Table of contents for 5 June 2024 in MCN

Got 23 grand laying around? Triumph may have just the ticket, launching a special-edition Speed Triple 1200RR in collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Breitling. Just 270 will be produced, with made-to-order watches being available to those who drop their hard-earned dosh on the ultrapremium British roadster. Performance will be unchanged from the existing 1200RR model, with the same 178bhp of thrust on tap, although an Akrapovič silencer should sweeten the acoustics. ‘It features gold hand-painted detailing…’ The high-spec exhaust isn't the only change, it'll feature a premium paint scheme with gold handpainted detailing, a smattering of carbon-fibre, luxury leather seat with French stitching, Breitling start up screen, Breitling logo laser-etched onto the rear wheel finisher, and a distinct gold Breitling badge on the tank. Horologists among you will be pleased to…

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company put a new ferry into service ahead of this year's TT races, promising more room, better food, and more. The ‘Manxman’ is the biggest vessel ever used by the line and sails mainly via Heysham, with a crossing time of three hours and 45 minutes. It joins the Manannan and Ben-My-Chree on the fleet. “One of the things we were looking at was more passenger space,” Steam Packet Managing Director, Brian Thomson told MCN. “I've spoken to a few bikers who have come on the Manxman and they've been absolutely blown away compared to what they're used to. They can find a seat easily, the food's better, everything is just an all-round better experience.” ‘Just an allround better experience’ Work began on the…

THIS WEEK BEATING BIKE CRIME SAVE OUR BIKES! Humberside Police have launched a new forcewide operation designed to target criminals using what are often stolen motorcycles to commit further offences. Operation Yokohama kicked off late last month with officers photographed alongside a fleet of Yamaha Ténéré 700s. Members of the Roads Policing team have undertaken advanced off-road training to help them chase riders deliberately running from the law, with the group focusing on hotspots both on- and off-road. “Using bikes to evade officers leads to dangerous situations, and that's why it is important for us to be proactive in taking these offenders off our roads,” said Inspector John Rickells. “Officers have received further training which will allow them to pursue offenders on motorbikes and do all that they can to ensure…

The London Bike Shed Moto Show attracted thousands of custom and classic fans late last month, with 16,000 attendees visiting the Tobacco Dock between May 24-26. Showcasing 270 curated custom motorcycles, from 450cc rally machines and classic café racers, to old-school sportsbikes, there was something for everyone, with plenty of food, drink and live music thrown into the mix, too. “It's the hardest thing we do,” said Bike Shed co-owner Anthony ‘Dutch’ van Someren, “It's incredibly sapping of time and energy but when you open the doors to the public come in, it's all suddenly worth it. “When we started back in 2013, it was all about café racers and scramblers. It was that uber cool, beard and tattoos type event,” Dutch continued. “We didn't have any manufacturers onboard, they'd…

BMW's classic division in Germany have built a semi-replica version of their supercharged 255 Kompressor twin racer, which began competing at the Isle of Man in late 1930s and was ridden to victory in the 1939 Senior TT by Georg Meier. The 492cc DOHC boxer competed in 500cc class racing from 1937 onwards. A version of the bike was used by Meier in the last TT before the Second World War, during which he became the first non-British rider to win at the event. Jump forward to 2024, and BMW have produced a new air-cooled R255/1 Kompressor in tribute, taking eight years of hard work, and using a new replica engine based on a 1937 bike housed inside an original 1930s hard-tail chassis. Displayed in the FHO Racing awning at…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Reader Steve Coupland The ride Tour of Thailand How many miles? 2900 How long do you need? Three weeks (23 days for this trip) Tell us about the trip… I'm Steve, a Brit, who's been living in Thailand since 2006, after falling in love with the country during a tour with Siamenduro.com 20 years ago. I've been mates with the founder, Walter Fenske, ever since. I helped him set up a new website a couple of years ago and often tag along on trips to take photos. Photography has become a bit of a passion for me… In addition to tours with Walter, I ride Thailand as much as possible, with mates or alone. I switched from riding big bikes three years ago, the Honda…

What's happening? Why can't more places be like this, eh? Daventry town centre will be transformed this Saturday into a village of motorcycles, music and more. This family-friendly event will have a mass ride-in, as well as live music, magician, stunt show and even a chance for the kids to try out their circus skills. With plenty of metal to gawp at and a friendly atmosphere, it's the perfect day out for everyone. The essentials The event is taking place in Daventry town centre from 10am-4pm on Saturday, June 8. With nothing to pay, you can soak in the entertainment and the atmosphere for free. But, if you want to join the mass ride-in event or take part in the show and shine, head to their website to register now,…

KAWASAKI YAMAHA HONDA…

FIRST RIDE KTM's original RC 8C was designed from the wheels up as a pure, unapologetic trackday tool. Inspired by the R16 MotoGP racer, and without the need to compromise its race-derived purity or to consider such mundane factors as comfort, noise regulations or where to fit a numberplate, it is the sharpest and most radical of all the tools to emerge from KTM. Produced in limited numbers, it sold out in under five minutes – and now this fully race-prepared, ‘final edition’ RC 8C looks set to do the same, despite a £36,999 asking price. 1 More Power The first-generation RC 8C adopted the 889cc parallel twin from the KTM 890 Duke. With a new airbox, fuelling and exhaust, it made 128bhp (9bhp more than the standard Duke). Now…

HARD RIDING HEROES German 26-year-old Manuel Lettenbichler is a dominant force in the Hard Enduro world. With three world titles under his belt and a winning start to this season he has already proven himself a legend of the sport. However, the UK has a host of top riders hot on his heels including Billy Bolt, three-time Super Enduro champion. Bolt is also a Hard Enduro champion winning the title in 2021, he also won the World Enduro Super Series in 2018, precursor to the Hard Enduro series. Along with Bolt there's Jonny Walker and Will Hoare. Walker, a veteran of the sport at just 33 years of age, has stayed at the top of the enduro scene for over 10 years with wins at Erzbergrodeo and Romaniacs. Meanwhile 25-year-old…

Vulcanet wipes £36.99 Vulcanet claim their all-in-one wipe acts as a degreaser, detergent, tar remover, bug remover and a whole lot more… and when I looked at my traditional cleaning kit which takes up a hefty spot in the garage, I was more than keen to give it a try. Used sparingly (Vulcanet recommend two to three wipes for an entire bike) they last a decent amount of time and clean a lot too – I'm still working my way through 10 months later – and it does what it says on the tub! Whether it's paint, metal or plastics, the wipe does it all and I recommend it for a quick once-over as the wipe can only reach as far as your hand does in nooks. Quality Value vulcanet.pro…

“That's a proper motorbike…” a mantra I keep repeating to myself as I take in every angle of the 2024 CBR600RR, cup of tea in hand. Standing in the doorway to my garage after our first cheeky 20-miler, I can't help but grin as I take in its outrageous underseat pipe, subtle winglets, racy red paint, and scowling face. I may only be taking it easy during the running-in phase, but it definitely feels like love at first ride. Despite being so new we've bonded over a drizzly 200-mile run to Heysham to catch the ferry to the TT, plus a few sneaky early morning laps to see off the rest of the running-in period. We've also endured high winds, rain, sodden roads, and (occasionally) some Manx sunshine. Although a…

£6000-£9000 (2009-2014) American superstar Ben Spies arrived in WSBK in 2009 and on the all-new crossplane R1's debut year he scooped the title – and then cleared off to MotoGP. As a road bike there's lots to love about this R1. Fairly roomy, it can feel a touch lardy on track but on the road it has a very assured feel and the crossplane engine is a beauty. It is well built and generally reliable. BUYER BEWARE ● Yamaha didn't offer a quickshifter for this generation of R1. Aftermarket ones can put strain on the gearbox, so check carefully. ● Some R1s suffer from clutch judder. It's not a massive issue and can be sorted through aftermarket clutch plates, but always feel for any judder when pulling away. ● The…

£7000-£8500 (2006-2008) OK, technically it was the 1098R that Troy Bayliss and Carlos Checa won their titles on but unless you have £25k kicking around, you will be looking at the standard bike rather than the homologation special. It blends the styling of the 916 with a thoroughly modern Evoluzione engine. And if you want some extra bling, you can always opt for the higher-spec S model. BUYER BEWARE ● Check the shock's lower mount: water can become trapped in the swingarm's recess on early models, leading to rust forming. Later bikes have drain holes to prevent this. ● If the bike feels lethargic, chances are that the fuel breather pipe has become blocked. ● The 1098 requires cambelts swapping every five years (or 15,000 miles) while the valveclearance check…

Jorge Martin will lead Aprilia's MotoGP project next season after a dramatic U-turn by Ducati left him locked outside the factory team's garage door. Reports in Mugello suggested that Martin's dream move to partner Pecco Bagnaia in 2025 had been finalised and that Marc Marquez would need to move to Pramac Racing in order to have the latest spec machine. Marquez responded negatively to this idea, publicly no less, and put Ducati bosses into a state of worry that they could lose him to a rival. For him, much like Martin, it was the factory spot or nothing. Marquez held firm, Ducati blinked first, and Martin was out before he could even begin – and duly confirmed his move to Aprilia on Monday evening. Talk about a whirlwind few days.…

Reporting direct from the 2024 Isle of Man TT festival EXCLUSIVE ACCESS Peter Hickman said his Superbike race victory was a ‘gift’ after he went from fourth to first on the final two laps when his rivals faltered. After initially being unable to run with Dean Harrison, Davey Todd and Michael Dunlop, he capitalised on their problems, upped his pace to take the lead at Ramsey on lap five and was never headed, posting a 135.534mph best on the final lap. While his wins speak for themselves, his 136.358mph record from 2023 proves Hickman remains the master of a quick lap. So how does he do it? MCN spoke to the man himself to try and understand just what goes into a big bike lap. Where you spin the rear…

WELCOME Whether you love motorcycle sport or not, this week's stories surely can't fail to move your emotions and pique your interest. Not only are we in the middle of the greatest race meeting on Earth, as the TT continues to shock, enthral, entertain, excite and astound in equal measure, but MotoGP continues to deliver one the most thrilling soap operas in recent history – on track and off. Michael Dunlop equalling his uncle Joey's win record brought a lump to my throat – and his (p70). It's felt like a long wait in racing for someone to get within striking distance of matching the great man's achievement, and while Michael could have done so last year, he had to wait another 360 days after his last win to hit…

Arai have been celebrating their 40th anniversary of supporting the Isle of Man TT races this year, marking the occasion with a special helmet and a parade lap in the middle of the two-week road racing festival. The Japanese helmet brand are the official helmet partner of the event and began equipping riders around the 37.73-mile course in 1984, when their products were worn by five-time winner Brian Reid, and 26-time winner, the great Joey Dunlop. Joey's iconic yellow and black design would go on to become one of the most recognisable liveries of all time, with Arais worn by a number of top class riders ever since. This included Ian Hutchinson when he made history in 2010, becoming the first rider to win five TTs in a week. They…

‘It will open their eyes to what's out there’ You're never too young to get into bikes – as a group of kids at a Scottish school discovered when one of their teachers set up an after-school club where they could learn how to strip, rebuild and maintain bikes. With youngsters aged as young as 11 getting their hands dirty every week, the club was founded two years ago by Ewan Mackay, who works within the Technical Department at Wick High School in Scotland, after he purchased a Kawasaki GPZ600. Ewan now has a dedicated group of enthusiastic students aged 11-18 working across three bikes – with the jobs getting more complex as the students get older. “We've got a 1990s Suzuki GS500, and the senior lads are working on…

Via Moto have announced they will be moving their business from Sheffield city centre, making them the second major dealer after SMC to quit the city this year. Owner Matthew Gilder cited concerns relating to the ‘Clean Air Zone’ (CAZ) as the primary driver. He said: “Whilst it doesn't apply to private vehicles, it does impact commercial vehicles coming to us.” At the moment, CAZ only applies to LGVs, vans, taxis, HGVs, buses and coaches, with the latter three having to stump up £50 per day. “Our concern was that down the line, private cars and bikes may be charged. That'd make it untenable for us to remain open. “Fewer people seem to be buying bikes in general,” Gilder added. “The motorcycle buying public is declining and there simply aren't…

Organisers of the Adventure Bike Rider Festival have confirmed that over 100 different models will be ready to ride at this year's event. Returning to the grounds of Ragley Hall in Warwickshire on June 28-30, the festival will give visitors the chance to throw a leg over models from more than 20 brands – with much more than just adventure models on offer. Firms bringing bikes to ride include Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Husqvarna, Honda, Indian, KTM, Kawasaki, Moto Guzzi, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha. These will be ridden on both the roads surrounding the venue, as well as over 40km of dedicated off-road trails where applicable. ‘Test rides on the road and down trails’ Smaller brands such as Benelli, BSA, Fantic, Rieju, Mutt and Moto Morini will also…

WHAT'S NEW IN TECH? Although Honda's CB1000 Hornet was first shown late last year, the company are yet to announce detailed technical specifications or pricing. In fact, all we really know is that it's due later in 2024 with in excess of 148hp and more than 74lb.ft of torque, using an engine based on the 2017 CBR1000RR Fireblade. That means it will likely outgun the existing CB1000R, but it's also expected to be more affordable, ditching fripperies such as the single-sided swingarm and opting for a more modern style instead of the R's so-called ‘neo-retro’ look. But how do you make a bike both faster and cheaper? By finding simple-yet-effective engineering solutions – and one of those fixes can be seen in the air intakes, which have been detailed in…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Over 40 years ago my girlfriend (and still my wife) on my CB400/4. Paul Tracey After a test ride on a blue one, I am due to pick up this red Grom this week. Can't wait. Lawrence Brown This is me in 1985 on my Suzuki TS50ER flat-out. Great days, every teenager had a bike back then. Phil Simpson This was around 1989. I had a Yamaha DT125 passed my test and got the GPZ and later had a GSX-R600. Russell Knight Eleven-year-old me with my older brother in 1982. He now owns a JCB while I'm on a Tiger 850 Sport. Julie Forster My Honda CB400/4 at the age of 17 in 1977 – I am still riding, with bikes such as…

APRILIA TRIUMPH SUZUKI…

In truth, the Daytona ultimately failed because it had too many often better rivals. Conceived to take on the Honda FireBlade and Ducati 916, the Daytona couldn't quite match either – certainly not the latter in terms of race success. And that was before Yamaha's R1 arrived in 1998 and Suzuki's GSX-R1000 in 2001. The 916, though, with its similarly bold styling, single-sided swinger and European charisma was probably closest. The Triumph was the better roadster – roomier, more comfortable and arguably just as classy and charismatic. But it couldn't match the Ducati's by then world-leading status, three WSBK crowns (with more to come) and gilt-edged proven sporting class. Still, at least you can get a T595 for less than a third of the price of a 916 today.…

SW-Motech Pro City tankbag £196.99 I first noticed SW-Motech luggage a few years ago when a friend bought one of their tail packs. The quality looked great, so I got one of their tankbags for my H2 SX SE longtermer last year and used it for commuting and trips to the Alps and Spain. I'm now using it on my KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo with the appropriate quick-release PRO Tank Ring, which you have to buy separately (£32.99). Clipping the bag into position couldn't be easier. Magnets guide it in, before it clicks softly, but firmly into place. To remove, it's just a case of pulling the red release strap. The only thing to be careful of is not to accidentally trap the release strap when fitting. The…

EXPERT GUIDE TO Rather than exotic prototypes, the ethos behind World Superbikes was the fact that you could ride to the circuit to watch bikes very much like the one you arrived on. During the 1990s the series’ popularity exploded as wild characters such as Fogarty, Russell, Haga, Gobert, Kocinski and more put on one hell of a show. Still very much a production bike-based class, even more so nowadays, if you want to own a bike that both looks and feels like a racer, then a WSBK-based sportsbike is for you. YOUR EXPERT Jon Urry is MCN used bike guru. He has never raced in WSBK but has lined up on the grid alongside Casey Stoner. Casey was 14 at the time and soundly thrashed our man!…

£3800-£6000 (2004-2007) Honda's sole inline-four WSBK title came thanks to the ‘underseat pipe’ Fireblade and James Toseland in 2007. The 2004-2007 Fireblade not only looks great but is also a very sorted road bike with a solid reliability record and impressive handling. In the used market it's a high-value sportsbike that will give you a buzz yet won't leave you feeling too battered and bruised. BUYER BEWARE ● The engine is solid but owners report the stator can fail, which costs nearly £427 from Honda or closer to £150 for a pattern unit. ● The paint is quite thin on the ‘tank’ cover and wears where the rider's knees rub, so be cautious of any bikes with adhesive grips fitted as they may be covering marks. ● Inspect the radiator…

MCN's website has stacks of expert opinion and buying advice on hundreds of used bikes, regularly updated and packed with insight. Here are three of the latest – visit motorcyclenews.com for more buying info. 2000-2007 HONDA VTR1000 SP-2 Owners’ rating Most owners love the fact that despite it being a full-on HRC-designed homologation model, it is a push-button superbike with excellent reliability and high build quality. 2005-2006 SUZUKI GSX-R1000 Owners’ rating Troy Corser won the 2005 WSBK title on the K5, a bike that is generally regarded as one of the finest ‘analogue’ GSX-Rs. The 37 owners who have review it online all love their bikes. 2003-2006 DUCATI 999 Owners’ rating The 999 may have been a showroom flop but it still took three WSBK titles (Hodgson, Toseland and Bayliss).…

‘The rear's either pumping, hooked up, or it's nothing’ JACK MILLER It's taken seven short rounds for all of KTM's preseason optimism to fizzle out. The astonishing Pedro Acosta aside, there hasn't been a great deal for the factory to shout about since Brad Binder's opening night podium in Qatar. Mugello was another tough weekend. With Acosta running alone in fifth place, Binder was flummoxed by a lack of competitive pace as he finished tenth, while Jack Miller failed to even score a point. As well as Binder breaking a foot before CoTA, another issue affecting the factory runners has been adapting to Michelin's 2024 rear tyre compound. Offering a great deal of added edge grip, it has seen lap and race records regularly smashed since Qatar. Bagnaia's winning time on…

60.5° Max lean angle at Greeba Lap time 16m 36.114s Average lap speed 136.358mph Three fastest points on the course? (speed and location) 1: Sulby Straight 203.81mph 2: Mountain Mile 197.596mph 3: Creg to Brandish 193.868mph Three slowest points on the course? (speed and location) 4: Parliament Square 35.41mph 5: Ramsey Hairpin 25.47ph 6: Governor's 20.5mph 69% of Hickman's record-breaking lap was spent at speeds over 120mph 29 There are 29 points where brake pressure is in excess of 7 bar The top three five hardest impacts on the suspension? 1: Bottom of Barragarrow 2: Ballaugh landing 3: Bottom of Bray Hill Smoothest and bumpiest sections of the track measured by speed of suspension travel… SMOOTHEST Quarry bends to Sulby average: 30-100mm/s. BUMPIEST Ginger Hall to Ramsey: 300-500mm/s with peaks…

It hasn't been a smooth start for Dean Harrison and Honda in 2024. Late arrival of the all-new Fireblade put the project on the back foot, meaning that they were unable to run a Superbike at the North West 200. A difficult TT practice week saw the team face further technical issues, but two races into race week shows that you can't keep a rider and team with such rich pedigree down. Harrison's Supersport podium exceeded all expectations, especially as Honda Racing's last Supersport win and podium was Ian Hutchinson in 2007. The 35-year-old set the pace early on before being overhauled by Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd. “I had P1 for a while, I did a 128mph lap from a standing start, not bad going, if we had more…

TOP STORY Following the global launch of two Scrambler prototypes at the recent Bike Shed Moto Show in London, Ducati bosses have told MCN that we could see a production bike come to market, but not anytime soon. With the bike unveiled to the 16,000-strong crowd at London's Tobacco Dock on May 24, the Italian brand showcased a stripped-back, upright RR241 and CR241 café racer - both of which carry their own distinct retro flavour. “Our goal was to reinterpret the Scrambler model by trying to really push it towards a different direction and with it being such a flexible base, it's perfect for this kind of experiment,” Ducati Chief Designer, Andrea Amato told MCN. “We looked at the fashions of the 1960s and we came up with two main…

Buell Motorcycles, famed for their roster of rumbling V-twin muscle bikes, have announced they are planning to resume selling machines across Europe in the near future. The Michigan firm's current range includes the Hammerhead 1190, and 1190 SX, with all models powered by the same 1190cc V-twin, producing up to 182.5bhp at 10,600rpm. “We've seen a strong demand across the globe,” said Buell CEO, Bill Melvin. “We're listening, and we're ready to expand.” This latest announcement comes following support from the United States Small Business Administration, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The company plan to move into Canada in summer 2024, before looking to markets in Europe, including the UK. They are also actively encouraging interested distribution partners to get in touch. “Riders keep asking, ‘when?’ We want to…

Unstoppable adventurer Nick Sanders has completed yet another round the world ride, this time trading bhp for manpower (with a little electric assistance). In this most recent expedition, Sanders rode 100 miles daily, returning home after a gruelling eight months on the road. The 65-year-old pedalled 20,000 miles through 16 time zones and across four continents, all aboard a Yamaha Wabash ebike. No stranger to adventure, Sanders has previously explored the globe utilising a variety of means, from riding around the world in just 19 days aboard a Yamaha R1, cycling around the world a handful of times, and undertaking various globe busting travels on motorcycles including a Royal Enfield Bullet, Triumph Daytona, Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré and Yamaha Ténéré 700. He has also crossed the English Channel twice using…

Ducati have collaborated with fashion brand Supreme to release a collectors’ edition Streetfighter V4. The £39,358 limited-edition will feature exclusive Brembo Supreme calipers, a dedicated dash screen animation, and the motorcycle is delivered in a wooden crate with certification of authenticity. Supreme have also worked with names like Dainese, Arai and Sidi to create an accompanying gear collection including a including a £3418 one-piece suit.…

WD40 Motorbike Range £9.99 Banish those bug splats It simply wouldn't be summer without your bike, gear and visor getting plastered in flying insects, so our foray into the world of webbased deals this week is focused on products to help get it all smartened up again. Cleaning your bike also provides a welcome opportunity for getting up close and personal to inspect its various nooks, crannies and other bits that don't usually get more than a cursory glance, and to do basic checks such as oil level, brake pad wear and chain free play. Maintenance spray specialists WD40 have a range of useful potions available, and this offer can save you a chunk on a bundle of them. The 400ml aerosols include a quick drying, water dispersible chain cleaner,…

JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS • Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm, Sunday 10am-4pm, later for events • Unit 1, Samlet Shopping Centre, Swansea SA7 9AG During the pandemic, biker and filmmaker Tom Woodrow decided to put down his lens and chase another dream – creating a biker café and events space. “We make Adventure Bike TV and Motorbike TV, and we've also done Dakar Dreams with Danny John-Jules,” says Tom. “But I've always fancied doing something like this. Our coffee is all from a local roaster. We did a blind taste test of 20 when we opened, and everyone picked this one! It's a real nice exclusive for us.” And if you're a local, the best part is you can become a Woodrow's member for free…

Known as an ‘inappropriate motorcycle rally’, the Great Malle Rally encourages riders of custom, classic, café racer, chopper, modern classic and scrambler motorcycles to join them for 1500 miles along the length of the UK, over six stages. With checkpoints, marshals, and fancy tents, you're sure to have top fun, meet great new people – and make memories to last a lifetime. But the rally's not the only event from Malle London. The cool adventure luggage company also hosts other amazing feats which you could get stuck into later in the year. Shove these in your diary then head to mallelondon.com for more information: • The Great Malle Rally June 9-16 Lizard Point to Scottish Highlands • The Malle Mile Festival 2024 July 18-21 Grimsthorpe Castle, PE10 0LY • The…

SPORTSBIKE SHOOTOUT £8699 Honda CBR650R E-Clutch ● 649cc inline-four ● 87.5bhp/45.5lb.ft ● 207kg THE MCN TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK £9550 Aprilia RS 660 ● 659cc parallel twin ● 90.76bhp/47.75lb.ft ● 183kg £8899 Suzuki GSX-8R ● 776cc parallel twin ● 75.4bhp/54.3lb.ft ● 205kg £8595 Triumph Daytona 660 ● 660cc inline-triple ● 88.8bhp/47.5lb.ft ● 201kg £8699 Kawasaki ZX-4RR ● 399cc inline-four ● 71.6bhp/27.46lb.ft ● 189kg £8916 Yamaha R7 ● 689cc parallel twin ● 70.87bhp/48.57lb.ft ● 188kg See the video www.youtube.com/@motorcyclenewsdotcom The notion of a thrilling middleweight sportsbike has changed drastically over the past 20 years. In the 2000s, sportiness and laptimes trumped everything – meaning that engine capacity and design concepts between the models sat incredibly close. Because of that, what you could buy was set to a…

Despite the T595 never being a successful track bike or ever really winning on the road, its impact remained significant and, along with its sister bike, the T509 Speed Triple, was one of the most glamorous bikes of the late 1990s. This was best realised when both bikes gained starring roles in the second Mission: Impossible movie which came out in 2000. Produced by and starring bike nut Tom Cruise (in whose films bikes regularly feature), and directed by John Woo, it culminated in a, quite frankly ridiculous yet dramatic bike chase starring both the T595 and T509. Cruise, aboard the ‘Speedie’, tried to evade the baddies with a variety of implausible stoppies, pirouettes and jumps, while chief baddie Sean Ambrose (played by Dougray Scott) tried to chase him on…

Welcome to Wales This year the first round of the FIM Hard Enduro season was held at Walters Arena in South Wales. Last year's champion Manuel Lettenbichler dominated, finishing the final race in two hours and six minutes, three minutes ahead of Bulgarian Teodor Kabakchiev. Brits Jonny Walker and Will Hoare followed in fourth and fifth. ‘In the end you're just smashing through, just holding on’ Hard Enduro is, as the name suggests, an incredibly tough form of enduro racing. Like an ultra marathon, it pushes riders to breaking point and tests the capabilities of their bikes. Variety is key to the discipline, with racers having to compete in rallies, super enduro style tournaments and high-speed sprints. The FIM Hard Enduro series takes place across seven countries, covering a diverse…

THREE SIMPLE STEPS Check your vision You can only open the throttle confidently if you can see the corner exit – otherwise you're accelerating into the unknown. So before practising your corner exit drive, spend a few corners concentrating on getting your late apex line right and lifting your eyes to see the exit as early as possible. Be smooth Never be harsh with the throttle in your rush to get on the power – the jolt could cause the rear to break traction. You should feel a silky-smooth whoosh, not a bang. You see the same thing in the data traces of Rapid's BSB racers – there are delicate throttle increases midcorner, then a smooth, progressive twist to full gas. Pick your gear For strong exit drive you need…

800 miles ON TEST Kriega Rollpack 40 £159 Luggage specialists Kriega have added this universal roll bag to their extensive line-up of on-bike pack options. Their rollpack comes in two sizes: 20 litres and 40 litres. I've been using the 40-litre option, which has done a grand job of swallowing whatever I've needed to carry on my bike. The bag itself is a 100% waterproof roll-top tube which can be opened and closed from either end, making packing and un-packing a breeze. Made from durable Cordura the structure of the bag is soft and lightweight and because of the roll top opening/closing can be shrunk down to accommodate any quantity of contents up to its 40 litre maximum the straps back on themselves before hooking on the loops and tightening.…

It's rare to see a Harley-Davidson Pan America in the wild. The big adventure bike from Milwaukee just doesn't seem to have found favour with UK buyers, which is a shame, because at just over 1000 miles in with the new CVO version, I'm very much in a ‘What's not to like?’ state of mind. That's not to say that there aren't certain aspects which don't float my boat, but we'll come to those later on. First impressions are all about size. With a fully brimmed tank, set of heavy-duty luggage and a host of accessories, it's verging on 300kg before I even climb aboard. That's 54kg up on the standard model (which itself is 8kg heavier than the R1300GS), so not an insignificant bulk when it comes to wheeling…

£6500-£9999 (2011-2019) With seven titles under its belt (six for Jonathan Rea, one for Tom Sykes), the Ninja dominated racing in the 2010s. Always a very track-focused bike, the 2011 Ninja elevated Kawasaki's sportsbike from an also-ran into a winner. Despite enormous peak power, the inline-four is rev-happy and lacking in midrange while its chassis is small, focused and aggressive. BUYER BEWARE ● Check for both crash damage and signs of track use as the Ninja is often taken on circuit. Look at the MoT history to see if anything looks suspicious and always check for scrapes behind the fairing. ● There are reports of the fuel pump playing up on older Ninjas. It's about £50 for a pattern part or £550 from Kawasaki! ● Inspect the discs to see…

The fabulously fast Mugello Autodromo was once a safe haven for the Yamaha M1 but those former glories were way out of reach in Sunday's Italian GP. Alex Rins (15th) and 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo (19th) were simply never in the game. Quartararo won this race comfortably in 2021 and was heroically a close second in 2022, just 0.6s behind Pecco Bagnaia's Ducati. This year was a nightmare for Quartararo – finishing 30 seconds behind winner Bagnaia – and he was brutally taken aback by the “heaviness” and “physicality” of the latest machine, once the sweetest handling bike in MotoGP. Stamina-sapping arm pump concerningly slowed Quartararo and raised alarm bells about the direction and progress of chasing horsepower and top speed to carry heavier aerodynamic grip. And it was…

Going behind the headlines at the 2024 Isle of Man TT Two races in and Davey Todd has already become a TT alien, joining the 135mph club. An impressive podium in the opening Supersport race was backed up by a stunning second in the Superbike race despite losing over 20s in his second pit stop when his bike was reluctant to start; time that ultimately cost him the win. His two-from-two podium run brings an abrupt end to the Peter Hickman, Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison domination and given the form he's shown so far in 2024 – you've got to think there is more to come. MCN spent time with the TT sensation along with his team to understand how he's done it… Team work, dream work “All my…

Going behind the headlines at the 2024 Isle of Man TT TOP STORY Michael Dunlop's wait to match Joey's Dunlop's all-time TT win tally was finally over with victory in the opening Supersport race on Saturday. It's been 360 days since Dunlop notched up his 25th win and while the 35-year-old had refused to be drawn on win No26 ahead of this year's TT, he found it hard to contain his emotions after his landmark victory. Clearly needing a moment to regain his composure as he entered the winners’ enclosure, the usually subdued Northern Irishman revealed just what it meant to him. “To not get the 26th win last year was a bit of a kick in the face so I had to live a full year going ‘s***, s***,…