Table of contents for 3 April 2024 in MCN

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS Crescent Yamaha, home to the official Pata Prometeon Yamaha World Superbike team, have launched two special-edition R1 road bikes to mark six-time champion Jonathan Rea joining the squad for 2024. Priced at £29,995 on the road, just 65 bikes will be available through Crescent's Verwood, Dorset, store, with the production run chosen as a nod to Rea's race number. “It's very difficult to judge the demand for any of these limited edition things, but the attention to detail and the finish are really first class,” Crescent Racing Team Principal and MD of Crescent Motorcycles, Paul Denning told MCN last week. “The componentry is the stuff you'd really want if you're wanting to upgrade your R1 but keep it reliable and within sensible means.” Each build is based around…

Nottinghamshire Blood Bikes are amongst the latest victims of the UK's crumbling road network. While out transporting new-born blood samples to Sheffield Children's Hospital, the team's Yamaha FJR1300 sustained serious damage to its front wheel. The incident delayed the arrival of samples to the hospital with resulting delays in important tests for new-born babies. The group's James Chantler told MCN: “Potholes might seem like minor nuisances to most, but for motorbike riders, they can pose a serious danger. “Not only do they disrupt smooth rides, but they pose a significant risk of damage to our bikes and their riders.” The latest damage came as a survey looking into the state of the tarmac across England and Wales found it would take 10 years and £16.3 billion, just to fix routes…

Bike thieves and anti-social riders on nicked machines will find it harder to escape as Police Scotland increase their use of DNA sprays. The force first began using SelectaDNA products back in 2018 and are now extending operations to include officers on patrol in their North East division. “The use of this tagging spray is another tool officers will have at their disposal to help detect illegal and anti-social activity associated with motorcycle and bike crime,” commented Chief Inspector Darren Bruce. “We know that this issue has been a concern for communities, and we've had a number of local projects ongoing in a bid to help tackle this over recent months and years.” The extended rollout of the sprays began in mid March, with officers squirting the fine mist towards…

THIS WEEK Bikers in Bath are furious at proposals that would see them paying the same to park as drivers in gas-guzzling SUVs – with one commenting in an online post: “Councillors, this is why we can't have nice things…” Under proposals being put forward by Bath & North East Somerset Council bikers will be forced to pay the same as cars. On top of this, a sliding rate will be applied based on emissions or engine size. This will add 2.5% per emission band or 5% per capacity band to the charge. Where emissions data isn't available, bikes will be charged based on capacity, with anything over 600cc being hit by the biggest charge. This would see a Honda NC750X charged the same as a four-wheeler over 2951cc. ‘This…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER ‘Enough clowns on the road’ JD Sports, a FTSE 100 company with a market capitalisation of approximately £6 billion, should have foreseen the negative outrage at their advertising campaign featuring stunts by lads in trainers. There are enough clowns on the road at the moment without encouraging more of them. Jim Williams, email Must be pedal power I have just received the route for the ride London-Essex cycle ride. At least I can guarantee roads on the route will have their potholes fixed. Steve Walker, email Manual labour I usually read Bruce's workshop section and try to pick up a few handy tips. His article, March 20 2024, ‘Squeezy does it!’ refers to a workshop manual for figures / values. Recently I have noticed…

THE UK'S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite one-hour routes Flowing from The Cross Keys pub in Taunton to the Puffing Billy Café, Great Torrington, the B3227 has more than a hint of New Zealand, Tasmania and even the TT about it. This undulating strip of tarmac is all about the scenery as it drapes through forests and rolling hills. The tarmac is generally good, but there's the odd broken surface or two to look out for. It's a straight ‘there and back’ route, so set aside around four to five hours to complete it with refreshment stops, of which there are many, including the Wild Woods Tapas Bar in South Molton. My favourite section is the twisty 11-mile run from Bampton to Woodside Services, where the B3227 crosses…

GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer 00900 ‘Silver linings’ LUKE BOSMAN I abandoned today's trip to Grassington and Hebden Bridge due to dreadful weather, so I stopped to take a photograph as I was heading along the Trough of Bowland. 01600 ‘A purrfect passenger’ KEVIN RAYMOND Packing up for a trip. The cat isn't impressed and thinks if she gets in the way enough, I won't be able to go… ‘Blood biking’ PAUL CORBRIDGE 298 miles supporting the NHS around Lincolnshire with Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes. 00298 00050 ‘Making a splash’ PETER CHISHOLM I spent a great couple of hours out and about last Friday cruising around in North Ayrshire. 02912 ‘Get out the bucket’ STEPHEN BENNETT Unfortunately I ended up with…

£16,700 Aprilia V4 Tuono Factory 1100 £23,495 Ducati Streetfighter V4 S ON THE DYNO There's a dip in the Tuono's power delivery at 5000rpm, but it pulls smoothly above, but the Ducati is strong almost from the get-go and keeps on trucking to record the most power here. The KTM monsters its rivals with the most torque, although a 1290 Super Duke R we tested last year on the same dyno made 0.2bhp and 3.6lb.ft more than our 1390. We'll run this bike again on the dyno with a few more miles under its belt to see if we can find the extra 10bhp. £19,599 KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo…

The CBR650R is still a great machine, at a decent price, offering that mixture of comfort, usability and sport that is so attractive to a lot of riders. But the big news on the new model is the E-Clutch, which is a helpful and welcome addition to the middleweight machine. Although it takes a bit of getting used to, and the throttle response is too abrupt, it's a cracking idea with a lot of potential, thanks to the fact that it offers everything a quickshifter does, and more, with the choice to ride both with or without the clutch. It's definitely no gimmick. THE FACTS £8699 Honda CBR650R E-Clutch…

14 months ON TEST ‘Everything is on the up’ Tested by Simon Relph for 14 months I've spent much of my life servicing and repairing motorcycles while scrabbling around on the floor. I finally changed all that some 14 months ago and haven't looked back. I went for the Sealey 12V Electro/Hydraulic motorcycle lift, so rather than just being the traditional hydraulic type, this one comes with a 12-volt electric pump which, at the press of a button, raises your bike into the air ready to be worked on. It's effortless. The lift arrives from Sealey in a large wooden packing crate, but be warned, it is not light, weighing in at a hefty 160kg plus the packaging. So if you have to move it, you will need to get…

GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer Michelin's new Anakee Road are designed for adventure bikes and ‘design’ is the operative word. They're essentially sports-touring tyres with deep, off-road groves to match the rugged style of a globe-trotting off-roader. Michelin say they're for road-only use and if you want to take to the dirt you should go for more heavily-grooved Anakee Adventure or Anakee Wild. Adventure bikes are often bought for their comfort, spaciousness and looks and never ride up much more than a dusty road, so conventional ‘blocky’ dual purpose tyres are always a compromise. They can be noisy at speed and less stable through corners than dedicated road rubber. The new Anakee Road tyres act just like sports-touring tyres and can…

It's one of those inescapable truths when you're upgrading parts on a bike that the shiny new stuff you fit will just make other components in the surrounding area look more secondhand! This is what I have just encountered when fitting these new brake lines. The clean lines with their shiny new banjo bolts and copper washers have made the calipers themselves look pretty scabby. So that got me wondering whether it was time to upgrade them – purely for aesthetics, of course, as unlike upgrading your brake lines, caliper upgrades aren't really about boosting performance or feel because only the very top racers will be able to detect the difference between standard calipers and fancy aftermarket ones. However, aftermarket calipers can be easier to bleed, offer improved fade resistance,…

JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Investigating the phenomenon that is Pedro Acosta EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Pedro Acosta has made an instant impact in MotoGP. After a stunning debut in Qatar, he proceeded to bag a podium on his first-ever visit to Portimao as a MotoGP racer. On his way there he got the better of the sport's biggest names Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia. Prior to that race, MCN caught up with his crew chief Paul Trevathan in the paddock to get his take on his new rookie sensation. Building bonds Behind every great rider is a great crew chief and the strength of their relationship both on the good days and the bad is paramount. “His character makes it easy. He's very honest, open and straight with you.…

Nicolo Bulega, who leads the World Superbike title race after two rounds despite this being his rookie season, has undergone surgery to relieve problems with arm pump. Since stepping up from World Supersport to World Superbike, racing a more powerful Ducati than previously, the 24-year-old has begun to suffer with compartment syndrome in his right arm. Last Thursday, the Aruba Ducati rider underwent a successful operation at the Oglio Po Hospital at Cremona in his native Italy; the surgery was carried out by Professor Alessio Pedrazzini. It leaves Bulega with three weeks to recover before Assen.…

SAVE £6000 £26,995 H-D Road Glide Special This 120th anniversary special edition is superbly comfortable, adorned with high quality componentry and packs an engine oozing with character. It may lack some of poise or refinement of some European and Japanese bagger contenders, but in terms of providing a pure hedonistic experience, it is hard to beat. www.warrs.com SAVE £4087 £14,990 Harley-Davidson Pan America Special Don't be fooled by the badge, it's just as tech-laden and powerful of any of its adventure rivals, and this is a really great deal. motorcycles.mandp.co.uk • Engine 1252cc ●Power 150bhp ●Weight 245g ●Seat height 850mm SAVE £1801 £12,999 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello Combines classy styling with top-rate performance. If other sports-tourers feel a little too soulless, the Guzzi could just be the one for you.…

GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer French firm Mash have revealed a new air-cooled four stroke Scrambler 50 model, complete with a four-speed gearbox, designed to give youngsters a first taste of bike ownership. With a UK price of £2299 including VAT, it comes in brown or black and features a 49cc engine fed by a chunky 14-litre tank and produces an AM licence compliant 2.8bhp at 7000rpm. Mash are claiming 176.6mpg from the frugal motor, meaning you could theoretically do 543.7 miles on one tank of E10. The machines feature kickstart for some old school charm. To make things as easy as possible, the bike has a ready to ride weight of 105kg, with a low seat height of 800mm. Spec…

RST Sabre CE £199.99 Grab yourself a jacket bargain Leather jackets and biking have been synonymous right from the start – and the latest tech and designs mean they're more protective and cooler than ever. They were an essential part of a rider's armoury even before helmets became de rigueur and leather is still the only material approved for top-flight racers. That all means jackets can be costly, but fortunately there are some cracking deals out there. We've sniffed out a selection of the best offers on the net, starting with this RST Sabre. Constructed from premium cowhide, the Sabre is certified to the highest CE safety standard of AAA and comes with Level 1 shoulder and elbow armour. It has four-way stretch panels for mobility, plus a quick-dry mesh…

Q ‘Accused after car pulled out’ I've received a summons for driving without due care and attention. I was on a 20mph road overtaking cars waiting for a red light when one of the cars turned out in front of me, causing me to hit his car. I have a witness who confirms I was not speeding. The driver has admitted fault in my personal injury claim but my lawyer dealing with that says she can't help with the criminal case. Josh Compton, email A Driving without due care and attention is when the standard of driving falls below the standard expected of a reasonably prudent driver. The starting point is that filtering is legal and is, in itself, not evidence of careless driving. You mention the word overtaking rather…

▶ Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Paul Owen The ride Tour of Thailand How many miles? 1875 Tell us about the trip… I rode down to the very south of Thailand from the north, a similar distance as Aberdeen to Weymouth. It was an early start in the dark and made for a 3000km round trip. I was visiting Khoa Lak, where my friend Steve was stopping with his family. On long journeys like this I only stop every two hours or 200km, whichever comes first, and then not for long. It is quite a difficult journey because you have to go through Bangkok. It's one of the most challenging cities I've ridden through – bikes aren't allowed on the toll roads, which makes it even more tricky. You…

‘Check the bus lanes’ Michael Guy, Sports Editor “While riding in bus lanes – check the signs to make sure it is legal – and watch for cars turning left, they won't be looking for you. Keep an eye out for pedestrians, too.” ‘Take a hefty lock’ Saffron Wilson, Reporter “Thieves often target small capacity bikes in the city but whatever you ride, take a decent lock. Chain your bike to a fixed object in order to keep it safe and sound.” ‘Cars from all angles’ Ben Clarke, Assistant Editor “Lane discipline in cities like London isn't as rigorous as it is elsewhere. Expect the unexpected – you'll have vehicles pulling out on you, so give yourself time to react.” ‘Caught on camera’ Michael Neeves, Chief Road Tester “There are…

SUPER-NAKED SHOOTOUT £16,700 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory 1100 ● 1077cc liquid-cooled V4 DOHC 16v ● 159.9bhp/82.3lb.ft (measured) ● 211.8kg kerb weight (measured) ● £154 a month on PCP £19,599 KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo ● 1350cc liquid-cooled V-twin DOHC 8v ● 177.8bhp/98.5lb.ft (measured) ● 212.2kg kerb weight (measured) ● £241.51 a month on PCP £23,495 Ducati Streetfighter V4 S ● 1103cc liquid-cooled V4 DOHC 16v ● 181bhp/79.9lb.ft (measured) ● 203.9kg kerb weight (measured) ● £292.74 a month on PCP How will the KTM tackle UK roads? Last month we got the chance to ride KTM's new 1390 Super Duke R at its world launch. In an intense, testosterone-fuelled track frenzy at the Almeria circuit in southern Spain, we squeezed five 20-minute sessions into a single morning with barely…

KTM's new 1390 Super Duke R Evo is more refined than ever. Its bigger V-twin engine is now so smooth it feels more like a V4 than some actual V4s and suspension upgrades come close to endowing it with the impeccable ride quality of an Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory 1100. We know the Super Duke is quick on track, but it's also a joy to ride at road speeds. Its engine is characterful, handling crisp, braking power strong and its demented supermoto hooligan genes are never far away when you want to have fun. It's comfy and spacious, too, although shorter riders may struggle at a standstill. It's more playful and cheaper than the hugely competent, but serious Ducati, but it still can't match the all-round class act that is…

MCN's website has expert opinion on hundreds of used bikes. Here are three slightly weird but very wonderful bikes that have been reviewed by MCN and by a stack of owners! Visit motorcyclenews.com 2008-2010 Honda DN-01 Owners’ rating Amazingly, seven owners have reviewed the DN-01. We didn't think they had sold that many! It scores a fairly low 3.6 out of 5, mainly down to its lacklustre engine and poor equipment level. 2007-2011 Aprilia Mana Owners’ rating A kind of scooter/naked bike hybrid that never really took off. Powered by a CVT 839cc V-twin, it has enough go but owners are less than impressed by its ride quality and poor brakes. 2014-2015 Honda Voltus Owners’ rating Nicknamed the re-Voltus, Honda didn't learn their lesson with the DN-01 and the short-lived…

Oh to be young and care-free, barrelling along on your very own motorcycle… there's nothing quite like that sense of freedom. That is, until your once well-oiled machine starts to decay, and manky head bearings rain on your parade. Kevin Hollingsworth Owner of Doncaster Motorcycles When a young motorcyclist brought his Suzuki GSX-R125 in for its annual inspection at Doncaster Motorcycles, he was hopeful for a clean bill of health. When Kevin Hollingsworth got on the case, the news wasn't all good. With the baby Gixxer acting as the customer's main mode of transport, it was battling the elements daily. This, combined with regular attacks from the pressure washer to blast away the winter grime, had caused water to find its way into the head bearings and rot them from…

BMW talking about MotoGP with Toprak is super interesting and a lot of things spring into my head. The first one is that WSBK riders going to MotoGP generally don't make it. Don't get me wrong loads have been really good at it, just not good enough. Hodgson, Bayliss, Xaus, Edwards, Laverty. Cal has probably been the best, but they've not made it in terms of becoming champion. The other question is if Toprak is flying and winning in WSBK, why would he want to go to MotoGP? Johnny Rea had those stand-in rides with Honda, but he never went. Instead he won six WSBK titles with Kawasaki. So the question is, are you better off being a multiple WSBK champion or running in the top ten of MotoGP? The…

THIS WEEK CFMoto customers can now enjoy discounts of up to £500 across selected models. The deal covers a host of options, from 300cc models through to the brand's flagship 800MT Sport. The promotion runs until June 30 and riders can also take advantage of low-rate finance options, with 3.9% APR purchase plan and 4.9% APR PCP finance deals available. Visit cfmoto-motorcycle.eu for more. Purple Helmets start new display A new display showcasing the bikes and equipment of retired daredevil stunt team, The Purple Helmets, has been unveiled at the Isle of Man Motor Museum. The Helmets worked together for almost 30 years, putting on comedy stunt shows both on the UK mainland and on the Isle of Man. Located in Jurby, the show opened its doors on Friday, giving…

WORLD SBK INSPIRATION The reasons behind the Jonathan Rea Limited Edition Replica R1s are two-fold, with the team drawing inspiration from JR's move to the squad, as well as backing from Yamaha. “First of all, a six-time world champion coming to your team when essentially, he's mid-contract with another manufacturer and shows enough motivation and desire after all that success he's already had, to make a new start and to try to achieve the goal of another world championship is just such an iconic moment for us as a team, and for Yamaha, and for World Superbike,” Crescent's Paul Denning said. “On top of that, we were standing in the garage at the first test in Jerez with one of Yamaha's very senior marketing and motorsports directors who had supported…

THIS WEEK Harley-Davidson have launched two new UK credit cards, allowing customers to split their Harley purchases into chunks. There's an Ultra card with an annual fee of £120, or a Classic card with no annual fee that works as a standard Visa card. The Classic offers points on each purchase, and three months interest free when shopping with Harley-Davidson. Meanwhile, the Ultra card gives double points on each transaction, plus free tyre insurance for your H-D motorcycle worth £100. Other perks also include no foreign transaction fees. Go to hd.tymit.com to apply. You can also use it to buy via Apple Pay with a dedicated app.…

THIS WEEK In response to a spate of hundreds of motorcycle thefts this year alone, riders in Ireland have banded together in protest to raise awareness and call for greater powers for police. The action saw the large group of bikers move en masse through the streets of Dublin, before delivering a petition signed by over 1000 people. Mega money off Kawasaki UK have launched two new offers providing either a deposit contribution, or money off accessories. Those wanting a 650cc bike or lower can enjoy up to £650 off their deposit, depending on the capacity. For more powerful machinery, vouchers are available for accessories, merchandise, and riding gear. This starts with £900 for those buying a Z900RS or Z900, before climbing to £1000 for the Versys 1000, Ninja 1000SX,…

Pyramid spray guard for GSX-S1000GX from £151.99 This glass fibre spray guard from UK bodywork specialists Pyramid is designed to stop water, stones and general road filth from flinging off the rear wheel and up over the Suzuki's tail unit. It comes with all necessary fittings and is available in gloss or matt black, with an option for a full carbon fibre version. pyramidmoto.co.uk Richa Aquaguard rainwear from £44.99 Constructed from Aquashell 15K, a dual-layer laminate that's windproof, breathable and waterproof, this new range from Richa is available as a jacket and trousers in fluo yellow or black. A mesh lining ensures comfort and breathability, while elastic cuffs and ankles should provide an effective seal. Sizes from S to 6XL. nevis.uk.com Nexx X.WED.3 helmet from £329.99 The ECE 22.06 upgrade…

JON URRY BUY IT NOW The other week the parents-in-law went off on holiday to Fuerteventura, which reminded me of a rather fabulous bit of bad behaviour I once had on the launch of a new bike. And yes, this is some bad behaviour I'm happy to put in print… It was the first update of the Speed Triple 1050 in 2008 and Triumph decided that this small Canary Island would be the ideal spot to amass the assembled journalists for the bike's first ride. On paper that sounded like a good idea, Fuerteventura is very picturesque, the weather is great and the roads fantastic. What Triumph overlooked, however, was the fact that the British journalists were the first group to arrive. After the assembled throng was let loose, the…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer My first brand new bike from 1997. I only had it two weeks before crashing into a kerb at low speed. Tony Morledge My actual first bike was a secondhand red GSXF600 which I dropped on gravel and had sprayed blue. Tony Morledge Me and my old X7 250 Suzuki, they were good old days. I now have a Suzuki Gladius. Andy Beastall And there she is/was. £200 worth of T-plate freedom at 5am when it was off-to-work time. David Bayliss This was actually my third bike a BSA 250 Gold Star, this is me and my then girlfriend (now wife of 47 years). George Hatcher My sister sitting…

1 April 6 Rufforth Autojumble With admission just £2 you could bag a bargain among the 350 pitches at Rufforth Park in York (YO23 3QH). Selling? Pitches start from £17. rufforthautojumble.com 2 April 7 Festival of Transport Head to the Three Counties Showground in Malvern (WR13 6NW) for bikes, cars and an autojumble. £12.50 on the day. classicshows.org 3 April 7 Lincolnshire biker breakfast Bike Safe are hosting a rider safety event and observed ride where you can bag a free biker breakfast and hot drink (for the first 150 bikers to book). bikesafe.co.uk 4 April 7 Kawasaki Sunday at the Ace London's Ace Cafe (NW10 7UD) will be crammed with Kawasakis this Sunday. Head down for like-minded chatter and a proper hearty feed. london.acecafe.com…

APRIL 7 What's happening? Round one of the Straightliners championship is kicking off this Sunday at the famous quarter-mile track in Northamptonshire. Prepare to see bonkers bikes reach spine-tickling speeds in just a few seconds, all while enjoying everything Santa Pod has to offer – including a Run What Ya Brung if you fancy having a go at fast launches. The essentials The event is being held at Santa Pod Raceway (NN29 7XA). If you're planning on making a weekend of it, then you can get a weekend adult admission for £41 (along with a £3 booking fee) and children are a tenner (plus £1 booking fee). But on the day, it's £18 (with £3 booking fee) and for kids it's £6 in total. Head to straightliners.events for tickets and…

At just 33 Jonny Walker has already proved himself as a serial race-winning veteran of the world of Hard Enduro and Super Enduro. His CV boasts three wins at Erzberg Rodeo, two wins at Romaniacs (widely recognised as the hardest of hard enduros). He's come second in the Super Enduro championship four times and third six times, oh and he's won Sea to Sky in Turkey, a three-day race starting on the shores of the Med and finishing 2000m above sea level. Born and raised in Keswick, Walker was brought up competing in trials and displayed some serious potential. “I grew up doing trials,” he recalls. “I won some big events and also finished third in the world junior championship.” He soon became drawn to motocross and ultimately enduro in…

Aprilia's RS457 is no cheap and cheerful superbike look-a-like, it's a superb sportsbike in its own right, built with the same DNA as the RS660 and RSV4. It's beautifully detailed, from the styling to paintwork, sophisticated electronics and colour dash, but best of all it goes and handles like an Aprilia should. That's as big a compliment as you can give. Its roaring new parallel twin has a smooth, strong and easy to access linear delivery and while its rider aids aren't needed on a hot racetrack with sticky tyres, they never get in the way of your fun and are a handy safety aid for new riders and in tricky conditions. THE FACTS £6500 Aprilia RS457…

FIRST RIDE Considering how contested the middleweight sportsbike sector is, it would be easy to be disappointed by Honda's relatively minimal updates to their 2024 CBR650R. After all, there have only been minor tweaks to the 649cc inline-four, chassis and suspension, along with a new colour dash with connectivity. But the real magic has happened below those new, sharper fairings, where there's a little slice of new tech: the E-Clutch which allows for semi-auto riding without you needing to use the lever at all. So, is it worth the extra £100 and 3kg? 1 Still a screamer For the 2024 model, there are a few small tweaks to the engine platform, such as new valve timings for increased torque at low revs, a slightly different exhaust angle and longer intake…

The past 12 months have seen us rack up 79,767 miles on the 10-bike 2023 fleet, but all good things must come to an end, and all of the bikes have now been returned to their respective manufacturers – with the exception of Neevesy's first Ninja H2 SX SE, which is still MIA after being stolen in Naples… So, welcome to the 2024 fleet, comprising 12 of 2024's most interesting and exciting bikes. Well, 15, actually – as there are three testers who will run two bikes (one after the other) this year. Over the next two weeks, we'll introduce you to the bikes and riders in more detail – but as an apéritif, this is what's coming, and which journalist will be tasked with piling on the miles to…

HANDS ON WORKSHOP Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician 1 Take stock of the standard kit Many bikes are fitted with reinforced rubber brake lines as standard. The trouble is, rubber loses rigidity over time, resulting in mushy performance at the lever. Aftermarket braided lines will dramatically improve braking feel, especially if your bike is getting on a bit. First up, compare the new lines against the originals to get a sense of what goes where. 2 Drain the fluid Place a container beneath the first caliper, then undo the banjo bolt that connects the bottom of the brake line to the caliper and drain the fluid. Repeat for the other side. Undo the master cylinder reservoir cap and pump the lever until the reservoir is dry.…

JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Digging behind the headlines in motorcycle sport MotoGP will have new owners by the end of 2024 in the shape of Liberty Media, current owners of Formula One, a deal which sees the biggest championships on four and two wheels under their ownership. According to a report by the Financial Times, bids were also made by TKO, owners of the UFC cage fighting and WWE wrestling franchises, and Qatar Sports Investments, owners of the French football club Paris Saint-Germain, had also shown interest. Having MotoGP and F1 under the same umbrella has the potential to change the motorsport landscape. What do we know? The formal announcement was made on Monday this week, ahead of the American round of MotoGP at CoTA (April 12-15). This, of course, was…

Honda must have been pleased to see Toprak Razgatlioglu take BMW's first two wins in more than ten years at Catalunya a week and a bit ago. How so, when the best their WorldSBK riders could manage was 13th and 14th? Because, in the approximate words of the Polish national anthem, it proves that “all is not yet completely lost”. BMW have been plugging away in superbikes since 2009 and despite employing stellar talent, their results have been underwhelming – their last full length victory came in 2013 thanks to Chaz Davies. More recently Tom Sykes managed a couple of seconds in 2019, and in spite of the upgrade from S1000RR to M1000RR in 2021, success has been spasmodic. Were, as some said, BMW not spending enough money? Well, it's…