Table of contents for 28 June 2023 in MCN

‘Triumph fancy a slice of the A2 market cake'FOR FULL DETAILS, TURN OVER NOW… THE BIG TEST Naked streetfighters duel it out The breadth and depth of talent in the naked classes is now so extensive that pretty much every price point, colour preference, style detail and power output is catered for. But what if you want a proper headbutt-you-in-the-face street bully that can combine sexy cycle parts and a thrilling ride on road and track with enough attitude to never feel boring? Look no further than this duo… PAGE 29 THE BIG READ A huge dose of excess baggage Say hello to the maddest race bike you're ever likely to see. Although you'd be very lucky to see Indian's insane Challenger RR in the UK, because only one bike…

The official reveal date for the highly anticipated BMW R1300GS adventure bike has been announced, with an online livestream taking place on Thursday, September 28. The release date was made public on Wednesday, June 21, during a celebration of the one millionth GS equipped with a boxer twin engine (as opposed to the mostly parallel twin F-series or single G-series) to come off the production line. “The BMW GS with its boxer engine became an icon, which achieved global success in this segment,” Head of BMW Motorrad, Dr Markus Schramm, commented. “I am therefore very pleased that today, and especially in our ‘100 Years of BMW Motorrad’ anniversary year, we are able to contribute a major milestone to the corporate history of the BMW Group with the one millionth BMW…

‘It will be up against the new BMW R13OOGS’ Moto Guzzi are gearing up to revive the Stelvio, with fresh spy shots showing a new adventure model in testing – and it appears to be based on the existing V100 Mandello platform. We've known that a new Stelvio is on the cards since the 2022 Eicma show in Milan, when the Italian firm displayed a plinth featuring two wheels in front of footage of the Stelvio Pass mountain road in northern Italy. These images taken close to Guzzi's technical centre provide a first indication of how the machine might look. With much of the bike shrouded, the most prominent element is the engine, which looks to be the 1042cc liquidcooled, 8v, V-twin already found in the Mandello, producing a claimed…

THIS WEEK Bonhams Auctions will offer 80 classic bikes from the collection of Anthony R. East in no-reserve sale during their Autumn Stafford Sale. The October 14-15 event will take place at the Staffordshire County Showground, with highlights including a 1938 Triumph Speed Twin and a 1986 Kawasaki GPZ1000RX. Visit www.bonhams.com for more. Piaggio powers up Piaggio 1, the Italian firm's e-scooter, is now available with higher performance and increased peak power, equal to 2.2kW. The almost doubling of the power increases acceleration by 14%, say Piaggio. The top speed of the scooter remains at a limited 28mph (45kph) with a range up to 35 miles in eco mode. Will you what? Who says romance is dead? After a survey of almost 19,000 users, Cardo Systems have revealed that over…

THIS WEEK More than 60 vintage and collectors’ motorcycles will be offered at the Cheffins Vintage Sale on Saturday, July 22, at the company's sale ground at Sutton, near Ely. The bikes date from the 1920s, through to modern classics from the early 2000s. One of the standout lots is a 1978 Moto Guzzi Le Mans MK1, with an expected sale price of between £10,000 and £12,000. The twin has been fully restored. Another highlight is an Ariel HT5 from 1957. Lauded as one of the greatest trials bikes ever, and only manufactured from 1956 to 1959, the Ariel HT5 is one of the most soughtafter motorcycles of this style on the market, with this lot having an estimate of £10,000 to £11,000. In addition, there are four collectable 1970s…

‘An undiluted celebration of MotoGP racing’ A who's who of MotoGP riders past and present have been confirmed to take part in next month's Goodwood Festival of Speed, including reigning MotoGP champion and current title leader Pecco Bagnaia. A dozen legendary riders will attend the speed-focused event as it marks two Grand Prix milestones – the sport's 1000th GP last month and also next season's 75th anniverary, when it became the first motorsport world championship in 1949. Grand Prix bikes will make up the entirety of 2023's twowheelers at the four-day Chichester festival – from historic motorcycles to the latest 300+bhp factory machinery. Teams confirmed so far are the Ducati Lenovo Team, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, LCR Honda, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Aprilia Racing and Cryp to DATA RNF…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Anyone got my old Fizzy?’ This is the only reminder I have left of my ‘Purple Popsicle’ Fizzy GSM 995N bought brand new when I was 16. I switched the front mudguard when the law changed about front registration plates as I didn't want a front mudguard with two holes in it. I have checked on the DVLA site and it's still out there, somewhere, on a SORN and I would love to see it again or just to have a few photos of my first real motorcycle. I now own and ride a Husqvarna 701 SuperMoto (best bike ever), an MT-09, an R6, a 535 Virago and a Honda ST1100 Pan European. David Hastings, Dumfries STAR LETTER Write something that spikes our interest, and you…

THE UK'S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staff and readers share their favourite routes Holidaymakers to the Isle of Wight mostly visit the island's north (Cowes) and east (Ryde to Shanklin) but we're heading further south. Leave pretty Ventnor and follow the A3055 coast road south to the famed Blackgang Chine amusement park. Our loop starts just after, at Chale, at the junction with the B3399 marked by St Andrew's Church. We'll continue west, with the sea on our left for what is a fast nine miles of near-straight, fabulous views. At the end, at Freshwater Bay, we keep on the A3055 right (if you go straight on to Dimbola there's a memorial to Jimi Hendrix, in honour of his now legendary 1970 Festival performance) then quickly right again onto the B3399.…

THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £18,100 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory • 1077cc16v V4 • 173bhp/89lb.ft • £169 per month PCP £16,510 Yamaha MT-10SP • 998cc 16v inline four • 1B4bhp/83lb.ft • £169.08 per month PCP Yamaha's MT-10SP is Japan's only true, top-spec supernaked. Bedecked with semi-active Öhlins and powered by a retuned crossplane crank R1 superbike engine, it's never had a problem taking it to the Europeans in a way the Honda CB1000R, Kawasaki Z1000 and Suzuki GSX-S1000 never could. It's never been the lightest or most powerful super-naked, but there's always been something magical about the way the MT-10SP so effortlessly lays down its power and the intoxicating suppleness of its ride. Its looks might be divisive and have no doubt put many off…

£18,100 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory £16,510 Yamaha MT-10SP…

‘Misses the sweet spot’ There's always a place for re-booted retros in the market, but the Katana still doesn't quite hit that sweet spot by balancing retro looks, proper modern performance and a dose of functionality, too. Thanks to those engine and electronics tweaks it is a step up from the previous generation, but even so the suspension isn't ideal, the tank is ridiculously small and in all honesty, it doesn't ooze any special riding emotion that a machine repping the Katana's name should. And at a couple of hundred quid over £12k, it's a pretty hefty outlay, too. THE FACTS £12,299 Suzuki Katana…

Oxford S-Series Q4s Tank Bag £99.99 Oxford's Q4s tank bag has a robust, soft touch, semi-rigid shell to keep your things neatly protected inside. I've been using it on a Triumph Tiger 1200 for blazing 40-degree southern Italian riding holidays, sub-zero UK commutes and everything in between. It's still in perfect condition. It's kept its shape thanks its sturdy construction and its smooth, wipe clean surfaces make it easy to keep it looking fresh. Clipping the bag into the quick release tank-mounted ring (available separately) is a breeze. Quality Value oxfordproducts.com 6000 miles ON TEST…

MCN's website has 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 great buys. 2009-2011 BMW S1000RR Owners’ rating Typically for a first-generation bike, build quality and reliability lets the RR down. Watch for dodgy switchgear and immobilisers packing up as well as corrosion issues. 2011-2015 Kawasaki ZX-10R Owners’ rating Kawasaki's litre bike has always been bonkers but the 2011 model added a stack of electrical assists to tame the beast. Owners love its ride quality, brakes and tech level. 2009-2012 Honda Fireblade Owners’ rating A classy and refined sportsbike, the Blade is the pick for road riding if you aren't that fussed about venturing out on track. Well-built and reliable, owners…

Scooters may be cost-effective and simple to use, but if you don't have an iota of mechanical knowledge, potential problems can often lurk beneath that twist-andgo wraparound bodywork. The rider of this Lexmoto LXR125 had been riding his machine every day in ignorant bliss, until his usually trusty transport went on a qo-slow. Kevin Hollingsworth, boss of Doncaster Motorcycles, said: “His mum actually rang me because she thought he had an issue after he happened to mention he rode home ‘super slow’ when he heard a ‘noise’.” That noise was a terrible graunching sound from the rear end. When Kevin checked it out, the 125's back wheel rocked from side to side like a pendulum. Kevin continued: “There are two sealed bearings within the sprocket carrier and both of them…

Getting the lowdown on Sam Lowes’ next big move Sam Lowes may find himself in the World Superbike Championship in 2024. The Brit is seeking a fresh challenge after spending 10 years inside the MotoGP paddock, nine of them in Moto2. Lowes is poised to return to a paddock he knows well from his days in World Supersport and, more recently, when supporting brother Alex. He wasn't short of options, either. It's believed a chance to join Yamaha's WSB operation was on the table. But it appears most likely that Marc VDS will create a new team, possibly using Ducati machinery, with Lowes as rider. Scheduling changes in 2023, resulting in reduced track time for Moto2, knowing another chance to step up to MotoGP has gone, and the desire to…

Ducati are dominating MotoGP like never before. They've done incredible things since Gigi Dall'Igna joined in late 2013 and they now rule the championship, thanks to using their collective brain power: technically, commercially and politically. Ducati have eight bikes on the grid, are reigning MotoGP riders champion, have won the last three constructors titles, have won seven of 2023's first eight races and have five riders in the top six of the points. And there's no doubt they deserve all of that. However, Ducati did something very strange at Assen. Many riders are unhappy with MotoGP's new-for-2023 format, written to squeeze Saturday's sprint race into the weekend. The new schedule requires them to risk it all from first practice. And the results are easy to see: more crashes and injuries.…

2020 Aragon – Dixon starts to showcase his Moto2 potential, scoring top 7s at Misano and both Aragon races. 2021 Silverstone – Wildcards in MotoGP, replacing Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha. Finishes 19th. 2022 Assen – After a maiden podium at COTA, Dixon fights for victory for the first time enroute to another rostrum finish. A breakthrough ride. 2022 Silverstone – Dixon gives the home fans something to cheer about with a spirited fightback to third. 2023 Assen – On the back of another two third-place finishes, Dixon wins his 73rd GP race. 2019 Jake's rookie campaign is marred by a horribly uncompetitive KTM chassis. Finished 25th overall. 2020 Le Mans – Dixon leads a World Championship race for the first time, but crashes four laps from home. 2020 Valencia…

BMW G310R, £5190 Power 33.5bhp @ 9250rpm Torque 20.7lb.ft @ 7500rpm Seat height785mm Built for BMW by Indian firm TVS Motor Company, the G310R single shares its engine with the G310GS. Although likely cheaper than the Triumph, it has less power, no TC, and a more simplistic dash. Enfield Scram 411, £4849 Power 24bhp @ 6500mm Torque 23.6lb.ft @ 4250rpm Seat height 795mm The Scram is effectively a naked version of the Himalayan with a 19in front wheel, rather than a 21in. The 411cc air-cooled single is gentle and easy, but lacks performance compared to the Triumph. KTM 390 Duke, £5499 Power 42.9bhp Torque 27.3lb.ft Seat height 820mm The most modern styled option of this trio, the KTM's 373cc single is the most powerful of the bunch. Features include WP…

The Goodwood Revival is due to host its biggest-ever two-wheeled parade, with up to 200 pre-1966 bikes taking to the track to celebrate key milestones. As well as helping to celebrate 25 years of the Revival itself, the September run will mark 100 years of BMW, 120 years of HarleyDavidson, 125 years of Norton, and 130 years of Royal Enfield – with the bikes on display produced in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Spinning laps of Goodwood's Motor Circuit – celebrating its 75th birthday this year – the parade will include historic models from the Likes of Indian and Triumph. The Revival celebrates heritage motorsport on two and four wheels with last year's sell-out event attended by 150,000 enthusiasts. When the parade bikes aren't being ridden, they will be on…

● WHERE: Vairano circuit near Milan ● WHEN: June 2023 ● BIKE: Aprilia RSV4 Factory and RS 660 Build and finish is impressive and the immediate impression is how incredibly light and well vented it is. The S-R10 cools your head the instant you start moving. It arrows through the wind, so it's stable at speed, buffeting is minimal and vision excellent. It's easy to change the visor, although opening the sturdy visor lock takes some getting used to. Being able to fine tune the fit with the ‘A-Head’ is handy and overall, it's comfortable, although I'd like to try thinner cheek pads. We'll be testing it over the coming months for a full review. The S-R10 also has side wings and even the top edge of the visor is…

Q‘Payout gets the boot…’ I was knocked off my Fireblade when a driver pulled out in front of me at a junction. I had left ankle injuries, but fortunately nothing too serious. My solicitor is telling me that the driver's insurer wants to take off 25% from my compensation because I wasn't wearing protective boots. Can they really do that? Jon, email A This is not correct. The law says you have to wear a helmet while riding but doesn't mandate the wearing of other protective gear. It's true that the Highway Code advises that ‘strong boots, gloves and suitable clothing may help to protect you if you are involved in a collision’ but does not say they will protect you which is partly the reason there is no legal…

Send your trips to yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Readers Matt and Reece, The Sidecar Guys The ride A big loop around England and Wales by sidecar How many miles? 1000 How long do you need? Give yourself ten days Tell us about the trip… Starting from our Sidecar Experience centre we headed towards the North Pennines and England's highest green lane. We then went onto Hartside Pass in Cumbria before venturing to Dolgellau in Wales. After this we headed through Wales taking some backroads along the way, it's well worth riding through Bannau Brycheiniog and the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Beauty. From there we headed to Exmoor National Park and then Dartmoor National Park then a long blast North via the Cotswolds and returning to the North East! We've made a series…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday June 28 BIKE MEETS ■ The King Billy Rock Bar, Bike & Burger Night, Northampton 6.30pm Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. From 10am www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ MFN, Bike night, The Seven Oaks Inn, Stanton By Dale, Derbyshire 5pm till late Facebook: MFN Bike nights ■ Park Road Cafe, St Helens, Merseyside 01744-808440 ■ Seaways, Bike Night, Seaways Fridaythorpe, East Yorks 4pm-8pm mike@seawayscafe.co.uk ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, near Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorks 01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn MoLd Flints 6pm-9pm 07548224866 or Facebook: The Old Stores Motorbike cafe ■ Paignton Seafront, Devon Facebook: English Riviera Bike Night ■ Loomies Moto Cafe, West Meon, Hants.…

‘Dorset in the sunshine’ PHIL STEVENS A warm ride around Dorset today, racking up another 300 miles, even in the 30c+ heat! ‘Miles in the Moors!’ GARY AND LOIS MILLER 110 miles in the Moors with my youngest daughter, Lois. ‘RoSPA group ride’ LEE EVANS Set off early from York for our RoSPA group ride. It started with 14 of us, with a lunch stop at Newholm. ‘Last-minute trip to Ireland’ PAUL KEARNEY Out on a last-minute trip to Ireland on my Triumph. ‘Cracking views and weather’ MICK PRESTIDGE Just back from a tour of England and Wales. Cracking views, roads, conversations, and weather. ‘Scotland and the Lakes’ NIGEL LOMAS Great tour of Scotland, the Lakes, the Dales and the Moors.…

‘The Aprilia is flawless’ Both machines hit the supernaked sweet spot. Sure, the Yamaha and Aprilia aren't the most powerful, you can buy, but they're propelled by two of the finest, most soulful engines around. They glide so fluidly through corners you're Left gobsmacked and gather speed so effortlessly they defy belief. Changes to the MT-10SP aren't huge, but they've given the Yamaha even more purpose. It's still one of the most exciting big-bore motorcycles money can buy but now it's even more urgent, accurate than ever. It's one of the comfiest and easiest to get on with, too. But its looks remain divisive and braking power and performance could be better. Both bikes offer a similar riding experience, though. They sound, go and handle similarly, but the Aprilia is…

FIRST RIDE This year sees the KTM 790 Adventure (and 790 Duke) back in the range. This is to allow the lowerpower 790 to be restricted for A2 licences, something that can't be done to the 890 engine. But there's more to it than that. Both 790 models are built in their entirety by CFMoto in China whereas the 890s are all built in Austria. This is a cost-saving exercise that has allowed KTM to significantly reduce the price of the 790s compared to their 890 siblings without diluting the spec. Is this a smart move by the firm or one that could tarnish their rapidly-expanding brand? Time to find out on the new KTM 790 Adventure… 1 An old but new engine The 790 is based around the previous…

SW-Motech Pro Micro tank bag £112.96 & DesertX mount £51.84 I'm not a fan of buying multiple cheap solutions to solve problems – I'd always prefer to use a perfect solution that'll last a lifetime – and SW-Motech kit fits that bill. This kit is specifically for the Ducati DesertX, a bike which confounds normal tank ring mounted systems thanks to its off-set filler cap. But SW-Motech have engineered a solution, using a clever aluminium bracket which mounts to three bolt-down points on the DesX, providing total stability and security. 3500 miles ON TEST The Micro is big enough to swallow phones, wallets, snacks, cloths and more up to a standard 3-litres, expanding to 5-litres via a zipped expansion panel. It's not waterproof, so you will need the included rain…

Fitting motorcycle tyres is one of those jobs that I quite enjoy, and I recently had a pair to fit to a Moto Morini X-Cape. But because the wheels were filthy I treated them to the big deep clean treatment before I tackled the tyres. But once I did so, it then highlighted how dirty everything else was; with the wheels out, I couldn't ignore the inside of the swingarm, the rear caliper mounting bracket etc. I basically just got stuck in and everything ended up mint again. So be warned – you may well end up cleaning far more than just the wheels! One thing that occurred to me, however, is that we are in a bit of a golden age of cleaning products as there seems to be…

What to expect from WSB's crucial mid-season round… Thirty-five years after the World Superbike Championship debuted in the East Midlands, the series returns to Donington Park this weekend for arguably the most pivotal event of the season so far. Alvaro Bautista has never won at Dolling ton, whereas Toprak Razgatlioglu considers it a favourite circuit and did the treble last year. If the Turk is going to eat into the Spaniard's lead, it's now or never… 1 Still half a season to go By the time the dust settles, a maximum 372 points will have been dished out across the season thus far. The same amount will remain up for grabs as the UK Round represents the halfway point of WSB 2023. Mathematically, there's every chance of a dramatic title…

The most experienced eyes in the MotoGP paddock The old racing adage “To finish first, first you must finish” was rewritten at Assen. It now reads: “To finish fourth (or fifth), first you must finish third.” That's what happened to KTM's Brad Binder. Twice. Ah well. Rules is Rules. And he strayed over the paint on the last laps of both races, infinitesimally in the first instance, by very little more the second. On neither occasion did he gain any advantage. But, Rules is Rules… Even when the Law is an Ass. In this way, justice robbed Binder of what he had ridden so hard to achieve… on a soft rear tyre, while all around him used the hard. Like a gentleman, he took it on the chin. Third went…

If Dani Holgado seemed to have an iron-like grip on the Moto3 championship, that air of control disappeared at Assen. The Spaniard endured a nightmare weekend, qualifying 27th before crashing out on lap one. Meanwhile, closest challenger Jaume Masia secured a last gasp victory – his first of 2023 – by passing Ayumu Sasaki at the final chicane. “I needed this victory,” he said. “I already arrived at Assen with a change of mentality, we decided it was time to push harder and take a step forward. It's difficult to fight back in these races where everybody is pushing, but today I was confident, and my final pass went perfectly.”…

Getting the inside story behind Britain's latest GP winner TOP STORY For weeks, Jake Dixon has been promising the best is yet to come, and on Sunday he delivered on that and more at Assen, taking his maiden Moto2 victory in some style before declaring: “I'm only going to get stronger.” The 27-year-old couldn't contain his emotion after celebrating victory in parc fermé. Not even hitting a neutral when leading could deny him, as he reeled in long-time leader Ai Ogura to force a race winning overtake with two laps to go. All weekend in the Netherlands, Dixon was the reference in the class. A formidable 14-lap run in P3 on Saturday morning showed his rhythm and consistency was superior to anyone else on the grid. And even if Alonso…

THIS WEEK Vespa have teamed up with Disney to produce a limited-edition version of their 50cc, 125cc, and 150cc Primavera. The Disney Mickey Mouse Edition marks 100 years of the film and TV company. The yellow wheels are reminiscent of Mickey's shoes, and the black mirrors are a nod to his trademark ears, while the seat bears his signature – if that's even possible. Plug-in power with Petronas Energica have teamed up with oil and lubricants giant Petronas for the remainder of the Roland Sands Design Super Hooligan National Championship race series, which runs within the MotoAmerica paddock. Supporting the Tytlers Cycle Racing team, they are the only electric brand in the field – competing against Harley, Indian, BMW, KTM, and more. Kawasaki KX flies high for 50 years Kawasaki…

SAVE £4300 £15,995 H-D Pan America 1250 Special This 2022 Pan America Special in Vivid Black has adaptive ride height and a full set of soft luggage. The Special edition is a good all-round adventure bike that pleases off-road and, more importantly, its thoroughly sporty character shines through on the tarmac. The Adaptive Ride Height System lowers the saddle to just below 800mm. www.sycamoremotorcycles.co.uk Save £4455 £13,495 Triumph Speed Triple 1200RR The RR is a big-cube, threecylinder superbike. Build quality and detailing are superb and it has the latest rider aids. www.pidcock.com/triumph • Engine 1160cc • Power 178bhp • Weight 199kg • Seat height 830mm Save £1400 £8599 Suzuki V-strom 1050 The 1050 has class-rivalling electronic rider aids, feisty acceleration plush suspension and handsome styling too. www.motoden.com • Engine 1037cc…

NIU Electric have partnered with British Superbike team FHO Racing to provide their NQi GTS electric mopeds as paddock transport. FHO British Superbike riders Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes, in addition to riders in other championships, will put miles on the scooters as the team continue their commitment to driving British Superbike race paddocks towards net-zero emissions. Senna stunner Next month's Shuttleworth Motorcycle Sale by Silverstone Auctions will feature a ‘new’ never used Ducati 916 Senna edition. The lot will be one of 58 to go under the hammer at the Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire on 30 July, with an estimate of £40-50k. The bike is number 42 of 300 made and has just three ‘push miles’ on the clock. For more information visit silverstoneauctions.com. Verge's royal flush Verge…

Oxford Mondial 2.0 Laminate Suit £299.99 jacket, £249.99 pants The popular Mondial laminated jacket has seen a raft of improvements for this latest version, including CE Level 2 shoulder and elbow protectors, improved adjustability and single-hand operated chest vents. It's available in four colourways and comes in both men's and women's versions. It is CE A-rated, so best suited to urban use. oxfordproducts.com Pyramid Extenda Fenda EXTRA for Ducati DesertX £68.99 Providing an extra degree of protection from detritus kicked up by the front wheel, Pyramid's signature Extenda Fenda is now available for the DesertX. Manufactured from tough ABS plastic, it attaches to the trailing edge of the mudguard with self-adhesive pads and to the front caliper mounts via laser-cut brackets. pyramid-plastics.co.uk Dainese Urbactive GTX boots £219.95 Waterproof and breathable…

‘Time to snap up a KTM RC8 R?’ I'm sure I'm not alone in loving watching KTM at the business end of a MotoGP race but my mind drifts back to a somewhat less successful period and their failed attempt at World Superbikes with the RC8. In 2007 I got a sneak preview of the RC8 in KTM's Austrian R&D department, about four months before it was unveiled to the world. I remember the project leader, a deep-voiced chap called Wolfgang, showing us around the bike and being impressed by its clever features such as adjustable pegs, bars and seat height (on a sportsbike!), futuristic look and promise of performance from its all-new V-twin. But when the bike landed it turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. My…

July 1-2 Cock O'The North Oliver's Mount will be alive with the sound of race bikes this weekend. £40 for the weekend, £20 Saturday, £25 for Sunday. www.oliversmount.com July 2 Brooklands bike day Get down to Brooklands to see bikes from the collection fired up and ridden up the hill. Tickets are £22.95 in advance. www.brooklandsmuseum.com July 2 Kickback Thruxton Taking over Thruxton circuit in Hampshire, the Kickback show celebrates builders and bikes from all over the country. www.kickbackshow.com July 2 Classic Motorcycle Day Based at Crich Tramway in Derbyshire, the family day out is set to feature more than 300 cLassic motorcycles. www.tramway.co.uk…

FRIDAY June 30 10.20am, EUR2, Live World Superbikes from Donington Park: Free Practice 1. 2.50pm Free Practice 2. 8pm Highlights 7.55pm, ITV4, The Motorbike Show SATURDAY July 1 10am, EUR2, Live World Superbikes from Donington Park: Supersport Superpole. 11am Superbike Superpole. 2pm Superbike Race 1. 3pm Supersport Race 1. 4.15pm, EUR2, World Superbikes 2010 Philip Island SUNDAY July 2 6am, EUR2, Live Motocross World Championship from Lombok: MX2 Race 1. 7am MXGP Race 1. 9am MX2 Race 2. 10am MXGP Race 2 12.45pm, EUR2, Live World Superbikes from Donington Park: Superbike Superpole. 2.15pm Supersport Race 2. 3.45pm Superbike 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)…

ECE 22.06 is the new standard for motorcycle helmets and updates the previous version, (ECE 22.05), which has been around for 20 years. Developed by the United Nations, all helmets sold in the UK and Europe must be tested and approved to ECE standards. From July, factories will only be allowed to produce ECE 22.06 helmets for UK customers. However, ECE 22.05 models still iifi shops and warehouses can continue to be sold, until those supplies of stock run out. Visually there are no obvious differences, unless you look at the sticker on the back or the label sewn onto the strap, but ECE 22.06 is more demanding. In simple terms, there are extra impact tests, at higher and lower speeds, and a rotational test, too. Rotational force contributes to…

We're big fans of super-nakeds on the road, but they make incredibly effective track tools, too. Unlike a thoroughbred sportsbike they haven't been created purely with lap times in mind. It means you can take time to enjoy the scenery and embrace the crests and undulations the circuits here in the UK are so famous for. They also offer an additional level of control, thanks to less cramped riding positions and higher, wider bars that offer an abundance of leverage. At somewhere like Oulton Park the fun wilt come from keeping the front wheel on the floor and at a tight and twisty Cadwell Park, fast changes of direction will be effortless. Power deliveries are slightly milder than their superbike siblings with a more accessible spread of torque. You don't…

BIKING LEGENDS People who have shaped our world While stunt gods Evel Knievel and Eddie Kidd may have grabbed more girls and glamour, another 1970s/80s ‘wheelie king’ deserves even more recognition and respect – not just for riding records including lapping the Isle of Man TT on one wheel but for his lifelong safety campaigning, pioneering training initiatives and key role in setting up Riders for Health. With the name ‘Dave Taylor’, slender frame, big glasses, tie and day job as a civil servant, the future ‘wheelie king’ wasn't your archetypical stunt star. But his displays made him one of the best – known figures in biking who used his celebrity to promote safety and charity aid, a commitment for which he was given an MBE and had MCN's Lifetime…

‘Big on spec, big on value’ In a global market, does it really matter where a bike is built? What's more important is its fundamental design and ensuring the quality of the final product doesn't slip. If KTM can keep a tight rein on these aspects, and there is no reason why they can't, the 790 Adventure is a really good middleweight adventure bike with an impressively high spec list that is big on value and just happens to be built in China and not Austria. The ‘demo mode’ (common across several KTMs) will lead to disgruntled customers but that's a small black mark against an otherwise very good machine. THE FACTS £9999 KTM 790 Adventure…

FIRST RIDE The original Katana is nothing short of legendary. Not only was it claimed by Suzuki at the time to be the ‘fastest mass-production bike’, but thanks to Target Design, its styling left a mark on motorcycling. So much so, that in 2019 Suzuki dusted off the name, using the GSX-S1000 as a base, but gifting it a modern take on the Katana look. With the arrival of an updated GSX-S1000S in 2021, Suzuki went back to the drawing board and gave the current model a similar suite of goodies. This includes electronics such as a new ride-by-wire throttle, three engine maps, five stages of traction control and a quickshifter/autoblipper. 1 It's good at heart The engine is based on the trusty GSX-R1000 K5 inline four, but it's still…

Louis Hardshell Backpack £8.57 An affordable, sporty, and practical choice with a spacious main compartment and convenient mesh zip panel for small item storage. Its sleek design may limit accommodating larger items, but it excels at carrying flexible clothes. Weighing approximately 750g, it provides lightweight comfort with padded straps and back support, distributing weight evenly through chest and waist straps. While other options like the Dainesse stealth backpack offer better aesthetics, the Louis bag's £10 price tag is highly enticing. Quality Value louis-moto.co.uk 1200 miles ON TEST…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Deep clean wheels Manky hubs? Grubby spokes? Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in 1 They aren't easy to clean Wheels can be tricky to keep at their best. Not only do they get peppered with baked-on brake dust and chain lube, but they are hard to get at. To get them looking as good as new you need to remove them from the bike. Get your bike on paddock stands and remove the wheels. Make a note what side the spacers are located, including the sprocket carrier. 3 Detach the discs It's the brake discs that make it most difficult: to gain access to the hub. Undo the bolts that retain the disc carrier to the hub, making sure that you use the correct size…

It's history now… Donington Park started life as the country estate of the Earls of Huntingdon. During WWI it was a prison camp for German officers and during WWII it was requisitioned by the War Office to become the country's largest military vehicle park. The venue's first motor racing event was a motorcycle race on Whit Monday in 1931; the narrow route was made up of gravel with no tarmac and featured a weave through the trees at Holly Wood, a trip between the arches of Starkey's Bridge and even meandered through a farm yard at Coppice! One of the highlights remains the Donington Grand Prix of October 1937; up to 50,000 spectators turned up to witness the battle between Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz. In 1988, Davide Tardozzi (Bimota-Yamaha) and…

Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha found their Assen sweet spot with a Sprint podium, but it was a false dawn with Sunday's GP ending in disaster for the former champion. The Assen layout is tailor-made for the M1 which had won 11 of 20 MotoGP races since Valentino Rossi's 2004 victory. But the Frenchman could not repeat his 2021 Dutch TT win after losing the front and crashing out of 12th place. It was a stark contrast to his season best qualifying (4th) and Sprint race (3rd) although in both those contests the M1 could not match the Ducati pacesetters. At least some glimmer of hope for the next race, at wide open Silverstone's British GP, before which Quartararo will undergo surgery on the fractured left big toe that hobbled him…

The whole situation with Binder and Acosta's penalties left me scratching my head. The results now are being decided by penalties and if you put it into laymen's terms that is rubbish. Binder knew he'd done wrong. But in my opinion it's not his fault, the rules are at fault – they're a joke. They need to take that bit of green painted kerb out and put grass there. If he then went across the grass and held position then fair play to him…if it had been grass he wouldn't have or gained any time – instead it would have kicked up a bit of dust and only made it more interesting. I love the way Binder took it on the chin though. You have to respect a man that…