Table of contents for 12 October 2022 in MCN

SPECIAL TRIBUTE Phil Read takes the final flag It feels like a minor miracle that anyone survived the carnage of racing motorcycles through the 1950s, 60s and 70s - so to have survived when so many didn’t, taken eight world titles, and to have lived life over the limit for decades, it’s astounding that Phil Read MBE made it to 83. But the ‘Prince of Speed’ has now taken the final chequered flag. We pay tribute to a great champion of our time. PAGE 38 ‘It doesn’t matter if they love or hate you’ PHIL READ MBE ON THE POWER OF FAME TOP STORY Ducati boss on a greener future The joy of interviewing CEOs is that they know what they can or can’t say, what the longterm strategy is…

THIS WEEK ‘This was not a decision which we took lightly’ Norton Chief Commercial Officer Christian Gladwell has told MCN that their promising Atlas 650 range was shelved in order to focus on future electric models. “We didn’t take that decision lightly… but it’s not really the future,” he told MCN. “It’s a great bike and we’d sell a few, but the future’s electric.” The Atlas was unveiled in April 2019 towards the end of the Stuart Garner era. It was set to be an entry-level, retro-styled naked, priced between £9995 and £11,995 and attracted numerous deposits. “It was tough but if we wanted to invest in that little 650 twin, that would mean diverting resource, money, time, and people onto that, whereas the writing’s on the wall [for combustion].”…

Weise Onyx Evo Textile Jacket £197.99 Keep warm and crack on! Sale season is just around the corner, but while we’re waiting for retailers to make room for next year’s stock, there are still a few late summer deals to be had. This touring jacket from Weise, for example, is intended for year-round riding and has a host of features to give it added versatility. The adventure-style outer shell is paired with a waterproof, windproof and breathable drop lining, plus an inner thermal quilted layer, both of which are removable. A large integral storm flap covers the main zip and a detachable face mask offers even more protection from winter weather. In warmer conditions, the large zipped chest and forearm vents will come into their own. A full suite of…

‘Just a mega bike!’ 1. Kawasaki ZX-7RR I was a big Akira Yanagawa fan. He was such an underdog against all the 1000cc twins in WSB. So I’d love an original RR! 2. Kawasaki AR50 My first bike, bought it in bits in a wheelbarrow without my dad knowing! I converted it to 80cc in the end. It all started here! 3. Honda NR750 Because it is so different. I nearly bought one a few years ago - I loved the oval piston concept and thought it looked so cool. It still looks great now. 4. Suzuki T20 Super Six My father’s road bike that he actually turned into his first-ever race bike. The T20 would start really easily - normally a two-step push start and he was away. He…

Chinese brand Voge have a new A2 licencecompliant single set to take on Honda’s £6449 CRF300 Rally in the lowcapacity trailie market. If you’re not familiar with Voge, they are subsidiary of Loncin - who have previously worked with brands like BMW. Called the Rally 300, the new machine appeared at the Intermot trade show last week in Cologne and features a 292cc 4V single producing a claimed 28.2bhp at 9000rpm. Around 1.2bhp more powerful than the Honda, the Loncin engine can also be found in the firm’s 300AC roadster and meets the latest Euro5 emissions regs. The Rally weighs in at a claimed 158kg ready to ride, with a top speed of 77.8mph and features a seat height of 850mm which might be intimidating for some. That said, being…

‘How canlbe blamed for it?’ I have an accident claim going through that I thought was 100% down to the other person. However, I have received a letter from my solicitor saying the guy who hit me is blaming me for the accident. I was approaching a junction and as it was not clear for me to pull into the road, I stopped at the give way line. I got rear ended by a car and came off injuring my neck, shoulder and knee. He says it looked like I was going to continue into the road, so he followed me but that I suddenly braked. How is this my fault? I would be very grateful for any help you can give me. James Barnsley, email A Please don’t worry…

Readers Abdullah and Louise The trip Bath to Scotland with part of the NC500 via Snowdonia and the Lakes and back down to Bath How many miles? 1976 in total How long do you need? Seven days Best time to go Summer for the best riding weather Tell us about the trip… The NC500 provided some of the most spectacular scenes I’ve ever experienced on a motorcycle. You’re constantly surrounded by lakes, bodies of water and mountains. You should definitely spend more time on the west side of the NC500. Pen-y-Pass and parts of North Wales were beautiful, too. The ascents and descents in the Lake District provided some of the most challenging roads on the trip in terms of elevation and visibility. Hardknott Pass was a fun challenge in…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST WEDNESDAY October 12 BIKE MEETS The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe Seaways Bike Night, Seaways, Fridaythorpe, East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk Squires Cafe Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk Brit Bike Night with Triumph & Royal EnfieLd OC & WIMA & BMF. Ace Cafe, Stonebridge, London 6pm 020-8961-1000 or www.london.acecafe.com THURSDAY October 13 BIKE MEETS Vic Bikers Pub Coalville, Leics 01530-814718 or www.vicbikerspub.co.uk The Flotterstone Inn Penicuik, A702, nr Edinburgh City Bypass, Edinburgh 7pm 01968-673717 Whistlestop Café Whitby, North Yorks. 4.30pm-8.30pm Facebook: Whistlestop Cafe MAG Bike Night The Market, Elsecar, South Yorkshire.…

‘An amazing adventure and trip’ R5K MEMBER PAUL LOW This was taken at John O’Groats on my solo North Coast 500 trip from Yorkshire. It was 1527 miles spread over a week going up Glenshee and home via John O’Groats, Applecross and Skye. An amazing adventure and trip. ‘Father-daughter time’ R5K MEMBERS PAUL AND EMMA DRISCOLL Father and daughter time on the Hoggin the Bridge charity ride which took place in Caldicot a couple of weeks ago. ‘En route to the Skye Ferry’ R5K MEMBER IAIN CORSER We were staying in Strathpeffer, Scotland for four nights on a tour. The best part of the trip was the road to Kildonan part tarmac, part farm track! ‘American road trip’ R5K MEMBER PHIL YARNALL We rode 3500 miles on these bikes in…

MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £14,251 Ducati DesertX • 937cc liquid-cooled desmo • V-twin DOHC Bv • 108.5bhp @ 9250rpm • 223kg kerb weight £13,049 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin • 1084cc liquid-cooled parallel twin S0HC 8v • 100.6bhp @ 7500rpm • 226kg kerb weight £12,555 Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT • 1037cc liquid-cooled V-twin DOHC 8v • 105.9bhp @ 8500rpm • 247kg kerb weight The adventure bike world is rapidly becoming a bit like the sportsbike one was in the 1990s where looks meant everything. If you didn’t have a set of leathers (often full-on race team replicas to go with the paintjob on your bike), with accompanying scuffed sliders and the stickiest tyres possible, you weren’t part of the ‘cool crowd’. Nowadays, adventure riders…

BUYING USED EXPERT GUIDE TO King of the crop The first modern Bonneville was launched in 2001, and it was an immediate hit, remains (in its latest form since 2016) the definitive bike of the breed thanks to its name (surely one of the best in motorcycling), authentic, evocative design and ease of use. It spawned a whole host of variants. Which Bonnie? The Scrambler provides taller trail bike style and a Steve McQueen vibe; the Thruxton café racer delivers more engaging handling. The cast-wheeled Bonneville has ’70s styling while the T100 has more ’60s chrome and wire wheels. For those looking to relive their biking youth, retro motorcycles tick a lot of boxes. Modern reliability, handling, performance and reliability brings peace of mind, but iconic curves, names, styling and…

’Sometimes a worthy bike is spot on’ Solid, virtuous, pragmatic qualities come to the fore when buying a bike for winter. And as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop you’ll be surprised that you are drawn to sensible features on a bike that might have seemed like a real turn off during the balmy summer months. Surefire reliability combined with corrosion resistance and easy cleaning rise to the top of the list, especially when the first road salt gets slathered over favourite routes. Smooth, progressive delivery suddenly takes precedence over peak power, with lowrpm grunt more than welcome, too. Lighting becomes more important as does a decent screen if you do motorway miles. Then there’s the obvious one: shaft-drive, unless, of course, you particularly enjoy lubing and adjusting…

Supersport 300 rider Victor Steeman is in a critical condition at Faro hospital following an accident in Saturday’s race. The 22-year-old Dutchman, who had to win both Portimao races to beat newly-crowned World Champion Alvaro Diaz to the title, crashed at Turn 14 and was struck by José Pérez González. Steeman was taken from the circuit by helicopter with multiple blows to his body including a severe head injury. MTM Kawasaki teammates Ruben Bijman and Adrian Huertas, of Supersport 300 and World Supersport respectively, withdrew from Sunday’s races.…

A 2006 Ducati 999R with 47 miles on the clock will go up for sale with Silverstone Auctions at the NEC Classic Motor Show on November 11. The bike is expected to fetch between £20,000 and £25,000 and has been behind a sofa in Milton Keynes for the past eight years. The bike has a UK V5C, Termignoni exhaust and the original system is included with the bike. It Last had a cambelt change in 2014. Info: silverstoneauctions.com. Manx GP 2023 is go! Dates have been confirmed for the 2023 Manx Grand Prix. The road racing festival. will be centred around the August Bank Holiday weekend and will begin on Sunday, August 20 and end on Monday, August 28. The Manx GP makes use of the same 37.73-mile course as…

Mivv Dakar Exhaust for Aprilia Tuareg 660 €430 Designed to improve the Looks, sound and performance of the 660 while still being Euro5 friendly, construction is stainless steel in either a natural ‘pearled’ or ‘black moon’ finish. www.mivvexhausts.co.uk Oxford USB Charging Kit £24.99 Thanks to the integrated design of modern motorcycles, finding a convenient spot to mount a USB charging point can be a challenge. This low-profile kit from Oxford offers a handy solution since it’s so tiny that it’ll fit almost anywhere. Available as USB-A or C, with a fused 5V 3Amp output. www.oxfordproducts.com Givi Trekker Alaska Top Case £386 This robust box is ready to swallow 56 litres of kit. Big enough to store two helmets, the aluminium shell is riveted using gaskets and silicone to achieve a…

Triumph have delivered a teaser for their upcoming Chrome Collection of bikes, set to be revealed on October 25. The first of these machines confirmed is a Rocket 3 R, which was on display at Intermot in Germany, with blacked bodywork and a chromed fuel tank. Triumph’s General Manager for Germany and Austria, Natalie Kavafyan said: “Today, we present the Rocket 3 R. You will also find the same colour scheme on the other bikes we are going to announce. The bikes will be available from February in dealerships and as a collection of modern classics. The full story will be revealed soon and the bikes will be available throughout the model year.” Hurry now for H2R Kawasaki have re-opened the order book for their track-only 310bhp Ninja H2R. The…

‘My advice? Buy now, new or used’ Just when we thought things couldn’t get much worse. Not only do we now have a war in Ukraine, the knock-on effect of the pandemic, shipping still in a mess and raw materials and oil prices high - we now have to contend with a weak pound and rising interest rates. So what does all that mean for the bike market? It’s not good news, but it’s not all bad… Starting with the bad, prices are going to go up. Sorry, a weak pound means that this is inevitable. It’s not just bikes, it’s oil, tyres, consumables. And then there are interest rates. Most finance deals are 7.9%-8.9% APR but these will go up. So what’s the good news? Interestingly, while bike prices…

October 15-16 Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show The Staffordshire County Showground is celebrating modern classics from the 60s to the 90s. Tickets from £17 with free parking. staffordclassicbikeshows.com October 16 Malvern Festival of Transport Explore the story of transport past and present at the Three Counties Showground. classicshows.org October 16 Straightliners Finals Head to Santa Pod, this weekend for the finals of the Straightliners drag racing championship. There’s also a chance to take your own bike for a blast. Tickets from £15, RWYB tickets are extra. santapod.co.uk…

WEDNESDAY October 12 9pm, ITV4, NEW: The Motorbike Show THURSDAY October 13 3.15am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Phillip Island, Australia: Free Practice 1&2 SATURDAY October15 1pm, EUR2, Live Bennetts British Superbikes from Brands Hatch: Day 1 11pm, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Phillip Island: Warm Ups. Moto3 at 12.05am, Moto2 at 2am and MotoGP at 3.30am. Chequered Flat at 5am SATURDAY October 16 10am, ITV4, World Superbike highlights from the Algarve, Portugal 1pm, EUR2, Live Bennetts British Superbikes from Brands Hatch: Day 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 BBC BBCI - BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN -…

Everyone you meet seems to have a different process for cleaning their motorcycle, but in essence there are three key stages. First, apply a detergent. That’s basically a cleaning agent that makes dirt more soluble, lifting it off the surface. Specialist bike cleaners, car shampoo and snow foam are all variations on the theme - but without detergent, most of the grime will stay stuck to your motorcycle. Second, rinse thoroughly, to remove the detergent and dirt. You could hose it off or use a watering can. Super-soaker water pistols are also surprisingly effective and rather more fun. The key thing here is to ensure all of the detergent is rinsed away. Third, dry the bike. Thoroughly. This is the stage many people neglect. It will dry quickly in direct…

It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A- and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK WEATHER WATCH…

‘Rugged but easy to ride’ The V-Strom is just too long in the tooth to compete with the Africa Twin or DesertX, despite its conventional wheel size and road rubber. Old-school in its looks and technology, this is reflected in its handling and engine performance. The Suzuki makes for a great day-to-day machine but fails to cut it with the new breed in terms of excitement, agility or looks, meaning it ends up feeling like a workhorse rather than something special to be ridden for pleasure. Considering just how hardcore the DesertX looks, and its off-road ability, the way it rides on tarmac is stunning. Hard to fault in any area, Ducati have totally nailed the adventure bike brief. As have Honda and although the Africa Twin is arguably not…

ESSENTIAL KIT 2000 MILES TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT As it’s designed to work in harsh environments, motorcycling kit has a natural crossover with clothing and footwear for other outdoor pursuits, like hiking, climbing and running. As such, we’re now seeing many biking brands create multi-sport products, stuff that’s been designed primarily as biking clobber, but which also works for other leisure pursuits. It’s the ‘Wash & Go’ philosophy: Why take two bottles into the shower? These TCX boots are designed to be just that. Fundamentally, they’re a pair of casualstyle biking boots, featuring a fairly-rigid sole, protective toe cap, heel cup, padding at the ankles and abrasion-resistent outer. And, when worn on a bike, they do feel secure - there’s a nice firm fit, as…

‘Even Josh Brookes has to get his eye in’ Another benefit of MSV trackdays is the quality of instructors, and having not been to Oulton before, I took some time with ex-BSB racer Graham Ward. Graham was extremely patient with my lack of circuit knowledge and relative trackday newbie status, and offered some sage advice to benefit any trackday. While looking ahead is important, so is noticing where you are in a bend on that day, in those conditions. “It’s all about tapping into those apexes,” he said. “It’s why we have free practice in racing. Josh Brookes has been round here a million times, but he still needs to get his eye in on the day.”…

The first-gen modern, reinvented 790cc Bonnie ignited the retro roadster class in 2001 but after growing to 865cc in 2007 it gained fuel injection (for Euro3 regs) for 2009 and, in various forms, is now the best - and best value incarnation of the definitive roadster. Sure, the all-new, liquid-cooled 900/1200cc Bonnies from 2016 moved things on again, but if you want an authentic retro (albeit one made in Thailand) for under £5000, this is the one for you. BUYER BEWARE • Seized pistons are common on the two-pot calipers, so check they aren’t sticking. • Water is known to get into the coil, causing a misfire so listen carefully on a test ride. • The injected models are not just both the most robust mechanically, the finish is better,…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Transform your tap Got an old bike? Overhaul your fuel tap to banish leaks 1 Drip, drip, drip… If you have a machine with a fuel tap then chances are it’s a few years old by now. Over time the rubber seals inside the tap can degrade and cause leaks, and often this is down to the cumulative effect of modern fuel with its higher ethanol content. But you may not need a new tap, the good news is that in most cases the parts needed for a repair are readily available. 2 Only fit OE replacements When shopping for replacement O-rings, make sure that you purchase original parts that are specific for your model and not pattern ones from a selection box. The dimensions of the…

‘Our form bodes well for 2023’ Peter Hickman didn’t make the Showdown, nor has he won, but has found some frontrunning pace in recent weeks. “Road racing is one thing, but I’m a British Superbike rider too and the team concentrates as much on BSB as they do the TT, and so do I,” Hickman told MCN. “The team wants to win, and I want to win, but at least we’ve found some form now, that’s a good thing that bodes well. "We haven’t been consistent, but in 20211 was consistent. Every round I was top five and quick, and that’s on the BMW, so this BMW can be consistent if everything goes our way.” Indeed, Hickman and FHO are enjoying a mini renaissance as 2022 comes to a close,…

Reporting from the heart of the WSB race paddock TOP STORY Two weeks earlier in Barcelona, it felt like people claiming Alvaro Bautista had placed one hand on the World Superbike crown were being some what premature. However, following the Portimao races last weekend, it’s looking more and more likely that Ducati will claim its first title for over a decade. With two second places to Toprak Razgatlioglu followed by a superlative victory in the finale, Spain’s Bautista jettisoned only three points to the Turk as a crowd of over 51,000 watched on. Further more, his competitors were shocked by his unbelievable race pace. Posting lap times in the high 1:40s and low 1:41s across the 20-lap distance, Bautista’s pace was only a second a lap off Fabio Quartararo’s Moto…

Istanbul Park could return to the calendar for the first time in ten years. Demand for WSB viewing has dramatically increased in Turkey thanks to Toprak Razgatlioglu’s 2021 championship success. The venue, which was used in 2013 and witnessed a double win for Eugene Laverty, would replace Estoril which has dropped off next year’s calendar. Phillip Island will kick things off in late February with Indonesia straight after wards, while Barcelona comes forward to the spring. Argentina will remain although Portimao could be closing the season at the beginning of October. As 2022 started late off the back of the Covid-19 pandemic but ’23 reverts to a more traditional schedule, the combination of a mid-November finish and late-February start will mean the shortest off-season in World Superbike history.…

TT Legend John McGuinness MBE in MCN every week I finished on the podium at Darley Moor at the weekend which was great. I sprayed the champagne, which felt great, but afterwards I started to feel guilty about whether I should have, given the news we’ve had this week about Phil Read and Chrissy Rouse. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count all the mates I’ve lost over the years. I think we’ve all become hardened to it in some way. I think we must have a fuse in our heads that we just pull out because the only way we deal with it is by going out racing again. It’s Brands Hatch this weekend and everyone will be there going full gas. For Phil Read to…

Royal Enfield used the Intermot trade show in Cologne to confirm prices for their 2023 Hunter 350 range. There will be two levels on offer, with the Dapper White, Dapper Ash and Dapper Grey colours all retailing at £3899 plus Rebel Black, Rebel Blue and Rebel Red options for £3979. The bike’s 349cc single produces 20bhp and can also be found in the Classic and Meteor ranges. Visit royalenfield. com for more. Vespas scoot in Vespa have a new GTS line-up, featuring updated tech and new suspension. The first updates to the range in four years, there will be four models in the line-up, consisting of the standard GTS, GTS Super, GTS SuperSport and GTS SuperTech. These will be available in either a 125 or 300 single-cylinder platform, with the…

A German-built e-bike that combines motorbikes with cycling will be pedalling into London on October 14 for the Greentech Festival, founded by former Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg. The eRockit requires an A1 licence and is capable of a claimed 56mph and 75 miles between charges-with the rider’s pedalling input multiplied by over 50 times to achieve motorcycle levels of speed. As a result, it is the only pedal cycle that can be taken on an autobahn. Sporting screens UK firm Skidmarx have produced a new double-bubble fly screen for the supercharged Kawasaki Z H2 naked. Made from 3mm cast acrylic, the product replaces the standard screen at a cost of £64.95 including VAT. Two versions are available - a 28cm sport design and a 35cm higher option for…

SAVE £405F £13,895 Triumph Speed Triple RR It might appear to be ‘just’ a Speed Triple 1200 RS roadster in a frock, but the RR is much more than that. Think of it more as a big-cube, three-cylinder superbike, created in Triumph’s own inimitable style. Build quality and detailing are superb and it has the latest rider aids. Better still, it’s yours with a hefty saving. www.premierbikes.com SAVE £2101 £15,999 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory Despite being superbike-fast, the Tuono is calm and comfortable on the road with the best chassis and electronic goodies around. www.wheelsmotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 1077cc • Power 178bhp • Weight 209kg • Seat height 837mm SAVE £1201 £9999 Yamaha Ténéré Rally Edition The Rally Edition has an upgraded skidplate, Akrapovic end can, rally seat and guards for…

An estimated 6000 spectators flocked to Lytham St Annes, Lancs, on Sunday, October 2 for a day of high-octane action with the Fylde ACU British Sand Masters Championship. Organised by the Cheshire Grasstrack Club (CGC), the event marked the return of the championship after a two-year hiatus - and at a new home too. CGC member Paul Taylor said: “It does mean a lot to the riders and we were very grateful that the ACU granted us a British title which lends it that little bit more prestige.” Defending 2019 solo champion Paul Cooper showed all the guile of a seasoned professional after engine failure in one of the heats. But with some quality riding in the following stints, he made the final where he rode his back-up bike to…

WHAT’S NEW IN TECH Alpinestars’ new autonomous airbag system, the Tech-Air 3, could save your life in the blink of an eye - and it is small enough to pack away in a rucksack or under the seat of a scooter when you aren’t riding. The new third-generation model offers an entry level option while still giving a high level of safety as it uses the same crash detection algorithm used in the Tech-Air 5 Street. Alpinestars say the system has been developed and refined with millions of miles of riding data, allowing the control unit to accurately assess when to deploy ahead of an impact or other dangerous situations such as a lowside, or highside crash. The result of all this brain power and monitoring is a system which…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Buzzing over the all-new Hornet I love Honda. My first bike was a Honda (blew up engine). So was my second (crashed, not repairable). I always root for Honda in MotoGP, especially when M Marquez is on board. But I haven’t bought a Honda for years. For my daily ride, I need a bike under 200kg. About 100bhp. Naked, as fairings catch the cross-winds on the Humber Bridge on my way to work. Not 870mm seat height, as I’m shortish. And reasonably cheap. At last, Mr H has got just the thing for me. Must book a test ride ASAP. (Not sure what I’ll do with rider modes, anti-wheelie etc etc but I’ll definitely have the quickshifter and autoblipper, please). Andrew Coe, North Lincs STAR LETTER…

OUT AND ABOUT THE ROUTE • Start/finish: • Lladovery • 100 miles • 3 hours ‘Beautiful — but demanding’ Bikers’ Britain author Simon Weir loves the roads of mid-Wales Having spent time living in mid-Wales, these are some of my favourite riding roads in the area. From Llandovery, take the A483 towards Builth Wells, but peel off in Beulah on the B4358 to Newbridge on Wye. Take the A470 to Rhyader and turn left by the clocktower to go into Elan Valley. Just keep going straight, following the road round the reservoirs. At the main mountain road, turn left towards Aberyswyth. Turn left at Devil’s Bridge (there is good café at the station, on the right if you are peckish) then turn left again on the B4343 to Pontrhdygroes and…

MEMBERSHIP at members.motorcyclenews.com Riding bikes isn’t just something we do at MCN, it’s in our blood - in just the same way as it’s in yours. Whether we’re skinning our knuckles in the garage on an old project, reviewing all the latest new bikes, delivering the hottest news, or fighting for bikers’ rights - MCN brings you a whole world of biking every week. And if you become an MCN Member, you’ll not only pay less than you would at the newsstand, but you’ll also get a raft of other exclusive personal rewards and benefits as we build the best club in biking. Enjoy the ride, Become an MCN member from just £5.99* per month for full digital access on your new MCN app DIGITAL ONLY Read MCN on your…

If you are looking for a slightly more hardcore middleweight to litre adventure bike, you have lots of options. BMW have the F850GS (£10,260) or F850GS Adventure (£11,220), both of which come with a 21-inch front wheel where the F750GS has a 19-inch item. Triumph sell the Tiger 900 in 19-inch wheeled GT guise or the 21-inch fronted Rally, which comes in standard (£12,195) or Pro (£13,595). Over in Austria, KTM produce the 890 Adventure R (price TBC as it has been updated for 2023) as well as the 690 Enduro R (£9349) and more road-targeted 890 Adventure (£11,449). Husqvarna, which are basically KTMs in disguise, offer the Norden 901 (£12,349) or 701 Enduro (£9349) and there is also the GasGas ES 700 (£9349), which is a KTM 690 with…

‘Different in a good way’ Have the changes worked? Yes. The Commando experience is now what you expect of a traditional British parallel, twin, but without all the niggles and worries that came with the previous version. It doesn’t just ride better but is better built too - even the quality of fasteners and little brackets is higher than before (the previous version gave the impression it was assembled using whatever nuts and bolts were to hand). Whether it’s worth the best bit of seventeen-grand depends on your perspective. Compared to Triumph’s Thruxton RS, the new Commando costs £3k more yet has less power, a much lower equipment level and, I suspect, less outright handling potential However, where the Triumph feels like a modern mass-produced bike with period style, the…

7 MONTHS If you’re at a trackday, one of the most important considerations is tyre pressures. I’ve been running 36psi front and 42psi rear on my R7 with Pirelli’s Diablo Rosso IVs on the road but drop that to 32psi at both ends on track as I strive to complete my mission and ride every BSB circuit this year (see p46). That means I need a way to drop pressures. Step forward this gadget from Oxford. It’s a solidly built gauge that holds the peak pressure reading until you press the reset button, allowing you to use it in confined spaces such as a garage. The reset button also bleeds air pressure from the tyre, meaning you can measure the precise pounds-per-square-inch needed. My only criticism is the 360° swivelling…

After a full, four-season test I’ve become rather attached to the RST Adventure-X jacket. Not because it has excelled in all conditions but because it has been exceptionally good at what it does best - and that’s without taking the airbag tech into account. Let me explain: What RST have done is to focus on the dual-sport aspect of adventure biking and the physical, demands of riding off road. I don’t know about you, but when the going gets dirty, I get hot and sweaty and the last thing I want is that claustrophobic sense of being ziplocked in. It’s something that a previous RST adventure jacket, the X-Raid, was guilty of, thanks to a fixed waterproof membrane. 3800 MILES The Adventure-X eschews that in favour of a removable waterproof…

The humble fuel tap is a thing of the past on modern bikes, but many of us have a classic from the 80s or 90s (or older) tucked up in the garage. Bikes from these bygone eras will usually have a fuel tap of some sort - either the basic type shown here or the vacuum type. It’s all too easy to apply the old ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mantra, but I prefer to lean towards preventative maintenance. One of the biggest pitfalls of a leaking fuel tap is the damage which the fuel can do to a finished surface. If left unchecked it will corrode paint and tarnish metallic hardware, this is worse these days with the higher ethanol content. But it’s not just the fuel…

‘Ruthless but honourable’ Tributes to Britain’s most successful ever racer, Phil Read, tend to have a certain undertone. The Prince of Speed was not everybody’s cup of tea. His image suffered in contrast with his contemporary Mike Hailwood. While Read took criticism (for example) for ruthless tactics, everyone loved carefree Mike. Worse still for Read, whose prowess was outstanding, he would have won more races and titles if it hadn’t been for Mike. A modern equivalent? Max Biaggi and Valentino Rossi. To me Phil, perhaps not as easily likeable as hail-fellowwell-met Hailwood, was in many ways more genuine. He didn’t hide the ruthless streak that every successful racer needs. His securing both 125 and 250 titles at Yamaha in 1968, when the latter had been promised to Bill Ivy, was…

The 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season comes to an end at Brands Hatch this weekend, with Bradley Ray needing a mere nine points to clinch his maiden title. Ray heads to his home round with a 66-point lead over Glenn Irwin, which is the biggest gap that a series leader has taken into the final event since the introduction of the Showdown in 2010. The previous best was the 61-point advantage held by Leon Haslam over Jake Dixon in 2018. While a result of seventh or higher in Saturday's race will be job done, Ray knows that anything can happen. The 2014 title fight between Shane Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari separated by 12 points - was ended in FP3 when the latter broke his collarbone, for example. In 2017,…

BSB Champion elect, Bradley Ray, and manager Shakey Byrne were in Portugal for more meetings with Yamaha boss Andrea Dosoli, who will decide whether the Kent rider gets a 2023 opportunity with the MotoX team where Roberto Tamburini currently races. It is believed Dorna have reduced their budget for travel expenditure to longer races, so MotoX has decided only to do the European rounds next season. Tom Sykes continues to talk both with Puccetti Kawasaki and Barni Ducati. The going gets tough for Gagne Newly-crowned MotoAmerica title winner Jake Gagne and his Attack Performance Yamaha squad have discovered just how high the level is in WSB. In an impressive performance for the 29-year-old from California, he scored a point on Sunday having had to adapt from Dunlop to Pirelli tyres…

BMW and Honda, currently fourth and fifth in the Manufacturers’ Championship, are being allowed to run with ‘Super Concessions’ from Portimao onwards. Although the news has not been officially announced, the change has been agreed by all manufacturers, Dorna and the FIM. It essentially allow them to make significant updates to their chassis in order to become more competitive and have more variety in an already spectacular show. In the case of Honda, there has been talk all season that the Japanese may introduce an entirely new frame, while BMW have needed more flex in their bike. Don’t be surprised to see some arguments if they start to do too well At Yamaha, Team Principal. Paul Denning has already hinted at this rule being scrapped from 2024 onwards. What is…