Table of contents for 17 June 2020 in MCN

Steve Ireland owns WOR Events in Staffordshire Ireland has had to offer all of the participants their money back and estimates that having the event shutdown will have cost him over £10,000. He is also unsure where he stands for his next event, which is sold out. He said: “The land owner still needs to be paid and so do the insurance company. I’ve had to send over £8000 back to customers, too. I don’t want to have to pursue this, but I’ll have to try and recover my financial losses if it turns out I was shut down unfairly.”…

2018 British Superstock 1000 racer Matt Truelove has had his custom helmet stolen from his van. A post on his Facebook page said: “Someone has stolen my race helmet from my parked van at Hamilton Hill car park (Willingham Woods) near Tealby between 5-7pm today (June 6). It’s a custom paintjob so there isn’t another like it. And it’s from my superbike year, so I would like it back please.” If you have any information about the helmet, which is an Arai painted pink and blue with ‘True Love’ Lovehearts above the visor, please get in touch with Matt via Facebook.…

Older air-cooled four-cylinder bikes are in strong demand. They appeal to a certain demographic – that’s me, that is – and they represent a technical era that’s now gone, as liquid cooling becomes near-universal. I think the Yamaha XJR1300 represents their swan-song. I bought one (a Kawasaki GPz750) in the winter and it’s now worth about £500 more than I paid for it. But it’s getting silly now. I was chasing a CBR600, 1994 model. I forgot about it so didn’t bid, and it went for a grand. I’m kicking myself. There was also a 1993 Honda CB750F2, the air-cooled four that replaced the CBX750. Same architecture, really. I expected that bike to fetch something around £1000-£1100 but it made nearly £1600, and that was for a Japanese import the…

Ducati Flow C3 fabric jacket €259 A lightweight, breathable, and fully CE-certified summer jacket. The interior incorporates Warrior lite protectors on the shoulders and elbows and can also take a back protector. There’s a detachable lining made of a breathable, waterproof, and windproof membrane. www.shop.ducati.com Pyramid Extenda Fendas £19.50 UK firm Pyramid Plastics have launched new Extenda Fendas for Triumph’s 2020 Tiger 900 GT and Harley-Davidson’s Softtail Sport Glide FLSB (2018). They have been designed and manufactured in the UK and are available in matt black. They will protect your radiator, exhaust headers and lower fairing. Equipped with both Stick Fit and Rivet fitting options as standard, Pyramid’s Extenda is great value. sales@pyramid-plastics.co.uk MV Agusta face mask £tbc Features a titanium nasal septum adjustment plate and is…

Readers Nick Jones The Ride Shetland Islands When to do it June Time required Long weekend Don’t miss “I was there for the Simmer Dim Rally having read about it from Alison Silcox's report in MCN. It was my first ever rally and my first trip to the islands and I would highly recommend both as a brilliant biking experience.” IT'S UNIQUE It's fair to say the islands have a brilliant character and atmosphere all of their own. SHIPPING My ferry ticket was £170 and the ticket for the rally was £80. There was plenty to see at the harbour. NATURE The Shetland Islands are so beautiful. I'm hoping to go back – it was such a positive experience. THE RIDE Having done the Land's End to John o'Groats trip…

Q ‘It wasn’t my fault but my premium has gone up’ I had an accident where this guy came out of a give way junction and hit me from the side. I was not hurt too badly and the bike had some damage. He admitted it was his fault and his insurers fixed my bike. I told my own insurers about it but, as I did not claim from them, I thought no more of it. I recently tried to insure my car but they are quoting more than before because of this non-fault accident. I have been riding 20 years without a claim and my licence is clean. How can this be? I have fully-comp cover. Gareth, email ‘Someone who has had one accident is more likely to have…

KTM’s new 1290 Super Duke R enjoys a new level of refinement and easy speed that makes it the most rewarding and exciting to ride at any speed. It ticks every super-naked box, including the one marked ‘mischievous’. Ducati’s new Streetfighter V4 S is impressive in every area from finish, design, speed, handling, technology and ‘passione’, but it’s such a serious piece of kit only the most hardened and well-healed of sports riders need apply. Bringing up the rear is the Z H2. It isn’t as well finished as the Europeans, or as composed in the corners, but its unrelenting, supercharged power delivery never gets old and its less frantic nature will be more appealing to some. The KTM wins, but it has one final challenge to face: MCN’s multi-award-winning…

Those who prefer their motorcycles solid, simple, stripped-back and sensibly priced may ask why you’d want any more than the V-Strom 1050. The Suzuki is comfy, quick, with some nice details and genuinely versatile. And at £10k, it’s decent value too. If push came to shove, I suspect I’d still be tempted to find the extra £20 a month for the XT’s centrestand, cruise control, taller screen height and more characterful colours. But whether you agree or not, it’s great to have the choice. Tech spec What it costs £10,147 On the road cash price PCP £111.85 x 36 months…

THE OWNER Ali Silcox, Office Manager Age 50 Been riding 15 years First bike Honda Bros 400 Got any other bikes in the garage? 2017 Yamaha XMAX 300 It’s been a funny couple of months for everyone and, like many, I’ve had far more time on my hands. My weekends would usually be filled riding the length and breadth of the country, but instead they’ve been spent at home. The lockdown has given me a chance to rummage through old holiday snaps and nestled among those treasured memories are loads of shots of my beloved Ducati Monster 695. To be honest, I’d forgotten how big a part the baby Duke has played in our lives. I’d been a fan of the Monster from my first ever ride, way before I…

One stranger in your garage is bad enough Flogging a bike can be stressful. There’s all the photos and waffle required for a modern online listing, and deciding which site offers the best value (MCN’s bikes for sale, of course...). And then you have to allow strangers to come and see your bike, nose inside your garage, and maybe even wander inside your house (‘where’s your bog, pal?’). Blood pressure is increased further when the buyer rocks up with their ‘expert mate’. Now, I know, taking a friend along to stop you rushing into buying a nail is common advice – but you need to make sure that this extra body is genuine as they could be up to no good. The mate they bring along may be a top…

Fitting new plates is the obvious answer to clutch slip, but if your machine is less than 20,000 miles old it could well be that the plates are fine and it’s the springs that need attention. Some manufacturers (I’m thinking of Yamaha and KTM primarily, but definitely others, too) offer stronger, uprated springs which are usually demarked with a painted coloured line down one side of the coils. Ask your dealer if your particular model has an uprated spring option – they’re usually relatively cheap to buy and will transform lever feel as well as allowing more life from your clutch plates. Also, before replacing your suspected worn plates, check that your current plates haven’t become dry (assuming your bike has a wet clutch) and if so, re-soak them in…

• The last time three British riders stood together on a premier class podium was Barry Sheene, Phil Read and John Williams at Anderstorp in Sweden in 1975. • Only three times in 895 races have the top six all come from the same country, with the last being the Isle of Man TT in 1967 for Great Britain. • Max Biaggi was the last rider to win on their premier class debut when he raced at Suzuka in 1998. • 18 of the 71 MotoGP title battles have been decided in the final round. • A total of 49 riders in the 109 to have won in the premier class (44.95%) have been victorious in just one race, including current riders Petrucci, Iannone and Miller. • The top 10…

JULY 17-19  MotoGP Jerez, Spain + MotoE 24-26  MotoGP Jerez, Spain + MotoE AUGUST 30Jul-2Aug  WSB Jerez,Spain TBC 7-9  MotoGP Brno WSB Portimao,Portugal TBC BSB Donington Park 14-16  MotoGP Red Bull Ring, Austria 21-23  MotoGP Red Bull Ring, Austria BSB Snetterton 300 28-30  WSB Aragon, Spain 24 Hours Le mans, France SEPTEMBER 4-6  WSB Aragon, Spain TBC BSB Silverstone 11-13  MotoGP Misano, Italy + MotoE Roads Oliver’s Mount Gold Cup 18-20  MotoGP Misano, Italy + MotoE WSB Catalunya, Spain TBC BSB Oulton Park 24 hour Bol’Dor 25-27  MotoGP Catalunya, Spain OCTOBER 2-4  WSB Magny Cours, France TBC BSB Donington Park 9-11  MotoGP Le Mans, France + MotoE WSB Villicum Argentina TBC 16-18  MotoGP Aragon, Spain BSB Brands Hatch 23-25  MotoGP Aragon, Spain 30 Oct-1Nov  Suzuka 8hour, Japan NOVEMBER 6-8  MotoGP…

A decision on whether races outside Europe will go ahead at the end of the year will be made by the end of July and series promoters Dorna have confirmed that the latest MotoGP can run to will be December 13. The four races below have not been cancelled, unlike Silverstone, Mugello, Phillip Island etc, and so remain a possibility. Given the current Covid-19 situation, the Malaysian race at Sepang appears the most likely of any of them to go ahead. • MotoGP COTA, USA • MotoGP Termas, Argentina • MotoGP Chang, Thailand • MotoGP Sepang, Malaysia…

WEDNESDAY 7pm, ITV4, Isle of Man TT: Virtual TT 2020 Championship THURSDAY 7pm, ITV4, Superbikes When Britain Ruled the World SATURDAY 7.10pm, ITV4, The Unrideables 2 500 GP – The Rainey Days SUNDAY 10.45am, ITV4, Isle of Man TT Padgetts – TT Winners 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 IT V 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…

The Feather Star in Wirkworth has taken an interesting new approach to serving pints by delivering them on the back of a motorcycle. The idea came from owner Jo Galvin after joking that a fresh pint of ale should be classified as an essential delivery. Before long husband Rob was out on his Honda three nights a week, delivering beer and other essentials to the locals. “We’ve been doing it for five weeks now and it’s been hugely popular,” says Jo. “Anyone can get beer from the supermarket but we specialise in local brews and people were missing it. They were also missing out on the camaraderie of the pub and everyone loves it. It’s also friendlier for the environment because we’re not wasting single-use plastic bottles – we pour…

Ducati have revealed the Hypermotard RVE – an updated version of a standard Hypermotard 950, complete with striking new graphics kit and an up-and-down quickshifter. The twin-cylinder supermoto sits between the standard machine and the SP model, sharing the same attributes as its cheaper sibling, with the added bonus of Ducati’s Quick Shift EVO system. Powered by a 937cc V-twin engine, the Hypermotard produces 112.4bhp at 9000rpm. Alongside that, you get 70.9lb.ft of torque – 80% of which is available at 3000rpm. Away from the electronics, the mid-spec motard also gets a new ‘Graffiti’ livery, which uses ultra-thin decals in an attempt to mirror an airbrushed finish. This colour scheme was originally conceived for the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este event and given away as a ‘one off’ prize, to…

HJC RPHA-70 £215.99 ‘Comes with topnotch features’ Save a useful 40% on this lightweight carbon-fibre/fibreglass helmet. Secured by a double D-ring fastener, there’s also a drop-down sun visor and a fully removable, moisture-wicking lining. In order to maximise your vision, it’s got a larger-than-average aperture and the quick-release visor comes complete with an anti-fog insert. After an extensive two-year, 5000-mile test MCN found this sports-touring lid performs as well as its top-notch features would suggest. The three-position top vent is chunky enough to use even with the thickest winter mitts and the central visor lock shuts with a reassuring click. Our only reservation is the 3-star Sharp score. This special deal is available on loads of different designs and it comes in sizes XS-2XL. www.helmetcity.co.uk Garmin Zumo 396…

Racing? Bring it on It’s nice to hear the news of a revised race calendar. I, like many fans, am awaiting the return to racing and some semblance of normality. Hopefully next season fans will be able to attend races again; good luck to all teams this season though. Phil Hadley, email Ed: See p62 for the latest race plans PCP's a matter of interest Dealers have indeed come up with “a tempting array of offers” and your 28-page guide was well received. However, considering the state the trade is in and half the sales year is over, they haven’t done themselves many favours with the interest. 6.9% interest on top of PCP, full retail prices isn’t exactly bending over backwards when the car trade is down to 3.6% interest…

£15,559 as tested, £15,149 base model Kawasaki Z H2 • 998cc 16v supercharged inline four • 197bhp/101lb.ft • £128.44 per month PCP £19,795 otr Ducati Streetfighter V4 S • 1103cc 16v V4 • 205bhp/90lb.ft • £167.98 per month PCP £16,529.80 as tested, £15,699 base model KTM 1290 Super Duke R • 1301cc 8v V-twin • 177bhp/103lb.ft • £201.69 per month PCP On paper Ducati’s Streetfighter V4 S is the super-naked apex predator. It boasts the most power and is based heavily on the Panigale V4 S, is every inch the stripped-down superbike, but it’s also the most expensive here. KTM’s third-generation 1290 Super Duke R has a new chassis, upgraded electronics, suspension and more power. It also has a more palatable price tag, even with an £830.80…

• Name Simon Warburton • Age 54 • Claim to fame Royal Enfield’s Head of Product Development • Other projects “Continental GT and a few future Enfield models I can’t talk about yet…” • Greatest achievement “Gaining Expert status in motocross when I was 19. Helping form the UK R&D team for Royal Enfield was also a big achievement, especially as we did it while developing the 650 twins.” • Missed opportunity “Giving up the potential of being a midfield national motocross racer no one has ever heard of to go to university and study mechanical engineering instead!”…

RATINGS POOR ★ AVERAGE ★★ GOOD ★★★ VERY GOOD ★★★★ EXCEPTIONAL ★★★★★ Garmin Zumo XT £429.99 Tested by Jordan Gibbons for three months over 1000 miles Garmin’s latest and greatest motorcycle-specific satnav is loaded with features. The screen is a 5.5in full colour TFT, which is more than bright enough to use in the midday sun. The unit is well-built, waterproof and dustproof, designed to handle vibes and even being dropped. It’s also got all the Bluetooth connections you need for music, calls and even chatting to your passenger. It comes preloaded with maps of Europe (with a lifetime of free updates) plus topographic maps for off-road adventures. If it’s paired with a phone, it will avoid traffic and road closures. There are other neat features too such as different…

A set of T-bars A range of metric single hexagon T-bars is must for motorcycle maintenance, as they are perfect for the speedy removal of casing bolts. You’ll need 8mm – 12mm sizes for this job. Brake cleaner A workshop essential, brake cleaner has multiple uses. Used with a brush it is ideal for blasting compacted clutch plate material from the drum and basket. Torque wrench Use a torque wrench to make sure all bolts are tightened to the correct spec. For most jobs on a bike, you’ll need a wrench that starts from as low as 8Nm. Combination spanners Essential for working on bikes, the combination of open-ended and ring allow these spanners to cover all scenarios. A typical set will be sized from 8mm-19mm, and you’ll most likely…

CLIVE PADGETT Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles 1 Joey Dunlop 2 John McGuinness 3 Ian Hutchinson 4 Michael Dunlop 5 Bruce Anstey 6 David Jefferies 7 Peter Hickman 8 Phillip McCallen 9 Conor Cummins 10 Jim Moodie JOHN McGUINNESS 23-time TT winner 1 Joey Dunlop 2 David Jefferies 3 John McGuinness 4 Bruce Anstey 5 Ian Hutchinson 6 Michael Dunlop 7 Peter Hickman 8 Dean Harrison 9 Conor Cummins 10 Jim Moodie STEPHEN DAVISON Photographer and Journalist 1 Joey Dunlop 2 John McGuinness 3 Michael Dunlop 4 Ian Hutchinson 5 David Jefferies 6 Bruce Anstey 7 Pater Hickman 8 Ian McCallen 9 Ian Lougher 10 Jim Moodie DEAN HARRISON Senior TT winner 1 Joey Dunlop 2 John McGuinness 3 David Jefferies 4 Bruce Anstey 5 Michael Dunlop 6 Ian Hutchinson 7…

If a tree falls in a forest and there is nobody around to hear it, does it make a sound? So runs a famous so-called “thought experiment”, which – when first aired in an American philosophical magazine in 1883 (thank you, Wikipedia) – elicited a negative answer. No-one to hear it equals no sound. Which takes a bit effort to agree with. Particularly if you have an imaginary friend, who might have been under the tree at the time. So if a motorcycle GP takes place without any spectators, has it really happened? We’ll be finding out in a month now, when the truncated and geographically circumscribed MotoGP season begins again, strictly in private, at Jerez. It is the first of a series of double-headers adding up to 13 rounds,…

You could win this rather lovely Honda VTR1000 SP-1 just by getting an online insurance quote from Bennetts. Built to take on Ducati in World Superbikes, the SP-1 took home its maiden WSB title with Colin Edwards and a TT victory in the hands of Joey Dunlop. To celebrate 20 years of the bike, Bennetts are giving away a year 2000 model to one lucky rider who goes online and obtains a quote for either a standard or classic bike policy. It really is that simple, but head to www.bennetts.co.uk/ winhondasp1 for the full details.…

As the Government continues to relax its lockdown rules, certain business and venues have been given the green light to resume activities provided they are Covid safe. Outdoor sports venues such as tennis courts and golf courses were explicitly mentioned in the new guidance released on May 13. The DCMS advised MCN that short circuit trackdays are covered by the same logic as long as social distancing measures are followed. Staffordshire Police declined to comment further on why they believe an off-road day is different from a trackday.…

Triumph have unveiled a new e-bike that they’ve called the Trekker GT. The Trekker has an aluminium frame, which is fitted with a Shimano Steps E6100 motor that’s capable of providing 250w (about 0.3bhp) of assistance. The motor also produces an impressive 44lb.ft of torque, with a range of around 100 miles - not bad for a little box that weighs under 3kg. The Trekker also has other nifty features including LED lights and a lock. The price is TBC until it goes on sale in dealers shortly.…

BMW R nineT, 2015 • 7760 miles, private seller • The R nineT is a bit of a retro benchmark and this particular bike is billed as being in excellent condition with loads of nice parts, including Wunderlich bolt-ons, a Rizoma screen and Öhlins shock plus an AC Schnitzer exhaust with the original available. It has a fresh MoT and BMW service history. 01254 467452 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer, 2005 • 8714 miles • Superbike Factory, Cheshire This low-mileage middleweight looks to be in decent condition. Its all-round ability and lively motor deliver on all levels and at this price; many will be tempted, so don’t hang about. www.superbikefactory.co.uk Triumph Sprint ST 1050, 2012 • 17,299 miles • Preston Superbikes, Lancs Dream machine paintwork and only one owner from new, it’s…

GRAHAM BELL Age 60 Height 5ft 8in Current bike KTM 1290 Super Duke R Been riding 44 years First bike Suzuki AP50 Dream bike MV Agusta F4 “Since I passed my test at 17 I’ve become a CamRider Instructor, completed RoSPA training with Cambridgeshire Police, ridden around the world and helped establish the original SERV Blood Bikers in Essex. ”I’d been looking at the KTM for a couple of years. I wanted something to reignite my passion, as I’d become a little jaded with the GS I’d owned for over 10 years and the sportsbike I also had was getting used less and less. So, when my mate turned up on one and I saw and heard the fun he was having, it was decision made. “I’ve had a first…

THE 1980S “At 12 my brother let me ride his CZ. I grabbed a handful and ended up on my arse. He then let me restore his Matchless. I was too young to ride it so I bought a very knackered Yamaha FS1-E to ride instead.” THE VMCC “At the VMCC my proudest achievement was resurrecting the Festival of 1000 Bikes. When I brought Kenny Roberts over in 2011 we drew the biggest crowds at Mallory since the 1970s.” CLASSIC TT “In 2015 we put 13 works Norton rotaries back on the IoM with Trevor Nation, Steve Cull plus riders like McGuinness and Michael Dunlop on his dad’s bike. People went crazy.” GOING LIVE “Our event in October when we open free-of-charge and we have stars on stage, Henry Cole,…

When this tidy 2014 Kawasaki Z1000 came in for an MoT it looked like a straightforward examination was in order, but closer inspection uncovered a serious problem. ‘I was able to put a little curve in the silencer’ Doncaster Motorcycles’ owner Kevin Hollingsworth explained: “The guy had dropped it on its right side at low speed a couple of months before. Although the brake lever was new, nothing else had been touched. The right bar end was still scuffed-up and the end can was scratched where it had clouted the tarmac. “The rear brake pedal had escaped and its slave cylinder and pushrod are hidden behind the footrest mounting. But the impact had bent the silencer up enough to squeeze the pushrod slightly.” This meant the rear brake was continually…

If the MotoGP season kicks of as hoped next month in Jerez, the championship will hit the incredible milestone of 900 premier class races, five rounds into the 2020 season. The series, which started in 1949, has seen huge change along with plenty of highs and lows. From Kenny Roberts to Valentino Rossi and Mike Hailwood to Marc Marquez, MCN has dug into the archives to find some weird and wonderful stats from over seven decades of action. WHICH FIRM HAS DONE THE BEST? Most constructor wins 309 HONDA 22 Most successive constructor wins: Honda (1997/1998) 25 Most constructor titles: Honda 04 Mike Hailwood, Randy Mamola, Eddie Lawson and Loris Capirossi are the only four riders have won for three different factories. 05 Geoff Duke, Giacomo Agostini, Eddie Lawson, Valentino…