Table of contents for 21 June 2017 in MCN

Over the last few years the Ducati Multistrada has steadily transformed itself from an adventure-styled sports tourer into a completely credible off-road machine – and now it’s taking another step towards the dirt. The new Enduro Pro builds on the foundations laid by the Multistrada Enduro and Ducati say the Pro is “designed for riders eager to get off-road and get exploring”. So what’s new? Enduro’s new clothes Like it or loathe it, a big part of the adventure bike craze is the look and that’s where many of the big changes come on the Enduro Pro. The whole bike has a new sand-coloured paintscheme that is reflected in the new two-tone saddle. To keep the sleek looks the subframe is now painted black, as are the alternator and clutch…

SW MOTECH R9T RACER TANKBAG £125.99 Now with a mount for the R nineT, the SW Motech tankbag is made from Napalon synthetic leather and coated canvas, so it should keep out the weather while looking good. It attaches via a tank strap that’s so nice you could leave it on. www.motohaus.com ALPINESTARS CHARLIE JACKET £TBC It’s not yet released but Alpinestars have unveiled the Charlie Tech-Air, which combines retro looks with their Double Charge airbag system, which can significantly reduce injuries in the event of a crash. www.alpinestars.com 100% BARSTOW ORNAMENTAL CONIFER £69.99 It’s that time of year when it’s warm enough to consider the open face lid again and what better to go with it than these awesome looking goggles. From Dakar to Dagenham, 100% nail it. www.ride100percent.com…

SUZUKI GSX750R Greetings from Norway! Picture taken in 1990 on my 1987 GSX750R. Bjørnar Brunsvik HONDA CB125 I rebuilt this Honda CB125, resprayed and was waiting to do my full test. Mark Taylor HONDA QR50 Verity aged six waiting for her turn at the OWLS club trial. Colin Bastable HONDA SS50 With my first bike in 1973 – the year helmet law came in. I was 16 at the time. Ron Allaway YAMAHA TZR125 Aged 17 in 1992 on my TZR 125, using MK3 Ford Escort hub caps as kneesliders. Bryan Barnes BSA SHOOTING STAR My 1966 BSA Shooting Star when I was 23 – I’m 74 now with a GSX-R1000 K7 that’s done 80,000 miles from new. Stewart Knight send pics to: yourpics@ motorcyclenews.com…

Moto Morini are working with Mupo to create the first production motorcycle with magnetically adjustable suspension. The Italian suspension brand already produce aftermarket kits, but this will be the first time they’ve worked with a manufacturer to fully integrate the system. How it works This test mule has conventional forks and rear shock with normal springs, but they’re filled with a special fluid containing metallic particles. When a charge is introduced into the units, the viscosity of the fluid increases and decreases in an instant, to control rebound and compression. Conventional semi-active suspension units have motors to adjust the damping that can’t react as fast. The main benefit of electronic suspension is it can remain soft for comfort and grip, but stiffen to take the load of braking and acceleration…

Summer evenings are a great time for motorcycling. There’s loads going on, the roads are quiet and grippy and there is a good four hours of daylight after work. So let’s squeeze out every last drop of motorcycling fun this summer. Here are our top five picks for a smashing summer evening. 1 EXPERIENCE AN EPIC ROAD Our choice A82, Loch Lomond to Glencoe What makes it special? Evening riding in Scotland at this time of year is one of motorcycling’s best experiences and the A82 is one of the best, especially as the route starts as you leave an exciting, interesting city like Glasgow –itself a great place to spend a day. The traffic thins as you pass Loch Lomond, letting you indulge in a stunning, sweeping A-road with…

‘It inspired Royston Vasey… but the local shops here are for everyone’ The North Pennines are criss-crossed by some truly incredible roads and this special ride takes in one of the most infamous – the legendary A686. From junction 43 on the M6 head east towards Newcastle along the A46, where you’ll have the chance to fuel up if needs be. The closest filling station to the start is just past the left turn for Low Row, unless you’re approaching from the east in which case it’s the BP at Henshaw. At Haydon Bridge the A69 sweeps across the river to bypass the town; this is your cue to watch for the sign that marks the turn to Alston and 36.5 miles of two-wheeled bliss. The fabulous A686 begins with…

1 Ponderosa Café, Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen. Ideal if you are doing the route on page 43. www.ponderosacafe.co.uk 2 Rykas Café, Box Hill, near Dorking, Surrey. A legendary and long-established meet. rykas.co.uk 3 The Plough, Cadsden, Bucks. Wednesday night meet. theplough.pub 4 Dusty Miller, Sheffield Road, Barlborough, Nr Chesterfield, Derbyshire. www.dustymiller.co.uk 5 Dairy Cabin, Burnham on Crouch, Essex. Take a ride through the infamous Burnham Bends, grab some refreshments and repeat. 01621 782404 GET YOUR MEET ON THE MAP If you have a bike-friendly cafe aenue w and nt wan et yo get r mee you on tmeet monthe comap tact,ema sonl: mcn sam. @ williams motorcyclenews.co.uk@motorcyclenews.com…

2000 YAMAHA R1 BOUGHT FOR £2700 VALUE NOW £4000 POWER 134bhp WEIGHT 198kg WHY I LOVE IT An old R1 is the apex of the analogue sportsbike, no fuel injection, no bull! ‘I’d forgotten what a flexible friend the bike is, driving hard out of every corner, front wheel floating’ It’s been an interesting few months with my R1. Now in my fourth year of ownership, my R1 is my toy – my one real indulgence now club racing is a thing of the past, replaced by nappies and nursery runs. Bought as a tidy bike in 2014, I’ve spent the last three years upgrading the R1, while at the same time getting the cosmetics back to standard. It’s been a pleasure – big improvements can be made with the…

LS2 Vector C helmet £249.99 Tester Peter Baker Time tested four months/ 500 miles What’s good? If you like a helmet with lots of features you’re in luck. The LS2 Vector C comes with a carbon composite shell, iridium blue drop-down sun shield, quick-release buckle, Pinlock fog shield, two(!) chin curtains, breath deflector, quick-release system... the list goes on. Hiding behind the spec is a decent lid that weighs just 1314g (size M), has an easy to operate visor release mechanism and is well finished with a subtle chequered effect paint finish. The fit is snug and it’s well padded, plus there’s space around the temples for spectacle arms. The Vector C is quiet too. The iridium drop-down sun shield is easy to operate and very effective. What’s not? When…

THE EXPERT Simon Martin Motorcycle engineer with 30 years of experience building, modifying and repairing everything from Supermonos to CBX1000 café racers. Making a motorcycle negotiate a bend is second nature to most of us. The fundamental intuition has been embedded since childhood when the bicycle stabilisers were removed for the first time. Whatever our level of competence, from the chicken strip preservation society to Casey Stoner’s tyre-smearing, elbow-smoking, mind-boggling capers, the same rules apply; overcoming the motorcycle’s inclination to continue in a straight line by applying the forces required to persuade it otherwise. For all that we trust our instincts, what happens as a motorcycle negotiates a bend at speed is just physics and maths. A clever person with a bit of time on their hands should be able…

2017 Africa Twin £9995 Ad says 222 miles. This bike has just been retired from our demo fleet with just over 200 miles on. We say This ex-demo is as new and represents a decent saving. Contact www.wheelshonda.co.uk 2017 Africa Twin £10,489 Ad says One mile. Tri-colour, save £££ on list price. In stock now. We say Great saving and it’s in the best colours too. Contact www.padgettsmotorcycles.com 2017 Africa Twin DCT £11,299 Ad says Zero miles, Honda 24-month warranty, DCT auto, one bike in stock only at this price. We say Massive saving of £900. Contact www.huntsmotorcycles.co.uk…

‘Get yourself a new bike for less’ Personal Contract Purchase now finances 20-30% of all new bikes sold in the UK, and it’s a method of ownership that is growing fast. But it might not be right for you, so make sure you understand the ins and outs. You can have these new bikes for less than you might have ever imagined – and what’s more you can have another new one in three years’ time, probably without increasing your monthly outlay or having to find a fresh deposit. This is how it works… • Work out what you can afford as a deposit and in monthly repayments for the duration of the contract. • You can get PCP on any amount from £1500 upwards. • Choose your new motorcycle…

‘I’ve had some great results and I’ve been rewarded for those now’CAL CRUTCHLOW Cal Crutchlow will remain in MotoGP for the 2018 and 2019 seasons after signing a two-year extension to his contract ahead of this weekend’s eighth round of the 2017 season at Assen. The contract will be a step up from his current LCR Honda deal that the double race winner has enjoyed for the past three seasons. He is now elevated to factory rider status and will be supported directly by Honda Racing Corporation in Japan as a reward for both his 2016 successes and his continuing work in helping develop the RC213V machine. Crutchlow has been an integral part of HRC’s development for the past 18 months as both he and the factory Repsol Honda duo…

Andrea Iannone Already signed up at Suzuki for two years, Iannone’s had a difficult start to the year on the GSX-RR. Struggling with results, a clean break for both rider and team could be on the cards. Danilo Petrucci His contract is up at the end of 2017, but after strong rides and a podium at Mugello, Petrucci has surely done enough to get a contract extension – unless someone makes him a better offer. Scott Redding It hasn’t been a good year for Redding and with his contract up at the end of 2017, there’s rumours of potential replacements being approached. Jack Miller has been mentioned. Jack Miller At the end of a three-year HRC deal, Miller’s first option will undoubtedly be to stick with the Marc VDS team.…

Melandri’s determination in securing his first victory for Ducati at Misano was obvious but he had some real issues to deal with in the form of the ultimately luckless Jordi Torres. “I expected Yamaha to be fast, but I did not expect BMW. Torres was fast, and riding amazing,” said Melandri. “Fores and Torres started quickly and made good lap times. It was not easy today because at the beginning I did not expect this. I thought both Kawasakis were waiting, but I realised that they were struggling a little bit. “So when I went second I just tried to pass Torres, but again it was not easy, as he was braking hard and not making mistakes. For me it was good to see him on the podium pace. I…

‘I may come from Yorkshire, but three minus two still means one’TOM SYKES Tom Sykes looked more than capable of winning both Misano races after a recent test and, sure enough, he took Superpole (his 40th) with a new track best of 1m 33.662s. Despite starting from pole he was toiling in fifth place, then fourth, until his luck took a series of upswings on the very last lap when first Melandri crashed and then Davies and Rea collided. Sykes said: “I could not believe it. When I saw Marco go down I thought, ‘ok, let’s take third position.’ I was all set, coming round the last lap. Already the adrenalin was going, but I had settled for third and I was already thinking about Sunday.” “I came round the…

Irish racer Alan Bonner passed away after an incident during Superbike/Supersport qualifying at the Isle of Man TT. Bonner, 33, from County Meath in the Republic of Ireland, was involved in an incident at the 33rd Milestone as riders completed their opening lap of the two-lap session and unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. Red flags were brought out across the course following the crash. A seasoned competitor on the road racing scene, Bonner made his mountain course debut at the 2014 TT races and achieved his best result just a year later when he crossed the line 15th in the 2015 Senior TT. He won a bronze replica in the 2017 TT’s opening Superbike race with a 28th place finish and also finished the Superstock race in 30th to secure…

‘A win would have been nice, but I needed to make amends’JAMES ELLISON James Ellison has topped practice sessions, taken pole positions and led a number of races so far this year but has had little to show for it until Sunday’s second BSB race. Out of the six races prior to this weekend, Ellison had finished just three of them and his tough year looked to continue when he crashed out of contention for the lead in the opening race. However, he fought back in race two to lead and take a strong second and feels he could have won had he not been so cautious. “We’ve had the pace all year,” he said. “Everyone’s talked about the potential we’ve got with the McAMS Yamaha but that’s all it’s…

Irwin out hurt It was a weekend to forget for Glenn Irwin who was one of three riders ruled out of action after a crash in FP1. The Ulsterman went down hard at turn six after a handlebar issue with his Ducati and sustained a dislocated shoulder and elbow. Honda battle on Honda Racing continued to show signs of improvement with the 2017 Fireblade to take three top -six finishes across the two races. However, both Dan Linfoot and Jason O’Halloran still looked to be fighting the machine. Farmer double With series leader Tarran Mackenzie off racing in Moto2, the British Supersport championship spiced up the weekend with two close fought races. Both victories went to Appleyard Yamaha’s Keith Farmer. Buchan’s sitting pretty in Superstock Danny Buchan took control of…

‘I had a big moment – I don’t know how I saved it, it was nothing to do with talent!’LUKE MOSSEY While 21-year-old Jake Dixon was doing the winning, fellow young gun Luke Mossey took over at the top of the championship standings in the absence of team-mate Leon Haslam (see page 80). Just three points behind Haslam after the opening three rounds, all Mossey had to do was take a single 12th place to take the championship lead. With that in mind, the JG Speedfit Kawasaki man opted against pushing beyond his limits to challenge Dixon in the opening race, instead focusing on the main title rival – Shane Byrne. “As far as I’m concerned, Leon and Shakey are the guys I need to beat,” he said. “They’re the…

Can I swap manufacturers? Yes. The new dealer will pay off what’s outstanding on the bike (provided it’s in respectable condition) and roll you into a deal on one of theirs. Most of the major manufacturers issue plans through Black Horse, but some use other finance groups – such as KTM with Santander – so if you’re planning on jumping between manufacturers, double-check your options before you buy. Dealers and finance companies are both highly motivated to help make your purchases as easy as possible – so tell them what you want, and they’ll tell you what it’ll cost to do it. Simple. Can I get a PCP deal on a secondhand bike? Yes. Many dealers can offer this, and it’s all down to the choice of bike, and you,…

Harley-Davidson Street Glide 1745cc | 376kg | 110ftlb | 685mm Cash price (Black) £21,245 Deposit £4328.67 Mileage 4000pa Rate 9.9% APR Optional final payment £12,396 Astripped-back version of Harley-Davidson’s big tourer, and aimed at riders who appreciate the bagger look, the Street Glide Special has a ‘bat wing’ fairing, hard saddlebags, air-adjustable rear suspension and disc brakes with ABS. It also features a mini wind deflector and dual halogen headlights. Another recent addition is the excellent Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine (the CVO version also comes with the 114 engine) – the most powerful and coolest-running motors Harley have ever built. Smoother, stronger and more durable, the 107 boasts a crisper throttle response from the four valves per cylinder powerplant. Dominating the dash cockpit is a top-of-the-line 6.5in touchscreen infotainment system and…

“I was lucky enough to ride the Norton SG1 in 2012, and have shared the team’s rollercoaster ride – testing every model along the way. At first I thought Stuart Garner and Norton were mad to design and build a bike from scratch to take on the TT. There’s nothing harder. “With more practice laps, the Norton could have been pushing for a podium. What’s more, reduce the size of the fuel tank, reduce the wheelbase and tweak the suspension and it could even win in BSB or WSB – it’s that good. And the SG6 gives us an indication of what to expect from the road bike.”…

2009 (Rotary) Michael Dunlop failed to complete a lap in practice so did not race 2012 (SG1) 122.812mph Ian Mackman Superbike 16th (122.812mph), Senior Race cancelled due to bad weather 2013 (SG2) 122.290mph Daniel Hegarty Superbike retired (120.310mph), Senior 36th (122.290mph) Ian Mackman Superbike 18th (122.277 mph), Senior 24th (121.965 mph) 2014 (SG3) 124.058mph Cameron Donald Superbike retired (122.878mph) Senior retired (124.058mph) 2015 (SG4) 124.681mph Cameron Donald Superbike 18th (123.731mph), Senior retired (124.681mph) 2016 (SG5) 130.872mph David Johnson Superbike 7th (130.872mph), Senior DNF (130.307mph) 2017 (SG6) 130.883mph David Johnson Superbike 7th (128.911mph), Senior 7th (130.798mph) Josh Brookes Superbike 8th (129.127mph), Senior 6th (130.883mph) THANKS TO CADWELL PARK IN LINCOLNSHIRE FOR ALLOWING US TO PUT THE SG6 THROUGH ITS PACES OVER THE UK’S OTHER…

While we are all aware of slipper clutches, a lot of smaller-capacity machines now come with a slip-assist clutch. So what does it do? A slip-assist clutch’s main purpose in life is to reduce the weight of the lever action. It achieves this through using fewer springs to push the clutch plates together – the fewer the springs the lighter the action required to pull them apart and disengage the clutch. However, with too little pressure the clutch would start to slip, so a slip-assist clutch adds angled ramps. During acceleration, these ramps force the clutch together. Then, on deceleration, the opposite happens as the ramps cut the pressure on the clutch plates, allowing them to slip and the clutch to respond like a slipper clutch. A normal slipper clutch’s…

WHERE IS THIS? 1 James Hillier had a huge moment at this year’s TT. Name the place. WHO’S THIS? 2 Name these two knights who were up for a Brands battle in 1997. WHO’S THIS? 3 Can you name this dapper-looking ex-GP superstar? NAME THE BIKE 4 What bike did these Nissin brake calipers bring to a halt? WHICH BIKE? 5 This bike was certainly a star performer, name it. WHO’S THIS? 6 This bloke beat Doohan in 1997 at the Indonesian GP, but who is it? WHICH TRACK? 7 It has plenty of curves, but can you name this Honda test track? WHAT BIKE? 8 Name this stripped-down beauty that is now an absolute icon. WIN AN MCN MUG! Get them all right and you could win an MCN…

Jon Ashley The Rivington Barn Bikers weekday meet-up at the Pike is great for a summer tea time bimble over the Lancashire moors – bikes, banter, views, pasty and peas. Nicola Wilson We would highly recommend our ride to Anglesey. I will be visiting again soon to explore more of the many beautiful bays – great roads in the area, too. Ian Speight Cork to Tralee in Ireland on the N71 and N22 taking in the Ring of Beara. We stopped for a leg stretch and a cuppa as the sun was starting to set. It was really warm, there were still people on the beach and it was so peaceful. Peter Johnson My favourite local (ish) evening destination is Longridge Fell near Clitheroe. There are some great roads around.…

‘I don’t care how much it costs, it’s worth three times more…’HONDA PR GRAHAM SANDERSON When the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer goes all out to get one of its bikes right you can bet the result is going to be good – and that’s most definitely the case with Honda’s VFR. In fact the V4 sports-tourer quickly became so revered, with such a strong reputation for all-round excellence that, by the time of its third incarnation in 1995, it was not only widely regarded among bike journos as the best road bike ever built (many of whom actually spent their own money on one), but Honda’s own UK PR man of the time, Graham Sanderson, infamously quipped: “I don’t care how much it costs, it’s worth three times more.” No…

There are certain roads that should be on every biker’s list and the Horseshoe Pass is one of them. It can easily be included in a route through the beautiful North Wales countryside. It starts as you pass over the Dee Bridge in the town of Llangollen and turn left onto A542. You can’t miss it as it’s clearly marked with brown tourist signs. Head out of town and it’s not long before the road opens up and you cross a cattle grid, just remember that this is a warning to watch out for sheep that roam freely on the mountain road. As you start to climb higher the road tightly hugs the mountain, the bends become sharper and form the shape of a horseshoe, hence the road name. From…

Freshen up your bike for just £1.69! When you own an older motorcycle, it’s easy to assume that every part is discontinued, but check with your dealer and you’d be surprised. I’d learnt to live with the gnarly fairing fasteners on my R1, thinking replacements would be extortionate, but it turns out they’re just £1.69 each. Likewise, the new OE disc bolts I fitted were just £20 for a set of 12 online. A good resource for availability is fowlersparts.co.uk Why you should buy a 2000 R1 right now! Yamaha’s tweaked version of their superbike is an appreciating classic waiting to happen. Introduced in 2000, two years after the first R1, it was subject to 150 minor tweaks, but the attitude is basically the same. The price, however, isn’t. For…

HONDA CBR1000RR FIREBLADE SP £19,125 FUEL 16 litres @ 45mpg = 158mile range POWER 189bhp @13,000rpm TORQUE 85ftlb @ 11,000rpm (both claimed) WEIGHT 195kg (kerb) SEAT 820mm THE RIDER Tim Thompson. Rode the first Blade in 1992 and had his mullet blown off. HEIGHT 5ft 7in WEIGHT 74kg tim.thompson@motorcyclenews.com While Honda Racing’s new Fireblades were making calamitous headlines on the Isle of Man, weeks three and four on my new bike were relatively incident-free – no surprise given that the essence of the electronically managed SP is turning out to be its refinement rather than raw, eye-popping excitement. It goes forward without wheelies and all that but with ruthless efficiency. New Michelin Power RS tyres replaced the OE Pirelli Supercorsa SPs and proved precise and unflappable during the wettest week…

I keep twitching every time I see a Kawasaki ZRX1100R for sale. Partly because I think that, in original Kawasaki lime green, they look stunning, partly because I rode one some years ago and reckoned then that a ZRX is one of the most convincing big retros (with a naughty edge the Suzuki GSX1400 and Yamaha both conspicuously lack) and partly because I thought they were undervalued. To a degree, they still are. The 1200S, with the bigger frame-mounted fairing, is actually a more practical bike to ride, but how many people buy Kawasakis for their practicality? No, paint it lime green, add a bikini fairing, make it rorty, and Kawasaki fiends sort of lose all sense of judgement and start putting their hands in their pockets. You can get…

JACK KEMPTON Recently passed Direct Access 2016 YAMAHA XSR700 I actually got into riding just because of café racers. They’re so cool, I’m not fussed about going fast or long distance. I just want a bike to do up and modify. I’m no mechanic so I’d go for something like a secondhand Yamaha XSR700 and spend my change on accessories. ADAM SCOTT Recently passed Direct Access 2016 YAMAHA XT660Z TENERE I’m planning on riding through South America this summer and am contemplating which bike to ship over there. I reckon it’s going to be a Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré. They’re dogged, indestructible and easy to ride on and off-road. They come with adventure components and fit into the £6000 budget! SIMON OPALKO Recently passed Direct Access 2014 BMW F800GT I took…

2010-2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Colours White or red Dealer £7200 Private good £6800 Private average £6500 This one 2010 base model in white with colour-matched luggage system. 33K miles, £5995 2010-2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Colours White or red Dealer £8700 Private good £8250 Private average £7895 This one 2011 Touring kit model with full luggage, mainstand and showing 18k miles, £7995 2013-2015 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Skyhook Colours Red or grey Dealer £10,500 Private good £10,000 Private average £9500 This one 2014 Touring model with mainstand, heated grips, XL boxes, Termis and 9k miles, £10,250 2015-2017 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S DVT Colours Red or red/white Dealer £13,500 Private good £12,500 Private average £11,750 This one Top spec, 2016 Pikes Peak version with just 8900 miles, £15,499 Insurance MCN COMPARE…

Team boss Lucio Cecchinello says that extending Crutchlow’s deal for another two years was a nobrainer thanks to the level of the British rider’s performances and the successes that he’s brought to the team with their first two premier class wins in 2016. “Cal is undoubtedly one of the most competitive and talented riders in MotoGP and, thanks to HRC’s support, we are honoured to work with him again for the next two years. Cal gave us our first ever victory in the premier class of MotoGP and further important results. I want to thank all those who worked and supported this project so far, but first and foremost HRC.” And while the deal between Crutchlow and the Italian team looked obvious for both parties after last season and the…

‘It’s my first win since I came back, and 100 for Italian riders in WSB’MARCO MELANDRI He may be a former 250 World Champion but this weekend’s WSB win was extra-special for Marco Melandri – it was his first win of the year, his first for Ducati and his first WSB win on home soil. Not only that, but it was his 20th victory in the series and it means he has now won in WSB on Yamaha, BMW, Aprilia and Ducati machinery. By Melandri’s own admission it has taken too long for him to join Jonathan Rea, Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies as a race winner in 2017, but victory was all the sweeter for it – particularly for a rider whose career had looked to be washed up…

‘These things are not meant to happen. I had no warning, nothing’MICHAEL VAN DER MARK Tyres were the talk of the Misano WSB round for all the wrong reasons after some high profile problems saw many top riders struggling. Having weathered the storm from the previous round at Donington Park, where Jonathan Rea’s tyre deflated and subsequently came off the rim as he plummeted down Craner Curves at 130mph, Pirelli were determined to get things back on track at their home round... but things didn’t go to plan. The biggest victim of Pirelli’s ongoing issues was Pata Yamaha man Michael van der Mark. Having made a stunning start in the opening race, nobody expected the young Dutchman to be able to hold off the chasing Ducati and Kawasakis, but after…

Despite the Italian tyre manufacturer’s recent problems, Pirelli have earned a reputation for producing safe and secure tyres ever since they took over as controlled tyre supplier in 2003. But recently there have been a sudden spike in incidents to contend with - even on the standard SC0, which has been around for a long time as a trusted option. And after these latest two high profile problems Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Moto Sports Activities Director, confirmed that different tyres would now be shipped to America for the eighth round of the series at Laguna Seca on July 8-9. Firstly, race one. “Just a few hours after the race, the elements we have available are obviously not enough to allow us to provide a structured and complete explanation of what happened…

‘My plan is always to win, but as much as I want to and try to, it can’t always happen’SHANE BYRNE Shane Byrne was unable to take as much ground out of rival Leon Haslam’s series lead as he’d have liked this weekend as he struggled to find a setting with the BeWiser Ducati to suit the pernickety Knockhill circuit. With Haslam out after his free practice crash, the weekend provided Byrne with the ideal opportunity to make up for ground he lost by missing round one. And while he did haul himself into Showdown contention and earn himself a couple of podium credits, two third places were not what he was looking for. “My plan every weekend is to win, but sometimes you have to realise that’s not always…

‘His mature approach reminds me of Alex Lowes’ After four rounds of the 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship, it looks like it might not be the two-horse race we expected. With both Byrne and Haslam having now missed a full weekend of action while Luke Mossey continues to chip away having finished off the podium just three times this year with a lowest result of fifth, the 2017 series is far from a clear cut fight. While Mossey might not have the experience or overall speed of Haslam or Byrne, his consistency has earned him a 30-point lead in the championship standings and he’s just two podium credits behind team-mate Haslam after four rounds. After the 2016 title chase came down to the wire between the experienced duo of Haslam…

Glen Richards, Crew Chief & Former British Supersport Champion “Jake is a very talented rider and Lee Hardy’s put together an awesome team. The bike wants for nothing – when I came in at Oulton a few little things needed tuning up, just normal chassis type modifications such as ride height, spring rates and damping. “We made some improvements at Oulton and then I got my head around the bike a bit more, we went to WSB and tried some more stuff and everything we tried worked. The thing is, even when the bike wasn’t set up properly Jake was riding fast. I knew when we started to get there with set-up he would be really good, but I still thought it would take some time to get to the…

‘The team made a big step with Michael Dunlop at the TT’ Taylor Mackenzie was another young gun to showcase his potential at Knockhill with an eye-catching fifth place on the all-new Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the opening race. The result is a big step forward on his previous best of 14th at round two and the Bennetts Suzuki man puts his success down to two key reasons. “The team made a big step with the bike with Michael Dunlop at the TT and those little bits helped me a massive amount,” he said. “But to be honest, the arm-pump operation I had at the start of the break was the big thing. I lacked a bit of strength in the races as I haven’t been able to do much during…

Kawasaki Ninja 650 649cc | 193kg | 68bhp | 790mm Cash price £6489 Deposit £1484.15 Mileage 4000pa Rate 5.9% APR Optional final payment £2862 New name, new start – that’s the thinking with 2017 new Ninja 650. The perky, 649cc parallel twin has been lightened by 2kg and retuned with new cams and inlets to boost midrange at the slight expense of top end. The tubular steel frame is also new, primarily to shed an impressive 15kg, and has a few shades of H2R about it as well. The gull swingarm is new, too, and saves a further 2.7kg; the rear suspension’s more sophisticated with the addition of a rising rate linkage; there are lighter wheels, too. The new fairing, from certain angles, is the spit of the ZX-10R. From…

‘I don’t see another team with two bikes in the top 10 – that’s massive’NORTON CEO, STUART GARNER STUART GARNER, NORTON CEO We’ve had two bikes consistently in the top 10, and I’ve not seen anyone else doing that. We’re missing the last mile-an-hour to the top boys – but we’ll get there. We’re still chasing the top five, but we’ve made another big step this year. Everybody thought we were lucky to get into the top 10 last year, but this year we’ve come and asserted ourselves as top 10 contenders with both bikes. There’s no luck about it, we’ve earned it. I don’t see another team placing two top 10 bikes like we have. That’s massive. We’ve designed the chassis and bike at Castle Donington, so it’s a…

Rental potential Hertz have launched a bike rental service in France offering a range of BMWs to rent in Cannes, Nice, Orange and Paris. Prices depend on bike and length of rental but can be as little as £75 per day. The rental fleet includes the F700GS, R1200GS, R1200RT and the R nineT. Bargain Bultaco To celebrate three years of the Bultaco Brinco, they are running a promotional deal to last the rest of the summer. The Brinco R now has £250 off, bringing it down to £4145, the R-E has £400 off (down to £4295) and the S model has £500 (making it £4195). A Mach attack Ducati have unveiled a new Scrambler dubbed the Mach 2.0 that has been designed by Roland Sands to resemble a Bell helmet…

RSV4-wheeler The engine in Aprilia’s RSV4 is a pretty good bike engine, but it works in a car, too. Powered by the Aprilia V4, the Griiip G1 single-seater had its first race last week in the Formula X Italian Series at the Varano de’ Melegari circuit – and won. KTM expand KTM have opened a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Laguna Technopark in Laguna, in the heart of the Philippines – with an annual target of 10,000 units. The factory will make the 200 Duke, the 390 Duke, the RC 200 and the RC390 as the firm continues to expand. Casablanca plan After leaving Paris on May 11, Clémence Couten and Lisa Aleksenko have already ridden 1000 miles on their 125cc Django scooters, and will shortly travel across the Strait of…

‘My pearl of wisdom for new riders is... take up golf!’ Q1 What are you riding? I’ve got a Honda CRF250 enduro bike for the dirt and an old Foxeye Honda FireBlade for the road. Q2 Which living motorcyclist do you most admire? It’d have to be Kevin Schwantz because he was fantastic. He was just so fast and totally out of control. Q3 What’s your worst habit? Taking the piss and winding people up! Q4 If you could have one superpower, what would it be? To stay young forever. Q5 What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone on a bike? I was clocked at 206mph on my Bathams BMW S1000RR on the run down to University Corner at the North West 200 last year. Q6 When were you last scared?…

MCN started its #ride5000miles campaign this year in a bid to get people out and about on their motorcycles maybe a little bit more than they would otherwise have done. The idea of riding 5000 miles in a year gave the whole campaign some focus and offered a clear goal. But riding 5000 miles does not necessarily make you a better or more committed motorcyclist than someone who rides 4999 miles. The points is, riding a motorcycle is fun and the more we do of it, the more fun we have. The better we feel and we are all a rolling advertisement for everything that’s great about riding. This week we feature some ideas for summer evening rides to remember and we will continue to promote ways to enjoy your…

‘Expect more wheelies than you can shake a breadstick at’ Moto Morini are back with a new factory, big plans and the lightest, maddest super-naked they’ve ever produced. The new £16,750 ZZ is an evolution of the 1200 Corsaro produced before the Bologna-based firm went bust in 2009. It’s the bike that kicks off Moto Morini’s rebirth, hand-built at their new HQ in Trivolzio on the outskirts of Milan. The 1200 Corsaro ZZ’s 137bhp, 1187cc V-twin motor remains, wrapped in a steel trellis frame, but the ZZ has been tweaked and honed to bring this noughties super-naked up to date. The bombastic Euro4 spec engine is smoother than ever, and now has a slipper clutch and the six-speed gearbox is assisted by a quickshifter for the first time. But with…

Ducati’s new Multisrada 950 is smooth, surprisingly speedy, beautifully built and proof you don’t need a superbike-engined adventure bike to have fun. It’s more affordable than you’d think and costs less than a hundred quid a month on PCP. Hot on its heels is the KTM, which might look low-spec, but it’s big on grunt, agility, comfort and ability on and off-road. The Suzuki is still a superb all-rounder with its fantastic engine and easy manners. It might lack spark, but it’s a lot of bike for the money. Bringing up the rear is the Honda. It looks the sexiest, but it could do with more power and this DCT model isn’t as nice to ride as the manual version.…

A V4 THAT WORKED After the VF750 debacle, Honda went to town on the new VFR750 with gear-driven cams to ensure perfect reliability. A WHOLE NEW DYNASTY The first VFR750FG of 1986 was so successful a whole family followed, including: VFR750F-L, VFR750F-P, VFR800, 800 VTEC, VFR1200 and current VFR800. A SURPRISE RACER The 750F was never designed to race. That role was destined for the 750R RC30 and later RVF. Wayne Rainey (in AMA) but here, Ron Haslam (in the Transtlantic), proved it could cut it on the track. PIONEERING TECHNOLOGY The VFR gave us VTEC (on the 800) and DCT (on the 1200) but didn’t actually give us gear-driven cams. They debuted on a production roadster on the 1984 VF1000R.…

1979 Prototype Katana, the Target Design ED-2 debuts, at the Cologne Show to huge acclaim. Suzuki decide to put it (and the smaller ED-1) into production. 1980 Production GSX1100SZ is unveiled at Cologne and goes on sale along with new GS650G and GS550M. 1981 First non-Katana but with Katana styling influences, the GSX400F four goes on sale. 1982 HomologationspecialGSX1000S Katana goes on sale to qualify for productionracing. 1982 Japan-only GSX750S Katana goes on sale in domestic market. Essentially it’s a GSX1100S but with a GSX750E motor and larger back wheel. Some made it to the UK as grey imports. A 125 version was also launched. 1983 Last year of GSX1100S sales in slightly modified form, with revised wheels, colourschemes and other details. Japan-only GSX750S updated. 1984 New Japan-only GSX750S3 launched,…

2017 KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S Price £14,299 Fuel 23 litres at 49mpg = 247.45 miles Weight 238kg Seat 860mm Power 160bhp Torque 103ftlb MICHAEL GUY Former 250 road racer, adventure rider, Enduro and Rally racer Height 5ft 10in Weight 70kg ‘Rain mode just takes the edge off the power, making it smoother and easier to ride’ I must admit, the majority of miles I’ve covered so far on the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S have been wracked up on my boring M1 and A1 commute. But that all changed last week with an intense blast into the depths of Wales, where the adventure credentials of the KTM were put to the test. Covering motorway miles, A-roads, B-roads, single track and even a little bit of off-road, I now have…

QI think the judge got it all wrong Can I appeal a court decision at county court level? The matter involved a scooter versus pedal cycle accident where the cyclist turned in front of my scooter without warning. The case went to court and the evidence appeared to go very much in my favour. However, despite my barrister thinking we had won the case, the judge’s decision was fully in favour of the cyclist. I believe that the judge misquoted evidence that I had given. Anonymous, email A There is a time limit to lodge the appeal of 21 days from the decision of the court. To succeed you will need to show that the judge was plainly wrong in law or fact (and this had a bearing or the…

Merlin conjures up airbag jacket British firm Merlin are launching a pair of airbag systems. The mechanically fired devices will come as an integral system within one of Merlin’s Tech Wear jackets, or a Universal airbag that goes over the top of any jacket. Prices are TBC. www.merlinbikegear.com Go coast-to-coast with GT rideout This Sunday sees Plymouth dealer GT Motorcycles saddle up for their annual rideout from the showroom all the way to the Cornwall War Museum on a coast-to-coast extravaganza. Participants can enjoy free entry to the museum, a BBQ, demo rides and goody bags. The rideout leaves the dealer at 10.30am. For more details visit www.gtmotorcycles .com HJC Ghost Rider haunts dealers The latest Marvel Comics replica helmet from HJC celebrates the central character, stunt rider Johnny Blaze,…

It wasn’t so long ago that you could pick up a belt drive 900SS for two grand, but those days are long gone – at least they are for a decent one. The 900SS was the swan-song of the traditional pared-to-the-bone Ducati. Two valves per cylinder, cooled according to the weather forecast, not particularly powerful but it was light and every single horsepower was usable. It had superb brakes, decent suspension, and was even quite comfy. The first (1991) models, half-faired with the white frame, had some issues such as chain adjusters so flimsy they bent under hard acceleration and cylinder head studs that snapped. Build quality wasn’t the greatest either, but they got better. An oil temperature gauge was a later (and useful) addition, and the post-1997 Texas Pacific…

‘Service intervals were raised to every 9000 miles’ “When the 1200 Multistrada first came out it was very exciting, very new with the electronic suspension, traction control, ABS and modes. “There were a few teething problems with early ones, as always, but they were soon sorted by the factory. There were a few recalls, just silly little things really. “But overall it’s been very good, very reliable. Obviously it had the 11° motor in there which is very good, tried and tested, the same motor that’s in the Diavel with the rider modes that make it very comfortable. You’ve got the base model and the S model with the electronic Öhlins suspension, which is controlled through the rider modes. You can also customise the settings as well, which was very…

While Crutchlow has his MotoGP future secure, Sam Lowes’ position with the factory Aprilia squad could well be in doubt for the 2018 season. Despite having a two-year contract with the Italian manufactuter, team boss Romano Albesiano slammed the rookie’s performances so far this season and admitted that they’ve started talks with potential replacements. Lowes has had a slow start to the season, taking points from only one of the season’s first seven races. However, blighted by technical issues, he’s struggled with an unreliable RS-GP machine that has seen him sit out two qualifying sessions and retire from one race already this year. However, despite an improving pace, Albesiano admitted at the Catalan Grand Prix that Lowes is in real danger for next year. “We made a big investment in…

ALEX LOWES Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Q: 7th, R1: 2nd, R2: DNF “At the start of the first race I gave everything I had and I was quite happy to be sixth, and within six or seven seconds of the front. I have been really lucky but in general this year I have been much more consistent and it is nice to get a little bit of luck.” LEON CAMIER MV Agusta Reparto Corse Q: 6th, R1: 11th, R2: DNF “The first race was going pretty well, I just had some issues at the start as I got caught up with other riders. All-in-all I had a good rhythm but the front tyre was losing performance and I made a little mistake in turn seven.” KYLE SMITH Gemar Team Lorini Honda…

Ian Hutchinson was in line to earn a promotion to the MCE British Superbike Championship had he not broken his leg at this year’s Isle of Man TT. Tyco BMW team boss Philip Neill has told MCN that Hutchinson would have been the ideal candidate to replace Davide Giugliano, who has parted ways with the Northern Irish team after much speculation following his Brands Hatch crash in May. Hutchinson sustained a broken femur and ankle when he crashed while fighting for the lead in this year’s Senior TT. MCN understands he was taken to Liverpool hospital where both injuries were operated on and he is now consulting with the surgeon who saved his leg after his 2010 smash, Mr Matija Krkovic, about his next move. This leaves Tyco BMW boss…

‘I don’t think people realise how hard it is for us young riders to break through’JAKE DIXON Jake Dixon stunned the BSB old guard this weekend as he fought to a dream debut double victory at the fourth round of the MCE British Superbike Championship at Knockhill. The 21-year-old, who rides for the RAF Regulars and Reserves Kawasaki squad, became the youngest BSB victor since Jonathan Rea in 2007 as he dominated the opening race from lights to flag. He then went on to prove it was no fluke after emerging as the winner of a gargantuan four-way battle with fellow young gun Luke Mossey (who is just 24) and more experienced rivals Shane Byrne and James Ellison. The success comes after a tough start to the year for the…

“When I signed Jake 12 months ago, I always knew he had massive potential. Unfortunately, last year we had the incident at Oulton Park that set him back at the end of the year. He didn’t ride a bike again until we went testing in Spain and if I’m honest, I did wonder ‘Has he lost it? Will the aggression and dedication still be there?’ “He’d never really had a big injury before and you could see it had affected him, but he’s come out fighting and even though it’s not been the easiest start to the year, he’s worked really hard for this. Now we’ve got ourselves into a position with the right personnel, he’s proven what he’s capable of on a competitive motorbike.”…

BMW R nineT Urban G/S X 1170cc | 221kg | 110bhp | 850mm Cash price £11,185 Deposit £2436.83 Mileage 5000pa Rate 9.9% APR Optional final payment £5992.43 The 1980s R80 G/S model saved BMW Motorrad from extinction, won the Dakar Rally and gave birth BMW’s most popular family of motorcycles – including the R1200GS. When it comes to styling, you have to say the Urban G/S is spot on. Bedecked in a modern take on the legendary BMW Motorsport colours of the original machine, it does look fantastic. Dig a little deeper and you soon realise that beneath the cool new nose cowl and headlight shroud, dual mudguards, flatter red seat and single pipe lies an untouched Scrambler model, but when it comes to kerb appeal, the Urban G/S nails…

Are there any pitfalls to Personal Contract Plans? Yes, of course there are. But they’re very clearly defined. The key to doing the perfect deal is being completely clear about what the plan entails, and being utterly confident that it meets your needs. There are two key points worth noting: Negative/negligible equity Most riders who buy their bikes on PCP will roll their deal over to a new bike when the term comes to an end, hopefully using the equity in their deal as a deposit for the next bike. This is lovely in theory, but there is a growing trend amongst our four-wheeled friends for the Guaranteed Final Value (GFV) to be nigh-on identical to the value of the car. Bang goes your equity for a deposit – and…