Table of contents for 20 January 2021 in MCN

‘Now is the time to buy – simply click’n’collect’ HOT BIKE DEALS The January sales that we do like ‘January Sales’ might only be two words, but they strike fear into the hearts of many. Images of never-ending sofa sales and persistent disappointment that only XXXS and XXXL sizes of every item of clothing you fancy spring to mind. But forget all that misery, here are the best 50 brand-new bike deals to beat the lockdown blues firmly into submission. Buy now – play later! BARGAIN BIKES PAGE 20 TOP STORY And the new metal keeps coming The tide of new bike releases shows no sign of slowing down just yet, and this week sees some more seriously tempting new bikes join the fray. First up is KTM’s new 890…

Indian are offering a handy £400 part-exchange bonus to customers who trade-in their machines to buy a new 2020 Indian Roadmaster full-dress tourer, Chieftain cruiser or Springfield bagger before February 28 this year. In addition to the bonus, buyers are also being handed a £200 contribution towards genuine Indian accessories and clothing. For details contact your local Indian dealer or go to www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk. Help raise a million Ben, the charity which helps people from the bike industry with mental and physical health issues, has announced a new virtual challenge called ‘Breakout for Ben – the Road to £1million’, in an bid to raise money following a shortfall in fundraising. Taking place from February 5-14, it is a running challenge – so get your trainers on. See: www.ben.org.uk. Boots on the…

KTM have updated their learner-legal Duke 125 and A2-licence friendly Duke 390 for 2021, tweaking the single-cylinder engines in both bikes to meet the Euro5 emissions laws. The revised 124.7cc liquid-cooled engine found in the smaller model kicks out a claimed performance figure just shy of 15bhp, with the larger 390 Duke (373cc) producing a licence-friendly 43bhp. On top of this, the larger Duke can now also be equipped with an optional official accessory up/down quickshifter. There are also fresh colours, with the 125 enjoying either black or grey plastics with an orange trellis chassis and the 390 receiving grey or white plastics, with either an orange or black frame, respectively. The 125 Duke will be £4299 and the 390 Duke comes in at £4899. KTM have also pulled a…

THURSDAY January 21 11.30am, ITV4, The Motorbike Show 8pm, EUR1, Macau GP: Action from the 67th MGP Macau Grand Prix SATURDAY January 23 8pm, EUR1, British Superbikes: Race of 2020 SUNDAY January 24 7pm, EUR1, Dakar Rally 2021: Review 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 BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT SPORT 2 TVL – TRAVEL UK…

Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV from £253 (pair) The hugely popular sports tyre gets an update for 2021. Designed for performance-minded road riders and a wide range of machines, Pirelli say the fourth evolution far outperforms the Rosso III, especially for wet and dry weather grip. The tyres have revised profiles, new tread pattern, compounds and structure. www.pirelli.com RST Paragon VI jacket £199 (or £399 with the built-in airbag) Featuring Ballistic Reinforced MaxTex fabric, the Paragon VI promises high levels of abrasion resistance, meeting the AA standard. The water-resistant exterior is backed by a SinAqua Pro membrane, claimed twice as waterproof and breathable as the previous version. There’s also a thick 300g removable thermal lining. www.rst-moto.com Holy Freedom neck tubes £22.50 Holy Freedom have brought out a new range of neck…

Edinburgh Triumph are giving riders the chance to purchase the unique custom which was their successful entry in the 2020 Bonneville Build-Off competition. Priced at a fiver shy of £16,000, the one-off known as ‘Speed Racer’ was built by the dealership and took top honours in the Paint & Custom category, thanks to an early Triumph Daytona-aping fairing finished in glossy black with striking-yet-subtle licks of blue and white. On top of the up-front styling, the bike features a handmade custom seat, LED headlights, two-into-one exhaust, clip-on handlebars and minimalist tail unit. Robert Lennox, a sales executive at the dealership who was involved in the build, told us: “It was a custom bike competition, and our bike won the custom award. We were blown away by the fact it did…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Big push for bus lanes As the Yorkshire MAG rep I was interested in your article regarding Cambridgeshire County Council looking at allowing motorcycles to use their bus lanes (MCN, January 13). In West Yorkshire the combined authority published a 20-year transport strategy in 2018 which recommended allowing PTWs to use bus lanes. Over two years later and local MAG groups are still fighting to get the five local councils to implement the recommendations and to top it all, Leeds City Council are aiming for a one percent reduction in motorcycle use within the next ten years. Isn’t it time the Government looked at allowing bus lane access nationally, rather than leaving it up to councils and their skewed agendas? Manny, Yorkshire MAG rep Need that…

Name Tomasz Kolodziej Age 34 Height 6ft 6in Current bike Yamaha FZ6, Kawasaki ZX-9R Been riding 10 years First bike ZX-6R Dream bike Ducati Diavel Lamborghini, Multistrada V4 BMW S1000R I’ve owned a Yamaha FZ6 for the past 10 months and have already done over 5000 miles. I use it for everything: commuting, touring and trackdays. It’s a great bike, the insurance is affordable and I don’t have to worry that someone will steal it, which is a massive issue in London. I also own a Kawasaki ZX-9R, which I bought for more enthusiastic riding, but with my height it’s way too uncomfortable for long journeys, so I’m thinking about getting something roomier instead. I like the idea of the MV heritage and the Turismo Veloce’s looks, three-cylinder engine, comfort…

Nathan Udall “The first time I did the Ötztal glacier road was on my Suzuki V-Strom 1000 in September 2015. The weather was fine, warm and sunny but there was still some snow at the top. Up there the road splits into two — bear right and it takes you to a parking area with a sign stating ‘the highest road in Austria’. The left-hand road takes you past the bottom of one glacier then up through a long tunnel to the other side of the mountains even higher where there is another glacier and a lake. The views were simply spectacular. “The second time around was in September 2019 and this time there was a fair bit more snow. Riding my Yamaha Tracer 900 this time, I explored the…

No story about the rise of Aprilia is complete without Ivano Beggio. The son of company founder Alberto, who created the firm as a small bicycle company in Noale, like so many others, in the aftermath of World War II. Beggio junior’s brilliance was in changing the direction of the business and leading its transformation to become one of Europe’s leading, and most innovative motorcycle operations. He assumed control in 1968 and immediately decided to build motorcycles. A capable businessman, but also a passionate motorcyclist, Beggio capitalised on the popularity of off-road sport in the ’70s before forseeing its demise and moving into lightweight road and sportsbikes. Recognising the potential for road racing success in establishing and promoting the Aprilia brand, Beggio created a small, flexible racing team that beat…

“It’s been a funny year and I’ve only been on a couple of long trips, since I bought the bike in September – my favourite being around the Norfolk and Suffolk coast. I spent all day on the BMW and it was really comfortable, not a numb bum all day! “I opted for the Sports Package and was concerned that the shorter screen which comes with it might not be great, but I’ve been surprised and it’s not been an issue. “The bike fits me like an old pair of slippers, it’s comfortable and I feel right at home! I’ve had my first service and can’t wait to get out to test all the riding modes during 2021.”…

‘You might as well put a big sign outside’ We’re all more aware than we used to be about being secure online and not sharing too much personal information. But your phone could be putting more data in the grubby hands of ne’er-do-wells than you think. Imagine you want to shift your bike so you sling it up on a certain interweb auction site. You do a thorough job with plenty of detail about how good the bike is, what a loving owner you are, and include oodles of pictures. Someone gets in touch asking for a photo of a seemingly random detail, so you stroll to your garage with your smartphone, grab a shot and email it to the potential buyer. Harmless, right? It’s a picture of a bike…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Hiss and sniff From the moment you fill your tank the fuel inside starts to degrade. Petro chemists describe petrol losing its ‘light ends’, the volatile components of fuel evaporating over time. The vapour you smell when you open the tank is essentially your petrol losing its octane. Stale petrol smells bit like varnish or paint, which indicates its ability to combust has diminished. 2 Peer inside Petrol that’s been in your tank for a few months, say over winter, should be fine. But if you are going to recommission a bike that has been standing for a year or more then you should flush out the old petrol prior to restarting. Assess how much old fuel is in the tank by…

STATS HT Rally Raid Husqvarna FR 450 Rally Best stage result 19th stage nine Position: 24th +8h 53m 11 s In only his second ever rally, 42-year-old Manxman, David Knight claimed 24th in the gruelling 2021 Dakar despite breaking two ribs on stage two. A veteran of off-road competition, Knight is a fivetime world Enduro champion among many other accolades and showed how transferable his skills were to bag an impressive Dakar finish. Speaking to MCN from Saudi Arabia, Knight said: “Physically it wasn’t too hard, but mentally it’s hard because of the navigation, which I was learning as I went along. I struggled the most in the sand dunes, even though I love riding sand. But the dunes are so hard to read and you could end your race…

Biking is mourning the death of Joël Robert – truly one of the greatest motocross riders of all time, the Belgian was instrumental in the massive popularity of the sport in the 1960s and 70s. His stature in the off-road world was comparable to that of Mike Hailwood on the roads, similarly gifted with amazing natural ability that moved the sport forward. His wild and mischievous streak helped build the legend, with tales of stopping for a beer mid-race and even pretending to be drunk on the start line! Robert’s career stats speak for themselves, six 250cc World titles (1964, 68-72) and 50 Grand Prix wins. It was an era when they only raced 12 times a year and as a result his records stood for over 30 years. Suitably,…

Extra dates have been added to the pre-season Qatar MotoGP test in March after next month’s Sepang test was cancelled. Rising Covid-19 cases in Malaysia have led to a state of emergency being declared. The original Qatar test date (March 1012) goes ahead as planned, however there will now be a Shakedown test on March 5, followed by a two-day official test on March 6-7. Riders and teams will likely stay in Qatar for the season-opener on March 28. WSB blasts back A two-day World Superbike test at Jerez gets underway today (January 20). Kawasaki, Ducati and Honda are present, with Tito Rabat debuting for Barni Racing Ducati. Stefan Bradl will test for HRC, whilst Johann Zarco and Michelle Pirro will be on stock Ducati bikes. Maverick Viñales will be…

The 2021 Bennetts British Superbike championship enters a new era after a swathe of rule and rider changes were confirmed in recent weeks. In addition to the host of riders swapping manufacturers and teams, the latest exciting development is that there will be a Japanese rider racing for Honda thanks to the arrival of Ryo Mizuno. The 22-year-old follows in the wheeltracks of three-time BSB champion Ryuichi Kiyonari who made a name for himself with Honda, as well as other Japanese stars including Yukio Kagayama and the great Noriyuki Haga. HONDA TAG Racing swap their Yamaha R1 for the latest Honda Fireblade. Dan Linfoot remains as the team’s sole rider for 2021. DUCATI Tommy Bridewell stays at Moto Rapido Ducati and will hoping that he and the team can put…

Luke MosseyDB Race Team Kawasaki Storm StaceyGR Motorsport (Kawasaki) Joe Francis & Brad JonesPR Racing (BMW) Bjorn EstmentPowerslide/Catfoss Suzuki Lachlan EpisNP Motorcycles Lextek BMW Josh OwensCDH Racing Kawasaki Dean HarrisonSilicone Engineering Kawasaki To be confirmedBuildbase SuzukiRAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki Team 64 Motorsports Kawasaki Hannula Racing Promotion (HRP) UPDATED BSB 2021 CALENDAR R1 – Oulton Park(May 29-31) R2 – Thruxton(June 4-6) R3 – Snetterton 300(June 18-20) R4 – Knockhill(July 9-11) R5 – Brands Hatch GP(July 23-25) R6 – Donington Park National(August 6-8) R7 – Cadwell Park(August 20-22) R8 – Silverstone National(September 10-12) R9 – Oulton Park(September 17-19) R10 – Donington Park GP(October 1-3) R11 – Brands Hatch GP(October 15-17)…

Now the turkey has all gone and payday is looming to wipe the Christmas spending slate clean, it’s time to do the maths and see if you really can afford the new Yamaha that’s been infesting your dreams. And that calculation is easier to perform now that Yamaha have confirmed the prices for their new 2021 models. Running on MT With nine new models, there’s plenty of new metal to choose from and it looks like the Brexit trade deal hasn’t affected things too much. Back in 2013 we saw the beginning of a fresh chapter in the history of Yamaha with the development of a new range of MT models that would move the brand in a bold direction, re-establishing Yamaha as one of the most innovative and exciting…

Triumph’s inline three-cylinder engines have been described as haunting, wailing, grinding and droning. But until you ride one you can never really appreciate the aural texture and ever-changing variety of the emitted racket. Triumph’s current triples sound ace of course, but there’s extra depth to the previous-generation engines – a bassy warmth and hint of heavy engineering. Touchy-feely power delivery, too. The T595’s road-biased chassis and secure handling mean the dynamics back up the sound as well. There was a time when every T595 you saw had a loud pipe, but as it nears ‘modern classic’ status people are reattaching the bulky stock can. So, and opposite to usual buying advice, ask if they’ve still got the noisy one... If the bike struggles to start and squeals in protest then…

Now the turkey has all gone and payday is looming to wipe the Christmas spending slate clean, it’s time to do the maths and see if you really can afford the new Yamaha that’s been infesting your dreams. And that calculation is easier to perform now that Yamaha have confirmed the prices for their new 2021 models. Running on MT With nine new models, there’s plenty of new metal to choose from and it looks like the Brexit trade deal hasn’t affected things too much. Back in 2013 we saw the beginning of a fresh chapter in the history of Yamaha with the development of a new range of MT models that would move the brand in a bold direction, re-establishing Yamaha as one of the most innovative and exciting…

Triumph’s inline three-cylinder engines have been described as haunting, wailing, grinding and droning. But until you ride one you can never really appreciate the aural texture and ever-changing variety of the emitted racket. Triumph’s current triples sound ace of course, but there’s extra depth to the previous-generation engines – a bassy warmth and hint of heavy engineering. Touchy-feely power delivery, too. The T595’s road-biased chassis and secure handling mean the dynamics back up the sound as well. There was a time when every T595 you saw had a loud pipe, but as it nears ‘modern classic’ status people are reattaching the bulky stock can. So, and opposite to usual buying advice, ask if they’ve still got the noisy one... If the bike struggles to start and squeals in protest then…

Most of us probably don’t spend the long January evenings thinking very seriously about buying a new bike. The post Christmas credit card bill looks ominous enough and then you’ll probably factor in all the other less common variables right now, too. But while the weather, repeated lockdowns, the threat of financial volatility and the fact that we can’t visit our local dealers at the moment ought to be more than enough reasons not to buy a new bike, it’s actually the perfect time to do just that. Why? Well, dealers are trying to clear their 2020 models, and especially the mini tide of those forced upon them for pre-registration to meet targets or clear non Euro5-compliant stock. It’s also the depths of winter and we’re in a lockdown –…

There’s a lot of uncertainty at the moment but one thing we can be sure of is that we’ll keep working as hard as we can to bring you all the latest news, reviews and sport from the world of motorcycling. As the situation changes, it might be difficult to find the paper in shops, so more than ever we recommend picking up a subscription. You will save on shop prices too, with the current offer seeing you get four issues for just £2. Turn to page 26. In the unlikely event Covid-19 means we can’t deliver the paper to your door, we’ll swap your sub to a digital edition. So if you can’t get to a newsagent or struggle to find us in-store, please consider getting your weekly MCN…

Swedish electric bike makers, Cake, have teamed up with a mobile living rand called Dometic to create this rather top-heavy looking food delivery vehicle. The delivery box has been designed to fit and run off the Cake Ösa model’s DC battery and has dual temperature zones to keep food and drink hot or cold. What’s more, electrostatic air purification means your pizza won’t taste like the previous customer’s vindaloo. Danish brakin’ Brembo have acquired Danish firm SBS Friction in a deal worth around £26.7m. SBS specialise in the design and manufacture of sintered and eco-friendly brake pads. Brembo say that the acquisition “allows the integration of such a strategic component as brake pads in Brembo’s current product range, with particular attention to the environment.” Bonkers Baggers get new series The…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER £12,680 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Rosso ● 798cc 12v inline three-cylinder ● 108bhp/59lb.ft ● £155.18per month PCP MV Agusta’s Turismo Veloce 800 is powered by a snarling 108bhp, 798cc triple, has a watchtower riding position and beneath its swathes of bodywork lies the chassis of a supersport bike. But let’s start with what the Italian doesn’t have… You see, this is one of MV’s latest Rosso range, which includes the Brutale and Dragster – conceived to be lighter on spec to make life easier on your wallet. It costs £12,680 which still isn’t cheap (the PCP interest rate is just 3.86% APR), but despite being bereft of a few bells and whistles it’s still a thoroughbred MV Agusta with a kick-ass engine, a lust for corners…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER Few bikes gel with every mile of the MCN250 as well as the Turismo Veloce 800 Rosso. It’s nimbler, easier to manage and more engaging than a big-capacity sports adventurer around the twisty B-road section and every bit as specious, comfortable and long-legged on dual carriageways and motorways. It’s also quieter at speed, better handling and a whole lot more special than its go-to rival: Yamaha’s Tracer 900. Despite being pitched as an affordable option, it still isn’t cheap, but the Rosso costs a whole heap less than its Turismo Veloce 800 sisters. And the things it doesn’t come with, like electronic suspension and smart clutches you don’t ever miss, apart from heated grips and a centrestand. You still get the red-blooded three-cylinder engine, banging soundtrack, electronics,…

The Ötztaler Gletscherstrasse (glacier road) starts in Sölden, just after the village centre on the right when heading south. The signpost says ‘Tiefenbach Gletscher’ and ‘Rettenbach Gletscher’. It’s a high alpine road with several switchbacks and hairpin bends. It goes from Sölden (1368m) to the Rettenbach Glacier and then through the highest road tunnel in Europe to the Tiefenbach Glacier (2830m). Beware of ice in the tunnel. The Ötztaler Gletscherstrasse is the highest panoramic road in the Eastern Alps and the highest paved road in Austria. The road is normally open for motorcycles from June to September, check opening hours for the road on www.soelden.com. This is a toll road and the fee is €10.50 per motorcycle.…

So, why would you spend £970 plus Labour over and above the cost of the T7 instead of just buying a KTM 790 Adventure, which is better equipped, in the first place? Well, one of the Yamaha’s selling points is that it is basic. It offers a stripped-back riding experience you don’t often get with modern bikes and the upgrades K-tech have chosen do nothing to dilute that. Sure, the KTM is better equipped and the release of the new 890 means there are some great deals to be had on one, but with lean-sensitive ABS, riding modes and a TFT dash, it is actually a very different animal to the Yamaha and I would argue, no better for it. THE FACTS £9147 Yamaha Ténéré 700 + £972.74 (FOR PARTS)…

Oxford Mondial gloves £99.99 ‘A handy choice for mixed conditions’ Tested by Martin Fitz-Gibbons for 2600 miles Featuring the same ‘Dry2Dry’ laminated design that made Oxford’s Mondial textile suit so popular, they’re absolutely ideal across Spring and Autumn, or cool cloudy mixed Summer days. Beautiful fit, secure wrist fastenings, clear feel for controls, utterly impenetrable waterproofing when it does rain. A visor wipe on the left index finger is useful. And there’s a good general sense of protection too, with hard knuckle armour and a SuperFabric scaphoid pad. In CE testing they meet the same 1-KP CE standard as almost all bike gloves. However, medium-thickness insulation and no venting makes them too warm and sweaty for high summer, yet not thick and snuggly enough for deep winter. So while they’re extremely…

We’ve all ridden our bikes a lot less than usual in the past 12 months, so when restrictions eventually lift and the sunshine returns, the fuel inside your fuel tank could easily be past its best. The process of draining fuel and then disposing of it correctly is a bit of a faff, and more than that, there is a very real danger of old fuel damaging the fuel pump, carbs or injectors. Some of the gummy compounds that are left when the fuel has degraded is corrosive and very difficult to clean out. So if you know you’re going not going to be using your bike for a long time or have a collection of machines that you do not use regularly, there is another preventative solution Alkylate petrols…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR Moto Guzzi have announced a stack of significant updates to the mid-range V85 TTs and the V9 Roamer and Bobber as the company enter their centenary year. The quirky retro-styled V85 TT adventure bike, first launched in 2019, receives a number of top-end modifications to its traditional air-cooled transverse V-twin, which are claimed to improve torque at both low and medium rpm. The bike also gets two extra electronic riding modes, Sport and Custom, to go with the previous Street, Rain and Off-Road options. The TT’s old centre-laced spoked wheels have been replaced by a new rim spoked type, similar to those of BMW’s GS, which allow the fitment of tubeless tyres and are claimed to cut weight by 1.5kg. The V85 TT Travel touring-focused model gets the…

AGV K6 Minimal helmet £199.99 ‘Half-price offer on classy AGV’ AGV are known for supplying lids to the stars – including Valentino Rossi himself – and they’re using similar technology in this carbon fibre sports-touring helmet. It’s designed with long-distance riding in mind so we put the K6 to the test over three months and covered more than 2000 miles. At just over 1270g, the K6 Minimal is pleasingly lightweight while still packing high levels of crash protection with five different densities of EPS lining to absorb impact energy. Not only is the helmet comfortable, it’s very stable on both naked bikes and fully faired machines. The visor aperture is vast, giving a generous field of vision and the seals are great too. The helmet has a double D-ring closure,…

‘Nostalgia? It’s time to dial 999’ It’s all change for Ducati these days, isn’t it? The news that the new V4 won’t be desmodromic and the abandonment of the trellis frame will have the Ducatisti burning cam belts on Fabio Taglioni’s grave. What it also means is that, in quite a short time, there’ll be renewed interest in the older V-twins either as people get nostalgic or because they gamble that they will appreciate (I have a foot in both camps). So which Ducati is worth snapping up now, while values are relatively low? The 916 is a masterpiece, but prices have long since bottomed out and good ones are expensive. They’ll continue to appreciate, but the idea is to buy something before it appreciates. The ST series of tourers…

THE BIKES We set off on our Kawasaki Versys 1000 and Can-Am Spyder F3. Our goal was to visit some of the small towns in New Zealand. THE ROUTE ● Readers Rich & Megan Easton ● The ride New Zealand road trip ● Miles 2700 ● Don’t miss this ‘The rides down and back up the West Coast, it’s a pretty remote part of NZ with towns well spread out and some amazing scenery all along the way. We managed to have wonderful evening beach walks to see the sunset which was magical. Also the helicopter ride to the top of Fox Glacier.’ ● Email yourpics@ motorcyclenews.com CHILLING OUT We turned up at Fox Glacier on the off chance and were lucky to be able to grab a free slot…

Q DVLA want to stop me riding I’m about to turn 70 and I have sent all my documents to the DVLA to renew my licence. I have a car as well as my BMW touring motorcycle. In 2016 I had a pacemaker fitted that, along with medication, has cured my arrhythmia, but the DVLA now say I am unfit to drive because of my pacemaker. Can I appeal against the decision? My licence has not yet been removed – we are still corresponding over it.Chris, email A After having a pacemaker fitted you can start driving again after one week as long as you don’t have any symptoms (such as dizziness or fainting) that would affect your driving, you have regular checkups at the pacemaker clinic and you haven’t…

Owns a Monster and a XMAX scooter and likes touring on two wheels. Excitement peaks, it’s March and I’ve just got a BMW F900XR TE as a long-term test bike for the year and plans are afoot for a European tour and a trip to the Outer Hebrides. It’s my kind of bike, I love to travel and the Beemer is designed to compete with the Yamaha Tracer 900GT, which I’ve tested previously, so a great opportunity to compare and contrast. Then, along with the rest of the country, MCN goes into lockdown. Plans for trips are on hold and all I can do is wait. June Three months pass and then the glorious day arrives. At last, I take delivery of the twin-cylinder vision in gold. I’ve opted to…

The torque of a twin, the power of a four. It’s always been the promise of the triple. But although the latest genuinely offer this heady mix, there’s far more to a three-cylinder engine. With a growling, whining, shearing sound and characterful thrust, you can’t get the performance or sensations of a triple elsewhere. With a traditional 120-degree firing interval they’re naturally balanced and super-smooth too. YOUR EXPERT Mike Armitage has been a full-time tester and journalist for 20 years. The exengineer rides 30,000 miles a year and knows how to spot a hound. £5500-£7750 Yamaha XSR900 Modern performance, on-trend style, plus a nice cheeky side And you thought it’d be Triumph that grabs the Best Buy tag. Yamaha have history with triples – their first multi-cylinder road bike was…

1 RST Raid £29.99 I’ve had this bag for around 10 months and use it for grocery runs. There’s no waterproof cover, but I use a dry sack and the straps are easy enough to use. William Maternaghan, Coleraine 2 Oxford M40R £139.99 This tank bag can also be worn as a backpack. It extends to 40 litres so I can carry a lot of stuff. Keith Dighton, Gloucester 3 Kriega R30 £199 I’ve had mine for about six years and done 800010,000 miles. This is the best investment I’ve ever made in biking. Paul Wilkinson, Huddersfield 4 Oxford Aqua V12 £44.99 Easy to use and waterproof. The only thing I don’t like is the chest strap, which I find quite restrictive. Martin Poll, Downpatrick 5 Unigear 600D Dry Bag 40L…

This 2001 Suzuki Bandit 600 had been stored outside for a couple of years when Rastislav ‘Raz’ Hulvk, the owner of the Real Motorcycle Workshop in Rugby, picked it up with the challenge of getting it going again. Raz said: “I think that when the battery went flat, the owner lost interest in the machine. The Bandit’s overall condition wasn’t too bad, but when I unscrewed the oil filler cap you could smell and see the fuel/oil mixture swilling around in the cases.” This didn’t bode well for the state of the carbs, and when Raz stripped them down it soon became apparent that was why the bike wouldn’t start. “The carb internals looked like they had been underwater for two years and the overflow pipe was blocked, which is…