MCN -julkaisun 16 October 2024 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

THIS WEEK MCN has teamed up with Motorcycle Live to give away 10 pairs of tickets, worth £25 each, for the 2024 Motorcycle Live event, taking place from November 16-24. Organisers have already lifted the lid on many of the features for this year's show, promising a significant overhaul to previous years. You can still expect the usual line-up of the latest metal from various big and small names in the motorcycling world, giving you the chance to get up close and personal with many of 2025's key new models. There will be various live presentations, including freestyle motocross and trials displays, stunt performances from world record holder Jonny Davies, and appearances from World Superbike stars including front-runner, Toprak Razgatlioglu. For those wanting to get more hands-on, the popular indoor…

Bull-it Tactical Icon Jeans £89.99 Who says kit has to be costly? One hundred pounds in your pocket won't go far these days – unless, of course, you invest it in some new kit for racking up miles on your motorcycle. With that in mind, we've been fishing around the net for deals that will leave you change from a ton and then some. Bull-it have earned a reputation for well-fitting, good-looking jeans, and one of their most popular styles is the Tactical Icon. The classic five-pocket design is cut for a slim fit and there's generous amounts of stretch woven into the Covec reinforced, abrasion resistant denim to ensure comfort and flexibility both on and off the bike. Construction is lightweight single layer with CE AA certification and includes…

Q 'Help! My MoT is out of date…' A couple of days ago I realised that my MoT is a few weeks out of date and would like to know whether this affects the validity of my insurance when I am riding to the garage for a new test. There are differing views between my friends with some saying that I would not be insured to ride to the garage because it's expired and others saying that I can and would be insured. What is the correct position? Roger Jones, email A As long as you have a valid insurance certificate you are allowed to ride your motorcycle to a pre-arranged MoT. You can also ride your bike without road tax in these circumstances if you can prove you are…

04500 'Going solo' BRI SOUTHWORTH My first Solo Trans European Trail Tour (pic. Col de'l Iseran) after never riding off road before and giving myself approx. six months irregular practice leading up to this trip. 03000 'If you go down to the woods' LORRAINE THOMAS Bear selfie on the Transfăgărășan this week. This was a three-week trip to the WIMA rally in Romania and I'm now on the way home. 'Stelvio Pass selfie' STEVE STAINES Top of the Stelvio heading to Misano for World Ducati Week 2024. We rode through 11 countries on the 3581-mile trip. 12000 03500 'Lonely roads' RAPHAEL DAVIS The start of one of six causeways on the Outer Hebrides where I covered 1204 miles in 3.5 days. It was dry all week and some of the…

Bug-eyes to Moto2 and beyond… The Street Triple arrived in late 2007 as a 2008 model. Powered by a re-tuned 675 triple, it made 106bhp and featured a Daytona-derived chassis, two-piston sliding calipers and twin underseat pipes. Later in 2008, the R was released, which added fully adjustable suspension and radial brakes to the stock model. In 2012 the round lights were replaced by 'foxeye' units on both models but that was the only change. 2013 saw the Street Triple overhauled to become the 'side pipe' generation. As well as a new frame and swingarm, both models gained new wheels, switchable ABS, an immobiliser and higher first gear as well as the option of a quickshifter. The RX, which was an R with a Daytona's seat unit, appeared briefly in…

Small in stature but a giant in skill, Steve Baker was the first American to powerslide his way from the dirt ovals of the USA right to the very top of road racing, by winning the 1977 Formula 750 World Championship on a Yamaha OW31, a factory version of the fearsome TZ750. While many think of star-spangled greats like Kenny Roberts and Pat Hennen as opening the floodgates for the tide of American road racers, it was Baker who set the ball rolling, even if, as he recalls to MCN, his achievements at first went unnoticed. “They wrote a little about my world title win in the papers, but not much. We didn't have the fans that Europe had.” The story began when Baker was just 10 years-old. “My father…

Until a drastically different battery solution that offers greater power/range and less weight (not to mention lower price…) there's only so much manufacturers can do to improve electric bikes. That said, Can-Am have done a solid job of making the best they can with those limitations and the more consistent power and charging capability provided by the liquid-cooling means you can at least use what it has, when you want to. Trail riding will be limited by the need to return to a charger, but you could do a morning's green laning – where you'll find it's fun, as well as useful. THE FACTS £15,399 Can-Am Origin…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 10,100 miles ON TEST Dainese Smart Jacket £599.99 In four years of almost daily use, my Smart Jacket electronically activated airbag has served me well. Out of all the standalone airbag vests I've tried, it's been the most reliable (I've had three false deployments from two other manufacturers' products) and easiest to use. It charges via USB (in about four hours from low-charge warning light) and provides 24 hours of riding time. Although it's quite a sizeable initial outlay (it is possible to find them from £400 online) and is designed only for road use, there's no monthly subscription fee and a free service is thrown in every three years. Mine's recently had its first service and all I needed to do was…

MCN's website has expert opinion and buying advice on hundreds of used bikes, regularly updated and packed with insight. Here are three of the latest – visit motorcyclenews.com for dozens more. 2017-2019 KTM 1090 Adventure Owners' rating KTM's short-lived 1090 Adventure is a charming road-targeted adventurer and aside from a lack of equipment, the 1090 scores well. They cost £3000+ but are worth a look. 2008-2016 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré Owners' rating Yamaha's single-cylinder adventure bike scores 3.8/5 from the 28 owners who have left reviews. What lets it down? A lack of comfort, rusty spokes and reliability issues. 2010-2015 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Owners' rating The air-cooled Multistrada model is more a big supermoto than a pure adventure bike but if the 12 owners who left reviews are to believed, it's…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Banish the bugs Treat your bike to a deep clean after a season's riding in the sun 1 Rehydrate crusty bodies Giving your bike a deep clean after summer will require a little bit of extra effort, particularly in any areas that have been coated with the smashed-up bodies of insects. Just scrubbing away at them with a brush could well damage the finish; the trick is to get their remains nicely hydrated and then use dedicated products to gently ease them off. 2 Start with a pre-rinse Make sure the engine and exhaust are cold, any residual heat will vaporise the water and cleaning compounds, leaving a nasty residue. Ideally, place the bike on a stand/stands for better access while cleaning. Pre-rinse with water using a…

SPORTPREVIEW | MOTOGP JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Looking ahead to MotoGP's big weekend Down Under MotoGP looks set to go down to the wire in 2024 with front runners Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia separated by just 10 points heading into the final four rounds. The next destination is a fan favourite around the world, with the paddock heading to the stunning Phillip Island circuit just off the south coast of Australia. Gale force winds saw last year's schedule swapped around, with the GP taking place on Saturday, and the Sprint cancelled. Fingers crossed the weather plays ball this weekend. The track is known for spectacular action and neither of the key title contenders can afford to make the slightest error. THE CIRCUIT Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix Schedule Saturday, October 19…

SPORT ROUND 11 ESTORIL | WSBK GREG HAINES INSIGHT Going behind the headlines in the 2024 WSBK title chase Toprak Razgatlioglu is so close to the World Superbike title that BMW bosses could barely contain their excitement as they left Estoril on Sunday evening. Following his Magny-Cours crash in September, the Turk missed six races but has bounced back to a trio of second places at Aragon and a double win with one second at Estoril. On Saturday, Toprak won Race 1 by over nine seconds but was disappointed not to lap even quicker. On Sunday morning, he labelled it a 'disaster' to lose the Superpole Race to Nicolo Bulega by the smallest ever margin of 0.003 seconds. To be so disenchanted with such success shows just how high the standard…

JOHN McGUINNESS There's nothing else to talk about other than those final two BSB races between Kyle and Tommy. The were making passes, inside, outside; absolutely incredible. The trust they showed in each other is off the charts. It was clean, but it was hard. I guess some of the moves were close to the limit, but they were calculated risks. And all done at a proper track like Brands Hatch. When you go into Hawthorn, it's 170mph into the uphill right and then Dingle Dell is fourth gear on a Superbike, then down to third for Sheene Curve. It's fast and if you look at it there isn't a lot of room. Coming into Clearways is like an amphitheatre and the fans were loving it. When Tommy got into…

WELCOME Jon Urry, your buying guru It might not feel like it, but it's the perfect time to treat yourself to a new bike. Yes, the temperature is dropping, and salty roads are looming over the horizon – but now is the time when manufacturers and dealers get nervous about shifting bikes, and have new models waiting in the wings. It's time to do a deal. And to get you started, we've got a selection of hot deals from Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph, Suzuki and Ducati to tempt you into your local dealer for a test ride. Many of the deals are on PCP, but we also have some HP gems, and some cracking manufacturer contributions to bling your new ride – or riding wardrobe – to the max. So what's…

END OF SEASON DEALS MCN Hot deal Get a £1000 contribution towards apparel and accessories until December 31 Ducati DesertX Rally £19,167 | 937cc | 211kg (wet) | 108.6bhp | 910mm seat height The DesertX Rally is built to be a thoroughbred adventure machine, as the most hardcore (road legal) off-road machine to come from Ducati in recent history. Based heavily on the standard DesertX, the Rally comes equipped with motocross-inspired long-travel suspension, more ground clearance and a host of additional tweaks, including a more durable exterior and lighter, stronger wheels. Off-road, the DesertX Rally is a sublime machine, with a suspension and chassis set-up that allows it to be ridden with incredible confidence and precision. The front end is impressively connected to the big, tall bars and with just…

With clip-on bars nestled under a wonderfully machined top yoke, this is unmistakably a sportsbike, which will put weight on your wrists. That said, the fuel tank is wide and there's decent room between the rider and pegs – meaning it should be easy to climb around the bike and hang off either side on your next trackday. Standard cruise control means you'll be able to take the weight off on long journeys, too. Looking forward at the full colour dash, life on the Yamaha triple is a nice place to be. The switchgear is well thought out and chunky. You also get a conventional key, meaning no faffing about with bulky fobs.…

Husqvarna have revised their flagship adventure offering with the launch of the 2025 Norden 901 Expedition. For the new year, the Expedition gets subtle changes to improve both hardware and software. There are now 10 traction control settings – up from nine last year – allowing riders to fine-tune rear-wheel slip during cornering. Other updates include a fresh livery, new mirrors, hazard lights, and a USB-C port, along with a revised exhaust to meet Euro5+ standards. The suspension carries over from last year, with Husqvarna sticking with the tried and tested WP XPLOR set-up, which offers an adventure-friendly 240mm of travel at both ends. The 899cc LC8c engine remains unchanged and continues to pump out a claimed 105bhp. Likewise, the bike's riding modes continue to consist of Street, Rain, Off-Road,…

One of only seven surviving 1938/39 BMW RS M255 Kompressor GP bikes went up for sale last weekend at Bonhams' autumn auction in Stafford. Expected to fetch £250,000-£350,000, the RS 255 was the BMW model that Georg Meier rode to victory in the 1939 TT, making him the first foreign winner of a Senior race on the island. Unfortunately, the historic machine failed to sell and was instead overshadowed by other pre-WW2 machinery including 1928 Brough Superior SS100 Alpine Grand Sport, and a 1936 Vincent-HRD Series-A Rapide. The 998cc Series-A Rapide fetched an impressive £322,000 including premium and was the same show bike that was unveiled at the 1936 Olympia Motorcycle Show (where it actually lacked engine internals). 'The Vincent was star of the 1936 bike show' It was also…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Phill, Dave and Wayne The ride Seven nights around the Wild Atlantic Way When to do it We went in the second week of September How many miles? 1200 in total Tell us about the trip… Just by chance we were lucky to have beautiful sunny weather. We explored all the backroads and beaches along the stunning Irish coastline. We started from Cheshire then boarded the ferry from Holyhead and took in Dublin, Larne, Newcastle, Ballycastle, Portrush, the Giant's Causeway and Donegal, then back to Dublin via Athlone and Kilkenny. Air BnB stops all the way, no speed cameras, no traffic… just incredible roads. Great memories and wonderful Irish hospitality. I was on an FZ1, David on his Triumph Scrambler and Wayne on his…

UK'S TOUGHEST TEST In the excitement of buying a new bike it is all too easy to get drawn into spending more money than you'd planned. A sweet-talking salesman might suggest a few accessories, maybe a bit of riding kit, a service plan, all unbudgeted extras that see the final price sneak up. Not that this is a problem, the salesman will smilingly reassure you, if you stick the extra expense on the finance package it only equates to a few quid more a month. Before you know it, you'll have blown the budget on things you didn't realise you even needed before you entered the showroom. But some choices are certainly worth considering before you put pen to paper, for example: Should you choose to upgrade? £11,795* Triumph Street…

£11,806 Yamaha MT-09 SP £11,795 Triumph Street Triple 765 RS*…

When Ducati unveiled their Mutlistrada V4 in 2021 it was pegged as the ultimate grand tourer – a bike capable of wafting across continents in supreme comfort while offering impressive dynamic abilities too. One thing the Bologna brand were keen to dispel was the deep-seated notion that their bikes require fettling to keep them running – so much so that they specced the big V4 Multi with an industry beating 60,000km (37,282 mile) valve clearance interval. To achieve this feat, the Italians opted to ditch desmodromic valve gear in favour of good old fashioned coil springs. This meant a drop in potential peak power, but a whole lot more riding before the need to break out the feeler gauges. Looking to show just how much 'adventure' one could cram in…

Bell MX-9 Adventure helmet £199.99 Could this be the perfect do-it-all, value-for-money helmet? The MX-9 is Bell's main staple in the MX market, now in an adventure riding guise for more road riding applications, utilising its built-in flip-down sun visor. With the visor lifted, you can fit a pair of goggles as well, should you get into the gnarly stuff. The peak can be quickly detached using the thumb screws, allowing you to keep the visor on for a decent road lid. Albeit, resulting in a wider than standard view, and a bit more wind noise over a dedicated road helmet. Integral MIPS protection – to help combat rotational forces in an impact – gives added peace of mind should the worst happen. 2654 miles ON TEST Quality Value www.bellhelmets.co.uk…

When you clean your bike there is always another task that needs doing afterwards – lubing your drive chain. You will be amazed at how many riders overlook doing this but with your bike up on a set of stands and clean, now is the perfect time to re-apply lube and also check the chain's tension and condition, and the state of the drive sprockets themselves. While you might not have cleaned the chain directly (although it is a good idea, so make it part of your cleaning routine using a dedicated chain cleaner), the water draining away from the rest of the bike will inevitably flow over the chain and any cleaning products within it will strip away at lube. This reduction in the layer of lube will mean…

After 75 world championship years, history means something in racing, and it's the nature of sport that history keeps getting made. Including this year. It looks like the title fight will go to the final round in Valencia in November. That makes it a third cliff-hanger season. Only once since 1949 have there been three consecutive last-race deciders. Actually four – 1978 to 1981. The first three went to the same rider. Kenny Roberts. If Pecco Bagnaia wins at the last gasp, he would match King Kenny's feat, if not quite yet his stature. But this championship is not to be pre-judged. Jorge Martin is as ready to take the crown. Last-gasp deciders are not exactly common – 21 times out of 75, or 28 percent. In spite of several…

SPORT ROUND 11 BRANDS HATCH | BSB JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Reporting direct from the final round of BSB 2024 TOP STORY Brands Hatch played host to what can only be described as the best season finale in history. That's not just in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, but across all forms of motorcycle racing and motorsport in general. Kyle Ryde and Tommy Bridewell went to war across both of Sunday's races, exchanging the lead multiple times in what turned out to be an incredible winner-takes-all blockbuster in the final race. It was breathtaking, edge-of-the-seat stuff in front of a jam-packed crowd. Each rider had their strong parts of the circuit, but weren't afraid to try new things. They even clipped each other on the run down Cooper Straight and into Surtees,…

THIS WEEK Completely Motoring Limited, the company behind multi-franchise dealership chain Completely Motorbikes have entered administration alongside Thunder Road Motorcycles Limited in Bridgend, and John Wilkins (Motor Engineers) Limited. Announced on Friday, October 11, the joint administrators are urging anyone interested in purchasing the £70m turnover group to come forward – with the two- and four-wheeled businesses collectively employing 165 people and housing over 1500 bikes across 21 showrooms. Completely Motorbikes had acted as the title sponsor for the FS3 Kawasaki racing team during the 2024 British Superbike season. 'Difficulties after poor summer sales' Fears for the business began to bubble up online on Friday, October 4, when the wider group closed for a stock audit. Prior to last Friday's announcement, a representative confirmed to MCN that the company had…

Triumph have revealed a heavily revised Speed Twin 900 for 2025. Now styled to look much more like its 1200 sibling, it's powered by a Euro5+ version of the firm's 900cc liquid-cooled SOHC parallel twin – complete with a 270° firing order. This pumps out a claimed 64bhp at 7500rpm and 59.04lb.ft of torque at 3800rpm. This is paired with a five-speed box, and fed via a 12-litre fuel tank. Tipping the scales at 216kg ready to ride, the Twin benefits from updated chassis components, plus additional electronics. Replacing the old conventional fork stanchions are a set of 43mm upside-down Marzocchis flanking a newly styled mudguard, with preload adjustable twin Marzocchi shocks on either side of the now narrower flat 780mm bench seat. 'It's styled to resemble the 1200 version'…

£21,999 Triumph Rocket 3 Storm R Triumph's Rocket 3 is a laid-back behemoth with bags of torque, capable handling and an immense road presence. It's all-day comfortable yet surprisingly nimble despite a truly gargantuan powerplant. Excessive in all areas, it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face – and even more so with £1900 off the list price. www.lings.com/triumph SAVE £1500 £13,195 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro Triumph's mid-sized Tiger is an ultra-impressive all-rounder, with a slick triple, excellent ergos, and class-topping performance. www.carlrosner.co.uk • Engine 888cc • Power 106bhp • Weight 228kg • Seat height 860mm SAVE £1004 £10,195 Honda X-ADV Honda's scooter-cum-SUV is among their most popular models in Europe – and for good reason, it's practical, comfortable, and capable with a dose of fun. www.billsmithmotors.co.uk •…

'Moto2 Triumph's got me tempted' I was out and about on a Triumph Street Triple 765 RS. It was a sunny day, I knew the road well and was riding somewhat enthusiastically - which is when a thought struck me: wouldn't it be great if Triumph had made an over-sized supersport bike based around this fabulous naked? Then I remembered, they have! In 2020 Triumph launched the Daytona Moto2, a limited-edition with its production run capped at just 1530 worldwide. While its 765cc triple was 'Moto2-derived', the Daytona was effectively a Street Triple RS that had been pimped-up and wrapped in a full-fairing (this does slightly do it a disservice). Which is the reverse of how the original Street Triple was made! I've not ridden a Daytona Moto2, but with…

'Now let's see an H2 model' Rather than just made-you-look marketing spiel, Kawasaki's claims for their Hybrid are indeed valid (although the bike is currently subject to an electronics recall). It will out-drag a 1000cc sportsbike up to 30mph, and it'll eclipse a 250cc in the MPG stakes. The Ninja 7 Hybrid might not suit the needs of every rider, but the concept certainly shifts the dial. While it isn't as fast or soul-stirring as the ZX-10R in nearly every situation, at lower speeds it's imperious, making it an excellent inner-city steed with the ability to surprise and delight thanks to its e-boost feature. You can dart through traffic with ease. And furthermore, you'll not use a huge amount of fuel, because at over 80mpg it's impressive when ridden with…

Merlin Curborough D30 Heated Glove £229.99 Brit firm Merlin have come to the rescue of chilly fingers everywhere with two new styles of heated glove. Constructed from ripstop nylon and synthetic leather, the Curborough (pictured) is a waterproof CE 1 KP certified touring glove with a three-step heating system, sharing the same tech as the full leather retro style Minworth. merlinbikegear.com Dainese Super Adventure Absøluteshell jacket £649 Versatility is the key to this textile adventure touring jacket. Beneath the tough main shell is a removable windproof liner, with a waterproof layer stored in the rear pocket that can be worn under or over as required. It comes in either Tarmac or Glacier Grey colours, and matching pants are available (£429). nevis.uk.com SW-Motech Sport handguards £148 Because your hands are thrust out…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER 50 years as biking mates Earlier this year I bought a Triumph Scrambler 400 X then a few weeks later my friend - whom I have known since I was six – did too. I've done just under 2500 miles since the middle of June and am loving the bike. To mark a lifetime of biking, here's a photo of our nifty 50s in 1974 when we were sweet 16… that's me on my red Honda SS50 and Paul's Fizzy. The other pic is us now, 50 years of biking later. Richard Coombs, email Ed: Great pictures! Don't forget to send those first bike shots to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter slot. Each…

'The boss asked if I drink Guinness? When I said yes they gave me the job' Talk about a busy few days. Late last night, I got back from the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale at the classic show. In my role as motorcycle consultant for the auctioneers, we have to look after and process all of the lots at every auction, which in this case was 306 motorcycles. It was a fantastic event as the show was attended by Carl Fogarty and Pierfrancesco Chili, meanwhile highlights of our sale were that we achieved a 92% success rate with a world record for the sale of a Vincent HRD (£322,000). We also sold a Honda RC30 which went for £34,500 and a Honda RC45 which sold for £32,775. Overall gross for…

October 20 'Normous Newark autojumble Bag a bargain at the Newark Showground. Entry is £7, but for earlybirds it's a tenner and you get a quid off if you book your tickets in advance. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk October 20 Mablethorpe Sand Racing What's better than a relaxing day at the beach… well a day of watching racing of course. mablethorpesandracing.co.uk October 20 Weymouth Beach Race Head down to Weymouth this Sunday to see the beachfront transformed. Free to watch, this barmy event has high-octane action (and chips). www.amca.uk.com October 19 Run What Ya Brung There is a Saturday night special for RWYB at Santa Pod. Take to the quarter mile 'til late, with a traditional RWYB happening on the Sunday. santapod.co.uk…

'The SP is our top-spec buy' When you are talking £1700 to upgrade the MT-09 to SP spec or convert the Street Triple R into an RS, going for the top model is tantalisingly within reach – especially if you spread the cost through finance. And it is a choice that, in the case of the Yamaha, we'd definitely pick. The SP enhances the already excellent MT-09 without detracting from its many plus points. The keyless ignition is helpful, the uprated suspension more complaint and the Brembo brakes increasingly effective. It's a shame you only get the option of Icon Performance colours but that's a small negative. The Street Triple RS, on the other hand, is more a matter of choice. Make no mistake, the Triumph is a fabulous bike…

The standard equipment and ability make the DS900X a worthy choice of middleweight all-rounder in its own right. It doesn't have glaring shortcomings, only minor niggles that fade into insignificance if you're not comparing it to pricier rivals. Then you consider value – there is no other bike below £13,000 offering anything like the depth of kit as standard. You could pick this bike up, fill the boxes and head off across Europe without spending a penny on extras. Time will tell, but on face value the DS900X is a great proposition for anyone seeking a value-for-money all-rounder. THE FACTS £9199 Voge DS900X…

RST Ranger Textiles £399.99 + £299.99 I used to need separate gear for each season, but the RST Ranger's 3-layer design has me covered from summer heatwaves to winter frosts. It comprises a stylish thermal liner, great for casual wear, that easily attaches and detaches, a main jacket that offers some of the highest-rated protection and best airflow I've ever experienced, plus an outer waterproof layer which provides reliable waterproofing when it is required. On-road comfort is excellent, with the materials feeling high-quality. The arm cuffs and neck collar on the main jacket are lined with a non-abrasive, comfortable fabric that glides smoothly over the skin when performing life-saver checks or making handlebar adjustments. 6000 miles ON TEST Off-road, the textile suit's biggest strength is its AirTech ventilation system, which…

Plug and play electrical accessories are great for when you want to add a dash of comfort or convenience, whether that's heated grips, extra lighting or charging mounts. With these devices needing to fit hundreds of different types of bikes, sometimes a little bit of modification is required to keep the wiring neat and tidy. One BMW K1200GT owner's attempt at wiring up his own accessories had turned his battery box into a spaghetti-like disaster. To his rescue came Adam Gittings, owner of AG Motorcycles – a Manchester based mobile technician service. “He had fitted two sets of spotlights, heated grips, a satnav charger, and powered phone charger,” said Gittings. “All the wiring and fuses had been bundled up together in the battery compartment just behind the headstock. It was…

SPORT ROUND 11 ESTORIL | WSBK GREG HAINES INSIGHT Going behind the headlines in the 2024 WSBK title chase TOP 5 CLOSEST WSBK FINISHES 1 Estoril 2024 – Superpole Race – Bulega/Razgatlioglu – 0.003 seconds 2 Phillip Island 2010 – Race 1 – Haslam/Fabrizio – 0.004 seconds 3 Phillip Island 1999 – Race 2 – Corser/Fogarty – 0.005 seconds 4 Monza 1999 – Race 2 – Fogarty/Edwards – 0.005 seconds 5 Monza 1997 – Race 1 – Kocinski/Slight – 0.005 seconds 'The gap between the front wheels was about 16cm' It was motorsport at its absolute finest on Sunday as MotoGP's 2006 duel between Valentino Rossi and Toni Elias was re-lived in the World Superbike Championship. Back then, Elias pipped Rossi by two thousandths of a second. On this occasion, on the very same…

JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Going behind the headlines in the 2024 BSB finale If Jack Kennedy wasn't already considered the greatest British Supersport rider of all-time, he certainly should be now. The Irishman celebrated his fifth title at Brands Hatch to become Honda's first champion in the Supersport class since Sam Lowes in 2010. Winning on the CBR600RR means Kennedy has been crowned champion with three different firms, having already won the title with Yamaha and Kawasaki. Perhaps Kennedy's title win was inevitable given his talent, but the way in which it happened certainly wasn't given the three-way battle fans have been treated to in 2024. Supersport has often been the category most spoken about after a race weekend thanks to Kennedy, Ben Currie and Luke Stapleford. The three have been…

GET PROTECTED WITH MCN – AT MCNCOMPARE.COM Suzuki GSX-S1000GX £14,799 | 999cc | 232kg (kerb) | 149.9bhp | 845mm seat height Hot on the heels of the GSX-S1000GT, this year saw the arrival of Suzuki's crossover sibling – the GSX-S1000GX. Far from being 'just' a long-legged GT, the GX gets new tech and an enhanced practical side. Featuring the first IMU on a GSX-S model, which gives its electronic safety assists angle-sensitivity, the GX comes with Suzuki's semi-active suspension system. Called Suzuki Advanced Electronic Suspension (SAES), it has an automatic self-levelling feature that responds to bumps as well as acceleration and deceleration. You can also set it to one of three pre-determined damping rates for sporty or more relaxed riding. Packing the same smooth and torque-laden inline four as the…

HOT DEAL Get a £1000 deposit contribution from Kawasaki! Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX £12,571 | 1043cc | 235kg (kerb) | 140bhp | 835mm seat height The Ninja 1000SX manages to tread the fine line between sporty and touring without ever swaying too far in any one direction. If you are after a great-value and well-specified do-it-all, you could do a lot worse than the Ninja 1000SX. At the heart of the SX is Kawasaki's slightly over-size inline four, which uses its 1043cc capacity to deliver lots of smooth midrange drive, making it ideally suited to life in a sports-tourer. But don't think it is a slow bike, far from it, with 140bhp and 82lb.ft, the SX is very much a Ninja at heart. Thanks to a sporty chassis, the SX is…