Table of contents for 16th October 2019 in MCN

At Loomies café recently I heard one chap say to another: ‘Well, there’s no bad bikes these days, you can’t go wrong.’ Which isn’t really true. There might be very few truly sub-standard bikes now, but there’s a significant gulf between bikes that work reliably and effectively – and those that set your soul on fire. It’s the ones that make you feel incandescently alive, that you can sit with in the shed while having a cuppa and just enjoy looking at, that you’re proud to show people pictures of and talk about down the pub: they’re the ones that just have that extra special quality. Head for the centre of this week’s paper and you can indulge in 32 pages of our annual MCN Awards – recognising the bikes…

Pictures have emerged which show Kawasaki’s new supercharged ‘Z H2’ super-naked being uncrated ahead of its official unveiling on Wednesday, October 23. Although the images don’t reveal the entire machine, the new bike appears to be based on the existing, faired H2 hyperbike, rather than the current naked Z1000 and is equipped with a burgundy trellis frame like the H2 rather than the Zed’s aluminium twin tube layout. Back in 2015, the original H2 stole the headlines with its supercharger-enhanced 210bhp. Although no power figures are yet available for the Z H2, a video teaser campaign suggests this new bike will follow in the H2’s footsteps and produce close to 200bhp, rather than the existing Z1000’s modest 140.1bhp. This theory is given further strength by the new bike’s large front…

Triumph are trying to tempt buyers to the uprated Bonneville Street Twin with their latest offer – a £500 contribution to spend on Triumph accessories, clothing or even to knock off the £8100 asking price. But as the Street Twin’s just one of the vast Triumph Bonneville family which stretches back over 60 years there are plenty of used, entry-level Triumph twins available for a lot less than that. 2019 STREET TWIN What is it? Entry-level 900cc Bonneville gets more mid-range and better suspension but is stil easy to use. MCN says “Triumph has injected some excitement into the bike, while retaining its ease-of-use and rider-friendliness.” Want to buy one? £8100, £1620 deposit, £118 over 36 months. 2016 STREET TWIN What is it? Junior version of new 900/1200…

Specially-trained police officers from Operation Red Mana have joined forces with Cardiff Council to tackle antisocial and illegal riding. Four bikes were seized as part of the operation, which involved standard police motorbikes and a number of off-road machines. Officers say the seized bikes will be crushed if they are not claimed by owners in possession of the correct paperwork. At least one of the seized machines is believed to have been stolen and was abandoned by the rider and pillion who then made off on foot. One of the pair was subsequently arrested. “We know that off-road bikes are a concern for the community and Operation Red Mana is a policing operation dedicated to tackling the issue,” said the force’s PC Martin Bagget. ‘Someone could be hurt by these…

‘The battery can be removed for charging’ Yamaha have unveiled three new electric concepts which could be the perfect city run-arounds if they make it into production. Released ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show, which starts on Wednesday, October 23, the three join the TY-E electric trials concept in Yamaha’s electric portfolio. The key model is the E01 which has radical looks that hide what Yamaha say is a remarkably practical scooter. Yamaha claim the scoot has the power output that’s equivalent to a 125cc scooter (about 14bhp) and that it’s fast-charge compatible. They also say it provides decent range although they stop short of giving any key figures. We’d imagine 100km (60 miles) will have been a key target. Described as the ‘next-generation electric commuter bike’ the E02 is…

Brighton’s Madeira Drive echoed to the sound of motorcycles on Sunday as hundreds of bikers converged on the iconic seaside town for Brightona 19. This charity event takes place every year and features trade stands, live music and a custom bike show, as well the opportunity to admire miles of amazing machinery parked along the promenade. ‘We love it... there’s such a great mix of bikes’ The custom show featured a host of sensational class winners, but it was Steve Conway’s amazing 1986 GSX-R1100 that took top honours as well as best paint. “It’s taken me 20 years of no holiday and no beer to build,” said Steve, “other than the frame spars there’s not much of the original bike left!” “We love it,” said local lad Dave ‘The Mod’…

Reader Derek Price & Tony Dix The ride West coast of Ireland When to do it Spring-Autumn Miles 1800 Time required Five days (and two in Wales) Don’t miss this “The whole of the Wild Atlantic Highway has incredible views and fantastic roads. ” GREAT RIDE We set off from Gloucester and travelled via the Brecon Beacons ALL ABOARD This is the ferry from Knightstown on the island of Valentia. Brilliant! NORAIN The view from Mizen Head. We had amazing weather for the whole trip SIDECAR It’s more fun on three wheels. This is the view across Donegal Bay THE ROUTE SEND US YOUR TRIP PICS EMAIL YOURPICS@ MOTORCYCLENEWS.COM…

YAMAHA FJR1300 I got this FJR in May 2001 aged 43, completing Direct Access in the July. 15 bikes later I’m on a KTM 1290 GT. Paul Dallard YAMAHA FAZER FZ1 Here I am with my Fazer FZ1 after passing my Direct Access in December 2018. Gordon Bell HONDA CBs Our first big bikes, all 70s Hondas, CB200, CB400/4 & CB550/4 F2. Stevie Motad, Billy and Whitty in 1986 working with donkeys. Great days. Steve Sewell HONDA CBR125 Here’s my husband Martin aged 50 on his first bike a Honda CBR125, he has now upgraded to a Kawasaki Ninja 650. Marie Cave NORTON DOMINATOR Thought you might like this shot of me on my first big bike in 1968 aged 16 – it’s a Norton Dominator 99. I still have…

There can’t be another pair of bikes so close on spec, performance and price. The Honda Gold Wing and BMW K1600B both have oversize 24-valve six-cylinder engines offering more power and torque than you could wish for. Each have double-wishbone front suspension, a single-sided swingarm and shaft drive, and weigh over a third of a ton. Cruise control, heated grips, modes, electronic suspension, cubbyholes, large tanks and blaring car-style horns feature on each. Both have reverse too. Yes, really. And, of course, they’re both ‘baggers’. This doesn’t mean they pack your shopping for you in Asda. Instead, it’s a term that’s become popular in the USA for cruiser-style bikes fitted with saddlebags – that’s panniers to us – and usually with a low-slung stance, half-fairing and shorter screen than a…

BMW’s asymmetric dash is unique to the K1600. A colour digital panel between the dials for speed and revs is controlled from the switchgear. Info is logically laid out and there’s every bit of bike and trip data you could wish for, though in this age of widescreen displays it feels a bit previous-generation. So does the Honda, which has a late-90s vibe despite using a large colour TFT panel with in-built sat-nav. There’s quite a bit of faffing around going into menus, though, and the sat-nav isn’t as intuitive as an aftermarket item. HONDA GOLD WI NG SWITC HGEAR Looks bewildering and like you’ll need extra digits, but having a button for each feature makes it easy to get used to. Feels high-quality and robust, too. FUNCTIONALITY BMW K1600B…

‘They really do feel that they can take on the world’ Talan Skeels-Piggins has a lot to be proud of. The survivor of a near-fatal bike accident in 2003, Talan’s since gone on to become the first paralysed rider to hold a motorcycle race licence, to get on the podium against able-bodied rivals, and away from bikes has even represented Great Britain in downhill skiing. Yet, as the 49-year-old tells MCN, it’s seeing the direct results of his charity The Bike Experience that tops the lot. “Yes, my own racing has given me some amazing moments to be proud of - and doing a lap of the TT course at the Manx this year was simply amazing – but it still doesn’t beat seeing the look in the eyes of…

‘Three fantastic days of great corners and brilliant sights’ There are surfers paddling out through the waves below me. The sky is a brilliant blue, the road I’m parked beside is baking and my Z1000SX is pinking quietly after a fabulous ride. This is California in a nutshell. It’s a sun-kissed biking paradise, with Highway One – the Pacific Coast Highway – capturing everything that’s great about this most extreme of the States. California’s full of surprises – and it had caught me out at the start of my ride on PCH. I rolled the bike out of the garage of my AirBnB into a chilly mist so solid I could barely see the other side of the street. “It’ll burn off by lunchtime,” my host assured me… but by…

1. FOUNDATIONS Get the basics in place or you’ll have problems. You might get faster but at some point you’ll be caught out. 2. REWIND & RELAX Relax and stop worrying. The only expectation is from you, so forget how good you once were and start again. 3. SORT YOUR BODY A relaxed body is a loose body so keep your head down, loosen your grip, weight the pegs and roll with the bike. 4. PICK YOUR LINE Turning deeper into the corner will allow you to apex later. With the bike turned, look up and lock on to your exit point. 5. BE ACCURATE Get on the fat part of the tyre. Stay hanging off the inside but push the bars and put weight through outside peg. 6. THINK…

This weekend the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship descends on Brands Hatch for what will be the last round at which Scott Redding and Josh Brookes are united as teammates. It’s been the year of the Ducati Panigale V4R, of that there is no doubt, but only one rider can lift the coveted trophy. As history has taught us, predicting how the finale will unfold is a risky business. Results-wise, this is Redding’s title to lose. The BSB newcomer has scored more points, won more races and achieved more pole positions than anybody. He holds the championship lead over his Be Wiser Ducati teammate, who is vastly more experienced on the quirky, tight and twisting circuits scattered across the British Isles which Redding has had to learn – and learn…

With 50 points covering fourth to sixth-placed Danny Buchan, Tarran Mackenzie and Peter Hickman, positions could change in the rest of The Showdown. In fact, Buchan is only 21 points behind Tommy Bridewell, which means the FS-3 Kawasaki man could still finish third. Mackenzie and McAMS Yamaha are yet to win since the Silverstone opener and will be looking to carry positivity into the winter. Smith Racing’s Hickman is yet to win at all this season on the new BMW. Who will claim the Riders’ Cup? Honda’s Xavi Fores holds the ‘best of the rest’ seventh. His closest challenger is Andrew Irwin, five points behind.…

Toprak Razgatlioglu’s late-season flurry paid off in San Juan as the Turk grabbed three podiums. And that means heading to next week’s Qatar finale, the Puccetti Kawasaki rider will take on Pata Yamaha teammates Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark in a quest to wreck their stranglehold on the ‘best of the rest’ places behind Rea and Bautista in the final championship standings. Backing up the thinking that so many front-runners needed to improve their qualifying, Alvaro Bautista and Razgatlioglu started first and fourth in San Juan; sure enough, the Ducati won Race 1 with the Kawasaki on the podium. Toprak followed it up with two more third places on Sunday to complete a very satisfying weekend. A year earlier he secured his second career rostrum in Argentina; he…

Jonathan Rea made it four victories from five races in Argentina, responding to rivals’ Saturday criticisms by collecting both Sunday wins. His latest success moves him to 85 career wins and 165 podiums. After making front-end changes to his Kawasaki after Saturday, Rea was joined on the podium by his Showa suspension technician. “I ran into tyre issues with six laps to go, on the left side,” Rea recalls. “I also made a huge mistake about halfway through; I found a false neutral at the end of the back straight and had to release the brake, find first gear and rejoin. Alvaro was really struggling, so I made the pass and was as clean as I could be.”…

Few machines are as capable or stable along this sinuous stretch of B-road. The Beemer has everything required to dance from corner to corner, flattering its rider along the way. Steering is crisp and effortless, thanks to its lack of bulk, lightweight carbon wheels and perfectly-balanced chassis. The new frame, which uses the engine as a stressed member, has more feel at road speeds and feels less like a solid block of wood than the old-generation S1000RR Powerful, cornering ABS-assisted front brakes give all the confidence you need into corners and as you dial-in more lean you can feel the Metzeler Racetec RR K3 (the best fast road/trackday tyres around) dig-in hard while on the exit the rear has so much grip it’s impossible to get the traction control interested.…

Aprilia’s Tuono V4 1100 Factory is basically an RSV4 race replica with motocross bars, pumped full of midrange. It howls like MotoGP missile and goes like a superbike, but with its upright stance and decent wind protection you don’t have to suffer with crushed wrists and a sore back. Perfect engine, electronics and ergonomics aside, the Factory is even more impressive in the corners with a supple, Öhlins magic carpet-ride that offers just enough in terms of plushness and control. The way it rolls into corners, pumping your body with feel and confidence, borders on the spiritual. Add all this to a machine dripping with the best of components, from brakes to tyres, electronics and a sexy polished aluminium chassis and you’ve got the best road-going sportsbike money can buy.…

The London Motor Cycle Museum in Greenford has been forced to shut down after complaining that rent increases have made it unsustainable. The museum has been in its current location since 1999 with a collection of hundreds of mostly British bikes dating back to the early 1900s. But the venue closed its doors to the public last week and many of the bikes are due to be auctioned off at the Stafford Show later this month. Some machines have been sold off already. “The problem is the rent,” says 87-year-old owner Bill Crosby, who founded the museum with bikes from his nearby ‘Reg Allen Motorcycles’ business. “Ealing council want £13,000 off us per quarter. I’ve been selling bikes to pay the bill but we can’t go on like this forever.”…

Anne Sacoolas, the American woman involved in the car crash that killed young biker Harry Dunn, will not return to the UK according to briefing notes issued to American president Donald Trump that were seen in his hand after addressing journalists in the US. The notes read: “(If raised) Note, as Secretary Pompeo told Foreign Secretary Raab, that the spouse of the US government employee will not return to the United Kingdom.” Despite the notes, Mr Trump went off-script during the press conference, saying that Dunn’s death was a ‘terrible accident’ and that the American administration would attempt to speak to Sacoolas. However, he also said: “The woman was driving on the wrong side of the road and that can happen. You know, those are the opposite roads, that happens.…

Reader recommendations are something we take very seriously at MCN, especially when it comes to tracking down and testing out the nation’s favourite nosebags. This week we head east into Norfolk, acting on a tip off to check out one of the region’s most popular roadside diners, the Route 11 Kitchen. Route 11 occupies a prime spot just a short distance from Snetterton, ideally placed with a filling station on the eastbound A11. Our route in is via the B1077 from Watton, a cracking B-road that runs all the way to Ipswich in Suffolk. It’s mid-morning on a drizzly Monday, but as we roll onto the immaculate hard-standing it’s good to see at least a couple of bikes parked up. Inside we’re met with a warm welcome and after perusing…

Just one BSB round to go, but Redding has been a class act this year and I believe he can go to WSB and do well. I think he can win races, but will he be able to beat Jonathan Rea every week? I don’t think so. I’ve said it before Johnny is a machine and unless Redding goes in there with the attitude to beat him, it won’t happen. He’s on a good package, the Ducati has dominated BSB and it was dominating WSB, Bautista got it working straight away and while it took Chaz a bit longer – he got there too. ‘JOHNNY IS A MACHINE AND HE WILL BE HARD TO BEAT’ In Redding you’ve got a Moto2 winner, MotoGP rider and BSB front runner. He comes…

It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B- roads, a stretch of motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy tarmac. There are two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time for sportsbike evaluation, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 Bells and whistles There’s a delay getting going, due to the sheer quantity of gizmos. Both have modes, stereos, phone connectivity, heated grips, touch-button suspension, keyless ride, and oodles of switches. The Wing has built-in satnav, too. The BMW’s panniers have central locking, though you still need to press a release and pull a…

You might expect these giant cruisers to be at home on the motorway. And they are. However, it’s the never-ending dual carriageways and roundabout at Milton Keynes that are the surprise highlight. No, I haven’t lost the plot. You’d think this is the environment where you’d crave a small-capacity commuter, however with huge reserves of torque and velvety delivery, both bikes have engines that can be left in one gear. This frees-up concentration for spotting distracted mums in bloated SUVs and van drivers who think they’re on a Superpole lap. The unconventional front suspension used on both bikes gives stability and rock-solid braking if someone turns without indicating, damp patches cause no fears, and the bikes’ sheer size and presence gives confidence in heavy traffic. There’s another bonus too. This…

‘It’s the one to go for if you want a mile-muncher’ Since Honda relaunched their Africa Twin with an all-new model in 2016, the firm’s flagship adventure bike has been left somewhat lacking in what is a fiercely competitive segment. An update in 2018 went some way to redressing the balance by introducing a ‘big tank’ Adventure Sports model alongside technical updates, however, despite impressive global sales that have topped 87,000 units so far, it was noticeably down on performance and lacking the tech boasted by its rivals. For 2020 a third generation has stepped up to the plate with more power, improved technology and a revised chassis. But does this latest incarnation of the Twin finally hit the mark? More bang for your buck The parallel twin has received…

While the new flagship Adventure Sports is gunning for the rampant success of BMW’s R1250GS family, the new base model in the Africa Twin range is pitched as a purer rally-raider. Dramatically closer in aggression and intent to the original ‘True Adventure’ concept revealed back in 2014, the new version assumes there’s a pool of buyers who really do want to spend time digging the dirt. 1 Touchy tappy The new Multi Information Display (MID) is a massive step up from the old, uninspiring LCD dash. The 6.5-inch TFT display is Bluetooth connected and can run navigation apps. The touch screen can only be activated when stationary which is disappointing, meaning you have to use the slightly cluttered switches on the left-hand ’bar on the go. The dash can also…

‘Honda tasked HRC to build a bike capable of winning the Dakar’ With this week’s launch of a significantly updated Africa Twin that, depending which version you go for, is both more off-road orientated and a more able ‘world traveller’, it brings to mind the creation of the very first Africa Twin back in the mid-1980s. Like other, later rivals such as Yamaha’s 750 Super Ténéré and Cagiva’s 900 Elefant, the original Africa Twin was not so much an ‘adventure bike’ – that term only gained traction when BMW’s first 2002 R1150GS Adventure sprang to prominence with Ewan and Charley’s Long Way Round – more a ‘Paris-Dakar Rally Replica’. Since the move of the now Dakar Rally to South America in 2009 and with its previous big twins replaced by…

It’s too easy to get stuck in a rut: to choose the same meal at your favourite restaurant, repeatedly buy the same make of jeans or stick with the same brand of tyres. So, when the Katana’s OE Dunlop Roadsport 2 tyres started showing signs of wear after 3500 miles I decided to put my head above the parapet and try something a little different. I had been a little underwhelmed with the Dunlops and also been surprised by how quickly they showed signs of wear after only steady road use. So, I decided to give Maxxis tyres a try. The Maxxis SuperMaxx STs cost a wallet-friendly £150 (about £70 less than the Dunlops) and are generally regarded as a decent, hard-wearing sports touring tyre. With over 300 miles now…

World Superbikes embarrassed itself in Argentina as a row flared up over track safety and ultimately led to six riders boycotting race one. Opinions varied, and so did the mood, as the debate saw a decrease in respect between certain competitors. Three of the four members of the riders’ Safety Commission: Chaz Davies, Eugene Laverty and Leon Camier (along with Marco Melandri, Sandro Cortese and Ryuichi Kiyonari) all sat out Saturday’s race. The other representative, Jonathan Rea, did race, supposedly pressured by Kawasaki. “Johnny Rea didn’t want to ride,” Laverty said, also claiming championship bosses told team managers their riders must race. “I’m really disappointed in him. He is our World Champion. He needed to have more backbone. He made a very spineless decision to race.” “Opinions are opinions,” Rea…

1 Here we go With a full tank of unleaded between my legs it’s time to point the RR’s sinister snout into the early morning traffic. It’s a chilly late summer morning but heated grips are keeping my soft, southern hands warm. With four riding modes to choose from plus a further three custom ‘Race Pro’ settings I settle on ‘Road’ for a smooth throttle, full power and plush semi-active suspension. 2 Grunttastic Each of the ShiftCam’s inlet cams have two sets of lobes per cylinder. Below 9000rpm it sits on its mild, grunty cams, and above that rpm race cams take you into hyperspace. Top gear is all you need to smartly leap-frog traffic and unless you really need to get a shift on, there’s so much…

Honda’s adventure-styled member of its CB500 family (the others being the CBR500R sports and CB500F roadster) has been around since 2013. Improved in 2016 it’s been honed again for this year with a host of seemingly small engine, chassis and styling upgrades that actually add up to more than the sum of its parts which makes the Honda friendlier, not just for our new riding chums, but also as a credible, affordable, ‘big bike’ for everyone else, too. It might produce merely an A2 licence-friendly 47bhp, but the way the X surges forward on the throttle you’d swear it had 20bhp more. You can ride the parallel twin’s torque, or slice through its smooth new gearbox and thrash the nuts off it. In fact, it constantly surprises with its pace…

On a rainy Sunday afternoon on October 6, 1973, a man stood fighting to pack the last few things onto an already vastly overloaded Triumph 100 motorcycle that he planned to ride around the world. That man was Ted Simon and he described the moment in his famous book Jupiter’s Travels: “I had not found room to pack an old RAF flying jacket and so was wearing it. Over that I wore a waterproof anorak. The anorak was too tight. To get it on at all I had first to stuff the jacket inside it and then struggle to pull this whole rigid assembly down over my head. It usually took several minutes and made an amusing spectacle at the roadside.” There were many amusing spectacles as the middle class…

In 2011 Ted Simon set up a foundation to offer travellers no-nonsense advice. It works by recruiting a number (currently 132) of adventurers who post information and advice about certain countries. He says: “The non-profit foundation encourages travellers to go the extra mile and be reporters of truth in the world. Our ultimate aim is to promote understanding, reduce tension and to favour the chances of peace between our many cultures.” You can sign up for £8 a month or apply to be one of the Jupiter’s travellers at jupiterstravellers.org…

Tuning specialists S&S have worked their magic on Royal Enfield’s new 650 twins, turning them from retro rumblers to burbling brutes. The Indian-built roadsters have proved hugely popular since going on sale earlier this year, regularly topping sales charts and have only been outsold overall by the all-conquering BMW GS. We love their retro charm as well as their keen prices but, like with most new bikes out there, we also wished for a bit less weight and a bit more power. Thankfully, the men from Milwaukee have come to the rescue. The most appealing bit for most of us will be the tapered cone slip-on silencers. Made from brushed stainless steel, these use a high flow catalytic converter that helps move air faster as well as making the whole…

Congratulations to Marc Marquez on another successful title campaign in which he stretched even further the limits of what can be done with a motorcycle – greater lean angles, greater saves, greater bounce backs from spills and greater dominance over his rivals. It was good to see that most of these rivals were able to congratulate Marc on his success, even if they must be a more than a bit exasperated about what they can do to deny him further titles at their expense in the coming years. Then we come to Valentino Rossi, oh dear! Such a shame that instead of congratulating Marc, he chose to make it all about himself. If this is how bitter he is with Marquez just approaching his records, best not to be within…

Baggers might have come from the land of Harley and Indian, but these six-cylinder goliaths prove you don’t have to go the V-twin route and both have all the bling and presence you cold hope for. BMW’s engine is a masterpiece, and the chassis is far more nimble than the spec list implies. No shortage of features and extras either, especially in SE guise. However, the ‘B’ doesn’t handle as well as the K1600GT it’s based on, and the pulled-back riding position isn’t as comfy. Unless you’re fixed on a bagger, buy the GT version. Or buy the Honda. There’s nowt like a Gold Wing, and though ‘stripped down’ this B edition retains the unique Wing qualities; from the effortless muscle of its flat six to its luxury, comfort, deportment…

Suzuki RGV125 Gamma “My first bike – the ‘Banana Bike’ (due to being bright yellow!). It was written off when a car driver pulled across the road in front of me without looking. I T-boned the car and flew over the bonnet and down the road. Had spinal injuries and a smashed wrist. Didn’t put me off!” Honda CBR600 F3 “The bike I was paralysed on. Changed my life in so many ways. I was very badly injured and so fortunate to have survived.” Suzuki GSX-R1000 K6 “My first bike back riding as a paraplegic in 2008. As you can see, I decided to ease myself back into riding with a nice and easy bike!” Suzuki SV650S K3 “My Minitwin race bike. Helped me to learn racecraft and become the…

Twin’s new suspension tech The EERA shock has 24 steps of spring preload that alongside the rebound and compression damping (front and rear) can be set to two ‘User’ settings or one of four pre-defined ones. Lower seat for more confidence The Sports’ adjustable seat height has reduced to 850/870mm from 900/920mm, bringing it inline with the standard bike. The subframe is 40mm narrower than before. Adjustable screen and more Screen is adjustable to five heights and you get aluminium insert panels, rear rack and engine bash plate as standard on the Adventure Sports alongside heated grips and cornering lights.…

The Michelin Thunderdrome at the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show is the most exciting indoor racing you’ll ever see, with high-speed banking, sideways sliding action and stars including John McGuinness and Michael Rutter going all-out for victory. Making his Thunderdrome debut, Rutter is looking forward to getting stuck in. “I can’t wait,” the BSB and roads legend told MCN. “John is used to coming second behind me, so I’m sure it will feel familiar when I ride around the outside of him on the banking. Racing is racing and I only turn up to win!”…

The original, HRC-built, RD03 650 Africa Twin went on sale in continental Europe in 1988. Two years later it was replaced by the RD04 XRV750 with more power, twin discs and revised bodywork. Three years after that, 1993’s RD07 gained a new frame, repositioned and lower fuel tank, a lower seat (both to improve handling) and all-new bodywork. While this incarnation of the original V-twin had one final update in 1996, which saw a revised cowling and higher screen. In this form the Africa Twin survived until 2003, co-existing for its final four years alongside Honda’s new, more powerful, but larger and less aggressive XL1000V Varadero before being deleted. Today, however, all retain a strong, devoted following, thanks to their durability, style and versatility, while the original 650 is now…

THE STUDENT Mick Condon, 44, Halifax Mick’s last track day was in 2005 but he’s started riding again on a GSX-R750 K8 and is looking forward to going back on track. Mick’s riding problem “I haven’t been on track for ages so want to know how to bed myself in, get used to the performance, and return to where I used to be.” THE TUTOR Gareth Roberts, Chief Instructor Club racing champ and road racer, Gareth’s ridden at the NW200 and TT and been a performance riding coach for 13 years. Gareth’s action plan “It’s not easy to return after a long gap. You have to manage expectations and ensure you have the foundations of track riding first.” THE LESSON 1 Take time to relax After such a long time…

‘We had a quick chat and bought it…’ Brand loyalty can be an important factor when choosing a new bike as MCN reader David Taylour-Cantrill explains. “Back in 1978 I was looking at buying a Suzuki RE5,” he says, “but after travelling all the way to Kent to pick it up the deal fell through. I really wanted something different and with the money burning a hole in my pocket I found a Moto Guzzi T3 California not far from where I live.” At the time David was national chairman of the Suzuki Owners Club and was amazed at the difference between the Guzzi and his GT750. “It was so refreshing and easy to ride, you could hold it at 80mph with no stress or fatigue, it was good on…

Compared to the latest bikes, a 400cc sportsbike no longer appears revvy, light or high-tech. Time and technology have moved on. But find a good example of the diminutive four-cylinder 400 and the sensations and rewards are as great as ever. There’s more to a bike than peak power or the number of toys, and few bikes offer the engagement and togetherness of a fit 400. They just get under your skin. MCN’S BEST BUY £1950 KAWASAKI ZXR400 398cc |160kg |62bhp |760mm seat height • Dealer up to £3000 • Private up to £2500 • This one 1991, 26,000 miles The ZXR400 H1 arrived in Japan in ’89 looking like a scaled-down version of the also-new 750. It’s arguably the prettiest ZXR400, but the later bike (L1 onwards) is…

1 Don’t panic, it’s not the end of the world A typical low-speed crash, such as losing the front end on gravel or simply knocking your bike off its sidestand, is as annoying as it is inconvenient. Not least because of the costs involved in replacing levers etc. Yet no matter how small the spill, you should always give the machine a thorough check over to look for hidden and potentially serious damage. 2 Work out what you’re dealing with Before you start to work on the bike, give it a thorough clean. Spray a dedicated motorcycle cleaner all over the bike, not just in the damaged areas. As you work your way around the machine, make a note of any damage. Keep in mind that for everything you have…

‘My most realistic hope to fight for the title is if it’s wet’ Tommy Bridewell is relaxed and unrepentant heading into Brands Hatch. He’s 65 points behind Scott Redding with only 75 left up for grabs. In some ways, it makes life very simple for the Oxford Products rider: go to Kent, win all the races and what will be will be… “It’s a very long shot for me to win the championship but never say never!” Bridewell laughs. “With the way the weather is now turning, anything can happen. My most realistic hope to fight for the title is if it’s wet. We have good pace in the wet and there is more chance of the other guys hitting trouble. “To be fair to PBM they have had a…

There can be no denying 2019 has been a tough year for 2018 BSB runner-up Jake Dixon. Making his debut in the fiercely-contested Moto2 class, the 23-year-old Brit has had to adapt to new tracks, new tyres and a new way of GP life whilst riding the less-favoured KTM against some of the best riders in the world. His season has also been plagued by injury and technical issues But despite having his back against the wall he’s shown enough through his riding and character to secure one of the most coveted rides in the paddock having signed for the Petronas SRT team. An opportunity that he intends to make the very most of… MCN: What’s so significant about joining Petronas SRT ? Jake Dixon: “It’s an established team and…

Chaz Davies endured a character-building event in Argentina, bouncing back from a rider rebellion on Saturday, when he refused to race, to second place on Sunday. On a weekend that had started with anger, the Aruba Ducati rider went home with a smile on his face. ‘We felt it was incredibly risky to race. We shouldn’t be here, full stop’ “The temperature has gone up and up – the circuit is not in a stable condition,” the Welshman said on Saturday. “As riders, we felt it was incredibly risky to race. Even the world champion, two minutes before the pit lane opened, said he wasn’t happy to race, but had massive pressure from his team to go and do it. He wasn’t happy. I’m super disappointed in that. I stand…

MCN 250 • 250-MILE ROAD ROUTE • THE BEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK It’s the second full year of our MCN250 test route and once again we’ve been piling on the miles in the realest of real-world conditions. Our test team is the biggest and most experienced it’s ever been with Emma Franklin, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, Mike Armitage, Dan Sutherland, Jordan Gibbons, Jon Urry and Phil West all joining me in the saddle. We’ve ridden every 2019 bike around the ‘250’, rain and shine, in a bid to deliver our in-depth verdict every Wednesday. We’ve crawled through Northampton traffic, shimmied over filling-shaking Cotswolds bumps, slogged up motorways and even found some smooth tarmac too. But choosing the best bikes of 2019 has been more of a head-scratcher, thanks to another bumper…

With the Japanese falling further behind in the superbike race this year’s MCN showdown was an all-European affair. Like BMW, Aprilia also had new tackle to challenge the Ducati Panigale V4 S’s crown in the shape of the RSV4 1100 Factory. Three special bikes needed a very special testing ground, so we headed to Sicily and created a route that climbed Mount Etna, touched the old Targa Florio race course, hammered fast, sweeping motorways and shuffled through busy towns. We also took them to the Pergusa racetrack with its mix of high gear curves and tight chicanes to see which was quickest at the limit. Could the 1000cc Beemer stay with the Italian 1100s in a straight fight? But choosing the BMW as the winner on the road was a…

If you like big engines, you’re going to enjoy 2020. Next year looks to bring a boom in large-capacity motors – both from existing engines getting a boost, as well as new designs landing at the top of the performance tree. The trend is partially driven by the imminent arrival of Euro5 emissions rules. Honda’s new Africa Twin is a prime example, its capacity growing from 998 to 1084cc. But while capacity is up more than 8.5%, peak power and torque have increased just 7%. That’s a classic consequence of sidestepping stricter rules: it’s easier to make an engine larger and detune it, than to find a way of making your current engine cleaner without affecting performance. The new 1100 isn’t greener than the outgoing 1000 in all aspects –…

It’s fair to say Triumph’s 765cc triple has been a rasping success. For 2019 it produced the angry soundtrack to Moto2 and for the past three years it’s powered Triumph’s new-generation Street Triple range - bikes so good the racy RS version won MCN’s Best Naked and overall Bike of the Year in 2017. Last year it was the turn of the slightly milder, but still scintillating R to scoop Best Naked and, with no other manufacturer able to challenge, the Hinckley bike wins again for 2019. ‘Whenever we get asked buying advice the answer is: Street Triple’ With its wide spread of power and torque the Street Triple R is devilishly fast with a sweet-steering chassis to match. Few bikes deliver such easy speed or are as composed, but…