Table of contents for 12 January 2022 in MCN

Harley-Davidson have announced updates for most of their range in 2022. We won’t list all the colour changes here as we’d run out of ink but safe to say most of the Softails and all the tourers come with a fresh lick of paint, while the entry-level cruisers have new cast wheels instead of spoked items. The Pan America gets a refresh to make the dash easier to read, hill hold control time has also been extended from 10 seconds to three to five minutes and the two-tone paint is now blue instead of orange. Sadly the prices have gone up considerably. The S (the one to have) is now £16,795 (up from £15,500), nice paint is now £375 (from £250), two-tone paint is £750 (from £450) and spoked wheels…

A pair of Royal Enfield Himalayans have successfully achieved a first-of-a-kind mission to reach the geographic South Pole. To celebrate 120 years of Royal Enfield, and as a tribute to all adventurers and riders across the world, Royal Enfield employees, Santhosh Vijay Kumar and Dean Coxson, spent 28 days travelling over Antarctic territory to reach 90 degrees south. The pair travelled with the team over 2000 miles to reach their starting point, altered at the last minute due to blizzards. At 87 degrees south the pair covered another 250 miles and braved -30°C temperatures with wind speeds nearing 40mph before ultimately reaching the geographic South Pole just before Christmas. The motorcycles themselves were modified in-house before the expedition with some suitable upgrades to help handle snow and ice. The changes…

ASSISTANT EDITOR, MOTORCYCLING Members of an organised crime group who used stolen motorbikes and cars during a series of audacious ram raids have been jailed. The men stole £465,000 in London’s West End before finally being tracked down by the Met’s Flying Squad. During one of the burglaries in October, 2020, the men approached Moncler, a high-end ski and winter gear shop on Old Bond Street, London, on two motorbikes and in a car. They smashed their way into the shop with a sledgehammer and stole a number of jackets, bags and other items of clothing before fleeing the scene. One of the motorbikes was abandoned and was later found to be stolen. This bike proved useful to police as it held DNA evidence that linked one of the gang,…

This unique, one-off Indian Chief has just been completed for Hollywood movie star Jon Bernthal and has been built by renowned customiser Carey Hart in collaboration with Indian motorcycles. It’s the third and final bike built by Hart in a special commission by Indian intended to showcase the customising potential of the American brand’s allnew Chief, launched last year. Bernthal, 45, is a keen biker and known most recently for supporting roles in Le Mans ’66, The Walking Dead, Baby Driver and Fury. He said: “I didn’t want the bike to draw too much attention to itself but when you look at it a little bit closer you realise how special it is. I think it’s beautiful. I can’t believe that I get to ride this thing.” Former freestyle motocrosser…

We’re giving away a superb Shoei Neotec II helmet worth up to £599.99 to one lucky MCN reader. An every-occasion helmet with the adaptability to excel no matter where your next ride takes you, the Neotec II does it all with style and precision. The convenient flip-up versatility of a true two-in-one helmet combined with nextlevel aerodynamics, an internal sun shield, the Pinlock EVO fog-resistant system, and the ability to seamlessly integrate with the all-new SENA SRL Communication System, make this the pinnacle of modular helmet design for today’s do-it-all motorcyclists. ENTER FOR FREE – NOW! Visit www.motorcyclenews.com/winneotec2 T&Cs: The prize draw closes at midnight on January 25, 2022. This competition is open to UK residents aged 16 and over. There is one prize consisting of 1 x Shoei Neotec…

1993 OPEN DUCADOS “It was live on Spanish TV, and they paid you to go! It was mega because they were massive on their small bike racing. They didn’t just want it to be full of Spanish riders, they wanted everybody in it.” 1993 125 GP “Kev was leading the British championship at that point, so he got the opportunity to do it, and we took it. Jonny Towers sponsored us and Nigel Bosworth who did the 250 wildcard, with Motul Oil. It was mega!” 2016 SUPERSPORT TT After helping out the year before, Rogers took on a bigger role for the 2016 TT. He was rewarded with two Supersport wins with Ian Hutchinson. 2021 BSB CHAMPIONS In only their fifth BSB campaign McAMS Yamaha complete a clean sweep with…

Norton employs 142 staff, many carried over from the old regime but with an allnew management team and a thorough overhaul of working practices, systems and protocols. They’re also planning on taking on a lot more. Currently 24 vacancies are advertised on Norton’s website, looking for everyone from designers to CAD and electrical engineers, chassis and merchandising specialists and more. Part of the reason for the factory’s Solihull location was its proximity to a vast pool of automotive (and F1) talent. Here are the leading players – and their impressive backgrounds: Dr Robert Hentschel CEO Has over 23 years experience of automotive and motorcycling engineering operations as a former director at Lotus Cars and managing director of Ricardo Deutschland. Vitorio Urciuoli Chief Technology Officer Over 20 years automotive experience focused…

MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT ★★★★★ Metzeler Racetec TD Slicks from £310 ‘Perfect for an enthusiastic trackday rider’s needs’ Tested by Jon Urry for one track day / 250 miles As I prefer to change tyres rather than bodywork, I fit slicks to my trackday CBR600RR. Providing way more grip than my CBR or my own bravado can exploit, I have been a convert to slicks for a while. Previously I’d used Metzeler’s Racetec CompK, however when they needed changing I opted for their successor, the TD Slick. Like CompKs, the TDs are aimed at enthusiastic trackday riders and don’t require tyre warmers (I use them anyway), can withstand a greater number of heat cycles than a pure race slick and have a construction and sizing more akin to…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance 1 Break free of chain care One of the most practical bolt-ons around, an automatic chain oiler does away with the need to routinely lube your bike’s drive chain in the conventional way using an aerosol can, and keeps the chain in peak condition 100% of the time. First, familiarise yourself with how your specific system works by reading the instructions carefully. BRUCE’S TIPS Check the www.scottoiler.com for bike specific installation guides 2 Check your parts Once you understand how the system works and the various steps involved to install the oiler, lay out the components and cross reference against the parts list to check it’s all there. The Scottoiler E-system we are fitting today consists of three main components: the delivery tube,…

I’ve been hooked on Dakar all week, but the highlight has been Petrucci’s win on stage five – that’s a meteoric achievement. I was talking to my son Ewan about it and I think Petrucci would have been all-in to get the win and I said he’ll probably be upside-down on the next stage – and he was. He had a big crash and put a hole in his elbow. But the win is fantastic, he was in tears so you could see it was completely heartfelt. I bet it left some of the other Dakar factory guys scratching their heads though! Right now I’m rooting for Sam Sunderland, he’s the Brit out there and he’s doing an amazing job. The pressure on the top guys is unreal. I know…

It’s 2002. I’m at the bleak Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire. I’ve just spent a couple of days in the Peak District riding a Hayabusa, a ZZR1200 and a Blackbird for a group test – and I’m knackered. But there’s a deserted 2-mile runway ahead of me and the test is finished... It’d be rude not to max-out the Hayabusa, wouldn’t it? While the sheer meteoric thrust and acceleration of properly unleashing a Hayabusa is astounding, the thing that actually flashed through my mind while hanging on for dear life as I gently bumped into the limiter in 6th gear was: ‘I hope I’ve not picked up a nail in the back tyre...’. The thing is, speed – however cheap or expensive it is – is something you control. I…

Kawasaki are marking 50 years of Zeds with special ‘Z50’ versions of the Z900, Z650, Z900RS and Z650RS nakeds. Available from March 2022, the bikes will feature distinctive liveries reminiscent of past Kawasaki machinery, with every customer also receiving a ‘Z Chronicles’ book commemorating the history of the name. The £11,449 Z900RS and £8049 Z650RS will feature a ‘Fireball’ livery, inspired by the original 1972 Kawasaki Z1. The RS models will also come with a gloss black frame and new seat covering with different colour stitching. Adding to the look are gold rims, a Z50th logo on the tank, and DOHC emblems on the engine covers. The £9799 Z900 and £7349 Z650 tribute models also get a fresh lick of paint.…

A race series has been launched to appeal to those on a tight budget. The FPR Suzuki Bandit Rookies Shield is aimed at those new to racing. With trophies and an overall champion at the end of the season, participants also get access to test days with track walks and advice, including trackside spotting and post-race briefings to help you improve your performance. Info: www.fpracing.co.uk New safety plans The Cypriot government is considering a bill that would require all riders on L-plates and delivery riders to wear a basic minimum of protective gear including an airbag vest or jacket. The new rules were suggested by the police and will be enforced using fines. It will also be illegal for professional riders to have a provisional licence with fines of up…

Forbidden fruit is always the sweetest and as such Kawasaki’s jewel-like ZX-25R – a 250cc four-cylinder sports bike that’s offered in some Asian markets but not in the West – seems all the more desirable. Now Kawasaki are planning to launch an even more tempting machine in the form of a more powerful 400cc version retaining all the lightweight, high-revving appeal of the original. While rumours of such a machine have swirled ever since the original ZX-25R was launched, sources in Japan now say that the bigger ZX-4R is all but certain to be launched soon. What’s more, there’s hard evidence for the bike’s existence in the form of patents filed by Kawasaki themselves. A document first published by the Japanese patent office in 2019, clearly states that the design…

Valentino Rossi: All His Races £50 Valentino Rossi’s retirement at the end of 2021 brought down the curtain on an incredible MotoGP career. In this new book by MotoGP journalist and former MCN road tester and sports reporter, Mat Oxley, his 115 GP wins come under the microscope, complete with perspectives about Rossi’s achievements, the controversies, his character, and analysis of his bikes. www.amazon.co.uk LS2 Pioneer Evo Adventurer £129.99 Developed with LS2’s motocross, enduro and supermoto riders, the outer shell is made from Kinetic Polymer Alloy (KPA), a strong material rivalling high-end composites, which offers flexibility for energy absorption and high penetration resistance. Weighing 1400g, it comes in three outer shell sizes. www.ls2helmets.com S&S Harley Tappet Cuffs £59.99 Standard tappet guides are constructed of plastic and can allow the tappets…

Royal Enfield could be about to reveal a jumped-up Meteor. In a video about a trip to the South Pole on Royal Enfield Himalayans, a Meteor fitted with the firm’s 650cc parallel twin motor, can be seen lurking in the background (left of screen in shadows). Dubbed the Super Meteor, the bike is expected to build on the success of the Interceptor 650 and 350 Meteor, both of which have sold strongly in the UK and further afield. Custom XSRs make waves! In a bid to show how versatile and customisable the XSR125 is, Yamaha are creating six different takes on the retro 125. The project allows some of Yamaha’s European ambassadors to create a version of the XSR. The first result is the brainchild of water skier Nikolas Plytas,…

Q ‘I crashed after I was dazzled’ I have an issue with my compensation claim following a bike accident that happened one night in November. I was returning from my shift at the hospital I work at and was on a rural road when a car came around a bend towards me. I think it must have had its main beam on as it blinded me. I lost control and I’m still recovering from my injuries. The driver realised what had happened as he stopped and called the police. His insurers insist he did nothing wrong and did not have his main beam on, but I think he did. Is there anything I can do? John Steer, email A A lot will depend on the evidence you have to show…

Readers Dave, Paul, Mark, Peter, Louis, Brian, Dan, Mick The trip Picos de Europa How long do you need? We took 10 days from Rosslare to Bilbau (seven clear days in Spain) Best time to go We went out there in October and had nice weather Tell us about the trip… The bikes were three BMW K1300s, a KTM 1290 Super Duke, a Yamaha R1, a Honda Africa Twin, a BMW S1000XR and a BMW K1600GT. We stayed two nights in Potes, two nights in Cangas del Narcea, two nights in Cangas de Onis and one night in Noja. Memorable roads? Too many to mention but for me the N621 from Potes to Puerto de San Glorio and the P210 from Velilla del Rio Carrion to Cervera de Pisuerga (a…

There’s simply nothing like a Suzuki Hayabusa. The styling, the performance, the legend; it’s one of those bucket list machines that every rider, regardless of leanings, must experience. That appeal has been amplified now the model stands alone in a class of one, the sole survivor of the late 1990s hyperbike war. After seeing off attempts by politicians to stifle their speed and performance, hedonistic hyperbike greats like Honda’s Blackbird and Kawasaki’s ZZR1400 eventually succumbed to the changing market and wheel-spun on up to the great dragstrip in the sky. The Busa wasn’t immune either, with Suzuki calling time on their gratuitous speed machine in 2018 citing an unwillingness to rework the engine to get it through Euro5. ‘Acceleration is unlike anything else on the road’ Then came the U-turn.…

The fact that the Busa still exists is something to celebrate. It’s a throwback to an age when biking was pure hedonism; it serves no real purpose other than to be a Hayabusa and I love it for that. Although, this does not mean it’s a one trick pony – far from it. The Gen 3 bike is comfortable enough (for shorter riders, at least) for long days, easy enough to use for pottering around, and capable enough for scratching and even the odd trackday. Suzuki have pulled a blinder in preserving the Busa’s character while bringing it up to modern day standards. They honestly didn’t need to fit a turbo or go back to the drawing board with the engine, the clever refinements will mean even diehard Busa owners…

1 HJC R-PHA 90S £419.99* It’s unbelievably quiet, comfortable and has a built-in drop-down sun visor inside. There are intercom cut-outs and the top and back air flows are so good. Daniel Cooper, Rochester 2 AGV Sportmodular £569.99* I use mine for leisure rides and for work. It offers really good vision and is not too heavy. Keith Clarkson, Wakefield 3 Shark Evo GT £389.99* Comfortable, quiet and works well in open and full-face. It’s not as light as my AGV Sportmodular but I prefer it. Adrian Leach, Stockport 4 Shoei Neotec II £519.99* This is a flip-front version of the GT Air. It’s comfortable and has excellent build quality. Andrew Aldridge, Southend-on-Sea 5 LS2 Valiant £219.99* Good fit, and not just a normal flip as the chin bar goes…

Ah, the humble bike chain. We all take it for granted, don’t we? A minority of us see cleaning and lubing as a joy and something to be taken very seriously and believe a golden, well-adjusted chain says something about the type of biker we are. For the majority, chain maintenance is a necessary evil… then there are those who literally don’t give it a second thought. But just stop to consider the force your chain is transmitting from the gearbox output shaft directly to your rear wheel. Even in the case of small capacity machines, the humble links of a chain handle incredible amounts of torque and all they require in return is a little bit of love. That’s why, for those who don’t enjoy the ritual of cleaning,…

As the Bennetts British Superbike Championship prepares for the official preseason testing programme, starting at Snetterton on March 25, some teams are yet to make their line-ups official. At MCN went to press, Paul Bird’s PBM team had not made a rider announcement for 2022. Whilst no official reveal took place last year, with Josh Brookes and Christian Iddon simply appearing on the entry list, the situation isn’t quite the same this time around. Tom Sykes has been strongly linked to a BSB return with the team, and Sykes has previously worked with Bird in World Superbikes. Will PBM expand to an expensive three-rider setup to occupy the 2013 WSB champion, or will one of Brookes or Iddon have to make way? Even for a successful team like PBM, running…

£16,390 Zero SR/F The SR/F offers effortless power and intuitive control. This attractive and enjoyable-to-ride naked model boasts a customizable dash and Zero’s next-generation app which allows rider and motorcycle to communicate critical information. And with 140lb.ft of torque on offer, it’s got huge amounts of drive on tap. www.wheelsmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £1500 £11,599 Honda CB1000R Plus Honda upped the CB’s appeal in 2021 with tweaked fuel injection, sharper styling, cunning tech and new multi-spoke wheels. • bransonsmotorcycles.co.uk • Engine 998cc • Power 144bhp • Weight 213kg • Seat height 830mm SAVE £1050 £4599 Yamaha R3 The R3 is a brilliant middleweight sportsbike with engaging handling that’s surprisingly practical as an everyday bike. • www.alfordbros.co.uk • Engine 321cc • Power 41bhp • Weight 169kg • Seat height 780mm SAVE £897 £7250…

Motul Chain Cleaning Bundle with wheel roller £36.99 One resolution you should have made Even the hardiest of folk would be hard-pressed to argue that January is peak biking weather but the time when you aren’t out riding can be spent on maintenance. With that in mind, we’ve been hunting down garage essentials. You might have made the odd rash resolution at the stroke of midnight at New Year but the one you should have made is to look after your chain better – so we’ll start there. This all-in-one maintenance kit from Motul promises to make cleaning and lubricating your links quicker and less arduous than ever before. The handy roller allows you to turn the rear wheel on your own with minimal effort while the Motul cleaner and…

Looking for a little adventure? I didn’t see all that many bikes on the road over the festive period. Although the few that I have seen adventuring about seem to have one thing in common – they are the same model! Is it just me or is the Royal Enfield Himalayan everywhere? It’s not that surprising, Enfield sold around 1000 Himalayans in the UK last year, mainly down to the bargain price of £4699 but also because it is a cracking bike. So how does it hold up in the used market? As it first appeared in 2018, three-year PCP plans are starting to mature and owners are trading in, so there are around 100 Himalayans currently advertised in the used market with prices starting at just over the £3000…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Full justice for Harry While it seems like progress to say that Anne Sacoolas will be tried for the accident that killed Harry Dunn, she will still be in America and not England. The Americans have refused extradition once already – will they do it again if she’s found guilty? If so, where would she serve any sentence and how can we be sure she won’t evade justice? I believe that she should be tried here, subject to British law and not be allowed to continue hiding. Nigel Langley, email E-bikes aren’t for me I have tried an electric bike but didn’t like it. It was soulless and heartless. If I’d wanted a twist and go, I would have been riding a scooter. They are ridiculously…

MCN staff and readers share their one-hour routes Start with an energizing cuppa in Kimbolton, and then ride east out of town, past the school, before turning right on the B660 towards Pertenhall. Stand by for Bedfordshire at its finest as the 660 sweeps south between manicured verges for seven miles to Bolnhurst. Look out, too, for the easily missed right soon after and head for Thurleigh, taking care on a variable surface as the road becomes tighter and more challenging. Trickle through Thurleigh, turn right at the T-junction, and then it’s a satisfying swoop past RAF Thurleigh and Bedford Autodrome – the ‘other’ circuit in MSV’s racing empire. It’s straight over at the A6 roundabout to Sharnbrook and then Odell, the road narrowing and constantly surprising as you tunnel…

Age 45 Height 5ft 10in Been riding 27 years First bike Yamaha DT50 Dream bike The Big CC Turbo Busa “The first thing I noticed about the new Busa was how comfortable it is, the extra height in the bars takes the weight off the wrists, and the seat is an improvement over the one on my Gen 2. “The quickshifter is excellent, it’s absolutely faultless. I’ve now got one on my Christmas list! “I wasn’t sure about the looks when the new bike was announced, but I have to admit they have really grown on me over the last few months. “The engine is a powerhouse, I know people were disappointed it didn’t have a supercharger or a turbo, but I think that would have put the cost out…

“I’ve been privileged to have been ‘in’ at the beginning of Hinckley Triumph, Stuart Garner’s Norton and now this new TVS-owned Norton regime and can say from first-hand experience the latter has far more in common with Triumph’s rebirth than with the Garner days. “In March 1991 I went to Hinckley to ride the first new Triumph, the Trophy 1200 and was gobsmacked as much by the slick, all-new factory as much as the bike. “In early 2009 I first visited Stuart Garner at Donington when there was no more than a small, cold industrial unit, a few boxes of ex-Kenny Dreer parts and lots of bold ambition. “And now I’ve been to ‘new Norton’ in Solihull. The environment, admittedly, is less romantic, new neighbours Farmfoods, Tool Station and Travis…

GUEST ROAD TESTER The middleweight adventure market is hotting up with Yamaha, Aprilia and Triumph all fighting for the biggest slice of the pie and yet the Moto Morini X-Cape 650 should not be ignored. The X-Cape is capable, practical and pleasing. It is somewhat basic, with no riding modes and it is also a little on the heavy side, but it’s a welcome £4k cheaper than Aprilia’s Tuareg 660 and £1500 less than Triumph’s Tiger 660 Sport. Many will be happy to have fewer bells and whistles, but more cash left in their pocket. But with a fully adjustable Marzocchi front end, Brembo brakes, Bosch ABS and Pirelli tyres as standard... there’s still a lot to like. The Moto Morini is comfortable, boasts a decent build quality and certainly…

Tired cliché? Who cares – it really works! I know, I know, you’ve heard it all before. The well-used prattle about dual-purpose bikes being brilliant to ride in winter, stopping you getting rusty and improving your skills. But we go on (and on) about it because it’s true. Techniques that work offroad transfer directly to tarmac and will make you smoother, give finer control and make you less fatigued at the end of a ride. It’s why so many top racers ride in the dirt during the off-season to improve their skills, but tooling around on trails can help road riders, too. Dirt riding gets you used to the bike moving. You learn not to grip the bars too tightly, to keep a relaxed hold even when the bike wants…

When a customer brought his 2005 Yamaha R1 into NS Motorcycles in Aylesbury, owner Niki Spreng immediately spotted an essential job that needed doing. Niki said: “I could see the chain and sprockets were on their last legs and told him he needed a new set. He said ‘yeah, yeah,’ and headed off.” It was only a few days later that Niki got a call from the owner who reported that the chain had snapped. “He said it went at about 45mph, but when I saw the state of the engine I suspect he was going a bit quicker than that,” Niki added. A link had snapped on the bottom run, which meant that the front sprocket continued to pull the chain forward so it wrapped itself around the cog,…

Rumours are beginning to circulate that Marc Marquez may not be able to take part in February’s Sepang MotoGP test. Marquez is currently receiving treatment for an episode of diplopia (double vision) sustained in a training accident last November. The Spaniard’s career was almost ended due to an episode of diplopia back in 2011, following a Moto2 crash at Sepang, and so he and his medical team will be undertaking precise and thorough treatments, and won’t take any risks during his recovery process. Meanwhile, HRC are already looking ahead to 2023. The majority of riders are out of contract at the end of this year, which means the ‘silly season’ is going to be one of the craziest in ages. The first name on Honda’s shopping list is believed to…

MotoGP veteran Danilo Petrucci made history by winning stage five of the Dakar last week. The factory KTM rider has stunned the rally regulars with his pace in the Saudi Arabian dunes, also finishing third on stage four, before being given a speeding penalty which dropped him to 15th. It’s an incredible achievement for a Dakar rookie and despite his pedigree it’s a result that illustrates the class and ability of the 31-year-old who lost his MotoGP ride at the end of 2021. He said: “When I was a kid for Christmas I asked Santa for some videotapes of MotoGP and Dakar. So, parents, be aware of what you are buying your kids for presents! “The day I was on the podium I started to think of all the sacrifices…