Table of contents for 8 December 2021 in MCN

‘There’s a boost in power to 148bhp and 95lb.ft torque’NEW TIGER 1200 REPLACES FAT WITH MUSCLE TOP STORY New Tiger 1200 has GS in its sights The Tiger 1200 has been given a new lease of life, presumably absorbing one more of its nine. And this new version is the most radical update yet, shedding a huge 25kg of mass, boosting power and torque to new highs, as well as ramping up the tech and adding a 30-litre tank option for the first time in its history to rival BMW’s GS Adventure’s range. It’s one serious kitten. FULL STORY PAGE 4 NEW BIKES Legendary BSA Gold Star is back When the boss of reborn BSA revealed that their first new bike in 50 years would bear the Gold Star name…

MCN has learned that bikers who were insured by the insolvent MCE Insurance Company Ltd (MICL) will only have 90% of the value of the claims paid by the Financial Compensation Services Scheme (FSCS). Gibraltar based MICL were an underwriter that insured people through the UK-based MCE Insurance Ltd (MIL), which is still trading. On November 5, MICL were instructed to cease underwriting new business then on November 19 the company was placed in administration. Once MICL went into administration the FSCS, which operates a fund of last resort, became responsible paying any claims. However, under the FSCS standard terms of operation, first party claimants are only protected to 90%, while third party claims are 100%. That means if you had a claim, such as a complete write off or…

The 2022 Ducati kit collection will soon be available in dealers and online including riding gear for road, track, off road and urban bikes. For those who want to announce their Ducati ownership in social situations where they are unable to take their motorcycle along, there’s a range of casual clothing, too. This Ducati Corse Power helmet, for example, is based on an Arai but branded up and painted in Ducati colours. For more info, head to shop.ducati.com. Monkeying right around the world A young rider from Portugal has completed the first part of a two-year round-the-world trip on a Honda Monkey bike. André Sousa (AKA Ride That Monkey) has covered 20 countries and almost 10,000 miles so far on his heavily laden minibike and has been chronicling his travels…

RST Tractech Evo 4 CE one-piece leather suit £359.99 Buy now, ride later... Winter may be the time to layer-up and break out your warmest clothing, but summer isn’t that far away and while you may not want to wear a vented one-piece right now, it’s still a good time to snap up a bargain such as this RST Tractech Evo 4 one-piece currently on offer from SportsBikeShop. CE-certified to the highest AAA safety rating, the Tractech is made from cowhide and features four-way stretch panels to help you move about, a removable mesh lining, external TPU shoulder sliders and CE-certified armour in the elbows, hips, knees and back. Very much a summer suit as the perforated leather is designed for maximum airflow (not welcome in December), the Tractech includes…

‘Dear Santa... or maybe Gromit’ As it is the season of goodwill and all that, I’ve been having a think about what used bike would be topping my list to the fat chap who lives up north. Not wishing to overload Santa’s elves I will keep my budget reasonably realistic. So that’s the R7 (no, not the new one, the proper one) off the shopping list. There is nothing more frustrating than receiving a gift that you can’t use (remember the batteries parents, you don’t want to be visiting a petrol station at 6am on Christmas Day!) so considering the road will be cold and probably wet, my choice is simple: a sidecar! I’ve always had a hankering to own an outfit and now with the little one starting to…

YOU’RE NEVER RIDING ALONE I’m sure that no one wants to think about the time last year when our lives completely changed, and we were locked down for months. But since the UK population had a spike in mental health referrals immediately after it, we should still be talking about it… especially as we’re all still trying to navigate our way to the (don’t shoot me for saying the phrase) ‘New Normal’. Different business have different approaches, but here at MCN we’re still locked in that intermediate transition period, where occasional office time is outweighed by most days spent working from home with pyjamas on until the last minute before another Zoom call. Commuting is nothing more than a trip up and down the stairs or into another room. And…

Q ‘Am I going to get stung?’ In August I was out riding my Honda Blackbird when a taxi came across from the other side of the road and hit me, knocking me off and injuring me. The taxi driver blamed his swerve on an insect bite on his hand and his lawyers are arguing I have no case for compensation. They say their client was not negligent as the sting caused the loss of control and it was not his fault. Apparently he had his windows open and claims something stung him, causing him to veer across the road. How can this be right – I didn’t do anything wrong and got taken out! Ian, email A Your opponent’s lawyers are relying on a legal defence known as “automatism”.…

WEDNESDAY December 8 8.30pm, EUR1, British Superbikes: Season Review SUNDAY December 12 5pm, EUR2, Motorcycle Live MONDAY December 13 4pm, EUR2, World Superbikes from Assen, highlights 9pm, CH4, Guy’s Garage KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT SPORT 2 TVL – TRAVEL UK…

GUEST TESTER (*£8500 FOR THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY COLOURS) £10,150 Aprilia RS660 • 659cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 98.6bhp @ 10,500rpm • 183kg wet weight £8200* Yamaha R7 • 689cc liquid-cooled parallel twin DOHC 8v • 72.4bhp @ 8750rpm • 188kg wet weight Who doesn’t love a supersport bike? Well it seems the buying public don’t, because as of 2022, there are no new inline four or three-cylinder supersport bikes on the market. Brimming with technology, supersport bikes became too rev-happy and aggressive to be fun on the road and their prices got too steamy. In an age of PCP, it made better sense to pay a few quid more for a litre sportsbike with bags of usable grunt. But you can’t safely open the taps on a 200bhp…

GRAVEL RASH Stacking it on day one was a significant moment. I had to decide whether I carried on or packed it in. After getting out of hospital, for better or for worse, I carried on. SWAPPING STORIES I was riding through sand at night and there was a fiery glow. I rode up to it, and the heat hit me in the face. The Mongol Rally guys turned up, I got beers and we got smashed and traded tales. LOST CITY OF GOLD I went to Manu National Park because I became a local in Peru and people told me about it. Manu was where the Spanish conquistadors looked for the lost City of Gold. MACHU PICCHU As restrictions eased, I was lucky enough to be one of the…

New aero, clever mapping, revised gearbox ratios, refined rider aids, chassis upgrades and new ergonomics all work in harmony to make the new Panigale V4 S friendlier on track. It won’t just be the pros that can squeeze every ounce out of the Ducati now, it’s a superbike for mere mortals, too. It does exactly what you ask with little protest, but that presents you with another problem: trying to hang on under the brutal force of braking, accelerating and cornering. Before it was Panigale for show and everything else for go, but now it’s the superbike to make you look a hero. THE FACTS £25,995 Ducati Panigale V4 S Engine Liquid-cooled, 1103cc, 16v, V4 Frame Aluminium ‘front frame’. Engine stressed member Front suspension Öhlins NPX 25/30 43mm gas forks…

It is becoming a recurring theme but as with a fair few ‘new’ Euro5-compliant models the Monkey 125 feels almost identical to before. The switch of engine has done very little to alter its character or performance and aside from marginal changes to the shocks and a new colour scheme, it is effectively the old Monkey with an extra gear that slightly drops the revs. Is that a bad thing? Not in my book as Honda have nailed the Monkey (aside from the dash...) and it remains a charming and fun bike that while fairly impractical makes you, and everyone around you, smile. Although they could just be laughing at the huge human riding the tiny bike... THE FACTS £3899 Honda Monkey 125 Engine 124cc SOHC air-cooled single 2-valve Frame…

RICHARD NEWLAND EDITOR Rides every day, all year, in all weathers. Much prefers performance to plodders. Much like a marriage, bike ownership is a partnership that requires both parties to be a bit tolerant of one another’s foibles and concentrate on the good points if you’re going to go the distance. So what do I love about the Multi V4 S? 1. Your flexible friend Bikes are my primary source of transport – so versatility and flexibility are significant keys to my happiness. And the Multi really does meet its ‘multiple roads’ brief head-on. Sublimely comfortable on the motorway, agile and engaging on fast A and B-roads, remarkably compliant on bumpy and broken country lanes – and surprisingly adept off-road. And all its handling manners are underpinned by that effortless…

‘Don’t assume that they’re a real friend...’ Chances are you spend more time than you should on social media. We’re all a bit nosey and like peeking at what others are doing, and we’ve all got a little inner show-off too. While scrolling through endless pictures of friends’ dinners and maps of their daily run, you’ll have doubtless noticed free advertising apps. Facebook’s private ads thing is huge, for example. And there’s nowt wrong with buying and selling on social media – you can see the smiling mug of the seller next to their name. They might even be an online ‘friend’. But be wary. Underhand types use social media to shift iffy and knocked-off items. Most platforms only need an email address to open an account. The dodgy seller…

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and social media is a great one for not always delivering the most complete advice. A VFR800-riding customer of Stourbridge Motorcycle Centre had been trawling YouTube for advice on bleeding his rear brake, but even though he was pumping fluid out of the bleed nipple the level at the top of the reservoir refused to budge. Flummoxed, he called SMC’s John Birchill and booked his bike in. John said: “The reservoir for the rear brake is behind the right side panel and you could see it looked empty from the outside. Then we unscrewed the top, and fell about laughing.” The reason the level wasn’t dropping was because the owner hadn’t removed the dust seal and the first egg cup’s worth of clean…

JOSH CLOSE REPORTING FROM INSIDE THE HEART OF THE RACING AR0UND THE WORLD 1 DANI PEDROSA 2ND IN 2007, 2010 & 2012 3RD IN 2008-2009 & 2013 Dani Pedrosa is considered the most talented rider never to become MotoGP champion. The statistics agree. The Spaniard has the most victories (31) and overall career points (2970) without winning the title, whilst Pedrosa secured at least one victory a season between 2006 and 2017. In 2012 Pedrosa finished 18 points behind Jorge Lorenzo with 332 points – a tally which would have crowned him champion between 2015 and 2018. Dani was unbeatable on his day but was hampered by injuries, including four collarbone fractures. Bad luck also played its part. From being forced to start from the back and being taken out by…

Taz staying in BSB just makes sense to me. There have been people that get the chance and go early, but if it goes wrong then the opportunity is gone. Ultimately we need to groom somebody for MotoGP and the fact that Taz is with Yamaha is perfect because they have form of taking riders from WSB and putting them into MotoGP. What we don’t know is what’s next – if he wins BSB again does he automatically go to WSB with Yamaha? Or do you leapfrog WSB and try to go straight to MotoGP? I know MotoGP and Superbikes are worlds apart, but I can imagine the R1 is closer to the M1 than any of the other manufacturers’ machines. I can’t imagine the Suzuki or the Ducati Superbikes…

Triumph’s biggest cat appears to have got the cream. They won’t say it on the record, but the goal in the corridors of Triumph is clear: They want to catch and pass the BMW R1250GS (and GS Adventure) in terms of performance and popularity. Everything about the new Tigers puts the GS in the cross hairs. Will they do it? The spec claims suggest it could be in with a good shout, but the proof is always in the riding (for us) and in the showroom (for Triumph). Most people who buy a GS do so simply because they want a GS – but the combination of ‘best’ and ‘British’ could sway some movement in Hinckley’s favour. It’s one of the bikes I’m most excited about riding in 2022 –…

After the demise of KTM’s 1290 Super Adventure T, only Ducati’s Multistrada 1260 Enduro and BMW’s GS Adventure models boast 30-litre tanks. But now Triumph have taken aim at those behemoths with their new ‘Explorer’ models. At their core, the Explorers are essentially the GT Pro and Rally Pro with 30-litre tanks instead of the 20l standard ones, which ups the range from roughly 250 miles to around 380, however they also get some extra goodies to make them more functional tourers. The Explorers come with heated rider and passenger seats as standard, engine protection bars, tyre pressure monitoring and blind spot detection radar, which incorporates lane change assist. The Rally Explorer also comes with tank protection bars. The only downside to this additional kit is extra weight – the…

Givi Easy-T waterproof bags £43.99 (30-litre), £63.50 (40-litre) These new bags, which are claimed to be fully waterproof, will fit most makes and models, are made from tarpaulin and have welded seams to keep the rain out. They have a roll-top closure and include easy-to-use handles and a shoulder strap. www.givi.co.uk Richa Street Touring GTX Lady gloves £129.99 Now available in a specific fitment for women. With 100% leather outer and a breathable wind and waterproof Gore-Tex lining, the Street Touring GTX Lady gloves feature hard knuckle protection, strategically placed 3M reflective details and Gore-Grip for optimal fit. A double wrist closure improves the level of protection and security. www.nevis.uk.com LS2 Snow gloves £59.99 The new LS2 Snow gloves offer comfort and control on chilly winter rides. Underneath the tough…

RICHIE FINNEY Every week we give a different rider a wodge of fictional cash and ask them to ‘buy’ the bike that sets their soul on fire. This is Richie’s pick... Founder of the Captain Fawcett range of gentlemen’s grooming products, Richie Finney is a lifelong biker with very eclectic tastes. The company’s HQ in King’s Lynn houses a 9000ft2 museum that can be accessed both online and in person and as well as a history of grooming products and ‘mantiques’ it contains a selection bikes ranging from a 1937 BSA G14 to a 1940 Indian 741B bobber and a beautiful Metisse. Richie himself commutes on his 1975 Gold Wing with a sidecar fitted and set up the BarbersRide, which so far has raised over £85,000 for the Make A…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews True spirit of adventure I was reading about Honda’s new CRF300 Rally (MCN, December 1) and wondering who it might be suitable for when I found the answer in a new YouTube video from Noraly Schoenmaker, aka ‘Itchy Boots’. In case people don’t know, she is a global adventurer from the Netherlands and a brilliant human being in every way. She has just returned from Africa and travelled on a seven-year-old Honda 250 but now has a new CRF300 for her next big adventure to Alaska. I can’t wait to see footage from her latest travels. Nigel Cousins, Bude Bleeding silly idea I’ve seen several adverts for brake lever locks. Has no one realised the thieves merely need to crack the bleeders to release the brakes,…

MCN staff and readers share their one-hour routes A ‘one road’ route that happens to link up the pretty market town of Thirsk (famous for James Herriot) with the coastal resort of Scarborough with 45 miles of the best of Yorkshire in-between. After joining the A170, a fast, sweeping A-road (that’s busy and heavily policed at weekends, so watch out), you soon find yourself joining the hairpins up Sutton Bank, which is great fun and delivers fantastic views. From here there’s a fast middle section over the moors to Helmsley. The pretty town square is a popular stop off point for bikers with plenty of cafés. After that it’s back on the A170 past Kirkbymoorside, then Pickering all the way to Scarborough. Make your way down to the seafront, ride…

UNTIL DECEMBER 12 Motorcycle Live This is your last call to get up close and personal to new models with the chance to ride a select few, as well as talks from famous riders and celebrities. Not forgetting fantastic features including MCN’s road test cinema on the Black Horse Stage. The essentials The event is taking place at the NEC in Birmingham until December 12. For a day ticket bought in advance, it’s £21 (including the fee), or £25 on the day. Kids aged 6-16 are £1 with under 5s free. You’ll need to prove your Covid status to get in, and if you’re arriving by car, then it’s £20 a day for express parking, prepaid parking is £12 and standard parking on the day is £16. You’re encouraged to…

It’s Britain’s toughest road test route. A fun but punishing mix of A-and B-roads, busy motorway, towns and villages. It’s all Britain’s road types compressed into one route. There are three sections and we combine the two that best test the bike’s character. On average we ride 450 miles per bike, per test. ROUTE 1 122.73 miles of fastflowing A and B-roads ROUTE 2 126.94 miles of open A and B-roads and towns ROUTE 3 117.88 miles of big A roads and motorway WEATHER WATCH Mixed weather 2-degrees 10mph westerly wind…

GUEST TESTER It seems odd to be saying this but it’s true – Aprilia have made a more compliant and road-focused middleweight sportsbike than Yamaha. No, honestly, they have! It seems as if someone in Aprilia’s R&D department has finally clicked that not every rider wants rock-hard suspension and a seat-of-the-pants feel. The majority just want a bike that is just good fun to ride. And that’s exactly what the RS660 is. The R7 is also a great middleweight, and as with all of Yamaha’s MT range (even though it’s not called an MT...) incredibly good value, but it is a touch more serious feeling than the RS on the road with a more focused riding position, stiffer suspension and a more frantic engine. Is that a bad thing? Not…

Honda CRF dirt bike The small semi-automatic Honda was Jack’s first bike, and the bike he learned to ride on as a child. Although it only makes up one of two bikes he had before the Himalayan that took him around the world, he still has it, but thinks it might be time for it to move on. Herald 125 “I basically rode around thinking I was Steve McQueen, but I looked like someone riding a hair dryer. I had a few small spills and a few ‘over the handlebars’ situations. With this bike, I got that out my system and stopped being a boy racer.” Royal Enfield Himalayan “I always thought that the bond between man and machine was a lot of b*ll*cks… It’s not. I love that thing…

There’s a few little niggles, too. The trap door on the tank cubby hole is ropey, and the only area that looks like Ducati let the work experience kid loose during a coffee break. It works, but it’s not pleasing. The lack of a keyless filler cap is frustrating, too. BMW and Triumph have nailed it... Finally, the front brakes deliver plenty of power and feel at all times – but they lack bite, which means you need a properly good squeeze and a hefty dose of back brake when really hauling down in a hurry. They should be better for Brembo Stylemas.…

1 TCX GTX SP-Master £149.99* Great fit, great quality at an incredible price point for Gore-Tex. They offer good protection in an uncomplicated but sporty boot. All day long comfy. Jon Ashley, Manchester 2 RST Paragon 2 £119.99 I crashed in mine and slid, but they’re still going strong despite a scuff on the toe. Absolute bargain. Steve Ozouf, Jersey 3 TCX Explorer Evo Gore-Tex £100* Worn at-3°C in Scotland and 39°C in Spain, they have been used in torrential rain and have never leaked. Damian McAfee, Hillsborough 4 Forma Adventure Low £144.99* I have used these for years for trips around Europe and in Morocco. They’re all-day comfortable on and off the bike. Rob Dickson, Bures 5 RST Frontier CE £69.99 They’ve been warm enough on colder rides but…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician 1 Yes it might sound daft, but… An obvious and easily overlooked item. Check the kill switch hasn’t been knocked or fiddled with by an amusing friend and is in the correct position. Also check that any connectors leading from the kill switch are firmly pressed in. Not your usual bike? Don’t forget that some machines won’t turn over or start if the clutch isn’t pulled in – or if they are also in gear. 2 Stand but not delivering? Most bikes have a sidestand switch that will prevent the engine starting when the stand is down. It’s quite exposed and when it gives a problem, it usually sticks in when the stand is in the up position.…

Sete Gibernau Few can say they pushed Rossi all the way in the early 2000s. Sete Gibernau finished second to Rossi in 2003 and 2004, taking a total of eight wins across those campaigns. Marco Melandri Gave everything he had to topple Rossi with Gresini Racing. The Italian finished a distant second in 2005, whilst he also finished as a WSB runner-up in 2011. Loris Capirossi Whilst the popular Italian is a two-time 125cc champion and a 250cc champion, he was unable to claim the top prize in 500cc/MotoGP. He finished third overall in 2001 and 2006. Alex Barros The Brazilian was always in and around the top five during his long racing career and finished fourth overall on five occasions. Pierfrancesco ‘Frankie’ Chili He may be one of the…

£10,995 Yamaha Niken GT The Niken is a capable sports-tourer with its 100mph+ wind protection and extra wheel. On roads that don’t require sudden direction changes there’s a neutrality, and at high speed it shrugs off mid-corner bumps better than most, doesn’t get upset by camber changes and doesn’t tramline over ruts. • www.crescent-motorcycles.uk SAVE £1900 £8699 Suzuki GSX-S1000 Fast, fun, agile and cheaper than its rivals. And this great value pre reg 2020-model hasn’t even had its numberplate fitted yet. • www.onthewheel.co.uk • Engine 999cc • Power 148bhp • Weight 207kg • Seat height 810mm SAVE £1150 £8499 KTM 890 Duke This 890 was only preregistered last month so there’s almost all the warranty left for peace of mind. • www.spmotorcycles.com • Engine 889cc • Power 113bhp • Weight…

Police in Cheshire are warning motorcycle and scooter owners to be vigilant after a spate of thefts. Seven motorbikes and scooters were stolen in Chester and Ellesmere Port in a little over one month to November 15. Sgt Andy Griffiths from the Motorcycle Unit said: “While officers investigate the thefts, we’re urging residents to be vigilant and increase vehicle security as much as possible. We’d recommend keeping the vehicle in a secure garage, shed or outbuilding with good security measures such as lighting, ground anchors, and CCTV when parked overnight.”…

F.B Mondial are reviving the Piega name after 21 years for a minimalist learner-legal streetfighter – complete with winglets and a TFT dash. The Piega moniker was previously attached to the firm’s 2001 flagship superbike, which used Honda’s V-twin SP1 engine for power, but this time it is for a learner-legal naked bike. The new machine has been designed by Rodolfo Frascoli, the man responsible for the looks of bikes such as the current Suzuki Katana, and features a fuel-injected Euro5- compliant 124cc, four-valve DOHC single-cylinder engine. Claimed power is 14.8bhp at 9750rpm (the maximum output for the A1 class) and the single is paired with a six-speed gearbox. Electronics include a TFT dash and ABS. Holding those near-15 horses on the tarmac are a set of wings, which protrude…

The new MCN Sport special collector’s edition bookazine – Rossi, The Greatest – has broken sales records by selling out on pre-order online ahead of its December 1 release date. But don’t despair – you can still grab your copy of this career encapsulating 132-page special edition at all good newsagents right now. But we would recommend being fairly quick about it – it’s the fastest selling collector’s edition we’ve ever released, so it’s not going to hang around long in the shops, either. The special issue is a celebration of Rossi’s astounding career: The highs, the lows, the fans, what Uccio and his inner circle really feel about him, the brutal rivalries, hilarious post-race celebrations and the impact of his legacy as he moves into team ownership and helps…

1 Three Amigos and Dollies Toy Run On December 11, the Three Amigos and Dollies toy run will leave Pembroke Commons car park at 1pm. All proceeds are going to Action for Children and WGH Children’s Ward. There are drop-off points for donations if you can’t make it to the ride. www.facebook.com/groups/136517086390969 2 Cambridge Toy Run Taking place on December 12, the run starts at La Pergola where you can get breakfast before you ride with a police escort through Cambridge to Addenbrookes hospital. www.facebook.com/camtoyrun 3 Eastbourne Toy Run Taking place on Dec 12. Register on Facebook then buy a toy (if you’re wrapping, add a label to say who it would be ideal for). Fancy dress is encouraged. www.facebook.com/Eastbournerideouts…

Dan Sutherland Age 26 Height 5ft 6in Current bike Aprilia RS660 Been riding 10 years First bike Aprilia RS50 Dream bike A pristine Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD “I’m a fan of sportsbikes and have done the whole supersport thing and owned a mid-1990s FireBlade. On paper the Aprilia ticked all the right boxes. If the RS delivered a supersport thrill but with more practicality it seemed the ideal bike for me. And the reality proved it was! “I covered over 6000 miles on the RS660 this year and I loved it. The modern tech wasn’t a huge sell, although the cruise control proved handy I didn’t bother with the connectivity or power modes and the lean-sensitive electronics were nice to have but not essential. The up/down shifter, however, was excellent. “I…

1921 Moto Guzzi founded by Emanuele and Giorgio Parodi and Carlo Guzzi 1935 Racing successes highlighted by Stanley Woods’ double TT victory 1953 Mandello factory is expanded and world’s first bike wind tunnel is built – which survives to this day 1967 SEIMM, a state-controlled receiver, takes over after sales collapse as buyers switch to cars 1973 SEIMM is bought by De Tomaso (who also owns Benelli). T3 and Le Mans follow 2000 Decades of decline result in just 6000 bikes being built in 1999. Takeover by Aprilia is announced 2004 Aprilia collapses and is bought, along with Moto Guzzi, by Piaggio Group 2021 All-new factory and V100 model announced. Guzzi currently makes around 10,000 bikes a year…

The Monkey swung into life at a Tokyo amusement park in 1961 before being made road legal and winning hearts worldwide. Honda rekindled the brand in 2018 with the all-new Monkey 125. Now, with Euro5 regs forcing it to clean up its act, Honda have upgraded their mini bike with a new motor. Does it still retain the free-spirited charm of the original Monkey or have they made it that bit too serious? 1 Meeting the regs The Euro5 motor remains a basic air-cooled sohc two-valve design (shared with the Grom) and it has the same claimed power and torque as before with only a very small 250rpm change to where they are delivered. To ride it feels very similar and, it has to be said, remains fairly sluggish with…

SIMON RELPH SENIOR DESIGNER Daily rider with 45 years of experience, both on and off road. Owns 30 bikes. I have always loved the sound of a big single, especially on older bikes which suffered fewer restrictions. The Honda CRF300 Rally may not be the biggest single in the world, but with its standard exhaust I could vaguely hear its potential when I gave the throttle a blip. I really wanted to hear this bike properly, and finally the time had come after months of waiting. Due to Covid-19, the delivery time on aftermarket parts has kept getting longer and longer, but the wait is over. At last, a knock at the door from a delivery guy, ‘sign here’, he had an exhaust pipe sized box with my name on,…

Having a basic tool kit and a Grypp puncture repair kit stowed away under the seat or tucked in a topbox means that you’ll be fairly well kitted out to tackle most common roadside issues. But what happens when you’re riding along and, all of a sudden, a warning light illuminates? Quite often an ABS or engine light will just appear with no indication that the bike is malfunctioning. Pull over at the first safe opportunity and turn the bike off. Wait for a couple of minutes and then restart. In most cases the warnings will clear once the bike has done its system checks. It only becomes a problem when the warning keeps coming back when there is no identifiable issue – this means it’s time to visit a…

“The first podium at Silverstone in 2015. I have this photograph in my head, I was on the last corner and from the bottom of my stomach I started to laugh. I still see myself behind the visor. Then there was Mugello, my first win, but also Le Mans 2020, because I won again and it made me realise I could still do it. But there are so many great moments, if I think back to my debut, I was just a fish in a barrel full of sharks. If I stayed in the business for so long, it’s because I was so big that I was scary at the beginning.”…

Reigning Superstock Champions Honda Racing UK are to offer a support package to teams and riders who compete in the Superstock series in 2022 onboard a CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. The deal includes: ● £10,000 championship winning bonus (paid to the winning team) ● A brand-new 2022 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP supplied as a championship winning bonus ● Cost reimbursement for a set of Pirelli tyres for every race win ● Tom Neave’s 2021 full season and track specific race data and settings ● A package for teams and riders to purchase a CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP through a local Honda UK dealer ● Spec-sheet to convert a brand-new 2022 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP to a Superstock race machine ● Discounted rate to attend Honda Racing UK private tests ● Social media support for…