Table of contents for 24 April 2024 in MCN

IN SPORT Ryan Vickers is victorious in BSB There’s no doubt whatsoever that Navarra is a ‘Yamaha circuit’, but even taking that advantage out of the equation, the performance that Ryan Vickers delivered at the Spanish circuit was impressive. Even a last lap, last corner front-end washout didn’t stop the young Brit standing on top of the podium with a 100% strike rate from the first two races of the new BSB season. So what’s changed to turn raw talent – but a lot of errors and crashes – into a series-leading position of dominance? We get under the skin of emerging star, Ryan Vickers. ‘Smile and think ‘wow – this is fantastic!’’ ROGER MARSHALL ON RYAN VICKERS THIS WEEK Cameras to catch the distracted The threat posed to all road…

A South Yorkshire motorcycle trials park has been ordered to close following refusal of planning permission, four years after it was first submitted. Hooton Lodge Trials Park has been ordered to cease commercial operation by Wednesday, April 24 by Rotherham Borough Council, but owner Charlie Schofield intends to fight the decision, telling MCN: “We’re not just going to roll over.” The venue originally presented paperwork back in July 2020. Having then, according to the owner, “heard almost nothing” in the interim, the venue went ahead with construction. A decision to deny planning permission was then reached on March 21, 2024 with one month then granted for activity to cease, and an additional two months given for obstacles to be dismantled. “The Council considers that the formation and use of the…

SAVE £3604 £13,995 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa Suzuki’s cult classic ’Busa is still among the best in the business for churning out big miles at eye-watering speeds. While it still packs a mighty punch, it remains impressively comfortable and a surprisingly composed all-rounder. You can now have the ultimate in speed bragging rights with a saving that should help keep you in tyres. www.kcsuperbikes.co.uk SAVE £2350 £9999 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX Offering a grunty inline four, comfortable cockpit and slick steering, the big Ninja thou’ is an impressively capable sports-tourer. colchesterkawasaki.co.uk • Engine 1043cc • Power 140bhp • Weight 235kg • Seat height 835mm SAVE £1300 £11,999 KTM 890 Adventure R For dirt-based adventuring, the 890 is the cream of the crop. WP suspension, excellent ergonomics and a Dakar inspired low-slung fuel…

The Simon Andrews Legacy Fund is drawing to a close after a decade of work supporting injured racers, with the news announced on the fund’s Facebook page. The fund was created following the untimely death of popular racer Simon Andrews during the 2014 North West 200 meeting. A tribute lap was organised to take place on Mad Sunday at the Isle of Man TT the following month and after thousands joined the procession, the annual Simon Andrews Legacy Lap was born the following year. The lap, while carrying Simon’s name, is to remember all fallen racers as well as raise money for the Simon Andrews Fund for Injured Riders programme that assisted injured racers with rehabilitation. Fund organisers confirmed that the lap would continue during the TT fortnight, with the…

Clever tech could help bring down accident rates in the south west thanks to Devon and Cornwall Police’s new bike simulator. Throughout last year a team at the force set about interacting with the local motorcycling community to deliver ‘Streetwise’ sessions, which prompted a 56% reduction in motorcycle related deaths and serious injuries. Under the national Project ‘Apex’ initiative, the team then acquired the simulator as part of plans to engage with riders aged 16-24 according to Chief Inspector Simon Jenkinson. Motorcycle Casualty Reduction Officer, Ian Harvey, told MCN: “Motorcyclists are among the highest risk road users in Devon and Cornwall and across the UK, and we’re hoping the simulator will help us to provide vital skills to inexperienced riders in a safe environment.” The device makes use of a…

Ruroc Eox £399 This all-new addition to the Ruroc range gives the Brit firm’s distinctive streetfighter style a sleek new look. The Eox (pronounced ‘ee-yos’) boasts an aerodynamically sculpted carbon composite shell with an impressive 215° field of view, and has been designed with a ‘Right Fit’ formula to ensure a wide range of fitment for different head shapes. ruroc.com Laser magnetic tool mat £23.14 There’ll be no more scrabbling around for tools when working on your bike with this magnetic mat from Laser. Its flexible, thermoplastic construction contains 16 strong rare earth magnets that will hold spanners and screwdrivers firmly in place, while allowing it to be attached to any metal surface, without damaging delicate paintwork. lasertools.co.uk Alpinestars Celer V3 gloves £79.99 Featuring a perforated goat leather for abrasion…

mcn.letters@motorcyclenews.com motorcyclenews motorcyclenews MCNnews 'Who shrank the GS?' Is it me or are bikes getting smaller? The population is growing but bikes aren't, even the new BMW R1300GS has shrunk. It makes a bit of a mockery of power-to-weight ratios, if you make them smaller/ lighter then of course they are going to appear more powerful. It would be interesting to see a feature about taller riders (6ft 5in-plus) and how they get on, especially with a pillion. I ride a BMW K1600B and it's the first bike that makes me look small (at 6ft 5in and 19st) and my wife fits on as pillion passenger with no issue as well. Dave Nicks, email STAR LETTER Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star…

OUT AND ABOUT THE UK’S HOTTEST RIDES MCN staffers share their favourite riding routes Our ride begins on the military road surrounding RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight team, and one of two remaining Lancaster Bombers still flying, the skies above the Lincolnshire village are filled with past and present military aircraft on a daily basis. From here, we’re taking the A155 towards Spilsby and Skegness, pulling in at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre en route – the only place in the UK where you can taxi down the runway in an actual Lancaster Bomber. Grab a cuppa and take a look round their museum. If that isn’t your thing, then keep going towards the quaint market town of Alford, before wriggling through the countryside along…

GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer 'Back on a Blade' MIKE BRITT I owned a 2005 Fireblade some years ago and always regretted selling it. I found this lovely one a few months ago and have been aching to take it out for a run. 'Europe-bound' DAN WHITE 1010 miles in six days, taking in Poperinge, Ypres, Bruges, Sint-Niklaas. Then to Nijmegen and Arnhem. Plus the Nürburgring, Luxembourg and Bastogne. 'Scottish camping' MARK J FOLEY I’ve done 4700 miles this year to date and counting! This pic was taken on a cold night in Aviemore, Scotland. 'New bike, new miles' PHIL BOYES I got a new bike recently – a Triumph Speed 400. It’s now on 850 miles and this was taken…

THE MCN TEST • THE HOTTEST BIKES • EVERY WEEK £27,195 (£700 extra for paint options) Indian Challenger Dark Horse • 1768cc liquid-cooled SOHC 8v V-twin • 120bhp @ 5500rpm • 381kg (kerb) Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d be writing today we are testing two race reps from Harley-Davidson and Indian. No, seriously we are. Believe it or not, the Indian Challenger and Harley Road Glide form the base (in a very loose sense of the word) for each firm’s King of the Baggers race bike for a rip-snorting series in America. For the uninitiated, King of the Baggers is basically two-wheeled racing insanity. Initially conceived as an invitational one-off race in 2020, the series has grown into a hotly-contested championship that sees heavily modified factory-supported baggers from…

'Bagger for modern life' In terms of performance, comfort and even (arguably…) looks the Challenger is a better motorcycle than the Road Glide… especially if you plan on regularly taking a pillion. It is just more refined and with far fewer of the annoying old-school clunks. The Indian is a bagger that feels built for modern life. Yes, its TFT dash is less impressive than the Harley’s but overall it’s a more polished product. But there’s a battle of head and heart here. If you buy the Indian you know that every person who comes up to you will say ‘is that a Harley?’ and you will have to explain who Indian are. Thankfully, Indian have a rich heritage (they were founded before Harley) but over here they don’t have…

MCN’s website has expert opinion, owner ratings and buying advice on hundreds of used bikes, regularly updated and packed with insight. Here are three of the latest – visit motorcyclenews.com for more. 2004-2006 Kawasaki KLV1000 Owners’ rating Six owners have reviewed Kawasaki’s re-branded V-Strom, scoring it a fairly average 4.3 out of five. Build quality is a weakspot, the bike is reliable but can look tatty pretty fast. 2001-2010 Honda Varadero Owners’ rating There has been a strong response to Honda’s V-twin adventure bike with 42 owners reviewing it online. Its lack of equipment drops its overall score down. 2013-2017 Aprilia Caponord Owners’ rating While many have overlooked Aprilia’s V-twin adventure bike, owners insist it is worth checking out thanks to a low price, loads of tech, and excellent ride…

‘It was drier than the Sahara inside the WR’s engine’ Lubrication is important. Essential in fact. In order to keep a piston happily whizzing up and down thousands of times per minute for mile after mile, keeping oil in your engine is key. It is, in fact, the most basic of necessities for maintaining the health of your motorcycle. Unfortunately for one young biker, nobody had told him this, and it was not until his hard-working Yamaha WR125 melted its piston under the intense heat of an oil-starved engine that he learned the hard way. “He heard a clang, the bike stopped and he called us and asked us to collect him. When we inspected the motor, it was drier than the Sahara in there. “There wasn’t a drop of…

Tarran Mackenzie impressively scored points in both long races, 14th and 11th respectively despite riding an uncompetitive MIE Honda. This year the Scot’s crew chief is the highly rated Mick Shanley, who is also working as Technical Director. In the factory Honda team, Spain’s Iker Lecuona missed all three races after crashing at the chicane in practice. Dutch delight Glenn van Straalen brought Assen alive by winning Sunday’s World Supersport for Ten Kate Yamaha, complete with an orange Dutch livery. It was the first victory for the 23-year-old and first home win at Assen since Michael van der Mark a decade ago. Adrian Huertas (Spain) won on Saturday and now leads the championship. Mogeda does it for Sean Hurley Spain’s Dani Mogeda leads Supersport 300 after a superb Assen double.…

Going behind the headlines from Round 1 of BSB 2024 Round one saw Haslam leave Spain sixth in the title standings, having finished 11th and fourth after a torrid weekend of electronic gremlins throughout the test and race weekend. But as ever, Haslam refused to roll over despite suffering three crashes (something he’s not familiar with having only crashed twice in 2023). Let’s take a deeper look into just why 2024 could be Haslam’s year… 1 Age is just a number He may be about to celebrate his 41st birthday (only Josh Brookes is older on the BSB grid) but Superbike racing is not necessarily a young man’s game. With 32 races and the whole showdown strategy to contend with, having an old head on old shoulders isn’t necessarily a…

A key factor in Vickers’ success over and above the belief the team have shown in him is the fact that he has multiple British Champion Roger Marshall as his mentor. Speaking about their relationship, Marshall said: “We speak on the phone twice a week and we WhatsApp all the time. We both watch races over and over and we know where we can improve. We walk the track and we work on where we need tenth or two. A lot of work has gone into getting him to where he is. He’s got the talent and he’s got the speed he just needed refining. “But you can ask anyone in the paddock, when I left Steve Rodgers McAMS team where I’d been for six years to go and work…

Turn 1 at Navarra was the scene of some huge crashes during testing and the race and there is simply no other corner like it on the BSB calendar… • Apex speed final corner First gear, 41.01mph • Top speed at end of straight Sixth gear, 188.89mph • Time taken 41 to 188mph – 13.6s • Speed tipping into turn one 178.95mph. No brakes, just roll off the throttle • Speed at apex 142.91mph Data from Jason O’Halloran kindly supplied by former BSB winner Matt Llewelyn (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki). O’Halloran secured 10th and 6th with teammate Max Cook impressing with 8th and 7th.…

“Our research suggests the cost of motoring is one of the biggest issues our members are having to deal with,” Lyes told MCN. “Fuel prices are still a lot higher than many people are comfortable with. I think motorcyclists – particularly leisure motorcyclists – do have to check in and make sure they’re not potentially spending more than they need to.” He continued: “For people who rely on their bikes it’s always difficult. But if you’re using your vehicle for leisure purposes, you may think twice because it has just become very expensive to insure and run your vehicles. “We’re experiencing rising wholesale costs at the moment. A lot of that is being driven by tensions in the Middle East – particularly between Israel and Iran. It’s also the start…

Malle London have announced a nine-stage rally, taking riders from Copenhagen all the way to the Arctic Circle. Starting on August 7, 2025, the ride will send adventurers on the “longest and greatest motorcycle rally ever attempted across Scandinavia and the Arctic” according to the organisers, taking in biking roads of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, all the way to Nordkapp. Malle founder, Robert Nightingale, told MCN: “The Great Malle Arctic Rally continues the camaraderie and inclusive feel of The Malle Mile, but over 2000 miles.” Participants can rent motorcycles or ride their own bikes, either braving the ride to the start line, or by making use of the ‘Deluxe Package’ which includes direct transfers to and from the event. While the organisers pitch the event as a challenge, you don’t…

Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers is being honoured with a memorial ride from London to his hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. The “I’m having a Dave day” ride, takes place on June 8, kicking off at 7am from the Ace Cafe. The convoy will head north before reaching its final stop around 4pm with food stalls and speeches. Money raised will go towards The Institute for Cancer Research and Childline. New BMW R18s on the horizon? New BMW R18 models may be on the way after BMW Motorrad CEO, Markus Flasch, took to social media to tease future projects, stating: “There is something big coming.” An online image showed just the rear wheel, right hand mounted drive shaft and swingarm of the potential new model which bore a close likeness to previous…

Intrepid Italian Valerio Boni has entered the records books by setting a new benchmark for the furthest distance travelled in 24 hours on a 50cc scooter. Boni completed 615 laps of the Sitges-Terramar circuit in Catalunya, Spain, riding a Vespa 50 built way back in 1979. The record now stands at 766.19 miles, 189.5 more than the previous feat set in 2005 by Aussie, Mark Brown. He began the ride at midday on March 6, riding through to take his sixth accolade in just three years. ‘The concrete slabs are very uneven…’ “I saw the Terramar track for the first time in 2018 and I was fascinated,” Boni said. “The concrete slabs of the bottom are very uneven, but given the reduced speed, I considered taking the risk. “I must…

‘How PCP can save your bacon’ The other day I popped into a Triumph dealership and something caught my eye: the price on a Speed Triple 1200 RR. I’ve said before that I reckon Triumph have totally misread the market with this overly sporty retro and it seems like I was right as the bike was being advertised for £14,000 – which is £4000 off its RRP! And the dealer said he’d take £13,000 (and a loss) if it was offered to him just to get shot of it. All of which got me thinking, what impact would the Speed Triple RR’s lack of success have on owners who bought one new in 2022? After a three-year finance period (ending in 2025), anyone who paid outright or went with HP…

Q 'Is my payout correct?’ I'm completing a personal injury claim as a result of a no-fault accident. My solicitor has emailed me a figure from the third party insurer to which I have agreed. But, how do I know if this is the actual figure? I've asked for a copy of the formal offer from the third party insurer but instead my solicitor shared a copy of a CPR Part 36 which he composed. Should I be concerned? Mark L, email A CPR is the abbreviation for the Civil Procedural Rules which are the court rules covering litigation in England and Wales. Part 36 is the section of the rules dealing with offers of settlement of claims. Solicitors are under a duty not to mislead the court or their…

KEY TO THE AREA ■ SOUTH WEST ■ CENTRAL ■ NORTH & SCOTLAND ■ SOUTH EAST Wednesday April 24 BIKE MEETS ■ Amici Coffee Biker Night, Girtford Bridge, Beds www.amicicoffee.co.uk ■ Huggys Speedshop, Mallory Park, www.huggysspeedshop.co.uk ■ King Billy Rock Bar, Northampton. Facebook: The King Billy Rock Bar ■ Sycamore Cafe, Great Billing, Northamptonshire 4pm-9pm ■ The Old Stores, Pontblyddyn, Mold, Flints 6pm-9pm 07548-224866 ■ Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks www.squires-cafe.co.uk ■ Loomies, West Meon, Hants. Open till 9pm www.loomiescafe.co.uk ■ The Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe, Surrey. From 10.30am-1pm ■ Ryka's Cafe, Box Hill, Surrey 5pm-9pm www.rykas.co.uk SPEEDWAY ■ Poole Pirates, Dorset www.poole-speedway.com TRACKDAYS ■ MSV Evening, Donington Park GP, Derbys www.MSVTrackdays.com ■ MSV, Donington Park GP, Derbys from £169 www.MSVTrackdays.com ■ No Limits, Oulton Park, Cheshire £199 www.nolimitstrackdays.com TRIALS ■…

FIRST RIDE At first glance, Triumph’s Tiger 1200 Rally – both 20-litre-tank Pro and 30-litre-tank Explorer – have the same spec as last year’s bikes: same retuned 148bhp Speed Triple engine, same lumpy T-plane crank, same frame, suspension, brakes and ergonomics. But inside the motor Triumph engineers have addressed two of the major criticisms of the bike – the lumpiness of the T-plane crank, which caused unpleasant vibration for some, and the engine’s tendency to stall at low revs. They’ve also added a push-button preload reducer to drop seat height at low speed and standstill, all to make the tall Tiger Rally easier to manage. 1 Vanishing vibes Triumph’s T-plane crank was added to the Tiger 1200 Rally motor in 2022 to bring charismatic lumpiness to the smooth triple, and…

ICONS ‘Honda’s man in the US insisted the bike had better not be a twin’ With game-changing technology, reputation-busting capacity and unimpeachable reliability, the 1969 Honda CB750 ushered in an era of Japanese dominance. Boasting a 736cc inline-four cylinder engine, it was Honda’s largest bike and went on to set the template for the modern superbike. Not only that, but owing to its sophistication and keen price, also served as the final nail in the coffin for the British motorcycle industry. During the late 1960s, Honda were brimming with Grand Prix success, having scooped the manufacturers’ titles in all five classes during the 1966 season. Deciding to withdraw from GPs from 1967 in response to FIM rule changes, the firm instead chose to use this racing knowledge to develop the…

FIRST RIDE The Ténéré is brilliant on multiple fronts, including value, fun and ability. But the pricing of the original T7 inevitably meant certain compromises – chiefly the suspension quality for committed off-roading, and tank range for big tours or overland trips. The World Raid’s fully adjustable suspension and 23-litre tank made the mile-munchers happy – but it also added bulk that restricts its technical trail ability. Now, Yamaha have added the missing link to the range: the small tank of the standard bike, with fully adjustable, longer-travel suspension and some other upgrades to tempt serious trail riders. 1 Nice suspenders Fully adjustable suspension is the Extreme’s defining element among the ‘small tank’ Ténérés – the KYB forks and shock are more or less the same as the World Raid’s…

'It's a real alternative' Many bikes made outside the established Euro/Japanese factories look good value on paper, but few stack up in reality. On first impressions, the CFMoto doesn’t fall into that trap. And it’s good to ride, too -you can pick fault, but not anything that’s a deal-breaker. More road miles are needed to fully understand the road-going side of its dual-sport personality, but the off-road element is often the trickier bit for budget bikes to do well – and the 450MT’s performance in the dirt is more than respectable. If you’re looking at the CRF Rally or Himalayan this year, you’d be foolish not to scope out the CFMoto 450MT, too. THE FACTS £5699 CFMOTO 450MT…

BRUCE DUNN MCN’s expert technician Clearance checks Top-end checks will ensure your engine’s performing at its best 1 Remove the spark plugs Part of a bike’s regular service schedule, valve clearances need checking to maintain the engine’s efficiency, and the mileage at which they need checking will be detailed in the manual – on this VFR800F it’s every 16,000. Remove everything needed to gain access to and allow removal of the cam cover. Make sure the bike is cold, then remove the plugs. BRUCE’S TIPS You may need to remove or hoses or radiators as part of the job 2 Lift the cam cover Undo the bolts that retain the cam cover, then gently lift the cover away from the engine and keep an eye on the rubber gasket that seals it…

CoTA was immense; and Spain is set to be a thriller too The Circuit of the Americas (CoTA) produced one of the best MotoGP races we’ve seen in a long time. The paddock now returns to Europe, converging on Jerez in southern Spain. Maverick Viñales is the man of the moment, having won two consecutive sprints and the GP race at CoTA, but all eyes will likely continue to be on fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta, who’s seeking a third straight podium finish. Last year’s title fighters Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia will be keen to put everybody else back in their place – including Marc Marquez, who is still searching for his first win since 2021. Time for the top step? Pedro Acosta’s rapid rise to the top looks set…

This month we saw the future of world championship motorcycle racing. In two forms. In the USA for the GP of the Americas, it was Grand Ole MotoGP Opry, the hokum highlighted with gaming cosplay (Sonic dropping the checker!) enlivened by platoons of cheerleaders brandishing glitterball pom-poms and dazzling orthodontist smiles. The top three riders ran onto the stage to address the whooping crowd like rock stars. Viñales even said: “I love you, America!” Assen was a determinedly sombre old world contrast. Rain swept over spectators, riders squabbled with crew chiefs over tyre choice. The cheese remained firmly in the catering area. The common thread? Wait and see. Both MotoGP and WSBK are now under the umbrella of Dorna’s new owners, Liberty Media. To be precise, Liberty will only have their…

Nine races into his second World Superbike season and Remy Gardner has achieved his maiden podium – a long overdue one. It really should have happened in the sprint had it not been for an error at the last corner. “I’m kicking myself, man!” explained the 2021 Moto2 World Champion, having been overtaken by golf-playing partner Alex Lowes’ Kawasaki. “What was I doing?! I got back to the pits and thought to myself, ‘You’re a f***ing…’ Anyway, ‘What an idiot!’ is what I thought. I should never have left the door open like that.” Gardner had come close to the rostrum at the end of last season and has upped his game as the fastest Yamaha rider over the winter. “I’ve ended the curse, my two-year podium drought,” he says…

I think everybody was psyched out by Yamaha. In a lot of ways it felt like the other teams were beaten before they’d even started. All the talk in the paddock through testing was how Yamaha could do this or that around there. I know we hear that in MotoGP, but it’s not normally like that in BSB. There were only three Yamahas on the track and they dominated. I know Tommy Bridewell’s weekend didn’t go to plan, but he was actually the only rider to pass one of the Yamahas in the race. As for Vickers, maybe he’s come of age, maybe it’s his time. He’s had injuries at the wrong times, but this year there were no crashes over the whole visit, good qualifying and two great races.…

Ducati have expanded their 50/50 finance deal to incorporate their Monster and Street Fighter bikes. Customers using the Ducati Accelerate Finance scheme can pay half of the bike’s retail value as a deposit then, after two years, they can either give the bike back, or pay the remaining 50% totally interest-free, with no monthly payments throughout that period. The scheme was first launched with the 803cc Scrambler range. Stop by Sturgate Bikes, cars and trucks galore will be heading to the first Sturgate Straight event of 2024 this coming May – the first of three meets this year at the Lincolnshire airfield. It all starts on Friday, May 17 from 4pm, with visitors welcome either to show off their own bikes, or watch riders take to the high-speed strip. Tickets…

AGV Tourmodular + Intercom £439 Flip your lid at these hot helmet deals Modular helmets, or flip-fronts as most of us call them, provide an extra level of convenience for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. Being able to raise the chin bar means not having to remove it when paying for petrol, making a delivery or having a quick chat with your mates, and that can save a bundle of time. Heading up our pick of the online crop this week is this AGV Tourmodular, which comes with an integrated Bluetooth comms system, featuring Cardo’s class-leading mesh technology, as part of the package. The Tourmodular is certified to the latest ECE 22.06 safety standard, with P/J homologation for use both open and closed, and features a…

GET YOUR FIRST FOUR ISSUES FOR JUST £2! Subscribe to MCN now at: greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn-offer Being MCN’s in-house videographer, I’ve been excited about the arrival of the X4 since I spoke to the Insta360 team at the EICMA trade show in Milan, late last year. I started filming family holidays with action cameras on early GoPros, way before we had 360-degree vision. I already use the X3 for MCN videos and have had the X4 under embargo for around two weeks. Comparing them back-to-back on my Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 test bike, I was actually a little disappointed at first. The extra weight to accommodate the batteries can make it feel slightly bulky and awkward on your helmet, with the batteries now different from the old model. This means you can’t…

Send your first bike pics to: yourpics@motorcyclenews.com Not exactly his first bike but this is my son getting his first taste of biking on my CB1000 in 1990. Sandy Cameron VESPA PX125 My first scooter when I was a boy, great fun was had. I now have a Yamaha XJR1300 and Honda VT1100. Duncan Smith YAMAHA FS1-E Me and my younger brother Geoff on my 1975 purple Fizzy. A great bike that never let me down. Alan Hool Me on my first motorbike, a 1985 QR50. I bought another a few years back just to start and smell the smoke! Andy Sewell This was my first bike as a 17-year-old in 1974 – a 175cc Francis-Barnett light cruiser. Simon Mills Fast forward to 2023 (see top left) and here is…

1 April 26 Bikes & Banter This Friday, the Lowes twins will be chatting with Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne on stage at the Lincolnshire Showground (LN2 2NA). Doors open at 6pm with tickets ranging from £25-£79. bikesandbanter.co.uk 2 April 28 Huddersfield Autojumble The Victorian market in Huddersfield (HD1 1RG), is playing host to what promises to be one hell of an autojumble. phoenixfairs.jimdofree.com 3 April 28 Bike4Life One of the biggest rideouts in the UK is happening this weekend to the Bike4Life festival. There’s a new venue this year – Weston Park, Shifnal (TF11 8LE). bike4lifefest.com 4 April 28 IAM Women's Day at Thruxton Thruxton (SP11 8PN) is playing host to a women’s event run by IAM Roadsmart. It’s a free rider skills day with tuition but you’ll need to book in advance. iamroadsmartsolent.org.uk…

MACH FESTIVAL May 22-26 The globe-trotting eccentric Nick Sanders is hosting his last ever Mach Festival this year. So if you don’t want to miss out on the likes of cabaret, fine dining and great music – including a performance by the legendary Rich Wakeman and ex-Stone Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim – best get booking! Held at Nick Sanders Expedition Centre in Machynlleth, there are only a few tickets left, so check out www.machfestival.co.uk before they go. COOKSTOWN 100 April 26-27 Road racing is back on Northern Irish tarmac this weekend with the historic Cookstown 100. This year all spectators require a pre-booked wristband in order to attend. You can grab them from the race office from £25 for the whole weekend, or by emailing cookstown100@hotmail.com. See cookstown100.org for more information.…

'Smooth and potent now' Triumph’s initial T-plane crank met market resistance because some riders complained of bad vibration. All sorted now – the motor is smooth and potent, offering a blend of pulsating feel and emotive growl. You wonder why Triumph didn’t make it this way two years ago. Low-speed behaviour is much improved, with a lighter clutch feel and more manageable, ultra-low rpm delivery. Active Preload Reduction is a bit of a gimmick, but it does give most riders more confidence finding the ground at standstill. Now, the Tiger Rally feels more than a match for BMW’s R1300GS. THE FACTS £18,295 Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro…

'Built with solo riding in mind' Alison Silcox, Office Manager (5ft 10in) “I’ve done a lot of pillion riding and, as standard, the Road Glide is the worst bike I have ever been on the back of. Which came as a big surprise because I assumed it would be really good – it’s a Harley, aren’t they designed for touring? “The Harley’s pillion pad (it isn’t called a pillion seat, that’s an accessory item) is not only very small but is angled backwards, meaning you tend to slide off the tail of the bike (or at least feel like you are) and to counteract this sensation you end up continually tensing your core, which is tiring. The panniers dig in on the back of your legs as the pillion pegs…

Such an evolutionary step as the CB750 sent rival manufacturers into innovation overdrive, not least of which Suzuki, whose 1971 GT750 became the first Japanese bike with liquid cooling. A 739cc two-stroke triple, the water cooling brought an air of quiet refinement to the Suzuki’s ride (as did its slightly lardier 237kg weight), meaning it was more of a sports-tourer than a superbike – even though with 67bhp it matched the Honda on peak power. That said, the model still benefited from chassis technology developed using Suzuki’s GP racing know-how. In the US it affectionately adopted the nickname ‘Water Buffalo’ whereas in the UK it was known as ‘Kettle’ and in Australia ‘Waterbottle’.…

'It's the missing link' The creation of the Extreme was an obvious move to anybody who’d tried the standard bike and World Raid back-to-back. The suspension quality alone is worth the extra money, but the enhanced steering and improved protection confirm what top value it is. In fact, we’d question the need for the standard bike: the Extreme is for serious off-roaders, the World Raid is there for touring, and the road-focused, lower-riding and higher-spec Explore is due soon – also just £700 more than standard. Only the Extreme’s seat height counts against it – we suspect most buyers will need a lower seat. THE FACTS £10,906 Yamaha Ténéré 700 Extreme…

As it turned out, the valve clearances on this VFR800F were all within spec so didn’t need any adjustment, which is brilliant. However, the process of checking the valves did reveal that it was time for the cam cover gaskets and seals to be changed, as there were early signs of oil starting to weep out. In all fairness, the gaskets were probably originals, so after countless heat cycles and after 26 years, it was time for new ones to be fitted. As mentioned in the steps, it is critical to make sure the rocker cover gasket and seals are correctly located, because it’s fairly easy for them to be dislodged when being installed. On this VFR, it looks like a previous owner decided to glue the gasket in with…

Nobody predicted that Nico Spinelli would win on his World Superbike debut. Yet that’s exactly what happened when red flags came out on Saturday, the Italian being caught hand-over-fist by Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista before the race was stopped. Following Nicolo Bulega’s achievement in Australia, it’s the second time this season that a rider has won on their debut – and just the eighth time in history. Spinelli, 22 from Atri in the Abruzzo region of Italy, is a double Moto3 Champion in his native Italy as well as claiming the Supersport class in 2022. He has now won races in both MotoE and WSBK this year! The win – sealed by an inspired decision to fit intermediate tyres on a drying track – brought delight around the paddock,…

Reporting direct from the Assen round of World Supers As a bitterly cold wind swept across Assen on Sunday evening, the World Superbike paddock left the venue with its head held high following another mesmerising weekend – not least because having been heavily criticised by some after making the decision to switch to BMW, Toprak Razgatlioglu has become the first rider to claim three race wins this season. But it’s more than that… it’s the way he does it and the way he turns things around which makes it all so special. A month earlier, the Turkish rider’s last-corner overtake on Alvaro Bautista at Barcelona went viral. He’d never previously won in Catalunya for Kawasaki or Yamaha but took the BMW to victory in two races there. Now he’s triumphed…

Luke Stapleford saw his near perfect British Supersport weekend scuppered in the final metres of race two. The Macadam Triumph rider won the opening Sprint race and was on schedule to claim back-to-back victories until his bike cut out metres from the finish line, dropping him to second. Reigning champion Ben Currie won the race, which made up for his 11th in the Sprint where he was controversially penalised for an incident with Eugene McManus. Currie said: “I went from the unluckiest 11th place of my career to the luckiest win of my career.” Davey Todd stunned with two podiums onboard the Powertoolmate Ducati, despite admitting he only came to Navarra to test in preparation for the NW200 and Isle of Man TT. Jack Kennedy secured third and fifth on…

Reporting direct from the opening round of 2024 TOP STORY From the moment the British Superbike grid filed out of the Navarra pitlane for two days of testing prior to the opening race in Spain, the smart money was on the Yamahas to do the winning. That was down to the nature of the track, which couldn’t have been better designed to suit the way the sweet-handing R1 steers, changes direction and finds grip on the edge of the tyre. But while a victory for Yamaha seemed inevitable, no one could have predicted that it would be Vickers that not only won both races but also the style and race craft he demonstrated en route to such undisputed success. Despite a strong 2023 season with the OMG Racing Yamaha team,…

Glenn Irwin looked like the only man capable of keeping the Yamahas honest in Navarra, qualifying in fourth despite a mistake on his Superpole lap before finishing fourth in the opening race. In what was a landmark event for the new-look Hager PBM Ducati team, who have undergone far-reaching changes and restructuring to retain their position on the grid, Irwin was unable to capitalise on an initially strong start to finish eighth in race two. Speaking to MCN, he said: “From the test to the race something has changed drastically with the bike because we lost all the strengths I had. It feels like a different engine so there’s work to do when we get back to base.”…