to be getting going and the release of tension is palpable across the teams and partners of the championship because everyone is in the mood to go racing. We need to remain pragmatic and honest because we know that there are challenges ahead because in any sport a lot of the expense associated to it is front loaded. It means you have to spend a lot on preparation so having to stop puts a lot of strain on the situation if the income isn’t coming in from sponsors because of the lack of activity. We are all committed to going forward but we did all talk about the option to suspend and not run at all in 2020,…