Table of contents for 22 May 2024 in MCN

THE CONTENDERS Get the inside line on the hottest riders at this year's Isle of Man TT – from bookies’ favourites, to hot challengers THIS WEEK Internal combustion's new lifeline The battle over the phasing out of the internal combustion engine in favour of battery electric vehicles looks set to enter a new phase shortly. It's expected the Government will imminently announce a roll back to 2040 for a ban on the sale of petrol motorcycles, giving manufacturers and consumers a stay of execution – and a greater opportunity for alternative net-zero fuel options to be considered. PAGE 4 THE BIG TEST Cruiser spirit - with naked soul Cruisers used to be wildly heavy things with agricultural engines, poor suspension, and a somewhat stereotypical target audience. How things have changed.…

Six-time British Superbike champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne is suing BSB series organisers following the life-changing injuries he sustained in a Snetterton practice crash in 2018. The former MotoGP rider and World Superbike race winner fell from his Paul Bird Motorsport Ducati Panigale R during an official test at the circuit in mid-May of that year, colliding with the barrier at turn three. Following the accident, he was taken to hospital in Norwich and later underwent spinal surgery. Byrne bruised both his lungs, fractured almost all of his ribs, and broke his sternum (chest bone), collarbone, four vertebrae and his neck in two places. He has not raced since, and now presents coverage of the British and World Superbike championships on TV. He appeared at London's High Court on Wednesday, May…

Completely Motorbikes Hinckley have hosted a fundraising evening, with live music and a barbecue, on behalf of the BSB Barmy Army, which offers financial support to ‘dad-and-lad-type racers’. About £1000 was raised at the event, attended by an estimated 600 bikers and a host of BSB racers. See bsbbarmyarmy.com for more. Speed 400 is a hit April's new motorcycle sales are 1.1% higher overall than they were in April 2023. Although sales of bikes over 500cc fell by about 10%, the 125-500cc bracket saw the biggest growth, with an 18.8% rise compared to last April. The new Triumph Speed 400 is already the most popular machine in this class. BMW's R1250GS Adventure held its top spot as the UK's most popular geared motorcycle. KTM price cuts KTM have expanded their…

Top deals on girls-only gear Our focus this week is on gear designed to fit the female biker. It's a segment of the market that has seen steady growth in recent years and many manufacturers have moved to accommodate that, developing their ranges beyond the ‘shrink it and pink it’ offerings to practical, wearable products. The best of the current deals are on jackets, so we've included a spread of different styles and highlighted some leggings and gloves, too. This Urbane Pro Utility shirt from Knox is a close-fitting armoured garment that can be worn on its own or paired up with different layers. As a stand-alone, it's certified to CE A standard for abrasion resistance and features Level 1 Micro-Lock shoulder and elbow armour, plus a Level 2 back…

PART 4: WARM-UP Raw spaghetti snaps in two. Cooked spaghetti doesn't. It's a similar principle with our muscles. A warm muscle is pliable. A cold one less so. That's why you'll see most athletes warm-up before they exercise or participate in their chosen sport. It makes perfect sense for bikers to do it, too. Especially when we're about to head out on track or off on a ‘spirited ride’. Exercise also releases various hormones and neurotransmitters in our brains, which could genuinely improve our overall riding experience. Endorphins are the brain's natural stress busters. If you feel a bit anxious before a big rideout, this could be the hit you need to calm your nerves. Dopamine is associated not only with pleasure but reward. Switch this on and you could…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Life in the old dog yet!’ Just got back from the North West 200 and what a day of racing we had on the Saturday. Beautiful weather, massive crowds and Irwin and Todd providing superb racing in the Superbike class. Not forgetting Hicky and Cooper in the smaller classes. But the highlight for me, and I guess thousands more, was seeing John McGuinness taking a podium in the Stockers race. Yes, I realise Harrison pulled up, Dunlop didn't start, but even so, to be on the box 12 years after his last podium is something special. We were in a campervan park between Mathers chicane and Magherabuoy chicane and the cheering as John pipped Hillier for third place was the loudest and most enthusiastic of the…

OUT AND ABOUT THE UK'S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite riding routes If you fancy breaking your continental riding duck, or have limited time for a big trip, the run from Calais to Le Touquet is perfect. Taking the coast road on a sunny day, through quaint villages and on to the Cannesa-like Le Touquet makes you feel like you're deep in France… but you can still see England when it's clear. If you live in the southeast you can easily do it in a long day. Once you're off the train head to Blériot Plage and follow the D940, keeping the English Channel on your right. It's scenic all the way and if you do a dawn raid to get an early Eurotunnel crossing, there'll be time to…

What's happening? In a celebration of all types of motorcycles, the Bike Shed show is an event like no other. Immerse yourself in moto culture in the capital with a fantastic location as well as live music, bars, food, and lounges. You could grab yourself a tattoo or a haircut, meander around 500 exhibitors and enjoy the 300 custom bikes on display. The essentials Held at Tobacco Docks in London (E1W 2SF) tickets are cheaper in advance than on the door. For the VIP event on Friday (which has limited numbers) tickets are £48 where you get an evening with the bike builders and chill with other VIPs. Otherwise, a weekend ticket is £30. Some parking has been secured in Pennington Street for motorcycles, but cars will need to look…

With big, air-cooled engines increasingly unable to get through the Euro5, the days of having a wide choice of mid-to-big capacity, affordable cruisers are long gone. The XVS950 is no more with Yamaha joining Suzuki and Kawasaki in now having no offerings in the category (although there are plenty of used Intruders and VNs) and, as a result, just one Japanese offering stands out – the CMX1100 Rebel. Honda's big brother to the successful CMX500 was launched in 2021 and is based around a detuned, gruntier, 86bhp version of the Africa Twin's 1084cc parallel twin. It starts at an affordable £9799, comes with the option of Honda's, semi-automatic DCT gearbox and is also available in bagger fairing and pannier-equipped Tour trim. It may not have the bling but is an…

ICONS ‘We created a totally new machine with a more powerful engine’ Of all the 1990s hyperbikes, Honda's CBR1100XX Super Blackbird stands out. Not only did it raise the speed bar so significantly over the Kawasaki ZZ-R1100 that it took Suzuki's GSX1300R Hayabusa three years and 200 extra ccs to beat it – it was also usable, classy and high quality. It's still valued now, 20 years after its demise. Today, a good, late, low mileage Blackbird can fetch £4500+ – more than the unloved VFR1200F designed to replace it. The project began in 1993. Honda had just taken the superbike class by storm with the FireBlade and wanted a new flagship to beat the ZZ-R1100, the world's fastest production motorcycle since its launch in 1990. The man in charge…

‘Lower seat pays off’ Lowering the Ténéré’s seat height is a much bigger deal than 15mm might suggest. That change alone opens this 700 up to a whole new group of buyers who would find the stock bike too tall. And because the reduction in height comes from revised suspension rather than a new saddle, the Explore enjoys the benefit of slightly sweeter handling and a more accomplished ride. At £10,806 the Explore is £690 more than the base bike, but you get the quickshifter and pannier rack. However, there are slight niggles. The firm seat is the weak link in terms of distance and the soft panniers could be a lot cheaper. THE FACTS £10,806 Yamaha Ténéré 700 Explore…

When your bike starts misbehaving fresh from a full service, despite always being a dependable, sturdy workhorse, you'd be right to march back to the garage that did the work and start asking questions. That's exactly what one customer did. But the source of his motorcycle woes proved not to stem from the hand of mechanical negligence, but from the mischievous paws – or teeth, for that matter – of a wayward mouse that had made itself at home in the airbox of his Honda VFR800. “The bike had been in with us for a full service three weeks prior,” explained Iain Wright, owner of Wrightway Motorcycles in Lincoln. “We'd carried out a full service, including valve clearances – everything was in spec and looking good. The customer called us…

POSITIVE Rider-Team trust Despite there still being technical issues to resolve, Tommy Bridewell, who celebrated his 400th British Superbike start in race three, remains on side and committed to the Honda project. When asked by MCN if the trust is there, Bridewell was very clear… “Massively! Without the trust, what is there? We're fighting for podiums every weekend. A crucial point for me is that we've gone to Navarra, notoriously a Yamaha circuit, and we were the only ones fighting for a podium against them. “We've gone to Oulton and podiumed, and we've done the same here. That's three completely different styles of circuit, so we should look at this and go, ‘right, it looks like we've got a bike which can work in all conditions, hot, cold, heavy braking,…

TOP STORY Jason O'Halloran gave team boss Nigel Snook the best possible birthday present by claiming his first win as a Kawasaki rider at Donington Park. The Aussie came out on top in what can only be described as the best, most exciting, Bennetts British Superbike race in recent memory, one which saw O'Halloran battle hard against Glenn Irwin, Tommy Bridewell and Danny Kent, with the quartet producing 14 overtakes in the final two laps alone. O'Halloran managed to pull the pin at the right moment while the trio behind continued to scrap, and crossed the line to take victory for the first time since last October's trip to Donington. It's a significant moment for both rider and the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki team. For O'Halloran, the win means that…

WELCOM It's time for TT ’24 and it's just poised again, isn't it? Everyone is buzzing and I’ really excited. I'll be there, minding my own business, going off No1… and I'’e asked them all to go easy on me when they pass me! I'm in a good place, I've done loads of miles but I still put pressure on myself, I always have. Every rider does, no matter what they say. What we want though is a good fight at the front and there are lots of storylines. Michael matching Joey's victory tally would be great. He's accelerated away from me, I'm third now. I was happy to be second behind the greatest of all time. I was P2 behind Joey, now I'm P3 behind another Dunlop! Honda are…

McPINT SAYS… “You have to love Michael, he's won 25 TTsn and looks odds-on to overtake his uncle Joey to be the all-time greatest TT rider. “Anyone who achieves that is a compete and utter legend in my mind because I konw how hard it is to ride over long periods of time and win 23. He's past me now and he's done it in a very different way to me. I wouldn't have the skills or the patience to run my own team. Thinking about it, I've had my arse wiped- I just turn up in my camper and ride the bikes. “I don't know how he spins all those plaes. H runs his own stocker and has switches to Triumph for Super sport. “The way he does it…

McPINT SAYS… Watch the video www.youtube.com/@motorcyclenewsdotcom “Peter knows that BMW inside out and he's in his absolute prime. I think 35 to 40 is when you're in your prime at the TT. You know exactly where to go and when to push and when not to push. You understand how the bikes work, how to set them up and what people to have around you. The consistency with the package is there. I got to see him up close in the Senior when he passed me. When you're riding a Superbike you're threading the needle so when someone comes past you have nothing but respect. “Along with Michael and Dean, those three are the front runners and I know that by me saying that I'm going to be pissing a…

McPINT SAYS… “He was on the podium in every race last year which shows he has great consistency. Dean has got the biggest change compared to what he was used to with the change of team. The safe bet was the team he was in, but now he's come out of that and got the golden opportunity – so now he needs be closer and fight for the win. “Dean always does a good job. He gives it everything and doesn't leave any stone unturned, at the same time he's quite a chilled character and I like working with him. He's been doing some good training, he's lost a bit of weight, and he looks really well for it. “He looks happy, he's moved to the IoM. He's done testing…

MCN TT PREVIEW 2024 GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer ‘The Stocker's not easy to ride, but it is easier than the Superbike’ If Peter Hickman's 136.358mph lap wasn't impressive enough, the fact that he did it on a Superstock bike raises more questions than answers. Although the two classes are closely related, a Superbike should be faster. It has a more powerful engine, stiffer chassis and swingarm, top-spec suspension, improved weight distribution, brakes and electronics – it also costs the best part of £50k more to build. So why is the fastest-ever lap on a Superstock bike? And does anyone really need a Superbike? We spoke to the Isle of Man's fastest riders to understand what is going on… PETER HICKMAN…

The Triumph 765 has become the bike of choice at TT 2024 with top riders switching from Japanese machinery to the British powerhouse. For Peter Hickman it will be more of the same, having campaigned the Triumph since 2017 with plenty of success, including one win and eight further Supersport podiums. The big news for 2024 is that Michael Dunlop, the man who's won the last four Supersport TTs and became the first man to set a 130mph lap in the class, looks set to swap his proven Yamaha R6 for the Triumph. Dunlop is still down on the entry list riding an R6 but ran the Triumph at the North West 200. And in a surprising turn of events, if he does run the Triumph, it will be his…

KTM 990 Duke £12,999 | 947cc | 179kg (kerb) | 121bhp | 825mm seat height KTM have expanded the capacity of their middleweight naked from its previous 889cc to 947cc and created the all-new 990 Duke. It is claimed by the Austrian firm to be the lightest, sharpest and most performancefocused bike in its class, and after a quick blast on one you will be hard-pressed to argue against that sales pitch. While the motor retains the same parallel twin format as before, it is 96% new and power has been boosted by 7bhp to 121bhp through alterations to the internals. Naturally you get traction control, variable power modes and the like, but the big difference is how it lays down its grunt. The 990 engine is both explosive off…

Yamaha XSR900 GP £12,506 | 890cc | 200kg (kerb) | 117bhp | 810mm seat height Designed to evoke memories of a golden era in racing, the XSR900 GP is claimed by Yamaha to be the perfect blend of heritage racing style and the latest in cutting-edge tech. In short, this is a bike that looks amazing and goes like stink! Based around the XSR900, which itself is essentially an MT-09 given a retro look, the XSR900 GP may be a nostalgic trip down memory lane but under that beautiful 1980s-style fairing is a full-on bike that is so much fun to ride. Powered by the latest version of Yamaha's CP3 triple motor, the XSR makes a very healthy 117bhp and comes with variable power modes, angle-responsive safety assists, a TFT…

Suzuki V-Strom 800RE £9699 | 776cc | 223kg (kerb) | 83.1bhp | 825mm seat height New for 2024, the V-Strom 800RE is a road-focused version of the all-new middleweight adventurer. So where the DE has its eyes set on venturing off the beaten track, the RE is built to allow its owners to tour tarmac in comfort. Running a wider and smaller 19in front wheel rather than the DE's 21in item, the RE features shortertravel suspension, cast wheels, twin radially-mounted four-piston brake calipers, a lower seat height and enhanced weather protection. Suzuki haven't altered the parallel twin in any way, meaning it makes the same power and torque as the DE, ensuring that choosing the road-targeted bike doesn't feel like a downgrade. An excellent bike that as well as being…

April sales figures released by the Motorcycle Industry Association show that registrations are on the rise. Compared to the same month a year earlier, battery sales have increased overall by 23.2% across all categories – climbing from 336 in 2023 to 414 in April of this year. This figure is dwarfed by 9546 petrol-powered combustion bikes registered in the same period. Across April, the biggest electric category for growth was A2-ready machines, greater than or equal to 35kW (47bhp). Here, there was a 525% increase compared with April 2023 – but in truth it actually represents a climb from a lowly four to 25 registrations.…

SAVE £4000 £19,499 Honda Fireblade SP Unapologetically aimed squarely at trackday enthusiasts and racers alike, the Blade SP is a demon in the corners, offering sweet handling no matter how hard you push. In a straight line, 215 rampaging horses propel you along at warp speed. In short, it's fast, very fast – and it should sell fast too, with this superb deal. suttonmotorcycles.com SAVE £1100 £5299 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 One of the best-value bikes on sale today just got a even more affordable. Fit and finish rival much more premium bikes and the ride is excellent. smalleycross.co.uk ∙ Engine 648cc ●Power 47bhp ●Weight 202kg ●Seat height 806mm SAVE £1050 £18.250 BMW R1300GS Still the king of adventure bikes, the R1300GS packs more clever tech than its predecessor and…

THIS WEEK Police are seeking the owners of several off-road motorcycles and a quadbike, after they were seized by officers during a recent operation in Merseyside. The force recovered the stolen machines after following multiple lines of enquiry, stating that they believe they could have been taken during recent burglaries and robberies in the area. Images have now been released on social media in a bid to reunite them with their rightful owners. The motocrossers consist of a Husqvarna, Yamaha and Kawasaki, with none yet confirmed as being returned. They were recovered on May 2, with a 20- and 18-year-old male arrested alongside two females, aged 15 and 29. All were detained on suspicion of handling stolen goods and drugs offences. Alongside the petrol-powered recoveries, the force also recovered a…

GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership have confirmed to MCN that speed cameras erected near to the popular biker haunt of Willingham Woods have not been in operation since their installation last year. Installed as part of a £3 million road safety fund, the cameras are situated along the A631, a stretch of road that has been described by Simon Outen-Coe of the partnership as “having a higher-than-average number of collisions resulting in personal injury”. Reportedly, a difficulty in supplying power to the cameras is what is holding back operations. “The rural nature of the location has caused some delays,” Outen-Coe confirmed. “We were told it would be in the next few weeks, but that could be…

Armr Kumaji 3.0 gloves £49.99 Keeping your digits warm and dry when the weather conspires otherwise can be a challenge at any time of year. The new Kumaji 3.0 is armed with a waterproof membrane and fleece lining to ensure that they do, and packs a CE 1 KP punch for protection too. They're a textile construction with goat leather reinforcements and touchscreen finger tips for your devices. oxfordproducts.com NEXX X,WST3 from £329.99 The latest addition to Portuguese helmet manufacturer NEXX's 2024 range is the streetfighter-inspired X.WST3. It's available as either a multi-composite or carbon version and has a unique vibration dampening layer between the inner and outer EPS. Other innovations include spring-loaded side plates which create an air-tight seal between visor and beading. nexx-helmet.co.uk Oxford Filterbuds (small) £19.99 Accessory…

Q ‘What can I say in court?’ A few weeks ago I was caught speeding on a weekend ride. The road was a bit damp as it had been raining that morning, but otherwise the conditions were sunny and fine. The recorded speed was 69mph on a 50mph road. There was not much traffic at the time and the road conditions weren't dangerous. I responded to the police confirming it was me riding and received a reply saying that due to the speed it will go to court. I've joined an advanced riding group to try to help me in the case. Do you have any tips on what I can do to limit the penalty? I haven't had points since 2017. Gary W, email A The court will look…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday May 22 BIKE MEETS ■ Amici Coffee Biker Night, Sandy, Bedfordshire www.amicicoffee.co.uk ■ Sycamore Cafe, Great Billing, Northamptonshire, 4pm 9pm /www.facebook.com/SycamoreForestCatering ■ The King Billy Rock Bar, Northampton, 6.30pm Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ Seaways, Fridaythorpe East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ English Riviera Bike Night, Eastern Esplanade, Paignton, Devon Facebook: English Riviera Bike Night ■ Chequered Flag, Liskeard 7pm Facebook: Chequered Flag SW ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm ■ Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey…

£11,990* BMW R12 £14,495* Harley-Davidson Nightster Special…

Although the Blackbird rendered the previous speed king, the ZZ-R1100, obsolete, besting it not just for power, but lightness, aerodynamic efficiency, stability and more, the fact that the Kawasaki had reigned for six years from 1990 to 1996 bears testament to its excellence. That success was no accident. A successor itself to the flawed 1988-1990 ZX-10, the ZZ-R not only had more cubes (1052 from 997cc) but a new ram air system which together boosted power by 10bhp to 147bhp, an allnew, more stable frame, more aerodynamic bodywork, better brakes and more – enough to not only top 174mph but also to prove a stable, sweet handling sports-tourer. No wonder it took Honda so long……

TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF THEIR RIDING KIT 3 months ON TEST Having spent my trials bike riding youth having to change my own tyres it's not something I'm unfamiliar with, but that doesn't mean I enjoy it. In fact I'd go further and say I dislike it. Chasing wheels across the garage floor, damaging rims and smashing knuckles is most definitely not one of my favourite pastimes. But if you're an adventure or off-road rider tyre choice is everything, so having the ability to change your own tyres is a huge bonus… and also quite empowering. This Rabaconda kit is designed to take all of the grief, sweat and tears out tyre changing and when I saw the videos for it boasting about ‘three-minute tyre changes’ I honestly thought…

Garibaldi have done a fantastic job of encapsulating the best of cool 70s style while keeping the spec high. The G07X has a lightweight shell and is certified to ECE22:06, the interior has a soft material lining that is comfortable and removable, plus washable cheek pads. It is also spectacle-friendly as well as having space to accommodate intercom speakers. The Pinlock-ready visor is a hefty 3mm thick, ratchet-free type so can be opened to suit you, or locked down by a single catch on the left-hand side. There are five vents on the front, two on the chin and three above the visor and the matt black finish is the icing on the cake. I love it! Quality Value saltflatsclothing.co.uk 1250 miles ON TEST…

Gone are the days when a bike's battery was just plain old lead-acid. Now, many modern performance-orientated models come with a lithium-ion battery as standard – examples include Honda's Africa Twin Adventure Sport and CBR1000RR-R, and Ducati's Monster SP. The benefit of this technology is weight-saving – a lithium-ion battery is usually about two-thirds lighter than a traditional lead-acid one. They generally have a longer lifespan too, provided they're cared-for correctly. These fitments require a dedicated charger or conditioner specifically designed for use with lithium-type batteries. And you must never try to jumpstart them, either – doing so can destroy them. In this week's How To we're using a Ctek CT5 Powersport charger (£75), which has programmes for charging both lithium and lead-acid batteries. Just one button toggles and selects…

Triple threat You wouldn't bet against the Catalan Grand Prix being dominated by Jorge Martin, Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez. The trio have been a class apart from the rest of the field in the previous two rounds, and have treated fans to some fantastic battles throughout. Martin holds a 38-point advantage in the standings and continues to dominate over a single lap and in the sprint races. He was third in the GP race here last season. Meanwhile, Bagnaia will have some demons to overcome this weekend, given that Barcelona was the scene of his horrendous incident last year. Bagnaia's leg was run over by Binder on the opening lap after the reigning champion highsided at turn two. Thankfully, he somehow avoided serious injury. Many believe Marquez would have…

Leon Haslam made a British Superbike breakthrough at his home round by bagging a pair of podiums having overcome early season electronic issues with his BMW. Haslam was almost glued to the back of Glenn Irwin in the battle for victory in race two but was unable to launch an attack. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ also had to overcome brake issues in Saturday's opener, with the bike typically difficult to stop. “It boils the brakes over so you must try and keep the brakes as cool as you can,” Haslam said. “If you're too aggressive early on, it sends them over the top. I can't be unhappy though; not only is it two podiums, but we were battling for the win in those races and that's a real positive.” Haslam continues…

Glenn Irwin showcased why he and the Hager PBM Ducati team are sitting at the top of the championship after turning a rough start into a celebratory finish. Irwin struggled throughout Friday and Saturday, finishing race one sixth from eighth on the grid after a challenging Superpole lap. Sunday was a different story with complete domination in the sprint outing followed by a stunning fight for supremacy in the finale, during which he finished fourth. Irwin was arguably happier with his fourth place finish than he was winning the sprint. Aside from the great turnaround, perhaps, partly, it's also because he played his part in a such a sensational battle in front of the Donington fans. “We had a massive, massive problem with the bike,” Irwin said. “Friday and Saturday…

You can watch every session and every race live thanks to TT+ where you'll have access to all the action and insight for two weeks. Go to: https://ttplus.iomttraces.com Free Practice & Qualifying 1 Monday, May 27 Qualifying 2 Tuesday, May 28 Qualifying 3 Wednesday, May 29 Qualifying 4 Thursday, May 30 Qualifying 5 Friday, May 31 RACE WEEK Race Day 1 Saturday, June 1 Race Day 2 Sunday, June 2 Race Day 3 Tuesday, June 4 Race Day 4 Wednesday, June 5 Race Day 5 Friday, June 7 Race Day 6 Saturday, June 8…

JOHN McGUINNESS When John McGuinness gets the tap on his shoulder on Sunday June 2 to kick off the Superbike TT, the No.1 plated factory Honda rider will be making his 109th TT start in a career that has spanned three decades. And so rich is the content, you could make a movie from his TT achievements. From fresh-faced rookie through to serial winner and history maker, it's been some journey – and now as an elder statesman McGuinness remains completely in love with the sport that has defined his life. But ever the realist, the 23-time TT winner – and the first man to lap the course at over 130mph back in 2007 – knows that his chances of notching up more wins are probably over… even though he…

DAVEY TODD If results heading into the TT are anything to go by then Davey Todd is the 2024 danger man. Seemingly in the form of his life, it's been hard to keep him off the podium this year. From British Supersport where he was only supposed to be testing his new Powertoolmate Ducati through to wins at the North West 200, the 28-year-old will touch down on the Isle of Man in a very good place. A big factor has been the switch from Honda to BMW, a move that saw him leave Padgett's with whom he won the British Superstock title in 2022 and join the equally prestigious TAS Racing team. “Getting on that bike is a big statement,” he said. “I gel with the BMW, not saying…

IAN HUTCHINSON Over the years Ian Hutchinson has been called ‘the miracle man’ and there is no question it's a deserving title – whether it's from his history-making five TT wins in a week or the horrific career-ending injuries he's fought back from to win again. In terms of injuries he's been there and done that. But just when you thought it was all going well he was dealt another blow when he suffered a stroke and was ruled out of the 2023 TT. Most ordinary folk would have given up a long time ago, but Hutchy's resilience is on another level – and for 2024 he's back having signed to race for Padgett's Honda, the team where he's enjoyed career-defining success. Now aged 44, he's is one of the…

TT PREVIEW 2024 SUPERBIKE, SUPERSTOCK AND SENIOR TT 1 John McGuinness Honda Racing UK, Honda 2 Jamie Coward KTS Racing Powered by Steadplan, Honda 3 Dean Harrison Honda Racing UK, Honda 4 Ian Hutchinson Milenco by Padgett's Motorcycles, Honda 5 James Hillier WTF Racing, Honda 6 Michael Dunlop Hawk Racing Honda 7 Josh Brookes Monster Energy BMW by FHO Racing, BMW 8 Davey Todd Milwaukee BMW Motorrad, BMW 9 Craig Neve Bathams Ales, Honda 10 Peter Hickman Monster Energy BMW by FHO Racing, BMW 11 Conor Cummins Milenco by Padgett's Motorcycles, Honda 12 David Johnson Platinum Club Racing Kawasaki, Kawasaki 13 Lee Johnston Ashcourt Racing, (Non starter) 14 Michael Rutter Bathams Ales, BMW* 15 Rob Hodson SMT Racing, Honda 16 Dominic Herbertson Burrows Engineering by RK Racing, BMW 17 Gary…

Hot pick If you don't favour the ‘graffiti’ graphic look, the Hypermotard 698 Mono comes in plain red for £11,167. Adding a quickshifter (standard on the RVE) will cost you £242.35. Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono RVE £12,067 | 659cc | 151kg (wet) | 76.4bhp | 904mm seat height We love the fact that Ducati have released a bike that, let's be honest, is completely impractical and essentially just a two-wheeled toy. But who cares? We absolutely adore the new Hypermotard for the fact it is so focused on being entertaining and fun. Powered by the all-new Superquadro Mono motor (basically a 1299 Panigale motor minus a cylinder) the Hypermotard makes an impressive 76.4bhp with 46.5lb.ft of torque and features titanium valves, a desmo system and stacks of attitude. And all…

Hot pick While the SE adds a few bolt-ons and brighter colour options, there is nothing wrong with the base bike and if you like your Ninjas to be black and not green, you will save £500 by not opting for the SE. Kawasaki Ninja 500 SE £6188 | 451cc | 171kg (kerb) | 44.8bhp | 785mm seat height Kawasaki's mini-Ninja machines have always been strong sellers and the demise of the Ninja 400 was seen as quite a blow. At least until news of the Ninja 500 arrived. This A2-ready middleweight looks set to take over from where the 400 left off and draw a whole new generation into the Ninja dynasty. Powered by a water-cooled parallel twin making a very healthy, and A2-legal, 44.8bhp with 31.4lb.ft of torque,…

Suzuki GSX-S1000GX £14,799 | 999cc | 232kg (kerb) | 150bhp | 845mm seat height At first glance it is easy to assume the new GSX-S1000GX is simply a GSX-S1000GT with longer-travel suspension, a more upright riding position and a bit of new bodywork. But dig a bit deeper into this crossover bike's spec list and you quickly discover it's so much more than that. Not only is the GX the first GSX-S model to feature an IMU to allow it to run angleresponsive safety assists, it is also the first Suzuki ever to have semi-active suspension. Called Suzuki Advanced Electronic Suspension (SAES), the system has an automatic self-levelling feature that responds to bumps as well as acceleration and deceleration. Clever stuff, but there is also something wonderfully old-school about the…

It's with enormous shock, and profound sadness that we have to report that Chris Dabbs, who was a journalist and editor at EMAP / Bauer for 37 years, has died. Chris joined Motor Cycle News on January 5, 1987 and launched into a stellar career on the titles in EMAP's biking portfolio, working initially on MCN. Chris's ten-year road testing career on MCN started with liquid-cooling and turbos; covered the RD and RG500, anti-dive and 16-inch front wheels; wrestling around GSX-R1100s and EXUPs; wringing the neck of 250 and 400cc grey imports and sampling the delights of race-replicas like the sublime RC30, with the arrival of the first-generation FireBlade book-ending those hectic years. In July 1993, Chris suffered a road accident that put him in a wheelchair for life, and…

Ducati have unveiled a special edition body kit for their £9995 Scrambler Icon retro naked, which will be limited to just 50 units worldwide. Available through dealers as an optional extra priced at €690 plus VAT (which would work out at around £710), the special interchangeable panelling adds striking flashes of colour to the fuel tank, side panels and front headlight surround. These provide contrast to the silver sides of the machine's tank and engine shrouds, which are common to every Icon colour option. Sitting alongside a Full Throttle and Nightshift option sharing the same 803cc air-cooled V-twin, producing a claimed 72.2bhp engine, all three were celebrated in a European ‘Next-Gen Tour’ series early last year – something Ducati say helped inspire the new limited edition accessory. ‘The design team…

A lucky MCN reader has bagged himself a brandnew Suzuki GSX-8S – completely free of charge simply by carrying out an insurance quote with MCN Compare. Devon-based locksmith Chris Davison won the competition after signing up while quote hunting for his current bikes. “I got a call from a withheld number, normally I'd leave it, but I was expecting a call from the bank that day so answered by chance. Safe to say, I'm glad I picked up the phone!” Chris recalled. “When I got the news, I thought it was a wind-up or even a scam at first. I've never won anything in my life. I'm over the moon.” After collecting his new machine on Friday, May 10, Chris managed a short ride before bad weather brought play to…

Alongside the work in Merseyside, officers from the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Policing Team in Sussex discovered a number of potentially stolen motorbikes in a garage in April. The recovered bikes included a Yamaha MT-125 plus a scooter and two other bikes. A force spokesperson said: “We are aware motorcycle theft has been an issue for a number of areas across the district in the last few months, and we would like to reassure communities that both our patrols and investigations continue in areas reported by local communities.”…

Ducati fans will descend on Misano this July for World Ducati Week 2024 and you could join the party on Italy's beautiful Adriatic coast by entering this exclusive MCN reader competition. You could be jumping on your bike and following the red tide to Italy's motorcycling heartland, then enjoying three days of celebrations at the World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, on July 26-28. The 12th edition of this biennial event promises demo rides, live music, DJ sets, custom shows, activities, as well as exclusive access to Ducati's ‘closed room’ where a brand new model will be revealed for the very first time. ‘It's a non-stop celebration of Ducati’ Not only that, but you'll be also able to witness all Ducati's champions battle it out in the Race of Champions. Then you…

‘Do I stand out or join the crowd?’ I was treating my wife and kid to a posh meal out (McDonalds at the local services…) when I spotted something in the car park that made be think. There was a group of riders, four if memory serves, and they all had the same bike. Well, near enough the same bike: they were all either on a Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX or a Z1000SX. I don't enjoy riding in a group; and anyway, because most of my mates work in the twowheeled industry, we don't meet up for a ride because it would be a busman's holiday. But if I did, would I want us to be on identical machines? With my sensible head on, I suppose that if a mate had…

1 May 22-26 Mach 2024 The last ever Mach Festival takes place this weekend with performances from Rick Wakeman, great food, cool vibes, and a setting like no other! £115 for the full fest. www.machfestival.co.uk 2 May 25 Margate Meltdown The annual run from London's Ace Cafe to Margate kicks off from the Ace at 10.30am or you can make your own way. london.acecafe.com 3 May 25-26 Belstaff: ‘Our first 100 years’ Back in their hometown of Stoke-on-Trent, Belstaff are holding an exhibition at the Gladstone Pottery Museum this weekend. Tickets are £11. belstaff.eventcube.io 4 May 27 Revved Up's Festival of Harley The seaside tea bar in Walton on the Naze (CO14 8AT) is hosting a festival of Harley on bank holiday Monday time to line the seafront with V-twins.…

Moto Union What? Bikes converge for a gathering of amazing metal Where? South of England Showground RH17 6TL When? May 26 motounion.co.uk Ashford Classic Motorcycle Show & Autojumble What? A show and motorcycle jumble to get your projects underway. Tickets are £6 for 10am entry, £10 for 8am entry Where? Ashford Livestock Market, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0HB When? May 27 www.elk-promotions.co.uk Bideford Bike Show What? Stacks of amazing metal from times past and present and plenty of trophies to be won. Runs from 12pm-5pm and costs £3 per bike or trike Where? Bideford Quay, North Devon, EX39 2HW When? May 26 www.bidefordbikeshow.org…

250 MILE ROAD TEST ∙ THE HOTTEST BIKES ∙ EVERY WEEK £11,990 (£15,695 as tested) BMW R12 ● 1170cc oil/aircooled boxer twin ● 95bhp @6500rpm ● 227kg (kerb) £14,495 (£14,895 as tested) Harley-Davidson Nightster Special ● 975cc liquid-cooled 4v V-twin ● 89bhp @7500rpm ● 225kg (kerb) BMW can't stop shooting at the US cruiser heavyweights, Harley and Indian. First with the R18 and now with the new R12. But this time it's different. Where the R18 was an all-new, air-cooled, boxer take on the US V-twin theme, the R12 (effectively a smaller, entry-level brother to the R18), is a more subtle variation of an existing model. In this case the recently updated R12 nineT. Different wheels, riding position, a retuned engine, renamed riding modes and more are intended to give…

‘The world's changed…’ The point of this test was to find out whether BMW's new R12 was a credible cruiser and what you get for your money. As it turned out, the cruiser world has changed so ultimately you need to ask yourself ‘How much cruiser do you want?’ On face value, the Harley Nightster Special is the definitive cruiser benchmark – and it performs pretty well. Trouble is, to get to its 89bhp in a Euro-satisfying way, it's lost its definitive looks, needs revs to pump out that power, its build quality isn't brilliant and it's constructed in Thailand. Or, as co-tester Paul put it more succinctly into a one-liner: “It's a bit underwhelming.” But the R12 is no true cruiser, either. Instead, it's a slightly more laid-back R12…

‘You can't stop smiling' For city riding a 125-equivalent electric bike, like the Maeving RM1S makes a lot of sense and it's fun and easy to get on with, too. The British machine is light, agile, smooth and with its 14bhp motor, is quick enough to keep up with traffic in central London 20mph limits and dual carriageways alike. It has an 80-mile range, which is more than enough for the kind of trips you'd do on this type of bike and easy to charge with the option of being able to remove its twin batteries, or plug in at home or office. Maeving have clearly had a lot of fun with the RM1S's design, which shines through and can't help but put a smile on your face on the…

1950 miles ON TEST There's nothing I hate more than that boil-in-the-bag feeling you endure with some wet weather gear, which traps condensation and leaves you almost as damp on the inside as you would have got from riding in the rain. That's not been the case with this Touratech Rain Suit Storm, which is made from ‘Hydratex Lite’, a material that is not only waterproof but breathable, giving it the kind of performance usually reserved for high end Gore-Tex gear. I've worn it for an eight-hour stretch over an armoured hoodie and jeans through relentless rain along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, and peeled it off at my destination to wander straight into the bar bone dry. It's lightweight and flexible, with a mesh-lined jacket for comfort, and packs neatly…

I'm a big fan of SW-Motech luggage and their wide range of model-specific luggage. However, this particular tail bag is universal and I took it with me on a week-long trip to Budapest and back on a Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST. As the Harley had panniers, this bag was ideal as it didn't overhang on to the seat – and I've since been able to use it on a number of other bikes without a problem. It is well made and after nearly 4000 miles of hard riding through all types of weather, it stills looks as good as new. The zips still work effectively, and the inner liner has proved to be waterproof. But even when I've been caught out in light showers without the liner, the outer has…

‘You're balancing cornering forces, weight transfer and even suspension’ Dave's done a 123mph lap of the TT, rides an Aprilia Tuono V4 on the road, and is crew chief for Rapid Honda's British Superbike Welcome to the fourth instalment of MCN's Riding Masterclass series. This week, the experts at Rapid Training discuss throttle control, which is responsible for much more than just acceleration. It also affects weight transfer, suspension movement and grip, which makes it crucial for fluid, fast, safe cornering… Corners are where it's at Of course, we all use the throttle in a straight line, but this is generally pretty simple. Advanced riders will often talk about using ‘acceleration sense’ to describe using the throttle alone to match road conditions as you ride along, but in reality this…

Let's get started Give your bike's battery a boost so you can get back on your way BRUCE'S TIPS Big V-twins need a battery with max amperage to turn the engine over 1 Better than cure… A flat battery can occur because the battery is nearing the end of its life and is struggling to maintain charge – and it's worth pointing out that cheaper batteries will fail much quicker than some of the leading brands. Having a remote charge lead to the battery and connected to a charger is the only way to maintain a battery in peak condition. 2 How low can it go? If your bike turns over slowly and won't start, it doesn't always mean the battery is knackered. Often the bike's alarm, immobiliser or tracking device can…

They'll still be checking the stopwatches in Catalunya this weekend – in spite of the assurances, following the news of MotoGP's forthcoming new goslow regulations, that speed and lap times in racing don't matter. Starting in 2027, the world's raciest prototypes will have smaller engines, less aero, no fossil fuels and no ride height adjustments. Racing will be greener, safer, and (we're told) just as exciting. But slower. As no less an authority than Marc Marquez has vouchsafed: numbers like mph and lap times don't really matter. It's the action that counts. And of course he's right – up to a point. I'm reminded of the motto of the long-ago Moto Morini 3½ series: “Why hurry a good race?” But there is a reason to, and the swoopy Montmelo circuit…

Donington is just iconic and we had good weather and there were loads of fans and families. And in the racing we had Honda, Ducati, Yamaha and Kawasaki fighting for the win. It shows how BSB have got the rules right. You just need the BMW in there. I thought the racing was hard but fair. From our point of view at Honda a week before the TT, we were getting a bit nervous. The 2024 bike is so early in its development, but we ended up with three bikes in the points with Tommy on the podium in every race. The problems have been documented, but it seems they are going away and myself and Dean are smiling from ear to ear because we're going to the ‘big’ track…

WELCOME Planning on some biking adventures in summer 2024? How about making them even bettter with a new machine? And there are some hot deals as the latest PCP offers are an easy way to own a new, or nearly new, bike. The overall outlay is less with PCP, just as long as you don't pay the final settlement figure. Equally, if you want to change machine during the contract period that's easy, too. Despite what you might think, there are affordable routes to ownership. Just look at the likes of the latest Suzuki GSX-8S on p4. It could be in your garage for £75 per month with an APR of 4.9%. Or how about the BMW F900R for a wallet friendly £50.71 per month? With a bit of careful…

BMW M1000R £19,870 | 999cc | 199kg (kerb) | 207bhp | 830mm seat height BMW Motorrad's ‘M’ models are very special bikes and if you want to roll up on a super-naked that will put most superbikes to shame when it comes to performance, the M1000R is for you. This full-on super-naked is one serious proposition. Powered by BMW's M engine, the M1000R takes the S1000R as a base and ramps it up another level. Unlike the S R, the M R's inline four features BMW's ShiftCam system, giving a stack more midrange, while altered internals see it pushing out over 200bhp and hitting 14,600rpm. Not only that, it even runs lower gearing and has a barking Akrapovic exhaust. Helping harness this excess of performance is a chassis that once…