Table of contents for 19 July 2023 in MCN

NEW MODEL Yamaha's XSR900 DB40 Prototype revealed at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed is the firm's strongest hint yet that they'll produce a 900cc sportsbike to sit between the 72bhp R7 and top-of-the-range 197bhp R1. An ‘R9’ spin-off of the MT-09 has seemed obvious to just about everyone since the R7 was created from the bones of the MT-07, and that's the second comment everyone around the DB40 makes after suggesting it looks like a YZR, TZR, TRX or OW-01. Yamaha's official line is that the bike is a celebration of the firm's four decades using ‘Deltabox’ aluminium frames on their race and road bikes, beginning with Kenny Roberts’ 1983 YZR500 Grand Prix bike, then filtering down to road bikes with the 1985 TZR250 1KT (which the UK didn't…

Former Grand Prix star Ron Haslam has received an honorary degree from the University of Derby in recognition of his racing career, as well as the thousands he has helped with on-track instruction. Over a 24-year period, Ron and his team taught more than 86,000 riders as part of his Ron Haslam Race School at Donington Park, before it closed at the end of 2020. His honorary Master of the University degree (HonMUniv) was put forward by a former pupil, Nicola Drew, who is undertakng a PhD at the University of York. “It was a pleasure to nominate Ron for an honorary degree from the University of Derby,” Nicola told MCN, having first visited the school in 2019. “Ron is an absolute legend of the paddock and his impact on…

Cardo Packtalk Edge Mesh £289.99 Top tech for the ultimate tour When it comes to practical tech, Bluetooth intercoms and dedicated satnavs are high on the list. This week we've highlighted some of the best offers on devices to help you stay in touch and get you to where you're going, as well as a couple of battery optimisers to ensure your bike's ready to roll when you are. Cardo sit at the top of the tree in terms of intercoms, and the best-selling Packtalk Edge is one of the reasons why. This helmetmounted unit can provide a communication mesh for up to 15 users, as well as giving you the ability to make and take calls via a linked phone. Operation is hands-free and voice operated, with two JBL…

Several podiums, a championship position in the single-digits and only one DNF in almost 40 races would sound like a successful synopsis of a racing season. For Harley Godzisz, however, this is just the halfway point of a mammoth 76-race year as he bids to boost the profile of the UK's club racing scene. “I've had a couple of seconds. I've had a couple of thirds, but haven't got that elusive first place yet,” Harley told MCN. “I've done 11 meetings and I've done 39 races, so I am really in the swing of things now. It's been quite draining, to be honest. It's hard, don't get me wrong, it's quite hard on the body. Mentally as well, it's quite draining. But you just keep going.” Harley's trusty 1989 Honda…

OUT AND ABOUT Ride further in 2023 with a little help from our one-stop event guide JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS ● 9.30am-5.30pm daily until Oct, then shuts at 4.30pm ● Coquetdale House, High St, Rothbury, NE65 7TE Tucked away just outside Northumberland National Park in the shadow of the hills is The Vale Café, a quaint eatery on Rothbury high street that has been attracting bikers for decades. It's a friendly, family-run place, where the management know all the regulars by name. “The café has been in the family over 30 years,” says Tessa Russell, whose mum runs the venue. “My gran had it before and still tries to bring in cakes – we tell her we can do it and she…

On your marks for a weekend of ‘inappropriate’ motorcycle racing What's happening The four-day racing extravaganza is taking place at Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire, from July 20-23. Dubbed as an inappropriate race weekend, there will be ‘wild non-stop off-road racing’, plenty of live music, exhibitions, wild swimming, sprints, moto polo, moto yoga, and the midnight mile – just to name a few things! The essentials Racer registration tickets are unfortunately already sold out, but there are still plenty of tickets to get your hands on if you want to sit back and watch the action unfold. A four-day general admission ticket (which includes camping and a shower pass) is £150 and day tickets are £78. Under 11s are welcome for free, and campervan passes are also available. If you want to…

FIRST RIDE Is it really only 125cc? Catch a glimpse of the new Rieju Aventura and you'd guess it was a 300 or even a 400. I've ridden plenty of eighth-litre bikes and the Spanish firm's Aventura feels bigger. Which is the point – this £4199 bike is an entry into adventure bikes, with a rugged design, practicality, and the promise of strong performance. Performance and reliability should be a given as the Aventura is powered by Yamaha's singlecylinder, four-stroke engine. With its six-speed gearbox – one more than most Chinese-sourced rivals – it delivers pleasing acceleration, sits happily at 65mph on a dual carriageway and tops out at an indicated 77mph on its colour display. Plenty, in other words. The Aventura's engine is also fuelefficient, meaning well over 250…

Scotland's vastness and beauty is part of its allure, with twists that can take you on one adventure and turns that can take you another. Yet for some, its magnitude can be daunting, especially if you're short on time and don't want to risk missing the must-see scenery and most-famous tarmac. Here's where joining an organised tour makes sense –simply saddle up with an adopted clan for a few days to see the best of this imposing country. What could be easier? MCN joined Queensferry Moto Tours as they guided us on a blissful three days in the Highlands, complete with Scottish weather and a multitude of miles. DAY 1 Queensferry to Banff (231 miles) The Queensferry horizon is spectacular with its three bridges stretching off into the distance, and…

ROK Straps small £13.95 Compared to your average bungees, these ROK Straps are brilliant to use. The loop at either end allows you to attach them to a mounting point on your bike without the risk of scratching paintwork, then all that's needed is to tighten them up via the clip in the middle to guarantee security. These narrow versions are spot on for fiddly places (chunkier ones are available) and are ideal to add on to luggage which is already on the bike, too. If you are carrying major loads you may well need to swap to more substantial straps but for the odd day trip or over-nighter these have performed well and kept everything nicely secure. Quality Value rokstraps.com 2500 miles ON TEST…

See the video www.youtube.com/@motorcyclenewsdotcom Year-round rider, B-road blaster, and performance bike fan Having taken delivery of the bike just under two weeks before my crossing to the island for TT 2023, and with just 870 miles under my belt, I wasn't sure how the Suzuki would cope with the 190-mile motorway run to Heysham ferry port. There's no wind protection, a modest 14-litre fuel tank, and minimal space at the rear to mount any luggage – leaving me concerned that it would fail to live up to the benchmark set by my KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo, which I lived with last year. But as has been the case with everything on the GSX-8S so far, however, I needn't have worried. It was good as gold. The peppy 81.7bhp…

Veteran racer Jeremy McWilliams is continuing to thrive in the United States after taking two victories in the MotoAmerica Super Hooligan class earlier this month. McWilliams won both races at the Laguna Seca circuit, coming out on top against reigning champion and Indian Motorcycles teammate Tyler O'Hara in race two. McWilliams was handed the race one trophy by 1993 500c World Champion Kevin Schwantz. It was the perfect response from the 59-year-old, who, like O'Hara, was disqualified from the final race of the previous round at Ridge Motorsports Park. McWilliams won that race, but a protest from another team over a technical infringement regarding the Indian FTR's handlebars was upheld by race organisers. Remarkably, McWilliams and O'Hara are level on points (106) at the top of the Super Hooligan Championship…

SOAKING UP THE EXPERIA-NCE Just how good is the class-leading Energica Experia EV-enture bike? Energica aren't afraid to challenge the status quo. Having been in the electric game for over 10 years, the Italians not only produce a range of high-end motorcycles but also were the original supplier to the MotoE World Cup. And their latest model is an adventure-styled bike packing all of the latest tech. Is it time for adventurers to switch? The Experia uses a new Permanent Magnet Assisted Synchronous Reluctance Motor which makes a claimed peak power of 100.6bhp with a continuous rating of 78.9bhp. However, with electric, horsepower isn't the selling point, it's torque and the Experia makes a monumental 664lb.ft of grunt at its maximum. The roll-on drive is remarkable and makes overtakes an…

Since Covid, the traditional ninetofive, five-day week has mutated into a far more fluid affair with many still working predominantly from home plus the odd day of hotdesking. But on those days when you have to get to the building, as MCN's Alison Silcox does on a regular basis, what is the most frugal solution? We tried the stylish-but-costly Maeving RM1 and the walletfriendly mass-produced Super Soco TC Max. Both are A1-legal, meaning if you have a driving licence you only need to gain a CBT certificate to be able to benefit from their cost-saving attributes on your commute. Maeving RM1 “The Maeving is a beautiful machine,” says Ali. “It is an expensive option but the attention to detail and overall feeling of quality are impressive. As soon as you…

The TC Wanderer is a new 125cc equivalent (A1) from best-selling battery brand Super Soco. It fits into their existing range between the moped-equivalent TC and the 125-equivalent TC Max, and it's intended for ‘both city traffic and outoftown trips’. It's powered by a 2500w motor for a claimed top speed of around 47mph. And it feels quite sluggish. Even in the faster of its three riding modes the Wanderer lacks the whooshing acceleration that's a bonus feature of many electric bikes and scooters – the Lexmoto LX06 scoot will toast it – and it plateaus at about 40mph. None of this really matters in town, of course. With dual batteries as per our test bike, the Wanderer has a claimed range of around 60 miles. But that's assuming an…

The Agni electric motor is Cedric's big idea. It's an axial flux type that claims very high efficiency and tidal waves of torque – the magnetic flux races up and down parallel with the axis of rotation, instead of radially as in a conventional motor. “The magnetic flux is running along the laminations in one direction only,” says its inventor, “so the motor is more efficient, with about 25 per cent of the losses of a conventional motor. And with magnets on both sides of the armature it halves the speed and doubles the torque. Running more slowly means frictional losses are lower and there's less of an issue gearing the motor down to wheel speed, which is another source of losses.” The next development is a brushless version, which…

MORE BRIT EV GENIUS Fred Spaven: lower costs and higher charge rates are key Fred Spaven has converted an Enfield Bullet to battery power and is currently working on a PhD on electric powertrains for motorcycles. “Mopeds and 125s are clearly very well suited to electric because they're lowenergy vehicles that don't run very far or very fast, although they often cover more miles per year than some big bikes. And with removable batteries now becoming more common, that gets round the off-road charging issue as well. In fact in the rest of the world – India, China, Africa for example – bikes and scooters tend to be small and used as cheap transport. So for them too, electric makes sense. “With bigger motorcycles, it's very different. In developed countries…

e MCN ALTERNATIVE FUELS Did you know? Covering 1% of the Sahara Desert with solar panels could generate enough electricity to make e-fuel for Europe's entire transport fleet. Synthetic fuel to the rescue? After years of doggedly pursuing the goal of fully electrifying huge swathes of road transport, the governments of both the UK and the EU have started to recognise that battery power alone may not be the magic bullet and that carbon-neutral combustion engines powered by sustainable fuels could play an important role in the future. For motorcycles, that's a big step because although battery-power is well suited to short-range, lowperformance urban bikes, there are still unresolved challenges in replacing ICE with electric power on bigger, longer-range machines. Carbon-neutral synthetic efuel is created by extracting carbon dioxide from the…

e MCN SPORT MotoE'S DUCATI UPGRADE Electric bikes can be found in more places than you may think in the world of motorsport, as it continues to become more environment-friendly. MotoE leads the way within the MotoGP paddock and has been given a huge boost in 2023 as Ducati became its sole bike supplier. The Italian brand has gone electric whilst also studying synthetic fuels. Meanwhile the FIM has launched the all-new E-Xplorer all-terrain series, whilst electric bikes are popping up against their combustion counterparts on short circuits, motocross tracks and trials courses. Let's take a look at the electric motorsport landscape in 2023… More eyes are on MotoE than ever before now that Ducati supply the motorcycles. The Bologna manufacturer signed a four-year deal with Dorna, taking over from Energica.…

WELCOME Anyone who has ever tried to win a tug of war contest will know full wellthat if your team is not all pulling in the same direction, you're probably going to end up on your arse wondering why fate has dealt you such a cruel blow, before looking around for someone else to blame. It feels a lot like the situation we're facing over the proposed move to the electrification of our transport network and, more crucially to us, motorcycling. It could possibly be considered that the lack of alignment over which direction to pull in has prevented us from already being in an irrevocably set path towards whatever shape the future would be. But we can also now hear a far more unified public voice calling for more…

Organisers of Motorcycle Live at Birmingham's NEC on November 18-26 have teamed up with thermal bike kit firm Zerofit to offer a free bobble hat worth £20 on arrival to this year's show for anyone buying an adult ticket costing £28. To take part in the offer, you must purchase your ticket between now and 5pm on November 18. “We're delighted to be working with Zerofit to give visitors additional value on their day out to Motorcycle Live,” Managing Director Finlay McAllan commented. For more info, go to motorcyclelive.co.uk. It's a balancing act Husqvarna are encouraging the next generation of dirt-loving hooligans with their new EE 1.20 electric balance bike, produced in conjunction with kids’ e-bike firm STACYC. The addition means that Husky's electric balance range now caters for children…

INSIDE STORY Goodwood Festival of Speed celebrated its 30th birthday at the weekend, with a cavalcade of MotoGP world champions past and present stunning crowds on the hill climb. The annual motorsport mecca saw a roster of current grand prix stars including defending champion Francesco Bagnaia, Brad Binder, and Pol Espargaro line up alongside racing legends including Alex Crivillé, Casey Stoner, Kenny Roberts Jnr, Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan, and more – all riding a mix of current and past race bikes. “It's been amazing to just really have a look around and see heroes of the past and the present, so it's crazy,” Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Brad Binder told MCN. “Honestly, it's an honour to be here. It's insane. I've really enjoyed it. “On Friday, I did…

Harley-Davidson's hometown of Milwaukee was cloaked beneath a relentless tide of bikes, people, noise and action over the weekend to mark the firm's 120th Homecoming. In the city that's globally renowned for birthing the world's most famous motorcycle brand, the constant rumble of H-Ds barely abated at any hour throughout last weekend, and streets, pavements, parking lots and Wisconsin's highways were saturated with only one brand's output. The party stretched without break from the superb factory museum all the way to Veterans Park on the shores of Lake Michigan, where a huge temporary stadium played host to headline gigs from the Foo Fighters and Green Day, supported by The Cult, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cody Jinks and more as the sold-out capacity stadium saw 45,000 Harley Homecomers rock late…

Pyramid Plastics MT-10 SP bellypan £319.99 Pyramid have linked up with concept visionary Kar Lee to produce this bellypan for MT-10 models from 2016-onwards. It's initially being launched in SP colours. Includes full fitting kit. pyramid-plastics.co.uk LS2 Drifter from £99.99 The Drifter is essentially an open face helmet with a removable peak and chin guard. The system is toolfree, allowing for a quick change in a matter of seconds to adapt to different riding conditions. It weighs just 1300g, features a dropdown sun shade and is certified to the latest ECE 22.06 standard. ls2helmets.com Venhill Clutch Cable Upgrade for Triumph Tiger 800 £25.32 This Featherlight clutch cable is designed to provide a smoother, lighter clutch action at the lever as well as improving performance and durability. This should help improve…

CFMoto have released details of their £6699 700MT adventure tourer which will line up between the £5999 650MT and £8999 800MT Sport models later this month. At the heart of the Chinese firm's new 700MT is a 693cc parallel-twin, derived from the Kawasaki ER6 range, producing a claimed 66.1bhp at 6000rpm and 44.3lb.ft of torque at 7250rpm. This is housed in a steel-tube chassis. 1 Parallel universe The 693cc parallel twin is derived from the same engine found in the Kawasaki ER6 range and produces a claimed 66.1bhp at 6000rpm. 2 Suited and booted Road-focused 17in wheels are fitted front and back with more road focused Pirelli tyres. Think of it as a rival to the Kawasaki Versys 650, rather than a Yamaha Ténéré 700 3 off-road light The 700MT…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Shaun and Chloe Napier The ride Exploring the Lakes When to do it Spring to autumn How many miles Around 1000 Tell us about the trip We recently decided on a last-minute trip to the Lake District. Chloe had never been and was excited to go pillion for the first time. Chloe drove up whilst I took the bike up (we thought it may be a hurdle too far for her to ride the whole way considering she'd just had a full hip replacement six weeks earlier). The weather was mixed, so we waited for the sun to make an appearance. When the opportunity came, we were off. Even though this was Chloe's first pillion experience we headed over the Hardknott Pass within the…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday July 19 BIKE MEETS ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ MFN Bike night, Seven Oaks Inn, Stanton By Dale, Derbyshire 5pm till late Facebook: MFN Bike nights ■ The King Billy Rock Bar, Northampton .6.30pm. Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Park Road Cafe, St Helens, Merseyside 01744-808440 ■ Seaways, Fridaythorpe, East Yorks, 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ Loomies, West Meon, Hants www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Paignton Seafront, Facebook: English Riviera Bike Night ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe MUSEUM ■ Classic Grille Evening, Beaulieu, Hampshire 6.30pm8.30pm. Book…

‘Taking the James Bond road’ SIMON BOYLE Out with my mate Sky at the ever popular road heading to Glen Etive, in the Scottish Highlands. It's also known as the James Bond road, and the weather was roasting! ‘Great weekend at ABR’ PAUL LOW A brilliant weekend at the ABR Festival. There was so much to see and do, and you have to plan your weekend's activity. John McGuinness was great on stage, so was Itchy Boots. ‘Great day in the Rockies’ IVOR AND MANDIE MCCULLAGH Me and my wife, Mandie, hired a Harley-Davidson Road Glide from Calgary Harley-Davidson Rentals and had a great day in the Rockies. ‘3000 miles in six weeks’ JOHN ALBONE A ride down to the New Forest from St Albans on my BMW R1250RS. I…

BMW MOTO GUZZI YAMAHA…

BIKING LEGENDS People who have shaped our world Kork Ballington is a four-time GP world champion who dominated the 250cc and 350cc classes in the late 1970s after enjoying a meteoric rise from a self-proclaimed “piss poor kid” to title-winning factory Kawasaki rider. It's something Kork still pinches himself about today. “Yeah, I do think back a lot on my racing,” he tells MCN. “For a piss-poor kid from a town called Pietermaritzburg in the middle of Africa to have even got to a Grand Prix was, to me, a dream come true. The fact that I even got to a Grand Prix and won a few, yeah, I pinch myself every day, really, because it is the kind of thing, with my background, that I would never ever have…

Power play The engine comes from Yamaha and will happily sit at 65mph or reach an indicated 77mph, downhill with a tail wind. It also comes with six gears, which is fairly rare on a 125. Be-spoke wheels There are plenty of classy touches on the Aventura and the spoked wheels are just a couple of them. It all helps make the machine a decent trail player. Switch it up Chunky switchgear feels robust and it is intuitive to use. Everything is where you'd expect and it all behaves as you would expect… and quite right too on a 125 costing more than £4k.…

“I've done this tour before with Gary and John. I've done a few tours with different people, but with this, it's more than just the tour and the roads. It's these two as individuals and the camaraderie, knowing how good the roads are and if you can get Scotland dry there's nowhere else like it. “My favourite bit – besides seeing Gaz kicking his own bike over – would be the Isle of Skye ferry and the end of day two when we came into the valley and the scenery there. That and the escapism were the best bits. “You know that moment when you pass your bike test and think ‘I should have done this years ago’? It's the same thing with a tour. It teaches you how to…

RATINGS Exceptional ★★★★★ Very good ★★★★ Good ★★★ Average ★★ Poor Fuel Rescue Raincoat £150 2000 miles ON TEST If you have ever seen the 1965 movie Heroes of Telemark, then you will know where the inspiration for this classically styled jacket has come from. It has one large, zipped chest pocket and two smaller hand pockets all with pop stud flaps, large hood with draw string closure on the neck. Buckled straps at the end of the sleeves adjust the cuffs. Just like a jumper, it's pulled on over your head and there is a hood to put on when you are off the bike. This is one of those jackets which is probably more show than go. If I was setting off for Scotland for a week's riding…

Held Sambia 2in1 Evo £176.95 Short gloves have become my go-to gear for most journeys, due to their comfort and convenience. The downside of most that I've tried, however, is that they're either sporty summer gloves which go soggy in the wet or textile off road/urban gloves that just don't last very long. So I was dead keen to try the Held Sambia 2in1 Evo, a short cuff multi-season glove that promises to not only solve those issues, but provide the best of both worlds. As the name suggests, the Sambia is literally two gloves in one, but despite having two separate holes to put your hands in, the workmanship is such that it's not easy to see how the German manufacturer has managed to achieved this – it's almost…

BUYING USED EXPERT GUIDE TO Cheap to produce, light, narrow and with friendly power characteristics, twin-cylinder engines are perfectly suited to the budgetconscious middleweight class where affordability and an easygoing attitude are key to sales. But don't think that this makes them dull to ride – far from it. Both experienced and less seasoned riders alike can enjoy the charms of a middleweight twin. With impressive handling and spirited motors, there is little not to like about these used bargains. £3500-£5500 2014-2017 Yamaha MT-07 Class-defining parallel-twin has stacks to offer The MT-07 arrived in 2014 and proceeded to reinvent the class. Europe's best-selling middleweight, the MT redefined what was expected both in terms of price and performance. Amazing fun to ride with a superb parallel twin motor, the MT's budget suspension…

SOUTHERN 100 | ROADS Sam Lowes will end a ten-year stint in the grand prix paddock to make his World Superbike debut in 2024. Marc VDS, with whom he currently rides in Moto2, will set up a one-rider team and run a factory supported Ducati Panigale V4. The 32-year-old cited seeking a new challenge, disappointment at reduced track time for Moto2 in 2023 and a desire to race alongside brother Alex as the reasons behind his switch. Lowes described the decision to move with Marc VDS a “no brainer”. “Ever since I left World Supersport in 2013 it has always been on my mind to come back to Superbike,” said the ten-time GP winner. “To be able to do it with the same team and a great brand of motorcycle…

SPORT Reporting from the heart of the World Superbike paddock Yamaha have been worried of late. In the same way the factory Honda MotoGP team has relied on Marc Marquez and suffered so badly since his Jerez 2020 accident, Yamaha have been wondering who can make up for the unbelievable talents of BMWbound Toprak Razgatlioglu who on Sunday at Imola put in his finest performance yet. Right on cue, Bradley Ray is coming good. The reigning British Superbike Champion, who didn't even race the first two rounds as his MotoX team are only competing on European soil this year, qualified on Row 2 and finished the weekend sixth. It was a stunning performance from the 26-year-old Kent man. Is he Yamaha's saviour? He's certainly got natural ability by the bucketful.…

Jonathan Rea achieved podiums in both long races for the first time in 2023. All it took was a listen into conversations between the Northern Irishman and his Spanish colleagues at Kawasaki Racing Team in Parc Fermé to realise how impressive the third places were, even though he missed out on victory at Imola, where he has won nine times in the past including for Honda. After Donington, Kawasaki used five of its concession points to increase its revs by 250rpm. Due to underperforming earlier in the year, they are allowed the option according to the balancing regulations set out to ensure as competitive a championship as possible. It's the second time the team has enjoyed such an increase this season and surely they wouldn't take the option if it…

Biking is undergoing a revolution. Where it was once all about petrol and noise, environmental pressures have forced manufacturers to venture into new, uncharted territories. Some, such as Norton, have come out in favour of battery power, while others including Triumph, Kawasaki and Honda, have begun to explore elsewhere Brands from across the globe have announced research projects surrounding hydrogen combustion, efuels, synthetics, and in some sectors even ammonia – with many doubting electric power's ability to match petrol in the large capacity leisure sector (see p22). Official targets Motorcycles produce just 0.4% of the total UK domestic transport emissions, and yet the Government has proposed a series of net zeroemission targets that could see the first batch of new petrol bikes outlawed in around seven years. Starting from 2030,…

‘It is a very interesting discussion, and for sure, we decided to enter MotoE in order to make the development ourselves and to see what you can get out of the best lithium battery available right now; what are the costs involved; what is the real battery life and mileage – because behind MotoE we had a number of pre-development projects for the road testing this technology,” admits Domenicali. “For now, the energy density of the batteries is still a problem, so making a bike like a Multistrada fullelectric with the current, existing technology of lithium – it is not possible. The bike would be superheavy, or have too short a range. “Battery tech is evolving, and it is difficult to predict what will be available in 20 years –…

On paper, Arc's new Vector – which the British firm describe as a kind of futuristic café racer – has all the makings of being incredibly impressive. Hand-built near Coventry by a talented team of engineers, it's a festival of carbon fibre and electricity. It makes 115bhp, 128lb.ft of torque and weighs 240kg. Throwing a leg over a motorcycle that costs the same as a Ducati Superleggera is always intimidating, but there's a lot else going on to unnerve you. There's a sequence of buttons to push on the Domino switchgear in order to bring it to life and after that the motor waits silently, which always makes electric bikes seem slightly sinister. It has a ‘funny’ Bimota Tesi-style front end, looks like an extra from a superhero movie and…

eMCN ROAD TESTS Horwin's CR6-Pro is an interesting ride. It's the nearest you can come to what could be called a ‘traditional’ electric motorbike, as they claim it's the world's first fullproduction electric with a manual gearbox and clutch. Suitable for anyone aged 17 or up with a CBT, it's based on the existing singlespeed CR6 but costs £2k more, coming in at a pound shy of £7000. The belly of the beast is a ‘high torque’ 6200w motor fed by a 72v 55Ah lithium-ion battery, and if like us you're not sure what all this entails, then it's the equivalent of a 125. For a tiddler the CR6-Pro has impressive acceleration, pulls up hills better than a typical 125 and nudges an indicated 68mph. The five-speed gearbox is what brings…

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TT ZERO? Between 2010 and 2019 electric bikes took on the Mountain Course at the Isle of Man TT. Named the TT Zero, racers completed one lap of the 37.73mile course with Michael Rutter becoming the first man to break the 100mph average speed barrier in 2012. He received £10,000 for his electrifying achievement. Rutter went on to win another four TT Zero races, setting a record of 121.91mph in 2019, whilst John McGuinness and Bruce Anstey have two wins each. US racer Mark Miller won the first event. Mugen, the Japanese manufacturer best known for tuning Honda cars, were the dominant force with their Shinden model, winning the last six TT Zero encounters. In 2019 it was announced that the class would take a break due…

EXCLUSIVE MCN is the first UK publication to experience Triumph's all-new 2024 Speed 400 after we got the chance to ride a pre-production version around the Cotswolds last week. The exclusive test on a latestage European-spec prototype has given us a tantalising first impression of what this new model is like, months ahead of its official launch. The Speed 400 is modern Triumph's first small capacity, entry-level, A2-compliant model and has been designed to both broaden the firm's appeal in Europe by being more accessible in terms of price, size and performance, as well as tapping into the vast, blossoming Indian and Asian markets. This is part of the reason the new Speed 400, the first model in Triumph's TR-series platform, has been developed in collaboration with Indian automotive giant,…

MCN's Chris Newbigging rode the DB40 on the Goodwood FoS hillclimb track. “After riding it, I hope any production bike – which seems very likely after the reveal – also takes the XSR range somewhere sportier, because it makes perfect sense. “I won't pretend the short run up the hill amounts to a serious test, but I can tell you the XSR naturally lends itself to this kind of treatment – those clip-ons with a decent rise and some wind protection instantly change the feel of the bike compared to high handlebars. “You're much more connected and able to enjoy a spirited ride, but without the discomfort of the head-down R1 and R7. The fun factor of the XSR/MT-09 is still there, too. There's no downside. “And speaking as a…

It was a moment in history that nobody wanted to be a part of – the cancellation of a full day of action at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Nothing had forced such a decision during the 30 years the festival has been running but this year Mother Nature had other ideas, with strong winds and torrential rain forcing organisers to close the site on Saturday. It had already become clear that the weather was unlikely to play ball this year as Friday afternoon's conditions went from drizzle to torrential rain over the course of a few hours. Wind speeds too were picking up as many spectators headed to the exit gates early, many fighting the conditions with their umbrellas. By 7.30pm organisers were sending out emails warning that the…

THIS WEEK Yamaha have teamed up with Lego to launch a new MT-10SP Technic kit, set to arrive in shops next month. The £199.99 build (yes, really) consists of 1478 pieces. It will stand at 25cm and is 44cm long when assembled, representing a 1/5-scale replica of the 164bhp super-naked. At the heart of the real MT-10SP is the 998cc DOHC four-cylinder crossplane engine, producing a claimed 164bhp, and the team at Lego have ensured both the engine and gearbox feature realistic moving parts on the new model. Get KTM's 1290 Adventure R for less We inadvertently printed the incorrect price for our KTM 1290 Super Adventure R long-termer in last week's paper: we're happy to correct the situation and state that the on-the-road price is £17,299. KTM would also…

THIS WEEK Few BMW customs come close to the latest creation from custom guru Dirk Oehlerking, dubbed R18 The Crown, the founder of Assen-based Kingston Custom says the bike is the pinnacle of his creations so far. “As always, I worked with hard foam and cardboard to create the shape, the lines and the design,” he said. “The aim was for it to look powerful, elegant and fast, combined with an innovative design.” Oehlerking fashioned the streamlined body from sheet aluminium and redesigned the front suspension with a double-sided swingarm and central suspension strut. Other bespoke components include the handmade aluminium 8-litre fuel tank and body panels. The clutch and handbrake fittings are from Magura and the rear mudguard comes courtesy of Wunderkind. ‘The bike had to look powerful, elegant…

ON SALE SOON WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? BMW has developed a front collision warning system that's due to debut on a production bike “in the near future”. No prizes for guessing that's the R1300GS, then. The system is designed to prevent riders running into the back of vehicles ahead – if, for example, the rider is distracted and hasn't noticed traffic in front slowing down. It relies on a forwards-facing radar sensor, just like the one BMW already uses for Active Cruise Control (which adjusts the bike's speed to maintain a safe distance in traffic) on the R1250RT. The front collision warning aims to offer additional safety even when ACC isn't switched on, first by alerting the rider, and slowing the bike if necessary. HIGHLIGHTS • Prevents accidents during lapses…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com It's always great to see people's old biking pictures. Here I am on the Suzuki back in 1980. Rob Burden Two of my mates had 350 LCs which had more top end but the handling and braking on the RG was superior. James McPake Aged 12 on my first bike. It formerly belonged to Pete Boast (as in flattrack school). Peter Mortimer The ‘grid’ photo was taken at Ludford Mayfair, Lincolnshire in 1973. I'm on #77. Peter Mortimer This was my first'big’ bike 1990… 18-years-old, mullet and high-top trainers. Great times! Jon Edwards My late father Bill Little on the only motorcycle he ever bought new, a 1960 Excelsior Universal. Matt Little Purchased my first new bike at the age of 21: a…

July 19 Classic Grille The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is hosting a superbike themed Classic Grille evening. Advance booking only. www.beaulieu.co.uk July 22-23 Classic Nostalgia Shelsley Walsh in Worcester will be going back in time this weekend, as classic bikes and cars take to the hill climb. www.shelsleywalsh.com July 22-23 Barry Sheene Classic If you've got the itch for roadracing action, get yourself to Oliver's Mount. £20 for the day or £40 for the weekend. www.oliversmount.com/bsc July 22 Squires Autojumble The North Yorkshire biking hotspot is hosting its monthly autojumble this weekend. www.squires-cafe.co.uk…

WEDNESDAY July 19 10pm, QUEST, World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides: Scotland THURSDAY July 20 4pm, EUR2, Bennetts BSB: Donington Park Extra FRIDAY July 21 8pm, ITV4, The Motorbike Show SATURDAY July 22 12.30pm EUR2, Live Bennetts British Superbikes SUNDAY July 23 12pm, EUR2, MX from Flanders,: MX2 Race 1 1pm, EUR2, Live Bennetts BSB from Brands Hatch: Day 2. Highlights at 11pm KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY…

All three of these high-end sports-tourers come highly specified as standard, but there are options offered by each manufacturer to personalise them and tailor them specifically to your riding needs. The BMW's extras list is almost endless. Colours alone cost: red/white/red BMW Motorsport colours add £500, and the Triple Black is £650. Dynamic and Touring packs come as standard on the SE, but the Comfort Pack (keyless ride, chrome exhaust, heated grips and tyre pressure control) adds a further £790. You can also specify the stylish Option 719 Billet Packs and wheels (£1850 for the two packs; wheels an extra £980), but it all ramps up the price. Choice extras for the Tracer 9 GT+ include a 50-litre topbox (£256.50, plus £94.50 for the mount), a passenger backrest to complement…

Probably one of the most iconic but short-lived two-strokes ever, the Kawasaki KR500 was powered by a 496.4cc squarefour with rotary valves, similar to the all-conquering Suzuki RG of the time, but with a stunning welded alloy monocoque frame instead of the Suzuki's tubular steel chassis. The project ran for just 36 months, while riders like Eddie Lawson, Greg Hansford and Kork Ballington tried to get it to the top step. Kork got closest, taking a couple of third places at Grand Prix, as well as bagging the 1982 Shell 500 Trophy. “In 1980, the bike was big and heavy and the fact that I got it on the front row at a couple of events was a minor miracle,” remembers Kork. “Practice was OK; you could do three laps…

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN Through the magic of Twitter, hobbyists-turnedentrepreneurs Gary Dale and John Taylor joined forces, left their jobs behind, and decided to follow their passion. Gary organised a trip for bikers he met on Twitter and loved every moment during the tour, so much so he wanted to do it full time. After partnering with John, they made it a reality, and now with a year of adventuring under their belts, the touring enterprise is going from strength to strength. “We don't use chain hotels,” explains Gary. “We give everyone a call before the tour so we're not strangers, and we would like to think it's us and all the other bits that go around it. That's why on the website's About Us page we major on it…

Black Pro Range MX Lift Stand £39.99 3 years ON TEST Bought in 2020 for £32 to make maintenance on my Honda CRF250L a little easier, this simple but heavy-duty workshop stand was an absolute bargain. It may have gone up a few quid since then but it's still excellent value. The CRF lacks a pukka dirt bike's ground clearance (and is several kg heavier) so wrestling it onto the platform is an effort, then you use the lever like a centrestand and raise the bike off the ground. The max load is 160kg, and while 9cm of lift (31-40cm approx) might not sound much, I've used it for everything from chain cleaning to having the forks out – it's one of the most useful tools in my garage. The…

THE FACTS £20,977 otr Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST PREVIOUS UPDATE JUNE 14 A rambler and a plodder and always in search of somewhere good for an ice cream When I decided to get the Low Rider ST, I knew I had to do something to commemorate H-D's 120th anniversary. Joining the European celebration in Budapest was high on the list, even if it meant six 10-hour days in the saddle. I spent the first night in Dijon, then skirted around Lake Geneva, slipping into lakeside towns where the Harley rumbled comfortingly as though it belonged there. I then hit the motorway and pushed on to Lake Como, and soon remembered something important – Italian riders are a different breed. I watched scooterists in flip-flops cut up fast moving traffic before…

If there's one rider that is adding colour to the 2023 MotoGP championship, it's Marco Bezzecchi. The 24-year-old Italian surprised everybody with a dominant first MotoGP victory in a rainy Argentina and then, three races later, did it again at sunny Le Mans. Bezzecchi remains the surprise of 2023 with two wins, third in the championship and all on a oneyearold Ducati… 1 Qatar 2022 This was your first MotoGP. How did it go? “I crashed because I had an issue with the brakes. But still it was a great weekend. I was impressed by my own speed. It was like a dream come true. Every rider dreams about going to MotoGP and it was one very big emotion. The result was not the best but it was the start of a…

Valentino Rossi secured an emotional maiden GT World Challenge Europe victory at Misano last weekend. Rossi, and teammate Maxime Martin, won the Sprint Cup race in the Team WRT BMW M4 GT3. It's BMW's first Sprint Cup win in eight years, and the team's first with the German manufacturer since leaving Audi. Rather fittingly, it's Team WRT's 46th Sprint Cup win. It's another positive step for Rossi on four wheels. He won the Road to Le Mans earlier this year and is set to make his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in 2024.…

ROUND 7 IMOLA | WSB “The one they love the most is Bassani!” a thrilled foreign spectator told MCN in the paddock as he enjoyed the cheers and blasting of air horns from the grandstand every time Axel Bassani navigated his way through the final chicane and down the start/finish straight. At his home round, the Motocorsa Ducati rider put in a fine performance that saw him challenge for pole, lead races and come very close to a career-first World Superbike victory. First seen in the paddock as a teenager in the lower categories, Bassani will turn 24 next Monday. With the long hair, chilled out attitude and cheeky laugh, he's almost Rossi-esque. If it hadn't been for a Rivazza crash, he couLd have taken pole. And if it hadn't…

In December 2021, the MCIA published a study alongside Zemo Partnership, studying the emissions produced by vehicles across their entire lifetime. Zemo are an independent, non-profit group who work alongside Governments to help shape future transport policy. The research looked at a number of categories, with petrol and electric two-wheelers coming out with the lowest total emissions in almost every category. Most interesting though was the research surrounding 125cc petrol motorcycles when compared to a 40kWh electric car, a 33kWh electric van, and a 1.8 litre petrol hybrid car. It turns out, one of the categories of bike set to face the chop in 2030 is the least polluting of the lot. Based on a Honda PCX125 covering around 6525 miles (10,500km) a year across three years, the bike produces…

Although it's tempting to be on the lookout for that silver bullet technology which is going to revolutionise electric bikes overnight, the reality is that improvements tend to be more incremental – gradually increasing performance and range while reducing battery weight, size and recharging times. That steady forward trend looks likely to continue on the back of a vast array of new technologies and concepts which are working their way towards production. Making the promise of more power and faster charging There's a rule of thumb that says the energy density of batteries improves at 5 to 8% per year. It's not a steady growth, instead coming in fits and starts as new technologies are introduced, but it's a pretty accurate reflection of the way batteries have improved over the…

STAT ATTACK Zero SR/S ● 108.5bhp ● 103.3lb.ft torque ● 235kg (kerb) ● 100-mile max range ● 787mm seat height ● £18,740 STAT ATTACK Triumph Trident ● 80bhp ● 47.2lb.ft torque ● 189kg (kerb) ● 14-litre petrol tank ● 805mm seat height ● £7895 We wanted to see if the rapidly-expanding electric vehicle infrastructure has made switching from petrol a genuine option for those living outside of a major city. With an open mind we took charge of a Zero SR/S and a Triumph Trident 660 for an extended period of time to see if the electric bike can match the petrol-powered one. Taking to a local route I use as an escape for a couple of hours, riding the Zero is a very different experience. First, you can't help…

STAT ATTACK Lexmoto LX06 ● 5.4bhp ● N/A lb.ft torque ● 90kg (kerb) ● 60-mile max range ● 800mm seat height ● £3359.99 Clean, traditional, smart. The Lexmoto LX06 gives a fresh take on urban riding, combining old-school scooter looks with electric propulsion. Zooming along with duel 60V lithium batteries and zippy power delivered by a 4000W Bosch motor, it hits a top speed of 47mph – perfect for the urban riding that the LX06 is designed for. However, although Lexmoto claim it will provide a range of 60 ‘real-world’ miles, this is realistically more like 49 miles if you take in some open roads as well as town riding. And this is fairly low for a 125cc-equivalent scooter costing £3359 (plus ontheroad charges). Clearly styled as if it was…

‘I'm trying to ride around the world!’ ● Marcus Engle is now 15,000 miles into his overland electric odyssey onboard his secondhand Zero SR/F After watching Ewan and Charley's Long Way Up journey on electric LiveWires, Marcus Engle, from Berlin, thought to himself, ‘one day I'm going to do that…’ “I had some incredible bike trips around Europe and even Iceland on my 33-year-old Honda Dominator. It was a great motorcycle, but two years after watching the Long Way Up, I was riding back home from the North Cape and had some serious engine troubles. So, I had a decision to make: put even more money and time into the Honda or go all in and fulfil my dream of riding an electric round the world. “I found a used…