Table of contents for 27th March 2019 in MCN

As the dog took me for (another) walk through the local rec the other day, I couldn’t help noticing about 20 children enjoying a good old game of that there football. Not only that, but some were wearing England shirts with names like Kane, Dele Ali and Sterling on the back. I’ve not seen so many young ‘uns dashing about chasing a round thing for years. It’s all since England somehow got good at football again. The players are getting results and setting a good example, they’re almost an inspiration. And that hefty fella who lives a few doors down is also an inspiration... in a way. He’s dug out his gleaming old VFR in the last couple of weeks and is proudly pottering around in the sunshine. People doing…

Riders of older motorcycles in London have been handed a lifeline thanks to a new TfLapproved emissions testing centre being set up which should see many older bikes be exempted from an upcoming charge. On April 8, the capital introduces a new Ultra Low Emissions Zone in a further bid to improve air quality. To enter this zone, all motorcycles which are not compliant with Euro3 (ie made pre-2007) will have to pay £12.50 per day. However, as TfL are currently only intending to crack down on vehicles with excessive NOx emissions and many pre-2007 bike actually produce less than the 0.15 g/km limit TfL have set, older bikes could be exempt as long as owners can prove their low NOx emissions. Some bikes are tested for this when manufactured…

It’s 17 years since the first Brutale 750’s stunning styling stopped bikers and civilians in their tracks and now MV Agusta’s new 212bhp Brutale 1000 Serie Oro takes the breed to a whole new level. But if you can’t stretch to that bike’s whopping £40k price tag, with 30 different Brutales released over the years ranging from 675cc to 1090cc and from £4000, there’s a Brutale for everyone. 2019 1000 SERIE ORO What is it? Pitched as ‘the most powerful naked sportsbike in the world’, the Serie Oro will have 212bhp and a state-of-the-art electronics package. MCN says “It was voted ‘Most Beautiful Motorcycle of the Show’ at the EICMA show in 2018, winning 35% of the votes from 16,000 attendees.” Want to buy one? £39,995, available in June.…

‘ The surest way of protecting your bike is with a tracker ’ Riders are being urged to be vigilant after a worrying new crime has emerged that sees fake recovery drivers steal bikes. The theft relies on the traditional assumption that people wearing hi-viz vests and holding a clipboard must be some kind of genuine officials. Offences usually see thieves loading a targeted parked bike into the back of a van or a trailer while attempting to appear like a private recovery company. If challenged, the thieves often produce a phone or tablet revealing a text from the ‘owner’ requesting that the vehicle is collected. ‘They poseas workersfroma privatefirm’ Of course, the sender of the text is fictional and unless the genuine owner is present, it’s virtually impossible to…

1 Long way round The prototype has a range of about 75 miles but new batteries will next year push this to over 100 miles. 2 Many like it Tacita’s current range of off-road electric bikes includes fully- fledged rally bikes to supermotos and enduros. 3 Up and down Unlike other electrics Tacitas have a clutch and gearbox, which help meter torque when riding. 4 Big numbers Each model is tuned differently with motors delivering 30-36bhp and 40-55ftlb of torque. 5 Battery packs Spare batteries are carried in the panniers to give the bike a much greater range for rally racing. Italian electric motorcycle manufacturer Tacita claim to have put over 75,000 miles in extreme conditions on one of their bikes to prove that electric…

KTM got there first In answer to Andy H’s letter regarding integrated satnavs and the reply about the latest Triumph, my 2017 KTM Super Adventure S has integrated satnav in its amazing dash via my phone and an app. Darcy, Northampton Purple-faced farmers Scramblers and adventure bikes have had a resurgence. Steve McQueen has been all-but exhausted in the marketing blurb with vistas of Enfields silhouetted in the Himalayas and Triumphs blasting across the dusty plains of California. All feature large in the ads, I know, and I have just bought the gorgeous and very capable Triumph XE but where the heck in the UK can we ride the things that won’t piss off purple-faced farmers, horse riders, cyclists, ramblers, dog walkers etc? Rob, Newton Abbott Ed: Get in touch…

MotoGP looks like it could be interesting this year, but if you were a betting man your money would have to go on Marquez. We need people like Dovi and Cal to keep pushing him though, so that it doesn’t get boring! Mind you, because Marquez is always on the limit, the racing is hardly dull. When Doohan was winning all the time it was a bit uninspiring, but Marquez is always up to something, there’s a bit of a bad guy in him, like we saw in Argentina last year when he caused mayhem by careering through the field. He’s really interesting to watch. Like my mate Lee Johnston, he’s a lovable little rogue. Half of you wants to t**t him and the other half loves him! You can’t…

‘5ft 7in Bruce loves the Triumph but says it’s really small’ It’s Britain’s best road test route. A tough 250-mile mix of A and B- roads, a stretch of motorway, plus plenty of towns, villages, blind corners, ballistic straights, and a huge range of grippy to slippy tarmac. There are two cafés, an off-road section for adventure and trail bikes, track time at Silverstone for sportsbikes, and Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground and the dyno for hard and fast data when needed. You want answers? We’ve got ’em. 1 First impressions Ready for the off it’s clear that, although both bikes are novice-friendly, middleweight, retro-styled, parallel twins, they’re also very different. The updated Triumph is a clean-sheet, convincing, old-time 1960s-inspired design right down to its twin shocks and cylinder fins. The…

With the worst of Storm Gareth’s wind behind us, the grind of the M40 now history and the roads finally drying there’s the first opportunity to explore both bikes’ sprightly performance and decent handling to the full. I hadn’t expected the Street Twin, with twin shocks and 10bhp less than the XSR, to have the pace to match the ostensibly more modern Yamaha, but with every Cotswold curve I’m more impressed. It’s lower, more planted than the flighty Yam, the Street Twin’s steering and sense of security is typically Triumph brilliant and even its new Brembo front brake, although only a single disc, seems sharper and stronger than the Yam’s twin disc set-up. Around a second gear square-left followed quickly by a similar square right outside of Weston Sub Edge…

1 Creating a concept Pen and ink drawings is where it all begins for each project, making it a far more organic process than working on screen, The firm can turn a bike build around in 12 weeks. 2 Fabrication Alec uses old-school engineering methods in his workshop based on the family farm in Norfolk. 3 Making shapes An English Wheel is used during the build process to create complex curves such as mudguards. 4 Adding some lovely touches Items such as OEM’s side number plate mounts or handlebar switchgear are works of art in themselves. The firm sell their own custom range as well as merchandising. 5 Intricate Electrics OEM’s bikes feature an attention to detail that goes well beyond the surface. 6…

In line with most modern adventure bikes, Moto Guzzi have equipped the V85TT with a TFT dash, which is designed to adapt to the ambient light conditions, to ensure it’s always as visible as possible. On the undulating mountain roads of Sardinia, the dash remained clear at all times, adapting to any light conditions, from intense sunshine, to dark tree-lined roads. Everything is logically placed, too, with the large left-hand rev counter responding to your throttle inputs seamlessly. The TFT displays and functions are controlled by a panel on the right-hand bar, allowing you to flick between menus and swap between the three rider modes. It’s also capable of smartphone connectivity, which provides satnav via a dedicated app. The system is designed to allow you to take and make calls…

While Toseland might have suffered after walking away from his racing career, there’s one positive he’s proud of. No longer the fiercely competitive individual he was when he was fighting tooth and nail every weekend, he says it’s nice to be able to be a more rounded person around his former rivals. “Neil (Hodgson) and I were in a cabin at Silverstone getting our leathers on together for the first time in 16 years, and it was nice to reminisce, because reminiscing with old team-mates and competitors like Neil reminds you why you did it in the first place. “It was about being two lads who wanted to beat each other with a bit of banter going again, and I really enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed it more than…

WHAT REVS? Find out where your engine makes its peak torque as this will help you figure out where it’s at its most flexible. 1. GATHER INFO When you see a corner approaching, slow down and give yourself time to absorb all the information you can. 2. SLOW DOWN Apply the brakes before your first downchange, this way your brakes will be taking most of the strain of slowing your bike. 3. ONE BY ONE Keep your foot over the gear lever and press down one gear at a time using the clutch until you reach the desired ratio. 4. STAY ON LINE Using the correct gear will help your bike hold a line. Place the balls of your feet back on the footrests as you turn. 5. ACCELERATE Once…

‘I’m taking it on a trip across Europe to Greece’ I LIKE • The looks: they really appeal to me • The size: I’m not the tallest so it’s ideal • Handling: I can chuck it about quite confidently • The reaction it gets: lots of people compliment it • The history: it’s nice being part of the world’s oldest motorcycle brand I DON'T • Having to add stuff to it: for the price I would’ve liked a 12v socket • Price of parts: genuine items are expensive QUICK SPECS • 1130cc • 100bhp • 257kg • 643mm seat PRICE NEW £11,699 VALUE NOW £9500…

The 1937 Speed Twin proved parallel twins were light, relatively smooth and effective and, although ‘70s Japanese fours made them obsolete, they survived, especially when balancer shafts smoothed out vibes. Today it’s come full circle with many popular bikes being parallels. Yamaha, Honda, BMW and more all make them. So here, through the decades, are some great used buys. MCN BEST BUY £4000 YAMAHA MT-07 689cc | 74bhp | 805mm seat height • Dealer £4000-£5900 • Private £3500-£5500 • This one 2014, 22,500 miles, Yamaha took a long look at the ER-6n and reckoned Kawasaki were on the right track so they just made something… well, like the ER-6n but even better. The MT-07 is light, simple, powerful, eager, well styled, comfy, economical and just fun to ride. Brakes…

A full 25 years since making his road racing debut at the North West 200, John McGuinness will return to the Northern Ireland event onboard the V4 Norton. McGuinness has missed the last two NW200s and Isle of Man TTs after breaking his leg in a crash during practice for the 2017 Northern Irish races. The incident, which was blamed on an electronics malfunction on his Honda Fireblade, led to his switch to Norton. “The North West 200 has been part of my road racing journey since I started racing and it’s also the first time the new Norton has raced in Ireland so it is a big milestone for me,” explained the six-time NW200 race winner. Despite competing at the 2018 Classic TT on a Paton and riding a…

MCN’s #R5K group celebrated its second birthday in style with a Saturday Social at the Super Sausage in Towcester, winner of the 2018 MCN Golden Sausage award for Britain’s Best Biker’s Cafe. More than 70 intrepid riders braved Storm Gareth to make the journey and were rewarded with great camaraderie, plenty of laughs and, of course, cake. We took the opportunity to discover the different reasons people have for signing up. “I joined a year ago just to see what I could do,” says Rachel Ransom, who rides a BMW S1000XR. “I don’t usually ride that far, but since then I’ve ended up covering 16,000 miles. I’m doing Portugal and Germany next. It’s become an addiction!” ‘It’s nice to put a voice to the names and faces’ Super Ténéré riders…

The Isle of Man Police have issued a warning to TT goers after it was found that a website was offering camping tickets for a site that they did not have permission to use. Evolution Camping had been given the use of a football club site in 2018 however the agreement did not extend to 2019. Despite this, Evolution Camping continued to take bookings over several months, with one large group allegedly having lost thousands of pounds in a single booking. One group loses thousands Firm did not have rights to use campsite Police appeal for information “Police have been alerted to a number of accommodation bookings which have been made through a company called Evolution Camping,” said an IoM Police spokesman. “The company, who have been taking accommodation bookings…

Despite highway maintenance budgets increasing by almost 20% for the second year in a row, the amount spent is still well short of what’s needed to bring UK roads up to standard, according to a new report. The Annual Local Authority Roads Maintenance Survey, or ALARM report for short, as compiled by the Asphalt Industry Alliance, shows that while the increased money is preventing further decline in the road network, expenditure is targeted mostly on short-term strategies, such as patching and mending potholes. While this continues, the cost of a long-term fix for the whole network continues to rise, with latest estimates reaching £10 billion. The report also reveals that councils are filling potholes at a rate of one every 17 seconds and that over £26 million has been spent…

‘It was north tosouthVietnam or die trying!’ #R5K MEMBER COLIN BLOOMER We all like to daydream and plan trips to far flung places but rarely do these dreams become reality. But R5K members, Colin Bloomer and Clive Gillow, decided to bite the bullet, fly from their homes in Co. Armagh and spend a month riding the twisty mountain passes of Vietnam. They left their Suzuki GSX-R1000 and KTM 950SM tucked up safe at home, invested £200 each for Honda Wave 110cc scooters and undertook a trip of a lifetime. “We had a few days exploring Hanoi before we headed south to Da Nang and bought Honda Wave 110s,” Colin says. “We set ourselves the challenge of zigzagging our way to Ho Chi Minh City, without breaking down. “We toured Da…

Clever conversions The charger features power modules that convert the AC coming into the charger from the mains to DC voltage. Cooling off Air-cooling delivers great heat dissipation, and therefore more efficient charging. Hot batteries increase charge times and drain rate. Doubling up on juice Charge time is a linear relationship to the power coming in. Doubling charging power can halve the charge time. Premature ageing Charge much faster than one hour and you risk prematurely ageing the battery due to the heat and chemical fatigue. On the face of it, an electric motorcycle is an exciting prospect – with savage amounts of torque, cheap running costs and plenty of claimed enviromental benefits. But battery-powered bikes have always been let down by long charge times, and notoriously short range capabilities.…

How can we get the Big Four to revive serious 400s? The 400s of today are twice as expensive as the 'real' sport 400s of the 80s and 90s and with less power. With today's technology a modern 400cc, inline four, 80-120bhp, light weight, top-of-the-line chassis, brakes and suspension would be amazing. Having learner bikes in the range is great but it isn’t the only demand for that size of bike. The 600cc class is vanishing, the 1000cc class is too much for the road. The 800cc class is going to take over the large-capacity RR class for the street (the Triumph 765 Daytona R is going to change the game, physically smaller, lighter and just as fast on the street) and serious 400s could/ should replace the 600cc class.…

On face value, the XSR is the better-value bike and the new Street Twin the more convincing retro; only it didn’t work out like that. The uprated Triumph is also, surprisingly, virtually the Yamaha’s performance match, is better equipped and, as expected, more charismatic and classy, too. Some of that is due to extras, so needs to be taken with a pinch of salt and there’s also no doubt the XSR remains a great-value motorcycle. But while a couple of aspects of the Yam can be criticised the only ones of the Triumph that turn me off are its dinky size and cast wheels. And I’ve just realised that’s no problem, either. The equally new, 900-powered Street Scrambler sorts those issues out, too. So it looks like Triumph have got…

Boasting a striking twin headlamp, pointy adventure-seeking beak and trellis frame, the V85TT is a throwback to the golden era of 1980s Dakar machines. It’s a look bolstered by that bulbous 23-litre fuel tank and optional old-school two-tone paint scheme. First unveiled at the Milan motorcycle show in 2017, this is the Italian firm’s first foray into the adventure bike market since their 1200cc Stelvio, which was killed off by ever more stringent emissions regulations that the big twin couldn’t hope to meet. The new TT (which stands for Tutto Terreno, or ‘all terrain’) has amassed a growing tide of interest, with more than 600 test rides already pre-booked at UK dealers ahead of its arrival at the end of the month. Why all the interest? Well, it’s the styling…

Richard Newland, Deputy Editor Rides every day, all year, in all weathers and prefers high performance to plodders You do hear some rubbish spouted about BMW’s GS. From the persistent assertion that it’s an old-man’s bike, to the ‘facts’ that it doesn’t handle, is slow, rubbish off-road because it’s too big, and that it hasn’t changed since 2004. All those assertions are so far wide of the mark that you’d need a satnav to find your way back to the truth. The latest espoused myth is that you can’t tell the difference between the 1170cc boxer twin and the new 1254cc ShiftCam engine. Which is ridiculous. There’s a surging willingness on tap that just wasn’t there before. Smoothness, too. Trickle along in 6th at 40mph, open the throttle, and you’re…

A huge cheer rang out as Michael Dunlop took to the stage in the Villa Marina last Wednesday night for the launch of TT 2019. The warm welcome suggested the crowd disagreed with an introduction that hinted 2018 had not been a great TT for the 18-time TT winner despite his treble winning performance in the Superbike, Supersport and Lightweight races. However, the Tyco BMW rider appeared to agree with those who have commented on how comprehensively outpaced he was by Peter Hickman and Dean Harrison last June. “I was not performing to the ability that I personally think I can,” the 29-year-old said, before also recognising he’ll not start as favourite this year despite dominating the TT since 2013. “I’m now a very small fish in a big pond,”…

2019’s Lightweight TT looks set to be one of the most hotly-contested races of the year thanks to a raft of new talent and top class machinery. In addition to last week’s announcement that Norton will field a three-man ‘dream team’ of John McGuinness, Peter Hickman and Davey Todd aboard their new Superlight, there has been more big news for the class this week. The KMR squad run by roads legend Ryan Farquar will run a strong, five-man team on their stunningly-prepared Kawasaki ER-6s, namely: last year’s runner-up, Derek McGee, six-time TT winner Michael Rutter, two-time winner Gary Johnson and multiple podium man Lee Johnson. While 2018 winner and lap record holder Michael Dunlop is continuing his partnership with Paton onboard the beautiful Factory SR-1 machine. The Lightweights are now…

MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR MILEAGE Your target is simple: ride 5000 miles in the next 12 months of biking. The idea is just to ride more, embrace the mileage and discover new experiences. So, make a note of your odometer’s figure at the start. Take a picture of it, write it down, or even put a sticker with the figure on your bike as a reminder. RIDE TO SOME GREAT PLACES These pages are full of great roads to ride and great events to visit. This isn’t about jacking in work and heading around the world. Instead, it’s about riding to work a bit more, going a bit further at weekends, or even doing a tour with your partner. This is about making your life better through riding your…

1 Visors Continental bugs are big so don’t forget visor cleaner and a cloth. Get a Pinlock insert for your helmet and carry a spare visor. 2 Layers Buy base layers that breathe and deal with temperature variations, they’re easy to wash and dry overnight and invest in waterproof socks. On tour, layering is your friend, it allows you to regulate your temperature with minimal fuss. 3 Gore-Tex The latest Gore-Tex Pro fabric suits with built-in armour are expensive but mean you don’t need to stop every time you encounter a shower. Better still, Gore-Tex Pro laminates don't get waterlogged. 4 Leathers If leather is your choice, you will need a good over-suit, we use Oxford Bone Dry suits or Army Surplus Gore-tex, which are easy…

WORLDWIDE Venture into Nepal Duncan Costin With three bikes in his garage Duncan is spoilt for choice and spreads his mileage over all his machines. For him, flying to Nepal, for a winter break to ride Royal Enfields, felt like a natural way to notch up another 1000 miles. Along with a dozen intrepid explorers, he took part in a Bike Tours UK holiday and spent ten days riding on a trip of a lifetime. With guides to lead the way, they rode on gravel and dirt tracks, crossed rivers, climbed mountains and made untold special memories. “We spent ten days riding from Kathmandu through the Himalayas up to Muktinath at 3700 metres, before riding down to the Chitwan,” Duncan reminisces. “We set out from Kathmandu and the first day’s…

Not content with releasing the new RSV4 1100, Aprilia have taken things one step further with the RSV4 X: a balls-to-the-wall track-only version of the new superbike. Aprilia are at great pains to point out that this bike is a result of their racing experience, which includes 54 world titles and seven WSB championships. In fact, so proud of their racing heritage are they, that each of the RSV4 Xs are handbuilt by Aprilia Racing. The headline figure is the 221bhp pumped out by the 65 degree 1100cc V4. Each engine is assembled and then the tolerances are fine-tuned just like the race bikes. The intake has been boosted too by a more aggressive camshaft, only possible thanks to new valve springs, cups and convex bucket tappets. There’s also a…

Legendary bike customiser, designer and businessman, Arlen Ness, has died aged 79. A motorcycling giant, Ness was known as ‘The king of customs’ after a career that lasted over 50 years including being inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He began customising in California in the 1960s as part of the West Coast scene before making it his full-time profession in the ’70s. Apart from iconic custom bikes his business empire grew to include clothing, parts and accessories for Harley-Davidson, Indian and Victory with his son Cory and grandson Zach both involved. Ness died on March 22 and is survived by his wife of 59 years, Beverly.…

An ultra-rare 1971 Triumph Bandit 350, an all-new parallel twin intended to save the British bike industry that never made it into production, is among the stars at the updated Grampian Transport Museum near Aberdeen from this Saturday (March 30). The GTM is affiliated with the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust which gives access to a huge variety of classic machinery. Another is a 1918 Lea-Francis 3.5hp, a rare survivor from a company best known for its cars. “This is a brilliant addition to our motorcycle display,” said curator Mike Ward who explained the display of BMCT-loaned bikes will change throughout the year. More info at www.gtm.org.uk.…

DirtQuake is the maddest, wackiest and most bonkers race series in the world and it’s coming to the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling this May. With grids made up of everything from full-on choppers to mopeds, DirtQuake is a unique and totally madcap race series that has seen a huge rise in popularity in recent years including international rounds in Italy and the USA. The action takes place around a speedway oval and the racing is dirt track in style but with a lot more laughs. It’s a fantastic antidote to ‘serious’ racing and you’ll be able to get a taste of the extra special DirtQuake atmosphere. Dubbed the ‘DirtQuake Showdown, pre-event special’, there will be five races per day at the Festival combining all the classes you’ll see at…

Triumph’s new Street Twin features the same all-new, single dial console shared with all the uprated Bonnevilles this year. A stylish blend of retro and modern, the dash has a quality vibe and includes mode display and (optional) heated grips. Over in the Yamaha corner, the XSR’s small, circular digital LCD offering displays the basics but remains a little tacky and plain. It’s odd, styling-wise in only being retro in a ‘Tetris/GameBoy’ kind of way. Both show all the information you need; just in a slightly different style. TRIUMPH TRIUMPH SWITCHGEAR Decent fare with easy-to-use Mode and Info buttons on the left bar. Oddly, the left pod is rotated slightly too far on the bar. YAMAHA YAMAHA SWITCHGEAR Easy to use but undeniably plasticky and flimsy and lacking any riding…

With unique custom builds such as the Typhoon, Merlin and Vulcan, it’s not hard to see the inspiration behind Old Empire Motorcycles. But these tributes are far more than skin deep, as 34-year-old founder Alec Sharp has a free-thinking attitude that evokes those glory days of British engineering and ingenuity, and underpins them with engineering excellence. “At 16 I watched Easy Rider and thought that it was the most amazing thing ever,” says Alec. “It was at a time when the motorcycle custom scene was getting a lot of coverage through the whole Orange County Choppers thing, so on the back of that I put myself through the fabrication courses that I felt would give me the necessary skills.” At 19 Alec got a job at a local bike building…

Have it your way You can choose from a Touring Pack, Sport Adventure Pack and an Urban Pack. If you want to mix and match, items such as engine guards and panniers can be bought separately. Five colour options Guzzi are offering the V85TT in five different schemes. It will be available in dark blue, red or grey as solid colour options, or in a striking two-tone yellow and white or red and white. Spread your wings The V85TT’s daytime running light is an LED strip in the shape of an eagle’s wings, paying homage to the company logo. The LEDs light up in increments when the ignition is turned on.…

‘Being forced out of the sport I loved felt like a bereavement’ James Toseland may have hung up his leathers in 2011, but he’s only just coming to terms with a life after bike racing. Retiring when he did was not a decision that the double world champion had any choice over. Having broken his wrist badly at Aragon during a World Superbike test that year, the subsequent surgery needed to repair the injury left him unable to ride a motorbike at all, let alone competitively. But with the decision to retire forced upon him, it meant that the road to recovery was even tougher mentally than it was physically. Throwing himself into his music career and going on to chart success with his band Toseland in the years since…

‘The scenery is breathtaking, I love every minute’ I’ve got a few days free so why waste them sitting at home? Life’s for living so I’m off on a fun-filled, whistle-stop 1000-mile tour. I’ve never been to Northern Ireland and having seen Joey Dunlop race at the TT many moons ago, wanted to visit his legendary bar in the little town of Ballymoney. With family south of the border near Dublin, my germ of an idea begins to take shape: why not ride all four countries of the UK and nip into southern Ireland too? But it’s an inauspicious start to the weekend… best-laid plans and all that. I set out later than expected and as midnight fast approaches, after passing through the stunning Yorkshire Dales in torrential rain and…

Ben Clarke, Junior Web Producer Everyday rider with a penchant for singles and twins I’ve always been a fan of bikes with fewer than three cylinders. I learned to ride on a knackered Yamaha XT250, toured North and Central America on an XT660R and my daily commuter for the last year has been a Suzuki SV650. My ‘two-cylinders-max’ approach has served me well but I started to worry that I was missing out. The CBR seemed the ideal candidate for my first inlinefour. The riding position is almost identical to my SV and its 94bhp seemed a manageable step up in power, too. It should be more than capable of doing everything I need, from my daily commute, to longer rides and even a way to get on track for…

THE STUDENT Kate Taylor, 33, Cambridgeshire New rider Kate is part way through her bike test, having already passed Mod 1 she’s now waiting to sit Mod 2 . Kate’s riding problem “When I do my training on the school’s 650 I can’t work out what gear I should be in, especially around tight bends.” THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, Rapid Training A police motorcyclist for 18 years, Mark has been training people to be faster, safer, better riders on the road for 20 years. Mark’s action plan “I’ll give Kate a system for gear selection that she can use on any bike, meaning she’ll have the skills to let her riding shine through.” THE LESSON 1 Arm yourself with information There’s a lot to think about as a new…

THE OWNER Jess Nelson, 56. Surrey Antiques dealer Jess is new to bikes, passing his test only last year. Since then he’s jumped in with both feet, becoming the owner of this 2018 Indian Scout and racking up loads of miles. He rides purely for pleasure and has big plans for 2019. After dabbling with Fizzies in his youth, it was another four decades before the bike bug bit Jess Nelson. But since passing his test last year, he’s been making up for lost time. “Sailing is my other passion,” he says. “I’ve a boat I keep in Greece so I’ve ridden a lot of scooters over there and really enjoyed it. Then one day I thought, ‘sod it, I’ll get a bike,’ so I booked my test and…

1 The vital link The suspension linkage is responsible for transmitting the movement of the swingarm to the shock and in order to function efficiently it needs to be in good condition. The linkage features greased roller bearings that are protected by seals to keep out water and road grit. Periodically these need to be checked and re-greased. STICK’S TIPS Check the specific procedure for your bike in a workshop manual 2 Lift the rear To access and disassemble the linkage the rear wheel needs to be off the ground and the back of the bike supported, as once the linkage and shock have been stripped the swingarm will be free to move. A conventional paddock stand won’t work so you need a centrestand or a device that…

MotoGP is now more successful than ever as proven not just by rising viewing figures and growing profits but by the long list of countries and circuits clamouring to be part of the GP circus. And with each new venue bringing as much as £5 million to the table in a bid to host a round, series owners Dorna are unsurprisingly keen to expand the race calendar from its current 19 races to potentially as many as 22 in the future. But with a swing towards developing markets as attendances at the traditional European races fall, some of the historic, heritage circuits are at risk of losing their place. So what’s the future of MotoGP look like? MCN investigates... 1 INDONESIA JOINING IN 2021 One of the confirmed additions…

Dealer clubs Hundreds of bike dealers have signed up to MCN's #ride5000miles campaign. They all welcome R5K members and will be running special offers throughout the year. See motorcyclenews.com for more info and a full list of dealers. Here are some of the big-name supporters:D1 Laguna Motorcycles Hart St, Maidstone ME16 8RAD2 Laguna Performance Centre Ashford TN23 1END3 Laguna Ashford Triumph Kingsnorth, Ashford TN23 3END4 Doble Coulsdon CR5 2NGD5 Colchester Kawasaki Colchester CO2 8HHD6 Moto Corsa Wyke Rd, Gillingham SP8 4NWD7 Lind Motorrad Welwyn Garden City AL7 1EPD8 Lind Motorrad Norwich NR1 3ESD9 Pidcock Triumph Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 3NAD10 Ducati Nottingham Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2DBD11 Roy Pidcock BMW, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 3FZD12 West Coast Glasgow G52 4FAD13 DK Motorcycles Newcastle under Lyme ST5 9JJD14 Ecosse St Aberdeen AB25 3TBD15…

Screen and seat "Touring screens are not essential but can provide relief on long days. Modern seats sacrifice comfort for style but trust us, after hours in the saddle you’ll curse your cool racer seat! Most of our guides find that AirHawk pads are great for comfort." Battery "Battery issues are the second most common problem we encounter while away. Trickle chargers keep the battery in good fettle but batteries have a limited lifespan so if your bike is a few years old, have a word with your dealer to see if it is time for a new battery." Engine, service and fluids "Check when your service is due, take into account your trip mileage and consider an early service if it looks tight. Problems on the road are trickier…