Table of contents for 7 April 2021 in MCN

‘A wondrous one-of-a-kind creation’MCN’S NEEVESY ON THE BUSA SPECIAL TEST Welcome back to the hyperbike Hyperbikes are dead, long live the hyperbike. Yes, the market may have marched away from the uber-fast sports sled, but while the lone survivor of the class is Suzuki’s newly returned Hayabusa, this is no dinosaur. Our extended test this week proved that the silky smoothness of big cubes and acres of torque still delivers one of the most engaging rides you can buy. FULL TEST 27 THE BIG TEST British bulldog bites the king Ever since Yamaha released their cheeky MT-07 naked middleweight, it’s been the dominant force in the market. Blending an ever so attractive budget price with an absolute peach of an engine and enough chassis wherewithal to entertain you without tieing…

Online orders have opened for Yamaha’s 20th Anniversary TMAX. Adorned with all kinds of fancy parts including carbon bodywork, yellow stitched heated seat and nifty graphite paint, the special edition is sure to catch the eye. Yamaha are making just 560 of them so you’ll have to be quick although £14,699 might slow things down a touch. More info at tmax20anniversary.yamaha-motor.eu A pair of LiveWires British adventurers Ross and Hugo Turner have brought their adventurous exploits closer to home and filmed themselves taming the North Coast 500 in Scotland. Easy you might say but they tackled the trip on a pair of Harley-Davidson LiveWires without the big back up crew of say, a couple of movie stars. If you’ve got 20 minutes to spare, it’s an entertaining watch at youtu.be/qZIuXAAEM0g…

NEWS EDITOR ‘KTM have turned the Duke up to 11’ HIGHLIGHTS • 1301cc V-twin • 177bhp & 103lb.ft • 837-847mm seat height • 180kg (dry) • £21,499 KTM have turned it up to 11 with their new 1290 Super Duke RR, taking the already formidable stock machine and stripping out every gram of fat while tuning the electronics to the max. The first thing you’ll notice is that almost everything that can be carbon fibre is carbon fibre. The fairing, the chainguard, the mudguard, the brake ducts, the undertray – even the ignition lock. The fancy plastic self-supporting seat unit of the standard R has been replaced with a carbon single seat unit that weighs just 800g. There are new machined triple clamps that save 320g, new forged wheels that…

SAVE £1681 £25,999 MV Agusta Brutale 1000RR Underneath those layers of shiny paint and away from its designer labels, decadent styling and fancy electronics the Brutale is a well-sorted, involving, refined and capable motorcycle. It’s still raw and unapologetically angry, but in 2020 it was the best bike MV had produced in a very long time. • www.motocorsa.com SAVE £1400 £7499 KTM 790 Duke There’s just one black and orange beastie left at Inmoto. It combines calm practicality with playful excitement. • www.inmoto.com • Engine 790cc • Power 105bhp • Weight 189kg • Seat height 825mm SAVE £1149 £5499 Suzuki SV650 This Euro-4 black SV is on a 70-plate and is the perfect ride for anyone looking to move onto a bigger bike. • www.youlesmotorcycles.com • Engine 654cc • Power…

WORTH UP TO £480! We’ve got together with Shark to give away a Spartan GT Carbon helmet, their brand-new fibre composite full-face lid. The helmet offers the highest level of protection, thanks to its combination of fibre and carbon layers, in conjunction with the Multi-Density EPS and the SHARK Emergency Release System concept, that allows for quick and intuitive removal of the neck and cheek padding in the event of an accident. SHARK SKIN side plates minimise aerodynamic disturbances, with 3D cheek pads for a snug fit and optimal support. The fully adjustable ventilation system features a dual air intake chin guard, dual air extractors on the rear and ergonomic upper ventilation plus SANITIZED®-labelled ALVEOTECH lining fabric offers enhanced antimicrobial efficiency, free from odour and perspiration. The Spartan GT Carbon…

Lid Lamp £150 Ex-supersport racer Jimmy Dye from Sussex invented this Lid Lamp after trying to find something suitable to brighten up his son’s room… and failing! The functioning visor and controller on the base of the lamp allows various brightness settings. There’s a range of distinctive colours to ensure an aesthetically pleasing addition to any bike lover’s home or workplace. www.lidlamps.com Ducati luggage from £75 Ducati have unveiled a new Redline collection of trolleys and rucksacks. The collection, which coincides with the start to the MotoGP season, is a collaboration with US brand Ogio and gives Ducatisti the opportunity to show their allegiance on every trip. The collection consists of two trolleys (£139 and £249) and three rucksacks (£75, £109 and £249). They are made using long-lasting polyester. www.ducatistore.co.uk…

WEDNESDAY April 7 5am, BTS2 MotoGP Highlights: GP of Doha 2021 THURSDAY April 8 3pm, QUEST World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides: New Zealand – Part 1 FRIDAY April9 3pm, QUEST, World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides: New Zealand – Part 2 SATURDAY April 12 10am, EUR2 Barry Sheene Classic 2020 TUESDAY April 13 6am, EUR2 Le Mans 2020 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 SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA)…

The hugely popular Honda Owners Club hits 60 this year and is planning a whole host of events to mark this significant milestone. The club was formed to support owners of the new Japanese machines trickling into Britain in 1961 and was actually born one year before Honda UK. The club is still going strong and has 1574 members and 24 branches spread across the country. The club plans lots of events to celebrate its sixtieth birthday, including the Honda Owners Club Classic Show on June 27 at the Sammy Miller Museum in the New Forest, where non-members will also be made welcome. The club will also be supporting the Honda Day at the Ace Café in London on July 4 with the final flourish of the year being the…

THE PLAN Eight of us decided to ride from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city in April 2019. We all have varying ability from recently passed to lifelong motorcyclists. • Reader Russell French • The ride Vietnam 2019 for our joint 50th birthdays • Miles 1690 • How long did it take? 14 days in total • Best bit? It was a great route riding through the mountains down the Ho Chi Minh Trail and along the coastal roads, the weather was good and it was a brilliant experience. • Send your adventures and pictures to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com THE ROUTE ALL ABOARD There was great camaraderie on the trip and we had some fun alongside the proper riding adventure. GET A GUIDE We used Hoi An Motorcycle Adventures, we rode Honda…

Q ‘Can I get cover Q on a test ride?’ There was a news story about 18 months ago of someone selling their motorcycle where the buyer took it for a test ride. Unbeknown to the seller, that person had no valid insurance and crashed the bike, seriously injuring two pedestrians. Apparently, because the rider had no insurance they were able to claim against the seller/owner’s insurance which paid out. The seller/owner’s insurance then proceeded to set about getting their money back through their policy holder, which resulted in him having to sell his house. If this is the situation, how on Earth can someone sell their bike privately? Even if the seller is holding full payment whilst the rider takes it for a test ride, the financial risk is…

RIDING INTO AFRICA ‘Always approach unknown situations with care, because you don’t know how far away from help you’re going to be. It was a milestone moment for me when that clicked.’ UNDER ASIAN SKIES ‘Repairing the bike in Thailand. I was still a mechanical idiot and had no idea. It was a nerve-wracking point for me, but it taught me to listen, take a deep breath, stay calm and face every situation on its own to find a solution.’ NEVER GIVE UP ‘What a road Chile’s Carretera Austral is, but it’s one that ended up with me being medivac’d back to the UK. I was told I’d never ride again, but with Birgit’s support we returned.’ COYOTE BEACH, BAJA ‘We planned one night but ended up leaving a week…

Less power, more midrange Suzuki say they looked at different engine configurations and tried six cylinders, turbos and more cubes during development, but at the end of it they stuck with their trusty 1340cc inline four. It’s proved to be right choice from a dynamic point of view, but it is a shame they weren’t more adventurous, just for the sheer craziness of it. Not only is the motor’s basic architecture unchanged, but it’s down on power – snipped from the Gen 2’s 194bhp @ 9500rpm to 187bhp @ 9700rpm. Torque drops from 114lb.ft @ 7200rpm to 111lb.ft @ 7000rpm, too – although it’s retuned for more midrange. Suzuki claim 0-60mph and 0-120mph times are fractionally quicker. No stone left unturned… It Suzuki’s quest for extra grunt and to satisfy…

Best time to visit The Trentino region of Italy has stunning mountain roads and breath-taking scenery. Due to the altitude on some of the roads, the best months to ride are between June and October. It is advisable to check whether particular roads are open or not. Speed limits Urban areas 50kmh (31mph); minor out-of-town roads 90kmh (56mph); major out-of-town roads 110kmh (68mph); motorways 130km/h (81mph). There are many speed cameras in all the villages so always be mindful of your throttle. The best roads SS239 Between Dimaro and Pinzolo – highest point on this road is Passo Campo Carlo Magno with 1682m. The pass connects Val Rendena and Val di Sole. To the west are the Adamello Presanella mountains and to the east are the Brenta Dolomites. SP53 Shortcut…

‘Making new friends helps avoid a nail’ Aficionados of grey import 400s get all excited by specific model codes and unique features of bikes from certain years. They’ll rejoice in pointing out that a home-market FZR400RR SP will have flatslide carbs but you get CV carbs on the UK model, which has the model code 3TJ2 and was only imported in 1990. Or that the final two years of the GSX-R400 GK76A can be spotted by the shape of the front brake discs. ‘I think you’ll find…’ This can all be off-putting to those of us outside the circle of knowledge. Nobody wants to be laughed at for buying a bike from the year when they used incorrect backplate widget sprockets. But you shouldn’t be deterred; in fact, their knowledge…

The owner of this 2007 Honda Blackbird couldn’t work out why his much-loved machine was reluctant to go around corners, so he called Mark Dickinson. Mark, who runs Motorcycle Wizards (a mobile bike repair firm in the West Mids), said: “The first thing I asked about was the state of the tyres. He said the rear tread was a little low, but he’d go and double-check. “When he came back on the phone, he was so shocked by how bad it was that he told me he wasn’t going to ride it anymore. Previously, he had only checked the tyre tread he could see with the bike on its sidestand. But when he rotated it and checked it all the way round, the hidden half was down to the carcass.”…

BT Sport’s guru Michael Laverty writes for MCN The thrilling battles at the opening two rounds of the 2021 MotoGP championship in Qatar raised the age-old debate: What is the ultimate four-cylinder MotoGP engine? Statistically the V4 has enjoyed the lion’s share of the glory since the 2012 move back to 1000cc, but if you remove Marc Marquez from the equation the outcome looks decidedly different and the inline four wins out. But four circuits overwhelmingly remain the domain of the V4: Brno, the Red Bull Ring, Sepang and Motegi. And they are all ‘horsepower circuits’. V4s can produce more bhp to MotoGP’s 1000cc limit than inline fours due to a number of factors – the shorter V4 crankshaft has fewer bearings, which lowers friction; it is stronger, meaning it…

‘The Rossi conundrum – pan him at your peril’ If anyone needs lessons in how to earn opprobrium for no good reason, I refer you to Marco Lucchinelli. The Italian 500cc World Champ of 1981, Superbike race winner and Ducati team boss, is in the dogbox for downing Valentino Rossi. VR, he opined, is over the hill, and should make way for the young guys who are kicking his backside. Rossi could, he told the Tutto Motori website, “run up to when he is 50 – seventh or eighth every Sunday, sometimes fourth and maybe every so often a podium. [But] the Rossi we knew fought for victories every Sunday.” Elsewhere he described early-days Rossi as “a genius, a Martian. But now he’s back on Earth.” Now, “he takes the…

SPORTS REPORTERS Eighteen months after his MotoGP career hit the buffers, Johann Zarco was feeling on top of the world in Qatar. Back-to-back second places in the Doha double-header moved him to the top of the points table, as his renaissance continued in an unforgettable weekend for Pramac Ducati. Zarco took second to compatriot Fabio Quartararo ahead of fastlearning teammate and overnight sensation Jorge Martin who, 24 hours after stunning the paddock with a maiden pole position, looked anything but a rookie. Thrown a career lifeline last season by Ducati after he quit KTM less than halfway through a two-year contract in 2019, not even Zarco could have imagined reaching the dizzy heights of series leader just two races into the new season. The 30-year-old, who claimed his 50th career…

There’s seemingly very little you can do to predict when the changing of the guard will happen in racing. While some riders hold onto their careers dramatically longer than you’d expect, others throw the towel in and walk away unexpectedly early. Gaps appear, the balance of power ebbs and flows – but it seems like a fairly glacial shift most years. But in all three GP classes it feels like the future has suddenly arrived in a hail of race bullets. The fairly new ‘establishment’ (Mir, Quartararo, Rins and Miller) jostling with the absurd nascent talent of Martin, Bagnaia, and Binder in the premier class. Meanwhile, Moto2 and Moto3 may be inherently more predisposed to influxes of new talent – but it’s actually the shift in the maturity and consistency…

Ducati have been working hard to shed the image of unreliability that was gained decades ago and is hard to shift. A big part of that has been communication and despite the recent setback with the Multistrada, Milicia is sure they’re on the right path. “I think one of the secrets of Ducati is that when we have a new product, we communicate with our dealers and our staff. There’s a saying that ‘nobody knows how better to improve a machine, than the worker who operates it’ and it’s the same with bikes. It’s the dealer who’s in front of the customer and they hear day to day what is working but also what’s not working. “We are always trying to build a better product for our customers. The one…

Dapper folks on classic and retro bikes are being invited to take part in 2021’s special 10th Anniversary Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride – set for its new springtime date of Sunday, May 23. This year marks the first decade of the ‘DGR’, a series of charity rides spread across the globe, which blend dressing-up in gentlemanly tweeds and brogues with massed riding of ‘old school’ bikes to raise money for men’s health. Conceived to counter the traditional stereotype of men on motorcycles and also highlight men’s mental health and, via Movember, prostate cancer, the DGR was founded in Sydney in 2012 by Australian Mark Hawwa with the first event involving 2500 riders across 64 cities. Ten years on, the annual event has proved a big success with happenings across the world,…

Yamaha’s grand plan to get the new Nmax 125 to the top of the sales charts (see first test, p8) has been given a big boost by one the UK’s biggest bike hire companies. Plantec Assist have snapped up 250 of the lively machines as they strengthen their fleet of affordable commuters. Dave Beetison, Head of Operations for Plantec Assist said: “With more and more people requesting the Yamaha Nmax, we want to be known as the go-to provider for motorcycling needs, especially for commuters who are relying on scooters to be a safer mode of transport to get them to work.” Sitting pretty The makers of these new ComfortAir Seat Cushions say they use medically-proven tech to alleviate back pain, dampen vibration and reduce painful pressure points. They use…

SENIOR WRITER Eager bikers are making up for lost time in the saddle and planning plenty of mid-week blasts after work, made all the better for the switch to British Summer Time. Members of MCN’s #ride5000miles campaign were forced to sit out the first three months of the year, due to restrictions on travel. However, a change in England’s Covid-19 guidance on Monday, March 29 means many have more freedom to start riding for pleasure, with an extra hour of daylight in the evenings sweetening the deal. “I’ve been biking since I was 17. It’s something I’ve always done and it’s like cutting my right arm off if I can’t ride,” says Kawasaki ZZR1400 owner, Derek Baker. Yet to turn a wheel this year at the time of talking to…

‘My hot tip? Bag a Thunderbird 900’ I’m in the happy position (mortgage paid, decent investments outweighing the crap ones) of being able to buy pretty much what I want, which is why I have a catholic assortment of bikes. OK, so a Vincent Black Shadow is unlikely, but that apart, I’ll often buy on impulse as long as I’m sure I’ll get my money back when I come to sell it. It mostly works (Kawasaki Ninja H2 excepted). I’m looking at the Triumph 900 Thunderbird again. In past versions of this column, I’ve noted that the T’bird, as well as being one of the best versions of the original Hinckley 900cc triple, and styled better than the early Bonneville 790, seems chronically undervalued as people hunt out the Speed…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Loud pipes do save lives The Romanian study on loud pipes is deeply flawed. The main saving of lives enabled by bikes fitted with a noisy exhaust or induction system is that pedestrians and animals (dogs, cats etc) can hear the machine coming. This prevents the T-boning of jay-walking pedestrians and other emergency braking type crashes that put the rider and pedestrian at risk of injury. Tim Wild, email Tyres don’t last that long I have to applaud MCN for their R5K and Facebook goup product ratings, but results need to reflect reality. I refer to the May 17 issue and tyre life figures readers were reporting. I ran Pirelli Rosso 4s on a 2010 Sprint ST and grip was OK but steering was so slow.…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR £7195 Triumph Trident 660 • 660cc inline triple DOHC 12v • 80bhp @ 10,250rpm • 189kg wet weight £6899 Yamaha MT-07 • 689cc parallel twin DOHC 8v • 72.4bhp @ 8750rpm • 184kg wet weight Where sportsbikes grab headlines on track, it is the middleweight class that sees big sales and of late there has only been one winner – the MT-07. Launched in 2014, the parallel twin has dominated, making up 20% of all Yamaha’s motorcycle sales. Now in its third generation, the 2021 MT-07 has matured into a more refined bike with a greater emphasis on comfort, but there’s a fly in the ointment: Triumph’s new Trident 660. Can it knock the class-leader off its perch? In a world of spiralling power figures, I relish the…

I am a huge fan of the MT-07, but in the Trident it has more than met its match and despite a few updates for 2021 I can’t help but feel Yamaha have simply papered over the cracks when they needed to do more. The MT is still brilliant but the Trident has moved the game on. Triumph have taken a proven base (the superb Street Triple) and pared it back without removing any of the elements that make it so good – namely its sporty chassis and lovely triple motor. The result is an amazingly well-priced middleweight that looks great, responds well and has enough tech to make you feel it is a contemporary bike and not a bit old-hat, which is the issue the MT still suffers from.…

MICHAEL NEEVES CHIEF ROAD TESTER We’re glad that Suzuki haven’t messed with the Busa’s magic recipe too much. Styling is more evolution than revolution and it rides similarly, but the suspension upgrades deliver a deliciously supple ride and the engine’s extra grunt makes you forget all about a drop in peak power you’ll rarely use anyway. Brakes are an improvement, but blunted by their electronics, the low-speed throttle action is snatchy and the riding position can be cramped for tall riders. Those small niggles aside, the 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa is still a wondrous, one-of-a-kind creation that remains the epitome of effortless speed. THE FACTS £16,499 Suzuki Hayabusa…

1 Keis G701 £199 Expensive but having used them in some seriously wet and cold weather, I can honestly say I got over the buyer’s remorse in about 20 minutes. James Staff, Maidenhead 2 Held Air N Dry Gore-Tex £200 They are offer the right temp on a hot day but aren’t quite so good in the cold without heated grips. Chris White, North Devon 3 Rukka Virium Gore-Tex £169.99 I’ve ridden through some horrendous weather with no issues. They are quite light and there’s no sign of wear. Dan Lee, Braintree 4 Halvarssons Beast £99 They’ve only let me down once, but I’m still not sure if that was water running down my arm, or a leak. Tim Robinson, Bracknell 5 Richa Arctic £89.99 I’ve done 14,000 miles in these.…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 All bright on the night? If the engine turns over slowly when you press the starter it’s often an early sign that the battery isn’t fully charged and in a bike that’s used regularly, this can indicate a problem with charging. Also, when the bike is running, headlamps that dim when the indicators or brake light are used are another sign something’s not quite right with the charging system. 2 Rectify the problem Most charging issues stem from a fault with the regulator-rectifier – the component that takes AC current from the alternator and changes it to DC and regulates the voltage to suit the battery’s requirements. Usually it’s a relatively straightforward fix. First of all you need to work out whether…

SPORTS REPORTER When MCN entered the World Superbike paddock at the Barcelona test last week, there was a raised level of intensity and a real seriousness about the place. This was the first time in 2021 that all the teams had gathered together, bringing with them a level of competitiveness, professionalism and secrecy not witnessed in the series for a long, long time. With five of the world’s biggest motorcycle marques throwing in some massive budgets, an assortment of superb riders in equally impressive teams all promise to make this year’s title fight the most competitive we’ve seen in years. The ‘Supported Test’ (meaning this didn’t count towards the new limit of 10 private test days per rider) was a replacement for the annual Phillip Island test which hasn’t happened…

SPORTS REPORTER Sam Lowes is in the form of his life and he’s making history along the way. In the opening Moto2 race of the 2021 season, the Brit strolled to a comfortable victory in Qatar, but in round two at the same track he was forced to dig deep, work hard and fend off pressure from Remy Gardner. He did that through an accomplished mix of precision, strategy and outright speed. In the past Lowes might have buckled, but not anymore. The 2021 version of Lowes stood his ground and set his two fastest laps of the race in the final two laps to ensure victory. It was a fantastic display from a rider who has a 100% record in 2021. Lowes becomes the first rider to win the…

Outright top speed ultimately hampered Aleix Espargaro’s chances of a podium, but there were plenty of positives to take heading into Europe. The signs are there: Espargaro crossed the line 5.382s behind Fabio Quartararo, the closest the RS-GP has been to the winner, in a race in-which the pace was much faster than it was at round one. The Spaniard finished 10th after suffering on the main straight but had been fighting inside the top five in the early stages. Espargaro admitted that in fifth and sixth gears he was losing around 20kph to his rivals, especially the Ducati riders. So, despite being stronger in the corner exit, he was unable to maintain his position. Still, there were plenty of positives. “The acceleration of the bike, seriously, it’s unbelievable the…

The VFR800 is always flagged as a top all-rounder because that’s what it is. Sporty yet practical, engaging but relaxed, and lashings of Honda V4 charm. Go for the pre-VTEC model for easier/ cheaper servicing – prices are rising, but £3500 gets a minter. VTEC bikes start at just £2.5k, while £5k gets an early example of the soon-to-be-discontinued latest model. The 1998-2002 VFR800F won’t go wrong. The 800 shows exactly why Honda have such a solid reputation. Engines do intergalactic miles without issue, chassis parts are robust and it’s well finished. There’s lots of metal to fur up in winter though, so check the seller is fond of washing and anti-corrosion gloop, and that the pinch bolt for the chain adjuster has had regular lubrication to stop it seizing.…

The VFR800 is always flagged as a top all-rounder because that’s what it is. Sporty yet practical, engaging but relaxed, and lashings of Honda V4 charm. Go for the pre-VTEC model for easier/ cheaper servicing – prices are rising, but £3500 gets a minter. VTEC bikes start at just £2.5k, while £5k gets an early example of the soon-to-be-discontinued latest model. The 1998-2002 VFR800F won’t go wrong. The 800 shows exactly why Honda have such a solid reputation. Engines do intergalactic miles without issue, chassis parts are robust and it’s well finished. There’s lots of metal to fur up in winter though, so check the seller is fond of washing and anti-corrosion gloop, and that the pinch bolt for the chain adjuster has had regular lubrication to stop it seizing.…

Dates have been confirmed for several classic shows that will include motorbikes this summer. The Classic Car and Bike Show will be taking place in Ripley (May 31), Ripon (June 13), Canforth (July 4) and then Ripon again (August 29). The events are subject to Covid restrictions in place at the time. Tickets will go on sale in mid-April, find the full events listing and details at markwoodwardclassicevents.com. Rare racer resto MV Agusta have bought back this 1950s CSS 175/204cc racing model to restore it to its former glory. The bike was originally sold in 1958 by Stanley Hailwood (Mike’s dad) to a British collector who used it in amateur racing for a few years. MV CEO, Timur Sardarov thinks the bike is a fitting first project for the firm’s…

Oxford Montreal textile gloves £34.99 ‘Gear ready for the April showers’ It’s that tricky time of year when glorious sunshine can be interspersed with April showers, so when hunting for kit it’s important to find gear that can be worn in all conditions. This week we’ve been shopping for three-season gloves and found a mix – some leather, some textile – but all have that vital ingredient for British springtime: a waterproof membrane. There’s a pair for all budgets with the cheapest being £12.50 through to £200 for a top-spec pair from Rukka. These textile gloves from Oxford are on offer from the internet retailer, SportsBikeShop, with 30% off. They have a textile outer with a leather palm and a fully waterproof membrane. They have moulded knuckle protection, an adjustable…

MCN CONTRIBUTOR When a new version of long-running model is released the expectation is that power will rise – but with the 2021 Hayabusa, Suzuki have ploughed development into an engine that actually makes less peak bhp than before. Straight off the showroom floor, the 2021 Hayabusa (see p34) is fractionally down, but importantly for a bike that’s formed the basis of a global tuning industry, it holds the prospect of even greater extremes of performance with the judicious application of aftermarket parts. Suzuki’s engine changes focus on two fronts. First is meeting Euro5 – a two-step jump from the old Busa, which was removed from sale here after missing Euro4. Second is making an engine that’s already legendary for its strength even more rugged and reliable. Look at the…

Motorcycle World in Northampton are looking forward to their first full biking season in their new destination-dealer home, after a challenging Covidstruck first six months. A Yamaha dealer for 13 years, the firm opened their new premises on Grafton Trade Park in the last week of September 2020, before being forced to deal with two national coronavirus lockdowns. With around 6000sqft on the ground floor now displaying the latest bikes from Yamaha, Indian, Suzuki and the Piaggio Group (including Aprilia and Moto Guzzi) plus an upstairs mezzanine of around 2500sqft for riding kit and a cafe, the team are looking forward to finally putting the site to its full use. “Everything was designed for the showroom from scratch. When we moved here, there was a blank canvas,” Dealer Principal, Ash…

FANTASY SHOPPING ON A REAL-WORLD BUDGET 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 David’s pick... £6500 1975 - 2021 PRICE CHANGE NEW TO USED David Silver is not only the owner of the go-to place when it comes to hard to source and reproduction classic Honda parts, David Silver Spares, he is also the proprietor of a museum of over 200 Honda motorcycles. He’s a man who has been dealing in bikes for most of his adult life and formed his own spares company aged just 27. So, armed with £7000, what would he buy right now? “There is one bike that always stands out for me in Honda’s range…

Having seen the MotoGP boys hit 225mph at Qatar I’ve had a few people ask me if I’d like to have a bike that fast at the TT. And I’ll tell you I’d give my left bollock for the chance to be sat on a bike that did 225mph! If you could choose between a bike that could do 190 or 225mph, you’d take the faster one and you’d figure out how to ride it. The good thing is that the MotoGP riders respect the speed they are going. They understand the circumstances. In Moto3 there are riders that need a smack because they take so many liberties with each other. ‘As spectators, speed is what we talk about and want to see’ None of the MotoGP riders look out…

Alex Iasenko Age 32 Height 6ft Current bike 2021 Triumph Trident 660 Been riding 1 year First bike Honda CB125F Dream bike Husky Norden 901 “I only started riding in April 2020, simply to avoid going on public transport. I learnt on a CB125F and was planning on buying a Honda CB650R, but during my Mod 2 training I rode one and found it heavy and the inline four in need of being revved too much. I also rode a Suzuki SV650, which was way better than the Honda to ride but looked too old and so I started looking at Triumphs. I was tempted by a Street Triple R, but its dash was disappointing, and I felt that the RS was a bit of overkill for a new rider…

MICHAEL NEEVES CHIEF ROAD TESTER Changes for 2021 are subtle, but the SuperSport 950’s new seat is comfier, albeit at the expense of feel in corners, its quickshifter lets you pop through the gears and the new dash adds a splash of pizazz but could do with being bigger. It’s still quick, crackles through its exhaust and steers, stops and excites like a sportsbike, but it’s always friendly. It’s quite pricey for the performance on tap and some might crave more power, but like its recently-arrived rival, the Aprilia RS660, the Ducati is still a thrilling road-going alternative to an obscenely cramped and powerful pure race rep. THE FACTS £13,895 Ducati SuperSport 950 S…

The regulator-rectifier is a small, boring-looking part with a very important job. The bike needs DC power to make the ignition, fuel pump and ancillaries work. This comes from the battery which is DC. With modern bikes having a whole host of ECUs, LEDs and other electronic gizmos, this DC voltage is more crucial than ever. The power being produced by the bike’s alternator is AC, so it’s the job of the rectifier to convert the AC to DC, and the regulator to stabilize and smooth out this DC current so that it delivers the correct voltage to the battery. This produces heat, which is bled off via the cooling fins built into the body of the reg/rec – and is also the reason why some older bikes (Italian ones)…

Following Chaz Davies’ Covid diagnosis last month and KRT team staff before him, Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu received a positive result on Thursday; the Turk pitted after nine laps, too fatigued to ride his R1. As colleagues headed home, he was forced into isolation but insisted he felt ‘fine’. The latest WSB return was well received, the atmosphere around the track jovial, but talk about Toprak’s misfortune, France’s national lockdown just 80 miles away and fresh restrictions in Aragon were all stark reminders that Covid-19 is far from gone.…

Impressive Moto2 newcomer Raul Fernandez led a rookie revolution in Qatar by clinching his first podium in the intermediate class. As per race one, Fernandez was in the fight for the lead in the opening stages and, having learnt to manage his tyres last week, secured a comfortable third. Fellow rookies Ai Ogura and Celestino Vietti were fifth and seventh respectively. Faster, faster, faster This weekend’s Moto2 race was over 10 seconds faster than the opening round in Qatar, while Fabio Quartararo’s MotoGP victory was also quicker than race one. Sam Lowes crossed the line an astonishing 10.421s quicker than he did at round one, with Quartararo bettering teammate Maverick Viñales’ round one victory by 4.666s. No fans allowed No fans were able to attend the Grand Prix of Doha…

STATISTICS • Length 3.34 miles • Corners 16 – 6 left, 10 right • Longest straight 0.663 miles 16 Oliveira 4 17 Marini 0 18 Lecuona 0 19 Nakagami 0 20 Savadori 0 21 Petrucci 0 FINAL POSITIONS MOTOGP Fastest lap Pole lap Circuit record lap LAPS LED TOP SIX MOTOGP Bagnaia 14 Viñales 8 Quartararo 4 FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 2 TOP TEN CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS 1 Lowes 50 2 Gardner 40 3 Fernandez 27 4 Bezzecchi 26 5 Di Giannantonio 22 6 Vietti 13 7 Fernandez 12 8 Ogura 11 9 Bendsneyder 11 10 Roberts 10 FINAL POSITIONS MOTO 3 TOP TEN CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS 1 Acosta 45 2 Binder 36 3 Masia 32 4 Antonelli 26 5 Guevara 19 6 Toba 18 7 Rodrigo 14 8 Garcia 13 9 Migno…

Pol Espargaro’s fight to the leading pack was ended by two similar mistakes which saw him run off the track whilst trying to overtake Franco Morbidelli – costing him roughly 2.7s and leaving him 13th, but just 6.063s off the win. The Repsol Honda rider was still thrilled with his rhythm, performance and ability to make up time, citing the podium as a possibility if he was able to qualify better. LCR down again It was another costly weekend for LCR Honda with three more crashes, including one in the race for Alex Marquez. The Spaniard lost the front going into turn 14, falling from a disappointing 17th. Teammate Takaaki Nakagami limped home in 17th after suffering from a lack of grip from the front of his RC213V. Petrux struggles…

The VFR800 is always flagged as a top all-rounder because that’s what it is. Sporty yet practical, engaging but relaxed, and lashings of Honda V4 charm. Go for the pre-VTEC model for easier/ cheaper servicing – prices are rising, but £3500 gets a minter. VTEC bikes start at just £2.5k, while £5k gets an early example of the soon-to-be-discontinued latest model. The 1998-2002 VFR800F won’t go wrong. The 800 shows exactly why Honda have such a solid reputation. Engines do intergalactic miles without issue, chassis parts are robust and it’s well finished. There’s lots of metal to fur up in winter though, so check the seller is fond of washing and anti-corrosion gloop, and that the pinch bolt for the chain adjuster has had regular lubrication to stop it seizing.…