Table of contents for 30 November 2022 in MCN

‘It offers big thrills for very little money’ NEEVESY TESTS NEW HONDA HORNET FIRST TEST All Hornet: but no sting One of the cheekiest and most versatile parts-bin specials ever, the old inline-four Honda Hornet was just as happy on the daily commute through the urban jungle as it was carving up a country road at the weekend – so how does the new parallel twin CB750 Hornet stack up to its predecessor – and how have they managed to set the price tag at just £6999? Surely there has to be a sting in the tail somewhere? Maybe not.. FULL VERDICT-PAGE 36 TOP STORY MV Agusta surge into the future This is Timor Sardarov, the man responsible for having transformed the unstable-but-brilliant MV Agusta business into a serious force.…

There were many smiling faces at this year's Motorcycle Live Show at Birmingham's NEC, but none bigger than Peter Jenkins', as he took delivery of his Langen Two Stroke. Peter is one of the first two customers to collect their bikes, and both were displayed at the Midlands event. The Langen is a 249cc, two-stroke V-twin-powered roadster built in Wigan featuring a handcrafted frame, carbon-fibre fuel tank and beautiful, machining with a choice of colours and trim. It was this that got the attention of Peter who saw the bike on social, media. He told MCN: “I have aLways been a two-stroke fan and I saw this bike on Facebook when it was going to Goodwood so I asked for details. “I went down to view one during Lockdown and…

THIS WEEK Suzuki bosses have confirmed to MCN that they quit MotoGP to divert time and resources into the development of future sustainability. “One of the reasons was to reinvest in carbon neutrality,” revealed Motorcycling Marketing Group Manager for Europe, North America, and Oceania, Nobuo Fujii “Carbon neutrality is not only electrification. At the moment, Suzuki is considering various possibilities, depending on the engine capacity.” Mr Fujii was joined by Suzuki GB's Director of Motorcycles, Paul de Lusignan, who added: “I think one of the things when you talk about Leaving MotoGP and the resource that provides is we're looking to where we need to be with carbon neutrality. “So, our investment is about that kind of bike and what that needs to be in the future in a Suzuki…

Q ‘Van blowout caused crash’ I had an accident caused by a van travelling towards me in the other lane suffering a blowout. Trouble is, my insurer says I can't claim from the other person and the crash will go down as a fault claim on my record. Is this right? Chris, email A Drivers have a duty to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy. If a vehicle is not roadworthy and that is the cause of an accident then the injured person can claim compensation, subject to being able to prove it. A blowout is different from a puncture. A blowout is a sudden loss of pressure where the tyre is quickly destroyed, making the vehicle difficult to control, while puncture involves a tyre slowly losing pressure and eventually…

Reader Des Wardell The Ride Road trip to southern Spain How many miles? 4000/ Five weeks When to do it I went in October Tell us about the trip Left home (Teesside) at 4am, on my 1998 Honda Valkyrie Tourer, to catch the 3.45pm ferry from Plymouth to Santander (a ride of nearly 400 miles, with around 150 of them, in the rain). My satnav wouldn't upload Google maps for three days and my headlight fused at 2.30am! But over the next five weeks, the sun shone, the rideouts were fantastic, and the scenery amazing. October really is a great time to explore Andalusia. My grandson Gino joined me for four days on a hired Harley and I met up with an old biker mate Steve on his Triumph Tiger…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday November 30 BIKE MEETS ■ The Old Stores Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Squires Cafe Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Loomies Moto Cafe West Meon, Hants, Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk Thursday December 1 BIKE MEETS ■ Iron Horse Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping, Lines 5pm-9pm 01778-346952 or www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk ■ Vic Bikers Pub Coalville Leics www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ■ Down and Out Motorcycles The Boiler House, Rotherham S Yorks, 5.30pm onwards www.facebook.com/downandoutmotorcycles or www.downandoutcustoms.co.uk ■ Zoom Zoom Tearoom Sand Lane, South Cave, East Yorks 6pm 01430-424242 ■ MAG Bike Night The Market, Elsecar, South Yorkshire, from 6pm 01226 742240 ■ The…

THE MCN TEST •THE HOTTEST BIKES •EVERY WEEK £19,790 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce Lusso SCS • 798cc inline triple 12v • 108.5bhp @ 10,150rpm • 220kg kerb weight £24,150 Zero DSR/X • Z-Force 75-10X air-cooled electric motor • 17.3kWh battery • 98.6bhp @ 3650rpm • 247kg kerb weight As soon as you mention electric versus petrol-power, riders’ reactions are instantly polarised. And it is easy to see why. Not only are electrics considerably more expensive to buy than something equivalent driven by internal combustion, they have certain unwelcome limitations. Range and charge times are the nagging doubts that until there is another significant leap in battery tech will always be hanging over electric bikes. Why would you pay more to buy a product that doesn't perform as well as the…

‘Matching petrol power’ In terms of the dynamics of riding a bike, the Zero DSR/X proves that electric bikes have most certainly become a viable option as they handle just as well as a petrol bike, are great for pillions and their electric motors deliver remarkable performance gains that fossil fuelpowered bikes simply can't match. They are also cheaper to fill with ‘fuel’ and have reduced longterm running costs when it comes to tax and servicing. So it's all good news, right? Not entirely… For many of us riding a bike is a leisure activity and with this in mind an electric bike can't yet replace the enjoyment of feeling a motor vibrate, hearing an exhaust wail and gaining the satisfaction of changing gears at the right revs. Arguably, electric…

2500 miles I'm a fan of sporty lids. They might often be louder, less weatherproof, and more single-minded, but I don't think you can beat the fit, finish, and look. Imagine my surprise then when I fell head over heels for Shark's Spartan RS touring lid, which has been perfect for all-weather commuting and comfy cruising in the second half of this year. Passing ECE 22.06 safety standards, it blends the looks of their Race R Pro with distance comfort and practicality. As well as being a good fit, there's a good visor aperture, with a drop-down sun shield and a Pinlock anti-mist insert in the box. The chunky vents are easy to operate with a gloved hand, and you also get a double D-ring fastener, plus a chin curtain,…

30k miles I got into the habit of wearing earplugs a long time ago and now find it very strange to ride without them. Not only do they protect your hearing, but they also reduce fatigue and generally make the whole riding experience that bit more pleasant – especially on long motorway journeys. I took this a step further nearly four years ago when I tried the UltimateEar Pro earphone earplugs. Given that I generally ride adventure bikes which, due to their size, height and screens, have very compromised aerodynamics which lead to high wind noise, I was very sceptical that they would actually work. Before trying them I couldn't honestly see how they could reduce the wind noise enough to enable me to hear music without having the music…

You should be changing your bike's coolant every two to three years, or between 15,000 or 20,000 miles, whichever is soonest. The reason it needs to be changed is because over time, there's a slow deterioration of its cooling and anti-freezing properties. Here in the UK the cooling aspect isn't that much of a problem (although if we continue to have more summers like the one just gone, then maybe it will be soon). But the protection from freezing is key as, should your coolant turn to ice, it can lead to cracked pipes or water pumps and even damage to cylinders, which is all very expensive and avoidable for the sake of a few quid spent. Use a dedicated bike coolant as these are pre-mixed and have the correct…

A cigar in one hand, a glass of champagne in the other, a red wig on his head and an ecstatic smile on his face. This is how Gigi Dall'Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse spent the first hours after Francesco Bagnaia secured the MotoGP crown in Valencia. The long chase was over, the mission was accomplished in MotoGP, and seven days later the Italian manufacturer repeated the feat to win the WSB crown in Indonesia with Alvaro Bautista. So Gigi, now it's official: you've won everything in your career… GD: “This moment is worth so much to me. I came to Ducati mainly because the only thing I hadn't won was the MotoGP title. I haven't counted them right, but I had won more than 50 titles in total.…

I understand Bradley's reasons for going to World Superbikes. He's chasing the dream and he wants to be world champion… but the deal itself leaves me flat. On one side of the coin he's going to WSB which is great, he's the BSB champion and he has to go and make the progression, but then I find out he's missing the fly-away rounds. It's like getting a Mr Whippy but without the flake and strawberry sauce. I'll be honest, I'm really not excited about it for him. I want to be, but while it's ok to have a twoyear deal, if half way through year one it's not going right – you don't want your two-year deal. Also, if you have your two-year deal and it's all going well on…

Adventure rider extraordinaire, Steph Jeavons, will bespeaking at Beaulieu's National Motor Museum as part of an upcoming Lecture series. Jeavons became the first person to ride to all seven continents solo on her trusty 250, Rhonda the Honda, on a four-year adventure that concluded in 2018. She will appear at the museum on Saturday, January 21. Visit nationalmotormuseum.org.uk Indian collaboration Indian have announced a partnership with former FMX rider and founder of Hardnine Choppers, Danny Schneider. They unveiled their first custom build in Milan-astripped-back 2023 Indian Scout Rogue inspired by the King of the Baggers racers. Schneider said: “I've made it Lighter with a more performance Look. I've also added wider footpegs to suit my style.” 916 fetches £42,750 A Ducati 916 has smashed its auction sales estimate in what's…

Bull-it Tactical Stone Straight Covec Jeans from £89.99 Top deals for under a ton This is may be the off-season for recreational riding, but it's the perfect time to be investing in new kit. There are still plenty of post Black Friday deals floating around, so before they disappear, we're spotlighting offers where the discount has dropped the price below £100. Bull-it jeans have always scored highly for both quality and value, and there's no reason to think that these classic five-pocket Tactical Stone straight-cut strides should be an exception. Strength comes by way of Covec denim construction, providing resistance to abrasion, cuts and tearing, plus they're coated for water resistance. They're AA rated, feature removable CE Level 2 hip and knee armour and, as far as this deal goes, only…

BUNDLE WORTH £500! Cold weather can wreck the best of rides, but help is at hand and we've teamed up with Keis Apparel to give away a bundle of heated gear worth £500! The Keis J505RP Extreme Heated Jacket incorporates the very latest design in micro carbon-fibre heat generation, with a super-warm 78 Watt heat capacity – creating impressive levels of heat across the chest, down each arm and the back area, and around the collar. Some 25% more powerful than the standard J501RP Keis Heated Jacket, this Extreme Heated Jacket comes with a free £36 Keis power controller and has been designed to be owered directly from your motorcycle's battery. The breathable lightweight softshell fabric, with stylish elasticated side panels, provides a perfect fit for men and women. Also…

‘Only cheating if you get caught’ With BMW promoting their new one-make race series – the F900R Cup – I'm reminded of the mid-1990s and the legendary Triumph Speed Triple Cup, the chaotic one-make series that ran alongside BSB and gained a reputation as the Wild West of the two-wheeled race scene, not only due to the ferocity of the action but also some determined rule bending! Well, it's only cheating if you get caught… One of the best tricks was to swap the ECU for a Daytona unit, which had a higher rev limit and gave extra power. The snag was that each bike was stuck on a dyno after the race so this boost would be easily spotted – well, until someone worked out that to dyno the…

December 4 Ace Cafe Xmas Meet The Ace's regular gathering has a festive theme this weekend. Aside from the usual collection of bikes, December 4 serves as an Xmas meet for any clubs that fancy a rideout before Christmas. london.acecafe.com December 3 Santas on a Bike In order to raise money for Children's Hospice South West, the annual Santa ride is in full swing this weekend. The main ride starts from Winterbourne Academy and goes to CharLton Farm Hospice. This ride is open to everyone, and donations for the hospice are appreciated. It's fully marshalled so you won't get Lost. Meet starts at 10.30am santasonabike.org.uk/bristol December 3 Rufforth Autojumble Prepare to get settled into your shed this winter after you've scoured for parts at Rufforth Autojumble in York. Running for…

‘Taking in the surprise view’ R5K MEMBER MICHAEL WATSON This photo was taken at Surprise View in Keswick during a group ride. I've covered my miles this year with a Facebook biking group me and a friend started, called Route 69. ‘Desert Rats Memorial’ R5K MEMBER DAVID NEALE Me, the handsome one in the baseball cap, and members of the Fenland Triumph Riders group at Walkers Snacks, after the annual ride to the Desert Rats Memorial near Mundford. ‘Autumnal riding’ R5K MEMBER TRACEY HEATON I enjoyed a lovely autumn ride out through the Trough of Bowland, Lancashire with a friend, stopping for a selfie on the way. ‘A trip to Orkney’ R5K MEMBER MARTIN HARRIES I took a trip to Orkney, Scotland to get this picture. I was doing the…

BIKING LEGENDS MCN BIKING LEGENDS People who have shaped our world Lawrence DeSmedt was a man with many guises: stuntman, a host for intricate tattoos, and as ingenious bike builder ‘Indian Larry’. After storming onto the world stage in the late 90s, the fast-changing custom scene meant Lawrence's chopper-hotrod combos were in vogue and were hailed on magazine covers and TV screens around the world. Despite his father wanting him to take on the family carpentry business, the young Larry was fascinated by mechanics. After learning to weld in New York as a teenager, it was his attention to detail that made him stand out, as he'd regularly cut off his work and start again if he wasn't happy. It was during his teens when Larry bought his first bike…

4 months You only need to wear these G301s once to realise that they're simply magic. No knuckle armour means they're CE rated to Level 1, the lower standard for gloves, and do feel ski-glove-esque compared to an armoured glove, but the construction is superb. The three-finger design means fingers stay warmer than when isolated individually, and it needs to be sub-5°C before you hit the power button. They will run from a power lead to your bike (wired to the battery or 12v socket), or a battery pack option. I use 2000mAh batteries (£85/pair) that slot into the cuff, but on full day rides you'll want the endless supply of a wired connection. Three modes (Green, Amber, Red) run from ‘warm glow’ to ‘toasty’. You'll only need Red when…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Fight the freeze Don't put it off… prevent winter damage by changing your coolant BRUCE'S TIPS Check a workshop manual for specific steps for your machine 1 More than just cooling Coolant plays a key role in protecting your engine. It's a mixture of anti-corrosion inhibitors, antifreeze and lubrication agents, all of which can diminish in performance over time-which is why the fluid needs to be changed every two years. You need to start by removing any bodywork required to gain access to the radiator cap and drain bolt. BRUCE'S TIPS Have a large container handy to catch the flow of old coolant 3 Drain the system The procedure differs from machine to machine, but typicallly the colLant wllL be drained via a drain blLt or by…

By many measures, the 2022 MotoGP season was deeply impressive. Be it the two-way title fight that went all the way to the final race, or the surprises on offer, no one could say the series was easy to predict. What's more, this year's championship was faster than ever – and not just by the small matter of tenths or hundredths of a second. There were new lap records at 11 tracks. And race records also took a beating. Twelve of the 17 races (Indonesia, Austria – new layouts and Thailand which was wet – were discounted) were faster than ever. And, on occasion, quicker by quite some margin. Qatar and Silverstone were 10 seconds faster, Austin was 18 seconds and Le Mans an incredible 19 seconds. Yet speed doesn't…

Royal Enfield is coming back to the UK, cutting ties with MotoGB, and establishing its own distribution network to strengthen retailer and customer relations. Originally founded in the UK back in 1901 but now owned by Eicher Motors in India, Royal Enfield UK Ltd will now manage sales and dealer relationships from May 1, 2023. The move ends a nine-year partnership Chorley-based MotoGB who also cater for the likes of Italjet, Benelli, Lambretta, and more. Arun Gopal, Head of Royal Enfield's European Business Markets, spoke to MCN ahead of the announcement and said: “We have a fantastic business model, working with distributors. It's done really well for us. “But as we scale up operations and in the UK this year we've been a clear number one in the midsized motorcycLe…

SAVE £1100 £20,200 Triumph Rocket 3 GT The Rocket III has surprisingly agile handling for a cruiser. Flick-flacking from full-lean left to right is absurdly achievable for a bike with a fuelled weight north of 320kg. Triumph is celebrating its huge performance with the GT 221 Edition that references its 221 Nm of torque from the largest production engine ever. www.carlrosner.co.uk SAVE £1950 £9499 KTM 890 Adventure An accomplished off-roader, and this bike comes with the tech pack. It's easy to get on with, but still has a tough edge. www.shirlaws.com • Engine 889cc • Power 103bhp • Weight 196kg • Seat height 830mm SAVE £1100 £15,499 Triumph Speed Triple 1200RS Leo Vince exhaust, tail tidy, heated grips, screen, shift assist, belly pan, and LED indicators. www.destinationtriumph.co.ulr • Engine 1160cc •…

The RAC has called on supermarkets to slash their fuel, prices by 5p per litre. According to RAC figures, supermarkets are currently enjoying margins of around 15p per Liter on petrol and diesel. By cutting this back to a margin of 10p, supermarkets coul Llwer the average petrol price at the pumps to 152p per litre. RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “It's very sad to see retailers taking advantage of their customers by charging far higher prices than they should be. We urge the supermarkets to do the right thing by their customers and cut prices.”…

Daytona Pro from £370 Daytona have Launched a Pro series of three big sellers: the Spirit (£370), Road Star (£430, pictured) and Travel Star (£479,99) with upgrades including stronger heel and toe boxes, plus thicker shin padding. ALL are Leather, with a steelshanked sole and Gore-Tex. www.bikerheadz.co.uk Eudoxie Suzy Ladies Leather Jacket £475 AA-rated full grain Leather jacket designed for female bikers. Level 1CE approved armour features at the elbow, shoulder and back, whilst the Lining is quitted. The back is emblazoned with a screen printed ‘Wild Flower’ motif. www.saltflatsclothing.com Rukka Pathfind-R Textile Suit £959.98 Rukka gear is Legendary for durability and performance (at a price). While still not cheap, this Latest offering costs than a grand. Both jacket (£529.99) and trousers (£429.99) are AA rated, with full D30 armour,…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Nobody will understand the points!’ Much like my TV, phone and washer, the new scoring system for British Superbikes (MCN, November 23) is as clear as mud. Everything in life is getting over-complicated. For goodness’ sake, it's a race – they finish, and points are awarded, simples. The bikes, riders and teams fight for points around the most varied tracks in any race series in the world and the tracks themselves are the great leveller – that's why BSB succeeds. The pressure to ride and set up machines to cover all the circuits is mind-blowing but now we need the mathematical skill of our late, lamented, Chrissy Rouse to make sense of it all, and that's just us punters. Dave Clark, email STAR LETTER Write something…

OUT AND ABOUT ‘Bordering on perfection’ Simon Weir revels in empty roads and dramatic scenery Leave Coldstream on the A6112-a crazy road that's all short straights and 90° turns. Stick with it through Duns, towards Preston, then peel off to the left on the B6355 to Gifford. This is a favourite stretch of the route-an amazing, deserted ribbon of tarmac flowing out across the moors around the Whiteadders Reservoir. Go through Gifford and pick up the B6368 to Petersmuir. Turn Left at the A68-there'sa café right there for a much-needed drink. Then carry on down the A68 for a few miles (go steady, this road has the speed limit pretty firmly enforced) and at the Carfraemill roundabout turn left on the A697. You could just take this back to Coldstream,…

SUNDAY December 4 5pm, EUR2, Motorcycle Live Show 6.55pm, ITV4, Macau Grand Prix MONDAY December 5 7pm, EUR2 World Superbikes from Phillip Island, Australia: Weekend highlights TUESDAY December 6 9pm, QUEST, NEW Shed and Buried KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – DISCOVERY REAL TIME DSC – DISCOVERY CHANNEL DHD – DISCOVERY CHANNEL HD EXS – EXTREME SPORTS CHANNEL EUR1 (2, HD) – EUROSPORT 1 (2, HD) MOT – MOTORSPORT.TV CH4 – CHANNEL 4 CH5 – CHANNEL FIVE BBC BBCI – BBC INTERACTIVE ESPN – ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL ITV DST – DISCOVERY TURBO SHED – DISCOVERY SHED INST – INSIGHT SS1 (2, 3 OR X) – SKY SPORTS 1 (2, 3 OR EXTRA) QUEST BTS1 – BT SPORT 1 BTS2 – BT SPORT 2 TVL – TRAVEL UK…

As nice as it would be to ship our bikes somewhere warm and sunny when we fancy a winter ride, that's far from practical or affordable. With a little bit of planning and thought about your destination though, plenty of fun can be had right here in the UK. Altitude brings great views and lovely twisty roads, but it can also come with dramatically reduced temperatures and an increased risk of high winds, snow and ice. If you're heading to the Highlands, stick to the lower level routes. Remote areas tend to have smaller roads, which are more likely to be in poor condition and harbour hazards like mud, leaves and standing water, and are usually lacking in services and infrastructure. Sticking closer to civilisation makes for much more pleasant…

£24,150 Zero Motorcycles DSR/X £19,790 MV Turismo Veloce Lusso SCS…

‘Big thrills, little money’ Honda's new Hornet is well built with a quaLity feel, thanks to its colour dash and plethora of rider aids. Its new engine is the star of the show, although the throttle response can be snatchy. And being sosmalland light it's easy to manage, although the short seat is a squeeze for taller riders. Ride quality and suspension control could be better and it takes time to get used to such quick steering, but it's stable and handles neatly in corners. It isn't perfect, but it's an honest-to-goodness sports naked that offers big thrills for little money, just Like the original. THE FACTS £6999 Honda CB750 Hornet…

ESSENTIAL KIT TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT 3646 miles Airbag systems on a bike are a relatively recent technology, but even so, they've come on leaps and bounds since the first versions hit the market. Now, this Furygan model is comfortable, form-fitting and comes equipped with stretchy side panels to keep you hugged and supported on the move. As the gilet is universal, I use it with a range of jackets which is great to get your money's worth throughout the summer or the winter. But, bear in mind that your skinny summer jacket might need to be the next size up as this particular vest sits under your jacket. Therefore, you need to account for the extra bulk of the jacket itself as well as…

It's easy to let the brake fluid levels drop, but the owner of this Yamaha YBR125 ignored the signs so long that the remaining fluid in the reservoir had turned solid. Karen Neill, boss of Zenith Motorcycles in Tottenham, said: “He knew something was wrong because he'd changed the pads. “He told us the brake felt ‘spongy’, but it was worse than that; the lever was going straight back to the bar and there was no discernible movement at the front caliper whatsoever.” After Karen had unscrewed the reservoir cover, it was clear what the issue was. There was plenty of stuff in there, but it wasn't fluid any more. Instead, it had crystallised into granules with a few stringy bits mixed in. Glycol brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means…

Former MotoGP race winner Danilo Petrucci has signed a one-year deal to race for the Ducati Barni Spark Racing team in WSB. The 32-yearold Italian, who competed in the Dakar rally for KTM and also finished runner-up in MotoAmerica this year for Ducati, will get an official Panigale V4R with full technical support from the Italian manufacturer. Petrucci is no stranger to the squad having raced for the family team in 2011 before moving to MotoGP. During that year he won the Italian Superstock championship and finished runner-up in the Superstock FIM Cup held at WSB events; a season that included four race wins. Petrucci's arrival bolsters the Ducati line-up significantly as he joins Alvaro Bautista, Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Axel Bassani on the championship-winning V4R. Speaking about the move,…

MCN's sport editor gets closer to the action than anyone TOP STORY Newly-crowned BSB champion Bradley Ray will get to line up against the best Superbike riders in the world after signing a twoyear factory deal with Yamaha. The move will see him join the Yamaha MotoXRacing team in a season where the Japanese manufacturer will have a stellar line-up of riders. While Yamaha's official team of former WSB champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and Andrea Locatelli stays the same, Ray joins fellow WSB rookies Remy Gardner (Moto2 champion and former MotoGP rider), Dominique Aegertar (2 x World Supersport champion) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Moto2 and World Supersport race winner) on factory-supported R1s. Ray will compete in nine of the 12 rounds meaning he will miss the three flyaway races in Argentina, Indonesia…