MCN 1 December 2021

IOMTT EXCLUSIVE McGuinness is back on a Fireblade! Hands up if you honestly believed we’d ever see John McGuinness riding a Honda Fireblade again at the Isle of Man TT. His near-death NW200 accident caused what appeared to be an unbreachable rift between the two parties, but 2022 will see McPint line up at the top of Bray Hill for his 100th TT start aboard the bike he’s become synonymous with. EXCLUSIVE STORY PAGE 40 ‘There is nothing like the feeling you get at the TT’MCPINT LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS 100th TT START TOP STORY Bimota set to shake up market Back in the days when the Japanese could make great engines but all their chassis had hinges in the middle and were made of tin foil and cheese, companies like Bimota revolutionised what it meant to…

I never thought we’d see John McGuinness line up on a start line aboard a Honda Fireblade again. Ever. But that’s exactly what we’re going to witness in 2022 as the TT legend looks to further swell his trophy cabinet at what will be a momentous year of road racing at the NW200 and on the Isle of Man. It’s an incredible move, one that speaks volumes for the respect that exists between McGuinness and Honda Racing UK boss, Havier Beltran. It also reveals how deep John’s love is for Honda – a brand that he is synonymous with, and on which he has recorded so many of his major career milestones. One can only imagine how strong that bond is to be able to overcome the long-lasting effects of his NW200…

Ever wondered what would happen if you strapped a turbo onto the side of a nearly 2L V-twin motorcycle? Nope, us neither but that hasn’t stopped the clever folks at West Coast Harley-Davidson from bolting a Trask turbo onto a Lowrider S. The result? 173bhp at the back wheel and it’s not even run in yet. Given a bit more time (and throttle) power is expected to hit 200bhp. Who says Harleys aren’t fast? Bouncing around Shock feeling a bit tired? Touratech may well have the answer for you with their new E1 range. Aimed as a direct replacement for both mono and twin-shock machines, the new E1 shocks are built as entry-level units to the Touratech range. Infinitely adjustable for preload and with 50 clicks of rebound damping adjustment, the E1s…

SENIOR WRITER ‘We’re developing something new with a Tesi chassis’PIERLUIGI MARCONI Bimota are thinking big with two new models revealed at the massive European EICMA motorcycle show in Milan last week, along with bold plans for more groundbreaking machines in the near future. The firm are now working on a new hub-steering Tesi touring model set to arrive in the next two years, powered by the supercharged inline-four Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX engine. Company CEO Pierluigi Marconi confirmed the new model during an exclusive interview with MCN – just hours after introducing the firm’s 2022 KB4 sportsbike and KB4 RC naked. And a company spokesperson then confirmed it would be powered by Kawasaki’s Euro5 H2 SX sports-tourer engine (don’t forget that Kawasaki hold a major stake in the brand). “We are developing something new with…

You wait for one Bimota to come along, and then two arrive all at once. Hot on the heels of the stunning KB4, revealed in MCN last week, comes the KB4 RC – a bold and brash naked. Sharing the same engine, electronics package, and dimensions as the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX- powered KB4 sportsbike, the KB4 RC (Racing Café) features the same 140bhp four-cylinder engine and lean-sensitive electronics – all from the popular Japanese model. They also both share the same colour TFT dash with mobile connectivity, which is now mounted centrally behind the RC’s round headlight. This is joined by bar end mirrors, which bolt onto the aggressively angled clip-ons for a truly exposed café racer riding experience. Away from the front end, the RC’s four-pot engine is also more on display,…

NEWS EDITOR ‘Revised electronics are paired with an updated engine’ Ducati have given their top-of-the-range superbike an update to make it an even more potent track tool. The heart of the beast, the 1103cc V4 engine has been given some small updates for increased efficiency, including a new oil circuit and larger exhaust outlets. The result is a small boost in peak power (up 1.5bhp to 212bhp @ 13,000rpm). And first, second and sixth gear have been lengthened to give more flexibility in low-speed corners while also increasing top speed. The taller gearing should also help calm the aggressive delivery in second. Paired with the updated engine is a revised electronics system, which now offers four power modes: Full, High, Medium and Low. Ducati claim Full is their sportiest riding mode ever offered, delivering…