Table of contents for 28 September 2016 in MCN

Tech giant Apple are reportedly in talks with San Francisco startup Lit Motors, the creators of the extraordinary self-balancing electric motorcycle called the C-1. Apple have already hired several former Lit engineers, and are also apparently in talks with McLaren. Lit Motors first appeared on our radar in 2012, promising a limited production run of the self-balancing C-1 in 2014 at a price of $24,000 per unit, although at the time of writing – two years after the initial production date – it appears the company is stuck at the prototype phase. Initially the firm claimed the C-1 would be capable of 120mph, with a range of 200 miles – way ahead of any current electric motorcycles on the market. But recent tests have so far only resulted in a…

‘For what it is and how it works, the Freewheeler certainly delivers’ Harley’s trikes are fairly new to the UK, having been available in the US for years, but for 2017, following the successful introduction of the full-dress TriGlide in 2015, essentially a three-wheeled version of the ElectraGlide Ultra Classic, there’s suddenly now two different versions available. Say hello to the new, Milwaukee-Eight-powered, Harley Freewheeler. And it’s a hoot – well, for a trike at least. There’s not room to go into the whole trike v bike thing here, all the disadvantages of a car plus all the disadvantages of a bike, for example. For what it is, and how it works, however, the Freewheeler certainly delivers. Basically a smaller, cheaper, chopped down more hot rod-styled version of the TriGlide,…

Bad deal for bikers at Donington It would seem that if you arrive by bike at Donington, you must park at Redgate – but arrive by car and you can park anywhere. My brother and I wanted to watch the BSB from the Foggy Esses so used the main entrance, where we were told we had to park our bikes at Redgate and walk. We explained that as I’m an amputee (right leg), we would prefer to park nearer the Esses but were told “too bad, bikes can’t use this entrance.” Malcolm Pitman, email Brave but risky remount While it is in some ways commendable that Michael van der Mark managed to finish last Sunday’s WSB race after crashing and sustaining severe damage to his bike, his actions have to…

In my madder moments I have an invention that sees car drivers able to raise a warning against another driver. If that driver gets three warning lights on one journey... his vehicle automatically pulls into the next available service station and he has to watch a tutorial and answer relevant questions before being allowed to set off again. And penalty points are automatically added to his licence and a sizeable fine taken from his bank – ideally instantly by direct debit. This might seem a tad extreme, but sometimes terrible driving kills people and should not be taken lightly. Of course there are more accepted punishments currently used and it’s great to see that one of the road’s greatest perils is attracting a tougher penalty from next year. Using a…

SUZUKI SV650 £5595 FUEL 13.8 litres @ 55.4mpg = 168 miles WEIGHT 197kg SEAT 785mm POWER 75bhp TORQUE 47ftlb TONY HOARE Experienced rider and former racer who seems to be losing his appetite for going fast HEIGHT 5ft 10in WEIGHT 95kg ‘When it reaches zero it still has some in reserve in case of emergency, which is a common-sense approach’ I hated maths at school, but seem to have developed a strange liking for figures when it’s associated to bikes. The dash on the SV650 is among the best on any bike I’ve tested, with plenty of information all laid out so it’s easy to read on the move. The LCD display is also perfectly easy to read in either bright sunshine or pitch darkness without needing to alter the…

IF YOU LIKE THIS… Arai RX-7V RC £2499 With 11 hand-laid layers of F1-spec carbon-fibre, the only helmet with greater exclusivity than the Pista GP R is this £2499 limited edition Arai. It’s a complete work of art! www.whyarai.co.uk MCN SAYS By Tony Hoare MCN Consumer Editor “As far removed from a touring helmet as it’s possible to get but for amateur racers, trackdayers and sportsbike riders who limit their activities to sunny rides, this may be the most advanced helmet on the market.” MotoGP levels of protection will come closer to the normal rider’s head next year with AGV’s introduction of the new 2017 Pista GP R. It’s a massive revamp of the lid Valentino Rossi has been wearing since 2013, to improve aerodynamic performance at high speed and…

‘Every weekend becomes a challenge in British Superbikes. You really have to dig deep in every race and that’s what I enjoy’ Leon Haslam has revealed to MCN that he is set to sign a deal that would see him race in the MCE British Superbike Championship again next season, despite having offers on the table to return to WSB. The 2010 World Superbike runner-up does have options to go back and compete against old foes Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes, but says he isn’t interested unless he can be guaranteed competitive machinery. “If I could get an opportunity in WSB where I thought I could show what I could do on the world stage – and which could lead to a good ride the year after to win on…

Qatar Binder starts the year off with a steady second place behind Niccolo Antonelli, a result he builds upon to take three podiums from the opening three races of the year. Jerez Binder takes a debut win in stunning form. Relegated to the back of the grid for an illegal ECU map, he cuts through from 35th on the grid to win comfortably. Mugello He completes a trio of wins, backing up victories at Jerez and Le Mans with another in Italy. He finishes second at the next round, making it seven podiums from seven races. Assen Off the podium for the first time all year after contact with another rider in the frantic last laps. But his charge remains on track due to rival Jorge Navarro being out with…

‘The Aprilia has improved a lot – the chassis is fantastic!’SAM LOWES Sam Lowes’ move to the factory Aprilia squad in 2017 could be a stroke of genius. When he signed the deal, Aprilia were off the pace in MotoGP and clearly just making up the numbers. But during 2016 they have made incredible progress. Evidence of which came at Aragon with both its riders, Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl, in the top 10 and ahead of the factory Ducatis. Lowes has been busy testing the new bike and remains impressed with the speed of development of the new package. “The new Aprilia chassis is fantastic!” he said. “The bike has improved a lot. You have to remember it was a new bike this year, and it was always going…

Jorge Lorenzo found the secret for success that he needed to challenge for the podium in Sunday’s race in the most unlikely of places, when a fast crash during warm-up brought the moment of inspiration he needed to take on Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo struggled all weekend to find both the pace and the tyre option he needed to run at the front, only just pulling out a surprise performance in qualifying to secure a front-row start. But, inspiration came at the eleventh hour when unforeseen circumstances forced him down a path that has so far been unfamiliar this season – using Michelin’s hard rear tyre. “Sometimes a negative thing creates a positive thing,” Lorenzo said. “My warm-up crash made me do two laps before the start to try both bikes.…

While most of the paddock headed home to rest before three back-to-back flyaway races, the Repsol Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, plus LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow, remained at Aragon for a very important test. Supposedly running a complete 2017-spec Honda RC213V for the first time after testing the new engine after the last round at Misano, MCN’s sources believe the new bike will see a major design change from the current model. Running only in private tests so far, some information has nonetheless leaked, including details of a different sounding bike for next year. Departing from the ‘screamer’ engine of 2016, the new motor may well feature a ‘big-bang’ firing order as used by its rivals. Firing two cylinders at a time instead of each individually,…

A vehicle safety recall notice issued by the DVSA has revealed a potential problem with the airbag system on Honda’s GL1800 Gold Wing, resulting in a recall for that particular model. The recall notice states the airbag may not deploy correctly. A statement released by Honda UK says: “As a precautionary measure, Honda has identified a batch of Gold Wing models, manufactured between 2007 and 2008, that will have airbag inflators replaced. The remedial work will happen in two phases. First, airbag systems will be disabled. Models in question will then be booked in to have a new inflator fitted. Honda encourages Gold Wing owners to contact their Honda dealer, to establish whether their model is affected.”…

Street 750 £69 per month for a Harley-Davidson? You can’t knock that for an affordable way into the family. Easy ergonomics, urban agility and classic H-D looks, all yours after a £1341 deposit. Iron 883 Probably the most well-known and ubiquitous of all Harleys, the Iron is a blend of air-cooled purity and style. It’s a great ride, too. Get a dose of Iron for £99pm, after a £1506.25. Roadster This is the Sportster we’ve all been waiting for. More ground clearance and a sportier stance, the Roadster is the best of the 1200s. Yours for £1649 up front. Heritage Classic It doesn’t get much more classic H-D than this white-wall tyred 1690cc of Americana. A deposit of £3995.25 gets you rolling. Hunting for a used Brit bruiser instead? See…

Last week I listed a few bikes I’m considering buying this winter, because I think they’re going to go up – Fireblade, because they’re under-priced, ZRX1200 because muscle bikes are coming back into fashion, Blackbird because nobody’s made a valid replacement for it yet, and Zephyr 750 because retro is back in fashion. And also, because it’s retro, I’m contemplating the Triumph Thunderbird. These are already in demand – for my money, they’re more convincing than the early Bonnevilles, and they certainly go better – but you can find decent ones for the right money if you look and (crucially) they’re one of those bikes where people don’t demand 100% originality, so you can replace some components with quality pattern aftermarket stuff if you buy a damaged one. The Honda…

‘If the tyres are too soft it feels like the wheels are going to fall off’ We get quite a few Rocket IIIs in, but they’re only really ever visiting for tyres, brake pads and services. The early bikes had a silver engine and I think it was 2006 or 2007 that they went to black engines and the colour change coincided with a lot of upgrades to the engine and gearbox to keep engine noise and harshness down and to make them a bit more refined. There are some things to watch out for on them, and the biggest issue I’ve seen over the years is dodgy ignition switches. You turn the ignition on and if you fiddle with the key the ignition can cut out – we’ve had…

£1799 Suzuki Inazuma 250 This 2013 model has covered 11,276 miles, but with the same owner and a full service history. A topbox and heated grips boost day-to-day practicality. £2650 KTM 125 Duke ABS-equipped version of the funky 125, with 6650 miles on the clock, has had a recent full service. This 2013 model is still on the original tyres, so expect to replace them soon (they’re poor anyway). £4999 Ducati Monster 796 This 2010 model is showing 11,867 miles and comes with ABS, heated grips and a seat cowl. It’s a dealer sale that’s subject to a £59 ‘documentation fee’. £3795 Honda NC700X Four years old and four previous owners, but this 2012 model with 13,366 miles has extras including radiator cover, gear indicator, hand guards and a centrestand…

YAMAHA XSR900 £7849 FUEL 14 litres at 46.9mpg = 146 miles WEIGHT 195kg SEAT 830mm POWER 115bhp TORQUE 64ftlb at 8500rpm ANDY CALTON Brought up on two-strokes but currently moving up through the capacity and power levels ‘By the end of the trip, I was aching, but I think I would have been on any bike’ The café racerisation of the Yamaha XSR900 was greeted with a certain amount of scepticism by other members of the MCN team. Many didn’t seem to care how much better it looked with the seat hump, dropped bars and rearsets – they seemed intent on pointing out such mundanities as comfort and other irrelevancies. But they would not be silenced by my shrugging of the shoulders and assertions that it ‘wasn’t too bad once…

IF YOU LIKE THIS Held Spire £549.99 ‘It’s made from quality leather, has a snug fit and the jacket is long enough (just) to wear separately. The zip that connects jackets to trousers is chunky.’ MCN | June 15, 2016 www.held-uk.co.uk Cuffs One of the nicest bits – snug, smooth and easy for gloves to go over Flexibility Difficult to achieve on a handmade suit built for crash resistance, but Hideout manage it Pockets You can have whatever you like. This suit has four, all easy to reach Hideout custom two-piece leathers £1200 approx Tester Rupert Paul Time tested Five months/6000 miles What’s good? I have always had trouble getting off-the-peg trousers to fit because, apparently, I have long thigh bones. On the other hand, made-to-measure trousers are usually less…

‘There was the year I lost all the points and the year Alex Lowes knocked me off’SHANE BYRNE Shane Byrne heads into the is penultimate round of the 2016 MCE British Superbike Championship at Assen this weekend with a 27-point advantage over Leon Haslam, but the four-time British champ knows he can’t rest on his laurels. The very nature of BSB’s Showdown is to pile on the pressure over the last three rounds – with each of the top six riders in with a shout of taking the crown. Over the years the Showdown has thrown up countless surprises, and 2016 is no exception as Haslam found out last time out at Donington when an unforced error saw him crash out of the fight for the lead in the second…

• Moto3 world champion Danny Kent looks set to remain with Kiefer Racing in Moto2 for 2017, albeit under different colours and on a new bike. Kent will switch to Suter machinery as the Swiss manufacturer launches a new assault on the series. • New penalties have been brought in to penalise riders for making rude gestures at others while on track. First warned about it after Valentino Rossi flicked a finger at Aleix Espargaró in Misano for a near-miss on track, his protégé Nicolo Bulega was the first to be penalised, with a €300 fine for a similar gesture during Moto3 practice. • Rumours that John McPhee has secured a factory-backed Honda machine for 2017 are looking strong, with Dorna keen to get the Czech race winner on to…

Eugene Laverty Qualified: 16th Finished: 14th Laverty’s hunt for a top 10 finish in the championship suffered a blow at Aragon, after a mistake in the final laps of Sunday’s race cost him valuable points. Admitting afterwards he should maybe have gone with a harder tyre, he was left frustrated. “The start of the race with a full tank was difficult but then I settled into a good rhythm with Pirro. I wanted to try and pass him towards the end, but the front tyre was too soft and it started moving around, and I ran off the track, which cost me a couple of positions.” Danny Kent Qualified: 28th Finished: 29th Kent struggled with illness during the early part of the weekend and then had a tyre pressure issue…

‘I wasn’t the first time in the race he’d hit me – he’d already had me on the first lap!’SCOTT REDDING While Rossi and Lorenzo may have drawn headlines in recent weeks for their inter-team rivalry, it was Pramac Racing’s Scott Redding and Danilo Petrucci who instead went to war in Sunday’s race. It was a difficult weekend for both riders, struggling with rear grip and wheelspin issues. But their race was to come to an end much sooner than expected, when a collision between the duo on the second lap saw Redding in the gravel and Petrucci penalised with a ride-through penalty – an error the Italian blamed on a technical failure. Petrucci said: “On the first lap, I tried to brake hard but my bike didn’t stop because…

Dani Pedrosa was rueing what could have been in Sunday’s race at Aragon, after suffering from what rubber manufacturer Michelin later deemed to be ‘excessive’ wear to his front tyre during the race. Looking likely to return to the podium for the second successive GP despite starting back in seventh thanks to a qualifying crash, the Spaniard’s hopes were dashed after struggling for much of the race with what may have been a defective tyre. He said afterwards: “There was an issue with the front tyre, something went wrong and I had lot of vibration on the edge. I tried to keep the rhythm but it was so difficult to race with the feeling of both the rear and front. “I was trying to understand if it was the track…

‘Petrucci showed signs of concussion, such as memory loss’ Of all the injuries that riders sustain in motorbike racing, there are few as likely to bring a hush to the paddock as reports of a head injury. The human brain, while an incredible computer, is also a fragile organ, and it is still always a major concern when a rider is reported to have suffered a head trauma. Which makes last weekend’s actions regarding Danilo Petrucci all the more concerning, after the Pramac Ducati rider was allowed to continue to compete after suffering an injury that would have ruled him out of a sport like professional rugby for up to three weeks. Petrucci was perhaps the unluckiest rider of the weekend, after he was wiped out by Pol Espargaró’s bike…

‘There’s no getting away from it, the CVO Street Glide is simply fabulous. In every way. Almost.’ Harley’s CVO bikes have always been the very best-accessorised and tuned offerings the historic American firm can muster – but its latest for 2017 takes even all that a stage further. CVO stands for H-D’s in-house Custom Vehicle Operations department which, each year, produces a limited edition of a few thousand or so blinged and hotted up examples of a small selection of its big twins. Usually, this means the standard engines get Harley’s bolt-on Screamin’ Eagle performance upgrade; special edition, two-tone custom paint is exquisitely applied and the whole thing is slathered with the most alluring aluminium billet and often carbon-fibre goodies H-D’s extensive accessories catalogue can offer. The result is, simply,…

Over a beer and burger at the Buccleuch Arms, we compare notes. Which one would we choose to do the trip on again? Does the bigger budget of the RT make it better than the Versys or Tracer? It does not. James actually prefers the Yamaha, money no object: “I’d take the Tracer either way,” he says. “The one thing that lets it down is tank range – 130 miles isn’t enough – but aside from that it’s light enough to have fun on, it’s comfortable, it’s nimble and, best of all, it’s brilliant value.” Meanwhile Jimmy rates the Versys his favourite: “It’s tricky, because all three are excellent; but if you take into account prices, there’s no way the RT’s ride is seven grand better than the Versys. But…

1994 Suzuki RGV500 XR84 Rider: Kevin Schwantz 500cc GP championship position: 4th Schwantz had never managed to put a consistent season together until 1993 when he finally won the 500cc World Championship. Rainey had always been the stronger of the two rivals over a year, so it was the cruellest irony that the Californian’s life-changing crash at Misano effectively handed Schwantz the title. Without his most fierce sparring partner, Schwantz was never the same again and Mick Doohan went on to dominate 500s for the rest of the decade. This 1994 RGV500 should be wearing that number one plate, but it wears the number 34 from when Schwantz rode it at a classic festival earlier in the year. SPECS Engine 498cc, liquid-cooled V4 2-stroke. Reed valve induction. 36mm Mikuni flat…

KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT £15,999 FUEL 23 litres @ 44.55mpg = 245 miles range WEIGHT 205kg (dry) SEAT 835mm POWER 173bhp TORQUE106ftlb RICHARD NEWLAND Sportsbike addict with a love of road riding, in all weathers. HEIGHT 5ft 11in WEIGHT 115kg ‘I’ve never ridden so far, in so little time, so effortlessly. The GT has become a part of my life history’ Truly exceptional motorcycles change your life. Horizons seem to stretch that little bit further, the mundane becomes an excuse for entertainment, and when you’d normally stop – they inspire you to carry on. And so, after weeks of staring at the invite from KTM to join them in their fanstand at the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian MotoGP, I finally decided to go – just hours before…

BMW F800GS £10,055 FUEL 16 litres @ 48.64mpg = 169 miles WEIGHT 214kg Seat 880mm POWER 84bhp TORQUE 61ftlb JAMES ARCHIBALD Long-distance commuter with four years of riding experience. HEIGHT 5ft 11in WEIGHT 84kg james.archibald@motorcyclenews.com Coupled with the hard life it’s had so far – 14,000-miles, ridden off-road and a long Autobahn stint in Germany, I suppose it’s no wonder the chain developed tight spots. When I arrived back from Germany the chain had stretched and was pretty knackered despite regular maintenance and lubing, so it was back to BMW to get it replaced (with a new set of sprockets too). It cost £265.29 including labour. I was a little disappointed I wasn’t able to get a little more life from the chain, even though I know regular hard riding…

RST Tractech Evo Race Gloves, £90 Quality gloves at a fair price, these have a mix of hard and soft armour and extra layers of leather in vulnerable areas. Construction is a mix of kangaroo and cowhide and there is Kevlar stitching. The fingers are pre-curved. Enter until: September 30 Sportsbikeshop Gift Voucher, £50 Treat yourself to some new great kit from Sportsbikeshop – the UK’s No1 online dealer with more than 18,000 bike products in stock from more than 100 different brands. They offer free UK mainland delivery and returns on orders over £25 (excluding Scottish highlands). Enter until: September 30 Adventure Calendar, £13 The Adventure Motorcycle Calendar is back for 2017, celebrating more of the overland travels of globe-trotting couple Alberto Lara and Naomi Tweddle. In this stunning…

Haslam might be behind Byrne in the title standings, but that makes him no less determined to clinch his maiden MCE British Superbike title. And while the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider has had to contend with re-learning most of the UK’s quirky circuits this year, this is not a problem he’ll encounter at Assen. Haslam finished on the podium three times at the Dutch circuit in his WSB career and knows the circuit well. However, he’s mindful the fast, flowing track could suit his rival. “One crash doesn’t mean we’re out of it,” Haslam said. “I haven’t crashed out of a race all year until now so we just need to make sure we don’t do it again! We need to win as many races as we can to be…

‘If I’d crashed it wouldn’t have been a problem – I wasn’t under pressure’BRAD BINDER Brad Binder has made good on his promise to take this year’s Moto3 world title with ease, taking the championship with an incredible four races in hand – the first time the feat has ever been achieved in the modern era. But he had to battle for it on Sunday, after a typical Moto3 knife fight saw him secure the title with a second-placed finish he snatched from rival Enea Bastianini in the last corner. Binder became the first South African since Jon Ekerold in 1980 to taste title glory, with the 21-year-old admitting that his main emotion was relief. He said: “I don’t know what to think yet, as it doesn’t feel real. Sunday…

‘I’m back in the fight, and it helps to prove I’m worthy of going up to MotoGP’SAM LOWES Sam Lowes’ bid to win the 2016 Moto2 crown is now well and truly back on after a stunning victory in Aragon saw him able to haul back a huge amount of points to rivals Alex Rins and Johann Zarco. Having finished four out of the last five previous races out of the points, the 25-year-old Brit was forced to concede that winning the championship was virtually impossible. But after a dominant win at the Spanish circuit he closed the gap back to only 40 points, with 100 points still available – giving the Federal Oil Gresini rider all the motivation he needs to continue his fightback. He said: “It’s back on.…

‘Lorenzo was stronger than me in the second half of the race’VALENTINO ROSSI Valentino Rossi has admitted that after the weekend’s results at Motorland Aragon, his focus for the remainder of the 2016 MotoGP season will be to battle with team-mate Jorge Lorenzo for second place in the championship. The decision comes after a disappointing end to the weekend for the Movistar Yamaha man at the Spanish race, when an error in the closing stages of the race all but ended any chances he had of closing down title leader and race winner Marc Marquez. Repsol Honda rider Marquez now enjoys a 52-point lead in the series, and Rossi admitted after the race that the chances of taking a record 10th title this year are all but gone. Rossi said:…

‘When I caught Valentino, I relaxed for a lap then attacked’MARC MARQUEZ Marc Marquez defeated his MotoGP rivals on track and off by taking a dominant win at Motorland Aragon on Sunday. His emphatic victory was played out in front of his ever- growing army of fans at a track where he knew he could dominate before the weekend even got underway. With the knowledge that both he and his Repsol Honda excel at the Spanish circuit, Marquez abandoned his recent tactics of being consistent and conservative in a bid to maintain his series lead. Instead of biding his time and simply following title rivals Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi to a safe podium finish, he instead went on the attack, taking a convincing race victory despite making potentially crucial…

Cal Crutchlow has continued his run of good form at Aragon by taking yet another strong result from the weekend. The Czech Grand Prix winner looked strong throughout, defeating many of his factory rivals in Sunday’s race to finish fifth on the LCR Honda. Yet in a sign of just how much his pace has improved since a torrid start to the 2016 season, he was left bemoaning his qualifying crash that meant he started from the second and not the front row. He said: “I knew what was going to happen if I didn’t qualify on the front row. I didn’t get a great start, I got stuck behind Dani, and I couldn’t get away with the leaders. I tried to battle back, but our bike has got no…