Table of contents for 10 January 2024 in MCN

‘It takes inspiration from the last of the ‘proper’ Daytonas’ GET THE INSIDE LINE ON TRIUMPH'S NEW 660 THE BIG TEST New & old pocket rockets ignited Look at the new Kawasaki ZX-4RR and it's impossible (at least if you're a certain age) not to get all rose-tinted and lyrical about the original ZXR400 – a bike that many saw as the ultimate four-stroke pocket rocket. Which got us wondering how the pair might compare here and now… And as luck would have it, our videographer owns a lovely 2001 ZXR. Cue the action for a highly enjoyable scream-fest. PAGE 27 INSIDE STORY A Hundred reasons to go custom In a world where being normal, or the same as someone else, seems to be close to being outlawed, what better…

Hampshire biker café, Loomies has been hit by a one-star hygiene rating. Although the inspection in November rated food handling hygiene as “generally satisfactory”, cleanliness and conditions of the facilities were “needing improvement”. Owner Paul Fullick blames misplaced paperwork and the café will be reassessed soon. Harley trumpet ‘dawn of new era’ Harley-Davidson have launched an online social media teaser campaign for their upcoming 2024 machines. A glossy but mysterious video accompanied by a Jimi Hendrix style electric guitar soundtrack promises that Wednesday, January 24 will be the ‘Dawn of a New Era’ with a host of new models and colours unveiled. Dealer break-in North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses following a New Year's Eve break-in at Ripon KTM dealers Eurotek by three men in balaclavas who arrived in…

Yadea have only shown the Kemper as a roadster so far but design registrations filed with Chinese authorities reveal that a bike using the same mechanical parts but with a full fairing and low bars is also under development. The faired Yadea has the same rear subframe and tail bodywork as the Kemper, and appears to share an identical chassis and motor, but adds a single-sided swingarm, uprated forks and brakes, low and clip-on bars. The pegs are higher and further back, but there's still the same 7in TFT dash and, like the Kemper, a built-in action camera above the headlight. The existence of the design registration suggests that a launch is likely within the next few months.…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews ‘Let Rory shine again’ I'm sure that I'm like many that are sad to hear that Rory Skinner won't be competing in next season's Moto2 series. What a great talent he is – and he is only 22. It's a shame that his twoyear contract had a small print performance clause (pity his manager didn't spot that). Dorna need a British rider to progress to MotoGP and Rory is that man. I think it would be great if Dorna and Yamaha, with whom Rory had great success in BSS, got together to run a Yamaha-badged bike in Moto2. Let him shine. Graeme Martin, Kent STAR LETTER Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter slot. Each week one lucky…

JUST BREW IT Ride out to Britain's best biking cafés THE DETAILS ● Winter hours – 7 days 8am3pm, longer hours from spring ● A623, Wardlow Mires, Buxton SK17 8RW The Peak District is packed with amazing routes but with all that riding, you need something to fill your stomach, and the Yondermann Café has been more than happy to help hungry bikers for years. “The café has been here for a really long time, 40 years or so,” says co-owner Charlotte Higgins. “The previous owners had it for 10 years and we'll have had it for five in March. In the summer we'll get groups of up to 200 bikers!” “It had a huge following for bikers before we took over,” adds co-owner Ed Bishop, “we're just trying to…

ICONS THE FACTS ‘The spirit of WSBK… racers that you could have in your garage’ Remembering the glory years of the World Superbike championship, thoughts turn to the ultra-exotic money-no-object homologation specials such as Honda's RC30 or RC45, Yamaha's YZF-R7 or Ducati's stable of thoroughbreds. But one bike bucked this trend and, with the help of an American tuning house and one of the most determined riders ever, took on and defeated the world's best. When the Kawasaki ZXR750 claimed the 1993 title it was a victory for the working man's superbike. And it all started with the ZXR750 H1 (and later H2). Launched in 1989, the ZXR750 H1 was developed and tested during the 1988 World Endurance series. Much like Honda had done with their exotic RVF750 as it…

‘Classy but is it value?’ Yamaha's latest XMAX can be had for less than £100 a month on PCP after a fairly small deposit although it is a little pricier than its rivals the Kymco DTX 320 (£5406) and the Honda Forza 350 (£5849). The new look is classy and yet still has a bit of attitude and features such as traction control, huge underseat storage and keyless ignition are great to see. But there is an issue and that's the XMAX's higher-spec sibling. With the Tech MAX costing only £500 more (just £10 a month extra on finance), I don't see why you would go for the base model over it. There again, if that tech doesn't bother you, £500 of fuel could equate to over 6000 miles of…

1928 miles ON TEST Zerofit Heatrub Move Baselayer £40 I was unsure how effective this Heatrub Move Baselayer was going to be as it's billed as a ‘unisex’ garment, but it's worked a treat. Designed for use during sports and activities, it's claimed to keep you warm without overheating and wicks away your sweat, too. I've been wearing it in single-figure temperatures and, despite being slightly thicker than other baselayers I've tried, it never made me feel too hot or constricted even under all of my bike clobber. And the feel of the fabric is lovely. After a bit of use the fabric did stretch a touch, but there has been no bobbling even after multiple washes. Sure, the price of the Zerofit gear is a bit more premium than…

‘Buy on the history not the miles’ I've dealt with enough used bikes to spot the danger signs when it comes to buying a used Ducati sportsbike. And that's why there is a simple rule I always follow – buy on history and not mileage. A friend took a Ducati 999 as a trade-in and despite it lacking service history, as it appeared tidy, he took a gamble. It sold, but that's when the problems started. The new owner brought the bike back in complaining it had starting issues. Into the workshop it went and after a new starter relay, all seemed well. But a few weeks later the chap was back, this time complaining of the lights playing up. Another relay swapped, and so it went on. Long story…

Most of us have a good assortment of nuts and bolts and other fixings with which to tackle most jobs. But when you don't quite have the right screw, nut or bolt but think you can get away with it… things can soon go badly wrong. Paul Hamilton, of Mo-Tech Motorcycles and Scooters in Newcastle, told MCN: “We had a customer who bought a replacement CDI/coil for a Vespa PX125 scooter, and fitted it himself. But he couldn't get the bike to run after that and rang to say ‘It worked before I bought that CDI off you’.” Highly-experienced Paul asked the owner to bring the bike in and, of course, spotted what was wrong straight away. Prior to establishing Mo-Tech he served his apprenticeship in the motorcycle industry and…

Multiple women's enduro world champion and Dakar rookie, Jane Daniels, has made a strong start to the gruelling race and currently holds 55th position after three stages. The factory Fantic rider has claimed 59th, 70th and 53rd on the three stages so far and despite the enormity of the task seems to be taking it all in her stride. Speaking to MCN from the bivouac at the start of stage three, Daniels summed up her progress: “So far so good. I enjoyed the prologue but that was just a tiny taste of what to expect. I enjoyed stage one, got into a good rhythm and I felt comfortable and had a good pace. It was a long day though; I didn't expect it to be so long! ‘I enjoyed stage…

Paddock insider Looks ahead to the coming race season Whether or not you're a fan of the bullish swagger and fast talk, few could deny that Jorge Martin was the standout star of 2023. Back in August MotoGP was in danger of cruising to a snoozy conclusion before the 25-year-old Spaniard stepped up to take the fight to reigning World Champion Pecco Bagnaia. While he eventually fell short, with some justification he could call himself the fastest rider in the world last year. But just what is it that makes him so good? Sublime cornering ability From his days in Moto3, when Martin recorded a staggering 20 pole positions across two seasons, it was clear he had the speed to go to the very top. And it didn't take him…

2003-2004 Triumph Daytona 600 • 599cc • 110bhp • 50.5lbft • 815mm seat height The first modern supersport Daytona, taking over from the TT600. A great value used buy, this four-cylinder screamer took the Junior TT win with Bruce Anstey in 2003, as well as a BSS victory with Craig Jones in ‘04. 2005 Triumph Daytona 650 • 646cc • 122bhp • 51lbft • 815mm seat height The Daytona gained an extra 47cc in 2005 to become the 650. As well an increased capacity Triumph also adding a new silencer, clutch, gear linkage, and more, plus minor tweaks to the sharp-edged styling. 2006-2008 Triumph Daytona 675 • 675cc • 123bhp • 53lbft • 825mm seat height Sharper, taller, and now equipped with a rasping three-cylinder engine, the first Daytona 675…

Ventura EVO Rack for Yamaha Tracer 7 £263.90 The innovative EVO rack is now available for the latest version of Yamaha's popular Tracer 7. Attached via discreet L-brackets that mount to existing points on the bike, it can be removed in seconds and allows for rapid fitment of Ventura's range of lightweight waterproof luggage, including the 22-litre pack pictured (+ £208.95). ventura-bike.co.uk Roadskin CE AA Cargo Motorcycle Trousers £149 Armoured jeans specialists Roadskin have added a pair of cargo trousers to their range of protective gear. Certified to CE AA standard for abrasion resistance, they come with Level 2 armour for both hip and knee and feature a mesh liner that not only provides ventilation, but also an extra level of protection during a slide. roadskin.co.uk Laser Tools Ratchet Screwdriver…

Q ‘Can I sack my solicitors?’ I am not happy with the lack of communication I get from the solicitors provided by my insurance company. I am always having to chase them and each time I call no progress has been made, but I always get told that things will improve. I have had enough and want to know how I can go about changing. I am six months into my claim which is for various modest injuries and some financial losses. Simon, Northolt A I am sorry to say that you may have difficulty in persuading a new firm to take your case on. This is because in cases where the injuries are fairly minor, very limited legal costs are payable by the third party insurer and it is…

‘A Welsh wonder’ CLAIRE MORRIS Dispatched the grandchildren to their parents and got a wet but exhilarating first day of riding for 2024. Had lunch at The Owls Nest and returned home by the scenic route. ‘Yorkshire yomp’ CHRIS HOOD Well that's the 2024 account opened. A lovely ride with the local RoSPA group from Beverley to Sherburn in Elmet. ‘Seaside staple’ ALISON BROCK It's the new year, so I'm starting as I mean to go on. A New Year's Day 150-mile round trip for fish and chips. ‘Storming on’ PAUL ROBINSON New Year's Day ride. I was aiming to see three waterfalls in North Wales, but storms had left the roads sketchy at best. ‘New year, new ride’ RICHIE SALT This is us catching the sunset in Northumberland on…

£3999 2001 Kawasaki ZXR400 £8699 2024 Kawasaki ZX-4RR…

Who doesn't remember the rivalry between ZXR-mounted Scott Russell and Carl Fogarty on the Ducati? And it all started in 1993. With Foggy on the aging, but still competitive, factory Ducati 888 and Scott in his debut season in WSBK on the Muzzy ZXR, the championship was a two-horse race. Entering the final round in Mexico, Russell held a 29-point lead but a bizarre series of events saw the racing cancelled following a riders’ boycott due to safety concerns after stray dogs and footballs were spotted on the track during practice. Although fans were robbed of a nail-biter, most (aside from Foggy) agreed that Russell and the ZXR were deserving winners.…

ESSENTIAL KIT TRIED & TESTED MCN STAFF RATE THEIR RIDING KIT 3100 miles ON TEST Arai helmets have always fitted me perfectly, so I was a little disappointed to find that the Tour-X 5 initially sat high on my head. A quick check of the specs revealed that the new inner liner has 5mm peel-away foam pads around the crown cushion to allow for adjustability, and with the relevant ones displaced the T-X 5 slipped neatly on my nut. The cheek pads have also been redesigned and are noticeably firmer to provide a snug, cushioned fit around the jawline. The Arai is prepped for spectacles too, allowing the arms to slip down sculpted channels by the temples. Overall, the whole assembly feels light and balanced, with a sensation of compactness…

Dr Wack S100 White chain spray 2.0 £17.90 When you encounter a product with ‘Dr’ in the title, you expect great things, and this lube is indeed among the best I've used. Fundamentally the product itself does a great job, keeping the chain in great nick and preventing corrosion thanks to its anti-rust additives, with a bonus cleaning element which helps to clean flung-up lube from your real wheel – a happy extra benefit. It's invisible once applied, and it goes a long way. A bottle lasts for more miles than I've ridden in 2023, partially because it's got a pleasingly little nozzle, meaning you don't waste much product during application. Overall, I'm very pleased. Quality Value dr-wack.com 4000 miles ON TEST…

BRUCE DUNN MCN's expert technician Free up your brakes Stoppers seized? Here's how to overhaul your bike's calipers 1 The parts that perish They're in the front line when it comes to getting caked in crud, so your brake calipers need proper care. When used in winter, salt and moisture can cause the moving parts inside to bind, and servicing is the only way to cure it. Serviceable parts are the dust and fluid seals, and the O-ring/s that seal the two halves of the calipers. BRUCE'S TIPS Parts should be original replacement, from a main dealer 2 Pull out the pads Working on one side at a time, first remove the caliper from the bike, undoing the hose and mounting bolts, then loosen any brake pad retaining pins. If you are…

Your guide to the year ahead in motorcycle sport  MOTOGP Changes galore! All eyes will be on Marc Marquez in 2024 as he joins brother Alex at Gresini Racing. That's right, Marquez now has his hands on the best bike on the grid, the Ducati Desmosedici and if his initial test is anything to go by, he is going to be extremely rapid. Franco Morbidelli also gets that same opportunity to resurrect his career with Pramac Ducati, whilst Luca Marini takes Marquez's spot at Repsol Honda. Alex Rins is back on an inline-four at Yamaha, whilst young sensation Pedro Acosta makes his debut with Tech3 GasGas. The grid Ducati Lenovo Team Pecco Bagnaia (1) & Enea Bastianini (23) Prima Pramac Racing Ducati Jorge Martin (89) & Franco Morbidelli (21) ooney…

Iron City Motorcycles of Gateshead have added Kawasaki to their portfolio with the addition of a new million-pound showroom. The South Shields dealership, originally Opus Harley Davidson, rebranded as Iron City Motorcycles in 2022 and has since added KTM, Aprilia, Royal Enfield, Moto Guzzi, Mutt Motorcycles, Husqvarna, GasGas, and the all-electric LiveWire name to its showroom line-up. The addition of Kawasaki to the mix follows the closure of Newcastle Kawasaki last year. Iron City's new showroom will include interactive screens, and customers will receive personalised video, have access to live online video calls, online customer documents and be able to purchase online, instore or a combination of both. Iron City Kawasaki opened on Tuesday, 2 January with a season launch event planned for late March. “Our dream is to create…

SAVE £3004 £14,995 Suzuki Hayabusa It may be a child of the 1990s at heart, but even by today's standards the third generation Suzuki GSX13000R Hayabusa feels like a spaceship. It's the only high-performance hyperbike still on sale in 2023. The Suzuki Hayabusa is still a wondrous, one-of-a-kind creation that remains the epitome of effortless speed. Now at £3K under RRP. www.robinsonsrochdale.co.uk £13,489 Ducati SuperSport S SAVE £2706 This pre-registered SS has done just five (PDI) miles. A sporty tourer that can cut it on track and road, with Őhlins suspension and rider modes. blademotorcycles.co.uk •Engine 950cc ●Power 110bhp ●Weight 210kg ●Seat height 810mm £11,490 Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE SAVE £2409 This do-it-all Suzuki comes with a 19in cast front wheel with road focused tyres, generous rider and pillion seats, large…

‘Muddy fun for a winter's day’ The other day I was chatting to an old mate (and he is old, he's retired) who was telling me about his latest purchase. Not usually one for modern bikes, he was rightly proud because his stable of old British bangers were actually working – for the first time in living memory. Which caused a problem: he was bored! Lacking anything oily to fiddle with, he was on the lookout for a new way to waste the day and had just bought a 1980s Yamaha XT500. Air-cooled, a single, easy to work on and with a kickstart, it ticked all the boxes his fleet of British bikes did and yet opened the doors to a new venture… green lane riding. After a while his…

Move over Easy Rider, The Wild One and certainly Wild Hogs – The Bikeriders are coming! It's a new ‘US biker gang’ movie com to UK cinemas this June starring Austin Butler alongside Brits Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer. The movie, described as ‘a furious drama following the rise of a fictional 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club, The Vandals’, was inspired by a book of photography of the same name by Danny Lyon. The new flick has been written and directed by Jeff Nichols, who also wrote and directed the acclaimed 2012 Matthew McConaughey movie, Mud. Currently showing in the States (the UK release was postponed) after appearing at a number of film festivals, The Bikeriders has already received a number of impressive reviews. “The finest movie about motorcycle culture I've…

The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum has been given the green light to build a brand new, purpose-built eatery. ‘Sammy's Kitchen’ will replace the old tearooms at the New Milton venue and be a stand-alone building big enough to cater for the museum's regular events, club, and group visits. It will be packed with motorcycle memorabilia, too. The old tearooms, meanwhile, will be turned into exhibition space to hold an additional 100 bikes. It's hoped the new venue will open in spring or summer 2024. The announcement comes after the New Forest District Council granted planning permission for the new venture following nine months of discussions. ‘It will be big enough to cater for events’ “‘Sammy's Kitchen’ will be a great addition to the museum and will enhance the visitor experience,”…

January 13 DL12 Indoor trial If you haven't already kicked off the new year with a bit of biking action, why not shelter in the comfort of the Utilita Arena Sheffield and bask in the brilliance of the indoor trial expo as the top five riders in the world battle it out on a course designed by the great Dougie Lampkin. Tickets start from £34.95 for kids, £44.95 for adults with options for upgrades available too. dl12indoortrial.co.uk January 14 Bike day If you missed the New Year meet up, there's another chance to meet likeminded folk in the capital's famous biker cafe this Sunday. The Ace is hosting a bike day all day, so why not come down, grab a brew and a bit of lunch, and enjoy the metal…

THE MCN TEST ● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK £8699 2024 Kawasaki ZX-4RR ● 399cc liquidcooled 16v inline four ● 75bhp/29lb.ft ● 189kg (kerb) £3999-plus 2001 Kawasaki ZXR400 ● 398cc liquidcooled 16v inline four ● 64bhp/27lb.ft ● 185kg (kerb) Legendary: that is one way to describe Kawasaki's mighty ZXR400. A true 90s gem that was as explosively exciting as it was agile, powered by a ballistic little screaming, inline four. Not only were they good for over 130mph, but they chewed up apexes with blistering precision and were built to outperform just about anything when it came to a serious set of corners. And more than two decades later, they still look gorgeous whether they're blasting down the road or rolling out of pitlane on a trackday… where they're still a pain for…

‘The new bike offers a serious buzz’ I was expecting to fall head over heels for the ZXR400, and to an extent, I did – yet the ZX-4RR offers a serious buzz, in a more user-friendly package. Yes, the ZXR is focused, fast and has that gorgeous styling that makes machinery from over 20 years ago so sought after. But its extreme nature comes at a price, as it's a brutal machine for anything other than riding at ten tenths. Because of this, the ZX-4RR held its own; not only does the engine feel even more extreme and exciting when the throttle is buried against the stop, but it does so with a sense of usability too, in terms of its riding position, chassis and suspension hardware. On a track…

‘Nippy fun for not too much cash’ It's a good bike. It handles well and goes well (for a 125). For anyone wanting a nippy bike that doesn't cost too much, this bike is a bit of no-brainer! It's an especially good choice if a lot of your riding is done out of town as it loves to slice through corners a decent lick. That's not to say it doesn't cut it when riding through busy city streets as the high riding position gives you a decent view of what's around. The American-designed DSR does offer a lot and with an Aprilia engine, it should prove pretty reliable, too. THE FACTS £3599 UM DSR 15 SM…

FIRST RIDE Yamaha have good reason to shout about their XMAX range, which is presumably why they have left the caps-lock on for their name. First released in 2006 in 125cc, 250cc and 400cc flavours, the XMAX has dominated the European sports scooter scene ever since. The XMAX 300 arrived in 2017 and has sold over 70,000 units to date. Keen to ensure their foot stays on the gas, Yamaha have upgraded the XMAX 300 range for 2023 with a sharper and more futuristic look, new 4.2in dash with built-in connectivity and altered seat. But is it enough to keep the XMAX at the top of the sports scooter tree? Time to find out… 1 A sporty number The XMAX is billed as a sports scooter and it is certainly…

RATINGS Exceptional★★★★★ Very good★★★★ Good★★★ Average★★ Poor★ 2800 miles ON TEST HealTech Electronics Speedo Healer V4 £85 Bike speedos can be inaccurate by up to 10% but this little plug-and-play magic box makes it incredibly easy to calibrate your reading. It's universal fitting (for any bike with a non cable-driven speedo), and being about the size of a box of matches it's pretty easy to find a place to stash it. Combined with a beautifully simple smartphone app, getting a 100% accurate reading couldn't be easier. It's also useful after you've altered your bike's gearing, like I did with my 2014 Honda CRF250L. One down on the front and two up on the rear for better low-down drive off road meant the speedo reading – driven off the bike's gearbox…

Sealey headstock stand £143.94 Paddock stands are a great invention, come in all shapes and sizes, and at the end of the day do a great job of keeping a motorcycle stable so that you can work on them. I have made do with a couple of paddock stands for years and have been able to carry out most jobs. But when I came to take the wheels out of my Suzuki SRAD, disaster struck as one of the pinch bolts snapped off in the fork leg, which now meant removing the fork to take out the bit of stud left in the threaded hole. So I was left scratching my head as I tried to work out how I was going to support a fully faired bike with only…

If you use your bike during winter you can't avoid exposing it to the worst road conditions. The damaging effects of rain and filth will be catalysed by road salt, resulting in a perfect environment for corrosion to thrive. The only way to combat this is by diligent cleaning, which is often tricky to keep on top of if you're using your bike as a daily commuter, meaning that it's all too easy for brakes to start binding as a result – and some models seem more prone to winter stiction than others. The task of replacing caliper seals is within the capabilities of most hands-on owners, but the process can also uncover other challenging issues, such as excessive corrosion or broken bleed nipples, which can't be tackled so easily…

MotoGP tech expert and former Isle of Man TT winner TOP STORY ‘Sincerely, it seems impossible to ask for more when we have our bike!” says 2022 and 2023 MotoGP champion Pecco Bagnaia. “Honestly, we need nothing in particular,” he claims. Bagnaia isn't wrong: last year Ducati won the riders’ title for the second year running, took the constructors’ title for the fourth time in a row, won 17 of 20 GPs, won both the Sprint and Grand Prix races at 14 of 20 rounds, monopolised the GP podium at nine rounds and scored 96% of available constructors’ points. This is why the prototype Desmosedici GP24 looks very like the GP23, with Ducati tweaking the details within the details, eking a hundredth here, a thousandth here. “No revolutions,” says Bagnaia's…

Ducati have a vice-like grip on MotoGP because they have the best bike and eight of them on the grid. The mass of data Ducati get from their eight riders is significant in more than just the obvious ways of helping riders learn from each other and helping engineers find better settings. Computer modelling and simulations are becoming more and more important in MotoGP due to the reductions in testing and practice time. And the key factor in creating accurate simulations is the amount of data you've got, so Ducati can run simulations that are twice as accurate as Aprilia's, Honda's and KTM's and four times better than Yamaha's. All this creates a snowball effect which is difficult to challenge, let alone beat. And of course Ducati's rider line-up is…

I can't wait for the 2024 season. First of all I'm about to embark on my 34th season of racing and I'm still in a factory team on a factory bike, still working with the best in the business, still super-excited and I still feel like I did when I got my first factory ride! Racing is all I think about and I'm excited for everyone that's involved in it. To me it's everything. Starting with World Superbikes, there is so much to look forward to. Johnny Rea on the Yamaha, Toprak on the BMW and whether they can take it to Bautista. Sam Lowes is in there, the Maniac Andrea lannone is back and fast In Moto2 and 3 there's the change to Pirellis which will be interesting, but…