Table of contents for 24 May 2023 in MCN

IOMTT 2023 PREVIEW Step behind the paddock barriers and get the inside story of this year's top TT riders, teams and bikes… INSIDE YOUR 3-IN-1 BUMPER EDITION! TT heaven & PCP hell! On top of your normal, edition of MCN this week, we've pulled together a fantastic TT preview to give you the inside line on everything you need to know. And, just to put even more stress on your wallet, we've compiled a hellish tome of temptation with 94 of the hottest new-bike deals available! PCP BUYER'S GUIDE Want more for less? Don't we all! Here's 94 of the hottest new bike deals you can get today ON TEST THIS WEEK It's the bargain battle of the year! This is the test we've been desperate to deliver ever since…

The Bike Specialists in Sheffield are selling a 2018 Ducati Panigale 1299 raced by Michael Ruben Rinaldi in the World Superbike championship. The bike is listed for £154,980 and was raced by the Italian in the European rounds of the championship alongside Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri. Taking 77 points in the championship, it finished 14th in the standings. Booster jabs Yamaha have launched a pair of pedal electric urban mobility vehicles, called the Booster and Booster Easy. Designed for urban living, where older combustion vehicles are being increasingly squeezed out, both versions of the bike are powered by a 630Wh 36V battery, with the Booster requiring a CBT and insurance to be ridden legally. Yamaha claim a maximum range of 68.4 miles, with bikes available from June this year.…

The Romney Marsh Ride In Show and Bike Jumble will take place on Sunday, June 25, offering a classic bike display, autojumble, bikes for sale area, live music, and more. Taking place in Hamstreet in Kent, it's open from 10am onwards, with advance adult tickets costing just £5. For more information and to book a stall, go to elk-promotions.co.uk Hicky's new hoops Wiltshire-based lightweight wheel specialists Dymag have announced a partnership with TT lap record holder Peter Hickman. The tie-up began at the North West 200 earlier this month, with their UP7X wheels used on Hicky's Yamaha R7 supertwin. Five-time TT winner Hickman said: “Running my Supertwin using the UP7X wheels is awesome; I'm delighted to be associated with Dymag.” For more info: dymag.com • See more about Hicky's R7…

Merlin Solitude Jacket £379.99 This all-new touring jacket has been designed to be ultra lightweight without sacrificing weather protection. The outer shell is laminated with waterproof and breathable Aquaseal+, and has a removable thermal lining. It's AA-rated, and comes with D3O shoulder, elbow and back armour, with pockets for optional chest protector. merlinbikegear.shop Knox Handroid Mk5 £249.99 The latest version of Knox's Handroid glove boasts a completely redesigned cuff with a lower profile and new BOA closure, improving protection and enhancing flexibility. It still features the unique exoskeleton and scaphoid protection system, but has a fresh new look thanks to a hexagonal leather design. Available in three colours. planet-knox.com Caberg Pro Speak Evo £139.99 Caberg have teamed up with tech specialists Midland to develop a new integrated intercom system. The…

‘Knocked off while filtering’ I was filtering past a line of slow-moving cars using the area within the broken chevrons. When I was next to one car, it pulled out to the right and knocked me off. I couldn't have avoided it. Fortunately there was no oncoming traffic and I was only slightly hurt. The driver's insurer is claiming that I was overtaking and the accident was mainly my fault and has therefore only offered me 30% of the compensation. Is this worth pursuing with a solicitor as I am not happy with the figure? I realise you should only ride in the chevrons when necessary and safe. Michael Hartley, email The definition of ‘necessary’ and ‘when safe to do so’ are open to judicial interpretation based on specific facts…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Frank and Sheryl Smith The ride Tour of Europe with my wife Sheryl on our Triumph T160 How many miles? Around 3000 How long? Three weeks Best time? We went in August Tell us about the trip… This is one from our archives. In 1983 I did a tour of Europe with my wife Sheryl on our Triumph T160. We rode down from Lancashire and crossed the Channel, from Sheerness to Vlissingen in Holland before spending a week with friends in Bavaria. We then rode into Austria over the Grossglockner pass, through the Dolomites into Italy with a few days stopped off in Venice. Then across northern Italy to the riviera, San Remo, Monaco and Cannes. A few days in a 13th Century tower…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday May 24 BIKE MEETS ■ MFN, The Seven Oaks Inn, Stanton By Dale, Derbyshire 5pm till late Facebook: MFN Bike nights ■ The King Billy Rock Bar, Northampton 6.30pm Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire, From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ Seaways, Fridaythorpe, East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ Park Road Cafe, St Helens Merseyside 01744-808440 ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Mato Cafe, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ Paignton Seafront, Devon Facebook: English Riviera Bike Night ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm Facebook: Pathfinder Cafe MUSEUM ■ TT Special, Beaulieu, Hampshire 6.30pm-8.30pm…

‘Six days in the Outer Hebrides’ PAWEL ZIELINSKI Just back from a six-day, 1200-mile trip to the Outer Hebrides. I did the Hebridean Way with many detours. ‘Barnard Castle loop’ ROB CHESMAN A nice loop from Barnard Castle to Richmond for bag of chips then on to Reeth to sample an ice cream. ‘Biking for the whole family’ MICHELLE GARDNER Another 182 smiles! This time with my fianceé on her Vulcan and older stepdaughter riding pillion on my ER6. ‘Out in the Dales’ JADE CLARKE Smashing ride out in the Dales on some green lanes with my better half, Adam. ‘Twisties galore’ DARREN STRINGER 865 miles in three days over a recent weekend. Wales you've been a blast. Twisties galore, hairpins and more. ‘Madeira for Easter’ CAROLINE BROWN Went to…

‘The best gets better’ Already MCN's pick of the learner-legal sportsbikes, the latest generation R125 builds on a competent package – with a decent dollop of room to move around, and enough ground clearance for some seriously animated fun along a nadgery backroad. This is all whilst retaining a novice-friendly seat height of 820mm, and more comfort for your backside than its naked MT-125 sibling. Cornering is helped further by the Michelin Pilot Street tyres, which offered a Loctite grip on the dry Spanish roads and begged the question why Yamaha bothered to fit traction control – with the rear end never once breaking away. THE FACTS £5302 Yamaha R125…

SW-Motech Legend Gear 48-litre LR2 Tailbag £257.95 3615 miles ON TEST Soft luggage can be tiresome and fiddly at end of your ride – but not this SW-Motech offering. If you don't mind leaving the straps on the bike, it's simply a case of pushing the buckles to release the bag from the bike and away you go, clutching it with its easy-to-use grab handles. The bag is covered with small latching points that can hold other bags in the Legend Gear series (the backpack attaches beautifully, for example) but it's also ideal for a couple of bungee cords, which I use to tuck extra layers under as the ride gets warmer. My only niggle has been with the waterproof cover. The bag itself is dubbed as splashproof and comes…

Recently I've been doing a bit of work on a friend's Yamaha RD50. It's a lovely little thing, but it wasn't running right, so I've given it the once over. One of the many things that I discovered on it was the homemade air filter element, which was basically a bit of packing foam roughly cut to shape! Granted, it does get tricky to find parts for older bikes, but using proper materials is always a must. I'm always banging on about using OE parts rather than poor aftermarket stuff, but don't confuse this stuff with some of the performance air filters that are available, such as K&N, which often exceed OEM quality. Plus, they're also washable and come with a 10 year or millionmile warranty. If you do decide…

Bringing you the stories behind the sport headlines TOP STORY In a move that has shocked the World Superbike paddock, Toprak Razgatlioglu will leave Yamaha at the end of the season to join BMW. The move brings an end to speculation that the 26-year-old Turk was MotoGP bound, having recently tested the Yamaha Ml – a test that neither party seemed particularly enthused about. While his motivation to leave Yamaha is understandable given his current inability to be able to run with series leader Alvaro Bautista – his decision to join BMW is a head scratcher. While the German firm don't lack desire or budget, they have been unable to be serious WSB contenders despite a no expense spared approach to riders, equipment and team personnel. Former BSB champion and…

An old story. The rich get richer, the poor carry the load. That's how MotoGP used to be. The most talented riders got the best kit. And always won the races, weather permitting. In this way, towering heroes and serial champions were created. Perhaps some of the slow boats were equally talented. Nobody would ever know. Their bikes weren't up to it. That's exactly what Dorna vowed to stop, back in the earliest days of MotoGP. Over the next years, with humblebum proddie-based CRT bikes, restrictive tech regs, control tyres and electronics and so on, the excesses of the big-budget teams were tamed. The consequence? The closest ever racing, the biggest variety of winners. Equal chances for all. And, according to reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia, an unacceptable level of danger.…

Well it's that time of year again – it comes around fast, doesn't it? With ten races over eight days, the 2023 TT will be bigger than it's ever been with the blue riband Senior race taking place on the Saturday for the first time. While the favourite for the big bike races has to be Peter Hickman, I know for certain that Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison, Davey Todd, Conor Cummins and co most certainly don't see it that way. MCN have had the pleasure of spending time with all the top riders, hearing their thoughts on their chances, as well as getting an incredible insight into the lap itself – which makes for some goosebumpinducing reading! We've got under the skin of the Padgett's Superbike and Hicky's Yamaha R7…

Since taking his first win in the 2018 Superstock race, Peter Hickman has won eight more of the 13 subsequent TT he's finished throughout 2018, ‘19 and ‘22. That win tally is across all classes, from Superbike to Supertwin with a couple of Supersport victories for good measure – illustrating his ability to make anything work despite his 6ft 2in, 85kg frame. Last year he joined an exclusive club of riders who have won four TTs in a week (Phillip McCallen, Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop) – a clear indication of his current stranglehold on the top step. He starts as favourite heading into TT 2023 – especially on the Superstock and blue riband Superbike and Senior races. Success has bred success and he finds himself on top of the…

TOP 25 FASTEST SOLOS S = Senior, Su = Superbike, St = Superstock TOP SECTOR TIMES (CURRENT RECORDS) IDEAL Lap 16:35.711-136.413mph TOP 5 FASTEST NEWCOMERS TOP 5 FASTEST NEWCOMERS (600cc) LAP SPEED MILESTONES Frank Phillip (500cc Scott) 50.11mph (1911) Jimmy Simpson (350cc AJS) 63.19mph (1924) Jimmy Simpson (500cc AJS) 70.43mph (1926) Jimmy Simpson (350cc Norton) 80.11mph (1934) Freddie Frith (500cc Norton) 90.27mph (1937) Bob McIntyre (500cc Gilera) 101.03mph (1957) Gary Hocking (500cc MV Agusta) 105.75mph (1962) John Williams (500cc Heron Suzuki) 112.27mph (1976) Joey Dunlop (750cc Rea Racing Yamaha) 115.22mph (1980) Steve Hislop (750cc RC30 Honda) 120.92mph (1989) David Jefferies (998cc V&M R1 Yamaha) 125.69mph (2000) John McGuinness (1000cc HM Plant Honda Fireblade) 130.354mph (2007) Peter Hickman (1000cc Smiths BMW S1000RR) 135.452mph (2018) LEADING WINNERS – SOLOS (8 WINS OR…

TEAMWORK “We have a team of 12 at the TT, plus pitboarders,” Clive says. “Nobody gets to go down to the beach because there is no time off. We work from the early hours through to practice or racing every day.” The team operates under one awning for both riders. Todd and Cummins have three bikes each in Supersport, Superstock and Superbike specs plus the team carries six spare engines. After each session Clive makes meticulous notes of the settings and changes made and everything is recorded. “We are a bunch of mates and mechanics going racing,” Clive says. “There are no ‘technicians’ or ‘crew chiefs’. Lots of time is spent on the little jobs like cleaning the brakes and fixing anything that breaks if a bike gets hit by…

Ducati Diavel V4 £23,761 | 1158cc | 236kg | 165.6bhp 790mm seat height Ducati's performance cruiser has been completely revised for 2023 and the latest version is a totally different beast. Faster, lighter, more tech-heavy and now powered by the firm's V4 engine, it is a cruiser with performance unapologetically right at the forefront of its design brief. Well, would you expect anything else from Ducati? Taken from the Multistrada range, the V4 Granturismo motor is the star of the show. Making a very healthy 165.6bhp with 93lb.ft of torque, it is flexibLe, refined and fuelled to perfection, allowing you to really enjoy the whole riding experience. Which is an experience that no other cruiser can match… it's a class of its own, really. Thanks to an all-new chassis, the…

In addition to the frontrunners listed in The Contenders, pages 10 to 17, there are also a number of key riders that excel on the Supertwins with the pace to challenge… Michael Evans • Age 29 • 2022 best result 9th (Supertwin) • Starts 12 • Top ten finishes 1 • Personal best TT Lap 125.536mph (2022 Superbike) • Classes competing in Superbike/Senior/Superstock/Supersport Supertwin (Rea Racing Dyno ApriLia) Double Manx GP winner in 2017, and still the outright lap record holder at the event, Evans enjoyed a strong 2022 TT with ninth in the Supertwin. Stefano Bonetti • Age 46 • 2022 best result 23rd (Superstock) • Personal best TT Lap 127.070mph (2018 Senior) • Classes competing in Superbike/Senior/Superstock/Supertwin (Team ILR/Frag Developments Paton) Bonetti is now the veteran of 64 TT…

THIS WEEK Last week saw thousands of listeners stream the first episode of a brand-new series of the The Nod podcast, with Ben Bowers, Charley Boorman, Anthony Partridge and special guest Mark Hawwa – the founder of worldwide charity ride-out sensation, the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. Produced in conjunction with MCN, The Nod focuses on biking, mental health, the powerful stories that knit our community together, and the positive power of motorcycling. Episode two – available now – features musician and actor, Mark Sheppard. Born in England, Sheppard moved to Dublin, Ireland in his teens and was in a bunch of cool bands in the 1980s – which culminated in him playing support on U2's Joshua Tree tour. Then he went to Hollywood, ran some bars, and got into acting. He's…

THIS WEEK Registration is now open for the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) Motorcycle Run and Harwich Family Fun Day, which will take place on Sunday, September 10. Thousands are expected to attend the 60-mile ride – and fancy dress is the order of the day (with proper riding kit underneath, of course). The ride will be in aid of the airborne charity, which relies on donations to keep running. According to the group, it costs over £750,000 each month to keep the lifesaving service operational. Head of Income Generation at EHAAT, Emma Barker, said: “Bikers are a really key supporter group for us, partly because they are aware of how important the service is. “It is a great day to get together with so many of the biking…

‘I'm not dead yet…’ A little while ago I wrote a column about bikes that I couldn't see being updated as Euro5 emissions laws forced manufacturers to cull their range. One bike I singled out was Yamaha's Niken, the three-wheeled oddity based around the old MT-09 platform. It was a sales flop, so I assumed Yamaha would cut their losses and allow it to pass away quietly as the legislation bit. I was wrong. This year Yamaha have updated the Niken, giving it all of the new MT-09 parts (chassis, engine, electronics etc), which begs the question – why? I actually really like the Niken, but chatting to a few fellow journalists who were on the launch of the new model, whenever the subject of sales figures popped up, the…

May 24-28 Mini Mach The Welsh gathering with super-adventurer Nick Sanders is kicking off this week and everyone is invited. With home-cooked food, real ale, live music and the ‘circus of horrors’. www.machfestival.co.uk May 24 Bike Night TT Special The National Motor Museum in Beaulieu has a TT special celebrating the legendary road races. You need to book ahead. nationalmotormuseum.org.uk May 29-June 10 Isle of Man TT The 37.73-mile course will yet again test the skills and nerve of the sport's greatest stars, while those of us lucky enough to get a ferry over there watch on in awe. www.iomtt.com May 28 Bideford Bike Show Devon's Bideford Quay will be overrun by hundreds of bikes this Sunday from 12pm. It's £3 entry per bike. Expect a friendly crowd and plenty…

What's happening To celebrate ‘new-wave’ motorcycle culture, London's Tobacco Dock is going to be taken over by custom motorcycles, art, photography and plenty more this weekend. The motorcycles are only the tip of the treasures you can experience with street food, lounges, whisky bar and even the chance to get a tattoo or a haircut. The essentials It's all taking place this weekend at London's prestigious Tobacco Dock. Weekend tickets are £25 in advance (but there is a booking fee to add on) and allows multiple entries over the two days. But if you want something a little more special you can get a VIP ticket for the exclusive Friday evening event for £38, which kicks off at 7pm. Otherwise, doors open from 10am on the Saturday, close at 8pm…

Carbon fibre is widely used in motor sports for two reasons – it is strong and it's also light, which makes it ideal for motorcycle helmets, too. Strands of carbon are woven together and when struck they spread the force out, reducing its impact in any one area. However, carbon fibre is also expensive, so when choosing a carbon helmet it's important to know what you're looking at. The two most common types of carbon weave are plain, with the recognisable square pattern, and twill, which has a zigzag appearance. A plain weave is best for large areas but twill is better suited to following the contours of a motorcycle helmet. While many helmets use carbon fibre in their shells – not all carbon fibre helmets are the same. Check…

‘Nice but not that sporty’ It might be on the portly side at a claimed 231kg, but Life on the MT is perfectly pleasant and more than a match for much of its established competition. The full colour TFT dash is dear, there's a comfortable wellpaddedseat, lean-sensitive ABS and powerful J.Juan brakes. It's nicely suspended and composed through the bends. It's not perfect though and on long motorway runs you will feel a lot of vibration through your right boot. It would also benefit from an up/down quickshifter and a 17in front wheel to fully live up to its ‘Sport’ nametag. But as a non-nonsense well-built sports tourer, it's worthy of your consideration. THE FACTS £10,499 CFMoto 800MT Sport…

Ridden just about everything in a 20-year testing career. Gets off on trackdays and touring. Living with a big sports-tourer for the first time has been a voyage of discovery. Hewn from solid green, my Kawasaki weighs 267kg. I'd normally scoff at such bulk, but for touring that mass gives a reassuring solidity at speed and the ability to carry a nine stone pillion without ever upsetting its balance. It flows serenely through corners, especially on the Michelin Road 6 sports touring tyres I've fitted. The ‘original equipment’ Bridgestone S22 tyres were fine for the 600-mile running-in period, but the French rubber has superior wet and cold weather grip, a plusher ride and gives you more confidence to throw it hard on its side. I love the way big four-cylinder…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Lovely fresh air… Keeping your air filter tip top will help keep your engine sweet 1 Time for a change Cleaning and replacing your bike's air filter is part of routine servicing. Most bikes, like this Kawasaki ZXR400, have the airbox and filter under the tank, which makes this job a simple one to do at home. Before you start, check in the manual to see at what intervals the filter needs replacing, then familiarise yourself fully with the process involved. 2 Access the areas For most bikes, you'll need to remove the petrol tank to access the airbox and filter, so check with your workshop manual for how this is done and be sure to take care around the fuel lines, turning off the fuel and…

ROUND 3 DONINGTON PARK | BSB/WSB Based on current form it won't be long until BSB fans see Leon Haslam back on the top step. At Donington, Haslam claimed his fourth podium of the year, and narrowly missed on another in race two before dropping off the pace in the latter stages of the finale to finish eighth. Still, Haslam has scored more points than anybody across the Oulton Park and Donington Park meetings (80), meaning that he was crowned the Milwaukee Spring Grand Slam winner at the end of the day. Haslam is nine points behind championship leader Tommy Bridewell. It could have been an even better weekend for Haslam had it not been for an issue with his brakes on Saturday afternoon. “It's frustrating,” Haslam told MCN afterwards.…

Andrew Irwin has been handed three points on his licence and a threeplace grid penalty for his next race following a collision with Storm Stacey at Donington's Melbourne Loop in the final race on Sunday. The incident summed up a frustrating weekend for Irwin, who was involved in a similar incident with Christian Iddon in race one, and also crashed at the Old Hairpin in race two. All three crashes came within the first three laps in each race, costing Irwin crucial track time. It wasn't all doom and gloom for the factory Honda team. Tom Neave secured his best Superbike result to date with eighth in race two. Meanwhile, rookie Charlie Nesbitt also enjoyed his best outing onboard his Fireblade, finishing sixth in race two and securing three top…

Reporting from the heart of British Superbikes TOP STORY Donington proved to be a near perfect weekend for I home hero Kyle Ryde. Fastest on Friday. Pole on Saturday. Victories in races one and three. The only downside? Crashing out of the lead at Redgate in Sunday's opener. Given his form during the majority of the weekend, it's likely that the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha man would have completed the hat-trick if not for that tumble. Ryde loves racing at Donington, especially with the new tarmac which he describes as “snooker table” smooth. Ryde now has three wins and four podiums from the opening nine races of the year, proving that he should be considered a genuine title threat. No more in the shadow of Bradley Ray, Ryde leads the…

If you can't make it to the TT in person you can watch every session and every race live thanks to TT+ and to make things even better by using the discount code MCN15 you'll get 15% off the subscription fee. For all the info go to: https://ttpluscheckout.iomttraces.com/ Free Practice Mon 29 May* Qualifying 1 Mon 29 May* Qualifying 2 Tue 30 May Qualifying 3 Wed 31 May Qualifying 4 Thu 1 June Qualifying 5 Fri 2 June RACE WEEK Race Day 1 Sat 3 June Race Day 2 Sun 4 June Race Day 3 Tue 6 June Race Day 4 Wed 7 June Race Day 5 Fri 9 June** Race Day 6 Sat 10 June…

MCN 2023 TT PREVIEW/THE CONTENDERS MICHAEL DUNLOP John McGuinness’ standing as the most successful living TT rider is under threat this year. If Michael Dunlop can win two races, he'll equal the Morecambe legend and, if he wins three, he'll overtake him. That said, McGuinness might well add to his victories, but it's the first time in years that his position has been under threat. Dunlop would also close in on his Uncle Joey's all-time record of 26 wins, and his pre-event preparations this year have been much greater than last year, when he opted out of his ride with PBM Ducati at the eleventh hour and ended up putting a rushed effort together with Hawk Racing. He still managed a Supersport double on his own MD Racing Yamaha R6,…

Royal Enfield Himalayan £4949 | 411cc | 199kg | 24.3bhp | 800mm sear height If ever a bike sums up what Royal Enfield are doing right, it is the Himalayan, On paper this rather basic lightweight air-cooled singlecylinder adventure bike doesn't seem to add up to much, however take one out on a test ride and it all makes sense. Fun, pleasingly basic and unassuming to ride, the Flimalayan is there to remind you what is so great about motorcycles. There is no fuss, no awkward electronics and a smooth and easy-going power delivery. It will happily sit at 60mph all day long… and not just on tarmac! Born in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, the Enfield is built to take on the rough stuff and although possibly not…

MCN WHATBIKE? NEW PCP DEALS / CRUISER Sit back and enjoy the ride on Indian's Scout Hot Pick The Scout comes in four guises standard, Bobber, Bobber Twenty and Rogue. If you want something a bit mean and moody, the Rogue its tall bars, nose fairing and blacked-out styling is worth a look. It costs from £13,995. Indian Scout £12,995 | 1133cc | 258kg | 93.7bhp 649mm seat height Indian's Scout can trace its roots back over a century – but don't think that the latest bike to carry the iconic name is old-fashioned. Far from it… The entry-level Scout is powered by a thoroughly modern liquid-cooled 1133cc V-twin that makes an impressive 93.7bhp with 71.6lb.ft of torque, ensuring a relaxed, yet sporty ride. Punchy acceleration and sounding like a…

Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ £14,910 | 890cc | 223kg | 117bhp | 820mm-835mm seat height New for 2023, the plus version of the Tracer 9 GT takes the standard GT base but adds a stack of technology that makes it the most advanced sports tourer on the market. And all for a very reasonable £149 a month! Topping the list of new tech on the plus is Yamaha's Adaptive Cruise control system (ACC), which automatically maintains the distance to the vehicle ahead when cruise control is set, able to both decelerate and accelerate, it has four different distance settings and makes staying with the flow of traffic a breeze. Yamaha have also introduced radar-linked Unified Brake System (UBS) to the Plus. Able to be deactivated if it's not for you,…

On paper at least the Birchall brothers, Ben and Tom, head into this year's TT as favourites. Their combination of engineering prowess, talent, fitness and 100% belief has seen them win 12 TT races and take the lap record to 119.250mph which is incredible given the weight of the 600cc powered outfit with two people onboard. They remain the absolute TT benchmark, on a lap where they spend in excess of 60% of their time at 100% throttle. ‘We're going back with the same bike’ “A big plus for us is that we're going back with the same bike as last year, it was the first run out of the latest outfit,” explains Ben. Although both races were shortened, the Birchalls won race one by 13.989s and the one-lap race…

Get set for this year's Isle of Man TT with a new range of merchandise that goes on sale today (Wednesday, May 24). There's a range of T-shirts, hoodies, and more, available in two distinct collections: ‘Essentials’ (featuring a striped design said to be a nod to late-1960s racing) and ‘Heritage’ (with retro graphics). To get yours, go to shop.iomttraces.com. Honda responds to SoS dealer A Southend-on-Sea Honda dealership has won a prestigious Europe-wide award for customer satisfaction. Essex-based Belle Vue Motorcycles won a Honda Yūshū (‘excellence’) Award. Dealer Principal Dan Stilwell said: “Being the only motorcycle dealer in the UK to receive this means so much to everyone who works here.” Visit bellevuemotors.com. Fuel finally falls Petrol prices in the UK have dropped below 145p a litre for the…

THIS WEEK TOP STORY Northern Ireland's largest motorcycle training centre is on the brink of closure and the industry faces collapse as riding schools continue to struggle to secure insurance cover. Earlier this year, MCN reported on a number of schools who had struggled to renew cover and the situation has not improved. MP Ian Paisley Jr, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Motorcycling, told MCN: “I have spoken to Treasury, the NIO (Northern Ireland Office), the Association of British Insurers, and the Financial Conduct Authority. I have asked what lies at the heart of a decision to suddenly remove cover for motorcycle instructors.” Paisley Jr, who is the Democratic Unionist Party MP for North Antrim, approached industry leaders and organisations last month to find out why they are…

SAVE £1996 £16,999 Yamaha R1 The R1 has exquisite rear tyre feel, immense speed and a howling soundtrack. Thanks to its trademark crossplane engine layout and uneven firing order, the R1 still has the unique ability to drive harder from apex to corner exit than any of its rivals. Not only that, but the engine sounds brilliant. There is a handy saving to be made, too. www.tamworthyamaha.com SAVE £1580 £19,999 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX Along with great build quality and reliability, the supercharged engine in this huge performance sports tourer has loads of charm. www.daytonamc.co.uk • Engine 998cc • Power 197bhp • Weight 260kg • Seat height 835mm SAVE £1455 £16,799 Suzuki Hayabusa Even by today's standards the third-gen Busa feels like a spaceship with a richness of power that…

SAVE OVER 40% Wolf Fortitude £199.99 Ready to tour in comfort A textile jacket can provide a do-it-all solution for tackling our gloriously changeable climate. Take the Wolf Fortitude for example, which has fitted looks and a philosophy that's all about comfort. Protection wise, it comes with CE Level 2 D3O shoulder and elbow armour, plus a pocket for fitting an optional back protector, and the whole garment is rated to CE A. The 750D brushed nylon outer shell is W2 laminated for a claimed 100% waterproofing and treated with a waterresistant DWR coating that can be reapplied as required. To keep you warm it has a removable Evertex jersey knit lining with breathable wool fill. Combine it with the similarly spec'd bib and braces bottom half (now down 35%…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MONnews ‘Thanks for the memories’ What a great way to wave a very fond farewell to the East of England Showground as a venue for the MCN Festival of Motorcycling… we camped the weekend and had a fabulous time. From the test rides, to bagging loads of bargains, the evening entertainment (the bands were brilliant!) and most importantly the camaraderie and joy that being with other bikers and those who simply love bikes brought us. We really hope a new venue can be found to continue the fun but for now thanks for the memories Peterborough. Andy Price, email STAR LETTER Distinguished service Thanks to the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride and the riders for everything they do (MCN, May 17). I was diagnosed with prostate cancer six months…

THURSDAY May 25 12pm, BTS2, FIM JuniorGP Championship from Spain FRIDAY May 26 11am, EUR2, Bennetts British Superbikes from Oulton Park: Weekend highlights. 12pm Oulton Park Extra MONDAY May 29 7.30am, EUR2, Live British Speedway: Round 2 TUESDAY May 30 9pm, QUEST, new Shed and Buried 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) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT…

NAKED MIDDLEWEIGHTS THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £7510 Yamaha MT-07 • 689cc Liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 72.4bhp@8750rpm £8165 Suzuki GSX-8S ● 776cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v ● 81.7bhp @ 8500rpm £6999 Honda CB750 Hornet • 755cc liquid-cooled parallel twin SOHC 8v • 90.5bhp@9500rpm £7895* Triumph Trident 660 • 660cc inline triple DOHC 12v • 80bhp@10,250rpm *(plus £100 for red, orange or matt) What will £100 get you nowadays? Certainly not as much as it used to. A full tank of fuel in a family car may leave you a bit of change, a meal out for four will probably break the budget, two weekend tickets to BSB should leave you enough for an over-priced burger to share, and if you stay at home…

‘The GSX-8S edges it’ If someone came up to me and said they were looking to buy any one of these four bikes I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them as they are all brilliant in their own way. And at around £100 a month on a three-year POP plan they are also remarkable value for money But if I had to pick a winner, and I do, the Suzuki narrowly edqes it. The GSX-8S has bags of Low and mid-range grunt, a lovely feeling of security as well as agility on the road, and all the tech you could ever need. The look is subjective and may not appeal to all but in just about every other area it squeezes ahead of the Honda. Although it is cheaper and nimbler,…

Oxford FilterBuds £19.99 These little ear plugs allow 23dB SNR (signal to noise ratio) through – perfect for me, because I like to hear what's going on around me while I'm riding and at the same time look after my hearing. Their neat, clever design means they can be washed and re-used, and they can be securely stored in a posh little canister that has an O-ring-sealed screw-on lid. The keyring attachment is a user-friendly touch – stick it on your fob and the buds will always be there when you need them. Make sure you follow the instruction to fit them in your ear so that the tab to retrieve them after use is in the right place, or they can be tricky to remove. Quality Value oxfordproducts.com 3500…

Teenage kicks are hard to beat, but they can be costly. So it was for the buyer of an M-reg 1974 Gilera Enduro 50. Paul Knight, boss of A55 Motorcycles, picks up the story: “The chap who brought it in had had one as a youngster, bought a wreck, and sent it off to a restorer. But when he got it back it didn't run, so he brought it in to me to have a look at. The restorer had done an outstanding job on the cosmetics as the depth of finish was better than the day it rolled out of the factory. I advised him to take it back, but they couldn't find a resolution, so it was back a week later.” Paul's checklist for a nonrunner is: fuel,…

When road racing returned to the Isle of Man after the Covid-19 pandemic it did so with an army of camera operators, boom mics, and steady cams – following every move of the riders to create a gritty behind-thescenes docu-series detailing the immense highs and tragic lows of the sport. Following the racing action across 2022, the series features fan favourites like 23-time winner John McGuinness MBE, lap record holder Peter Hickman, and 21-time winner Michael Dunlop, as well those taking to the 37.73-mile course for the first time and highlights the commitment it takes just to make it to the start line. Called No Room For Error the four-part series started on Monday, 22 May on ITV4 and ITVX and will be broadcast over four nights, as well as…

KTM 890 Duke R £11,599 | 889cc | 180kg | 119.3bhp | 834mm seat height KTM aren't a company that likes to shy away from a fight and the 890 Duke R is most certainly a bar-brawler of a middleweight. The firm's top-spec 890 Duke model, the R is billed as the ‘Super Scalpel’ by KTM and if you want a middleweight that is as happy on a race track as it is a B-road, look no further. Powered by a high performance version of KTM's punchy parallel twin engine, the R model makes a claimed 119.3bhp (meaning it can't be restricted to A2-legal, hence the 790 Duke's existence) with 73lb.ft of torque, which is an increase of 5.9bhp and 5.2lb.ft on what the 890 Duke GP produces. And that's…

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE £10,665 | 776cc | 230kg | 83.1bhp | 855mm seat height Having relied upon their aging (but still very good) V-Strom 650 for so long, this year Suzuki have finally bitten the bullet and built a proper middleweight adventure bike – the V-Strom 800DE. And we are very glad they have because it is an absolute cracker. Using the same all-new parallel twin as the GSX-8S, the V-Strom (which despite its name is no longer a V-twin…) it's far more off-road targeted than the 650 ever was and comes with a 21in front wheel, spoked wheels and switchable ABS alongside a dedicated gravel traction control setting. But don't think it is all about off-road riding, Suzuki have been careful to ensure it will appeal to road riders…