Table of contents for 23 September 2020 in MCN

It’s minor-update time in Kawasaki land as they bring their most popular models into the next decade. Starting with their most evergreen model (see what we did there?) the Ninja 1000SX (previously the Z1000SX) sport tourer gets a few new colours. Rather outrageously named things like Metallic Moondust Grey or Emerald Blazed Green, the 1000SX is basically black with either grey, green or red accents. There are three packs: Performance, which comes with an Akrapovic pipe and frame sliders; Tourer, which comes with pannier and a sat-nav mount, or; Performance Tourer, which comes with the lot. No prices yet but it’s in dealers in December. Next up comes the not-quite-a-litre naked Z900, which again has some new paint that’s aimed at ‘fans of mean and moody’, apparently. Z900: the bike…

9pm, ITV4, King of the Roads: Cookstown Part 1 8am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Aragon, Spain. Free Practice 1. Free Practice 2 at 12pm. 8.30am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Aragon, Spain: Warm Ups. Moto3 at 10.15am, Moto2 at 1.30pm, MotoGP at 1.30pm. Chequered Flag at 3pm 6pm, QUEST, MotoGP 2000 Highlights from Aragon, Spain KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST…

The Competition and Markets Authority have completed the first stage of their investigation into insurance giant Ardonagh’s purchase of Bennetts and are concerned it “could lead to higher prices, less choice and worse services for motorcyclists in the UK”. The Ardonagh Group Ltd, which already operates Carole Nash and Swinton, announced in February a £26 million deal to purchase Bennetts. The two are the largest motorcycle insurance brokers in the UK, so combining the pair, which would make them three times the size of their nearest competitor, has caused concern at the CMA. The CMA investigation has found that Ardonagh and Bennetts are close competitors and a merged company would face limited competition from smaller brokers such as Bikesure or MCE. They also note that despite the increased use of…

This, military-style Bonneville, inspired by the 70th anniversary of VE Day, is one of the favourites to win this year’s Triumph-sponsored ‘Bonneville Build-Off Challenge’ - and you’re invited to vote for the winner. It’s been built by Bristol dealer Fowlers and it’s one of the nine finalists. All of the entrants have been submitted by Triumph dealers in the UK and all the bikes can now be viewed online and voted for. Called the VE Day Commemorative Bike, it’s been built by Fowlers’ master technicians Tony Crocker and Sam Upton. Based on a Bonnie Bobber, the machine uses a combination of vintage, military-inspired themes with modern mechanicals. This is the second running of the competition after its debut in 2019 was won by Laguna Ashford. New for 2020 is a…

Honda Gold Wing There’s a £500 test ride incentive plus a complementary care package available on all new Honda Gold Wings. Covering the first three services, an extended warranty and enhanced European Roadside Assistance, the Gold Wing Care Package adds extra peace of mind to all new owners. Deals run till the end of November. www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles Suzuki SV650 Grab yourself a bargain with this fantastic deal on Suzuki’s ever- popular naked twin. The SV650’s a fine choice for newbie riders and old hands alike and with a £500 test ride incentive, it’ll cost you just £65 a month on PCP, over a 37-month term. Used SVs, see page 44. bikes.suzuki.co.uk/ KTM 790 Adventure At only £69 per month this is an adventure that’s worth taking. KTM have knocked a substantial…

It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A- and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. ROUTE 1 124.73 miles of fastflowing A- and B-roads ROUTE 2 126.94 miles of open A- and B-roads and towns ROUTE 3 123.88 miles of big A-roads and motorway WEATHER WATCH Temp 25˚C Blustery, dry 5mph wind…

‘Show’ and ‘go’ are always uneasy bedfellows, as the new Scrambler 1100 Sport PRO most conspicuously shows by being a retro roadster with sporty Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes yet bizarrely retaining a 19in front wheel and semi-knobbly tyres. Even so, it’s a sweet-handling, cultured scratcher worthy of the name. Instead, Ducati’s two main criticisms arise elsewhere: Its fairly bland, unremarkable 85bhp performance and its uninspiring and sometimes gimmicky styling. The R nineT, however, as its success and spin-offs since 2014 demonstrate, wins on both counts: Its standard looks with lots of alloy, wires, boxer engine and twin dials, tick all the right boxes yet are almost endlessly customisable. While its base mechanicals, being R1200R but uprated with S1000RR cycle parts, are more than enough for the retro roadster style.…

In a world of tightening emissions and downsized engines, creating not only a new air-cooled engine but their largest engine to date deserves some serious respect. There’s also the realisation that this is not a volume bike - it’s really aimed at 50-something BMW owners who would never touch a Harley. For those sort of people, this bike is pretty much ideal, even if it does fall a bit short in the gadget department. It has the quality and finish those owners have come to expect. There is no telling how well this will go for BMW but it has all the foundations of an instant classic. Tech spec What it costs £18,995* On-the-road price…

The Team Classic Suzuki- prepared GSF600 Bandit prize was first built in collaboration with Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme in 2018, ready to be received by the series winner ahead of 2019. The championship was eventually won by James McHardy, 38, from Herne Bay, who keeps hold of the bike for 2020 after successfully defending his crown. “It’s a big responsibility, obviously, but it’s awesome to get the best kit. I’ve got a bike that I know is great, and the help from Suzuki with parts and setup is second to none. For a club racer to get that sort of stuff is amazing, so I’ve been living the dream ever since. You can’t get a series that’s more fun and friendly. We all go out there, we all have a…

• Ten new 2020 models • Thousands of real-world test miles • What works, what doesn’t and what fails • How to get the most out of your new bike • The best mods, parts and accessories tried, tested and reviewed • No punches pulled • See the whole fleet story so far online at motorcyclenews.com 2157 MILES 2684 MILES 7415 MILES 2990 MILES 4679 MILES 4982 MILES…

Social media can be a bit anti-social… It’s easy to get addicted to social media. It’s a great way of staying in touch with friends and family, posting repetitive pictures of your meals and boring people with maps of your daily run. It’s now also a place where you can buy used bikes and riding kit, with platforms such as Facebook hosting private ads. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Buying and flogging on social media has appeal - you can see the smiling face of the person who’s posted the advert alongside their name, what films they like and where they went to school, and they may well be in your online ‘friends’. However, dodgy sellers have been known to use social media to shift substandard and knocked-off kit…

‘The rule enforcers are looking silly’ Behave like naughty children and you’ll get treated that way. That’s the message to the unruly Moto3 mob, participants in the most enjoyable bike racing anywhere. It was underlined before Misano with a list of penalised riders longer than most of their teenage arms. Twenty-seven may not be a record, but it’s the most for ages, and shows stern COMING DOWN HARD by a management who WILL NOT TOLERATE bad behaviour! And it’d not just in the races, but going slowly in practice sessions, waiting for that vital tow, to cut your lap time by a second or more. You can sort of see the point, when they play the Safety Card, though the same simple racing tactics go unpunished in Moto2 and MotoGP.…

We’re exploring the Yorkshire Dales and the beauty of the breathtaking Buttertubs Pass. From the services at Scotch Corner, take the A6108 through Richmond to pick up the B6270 for a fabulous run up Swaledale to Thwaite. Turn left at the sign for Hawes onto Cliff Gate Road and a 20% climb over the legendary Buttertubs Pass - be sure to stop just before the top to find out why it’s so named. The climb over the pass is sensational, with some of the best views in the Dales. Turn right in Hawes and head to the Penny Garth Café, for a quick cuppa, before taking a left spur to begin the B6255, a stupendous ride that snakes across Ribblehead to Ingleton. Turn right on the A65, then right again…

Our fabulous circular route can be ridden from any point in either direction, but we’ll start by rolling out from Loomies Moto Café in West Meon. It’s a fantastic venue that’s set in the heart of the South Downs. Arrive early to ensure a good parking spot and enjoy their fabulous breakfast before your ride. Take the A272 to sweep through a series of bends to Midhurst. It can be a bottleneck, so be prepared for a little stop-start traffic. In the town centre take the A286 south to Chichester, keeping an eye out for the left turn after Singleton which sweeps around Goodwood racecourse and down Kennel Hill to the motor circuit. Head west on New Road to East Lavant, then turn left at the T-junction onto Pook Lane.…

‘What’s the word on the Street?’ I’m still watching the values of the Kawasaki H2 Ninja. They aren’t really going anywhere. It’s hard to assess what a used original H2 is worth when eBay hasn’t recorded selling one in two months. The SX tourer can be yours for £11,000 or less. That’s remarkable value. It looks like the H2 is following in the tracks of the original Honda CBX six. That bike wowed everybody, but was pricey and few bought it. Used values were fairly weak and then everyone appreciated it for what it was - engineering art – and now they’re in demand. So a used H2 could be a shrewd long-term buy. Of current, or near-current, models I’d be looking at the original Triumph Street Triple. The parallels…

Cardo Systems Refreshment Kit £19.99 The inside of your lid can get pretty nasty, especially if you do big miles in all conditions. If you use an intercom then it’s likely the sponges for the microphone and speakers will end up being a bit fusty too, which is why Cardo Systems have brought out this Refreshment Kit for their Freecom and Packtalk systems, containing replacement sponges and sticky pads. www.cardosystems.com LS2 MX437 Fast Evo from £79.99 Updated version of LS2’s popular MX lid now features improved ventilation and an emergency quick-release system, to allow the helmet to be removed by emergency services with minimal movement to the head and neck. Lightweight and fully road-legal, it’s available in 2XS-3XL across three shell sizes. www.ls2helmets.com Resurgence Gear Single Layer Riding Shirt £245…

Readers Andy Hull and Aileen Shand The Ride Forres near Inverness down to Grange-over-Sands and the Lake District Miles 1500 Don’t miss this “The most beautiful panoramas looking down Loch Ness at half seven in the morning, the mist rising off the loch and the chance to see just how glass-like the water is.” THE BIKE I was riding my new Tiger 900 Rally Pro complete with hard luggage with my fiancée as the pillion. THE PLAN Starting in Scotland we rode down to the Lake District, taking advantage of August conditions. RESPECTS We stopped to pay our respects at the World War II Commando Memorial at Lochaber. THE VIEWS On our way to the Lake District we stopped at Loch Ness, the Commando Memorial, Fort William, Glen Coe, Green…

Q ‘She just ran out straight in front of my scooter’ I was riding my scooter to work when traffic came to a stop ahead. There was nothing coming so I was filtering past the queue at about 20mph when a lady ran into my path and knocked me off. I was a bit bruised and shaken and my bike needed repairs. I have a witness confirming that I could not have done anything and that it was her fault but she has told my solicitors that if I carry on with my claim she will counter-claim for her injuries. She says she was waved across by the car driver at the front of the queue. Rob, Exeter A Filtering is perfectly legal despite what defendant solicitors and third party…

NICK COLLINS Age 38 Height 6ft Current bike 2018 R9T and 2016 GSA Been riding for 30 years First bike Honda MBX50 Dream bike Honda RC30 and BMW R18 “I started biking at 16 and rode bikes all through uni but stopped about 15 years ago. But in 2015 I bought a Ducati Scrambler - I love the retro look- then traded it in for a GS, then bought the R nineT. “I really wanted a retro to complement the GS and be something a little different and cool. It suited my riding and long arms, you don’t see many around and I got a great deal! “I’ve not done long distances as it’s not that sort of bike but have enjoyed the amazing roads around my home and also…

Mark Wardle, 42, from Grimsby started racing at 40 and shows no signs of stopping. “I got to 40 and my wife said: ‘what do you want to do for your 40th birthday?’ I said: ‘I want to race motorbikes.’ I’ve always liked Bandits and commute on one every day. “I was at the back of the grid to start with but totally enjoyed it. Everyone’s welcoming and if there’s a problem, someone will throw you some spares. This is a cheap form of racing, but obviously no racing’s cheap, but we all help each other out. Before Covid, we would all have a barbecue and a drink together on the Saturday night, too. “For me, it’s a life-long dream. I’ve always wanted to race motorbikes, but I’ve never had the…

Your bike’s drive chain is an essential component, and it goes through absolute hell every time you ride. After it has worn out – anywhere between 7000 and 20,000 miles, depending on the bike and how you’ve cared for it - the replacement should be of an equivalent spec to the original. It’s easy to do a quick search online and come up with a wide and baffling selection of chains – in all kinds of types and colours! And of course, there will be a massive disparity with prices, too. Don’t be tempted by the cheap stuff, it will not last and you will be adjusting it all the time. Best advice is to go ask your dealer, most manufacturers have their own branded chain and sprocket kits that…

‘My target is to go race- by-race and to keep winning’ Jonathan Rea leapt towards a sixth consecutive World Superbike title in Barcelona at the weekend. Increasing his championship lead by 15 points to give him a cushion of 51 over Scott Redding means the Northern Irishman could claim the 2020 crown by as early as the next round at Magny-Cours. Although Kawasaki’s weekend was far from perfect, with three different manufacturers winning for the first time since the three- race format was introduced last year, Rea again showed how his strategic thinking and general understanding of the race weekend format can earn him titles over the course of a season. From pole position, a clean start to Saturday’s Race 1 meant he avoided dramas and headed the field despite…

•Length 2.63 miles•Corners 16 - 6 left, 10 right•Longest straight 0.329 miles 16 Marquez 24 17 Espargaro A 18 18 Lecuona 15 19 Smith 11 20 Rabat 7 21 Crutchlow 7 22 Pirro 4 23 Bradl 0 FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 2 TOP TEN CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS 1 Marini 125 2 Bastianini 120 3 Bezzecchi 105 4 Lowes 83 5 Martin 79 6 Nagashima 68 7 Vierge 59 8 Canet 53 9 Luthi 52 10 Schrotter 48 Fastest lap Pole lap Circuit record lap POSITIONS Gains & losses (grid v finish ) LAPS LED TOP SIX MOTOGP FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 3 TOP TEN CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS 1 Arenas 119 2 Ogura 117 3 McPhee 98 4 Vietti 86 5 Suzuki 75 6 Arbolino 75 7 Rodrigo 63 8 Masia 61…

A first MotoGP victory in 11 months shutdown the harsh critics of Maverick Vinales who’d recently dismissed him as a serious MotoGP title contender in 2020. Vinales moved to within a point of the series lead after pouncing on a Pecco Bagnaia blunder to win for the first time since the Sepang clash in Malaysia last October. It was the perfect response from Vinales, who was lambasted for a slump from pole to sixth at Misano the previous weekend. The Yamaha rider is clearly blessed with blindingly fast speed over one lap on soft tyres, having taken three poles in the last four races and two other front row starts this season. Yet he’s faced accusations that he chokes on race day and struggles to be fast on a full…

While negotiations are still underway with the EU, the chances of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit are growing as we get closer to the end of the year when the transition period expires. Under current plans the UK will impose tariffs on imports of 8% on bikes below 250cc and 6% on bikes over 250cc coming from any country that doesn’t have a trade agreement with the UK to prevent those tariffs. Unless new deals are struck, those tariffs will be applied, not only to bikes coming from EU countries but also from those nations we have trade deals with as a member of the EU. Tariffs on bikes coming into the EU from Japan are currently at 3%, having come down from 6%. The UK signed a trade agreement with Japan…

A scooter rider who cut through a park to avoid police has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. 23-year-old Kyren Bryce of Hilsea Street, Hackney, admitted dangerous driving at Croydon Magistrates’ Court. On Thursday April 23, Met officers from Operation Venice were patrolling in central London following a number of scooter enabled robbery offences being committed by a suspect on a grey machine. A tactical contact was used to bring the chase to a close and Bryce was arrested for dangerous driving and failing to stop.…

Electric power has taken another step forward with a new quarter-mile world record. How quick exactly? What about zero to 195.5mph in a staggering 6.869 seconds? In near-perfect conditions at Santa Pod’s ‘Not the Euro Finals’, Danish rider Hans-Henrik Thomsen beat the quarter-mile ET (elapsed time) record of American Larry McBride of 6.94s. This makes his ‘Silver Lightning’ not only the quickest electric bike on the planet, but the quickest electric vehicle full stop. Silver Lightning is powered by two 48v motors with LiPo batteries, produces anywhere between 800 and 1100bhp (power is adjusted to suit track conditions) and weighs 386kg. Thomsen still has power in reserve, and the bike’s speed is currently limited by gearing – though Silver Lightning covers the quarter mile quicker than anything else, it hasn’t…

HJC R-PHA 11 Chakri £249.99 ‘Safety, comfort and carbon too’ With a carbon-fibre and fibreglass composite shell, this full-face lid has been designed to be aerodynamic for fast riding. In our 3000-mile test, we found this to be the case – it was incredibly stable, and the forehead and top vents were easy to operate and effective. Linings are comfortable, cool, fully removable and washable. As an added safety element, the interior has been designed to be rapidly and easily removable by the emergency services. A Pinlock anti-fog visor insert is included and the visor is quick-release. Glasses wearers will be pleased to hear there are grooves, so no annoying digging in of arms. HJC lids come with a five-year warranty, for extra peace of mind. This deal only applies…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Too silent running? Part of the attraction of bikes is the danger element, but there are limits. I’d feel very vulnerable if I was riding briskly through country lanes on a silent e-bike. I’ve lost count of the number of times a speeding pushbike has crept up on me, only to be seen at the last second. Lolly sticks on spokes aren’t practical, but something needs to be done. Paul Garrod, Portsmouth Not so testing times I have been trying to arrange a test ride on a Honda Rebel for my wife. Obviously due to lockdown lots of dealers were closed, so that was understandable. But since reopening several have confirmed they cannot get stock, hence no demos. Phil Lum, email EBC did right by me…

BMW set the standard for retro-yet-modern-and-sporty roadsters when they released the R nineT in 2014. Based on R1200R mechanicals with quality cycle parts and bags of retro style it proved an immediate hit, spawning a whole family of BMW variants and more than a few impersonators from rival firms. But its latest rival, this new Scrambler 1100 Sport PRO from Italian sporting legends Ducati, complete with superbike-standard Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes, electronic riding modes, updatedstyling and more, is its biggest threat yet. So, which performs best on the challenging MCN250? A large part of the R nineT’s enduring popularity is not just the all-round excellence of the base R1200R-derived bike with its proven, competent chassis and flexible, thrummy 110bhp twin - but also its classy, customisable style. Our test…

HOW IT STARTED “Getting that Ducati Sport Classic was key, because it gave me the subject matter for the blog and was the bike that pretty much launched the whole scene. Having it, owning it and customising it - that bike, for me, is a true icon.” THE FIRST SHOW “Booking a venue for the first show and coming back to the pub to tell my co-conspirators from the Bike Shed website that we were actually doing it was a real turning point.” THE SHED OPENS “When we opened the Bike Shed in Shoreditch with the launch of the new Triumph Bonneville range it felt like we’d pulled off a miracle. Having all these celebs, press and industry guys telling us how great it was incredible.” GOING GLOBAL “The day…

MOTORCYCLING MUST-DOS ✓ ‘I’m greeted by a sea of smiles from my fellow competitors’ Senior Writer Dan is a club racing newbie and big-time supporter of cheap motorsport All bike racing fans aspire to be like their heroes – competing for the best manufacturers on a top-spec bike, without a second thought for tyres, spares or setup. It’s a dream that can only be achieved by the elite, those who begin a path to racing success before they even left junior school. For the rest of us, that factory ride remains an idle fantasy, played out in our heads on Sunday mornings as we watch on from the comfort of the sofa. But there is another way. The Formula Prostocks Suzuki Bandit Challenge is one of the fastest-growing club racing…

Michael Neeves, Chief Road Tester Ridden just about everything in an 18-year MCN road testing career. Gets off on touring, trackdays and modern and classic superbike racing. Being able to change the way your bike rides and feels at the touch of a button is pretty common nowadays, thanks to the spread of modern electronics. But it really hit home just how many bikes in one my Streetfighter V4 S can be when I rode back from a Ducati trackday at Donington. Hours earlier the suspension had been stiff, the power razor sharp and the rider aids wound down. For six glorious sessions (and two tanks of fuel) the Streetfighter was a full-on superbike, albeit a naked one that was trying to separate my head from my shoulders every time…

LAST CHANCE SUBSCRIBE AND GET AN OXFORD OXIMISER X3 WORTH £54! See p22 for details Don’t write them off as beginners’ bikes. And certainly don’t insult them by lazily attaching the ‘budget’ tag (all bikes are built to a budget...). These mid-capacity machines are the backbone of British biking – genuinely flexible tools to do anything, from soggy commute and two-up tour to peggrinding roundabout silliness. They won’t be the best for any of it, but they’ll do it all with cheeriness and willingness. And they’re cheap... YOUR EXPERT Mike Armitage has been a fulltime tester and journalist for 19 years. The ex-engineer rides 30,000 miles a year and knows how to spot a hound. £2500 SUZUKI SV650 645cc | 169kg | 69bhp | 800mm seat height • Dealer up…

Tested by Bruce Dunn for six months This posh little caddy is the perfect solution to keeping cable ties in order. No more of that irritating scratching around in the bottom of drawers for a cable tie only to find the wrong size. Three powerful magnets stick the Cable Ti-dy to the side of any tool chest, so the right tie is always to hand. The rugged unit is powdercoated in red, blue or black and comes with 200 cable ties in three sizes. It’s one of the most satisfying tool accessories if, like me, you like things in order and neatly arranged. Quality Value www.serenco.co.uk…

Large single-hex socket When undoing and tightening the spindle nut, use a large ½ inch socket. The single-hex design will prevent any slippage. Breaker bar A half-inch breaker bar will provide all the extra leverage needed to loosen the spindle nut. Torque wrench Make sure your torque wrench has the necessary range to tighten up a spindle nut; it’s often best that you have two in your toolbox - one for lower settings and another for bigger torque values. Steel ruler A steel ruler will give an accurate measurement of the chain slack. • Tell us about your favourite at mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com…

Kawasaki finally joined the podium party in the 2020 Bennetts British Superbike Championship with both Danny Buchan and Lee Jackson on the rostrum at Oulton Park. It’s come at a very important time following a tough 2020 campaign for the Rapid Fulfillment Kawasaki team and particularly for Buchan himself. Much was expected of the 27-year-old this year due to his performances in 2019, when he was the closest challenger to the all-conquering Ducati riders. However, three crashes in the first five races had left Buchan out of sorts this season… until now. “It’s where we want to be and where we should be, so I was more than happy with those podiums,” Buchan told MCN. Being so close to the win was a real confidence booster for me after what…

Suzuki sensation Joan Mir played down his prospects of dethroning Marc Marquez as MotoGP World Champion after another fabulous fightback in Misano. Eighth to third in Misano 1, Mir emerged from mid-pack again on Sunday to power through from a lowly 11th to second to seriously strengthen his bid to be Suzuki’s first premier class World Champion in 20 years. The 23-year-old was written off as a no-hoper after he crashed in the season’s opening race in Jerez and was then wiped out by Iker Lecuona in round three at Brno. But now Mir is rapidly emerging as MotoGP’s man of the moment and after taking just 11-points in the opening three rounds, he’s collected 69 in the last four. He hasn’t finished lower than fourth in the last four…

Whether you crave the instant cool of one of Triumph’s modern classic Bonneville T120s, the globetrotting versatility of a serious adventure bike, or the hedonistic thrill of the original streetfighter - Triumph have heaped temptation on them all until the end of September with a triple-whammy of deals. Become an Explorer If you’re in the market for a serious adventure bike, then it’s highly likely that you’re going to want the whole package: full-on hard panniers, engine bars, headlight protection and more to ensure that you can load and disappear into the wilderness prepared and protected. Buy a model from Triumph’s flagship adventure bike range right now and you’ll get a £2000 accessories bonus on top of your deal. The complementary bundle is available on all Tiger 1200s and includes…

Whether you crave the instant cool of one of Triumph’s modern classic Bonneville T120s, the globetrotting versatility of a serious adventure bike, or the hedonistic thrill of the original streetfighter - Triumph have heaped temptation on them all until the end of September with a triple-whammy of deals. Become an Explorer If you’re in the market for a serious adventure bike, then it’s highly likely that you’re going to want the whole package: full-on hard panniers, engine bars, headlight protection and more to ensure that you can load and disappear into the wilderness prepared and protected. Buy a model from Triumph’s flagship adventure bike range right now and you’ll get a £2000 accessories bonus on top of your deal. The complementary bundle is available on all Tiger 1200s and includes…

Keep the sea on your right and you can’t go far wrong on this simple route which follows the rugged coastline of Northern Ireland. We head out from from Carrickfergus and it’s best to make sure your tank is brimmed and there should be nothing to stop for except the stunning view. Follow the A2 for the first part of the journey via Larne, Ballegalley, Glenarm and Cushendall until you see the brown sign for the Torr Head Scenic Route. Turn right here, followed by a left at the roundabout in Knocknacarry and a right after the stone bridge to join Torr Road. It’s a zig-zaggy delight as the road wends its way across Torr Head before reaching Ballycastle. From here take the B15 which will eventually bring you back…