Table of contents for 04 January 2023 in MCN

‘WARNING: May, contain serious temptation’ PREPARE TO WANT A NEW BIKE NEW BIKE SPECIAL The Top 40 hottest new bikes of '23 Our wallets might all be feeling somewhat bruised from festive excesses and paying for heating, but what better to distract us (and compound the problem) than throwing ourselves in front of some serious new-bike indulgence? Team MCN picks the hottest 40 new bikes of 2023 to give you the ultimate showroom hit list. Sorry for the temptation, we're hopeless bike addicts… P26 TOP STORY Why Kymco are backing electric It's the most intense debate in biking right now, as bike manufacturers, legislators and consumers wrestle with the burning topic of how we fuel our passion. The reliance on fossil fuels has a pressing expiry deadline, and the prevalence…

‘Will classic BSAs see a price hike?’ As I have said before, I am in no way a classic expert. Yes, I own a Velocette, but it is down to sentimental reasons rather than the fact I like opening my garage and seeing a pool of oil spreading across the floor… However, with the number of British marques being reborn, I'm left wondering if their forefathers will go up in value. Which gets me onto the subject of BSA. Under the ownership of Indian mega-giant the Mahindra Group, the name is now ready to re-enter the market with the reimagined Gold Star. Costing £6800 it is thoroughly modern in its manufacturing and (hopefully) reliability and if BSA manage to replicate a small fraction of Enfield's success, the name will be…

Givi Riviera E46 Top Case £156 The new flagship to the Givi range is the Riviera, boasting a 46-litre capacity and enough room to carry two full-sized modular helmets. The shell is thermoformed plastic, designed to give it high strength and a tight waterproof seal. A removable inner mat adds a touch of luxury, with highly reflective panelsfor visibility. www.givi.co.uk BMW Xomo Carbon helmet £450 BMW Motorrad's 2023 Ride and Style collection includes this all-new carbon lid. Aerodynamically optimised, it features a softclose, quick-release visor, fully removable and washable lining with emergency release system and UV/scratch resistant sun visor. The Xomo is comms ready, comes with a 5-year guarantee and is homologated to ECE 22.06. www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk Oxford Air Seat from £64.99 Available in three different sizes to suit touring, sports…

WEDNESDAY January 4 8am, EUR2 Rally Raid Dakar Saudi Arabia – Stage 3. Also at 4pm THURSDAY January 5 7am, EUR2 World Superbikes – Catalunya Weekend Highlights 8am, EUR2 Rally Raid Dakar Saudi Arabia – Stage 4. Also at 1pm and 4pm FRIDAY January 6 8am, Rally Raid Dakar Saudi Arabia – Stacie 5. Also at 3.15pm 1.40pm, ITV4, The Motorbike Show. Also at 5.55pm 7pm, BTS3, MotoGP Films: Science of Survival SUNDAY January 8 3am, BTS2, FIM World Supercross Championship Highlights. Also at 4am and 5am KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT–DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC–DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD– DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS–EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD)–EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT–MOTORSPORT.TV CH4–CHANNEL 4 CH5–CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI–BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN–ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST–DISCOVERY TURBO SHED–DISCOVERY SHED INST–INSIGHT SS1 (2, 30RX)–SKY SPORTS 1 (2,…

Roads rarely dry out during winter, and this puts many people off riding until spring comes around. Apart from snow and ice, most seasonal hazards can be managed by riding accordingly, giving you months of extra enjoyment. Typical hazards on wintery roads are things like wet leaves, standing water, mud from farming activity, potholes and gravel washed off banks. Think about where you might encounter these – wet leaves are more likely to be under trees – and you can plan ahead or avoid them altogether by staying alert. Staying upright on greasy roads is all about lowering your speed, doing everything smoothly and gently, and looking well ahead. Avoid hard acceleration and go easy on the clutch and brakes; scrub speed early into corners, turn in gently and don't…

The R1250GS Adventure arrived in 2019 and only received a very slight update in 2021 when ‘Eco’ mode was added alongside ABS Pro as standard. Although you can customise it, generally buyers either opt for the basic model or the top-spec TE, with the more expensive bike by far the most popular. Prices for a 2019 GSA TE start at £13,500 but options such as full luggage or the Rallye paint scheme see this easily pushing £14,500 or £15,500 for a low-mileage example. Prices for a 2020 model start at £14,500 with £17,500 the top end while 2021 bikes cost between £15,800 and £19,000. Nearly all are sold through official BMW dealers after being traded-in when a PCP deal expires or partexchanged on a new bike, very few are sold…

‘The Ti has a lightness and purity’ A sub-10-grand cafe racer from any of the mainstream manufacturers would be just as enjoyable to ride as the Heritage 71 Ti, so if you haven't got a spare 30 grand knocking around, don't worry you're not missing out. But the CCM will be worth it to the person with deep pockets and an appreciation of the engineering poured into it. It's a work of art you could stare at all day and never get bored, but it also works beautifully as a motorcycle with a Lightness and purity to it that's a world away from anything mass produced. THE FACTS £29,995 COM Heritage 71 Ti *Claimed, rear wheel…

TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT 8000 MILES Having started my biking journey in the Late 80s and 90s, it still seems strange to be wearing anything other than full-blown bike boots on a ride. But things have moved on. Not only are there a far more diverse choice of machines out there, but the evolution of riding kit has rocketed. There's still nothing better than a dedicated, fully armoured shin-height bike boot to save you in a spill, but ankle height boots like these can still offer a high level of protection. It's the first time I've tried lace-up trainer-boot riding boots and they've been impressive so far. I wear them with riding jeans and chose the all-black versions, so they don't show up the dirt.…

Triumph's Daytona 995 didn't set the world alight when it appeared in the 1990s. It was, however, solidly built as can be seen by this 20-year-old-example that is a ‘daily ride’, racking up 1600 miles a month on an 80-mile commute, despite having its chain on the floor as it came into the workshop at Doncaster Motorcycles. Technician John Cross said: “He's not the biggest on maintenance and probably half asleep most mornings, so he didn't notice anything wrong until the rear wheel's eccentric hub had seized solid and he couldn't adjust the chain even if he had wanted to.” The 955 has a single-sided swingarm and the hub has relatively small teeth for a ring spanner to bite on to once the pinch bolt is loosened off. It's even…

TT Legend John McGuinness MBE in MCN every week I think 2023 is poised to be another epic year of motorcycle racing. We've had our turkey, pigs in blankets and brussels sprouts – we've all veg'd out for a bit and had a few bevvies on New Year's Eve but now that's all done I just want to be out on my bike again and I know it's the same for all of us. Everyone will want to burn off that Christmas pudding and be getting some mileage in. Sure it's a difficult time and people are feeling the pinch, but we all still want to be ticking boxes – going to race meetings, riding our bikes. So if you've never been to the Speedway Grand Prix or you've never…

Despite the comments made by the Kymco boss, German giants BMW offer a different view and are on the case with sustainable fuels to sit alongside future electric machinery. Already including plug-in bikes like the CE 04 in their range, they believe synthetic fuel is vital to service the combustion engines remaining in circulation. “Even with a switch from new vehicles to electric drives, a large fleet of cars and motorcycles will be in the field with internal combustion engines for many years, beyond 2050. These can be operated in a CO2 neutral manner with eFuels – and only with eFuels,” the firm said. “What is valuable here is that they have a ‘drop-in ability’ and can be refuelled in existing infrastructures all over the world. “Our measurement results are…

Sinnis Motorcycles and Desert Rose Riding Academy, have launched the UK's first learner-friendly adventure school. The Sinnis Terrain 125 will be the bike used at the training facility in the woodlands of East Sussex with four-time Dakar competitor Patsy Quick and Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro Rally finisher Harry Michael. The day takes place on February 4. Visit: desertrose.academy Happy Harleydays Harley-Davidson will start their 120th birthday celebrations on January 18 with an online reveal of their 2023 line-up. The event, at harley-davidson.com, kicks off a series of events and gatherings that Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson, says will “honour our rich heritage, celebrate with our fans and riding community.” Pay as you go cover MCE Insurance are launching a Subscribe and Ride service that aims to…

THIS WEEK We're on the hunt for a new Road Tester to join MCN's crack team riding and writing about the latest and greatest motorcycles. You'll be using your riding skills and in-depth biking knowledge to the max in this full-time position, crafting group tests, features, and attending new model launches – sampling the latest machinery before anyone else, Guiding you along the way will be our vastly experienced Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves, who has been at the forefront of motorcycle journalism for two decades. “When I joined MCN 20 years ago It was life changing,” he said. “I went from loving bikes to reviewing them for a living. It was a dream come true and still is after all these years. “In that time, I've ridden everything from…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Henry and Jellybean are real stars’ I think that the festive MCN Christmas Special was probably the best one yet, and I particularly enjoyed the article on Henry Cole and the team from the Motorbike Show, Admittedly, he is a Marmite character, but at least the programme brings biking to more people's attention which must be a good thing. And Jellybean the dog is a real star! Colin Humphries, Hampshire STAR LETTER Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter slot. Each week one lucky reader will receive an MCN T-shirt in a variety of different designs Pro tip on tyres I read with interest Neevesy's article regarding his comparison of the Rally Pro with the Tiger GT he…

KEY TO THE AREA■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday January 4 BIKE MEETS ■ Outkast Co, George Centre, North Parade, Matlock, Derbyshire 6-9pm www.facebook.com/outkastcompany ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ 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 8pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk See separate feature p20 RALLY Dakar Rally, Saudi Arabia www.dakar.com Thursday January 5 BIKE MEETS ■ Iron Horse, Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping, Lincolnshiore 5pm-9pm 01778-346952 or www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk ■ Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ■ Down and Out Motorcycles, The Boiler House, Rotherham, S Yorks 5.30pm onwards www.facebook.com/downandoutmotorcyces or visit www.downandoutcustoms.co.uk ■ MAG Bike Night, The Market,…

MCN VERDICT ‘It'll do all you ask of it’ Why is the R1250GS Adventure such a big seller? Simple, because it is a fabulous bike that is so incredibly well developed following decades of evolution that its faults are few and far between. ALthough undeniably a big bike, the natural balance provided by the boxer motor means that a GSA never intimidates and with a Lower seat fitted remains accessible for all sizes of rider. And the tradeoff for this extra bulk is not only a feeling of total unflappability but also a fuel range that will take you from London to Edinburgh. Yet the GSA is far from just a mile-muncher. Step away from the motorways and it is more than a match for a sportsbike on the UK's…

7 months Oxford AA Original Approved Leggings WS Black R €119.99 Billed as the world's first AA-approved single-layer leggings, I was immediately intrigued by these women's trousers from Oxford. Previously, I'd only ever worn jeans for summer riding, but as I was heading to America at the height of summer, I thought it was a great time to try something that was a little more breathable while still offering just as much protection. Overall, they work really well, although it fell a little odd to be riding in leggings initially. But, I found the flexible Level 2 knee protectors that came with the leggings a little too bulky, so while using them I swapped for a less-bulky armour (although this was only Level 1 protection) in the knees, while keeping…

3 months Ruroc Atlas 4.0 Raw Carbon €475 The first thing you can't help but notice with this helmet is the styling. Looking like a piece of costume from a Star Wars movie, you could go for a white one and live out your Storm Trooper fantasies, or go further to the dark side – as I have with the Raw Carbon finish. The build quality feels great, with the T300 Raw Carbon version revealing a uniformly high level of finish, while all trim and venting is nicely integrated. The matt carbon surface does mark extremely easily, though. The rear vent is always open, and has a reasonable aperture, while the small brow vent can be opened and dosed with an external slider. But the chin vent uses an internalslider…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Feeling a bit flat? Battery gone kaput over Christmas? Here's how to get going again 1 Rule out the fuel Winter's a tough time for old batteries. If the one on your bike is nearing the end of its life, or hasn't been well cared for, cold weather can be the death knell. So if all of a sudden you find your bike's not starting, the battery should be the first suspect. But after that, check the fuel supply; you have got some in it, right? 2 Time to replace? A 12v battery that can't hold enough power to start a bikeshould be replaced; a healthy unitshould show at least 12.6 volts on a meter. If your bike is fitted with an alarm or a tracker and…

Suzuki have announced the pricing of their 2023 Burgman Street 125EX scooter. Launched in late 2022, the CBT-friendly twist and go will cost a very reasonable £2999 and will arrive in dealers in the Spring. The Burgman will sit at the top of the firm's 125 scooter line-up, with the Address 125 costing £2499 and the Avenis 125 available for £2699. Find more details at bikes.suzuki.co.uk now. TT game inbound A new Isle of Man TT game is heading to major consoles in 2023. TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge 3 will feature official teams and riders from the TT, as well as 32 different tracks to ride alongside the iconic 37.73-mile Mountain course. You'll also be able to experience around 40 superbike and supersport machines. See…

SAVE £2150 £13,999 Honda Africa Twin In making the base-model Africa Twin more off-road focused Honda could have totally ruined it as a road bike, what they have actually done is make it more accomplished on the tarmac. Armed with enough of the latest technology the Africa Twin is a serious contender in the adventure bike market. www.hgbmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £1000 £5999 Suzuki SV650 Suzuki's evergreen V-twin remains a temptingly priced first big bike, even, more so with a grand off list at Lloyd Cooper Motorcycles in Watford. www.motorcyclesdirect.co.uk • Engine 645cc • Power 75bhp • Weight 197kg • Seat height 785mm SAVE £1556 £10,999 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT The V-Strom is a highly capable adventure bike that's very easy to ride and will devour big mileages without making you wince. www.yorksuzuki.com…

A one-of-a-kind Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 built by an Edinburgh motorcycle dealership has raised £60,000 for the Royal Marines Charity. The bike, known as Bootneck, was built by Saltier Motorcycles and was auctioned at the Royal Marines Charity Gala dinner on November 30, 2022 at London's Guildhall. The bike was commissioned by the RMA to mark 80 years of the Royal Marines Commandos and the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. “Whilst we could have chosen any number of marques, it made perfect sense for us to marry up the Royal Marines with Royal Enfield, given the manufacturer's long history with the armed forces,” Saltier CEO Calum Murray said, “We chose the Interceptor since it provides the perfect blend of style and flair with rugged utilitarianism.” The special Interceptor sports…

LOOKING FOR GREAT BIKE KIT DEALS? BikeTek Urbano Tail Pack, Tank Bag and Panniers Combo £135.92 Get planning your great escapes The long winter nights provide a great opportunity for poring over maps to plan trips and tours for when the weather warms up again. But while you're studying guidebooks and plotting satnav routes, it's worth taking time out to think about the practical aspect, such as how you're going to carry all your kit. With that in mind we've rounded up a selection of deals on lightweight luggage options, such as this top value combo set from BikeTek. The full Urbano complement includes tank bag, tail pack and panniers, and has the potential for carrying a whopping 129 litres in total. Each item is of the same durable construction,…

Q‘Can I claim for car use?’ Eighteen months ago I was involved in a collision with a car that pulled across my path, causing me some fractures and psychological problems. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. My injuries have healed but I had to buy a car as I am too nervous to get back on a bike. This is costing me a lot more to run and as I am only 39 this is going to be a large amount of money over my lifetime – can I claim this cost in my compensation claim? Harry, email A Potentially, yes you can claim this from the other side. Your solicitor should send you to a clinical psychologist. They will be able to determine whether or not you are…

Readers Wayne Nott and the BLack Widows, Caerphilly chapter The ride Pyrenees trip How many miles? 1850 When to do it Summer How long do you need? One week Tell us about the trip It was two years later than originally planned due to Covid but we finally got to ride the Pyrenees. Unfortunately one of our group, our friend Robin, passed away last year from a heart attack-hence the pink T-shirts with his picture on the front in one of the pictures below. The weather was amazing, we spent a week travelling around the area in scorching 40 degree heat and we met Robin's brother out there, he traveled down from his house in France. We all had an amazing time and a brilliant laugh, covering 1850 miles in…

‘Taking the long way home’ R5K MEMBER ROY THOMPSON A photo at Blithfield Reservoir, taking the long way home after my MoT. A lovely sunny day but quite cool. Had a classic hot chocolate at Cobwebs café to warm up. ‘Touring the Alps’ R5K MEMBER KEVIN FOX This shot was from when I went touring in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. You can see the medieval Hohenwerfen Castle in Austria, overlooking the market town of Werfen in the Berchtesgaden Alps. ‘Very late breakfast’ R5K MEMBER JIM HEYNDERICKX At 4:15pm on a December afternoon, I was the only rider at the Ace, but it was worth it for the very late breakfast. ‘North Yorks Moors magic’ R5K MEMBER DEAN LEITH Exploring on the Himalayan with a mate on a CRF. I've…

UK'S TOUGHEST TEST THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £19,283* BMW R1250GS Adventure TE *£21,768 as tested-with £250 heated seats, £900 sports silencer, £1080 Option 719 pack, £255 Triple Black • 1254cc liquid-cooled ShiftCam boxer twin DOHC 8v • 134.1bhp@7750rpm • 268kg kerb weight When it comes to the ultimate adventure bike, there is one clear winner in riders’ affections – the BMW R1250GS Adventure. Ever since its launch in 2002 the GSA has proven itself the master of all-terrain mile munching, helped in huge part by its enormous 30 – litre tank delivering a near 400-mile range. Remarkably, despite being not only costlier but also more unwieldy at low speed than the standard GS due to its longer travel suspension and boosted fuel capacity, the…

‘Mine's done over 150,000 miles’ Leigh Coldwell Age 50 “In 2010 I bit the bullet and bought an R1200GS Adventure –152,295 miles later I don't regret that decision. The GSA deserves its reputation for ruggedness, I'm an instructor at Phoenix Motorcycle Training in Chippenham so I ride all year and the GSA has never let me down. It's cheap to run and aside from needing a new clutch and ESA shock at about 100,000 miles, which were admittedly very costly to replace, all it has required is regular servicing.” ‘It's a brilliant two-up bike for touring’ lan Speight Age 59 “I bought my first GSA in 2016 and covered 33,000 miles in 30 months before buying another and doing 24,000 miles in 24 months on it! In 2017 I took…

BIKING LEGENDS BIKING LEGENDS People who have shaped our world In racing, success is measured by wins and titles, and those with the most are deemed worthy of their place in the history books. Yet sometimes, true greatness is honoured for more than just results. In 2018, Randy Mamola became the first and only non –championship winning rider to be inducted into MotoGP's Hall of Fame, taking his place alongside luminaries such as Surtees, Roberts, Stoner and Spencer. At the ceremony in Texas, MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta explained why: “This is the first time we've nominated someone who has not been World Champion. This is because all his career and all his time with us has made him a real legend of MotoGP… His collaboration with Riders for Health and…

9 months Oxford Products General Protectant £8.99 If there's one way to encourage bikers to keep their bikes protected, it's to design products like this spray, that make your entire garage smell incredible. That's right, it's Mint by name and minty by nature, with an aroma that feels like it could clear your sinuses. It's a general protectant, and works by forming a film over your bike's surfaces to prevent water seeping in and doing damage. It's particularly well suited to winterising your pride and joy before tucking it out of harm's way in the garage. You simply shake the rather appealingly matte-finished can, spray it onto the parts you want to protect – moving, metal fixtures and fittings, rubber seals and electronics are all fair game, but be careful…

Many new bikes are now fitted with lithium (LiFeP04) batteries as standard. Smaller and more lightweight, they're easier for manufacturers to package and also save a bit of weight. Although they're great, lithium batteries need to be charged and maintained with a dedicated charger, meaning a bit of extra outlay. These chargers have a very different charging profile to more typical automotive batteries in that the amount of current received from the charger during the float and bulk stages is absolutely critical for its health. Added to this, lithium units have a narrower range of working voltage compared to a traditional battery. However, a key protective feature of these newfangled batteries is that most have a built-in battery management system (BMS) which will put the unit into a protective ‘sleep’…

SPORT INTERVIEW | BSB For the second year running Jason O'Halloran's title hopes were ended at Oulton Park. This time he was taken out twice at Druids by Peter Hickman and Tommy Bridewell. MCN visited the Aussie's home to reflect on his rollercoaster 2022 campaign. About THOSE incidents O'Halloran entered Oulton just 13 points behind Bradley Ray… he left 65 adrift after suffering the final and first-lap collisions. “This time it was more frustrating and deflating because we'd done the process, worked to the system, and turned up ready,” O'Halloran told MCN. “All the way up until that final lap, we were doing our job with what we could do that day. Other people's actions ended the championship for us.” In the aftermath O'Halloran's line and speed heading into the corner…

TT star turned rally racer James Hillier is finding out first hand why the Dakar is regarded asthesingle most difficult race in the world. With two 600km stages under his belt, the GasGas rider, who is in the Originals by Motul class where he gets no outside assistance, is currently 80th in the overall standings-3h 13m 41s behind the race leader. Speaking at the end of stage two, Hillier said: “That was another bloody long day and I'm not going to lie, I don't know what I've let myself in for. It's tough. I've got a lot to do on the bike tonight, wheels, tyres, oil change. I don't want to curse It, but I haven't crashed yet, which is nice. “I'm pretty tired as I didn't sleep well because…

SPORT OFF-ROAD | DAKAR MON Sports Editor delivers the inside line on Dakar TOP STORY Two-time Dakar winner Sam Sunderland's dream of a repeat victory has ended after he was helicoptered out of the opening stage of the 2023 Dakar following a high-speed crash 52km into the timed Special Stage. Having started the stage 22nd, the 33-year-old Brit was leading the race at the first checkpoint 37km in, before crashing out 15km later. He was attended to by his former factory KTM teammate Matthias Walkner before being treated and evacuated from the stage by the Dakar medical team. Updating his condition on social media, Sunderland explained: “I am more or less OK, a broken shoulder blade, big haematoma on my back and a concussion. I feel quite embarrassed to be laid…