Table of contents for 3 January 2024 in MCN

‘It's an insanely sensible way to spend £7000’ THREE BIKES – ONE CLEAR WINNER USED BIKE HEAVEN £7000 gets you a whole lotta bike… It might seem like the world is only interested in new bikes and PCP, but the used market is a vibrant melting pot of supremely tempting metal. And for around half the price of their new stablemates, you can grab yourself a seriously impressive bike with £7000 of buying power. But we're not going to tell you what you should buy – we're going to tell you what we would actually buy with our own cash. The shortlist for a £7k naked is BMW's R nineT Scrambler, Ducati's Streetfighter 848, and BMW's S1000R. But which one delivers the most for our money? PAGE 29 WIN A Suzuki…

THIS WEEK Goodwood have announced the themes and dates for their 2024 Breakfast Club Events, running from May to August this year. Sunday, May 5 will be ‘100th Sunday’ welcoming all types of cars and bikes to mark the circuit's centenary. Other events include ‘Super Sunday’ for supercars, superbikes and more on Sunday, June 2. Visit goodwood.com for the full event listing and further details of the breakfast meets. Yamaha's new man Yamaha Motor Europe have announced changes at the top, with Eric de Seynes stepping down as President and Chief Executive Officer to join the Supervisory Board as Chairman. De Seynes, who started with Yamaha in June 1990, will be replaced by Vice President Olivier Prévost. “It has been a great honour and privilege to have led the Yamaha…

A safety project in Scotland has been awarded a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, in recognition of their contribution to improving road safety. ‘Project PRIME’ took place over three years at 22 trial sites across the west of Scotland and involved innovative road markings and associated signage. Video footage of over 32,000 motorcycles was assessed and revealed improvements in road positioning and zero motorcycle injury collisions at the worst sites.…

Wolf Fortitude CE waterproof textile jacket €199.99 So last year… but so much cheaper With a new riding season ahead and 2024 collections inbound, retailers are offering huge discounts on last year's kit in order to clear their shelves. We've been digging around the January sales to find the pick of products on offer, and serve up this selection that's guaranteed to blow away the winter blues. The Wolf Fortitude is a laminated waterproof 750D nylon jacket with a re-proofable water-resistant coating to ensure that you stay dry inside whatever the weather. A sheep in wolf's clothing, it has a detachable thermal wool lining for colder days and large ventilation panels front and rear for when the weather turns warmer. A mesh lining and soft feel collar ensure comfort. CE…

‘My mantra is to see bikes for real’ I've already mentioned my desire to own a Bimota DB3 Mantra, well recently this dream very nearly became a reality. Why didn't it? That's the odd part, and to be honest, it has left me somewhat broken-hearted. For ten years or so I've kept my eye out for a Mantra, I like two-wheeled oddities and none are odder than this. I nearly pulled the pin and went up to Scotland about five years ago when one popped up for sale but bottled it at the last minute – a decision I've since regretted. So when I got a link from MCN Editor Rich showing an immaculate Mantra for sale less than an hour from my house, I hotfooted my way to Leicester.…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com This is a picture of me at 18 years old by Nuts Corner in Northern Ireland. Eddie Jordan My Dad (Alan Hardy) on his first bike – a Triumph 350. It was 1966 and he was aged 20. Laura Graham The most troublesome bike I've ever owned! I now ride a Triumph Sprint ST1050. Stephen Houlden 1930, this was my grandfather's first bike with my grandmother on the back, a James A11. Trevor Smith This is my son Tom posing with my Shovelhead Harley. Tony Beavis My first taste of biking. Mainly in the local fields but I subsequently rode trials for a while. Dan Bryant Me aged 23. Twenty years on I'm going for my full licence thanks to Kent Motorcycles Rider…

January 6-7 Winter Classic Kick off the new year with a step back in time at the Winter Classic show at Newark Showground. Along with a superb range of classic metal, there will be special guests Trevor Nation and Brian Crighton – in other words Norton superstars-talking about their latest projects, www.newarkclassicbikeshow.com January 5-19 Dakar Rally One of the most gruelling tests on a motorcycle is back at the start of 2024 – of course, we're talking about the Dakar. With the route stretching across the width of Saudi Arabia, this year promises to bring more nailbiting action, and you can catch every minute on Eurosport 1 and 2, and Discovery+. www.dakar.com  January 13 DL12 Indoor trial After selling out in 2023, the DL12 Indoor Trial is back at the…

MCN USED BUYS THE BIKES WE'D SPEND OUR MONEY ON £6500-£8000 Ducati Streetfighter 848 ● 2011-2015 ● 132bhp/69ft.lb ● 199kg (kerb) £5600-£8900 BMW S1000R ● 2014-2016 ● 160bhp/83ft.lb ● 207kg (kerb) £5000-£13,500 BMW R nineT Scrambler ● 2014-2023 ● 108bhp/86ft.lb ● 223kg (kerb) Naked bikes blend the best of high-tech, highperformance motorcycling with a more simplistic kind of enjoyment than edgy sportsbikes, or adventure bikes with all their bulk and pomp. No plastic in front of you and a set of mid-height flat handlebars distils the experience down to the connection between human and machine. Sure, some have ride modes, rider aids and electronic suspension, but they're the supporting cast on a sit-up-andbeg bike, not the main act, as they are on bikes where electronics are critical to the riding…

BIKING LEGENDS People who have shaped our world If you were a road racer between the late 1980s and early Noughties, one tuner above all others stood out – Tony Scott. His engines took wins in every British championship class from 125 two-strokes right up to 1300cc four-strokes, plus he had unrivalled success on the roads, with 30 TT wins, 18 NW200 victories, 19 Ulster wins and two Macau GPs. Most notably, however, it was Scott-tuned RC30s which propelled Carl Fogarty to three world F1 titles between 1988 and 1990, paving the way for subsequent Ducati success. All this from a man who worked out of his garage at home in Lancashire… Although a bike fan as a teenager, first visiting the Isle of Man in 1957 aged 14, Scott…

‘So much for so little’ Royal Enfield have moved the Bullet 350 story on in fine style. It still offers the simple thrill of riding and is loaded with character, but it's smoother and more refined than ever. Performance is unashamedly modest, but the power delivery is friendly, there's plenty of real-world grunt and it's frugal, but you need a positive shift to keep it in top gear. It goes exactly where you point it through corners with little fuss and it's plush and comfortable on the long haul. Best of all are its superb build quality and attention to detail for such little money. THE FACTS £4629 Royal Enfield Bullet 350…

ESSENTIAL KIT TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT 4000 miles ON TEST I've been wearing this Tour-X4 on adventure bike launches and group tests in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Sicily and the UK. It's been superseded by the new Tour-X5, but that means there are some great deals to be had. From the way it cossets your head, to its sumptuous interior and even the way it smells, it's textbook Arai. It's easy to slip on and it feels like a conventional road helmet, which is the biggest compliment I can give. It has the same rounded R75 shell shape as the Japanese firm's road lids (for ‘glance-off’ impact protection) and it fits perfectly out of the box. The 5mm layers of foam in the removable cheek pads…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician It's a bright idea! Stand out in the winter gloom by fitting some additional lighting 1 Select your spots Fitting additional lighting on a motorcycle is an excellent way of boosting your visibility in winter – both in terms of seeing and being seen. You need it to be dependable so when choosing a kit, try to go for a quality product that's recommended by your local dealer, or have a look for an official accessory part from your bike's manufacturer. 2 Check it's all there Unpack the kit and cross-reference all the supplied components against the parts list in the instructions. This universal Denali D2 LED lightning kit (£426.35) comprises two auxiliary lights, a wiring harness and a fitting kit. Read the instructions carefully and make…

SPORT That is how Clive Padgett describes Ian Hutchinson rejoining his Milenco backed Honda squad. “It is a like a homecoming and it is a very human story after all that Ian has been through with his injuries and the stroke.” Although the pairing last enjoyed major TT success together in 2010 with their historic five-timer, Hutchy rode a CBR600RR in Padgett's colours during 2018, finishing 11th and 16th in the Superpsort TT races. With the vast experience of the Padgett's squad behind him, the ambition is for more impressive results during ‘24. ‘Can Hutchy win again? I have to say yes’ “Ian's desire to win is incredible and if you ask me if I think he can win again, I have to say yes,” said Clive. “Why not? We…

SAVE £4080 £14,990 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 The Pan Am's quirky styling means it stands out from the adventure bike crowd and the £4080 saving over the current list price means you've got the budget to add accessories such as engine protectors, dark sport windscreen, fuel tank knee pads, a black aluminium tour pack and wind deflectors to keep the breeze off your hands. www.lind.co.uk/harley-davidson £16,160 BMW R1250RS SE SAVE £1010 This new BMW R1250 RS SE comes with both the Sport and Comfort Packs with the likes of seat heating, Gearshift Assist Pro and Riding Mode Pro. www.pidcock.com Engine 1254cc Power 134bhp Weight 243kg Seat height 820mm £9489 Triumph Tiger 850 SAVE £606 The 850 and its engaging engine is a cheaper alternative to Tiger 900 range. This new…

Honda confirm prices for their returning supersport screamer Honda have confirmed that the CBR600RR supersport screamer, which was last on sale in the UK in 2017, will return for 2024 with a starting price of £10,499 on the road. Crucially, that makes it £100 cheaper than Kawasaki's latest Ninja ZX-6R, which also returns this year after departing the range in 2021. It's also a whole £2401 less than Yamaha's R6 Race which is track-only and can't be road registered. Although the CBR600RR continued in other markets after its 2017 European departure, it comes back to the UK in 2024 after being updated for the stringent Euro5+ rules. It now also features a TFT dash, winglets, and lean-sensitive electronics courtesy of a six-axis IMU. “One of the biggest challenges that we…

Pyramid Rear Hugger for Yamaha MT-10 €239.99 Owners of Yamaha's super naked can add a touch of practicality and style with this new hugger from UK firm Pyramid. Manufactured from tough 3.5mm ABS, it's available in either matt black or colour matched to the SP livery, and can be fitted in under 15 minutes to all models from 2016 on. pyramidmoto.co.uk HJC V31 Mickey Mouse €219.99 The V31 is an open face retro style helmet with a suite of modern features. In addition to an anti-scratch main visor it has an integrated drop-down sunshade and a ‘perfect fit’ leather and suede moisture wicking interior. Now available as a tribute to Disney's original animated hero in pink or black. oxfordproducts.com Watsonian Z900RS Sidecar Kit €995 Comprising four powdercoated tubular steel arms…

Henry Cole, the charismatic presenter and motorcycle enthusiast, is set to take centre stage at this February's Devitt Insurance London Motorcycle Show, promising an electrifying blend of technical expertise, captivating storytelling, and the thrill of a live motorcycle restoration. At the Henry Cole Ready to Ride Workshop stage, Cole will join forces with Millyard and fellow motorcycle enthusiast Guy Willison to breathe life back into a vintage Weslake Triton. This iconic British motorcycle, once a powerhouse on both road and track, will undergo a meticulous restoration process, captivating the audience with its intricate details and the expertise of the restoration team. As the seasoned host of The Motorbike Show and Shed & Buried, Henry has had the privilege of witnessing the unparalleled craftsmanship of engineering genius Allen Millyard up close.…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘It's a true lifesaver’ I recently attended Biker Down training with the London Fire Brigade. We learned so much, from how to manage the accident scene, through recognising and treating breaks and bleeding, right through to giving CPR, plus the tricky question of if and when to remove the victim's crash helmet. I would thoroughly recommend attending one. Not only can it be used for motorbike accidents but also cycle, other road traffic accidents and even people who have been hit by a car. It could even help save your own life if you are conscious after your own accident, and a person trying to be helpful doesn't really know what they are doing! Dave Kiddell, email STAR LETTER Write something that spikes our interest, and…

RST X Kevlar Sherpa Denim Jacket £179.99 This denim jacket feels so comfy and cosy that it's hard to believe it's a pukka CE-rated bit reinforced with a full layer of proper DuPont Kevlar abrasion-resistant material, it's certified to AA standard and also features ultra-thin CE Level-1 soft armour at the elbows and shoulders, and offers provision for a back protector via a pocket in the rear. It's so lightweight and comfortable that it genuinely feels like a fashion item, which is why its CE AA rating is all the more impressive. 3000 miles ON TEST My absolutely favourite aspect of this jacket is the fleecy Sherpa lining on the inside, which covers the whole back and chest areas as well as the collar. It makes for a really warm…

The range of aftermarket auxiliary lighting on offer is vast, and so too is the quality. It transcends both ends of the spectrum, from absolute rubbish that will last five minutes, to super high-quality stuff that is both stylish and robustly engineered. Take it from me, avoid fitting the cheap stuff because it absolutely won't last, and besides, you wouldn't want it to potentially cause any electrical issue with your bike. Then have a think about exactly what you need: daytime running lights that will also create a beam to enhance your existing headlight/s will probably appeal to most riders, whereas fog lights will only increase your visibility to other road users. It also goes without saying that these days LED technology is far superior to the old school incandescent…

Well firstly, Happy New Year! And secondly, it's January so it must be Dakar time (see p58). I always look forward to it because it's such a big deal for the manufacturers who are battling so hard to win it. The bikes are off-the-charts full factory, but while I love Dakar I just don't think it's pushed as much as it should be. The TV coverage is dreadful. I'll watch it every evening but you only get a few minutes of the bikes. It's obvious the riders are amazing, but we just don't learn enough about their characters and life behind the scenes. Dakar has a lot of similarities with the TT – it's once a year to start with, and it's so gladiatorial. We've had the No room for…

The battle for supremacy will once again between Honda and Pierer Group (KTM, GasGas and Husqvarna). The competition between the two off-road power houses is intense with both companies’ projects second only to their respective MotoGP efforts. Honda field a five-strong team including former winner Ricky Brabec and podium finisher Pablo Quintanilla. Their effort is bolstered by the impressive American Skyler Howes and the seriously fast Adrien Van Beveren and Ignacio Cornejo. They also have the new addition of rising star Tosha Schareina who has already proved his speed and ability. The Austrians’ prized assets are split between their factory KTM, GasGas and Husqvarna teams. Starting with KTM, two-time winner and habitual podium finisher Toby Price will be in the mix. Austrian Mathias Walkner will miss this year's Dakar following…

• 2023 GP wins: two • 2023 Constructors championship position: Third “Last season the bike was competitive at almost all tracks,” says Albesiano. “Whereas in 2022 we had some tracks, like black holes, where we were clearly not competitive. Last season we went to those same tracks and were absolutely competitive. “This is a process that we started in 2021 [the second year of Aprilia's game-changing 90-degree RS-GP V4], so we are covering the map more and more.” The RS-GP has always been good at flowing circuits, but less so at stopandgo circuits. Albesiano says his engineers are fixing this issue. “We were super-competitive at Spielberg [Red Bull Ring, where Maverick Viñales qualified second], which means we improved braking. So I think the task of closing the gap to the…

THIS WEEK Keep your eyes peeled at 12 noon next Tuesday (January 9) when Triumph look poised to reveal a new Daytona 660. Back in August MCN featured spy shots of a sportsbike in testing and now an image on Triumph's social media shows a blacked out sportsbike silhouette – with the words: “The rules are about to change.” Photographs previously seen by MCN appear to show a bike based on the existing Trident 660. Ducati showroom for the North Good news for the north east: Ducati UK have a new store in Sunderland. Vertu Motorcycles Ducati Sunderland will be situated next to Vertu Motors’ other retail centres at Boldon Business Park and offer the full range of Ducati and Scrambler motorcycles, alongside associated aftermarket accessories and related apparel. It's…

THIS WEEK KTM have unveiled their 2024 450 SX-F Factory Edition – a bike they claim will set the ‘new benchmark’ in world motocross competition. The top-spec version of the already impressive 450 SX-F, the Factory Edition benefits from upgrades developed through KTM's works race teams. One of these is what KTM call Connectivity Unit Offroad (CUO). This two-part system is mounted by the right fork leg (protected by a reshaped number board) with a GPS unit on the front mudguard. Together they allow a range of adjustments to the engine and suspension via the KTM Connect app without the rider needing to enlist specialised help. ‘It benefits from KTM's works teams’ The frame has been uprated with varying wall thicknesses and cutaway sections to enhance flexibility whilst reducing weight.…

Q ‘Spied on in my garage…’ I have an ongoing personal injury claim after an accident in 2021. As a result of the accident, I was off work for six months. Although my injuries have restricted my hobbies, I have continued to work on my classic bikes and home DIY. Last week my solicitor called me to tell me that the third party insurer has video of me in my garage. They say that this shows that I am not as badly injured as I claimed. Is this allowed? David, Sevenoaks A Surveillance filmed from a public place is not illegal but the agents are not allowed to trespass onto private property. There is not much we can do to prevent an insurer carrying out surveillance or object to its…

‘There and back again’ ANDREW HARRISON I've ridden around 50 different bikes as an outrider on dealer demo days. But all of my best experiences have been whilst two-up with my brilliant pillion, Caroline.  ‘Heading to Tunisia’ ROBERT TAGGART The furthest I rode this year was to Zarzis in Tunisia for the FIM motor tour. The trip was 4800 miles in 16 days. ‘Married bliss’ JADE ABEL This year my mileage included a hen weekend with the girls to Wales, plus a wedding/honeymoon tour of Norway. ‘Birthday bash’ IAN SPEIGHT I did two trips into Europe (with one to celebrate my 60th!) I've also done two tours around Scotland. Fantastic year! ‘A spell in Europe’ PHILIP WESTON I've been on my Tracer 900 GT this year, and rode 6500 miles…

‘It's insanely sensible…’ Sporty naked, retro B-road blatter, or everyday do-it-all super-naked: It was always going to be an entertaining bun-fight, set to pull logic and emotion in different directions. But ride them all back-toback and you'll probably end up where we did, with your head being disinclined to acquiesce to your heart's thumping desire. Ducati's Streetfighter 848 will speak to your soul with words of love the two Beemer's can't even translate, but unless it's a pure sunny Sunday tool, its charms will soon feel abused. The R nineT Scrambler is also a little too pretty and showy to be anything other than a treat for café-hopping happiness. It's fabulous, but one-dimensional next to our other two bikes. So the S1000R takes the crown, and our cash. Yes, it's…

‘An expensive act of hubris’ In 1979 Honda returned to the 500cc Grand Prix world championship for the first time since 1967. As a company that had always favoured four-strokes, Honda decided to take on an entire field of proven two-stroke machines with a revolutionary, ovalpiston V4 with 32 valves – the NR500. Gerald was tasked with setting up and running the race project, but it was a task doomed to failure. “Once the design became clear, I felt it was a very expensive act of hubris,” Davison says of the project, “particularly as we had the ability all along to produce the NS500 instead, and to win races. The people at the top of Honda at the time were completely out of touch with racing. Despite what the company…

‘Pleasing but pricey’ The RGNT Scrambler is an enormously pleasing way of bopping around town. It's even capable of covering short distances on country roads. And let's not mince words: £14k is A LOT. But then it'd be unreasonable to expect a made-to-order electric assembled by a small team in Sweden to compete against mass-market petrol bikes. While plenty would no doubt love a nippy, handsome, nicely put together electric runabout, maybe as a second bike, its appeal is limited to the waferthin Venn diagram intersection of those who are also willing to spend serious cash on one. THE FACTS £13,990 RGNT Scrambler SE…

A well-used 2019 Lexmoto 125 had failed its MoT because of a binding rear brake, so experienced mechanic Kevin Hollingsworth, of Doncaster Motorcycles, was called in to help get things rolling. The caliper looked like it had just been dredged up from the North Sea, but Kevin used his beloved Myford lathe to clean up the piston and pins. He then whacked the caliper in a sonic bath at the same time, and he already had the piston seals on the shelf. Despite this time and moneysaving graft, the owner wasn't happy! Kevin said: “I got trolled by some keyboard wizard on Twitter/X saying he couldn't believe I repaired the caliper when a new one is only £30, but it's not always about the price. “The pad slider seals were…

MCN Sports Editor looks forward to the Dakar ‘I need to get stuck in and see where we end up’ There's no sugar-coating it, 2023 was a seriously tough year for the UK's top Dakar rider. Factory GasGas man Sam Sunderland headed into Dakar 2023 as reigning champion, but his race was over by the end of stage one. A hidden rock in a dried-up river bed saw him sustain a monster crash which registered 27.6g on his Alpinestars airbag vest– nearly 2g more than Marc Marquez's infamous career changing highside at Jerez in 2020. Out of the race with concussion, a broken shoulder and a huge haematoma on his back; the recovery began. But the rest of 2023 proved equally as challenging with a lack of results, big crashes…

Twelve stages including new 48-hour marathon stage with eight different bivouacs. Total distance 7923km including 4676km of timed special stages. • Prologue Alua to Alua Total 158km Special 28km • Stage 1 Alua to Al Henakiyah Total 532km Special 405km • Stage 2 Al Henakiyah to Al Du wadim Total 662km Special 470km • Stage 3 Al Duwadim to Al Salamiya Total 773km Special 440km • Stage 4 Al Salamiya to Al-Hofuf Total 631km Special 299km • Stage 5 Al-Hofuf to Shubaytah Total 727km Special 118km • Stage 6 (48 hours) Shubaytah to Shubaytah Total 766km Special 532km • REST DAY Riyadh • Stage 7 Riyadh to Al Duwadimi Total 873km Special 483km • Stage 8 Al Duwadimi to Hail Total 678km Special 458km • Stage 9 Hail to Al…

There's no doubt that Aprilia's RS-GP is fast enough to challenge, but the factory need to make the bike work everywhere. The bike works brilliantly one weekend and not so brilliantly the next, which isn't good enough when you're fighting Ducati. The RS-GP's strong points are its engine performance and its corner speed, which gives it a real advantage at faster, flowing circuits. Aprilia say they've fixed the braking issues (which are likely related to bike balance and exhaust valves, which play an important role in fine-tuning engine-braking) but the riders don't agree, so the engineers need to listen. Trackhouse Racing's takeover of the troubled RNF Aprilia team may help in this process. Trackhouse will be more closely linked to the factory and are pushing to get 2024 RS-GPs, instead…