MCN -julkaisun 7 August 2024 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

THE BIG TEST Sporty little numbers There was a time when A2 licence sportsbikes were soft, upright machines designed for novice riders. Nowadays, that's absolutely not the case, and these sub-47bhp weapons pack all the handling poise and performance you'd expect from an old-school supersport machine – albeit at a slightly lower speed. The MCN test team puts five pocket rockets to the test on road and track. PAGE 29 THE BIG READ Happy birthday MotoGP MotoGP celebrated 75 years of Grand Prix motorcycle racing last weekend at the British GP, as the premier class teams broke cover with special retro-inspired liveries for Sunday's big race. MCN decided to pay our own tribute with a special six-page feature charting the story of Grand Prix racing from the days of Les…

Oxford Premium paddock stand £61.64 Great deals on garage gear Having the tools, equipment and consumables for basic maintenance and servicing can save you a bundle, not to mention the fact that keeping your bike in peak condition is paramount to performance and safety. This week we've scoured the web for deals on the kit and caboodle that are must-haves for any home setup. Getting your bike's rear end off the floor allows for access to numerous jobs and makes chain maintenance a whole let easier, so having a paddock stand in your armoury is a mighty fine idea. Oxford's Premium Stand is built to last, boasting a 38mm tube construction, sturdy wheels and an extra-long handle to aid in the lifting process. Both bobbin hooks and pads are included…

‘Clutching onto the old habits’ So, BMW have joined the rush of manufacturers attempting to put the good old-fashioned clutch lever out to pasture. Maybe it's me, but I'm still to be convinced by any bike that lacks a clutch lever – especially at low speed. When you are at sub-walking pace a bit of finesse on the lever is required for tight manoeuvres, or even just smooth progress, and automatic systems just can't deliver this feel. It's the same in the car world. Honestly, when the father-in-law is driving his automatic I'm in fear of whiplash when he pulls away from stationary as the drive kicks in so abruptly. All of which reminds me of the first time I tested a motorcycle (not a Honda C90…) that was missing…

August 8-10 Yorkshire Rock ‘n’ Bike Show Held at Squire's Café Bar (LS25 5LX) with bikes and music. A weekend ticket is £30, with day tickets from £20. There's a small car parking fee. yorkshirerocknbikeshow.co.uk August 11 Sammy Miller Autojumble The museum could be the perfect spot for a bargain, and with discounted tickets for the museum, you've already got one. sammymiller.co.uk August 11 Vintage and Classic Bike day The Ace are celebrating historic metal. Bring down your pride and joy and talk with likeminded folk over a cuppa and a cracking spot of lunch. london.acecafe.com August 9 Ian Simpson Meet five-time British champion and triple TT winner Ian Simpson as he launches his autobiography, Forever Playboy. Admission is free. Greens Sports Bar, Dumfries DG1 2QB. From 7pm.…

Ride to the Wall October 5, 2024 The National Memorial Arboretum is playing host to Ride to the Wall this October. Now in its 17th year, bikers from all over the country will ride in to the site to pay their respects and attend the memorial service in the Armed Forces Memorial. Last year drew in 13,000 people. Get involved If you want to take part this year, head to rttw.organd register. There is a voluntary contribution for the charity to register. On the website, you can also find merchandise, and ride information if you want to join one of the 11 rides to the event. Keep an eye out in MCN for an upcoming feature on the 2024 Ride to the Wall.…

THE MCN TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK £6499 Kawasaki Ninja 500 SE • 451cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 41.4bhp/29.6lb.ft* • 174.9kg kerb weight* • £61.46 a month on PCP £5699 CFMoto 450 SR-S • 450cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 46bhp/28.9lb.ft* • 182.2kg kerb weight* • £29 a month on PCP £6699 Honda CBR500R • 471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 41.8bhp/29.6lb.ft* • 192.2kg kerb weight* • £89.37 a month on PCP £6500 Aprilia RS457 • 457cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 44.2bhp/30.5lb.ft* • 176.1kg kerb weight* • £94 a month on PCP £5899 KTM RC390 • 373cc liquid-cooled single DOHC 4v • 42.4bhp/26.8lb.ft* • 167.8kg kerb weight* • £57.38 a month on PCP This year has seen a rush of funky new…

‘It's like a modern-day ZXR400’ Aprilia's RS457 is Joseph's top choice. He says: “It's like a modern-day version of my ZXR400. When you're restricted on power, you need to make sure the rest of the riding experience is great. The Aprilia delivers that and more. Opening the garage door to it would be fantastic. “Then it's the Kawasaki. A year ago, it would've been my favourite bike. The power is predictable and it's the friendliest, but now I can push a bit harder it feels too soft. “Next is the KTM. It has the most grunt, the electronics are great, the tyres amazing, suspension firm and I love the riding position, but the styling isn't for me. I think it would be the hardest to learn on. “I had high…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 4300 miles ON TEST Wunderlich Bar Risers £179.90 When I first stood up on the pegs of the MCN fleet's long termer H-D Pan America to take it off road, my lower back fired a warning shot across the bows to say that bending forwards to reach the bars in such a fashion was not going to be an option for any duration. Enter Wunderlich, a German accessories manufacturer who have carved out a niche making specialist parts for BMWs and now produce a comprehensive range for a number of adventure bikes, including Milwaukee's finest. Their Ergo+ riser kit lifts the bars by 45mm and places them 23mm closer to the rider, which proved to be the ideal position for my 5ft 11in…

Daytona Lady Star GTX Boots £469.99 My main reason for choosing these boots in particular, was the hidden riser in the sole giving an extra 6cm height in the heel and 2.5cm at the toe. As a fairly short rider, with only a 27in inside leg, these have given me a little extra confidence on my Aprilia RS660, which in reality is a little tall for me. When sitting at traffic lights it's now much easier to flat-foot one side and take the weight of the bike more comfortably, without having to drop my hip right off the side of the bike. 1500 miles ON TEST The boots were comfortable from the first wear without any need for breaking in. The lining feels plush and the zippers feel sturdy and…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Sounding noisy? Could be time that you re-packed your aftermarket exhaust 1 Remove and clean up Aftermarket end cans can turn noisier as they age, but don't panic – you can re-pack them. Remove the end-can from the exhaust pipe then using a Scotchbrite pad gently clean away any old gasket material that may be stuck to the silencer. Next, check in a workshop manual or the product instructions to see if there are any model-specific details to be aware of. 2 Make your mark The silencer will need to be dismantled in order for you to replace the internal packing, but before that happens you should mark the inner and outer parts with a pen so that they can be correctly lined up on reassembly. Depending…

MCN Sports Editor, off-road rider and Dakar fan TOP STORY Sam Sunderland has announced his retirement from competitive motorcycle sport with immediate effect. The 35 year old has been a factory rally rider with HRC, KTM and GasGas in a stellar career that has spanned over a decade. During this time, he became the first British rider to win the Dakar in 2017 with KTM, before backing it up when he secured the Dakar win for GasGas at the start of 2022. He's also a two-time FIM World Rally champion, winning the title in 2019 and 2022. Compared to the European, Australian and American nations the UK has been devoid of a rider capable of mixing it with the sport's elite. The late John Deacon was a Dakar stage winner…

WELCOME Summer means peak biking season – so how about treating yourself to a new machine? All the big names are after your custom and we've been checking out the latest PCP finance. So what's the deal? The overall outlay is less with PCP, just as long as you don't pay the final settlement figure. Equally, if you want to change machine during the contract period that's easy, too. Despite what you might think, there are affordable routes to ownership. Just look at the likes of the CFMoto 700MT on p4. It could be in your garage for £49 per month with an APR of 4.9%. Or how about the Yamaha Ténéré 700 for a very reasonable £79 per month? With a bit of careful budgeting those repayments aren't too…

HOT DEAL The Scout Bobber Twenty is yours on 5.9% APR Hot pick If the Scout Bobber Twenty isn't quite for you, the Scout Rouge may be more appealing. Featuring cast wheels, the Scout Rogue has a pleasingly aggressive stance as well as modern styling and paint options. From £13,995. Indian Scout Bobber Twenty £14,495 | 1133cc | 260kg (kerb) | 93.7bhp | 649mm seat height The Scout Bobber Twenty pays homage to the original 1920 Scout, a bike that helped cement Indian Motorcycle's reputation as a force to be reckoned with. But don't let its classic styling fool you, this is a thoroughly contemporary bobber with modern technology. Running on chunky 16in balloon tyres, the Scout Bobber Twenty uses spoked wheels and matches them to mini-ape bars and a…

Kawasaki Z500 £5838 | 451cc | 172kg (kerb) | 44.8bhp | 785mm seat height Kawasaki have targeted the A2-legal middleweight segment for 2024 through a range of new 500 models. With the Ninja 500 taking care of sporty riders and the Eliminator 500 pleasing cruiser fans, the Z500 is the pick for those who are looking for a light, agile and fun naked machine that is as happy in an urban environment as it is down a twisty B-road. Powered by a spirited 451cc paralleltwin, the all-new engine is tuned to provide easy-going performance with low-end punch for urban use and a pleasing top-end drive for fun and it certainly hits the mark. Producing 44.8bhp with 31.4lb.ft of torque, it is A2-legal and features a slip-and-assist clutch as well as…

Yamaha R7 £8916 | 689cc | 188kg (kerb) | 72bhp | 835mm seat height Launched in 2021, the R7 has been at the forefront of the middleweight sportsbike scene and is now a common sight not only on the roads but also tracks around the world. If you want sporting performance and everyday fun – look no further. Based around the MT-07, the R7 is far from just a naked bike with a fairing on it. Oh no, Yamaha went to town to ensure that this middleweight is a true R-Series model. Weighing just 188kg, the R7 is light and responsive and features uprated fully-adjustable 41mm KYB inverted forks with twin radial four-piston brake calipers as well as an adjustable shock to give it serious sporting potential. Not only that,…

Hot pick The Interceptor Lightning Edition comes with soft panniers, small screen, comfort seat, crash protection bars and a metal sump guard. Prices start at £6459. The extras can be bought separately or together in a pack. Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 £6399 | 648cc | 202kg (kerb) | 47bhp | 806mm seat height One of the UK's best-selling naked bikes, the Interceptor 650 over-delivers in every department and does so with a very tempting price and wonderfully relaxed attitude. If you are after a pleasingly basic retro bike with a British brand on the tank, the Enfield is a great option. And at just £87.49 a month, it certainly doesn't break the bank. At the heart of the Interceptor is Enfield's charming parallel twin motor. Air-cooled and with a single…

Weise Scout mesh jacket £139.99 Weise have just released this cool camo colourscheme for the CE AA certified Scout, making it look as fresh as it feels when the breeze is blowing through its massive mesh panels. Protection includes Level 2 shoulder and elbow armour, plus a Level 1 back protector, and although the design is ‘low viz’ by nature, there are reflective elements so you can still be seen. weiseclothing.com Visin Heated Visor Insert for Shoei and Arai from £179.95 Brit firm Visin are now offering their unique anti-fog heated inserts for a range of adventure helmets including the Arai Tour-X4, X5 and Shoei Hornet. These powered inserts quickly clear condensation and can keep the inside of a visor fog free for up to eight hours, across a range…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Genius of John Reynolds Just got round to reading the feature by Jon Urry about the great John Reynolds and the GSX-R he raced to the 2004 British Superbike title (MCN, July 17). Brilliant analysis of the challenges he and the Crescent team faced in adapting the Suzuki's power and chassis to make it a race winner in tough company. Talk about turning a pig's ear into a silk purse! Well done Mr Urry for telling the tale so well! John Nutting, email 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 STAR LETTER Bikes get blame Reading Ray Starkey's letter ‘BBC's total…

Fast, scenic. The only two words I need to be drawn towards a particular stretch of UK tarmac. I've been up to the North Yorks Moors many, many times but always sticking to the coast side en route to the delights of Robin Hood's Bay or Whitby. I discovered the 20-ish miles of B1257 on the other side of this great National Park last year. Referred to by many as the North Yorkshire TT, it joins the Yorkshire market towns of Helmsley to the south and Stokesley to the north, for a full-commitment, 30-minute thrill ride that's such an event it's worthy of being your actual destination. The two ends of the road couldn't be more different. Starting from the north as you leave Stokesley, it's tight and tree-lined with…

Eric Teboul is a familiar name on drag strips across the world, with numerous records under his belt including the first ever pass under five seconds for the quarter-mile. He was a regular name on the lineup at Santa Pod in Northamptonshire until his retirement in 2022, but his brilliance is still revered on drag strips the world over. Following greats such as Henk Vink, Larry ‘Spiderman’ McBride and Dave Vantine, Teboul is one of the biggest names in a rich legacy of quarter-mile sprinting. His career consisted of a barrage of world records and an immense crowdpleasing bravado, but his success started at a young age. Eric grew up in a suburb of Paris, Clichy, staying nearby for 38 years before moving to the South of France. But his…

135.5mph Average speed. Fastest premier class race (1977 Belgian GP) 58.4mph Slowest premier class race (1951 Spanish GP) 2h 48m Longest premier class race (1953 Isle of Man TT) 12m 6s Shortest premier class race (2004 Italian GP) 20 Youngest premier class champion (Marc Marquez, 2013) 37 Oldest world champion (Les Graham, 1949) 20 Youngest premier class winner (Marc Marquez, 2013 Americas GP) 44 Oldest premier class race winner (Fergus Anderson, 1953 Spanish GP) 89 Most premier class wins (Valentino Rossi) 8 Most premier class world titles (Giacomo Agostini) 313 Most premier class constructor wins (Honda) 25 Most premier class constructor titles (Honda) 12 m 1.2 s 1949 Isle of Man TT top-ten gap 23.6 seconds 2024 British GP top-ten gap 97 Biggest premier class grid (1969 Isle of Man…

Why would you want to re-pack a silencer? Well the main reason is to do with noise. Over time, the packing material inside an aftermarket exhaust end-can loses its ability to absorb sound, thus reducing the overall effectiveness of the silencer. If your aftermarket exhaust is starting to fail trackday noise tests, or if you feel as though your earplugs are losing effectiveness after a rideout, it could be time to repack. Regularly repacking your silencer is one of those overlooked jobs, and is especially important for two-stroke bikes, as the packing wool also absorbs the unburnt fuel-oil mixture which ends up solidifying the packing material. And as most twostoke engines rely on a perfectly tuned exhaust pipe to maximise performance, the clogged up silencer material will only have a…

Reporting from the heart of the 2024 BSB paddock The Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads to Thruxton this weekend for what feels like the most anticipated round of the season so far. For the past few years Thruxton has, without question, been the venue for the most exciting action – and that's saying something. Whether it was three Yamahas fighting bar-to-bar in 2022, or last year when we saw multiple teams, manufacturers and riders of difference experience levels fighting for the win, Thruxton is always wild. Here's what to look for whether you are going or watching on TV. 1 Big chance for Bridewell… Tommy Bridewell and Glenn Irwin struggled to even make it into the points for the majority of the weekend onboard the Ducati V4 R last year. The…

Enea Bastianini is the current master of listening to what his tyres need and giving them what they want. But what does this mean? It means being sensitive to the tyres, gauging how they behave according to rider inputs and machine behaviour and adjusting riding technique and bike set-up accordingly. It means feeling the difference between the rear tyre spinning, sliding and smearing across the track. This is usually more of a natural ability than anything else, like mechanical sympathy, except this is more like rubber empathy. Looking after the rear tyre is nearly always the biggest issue in MotoGP, but saving rear grip for the later stages isn't all about being nice to the rear tyre. It's also about using other elements of the motorcycle, so you don't have…

SAVE £3500 £19,999 Honda Fireblade SP Unapologetically aimed squarely at trackday enthusiasts and racers alike, the Fireblade SP is a demon in the corners, offering sweet handling no matter how hard you push. On the straights 215 rampaging horsepower propels in along at warp speed too. In short, it's fast, very, very fast. Throw in a big saving and you are onto a winner. www.21stmoto.co.uk SAVE £3327 £29,950 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special Anniversary Packing an engine oozing with character, the Street Glide combines classic cruiser style with modern performance. swanseaharley-davidson.com ●Engine 1745cc ●Power 88bhp ●Weight 376kg ●Seat height 685mm SAVE £2000 £8999 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE The V-Strom boasts a comfy riding position, a smooth motor, capable suspension and off-road friendly wheels for budget adventures. www.yorksuzuki.com ●Engine 776cc ●Power 83bhp ●Weight…

Team Suzuki CN Challenge raced an experimental GSX-R1000R superbike fitted with multiple environment-friendly parts to an impressive eighth at the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race late last month, finishing just four laps down on the winners, Team HRC. Part of a project looking into the future of combustion, the bike ran on 40% bio-sourced fuel from Elf, as well as engine oil from Motul, made from a bio-sourced base. Yoshimura, meanwhile, produced a full race system with a catalytic converter to absorb some emissions, while Bridgestone supplied tyres with an increased volume of recycled material. ‘This is a result of everyone's dedication’ Team Director, Shinichi Sahara said: “We not only finished the race as we had aimed, but we also finished in eighth place, so I feel a real sense…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? A British-based company has developed a range of motorcycle armour using technology originally designed to be deployed on NASA Space Shuttles. Rheon Labs, based in Battersea, London, are now producing armour for Mosko Moto's Boundary and Basilisk product lines and also work with Roadskin, and Harley-Davidson, as well as supplying energy absorbing lining tech for Ruroc helmets. The armour has been produced with the aim of being the most comfortable on the market – allowing the rider to remain protected without the feel of bulky protectors on their extremities. This is ideal for adventure riders spending plenty of hours in the saddle, both on- and off-road. Starting point Rheon was developed by Dr Daniel Plant when working on a NASA project looking at foam replacements in…

Q ‘Can I sue crash cyclist’ I was riding along a main road when a cyclist came out of a side road to my left without stopping. I did my best to avoid him out but lost control and came off, ending up with leg and arm injuries. He is being prosecuted for failing to stop at the scene of an accident and the police have given me his details to claim against him. What if he doesn't have any money? Ryan Williams, Swansea A While motorists must have at least third party liability cover, it is not compulsory for cyclists to have insurance. Some cyclist organisations do offer insurance for cyclists such as British Cycling which has 145,000 members and part of the membership is third party liability insurance…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Ed, Chris & Noel The ride Eight days, eight countries: France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Belgium How many miles? 2685 Don't miss this Too many passes to mention, though favourites include: Grossglockner where we spent over two hours carving round the snow-capped summits and Timmelsjoch aka ‘Pass del Rombo’ or ‘The Secret Passage’ for the breathtaking ascent. Top tip: We planned our trip to arrive at both Stelvio and Grossglockner near the end of the day, as these hotspots can be extremely busy. On your way to or from the Swiss Alps, be sure to make the run through the B48, a serpentine delight between Kaiserslautern and Rinnthal, a rollercoaster of tight twisties through the beautiful pinescented Palatines Forest and a…

‘French fancy’ RICHARD BRODERICK Another 2242 miles added, courtesy of a 10-day trip to France with my brother, Kevin. Mostly wet, but dried up and got much warmer on the homeward leg. ‘Lapping it up’ JON ASHLEY On the IoM for the annual pilgrimage to the Southern 100 -amazing weather so far but looking damp moving forward. Plenty of laps and sightseeing? Oh yes! ‘Brushing up’ LEE EVANS Another 1790 miles on two wheels in June, some social, some tutoring, but all very enjoyable. I'd like to order some more of this sunshine stuff please! ‘Dam, what a ride!’ CHRIS JACKSON What to do when the forecast for the weekend is rubbish? Go home the long way and explore of course. Stopped at Trawsfynydd dam for some pics. ‘Scottish smiles’…

‘It's as easy as bikes get’ Weighing 184kg* with a seat height of just 780mm, riding the Guerrilla 450 is about as easy as motorcycles come. The gearbox is slick, and despite having no adjustment in the levers, they are easily operated. Nothing is a stretch, meaning it would make an ideal introduction to bikes, or something for the weekend if you want a middleweight. Despite being affordable, the chassis works well – using the engine as a stressed member and complemented by a set of composed front Showa forks, and preload-adjustable rear shock. The ground clearance is good too – never once touching the pegs down during our twisting mountainous test ride. Taller riders are likely to struggle with the small dimensions, but an optional seat adds 20mm to…

TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT 2100 miles ON TEST Ruroc Eox £459 My first ride with the Eox ended after less than 50 miles due to a painful pressure point above my right eye. This was caused by a partially installed plastic retainer for the internal liner and was solved by pushing it firmly into the EPS, but it wasn't a great start. I've since worn it for hundreds of miles at a time without comfort being an issue, however, although snug, the prominent individual cushions of the liner lack organic fit and make it feel a bit like an eggbox on your head. Peripheral vision is good and the Eox ships with both dark and clear visors, each of which provides a distortion-free window to…

Wunderlich Click System Bag £109.90 & Tank Ring £39.90 Simply fit the tank ring using the parts supplied in the ring kit, then fit the baseplate to the bag in the best position for you/the bike, and you're ready to go. The tankbag is fitted by plonking it onto the ring mount – it automatically locks in place – while removing it simply requires pulling the release cord. Once fitted, the ring mount will accept any bag from the Click range. I've been using the 3-litre option as it swallows a decent amount of those little things you want to have to hand. You do need to use the rain cover in the wet, as it's not waterproof without. Quality is top notch, and despite repeated use and soakings, it…

Most motorcyclists are keen to get good value for money, but scrimping on brakes or other safetyrelated parts simply doesn't make sense as it can lead to suboptimal performance or, worse still, a nasty accident happening. When a customer experienced running issues with his Kawasaki ZX-7R, he called upon the expert help of Darren Wood, owner of Road Race and Custom LTD to get him back up and running. But it wasn't just a fuel pump on the blink that Wood noticed. The eagle-eyed mechanic also spotted the rear disc was an accident waiting to happen. “I'd sorted the fuel pump and was just about to take it for a test ride,” Wood said. “It just so happened that as I approached the bike, I noticed a huge crack in…

Going behind the headlines from the British MotoGP We've now completed 50% of the 2024 MotoGP season and the two best riders in the world are separated by just three points. The pendulum has once again swung in the favour of Jorge Martin, with Pecco Bagnaia taking his turn to crash and drop crucial points in the Sprint. Martin and Bagnaia were second and third on Sunday, but the latter was closer to Marc Marquez in fourth than he was to his title rival. Here's how the title fight has unravelled so far… 241 POINTS Jorge Martin 1st ▲ UPS Portimao GP Martin put Bagnaia on alert early in the season by winning the second Grand Prix of the year. He led all 25 laps in Portugal to give himself…

It doesn't get any better than winning on your home soil. I think the ride showed Jake has quality, that he can win races and that he's world championship material. It's just taken a while for him to line it all up. I don't want to sit here and be critical, maybe he's made a few silly mistakes along the way, but what a time to pull it all together. He's been podium, podium and now he's won his home GP. He's in his fifth year of Moto2 now so he's got experience but fair play to him because the people he's racing against and beating week in week out are all quality, consistent runners. It was just a clever race from Jake, because we know how hard Silverstone is…

NEW PCP DEALS / ADVENTURE HOT DEAL BMW are offering 1.9% APR Hot pick If you fancy a BMW crossover bike but demand some extra go, the updated-for-2024 S1000XR is powered by a re-tuned version of the S1000RR's inline four motor. Fast, practical and very rapid on a B-road, prices start at £16,790. BMW F900XR £10,560 | 895cc | 219kg (kerb) | 103.5bhp | 825mm seat height The F900XR is one of those bikes that should you take out for a test ride because its combination of sporting ability, practicality and sheer fun-factor could well sway your buying decision. It may only make modest power but you can actually use and enjoy all of these ponies and on a twisty B-road its light weight and agile chassis make it a…

KTM 990 Duke £12,999 | 947cc | 179kg (wet) | 121bhp | 825mm seat height The 990 Duke aims to put KTM at the top of the high-end middleweight naked bike tree – and when you look at both its spec and price, you have to say it certainly appears a tough act to follow. And at £119 a month with a free Tech pack and on 4.9% APR finance, it's hard to ignore. While the motor retains the same parallel-twin format as before, it is now increased in capacity from 889cc to 947cc. Claimed by KTM to be 96% new rather than just a big-bore, its power has been boosted by 7bhp to 121bhp with torque up to 76lb.ft. Happily, alterations to its internals are aimed at making this…

Harley-Davidson Road King Special £24,595 | 1868cc | 366kg (kerb) | 91.7bhp | 695mm seat height Part of Harley-Davidson's Grand America Touring range, the Road King Special certainly lives up to its billing. This long and low factory custom hot rod bagger is a real head-turner and as well as classic styling, has heaps of performance and a laid-back attitude. Harley call it a ‘majestic bagger with a uniquely commanding presence’ and you have to say, it's hard to argue with that. Featuring hard-shell panniers as standard, which pop open with a single touch, the Road King Special also has mini-ape bars to encourage you to sit taller on the bike for comfort. And when you cruise past, everyone will stop and admire the Road King's slammed, low lines and…

Triumph Daytona 660 £8595 | 660cc | 201kg (kerb) | 93.7bhp | 810mm seat height New this year, the Daytona 660 is based around the existing Trident 660 model but thanks to increased performance from its triple engine as well as a stylish full fairing, it is a serious contender in the rapidly-expanding middleweight sportsbike category. And it has its eyes firmly set on road riders, which is a very good thing. Taking the Trident's 660cc triple as a base, it is great to see Triumph increase both its power and torque for use in the sportier platform. With a claimed 17% more power and 9% more torque than the naked bike, the Daytona can still be restricted to A2-legal if required but puts out a very healthy 93.7bhp with…

MY23 Honda CL500 £6159 | 471cc | 192kg (kerb) | 46bhp | 790mm seat height Inspired by the 1962 CL72, which was Honda's first lightweight street scrambler, the CL500 is a stylish urban retro that hides the fact it is powered by a modern watercooled parallel twin well. You have to hand it to Honda, this A2-legal retro certainly ticks all the right boxes when it comes to both visual appeal and price. Billed by Honda as ‘simple, raw and tough’, the CL's rounded 12-litre fuel tank with its rubber knee pads and high-level exhaust forms the main focal points. Instantly recognisable as inspired by a 1960s bike, the tall bars and blacked-out engine enhance this impression and together with the 19in front wheel complete the modern urban scrambler look.…