Table of contents for January 2020 in RiDE

Not for the first time, we spent most of the month being insanely jealous of our writer Simon Hargreaves. While the office-dwelling members of RiDE endured days of torrential rain, 1°C commutes and the first frosts of winter, Si was thrashing around Spain in the warmth on lovely bikes. Git. It was all part of the mile-munching special that’s in this issue. With winter now rearing its icy head, we always start remembering — and mourning — the sun-kissed roads of summer. But it’s not winter everywhere: for us Brits there are parts of Europe that feel like summer all year long — and they’re just a long ride away. We headed to Spain to count the cost of a winter escape and find out if it was all worth…

Preseli Mountains, Wales Here is a picture of our biking group during a weekend in Wales. The group started as we were all co-workers at Peugeot/Citroën but it has organically grown to now also include family and friends. This picture was taken on the Preseli Mountains during a weekend away staying in the Brecon Beacons and Aberystwyth. There is Dad on his BMW R1150GS Adventure, Jon on an R1100GS, Keith on an R1200GS Adventure, Martin on a Kawasaki Z1000SX, Ian on a K1300GT, Nick on a R1150RS and me on my R1200GS. Stan Shires Get your bike in RiDE & win a BikeTrac system Each month the Star Picture will win a BikeTrac security tracker and a year’s BikeTrac subscription. As well as helping recover your bike if it is…

Q I HAVE BEEN involved in two no-fault collisions, both rear-enders and there was absolutely nothing I could do about either of them. But now I am, as a Londoner, close to uninsurable. My premiums have increased exponentially, to the point where I am possibly going to have to give up bikes. Do I have any legal remedy? A YOU DO, BUT you will have to work at it, and timing is crucial. Your insurers have now rated you as an accident magnet. They are allowed to quote for what they perceive as your risk, however unfairly. You must make sure that you do not settle “in full and final settlement” on any offer from the third Party. There are some get-outs from a full and final offer but these…

THIS LATEST ADDITION to CCM’s Spitfire range is the furthest yet from the original concept. Though using the same handcrafted frame, geometry, 600cc single-cylinder engine and neat detailing, the Bobber brings a more relaxed riding position, smaller wheels and 1940s-inspired styling. And, perhaps unexpectedly, it’s got the best handling. Trim, compact and just 135kg (dry), all Spitfires are nimble. Most use 19-inch wheels and huge flat-track tyres but the gyroscopic inertia of these cancels-out the in-built agility. Though the Bobber’s 16-inch rims have oversize tyres, their reduced gyroscopic forces mean more accurate steering and lighter handling. With suspension that’s sportily stiff (like all Spitfires) it’s an engaging and exciting ride, especially with the ex-Husqvarna engine racing to 8000rpm and delivering hard-edged drive. Which is great, but all a bit at…

Is it worth it? So that’s around £800 each to have a day riding to Plymouth, a day on a ferry, two days unbelievable riding in the mountains and a long day bombing back across France and the UK on motorways. Personally I’d want more time bombing about in the mountains, especially as the weather for both the outward and return rides on the Spanish and French autoroutes was horrific! So I’d book a return on Brittany Ferries to Santander and go Sunday to Sunday, giving five days to ride in the mountains — which is much more like it — for not much more cost.…

“THE NEW BIKE is brilliant. It does everything mine can, and it’s got everything mine’s got, plus a bit more. KTM has made strides in the suspension mapping but the fact the same package is a free upgrade to my bike makes the new one less desirable. I’ll definitely get that upgrade though. “The performance upgrades are subtle, and you’d perhaps only feel any real difference on a track. I do take mine on trackdays but that’s an update I’d like rather than need. If anything, the new bike’s motor felt smoother and more refined, but again that’s probably only something you’d notice jumping off one and onto the other. “The big issue for me comes down to money. I didn’t pay full price for my 2017 bike. In fact,…

BEST FOR GREAT BIKES Café Newt At Moto Corsa Award-winning grub at a bike-themed café located alongside Italian exotica dealer Moto Corsa. A must-visit. Price of entry Free cafe-newt.co.uk BEST FOR RACERS Crescent Suzuki, Bournemouth Bournemouth has more than its fair share of bike dealers but Crescent’s racing support makes it the best-known. Needs a café though. Price of entry Free www.crescent-suzuki.com BEST FOR HIGH-OCTANE THRILLS Wiscombe Park Hill Climb, Devon Manic bike (and car) racing events through the year held against a picturesque backdrop of wooded parkland. Price of entry £various www.wiscombepark.co.uk…

The Pizza Run Best for Woodlands and pizza Length 16 miles Route Crewkerne to Lyme Regis Roads B3165 Love it because The surface is great so you can ride with lots of confidence. And go all the way into Lyme for pizza on the roof terrace of Lyme Bay Pizza, overlooking the Cobb and the bay. Take a picture of The view out across the Cobb in Lyme Regis and into the English Channel. Stop for a cuppa It’s a very short run; grab a brew in Lyme when you get a pizza.…

1 TREAD PATTERN The BT-016 Pro has the same tread pattern as the 2008 BT-016 while the S22 has a new pattern. According to Bridgestone, the angle and alignment of the Sharp 3D end grooves redirect the working forces on the tyre, improving handling, water drainage and control when on the limit 2 LAND/SEA RATIO Bridgestone has increased the land/sea ratio, which is the term given to the relationship between the rubber and grooves, to give the S22’s shoulder more ‘land’ and therefore rubber on the road when lent over, compared to the BT-016 Pro 3 MULTI COMPOUNDS The BT-016 Pro has a hard central section with a softer compound either side on front and rear tyres, known as Bridgestone 3LC technology. While the S22 also has 3LC on its…

We tested them back-to-bank on a Triumph Street Triple RS. After a terrifying first few miles to knock the shine off the BT-016 Pros, during which time you really need to be extremely careful, they soon settled down into feeling like a conventional sporty all-round tyre. At road speeds, they are hard to fault in terms of grip or stability but they give the impression of being quite hard in their construction, which delivers a solid ride that lacks a bit of feeling. At pace, the ripples in the road’s surface appear harsh (not helped by the Triumph’s firm suspension) and when you brake hard, there isn’t that impression of the rubber being driven into the road — more squashed onto than forced into the surface. If you rode the…

There’s nothing specific to the Fc1 you need to look out for on the test ride — unless you bring a multimeter to check the health of the generator and coils. If the bike has any kind of irregular running, hesitation or misfire, walk away unless the seller knocks a grand off. And then walk away again because he obviously knew and was trying to stiff you. Also be wary of bikes with cheap, loud exhausts and lots of bolt-on bling, unless it also comes with the parts to put it back to stock. Done right, the Fc1 is a good base for enhancing with a spot of modifying but, as usual, there are some horrors about (start with dodgy Kenny Roberts speed-block paint and work backwards). An Fc1 with…

WINTER. THE COLD, the wet, the corrosion. Do you put the bike away for four months; do you resign yourself to just getting on with it; or do you embrace the challenge? If you’re in the first camp, there’s little to do: give the bike a wash; connect your battery tender; fill the tank and throw a dust cover over it. If you ride through the winter, you need to be a bit more pro-active, so your bike makes it to spring-time with minimal wear and tear, and your mindset changes from the grudging commuter to the rain-master. These five simple tips are the key to a worry-free winter’s riding... 1 Stop your bike from corroding How often Between each ride Time to do it Two or three minutes What…

Bike 2002 Harley-Davidson FXST Softail Standard Total miles 113,779 Rider Darren Gillings Age 54  Miles per year 8000 I USE MY Harley purely for pleasure. It’s not a commuter, it is a bike that I just love riding and that’s why I’ve put so many miles on it. I’ll happily take it touring around Brittany or Normandy on my own, simply for fun, and being a member of the Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain means there is always an excuse for a ride. “Before the FXST I owned a Suzuki GS850 but when I heard about the new twin-cam being launched, it interested me, as it seemed a major step forward in terms of reliability for Harley. Also, as I do all my own servicing, it seemed fairly easy…

‘I’ve been catching sunsets on my old BMW K75 S, at Cockenzie, south east Scotland. I’m local, so often head down the coast.’ Mike Taylor ‘A selfie with my dog, Lemmy, on my Suzuki Bandit 1250. We’ll often ride between 70 and 80 miles, stopping for a walk and a pint!’ Nick Cannock ‘I went on an 11-day European tour on my Honda Blackbird with my brother Gordon and his girlfriend, Susan Peate.’ James Hill ‘Me and my Suzuki GSX-R750 on the Silverstone GP circuit on my first-ever trackday. I won the place during the British MotoGP weekend.’ Julie Atkins ‘I did 200 miles around Northern Ireland, on my Honda Monkey 125, running it in before heading back to work for a month.’ Gav Fraser Sign up now! www.facebook.com/#ride5000miles…

BMW F900XR 895cc 102bhp 68lb·ft 219kg (wet) BMW HAS REVEALED a brand-new F900XR — a smaller S1000XR clearly designed to take on the Tracer 900GT. The F900XR is effectively a marriage of the current F850GS and the thinking behind the S1000XR. The engine has grown a little, with capacity up from 853cc to 895cc, and there’s also a revised cylinder head, pushing peak power up to 105bhp though peak torque remains the same. Paired with this is two riding modes as standard (more if you tick all the boxes), ABS, traction control and a 4.3in full-colour TFT dash. You can also get semi-active suspension, cornering ABS, keyless ignition, a quickshifter plus ‘engine drag torque control’ which stops the wheel locking on downshifts. The subframe is slimmer, along with the seat,…

Royal Enfield’s new 650 twins are great bikes at a great price but some may want a bit more punch and power. Tuning specialist S&S now supplies the extra horses with a stack of go-faster goodies. S&S has developed its own performance camshaft and a pair of hi-compression pistons. There’s a hi-flow air filter and Power Commander for Interceptor or Continental GT models and a new tapered slip-on exhaust that boosts power by 13% and weighs 5kg less than the original. Prices are not finalised but expect £520 for the exhaust, £150 for the camshaft kit and £490 for the 865cc kit.…

‘I want a light clutch’ I am 68 with arthritic hands and as a result, I need a bike with a very light clutch action. My riding is a mix of weekend IAM rides and longer trips and I want a bike that can tour, has plenty of poke, is fun in the twisties, easy to manoeuvre and, above all, has that light clutch action. I currently own a Tiger Sport but it is top heavy and the clutch isn’t light enough, meaning it is getting to be a bit of a nightmare when I’m putting it away. I tried a Tracer 700 but the clutch wasn’t any good, and a CB500a lacks oomph. Do you have a possible solution for me? And don’t say a Tiger 800 because I…

IN A CLASS dominated by BMW’s all-conquering GS, the Honda Africa Twin has acquitted itself very well since it was introduced in 2016. And now for 2020, with a new dash, upgraded electronics, a bigger capacity motor and a revised chassis, it looks like the third generation of Africa Twin may have finally come of age. But at a cost… The addition of a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) alongside a touchscreen dash and advanced electronic assists isn’t cheap and has seen the Africa Twin’s price increase significantly. But you do now get cruise control (finally!), cornering ABS and traction control and that TFT dash as standard on all models with the Adventure Sports also adding cornering lights, heated grips and the option (at an additional £1400) of semi-active suspension…

INDIAN HAS CREATED one of the most refined American V-twin baggers ever in the imposing shape of the new Challenger — it’s the most powerful too, with super-sized helpings of grunt. Its new liquid-cooled ‘PowerPlus’ motor will whisk you serenely along in sixth but change down, out of its overdrive top gear and it accelerates with the kind of alacrity that belies its huge size and 361kg dry weight. A new aluminium chassis, upside-down forks and Brembo monoblocs give the Challenger typical Indian poise in the corners and Metzeler Cruisetecs dig in like sports rubber. However, what you really want on a tourer like this is supreme comfort and it delivers in spades, although wind noise can be excessive and switchgear buttons are tricky to reach. It comes with a…

BMW S1000RR Sport Price £17,920 (as tested) Engine 999cc dohc inline four, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 205bhp @ 13,500rpm (msrd) Torque 85.9ft·lb @ 10,500rpm (msrd) Transmission 6-speed, chain Frame Aluminium twin spar Front suspension 45mm forks, 120mm travel, semi-active damping, mechanically-adjustable preload Rear suspension monoshock, 117mm travel, semi-active damping, mechanically-adjustable preload Front brakes 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 220mm disc, 1-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70-17 Rear tyre 200/55-17 Wheelbase 1441mm Rake/trail 23.1°/93.9mm Seat height 824mm Kerb weight 198kg…

IF ANYONE NEEDS an excuse to make a late autumn run for the sun, this is it. Incessant rain splatters dolefully on visors like a cold shower, pursuing photographer Jason Critchell and yours truly along the M6/M5 schlep to Brittany Ferries in Plymouth in a sopping, aquaplaning fug of misery and gritted teeth. Water, water everywhere, soaking waterproofs and luggage with pervasive, clammy damp. Wet crotches have a time and place, but not here, not now. And while this isn’t a happy start, at least dismal weather validates the proposition instantly: Is it worth saving the big foreign trip until the weather at home turns? A Brittany ferry to Santander, a short stint to the Pyrenees, two days exploring the epic N260 as it runs west-to-east along the southern spine…

‘Flit between a leisurely sightseeing tour and fast-paced sweepers’ BEST FOR RIDING TO ALL YEAR SOUTH OF FRANCE “It’s truly awe-inspiring and one of the best little rides you can do”Nominated by reader Richard O’Brien Time off work 5 days Budget £900 “France has its very own Grand Canyon; it’s called the Verdon Gorge [main image] and it’s spectacular. The scenery, bridges and sparkling turquoise-blue water are so jaw-droppingly awesome that you’ll stop every 100 metres just to take a picture. The roads are incredible too and will be quieter in winter, so you can flit between a leisurely tour or a fast-paced scratch and even in winter, it’s a doable ride down if you’ve got heated kit. “It’s not particularly high and reasonably close to the coast making for…

putting down a £6837 deposit, and at the same 9.9% as the PCP deal, Steve would be looking at 36 payments of £319 (with £1963 remaining from the trade-in figure).…

SWEEPING EAST OUT of West Bay, the rollercoaster B3157 runs along an undulating high ridge, and roughly traces a rare, 18-mile strip of uncorrugated Dorset coastline. Off to the right lies Chesil Beach, a storm shore famous for its quality pebbles, reaching as far as Weymouth and bordered by mist out in the English Channel. To the left, fields back up into Dorset’s folding farm landscape. The road slides gracefully, contours rising and falling like a gentle sine wave, progress punctuated by villages and holiday homes (Sir William of Bragg lives around here, apparently). Its tarmac is smooth and clean, properly resurfaced some time in the last few years — it’s the ideal topography for a steady, high-speed momentum, linking the curves like a giant word puzzle. But the B3157’s…

BEST FOR VIEWS West Bay Wednesday nights in the summer, Sundays all year around. Park in the square just before the harbour bridge and walk across to the Windy Corner café and Helmet City for a friendly brew and browse. Where Quayside, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4GZ BEST FOR PUB GRUB Churchill Arms in Alderholt There might be a bike meet every Tuesday night throughout the summer in the charming, inland village, but the pub’s always biker-friendly with a great selection of food. Where Daggons Road, Alderholt, Fordingbridge, SP6 3AA BEST FOR ATMOSPHERE Poole Quay Well known for its summer bike meet, there is plenty to keep bikers occupied at Poole Quay the rest of the year. The deli, in particular, has a great reputation for its coffee. Where…

Schuberth C4 Pro £599 www.schuberth.com The claim “The SCHUBERTH C4 PRO is the new benchmark for the most demanding tourers and racers. The helmet with a compact shape that barely resembles a flip-up helmet. The new interior fittings and optimised acoustics make the SCHUBERTH C4 PRO an extremely comfortable helmet. No wobbling, low noise level no matter what the speed. Compatible with the invisible SC1 communication system.” The reality Schuberth sadly is overselling this — its low brow and restricted upper field of vision make it unsuitable for sportsbike riders but as a touring helmet, it has plenty going for it. The first is that it is extremely comfortable. The 70s-spec velour lining is comfort heaven; soft and super-plush and even has a cover that goes over the chin strap…

‘The bare metal was sparkling and rust-free’ WHAT IS CLEAR here is that anything water-based is at a disadvantage when it comes to protecting against water. In its defence, the FS 365 does recommend washing and re-applying after every ride but who has the time or the inclination to do that after a sopping wet, dark ride home? However, it was still a massive improvement over nothing at all and if you are prepared to re-apply after every ride, then it might be worth considering for you. Everyone has a can of WD-40 and in the absence of a dedicated corrosion preventer, it will keep the worst of the elements off your bike in the short term. The three dedicated preventers were fairly evenly matched, each doing an excellent job.…

There is nothing wrong with the BT-016 Pro’s performance on the road — and if you’re honestly 100% happy with how your bike feels, you could do worse than buy the cheaper tyre and save the cash. But if you want more from your bike, the latest tyres are always a good idea. Our test proves they really do improve confidence, ride quality and steering — as you’d hope for the premium paid. The extra performance means if you want a new, ‘better’ bike, it might be worth changing the tyres on your current bike first — the extra money they cost is far lower than the price difference with a new bike.…

1 The vanishing point sets the speed Like many riders and drivers, you probably use the VP already but Paul Dickinson urges his students to practise until perfect because; “You get the correct speed from the vanishing point. And once that’s done, you can take your fun onto a different plain.” To recap: when the VP moves towards you, the bend is tightening, so slow down to try to make that distance constant. On the other hand, when it moves away from you, the corner is opening, so you can begin to add more throttle and speed. 2 Commentary buys you time Paul talks to himself and to prove it provides a 15-mile commentary in your earpiece of what he’s doing and thinking. Then his students do it too. It’s…

NOT MANY PEOPLE’S all-time favourite rides are on their doorstep, and Paul Hardy admits as much at the start of our ride together. We’re having a morning coffee at Babaco cafe in Watton, close to his home in Norfolk: “My absolute favourite rides are up the Dales and Pennines, and I want to do Wales,” says 49 year-old Paul, who’s no stranger to distance on two-wheels; in the 90s he regularly rode sportsbikes across to Germany when he was in the army. “In those days the creaky old bones weren’t so creaky, so you could do it,” he laughs. But today we’re closer to home, on Paul’s favourite Sunday route around the Norfolk and Suffolk border. And the sportsbike has gone too: “In 2013 I went from a ZX-10R to…

THERE ARE THREE popular misconceptions when it comes to the riding skills needed for adventure touring. The first is that you need to be an off-road god to tackle the endless miles of trails you’ll encounter. Well, the world is changing very quickly and many long-distance trans-continental journeys can be done entirely on paved roads. Secondly, that riding on paved roads will present no real difficulties. Most riders overlook the variety of road conditions a trans-continental journey can throw at them — surfaces, weather, other road users, wildlife etc — and consequently pay little attention to fine tuning their road-riding skills. Third and last, that the riding isn’t much different to a normal tour, there’s just more of it. The fact is that more riders than we care to mention…

I recently decided to purchase better suspension for my three-year-old Honda CBR500R as I was finding longer journeys uncomfortable. I had the bike fitted with new aftermarket Andreani fork cartridges (suited to my weight) and a new K-Tech Razor RR shock at a cost of £1500. I realised that I had to tell my insurers, so I contacted Carole Nash only to discover that my insurance company refused point-blank to cover suspension changes of any sort. This also applied to the other companies that Carole Nash deals with. I had no alternative but to cancel the policy, incurring a penalty of £50, and seek cover elsewhere. I got cover the same day via Admiral Bikesure with Ageas, but it cost £130 per annum instead of the £70 I had paid…

Touch screen not touchy enough The 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen display is standard on both models. Incorporating Apple CarPlay, it is Bluetooth ready, can replicate iPhone apps, has a USB charging point and can be accessed with a gloved hand. However, the touchscreen function is only available when the bike is stationary and you need to link in a Bluetooth headset as well as plug in your phone via a USB lead to access CarPlay. It’s got the best DCT yet Where the old DCT system used to change gear at inopportune moments, the new version is linked to the IMU, allowing it to calculate and respond to gradients and if the bike is cornering. A major step forward in its performance, it is now excellent in both an on and…

ORIGINAL MASTER OF MILES 1976 BMW R100RS 980cc 70bhp 230kg The first faired sports tourer, styled by Pininfarina with almost complete weather protection and aerodynamics for 120mph. The R100RS is the great grandfather of the modern high-performance tourer. The reality Now an appreciating classic but still a magnificent tourer. Pay £4500 for a good one. LONG-DISTANCE ICON 1990 Kawasaki ZZ-R1100 C/D 1052cc 147bhp 228kg Able to eat whole countries on a whim. The archetypal hypersports-tourer, uniting huge performance, comfy chassis and sleek aero like nothing before and little since. The reality Now very long in the tooth; total overhaul a must. Pay £3000 for a minter. TECHNO, TECHNO, TECH? NO 1994 Yamaha GTS1000 1002cc 100bhp 246kg High tech for its day, with an FcR1000 EaUP motor (limited to 100bhp), radical…

KTM IS A sporting brand, with a rich history of off-road competition and, more recently, success — not to mention huge ambition — in Grand Prix racing. Little wonder that its slogan is ‘Ready To Race’. But don’t let that fool you; the Austrian firm can do civilized and accomplished too. The Super Duke GT was launched back in 2016 to, as KTM put it, ‘extend that racing sensation for longer’. In other words, sportsbike performance and capability but with the bonus of all-day comfort and real distance potential. The original bike borrowed its ballistic 173bhp 1301cc V-twin lump from the Super Duke R and Super Adventure, albeit retuned to maximise low-to-midrange grunt. Unsurprisingly the SDGT’s combination of full-fat performance and real-world ergonomics won it many fans, but this fast…

Ergo heated seat £217.98 The 2016-2018 SDGT seat wasn’t a hit with owners. Pronounced edging causes discomfort to the inner thighs plus its padding is modest at best. The KTM Ergo seat is more ergonomically designed and its 3D mesh construction gives better weight distribution, so it’s comfier for longer. And it’s heated too. There’s a pillion Ergo upgrade, too — also heated — from £166. www.ktm.com Suspension software upgrade £0 Up-speccing your first-gen GT’s suspension to that of the 2019 is not only a no-brainer, it’s free (the software update is FOC but dealers may charge 30 mins labour to do it). It gives the WP semi-active suspension the latest damping maps which Steve noticed were a big improvement. KTM says the update greatly improves the ride.…

Best for Fossils and coastline Length 85 miles Route Beer to Poole Quay via Lyme Regis, West Bay, Weymouth Roads B3172, A3052, A35, B3157, B3155, A353, A352, A351 Love it because The road itself has its challenges but tourism is rife around here and you have to choose your moment with care. But the chance to ride beside hundreds of millions of years of exposed geology is pretty mind-bending stuff — as well as being postcard-pretty. Take a picture of How big is your SD card or your phone? Beer is pretty; Lyme Regis is quaint; Charmouth has fossils and cliffs; West Bay has a harbour and more cliffs — and then there’s Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door! Stop for a cuppa Windy Corner in West Bay — have a…

FOR ANYONE WHO owns a bike they are proud of, the prospect of developing corrosion on any part of it strikes terror into their heart. And for riders who choose to continue riding through winter, and the potentially destructive combination of snow, rain and salt on the roads during any cold snaps, it could mean disaster for exhausts, fastenings, frames and unions. However, avoiding corrosion is not a difficult task and needn’t mean wrapping your bike in blankets in a warm, humidity-controlled garage for the winter months. For parts of the bike that can’t be painted or plated, there are several proprietary corrosion prevention treatments available that will not only keep bikes looking as good as possible, they will also help resist the attack of salt and other elements as…

Development in the tyre world is every bit as cut-throat as in the motorcycle arena, with manufacturers pouring millions into new rubber technology. However, where once a bike is updated its production stops, tyre companies will continue to build older- generation tyres to give customers a more budget-conscious alternative to the very latest rubber. While possibly lacking the latest in terms of technology, do these ‘outdated’ tyres offer a saving worth snapping up? To find out, we back-to-back tested Bridgestone’s BT-016 Pro against its latest S22 tyre to see if the older- spec tyre is a saving worth making.…

YES, THIS IS a course about cornering,” says Paul Dickinson, while handing round homemade chocolate brownies, “but, no, it is certainly not about knee down.” Or hitting your apexes or even braking, as it turns out. Forget the gearbox, too. “One gear only, please,” says Paul. “Okay, two if you have to. Shall we go?” Four hours later we are standing roadside in rural Monmouthshire, inhaling the smells and scenery that come with the county’s heavenly B-roads, grinning self-consciously as the John Deere super-tractors we’ve passed and re-passed grumble by yet again. ‘On a road this tempting, he wants calm...’ The road we’ve been riding is 14 miles of everything: sweepers, wiggles, hairpins, hairpins that look like sweepers. It not only deceives but tunnels through trees, pops you over crests…

BACK IN THE 2000s before hyper-nakeds were invented, a bike with a retuned sports engine and no fairing was called a factory streetfighter. Most were capable all-rounders tackling anything from touring to commuting to the odd trackday. Yamaha’s 2005 FZ1 was among the most all-round. Yamaha rehearsed the concept in 2001 with the half-faired FZS1000 Fazer, using a first-generation R1 motor in a steel-tube frame but it lacked the aggression to satisfy sporty riders. Hence a revamped, harder-edged FZ1, along with a new half-faired FZ1-S Fazer, in 2006. Based around a retuned, fuel-injected 2004 R1 motor making 135bhp at the wheel, the FZ1 was a lighter, sharper, more powerful and more aggressive proposition. And the basic FZ1 package was good enough for Yamaha to leave it pretty much unchanged for…

Yamaha FZ1 (2006-2015) Engine dohc inline four, 5v per cyl, l/c Capacity 998cc Power 131bhp @ 11,600rpm (measured @ rear wheel) Torque 69lb·ft @ 7800rpm (measured) Fuel capacity 17 litres Seat height 815mm Wheelbase 1460mm Kerb weight 216kg (measured) Rider aids none…

Affordable to buy, not to run Fuel economy is lousy and you’ll need fuel with low ethanol content or the rubber pipes inside the tank can get damaged. Oil and filter servicing is yearly and £250 at a specialist dealer. The motor needs plugs and the injection setting up at 5000 miles (£350), and a valve clearances check at 10,000 miles; £750. Checking the radial valves is a big job some dealers avoid but is essential. Reliability is good… most of the time MV put a lot of effort into the Brutale and the castings, six-pot brakes and huge Showa forks are classy. But like most MVs, the Brutale runs hot and needs the cooling system to be tip-top. Cam-chain tensioners on early bikes wear out; hot starting can be…

IT’S BEEN ANOTHER eye-opening month with the Honda’s keenly-priced CRF250L. After a summer of wonderful evening trail-riding full of golden light and hard-packed trails, things have become darker, wetter, muddier and stickier — and with a few tweaks, it’s been fun. Like many of the hundreds of adventure bike owners that have bought CRFs, I was inspired by the bike’s low weight and ease of handling on green lanes. But once my local trails got muddy, things became more slidey — it was just too much for the road-biased IRC tyres. They’d clog with mud instantly, wheelspin and fishtail. When I first got hold of the CRF, I didn’t know I’d take to greenlaning as much as I have (part of the bike’s appeal is that it’s also a reasonable…