Table of contents for 31 January 2024 in MCN

‘Loud and proud with a screaming exhaust note’ NEEVESY ON SUZUKI'S GSX-S1000GX+, P29 NEWS MPs support test reform Back in October, the Motorcycle Industry Association Launched their A Licence to Net Zero’ campaign, calling for motorcycle licensing reform. At the MCIA's conference last week, MPs from both parties pledged their support for the reforms, which is a small step in the right direction. However, with a General Election looming, it may be some time before we see further developments… PAGE 04 FIRST RIDE Twin targets the tarmac In 2018, Honda Launched the Adventure Sports version of their Africa Twin in order to give potential buyers a more road-touring alternative to the standard Dakar-inspired model. For 2024, the Adventure Sports has gone yet more tarmac-biased still, with a smaller 19-inch front…

Kids love bikes, whether on their own, or pillion with parents. That's why Duchinni have created their new Youth Grid textile jacket, aimed at 6-15-year-olds. Featuring CE Level 2 rated armour and AA abrasion resistance, the garment offers all the same standard of protection as an adult's jacket, while also being comfortable and waterproof. Yours for £99,99, it should offer years of service, featuring 3cm sleeve extension panels for growth spurts. Zipping around at the Dakar Rally Dakar 2024 has come to a close, but what did its superhuman athletes use to get around the massive, moving village once each day's race stage had finished? E-bikes of course! American brand SUPER73 supplied the Red Bull Desert Wings team with a number of custom-build funky looking EVs to move through the…

Suzuki fans need to make a date with Cadwell Park on June 22-23 as it gears up to welcome Suzuki Live. Riders are invited to partake in test rides, cast their eyes over a host of famous racing Suzuki motorcycles from across the decades, grab a bargain on the trade stands and enjoy Saturday night's live bands. Enthusiasts eager to try their hand at the 2.19-mile circuit can purchase full weekend track sessions for £279 - providing them with 10 outings over the course of the event, with access to professional tuition, trackside photography, tyre support courtesy of Continental and free camping. Classics and modern Suzukis alike are welcome on track, with groups split into novice, intermediate and expert sessions. Adventure bike fans can get their tyres dirty with free…

Ducati are back at Donington Park with two exclusive trackdays announced for the year ahead. Offered alongside the brand's European DRE dates, the events are scheduled for April 30 and September 19, costing £255 each. The sessions are aimed at all skill levels and riders on any type, or age, of Ducati. From fire-breathing Panigales to classic Monsters, so long as it's in safe condition, you're good to go. For those looking to take their riding to the next level, Ducati are laying on expert instructors who'll be on hand to provide the best experience possible. 'The days are open to any type of Ducati' Tyre and suspension services will be present courtesy of Pirelli and Öhlins respectively while the official Ducati photographer, Pieman, will be track-side ready to capture…

SAVE £££s - BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR THE mcnmotorcycleshow.com This is Albert… he now rides a WR450, VFR800 and a ‘Special’ ER-6 he built himself. Andrew Stoker Katherine rode off road and on road on Vespas. Alas her job has put riding on hold but she'll be back! Andrew Stoker Just completed my CBT on a very windy Sunday. Nowsome practice before getting on with more tests. Lawrence Brown RAF Wittering on convoy escort. In at the deep end… I'd only just passed my test on a Honda 175. Paul Thompson One from my archives… Moto Martin 750 circa 1986, Status Quo tour jacket, a tad more preload required. Simon Finch This one brings back some memories of early days on bikes. Graham Pritchard My dad on his first…

SAVE £££s - BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR THE mcnmotorcycleshow.com ‘Winning at Winnats' TJ STEELE Had an absolutely brilliant ride-out on the BMW R1150GSA, starting out with one of my favourite routes leading to Winnats Pass. Was a bit chilly out! 'Fuelled by dream engines' PETER ALLITT At Seaways for a cup of tea. The Honda CBF1000 is incredible with its Blade-derived engine. 'Turning up the heat' RICHIE SALT From a sunny 4° to snow and -1! Weather can change fast in Northumberland and I was thankful for the heated seat. ‘Slippery but fun' DAN WHITE 120-mile ride around some backroads today. Slippery but great fun. Could barely feel my toes at the halfway point. 'Time for tea' PAUL BOWLES Treated myself to a nice scenic ride to West Bay…

MICHAEL NEEVES CHIEF ROAD TESTER ‘Needs more goodies' Our deep dive reveals the GSX-S1000GX to be a capable sports-tourer, but it isn't the consummate all-rounder we hoped it would be. On the plus side it accelerates with the venom of a superbike with a soundtrack to match, is composed through corners, fun to ride and its K5-derived motor oozes grunt, although it's buzzy at motorway speeds. Its gearbox and quickshifter are sublime, the dash crystal dear and the new lean sensitive rider aids are smooth and reassuring. The addition of electronic suspension is a real plus and lets you quickly adjust the set-up for changes in road conditions, riding mood and extra loads. It's all-day comfy, even for taller riders and adding a pillion doesn't upset bike or rider, although…

MCN's website has expert opinion and buying advice on hundreds of used bikes, regularly updated and packed with insight. Here are three of the latest - visit motorcyclenews.com for loads more insight. 2009-2018 Honda CBR600RR Owners’ rating If you are tempted by the new CBR600RR, check out the reviews owners of the 2009-2018. It's basically the same bike and owners rate it highly with four stars out of five. 2002-2003 Honda FireBlade 954 Owners’ rating Baba's last Blade (he owns one) is arguably the best he ever designed. The 954 is a great blend of real world useability, performance and cool looks. 2007-2010 Buell 1125R Owners’ rating It would take a brave man to buy an 1125R but eight owners have reviewed it online and they rate its chassis and engine…

The dark art of suspension is a mystery to many, but as 365 Suspension's Mark Renni is keen to stress - neglect it at your peril. After purchasing a shiny new (to him) enduro steed for some weekend fun, the new owner called on Mark to get his leaking forks back to factory fresh. Armed with a new set of seals and couple of litres of oil, he dropped off his forks expecting a simple routine service but when Mark opened them up, he got a big surprise, telling MCN: “The oil came out looking like a cappuccino.” The shabby seals had not only given up on their duty to retain oil, but had let past a concoction of muddy slime. Mark set to work stripping the innards - finding…

SAVE £3000 £15,250 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR The Speed Triple RR is beautifully made, combining sensible ergonomics with strong performance and track-ready handling, all mixed in with a smattering of Triumph's inimitable style. It mixes a decent punch of power with solid handling and with £3k off, you'd better move fast! www.blademotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £2350 £28,590 BMW M1000RR BMW's carbon-clad ‘homologation special’ offers some of the best performance this side of a WSBK paddock. Excellent ergos make the big Beemer surprisingly friendly. www.pidcock.com • Engine 999cc • Power 209bhp • Weight 193kg • Seat height 832mm SAVE £700 £4499 KTM RC 125 KTM's pint-sized sportsbike is flickable and seriously fun, offering new riders well thought-out ergonomics and an aggressive aesthetic. www.tripledmotosport.co.uk • Engine 125cc • Power 15bhp • Weight 135kg…

‘Actively ignoring the obvious' The other week I was riding the new Suzuki GSX-S1000GX when I encountered a remarkably frustrating piece of design. I'll not bore you with the details but it involves a ridiculous screen adjustment system that after 30 seconds of looking at I worked out several much better solutions. I'm not saying I'm an engineering genius but it made me wonder just who signs-off the final bike, and if they even bothered to try to adjust the screen. All of which reminded me of a similar conversation I had many years ago… A mate of mine was asked to ride the new Ulysses for Buell's advertising brochure. He was just a rider for the pictures and not involved in the bike's actual design process, but after a…

AGV K6 Flash £199.99 Use your head… grab a great deal Winter has always been a fine time to bag a bargain on a new lid, as retailers seek to clear their shelves of the previous year's models ahead of the influx of the latest designs. This year is a little different though, as we're seeing the last hurrah for ECE 22.05-certified helmets, which ceased production in July 2023 when the new ECE 22.06 testing regime came in. With plenty of savings to be had, stock levels are already dwindling, so this week we're highlighting the pick of deals which still carry a broad spread of sizes. AGV traditionally exceed homologation requirements thanks to their stringent in-house testing - a prime example being this K6 sports helmet which is a…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER Up there with the best Thank you for last week's tribute to Anthony Gobert (MCN, January 24). It was great, but I can't help thinking that everyone that originally witnessed Anthony's amazing skills and talent, and fortunately I did, was really lucky. If you never got to see Anthony at his best, check him out on YouTube. When he was good, he was up there with the very best! RIP Anthony. Jamie Holmes, email Blinded by the light MCN's focus on the safety issues caused by dazzling headlamps is long overdue (MCN, January 24). The trend for brighter and more ‘stylish’ LED lamps, more SUVs with higher illumination and maladjusted systems has been creeping up for too long. It can be particularly bad for…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday January 31 BIKE MEETS ■ The King Billy Rock Bar, Bike & Burger Night, Northampton, Northamptonshire 6.30pm Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ Amici Coffee Biker Night, Girtford Bridge, Sandy, Bedfordshire www.amicicoffee.co.uk ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.Loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-lpm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe ■ Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk SHOW The Retromobile Show, Paris Expo, France retromobile.fr Thursday February 1 BIKE MEETS…

THE MCN TEST SUZUKI GSX-S1000GX DEEP DIVE GET PROTECTED WITH MCN - AT MCNCOMPARE.COM • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £15,599 (£14,499 base model) Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+ • 999cc 16v inline four ● 143.2bhp/77.3lb.ft* ● 132.92mph* ● 234.2kg* *measured Suzuki's new GSX-S1000GX is based heavily on their popular GSX-S1000GT sports-tourer. It's powered by the same 999cc inline four-cylinder engine and wrapped in an aluminium beam frame, but it boasts taller bars, a thicker seat. new gyro-controlled rider aids, semi-active electronic suspension and new styling. We got our first taste of the GX during its world launch in Portugal in November last year, but now we're taking a deep dive into what it's like on normal roads in typical British conditions. We're using the GX+ version, which comes with Continued over hard luggage, and…

Ingeborg Stoll was raised living and breathing sidecar racing, so it's hardly surprising she became one of the sport's most revered women during the 1950s. Born in Germany on February 11, 1930, Inge spent her childhood watching her parents compete in an outfit together, father Kurt at the controls and mother Maria next to him in the chair. Naturally, by the time Inge was 17 she was more than eager to take over her mother's role in the family's Harley, Horex or NSU-powered outfits. Racing for the first time at Hockenheim Ring, the father-daughter duo came second in the 600cc class, and Inge began to cause quite a stir in the racing paddock. At the end of the 1950 season, Kurt decided to retire from racing, but Inge still yearned…

CARL STEVENS ROAD TESTER ‘Not just for A2 riders' The Speed 400 truly is a stunning, well put-together bit of kit. The finish is exquisite and although its usable and friendly with its light nature, it has the essence and stature of the far bigger capacity Speeds in the Triumph line-up too. It handles just as well, with a chassis and suspension set-up that is absolutely divine, topped off with a new single-cylinder motor that is punchy and fun, even if it is a bit over-excitable. Overall, the Speed 400 is an impressive machine that transcends the A2 licence category and its modest 398cc capacity to be a decent performing, premium machine, and all for under £5000. THE FACTS £4995 Triumph Speed 400…

Honda have broadened the appeal, of the Africa Twin Adventure Sports by turning its focus away from the dirt and on to the road. Extra low-down torque adds more urgency to an already swift machine and although it doesn't have the power to match its big-cube rivals, it barks like a crosser and never feels slow. It's far from cheap, but it's well equipped, capable, comfortable and still every inch the Africa Twin we all know and love. THE FACTS £16,299* Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports…

It doesn't take very much to cause a throttle to start sticking. Recently I transported a bike in the back of a van then unloaded it. Everything was as it should, until I started it up… The bike started revving furiously because the throttle was sticking, and wouldn't return to the fully closed position at all. After giving it a quick look-over, I saw that the fix was easy. Because I'd secured it against the side of the van, the front brake lever guard had moved in slightly causing it to tighten up against the rubber throttle grip. Normally this wouldn't have been a problem, I've transported loads of bikes with or without lever guards and the throttle has never been affected. But on closer inspection of the lever guard…

INSIGHT NEW TECH Yamaha last won the MotoGP title in 2021, with Fabio Quartararo. Since then life has been grim for the Japanese manufacturer, who scored their last race win in June 2022. Last season was the first since 2003 that the YZR-M1 didn't score a single victory and even though Quartararo rode the wheels off the bike, he finished tenth overall (which made him MotoGP's top rider on a Japanese motorcycle!). Can Yamaha turn it around for 2024? Much will depend on the work of former Ferrari Formula 1 engine designer Luca Marmorini, who has been building new M1 engines for a year or so. His first version, tested at Misano in September, didn't impress Quartararo, who's been told the final 2024 spec, to be tested at Sepang in…

Honda debuted their new WSBK Fireblade at Jerez but appeared an awfully long way off. The fact Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona often head in different setup directions doesn't help. New team boss Jose Escamez is working with equally new co-ordinator, Maria Popa. “We can't use the power on the first tap of the throttle,” Vierge explained. Unlike Lecuona, Vierge requires three kilos of ballast. ‘My brother was faster than me!' “I'm not happy about that!” Alex Lowes laughed after rookie brother, Sam, was quicker. Now Kawasaki's team leader, Alex focused on used tyre runs but stomach probLems disrupted Wednesday. Lowes has switched to Jonathan Rea's old crew chief, Pere Riba. Opposite him, Axel Bassani focused on braking and corner entry but admits he won't be ‘100% ready’ until Round…

INSIGHT TOP STORY A literal pain in the neck almost completely halted Alvaro Bautista from training properly this winter and left him 16th fastest and 1.77s off his teammate in the first official World Superbike test in Jerez. The back-to-back title winner of 2022 and 2023 revealed that he's had the most difficult pre-season of his career thanks to a neck injury sustained at the same circuit in November. Just days after the finale in which Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu crossed the finish line side-by-side, the 39-year-old hit one of the dreaded wet patches at the last corner where water seeps through the surface. The resultant crash saw him land on his head and, although later that day he appeared fine, he was subsequently in agony - the problem wrecking…

Moto Guzzi's all-new adventure tourer, the Stelvio, is available to pre-order until February 15 and there are some tempting offers to get people interested. The Italian firm are giving away £750 worth of free accessories for first-time buyers, while also offering existing Guzzi owners enticing trade-in bonuses against V7, V9, V85 and V100 models. Prices start from £14,700, increasing to £15,400 when the bike is kitted out with Guzzi's PFF Rider Assistance Solution - radar technology equipping the tourer with auto-braking and adaptive cruise control. The Guzzi's big transverse twin, first featured in the V100 Mandello, offers up a heathy 115bhp to shift its 246kg bulk, delivered to the back wheel via Low-maintenance shaft drive - a feature unique to the Stelvio for bikes in this capacity bracket. It also…

Lego have clicked with Kawasaki to offer a new Ninja H2R Technic kit, providing enthusiasts aged 10 and over the chance to build their very own 1:8 replica of the 310bhp hyperbike. Costing £69.99 and comprising 643 pieces, the kit will be available from March 1. Once built, it stands at 17cm tall by 31cm long and features a working sidestand, enabling the builder to proudly display their miniature masterpiece more easily. The model features a host of decent details, including working steering, compressible suspension, a two-speed gearbox and replica of the 999cc supercharged engine.…

Pyramid Triumph Trident 660 hugger £49.99 This all-new hugger from UK bodywork specialists Pyramid protects the shock and linkage from filthy weather without disrupting the bike's lines. Manufactured from ABS, it slots in between the OEM spray guards to create a complete mudguard around the top of the rear tyre. Installs in 30 minutes and includes all fittings. pyramidmoto.co.uk HJC i71 £229.99 HJC's latest sports touring helmet features an advanced polycarbonate shell with the firm's ACS ventilation system, which channels air from front to back to reduce heat and humidity. It has an integral drop-down sunshield with a new three-position mechanism, improved visor lock and double-D ring strap fastener. It carries a three-year warranty. oxfordproducts.com Oxford Spartan women's textile jacket £99.99 Aimed at the entry-level commuter, this textile jacket has…

Q ‘Dodgy driver is to blame' I was involved in an accident when a car suddenly came into my lane on a roundabout. The driver was on the inside Lane in very sLow-moving traffic (around 5-10mph) and I was between two exits. To avoid the car I dropped the bike and came off. The car driver did not indicate before turning and denied the accident was his fault. I called my insurer and they said it was my fault as I dropped the bike. I don't accept this can be right as the reason for my evasive action was the car's sudden change of direction without indicating. What can I do? Tom, Bolton A Your insurer is wrong. If the other driver did not indicate or Look properLy and simpLy…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Philip Dilworth and Jonathan Cairns The ride Ecuador from Quito over the Andes Mountains and across to the Pacific Ocean. Then back across the Andes to the edge of the Amazon in the east and back to Quito. ALL off-road. When to do it We went in May How long do you need? We had 16 days with a few days either side Tell us about the trip… We booked through Ecuador Freedom Bike rental.. Jonny has a lot of off-road experience but I had none! We picked the bikes up in Quito and headed off on a 16-day self-guided adventure. A lot of the trip was at high altitude with 4197m being the highest. The trip had everything, 8-10 hours off-road riding every…

1 February 2 Bikes and Banter This Friday sees Tommy meet Shakey in Norwich at the Mercure Norwich Hotel, and you can be there too. Fresh from being crowned BSB champion, Tommy Bridewell will be interviewed by six-time BSB champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne. Tickets start from £25 for general admission, but for VIP entry and a signed picture it's £35 while for front row seats on top it's £79.99. bikesandbanter.co.uk 2 February 3 Rufforth Autojumble It's the first Saturday of the month, so bargain hunters know what that means - the Rufforth Autojumble in York (Y023 3QH) is back. Gates are open for browsers and buyers from Bam, and sellers have from 6am to set up their stalls. With admission just £2 (£17 for sellers’ pitchers) there's really no reason not…

£15,599 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX+ ON THE DYNO Making a healthy 143.2bhp at the real wheel (not far short of its claimed 150bhp) the GX never lacks oomph and the power curve up to 7000rpm, where you use the engine most is beautifully linear. We've overlaid a curve from the GSX-R1000K5 from the same dyno. The superbike engine almost mirrors the GX up to 7500rpm, but the K5's racier cam timing sees it take off up to 161.9bhp PERFORMANCE DATA Our data shows the Suzuki to be rapid under hard acceleration, but the bike is restricted to 132.92mph (an indicated 139mph) flat out. It's generally stable at high speed, according to our performance tester Bruce Dunn, but he found the steering becomes light and twitchy in a head wind, which triggers the…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Let's twist again Free-up your throttle action with this easy 10-point guide 1 Cause and effect A sticking throttle is an MoT fail, and quite rightly, too. Although, it's one of those faults that gets slightly worse over time so you can be forgiven for not noticing immediately. Quite often there's a very basic cause, something as simple as the throttle tube gripping the handlebar, old cables, poor routing, or the grips binding on the throttle housing or bar end weights. 2 First, look at lever guards One of the culprits may be the lever guard. If you've fitted one of these aftermarket items recently then it could be the root cause of your throttle issues, especially if the guard is universal fit and not model specific…

INSIGHT Rory Skinner will be back in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this year after joining the experienced TAS Racing team. The Northern Irish outfit have undergone big changes over the winter, with Cheshire Mouldings continuing their association with motorcycle racing as new title sponsors for their one-man assault on BSB. Skinner's BMW M1000RR is decked out in a stunning white and blue livery as he returns from Moto2 where the American Racing squad pulled the plug on his two-year contract after just one season. “What happened, happened and I couldn't change much about that so since Valencia I've just tried to enjoy myself,” Skinner told MCN. “Having sorted this deal, I've had a bit of security, so I drove to Spain with my mate, and we've just been riding…

BMW wanted hot conditions in Jerez last week, and their wish was granted - although their new star signing Toprak Razgatlioglu got even more than he bargained for as he suffered two large blisters on his backside. The cause was the seat on the BMW and subsequent friction as the Turk got to grips with moving around, trying a larger seat and later reverting to the smaller version. No wonder Toprak spent most of his time standing up… the pain meant it was practically impossible for him to sit down! When informed by journalists in the pit lane during the Thursday afternoon session that Alvaro Bautista was struggling with his neck injury Toprak replied with, “And my problem is my ass!” Whether BMW change the seat material, as well as…

Andrea Iannone never was known as a shrinking violet during his Grand Prix days. Now, with his four-year drugs ban a thing of a past, it seems the Italian's dander is up once again. Winner of the 2016 Austrian GP for Ducati, their first since the Casey Stoner days, lannone's debut World Superbike season is with GoEleven Ducati. “My best time was on the SCX tyre, not the faster SCQ, so that means we're more or less the best rider!” he said. Now 34, lannone admits he's not quite where he wants to be with plenty still to learn, not least qualifying tyres. Some say getting back his racecraft in such a professional championship, with three races per weekend, will be a challenge but others claim this should be no…

It's a surprise to see Bautista that far off the pace in testing. People are talking about him sandbagging, but I can't see that. Firstly, it never really works and secondly, he's the double world champ and he can turn it on when he wants, so you've got to believe that there is something wrong. You have to commend what his new teammate Bulega has done though. He obviously knows his talent, Ducati know his talent, he's won the World Supersport championship but has still arrived under the radar. A world championship is a world championship, and he's come in and hitthe ground running. If you remember, Bulega was in the VR46 academy and a front runner in Moto2, but he ended up taking a back step, he's gone to…