Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 i BIKE

» Please excuse the indulgence, but when presented with a photo opportunity that involves an exotically dressed camel herder, a pair of camels and a genuine desert, it’d be rude not to take full advantage. Rachid and I were attempting, through garbled French, to discuss the merits of the camel versus the new KTM 790 Adventure. He was understandably interested in the bike’s seat covering choices. Disappointingly the Moroccan rug option doesn’t currently feature in KTM’s otherwise comprehensive Power Parts catalogue. That’s one up to the camels I reckon. We were in Morocco for the launch of the KTM 790 Adventure – I know, I know, it’s a tough job – and it was extraordinary. The roads aren’t up to much, straight and bumpy, like Lincolnshire’s finest Fenland Superhighway, with…

» Where are you right now? I’m home in England, a far cry from a few months ago! » Where’ve you been? ‘You regain your faith and belief that most people are actually decent and friendly humans’ First we headed across Europe, riding the Trans Euro Trial where possible. After Europe we had the culture shock of Central Asia. We headed across Turkey and circled the Northern coastline of the Caspian Sea before heading East across Kazakhstan and then south through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Then we travelled along the Karakorum Highway from Kashgar, Xinjiang, China, to Islamabad, Pakistan. Finally, we took a trip through India, and finished the first half of the ride in Kathmandu, Nepal. That took us just under four months and 13,000 eventful miles. The second half…

‘Building properly functioning machines that are also works of art’ JODY MILLHOUSE IS an exceptional young man. Exceptional in that this 26 year-old has already mastered the skills necessary to undertake almost every aspect of building a motorcycle that’s a properly functioning machine and also a work of art. Think about it. That means the cutting, fabricating and welding of frames and exhaust systems, the creation of body panels using age-old techniques such as English Wheeling. Then there’s the engine building, lathe milling, the stringing together of electrical components and the painting. Everything, ‘Except,’ as he wryly admits, ‘seat upholstery…. I’m no good with a sewing machine.’ Named after the Buckinghamshire village he grew up in, with a nod to ancient county boundaries and also the ton-up boys of his…

DRAW LOTS Even with today’s 3D tools the designers at Ducati begin things the old fashioned way, with a blank sheet of paper. This is then transferred to a computer but remains a hand drawn 2D sketch, known as the ‘key sketch’, which is a reference point. FEATS OF CLAY Raw clay is an expensive base material, so only one model is ever made per bike. How expensive you ask? About the same price as meat, so I’m told, although only medium quality stuff. A flat iron then, rather than the full fillet. MUSCLE CARS? REALLY? The designers draw inspiration from all walks of life to avoid routinely producing bikes that look and feel similar. The Diavel shape was influenced by American muscle cars of the 1960s, while the finish…

» The crank layout of the new 999cc inline four is conventional, so no real surprise there. However, it’s interesting because of switching cams with the new ShiftCam application, where the camshaft carries two cams for each inlet valve – one with lift and timing for bottom-end performance, one for high revs. BMW claim increased torque at low to medium revs, increased top-end power, lower emissions and a 4% improvement in fuel economy. The cams for cylinder 1 are shared with 2’s (and similarly 3’s with 4’s), so something really interesting drops out – the two cylinders sharing a ShiftCam pack fire 180 degrees apart and, assuming about a 300-degree cam period (actually crank degrees), this means they only have about 240 crank degrees to establish the switch. At the…

SLIMMER, LIGHTER, FRIENDLIER, more manageable. A new breed of adventure bikes bring the benefits of go-anywhere ability and continent-crossing comfort to those of us who don’t want (or need) 1200cc, 250kg and 160bhp. The fashion for ever-larger and more high-tech adventurers has created astounding machinery, and we’re as blown away by the latest R1250GS as the next person. However, we also see the distinct advantage of power that’s usable rather than overwhelming, of a chassis that can be wielded with vigour rather than caution. Bikes like KTM’s new 790 Adventure and Yamaha’s forthcoming Ténéré 700 (below)join the updated BMW F850GS and revised Triumph Tiger 800 in the growing ranks of mid-size bikes, with levels of usability and affordability that open adventure riding to a wider audience. The giant trailie is…

PERFORMANCE TESTING The Tiger’s easy to launch briskly (turn off the TC for really fast starts), although 60mph coincides with the rev limiter in first gear, which affects 0-60 times. It’s stable flat out. PERFORMANCE 0-60mph: 3.42s 1/4 mile: 11.94s @ 112mph Top speed: 130.5mph (indicating 138mph) 40-80mph top gear: 6.05s Braking 70-0mph: 52.02m (ABS on) SPEEDO ACCURACY 30mph:28 60mph:56 90mph:85 FACTS AND FIGURES Triumph’s head geometry is always racy – the 800’s rake and trail are much sharper than a Ducati Panigale V4. They keep the bike stable with a wheelbase that’s 10mm longer than on the Tiger 1200. TYRES Triumph push the Tiger 800 out with Metzeler Tourance Next. It’s a good tyre in all conditions, and doesn’t wear out in ten minutes either. However, there’s a long…

Buy the bike you really want » If it’s got to be a certain colour or year, be patient – otherwise your bike will never quite be right. Make it yours » Invest in bolt-ons, alter suspension, play with the controls – you’ll form a bond and reinforce that it’s your bike. Stay connected » Spend a happy winter afternoon in the garage, put a picture on your screensaver, stick a photo on the mantelpiece. Have pride » Don’t let familiarity breed contempt. Keep it clean, stay on top of servicing, correct faults. Keep your bike sweet and stay in love. Ride the thing » Don’t get into a rut with set days and routes, go out whenever you can. Nowt beats the feeling of riding your pride and joy.…

STICKING EXHAUST VALVE Sticking exhaust valves are common on all GSX-Rs of this era. The reason? Corrosion or prolonged disuse cause the cables actuating the spring-loaded valve to stop working. As the valve’s only function is to satisfy noise regulations at low rpm (although Suzuki claim it boosts low-range torque), removing the cables from the actuator pulley will permanently open the valve, solving the problem. Removing a wire from the back of the ECU or fitting a Servo Eliminator module will sort out the dash warning light. SUSPENSION LINKAGES The GSX-R750’s accessible power and roomy riding position make it a superb road bike, so it’s not uncommon to see some fairly high-mileage examples. However, these bikes are now at the age where previous owners might’ve skimped on important chassis servicing…

You receive the ‘name the rider document’ for your bike. The obligation to name the driver requires a notice to be served within 14 days on the registered keeper, asking you who the rider was. If this question is made more than 14 days after an alleged speeding offence you are likely to have a solid statutory defence, subject to some technicalities. It might be tempting to name your mate, real or imagined, in New Zealand as the rider, but the attraction of that idea is superficial. When a foreign or untraced driver is noted the police check. As the MP Fiona Onasanya found out. At this point the speeding ticket became a perjury charge so what could have been eight hours at a driver re-education camp becomes an attempt…

BASED ON THE mighty GSX-R1000R, this is the Suzuki Virus II. It’s a stripped-back yet high-tech supernaked with 202bhp, and you can buy one from a Suzuki dealer. Or at least you can if you pop across to Switzerland. It’s the work of Dominique Grangier and renowned Swiss dealer Moto Virus, who have form for competent race bikes and crisp specials. They built the original Virus a few years ago, based on the previous GSX-R, and wheeled out the Virus II at the recent Zurich show. Obviously the fairing and clip-on handlebars have been ditched, replaced with a high ’bar from accessory company Motacc which ‘changes the driver’s sitting position and allows relaxed driving’. The original LED headlights are used in a new binnacle, freshly-made plastic hangs either side, and…

NAME A YOUNG rider with extensive race-winning experience at Grand Prix level who is moving over to Superbike this year and is going to give the ‘regular’ championship winner a particularly hard time. OK, the answer is not Alvaro Bautista because he’s a long way north of 30 years old, but he fits the rest of the criteria. In fact, after what he and his Ducati did to the field in the opening round of the World Superbike Championship, even Jonny Rea is looking worried. The question now is can Rea’s consistency prevail over the speed of the new combination? It’ll be a tall order but I have the sneaking suspicion that there will be one or two tracks the V4R doesn’t like and I’m assuming the organisers will shave…

»Having trouble finding something to do on your big adventure bike? Then Adventure Spec Challenge (ASC) should fit the bill. ASC is essentially a big-bike friendly navigation challenge that takes place in some of the wildest woodland England and Wales have to offer. Aimed at riders with little or no roadbook experience, competitors will be supplied with simplified roadbook equipment and all stages have been pre-ridden on showroom tyres. Locations include Kielder and the Isle of Man. adventure-spec.com/ challenge…

» 2 May and 6 June Krazy Horse, Late Nights, Bury St Edmunds Fronted by Paul Beamish ( Bike , February), one of the country’s foremost Indian dealers and custom houses throws a party in their own backyard, first Thursday evening of the month. There’ll be barbecue, a band (or two) and libations of one sort or another, plus a chance to meet hundreds of other custom and hog fans and do a little shopping. krazyhorse.co.uk » 30 May-2 June Unwanted MCC Bike, Trike and Custom Show, Burton-on-Trent This long established three day thrash now features 19 competition categories which, as the name suggests, includes several for customs and trikes. There’s camping, food, booze and bands on all three nights. A weekend pass is £9, advance. unwantedmcc.co.uk »…

» John Haynes, creator of the Haynes manual which encouraged us to believe that we could fix our own motorcycles, has died at the age of 80. Before Haynes’ photograph and diagram-packed products, which were written to be understood by Saturday afternoon bodgers, manuals were intended only for professional mechanics. Haynes manuals were occasionally exasperating, but were always a reassuring presence in the amateur’s garage. Alongside a can of WD40 and a 12 inch adjustable spanner. Thanks John.…

Expedition top-box Not listed for the XRT, but our bike definitely has one. Tough, watertight, easy to open/remove. £300 though, and needs the £116 sliding carriage to mount it to. Sump guard Only a nutcase would attempt anything rougher than a freshly raked veg bed on the Tiger, but this ally adornment makes the 800 look... well, proper. It’s £205. Folding gear lever The standard gear lever is a bent piece of steel plate, and one of the Tiger’s few weak details. This curvy aluminium job for £75 is more in-keeping with the bike. Paddock bobbins The Tiger 800 XRT has a nice centrestand as standard. And yet Triumph list £26 paddock stand bobbins as an official accessory. We have no idea why either.…

BEDDING IN Before you fit new pads always clean your brake discs. This is especially important if you’ve gone for pads made by a different manufacturer as it will prevent the new pads from becoming contaminated and glazed by any material left over from the old ones. To clean the discs use aerosol brake cleaner and Scotchbrite pads. Although, it is worth knowing that Brembo SC pads actually feature a very fine abrasive micro layer on the surface which effectively does this job for you. ORGANIC PADS Back in the good old carefree days, brake pads were made from the naturally-occurring-but-hazardous-to-health asbestos. Asbestos was used because of its ability to withstand high temperatures. When it received its UK ban in 1999, pad manufacturers got creative with new, less harmful compounds…

» Suzuki GSX-R750 2006-2007 Complete update, with new frame, revised longer-stroke engine and stacked gearbox for more compact, mass-centralised build. Stubby, low-slung MotoGP-style exhaust and sharper styling make it look fresh even today. Digi-analogue clocks with gear position indicator. 749cc – 183kg – 148bhp – £3400-£4200 » Suzuki GSX-R750 2008-2009 Lightly updated with bigger headlamp, switchable modes, new wheels, 5mm shorter wheelbase. Suspension has high/low-speed damping adjustment, chassis has more feel-boosting flex, while revised camshafts give a claimed midrange kick. 749cc – 183kg – 148bhp – £4000-£5800 » Suzuki GSX-R750 2011-2016 26 years after the model first appeared, this is the final version of the iconic 750. Whopping 8kg off wet weight, new teardrop-shaped headlamp in a bull-nose fairing, Showa BPF front end, Showa shock, Brembo brakes…

This isn’t a limp brochure-style round-up of all the bikes you can buy. No, your guide is far more useful as it only contains bikes that we have tested, with comparable on-the-road prices plus data, expert opinion and must-know detail gathered by fussy full-time testers. We do hundreds of thousands of miles, dyno, datalog, weigh and answer the big questions. Don’t buy a new bike without reading this first. ✱ HONDA: INSPIRED BY RENAULT The Elf racers of the ’70s and ’80s were the idea of a Renault car engineer, who convinced the oil firm his car tech would work on bikes. Honda bought into the idea, supplied motors, then bought the single-sider tech for their Pro-Arm. Ron Haslam would lean his Elf GP bike so far the front swingarm…

» 19-21 April British Superbike Championship, Silverstone Round 1 of the best domestic championship on the planet. The top two from last year have moved on, third- and fourth-place men have changed teams, and the Ducati V4 arrives in the hands of Scott Redding, Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell. Peter Hickman has the new BMW, and Bradley Ray looks to prove he’s got what it takes to go to a world championship next season. What’s not to like? britishsuperbike.com » 19-21 April 24 Heures Motos, Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans, France Still one of the great events, still tatty round the edges, still raucous, still a test of endurance for riders and spectators, still addictive. fimewc.com » 5 May Spanish Grand Prix, Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto,…

» April/May Sam Manicom presentations, USA British adventure motorcycling stalwart Sam Manicom is heading out on a speaking tour of the US with dates in Virginia, Missouri and New Mexico in April and May. Worth a listen. sam-manicom.com » 1-7 June Moab Adventure Training, Utah, USA Moab, Utah is the adventure centre of the USA where all off-roaders, on two and four wheels, go to explore stunning desert trails. This is an intense dirt-riding training session for small to medium sized trail bikes with group sizes limited to eight riders. motodiscovery.com/ moab-adventure-training » 15-18 August Horizons Unlimited Travellers’ Meeting, Switzerland As if you need an excuse to ride the Alps, but here’s one. Now in its third year, the Swiss HU meeting is hosted by world riders,…

IN 1949 GEOFF DUKE, newly contracted to the works Norton team, went to the Montlhery speed bowl in France for a high-speed test. He went faster if his baggy two-piece leathers, typical period race wear, were taped up to prevent them flapping. Back home in St Helen’s, Lancashire he got local tailor Frank Barker to make up a pattern for a close fitting one-piece leather suit. The finished suit weighed less than five pounds (which tells you how thin the leather was) and was double thickness only at shoulders, knees, hips and elbows. Duke wore the unlined suit with a separate cotton undersuit, made by a ballet clothing company. He got some ribbing from his rivals, but they soon adopted one-piece leathers too. On Nortons Duke won the 500cc and…

» 6-7 April Goodwood Members Meeting, Chichester, Sussex There’s a Classic Formula 750 race on both days, and a lot of very cool racing cars too. Tickets available to members of Goodwood’s Road Racing Club. goodwood.com » 22 April Red Marley Hillclimb, Great Witley, Worcs A four bike drag race up a steep, bumpy grass covered hill. Bonkers. In a very, very good way. redmarleyhillclimb.com » 27-28 April International Classic Bike Show, Stafford County Showground You know the script for this one by now. Autojumble, lots of bikes for sale, trade stands and shiny show bikes at what’s one of the classic world’s biggest events. There’s a huge Bonham’s auction too. classicbikeshows.com…

YOUR EXPERTS Hugo Wilson » Editor Sand in his boots from KTM’s 790 in Morocco Rupert Paul » Contributor Inquisitive motorcycle journo since the 1980s Mike Armitage » Deputy Editor Ex-engineer, full-time test rider for the last 18 years John Urry » Freelance tester If it’s got two wheels then he’s probably ridden it John Westlake » Ex- Bike Editor Almost two full days on new Versys 1000 SE James Haydon » Rides quite quickly Ex-racer, TV pundit, tests exclusively for Bike mag Ben Lindley » Contributor Ex- Bike staff, wise head on excitable shoulders Richard Newland » Contributor Got sneaky pre-launch access to new Indian 1200 Jonathan Pearson » Off-road Editor Tested new KTM so hard he…

THIS IS A completely new S1000RR. Those aggressive lines cover a bike that is a whole 10kg lighter than the previous model, 4kg of which is saved just from the new engine. The frame is new, geometry is revised, electronics updated, and the 999cc inline four engine has ShiftCam variable valve technology and can rev 400rpm higher. Some changes raise my eyebrows, with Marzocchi suspension (rather than Sachs) and Hayes front brake calipers, branded as BMW (instead of Brembo). Is this a costing move or performance related? Biblical rain is lashing down for the launch at Estoril circuit, Portugal, so the bikes are on Bridgestone wets. BMW have chosen the electronic settings (Rain riding mode, traction control level three, engine response level two) and suspension set-up, and it’s not to…

Multistrada 950 S Pros: fabulous eager engine, semi-active ride, top handling – more fast, comfy supermoto than adventurer. Stylish, not just functional. Cons: £13.5k is ‘big’ adventure bike territory, even less likely to be taken off-road then Tiger. BMW F850GS Pros: smooth and efficient motor, dirt-ready chassis. Sport version has all the toys and still undercuts Tiger XRT by £1545. Cons: not quite as silky on the road as the Tiger, risk of being seen as the ‘poor man’s’ GS. Yamaha Tracer 900GT Pros: glorious three-cylinder motor, nimble road-focused chassis, great ergonomics, all the desirable extras plus luggage, just under £11k. Cons: not true adventure bike, will depreciate a little quicker than a Triumph or BMW.…

I’VE HAD MY Aprilia RSV-R since 2004. I was on the lookout for a long time, as I didn’t want a black one – it just had to be yellow. 15 years later I can’t see me ever selling, partly because the Aprilia’s still great but mainly because, after so long together, it’s my bike. ‘I’ve built a relationship I didn’t get swapping bikes every two years’ The big V-twin is free-revving and more than fast enough, yet really flexible – you can plod along in a high gear. And it’s roomy. I owned lots of sportsbikes before this, and have been lucky enough to try plenty more while I’ve had it, and the RSV’s just a little more spacious. The ’bars are a little wider, the seat a touch…

Brembo SC sintered from £31 per caliper Designed for sporty riders who enjoy spirited road rides and the occasional trackday, the sintered SC compound provides powerful stopping with user-friendly initial bite. SCs are a very popular all-round performance pad because they provide a notable improvement over OE pads, and do so in all conditions – providing reliable stopping power in the cold and wet as well as perfect sunny days. On track they’re also highly resistant to fade and the friction material itself should last in excess of 3000 miles. brembo . com EBC EPFA from £29 per caliper An upgrade over OE, the latest fast-road sintered pads from EBC are based on the firm’s Double-H compound but feature extra friction stablising additives for improved brake effect and…

» Windermere and Helvellyn Circuit including Kirkstone Pass Starting from the beautiful village of Ambleside, this is a gentle tour around Windermere before tackling the Kirkstone Pass and finishing off in Patterdale. This route starts off nice and easy with plenty of stops for coffee, photographs and sightseeing. Hill Top (Beatrix Potter’s home) in the village of Near Sawrey, and Hawkshead village are well worth a visit. The roads are well surfaced but can be busy. The Kirkstone Pass is the highest motorable road in Cumbria and the Lake District. Starting just north of Windermere it’s well surfaced and a great introduction to riding the many twisty roads Cumbria offers. There are two routes to the top of the pass including ‘The Struggle’ which is popular with cyclists who…

LET ME INTRODUCE you to another curious facet of the Niken’s road manners. Bouncing up kerbs on anything other than a full-on off-road bike is a jarring experience. Even adventure bikes rattle your teeth because though there’s plenty of travel, they’re sprung and damped for high road speeds. The Niken is different though. If you approach a kerb at an oblique angle (say, 45 degrees), the front wafts up freakishly easily. It’s not quite a glide, but it’s not far off. Partly, this is down to the parallelogram suspension linkages – as one wheel goes up the full height of the kerb, the other is still on the ground, so the front of the Niken has only lifted half the kerb’s height, so there’s half the thump. Then there’s the…