Table of contents for 27 November 2024 in MCN

‘You have a responsibility to be fast’ MARC MARQUEZ, P60 MOTOGP Testing times Who can forget the image from this time last year of a smiling Marc Marquez after getting his first taste of Ducati power? Roll forward 12 months and he’s now decked out in factory Ducati red and perched right next to technical mastermind, Gigi Dall’Igna; the photo of the two of them smiling together probably the most enduring – and ominous -image from this year’s test. MCN was in Barcelona to catch all the action from this fascinating post-season test, which also saw new champ Martin get his first taste of Aprilia power, and also Yamaha appear to make some valuable headway with the ailing M1. PAGE 60 FIRST RIDE Ninja turned up to eleven… For those who…

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Yamaha have had a busy year so far, announcing the departure of the road-going R1 superbike in Europe, ushering in a whole host of new products, including a refreshed Ténéré 700, MT-07, and a new R9 supersport bike, and even finding the time to introduce the Y-AMT semi-automatic gearbox. When they weren’t doing that, the Japanese brand were also investing in French two-wheeled off-road firm Electric Motion to partner on future product development, as well as working with British car company Caterham on parts for a new sports coupé. They’ve also worked with racing firm Lola Cars on the production of electric powertrains for the Formula E world championship, and remain committed to achieving carbon neutrality on indirect greenhouse gas emissions from their activities by 2050. To find…

Triumph are preparing to celebrate 30 years of the Speed Triple range with a free-to-attend, all-day event this Saturday, November 30 at the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience, Hinckley, Leicestershire. Fans of the iconic naked roadster are invited to make their way to the location to honour the anniversary and browse a display of customised and accessorised Speed Triples spanning three decades. Owners of unique Speed Triple-based custom builds are encouraged to enter their bikes for display in exchange for a 30th Anniversary Gift Pack. Search ‘Speed Triple 30th Anniversary’ at eventbrite.co.uk to find tickets.…

RST Pro Series Ambush CE textile jacket £249.99 It's Black Friday season again… The world of online retail tends to go a bit wild around this time of year, as merchants rush to slash prices and shift their outstanding stock ahead of the new season. Traditionally taking place on the day after Thanksgiving in the US, Black Friday has become a week-long extravaganza of deals, discounts and offers right across the web. We’ve bundled together some of the best early bargains, with a heap more appearing as they drop on motorcyclenews.com. Protection is paramount in RST’s Ambush jacket, which boasts a CE AA certification for abrasion resistance and Level 2 armour for shoulders, elbows and back. It also has a breathable and waterproof lining to keep you safe from the…

ZX1 Micro Oil is a metal treatment you can add to your fuel or oil and it chemically bonds to the metal, modifying the friction surfaces. I use it all the time, and it’s truly incredible. It’s suitable for two and four-stroke motors; just mix it in with the petrol to the ratio listed on the side of the bottle and you will definitely notice the effects, especially if you’ve got a smaller bike. For example, if you've got a 40bhp engine just pouring ZX1 in will give you 41bhp. I’m always telling everyone about this stuff, simply because it works and I just want others to benefit from it too so they don't miss out! Use it in fuel, or gearbox oil (it won't affect the clutch) to reduce…

1 November 23 Bideford toy run Meet at 11.30pm in Bideford Quay car park (EX39 2HW) and come in fancy dress with cash to donate in the collection bucket. The rideout begins at 12pm and heads to Children’s Hospice South West to bring in the festive season in the right way. bidefordbikeshow.org 2 December 1 Huddersfield autojumble Looking for the place to finish off your Christmas list? Huddersfield auto retro jumble (HD1 1RY) might be it! Filled with bits and bobs for almost any garage project, you might find the perfect present or the bargain of a lifetime. Customers welcome from 9am. phoenixfairs.jimdofree.com 3 December 1 Sammy Miller toy ride Sammy Miller’s Museum (BH25 5SZ) down on the south coast is hosting a Santa toy ride-in at the start of December, where you…

THE MCN TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK £8450 (£9355 as tested) BMW CE 02 ● Battery powered ● 15bhp/ 4 0.6l b.f t ● 132kg kerb ● £103.45 a month on PCP £7495 Maeving RM1S ● Battery powered ● 14bhp/184lb.ft ● 133kg kerb ● £174.37 a month on HP It’s easy to list the reasons why battery power makes little sense for a motorcycle. High price, poor range, the faff of charging in the wild and even finding a charger in the first place are just some of them. As brilliant as some big electric bikes are, such as the LiveWire S2 Del Mar (see p30), these are barriers that are too big to overcome for most. Small electric bikes are a whole different, more…

'Bikes like these make you smile' Whenever you test an electric bike, it’s inevitable that thoughts and conversations focus on the negatives of battery power. Charging and range are the biggies. But once you’ve worked out the best use for an EV, which for the BMW and Maeving is short trips, those concerns melt away. For those lucky enough to be able to charge at home (not everyone lives at street level with a garage) you can just juice their batteries overnight, use them next day and plug back in when you get home. Both are smooth, light, nippy, easy to get on with and stylish in their own unique way. The Maeving has the best range and performance, is the longest legged and has handy removable batteries, where the…

FIRST RIDE Kawasaki’s current Ninja 1000SX has been MCN’s favourite sports-tourer from the get-go. Fast, composed, comfortable, smooth, refined and great value for money, it’s ruled the roost ever since it evolved from the Z1000 back in 2011. For 2025, the rapid £12,249 mile-muncher gets a capacity hike and goes by the name of the Ninja 1100SX. It gets a smattering of detail changes, too, but most significantly there will be a higher spec SE model costing £13,999. Both versions land in dealers next month, and we’re riding the spangly SE version here at its world launch in the Spanish Pyrenees. 1 More cubes Just like the 2025 Versys 1100 we tested recently, the SX’s inline four-cylinder motor is reworked to meet Euro5+ regs and boost real-world grunt. Capacity rises…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 650 miles ON TEST ● Overall fit and comfort rated ● Level of warmth and battery life assessed ● Kit tested for hundreds of miles of chilly riding Macna Centre Heated jacket £199.99 ‘Next-gen heated clothing' Tested by Michael Guy for two months / 650 miles I’ve been using heated clothing for just under 10 years now and actually find it hard to fathom why I didn’t start using it sooner. This offering from Dutch company Macna, who have been producing bike gear for 30 years, is a heated jacket that can run using its own 7.4v battery or plug into your bike’s 12v battery. So far I’ve only used the jacket during the tail end of winter earlier this year and for…

I recently had an issue with a new battery that I’d just purchased. Prior to fitting it on the bike, I checked the voltage with my meter and although it was barely showing 12 volts, I gave it the benefit of doubt and put it on a charger overnight. I re-checked the reading the following day and it was slightly better at 12.1v – but that’s obviously sub-optimal because after a lengthy charge it should be showing in the high 12 or low 13v region. I’d bought the battery from a well-known UK supplier and they agreed that the voltage was low for a new battery, so they tested it themselves. At their counter they did the same voltage test as I had, and it was perfect! They say they’ve…

Reporting from MotoGP’s end-of-season testing TEST TIMES Ask MotoGP fans who will be the 2025 world champion and the vast majority will likely say Marc Marquez. After all, this is a man who’s been through hell and back to rediscover his enjoyment of riding and that all-important feeling of winning. He achieved that on a Ducati GP23 which was nowhere near as good as its GP24 counterpart, with three wins taking him to third overall in the championship. Now he has a GP25 and a factory ride, so the rest of the grid should be genuinely concerned about what could be about to unfold. Barcelona’s end-of-season test was a promising start for Marquez, who made sure that all eyes would be on him by wearing a bright red race suit…

The merciless and ruthless Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, said the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. For years Marc Marquez was the enemy that stopped Ducati’s chief engineer Gigi Dall’Igna from achieving his greatest wish: another MotoGP title to follow up Casey Stoner’s 2007 success. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Marquez and his Honda beat Andrea Dovizioso and his Ducati into second place. And you still don’t understand why Dall’Igna wanted Marquez? Why would he want anyone else? Marquez was the rider who beat Ducati again and again, even though Dall’Igna’s Desmosedici was a better motorcycle. During those three seasons Dall’Igna watched and suffered as Marquez rode around his RCV’s problems to beat Dall’Igna’s super-fast Desmo, packed with his genius F1-inspired, money-no-object technical innovations. Marquez’s decision…

The motorcycle and scooter market is a serious business for Yamaha in Europe. “If we look in terms of sales amount, at the end of 2023 Yamaha Motor Europe sales were €2.1billion,” Olivier Prevost said. “This is covering motorcycles and what we call in general ‘land mobility’. This is motorcycles, ATVs, E bikes, golf karts, and more. It also covers marine, robotics, financial services, parts and accessories. In this €2.1billion 70 per cent is motorcycles and scooters. So, the weight, in terms of sales, is the majority.”…

Honda have revealed a new special edition of their recently revamped X-ADV adventure scooter. Priced at £12,499, the bikes will be finished in a striking ‘Gold Finch Yellow’ paintjob and limited to just 30 units. Each machine will carry a unique authentification number at the base of the fuel tank to ramp up the feeling of exclusivity. Available to order from December, they are further distinguished from the company’s standard adventure scoots by the inclusion of the Adventure Pack, Comfort Pack, and Luggage Divider as standard. ‘Honda have sold more than 76,000 X-ADVs’ These bundles include everything from protection bars up front, fog lights and their associated brackets, to heated grips, leg deflectors, a nine-litre console bag, and more. Honda have sold more than 76,000 X-ADVs since its arrival in…

SAVE £5400 £28,495 H-D FLHXST Street Glide ST If you’re after a Harley, this one at dealers Newmarket Harley-Davidson is a win-win-win. It’s not just the best-selling bagger, the Street Glide ST, it’s a zero-mile, example of the ‘Fast Johnny’ limited edition with special paint in homage to the muscle car era, and benefits from more than £5000 off the standard price! www.lind.co.uk/harley-davidson SAVE £5155 £17,995 Aprilia RSV4 Factory Aprilia’s top-spec Factory with 200+bhp, semi-active Öhlins and more is one of best superbikes around and this one is an absolute steal! www.mo-tech.co.uk ● Engine 1077cc ● Power 214bhp ● Weight 199kg ● Seat height 851mm SAVE £4027 £19,799 Honda CBR1000RR-R SP 30th Anniversary Not just the top spec SP version of the latest Blade, but the limited edition 30th anniversary…

'Mad Max… but do it on a CB500' The other week I was watching the new Max Mad Furiosa film. For those who haven’t seen it, the basic story is post-apocalypse, mad biker gangs, desert, codpieces, nipple rings and guns. I quite enjoyed it but one thing did irk me – the bikes chosen by the gang. The main protagonist, Dementus, cruises around on a Ben Hur-style metal chariot pulled by three bikes – one of which was a cruiser with a radial engine taken from an aeroplane. If the whole world has gone to hell in a handcart and fuel is a precious commodity, why the hell would you choose this as your bike? What’s the economy on one of those? 15mpg if it’s lucky, I reckon. And the…

Merseyside Police have also arrested a 24-year-old on suspicion of possession of prohibited ammunition, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and dangerous driving, following a chase with a KTM off-roader. After its rider failed to stop, the bike was abandoned, and the rider tracked to an address in Litherland. The suspect was further arrested for suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, failing to stop, plus driving licence and insurance offences.…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews 'NEC's upped its game' One year on and here I am again at Motorcycle Live. All the major manufacturers are here. Something has changed, they have all upped their game, competition is tight at the top. After trying virtually every bike, I’m distracted by the race bikes. It all started with John Reynolds’ Rizla Suzuki, check out the cockpit, then go and look at Kyle Ryde’s Yamaha. Absolutely mind-boggling. We need a double page spread in MCN to explain all those buttons and levers. Suddenly I’m stood looking at Harley-Davidson’s 1250 in blue with twin exhausts; what a fantastic looking machine. I turn the corner only to bump into the all-new Indian Scout Bobber. There was something for everyone this year, you had to take your…

After a lifetime dedicated to the world of drag and sprint racing Trevor Duckworth saw Straightliners, the organisation he created, inducted into the Drag Racing Hall of Fame on November 23. Duckworth himself is a decorated sprinter who wanted to keep sharing the sport with generations to come. His love of speed started at a young age, and during his long career, he has bagged 26 world records, 42 national records… and a Guinness world record for the planet’s fastest bar stool. Starting work at 15 in 1961, he bought his first bike – a Francis Barnett – on his 16th birthday. Despite leaving school with only a swimming qualification, he became a carpet weaver and flourished in that role, even though bikes have always been a big part of…

‘Rides just like the 1000' The new Ninja 1100SX SE rides just like the outgoing 1000. That’s no bad thing because the classy inline four is still urgent, grunty and dramatic. Short of taking it to a track you’d be hard pushed to notice the drop in peak power, but the modest increase in midrange will be useful. You’re never left wanting more power, but the delivery can be choppy at low speeds. The SE model’s Brembos add a touch of class, but their extra performance isn’t pronounced and while the Öhlins shock adds plushness and control, it’s a shame Kawasaki didn’t opt for the electronic suspension from the Versys 1100. THE FACTS £13,999 Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Keep it charged Your bike’s battery is vital. Here’s how to maintain its health 1 Select the correct scale on a multimeter When it comes to checking the battery condition, the voltage needs to be measured using a multimeter set to the correct scale. With your multimeter to hand, the dial needs to be set to 'V'. In this area of the dial, the values are often broken down to five scales. We are measuring only around 12 volts, so the dial needs to be set to the 20-volt mark. BRUCE’S TIPS Make sure the ignition is switched off 2 Now check your voltage With the multimeter set, you can now check the battery. Your battery will probably be found living under the seat, if it’s not…

Delving into the details of the Barcelona MotoGP test Aprilia: Homegrown mass damper? ● RIDERS: Raul Fernandez 5th, Jorge Martin 11th, Marco Bezzecchi 13th, Ai Ogura 21st The 2025 Aprilias are anything but all-new and one reason for that is that both Martin and Bezzecchi have arrived from Ducati so need to get used to the 2024 bike first. Also, Aprilia have told us they no longer think in model years, but instead in a continuous stream of updates. At first glance, the 2025 RS-GP was only slightly different at the rear compared to the ’24 bike, but there was definitely more to it. My sources at Aprilia hinted that somewhere, hidden under the fairing they did have something fairly different on the 2025 version. My guess is that they…

Going behind the headlines at the end-of-season testing 1 He's the face of MotoGP Last year all eyes were on Marc Marquez as he ventured out on the Ducati for the first time. Likewise, everybody wanted to see Pedro Acosta’s maiden MotoGP voyage. This year was different. Marquez still drew plenty of attention, but just as many, if not more, people set up camp outside the Aprilia garage. When Jorge Martin arrived, it was chaos. Everybody wanted to capture that first glimpse of him in his Aprilia kit. It was pandemonium as he jumped on the RS-GP and left the garage, with people having to be forcefully moved out of his and his crew’s way. Martin is the face of MotoGP. He’s number one. The main man. It’s Martin who…

The Government have rejected a proposal to allow bikers to use all bus lanes by default, releasing a statement saying they have: “No policy to encourage greater use of motorcycles.” An online consultation ran from March-July this year and sought views on allowing bikes to use bus lanes by default across the UK. At present, it is at the discretion of each local authority. “The safety benefits of allowing motorcycles into bus lanes are not clear at this time,” the consultation conclusion read. “The response rate to this consultation… did not provide a robust evidence base on which to amend the current policy.” The Department for Transport (DfT) received 14,327 responses to their questions. Of these, 14,107 were individual people, and 46 came from organisations. ‘No policy to encourage motorcycles’…

Alongside discussing current combustion line-ups, Prevost spoke of the future of Yamaha – outlining his current concerns for electric and doubling down on the development of hydrogen vehicles in a consortium alongside Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki. “When we look at EICMA two-, three-, four-years-ago we were flooded with electric products. Everybody was coming with some kind of show model, or prototype, or concept product,” he explained. “We have some electric products already, clearly focused more on the urban mobility. I don’t think that electric powertrain technology today and batteries are mature [enough] to go on big bikes.” He continued: “Electric powertrain is not the answer to everything. I was mentioning the big bikes, but it’s even worse on marine products. Today, we have outboard engines with 450 horsepower to push…

Kymco have expanded their 125 range with the introduction of the new Sky Town scooter, which is due in UK dealers from December 1. The £2379 (ex VAT) machine is said to be good for 11bhp at 8500rpm. It’s available in three colours – blue, brown, and black, packs a full TFT screen, LED lights front and rear, disc brakes all-round and has 29 litres of underseat storage. Bedtime reading Former New Scotland Yard detective and MCN’s motorcycle theft expert, Dr Ken German has released a book detailing his exploits investigating serious national and international car and motorcycle crime as part of his service within the Flying Squad. The Car Crime Detective offers the inside story on the UK’s vehicle crime epidemic and details German’s work along 50 other elite…

Mental health charity, Make Your Mark, are set to host a treasure hunt-style café rideout event throughout next year, giving participants the chance to win a brand new Kawasaki Z900RS SE -just for buying a few cups of tea. This ‘Bikes n Brew’ event will run from May to October 2025 and see riders make their way to as many of the 80-plus participating cafés as possible around Wales, the Cotswolds, and the Midlands. Riders will be issued a ‘passport’ on sign-up and will then be challenged to load it up with as many stamps as possible by visiting the listed venues and purchasing a hot drink at each. For every 20 stamps acquired, they will receive an entry into a raffle to win the Kawasaki – with a potential…

Secondhand specialists, Superbike Factory are opening a new Crawley site formerly the home of multi-franchise dealership P&H Motorcycles. The West Sussex venue will become the sixth Superbike location, following expansion in Milton Keynes and Bristol. “This new showroom in Crawley will enable us to better serve riders across Sussex and nearby areas,” Superbike Factory CEO, Edward Armitage said. “Its prime location, with excellent transport links, will help us reach customers between London and Brighton and meet demand in the south.” ‘It will help us meet demand in the south’ Superbike’s new showroom has been used for selling motorcycles since 1980, with P&H hosting multiple brands including KTM, Kawasaki, and Yamaha. More recently, in July 2023, they became a main dealer for Norton, now owned by Indian firm TVS. P&H had…

Q ‘Fusion of opinions’ I had an accident in 2022. I will soon be in a position to settle my claim and my lawyer has sent my schedule of financial losses to the other side’s lawyer with a list of what I am claiming. I was advised to claim the cost of private surgery for a wrist fusion that the orthopaedic surgeon in my case said will be needed in five to 10 years. My opponent has sent my lawyer their schedule which disputes the cost of this surgery. They argue that medical advances over the next few years will mean that I don’t need the surgery and even if I do need it then I can have it through the NHS. What can you advise? Ray, Berkshire A It…

MCN COMPARE GET PROTECTED WITH MCN – AT MCNCOMPARE.COM Looking at the new bikes coming for 2025, manufacturers seem to be paying more attention to smaller capacity machines. Speaking of which, I've been riding my little Yammy twin recently and it's reminded me just how much fun small bikes are. Now, I bought my 1967 Yamaha YL1 because I had one when I was 14 (I cut the exhaust in half and used it as a field bike) so when I spotted one had come up for sale on eBay about 12 years ago, I thought it’d bring back a few memories, so I bought it. It was really bad when I first got it – you've never seen so much rust on a bike. It looked like it had…

▶ Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Kevin Meers The ride Down to Spain and back through France When to do it Late summer/ autumn How long do you need? We took seven days How many miles? Approx 1400 Tell us about the trip… This was our recent trip to Spain – it's not a biggy, we just fancied a week away and wanted to go to Zaragoza in Spain again as we'd stayed there before for the Aragon MotoGP round a while ago. We caught the ferry down to Caen from Portsmouth, then rode to La Rochelle. From there we stopped at Biarritz before arriving in Zaragoza in Spain. Our last stop in Spain was Logroño, which we've since found out is the tapas capital of Europe, we've never…

'Frosty starts' IAN LEEDHAM Taken on what was a beautiful, but also frosty, start to the day overlooking Ludlow in Shropshire on a weekend break with fellow members of a UK riding club. 'Where's the Muc Off?' RICHIE SALT Getting a free bike wash courtesy of the heavy rain at Alston few weeks back on my NX500. 'On top of the world!' CAROLINE CANA This was taken at the top of Clee Hill, Shropshire. It was stunning weather for October. 'New bike, will travel' TIM COOPER Bought this CB500X two months ago with 6300 miles on the clock. Three Euro bimbles and many runs around the UK later, it's now at about 12,000 miles. 'Silverstone style' STEVE STUART A short trip out for me to Silverstone on my Benelli 254.…

2024's other EV stars LIVEWIRE S2 DEL MAR This the second offering from Harley-Davidson’s electric sub brand. It doesn’t move the game on in terms battery range and charging convenience, but viewed simply as a motorcycle it’s top notch. Think of it as a Ducati Monster-style roadster: light, nippy, fun and with so much instant torque, it goes like stink off the line. It’s as smooth, quiet and easy to ride as the best electric bikes and to top it off it’s well built and detailed. For Sunday morning thrashes, it’s every bit as exciting as its petrol-powered rivals. Kawasaki Ninja 7 and Z7 Hybrid The faired Ninja 7 and naked Z7 Hybrids are powered by a small electric motor and a 451cc parallel twin petrol engine with paddle gears.…

‘It's found a bit of spark' The NT1100 has always been good, but a tad uninspiring and only offered competent, functional day-today transport or a sedate touring option. The 2025 updates have broadly fixed what ailed it, and they’ve also given it some new-found spark: it’s still not a thrill-seeker’s ride, but the extra punch and better handling give it a more sprightly, fun side if your big ride takes you to some great twisties. You’ll be able to enjoy the endless curves of the Alps in a way you couldn’t on the old bike. Touches like the bigger panniers and screen mechanism make it easier to live with, and the DCT option is finally fulfilling the promise of slick, easy shifting, with no real penalty. The NT now feels…

Suspension has a profound effect on your motorcycle’s handling, so keeping it tip-top should be up there on any motorcyclist's priority list, regardless of the type of riding they gravitate towards. So when Stefen Winman, owner of Tyres 4 Bikes LTD, got the call from a regular customer to inquire about servicing his 17-year-old Kawasaki Vulcan 1600’s fork and shocks, he was shocked to hear that the Japanese cruiser hadn’t had a suspension refresh – ever. “The forks had never been serviced,” said Winman. “We took them apart and the smell was like someone had been boiling rotten eggs. It was the worst thing in the world. “What came out looked like your grandmother’s gravy, it came out in one big thick lump. Everything was completely gummed up to buggery.…

'Starstruck by MotoGP boys' I’m in Jerez this week testing alongside MotoGP and World Superbike teams. I’ve done a lot of things in my racing career, but I haven’t been on track with MotoGP riders on the latest generation bikes before. Would you believe it, it’s also going to be the first time I’ve ever ridden Jerez! It’s nice to still be ticking boxes after all this time! It’s the career that keeps on giving! I saw Luca Marini when I went for lunch earlier and it’s weird, but I still get starstruck when I see these MotoGP riders. I want to have a nosey around their garage at some point, but what I really want is a go on the MotoGP bike. For all the stuff I’ve done with…

Smart timing from Martin? One moment from Martin’s first Aprilia ride at Barcelona was eloquent. Scything round the firstgear turn five, he did what he’s famous for there – shoulder down on the inside kerb. Looking as always like a man on a mission. A few yards further on, he sat up and looked round, to make sure the cameraman got the shot. His mission was clear -to radiate confidence and aggression, while everyone was wondering just how big a mistake he has made in leaving Ducati. His pride meant he had to. Overlooked for the factory team for a second year, in spite of then leading and eventually winning the World Championship, his ego demanded action. Next year will show if this was a self-sabotaging hissy fit or an…