Table of contents for 30 March 2022 in MCN

‘I had more fun. It’s not fun now, it’s horrendous’NIALL MACKENZIE ON BSB 25 YEARS ON EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW At home with the Mackenzies Fighting back from injury, Taz was back on two wheels in time for the big BSB test at the end of last week (P68). We also caught up with him at home, along with dad Niall, to find out who has ultimate BSB bragging rights. So who had it easier, who won the most convincingly, and how did they both end up with bloody faces the morning after their title wins? All this and more... EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW P38 TOP STORY Langen say ‘no more 2-strokes’ British engineering genius Christofer Ratcliffe wowed the biking world when he revealed the stunning Langen Two Stroke, but as the production of…

Small electric bike specialists Sunra have revealed a new Robo-S Utility model, designed to zap across city centre low emission zones delivering goods and cutting transport costs for businesses. Based on the standard £3299 Robo S, the Utility model runs on two swappable lithium-ion batteries and is capable of just over 60 miles between charges from a three-pin plug socket. You get a claimed 50mph top speed – allowing you to deliver that pizza and chips to a hungry hungover student even faster. Away from the top end, you’ll also find more than 200 litres of carrying capacity, with 24 of those available under the seat. You’ll also get an alarm, immobiliser, and fingerprint recognition to help keep it safe from would-be bike thieves when not in use. Available on…

ASSISTANT EDITOR Aprilia are branding their new SR GT 200 an ‘urban adventure’ scooter and went so far in the press briefing as to compare it to an SUV on two wheels. Let’s be honest, a 174cc scooter is never going to make a true Grand Tourer – you know that, we know that, and so do Aprilia. But there is a growing market for more premium and capable scooters that look like they could take on more than an inner-city commute. Honda have the ADV350, Yamaha have the XMAX 300 and the SR GT is Aprilia’s attempt to muscle in – leaning on the Noale factory’s sporting heritage for credibility. The front-end apes the sportsbikes in Aprilia’s range with its wide ‘wings’, angry dual headlights and beak-like nose, there…

SENIOR WRITER A leading seller of rare and collectable two-wheeled specials has told MCN that the UK’s pool of 80s and 90s dream bikes is being squeezed, thanks to increased appetite in the US and rising purchase prices in Japan. “I think we’ve got 11 Honda RC30s in stock and I don’t think I’ll be able to buy any more [from Japan],” says Ciarán Perrin of Extreme Trading in Norwich, who import and sell rare motorcycles from across the globe. “Once I sell my last Honda NR750, I won’t be able to replace it,” he added. The market change is said to be the result of prices doubling in Japan in the last 12 months, meaning it no longer makes business sense for importers like Ciarán to bring bikes over…

British sidecar specialists Watsonian are reporting a post-pandemic sales boom and are celebrating their success with a new Triumph Speedmaster kit. Based in Moreton-in-Marsh in the heart of the Cotswolds, Watsonian have been building sidecars since 1912 and this year celebrate their 110th anniversary. But they’re also celebrating a 50% boom in sales compared to pre-pandemic levels, something Managing Director Ben Matthews says, is heavily fuelled by product development. “While the design of our sidecars hasn’t changed significantly over the past 50 years, the bikes we attach them to are completely different,” he told MCN. “In order to build an outfit that handles properly, you need a bike-specific fitting kit to ensure the geometry is balanced and that’s where our experience and expertise comes in.” The latest kit is built…

A few weeks ago I got the kind of phone call we all dream of – from the mother-in-law of all people! Putting the Les Dawson-style jokes aside (she may read this...), the call went along the lines of “a friend of a friend in the village has a motorcycle in her garage that she wants to get rid of as she’s moving house. Do you want it? It’s free and old.” I said yes a damn sight faster than her daughter did many years ago when I popped the question. So, picturing a dust-covered Brough worth enough for me to retire on, I hotfooted to the lady’s house. Venturing into a dark recess of the garage I did indeed discover a motorcycle, well a bunch of buckets and a…

Plugging in to the future of motorcycling It feels like every week there’s another push to get us to go electric - whether that’s in cars or on bikes. But as demonstrated by Ewan and Charley in their South American odyssey, Long Way Up, the ease of your electric journey is dictated by how many charge points there are. Which begs the question, how much coverage do we have in the UK right now? According to ZapMap, the UK’s leading charge point locator app, there are now just under 30,000 public charging points available in the nation, with the majority of them being fast, rapid and ultra-rapid. This means the number of charge points has increased by 335% from 2016, when there were just over 6000 in all. These charge…

Q ‘Can’t recall the accident…’ I had an accident when overtaking on my way to work. The driver who hit me said I was going well above the speed limit. He said he was attempting to turn right and was indicating. I can’t remember the accident but there are witnesses. Some of them say I was going too fast, while others say I was not, and some of them say the other driver was indicating and turning slowly, while others say that he pulled out suddenly. My solicitors are considering dropping my claim. Is it right that because I can’t remember the accident then I must be to blame? Ryan, Porthcawl A When looking at blame for an accident many cases turn on witness evidence as well as physical evidence…

Reader Tony Hawker The trip Tour of Dartmoor How many miles? This section is about 80 miles so you could build it into a longer trip How long do you need? It’s a good day of riding. You will need at least three or four hours Best time to go Spring to Autumn but watch for tourist traffic in the summer season Don’t miss… There are lots of great riding roads with fabulous scenery to enjoy if you take time out to stop and admire the views. I usually stop off at the Hog and Hedge at Whidden Down and also at the Old Police Station in Prince Town (see pic, bottom left). Nobody should miss the great views over Burrator Reservoir (it is spectacular!) and further on you pass…

What’s happening? This weekend is your chance to have a gander at some of the best pieces of custom work in the motorcycle industry and mooch around over 50 trade stands which will have everything from custom parts to helmets and T-shirts. You’ll get the chance to chat with the builders (and perhaps learn some trade secrets) camp for the weekend and even marvel at the Two Brothers stunt team. Parking is free and plentiful, and the show will also be hosting the 2022 National Championships for Custom Motorcycles to see which is top dog. The award ceremony is taking place on the Sunday at 3pm. The essentials The show is taking place over April 2 and 3 at the Three Counties showground in Worcestershire. You can get tickets at…

If you want a bike to explore the UK’s most remote and challenging green lanes with and also be comfortable riding a reasonable distance on tarmac to reach them, look no further. Do you really need anything bigger? If your adventure is UK-based and involves some proper exploring, I’d say not. Middleweights are far more manageable in the muck than heavy, big-capacity models and also brilliant fun when attacking B-roads. They may not be quite as luxurious or loaded with tech, and pillions are probably out of the question, but for dirty weekends away, they are ideal. Which is our pick out of these two? It depends on the kind of adventure you are after. As with the RS660, Aprilia have managed to prove doubters wrong with their Tuareg and…

Although West Coast hot rod style cruisers haven’t really caught on in the UK, (being a niche of an already very American niche), it’s well executed here and a worthwhile addition to the Scout family. Taller bars and a bigger front wheel conspire to create a bigger, roomier Scout without compromising comfort or handling. And while the performance of this supposed hot rod Scout hasn’t changed, it was no sluggard in the first place and it out-drags both the old, now defunct 66bhp Harley 1200 Iron and more than matches the surviving, 93bhp (but heavier and £4K more expensive) Low Rider S. In that context, as a genuine, US West Coast cruiser, it’s almost a no-brainer. THE FACTS £13,295 Indian Scout Rogue (£13,495 in this colourway)…

Quad Lock Motorcycle Vibration Dampener, Wireless Charger and Pixel 5 case £108.85 together ‘It’s seriously simple to use’ Tested by Gareth Evans for eight months / 3200 miles In 2021 Apple released a statement that said “Exposure to vibrations, like those generated by high-powered motorcycle engines, might impact iPhone cameras”. Now, being a bit of a tech geek, a few months earlier I’d planned for this eventuality by installing Quad Lock’s Vibration Dampener. Sure, I have a Google Pixel 5 rather than an Apple, but I use my camera a lot in this job and as such didn’t fancy the risk something might shake loose. Quad Lock say they’ve worked stringently to “understand, design, develop and then test a Vibration Dampening solution that gives riders complete confidence in mounting all…

I know we’re always banging on about the best way to store a bike, but there are always times and circumstances when you’ll be dealing with one that hasn’t been put away properly. But other than being prepared to lob out a few quid on a new battery and fresh fuel, there’s no reason why a forgotten bike shouldn’t fire back into life after these steps have been taken. But just because the engine’s started, doesn’t mean you should sling a leg over and take it for a ride. Essential checks should also include the condition and pressures of the tyres, chain tension, fork seals and correct function of lights and brakes. If you have a modern machine that’s in regular use and it suddenly won’t start, check the sidestand,…

It’s over… bikes bowing and scraping like shape-shifting lizards and riders complaining their factories are failing to keep up. The GP Commission has stamped out mid-race front suspension adjustments. Is this belated common sense, quashing a costly, irrelevant technology? Or another heartless act by the MotoGP Luddites? On the one hand, this active suspension (manually controlled, with automatic operation already illegal) was of debatable real-world value. On the other, cost-cutting dumb-down rules undermine the dictum that racing improves the breed. How can you progress without innovation? And without progress, top-level racing is just an exotic game. The most significant factor of the GP Commission’s ban is political. MotoGP’s unique structure gives technical control to the manufacturers, via the MSMA (Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers’ Association). Weirdly, MSMA decisions must be unanimous. If…

There’s a real sense of belief surrounding Bradley Ray heading into the new British Superbike season now that the two-time race winner has a Yamaha R1 beneath him. Ray was fast all weekend at Snetterton and ended the three-day test just 0.098s behind O’Halloran’s McAMS Yamaha, and below the existing lap record. The consistency was there for him, and so was the one-lap pace. It’s a welcome return to the front for Ray, who has endured a tough couple of years on BMW machinery. It’s long been believed that with the right bike, Ray can be one of the frontrunners in the Superbike class, and so far, that thought is becoming reality. “It’s always been a funny one because I’ve always looked at the Yamaha and thought ‘Do you know…

Rory Skinner was one of the standout performers of the weekend with the Scot finishing under the lap record in fifth. Entering his second BSB campaign, he posted a best lap-time of 1:46.735 and was consistently towards the top of the times in each and every session. The FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider is riding with confidence and is feeling strong physically after working with Loughborough University. “To have had a test like this is really mega,” Skinner said. “We’ve been focusing more on doing long runs and working on tyre life, but it was nice to know that when it came to putting a lap-time in, we were there or thereabouts on my own. “I’m just enjoying riding my bike again. That’s the main thing for me, if I’m enjoying…

You know you’re getting old when things that happened over 25 years ago still feel quite recent. I’d just left Uni when Niall Mackenzie lifted his first BSB title, desperate to get a job that would pay me enough to buy a better bike than the awful parts-bin special I’d sold on the last day of term in order to afford a tank of fuel to drive 300 miles home on. And just as my ancient student life bears little resemblance to student life now, the trials and tribulations of a BSB champion back in 1996 are very different to those faced by today’s elite riders. And what better way to get some brutally honest insight into the comparison than by sitting Niall and Tarran down together and hearing their…

SAVE £904 £13,995 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX The combination of supercharged usable power and comfort is genius and there are few better bikes to whisk you down the Autobahn. With heated grips, cruise control, cornering ABS and full colour clocks, it’s practical, yet at the same has the mid-range tyre-ripping grunt to take your breath away. • www.seastarsuperbikes.co.uk SAVE £900 £9099 Suzuki DL1050A Comfortable, calm and composed, the V-Strom turns its hand to a bit of everything. • arnoldsmotorcycles.com • Engine 1037cc • Power 106bhp • Weight 236kg • Seat height 855mm SAVE £851 £4588 Piaggio GTS Super 300 The 300 looks great, has the definitive brand name, is easy to ride and is lavishly equipped. • colchesterkawasaki.co.uk • Engine 278cc • Power 22bhp • Weight 148kg • Seat height…

ASSISTANT EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING Acharity that aims to steer young people away from motorbike-related criminality has been praised by West Yorkshire Police. Team KickStart has been gathering momentum since it started in the Ashbrow Ward area of Huddersfield in 2021 and now works with around 100 teens who have an interest in bikes - teaching them to ride safely and legally and develop their servicing and engineering skills. The project was started by locals Joy Edwards and Junior Montano and provides a regular meeting place where young people can gather and learn safe riding skills from qualified professionals with the aim of getting a CBT in the future. “Having attended the first event in April last year I was extremely impressed with how Joy and Junior brought the community together and…

Shark Spartan RS helmet £299.99 Shark have a new version of the popular Spartan that now meets the new ECE 22.06 standard. It uses a composite shell with multi-density EPS as well as a robust visor with a four-point anchor system. There’s luxurious, perforated suede padding and sanitised textiles for antibacterial, anti-sweat and antiodour properties. The helmet has a Pinlock insert and sun visor. www.nevis.uk.com Skidmarx screens for Royal Enfield Himalayan £74.95 Designed and manufactured by Skidmarx in their UK factory, the screen is made from 4mm acrylic and slots directly onto existing mounting points, using the original fasteners. It comes in clear, light grey or dark grey and fits all the Royal Enfield Himalayan Euro5 models. There’s a Super Tall version for £89.95. www.skidmarx.co.uk Richa Carter riding jeans £129.99…

ROLAND BROWN 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 Roland’s pick... Roland Brown has been testing and writing about bikes for over 40 years. Having started on Bike in 1982, Roland went freelance and has tested just about every make and model of two-wheeler you can imagine. As well as racing and scoring top-six finishes in British Superstock in the 1980s, Roland has finished second in class at the Le Mans 24-hour. So, what would the man who has ridden every major bike built since the 1960s, and a few from before, buy for himself? “Eleven years ago, I did the launch of the Tuono V4 at Valencia. Following an…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews His own worst enemy Just saw the Marquez crash during warm-up. I remember when Marquez started in MotoGP the pundits said many times that the only thing that would stop him was Marquez himself. I really worry about his ability to sustain these crashes without permanent injury Andrew Smithers, email Good work Bombardier Three cheers for Bombardier with a properly engineered, fullyenclosed, final drive chain in their proposed electric bikes (MCN, March 23). For this alone, it’s on my ‘look to buy soon’ list. Dick Penfold, email Stormingly good service Just wanted to say a huge thank you to Alistair, Andrew, Chris and Reese at Bahnstormer Alton for taking care of me and my G650GS. Their new showroom is like a museum, the pizza shack is…

MCN staff and readers share their favourite routes If you fancy a little European jaunt and ending your day with a bucket load of mussels and a cool glass of rosé, then this could be the route for you. As you arrive either at the Port of Calais or via the Eurotunnel, head towards Sangatte, on the outskirts of Calais. Join the D940, it hugs the coast from Calais to Le Touquet and combines tight twisty bends with long sweeping sections. As you leave Sangatte behind the road opens up and the views are fabulous, with the occasional glimpse of the white cliffs of Dover you never feel too far from home. Along the route, there are plenty of pretty towns to stop off and sample the local fayre, Wimereux…

FRIDAY April 1 2pm, EUR2, World Superbikes: Season Preview, also at 9pm 7pm, EUR2, Motocross World Championship: from Argentina SATURDAY April 2 1pm, BTS2, Live MotoGP: Argentina Qualifying SUNDAY April 3 2pm, BTS2, Moto3 3.15pm, Moto2 at 5pm, MotoGP at 6.30pm. 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…

On paper, the Tuareg boasts impressive off-road capability, with long-travel suspension (240mm front/rear versus the Ténéré’s 210mm/200mm), a low seat height and abundance of low to mid-range torque. While we didn’t get anywhere near exercising it fully, a handful of green lanes proved that it is a very capable, and confidence inspiring off-roader. Small details stood out - the narrow waist between the seat and the tank was a godsend for my shorter legs and the low centre of gravity meant that it was balanced on loose terrain. By comparison, the Ténéré boasts the high seat, aggressive stance and weight distribution of an overgrown dirt bike. Similarly, the Tuareg’s suspension was softer and more forgiving than the Ténéré’s, which may explain the need for more travel. While we weren’t riding…

For the money, it can’t be beaten – it’s good, raw fun. I love the power, plus it sounds amazing with the SP exhaust. It’s versatile and I’m as happy around town as I am out with the boys on a Sunday blast. I’m planning a trip to Europe, so I can take it around the Nürburgring and with the right tyres I might do UK trackdays. Much as I love it, I do miss my CB1000R and I don’t think it’ll be long before I trade this in for another one. HOW GOOD IS THE RUBBER? I was never comfortable with the OE Dunlop Sportmax tyres. After just 1100 miles they were completely squared off. I swapped them for Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa 2. Also consider Bridgestone S22 (120/70-17,…

Here’s what can happen to bikes that have been ridden through winter after winter without high levels of TLC. This 40,000-mile Suzuki 600 Bandit suddenly shut down completely at the side of the road and had to be recovered to Kev Hollingsworth at Doncaster Motorcycles. Kev said: “The fact that it had died properly made diagnosis easier. The really tricky ones are when there’s a ‘ghost in the machine’ and it’s an intermittent fault that never occurs when the bike is in the workshop. “In this case I started with the main ignition lead which is just under the headstock, behind the oil cooler, as everything gets thrown up from the front wheel. Sure enough the wiring had turned into blue powder.” This was an easy fix as there was…

A broken collarbone suffered during a motocross crash in Spain forced Conor Cummins to miss the Padgett’s squad’s opening test at Snetterton. “I am all back together and resting up before starting training again,” said the Manxman, who finished on both the Superbike and Senior TT podiums in 2018 and 2019. Cummins agrees the new Fireblade will be a welcome boost but also admits he will have to dig deep. “The new bike will contribute massively but the rest has to come from me. I know what the competition has done and I know what I need to do to deliver,” the 35-year-old said. Riding for the Honda Britain, Tyco Suzuki, Milwaukee Yamaha and McAdoo Kawasaki teams since making his TT debut in 2006, Cummins has lapped the Mountain course…

Factory Honda man Xavi Vierge suffered the first superbike crash of his career and was unfortunate to break a rib. The bone in question is the 12th rib at the bottom of his chest. This leaves the Honda rider in significant pain ahead of the seasonopener in Aragon next week and marks the second HRC injury this pre-season, as Iker Lecuona broke a finger in Jerez just before Christmas. “It was an entry highside into Turn 12 in the wet,” Team Principal Leon Camier explained. “Our riders had no wet weather superbike experience.” Not only that, but Honda had no wet data with Showa suspension after switching from Öhlins. The Japanese marque have also changed brake suppliers from Brembo to Nissin and their bikes were spotted running double air ducts…

I have no doubt that Tom Sykes is going to run at the front. He’s got a brilliant bike, he’s in a brilliant team and he’s a world champion. He’s a pole position legend – the most successful by far. As far as I’m concerned there is no question about his talent, his speed or his skills. It’s just whether he’ll really want to get involved with a Christian Iddon, a Danny Buchan or a Jason O’Halloran going up the inside of him in a corner and scraping the paint off his fairing. But if he gets a good start he has the speed to check out at every round. He’s got the ability and the package to disappear. And yes, I know he hasn’t raced in BSB for a…

Pirelli are bringing new products to BSB in 2022. There’s an updated SCX rear tyre, where the carcass material has changed but the compound remains the same. It’s been designed to provide better grip at full lean and offer improved stability mid-corner. Elsewhere, the intermediate rear has changed in size so that it’s now the same diameter as the full wet tyre. Kent’s fast return Danny Kent’s return to action was a successful one, with the Buildbase Suzuki rider finishing ninth overall (+0.746). Kent broke his hip at Donington Park last August and only rode a bike again for the first time last month. New teammate, Christian Iddon, finished inside the top five in five sessions but finished 15th overall after a crash at Murray’s towards the end of the…

Arai have unveiled the latest version of their RX-7V track helmet for 2022. The biggest change for the lid - now called the RX-7V Evo - is that it conforms to the stringent ECE 22.06 safety standard. The Evo costs £699 in plain black but is also available in race reps including Rea, Schwantz, Hayden and Haga. You can also get a new design to commemorate the 2022 Isle of Man TT for £875. Head to www.whyarai.co.uk to see the full list of designs. Get suited up Forcefield have a new undersuit which they claim is an industry first by incorporating back and chest protection into a one-piece breathable/wicking undersuit. Called the Forcefield Tech 3 Undersuit, it’s designed to go under leathers and combines Tech 3 base layer fabric, a…

Weise Matrix Gloves £49.99 Get your hands on a pair now With the cost-of-living rocketing, fifty quid doesn’t go very far these days. That said, after checking out this week’s bundle of bargains, you’ll be surprised how much bang you can get for your biking buck. This week we are on the hunt for affordable gloves for all styles of riding, whether they are for you or a pillion passenger. Bristol-based Fowlers have a wide selection of products from bike gear specialist Weise, including the Matrix leather and textile gloves (top). Available in either black or tan, they have vented fingers and armoured knuckles, there’s double layered leather at key areas. They have an adjustable Velcro strap and come in a full range of sizes. They also have the retro-styled,…

Motorcycle (and boat!) holiday touring specialists ‘Bike and Boat Tour’ are offering a special discounted rate on their tour of Spain’s Andalucia region. The nine-day holiday starts April 29 in Malaga and is offered to riders with bikes provided at €1890, riders with own bike at €1190 and pillions for €990. It includes hotels and some meals (but not flights) and guides you through some of the very best southern Spain has to offer. For more, visit bikesandboattour.com MV’S Milan flagship MV Agusta have opened their first fully-owned flagship store in downtown Milan. The 400m2 showroom is a tribute to MV’s heritage and future, has bikes (and electrics), kit and accessories, a club lounge, terrace and adjacent workshop. It’s decorated with pictures of riders and bikes from the firm’s 75-year…

Ride further in 2022 with a little help from our one-stop event guide JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain’s best biking cafés BOMBER COMMAND • Café, memorial and exhibition • Open from Tuesday-Sunday 9.30am-5pm • Find out more / internationalbcc.co.uk • Canwick Avenue, Lincoln, LN4 2HQ If you’ve ever heard the term ‘Bomber County’ used to describe Lincolnshire and don’t know why, it might be time for a visit to the International Bomber Command Centre. “Bomber Command didn’t have anywhere that commemorated them, yet they had the highest loss rate of any of the armed services. That’s the purpose of this centre,” says Simon Dufton, trustee and director of the centre. “It was the brainchild of a gentleman called Tony Worth, who is sadly no longer with us. “It’s…

1 Sycamore’s first birthday bash April 2 To celebrate Yamaha and Harley’s first year at their Uppingham showrooms, Jason O’Halloran will be there for the day for a chat and an autograph. Mister Robinson will be trimming your locks and you can try out a track simulator, get a tattoo and there will be live music and discounts on clothes too. www.sycamorehd.co.uk www.sycamoreyamaha.co.uk 2 Kempton Autojumble April 2 Kempton Autojumble is back this weekend at Kempton Park Racecourse. Billed as ‘the perfect place to pick up a bargain, tickets are £10 for entry from 7.45am and £7 for entry from 9.30am. Kids 15 years and under can enter for free. kemptonautojumble.co.uk 3 British and Classic Bike Day April 3 This Sunday, the Ace Cafe’s bike day has got something a…

‘Scottish sight-seeing’ R5K MEMBER PETER CHISHOLM A nice run around some of the southwest of Scotland on a recent weekend. I even stopped at Clatteringshaws Loch for a break. ‘Three pubs challenge’ R5K MEMBERS JOHN CRAWFORD, PAUL ALLEN, BILL HALLEY, RAB BRUCE In recovery mode after completing the Three Pubs Challenge. We rode to the highest pubs in Scotland, England, and Wales and it was actually dark and freezing by the third. ‘Taking on the Rutland TT’ R5K MEMBER ED WILSON Here I am on the ‘Rutland TT’ with a nice mix of new and old acquaintances. We used a marker system so everyone could enjoy their own ride but as group. A great day out and another 260 miles in the bag. ‘A proper group ride’ R5K MEMBER MATT…

Improvements to the suspension, fuelling and electronics make the RR the most polished F3 yet and everything a modern day supersports weapon should be. It’s revvy, rapid, dramatic and handles like a firm, race-ready track weapon, although the brake feel lacks consistency. It’s a surprisingly friendly road bike, too, with a relatively spacious riding position lots of grunt, smooth fuelling and niceties like cruise control and a colour dash. Carbon wings and shrouds are more for the track, but give the F3 a serious new look, but its taller screen is useful on motorways. It’s a wonderful creation – it’s just a shame it’s so pricey, though. THE FACTS £19,660 MV Agusta F3 RR…

‘Check that it’s not been nicked’ Theft is a recurring issue with sportsbikes, which is why you always need to check the basics such as that one key matches all the locks, inspect the frame and engine numbers and do a HPI search – but this doesn’t always cover you. Many years ago I heard a shocking story from a fellow dealer. They sold a sportsbike and a few weeks later the customer got a knock on his door from the police. After some investigation they had discovered his bike was ringed, so they took it away. The customer then went back to the dealer and demanded a full refund, which he obviously got, but my mate was now left out of pocket as the dealer he bought it from…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Be prepared to provide fresh voltage If you’ve got a bike that’s been languishing in the back of the garage, it’s going to need a bit of help to get started. The battery will most likely be kaput but give it a charge for a few hours, disconnect the charger, and check the voltage with a multimeter. Anything over 12.6 volts indicates it is healthy, and worth trying. Anything lower means you’ll need a new battery. BRUCE’S TIPS Don’t forget to check oil and coolant levels 2 Get a boost Or, the alternative way to start a bike with a flat battery is to use a jump pack, like this portable Noco Boost pack (£99, which connects via jump leads to the…

ROADS REPORTER Clive Padgett’s Honda squad will blend experience with youthful talent in 2022 with the guru of TT racing recruiting rising star, Davey Todd, for the roads alongside Manxman, Conor Cummins. Scottish hopeful, Lewis Rollo (22), will partner Todd in the Yorkshire-based team’s British Superstock championship challenge. “Both Davey and Lewis will do a full season of British Superstock on the new Fireblades and Davey and Conor will race in the Supersport, Superstock and Superbike classes at the NW200 and TT on Fireblades and CBR600RRs,” said Padgett as Todd and Rollo enjoyed their first test at Snetterton last weekend. “And we are delighted to have Milenco Security Products’ support.” Cummins has been a stalwart since 2016 with Todd racing a Padgett’s CBR600RR in Supersport between the hedges in 2019.…

ARGENTINA JOSH CLOSE INSIGHT Our man with a finger on the pulse of MotoGP Can KTM continue their stunning start? Who’d have thought it? Two races in and it’s KTM who are leading the MotoGP constructors’ championship. Brad Binder’s second place in Qatar was a cracking, if not a little surprising, result, whilst Miguel Oliveira’s wet-weather victory in Indonesia was stunning. If not for a damaged rideheight device, there’s a good chance that Binder would have been up there, too. What KTM don’t have in Argentina is data, at least not with the much-improved RC16 we’ve seen in the past two years. Covid-19 led to cancellations in 2020 and 2021. Still, you wouldn’t bet against at least one KTM rider challenging again this weekend. What condition will the facilities be…

It’s now official that Honda and BMW, last and second-last in 2021, have been granted six extra days of private testing per rider. However, if they amass nine ‘concession points’ thanks to podium finishes (1st: 3 points, 2nd:2, 3rd: 1), additional days can be removed. There is also news on the half-days of testing, subject of bitter wrangling between teams. From now on, each rider has four half-days, and in 2023 this decreases to two. This is to prevent big teams from saving test time if, for example, a test is interrupted by rain. Smaller teams lack the funds to stage so many testing trips. To prevent slower riders from racing, the qualifying threshold has been cut from 107% to 105%. Race direction can make changes to this if necessary.…