Table of contents for 3 June 2020 in MCN

Two men who stole a Rolex worth £30,000 from a woman in Chelsea and threatened her with an axe before making their getaway on a moped have received jail sentences. Connor Murphy, 26 of Salters Road, W10, was jailed for six years and nine months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and Richard Walsh, 29 of Ashburnham Road, Chelsea, SW10, was sentenced to four years and nine months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to encouraging/assisting a robbery. Detective Sergeant Chris Taylor, said: “This was a terrifying robbery.”…

Tower of power The TMAX 560 engine is clear to see, along with the existing bike’s swingarm and rear frame section. Standard spring ing Leaning front suspension does without the NIKEN telescopics. Instead there’s a double-wishbone layout. Look no stands An extra brake disc and caliper is fitted to the leaning mechanism to lock it in any position, so it won’t fall over when parked. System overload An electronic actuator that’s governed by the on-board computer can accurately control the lean angle. The ‘Leaning Multi-Wheel’ (LMW) arm of Yamaha’s model range looks set to grow with the development of a new model derived from the TMAX 560. Sliding into the range between the NMAX-based Tricity 300 and the MT-09-powered NIKEN, the new model’s existence is betrayed by patent applications that…

BMW brick prices are creeping up. I mentioned the K1200LT recently, as an all-bells-and-whistles super-tourer for little money. The K100RS was available a few years ago for £1300-£1500 for a decent late one but today’s starting money for a nice low-mileage 8v model is a couple of grand. There’s one brick, though, that’s underpriced and ironically it’s the last, most powerful and fastest: the K1200RS. The last of these will be on a 2005 plate. Early models had some issues, chiefly with cooling fans and engine failures which were attributed to manufacturing faults. It was fast – 155mph or so – and smooth, as the 1200 inline four got a balancer shaft (the triples had them from the start.) It was styled a bit like a teardrop: very aerodynamic. In…

Airmaster Tiger 16 550/1050 air compressors £239.98/£299.98 Machine Mart’s Airmaster range is designed for the DIY/semi-pro user and perfect for rapid inflation, spraying, dust-busting, drying, air tools and more. It’s available as 50 litre and 100 litre versions, with an 8-bar maxworking pressure, auto shut-off and pressure regulator. w w w.machinemar t .c o.uk Alpinestars Rayburn v2 leather gloves £64.99 The Rayburn v2 Leather Glove boasts leather construction with sturdy protection on the knuckles. It also has a touchscreen-compatible fingertip for use with GPS systems and smartphones; ideal for urban riding. w w w.alpinest ars.com Official VR46 Social Face Mask £7.99 Just when you thought you’d seen every type of officially licensed product possible, VR46 – the Doctor’s own merchandise company – are set to release the…

£10,300 Triumph Street Triple RS • 765cc 12v inline triple • 121bhp @ 11,750rpm (claimed) • 166kg (dry, claimed) £13,600 Triumph Speed Triple RS • 1050cc 12v inline triple • 148bhp @ 10,500rpm (claimed) • 192kg (dry, claimed) £10,700 Triumph Speed Twin • 1200cc 8v parallel twin • 96bhp @ 6750rpm (claimed) • 196kg (dry, claimed) Triumph recently refreshed their Street Triple RS. Sharp, focused, powerful, properly fast and crammed with tech, the middleweight is a full-on naked sportsbike. Actually, the RS is more than that. With a claimed 121bhp from its 765cc triple and a trifling dry weight of just 166kg, the model is actually a super-naked – its power-to-weight ratio is nigh-on identical to Triumph’s big, butch, boisterous Speed Triple RS. With 1050cc of wallop,…

‘It’s not ‘just’ a retro – it’s a thoroughly capable bike’ Triumph’s Speed Triple RS is impressive. Precise, sharp, with increased midrange and loads of tech, it’s got the performance to worry far larger rivals. But it’s also frustrating – it’s the most focused of the three and its track-ready suspension is literally a pain on crumbling UK roads. Despite its added grunt, the Street Triple also feels lacking next to the muscular Speed Triple RS. The 1050cc triple is one of the most flexible engines ever and this makes it so easy to use. Although it is ready for trackday capers the Speed Triple’s flash suspension gives a plusher and more comfortable ride too, and it’s also got a better riding position and more toys. It’s also a Speed…

Yamaha pride themselves on engineering and innovation. Always willing to push the boundaries, the famous three tuning forks logo can be found on some of the most ground-breaking motorcycles ever built. And it all started with a musical organ. After studying engineering, Torakusu Yamaha moved to Hamamatsu with the intent of becoming a medical equipment repair man but a shortage of work saw him turn his hand to fixing just about any mechanical object – including a school organ. Having studied the instrument, Torakusu saw how it could be improved and in 1887 developed Japan’s first reed organ, soon afterwards setting up a company to manufacture them called Nippon Gakki. Rapid expansion soon followed and after World War II the firm set their sights on a new audience. With Japan…

THE OWNER Simon Brown, Senior Production Editor Age50 Been riding 26 years Got any other bikes in the garage? Not right now but previous bikes include MZ ETZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Honda Dominator 650, Honda VFR750F This was a definite case of love at first braaap! I’ve always been drawn to bikes with a bit of character and eccentricity – even more so if they have no more than two cylinders. Want proof? One of my most memorable long-term test bikes in 20 years or so of this bike journalism lark was a Cagiva Raptor 650 I ran on RiDE magazine in 2001. The Suzuki-engined pseudo Monster was a funny creature but adorable with it. So, like many people, I’d been following the development of Ducati’s new Scrambler range with interest;…

An oil and filter change is one of the few remaining tasks that can be done fairly easily at home as part of a servicing routine. Contrary to popular belief, this is true even with new bikes which are still in warranty. Although the handbook might state that servicing must be carried out by a franchised dealership, European law states that as long as the work’s been done by a competent mechanic using OEM parts and exactly to the intervals demanded by the manufacturer, then servicing can be completed anywhere with no risk to the warranty. Don’t come unstuck, though – if you’re a low mileage rider, servicing happens either at the prescribed mileage or time interval, whichever comes soonest. That said, as satisfying as it is to service your…

Flogging your pride and joy can be stressful. You have to deal with insulting offers if you list online, endure disinterested tyre-kickers filling their Saturday mornings, worry about whether your gaff is being cased by dirty gits who’ll return after dark with bolt-croppers... Contact from someone who lives miles away but says they ‘trust that you’re honest’ and that your bike is just what they’re after can seem like a godsend. All you have to do is wait for their money to reach you, and book a courier to deliver to their miles-from-anywhere address. They’ll even pay extra to cover the van. You get the cheque or bank draft, book a courier, and sit back. But all is not well. The payment turns out to be dodgy, and you’ve paid…

Over the last six weeks MCN have been picking the brains of some of the most distinguished pundits in the world of road racing to name the finest TT races from the last 25 years. The series has brought back some brilliant memories and given real insight into what the races meant and how it would have felt to win them. With our pundits all nominating one race per class it was then down to MCN readers to vote for their best race and, with some fantastic TT merchandise as prizes up for grabs, the response was fantastic. On this spread you’ll find list of the winning races – all of which were nominated by one of our expert panel which included the greatest living TT racer John McGuinness, leading…

Alex Lowes has joined Scott Redding, Toprak Razgatlioglu, Tom Sykes and Alvaro Bautista in staying with his current World Superbike team into 2021. The series leader’s extension with Kawasaki has been announced ahead of any news of five-time champion team-mate Jonathan Rea. Will Rea stay with Kawasaki? Some suggest a return to Honda is a strong possibility, not least as HRC has massive potential and its Barcelona setup could mean the Northern Irishman is able to transfer many of his Kawasaki colleagues. Honda is the only team other than Kawasaki likely to meet Rea’s financial demands but it is also possible the Honda talk has been generated to up his Kawasaki’s salary. “Alex absolutely deserved for us to take up the option on his 1+1 contract that we signed last…

Circuits are covered by the same guidance issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as golf courses and tennis courts as “facilities associated with outdoor sports and physical activities”. As such, they were entitled to re-open from May 13 provided the owners felt ready to do so safely. The DCMS guidance also says that: “All activity should be consistent with the Government guidance regarding health, social distancing and hygiene. “That means that participants and others can maintain a safe two metre distance, that good hygiene practices are in place, that equipment is disinfected regularly, and that it is clear that anyone who is symptomatic or suspects they have been exposed to the virus does not take part and remains at home.”…

THURSDAY 12pm, EUR2, Superbikes: BSB Lockdown 11pm, QUEST, British Speedway Highlights Peterborough v Sheffield FRIDAY 5.30pm, EUR2, British Superbikes: 2019 Review SUNDAY 7.50am, ITV4, Isle of Man TT 2019 – Review Show 1. Review Show 2 at 8.50am KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT - DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC - DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD - DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS - EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) - EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT - MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 - CHANNEL 4 CH5 - CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL IT V DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) - SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT SPORT 2 T VL – TRAVEL…

1851 Founder Torakusu Yamaha is born 1887 Nippon Gakki Co. Ltd is formed 1916 Founder Torakusu Yamaha dies 1955 Yamaha Motor builds the YA-1 1957 Yamaha design 250cc YD-1 twin 1961 Yamaha enter 250GP racing 1964 Phil Read wins the GP world title 1967 Production overtakes Suzuki 1970 Four-stroke XS1 is launched 1973 Production tops one million units 1975 Agostini wins 500GP title 1979 Cyril Neveu wins Dakar on an XT500 1983 YPVS power valve is unveiled 1985 FZ750 debuts a five-valve head 1987 The first Deltabox frame is built 1988 Doohan wins WSB race on an FZ750 1989 EXUP valve is used on the FZR1000 1998 The YZF-R1 is launched 2004 Rossi wins Yamaha’s first MotoGP title 2006 R6 gets ride-by-wire throttle 2009Ben Spies wins WSB title 2013 Yamaha launch…

• Name Stuart Higgs • Age Just turned 50 • Claim to fame I was referee on Famous And Fearless. It was Channel 4’s replacement after they lost Big Brother. To tell you how bad it was, Charley Boorman won it. Jonah Lomu was another competitor plus various z-listers like Mo from EastEnders, an Atomic Kitten and Richard Branson’s son, Sam. He was very particular about not being referred to as Branson’s son. • Other projects It’s all motorsport related! • Greatest achievement The development of BSB. • Greatest failure My marriage!…

Oil filter and sump plug washer Use an original oil filter and don’t forget to buy a new sump plug washer/gasket, too. Synthetic engine oil Check with the specs in your bike’s handbook or workshop manual for the correct grade of oil. Half-inch ratchet and oil filter cap wrench These can be bought for less than a tenner and make oil filter removal a doddle. Definitely worthwhile. Metric T-bar Allen key T-bars are brilliant when it comes to removing panels, most common sizes for removing bodywork fasteners are 4mm & 5mm. • Tell us about your favourite at mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com…

Vote and you could be the lucky winner of the first prize Arai limited-edition helmet or a fantastic RST Brandish leather jacket – and it won’t cost you a penny to enter. Since their launch in 2007, Arai’s Isle of Man TT Limited Edition RX-7s have proved to be a collectors’ hit. The 2020 design uses classic lines and a bold black/red/gold combination and carries familiar TT details, including Ellan Vannin (Manx for the Isle of Man), the triskelion (the three legs of Man), an outline of both the TT course and the Senior Trophy. The RX-7V features a completely new stronger and smoother shell and the revolutionary VAS (Variable Axis System) visor. For more information on the 2020 Isle of Man TT RX-7V visit: www.whyarai.co.uk. The Brandish leather jacket…

‘We’re keen to show bikes are an easy way to get to work’ A nationwide campaign has been launched to encourage people to get on a bike for their commute as the country begins the slow return to work after coronavirus. With the phased reopening of businesses beginning now, and more set to reopen on June 15, the Government is encouraging people to look for alternatives to public transport. In response to this, the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has launched an initiative with MCN that will hopefully see more people riding to work as a way of both staying safe and reducing congestion. “Powered two wheelers [that’s motorcycles and scooters to us] have lots of advantages,” says Nick Broomhall at the MCIA. “We’re keen to show people they can be…

Bike blogger, Kate Ralph, attended the Donington event on Tuesday, May 26 and thought the social distancing measures worked perfectly. “It was great – everyone stuck to the social distancing. You were allowed a helper from your own household, so there were a few couples around but there were no spectators. It made it feel really empty compared to a normal trackday which was actually quite nice, they should all be like that. “There were a lot of people saying they were going to take it easy but then when you actually get on track it’s a bit of a red rag to a bull. Everyone just wants to get on and go fast.”…

A man who led police on a 45-minute chase through London on a motorbike has been jailed for eight months and disqualified from driving for 18 months. Corey Briscoe-McLeary, 38, of Janson Close, NW10, was finally brought to a halt when a stinger was deployed by officers from Operation Venice, but not before he had clocked speeds of up to 100mph in 30mph zones and mounted pavements. Briscoe-McCleary was brought to the attention of Op Venice officers by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter operator after the crew saw him riding at speed and acting suspiciously. He entered Brent Cross shopping centre car park briefly before heading north on the M1 into Hertfordshire. “I have been a police officer for 15 years and the manner of riding displayed in…

AScrambler 1100 Sport Pro customised by CC Racing Garage has taken the top honours in Ducati’s Custom Rumble competition. The ‘Scrambler 1100 FT’ was built by Italian Marco Graziani, who entered the bike into the ‘Bully’ class. The awards were to be held at the Bike Shed Show in London, but due to the coronavirus situation, the ceremony was held online. Over 70 bikes were entered into the competition from dealers around the globe, with a public vote to whittle it down to five. From there a panel of judges that included Bike Shed founder Anthony ‘Dutch’ Van Someren, actor and bike nut Nicholas Hoult and Ducati riders Chaz Davies and Andrea Dovizioso picked their winner. As it happens they went for the public’s favourite. ‘The idea was to create…

Kawasaki ER-6N, 2013 •21,671 miles • Colchester Kawasaki This top-condition ER-6N is an affordable all-rounder and comes with heated grips, a tail tidy, a Scorpion end can and is HPI clear w w w.colchesterkawasaki.co.uk Yamaha MT-09, 2017 •18,000 miles • Blade Motorcycles, Wiltshire This mighty triple pumps out 115bhp from its 850cc three-cylinder engine and is a blast. If you want cheap speed and a bike ready to put a huge grin on your face, this one might be worth a look. w w w.bladegrouphonda.co.uk Suzuki GSX1250FA, 2013 •3899 miles • Northampton Moto Boldly styled and powerful, yet comfortable and user-friendly, this big bruiser from Suzuki comes with R&G engine crash protectors, Pipewerx end can (original included) and a full service history. Low mileage with plenty of grunt. w w…

Reader Richard Read The Ride Tokyo, over the Hakone Pass and round Mt Fuji Time required Four days Don’t miss “Along the way I stopped at local villages, trying out onsens (bathing in volcanic pools, but naked!), food (got served raw horse!) and visited traditional shrines. Would definitely recommend it, the locals are friendly, but be prepared to get lost in translation!” CULTURE It will be like nothing you have experienced before. At one point I was served raw horse. THE BIKE I rented a BMW F650GS and headed off through misty forests and mountain roads. THE CIT Y The confusing, neon-lit streets of Tokyo are thrilling but feel a million miles from the mountains. EXTREMES I experienced a juxtaposition of modern and traditional Japanese culture while this little fella…

Q‘Knocked off after I pulled over for an ambulance’ I was on my way to work in single lane traffic which was going at about 15mph during rush hour. I heard a siren behind me and there was an ambulance coming with lights flashing. I moved over to the left slightly to allow it to pass, which it did. As I was moving back to the right a car knocked me off my bike. He obviously wanted to follow the ambulance and get through the traffic. My collarbone was broken and I will be unable to work for a couple of months. Do I claim against the car driver or the ambulance service as well? Leslie, New Malden ‘It was reasonably foreseeable that you would have moved back out’ A…

ALEX MILTON Age 41 Height 5ft 11in Current bike 2017 Triumph Street Triple RS Been riding 25 years First bike Kawasaki AR50 Dream bike Any 2-stroke 500cc GP bike! “I’d gone from sportsbikes on the road to a track bike, with something less sporty for the road. Then I moved from Essex to Belfast in ’14 and that meant fewer trackdays and increased road riding. I therefore wanted something that performed well on track – handling and braking especially – while not being too compromised on the road. Hence a Street Triple RS. “The performance suspension and brakes, low weight, good electronics, upright riding position, quickshifter, good build quality and comparatively low price all made the RS a good choice. At the time, the Speed Triple didn’t offer the same…

1998 TRIUMPH SPRINT ST “The first bike I worked on at Triumph. I have a clear memory of walking into the NEC and just the sense of pride and achievement. You couldn’t get me off the stand. You feel that with every bike that comes out but that was the first one.” 2006 DAYTONA 675 “The last project I worked on as engineer. I started on the bottom half of the engine then worked on the chassis, ergonomics, instruments etc. This is me on a later one in 2012.” JOINING ENFIELD “I few to India on day one and stayed there a month. This is me visiting a dealer in Chennai. Then we flew back, moved into a rented office, bought a kettle and chairs and got started.” INTERCEPTOR 650…

It might look similar to the 790 Duke, but the new 890 Duke R is sharper, faster, grippier and more refined. If you’ve ever wondered what a top-level race bike feels like in the corners the KTM is an orange-tinted window into that world. Its new engine is refined, punchy, characterful and proof that you don’t need huge power to get your rocks off on the road. The gearbox, blippers and shifters are all bang on the money, too. It’s hugely capable, but as single-minded as a supermoto. If you’re not worried about that, this is the scratcher for you. Tech spec What it costs…

1955 Yamaha YA-1 Nicknamed the ‘Red Dragonfly,’ this 125cc two-stroke copy of a DKW RT125 was Yamaha’s first motorcycle. 1970 Yamaha XS1 Yamaha’s first four-stroke motorcycle was powered by a 654cc parallel-twin engine and had a production run that spanned 15 years. 1980 Yamaha RD350LC Arguably the RD250LC had more impact, however the RD350LC is the bike that every teenage hooligan wanted. 1985 Yamaha V-MAX The bike that really ignited the idea of a mass-market ‘powercruiser’, the V-Max boasted a 70° V4 boasted 145bhp, and didn’t like corners. 1991 Yamaha TDM850 Quirkily styled and with high bars, the TDM can rightly call itself the forerunner to the modern-day adventure bike. 1993 Yamaha GTS1000 Featuring hub-centre steering, ABS and a single-sided swingarm at the front, the GTS broke convention but failed…

Rupert Keeley, dirt novice I came to Rotor Adventures as a road rider with very little trail riding experience. What I like about it is the set-up and the quality of equipment, which is first class compared to some other schools out there. You get to ride in small groups and you are challenged and encouraged to do things you haven’t done before, but in a fun way – whatever your level. Despite the high skill level of Stan and his coaches you never get the feeling they are putting up with you. They show great patience and make it a mix of training and fun – a really enjoyable day.…

The Showdown was introduced to BSB in 2010. With three rounds to go, the top six are awarded 500 points plus the ‘Podium Points’ they’ve accrued during the main season: five for a win, three for second place and one for third (originally known as ‘credits’ and awarded as 3-2-1). Since the system was introduced, the title has always been won at the final round and on six occasions in the very last race. The most memorable of those was 2011, when Tommy Hill beat John Hopkins to secure the title by six thousandths of a second.…

This pristine Yamaha XT660 needed a new tyre, even though it had only covered a few hundred miles. The owner hadn’t been going crazy with burnouts, so the mechanics at Doncaster Motorcycles were left a little baffled by the battered rubber. ‘He’d been burning rubber but not in a good way’ Spannerman Kevin Hollingsworth picks up the story: “The guy had bought himself a lovely set of aftermarket cans, but because he isn’t that confident with spanners he asked his friend to fit them. “But as Stoner once said to Rossi ‘the ambition outweighed the talent’ and he didn’t bother reading the instructions, so he left out a couple of spacers and simply bolted the cans to the subframe – and that meant a critical loss of clearance.” When Kev…

The smart riders need to get points in the bag at the first round. I didn’t win a championship without winning at least one race at Round 1. Triple-headers are very tense, added pressure. Riders have to keep their cool. Josh Brookes is very good at triple-headers. I’ve seen on more than one occasion how he’s totally dominated the last round and won three races, in any weather; he’s going to be a danger provided he is able to get back from Australia! If I was a team manager I would be encouraging my riders to keep calm and get some solid points in the bank. More thought than normal is required for this one, but it will still be a challenge to win it and the guy that comes…

Once upon a time, it was hard to keep abreast of racing’s relentless expansion. Breaking news is a bit different in these dark days. After years of exponential growth – new races and new tracks for Indonesia, Brazil, Finland, Andorra – the news feed has changed. Now it’s what races are going to be cancelled next. Sadly, one among several casualties is the British GP. By now we should have been six races in to a record-length 20-round season, with the Italian GP at Mugello last Sunday. Instead, the only real racing was in the USA. The AMA Superbike series had become a poor relation over the past couple of decades. In 2020, it’s leading the way. Quite how much fun it was without the spectators we will never know.…

With the news that there will be no British MotoGP race for the second time in three years following the rain-hit 2018 round, Silverstone have pledged to ensure anyone who has purchased tickets for the 2020 race will not be out of pocket. Pringle said: “Customers who have purchased a ticket will be given the option of either transferring their booking directly to 2021, or taking a full refund.” Pringle has also pledged to give away thousands of tickets for the 2021 event to NHS and other key workers as a sign of gratitude for the unprecedented work and care they have been providing throughout the pandemic.…