Table of contents for 15 September 2021 in MCN

WATERPROOF ESSENTIALS As well as all the best rider kit, we delve into luggage that won’t leak and a raft of other essential buys 12-PAGE HELMET SPECIAL From the latest helmets to future tech, lid care, and our hottest picks ALL-WEATHER RIDING KIT Textile suits to waterproof boots, gloves, heated kit and toasty base layers. You’ll never ride cold again! INSIDE YOUR SPECIAL ISSUE Conquer Autumn with the right kit! There are so many great looking products on the market right now, all promising to be the next best thing to keep you hot, cold or dry in any season you care to ride in. So how do you know what’s really worth forking out for? We’ve compiled our pick of the best autumnbusters that we’ve ever used, along with…

Guy Martin’s latest book takes a Look back over the Last four hectic years of his Life. Whether he’s competing in a self-supported 2500-mile mountain bike race across America, or trying to reach 300mph in a standing mile on the 800-horsepower motorbike he built in his shed, Guy is always busy. Dead Men Don’t Tell Tales is out on October 28, for £20 and is available at bookshops and through Amazon. Don’t splash out! A new range of affordable clobber has been released by Oxford Products. The Spartan jacket and trouser combo offer no-nonsense performance for sensible money. The CE-approved jacket is £79.99 (a short version is £69.99) while the trousers cost £59.99. The jacket boasts a thermal liner, elbow and shoulder protectors and an array of pockets. Bad vibrations?…

MV Agusta have just unveiled a simpler, more comfortable and cheaper version of the bonkers 1000 RR Brutale super-naked – although at over 22 grand and 200bhp it’s still more extreme than most. The Brutale 1000 RS is based on the range-topping, £28,900 RR, but does without that bike’s ultra-exotic semi-active Öhlins suspension (although it retains the Öhlins electronic steering damper). Instead the RS gets more conventional, fully adjustable adjustable Marzocchi 50mm inverted forks and a similarly-adjustable Sachs rear shock while revised, raised clip-on bars, new footpegs and a new, more softlypadded, one-piece saddle are claimed to improve comfort. The 998cc four has also been updated for the RS – although the outrageous performance is largely unchanged. Equipped, as before, with titanium conrods and valves, it now gets revised cam…

British teenage tennis sensation Emma Raducanu shocked the sporting world by winning the US Open on Saturday, but many of the millions watching her make history may not have known that she used to be a budding motocross racer. The 18-year-old was the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade in 1977 and she became the first ever qualifier to win a Major – one of the four main global tennis tournaments. But Bromley-based Emma, who was sitting her A-levels just three months ago, used to tear around on a Kawasaki crosser when she was ten years old. The Motorsport-mad tennis star posted some pictures of her riding on Instagram with the caption: “The good days, riding my baby Kawa.” But she stopped racing bikes…

Alpinestars Supertech R Vented boots £499.99 The new Supertech Rs have extensive perforations throughout for maximum airflow. There’s a redesigned rear bellow, a redesigned top gaitor, a new shifter and shin plate, a new shin slider and a new inner bootie, all of which Alpinestars say enhances the comfort, protection and the performance of this boot to a new class-leading high. www.alpinestars.com Touratech Midi Extreme tank bag £179.99 This fairly compact bag fits most mid-sized adventure bikes. It’s easy to mount, with straps and clips for the best hold and easy refuelling. There’s a large inner compartment with Velcro dividers, inner pockets for small items, removable document pocket, outer mesh pockets and waterproof map pocket. Its volume can be expanded from 10 to 14 litres. www.touratech.com Pyramid Plastics colour-matched screen…

Small-capacity electric bike firm Super Soco are celebrating becoming the first plug-in powered two-wheeler brand to surpass 1000 sales in a single year. The company have sold 1028 machines across 2021 so far which follows 18 months of strong sales – partly driven by Covid-19. With five 50cc-125cc equivalents in the range, the firm’s top-value offerings have lured commuters off the bus. Planet-saving kit Forcefield have introduced a new G-Tech armoured clothing range, made with recycled yarns and ocean plastics. Using recycled polyester from ocean waste plastics, the manufacturing process uses 90% less water, plus 80% less CO2 and the fabric is recyclable. Fitted with either CE1 or CE2 armour, products include jackets, shirts, trousers and more. £2.5K Piaggio 1 The new Piaggio 1 electric goes on sale from November…

Ride further in 2021 with a little help from our one-stop event guide Ride out to Britain’s best biking cafes DOM’S BIKE STOP ● Camp, drink and eat ● Tues 12pm-late, Wed-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 7.30am-9pm, Sun 7.30am-5pm ● Find out more at: www.facebook.com/Doms-Bike-Stop-157874554272615 On a quiet 10 acres just 13 miles from the Welsh border, Dom’s Bike Stop is thriving after 12 years in the making. Owner Dom Howe thought up the idea when he visited other biker establishments but didn’t think they were up to scratch. He said: “There wasn’t a lot around, it was almost like places weren’t trying to make anything better. So, I had the nursery and the garden centre, and I decided to diversify and set up an actual bikers’ café.” Although the café got…

MCN staff and readers share their one-hour routes Not so much a destination as a far better way in and out of Edinburgh from the North of England. You can join the A68 in a variety of places but its best to join soon after Corbridge. From here the road gets steadily faster with desolate moorland finally dropping down to Elishaw where you turn left (but stay on the A68) towards Whitelee Moor. After skirting the Catcleugh Resevoir there’s the climb up to the border at Carter Bar. Stop for a selfie and grab a bite at the burger van. Then it’s down again, first around some fast, Alpine-esque hairpins, before cruising through the tourist town of Jedburgh then a variety of spectacular riding including passing the Leaderfoot Viaduct over…

If you’re looking for a Sunday rammed with bikes, stalls and stunts then Suffolk’s Copdock Show could be your unlikely but perfect destination. What’s happening? Raising money for local charities, the show is put together by a small group of volunteers and is packed full of everything from live bands to manufacturer stalls, stunt crews and more. Non-riders can give biking a go with free Camrider trial lessons, or if you think you’re on a winning streak, then enter the prize draw for a brand new Royal Enfield. Dougie Lampkin will be popping by as a special guest, and there’s no forgetting the rides and funfair as well as the autojumble. The essential stuff The one-day event has a ticket price of £10 if you want to buy in advance…

Paul Findley Age 32 Height 5ft 11in Current bike 2019 Triumph Speed Twin and 2011 Street Triple R Been riding 8 years First bike: Yamaha DT125 Dream bike Yamaha RD350LC “I was thinking about getting a modern retro and the Thruxton R appealed but I didn’t fancy clipons or the seat hump as I take a pillion. Then Triumph announced they were building the Speed Twin, which was exactly what I was after – a modern retro with a bench seat and flat bars. “I bought it brand new as a 30th birthday present to myself, via a loan rather than PCP as I prefer to own a bike. I got one of the first bikes in the UK after sitting on one at Triumph’s prelaunch event and I’ve never…

Road Classy documentary narrated by Liam Neeson gives an amazing insight into the Dunlop roadracing dynasty, all the more poignant as William is no longer with us. 21 Days Under the Sky Beautifully shot and directed American roadtrip flick, telling the true story of four guys who go on a 3800-mile ride down the Lincoln Highway on vintage choppers. World’s Fastest Indian The story of record speed chaser Burt Munro and starring Anthony Hopkins, it’s a compelling mix of humour, humanity and high-speed daring. The Leather Boys Period black and white classic flick set around the ‘Ton-up boys’ who hang out at London’s Ace Cafe in the 1960s with a gay subtext plus some serious biking action.…

“Most riders seem to favour one type of corner or another, and lefts are a problem for some. On the road, the view is usually worse on a left, and if you get it wrong you can stray into oncoming vehicles – I think many riders have had a near-miss this way, whether real or imagined, and really frightened themselves. Also, track riders obviously get far more practice on right handers.” 1 Entry position Position yourself to get the fastest line, and the best view, without compromising your safety. On left-handers that means being close to the centre line of the road (or the right-hand edge on a track). Use the full width of the track, or your lane when there are no vehicles coming the other way. 2 Line…

EMMA FRANKLIN DEPUTY EDITOR Sportsbike lover with 18 years experience. Likes trips to scenic places No more beating around the bush: the 2021 Hayabusa is a brilliant performance road bike. Sure, it’s taken me a few thousand miles to shake off my post-Lockdown rust, but I’ve finally reached the conclusion that, for someone like me who’s still not over the ‘sportsbike thing’ but wants real-world performance without having to go down the upright (and ugly) ‘dual-sports’ route, it’s the best mix of comfortable, practical show and go. A small change I’ve made to the flagship Suzuki has resulted in a big difference, too: tyres. The 2021 Hayabusa comes on Bridgestone’s S22 tyres; 120/70/17 on the front, and a 190/50/17 at the rear. They’re absolutely fine in terms of grip, but…

The tapered roller bearings in a bike’s headstock are perfect for the task demanded of them. This type of bearing design, mounted in pairs at either end of the steering stem, accommodates the combined steering, braking and accelerating loads and, if fitted correctly, will work perfectly for many thousands of miles with little adjustment. However, over time, braking and accelerating forces, along with bumps in the road, will take their toll and an amount of wear will become detectable. Also, how you ride can accelerate steering head bearing wear. Many years ago, one new recruit at a motorcycle magazine – wheelie-loving-but-rather-lacking-in-skill – put his Z1000 through hell, so much so that he caused the headstock bearing seat to go oval. He never checked the bearings and wasn’t even able to…

Pedro Acosta made the first big mistake of his impressive rookie season without an impact on his surge for the Moto3 title. Acosta launched Xavier Artigas into orbit with an overly ambitious move putting both riders out of the race with four laps to go. But then closest title rival Sergio Garcia slid out of the lead on the final lap, leaving Dennis Foggia to grab his third win of the season ahead of Deniz Oncu and Ayumi Sasaki. Garcia recovered to finish 18th with Acosta retaining a comfortable 46-point lead over Garcia with five races remaining.…

INSIDE THE MOTOGP PADDOCK FOR 35 YEARS MICHAEL SCOTT It was back in his Moto2 days I first dubbed him ‘Marquez the Merciless’. Little did anyone realise then that the clever and crazy Catalan’s lack of mercy applied even more to himself than his rivals. Never has this been more obvious than since he broke his right humerus at the start of last season… and tried to get straight back on his Honda RC213V – a notoriously physical brute to ride – five days after major surgical repair. That effort cost him plenty, bending the newly inserted titanium plate (don’t believe that guff that he damaged it opening a sliding door), triggering recovery problems entailing two more operations, the third lasting eight hours, and nine months of slow recovery. In…

‘The first crack in Fabio’s armour?’ What a brilliant GP. You sort of knew Bagnaia had it, it was like watching Dovizioso race against Marquez a couple of years ago. I thought the way Bagnaia raced was very clever, very savvy. All while Marquez was being typical Marquez – like a little terrier nipping at his ankles. Massive respect to Marquez – the passes he made were clean, he gave his rival room and Bagnaia was clever with cutting back. Bagnaia really did run the perfect race. He set a pace so fast that he knew Marquez would have to do something big to get by. Which he tried but couldn’t pull off without going wide. Bagnaia would have known that Marquez didn’t have anything in the bag, because if…

An evolution of Shoei’s excellent sporty road lid, the NXR2 also meets the latest safety standard. In terms of construction, the NXR2 is made from the same composite material as the previous model, Shoei’s Advanced Integrated Matrix, and also features a multi-density shock-absorbing EPS lining. Shoei haven’t gone into much detail about the exact changes they’ve made in order to get the NXR2 to meet the new standard, however the latest lid is a little larger overall when compared to the NXR as well as being on average 50g heavier. This indicates that a little more material has been used in the construction of the lid to allow it to meet the energy transfer requirements of ECE 22.06. In terms of updated specification, Shoei have worked hard in the wind…

LS2 Explorer C from £300 Stunning, dual-sport 100% carbon-fibre shelled lid blends on-road and off road performance. At 1380g for size medium, it’s lightweight, especially considering that it also includes a drop-down sun visor. Aggressive looking vents and scoops should guarantee decent air flow but may make it a little bit on the noisy side at speed. The main visor is massive and comes complete with a Pinlock Max Vision insert. Other features include a washable lining, chin curtain and breath guard, as well as a double-D ring fastener secured with a metal plate. XS-XXL across three shell sizes. www.ls2helmets.com 1 Wide view The Explorer’s outer visor is absolutely huge, and LS2 say that the visor itself is optically correct for perfect vision. 2 Secure The chin strap of all…

Dane 4-season £54 (top) £45 (pants) Though these base layers from Dane are designated four-season, they have a definite fondness for the cold weather, keeping the body warm when the mercury drops. They are made from a combination of bamboo fibres and Spandex so they are a close, against-the-skin, fit but without being constrictive or overly tight. They have a smooth feeling against the skin and are designed to wick moisture away from the body to prevent it becoming damp. Available in a range of sizes, they are suitable for both men and women. www.hideout-leather.co.uk 1 Close fit A mix of bamboo and Spandex ensures a snug flexible fit from the base layer. but flexible fit from the base layer 2 Benefits As well as wicking away moisture, base layers…

One of my very first memories of a biker is from about 1985 at a service station somewhere on the A1. He was drinking two cups of coffee and getting ready to head back out into the freezing night. He’d wandered around all the empty tables picking up discarded newspapers and was meticulously folding them around his body, before straining the zip of his jacket to hold them all in place. Then he put his helmet on, struggled into his gloves and headed off into the wintery night on a GT750. I was only 10 or 11 years-old, but the memory of his ritual and the steely look of determination on his face has always stayed with me. Oddly, I maybe even credit this memory with inspiring me to ride.…

£18,999 Indian Springfield Dark Horse Yes, it’s the now superseded 2019 model, but you won’t care when you’re cruising in this much style. The Dark Horse (in white!) boasts hard panniers, fancy wheels and plenty of quality touches. And, thanks to this offer at Thunder Road, undercuts Harley’s current equivalent Road King Special by nearly £3k! ● www.thunderroad.co.uk SAVE £2101 £15,999 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory This updated Euro5 version is better than ever. Colchester Kawasaki are offering a big saving until Sept 30. ● colchesterkawasaki.co.uk ● Engine 1077cc ● Power 173bhp ● Weight 209kg ● Seat height 837mm SAVE £1904 £13,995 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX Laguna Motorcycles have just one 2020 version of Kawasaki’s supercharged sports-tourer available at this price. ● www.laguna.co.uk ● Engine 998cc ● Power 197bhp ●…

Honda, KTM, Piaggio and Yamaha have signed an agreement to create a ‘Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium’ with a view to standardising batteries in electric bikes globally. The four signed a letter of intent back in March but now they’ve put pen to paper on the final agreement. The consortium will agree upon technical specifications for a standardised system and then try to spread it worldwide. Italian Bike Fest An entire Italian city will be taken over by motorcycles when Biker Fest hits town this weekend. Organisers in Lignano Sabbiadoro, a city just north of Venice on Italy’s east coast, are revving up for the 35th running of Biker Fest. The event (which runs from September 16-19) sees bikers from all over the world taking test rides on bikes from top…

Arai RX-7V Doohan Jubilee £499.99 ‘Race rep bargains for your bonce’ With Rossi recently announcing his retirement we got thinking about how great it is to show your allegiance to your favourite racing star. What better way than to wear a replica lid? So, we’ve trawled the web and found some corking bargains for your bonce. This top-spec Arai celebrates ‘90s riding god and five-time world champ, Mick Doohan. The RX-7V has a PB-SNC shell, a combination of fibres and resin, to make a lightweight shell. There’s numerous vents and rear ducts, to keep cool while riding and a fully removable and washable lining. There’s space to fit intercom speakers and the cheek pads are quick-release. There’s an anti-fog Pinlock visor insert included. The special, anniversary design is eyecatching and…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR Anyone who’s ridden a tilting three-wheeler like Yamaha’s Niken or Piaggio’s MP3 has probably idly wondered what might happen if similar chassis tech was applied to a fullblown superbike. Kawasaki’s engineers certainly have… and development work on just such a machine has been ongoing for the best part of a decade. The first hint at the project came in 2013, when the ‘Concept J’ show bike was unveiled in Tokyo, combining a host of radical technologies including electric power, a shapeshifting riding position and the three-wheeled layout. That three-wheeled layout was notable for the use of two single-sided front swingarms and unusual handlebars which move in harmony with the wheels – so when cranked over in a corner the bar connected to the inside wheel rises and the…

Time to search out an ex-demo At the recent Devitt MCN Festival I was speaking to a reader who was looking at buying a new machine and I suggested they may want to consider asking their local dealer about an ex-demonstrator. The chap seemed interested but in the end admitted that he was after that ‘new bike feeling’. Maybe it’s me but I can’t help but feel that doing this is almost like burning cash. Right now dealers are looking at shifting their demo fleets to make way for 2022 models. Yes, I know 2022 is still a way off but who wants a demo ride in winter? While the market is hot dealers will merrily take the cash and wait for spring to replace them with new models –…

YOU’RE NEVER RIDING ALONE At the bottom of my email signature are the words: “I’m a Mental Health First Aider” in a lurid green font, which my colleagues described as ‘headache-inducing’. But that means they’ve noticed it, which is mission accomplished. If it had been there three years ago, maybe my friend John would have spotted it and spoken to me instead of taking his life. I think about this often, and it’s why I volunteered for the MHFA course. John worked for another car mag and we used to regularly pair up on launches because he had the most valuable combination of personal qualities – he made me laugh and didn’t drive like an arse. We occasionally spoke about his depression and anxiety, something I’ve battled since brain surgery…

Q ‘Dogranout, so who pays?’ I have recently been involved in an accident whilst riding to work. I had just pulled out of my street when a dog ran across my path causing me to fall off. Luckily I was travelling at slow speed so suffered no injuries, however my brand new motorcycle was badly damaged. I have asked the owner to pay for the repairs, but he has refused and told me that I should have been able to stop in time. Ben, Nottingham A The owner has a duty to keep control of his dog. The Highways Cod states that owners must not let a dog out on a road on its own and must keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement. If the…

Readers Simon Blyth & Greg Dall The trip A Triumph day out via the beautiful Trossachs and Cairngorm National Parks How many miles? Over 220 miles in one day with a 3.4-mile elevation recorded Time required Seven hours with coffee breaks. The ride was part of a three-day break Best time to go Summer Tell us about the ride Made for a great alternative to the North Coast 500. We enjoyed some fantastically maintained smooth rolling twisty roads and the sun was out almost all day. We’d based ourselves at Killin after driving up from the Lothians. Popped in to see Harry Potter’s viaduct and took in some amazing breathtaking views in the National Parks. The roads were not busy at all and we came across many fantastic fishing spots…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday September 15 BIKE MEETS ■ Squires Cafe Newthorpe, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ The Blue Anchor Southport, Merseyside 7pm Facebook: Southport Carousel Bike Meet ■ Seaways Fridaythorpe East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ The Plough Cadsden, Nr Princess Risborough Bucks www.plough-at-cadsden.co.uk ■ Paignton Seafront Devon www.bmad.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Ryka’s Cafe Box Hill, Surrey www.rykas.co.uk SPEEDWAY ■ Birmingham Brummies www.birmingham-speedway.com ■ Poole Pirates Dorset www.poole-speedway.com TRACKDAYS ■ No Limits Cadwell Park Lincs £128 01525-877087 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com ■ MSV Novice Day with Chris Walker Oulton Park (International) Cheshire from £192 www.MSVTrackdays.com Thursday September 16 BIKE MEETS…

‘The Headington Shark’ R5K MEMBER STUART PARSONS I took a detour during a ride from Banbury to Symonds Yat with my girlfriend on her Kawasaki Z900 to see The Headington Shark house. I watched something about it on TV recently, but I’d never seen it for myself. ‘Club Kawasaki Challenge’ R5K MEMBER RAY WRIGHT This photo was taken from the Old Mam Tor road on the outskirts of Castleton looking west towards Winnats Pass. The ride was part of the Club Kawasaki Challenge and was about 140 miles in total. I was lucky enough to ride the pass in both directions during the day. ‘Mini heatwave meander’ R5K MEMBER NOEL CAIRNS This photo was taken during a very rare heatwave in Northern Ireland, back in July 2021. I’m in the…

DREAM YEAR “In 1999 we won the British title and Daytona. I felt like I was in one of those cheesy films – Days of Thunder or something – rocking up as an outsider and winning. I got the biggest, tackiest trophy in the world and it was fantastic.” LOST CONFIDENCE “I got signed by Honda in World Supersport in 2001 and they were paying me £25k. I was living the dream but I got dropped at the end of the year and that was a real character-builder. I lost a bit of confidence and it took a long time to get back to where I wanted to be.” TT DOMINATION “The golden era in terms of results has to be ’07, ’08, ’09’, and the ’10s when I was…

The KTM’s level of spec and finish – and that expected £5500 asking price – puts it well ahead of its rivals. Kawasaki’s Ninja 400, Yamaha’s R3, and Honda’s 500R models offer A2 licence-holders alternative options. But they just can’t match the KTM RC390’s equipment levels. Build quality and finish seem strong and durable, and the TFT dash offers extra class. Suspension control is classleading, but it’s the electronics package which includes a three-axis IMU to give cornering ABS and traction control that really sets the KTM apart. And it really can do everything. It’s a hoot on any tight and twisty track, it’ll eat B-roads for breakfast and a tour of Europe is not beyond the realms… THE FACTS £5500 (est) KTM RC390 Engine 373cc, liquid-cooled, 4v, single Frame…

The original ‘Desert Sled’ Apart from the riders and racers featured in On Any Sunday, one of the biggest stars of the movie was the bike film star Steve McQueen rode during much of his sequence. Made even more famous for being featured on the cover of popular magazine Sport Illustrated in August 1971 to coincide with the film’s release, it was a 1970 400 Cross by (according to McQueen’s son Chad) the great man’s favourite off-road bike brand – Husqvarna. Following the release of the movie it’s reported that ‘Husky’ sales boomed in the US. After McQueen’s death in 1980, the 400cc two-stroke single was sold by his estate in 1984 and then sold on again, this time by auctioneer’s Bonhams, in October 2018 along with an original box…

Ashley Gregory, 37, Grimsby “I’ve owned all kinds of bikes from BMW GSs and Ducati Multistradas, right up to S1000RRs and ZX-10Rs. I’ve been riding since I was 21, then had a few years out, and got back into bikes again about five years ago. “I do a lot of trackdays and most of the time I end up just riding around in circles not doing much. But here the instruction is really, really good and you see progress in your riding through the day. Everyone’s really friendly and there’s a broad range of instructors – guys who have raced, professional stunt riders, as well as highly trained road-based instructors, so each time you come you pick up a different snippet of something. It exposes you to a wide range…

In many ways the R18B is a marvel bringing with it levels of tech that the cruiser market just isn’t used to. Unfortunately, you pay for those features not only with your wallet but on the scales too, with its near 400kg weight keenly felt. It also seems BMW have taken their eyes of the ball with some of the basics, including less than stellar handling and intrusive engine vibrations. Compared to its nearest rival (the Street Glide), it’s heavier, produces less torque and is more expensive. It’s a halfway decent first stab but it goes to show just how well Harley have refined the formula over the last 118 years. THE FACTS £21,500 (as tested £27,495) BMW R18B Engine 1802cc air-cooled boxer twin Frame Twin loop steel cradle with…

★★★★★ Richa Lausanne textile jacket £189.99 ‘It’s almost the perfect jacket’ Tested by Saffron Wilson for four months/2807 miles I always have an issue with women’s jackets where they are too short in the arms or the body. But the Lausanne doesn’t fair too badly (though I’d recommend teaming it up with long gloves if you’re planning a lengthy ride in the rain). The jacket is waterproof for the most part and I only had a little seepage through the zip in exceptionally heavy rain, so the Aquashell membrane held up well. The D30 shoulder, back and elbow protection is one less thing to worry about, though the elbow pads made the jacket tight on the arms to begin with. The pockets are a decent size and can handle a…

I’ve paid off the PCP and seen it through the Desmo service as I feel this one’s a keeper – everything in my life seems to revolve around it. Every time I get on it, it brings a smile to my face and it fits so well that I feel like it’s an extension of me. I’ve done a lot of big trips, such as the Crieff Cloverleaf (a four-day, 900-mile route in Scotland) and it’s never so much as missed a beat. I want to see if I can take it to 100,000 miles! HOW GOOD IS THE RUBBER? Pirelli Scorpion Trail II I was very happy with the OE Pirelli Scorpion Trail II, so I’ve stuck with them. They’ve got more performance than I’ll ever be able to…

MECHANIC Nick Nomikos, Two Wheel Centre, Harpenden Few of us are perfect when it comes to cleaning our bikes, especially if we regularly commute high miles. But this VFR800 V-TEC owner found out to his cost why he could have done better. Nick Nomikos, of The Two Wheel Centre in Harpenden, takes up the tale: “This 2005 VFR with 67,000 miles which came in as the oil pressure light had come on but the owner didn’t know why. We inspected inside the fairing and noticed the oil pipe had corroded. We changed both because if one’s gone it won’t be long before the other does, too, which cost around £75 plus around £80 labour. “It had done a high mileage and was used for commuting year round and you could…

Former World Superbike champion Tom Sykes was spotted in the Silverstone paddock over the course of the weekend. The 2013 champion doesn’t have a ride as of yet for 2022, following BMW’s signing of Scott Redding. Rumours are now circulating that Sykes could make a return to the domestic paddock, 14 years after he left the series. Sykes has been linked with moves to Paul Bird’s VisionTrack Ducati team, as well as Faye Ho’s FHO Racing BMW squad. It’s contract negotiation time, and, except for Rory Skinner, nobody else has a 2022 deal wrapped up.…

Has dominated the season, after enjoying an injury-free 2020 campaign in which he was finally able to showcase his true ability. Led the series in the early rounds as he continued his form from 2020. However, a run of DNFs saw him lose serious ground to O’Halloran. Peter Hickman and the Showdown go hand-in-hand. After a tough 2020, the new BMW M1000RR has brought Hickman back to the front. Victory at Silverstone, has ensured his Showdown spot despite a relatively difficult campaign. Mackenzie looks set to push his teammate all the way. The pair cannot be separated lately, so this is a must-watch title fight. The form man behind the Yamaha duo. Bridewell has eight podiums from the last 10 races and another win cannot be far away. Dug deep…

The domination of the Moto2 championship by Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez has been rewarded even before they settle the two-man fight for the title. The pair will get their first taste of MotoGP life aboard the KTM RC16 at next week’s Misano test in advance of their promotion to the Tech3 in 2022. Fernandez scored his fifth win of his rookie season with a gutsy victory at Aragon just a week after surgery on a fractured right hand. It was a KTM 1-2 ahead of Gardner who holds a 39-point advantage over Fernandez. Fernandez said he “could not brake” over the final five laps. Sam Lowes admitted that he was “gutted” to throw away a podium opportunity when he crashed out of second on lap 13. Lowes had led…

MICHAEL LAVERTY THE INSIDER BT Sport’s technical guru unmasks secrets at the sharp end of MotoGP The Aragon MotoGP race was a modern classic and a maiden win that Pecco Bagnaia deserved after an epic duel in which he out-foxed the King of Aragon, Marc Marquez. The two riders both on their respective V4 machines each had areas of the race track where they could excel, but it was Bagnaia that came out on top. This is how he did it… 1 Supreme fitness Pecco was working hard, we could see that from his heart rate data on the screen, 175bpm for the majority of the race whilst maintaining full composure is only possible when the athlete in question is operating at a very high level. His mental clarity, and…

MATTHEW BIRT INSIGHT Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 Always heed your doctor’s advice. Pecco Bagnaia certainly did in Motorland Aragon and what followed was a spell-binding first MotoGP victory after a captivating contest with Marc Marquez. A Saturday night summit in Valentino Rossi’s motorhome inspired Bagnaia to repel a late bombardment of overtakes from Marquez. Seven times in the last three laps, Marquez manoeuvred his Repsol Honda into a brief lead but each raid failed, including a late lunge at turn 12 on the last lap. Bagnaia knew that last move was coming. And he knew the speed that Marquez rocketed up his inside at the downhill left-hander meant the eight-times World Champion had no hope of holding his line. “I knew he would run…

No, don’t worry. The study that underpins ECE 22.06 found that, although current helmets are effective, significant improvements could be made through new standards and save the lives of a thousand bikers across Europe every year. Of course, regulations only set the minimum acceptable safety standards and, as proved by the UK’s SHARP helmet rating scheme, some helmets protect more than others. A spokesperson for SHARP told MCN: “Even with enhanced regulation, there is still expected to be a range of performance offered, and it remains the aim of SHARP to provide consumers with a relative comparison of safety, so that this can be factored into their decision. As regs evolve, so will SHARP and we are planning a review of the SHARP testing protocols.”…

Klim TK1200 Karbon £539.99 Made from a full carbon-fibre shell, premium adventure touring brand Klim reckon this is one of the lightest flip-front lids you can buy. Weighing in at 1500g (for size medium) it matches the weight of some topspec full-face lids, and Klim have achieved this in part by doing away with an internal sun visor and instead offering a Transitions self-tinting external visor which automatically adapts to changing light conditions. The chin bar lifts using a central push-button, and, although not dual-homologated as both a full-face and open face lid, the chin bar has been designed to easily snap off when in the raised position in the event of an impact. Inside there’s a moisture-wicking removable lining designed for ease of washing, and the lid fastens with…

Keis J501 Premium heated jacket £199 The Keis J501 Premium jacket, which can be worn as an inside layer or stylish outer jacket, combines the very latest heat generation tech with a lightweight, stylish design. Like the J501RP it draws power from your bike’s battery and has a lighter, thinner construction for a more streamline fit under your motorcycle jacket, but now in black with red side panels, zippers, and a red inside collar. It’s made from a breathable lightweight soft shell fabric, with elasticated side panels to provide a snug fit for men and women, and has the latest Micro Carbon Fibre heat pads to provide an even layer of heat across the targeted chest, back, arms and collar areas. www.keisapparel.com 1 Stylish cut It’s designed to be worn…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR Triumph and some of our best known biking celebs have launched a scheme to get Britain biking. Star names, including Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton and TT racer Maria Costello MBE, are urging riders to nominate and visit small businesses such as biker cafés as Britain recovers from Covid-19. Ride Out to Help Out aims to highlight and celebrate British biking destinations and to encourage riders to them to help them get back on their feet. To launch the campaign, Triumph dealers and the brand’s ambassadors including cycling gold medallist Pendleton, British and Irish Lions rugby star George North, racer Costello MBE and TV architect George Clarke have been nominating their favourite spots. So far, London’s Bike Shed, the Super Sausage Café in Northants and Ryka’s Café in Surrey,…

A new Kawasaki Z650RS will give the company’s naked roadster a touch of retro class. MCN have predicted a retro version of the Z650 for some time and a new video teaser from Kawasaki suggests that we were spot on. The short video shows two people playing chess with an original Z650 in the background. If the new model looks half as good as the larger-capacity Z900RS first released in 2017, it would offer a chic retro option for those looking for a little less power or riding on an A2 licence. Full details are expected in the next couple of weeks. Assuming a new Z650RS uses the 67bhp parallel-twin used in the standard Z650 it’ll have the excellent Triumph Street Twin and the admittedly less powerful Royal Enfield Interceptor…

We’ve teamed up with Shoei to give one lucky MCN reader the chance to win a Shoei NXR2 helmet worth up to £539.99! The Shoei NXR2 is a premium, performance, full-face helmet developed to meet the latest ECE22/06 certification. All helmets require high safety performance – Shoei Premium helmets not only offer outstanding shock absorption, but also classleading aerodynamics, outstanding visibility, optimised ventilation, and soft comfort liner, all within a compact, lightweight shell. Here are the highlights... ● Lightweight ● Compact ● Optimised ventilation ● Improved quietness ● Quick-drying interior fabric ● Pinlock Evo lens How to enter Visit www.motorcyclenews.com/winShoeiNXR2 and submit your details to be in with a chance of winning. Good luck! TERMS AND CONDITIONS The prize draw closes at midnight on September 21, 2021. This competition is…

FANTASY SHOPPING ON A REAL-WORLD BUDGET NEIL HODGSON Every week we give a rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is WSB hero Hodgson’s pick… Now a familiar face on BT Sport as a pundit for their MotoGP coverage, Neil Hodgson won the British Superbike title in 2000 after an era-defining battle with Chris Walker. Moving onto the world scene, he then became World Superbike champion in 2003 in a dominant display that saw him off the podium only four times all year. So, what would the man who has enjoyed most of his track success on Bologna-built bikes buy with his own cash? Surprisingly not a Ducati… “I don’t ride much on the road but I’m…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Big questions for WSB The Magny-Cours WSB fiasco leads me to ask some questions. These are as follows. Why didn’t Paul Denning protest at the repeated dangerous riding by Rea every time Toprak overtook? Why did the stewards take four hours to penalise Toprak for a minor infringement that they had already studied but decided not to act upon? Who are these people anyway? I had some respect for Rea and all that he had achieved but that respect has been destroyed by this protest and his much-too-aggressive riding. Bill Woolnough, Norfolk Rea’s feeling the heat I wonder if Jonathan Rea is content with himself. I think he must be a worried man to seize on that ruling in that situation. I hope he doesn’t win…

1 Biker Fest international show A cross-country event. Free entry and open all week. Demo rides, off road arena and exhibitors. www.bikerfest.it/en 2 Mavro charity motorcycle run Salisbury Motorcycle and Light Car Club’s charity run. September 19. £7 for non-members. www.salisburymotorcycleandlightcarclub.co.uk 3 Normous Newark Autojumble September 19 at Newark Showground. £10 for early bird entry, or £7 for standard entry. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 4 Goodwood Revival Relive the ‘good ol’ days’ of racing from September 17-19. Limited tickets left. Guest racers include F1 star Jenson Button. www.goodwood.com…

FRIDAY September 17 7.45am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Misano: Free Practice 1&2 SATURDAY September 18 8.30am, EUR2, Live World Superbikes from Catalunya, Spain: Superpole and Race 1 SUNDAY September 19 9.15am, BTS2, Misano Moto3, Moto2 at 11am and MotoGP at 12.30pm. 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…

GUEST ROAD TESTER £11,000 Triumph Speed Twin (plus £200 for red or matt grey colours) ● 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin SOHC 8v ● 98.6bhp @ 7250rpm ● 216kg kerb weight Is it time we started calling bikes such as the Triumph Speed Twin ‘super-retros’ in much the same as we describe Ducati’s Streetfighter V4 as a ‘super-naked’? When you look at the spec list there is certainly an argument for this and for 2021 the Triumph Speed Twin has most certainly jumped the fence. Gone are the conventional forks, replaced by upside-downers complete with radial monobloc stoppers which sit alongside full-on sportsbike-fitment Metzeler Racetec RR tyres. At least the rest of the tech (ABS, power modes, traction control and even a USB charging point) remains neatly tucked away, allowing the Twin’s…

GUEST TESTER When I saw that Triumph had given their 2021 Speed Twin USD forks, radial brakes and more power my initial fears were that they had ruined the balance of performance and handling that made the old model so much fun. But while it is certainly sharper than before, it hasn’t over-stepped the mark and the new suspension retains the road-focus this retro roadster needs – even if the tyres don’t. I’m still a bit torn about the updated Euro5 HP engine. While it is lovely to ride and has a superb burbling sound and a whole heap of character, it does feel a bit lacking in roll-on instant grunt, something dynoing the bike highlighted. When you let it rev you spot the lighter feel and more instant pick-up…

Italjet 50 John got his first bike at the age of three and was keen to follow in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Evel Knievel 1991 Kawasaki KR1S “It was pissing down at Mallory but I smoked everyone” 1999 Honda RS250 Ridden to Daytona, TT, and 250 British Championship victories 2007 Honda Fireblade McGuinness has a close affinity with the HM Plant Honda, setting the first 130mph lap of the TT en route to the 2007 Senior victory Mugen Shinden Two of his 23 TT wins came in the Zero TT on the Mugen Kawasaki ZX-10RR TT cancellations mean he’s yet to ride his current bike in anger…

MOTORCYCLING MUST – DOS BY EMMA FRANKLIN MCN Deputy Editor and club racer, used to hate lefts, doesn’t any more... ‘Tyre torturing curve powers you on to the back straight’ Oh, it’s my bad side… lefts just feel awkward.” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Finding left-handers a bit challenging is a common complaint. Whether you just can’t seem to contort your body into the correct position, or the fear of running into oncoming traffic if you get it wrong, for some of us lefthanders are something to endure rather than relish. But it doesn’t have to be that way… What if you could channel your inner Marc Marquez and become a left-hand master? Well, you can, because when it comes to taming ‘the other direction’ there’s only one remedy: a…

The British Superbike School is a good introduction to track riding and is also a great place to learn machine control that’ll help you become safer on the road. The school runs three levels – 1, 2 and 3 – with 1 being geared towards road riders with no track experience, 2 for those with a little track experience, and 3 targeted at those who race or would like to race. The school is ACU affiliated as a race school, so can be attended by youngsters aged 15 years and above, as well as those who do not have a road licence. A full day costs from £339 with 3:1 instruction, 1:1 instruction costs £489, or £499 including the hire of a 2021 Yamaha (MT-07, MT-09, MT-10, R1 or R6)…

1 S100 White Chain Spray, £14.99 (400ml) I did a five-day, 1400-mile tour of Scotland with just three applications! Definitely one of the best. Jon Ashley, Manchester 2 Tru-Tension BananaSlip, £10 (500ml) A dry, banana-scented lube with minimal fling. I’m lubing the chain every 300 to 500 miles. Ashley Marshall, Scarborough 3 Comma EP90 gear oil, £9.99 (one litre) Very good lubrication and anti-corrosion properties, but it can be messy and does fling. Bottles last for ages, though. Andy Gower, Harrogate 4 Muc-Off All Weather Chain Lube, £10.99 (400ml) This keeps the chain lubricated, even in torrential downpours. But it flings all over the place. Peter Horvath, South London 5 Motul Chain Paste, £9.49 (150ml) It has a brush on the end, for applying to the chain. The paste is…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Find your bearings Your bike’s steering head bearings are responsible for the smooth operation of the steering. Typically you’ll find a bearing at the top of the headstock and one at the bottom, with yokes either side and steering stem in the middle. Older bikes will have individual bearings, but modern bikes have tapered roller-type bearings. All types need periodic adjustment and greasing. 2 Feel for lateral play There are a couple of ways to check the bearing’s condition and adjustment. First, securely raise and support the front wheel off the ground; there should be no weight on the front wheel or steering. With the steering straight, hold the bottom of the forks at each side and pull the wheel towards you,…

SPORTS REPORTER You can never write off reigning champion Josh Brookes. It’s a common phrase within the BSB paddock, but one which was beginning to wear thin – at least prior to the last two race meetings. At Snetterton we saw glimpses of the ‘old Josh Brookes’, but at Silverstone he went to the next level; pulling off overtaking manoeuvres like only the best riders can, and putting his PBM Ducati on the podium not once but twice. He led 28 of the 30 laps in race two, whilst he led before the red flag and then for a further six laps in the restarted finale, before being cruelly denied victory by the McAMS Yamaha duo. Given how strong the R1 is, being the closest threat to them is a…

MCN CONTRIBUTORS Jake Dixon is in the dark about when he will next throw his leg over a MotoGP bike after his two-race stint as Valentino Rossi’s sidekick at Petronas Yamaha ended with a kick in the teeth when the 25-year-old crashed on lap two in Motorland Aragon. A premature exit at turn nine was the last thing he needed when trying to show why he’s worthy of a permanent seat in MotoGP. Dixon’s immediate future will be back in Moto2 in Misano this weekend. But his destiny for 2022 and beyond is as clear as pea soup. The imminent closure of the Petronas project and scarcity of available top Moto2 seats for 2022 has left Dixon in limbo. Impressive progress at Silverstone and Aragon wasn’t rewarded on the results…

Not even Brad Binder’s famed late race pace was enough to salvage a result for the KTM squad. Binder, who qualified 12th, made good progress but ultimately had no answer to the front-runners finishing in seventh, one place behind an impressive Enea Bastianini and ahead of series leader Fabio Quartararo. Given that Aragon’s layout with its long back straight favours the V4 engine configuration – there were only two inline fours in the top ten – KTM’s men were unable to maintain the grip they needed to the end of the race. Binder said: “Even though I nursed the left-hand side really well it gave me a very hard time on the last few laps. We are struggling more than we’d like to right now.” Tech3 KTM rider Iker Lecuona…

The Aragon GP was a fresh start for Maverick Viñales in one of the most intimidating moves in the history of MotoGP. And no surprise that the Aprilia RS-GP took him out his comfort zone. After almost five years on a Yamaha M1 Viñales concedes he will have to “reset” as he adapts to to the RS-GP and V4 power. “On the Aprilia you make the lap time on the brakes and the gas, not the corner speed,” he said. “That’s the big challenge but there will come a point where we make a big step.” The upside for Viñales is that he has another five races of a honeymoon period before he will be expected to deliver results for Aprilia in 2022. Finishing 18th on Aprilia debut was not…

Aprilia are no longer the easy beats of MotoGP. That was the message from Aleix Espargaro who has outlined the ambitious targets of the Noale factory. Espargaro’s optimism came after an inspiring fourth in the Aragon GP, hard on the heels of a landmark third place podium at Silverstone. These are not aberrations but an indication of Aprilia’s new level of competitiveness with the RS-GP. He said: “The most important thing is not just the speed, but the stability over the year so that you have no problems. “To win and to be on the podium is very important to me, but the most important thing is consistency, because one day I want to finish in the top three of the World championship.” ‘Finishing top six in the series is…

This summer the first of a new breed of helmets hit the shelves, tested to meet tough standards aimed at ensuring they are even more protective in real-world accidents. For a helmet to be legal on UK roads it must conform to UNECE Regulation 22, which ensures all helmets are made to a basic protective standard. The new version, ECE 22.06 is the first major update in 20 years. Not only does it demand helmets undergo many more impact tests, at both higher and lower speeds, at more points on the helmet as well as an angled impact, it also requires that lids are tested with any official accessories fitted to prove they don’t compromise protection. The visor is also tested to simulate being impacted by a high-speed object. Phased-in…

Another element in the ongoing process of improving helmet safety is accident reconstruction programmes, virtual testing and modelling, as used by brain protection specialists, Mips. It can recreate an accident using data and video footage and compare its Finite Element Analysis predictions with actual CT scans, for example, to see how safety can be improved further. In fact, the company is working with race tracks worldwide to introduce more cameras so that the process of optimising design can be compared with real life incidents to continuously improve rider safety, both on the circuit and on the road. Mips CEO, Max Strandwitz, says: “One of the big things in the future will be simulations and virtual testing. We like to compare it to the automotive world, where every component and the…

Richa Arctic £99.99 These are well-proven autumn and winter gloves, combining warmth with waterproofing and comfort. They are constructed from leather with textile sections and feature hard knuckle armour and padding across the front of the fingers. They also have Keprotech reinforcements on the outside of the wrist, the edge of the hand and the little finger for additional protection in the event of an off. These Richa gloves deploy a Hipora membrane to prevent water ingress as well as letting the hands breathe and are CE Level 1 approved. www.nevis.uk.com 1 Safety Richa’s good-value gloves have knuckle armour and meet CE Level 1 for protection. 2 Comfort These are autumn/winter gloves but manage not to be too bulky. There is a Hippora membrane. Held Cold Champ GoreTex £171.87 A…