Innehållsförteckning för May 2019 från RiDE

Spring collection Alpinestars has released its 2019 spring collection, with a host of new products. There is much for the road rider, with a range of new textile jackets featuring the brand’s own DryStar waterproof and breathable membrane, including the appropriately named Distance and the short sports shell jacket, the T-Fuse. There are also new textile trousers, leather jackets, gloves, boots and much more, including new applications for its airbag technology. www.alpinestars.com Travelling light There are new luggage options from Ventura. for the KTM 790 Duke, Ducati Monster 797 and Yamaha MT-07. The system comprises L-brackets that fit to the bike; a Rack fits to the brackets; and the Pack fits to the rack. There are three packs – 10-litre (£73.99), 22-litre (£129.99) and 40-litre (£149.99) with brackets and racks…

Valencia, Spain This is Puebla de Arenoso, ten minutes west of Montanejos. I made sure it was in neutral before letting go of the clutch... Roland Openshaw Bagan, Myanmar I’m Chief Technical Officer and pilot for Balloons Over Bagan in Myanmar. I’ve recently got permission to ride in the country and have found a local company importing Royal Enfields from India. Andy Davey Prince Alfred Highway, South Africa My partner and I joined the Odyssey Tour — an incredible 3,500km ride from Johannesburg to Cape Town via the Sani Pass. Julie Evison Everest Base Camp, Nepal Had a fantastic trip to Everest Base Camp in September 2018 with friends Andy & Clive. The hired Royal Enfield Himalayan did a great job. Iain Young Port de Valldemossa, Mallorca One flight, two…

1254 miles in three days just about scratches the surface of the RT’s distance design parameters. But it’s enough to show the new, larger-capacity 1250 engine has developed bigger muscles — it’s significantly faster everywhere, as well as smoother, mechanically quieter and deeper-sounding than the previous 1170cc Boxer twin. But the 1250 also retains the flat-twin character you’d expect; its extra power and torque don’t detract from the sheer pleasure of using the engine. And ShiftCam, whatever it’s doing in terms of low-down emissions or fuel economy, is unnoticeable. But the new motor also shows how the RT is starting, in other ways, to age. It’s the stuff that hasn’t changed that dates it: the clocks suddenly look old fashioned; the menu system is clumsy; the compartments don’t fit modern…

IT NEVER CEASES to amaze us what weird and wonderful stuff riders pack for a road trip. Whether it’s for a weekend away or a round-the-world expedition, the same rule applies: the more stuff your bike is weighed down with, the more likely it is that the handling will be poor and the ride less enjoyable. Just because an engine is doing the work, it isn’t a green light to bring everything along with you. One rider turned up for our Trans-Americas expedition with ten white vests (still in their plastic wrapping) and a small green collapsible garden chair… Of course, you could go to the other extreme and take nothing but the clothes you’re standing in and a credit card. But in between there’s a happy medium. Clothing This…

GLOBAL DOMINATION The 2019 CB500X features a more upright and commanding riding position from higher bars, taller screen, a slimmer and taller seat and more ground clearance WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS The previous CB500X’s 17in front wheel makes way for a more crossover-oriented 19in wheel for 2019, plus uprated, longer-travel forks ENGINE TWEAKS Same A2-compatible, 471cc, 47bhp parallel twin, but with improved spread of power and more midrange. New slip/assist clutch requires 45% less lever pull FUNNELLING FULL-TILT UP Tenerife’s urban streets, flying between hothouses, poly-tunnels and air-brick walls, skating the CB500X from left to right and out-braking stray dogs on sketchy tarmac. But this isn’t a scene from a bonkers Latin-American street race gone viral on Facebook. It’s a hilariously hectic, risky and definitely not traditional Honda ride-out on an…

1 Check the battery Your bike will not start or run properly if your battery is in poor health. A weak battery can also damage other components, such as the starter clutch, if it doesn’t produce the required starting power to turn over the motor. The week before Remove and inspect your bike’s battery; it’s usually under the seat or behind a fairing panel. Check the terminals aren’t damaged, and for bulges, cracks, ruptures or leaks in the outer case. These can be signs of a failing regulator/rectifier or a poor earth (cleaning earthing points annually to prevent this is good practice). The night before If your battery passed a visual inspection, we now need to check its internal health. Most modern ones are sealed so if they’re past their…

IF YOU’RE ANYTHING like us, you’ll be absolutely chomping at the bit to get back out on your bike again after a five or six-month winter lay-up. It’s important to remember, though, that you won’t simply be picking up from where you left off last autumn; it takes time to get back up to speed so, in the words of Rapid Training instructor Mark Edwards; “Take your time, ease your way back into the saddle and you’ll set the foundations for your best summer of riding yet.” Managing expectations Be aware of the conditions, both weather and road. Although early spring sun does its best to burn away the last hold of winter, the ambient temperature and that of the road surface will still be below that of late autumn.…

BEST FOR FACILITIES 1 The Chequered Flag Plymouth Road (A38), Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 3PG Bacon Bap £2.80 Cup of Tea £1.30 Speciality Dakar Burger, £5.20 Best Day Wednesday What makes it great The Chequered Flag is a multi-faceted facility that offers so much more than just great food and top service. As a café, there’s a motorcycle-themed menu featuring traditional breakfasts and delicious homemade burgers (which alone makes a visit worthwhile), but it’s the warm welcome and meticulous attention to detail that makes it a true biker’s oasis. Roll in after a long ride and you’ll find helmet racks; somewhere to hang your kit (and dry your gloves if needs be); USB points for phone charging; a TV for playing back helmet cam footage; a library with books; magazines and…

2019 HONDA CB650R New for 2019, the CB650R boasts more power and less weight than the 650F it replaces, plus a new front end and snazzy semi-retro styling to match the CB1000R 2003 HONDA HORNET CB600F Third iteration of Honda’s massively popular CBR-powered roadster. This one has a few tasteful modifications and still looks immaculate, despite covering 63,000 miles in its 16 years RIDE READER Richard Smith passed his test five years ago and has ridden 36,000 miles on this Hornet since then. Commutes every day and rides all year round. What will he make of the Hornet’s modern-day equivalent? WHEN HONDA’S BRIGHTEST brains first sat round a table in the mid-90s and sketched out plans for the Hornet 600, they may well have had a giant picture of RiDE…

There’s a big difference between the 1000 and 1100cc versions. Here’s what we said when we first rode the 1000: “The boost in midrange really shows up on the roads. Let the revs fall and the bike still muscles you out of corners with huge force. The fuelling is perfect too; no glitches or stutters to distract you. It’s marred by its thirst but not much else. It’s incredibly fast, hugely exciting, sounds glorious and comes with the best electronics available.” We liked the replacement too, but the 1100 was more than just a big-bore update. The whole bike sits lower, thanks to softer, shorter suspension, and the seat’s softer too, with a narrower handlebar. The engine has a little more peak power but the main gains are even more…

1 ENGINE According to Griff Woolley from Aprilia Performance, the engines are normally very reliable, but they do have one Achilles’ heel — valve-seat recession. “The 1100s don’t seem to be suffering so far, but with the 1000s it can be a real problem. We recommend checking the valve clearances at every 6000-mile service, not at the 12,000 recommended intervals. That way you can keep an eye on the clearances and if they start to close up you pull the head and sort it before it drops a valve and wrecks the engine.” Incidentally the V4s like fully synthetic oil, and it needs to be top quality. Griff recommends 5w40 Motul 300V: “We use that in all the race bikes we build with no problems.” Rattles from the front of…

‘It offers a huge amount of performance’ LET’S BE CLEAR — this is not a run-of-the-mill motorbike. It offers a huge amount of performance and racetrack levels of handling and braking, and the electronics package is at least as good as anything else out there. But it does need some looking after. In particular you really, really need to at least check the valve clearances at each 6000-mile service, and that does bump up the running costs unless you’re doing the work yourself. But as long as you accept that extra work and cost, then a Tuono V4 can be a surprisingly practical way to get your kicks. There is a definite feeling that the 1100 ironed out most of the problems you see with the 1000. If your budget…

THE SUZUKI V-STROM 1000 is inherently a good bike – last month I explained how much I love it. But there are a few little things I wanted to ‘adjust’ (a polite term for an engineer’s instinctive need to mess about with something that is already fine). The first was a fix rather than a fiddle – the barrel fell out of the topbox lock one morning, so even though it still closed, it wasn’t secure. A quick visit to a local fixings specialist saw it all back together for the princely sum of a quid, until a new set of fitting screws, along with pre-applied thread-lock, arrived from Suzuki. In the same box was a centrestand kit. Our bike was supplied without but this — simple — addition makes…

TT STARTED WITH Land’s End to John o’Groats. It was an open invitation and 30 people turned up to ride the eight days from the bottom of the UK to the top on aged bikes. The Garbage Run was born. Three more LeJoG runs followed, before deciding the big one; Garbage Run America. I’d ridden across the US twice before and I’d always wanted to take other people as it’s still like nowhere else for motorcycle travel. It’s easy to ride but so varied, depending on where you go. It’s also straightforward taking your own bike there, with numerous agents willing to load it onto a plane or boat. With no need for a Carnet de Passage or any complex paperwork, it’s also more cost-effective than rental, especially for a…

Knocking bike thieves off could do them good I can understand George Lincoln’s concerns from a few months ago regarding police knocking pursued riders off their bikes — or should that be other people’s bikes? But the problem is; if we do not stop the crime on motorcycles it will only grow into a bigger epidemic. And if the criminals are not caught early, they will go on to commit bigger crimes, because it’s the nature of the human being to keep pushing at an open door. A few months ago l was standing in a courtroom involved in a mugging case, and what struck me was the shock on the young men’s faces at being caught. Being knocked off a bike may just be the jolt they need, rather…

DUAL HOMOLOGATION Helmets are homologated in one of three ways. Open-face only helmets are ‘J’ rated; ones that should only be ridden with the flip down are ‘P’ rated; and ones that are approved for use with the flip up or down, like the SHARK Evo-One 2, are dual-homologated and marked ‘P/J’. The chin strap should have a tag with a code number that ends with the appropriate letters. VARIABLE SUN Some integrated sun visors have a limited number of positions: many are either fully up or fully down. You get more control over where it sits (and whether it rests on the bridge of your nose) with a visor operated by a slide, like the one on the Evo-One 2. FULL FLIP The majority of flip-front helmets operate by…

SHELL SIZE A helmet’s outer shell is filled with expanded polystyrene (EPS), then the comfort liner is fitted to hold it securely on the rider’s head. The Scorpion EXO 1400 Air Carbon comes in three shell sizes, so there’s never an excess of padding, just precisely measured amounts for an optimised fit. LINING A soft, hypo-allergenic liner like the Kwickwick 3 in the EXO 1400 wicks sweat away. But the lining’s real job is to hold the helmet securely in the correct place. Scorpion’s Airfit lining system lets the rider adjust the cheekpads for a really safe fit. CARBON SKIN A composite shell using a blend of carbon and other fibres makes for a helmet that’s practically as light and tough as a carbon-fibre one but without the pure-carbon price…

NECK TRIM Don’t wear a jacket that will chafe your neck. A soft trim to the collar — like the neoprene used on the Mondial — ensures comfort, even when it’s warm enough to ride without a neck tube. ADJUSTABLE OPENING A fixed popper demands that your neck fits the jacket: that’s no good. An adjustable popper lets you fit the jacket to your neck: comfy, easy and simple to set up. You can even alter it for winter use, with a neck tube and summer use, without one. MIXED MATERIALS Suits need to use more than one material for the outer. While most of the Mondial is a high-thread-count nylon, it uses an even tougher ballistic nylon to reinforce key areas and stretch panels for comfort. The clever bit…

GORE-TEX The big name in waterproofing. There are two types of Gore-Tex: the membrane, layered inside garments; and the laminate, which is applied to the surface of top-end kit like the Richa Arc jacket. The laminate is more breathable, while stopping water soaking into the outer layer — it just runs off. HOW MUCH ARMOUR? All motorcycle jackets must come with CE shoulder and elbow armour. We would recommend a back protector — whether you fit one to a jacket (the Richa Arc comes with one) or a separate one. For greater security, some jackets, like this, will let you add a chest protector. LINING Summer-use jackets may not have a thermal liner but most of us need our kit to do more than a few sunny days at a…

ZIP ENTRY A quality locking zip makes boots fast to get on and off, but also secure. Fit can be tailored to the foot by adjusting the laces to tighten the upper securely across the foot: a blend of retro and modern. ARMOUR You don’t have to choose style over protection. Look for a boot with a solid toebox and a stiffly reinforced heel area. Ankles should be covered by inserts of flexible armour, like the D3O used in the Kaspar boot. READY TO WALK One big benefit of this kind of bike boot is how useable they are off the bike. Styled like normal boots, they really are good for walking, with strong and grippy soles that still have enough flexibility for easy locomotion. LEATHER FINISH Gone are the…

ARAMID The abrasion resistance in riding jeans comes from aramid reinforcement, whether Kevlar or an alternative like the Twaron used by PMJ. It can be woven into the denim or stitched in as a liner — potentially tougher but bulkier. DON’T FLAP Jeans flapping in the breeze is the classic feeling of summer… but riding jeans shouldn’t be too flappy. Knee armour needs to be held securely in position, not left to slide about inside an excessively loose or baggy garment. ARMOUR How much armour do you need in riding jeans? We’d recommend knee armour is the minimum; for riding a high-performance bike we’d suggest hip armour (usually an optional extra on CE Level 1 jeans) is a very good idea. BOOT AND CUFFS Always take your riding boots with…

THIS SPORTY AIR-COOLED streetfighter makes 110bhp, weighs less than a Kawasaki Z1000 and looks like it came from an Italian factory. It has a tubular-steel trellis frame, fully adjustable Showa suspension, four-piston radial brakes and supersport-size Pirelli tyres. Cutting-edge electronics include a colour TFT display, smartphone connectivity, and Bosch cornering ABS and traction control. Practical touches include belt final drive, no need to change the oil or check valve clearances, and no need to visit a petrol station. Ever. This is the Zero SR/F and, yes, it’s electric. But it’s no distant dream or convoluted concept — this is a real production bike arriving in May. And while it’s far from cheap (from £16,490 after the £1500 UK government grant) it’s still cheaper than rival electric roadsters such as Energica’s…

Each month the Star Picture will win a BikeTrac security tracker, plus a year’s subscription. As well as helping recover your bike if it is nicked, it logs journeys and gives live battery voltage info, too. How to send us your photos Email your most inspirational biking photos to us at ride@ride.co.uk with ‘Your Rides’ in the subject line. Please send us the original unedited photo file, ideally at least five megapixels in size. And don’t forget to include your full name, too.…

RT OWNERS REALLY, really like their bikes. “It’s just brilliant,” says R1200RT-o-phile Derek Brown. “How can BMW get a bike this big to be dynamically agile? You walk up to it and think, ‘Sod it, it’s a bloody great thing.’ But go round one roundabout in the dry and it’s easy-peasy.” BMW has had time to get it right. The R100RT arrived in 1978 and set the template: a vast fairing and screen, upright handlebars, full panniers and luggage, shaftdrive and a Boxer twin engine. The concept developed with the K-series flat-fours and triples, but the flat twin RT re-established itself in 1995 with a revamped R1100RT, introducing the world to Telelever suspension. In 2002 it grew to an R1150RT, then the R1200 RT in 2005, spearheading BMW’s drive to…

WHILE THE OTHER CB500s can rely on practicality and convenience to satisfy owners, the CBR500R has to actually be a bit sporty — and performance from an A2-friendly 47bhp engine won’t set the world on fire. The motor is the same as the F and X and the chassis remains as per last year. But both front and rear suspension have revised damping and springing for better ride quality and balance, while the riding position is sportified with under-yoke clip-on bars, dropping the rider’s hands 24mm lower, 9mm narrower, and 36mm further forward. The result is a more focused and compact ride, with extra rider weight over the front end encouraging a more aggressive riding style – and the dynamic is almost unrecognisable from the original CBR500R’s hum-drum ho-hum. Even…

Ducati lists four ‘packs’ of accessories for the 950 S: Touring (£907 — panniers, heated grips, centrestand); Sport (£1084 — Termignoni silencer, water pump cover in billet aluminium, LED indicators); Urban (£575 — top box, tank pocket bag, USB port); and Enduro (£1247 — LED spotlights, engine bars, aluminium radiator and sump guards, steel footpegs). The Touring Pack includes standard Ducati panniers: 31 and 26 litres which, as usual, clip into the 950’s tail unit without the need for a pannier frame. A Touring Pack-equipped 950 S was available to ride on the launch, though it was also equipped with the optional spoked wheels. They look great, although swapping from cast to spoked wheels adds £550 to the price and 1.5kg in weight, which feels a lot more when it’s…

1998 Hornet CB600F The original. Fusion of the Japan-market Hornet CB250F roadster’s steel backbone frame, with a CBR600F motor detuned to 92bhp. Inherited both its 16-inch front wheel and fat 180-section rear tyre from the FireBlade. When it was launched, overnight it made Suzuki’s Bandit 600 feel heavy and sluggish. 2003 Hornet CB600F A subtle restyle highlighted by a larger 17-litre fuel tank (up from 16) and a slash-cut silencer. Also gets breathing changes that unleash one more horsepower (now 95bhp), a brighter headlight, square mirrors, an engine immobiliser and a catalyser to meet Euro2 emissions standards. 2009 Hornet CB600F Minor model update sees the Hornet’s forks gain adjustable rebound damping, while the shock is new as well. Dash gets a modest makeover. Now available in fluoro yellow, which is…

Depends on the model — you’re getting the same basic chassis and engine but the Factory got better brakes and suspension, a TFT screen on later ones, more carbon fibre and a few other tweaks. The main thing though — assuming the original buyer stumped up the extra grand — is the APRC electronics suite, which includes Anti-Wheelie Control (AWC), traction control (ATC), launch control (ALC) and an integrated quickshifter (AQS). From 2017 you get a pit-lane speed limiter and cruise control. Some people might think all that intervention would take all the fun out of riding. For example, it won’t allow a wheelie if the bike’s leant more than 25° and even if you turn it off, it’ll still only allow you to wheelie for 30 seconds before cutting…

1 Know the right time to sell Timing really matters. Depending on the season, values can fluctuate by as much as £2000 on certain models, such as Ducati Panigales, according to Joe Scott. “What we have to offer for trade-ins goes up quite a bit in mid-February. Prices take a dip in winter, but once spring appears, demand begins to increase and so too do values. If you’re thinking of selling, then now is definitely the time.” 2 Be careful to work out your price To get an accurate idea of your bike’s value, look at eBay, Bike Trader and motorcyclenews.com to see the asking price for other bikes similar to yours and, more importantly, what they’re selling for. If you’re selling privately, always set your asking price higher than…

IT’S A FEBRUARY weekend, yet across the land Britain’s bikers are already stirring. Emerging from hibernation two months early, the lure of unseasonal sunshine and a balmy 15°C is too much to resist. Dry tarmac, cyan sky, the distant call of an unsilenced inline four floating on the breeze… time to hit the road. Well, except for me. I’ve been waiting for a run of good weather to see what this Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT is like away from the asphalt. Backwards logic? Not on its Dunlop road tyres which on dirt offer all the tenacious traction of a greased weasel. I need my byway to be a dryway — and today’s my chance. My nearest green lane is only three miles long, wide, flat and mostly straight. Come…

Having read the April 2019 issue’s coverage of the Hayabusa, Speed Twin, Interceptor, CBR650R, F850GS and the used bike guide, I find myself wondering why manufacturers constantly add to complexity, weight and cost of bikes and why the motorcycling media (to an extent) encourage it. I appreciate to those obsessed with electronic toys it may matter how many riding modes a bike has or whether its suspension is adjusted by satellite or its expensive TFT display can tell you the current wind speed in Muckle Flugga while riding in Truro but frankly, I’m not interested. I actually prefer to make riding decisions myself and I like simple bikes I just get on and ride and service periodically. I don’t like black boxes that no-one can fix and cost a small…

Bike 2005 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 Total miles 118,500 Rider Andy Oliver Age 56 Miles per year 20,000 I BOUGHT IT IN 2010 with 16,762 miles on it and rode to the Vosges Mountains in France, then four trips to Normandy, a tour of Scotland and a trip to Ireland. Since then, it’s all been commuting. “A lack of feel from the front brake had been niggling me for ages, so at 59k I fitted a Brembo radial master cylinder and braided hoses. It stopped the lever going soft as the standard set up was prone to — it’s not perfect but it’s a lot better. The other thing that makes a big difference is good quality OEM pads, as cheaper ones tend to feel wooden. The discs last well…

PICK YOUR STYLE Plain shells are simple, don’t go out of fashion and are the most affordable options. Patterned helmets show your style and preferences — whether with a simple design, an intricate one or even a race-replica job, though these are more expensive. MICRO-RATCHET Quick-release chinstrap systems are easy to use but the straps should be adjusted for a good fit on a regular basis. We like the micro-ratchet (as used on the GT-Air II) as it allows a greater range of fitment positions, ensuring the helmet is secured properly every time. INTEGRATED COMMS If you want a Bluetooth intercom, you can fix a third-party unit to the side but that can cause turbulence and noise. Some helmets come prepped for dedicated systems, avoiding this problem. The GT-Air II…

BUCKLE UP If you’re looking at a jacket with a buckle-closure neck, check that you can work it easily when the jacket’s on. Look for retaining flaps to secure the strap when you’re off the bike and it’s not done up. KNOW YOUR ARMOUR There are two levels of CE armour. Level 1 is the basic standard; the more-expensive Level 2 is more protective. All jackets will have shoulder and elbow armour — and should have a pocket to take a back protector, if you choose to fit one to the jacket rather than wear a separate one. SUMMER v ALL-YEAR MATERIALS Fully waterproof jackets can get expensive. If you’re riding in a hot climate or looking for a jacket for sunny summer days, a lightweight example without a sweaty…

‘It feels like it could go on for years’ RST PRO-SERIES ADVENTURE III Used for 9000 miles Paid £190 Jon Ashley “I had the previous RST model before this and crash-tested it — it stood up brilliantly, which was reassuring. This is a step up, with a smartly cut tunic and vents everywhere. There’s a removable thermal and waterproof liner. The RST gear is like a sponge and you rely entirely on the liner to stop water getting through. In winter it is very warm but last summer, even with the liners out and all vents open, it was hopelessly hot. But for most conditions, it is hard wearing, versatile and practical. It comes with a storm collar and a clip on ‘bum bag.’ “It feels like it could go…

CALF ADJUSTMENT If you have a wide calf, finding boots that don’t pinch can be a problem. Look for ones that have scope to expand — like the RoadStar GTX, which can be adjusted at the back to easily accommodate the more generously proportioned leg. DOUBLE ZIPS Another feature that helps riders: if you have restricted movement in the ankle or have a thick calf, getting boots on can be a battle. But it’s much easier when the boot opens on both sides, as the RoadStar GTX does. STEEL SHANK All riding boots need armour. As well as the usual shin, ankle and toe protection to be found in most bike boots, the German-made RoadStar GTX has a steel shank in the sole for support when walking and strength in…

‘It’s both cool and modern’ DAINESE VINTAGE PELLE Used for 5000 miles Paid £250 James Smith “It is retro enough to look cool and vintage but still have all the positives and safety aspects of up-to-date manufacturing processes. The fit is good and despite being armoured on the shoulders and elbows (has allowance for back protector) doesn’t feel too bulky and is comfortable to wear. So much so you could get away with wearing it as a casual jacket down the pub. I also like that it can still zip to either the Dainese Union belt to attach to some bike jeans or the Dainese jacket extender. One of the big positives of this jacket is the overall quality of it. The zips and fittings are all great and feel…

‘They do everything you need’ DANE TYRIL GORE-TEX Used for 13,000 miles Paid £120 Vincent Guillon “These Dane gloves do it all; at least until the temperature gets too cold or too hot. I wear them for most of my rides, whether I am going out for a short blast or a longer tour. They are a little tight fitting, but they provide very good feel and decent protection. In the various long tours and particularly downpours — a frequent occurrence in my travels — my hands have always remained dry, even after a soaking. “The outside dries quickly too, which is ideal when you are riding every day with limited facilities to get stuff dry again. Lots of gloves don’t let you operate electronic devices while you’re wearing them,…

WHATEVER YOUR VIEWS on Brexit, it could potentially have an impact on our travel plans in the future — and as RiDE goes to press, that future is still up for grabs. None of this will affect you if you never leave these shores, but if you’re planning a foreign tour this year, it is important to know the ramifications and pre-empt potential problems of a no-deal Brexit. Of course, if we leave with a deal, not much will change to begin with, thanks to a transitional period and if we delay leaving the EU for a while, things will stay the same, at least for the short period of the extension. However, things start to get more complicated if all negotiations break down and we leave without any deal…

51.230562, - 3.804715 AUSTRALIA HAS THE Great Ocean Road. California, the Pacific Coast Highway. Italy the Amalfi Coast Road and Devon, the A39 from Lynmouth to Countisbury. Alright, perhaps that’s overselling things a bit. But on the right day, with the right weather, it’s impossible to beat its mix of twisting tarmac, precipitous cliff edge and an apparently endless vista across a twinkling turquoise ocean (fine; the Bristol Channel). It feels special, exotic, inspiring – you just don’t come across this much brain-clearing, soul-recharging empty space every day. The point is, the A39 is a great ride. And it does have its own fancy name as well — the 70-odd miles from Barnstaple down towards Newquay are known as the Atlantic Highway. But it’s the 30 miles heading north out…

THE RIDE HAS taken on a dream-like quality. Half-light stalks across the mid-afternoon Northumbrian wilderness like a malevolent ghost. We’re over 200 miles and four hours in, slipping silently up and over the A68’s bizarre, blind, rollercoaster crests north of Corbridge. The RT has shrugged off the A1 from Peterborough, heading for Durness at Scotland’s north-west tip via the western coastline; passing through Glencoe (end of day one); Lochcarron; the ’pools of Ulla and Una; dipping in and out of the North Coast 500 route as we round Cape Wrath to Durness (end of day two). Then to Tongue and down through Altnaharra to pick up the A9, dive round the back of the Cairngorms and, eventually, onto the A68 and A1 south again. In total, it’s a BMW R1250RT…

Start/Finish Peterborough Time 27 hours Distance 1254 miles Day one is the A1 north from Peterborough until the A68 at Darlington for Corbridge, then on to Carter Bar and into Scotland. Follow the A68 onto the Edinburgh ring road, then the M9 onto the A84 to Lochearnhead. A85 to Crianlarich, then A82 to Glencoe. Day two follows the A82 through Fort William to Invergarry, then the A87 to just past Dornie. Right onto A890 to Strathcarron, then Achnasheen and the A832. A835 from Gorstan to Ullapool, then A835/A837/A894 to Unapool, A838 to Durness and end of day two. Day three is A838 to Tongue, then the A836 to Altnaharra, Bonar Bridge, then fork right to Inverness on the B9176. Pick up the A9, follow through Inverness, then A938/A95 to Speybridge.…

FOR THE SECOND time on my trip, I found myself entering a land that strikes irrational fear into the hearts of suburbia. The difference this time round was that the fear is perpetuated by the population. I was told of kidnapping, murder, extortion, robbery and gang warfare by locals and it seems everyone has Central America marked as one big no-go zone. For those that decide to find out for themselves though, this land has a wealth of natural, historical, cultural and human beauty. I encountered nothing but great kindness from everyone I met and was shown some of the greatest places I have seen so far: Arenal Volcano I really enjoyed all of Costa Rica. I had a great time riding around the volcanoes just outside San José; tearing…

1 Your helmet There’s plenty that can be done to your lid to make it feel great again… The quick clean Cleaning it after every ride is a good habit. Use a soft cloth and warm water (Shoei recommends mixing six drops of mild soap to a litre of water). Never use hot or salt water, glass cleaner or solvents. Lay the damp cloth on the shell and visor for five to ten minutes to loosen any debris, before wiping clean. A soft toothbrush is ideal for removing dirt from vents. The deep clean As above but remove visor, side pods (if fitted), vent covers and interior (if your helmet allows). Place the lid’s interior in a wash net. Machine wash at 40°C or by hand in warm water (if…

MARCH 17 Look at some amazing machinery Haynes Bikers’ Breakfast Ride Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset A ride-in, nosh-up and get together for all bikers on all types of bikes held throughout summer on the third Sunday of the month. Set yourself up for a day on your bike with a tasty full-English or just a bacon roll and a cuppa at Café 750. The Haynes Motor Museum is on site and open from 9.30am. Entrance to the museum is £14.50 for adults, concessions £13.50 and children £9. Ride this road The Somerset, Devon, Dorset loop. 236 miles, starting at Yeovil on the A37 north to A372 for Bridgwater. From there pick up the A39 for Minehead on the north Somerset coast (a stunning road — see page 12). Stay on the…

WE FOUND THIS test fascinating — not only to see how the combination of fit, comfort, feel and waterproof ability worked in real life but also, to see what manufacturers felt were three-season gloves. Or, indeed, what they thought waterproof meant. Firstly, it is worth noting that the waterproof test we carried out was an extreme situation, intended to demonstrate how effective each was at keeping water out. It was not intended to replicate actual riding conditions but if a glove kept water out during this test, then you can rest assured it would do so when you’re caught in a rainstorm out on the road, however heavy. Typically, we tend to award one or two runners-up a Recommended triangle in our group tests, unless there is a standout performance…

ACCORDING TO GRIFF from Aprilia Performance, Tuono V4 owners are; “All the old headbangers who smashed around on Powervalves and Bandits and all sorts back in the day.” ‘I kept seeing them and wanted one’ Giles Parkyn Tuono 1100 RR owner That sounds like Simon Turner, who’s been riding since the 70s and sold a Bandit 12, an Aprilia RS250 and a Suzuki GT250 to buy his 2017 Tuono Factory: “I saw a Tuono at one of our bike nights and thought; ‘Yes, I’ll have that!’ I saw mine on Ebay — it was local and the owner needed it gone pronto as he was waiting for delivery of a Panigale Final Edition, so I got a great deal. Bonkers acceleration, handling is okay but should be a lot…

Oxford Aqua T30 £65 www.oxfordproducts.com I’VE USED THIS roll-bag for the last three years and I’ve found it to be easier to live with, just as waterproof and much cheaper than the combination of Kriega US20 and 10 that I used to swear by, to carry for the same capacity. I’ve tried the T30 on lots of different bikes and road trips including a Kawasaki ZZR1400 to Le Mans, a couple of trips to the TT on superbikes and Cambridge-Land’s End-John o’Groats-Cambridge marathon on an Yamaha MT-09 last year. The T30 has seen big speeds, torrential rain and heat waves and withstood them all equally. Made of super-thick material with welded seams and a roll-top with a wide opening that is secured with a plastic buckle, it has proved to…

RIDE’S TRIUMPH TIGER has quite literally been the office bike this month, having gone the distance with at least two other partners. Firstly, the tarty 1200 saw action with Bruce Dunn as the model bike for our Get Back Out There guide to the new biking season (see p51). This meant there was no time for my planned off-roading and forced a swap to a more road-based tyre ahead of a long journey. “The new Continental ContiTrailAttack3s you’ve fitted really suit it (see p95),” he said. “The bike was just a really good tool for rapid riding on roads that were less than perfect — there was loads of feel and an easy-going nature that means you can ride it hard. All that weight actually seems to improve the mechanical…

Q I HAVE A problem with a neighbour. For whatever reason, an elderly lady has taken a dislike to me, my wife, my kids and even my dog; to the point where she has reported us to social services, apparently out of concern for our children. To no avail, I might add. It follows a catalogue of complaints to the local authority. I don’t expect you to sort the issues but one of her complaints is about my bike, a standard and well-maintained Yamaha MT-09. I have to ride it across the pavement to get to my back garden — it’s an insurance requirement I park it in a secure steel shed. The complaint is I ride on the pavement at a dangerous speed, rev the bike noisily on my…

I know lots of people say rude things about the GS and the people who ride them but at 73, I’ve finally come to it after 20 years touring Europe and further afield on a 1996 1100RT (I was 65 when I took it to Morocco and 67 when I took it to Russia) and a two-year flirtation with a 650 V-Strom. I now know why there are so many about. You get on and you don’t want to get off. Everything about it is just right, but somehow it’s more than that. I’m 5’7” and though it’s taller than the V-Strom, it’s far easier to manage. Mine is 14 years old but I have the same feeling I used to get with the RT, which my son is now…

CARBON COMMS Something about the structure of carbon fibre disrupts Bluetooth signals, so pure carbon helmets normally have externally mounted comms. Schuberth has managed to solve this problem and the SRC intercom system (£249.99) clicks neatly into the C4 Pro Carbon, which has the antenna and mic pre-fitted. SLIDING SCALE When looking at any helmet with a drop-down sun visor, make sure you’re happy with the location of the slide. Some are on the base of the helmet, some on the side, others on the top. You need to be able to find and operate the control easily with your gloves on. AERODYNAMICS Don’t imagine that an aerodynamic shape matters only on race helmets: touring lids are designed to be worn for hours at a time, so a shell that…

‘Perfect: apart from visor fit’ SHOEI GT-AIR Used for 2000 miles Paid £320 Paul Hugs “I bought my Shoei GT-Air on sale at the TT last year and saved £200 compared with anything online in the Primal colour scheme at the time. I went there to buy a Shark Skwal but it didn’t feel as well-made in comparison to the Shoei. I came from the Shoei Qwest which I loved. The GT is quieter however, though the visor mists more despite the Pinlock insert. But the GT seems lighter and was easier to fit my Interphone comms unit to. “The visor on the GT is awkward to get on and off compared to the Qwest and sits proud rather than flush. It’s also the first helmet I’ve had that has…

STORM COLLAR Not everyone gets on with a storm collar, preferring to use a thicker neck tube. With a detachable storm collar, or a permanently attached one that folds away into the collar, like on the Rukka Kallavesi, you have the choice. ARMOUR APPROVAL Motorcycle armour needs to meet a CE standard (EN1621). There are two levels: Level 1 is the basic one; Level 2 is the higher-level stuff. BELT AND BRACES? How do you keep your trousers up? Most textiles come with an adjustable waist. If that’s not enough to keep them in place on the fuller-figured gentleman, Rukka trousers also come with detachable braces and a near-full-circumference zip to join to the jacket. CHEST PROTECTION While chest protection is pretty much standard for off-road riding, it’s still pretty…

ADJUSTMENT Quality kit will have enough adjusters to let you tailor the fit… if you use them. But don’t assume they’ll always adjust the garment to fit your particular shape: take the time when trying on kit to use the adjusters, to make sure you can get a good fit. VENTS Getting cooling air into any waterproof suit is a challenge — especially a laminated suit. A vent is a hole in that waterproof outer… and water likes to get through holes. So look for vents that are placed to catch maximum airflow and have waterproof zips. DRYING Conventional materials have the waterproof layer behind the outer material: it can be dry but water will soak into the outer, conducting heat away and making the rider feel cold and even…

TOUGH AT THE TOP With boots that are solidly armoured all the way up, the finish at the top is important. You don’t want hard or sharp edges digging into your leg; just a smooth edge that can be adjusted for a secure and comfortable fit. AIR FLOW The harder you ride, the hotter your feet get, especially in hot conditions. The SIDI Rex feature vents in the toes to let in cooling air but there is also the Rex Air version, with a heavily perforated outer, for use on track in high summer — and costing the same as the standard Rex. SOLE SUPPORT Race boots aren’t walking boots but they should be comfortable to walk in, so the sole should allow some flex. It needs to be thin…

‘They’ve done snow in the Alps to 40°C in Portugal’ SIDI ADVENTURE 2 Used for 15,000 miles Paid £300 Matt Wetherill “These are great on and off the bike — and totally waterproof. They’ve done everything from snow in the Alps to 40°C in central Portugal and take it all. A bit stiff when new, so gearchanges need to be a bit ‘deliberate’ at first but they relax once you’ve done a few rides and walked in them. “I’ve ridden 15,000 miles in them and walked a good few miles too. They’re surprisingly comfy for walking but not for Ninja assassins, as they do have the infamous ‘Sidi squeak’. It doesn’t bother me but some people tend to get upset about it, for some reason... “The quality is impressive —…

POCKETS A jacket without adequate pockets is, quite frankly, a pain. Even in a slim-cut, stylish leather jacket. The Segura Jayzer manages to pack in eight pockets without disrupting its lines. DETAILING Even plain leather jackets can have detailing in the stitching and piping. Colour panels — like the Jayzer’s unique pleated shoulder/arm stripe, inspired by Star Wars — add interest and define the style of a jacket. Find the jacket that most reflects your style. THERMAL LINER Some leather jackets will have a simple stitched-in lining: great for summer use. However, if there’s a removable thermal liner you can extend the use of the jacket into spring and autumn, when temperatures aren’t so warm and welcoming. LEATHER Despite advances in textile technology, you can’t beat leather for tough, flexible…

ROLL OR ZIP? Roll-top bags give superb water-beating closure and are ideal if you don’t need to get things out on the road. Bags that seal with zips are easier if you’ll be taking stuff in and out all day long — but look for high-quality waterproof zips. CARRYING HANDLES Packing all your kit into a huge bag is no good if you can’t then lift it: handles need to be robust enough to match the load. Shoulder straps make it easier to carry heavier bags — especially if there’s a load-spreading pad. TIE-DOWN POINTS These need to be robust and easy to get to, whether you are using lash-straps or bungees. When fitting the luggage, make sure they’re pulled straight out from the body of the bag, not twisted,…