Table of contents for July 2019 in RiDE

I BLOODY LOVE luggaging-up and disappearing for a few days, especially if there are twisty roads and amazing scenery as the reward at the other end. This issue of RiDE is designed to inspire with suggestions of great places to ride and help when you get there. Pulling together the mag brought up the debate about what exactly is a sports tourer, as the rise of the adventure bike means the traditional faired sports tourer is in decline. Bikes like the Kawasaki Z1000SX and Honda VFR800 are now joined by a multitude of machines and I reckon a sports tourer is any bike you can do a decent distance on and still enjoy when you get to your destination. So I reckon that means we all own them in one…

Highways England said: “Smart motorways are good for road users: they add extra lanes giving extra space so more people can travel; they use technology which makes journeys more reliable; and evidence proves they are as safe as traditional motorways, which are already among the safest roads in the world… For future schemes we will be reducing the maximum space between emergency areas to around one mile, where practical. All of this is being done to help road users feel safer.” Edmund King, AA president, takes a slightly different view: “The first ‘smart’ motorway was deemed to be relatively safe, with emergency refuge areas every 600-800m. Then the goalposts were moved without any consultation and spacing between ERAs was increased. From the outset the AA — and others from motoring…

Word to the Weise There’s new clothing from Weise for summer. The Outlaw is a retro textile jacket with separate waterproof and thermal liners and CE armour to shoulders, elbows and back. The Tundra jeans are made in double-stitched denim with an aramid fibre lining, CE armour in the knees and optional for the hip. The jacket is £149.99 and the jeans, £99.99. www.thekeycollection.co.uk CAN-bus can Wiring accessories to a CAN-bus-equipped BMW R1250GS is now a lot easier. Connecting to the battery and plugging into the CAN-bus network, the Hex ezCAN offers the ability to power and control left and right auxiliary driving lights, a power horn and an extra accessory via BMW’s thumb-wheel. It won’t invalidate the BMW warranty, apparently. £168 from www.nippynormans.com A summer adventure Italian manufacturer Tucano…

AFTER MONTHS PEERING out through a misting visor at a landscape limited to brown, grey and beige, the countryside is coming alive once again. Crisp yellow fields of rapeseed, bright blue spring skies and, most welcome of all, the lush return of rich green vegetation framing the road. If you’re saving your year’s big ride — perhaps one of the destinations in our sports-touring special (p32) — for the height of summer, you might be looking for somewhere closer to home to start building the miles back up. The Wye Valley, straddling the border between Wales and England, is a perfect starting point. It’s the original don’t-miss destination for British travellers as far back as the 18th century. While the Napoleonic Wars made travel to continental Europe a bit tricky,…

KTM also offers an R version, designed for more extreme off-road use. It uses the same engine, chassis, gearing, clocks, tank and bodywork but 100mm more suspension travel, a taller seat, a shorter (but still adjustable) screen and a tall, motocross-style mudguard. Rally mode allows the traction control to be tailored for different surfaces. I sampled the R at KTM’s Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Experience, and its abilities allow an off-road novice like me to brim with confidence, but at the same time allow dude-ish off-road experts to do unspeakable things with it. Like the stocker, the key is perfect balance, meaning the R feels much lighter than its real 210-odd kilos and an engine that works as well at 2,000rpm as at 10,000rpm. The suspension means you can hit…

Price from £11,215 (£15,145 as tested) Engine 1254cc flat twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 134bhp @ 7750rpm Torque 105lb·ft @ 6250rpm Transmission 6-speed, shaft Frame tubular steel Front suspension 45mm forks, 140mm travel, no adjustment (optional semi-active) Rear suspension monoshock, 140mm travel, adjustable preload and rebound (semi-active optional) Front brakes 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 276mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 cR17 Rear Tyre 180/55 cR17 Wheelbase 1515mm Rake/trail 27.7°/125.6mm Seat height 820mm Kerb weight 248kg (msd) Fuel capacity 18 litres…

The B500 is, according to local riders (of whom there are many, and they’re experts so don’t get drawn into chasing them unless you know what you’re doing), the place to go when you’re bored of the Nürburgring. So the must-ride section is all of it. But don’t speed in the 50 and 70kph zones (near hotels); the police can (and will) impound your bike. Police presence is generally light during weekdays but there can be crackdowns if there have been recent problems or accidents. Also, German trees are as unforgiving as British trees. Avoid. Weekends and holiday seasons mean lots of tourist traffic and the B500 can get busy with bikes, push-bikes and camper vans. The quietest riding time is during summer weekdays and evenings.…

Obviously the course itself. Early morning is quietest but it’s so not worth going nuts — just let the bike go at its own pace. But some of the island’s best riding is in the parts no-one talks about; there’s so much more than just the TT course. There’s the moorland run on the A36 in the south looping around South Barrule; the west coast ride along the A27 towards Peel, stopping off at the charming Niarbyl Bay to watch the sunset; or the similarly scenic ride along the west coast A4, with sea views and Devil’s Elbow to catch you out. Or turn off the TT course at Barregarrow and follow the B10 as it winds up to the marshal’s hut at Brandywell. Or the A14 between Sulby and…

Best for huge speed Kawasaki H2 SX SE > £18,099 > 197bhp > 260kg Supercharged sports tourer delivers effortless speed, comfort and better handling than ccR1400. Supercharger whine and top-end rush un-matched. Best for performance BMW S1000XR > £12,890 (base model) > 163bhp > 228kg Retuned S1000RR inline-four motor, tons of upgrade options, luggage and superbike performance. What a 2019 sports tourer looks like. Best for style Ducati Multistrada 1260 S > £17,455 > 158bhp > 235kg Similar performance and price to the S1000aR, with all the semi-active and engine management options but with variable-valve-timed 90° V-twin. Best for nutters Yamaha MT-10 Tourer > £12,649 > 158bhp > 210kg Yamaha’s loopy MT-10 comes with soft panniers, a fly screen, comfort seat and hand guards but it’s still the most radical…

THE IDEA OF using a motorcycle to go far and fast is a compelling one. These bikes are some of the best that you can buy for that — and they are all available for far less than their showroom-fresh counterparts. Over the next six pages we’ll show you how to find a great one: we’ve canvassed owners and dealers and grilled our own testers to give our recommendations of great used sports tourers. All you need to do is strap on a tankbag and head out there……

BMW R1200RS (2015-2018) 123bhp 92lb·ft 236kg Why you want one Using the same partially water-cooled boxer engine as the GS, the RS deploys it in a relaxed sports tourer with bags of charm, good handling and top-spec electronics. Why you don’t If you want all the bells and whistles there is little to dislike. It’s not the fastest or the lightest but it is a solid performer. Watch out for Specification — while TC is standard, the dynamic function was an option. Target price £10,000 Ducati SuperSport S (2017-current) 109bhp 69lb·ft 210kg Why you want one The SuperSport S is a relaxed sporty bike from Bologna with a smooth V-twin and top-spec chassis. A well-handling bike, it’s a touch firm but looks the part. Why you don’t The mirrors are…

We threw in a pair of several-month old cheap supermarket jeans to see how they would fare, since we know some people chance their luck from time to time. We didn’t expect great things here but were surprised by how well they appeared to resist the initial 30mph slide, though one hole already would have been straight through to the skin. However, by the time they had done all four tests, they were destroyed, as the rider’s arse would have been too.…

Price £19,798 as tested (£17,901 base plus £1987 Touring Pack; panniers and heated grips) Engine 1262cc 90° V-twin, 4v per cyl, Desmodromic, variable-valve, l/c Power (measured) 145bhp @ 9600rpm Torque (measured) 90lb·ft @ 7800rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame steel-tube trellis Front suspension 48mm forks, 185mm travel, semi-active rebound and compression damping Rear suspension monoshock, 185mm travel, automatic preload semi-active compression and rebound damping Front brakes 320mm discs, 4-piston radial calipers Rear brake 265mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 ZR19 Rear tyre 170/60 ZR17 Wheelbase 1592mm Rake/trail 25˚/112mm Seat height 860mm Kerb weight (measured) 289.2kg (48.4% front/51.6% rear) Fuel capacity 30 litres…

IT’S 15 YEARS since Ducati launched the original Multistrada, a capable all-rounder with the soul of a sports bike. It was a brave effort: however the typically controversial Pierre Terblanchedesigned styling wasn’t to everyone’s tastes and it left some wondering just what exactly the bike was for. But amends were made in 2010 with the addition of the 1198cc Testastretta engine plus purposeful new looks and bucket-loads of tech. The 1200 took the original bike’s niche and ploughed it into a furrow, forging its place as the class-leading road-focused adventure machine and successfully bridging the gap to traditional sports tourers. But what is it like to own one? ‘It was a crashed MCN test bike’ Richard Knight 50 Model 2010 1200S Touring mileage 11,000 Longest ride 1800 miles The highs…

Bridgestone S21 £201 a pair By far the most popular fitment with owners. Smooth steering, grippy enough for fun but the rear will be toast after 4-5k miles. The harder-wearing T31 at £233 a pair is a good bet for longer trips. Metzeler Sportec M7RR £262 a pair A really good all-weather tyre that’s good enough for the odd trackday but offers decent wear (4k from a rear, typically). Avon 3D Ultra Sport £153 a pair The price alone makes these a tempting choice and they’re also pretty grippy and fairly hard-wearing. Prices are mail order. Add £6 per pair for P&P. Source SMD Tyres: 01942 604511…

Cardo Packtalk Bold £319.99 www.cardosystems.com Tested by Jim Blackstock, product editor The Cardo Packtalk Bold intercom uses Bluetooth, MESH technology and JBL hi-fi speakers. First things first – make sure it’ll fit. The large unit needs a flat space to mount on the left chinbar. Then, make sure you can get the speakers in. They’re large (48mm diameter, 15mm thick) and don’t sit flush in my test X-Lite X-903 helmet so I could feel them against my ears. But the sound… oh, the sound. Music is stunning, with crystal-clear vocals and mid-range and powerful bass. Sat-nav instructions were clear and phone calls were fine at both ends. There’s ‘Hey Siri’ and ‘Hey Cardo’ for voice control of your iPhone or the unit itself but while Siri worked at low speeds…

THE FINAL MONTH with the Tiger and the bike had to go back to Triumph to be fixed. I’d spent a day in the garage last month unseizing the rear caliper and while my efforts were 95% successful — and with the addition of new pads, braking performance was restored — there was still more to come and the caliper pistons really needed to be removed and serviced to make it perfect. This would have required taking the caliper off and disconnecting it from its hydraulic union. While this is a DIY job on non-ABS bikes, bleeding ABS systems is the work of Triumph technicians, not home mechanics so the bike went off to get sorted. At the same time the rear disc, which was pitted and slightly scored from…

Q I DECIDED TO take the scenic route to pick up a takeaway curry for myself and my husband - top boxes are very useful. Unfortunately the journey was interrupted when a car pulled out in front of me. I jumped on the brakes but my front end buckled and I slid down the road. My problems are these; the other driver’s insurance company has admitted liability but has also raised some arguments. In the collision, I broke four toes and I have been left with some quite angry looking scars. I am still a young woman and I have developed keloid scarring - dark scarring - on my skin. I am of mixed Jamaican/Scottish heritage and my dermatologist says this is a known consequence of scarring to Afro-Caribbean skin…

Having recently changed from a Versys 1000 to a c1000Sa, the wind noise from my Shoei Neotec was unbearable and a new helmet was due. Except for Schuberth, I’d failed to find any references from helmet manufacturers as to how loud the noise inside my helmet will be for a given speed. So, I decided to go ahead and buy a Schuberth S2. Sadly, the shape of the helmet was unsuitable for me on my bike, as it twisted in the airflow. But fortunately, the retailer I’d bought it from lives in the real world and, as the helmet had only been on a short trip, they kindly allowed me to exchange it. I was lucky; it could just have easily gone the other way, and I’d be stuck with…

Martin Fitz-Gibbons Deputy editor As the owner of one-and-a-half kneecaps, this month’s destruction test of 12 riding jeans is an essential read. Perhaps if I was wearing our test winners when I jumped off that Daytona back in 2006, instead of regular denim, I might have walked away. PAGE 63 Jim Blackstock Production editor Reading Simon’s story of riding Route Napoléon, I remembered several lifetimes ago when I followed Rallye Monte Carlo around that area. My experience was cold and miserable — it sounds like doing it on a bike in summer is the opposite... PAGE 42 Simon Hargreaves Contributor 20 years ago, if you suggested adventure machines would be more powerful, handle better and go faster and longer than 99’s superbikes, I’d have thought you mad. Yet here we…

’In theory; a good idea…’ “In theory; a good idea to help maintain a more constant flow of traffic. In reality though: loss of hard shoulder is a fatality waiting to happen; the use of signage is appalling, with lanes closed or opened miles before or after necessary. Adrian Williams ’My bike was within inches of fast-moving traffic’ “I got a puncture on a smart motorway and the scariest thing after coming off was the fact my bike was parked within inches of the fast-moving traffic. Then when the tow truck arrived, it had to park half on the slow lane.” Michael Perry ’I slid into one of the emergency refuges’ “A mechanical malfunction resulted in me parting company with my bike. I slid into one of the occasional refuges…

INSPIRED BY THE amazing roads highlighted in last month’s RiDE, combined with some wonderfully warm weather, members of our 5000-mile riding challenge have been flocking to Scotland in their droves. Honda Africa Twin rider David Yorke was one, piling on the miles to make the most of his spare time. “I only had two free days this week,” he said. “So it was time for an early start and I rode 550 miles through the Scottish Borders, on through the Snow Roads in the Cairngorms to run up the east coast to John o’Groats. The second day was a bit longer on the NC500 via Durness and Ullapool to head back to England via Glen Coe, Rannoch Moor, and down the side of Loch Lomond. 1170 miles in total, just…

Price £11,099 (£11,796.76 as tested) Engine 799cc parallel twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 94bhp @ 8000rpm Torque 65lb·ft @ 6600rpm Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame tubular-steel trellis Front suspension 43mm forks, 200mm travel, no adjustment Rear suspension monoshock, 200mm travel, adjustable preload Front brakes 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 260mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 90/90-21 Rear tyre 150/70-18 Wheelbase 1509mm Rake/trail 25.9°/107.8mm Seat height 830/850mm Kerb weight 214kg (measured) Fuel capacity 20 litres…

'We rode all the race courses — The TT, the Southern 100 and Jurby'Rachel Lloyd, Kawasaki ca-6R “I go to the TT every year, but I fly over. A friend who lives in Ramsey said I should come over for a weekend with my bike. Getting off the ferry at 10pm, my mate met me in his car and I followed him over the Mountain. The sunset was amazing — the whole sky was pink. “It was the end of the Southern 100 race on the Thursday, then the rest of the weekend was playtime. We rode all the race courses - the TT, the Southern 100, and the old road circuit at Jurby. Then we spent the time on the back roads — there’s a lovely section from Kirk…

Distance from Calais 540 miles to Grenoble in the most direct way Time to get there Ten hours from the ferry if you don’t muck about Make sure you visit The Gorges du Verdon is an absolute must — 15 miles long, half a mile deep, it’s Europe’s Grand Canyon. The deep blue of the Lac de Sainte-Croix at the centre of it all is spectacular. Stop over at No shortage of small B&Bs, biker-friendly hotels and even cheap chain hotels with secure car parks. Prices on the Côte d’Azur can get a bit salty, so stay inland. Try somewhere like the La Bastide des Selves (la-bastide-des-selves.com) — you’ll find cheaper, but you might not find better.…

YOUR EXPERT Former RiDE editor Simon Weir could well be Britain’s most experienced tourer. Over the last 20 years, super-sized Simon has covered hundreds of thousands of miles on a variety of bikes on the continent ‘in the name of journalism’ or, as we suspect, just having a bloody good time. This is what he’s learned. 1 Always use a paper map Whether you’re exploring with no fixed destination or following a pre-planned route, a decent paper map means you should never feel lost. A 1:1,000,000 scale is fine for most trips but 1:150,000 gives real detail to focus on one region. Even if you use a sat nav, mark your planned route on a paper map: you’ll have a better idea of where the GPS is taking you…

Honda VFR800F (2014-current) 105bhp 55lb·ft 242kg Why you want one The VFR was updated in 2014 with heated grips, ABS and TC and a braced swingarm. Blighted by a high £10k price though. Why you don’t Honda looked to the classic VFR800Fi for inspiration and that means the new model instantly appeared dated. Watch out for Seized hubs, but on a bike as new as this, you should be pretty safe. Target price £7000 Yamaha Tracer 900 (2015-2017) 113bhp 65lb·ft 210kg Why you want one Putting the MT-09’s triple in a touring bike was a stroke of genius. Fun to ride, light and brimming with spirit, it’s a great do-it-all. Why you don’t The suspension is budget and way too soft. A high-speed weave when loaded is a common complaint…

We all know that the safest form of motorcycle clothing is leathers; just ask any racer or trackday enthusiast. The combination of impact protection from armour and abrasion protection from thick, resistant hide is a winning combination when it comes to the worst-case scenario. However, they are made for riding pure and simple, not being worn off the bike and are cumbersome at best and uncomfortable at worst, unless in the racing tuck. So casual clothing that provides some protection, such as riding jeans, can offer the best of both worlds. Fitting and looking like regular jeans, riding jeans will include certainly knee and potentially hip armour and will have some form of abrasion protection built in. That may be a separate layer inside the cotton denim or a specialist…

CONSTRUCTION Are they single layer or is there a separate middle lining? Is there also a mesh lining to help air flow when it’s warm? Ideally, seams should be double-stitched to prevent bursting on impact or while sliding STYLE There are numerous styles to suit various riders and bikes. Retro; modern; black; dark; light; distressed; regular cut; tight or tapered; turn-up or no turn-ups… LEG LENGTH Some jeans come in different leg lengths — others may tailor these to fit you. This can also potentially affect where the knee armour sits. COVERAGE Where does the abrasion resistance protect? In the case of single-layer, then everywhere. A separate layer will typically protect at least the high-risk seat, hips and knees. Inner thighs are less of a risk while the shin is…

The Ducati is claimed to weigh 254kg fully fuelled, but without panniers. With luggage and a full tank, the Enduro tips our scales at 289.2kg. The GS Adventure’s kerb weight is a claimed 268kg, but on the scales with panniers it comes in at 294.6kg; 5.5kg heavier than the Ducati. The Enduro and GS both state a maximum gross vehicle weight of 485kg, which leaves 196kg for two riders and luggage on the Ducati, and 190kg for the BMW - a limit that could easily be reached for either (neither kerb weight includes a top box).…

RIPPING THE FAIRING off your best-selling sportsbike and adding a more upright riding position isn’t a new idea but too often, factories spoil the result by dumbing it down too far; cheap suspension, basic brakes, and — worst of all — the dreaded ‘tuned-for-more-midrange’ motor to take the fun out. Not the BMW S1000R though. For a start, the brakes, suspension and electronics are pretty much identical to the superbike — no cheap substitutions here. And while yes, it is tuned for more midrange – it makes more power and torque than the RR donor all the way to 9500rpm — it’s still got plenty of go beyond that, with nearly 160bhp on tap. Enough to give it more top-end rush than your neck muscles will cope with, anyway. Most…

Yamaha MT-10 2016-on > £8000-£10,000 > 998cc inline four > 158bhp > 210kg Probably the closest direct rival to the S1000R, the MT-10 runs the BMW close with its combination of usability and latent madness. It’s based on the R1, but shifting the power to the midrange means no need for lightweight high-revving parts, which keeps the costs down. Lower gearing though, keeps the front wheel up, even with the traction control turned on. Triumph Speed Triple R 2016-on > £8500-£11,000 > 1050cc inline triple > 138bhp > 219kg The first Speed Triple with ride-by-wire management, and it’s well-developed, giving excellent fuelling and plenty of low-down drive. This R model has fully adjustable Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes. The electronics package is limited — switchable modes, ABS and traction control.…

Service schedule A nice, simple schedule based on 6000-mile intervals. Basic servicing’s no problem for the home mechanic, but you really need a diagnostic reader. The basic 6K service sees oil and filter changed, head bearings adjusted, fluid levels checked, throttle free play set, clutch inspected/ adjusted and a general fastener/pivot check. 12k is the same. Valve clearances and cam timing are checked at 18,000 miles and plugs changed. Fork oil is changed too. There’s no scheduled coolant change or suspension pivot strip/grease but it makes sense to do both at the 18,000-mile mark. New and used parts prices New genuine service bits aren’t too bad, with an oil and air filter at £15.49 and £30.10 respectively. Spark plugs are £13.35 each, mirrors £63 each and a taller tinted screen…

AGV Sport Modular £599 www.agv.co.uk AGV READILY ADMITS its Sport Modular helmet is for bikers who have a phobia of flip-front lids. The idea is to bring the benefits (convenience, better neck-seal, ease of use) to a wider range of bikers. There’s no getting away from the fact that this is a cool flip, from the matt-finish carbon shell to the understated and reflective graphics. It looks great and feels good when you wear it too — at 1380g it’s lighter than my Arai RX7V helmet. That carbon shell is combined with titanium parts such as a double D-ring fastener and it feels reassuringly high-end (as you’d expect from a £600 lid). Comfort is very good — there are no pressure points and it’s so easy to wear for long…

1968 Lino Dainese rides his Vespa to London, where he sees ton-up boys in leathers. 1972 Dainese is formed and starts making leather trousers for Ma riders. 1974 Dainese uses new hide-cutting methods and elastic inserts for comfort. 1979 Dainese works with Barry Sheene to make the first integral back protector. 1981 Dainese works with Kenny Roberts to develop the first knee sliders. 1983 Dainese makes back protection available to road riders for the first time. 1988 Dainese introduces the aerodynamic hump concept in its racing suits. 1989 Dainese begins making gloves. 1993 Dainese’s D-TEC R&D centre is established, to speed innovation. 1995 Ergon, Dainese’s first helmet, is launched. It’s made from composite fibres. 2000 Dainese reveals its D-Air airbag prototype at the Munich Show. 2007 First deployment of the…

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The RiDE team has signed up to the 5000 challenge, too. Leading the way is globetrotting contributor Simon Hargreaves, who has already clocked 6000 miles this year with two big trips for RiDE, including the tip of Scotland and the south of France. The rest of the team look set to hit 5k too — dep ed Martin is on 3165 miles, while editor Matt is on 2851. Product editor Jim is on 2539; “I’m halfway there.”…

Each month the Star Picture will win a BikeTrac security tracker with a year’s BikeTrac 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.…

THE MIDDAY SUN scorches down from its lofty cosmic perch with vindictive fury, persecuting this naïve nomad who’s strayed into hostile wilderness. Solitude’s stark silence is shattered by an ominous gurgle: an eager coyote prowling through the parched undergrowth, or perhaps my last litre of fuel boiling inside the tank? Ah, no, it’s a rumbling stomach, and it’s just popped my adventure-fantasy bubble. Turns out this isn’t a far-flung exotic land at all. It’s Lincolnshire; I’m nearer Bourne than Borneo. But while KTM’s new 790 Adventure might come bundled with a wealth of Dakar daydreams, the way it feels on British backroads and byways is far more important than how it hacks through a distant desert. So let’s cut through the hype, like an aftermarket knobbly slicing through the Sahara……

‘Have hand signals you all understand’ If you’re riding in a group, decide on some rules. For instance: take turns to lead; no overtaking each other; ride to the capability of the slowest rider. Use hand signals: pointing at your tank meaning; “I need fuel” or pointing at your face to say you need a drink or food. Stephen D Woolley ‘Make sure you drink plenty of water’ Make sure your brakes have plenty of life in them, especially if you intend doing any mountain passes. There’s no need to rush but use motorways occasionally to save time. Invest in a sheepskin seat pad (best £20 you will ever spend). Make sure you drink plenty of water regularly: it really does help concentration. Peter Cushing ‘Get slowly back into the…

Ducati ST3 (2004-2007) 107bhp 69lb·ft 214kg Why you want one The ST3 is the best of Ducati’s ST range thanks to revised ergonomics and a more-relaxed motor. Fast, smooth and reliable with a good chassis. Owners love them. Why you don’t The usual Ducati issue — running costs. It needs belts every two years and a costly ‘Desmo valve service’ every 6000 miles. Watch out for If you can find the rare S model with its Öhlins shock, snap it up. Target price £3500 Honda Blackbird (1996-2007) 162bhp 91lb·ft 254kg Why you want one The Blackbird has forged a reputation for its build quality and reliability. Sporty enough to be enjoyable but never threatening to become unstable. Why you don’t The ease at which it builds up speed can be…

A RiDE Best Buy award means a product has been tested under real-world and, where appropriate, laboratory conditions to assess its performance in its field and has excelled, while at the same time offering exceptional value for money. A Recommended triangle means that a product has either done an outstanding job at a higher price or a reasonable job but at a significantly lower price. So while not worthy of a Best Buy, it still performs very well in one of these criteria. Our product tests are carried out by real bikers with years of experience and on real bikes and are combined with empirical testing developed and carried out by qualified engineers. The RiDE Recommended triangles stand for quality and value for money. Look for them when shopping.…

Price £19,918 as tested (£18,165 base plus £305 E-call, £770 panniers, £678 sat nav) Engine 1254cc flat twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Power (measured) 127bhp @ 7600rpm Torque (measured) 100 lb·ft @ 6300rpm Transmission 6-speed, shaft Frame steel tube Front suspension monoshock, 210mm travel, semi-active rebound and compression damping Rear suspension monoshock, 220mm travel, automatic preload and semi-active compression and rebound damping Front brakes 305mm discs, 4-piston radial calipers Rear brake 276mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 cR19 Rear tyre 170/60 cR17 Wheelbase 1504mm Rake/trail 24.9°/95.4mm Seat height 890/910mm Kerb weight (measured) 294.6kg (49.1% front/50.9% rear) Fuel capacity 30 litres…

By giving the R1250GS Adventure a larger engine and more performance, yet cleverly preserving its essential flat-twin character, BMW has done exactly what it needed to do to keep the GS and GS Adventure flying out of the showrooms at the same pace they have been for the last 15 years. It’s the same bike with a lot more go in it; and with that last piece of the jigsaw in place it’s now so close to perfection it’s hard to imagine how it could be improved. Or at least, the point of making it better in a way we could understand. It surely can’t handle any better, or go any faster — that would spoil what is now the Goldilocks zone of chassis and engine. It has enough of…

“They’re a steady seller, not spectacular — to give you an idea, last year I sold about ten, out of a total of around 150 bikes. It’s the same with the naked R1200R and R1250R — it seems people just don’t want a BMW without a fairing. It goes in splurges though — I had three in here a while back and not even a sniff at them for ages, then they all sold in a week. So if I’m offered one as a trade-in, I look at what stock I’ve got. If I’ve already got three, then that’s too many. Personally, I think it’s a great bike — I love riding it, although it does turn me into a bit of an idiot. It’s like being a teenager again.…

2014-2016 S1000R Supernaked based on S1000RR superbike with simplified inlet system, softer cam profiles and steel valves instead of titanium. Traction control and ABS standard. Very few sold in the UK. £6750-£9400 2014-2016 S1000R Sport Posher version with most of the extras as standard — more sophisticated ABS and traction control, semi-active suspension, heated grips, extra riding modes. £7200-£9750 2017-current S1000R Significant update with lighter frame, lighter, more powerful engine, tweaked bodywork. Euro4 compliant. Titanium silencer standard. Almost none sold in the UK. £7500-£11,000 2017-current S1000R Sport As per the base model, but with full electronics suite including semi-active suspension and cruise control, race traction control, quickshifter, heated grips, LED indicators and extra riding modes. £9000-£12,000…

“The suit itself is as flexible as a normal suit, you’d never tell there’s an airbag system in there. The weight is very similar too; it’s just knowing that the extra safety’s there if you do tumble down the road. “I’ve had a few crashes and every time I’ve been surprised by how quickly and reliably the system activates. It knew something wasn’t right and triggered before I hit the ground. I’ve never had any issues with it going off accidentally, either, despite a few lairy situations! “When it goes off it sort of flexes and grips your shoulder, chest and back areas really tightly, but your arms are still free to move. “Since I’ve been racing, I’ve always wanted to be in a D-Air suit. That way, I know…