Table of contents for 28 February 2024 in MCN

‘It’s one of the most open title fights in history’ GREG HAINES ON THE GLUT OF WSBK TALENT WORLD SUPERBIKES How was that for a season opener?! When the lights went out in Phillip Island for the season opener, no-one really knew what was going to happen in the heat of battle – but very few had predicted quite so many shocks and surprises. And it was a race weekend that kept on giving. The highlight of all three races was certainly the closeness of the action, but for us Brits it was even more incredible to see Alex Lowes double his WSBK career win tally in one day of racing, while it was no less impressive to see twin brother Sam make his debut with impressive results. Roll on Round…

Iconic Auctioneers will be selling off two very special examples of biking history on Sunday, April 7. The Shuttleworth sale will feature a one-of-88 Aston Martin Brough AMB 001 Pro, as well as Loris Capirossi’s 2003 Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP race bike. Currently, there are 85 lots listed with stock ranging from scooters, through to classic sportsbikes, vintage motocrossers and antique machines spanning back to 1918. The AMB 001 Pro is the only motorcycle ever produced in conjunction with Aston Martin and according to Mark Bryan, Motorcycle Manager at Iconic Auctioneers, this particular machine was the first example imported into the UK. Its 997cc turbocharged V-twin engine puts out a claimed 225bhp, giving it a staggering power-to-weight figure thanks to a svelte claimed dry weight of just 175kg. Speaking about the…

Indian have teamed up with Roland Sands Design to create a new version of their FTR naked twin, inspired by the American Super Hooligan racing championship. Priced at £18,395 and produced as a limited edition, the new model has been snappily called the ‘FTR X RSD Super Hooligan’ and builds on the existing £16,695 FTR R Carbon model with black metallic bodywork, number boards and official racing graphics. Just 300 will be built, with 150 allocated for markets outside of North America. Indian Motorcycle won the 2023 series with O’Hara, who rode a heavily modified racing version of the FTR. ‘Sands has blazed a trail in hooligan bikes’ “Roland Sands has blazed this trail and built the RSD brand around the hooligan lifestyle,” said Indian vice president, Aaron Jax. “From…

‘Going touring? Add six appeal’ Back in 2009 I was invited over to BMW’s HQ in Germany to attend a technology day focused on their new K1600 engine. I remember it well because the fact BMW had built an inline-six was, understandably, big news. Slightly disappointingly, they chose to deploy it in the K-Series tourers rather than the awesome ‘Concept 6’ naked used to announce the motor a year earlier, but that’s life… I’ve always been a great admirer of the K-Series six-cylinder motor, because in a world dominated by fours or twins (yes, yes, aside from the Wing’s flat six), it is something wonderfully excessive and over-the-top. And it is also incredibly engineered. BMW claimed at 560mm wide, the engine was 100mm narrower than any previous motorcycle inline-six as…

Officers from the Cheshire Constabulary’s Halton Castle Police team have taken to social media after reuniting a rider with their Suzuki Burgman 650, after it was stolen. The twist and go machine discovered in the district’s Bluebell Woods area and is said to be its owner’s pride and joy. “Thieves beware, we will find you and the property that you have stolen from others,” the social post read. It added: “Please make sure that your mopeds are secure wherever you leave them!”…

Husqvarna have shared a teaser to their Instagram account, appearing to show an as yet unreleased parallel twin-cylinder Svartpilen being ridden on a flattrack oval. Although the clip is brief, with only sections of the bike on show, the previous single-cylinder 701 Svartpilen came dressed in flattrack inspired bodywork and wore an 18-inch front wheel and Pirelli MT60RS knobblies – suggesting this new machine will be its successor. A quick glance at the side profile of the engine, as well as the sound of the bike bouncing off the limiter, would indicate that the new machine will be powered by a KTM-derived twin. ‘It could be powered by the 799cc LC8c’ This is further backed up by spy shots sent to MCN in April 2023, which looked to show a…

Q ‘Driver hit me from behind’ I have a claim relating to an accident where I was knocked off my bike from behind. I thought it was a simple matter, but have received an email from my lawyer telling me the woman who hit me is blaming me. I was approaching a roundabout and as it was not safe for me to join, I stopped to wait until it was clear. It was then that I got rear-ended and came off, injuring my hands, neck and groin. The driver is claiming it looked like I was going to continue onto the roundabout so she followed me but that I suddenly stopped. Could this be my fault? Rich Popple, email A Please don’t worry, this accident was not your fault. Only…

‘First ride of the year’ IAN ATKINS Overdue first ride of the year, and hoping against hope for a dry journey! Went down to Dorset on the Thursday and as luck would have it rained on the way home. ‘Did no one get the memo?’ JOHN JESS I went for a ride down to Loomies recently only to discover I was the only one there that morning! ‘New year, new tyres’ RICH WEBB First ride of the year! Ruddy windy, and new tyres (Metzeler RoadTec) so just out to get back into the swing of things. ‘Back in the saddle’ NANDO LANGTON First ride for two months due to ill health. Only 70 miles but two months ago wasn’t even sure if I would ride again. ‘Bike swap’ PAUL WEATHERLY…

'It's still the benchmark' The Voge proved a genuine surprise. As well as costing less than the Honda, the spec level of the Chinese-built bike is remarkable. And it is great to see Voge have invested in the components that matter, such as tyres and suspension, rather than cut corners and pennypinch. But there is no denying it isn’t as refined as the Honda and there is always the worry about owning a relatively unknown model compared to one from an established brand. As good as the DS525X is, with a more limited dealer network as well as a lack of brand recognition, its resale value is always a concern (just look at its PCP final payment). With the NX, there are none of these pitfalls and that’s why it…

'Simple but effective' The new Stelvio has an extra dollop of charm. There’s something about the feel of the engine, response of the handling, the details, noise and its overall presence that give the bike character. It may not be packed with power or possess the best cutting-edge tech, but it has character and a uniqueness that sets it apart from some of its looky-likey rivals. It’s not a big adventure bike, trying to be a GS. It’s a Guzzi and proud of it. It’s not trying to be anything it isn’t or to make excuses for the areas it’s lacking, it simply exists to lollop from one place to the next and soon cossets its rider into a laid-back outlook. THE FACTS £14,700 Moto Guzzi Stelvio…

Maintaining that ‘new bike feel’ through the controls need not be a challenge – the simplicity of the layout on most bikes means that even if you’re not au fait with the spanners, you can still really make a difference. Any binding or loss of feel can usually be attributed to either the lever pivot or the cable, both of which can be easily remedied using the tips here. And as long as you stick to the correct routing, the cable should always have a smooth path. Another issue that’s quite common with clutch and brake levers is that they’re set at too high an angle. This means that when you pull the lever in it feels like your fingers are reaching up to the lever, as opposed to a…

Getting under the skin of the final MotoGP test sessions Can anyone stop Pecco Bagnaia? It’s hard to recall any pre-seasons running as smoothly. Having decimated the Sepang lap record, the reigning champ did the same in Qatar, blowing the previous best out of the water by 0.8s. This test was further confirmation the Ducati GP24 is even better than its predecessor as Bagnaia confirmed the new aero package is a step ahead. “I think the 2024 bike is better in all areas compared to 2023,” said the 27-year old. “It’s a mix of the good things from the ’22 bike and the good things from the ’23. For the moment, it’s working perfectly.” Right now, it’s hard to see any weakness. Now starting his sixth premier class season, there’s…

Danilo Petrucci overtook Andrea Iannone on Sunday’s final lap, ending up third as Andrea Locatelli crashed his Yamaha just in front of them. It was a decent end to the weekend for Petrucci and marked his fourth podium – but the first time he’s finished on the rostrum without a front row start. For 2024, the double MotoGP winner has the base setup he didn’t possess during his rookie year. “A great finish to the weekend,” admitted the 33-year-old, whose Race 1 chances were compromised by a bodged pit-stop. Leaving the southern hemisphere, he is one of four Ducati riders inside the championship top six. “I love this place, but for one reason or another, I’ve never been able to leave with a smile,” said Petrucci. “In the Sprint, I…

Reporting direct from the season opener in Australia TOP STORY On a single afternoon, Alex Lowes doubled both the number of race wins Kawasaki enjoyed last year as well as those in his own career thanks to his first double victory since his time in British Superbikes. As the Australian Round at Phillip Island delivered one of the most event-filled meetings in living memory, the Lincolnshire rider pulled a stunning move on World Champion Alvaro Bautista around the outside of the world-famous Lukey Heights corner to secure his second win of the day. The result means Lowes now leads the 2024 WSBK standings heading to Barcelona next month, but is remaining realistic in what looks to be one of the most open title fights in recent history. On a weekend…

The racing at Phillip Island was sensational and the end result was alright too. Every year I do a column before the season kicks off saying what I think is going to happen and then the racing starts and I end up looking like a prick! But I’m happy to look like a prick if the racing is that good. Bulega made the first race look like a demonstration. Pole and then the fastest lap in both long races. He actually looked better than Bautista; Alvaro slides it about a bit, backs it in, but Bulega looked planted like he wasn’t even trying. Putting in a 1m 27s lap in qualifying that was good enough for a top ten in MotoGP is incredible. I know there was a new track…

Glasgow’s West Coast HarleyDavidson have walked away from the Harley-Davidson UK & Ireland Dealer of the Year Awards with a record-breaking fourth consecutive win. The award was just one-of-five bestowed on them as part of the European Dealer Forum in Dusseldorf, Germany. West Coast Harley-Davidson Managing Director, David Hackshall, commented: “West Coast have always been dedicated to delivering exceptional service; receiving recognition for this service truly puts the icing on the cake and is the perfect way to start 2024, our 25th anniversary year.” To celebrate, West Coast launched a three-day certified used event which gave customers who purchased any approved used machine a £500 voucher covering deposit contributions, clothing, servicing, parts, or cash back. Save two grand on a Commando 961 Norton are knocking £2024 off their 961 Commando…

Klim Latitude Gore-Tex Pants £405 Stride into your next bike tour When considering any protective motorcycle kit, there are a few things to bear in mind that should help guide your decision. First up, there’s the CE standard to which it’s been certified, as this will give an indication as to the garment’s abrasion resistance – AAA offers the greatest protection, followed by AA and A. Then there’s armour, which is certified to CE Level 1 or 2, with the latter offering superior impact resistance. Check that the garment has care instructions and a reference to its certificate of conformity, too. This week we’ve gathered a selection of trousers to cover the whole spectrum, starting with the feature packed Klim Latitude. These touring-style trousers have a twin breathable Gore-Tex layer…

Ducati UK are offering customers £2000 towards leather racing suits with the purchase of every £38,995 Panigale V4R. ‘SuMisura’ suits – literally translated as ‘Tailored’ – are Ducati’s in-house suit brand, and come in both one-piece and zipped-together designs, built in collaboration with Dainese. Each suit is configured to the purchaser, with an eight to 12-week lead time for production once a design has been finalised. The deal will be available exclusively alongside the brand’s prestigious V4R model only, specifically on brand-new machines registered before Sunday, March 31. Go to ducati.com for more or head down to your nearest Ducati dealership and sign on the line for a new machine.…

1 March 3 Glenn meets Shakey The Forum in Barrow-in-Furness (LA14 1HH) is playing host to the next Bikes and Banter event on March 3. British Superbike star and road racer Glenn Irwin will be talking to Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne from 5pm. Seats are £25, or £30 for an added photo. For £80 you can join in with a meet and greet session too. bikesandbanter.co.uk 2 March 2 Rufforth Autojumble The north’s biggest autojumble is back this Saturday. Held in Rufforth Park in York (YO23 3QH) admission is only £2, so you know you’re going to get a bargain either way! Doors open at 8am for the public, but if you’re selling then it’s £17 for a pitch (£25 for a double) and you can set up anywhere between 6am and 9am.…

FIRST RIDE The MT-09 has been a stalwart in Yamaha’s line-up since 2013, selling by the bucketload. But it’s never been the ‘perfect’ sub-litre naked, lacking that extra something in the handling department compared to its rivals, especially in terms of front-end feel. After a heavy overhaul in 2021 Yamaha fixed a lot of the issues with a new chassis and engine, but the MT retained a more civilised riding position and stance compared to the likes of its razor-sharp rivals in the KTM 890 (now 990) Duke and Triumph Street Triple R. Now Yamaha have been back to the drawing board to make the MT-09 a sharper, more aggressive tool. But is it still the fun-loving all-rounder that made it so popular in the first place? 1 A fine…

MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £6199 Voge DS525X ● 494cc parallel twin DOHC 8v ● 46.9bhp @ 8550rpm ● 206kg (kerb) £6799 Honda NX500 ● 471cc parallel twin DOHC 8v ● 46.7bhp @ 8600rpm ● 196kg (kerb) When it comes to the light/ middleweight adventure market, one machine has been dominating the show – Honda’s CB500X. Launched in 2013 alongside its naked F and fully-faired R siblings, the X was designed as a lightweight crossover that blended the upright riding stance of an adventure bike with the sporty handling of a naked. Easy-going, fun to ride and practical, the understated A2licence-legal X went on to become a European-wide hit and has since been regularly updated to meet the changing demands of this popular…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Get total control Cable-operated clutch in a bind? These easy steps will sort it 1 Unhook the cable If your bike’s clutch lever has started to feel heavy, or perhaps the bite point has drifted to the extremities, it’s time to take a look at the clutch cable and how it’s adjusted. Remove the cable from the lever by screwing in the knurled adjuster on the lever to create slack, then align the slot on the bracket with the slot on the adjuster and unhook. 2 Now for the engine end Check the routing of the cable to make sure its not kinked or snagged, then trace it back to the engine. At the clutch actuation point on the left-hand engine casing, loosen the lock nuts and…

Freestyle motocross star Jayden Archer died in Australia last week while practising a triple backflip manoeuvre, the stunt that made him one of the sport’s greatest riders. Archer, who was just 27, became the first rider to ever successfully land a triple backflip in competition back in 2022 during the Nitro World Games. He remains one of only three riders that have ever completed the stunt in competition. Archer is believed to have died while working on the stunt at his home in Melbourne. Fellow freestyle motocrosser, racer and stunt man Travis Pastrana paid tribute, saying: “Thank you for the memories friend. Thank you for being such a great human being and positive role model for us all.” Our sincere condolences go to his family and friends.…

Ducati are kicking off the season with a nationwide dealer open day, on Saturday, March 9. Customers can take advantage of promotions and view the latest range. The all-new Hypermotard 698 Mono and RVE, DesertX Rally, Multistrada V4 RS and Grand Tour will be on display and available to test ride (booked in advance). Mini bikes, but massive fun The British Mini Bikes series kicks off on March 30-31 at Teesside Autodrome, Middlesbrough. The small-scale racing attracts people from around the country, with riders from as young as six battling it out as competition takes place across seven rounds. Go to britishminibikes.com for a full list of dates and details. Classics in hill action for Easter The historic Red Marley Hill Climb is back this Easter Monday. Participation is mainly…

SAVE £7441 £38,995 Ducati Panigale V4R The V4R was built with one thing in mind: pushing the envelope of performance on track and dominating races at the highest level. As if the bike wasn’t quite bonkers enough in standard trim, this one is specced with Ducati’s optional titanium Akrapovic high-level race pipe, pumping power up from 215bhp to a monstrous 237 ponies. ducatiglasgow.co.uk SAVE £1900 £16,299 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa Still among the best there is for churning out miles at eye watering speeds. The ’Busa remains an impressively fast all-rounder. daytonamc.co.uk ●Engine 1340cc ●Power 187bhp ●Weight 264kg ●Seat height 800mm SAVE £500 £4999 Royal Enfield Continental GT Royal Enfield’s cool café racer is dripping with vintage style. Performance won’t blow you away but there’s still plenty of poke for a…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews STAR LETTER 'God forbid a misfire!' Forty-eight cylinders for the Whitelock Kawasaki will certainly make it the star of the show at the local bike meet (MCN, February 21). But god forbid there is a misfire and you have to identify the cylinder, and imagine having to replace, not one, two, three or four, but 48 spark plugs! Jim Williams, N Wales 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 Thanks for the memories Thank you for an absolutely brilliant and full appreciation of the life and achievements of Garry Taylor. Mike Scott – you did the boy proud and thanks MCN…

'It's a supernaked rival' What makes the latest MT-09 so good is how it has evolved from being a one-trick pony for having fun on, to a complete machine that does everything, from skids and wheelies to riding fast on the road with ease. The chassis, suspension and riding position now allow for quick, precise riding as much as they allow for having a bit of fun. Yet thanks to the addition of cruise control and the slightly comfier seat it can be enjoyed for longer stints too, which is no mean feat for a bike that is £10,100. It’s a machine that does it all and is so good that it knocks loudly on the door of the super-naked sector, too. THE FACTS £10,100 Yamaha MT-09…

Voge are built in Chongqing, China, by the Loncin company, who as well as making ATVs are very well established in the Chinese motorcycle market. In fact, they build more than 3,000,000 complete motorcycles a year as well as a similar number of engines. As far back as 2005 Loncin started to make the G650GS engine for BMW and nowadays they manufacture the F-Series parallel twin engines for the German firm as well as their single-cylinder C400X scooter. Loncin also collaborate with European manufacturers when it comes to actually designing their new engines, although this is a bit hush-hush. Voge Motorcycles were founded in 2018 and are Loncin’s high-end motorcycle subsidiary with an eye firmly on the European market. Launched in Europe in the early 2020s, the Voge brand initially…

As Honda focused on the FireBlade, it was left to Yamaha’s aging YZF750R (and Kawasaki’s lardy ZX-7R) to take on the SRAD. On the road the SRAD not only made more power and torque than the YZF, its lighter weight allowed it to run rings around it in the bends, too. Yes, the SRAD was more demanding but in the 1990s, that’s exactly what sportsbikeobsessed Britain wanted. Embroiled in their own war in WSBK as they were never going to beat the bigger capacity 916s or ultra-trick RC45s, from 1996 until 2001 (Frankie Chili ran it in 2000 instead of the new model), the SRAD won five World Superbike races, the YZF six (it was replaced by the YZF-R7 in 1999) and the ZX-7R five.…

LIFE AFTER RACING Since retiring, Crafar has worked to help others, whether it be motorcyclists and racers, MotoGP fans or even our fourlegged friends. Crafar launched MotoVudu: Dark Art of Performance to help fellow bikers and racers, through on-track tuition, books and videos. “After Suzuka I stayed in Japan for the All-Japan Superbike Championship. I was learning, it was brutal with no electronics or tyre warmers. I did seven rounds, and had seven highsides. This is why I created MotoVudu because I didn’t want people going through that. “You think that by leaning over and opening the throttle you go faster, but big bikes don’t work like that, and I didn’t know – nobody told me. So, I really battered myself, I was lucky not to break anything, but I…

MCN VERDICT BMW’s new F900GS feels every inch a big enduro bike. No longer is it just the smaller, cheaper understudy to its boxer twin sibling, it’s a BMW with genuine GS genes that’s easy to manage off-road. It’s light, punchy and with its minimal styling looks the part, too. Ridden in isolation the F900GS is impressive. It’s hugely capable on the road, with strong acceleration, a nice bellow from the Akrapovic exhaust, beefy brakes and solid handling. It’s nicely built, well equipped and spacious, although the seat is uncomfortable after a couple of hours and while it does everything very well on tarmac, it lacks any real character or playfulness. THE FACTS £11,999 BMW F900GS…

TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE RS 3766 MILES “You’ve missed a bit!” Who doesn’t love hearing someone say this while you’re cleaning your bike (along with my personal ‘favourite’: “Fancy doing mine next?”)? Unfortunately, though, when it comes to me taking bucket and sponge to the Street Triple RS, the comedic quip is usually based in fact. I’ll put my hand up and say I’m far from the best at cleaning a motorcycle; plenty of effort goes in, but not much in the way of results comes out. And, it seems, the Street Triple’s design only serves to magnify my ineptitude. All those nooks and crannies, exposed engine, gaping intakes, and short mudguards mean that muck can – and does – get everywhere. Quite often, having spent an hour or more going…

‘Four valves needed replacing – it wasn’t going to be cheap’ Modern engines are precisely engineered marvels of science and technology, so having your unqualified mate attempt to alter your valve shim height with a bit of sandpaper is probably not the brightest idea. Nonetheless, when spannering surgeon Daniel Wadsworth came across this Yamaha YZ250F, that’s exactly what had happened. The story goes that after buying the crosser secondhand, the owner had managed just one ride before it cut out and stubbornly refused to restart. After the owner had the bike recovered to the workshop, Daniel got to work. “Initially, I performed a compression test which showed zero psi,” he said. “Then after removing the head and checking the valves, I found there was no clearance on any of them.” After…

Lifting the lid on the opening round of WSBK 2024 After nine years with Kawasaki delivered six titles, one would have been either brave or stupid to suggest Jonathan Rea would depart Phillip Island with no points in his Yamaha debut. But there is still hope, as shown by teammate Andrea Locatelli who collected a pair of second places. For Rea, the whole meeting brought a series of unfortunate events. Firstly, the two-day test was shortened to one as Pirelli’s harder tyres for the new surface were delivered late due to conflict disrupting the Suez Canal. With a distinct lack of rear grip, which can cost a rider half a second in the last two corners alone, Rea’s test ended early with a monster highside during which he was fortunate…

SPORT ROUND 1 PHILLIP ISLAND | WSBK NEXT WEEK Unmissable 36-page MotoGP Season Preview! On sale March 6 When the 2023 World Superbike season ended in Jerez last October, nobody would have predicted that the first rider into the first corner of the next season would be Andrea Iannone. Yet that’s exactly what happened when the Italian newcomer, a former MotoGP race winner, shot off the line and propelled his canary yellow GoEleven Ducati into the lead of Saturday’s Race 1. He went on to finish third, backing that up with fourth place in Sunday’s Race 2. Had it not been for a handlebar grip problem in the Sprint Race, which dropped him to 14th, Iannone could easily have come away from Australia with a trio of top five finishes. Not…

After a somewhat muddled opening three races in Australia, my verdict is that Alvaro Bautista remains odds-on favourite for a third consecutive title. That said, defending his crown is going to be a darn sight more difficult than it was last year. From a neutral standpoint, Phillip Island was fantastic. The reigning World Champion crashed in the opening race, while two rookies qualified on the front row and seven riders celebrated podiums. Remarkably, Australia featured not a single win for ‘Titanic Trio’ Bautista, Toprak Razgatlioglu or Jonathan Rea; that’s the first time we’ve gone through an event without victory for any of the three during their time of sharing the track. Why is Bautista still the man most likely? He narrowly missed the Race 2 win to Alex Lowes and…

“I know exactly what Alex has gone through. There’s been some really tough times with lots of injuries. Being Jonathan’s teammate was difficult because JR is incredible; that casts a shadow over the number two rider. Alex kept his head down and kept working. I’m not getting over-excited, Phillip Island is a peculiar track, but Alex has been fast and consistent in testing. He’s 33, he’s coming to the end of his career, but the next two or three seasons could be his best. Spanish and Italian riders can peak at 24 but Brits age like fine wine! What a pass! I was watching sat in bed with my wife. When Alex went to the outside, I closed my eyes. I said, ‘Oh no! Oh no!’. He knew exactly what…