Table of contents for 24 March 2021 in MCN

INSIDE YOUR 2021 SEASON GUIDE LAVERTY TALKS TECH BT Sport’s tech guru, Michael Laverty, gets under the skin of the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 bikes to reveal their secrets CAN MARC MARQUEZ COME BACK & WIN? The King is the biggest unknown factor in 2021 – but you’d be very brave to bet against him. MILLER’S READY Jack finishes on top in testing, but can he turn that raw pace into a title challenge? Let battle commence! Despite the terrible state the world found itself in 2020, the herculean efforts of Dorna, the riders and the teams delivered us one of MotoGP’s greatest seasons. A new champion emerged, and so did a whole raft of other new winners and contenders. MM93’s absence blew the title fight wide open, but will…

Royal Enfield have updated their 650 twins to Euro5 and brought some new paint options to go with it. The Interceptor now comes in Canyon Red and Ventura Blue, as well as two new two-tone options: Downtown Drag and Sunset Strip. The Continental GT650 brings back Rocker Red and British Racing Green, while adding Dux Deluxe and Ventura Storm. The Interceptor starts from £5899 while the GT650 starts from £6099. One more year Despite hopes that lockdown restrictions will be the thing of the past by the Summer, the organisers of the Brackley Festival of Motorcycling have taken the decision to postpone for another year. The organisers are of the belief that it’s just too much of a risk for their finances to attempt to run the event, given that…

This ‘uber-cool’ customised BMW R18 is the latest from celebrated German bike builder Marcus Walz who’s now making replicas of the bike that you can buy – for just under £30,000. Ex-racer Walz is one of the biggest names in German customising via his vast ‘Walzwerk’ business based in Hockenheim and also for his ‘Walz Harcore’ machines. He’s been building bikes for over 30 years, produces a range of BMW kits for the likes of the R nineT and K100 as well as one-off custom machines and this newcomer, based on BMW’s all-new, 1800cc R18 cruiser, is his latest creation. Potential customers can either buy a ready-made bike (Walz has a stock of brand new R18s ready for conversion) or supply their own for conversion. The base model features a…

FRIDAY 10.45am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Qatar: Opening day – Free Practice 1&2 SATURDAY 27 March 10.15am, BTS2, Live MotoGP: Free Practice 3, Qualifying at 4pm 1.15pm, BTS2, Sport in Focus SUNDAY 28 March 12.30pm, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Qatar: Warm-Ups, Moto3 at 2.15pm, Moto2 at 4pm and MotoGP at 5.30pm. Chequered Flag at 7pm MONDAY 1pm, EUR2, Bennetts British Superbikes highlights from Donington Park 2020. Also Bennetts British Superbikes Extra at 2pm 3pm, QUEST, World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides: Riding Scotland 5pm, EUR2, WSB highlights from Phillip Island, Australia 2020 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…

Vertu Honda Motorcycles Nottingham has relocated to a £650k new supersite on Lenton Lane, Nottingham. Less than 50 minutes from Leicester, Loughborough and Derby, the new facility boasts an outdoor café and a huge two-storey showroom, full of new and used machines from all manufacturers. A clothing and accessory store and servicing and MoT facility will also be on-site. The inside story These new Weise Apex gloves are made from full-grain leather, double layered in key areas, with TPU knuckle reinforcement and scaphoid protection on the palm, too. There is a leather bridge between the little and ring fingers to minimise the risk of injury caused by separation during a fall and stretch panels on the ring and index fingers add extra flexibility. And all that for just £59.99. Star…

TT Legend John McGuinness MBE in MCN every week I’m dead excited about MotoGP. I’ve been following the testing in Qatar and it’s been interesting, but it’s a real shame Marc Marquez won’t be back at the first round this weekend. In many ways it would’ve been a good track for him to come back on because it’s not the most physical. You get a rest down the straight and it’s quite flowing. I’ve done an 8-hour endurance race there and it wasn’t too bad. It’d still be tough on his arm though, and I think the whole injury and the recovery has been a massive wake up call because trying to be super human has backfired a little bit. ‘His rivals will need to show they’re not scared of…

SENIOR WRITER Combining exotic superbike looks with a comfortable riding position and usable power for the road, the Aprilia RS660 promises everything that middleweight sportsbikes have left behind over the past couple of decades. It’s a cracking road bike with a more tractable engine than a rev-tastic supersport and none of the wrist ache, meaning you can enjoy more of every ride without fear of discomfort. That said, it’s not perfect and is tainted by its soft shock and cost-cutting on the fairing. The mirrors are also poor, and too far away to be adjusted safely on the fly, plus the auto-blipper can be clunky. This is all nit picking though and as a former owner of a GSX-R600 and ZX-6R, it’s so refreshing to see a manufacturer breathing fresh…

We made it! Spring’s here, the days are getting longer, and Monday sees England’s stay-at-home order lifted, meaning just a little more freedom to start enjoying biking for pleasure. No doubt, 2021 is going to be a summer like no other, but before the world starts opening up again, it’s time to take stock of our riding. During the past 12 months we’ve all ridden far less than normal. Take the MCN team, for example: in a typical year we’d collectively rack up well over 100,000 miles on tests, photoshoots and pleasure rides, but in 2020 we only managed a third of that – and we’re not afraid to admit we’re feeling a bit rusty. So in these first weeks of Spring, it’s all about easing back in gently and…

1 Oxford HD Max disc lock £24.99 It’s ever-so-tough and you can loop in a chain if you want to secure yourself to some street furniture. The U-section is coated, so doesn’t scratch your wheels or brakes. Richard Bentham, Bristol 2 Bollé Spider Spiflash safety glasses £8.99 I started wearing these after taking the remains of a bee to my right eye. Chris Vardon, Wiltshire 3 Givi S301 first aid kit £15 It does what it says on the tin and is compact, although it doesn’t have a triangle bandage. Michael Pumfrey, Kinloss 4 Oxford Visor Mate £7.99 It’s the best stuff I’ve found for waterproofing the visor and rain just runs off it. Sally Weighill, Lincolnshire 5 Muc-Off visor and goggle cleaner £7.99 (250ml) It’s very good for cleaning…

JEMMA WARD, 24, SUFFOLK Rides all-year round for fun, commuting and touring “After knocking around on a 1990 Yamaha DT50 for a few years, I passed my A2 test and got an ER-5, then took my full A licence at 21. I really wanted a BMW S1000RR but because I did a lot of touring I knew it wouldn’t be sensible. It was my dad who actually suggested Yamaha’s MT range to me so we went down to our local Yamaha dealer, Mototechnics, where I tried the MT-10 first but it was a fraction too tall for me. Then I swung a leg over the MT-09 and found it was perfect. “I did all kinds of things on it from touring to trackdays. We rode down to Cornwall as a…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’S expert technician 1 Will it turn on? If you walked away from your bike after your final pre-lockdown ride and didn’t take steps for its storage, you’ll most likely have a machine that’s reluctant to start. Turn the ignition on and see if the engine will turn over. If it has enough power to illuminate the lights and crank the engine sluggishly, locate the battery and hook it up to a charger while you check everything over. 2 Check the voltage If the ignition doesn’t illuminate the dash, use a voltmeter to test the battery’s status. A battery with less than 12.6 volts will be past its best. Connect it to a charger and see if it will recover, but be warned, once a battery has completely…

Chaz Davies missed Misano after testing positive for coronavirus, explained by GoEleven Team Manager Denis Sacchetti after drafting in Michele Pirro: “Chaz went Covid positive, but he’s since tested negative so he’s fine. “We’re lucky this happened now instead of before an important race. We have time to prepare properly. In Chaz, we have as good a rider as we could wish for. We’re really motivated.” Davies is not the first to be hit by Covid-19. MCN has learned a small number of Kawasaki Racing Team staff were infected in January, at the time causing the champions to cancel a scheduled test in Jerez.…

Welcome to MCN’s 32-page MotoGP Season Preview. We’ve spoken to all the riders and drafted in an eclectic mix of experts to bring you some fascinating insight into the year ahead. For example, did you know the Moto3 men are running through turn 14 at Qatar at 92mph? That’s 12mph faster than the fastest MotoGP riders. But while we’ve analysed the riders’ mindsets and got under the skin of the bikes across all three classes, what we can’t tell you, if 2020 is anything to go by, is what’s going to happen. This time last year, none of us knew what was coming, but Covid aside who’d have predicted KTM would win three races, Honda would win none (the first time in 39 years) and Suzuki would be world champions?…

ALEX RINS ON JOAN MIR “I think Joan is quite strong in the braking area. When we’re comparing data, we see that he’s always braking a little harder and a little later than me. That’s the only thing. Other than that I think we have very, very similar lines when looking at the data but he’s a little bit more aggressive on the bike so it moves around a little bit more. However, more or less, we are very similar riders on the track.” JOAN MIR ON ALEX RINS “When I started in 2019 our riding styles were completely different. Now, it’s getting closer. There are still differences – one is the braking area where I’m normally stronger. He is really good with the smoothness, he’s really smooth. In some…

BT Sport’s tech guru Michael Laverty gets under the skin of the middleweight class and sheds light on why they are so fast Moto2 is closer to MotoGP than ever. The introduction of the Triumph 765 engine brought more power and torque, a Magneti Marelli ECU with more adjustability, and a riding style mirroring that of the premier class. Moto2 is arguably the toughest class in the world. With such a level playing field in terms of equipment, if you are missing a little in terms of set up you can be a long way off the pace – a few tenths is an eternity in Moto2 and the difference between the podium and oblivion. + Extra power and torque of the 765 engine. Tyre life is not a problem…

BT Sport’s tech guru Michael Laverty zooms in on the lightweight class to unlock the secrets of their fast cornering Moto3 requires precision, bravery and a lot of luck. Sometimes the best race strategy isn’t rewarded with the deserved result as slipstream can affect the outcome much more than with the bigger categories. Races are typically fought in a frantic multi-bike battle with up to 20 riders and sometimes more forming the lead group. A minimum rider/bike weight limit of 152kg levels the advantage of the smaller riders, but smaller is still better for aerodynamics and cutting drag plays a huge role. 1 Riding style The lap times are achieved by late braking and carrying extreme mid-corner speeds. With so little bhp in comparison to the bigger categories the riders…

I was lucky enough to see the core of Triumph’s new electric bike concept on Friday at the Hinckley factory; the nascent reality of their bold aspirations. There are so many ‘concepts’ and one-off electric builds floating around in the ether that most have to be brushed aside as pure fantasy. But some do make it to market, and are brilliant. Zero, Energica and Harley-Davidson have all managed to make electric bikes that ride, feel and engage with you just like a ‘normal’ motorcycle. Price tags are still hefty though and unless you bag Energica’s latest DC fast charger option, recharge time is still a seriously prohibitive frustration for many bikers. This all makes Triumph’s TE-1 project even more interesting. It deliberately looks like a Triumph; it’s focused on performance…

Silverstone will be giving away thousands of free tickets to key workers who have continued to work tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. There will be 10,000 tickets allocated across Silverstone’s three biggest events this summer: the Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix, MotoGP and The Classic. The Silverstone team will be working with Blue Light Tickets to reward workers in the NHS, emergency services, armed forces and social care sectors. There are currently over two million Blue Light card-holders in the UK who can all enter a ballot to win a pair of free tickets to one of these major Silverstone events. The ballot for tickets to the first event, the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, that takes place from July 16-18, is now open (until the May 25) with…

In 2016, I highlighted the K1200RS as astonishing value, adding that I didn’t like it much. Lots of people do, though even its fiercest fans admit it’s a heavy old thing. That was the main reason I sold mine. And then I bought a K1600GTL, so what do I know? The thing is, it’s still an astonishing bargain. It was the most powerful and fastest Brick of the entire stable: good for 160mph in brilliant comfort. Five years ago, I observed you could get a decent one for £2000 (£3300 equivalent today, adjusted for inflation). Prices haven’t really moved since. I was ruminating about buying one again recently and pestered a seller with a few questions. This was for a 2002 model with just 19,000 miles on the clock, stacks…

Delivering very positive drive How Zero Motorcycles cut out the middleman to get power from the motor to the rear wheel Zero’s SR/F naked streetfighter produces a remarkable 140lb. ft of torque from zero rpm. But the SR/F makes use of the firm’s Direct Drive system, meaning a direct connection from motor to rear wheel. How do they do that? The missing link The lack of an intermediate gearbox between the electric motor and the rear wheel allows the SR/F’s motor to propel you forwards with as much gusto as the rear tyre can handle. Minimising frictional losses by removing the need for a clutch and gears, this system also helps improve the bike’s effective range, thanks to it using all its expended energy for propulsion, and reaping the extra…

THE PLAN The idea was to complete the Kawasaki Club Challenge but when I left I had no particular plan. Accommodation was booked on the day and several nights I camped, weather permitting. THE ROUTE • Reader Neil Scrivens • The Ride Kawasaki Club Challenge • Miles 3481 • Time taken Seven days • Don’t miss this The Scottish Borders are a great place to ride and the coast all the way down to Bamburgh was stunning. Especially St. Abbs and Eyemouth. From there I took a route through the Northumberland National Park. • Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE BIKE I can’t fault the ZZR1400. Hard luggage would have been nice but it’s a bike you can sit on all day long. TIME OUT This pub is over in…

Q ‘Is my payout about to be cut?’ I was involved in an incident in early February when I was stationary at some traffic lights and a car shunted me from behind. Luckily I managed to stay on my bike, although I lurched forwards. It caused my head to be flung forward and back at some force with the weight of my helmet. I have since been suffering with neck and upper back issues. I want to wait and see how I recover before submitting a claim to the driver’s insurer, but the solicitor appointed by my insurer has told me that I must submit the claim before the end of May or I could get less payout due to changes being introduced. Is this correct? Ryan, email A Your…

Gareth Gent Age 51 Height 5ft 10in Current bike Aprilia RS660 Been riding 5 years First bike Honda MT50 Dream bike Aprilia RSV1000R Nera I’d heard the Aprilia RS660 mentioned for around 12 months before I purchased it. It looked like an interesting proposition, with no other real competition and I just wanted to try it. I fancied trying a modern bike with modern electronics that wasn’t stupidly over-powered, with a decent power-to-weight and riding position. I didn’t want to get something as extreme as an R1M. I wanted something fairly comfortable, but I’m not quite ready for textiles and a Versys 1000… The RS660 ticked a lot of boxes for me – there’s around 100bhp, a proper chassis with modern tech and it doesn’t weigh 200 kilos. Weight was…

EMMETT’S MIRACLE “Sean was one of the most naturally-talented riders I’ve ever worked with and the way he rode in the wet with a slick rear tyre at Brands in 1997 was incredible. I’ll always remember that day.” BSB TITLE WINNER “I built the engines for Troy Bayliss’ 1998 and title-winning 1999 seasons. Making them reliable for Troy was a challenge.” SETTING UP SHOP “I was selling so many Ducati spare parts, eventually Ducati UK called and said ‘you need to set up a shop, you are the UK’s biggest parts dealer!’ I opened Ducati Coventry in the early 2000s as a result.” RECORD BREAKER John built the motor that Steve Hislop ran in a one-off WSB appearance in 2002. During qualifying, Hizzy broke Rossi’s outright Donington lap record.…

Owen Lewis, Kawasaki H2 owner, Jersey “Whilst I used to do a bit of drag racing in the past, it had been some years since I last ventured onto a drag strip. I’d owned the H2 for a year or so and it was a little scary trying to use anything near its full performance on the street so a trip to the drag strip was called for. I signed up for an RWYB day at Elvington with Straightliners (www.straightliners.events). It was about £50 for unlimited runs all day (cheaper than getting a speeding ticket!). “The first couple of runs are always a little nervewracking – will I stall it? How much grip is there? Will it wheelspin or wheelie? Will I look really slow? But then it gets easier once…

It’s always a tough call when I get emails asking me if petrol should be drained from a bike prior to storage, because there are so many variables. The main variable is how long the bike is going to be parked up. A usual winter lay-up of three or four months will be fine. Sure, after this time the petrol will be past its best, but adding fresh to it will mean that the old stuff won’t be causing any serious trouble. For longer periods, upwards of six months to a year, it’s always wise to remove the fuel from the tank after the final ride, especially if you’ve got less than half a tank left. In that time, the fuel starts to oxidise and leave damaging deposits within the…

Three-time MotoGP runner-up Andrea Dovizioso will test Aprilia’s 2021 RS-GP bike at Jerez next month. Dovi shocked the world last season when he announced his departure from Ducati after eight seasons with the Italian manufacturer. Ironically, Dovizioso opted to take a sabbatical from the sport rather than join Aprilia’s 2021 project, either as a test rider or full-time competitor. However, it appears that the Italian has made a U-turn and will now conduct a three-day test with Aprilia on April 12-15. A decision that has no doubt been motivated by the impressive performance of the all new bike in the latest round of testing. “I was pleased by Aprilia’s interest and when we spoke about the possibility of doing this test, I gladly accepted the invitation to be able to…

2020 saw scorching conditions as most of the season took place in horribly uncomfortable summer weather at places like Jerez and Portimao. Following delays in 2021, there could be a similar scenario, so Brembo are introducing teams to ‘finned’ MotoGP brake calipers. “World Superbike is close to MotoGP now,” Scott Redding says. “Luckily, I already know these components. “For development, we need to test new things, but there needs to be a time when I can ride the same bike for at least three runs in a row. At the moment it’s change, change, change. With a steady setup I could do more, better understanding how to make a superbike go faster.”…

SPORTS REPORTER 43 JACK MILLER Jack Miller finally gets his chance as a factory MotoGP rider this season as he becomes Ducati’s big hope for title success. The Aussie was the most consistent Ducati rider in 2020 and has continued to mature and make progress over the last few years. Miller moves to the factory squad with his crew chief of four years, Christian Pupulin, as well as his data and electronic engineers and one mechanic. So, has his and Ducati’s time arrived? MCN caught up with the one and only ‘Jackass’ to find out. How do you reflect on 2020? It was a year of what could have been – the tear off incident, crashing at Jerez, the bike blowing up at Le Mans and being taken out at…

44 POL ESPARGARO A match made in heaven? ■ Paired with the perfect bike for his aggressive style, he’s a race winner waiting to happen... HRC have long struggled to find a solid, competitive teammate to Marc Marquez. Dani Pedrosa’s threat lessened in the final years of his career, Jorge Lorenzo failed to adapt and consequently retired, whilst Alex Marquez was a rookie who actually over-achieved in his brother’s absence. Enter Pol Espargaro. Even before he debuted on the Honda at the Qatar tests the hype surrounding his move was high. It’s easy to see why. Espargaro’s work led KTM from MotoGP newcomers to race winners, podium finishers and pole position challengers. His riding style was made for the unstable beast that is the RC213V, while he’d shown previously that…

22 SAM LOWES ‘What I do on my bad days is what will win the title’ ■ Experienced 30-year-old Brit will start 2021 as one of the Moto2 title favourites There’s no lack of intent from Sam Lowes as he kicks off his bid to become Moto2 top dog in 2021. The former British and World Superport champ knows how to win series and, having found his happy place within the multiple-title-winning Marc VDS squad in 2020, it’s game-on in 2021. Last year Lowes turned around a career that appeared to be slipping away by running at the front of Moto2, securing poles, winning races, and taking the title down to the final round. It’s a turnaround he attributes to the quality and inner workings of his Marc VDS team.…

Heady nights at the local bike meet in colour-matched Texport leathers. The reputation for roaring noise and uncompromising ride. Walker tearing-up British Superbike, Anthony Gorbert going sideways in WSB... There are many reasons why riders of a certain age might froth over Kawasaki’s 90s-defining 750, and its super-secure handling, old-school sportsbike cool and flexible inline four are right up there. 7Rs haven’t attracted the collectors/investors yet, so get in quick. Quality and finish aren’t high points in Kawasaki’s history. Famously-stiff suspension gets tired with miles and enthusiastic use, paint flakes off chassis parts, the six-pot front brake calipers need attention to stop them behaving like two-slipers, and the downpipes rot. That’s assuming you find a bike with the original system – ZX-7Rs were targets for purveyors of loud pipes, undertrays…

£8999 KTM 790 Adventure The 790 Adventure is the ever-so-slightly tamer and more road-biased version of the Austrian firm’s flagship 790R. As an overall package it feels classy, substantial and confidence-inspiring. It’s been updated to 890 guise for 2021, so there are some cracking deals to be had on the outgoing 790s. ● www.inmoto.com SAVE £1600 £7499 Kawasaki W800 Café With £1600 stripped from the asking price, this 2020 Café looks like a steal from 5-Ways. • www.5-ways.co.uk • Engine 773cc • Power 47bhp • Weight 223kg • Seat height 790mm SAVE £1000 £14,145 BMW R1250R SE With its dark, rumbling soundtrack, lavish reserves of low-down power and a searing top end, BMW’s new R1250R is as classy as they come. • www.john-clark.co.uk • Engine 1254cc •Power 134bhp • Weight…

Super Soco have announced a deal with Santander that will give riders the opportunity to go electric on PCP or HP. All five Super Soco models available in the UK will be eligible for an introductory rate of 8.9% APR Representative. Super Soco UK CEO Richard Jordan said: “The new finance deal makes electric bike ownership all the more cost-effective.” Visit www.supersoco.co.uk/dealers for more info. Marginal gains Despite a difficult 2020, Ducati finished the year in the black with a 4% operating margin. The result was helped by a 26% uplift in sales in China, a 6.7% gain in Germany and 11.1% improvement in Switzerland. Thanks to the pandemic the brand delivered fewer bikes in 2020 (48,042) than in 2019 (53,183) but the average selling price rose by €1383. Get…

LS2 Breaker full face helmet £53.60 ‘Top touring lid at a super-low price’ We’ve set ourselves a budget of around £50 and found some fantastic bargains including riding gear, garage kit and security essentials. Take this LS2 Breaker lid, it’s been reduced by a tantalising 60% by Swansea-based, internet retailer, M&P. This full-faced item is perfect for touring and there are touches you’d expect from a lid that’s at least three times the price. It has a dropdown sun visor, is fully vented, has a quick-release buckle closure and the visor is quick-release. A chin curtain should reduce noise and the breath deflector, combined with the Pinlock anti-fog insert, should avoid a steamed-up visor. It features quick-release cheekpads, in case of an emergency, and the hypoallergenic lining is breathable, removable,…

The howling MV Agusta F3 has been discontinued for 2021 – hammering yet another nail into the supersport 600 class coffin. Unable to meet the stringent demands of Euro5, the three-cylinder machine, which has been in production since 2012, has been dropped from the line-up – leaving the 798cc F3 800 and F3 800 RC as the Varese firm’s only sporting options. Disappearing from MV’s website without any fuss, the £13,180 F3 stuffed a rasping 675cc 12v DOHC inline triple (complete with counterrotating crank) into a trellis chassis. Keeping everything in check was a modern suite of electronics, inside a beautiful set of MV F4-aping fairings. The Italian track star was one of the final machines available in the ‘traditional’ supersport 600 sector, with Yamaha switching to a track-only R6…

FANTASY SHOPPING ON A REAL-WORLD BUDGET MICHAEL NEEVES Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Neevesy’s pick... Michael Neeves has been road testing with MCN for nearly 20 years. One of the most experienced testers in the UK, Neevesy races a BMW S1000RR in UK club events as well as an XR69 and a Katana in international Classic Endurance and flies (pre-Covid, of course) around the world assessing the latest machinery. So how would the man who’s ridden just about every bike since 2002 spend his cash? “I get asked what my favourite bike is all the time, but it’s a hard one to answer,” says Neevesy. “Bikes like the…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Two-stroke of genius Great job by Emma Franklin (MCN, February 24) for the article on two-strokes. The addictive ‘braaap, cackle and ziiinnnggg’ of those spannies when the engine comes on song, whether it be a single or multi-cylinder, is addictive. The sound and smell… oh that smell… it all makes every junction and set of lights a 1980s GP grid experience. Once tuned they become even more fun. Then there are thoughts of ‘this will hurt me if I crack it open too early mid corner’ and the obligatory finger hovering over the clutch lever just in case of a ‘nip up’. More please! Neal Powell, email Bazza was the benchmark Many years ago before Sheene moved to Australia, the company where I was working had…

SENIOR WRITER £10,150 Aprilia RS660 • 659cc 8v parallel twin • 99bhp/49lb.ft • £136.04 per month PCP £2000-£3000 (Used) 2001 Honda CBR600F Sport • 599cc 16v inline-four • 109bhp/48lb.ft • PCP not available Like anything in this world, you must continue to evolve or face extinction. Middleweight supersport bikes are no exception and as the market moves away from cramped, rev-hungry race replicas onto more practical alternatives, the sector must adapt… or go the way of the dinosaurs. In the early noughties, when sportsbikes ruled the roost, machines like the Honda CBR600F offered bountiful revs for weekend tear-ups, plus a comfy riding position and room under the seat to carry essentials for touring and the daily trudge to and from the office. Then 2003 dawned and Honda began to move…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER It never lacked drama, but with the meat of its torque delivered at such screaming revs, last year’s peakier Streetfighter V4 lacked the immediacy of its rivals. It still has a voracious appetite for revs and hasn’t turned into a Super Duke or Tuono overnight, but now more of the V4’s good stuff is delivered at lower speeds, which makes it more exciting, more of the time and the riot that a bike with over 200bhp really should be. Extra oomph aside it’s much the same as before: a hugely refined and blisteringly fast superbike with straight bars. THE FACTS £19,995 Ducati Streetfighter V4 S…

DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING Easy to question why the R18 Classic costs 20 grand. It doesn’t go very fast, isn’t shimmering with whizzbang tech, has a basic chassis spec and delivers a simple ride. Doesn’t matter. Instead, the cash buys a bike of fabulous quality and engineering, and that delivers vivid sensations on each and every ride. Whether you choose the Classic for longer journeys is a matter of taste. In Classic form the air of the R18 changes; sure, it rides the same as the regular model, but for me the big BMW doesn’t have quite as much appeal in tourer guise. What’s definite is that the R18 Classic has the quality to match a certain US brand. Don’t buy a Harley without testing this too. THE FACTS £20,980 BMW…

DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING The Super Soco CPx makes easy work of short city trips. Tasked with that, one battery likely offers enough range for most cross-town daily commutes. That leaves the twin-battery version feeling like a tougher sell, especially given its near-£5000 price. But however long, short, fast or slow your journey, the trouble for Super Soco is Honda’s eternally popular PCX125, which offers more speed, more range and more storage, plus an ABS safety net and a proven reputation. And at £3169, the Honda is nearly £500 less than the cheapest CPx. Batteries beat the bus, but petrol power isn’t toppled yet. THE FACTS £4754 Super Soco CPx…

Since this visit, Shakespeare County Raceway in Stratford has now closed, earmarked to become housing. Which leaves Santa Pod in Northants (www.rwyb.co.uk), Melbourne Raceway near York and Dakota Raceway in the South West (www.straightliners.events) as the main locations for RWYB fun in the UK. Santa Pod will be hopefully recommencing their events on April 17 and it’ll cost you £45 for unlimited runs. Tip: for maximum track time, go on a day that is just purely a RWYB event. Days that run alongside drag racing competitions will be much busier and you’ll get fewer runs. You’ll need to take your driving licence and be wearing protective biking kit. One or two-piece zip-together leathers are recommended, but textiles and jacket/protective jeans combos are permitted.…

Clarke Pro 3/8in drive digital torque wrench £89.99 ‘No more squinting at torque settings’ Tested by Bruce Dunn for two years One of the irritating things when using a conventional torque wrench is winding the handle up and then squinting at the hard-to-read embossed scale to line up with the chosen value. Thanks to tools like this, that’s all a thing of the past. This piece of kit has an illuminated digital display that indicates the setting, which can be set to Nm, lb.ft, lb.in and kgm. When you reach the desired setting you get an audible tone, a coloured LED and the live LCD display readout, so you cannot go wrong. The range includes almost all the torque settings you will need from general bike maintenance right up to…

2021 Yamaha MT-09 A clean-sheet redesign sees 4kg dropped from the weight courtesy of a Deltabox frame, the engine increased to 889cc to give 4bhp more power and 4lb.ft more peak torque lower in the revs. Full suite of electronics includes traction, wheelie and slide control. 2017-2020 Yamaha MT-09 Face-lifted Euro4 version featuring new twin LED headlamps, quickshifter, new front fork with compression damping, slip/assist clutch, and new shock settings. New subframe brings a slightly more aggressive stance. 2014-2015 Yamaha MT-09 ST Street Tracker Flattrack-inspired version of the MT is loaded with tasty styling extras. Boasting a black frame, bronze cylinder head, two-tone leather/alcantara seat, and smatterings of carbon fibre. 2013-2016 Yamaha MT-09 Made the world take notice of Yamaha again, its 115bhp triple, wrapped inside a lightweight, aluminium frame…

‘It’s not like a knock-off fake watch’ Two confident teens came into our showroom before lockdown. The first said he wanted an Arai and asked how much the cheapest was, so I showed him a Debut at £299. He used choice language and got his mate to show me the ‘Arai’ he got for £100 off the internet. He’d have been much better off wearing a bucket. Sadly, auction sites are full of low-quality kit that rips-off big brands. These counterfeits don’t have the development, comfort or finish of the real thing. Worst of all, they won’t meet the ECE-22.05 safety standard. Or any standard. Here are the rules to avoid landing a dangerous lid. First, if it feels too cheap then assume it’s a fake (our teens were gobsmacked…

This 2001 Honda 1100 Blackbird had given good service and was in fairly good nick when it arrived at Double O Motorcycles in Bedford, apart from the fact that it was in the back of a van. “The owner had all his dash lights go crazy, then the ‘click, click, click’ of doom from the starter button,” said mechanic Sean Taylor. The battery was now as dead as a dodo, so the first step was to slot in a properly charged replacement and check the charging system. Surprise, surprise, it wasn’t putting any current into the battery, so Sean dug deeper. “There’s a multiplug on the left-hand side near the rear subframe, that is slightly exposed. Sure enough, it was green and corroded. “Corrosion eats away at the connections, increasing…

‘Stand clear everyone, Marc’s coming back...’ If there’s a perfect slogan for MotoGP 2021, it’s this: ‘Please Stand Well Back from the Barriers’. It’s always like that, obviously. But it will be more so when Marc Marquez explodes back into action. For a while, it looked like he’d be out in Qatar, but this has been delayed until round three in Portugal. When he will be ready to confound all predictions (my own included). It’s been intense and exciting without him. Now the others have two races more of the same. Then it will ramp right up. Not long ago, when judged as if he was a normal bloke, it seemed certain the octuple-champ would have his confidence badly dented. Normal bloke? Give it a rest. He leapt off the…

Sam Lowes picked up where he left off in 2020, topping the Moto2 class. Fast throughout the three days in Qatar, the Brit pipped fellow 2021 title contender Marco Bezzecchi to top spot despite setting his fastest time during his long race run – rather than on an all-out single flying lap. Fellow Brit Jake Dixon’s recovery from a wrist injury continued and he appears to be putting the pain well and truly to one side. Dixon was inside the top five on the final two days. Remy Gardner immediately proved why Aki Ajo snapped him up in third, after topping the opening day. Raul Fernandez was the fastest rookie on each of the three days, whilst MotoAmerica champion Cameron Beaubier made impressive progress to end 13th. Meanwhile, in Moto3…

Ducati saved Johann Zarco’s Grand Prix career last year when they offered him a lifeline at the Avintia Racing team. The Frenchman was in big trouble after being shown the door at KTM just six months into a two-year contract in 2019. Zarco wasn’t keen on moving to a squad who were arguably backmarkers of MotoGP, but the Bologna factory moved Ducati Corse technicians into his side of the box and Avintia became an official satellite team. Zarco was rejuvenated and secured a podium at Brno, alongside seven top 10 finishes throughout the season. He’s been rewarded with a move to Pramac Racing and will ride a brand-new GP21 Desmocedici this season. Now, 2021 could be the year we see Zarco return to his true self. Let’s not forget, Zarco…

Ex-racer, TT-winner, author and veteran MotoGP pundit writes for MCN MotoGP bikes are the fastest, most powerful race bikes on Earth, which is why they need the greatest riders on Earth to keep them under control. And then there are the tech boffins who write the MotoGP rulebook to make sure that costs and performance are kept in check. On the eve of the 2021 MotoGP season, Mat Oxley takes a deep dive into the best facts and the most important tech regs that govern the MotoGP world championship, all the way from top-speed records and rider salaries to engine freezes and aerodynamics. 1 Closer and closer MotoGP offers the closest racing in world-class motorsport, thanks to regulations that give every factory a chance of running at the sharp end.…

17 JOHN MCPHEE PETRONAS SPRINTA RACING ‘I’m better prepared than ever before’ Last year British fans truly believed that John McPhee could become a world champion. With three podiums and a victory from the opening seven races, McPhee was well and truly in the title hunt. Unfortunately, a mixture of bad luck and a slight dip in form put those dreams to rest for another year, and also ended the Scot’s hopes of a Moto2 promotion. McPhee will now go all-out for the Moto3 crown in what is his ninth campaign in the lightweight class. Last year’s top five riders have moved on and there’s nobody out there that can match the experience that McPhee has. “I think experience is something that you can’t buy so that’s massive for me,”…

Heady nights at the local bike meet in colour-matched Texport leathers. The reputation for roaring noise and uncompromising ride. Walker tearing-up British Superbike, Anthony Gorbert going sideways in WSB... There are many reasons why riders of a certain age might froth over Kawasaki’s 90s-defining 750, and its super-secure handling, old-school sportsbike cool and flexible inline four are right up there. 7Rs haven’t attracted the collectors/investors yet, so get in quick. Quality and finish aren’t high points in Kawasaki’s history. Famously-stiff suspension gets tired with miles and enthusiastic use, paint flakes off chassis parts, the six-pot front brake calipers need attention to stop them behaving like two-slipers, and the downpipes rot. That’s assuming you find a bike with the original system – ZX-7Rs were targets for purveyors of loud pipes, undertrays…