Table of contents for 21 July 2021 in MCN

Ducati sold a record-breaking 8598 bikes in June. The result was a 43% rise over the same month in 2020 and 9% up on June 2019 (before Covid) and was the most bikes sold by the Italian firm in a single month… ever! The Multistrada V4, Streetfighter V4, Scrambler 800 Nightshift and Icon Dark versions were the most popular models. The new Monster also shifted in decent numbers. Souped-up scoot Rizoma have created a new line of bolt-on accessories for the Vespa GTS300, designed to add a touch of bling to the A2-compliant twist-and-go. Parts include everything from larger exterior add-ons including a new headlight fairing and steering cover, to smaller touches like machined passenger footpegs and aluminium front mudguard crest. Get in the picture Roadside photography firm BikerPics have…

Motorbike airbag vests have been moving into the mainstream in recent years thanks to a wider range of manufacturers launching their own versions at more accessible prices. But not all of the items you see for sale online are what they seem. If you stick ‘motorbike airbag’ into Google, several of the top shopping results from online sellers offer similar looking systems for incredibly low prices. Although they are available under several different brand names, the images used are similar, if not identical and often feature an item branded ‘Huanqiu’. Online seller Wish offered the vest for £81.76, which is certainly eye-catching compared to the £569.99 Alpinestars Tech Air 5 system next to it. The item from Wish used a lanyard trigger system rather than an electronic brain, but comparable…

Merlin Reaper boots £139.99 Family-run British brand Merlin make topquality kit and these new waterproof sports style boots are typical of their offering. Made from premium leather uppers and reinforced in key areas with soft D30 armour inserts, they feature a triple-layer Hipora waterproof/breathable membrane and an antifungal footbed to ensure fresh feet at all times. For boots as well appointed as these, they are an outrageous bargain. www.merlinbikegear.com Kamasa self-grip locking pliers from £15.60 These self-grip locking pliers are suitable for a wide range of jobs. There are three sizes: small (£15.60), medium (£18.48) and large (£21.65). The curved jaws allow increased grip and better fitting on curved surfaces. The selfgrip locking design means they can be used as pliers or clamps or even as a mini-vice. They can…

Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Saul’s pick... Saul Towers has been Sales Manager at Flitwick Motorcycles since 1997, so has seen more than his fair share of both brand new and used bikes. Buying, selling and even cleaning bikes, Saul has been involved in the industry all his working life. So what would be his choice of used bike? Yamaha’s smash-hit naked... “In a work context, at the moment I’d buy any used bike offered to me because the market is so busy. Japanese, European, even Chinese bikes, we will take anything as demand is outstripping supply,” says Saul. “But if I was spending my own money, I’d…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Too tall to downsize I couldn’t agree more with Mark Bonner (MCN Letters, July 14) regarding what bike to choose when age/health etc might force any of us to look to downsizing. Can I throw an extra factor into the equation by asking, what you do when your height adds to the problem? In 2019 I had to part with my much-loved 320kg plus cruiser, but I found my choice limited by my 6ft 5in height. I opted for a DL650 V-Strom, not my first choice, but a good, proven bike and some 100kg lighter. However, even with its proportions and the optional tall seat I had to fit a footrest lowering kit! Anyone have better suggestions for a roomy and manageable bike for us crocks?…

1 Royston & District Motorcycle Event The local motorcycle club is holding a bike show on July 21. You’ll need to make a £5 donation to get in. Starts at 6.30pm. roystonmotorcycleclub.co.uk 2 Ariel Club visit at Sammy Miller’s The Ariel Club will be at the Hampshire-based museum from July 21 to August 21. sammymiller.co.uk 3 Ardingly Classic Bikejumble July 25 at South of England Showground. Earlybird entry £10, 7.30am, or £7 for entry at 10am. www.elkpromotions.co.uk 4 North Wales Classic Motorcycle show Sunday July 25 at Bodrhyddan Hall. £8.50 for adults, £3.50 for kids. Pay on the day and parking is free. classicshows.org…

FRIDAY July 23 10am, BTS2, FIM Speedway Highlights from Czech Republic SATURDAY July 24 8.40am, Eurosport App, World Superbikes from Assen: Qualifying. 11.30am BSB Superpicks 1pm, QUEST, Live BSB, also WSB from Assen: Race 1 SUNDAY July 25 1pm, QUEST, Live Bennetts British Superbikes from Brands Hatch, also World Superbikes from Assen: Race 2 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 ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST…

GUEST TESTER MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £10,999 Suzuki GSX-S1000 • 999cc inline four 16v • 150bhp @ 11,000rpm • 214kg kerb weight £12,999* (AS TESTED) Honda CB1000R • 998cc inline four 16v • 143.5bhp @ 10,500rpm • 214kg kerb weight £12,502 Yamaha MT-10 • 998cc inline four 16v • 158.2bhp @ 11,500rpm • 210kg kerb weight Welcome to the world of 1000cc not-quite super-nakeds. The class of mostly Japanese bikes live more in the real world, with 140-160bhp and cost £11,000-£12,000. They don’t really belong alongside the 170-200bhp, fully-loaded, £15k-£20k headbangers, such as Aprilia’s 1100 Tuono V4, Ducati’s Streetfighter V4 and Triumph’s new 1200 RS. But although lower spec, these ‘sub-supers’ are great bikes. What’s more, as Suzuki’s updated GSX-S1000 and Honda’s…

2007 RIZLA SUZUKI ‘That was just really special because there is a picture of me at Donington sat on Chris Walker’s bike from 2000, when I literally just started racing and I idolised him for so long. To be sitting on his bike, seven years later… I really enjoyed it.’ 2010 TT RECORD ‘It was the race where Guy Martin had ‘that’ crash, we lost Dobbo in 600 racing… but when Brad told me what speed I’d done, it was just the happiest feeling ever, I was over the moon.’ 2010 SUPERSPORT ‘In previous years I would have won the championship because I got enough points to win it. But they did a countback thing where you drop two of your worst rounds and I ended up third, but I…

NEWS EDITOR The Indian Chief Bobber is one of the most well-rounded and refined big twin bobbers you can buy, but it’s not breaking any new ground. Handling, noise and pricetag are about what you expect but the power figure is disappointing. If you’ve got a Scout, or a smaller-capacity twin from rival firms, you’ll be seriously impressed by the Chief with its ample torque, quality ride and excellent finish. The wee satnav in the dash is a nice party trick and it’s something we’re only used to seeing on bikes that are £23,000 and over but elsewhere electronics are a bit of a let down compared to BMW’s R18 THE FACTS £17,695* Indian Chief Bobber Engine 1890cc air-cooled pushrod V-twin Frame Lugged steel tube Suspension (F) Non-adjustable telescopic forks,…

‘Dr Ian Mew explains how the team saves lives’ After five action-packed riding masterclass videos the final episode is released today (July 21) and it takes a look at a brave band of bikers who are doing everything in their power to make motorcyclists safer. MCN Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves has been working with real riders in the new More Secrets of a Road Tester video series and all five sessions can be watched now, for FREE, at Bikertekshop.co.uk. Watch parts one (Cornering), two (State of Mind), three (Speed Control), four (Mastering all Conditions) and episode five, which is a roundup of the key learnings, and you’re bound to take something away that make you a better rider. In all of these videos, everyday riders with varying levels of…

THE BUCKET LIST MOTORCYCLING MUST – DOS Hello. My name is Richard, and I’m a shameless hypocrite. OK, so this isn’t group therapy, but I felt it would be wrong not to share with the group that this rampant self-indulgence is spectacularly contrary to everything I’ve ever spouted before about personalised helmet paintjobs. Despite being offered this service on numerous occasions over the last 20-odd years, I’ve always declined, while mumbling something worthy, but sincere, about only wanting to wear what any human could walk into a shop and buy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I dislike personal paintjobs on helmets, it’s just that I’ve always been a bit too self-conscious to want to stand out from the crowd. What’s changed? Well, nothing. I still feel oddly conspicuous…

1 MT Atom SV £129.99 There’s a Pinlock for anti-fog and an option for both a full face and flip-up. Fitting my Sena headset was easy and it’s simple to fasten with gloves. Good value too. Joseph Wray, Birkenhead 2 Shoei Neotec 2 £549.99 It is so comfy, and the flip mechanism really fills you with confidence. The Pinlock keeps you mist-free. Jason Dorey, Alford 3 Shark Spartan GT Carbon £429.99 I’ve used a Spartan Carbon for four years but upgraded to a Spartan GT Carbon and it’s fabulous. Graham Bell, Essex 4 Bell SRT Modular £249.99 I have had many modular helmets, but the SRT is the quietest. The aperture gives good unrestricted vision. Ali Finlay, Peebles 5 HJC RPHA 90 £419.99 Easy to flip up and down, plus the…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Feeling a bit crabby? Have you noticed your bike pulling slightly to one side or that your chain is noisier than usual? If so, it could be that your wheels are out of alignment. This is usually taken care of when the drive chain is adjusted by making sure the adjusters that pull the wheel back when tensioning the chain are equal on each side, but the marks on the swingarm can be unreliable. BRUCE’S TIPS Make sure the rear wheel spindle is right up against adjuster bolts/heads 2 Shaftie or single-sider… For some types of bike wheel alignment isn’t an issue; if your bike is shaft drive there is, of course, no chain And if you have a bike with a…

INSIGHT Our man on the inside of the BSB race paddock MOTOGP PETRONAS HOLD ALL THE ACES ● Meet the man at the top of MotoGP’s leading non-factory outfit p70 ‘If Brookes isn’t in contention he may have a big problem’ 1 What’s up with Brookes? Josh Brookes’ 2021 campaign as not gone how he, nor anybody, would have expected. The reigning champion is yet to finish inside the top five and could only manage a best of 10th at Knockhill. Brookes doesn’t have any grip and despite inspecting and changing several aspects of the VisionTrack Ducati, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious solution. This weekend will be the real test. Brookes is normally untouchable at the Kent track. The Aussie is the joint most successful rider at the…

Rory and Mike have a very strong father-son relationship. Whether it’s at home, at work or at the circuit, the pair love doing things together. Over the years Mike has acted as Rory’s manager, crew chief, mechanic and general helper, however he’s now taken a step back for his son’s BSB debut. Rory has gained experience of riding solo before in the Junior World Championship. “They’re not just a good team, they’re nurturing, they care about him and for me as a father, seeing how they are with him, I know he can be there, and I don’t need to be. They have his best interests at heart and both parties like working with each other,” Mike told MCN. “I’m happy to stay back. I’ll always be there; Marc Marquez’s…

Riding away on the Kawasaki of your dreams may be easier than you think, thanks to the latest Hire Purchase (HP) and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) offers from Kawasaki Motors UK. Kawasaki Kalculator You can tailor your offer by visiting the ‘Kawasaki Kalculator’, then picking your bike, accessories and deposit to determine the monthly repayments. If you decide to go ahead, you can then send your final calculation direct to your local dealer or print it out and take it to the showroom when you drop in for a chat. All road bikes over 125cc are available with 5.9% APR Representative on a K.Options HP or PCP finance agreement. Performance bikes The new Ninja ZX-10R will start appearing in dealerships in late July. It’ll feature an all-new aerodynamic body with…

Introduced in 2000, the BMW F650GS Dakar is the off-road version of BMW’s surprisingly capable do-it-all single, the F650GS. Based around the same 652cc engine from the F650 ‘Funduro’, the motor inside the GS was completely overhauled by BMW and fitted with new fuel injection to boost power by two horses to 50bhp and fuel economy to a 56mpg average. A full 90mm taller and 10mm longer than the standard F650, and running longer travel suspension and a 21in front wheel, the Dakar is a highly competent green-laner whilst also still being brilliant fun on the road. Being a single means there’s plenty of low-down go, but the F650GS is known for being snatchy at low revs. Gearing it down with a 15-tooth gearbox sprocket (it comes with a 16-tooth…

What you’re holding in your hand represents something of a watershed day in motorcycling. For the first time in the history of the UK biking press, there is a publication devoted to women motorcyclists. A bit overdue? Some might argue, yes; for as long as motorcycles have been in existence, women have been riding them – just check out our Pioneers feature on page 6 – but over the past decade, more females than ever before are discovering the magic of motorcycling. Which is why MCN’s female staff, assisted by leading women experts from across the industry, have brought you this special issue of WoMCN Rider, to celebrate and represent all female riders out there, and inspire more to join the ranks. One of the brilliant things about biking is…

‘It gives you that bit of confidence’ Michelle Brooks-Oplin, 53-year-old swotted up on her off-roading skills “After I had my children, I got back into dirt bikes. I ride with blokes and they’re a little intimidating. I’ve done a Ladies Day elsewhere with a male tutor. He was good, but Louise seems to be in tune with how women ride. It’s stupid things like our physical strength isn’t the same. You really have to work at throwing your weight around on the bike and grab it by the bars and take control.” ‘It’s the female perspective’ Sarah Pugh started offroading at 50 to join her husband, Richard, and their 14-year-old son David “I joined the TRF and spent a year trailing behind, holding on and hoping. My husband tried to…

‘Make it two inches lower for just £50’ “Lowering kits are a simple way of lowering a bike, and the kit comprises a replacement linkage for the shock. They cost from around £50 and are available for most makes and models. It’ll take a maximum of an hour to fit: jack the bike up, unbolt the bottom of the rear shock, take out the linkage, replace it and you’re done. “You can lower a bike safely by up to two inches. Lowering any more than that can start to affect ground clearance, and bear in mind the sidestand may well need shortening, too. You’ll also lose a bit of suspension travel, but unless you’re going on bumpy terrain you may not even notice it. “The only bikes that I wouldn’t…

YOUR EXPERT… Jenny Tinmouth, Two Wheel Workshop Although best known as the first woman to compete in the British Superbike Championship and for her TT racing lap record, Jenny is a time-served bike mechanic and has run her own motorcycle workshop in Ellesmere Port since 2005. www.twowheelworkshop.com JENNY’S QUICK FIX… BUMP START YOUR BIKE The problem: Your bike’s battery is on its last legs or you’ve left an accessory plugged in which has sapped its power. Now your bike won’t start on the button. But all is not lost, you can start it yourself... 1 Turn on “First check that you’ve not knocked the killswitch off by accident or the bike’s not been left in gear with the sidestand down – it’s easily done. After that, turn the key to…

Amy Cosford got into bikes aged 17 after a pillion ride on her stepfather’s R1. Now a Triumph employee, she reckons working on bikes can be addictive. “Picking up the spanners for the first time can be a bit daunting, but everyone has to start somewhere! I Learned the basics on a motorcycle maintenance course, from there I went on to achieve a degree in Motorcycle Engineering at UWTSD and now work at Triumph as a Design Engineer. But I wouldn’t know half of what I do without asking for help. Us bikers are a sort of family and I’ve found people are always wiping to help and teach. It’s such a satisfying feeling fixing something yourself and Learning about your own bike at the same time. It’s also important…

I’m a middle-aged bloke with very little hair left who is ‘carrying too much timber’. My knees now ache after a few hours on a superbike, and I’ve concluded in recent years that panniers really are bloody useful. Just those few facts alone mean I’m pretty representative of the average UK road rider. But biking is – thankfully – changing, diversifying, and becoming (to use an odious buzz phrase) ‘more inclusive’. Key to that is a growing tide of women stepping outside their stereotypical role as pillion or, worse, ‘not appearing in this picture at all’. It’s been a quiet revolution, but there’s a palpable visibility now evident wherever bikes and humans congregate – and that’s fantastic, because visibility means others will feel empowered to make the leap from the…

Two Wheels for Life (TWFL) have announced that they will be running Day of Champions activities at the British MotoGP next month. The charity has struggled to raise much needed funds over the last year because their usual fund raising activities have been curtailed but this year there will be a ride-in ahead of the event, as well as the famous auction. Starting on Thursday, August 25, TWFL will be hosting a ride-in led by Niall and Taylor Mackenzie. Starting at the Willoughby Café in Rugby, the ride will weave through the countryside before heading to Silverstone for some track time. With the track action over, the convoy will head on to The Super Sausage Café for a final rendezvous with a breakfast bap and cup of tea. Then on…

This just-released Mutt Akita 125 is a new minimalist L-plate friendly retro costing £955 less than Yamaha’s incoming XSR125. Priced at a very competitive £3495, the Akita is the latest creation from Birmingham brand Mutt Motorcycles and features an air-cooled 125cc four-stroke single producing a claimed 11.8bhp. It’s not going to set any land speed records, and is trumped by the Yamaha’s 14.8bhp liquid-cooled unit, but it should have enough poke as an inner city run around. And it’s a looker. The Akita borrows styling cues from 1960s Brit bikes, with chunky 18in knobbly tyres on spoked aluminium rims coming together with minimalist bodywork. And twin gas shocks sit below a tan coloured seat for proper retro looks. There’s a decent 17-litre fuel tank and other neat touches include TIG…

Nancy Davidson, known by many as the “first lady of motorcycling,” has died at the age of 89 after a long-term battle with cancer. Nancy was a Milwaukee native and has always been by the side of her husband, Willie G. Davidson, the grandson of one of the four founding fathers of Harley-Davidson. Nancy and Willie married in 1957 when she worked as a school teacher. When Willie joined Harley-Davidson six years later, she focused on family. In 1983, when the company launched the Harley Owners Group, Nancy and Willie began promoting the company by riding thousands of miles across the country. Nancy is survived by her husband, their three children and one granddaughter. Willie retired from the company in 2012 as senior vice president and chief styling officer. Willie…

Ride further in 2021 with a little help from our one-stop event guide JUST BREWIT Ride out to Britain’s best biking cafés GOLDTOP ● Opening weekend July 23, 24, 25, main event Saturday ● Open Fri 11.30am-5.30pm, Sat 10.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm, but check before you travel ● Find out more at goldtop.co.uk. Classic British motorcycle clothing firm Goldtop-which can date their heritage back to the middle of the last century – are back thanks to a father and son team. After eight years building up an online presence, a real-life shop is opening on the border of Hertfordshire and Essex and it promises to be a real destination. Goldtop co-owner Joe Cullen told us: “We’re trying to make it something people can ride out to on the weekends and not…

MCN staff and readers share their favourite routes Head from Thetford to Brandon on the B1107 and pick up the A1065 towards Mildenhall. Turn left at the lights (to go past the Lakenheath viewing area) and then take the A1101 to Littleport. Go round the town on the A10 to continue on the A1101 towards Wisbech – there’s a lovely, free-flowing run from Welney to Upwell, though it’s a bit suburban through the village and into Outwell. The A1122 from Outwell has had a lowered limit imposed on it, but it’s still a good run to Downham Market. From there it’s over to Crimplesham and the back road to join the A134. I tend to stop for a drink at Brown’s by the Mundford roundabout: the quick way back is…

The one-day spectacular is back for 2021 and has plenty to get you excited this Saturday. What’s happening? With more than 60 bikes on display from vintage Harley-Davidsons and Triumphs right up to more modern machines, you’ll definitely be able to get your biking fix whatever you’re into. Plus, alongside the bikes there are classic cars, a Vans-sponsored skateboard ramp, food trucks, two live bands, DJs, tattoos, and vendors such as Lewis Leathers, Slow Gold clothing, Joe King helmets, Guildford H-D and loads more. The essential stuff The gathering is taking place on Saturday, July 24 at the Duke of London on Catherine Wheel road. There’s only limited motorcycle parking on the day, but there should be limited free spaces there for ticket holders – and yes, tickets are essential!…

It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A-and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. ROUTE 1 122.73 miles of fast flowing A and B-roads ROUTE 2 126.94 miles of open A and B-roads and towns ROUTE 3 117.88 miles of big A roads and motorway MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK…

GUEST TESTER The fact the two improved bikes still aren’t as good as the one that’s barely changed in five years says all you need to know about the MT-10. Yamaha’s hooligan bike has always been a class act, primarily for its performance-packed engine. Personally, the £12k still rankles, the SP’s £15k is absurd and I’d rather, as it hasn’t changed, go for a low-mileage 18- or 19-plate Touring with an Akrapovic for £9500. The Honda, meanwhile, is a gentleman’s hooligan. In isolation no-one will be disappointed, especially in Sport mode. And it also has some of the class – TFT screen etc – for £11,649 most can’t match for thousands more. Which leaves the GSX-S as both the biggest step forward – but also the largest back. The improved…

Rich Stevens, founder of Rich-Art Concepts “There’s usually three sorts of customers, those who know exactly what they want, those who have half an idea, and those have none at all! The more simple the design, the more pressure there is on the design to work. They are actually the hardest to do and the ones I lose the most sleep over. Riders often tell me they can find a helmet they want, but struggle to find a design they like – so they want to create their own. There are so many helmet types now, and shape has an impact on the design. A smooth Arai shape is very different to an angular Shoei, so a design that works on one, might not work on the other. But the…

The three methods of wheel alignment here relate to getting things bob-on when you’re adjusting chain tension. Wheels can become out of line for other, more serious reasons, such as worn bearings or crash damage. If your chain tension’s correct and your bearings are good but your wheels still won’t line up then it may indicate damage to the forks, frame or swingarm. But before you jump to any conclusions and assume your bike’s somehow now banana-shaped, re-check the chain adjustment using a ruler. Never just rely on the embossed marks on the side of the swingarm, as quite often they can be inaccurate, particularly on older bikes, with some being as much as 3mm out. If you were to present your bike for an MoT with the rear wheel…

‘Toprak has me mesmerized’ We’ve got plenty of racing going on this weekend and I can’t wait. Assen WSB which is always good and Brands BSB. I find watching Toprak in WSB mesmerizing, the control, the backing in, the aggression really is something else. Even if the actual race isn’t that great, I could watch him ride all day long. As a rider he’s got so much confidence and natural ability. The Yamaha looks strong now too, the way they can get the power down and pick the bike up is impressive and it’s not really moving around a lot But even though Toprak is leading the way at the moment, don’t write off Johnny Rea. He’s not a six-time world champion for nothing and we’re heading to Assen, which…

MATTHEW BIRT REPORTING FROM THE HEART OF MOTOGP It’s been the hottest topic of MotoGP’s summer break. And while formal plans are still to be unveiled, a clearer picture of the future for the high-profile Petronas Yamaha SRT squad is finally emerging. In an exclusive interview with MCN, Petronas SRT boss Razlan Razali spoke candidly about Franco Morbidelli’s future, Jonathan Rea’s MotoGP prospects and Britain’s Cal Crutchlow racing in the next four rounds. Is Franco Morbidelli replacing Maverick Vinales in Yamaha’s official factory team? Yes. Although not confirmed, it’s obvious Morbidelli will replace Vinales in 2022. Razali told us: “It’s a natural progression for Franky to move to the factory team. It’s his dream and we would not deny him that opportunity if the factory requires it. He’s made the…

Introduced in 2000, the BMW F650GS Dakar is the off-road version of BMW’s surprisingly capable do-it-all single, the F650GS. Based around the same 652cc engine from the F650 ‘Funduro’, the motor inside the GS was completely overhauled by BMW and fitted with new fuel injection to boost power by two horses to 50bhp and fuel economy to a 56mpg average. A full 90mm taller and 10mm longer than the standard F650, and running longer travel suspension and a 21in front wheel, the Dakar is a highly competent green-laner whilst also still being brilliant fun on the road. Being a single means there’s plenty of low-down go, but the F650GS is known for being snatchy at low revs. Gearing it down with a 15-tooth gearbox sprocket (it comes with a 16-tooth…

Riding away on the Kawasaki of your dreams may be easier than you think, thanks to the latest Hire Purchase (HP) and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP )offers from Kawasaki Motors UK. Kawasaki Kalculator You can tailor your offer by visiting the ‘Kawasaki Kalculator’, then picking your bike, accessories and deposit to determine the monthly repayments. If you decide to go ahead, you can then send your final calculation direct to your local dealer or print it out and take it to the showroom when you drop in for a chat. All road bikes over 125cc are available with 5.9% APR Representative on a K.Options HP or PCP finance agreement. Performance bikes The new Ninja ZX-10R will start appearing in dealerships in late July. It’ll feature an all-new aerodynamic body with…

‘FOR OVER A CENTURY, WOMEN MOTORCYCLISTS HAVE SHATTERED RECORDS’ There was a time when women weren’t allowed to ride motorcycLes. It was considered un-Lady Like, we were arrested for wearing men’s bike kit, banned from racing, accused of trying to escape duties to our husbands, and laughed at. In the face of adversity and chauvinism there were those who defied convention, pushed the envelope and broke down barriers. For over a century, women motorcyclists have shattered records and braved extraordinary feats, continuing to be pioneers to this day. WoMCN ceLebrates over 100 years of Britain’s greatest biking women. ‘WE WERE BANNED FROM RACING AND EVEN ARRESTED FOR WEARING MEN’S RIDING KIT’ 1920 MARJORIE COTTLE Star of 1920s & 1930s trials After turning heads during her first triaLs competition in 1920,…

Simon Skinner, a former director and Head of Design at Norton Motorcycles UK Ltd (now renamed NMUL Realisations Ltd), has been disqualified from being a member of the directors’ register for what took place at the company in 2019. In a statement on the Insolvency Service website, it confirms that Skinner has been removed from the directors’ register for five years for allowing owners’ bikers to be stripped of their parts for use on other motorcycles. This practice had been known about for some time – in the aftermath of the insolvency, administrators BDO contacted warranty customers to show them what was left of their bikes – but it is the first time that it has been publicly acknowledged that a director of the business allowed it to happen. In…

£27,000 Kawasaki H2 Carbon Here’s a rare sighting of a 2019 zero-miles H2 Carbon with a £975 Akrapovic can and £1500 off the list price. The savagery with which the H2 accelerates never gets old, and 2019 improvements to braking, grip and a classier dash transformed the H2 from expensive drag racer into a well-rounded sportsbike. ● www.boltonmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £1500 £9999 Suzuki Katana Arnolds have lopped £1500 off all their Katanas and bundled the deal up with Suzuki’s attractive 0% finance offer. ● arnoldsmotorcycles.com ● Engine 999cc ● Power 148bhp ● Weight 215kg ● Seat height 835mm SAVE £655 £8165 BMW C400GT BMW Motorrad Aberdeen are contributing £655 to your deposit and offering 0% finance. ● www.john-clark.co.uk/bmw-motorrad/ ● Engine 350cc ● Power 34bhp ● Weight 212kg ● Seat height 775mm…

MV Agusta have launched a new range of clothing called the City Pack, which is based on the kit worn by the firm’s paddock staff and engineers. The range includes t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, shorts, trousers and baseball caps in various colours and all branded with the MV logo. The collection is available now from MV Agusta’s new online shop which can be found at www.mvagusta.store where you can also see it modelled by racing legend Giacomo Agostini. Guess who The DVLA and the Home Office have a new weapon for identifying riders or drivers at the roadside. New tech allows officers to instantly access a picture of a motorist by obtaining their driver number through the police national computer. This process of confirming identity can take up to 16 minutes…

The Ducati ST2 is for sale. I bought it last year because I couldn’t find a really good 750SS, but it popped up and I grabbed it. I’ve just taken it, wife on pillion, for a week’s holiday in Cornwall with friends on an SIH (Some Indeterminate Harley). It’s a good sports tourer, but I have a K1100RS and a Ténéré, both with full luggage, and don’t need it. Anything air-cooled and Japanese is fetching silly money now, but how about something, er, not so old? I’ve tipped the Kawasaki Zephyrs in the past. The 1100 is pricey and the 550 is rare, but there are quite a few 750s. Japan’s equivalent of a Royal Enfield Interceptor: old-tech, classic styling, do-anything capability, cheap. I know that the engine dates back…

Motorcycles add many things to my life – mates, excitement, fresh air – but perhaps the thing I underrate most is tinkering in a shed. During stressful times with work, young kids or a shaky relationship, my shed (or occasionally garage) has felt like an island of calm rising from a sea of noisy, relentless demands. I used to feel guilty sloping off to do ‘important work on the head bearings’ instead of being sociable and watching brain-rotting TV. But eventually I realised that I need shed time to cope with life, and that’s OK. It’s not just the peace, though that can be a blessed relief. As someone who works at a computer all day, the process of physically achieving something is deeply satisfying. Methodically servicing a grotty brake…

Q ‘Driver just hit the brakes’ I was injured in an accident which was caused by the driver in front suddenly slamming on his brakes as a traffic light turned to amber. I would like to make a claim for injuries and loss of earnings against his insurer – I am now out of hospital but it will be a few weeks until I am back at work. My partner thinks the accident was my fault because I went into the back of the car but I disagree as I think he made a dangerous manoeuvre by slamming on the brakes so abruptly. Should I pursue this claim or will I really not get anywhere? Rhys Evans, email A You should always leave sufficient space between you and the vehicle…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday July 21 BIKE MEETS ■ Squires Cafe Newthorp, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Seaways Fridaythorpe East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ The Blue Anchor Southport, Merseyside 7pm Facebook: Southport Carousel ■ Paignton Seafront Devon www.bmad.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or ■ The Plough Cadsden, Nr Princess Risborough Bucks www.plough-at-cadsden.co.uk ■ Ryka’s Cafe Box Hill. Surrey www.rykas.co.uk MOTOCROSS ■ Sidcup & DMCC Ltd Canada Heights Kent www.sidcupmotorcycleclub.co.uk SPEEDWAY ■ Birmingham www.birmingham-speedway.com ■ Poole Pirates Dorset www.poolepirates.co/ TRIALS ■ XHG Tiger Selby Trials Park Dorset www.xhgtiger.org.uk ■ Waterlooville MCC Ham Lane, Pitts Farm Langrish Hants www.waterlooville-mcc.co.uk ■ Sidcup & DMCC Ltd Canada Heights…

‘Scottish trip selfie’ R5K MEMBERS JOHN AND AUDREY COCKBURN The image was taken on the bank of Loch Glascarnoch on the A835. It was part of four days away based in Inverness. The weather made this trip and the beaches around the Wester Ross loop were stunning. ‘First biking tour’ R5K MEMBER SAFFY SPROCKET I took this on a three-day trip to Scotland. It was my first solo tour, and I rode from my home in Chester to Perth and back. It was 800 miles in total, and I went via the Lake District. My phone went wrong almost straight away, and I had to use a map for the first time! ‘High above Hawes’ R5K MEMBER MARTYN FORDHAM I bagged a couple of shots during a recent rideout. I…

Reece Lake Age 56 Height 5ft 10in Current Bike MT-10 Been riding for 48 years First bike Honda C50 field bike Dream bike Honda RC30 “I bought an ex-demo MT-10 from Tinklers in Norwich at the start of this year. It was a pre-reg demo with 300 miles on the clock. I’ve found it to be a superb all-rounder – but have had the exhaust changed and the ECU re-mapped to iron out the usual snatchy throttle and demands of Euro5 exhaust emission limitations. “Having recently had both a 2020 S1000XR (the new one) and a 2020 Tracer 900GT, I can say that for me, the MT-10 is a better all-rounder than both of these bikes. Neither of the others are bad in any way, but for my personal choices…

ASSISTANT EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING The truth is, no-one is going to get a Sinnis 125 because it is the finest motorcycle money can buy. There isn’t a Chinese bike on the market yet that riders are happy to pay a little (or a lot) extra for in the same way they are for a Honda or a BMW or other similarly established brands. And that’s fine, because what Sinnis offers is a machine that feels like a lot of bike… for the money. The Terrain 125 will get you and more of your possessions to work and back than any of its rivals, too, and would be a competent and low-cost alternative to taking the bus or train to work – as long as your commute doesn’t include a section of…

Rich Stevens founded Rich-Art in 1999 while recovering from an MX injury. He now designs and paints (by hand) 100-130 helmets per year. 1 Putting pencil to paper After consulting with the client, Rich does all his helmet paint designs by hand on paper. They each take a couple of days to tweak and finalise. 2 Stripped for prepping Vents, visor pods and fittings are removed, and openings masked. Rich can paint any helmet, but starting with plain white is best. 3 Shell preparation The shell is ‘flatted’ using 800-grade paper, the rough design is sketched on and used as a guide for final masking. 4 Painting begins Painting usually starts with the lightest colours first. Rich uses Iwata airbrushes and builds up layers in House of Kolor paint, sometimes…

★★★★★ HJC RPHA 11 Superman helmet £519.99 ‘Comfortable, light with great visibility’ Tested By Simon Relph For 10 Months/1500 Miles For me this is the most iconic DC comics superhero logo ever and when HJC put it on a helmet, I just had to have one. HJC haven’t just plonked the logo on the top but have created a masterpiece of design on one of their premium models, the RPHA 11. The lid began life on the racetrack, hence the slick design. It is well ventilated, with intakes above and below the visor and one either side on top which can be opened and closed. The helmet is secured with a traditional D-ring, and in case of an accident the cheek pads have a quick removal system to allow the…

For road riding it’s Like the Swiss Army Knife of bikes – you can go scratching on it, it’s great as a commuter and it’s got the legs to do distances, though a gel seat would come in handy for anything over a couple of hours at a time. I’m not sure about the future because I’d Love something Like a Ducati Streetfighter or Aprilia Tuono, but aside from the V4 soundtrack, there isn’t anything that the S1000XR doesn’t do. HOW GOOD IS THE RUBBER? Metzeler Roadtec 01 I ride all year and haven’t had any problems regardless of the road conditions. Even dodging diesel through torrential downpours on the A406 has been a doddle. Also consider Michelin Road 5 £259 (120/70 17 and 180/55 17) Quick to warm up…

MECHANIC Jason Atriedes of M&M Motorcycles Looking after your chain and sprockets is one of the simplest maintenance jobs you can do, after all they are there in plain sight, right? Seemingly not for the rider of this 2012 Triumph Street Triple who took his machine into M&M Motorcycles to get it adjusted. But mechanic Jason Atriedes was surprised at just how slack the chain was and by the damage it had caused. He said: “We get a few riders who might let it get a bit slack and aren’t confident to adjust it themselves, so we will get the laser out to line everything up and clean it all up, but this one was almost hanging on the floor. “The chain itself wasn’t corroded, in fact it had a…

‘One size fits nobody at all’ Not that long ago, Marc Marquez was effectively unbeatable on the RC213V. Most other riders found the V4 a treacherous beast. Notably Jorge Lorenzo, triple world champion with Yamaha. Jorge had proved man enough, given time, to tame the Ducati. The Honda, however, had sharper teeth. It bit him hard and often, and in the end drove him to abrupt and premature retirement. He was just the most prominent victim. When Marquez arrived as rookie champ in 2013, Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa finished a close third, with three wins. Over the next years the little fella’s results tapered off, as HRC built the bike round Marquez. Cal Crutchlow also suffered. To his everlasting credit he managed three race wins over six years, but…

Riding away on the Kawasaki of your dreams may be easier than you think, thanks to the latest Hire Purchase (HP) and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) offers from Kawasaki Motors UK. Kawasaki Kalculator You can tailor your offer by visiting the ‘Kawasaki Kalculator’, then picking your bike, accessories and deposit to determine the monthly repayments. If you decide to go ahead, you can then send your final calculation direct to your local dealer or print it out and take it to the showroom when you drop in for a chat. All road bikes over 125cc are available with 5.9% APR Representative on a K.Options HP or PCP finance agreement. Performance bikes The new Ninja ZX-10R will start appearing in dealerships in late July. It’ll feature an all-new aerodynamic body with…

Introduced in 2000, the BMW F650GS Dakar is the off-road version of BMW’s surprisingly capable do-it-all single, the F650GS. Based around the same 652cc engine from the F650 ‘Funduro’, the motor inside the GS was completely overhauled by BMW and fitted with new fuel injection to boost power by two horses to 50bhp and fuel economy to a 56mpg average. A full 90mm taller and 10mm longer than the standard F650, and running longer travel suspension and a 21in front wheel, the Dakar is a highly competent green-laner whilst also still being brilliant fun on the road. Being a single means there’s plenty of low-down go, but the F650GS is known for being snatchy at low revs. Gearing it down with a 15-tooth gearbox sprocket (it comes with a 16-tooth…

1 Ride a pushbike Everyone says ‘yeah, I can ride a pushbike’. But regularly riding a pushbike and doing things like figures of eights and U-turns on it is going to help massively with balance. Every lady that comes to me wanting to book, I try to encourage them to get out on the pushbike for as long as possible. 2 Find a decent trainer If your training starts on the wrong foot, then you’re always going to have this niggle in the back of your mind that you didn’t do it right. Find a training school that’s suitable and has bikes that are suitable for you. If you’re under 5ft 4in then there’s a possibility that the bikes they have might not be suitable for you. 3 Don’t stop…