Table of contents for 28 December 2022 in MCN

ON TEST Tiger, Tiger, burning oh so bright The rise of the middleweight adventure-styled bike has been rampant over recent years as riders seek out lower weight and thrilling performance on a more affordable budget. This week’s big test pitches Triumph’s big-selling Tiger 850 Sport against the MCN Awardwinning Tiger Sport 660 to see which one is really best on Blighty's bumpy B-roads. HEAD-TO-HEAD TEST P29 ‘They’re very different in what they deliver and how they ride’ MIDDLEWEIGHT TIGERS TESTED, P29 TOP STORY Support our bike charity heroes The impact of the pandemic may have reduced dramatically over the last year, but the effect it’s had on charities in all sectors is still snowballing. And numerous bike-related charities have been hit very hard indeed. Whether it’s highprofile organisations like the…

NEW 2023 MODELS BMW are marking 100 years in the motorcycle business with a special edition R nineT roadster and R18 cruiser featuring lashings of chrome in a nod to the factory’s original 1923 R32 model. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of anniversary models in the works, with BMW's Head of Sales and Brand, Dr Alexander Wehr telling MCN back in May: “You can expect a great party along the whole year. And of course, there are going to be new bikes and there may even be some centenary versions that I’m not allowed to disclose at this point.” First to arrive will be the £18,040 R nineT 100 Year Edition, which hits dealers in February 2023 powered by the same R1200GS-derived l07.3bhp, 1170cc boxer twin motor found…

No, your eyes do not deceive you, we're on the hunt for a new Road Tester to join MCN's crack teamriding and writing about the Latest and greatest motorcycles for our passionate and dedicated readership. You'll be expected to bring all your riding skills and in-depth biking knowledge to this full-time position, crafting group tests, features, and attending new model launches sampling the latest new metal before anyone else in the UK. Guiding you along will be our vastly experienced Chief Road Tester, Michael Neeves, who has been at the forefront of motorcycle journalism for two decades. “When I joined MCN 20 years ago it was life-changing," says Neevesy. “I went from loving bikes to reviewing them for a living. It was a dream come true and still is after…

RST Maverick CE Textile Jacket from £124.99 Get in early on the January Sales That post-Christmas lull is a canny time for picking up kit in the sales, so we’ve been digging around to see what discounts and deals can be had on riding gear while the rest of the world contemplates a new sofa. To get things started, the RST Maverick is a modular all-season textile jacket, with detachable waterproof and thermal layers, plus zipped intake and exhaust vents to allow the breeze to blow through when it eventually gets warm again. The outer shell is abrasion-resistant Maxtex with bonded triple-stitched seams for strength, and there's a full set of CE-approved armour for shoulders, elbows and back. It comes in black or black and neon, with specific sizing for men…

The Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association (WSMBA) have raised £20,000 across 2022 for the Lifelites children's charity, supporting kids with life-limiting conditions and disabilities. Members completed their fund raising for the year with a ride into London to deliver a cheque for £10,000, with the money going towards tech for those in need. “I've been involved in fundraising for Lifelites for many years now," President of the WSMBA, Greg Kirby said. “The work they do is incredible, giving children in hospices the chance to have fun. Being a Widows Son is about having fun with your friends, but also about doing good, and it is a privilege to lead a 1000 strong association working together to support children who need that support more than most." One of the pieces of…

‘Painting a very different picture’ Looking at the pics in MCN from the recent Milan Motorcycle Show stirred a few memories. I've been attending the Milan show as well as its German equivalent since 2001 and until Covid I'd not missed a single year. I do love a bike show and these two are absolutely brilliant, in their own individual ways. In Germany the show opens on time, runs smoothly and everything is predictably Germanic in its precision. The Italian show, however, well that's a different story… I've been there while they were still building stands and the public were wandering around, entrance tickets haven't worked, new bikes were left uncovered before their unveiling. And the Italian attitude is also different, especially when it comes to promoting a bike… Back…

What's happening Christmas might be over along with 2022, but Dakar is just about to begin. This year, the biggest bike event on the planet is making tracks from the shores of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and finishing on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula. Now in its 45th year, the competitors won’t have time to catch breath as there are 14 stages including over 5000km of specials. Whatever happens, you can guarantee drama. Let’s see if reigning Dakar champion, Britain’s Sam Sunderland can bag himself a third win at the event. The essentials The 45th edition of the Dakar will be kicking off on December 31 and running through to January 15, 2023. With bikes, cars, trucks and even a classic event for vintage rally cars,…

7450 'Albanian photo stop' R5K MEMBERS NEIL AND NICKY SINCLAIR A photo of my husband Neil on a GS on a 6000km ride from France to Greece. This was taken on a stop-off in Albania. 8500 'Delivering Christmas cards' R5K MEMBER DAVID NEALE Stopping off at Nell's Cafe in Gravesend for breakfast during a 270+ mile ride delivering two Christmas cards to friends in Ingatestone and Shadoxhurst. Would it have been less expensive to post them? Yes. Would it have been as invigorating? No it wouldn't. 'Photo at Trump Turnberry' R5K MEMBER PETER CHISHOLM A warm November ride along the South Ayrshire coast on my Harley-Davidson, stopping off at Trump Turnberry. 4000 9000 'Out in my happy place' R5K MEMBER PAUL HOGARTH Out on country lanes, where I'm happiest. This…

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 ROUTE 1 122.73 miles of fastflowing A and B-roads ROUTE 2 126.94 miles of open A and B-roads and towns ROUTE 3 117.88 miles of big A roads and motorway WEATHER WATCH Cloudy am, sunny pm 13-16 degrees, light winds…

‘Price is hard to ignore' This test isn't about which bike is better or worse, because they're very different in what they deliver and the way they ride. Rather, it's about which best suits your needs. The 850 is an entry-level adventure bike… and a really good one at that. It's well put together, comes with a characterful engine and it'd make a perfect weekday commuter/weekend tourer. All for under £9500. That's important if the additionaL £2100 to a Tiger 900 is beyond your reach. Personally, I couldn't live with the 850's ridiculous - nay, infuriating - instruments. They're comprehensive, yet half of their function is wiped out by poor design. The close proximity of the indicator switch and info-selection toggle is an annoyance, too. Of the two, the 660…

Midori’s take on Taz “Tarran is a superstar in the UK, and everybody knows about his background and the fact that he’s a strong rider. But the most important point for me is that he’s very highly motivated and has very strong focus. “So, for my new project with World Supersport, somebody like him who is very highly motivated and strong minded - even in very tough situations - is important because we need to develop the bike, and every year it gets harder and harder in WSS. “It's also important for us to have a rider who is really knowledgeable and also have high motivation and someone who’ll fight no matter what equipment they have. “Of course, Tarran’s goal is superbike - he's a superbike rider - so for him…

BUYING USED EXPERT GUIDE TO Stubby style The stubby back end adds to the bike's aggressive attitude. The soundtrack isn't half bad either. Big character The 1050 engine is one of the best incarnations of Triumph's triple and is a solid performer with few major gripes. Front end Quality suspension and brakes plus the distinctive round headlights before things took an angular Dame Edna turn If you’re after a charismatic motorcycle, get one with a charismatic motor. Bikes like Yamaha’s monster cruiser V-twin MT-01, which is joyously more lumpy and grunty than any other, or, at the other extreme, Suzuki’s liquid-smooth, GSX1400-four, may not be the most practical - but then they’re not trying to be. Bikes like this have rich personalities and unique soundtracks. Here’s our pick… YOUR EXPERT…

Don't just park it Prepare your bike for hibernation and it'll be all good come Spring 1 A bath before bed Your bike must be clean and dry in order to prevent corrosion. Wash with a dedicated motorcycLe cleaner, using a brush to get behind exhaust downpipes and into awkward places, then rinse. With the bike cleaned and rinsed off, it needs thoroughly drying. An airline or bike drier is ideal, especially when combined with a soft drying towel or cloth. BRUCE’S TIPS Polishing the paint with a resin polish will provide a layer of protection 2 Find a safe spot and get off the ground Choose a spot in your chosen storage area that's away from foot traffic, Leaks and draughts. Then put the bike on stands so the wheels are…

JOHN McGUINNESS TT Legend John McGuinness MBE in MCN every week Suzuki quitting MotoGP is heartwrenching. I just love seeing all the manufacturers out there and the Suzuki was just so iconic. I’m sure we’re just scratching the surface as to the politics, but I’m not interested in that, I just want to see them on the grid. Them winning two of the last three races is incredible, it just seemed that they got better and better as well as throwing a world title in the mix. You’d think from a brand point of view, they would try and find a new sponsor and carry on, because in the grand scheme of Suzuki how much budget would it take to continue running an established team? Could they not have got…

Oxford Riggers £24.99 If the joys of festive excess have left your waistband feeling in need of a little extra support, then Oxford's new range of fully adjustable heavy-duty braces may well be the answer. They come in variety of styles and feature extra strong clips. www.oxfordproducts.com Alpinestars CR-X Drystar riding shoes £179.99 These CE-approved trainer-style riding shoes have been developed to provide day-long comfort both on and off the bike. A removable Ortholite insock ensures a snug fit and prevents overheating, whilst weather protection is provided by a waterproof and breathable Drystar membrane. They are available in a range of colours. www.oxfordproducts.com Richa Titan 2 Hoodie from £159.99 This Vegan-friendly jacket is made from Polycotton and has a soft mesh lining to make it extra snug. The hood is…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Harry Dunn deserved better It appears to me that the result of the Anne Sacoolas case is that the accused has suffered little more than an opinion from the Old Bailey and the United Kingdom after getting a suspended sentence and a driving ban. Surely the persistent apparent chicanery and cynical attitude of this now convicted absconder should also be taken into consideration. J McLaughlin, email STAR LETTER Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter slot. Each week one lucky reader will receive an MCN T-shirt in a variety of different designs Can they be safe? Just read the article about selfdriving vehicles, and how the Minister, Grant Shapps, and his minions deem them to be safe. Question…

JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés HEAD TO SYCAMORE CAFÉ, NORTHAMPTON 'Our biker nights are a buzz’ Loads of events and a cracking breakfast… spot on! SYCAMORE CAFÉ • Mon-Sat 9am-4.30pm, Sun 9am3.30pm – Wed bike nights start at 4pm • Unit 4d, Billing Garden Village, Great Billing, Northampton NN3 9EX • www.facebook.com/SycamoreForestCatering When the former owners of Billing’s All Seasons Cafe announced they would be moving on, bikers of Northampton prepared themselves for yet another lost meeting point. But little did they know the hotspot would live on after partners and bikers Paul and Nikki Cooper took over the reins in late 2022. Now Sycamore Café’s bike nights are still very much still on the menu. During the winter they are the second Wednesday of…

OUT AND ABOUT Lapping up the Lake District Simon Relph’s Keswick ride has an epic surprise up its sleeve As you head out from Keswick, take the B5289 towards Rosthwaite, with Derwent Water to your left. Sweep along through the picturesque Borrowdale, before striking over the almighty Honister pass, and dropping down past Buttermere and Crummock Water. As you pass through Low Lorton you will reach a junction, where you need to turn off left. Follow the B5292 to Portingscale. Turn right takes for a quick blast along the A66 before you arrive back at Keswick. If you’re not in a rush, head out along the route again and as you ride along the shoreline of Derwent Water there is a turning on your left for Watendlath. Turn to head…

WEDNESDAY December 28 2pm, EUR2 World Superbikes: 2022 Races of the Season 1am, EUR2 Bennetts British Superbikes: 2022 Races of the Season – Donington THURSDAY December 29 2.30pm, EUR2 Bennetts British Superbikes: 2022 Support Race of the Season - Donington FRIDAY December 30 5am, EUR2 Speedway Grand Prix – Season Review SUNDAY January 1 6am, QUEST Shed and Buried 8am, EUR2 Rally Raid Dakar Saudi Arabia – 2023 Prologue. Also at 4pm TUESDAY January 3 5.25pm, ITV4, The Motorbike Show 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…

Riding your motorcycle through the colder months can be incredibly rewarding; those crisp, clear mornings and the fact that roads are, on the whole, quieter compared to the popular warmer months. It can also bring some specific challenges, particularly during the ‘shoulder seasons’ when shifts between low and high pressure bring sudden changes to road and weather conditions. Things to watch out for are: gusts of wind, flooding after heavy rainfall, wet leaves, mud and other slippery substances, and drops in temperature too. But most of these challenges can be predicted and planned around. Avoid exposed areas, where wind can be an issue, and watch out for standing water close to verges and in places where the road surface dips away when it’s wet. Before any autumn or winter ride, also…

‘It’s hats off to Honda’ Re-imagining a cLassic isn't easy. Go too far and you'LL ruin what made it so good in the first pLace. Don't address the originaL's issues and there's LittLe point in bringing it back. In producing the ST in 125 form Honda have breathed new Life into a Legend and made it fit for the modern worLd. So, hats off to them. At its heart the Dax is all about fun, and the ST125 is a blast to ride. But its use is limited to zipping about town. In that arena the Dax excels, but you have to accept its diminutive size and how that can make you feel in traffic. At £3749 the Dax may not appear cheap, but break that down into a PCP…

TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT 6 months Tested by Michael Guy for six months Putting a price on safety isn't easy. We spend hundreds, even thousands on riding kit all designed to minimise injuries in the event of a crash. Of course, one of a rider's biggest safety aids is a mobile phone as being able to call for help, even if you have just broken down, may be paramount. But what if you don't have signal? What if you don't know your location? And what if you aren't in a position to call? (Although you still need to be able to press the big red button). The SPOT Gen4 is a GPS tracking device that doesn't need a phone signal and can either send loved…

When it comes to buying (or selling) a used bike there's one aspect that’s almost more important than the motorcycle itself and that’s the paperwork. I bought an Aprilia scooter once and, knowing in advance it was a popular, reliable model, I was sold virtually before I’d even seen the bike simply on the strength of the comprehensive, well-organised dossier of paperwork the vendor thrust into my hands before opening the garage door. Everything was there and accounted for: manual, service book fullystamped by main dealers, all the old MoTs, receipts, the works. Yes, when the bike came out it had a few teenager scuffs but I didn't care. At the other extreme, I’d gone to see an old Yamaha advertised as a ‘bit of a project’ for 600 quid.…

Tubeless tyres can be wonderful things if fitted correctly, but the bodge job carried out by the owner of a Yamaha WR125 could easily have ended in rapid deflation. Mark Birchill, of Stourbridge Motorcycle Centre, said: “The owner was chuffed that he had upgraded to tubeless tyres, but he still needed to seal the valve hole in the wheel, so he simply cut out the valve of an old tube with a collar of rubber and bunged it in the hole.” The tyre may have said ‘tubeless’ on it, but the wheel was not set up to run without an inner tube. The existing rim tape wasn’t enough to seal off the spoke holes, never mind getting the tyre itself to seat on a rim that relies on an inner tube…

SAVE £2214 £14,995 KTM 1290 Super Duke R The third-generation Super Duke R is one of the best super-nakeds you can buy with an absolute cracker of an engine. To make it even more appealing, Teasdale Motorcycles are throwing in the £860 Tech Pack for free. Both orange and black versions are available with a very tempting discount offer. www.teasdale-motorcycles.co.uk SAVE £1569 £14,000 Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE Smooth, fast, comfy and comes with all the bells and whistles too. www.blademotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 1043cc • Power 118bhp • Weight 257kg • Seat height 840mm SAVE £900 £6499 Suzuki SV650X The retro-styled SV650X is great fun to ride, well-priced and an absolute back-road weapon. www.blademotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 645cc • Power 75bhp • Weight 198kg • Seat height 790mm SAVE £3000 £25,954 BMW…

THIS WEEK CFMoto have added a 450cc version of their SR sportsbike model to the range based on the SR-C21 concept. Unfortunately, some of the concept's more striking features have been watered down (or removed altogether) but the new baby sportsbike looks good, nonetheless. Gone are the concept's enormous twin Brembo front brakes, replaced by a more realistic single disc although the caliper still comes from the Italian manufacturer. Gone too is the Öhlins suspension which is swapped for less heavy-duty 37mm forks. The swanky single-sided swingarm, meanwhile, has made way for a utilitarian double-sided option. The rest has stayed pretty much the same with ultra-sporty bodywork including integrated aero, and a 450cc parallel-twin engine producing a claimed output of 50bhp. The bike is currently planned as a Chinese market…

Q ‘Misled by an indicating car’ I was waiting at a junction to turn left onto a main road and because the car coming towards me from my right was indicating left, and looked like it was slowing down, I assumed he was turning into the road I was leaving. However, as I pulled out he collided with me and I came off. Their insurers are claiming that it is 50% my fault which cannot be right, can it? Richard Holloway, email A There is quite a lot of case law on this but the case of Winter v Cotton is closest to the facts of your accident as that involved a slowing down vehicle that was indicating, like in your case. Winter relied on both the signal and Cotton's…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday December 28 BIKE MEETS ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold Flints. 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ 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 TRIALS ■ Huddersfield Falcon MCC Horn Hill, New Mill, West Yorks www.falconmcc.co.uk ■ Yeadon Guiseley & DMC Ltd Dob Park, Otley, North Yorks www.yeadon-guiseleytrials.co.uk ■ Kingswood MCC Ltd Abbotside Farm, Cromhall, Gloucs www.kingswoodmcc.co.uk Thursday December 29 BIKE MEETS ■ Vic Bikers Pub Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ■ Iron Horse Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping, Lincs 5pm9pm 01778-346952 or www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk ■ The Flotterstone Inn Penicuik, A702 nr Edinburgh City Bypass, Edinburgh 7pm 01968-673717 ■ MAG Bike Night…

MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £9495 TRIUMPH TIGER 850 SPORT • 888cc 12v inline triple • 84bhp@8500rpm • £101.35 per month on PCP £8745 TRIUMPH TIGER SPORT 660 • 660cc 12v inline-triple • 80bhp@10,250rpm • £85.54 per month PCP For two machines sharing the same badge, name and A2 licence compatibility, Triumph’s Tiger Sport 660 and Tiger 850 Sport are surprisingly different. Not just in capacity and looks, but in feel, character and purpose. So, what's the point of these mid-sized triples, and which should you pick given that at £8745 for the 660 and £9495 for the 850 they’re similarly priced too? What better way to find out than pitch them head-to-head on the UK’s toughest test route, the MCN250. Despite the…

18 months Tested by Richard Newland for 3000 miles / 18 months Underneath the Rich-ART paint, it's a Race R Pro, a model I've done more than 25,000 miles in over recent years. Now sadly delisted, you can easily pick them up online (£374.99 at Sportsbikeshop.co.uk). Despite being built and billed as a racing helmet, I find the luxurious R Pro to be a fantastic road helmet. It's close fitting and wraps around your jaw and neck snugly, helping (along with the chin curtain), to deliver a pleasingly quiet ride; the venting is good enough that even on sweaty days it delivers a reasonable flow; and the class one optical visors are thick and well made. The visors are claimed to be fogfree, and they usually are, but lots of huffing…

Tested by Dan Sutherland for one year across three bikes It’s incredibly important to protect your motorcycle from theft. Not just when you’re out and about, but when it’s tucked up at home, too. As something of a serial worrier, I like to guard my bikes with the chunkiest, heaviest chains I can, to give me peace of mind it will stay safe when they are parked up overnight. 12 months This was particularly important when I moved to a house with the parking situated away from the property, and I called upon the security experts at Milenco to help keep my babies safe and sound. Sharing the house with another biker, I opted for the 1.4-metre, 14mm chain and midsized Dundrod+ U-lock with the idea being that we could run…

MCN COMPARE GET PROTECTED WITH MCN - AT MCNCOMPARE.COM I’ve made no secret of my disdain for pretty much everything petrol-related on the FTR S. From the pessimistic gauge and awkward filler neck to the tank size, range andMPG figure, it’s the most annoying part of an otherwise brilliant bike. The latest instalment in my ongoing fuel saga came as I headed home from the office on a chilly but bright December day. I’d ridden just shy of 118 miles on the current tank of fossil juice and as I was just 5 miles from the nearest Tesco garage (Clubcard points go a long way in a cost of living crisis) so I sailed confidently past a Shell garage safe in the knowledge that I’d previously squeezed 130 miles between…

'First winter with E10 fuel' If you are laying your bike up for a length of time, I’d say the two most critical aspects that you must, must look at are the battery and petrol. The battery is easily fixed, simply remembering to hook it up to a conditioner is all you need to do. Or better still, take the time to fit a permanent connector to the battery so you can plug it in quickly and easily. But the other issue, petrol, is a little more tricky. This will be the first winter that bikes will be laid up with E10 in the tank, the high ethanol content of which has been found to damage components in the fuel system. So what is the best thing to do? The…