Table of contents for 10 March 2021 in MCN

After extensive lobbying the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have announced that CBT and other motorcycle training such as Direct Access can resume from March 29, with practical tests and theory tests both planned to resume on April 12. CBT, training and testing has not been permitted in England since the country entered lockdown in January. Unlike the first lockdown, no dispensation has been permitted for keyworkers, only emergency service workers who need to ride as part of their job. This has meant that many keyworkers who rely on a motorcycle or scooter for transport to and from their place of work, or for their job in the case of delivery riders, have been scuppered if their CBT expires. The earlier date to resume training will come as welcome…

WEDNESDAY March 10 4.15pm, EUR2, British Superbikes: Race of 2020 MONDAY March 15 3pm, QUEST, World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides: New Zealand – Part 1 2am, QUEST, American Chopper: Monster Diesel Bike TUESDAY March 16 3pm, QUEST, World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides: New Zealand – Part 2 10.30pm, INST, Inside the Masters of Dirt: Join Gorgie Fechter and his Masters of Dirt Crew KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY…

New bike sales have remained slow in the start of 2021 due to lockdown and a surplus of pre-reg Euro4 bikes. New registrations are down 37.7% on this time last year (the last month before lockdown interfered with sales). The picture is slightly better for scooters at just 19.7% down compared to the 45.3% drop for motorcycles. The market is expected to bounce back strongly as lockdowns are eased. Birthday scoots Vespa have released a range of anniversary models to celebrate 75 years. There are three limited-edition models coming to the UK, each in yellow, with No. 75 on the side. Other features include a nubuck leather saddle, chrome rack and round bag reminiscent of the spare wheel holder on classic models. The range starts at £4900 for the 125…

It’s good that MotoGP testing has got underway (see page 60-63) but the biggest thing for me will be the return of Marquez. We never expected his rehab would take so long, it goes to show that when it does go wrong, things can get ugly. People are saying MotoGP has moved on, but there is no chance it’s moved on beyond his capabilities. It may be that he needs to get a race or two under his belt, but in terms of lap times and pace it hasn’t changed. It’s not going to be easy though. I do a bit of riding myself, but can’t imagine what it’s like to hang on to a MotoGP bike. ‘I can’t imagine what it’s like to hang on to a MotoGP bike’…

Steve Bowlas Age 64 Height 5ft 8in Current bike 2012 Suzuki Bandit 1250 and Triumph Tiger 850 Sport Been riding 47 years First bike Suzuki Stinger 125 Dream bike A garage with every bike I’ve ever owned in it! “I put a hold deposit down on a Tiger 900GT after a quick test ride but the dealer offered me a poor exchange on my Bandit 1250 and then Covid-19 hit, so I decided to hold on to my money and see what the world was like after the pandemic. During this time I bought a used 2018 Tiger 800XRT, which was in mint condition, fully- loaded and cheap. “I’m a road rider but as I live in Australia you end up on gravel paths a fair amount of the time…

Tony Smith, 55, from Yorkshire. I’ve done several trips in southern India with Nomadic Knights and the truth is that a combination of great riding, great support, sunshine, amazing food and brilliant evenings together offer an incredible opportunity to experience a beautiful and intriguing part of this amazing country. From the relative opulence of Goa to the ancient mystique of Hampi, through the never-ending twisties of the Western Ghats and the stunning plantations of Karnataka to the amazing inland waterways of Kerala. This part of India is all about the people. No matter where you are, the friendliness and hospitality of the locals is humbling. The hotels that Nomadic Knights use are excellent too, every night is a bit of a party with banter, jokes and re-takes of the day’s…

BARRY THOMPSON MCN READER “It has a friendly but eager motor, which punches above its weight and the brakes are fine for what they are intended for. The minimal tech is actually an attraction for me, I don’t need traction control or throttle modes. The heated grips are nice but rarely get used (I have heated gloves anyway). Luggage wise, I have added the OEM Givi rack and otherwise I’ll just throw a bag on the seat. It’s not a big tourer so don’t complicate things!"…

1 EZ Car Care Citrus Wash £9 (500ml) I first used EZ polish, which was every bit as good as Autoglym. Thought I’d try their pre-wash and it’s brilliant. You can mix it depending on level of degreasing required. Martin Poll, Downpatrick 2 S100 Total Cleaner + £14.99 (1 litre) This is basically ‘motorcycle preservative’ in a handy bottle. Jon Ashley, Manchester 3 Tru-Tension Monkey Juice £9 (1 litre) This cleaner foams nicely and leaves all your metalwork looking immaculate. Joshua Cherry, Brackley 4 Bilt Hamber Auto Foam £16.95 (5 litres) I like this pre-wash because it actually does the job it says it’s going to. Will Green, Lincoln 5 Motul Shine and Go £9.49 (400ml) A finishing product or, if you’ve been out on a summer’s day, it’s a…

RICHARD RODRIGUEZ, 42, Treated himself this lovely T120 Black as a 40th birthday treat after a test ride at the MCN Festival “It was the Triumph Street Twin that I originally fell in love with, after I took a test ride on one at the MCN Festival a few years back. I rushed over to my local Triumph dealer, Webbs of Peterborough, who talked me into a Bonneville Black instead. Weighing it up, the Bonnie actually made more financial sense than the Street Twin because you get a lot more for your money. There’s a bigger engine, a larger tank with better fuel economy, preload adjustable rear suspension, twin front discs and a gear position indicator. So for my two-up riding needs it was a better proposition. Plus, on finance…

Thread carefully How to master the dark art of repairing stripped threads 1 Prevention better than cure It’s all too easy to strip a thread, especially when there’s corrosion present or you’re not using a torque wrench. Bikes usually have steel bolts tightening into alloy threads and it is often the alloy parts that give in as they are softer than the steel bolt. Make sure bolts are free from corrosion, they should initially drive in smoothly with almost no resistance. 2 File away A bolt with damaged or corroded threads can be revived with a thread file. Costing £12, buying one is often dearer than replacing a bolt, but if the bolt is expensive or no longer available then it’s invaluable. The file has eight pitch sizes. Select the…

All eyes were on Pol Espargaro in Qatar as he made his RepsoL Honda debut. Expectations were high and Espargaro certainly didn’t disappoint. The Spaniard finished 12th overall and was only 0.733s off the pace. Almost every time that he stepped off his RC213V and took his helmet off, Espargaro had a massive smile on his face - a stark contract to Jorge Lorenzo two years ago. Indeed, Espargaro was faster than both LCR Honda riders - Takaaki Nakagami (13th) and Alex Marquez (14th) - and was only 0.5s down on HRC test rider Stefan Bradl, who replaced Marc Marquez last year and has already tested at Jerez this year. It wasn’t all fun and games though. “My style fits quite well. I’ve been fast, and the rhythm was good,,”…

Cal Crutchlow made his first appearance as Yamaha’s test rider in Qatar and, despite joining a long List of crashers at turn two, was able to get up to a reasonable speed on the M1. As each of the three test riders used the same bikes Crutchlow wasn’t named on the timesheets, however Yamaha confirmed to MCN a best time of 1:55.306 leaving him 15th fastest. Valentino Rossi and Fabio Quartararo both commented on how helpful Crutchlow had been to them already. Meanwhile in the Suzuki garage, reigning champion Joan Mir was eighth overall in Qatar, but his main focus was testing, amongst other things, the new chassis. Mir told MCN that the chassis had improved the Suzuki’s handling to some extent, but had compromised braking performance. Alex Rins (10th)…

Two big biking dates are now looming surprisingly near on the horizon. The one I’m most looking forward to is March 29, when we should be allowed to ride again for the sheer joy of being on two wheels – not just for commuting or essential journeys. The last year has seen me record my lowest annual mileage for two decades; I can’t wait to get back out there and soak up the happiness. The other major uncorking that has suddenly arrived with surprising speed (where is this year disappearing to so fast?) is the start of the racing calendar. This week’s MotoGP test was a tantalising glimpse of the controlled aggression and confidence of all the key players, old and new. Testing is, of course, not racing – but…

Aprilia have announced major updates to their learner-friendly SX and RX125, with both receiving a fresh engine, improved instruments and better fuelling, thanks to a new ECU. The SX125 is the Noale firm’s entry-level supermoto and rolls on 17in rims shod with road-orientated rubber. By contrast, the RX125 comes equipped with knobblies and wears a 21in rim up front and an 18-incher at the back. Both feature Bosch ABS, which regulates the amount of rear wheel lift during a big handful of braking, plus chunky 41mm USD forks with 240mm of travel. Almost identical beneath the surface, both are now powered by a Euro5-friendly 124.2cc 4v single, producing a claimed 14.8bhp at 10,000rpm and 8.3lb.ft of torque at 8000rpm. Revisions include a new combustion chamber, new intake and exhaust, which…

Thanks to the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the MCN events team announced last month that they have taken the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling until Autumn this year so that it can run with the most chance of normality possible. Obviously the decision was taken in the interests of the health and wellbeing of all involved, and taking into account government guyidance. But we’re delighted to confirm that the festival will still run in 2021 at its established home, the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on September 4-5. We’re also delighted to confirm that the programme remains as jam-packed full of brilliant stuff as usual including test rides from the major manufacturers, an abundance of gear and kit bargains, extraordinary all-action…

‘You’ll never lose on an old scoot’ I’m looking at scooter prices again. You may recall that last year, demand for decent scooters (Yamaha Nmax 125, Honda PCX125, etc) went crazy. People were buying them to use as Deliveroo steeds while on furlough, and then when lockdown ended everyone wanted one to commute on and importers sold out. Prices for nearly new scooters were hardly less than new ones, and there weren’t any new ones. My Nmax 125 was worth about £100-£200 less than I paid for it, new, in late 2019. Oh-kay. Let’s think about spring/summer 2021. The economy is 10% down on last year. That should have an effect on consumer spending. However, those in work have paid back about £100 billion in consumer debt (loans, credit cards,…

‘Covid made me buy a LiveWire!’ Unable to tour, Gareth Swanson swapped a Harley-Davidson Ultra for a LiveWire “I’m a Harley-Davidson rider through and through and since passing my test in 2003 I have only ever owned Harleys – and always touring models. I started on a Heritage and then bought the first of my four full-dress Ultras, upgrading when the model changed significantly. I’m not from a biking background and for me riding isn’t about speed, it is about enjoyment, touring and also the social scene through HOG, which gives you a reason to ride. However 2020 curtailed this. “Most of my riding involved attending HOG events and the Covid pandemic completely stopped this, especially the European touring holidays. I’ve owned an electric car for a long time and…

TOURING LIFE After riding since 1963 I downsized to a Honda CB500X and have been touring both France and Scotland since then. • Reader Colin Leighfield • The ride Mull of Kintyre, Skye, the NC500 through Durness, Thurso, Dunnets Head, John O’Groats, Inverness, then down the Great GLen to Fort Augustus, the Highlands Trail, Cairngorm National Park, Glencoe and South to Moffatt and back home to Sutton Coldfield • Miles 1830 • Don’t miss this Enjoy all the narrow and single-track roads • Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE ROUTE THE PLAN The idea was for a Wednesday-Wednesday tour from home in Sutton Coldfield up and around Scotland. SINGLE TRACK The CB500X is ideal on some of the narrow roads I explored. I don’t miss bigger machines at all. THE…

Q ‘Can I settle my own case?’ I have a personal injury claim which my solicitors have been dealing with for three years. Court proceedings were started in 2019 but the case keeps getting placed on pause. I understand it is because the main fracture in my right leg has still not healed properly. I am fed up with the stress and would like it concluded, but my solicitors say they cannot do so because of my ongoing problems. Surely I am allowed to settle my own case? Adrian Baker, email A The court can agree to a stay (pause) in proceedings when a case is not ready for settlement. I imagine that your solicitors are concerned about the nonunion of the bone and possible deterioration. One solution would be…

WINNING ON TRACK Ivan won a hatful of trophies on short circuits and sprints on his KTT. This shot is from Birmingham in the early 1970s. PASSING THE BATON Ivan’s son Graham (on the overhead cam 250) got the racing and engineering bug, and eventually won the Manx GP. MEETING THE STARS Ivan’s Velos have always been sought-after for parades. Here he is with GP star Bill Lomas (middle) and champion trials rider Ron Langston (left). VELOS ON PARADE For the 50th anniversary of the Manx GP in 1973 Ivan supplied all the Velocettes for the parade. He rode alongside the stars.…

MIKE ARMITAGE DEPUTY EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING Don’t imagine the XDiavel is a high-powered cruiser; instead, think of it as a super-naked with a feet-first ride. Sure, it’s stretched out, low and feels great pootling around, but its mighty V-twin and outrageous chassis abilities should not be underestimated. It’s no do-anything all-rounder, but if you like the idea of a standout posing tool that can also deliver quick-fix excitement the Ducati is cock-on. Of course, this was already the case but cleaning up its emissions while actually increasing performance should be applauded, and in Black Star form it has the class to go wheel-to- wheel with fresher rivals. THE FACTS £21,443 Ducati XDiavel Black Star…

Once Covid-19 travel restrictions ease, the best way to ride southern India, unless you have a few months at your disposal, is to sign up with an organised tour of the region. A good guide with comprehensive backup will help make the most of your adventure and allow you to see the best of the country in the time available, plus you get to ride with a group of like-minded individuals and share an epic road trip. It takes a lot of the stress and uncertainty out of the trip, too. One such operator is Nomadic Knights, who are permanently based in India and have been running tours for over 10 years. Led by ageless Scotsman Alex Pirie, they are widely regarded as the specialists for the subcontinent. Prices start…

DAN SUTHERLAND SENIOR WRITER Year-round commuter, weekend blaster and racetrack dweller SEE A FULL ROUND-UP VIDEO ON www.motorcyclenews.com now I couldn’t believe my luck when I was entrusted with KTM’s 1290 Super Duke GT. Grabbing the keys in early February, I couldn’t wait to put its 173bhp V-twin to the test on track and lose my European touring virginity. It was going to be epic. Fast forward to early March and there’s been one rain- soaked track evening, no Euro adventure and only 6500-miles. Gutted. Thanks Covid. That’s not to say the year was a total washout though and between lockdowns the Austrian powerhouse has become one of my favourite bikes. Aggressively styled, incredibly fast and comfortable enough to swallow hundreds of miles between fill-ups, the GT proved itself to…

There are few garage tasks more satisfying than making good a stripped thread and once you’ve bought a kit and know how to use it, you’ll be surprised how often you’ll do it - particularly if you have one or more old bikes. You can go for the helicoil type of repair or the steel insert fix. Both work in a similar way, but the helicoil insert resembles a tightly coiled spring, and the steel insert is a solid slug. I always default to the steel insert. The main reason being that when I’ve taken something apart to fix a problem, the historical helicoil repair carried out by a previous owner invariably fails, then snags and unwinds like a comedy cartoon clock spring. I bought a used race bike a…

Following an innovative YouTube and social media campaign, Taylor Mackenzie has found himself a seat in the 2021 Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship. The 28-year-old has re-joined Michael Rutter’s Bathams Racing BMW team and will line-up alongside 2019 champion Richard Cooper — once Cooper returns from injury. Until then, Rutter will compete alongside Mackenzie at selected rounds. In his last Superstock campaign (2019), Mackenzie took his Bathams Racing S1000 RR to the runner-up spot with four victories. After being left without a ride last year, Mackenzie created YouRace in order to raise funds. Viewers could assist by watching adverts and clicking on affiliate links to Amazon. “I had no idea if it would work,” he admitted. “I gave it everything I could to give myself the best shot and it…

Ducati continue to push the boundaries with revised aeros. The new attachment on the lower bellypan, has internal vanes directing the airflow downwards. Speculation is that it’s to channel air towards the rear spoiler. Utilising the new add-on comes at the expense of running wheel covers, typically used to reduce turbulence. The angle of the internal vanes could also be there to increase downforce when the bike is a full lean in a bid to improve turning. Ducati have a plethora of data collection devices including a solid rear wheel that works in sync with a laser on the end of the swingarm. The wheel (not pictured) is believed to provide more concise torque and torsion feedback. Further lasers allow more accurate analysis of ride height, tyre deflection and bump…

Whilst Yamaha’s young guns were flourishing, it was a completely different story for Valentino Rossi on his Petronas Yamaha debut. The 42-year-old finished 19th overall, +1.644s slower than Quartararo, and was slower than rookie brother Luca Marini on Sunday. Rossi cited the tyres and a lack of rear grip as the culprits for his woes. “The position is not fantastic,” Rossi said. “Today I did not feel very comfortable with the bike. I had a problem with the bike so I couldn’t make the time attack at the end of the day. If not, I can improve a bit, but this is not the problem. The problem is that I was not fast enough.” Rossi used both the 2020 and 2021 chassis but, unlike Quartararo, wasn’t overly enthusiastic, stating that…

The Super Duke is from a time when KTM still promoted the fact that they weren’t interested in ‘rider aids’. The current range might have more electronics than Maplins, but when the 990 was invented KTM were all about rider involvement and being in control. So you get a free-revving and punchy V-twin wedged in a flyweight chassis that overflows with feedback, somewhere to put your bum, some controls… oh, and an edgy exhaust note. Don’t go for the R version - it’s too stiff for the road. Fuel pumps and clutch slave cylinders cause problems; make sure the motor’s getting fed and have a good poke about for leaking fluids. Seals give up on the water pump at around 15,000 miles. Let the tacho do a full sweep when…

SAVE £3548 £20,895 Ducati Panigale V4 S This unregistered red Panigale is a 2019 model. The astoundingly quick V4S can be a handful on the racetrack “but for the sheer thrill of ownership and short road blasts, few motorcycles feel so special,” according to MCN’s Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves. This one is at Ducati Cambridge. • vindisducati.com SAVE £4499 £26,500 Honda Gold Wing DCT As well as the cash saving, HGB are throwing in three free services and a bike cover. • hgbmotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 1833cc • Power 125bhp • Weight 378kg • Seat height 744mm SAVE £1400 £9999 Kawasaki Versys 1000 You can also buy this green 2020-model with 5.9% HP or PCP finance. What’s not to like? • colchesterkawasaki.co.uk • Engine 1043cc • Power 118bhp • Weight…

Honda have postponed their biennial Adventure Roads experience until 2022. The 2021 event was due to take place in Iceland in June but the firm say: “With uncertainty around restrictions, the decision has been made to postpone the event until 2022.” The new provisional dates are June 24-July 4, 2022. If you were signed up this year’s ride you are entitled to a full refund, or you can hold your place for next year by paying a small deposit. Droning on/off Honda have filed a patent in America for a bizarre system combining a drone with a motorbike. The drone lives in a box where you would normally find a pillion seat. Once triggered, the aircraft is released and folds out to full size. The patent lists a range of…

Ducati HV-1 Pro helmet by Arai £179.99 ‘Ducati fan? Save 65% on this Arai!’ We’ve had a busy week searching out top quality brands for a snip of their retail price and found some corking deals on lids, leathers and riding gear. Take this Ducati branded Arai lid from Welsh-based internet giant, M&P. It’s a steal, with an impressive 65% off. Based on the popular Arai Chaser-V Pro the helmet has a lightweight shell and a fully washable and removable inner. The cheek pads are made from high-spec foam, which compresses and rebounds as you pull the lid on, making it easier to put on and take off. There’s an external sun visor that’s easy to clip into place, as well as a quick-release main visor. Double D-ring fastener ensures…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR In September 2021 ‘E10’ will become the new standard unleaded petrol in UK filling stations and the changeover has sparked concerns. Are these worries valid? We’ve taken your questions to an industry expert. What is E10 petrol and why is it being introduced? At the moment, regular unleaded is ‘E5’, which means it has no more than 5% ethanol content. Ethanol is simple alcohol and as its name suggests, E10 has a higher content. “In the UK, E10 will be petrol containing at least 5.5% and up to 10% ethanol – with the remainder made up principally of hydrocarbons,” says Jamie Baker, from the UK Petroleum Industry Association. “As almost all ethanol blended into petrol in the UK is renewable in origin – the fuel manufacturing greenhouse gas…

UK biking accessory firm Evotech are offering a helping hand to motorcycle racers across the 2021 season, with up to £3000 in free radiator guards up for grabs. In a new scheme called the ‘Evotech Performance Racing Programme’, the opportunity is open to anyone competing in a UK-based racing championship recognised by the Auto Cycle Union (ACU). Designed to help small teams operating on tight budgets, the offer is open all the way up to British Superbike and Superstock competitors, with anyone selected also enjoying a little added exposure on the firm’s social media and newsletters. While there is no maximum number of successful applicants, the budget assigned to the programme will not exceed £3000. So, once that cash has been spent, applications will close. Teams entering must not have…

Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is James’ pick… National Motorcycle Museum boss James Hewing has the keys to nearly 1000 classic Brits from track legends such as Hizzy’s 1992 White Charger Norton NRS588 to road bikes including Brough Superiors, Vincents, Triumphs, Velocettes, BSAs, you name it. So how would the man with this huge motorcycling chocolate box at his disposal spend his own cash? “This is an absolute no-brainer, and it may surprise a few people considering my job, but I’d buy a Ducati 851. In fact, I did just that last year. “Back in the early 1990s I owned an 851 and bitterly regret selling it. During winter…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Don’t spend it all at once I have two motorcycle policies and have recently seen the provider telling customers that we may be entitled to a refund if restrictions have curtailed mileages. Today I rang them and told them that my annual mileage on the first bike had dropped from the estimated 5000 miles per year, to under 1000. After much tapping on the other end of the phone, the call handler revealed that I was entitled to a discount. 9p. Yes, 9p. Thanks guys! Brin Taylor, email Give it the hard shoulder Just reading the article about the call to ditch smart motorways and I am a bit surprised at the excuse made by the Transport Secretary that it’s not feasible. He says that “it…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR £9300 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport ● 888cc inline triple DOHC 12v ● 84bhp @ 8500rpm ● 212kg wet weight (est) As adventure bikes have replaced sports tourers, the lines between the two have blurred. While adventure bikes retain rugged silhouettes, their components have become evermore road targeted. Is it time we just accepted that an adventure bike is unlikely ever to go off-road? Triumph obviously think so as the new Tiger 850 Sport is billed as ‘a road-focused adventure bike.’ Is this a smart move? Over to the MCN250 to decide... How do you classify the new Tiger 850 Sport? It’s obviously an adventure bike but where does it sit in this category? It is a middleweight adventure bike? Not really, it may carry an 850 badge but…

JON URRY GUEST ROAD TESTER In some ways Triumph have done the Tiger Sport a bit of a disservice by labelling it an 850 and not a 900 as this makes riders assume it is a less ‘grown-up’ model, which is far from the truth. The Sport isn’t a machine that only newer riders should be interested in and it most certainly isn’t a ‘budget’ bike either. The Sport is an easy-going and great fun adventure bike that is incredibly accommodating when it comes to just getting on with the job in hand with no fuss, no complaints and remarkably few irritations. Yes, it lacks a few of the 900 models’ bells and whistles but for most of the time these missing trinkets aren’t a huge issue. I’d like to…

STEFANO CORDARA GUEST ROAD TESTER The Aprilia Tuono 660 may seem steep at just under £10k when compared to something like the Yamaha MT-07 (£6899), but its attitude and performance make it more of a rival to KTM’s 890 Duke. And with the Austrian naked costing a very similar £9649, the Tuono 660 starts to make a little more sense when compared to this more feisty company. It’s not much cheaper (just £449) than its sporty RS660 brother either, but it does put the emphasis on acceleration and has a slightly comfier riding position. But most of all, is it is easy to enjoy and more than capable in almost any scenario. It looks great, too! THE FACTS £9700 Aprilia Tuono 660…

18 MONTHS X-lite X-803 Ultra Carbon £429.99 ‘Incredible on both track and road’ Tested by Mike Armitage for 18 month, 2000 miles Fabulously light? Amazing vents? Racy little spoiler? Jazzy interior? Yes, to all of it. The carbon composite X-803 is X-lite’s ‘pure racing helmet’, as used by WSB and MotoGP types. I first used it on a blisteringly hot July trackday and was delighted by its ability to stop my bonce turning into a clammy beetroot. Best track hat that I’ve used? I reckon. But what makes the X-803 stand out is that it also works as a day-to-day road helmet. The quick-wicking liners of some race lids can become scratchy and irritating, but the ‘innovative netting’ and quality materials of the quick-release cheek pads and pleasingly bold lining…

2016-present Triumph Bonneville T120 A thoroughly modern Bonnie, the all new 79bhp 1200cc parallel twin is liquid-cooled and fuel injected. There’s also traction control, switchable engine modes, and even cruise control for 2021. Comes in a range of trim levels to suit all styles. 2007-2008 Triumph Bonneville A single-year run of 865cc Bonnies is also the last to feature carbs. The pair of electrically heated Keihins sneak through Euro3 emissions regulations with the help of an air injection unit by the spark plugs to dispel unburnt fuel but also sap a smidgen of power. 2002-present Triumph Bonneville T100 Created to mark Triumph’s Centenary, the T100 was originally a more deluxe version of the standard Bonnie. It got a larger 865cc engine in 2005, then became a 900cc liquid-cooled entry point…

‘Pushbike, scooter or Ducati 848?’ Sportsbikes get nicked. Their performance is appealing to joy-riding idiots, the parts have value when stripped, and it’s easy to hide one as a track bike (or, dare I say it, race bike…). Alarms are all well and good, but the best deterrent is a sturdy lock - and that means one that’s been assessed by Sold Secure and carries their Gold or Silver logo showing how well it stands up to attack. But be careful. Sold Secure have different standards for scooter and bike products, reflecting methods used by typical thieves, and so a Sold Scooter Gold won’t be as robust as Motorcycle Gold. This seems common sense, but when you’re shopping online (as we all pretty much have to) it’s very easy to…

A well-used Kawasaki ZZR1400 rolled into Doncaster Motorcycles for an MoT the other day, only to fail on its horn, or lack of it. Normally if a horn fails, it’s down to the unit itself that needs replacing because they are out in the weather. But on this commuter workhorse that wasn’t the case. Instead, mechanic Kev Hollingsworth traced the problem back to corrosion in the Kawasaki’s switchgear. He said: “Within the switchgear there’s a brass ring that makes the bridge between the 12V live feed and the earth and it was clear that this was the problem.” In fact, crudded up switchgear is something mechanics like Kev have been dealing with more and more as time goes on. Kev picks up the story: “I have never stripped and cleaned…

MOTOGP TECH INSIGHT BT Sport’s guru Michael Laverty writes for MCN Aprilia showed they have made the most of concessions that mean they can develop a new engine and aeros into the 2021 season, with lead rider Aleix Espargaro setting the third-fastest time onboard his heavily revised RS-GP. Having debuted a brand new machine for 2020, Aprilia have addressed many of their weak areas. The main frame has been modified in how the subframe mounts to the machine, but the rider position remains relatively unchanged, the angle of the seat isn’t as steep so the rider will sit lower and benefit from a taller screen. The bike itself is under the weight limit for the first time since Aprilia’s return to the premier class and lap times set by Espargaro…

Testing: false positives and let’s wait-and-see MotoGP’s back. This column is back. Like daffodils heralding spring, the groundswell is... er, swelling. It is (to coin a phrase much beloved of sports TV commentators) the greatest comeback since Lazarus. I was hoping to reserve this line for the return of Marc Marquez, when he jumps straight back onto his orange Honda and wins the first five races going away. But this may be a dream too far. not only that he will be straight back to speed, but even that he’ll be on the bike at all. Word from Qatar is he’s likely to miss the first two GPs in the desert, only returning for Jerez’s round three mid-April. Makes sense, given it’s less than three months since his last arm-open/new-plate…

The Super Duke is from a time when KTM still promoted the fact that they weren’t interested in ‘rider aids’. The current range might have more electronics than Maplins, but when the 990 was invented KTM were all about rider involvement and being in control. So you get a free-revving and punchy V-twin wedged in a flyweight chassis that overflows with feedback, somewhere to put your bum, some controls... oh, and an edgy exhaust note. Don’t go for the R version - it’s too stiff for the road. Fuel pumps and clutch slave cylinders cause problems; make sure the motor’s getting fed and have a good poke about for leaking fluids. Seals give up on the water pump at around 15,000 miles. Let the tacho do a full sweep when…