Table of contents for 5 October 2022 in MCN

‘Arc shows how bright electric future could be’ MICHAEL NEEVES ON THE NEW ARC VECTOR WORLD EXCLUSIVE A vision for the future of biking It’s been a long time coming, but after numerous funding difficulties, the guys behind British firm Arc have finally released their stunning electric Vector into the wild. And it was worth the wait. Yes, it’s £90k. Yes, there’s a limited number being built. No, it’s not going to do 300 miles per recharge while also making you a cup of tea - but this a serious glimpse into the EV future. TESTED, PAGE 36 TOP STORY £6999 Hornet set to sting rivals Honda’s new Hornet is pretty much the polar opposite of Arc’s headline-grabbing Vector - and looks set to deliver a serious sting to its budget…

Riders are set to gather for a protest ride this weekend (Saturday, October 8) in a bid to get Hackney Council to reverse plans for parking charges for motorcycles across the borough. The event is being been organised by the Motorcycle Action Group and Save London Motorcycling who have described the charges, due to be introduced this autumn, as ‘astronomical’. Specifically, charges for motorcycles and scooters to park in Hackney would be up to £6 per hour - that works out as 30 times more than any other London borough. Campaigners fear it could be the start of a nationwide trend. “As far as we’re aware no other London councils have active plans to introduce powered two-wheeler parking charges, however we’re aware informally that many councils have considered the issue…

Kawasaki have teamed up with this year’s Motorcycle Live to give you the chance to win a Ninja 400, plus a Kawasaki insurance policy worth up to £250. The show takes place at Birmingham’s NEC from November 19-27, and anyone after their chance to win should visit motorcyclelive.co.uk/competitions and click on ‘2023 Kawasaki Ninja 400’. The total prize is worth over £6000. Guzzi’s a real Marvel Moto Guzzi have teamed up with Marvel to create a new comic book to celebrate the incoming V100 Mandello sports tourer Called Journey of Time, the fantasy extravaganza sees Wolverine doing battle with Bullseye one of Marvel’s super villains, with a chase scene featuring the V100. Copies will be available in selected Guzzi dealers from October. Pan Am’s new deal Adventure riders can cover…

A killer who armed himself with a knife and a saw during a row over a motorcycle owned by his neighbour’s son has been sentenced to life. Jamie Crosbie, 48, was jailed by Norwich Crown Court last week after he was convicted of murdering 41-year-old Dean Allsop following a trial during July and August. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 28 years. The court heard the father-of-three was stabbed multiple times by Crosbie who had become angry about noise coming from Allsop’s son’s motorbike. The argument, on April 14, 2021, escalated when Crosbie armed himself with a knife and a saw, at which point Allsop called the police and said his neighbour was threatening him with a weapon and that he was scared. While still on the phone…

Electrics like the Arc might be stealing the limelight (see p36), but a uniquely styled, hydrogen concept is now piquing industry interest. Meet the Hydra: the brainchild of Anton Brousseau, Andre Taylforth, and Anton Guzhov, three designers who met working for Kiska Design-the company behind KTM styling. “Our interest in motorcycles started fairly early for each of us,” Taylforth told MCN. “For me it was riding motocross as a kid. For Anton B, it was an early fascination with sportsbikes and Anton G has been drawing different machines, including motorcycles, since early childhood.” With the concept created only as a thought-experiment, Taylforth believes the fundamental core components already exist to make a working hydrogen motorcycle. Inspiration came from several, industries already utilising hydrogen technology, including micro-oceanic exploratory vehicles where hydrogen…

‘A whole new way of selling?’ The other day I decided to have a look and see how much a used electric bike would be. I’m not talking an expensive ‘motorcycle’ such as a Zero, more a cheap lightweight zipper that I could use to nip around the corner on. The results of my search were quite a surprise. In the last few years ‘small capacity’ electric sales have boomed. In 2020 UK buyers bought 2451 electric motorcycles, a figure that more than doubled to 6028 in 2021. And the vast majority (over 97%) of these were ‘mall capacity'’models. Obviously, delivery companies are playing a big part but there are also city riders looking for an alternative to public transport. With so many sold, surely there should be a few…

OUT AND ABOUT THE ROUTE • Twisty & scenic • Watch out for rough surface ‘Exmoor gives you more’ The wilder parts of the West Country make Simon Weir smile… From Minehead, take the A39 to Porlock. Take the right turn in Porlock to head down to the Weir. You have to pay for parking, but there are several good cafes here. Return to Porlock and turn right on the A39 - climbing Porlock Hill, with its hairpins. Watch out for the wild ponies as you cross the moors. This is my favourite stretch, as the views are amazing, but coming into Lynmouth the surface at the bottom of Countisbury Hill is a bit sketchy. Follow the road round towards Lynton and turn right to rejoin the A39 towards Barnstaple.…

What’s happening? With big-name attendees including John McGuinness, the final two races of Darley Moor’s calendar sees road racing heroes join the club regulars for the annual Stars of Darley. Last year the meeting attracted the likes of Richard Cooper, Michael Rutter and Kyle Ryde, meaning it’s a great chance to meet and greet these pro riders in an environment that’s even more accessible than the British Superbike paddock. Aside from the feature race, there’s also the conclusion of Parley’s club championships, including Classics, Forgotten Era, Formula 600 and Sidecars. It makes for a brilliantly action-packed weekend of racing. The essentials If you’re looking to watch for the weekend, then camping tickets are £6 a night. Spectator tickets start at £13 and go up to £28 with discounts for seniors.…

MCN MEMBERSHIP at members.motorcyclenews.com Riding bikes isn’t just something we do at MCN, it’s in our blood - in just the same way as it’s in yours. Whether we’re skinning our knuckles in the garage on an old project, reviewing all the latest new bikes, delivering the hottest news, or fighting for bikers’ rights - MCN brings you a whole world of biking every week. And if you become an MCN Member, you’ll not only pay less than you would at the newsstand, but you’ll also get a raft of other exclusive personal rewards and benefits as we build the best club in biking. Become an MCN member from just £5.99* per month for full digital access on your new MCN app DIGITAL ONLY Read MCN on your phone or…

Where do you start? At the top of the big capacity tree is the UK’s best-selling adventure bike, the R1250GS Adventure (from £15,650), which outsells the base GS (from £14,340) to the top spot. Triumph's new Tiger 1200 range has impressed with the GT (from £14,600) road-targeted and the Rally (from £17,700) more rugged. Both come in ‘bigtank’ Explorer options. KTM have the 1290 Super Adventure S (£15,599) or R (£16,649), Harley the Pan America (from £15,595), Honda the Africa Twin (£13,049) or Adv Sports (£14,749), both of which have a DCT option. Ducati make the Multistrada V4 (£16,795) and S (£19,595) and Suzuki sell the V-Strom 1050 in XT (£12,399) or base (£9999). The middleweight market is equally crowded with BMW’s parallel twin F850GS (from £10,260), F850GS Adventure (from…

What’s in the box? The ‘frame’ is a three-piece carbon fibre box that contains the 399v battery pack and the mountings for the steering assembly, front swingarm, electric motor and self-supporting seat unit. Carbon front mudguard and rear hugger are structural and the rear swingarm bolts to the engine. Carbon BST wheels will be shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Corsa rubber. Funny front end The hub-centre steering has its swingarm pivot below front spindle line. It promotes an element of dive and reduces the wheelbase on the brakes, like a telescopic fork set-up, to help the Arc turn. It allows racy steering geometry while retaining stability with rake at 20 degrees - far steeper than any superbike. Trail is 105mm, wheelbase is 1450mm. Packing more power The Vector’s monocoque…

It was the year before I joined MCN as WSB Reporter and I’d just completed my first year working in the paddock as a freelance journalist. I’d been watching WSB all my life, witnessed the 100k plus fans at Brands in 1995 - but Imola was different. It’s not often that you truly appreciate you are witnessing something great at the time it’s normally only after the event where you truly understand how special it was. But at Imola 2002 I was under no illusion that this was a moment in time and one that will never be forgotten. ‘The press conference after the race was bedlam’ I’d been to every round that year apart from PhilLip Island and Kyalami but I’d made it to Sugo and had been writing…

‘One for rich collectors’ BMW’s M1000RR is a phenomenal piece of kit. It’s brutally fast and handles incredibly, but it manages to be a friendly road bike, too as at home scorching around a track as it is hacking through the countryside. None of the extras fitted to the ‘50 Years M’ model improve the riding experience and for the money it’s missing the high-end chassis parts seen on its top-spec rivals and some of the cheaper S1000RR variants. Unlike the standard M1000RR, it isn’t meant to be stripped by teams and then prepped for racing, making ita machine for the die-hard collector with very deep pockets - but if you have the cash it is pretty special. THE FACTS £35,200 BMW M1000RR 50 Years M…

The final generation of traditional BMW RT (before 2014’s all-new liquid-cooled version) got a new fairing, new clocks and an uprated 110bhp ‘Twin Cam’ engine. The result was not just a brilliant touring bike, but the definitive incarnation of the oil-cooled boxer RT. Handling is lighter and more entertaining than most expect, it’s well-built and equipped (especially the SE version with a heated seat, grips and optional radio) and the only major criticism is its drab image. BUYER BEWARE • The shaft is basically solid but check for rumbles (worn bearings) on ultra-high mileage examples. • Check the clutch for grabbing (they give up near 80,000 miles and are a costly pig to replace). • Clutch slaves can also weep but are a cheap fix. • If it has electronic…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Free up the flow… Starved of fuel? It could be time to replace the pump BRUCE'S TIPS A workshop manual will detail a diagnostic test to check fuel pump operation 1 Poorly pump or failed fuse? If your bike’s not firing up but there’s a spark at the tip of your plugs, it’s time to raise a suspicious eyebrow in the direction of the fuel pump. Usually located inside the fuel tank, the pump provides pressurised petrol to the fuel system and isn’t immune from failing. Before you think about replacing it, first check that the fuses and tilt sensor linked to it are all OK. 2 Don't have a fuel crisis… If your fuel pump has indeed failed then you need to take steps to…

SPORT ROUND 10 DONINGTON PARK | BSB Glenn Irwin showcased grit and determination on Sunday to secure two podiums and continue his remarkable run of form. The Honda Racing UK rider has been on the podium in three of the last six races, whilst he’s also finished inside the top four in seven of the last eight. It’s a run of form which has seen him emerge as Bradley Ray’s closest challenger, albeit 66 points adrift of the Yamaha man. It’s the third place in the weekend’s finale that people will remember. Once again proving that when he gets away early with the leading pack, Irwin is able to take the fight the likes of Ray, he was leading the race with four laps remaining. It was then that his…

‘I really thought I'd seen it all’ Just when you think you know the racing job, Tom Sykes goes out and wins two at Donington Park! I spoke to him at Oulton the week before and he was all chirpy and he explained that if he could just get the bike to do this and that, he’d be away. Well I guess he got it to do what he wanted! The man certainly has the minerals, he’s a world champion… but his year in BSB must have been demoralising. He’s been getting served a portion all year, punted off the track, beaten up left, right and centre. But he was the king of Donington in WSB, so he must have just thought: “You’re all having it today.” What a good…

Twelve races in seven weeks. That is the daunting schedule that faces MotoGP in the championship deciding period in October and November 2023. Those crucial races at the final six GPs are back-to-back triple headers spilt by one week from Japan to Valencia. A relentless timeframe. A total 21 GPs are on the calendar. That’s 42 races with the addition of a half-points Saturday sprint. Many riders say that is the limit. It feeds the demand from organisers and TV broadcasters and includes the massive Indian market and Kazakhstan, too. The season opens with a PortugalArgentina double header. No longer the leisurely days of the ‘Continental Circus’ when motorcycle mercenaries travelled Europe in camper vans. In 1960, when John Surtees won his third 500cc world championship, there were just seven…

Getting the inside line on grand prix racing since 1996 TOP STORY Few things in life are a dead certs. But Miguel Oliveira winning wet MotoGP races is right up there. Two wet races in 2022 - Indonesia then Thailand last weekend - have been won by MotoGP’s new undisputed rain master. Talk about making hay when the sun doesn’t shine. Mandalika and Buriram are Oliveira’s only podiums of a farewell season to KTM in which he has been overshadowed in dry conditions by Brad Binder. Aside from his wet weather wizardry in South East Asia, the Portuguese star has only managed three other top-six finishes this year. But a win is a win, and nobody on MotoGP’s star-studded grid is better equipped to capitalise in rain-hit races than Oliveira.…

If the Hornet name sounds familiar, it’s because the original. CB600F version was introduced way back in 1998. This was followed by a CB900F in 2001, and then an updated 600F model in 2007. The first Hornet used a detuned 599cc motor from the mid-sized CBR600F sportsbike, with the 900 getting a 918cc motor derived from the CBR900RR FireBlade. The second version of the 600F got a motor that started life in the racier CBR600RR. ‘The first bike came along in 1998’ So, why no four-pot for the new Hornet? Well, Honda already have their inline four 649cc CB650R, plus a 998cc CB1000R for the big bike fans, that can trace its ancestry back to the 2004 CBR1000RR Fireblade. There simply wasn’t need for another one!…

THIS WEEK EXCLUSIVE ACCESS BMW have whipped the covers off their 2023 S1000RR superbike, which builds on the current machine introduced in 2019 with more power, more advanced electronics, an updated chassis, and winglets courtesy of the £30,640 M1000RR. Dressed in three new liveries, the new RR is immediately distinguished from the old bike by its dual front wings wrapping around the frowning front LED lights, which are there to reduce unwanted wheelies on track with up to 10kg of additional downforce. There’s a taller front screen and a claimed lighter, subtly restyled rear end, but the changes go way more than skin deep. For starters, the ShiftCam-equipped 999cc inline four has climbed to a claimed 206.5bhp - around 2.7bhp more than previously thanks to revisions including redesigned intake ports…

SAVE£1300 £10,995 Indian FTR Black The FTR oozes distinctive style and quality. The trellis frame and rear end have shades of both Monster and Ariel, its chassis is generously sprinkled with Bremho, Akrapovic and multi-adjustment and everywhere you look there’s tactile touches and sumptuous style. A bike you’ll park up and admire. www.motorcycle-world.co.uk SAVE£1050 £8649 Kawasaki Versys 650 Grand Tourer Useful saving on white versions of Kawasaki’s 2021-model fully loaded, comfy sport-tourer. www.mmcbikes.co.uk • Engine 649cc • Power 68bhp • Weight 214kg • Seat height 840mm SAVE £1300 £10,499 Yamaha Ténéré World Raid The Raid looks like a proper rally weapon with much-improved suspension and a 23-litre tank boosting range to 300 miles. arnoldsmotorcycles.com • Engine 689cc • Power 72bhp • Weight 220kg • Seat height 890mm SAVE £2000 £17,999…

THIS WEEK LOOKING FOR GREAT BIKE KIT DEALS? Oxford Nemesis Chain & Padlock with AnchorForce Ground Anchor £168.99 Splash out and stay safe We have a bit of a mixed bag this week, with deals on both tyres and helmets that are just too good to ignore. Pick of the bargains has to be this security set up from Oxford, which packs a Sold Secure punch by bundling up the Nemesis padlock with an ultra strong chain and AnchorForce ground anchor. The lock features a 16mm hardened steel shackle with a double-locking, anti-pick mechanism and can be used on its own as a disc lock when you’re out and about. The 1.5m CroMo hardened steel chain can withstand a five-minute sustained attack with bolt croppers and has a Sold Secure…

‘I just sit and drool…’ 1. Moto Martin My ultimate motorcycle is my Moto Martin. Years ago I used to go to Mocheck in Clapham High Street and dreamily look at Moto Martins through the window. The day came true last year when me and Allen Millyard restored one that we found. I sit there every morning and just drool over it. 2. Suzuki GSX-R1100 slabside I had six of these pretty much back-to-back when I was a kid. One after the other got nicked. I’d love to have a low-mileage 1100 Slabside to put in the collection to remind me of all the bikes that got stolen. 3. Harley-Davidson 48 They are eminently flickable, really comfy, they only do 90km per tank, so there is plenty of opportunity to…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER ‘200bhp play-offs don’t work’ In his column John McGuinness quoted his wife’s words that the BSB Showdown “makes the riders go mad”. This from the woman who is a constant at race meetings, whose husband is one of the most respected racers we have and a TT legend. She’s watched it all and felt it all more than we can imagine. We need to listen. The Showdown is flawed, always has been. Riders who have everything to lose in a soup of riders with everything to prove, it was bound to boil over. I’m surprised it took this long. Play-offs work with a ball, not 200+ bhp bikes. Let’s just have a proper racing season. Dave Clark, email Write something that spikes our interest,…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST WEDNESDAY October 5 BIKE MEETS Squires Cafe Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks. 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints. 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe Seaways Bike Night Fridaythorpe, East Yorks. 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk SHOW Intermot Expo Cologne Germany www.intermot-cologne.com TRACKDAYS Donington Park Grand Prix, Derbys from £119 www.MSVTrackdays.com THURSDAY October 6 BIKE MEETS MAG Bike Night The Market, Elsecar, South Yorkshire. From 6pm 01226 742240 Vic Bikers Pub Coalville, Leics 01530-814718 or www.vicbikerspub.co.uk Whistlestop Cafe Whitby, North Yorks. 4.30pm-8.30pm Facebook: Whistlestop Cafe The Flotterstone Inn Penicuik A702, nr Edinburgh City Bypass, Edinburgh 7pm 01968-673717 Mod n’ Mini…

‘Riding the Ring of Kerry’ R5K MEMBER STEPHEN WOOLLEY A fantastic trip around the Ring of Kerry, Ireland, on my 1290 Super Duke GT known as ‘Katy M’. I was joined by my friend Andy Griffith. The scenery was epic! ‘Father and son time’ R5K MEMBER JOHN JESS I took the youngest, Isaac, out on my new Multistrada V4 for the first time. I’ve done this year’s mileage across three Multistradas and a KTM 1290 Adventure. ‘Scottish Highlands holiday’ R5K MEMBER CAROLINE BROWN Enjoying the views of Glen Etive during our Highlands bike holiday. It was my first time taking my wee KTM 390 Duke away on a proper trip. I managed to clock up 890 miles. ‘Seven days in Scotland’ R5K MEMBER IAN SPEIGHT Here we are enjoying a…

MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK If you’re in the market for a new adventure bike, your head could be left spinning. You can have just about any type of engine from singles to V- twins, parallel twins, boxers, triples, V4s and even a choice of air or liquid-cooled - and that’s just the start. You can then factor in capacity, styling, wheel size, weight, road or dirt focus, favoured manufacturer, level of tech, the list just goes on and on… But what’s the best criteria for you? Should you make your decision on value for money, reputation or which is the most alluring to have parked in your garage? To test out a few theories, we selected three very different adventure machines for…

‘The future looks bright’ Arc have bravely gone for two unconventional, technologies for their maiden motorcycle project at once: battery power and hub-centre steering. The benefits of its funny front end will be felt at very fast road or track speeds, but it robs the Vector’s front end of some feel. The huge battery pack makes this a very heavy machine for its size andean be unwieldy at walking pace, but the acceleration, speed and smoothness it delivers is outstanding. Shed some weight and wrap this powertrain in a cheaper, more conventional chassis for the masses and the Arc shows just how bright our electric sportsbike future could be. THE FACTS £90,000 Arc Vector…

When replacing the fuel pump on this bike there was plenty of evidence to suggest that fuel degradation had played a part in the pump’s demise. When you had the old and new pump side-by-side that you could see the attrition. The new pump’s white plastic housing was bright and shiny compared to the used one which had a light-yellow hue. This is probably to be expected, but it’s a visual reminder of the hostile environment that these pumps have to survive in. Take a moment to consider how volatile petrol is: it’s packed with chemicals and compounds that can corrode and destroy most things that come into contact with it. When I removed this pump from the 10-yearold Yamaha 125 used in this How To, I shone a torch…

SPORT ROUND 10 DONINGTON PARK | BSB Not even die-hard Tom Sykes fans would have put money on him winning a race at Donington Park this year, never mind two, and that’s despite his stunning record at the track. This was the Sykes of old. Dominant, smooth, consistent. There was nothing that anybody could do to beat him, not even championship leader Bradley Ray. The only downside for Sykes was being taken out of race three by Jason O’Halloran at the Melbourne Loop on lap five. The win was desperately needed, not only for Sykes but for Paul Bird’s MCE Ducati team which hadn’t won a race since Christian Iddon’s success at Brands Hatch in July 2021. “I’m just grateful that I was given the opportunity just before the season…

Chrissy Rouse is in an induced coma after sustaining a significant head injury in the final race of the weekend. Rouse crashed on the exit of the final corner Goddards on the first lap and after being stabilised was transferred to Queens Medical Centre/University Hospital in Nottingham. Rouse underwent an emergency neurosurgical procedure and has been transferred to intensive care, where he remains fully sedated and in a serious condition. As MCN went to press on Monday, no further updates had been released regarding the condition of the 2020 National Superstock Champion.…

SPORT ROUND 17 THAILAND | MOTOGP Without rain, Marc Marquez knew he was in for a brutal Sunday at Buriram. Two days of tropical humidity and fast, dry conditions for practice/qualifying had taken a toll. Three consecutive race weekends after a six-race layoff hadn’t helped, either. It’s just that his rivals didn’t believe him when Marquez predicted that his repaired right arm was strong but short of race endurance. And that he was on the limit of present potential. Fast and edgy with some spills in practice. No surprise. This was not the warhorse of 2019 when Marquez won 12 of 19 races and his sixth MotoGP crown. Will he ever be back to that level? Rivals hope not, but they’ll know soon enough, round one in Portimao in March…

It was believed the layout of the Chang International Circuit, with two long straights at the start of the lap, wouldn’t lend itself to Moto3 escape acts. But Dennis Foggia made a mockery of those claims from the start, as he led every lap bar one to take a fourth win of the year and keep his faint title hopes alive. The Italian closed to 49 points of Izan Guevara, who had his most challenging weekend of the year. On his first visit to the track, the 17-year oLd wasn’t helped by rain interrupting running on Friday, but nonetheless rode patiently and brilliantly in the race to climb from eleventh to fifth. Sergio Garcia’s hopes are over after being wiped out on the first lap. ‘Frustrating to finish that way.…

Those ahead gained the headlines, but Enea Bastianini kept his title hopes alive with a solid run to sixth, pegging ten points back on Fabio Quartararo. By no means the fastest Ducati in the dry, ‘The Beast’ was nonetheless primed to be a fixture in a dry podium fight. Instead, he had to contend with poor visibility early on after dropping back to tenth. “It was really hard, especially at the start,” he said. “For eight laps I couldn’t see anything - it was a disaster to not have a reference in front. And my engine map wasn’t good early on,” he explained. Yet he soon settled into the rhythm despite a number of moments. “Anytime I tried to brake late, I went wide. Then I was losing the front. But…

Anne Sacoolas-the US citizen who has been charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn-appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court last Thursday. Harry was killed in August 2019 while riding his motorcycle near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire after a collision with a car which it is alleged was being driven by Sacoolas on the wrong side of the road. Sacoolas, who claimed diplomatic immunity and left the UK for the US after the accident, appeared via video link from the US, accompanied by her legal representative. It marks the beginning of a trial that has taken three years of tireless campaigning by Harry’s mother, Charlotte Charles, family and friends. Family campaign for justice Mrs Charles, along with around a dozen family members and supporters, arrived at…

The Hornet comes with three optional, accessory packs for 2023 to cater to all styles of riding. The first of these is the Sport Pack, which includes a quickshifter, flyscreen, rear seat cowl, and different foot pegs. Moving to the Style Pack, you get different bar-end weights and bar clamp holder, plus a tank pad, wheel rim tape, and a practical set of crash mushrooms. Finally, the Touring Pack comes with a stitched rider’s seat, rear panniers, and bags for both the rear seat and fuel tank. To further make the bike your own, you can choose from four colour options. Both white and black come with a metallic red frame and forks, and there are options for grey and yellow - a classic colour choice from the original. Hornet…

Triumph are celebrating 60 years of James Bond movies with a limited-edition version of their half-faired Speed Triple 1200RR. Priced at £21,995 and limited to 60 units worldwide, the shaken-not-stirred Speeds are £4045 more than the standard machine and mark the latest partnership between Triumph and the movie franchise, which began with No Time To Die and the Tiger 900 and Scrambler 1200 featuring in action chase scenes. Although the Speed Triple RR is yet to feature in a Bond film (perhaps this bike hints at a future starring role…) the special is dressed in a black colourscheme complete with all 25 James Bond film titles on the tank. You also get 007 graphics and hand-painted gold lining, which swoops along the curves of the minimalist bodywork. But it doesn’t…

In the past 12 months BikeTrac have worked with several customers who have been victims of theft in broad daylight. It’s not that common, but it happens. BikeTrac’s Bill Taylor said: “This year alone we’ve had owners who have been pushed off their bikes, had knives held to them and even had thieves in a car try to knock them off. The only real advice is to always be aware. Be ready to take alternative routes and be conscious at junctions of who is around you. It’s not that common, but it’s better to be alert.”…

Honda have revealed colour changes across much of their range for 2023, from dinky Monkey bikes to the colossal Gold Wing series. Following on from tweaks to the X-ADV and NT1100 tourer, other bikes getting fresh coats include the CMX500 Rebel and CB1000R four-cylinder roadster. See them all at honda.co.uk Ducati’s city slicker Ducati launched their flagship London store last Wednesday with a glitzy event broadcast to the world from the heart of the capital. The showroom and service centre is based underneath the arches just off Vauxhall Bridge on the Albert Embankment, and will provide a boutique experience. The event was live-streamed online and hosted by Rachel Stringer, with guests including Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali and Chaz Davies, who is now a WSB development rider and coach. See more…

Q ‘Who pays for messed up op?’ I had an accident just over a year ago and suffered a couple of fractures. The other driver’s insurer admitted fault early on and has been paying for treatment. The problem is that the hospital messed up an operation and it looks like my recovery is now going to take Longer as a result. The other side’s solicitors are saying they are not paying for the impact of the hospital’s mistake and argue that any ongoing loss is not for them to compensate. What is my next move? Michael D, Chiswick A It is not uncommon to have cases where a person has an accident during the course of a claim for a previous accident. It is a quite straightforward situation where the…

What’s happening? Marvel at incredible riding skills as the inaugural World Supercross British Grand Prix takes place at Cardiff this Saturday, With a big prize pot on offer for the racers, it’s bound to be intense. Plus there’s stunts, live music from Brit-nominated artist AJ Tracey and much more. With the action taking place in the stadium you can expect high levels of noise and excitement with the odd airhorn for good measure. The essentials Tickets are from £31.90. www.livenation.co.uk…

Cleaning a motorcycle can be a deeply satisfying experience. With gleaming bodywork and shiny silencers, bugs washed off screen and headlight, you can put your bike away, safe in the knowledge that there is no gunge and grime slowly corroding your pride and joy. On the outside. Although we tend to think of motorcycles as waterproof, because they’re designed to operate in rainy as well as dry conditions, there are still places where water can creep in and get trapped. Switchgear and brake calipers are particularly prone to this, as are the nooks and crannies around engines and frames -which leads to corrosion, even if the bike is stored indoors. This results in symptoms like switches that stop working, brakes that seize on, and corroded fixings and fasteners. Using a motorcycle…

It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A- and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK WEATHER WATCH Cloudy 19-degrees 14mph north west wind…

‘R&D ticked all the boxes’ As good as it is, the V-Strom doesn’t stand out from its many rivals and that’s a real, shame as it is a lovely bike and very hard to fault. The CFMoto, on the other hand, proved to be a real disappointment. The 800MT Touring gives the impression that someone in R&D looked at the competition then ticked every box on a tech and accessories shopping list but failed to properly integrate them into the final product. It's almost as if the company lacks the experience to fully test and perfect how to make such a complex product work and the result is a bike that, while on paper is impressively specified and good value, to ride has very poor fuelling, a dodgy quickshifter, an…

BUYING USED EXPERT GUIDE TO Ignore the image Few bikes have such immense ability… yet are also tarnished by such a dull, sensible image. When new it was even available in five different shades of grey (although today that’s bang-on trend…) If you can live with that the 1200RT is not only a superb tourer capable of covering 300 miles in one hit with ease it was also surprisingly entertaining and fine-handling. It’s a decent commuter, too. Get the spec If you like luxuries, the SE is the one to go for and from 2010 came with an option for an iPod or MP3 connection while you could also get a heated seat, heated grips, tyre pressure sensors and the ESA II electronically adjustable suspension which lets the bike waft…

‘It's never ‘just’ an old winter hack’ Bikes are emotional, and it’s due to the connection you have with the machine. The sensations are far more direct and engaging than anything you get from a car. This is worth remembering as winter approaches and thoughts turn to cheap wheels for the gloomy months. Obviously, a winter hack needs to be a bike that we’re willing to ride through the slop and not get all precious about. But it still needs to be a bike that you’ll form a bond with. Even the cheapest bike should make you want to ride when the garage door opens. There needs to be enough connection to make you wash off the salt and keep the running gear in good order, the promise of positive…

MCN’s man on the inside of the superbike paddock TOP STORY He’s almost there! Bradley Ray now only needs to finish seventh or higher in the opening race at Brands Hatch next weekend and he’ll be crowned 2022 BSB champion. It’ll be an accolade that will have absolutely been earned after what has been a supremely consistent campaign from the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha man. Sunday’s Race Three victory was his ninth of the year and Ray now has 23 podiums from 30 races this season. Nobody else comes close to this and it’s this consistency which has put him clear of the field. It’s the attribute that none of his rivals have had. The only man that beat him this weekend was Tom Sykes, and he’s of no…

Inside the grand prix paddock for more than 35 years TOP STORY Records are made to be broken. The one for Pecco Bagnaia is that nobody has ever won the title after five zero scores. The comfort for the Italian, who closed to within two points of long-time leader Fabio Quartararo in a chaotic Thai GP, is that nobody has ever had as many as 20 races in which to make up for their mistakes. Bagnaia’s third place - his first podium in the wet since Austria in the middle of last year - came after a mature ride, the direct opposite of his headlong crash one week before in Japan. The Lenovo Ducati rider had qualified on the front row, started well, then resisted sustained attacks first from Marc…

“Today wasn’t Yamaha’s day,” was Crutchlow’s frank assessment of Thailand. He was powerless to finish higher than 19th as set-up issues and a wrong front tyre temperature held him back. A shame as the 36-year-old was competitive in the dry, despite a thumping high-side on Friday afternoon. He also felt conditions were too dangerous at the start. “People were shutting the throttle in 5th gear in the straight, ridiculous. It was way over the limit to race.” Petrux takes a busman's holiday Danilo Petrucci made a MotoGP return, standing in for the injured Joan Mir, To lower expectations, the Italian explained that his surprise appearance “is a holiday” after deciding at the eleventh hour-just after missing out on the MotoAmerica Superbike title in Alabama - to accept Suzuki’s offer. “I’m…