Table of contents for 9 November 2016 in MCN

Among all the stunning new machinery at this year’s Milan show, one stood out with the same level of crazy excitement as Honda’s Africa Twin concept from two years ago – and it’s this insane looking T7 concept. Set to be the replacement for the XT660 Ténéré, this MT-07-engined Dakar-style weapon is brimming with aggression, while promising a level of accessibility not normally found on adventure bikes. We can’t wait to see the real deal...…

THE FACTS • 113bhp • 227kg • Seat height 840mm The Multistrada family may already have a top-end adventure-sports bike for most tastes, ranging from the superb Pikes Peak through to the off-road focused Enduro, but this is the one we’ve been waiting for with great anticipation. Meet the Multistrada 950, a smaller capacity offering that opens up the range to riders who may be put off by the scale of the 1200s. Retaining the trademark design and chassis geometry, the 950 is slightly lighter than the 1200, and has an 840mm seat height. Up front it wears a 19in light alloy front wheel that will work with pure road tyres, or can offer more flexibility on and off road with dual-purpose rubber fitted. The tyre size is a 120/70…

THE FACTS • 150bhp • 209kg / 211kg (S) • Seat height 795-820m For 2017, the biggest offering in the Monster family gets a sleeker tank, a redesigned sports-style tail, an all-new headlight and an electronics package derived from the 1299 Panigale’s. In terms of design, this updated version is heading closer towards the original bike, and even gets little details like the steel tank once again being fitted with an attachment clip. Still available in two versions, a standard 1200 and a 1200S, both retain the latest version of the Testastretta 11° DS engine, which is now knocking out a rather healthy claimed 150bhp at 9250rpm – a 15bhp boost over the outgoing model in stock guise, and 5bhp more than the outgoing S variant. Still in residence behind…

THE FACTS • 15bhp • 133kg • Seat height 785mm Suzuki unveiled their all-new GSX-R125 a month ago, and it’s little surprise that they’ve followed that with a naked version, which joins their growing GSX-S family. The new lightweight naked obviously shares the vast majority of its parts numbers with its faired sibling, while the styling cues are very clearly aligned with its naked elders. Suzuki claim it’s got the best power-to-weight ratio in the class, and at 133kg it’s certainly lithe, while the low and relatively narrow seat will also open it up to a wide range of riders. The seat and footrest position is identical to the R version, but the bars are 100mm higher, pushing the rider into a more upright position for improved vision and comfort…

The R1200GS is enjoying an odd two-stage transition into 2017. Already available in dealers is an updated GS which boasts a few visual nips and tucks, as well as drivetrain revisions with an anti-judder damper on the transmission output drive, and modifications to the selector drum and transmission shafts. The bikes have also been made Euro4 compliant. Now BMW have revealed the full 2017 version with a raft of further dynamic improvements, plus two new versions to pick from in the model line-up. A base model is available, as are three package options (Dynamic, Comfort and Touring), and now you can also pick between new Rallye or Exclusive models. The existing R1200GS Adventure continues in 2017, but we don’t expect a full model update until 2018. Exclusive measures The Exclusive…

THE FACTS • 90bhp • 203kg • Seat height 790mm THE FACTS • 90bhp • 214kg • Seat height 800mm The F800GT and R have both received a smattering of changes to ensure Euro4 compatibility, while adding a few useful modifications too. Often overlooked in the mid-market, the F800s probably deserve a little more attention for their abilities, even if they veer towards the capable, rather than exciting, end of the spectrum. Their shared 90bhp parallel-twin engine now meets the more stringent emissions requirements imposed on 2017 models, while the addition of a ride-by-wire throttle means that the duo now also get a pair of riding modes as standard: Road for everyday riding, and Rain for when the tarmac is wet or slippery. These are not linked to any sort…

Z650 FACTS • 68bhp • 185kg • Seat height 790mm Z900 FACTS • 123.5bhp • 210.5kg • Seat height 794mm Hurriedly revealed at the Cologne show last month, despite no bikes being on show, after details of these new Zeds leaked out – Kawasaki have now unveiled them properly in Milan. Back to the Seventies The Z650 name is well known to anyone with a knowledge of 1970s bikes, and this new namesake descendant kicks out not dissimilar power at 68bhp – although it achieves that with two fewer cylinders. Actually the direct descendant of the ER-6n, it’s effectively a naked version of the new Ninja 650 (itself the ER-6f replacement). Kawasaki claim nimble handling, relatively light weight, and wide-ranging appeal, everything its predecessor managed, too. The styling underlines the…

390 Duke THE FACTS • 44bhp • 149kg • Seat height 830mm KTM’s smaller capacity Dukes have always been both popular and fun, but it wouldn’t be unfair to say they lacked a little class – but with a few reasonably subtle changes for 2017 they appear to have punched their way into the big league. The new 390 has been treated to significant attention for the new model year, benefitting from visual updates that bring it closer to the Super Duke, to engineering updates that will help keep it at the fun and fruity end of the A2 licence pool (with restrictor kit). The 390 now boasts a ride-by-wire throttle, full TFT dash, an optional MY RIDE multimedia interface, ABS as standard, split LED headlamp, and all new bodywork.…

THE FACTS • 90bhp • 208kg • Seat height 810mm THE FACTS • 90bhp • 213kg • Seat height 810mm The CBR650F and CB650F both get fruitier for 2017. Their 649cc inlinefour engine has an extra 4bhp, taking it up to 90bhp at 11,000rpm. The increase, which Honda say is most apparent from 5000rpm upwards, is due to shorter air intake funnels and a more free-flowing exhaust. Combine the extra power with shorter gear ratios from second through to fifth, and the new CBR650F should get off the line faster than the previous model. Honda say it’ll pull three lengths on the old one over 400m during a second-gear roll-on. Increased torque means 47ftlb arrives at a peak of 8000rpm, and the engine’s tractability allows it to pull smoothly from…

We’re sitting outside a café in a sma l l Spa n ish town, “Tres cafés por favor,” says the familiar voice of MCE British Superbike star Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne. It confuses me for a second – we’re so used to hearing Shakey talk in his usual cheeky-chap North Kent accent that I hadn’t even contemplated he’d be able to speak better Spanish than I could understand (admittedly, not hard). He continues to order food for his two children, Zack and Lilly, again in perfect Spanish. As the kids tuck into their chips and chicken nuggets, I pause for a moment to think. Just over a week ago, this bloke won a record fifth British Superbike title and now he’s sat in an unassuming Spanish café ordering his kids something…

As the UK mainland’s only road racing circuit, Oliver’s Mount in Scarborough is well worth a visit. Whether you choose to make a date to watch road racing heroes duke it out at one of the regular meetings, or just pop there on a non-race day, Oliver’s is a great place to start a rideout around the Yorkshire countryside. The circuit is open all year round and as well as a track it is also a public road. Take a few seconds to notice the trees, narrowness of the track and various other obstacles that line the side of the tarmac. Anyone who races there deserves serious respect! Starting from Oliver’s Mount Café at the highest point of the circuit, head along the A171 that leads through Harwood Dale Forest…

For 2017 Leon Haslam will join the Bournemouth Kawasaki team after signing a deal with Kawasaki UK to remain in the MCE British Superbike Championship. Despite coming close to beating Shane Byrne to the title this year, Haslam was left in a tricky situation as his JG Speedfit GBmoto Kawasaki team opted to pull the plug on their British Superbike effort at the end of the 2016 season. Keen to keep Haslam on a ZX-10R after a strong year, Kawasaki UK put together a deal for him to sign directly with them and be placed in a team of their choice, which MCN can now confirm is Pete Extance’s Bournemouth Kawasaki squad. “With Mark [Smith-Halvorsen] and GBmoto pulling out, I didn’t actually have an option to stay with Kawasaki as…

2016 has been a record-breaking season for MotoGP, seeing an incredible nine winners take race honours in this year’s championship already. But, with one round left in this year’s season, is there a chance for a stunning tenth winner? With all but one of the factory Hondas, Yamahas and Suzukis taking wins already this year (the Suzuki of Aleix Espargaró), it’ll take something special this weekend if we’re going to see a tenth winner – but if there’s one thing that 2016 has already shown, it’s that anything can – and will – happen… Danilo Petrucci Best result at Valencia: 8th Best result of 2016: 7th A veritable wet-weather specialist, the Italian has already proven this year that he can run at the front in the wet, leading the German…

THE FACTS • 215bhp • 167kg • Seat height 830mm MCN revealed spy shots of the new 1299 Superleggera just last week – and here’s the real deal in all its incredible glory. It’s the first factory production bike to be equipped with a carbon fibre frame, swingarm, subframe and wheels, and results in a gobsmacking kerb mass of just 167kg – or 156kg dry. Combine such a low mass with the incredible 215bhp output from the 1285cc L-twin Superquadro engine, and it should add up to the one of the most devastatingly effective superbike packages ever created. Carbon weight loss The monocoque frame, beefy single-sided swingarm, subframe, fairings and wheels are all constructed from super-high-end carbon, and all are unique to the new Superleggera. The frame has 7075 aluminium…

THE FACTS • 75bhp • 207kg • Seat height 860mm Check this out! The Urban Enduro model in the Scrambler family may have failed to ignite passions with the same verve as the rest of the range, but the new Desert Sled has just the right mix of retro and contemporary for those looking for a more cheeky option. It’s certainly the most truly Scrambler-esque iteration in the lineup, and with its gold rims and oval tank decals it feels almost like a homage to the iconic Yamaha XT500 – and there’s nothing wrong with that. As with the rest of the range, it uses the 803cc air-cooled two-valve-head motor mated to a steel trellis frame and capped off with a nice little steel tank. Up front it rocks a…

THE FACTS • 24.7bhp • 190kg (est) • Seat height 800mm (est) This is a really cute move from Suzuki, taking the hugely popular V-Strom family styling and ethos, and blending it with an evolution of their bulletproof 248cc parallel-twin to create a funky and fresh economy adventure bike. Likely to be just as at home on a rough and muddy country lane as it is bouncing over kerbs in the urban jungle, this 24.7bhp addition to the family has a wide breadth of appeal that could see it get some real traction in 2017 – no pun intended. Set to be a full-size bike, it gives full-size humans an almost unprecedented (from a mainstream manufacturer) opportunity to have comfort, economy, and versatility from a small-capacity adventure-styled bike. Maybe even…

THE FACTS • 34bhp (est) • 220kg (est) • Seat height 750mm The Burgman 400 has been a staple of Suzuki’s scooter diet since 1998, and the fact so little seems to have changed in that time is testament to how right they got it in the first place. For 2017, the ‘Burgervan’ has gone on a diet, and now sports sleeker bodywork and LED lighting all round. The seat is a full 20mm deeper and the footboards are now sculpted with cutaways to allow the rider to get feet to floor more comfortably. The engine has been given a tickle for Euro4 and to deliver more midrange, while there’s a new airbox for improved torque character, and an Iridium sparkplug to give a cleaner and harder burn at ignition.…

This is the first official hint – beyond multiple spy shots and KTM boss Stefan Pierer confirming the 800’s existence to MCN during the summer – of the style and intent of KTM’s new family of middleweights. Powered by an all-new parallel-twin engine of around 800cc, which the firm have dubbed the LC8c (with the ‘c’ apparently denoting ‘compact’), this Duke version looks likely to be the first arrival of what is certain to be a family of bikes from KTM and sister company, Husqvarna. Interestingly, the rumour mill suggests that Husky will debut an adventure styled 800 model during the Milan show. KTM say the new 790 Duke will bring “unparalleled poise, telepathic levels of feedback and lightness that’s off the scale” to the mid-market – which all sounds…

THE FACTS • 24bhp • 157kg • Seat height 895mm If you’re in the market for a 250, surely this is top of your list. Just look at it! Pure Dakar naughtiness. With styling DNA drawn from the HRC CRF450 Rally Dakar racer, the CRF250 Rally gets a similar ‘floating’ screen, while fairing and radiator shrouds give further wind protection. The asymmetric headlights are LED, as are the indicators. While most of the bike is identical to the CRF250L, the Rally gets a larger 10.1-litre fuel tank that Honda say will get you over 200 miles, thanks to managing 94.1mpg. The L’s fork is replaced by a 43mm Showa unit with longer legs. Extra-long suspension enhances its off-road ability, but means an 895mm clamber to park your posterior. The front…

THE FACTS • 113bhp • 196kg (est) • Seat height 830mm (est) Yamaha have been one of the most prolific embracers of the retro scene, and also one of the most innovative at taking their budget-focused MT range and jazzing it up to appeal to new audiences. Last year’s XSR900 took the MT-09 to a whole new level of attractiveness, and now the firm have moved the game on again with this half-faired carbon-rich version called the XSR900 Abarth. Created in association with the car tuning legends, the bike has come about thanks to Abarth’s links with Yamaha’s MotoGP team, which in itself doubtless spawned from the earlier association with parent firm Fiat. As the name suggests, this is a modified version of the XSR900, but the changes should add…

Having just watched the thrilling last two WSB rounds under the lights at Qatar, with Jonathan Rea wrapping up the championship in style with a second place finish to Chaz Davies in the first race, the points for second and third in the championship were still up for grabs. Come Sunday’s race, we were somewhat let down on the last lap to see Rea showboating and letting team-mate Tom Sykes through to second place to allow him the points needed to secure second in the championship. Despite Chaz winning the race – and the last six races on the bounce – he was pushed back to third place. I say scrap team orders and just race your race. K Lewis, email Best thing I’ve ever done I’ve always wanted a…

‘I don’t train any more or any less, but I probably train a bit smarter’SHANE BYRNE While it’s over a week since Byrne took his fifth British Superbike title, he still feels unable to say exactly what that victory means. “Honestly, I don’t think it has sunk in yet, or if it has it wasn’t quite what I thought it might feel like. Obviously I’m happy, but it just seems like the championship happened. It happened with a sixth place and that really didn’t impress me. There was a little bit of a party on the Sunday night at Brands Hatch but nothing major, I’ve done a few interviews since but other than that every day has been normal.” Not just a holiday… While the post-championship trip is a way…

What we said then “By moving the weight bias towards the front, the bike is much more agile than the outgoing model. It doesn’t have that long length wheelbase sensation anymore. “As you would expect, the 1050cc engine is beautifully tractable. Instead, where the new Speed Triple feels different, in terms of performance, is it hangs onto its power and torque a lot further up the rev range. Add to this the stupendous Brembo front brake system and Metzeler Racetec K3 tyres as standard and you’ve a bike that’s capable of giving anybody a smile at a track day.” MCN launch report | October 20, 2010 But what is it like now? Triumph’s Speed Triple has always been a dependable performer, whether that be the ’94 original, ‘98’s T509 or…

Kawasaki ZX-9R (1994-2002) Widely expected to be a firm Kawasaki riposte to the FireBlade, it came over as having been rushed into production. Fast all right, but it was much heavier and bulkier than the Blade and the rear suspension simply wasn’t sorted. Kawasaki persevered, and word got around that the 9R had all the speed and comfort of the ZZ-R1100 but with a more sporty demeanour and it’s now regarded as a brilliant sports-tourer. Late E and F models are the pick of the bunch but build quality and finish aren’t up to Honda standards. What you’ll pay now £1100-£4000 But should you? As long as you realise it’s a (very fast) sports-tourer, yes. Honda Transalp (1987-2012) A bit of a conundrum at first: a not-very-powerful 600cc V-twin in…

Richa have launched a new range of protective clothing that will incorporate Gore-Tex for the first time. Previously Richa have only used Gore-Tex in their gloves, but the Belgium firm have now been approved to feature the waterproof, windproof and breathable technical layer in jackets and trousers too. The new range will include four jackets and two pairs of trousers, and will be on sale in dealers this month. At the lowest end of the range is the new all-season Cyclone jacket (£399) and matching trousers (£299). The Cyclone utilises a three-layer system of a fixed Gore-Tex liner underneath a tough abrasion-resistant outer material and a removable thermal lining. There is D3O armour at the shoulders and elbows, and also a Level 1 CE-certified back protector. The Cyclone comes in…

It’s great to have an air-cooled two-valve engine back in a Monster package, harking back to the original bikes from the early 90s. This new addition to the burgeoning Monster family uses the 803cc Desmodue L-twin from the Scrambler, but packages it in an utterly contemporary, but endearingly simplistic, package. With a price tag expected to swing from the bars at around £7875, it’s also likely to drag a new generation of future Ducatisti in to the marque. At this price (you could have nine of these and some change left over for the price of a Superleggera) it couldn’t be much further removed from the top-end of Ducati excess. That means the simplistic, but refined, 75bhp, 50.8ftlb torque, 803cc air-cooled engine, slipper clutch, a twin-spar swingarm, non-adjustable KYB 43mm…

• 75bhp • 188kg • Seat height 805mm There should be laws about having number boards on bikes. Get your magic eraser out, and this new Café Racer looks so much better without them. The 54 is a nod to legendary Ducati racer Bruno Spaggiari, but that’s going to be rather lost on the average buyer. The Café Racer, like the Desert Sled, is a new addition for 2017, and is intended to do exactly what it says on the tin. Much of it is very nice, too – and in black and gold, or ‘Black Coffee’ as Ducati dub it – it’s also a little redolent of the JPS era of sportsbikes. It appears, in essence, to be a Full Throttle with a brace of design changes to create…

Just like the new V-Strom 250, with which it shares an engine and much of its running gear and cycle parts, the new GSX250R delivers styling and proportions that feel instantly ‘right’. But while the styling, paintjobs and even the name are all very GSX-R focused, Suzuki have been careful to make a subtle distinction between this GSX and its more racy cousins. This is firmly intended as a well-styled everyday commuter bike, rather than a pocket-rocket. Obviously the 24.7bhp on tap isn’t going to be too sporty anyway, but note how high the bars are, and you’ll understand that this is far more GSX-F than GSX-R. While that might disappoint some, it will probably endear it further to just as many, and especially town-dwellers who might want the looks,…

THE FACTS • 110bhp • 221kg • Seat height 850mm When BMW launched the R nineT back in 2013, few could have predicted what a rampant success story it would become – and even fewer would have predicted the four versions that have arrived since: the Scrambler, Racer, Pure, and now this – the Urban G/S. But the R nineT sold so fast that BMW struggled to meet demand with bikes at first. Now the firm has worked on creating a family of new versions to further broaden the platform’s appeal. The Pure, essentially a base model, was launched with the sleek retro Racer a month ago. The two are now joined by this homage to the original R80G/S from 1980. Styled as a stripped-back adventure bike, the Urban part…

THE FACTS • 34bhp • 169.5kg • Seat height 835mm After years of neglect, the sub-500cc class of bikes is exploding in 2017 with a glut of new adventure-styled offerings. Fashion may well be a driving factor, but there’s also a realisation from manufacturers that many of us are now buying second bikes to commute on – and they don’t need to be 160bhp adventure leviathans. More and more of us are looking for economy and versatility for an everyday bike, but not at the cost of style, comfort or quality. Step up BMW’s new G310GS, the second bike to be released into their G310 family (following the roadster-shaped R), and one of at least four quarter-litre(ish) adventure bikes to arrive from major manufacturers in 2017. The baby GS might…

THE FACTS • 38bhp (est) • 170kg (est) • Seat height 800mm (est) Kawasaki’s Versys family gets another member for 2017 – and it’s at the smaller end of the capacity range. In this case that means taking the 296cc parallel-twin from the Ninja / Z300, and wrapping it in an all-new chassis and bodywork. The peppy twin should be a perfect match for this lightweight adventure-commuter, and whether negotiating back lanes or potholed high streets, the long-travel suspension should contribute to a comfortable ride. Up front there’s a 19in rim wearing a 100/90 IRC ‘Trail Winner’, which is backed up at the rear with a 130/80 17. While Kawasaki say the Versys-X will appeal to “a vast cross-section of new riders”, it’s safe to assume that it’ll appeal to…

THE FACTS • 177bhp • 195kg • Seat height 835mm With the full effect of 177bhp arriving like a tornado at just 9750rpm, there’s no point trying to pretend that the new Super Duke R is anything other than a force of nature. The current bike already delivers one of the most visceral experiences you can buy, and those fourth gear power wheelies aren’t going to have been subdued by adding more horses – although it has also managed to gain a somewhat porky 6kg – even if it’s impossible to see where. Just like the rest of KTM’s 2017 range, the headlamp is treated to LEDs and a clever ventilation system that enables the lights to run without bulky and heavy heat sinks – the only downside, especially in…

THE FACTS • 189bhp • 196kg • Seat height 832mm Last month Honda unveiled two stunning new Fireblades, the SP and SP2, which left us asking: where’s the standard version? Well, here’s the answer. This is the bike MCN grabbed spy shots of two months ago, boasting non-semi-active suspension and a black frame and swingarm. It looked like a decent evolution, but in fact even in this more standard form 90% of the 2017 Fireblade is brand new. Power-to-weight ratio is improved by 14%, reaching the Fireblade’s best level ever, thanks to a 15kg diet and an 11bhp boost. It’s also equipped with a plethora of electronics missing from previous Blades. Central to the system is the five-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which measures exactly what the machine is doing,…

THE FACTS • 24bhp • 146kg • Seat height 875mm The fun, practical and versatile CRF250L gets a decent smattering of updates for 2017, partly driven by the need to get it through Euro4 compliance – which it now meets. The steel frame and Showa suspension remain unchanged, but new bodywork brings it closer in style to its CRF450R sibling. The new digital dash now gets a tacho and a fuel gauge. The 249cc single boasts more bottom-end torque and peak power from revisions to the throttle body, airbox and exhaust. It claims to thump out 24bhp at 8500rpm, with peak torque of 16.7ftlb landing at 6750rpm. The tank holds just 7.8 litres, but Honda say it can deliver up to 94.1mpg, meaning a potential 160-mile range. As a town…

Since Hinckley Triumph revived the Bonneville name 15 years ago, the bike has won over a whole new fan base. Stylish, easy going and above all reliable and oil tight, the new Bonnie quickly became a mainstay in Triumph’s range and provided the platform from which the Scrambler, Thruxton, Speedmaster, America and T100 models developed. Yet when Triumph launched the Street Twin last year, a Bonneville variant was conspicuous by its absence. For 2017 this has changed as the new T100 and T100 Black hit the streets. Triumph describe the T100 as far closer in character and feel to the larger Bonneville T120 than the Street Twin. This bike is, essentially, a smaller capacity T120 that is not only £1500 cheaper than the 1200, it is also 11kg lighter, easier…

Velocity is relative to the observer. To the trucker grinding gears in his slate-grey 12-wheeler at 55mph on the Autobahn, the BMW-shaped streak of howling metal and plastic spears past him close enough to spin his wheel nuts, is warping Germany’s space/time continuum at 161 feet per second. Yet if the pair of Bundespolizei in the parked patrol car cared to get their radar detector warmed up at the same moment, the same blur of two-wheeled hysteria would register around 164mph – or 241 feet per second – as it screams blue and white murder past the layby. But to the rider, crouched, head down, chin bobbling gently on the plastic battery cover and isolated from the Sturm und Drang happening all about in a pocket of calm, the big,…

1 Cold kills dodgy batteries Make sure you have the right battery, and get the best you can afford. Test it with a multimeter, too – with the ignition off and the bike not connected to a charger for at least an hour the battery should give at least 12.6v. You should get a reading between 13.5v and 14.5v when the bike is running and charging the battery. Check the fluid in refillable lead-acid batteries – they’re clear with upper/lower level lines. 2 Back off the suspension If your year-round ride has firm, sporty suspension and a selection of adjusters, don’t just leave it set for a grippy road in the height of summer. Maintaining weight transfer and not overloading the tyres is the aim. Experiment with backing everything off…