Table of contents for 14 October 2020 in MCN

Launched in 2016, the baby GS is a first step on the BMW ownership ladder and is built in India by BMW’s partners (and new Norton owners) TVS. Now, BMW are giving the bike a significant revamp. Firstly, the 313cc liquid-cooled engine has been made Euro5 compliant. It still produces the same A2-friendly 33.5bhp as before but will now meet next year’s tough new emissions regulations. A new clutch has also been added which features a ‘self-boosting anti-hopping’ unit. This is aimed at reducing aggressive engine braking and making the lever action lighter. Both the clutch and brake levers now have four-stage adjustment. To help less experienced riders, the idle speed also now increases automatically as you let the clutch out to minimise stalling. Up front, a new LED headlight…

Following the sale of Norton to Indian firm TVS in April for £16m, Interim CEO John Russell has started to rebuild the brand. He said:“Norton appreciates the great importance of the need to look after customers who placed deposits on orders that are as yet unfulfilled, despite there being no legal obligation to do so. “In this initial stage of Norton’s rebuilding phase, with the backing and support of TVS, the most important commitment we face is to address all open orders. We are doing our utmost to ensure all our valued customers can reach a positive outcome.” Letters have gone out to those who have paid for bikes and it now looks like they will get their dream machine after all. And with some forked out over £40k this…

Motorcycle and moped sales are still recovering after a huge drop due to the coronavirus. More than 14,500 new bikes left the showrooms in September – an 11.8% rise compared to this time last year. The biggest rises have come in the smaller machines, with scooters and mopeds showing a 23% rise compared to this time last year, and accounting for 3616 of the new-bike total. Motorcycles, meanwhile, registered an 8.6% rise to 10,897 sales. This means that despite the rough going at the start of the year, with a four month lockdown in the key selling period, the year-to-date figure is only 8.3% behind where it was in 2019. Growth is being driven by small capacity bikes Much of this growth is driven by small capacity machines, as people…

Yamaha’s Yard Built project returned again in 2020, to showcase the best of custom building that can be done with an XSR. This time the customisers were let loose on the XSR700 for the first time with the theme of ‘back to the drawing board’. The four bikes are all very different with everything from the Ugo Coppola’s RD250 Tribute to Alex and Claudio Monge’s flat track themed XSR700 ‘Red Tail’. There’s also Barbara Motorcycles aggressive ‘Disruptive’ and last but not least from Portugal an XJ400 inspired bike from Ruamachines. To see more photos of the finished machines, head to the website at www.yamaha-motor.eu.…

WHAT’S NEW IN TECH Riding in the dark highlights an innate problem with traditional headlights – when you lean into a turn the beam is angled away from the direction you’re trying to go. It’s a particular problem on dipped-beam. They’re angled downwards towards the road so as not to shine in the eyes of oncoming drivers, but when your bike leans into a corner, that downward tilt means they’re directed towards the outside of the corner just as you’re looking towards the apex. There have been plenty of attempts to tackle the issue, but the adaptive headlights developed for the 2021 BMW R1250GS provide the simplest and most convincing solution yet. BMW have been pursuing the goal of adaptive headlights for decades. The firm were patenting ideas to solve…

A father and son biking duo from Honiton in Devon have been sharing their love for two wheels together for almost a decade; squeezing in weekend blasts and small tours as often as they can. Kawasaki Versys 1000 rider, Andy Paxman, 52, has been taking son William, 15, on the back of his bikes since he was six years old and together have racked up thousands of miles across many different machines. “I think it’s about making memories as well as just getting some good quality father-son time,” Andy told MCN. “It’s nice to have something in common, whether you’re a dad or a mum - where we can have that time together away from everything.” Riding most weekends, the pair also managed to squeeze in a 600-mile three-day tour…

Paul Denning has grown up surrounded by bikes. His grandfather, Edward, founded ‘Crescent Cycle and Motorcycle Co’ in 1950, the firm became the UK’s first Suzuki dealership in 1963 and Crescent now have three dealerships with Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda franchises. Paul raced both motocross and in BSB before taking over the role as team manager. Under his guidance, Crescent-run teams have won British titles and multiple races in WSB and MotoGP. Given his experience, what used bike would Paul buy? “So many bikes have meant so much to me it is hard to pick one out,” says Paul. “I first started racing on an RGV250P, raced a GSX-R750-T SRAD in BSB, Crescent won three British Supersport titles with the GSX-R600, the BSB title with the GSX-R1000 K4, a WSB…

Moped Mayhem, the wild and wacky endurance race that was the highlight of the old BMF shows in the 1980s and 90s is making its long- awaited comeback at the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling on May 15-16 next year. Known for its wild racing, huge grid, madcap machines and raucous atmosphere, it doesn’t get more grassroots than Moped Mayhem! The action doesn’t stop there, the 2021 event is packed with new and used bikes and thrilling stunt displays. Not only that, but you can expect the very best live music with evening entertainment for people making a weekend of it. It’s the UK’s biggest outdoor biking event and not to be missed. Ride the new2021 bikes The Festival is all about riding. It’s the only place in the UK…

‘Aprilia have sprinkled handling magic on the RS660’ Aprilia have created a new kind of sportsbike with the eagerly-awaited £10,149 RS660. Let’s face it, someone had to. Sportsbike sales have bombed over the past decade and it’s easy to see why. Lots of us love the idea of owning one, but the reality gets ever harder as they become more extreme, powerful, physically smaller and increasingly expensive. The RS660 costs more than we’d hoped (shame it’s not under the psychological ten grand mark for it to really fly out the showrooms), but when you dig down into the detail, it’s clear that you get a lot of sportsbike for your money. Think if it this way: it’s less than half the price of an RSV4 1100 V4 Factory and is…

‘Golden sandy ridges give way to rolling green hills’ Whenever this on-demand life gets a little too overbearing, my bike keys twitch like the needle of a compass, magnetically drawn to Northumberland. Open spaces, few people, unbelievable scenery and heritage around every corner, a visit makes you feel as though you’ve ridden back through the primordial mists and into a time of barbarians and battles, relics and religion. Slow down, open your eyes and engage your imagination; ancient Northumberland’s the stuff history lessons were made of. Castles, coastlines and communities with funny names - Catspaw, Otterburn and Once Brewed - all easily missed if speed’s the name of your game. But this most northerly part of England isn’t about head-down, arse-up antics. This border county rewards those powered by the…

‘My parents tried everything to get me off the bike when I was a kid’ On August 9, two days after her 50th birthday, American drag legend Angelle (pronounced ‘On- jell’) Sampey won the Pro Stock final at Indianapolis, beating Chris Bostick by almost a tenth of a second. It was her 43rd career victory in a class dominated by men and her first in four years. She’s also been three times national champion in a country where drag racing is both huge and fiercely competitive. And she did it by posting a time of just 6.88s over the standing quarter (by comparison, a stock S1000RR will do it in about 10) aboard her incredibly trick, factory-supported, Vance & Hines- prepared Harley-Davidson FXDR (see separate story) producing a mind-warping 400bhp.…

Drag racing in the US is huge, gets nationwide TV coverage and benefits massively from the sponsorship bucks that brings. Both cars and bikes compete at the same events organised by the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association). The top class for cars is ‘Top Fuel’, with multiple others including ‘Funny Cars’ and ‘Pro Stock’ while that for bikes today is ‘Pro Stock Motorcycles’. These are intended to resemble production bikes but actually are 100% racing machines with lightweight tubular chassis, bespoke, CNC milled engines producing around 400bhp and replica(ish) carbon bodywork. V-twins (Harley and Buell) can be 160ci max (2622cc), fours (Suzuki and Kawasaki) 101ci (1655cc). Vance & Hines/Harley- Davidson’s current ‘FXDR’ is essentially a rebodied version of the V&H ‘Street Rod’ introduced in 2017. “Harley-Davidson were looking to make…

After 11 successful seasons in the BSB and road racing paddocks, Smiths Racing will Line up on the grid for the final time this weekend. The Gloucester-based team, set up and owned by Alan Smith and his daughter Rebecca, was created in 2010 and has been heavily involved in British motorcycle racing ever since. In a statement, the team said: “We have had a wonderful experience and gained lots of fantastic memories In the British Superbike, Supersport and at the TT, NW200, Ulster GP and Macau GP over the past decade. We have enjoyed a Lot of success but now as a family and a business, we wish to concentrate our efforts in other directions. I would like to thank all of our riders, team members, sponsors, fans and organisers…

SPORTS REPORTER The stage is set for one of the most exciting season finales in recent Bennetts British Superbike history, with five riders heading to Brands Hatch with a chance of the title. After 15 races, only 19 points separate the top four in the standings, with Tarran Mackenzie still in with a shout in fifth albeit 46 points adrift. Josh Brookes leads, and loves Brands Hatch, but he’ll have his teammate Christian Iddon, both Yamahas and the all-new Honda Fireblade of Glenn Irwin chasing him down. WINS 3 PODIUMS 8 1st Josh Brookes 225 points It’s going to be very difficult to beat Josh Brookes. Knowing that Brands Hatch was the final round and a track where Brookes excels, his rivals needed to topple him at Donington. They didn’t.…

Pol Espargaro is hoping to end his injury hell at Motorland Aragon this weekend to become KTM’s third winner in an unpredictable season. With just one podium in his premier class career coming into 2020, Espargaro has now three top three finishes in the last five races, including an impressive splash to third in Le Mans on Sunday. But the former Moto2 World Champion is on a personal crusade to win in KTM colours before his move to Repsol Honda in 2021. On the eve of the French round, Espargaro said: “After the crash in Barcelona put me out of the championship, I decided for the rest of the season just to send it. My mentality is just to be as fast as possible and it doesn’t matter if I…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER Twenty-twenty will be remembered as the year when some manufacturers went 200bhp-crazy. Honda started the double ton ball rolling with their most track focused Fireblade ever, Kawasaki chirped in with the supercharged Z H2 and Ducati ripped the fairing off their Panigale V4 S to create the Streetfighter V4 S. MV Agusta also tempted us into a second mortgage with the savage Brutale 1000RR and if that wasn’t exclusive enough, you could have a £90k Ducati Superleggera V4. They were all monstrously quick, but none were class winners, which just goes to show that power isn’t everything – although big cubes certainly are, as Triumph proved with the new 2.5-litre Rocket 3. It was also the year where we’d worn such a groove in our two-year-old MCN250…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER This has been the year of the super-naked. It’s a class that’s stepped up a gear with a brace of new 200bhp-plus monsters, superchargers and ever more tech. Aprilia’s 173bhp Tuono V4 1100 Factory is one of the few to remain unchanged. Ducati’s new Streetfighter V4 S stole the headlines. It’s a stripped down, undiluted Panigale V4 with 205bhp and wings, so that’s hardly a surprise. It’s a masterpiece of speed and engineering but takes life a bit too seriously. Then there was the updated, third generation KTM 1290 Super Duke R that surprised us with its newfound mixture of aggression and very nearly claimed the title this year. Kawasaki’s supercharged Z H2 was also eagerly awaited and was the machine we’d all hoped for: seamlessly rapid…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER While BMW hogged the limelight in 2019 the sportsbike story of 2020 was undoubtedly the new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade. Having said that, the new Ducati Panigale V2 was pretty special, as was the Triumph Daytona 765. Honda wanted to win WSB so badly they threw the kitchen sink at the Blade and gave it proper power for the first time, as well as a new chassis, more advanced electronics and MotoGP-inspired wings. Its racing intentions were clear the second we rode the allsinging SP version at the Qatar world launch in February. It didn’t lack power, but the engine was a screamer and it was so small I could barely squeeze on. That was the idea and it hasn’t done Honda UK’s superbike and superstock teams any harm…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER Haven’t KTM had a good year? They’ve proved they can turn their hand to and win everything from off-road to MotoGP and their road bikes are getting better, too, thanks to a test team that includes former MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams. It would be easy to think the new 890 Duke R is just a 790 with a few jazzy bits and a slightly bigger engine, but it delivers more thrills than just about anything with lights and indicators. As you’d expect from KTM’s fun factory, the 890 R’s focus is on pure performance and is undoubtedly more single minded than its closest, more rounded Triumph Street Triple RS and Yamaha MT-09SP rivals. Its parallel twin motor has more wheelie-inducing kick and the way it handles itself…

Bodycam footage has been released of the moment PC Adam Fegan surprised a teenage bike thief and pushed him off a stolen scooter before making an arrest. The 17-year-old had taken the Honda PCX125 from outside a care home in Whitley Bay without realising it had a tracker fitted. The owner reported the theft to police who found and confronted the thief, who can’t be named due to his age. He panicked and fled on the Honda, leading police on a chase across Newcastle that also involved a police helicopter. PC Fegan anticipated the escape route the teen would take and can be seen in the video leaving his car on foot to lay in wait, crouching behind a bush. His gamble pays off and as the thief rides through…

Oxford T40R tailpacks £91.98 ‘It’s the tailpack that does it all’ We gave this 40-litre tailpack a four-star rating for both quality and value, so with this 20% reduction, it really is worth a look. During our time using it, we found it has plenty of useful nooks and crannies in the main compartment, and you can add two sizeable side pockets, a mesh pouch and an elasticated net on the top for your lid. The bag zips to the base, which secures to the under the rear seat with Velcro straps. A waterproof inner bag keeps the main chamber’s contents dry but we found that the side pockets leak slightly. Additional bungees, which attach to D-ring fitments, ensure it stays secure and in position. When off the bike, you…

This new artist’s impression, based on the latest information out of Japan, gives the clearest indication yet of Suzuki’s hugely anticipated new 2021 Hayabusa, due to be unveiled later this Autumn. And with an even larger, 1400cc+ engine, all new suite of electronic rider aids called ‘S.I.R.S’, updated chassis, new dash and more, it looks set to be the bike Busa fans have been waiting for. It’s the overdue replacement for the second generation, 1340cc GSX1300R, introduced in 2007 then updated with Brembo monobloc calipers and ABS five year later. That bike went off sale in 2018 as it failed to meet Euro4. The new Busa, however, due to its larger displacement and intake and exhaust changes fully adheres to the latest Euro5 with no loss of power. MCN expects…

1989 Kawasaki ZXR750 H1 £5000 Hoover pipes, lurid paint, wild man Scott Russell in WSB, the ZXR750 had it all and many riders hold a soft spot for it. The H1 is the first of the breed and remains a real head-turner for nostalgic race fans. 1992 Honda FireBlade £5000 The first Blade is a proper future classic that set the blueprint for the modern litre bike. Still impressive to ride, the 16in front wheel can limit tyre choice but it looks great and everyone loves a 1992 Blade.…

£12,374 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX Tourer Engine 1043cc dohc 16v inline four Frame Aluminium twin spar Suspension 41mm telescopic fork, full adjustment (R) monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound Front brake 2 x 300mm discs, four-piston calipers Rear brake 250mm disc, one-piston caliper Seat height 835mm £13,097 Yamaha MT-10 Tourer Engine 998cc dohc 16v inline four Frame Aluminium twin spar Suspension 43mm telescopic fork, full adjustment (R)monoshock, full adjustment Front brake 2 x 320mm disc, four-piston calipers Rear brake 220mm disc, two-piston caliper Seat height 825mm…

It’s no accident the RS660 is light and tightly packaged and it’s all been achieved without resorting to exotic materials. That’s harder to do when you’ve got to keep costs under control than when you’ve got an open cheque book to produce a £90k Ducati Superleggera V4. Aprilia have also turned the RS660 around in a very short space of time with a mock-up only being shown at EICMA at the end of 2018. To keep the chassis simple the parallel twin is a stressed member of the ali beam frame with the swingarm bolted to the back. It isn’t just a happy convenience – the engine is half an RSV4 and is so compact it can easily be repackaged to power Aprilia’s new generation 660s. Attention to lightness goes…

It’s three years since Triumph inflated the Street Triple’s engine to 765cc. Based on the bored and stroked Daytona motor, they cooked up three different flavours to suit a trio of Street Triple models: the trackready RS (121bhp and 57lb.ft), sporty R (116bhp, 57lb.ft), and everyday S (111bhp, 54lb.ft). Smashing. Or almost smashing. As a likely first Triumph they wanted a 47bhp A2-legal version of the new Street Triple, but A2 bikes can’t be based on machines making more than 94bhp. So they used a 660cc engine specifically for an A2 Street Triple S. Although the engine had been used previously to suit Australian licence rules, having a unique motor for a handful of learner sales seemed a lot of faff. And so in this year’s refreshed Street Triple lineup…

2019 Harley-Davidson Fat Bob How a bike makes you feel should be every bit as important as the practicalities of finance, reliability and road holding. MCN reader Martyn Fordham wants a bike that’ll make him smile and for him that’s achieved via cubic inches. “My first bike was a Yamaha 920 Virago imported from the US,” says Martyn. “I wasn’t particularly looking for a cruiser, in fact the style didn’t bother me at all, I just wanted a big engine.” Martyn travelled all over the UK on his Virago but it wasn’t long before it gained a stablemate in the shape of a Yamaha XS1100. “The XS wasn’t in brilliant condition, but it really shifted and made a lovely sound,” he says. “Plus the engine looked huge!” A change in…

Jake Dixon was inconsolable after his gut-wrenching exit from the French GP. The emotional meltdown with Dixon tearfully apologising to Petronas SRT after the race showed the deep pain of squandering the chance of a career-first Moto2 win. Dixon had surged from eighth on the grid to first on lap seven when fellow Brit Sam Lowes ran wide. But after 14 laps out front controlling the pace with Lowes a threatening shadow Dixon binned it on lap 20 of 25 with a 1.2s lead to end hopes of a dream maiden win. “That wasn’t the ideal result but it is what it is,” Dixon said. “The main thing is that I was leading the race and was really fast. We haven’t got long until the next race at Aragon. It’s…

Cal Crutchlow raced at Le Mans despite admitting that his “skin is stuck to muscle Like super glue” in reference to the complications of arm pump surgery. However, the heroics of a fast fourth in qualifying ended when he crashed out of seventh in chilly, wet conditions. “It was nice to be back and to fight a little although I struggled to get heat in the tyres,” Crutchlow said. “People have doubted me but this year my arm and body have not allowed me to be as fast as I normally would be.” LCR Honda teammate Takaaki Nakagami continued his streak of top ten finishes with a solid seventh.…

TOP STORY Danilo Petrucci banished his one-win wonder tag with an impressive success in a rain-hit Le Mans MotoGP. The Italian put a miserable 15 months behind him with a performance that hushed detractors who’d written him off and given him little hope of a return to the podium in 2020. Sacked by Ducati and replaced by Aussie Jack Miller before a wheel had even turned in anger in a Covid-19 delayed season, Petrucci’s poor form heading into Le Mans did little to suggest such a drastic transformation in fortunes was on the cards. Petrucci had mustered just two top six finishes in 21 races after his sensational last-gasp win over Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso in Mugello last year. Anonymous as a front-runner this season, Petrucci has also struggled…

EDITOR Much temptation lurks around the corner that separates 2020 from 2021. We’ve already peeked around it a few times and seen some very interesting new metal, but with none of the major end-of-year shows taking place this year, the main tide of new models is still hiding just out of sight. Before we get to see the full scale of the temptation, it’s worth also remembering that Autumn and Winter – especially in a year that sees legislation roll over to even stricter rules on noise on emissions – is a great time to go bike bargain hunting. Yes, the new model that’ll arrive in Spring will probably be ‘better’, but is it better than the several thousand pound saving you might make on a brand-new end-of-line model? Possibly…

DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING Riding the Rocket 3 R is like discovering Geoff Capes also happens to be a chess grandmaster and a half-decent trampolinist. You approach expecting to be impressed by its size, strength, grunt and power, but leave astonished by its intelligence, class, agility and refinement. This is not a one-trick pony, but a properly impressive and thoroughly complete creation. The original Rocket III was, essentially, the biggest engine that Triumph were physically able to manufacture back in 2004, held in place by some bent scaffolding poles disguised as a frame. It was big, but it was certainly not clever. Quick in a straight line, granted – how could a 2.3-litre engine not be – but in corners? Not so much. Let’s describe the experience as ‘physical’ and leave…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER Restricted licence holders are spoilt for choice and manufacturers are falling over themselves to be the ones to funnel new riders into their brands. 2020 saw new A2 licence-friendly wonders enter the fray, as diverse as the 660cc Triumph Street Triple S, KTM 390 Adventure, Yamaha TMAX and bobber-shaped CMX500 Rebel, but none could beat the all-round appeal of Honda’s CB500X, which won last year and has done so again for 2020. The adventure-styled allrounder was updated in 2019 along with the similarly superb naked CB500F and supersport CBR500R. First and foremost, the X is simplicity itself to ride and enjoy. Clutch, gears, throttle and brakes are light and reassuring and at low speed it’s nimble and light on its feet. It’s finished like a Honda should…

Ron Haslam may be 64 years old but he’s showing no signs of slowing down or of doing any less motorcycling and to say motorcycling is ingrained in Haslam’s DNA would be the understatement of the century. But it’s not always been plain sailing. After a promising start to his racing career in 1972 and 1973, the death of his brother Phil in 1974 at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough, saw Ron take a year out. That tragedy was followed 10 years later by the death of brother Terry; Ron was one of ten siblings. Ron’s early racing exploits were supported by the larger-than-life character Mal Carter, Alan Carter’s dad, who ran a successful car dealership. In 1976 Ron had 16 wins and was getting noticed. His first British title came with…

DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING Surely the whole point of a retro is to reconsider the bikes from our past, to reflect on their merits and charms. Clue’s in the name. And no bike does it as well as Royal Enfield’s charming 649cc parallel twin. The Interceptor captures the feel and attraction of traditional bikes, without resorting to the underwhelming performance and crude nature of its single-cylinder Bullet sibling. Chassis, suspension and even the brakes have a simple old-school feel, but equally the ability to perform in the modern world. Same with the engine: the air-cooled motor thrums and encourages the relaxed pace of an earlier time, yet possesses the guts, drive and revviness to not feel out of place here in 2020. There aren’t any rival bikes offering the same blend…

DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING BMW’s R1250RT remains the best dedicated mile-muncher. It continues a trend that’s been going for so long you might wonder whether we shouldn’t just rename this the “Best BMW RT” award, given the model has won this award every year since it went water-cooled in 2014. Once again, over the past 12 months nobody has managed to build a better long-distance bike. What the R1250RT gets right is its balance. It offers everything you could possibly need or want to cross countries two-up quickly and easily, but stops short of straying into gluttonous excess. It still rides and feels like a motorcycle, not a vast, unwieldy, two-wheeled Winnebago. Naturally there’s a pair of plush, pert perches to rest laurels on. A huge, electronically adjustable screen and plenty…

Despite the challenging climate, LIND have invested heavily, opening three new stores recently and refurbishing many more in their portfolio. The two new Triumph franchises, in Central London and Watford, are state of the art and the firm have relocated the Ashford branch of Jack Lilley Motorcycles to an all-new building in West Byfleet and also moved Newmarket Harley-Davidson. Triumph East London has been refitted and is now adjacent to the Triumph store in Watford. LIND have also opened a new Harley-Davidson branch, which has established itself as a go-to place for many riders in the London and Hertfordshire region thanks to its customer-focus with rideouts, open days and social events (pre-Covid) - a theme of building and working with the community that all of their branches follow. “We are…

TOP STORY Kawasaki have revamped their hugely capable Versys 1000 range for 2021 in a bid to combat high-tech offerings from BMW and Ducati. The overhaul sees the stock Versys replaced by the higher-spec- as-standard S while the SE boasts Showa Skyhook suspension. The semi-active suspension set-up uses electronics to give a smoother ride as it tweaks damping settings on the fly. The term ‘Skyhook’ refers to the algorithms used in the semi-active suspension. It’s based on the idea of measuring the bike’s movement in relation to an imaginary floating reference point in the sky. Where semi-active suspension normally measures suspension movement using a stroke-sensor, Skyhook monitors vertical movements of the bike using onboard accelerometers to estimate its position in relation to the imaginary ‘Skyhook’, changing the set-up as it…

Honda have unleashed a 2021 attack team in the small, mid and big-capacity scooter class as the Forza range gets a radical revamp. At the top of the tree is the Forza 750 which replaces the Integra. The Forza 750 uses a Euro5 version of the smooth and solid NC750 engine and now makes a healthy 58bhp, up from the Integra’s 54. The new-look super scooter is completely restyled with the focus on gliding through city centres while retaining the ability to cover big distance in comfort. There’s also an A2 licence friendly version. The Forza 750 uses Honda’s DCT (clutchless) transmission, which sees smooth and seamless acceleration, although there is the option of using paddle-style gear shifters on the left handlebar. Honda have sold over 140,000 DCT machines in…

A biker has set up a non-profit organisation to help people struggling with mental health, especially issues heightened by social isolation. Paul Oxborough’s mission is to help people in need, particularly those who struggle to find people to talk to about their problems, and as part of this he’s organising a biking baton relay for 2021. “Sometimes society conditions you to not ask for help and you really struggle talking to someone,” says Paul. “We’re trying to break the stigma around talking and once we’ve done that, people will get the support they need.” Paul helped establish Mental Health Motorbike earlier this year, having had experience as a youth and community worker. Paul’s been a biker for 34 years, so he knows the strength of the biking community and now…

Back in September 2019 we rated the LS2 Challenger at 5-stars for quality and value and now we’ve snagged one worth £299 to give away! This helmet has a 100% carbon shell, offering safety, comfort and practicality for both road and track, in an ultra-lightweight package. Designed and developed in LS2’s European HQ in Barcelona, with input from MotoGP riders, the Challenger features the latest race technology offering high penetration resistance and energy dispersion, yet weighs in at just 1350 grams. The helmet is both ACU Gold and ECE 22.05 certified for track and road use. The Challenger has a quickrelease, 3D Optically Correct visor, which is ready to accept tear-offs, and comes with a Pinlock Max Vision Anti Fog System as standard and is also fitted with a flip-down…

A big thank you to Merseyside Police. We decided to enjoy a road trip for a few days, riding in the Dales and ending up in Liverpool for a stopover. We did all the right things and parked our two Triumph Tigers together next to reception under the security lights, then fitted two heavy-duty padlock and chains so both bikes were locked together. Then it was off the pub for a few beers and relaxation. Imagine my surprise when at 1am there was a banging on my hotel room door from two police officers. Well guess what, it was the classic tale of four scumbags turning up on scooters armed with a battery grinder. Fortunately, the commotion was observed by the hotel night staff who called the police. Top marks…

I can’t wait for the BSB decider this weekend. With 75 points up for grabs this weekend it’s wide open and we’ve seen lots of things happen at the final round. I think Glenn Irwin will be kicking himself for the mistake he made at Donington Park when he threw it up the road in the first race. It was bit of a rookie error And look at Josh Brookes, he understood the conditions, knew they hadn’t had much dry track time and didn’t take risks – he’s a wily old fox! If it was your last tenner, you’d have it on Brookes. Other riders that are fighting for No1 might hate me saying it, but the cream rises to the top. ‘Other riders will hate me saying it, but…

Is there a part of motorcycling Yamaha haven’t succeeded in? From sportsbikes and edgy two-strokes to opulent tourers and rugged adventurers, they’ve always been top of the class. And they’ve always been tech innovators – Yam pushed forward with variable timing (YPVS on strokers), five-valve heads, ride-by-wire, and even hub-centre steering and three wheelers. Here are some of our favourite tuning-fork used buys. £4750-£10,000 Yamaha Super Ténéré Bikes don’t get any more dependable than the rugged XT1200Z Subtle. That’s the best word to describe Yam’s twin. It doesn’t wow with power or whizzbang tech, nor does it have a headline attraction. But it’s truly superb. The motor gives relaxed yet effective drive, the steadfast chassis provides allweather confidence, comfort and practicality are ace, while finish and reliability are from the…

Sam Lowes emerged from the gloom of a four-year wait with a career defining victory in Le Mans. The win in his 100th Moto2 start was not only a psychological boost but a slap to those who doubted his credentials for a slot in the benchmark MarcVDS squad Lowes had not won since the Aragon Moto2 GP in 2016 but he is now in world title contention, 22 points adrift of leader Luca Marini with five races remaining. The timing of Lowes’ rejuvenation is perfect with the coming double-header at Aragon. The key has been a package deal with Lowes boosted by the support of MarcVDS which has freed his mind to simply go racing. “It’s been tough time but when you are in a good way then to win…

An audacious last lap move by Fabio Quartararo may yet be the defining moment in the Frenchman’s stealthy surge for the MotoGP championship. Quartararo’s bid to gain just a couple of points over title rivals Joan Mir and Maverick Viñales was a display of fast-rising maturity. “That fight for ninth position was like a fight for victory,” Quartararo said. “I was thinking of the championship when Joan overtook me and said ‘no way’. I will not finish without trying something. “I braked so hard in Turn 9 and overtook him, I was over the limit. It was fun but I would prefer to finish at the front.” Quartararo has now edged 10 points clear of Mir and 19 ahead of Viñales after that final lap scramble at a wet and…

The Triumph is a nice place to be on the road but riding on Welsh fire tracks and through spectacular scenery, it’s just as impressive. ‘Enduro’ mode allows the rear wheel to spin before the traction control kicks in and the ABS is less intrusive. I’m surprised how easy it is to gather speed, thanks to Showa suspension that transfers its road-going plushness to the gravel. It’s only when the going gets rougher that you’re reminded you’re aboard a 201kg adventure bike. A lot has been said about the ‘T’ crank. It’s aim is to add character and make the triple feel a bit more like a twin – the old Tiger 800 was quick-revving and too eager to spinup, making it hard to find grip. The new motor has…

DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING For almost a decade the Z1000SX has been the benchmark sporty road bike of the people. From day one it placed its finger squarely on the pulse of those riders raised on 80s and 90s Japanese sportsbikes who’d since grown up a bit. Approachable, affordable, comfortable, quick and credible, no wonder it sold on such a huge scale. So it was quite the shock when Europe’s biggest-selling sports-tourer and Britain’s most popular Kawasaki vanished at the end of 2019. Into a cocoon stepped the Z1000SX, then earlier this year out flew a Ninja 1000SX. But focusing on five letters stuck to the side of fresh bodywork, or the change from twin-sided exhausts to a single silencer, is missing what makes this such a significant step forwards. For…

DEPUTY EDITOR. MOTORCYCLING I can’t believe I’m about to type these words, but here goes. The best electric motorcycle of 2020 is built by Harley-Davidson. Yes, that Harley-Davidson. The brand built around booming, gas-guzzling V-twins. The brand that, to those outside the orange-badged bubble, seems stuck in a 1960s timewarp. Harley haven’t just created the first proper electric motorcycle from an established manufacturer - they’ve gone against everything they’ve built before. From onboard, every aspect feels so un-Harley. With its low, flat bars and footpegs tucked under hips, the riding position doesn’t have a hint of cruiser. At 251kg it’s no featherweight, but it’s lighter than most Harleys. And the way it accelerates will blow you away. Select Sport mode, dare to snap the twistgrip to the stop and you’d…

DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING Slight sense of déjà vu? That’ll be because Ducati’s rather splendid Multistrada 950 S bagged the Adventure Sports award this time last year too. Attaching the somewhat incongruous ‘Adventure Sports’ label means a bike with the style, benefits and practicality of a go-anywhere adventure bike, but in a dynamic road-focused package. And despite the arrival of BMW’s F900XR and updated S1000XR, there’s still nothing that blends adventure and sport as convincingly as the 950 S. You get the commanding stance, upright comfort and on-road presence of a beaky adventurer. A desmodromic 937cc V–twin engine that’s eerily smooth yet punchy and brisk and that no longer has the annoyingly short service intervals of Ducatis of yore (they’re the same as a BMW S1000XR and longer than a Honda…

A very proactive dealership with BMW Motorrad Centres in Alton and Maidenhead, Bahnstormer have been working hard over the last year to not only offer their customers a unique service but also support riders in the local area. The Alton showroom opened a new state-of-the-art workshop (which is now MoT-licensed so they don’t have to outsource the work) alongside a refreshed waiting area (with a top-spec coffee machine) that doubles up as a handover bay. Thinking outside the box, Bahnstormer have pioneered their own ‘Bahnstormer Editions’ to give customers the chance to order a unique machine customised specifically for them. Add to this the regular (pre-Covid) biking trips, BBQs, off-road skills days, European trips and trackdays that the dealership organises for their customers and you can see why Bahnstormer’s hard…

Midlands-based dealer Vertu Honda have long-established dealerships in Nottingham and Grantham, which have been providing excellent service to many happy motorcyclists. And not just established riders, the firm’s resident riding school, Alpha Rider Training which is based at their Grantham dealership, is now an official Honda School of Motorcycling partner, meaning new riders who pass can nip next door to the showroom to choose which bike they will be taking home to start their motorcycling adventure on and also receive a £500 discount on bikes over 300cc. To keep customers engaged in the post-lockdown era, Vertu have been streaming virtual events while also keeping fans of their sponsored rider, Honda Racing’s Glenn Irwin (who alongside brother Andrew passed his test this year with Alpha), updated on his performances in BSB.…

Ducati Manchester were the UK’s first Ducati Store when they opened the doors to their Manchester showroom in 2002. Since that point their amazing customer service and professionalism has seen them scoop numerous awards including an MCN Award in 2015 and the Ducati Dealer of the Year for Europe and Africa 2019, which is the first time a UK-based dealership has scooped the accolade. Known for going the extra mile for their many customers, Ducati Manchester organise events throughout the year including rideouts, tours and trackdays as well as trips to Italy and the Motorcycle Live while also actively promoting advanced riding. “We all love and adore Ducati motorcycles and hopefully that comes through when customers visit our store and get involved in our social side such as the rideouts…