Sommaire pour October 2022 de RiDE

‘It’ll still be a while before electric bikes can match petrol’ This is my favourite time of the year to be a biker and I’ve been lucky enough to cover 2000 miles on a variety of bikes this month. However, the highlight was our GT trip to North Yorkshire; the Tracer GT, Super Duke GT and GSX-S1000 GT are all wonderfully engaging bikes, able to destroy distances and then thrill when you get to your destination. The ride up the A1 to get there was a breeze and the fill-up at Scotch Corner was as much about emptying bladders as filling tanks but it did make me think that life wouldn’t be quite so easy on an electric bike. With the news of a ban on new petrol bikes by…

I’M DUE TO meet Mike at the excellent 2MT café on the A1060 near Writtle, just west of Chelmsford. I think I’ve got there early but Mike’s there already thinking about a second coffee (Lavazza — I can recommend it). The reason is sitting opposite him — his friend Chris has decided to tag along. “He’s ex-military,” says Mike. “So we always have to get everywhere way too early…” They’re just back from the Isle of Man, still buzzing from the experience and they make a good double act, swapping yarns and taking the piss out of each other. Talk soon turns to advanced riding — Chris is a recently-qualified IAM observer and Mike’s keen to get the same qualification in the near future. Sensibly, they set ground rules for…

With reference to your article on the state of our roads in the September issue, it seemed to come down to funding and not having a proper plan to deal with the issue. It reminded me of dentists. Anybody of a certain age will tell that when you went to an NHS dentist in the past, you didn’t have to pay as you were already paying through your National Insurance contributions. However, over time charges started to creep in, meaning you were paying twice. Then a lot of the dentists went private, so you were now paying three times; ie NI plus a monthly fee plus work done. This is the same with our roads and should be highlighted. We pay more for the upkeep of our roads than any…

CHINESE MOTORCYCLES REMAIN the coming thing. And, backed by the success of brands such as Lexmoto and Sinnis, the question’s now not if Chinese bikes are good enough but when. With the new CFMoto 800MT, that day has arrived. Unlike most Chinese marques, CFMoto specialises in larger bikes — until this year 300-650cc — with decent spec and Kiska styling (the Austrian design house which also pens KTMs). For 2022 it’s ramped things up further with the all-new 800MT. The base model is the £10,649 Sport with alloy wheels and street rubber, three-box ally luggage and crash bars, and, as here, the £11,349 Touring. The Touring adds off-road wires, semi-knobbly Maxxis tyres, two-way quickshifter, centrestand, hand guards, heated grips and seat, a steering damper and riding lights. But although that…

Packing in the tech The Experia has angle-sensitive six-stage traction control and ABS. There is also cruise control, seven profile modes, four riding modes (Eco, Urban, Rain, Sport), four levels of regeneration and a low-speed forward & reverse ‘park assistant.’ Charge time The Energica can accept two types of charge. Level-2 (domestic mains and some charge points) is AC and charges at 3kW, taking seven hours to fully charge. CCS is DC and charges at a maximum of 25kW, so reduces this to just under an hour. More to come The 5-inch TFT dash is full colour and has connectivity built-in. The display is a bit small and cluttered, making it tricky to read. Energica is developing a smartphone app to connect to the bike.…

1 IT REALLY IS A RED KTM… After KTM’s purchase of Spanish dirt-bike and trials firm Gas Gas a few years ago, this is its first mainstream ‘road’ model and shares the same running gear, engine and bodywork as KTM’s 690 Enduro trail bike. The colours are different and it wears Continental’s excellent TKC80 tyres rather than the KTM’s Mitas items which are more road-biased. It’s a similar story with Husqvarna’s 701 Enduro — that’s the same bike too — and all retail at an identical price. Choose your colour… 2 THE ES700 HAS A WONDERFUL MOTOR The 693cc KTM single that powers the Gas Gas is a masterpiece: super-smooth for a massive single, there’s faultless ride-by-wire fuelling, soft-enough power off the bottom so it’s fine in sticky situations, but…

No. 25 Café Tenby Superb breakfast/lunch stop in the heart of Tenby, with parking over the road. Friendly service, home-cooked grub and reasonable pricing. The Welsh breakfast and eggs Benedict are highly recommended. Facebook search: No. 25 Cafe Tenby Losh’s Pasties St Davids Losh’s Pasties is a must if you are visiting St Davids and offers a mouth-watering selection of pasties and savouries – both meat and vegetarian. The lamb and mint Welsh oggie is a meal in itself. Delicious. Facebook search: Losh’s Pasties Nest Tearoom Carew Castle Named after Princess Nest, who once lived at Carew Castle, the Nest tearoom serves hot and cold snacks from 10.30am-4pm. Indoor and outdoor seating if the weather’s fine. Facebook search: Nest Tearoom…

AS SUZUKI’S GSX-S1000 GT+, Yamaha’s Tracer 9 GT and KTM’s 1290 Super Duke GT gracefully arc in staggered, close-combat formation around the long curve of the mighty A1 as it meets the M1 at Leeds, I realise the initials GT might as well stand for Group Therapy as much Gran Turismo. Motorcycling isn’t always much of a team game but, riding closely offset in a beautiful holding pattern of pace, the magical interlocking of moving parts feels incredibly therapeutic. Sometimes it’s good to ride with compadres. Plus we get a chance to study active motorcycle dynamics up close and personal – I’m on the Suzuki, watching the wheels of Matt’s KTM 1290 Super Duke GT patter in harmony over the A1’s ripples, semi-active WP springs skipping over bumps and leaving…

If you’re planning on going touring, chances are you’ll need directions. And if you’re using your phone, you’ll need a way of mounting it and something to keep it juiced. Quad Lock phone mount £148.80 The full Quad Lock system isn’t cheap but it is easy to use and keeps your phone secure and accessible. Use the vibration dampener to keep iPhone cameras safe and a cable rather than the wireless charging head to save money. www.quadlockcase.co.uk Oxford USB charging kit £24.99 If you don’t have a powered phone mount, this splash-proof USB socket connects direct to the battery and stores under your seat. 2.1Amp fused charger is good enough for phones and sat nav. Just route a long USB cable to your phone holder. www.oxfordproducts.com…

Sidi Atojo £449.99 www.sidiselect.co.uk I’ve been using these off-road since the start of the year. Vegan-friendly, reassuringly rock-solid construction, look fantastic, easy to get on and off and manoeuvre on the bike. Unfortunately, about half an hour into using them, what seems like a lack of padding around the ankle armour and a rough-textured lining makes them unbearably painful to wear. Thicker socks don’t help, nor does loosening the ankle strap. No other boots have done this to me in 18 years of riding. Unforgiveable at this price and my red-raw, blistered ankles have had enough. Road Leather/Textile 2.0 gloves £29.90 www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk I’ve been using these throughout the hot weather and am impressed. They are extremely comfortable and feel is excellent. Confidence is high, as there is substantial yet unobtrusive…

2012-2014 | £4000-£6750 | 140mph | 116bhp THE MOTORCYCLING WORLD’S collective jaw dropped when Kawasaki unveiled the first Versys 1000 in 2011. Supposedly an adventure-tourer based on the Z1000SX with a detuned four — cylinder motor and extended suspension, it seemed to have little adventure appeal — no beak or knobblie tyres, for example. But the main reason for the slack jaws was the way it looked. Not being a ‘real’ adventure bike soon proved to be of little importance. The Kawasaki’s ingredients made it an impressively comfy and effective tourer. With its 17in wheels, street tyres, smooth, grunty motor and a roomy, upright riding position, the big Versys gobbled up miles while its ‘parts-bin’ approach resulted in a sub-£10k price that made the Versys a bargain. It was an…

NEW BABY TRIUMPH SPIED TRIUMPH IS PLANNING a new range of small bikes as part of a tie-up with Indian manufacturing giant, Bajaj. The exact capacities that will power the new family, which is expected to comprise a street roadster and a scrambler, are a tight-lipped secret, with the firm resolutely stating: ‘No comment’. But Triumph’s Chief Product Officer, Steve Sargent, previously confirmed that: “The Bajaj tie-up is about middleweightcapacity bikes. We would say middleweights probably start at 250 and go up to maybe 650. So, bikes in that kind of capacity range is what we’re working on.” This suggests that the smaller bike in the range will almost certainly be bang-on the lower figure, as a 250cc liquid-cooled single is a capacity that translates well into multiple global markets.…

Identical twin may be old but it’s still got it The 799cc twin is the same as KTM’s old 790 Adventure (which CFMoto built). And as KTM has dropped that in favour of the 889cc, 105bhp 890, CFMoto has stuck with it. The power is ample for a mini-adventure bike and the only complaints are occasional iffy fuelling low down and a sometimes hesitant gearchange through the shifter. Dash does a decent job The 7in colour TFT dash reminds of KTM but is CFMoto’s own. It’s comprehensive and clear while electronics include two modes, cornering ABS, cruise control, quickshifter but no traction. So it may not be exactly cutting edge but it does a decent job of letting the rider know what’s going on. Panniers are welcome but on the…

HONDA HAS GIVEN its fun and frugal CB300R a Euro5 upgrade to make it better still. The CB300R was launched in 2018 based on an enlarged, 286cc version of Honda’s old CBR250R engine, then dropped last year due to non-Euro5 compliance. That’s now sorted via revised exhaust internals and fuelling tweaks although performance is unchanged, with peaks of 31bhp and 20lb·ft. It is impressively willing, free-revving and fun, good for 85-90mph (making dual carriageways far less intimidating than on a 125) and capable of returning an easy 65mpg-plus. The other key update on the 2022 CB300R addresses one of the few criticisms of the old machine — a sometimes-clunky gearchange. The addition of a new assist/slipper clutch on the six-speed transmission smooths out shifting and reduces rear-wheel hop when down-shifting…

BILLED BY DUCATI as a bike with intense off-road attitude, the all-new DesertX has attracted a lot of attention from fans of adventure bikes. And not necessarily those who are looking at exploring off-road trails either. Thanks to its rugged 1980s enduro stripped-back styling, the DesertX seems to strike a chord with those who just want a cool-looking middleweight adventurer that certainly isn’t lacking in tech. However, there is a slight price to pay and not only does the DesertX appear very off-road focused thanks to its choice of wheel sizes and long-travel suspension, both of which potentially harm its road manners, it also has a price tag of over £14k and makes less than 100bhp. So has Ducati gone too far and created a niche product that will only…

BEST FOR NATURAL BEAUTY Barafundle Beach Nestled beyond a cliff walk from Stackpole Quay, Barafundle has been voted one of Europe’s best beaches. And rightly so – Barafundle has everything; spectacular views, stunning cliffs and caves, golden sand, crystal clear water and dunes to the rear. Price of entry Free BEST FOR HISTORICAL AWE Manorbier Castle Pembrokeshire is famous for its castles, and Manorbier is one of the finest. The 12th-Century Norman fortress, which overlooks Manorbier beach and the Atlantic coast, often hosts historical events and tourist evenings. There’s an onsite café too. Price of entry £6 adults, £4 seniors/kids BEST FOR TOP-SPEED DREAMS Pendine Sands This seven-mile stretch of beach from Gilman Point to Laugharne Sands was used for world-speed-record attempts back in the 1920s. More recently, the beach’s…

All three GT models are faired versions of naked bikes but their engines come from very different places. The Tracer’s 117bhp, 890cc inline triple is designed and built from the ground up as a 21st century engine, eschewing a revvy top end and associated tall gearing (the bike is electronically limited to 135mph) for stunning midrange drive. ‘Real world performance’ is a cliché, but the Tracer has it in spades. The Suzuki’s ex-GSX-R 150bhp, 999cc inline four first saw a drawing board sometime in the late 1990s. Since then it’s evolved but the essential architecture is the same and its conventional, linear, top-end biased performance is defiantly what that layout has always produced. It’s refined and polished to a flawless finish – but Suzuki has had plenty of time to…

FOR A SUB-CULTURE of mainstream motorcycling, cruisers are quietly popular and sell in steady numbers, satisfying a sizeable section of the biking public. They come in all shapes, sizes and prices, from the entry-level Harley-Davidson Nightster for not much more than the price of a Japanese middleweight, right up to the immense Triumph Rocket 3 with more torque than a family car and a price to match. And cruiser owners say the same thing: they love the looks, relaxed riding style, character of the engine and no-pressure vibe of the lifestyle. But it’s not for everyone, and we want to know why. Does a cruiser’s limitations marginalise its appeal? Or is there an image problem? To help us find out, we’ve enlisted three typical modern motorcyclists: an adventure-bike rider, a…

Cool Covers seat cover £75 www.coolcovers.co.uk THE CLAIM “Cool Covers motorcycle seat covers are 98% permeable for permanent cooling whilst riding.” THE REALITY This cover features a substantial mesh layer separating you from the seat to promote air flow and keep you cool. It really works, helping keep me comfy while product-testing on a particularly hot day and throughout summer. Love it. Laser 8330 head torch £36.58 www.toolconnection.co.uk THE CLAIM “A USB rechargeable, waterproof head torch with LED spotlight, allowing it to be turned on and off with a wave of the hand.” THE REALITY A wave of the hand really does light this headtorch. Choose from two levels of the side-mounted spotlight or two levels of the LED strip. Loads of overall light from the LED or more targeted…

A SHORT TEXTILE JACKET is one of the default items of gear in almost every rider’s garage wardrobe, as they are so flexible. Lightweight and protective, competition between manufacturers is fierce and there’s plenty of choice across a wide range of prices. Modern riders rightly demand feature-rich jackets combining waterproofing, comfort, style and protection — and all at the right price. Short-length, sports-style textile jackets gradually evolved from light, flimsy paddock jackets, combining more lightweight convenience and brighter colours than traditional leather jackets. Their shorter design meant they were cooler and more comfortable as well as making it easier to move around on the bike and didn’t look out of place off the bike as well. These days, a sub-£200 textile jacket should have all these features and more. Advances…

Ducati Monster £10,895 ›110bhp ›69lb·ft ›166kg (dry) The Monster has a different take on life to the KTM, with a larger-capacity, more road-biased motor, great looks and softer, more compliant suspension. But that doesn’t mean it can’t boogie — the steering is light and nimble and roll-on power is impressive. Yamaha MT-09 SP £10,650 › 117bhp › 69lb·ft › 190kg (wet) The bullet-proof choice. The MT-09’s triple is a wonderful motor with real flexibility and the handling is sweet, but it isn’t quite as focussed as the Triumph or KTM. It still delivers though — and the 2021 upgrade is a huge improvement in handling and sophistication. Triumph Street Triple RS £10,995 › 121bhp › 59lb·ft › 166kg (dry) With handling that’s almost as sweet as the KTM’s but with…

UPDATE 03 IT’S BEEN A month of roadtrips and long days in the saddle with the Ténéré World Raid and I have been very impressed with how the bike has handled things so far. In the past month, the T7 WR saw service as RiDE’s camera mule for the GT feature test in this issue, carrying snapper Jason Critchell up to the North Yorkshire moors, before I took over and headed to the Scottish Borders. After a day riding more-powerful bikes like the Tracer 9 GT, the KTM Super Duke GT and Suzuki’s GSX-S1000 GT, I was concerned that the 72bhp Yamaha would feel flat, but this was far from the truth. I’ve said it before, but I’ll never fail to be impressed with the midrange drive and free-revving nature…

Celebrating the people and bikes that go the distance Name Andy Pugh, 55 Bike 2004 Yamaha R1 Total Miles 126,000 Miles per year 7000 ANDY PUGH IS no stranger to running up big miles on bikes; he put over 100,000 miles on an FJ1100. But after he gave it away to a friend, he bought the R1. “I’m sure a few other people have done big mileages on their R1s but not that many,” he says. “Most people who can afford to buy one brand new can afford to replace it when it’s older. But I like it so much I thought, ‘Might as well keep it’.” How has Andy run up so many miles on what was a premium sportsbike? “Mainly by not having a car,” he says, firmly.…

THE UK COULD be one of the first places in the world to ban the sale of new ‘nonzero-emissions’ motorcycles nationwide — essentially consigning the internal combustion engine (ICE) to the history books and forcing an accelerated switch to electric power. If the latest Government plan passes into law, the sale of new petrol bikes will end in 2035. For smaller bikes including mopeds and all learner-legal ‘L3-A1’ bikes up to 125cc and 15hp, the cutoff is 2030. So it’s electric or bust for the industry; but is this really going to happen and what does it mean? Will all manufacturers be developing electric bikes? Yes. The UK might be among the first to set a date for the end of petrol-bike sales but the writing has been on the…

Email ride@ride.co.uk Write to us RiDE, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Who needs radar? I read with interest the details relating to the Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE in your September edition and was fascinated by the facilities it offered. In particular, those associated with its radar. It had the skill to provide Forward Collision Warning. Truly amazing. However, I had that option on my first bike; a 1949 BSA 125cc Bantam that I acquired aged 16 in 1962. It relied on the use of my eyes and my brain which, together, allowed me to take whatever action was necessary to avoid a collision. In the early days, practice was needed but, as the brain developed, it worked perfectly. I’ve had, and used, that facility on every bike ever…

ITALIAN ELECTRIC BIKE manufacturer Energica has been at the forefront of this rapidly-evolving technology for over a decade. The Modena-based firm produces a range of road bikes that includes several Eva naked bikes and the Ego sportsbike. However, the new Experia is its most radical to date. Claimed to be a ‘green tourer’, the Experia is an adventure-styled bike packing Energica’s latest battery and electric motor technology. Has this developed to the point one can genuinely be considered a tourer? That’s the issue… Although Energica claims the Experia has a ‘city’ range of 261 miles, a ‘combined’ of 160 miles and an ‘extra-urban’ (worst case) of 130 miles, in reality this isn’t the case. When ridden briskly, you’re talking 110-120 miles with pottering at 55mph delivering close to 150 miles…

THE NEW ROYAL ENFIELD Hunter is propelled by the same unassuming 349cc air-cooled single found in the Classic and Meteor, but has a sporty new frame and relatively light 17in wheels (an Enfield first). The wheelbase is shorter, the head-angle steeper and, at 181kg (172kg dry), the Hunter is considerably lighter than its 350 siblings. In Bangkok, Thailand, where Enfield based this test, the Hunter was the king of the traffic-light GP, surging ahead of hordes of mopeds and scooters before deploying lively low-speed handling and manoeuvrability. Enfield has tuned the fuel injection to give a sharper feel on the throttle, and quotes a top speed of 70mph, which is actually achieved in fourth gear and not top (fifth). There are no riding modes or rider aids to worry about…

THE FACTS The route A 110-mile loop of Pembrokeshire’s finest A and B-roads, sunken lanes and national park. Outstanding scenery and routes in one glorious day’s ride. Why it’s great With the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop for much of the ride, how could it not be epic? When to go Pembrokeshire gets busy in holiday season, so avoid July to September if you can, and opt for April-June or mid-September to October instead when the roads and towns aren’t swamped by slow-moving tourists. Where to visit Far too many places of interest to list here, but Manorbier’s Norman castle is definitely worth a visit, as is Pembroke’s. Barafundle beach and Tenby town are two other must-dos on the route. PEMBROKESHIRE IS THE jewel of Wales. Tucked away on the…

Best for A fun and exciting way to view one of the country’s most beautiful coastlines and National Parks. Length 110 miles. Route Pendine Sands to Red Roses, then onto Tenby, Freshwater East, Lamphey, Carew Cheriton and Castle. West to Pembroke Dock and across the Cleddau Ddu tidal estuary to Tiers Cross, Ratford Bridge and Simpson Cross. Newgale to St Davids, from there to Fishguard, then Haverfordwest, Narberth before ending in Red Roses. Roads B4314, A477, A478, A4139, B4585, B4584, A4139, A4075, B4327, B4341, A487, A4219, A487, A40, B4314. Love it because Many of the roads are as mind-blowing as the scenery. Take a picture at Manorbier Castle, looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean. Stop for a cuppa at No.25 Café, Tenby (great breakfast, too), and a freshly made pastie…

YAMAHA’S TRACER 9 GT is based on the naked MT-09 platform. Like GT sports tourers from other manufacturers, Yamaha has taken the ingredients of a base bike – a raucous 117bhp 890cc triple with whip-smart steering – and added the sports-touring convenience of a screen, luggage, semi-active suspension, a larger tank, heated grips and cruise control. And, as we’ve seen on the previous pages, it’s a hell of a combination – at a price. The MT-09 costs £9400 and the GT is £12,700 – £3400 more. But if you like the naked looks of the MT but also want the ability to make a few longer trips, a faired Tracer GT isn’t your only option. With the help of a few accessories, we think we can build our own semi-GT…

Triumph Thunderbird 1600/1700 › 2009-2017 › 1597/1699cc parallel twin › 85/97bhp › 339kg Hinckley’s Thunderbird remains the largestcapacity parallel twin anyone has built thus far. Its 115lb·ft of torque peaks at just 3000rpm but the engine is anything but lumpy, giving out big spuds of thrust with a smooth, linear delivery through a surprisingly competent chassis. Pay £6000 for a tidy early bike, £12k for a late minter. Look for Coolant leaks, drive-belt issues. Honda VTX1800 › 2001-2008 › 1795cc 52° V-twin › 90bhp › 365kg Big, long, covered in chrome and making 100lb·ft of torque at 3000rpm, the VTX came with USD forks and better ride quality (and build quality) than its Japanese factory custom rivals. Hardly anyone bought one back in the day, and there are even fewer…

ENGINES Although both Dukes run the 890 parallel-twin motor, the R makes 5.9bhp and 5.1lb·ft of torque more than the base bike, thanks to different cam profiles. SUSPENSION The R’s WP APEX suspension has full adjustability at both ends where the base bike’s forks are non-adjustable and its shock only gets preload adjustment. BRAKES Both have lean-sensitive ABS and the R has Brembo Stylema calipers but the base bike, KTM. The R’s discs are 20mm bigger and the master cylinder upgraded.…

UPDATE 04 ANOTHER MONTH, ANOTHER fairly long trip — 250 miles there and back — to go not-on-the-high-street birthday-present shopping for Mrs. H-M, and it’s time the KTM got some big-mile mods. Since riding the GSX-S, Tracer 9 and Super Duke GT for this month’s cover story, I’ve succumbed to the idea that while none of it’s essential, the practical additions of luggage, comfort, weather protection and some way of charging my phone while I navigate could only enhance my experience with the Duke. KTM doesn’t make a ‘baby’ GT but the diminutive 890 is such a capable and joyous bike on the road, I think it’d be a great base for one. Wind protection and load lugging are far out of scope for the KTM, so top of the…