Table of contents for 1st May 2019 in MCN

On May 5, 1997 I had a biking baptism, the effects of which have never left me. Despite having ridden motorcycles since the age of 11, my road riding career had been stifled by an unimpressive bank balance, Uni poverty, and loving parents who tactically helped me to buy a car in the hope my two-wheel addiction would subside. It didn’t. On March 15, 1997 my mate Chris dropped me off at Motorcycle City in Purley, where I collected my brand-new Yamaha TRX850, and deemed myself the happiest man on Earth. Just a few weeks later I made the short hop to Locksbottom with GSX-R750-riding mate Neill, for my first May Day Run. I wasn’t used to riding in groups, and the surging tide of thousands felt bewildering. I was…

‘It’s the largest production bike engine on Earth’ After steadily teasing since January this year, Triumph have finally spilled the beans on their new Rocket III TFC and the bike looks poised to tear up the record books. Building on the legacy of the old Rocket III launched in 2004, the new model moves the game on considerably. At the core of the Rocket remains its gargantuan engine. Growing in size to 2458cc makes it the largest engined production bike in the world, although it does only steal the crown from its predecessor. It also takes the torquiest engine award (163ftlb) while revving it out will generate 167bhp, also gifting it the ‘most powerful Triumph yet’ title. All this has been achieved by lightening the internals with exotic tech, such…

Birmingham based Mutt have made a name for themselves in the last few years as the go-to people for cool, small capacity bikes. To celebrate their success (which includes a launch in Japan as well as selling out their entire 2018 range), Mutt have now released the limited edition Super 6, which channels everything that’s made their bikes so popular. Its beating heart is the same Suzuki GN125-derived motor that props up the vast majority of their range. But Mutt have done their own tinkering so not only does it sound bloody awesome, the little air-cooled mill manages a cool 11bhp in Euro4 trim which, paired to a five-speed box, gives a top speed of 70mph. There are two styles to choose from – Roadster and Tracker. The vast majority…

The 15th annual Bum In The Mud rally took place on Mersea Island in Essex over the weekend, with more than 800 bikers coming together for a celebratory weekend of bikes, beer, bands and banter. “It’s the first one we do every year,” says Jan Bond from Purfleet, who’d ridden in on an FJ1200. “We always pitch up in the same place and it gives us a chance to catch up with people we haven’t seen in ages.” His partner, Vivienne Reading, adds: “You always leave having made at least one new friend, too.” ‘Season-opening event was originally intended as one-off’ Although BITM is now firmly established as a season-opener, there’s been a regular biker gathering on Mersea for years. “We’ve been coming here for 25 years,” says John Perk.…

‘The Speed Twin scythes effortlessly down the B660’ It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B- roads, a stretch of motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy tarmac. There are two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time at Silverstone for sportsbikes, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 Back to the future In a world awash with retros it’s exciting to see two bikes who’s classic styling doesn’t compromise performance. In fact, both Speed Twin and Pure are surprisingly similar in being monochrome roadster twins but with twin Brembos, proper rubber and nigh-on…

The quintessentially brilliant British biking road, the B660, is often a highlight of the MCN 250 and today, basking in golden sunshine, wafted with bugs and blossom and with summer gloves on and heated grips off in what is my first warm ride of spring, it’s simply a joy. I’m on the Triumph chasing Bruce on the Beemer and, impressively, considering the parentage of each bike, am relatively easily keeping up. The Hinckley twin’s chassis is utterly planted and confidence-inspiring, its Thruxton-derived engine is grunty yet relaxed and the whole plot is comfortable and intuitive. I wouldn’t wish to be on anything else. It’s a point that’s compounded the following day when we retrace the road, but on each other’s bikes, for photos and the more revvy, more harshly-suspended BM…

1 Scanning for perfect accuracy GB Racing use a portable 3D scanner to scan every new sportsbike’s engine. “We also scan the fairing and any hoses, brackets etc to ensure the protector fits perfectly,” says Graham. 23 D model Data from the scan is used to create a 3D model of the cover and the fairing that surrounds it in a CAD program. 3 Prototyping A prototype is 3D printed. Any corrections are marked on the alongside the length of the new bolts required. 4 Creating the mould Hardened steel is CNC machined by GB Racing to create the two halves of the mould. It takes over 52-hours to machine a mould and each one can weigh up to 400kg! 5 Moulding An Arburg injection-moulding machine…

THE LIFERS ‘Who needs a plan?’ Name Andy Davidson and Alissa Potter Age 31 and 30 Bike Yamaha XT660R Trip Indefinite life on the road Trip mileage 25,000 Facebook Mad or Nomad “Sometimes things don’t go to plan. When we left the UK in the depths of winter, we thought we’d dash through icy Europe and be sipping sugary tea on the Turkish Coast in no time. Instead, being up to our knees in snow with our luggage on fire (literally), a dead battery, snapped exhaust and stuck in -15C Slovakia for three weeks wasn’t what we had in mind. “We didn’t plan for very cold conditions and, by the time we reached the sweltering, arid deserts of Uzbekistan, we realised we hadn’t planned for heat either. We also didn’t…

One of the stand-out things you notice about the R1250GSA is build quality. The design may be overly fiddly in places – and a bugger to clean – but the quality of the parts BMW have bolted together is very pleasing. With one exception. Looks may be subjective but I think the standard silencer stands out as a glaring disappointment. The spangly finish looks cheap and tinny, and the plastic end cap does nothing to bolster its quality credentials. So I’ve binned it. Transformation In its place resides a new Akrapovic (performanceparts-ltd.com, £949) that maintains the GSA’s Euro4 road-legal credentials, meaning any Plod has no right to hassle you, while absolutely transforming the looks and soundtrack of the GSA. Sticking to the aesthetics for a moment: The matt black finish…

Believe it or not, 125s are fun again. The power limit has been raised from 12bhp of a few years ago to 14bhp – only two horsepower, but on a small bike that’s enough to make a difference. Manufacturers have taken the opportunity to build sporty bikes that even full licence holders can enjoy riding. Meanwhile there are still some solid plodding commuters, for those who just want a ride-to-work machine. HONDA CBR125R 123cc | 13bhp | 776mm seat height • Dealer £1700-£3500 • Private £800-1300 • This one 2006, 6600 miles Made in Thailand, this diminutive and nicely styled sports 125 ruled the roost until the Yamaha YZF-R125 came along and changed the game once again. It’s a bit tamer (slower) than the Yamaha but was always cheap when…

1 Get your hands on your rad You’ll need to remove your radiator, so check and follow the specific procedure in a workshop manual to give you access to the radiator cap, draining bolts and coolant expansion tank. Sometimes this can be quite involved and necessitate the removal of the petrol tank and most of the fairing. Make sure the bike is cold and on a either a main stand or paddock stand. 2 Assess the condition Carefully remove the radiator cap and place to one side. Wipe away any dust or dirt from the coolant hoses so that they are clean, then inspect them for any tears, cuts or damage. Check the condition of the jubilee clips. Any clips that are rusty or corroded are in danger of failing…

It’s been a great start to the 2019 MotoGP season. Three different winners mean just six points cover the top three places, with reigning champ Marc Marquez in fourth after crashing out at CoTA. But while Qatar, Argentina and the USA may have been intriguing, it’s this weekend’s Jerez race where the real championship gets underway on the traditional tracks of Europe. Jerez can throw up varied results due to the potential for all kinds of weather, and on a track that’s sensitive to temperature. Now partly resurfaced, Jerez could give a clear indication as to how the rest of the 2019 season will unfold. 1 Can Dovi keep it up? The start to this season has been a typical one for Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso, so far – fast…

While the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship at Silverstone may not have gone to plan for Josh Brookes who suffered two technical DNFs, the Be Wiser Ducati man bounced back in style during tests at Oulton Park last week. Free of any mechanical woes, the Australian set a blistering time of 1:34.929s to finish a full second faster than all his rivals before rain brought things to a close. “A fantastic test,” Brookes told MCN. “The forecast was bad so we expected more tea and biscuits but we got good dry running. Until you are actually racing some things aren’t highlighted, so Silverstone had served us very well from that point of view. I felt very good on the bike and tried a different seating position and…

Suzuki SV650X 645cc | 198kg | 75bhp | 790mm Cash price £6445 Deposit £1850 Mileage 4000pa Rate 3% APR Optional final payment £2959 The X model’s classic café racer looks are delivered thanks to a new seat, nose cone, clip-on bars and different paint scheme. The rest is pure SV650, with smooth and linear power, excellent fuelling and enough poke for fun without being intimidating. A great, and very affordable, modern middleweight roadster. Ducati Hypermotard 950 937cc | 178kg | 112bhp | 870mm Cash price £11,141 Deposit £2606.43 Mileage 5000pa Rate 7.0% APR Optional final payment £5511 Think of it more as a tall naked street bike than a supermoto, and you can see why a ballsy brawler like this might be attractive. The new 950 gets an updated 937cc…

BMW G310GS 313cc | 169.5kg | 34bhp | 835mm Cash price £5275 Deposit £410 Mileage 5000pa Rate 5.9% APR Optional final payment £2067.91 The baby GS may be built in Indian but that is why it can command such a low price tag. And at £79 a month on a PCP plan, it is hard to argue with BMW’s reasoning. The GS styling is unmistakable and the single cylinder motor thumps along with a decent 34bhp on tap. The suspension is soft, but that’s its only major downside. Triumph Tiger 800 XR 800cc | 199kg (dry) | 94bhp | 810/830mm Cash price £9200 Deposit £2088.65 Mileage 4000pa Rate 6.9% APR Optional final payment £4939 The base model Tiger still comes with a cracking 800cc triple with switchable TC and ABS…

Hit TV series The Motorbike Show has returned for a six-part run on ITV4. If you’ve never seen it before, the show sees presenter Henry Cole take on various task and challenges as well as shedding light on fabulous bikes, interesting moments in biking history and special places to ride. In the first hour-long episode, Cole takes a visit to Wales to ride the iconic Devil’s Bridge – an ancient bridge in Wales that’s been rebuilt upon itself three times over the last 1000 or so years. He also teams up with Sam Lovegrove to buy a rare BSA Gold Star and tells the story of two of Britain’s most well-known classic bikes: the Ariel and the Triton. The second episode sees Cole touring Cornwall before he looks back on…

As Alvaro Bautista smashes records with win after win on the Panigale V4 R in WSB it’s worth remembering that it’s just the latest instalment in Ducati’s dominance of the championship over the last 30 years. From the booming 851 to the sublime 916 and ‘quirky’ 999, the Bologna bullets have written their place in the record books with 14 world titles, and you can grab a slice of that history for as little as £5000. 2019 PANIGALE V4 R What is it? A racer for the road that’s built to win the WSB championship. MCN says “You’ll need the strength, stamina and skill of a pro to feel the real benefit of the wings and do justice to the electronics, chassis and engine.” Want to buy one? £34,995,…

The Metropolitan Police have teamed up with officers in Dorset to arrest seven people for their involvement in two moped enabled robberies. The dawn raids were the culmination of an intelligence-led operation by the two forces, specifically targeting a gang who used mopeds and motorcycles to commit offences. The first offence took place in September last year, with four men forcing their way into a jewellers in south London armed with a knife and a hammer. They entered the premises, stealing a quantity of goods. Then in March of this year four men robbed a jewellers in Bournemouth. This time they were armed with what officers believe was a bottle of a corrosive substance, hammers and allegedly a samurai sword. They stole a large selection of jewellery and escaped on…

MotoGP tech is now more within reach as the Ixon universal airbag vest hits UK stores. Costing £379.99 plus a £10-per-month pay-as-you-go subscription, the Ixon IX-Airbag U03 - designed by French start-up In&motion – promises accident detection and inflation times to rival systems three times the price. In&motion’s co-founder and Triumph Street Triple RS owner, Pierre-Francois Tissot told MCN: “Our goal was to make a system which was affordable, so we imagined a new way to commercialise the product. The vest is sold by our partner, then the ‘In&box’ control unit has to be activated on our website via a membership (€12/month, €120/ year, or you can buy it for €399).” Essentially a lightweight gilet made from breathable stretch material, the U03 has been designed to be worn under any…

WATCH GREAT RACING Get down to the Indian Live Action Arena for two days of action with the Dirt Track Riding Association and the new DirtQuake Showdown CHECK OUT THE AMAZING STEVE COLLEY Steve ‘Mr Showtime’ Colley is back at the Festival with his jaw-dropping display of trials riding skills GREAT VALUE TICKETS The Festival is the best value bike show in the UK. Discounted day tickets are available for a limited time only at £15 online and camping tickets from £30. Parking is free for cars and bikes and there’s enough to keep the family entertained all weekend. MEET THE STARS Shane Byrne, Carl Fogarty, Dougie Lampkin and Chris Walker will be live on stage and available for autographs and selfies the whole weekend MARVEL AT…

Call me old fashioned, but I cannot see the point of Yamaha putting a three-wheeler on the road that, whilst a novelty, really has no major advantage over a traditional motorcycle when tested back-to-back (MCN 250, April 24). While the extra wheel may give a feeling of security, please explain how the cost of extra wheel, disc, caliper, suspension justifies this? Further, we are now not looking at the suspension geometry of a two-wheeler. We are now talking about tracking, toe in etc. Is anyone seriously telling me that the cost of owning this unnecessarily complex machine is anything like comparable to own than a two-wheeler? Sorry Yamaha, interesting concept for you, but no place in the real world. Jason, email MCN Star letter Write something that spikes our…

My first thought on Olivers Mount being back is that I’m chuffed to bits. It’s definitely been part of my journey and a part of many other riders’ journeys. The first time I raced there was in 1996 and there were 80,000 people watching. It was the big anniversary and Sheene was there, Agostini was there and I remember being a bit overawed. ‘THAT HAIRPIN FIRST CORNER MEANS PROPER ARGY-BARGY’ I raced there for 20 years – 1996 to 2016 and thoroughly enjoyed it. When we thought there wasn’t going to be any racing there, it was a real shame. It’s the only road race in England. It’s a bit scary. It’s narrow, it goes under the trees so you get sap, it can be a bit green and you…

If you fancy a retro but with modern performance and manners, you can’t really go wrong with an RnineT. Launched as a limited edition, the 2014 original was such a hit it spawned a whole family and this cheapest version, the Pure, gets most of that bike at a more tempting price. But the Speed Twin wins for two reasons: it exceeds expectations by not just achieving what it set out to do, as a ‘performance retro’, but by matching the more modern BM for sheer ‘go’ yet still delivering as a ‘classy classic’. It might not be perfect (the small tank and lack of wire wheels annoy, the Monza cap is flimsy) and it’s touch dinky for larger riders but it in no way disappoints. £10,500 TRIUMPH SPEED…

‘You’ll blast from corner to corner barely able to hold on’ Few engines spew out such great gobs of torque as the one nestled in the new Moto Morini Milano. With pistons the size of plasterer’s buckets the 1187cc motor, taken from their Corsaro super naked, does what big V-twins are supposed to do: ooze instant, neck-jarring grunt from the bowels of their rev ranges. Moto Morini, based on the outskirts of – you’ve guessed it – Milan, have tuned their new retro-styled machine, inspired by their 1970s ‘3½’, to have a deep well of torque for maximum on-road pleasure – and they’ve succeeded. 114bhp might not sound like a lot for such a gargantuan engine, but you never feel short-changed when you’re blasting the Morini from corner to corner,…

It’s so easy to wake up on a Tuesday morning and find yourself wondering where the Bank Holiday weekend disappeared to. You had such great plans: That ride-out with mates, the quick blast to a bike meet, the luxurious indulgence of watching the racing, or rooting around at an autojumble for that elusive part to complete your project. Don’t get the Tuesday morning blues after this year’s Bank Holiday – make it a weekend to remember. Here’s a few ideas to get you started… BMAD Paignton Bike Festival Where Paignton Green, Devon, TQ4 6BW When Fri 6-11pm – Saturday/Sunday, from 10am How much? From £5 Blue skies, shimmering seas, the smell of salt and vinegar on chips and a soundtrack of seagulls and motorcycles. The Paignton Bike Festival is a…

‘It’s been a real eye-opener. I’ll certainly do it again’ With the British Superbikes season kicking off in fine style, many riders’ thoughts turn to planning to catch the action live at their local track. But before you book your tickets, have you considered upgrading your BSB experience to give yourself the ultimate day out by going for a hospitality package? “Hospitality at BSB has never been on my radar,” admits Dave Smith, the lucky reader who – alongside his mate Steve Churchyard – answered MCN’s call for someone willing to sample a day in Silverstone’s hospitality. “I assumed it would be expensive and not worth the extra compared to a normal ticket.” Surprisingly, although there are some expensive tickets (race day at MotoGP is £469), if you opt for…

BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND 3, OULTON PARK MAY 5-7 ‘You know summer’s arrived’ When BSB arrives at Oulton Park you know summer has arrived and the beauty of the Cheshire circuit is that it sits close to the blissful roads of NE Wales. The route Assuming you are based at the circuit, head west on the A54, skirting Chester (A55) and heading over the border towards Buckley. Here the fun really starts as you begin a 60-mile anti-clockwise loop over the chocolate-box Clwydian hills on the A494. After The Crown Inn, swap the 494 for the wicked B5105, turn right onto the the A4501 before you hit the A5 and head north along the Brenig reservoir, whose picturesque café makes for a natural pitstop. Stay on A4951…

THE STUDENT Brad Wendes, 35, Essex Brad’s been riding since he was 17. He’s the proud owner of a Triumph Street Triple and racks up 5000 miles per year. Brad’s riding problem “I crashed on diesel at 17 and don’t like leaning a bike over. I find it hard not to stare at the road surface when I’m cornering.” THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training Former police motorcyclist,Mark’sbeen teaching people to be safer,better,faster riders on the road for the last 20 years. Mark’s action plan “Brad isn’t looking far enough ahead. I’ll show him how looking up will help him feel comfortable enough to lean over.” THE LESSON 1 Flood your vision On the approach to a corner, position the bike within your lane to give yourself the maximum…

‘It’s brilliant fun and it rides just like a big bike’ Mock the MSX125 at your peril, because Honda’s modern take on the monkey bike has a cult following and keen owner Alan Clarke is a diehard convert. He says: “I saw my first Grom (the US model name for the MSX125 which has caught on around the globe) at the Ace Café in London. These four fellas had ridden 115 miles on them – and one was 6ft 6in! I was hooked from that point onwards.” After cutting his teeth on a BSA Bantam, as well as a wide range of trail bikes and enduros, Alan dabbled in the heavyweight world of Harley-Davidson. “I’ve had about 12 Harleys – just think of all the money I’ve wasted there! But…

TECH STATS Price £779.99 Sizes XS (53-54) – XL (61-62) 100% Carbon Aramid construction Optical Class 1 visor FRHPhe-01 and ECE 22.05 certified As soon as Jorge Lorenzo stepped out wearing his new SHARK helmet complete with a large rear spoiler in 2016, the paddock, and spectators around the world, were intrigued. Now the iconic shape of the Race-R Pro GP FIM Racing #1 is used by SHARK-supported riders in MotoGP, World Superbikes and BSB. While the use of wind-cheating aerodynamics in racing is certainly not something new and has been used in helmet design - and vehicle design - for years, the new SHARK ‘fin’ takes it to a new level. “SHARK Helmets have been involved in racing since the company was founded 30 years ago. We are always…

While we used to save up for years, or take out a personal loan or straight finance, the greatest number of financed new bikes are now bought on PCP. Why? MCN readers who’ve done it mainly cite one of two reasons: cost, or ease. The overall outlay is certainly less with PCP; as long as you don’t pay that final balloon figure (which means you never actually own the bike). Equally, if you want to change bikes during the contract period, even swapping brands in the process, that’s pretty easy, too. This flexibility and low monthly outlay makes PCP about as close to a win-win situation as you’re ever likely to get where motorcycles and bank balances are involved. But it might not be right for you, so make sure…

Italian custom house Stile Italiano have built this stunning custom Ducati MHR1000 as a tribute to Rino Caracchi – the final member of tuning house NCR who passed away last year. If you’re not familiar with the NCR name, they were a group of Italian engineers who built Ducati race bikes when the factory didn’t have a racing programme of their own. Their work is legendary but the bike they’re most famous for is the 1978 Ducati 900 NCR, which powered a certain Mike Hailwood to a TT win after an 11 year hiatus. To celebrate Mike’s success, Ducati built the 1000 MHR – the last Ducati production bike to feature their bevel drive system – and the bike on which Stile Italiano have based their tribute. Built by Loris…

Like many of MCN’S #Ride5000Miles Facebook group members, Mark Sheerin, enjoys nothing more than a ride out with a friend with whom he spends hours touring the Lakes, Dales and Peaks, making quirky films and taking snapshots of their adventures. But Mark’s friend isn’t your usual kind of biking buddy, Valiantino Postlethwaite is a puppet, created by Mark, who dreams of being the next big YouTube sensation. We caught up with Mark to find out more about his cloth friend, whose name is a mash-up of the Lexmoto Valiant he rides. “Valiantino is really a dip back into my darkest days of childhood,” he told MCN. “I used to have a similar puppet as a child and when I joined the army at 16 my mum threw it away. I…

Harley-Davidson have announced a return to top-tier motorsport racing but it’s not quite how you might imagine – they’re teaming up with the Envision Virgin Formula E car racing team. While this might sound like an incredibly bizarre move, Harley have been making big pushes into the electric field with the LiveWire and their two smaller urban mobility bikes. The partnership has two obvious outcomes: it shows the world H-D are serious about electric technology but it also opens the door to future collaboration. It’s not impossible to imagine Harley might take some of the learning from Formula E racing teams to concoct a bike racing effort themselves.…

Buy a used bike at the MCN Festival... We’re bringing MCN’s classified ads to life at this year’s Festival with the new MCN Bikes for Sale Live pavilion. Featuring a wide range of machines from dealerships and private sellers, the area will be packed with bikes for every budget from low-mileage minters to bargain restoration projects. ...and sell yours too! With 20,000 people expected at the show there’s no better place to sell a bike. Displaying your machine in the MCN Bikes for Sale Live pavilion couldn’t be easier. Pre-register on www. mcnfestival.com and on the day bring along your licence and the V5 document for the bike you’re selling. It’s just for road-legal machines, so no race bikes.…

HONDA CRF125F My 11-year-old son Therez Collodel on his first motorcycle, a 2019 Honda CRF125F, at Wheeldon in Totnes. Andrew Collodel SUZUKI T10 Me on the front and Jim MacTaggart on the back of my 1966 Suzuki 250cc T10. That thing handled like a wheelbarrow. John Anderson YAMAHA YZ80 Had some great fun on this down at the Brighton chalk pits in the 80s. I remember the frame snapped after a jump! Chris Haggis HONDA C70 Got this for a tenner when I was 15. Had hours of fun back in the 80s. Daryl King SUZUKI BANDIT 1200 My wife and I on our first big bike, a 1200 Bandit in 1997. We had some great times out and about on that old Suzuki. Peter Jones BSA B31 At Mallory…

One of the most obvious differences between the ‘top spec Bonneville’ Speed Twin and ‘base model RnineT’ Pure comes by comparing their respective instruments. The Triumph Speed Twin has classy, retro-styled twin dials with all the modern touches you need, including fuel gauge. The more budget Pure, though, loses the RnineT’s rev counter to leave just a single, fairly basic dial (although looks-wise, as a retro, it almost gets away with it), has no modes and there’s not even a fuel gauge, just a warning light. BMW BMW SWITCHGEAR Familiar BM stuff. No modes but built-in heated grips switch (as it’s a factory option) is a nice touch – although awkwardly on the right bar. FUNCTIONALITY BMW clocks Triumph clocks BMW switches Triumph switches BMW mirrors Triumph mirrors TRIUMPH TRIUMPH…

Here is a statistic for you: Of the 34 bikes on the Moto2 grid, only two teams don’t use GB Racing engine case covers. And that’s alongside roughly 80% of the BSB grid and countless domestic racers, trackday riders and road riders. “Our family business stretches back to 1916,” says GB Racing’s founder and MD Graham Banks, whose initials form the company’s name. “But we were stampers, specialising in forming raw metal using presses. The business was aligned to electric motors, which traditionally used Bakelite. While able to resist high temperatures, it was fragile and so in the mid-1980s I had to find a replacement composite material able to deal with a 10lb hammer blow. We sourced a product called Verton, but to be honest my heart was more into…

It’s a digital-analogue clock-dash It’s tricky to read the red speedo needle, the gear indicator doesn’t keep up, green shift lights look like indicators and the high beam light comes on randomly. And 240mph: really? Get a bit of Mupo magic You might not have heard of the Italian suspension brand, but they’re a popular sight in race paddocks now, producing aftermarket shocks and fork internals. Small but perfectly formed Holding just 13 litres of unleaded, the Milano’s sculpted fuel tank is made to mimic the 1970s 3½. This Special Edition model comes with a deep-finish two-tone metallic paintjob.…

Reader Darren Wigington enjoys this pretty ride to Krazy Horse near Bury St Edmonds, with a great café and plenty of bikes to look at. “It’s a great destination with great roads, chocolate box villages and pretty scenery. Essex and Suffolk are so pretty,” he says. With a Triumph Tiger 800XC and BMW R1200GSA to choose from, he can often be found exploring the roads around his home town of Chelmsford. “There are a couple of good cafes in Finchingfield, the Picture Pot does great sandwiches and cake. It’s a good place to watch all the bikes go past, especially on a Sunny Sunday. While the Blue Egg has lots of parking and is really good for food.”…

6. SPOT THE EXIT Identify your exit point but don’t fixate on it. Keep looking as far ahead as possible so you’ve got plenty of time to plan. 5. HAVE A WORD Tell yourself to keep your vision up. Don’t worry, nobody will hear you over the engine and wind noise. 4. JUST RELAX Holding too much tension in your arms and upper body will prevent you from feeling what the bike is doing. 3. WI DE VI EW Use your peripheral vision to open your view, allowing you to see more without shifting focus from the road ahead. 2. SWIVEL HEAD Turn your head as soon as possible to look through a corner, keeping your eyes on the vanishing point. 1. POSITION Position your bike for the best view…

Not only are SHARK Helmets the first brand to achieve the new FIM homologation - and in all sizes - they are also the first to make them available for customers to purchase! A carbon skin version of the SHARK Helmets Race-R ProGP FIM Racing #1 is priced at £779.99 and is ECE22-05 certified as well as being FIM homologated. Customers will receive the helmet in an exclusively designed ‘Racing Division; helmet box and official ‘SHARK Racing Division’ bag – used by SHARK-supported MotoGP racers including Jorge Lorenzo and Johann Zarco. Included too is a Dark Smoke tinted, anti-scratch and anti-fog visor and SHARK Helmets racing stickers.…

Yamaha YZF-R125 124.7cc | 142kg | 14.75bhp | 825mm Cash price £4574 Deposit £1340.50 Mileage 4000pa Rate 2.9% APR Optional final payment £1687.50 The YZF-R125 has evolved for 2019. There’s an all-new liquid-cooled 125cc 4-valve single that also now boasts Variable Valve Actuation (VVA), a new fuel injection system with a larger throttle body, cooling improvements, a next-gen Assist & Slip clutch for feather light but positive clutch action, and there’s a new LCD dash, too. Honda CBR500R 471cc | 192kg | 47bhp | 785mm Cash price £6099 Deposit £1099.75 Mileage 4000pa Rate 6.9% APR Optional final payment £2342.40 New for 2019, the CBR500R demonstrates that 47bhp and an A2-licence doesn’t mean you are restricted in your fun. A refined, well balanced and beautifully built bike, the CBR’s parallel twin…

Triumph Speed Twin 1200cc | 196kg | 96bhp | 807mm Cash price £10,500 Deposit £2564.93 Mileage 4000pa Rate 9.9% APR Optional final payment £6062 New for 2019, the Triumph Speed Twin is far more than just a comfier Thruxton as it effortlessly manages to blend the ‘modern classic’ styling of a new Street Twin with the mumbo of a Thruxton R to create a muscle bike with classic roadster styling. And it has a fair bit of fire in its belly! Using a reworked version of the Thruxton R’s HP (High Power) parallel twin engine, the Speed Twin’s lump is 2.5kg lighter thanks to a revised clutch assembly and new engine covers, which are made from magnesium. Kicking out a solid 96bhp, the motor is a touch abrupt on its…

Harley-Davidson Superlow 1200T 1202cc | 263kg | 67bhp | 705mm Cash price £10,505 Deposit £165 Mileage 4000pa Rate 6.6% APR Optional final payment £6026.99 Offering big touring features in a light (for a Harley), easy-handling bike, the 1200T is a great choice for those looking to put a few miles on their Harley but don’t want a heavy full-dress machine. Weighing 263kg, you get panniers and a screen as standard, making it practical, while the low 705mm seat height means it is very easy at low speed. Ducati XDiavel 1262cc | 220kg | 150bhp | 755mm Cash price £17,441 Deposit £4294.81 Mileage 5000pa Rate 4.7% APR Optional final payment £7837 If the amazingly styled Diavel isn’t quite showy enough for you, the XDiavel takes it to another level. As well…

Yamaha Tracer 700 GT 689cc | 196kg | 74bhp | 835mm Cash price £8145 Deposit £2147 Mileage 4000pa Rate 2.9% APR Optional final payment £3577 When Yamaha took the MT-07’s parallel twin and put it in a lightweight sports tourer in 2016 they struck gold. The bike they created, the Tracer 700, went on to become one of the firm’s best selling models and has cornered the budget touring market all over Europe. Now for 2019 Yamaha have expanded the Tracer 700 range with the addition of this GT model. And you can own one for just £79 a month! Following the pattern set by its bigger brother, the Tracer 900 GT, the Tracer 700 GT builds upon the base model’s foundations with a few touring-inspired additions. You get a…