Table of contents for 24th April 2019 in MCN

I don’t know if I’ve got a genetic deficiency, or it’s just my cake-retentive high fat content, but stick me out in the sunshine for 12 hours – even in April – and I burn like a firelighter. So you can imagine how nervous I was all day Friday and Sunday while basking in the glorious return of British Superbike racing at a sun-soaked Silverstone. But while over 31,500 fellow race fans lined the National circuit on Sunday, I also couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. Not with the racing, and not with the venue – but because I couldn’t shift the genuine sadness that more people weren’t there to see it. The quality of the racing was no less exciting than you get on a MotoGP weekend, the…

Four of the UK’s biggest biking celebs will be coming to the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling on May 18-19. Shane Byrne, Carl Fogarty, Chris Walker and Dougie Lampkin will be on site for the entire weekend signing autographs, posing for selfies and being interviewed on the MCN stage. With outrageous and insight-packed yarns from the world of BSB, WSB, TT, trials and more, you can be sure they will pull a big crowd. Foggy and Lampkin are appearing courtesy of CCM and when they’re not on stage they’ll be on the CCM stand ready to chat about the latest machines from the British firm. BOOK NOW! SAVE £££s AND BOOK DISCOUNTED TICKETS ONLINE NOW WWW.MCNFESTIVAL.COM Tickets start from as low as £15 for the day. Weekend passes include a…

Multi-faceted motorcycling destinations are becoming increasingly popular, with venues offering a whole variety of reasons to drop by. This week we head to Batley in West Yorkshire to visit one such establishment, Jem Speed Shop and the newly-refurbished Jem’s Pitstop Diner. Jem’s is around 45 minutes from both the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales, so it is in great riding country. There’s plenty of parking out front, but don’t worry if that’s full because there’s even more space around the back. The diner itself takes pride of place at the front of the building, with stairs leading to the used bike showroom, tattooist and barbers. Although there’s an American roadhouse feel to Jem’s, it’s a long way from anything generic and features a uniquely British flavour with some fascinating…

How good is MotoGP at the moment? It’s at such a high level and it’s great that all the manufacturers are there. In addition to the usual guys, Miller is doing well and Rins has just taken his first win. And what about Rossi? He’s riding well. These results mean a lot to him. You can see that and what has he got to prove? Nothing. He’s ticked every box. He’s done well, no-one is going to repossess his TV are they? ‘WE HAVE A BIT OF BANTER, ROSSI IS ONE OF THE LADS’ People still say he should retire and I know what it’s like when you’re the underdog and everyone has written you off. In 2015 people were saying I was done but I went out and won…

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 Ready to tour There are three specs of R1250RT – the base, SE and LE with the LE the all-singing model that commands a £2295 premium over the stocker. But our LE has even more bling with the £580 Sport Style Package, £430 Dynamic Package, £295 SOS Call, £280 Keyless Ride and £345…

All too often on the MCN250 by the time you reach the B660 you are starting to suffer and this fun road becomes a chore rather than a fitting climax. But thanks to the impressive comfort levels of these tourers, this was far from the case. The R1250RT is so efficient at covering miles that during the whole MCN250 there wasn’t a point it wasn’t excellent, but while riding the B660’s flowing sections it really did shine. The way such a big and heavy bike manages to disguise its bulk is impressive and while many view tourers such as the RT as ill-handling and softly-sprung, the introduction of electronic assists such as Dynamic ESA changes the game. “I’d be perfectly happy to go for a ride-out with sportsbike mates on…

V4 powerhouse A modern miracle, Aprilia’s 1100 V4 is so good they’ve just squeezed it in their RSV4 superbike. No engine delivers such a perfect blend of power, sophistication, character and drama. Electronic screwdrivers Rebound and compression damping are adjusted by stepper motors inside the Öhlins forks and shock, based on road and wheel speeds, lean angle, rider aids and IMU readings. Techy TFT dash The dash features a new suspension icon, which shows which of the three automatic or manual modes you’re in. Go deeper into the menu and you can fine tune semi-active or manual modes.…

I’ve been lucky enough to cover big miles on the majority of class leading adventure bikes for over ten years, but the arrival of the new 790R has put the biggest smile on my face. Having been slightly at a loss as to why the class continues to see engine capacity and kerb weight climb, the 790 is different. Now 1100 miles into my journey with the Austrian middleweight there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful, and a couple to make me glum. The power to thrill Although I have ridden the bike off-road on the launch in Morocco, all my mileage on my test bike has so far been on the road. The biggest thing I’m struggling to comprehend is how a 94bhp parallel twin can feel so…

COOKSTOWN 100 ROAD RACE, CO TYRONE, NORTHERN IRELAND APRIL 26-27 ‘Get close to the race action’ With superbikes doing battle on the streets, this about as close the action as you can get, at a race event. Route Head north on the A29 towards and as you arrive in Maghera continue on until you see the right fork to Upperlands. Roll through the countryside and you’ll soon be in Kilrea. In the centre of the village you need to turn right then first left. It won’t be long before you see signs for Ballymoney. Stop off at Joey’s Bar before aiming for the coast road from Portrush through to Ballycastle. With rocky outcrops and stunning coastal views, progress is slow but this isn’t a road you’ll want to…

Nowadays it is impossible to buy a top-end sportsbike that doesn’t come with a huge array of electronic assists. Items such as ABS, traction control and power modes are the bare minimum while semi-active suspension, launch control and engine braking control are commonplace. That ramps up the price of new bikes but the good news is that there are plenty of options in the used market. BMW S1000RR 999cc | 204kg | 193bhp | 820mm seat height • Dealer up to £9000 • Private up to £8200 • This one 2010, 21,000 miles The original generation of BMW S1000RR blew its competition into the weeds. The first sportsbike to feature a full electronics package of ABS, TC and power modes, the BMW also linked them together and added an angle-sensing…

1 Get-you-home fixes Designed as a temporary fix, a tubeless repair kit will get you going again very quickly. When using a kit like this it’s essential that you stick to the instructions, especially when it comes to the size of the repair and your maximum speeds afterwards. Equally important is to make sure you get the temporary repair looked as soon as possible. 2 Choose your kit You have two options when choosing a temporary repair kit. The first is the aerosol type that inflates the tyre using a combination of gas and sealing liquid that seals the hole as it squirts out. The other type of kit uses a plug to patch up the tyre before you deploy carbon dioxide gas canisters to reflate the tyre…

• ‘He showed he can beat anyone’ KEVIN SCHWANTZ • ‘We have 16 more times to try again’ DAVIDE BRIVIO Alex Rins’ maiden MotoGP win in Texas last weekend was Suzuki’s first victory since Maverick Viñales won at Silverstone in 2016. But coming at only round three of the 2019 season it has paddock insiders hailing both rider and bike as genuine title contenders. But while Rins might have put on a stunning display at CoTA to take his first victory at the start of his third season in the premier class, team boss Davide Brivio is acutely aware that they shouldn’t get ahead of themselves after only one taste of the podium prosecco. He said: “I don’t know if it can become the new normal, but for now we…

The 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship promised drama and it delivered with a first race that brought chaos, intrigue and a last-corner clash that saw sparks fly between McAMS Yamaha duo Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran. The two riders had been the men to beat throughout practice and carried that into Silverstone qualifying, with 23-year-old Mackenzie edging out 31-year-old O’Halloran by 54 thousandths of a second for a career-first pole. But it was O’Halloran that led the opening race – for almost 30 laps until Mackenzie took the advantage into Luffield with an audacious lunge, leading to inevitable contact and one of the most contentious starts to a BSB season in living memory. What looked like it would be a dream McAMS 1-2 was shattered just metres from the line…

Not a single punter predicted it on the run-up to the season but after a dramatic opening round Josh Elliot is a BSB winner and joint series leader. The 24-year-old rode the race of his life in race one and was on schedule for third until O’Halloran crashed and Mackenzie was penalised. He then backed that up with another brilliant performance onboard his non-factory Suzuki GSX-R1000 to secure second meaning he shares the lead with Mackenzie. “I’m ecstatic!” Elliot laughed. “I can’t believe it. I finished second and was balling my eyes out after the flag. I got changed in my motorhome and then one of the bosses told me I’d won. McAMS brought the trophy up to my garage. Just crazy!” The 2015 Superstock 1000 Champion continued: “I’ve been…

Malle’s Great Rally is a fabulous ride that takes bikers from the very Southernmost tip of the UK up to the Northernmost. Over the course of five stages, 100 riders of classic and custom motorcycles will cover 1250 miles through the hills and valleys of the UK. As you might expect, this year’s event sold out in double quick time but now they’re offering the chance to win the very last ticket, as well as all the gear you need to do it. The one lucky winner will join the Iron and Air Rally team aboard a custom built Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, which they will pilot across all 25 checkpoints of the long distance race – when we say race, what we really mean is ‘average speed closest to…

Kawasaki have announced a new event dubbed the ‘Ultimate Ninja Experience’ where potential Ninja ZX-6R owners can get to try the new bike while getting coached by some pretty special instructors. The star coaches include Leon Haslam, Chris Walker and Glenn Irwin, and the sessions will take place on some of the UK’s very best – and most dramatic – circuits between April and September this year. The days – which cost £319 –are intended to give customers the chance to put the newly revitalised middleweight Ninja ZX-6R through its paces in a controlled environment and pick up some expert tuition along the way. ‘I thoroughly enjoy being able to pass on my experience’GLENN IRWIN, KAWASAKI BSB RIDER “We are extremely excited to be working with No Limits Track Days…

The Thruxton 500-mile production race attracted all the top racers like Hailwood and Read in the 1960s and Triumph saw its potential as a shop window, producing 52 homologation special Bonneville Thruxtons. Echoing those events 55 years ago, just 750 Thruxton TFCs will be made, costing £17,500 each. The first ‘new’ Thruxtons arrived in 2004 and with clean models holding their money well, you’ll need over £4500 for a good one. 2019 THRUXTON TFC What is it? The 1200cc Thruxton ‘Triumph Factory Custom’ (TFC) is the firm’s first bike to emerge from their high-end in-house custom division. It gets a hotter engine, carbon bodywork and Öhlins suspension. MCN says “In true Henry Ford myth parody, there’s only one body colour available – black, with gold coachlines.” Want to buy…

‘They handled more than 100 stolen vehicles’ Two men who handled more than £1 million worth of stolen vehicles have been jailed for 11 years after a major investigation led by the Metropolitan Police’s Organised Vehicle Crime Unit. The two men were targeted after it was believed they were selling stolen motorcycles and vans on eBay. Mantas Balciunas, 35, of Midsomer Norton, Somerset was found guilty of handling stolen goods and conspiracy to handle stolen goods. He was sentenced to a total of seven-and-a-half years’ imprisonment. His accomplice, Liaqat Ali, 47, of Ilford, Essex was found guilty of conspiracy to handle stolen goods and was sentenced to four years and three months’ imprisonment. Over the course of the investigation, the police were able to identify more than a 100 vehicles…

Aprilia have just launched their new Tuono V4 1100 Factory under the guise of it being the best thing since sliced bread (no real surprises there) – see p36. This is partly thanks to its new Öhlins semi-active suspension, which Aprilia claim is the most advanced semi-active system available. But what is it? The hardware is Öhlins’ Smart EC 2.0, running on a pair of NIX forks and a piggyback monoshock through a dedicated control unit. Just like other systems out there, it feels what’s happening on the road and responds to it in real time. There are also three semi-active modes (Track, Sport and Road), just like other systems. Where the Aprilia set-up really wins is when you want to adjust things yourself. ‘You don’t need to be an…

The Motorcycle Industry Association say they will continue their fight with TfL to see motorcycles exempted from London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone. Under the charge introduced on April 8, non-compliant bikes will have to pay £12 per day to drive into the area, which operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The MCIA say that the charge is unfair as a small 50cc scooter would have to pay the same as a diesel 4x4, despite producing much less pollution and taking up far less road space. “The Mayor of London and TFL have simply got this wrong,” says Tony Campbell, CEO of the MCIA. “We find it quite incredible that TFL and the Mayor continue to discriminate against the users of motorcycles and scooters and to ignore their…

Buy a used bike, and sell one too! We’re bringing MCN’s classified ads to life at this year’s festival with the new MCN Bikes for Sale Live pavilion. Featuring a wide range of machines from dealerships and private sellers, the area will packed with bikes for every pocket from low-mileage minters to bargain restoration projects. Want to sell your bike at the show? With 20,000 people expected at the show there’s no better place to sell your bike. Displaying your machine in the MCN Bikes for Sale Live pavilion couldn’t be easier. Pre-register on www.mcnfestival. com and on the day bring along your driving licence and the V5 document for the bike.…

I do find it strange how electric motorcycles generate such venom from people who, generally, appear to have absolutely no first-hand experience of them, are clearly biased against the idea and fundamentally wrong with their understanding of how they work and what they are supposed to do. Do I own an electric motorcycle? No. Am I rabidly against them? Er, no. Do they suit the sort of riding I do? No, and that's why I don't own one – I need a bike that can do a 70-odd-mile each way commute most days along with riding during the day to different sites where there are no charging points. And that's why I have a Triumph Tiger 1200. Week after week I read letters from MCN readers who moan about the…

When it comes to a tourer that does it all, beating the RT was always going to be a huge ask for the Niken GT. Especially against the updated R1250RT, whose ShiftCam motor has raised the bar yet again this year. While the Yamaha’s clever tech certainly suits a more touring-orientated machine, the Niken GT is too much of a bolt-on special to rival a dedicated tourer such as the RT. If it was armed with  proper panniers that lock, an electronically-adjustable screen and semi-active suspension it may be closer, but as it is you need to actively want a Niken rather than its performance for it to be at top of your wish list. The R1250RT is only a few small details short of being a five-star bike. If…

1 Making the mould Richard will either use a bike as a template or create a mould from modelling clay. “The accuracy is all in the mould,” he says. “We have a 3D scanner, but I prefer to do it the traditional way.” 2 A perfect impression An impression is made from the clay using fibreglass as Richard starts making the pattern. 3 Tooled-up The pattern is covered in tooling quality materials and reinforced with fibreglass to create the moulds. 4 Laying the carbon Using a wet-lay carbon process, the mould is painted in epoxy resin before a layer of carbon fibre is added and more resin painted on. The number of layers depends on the application. 5 Curing The parts cure overnight at accelerated…

‘The throttle response is the best of any bike I’ve ridden’ If you own one, you don’t ride a motorcycle, you ride a Harley-Davidson. The American brand with its iconic bar and shield logo has transcended the line between motorcycle manufacturer and cultural icon. But with this success comes its own set of problems and many motorcyclists tend to look down their noses at, or even actively avoid, the brand due to preconceived images of what being a Harley owner entails. The truth is that modern Harley-Davidsons, and their riders, are a far cry from the Easy Rider and Hells Angels days of old. Nor are most of them mid-life crisis accountants. So isn’t it time you forgot the stereotypes and gave a Harley a go? “To me Harleys have…

THE STUDENT Ian Doran, 55, Grantham BMW S1000XR rider Ian’s confidence took a knock when he and his pillion were involved in an accident last summer. Ian’s riding problem “We’re fit again and want to put the accident behind us – but my confidence is low, especially around roundabouts.” THE TUTOR Mark Edwards, 58, Rapid Training Formerpolicemotorcyclist,Mark’sbeen teachingpeopletobesafer,better,faster riders on the road for the last 20 years. Mark’s action plan “I’ll show Ian how a proper approach and the correct line can take the fear out of negotiating even the trickiest of roundabouts.” THE LESSON 1 Take a confident position When faced with a right turn around a roundabout, Ian was naturally placing himself too far over to the right of his lane. Taking a more central approach will…

‘The Z900 lives up to the spirit of the original’ THE OWNER Jamie Rule, 57, Cambridgeshire Fenland farmer Jamie dabbled in schoolboy MX before passing his test at 17 and has owned everything from Kawasaki KR-1Ss to Ducati Desmosedicis. He now has a 2019 Suzuki GSX-R1000, a 2019 Yamaha WR450 and this Z900 RS. ‘ikes have always been B a big part of my life,” says MCN reader Jamie Rule. “I started riding off-road as a youngster, then when I passed my test in 1979 it opened up the world of road bikes. Being a teenager during that era, Kawasaki’s Z1 900 left a big impression – it was the world’s fastest and most sophisticated sportsbike.” Since then, Jamie’s owned many sportsbikes and was one of the lucky few to…

‘Local hero McLean will ride in every class’ The waiting is over as the 2019 road racing season blasts into life at the Cookstown 100 this weekend and there’s a host of new and old faces to look out for at the Northern Irish event. Classic TT winner Dominic Herbertson is a last-minute entry and the Newcastle racer will debut his Davies Motorsport machines after recently joining the Honda squad. The Englishman will face stern competition from two Irish riders, Derek McGee and Derek Sheils, who are currently dominating the Irish National scene. Veteran Sheils, the winner of the last five Cookstown superbike races including last year’s Open race, will make his debut on the new Burrows/RK Racing Suzuki around the 2.1-mile Orritor circuit. He will be joined by new…

The unlikely pairing of French former World Superbike champion Sylvain Guintoli and Irish electrical engineering guru Tom O’Kane continue to play a crucial part of the Suzuki success story. Now test rider for the Hamamatsu team, Guintoli has been linked up with former factory team crew chief O’Kane as the Irishman stepped back from racing to concentrate on his PhD. Working to develop new updates for the bike (and taking to track at Jerez only 24 hours after Alex Rins’ victory in Texas for a scheduled test), the race team put a lot of their success down to the close pairing between test and race squads. Able to deliver updates to the team almost ready to race thanks to the duo’s vast experience, the move to have a faster responding…

Tommy Bridewell left Silverstone the top Ducati rider, his Oxford Racing Panigale V4 out-scoring both factory bikes thanks to finishing positions of fifth and fourth. The rider from Devizes had a dreadful start, harpooned in Friday practice by Tyco BMW’s Keith Farmer who incurred a six-place grid penalty. “In the end it was very good,” said the chirpy 30-year-old. “I didn’t think we’d bounce back as strong as we did; it caused massive expense for the team, so the last thing I wanted was to smash it up again. Saturday was difficult and I was surprised to qualify seventh. I shouldn’t say this, but it was easy! • ‘I knew people would be eager but some of the moves were stupid ’ “When the new Ducati doesn’t like a particular…

The bike that stunt rider Bud Ekins rode to an International Six Day Trial win while he was filming The Great Escape is being auctioned by Bonhams at the Stafford Spring Sale this weekend. The machine is a 649cc 1962 Triumph TR6SS Trophy – a rare bike in itself as it was one of the last pre-unit bikes (where the engine and gearbox were separate items) to roll off the production line, and was on sale for less than a year. As a good off-road racer and occasional stuntman, while Ekins was in Germany filming The Great Escape with good friend Steve McQueen he decided to enter the ISDT which was being held nearby. Ekins asked Triumph to ship the bike, which he rode to a Gold Medal win and…

This coming week sees American Ernie Vigil attempt to conquer the Norra Mexican 1000 race aboard a lightly modified Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE. Having previously entered the Baja 1000, only to break his leg badly during training, he is now fully recovered and fit for action. Triumph say his bike is in ‘near-standard condition’, with changes from showroom spec extending to a desert racing seat, lights, grips and extreme profile sand tyres. The bike also gets a unique paintjob using Triumph’s signature black and white graphics. The Norra Mexican 1000 – which runs from April 26 to May 3 – is a hardcore racing challenge that tackles more than 1000 miles of rocky desert, quicksand, unpredictable 1000bhp racing trucks and the elements. Starting in Ensenada, Mexico, the original 1000-mile route…

‘Temperatures ranged from cold through to brass monkeys’R5K MEMBER MARK LEONARD Members of the #Ride5000Miles group have a sense of adventure, with pictures posted of trips to far-flung shores. You’d usually see snaps from Mark Leonard, exploring the leafy lanes around his Exeter home but earlier this year he traded the rolling Devon countryside for the icy lakes of Mongolia. With lost luggage, freezing temperatures and nights spent sleeping on the floor of locals’ homes, it was an organised chaos that made for unforgettable memories, on the trip arranged by Vintage Rides. It was a baptism of fire from day one for Mark and his fellow travellers, sharing the riding duties of their Royal Enfield Bullet 500, complete with a Yeti sidecar. “Temperatures ranged from cold through to brass monkey…

Start-up British electric motorcycle manufacturer, Arc, have released the details of their new crowdfunding opportunity. Unlike some crowdfunders where you effectively just buy something in advance, the Arc scheme is a proper investment. That means if you do put your cash in, you’ll own a slice of a British motorcycle company. Obviously if you only invest a small amount then you’ll own a teeny amount of the company, no Gordon Gecko hostile takeovers here, but in return for your support at such an early stage Arc are offering a few perks. The perks range from the smallest investment of £500, which bags you a VIP tour of the manufacturing facility and your name inscribed on the wall, all the way up to a £500,000 investment, which gets you a custom…

As spring gets into its swing, so bike night season begins. Lincolnshire-based mail order megastore Sports Bike Shop organises one such gathering on the third Tuesday of every month, and over 500 bikes turned up last week for the first one of 2019. “It’s always good fun and there are plenty of people to talk about bikes with,” says Hayabusa riding Dominic Debenedictis from Bicker. “Plus the shop is open, which is handy as I need a few bits!” SBS staff do a grand job of marshalling the event, and as the site fills up bikes take to lining the surrounding streets. It’s an industrial area, so there are no issues with parking. ‘It’s grown organically from a local bike meet’ “There are so many different bikes to look at,”…

BMW are bringing a huge test fleet to the festival. From the C400 maxi scooters to the R1250GS and S1000R Sport and everything in between. The festival now boasts fleets from BMW, Ducati, Indian, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Triumph and Yamaha. Just go to the relevant stand in the Black Horse Manufactuer zone with your lid and licence and sign up for as many test rides as you like! • C400 X SE • C400GT • C650 Sport Highline • G310GS • F750GS • F750GS • F850GS • F850GS • F850GSA • R1250GS • R1250GS Exclusive TE • R1250 GS Rallye TE • R1250GSA TE • R1250GSA Rallye TE • S1000XR • S1000XR • R nineT • R nineT Pure Sport • R nineT Racer Sport • R nineT Scrambler •…

ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL DELUXE This was my 250cc Enfield Deluxe which I got new on my 16th birthday in 1964. The reg was BBD 807B. Rick Hammond JAWA 350 Here’s my big brother aboard a Jawa 350cc two-stroke twin in what must have been around 1963. Les Norman YAMAHA YAS3 125 Small bike for a six-footer and I’m sure the trousers lost me 20mph, but it got me around and my missus too! Chas Thomason TRIUMPH TIGER 90 This is me on my dad’s Triumph Tiger 90 in about 1974. Dig those protective sandals! Simeon Aldren VESPA This was my first time riding on my cousin’s small-frame Vespa out in Sicily. Giuseppe Laspisa TRIUMPH DAYTONA My first big bike after passing my test in around 1972. They were great days…

The Niken’s single-colour LCD dash displays the bike’s speed, revs and gear position as well as the heated grips’ level, fuel gauge and trips etc, but it does feel a bit cheap due to its lack of colour. Oddly, when the speed hits any number ending in ‘1’ the digit’s position makes it blend into the side of the speedo like a vertical bar. Sadly the RT lacks the latest BMW TFT dash, but its display is colour and contains a clear gear indicator and it is easy to understand the various menus etc that control the heated grips/ seat and ESA mode. YAMAHA YAMAHA SWITCHGEAR Easy enough to use, and has a separate button for the power mode on the right-hand bar (the TC button is below the dash),…

If you are into motocross, then Pro-Carbon Racing will need no introduction because this British firm have cornered the market when it comes to quality carbon fibre kit for off-road bikes. So much so, that many of the machines lining up on world championship grids are using their protection. Formed in 2002 by Richard Preston and co-owned with his brother Nick, Pro-Carbon Racing was the result of a love of off-road riding. A former motocross rider who has been racing since he was six, Richard trained as a moulder for a cast iron firm but then in the late 1990s he turned his hand to forming shapes out of carbon. “I had a Thundercat at the time and you could buy so many cheap carbon parts for it as everyone…

‘The way the Tuono rolls into corners borders on the spiritual’ Aprilia’s Tuono V4 1100 Factory is basically an RSV4 fitted with motocross bars and pumped full of midrange. It howls like MotoGP missile and goes like a superbike, but with its upright stance and tourer-like wind protection you don’t have to suffer with crushed wrists and a sore back. Put simply, it’s the best road-going sportsbike money can buy. Eye-watering £17,000 cost aside, there isn’t a single thing you’d want to change. The Tuono ticks every box for the discerning thrill seeker: a brain-fizzing 1077cc, 173bhp V4 motor blessed by the gods of grunt and power and an exquisite polished aluminium, three-times WSB championship-winning chassis. Electronic rider aids are the best in the business and it comes with the…

‘It was, in fact, the first ‘superbike’. A new word had entered the lexicon’ Fifty years ago this month, British bikers got their first look of the machine that would change motorcycling forever. On April 5 1969 at the Metropole Hotel, venue for the Brighton Motorcycle show, two pre-production examples of Honda’s all-new CB750 were displayed for the very first time. As the first mass-production motorcycle with not just four cylinders but also a disc brake and electric starter, the CB750 set the new standard for sophistication. It was, in fact, the first ‘superbike’. A new word had entered the lexicon. And as the first big-bore, multi-cylinder machine from the Far East, the CB not only ushered in a new era of Japanese dominance, with similar ‘UJMs’ (‘Universal Japanese Motorcycle’,…

Salesman, Sycamore Harley-Davidson “Harley’s buyer is actually getting younger. When I started here ten years ago most were in their mid-40s, now they are late 30s, and it is driven by TV shows or films such as Sons of Anarchy or Captain America. To the young generation, a two-wheeled hero isn’t necessarily a sportsbikeriding Rossi. And PCP has made a huge difference as younger riders are used to signing up for a mobile phone on a monthly payment. But the older generation is still just as strong and the Harley Owners Group is a huge draw. But don’t think it is all bearded men. HOG is very inclusive and partners are encouraged to attend. In fact, the Harley brand is inclusive; there is as much riding kit for women as…

1. READ THE SIGNS Decide early which exit you need and what lane you need. Remember to check mirrors and to signal correctly. 2. SET SPEED Move to the ideal position in your lane, and adjust speed using brakes. Ensure you’re in the right gear for your speed. 3. PAINT AN ARC Your line should be the smoothest, straightest path. This will result in fewer inputs to the bike’s controls. 4. POWER OUT With the bike stable you’ll be able to keep your vision lifted towards the exit. Open the throttle and power out. ENTRY LINES Ian was starting out too far to the right so it was making it hard to take a clean line around the junction.…

Held custom suit £1400 Tested by Emma Franklin, six months, 1500 miles This suit has been custom made to my size and specification in Italy by German manufacturer Held. I was comprehensively measured up by one of their dealers, then we sat down in front of a computer and used their online configurator to order the materials, colours, cut, type of lining, and any logos I desired. I ordered a full cowhide suit in a racing cut. Although heavier than kangaroo, cowhide tends to last longer, meaning that it could withstand a few club racing crashes before it needed replacing. I then picked the colours to match my new race bike. It took around 12 weeks to arrive. The quality is top notch; there’s literally not a stitch out of…

‘I’ve always wanted to wear Dainese since being a kid. Who wouldn’t?’ Bradley Ray, BSB rider “The suit itself is as flexible as a normal suit, you’d never tell there’s an airbag system in there. The weight is very similar, too, it’s just knowing that the extra safety’s there if you do tumble down the road. “I’ve had a few crashes and every time I’ve been surprised by how quickly and reliably the system activates. It knew something wasn’t right and triggered before I hit the ground. I’ve never had any issues with it going off accidentally, either, despite a few lairy situations! “When it goes off it sort of flexes and grips your shoulder, chest and back areas really tightly, but your arms are still free to move. “Since…

It was a baptism of fire for Scott Redding as he traded the surroundings of Circuit of the Americas, Mugello and Phillip Island in MotoGP for Silverstone’s National Circuit. A philosophical Redding spoke with MCN about his ‘lucky’ first podium and being manhandled out of Race 2 from a pack of riders he felt considered him a target. “I really enjoy the series and the amazing reception from the fans,” said the 26-year-old Be Wiser Ducati rider. “My Race 1 podium wasn’t deserved, as Jason O’Halloran went down when his own team-mate took him off.” Redding never found out if setup changes had paid off in race two courtesy of Andrew Irwin. The Honda rider then became BSB’s first recipient of the new Long Lap Penalty after their Lap 4…

It wasn’t the kind of start Buildbase Suzuki anticipated. A Friday crash caused damage both to Bradley Ray’s bike and confidence, as lowly 16th and tenth places in Sunday’s races came in stark contrast to his Donington double at the start of 2018. Not only that, but new team-mate Luke Stapleford proved the quicker of the two as he completed the races in seventh and fifth positions. For the second season in a row, Suzuki won the opening race, but it was the privately-run OMG team and Josh Elliot who celebrated victory following the penalty for Tarran Mackenzie. The emotions were contrasting in the Hawk Racing-run Buildbase garage, as Stapleford shone while Ray struggled. “Well, I didn’t expect that,” Stapleford said, racing back in Britain after a return from World…