Table of contents for 5 August 2020 in MCN

German accessory giants Wunderlich have made a new single seat with luggage set up for the R1200 and R1250GS. The kit combines their Aktivkomfort solo seat with the pillion rack, which brings luggage weight in closer to the bike’s centre of gravity. Because they both clip in to standard fittings, they can be swapped in a matter of minutes. The Wunderlich Seat and Rack Combo retails at £469, and fits the BMW R1250GS and Adventure, as well as the R1200GS LC (2013-on) and Adventure (2014-on).…

FRIDAY 8am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from Czech Republic: Free Practice 1. Free Practice 2 at 12pm SATURDAY 1pm, EUR2, Live Bennetts British Superbikes Triple-Header from Donington: Qualifying. Race 1 at 3pm SUNDAY 7.30am, BTS2, Live MotoGP from the Czech Republic: Warm-Ups. Moto3 at 9.15am, Moto2 at 11am and MotoGP at 12.30pm. Chequered Flag at 2pm SUNDAY 10.45am, EUR2, Live World Superbikes from Portimao, Portugal: Coverage of Superpole and Race 2 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 IT V DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY…

1 First aluminium powder is mixed with the foaming agent using a rotating impeller to ensure a uniform mixture 2 The mixture is compressed and extruded through a die, resulting in dense rods of material which are cut into smaller pieces 3 Next, ceramic spheres and the aluminium powder rods are stacked and enclosed in a steel box, then heated to 760°C 4 The foaming agent begins to decompose, releasing hydrogen gas and expanding the molten aluminium 5 The material is then cooled to produce a stable cellular structure with embedded ceramic components to resist attack…

I note with approval that prices of small two-strokes are going up and up, which is exactly what I said they’d do. At the time of writing there’s a Suzuki GP100, similar age and condition to mine but it’s the poverty spec one with drum brakes and wire wheels whereas mine’s the pimped disc and alloys model. And it’s been bid up to £1650 with a couple of days still to go. I got mine £1400. It does make me wonder what other bikes are undervalued at the moment. I’ve mentioned small strokers, air-cooled fours and CBR600s. I’m going to add another to the list, and that’s the VFR750/800. Last year I bought a mint one-owner 800 (gear cam model) for a grand at a bloody autojumble, for heaven’s sake.…

mcnbikesforsale.com 2005 Kawasaki ZZ-R600 • 15,140 miles • In2Moto, Cheshire This standard-trim ZZ-R600 comes with Nexxus exhausts and a Meta alarm. With low mileage for the year, this example is clean and tidy and well worth a look. www.in2moto.co.uk 2014 Honda NC750X • 3578 miles • Lings Honda, Ipswich This low-mileage all-rounder has a whole host of extras added including Honda topbox and panniers, Akrapovic exhaust, centrestand and loads more. It also has a full MoT. www.lingshondabikes.co.uk 2017 Moto Morini Scrambler 1200 • 8000 miles • Sargents of Sussex This rare machine has only one previous owner and has a full service history. The 117bhp V-twin has bags of character and comes with heated grips, Givi topbox and a smoked touring screen. www.sargentsofsussex.co.uk…

PHIL SCHOLES Age: 59 Height: 6ft 1in Been riding? 23 years Occupation: Commercial manager Current bike: 2016 BMW S1000XR First bike: Yamaha FS1-E Dream bike: Ducati Panigale V4S “The XR has been a revelation. So fast and smooth with super-slick gear changes. You can thrash through bends and nail the throttle while leant over. As you come upright, just snick through the gears as the bike feeds more power out – or cruise all day. “I got the BMW panniers but not the top box as I wanted to use it for longer trips. I have now done a few good long trips, like Jerez for the MotoGP in 2018, which included some big days in the saddle. The biggest leg was San Sebastian to Cádiz in one day which…

1979 HIS FIRST RACE MEETING Oxley’s first taste of motorcycle racing came at Snetterton in 1979. “We’d hire transit vans, put our bikes in the back and then sleep in the vans. We’d work on the bikes all day and all night, nothing else mattered.” 1982 RECORD BREAKER Mat won over 40 races on his 250LC in ’82. “I bought this LC, had a pretty bad season, then had it tuned for the following season and then it all kind of took off.” 1984 SECOND AT LE MANS Finishing second on a Honda VF750F with Team Bike. “We never actually won in all those years! There was so many works teams then. The guy who ran the team, Howard Lees, was a genius.” 1985 TT VICTORY Oxley won the 250…

In the current Covid-19 climate where many commuters are wishing to avoid public transport, it is inconceivable that the SH125i shouldn’t continue to sell like hotcakes. The ease of use, inbuilt safety assists and storage capacity of this excellent scooter make it ideal for newer riders and at less than £70 a month on PCP or HP it is well within reach of any budget. To be honest, it should be a no-brainer for any urban commuter. Tech spec What it costs £3495 On the road cash price PCP DEAL £69 per month x 36 £1176.61 Total deposit payable…

One of the big selling points of the Yamaha Ténéré 700 is the price. A bog-standard model can be yours for £9147, which has admittedly crept up a fair way from the £8699 launch price but is still a chunk of change cheaper than many rivals. So, having saved a bit of money, you might be tempted to peruse the Yamaha extras catalogue for ways to spend it. Our long-term test bike has a mainstand, heated grips, Akrapovic exhaust and crash bars that all come as extras from the factory. I’ve also added a new luggage rack from Outback Motortek that mounts Kriega’s OS panniers, and some off-road rubber from Dunlop to replace the original equipment Pirelli STR Rally tyres. The mainstand costs an additional £235 on a new Ténéré…

The owner of this BMW 1200GS was worried about a rattling noise coming from the back of the bike, but a couple of dealers had told him ‘not to worry’. ‘You could hear this rattle from the driveshaft’ But he was worried as it seemed to be getting louder, so took it into RPM Motorcycles, where owner Iain Rhodes took a look. Iain said: “Other dealers had told him, ‘yeah, it’s common, the little rattle is a normal noise’. But the bike had topped 98,000 miles, so I just thought I’d check for shaftdrive wear. “I got it onto the centrestand, put it into third gear and eased the clutch out at low revs, while dragging the rear brake to put some load on the engine and you could hear…

The BMW and Honda factory teams were out of the picture, not least as a gear sensor problem removed Tom Sykes from his 300th WSB race on Saturday before a false natural caused Eugene Laverty to run straight on in Race 2. The pair may be fighting to maintain a seat alongside Michael van der Mark for 2021 but a major grip problem put paid to their plans. A lack of new parts from Honda didn’t help Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam, their best respective results being seventh and ninth. The Brit was struck by a major vibration in Race 2, while the Spaniard experimented with gearbox settings as the engine was producing less power than usual with the scorching weather.…

Broadcaster Clive McNeil lost his life in a motorcycle accident in the early hours of Friday. The 67-year-old, who resided on the Isle of Man, is reported to have crashed at Hillberry Corner on the island. A World Endurance expert and former World Superbike commentator, he joined Eurosport in 1996. He served in the RAF and presented TV programmes in Hong Kong, the Falklands and New Zealand. He broadcast countless bike and car racing events and in 1995 raced a bike in the Macau GP. He was also a club DJ with a great passion for electronic music, as ‘DJ Razorrace’ he travelled for 12 years to venues in Scandinavia, the Middle East and Far East. All at MCN extend condolences to family, friends and colleagues.…

‘The Ducati is incredibly strong, isn’t it? You’ve got the best bike with a rider that is very confident! You can see how fast that Ducati is. It should have won the championship last year but Bautista imploded. Scott’s in the right place at the right time and he’s a world-class rider. He’s beaten Marc Marquez. ‘No way would I write off Johnny Rea! He’s been in this position many times. I don’t see it as Johnny’s title to lose. It’s Redding’s to win. Johnny is five times World Champion. If you win six it doesn’t really make much difference, does it? More pressure is on Redding.’…

While many riders naturally gravitate to the more aggressive looking KTM 790 Adventure R, tarmac-based adventurers who want a more refined ride while keeping much of the R’s abilities in the dirty stuff should consider non-R model first. While the R’s natural terrain is off-road, the standard 790 has a more road focus with a lower seat height, bigger screen and less extreme, non-adjustable front suspension. Power and weight are the same, as are the electronics, with the Rally mode being an optional extra fi you really want it. Like the R it has cornering ABS and optional cruise control which gives it solid credentials as a long-distance adventurer. All this makes it a better road bike, yet it remains seriously capable off-road. In fact, the standard 790 has the…

An all-new biking destination has opened up in Stagsden, Bedford, after coronavirus put all their plans on hold. Boyds of Bedford is run by husband and wife team, Tom and Jess Answer, and after outgrowing their town centre premises, they moved out into the countryside to better serve their growing community of bikers, only for a worldwide pandemic to hit. But now they’re open and ready to welcome bikers of all shapes and sizes. As well as the shop, which sells everything from helmets and riding gear to grooming products and funky apparel, the site plays host to Café Brap, serving hot drinks and food. “It’s great to finally open up properly,” says Tom. “We’ve got some really big plans for the future. So far we’ve just had informal ride-ins,…

Riding a motorcycle isn’t just one of the best ways to travel, it can be an art form, too. But what makes the distinction is rider ability: the difference between simply being licenced to ride, and constantly improving your skills. In the third episode of ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’, MCN’s Michael Neeves looks at the crucial skills we need to work on to ensure our speed and braking are always appropriate and planned, not just reactive. Braking causes a lot of debate. Front brake or back brake? Which fingers to use and how to ease off? These are all essential techniques for controlling your bike and keeping the ride smooth. “When testing, we don’t tend to ride in a big hail of acceleration, gears and braking. It’s much better…

K-Tech Razor-R Lite shock for KTM 790 Adventure £415 With KTM’s 790 Adventure available with £1600 off and for just £89 a month over three years on a PCP deal, many will be tempted. Whack on this good-looking K-Tech shock and you’ve got one very capable motorcycle. The K-Tech Razor-R Lite shock features an internal reservoir to separate the nitrogen gas from the damping oil to give continuous increased performance. It is also adjustable for rebound damping, spring preload and length. www.ktechsuspension.com Laser Tools Stud Remover/Installer £72.10 This nifty new tool from Laser lets you remove studs from cylinder heads, for example, without damaging them. It also lets you install new studs tightly and firmly without damaging the fresh stud threads and enables a torque wrench to be…

Reader Jason Lewis The Ride Wrexham to Czech Republic and Russian border Time required 8 days; one of those to visit Chernobyl and the abandoned city of Pripyat Miles 4200 mile round trip When to do it Summer time, definitely, to guarantee the weather Don’t miss "Riding across Ukraine to Kiev was such a culture shock. Kiev to the Russian border took me through villages – I felt like a time traveller going back 60 years. Just wish I'd time to stop and step into the world I was passing..." CHUNNEL The Eurotunnel was the only part of Jason's journey were his Ténéré's wheels weren't turning. LVIV, UKRAINE Reminders of the Cold War abound, like this ex-Soviet jet fighter in Lviv, Ukraine. The Yamaha looks tiny... REIMS CIRCUIT Stopping off…

Q ‘Why is life expectancy relevant to my claim?’ I was knocked off my bike two years ago and my claim has been ongoing without issue until now. I was in the armed forces for 10 years but due to the accident I was medically discharged and have recently started working in IT. I will now lose out on a fair amount of pension, compared to if I’d remained in the forces, and this is being claimed by my solicitor. The other side is asking for a life expectancy report. Why? Jason, email ‘The other side is asking for a life expectancy report. Why?’ A When we calculate future financial loss, such as a claim for loss of pension, we need to work out how long the Claimant is likely…

The BMW S1000XR and KTM 1290 Super Duke GT are the Kingsmill 50/50 of the biking world. Capable of touring two-up with luggage, as well as sticking it to the power rangers on a back road or trackday, they are some of the most versatile long-distance bikes on the market today. With its superbike-derived engine, superior refinement and newer switches, the BMW is the one to go for if you are wanting a more well-rounded, practical package with hair-raising oomph. Plonked alongside rivals like Kawasaki’s Versys 1000 it feels explosively fast too, but if sporty riding is a priority, you cannot beat the KTM. Although slightly rougher round the edges, it pulls harder than the XR and is more engaging through the bends. Many buyers want more than just savage…

With 205bhp and a £27k price tag the new Brutale RR is as irrelevant as a road bike gets. You can’t use anywhere near all its power away from a track and at that money you probably wouldn’t want to. It’s no better than its cheaper rivals, either. But away from its designer labels, decadent styling and fancy electronics it’s a sorted and capable bike. It’s still raw, unapologetically angry and lacks real-world grunt, but it’s the best MV have produced in a very long time. Tech spec What it costs…

•Ten new 2020 models •Thousands of real-world test miles •What works, what doesn’t and what fails •How to get the most out of your new bike •The best mods, parts and accessories tried, tested and reviewed •No punches pulled •See the whole fleet story so far online at motorcyclenews.com 1348 MILES Kawasaki ZH2 2246 MILES Ducati Streetfighter V4 S 2044 MILES Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro 1812 MILES BMW F900XR TE 1998 MILES Honda Fireblade RR-R SP 4015 MILES Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT…

2018-present Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe The same engine, electronics and chassis as the RS, the Cafe gets a coloured cowl, drop-bars, different seat and detail touches. Also available featuring an Akrapovic slip-on can. 2018-present Kawasaki Z900RS Based on the Z900 naked, the ‘Retro Sport’s’ 948cc inline-four has been retuned for more low-rpm shove. The classically-styled bike also features monobloc radial front brake calipers and three-level traction control. 2017-2019 Kawasaki Z900 Successor to the Z800, the updated Z900 is a super naked with super-modern styling. Lightweight tubular chassis and 123bhp 948cc inline four. Apart from ABS there are no electronic rider aids or switchable modes. 1972-1976 Kawasaki Z1 The grandfather of the Z900RS and the machine often regarded as the first modern superbike. The 903cc air-cooled DOHC 8v four made 82bhp and…

Most people working in the bike industry are riders themselves, and have an in-built desire to make sure you get a deal they’d be happy with themselves. So they’re generally trustworthy. But obviously there are some undesirables out there who have all manner of well-used tricks that they’ll employ to help encourage you to buy a bike. The most common is what we call ‘sucking back’. The sales type will offer you a part-ex value for your existing bike that verges on offensive, then lets you haggle up its value a bit before offering an eye-rubbing price for your new one. It gives you a real sense of achievement, but all they’re really doing is hiding their profit in a deal that makes you feel like you’ve won them over.…

Brake lever guards have been common in racing for a couple of years now. Fans with long memories might recall a nasty crash suffered by Jeremy McWilliams in the ’98 Catalunya 250GP when Roby Rolfo nudged Jezza’s front brake lever, sending the Ulsterman over the bars. It was a few years after that, in 2010, when they became mandatory in the world championships. Today, like a lot of race-spec bits, they’re now available on the aftermarket. Nothing wrong with adding a bit of racing bling to your bike as long as you’re honest with yourself about why you’re fitting one. They’re designed to prevent the brake lever being nudged by another bike at close quarters; they’re not designed to prevent your lever becoming damaged if you drop your bike. If…

KTM entered MotoGP with a full-time, full-factory effort in 2017, and in three seasons of competing at the highest level their progress has been remarkable. Honda are the World Champions with a fantastic pedigree, however KTM currently have four riders showing serious speed which is in stark contrast to Honda’s relative struggles. Turning the KTM from point scorer to serious contender hasn’t been about a development silver bullet, instead a number of chassis, engine and electronic upgrades, which have complemented each other. A series of small changes working in conjunction have made the KTM much less unruly. The 2020 bike looks quite user friendly, a fact borne out through increased rider confidence and seriously impressive qualifying and race times. 1 The chassis KTM shaved lots of weight from the chassis…

Spectators will be unable to attend the opening two rounds of the 2020 British Superbike season following a new ‘elite sport’ ruling from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). BSB and the British Touring Car Championship were named as ‘elite sports’ by the DCMS. Like football and cricket, this means no fans are allowed to attend, with the Government also postponing any further test events with spectators at elite sport fixtures. As a result, there will be no fans at Donington Park this weekend or at Snetterton on August 21-23. The green light had previously been given for fans to attend five of the six BSB rounds, with Silverstone being the only event held behind closed doors. “To be clear, the decision not to allow spectators at…

There was a sight for sore eyes for Chaz Davies as the three-time championship runner-up caught and passed Jonathan Rea in Race 2. It had been a long time coming as the Welshman overhauled the Northern Irishman into Jerez’s Pedrosa corner. Crossing the line on his Ducati Panigale V4 R to finish second to teammate Scott Redding, Davies sealed Ducati’s first 1-2 finish since Sylvain Guintoli and Davide Giugliano at Assen eight years ago. That had been with the 1098, as the subsequent Panigale twin never repeated the feat. Davies’ 90th career rostrum (a podium featuring no Kawasaki for the first time since Jerez 2019) was his first of 2020 and came as blessed relief to the 30-time winner, who backed up 4th in Race 1 and 5th in the…

‘It brings a new dimension to the class’ While many riders naturally gravitate to the more aggressive looking KTM 790 Adventure R, tarmac-based adventurers who want a more refined ride while keeping much of the R’s abilities in the dirty stuff should consider non-R model first. While the R’s natural terrain is off-road, the standard 790 has a more road focus with a lower seat height, bigger screen and less extreme, non-adjustable front suspension. Power and weight are the same, as are the electronics, with the Rally mode being an optional extra fi you really want it. Like the R it has cornering ABS and optional cruise control which gives it solid credentials as a long-distance adventurer. All this makes it a better road bike, yet it remains seriously capable…

For those who like to take life at a leisurely pace, this is a perfect full day’s ride, where you get the chance to see the sun rise and set over the sea but without having to travel the breadth of the country. Start in Lowestoft, the most easterly point in the Britain and you can watch the sun rise over the North Sea. From there take the road north and it’s not long before you hop over the county border from Suffolk to Norfolk. Hug the coast as you pass through Great Yarmouth and on to Cromer. It’s a diverse coastline with a windmill at Happisburgh to explore and crabs in Cromer to sample. If you have the time, head inland to North Walsham, there’s a unique museum, nestled…

While many riders naturally gravitate to the more aggressive looking KTM 790 Adventure R, tarmac-based adventurers who want a more refined ride while keeping much of the R’s abilities in the dirty stuff should consider non-R model first. While the R’s natural terrain is off-road, the standard 790 has a more road focus with a lower seat height, bigger screen and less extreme, non-adjustable front suspension. Power and weight are the same, as are the electronics, with the Rally mode being an optional extra fi you really want it. Like the R it has cornering ABS and optional cruise control which gives it solid credentials as a long-distance adventurer. All this makes it a better road bike, yet it remains seriously capable off-road. In fact, the standard 790 has the…

Casting a watchful eye over the North East, the Angel of the North can be seen for miles around, with a wingspan as wide as a Boeing 747, it casts a shadow on the lush green hillside. Our journey begins and ends there. Leave the Angel behind to drop down to Lamesley and take a left on the A692 in the heart of the North Pennines. As you reach Stanhope you need to pick up the A689, it will take you through St John’s Chapel before heading north west to Alston. The A686 twists and turns through Bearsbridge, and back and forth over various rivers. In Haydon Bridge cross the River South Tyne as you enter the village and pick up signs for the A69, in the direction of Carlisle.…

Aprilia’s much anticipated Tuono 660 is nearing reality and the best bit is that it’s barely changed from the prototype. Although Aprilia’s 100hp RS660 twin-cylinder sports bike is the headline-maker of the range its part-faired Tuono 660 sibling could well be the bigger seller once both bikes reach dealers. That day is getting closer, with the firm’s final design for the Tuono 660 appearing in newly published patent documents. Aprilia never made any bones about the fact the smaller Tuono, which was shown as a concept bike last November, has always been destined for production. It’s scheduled to go on sale next year, a few months after the RS660. Inevitably there are tweaks to be made between the ‘concept’ stage and the production version, but the new patent shows they’re…

Each canister contains ‘invisible’ liquid with a unique forensic profile that will link suspects to the specific location they were sprayed in. Officers can then examine suspect vehicles and individuals and place them at the scene – even if the offence in question happened weeks before. The spray is harmless but will remain present on skin, clothing and other surfaces for more than two months. The SmartTag spray canisters deploy a stream of uniquely coded liquid to accurately, forensically tag suspected offenders up to 10 metres away.…

Scientists have come up with a new material they claim resists all attempts at cutting and they’re already talking to a lock firm about applications. The material, known as Proteus, uses ceramic spheres suspended in an aluminium foam to repel attacks from angle grinders, drill bits and water jet cutters. There’s no shortage of videos online showing thieves slicing through heavy-looking chains with battery-powered angle grinders, which are becoming cheaper and more readily available. But according to the team behind it, Proteus not only repels this kind of attack, it also destroys the grinder’s cutting disc in the process. “The angle grinder attack represented the first highly localised load applied to penetrate our architected material,” the team say in their findings. “We used 115 and 125mm diameter cutting discs with…

Harley-Davidson have patented a variable valve timing (VVT) system for their next engine in a bid to meet emissions targets for an air-cooled engine. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen drawings for this unit, which breaks with Harley tradition by placing the pushrods either side of the cylinders, but it is the first time we get an inkling for what it might be for. Despite many believing Euro5 will spell the end for air-cooled motors, there are still plenty around – just take the new BMW R18 as the perfect example. Low-revving motors aren’t a problem for Euro5, it’s the high-revving ones that are challenging, so this new VVT system will make the most sense on a smaller, capacity higher-revving bike; something like a new Sportster. ‘We expect to…

Rukka Suki Gore-Tex jacket £599.99 ‘Top spec and a 5 year warranty’ Even with 25% off, this womens’ jacket is still pricey. But, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for – and in the case of this Rukka Suki that’s exceptional attention to detail, top-spec technical materials, as well as a five-year warranty. The Suki was put to the test by MCN for over 4000 miles of year-round use, after which our tester awarded it five stars and praised it for its comfort, fit and performance, courtesy of the combination of its 100% breathable and waterproof Gore-Tex lining and removable temperature-regulating Outlast lining. There are zipped ventilation panels, decent-sized external waterproof pockets, and a full connecting zip. Jackets come in plain black or with pink…

£14,285 OTR BMW S1000XR TE • 999cc, 16v, inline four • 162.7bhp/84.1lb.ft • 226kg £17,199 OTR KTM 1290 Super Duke GT • 1301cc, 8v, V-twin • 172.6bhp/104lb.ft • 236kg (measured) If you were tasked with designing the perfect motorcycle, it’s highly likely you would end up creating an adventure-sports bike. Combining the practicality and two-up comfort of a bulbous, globe-trotting adventurer with the poise and eye-popping speed of a superbike, they are the perfect two-bike garage rolled into one. Applying a dusting of electronic wizardry for good measure, they promise cushioning, all-day comfort for your backside when touring, as well as trackday levels of cornering composure and straight-line shove when you want to let loose. Creature comforts like hand guards and heated grips, plus potentially wallet-friendly fuel economy figures can…

Save fuel with idle stop Idling Stop can be operated by the bar-mounted switch. It stops the motor after three seconds at idle, starting it again when the throttle is opened. Neat and clear digital display Traction control can be deactivated. When it is operating an indicator flashes up on the dash so you are aware of the road’s slippery surface. Increased underseat storage Moving the 7-litre fuel tank to under the floor from below the pillion seat has freed up 10 litres of storage space, giving a total of 28 litres of storage.…

Getting Visas sorted Thailand is the easiest country in S.E. Asia to rent a motorcycle. Brits get a free 30-day visa exemption, which can be extended if you need longer. Motorcycle rental Renting a bike is easy and typically costs between £20-£50 a day for a Honda CRF250L or Kawasaki Versys 650. Get the optional insurance. Checking paperwork To rent a bike you’ll need your passport and driver’s licence plus an International Driver’s Permit (from the Post Office for £5). Travel insurance that covers riding abroad is a must. Pick your destination The north of Thailand is for riding and adventure and the south is for islands, beaches and scuba diving.…

“At the start of this year, I had plans to do a bit of European touring so I traded in my Z900RS for a Ducati Multistrada 1260… and now I regret it. Obviously, the current situation means my touring plans went out of the window, so I can’t use the Multistrada in the way that I intended. But for day-to-day riding around my local roads, it can’t put a smile on my face in the same way my Z900RS did. The Kawasaki was just nicer to ride, easier and it looked great too. It just had more all-round appeal. “I’d done over 3000 miles on my Zed before I chopped it in, which is pretty good for me as I have a few bikes and only used the Z900RS for…

Allen keys You’ll need a range of metric Allen keys, typically from 4mm to 8mm, for whipping off various fasteners. JIS crosshead screwdrivers Japanese bikes use Japanese Industry Standard screws, so if you own one you’ll need some JIS screwdrivers in different sizes; they fit perfectly and prevent damage to screw heads. Small punches Small bore punches are used to carefully tap back locking tabs. Use gently with a mallet; don’t be hamfisted… Loctite 243 This is a medium-strength threadlock adhesive which is ideal for preventing shock or vibration from undoing bolts or nuts • Tell us about your favourite at mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com…

What succeeds in racing? Wise former champ and later renowned Yamaha crew chief Kel Carruthers explained in typical matter-of-fact way. “It’s what succeeded last year, plus a couple of percent.” One MotoGP factory has been trashing this rule. KTM’s rate of improvement, since the orange Austrian bikes’ 2017 full-time arrival in MotoGP has been a great deal more than “a couple of percent”. Now their fourth season’s begun with the RC16 clearly competitive. A stern Germanic contrast to the Italian comic opera over at Aprilia, who’ve been struggling to make the same grade since 2014. One doesn’t want to overplay national stereotypes, and Aprilia has long been hugely successful in racing. Their domination in 125 and 250 was a factor in canning two-strokes in those classes. But big bikes, at…

With fossil rich cliffs the Dorset’s Jurassic Coast offers stunning scenery and there’s also some fabulous riding roads. Strike inland and there’s pretty villages to explore and the great Haynes Motor Museum at Sparkford. They serve a decent cuppa in the café and you could take a moment to browse their fantastic display of bikes. Head inland from Lyme Regis on the A358 to Crewkerne and turn left on the A30. A short hop to the right turn, towards Dowlish Wake and through to Ilminster. At the roundabout with the A303, straight ahead to take the A358 to Taunton. You’re in the heart of Somerset, famed for its scrumpy, but don’t sample it while riding! Take the road through Kingston St Mary and into the Quantock Hills, before heading east…