Tabla de contenidos para October 2023 en RiDE

‘RiDE is a celebration of brilliant-value motorcycling’ It's no great revelation that used bikes cost less than new, but in a world where everything gets more expensive, used machines – especially recent models where a chunk of depreciation has already hit – are increasingly good buys. In this issue we assembled a collection of nearly-new used machines, all of which are utterly mouth-watering, deliver brilliant performance and are kinder to your pocket if going for a new bike is too much of a leap at this time of uncertainty. But which one to go for? Right now, I'd be tempted by a nearly-new Tracer 9 GT. The latest version is one of the best bikes on the planet, with superb handling, a wonderful 890cc triple plus ace distance ability –…

500 BIKES ONLY How the weight was lost The fully adjustable Öhlins NIX30 forks are 0.6kg lighter than the standard 43mm non-adjustable units – and they offer more ground clearance too. The forged wheels pare another 1.86kg, decreasing the moment of inertia of the front wheel by 21.8% and the rear by 26.9% – which is claimed to help the bike steer quicker. The brakes are 0.4kg lighter than the standard Monster's four-piston Brembo monoblocs, with aluminium flanges for the 320mm front discs then shaving off an extra 0.5kg. Further contributions to weight loss are made by the two carbon-fibre mudguards and the lithium-ion battery. DUCATI IS CELEBRATING 30 years of the iconic Monster with a super-light 30° Anniversario special edition limited to 500 units. And four more bikes are…

Building a lasting legacy The 900F's creator, Hag Hughes, might be familiar to motorcyclists of a certain age: as a young bloke his tuned 350LCs and YamaGammas featured on the ‘Readers Special’ pages of Performance Bikes magazine. He's built more top-notch specials and race bikes, for himself and others, in the past 30-odd years than he can remember. Not for MT-09s The kit won't fit a Yamaha MT-09, as the subframes and other fittings are different to the XSR's. Square light in a round hole! If you're wondering why it has a round headlight in a rectangular opening (with a decal to mimic the RD's four-sided lamp, it's because it voids the homologation and warranty of new bikes: there's nothing to stop owners fitting an aftermarket part. We don't mind…

FIRST RIDE DUCATI STREETFIGHTER V4 SP2 1 YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR… Ducati's Streetfighter V4 SP2 is based on the reworked 2023 Streetfighter V4S – and like the V4S it has a bundle of mouth-atering upgrades to help it go faster around a track and give it a tougher look. But at £30,595 – £7700 more than the V4S – it had better be good… 2 IT REALLY LOOKS ‘FACTORY’ With its semi-active Öhlins, balloon-shaped 200-section rear tyre and minimal bodywork, the V4S looks every inch the stripped-down racer. The SP2 has an even more serious ‘factory’ look with its satin black ‘winter test’ livery, exposed brushed aluminium tank, V4 SP2 logo stitched into the seat, and carbon fibre wings, front mudguard and dry clutch cover. 3 HANDLING'S SERIOUSLY SHARP The…

THE FACTS The route A 101-mile, four-hour clockwise ride of the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales, from bridge to bridge (Pont Britannia to Menai) around the sandy south and rocky northern coastline. Why it's great Because it's relatively undiscovered, the scenery is outstanding and it's home to the greatest racetrack in the world. When to go No later than this month – the notoriously fickle weather can change from calm and sunny to howling gales in an instant. Where to visit Ty Croes and Trac Môn – Anglesey circuit – but also the extreme western and eastern tips of the island, which are both stunning. THE GUY ON the FireBlade looked confused. “You're going round Anglesey? The good roads are that way,” he said, pointing back down the A55…

HALF-PRICE HEROES >2017–on >113bhp >71lb·ft >810mm >210kg NEW £15,795 USED £8299 -48% Look at it. I mean, just look at it. How could anyone in their right mind object to opening the garage door every morning and seeing a baby-red Ducati SuperSport S sitting there looking back at them? The V-twin won awards for its styling when it was launched, and rightfully so – it's a pretty bike, well-proportioned, looking sporty but not uncomfortably racy. From the single-sided swingarm, Y-spoked rear wheel, neatly-waisted tail unit, gold Öhlins shock and double-barrelled exhaust, to the sleek slab of fairing and those gold Öhlins at the front with radial gunmetal Brembos hanging off the end – there's not a design mis-step in sight. Compared to the raft of angular, insectoid styles coming from…

> 2021-on > 103bph > 74Ib-ft > 850mm > 196kg NEW £11,999 USED £8197 -32% KTM's fondness for releasing new models every two years – and usually not just minor tweaks, but full‑blown mechanical and design overhauls – is great news if you're in the market for a bargain-priced, nearly‑new Austrian. The first-gen 890 Adventure is a perfect example of the result of a high turnover of models: it was released just two years ago as an enlarged, uprated and up‑spec 790 Adventure (itself only two years old back then). The 890 appeared so soon after the 790, when it was announced it was possible to find a discounted, new 790 for less than private sellers were asking for a used one. But a mere 24 months later – at…

RiDE staffers on kit they've been using recently Oxford Stormland suit £699.98 oxfordproducts.com The Stormland – the laminated successor to the Hinterland that I'd used a lot – won a Recommended triangle in our recent laminated jacket test. I used the suit for a long ride in torrential rain recently and found that the Hinterland was a better performer. The Stormland leaked at the forearms and over the chest but I stayed dry because my airbag vest took the brunt of the wet. The trousers fared worse; within half an hour the butt was wetting-out and by the end of the ride, it was proper wet, and so were my thighs. The jacket was still damp after 16 hours on a radiator. Shame; the Hinterland was very impressive. JIM BLACKSTOCK…

GRAGE THE DIRT IT'S THE 600 that turned the classic CBR into an uncompromising GP wannabe. Developed in parallel with the first RCV MotoGP bike, the first RR is a tiny, jewel-like screamer that's exquisite on track (if demanding elsewhere) and can now be a mini-me MotoGP machine for very little money. But you need to know what ownership brings. 1 It's likely been thrashed Maybe even as a racer or trackday bike. Check for fried tyres, crash damage, panel replacement, scraped pegs/levers, etc. Also quiz the owner about its previous life. Be aware that ex-Ron Haslam track school bikes were sold wearing unused bodywork after a year on track: check that the chassis condition tallies with the plastics. How common? Very, especially as they cheapen. Scrutinise condition closely. 2 It's a…

FOR ONE MONTH ONLY THE FACTS £11.795 99hp 216kg MILES THIS MONTH 902 MPG THIS MONTH 45.1 COSTS THIS MONTH £135.74 91.1 litres of fuel at 149p per litre WHILE DESIGNING LAST month's touring supplement, I was sufficiently inspired by Jim Blackstock's guide to the SW660 route to give it a go, starting in North Devon and finishing up in Poole, Dorset. My unlikely touring partner? Triumph's Speed Twin 1200. The Speed Twin is not a natural choice for big trips. This much is clear when you settle on to the plank-like seat – it's okay for an hour or two, but you soon start to fidget on long motorway hauls with no corners to have you shifting your weight. I got some brief respite approaching Bristol on the M5,…

‘Okay, it won't win any eoncours…’ Mike Browne's Triumph may be a bit tarnished these days, but the sweet-running triple just keeps going and going – and going Name Mike Browne, 61 Bike 1999 Triumph Legend Total Miles 129,000 Miles per year 5500 IKE'S TRIUMPH LEGEND has been a fixture in his garage for 24 years but it only arrived there by accident… “I first rode one when a friend dragged me to a dealership. He tested a Guzzi while I rode a Legend they had in stock. Within five miles I chose to buy one! Now it's my go-to daily transport, regardless of distance. The poor old car only gets an outing if there's stuff to carry or it's icy.” As well as fulfilling its daily duties, the Triumph…

LONDON'S ULTRA LOW Emission Zone (ULEZ) expanded on August 29 to include every London borough, following a High Court battle that ran towards the end of July this year. Designed to improve the air quality across the city – and, thus, the quality of life for Londoners – the zone essentially sees any bikes that don't meet Euro3 emissions standards charged £12.50 a day to enter the area. Cars must meet different standards. Euro3 bikes are generally those registered with the DVLA after July 2007, but some older machines have been able to squeeze in thanks to several aftermarket test centres popping up across the city; five are recommended on tfl.gov.uk “The latest evidence shows that air pollution is making us sick from cradle to the grave,” said Mayor of…

MCE Insurance has been placed into administration by directors due to its financial position, but the company has issued assurances that existing policies will remain in place. The insurer said in a statement: “The company will not be writing any new policies. The Joint Administrators are working closely with Sabre (Insurance Group – underwriters) to find a resolution that minimises any disruption to existing policyholders, and ensures they are treated fairly. “All customers’ existing policies remain in place; they will continue to have cover. There is, therefore, no action customers need to take. Sabre is not affected by this administration and will continue to meet valid claims made under existing policies.”…

‘I dropped my bike doing a U-turn. How can I get better at them?’ Q I RECENTLY DROPPED my Triumph Tiger doing a U-turn in a car park. I put my foot down on gravel and slid over in a heap. Only my pride was hurt and I know I'm unlikely to die from a rubbish U-turn but I'd still like to be better at them. Any hints? Kev Grainger A THAT SORT OF thing can happen to the best of us but there's plenty we can do to make sure such incidents are few and far between. And although you're right to say that being good at U-turns isn't as safety-critical as, say, reading the road, it's still an important skill. However, there's still a significant safety element because…

FIRST RIDE HONDA EM1 E THE EM1 IS the first electric from Honda in Europe and signifies the first step towards a pledge of carbon neutrality across all two-wheel ranges by 2050… even if it is only good for 28mph. This is a very basic scooter, designed to simply get people from A to B (and can be ridden from 16 on a CBT) – and that's reflected in the level of equipment. You get a standard riding mode, plus a more frugal setting that will be a bit too slow for most, and no re-gen on the battery when coasting off-throttle. There's no ABS, just old-school linked braking with a rear drum. This simplicity is carried over into the suspension, with the conventional forks and twin shocks offering no…

AFTER YEARS OF being ignored and underdeveloped, sports tourers are back with a bang at the top of manufacturers’ flagship priorities. Yamaha's 2023 Tracer 9 GT+ takes the already outstanding 890cc, 113bhp CP3 inline triple and semi-active Deltabox-based chassis of the current Tracer 9 GT, and adds a layer of top-drawer technology that elevates it to become the most electronically sophisticated motorcycle Japan has yet produced. Because not only does the ‘+’ in GT+ signify radar-assisted adaptive cruise Control – the radar sits under the nose of the bike – it's also used to introduce a world-first radar-assisted braking system. In addition, the GT+ gets a new 7in TFT dash, new switchgear, a third-generation up/down quickshifter that now allows clutchless changes in any circumstance (and won't disengage cruise control), a…

DOWNLOAD THE ROUTE ride.co.uk Best for A lap of the other island in the Irish Sea Length 100 miles Route Pont Britannia Bridge, Llanfairpwllgwyngyl, Niwbwrch Rhosneigr, Holyhead, Cemaes Bay, Amlwch, Beaumaris, Menai Bridge Roads A55, A4080, A5, B4545, Lon Isallt, South Stack Road, A55, A5025, B5109, Beaumaris Road, A5 Love it because of the variety of the scenery – and the sheer amount of it Take a picture at Penmon Point. See if you can get a puffin in the pic Stop for a cuppa at Pilot House cafe at Penmon Point is a must-stop ALSO TRY… Llandudno Loop Best for an alternative North Wales circuit Length 110 miles Route A bit of everything from Llandudno's seaside scenery to the bucolic Conwy Valley, the mountains of Snowdonia, the Pen-y-Pass, then…

>2021-on >117bhp >69lb·ft >810mm-835mm >220kg NEW £13,110 USED £9743 -26% If Ducati's SuperSport S is that rarest of beasts – a good-looking sporty sports tourer, as at home on the track as on tour – then Yamaha's Tracer 9 GT is almost the polar opposite, coming at sport touring from a distinct road-biased point of view… and it's got a face only Mrs Groucho Marx could love. Yamaha admitted it was disappointed with the initial sales reaction to 2021's Tracer 9 GT, coming on the heels of the Covid pandemic and hit by supply issues as global events impacted the world of motorcycles. And it may have had a point – the Tracer arrived mid-glut of sports tourers, with Suzuki's GSX-S1000 GT and Honda's NT1100 rivalling Kawasaki's evergreen Ninja 1000SX,…

HONDA CB650R >649cc >inline >four >94bhp >40lb·ft >202kg >810mm >£4500-£7000 Gorgeous inline four middleweight and true heir to the Hornet name Why they're great Fantastic looks (bronze engine covers, Honda's Neo Sports Café styling, swept exhaust headers echoing Honda's past) mixed with classic Honda design and build quality marks what may be one of the last great Japanese inline‑four middleweights we'll ever see. Screaming high revs make it a more exciting prospect to ride than most thumpity parallel twins, mixing a capable chassis with banshee wailing when nailed. But it's also perfectly tractable and inordinately smooth, and has sweet, agile steering with Honda's trademark mass-centralisation. Best for High-revving middleweight fun. BMW R1200GS >1170cc flat twin >123bhp >92lb·ft >244kg >850-870mm >£10,000-£13,000 Britain's most popular motorcycle, for good reason Why they're great…

Quechua trap £34.99 decathlon.co.uk THE CLAIM “Increase your living space with ease, sheltered from the sun or rain!” THE REALITY We got this for last month's biking camping feature but didn't need it. It offers protection in isolation or extends shelter over a smaller tent – and it's easy to put up by one person (I know, I tried). It's a heck of a bargain at £35. Brembo SC brake pads £99 brembo.com THE CLAIM “This sintered compound has a high friction coefficient when hot but also stays very stable in all running conditions.” THE REALITY Really impressive on road and track with great initial bite, lots of feel and an improvement in stopping power. Impressive so far – longevity will be the big test. Oxford Firepit £59.99 oxfordproducts.com THE…

BMW'S R1250GS IS the standard by which all big adventure bikes are judged. Rivals come and go; beating or even matching it is a mammoth task. The 1250 launched in late 2018 as an update to the 1200, then BMW refined it in 2021 with a Euro5 motor, adaptive ABS, a fuel-saving Eco mode and optional adaptive headlamps, plus a fully-loaded 40th anniversary model. It is far more than an adventure bike. It's a superb all-rounder that'll commute, tour, scratch and off-road with as much conviction as bikes specific to these individual disciplines. It's powered by a meaty, beautifully-fuelled 1254cc motor that finds eyebrow-raising drive at almost any rpm and kept in check by a chassis that carves up B-roads and tosses aside long motorway stints with the same effortless…

RIDE READER RICHARD BURTON Richard, 57, was born up north, but moved to Cornwall decades ago. Now he lives in Falmouth but travels all over the UK and Europe on his KTM 1290 Super Adventure S (“I've had big sportsbikes in the past but I like to see the scenery nowadays, not just a blur.”). If he fancies a bit of speed he's also got a trackdayonly Triumph TT600. This route is one of his local standards; sometimes ridden solo, sometimes with mates. WE HAD A plan. It was a lovely plan. But it didn't work. We'd agreed to meet up near Land's End on the evening before our ride, so I could grab the epic photograph of Richard and his KTM against the backdrop of a gorgeous sunset over…

Whilst low emission zones can spell trouble for the combustion engine, some small-capacity electric manufacturers believe they have just the answer. RiDE spoke to Seb Inglis‑Jones, co-founder of Coventry-based Maeving. Its £6990 retro RM1 features removable batteries and a top speed of 45mph, and has proved popular since it was launched in 2021. “Thinking about the Pakistani floods and the heatwaves we had last year, it feels like a very natural thing for us to do – never mind the clean air angle,” he said. “I've got a big petrol bike, which I take out occasionally for recreational riding, but I prefer using an electric bike in the inner city. I would maybe encourage people to see this more as an opportunity than as a threat. “I totally understand that…

Email ride@ride.co.uk Write to us RiDE, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA LETTER OF THE MONTH Signs of the times As a frequent user of the UK road system I cannot help but notice the deterioration in the ability of road signs to satisfy their purpose. Many are unreadable because of accrued road spray; hidden behind overgrown hedges, bushes and trees; rotated such that they cannot been seen; bleached white; or simply missing. Is there such a requirement to maintain them to a usable condition and, if so, who is responsible for the maintenance? The situation can seriously compromise the motoring public's safety and ability to comply with the law. Signs exist to inform motorists; too many fail this basic test. John Jenkins National Highways, which is responsible for the…

NEW BIKES FIRST RIDE VELOCITY MOTO YAMAHA XSR900 YAMAHA IS THOUGHT to be considering an RD-styled XSR900 and ran a prototype at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but you don't have to wait until it makes up its mind to get your hands on one. Surrey-based Velocity Moto has created a ‘900F’ makeover for 2022-onwards XSR900s. You can buy a ready-to-fit kit if you have the bike, or a new XSR with the conversion completed from selected Yamaha dealers, complete with warranty. Despite being inspired by the RD500LC, the panel design is shared with the RD350F2 – offering the option to pay homage to the ‘Powervalve’ with your choice of paint. Velocity Moto's prototype was built using RD350F2 panels modified to fit, as they're a closer match for the XSR's…

FIRST RIDE DUCATI MULTISTRADA PIKES PEAK THE PIKES PEAK has always signified the most performance-focused Multistrada model – and the latest version is no exception. It returns to 17in wheels – something sportier riders will appreciate – and boasts lightweight forged items shod in sticky Diablo Rosso rubber. The changes make it less stable under fast changes of direction, although adding a bit of rear preload helps it hold the road better. The Pikes Peak runs a single-sided swingarm and titanium Akrapovic exhaust with carbon tip, a two-tone seat, carbon details, gold forks with a gold anti-friction coating, and MotoGP-inspired livery with number boards. In addition, the Brembo calipers gain Panigale V4 pads for extra bite, the monocoque frame has sportier geometry, and lots of dedicated touches and components separate…

WE ALL KNOW buying a new bike throws a good chunk of its cash value on the incinerator as soon as it rolls out of the showroom – depreciation is the price we pay for the peace of mind of owning a new bike. And the used bike market today has never been stronger – both in terms of the range of bikes available and the prices being asked for them. But that doesn't mean there aren't bargains to be found – even in dealers, such as the UK's largest used bike emporium, SuperBike Factory. We've raided the Macclesfield branch to select four examples of low-mileage, nearly‑new bikes that buck the trend and are effectively as good as new, at a fraction of the price.…

HALF-PRICE HEROES NEW £16,395 USED £9395 -43% > 2019-on > 134bhp > 106lb-ft > 820mm > 239kg Take the 1254cc flat twin ShiftCam motor from the R1250GS, put it in a steel frame with upside‑down forks and single-sided shaft drive, give it naked styling but sit the rider deep behind the tank with a single (fairly high) handlebar, add a raft of luxury electronics – and you have the 2019 BMW R1250R. Not the sexiest bike in the world to look at – even in HP BMW Motorsport colours, it pales next to the pretty Ducati SuperSport S. But when it comes to using the machine – and piloting it anywhere from a bumpy, twisty back road to an arrow-straight motorway – the R1250R is one of the very best.…

YOU COULD ARGUE that of all the machine control skills, braking is the most important. After all, if we get it right, it's the one that stops us hitting the car that's just pulled out. Yet braking gets little attention compared to steering, or vision, or reading the road. So, to rectify that, the final Rapid Training Summer Masterclass is dedicated to the fine art of slowing down. Why the front? Modern performance motorcycles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but one thing is consistent: the front brakes are far, far more powerful than the rear's. At the front there are usually two discs as big as dinner plates, each one gripped by four brake pistons that are often mounted in a super-rigid radial caliper. And at the…

‘No single pair excels in both necessary areas’ This is another difficult test to call a conclusion on. Part of the reason is that two main qualities influence choice – fit and comfort, and protective ability – and no single pair of jeans excels in both areas. However, one pair is head and shoulders above the others in each – and for that reason we have chosen to not have a Best Buy but, instead, two Recommended products. The Resurgence jeans have staggering protective abilities. In our drag tests, the outer denim layer was shredded and the first – Pekev – protective layer was also gone, but the inner layer was intact after 15 runs. But only being available in a slim-leg fit will limit their appeal to everyone. As…

German aftermarket comfort seat with increased padding (+25mm) and heating element. Comes with built-in heating controller. Non-heated version is £379. nippynormans.com Top-quality replacement for the GS's standard shock. Britishbuilt, fully adjustable and set by Nitron to your weight and riding preference. Lower spec (no remote reservoir) R1 model is £630. brooksuspension.co.uk Increase performance, reduce weight and add a bit of class with these titanium downpipes. Comes with integrated exhaust flapper, and fits the standard BMW silencer or Akrapovic part. No remapping required. akrapovic.com Potentially the best all-round motorcycle ever; it's a jack of all trades, and a master of most of them too. Find a good one, buy it, and rejoice. WHAT'S GOOD? Grunty, characterful motor, superb handling, all-round ability, high specification (if you buy right), strength of long-term values. NOT…

WHEN EDITOR MATT went on the launch of KTM's revitalised 890 Adventure earlier this year, he came back raving about it. Indeed he pondered whether it might even be all the bike you'd ever need. Subsequent news of the 790 Adventure – fundamentally the same chassis minus the suspension adjustability and using the smaller-capacity motor – piqued our interest somewhat. Built by sister brand CFMoto in China, it costs £9999; a full £2k less than the 890. So far, we've done everything Matt said the 890 was good at. But does the 790 uphold the brand's honour with a four-figure pricetag? Let's see. 1 Ergonomics are great for me It seems that I'm roughly the same size (5ft 8in) as a KTM test rider. I base that on the 790 fitting…