Table of contents for 12 August 2020 in MCN

It’s called ‘throwing the kitchen sink at it’ and it’s a strategy that produces amazing results; it’s what KTM have done in order to produce a premier class winning bike, when the RC16 took its maiden victory at Brno last Sunday (p71). In just their fourth season in the top class, the Austrian factory’s time, skill, dedication and large helping of Red Bull euros are finally paying off; it’s what rookie Brad Binder did when he sliced past MotoGP’s finest to give KTM that long-anticipated first win; and it’s what Binder’s parents did when they made huge sacrifices to bring their talented son to Europe (Brad actually cut his first race laps here as a 12 year-old on the UK club racing scene) so that one day he could take…

•‘A lot of people don’t want to use public transport’ The value of used bikes is on the rise due to a combination of factors brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, say UK dealers and industry figures. Rebounding demand post-lockdown, production interruptions to new supply and moves away from public transport are all factors cited by the trade behind boosted used values – so much so that dealers are paying more than usual for secondhand bikes to satisfy demand, with some offering big trade-in incentives. “In general sales have been very good,” said Vinnie Styles of Wheels Motorcycles, one of the UK’s largest dealers with more than 100 used machines in stock. “Scooters and commuter bikes are definitely strong because there’s a lot of people who are not planning on…

Aprilia have made huge improvements to their 2020 RSV4 Factory to fight off their rivals and the new RSV gets upgraded electronic suspension, co-developed with Öhlins, which they claim cuts lap times on average by 0.5s compared to the 2019 model’s mechanical set-up. But if the latest machine is beyond your means, there are two decades of V-twins and V4s from the Mille to the RSV4 RF to suit every budget. 2020 RSV4 FACTORY What is it? A GP-wing bedecked halo superbike with fifth-generation rider aids that will allow 214bhp to surge through onto the tarmac at full chat. MCN says “Lavishly equipped, the RSV4 1100 Factory is nothing short of sensational.” Want to buy one? £22,399, £4500 deposit, £336 per month on three-year PCP 2015 RSV4 RF…

Police have gone through with their threat to crush seized motorbikes and display the results in Corby town centre. MCN spoke to Superintendent Kev Mulligan earlier this year about the plan to take repeat offending, unroadworthy or stolen bikes with no obvious owners off the road for good. Now, a video on the Northamptonshire Police Twitter account shows the vehicles being loaded into a crusher before a cuboid of mangled metal is lifted onto a truck destined for an awareness event. “What we’re doing here today is crushing a number of bikes that have been seized by our officers as part of a campaign to get rid of some of these nuisance vehicles that are travelling across the county and are a clear danger to the public and other road…

Members of the North Cumbria and South West Scotland Advanced Riders RoSPA group have been covering thousands of miles delivering medical scrubs in the fight against Covid-19. ‘Their help has made a big difference’ELEANOR BILLSON, SCRUB HUB The riders have been working in tandem with Scrub Hub North and West Cumbria – a volunteer organisation producing PPE, such as scrubs and masks, for medical professionals in need during the pandemic. The group got involved as demand for the products grew beyond the capabilities of their small band of volunteer drivers, allowing members to legitimately use their motorcycles during the enforced lockdown, whilst making a genuine contribution to help combat the virus. “Spreading the workload was really important and the offer of help received from the RoSPA bikers to assist with…

KTM are working on a new RC390 that’s safer, more stylish and far more hi-tech. The current machine is no slouch but it’s lagging behind the competition and is even outclassed by KTM’s 390 Duke. Now though, the RC is going to be something really special. Visually the bike has had a complete refresh, with the divisive headlights of old gone in favour of a large, clear mask with new LED lights behind. The fairing has been adapted with new lines although the two-part set up remains. The tail unit is new, too, and sits on a new steel trellis subframe, which bolts onto the mainframe where the old one was welded together. Behind the fairing lies a whole host of new electronics, which is where the big changes come.…

The Government seem to regard motorbikes and bikers as secondclass citizens. They don't seem to think bikes can help keep pollution down and ease congestion and be a good method of transport when people are scared to use public transport. But, all of a sudden, British Superbikes is an elite sport and cannot have spectators even though the organisers at MSV have gone to a lot of trouble and expense to allow spectators to attend these large, open-air venues safely. Crowded beaches and city centres with no safety measures, however, seem to be acceptable. Now even the latest Highway Code tweak ignores bikes. Tony Senior, Powys MCN Star letter Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter slot. Every week one lucky…

‘I LOVE HEARING BIKES AND WORKING OUT WHAT THEY ARE’ There’s a lot of people talking about loud pipes. I’m totally biased because I’m a biker, but when I hear the bikes going through the valley near my house the hair on the back of neck stands up because I love it. It sounds magnificent and I stand there working out if it’s a twin, a V4 or a straight four. I listen to hear if they’ve got an auto-blipper – to me it's magical. Also you hear it for a few seconds and it's gone, so I struggle to understand why people are worrying about it so much. If an aeroplane or a helicopter go over you that’s a lot more annoying than a bike. If it’s a 30mph…

‘Mick has never let me forget crashing his car into that caravan’ If you’ve been to the MCN London Show in the last few years, you’ve probably seen Nigel Everett. He’s one of the mechanics trusted with restoring Barry Sheene’s race bikes live on stage, and has done a similar job on dozens of other GP bikes over the years. But Nigel hasn’t always been a bike restorer – he learned his skills as a factory mechanic for Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki. “I left school at 15 and got a job at Mike Wheeler Motorcycles in Witney where Rod Scivyer (ex-British 125 champion) worked,” Nigel told MCN. “I went along to races with him to help out, then went to GPs in Sweden and Finland with Tom Dickie and Roger…

ROYAL ENFIELD 200 First made in 1915, the Model 200 was a fairly utilitarian piece of kit. Powered by an air-cooled 225cc two-stroke single, it made a whopping 2.25bhp and, conditions allowed, could make it to a dizzying top speed of 35mph. EXCELSIOR MANXMAN Named in honour of the Isle of Man TT, the Maxman was a popular roadster that came in 250, 350 and 500cc varieties. The racing machine claimed numerous victories at the TT, although the road going bike was often considered a bit over engineered. Still it was good for 80mph and that’s all that mattered at the end of the day. SCOTT STANDARD In the early 1900s, Scott were at the cutting edge of motorcycle production, with their water-cooled two-strokes dominating the race scene so much…

There isn’t a lot wrong with the way the Interceptor rides. That’s clear by the sales figures as much as anything else – it was among the UK’s best-selling bikes during June 2020. Sure, it’s cheap, but that sort of success doesn’t come off the back of a low list price alone. However, with low cost inevitably comes compromise, and so we find a bike that’s been fundamentally designed well, but using some bits from the cheaper end of the parts bin as finishing touches. That isn’t to say anything about the 650 twins is substandard; more that it’s built to a budget. This also means it’s a great base for simple yet significant improvements. I’d decided to turn my attention to the handling, which, if you’ll remember back to…

The romance between Loris Baz and Ten Kate has reached new heights after their first podium. Still only 27, it was the Frenchman’s 15th rostrum and his first since Qatar 2014 with Kawasaki. Third in Sunday’s Sprint Race followed near misses in Australia and Spain and was well-earned by Team Principal Kervin Bos and Crew Chief Mick Shanley, whose experience of developing the bike has worked wonders. “This is for Sandro Cortese – it was horrible to see him at the side of the track after his crash – and for all of the team who have believed in me,” said a proud Baz. ‘This is for Sandro Cortese – it was horrible to see him get injured’ At the end of 2018, Baz was left high and dry following…

A weekend which promised so much for McAMS Yamaha turned out to be one of mixed results. Jason O’Halloran dominated practice and qualifying, but a poor start and close contact with other riders left him eighth in Race 1. The Aussie, who set the pace in qualifying, did, however, recover well to secure two third places, but given his pace in testing and throughout, the weekend looked set to deliver more. ‘We have the speed to win, but we just need to put the races together’ “I’m happy, last year I left round one with no points, whilst this time we’ve left with a good bunch of points,” O’Halloran told MCN. “We definitely have the speed to win, but we just need to put the races together. It’s been a…

Kyle Ryde caught everyone’s eye after impressing on his British Superbike debut for Buildbase Suzuki at the weekend. Following in the footsteps of Bradley Ray two years ago, Ryde showed seriously impressive pace on the Suzuki. Ryde led his first-ever BSB race but a mechanical failure saw him withdraw from the top four, before bouncing back to take a fourth and seventh in races two and three. “It’s pretty overwhelming,” Ryde told MCN. “I knew it would come at some point because I work really well with the team and the bike is really good, but I didn’t expect to be this fast, this soon.”…

Rookie sensation Brad Binder went from a 50/1 rank outsider to instant KTM MotoGP legend after claiming a historic first premier class victory in Brno. Binder blazed to a startling victory in just his third MotoGP appearance to become the first South African to win in the premier class World Championship. And he secured his name in KTM folklore by becoming the first rider to win for the Austrian factory in just their fourth season in MotoGP. A visibly emotional and shocked Binder, who has now won for Red Bull KTM in all three World Championship classes, said: “I don’t think this will ever sink in. It’s the most incredible day of my life. It’s insane. It’s unbelievable. I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child and…

BMWG310R 313cc | 158.5kg | 33.5bhp | 785mm Cash price £4670Deposit £177.75Mileage 5000pa Rate 0%APROptional final payment £1777.25 With its A2-legal single cylinder engine producing a peppy 33bhp, the light and fun G310R makes for an ideal urban bike that is also a hoot on the back roads. ABS comes as standard and there’s a huge array of options such as heated grips and soft luggage should you require more creature comforts. And all for just £49 a month. Honda CB1000R Plus 998cc | 212kg | 143.4bhp | 830mm Cash price £12,749Deposit £2077.72Mileage 4000pa Rate 5.9%APROptional final payment £5925.55 The CB1000R is a blend of super-naked and retro. You get the feeling every component was lovingly chosen, then combined with care and the result is a fast, slick, roadster. The…

Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark 803cc|189kg|72bhp|798mm Cash price £7741Deposit £1891.49Mileage 5000pa Rate 4.9%APROptional final payment £3482 The Dark is a welcome alternative to the bold colours used on the rest of Ducati’s Scrambler range. Behind the black frame, forks, engine and paintwork remains the same air-cooled 803cc engine and you also get cornering ABS as standard. Better still, the Dark is £700 less than the yellow Icon. An A2-legal version is available. Triumph Street Twin 900cc|198kg|64bhp|760mm Cash price £8100Deposit £1558.94Mileage 4000pa Rate 7.9%APROptional final payment £3972 The Street Twin is a great entry into the modern retro world. It’s stylish and comes with a pleasingly high specification that includes a Brembo four-piston front caliper with ABS, Road and Rain riding modes and traction control. The 900cc parallel twin makes a healthy…

Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin 1084cc|226kg|100bhp|850mm-870mm Cash price £13,049Deposit £2768.43Mileage 4000pa Rate 5.9%APROptional final payment £5988.50 The heavily updated 2020 Africa Twin comes with a new six-axis IMU giving it angle-sensitive traction control and cornering ABS alongside wheelie control, cruise control and a super-cool TFT dash with Apple CarPlay integrated. This Euro 5-compliant bike high-tech adventurer that is happy to be fired up a green lane, too. HOT OFFER Honda are offering a £1000 deposit contribution on the Africa Twin. KTM690 SMC R 690cc|147kg|74bhp|890mm Cash price £8299Deposit £1519.50Mileage 5000pa Rate 4.9%APROptional final payment £4792.50 The KTM 690 SMC R is an absolutely bonkers bike that is a wheelie/stoppie/drifting monster (in the right hands). It comes armed with top-rate suspension and a full-on electronics package that can, naturally, be turned off so…

After months of delay, people who bought tickets for now cancelled MotoGP races are receiving refunds – but it’s not for the full amount and it has left a bitter taste. Ross Crymble and Gavin Frain paid hundreds of pounds for tickets for the Mugello event. Initially the round was postponed, leaving them in limbo. The organisers eventually cancelled the race on June 10, but it took until the end of July for many people to get their money back or be offered an alternative ticket. Those who bought GP tickets direct from the circuit received full refunds at the end of June. But those who bought from MotoGP.com, the sport’s official website run by Dorna, have been offered replacement tickets to other events of equivalent value within the next…

With lockdown restrictions gently easing to allow for some proper homegrown motorcycle touring, members of the #ride5000miles group packed their bags for a three-day weekend of adventure in Wales. Setting off from various parts of England on Friday July 24, the riders met up at Cranberry Moss campsite, in Oswestry, before riding into Wales on the Saturday to pitch tents at Snowdon Base Camp, situated at the foot of the mountain. “Meeting up with everybody again was really good,” said Peter Phelps, 38, from Maidenhead. “The lockdown has taken a massive chunk out of the riding season and this time last year, I’d probably done three or four weekends away.” “To actually get out and do some camping was really brilliant,” the BMW K1200GT rider continued. “The roads are like…

‘The roof can be taken off for sunny rides’ Before BMW’s R1250GS took up residence at the top of the sales charts the German firm spent years searching for a machine that would bring it to prominence – and as the millennium dawned it was the C1 scooter-with-a-roof that was briefly the company’s most striking offering. Although remembered today as a short-lived, bizarre-looking dead-end, the C1 offered in 125cc and 176cc (“200”) forms was BMW’s best-selling two-wheeler in the UK from 2001 until it was discontinued in 2003. British sales accounted for around a quarter of the total 12,000 machine production run. Now the firm could be working to bring the same concept back and have filed at least 15 new patent applications showing every aspect of a new, battery-powered…

James Whitham’s Yorkshire tones are as familiar as the burble of a V-twin or the rasp of a two-stroke. The two-time British Superbike champ-turned TV pundit provides the commentary for BSB, WSB and the TT, so it’s not surprising that most of the riders at his track school already feel as though they’re on first name terms with him. “Low numbers, that’s what our events are what all about,” begins Whit in between giving tyre pressure advice and handing out armbands. “Our groups are small, typically only 20 riders in each. It means everyone has enough space out on track and also that the instructors can spend enough time with them. I used to run trackdays 20-odd years ago and it was pile-em-high in terms of numbers, and to be…

There are two things I rarely do: ride in groups and carry pillions. Call me an anti-social old bastard, but I much prefer riding alone. But in the last week I’ve broken both of those normal exclusions – and had a blast both times. The group ride taught me nothing about the AT other than what I already knew in terms of its effective mirrors (I was leading the rideout). But taking a pillion was far more informative. I’ve only ever taken two pillions on the AT. The first time I didn’t touch the suspension – let’s call that a base run. The second time was also a first: The first time I’ve taken one of my kids out on a motorcycle. That meant I was operating at a level…

Although a second win of 2020 still eludes Yamaha after Portimao, the PATA team managed four more podiums to move to within three points of Ducati for second in the Manufacturers’ Championship. It’s no secret that the blue bikes jettisoned vital points as the scorching Jerez temperatures led to several technical problems. Fast-forward a week and things looked more promising. Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark’s 2-3 result in Race 1 was as good as it could get considering Jonathan Rea’s dominance, while the Turk managed second in the Sprint and the Dutchman third in Race 2. Although their earlier problems leave Toprak and VDM third and fifth in the standings, trailing leader Rea by 33 and 54 points respectively, the team departed the Algarve with positive vibes thanks…

Former World Supersport and Moto3 champion Sandro Cortese has undergone emergency surgery in Faro hospital. The German’s Pedercini Kawasaki made contact with the Motocorsa Ducati of Leandro Mercado on the final lap of Race 1, resulting in 30-year-old Cortese striking the tyre wall on the descent to Turn 12. Concussed in the accident and stabilised in the circuit medical centre, Cortese was airlifted to hospital. Injuries include a fractured T7 vertebra, with a fusion carried out below and above the injured vertebrae at the levels of T5-T6 and T8-T9. Also confirmed are four fractured ribs and a fractured knee, while a broken ankle is suspected. Thankfully, a CT scan of the spine revealed no post-surgery complications and no neurological impairment.…

The introduction of a new, larger, Pirelli tyre in the Bennetts British Superbike championship appears to have changed the dynamic of the all-conquering Ducati V4R, impacting Josh Brookes heavily at the opening round. Brookes secured a podium in Race 1 but was forced to limp home in sixth in the second race. Things became worse in the final race when he was taken out by Andrew Irwin whilst battling for third. Brookes hit the barriers hard and Irwin was later disqualified after the collision was investigated by race control, but it’s the overall feeling of the bike that has left Brookes confused. “The bike seems to have changed character quite a lot with the new tyre,” Brookes told MCN whilst resting ice on his neck following the high-speed crash. “The…

Rory Skinner delivered on his potential at the opening round of the British Supersport championship at Donington Park by taking two utterly dominant race wins – by 7.605s and 9.356s respectively. The 18-year-old was under lap-record pace throughout, and was the only rider to dip into the 1:08s. “I knew what my race pace would be, so I just hovered around that and then the last few laps I just upped the pace a little bit,” the Tyser Yamaha rider explained to MCN. “I was a bit bored in those last laps and decided to enjoy myself.” He leads the championship standings ahead of James Westmoreland and Bradley Perie.…

Andrew and Glenn Irwin put the Bennetts British Superbike championship on high alert after dominating the opening round of 2020 series at Donington Park. With all eyes on the brand-new Honda Fireblade, Andrew Irwin won the opening two races of the season after battling hard against his brother Glenn who bagged three second places on his Honda debut. It marked a dramatic return to the front for Honda who are clearly already making incredible progress with the all-new model with their riders sitting first and second in the title standings. Speaking to MCN after his first win, an emotional Andrew said: “I’ve worked harder than I ever have before. I’ve started to do a bit of my own thing because I believe in myself now – it’s time to do…

Under-strength Honda’s woes without injured talisman Marc Marquez worsened in Brno as the Japanese superpower slumped to their worst start to a MotoGP season in nearly 40 years. Taka Nakagami on a 2019-spec RC213V was the lead Honda in a lowly eighth, as the firm went without a podium in the opening three races for the first time since their full-time return to premier class competition in 1982. Cal Crutchlow was a frustrating 13th at Brno and the hard-riding Brit was blunt in his assessment of Honda’s current plight. “I come to try to win and we are so off you can’t imagine. I’m not here to finish 13th,” said Crutchlow, whose MotoGP future beyond this year still remains uncertain. He continued: “The 2020 bike is more difficult to ride…

Pol Espargro launched a bitter attack on Johann Zarco after his dreams of a fairytale first win for KTM were shattered in a controversial collision. Espargaro had the pace to fight rookie teammate Brad Binder when he ran wide at turn one on lap 10 and got dumped in the gravel after contact with former KTM colleague turned Ducati man, Zarco. The incensed Spaniard said: “I really wanted to be the first to win for KTM. What happened is really unfair. He could have avoided the contact but he didn’t want to. He accelerated when he didn’t have to and took the win away from us. I knew we had the win and somebody took it from us.” ‘I knew we had the win and somebody took it from us’…

BMW S1000RR 999cc |197kg |204bhp |824mm Cash price £15,590 Deposit £3299 Mileage 5000pa Rate 7.9% APR Optional final payment £8956 BMW’s S1000RR is not only dripping in technology, it also packs a punchy 204bhp motor that has a wonderful mid-range surge thanks to the new ShiftCam engine. Whether it’s being ridden on the track or on the road, it delivers a dramatic ride. And at £15,585 (in standard trim), it’s a lot cheaper than some of its sportsbike rivals. HOT OFFER BMW are offering a £500 deposit contribution and an extra £500 when you trade in your old bike. Ducati Panigale V4 1103cc | 175kg | 211bhp | 835mm Cash price £20,141Deposit £4719.23Mileage 5000pa Rate 7.5%APROptional final payment £11,411 Ducati have made the 2020 Panigale V4 easier to ride by…

Honda CMX500 Rebel 471cc|190kg|47bhp|690mm Cash price £5799Deposit £700.92Mileage 4000pa Rate 6.9%APROptional final payment £2649.22 You just have to love Honda’s wacky Rebel custom bike. This unlikely smash-hit for Honda has been one of its best-selling models in Europe and thanks to a few upgrades for 2020 is likely to prove even more popular as the summer sun tempts riders to try one out for size. Powered by the CB-range’s lovely parallel twin motor, the Rebel is A2-legal and Euro 5-compliant and very easygoing with a nice spread of power and a relaxed attitude for town riding. The clutch is light, the gearbox slick and there is enough zip on tap to ensure you get away briskly from the traffic lights. However, as good as the engine is, the Rebel’s real…

We live in a diverse and beautiful country and this route gives you the chance to eat crabs in Cromer and sample Welsh Cakes in Cardigan Bay. It’s not a day trip for the faint hearted and more a weekend explorer, there’s sections of rural B-roads, fast A-roads and the shortest of hops on a motorway, to speed you along the way. From Lowestoft we start our journey on the road round the Suffolk and North Norfolk coast line until we reach Hunstanton. Strike inland to King’s Lynn and head due east on the A17. The A151 is a firm favourite of the MCN team. Sweep through to the A1, to continue into Melton Mowbray. Take the B6047 through Great Dalby and drop down to the A6, at Kibworth Harcourt,…

The latest custom designer to be given free rein with BMW’s R18 cruiser is Roland Sands, and this head-turning, muscle car-inspired Dragster is the result. With a pared-down design that makes a showpiece of the 1802cc Big Boxer engine, the Dragster transforms the R18 from laid-back cruiser to mean-looking, nitrous oxide-breathing straight-liner. Starting from the front, the forks are taken from an R nineT and matched to the brakes from an S1000RR. The fuel tank is retained from the donor bike, albeit with a custom, pinstriped paintjob, and the exhausts are replaced with twin stainless megaphones. From the engine backwards, the mods become even more extreme. The frame has been heavily altered to do away with rear suspension, a new custom seat has been fitted and drag bike pegs have…

After disappearing from UK showrooms in 2017, Honda’s CBR600RR could be about to make a very welcome return, following a short news release and model reveal trailer which appeared online on Thursday, August 6. Rumours of a new RR have been swirling for a while and this new 1m 16s official YouTube video and brief description on Honda Japan’s website brings us our first real glimpse of the forthcoming machine. A Honda statement confirmed the bike will feature a “water-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC, in-line four-cylinder 599cc engine and the latest electronic control technology and aerodynamic technology.” ‘The bike will get the latest aerodynamics’ The excitement is ramped up by a clip of a new TFT dash within the short film, which shows riding modes controlling what we believe to be power,…

Arai Tour-X4 £399.99 ‘Big saving on a top performer’ Given a five-star rating in our recent test, this adventure lid has a whopping 30% off. At £399.99 it’s not the cheapest lid on the market but you do get the quality and styling you’d expect from Arai. With an outer shell made from the Japanese firm’s special fibre laminate and a fully washable and removable liner, we felt the small, aerodynamic peak did the job, without catching the wind. We do have one criticism, though: it’s loud compared to other adventure lids, but it’s nothing a pair of ear plugs won’t fix. It has the traditional double D-ring fastener, a removable chin curtain and it’s intercom-ready. This deal is only available on the yellow, blue or red designs, there…

Give us our BSB back Brilliant, all of a sudden motorcycling becomes an ‘elite sport’ (something we’ve known for years). But this is only to dissuade spectators in this Covid-19 era. Now don’t let me be the old cynic but the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport sounds too damn close to TV media to me. Want to watch BSB? Best subscribe! Dave Clark, email It's BSB, not football I’d like to know why the Govt dept responsible for this decision thinks there’s any similarity between a circuit and a football stadium. Steve Driver, Lincs One owner from new It would be fantastic if you could include this picture of my folks with Dad’s BSAs because he turned 80 on August 7. His first bike was a C15 bought…

SUZUKI X7 Here I am back when I had just passed my test in 1979 and got my first big bike – a handsome X7. Graham Weild ALTA SUZUKI 125 My first bike still had paint marks from the SSDT. I took this picture with a Box Brownie camera in around 1977. Phil Capsey TRIUMPH TIGER 80 1946 and I'm on my first bike – a 1937 Triumph Tiger 80. Bikes have always been part of my life and I am still following MotoGP at almost 95. Roy Sprigg SHERCO Getting lively with my first Sherco trials bike. Those poor daffodils didn’t stand a chance. Andrew Milliken SUZUKI RG250 GAMMA Aged 18 and proudly displaying my 1985 Mk2 RG250 Gamma… after a 29-year absence I'm back on two wheels with…

Yamaha AS1 Nigel’s first ever bike. The AS1 was a 125cc two-stroke twin which was surprisingly peppy for a learner bike. Good job too: Nigel used it to ride from Witney to Yorkshire every weekend to get to work. Honda NR500 Nigel spent months in a top secret Honda workshop building engines. Suzuki XR69 The bike won Macau, got a podium in the Classic TT and won the Production TT. Kawasaki KR750 The three-cylinder two-stroke was wildly fast – Grant clocked 191mph down the Mountain in 1978 – but Nigel says it was easy to fettle. No bad thing given that Nigel had to prepare the 500 as well. Suzuki GSX-R750 Nigel was asked to be crew chief for Suzuki’s WSB effort in 1995-1996. Suzuki RG500 Nigel has been keeping…

‘I found my first bike in a barn and got it for half a crown’ Captain Sir Tom Moore burst into the public conscious in April, when over the course of three weeks he walked 100 lengths of his garden and raised more than £40m for the NHS. But a documentary to be shown tomorrow (Thursday) reveals he’s ridden motorcycles since he was a lad, used them to evade the enemy during the war and carried on racing into his twilight years. Sir Tom was born on April 30, 1920, in Keighley, West Yorkshire and was raised in a working class household. “I had a happy childhood,” he says. “I wasn’t bought teddy bears but I was bought things that were practical as I grew older. I’d be given a…

Character. It’s the cliché that gets rolled out whenever we talk about Italian products, but with Moto Guzzi it’s at their very core. Their trademark V-twins are usually weighty, with lower performance than rivals, obstinate design and unusual details, yet few bikes have such ability to get under your skin. With unique style, distinct sensations, heritage and reliability, a Guzzi genuinely does have character – and you’ll fall in love with it. £5250 MOTO GUZZI GRISO 1151cc |240kg |98bhp |815mm seat height • Dealer up to £6500 • Private up to £6000 • This one 2008, 20,000 miles Imagine the lean-loving handling of a classic Italian sportsbike, the laid-back cool of a Harley, more style than a BMW R nineT and a finish to shame the priciest Ducati. That’s…

1 More to calipers than just the pads A caliper contains moving parts and over time they need cleaning and servicing. Typically the parts that need cleaning are the main body of the caliper, the pistons and the bore in which they slide. The serviceable parts are the dust and fluid seals, and the O-ring/s that seal the two halves of the calipers. The parts should be original replacements. 2 Pull out pads and pins The brake pads need to be removed from the caliper, if they are worn low then it’s a good time to replace them with new. Make a note of how the pads are retained, there is often a pin that goes through the pad and a sprung anti-rattle shim. If you are re-using the pads…

The inter-team fight at BMW resumed in Portugal with Tom Sykes coming out on top as Eugene Laverty was compromised by two crashes at the notorious Turn 5. His Sprint Race clash with Chaz Davies was most costly, compromising his final race grid position. While Laverty was 10th, 20th and 12th, Sykes claimed 8th, 6th and 7th. Rumours also emerged that the firm could run a second team in 2021. One of the more lurid paddock whispers suggests Crescent Racing could become a BMW outfit should Ten Kate field a second bike and become the factory Yamaha effort. What is for certain is that the SMR outfit running the factory BMW is keen to focus on next year’s campaign. On Portimao’s long straight, eighth in the top speed rankings was…

Jonathan Rea did what he does best by claiming a hat-trick of World Superbike victories at Portimao. Following the relative misery of Jerez, where he finished with a sixth place due to grip problems, the Kawasaki rider knew that a commanding performance in Portugal could be pivotal in what is already turning into an intense and ever-changing season. Rea now has a staggering 93 wins, while Saturday’s success was the 150th for Kawasaki – the Japanese marque’s first having come in Budapest courtesy of Frenchman Adrien Morillas in the inaugural WSB season of 1988. Rea also moves one ahead of Alvaro Bautista to become the first rider to seal four treble victories since the three-race format began last year. “I wasn’t riding well in opening practice,” Rea told MCN before…

Tommy Bridewell worked closely with his tight-knit Oxford Products Racing team to overcome problems with the Ducati V4R allowing him to take a dominant victory in the third and final race at Donington. Bridewell stormed to victory after leading for much of the race, having already powered through to fifth in Race 1. It certainly wasn’t all plain sailing though, with the team having to adapt to the new tyre which caused Josh Brookes so many problems (see Ducati woes, p62). ‘The new tyres caught us off guard but the team worked so hard’ “You always think that coming back for another year, we have last year’s data, but it just did not work,” Bridewell told MCN. “The new tyres caught us off guard a little bit, but the team…

Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro has warned that KTM are the new horsepower and traction kings of MotoGP. “The KTMs were at another level terms of acceleration. I never saw something like that, even in Austria two years ago when Ducati was flying,” Espargaro said. “When Binder and Oliveira overtook me I felt like I was in Moto2. The big difference for everyone is not just in power but that KTM puts it to the ground, this is impressive. “We have improve our traction although today the key point for me was the speed corners.” Espargaro was briefly second on lap one at Brno but was swamped to finish tenth.…

Pain management remains the priority for Alex Rins, who finished a brave fourth in Brno, the first of a brutal triple-header for the injured Suzuki star. Rins needed painkillers for the 21-lapper to ease the strain on his fractured right shoulder injury as he came within inches of nudging Johann Zarco out of third place. “Another half lap and I would have overtaken Johann but in the end I had lot of pain. Overtaking from eleventh distracted me from the pain, riding alone would have been more difficult,” Rins said afterwards. Suzuki teammate Joan Mir crashed on lap three, which was his second DNF in three races.…

The way we buy new bikes has changed dramatically over the last few years, with PCP becoming one of the most popular ways to get that new metal in your garage. MCN readers whoíve done it normally mention two main reasons for buying in this way: cost and ease. The overall outlay is certainly less with PCP; as long as you donít pay that final balloon figure (which means you never actually own the bike). Equally, if you want to change bike during the contract period or even swap brands during the process, thatís pretty easy, too. This flexibility and low monthly outlay makes PCP about as close to a win-win situation as youíre ever likely to get where motorcycles and bank balances are involved. But it might not be…

Ducati Multistrada 950 937cc|204kg|111bhp|840mm Cash price £12,041Deposit £2835.76Mileage 5000pa Rate 7.5%APROptional final payment £6464 The mini-Multi makes for a lovely lightweight adventure bike that punches well above its weight. It may lack a few of the bigger Multi’s gizmos (the S version gets Skyhook suspension, however it costs £13,844) but the 950 is agile and packed with spirit as well as having pleasingly long service intervals. And you now get a four-year warranty. BMWF850GS 853cc|229kg|93.8bhp|860mm Cash price £10,170Deposit £2243.86Mileage 5000pa Rate 5.9%APROptional final payment £5124.03 The F850GS comes with rugged styling, a 21in front wheel and high specification suspension to allow it to deal with the rough stuff. As with all BMW models, the list of upgrades is extensive, making this peppy parallel twin excellent both on and off road.…

Yamaha Tracer 700 689cc|196kg|72bhp|835mm Cash price £7947Deposit £2322.20Mileage 4000pa Rate 6.9%APROptional final payment £3352.50 The Yamaha Tracer 700 follows the philosophy set by all of Yamaha’s parallel twin engine models – to offer excellent value for money in a great fun and extremely competent package that appeals to all ages, sizes and experience levels of rider. Now in its second generation, this year Yamaha built on the original Tracer 700’s base with an updated version that is now even better with a crisper throttle connection, more composure in the corners and improved comfort levels. And, best of all, they have done it all while retaining the Tracer 700’s incredibly good value-for-money price tag. Much like the MT-07, the old Tracer model was a touch softly sprung, something Yamaha have cured…