Table of contents for 16 September 2020 in MCN

I can’t think of another genre of motorcycling that’s become so completely synonymous with specific people than adventure bikes have with Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor. Whether you’re riding a GS, going on long trip, or have just bought some aluminium panniers – you’re almost guaranteed to be branded a ‘Charley & Ewan wannabee’. It’s incredible, really. And 16 years on from the first time they partnered up (for Long Way Round), they’ve reunited for the Long Way Up – their third global adventure, and one with a serious twist. The use of electric bikes will divide opinion, but even the haters may well tune in for the journey – and therein lies a moment of potential genius. Even if the ride proves electric is neither better nor worse, just…

‘It’s likely to be an all-new V4, not a retuned Panigale motor’ Spyshots have emerged showing Ducati’s new Multistrada V4 in a near finished state. Spotted by an eagle-eyed professional photographer, the new machine was undergoing off-road testing at a special facility near the Ducati factory. Given its appearance, we could be just weeks away from seeing the finished bike unveiled and it looks set to be their most daring model yet. At the core of the bike will be a V4, with info from insiders close to the factory revealing that it’s likely to be an all-new engine, rather than just a detuned Panigale motor. The current 1262cc Testastretta engine is one of the model’s biggest selling points, with its variable valve timing offering ample power and torque, plus…

Suzuki have announced a limited-edition GSX-R1000R to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary. Have Suzuki really been around that long we hear you ask? Er, sort of. Suzuki first got going as a manufacturer of motorised looms way back in 1909 but they didn’t start building motorcycles until 1952. The business as we know it now was first incorporated in 1920, which is the anniversary they’re celebrating now. Simple, sort of. Anyway, back to the bike. Limited to just 100 units in the UK, the anniversary GSX-R1000R gets a retro paintjob just like the current GSX-RR MotoGP machine, which is a blue and silver homage to Suzuki’s early race bikes from the 1960s. Since it’s an R model not only does it get the 999cc inline four with nifty mechanical VVT…

Reader David Wright The Ride Black Forest Miles 1800 Time required Four days Don’t miss this “I used GPX routes but most roads are great. Just remember the B500 is a 70kph limit, something that was reinforced to me by way of a chat and a fine from three very friendly Polizei!” THE RIDE I went from Suffolk, via the Eurotunnel, into France, then Belgium and across into Germany. THE FOOD I proved you can survive on pilsner, kaffee und kuchen for four days. That's beer, coffee and cake. THE STAY I stayed at Hotel Athos in Baden-Baden, great hospitality and garaged my bike every night. THE BIKE My Ducati Supersport S was pretty comfortable, enabling me to cover 550 miles in a day. My only luggage was an MCN…

•‘It’s thanks to MAG bikes are congestion charge exempt’ When it comes to ensuring the views of motorcyclists are heard by the powers that be, Ian Mutch has been shouting louder than most. For almost 50 years, he’s tirelessly campaigned for riders’ rights as one of the founding members and the current President of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG). “We formed MAG back in 1973 because of the compulsory helmet law,” says Ian. “To my mind, the idea that you could be told what to wear on your motorcycle was just beyond belief. There are probably still a majority of bikers who can’t understand why that principle is so important, but the fatality rate after the introduction of the legislation didn’t drop at all, probably due to the fact that…

Style, speed and Chainsaw Massacre soundtracks have always been MV trademarks. The new Superveloce 800 is all those things and more because underneath the 1970s-meets-21st century curves is a rather good road-going sportsbike. In basic terms it’s an F3 800 in fancy clothes – a machine designed to dissect backroads and glide around racetracks, but MV have also made the Superveloce roomier. Its wide clip-ons are slightly raised and the pegs are lower, which is good news for the road. Its short, thin and firm suede-covered old school racing seat isn’t the last word in comfort, but it’s padded enough to get you from one coffee shop to the next. Spend a bit of time on the Superveloce 800 and you quickly realise it’s actually a sportsbike that’s halfway practical…

•‘We ran out of battery power within the first few days’ ‘The idea for Long Way Up has probably been kicking around since we finished Long Way Down in 2007, because when you do a big and exciting trip you have a comedown afterwards and the way to get over it is to talk about the next adventure. However, with Ewan living in America and me working on other projects we kind of drifted apart, so the real catalyst was my bike accident in 2016.” Chatting to MCN before the third instalment of the ‘Ewan and Charley travel chronicles’ debuts on Apple TV+ this Friday (September 18), Charley Boorman is looking relaxed and happy – a far cry from where he was just four years ago. “I destroyed my legs…

•‘Our shared love of bikes meant we hit it off straight away’ LONG WAY ROUND ‘It kickstarted the adventure craze’ Filmed in 2004, the Long Way Round was commissioned by Sky1 but it wasn’t until it aired on BBC2 in 2008 that it became a huge hit. The series followed Charley and Ewan as they circumnavigated the globe from east to west on BMW R1150GS Adventures. It was filmed almost entirely by the pair and Claudio von Planta, who followed behind on another bike. After starting in London, things got really tough when they reached Mongolia and the Road of Bones. Numerous crashes, treacherous water crossings, challenging food and a crazy Ukrainian gangster, LWR had it all and kickstarted the whole adventure bike movement. “I think its success was the…

•‘As I pulled in for a break the place was chock-a-block with smiling faces’ You know those moments where you realise you’ve bitten off more than you can chew? When your ambition has outweighed your talent and you’re regretting the decisions that led you to that point? Well, with sweat in my eyes, my rear wheel spinning up and my momentum failing to get me up a muddy climb, I was having one of those moments. Just minutes ago I was reassuring fellow nervous attendees that the track wouldn’t be too difficult as it was designed for those with little to no experience of wrestling a big bike around on the dirt. But several riders were now hopping off on the processional sighting lap and I was starting to wonder…

What we said then Triumph haven’t drastically changed the Tiger 800, they didn’t need to as it was an already excellent machine. But while they were making sure the new engine would be fit to pass Euro4, they gave the bike a nip and a tuck, upgraded the tech and increased both its on-and off-road capabilities. At the heart of the Tiger is a sublime 800cc triple. Triumph claim they’ve ‘optimised’ the engine, and there’s also a shorter first gear to improve responsiveness and acceleration, plus a lighter exhaust with a ‘better’ sound. Power of 94bhp and torque of 58lb.ft are identical to the previous model, but both peak slightly higher in the rev range. We rode the top-spec XCA all day in the Atlas Mountains and were surprised by…

Talk single-cylinder bikes and it’s easy to imagine excess vibration and disappointing performance. But modern singles are a world away from the cranky plodders responsible for that reputation. These days you get civility, usability and exciting performance, without sacrificing the benefits of one cylinder – namely low weight, compact dimensions, touchy-feely sensations and low running costs. Here’s our pick of the monos. £6450 KTM 690 DUKE 690cc |150kg |67bhp |835mm seat height • Dealer up to £7000 • Private up to £6000 • This one 2016, 8000 miles Don’t look at the price and think it’s expensive for ‘just’ a single. Launched in 2012, the 690 has a fabulous engine – you get performance and smoothness to shame a Yam MT-07, with instant punch and economy: 60mpg is common…

1 Be the champ of amps Fitting your bike with a USB socket is really straightforward, but you do need to choose a port that has the correct power output for your needs. A USB is always five volts – this does not vary – however amperage does. To charge a phone and run it as a satnav without losing charge you need to have a USB output of at least 2 amps or 2000mA. 2 Go for quality components Online marketplaces make it really tempting to go cheap with this type of accessory, but if you do, be prepared for it to fail after only a few months. A quality item should have a rugged, waterproof outer that’s able to withstand rain and grime. And most importantly,…

Cal Crutchlow is targeting an Aprilia gig in 2021 and will have time to consider his options as he retreats to hyperbaric chamber treatment to recover from arm pump surgery. Crutchlow’s swollen right arm needs rest after having the fascia lining removed, forcing him to miss Sunday’s San Marino GP. His earliest return for LCR Honda will be at the Catalan GP, Barcelona, in 10 days’ time. “My arm needs rest, there’s a hole in the scar, fluid build-up and risk of infection,” he said. About his 2021 plans he added “If I can, I want to go to Aprilia.” Aprilia are so far prioritising Andrea Iannone, subject to his drug ban appeal next month.…

•‘We work every day to make them grow. When I stop, we can cheer them’ Only ageless legend Valentino Rossi can luxuriate in victory despite finishing a frustrating fourth in his home race at Misano. Rossi’s VR46 Academy has gifted bike racing a wave of young stars who delivered for their inspirational, 41-year-old boss. Star students Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha) and Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) went 1-2 with Rossi nudged off the podium on the final lap by Joan Mir (Suzuki). “We bred snakes,” Rossi observed. “It remains a huge satisfaction because I think it is something unique. If I managed to get on the podium it would have been historic. “But I’m happy. There was a moment during the race where I asked myself – who the hell’s idea was it…

Energica Eva Ribelle £19,275 •144bhp @ 6000rpm •159lb.ft @ 6000rpm •270kg (kerb) •790mm seat height Energica may have been making electric bikes in Italy since 2013 but they’ve also largely been ignored by those with petrol flowing in their veins. Yet things are now slowly changing as battery vehicles become more a part of everyday life. And now we have the Eva Ribelle, which Energica claim is ‘the world’s first 100%-electric streetfighter’. Energica say the Eva Ribelle is good for 249 town miles, 112 on the motorway and 143 in general use. Fast charging to 80% full takes 42 minutes and a slower, Level 2 charger will give you 41.5 miles for every hour its plugged in. Churning out 144bhp and 159lb. ft (just four shy of the new…

Epure Race £7995 •14.75bhp • N/A lb.ft •75kg (kerb) •670mm seat height If there was ever a sector made for electric bikes, it is trials. As a discipline trials is all about slow-speed control, explosive-yet-useable power and light weight. The Electric Motion Epure Race is the top of the range model and aimed at serious competition. It has three modes which in conventional petrol terms equate to 200cc, 250cc and 300cc and there is a definite difference between the three. In 250 mode, the power is strong and completely linear with its relentless acceleration capable of taking you by surprise. After riding for two hours with frequent stops (as you would in a trial) the bike still had 65% charge, meaning you would have more than enough capacity for…

CASE STUDY #1 The urban commuter ANNUAL MILEAGE: 2500 Riding five miles each way to work and back, the urban commuter’s bike is a quick and easy way to avoid using public transport. Luggage space isn’t such an issue but it needs to be small and easy to park. What he’d ride now Honda Monkey Reasons The A1-legal Monkey is a hark back to the day-glo 1970s and with its bright colours this small-wheeled retro makes for a great mini commuter. A top speed of over 60mph is achievable and ABS is standard. Price£3799*. Cost to fill £7 Costs after 3 years £2372.08; fuel £76.35, road tax £60. Total cost £2508.43 (exc servicing) * £70 A MONTH X 36 AFTER £353.53 DEPOSIT. FINAL PAYMENT: £1426.92 THE SWITCH Best electric option:…

My plan was to spend a long weekend exploring the wilds of Norfolk on the Zero DSR, riding as many trails as I could find. With my stove and three days’ worth of supplies stashed in one pannier and charging cables in the other, I set off in search of adventure. At 190kg the DSR (on loan from English Electric Motor Co)weighs about the same as a KTM 790 Adventure, but with 116lb.ft of torque it has more pulling power than a 1290 Super Adventure R - without the safety net of traction control or even a clutch. Although the DSR’s throttle is incredibly precise and progressive (all you need do is tickle it off the bottom end and ride on the grunt, much as you would with an old…

Anne Sacoolas, the woman charged with causing 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn’s death by dangerous driving, has admitted for the first time she was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the accident. A statement issued by her lawyers last week said the American national was acting “instinctively” when she left RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on the right-hand side of the road but that she was only on the “wrong side of the road for 20 seconds” before the fatal crash. With no hint of irony, they also added that she was “otherwise driving cautiously and below the speed limit” and that she didn’t see Harry approaching before the crash because he was obscured by “the crest of a small hill”. The incident has caused considerable…

At the same time as the Multistrada pictures appeared, two illustrations of a new Monster also leaked out of Ducati. This isn’t their first factory leak, pictures of Panigales have snuck out for years, but this one comes as a bit of a surprise. The source tells us that Ducati are working on a brand new version of the entry-level Monster 821 which will see a Monster without a steel trellis frame for the first time. Spyshots of what appeared to be a Monster with an alloy frame appeared some months back but at the time it was unclear what Ducati were working on. Now these sketches suggest Ducati are aiming for the competitive middleweight market against the likes of the KTM 790 Duke, Triumph Street Triple and Yamaha’s MT-09.…

Despite recent advances in the war against bike theft, the UK is still massively lagging behind other countries including our pals over the other side of the pond. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) in America have just published their latest statistics on how many motorcycles were stolen in 2019, coming in at just over 40,000 bikes. That’s down from 46,000 a little more than four years ago. Good for them, you might think. ‘Bikes here are five times more likely to be stolen’ The UK has also had successes in reducing bike crime – based on whose stats you use (because our way of reporting motorcycle theft is notoriously patchy) our overall bike theft peaked in recent years at just over 38,000 and it’s now believed to be down…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com BETA50 Here’s a picture of my lad Jack, aged six, looking pretty pleased with himself on his Beta 50. Dean Hark TRIUMPH TIGER CUB My father-in-law Tony Peatfied on his Triumph Tiger Cub. He’s now celebrated his 80th and is still going strong. Peter Rowbotham AJS OUTFIT This is my step-father Des Hawkins with his mum and dad on their AJS sidecar outfit back in the days when everyone wore smart suits. Martin Green KAWASAKI KH100 My first brand new bike from Clay Cross in Derbyshire when I was 17. Rode it everywhere until a car driver wrote it off. Helen Fox BMWR65 Me at 21 on my BMW in 1997, in Bridgend, South Wales where I grew up. Petrol used to leak…

£13,100 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro • 888cc triple 12v • 93.9bhp @ 8750rpm • 201kg dry mass £13,049 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin • 1084cc parallel twin 8v • 100.6bhp @ 7500rpm • 226kg kerb mass Developing an adventure bike is a tricky tightrope for manufacturers to walk. On one hand, you want to ensure your machine can live up to its rugged billing should owners want to take it adventuring. While on the other hand you need to be cautious that by doing so you don’t compromise its on-road performance. Then there is the fashion aspect as many riders simply prefer the spoke-wheel, tall suspension look you get with an off-road-focused machine over the lower-sitting, cast-wheel design of more road-targeted bikes. Is there an ideal middle ground? Honda and…

£13,049 Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin £13,100 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro Engine 888cc 12v triple Frame Tubular steel Suspension Showa 45mm fully adjustable inverted forks and single rear Showa shock with adjust. rebound and preload Front brake 2 x 320mm discs with Brembo Stylema calipers. Cornering ABS Rear brake 255mm disc with single-piston caliper. Cornering ABS Seat height 850/870mm PCP DEAL £156.77 per month x36 £2500 Total deposit payable 4000 A nnual mileage 7.9% APR fixed £7041 Optional final payment…

Ago’s belt strap Purely for show, the Superveloce 800’s decorative leather fuel tank and nattily designed fuel cap ‘buckle’ mimic those found on old-school racing machines. A dash into the future Seventies racers had to make do with just a tacho but the MV has a 5in multifunction TFT dash with colour graphics. Annoyingly, the warning lights are too dull to see properly. Midi racer They may not be top-shelf superbike spec but Brembo monoblocs, adjustable Marzocchis and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa IIs are perfect for the road and help justify the price.…

Charley and Ewan used two modified Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycles. While the belt drive, electric motor, chassis and battery was identical to the ones used in the road-going production motorcycle, Harley put a Pan America front-end on the bikes and increased the suspension’s travel while also modifying the subframe to allow panniers to be fitted. They also added a screen, chunky tyres, spoked wheels, crash protection and brush guards. During the whole trip nothing went wrong and they didn’t even get a single puncture!…

Electric bikes weigh a ton and cost a fortune, right? Not this one. Lighter than a Honda CB125F and cheaper than a Suzuki V-Strom 250, meet the Artisan Kollter ES1-S Pro. Yes, that’s a mouthful. Artisan are the UK importers (www.artisanscooters. com). Kollter is the German-sounding name on the motor, though in Germany these are sold under the ‘Tinbot’ brand. Whatever you call it, the bike is made in China. Looks sharp, treads softly Styling has a hint of 2007 KTM 690 Supermoto, but this is a long way from a towering, razor-sharp jackhammer. It’s extremely light, weighing a claimed 125kg. It’s slim between your legs too, but not tall. Seat height is an easy 820mm, suspension travel a familiar 130mm. Overall, it’s about the same size as a 125.…

The second half of a thoroughly entertaining and highly unpredictable Bennetts British Superbike Championship kicks off at Cheshire’s Oulton Park this weekend. The Ducati trio of Josh Brookes, Scott Redding and Tommy Bridewell dominated around the undulating 2.69-mile circuit last year, but 2020 is an entirely different ball game. With seven different winners from nine races so far in 2020, the world’s best domestic championship is as wide-open as it gets… Ryde’s Suzuki Challenge Kyle Ryde heads to Oulton Park as BSB’s latest race winner. His impressive double at Silverstone put the rest of the field on high alert. The omens look good at Oulton, too. Bradley Ray secured a double podium for Buildbase Suzuki last year, finishing second both times as he battled the Ducati riders. Return of Ducati…

Lee Johnston and Dean Harrison dominated proceedings at the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough over the weekend – with no fewer than 10 wins between them. The highlights were five thrilling Supersport 600cc encounters where the duo were never more than a second apart, but it was Johnston (Ashcourt Racing Yamaha) who claimed four of the five races, which included the feature trophy for the second year running. In front of 3500 spectators, the Northern Irishman led from start to finish despite the high-speed pressure he was under which saw the pairing repeatedly break the class lap record. •‘With rubber down but the pace was phenomenal’ Harrison, having a one-off outing on the Dafabet Devitt RC Express Racing Kawasaki, posted the first ever sub-1m45s lap on…

•‘I’m sorry for Valentino but happy to beat him’ Joan Mir broke the hearts of tens of thousands of Valentino Rossi fans when a daring last-lap overtake denied the Italian legend a landmark 200th MotoGP podium in Misano. Rossi had occupied a podium spot for 426 corners of his home round when Suzuki star Mir mugged him with just six turns remaining to claim third. Talking about his inch-perfect pass on Rossi, an apologetic but ecstatic Mir said: “I’m really sorry for Valentino because he deserved the podium and he made a fantastic race but I’m so happy to beat him. It was special to be on the podium but to pass Rossi on the last lap was incredible. I had to take the last six corners absolutely perfectly because…

Plucky Pecco Bagnaia pocketed a first MotoGP podium and a factory Ducati contract for 2021 at Misano on Sunday. Just five weeks after breaking his right leg in a crash in Brno FP1, Bagnaia managed to shut out the pain to take a stunning second place, a performance that virtually guarantees he will win the race to replace Andrea Dovizioso in Ducati’s factory squad next season. Ducati are willing to wait until the forthcoming Catalunya clash (Sept 25-27) before deciding on whether it will be Bagnaia or Johann Zarco to partner Jack Miller next season. But a gutsy second place on Sunday swung the pendulum heavily towards Bagnaia, who was robbed of a nailed-on podium in Andalucia earlier this season by a cruel mechanical failure. Bagnaia could not have done…

Self-analysis laced with disarming honesty has stamped Fabio Quartararo as a MotoGP title contender despite a mistake-riddled Misano which saw the front row starter concede the championship lead with a sloppy, two-crash DNF. “Of course I want to win the title, but I’m 21 years old and I have time,” Quartararo said. “It’s a shame because we had the pace to fight for the victory. You can be fast, you can have everything, but you can’t buy experience. I was too impatient, I didn’t want Franco and Valentino to escape. I pushed like it was the last lap. It was a good lesson for me.”…

The way electric motorcycles make their power and the fact they have an electric motor and not an internal combustion engine has caused quite a lot of confusion when it comes to licensing laws. The issue is that motorcycles are categorised by their average power output and engine capacity with licence restrictions then deeming what you can ride and at what age and after what specific training. So how does this work with electric bikes? In a bit of a loophole move, electric bikes are only categorised by their average power output and not the size of the electric motor itself. On a petrol-powered bike this average is constant because an engine will make the same power until it runs out of fuel, however with electric vehicles the power output…

Zero SR/S £20,590 •110bhp @ 5000rpm •140lb.ft @ 1-4000rpm •234kg (kerb) •787mm seat There are electric superbikes, cruisers, scooters and commuters… yet nobody has yet made a battery powered motorcycle that can do a bit of everything. Until now. The new SR/S is the first faired machine from Californian electric veterans Zero. But, despite appearances, it isn’t a superbike. With its high bars, pillion grab handles and optional luggage, the SR/S instead straddles the line between commuter and sports-tourer. Think Honda VFR800F. Beneath the plastic it’s mostly an SR/F, but surprisingly, ergonomics and suspension are a whisker more relaxed on the S. A new handlebar brings grips higher and wider, pegs are lower, while springs and damping have been softened. The powertrain is identical to the SR/F: an air-cooled…

THE MOTOR Electric bikes are powered by motors, not engines. The motor consists of a stator, which is fixed to the motorcycle’s chassis, and within this is a rotor, which is free to turn and powers the drivetrain. Built from aluminium, the stator is a hollow shell that has coils of copper wire windings attached around its inside. The number of windings, the wire’s thickness and the size of the stator all affect the motor’s power output. Inside the stator is a rotor, which runs on bearings and (bearings aside) isn’t in any physical contact with the stator. The whole unit is sealed and requires no oil, grease or maintenance throughout its lifespan. The rotor holds permanent magnets around its outside and is made from thin laminates (sheets) of metal…

If, like all of us at Team MCN, you believe your bike is for all year and all weathers, then you need the kit to ensure you’ll stay warm and dry even when Storm Linda tries to drown you while you’re riding. All-year biking is great for your happiness, but being cold and moist isn’t. If you’re about to get kitted up to head into Autumn and Winter, with the hope of emerging into an early Spring with thousands more miles under your hat – this guide should help you with your choices. Every product in here is 4 or 5-star rated by the team, and they’ve all been tested hard – not just used once in order to make a pretty Instagram post in return for some free kit.…

•‘No bike can make you feel as cool as this’ LIVEWIRE ON TOUR! As dealers battle to cope with a tsunami of pent-up bike buying activity, Harley-Davidson UK have compounded the problem with an attractive APR rate of 4.9% on key touring models – including two of the flashiest big continentshrinkers you can buy. Tour in Special style The Road Glide Special is one of the most engaging and satisfying of Harley’s touring range. On the right roads, in the right mood, heading for the right destination with the right playlist blaring from the stereo, there isn’t another bike on the planet that makes you feel as damn cool as this one. It packs the ‘Twin-Cooled’ (water-cooled heads to us Brits) version of Harley-Davidson’s Milwaukee-Eight 114, which means it’s an…

Following months of social media teasing, Bimota have confirmed the full spec of their supercharged Tesi H2, and it’s a bit of a monster. Initially slated for a 250-unit run, each with its own number plaque, the bike was made available online from Wednesday, September 9 and sports a darker livery than the prototype, as well as an all-black alternative. Ten bikes are allocated to the UK. Introduced at the 2019 Milan show, it’s the first production-ready machine from the smalltime manufacturer since Kawasaki purchased a 49.9% share of the company last year, and uses the claimed 228bhp supercharged 998cc four-cylinder engine from the Japanese firm’s Ninja H2. Weighing 207kg dry, it does away with the Kawasaki’s conventional fork and trellis frame setup in favour of hub centre steering. Although…

Honda’s parallel-twins have been providing practical motorcycling for more than 25 years, but in recent years the trusty 500cc models have been doing more than transporting riders from A to B. And for 2021, the CB500F, CBR500R and CB500X will all gain a few more handy updates. They are expected to cost between £5600 and £6200, but there’s a whole family of older 500s if your budget’s a little tighter. 2021 CB500F What is it? New blue, yellow, red and metallic black paint schemes arrive for the range, plus Euro5 emissions tweaks for the A2-friendly machines. MCN says “The tweaks are small, but important, because the CB500 series is essential for bringing keen new riders into biking.” Want to buy one? £5600-£6200 2019 CBR500R What is it? The…

Indian have given their range a shake up for 2021, and added two new models including the headline-grabbing Roadmaster Limited. The Limited model represents a fresh redesign of the big cruiser, in line with the more modern take that Indian applied to their Chieftain range a couple of years back. This includes a new-look square front fairing, open front mudguard, new ‘slammed’ saddlebags and neater finishes without all the chrome and tassels. There’s some funky tech hiding inside it too, with central locking, ABS, traction control, riding modes, heated grips, cruise control, keyless ignition and tyre pressure monitoring, plus heated – and cooled – seats! Because the people at Indian are nice folks, they’ve made a lot of new kit available separately, so the fancy seats fit all bikes with…

2021 is going to be better than ever In a very weird year for everything, especially MotoGP, I don't understand why pre-season everyone else was (and will be again when we have a full grid) written off by pundits etc because of Marc Marquez being apparently unbeatable. Nobody at that level, or even domestic level, is anything other than super-talented. I'm really looking forward to 2021 because if the likes of Rossi and Dovi switch to satellite teams, they can pick and choose the geometry, components and setup they want, rather than having the factory telling them they have to use specific or experimental components. I think that would be beneficial to riders of their ilk and mindset who can modify things to suit and should make for some sensational…

We’re three rounds into the TriOptions Ducati Cup and it’s going alright. At Silverstone last time out I did OK in the first race, got a great start and was running in fourth. I felt quite racy and finished sixth and was happy with that. But in the second one I rode like the district nurse and finished tenth. ‘EWAN WAS MAKING RUDE GESTURES…’ As I crossed the line I looked over to my pit-board and my son Ewan was there giving me the w****er sign. It’s like reverse motocross dad! I used to get a fair bit of stick off my old man when I raced motocross as a kid, but Ewan wasn’t happy about me finishing tenth, in fact he was disgusted! He wouldn’t take any of my…

First bike: BSA 500 outfit Ian (left) with his Triumph Saint and founder members Sally Anne James, Mike Griffiths and Patrick Faulkner. The outfit (right) was Ian’s first bike. Lowrider’s new owner “After reaching the Dead Sea, it was sold to a guy called Grandad, who rode it away, laughing like a maniac, with a keg between his knees.” Lowrider: the overlanding Bonnie Triumph Bonneville hardtail which he rode to the Dead Sea in 1980 and the subject of his book ‘Lowrider’. Harley FXR into Israel and beyond Ian on the West Bank with his FXR in 1991. Unlike his previous trip with the lowrider Bonnie, Ian didn’t have to lay a spanner on the Harley at any point Into America Ian also rode coast to coast across America on…

• Five-star Sharp rated • Tested for at least 1000 miles • Worn in all weathers on multiple bikes RATINGS POOR ★ AVERAGE ★★ GOOD ★★★ VERY GOOD ★★★★ EXCEPTIONAL ★★★★★ Shoei X-Spirit III £599.99 / £699.99 (graphics) Tested by Emma Franklin for four years, 15,000 miles I’ve always found Shoei’s X-Spirits comfortable and, after faceplanting in a crash, which fractured bones in my face but thankfully left me without any injury to the grey mushy stuff up top, I’ve got every confidence in their energy-dissipating composite shell and multi-density EPS. The 2016 X-Spirit III brought with it improvements to the ventilation, which was poor on the previous model. The new system is very effective and easy to control. There’s also an aerodynamic peak at the rear with a pair…

The 2020 Irish road racing season finally got underway at the weekend with the Cookstown 100. The County Tyrone event had been scheduled to take place in April before the coronavirus outbreak intervened. “We postponed rather than canceled in the hope that things might change,” Kenny Loughrin from the organising club said. “After jumping through a lot of hoops, we got there.” With organisers working to strict protocols, Friday’s practice session was attended by some 1000 fans, separated in designated areas in selected fields around the course. Almost twice that number watched Saturday’s race action with the details of spectators recorded for tracking and tracing purposes. Meanwhile, fans were barred from the paddock and racers and teams were obliged to wear masks. Derek Sheils and Adam McLean were the winners…

John McPhee opened the bidding for his dream job when he delivered a tactical masterclass to score his first Moto3 win of the season in Misano. McPhee is ambitiously targeting a promotion to Moto2 with Petronas SRT in 2021 and enhanced his job application with a daring surge to his third career Moto3 victory. The unbridled joy of McPhee’s winning celebration was evidence of just what this performance meant to both his Moto3 title campaign and his Moto2 ambitions. “My ambition is to go to Moto2 next year but it’s too early to say. If there’s an opportunity with the Petronas team it would be my dream,” he said. “But my focus now is the job I have do in Moto3. If the results come I’m sure I’ll get a…

Seven years ago, Franco Morbidelli was a little-known Italian teenager trying to showcase his talent and speed in the European Superstock 600 series. A tough journey from humble beginnings and personal tragedy scaled new heights on Sunday in Misano when he became the fifth winner in just six races in a crazily unpredictable MotoGP campaign. Morbidelli was the first rising star to be signed up by the VR46 Academy, which was formed in 2014 by Valentino Rossi to nurture emerging Italian talent. Under Rossi’s expert guidance, Morbidelli has become the Academy’s star student and was its first World Champion in Moto2 in 2017. But in Misano he made history when he became the first Academy rider to win in MotoGP. “This is the greatest day of my life. Seven years…

As governments introduce legislation banning fossil fuel powered vehicles and major car manufacturers turn their back on petrol and diesel engine production, the future is certainly changing. If you need proof, consider this – when was the last time you saw a TV ad for a purely petrol-powered car? At the moment the two-wheeled world has been slow to respond with none of the ‘big four’ Japanese having production electric motorcycles and only Harley-Davidson, BMW (with a scooter), Zero and Energica really in the marketplace. But it is inevitable that we will soon follow in our four-wheeled cousins’ footsteps. The transport world is evolving and so are the riders who are leading the charge from petrol to electric, something Zero Motorcycles, the world’s largest electric motorcycle manufacturer, is more than…

Harley-Davidson LiveWire £28,750 •104bhp @ 15,000rpm •86lb.ft @ 0rpm •249kg (kerb) •780mm seat height Before we dive in and unpack all that is electric – charging, range, the absence of a V-twin and the price of Harley’s new LiveWire (which has now arrived in UK dealers)– let’s talk about what it’s like to ride, because it really is rather good. Like all electric vehicles the LiveWire’s powerplant is eerily smooth. With no gears or clutch, this twist-and-go H-D is as easy to manage as a big scooter and with no hot engine parts thrashing around beneath you, it won’t fry you on a hot day in traffic either. The motor isn’t without character. Bevel gearbox cogs whine like a tube train around town and scream like a jet engine…

Horwin CR6 £5047 •8bhp •30lb.ft •134kg (kerb) •820mm seat height Austrian-designed; Chinese-made, the CR6 costs a shade over five grand, road tax is free and fuel costs are as low as a penny a mile. So, what do you get for your £5047? Horwin claim the CR6’s air-cooled electric motor makes just 8bhp, or little more than half a typical 125cc petrol bike. Off the line it’s pretty brisk and willing, aided by being twist-and-go – no gears or clutch to interrupt things – with a smooth, eager delivery low-down. On an open road it won’t keep with a sporty 125, but in the city the CR6 is plenty quick enough and easy with it. It’s slim, narrow, low and unintimidating. At 134kg it’s lighter than a KTM 125…

CASE STUDY #1 HIGH MILEAGE ‘20k miles and still making me smile’ • Picked for his commute, Alex Navarrete says his DSR also makes a brilliant tourer “My 120-mile-a-day commute to Cambridge was all the excuse I needed. Not even the most economical car can match the cost per mile. I had a BMW HP2 Enduro, which I’ve just sold. I loved it and it was a lot of fun, but it was getting old and it had 70,000 miles on it, so wasn’t ideal for my needs. Which is why I opted for the Zero because it was the most powerful and it weighs about the same as a typical bike so it still has that fun factor, but was also great for my long-distance commute. “Luckily, e-bike specialists,…

Gerbing XRL gloves Tested by Mike Armitage for one month, 2000 miles Suffer with insomnia? Ask me about heated clobber. I can bore the hind legs off the most resilient donkey. As a year-round rider, I almost exploded with joy after discovering heated gloves about 16 years ago. And these are the best yet. Old heated gloves seemed better suited to pruning roses but these CE-approved XRLs (there’s a short-cuff XR too) are proper bike kit, with confidence-inspiring armour, secure fastening, waterproof membrane, visor wipe, and a patch of stuff for touchscreens. Power is from the bike’s battery: attach the supplied harness, run the thin Y-lead down each arm and connect (or invest in the jacket liner, which has a feed from each sleeve). Or an optional battery pack is…

SW Motech Daypack PRO system Tested by Richard Newland for three months, 500 miles You can’t beat a good tankbag, and SW Motech make some of the best. I’ve long used the ‘City’ bag on several different bikes with their original tank ring mount, but this new PRO system adds a self-guiding magnetic mount, which I’m using on my VFR with the 6-9L expandable ‘Daypack’. It’s superb in use. Simply glide the tankbag (available in a range of sizes from 3L to 25L capacities) over the tank ring and it’ll suck the bag down onto the locking ring where it snaps in place with a reassuring clunk. Once located, it won’t come off without you pulling the red cord to force it to release its vice-like grip. The tank ring…