Innehållsförteckning för July 2017 från RiDE

Spain My partner Diane and I on our 2400 mile trip from Barcelona to Ronda over the mountains and back to Barcelona up the coast. We shipped our Triumph Explorer to Barcelona with Eurobiketrans and had a great two-week trip – Mark Turnbull North Wales Mine and my nephew Craig’s Hondas on our first ride of the year over to the Ponderosa Café on the Horseshoe Pass, North Wales, in glorious spring weather – Paul Nevin Scotland, England and France We spent a few days riding through Scotland and England before heading over to France, seeing all the tourist sights in Paris. This was the last trip for the Tiger before picking up my new Ducati Multistrada Enduro – Drew Wilson and Ana Zuluaga STAR PICTURE Donegal, Ireland A lovely…

THERE’S A WILD, untamed beauty to the Pennines. They were named after Italy’s Apennine mountains by the Romans who manned the wall their emperor Hadrian built here to guard the frontier – but for today it’s the roads rather than the history that concerns us. From narrow, gravelly single-track roads to broad, well-surfaced hairpins, these high hills deliver views and riding on a level you don’t find in many corners of the country. Our route sets out from Hexham (a handy base if you do want to take in a bit of Roman heritage) and heads to the spectacular Hartside Pass, down to Ullswater in the Lake District and over Kirkstone Pass. It returns to Hexham through the Yorkshire Dales, Teesdale and over Killhope Summit, England’s highest A-road. We normally…

Who sues? A Euro game Q CAN AN ENGLISH solicitor bring a claim for somebody who lives in Northern Ireland against a French driver, for an accident in France? I was knocked from my bike in France, sustaining serious but luckily short-lived injuries, including a broken bone. My insurance company appointed an English law firm, who then told me that they could not act because the claim was “outside of their jurisdiction”. My policy did have legal cover which was said to include all of the European Union. When I complained, they passed me on to another law firm who said exactly the same thing. I spoke to a local solicitor here in Northern Ireland who said I’d have to go through the French courts – so I appointed a…

1 MONTH AHEAD Isle of Man TT May 27–June 9 If you’ve never been to the TT, it might be hard to grasp why it’s so special - but there genuinely is nothing else on Earth that’s quite like it. For two brief weeks, an entire island in the Irish Sea gives itself over to the rush of real roads racing, becoming the biggest motorcycle festival on earth. If you haven’t booked already, it has to be said that you’ll be lucky to get your bike over there now: the ferries are likely to be full. However, for those of us unable to get to the 106th TT, the event will be televised on ITV4. See crowds’ favourite Guy Martin racing alongside living legend John McGuinness, facing on-form stars like…

“It’s perhaps the most capable dual-sport bike” KTM’S ADVENTURE BIKES have changed so much over recent years it could confuse anyone who wasn’t paying attention: 950, 990, 1050, 1190, 1290... But at the heart of them all is a familiar steel trellis frame and 75° V-twin engine. After the jump from carbs to injection with the 990, it’s largely been a case sticking to a tried-and-tested formula with occasional capacity hikes. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it; just fiddle enough to make it a bit better. Which is where the new 1090 Adventure R comes in. It replaces the 1190 Adventure R and sits beside the base 1090 Adventure as the more off-road-capable model: stronger spoked wheels, larger and narrower front tyre, crash bars, and 220mm suspension travel. It’s…

“The way this bike handles fast turns is unexpected” LET’S GET ONE thing out of the way. The new Harley-Davidson Street Rod is built in India. If that offends your sense of what a Harley is or should be, then get over it - Indian-built 500 and 750 Harleys are now 10 per cent of H-D UK’s sales volume and that’s only going to grow. Still here? Good, because wherever it’s made, there’s a lot to like about the latest addition to the Street family. The Street Rod is based on the Street 750, but the chassis has a tighter steering angle for the new 43mm upside-down forks and there’s a longer swingarm. The silencer is shorter and fatter, while the mid-mount footrests and 55mm taller seat give a new…

“It’s enjoyable, provided you’re not in a hurry” THE LEAD RIDER barely hesitated when the Sardinian dirt road we were following was blocked by a shallow stream. He was up on the pegs and splashing through, then up the opposite bank and away with a shower of stones from his rear tyre, followed slightly warily by the rest of our Yamaha SCR950-riding group. Yamaha took a similarly direct route when wanting a quick entry to the growing market for retro-styled street scramblers, as popularised by BMW, Ducati and Triumph. The Japanese firm had a donor bike of suitable vintage: the XV950 cruiser was launched four years ago – not exactly a best-seller but  it’s been the basis of some high-profile custom bikes in the United States. Even the most imaginative…

“The CB feels built to last, not built down to a price” HONDA’S CB650F CARRIES on a long tradition of sporty naked road bikes which, if you squint hard enough, stretches all the way back to the iconic 1969 CB750 that inspires the more retro CB1100s (p42). Even though the sweep of its exhaust header pipes echoes the Seventies CB400:4, this lightweight 650 is a much more contemporary beast, its minimalist, angular bodywork reshaped and fitted with the latest in LED lighting for 2017. It’s a compact machine, the saddle narrow enough to make it feel lower than its 810mm height. Even so, it’s roomy and comfortable for a big rider like me. Its new, flatter one-piece handlebar is rubber mounted and there’s a good steering lock. Its 208kg is…

“Check local shop noticeboards and free ads papers”“You’ll need evidence of servicing, and MoT certificates” THIS IS THE price bracket within which you need to be the most accommodating. Obviously a bike that’s less than £2000 will be older, so will have passed through many owners, each leaving their marks on it. Miles will probably be high, but even at this price you’ll want servicing evidence and to tally up mileages on MoT certificates. Age hits areas like suspension, rubber hoses and wiring, whereas mileage hits outward condition, bearings and brakes. An older bike is more likely to have gone down, but look past cosmetic scuffs and scratches to check for serious damage like bent frames. Work out if lesser issues can be repaired, and check the prices of parts.…

“You can make a final payment to buy the bike outright”“You simply put down a deposit and ride off on a brand-new bike” IF YOU HAVE upwards of six grand to spend on a new bike, you have some tough choices to make. Sure, you can buy second-hand and get a top-end model that’s a few years old but new to you. Or you could get a bike that is totally, completely, brand-spanking new. And let’s be honest, there’s something quite special about being the first name on a log book. But hang on – why would you buy a brand-new, basic middleweight roadster for £6k when for the same money you could get a decent used big-capacity adventure bike or sports tourer? Fair enough… but what if you might…

“Passengers have no option but to hold on to the rider” With a pillion This isn’t a particularly pillion-friendly bike as the MT-10’s passenger provision resembles that of a sportsbike. Sure, the bench seat may be fairly wide and the little separating pad does a reasonable job of dividing the rider and pillion, but the peg position is so stupidly high that for a pillion it feels like their knees are almost touching their ears. Plus, there’s no grab handle, meaning the passenger has no option but to hold on to the rider. Though the SP’s suspension is electronically adjustable this only manages the rebound and compression damping rates in the forks and shock. To optimise for a bike loaded with passenger and luggage you would have to adjust the…

 TRIUMPH REALLY GOT it right with the original Daytona-based Speed Triples, and the 1050 just took that and added more of what we already liked - more grunt, better brakes, better suspension, madder looks. “It’s impossible not to have fun on a Speed Triple” Treat them right and the engines are pretty much bombproof, and good spares availability and interchangeable parts from other models mean you can run one on a fairly tight budget. They’re pretty easy to work on - which is just as well, given the relatively short major service intervals - and lots of owners do all their own maintenance. Yes, you’ll have to put a bit of work in to keep everything looking shiny - with the engine and frame so exposed the whole bike will…

TXC RT-Race boot £230 www.nevis.uk.com I WAS INITIALLY a bit disappointed by this boot – purely because I’d mis-read the blurb. I’d thought it was two-part race tackle with a separate inner boot, but instead it’s a one-piece boot with a lace/drawstring adjusted section behind the single zip, to ensure a really good, snug fit. It’s a comfy boot to walk in and surprisingly non-squeaky (so far) despite the substantial plastic bracing and armour on the outside. More importantly, it’s really good on the bike, with great feel and a grippy sole. It’s a quality boot, well made and well-priced: I like it. SIMON WEIR SHARK Evoline Pro Carbon helmet £439.99 www.nevis.uk.com THIS IS MY first flip-front helmet and now I’m wishing I’d tried one ages ago. It’s really handy…

#3 Boots Good boots can cost a fortune but, with good care, can last for years. Most have leather uppers as it provides strength, abrasion resistance, breathability and long-life, though synthetic materials like Lorica have similar properties. A grippy sole means you don’t slip as you put a foot down to stop. Add shin and ankle armour and you have the makings of a good bike boot. Sportsbike and adventure bike boots are likely to have more plastic armour or clips, giving more protection, better closure, and articulation where you need it. What goes wrong Leather can wear in areas where it constantly flexes, soles are usually glued on and can come loose, zips can break if you’re ham-fisted, Velcro can become less sticky, retaining clips can break and plastic…

Hear hear (factory fit) Wiring the earphones and mic for a Bluetooth intercom into your helmet is such a pain and all seems a bit antiquated to me. Why can’t helmet firms fit the earpieces, mic and wiring as part of the manufacturing process (the cost of components would be minimal), and attach a standard 3.5mm jack plug behind the lining on the side of the helmet? If you don’t want to use any audio device, leave it alone; if you do, simply stick the intercom unit to the outside of the lid and connect it to the jack plug. Let’s bring the in-helmet lark into the 21st century so we can ride more and spend less time fiddling. Jonathan Ashby Bus lane Just reading Christine Law’s letter about motorbikes…

Honda CB750 Gorgeous café racer with “made in a shed” frame and immaculate detailing Cheyne Victor Lovely British-made trials bike, with BSA engine and nickle-plated frame (with oil filler in front of the tank) Norton domination The Norton Owners Club was there – along with this tasty Norvil Little TZR A little two-stroke nostalgia: immaculate Yamaha TZR250 3MA in Marlboro colours Suzuki GP50 replica At least… we’re fairly sure it’s a replica. An original one would be worth a fortune… Triumph flat-tracker This original T140 750cc flat-tracker was raced on ovals all around America before being brought back to Britain…

“Everyone learns at different rates, so just take your time” “Module One takes place at the test centre… safely away from traffic” STARTING TO RIDE is easy. Just pick up the phone or go and see some local motorcycle training schools. All should be able to tell you which licence you can do, how much training you’ll need and how much it’s going to cost. All schools have to be qualified, but see if you hit it off with one then go with them - you’ll learn so much more if you’re enjoying yourself. Some schools may offer an assessment - and if so, take it up, as the school will get a much better idea of how much training you need (you may be a natural!). Here are the…

Rookie to Rider with BMW BMW offers a unique, subsidised ‘Rookie to Rider’ package that will teach you to ride in a week, kit you out and put you on a brand-new bike - at a bargain price. After completing your theory test you can sign up, putting down an initial payment of £500 - then choose upto £1095-worth of BMW riding kit and take a seven-day Direct Access course worth £1349 (see p7). After passing your test, you then ride away on a brand-new bike like the G310R for as little as £99 a month. You must be over 18 for A2 or over 24 for A-licence models. Visit www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk and click on “offers”. Who are BMW? BMW stands for ‘Bavarian Motor Works’ and the firm has been specialising…

YOUR NEXT GREAT RIDE THE TYROL  47.479477, 11.248182 IT’S A NAME to conjure with, the Tyrol. Anyone can blather on about heading off to “the Alps” – but it’s a big old place: where are you actually going? Ah, the Tyrol… That shows discernment and understanding, that you know what you’re talking about and what you like – which in this case is a combination of great roads, pleasant hotels in quaint towns, and perhaps a stein or two of ice-cold beer at the end of a ride. Covering parts of southern Germany, Austria and northern Italy, the Tyrol has all you’d look for in a biking destination. There are famous passes, from the involving Deutsche Alpenstrasse to Austria’s Timmelsjoch and the nearby Otztal glacier road (a 2930m dead-end that’s…

I PLACED THE WORRYINGLY triangular-shaped hood over my head tied the cord around my neck and that night - for the first time since I was a child - I prayed. This time it was not for the life of my sick dog, but for my bladder to stay strong! It was -30°C and, along with some adventurous rally-driving companions, I was camping on the Dempster Highway in conditions three times colder than your average freezer. Wrapped up in my Canadian army bivvy bag, I watched as my breath landed, then froze, on the material that was keeping me inches away from total congelation. That’s when I tucked my head into the bag and vowed that, no matter how strong the urge became, the call of nature could wait! Two…

Where the heck is Castletown? It’s in the south of the Isle of Man, next to the airport and just a 10-mile jaunt from the capital, Douglas. Why not stay in Douglas? Because many bikers have been to the TT and already stayed in Douglas. The capital’s fine but Castletown is a much older and more traditional Manx seaside town and has a far more relaxed and quaint feel about it. What is there to do there? The medieval castle – former home to the Lords of Mann - is the main attraction and well worth a visit, but the quaint little back streets and the picturesque harbour are also worth a mooch around. There are also good pubs, wine bars and independent shops. When should I go? Between July…

THOUGH THE CB1100 is barely four years old, it manages to look older – a classic inline four roadster that still looks fresh or at least timeless, in the face of changing fashions and evolving emissions regs. For 2017 it’s available in two forms: the updated CB1100EX (see panel) and this new RS model, the sportier sibling. Both versions share the same air-cooled, 1140cc inline four. Capacity is unchanged from the 2016 bike but revised intakes and exhaust not only get it past the Euro 4 standard but also give 4bhp more. Trickling through Barcelona’s morning rush hour, what stands out is the smoothness and accuracy of the throttle response. Peak power is a relatively modest 66bhp but with 67lb.ft of torque there’s no shortage of shunt, especially in the…

THE HONDA REBEL is, let’s face it, going to face a bit of an uphill struggle to make some riders take it seriously. It’s the mild-mannered 471cc parallel twin from the CB500 family in a stripped back bobber-ish cruiser chassis. Even riders who aren’t sceptical of the cruiser looks may wonder just how rebellious you can be with 46bhp at your disposal. And yet, as I discovered in Barcelona and its surrounding hills, the Rebel is capable and hugely entertaining. It’s a bit surprising as the Rebel is not necessarily a bike for a bloke as big as me. The seat is a mere 690mm from the floor – lower once the basic, non-adjustable suspension has sagged under my weight. As the bike weighs just 190kg, I’m adding another 50…

AFTER RIDING THE CB650F, I assumed the CBR that shares its engine, exhaust, frame, tank, seat unit, wheels and forks would feel basically the same. Basically, I was wrong. The big difference between them is the riding position, the CBR’s lower two-piece handlebars bringing the rider forward and down towards the dash, behind the smaller-than-it-looks screen. The CBR has the same 4bhpstronger inline four as the CB, but is taller-geared between second and fifth. So, while peering at the road from a gentle crouch, I find myself holding on to the revs longer in each gear. These subtle changes make this bike feel sportier than the naked CB. The chassis, with the same non-adjustable but well-damped forks, is equally accurate and agile. What’s lost in leverage from the CB’s wider…

“Many dealers will happily give you a road test” THIS PRICE BRACKET is where you need to be most aware. There are some really nice bikes to be found if you choose wisely, and for less than £4000 you’ll lose little, if any, on depreciation. But it’s also the price range that hides the most lemons. You could find yourself looking at a bike that the seller thinks is a ‘future classic’, a tarted-up dog, or a more expensive model that’s hiding a hard life behind shiny bodywork. Be realistic with how much you have to spend and look for those bikes that offer what you want, but which maybe don’t have the kudos of other models. We found a Honda Firestorm for £2499 – what a brilliant bike for…

NAKED BIKES HAVE never been more popular and it seems Yamaha’s brilliant MT range can take a lot of the credit for that. It started with the basic-but-brilliant MT-09 back in 2013, but Yamaha have evolved and diversified the family to bring us A2 licence-friendly MTs, middleweights and learner bikes, before unleashing the daddy of them all, the R1-derived MT-10 super-naked last year. Yet Yamaha felt they could do more to pander to the performance junkies – those riders who might have their heads turned by Aprilia’s Tuono V4 1100 Factory or Ducati’s Monster 1200S. So for 2017 the MT-10 is joined by this range-topping, £13,399 SP version. The major difference over the £10,799 stock model is the inclusion of Öhlins semi-active suspension, a tasteful R1M-apeing blue-and-silver colour scheme, and…

“Motorcycling needs bikes that are as raw and exciting as this” THERE IS NO question that the MT-10 SP can deliver excitement. The bike’s performance is undoubtedly fabulous and the crossplane engine is perfectly suited to powering it to a thrilling ride. Despite kicking out nearly 160bhp and 81lb.ft torque, the chassis remains totally undisturbed at all times, in large measure thanks to its semi-active suspension. It’s a combination that’s almost too good for the road. So it’s fair to say that the SP model is worth its £2600 premium over the standard MT-10, especially if you’re a serious fan of eye-catching performance and cutting-edge tech. If you need to make the deal palatable to your significant other, here’s some ammo... You couldn’t buy and retro-fit the Öhlins suspension and…

“It’s all-day comfy, with a fantastic road engine” Pete John 2010 and 2013 Speed Triple owner MOST OWNERS ARE in their 40s and 50s, and a surprising number ended up with a Speed Triple after borrowing a demo bike from a dealer when their own bike (often another Triumph) was in for service. Alan Tait was typical: “The dealers needed to keep my Sprint overnight so I asked if I could borrow the sales manager’s Speedy. Full credit to the guy for passing me the keys but it was also probably the easiest sale he ever made! A 20-odd mile ride home convinced me I needed one in my life. It’s just so much pure, simple fun.” At 69, Steve Chubb is one of the older owners we spoke to,…

“It took the competition six years to catch up” #20 Honda CBR900RR FireBlade Where did it come from? From the brain of Tadao Baba, the engineer tasked by Honda with bringing them back into the sportsbike market. Originally conceived as a 750, the FireBlade took a new direction under Baba’s obsession for light weight and more power. Ignoring existing capacity categories, he combined a top-quality chassis with the biggest engine he could fit in the smallest space, to create a bike dedicated to the task of going fast where it mattered - on the road. What changed? Our perceptions of what a big sportsbike was, and what it could do. In 1991, litre-class sportsbikes were big, heavy bruisers like the Kawasaki ZZ-R1100, Honda CBR1000F and the slightly sportier Yamaha FZR1000…

IT DOESN’T MATTER whether you’re getting back into riding after a break, starting from scratch or – in the worst case scenario – replacing all your gear after a crash. A complete set of riding kit is expensive. Buying a top-to-toe, top-dollar wardrobe simply isn’t practical for most of us… but then, most of us who have been riding for any length of time have gradually built up our riding gear, by replacing – and usually upgrading – the various bits over the years. If you’ve had a licence for a decade or more, chances are you have a fairly decent jacket, good boots and gloves, and maybe even a posh helmet. But what would you do if confronted with starting again? How would you get kitted out – and…

I read with interest Simon Weir’s report on living with the Suzuki GSX-S1000F (June) as I have a similar relationship with my bike. Last year, after a four-year break, I stopped dreaming about a KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and started riding a bike I could afford. The budget was £2000. That had to get me a bike with decent power, handling and weather protection as well as reasonable comfort for my 6ft 4in frame. Essentially, I was looking for a budget Super Duke GT. Everything kept pointing me to the same option: a mid/high-mileage Yamaha Fazer 1000... Zzzz… So, in July I bought a 2002 Fazer 1000 with 40,000 miles for £1800. I immediately loved the carbed R1 engine but grimaced at everything else, most notably the handling (it…

AT THE END of 2004, the undisputed champion of the sports tourer class was Honda’s VFR800. True, the VTEC engine divided opinion more than its much-loved 800i predecessor, but after three years it had silenced most of its critics. It handled anything you threw at it, was seriously fast and looked the business. Meanwhile, Triumph had been gaining momentum for a few years. The firm’s modular range of triples were popular, fun to ride and there was one for everyone – from the Daytona sportsbike and naked Speed Triple to the Tiger adventure bike. The sports touring Sprint ST 955i had been nipping at the VFR’s heels for a while but in 2005, the new Sprint ST 1050 arrived to give the Japanese bike a bloody nose. Kevin Ash rode…

Riding with Ducati You can learn to ride on a Ducati and make other learners envious, as 13 dealers offer the Ducati Learn To Ride programme that lets you take your test on a Monster or Scrambler. For first-time track riders there’s also Ducati On Track: a half-day taster on a Panigale 959 at Silverstone with the California Superbike School, for just £285. Or why not ride a 1299 Panigale, 959 Panigale or Supersport at the California Superbike School? It costs £265 to hire a Supersport and courses start at £425. To learn more, go to www.ducatiuk.com and click on “Experience”. Who are Ducati? Ducati is one of the most evocative brands in motorcycling. The Italian firm’s roots go back to the 1920s and it’s been building powered two-wheelers since…

Starting to ride with Kawasaki You can train with Kawasaki from your first introduction to bikes right through to advanced riding skills, thanks to KRTS (Kawasaki Rider Training Services). If you’re new to scooters and motorcycles, UK laws about what test you need to pass to ride different bikes can seem complicated. KRTS will take you through all the steps you need to get you on your way. There are a number of great benefits too, including money off Kawasaki bikes and insurance, free advice and guidance, and improved training programmes. Call 02476 408048 or visit www.kawasaki-krts.co.uk Who are Kawasaki? Kawasaki’s history started in a shipyard in 1878 and the firm is now one of Japan’s industrial giants. The company has been producing motorcycles for the past 50 years, its…

“You’ll be excited, so you need to keep focused” Chain and sprockets Check the teeth on the sprockets don’t look like a shark’s fin and make sure the chain is in good order and not near the end of the adjustment. Budget £120 to replace chains and sprockets. Electrics Check all lights and the horn work. Make sure the headlight gets brighter as you bring the revs up from idle: this shows the alternator and regulator/rectifier work. If you can get the seat off, check any extras - like heated grips - have been fitted neatly. Wheel bearings Get a friend to lift a wheel. Pull and then release the brake, then spin the wheel. If it doesn’t turn easily the brakes may need cleaning (not expensive but a bargaining…

GIVEN JUST THE briefest details about Aprilia’s latest Tuono V4 1100 Factory, you probably wouldn’t be impressed. Its bodywork and Superpole paintwork are unchanged, so is its power output – and it has put on a couple of kilos. But there’s more going on here. The updates to the Factory’s engine, chassis and electronics combine to make an already brilliant bike even better. The 1077cc, 65° V4 has internal tweaks that reduce friction, allow an extra 500rpm and retain the maximum of 173bhp at 11,000rpm despite the heavier exhaust required for Euro 4. The biggest engine-related change is arguably the revised quickshifter, which allows throttle-wide-open changes in both directions through the box. The most-obvious electronic update is a full-colour TFT display, showing lean angle. The least-obvious but arguably most-important is…

“We want to see how this trio of two-wheeled Davids compare” S SOME SAY THE greatest underdog story ever told happened just 12 months ago. By winning the Premier League title Leicester City defied 5000-1 odds and caused a potato crisp salesman to strip to his pants on national television. The idea that a bunch of relative unknowns could beat established, experienced and proven rivals to such a prestigious prize seemed absurd – like Hyosung winning the MotoGP title, or an extra from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York becoming the leader of the free world. But another tale of equally unlikely success was written by Suzuki in 1999, when an anonymous parts-bin roadster became one of the biggest-selling bikes in Europe and went on to reshape mid-capacity motorcycling.…

Kriega Overlander System luggage OS-32 Soft pannier £239 OS-18 Adventure pack £95 OS-platform, £49  www.kriega.com When British luggage experts Kriega set out to create bags for adventurers, they contacted experienced world-travellers, Chris Scott and Austin Vince to ask them what they wanted. They insisted it had to be soft, hard wearing and easy to get off the bike. What Kriega came up with is this Overlander System range of luggage that consists of 32-litre panniers, plus mounting system, and 6L, 12L and 18L roll-top packs. They’re all made of 1000D Cordura, Hypalon and Kevlar webbing, with internal drybags. The semi-rigid panniers mount to the OS Platforms, which fit on a wide range of pannier-mount systems. If the bike doesn’t have pannier mounts, the panniers can be fitted with straps as…

I don’t believe in wrapping kids in cotton wool: I think it restricts the mind, it doesn’t allow them to build their own responses to risk, and that it’s much better for them to experience life beyond their own backyard. I started taking my son Rhys on the back when he was six years old. Ten years later, I’d just finished our GlobeBusters Trans Americas Expedition and he joined me in Buenos Aires. It was to be his first real taste of a mini-overland adventure. We rode through Northern Argentina, spent Christmas in Bolivia, New Year in Peru and finished in Santiago, Chile. Riding with Rhys on the back has enriched both our lives. So much so that, at 22, he had an incredible journey of his own - he…

“It steers precisely, hustling hairpins” FOR A VERY simple motorbike, the Scrambler Café Racer is slightly confusing. Scrambler was devised by Ducati’s marketing division as a sub-brand of entry-level V-twins. Yet the Café Racer blurs the boundaries between Ducati and Scrambler as its clip-on bars and black/gold paintscheme are inspired by a notoriously hardcore Ducati: the thunderous 900SS that was one of the world’s fastest superbikes in 1978. The Café Racer’s sporty look is reinforced by a low-slung, shrouded headlamp and cut-down front mudguard. Bar-end mirrors add to the nose-down attitude. The ribbed seat is humped and comes with a colour-matched pillion-seat cover. There’s a new exhaust with double-barrelled Termignoni silencer. But if the new bike’s aggressive image is pure Ducati (the No54 on its oval side-panels was the race…

“Nothing offers as much fun to an A2 licence holder” TWO MOMENTS MAKE the 2017 KTM 390 Duke more sophisticated than last year’s version. The first comes as soon as you turn the key, igniting the glorious glow of a bright, crisp, multi-colour, 5in TFT digital dash. This is the kind of lavish rider’s eye view that’s only recently been afforded to flagship machines like Ducati’s 1299 Panigale, Triumph’s Street Triple RS and KTM’s 1290 Super Adventure S. The 390 Duke costs just £4599. The second is realised shortly after pulling away. Despite all the Duke’s noticeably new components – its angular all-LED headlight, smart new orange frame with separate bolt-on white rear subframe, exaggerated and sharpened bodywork – the biggest dynamic change comes from something with no visual difference:…

“Be wary of any bikes that look too good to be true” AT THIS PRICE point you need to be looking for a full service history, preferably from a main dealer, good, matching tyres and little, if any, sign of corrosion or crash damage. Bikes will be newer, have lower mileage and should be in better condition. You will find many bikes in this price range at larger main dealers, too, which should give extra peace of mind. Their reputation and franchise depend on the quality of their bikes so if they’re selling an older bike, rather than getting rid of it at auction, it should be pretty clean (unless they paid too much for it as a part-exchange and are trying to recoup their losses… so always ask why…

“Its suspension gives an uncanny ride down the gnarliest of back roads” The MT-10 SP will make you want to rediscover your favourite roads. There is potential for disappointment, though: we all have that particular series of bends that have, over the years, provided us with a challenge and a sense of accomplishment when you get them just right. The SP demolishes any nostalgia associated with such routes by tracking truer and sharper than anything before. It makes things too easy. The reality is that you need to move on and find a new route that really suits the SP. It’s the ideal bike for exploring, capable of powering over the slightest crest at any speed with the wheel in the air, still begging for the throttle to be opened…

“Earlier regulator/ rectififiers are pretty basic and unreliable” 1 ENGINE AND GEARBOX If looked after properly this is a tough engine. But like all earlier Triumphs it’s finnicky about oil levels and it needs to be warmed up properly before giving it any serious welly. Thrash it from cold and you’ll burn a LOT of oil, to the point where breakers are full of older Triumphs that have seized or have damaged crank journals due to oil starvation. The gearbox is famous for being a bit stiff, clunky and slow to change. It can also be hard to find neutral when hot - though that’s often a symptom of a dragging clutch rather than an actual gearbox fault. 2 CLOCKS “Up to 2012 they’ve all got the same problem,” says…

“The helmet’s peak is light and causes no turbulence” 1 Helmet: Shark Explore R £370  www.nevis.uk.com I’m normally not a fan of peaks because they trap wind, generate noise and cause buffeting - and though I’m clearly fond of a buffet, I can do without trapped wind and its associated noises. But the Shark Explore R’s peak is lighter than most, doesn’t cause turbulence and comes off with just one screw (by hand, no tools needed). And doing that reveals the Explore R’s real trick… it’s a three-in-one: peak and goggles (off-road); just a visor (road); or just goggles (urban hipster). The Explore R is also all-day comfy, its Carl Zeiss goggles (included in the price) don’t leak wind, there’s room for internal speakers, it has a drop-down tinted inner…

“We’re going to get under the skin of these bikes” WE TEST A lot of bikes at RiDE. From short rides on new model launches to our in-depth single-bike tests and longer group rides, between us we rack up a lot of miles on a lot of different machines. But this is usually in focused periods, doing fairly focused things. We try to go past just assessing performance, to get to the heart of what a bike’s about... but we’re never living with those test bikes for very long. These bikes are different. Over the next few months we’ll be riding a cross-section of 2017’s key models for extended periods in an attempt to get beneath their skins. We plan to get beyond those initial road-test impressions to discover not…

Owning a motorcycle isn’t like owning a table or a chair. You can like those, of course - you can even be proud of them. But you don’t love them, not the way you love your bike. That kind of relationship deserves to be rewarded - which is where the Love Your Motorcycle competition comes in. All you have to do is go to www.ride.co.uk/love-your-motorcycle and upload a picture of your bike. Each month, two people chosen at random will win an SDoc100 Classic Cleaning Kit worth £49.99. After a few months, we’ll stop accepting entries and ask people to vote for their favourite bike from a shortlist of the best images, picked by the RiDE team. When voting opens, one voter each month will win an SDoc100 Classic Cleaning…

 Is cheap finance a con? “The manufacturer pays a subsidy to make it happen” No: we really are the winners. Manufacturers often offer really good rates of finance on certain models, especially in competitive sectors. It works because the manufacturer pays a subsidy to the finance company to make the deal happen. What is PCP? Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) schemes let you put down a deposit and ride off, paying finance based around how much the bike will be worth at the end of the agreement. The PCP deal specifies a minimum future value (MFV) for the bike. Repayments reflect the depreciation of the bike, which keeps what you pay each month low as the large balance of the finance is represented by the MFV. At the end of the…

Starting to ride with Yamaha Your local Yamaha Dealer will be able to recommend a suitable local rider training course and offer advice and guidance on appropriate clothing and helmets. For riders looking to gain more experience Yamaha offer a number of riding courses including the Yamaha AMCA MX Experience and the Ténéré Experience where expert riders help you develop your off-road skills. For info see www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk and click on “Experience”. Who are Yamaha? Yamaha Motor Company was established in Japan in 1955. It’s first YA-1 model became an immediate sales and racing success. Since then the firm has become a global force in the design of everything from scooters to superbikes, winning numerous Grands Prix along the way. Today Yamaha is recongnised as a leader in technology with an…

Riding with Honda There’s a course for you at the Honda School of Motorcycling - whether you’re new to biking, need to upgrade your licence to ride a bigger bike or a just want refresher course. Honda also helps you take your riding further with expert training at the Donington Park race track on the Honda Ron Haslam Race School, or off-road at the Honda Adventure Centre or Dave Thorpe Off-Road Centre. For more information visit www.honda.co.uk and click “Just Ride”. Who are Honda? In 1948, co-founders Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa started the Honda Motor Co Ltd with the introduction of its first motorcycle, the aptly named Dream D-type motorcycle. The firm went on to become the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles by 1964. With bikes like the MotoGP…

 When you try any bike gear on it can feel rather heavy and restrictive. It quickly start to feel natural – but trying as much as possible on will help you feel comfortable with your choice. “If the armour isn’t CE-approved, it’s not really armour” CE-approved armour If the armour isn’t CE-approved, it’s not really armour: the CE mark shows it’s be tested and is good enough. There are two CE levels: Level 1 and Level 2, which is more protective but often bulkier and stiffer. The minimum you should have is armour in the shoulders, elbows and knees. We recommend riding with a back protector and hip armour. You can get a bargain on last year’s colours – but if buying a helmet, check how old it is: they…