Table of contents for 21 June 2023 in MCN

THE WOMEN WHO CAN Becoming a rider is one lifeenriching option, but many women are also making biking their career as well… THIS WEEK There is another alternative to EV The world is charging headlong into the depths of battery vehicle technology, and many seem reluctant to consider alternative options that may provide a better solution. But many motorcycle firms are rallying together, as well as working independently, to look at alternative fuel options. One of those determined to explore efuel is BMW. We speak to them about their vision for the future. PAGE 4 ON TEST Chasing the horizon on a budget Honda's XL750 Transalp has really caused a buzz this year – storming into the congested adventure bike scene with an endearing blend of affordability, punchy parallel-twin powerplant…

AGV K6 Flash £249.99 Sub-£300 helmets With summer well and truly under way, now is the perfect time to bag a mid-season bargain on a new lid. The AGV K6 features an outer shell constructed from carbon/aramid fibre and a fivedensity inner EPS layer, giving it a protective capacity claimed to be 48% higher than the outgoing ECE 22.05 standard. Its aerodynamic profile is designed to reduce turbulence, and it weighs just 1220g, making it one of the lightest full-face helmets available. The 2Dry sweat-absorbing interior is fully removable and washable. Controllable ventilation is delivered by five frontal intakes, with one large fixed exhaust for extraction. A 190° horizontal and 85° vertical field of vision is achieved with a generous aperture), protected by a 4.3mm Optical Class 1 visor. It looks…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Get this man an MBE!’ Just got back from my first Isle of Man TT having bumped into the absolute gentleman that is Clive Padgett at the afterparty. I know people go to watch the riders but with people like Clive and what he and his family have done for the sport over the years, surely it is time for an MBE? Jon York, Chesterfield STAR LETTER Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter slot. Each week one lucky reader will receive an MCN T-shirt in a variety of different designs It was TTeriffic! As it was such a terrific TT this year with fantastic weather and many solo and sidecar records being broken, it's probably just as…

THE UK'S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staff and readers share their one-hour routes This is a bit like a ‘greatest hits’ of the MCN 250 road test route but condensed to just 50 miles. Starting in Stamford you head out north on the twisty, undulating B1176, sweeping under the east coast mainline near where the Mallard set its speed record to the cute coffee stop of the village of Corby Glen. Hang a left onto the fast, flowing A151 before bridging the A1 into Isaac Newton's birthplace at Colsterworth. Then it's back onto the B676 through Stainby and Saxby on towards rural food capital Melton Mowbray. Here, pause to grab an award-winning pork pie from the famed Dickinson & Morris shop in town before readying for the fabulous and fast roller-coaster…

FRIDAY June 23 8am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Assen: Free Practice 1.12.15pm Free Practice 2.4pm MotoE Qualifying 8pm, ITV4, The Motorbike Show SATURDAY June 24 8.45am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Assen: Practice/Qualifying. 11am MotoE. 11.45am Moto2&3. 1.30pm Sprint Race 5.30pm, EUR2, Live Speedway Grand Prix from Gorzow, Poland 5am, EUR2, Live Motocross from Sumbawa, Indonesia: MX2 Race 1 SUNDAY June 25 6am, EUR2, Live Motocross from Sumbawa, Indonesia 7.45am, BTS2, Live Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. 8.30am MotoGP Warm-Ups. 9.15am Moto 3.11am Moto 2.12.30pm MotoGP. 2.15pm Chequered Flag 8pm, ITV4, MotoGP Highlights MONDAY June 26 7.30pm, EUR2, Live British Speedway – Peterborough v Belle Vue 8pm, ITV4, MotoGP Highlights KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS…

MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £9499 Honda XL750 Transalp ● 755cc 8v parallel twin ● 91bhp/55lb.ft ● £99 per month PCP £10,499 Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE ● 776cc 8v parallel twin ● 83bhp/58lb.ft ● £96.72 per month PCP Honda's XL750 Transalp and the Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE are two of the new adventure stars of 2023. They impressed at their respective launches earlier this year and both are propelled by minty-fresh 270-degree parallel twins, also used in the recently released Honda CB750 Hornet and Suzuki GSX-8S nakeds. ‘Middleweights’ like these hit the adventure sweet spot more than any other. They don't cost the earth, they're easy to manage and will do anything a big-cube, big money adventure bike can do – from short…

BIKING LEGENDS People who have shaped our world A little over a year ago, Danilo Petrucci might not have been considered a legend, but what the Italian racer has done over the last 13 months has certainly made him one. In that space of time, the 32-yearold has raced in MotoGP, World Superbikes, the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, and won a stage of the Dakar Rally at his first attempt. The sheer versatility and determination this requires is staggering, but Petrucci has done it all with a fun-loving attitude that's won the hearts of millions. Born in Terni, Italy, in 1990, Petrucci began competing on mini trials and mini-cross bikes in 1998 before switching to road racing in 2006 in the Italian CBR600 Cup, where he finished top rookie. The following…

Ice speedway In winter, the ice racing season is in full swing across Scandinavia and Europe… So what's the difference? Violent-looking spiked wheels and almost laying-down lean angles. Pull up a video on YouTube if you don't believe us, or pop into the National Speedway Museum to see one of the ice-machines up close in the metal. “New Zealand speedway rider, Bruce Cribb, also rode in the ice speedway in the winter,” explains Bert. “A few seasons ago, he gave demonstrations on various speedway tracks his ice bike. Everywhere he went, Bruce shattered the track record, assisted by the long spikes which dug into the track and gave him maximum traction without the wheelspin of a speedway bike.” fim-icespeedway.com Cycle speedway Many of the pioneers of speedway back in the…

Clarke air compressor + air tool kit £182.57 A small, hand-held air compressor is a useful thing when you need to adjust pressures on the move, but they're often limiting when it comes to work in the garage because they're typically rather slow. 3 months ON TEST So, step forward this excellent Clarke Ranger 24-litre 2HP unit, which also has masses more functionality thanks to the five-piece air tool kit. This has the power of two horses to compress air into its main cylinder and, with that in mind, it inflates tyres seriously quickly. I've timed it putting 25psi into a tyre in 20 seconds, including adjusting down again with the pressure-release button on the tool. It attaches to the valve via a solid-feeling metal clip that locates easily and…

‘Check it's adjusted first’ It always amazes me how robust a motorcycle clutch can be, particularly on a sportsbike. The power of the engine is transmitted entirely through the shared surface area of the friction and steel plates, and compressed by half a dozen springs – all whilst soaked in oil! Unlike tyres which handle the very same power, clutches can last for many, many thousands of miles. When it does show signs of wear, the first symptom is slipping, but don't forget to check the cable or pushrod free-play adjustment first before you go pulling the engine cover off, as quite often it just needs a bit of a tweak to the adjustment to restore performance rather than a new clutch. We haven't mentioned bikes with slipper clutches here,…

SPORT Sachsenring victories for Jorge Martin (MotoGP) and Pedro Acosta (Moto2) have brought some direction to the mid-season rider market. A Yamaha pitch to Martin is set to fall on deaf ears with the Spaniard close to convincing both himself, and Ducati, that he will renew for 2024. Full factory support beckons. Ducati are willing to play musical chairs with team/rider slots to satisfy Martin. And who would swap out a Desmo for an M1 in 2024? Or jump on a Honda to join that nightmare? A stay-put Martin might yet save Franco Morbidelli's Yamaha gig. ‘Who would swap the Desmo for a Yamaha?’ KTM are still smarting from being outplayed for an option on Martin by Ducati three years ago. Moto2 starlet Pedro Acosta, meanwhile, rightly covets a MotoGP…

At the centre of the MotoGP paddock for over 25 years TOP STORY It felt like the dawn of a potential fierce new rivalry: Pecco Bagnaia versus Jorge Martin. Italy versus Spain. Factory versus satellite. If it develops it could provide an injection of much-needed needle which many fans feel has been absent in recent years. It might lack the venom and animosity of Valentino Rossi versus Sete Gibernau, Jorge Lorenzo or Marc Marquez, but if the weekend's epic toe-to-toe battle in Germany proves a taste of things to come, the future could turn pretty spicy. The double winner in Germany was Martin. The gracious loser, for now at least, Bagnaia. Just 0.064s split the Ducati duo at the end of a Sachsenring stunner. Only 13 races since 2000 have…

MotoGP paddock veteran delves behind the headlines TOP STORY The humiliation of Marc Marquez and Honda at the Sachsenring was total. In a weekend that saw him crash five times, lose his cool on camera, and sustain yet another hand injury, it proved a difficult watch for fans and critics of a once imperious combination. After his fifth punishing crash of the weekend during Sunday warm up, Marquez made a despondent declaration that he was “not ready to race” despite being medically cleared to do so. That is unheard of. Just how long can the former dream partnership of Honda and Marquez survive? A dismal weekend in Germany escalated to a crisis point. It's looking a lot like grounds for divorce. Feeling the strain Even if it's not the end,…

Alison Silcox, MCN Office Manager Vastly experienced Ali has worked for MCN for 20 years and has ridden hundreds of bikes for thousands of miles. She knows her stuff. Saffron Wilson, MCN Reporter Born and bred biker, Saff rides thousands of miles in search of the hottest stories for MCN. And she knows how to handle a big Harley. Zoë Burn, journalist An award-winning writer and editor with more than 20 years of experience covering motorcycle racing for national print and online. She's a familiar face in the paddock. Lisa di Blas, Miss Biker contributor Winner of the 2019 FIM Women in Motorcycling Award, MissBiker.com is one of the fastest growing female rider networks online. Eglė Gerulaitytė, journalist & tour guide When she's not writing, Eglė's competing in rallies and…

Inspiration #4 Lindsay Atkinson, 37, founder of Women in Moto Kawasaki Z1000 rider, Lindsay has been pushing for change within the motorcycling industry by creating the UK's first femalefocused biking event. This year's Women in Moto takes place at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Aug 19-20 (womenmoto.co.uk). The event, open to all, aims to put women riders front and centre. She rides over 30,000 miles a year, all year round. It's not easy to stand up and challenge the status quo, especially when longestablished names tell you you're wrong. Yet that's exactly what Lindsay Atkinson did when she defied the naysayers to launch Women in Moto – an event that puts female riders front and centre. After starting her biking life as a scooter commuter, it wasn't long before motorcycling got its…

Dainese The Italian brand say 15-20% of their total bike kit sales is generated by women's clothing, but say that development of their female range is a fine balancing act limited by the size of the market. “We're trying to have a more and more constructive and structured approach to this part to collection,” says Dainese's Federica Marti. “But still, items dedicated to ladies are very reduced as the number of ladies that ride is limited. But we have a large group of items that are unisex.” Richa Including their unisex collection, Belgian brand Richa say 40% of their range is fitted for female riders. “Year after year we see increasing sales of our female collections,” says CEO Tom Grymonprez. “More and more female riders worldwide find their way to…

Denise Withey, 50, Redditch Bookkeeper Denise decided it was time to ditch the pillion seat so that she and her husband could go riding together. “My husband used to race and had stopped, he wanted to get back into riding and was going to buy a track bike, but I suggested he get a road bike, so we could get away for weekends. “Over the last few years, we've toured Europe, including trips to the Valencia MotoGP and Switzerland, and I got the bug. I wasn't sure if I could do it but I thought I'd bite the bullet and have a go. I got to a certain age and wanted to challenge myself and learn something new. “I was a novice, so had to start from scratch and I've found the…

THIS WEEK Eight-time World Trials Champion, Emma Bristow, has been recognised in the King's debut birthday honours list with an MBE for services to motorsport and women in sport. A delighted Bristow told MCN: “I am so honoured to receive this award. It was completely unexpected, all I have ever tried to do is keep improving myself and with it raise the level of women's competition. “I just want to thank everybody who has supported my career, but in particular to thank Sherco Motorcycles who have committed to women in motorsport above and beyond any other manufacturer.” The award recognises Bristow's career in motorsport which so far includes a total of 44 GP wins, eight World Trials titles and a further two World SuperEnduro titles, making her one of Britain's…

Ambulance crews from England and Wales were drafted in to support medical teams on the Isle of Man during the TT racing fortnight, allowing them to care for the thousands of additional visitors to the island from across the globe. “It's just a numbers game,” Head of the Ambulance Service at Manx Care, Will Bellamy, told MCN. “More population, more different people – you're going to see more different conditions and we just need to make sure that we're prepared for that. “I'm really proud to lead the team – knowing that if anything does happen, we're there to look after you and provide exceptional care.” Six paramedics out of more than 150 applicants were selected from the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to travel to the island, thanks to…

Richa Atlantic 2 Jacket £849.99 Boasting a Gore-Tex laminate construction and removable thermal liner, the latest version of Richa's popular Atlantic is aimed at all-season riding. It comes with Level 1 D3O armour for elbow, shoulder and back, is CE AA-rated and vegan-friendly. Ventilation can be regulated with adjustable ports in key areas. nevis.uk.com HJC RPHA 11 Miles Morales £549.99 Inspired by the animated SpiderMan: Across the Spider-Verse movie, this latest tie-in from HJC represents the costume worn by lead character Miles Morales. Its aerodynamic shell is reinforced with a carbon-glass hybrid material and has a moisture-wicking antibacterial interior. Both clear and light smoke quick-release visors are included as standard. oxfordproducts.com Rizoma Cut-Edge Mirror €199 These high-quality bar-end mirrors use a multi-adjustment swingarm to offer a wide range of positioning…

Q ‘Can I appeal decision?’ I was in court last week for my bike accident claim where I was claiming against a car driver for injuries caused. I lost my case but have been told it is possible to appeal the decision and receive a retrial. Basically, the accident involved the driver turning in front of me but the judge found fully in favour of the driver and, to be honest, I don't think he really understood the evidence. Alex G, email A There is a time limit of 21 days from the decision in which to lodge an appeal. To succeed you will need to show that the judge was: (a) Plainly wrong in law or fact (and this had a bearing or the result) or (b) Erred seriously…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday June 21 BIKE MEETS ■ The Solstice Bike Night, The Dashwood Roadhouse, Piddington, Oxfordshire from 6pm 07940492348 or mrduke1@live.co.uk ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ The King Billy Rock Bar, bike & Burger Night, Northampton, Northamptonshire, 6.30pm Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ MFN bike night, The Seven Oaks Inn, Stanton By Dale, Derbyshire 5pm till late Facebook: MFN Bike nights ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Park Road Cafe, St Helens, Merseyside 01744-808440 ■ Seaways bike night, Seaways, Fridaythorpe East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ Yorkshire Rose Concours Night, The Waverley Catcliffe, Rotherham, South Yorkshire www.tomcc.org ■…

‘Run in the sun’ BRIAN ECCLES A late afternoon ride in the sun taking in the White Horse, in Kilburn. There's not many better looking bikes than a Bonneville. ‘Norfolk to the Peaks’ LEWYS PRIEHS Taking a few lanes. Norfolk to the Peak District and back in a day, just because it was sunny! ‘Off to see Triumph’ STEVE STUART Took a ride to visit the Triumph Factory at Hinckley. ‘Honeymoon adventure’ JADE ABEL Me and Adam from the top of the Trollstigen pass in Norway. ‘Loving my new BMW!’ MARCUS WARD Here's my new-to-me S1000XR on its first proper weekend away. This was taken at the Owl's Nest Tea Room before a tour around the dams and lakes in Rhayader, Wales. ‘Quick spin round Germany’ ANDREW CHISHOLM We took…

£9499 Honda XL750 Transalp £10,499 Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE…

‘Makes for real value’ The simple addition of luggage and screen is the making of the Rebel: without the cachet of the H-D name, it's just another Japanese cruiser on the fringes. But with improved comfort and carrying, it becomes a great tool for medium-length trips, either taking it easy or enjoying the perky, agile feel that the big-cube Hawgs can't match. And in this market, it's amazing value too: Harley's cheapest bike is still over £3000 more than the Honda. You can do a lot with that – including upgrading the seat to sort the only real criticism of a keenly priced and capable bagger that'll satisfy anybody that's not a slave to the image of the American brands. THE FACTS £10,449 (£11,349 for DCT) Honda CMX1100T Rebel…

‘Difficult for dealers’ I was working in a Ducati dealership in 1998 when the new 900SS arrived and it wasn't well received. The old SS was a great bike, appealing to riders who wanted an 851 or 888 but the sportsbike was out of their price range, but the new one was a bit of a rip-off of the Supermono and riders didn't warm to it. It didn't matter that the new bike rode far better than the previous model, it was regarded an ugly bike that was too wild, too wacky and simply not cool, especially when you looked at the rest of the range. That's the problem with Ducatis, they sell as much on styling as they do performance and as a dealer that can really bite you…

A power-packed 2001 Honda Super Blackbird had given good service and was in fairly good nick when it arrived at Double O Motorcycles in Bedford… apart from the fact it was in the back of a van. “The owner had all his dash lights go crazy, then the ‘click, click, click’ of doom from the starter button,” said mechanic Sean Taylor. The battery was as dead as a dodo, so the first step was to slot in a properly charged replacement and check the charging system. Surprise, surprise, it wasn't putting any current into the battery, so Sean dug deeper. He added: “There's a multipin plug on the left-hand side near the rear subframe, that is slightly exposed. Sure enough, it was green and corroded. Corrosion eats away at the…

Reporting direct from the 2023 BSB race paddock Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell continued to ride a wave of positivity at Knockhill, with two wins for the former, and two more podiums for the latter. It didn't go all their way, however. In race two a rare mistake from Irwin at the hairpin saw him crash out of the lead with only two laps remaining, whilst Bridewell's qualifying position (10th) left him with serious work to do in the opening two races. Still, both riders showcased how strong they are right now. Irwin kept his chin up and won the next race, whilst Bridewell got on with the job and performed multiple passes to ensure he was on the rostrum. It's another warning shot for the rest of the paddock…

ROUND 7 SACHSENRING | MOTOGP Everyone has a breaking point, even Marc Marquez, the rider who has suffered more pain and brutal surgery than any other in MotoGP. He went into the Sachsenring fully aware that this was his best, possibly only, chance to win a race on Honda's out-classed RCV. It wasn't to be. On Friday his bike twice tried to flick him off at high-speed, then succeeded in spitting him off four times in 24 hours as he tried to stay with the Ducatis, KTMs and Aprilias. Then came the crunch. In Sunday morning warm-up Marc was hurtling through the downhill, negative camber turn seven when he got spat off. Without doubt, it looked like an electronics issue. He struggled out of the gravel, dazed, then slumped against…

Thanks to the pioneering spirit and bravery of one young rider, thousands of women in Pakistan now ride motorcycles. Zenith Irfan was just 20 when she defied social conventions and set out on her Honda CG125 on a cross-country epic, from the Karachi coast through the valleys of Kashmir right up to the Khunjerab Pass, and in doing so became the first woman to travel the length of Pakistan by motorcycle. “I wanted to carry on my father's legacy by pursuing his passion,” says Zenith. “When I was 12, I came across a picture of my father in the mountains, with a look of pure excitement on his face. I had never seen him so happy. That's when I learned that he had a dream to ride all over the…

A lison Bonar served with Durham Police for more than 26 years, 16 of which were on two-wheels. She retired from the service in 2020, but is still bike mad and has ridden her Ducati DesertX down to Squires Cafe to tell WoMCN why she chose this rather unique career. For Alison, the inspiration came when she was young. “From the school bus I'd watch police escorts taking prisoners to court,” she recalls. “I used to watch the flashing blue lights and think that it looked like a cool thing to do. It was a memory that stuck with me.” After taking her test aged 20 and joining the police a few years later, Alison first showed an interest in joining the motorcycling division following a chat with her sergeant.…

“My only experience off-road had always been with my partner and never alone. After finding Big Little Rides, I realised a ‘solo’ riding holiday in Spain would benefit my riding. The three-day off-road training was an absolute adventure! You could tell that the trainers were extremely experienced. Even though there were some really challenging parts such as steep hill climbs, river crossings, and descents, I never felt unsafe. I loved that all the girls were different in background and personality but riding together united the group. Since the tour, I have been riding my Africa Twin off-road solo multiple times, and my confidence has increased. Also, I'm still in contact with some of the girls and we are planning to ride together more.” Claudia Reuver, The Netherlands “Riding with women…

Oxford Ladies’ Mondial 2.0 jacket £299.99 and jeans £249.99 Top for touring Designed specifically for women, Oxford's Ladies’ Mondial 2.0 suit is their range-topping laminate all-season item which promises to keep you dry, warm, protected and comfortable in all conditions. Laminate fabrics are excellent for motorcycle gear as the waterproof membrane is bonded directly to the outer fabric, rather than being placed directly beneath it, meaning that the outer garment doesn't become waterlogged in a downpour. It's not the Mondial 2.0's only impressive feature. Oxford's latest garment technicians have been poached from big-name outdoors brands such as Montane and North Face, so they know the importance of fit and comfort when it comes to technical clothing. As such, the Mondial 2.0 comes with accordion stretch panels, and adjusters at the…

Juliet Semple, 49, Oxfordshire Radiographer Juliet owns a Honda CB125R and wants to celebrate turning 50 by going touring with her husband and son. “I have big zero birthday coming up and I'm calling this my mid-life crisis! My husband has ridden for years but I've never liked being a pillion. My brother-in-law took me on the back of his Fireblade years ago and terrified the life out of me. “With the big birthday coming up, I thought it might be nice to get my licence and ride with my husband, so just decided to do it. “I did my CBT at another training school and had a bad time. I'd made it clear I was a complete novice but found the instruction poor, the bike maintenance was awful, and it wasn't…

Acerbis and their AC50 project have broken the World Record for the longest distance on a single tank by an internal combustion prototype. The 4183.8km (2599.7 mile) journey started in Albino, the home of Acerbis, and then took off to the Brenner Pass in the Alps, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway before finally reaching the North Cape – all at an average speed of around 40mph. The record has been broken thanks, in part, to the construction of the largest motorbike fuel tank entirely designed and built in-house, with a capacity of 108 litres. Three riders took turns riding the A50: Alicia Sornosa, Andrea Rastrelli and Maurizio Vettor and even after almost 2600 miles the team report there is still a bit of fuel left and the record will…

NEWS INSIGHT Research by the Speedway Star has shown the glum reality of speedway in the modern age, with teams and tracks disappearing. In 2000, 28 tracks were spread across the UK and 33 teams took to the shale; whereas in 2023 there are just 19 tracks and 24 teams with those numbers set to fall even further. But one track bucking the trend is Oxford. After a 15-year hiatus, the track – and club – have been saved and have returned to their ground alongside a greyhound track. In 2021, the venue was riddled with overgrown grass, dilapidated concrete, and facilities not suitable for anyone. Originally sold for housing, the lease was transferred with the plan being to host dog racing. From there, speedway was an uncertain step, but…

SAVE £1000 £6499 Moto Morini X-Cape The X-Cape is capable, practical and pleasing. It may be somewhat basic, with no riding modes and it is also a little on the heavy side, but it's thousands cheaper than Aprilia's Tuareg 660 and Triumph's Tiger 660 Sport, even before you factor in this £1000 saving from Two Wheel Nation. Definitely worth checking out. www.twowheelnation.co.uk SAVE £500 £5744 Kawasaki Ninja 400 The 169kg, 44bhp race rep is an A2 licence favourite. It's easy to get on with, reliable and fun with a true 119mph top speed. www.thepotteries.co.uk ●Engine 399cc ●Power 44bhp ●Weight 168g ●Seat height 785mm SAVE £1001 £11,499 Moto Guzzi V85 TT Guardia Donore To celebrate 100 years of Guzzi, the Guardia Donore sports the black livery of the Italian President's outriders.…

THIS WEEK Coventry electric bike firm Maeving is expanding into mainland Europe, with bikes going on sale in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. “This is an exciting time for us at Maeving,” says co-founder Will Stirrup. “We wanted to perfect our ‘direct to consumer’ model in our first year, so have until now focused on the UK. We feel we've accomplished this and are ready to offer the first British-built electric motorcycle to a wider audience. Bringing zeroemissions urban transport to as many people as possible is a big part of what we set out to achieve.” Maeving produce one model, a battery-powered urban retro called the RM1. Weighing in at 110kg, it's capable of a claimed 80 miles and 45mph when equipped with two removable batteries. The hubmounted…

‘Some proper HP sauciness’ Last week I was musing about BMW's HP4, a bike I love but wouldn't consider a future classic due to its slight lack of prestige. Well, after opening the HP can of worms I couldn't stop myself and sure enough, my fingers soon typed ‘HP2 Sport’ into the search engine. I adore the HP2 Sport as it is a proper trick bit of kit. I can't tell you how much I regret not buying one back in the day, although in 2008 I didn't have a spare £14,500 kicking around. The first boxer to run double overhead cams, with 130bhp the HP2 Sport was also the most powerful boxer until BMW made the water-cooled version in 2019. And then there is the Öhlins suspension, carbon bodywork,…

June 23-25 ABR Festival Adventure bike riders will be flocking to Ragley Hall for trails, talks and more. www.abrfestival.com June 25 Prescott Bike Festival The track-based festival is back… and you can even take a ride up the hill for an extra fee. prescottbikefestival.co.uk June 24 Squires Autojumble The Yorkshire hot spot is hosting its monthly jumble, go with empty panniers and get hunting. www.squires-cafe.co.uk June 25 Romney Marsh Bikejumble and Show With a bikejumble as well as a show, you're in for a great day out. www.elkpromotions.co.uk…

What's happening Harley-Davidson know how to throw a party, and for their 120th year (making them the oldest brand in continuous production), it's sure to be a big one. People from all over the world will descend on Budapest this week to join the celebrations. There will be live music, rideouts, stacks of beer and a party atmosphere bordering on legendary proportions. The essentials Tickets start at about €77 for the weekend (with discounts if you're a HOG member) but if you only want to go for the day then you're looking at around €47. There are VIP packages available too. Live music will be on every night from big name from bands all over the globe as well as bike shows, other entertainment and plenty to shop, eat and…

Your helmet could save your life, so it's important to keep it in top condition. Here are three top tips for looking after your lid. 1. Keep it clean Bug splat and road grime contain chemicals that can eat away at paint and graphics on a helmet, as well as impeding visibility through the visor. These can also affect visor mechanisms and vents, preventing them from opening and closing smoothly and securely. Cleaning your helmet before putting it away stops it from deteriorating between rides. 2. Keep it safe Always store your helmet in a proper bag, to protect it from dust and dinks. Keep it somewhere safe, where there is no danger of it being knocked onto a hard floor or things falling onto it. Cluttered garages and cupboards…

‘It's a close run result’ Not only is Honda's new Transalp cheaper than the Suzuki, it's the more refined and is easier to ride on the road. It's never overly aggressive and can be a lot of fun when you work its parallel twin. Handling is impressive, the ride plush and it's well-built and equipped, although lacking a quickshifter and cruise control. It might not be bursting with character but it does everything well and on the MCN250 is every inch as capable as many a bigger, more expensive adventure bike. It wins our test, but the Suzuki runs it close. It has a more bullish character with an engine that's more willing at low rpm. Its demeanour is more road bike-like, although it proved capable off-road at its launch.…

Oxford S-Hook straps £22.99 When transporting a bike in a van, these offer a supporting hold around your motorcycle's mid-section when used in tandem with the excellent £29.99 Oxford Ratchet Hook Straps – which secure the front end into the bulkhead. They don't need to sit in this middling position, but their small size makes them ideal for threading through exposed bits of frame and through pillion pegs. You can't ever make these as tight as a ratchet strap, so I wouldn't trust them to support my motorcycle on their own. At a little over 20 quid, they're great to have tucked away for added peace of mind. Quality Value oxfordproducts.com 4 months ON TEST…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Get your bite back Is your clutch slipping? Here's how to get things hooked up again… BRUCE'S TIPS Putting the bike on its sidestand will stop residual oil spilling out 1 Let the oil flow If your bike's clutch has started to slip under acceleration then you'll need to replace it. This sounds like a big job, but for most machines it's actually pretty easy and requires no special tools. First, purchase the correct clutch plates (frictions and steels) and a clutch cover gasket. Next, drain the oil from the engine into a suitable container. BRUCE'S TIPS Perform a final check to make sure that you've removed all the bolts 2 Spin off the bolts Undo and remove the clutch cable, if your bike has a clutch…

Our man on the inside of the World Superbike paddock It's all gone quiet on the World Superbike rider front. Since the drama and intrigue that engulfed the Misano round three weekends ago, with MotoGP riders among others brushing shoulders with WSB team bosses, tumbleweed is now blowing across the virtual 2024 grid. However, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, more announcements are just bubbling below the surface. Toprak Razgatlioglu's ‘defection’ from Yamaha to BMW has thrown a cat among the pigeons. Not only is it a tremendously exciting new prospect for Toprak, but it also puts huge pressure on the German manufacturer not to fail with such a superstar rider onboard. It's also opened up some intriguing silly season possibilities elsewhere; so many people in the paddock…

‘Those post-TT blues are real’ I was up at Knockhill on Sunday. It's not too far from me and I really like going. It's a nice drive up through the south Lakes and I can just set the cruise control in the van and I'm in Glasgow before I know it. It's just a bit different, you know. The track's quirky and the fans are great too. From the looks of it, Hicky had a tough weekend. I don't know the full details of the problems, I just read on his Twitter that they tried everything and couldn't solve it. Although for fans, it must be a head scratcher wondering why he wasn't able to get a result when he'd just come back from the TT. It's a pretty weird…

SPORT Twelve months ago, Fabio Quartararo won the German GP from pole position, and left with what then seemed an unassailable 91-point lead over Bagnaia in the championship. He hasn't won since. Yet another poor race in Germany saw him qualify and finish 13th, his second successive race out of the top ten – yet another nail in the by now well-sealed coffin of his title campaign. Teammate Franco Morbidelli once again fared marginally better, taking 12th, and the disgruntled Italian observed: “My race time was enough to be fighting for the lead last year.” A clear illustration of how Yamaha has stood still, while rivals have made big strides forward, amounting to 22 seconds worth in Germany. ‘We used today's race to gather some data’ This also reveals Yamaha's…

Welcome to WoMCN Rider 2023, MCN's celebration of women in motorcycling. From our research, I know that 97% of you fantastic MCN readers are male. In which case, firstly, I hope you enjoy reading about some of the inspiring motorcyclists, such as eight-time world trials champ Emma Bristow, who star in this issue. But secondly, I'd really like you to do me a favour, please; if there are any women in your family who've ever made noises about riding a bike but so far haven't made it happen, please give them this copy. More than ever, motorcycling needs more participants to help keep this hobby that we love, and all the industry that surrounds it, preserved for as long as possible. Of the 3.5 million Cat A licence holders in…

As Big Little Rides’ Ecuador tour is still being prepared, Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental company in Quito offers guided and self-guided tours as well as rentals. They have a large fleet, local knowledge, and an excellent support system. Prices start at $2085 including motorcycle rental, accommodation, and breakfast along with a pre-planned route and highlights. There are no visa requirements for European, North American, and Australian travellers (a 90-day permit is issued on arrival). Since Ecuador sits atop the equator, the weather is great year-round. www.freedombikerental.com. Big Little Rides offer allfemale adventure and dirt bike tours in Morocco, Spain, India, Thailand, and Croatia. Prices vary from €1950 to €3650 inc rental, fuel, accommodation, activities and breakfast. www.biglittlerides.com.…

In the late 1920s Fay Taylour was one of the biggest names on the speedway track and not just because she was a woman, it was because she could win. As an Irish speedway champion, she attracted crowds of over 30,000 people while she raced and ensured that she wouldn't only compete against women – she beat the boys too. Her biggest rival wasn't a man though, it was another woman – Brit Eva Askuith who learned to ride a motorcycle while serving in the army. She was the first female to compete in dirt tracking, and also managed to finish the Scottish Six Day Trial. She was also one of the first women to ride in South Africa. As soon as Eva got onto the speedway track, the wins…