Table of contents for 5 January 2022 in MCN

The husband and wife team who created London’s Bike Shed – Vikki and Anthony ‘Dutch’ van Someren – have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List. The pair have been awarded the British Empire Medal for their work in the Covid-19 response effort. After Vikki put out an appeal for a friend in need, the couple were astounded by the incredible reaction from the motorcycling community and quickly set up the Bike Shed Community Response initiative. The scheme then linked up with Gohpr, a courier app, and things really took off. MCN’s News Editor, Jordan Gibbons, joined the group in May to help deliver PPE equipment. By the end of 2020, nearly 2000 riders had signed up to the project and had delivered PPE equipment, food, test kits and…

When Ross Allison jacked in his solid job at Bournemouth Kawasaki and sank £90k of his own money into starting his new business, Rotate Motorcycles, he had every right to be a little nervous. But after just a month in business, the 30-year-old has already sold a stack of bikes and hopes to shift over 150 in 2022. Ross, who has lived and breathed motorcycles from his teens, said: “It’s been a little scary, but my gut was telling me to go for it and I know I can sell bikes.” His first sale came just 48 hours after opening the new business, based in Parley, Dorset, and within three weeks he had sold eight more machines. The target is 150 over the course of the year and with used…

Looking for some extra wind protection for your Yamaha Tracer 9 or GT? Plastics specialist Skidmarx could have the answer with a new aftermarket screen, which stands 10cm taller (63cm) than the original unit. Made in the UK from 4mm acrylic, it fits onto the existing mounting points and uses the original fasteners. Available in three tints, it’s £99.95 from www.skidmarx.co.uk Soco into Top 10 Electric bike firm Super Soco broke into the top ten best-selling powered two wheeler (PTW) brands for November 2021, making them the first 100% electric firm to do so. They outsold Suzuki, Ducati, Aprilia and Harley-Davidson to take the number ten spot. What’s more, their CPX scooter was the best-selling model in its category for the month. Learn and explore Rapid Training are taking bookings…

NEWS EDITOR KTM’s parallel twin has won the brand plaudits and sales since its introduction in 2018, with the motor finding its way into multiple models since. MCN revealed very early test mules last year, but now further shots have emerged which confirm KTM are finalising a replacement for their popular middleweight. Cutting straight to the chase, it appears the firm are working on a heavily redesigned engine for the new bike. In previous photos all the engine cases were machined whereas now most of them appear to be cast, suggesting the changes are all but sealed. Ever-tightening emissions standards both for pollution and noise, will have prompted some reworking while a capacity increase is expected to help offset those changes. We’d expect KTM to grow the engine by 100cc…

Indian and Wheels & Waves have commissioned four of the best European bike builders to design their vision of an Indian Chief. The builders were tasked with creating something inspired by the past, anchored in the present, and looking towards the future. Anyone can take part and casting a vote qualifies you for a chance to ride off with the winning machine. The winner of the customised Indian Chief will also receive a VIP trip to the Wheels & Waves event planned for next summer in the South of France, where they will be handed the keys to their unique new machine. A panel of ‘Super Voters’, including renowned bike designers Roland Sands and Ola Stenegard, will also pick their favourite and these votes will be added to the public…

CHIEF ROAD TESTER Extra luggage space and pillion comfort are welcome additions to the new ’Wing and its louder stereo is an improvement, too, although more aimed at lower speed cruising in the States than fast motorways here. Elsewhere it’s the same Gold Wing we’ve come to know and love – outrageously OTT, unapologetically expensive, delightfully built and loaded with toys. Some of the gadgets aren’t at the forefront of tech anymore, but still work beautifully. But beneath the glitz and glamour it’s still a magnificent tourer, that’s surprisingly sporty and keeps getting better the longer you ride. THE FACTS £31,599 2021 Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT Engine Liquid-cooled 1833cc 24v flat six Frame Aluminium twin spar Front suspension Double wishbone front with single Showa shock. Electronically adjustable Rear suspension…

The Ural Experience Centre runs year-round in Pombal, Portugal, with basic instruction starting from €100 (approx. £85) per day. You can choose between on-road, off-road or a mixture of the two. Pombal is roughly equidistant from both Porto and Lisbon, with return flights starting from £75 per person. There are also plans for a UK-based Ural Experience run by The Sidecar Guys later this year. For more info, visit www.uralexperiencecentre.com…

Klim Hardanger one-piece suit £1340 ‘I really don’t know how I lived without it’ Tested by Jordan Gibbons for 2500 miles/one year If my house caught fire tomorrow, this is the piece of motorbike gear I would save. The Hardanger is a one-piece CE rated Gore-Tex suit that incorporates Level 1 D30 armour throughout. The genius of the Hardanger is that is has one long zip from neck to groin on the front and another from groin to ankle on either leg. This means it can be pulled over regular clothing and donned (or doffed) in a matter of seconds, so you can ride somewhere and be in ‘normal’ clothes in moments. Superman eat your heart out! Some weeks I wear it every day. You don’t have to worry about…

Don’t fall for their eager sales pitch Been to the NEC and gawped at the new metal? Exciting, isn’t it? But this also means it’s now the time of year to get a fabulous deal on bikes being discontinued or updated, because dealers don’t want ‘old’ models taking up space. You need to ensure that you get what you genuinely desire, though. Often remaining bikes will be certain variants of a less-popular colour, or a high-spec model used to draw visitors into the showroom. And don’t be sucked-in by the ‘tricks’ used to shift less desirable bikes. For example, If you’re after a base model don’t always believe the tall tales about the long wait to get one in – it’s just the salesman trying to sell you his left-over…

MECHANIC Chris Self, Chris Self Motorcycles in Ipswich Back in 2004 Mark Krisson wanted a bike bigger than his GPZ500, remembered Eddie Lawson’s sit-up-and-beg superbike, so snapped up a bikini-fairing-ed cherry-red Kawasaki ZRX1100. “Now I’ve retired I was getting out on it more but as I was cruising down the A12 recently the revs suddenly dropped, there was a rattling noise and a cloud of blue smoke in my mirrors,” recalled Mark. Experienced mechanic Chris Self, of Chris Self Motorcycles in Ipswich, picked the bike up and started investigating, taking the cam cover off to measure the valve clearances. Sure enough, the ones for number three cylinder were massive and when Chris took the barrels off he found three lumps of mashed metal where the piston should be and debris…

Six-time WSB champion Jonathan Rea has been given an OBE for his services to motorcycling in the Queen’s New Year Honours list. The Northern Irishman, who was appointed an MBE in 2017, follows in the footsteps of the late Joey Dunlop, who received an MBE in 1986 and an OBE in 1996 for humanitarian work in Eastern Europe. Rea’s run of six consecutive WSB titles came to an end last season when Yamaha sensation Toprak Razgatlioglu pipped him to the title. The duo had an exciting year-long battle, with Scott Redding also pushing the pair to the limit multiple times, which helped boost the championship’s popularity. Despite missing out on a seventh title, Rea clinched his 100th race win on the opening weekend and took his tally to 112 by…

Happy New Year! I hope it proves to be a joyous and healthy twelve months for you – and one that is absolutely saturated with memorable biking, too. It may only be January 5, but the year already feels well underway with great stories emerging, new models arriving in dealers, and I’m hoping that the unseasonable warmth that made my traditional New Year’s Eve rideout one of the most comfortable ever (268 miles up to, and through, the Peak District – where I saw many of you, too) is a harbinger of a great biking year on the horizon. This week’s issue is crammed with great stories, from the rampant return of Britain’s importance in the world of bike design and engineering (p4), to the news that Dutch and Vikki…

We’re giving away a superb Shoei Neotec II helmet worth up to £599.99 to one lucky MCN reader. An every-occasion helmet with the adaptability to excel no matter where your next ride takes you, the Neotec II does it all with style and precision. The convenient flip-up versatility of a true two-in-one helmet combined with next-level aerodynamics, an internal sun shield, the Pinlock EVO fog-resistant system, and the ability to seamlessly integrate with the all-new SENA SRL Communication System, make this the pinnacle of modular helmet design for today’s do-it-all motorcyclists. ENTER FOR FREE – NOW! Visit www.motorcyclenews.com/winneotec2 T&Cs: The prize draw closes at midnight on January 25, 2022. This competition is open to UK residents aged 16 and over. There is one prize consisting of 1 x Shoei Neotec…

‘Be wary of missing aftermarket parts…’ A little while ago I wrote about the importance of selling accessories and spare parts separately to a used bike to maximise profits. That was from a seller’s point of view, now I’d like to approach it from the perspective of a buyer. And from this side caution is advised when viewing a used bike. We all like to add bits and it is pretty unusual to see a machine that doesn’t have an aftermarket can, replacement screen or bolt-on accessories such as stubby levers, a new shock or billet brake reservoir covers. As I’ve said, when selling the bike it is always best to go back to standard and punt the parts via an online auction site to recoup some cash – but…

‘It’s the gift that might save a life’ MCN Editor, Richard Newland, on how a donation to CALM could help save and transform lives in 2022 While many are still nursing hangovers and bathing in the glowing embers of euphoria that the festive season delivers – for lots of people, this is the actually the toughest time of the year. The enforced expectation of being happy, the burden of festive spending, the short daylight hours and rubbish weather... all these things can be the straws that make the camel’s knees buckle. Seeing others’ optimism and joy at the start of a new year can in itself be enough to trigger negative thought. On January 2, 2018 we lost a fellow motoring journalist and keen motorcyclist to suicide. He’d long been…

Q ‘Will I only get 30% compo?’ I was filtering slowly past a line of slowly moving cars on the right-hand side using the area within broken chevrons. When I was next to one car it pulled out to the right and knocked me off. I couldn’t have avoided it by braking or steering as I was alongside the car’s window when he started his turn. Fortunately, there was no oncoming traffic and I was only slightly hurt. The car driver’s insurer is claiming that I was overtaking and the accident was mainly my fault, therefore they have offered me 30% of the compensation. Is this worth pursuing with a solicitor as I am not happy with the figure? I realise you should only ride in chevrons when necessary and…

Reader Brian Dobson The trip Weekend camping trip to Aberystwyth How many miles? 580 miles in total, setting off from Denholme, West Yorkshire How long do you need? I made it a four-day trip Best time to go I went in July but any time when the weather looks good for camping will be great What In did… I set off from Denholme on Friday and headed to Llangollen, riding on the M62, M56 and M6 motorways, then to Bala on the A5. It’s outstanding roads all the way through to Aberystwyth (A494 & A487). I camped at the Woodlands Caravan Park at Devil’s Bridge, about 12 miles from Aberystwyth, a ride-out on Saturday on the A44 then A470 to Rhayader (amazing views of the Elan Valley) and on Sunday…

1 Get set to spectate Although entries for the Exeter Trial are now shut, there’s still plenty of room to get down there as a spectator, and it’s even better than that, it’s free! The route covers 180 miles and kicks off from Haynes Motor Museum, Yeovil, on January 7 and finishes at The Passage House Inn on January 8. themotorcyclingclub.org.uk 2 Cannonball fun The Adventure Cannonball Cotswolds takes place on Jan 9. Starting at 10am, or 9.30am for roadbooks and hire equipment at the Charlton King’s Club, the course is 170km. It’s £42 and suitable for big adventure bikes. rallymoto.co.uk 3 Chilly Willy ride In support of the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, the Chilly Willy Ride is on January 9. It sets off from All Seasons Café in…

MCN 250 MILE ROAD TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK GUEST ROAD TESTER As BSA’s new Gold Star proves, choosing between retro roadsters is more difficult than ever. The best-selling Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 offers the most olde worlde charm for your buck, yet lacks class and performance. While Guzzi’s new ‘Special’ V7 has all that and more but costs £2500 more. Is it worth the extra? We test both around the MCN250 to find out… When we tested Moto Guzzi’s significantly-revised V7 retro roadster earlier this year we were both impressed… and disappointed. Pleased that it now had the 65bhp, grunty performance, due to its new, enlarged, 853cc V-twin, to go with its enduring Italian character and charm. But also slightly saddened by, in our test bike’s…

MCN GUEST TESTER These are interesting times for great ‘British’ retros but Royal Enfield’s Interceptor proves once again, at least in terms of value, it’s the one to beat. It’s effective, easy, pleasing, ticks lots of style boxes and is great value. Yes, it’s a little budget and with just 46bhp a little breathless, especially compared to bigger, slicker retro twins from the likes of Guzzi and Triumph. For the money, though, it can’t be beat. The V7, however, thanks both to the new 853cc powertrain and the Special’s wires, dials, chrome and more, is both a better, longer-legged and more characterful performer but also a classier, more authentic and more satisfying purchase. If you can afford it, go for the Special, not just over the Stone, but most others.…

We rode the latest version of Ural’s Ranger outfit, which was heavily revised this year. As well as a new, Euro5-friendly 745cc boxer twin, the LHD version we get in the UK also has a two-wheel drive function for the first time. As part of this redesign, Ural also modified the wheels with the result being that all three are now the same. As well as having 2WD, the Ranger is fully loaded for adventure with luggage rack, spare wheel, jerry can and even a shovel. Prices vary depending on spec and start at £17,500 OTR. Get hooked at www.ural-uk.com…

1 Pirelli Angel GT II £249.78* The grip is phenomenal in the wet and dry. Sidewall stiffness is good and two-up touring is a joy with them. Another plus is the fact that I’ve been getting 50006000 miles out of a set. Max Hitchcock, London 2 Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE £254.68* The best tyres I’ve had in 40 years’ biking for all-round use; trackdays, commuting and long-distance touring. Richard Bentham, Bristol 3 Maxxis Supermaxx ST MA-ST2 £158.88* Great grip, good lifespan, and surprisingly stable at speed. Up there with some of the other tyres, but much cheaper. Tim Brett, Glasgow 4 Dunlop SportSmart Mk3 £255.81* My go-to for a performance tyre with extended mileage. They’re outstanding in the wet or dry. Stewart MacDuff, Dublin 5 Michelin Road 5 £261.47* There are…

Saving you money on essential bike maintenance BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician 1 Time to make things right Winter is the ideal time to address any of your bike’s niggly faults. This recently-purchased Suzuki SV650 needs some of the previous owner’s misdemeanors taking care of. Top of the list are the nasty clutch and front brake levers. Added to that is the sheared bolt on the clutch lever bracket that needs removing and replacing with new. 2 Don’t get in a bind Cheap aftermarket levers are a real problem. Although they may enhance the bike’s looks and offer increased adjustability, poorly designed items have the potential to make the front brake bind and eventually lock up. Original levers are the best way to go, and it’s especially important that the…

A champion running the No1 late was once an unwritten rule. Barry Sheene was the first to revolt in 1977, instead keeping his trademark seven. Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez have since followed suit, retaining 46 and 93 respectively. For big names like that it’s the brand, others choose to keep the number that they’ve always used, perhaps for sentimental reasons. Fabio Quartararo is doing that, as did Joan Mir in 2021. Superstition plays its part too. Afterall, things haven’t always gone well for champions who run the No1. MCN looks at some title defence disasters. Wayne Rainey MotoGP (1993) The Yamaha legend successfully defended his crown with the number one in 1992 and was on course to do the same again in 1993 until his career was brought to…

Earl Hayden – father of late MotoGP World Champion Nicky – passed away after a long battle with cancer last week. He was 74. The patriarch of one of racing’s most admired families, Earl was a larger than life character who was universally popular in the American racing scene as well on the world stage. A dirt track racer himself for over two decades, he raced with the number 69 that would later become synonymous with son Nicky when he captured the 2006 MotoGP title in a dramatic final round showdown with Valentino Rossi in Valencia. One of Earl’s legendary anecdotes was he chose 69 because it could be read upside down if he crashed. His devotion to family and racing was unsurpassed and he and wife, Rose, created a…

While Sam Sunderland leads the way at the front of the race, the three other Brits competing have all got off to a solid start and remained in the race as MCN went to press. David McBride holds 53rd overall at the end of stage two onboard his Husqvarna 450 Rallye. Running within his own Vendetta racing team, McBride and fellow Dubai based Brit David Mabbs are both contesting their second Dakar having started but failed to finish the 2020 event. Mabbs is currently 97th in the standings. BMW Offroad Skills instructor Simon Hewitt onboard his Yamaha WR450F is 136th overall having claimed 135th position on stage two. Hewitt is also contesting his second Dakar after being forced to retire in 2020 on stage seven with a mechanical failure.…

This year is shaping up to be the year of the British bike, with a whole host of brands new and old bringing out models that have the power to shake up the global motorcycle market once again. The golden era of Britain’s motorcycle industry – running from the immediate post-war period to the dawn of the 1970s – saw this country dominating the two-wheeled world with dozens of manufacturers and a host of iconic machines. A combination of Japanese brilliance and British complacency saw most of those famous names collapse around half a century ago, but now the tempting combination of world-leading engineering expertise and evocative brand names has led to a series of revivals. Meanwhile, universities such as Coventry and Warwick focus on supporting the automotive and motorcycle…

£16,990 BMW R18 Pay no heed to the R18’s weight, length or limited ground clearance and ride it like a giant R nineT and you’ll have an absolute riot. Williams BMW have a R18 with a unique custom red and black paintjob on offer, too. The 1802cc machine is the biggest boxer the German firm have made and it is a serious hoot. • www.williamsbikes.co.uk £5499 Royal Enfield Continental GT This bike is fully loaded with soft panniers, stainless steel engine guards, short tinted fly screen and bar end mirror kit. • www.motocorsa.co.uk • Engine 648cc • Power 47bhp • Weight 202kg • Seat height 793mm £4999 Yamaha R3 As the R3 gets its first update since its 2015 launch for 2022 there are deals to be had on 2021…

Metzeler have revealed two new adventure bike tyres for 2022 – the road-biased Tourance Next 2 and the mud-plugging Karoo 4. The second-generation Tourance is designed for riders covering long distances, both on their own and with a pillion. Available as a 19in and 21in front, plus a 17in and 18in rear, they are said to offer agile, neutral handling and stop a claimed 1.5m shorter than the older Tourance Next rubber. Metzeler also claim that their choice of tread patterns and compounds makes life more manageable with a pillion or luggage. Already a great tyre for road-bias adventure – the changes should only make them better. The Karoo 4 is a knobbly tyre designed for adventure bikes and larger enduro machines. Like the Tourance, they’re available in 19in and…

FANTASY SHOPPING ON A REAL-WORLD BUDGET CHRIS NEWBIGGING 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 Chris’ pick… As editor of MCN’s sister-title, Practical Sportsbikes, Chris Newbigging is obviously a fan of this genre of motorcycle However, his love of sportsbikes extends way beyond just the latest machinery and he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of machines built in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s that includes two-strokes, four-strokes, homologation specials and the occasional Wankel. “I currently have a Ducati 996, ZX-7R and a garden-find Laverda Mirage 1200, so I’m not after another project but I don’t really want anything too modern, I like a bike with character. I had an MV Brutale…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews Warmer hands = safer rides Yet another great review of yet another fantastic new bike from Triumph – the Tiger Sport 660. New technology can be very useful and this bike has plenty as standard but, as you mentioned, no cruise control. OK, I guess most of us can live without it, but the one thing we do all need, especially this time of year, is hands that can work the controls properly. Why in the world don’t manufacturers fit hand guards and heated grips as standard on machines that are destined for colder climes? In my opinion these relatively low-cost items are some of the best safety features for helping keep things under control when the temperatures drop. David Lumpkin, email So long as it’s…

MCN staff and readers share their one-hour routes Forget the big roads with the fancy numbers: this is all about the back roads, the quiet roads. Start by heading out of Pickering, past the castle, to Newton on Rawcliffe… and keep going. If it’s rained a lot, there are some shallow fords to splash through. When you reach Egton, get to the top of the hill and turn left opposite the pub on the back road to Glaisdale. In Danby, turn right then left to Castleton and head out across the moors. This is my favourite bit of the route – though I’ll stop for a coffee at The Lion Inn. In Hutton le Hole turn left on the green to Lastingham, then bear right to Rosedale Abbey: this will…

Ian Marriott Age 74 Height 5ft 6in Current bike Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Been riding for 58 years First bike 1959 Triumph Tiger Cub Dream bike Norton 961 Commando “I’ve had my Interceptor for a couple of months. I did think about a Norton Commando but the prices were way above what I could afford. I also considered a Bonneville, too, but the 1960s Triumph vs Norton rivalry was still playing on my mind! “This bike came up locally at a price I couldn’t ignore. I’d sat on them at the London Motorcycle Show before and it took around 300 yards on a test ride for me to say: ‘This is mine.’ I rode it on a Friday afternoon and picked it up on the Monday. “It was fitted with…

1 ‘Go slow and steady’ “We probably all know someone who jumped in a sidecar and headed out onto the open road – but most of us can’t – or certainly shouldn’t. Proper training is essential.” 2 ‘Know your limits’ “Once you’ve got a few small manoeuvres under your belt it’s tempting to start going quicker but that’s often when things begin to unravel. Get the basics of steering, braking and road positioning nailed first.” 3 ‘Take time in the chair’ “Unlike a regular bike, you can just sit in the chair and watch what a seasoned operator is doing. Not only does it help what you’ve learned to sink in, it’s also a fun demonstration of how capable the machines are.” 4 ‘Don’t give up too soon’ “Did you…

One of the things I enjoy about winter is bagging a winter project – something I can fettle during the colder months so that it’s right for when spring rolls around again. When you buy a used bike, there’s usually little issues that need fixing, and that’s the case with this recently-bought SV650. Although I mentioned that an ill-fitting brake lever can cause the front brake to bind on, these pattern levers weren’t an issue. What was, was the sticking throttle! (On closer inspection it was due to the bar end being pushed tight against the throttle tube, so was an easy fix…) Back on the subject of levers: Another reason why poor quality levers aren’t wise is due to the risk they might not actuate the clutch microswitch correctly.…

Jonathan Rea WSB (2016-2020) The Northern Irishman successfully defended his crown using the number one plate for five consecutive years. Rea lost out to Toprak Razgatlioglu in 2021 and will revert to number 65 in 2022. Mick Doohan MotoGP (1995-1998) The last premier class GP champion to run the number one and retain his title. The Aussie defended his crown four times with the No1 plate before suffering a career-ending injury in 1999. Ryuichi Kiyonari BSB (2007) The superstar defended his BSB crown after overcoming the challenges of Rea, Leon Haslam and Lavilla in an entertaining season. In 2011, Kiyo’s title defence saw him finish sixth with only two wins.…

Julian Soper, who sadly passed away in December, was a lifelong motorcyclist, talented racer, proprietor of Julian Soper Motorcycles and family man. Born in Wales in 1948, Julian moved to Essex with his parents and amongst the jobs in the early part of his career worked for Ford in Dagenham. One of his first bikes was a Royal Enfield 700 Constellation and it was not long before he was taking it on track. He started solo racing in 1970 on a 250 Ariel Arrow before soon moving onto a Triton. His results improved through 1971, 1972 and by 1973 he was racing a TZ350. In 1974 Julian obtained a Rob North chassis and fitted a Honda four bored out to 900cc, which proved reliable and competitive and it was on…

Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP team has announced a new title sponsor, bringing an end to the controversial saga with Saudi Arabian state oil company Aramco. Rossi’s squad will officially be known as the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. Mooney are an Italian-based Proximity Banking & Payments operation. Last April it was revealed that Rossi’s team would join forces with Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media and Aramco, news which was met with negativity and concern due to questions over human rights in Saudi Arabia. Two months later, Team VR46 announced that they would run Ducati machinery, with Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud publicly stating that he hoped Rossi would continue racing alongside brother Luca Marini in 2022. Instead, Rossi confirmed his retirement in August and doubts over the partnership began to…

‘He could tell you stories about Ago and Hailwood…’ In my last column I was wishing you all a happy Christmas and talking about what a great year of racing we’d had, and then the next week you get one in the goolies hearing that good people have died with Tony Jefferies, Earl Hayden and Julian Soper passing. Life seems to be a rollercoaster ride for everybody at the minute. Thinking back about Tony, he had a good do. In life we all get dealt some shitty cards, but he knew how to deal with them. I really liked him; he was one of those good speakers and you’d hang off every word he said. He’d tell you about Ago, Hailwood; he’d tell you about the era when everyone was…