Table of contents for 9 October 2024 in MCN

Three-wheeled adventurers, The Sidecar Guys, have announced plans to break another Guinness World Record. This time around, the duo are aiming to trump the longest distance covered by motorcycle and sidecar in reverse – in one go. On October 26 the pair will head to Tranwell Airfield near Newcastle-upon-Tyne for the attempt, which will see them reverse a Ural Gear Up, continuously, for approximately 12 hours to beat the record which stands at 106 miles. Drinks will be served for spectators throughout the day and there will even be the chance to try three wheels out yourself. After they've finished ‘reversing into the record books’, a party will take place back at Sidecar HQ. Spectator tickets start at £5, with more information to be found at sidecarexperience.co.uk now. Fresh Suzuki…

‘It now features lean-sensitive ABS and TC’ Triumph have updated their popular Trident 660 naked for 2025, bestowing the middleweight machine with a host of technical changes, a fresh selection of colour choices and most impressively, no price hike - with the triple still coming in at £7895. Available in dealers from December, the refreshed Trident retains the same simple yet sophisticated formula as before, meaning it should be as adept as ever for a broad range of riders, from beginners to the most experienced – a quality noted by our female road testers who named it our 2024 WoMCN Bike of the Year. It truly is a bike that's all things to all riders and just as comfortable on the daily commute as it is scratching down back roads.…

Honda have pulled the covers off their updated Forza 750 maxi scooter for 2025, promising enhanced spec, revised riding modes and a fresh lick of paint. As before, it's powered by a punchy 745cc parallel twin engine, producing a claimed 57.8bhp at 6750rpm, and 50.9lb.ft of torque at 4750rpm. This can be limited to 47bhp to meet A2 requirements and comes equipped with Honda's semi-automatic DCT gearbox. Equipped with a ride-by-wire throttle, you get three standard riding modes (plus a customisable User mode), and three levels of traction control (otherwise known as Honda Selectable Torque Control). This is updated for 2025 with a revised Rain mode, which provides the lowest level of engine power and braking, with the highest traction intervention on slippery surfaces. ‘There's a customisable User mode’ There…

A GoFundMe campaign is aiming to raise £70,000 to save a Scottish cottage steeped in historical significance for America's most famous motorcycle brand. The stone dwelling in Angus, which has been earmarked for demolition, was the home of Alexander Davidson and his wife before the couple and their family emigrated to America in 1857. The couple's son, William C. Davidson, was father of William A. Davidson who co-founded HarleyDavidson with Bill Harley in 1903. The campaign to save the cottage and its legacy is being spearheaded by the Davidson Legacy Preservation Group, who are behind the ambitious GoFundMe bid. “The Davidson legacy cottage is more than just a house,” explained Nyree Aitken, DLC Volunteer Project Coordinator. “It's a tangible connection to the rich heritage of the Davidson family and HarleyDavidson…

Pyramid Radiator Guard for Moto Guzzi Stelvio £59.99 Radiators can be easily damaged and they're incredibly expensive to replace, so it makes good sense to fit extra protection. Pyramid have a whole range of model-specific rad guards, including this tough aluminium unit for the V100 Stelvio. It's supplied in a textured matt black finish and includes fittings. pyramidmoto.co.uk Laser Ratchet Flare Nut Wrench Set £173.43 A crow's foot wrench is one of those tools you never knew you needed – until you do. These stainless steel devices are designed for use on components that aren't accessible using conventional sockets, such as wired sensors, hydraulic pipe unions and compression joints. lasertools.co.uk Oxford Folding Ramp £119.99 Make getting your bike in and out of a van a breeze with this lightweight, stainless…

Aerodynamic appendages first properly appeared in MotoGP in 2015 on the GP15 as Ducati trialled various aero solutions on their Desmo but it wasn't until the next season that aero ‘wings’ were permanently attached to the company's GP16. This bike featured not only a nose-mounted front wing but also side-mounted wings with the ‘biplane’ configuration deployed at certain tracks. Since then we have seen ‘stegosaurus’ tail units, spoilers on the tail, spoilers on the mudguard, swingarm-mounted aero (both side and underslung) and now ground-effect fairings. Despite aero-limiting rule changes being introduced for the 2027 season, it's here to stay.…

Q MCN reader John Barton emailed in to ask: “Is Tom Cruise really as into bikes as he appears?” A “The answer is yes, he definitely is and he is such a good rider, fast and very skilful. I was very lucky to chat with him briefly at Rockingham when we were testing equipment and he was very interesting and knowledgeable about bikes. We also got to ride some fast laps on BMW S1000RRs at Bedford Autodrome and you could see that Tom was not only fast but also completely in his element. He genuinely loves motorbikes, and I think this is fantastic! I personally always love any part of a film that has motorcycles in it and Tom generally makes sure there is a bike in there somewhere. I…

October 11-13 Weston Beach Race Weston-super-Mare seafront will be transformed into a six-mile circuit this weekend for the 41st time. Weekend tickets are £50, day tickets £25. rhlactivities.com Oct 13 Straightliners Straightliners head to Santa Pod for their championship finals, Run What Ya Brung and Sprintstalgia this weekend. Sunday admission is £21. straightliners.events October 12-13 Classic show Stafford County Showground is playing host to hundreds of trade stalls and a cracking autojumble exclusively catered for classic bikes. www.staffordclassicbikeshows.com October 13 Brit Vs meet The Ace (NW10 7UD) is hosting Vincents and Velocettes this Sunday as a special for their classic bike day. Head on down and gawp over gorgeous machines and grab a bite too. london.acecafe.com…

‘Half a million views on YouTube’ The golden era of supersports 400s reached its zenith in 1991. In addition to the RGV and KR-1S, Kawasaki imported their four-stroke ZXR400, joining Honda's VFR400R and Yamaha's FZR400RR-SP. On track, Supersport 400 racing peaked at both the TT and on short circuits. The highlight of the latter was arguably the British championship round at Oulton in which Carl Fogarty, on a VFR400R before switching to superbikes, and James Whitham on an RGV, had the almightiest of ding-dongs. The race became a YouTube sensation, gaining over half a million views since 2007, and was recently fondly remembered by Whitham. “I didn't know 20 years after I raced against Carl Fogarty on one it would be all over the net. I already knew it was…

I've spent the summer putting the CVO Pan America through all sorts of off-road abuse, from gravel tracks and muddy ruts to sandy trails and overgrown green lanes, and it has barely broken a sweat - unlike its intrepid pilot who has discovered more than a few new muscles as a result of beasting such a big bike about. It really has performed magnificently though and left me looking like I've just finished the Dakar after every offroad ride – a key aspect of adventure bike ownership! Despite all that off-piste fun, the majority of miles to date have been on the commute, a punishing 100-mile round trip that takes in everything from bumpy tarmac tracks across the Fens to busy A-roads and fast flowing dual carriageways. This has really…

£3000-£5000 (1999-2007) Happy to sit at ballistic speeds all day, its performance is remarkable and there is nothing quite as exciting as watching the speedo and rev counter needles racing one another to the redline when you accelerate. Far from just a one-trick pony, the Busa's massive midrange makes it a relaxing bike to cruise around on and one that is a tall screen away from being a decent sports tourer. BUYER BEWARE ● If you want a 220mph speedo, buy a 1999 or 2000 bike as in 2001 a 186mph speed restrictor was fitted alongside a new speedo whose numbers stop at 180mph. ● In 2002 Suzuki fitted a stronger steel subframe after reports of cracking. Although rare, always inspect the mounting points and welds on older models. ●…

£1500-7000 (1996-2007) Honda's Blackbird always erred on the side of refinement rather than outright performance and survives the test of time better than the Busa or Ninja. A beautifully engineered bike that owners adore, it's as happy sitting at 150mph on an Autobahn as it is carving through a twisty Alpine pass. Effortless to ride thanks to a super-smooth inline four and relaxed riding position, it won't let you down. BUYER BEWARE ● Always inspect the diagnostic plug (located just off the main loom under the tank) as on early fuelinjected bikes it can corrode. ● Listen for a rattle on start-up that hints at a worn camchain tensioner. It's the Blackbird's only major foible and needs changing every 20,000 miles. Stick to an OE part. ● The original generation…

The scene is set… Round 11 of 12 of the 2024 World Superbike series takes place this weekend in Estoril, just outside the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. Due to its close proximity to the Atlantic and its positioning on high ground, crosswinds are a given and the threat of rain is never far away. With the track not scheduled to be on the 2025 calendar, this weekend also marks Estoril's first appearance since early 2022 and one of the most eventful encounters of recent years; it culminated with Jonathan Rea's ride to beat Bautista; this remains Rea's most recent dry weather win. In terms of the championship the three contenders for the 2024 title all have the potential to become history makers. If it's an incredible comeback for Alvaro Bautista,…

The road to a championship always involves a few curveballs. Ai Ogura was certainly thrown one of the biggest of his career when faced with starting his home GP on a wet track. Yet the track never stayed wet for long during the previous day's showers and against his own judgement, he followed crew chief Norman Rank's orders. Nine riders gambled on slicks and the 23-yearold was one of them. Yet his gamble appeared inspired as he finished second to first-time winner Manuel Gonzalez, also on slicks. “This was huge,” said Ogura. “The team really pushed me to make this decision!” Pole sitter Jake Dixon soon realised his wet tyre choice wasn't the way to go. Having burnt up his rear tyre after three laps, he struggled to 13th.…

WELCOME New bike reveal season has officially started, and because of Euro5+ coming into effect next year, we're most likely to see tweaks to models rather than complete overhauls. With emissions regs effectively putting a limit on engine performance, manufacturers now appear to be using electronics as a way of enticing buyers to purchase the latest, greatest model. Such is the case with Triumph's Trident 660, which from 2025 will now have a two-way quickshifter, IMU-controlled rider aids and more (but, refreshingly, without an increase to its price). But while that's all well and good, wouldn't it be wonderful to see some proper mechanical innovation again? Look back into the recent past and it's been Yamaha who have been at the leading edge of creating some groundbreaking, if not ultimately…

Kawasaki's first Z1000SX came way back in 2011 and was a fully faired sporty road bike, built around the now discontinued Z1000 super-naked machine. Up until this latest 1100 update, all models have used a 1043cc four-cylinder engine. In 2014, the gen one was replaced with a sparkly new model, including new Tokico brake calipers, stiffer suspension, two power modes, three levels of traction control, small revisions to the intake cam's lift and duration, thicker seat padding, and more. In 2017, the SX was given the lean-sensitive IMU from the ZX-10R for cornering ABS and traction control. There was also a new shock linkage that dropped seat height to 815mm, as well as damping changes. Then, in 2020, the bike became the Ninja 1000SX, standing largely unchanged until the end…

Ducati have given their retro Scrambler range a reshuffle for the year ahead with two new models, one of which gives their existing Full Throttle a cosmetic refresh, while the second introduces an entirely new Scrambler model, called the Icon Dark, into the mix. The Icon Dark will see its dealer release this month, but the newly enhanced Full Throttle will have to wait until December to be let loose on British roads. The current Scrambler crop starts from £9995 but the new Icon Dark comes in slightly cheaper at £9495. Meanwhile the more premium Full Throttle will be £11,195. The new models come as Ducati look to adjust their manufacturing strategy to suit a market seeking more affordable machines – while still maintaining their line-up of premium offerings too.…

‘We can get 20 bikes for the cost of one Land Cruiser’ Riders for Health – who use bikes to help save lives in Africa – have spoken to MCN about multiple successes throughout 2024, as well as ambitious goals for the year ahead, including plans to standardise their fleet as part of a deal with Yamaha. The project uses motorcycles to transport aid workers around hard-to-reach areas of the continent, providing communities with access to vital medical care. Not only that, but by making use of plentiful small and affordable motorcycles, the organisation can spread healthcare staff over a larger area than the traditional model of using expensive four-wheel drives. Riders for Health maintain operations in The Gambia, Nigeria and Lesotho with a fleet of over 600 motorcycles -…

Kawasaki have issued a safety recall for their Z7 Hybrid and Ninja 7 Hybrid models. Affected bikes have an ECU issue which could cause problems with the electronic gearchange system. Kawasaki say: “There is the potential for the motorcycle to shift to neutral when the operator attempts to shift from first to second gear due to improper programming of the shift control system.” The fix is a software update and not mechanical. The rotary club Norton's first ever production F1R race bike will go under the hammer during an upcoming H&H Classic auction at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, on October 30. Expected to fetch £52,000£56,000, this rare, single-owner bike features frame number one, making it the first of its kind to leave Norton's Shenstone factory on April 1, 1990.…

Husqvarna have introduced another middleweight for 2025 with the Vitpilen 801 which builds on the KTM LC8c platform found in the 790 Duke, with most components carried over from the £10,499 Svartpilen. The Vitpilen makes use of the same chromium-molybdenum-steel frame and KTM 790 derived 799cc DOHC LC8c parallel twin as its sibling, with a claimed 105bhp and 65lb.ft of torque on tap. Weight is quoted at 180kg dry – just one kilogram less than the near-identical Svartpilen. Braking comes courtesy of J.Juan hardware; twin four-piston front calipers with 300mm discs, and a single two-piston rear caliper with a 240mm rotor. Bosch ABS is standard, as is traction control and both are cornering-sensitive. There are three selectable electronic rider modes to toggle between – Rain, Road, and Sport, with a…

Piaggio are updating their three-wheeled maxi scooter commuter family for 2025 with a refreshed MP3 310 now taking styling cues from the larger 400 and 530 variants. Equipped with two front wheels capable of locking upright, the 310 has a new engine to meet Euro5+ emissions regulations – climbing from 278cc to a 310cc four-stroke single cylinder engine. Power is now a claimed 26bhp at 7500rpm, with a peak torque figure of 20.1lb.ft arriving at 6000rpm. It's not just about the new engine either, with the front-end styling tweaked to become wider and more protective – ideal for those commuting on a year-round basis. Front lights are now also full LED, with a small honeycomb grille sitting just below to give the appearance of a happy face. ‘Small grille gives…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com 1980 August Bank Holiday, Brighton seafront lounging on my Honda CB250N Superdream. Fran Hales Now here I am 44 years later aboard my beloved 1994 Virago 750. Fran Hales It was great being out on the road, feeling on top of the world, doing 20mph and feeling like I was flying. Steven McIntosh Kyle loving his first spin with daddy Peter. Tina Dempsey I'm on my 1970 Trophy 250 and a school friend, Ian Kerr, on his Triumph, both posing in pre-helmet days. Alan McEwan My RD350LC – MBV 877X – was my pride and joy. I still miss it and would love to buy it back. Roger Atkinson My first big bike was this 1974 Yamaha RD250. I am still riding today.…

JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS ● Tues 5pm-10pm, Fri 12pm-6pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm; closed end of Dec to March, except Tuesday evenings Poole Quay bike nights have long been a favourite, but there is another reason to ride into town. Mainly a workshop which specialises in selling vintage and custom motorcycles, SBomb was the inspiration behind BBC 2's The Speedshop. You may have heard of its star, Titch Cormack, an ex-SAS soldier-turned-motorcycle-customiser. He bought the place, originally a shellfish plant, seven years ago, and transformed it into the café and workshop you see today which includes a bottle-cap floor in the bathroom, bombs hanging underneath tables and an array of interesting artefacts. While you admire the décor, you can glug down Break…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday October 9 BIKE MEETS ■ King Billy Rock Bar, Northampton, Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ Sycamore Cafe, Great Billing, Northamptonshire 4pm-9pm www.facebook.com/SycamoreForestCatering ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ Amici Coffee Biker Night, Girtford Bridge, Beds www.amicicoffee.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants. www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm ■ Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk RIDEOUT ■ Burgess Hill & DMC, Station Road Car Park, Burgess Hill, Sussex 7pm7.30pm burgesshillmc.com TRACKDAY ■ MSV, Oulton Park Cheshire, from www.MSVTrackdays.com Thursday October 10 BIKE MEETS ■ Vic Bikers Pub,…

THE FACTS ‘Not only the hottest 250, but the closest to a road-going GP racer’ No class of modern motorcycle is as fondly remembered as the ‘Supersport 400’ which brought exquisite, pure sports performance to the masses between 1988 and 1996. And of this class, no model was more popular, long-lived and inspirational than Suzuki's RGV250. Which perhaps is all the more surprising when you remember that just a few years earlier, the UK 250 market had been all but killed off by a licence law change restricting learners from 250s to 125s. That 1983 move not only rendered previous best-selling 250s such as Yamaha's RD250LC obsolete, but newcomers like Suzuki's RG250 were made largely irrelevant even before turning a wheel. Yet the opposite was true in Japan. There, a…

FIRST RIDE Crossover bikes have always sold on being more performance-targeted than their adventure siblings – a fact highlighted by their 17in front wheels, sportsbike-derived engines and firmer suspension. But recently the boundaries have been pushed with the BMW M1000XR offering full-on sportsbike-level thrills in a crossover format. Now Ducati have upped their game too with the Multistrada V4 RS, a long-legged sports-tourer powered by a Panigale-derived engine that boasts a similar level of chassis spec to the sportsbike yet with the practicality you find in a normal Multi. So is it the ultimate sports-tourer? Full-fat performance… The RS is the only Multistrada model to run the Desmosedici Stradale engine. Producing 177.5bhp with 87.1ftlb, it is 9.9bhp up on the V4 Granturismo but loses 4.9lb.ft of torque (not that you…

‘It looks like you just turn a camera on. It doesn't work like that’ Three. Two. One. Action! TNT Sports (previously BT Sport) have been the exclusive live broadcaster of MotoGP in the UK since 2014. The show provides in-depth coverage, with 20+ hours of TV across the three days. Bosses have assembled an array of talent, with the presentation team led by Suzi Perry, who is joined by Michael Laverty, Neil Hodgson, Sylvain Guintoli and Natalie Quirk. Hodgson is then joined in the commentary box by Gavin Emmett. It's a who's who of bike racing experts, but there's a whole army behind the scenes who help bring this show to life. MCN joined them at Assen to learn how it comes together. Controlling the show TNT's Series Editor is…

A major draw of motorcycles is the fact that when it comes to cheap speed, they simply can't be beaten. If you buy a modern sportsbike it will merrily top 170mph (on closed roads or German Autobahns) all-day-long and you can sample this incredible performance for very little money. How little outlay? Setting a budget of just £5000, this week's five used buys bring you brand new supercar performance with used Mondeo price tags! If you feel the need for speed, look no further. Just be mindful of your licence… YOUR EXPERT Jon Urry is MCN used bike guru. He has ridden all these bikes flat out on an Autobahn – and had a friendly chat with a German policeman shortly afterwards……

£2500-£6000 (2000-2006) While the ZX-12R managed to top the Busa in many performance tests, it failed to capture the public's imagination. Bigger and more spacious than the Busa, the ZX-12R is a fantastic sports-tourer that has an incredible engine packed with staggering roll-on performance and a wild top-end. Although a touch heavy, it carries its bulk well and feels sportier than you might expect. BUYER BEWARE ● The A1/2 model became the B1/2/3/4 in 2002 with a tweaked engine, flywheel and suspension. The 2004 B6 is the best, and gained radial brakes, new forks and a protruding bottom lip on its fairing. ● Derestricting it requires a SpeedoHealer V4 (about £85) or getting its ECU reflashed. Do so and it will feel stronger in lower gears. ● Monocoque chassis makes…

TOP STORY Kawasaki have updated the Ninja 1000SX for 2025 – upping capacity to 1099cc to help meet Euro5+ as well as ushering in a new Ninja 1100SX name and more premium SE version with Brembo and Öhlins kit. The Ninja 1000SX arrived in 2020 and has been a sales hit, cementing its place as the best selling Kawasaki in the UK for 2023 – a feat likely to be replicated in 2024 and the firm will want more of the same for 2025. It also scooped MCN's 2023 Sports Tourer of the Year award, seeing off Suzuki's GSX-S1000GT and the Honda NT1100. The Ninja replaced the previous Z1000SX, which was Kawasaki's top seller in the UK for a decade. Needless to say, it's an important model, and one Kawasaki…

Snake Pass, the A57 Peak District biking road that runs from the Ladybower Reservoir to Glossop could be under threat of closure due to deteriorating ground conditions. The Pennine route has faced several landslips in recent years that have reduced its structural integrity, even to the point that sections of the road have broken away – as was the case with the nearby Mam Tor Road which closed in 1979. Increasingly frequent roadworks are in place to keep the section of A57 open, but these interventions are becoming progressively less effective, and Derbyshire County Council have warned that should a large-scale land movement occur, it could be too expensive to repair. Councillor Charlotte Cupit, cabinet member for Highways Assets and Transport, told MCN: “It's a road that we absolutely want…

Aprilia look set to reveal a next-generation Tuono V4 super-naked family in the coming weeks, following fresh spy shots capturing a pair of development bikes on the road with changes including integrated aero winglets. While the machines seen here are still sporting camo liveries in a bid to hide changes, it's likely we'll see the finished article at early November's EICMA tradeshow in Milan. The Tuono V4 is a firm favourite here at MCN, thanks to its blend of composed handling, style, and performance courtesy of its yowling 65-degree 1077cc V4 and race-inspired chassis. Producing one of the sweetest standard engine notes of any motorcycle, it was last updated for 2021 and looks set to change again for 2025, as the industry transitions into more stringent Euro5+ regulations. This is…

An MCN reader whose bike was stolen from his home last year, has expressed frustration after the thief received a two-year suspended prison sentence, despite being convicted on eight charges including two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. Lifelong motorcyclist Nigel Lomas, 72, had his 2021 Honda X-ADV taken in mid-August 2023, and says it has resulted in around a £1000 increase in the price of insurance across his vehicle and home policies, as well difficulty sleeping at night. “There is no justice. Away they go to do it again. They will learn from the experience,” Lomas told MCN. “Your no claims bonus is affected on your bike, your car, my wife's car, and the household insurance, because when they go in the garage it's a burglary.…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? The current crop of MotoGP bikes look more like spaceships than motorcycles due to advancements in aerodynamics and its increasingly important role in cutting lap times to the absolute minimum. With MotoGP bikes pushing out 300bhp and running control tyres, the gains to be found using aero to allow the rider to best exploit the performance of both the tyres and engine during acceleration and braking can be the difference between first and last place. Pioneered by Ducati technical genius Gigi Dall'Igna, since 2015 aero wings have become commonplace on both the MotoGP and World Superbike grids and are appearing on more and more road bikes. And not just sportsbikes, some super-nakeds also come with wings. But now there is a new aero device in town:…

There was only ever one true rival to the RGV in the UK – Kawasaki's KR-1. Like the RGV, it was launched in Japan in 1988 before arriving here the following year. However, its plainer looks and spec contrasted with a peakier, more powerful parallel twin. The result was 59bhp compared to the RGV's 57, a top speed of 139mph and a battle royal on street and circuit between the faster, longer, more stable Kawa and nimble, more flexible and reliable RGV. That stepped up in 1990 when both were updated, the KR-1S getting revised frame, bigger brakes, rims and more power. But, although the ‘connoisseur's choice’, the Kawa never had the Schwantz appeal of the RGV.…

Dry clutch throwback The RS comes with an STM-EVO SBK dry clutch, but it will be hidden behind a cover unless you get an accessory carbon open cover. There are three open cover options, starting from £196.80. Braking on red alert Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers have Panigale V4-spec pads within and run the Bosch-Brembo 10.3ME Cornering ABS system. Only the RS features red calipers. Shaving off the excess The titanium subframe saves 2.5kg when compared to the unit used on other Multistrada models. Pannier mounts are standard while pillion pegs are included with the bike.…

1000 miles ON TEST Oxford Merton 2.0 Boots £129.99 Urban motorcycle boots are an incredibly popular style for riders, and Oxford have updated their Merton boots hoping to capture those vintage vibes without you shelling out the shillings for them. The resulting Merton 2.0s certainly fit the bill as a pair of budget Doc Marten's for riding in. Although they scuff easily, I think it creates a grungy patina that suits the style, and aside from that you can't tell they're actually motorcycle boots at a glance. For me they were very uncomfortable at first, but after breaking in they got much better (almost overnight). I'd consider them averagely comfy now, though a bit too stiff if you are having to do a lot of walking. They earn a CE…

It's been a busy month in the saddle on Yamaha's XSR900 GP, as I've been working on getting the very best out of it. You see, not only is it a gorgeous thing to look at, it also has the minerals to back it up, as I found out with some faster road riding and a trackday at Donington Park. But where it really does let itself slip is on the comfort side of things, especially for a shorter rider. In fact, it's actually worse for me than a lot of conventional sportsbikes due to the sheer size of the tank and the stretch needed to reach the bars, but just one small tweak has made a massive difference. The fix? Don't laugh, but it's a Wild Ass Air Cushion.…

£1000-£3500 (2002-2004) A stop-gap between the ZZ-R1100 and ZZR1400, the 1200 never really took off due to its dated styling and failure to beat the Hayabusa when it came to top bragging rights. Tremendously good value, it's more than happy to hit big speeds – and in far better comfort levels than the Busa. A very effective milemuncher, the ZZR is a bit soggy on its suspension and ponderous in bends. BUYER BEWARE ● Watch for a poorly running bike as it can be tricky to diagnose due to the ZZR having two fuel pumps. One feeds cylinders 1&2 and the other 3&4. The bike will still run (badly…) if one isn't working properly. ● The charging system is a bit weak, so check the bike is delivering over 14v…

It's easy to be put off fitting a new chain and sprockets at home as while most would be comfortable swapping the sprockets, splitting and joining the drive chain with a rivet link needs a dedicated tool and can be a daunting prospect. The initial outlay to buy a quality heavy duty splitter and rivet tool might seem a bit much but you will at least save that amount, probably more, by not paying a dealer to fit the chain for you, so it is worth investing in the proper kit. And using it isn't that hard once you gain a bit of confidence. Riveting on a new link does take a little bit of feel and experience to do correctly. The tip I would give for your first time…

From optimism to the depths of despair in a fortnight. Yamaha's home grand prix was nothing short of disastrous as Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins struggled with a chronic lack of rear grip throughout, as well as trouble keeping the rear tyre on the ground during braking. Quartararo was despondent all weekend and stated “we look a bit stupid again,” after he ran out of fuel exiting the final corner for the second time in three races, which dropped him from eleventh to twelfth. He pointed to a fuel strategy that wasn't quite right. But more concerning was the lack of grip. “I felt I was with a used tyre from the first lap,” he said. “I didn't feel any grip from the beginning and this was something that we…

KTM's ambitions for the holy grail of the MotoGP world championship are now inextricably linked to Pedro Acosta. Strangely it's a pathway reinforced by Acosta's double crash, zero point return in Motegi and Acosta's assessment of a weekend when he was at his most competitive but got himself into the most trouble squandering two serious winning opportunities when he crashed out of the lead of the Sprint and out of second in the GP. With lessons learned after a first MotoGP pole position, the youngster continues to overshadow more established factory team men Brad Binder and Jack Miller. Acosta is certainly no respecter of seniority – as proved by his reasoning for making an “on the gas too soon” mistake while preparing an overtake on reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia…