Table of contents for 9 September 2020 in MCN

Police in Southampton have arrested a 13-year-old boy on suspicion of theft after a report that a stolen moped was being ridden around a park. The bike was later returned to its rightful owner. Later in the same night officers were able to reunite a second owner with a scooter that had been stolen. “We know there are number of reports we receive like this regularly,” said the Southampton West Neighbourhoods team. “We know how it affects people’s lives – whether through having to endure anti-social behaviour, or theft – and we are doing everything we can to reduce the issue.”…

I was not surprised to read that there was a shortage of scooters. My local dealer alerted me to this phenomenon in early June, and I was staggered to discover there was not one used Yamaha NMAX 125 being offered for sale privately. There’s no such thing as a depreciation-proof scooter but the NMAX and the Honda PCX125 get as close as anything. I’ve hardly used my NMAX since lockdown (working from home) and was wondering what it might be worth. Nine months old, 3000 miles, useful extras, perfect nick. I’ve just seen a 2018 4000-miler sell for £2850, so I might get three grand. Even £2850 would represent a residual value cost of less than £60 per month. Incredible. So with the Yamaha and the Honda both expensive, I…

£10,399 KTM 890 Duke R • 890cc 8v DOHC parallel twin • 119bhp @ 9250rpm • 166kg dry weight £9747 Yamaha MT-09 SP • 847cc 12v DOHC inline triple • 133bhp @ 10,000rpm • 193kg wet weight £10,500 Triumph Street Triple RS • 765cc 12v DOHC inline triple • 121bhp @ 11,750rpm • 166kg dry weight KTM know how to screw together engaging motorcycles. Sure, their history might be full of dirty high-rise things with knobbly tyres that look like they want to break your legs. They sell more puddle jumpers than road bikes, too. However, the orange-clad Austrians have won a trio of Moto3 world championships and are now race winners in MotoGP – the pinnacle of going-round-in-circles bike racing. And this track prowess reaches the…

Phil Ward from Aylesbury ‘I’ve only been riding for 12 months and I thought this would be a good opportunity to practise some riding with a bunch of guys who have a lot more experience than I do. I found out about it through friends and as soon as I heard why they wanted to take part, particularly about how there’s a lack of money coming into charities under the current circumstances, it was a nobrainer. I only knew a few people beforehand, but was very quickly integrated into the group – literally within an hour’s ride I felt comfortable, not just riding but marking junctions, too. Some of the scenery has been absolutely stunning and it’s been a great way of seeing parts of the country that I wouldn’t…

Klim Carlsbad Adventure Jacket £650 Tested by Ben Clarke for two months, 1400 miles Let’s not beat around the bush here, this is an expensive jacket. You could suit yourself up from head-to-toe in reasonable gear for the cost of this one garment and still have enough money left over to fill your fuel tank. So I wasn’t willing to accept even a minor flaw – and I haven’t been disappointed. The Gore-Tex fabric construction is a little stiff at first but breaks in quickly and all the CE Level 2 D3O armour sits exactly where you want it. I wore this through the summer and the venting is exceptional. If you open everything you get a great through breeze without the whole thing inflating and if you ride into…

Metric spanners A basic metric spanner set ranging from 8mm to 19mm covers various jobs on a bike. Here we use them to hold the nuts when tightening and unscrewing bolts. Allen key T-bars T-bar Allen keys will speed up the removal of panels and fasteners. They offer you great feel and will prevent you from overtightening delicate parts. Evotech Performance EP tail tidy This is a top-quality British-made kit which has been well thought-out and designed. It has in-depth online instructions, too. Available for a wide range of bikes, prices start at £82. Contact: www.evotech-performance.com Small screwdrivers A good set of small size crosshead and straight screwdrivers are perfect for some of the more delicate screws. •Tell us about your favourite at mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com…

Andrea Locatelli won both WSS races to maintain his 100% win rate and become the first rider to win nine races in a season – eclipsing Kenan Sofuoglu and Eugene Laverty’s record of eight. Locatelli’s closest rival, Jules Cluzel’s left leg was broken after being hit by Raffaele de Rosa in Sunday’s World Supersport race; the Frenchman suffering a fractured tibia and fibula. Brit Danny Webb continued his impressive form securing eight and tenth. In Supersport 300, Jeffrey Buis continues to lead following another win on Sunday. The Saturday victory was handed to Bahattin Sofuoglu following the disqualification of Victor Rodriguez for a technical infringement, having won from 30th on the grid! Tom Booth-Amos suffered gear selection problems in Race 1 and was 11th in Race 2.…

“Firstly, it’s one of the best photos I’ve ever seen of myself and it’s a great photo for people that understand motorcycle racing. The corner where it was taken is one of the most technical and dangerous parts of any circuit on the MotoGP calendar. Only in MotoGP is it even a corner because turn two for the other classes is taken flat out. In MotoGP you are braking for a right hand hairpin, but you have to brake around 200metres before. “I use my leg a lot to help stop the bike and it makes me feel more stable. But the problem is we reach almost 50 degrees of lean angle and it’s very difficult to brake at that part because although the next corner is on the right…

What happened last year? Last year Misano gave us the first taste of Marc Marquez vs Fabio Quartararo. The rookie sensation led every lap, only to be outdone by Marquez on the final lap. Maverick Viñales completed the podium, whilst Valentino Rossi and Franco Morbidelli made it four Yamahas in the top five. What to expect Yamaha need to bounce back from their poor results in recent races and given past form this could be the place to do it but in 2019 KTM’s Pol Esparagaro qualified second and finished 7th and we all know how much better his bike is this year… MISANO STATS…

Josh Brookes believes that Silverstone was an opportunity missed for him in terms of gaining any ground on BSB series leader Glenn Irwin. The VisionTrack Ducati rider secured two sixth places and a second over the course of the weekend and now finds himself 35 points behind in the standings. A podium in race two appeared to set him on the right path after a lack of confidence with the bike hampered him in race one, however a strange vibration and then chatter left Brookes with a battle on his hands again in race three. “It’s not so much a disaster of a weekend, it’s more of an opportunity missed,” Brookes told MCN. “It was a perfect opportunity. Had I had won two or three races for example, it would…

Silverstone 2020 will be remembered as the race meeting where rookie sensation Kyle Ryde celebrated his maiden podium and victories in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. The Buildbase Suzuki rider became the seventh different winner in what is rapidly turning into one the most exciting and unpredictable BSB seasons we’ve seen for years. The 23-year-old had already shown his potential in the opening two meetings at Donington and Snetterton, with only bad luck costing him the chance of a podium. There was no such misfortune at Silverstone though and Ryde showcased the talent that he has at his disposal. “I don’t really know how to put it, but it is very unexpected, and I definitely didn’t expect it to come this soon,” a delighted Ryde told MCN after the final…

•‘The last three years of planning can be realised’WICHER KIST, CEO The Axial Flux Traction (AFT) electric motor, or ‘pancake’ motor as it’s sometimes called, is a novel alternative to more common radial flux types as used by Zero and Harley’s LiveWire. With radial flux motors the rotor rotates around the stator in a cylindrical, barrel-type casing, the main downside being size and weight. With an axial flux motor the rotor and stator comprise concentric discs (hence the pancake name) with an air gap in-between. To balance the magnetic forces, two rotors are often used – one on either side of the stator. The main advantages are three-fold and particularly suited to bikes: Dimensions are weight is usually less; they can produce more torque and they generate less heat. The…

FRIDAY 12pm, BTS2, Live MotoGP from San Marino, Italy: Free Practice 1 & 2 SATURDAY 8am, BTS2, Live MotoGP: Free Practice 3. Qualifying at 11am, 7pm, EUR2, Live Superbikes: MotoAmerica from Millville, New Jersey SUNDAY 7.15am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from San Marino, Italy: Warm Ups, Moto3 at 9.30am, Moto2 at 11am, MotoGP at 12.30pm. Chequered Flag at 2pm 7pm, EUR2, Live MotoAmerica from Millville, New Jersey MONDAY 11.30am, BTS2, FIM Speedway Grand Prix 6pm, QUEST, MotoGP Highlights from San Marino, Italy 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…

We’ve got together with Abus to give away a motorcycle security set that includes a GRANIT™ Detecto XPlus 8008 disc lock, a Granit™ Extreme Plus 59 lock and chain, plus a Granit™ WBA 100 ground anchor. The disc lock boasts a 16mm-thick locking bolt made of specially hardened steel and an integrated electronic warning system that triggers a 100dB alarm for 15 seconds if anyone attempts to move your locked bike and then re-arms automatically. The lock and chain set features an extremely stable 12mm-hexagonal links made of hardened steel and a lock with patented ABUS Power Link technology that fit together directly and securely. To finish off the set, we’re also including a GRANIT™ WBA 100 ground anchor which can be fitted to either the wall or floor. The…

Alpinestars Bogota V2 Drystar £179.99 ‘It’s perfect for every situation’ Big name bargains don’t get any better than this. Alpinestars’ excellent do-it-all adventure jacket is perfect for every situation and now has £100 off. We put it through an intensive eight-month test, covering nearly 2000 miles, and found it to be 100% waterproof as well as very versatile when covering large distances. There’s CE-approved protection at the shoulders and elbows, along with provision for separate chest and back protectors should you choose to fit them. There’s a multitude of external pockets, two waterproof, and a large, rear pocket for all adventure riding essentials, as well as a couple of zipped internal pockets. Available in pale grey or a more practical black, both are priced at £179.99. www.megamotorcyclestore.co.uk Bike-It Security…

SAM LESLIE Age 43 Height 5ft 11in How long have you been riding? Six years Occupation Field Service Engineer Current bikes Street Triple RS and GSX-R1000R First bike Yamaha XJ6 Dream bike Aprilia Tuono Factory My Triumph Street Triple RS is a pre-launch 2020 bike. My wife had a previous-generation Street Triple RX and that was great fun, and we recently moved to an area with loads of great A- and B-roads so wanted I something light and agile. I’ve done 2000 miles on it so far. I like the new-style lights, and the chassis, brakes and autoblipper are fantastic. Of all the bikes I’ve had I’d say it’s the best all-rounder – it’s so much fun on any type of road. Triumph really need to try harder when it…

MAKING HIS MARK 1988 “I won ‘Honda Employee of the Year’. A year later, at 24, I was invited to join Honda Europe and travelled all over Europe. Little did I know, but it was exactly what Triumph were looking for.” HELPING CREATE THE SPEED TRIPLE 1992 “I was responsible for exports and our partners wanted ‘a British bike’. I got on with our Italian importer and over several bottles of wine we came up with what was the first Speed Triple.” TURNING AROUND DUCATI USA 2003 “I was asked to take over Ducati USA. After three years I was named first non-US powersports ‘Businessman of the year’. The next year we sold 10k bikes, up from 3900.” PRICE IS RIGHT 2007 “The 999, which was not a success, was…

It’s one of the fastest production superbikes around a racetrack, flexible on the road and with such a high spec level, better value than its exotic superbike rivals. New electronic suspension delivers Öhlins goodness in all conditions and is the cherry on top of over a decade of development. It’s still tiny and uncompromising, which will put some people off, but it’s hard to know where Aprilia can go now with the RSV4 now – it’s that impressive.…

It was a crisp early February morning in the MCN carpark when I first set eyes on the 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT. Angular, aggressive and booming from its single exhaust can, there was the promise of all-day comfort, superbike straight-line pull and all the tech I could ever want or need. I was going to use it every day and I was going to pluck up the courage to go long-distance touring. Less than two months later, we were into the Covid-19 lockdown. Bugger. Still, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy riding and after just shy of 4500 miles, here’s what I reckon so far… 621 miles Being a stickler for the rules, I like to follow a running-in process as closely as possible. The KTM was…

The new owner of a clean and tidy 2012 Honda CBF1000 (he’d only had it three days) coasted to a halt on a Scottish tour. A nearby dealer couldn’t sort the job out there and then so the rider got his battery recharged, bought a spare to give him enough juice to get to Doncaster Motorcycles and left it there. It didn’t take long for Doncaster MC’s owner, Kevin Hollingsworth, to identify the problem; a burnt-out stator, which he whipped off and sent to Westcountry Windings. He said: “Stators will fail if the insulation cracks, or the engine oil isn’t changed regularly and gets contaminated by metal, but most of the time it’s a failure elsewhere.” ‘The owner had only had the bike for three days’ Bikes use a three-phase…

HRC’s Leon Haslam celebrated his best result of the year when he was fourth in Race 2 at Aragon and is now targeting a podium at the next race at Catalunya in just 10 days time. Seventh in Race 1 and eighth in the Sprint, Haslam lamented his sixth and eighth place starting positions, especially in the final race, when nearly four seconds were lost in early traffic. “The first four rounds were tough but we’ve seen some big improvements,” the 37-year-old explained. “I lost time early on but, at the end, maintained a similar gap to the leaders. I’m really happy with the pace. We just need to improve our starts and get everything together because the podium was possible. “Barcelona should really suit the bike. We want a…

‘Michael is in our Ducati family. Also, everybody in the GoEleven team loves Michael. He is a really sensible guy and this is a big part of the improvement. Having a young rider like him is really, really important. GoEleven now has a very similar bike to us, so we can easily share information and setups. Having said that, Michael is doing a really great job! We strongly believe in Michael and I’m really happy he’s having good results. Also, he is light which definitely helps to use the super soft SCX tyre, just like Alvaro with the Honda. I think we’ll start to see more riders using it.’…

“The location for this shot is great as it’s more than just a side-on pan at close to 200mph, because the riders are actually braking whilst turning left and preparing to go right. “The carbon brakes they use are incredible and even though they are having to brake so hard and scrub off so much speed in such a short distance, they still use only one or two fingers on the lever. “When Danilo came though I thought he’d crashed. The shape of his body and the angle of the bike was so extreme. Most other riders are still sat on the bike with their legs in, but Danilo was using everything he had to get the bike to turn and slow down. ‘Danilo sent me a message to say…

There were tears of joy at Silverstone for Tarran Mackenzie and the McAMS Yamaha team as they returned to the top of the podium in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. It’s fair to say that 2020 has not been the smoothest season for the team so far, but that all changed on Saturday when Mackenzie secured his first victory since last year’s visit to Silverstone 16 months ago. It was an emotional result for the 24-year-old, who has had a tough time during the last year. He battled through a broken wrist and has been left feeling confused after a positive winter then saw him struggling with the new Pirelli front tyre, crashing at round one at Donington, before finding an improved feeling on the Sunday at Snetterton during round…

“Kyle’s feedback is really good and I would say that has made the difference. His feedback is to the point, detailing what he wants and it has made it easier for me being his crew chief to sort of say ok, these are the changes we’re going to make – rightly or wrongly sometimes, like everybody does, but at the moment, they’ve all been in the right direction. “Kyle’s got a very good feeling for the bike once it’s there, and he knows what he’s trying to get to. He’s had three faultless races this weekend.”…

Ideal for an early Autumn evening ride, when the roads are quieter and the air cooler, our route takes in the old and new cafes of England’s capital. Head out from the Ace Café on the North Circular (A406) eastbound and follow it all the way to the A13. Head towards Central London and at Limehouse turn left to duck under the Thames via the Rotherhithe Tunnel. Take the second exit on the roundabout (A200), cross over the A100 and turn left twice to cross Tower Bridge. Keep an eye out for the ravens as you sweep left around the Tower of London and ride on to the Victoria Embankment. Do a lap of Parliament Square to head up Whitehall, then take the first exit on Trafalgar Square to cruise…

The hills are alive with the sound of 70-plate new bikes enjoying their first taste of freedom – and you could be riding one of them. Suzuki have announced their Suzuki Super 70 Test Ride weekend on September 11-13 plus the chance to win one of three V-Strom 1050-themed Arai Tour-X4 helmets worth £649. With almost all of Suzuki’s on-road dealer network taking part, there will be no shortage of models to demo, including the new-for-2020 V-Strom 1050 – which currently comes with a free City Pack – and the more off-road capable V-Strom 1050XT. Both have the latest Euro5 version of the 1037cc V-twin, which now develops 106bhp, and is backed up with a full suite of three-stage traction control system and three engine power modes. The XT model…

This figure-of-eight route takes you through the heart of the North Pennines and on some of the best biking roads in the area. Make sure to brim your tank at Barnard Castle before you head out on the B6278 in the direction of Middleton-in-Teesdale. Stick with it until you see the right turn to Blanchard and a wonderful remote single track, then bear left to join the B6306 to Hexham. The scenery is stunning and history surrounds you, as you take the A69 west and keep your eyes peeled for the A686 to Alston and beyond. It takes in a gorgeous ride across the moors, make a dramatic descent via the sensational switchbacks of Hartside Pass. Turn right at the bottom and follow the signs to Renwick, where you will…

These spy pictures are the best yet of KTM’s 2021 1290 Super Adventure S and R and reveal that the range-topping adventure bike will debut not only radar-guidance but also get a new look, updated chassis, revised V-twin powertrains and more. The finished look of the test mules, along with the fact the outgoing Super Adventures debuted in 2017 and most KTMs are updated every three years, suggests the new bikes will be unveiled in November. As before, there are two versions: the more road-orientated S, with 19/17in cast wheels, shorter-travel suspension, two-piece seat and taller screen; and the more off-road R, with 21/18in wire wheels, longer suspension, narrower one-piece seat. The most radical addition is the new radar-guided, adaptive cruise control, as indicated by the housing for the radar…

mcnbikesforsale.com Honda NC750S Hunts Motorcycles of Manchester have discounted their remaining stock of Honda’s plucky naked funster, the NC750S, by £500 to £5995 (or £6799 for the DCT transmission version). The offer also means that if you stick just £705.22 down as a deposit, you can ride away for £99 per month (over 36 months) on PCP. www.huntsmotorcycles.co.uk Yamaha MT-07 The MT-07 has always been great value, but now Yamaha have made it even more affordable by offering a temptingly low interest rate. If you fancied splashing out £6549 on a 2020 MT-07, Yamaha’s finance package is cheaper than any bank loan. It means you could buy one on HP (so you’d own it) for £175 per month/36 months (after £650 deposit). On PCP it’d be £79 p/m. www.chorleyyamaha.co.uk BMW…

Reader David Nardini The Ride South via the Mont Blanc Tunnel and then to Sardina. Back via Switzerland When to do it Summer Miles 2000 Time required One week Don’t miss this “The SS292 and SS126 are stunning; the colours and sea views are fantastic.” THE TRIP Setting up camp in Sardinia. The views are gorgeous and there are some stunning roads. FERRY TRIP There were a fair few bikes (and cars) waiting for the ferry to and from Sardinia from the mainland. RIDE BACK The impact of Covid rule changes is clear to see and I had to quarrantine when I came back to the UK. THE BIKE I had recently bought a BMW GSA to do long distance trips. Had planned to go to Norway but CV-19 put…

Q‘I’ve paid for the bike but do I actually own the thing?’ I bought a used bike from a private seller for £4000. I have just received a letter from a finance company claiming that there is outstanding finance. I was unaware of this. Will I be able to keep the bike? Ben, Guildford A It is always recommended you conduct an HPI check when considering purchasing any used vehicle. You have clearly been a victim of an unscrupulous seller as it’s illegal to sell a motorcycle that still has outstanding finance. In theory, the seller should have contacted the finance company to ascertain the “settlement figure” which should then have been paid before the sale. Unfortunately, this means that legally the motorcycle still belongs to the finance company and…

We used to be a nation of sportsbike junkies, craving handling precision and engaging engines. And we loved supersport 600s – every group of bikes had a Honda CBR in it, and Yamaha flogged more than 4000 examples of the R6 in just one year. These bikes are the modern counterpart: sharp, precise, engaging, but with flexibility and usability you never got with a shrieking six. Triumph’s Street Triple RS is the go-to middleweight naked sportster, and it’s easy to see why: you get the performance to embarrass bigger bikes, a glistening spec and more handling than us normal folk can ever use. It’s very focused, though – if you loved the cheeky 675cc original this feels like a flat-barred R6. Yamaha’s MT-09 SP doesn’t have the same outright handling…

I was really impressed with the OE Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres that came fitted as standard on the T7. They were smooth and grippy on the road and more than capable of handling light trails and even some heavier going in the dry. But after trying to tackle some really soft mud and ending up sweaty, tired and stuck, I wanted to try out something a little more aggressive. Dunlop D606 front with a D908RR rear I wouldn’t normally opt for unmatched tyre combinations, but I decided to make an exception in this case because Dunlop themselves recommended it. The D606 on the front looks pretty much like a motocross tyre with really chunky and spread-out blocks. The 908RR on the rear has more of a tread pattern but…

Now I know what you’re thinking. ‘This bloke runs a showroom and wants people in through the door – of course he’s going to recommend buying a used bike from a dealer’. But give me a chance to explain... Buying private has one obvious appeal: price. With no warranty, building overheads or other costs to consider you’ll pay less privately. But unless you’re at the lower end of the market, then the extra you pay for the peace of mind from a dealer is genuinely worth it. First, you get a warranty. Second, if something does go wrong (or, heaven forbid, you’ve been sold a real lemon) then getting things sorted – or your money back – is much quicker and easier than banging on someone’s door or chasing them…

It’s the first thing many of us want to do to a new bike: taking off the huge, ugly OE number plate bracket and replacing it with something a little less in-your-face. Although firms are bound by certain construction and use regulations when homologating a machine – which is the reason why standard motorcycle number plate brackets are so large, as they have to extend over a set proportion of the rear tyre – fitting a smaller aftermarket tail tidy won’t result in a failed MoT, as long as you haven’t altered the size and spacing of the licence plate itself. You must also ensure that the number plate light is working and that a red reflector is fitted. Also, as with a huge number of aftermarket options available, there…

History repeats itself, and three fine races at Aragon underlined the point. Superbike races, obviously, with a full complement of three podiums, each with an almost full complement of Britons. Two out of three, anyway. Same in the title fight: five of the top ten are British. Rea first, Redding second, Davies fourth. With Lowes and Haslam making up the quintet. Sykes is one place away in 11th. How different in MotoGP. There are only two British riders in the premier class, with Bradley Smith and Cal Crutchlow 19th and 21st respectively on a 23-strong list. The Superbike success is, as it should be, cause for celebration. Not to be jingoistic, but because it shows the standard of racing in Britain is high. As it has been since pioneering days…

‘Danilo is getting close to using maximum fork travel’ “Danilo cannot grab the front brake as hard as he would like due to the angle of attack; the usual braking force with the bike at that angle would cause the front wheel to lock. “Look at the amount of front fork travel he is using – he is modulating the braking force to maintain front tyre grip, but is still getting close to maximum travel. Danilo’s weight, combined with riding the fastest machine on the grid, makes his stopping performances even more physical than his rivals; physics dictates – arriving faster and slowing more mass in the same amount of ground will require more work (energy) both from the pilot and the braking system. “Danilo is using his leg to…

Lee Jackson led the Kawasaki charge once again at Silverstone but was fortunate to avoid any major problems after suffering a front trye delamination. Jackson secured a pair of sevenths and an eighth over the course of the weekend but was as high as fifth in race two before an issue with the tyre held him back. “We had a front tyre which literally delaminated, it looked like a back tyre which was pretty scary,” Jackson told MCN. “Pirelli held their hands up and apologised, but unfortunately it cost me the two positions. However, it has been a good consistent weekend for me overall.”…

The hills are alive with the sound of 70-plate new bikes enjoying their first taste of freedom – and you could be riding one of them. Suzuki have announced their Suzuki Super 70 Test Ride weekend on September 11-13 plus the chance to win one of three V-Strom 1050-themed Arai Tour-X4 helmets worth £649. With almost all of Suzuki’s on-road dealer network taking part, there will be no shortage of models to demo, including the new-for-2020 V-Strom 1050 – which currently comes with a free City Pack – and the more off-road capable V-Strom 1050XT. Both have the latest Euro5 version of the 1037cc V-twin, which now develops 106bhp, and is backed up with a full suite of three-stage traction control system and three engine power modes. The XT model…

The hills are alive with the sound of 70-plate new bikes enjoying their first taste of freedom – and you could be riding one of them. Suzuki have announced their Suzuki Super 70 Test Ride weekend on September 11-13 plus the chance to win one of three V-Strom 1050-themed Arai Tour-X4 helmets worth £649. With almost all of Suzuki’s on-road dealer network taking part, there will be no shortage of models to demo, including the new-for-2020 V-Strom 1050 – which currently comes with a free City Pack – and the more off-road capable V-Strom 1050XT. Both have the latest Euro5 version of the 1037cc V-twin, which now develops 106bhp, and is backed up with a full suite of three-stage traction control system and three engine power modes. The XT model…

We dissect the Cotswolds with this route that takes you from Banbury through to Bath on a glorious 88-mile route. From Banbury take the B4035, until the left turn onto the A429 to ride through Moreton-in-Marsh to Stow-on-the-Wold. Hang right at the Unicorn for the B4068. Traverse the the A40 to Andoversford village then turn a quick right onto the A436 in the direction of Gloucester. With smooth curves, sweep along the A435 towards Cirencester from the Seven Springs roundabouts for a ride alongside the River Churm, then at Perrott’s Brook follow the signs for Daglingworth. This leads you under the A417 and on to the narrow single track. At the junction with the A419, head towards Stroud then turn left at the roundabout for Minchinhampton. When you see the…