Table of contents for 15 November 2023 in MCN

‘The new engine will pull past 7000rpm for fast roads’ WE GET TO GRIPS WITH THE NEW HIMMY FIRST RIDE New Himalayan in the Himalayas Where else would you launch a new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 other than the place that gave it its name? MCN’s adventure bike expert, Michael Guy, jetted off to the Himalayas this month to grab the new liquid-cooled 450 and discover whether a big boost in power and performance has transformed the humble Himmy into something capable of taking the lightweight class fight to the likes of Honda’s CRF300 family. With a solid mix of sinuous tarmac and savage dirt roads, he got the chance to find out just how good the new bike really is. PAGE 34 NEW BIKES Langen get set to go…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews 'Riding has changed my life' I’ve been pillion on my husband, Stevie’s, bikes for 18 years but this year, aged 59, I was over the moon to pass my full test and I now have my very own FZS600 Fazer. Two years ago this would have been utterly impossible as I began to experience a mental health breakdown. But nine months later, once I’d recovered and with unbounded support from Stevie, I was determined to put my new-found courage to the test. Here I am on my first ride-out in Westerham, Kent. I’m proud of my achievement and want to give a big shout to all the trainers at Phoenix Motorcycle Training. Their patience and humour kept my chin up no matter how often I (gently)…

‘One strikes the perfect balance…’ The GSX-8S offers a true, big-bike feel, with a pleasantly torquey motor that delivers everything, from comfort on motorways to ease of use in town. It’s a clever package that feels the most grown up of the bunch and only truly misses out in terms of pure fun factor compared to its rivals. On the flipside, Honda’s new Hornet delivers that extra excitement in abundance, thanks to its peaky, exciting engine and agility. Yet it’s flighty and unstable and is also lacking in comparison not only in low-down grunt, but also in terms of its frustrating electronic interface and long-distance comfort. Most surprisingly of all was how brilliant the KTM is. Yes, it’s got the most power, feels supermoto-esque in its stance and is an…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 3800 miles ON TEST REV-IT! Poseidon GTX Jacket £779.99 Tested by Justin Hayzelden for six months With a name like Poseidon you’d expect a jacket to be handy in the wet, and this AA rated adventure textile from REV’IT! has proved to be an exceptional performer. Double and triple laminated Gore-Tex makes it impervious to rain, yet still allows moisture out to prevent that ‘boil in the bag’ feeling. Generous air vents are provided for when the weather’s fine, with trick Fidlock magnetic catches to hold the front flaps open. The fit is fantastic, and I really like the straps for snugging the armour into position, especially the v-shaped belts either side of the torso that keep the optional chest and back protectors…

Alpinestars Speedforce £204.99 Tested by Carl Stevens for 18 months In all my years of riding, I have yet to find a riding shoe as comfortable as the Speedforce from Alpinestars. They are modelled on a running shoe and they certainly feel like it, offering a similar level of contour and cushioning (with an 8mm drop) to a standard shoe. Although it sounds like a gimmick, this truly does make them an absolute must if I’m going for a ride and a full day out, where I know that I’m going to be doing a load of walking too. 5000 miles ON TEST Not only do the Alpinestars look great, but they’ve also held up well, with the bottom of the shoe (which is impressively grippy thanks to the design…

The horn is an essential safety component so it needs to be as loud as possible. While most standard horns are sufficient, if you’re a heavy user of your bike’s horn button (for example you ride in busy city centre traffic) you should consider upgrading it. For the ultimate in volume, fitting something like a Denali SoundBomb, as seen here, is a really smart idea. There are numerous types and fitments available for different models – including some late model KTM/BMWs which operate the horn using the CANbus system (where disconnecting the original component will result in dash light warnings hence why Denali do specific kits to make sure the fitment is spot on). If you want the ultimate in horns then you need the Denali 120dB duel-tone airhorn (£44.27),…

Bringing you the news from inside the British paddock Supersport king Jack Kennedy will return to the British Supersport Championship in 2024 in an exciting deal with the returning Honda factory team. Following the reveal of the updated CBR600RR, and its return to the European market, Honda will enter the Supersport class as a factory effort for the first time since 2009. That year, Steve Plater secured the title, whilst the CBR600RR itself has celebrated nine World Supersport titles and six British crowns. On the bike will be Kennedy, the record-breaking four-time champion and 59-time race winner. Kennedy enjoyed some positive results in the Superbike class but was let go by his team for 2024. “I’m not going to dwell on it for too long, that’s racing sometimes; it doesn’t…

John McGuinness will continue his long-term relationship with Honda and will be back doing what he loves most at the NW200 and TT. The 23-time TT winner accepts that adding to that incredible win tally is unlikely, but as he showed this year he’s still a top-six man and went faster in 2023 than he did in 2022 – proving that this particular 51-yearold isn’t about to slow down anytime soon. He also performs an invaluable role in the team with tasks ranging from development rider to talent scout and mentor. Speaking to MCN, McGuinness said: “How do I make it sound interesting? It’s the same as last year with me going back to the TT to ride my bike again! Look I’ll be the first one to stick my…

Rory Skinner is at risk of losing his seat in the American Racing Team’s World Championship squad for 2024. Current teammate Marcos Ramirez took a maiden Moto2 podium on Sunday, and the Spaniard made no secret of his desire to claim Skinner’s full-time seat for next year soon after. The Scot has suffered an injuryaffected rookie campaign, missing races in Italy, Germany and the Netherlands due to a foot fracture. He’s scored two points with a best finish of twelfth. It's believed Team Owner Eitan Butbul would like Skinner to front American Racing’s European Moto2 challenge in 2024, even though the 22-year old has a contract to race in the World Championship for next year. Sasaki fury after losing Emotions were bittersweet for the InactGP Husqvarna squad in Malaysia after…

2021 The rookie rider wins his first Moto3 race in just his second ever GP aged 16 years and 360 days (Valentino Rossi took his first victory in his 11th GP, Marc Marquez his 33rd GP) 2021 Becomes the second youngest World Champion in GP history at 17 years and 166 days of age – just one day older than, the record holder Loris Capirossi. Marquez scored his first title in his third season at 17 years and 263 days, Rossi in his second season when he was 18 2022 In his first season in Moto2, Acosta takes a maiden Moto2 win in his eighth race at 18 years and four days, becoming the youngest rider in history to take an intermediate class win (previous holder Marquez was 18 years,…

Reporting from the MotoGP paddock since 1996 Enea Bastianini has spent most of 2023 battered, bruised and beaten up as dream switch to Ducati’s factory squad turned into a nightmare. The Italian had finished no higher than eighth in any Sprint or Grand Prix prior to last weekend’s Malaysian round. A catalogue of serious injuries coupled with a struggle to adapt to the new Ducati GP23 saw Bastianini admit he’d hit rock bottom in a season he summed up bluntly as ‘a disaster’ and ‘s**t’. The former Moto2 World Champion qualified last at the previous round in Thailand, having looked bewildered, baffled and a shadow of the rider who dazzled in 2022 with four victories. So, it was certainly a bolt out of the blue when Bastianini completed a dominant…

MCN MOTORCYCLE LIVE 2023 We’re now knocking on the door of 2024, and will soon be stepping into a whole new model year of great bikes. And the depth and breadth of machines destined for UK shores next year is really rather impressive. Manufacturers did well to keep the wheels rolling over the last three years of lockdowns, parts and material shortages, and a persistent redoubling of costs -but they’ve really smashed it out the park for 2024’s line-ups. There’s no dominant trend emerging – instead we’re simply seeing greater depth and more options across the entire biking gene pool. There have been some interesting moves and surprises to note though. First is a strong surge for the sports sector, with a real glut of smaller protagonists breaking cover –…

Langen Motorcycles made their name with the small capacity performance retro roadster, the Two Stroke, so how did they end up on the other end of the performance bike spectrum with the LightSpeed power-cruiser? Langen boss, Chris Ratcliffe explains that the vision for their latest model came long before their debut machine – and from a highly unlikely place. “I spent a lot of years on a Yamaha V-Max,” says Chris. “I got married on it, we went on our honeymoon on it, and we’ve done 50,000 miles on it. I love the bike, but it needed to be much lighter, more powerful, much better looking and most importantly handle as well as any bike with that sort of power – so I could keep up with my mates around…

SAVE £3000 £15,799 KTM Super Duke GT ABS The KTM 1290 Super Duke GT gives you punchy performance, poise, cultured handling, adjustable comfort and effective electronics. Buy it on finance and you’ll get a four-year warranty too. Being a V-twin, the GT is manageable and respectably light – far less imposing and intimidating than a comparable four and there is a big saving. www.mandp.co.uk SAVE £1300 £8700 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory The Factory is slightly more powerful than the standard Tuono 660 with shorter gearing which makes it thrilling to ride at road speeds. deardenmotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 659cc • Power 99bhp • Weight 181kg • Seat height 820mm SAVE £850 £3999 Enfield SCRAM 411 Large numbers of riders have bought Himalayans to plod around enjoying the two-wheeled experience. Now you…

Motorcycle Live will be free to attend this year for all Isle of Man TT marshals. The tickets come as a result of a collaboration between the show and TT organisers, with all those eligible receiving an email with further instructions. Valid for a one-day entry, to redeem, simply take your 2023 marshal pass to the Press Office in Hall 4. Sportsbike Shop opens in Preston Kit giants SportsBikeShop have a new store in Preston, adding to their existing locations in Bristol, Reading, Milton Keynes, Leeds, Harlow, Birmingham, and Boston. The team will be adding a ‘Try on or Buy’ service – meaning customers can check out the online catalogue before they visit and have anything in stock shipped to store to try on. Get ready for the Day of…

REV'IT! Lamina GTX Ladies Jacket £649.99 Intended for all-weather adventure travel, this new laminated Gore-Tex jacket has been designed specifically for women using a new 3D process, which the manufacturer says will achieve ‘fit focused riding comfort’. It’s AA CE-rated, with Level 2 armour for back, shoulders and elbow. Matching trousers are also available (£469.99). revitsport.com Oxford Hamilton Winter Gloves £69.99 Bucking the trend for all-black winter wear, this new waterproof glove from Oxford is also available in a refreshing retro-ready brown. Insulated with thermal PrimaLoft and featuring a Dry2Dry breathable membrane, the full goat leather construction has bonded PU knuckle protectors and is CE certified to 1KP. oxfordproducts.com R&G Pro Engine Case Covers from £89.99 R&G have expanded their catalogue of engine case covers with the new Pro range.…

Yamaha’s new, entrylevel 125 scooter might have a name which sounds like an old Motorola flip phone, but that shouldn’t deter young riders and commuters who’ll no doubt benefit from its mix of light weight, sports style, and features which include underseat storage, stop/start economy and an electric boost function for zippy acceleration. The RayZR is the latest addition to Yamaha’s urban mobility family (as distinct from the pricier, sports scooters such as the XMAX and TMAX), the RayZR has been conceived to ‘provide affordability for riders looking for a value for money machine with reliability, simplicity and a sporty look but still with many of the latest features like the electrical Power Assist system to boost acceleration’. Weighing in at just 99kg, the RayZR becomes Yamaha’s lightest scooter and,…

Q ‘What happens if the driver had done a runner?’ I had a close shave last week. A car pulled across my path from a junction and the driver didn’t even seem to realise what he had done. I managed to brake, but nearly lost control. What if I had crashed and was injured, and he drove off without stopping? Rita, email A This would depend on whether you could trace the driver. If he was traceable, for example via CCTV, then you would be able to bring a claim for compensation against the driver’s insurer. If he wasn’t traceable you’d have been able to seek compensation from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), which compensates the victims of untraced drivers. People usually think that there needs to be contact between…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Michael Visovsky The ride Lots of people work from home but can you go touring and ‘work from roam’? I decided to find out with a three-and-a-half month tour of the USA. How many miles? 9000 Tell us about the trip Why wait for that two-week vacation to take a tour? Technology today made me ponder if something like this is possible. Sure, there is the normal work day and necessary screen time but that leaves enough time to put some miles in prior to and after work. Yes, many things to take into account, like internet access, campsites, and everything else that happens during a tour. The upside is numerous National Parks, a college friend's wedding in Vermont, jazz clubs in NY and…

'Ride of thanks' ROLAND JOHNS Here I am leading 260 bikes on our annual Ride of Thanks, raising funds for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance and Blood Bikes Service. 'Eight-hour epic' PHILIP WESTON A bonus location on the Iron Butt UK 8hr SAS tour. The task was to choose and plan a route around the south east. Then ride it and take photos with my tour flag. Great fun. 'A Spanish detour' WALT BARBOUR En route from Teruel to do ‘The Silent Route’ – a short route of only 63km through very varied landscapes, with some interesting towns and sights along the way. 'Paradise at home' DARYL ROGERS The picture makes it look like it could be somewhere exotic in the Sahara but it’s actually at a place called…

With big shoes to fill right from the start, when Robert Dunlop started racing in 1979 his brother Joey had already won a TT, and by the time Robert came to the fore in the 1980s, big brother was widely regarded as the greatest of all time. Yet that didn’t stop the younger Dunlop from making his own name. Five TT wins, 15 North West 200 wins, nine Ulster GP wins, a Macau GP win, and 111 Irish national road race victories testify to this. More than just a road racer, Robert was also British 125cc champion in 1991 and was a top British Superbike contender in the early 1990s, riding the JPS Norton, the Medd Honda RC45, and the Oxford Products Ducati 888. Much happier in the public eye…

Get a fruity toot! Bike’s horn lost its volume? Here’s how to reinvigorate your honk 1 Give it a good blast The humble horn – how often do you give yours a blast? Although it might not usually get a second thought, your bike’s hooter becomes essential when you need to warn others of your presence. Often located in a place that gets the worst of road spray, the horn’s lifespan can be quite short– either stopping working totally or giving a pathetic squeak. BRUCE’S TIPS If the fuse blows again, check for other problems with the horn itself 2 Rule out the fuse If your bike’s horn appears to have failed completely first check to see if there is a fuse dedicated to its operation. Locate the fuse holder and inside…

Going behind the headlines from the Malaysian MotoGP While he had nothing for compatriot Fermin Aldeguer on Sunday, Pedro Acosta was rightly crowned Moto2 World Champion, becoming the second youngest champ in intermediate class history. The 19-year old’s success was rarely in doubt in the season’s second half, as he outscored main threat Tony Arbolino in every race after Le Mans, bar the wet Australian GP. It’s been a consistently brilliant campaign for Acosta, when he has repeatedly ridden “with my head more than my heart,” as he did two weeks ago in Thailand. He has already equalled Marc Marquez and Johann Zarco’s record for the most podium finishes in intermediate class history (14), and could yet beat the Frenchman’s record points haul (352) for either a 250cc or Moto2…

So the big news is that it looks like Marini is going to Repsol Honda – which I don’t actually think is massively exciting. On one hand I get it, but on the other hand I don’t with it being Rossi’s brother. It doesn’t make sense for him to come off a competitive ride and onto a turd. If it’s a two- or three-year deal then you have to think that in that time Honda will be back and competitive again. As far as HRC are concerned it is absolutely unacceptable for them to be where they are. The other reason for Marini going is that instead of his wages being delivered in a 7.5 tonne truck – they’ll be getting delivered in an artic! That might swing the job.…

Has Bastianini’s Sepang success saved him from a brutal axing out of Ducati’s factory squad? Rumours swirled in Sepang that the Italian rider could be sacrificed in favour of Jorge Martin in 2024 halfway through a two-year gig to partner Pecco Bagnaia. Bastianini’s Malaysia GP win will certainly do his factory prospects no harm at all. But it might be out of his hands anyway, with Ducati giving serious consideration to promoting Martin should he beat Bagnaia to the title. Ducati did little to smother speculation in Sepang when Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti said: “With Martin’s current level of performance it’s a reality we should consider. We cannot ignore this level of performance." Reacting to the rumours his place is in serious jeopardy, Bastianini said: “It’s simple. Jorge made a…

MV Agusta used last week’s EICMA trade show in Milan to confirm their stunning Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro will go into production next year. The four-cylinder machine, inspired by the firm’s 1972 500 GP race bike, will arrive in limited numbers in the third quarter of 2024, with each one numbered for authenticity. The Superveloce 1000 was first shown in November 2022 as a concept, at an exclusive event at their flagship Milan showroom to coincide with that year’s Milan show. This year, it shares the limelight with a new 931cc LXP Orioli adventure bike, which is the final production version of the Lucky Explorer 9.5. Although we don’t yet know the price for the Serie Oro, it will sit alongside the smaller three-cylinder Superveloce 800. With the demise of…

Kawasaki have revealed not one but two new 500 parallel twins for 2024 – replacing the existing Ninja and Z400 with a pair of larger 451cc options to meet the latest Euro5+ emissions regulations. With pricing still to be confirmed, the new Z500 and Ninja 500 are A2-compliant and will share a range of parts – most notably the motor. This unit appears to be shared by the 2024 Eliminator 500 cruiser and the petrol element of both new hybrids (see right). The engine is paired with an Assist and Slipper clutch to help nervy newbies with gear changes and will sit snug in a trellis chassis. ‘The new twin has a Slip and Assist clutch’ The Z500 has an LCD screen, but a Special Edition will get its own…

Piaggio have pulled the covers off a revised Vespa scooter range. Now fully compliant with Euro5+ emissions rules for 2024, the combustion engined scooters get revised styling, new colour options, and – in some cases – the ability to connect to your mobile phone. Available in a range of options from 50 to 150cc, the updates can be found in the firm’s Primavera and Sprint S line-ups, with both receiving a revised handlebar block in a new shape alongside revised grips. All will come with a conventional key system except for the Primavera Tech, which gains a keyless system. ‘There’s revised styling, colours and tech too’ All of the scoots will roll on redesigned rims, with a five-spoke set-up applied to the Primavera, and six spokes for the Sprint S.…

‘Turned-up jeans facing downturn’ I have always kept a close eye on the used prices of Harley-Davidson’s XR1200 model. Why? To me it is the perfect indicator of how a certain trend in the motorcycle market is going and right now it tells me that the whole ‘flat-tracking hipster’ thing complete with turned-up jeans could well be on the verge of a downturn. Released in 2008, the XR1200 was inspired by the legendary XR750. Harley needed to attract a younger European audience and to do this they created their sportiest model to date, the XR. Despite looking cool, and having a one-make race series that ran alongside BSB, the XR didn’t take off in the UK, and in 2013 it was taken out of the range. Back then, despite its…

1 November 17 An evening with Hutchy The Mercure hotel in Norwich is playing host to an evening with Ian ‘Hutchy’ Hutchinson on Friday. The Miracle Man will be regaling all with tales from the track and road for £22. And for £49 you could enjoy a pre-event meet and greet with food and drink. Doors open from 6pm, and there are autograph and photo ops during the interval and after the show. www.bikesandbanter.co.uk 2 November 18-26 Motorcycle Live This weekend Motorcycle Live kicks off at the NEC. With BSB day on Sunday 19 and FIM Champions day on November 25, choose your visit wisely or even go more than once – see this week’s 16-page special to plan your visit. An advance adult ticket is £23, and for a Zerofit bobble…

THE MCN TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK £8199 Suzuki GSX-8S ● 776cc parallel twin ● 82bhp / 57.5lb.ft ● £115.47 per month PCP £7299 Honda CB750 Hornet ● 755cc parallel twin ● 91bhp / 55lb.ft ● £91.25 per month PCP £6999* KTM 790 Duke ● 799cc parallel twin ● 103bhp / 64lb.ft ● £69 per month PCP This is year, we’ve been spoilt when it comes to affordable, middleweight nakeds. Where Yamaha’s MT-07 once reigned supreme as a frugal and confidence-inspiring fun factory, both Honda and Suzuki have upped the ante by offering more tech, more power and more functionality, without going potty with the price. But it isn’t just Suzuki’s GSX-8S and Honda’s CB750 Hornet that have hit the market, as KTM have thrown a serious…

‘Enough to put a smile on your face’ If you’re looking for a simple, user-friendly and unintimidating adventure bike then the Enfield deserves your consideration. If you’re coming from a big-capacity adventure bike it’s going to feel slow and underwhelming on the road by comparison, but as a bike you could live with and be able to go on an anxiety-free adventure either on or off-road, the new Himalayan ticks a lot of boxes. It’s not fast or particularly high-tech, but it has enough go to put a smile on your face and enough off-road pedigree to get you where you want to go whether that be making your way down a UK green lane or crossing the Himalayas solo. Now we just need Enfield to reveal the all-important price.…

EDZ Merino Wool Boot Socks £19.99 Tested by Alison Silcox for three years It’s an extravagance to have specific socks for riding, but these are worth the investment. I’ve worn them for over five years, particularly on longer trips, when comfort’s essential, and they’re great. Made from merino wool, they keep my feet comfortable, whatever the weather, and being calf length helps to ensure that boots don’t chafe. They’ve held their shape in the wash and the elasticated cuff is firm enough to avoid any slipping sock issues and it’s not lost any of it’s strength over the years either. Quality Value edzlayering.com 6000 miles ON TEST…

‘If only he’d told us he’d changed the generator’ An intermittent electrical fault is the trickiest to diagnose and fix because ‘now you see it, now you don’t’. So, when a misfiring Aprilia RSV-R arrived at AP workshops in Tamworth recently, Amber Victoria knew she had to be methodical. “The owner said the bike would run fine one day, then it would misfire the next, sometimes clearing for a period before misbehaving again. “It’s a process of elimination. We stripped the bike to check the fuel system, coil packs and spark plug caps and did a compression check. Everything checked out so we ran diagnostics on the ECU, but that was all good,” Amber said. The next step was to check the pickup on the generator. Before the generator cover…

Andrew Irwin will be back in action for Honda in BSB in 2024 and will be keen for a positive campaign after missing the majority of 2023 through injury. Irwin, a winner with Honda in 2019 and 2020, was hopeful of a return to form after a difficult spell for SYNETIQ BMW, but suffered a broken humerus during the Knockhill test – missing five rounds as a result. The break allowed Irwin to keep a close eye on his rivals out on track, and see things from a “slightly different perspective”. “You look and you learn and understand certain things,” Irwin said. “I can take things from being off the bike and learn from those, and for Harv to give me another opportunity, I really believe I have all the…

Honda’s MotoGP project is in deep trouble. Everyone knows that. Apart from April’s against-thegrain Americas GP victory from LCR’s Alex Rins, the 2023 season has been a disaster for GP racing’s most successful brand. Honda have scored 820 GP victories since 1961, that’s 300 more than its closest rival. But that was then and this is now. And the now is bad news for Honda. The RC213V’s inability to compete with bikes built by the European manufacturers has seen Honda hero Marc Marquez walk out a multi-million-dollar RC213V deal for a next-to-nothing 2024 ride on a secondhand Gresini Ducati, while Rins long ago signed a deal to leave for Yamaha. Since then Repsol Honda has spoken to just about every rider in the paddock, searching for someone to replace Marquez:…