Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2016 i BIKE

FANCY WHOOPING PERFORMANCE yet wallet-friendly fuel efficiency? Then feast your eyes on new forced-induction twin-cylinder middleweights from Kawasaki and Suzuki, promising sportsbike pace with commuter economy. Fuel consumption of a four-stroke engine is dominated by throttling losses. At light load a vast proportion of fuel energy is wasted simply overcoming work done by the engine to draw air past a partially closed throttle. Nearly everything done in the automotive industry to reduce fuel consumption (and CO2 output) tries to address throttling loss. Downsizing is effective. Car firms use a smaller engine so that for any given torque the throttle is wider open and losses reduce, and then pressure charge – turbo or supercharger – to retain maximum power. Kawasaki have the ridiculous supercharged H2, but have always said it’s a…

VALENTINO Rossi is the king of reinvention having won on pretty much everything from 125, 250 and 500 two-strokes to 800, 990 and 1000 four-strokes. Now knocking on 37 years old he must reinvent himself one more time for what could be his swansong season. Rossi has never been a fan of hi-tech electronics but the lower-tech Dorna electronics have taken him by surprise. ‘At first you are angry because the bike is more difficult to ride,’ he says. ‘But for the racing this will be good because it will be a lot more difficult to always make the same lap time, so the battles will be better and more fun. The new electronics are a big difference, like we jump into the past, to 2008 or 2009.’ Yamaha’s 2016…

» 3 – 16 January Dakar Rally, Argentina and Bolivia If you ever needed an excuse to take that trip to South America, the chance to catch a couple of stages of the world’s greatest race is it. Or watch it on the telly and salivate over what the continent has to offer. dakar.com » 12-14 February MCN London Motorcycle Show, Excel Centre Featuring the ‘Inspirational Adventure’ zone, the place to get up-close with the latest adventure bikes and kit, and see what tours are on offer for the rest of 2016. mcnmotorcycleshow.com » 21 – 22 July Twinshock Trailfinder, Oliana, Catalunya Austin Vince’s annual Pyre-knees-up for twin-shockers is back again. GPS and motocross gear strictly off-limits. Book before the end of December and get a fifty quid discount. austinvince.com/twinshocktrailfinder…

FROM CLUB RIDER on a Yamaha TY80 to professional sportswoman, Emma Bristow is the top girl in the very male sport of trials: in October 2015 she finished the notoriously difficult Scott Trial in 28th place, four marks shy of a coveted Scott Silver Spoon. In one of the toughest single day World trials titles don’t come easy though, especially in the restricted women’s championship format: ‘The sections and the championship being the way it is (just five rounds spread across three weekends in Czech Republic and Spain of which just three results count) make it so easy to lose through injury, mistake or a mechanical.’ events in the world, Bristow measures herself at the Scott as a trials rider first and a female second: ‘That was gutting. To get…

BMW Their first-ever sub-500cc roadster, plus the expanding retro greatness R nineT Scrambler Pre-customised version of the custom-ready roadster » Launched in 2014 with able handling, punchy boxer and superb quality, the R nineT is the premium choice in the jeans-and-jacket market. And now there’s a Scrambler version. The 1170cc twin is Euro 4 compliant, with twin high-level cans. Wheelbase grows to 1527mm, head angle is a lazy 28.5› and there’s more trail. You sit higher on the 820mm seat, with new bars and lower pegs giving a stance that’s more… well, scrambler-like. As before the pillion seat is removable. Forks have 5mm more travel (and gaiters), with an extra 35mm at the rear. Wheels are slimmer, the front growing to 19 inches, and spokes are optional along with auto…

A couple of weeks ago it was my 40th birthday. I spent it kicking my heels in a Yaoundé dosshouse, chasing cockroaches out of dark corners, waiting for a visa and wondering just how the hell I was going to revive my ailing bike and failing trip. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I’ve been around a bit, but Bike has been on the road since before I was born. Often feckless, sometimes reckless, habitually potless and, yes, occasionally legless, I’m just the latest in this long and (in)distinguished tradition of staffers, scribblers, contributors and correspondents to hit the road and hope in the name of this magazine. Some made it home. Some found new homes on the other side of the world. The world never stops changing…

Austin Vince (20,000 miles to go) The remarkable story about Vince isn’t so much what he went on to do (a couple more expeditions, taught maths in London, settled down), but the impact his film of the trip had. It was broadcast over 120 times in 14 languages and was watched by 70 million people. Eight years later it came out on DVD, a certain Hollywood actor bought one, put down his light sabre and the rest is history. You could actually argue Mondo triggered the whole adventure bike frenzy. The DVD of Mondo and the follow up expeditions, ‘Terra Circa’ and ‘Mondo Sahara’ are available on ebay and Amazon.austinvince.com Heinz Endler (Bored by Bavaria) Heinz’s story of riding a Yamaha Ténéré down the length of Africa changed…

» Aprilia Caponord Rally Total mileage: 3235 Tyres: Continental Trail Attack 2 Price: £14,134 otr Story this month: two-up dash to the final round of MotoGP at Valencia in that there southern Spain. » Suzuki GSX-S1000 Total mileage: 4409 Tyres: Metzeler M7 RR Price: £9499 otr Story this month: continuing to provide fuss-free transport and a steadfast ride in dodgy autumn weather . » Kawasaki Versys 1000 Total mileage: 3079 Tyres: Maxxis ST Price: £11,060 otr Story this month: festooned with additions and extras in a well-planned attempt to unlock its inner genius – see p150. » Triumph Tiger 800XCx Total mileage: 804 Tyres: Bridgestone Trail Wing Price: £9999 otr Story this month: new arrival to the test fleet wows on first contact and is prepped for these darker months.…

This month: 1990 Yamaha TZ250A Other bikes ridden: KTM 300 Miles ridden: 79 I’VE JUST BOUGHT a 1990 Yamaha TZ250A (the last of the reverse cylinders). Surely one of the prettiest racing bikes ever – it’s absolutely gorgeous. Although, it has to be said, not quite so nice in pink (as it is now). I’ve always wanted one and they just keep going up and up in value so I thought I better bite the bullet and get in there. I’ve been after a 1993 TZ like I used to race for ages but haven’t found a nice enough one yet. But this one came up in Japan and although in need of a complete restoration it’s exceptionally original and never been in a big crash. When finished it will…

» KX forks: £1700 I never stop because once you’re into the loop of getting bits for bikes it’s almost impossible not to buy if the condition’s good and the money’s right. I’d buy a set of factory Kayabas for a Kawasaki KX250 that’d be £1700 so I’ve completely busted the £1500 already. » Magnesium: £300 Magnesium engine covers are around the £300 mark and magnesium hubs are always worth having too. Carbon mufflers are always on the shopping list, anything to keep the weight right down to a minimum if you’re trying to build something really special. Decent pipe: £250 I bought a good pipe for a Honda CR500 once (about £250) and dad was in the garage and he said, ‘What’s that for?’ I told him it was…

» 2008 KTM RC8 Ad says: 9125 miles, two previous owners, a very well presented bike with low miles and Akrapovic exhaust, full KTM service history. We say: Temptingly low miles, iconic all-orange paint scheme and the desirable exhaust, too. We like. Just check it has a fuel map for its exhaust and that the 9000-mile major service has been done – some owners sell before they have to pay out. Price: £5995 Contact: mcnbikesforsale.com » 2009 KTM RC8R Ad says: 10,450 miles, 2009 model with Red Bull graphics. Only one owner from new, full MoT, comes with service book, handbook and two keys. We say: More power and crisper handling on this R – it’s the pick of the models. Make sure you like the aftermarket stickers, as…

Mike Armitage Deputy Editor »Didn’t fully know what bikes we’d get in 2016 but the Milan show was riddled with goodies. I quite fancy a fit new SV650 (p41). Jamie Duncan Trip advisor »Coming back from Africa before the end of the journey would be a downer, but turns out it was still the best trip of my life (p128). Steve Herbert Digital Art Editor »Never been to an overseas race, so toddled down to Valencia on our Caponord for the MotoGP finale (p144). Simply unbelievable.…

» The German car firm – and Ducati’s owners – have been fiddling emissions. Jamie Turner, professor of engines at University of Bath, explains what this means for bikes. ‘All vehicles are tested on ‘drive cycle’ to check emissions compliance, and measure CO2 and fuel consumption. Drive cycles dictate a speed-time trace the vehicle must follow within a tight limit, and vehicles are prepared in a pre-determined way – warmed, maybe run through a conditioning test, put in an overnight temperature soak. Details vary for particular tests/protocols, but it’s all very controlled, and so it isn’t difficult to tell when a vehicle is on a drive cycle. ‘So VW used a detection algorithm (‘defeat device’) on American diesels to switch engine maps for one that complies when tested. In the…

» Marc Marquez had a grim 2015, winning just five races and crashing out of six. The 2015 Honda RC213V had grip problems on corner entry and corner exit, so their aim for 2016 is to tame the engine. ‘We are working to make the torque delivery smoother and to improve the feeling with the gas,’ says the 22-year-old. ‘With less electronics if you have an aggressive engine you have more engine cuts.’ Jorge Lorenzo feels the same way. ‘With the new electronics it’s very difficult to understand the traction control, wheelie control and engine-braking control.’…

THE YEAR 1992 doesn’t seem that long ago when you are standing looking at a Britten V1000. That year rider Andrew Stroud came tantalisingly close to winning the Daytona SuperTwins race, being beaten by US team Fast by Ferracci’s Pascal Picotte on a Ducati 888. It was a case of factory Superbike versus the backyard Britten from New Zealand and started the legend of a minimalist V-twin that still looks futuristic. In October history repeated itself in the US, but this time Andrew Stroud won against the Ducati 888. It was the unexpected highlight of an amazing three days where John Britten’s family joined the owners of eight of the ten V1000 Brittens made. It was a celebration of the 20th anniversary of this talented designer’s premature death from cancer,…

THE PARTS GUY looked at me like I had a penis growing out of my forehead,’ says Steve Whiting. Which is what tends to happen when you casually explain to someone not of the custom persuasion that you are building a Duda. Yes, a six-cylinder Honda CBX thousand engine in a Ducati 999R chassis. Steve Whiting (55 years old and of sound mind from Kelowna, Canada) embarked on this mildly preposterous quest when a work buddy offered him his 1982 CBX free of charge… ‘Being a Ducati 999R fan and having two of them sitting in my basement along with almost enough parts to build another bike, it was obvious what had to be done here,’ says Steve. Somewhat typically, the parts man then offered to buy the CBX off…

» 12 December, 2015 Freestyle motocross Championship, Bulgaria The FIM Freestyle World Championship (the whipping, front-flipping, nac-naccing supermen) reaches its climax in Sofia. Cheap flights and a bit of pre-Xmas shopping anyone? nightofthejumps.com » 9 January, 2016 Indoor X-Trial World Championship, Sheffield For the 21st time Sheffield Arena will host the world’s elite trials riders. 18 times world champ, Toni Bou, will batter the opposition and make the seemingly impossible possible. sheffieldarena.co.uk » 9 January onwards Supercross, North America Between January and early May 2016, AMA Supercross razzamatazzes across North America with a spectacle of speed and precision over fearsome jumps. See it live and you’ll begin to understand. amasupercross.com…

It hit me as the bike flowed through another bend. This is a constant. In a life that has changed in more ways than I am used to, the one thing that has stayed the same (apart from family) has been my bike. Over the last few months I have moved to another part of the country I would never have thought I would have spent time in. Riding the VFR home was one of the few items of the day to raise the shadow of a smile. It was a constant, always waiting to bring me home in the dark evenings even as the rain pounded down. Now that I am living elsewhere and starting what seems to be a new chapter in my life the VFR, or more…

This month: Ducati Monster Other bikes ridden: H-D Sport 750, R-E Classic 500, Kawasaki Vulcan S Miles ridden: 266 WITH A FINAL wipe of the chamois the Monster was gleaming. I was so proud. Then, as I took it off the paddock stand, CRASH! The sidestand connected with the slight incline of my driveway and up it flipped. Swearing uncontrollably I used all my adrenalin-fuelled strength to pick it up. Then I took a breath and began the damage assessment... Luckily it would be cheap-ish. I think I’d followed the bike down and cushioned the impact. Best bit was the tank escaped injury, but a Ducati dealer was called and new parts ordered straight away. Twat! » Part 1: Clutch lever Price: £37.50 The end snapped clean off, I heard…

» Bike’s team of test riders for this bike: Mike Armitage Deputy Editor » High-mileage daily commutes, leisurely jollies, pillion capers. Paul Lang Art Director » Bike’s resident fashionista, Ducati nerd, enthusiastic Monster 900 owner. MartinFitz-Gibbons Contributor » Middleweight fan, tested the Scrambler back-to-back with rivals. ‘The handling has a previous generation Ducati feel, scribing long sweeping arcs’ URBAN ENDURO There are three other Scrambler variants (see left). This Urban is finished in matt Wild Green, with a high front mudguard, braced handlebar, decoration skid plate, brown seat and headlight grill. The tank’s steel, but the side plates are aluminium and interchangeable with accessory parts, as is the clock surround. REAR END Unlike Triumph’s Scrambler, which is a new bike built like an old one, the Ducati…

VOLUME The RC8/R should pass 98dB noise tests on a trackday, but be careful with aftermarket pipes. A full system will be close to the ACU’s upper limit of 105db, so it’s noisy days only. ADJUSTABILITY The RC8 looks (and sounds) like an uncompromising, track-focused, fire-breathing race bike for the road. However, it offers the user-friendly benefit of adjustable rider ergonomics: the footrests have two height and two lateral position adjustments. Foot levers have variable operating angle and lever length, the subframe can be moved into one of two positions for a higher or lower seat, and the handlebars can be adjusted for height and angle. The shock also features an eccentric adjuster to allow you to alter the rear ride height. It can all be done with the standard…

» My favourite road that isn’t on the TT course has to be the A36 above Port Erin. I grew up round here and used this road to test my bikes. It’s quite bumpy and narrow but open with spectacular views – like the Mountain. It starts off in the south at Ballakillowey and heads north over the Slouch and up towards the bottom of South Barrule. I’d then turn off left on the A27 towards Peel. I used to have a rip round the island on a Sunday afternoon with all the lads, and we’d always do this road. » Don’t ride the bottom of the circuit through all the villages with 30mph speed limits. The last thing you want to do is bother people by hooning past their…

This guide only contains the bikes that have actually been evaluated by fussy, obsessive, full-time testers. This isn’t a brochure-style round-up of machines on sale, but genuine opinion and information gathered during hundreds of thousands of road miles, day in, day out, in all weather. Not to mention the countless dyno runs, in-depth datalogging, weighing and specialist involvement. Buying a new bike? Don’t part with your cash until you’ve read this first. HARLEY-DUCATISON Ducati’s Panigale V-twin is high-tech, with liquid cooling, plain-bearing crank and a chain off either end of the crank for its four-valve heads. They probably didn’t expect these to be features of a Harley too: the 749cc unit in the budget Street 750 (see p66). Actually, the H-D is smarter – the 60› V-twin’s cylinder head covers…

» 20 March Qatar, Losail » 3 April Argentina, Termas de Río Hondo » 10 April The Americas, Circuit of the Americas » 24 April Spain, Jerez » 8 May France, Le Mans » 22 May Italy, Mugello »5 June Catalunya, Catalunya »26 June Netherlands, Assen »17 July Germany, Sachsenring »14 August Austria, Red Bull Ring »21 August Czech Republic, Brno »4 September Britain, Silverstone »11 September San Marino, Misano »25 September Spain,Aragon »16 October Japan, Motegi »23 October Australia, PhillipIsland »30 October Malaysia,Sepang »13 November Spain,Valencia…

MANY OF US dream of jacking it all in, selling up and taking off around the world on a bike. The pressures of work, kids and mortgages mean that few of us ever manage to turn those dreams into reality. But, that doesn’t have to mean that exploring far-flung and mysterious parts of the world is off limits, far from it. Organised tours are adventures for the rest of us. Let somebody else take care of the planning, the route and prepping the bike, while you just fly in and ride-off into the sunset. And if the bike breaks down, you can kick back and grab a beer while somebody else sorts it out. These are some of the most interesting organised trips on offer for 2016 and, best of…

You always have a choice in life (whether or not you realize it at the time). Your choice this winter is either California Dreamin’ or cold, hard northern European reality… » 29-31 January Elefantentreffen (aka Elephant Rally), Solla, Germany The big one for masochists the world over and unremittingly ‘Back to the future’ after the softie excesses of 2014 that resulted in the new hardcore rules set in place last year. Strictly no cars, vans, pre-pitching of tents and all the other low-scoring behaviour that turned a perfectly decent few nights in sub-zero conditions into a bad rendition of a Steampunk weekender. A mere 25 Euros. bvdm.de » 13-14 February The Dragon Rally, Wales As per usual, and still somewhat amazingly, tickets are fast selling out for this frost-bitten fiesta.…

THRUXTON Stunning 1200cc cafe racer in two versions. Blinged up R model gets USD forks, Öhlins shocks and other trick bits. Both get massive power boost. In dealers this spring. STREET TWIN 900cc budget model with low seat, cast wheels, single front disc and minimalist instrument pod. It’ll be in dealers in January, with riding impressions in next month’s Bike. T120 Traditionally styled model with wire wheels, proper dual seat and twin clocks. ‘Black’ model has monochrome detailing. In dealers in spring, at the NEC next month. IT’S BEEN A while since Triumph threw a party. The revitalized company has been a ‘judge us on our actions’ kind of concern ever since relaunching in 1990. There’s nowt wrong with that, as long as the bikes are good enough to do…

» Yamaha will have a range of 40 accessories available as soon as the XSR arrives in dealers. Buyers can obviously mix and match, but there are two ‘packs’ available too. The ‘Funride’ concept features a flat seat, fork gaiters, tank grips, a bikini fairing and an ugly high-level exhaust. The ‘All rounder’ concept includes canvas man bag panniers, phone cases, knuckle guards, racks and whatnot.…

»This might not be the end of the road for the doughty Kwaka either. I left it in Cameroon with my new mate and bike mechanic Abraham, who’s trying to fix what he can. All I need is a few visas, a bag full of parts and a bit of cash and I could be back on the road. In fact, I might not need as many parts as I thought, because I’ve just checked the tracker and the Tengai is lapping Yaoundé faster than an airliner in a holding pattern. It seems Abraham has managed to breathe some life into it. You can follow Abraham’s new bike courier business by pointing at: events.biketrac.co.uk/profile/bike-magazine-to-south-africa-on-a-1000-bike/…

This month: Triumph Tiger 800XCx Other bikes ridden: Ducati Scrambler, Royal Enfield Classic Miles ridden: 1542 LAST MONTH THE cast wheel 800XRT disappointed me in our group test. No, ‘disappointed’ is the wrong word; I found its distance-chomping bias didn’t give a proper ‘adventure’ sensation. T for touring: the clue is in the name. Our new bike is a spoke-wheel XC, however, with a small but important ‘x’ on the end. And after our first few rides it puts the x in excellent. Triumph made Tiger 800s smoother and more efficient for 2015, and added traction control and switchable ABS. Importantly the XC also got long-travel WP suspension, intended for greater off-road ability yet giving a superior on-road experience. Forks and shock are plush and make pockmarked lanes feel like…

This month: Kawasaki Z250SL Other bikes ridden: Ducati Scrambler, Royal Enfield Classic Miles ridden: 532 OLD FOOLS LIKE ME HAD IT EASY. Back in the paleolithic era you could ride a 250 on L-plates and all you had to do to pass your test was ride around the block for a myopic examiner. Things have changed. Here’s how the absurdly complex the UK’s licencing system works. I think… »16 years old; you can ride a 50cc scooter on L-plates after passing your CBT (Compulsory Basic Training). You can do a practical test, to get an AM licence to qualify you to ride a moped without L-plates. »17 years old; you can ride an 11kW/125cc bike or scooter on L-plates after passing your CBT. You can opt to do a two-part…

SPORTSBIKE Yamaha YZF-R6 ‘Knocked rivals into a cocked hat’ »Why: Lightweight, pretty, powerful and ultra revvy, the first generation R6 knocked its ponderous 600cc rivals into a cocked hat. Comfortable riding position, decent clocks and ample under-seat storage. »The history: Developed alongside the R1, but launched a year later in 1999, the R6 was the first 600cc-class machine to produce over 100bhp. It ruled the supersports roost for three years until Suzuki fought back with the GSX-R600 K1. »What to check: The R6’s single-piece ‘Blue Spot’ brake calipers were regarded as this era’s best-performing braking system. However, today regular stripping and cleaning is required to keep them working well, so check the calipers and pads. »How it rides: Fast, frantic and fun. Super-smooth, carb-fed fuelling up to 15,500rpm redline, the…

Like a lot of riders I have a bike-mounted camera, but can these cameras bite your backside if things go wrong? The fundamental limitation with cameras is they catch one, admittedly fairly wide, angle. So, if you are side swiped on a roundabout they may not add much. If forward mounted they would demonstrate a classic T-bone crash but these do not take a lot of proving. I have been involved in a fair few cases where the moment of impact is caught on camera and cameras do no harm, but I have also been involved in the defence of riders whose exuberant riding has been filmed by the rider himself. The Police have limited statutory powers to seize the camera in evidence. There is no statute which specifically gives…