Table of contents for 5 October 2016 in MCN

He had a disaster in the first weekend of the Showdown but it all changed for Leon Haslam with a commanding double win at MCE British Superbike’s annual outing over the water to the Assen. With title favourite Shane Byrne taking two seconds, it’s all to play for as the series reaches its climax next weekend with a triple-header at Brands Hatch. Byrne is sitting pretty on 633 points against Haslam’s 616 but with a full 75 points available from the remaining three races the title is very far from decided.…

THE FACTS• R3 based • 158bhp (est) • 210 kg (est) • Seat height 825mm (est) The MT-10 smashed its way into our affections this year with a superb blend of naked street bike hedonism, and effortless comfort and drive. Load it up with the firm’s touring accessories, and it makes an accomplished mile-muncher, too. But for 2017 Yamaha have upped the ante with this, a cunning marriage of MT-10 and YZF-R1M, to create an SP version of the hyper-naked. Featuring Öhlins Electronic Racing Suspension (ERS), Thin Film Transistor (TFT) instrumentation and a paintjob unique to the SP, this has to be a strong contender for the naked nutcase crown in 2017. The SP’s semi-active electronic suspension is controlled by a Suspension Control Unit (SCU) – just like the R1…

THE FACTS • 189bhp • 195kg • Seat height 831mm A whole 12 months ago Suzuki unveiled a ‘concept’ GSX-R1000R that looked as finished as any production bike. But it wasn’t finished. Which is lucky, really – because the new GSX-R1000R needs to be top dog, it needs to recapture the sublime, simple genius of the K5 model, it needs to be what Suzuki have dubbed it: The King of Sportsbikes. Based on the limited information available, the bike Suzuki revealed a year ago looked unlikely to reach that goal. But a year down the line, there’s plenty of positive signs that this properly production-ready version could get at least one hand on the crown. Possibly two. It’s a tall order, though – so what’s so special about the all-new…

‘It’s an all-round win as a do-it-all sportsbike’ ‘This simple yet effective kit makes it even more versatile’ MCN tested Suzuki’s GSX-S1000FA back in July 2015, and we called it a ‘trueroad-goingsportsbike in every sense.’ But there was one gripe: the FA lacked hard luggage and the possibility of hooking soft luggage on, too, ruining its potential for being the ultimate practical sportsbike Suzuki were suggesting it could be. But they reckon they’ve remedied that for 2016 with the GSX-S1000FA Tour Edition. Put simply, Suzuki have strapped a tankbag, tailpack, taller screen, heated grips and a graphics kit to the standard FA. So we nabbed this new ‘touring’ model for a 250-mile blast to check out the differences. Settle into the comfy cockpit and it all feels very misleading. My…

The article about Guy Martin’s speed attempt at Bonneville Salt Flats was, in my opinion, superbly written by Adam Child (MCN, September 21). His use of the Burt Munro quote, ‘You live more in five minutes flat-out on a bike than most people do in a lifetime’ is superb. And I loved the description of Guy’s Streamliner as a ‘million–pound carbon slug.’ In the past year I have retaken my GCSE English – I only managed a ‘C’ but wish that I could write this well. I’m 59 years young, ride a 1981 Honda CM 250T at the speed limit and can only dream about doing 400mph. Adam’s writing really gives me the feeling of doing ‘four times the ton’ and I love it. MCN STAR LETTER If you’re looking…

The mission The factory-fresh custom scene is growing rapidly, and Harley-Davidson reckon their new Roadster has it all, with decent handling and style. Moto Guzzi are pushing in with the V9 Bobber, while Indian are sticking to their guns with the Scout. But which one delivers both the ride and the attitude? The riders Andy Davidson MCN staff writer Age 28 Height 5ft 6 in CV Big fan of every genre of motorcycle James Doherty Guest rider Age 35 Height 5ft 7in CV Former supersport racer, now a rock band frontman Jon Urry MCN contributor Age 39 Height 6ft 2in CV Prolific bike buyer and experienced freelance journalist There is an ever expanding segment in the motorcycle industry right now, and it goes by many names: hipster, custom, modern retro,…

‘How are 600s making more money than 1000s?’ Sometimes you have to marvel at how little money is required to score a really good bike. I was bidding on a 1996 Honda VFR750, with 23,000 miles, a mature owner and a host of useful extras including colour-matched soft luggage. It had one tiny crack in the fairing and a small chip in the tank’s paint. Nobody seemed interested in it, and I slung in a bid at the last minute. That’s when everybody bids, of course, and I was pipped by £20. Someone got it for £1340. That’s cheap for one of the greatest designs of all time: a byword for quality and reliability. Then there was a Suzuki RF900. An oddball choice, born out of Suzuki’s desire to have…

BMW Motorrad Street Air by Alpinestars jacket £1600 The name may be quite a mouthful, but this new airbag jacket represents the first tie-up between BMW and protective clothing specialists Alpinestars. The Street Air adopts the airbag technology from Alpinestars’ Tech-Air system, which uses body-mounted sensors to detect a crash scenario and inflate the airbag in time to help protect the rider’s upper body. Alpinestars have demonstrated in past tests of the system that the airbag is fully inflated within 25 milliseconds (0.025) of being triggered. Once inflated, the bag covers the back, kidneys, chest and shoulders, which are highly vulnerable in the event of an accident. The internal accelerometers are capable of detecting sudden motions that suggest a crash, either through the bike striking an outside object, the rider…

Fans’ favourite Chris Walker returned to Assen’s podium for the first time since his World Superbike win in 2006. While the two British Sidecar races were both dry and less dramatic than Walker’s memorable last-to-first wet weather victory at the Dutch circuit, that didn’t stop him celebrating what he called his best race yet with a podium in the opening encounter as he continues to get to grips with his move to three wheels alongside passenger Ashley Hawes. “This time last year I gave the sidecar trophies out on the podium and this year I was taking one!” said Walker. “It’s 10 years since I last stood on the Assen WSB podium, can you believe it? “The first race was one of the best races I’ve had so far this…

TT star Ian Hutchinson is having second thoughts about a move to British Superbikes next year after a tough weekend at Assen. Having ridden his BMW S1000RR to an all-but-confirmed second in the National Superstock series, Hutchinson was rewarded with a Superbike wild card ride, as the stock class does not visit the Dutch circuit. The ride came as the 14-time TT winner enters talks with Tyco BMW boss Phillip Neill about their plans for the 2017 season, with Hutchinson having indicated he’d like a crack at the BSB series next year. Not only was the BSB-spec machine new to Hutchy, but so was the 2.822-mile Assen TT circuit, making for a difficult weekend for the 37-year-old, who could only manage a best result of 24th in the second race.…

THE FACTS • 189bhp • 197kg • Seat height 831mm ‘All 1000cc sportsbikes are extraordinary examples of high performance engineering. But for us, for our new Fireblade, we want extraordinary to be the pleasure of handling and controlling such a machine. Its true purpose – wherever it’s ridden – is to enjoy something that is not normally experienced in everyday life, something that cannot be surpassed,” says Mr Sato-san, large project leader for the new Fireblade. Well, that sounds good. 2017 is the 25th anniversary of the Fireblade, and while we all hoped Honda would do something special to mark the model’s quarter-century, we couldn’t have dreamed that they’d go this far. Rather than simply replacing the exiting stock bike and SP, it looks like we will be treated to…

THE FACTS • 113bhp • 210kg • Seat height 810mm Ducati’s two new SuperSport models mark a significant change of direction for the traditionally sportsbike-focused Italian powerhouse. These bikes, according to the factory, “blend Ducati’s sporting side with road focused performance and accessibility.” What this means in practice is an everyday Ducati sportsbike. “The SuperSport isn’t a sports tourer or an entry level superbike,” explains Paolo Quattrino, the SuperSport’s product marketing manager. “It is a unique bike in its own right, a versatile sportsbike from Ducati.” While fans of Ducati’s Panigale range may raise an eyebrow at this point, the SuperSport isn’t designed for them. “The target customer for the SuperSport bike desires a good looking sportsbike that is fun to ride and can be used every day,” says Quattrino.…

THE FACTS • 110bhp • 220kg • Seat height 805mm BMW’s reinvention continues in 2017 with more new models that mark the German firm out as one of the most innovatively on-trend manufacturers in the market. And leading the charge is this beautiful R nineT Racer. Looking every inch the retro HP2 Sport, it takes the basic R nineT platform that has proved so popular for BMW, strips it of its high-end cycle parts, and adds some of the most understated and classy café racer styling seen on any modern classic. The most obvious headline addition is the Imola-style half fairing, which blends function with beautifully subtle form, clean lines and carefully thought-out design solutions. Check out the mirrors, for example. Rather than being bolted to the fairing, they’re mounted…

THE FACTS • 160bhp • 240kg • Seat height 890mm Blimey. This is going to be epic. Take the engine from the Super Duke R, give it a fiddle and a tweak, shove it in a huge hardcore enduro chassis, and pull the pin. If you thought the 1190 Adventure R was bonkers – this just stole its dinner money, pushed its head in the toilet and flushed it. In typical R fashion, there’s the orange frame and crash bars, big laced wheels, and huge suspension travel – but let’s talk about the engine first. At peak tune, the 1290 motor is kicking out 173bhp – but KTM have skewed its strengths to deliver 160bhp, with 103.25ftlb of torque. The R gets a rather distinctive new face, which you’ll either…

‘The V-Strom 650 duo are a massive improvement over the old models’ THE FACTS • 69.7bhp • 2 13kg (216kg XT) • Seat height 830mm The 2017 V-Strom 650 may not be an all-new model, but it’s not far off. The long-suffering 645cc V-twin engine has been around so long that universities let their students practice archaeology on it – but not only does its perky engagement mean that it’s never been anything less than great, Suzuki have now updated it for 2017. Now Euro4 compliant, the capacity stays the same, but some judicious revisions mean marginal increases in power and torque. There’s a new fuel injection system with 10-point injectors, resin-coated pistons and exhaust camshafts from the new SV650 – amongst more than 60 engine component revisions. Another is…

FACT FILE Carnell Motorcycles Ltd Born: November 1975 Claim to fame: Europe’s biggest bike dealer – for a while Killed off: October 2002 Carnell. That name rings a bell… And so it should. By the late 1990s this dealer chain had grown to become not just the UK’s but Europe’s biggest, responsible for nearly 10% of all British new bike sales but also, arguably, the first ‘mega dealer’. If you didn’t buy your bike from Carnell back then you almost certainly knew somebody who did – or who worked there. What do you mean ‘mega dealer’? The biggest Carnell branches had it all – selling new models from not just all the leading Japanese manufacturers but quite often a few European ones as well, usually at discount prices, not to…

Every week, MCN prints the best pictures sent in by readers or website users. You can post your pictures onto our Facebook page or email them to mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com We want the full array of weird and wonderful images that reflect your biking life. As you can see here, we are happy to celebrate the lighter things from the world of biking.…

Classic Bike Live bursts onto the classic scene at the end of this month with a truly world class line-up of bikes and racing stars. TT maestros John McGuinness and Mick Grant are guests of honour at the inaugural event and will be bringing along a selection of machines from their personal collections. McGuinness will be displaying his TT-winning TSR250 from 1999, his 2007 HM Plant Fireblade and his Vimto Honda SP1. Grant, meanwhile, will be showing his 1981 Suzuki RG500 (also a TT winner) and his gorgeous Kawasaki KR750 from 1977. Other landmark bikes on display include no less than seven of Barry Sheene’s Grand Prix machines including the 1979 XR27 with it’s handsome black, red and yellow Texaco paint scheme, 10 machines from the National Motorcycle Museum, a…

Dirtquake madness If you prefer your racing full-sized and with inappropriate machinery then the Hooligan class of the Dirt Track Riders Association (DTRA) will be right up your street – if you went to the MCN Festival back in the spring you’ll have seen the Hooligan class in all its glory. It’s three rounds of dirt track racing on twin-cylinder machines above 750cc. Full-on knobbly tyres aren’t allowed. I took part in the final meeting at Dirtquake in July on a bog standard Harley-Davidson Street 750. It’s equally one of the most terrifying and most fun things I’ve ever done. The Hooligan class isn’t serious – as the Yamaha FZ600 lining up alongside me on bald tyres proved – it’s all about having a laugh. The atmosphere at DTRA events…

Accessories/panniers Always important on a Beemer. This one comes with factory cases Electronics Most come with ASC (traction control) and ESA II (electronic suspension adjust) Wear and tear Slightly scuffed footrest heel plates aside, this one’s virtually mint Corrosion Can be a slight issue, particularly around the caliper/ disc fasteners What we said then “Numerous, seemingly small changes to the BMW K1300S amount to a seriously improved machine over the outgoing model. The combined result of so many developments has given the inline four more performance, better fuel economy and range, and improved engine refinement. BMW have shown that they don’t need to make huge model changes to make a good bike even better. The engine is brilliant and the K1300S is fast, comfortable, practical, good looking and will handle…

It’s amazing how much difference a little sunshine can make, and this route will illustrate that more than most others. Head over the northern Pennines on a dank, blustery day and it will be dramatic in a way you probably won’t relish. But catch it when the rays are spreading their joy and it’s a belter. Head out of Leyburn, which is on the very appealing A684 that runs west to Hawes, and there’s an interesting trickle north towards Richmond and its castle before arriving at the A66. Here it’s a matter of a short stint west on the dual-carriageway before crossing and heading north into Barnard Castle. The main drama of this route comes next, going up and over a tricky stretch that feels like you’re heading into the…

‘For the first couple of hours, in-the-saddle comfort is fine. But after that it’s a killer’ KAWASAKI ZX-10R £13,799 FUEL 17 litres @ 45mpg = 168 miles WEIGHT 197kg SEAT 813mm POWER 197bhp TORQUE 84ftlb MICHAEL NEEVES  Long-time sportsbike lover who also races in the white-hot Thundersport GP1 championship HEIGHT 6ft WEIGHT 72kg While Jonathan Rea, Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam were battling it out at the sharp end of WSB and BSB on their ZX-10Rs this summer, I took mine on holiday. Sportsbikes might not be as comfortable as, erm… just about anything else. But when you get to your journey’s wiggly bits the pain you’ve endured on the motorways to get there quickly melts away. You can have fun on anything with two wheels, of course, but little…

‘From initial throttle pickup, it feels much keener to rev, and sounds brilliant’ DUCATI XDIAVEL S £18,395 FUEL 18 litres at 44mpg = 173 miles WEIGHT 247kg SEAT 755mm POWER 156bhp TORQUE 95ftlb EMMA FRANKLIN  125GP racer with a love of sports and performance HEIGHT 5ft 7in WEIGHT 59kg At the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally last month, Ducati hit a home run right in Harley-Davidson’s back yard when they revealed the stunning Roland Sands Designs XDiavel special. Made exclusively for the rally by the Californian customiser, the one-off XDiavel featured single-piece bodywork with two-tone paintwork, unique wheels featuring a 19in front, and a whole range of billet aluminium parts. It’s a real stunner. In the process of creating the Sturgis special, Sands also developed a range of off-the-shelf parts for the…

THE FACTS • 189bhp • 195kg • Seat height 831mm This is more like it. Honda’s previous Fireblade range-topping model was a slightly apologetic attempt at taking the Fireblade up a level, but this new SP2 is the real deal, and then some. A road legal homologation special using the new SP as a base, just 500 will be made for race use. It’s great to see HRC logos proudly on display, too. Carbon pattern insets and gold striping interwoven into the Tricolour paint mark the Fireblade SP2’s difference over the stock machine, as do lightweight gold Marchesini wheels that reduce wheel inertia at the front by 18%, and 9% at the rear. But the real differences – and what gives the Fireblade SP2 ultimate racing potential – lie inside…

THE FACTS • 54bhp • 198kg (est) • Seat height 750mm (est) Triumph blew everyone away with a stunning range of retro rockets this year and three more mouthwatering offerings look set to stun in 2017. The new range will boast a full complement of 900cc variants, with the T100 Bonneville and T100 Black offering retro fans a more direct replacement of the old model, while for those who prefer their Bonnie a bit more café racer, there’s the striking Street Cup. The all-new 900cc powered trio are lighter than the T120s, and have less mumbo on tap, but with over 150 accessories available there are just as many opportunities to create your own personal dream Bonnie. Inspired by the ’59 Bonneville and styled to incorporate more of the design,…

THE FACTS • 68bhp • 193kg • Seat height 790mm Right, calm down, this isn’t an over-bored replacement for the ZX-6R, it’s actually the parallel-twin ER-6f with a mass of updates and improvements, all dressed up to look like a closer relative of the Ninja family. Think of it as being more of a Ninj-ER, than Ninja. It’s a genuinely impressive update for the nifty middleweight, though. While the 649cc parallel-twin has lost 3bhp at peak during the revisions needed to get it through Euro4, it’s also gained claimed better fuel economy, and when you offset the power loss against the weight loss – owners will still be winning. There’s a claimed 6.8% improvement in fuel economy that goes with the retune, and an assist and slip clutch which reduces…

It’s official – these are the UK’s top 10 motorcycle-themed shots as taken by amateur photographers and now it’s down to MCN readers to vote for their favourites. The standard has been superb with the finalists sending in pictures from overseas adventures and biking locations closer to home. Just visit the MotoFoto website – www.carolenash.com/mcnmotofoto – and place your vote. Once they are all counted we’ll have the winner, runner-up and third place pictures, with the results announced on the Carole Nash stand at Motorcycle Live on Saturday, November 19. Voting for MotoFoto is open now and runs until October 26. The annual amateur photography competition is held in association with Carole Nash Insurance, and boasts some fantastic prizes from competition partner TomTom (see below). The winner and the top…

‘OK, I’m not at Suzuka but the day I’ve dreamt of has finally arrived: my first race’ Racing has always been my dream. As an eight-year-old I used to watch, over and over, day after day, the same VHS tape of Kevin Schwantz’s heroic 1989 season – then go to bed scheming my path to 500 GP glory. Now here we are, all those years later, and racing is still just a dream. Why? Lack of money, mainly, but also a lack of confidence and the worry that I simply haven’t the skills and killer attitude to be any good. Suppose I invested in a CBR600RR, a van, tyre warmers, a generator, a season’s worth of entry fees, an ACU licence plus the million other cash-absorbing details of a typical…

1 Remove the caliper Unbolt the brake caliper from the fork leg, but do not empty or bleed any fluid out. Support the weight of the caliper by hanging it from a mounting point with a bungee cord, string or anything sturdy enough to support its weight – suspending it from a handlebar usually keeps it away from the bike. Protect mudguards and fairings from fluid splashes with old sheets or rags. 2 Pistons out The easiest way is to use the brake system’s own power. Be careful here – the aim is to repeatedly, carefully pump the brake so the pistons creep (but don’t pop) out. Aim to pump each out by 10-15mm – some move more easily than others. If you can wedge something in, or fit a…

2009-10 BMW K1300S Colours Orange, grey or black/grey Dealer £6000 Private good £5800 Private average £5500 This one 2009 model with ESA, heated grips and Remus can. 23,000 miles, £5995 2011-12 BMW K1300S Colours Red, blue or black/ grey Dealer £8500 Private good £7750 Private average £7250 This one 2011 red K13 with ESA, quickshifter, heated grips and Remus can. 13,000 miles, £7995 2012 BMW K1300S HP Colours Blue/white/black only. Limited edition model with HP goodies Dealer £9900 Private good £9800 Private average £9750 This one 2012 model with 17,000 miles, £9895 2013-16 BMW K1300S Colours Silver or black Dealer £11,000 Private good £10,250 Private average £9850 This one 2013 model with ESA, Akrapovic can and panniers. 9000 miles, £9995…

Despite missing the first hour-long practice session of the weekend when his bike broke down, Michael van der Mark and his Honda World Superbike team clawed back a second place finish in the wet’n’dry first race on Saturday. It was a relief to him as he tries to finish fourth in the championship overall. “The season started really well and then I had a lot of difficult times,” said a rider who is Yamaha-bound in 2017. “To win a championship you need to be in the front every weekend and we could not do that. So fourth place in the championship is the maximum we could achieve with this bike. The bike is quite sensitive on set-up.” He was fifth in Sunday’s dry race but beaten fair and square by…