Table of contents for 08 November 2023 in MCN

‘It’s surely the most desirable Fireblade ever’ GET UNDER THE SKIN OF THE NEW SP NEW BIKE NEWS Super-hot 2024 bikes revealed What have you got your eye on for 2024? Something sporty, something retro, an adventure-hunter, or is it something from the fast-expanding sub-500cc tide of cracking new bikes? Whatever you thought you wanted, you need to take a look at this week’s latest new bike reveals, hot from the halls of the huge EICMA international bike show in Milan. Honda’s new Fireblade SP is heading-up the thrilling end of the party, while the CBR600RR makes a return to UK shores, MV reveal their adventure bike, and Suzuki have a new adventure-sports challenger. PAGE 4 THE BIG TEST Sub-£10k adventure do-it-alls Money is, on the whole, the biggest barrier to…

Honda have revised their popular 471cc parallel-twin offering for 2024, retaining the same manageable A2-compliant performance, whilst adding subtle tech upgrades, fresh looks, and even revised naming conventions across the range. As before, power remains at a class-capping 47bhp at 8600rpm, with a claimed 32lb.ft of torque on tap at 6500rpm. All three also keep hold of their existing chassis parts, with the key changes found more towards the surface. Starting with the tech, all models feature a five inch TFT dash, controlled via new four-way backlit left-hand switchgear, that can connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth to allow turn-by-turn navigation through the Honda RoadSync app. The dash itself was originally developed for larger bikes in the range and is said to be noticeably easier to read in bright sunlight…

Evotech Performance accessories for Ducati Diavel V4 from £25 Parts include caliper guards (£25), radiator and oil cooler guards (pictured, £115) and crash protectors (£249.98), all CNC machined in-house. evotech-performance.com Oxford Crash Bar Bag £39.95 The latest addition to Oxford’s Aqua range of waterproof luggage is this 7-litre roll top pouch. Designed to be mounted on adventure bike crash bars, it comes in matt black with a durable, wipe-clean finish. It features welded seams and an integrated carry handle. oxfordproducts.com Richa Inferno heated gloves £219.99 This new model from Richa uses Gerbing’s Xtreme Microwire system to provide warmth to the entire hand, fingers included. They’re powered by a direct connection to the bike’s electrical system and offer three heat levels. A rechargeable battery option is also available (+ £119.99). nevis.uk.com…

‘Ninjas, Ninjas, everywhere…’ After six WSB titles, 104 race wins, 214 podiums and 37 poles, Jonathan Rea has taken the plunge and swapped his Ninja ZX-10RR for a YZF-R1. A move that isn’t really surprising when you consider Kawasaki’s seeming lack of effort when it comes to updating their range-topping sportsbike. Yes, the Ninja gained a new head with finger-followers instead of bucket and shims in 2019, but that’s been about it since 2016 – arguably 2011. There again, so dominant was Rea from 2015 until 2020 they didn’t really need to upgrade as he added title after title, giving Kawasaki enormous publicity for their (fairly small) investment in the race programme. When you dig into it, however, there are actually quite a few different ZX-10Rs between 2011 and 2023.…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Dad did this Fizzy up for me in his lunch hours. Am still riding today, with my 14-year-old Harry on the back. Daren Wood My first bike a 1964 Honda Monkey Bike, bought for my tenth birthday, still have it now. Les Webster My first big bike after passing my test in the 80s. Still riding but now with a Guzzi V7. Josie Williams Aged 59, I was over the moon to pass my full bike test and I now have my very own FZS600 Fazer. Annabel McCaffrey My first big bike when I was around 19 – a lovely Yamaha XJ500 which looked like a big LC. Stuart Jones My first bike in 1977 (I was 16) with my dear old Nan,…

1 November 10-12 Classic Motor Show Love all things classic? Then this show is the one for you. Held at the NEC in Birmingham, there are club displays, an autojumble, auctions, as well as experts to entertain you – and don’t forget to make a beeline for the classic motorcycle showcase! Tickets start at £35 for adults with discounts available. necclassicmotorshow.com 2 November 9-12 EICMA If you’re lucky enough to be able to get over to Milan in the next week, make sure you check out EICMA. One of the biggest dates on the motorcycle calendar, this event is your chance to see the newest metal before anyone else in Europe, watch amazing stunts and immerse yourself in the world of motorcycling. Tickets start at €19. eicma.it/en 3 November 12 Ace Cafe Poppy…

‘Latest tech under £10k’ On the face of it, KTM’s 790 Adventure is easily seen as a ‘budget new-rider bike’ rather than a serious KTM product. A view reinforced by it being built in China and not Austria. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. The 790 Adventure is a fabulous bike in its own right. By outsourcing production, and using an ‘older’ spec engine, KTM have managed to arm the 790 with the very latest technology and chassis spec and do so for under £10k. And if you want to spend a bit more and up its gadget level, you can. Brilliant to ride and userfriendly without compromising its on- or off-road ability, there is little not to like about the 790 Adventure – and the Transalp feels…

RATINGS Exceptional Very good Good Average Poor 1400 miles ON TEST Visin Heated Visor Insert from £179.95 Tested by Justin Hayzelden for seven weeks The Visin heated insert sticks to the inside of your stock visor and uses a transparent coating to allow electricity to pass across its surface, generating heat in the process. It works incredibly well, quickly clearing and preventing condensation, even under extreme conditions. There are, however, drawbacks. Power is supplied from an umbilically linked control unit that weighs 275 grammes and is bulkier than two packs of playing cards. It’s uncomfortable in a pocket and in a rucksack you can’t reach the on/off button – although to be fair, it does run for over seven hours. What I really don’t like is how much vision the…

Daytona Trans Tourman GTX £599.99 Tested by Gareth Evans for six months These hand-made German Daytona Trans Tourman boots sit right up in the stratosphere as far as touring footwear is concerned. They’re unashamedly expensive, but have a spec sheet to match, with the very best safety ratings available and more adjustability than you’d expect from any boot, let alone ones without laces. I’m deeply impressed by their performance in all conditions, from scorching hot weather to wintry downpours, and you can’t argue with their quality. 3500 miles ON TEST These boots look certainly look functional rather than fashionable and anyone who knows what they’re looking at will know they mean serious business. They’re designed for riding, and with that in mind the foot is tilted slightly inwards towards the…

Like most tasks, this is one of those jobs where you get out what you put in. If you do a diligent, thorough job of the pre-clean and application, you will get a better the outcome. Therefore you can take as much time as you need – you could go nuts with it really and go to an extraordinary level of detail, down to individual parts. If you don’t have the time – or the will – to do it yourself then you can always call on the professionals. All Year Biker (find them at: www.allyearbiker.co.uk) have a network of accredited operators that do all the work for you, they clean and coat the bike using specialist applicators, and the results are superior to anything you can achieve at home.…

It’s been a wild ride over the past three races: almost too much action packed into too little time. Will things be different after a weekend off? Don’t see why they should… another three races over three weekends scattered round the globe will be just as wild. Sepang has plenty of promise. The probable crowning of Pedro Acosta, for one. He has taken rather longer to tie up Moto2 than his boy-genius next-Marquez reputation suggested. Thanks, among others, to Jake Dixon with his two wins. There’s Moto3 coming to a titanic tiddler climax: Colombian rookie David Alonso (Spanish-born, so another entitled to the ‘next-Marquez’ tag) is in with a chance of besting veterans Jaume Masia and Ayumu Sasaki. Plus newly-confirmed double WSB champion Alvaro Bautista, in town for a wild-card…

SAVE £2225 £11,000 Triumph Tiger 900GT This 900GT comes with free Triumph Trekker panniers, worth £2225. On the road the 900 feels more characterful than previous Tigers and it comes with a two-position seat (810mm830mm). And, because it's narrower at the front, the standover stance is improved to make life easier for shorter riders. www.carlrosner.co.uk SAVE £1000 £13,170 BMW R nineT Scrambler Classy Beemer comes with a Black Cross Spoke Wheels, Adaptive Headlight and Comfort Package. www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/sycamore-peterborough • Engine 1170cc • Power 110bhp • Weight 220kg • Seat height 820mm SAVE £901 £6495 Kawasaki Z650 Aimed at new riders looking for their first big bike as well as experienced riders wanting usable power, this pre-reg Zed has three miles on the clock. www.kdykawasaki.com • Engine 649cc • Power 67bhp •…

Michelin have unveiled three new tyres for 2024, covering adventure, sporty road riding, and trackdays. The new Power 6 is the firm’s all-round road sports tyre. This is joined by the Power GP 2, their new road-legal track tyre, while the Anakee Road is the new, more street-orientated adventure tyre. The Power 6 is the successor to the popular Power 5 and, according to Michelin: “Is aimed at those who are looking for sportiness and pure riding pleasure.” They add that it also: “Keeps an eye on mileage for daily riders or those who travel long distances” and that “the grip in dry and wet conditions, but also its handling and sportiness, make this tyre a suitable answer to the demands of motorcyclists.” ‘Sportiness and pure riding pleasure’ The Power…

Those of us old enough to recall the Ducati 916 launch in 1993 will remember how jaw-dropping it was, but few imagined that 30 years later it would still be seen as one of the most important bikes in history. Reaching production in 1994, it took its first WSB title (there would be four in total, plus another two for the near-identical 996) the same year with Carl Fogarty at the helm. Today the 916 is a bona fide classic, consistently topping ‘best-of’ lists three decades after it was launched. The new £37,195 Panigale V4 SP2 30° Anniversario 916 has a name as complicated as the original 916’s was simple, but it describes exactly what the bike is: a range-topping Panigale V4 SP2 painted up as a limited edition to…

Indian have announced a new, limited-edition version of their FTR1200 V-twin street tracker along with a limited-run bagger, the Challenger Elite. The ‘FTR × 100% R Carbon’ is a result of a collaboration with US motocross brand, 100%. Based on the top-spec, Öhlins-equipped FTR R Carbon version of the flattrack-styled, 1203cc V-twin, the ‘by 100%’ version features a one-off Blue Candy carbon tank, headlight nacelle, seat cowl and front mudguard. There’s also a white powder-coated frame and an assortment of high-spec details. The bellypan, Öhlins forks and shock spring are ‘blacked out’, there’s a black-finished titanium Akrapovic exhaust. Carbon fibre engine covers, a chain guard and exhaust heat shield add further ‘limited edition’ appeal. There are also Gilles bar-end weights, plus oil and radiator caps. Just 400 examples of the…

Kawasaki are celebrating 40 years of the iconic Ninja name with a set of special liveries for their practical sporting models. Both the 649cc parallel twin Ninja 650 and 1043cc four cylinder Ninja 1000SX will receive a glossy red and black livery paying tribute to the GPZ900R – the first machine to carry the name back in 1984. The new liveries, shown in Milan, follow three striking designs revealed late last month for the sportier ZX-4RR, ZX-6R, and ZX-10R. These machines appeared in a version of Kawasaki’s green, blue, and white – first seen on the 1989 ZXR series. The latest specials are mechanically unchanged, meaning the 650 retains its relatively relaxed riding position and ZX-6R inspired face. It produces an A2-restrictable 67bhp. The larger Ninja model continues to produce…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER 'Silly rules are wrecking bike racing' How much longer do the paying spectators have to put up with petty rules in World Superbikes? Yes Razgatlioglu touched the green paint but no way did he gain any advantage. Yet again we have race direction deciding the race result, it’s time for a rethink on silly officialdom. I watched a brilliant race at Jerez and I know who won the second race and it wasn't Bautista. Roy Wilkinson, email 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 Can you insure a hybrid? I read with interest the road test on Kawasaki’s new…

THE MCN TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK £9499 Honda XL750 Transalp ● 755cc liquid-cooled parallel twin SOHC 8v ● 90.5bhp @ 9500rpm ● 210kg (kerb) £9999* KTM 790 Adventure ● 799cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v ● 93.9bhp @ 8000rpm ● 218kg (kerb) Certain price bands have a mental barrier attached to them. That’s why £9999 sounds so much better than £10,000. And that’s why it was so crucial for both Honda and KTM to keep their latest adventure offerings below £10k. And because they have managed to do this it makes Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 (£10,110), Suzuki’s V-Strom 800DE (£10,655), Aprilia’s Tuareg 660 (£10,450) and BMW’s F850GS (£10,750) seem expensive. While it’s only a few hundred quid here and there, the 790 Adventure and Transalp feel like…

ICONS ‘It was beautifully engineered – but very complicated’ No production bike has had a more profound impact on the racing world than the Honda VFR750R RC30. A bold claim, maybe, but where Ducati’s homologation specials weren’t actually able to be converted into racers (you needed a full factory-built race bike to take to the track), you could genuinely nip to your local Honda dealer, slap down £8499 for an RC30 and (after getting it tuned) take it racing – and win on the world scene. Launched in Japan in 1987, the RC30 was effectively the road-going version of HRC’s exotic RVF750 endurance racer. Built by one of three four-man teams within HRC at a maximum rate of 60 a week, the RC30 was designed to allow Honda to enter…

FIRST RIDE The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE battled hard with the Transalp, but we preferred the Honda overall for its better road-going handling, lower price and greater practicality. Those quibbles are potentially dealt with on the new 800RE (for Road Explorer), which comes with cast wheels, shorter suspension and ergonomic changes to enhance its credentials on tarmac, at the expense of nearly all of the 800DE’s formidable trail ability. 1 Getting the lowdown The RE has new Showa forks and shock, losing 70mm of travel as well as the full adjustment available on the DE, to preload-only up front, and remotelyadjustable preload and rebound damping on the rear. It cuts 30mm from the height, but hasn’t detracted from the bike’s ride – the opposite, in fact. With less pitch back and…

'It's more than just a bike…' Jamie Scholter, 37, Sherwood Chapter member After riding any manner of motorcycle since he was 16, Jamie joined HOG after he bought his Harley in 2018, but after hooking up with his local chapter last year, a whole new world has opened for him. “I was really surprised when I turned up to Sherwood as there were people around my age, some younger, some older, but all people I had common ground with and people who enjoyed spending time riding socially. “I got to a point where I was doing 1500 miles a year and didn’t go out as much as I wanted. So, to have a group of people to go riding with was something I thought I would give a go. Now…

‘Superb in its own right’ Only you can decide whether the extra planning that goes into running an electric bike is worth it, but putting that to one side, the LiveWire S2 Del Mar is a superb machine in its own right. Battery power suits a fun roadster more than any other kind of big electric bike. Its monstrous torque is delivered smoothly and the chassis is just as polished. It’s comfortable, easy to ride and flows serenely through corners. The S2’s tautness, handling and all-round togetherness put its electric rivals in the shade and it is so well-rounded it’s every bit as engaging to ride as its petrol competition. THE FACTS £16,990 LiveWire S2 Del Mar PCP deal N/A at the time of writing…

Combat corrosion Ride on through winter without worrying about furry fasteners BRUCE’S TIPS Depending on the bike, you may need to take off some bodywork 1 Make a clean start Anti-corrosion treatments are an essential part of modern bike care, but before you apply your winter-beating solutions and enjoy weeks of rust-proof winter riding, you first need to prepare your bike by making sure it’s as clean as can be. Remove all the road dirt to reveal the bare surfaces of the engine, chassis and other components. 2 Nowhere to hide… When it comes to the pre-clean, you need to make sure that you do a thorough job – which means cleaning the parts usually neglected during a regular bike wash. This means the area around the underside of the exhaust and…

There will be four Australian racers on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship grid in 2024 following the full-time signing of Brayden Elliot by DAO Racing Kawasaki. Elliot made his Superbike debut with the team at Oulton Park as a replacement for Dean Harrison and competed at each of the three Showdown rounds. Elliot secured a best result of 17th at Donington. Prior to his BSB outings, Elliot raced for the DAO team in the Superstock class, having finished fourth overall for Honda in 2022. ‘Getting a BSB ride isn’t easy for sure’ “Having this secured for next year is everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” Elliot said. “I’m really excited, massively thankful to Sommai, Clarissa, Jonny, the whole team for putting their faith in me and giving me this chance. “Getting…

The fact Toprak Razgatlioglu wasn’t released early from Yamaha has put him on the back foot to Jonathan Rea, who tested last week and has already been able to feed information back to Yamaha to develop and work on over the coming weeks. Toprak won’t even get a taste of the BMW M1000RR until Portimao on December 4. Brad Ray could return to BSB Bradley Ray tested for France’s GMT94 Yamaha team in Jerez, having raced with MotoX this season where he ran into communication problems within the Italian team due to the language barrier. The 2022 British Superbike Champion aims to stay in WSB but it’s also possible he could return to Britain next year. Taz on a superbike, TBA to Triumph Tarran Mackenzie has been confirmed as a…

On the Saturday of the last round in Jerez, Remy Gardner split open his arm so badly that he could see the muscle working when he moved his right hand. Pulled back together with huge medical staples, he bravely raced to sixth and fourth places on the Sunday. On top of that, the GRT Yamaha man proceeded to top testing. By the time the chequered flag came out at 6pm last Wednesday, Gardner had delivered a 1:38.448 time which would have had him on pole by two tenths. It was half a second faster than his own qualifying time for fifth, GRT clearly benefitting from electronic updates and a new swingarm. The squad were the stars of Jerez all-round, as Dominique Aegerter collected two podium finishes. ‘I’m looking forward to…

Yamaha boss Paul Denning previously tried to sign Rea for his Suzuki British Superbike team in 2007 but it didn’t come to pass. This time it has and JR has former teammate, Andrew Pitt, as his crew chief – a man who possesses the same rider killer instinct and telepathy which led to Johnny Rea and Pere Riba becoming such a successful combination. Rea said: “Andrew is a great friend; we were World Supersport teammates when he beat me in 2008! He’s like Pere Riba with the racer’s outlook and good from the tech side. We can be a formidable team that can develop the R1 to great heights.” Time will tell.…

It’s official, 600cc supersport bikes are back, with Honda announcing a UK return for their CBR600RR following its departure from the European range at the start of 2017. And this time it’s got wings! Joining the incoming Kawasaki ZX-6R in a rejuvenated mid-size sportsbike class, the new CBR retains its trademark 16v DOHC 599cc inline four, but gets a six-axis IMU for lean sensitive electronics, full colour TFT, rider modes, ride-by-wire throttle, and the option of an HRC race kit. Reintroduced as a model in Japan and Thailand in 2021, the latest CBR produces a claimed 119.4bhp at 14,250rpm and 46.5lb.ft of torque at 11,500rpm – tipping the scales at 193kg wet. With a slipper clutch and quickshifter as standard, the CBR is controlled via an advanced electronics system derived…

Suzuki have a new GSX-8R sportsbike for 2024, which builds on the GSX-8S roadster as a well-rounded, comfortable alternative to the traditional mid-size supersport recipe. The 205kg 8R will be the fourth model in two years to be powered by the firm’s liquid-cooled DOHC 776cc parallel twin. It joins the V-Strom 800 DE and RE, plus the original 8S – sharing almost every component barring the suspension, handlebar position, and bodywork. As with the naked version, the R produces a claimed 82bhp at 8500rpm, with the motor housed in a familiar tubular steel chassis. As before, it gets three riding modes (A, B, C), a colour TFT dash, and four-piston radial front brake set-up, complete with 310mm discs. There have been no changes to the gearing and an up/down quickshifter…

Pharao Cedar Waterproof Jacket £129.99 Shrug off the chilly weather Perforated leathers and high-flow mesh jackets are best consigned to a coat hanger for now, with winter on the way it’s time to look at thick gloves, big boots and waterproof textiles. We’ve trawled the net for a bounty of deals on kit that’ll keep you warm as the mercury drops and the weather turns more challenging. Pharao isn’t a brand on most people’s radar, yet we tested their Cedar two-piece suit last winter and found it to be a great budget buy. The outer shell is Cordura, with rip-stop reinforcements at impact points and CE Level 2 SafeMax armour for shoulder and elbow, earning it a AA rating. There are ventilation panels on the chest, upper arm and back,…

Uprated suspension As with the previous SP, the 2024 model features uprated, fully adjustable suspension, this time comprising gold-finished, DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coated, 41mm KYB forks at the front and an Öhlins shock at the rear complete with remote preload adjuster. Improved brakes As the stocker already has improved brakes for 2024, the new SP gets twin Brembo Stylema calipers. Enhanced electronics SP gets an additional Track riding mode on top of the stocker’s Sport, Street and Rain. This lets the rider customise four extra patterns of power, traction, braking and more to suit different scenarios. There’s also a Track theme on the TFT dash. Get Smart The new MT-09 SP sees the debut of Yamaha’s new keyless ‘Smart Key System’ with a new ‘on-off’ switch in place of…

Q ‘I was forced off the road’ I crashed my beloved Ducati Diavel when I was forced off the road by someone who then fled the scene. I had some pretty bad left leg injuries and damage to my bike and leathers, so I filed a claim with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. They have rejected my claim, saying that just because the driver didn’t stop doesn’t mean he was negligent in causing my accident. He swerved into my lane causing me to take avoiding action – surely that’s enough. Steve Williams, email A The MIB is a government body and compensates victims of negligent untraced drivers. To succeed with a claim, you have to persuade the MIB that you sustained injury caused by, or arising out of, the negligent use…

'Peaky perky' SALLY WESTON Me and my Triumph Tiger 900 trip along Snake Pass. I’ve done around 1500 miles since buying the bike in February and am currently training for my RoSPA Advanced ticket. 'Atop the Stelvio Pass' MATT GUTTERIDGE This was a quick snap from when I did the Stelvio. Got another 2500-mile ride booked in soon. 'Harbouring Heralds' IAN LEEDHAM My Herald 400 Cafe Racer at Orford Quay in Suffolk. My wife had a nasty fall in April, so this year it’s only been occasional days out for me, with no tour! 'Go on, go on, go on…' SEAN COLLARD Popped in for a nice cup of tea with Mrs Doyle! I was out touring Ireland when I spotted the house from Father Ted. 'Paying respects' DAVID NEALE…

“If you plan on taking the KTM off-road, it is definitely worth investing in the Rally Pack (£225.61), which adds adjustability to the traction control as well as off-road ABS and is worth every penny as the TC is superb. Unlike so many systems (including the Honda’s) you can lean on the KTM’s TC and it will allow you to drift and slide yet not overstep the mark. “I was disappointed by the Honda’s off-road electronic settings. The TC just cuts the power rather than gently retarding it and when off-road you really notice the spiky throttle response and revvy nature. The KTM’s easy-going low-end drive is also much more suited to low-speed riding, allowing you to plod along and gain traction where the Honda needs more revs to deliver…

In the same year the RC30 was unveiled in Europe, a new production-based race series was launched – World Superbikes. Designed to be a series where you could watch ‘affordable road bikes’, it rapidly evolved into a grid of money-no-object homologation specials and the first four years were a straight fight between Honda’s RC30 and Ducati’s 888. After the RC30 took the first two titles with Fred Merkel, Ducati hit back with two titles thanks to Raymond Roche and Doug Polen. With the RC30 outgunned, Honda withdrew official support (the Rumi team carried on in 1992) and it wasn’t until the RC45 in 1994 that the factory team returned.…

‘Easier and more fun’ The conversion from DE to RE could be seen as a downgrade, taking away the off-road frills as well as the Dakar vibes. The reality – on the road at least – is the opposite. The weight reduction, coupled with the road-focused chassis changes, makes it easier to ride, more practical and more fun. Fans of the older V-Strom 650 will feel at home, as it shares many of the same virtues, but in a more modern package: the 650 remains in the range, but the extra £1400 for its bigger brother is well worth it. If you don’t need trail-ready spec, the changes are all for the better, answering criticisms of the DE compared to the Transalp. THE FACTS £9699 Suzuki V-Strom 800RE…

Alpine MotoSafe Race Reusable Earplugs £14.99 Tested by Justin Hayzelden for three months I’ve tried all kinds of earplugs, from foam disposables to bespoke custom jobbies, and these are by far the easiest to use. They come with a short plastic tube that makes sliding them into your lugholes a cinch, and allows you to give them a good wiggle to ensure they’re seated correctly. I’ve found that they are comfortable to wear and offer a reduction in noise that keeps fatigue at bay. I’d gladly shell out £15 a couple of times a year on these, as the fact that they don’t leave my ears ringing is the best indication that they’re doing a good job. Quality Value www.bikerheadz.co.uk 2400 miles ON TEST…

‘The 125’s chain had jumped off and killed the engine’ Using 10W/40 oil as chain lube can be an expensive choice if it comes straight from the crankcase, as one young owner of an Aprilia RSV4 125 discovered when he took his non-runner to Mo-Tech’s workshop in Newcastle. Seasoned Mo-Tech spannerman Fraser Doherty said: “He’s a lovely lad, but I must have told him to check his chain countless times, so I wasn’t surprised the bike needed a new chain after such a short time.” What he’d failed to mention was that there was also a hole in the stator cover near the front sprocket that had obviously been caused because the chain had got so loose that it had come off and smashed into it. Fraser added: “The chain…

Looking ahead as MotoGP reaches the business end The battle between Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin for this year’s title looks set to go down to the wire in Valencia. Either way, Ducati will successfully defend the crown they waited 15 long years to get their hands on again last season. Martin has been on a scintillating run of form, winning the last five Sprints and three of the last six full-length races. However, a crash at Mandalika and the wrong tyre choice at Phillip Island has left him 13 points behind Bagnaia. Over the course of one lap Martin is almost unstoppable, taking four poles from the last six. The Pramac racer holds the lap record at Sepang and set the fastest race lap in 2022. That said, it…

How strange was it to see Jonathan Rea out there on a black and white Yamaha? It obviously went a bit stale and stagnant at Kawasaki. Look, I wouldn’t have a clue about the politics of it all, buying himself out of his contract etc, but whatever has gone on, he’s pushed hard to get out. He’s got some big shoes to fill replacing Toprak, but it’s Johnny and he has to make it happen – that’s his nature. And the R1 might well suit his style. Leaving Kawasaki looked emotional for him – and I am sure that it was. They’ve achieved so much and his stats since being at Kawasaki are ridiculous in terms of starts, wins, podiums etc. He’s not the youngest rider on the grid (36),…

Reporting from the end-of-season Jerez WSB testing After nine memorable years with Kawasaki that made him the most successful rider in World Superbike history, as well as collecting an MBE and OBE along the way, Rea bought himself out of his contract to be able to jump ship to Yamaha blue for the next two years. The fact his 2023 season yielded just one victory at Kawasaki, in a wet/dry race in the Czech Republic, seemed to justify the decision. Winning the title for two manufacturers is rare. In 36 seasons of WSB racing, only two riders have achieved the feat: Troy Corser (Ducati in 1996, Suzuki in 2005) and James Toseland (Ducati in 2004, Honda in 2007). It’s an accomplishment that Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu are looking to emulate,…

Last week’s Jerez test was Alvaro Bautista’s first time riding with additional weight, part of what he has called ‘Anti-Bautista rules’ in a bid to make World Superbikes more unpredictable. There’s no doubt: Bautista suffers the most from the changes, whether it be extra weight or less fuel. There’s different ways of looking at it. The last two rounds of this year, in Portimao and Jerez, delivered two of the best races in history. The rules are not trying to make the racing better – that’s simply not necessary – although they are trying to make it less of a foregone conclusion. In the same way Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki were targeted during the height of their powers, the same has happened to Bautista. Some say it’s not fair, others…