Table of contents for 5 May 2021 in MCN

NEW SECTIONS Get more from MCN! As Covid restrictions begin to ease more across the UK, we’ve introduced an all-new section to help you get back out and ride, with events, destinations and inspiration to kickstart your biking year. Head to page 22 to find out more. This week we’re also launching our new Sport section, with even more depth, insight and analysis than ever before from our extensive panel of top racing journalists who go behind the scenes and the headlines to bring you the real stories. P70 NEW OUT & ABOUT SECTION ● All this week’s best biking events ● Top places to ride to with mates ● What you’ve been up to on two wheels ● Recommended riding routes SEE PAGES 22-27 NEW MCN SPORT SECTION ●…

One of the greatest American racers of the late 1960s/early 1970s passed away on April 26 at the age of 87. A US star in the era before American riders such as Kenny Roberts and Pat Hennen came to Europe to contest GPs, Mann was a two-time AMA champion and twice winner of the Daytona 200, famously aboard Honda’s new CB750 in 1970 then on a BSA Rocket3 in 1971, as part of a massed BSA/Triumph team in an event which led to the creation of the Transatlantic Trophy. Biking survival story A new long-distance biking adventure story Obsessions Die Hard has been released by American Ed Culberson. This biographical tale is the story of Culberson’s adventure of a lifetime on a BMW R80G/S down the Pan-American Highway including the…

SENIOR WRITER ‘We will start working from next year’MV AGUSTA CEO, TIMUR SARDAROV MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov has confirmed to MCN that the Varese firm will begin research into electric models next year, before revealing their first plug-in by 2027. Six years may seem a long time, especially as only last month Triumph revealed their TE-1 electric super-naked concept and Honda, KTM, Piaggio and Yamaha all signed an agreement to create a ‘swappable batteries consortium’ but Sardarov says more research is required before producing a product fit for MV’s clientele. “We will start working on the electric products from next year onwards, but it’s going to be more of a study on how to get there,” Sardarov explained. “According to our research, performance motorcycles are still the category we…

This experience has underlined to Mina the importance of trackers, whose own Triumph Bonneville T120 and Suzuki Gladius are both fitted with the devices. “It costs £10-permonth to get it monitored. I wouldn’t be without mine and without his, Paul wouldn’t have got his bike back. Even if the police hadn’t turned up, the tracker meant that I got the reg of the van and could have reported that.” If you don’t have a tracker fitted, maybe it’s time to think about getting one!…

‘It’s the 400/4 for the V4 generation’ You recall that VF500 I bought back in March? I decided I’d see if it fired up and if it did I’d have some fun, but I’ve got too many other things to do if it turned out to be shagged. It started and ran, sweetly, and I rode it up and down the access lane to my lock-up and thought ‘wow’. And then I saw the fuel pouring out of the carb overflows. OK, decision time. Steve Bateman of the eponymous south coast dealership had expressed an interest, so I called him, told him it was superb but the carbs would have to be pulled and the sticking float(s) sorted. We agreed a price which gave me a small profit and will…

Q Am I liable despite a misleading indicator? I was waiting at a junction to turn left onto a main road and because the car coming towards me from my right was indicating left, and looked like it was slowing down, I assumed it was turning into the road I was leaving. As I pulled out the vehicle collided with me and I came off. Her insurers are claiming that it is 50% my fault which cannot be right, can it? Rob Williams, email A There is quite a lot of case law on this, but the case of Winter v Cotton is closest to the facts of your accident as that involved a slowing down vehicle which was indicating, like in your case. Winter relied on both the signal…

Readers Peter Phelps and Shaun Napier The Ride Exploring the Lakes How many miles? 800 When to do it Late summer Time required Three days Don’t miss this The hidden gem – Hardknott Pass. Originally used by the Romans, the pass winds its way between the Eskdale and Duddon Valley. It snakes through some of the most spectacular scenic views and offers a good riding challenge with 30 degree gradients, sharp hairpin bends and stretches of sheer drop-offs. This is a must for any adventure seeker. The whole experience was surreal. It was the first full day’s riding I’ve ever had that was amazing from beginning to the end. The Indian smashed it, the big V-twin just powers its way around corners. Footboard width rather than the ground clearance was…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday May 5 BIKE CAFES / MEETS ■ Squires Cafe Newthorpe near Sherburn in Elmet West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Southport Carousel Bike Meet, The Blue Anchor Southport Merseyside 7pm Facebook: Southport Carousel Bike Meet ■ Ryka’s Cafe Box Hill Surrey www.rykas.co.uk ■ The Plough Cadsden Road Cadsden, Nr Princess Risborough Bucks www.plough-at-cadsden.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Flintshire. 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe TRACKDAYS ■ No Limits Brands Hatch GP Kent £218 01525-877087 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com TRIALS ■ Scottish Six Day Trial Fort William, Highlands www.ssdt.org Thursday May 6 BIKE CAFES / MEETS Manor Farm Diner Bellerby North…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER Their spec sheets may read almost identically, but to ride they’re polar opposites. The Aprilia doesn’t immediately seduce and despite its restyling still looks like an aging bike, although its new LEDs are a welcome upgrade. It’s still cramped, even with its tweaked riding position and the benefits of its new swingarm, wings and electronics will only be felt on a circuit. Its V4 engine is still a mechanical marvel and now with more cubes it’s even more urgent and refined. The Panigale V4 S is harder to get the best out of with its more aggressive power delivery and a more fidgety chassis. But it’s undeniably rapid in experienced hands, far roomier and as much a piece of art as much as it is a motorcycle.…

DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING The Softail Standard is a blank canvas. Some will see it as the starting point for a custom project, others will love its stripped-back simplicity and keep it exactly how it comes. But £13k is a substantial chunk of cash for a bike that prides itself on keeping things simple – especially when the Street Bob has a bigger engine, a pillion seat and a dash of colour for just £10 a month more on PCP. The fact that the most affordable bike in Harley’s UK range now costs £13k and weighs nearly 300kg also highlights how much the firm need a dedicated entry-level model to appeal to newer, younger and less affluent riders. THE FACTS £12,995 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard…

“I rode Applecross as part of a North Coast 500 tour. I’m a late entry biker so it was also my first ever tour. The blue advisory sign at the bottom of the mountain recommends that the road is not for learner drivers and while I wasn’t quite a learner, I wasn’t far off. Throw in a BMW R1200GS Adventure with full luggage that I had picked up on the day before the tour, and you can imagine I should have been pretty nervous. “Fortunately I was blissfully ignorant about what I was about to tackle. By and large, I enjoyed it – spectacular views and an exciting challenge. That said, balancing my bike on tip toes, next to a near-vertical drop as camper van after camper van squeezed past…

TRIUMPH TRIDENT 660 The rider Gareth Evans, Online Editor Contact gareth.evans@motorcyclenews.com KAWASAKI ZX-10R The rider Ben Clarke, Staff Writer Contact ben.clarke@motorcyclenews.com KTM 890 ADVENTURE R The rider Michael Guy, Sports Editor Contact michael.guy@motorcyclenews.com BMW S1000R The rider Michael Neeves, Chief Road Tester Contact michael.neeves@motorcyclenews.com YAMAHA TRACER 9 GT The rider Alison Silcox, Office Manager Contact alison.silcox@motorcyclenews.com HARLEY-DAVIDSON PAN AMERICA The rider Jordan Gibbons, News Editor Contact jordan.gibbons@motorcyclenews.com HONDA CRF300 RALLY The rider Simon Relph, Senior Designer Contact simon.relph@motorcyclenews.com SUZUKI GSX1300R HAYABUSA The rider Emma Franklin, Deputy Editor Contact emma.franklin@motorcyclenews.com NEXT WEEK APRILIA RS660…

The MoT was originally all about safety but over the years there has been a bit of mission creep towards things that are not safety critical, things like numberplates and noisy exhausts. A noisy bike is probably one of the few things that the non-motorcycle public have grievances about, so fewer noisy bikes on the road can only be a good thing for motorcycling. Unlike cars, one of the things we get away with in the two-wheeled world is the emissions test. As it stands, there is no testing of a motorcycle’s emissions, meaning that if you’ve decat’d your bike it won’t result in a fail, as long as the silencer is road legal and the overall noise isn’t excessive. But a word of caution: if you do present a…

Veteran MotoGP correspondent shares his unique racing insight Valentino Rossi has been a racing trend-setter for a quarter of century now. And as he enters the twilight of a glorious riding career, finishing a disappointing 17th in Jerez, he has delivered a masterstroke to complete his decade-long dream of setting up a VR46 MotoGP team. He has revealed that Aramco, the state-owned Saudi Arabian petroleum giant which is awash with cash, will sponsor his VR46 team from 2022 onwards. The arrival of the multimillion pound Aramco deal was crucial for Rossi to become a fully-fledged MotoGP team owner, and will bring the grid to 24 bikes in 2022. Despite Rossi’s unquestioned star pulling power he was not being inundated with commercial partners willing to deliver the funding for a top…

BT Sport’s technical guru unmasks secrets at the sharp end of MotoGP 1 Mammoth task ahead Marc Marquez’s return had many speculating about possible outcomes, but two races in it’s clear to see the mammoth task at hand. There is no question that his speed remains. He can achieve a strong lap time in practice with relative ease; however, stringing successive fast laps together is a struggle. When he tries to force the RCV on direction changes he is slightly behind the machine, lacking the ability to coerce the bike on line. His physical strength is lacking, the muscle atrophy in his right arm has been evident. And the inability to train during the bone infection left a weakened Marquez who needs the luxury of time to regain strength, time…

‘The title could hinge on how his arm holds up’ Arm pump. It’s the racer’s curse – and has been for 50 years or more. I first heard the complaint from Kenny Roberts Senior back in the 1970s. The same curse did for Fabio Quartararo on Sunday… in control at Jerez, and looking at a third straight win when, as he says: “I ran out of strength.” Pain building, power ebbing, he had to brake with four fingers rather than his usual one. “It was dangerous.” He dropped to 13th. The dilemma It struck out of the blue, but not for the first time. He underwent arm pump surgery in June 2019, his first MotoGP season. Twelve days later he finished second (to Marquez) in Catalunya, his first premier class…

Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 Jack Miller delivered the perfect riposte to a recent wave of stinging criticism with an emotional maiden Ducati victory in Jerez. Nobody needed a first dry race win more than Miller after he was savaged by a social media assault following a mediocre start to his factory Ducati career. So, it was perhaps fitting on a weekend in which global sporting bodies and A-list stars boycotted social media in an attempt to tackle online abuse that Miller did his talking on the track to silence the trolls. As the tears flowed as fast as the podium prosecco, it was hard to think of anybody begrudging Miller his moment in the Spanish sun. The huge outpouring of support as he headed…

It just got even easier to own an iconic Indian Motorcycle. With dealerships now open, the legendary brand are offering a wealth of deals so you can get the machine you want and explore the open road this summer without a second thought. New FTR Rally is ready to whisk you away Whether you decide to take the long or the short road, the 2020 FTR Rally will get you there the exciting way – and now you can prolong the fun that bit more with Indian’s exclusive FTR Rally Travel-Pack offer. If you walk into an authorised Indian dealership and purchase a new FTR Rally before June 30 2021, you’ll be kitted out with a complementary travel-pack worth £860. The dealership will fit the travel accessories so you are…

It just got even easier to own an iconic Indian Motorcycle. With dealerships now open, the legendary brand are offering a wealth of deals so you can get the machine you want and explore the open road this summer without a second thought. New FTR Rally is ready to whisk you away Whether you decide to take the long or the short road, the 2020 FTR Rally will get you there the exciting way – and now you can prolong the fun that bit more with Indian’s exclusive FTR Rally Travel-Pack offer. If you walk into an authorised Indian dealership and purchase a new FTR Rally before June 30 2021, you’ll be kitted out with a complementary travel-pack worth £860. The dealership will fit the travel accessories so you are…

Suzuki’s middleweight adventure bike has nearly 20 years of heritage under its belt with a comfortable ride for every mile of it. You could argue the V-Strom is the baby of the middleweight bunch, but that’s what makes the V-twin such a good used buy. You can pick one up from about £2500 for a high-miler, but if you’re looking for sub-10-year-old and sub-10k-miler you’re looking at around £4k. As a big-mile adventure bike, extras are likely to have been added, so check for bodges or poor fitting. The stock suspension has proven to be an issue on older models for some who ride more aggressively and fully loaded. You can upgrade the suspension effectively for around £250 all-in, but take a look and see how tired the suspension is…

Suzuki’s middleweight adventure bike has nearly 20 years of heritage under its belt with a comfortable ride for every mile of it. You could argue the V-Strom is the baby of the middleweight bunch, but that’s what makes the V-twin such a good used buy. You can pick one up from about £2500 for a high-miler, but if you’re looking for sub-10-year-old and sub-10k-miler you’re looking at around £4k. As a big-mile adventure bike, extras are likely to have been added, so check for bodges or poor fitting. The stock suspension has proven to be an issue on older models for some who ride more aggressively and fully loaded. You can upgrade the suspension effectively for around £250 all-in, but take a look and see how tired the suspension is…

Watching Jack Miller crouching down beside his Ducati MotoGP bike in parc ferme while trying to wrestle his surging emotions into some semblance of control was an exceptionally endearing moment. ‘Jackass’ is a larger-than-life character, brimming with Aussie charm and bravado, but the pure emotion that poured out of him after crossing the line for his first dry MotoGP win – in the face of a pretty torrid start to his dream factory ride – showed just how much that win meant. While much of that tide of emotion was euphoria, there’s no doubt that a decent chunk of it was also pure relief. Relief that he’d delivered on his promise, silenced the massing critics, and stamped some authority on new title leader Pecco Bagnaia. But Jack’s exceptional weekend was…

Ogri, the much-loved and long-lived biker cartoon strip which featured in MCN’s sister magazine Bike for over 30 years, is being revived in a special exhibition run under Covid regs from May 17. Taking place at The BlackShed Gallery in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, the exhibition includes two previously unpublished strips, the personal sketchbooks of artist Paul Sample, who retired in 2013 and even Sample’s Sunbeam bike. Admission is free. Online cleverness Triumph staff have managed to keep on top of new models and innovations throughout the Covid crisis thanks to an innovative virtual scheme delivered by MotorVise Automotive. The consultancy used broadcasting studios to create training sessions for Triumph dealers worldwide. Triumph’s Michael Moses said: “MotorVise has delivered excellent results in difficult circumstances. In the post-Covid world, we certainly plan…

Tucano Urbano have teamed up with In&Motion to create a new airbag vest with a difference. Not only can the Airscud be worn under or over existing jackets, you can attach a pair of CE Level 1 armoured sleeves to create an A-rated standalone riding jacket. The Airscud is due to arrive in September but if you pre-order before July 31, you get the sleeves thrown in for free (normally £99). The vest costs £399 plus a subscription to In&Motion (around £10 a month). Beezumph Rally shifts to 2022 The Trident and Rocket3 Owners Club have postponed the 2021 Beezumph Rally, which was due to take place on August 20-21 at Snetterton in Norfolk. A statement from the club said: “We fully intend to put the event on in 2022.…

Former MCN editor Jim Lindsay (1954-2021) passed away on April 10, after losing his battle with cancer. Jim edited MCN in the early 1980s and also helped launch Performance Bikes. He loved his time at MCN and was highly rated by his staff. He went on to become a publisher at MCN’s parent company at the time, Emap, and was hugely successful. Jim left after more than two years to set up his own Apple Mac desktop consultancy, running his own even more demanding business. He was always a keen motorcyclist though and a decent mechanic, working on many project bikes over the years. He also enjoyed long walks with wife and soul-mate Margaret. Jim will be sorely missed by all. 790 Adventure recall KTM have issued a recall on…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Just enjoy the ride If there’s one thing the last year or so has taught me it is the simple pleasure that I get out of having a bike – just to be able to get out and ride it. I’ve spent a lot of money adding extras and looking for the best fitting gear. Essentially, however, most of it is not necessary. If you want to spend on your bike, it’s tyres and suspension every time. Let birthdays and Christmas presents cover the other stuff. Any spare cash spend on training! Ken Dagless, email Was it built in the dark? There is something of the night about the latest Honda CBR1000R (MCN, April 28), in the darkness they’ve fitted the wrong bodywork and they left…

1 Sammy Miller Museum You can soon enjoy Sammy’s motorcycle collection… along with an alpaca or two! www.sammymiller.co.uk 2 National Motorcycle Museum A cracking selection of motorcycles and the biggest biking museum in the UK. www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk 3 Super Sausage Café MCN award-winning biker pit-stop is opening again to serve sausage baps and banging breakfasts for all. www.supersausagecafe.co.uk 4 Local bike nights! From May 17, bike nights are set to return at your favourite venues – go help out your local. Keep a lookout in the listings for events taking place near you.…

MCN’s fully-loaded motorcycling weekend is back on September 4-5 with a huge line-up of entertainment, bargains, live music, test rides, live action and so much more. It’s the best outdoor bike show the UK has to offer so you’d be crazy to miss it. What’s at the MCN Festival? You’ll have the chance to test ride the latest 2021 motorcycles from all of the main manufacturers (so don’t forget to bring your licence), enjoy fantastic entertainment including Moped Mayhem, Dirt Track racing and the Extreme Bike battle stunt show. And new for 2021 is the British Mini Bike team showcasing demonstration laps, plus we’re celebrating the recent 40th birthday of Yamaha’s beloved LC with a classic two-stroke display. But that’s not all, you can also grab yourself a real bargain…

TIM SMART Age 53 Height 5ft 9in Current bike Aprilia RSV4 RF Been riding 35 years First bike Ducati 748 Dream bike Ducati Superleggera V4 “I learned to ride in the Army on an Armstrong 500 and have had nine Kawasaki sportsbikes of all kinds, two BMW S1000RRs, two Ducati 748s, a Ducati 1199R, Ducati 1098 Tricolore, Suzuki GSX-R750 and two Aprilia RSV4 RFs. “I wanted a change from the Ducati and to try a V4. My latest Aprilia came fully loaded but I got a Racefit exhaust fitted, as the Akrapovic was so quiet. I bought it in September last year and have done almost 3000 miles. I’ve enjoyed owning both of them and I’ve never had any issues. I’m only 5ft 9in, so I don’t have any problems with…

THE BUCKET LIST MOTORCYCLING MUST-DOS ‘It’s one of our most famous, or infamous, biking roads’ As I took off my helmet to have a drink, I could see Michael the photographer looking around, drinking in the scenery. Behind us and several hundred feet below, sun flashed on the surface of the loch. Ahead, giant granite cliffs loomed on each side of an ever-narrowing valley, framing the road that scaled the heights in a series of zig-zag traverses. Above us, a perfect and cloudlessly hot blue sky. “Man, this reminds me of Qua-Zulu Natal,” the South African snapper said. I nearly choked on my water… “It’s not always like this,” I told him. “Yeah, but when it is, is there anywhere better in Britain for riding a bike?” he asked. I…

Closer to John o’Groats than it is to Glasgow, the Bealach na Bà is extremely far flung for most of us – but it justifies every hour it takes to get there. Being buried in the West Highlands and leading to one of the remotest villages in the country (Applecross) means that crossing it on a bike is an adventure. The road starts from the A896, just north of Ardarroch. Around 11 miles later, you’ll drop into Applecross. Travel into Scotland is now permitted under restrictions, but check guidance before travel.…

Roadskin Easyrider jeans £149 ‘My best riding strides’ Tested by Mike Armitage for three months, 1000 miles I understand why riding jeans are so popular. However, my disappointment with some of the more trendy garments is that decent tumble-surviving protection usually means putting up with a heavy lining constructed from something exotic-sounding. This makes them hot and heavy when you’re not on the bike, and this surely defeats the object – I might as well wear leathers. Lots of riding jeans also feature additional seams, panels and stretchy bits too, so they look like bike-specific clobber anyway. These strides from Roadskin are single-layer, though. They’re knocked up using a 40% Kevlar weave meaning an AA-level CE rating from what look and feel like ordinary jeans: they’re only a smidge heavier…

THE STUDENT Simon Baird, 47, Leicestershire Simon took his test five years ago and has been making up for lost time ever since, riding his Moto Guzzi V9. THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training Former police motorcyclist Mark has just retired, but taught riders to be safer, better, and faster on road and track for 20 years. Simon’s riding problem “I’ve got a trip with some mates planned and I need a bit of help with my overtakes on lanes to make sure we stay together.” Mark’s action plan “Overtakes require careful planning. I’ll show Simon a system for passing slower vehicles that is smooth and effective.” 1 Spot your opportunity When you’re gaining on a vehicle but can’t yet see an overtaking opportunity, slow down and follow at a…

‘Yes it’s true: torque really is cheap!’ Doubtless you’ll have been in a taxi and experienced how their drivers love to drive everywhere with the fewest possible revs. They’re trying to get as much as possible from each drop of fuel, of course, and so short-shift straight through to top gear. Which isn’t what you should be doing to get the greatest economy from your bike. Your engine’s torque is the work it does. It’s the size of an engine’s punch (while power is how often this punch is delivered, and is essentially torque x revs), and so the greater the torque the harder you’re shoved down the road. When an engine makes peak torque it’s getting the most out of its fuel, and while this means it’s also burning…

MECHANIC Bernie Roe at Zenith in East London When a slightly sheepish Honda CBR650 rider rolled up to Bernie Roe at Zenith Workshops in East London for a quote after a ‘minor slide’ he had no idea how lucky he had been. Bernie said: “He told me he had bumped into some ‘highway furniture’ and slid up the road and the damage was consistent with that.” Bernie told the chap he needed a new alternator cover, right footpeg and indicator lens which came to just over £200 for OE parts and about an hour’s labour, adding: “He must have thought ‘happy days’ as he went on his way.” It was only when Bernie got the bike up on the bench that he realised that things were a little more serious…

Fans’ interest levels have begun to shift to Moto3 in 2021 knowing that they are witnessing history first hand following the arrival of the groundbreaking 16-year-old Pedro Acosta. Acosta’s riding is already at an incredible level after just four races and his third win in a row at Jerez means he’s making history faster than Marc Marquez. His magician-like skills and the way he seems able to pass his rivals with calculated ease in what is a brutally competitive class are breathtaking. It’s already apparent that Acosta has the spatial awareness needed in Moto3 and despite being 16, his race craft appears to already be on a higher plane than his rivals. At Jerez, Acosta was almost thrown over the handlebars at turn six, but on the following lap instead…

There has never been a better time to book a test ride at your local Indian Motorcycle dealership and gear-up to experience the power of Indian Motorcycle’s class leading Roadmaster, Chieftain or Springfield. Re-start your ride this spring with a £400 trade-in bonus and a £200 customisation contribution with selected new Roadmaster, Chieftain and Springfield models (MY20). Grab your chance to put a critically acclaimed Indian Tourer or Bagger in your garage and switch up the fun for as long as the season lasts, and beyond.…

SAVE £3000 £20,499 Honda CBR1000RR-SP With its achingly swish build quality and a high level of standard equipment it’s easy to see where your hard-earned goes on an SP Blade, so a deal that swipes £3000 off the RRP has got to be worth a look. The SP comes with semi-active Öhlins and all sorts of other top tech wizardry. • www.wheelshonda.co.uk SAVE £2216 £7995 Yamaha XSR700 X Tribute This homage to the XT500 comes with £1800 worth of accessories including a full Akrapovic system. • www.mottmotorcycles.co.uk ● Engine 689cc ● Power 75bhp ● Weight 187kg ● Seat height 845mm SAVE £1500 £14,249 KTM 1290 Super Duke R The Super Duke R has a premium feel and although packed with power, is not intimidating to ride. • northamptonmoto.co.uk ● Engine…

STAFF WRITER What started out as a relaxed Friday rideout to try on a new helmet quickly turned into an adrenaline-fuelled surveillance mission for London biker Mina Bloomfield after she discovered that her ex-partner’s machine had been stolen. According to a neighbour, her ex Paul’s Kawasaki Z1000SX had been lifted into a van by three men. The neighbour had a picture of the theft taking place but hadn’t managed to record the van’s registration. Luckily, the bike was fitted with a tracker and when Mina heard the address it had been moved to, she recognised roughly where it was. “You hear so much about bikes being stolen and them not coming back and I just thought ‘I’m not having that’,” Mina told MCN. “I needed to go out for fuel…

CFMoto UK have launched an impressive new four-year warranty on all of their 2021 machines including the 300NK, 650NK, 650MT and 650GT. The deal will also apply to the new 300SR sportsbike, which is about to hit UK dealers. The new four-year parts and labour warranty reflects the build quality, reliability and the faith that the Chinese manufacturers have in their expanding range of bikes. CFMoto are also offering a new 0% APR representative finance offer. The 0% hire purchase deal is available over 24 months with a minimum £499 deposit at participating dealerships. CFMoto UK’s Managing Director, Freddie Hinkley, said: “We stand by the excellent quality of our bikes and this will give customers added peace of mind. The 0% finance offer makes our bikes even more affordable and…

MCN readers share their favourite one-hour routes “Taking the Goodwood Motor Circuit as your start point, this 60mile loop transports you up into the South Downs National Park, which is littered with lovely roads in every direction. Take a left out of the circuit, and head up past Goodwood House past the racecourse and then pull over for a photo of your bike at The Triangle viewing point, then cascade down the hill to Singleton (home of the Weald and Downland Museum). Take a right through the village and head through Charlton to East Dean, where it’s another left, then follow the road until you pick up the A285. Left again, and you’re heading towards Duncton. Climb up over the hill and then plunge down through Duncton Bends following the…

WEDNESDAY May 5 5.30am, DST, A Bike is Born: Harley THURSDAY May 6 1.30pm, BTS2, MotoGP Rewind: GP of Spain 3pm, QUEST, World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides: Riding America’s Wild Wet SUNDAY May 9 5am, BTS2, MotoGP Classics: Laguna Seca 2008 KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT SPORT 2 TVL – TRAVEL UK…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £23,000 APRILIA RSV4 Factory • 1099cc 16v V4 • 214bhp/92lb.ft • £309.54 per month PCP £24,995 Ducati Panigale V4 S • 1103cc 16v V4 • 211bhp/91.5lb.ft • £227.16 per month PCP Aprilia’s RSV4 Factory and the Ducati Panigale V4 S might both have lights and mirrors, but they’re not really road bikes anymore. Built for the circuit, they’re rapid beyond belief and they’ve evolved with such monumental speed, grip and braking that ordinary folks like us never get close to their limits. There’s little to separate them on a stopwatch and on paper they’re remarkably similar, too. Both have semi-active Öhlins, lightweight wheels, Brembo Stylemas, a festival of electronics and 1100cc V4s making over 210bhp, but the…

FESTIVAL OF SPEED “We thought we’d get maybe 2500 spectators to the first FoS in 1993, we got 25,000. I remember opening my curtains and seeing these huge crowds pouring in, it was a hell of a surprise! Nowadays it attracts over 200,000 and is the biggest car culture event in the world.” THE REVIVAL “It took seven years and a lot of lobbying to get a noise abatement order lifted and the circuit re-opened so that we could hold the Revival ” ROSSI PARTIES ON “We had been trying to make it happen for ages and as Assen’s race was a Saturday, we managed it in 2015. Vale turned up in shorts, threw on a DJ and partied with us on Saturday as he was in high spirits having…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER BMW’s new M1000RR is insanely quick and one of the easiest superbikes for ordinary motorcyclists like you and me to ride fast on the track, but so is the S1000RR, which you can have for nearly half the price in base trim or for 10-grand less in the all-singing M Package spec. The M’s wings pin the front wheel down along the straights, but elsewhere the M feels so similar to the S1000RR it isn’t worth paying the premium, especially when you’re not getting the chassis designer labels, you’d expect for a bike costing this much. But for race teams the extra cost is a drop in ocean if it means finishing first. THE FACTS £30,935 BMW M1000RR…

1 Be patient Don’t get wound up by other traffic. It’s hard, but if you’re stuck behind an idiot who doesn’t use the passing places to let you overtake, stop and take a picture, enjoy the view, wait until they’re out of the sight before setting off again with clear road ahead. 2 Use the passing places Don’t assume the vehicles coming towards you will stop in the passing places: assume they’ll charge onwards, leaving you next to no space. You’ll be safer if you stop to let them go by rather than meeting them on a narrow bit of road. 3 Pick your moment There’s a slight increase in traffic at weekends, but with people holidaying on the NC500, it’s not so pronounced. The key is what time of…

EDITOR Rides every day, all year, in all weathers. Much prefers performance to plodders. Those of you who are awake and capable of cognitive thought will immediately notice that this Ducati Multistrada V4 S, well, isn’t a Ducati Multistrada V4 S. Confusing, isn’t it? Instead, what you see here is a Multistrada 1260 Enduro. And, as we all know, that’s a different beast all together. So, what on Earth’s going on? Valve guides. That’s what’s going on. Ducati have two suppliers, and one of them got a batch wrong, resulting in a rather simple part of the engine compromising the integrity of their complex and Swiss watchlike Granturismo V4. Cue global recall for affected bikes – and one immaculate V4 S with a mere 481 miles on the dash wending…

1 Oxford Mondial £249.99 As a 6ft 5in rider, I’ve always struggled with jackets with long enough arms. I’ve only used them for 600 miles, but I’ve found no issues so far. Andy Goodwin, Banff 2 Rukka Nivala £1249.99 I use this jacket for my Blood Biking duties. I’ve never had any trouble and I’ve ridden through some awful rain. Matthew Jordan, Hinckley 3 Dainese Carve Master 2 £529.95 I’ve had it about three years and use it pretty much every day. I’ve done about 36,000 miles and it’s been fantastic. Sarah Spearman, Baldock 4 Wolf Titanium Outlast £299.99 I’ve had this jacket three or four years now. It’s comfortable, soft and I use it alongside my Forcefield back protector. Adam Barnes, Dorset 5 Aerostich Roadcrafter Classic two-piece £1023.20 I’ve…

“I had a brilliant run of it on my old Deauville when I was overtaking loads of caravans, but I struggle to get past cars – especially ones that speed up when they see me coming. But after today, I feel like I’m sharper at getting past most vehicles now – fast or slow, big or small, although I did have an anxious moment while I was overtaking ahead of a forthcoming crest, but with Mark’s advice about planning and space, I knew the overtake was fine. I was trained as a fast response car medic and ambulance driver so I’m used to getting past traffic swiftly… it’s just that my bike doesn’t have flashing lights and a siren!” Mark adds “Simon made really good progress throughout our ride, using…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Make sure your plate’s legit If a slightly smaller or customised numberplate has found its way onto your bike in the 12 months since its last MoT, you’ll have to refit a regulation one prior to the test. The size of plate as well as the size and style of lettering must meet DVSA standards, and display a BS kite mark. Cracked or discoloured plates can also cause a fail. BRUCE’S TIPS Don’t forget your V5 if you need to get a new plate made 2 Are lights shining bright? All the bike’s lights need to function correctly. Indicators, if fitted, must illuminate orange and flash at the correct frequency; too fast or too slowly will result in a fail. Check the…

1 GLENN IRWIN WILL BE AN EVEN BIGGER THREAT IN 2021 Remember when the all-new, yet mostly stock, Fireblade won two races on its Bennetts BSB debut? Well, the Blade is back, and it’s enjoyed a winter full of development. “We have had a Santa’s sack full of parts,” Glenn Irwin told MCN at Silverstone. The stage is set for a blockbuster sequel to last year’s surprise package. Not only did Irwin top the test times and break the all-time circuit record, he also pointed out that he and the entire team finished the test with smiles on their faces. And that’s important. Honda back-to-back tested swingarms and have found electronics and stability improvements, whilst gaining more horsepower. The signs are positive and his speed is an early warning shot…

Franco Morbidelli continues to go unrewarded despite being Yamaha’s saviour at Jerez riding a two-year-old M1 into a superb third place podium. The Italian star is not hiding his dissatisfaction with the curious team situation that is denying him 2021- spec machines. Morbidelli has been impressive on the 2019 M1 but has been told by Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis that he is “unlucky” not to have the new bike due to contracts and because of Covid-19. “This season the difficulty coefficient has increased and getting on the podium has a greater value. I work hard to do the best with what I have,” Morbidelli said. “I’m never going to be happy with what I have, but I’m happy with the amazing effort the team is doing. My crew chief Ramon…

Joan Mir and Suzuki are yet to deliver a hammer blow in defence of their 2020 world championship. Winless after four races Mir’s inability to upgrade qualifying left him unable to deploy the GSX-RR’s key strength – a late race surge on degraded tyres. Mir’s almost invisible fifth place was a product of lacklustre qualifying despite pre-season claims he could deliver front row time attacks. The GSX-RR is impressively competitive but Mir could not clear traffic after starting ninth: “We have to improve qualifying because I’m 100 percent sure that I could have been faster if I had no one in front of me. It’s like having a wall in front of you. That’s what Jack Miller did. Perhaps he didn’t have any better pace than we did, but he…

YES ‘The system is as bad as VAR in football’ JOSH CLOSE Sports Reporter Do you remember when everybody raved about great racing, individual performances, and excellent MotoGP bikes after a race weekend? I miss those days. Now it’s all about track limit sensors and, like football’s VAR system, their inability to make the right call. Three riders were hampered this weekend with Miguel Oliveira saying the width of the Michelin tyres mean that sensors can be triggered whilst you’re still on the kerb. This isn’t right. How can you justify punishing a rider when they didn’t even break the rules? Maverick Viñales’ race at Portimao was ruined when he lost a front-row start and was put back to 11th. Sure, rules are rules but when the system enforcing them…

‘Fabio has to get it sorted… pronto!’ As soon as I saw Quartararo start dropping I suspected it was arm pump. It’s such a shame for him, but we’re seeing in MotoGP it’s become something they really have to think about. A lot of the big hitters over the years have suffered with it although I don’t think Rossi has ever had a problem with it. I’ve had it a couple of times on short circuits and also on the first night of practice at the TT because you’re holding on so tight. You go to bed that night thinking how the hell am I going to do two weeks of this, but day by day it gets easier as you relax and stop gripping so tight. I used to…

Suzuki’s middleweight adventure bike has nearly 20 years of heritage under its belt with a comfortable ride for every mile of it. You could argue the V-Strom is the baby of the middleweight bunch, but that’s what makes the V-twin such a good used buy. You can pick one up from about £2500 for a high-miler, but if you’re looking for sub-10-year-old and sub-10k-miler you’re looking at around £4k. As a big-mile adventure bike, extras are likely to have been added, so check for bodges or poor fitting. The stock suspension has proven to be an issue on older models for some who ride more aggressively and fully loaded. You can upgrade the suspension effectively for around £250 all-in, but take a look and see how tired the suspension is…

There has never been a better time to book a test ride at your local Indian Motorcycle dealership and gear-up to experience the power of Indian Motorcycle’s class leading Roadmaster, Chieftain or Springfield. Re-start your ride this spring with a £400 trade-in bonus and a £200 customisation contribution with selected new Roadmaster, Chieftain and Springfield models (MY20). Grab your chance to put a critically acclaimed Indian Tourer or Bagger in your garage and switch up the fun for as long as the season lasts, and beyond.…

It just got even easier to own an iconic Indian Motorcycle. With dealerships now open, the legendary brand are offering a wealth of deals so you can get the machine you want and explore the open road this summer without a second thought. New FTR Rally is ready to whisk you away Whether you decide to take the long or the short road, the 2020 FTR Rally will get you there the exciting way – and now you can prolong the fun that bit more with Indian’s exclusive FTR Rally Travel-Pack offer. If you walk into an authorised Indian dealership and purchase a new FTR Rally before June 30 2021, you’ll be kitted out with a complementary travel-pack worth £860. The dealership will fit the travel accessories so you are…

There has never been a better time to book a test ride at your local Indian Motorcycle dealership and gear-up to experience the power of Indian Motorcycle’s class leading Roadmaster, Chieftain or Springfield. Re-start your ride this spring with a £400 trade-in bonus and a £200 customisation contribution with selected new Roadmaster, Chieftain and Springfield models (MY20). Grab your chance to put a critically acclaimed Indian Tourer or Bagger in your garage and switch up the fun for as long as the season lasts, and beyond.…