Table of contents for 01 March 2023 in MCN

‘It has racing DNA coursing through its veins’ MICHAEL NEEVES TESTS THE NEW 765 RS TESTING, TESTING Street Triple 765 RS is full of spirit Ever since Triumph whipped the fairings off their Daytona 675 and settled on the Street Triple name for their funky naked inline-triple, we've been lapping it up in our thousands. Simple; cheeky; packed with enough midrange to make it a joy on the road, and enough top-end to wail like a banshee on track; and with looks that are somehow masculine and delicate all at the same time… it's hard not to love. And learnings taken from four years as the engine supplier to Moto2 mean the updated 765 RS is better than ever. PAGE 34 THIS WEEK Are the Chinese finally arriving? The assertion…

TOP STORY CFMoto have big plans for the UK in 2023, with ambitions to recruit up to 30 new dealers supported by backing from Pierer Mobility – the Austrian conglomerate behind the success of KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas, and the WP Suspension brand. It was announced in late October 2022 that KTM would take over distribution for Chinese firm CFMoto in the UK and Ireland from January 2023, with bosses now confirming plans for between 20 and 30 new standalone dealers this year, as well as more KTM-powered production motorcycles on the way. “It's already ongoing. We acquire dealers every day and we are really pushing to get there as fast as possible,” Managing Director of CFMoto Distribution, Christian Waach, exclusively told MCN. He has worked for KTM for the past…

Royal EnfieLd have released two blacked-out versions of the top-selling Interceptor and Continental GT 650cc twins. The new variants will feature blacked-out engine and exhaust parts in addition to cast alloy, seven-spoke wheels fitted with tubeless tyres, new switchgear, a USB charging port, an all-new LED headlamp and the striking new petrol tank liveries. The Interceptor 650, will be available in two new paint options: Black Ray and Barcelona Blue joining the existing colours of Mark 2, Sunset Strip and Canyon Red. The Continental GT 650 is also available in two new blacked-out model versions – Slipstream Blue and Apex Grey. These will be offered alongside the current colour options: Mr dean, Dux Dulux, British Racing Green and Rocker Red. Royal Enfield CEO B Govindarajan said: “The Interceptor 650 and…

Peter Hickman's 2022 Isle of Man TT-winning BMW M1000RR superbike is being auctioned at this year's Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale in April. Expected to fetch between £80,000 and £100,000, the green and white 999cc four-cylinder machine took victory in last year's Superbike and Senior TT races and is still peppered with the stone chips and bug splats from its laps of the gruelling 37.73 mile Mountain Course. “This is a very special motorcycle. It's survived 12 laps over two races of the world's most challenging and infamous road circuit – more than 450 miles at an average speed of more than 130mph,” said Bonhams Motorcycle Consultant, Dave Hancock. “It's the closest you'd get to buying an active racing machine – an absolute rarity.” James Stensel, Head of Bonhams Motorcycles UK,…

Sidi Adventure 2 CE Gore-Tex £259.97 It's all kicking off Feet are among the most vulnerable areas when you're riding a motorcycle, so this week we're putting our best one forward to track down some of the best boot deals. The Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex, as the name suggests, is a tough adventure touring boot designed for riding in all weathers on a variety of terrain. The upper is constructed from full grain microfibre, a synthetic material with excellent tear resistance, tensile strength and flex endurance – like leather, but lighter. Extensively armoured, there's external PU protection for shin, heel and ankle, the latter benefitting from Sidi's Flex System (similar to the Vertebra system found on Sidi's road racing boots). Key to its climatic performance is the Gore-Tex lining, providing…

Rolling on The new roller tappet with a bronze guide compLetes the vaLve opening system that saw beefed up pushrods introduced last year. Small beginnings The starter cover is now part of the engine's casing. Originally made of plastic, it was the first part to be addressed in the upgrade. Constant upgrades Also new for 2023 are CV joints which can be retrofitted and will provide greater reliability and performance than the U-joint counterparts. Inner workings Tolerances have improved, leading to simpler, more reliable internal parts such as the rear bearing housing. Eye spy Upgrades like the threaded sight window plug for the timing mark have made Urals easier to work on.…

Q ‘My ex says our kid can't ride’ My wife and I are separated but we have a 15-year-old daughter who likes to ride pillion on my bike. Now my ex is claiming I am breaking the law by not asking for her express persmission for the bike rides. Ithoughtthatsincel am the dad then I am able to make such decisions myself and don't need my ex to have her say. Who is correct here? James S, email A There is a requirement for parental, consent for carriage of children as passengers on motorcycles. The rule states that “no person under the age of 17 may be carried on a motorcycle without the consent of a person having parental responsibility for that person… otherwise that person is committing an offence.”…

Where you went and why it was amazing Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Kev Fox The ride Route des Grandes Alpes When to do it Late spring to autumn for snow-free roads How long do you need? A couple of days as part of a longer trip Tell us about the trip If anyone was to do just one European road trip it would probably have to include the Route des Grandes Alpes, an epic journey from Lake Geneva to the French Riviera along some sublime high Alpine passes with great vistas… If you've not done it, put it on your ‘to-do-list’ you'll be smiling the whole 450-mile route… and even better it fits beautifully with the Vosges, Alsace wine region, Doubs, Jura, Verdon Gorge, Gorge du Cians and…

If the NT1100 seems just too sensible and the CRF1100 too off-road racy, minimal and uncomfortable, Honda does provide a third Africa Twinbased option – the CRF1100 Adventure Sport. Launched in 2018, it originally followed the BMW GS Adventure recipe as the ‘big tanked/more off-road’ variant of the 1000 Africa Twin. Like the standard CRF, it was updated in 2020 with an enlarged 1100 engine, new TFT dash, etc but also had its focus adjusted to be more of a tourer while the standard Twin was pitched as the hardcore off-roader. The result has the largest tank of these three, at 24.8 litres (capable of 250+ miles), extra comfort due to its larger screen, plus plenty of extra-cost luggage options. Enough, in fact, for Honda to dub it ‘the ultimate…

BIKING LEGENDS BIKING LEGENDS People who have shaped our world In the world of motorsport there's an elite few who not only reach the top of their profession but absolutely dominate it. Jane Daniels has proven herself to be one of those few, winning every championship and round she entered in 2022. In doing so she claimed the women's world enduro championship (for a third time), the women's ISDE team title (a first for a British team) along with the individual ISDE trophy and back home she even claimed the British women's enduro championship. Nothing seems to stand in her way. Growing up in Wigan, her childhood was surrounded by bikes. Her father competed in sand racing, motocross, supermoto and road racing. Jane started riding at the age of 12 –…

‘Racing DNA in its veins’ Triumph's Moto2 exploits have clearly rubbed off on the new Street Triple 765 RS. It has racing DNA coursing through its veins and is such an accomplished track weapon it feels every inch a full-on race bike with straight bars. Acceleration and handling are sharper and with such a friendly riding position and power delivery it's a cinch to ride fast. Brakes have a new-found feel and power, too. It'll be every bit as fun to ride on the road and when you look at the performance, equipment, tech and build quality you get for the money, it's stonking value. THE FACTS £11,295 Triumph Street Triple 765 RS…

Garibaldi Sottozero Split gloves £275 The blurb for these gloves says they are developed for the ‘harshest weather conditions’ including high mountain locations. I can only assume they visited on a particularly mild day – below 5°C the cold gets through to the extent that I need to turn on my heated grips. So underwhelming was the heat produced that I referred to the instruction manual to double-check red was full heat and the blue light indicated the entire glove was being heated – it was. They're well made and have a nice feature of being able to heat either the palm, back of the hand or both, but functionally they only keep a chill off, at best. 700 miles ON TEST Quality Value www.saltflatsclothing.co.uk…

All hail the tapered roller bearing! Mounted in pairs at either end of the steering stem, this team of captive rollers accommodates the combined steering, braking and accelerating loads of a typical ride, all the while maintaining precise clearances that are preloaded on installation. If fitted correctly they work perfectly for thousands of miles with little adjustment. However, over time, braking and accelerating forces, and bumps in the road will all take their toll, causing wear. Failures can also happen if a seal corrupts and lets in moisture, causing corrosion. The general rule is, the more extreme use your bike gets (off-roading, trackdays, stunts) the greater the frequency with which steering bearings need adjustment and maintenance. One of the tricks to making this task easier (and make you more inclined…

MotoGP is about levelling up. Or, with stifling technical regs and control tyres, electronics and now even tyre pressures… levelling down. Cutting bigbudget teams down to size. And to good effect. The result is ultra-close racing, often scarily so, and more race winners. But there is still work to be done. For example, Honda have now been levelled down a bit too far, after two winless seasons in three years. By contrast, clever-clogs Ducati have levelled themselves too far up, last year winning 12 of 20 races. The next best, Yamaha, only three. Time to think again? Dorna have experience in World Superbikes, where movable rev limits seek to deny technical advantage to the strongest and give a leg-up to the rest. Things are even more complicated in the smaller…

Getting you closer to all the World Superbike action Jonathan Rea has admitted he and Kawasaki got it wrong in Australia, making errors with the setup of their bike and inducing terrible tyre wear. This saw the six-time world champion sink to as low as eighth place in the final race of the weekend. However, the Northern Irishman is convinced the green team have made decent progress over the winter and is keen to hit the ground running as the action moves to Indonesia this weekend. Rea was not totally at fault for the disappointing results. In the Sprint Race he was pushed wide on the opening lap by Dominique Aegerter's GRT Yamaha before a similar thing happened in Race 2. In Race 1, a quick-shifter problem meant he had…

SPORT ROUND 1 PHILLIP ISLAND | WSB Bringing you the headlines from the first round of 2023 TOP STORY Alvaro Bautista launched his World Superbike title defence with an exquisite performance to win all three races in Australia. Although the Spaniard insists the upcoming clash in Indonesia this weekend may not be so simple, Phillip Island 2023 will be remembered as the occasion on which the red bikes utterly destroyed the competition. Four years ago, Bautista had moved from MotoGP to World Superbike and shocked everyone by claiming the first-ever treble victory in WSB history. Now he's become the first man to make it five career trebles, also surpassing Jonathan Rea and Troy Corser to become the first rider to claim eight race wins at the Australian circuit. Even more worrying…

Suzuki GSX-8S £8155 | 776cc | 202kg | 81.7bhp | 810mm seat height You could be riding Suzuki's brand new, and highlyanticipated, GSX-8S for just £88 per month on a three-year PCP deal after a deposit of only £2032. That's seriously tempting! A ground-up new bike, the GSX-8S features an all-new 776cc parallel twin engine that is designed to suit all manner of different riders. Powerful at the top-end with a claimed 81.7bhp, the engine also promises to have lots of instant stomp with a 60.2lb.ft of torque on tap. And it's clever too with ABS, traction control, variable power modes, an up/down quickshifter and even a colour TFT dash included as standard. Slim and light at just 202kg, Suzuki have focused a lot of attention on the bike's chassis…

With the recent rise in popularity of PCP for buying bikes, comes the necessity to have fully comprehensive insurance cover. So how does this way of buying affect your policy, liabilities and the process of getting the best cover for the keenest possible price? Does PCP affect my insurance? Generally, ‘No’. Although you do not technically own the bike until the end of the PCP agreement and all outstanding balances (the optional final payment) have been settled, most insurers recognise your ‘insurable interest’ in the bike and treat it as if owned by you, but make sure you declare it and check when taking out the policy. You don't want to be caught out in the event of a claim for not disclosing the ownership accurately. Can I insure a…

Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally £23,746 | 1158cc | 260kg | 167.6bhp | 870-890mm seat height Ducati have listened to their critics and decided to give their adventure bike more of a globe-trotting outlook for 2023 and the result is the new Multistrada V4 Rally. Boasting not only more tech but also a larger fuel tank, longer-travel suspension for more off-road capability and enhanced rider and pillion comfort levels, this version is now a direct competitor to the class-leading BMW R1250GS Adventure. Taking the Multistrada V4 as a base, which has a 19in front wheel rather than the older V-twin model's 17in item, the Rally model comes with spoked wheels as standard as well as more travel in its Skyhook semiactive suspension to deal with harsh terrains. £245.83 PER MONTH The…

1 Will my deposit vanish in one deal? Most riders who buy their bikes on PCP will roll their deal over to a new bike when the term comes to an end, hopefully using the equity in their deal as a deposit for the next bike. This is lovely in theory, but if your Guaranteed Final Value (GFV) is nigh-on identical to the value of the bike-bang goes your equity for a deposit on your next bike. If the GFV looks shockingly high or low, and/or the monthly payments shockingly low, make sure you investigate the deal thoroughly and think one step ahead for when the time comes to look for your next bike. 2 How far can I ride as part of the deal? Default mileage limits are usually…

Harley-Davidson have revealed Australian rockers Wolfmother will be one of the headline acts at the company's 120th European birthday festival in Budapest, Hungary. The festival will take place over four days from Thursday, June 22 in the Puskás Aréna Park, in the centre of the city. Also confirmed is Deep Purple legend Glenn Hughes and Nashville female duo Larkin Poe. More information and tickets: www.hd120budapest.hu. Hillier in Hampshire James Hillier, and the Rich Energy OMG GasGas 450 Rally on which he completed his first ever Dakar Rally this year, will be the guest of honour at the Sammy Miller Museum next month. The museum, located in New Milton, Hampshire, will be hosting an open day from 10am on Sunday, April 2, where Hillier will be riding his Dakar steed, and…

Birmingham's Mutt Motorcycles have re-introduced an old favourite – the Mushman-to their range, with the scrambler now availabLe in either 125cc or 250cc guises. The second iteration of the air-cooled, single-cylinder street scrambler sees it get a new 18in stainless steel-spoked front wheel, leading up to a stainless fork brace and an all-new high-rise mudguard hung from an alloy headlight mount. The headlight itself is an all-new LED unit with slender, fork-mounted LED indicators to match, giving the Mushman an altogether uncluttered look up front. A twin-shock set-up soaks up the bumps at the rear while telescopic forks (with obligatory gaiters) are employed up front. Knobbly tyres add an extra level of off-road intent, if not actuaL greenlane ability. There are also a few touches of detail on the Mushman…

Oxford Hotgrips Pro £199.99 The latest generation of Oxford's highly-regarded heated grips features allnew thermistor technology, allowing them to warm up fast and maintain the selected temperature efficiently. Plus, the controller is now integrated into the grips themselves. www.oxfordproducts.com Pyramid Fly Screen for Triumph Trident 660 £185.00 Manufactured in the UK, this fairing is part of a range of products that come colour matched to OEM schemes. It comes with full instructions, along with fittings. www.pyramid-plastics.co.uk HJC C10 Helmet £99.99 The C10 is certified to ECE 22.06 and comes in a massive range of sizes from 3XS to 2XL to suit both youth and adult heads. It's constructed from polycarbonate laminate and features three intake and two exhaust vents. The visor is Pinlock ready. www.oxfordproducts.com LS2 Garra WP Boots £114.99…

‘Congratulations Suzuki, top effort’ Sometimes it does feel a bit like I am Suzukibashing when I write this column, especially when I am talking about new bike sales. Honestly, I do like Suzuki but it is hard to ignore the fact that their range has been pretty dire of late and as a result dealers have been forced to slash prices. Recently, however, there has been a chink of light. A few weeks ago the 2022 new model registration figures were release and they showed that the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT was the UK's best-selling sports tourer. Yep, the GT shifted an impressive (especially considering it only went on sale in April) 781 bikes. Faced with the likes of the Yamaha Tracer 9, Kawasaki Ninja 1Q00SX and Honda NT1100 as competition, that's…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com This was back in 1976, parked up for a picture at the Sound on the Isle of Man. Andy McClean This is what I was riding back in 1975. Sorry that I'm not in the picture as well… Robert Smith …but I am in this picture from a little later with the 1984 GPZ1100. Robert Smith My first bike on my 17th birthday in 1974. Bought from Clark and Greenshields, the HP was £14.20 per month. John Ridley 1980… I wasn't even two and couldn't pedal a cycle but I could ride a motorcycle. Scott Moore My grandfather on a Husqvarna 500 in Denmark in the 1950s. I myself ride a Ducati Monster 1200S. Colin Gordon This is my mate Ged fooling around…

March 5 Run What Ya Brung Get into the new season with a blast down the famous quarter mile. Entry and sign-on from £62 with kids 5-15 just a fiver. santapod.co.uk March 5 Ace Cafe Bike Day Regular Sunday meets are back in full swing at the Ace in London. Plus, on March 3 it's streetfighters from 6pm. london.acecafe.com March 5 Bike Stop rideout Join the monthly breakfast rideout at Bike Stop in Stevenage this Sunday. It sets off at 11am (safety briefing 10.30am). www.bikestop.co.uk…

If you've noticed swing tags on motorcycle jackets, jeans and suits advertising a rating of A, AA or even AAA and wondered what they mean, here's the lowdown. Since 2020, all protective motorcycle clothing sold in the UK must be certified to CE standard EN 17092. Garments must have CE-armour at the elbow, shoulder, knee and hip, and pass tests for resistance to abrasion, bursting and tearing, among other things. There are three different classes of test: AAA denotes the highest grade of protection available, intended for the highest level of risk. The abrasion testing is longer and at a higher speed than for other classes. AA is the next level and covers the wide range of risks that riders are likely to encounter on the road. The abrasion test…

RATINGS Exceptional★★★★★ Very good★★★★ Good★★★ Average★★ Poor★ 1600 miles ON TEST Shark Ridill 1.2 Phaz Mat KRW £149.99 This lid is seriously good value for money, with loads of helpful features, but it's noisy at high speeds. This model costs £150, while a plain gloss black one is a penny under £100, which is remarkable for something that fits well, has decent venting, is suitable for trackdays and has facility to fit a Pinlock (£29.99 extra). The main negative is the integrated sun visor, which comes down too far and rests on the bridge of my nose. That's pretty irritating and a shame because it would otherwise be very useful, and it's easy to operate with a gloved hand, with a solid, easily locatable slider. The rest of the vents…

Alpinestars Supertech R boots £529.99 You might think a range-topping boot designed for the racetrack isn't the best option for wearing every day, but they're beautifully comfortable. Despite the protection on offer and their racy pretensions, that comfort is at the core of why I've covered so many miles in these boots. They're obviously a race-styled boot with sliders in all the right places (a big one on your toes, which is replaceable, and a smaller one on the outside heel, plus a back plate) and a shin slider. There's additional reinforcement where the boots contact levers, and the plastic ‘cup’ that encloses your heel provides a ski-boot-like degree of rigidity and sliding protection. But it's the separate inner boot where much of the magic happens. 35K miles ON TEST…

The owner of a 98,000-mile BMW R1200GS was worried about a rattling noise coming from the back of the bike, but a couple of dealers had told him it was normal. He was concerned as it seemed to be getting louder, so took it into RPM Motorcycles near Northampton, where owner lain Rhodes checked for shaft drive wear. “I got it onto the centrestand, put it into third gear and eased the clutch out at low revs, while dragging the rear brake to put some load on the engine. You could hear this massive rattle from the driveshaft. It was definitely not ‘normal’ drivetrain noise.” A closer look at the rear of the engine revealed that the protective rubber boot was already split, so he opened it up to see…

Eurosport and BT Sport will disappear from TV screens in the near future following the purchase of the Latter by Warner Bros Discovery. Warner Bros Discovery already owns Eurosport, which has been a household name among motorcycle racing fans for over three decades. Eurosport currently provides live coverage of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and World Superbike Championship. BT Sport replaced Eurosport as the UK's MotoGP broadcaster in 2013. This led to previously unseen levels of presentation and coverage, with Suzi Perry, Natalie Quirk, Neil Hodgson and Gavin Emmett leading weekendlong insight and analysis. ‘All bike racing could be on one single platform’ The two channels will eventually be brought together under the TNT Sports banner. BT Sport will be replaced in July. Whilst unconfirmed at this stage, it's understood…

Reporting from the heart of the World Superbike paddock Nobody living in Oban would have wanted to be neighbours with any motorcycle racing fans in the early hours of Saturday morning. Almost unbelievably, as the rain battered Phillip Island, rider talent came to the fore and John McPhee charged to a podium finish on his first World Supersport outing. Not only that, but Tarran Mackenzie dragged his Honda to the dizzy heights of fifth. Now 28, four-time Grand Prix winner McPhee has surpassed the age limit of the Moto3 class. Following very limited testing over the winter with the small Vince64 team, nobody would have predicted the Scot would lead in Australia and run second to dominant Nicolo Bulega for much of the race. McPhee ended up third after being…

Let's hope the way Bautista dominated at the weekend is not a sign of things to come and more a Phillip Island thing – it is a track that does throw up weird and whacky results. Ultimately, Bautista is picking up from where he left off. He's running the No.1 plate, so it's where he should be. He gets paid to win races and that's what he's doing. I'm also really liking the fact that Bautista has cut off those 1980s-style rat tails. I reckon he'll even be a bit more streamlined without those things flapping around! Look, when it comes to the fashion police, I'm at the back of the queue, but somebody must have told him how they looked. But if you're winning you can do whatever you…

KTM 890 Duke R £11,599 | 889cc | 180kg | 119.3bhp | 834mm seat height The 890 Duke R is KTM's top-spec middleweight. The 890 Duke R is brimming with all the attitude and bad boy aggression you would expect from a KTM. It is as at home on a twisty road as it is in full-on attack mode on track. If you like your middleweight nakeds to be on the sporty side, then look no further… Powered by a high performance version of KTM's parallel twin, the R model makes a claimed 119.3bhp (it can't be restricted to A2legal, hence the 790 Duke's existence) with 73lb.ft of torque backing it up. Fastrevving and heaps of fun to thrash, the engine makes the Duke R feel pleasingly naughty to ride…

Most of us know about the different ways of financing a bike purchase, whether that be good old-fashioned cash, traditional HP deals or the latest, hugely popular PCP options – but how do these schemes work? What are the pros and cons? And how can you get the best deal for you? We spoke to TJ Skrobot, Sales Manager at Sycamore BMW in Peterborough, who has 30+ years bike sales experience, to find out. How big a part of your business is PCP these days? TJ: Finance is probably 40%-ish and of that 90%+ is PCP [on BMW] – and it's growing. HP is now only a few customers and mainly those with a larger deposit. PCP is limited to a maximum deposit of 40% so if they've got more…

Suzuki are offering a £650 discount on their 650cc V-twins until the end of March. The SV650, SV650X, V-Strom 650 and V-Strom 650XT are all included. The discount reduces the RRP of the SV650 to £6349, while its cafe racer-inspired stablemate, the SV650X, is available for £6849. The V-Strom 650XT drops to £8149, and the V-Strom 650 is £7349. Morini 6½ arrives The Moto Morini Seiemmezzo SCR scrambLer has arrived in UK dealerships, costing £6999, and comes with a three-year warranty. The bike, known as the ‘6 ½’, joins the more street-focused Seiemmezzo STR and the X-Cape 650 adventure bike in the Italian brand's range. The well-priced SCR is powered by a 650cc parallel twin producing 61bhp and features Brembo brakes and fully adjustable suspension. Biker Fest dates The 37th…

THIS WEEK MCN Premium membership subscribers were treated to two money can't bur experiences across the Devitt MCN London Motorcycle Show weekend, which took place last month in the capitol. The indoor event ran from February 17 – 19, with those paying for MCN's £13.99/month Premium membership getting two free tickets to the show. “I just thought it's better to subscribe every month. It's cheaper and it's got more benefits,” Premium member and Yamaha XSR125 rider, Ramon Browne told MCN. “I'll try to come to as many events as I can.” Alongside the entry perks, there was also the chance to get up close and personal with TT lap record holder Peter Hickman at an exclusive Q&A, as well as attend a Ducati event at the top of The Gherkin…

SAVE £2695 £27900 Ducati Streetfighter V4 SP The Ducati Streetfighter V4 SP is a premium super-naked. It's seriously fast and is the speedcrazed wheelie monster you'd expect it to be, but it also has a surprisingly grown-up side. The SP version comes with carbon rims, Stylema R Brembo brakes and Öhlins Smart EC2.0 suspension. Both Jekyll and Hyde, on demand… www.phmotorcycles.co.uk SAVE £1200 £8744 Yamaha Ténéré 700 A fun and engaging ride with an impressive spread of power that works well both on and off-road. www.5-ways.co.uk • Engine 689cc • Power 72bhp • Weight 205kg • Seat height SAVE £750 £9299 Aprilia Tuono 660 Participating dealers with Tuono 660s and 660 Factory models have a £750 trade-in to March 31. www.aprilia.com • Engine 659cc • Power 99bhp • Weight 181kg…

THIS WEEK KTM have confirmed rumours that they are to launch an SMT model based on the 890 Adventure, with details coming next month. A replacement for the old V-twin 990 SMT, spy shots of the touring of version of KTM's supermoto first came to light in October 2021. In a teasing release KTM said: “These Adventure motorcycles and naked bikes have had their own way for far too long. It's time to turn over the tarmac once again with a classic.” The latest spy shots from February this year appear to confirm the 890 parallel twin will power the SMT which produces around 100bhp and 74lb.ft of torque, and is a direct descendant from the 790 parallel twin launched in 2017. ‘Adventure bikes have had things their own way’…

COMPETITION If you're a serious race fan, tech geek, or just a lover of biking memorabilia – you can't afford to miss this chance to win one of three genuine piston and conrod prizes. Each was taken from a podium finishing Moto2 racer, and comes in its own presentation box with a certificate from Triumph. The pistons come from the bikes raced by Sam Lowes to victory in the Doha GP at Lusail International Circuit on April 4, 2021; Remy Gardner's racewinning bike from the Italian GP ill Mugello on May 30, 2021; and Marco Bezzecchi's second-place finishing bike used at the Spanish GP in Jerez on May 2, 2021. With each delivered in its own presentation box for safe keeping, you can put it on display, or ensure it's…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Back in love with biking!’ Having been riding since 1975, I was fast losing my love for motorcycling. I own a Duoati Hyperstrada and a KTM Duke, but during last year I just wasn't enjoying them. It was a combination of the condition of the roads in beautiful Lincolnshire where I ride and the buffoons that use them. So I sat down and had a good talk to myself and looked at why I ride motorcycles… and came to the conclusion that led me to buy a smaller machine. I ended up with a Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and I feel totally rejuvenated by it! I can ride the backroads and green lanes and not see another vehicle that is trying to kill me or race me…

KEY TO THE AREA■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday March 1 BIKE MEETS ■ Outkast Co, Matlock, www.facebook.com/outkastcompany ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants www.loomiescafe.co.uk EVENT ■ Street Triple 765 Tour, Triumph Chester www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk ■ Street Triple 765 Tour, Suffolk Triumph www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk Thursday 2 March BIKE MEETS ■ Iron Horse, Market Deeping, Lincs 5pm-9pm 01778-346952 ■ Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ■ Whistlestop Cafe, Whitby, North Yorks 4.30pm-8.30pm ■ Down and Out Motorcycles, Rotherham, S Yorks, 5.30pm www.downandoutcustoms.co.uk ■ The Flotterstone Inn, Penicuik, Edinburgh 7pm 01968-673717 ■ Zoom Tearoom, South Cave, East Yorks 6pm 01430-424242 ■ MAG Bike Night, The Market, Elsecar, South Yorkshire. ■ Chopper's…

UK'S TOUGHEST TEST MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £12,499 Honda NT1100 ● 1084cc DOHC parallel twin cylinder ● 100.6bhp @ 7500rpm ● 238kg kerb weight £13,049 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin ● 1084cc DOHC parallel twin cylinder ● 100.6bhp @ 7500rpm ● 226kg kerb weight Pitting Honda's new NT1100 against its CRF1100L Africa Twin adventure bike may not seem ordinary, or fair, but the NT is no ordinary tourer. The ‘New Tourer’, hence ‘NT’, is largely based on Africa Twin mechanicals, with essentially the same parallel twin engine, twin loop frame, clocks and switchgear. So, while not ignoring that there are plenty of differences elsewhere, with the NT having pure road wheels, tyres, brakes and suspension, touring fairing, panniers and so on, those core similarities also beg the…

‘Old like me? Take the NT’ The past 15 years or so have seen adventure bikes take over from tourers and all-rounders and this test has been a classic reminder of why. With both bikes based on an identical platform, our 250 miles of A and B-roads reminded how versatile a fully kitted adventure bike can be – and we didn't even go off-road. But it also highlighted some of the implicit compromises of the breed. Yes, the Africa Twin is a great all-rounder: it's fast, flexible and comfortable enough for serious A-road miles; it's sufficiently nimble, sure-footed and punchy to be a B-road blast and, on top of that, has genuine off-road ability and the sexy, sporty style that goes with it. Yet the new, unshowy NT1100 beats it…

FIRST RIDE Triumph have used Moto2 knowhow to sharpen the new £11,295 Street Triple 765 RS. It was already one of the finest sports nakeds money can buy, so hardly needed to improve, but in the face of ever tougher competition from the likes of Ducati with the new Monster SP, the Yamaha MT-09SP and KTM 890 Duke R, they're desperate to stay ahead of the game. It gets a host of new engine, chassis, styling and electronics upgrades, ‘765’ added to its name and is out in dealers now. We're at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain to see what makes it tick. 1 More speed and power Triumph have supplied Moto2 with breathed-on 765cc three-cylinder motors for the past four seasons and they've been bulletproof. The new RS…

‘Better in every area’ What Suzuki have achieved with the V-Strom 800 DE is very impressive indeed. It's both more capable off-road than the 650 that went before it – but it's a better road bike, too. It's also very, very comfortable, thanks to a combination of well-thought-out ergonomics, a seat you can sit in all day, for days at a time – supposedly tested by its designer at his office desk – and a silky-smooth engine. Add to that a sublime quickshifter, thoroughly capable suspension and a 20-litre tank and you've got a bike that could set off around the world at a moment's notice… as long as you did it mostly by road or dry gravel. THE FACTS £10,655 Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Steering sweeter Give your head bearings some love for a smoother feel at the bars 1 Anatomy of steering Located in the frame headstock, your bike's head bearings are responsible for the smooth operation of the steering. The typical Layout sees a bearing at the top of the headstock and one beneath, with the bottom and top yokes either side and the steering stem in the middle. The bearings need to be checked, lubed and adjusted every 10,000 miles or so. BRUCE'S TIPS Bumping up kerbs and wheelies will cause premature wear. 3 A smooth sweep? Next check the side-to-side performance of the bearings. With the front still raised, turn the bars from full left to full right lock. There should be no binding/tightness and a smooth…

BMW barely featured at Phillip Island, with the German manufacturer seemingly incapable of performing anywhere near its big-budget potential. Phillip Island often evens out the differences between bikes but despite that, the BMW factory team scored just 14 points and the Bonovo customer squad nine. Proving the riders are in the same world of pain and extracting as much as they can, positions 12 through 15 were locked out by Michael van der Mark, Scott Redding, Garrett Gerloff and Loris Baz as the BMW quartet were covered by just five seconds in Race 2. The best BMW qualifying result was 12th for van der Mark, while the best race result was ninth for Redding in Race 1. The paddock rumour mill suggests that Redding, who wears his heart on his…

He may resemble a college student but there was no such fooling around for Philipp Oettl as the genial German delivered his most impressive WSB race weekend to date. Eleventh in Race 1, the GoEleven Ducati rider achieved career-best results of sixth and then fifth on Sunday as he fought hard with the likes of Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu. It was a popular result for the rider who'd triumphed in the Moto3 World Championship when he won the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez in 2018. Only since Friday practice had the 26-year-old received all of the latest Ducati updates, leaving littLe time to get to grips with the new feeling it brought. However, now into his second season with the team and with superlative communication between himself and crew…

Yamaha XSR900 £10,600 | 890cc | 193kg | 117bhp | 810mm seat height There is an old saying ‘if it looks right, it is right’ – something that most certainly rings true for Yamaha's XSR900. Not only is this modern retro goodlooking in the flesh, once you get that triple engine up and running, the bike itself is an absolute hoot to ride. As has always been the way with the XSR, Yamaha have based their sports heritage model on the existing MT-09 platform. Benefitting from all the updates that the MT-09 gained in 2021, the revised XSR900 was released last year and instantly proved a big hit. If you are after a stylish naked bike, and find the MT-09 a bit too ‘sharply-styled’ for your tastes, give the XSR…

Kawasaki Ninja 400 £6201 | 399cc | 168kg | 44.4bhp | 785mm seat height Back by popular demand for 2023, Kawasaki's Ninja 400 is powered by a paralleltwin engine that makes a respectable 44.4bhp with 27.3lb.ft of torque. The Ninja is A2-legal yet still more than peppy enough on the open road. It will merrily cruise at 70mph on a dual carriageway yet its featherlight clutch and easy-going power delivery means it is also more than at home in an urban environment. And it is also far from intimidating. Light and agile, the Ninja has a lovely low seat height to make it reassuring to newer riders yet combines this with a roomy riding position, which although sporty is far from cramped. Riders of all shapes and sizes will instantly…

Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST £21,177 | 1923cc | 327kg | 104bhp | 720mm seat height Harley-Davidson call the Low Rider ST a ‘weekend escape machine’ and you can see why. If you are looking at dodging the ratrun for a few days away, it would certainly make the whole experience a more memorable one! Taking the Low Rider S as a base, the ST version adds removable hard panniers and a frame-mounted fairing to create a Californian ‘tall bike’ performance bagger that, like its S sibling, also boasts the powerful Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine. The 117 motor in the ST features a highperformance camshaft and free-flowing air filter that gives it even more poke, not that with 124lb.ft of torque at just 3500rpm it is exactly short on any to start…