Table of contents for 20 July 2022 in MCN

MAKING HISTORY From humble beginnings to world domination, industrial strife and collapse – then the rebirth to a brighter future… THREE: THE MAGIC NUMBER Go inside the engine configuration that has come to be synonymous with Triumph: The wonderfully fun, fruity and evocative inline-triple WORLD CLASS BIKES Riding the range that puts Triumph at the centre of the biking world in 2022, whatever your chosen style HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRIUMPH 120 years of history Triumph’s history hasn’t been without its bumpy patches. Much like any business that tried to navigate the shark-infested waters of the 1970s bike industry, Meriden Triumph got terminally bitten by bad management, market conditions and an inability to move with the times. But salvation, in the form of John Bloor and the team he put together in…

BSA have confirmed more details about their new UK and Ireland distributor which will begin facilitating the sale of the firm’s new reimagined Gold Star single from August this year. The Mahindra-backed firm announced their 650 roadster range at the 2021 Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham and have now stated that prices will start at £6500 for the basic colours, before rising to £6800 for the fancier paint and £7000 for the striking chrome version. Helping those bikes arrive in showrooms will be Lukas Distribution, who have been charged with creating a dealer network from the new 100,000sqft HQ near Coventry. BSA opened the order books for all five colours of Gold Star on Monday, 18 July at 9am, and those interested should head to lukasdistribution.co.uk. Speaking to MCN, head…

Suzuki are bidding to cash in on the continuing popularity of 125cc scooters brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, by adding two new models to their range. Called the Avenis 125 and Address 125, both are based around a new 124cc, air-cooled, SOHC four-stroke single which meets all the current regulations, and produces a claimed 8.6bhp at 6750rpm plus 7.4lb. ft of torque at 5500rpm. The two help bolster Suzuki’s dwindling scooter line-up, which previously consisted of just the £6999 Burgman 400. Alongside a fresh engine, Suzuki are claiming an impressive 148.6mpg, which will be a welcome addition as fuel prices continue to skyrocket. The Japanese firm are putting this figure down to their new their Eco Performance (SEP) technology, whereby an Eco light is illuminated on the dash when…

HJC Ferian CS-MX II helmet £99.99 This competitively-priced offroad helmet features an advanced polycarbonate composite shell, which keeps weight to a minimum; ideal when things get sticky off road. There’s a wide aperture for decent visibility and plenty of vents to help keep riders cool as the going gets tough. Sizes XS-XXL. www.oxfordproducts.com Touratech Zega Evo hard panniers for Norden 901 £983 The Zega Evo panniers use an ingenious fastening mechanism and a tough rack made from 18mm thick stainless steel tubes. Matching inner pannier bags and practical accessory holders round off the luggage system. There’s a useful handle and one-hand locking system, plus a silicone seal to keep stuff dry. www.touratech.com Oxford Workshop Mats from £59.99 A workshop mat is an essential, designed to absorb minor oil spillages in…

Nice to see that Ducati are continuing to address the slightly droopy look of the Scrambler range with the new Urban Motard (the saggy seat just doesn’t give the bike the correct stance). Here’s one I made earlier, based on the Icon model in 2016, the reprofiled seat, fabricated side panels and motocross handlebars amongst other mods, transformed the bike. I hope you like it! Hugh Davies, email Be our Star Letter writer and win a pair of touchscreen-compatible Weise Apex leather gloves worth £59.99 from weiseclothing.com…

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 Sitting in the centre of the Yorkshire Wolds for the past 29 years is Seaways, a stand-alone café with glamping and camping facilities, making it the perfect biker rest stop – especially on their popular Wednesday bike nights. Michael Thatcher took over the business from his parents six years ago, but even when it was first opened, he remembers bikers always being drawn to Seaways. He said: “As far back as I remember in 1993 when my parents first bought the place, we’d always welcomed the odd bike or two. Over the years, when people began to realise that you welcome bikers, we began to welcome more.…

1 Beaulieu Grille July 20 Owners of classic bikes can ride into Beaulieu this evening, July 20, with the chance to chat, eat and find out more about the museum. Plus, Mike Hailwood’s 1961 Honda RC162 will be fired up. nationalmotormuseum.org.uk 2 Women’s Ride In July 24 Moto Advisor are attempting to beat the record for the biggest female bike meet on Sunday at the Triumph HQ in Hinckley. You need to register online beforehand. www.eventbrite.co.uk 3 Ace Café Trike and Sidecar Sunday July 24 In aid of NABD (National Association for Bikers with a Disability) trikes and sidecars will descend upon the biking hotspot. london.acecafe.com 4 South Mids Jumble July 23 The Ross-on-Wye Livestock Centre is being transformed this Saturday for the South Midlands Autojumble. Just off the M50,…

Everything about the way BSA’s new £6500 Gold Star looks and goes is an homage to the classic 1950s version. This isn’t a retro dripping with hidden tech, big power and a hefty price tag; it’s an unpretentious, 45bhp single-cylinder roadster designed to deliver the simple pleasure of riding. Like the BSA Gold Star DBD34 it’s inspired by, it’s a certified member of the ton-up club, but unlike the original there are concessions to modern day convenience, reliability and safety: ABS, fuel injection, an electric start and a modern-day, oil-tight engine. A testing track We’re riding the new ‘Goldie’ at Millbrook near Bedford. For BSA to showcase it at an automotive testing facility (it’s the place with the banked speed bowl and where Bond barrel rolls his Aston in Casino…

It’s a scorcher of a June Wednesday in the centre of Berlin, and the tourists are out in force at Brandenburg Gate. Once a sad symbol of division in Germany, the gate now stands as an emblem of peace to people the world over. None more so than Lewis Banham – as it was the place where, in the summer of 1945, the former Royal Signals dispatch rider heard the news that war was over. Seventyseven years later, Lewis, now 99, has returned to Brandenburg to meet a replica of his bike, ‘Old Faithful’, and receive his final dispatch from Major Steve Tickle, in the culmination of Operation Banham. Lewis was issued his BSA M20 before landing on Gold Beach on D-Day, he then rode it into occupied territory to…

Arai Tour-X 4 helmet £599 ‘The only helmet you’ll ever need’ Tested by Justin Hayzelden for two years / 5500 miles The Tour-X has been in Arai’s range for a good 20 years, but it’s only in the last two that I’ve had the chance to get acquainted with one – and what a piece of kit it is. The shell is based on Arai’s rounded R75 shape, a proven design which has been developed to glance off during an impact and thus reduce energy transfer. It’s constructed to meet the ECE 22.05 standard, in addition to Arai’s stringent in-house testing and ACU Gold approval. That’s all good to know, but I mostly like the sparkly finish and Aldo Drudi designed graphics, which set the ‘Depart Gun Metallic’ Tour-X 4…

STEPHEN DAVISON INSIGHT Reporting from the heart of between-the-hedges racing Davey Todd dominated last week’s Southern 100 road races on the Isle of Man, winning five races to leave his TT peers, Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop, trailing in his wake during a record-breaking week of action on the 4.25-mile Billown circuit. With action returning to the event on the outskirts of Castletown for the first time since 2019, the 26-year-old Milenco Padgett’s Honda rider won three of the four Superbike outings in the new for 2022 race format. Pushed all the way by Harrison, Dunlop and Jamie Coward, Todd also claimed a double in the three 600cc events in only his second appearance at the Manx meeting where he had been the leading newcomer in 2018. Todd claimed his…

Dominque Aegerter achieved another World Supersport double to match the record of nine consecutive race wins by Andrea Locatelli in 2020. The Swiss rider has won all races but the opener this season. At Donington, the Ten Kate-Yamaha man was pushed by Lorenzo Baldassarri (the only other 2022 victor) but the latter’s lack of track knowledge and data proved costly. Saturday’s race was marred by numerous crashes with scorching track temperatures, notably Jules Cluzel; the Frenchman broke bones in both feet and dislocated a shoulder in a huge highside exiting Goddards. Aegerter’s lead had increased to 64 points.…

1902 Siegfried Bettmann forms the Triumph Cycle Company in Coventry in 1897, manufacturing bicycles. As technology advances, the company move into the production of powered cycles, releasing the ‘Number 1’ in 1902. By 1905 factory output had reached 500 motorcycles per year. 1905 The 298cc 3hp is launched, the company’s first fully in-house built motorcycle, with a top speed of 45mph and a £47 10s price tag. 1914 Triumph develops the Model H Roadster for the war effort. Around 30,000 Triumphs are used by the armed forces in WW1 as dispatch bikes, it’s nicknamed ‘Trusty’ Triumph. 1922 Triumph produces its first car and becomes one of the UK’s largest automotive manufacturers. 1935 Decision taken to separate the car and motorcycle divisions (the bicycle business having been sold off in 1932).…

When Triumph’s close-knit band of development engineers was drawing up a new range of motors in a shed near Hinckley in 1985, it would have been easy to give triples a swerve altogether. After all, the most successful motors back then had four cylinders, and most of Triumph’s past glories were with twins. But, thankfully, the engineers decided two of the revitalised company’s first engines should have three cylinders, and the configuration has underpinned Triumph’s success ever since. ‘The decision was down to pragmatism’ The decision to make those triples wasn’t just because the engineers believed they could combine the torquey feel of a twin with the revvy top-end of a four. It was also down to pragmatism. Company owner John Bloor was adamant that the new motors should be…

This machine can do it all Quite simply one of the bikes of the year – meet the Tiger Sport 660 We can’t talk about the Tiger Sport 660 without first tipping our hat to its naked sibling: the Trident 660. One of the biggest success stories of 2021, not only is the three-cylinder Trident a great value, top quality roadster with a cool badge slapped on the tank, but it’s also one that’s as appealing to newbies as it is to experienced riders, which is quite a trick. That winning formula underpins the Tiger Sport 660 – and it’s every bit as impressive. You get a colour TFT dash, two riding modes (Road, Rain), switchable traction control, ABS, LEDs, an immobiliser, span-adjustable brake lever, Michelin’s superb Road 5 sports…

News that revived, now Indian-owned BSA and Norton are both planning nostalgiadriven ‘Visitor Experiences’ at their new Midlands HQs serves to remind that Triumph got there first and set the benchmark. Opened by biking royalty (and former Daytona-owner) Prince William in November 2017, the Triumph Factory Experience has been a huge success, attracting over 100,000 visitors in its first two years. And now, after temporary closure due to Covid, it’s back open, updated and better than ever. Located at Triumph’s main UK facility and HQ, known internally as Factory 2, just off the A5 west of Hinckley and between Leicester and Coventry in British motorcycling’s historic heartland, the Factory Experience comprises not one but four elements. Avenue of Legends After parking (for free) directly in front of the factory, you…

Most riders will have a story involving a Triumph. The brand has been an influential part of biking’s jigsaw for longer than any of us have been alive, and even if you’ve never owned one, they’ll have played some tangential part in your biking life. I’ve never had my name on the logbook, but my best Triumph story involved a mate’s 1994 Speed Triple, a transit van being driven by Mr Magoo, inappropriate speed, evasive action, smoking in a lay-by and a post-near-miss fear of cardiac arrest. I’d love to tell the whole story, but I’d better not. Plus, with so much history to dwell on (that can be printed), as well as the promise of so much good future to come, we’ve chosen to tell the stories that really…

As well as riding the Crighton, Guy was among the leading contenders at Elvington in the continuing bid to become the first rider in the UK to hit 300mph in a standing mile. This time riding a turbo-charged Suzuki Hayabusa, Guy posted the fastest speed of 260.099mph in the two-kilometre, standing start class. Second was Jarrod ‘Jack’ Frost with 249.876mph aboard another Hayabusa turbo, despite suffering from tyre delamination problems, followed by Becci Ellis and Steve Webb, also posting 200mph+ speeds. The next Top Speed event is scheduled to take place at Elvington on August 1 with a hoped-for Speed Week being planned for next May.…

Tomtom Rider 550 World £292.06 Cunning deals on clever kit We all love a bit of techno wizardry and we’ve found some corking deals on all manner of gadgets and gizmos this week. There’s everything to help you find your way, keep your bike secure and make sure your battery is in the best possible condition. Internet specialists SportsBikeShop, have a variety of satnavs on offer, including this topspec equipment from TomTom. With a Fast Quad-core processor, it’s quick and efficient when you are planning routes. The device will connect to your smartphone and, when paired with a headset, will read text messages aloud. Updates are free of charge for the life of the unit and automatic via Wi-Fi, so no computer hook-up is needed. You can create your own…

Honda are developing rider-assistance systems with the aim of making accidents a thing of the past – but rather than taking away control, they’re aiming to nudge us into making the right inputs. Honda’s thinking appears to be mirroring the way systems have evolved in cars. Bikes lag several years behind, so we can expect several steps before we see the sort of kit that can intervene entirely to prevent a crash. Since radarassisted cruise control is already a reality, the next step is a lanekeeping assist system (LKAS). That’s precisely what Honda are aiming for, and details of the system they’re developing have appeared in a new batch of patent applications filed in Japan. LKAS in cars appears in a variety of forms. The simplest monitor the white line…

Reader Joe Sheehan The trip We booked our trip at the height of the pandemic and figured we would stick to one country to save on tests/entry requirements. So I suggested we spend a week in France with absolutely no motorways involved! How many miles? Around 1250 in all. We did ‘cheat’ this year and drove from England to Lyon where we left the vans for the week. The Autoroutes are no fun on bikes. How long do you need? We went for six days. Best time to go We always choose the first week of July for good weather and reasonable prices because the kids aren’t off school. Don’t miss… The beautiful Gorges du Verdun and the D290/ D901 from Orange to Mende. I’ve been through the Alps to…

SATURDAY July 23 8.30am, ITV4, World Superbikes from Donington Park: Highlights 1pm, EUR2, Live Bennetts British Superbikes from Brands Hatch: Day 1. Also at 9.30pm SUNDAY July 24 1pm, EUR2, Live BSB from Brands Hatch: Day 2. Also at 12am 1pm, QUEST, Live BSB from Brands Hatch. 12pm, EUR2, Live Motocross World Championship from Flanders, Belgium: MX2 Race 1 7.30pm, EUR2, Live British Superbikes: Wolverhampton Wolves v King’s Lynn Stars MONDAY July 25 2.30pm, QUEST, Shed and Buried 6pm, EUR2, Motocross World Championship from Flanders, Belgium: MX2 Race 2 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…

People who have shaped our world In 1920 Burt Munro bought an Indian Scout capable of doing 50mph. After spending the next 46 years modifying it in his shed, the 63-year-old grandfather took the machine to the Bonneville Salt flats in Utah and clocked an unofficial speed of 212mph – more than four times the bike’s original top speed. The story of Munro’s obsession with speed and with his beloved Indian Scout was brought to the big screen in the 2005 movie The World’s Fastest Indian with Anthony Hopkins playing Munro. The film was a huge success but Munro’s life was far from glamorous. He lived, and slept, in his shed with his bike, working 16hour days in pursuit of perfection. “It is almost impossible for me to give you…

The Veteran’s Living History Museum is a place that brings history to life. As well as their hub in Blackburn, the charity has a mobile interactive museum that travels to schools, community organisations and more to bring history to people. Completely run by volunteer veterans and their families, the team have over 45 years of military career between them, and Colonel Steve Davis is the ambassador for the group. For more information on Op. Banham, check out www.veteranslivinghistorymuseum.com with updates at www.facebook.com/VLHMUK.…

Just like engine oil, fork oil comes in different weights – and so it’s logical to assume that all SAE 5W fork oil, for example, will have exactly the same viscosity properties. But it’s not like that at all. When you look at the details of the 5W fork oils available there is a huge margin of viscosity values between them, so much so that some could actually be closer to 7.5W. What you need to do is find out the exact spec of the original oil used by the suspension manufacturer, which should be listed in the workshop manual. For example, for my Yamaha requires Kayaba 01, but the detail in the spec is the key to selecting the fluid. Kayaba 01 has a viscosity rating in the Centistoke…

Following news that Suzuki will withdraw from the Endurance World Champion in addition to MotoGP at the end of 2022 (see page 4) the future for BSB looks a little brighter. BSB and road racing stalwarts Hawk Racing are the official UK Suzuki team – something that could continue. Suzuki UK boss Paul de Lusignan said: “We’ve got a great relationship with Hawk and have been working with them for a long time and have started our discussions about next season.” Mountain men BSB race fans will get to see the reigning WSB champion and Donington Park triple winner, Toprak Razgatlioglu take on the Cadwell Park mountain next month. The Yamaha rider will be joined by teammate Andrea Locatelli during the seventh round of Bennets British Superbikes with both completing…

It wasn’t the weekend Leon Haslam wanted. One of seven riders at Donington representing the United Kingdom or Ireland, the 2010 WSB runner-up scored a point on Saturday but ended the weekend in the pits with technical problems. “We lacked in acceleration and struggled to stop,” said Haslam, politely suggesting there is room for improvement in more than one area for Pedercini Kawasaki. 39-year-old Haslam now turns his attention back to BSB, racing this weekend for VisionTrack Kawasaki at Brands Hatch.…

‘We can do this as long as they listen to me’SCOTT REDDING Spectators were overjoyed to see Scott Redding back on the podium as the darling of the crowd saw all his hard work pay off at Donington. In a complete change of fortunes, the MotoGP star turned BSB champion came good for the first time this year. Whether BMW can maintain this pace for the rest of the season remains to be seen… As if the general criticism around Redding’s move to BMW wasn’t enough, the fact the campaign commenced so poorly in Aragon left the Gloucestershire rider with serious doubts whether he would see out the season. At the time he was feeling untrusted and unloved within the corporate surroundings of the German brand; a far cry from…

As MCN went to press, it was looking extremely likely an announcement of Jonathan Rea’s contract renewal with Kawasaki was looming. Rumours of a Ducati offer have circulated all season, although a serious proposal from BMW was what Rea’s management dangled in front of Kawasaki in a bid to up their money. The confirmation will mean Rea, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista all remain with their respective Kawasaki, Yamaha and Ducati teams next year. As manager Chuck Aksland did his deals in the paddock, Rea did his talking on track with a recordshattering pole position. So hot was the pace, as well as the weather, that the leading four riders all beat Tom Sykes’ 2017 best ever lap. The three race starts always were going to be crucial, with Donington…

When the Coventry Triumph produced its first motorcycle in 1902, the future was already beginning to look bright for the fledgling firm. However, despite decades of growth, a change of scenery was demanded when the World War Two broke out in Europe. The original factory site was in Priory Street, Coventry – but Hitler’s bombs fell heavily on Coventry in 1940-41, taking the factory with them. But the destruction couldn’t dampen Triumph’s spirit, and the factory was relocated to Meriden, where the firm was eventually scuppered by political strife and the enemy within, rather than falling bombs. The giant BSA Group, which had bought Triumph in 1951, started failing as the 1960s turned into the 1970s thanks to muddled management and a belief that the threat from Japan was not…

Although the Triumph name dates back to 1902, the modern motorcycling brand that we know today has a much shorter history. Resurrected by housing magnate John Bloor in 1983, the brand burst back into the biking consciousness in 1990 with six new models at the Cologne Show in Germany and has since grown into one of the largest motorcycle brands on the planet. Despite the manufacturing hardships brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the firm has grown by 42% since 2019 –producing 85,300 motorcycles in the last financial year for motorcyclists as far afield as China, Vietnam, and South Korea, which have all come on board as new markets in the past three years. Their bikes have played a starring role in the latest James Bond film, and they’ve also…

Triumph may be best known for their twin and three-cylinder road bikes, but the firm have plans for much more – with a roster of electric and combustion machinery in the pipeline. Since the start of 2022 alone, the marque have completed the creation of their 175bhp TE-1 electric super-naked prototype and announced battery-powered road bikes are on the way. They’ve also continued development of a motocross and enduro range in partnership with racing legends Ricky Carmichael and Ivan Cervantes – whilst also purchasing kids MX and trials brand, OSET. This is all while continuing to deliver their bread-and-butter road-biased twins and triples, with eight new models hitting the showroom floors in the last three years alone. MCN sat down with Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent, who immediately went into…

Suzuki GB’s Director of Motorcycles, Paul de Lusignan has shrugged off rumours that the Japanese brand are planning to exit the two-wheeled market, promising that new platforms and model updates are on the way. “I can understand why some customers may hear those rumours and might think that, but actually when I talk to our dealers and I talk to our staff, most people don’t feel that,” the Suzuki boss told MCN. “I am in the privileged position of having some view on the future, so I feel 100% confident sitting here.” “When I see those rumours it’s easy for me to feel confident that they’re wrong, because I know they’re wrong,” he added. Fresh fuel on the fire feeding suggestions of Suzuki’s departure from motorcycles arrived on July 13,…

The Department for Transport (DfT) have marked the end of the first year of their Transport Decarbonisation Plan with fresh proposals to end the sale of petrol motorcycles and scooters by 2035. A consultation will run until 11.45pm on 21 September of this year and seeks opinions surrounding ending the sale of all non zero emission L-category vehicles (mopeds, motorcycles, three-wheelers, and quads) by 2035. Some categories of bike are planned to end by 2030, including learner-friendly L3e-A1 motorcycles, which produce no more than 14.8bhp. “We have provided certainty to both the industry and consumers through investment to stimulate a new market to reduce the need for fossil fuels,” Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said in a statement. Part of a larger initiative to reach a net zero carbon footprint on…

The world’s first dedicated ‘eco racing circuit’ could be up and running within four years according to new plans announced by MotorSport Vision (MSV). The proposed site, known as Couvron, is located in north east France between Paris and Belgium on a 520-hectare former airfield. “Having contemplated rising costs and the shift by major manufacturers from petrol and diesel cars – now due to be phased out in 2035 – to hybrid technology and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), MSV has identified an opportunity for Couvron to establish itself at the forefront of motorsport and the automotive industry’s push towards a greener future,” the company said in a statement. “The new layout will be just as challenging, but the shorter route will be far better suited to BEVs.” MSV purchased the…

Fancy something just a bit special? MV have announced three limited-run RC models based on their F3, Dragster, and Turismo Veloce platforms. Standing for ‘Reparto Corse’ (racing department), the RC lineup builds on the standard 798cc three-cylinder fleet with special tricolour graphics, performance upgrades and a certificate of authenticity. The striking red, white, and green pays tribute to MV Agusta’s official racing colours and will be available for 200 units on the fully faired F3 RR supersport model, with another 300 as naked Dragsters or upright Turismo Veloces. All three receive a special black and red seat design. Starting with the sportiest option, the firm have built on the standard £19,660 F3RR’s 145bhp package by adding a racing kit. This comprises a full titanium Akrapovič exhaust, with carbon heat shield…

The newly formatted World Supercross Championship will kick start in Britain later this year, with the first round destined to take place in Cardiff during October. Tickets for the Supercross British Grand Prix have gone on sale this week, with the Welsh capital’s Principality Stadium playing host to the event on Saturday, October 8. An expected 40 of the world’s best riders will line up for the event, including 2020 FIM World Supercross Champion Eli Tomac and organisers say the new format is a ‘fresh beginning’ for global supercross racing. The stadium will be transformed into ‘the ultimate dirt bike battlefield’, there will be races in both the WSX (450cc) and SX2 (250cc) classes, and a prize fund of around £200,000. Tickets start from £35 and are available from livenation.co.uk.…

Ducati have continued their commitment to producing easier-to-ride superbikes by updating the electronics on their Panigale V4 range for 2023. The latest updates come just a year on from the reveal of Ducati’s 213bhp third-generation four-cylinder missile and consist of new engine braking controls, plus even greater quickshifter and traction control refinement. Already available in dealers across the V4, V4 S, and V4 SP2 range, they can be retro-fitted on all 2022 models from the end of the month at local Ducati dealerships. Starting with the stopping power, the new machines get Ducati’s Engine Brake Control Evo 2 software, which features three selectable levels with different gear-by-gear calibration in each mode. As load on the rear wheel increases, more engine braking is applied – meaning it should be the least…

Honda want to slash car and motorcycle deaths by half in the next eight years and bring the number to zero by 2050 – and if they’re going to hit that goal we can expect to see a massive influx of rider-assistance systems like this in the very near future. The plan combines driver assistance tech with a predictive AI computer system that can spot situations which lead to driving errors before they happen, and is intended to be introduced in the second half of this decade. Further ahead, the intention is to introduce ‘Safe and Sound Network Technology’ that allows cars, bikes, roadside furniture and even pedestrians (via their phones) to communicate, allowing a server to create a virtual model of traffic movement to predict and prevent accidents before…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com YAMAHA RD350 YPVS My first proper bike after a Honda MB5 and a couple of RD125s. My RD350 YPVS circa 1989... why did I ever sell it!? Andy Ross NORTON ES2 Here I am on my Norton ES2 500... I think it was a 1959 model. This photo was taken back in 1985. Rick Blood GARELLI 50 Me on my sixth birthday in 1983 looking cool on my new Garelli 50. Look at the helmet with the press-studded visor. Will Maxfield SUZUKI TS50ER 40 years and a ‘no bike’ gap of 37 years later and I’m back on another Suzuki, this time a GSX-S750. Loving being back on two wheels! Rob Franks YAMAHA XT Just to prove you don’t need a mega mahoosive…

£22,240 Zero SR/S ZF15.6 FUNCTIONALITY AND FEATURES £7595* Triumph Trident (*PLUS £100 FOR COLOUR OPTIONS)…

Burt Munro made the first modifications to his 1920 Indian Scout in 1926. These consisted mainly of removing surplus items to reduce weight and some alterations to the riding position. In the late 1940s and early ‘50s, Munro designed and built his own four-cam system to replace the standard two-cam, push-rod set-up, and converted the bike to run with overhead valves. Over the years, he would make his own barrels, pistons, flywheels, cams, and followers, and even his own lubrication system. Impressive as all this was, it was Munro’s unorthodox methods and the fact that he was forced to operate on a shoestring which made his feats so remarkable. For instance, he made barrels from pieces of cast iron gas pipe which he scrounged from the local gas company after…

1 The back brake was seized and the wheel was loose and moving around. Thanks to the wear this caused, Colin had to take the assembly apart and put spacers on the brake drum. 2 The clutch was out of alignment and the gearbox only had a teaspoon of oil inside. The clutch was rebuilt, the primary drive chain was replaced, and the gearbox was oiled correctly. 3 Both the dynamo and magneto were in poor condition to the point where the magneto had to be rebuilt. The dynamo body had to be made and replaced as it was covered with rust. 4 Although Colin was surprised how good the front brake was when he first tested the bike, all the cables including the clutch and the brake lines were…

MICHAEL NEEVES CHIEF ROAD TESTER Has ridden just about everything in his 20-year MCN road testing career. After everything that’s happened over the few years, I savoured my recent week’s ride to the Pyrenees more than ever. It was good to be back. During the 2490-mile trip, old roads were ridden again, like the manic run from Marvejols to Meyrueis near Millau and a whole day’s worth of corners on the N-260 from Andorra to Jaca. The TT-like run back into France and on to Pau, hurtling past rock faces is worth the journey alone. But it was the small things I enjoyed the most – the ones I’d forgotten about: the fresh feel of a cold tank of fuel between your legs on a sweltering day and leaving the…

Tarran Mackenzie scored points in both long races as the reigning British Superbike champion achieved his dream of competing in World Superbikes. It was a long time coming for the Scot and McAMS Yamaha, whose hard work paid off and was recognised in the paddock. The addition to the grid re-sparked the debate over whether organisers of global superbike series should get together and run to the same rules to encourage wildcards. The addition of wildcards became a unique selling point for WSB through the 1990s and early 2000s. The regulars would go to Japan and be beaten to top five places by a plethora of unknown names. Laguna Seca saw the likes of Nicky Hayden and Ben Bostrom shine on the world stage thanks to their track knowledge and…

James Toseland received a mixed reaction after voicing his concerns for Taz Mackenzie. In the opinion of the two-time world champion turned Eurosport commentator, it was a risk for the BSB champion to showcase himself on the world stage for a single weekend in case it didn’t work out – this wouldn’t look good on his CV when negotiating for 2023. On the flip side, if the wildcard hadn’t happened, would the Scot be considered for a ride anyway? Once the dust had settled, Toseland shared his thoughts: “I think Taz and McAMS should be very proud of achieving what they have, considering the lack of time and experience they had. They had a lot of support – but only once the event began. If he hadn’t been injured and…

When Alvaro Bautista dropped his Ducati at Donington on Saturday, there was a 2019 feel about the place. Was history repeating itself? Was this the moment the Spaniard’s 2022 began to unravel as it did three years ago? Seemingly not. He went on to out-race Jonathan Rea on Sunday, finishing second. Some serious shots have been fired by the Italians. You’d have been brave or stupid to say a Ducati could beat Rea at Donington. The British track has been a very happy hunting ground for the Kawasaki man, six times a winner in recent times, whereas Ducati still haven’t won in the East Midlands since 2011 with Carlos Checa. It seems Bautista’s Race 1 crash, running ahead of Rea for second after an incredible dice, was nothing more than…

Toprak Razgatlioglu proved exactly why he is World Superbike Champion with an awe-inspiring performance to win all three races at Donington Park. Having completed a MotoGP test since his previous races at Misano, the Turkish superstar made some lightning-quick getaways before his classic late-braking prowess pushed Jonathan Rea and other riders into some real strife. Following a massive technical push from Crescent Racing and Yamaha Motor Europe to ensure they won the 2021 world title in Indonesia last November, their preparation for this year’s season was slightly on the back foot. This showed over the first few races and while Razgatlioglu has never been far off, there is no doubt the now quashed talk of a MotoGP race seat for next year was an irritating distraction. Not only that, but…

In the modern world of social media and camera phones it seems incredible, but when Triumph Motorcycles opened the doors to its new production facilities in Hinckley in June 1990, it came as a complete surprise. There had been virtually no speculation in the press, and few realised that Triumph was so close to building mass-produced bikes again. When John Bloor purchased the intellectual rights to Triumph Motorcycles in 1983, he didn’t shout about it or start declaring he would transform this iconic British company, instead he simply got on with the job in hand. What followed was seven years of secrecy, development, and investment that culminated in the rebirth of not only Triumph, but also the British motorcycle industry. But John Bloor’s close-knit development team had been working tirelessly…

Triumph replaced Honda as the sole Moto2 engine supplier in 2019 and the move turned out to be a roaring success. Lap records continue to fall each season, with 16 circuit records and 18 circuit top speeds improved in 2019. The first ever 300km/h+ top speed recording also came that year at Phillip Island, in the hands of Stefano Manzi. At the end of 2021, Dorna and Triumph agreed a three-year contract extension until the end of 2024. Whereas as progression with the old CBR600 was limited, Triumph is consistently working to improve the race-developed, Street Triple RS-based 765cc triple engine. “We have more ideas that we want to test,” Triumph’s Chief Product Officer, Steve Sargent, told MCN. “We’re not resting on our laurels; we have plans to improve in…

Throughout its long history, Triumph has reflected changing British fashions and trends through its motorcycles, producing a host of special edition bikes, often in collaboration with outside parties. From limited edition bikes built to commemorate the royal wedding between Charles and Diana in 1981, to a hook-up with the James Bond franchise, the British firm has offered an array of specials over the years, not only for publicity purposes and to show what it’s capable of, but also as a way of offering its customers something unique and collectible. These are some of the most interesting specials that Triumph has produced over the years. Silver Jubilee Bonneville T140 (1977) While the Sex Pistols did their best to upset the queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977, Triumph waved the British flag…