Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2019 i BIKE

» Trends in motorcycle design and engineering for 2019? Based on what was most obvious at the Eicma show you’d think we’ll all be riding electric bikes by next April. Every other stand featured electric motorcycles, off-road bikes, scooters and bicycles of varying degrees of credibility, integrity and innovation. Many of them are small scale outfits jumping on the EV bandwagon and will surely vanish without trace. But there are also signs of bigger things happening. Of the established brands, Harley-Davidson are taking this seriously and are promising that their Livewire will be on sale in 2019. But no details of performance, power, price or range. KTM had a separate stand for electric bicycles and Kymco, with the credibility of a manufacturer of 500,000 scooters a year, announced a supersports…

‘We’re taking deposits now and intend to deliver to customers in 2020. The bikes have already been tested’Arc founder, Mark Truman » It’s easy to dismiss the Arc as another ridiculously overpriced electric pipedream. I mean, £90,000? A helmet with a head-up display (HUD) and a haptic feedback jacket that taps you on the shoulder when there’s a car behind you? Really? But there is substance here. The project was originally conceived within Jaguar Land Rover’s innovation laboratory, and JLR retain an interest, and have provided some of the finance needed to push the project forward. Arc claim that their first customers will receive their bikes in 2020. The other claims are impressive too: 220kg; 140bhp (103kW); 120mph; 120 mile range; 30 minute rapid recharge. All of which addresses most…

» After the flurry of nine new Softails in 2018 things calm down on the internal combustion front for 2019. The leading new Harley with a traditional engine is this, the FXDR 114. It’s another Softail, this time using the bigger 1868cc version of Harley’s Milwaukee-Eight V-twin (the eight is the number of valves). It’s built on the same platform as the other Softails, which is no bad thing – the Sport Glide we ran for three months was a decent-handling cruiser. The FXDR gets an aluminum swingarm and 240-section rear tyre though, which might mess things up a bit. See 2019’s new Harleys at Motorcycle Live, NEC, Birmingham, 17-25 November, Hall 3 stand 3C20 .…

Bike says: ‘So what are Kawasaki playing at? We suspect it’s to do with price and – perhaps – PCP deals’ Kawasaki dropped the 636cc ZX-6R from their range in 2017 and we thought that was that. What with supersport sales going down the tubes, Honda canning the CBR600RR and Suzuki ditching the GSX-R600, there was no reason to think Kawasaki’s ZX6 would return. But it is… The 2019 bike is essentially the same model that disappeared two years ago, but with a quickshifter, fuel range indicator, 12V power take off, LED headlights, new styling and engine tweaks to get it past Euro4 regulations. So what are Kawasaki playing at? We suspect it’s to do with price and – perhaps – PCP deals. The new bike will cost…

» All the electronic goodness of the SMC gets transferred to the new Enduro R too, which is almost as daft as its supermoto brother, but with a more off-road bent (it’s road legal, like the SMC). There’s a new seat, new bodywork that allows the rider to move around a bit more, and an all-new chassis with suspension derived from KTM’s championship-winning EXC enduro models. Consequently it’ll feel softer than the SMC and will probably make a marginally more sensible road bike.…

» The most interesting new Guzzi for years isn’t just the result of bolting the V9’s 853cc air-cooled V-twin to lanky suspension. The engine is massively revamped. It’s still air-cooled with a two valve head, but it has a new crankshaft, stronger conrods, shorter piston skirts and – get this – titanium intake valves, just like the new Ducati V4R. These valves allow the cams to be more aggressive, so power is up from the V9’s 55bhp to 78bhp. Also, the engine will probably feel friskier as it revs because of the 30% reduction in rotating mass. The only possible fly in the F850GS-rivalling ointment is the weight, which has yet to be announced.…

‘It’s something we played around with. I think it’s important to let the design team to do this kind of thing’Mark Wells, Royal Enfield design chief One of the biggest surprises of the Milan show was this, Royal Enfield’s Concept KX. Not only is it a great-looking bobber with a girder front end and a single-sided rear, but it’s powered by an air-cooled 836cc V-twin. Alas, Enfield’s design chief told us that it’s definitely a design exercise not destined for production – the engine is made of foam. Still, we can hope. The single-sided swingarm is interesting. It appears to be a hard-tail, but there’s actually a shock hidden inside the final part of the strut going under the cantilevered seat. As far as we’re aware it’s the first ever…

» The old Street Twin was a no frills big-seller. Its 900cc parallel twin engine was perky enough to rattle down a country lane at a hugely entertaining pace, the non-adjustable suspension was just about able to cope, and the lack of electronic fripperies meant you could just get on and go. New riders, Sunday cruisers and hundreds of customisers adored it. And now, say Triumph, it’s better. The new one gets 18% more power (now 65bhp) and a lighter crankshaft and balance shafts which let the bike rev higher. Plus there’s a magnesium cam cover and a lighter clutch. The forks are now higher spec cartridge jobs (as opposed to the old bike’s damper rods) which should give the Street Twin a more progressive, plush feel down grotty roads.…

Ducati Multistrada 950 Ducati’s smallest Multistada the 950 may be, but it delivers in big handfuls… YAMAHA, MV AGUSTA, Ducati. All three bikes are stacked up in front of Mt Snowdon, on a thin strip of tarmac next to the A498. Big scenery suits these motorcycles. They promise big miles done in comfort, with tank capacities to suit. They provide waterproof hold-alls for pants and Welsh Cakes and there are big screens to keepthe wind off. Or that should keep the wind off. The slice of plastic on this handsome Ducati is the only one that works. Ride at 80mph on the Yamaha, and you’ll be battered into submission. The experience is similar on the MV, unless you hunker next to the dashboard. But the Multistrada does this kind of…

TWO LETTERS SEPARATE THE RS from its sibling – Kawasaki’s Z900. Two letters and a huge amount of effort. Certainly this is no hasty reboot like, say, Yamaha’s XSR re-imagining of their wildly successful MT-09. No, the development of the RS involved a fundamental engine and chassis overhaul, resulting in a wholly different motorcycle. Ride the RS alongside the Z900 and the changes feel considerable. You sit on the bike, rather than inside it. The raised handlebar suits upright riding and thrust is easier to access. It’s a much better road bike. But there’s more to the retro market than the XSR. The RS must fend off threats from twins such as Triumph’s 1200cc Thruxton, V-twins like Ducati’s Scrambler 1100 and boxers like BMW’s R nineT. Can an inline four…

Dainese D-air Misano jacket was £1500 now £999 The hefty rrps of airbag jackets like Dainese’s Misano mean there are a fair few still available. bikestop.co.uk have the latest D-air street leather jacket at a £500 discount, which is exceptional value for a beautifully made leather jacket that packs an built-in airbag and a 2D datalogger as standard. Available in sizes 48-58 (EU) » bikestop.co.uk Held Rain jacket was £99.99 now £59.99 Held’s Rain jacket (and matching pants) has been discounted by 40% to make way for stock in the spring. Fluro with reflective panels, it’s ideal for the murky autumn commute, but can also be pressed into service next spring – or if you get caught in a summer deluge. Stock levels are good with availability in all sizes,…

EVER WANTED TO ride South Africa’s Garden Route? How about watching MotoGP at Thailand’s Buriram Circuit, or cruising the cliffs on Australia’s Great Ocean Road? Ride all three and you’ll still have only visited half the world’s continents. You’d have missed trickling along the Pacific Coast Highway in the USA and negotiating the Darien Gap to South America, not to mention tunnel-hopping through the Alps on the Susten Pass. It’s a big old world out there... Good news: no need to spend six months planning and quit the job to have these experiences. Six travel companies have already worked it out for you. They might be based all over the world, but each is founded on the same principle: motorcycling and travel are a perfect fit. Book on a tour,…

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A Honda TL125 for some time, but with little success here in the UK. So, having some experience of buying from, and selling to, the USA I turned West… 1 Where to look? Having had my TL quest thwarted in the UK I transferred my attentions to Craigslist – an online classified (not auction) site. Craigslist divides itself into areas, but can be searched nationwide. I chose to look in San Diego and the Inland Empire. 2 Victor the vendor Almost immediately up popped three TLs, including a minty, unrestored example. I emailed Victor the vendor – a busy man and owner of a mom and pop restaurant. The reply was curt (which is par for the course) but positive. The bike was still for…

1 Honda VFR750R RC30 » UK auction: unregistered bike in ‘like new’ condition, sold at Stafford, Oct 2018, £47,150. » US auction: show standard, one owner for 30 years, under 5000 miles, sold at Barber, October 2018, £21,083. » Guideline import cost: £2370 SAVING: £23,697 2 Norton Commando » UK auction: non-original ’75 bike, unused for some time, sold at Stafford, Oct 2018, £6670. » US auction: ’75 bike, 400 miles since resto and engine rebuild, sold Barber, October 2018 £4854. » Guideline import cost: £1359 SAVING: £457 (and time) 3 Honda CBX1000-C Pro-link » UK auction: excellent condition, 22,500 miles, currently for sale in online auction, £14,989. » US auction: all-original bike, extracted from collection, sold Barber, October 2018 £3947. » Guideline import cost: £1314 SAVING: £9728 4 Suzuki…

For the joy of it I love motorbikes. They have transported me to numerous places as my sole mode of transport for years and been my loyal companions through many winters. However, I’ve been haunted through my 14 years of riding by a particular phrase, and it reared its head again on my 30th birthday. That phrase is: ‘ohhh they are death traps!’ To me a bike’s greatest appeal is undoubtedly the freedom and escapism. In a world of stress, financial pressures and ever increasing pace motorbikes are a tonic. I almost don’t care what I ride, simply that I do. I’m writing this letter on Mental Health Awareness Day. Try and get someone riding for the joy of it, it may just change their life, it did mine. George…

As one of the world’s most unhinged naked bikes, the Tuono’s centrepiece is its 175bhp engine – a masterstroke of V4 midrange wallop and a top-end so powerful it could have blitzed BSB racers 15 years ago. But for 2019 it’s the suspension we’re talking about – the Factory now comes with Öhlins semi-active forks and rear shock as standard. As usual, you can choose a semi-active mode, where the system will listen to its sensors and decide what damping you need according to the road conditions and how aggressively you’re riding, or a manual mode, where you can fiddle with the damping by pushing buttons. There are three riding modes, giving three distinct suspension set-ups too. The other electronics remain unchanged for 2019, which is a good thing –…

Bikesays : ‘Along comes the third generation to do battle with the class-leading GSX-R1000R, Yamaha R1M and V4S’ NEW ELECTRONICS Current S1000RR riders will recognise the new bike’s rider aids and modes etc, but all the systems have been updated. The new-semi active suspension is a ground-up redesign. NEW EXHAUST This weighs 1.3kg less than the old one and uses two silencers (one under the engine) rather than having a single massive munter sticking out the side (we’re looking at you GSX-R1000R). NEW FRAME AND SWINGARM Most noticeable is the swingarm, which is now underslung rather than the old bike’s up-and-over style. The main advantage is to shift the rear shock away from the engine, to reduce heating. NEW DESIGN Gone are the Patrick Moore squinty eyes but the…

Bike says: ‘It’s not designed to be civilised so expect piffling power until 6000rpm. From then on the V4R will head for the stratosphere’ » Amid the fanfare of worship that greeted the launch of the extraordinary 211bhp V4S in January were mutterings of bemusement: ‘Hang on, this bike is 1103cc and so can’t race in World Supers. Have they forgotten the 1000cc limit?’. Some heretics even suggested that Ducati were pulling out of WSB. But no. We now have the final piece of the V4 jigsaw, the 998cc V4R – a shorter stroke, higher power version of the already short stroke, high power V4S. The R will be the ‘technical platform’ of Chaz Davies’ World Superbike and Scott Redding’s British Superbike. It’s a middle-ground between the current…

Nick Elwood, Harley says: ‘There will be 250 global dealers with charging stations and support – a network will be created for the launch’ » The first major motorcycle manufacturer to produce a production electric bike will be Harley-Davidson and for them to beat the likes of Honda, BMW and Ducati to an electric motorcycle is an astonishing achievement. Lest you scoff cynically that it’ll never happen the final production prototype of the Livewire was revealed at the Milan Motorcycle Show. Prices will be announced in January when first orders will be taken. It’s happening. ‘There will be 250 global dealers with charging stations and support – a network will be created for the launch,’ Harley spokesman Nick Elwood told us in Milan. ‘Info about weight, power output and charging…

Bike says: ‘It should be more of an all-round weapon than the Vitpilen’ » Husqvarna showed a concept of this bike at last year’s show and this year revealed the real thing amid a blizzard of design nonsense. We’ll translate. Using the same 692cc single-cylinder engine as the Vitpilen café racer (and the KTM SMC R690), the Svartpilen keeps the concept’s pared-back flat-tracker looks, gaining a set of wide bars instead of clip-ons, a narrow single seat, an 18in front wheel and a side-mounted number board. Everything else is as per the Vitpilen so you get a trellis frame, fully-adjustable 43mm WP upsidedown forks and a WP shock, slipper clutch, a single 320mm front disc, traction control and ABS. Power stays at 74bhp. It should be more of…

THIS PRE-PRODUCTION BIKE is so new it’s running an Austrian trade plate. When I pick the bike up from KTM Austria, the staff warn me to lock the plate in a pannier when I stop. Apparently, everyone in Austria wants one. The plate, not the 1290 Super Duke GT. But it’s this GT they actually need. They need the huge 158bhp thrust from the Super Duke R’s 1301cc V-twin, the furious braking capability of the Brembo monobloc four-pots, the spacious panniers and generous wind protection. Pedalling hard in comfort: it’s a great feeling. All that applies to the 2016 bike I’m following through the Upper Austrian countryside. But unlike my guide, I’m riding the 2019 machine. It boasts a lightly-revised engine from last year’s Super Duke R, smarter suspension, cleaner…

Bikesays : ‘A hysterical trackday bike anywhere with nadgery sections such as Cadwell or Mallory’ » Every dream garage should have a demented road-going supermoto in it so welcome back 690 SMC R. The SMC disappeared from KTM’s range in 2017 but returns with the latest electronic rider aids and an updated version of the 690cc LC4. The engine – the world’s most powerful single-cylinder – is exactly the same one in the Husqvarna Vitpilen, Svartpilen and 701 supermoto, so we know what that’s like – hilariously powerful for a single (74bhp), remarkably smooth, light and, as far as we know, reliable. The SMC R now gets all KTM’s fanciest electronics, developed for the flagship Super Duke R. There are two riding modes – Street and Sport – cornering…

IT’S A CRISP autumn morning in Leicestershire, with blue skies and bright sunshine, but the trees are bare, there are damp patches on the shaded tarmac and it’s a bit parky. These are nice roads though. Typical English undulations with a mix of open corners and blind bends that follow routes fashioned by footpaths and field enclosures hundreds of years ago. Mud on critical apexes suggests local farmers are still struggling with road:field differentiation though. We’re ten minutes into a ride with Royal Enfield boss Siddhartha Lal aboard a pair of the company’s new 650 twins that were launched in California last month. They’re agile, flexible and engaging bikes that arc effortlessly into the corners and blatter along the straights. These roads could have been made for them. Though of…

It’s by no means a ground-breaking dream-bike like the original 1980 machine, but we think the new one will do well. The base bike – the GSX-S1000 – is 140bhp fast, handles well, is good value and only really suffers in the style stakes. It looks a bit dreary. The clever modernised Katana styling fixes that, giving the GSX-S a fighting chance of winning over buyers tempted by Kawasaki’s Z900RS and the swarms of Triumph Bonneville off-shoots. And it’ll be a lot faster than all of them – its grandfather would be proud. See 2019’s new Suzukis at Motorcycle Live, NEC, Birmingham, 17-25 November, Hall 2, stand 2D15…

Bike says: ‘The Street Scrambler is a stylish, comfy road bike’ » The mild-mannered Scrambler was only launched last year but it’s already updated, getting the same improvements as the Street Twin. That means more power, new Brembo brakes, riding modes, new forks and detail tweaks. On top of this, the Scrambler gets a different seat finish to add to the off-road vibe. It will inevitably be over-shadowed by the new 1200 XE and XC Scramblers, which look far more authentic off-roaders. But view the Street Scrambler as a stylish, comfy road bike and it makes perfect sense.…

» You’d expect a launch control function on a motorbike made by MV. Even on a tourer like the Turismo Veloce. But its smart clutch delivers perfect launches from every traffic light. And the luxury of clutchless riding. It’s all-day pleasant as well, with a well-padded seat (for the rider at least), and comfortable ergonomics. Add in panniers that stow a full-face helmet plus a huge fuel tank, and you have a soft, big trip-ready MV. Shame about the stratospheric asking price, and the last-generation electronic integration. In comparison, riding Ducati’s Multistrada 950 feels like great value. It pips the MV on build quality, and turns touring into a less performance-centric affair. Instead, bed down in the comfy seat, behind the brilliant screen, and tug at laid-back V-twin thrust. When…

YES, THE SEASON of goodwill and high-octane domestic incidents is upon us once again… a time when the splendid isolation of the shed/garage/pub is worth its weight in gold, and indeed frankincense and myrhh. If you’re locked in a loveless relationship, hog-tied to a sham of a marriage, mired neck deep in a fruitless search for lasting happiness, this top ten of genuinely life-affirming gifts for the one you love, or the one who loves you (and that can mean two different people) might go some way to making 2019 the year you never thought it could be. Assuming at least one resident of the dwelling (while at the same time making the gross assumption that you actually have a dwelling) is interested in both motorcycles – and riding the…

THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS… It’s not a glamourous mod but fitting a mudguard extender is the best thing you can do for a Street Triple. This £20 piece of plastic will protect your exhaust heads, radiator and head races, preventing problems in the future. R&G do a decent, easy-to-fit one. THE FAKE AFTERMARKET Fake aftermarket parts from China are an issue, especially adjustable brake and clutch levers. They look identical to genuine Triumph levers – made by Pazzo and TUV tested – and they even have Triumph laser-etched on them. And they cost £20 rather than £150. They could cause problems with clutch actuation or the cut-out switch, however, they could also fail and leave you without a front brake. SERVICING The basic – every 6000 miles…

» The Canary Islands are just a 4.5 hour flight from the UK. They sit 60 miles off the coast of Morocco under northern trade winds and are warmed by the Gulf Stream, which means year-round sun; expect 29°C highs in summer and mild 13°C lows in February. All of which means near-perfect motorcycling weather, all year round. As for the roads, they are amazing with incredible views over seven different islands. Great value board and lodging and cheap flights too. » Gran Canaria is the most diverse of the Canaries, even though it’s just 602 square miles big (Great London is 974 square miles). Gran Canaria is home to the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, epic black-rock cliffs, a leafy-green caldera and there’s hardly a straight…

» It isn’t just BSB that’s in transition, there is a significant departure from MotoGP as well. Dani Pedrosa bowed out after 18 years in the paddock as by far the best rider never to win the top title. He will have to console himself with his three crowns in the smaller classes plus 31 victories in MotoGP. His unique achievement is winning a Grand Prix for 16 consecutive seasons, starting with his first 125 victory at Assen in 2002 via the first MotoGP win at Shanghai in ’06 and ending with Valencia last year. That’s 12 years of consecutive wins in MotoGP. I really thought he was going to be champion in 2010. Dani was on a roll with Honda-friendly tracks coming up but a sticking throttle at Motegi…

I’ve just had three days with a mistress loan bike and feel like I’ve besmirched my true bike. It all started when my bike went in for a routine service, to be done while I waited. However, it turned out my bike needed replacement down pipes, under warranty, as the exhaust flaps had seized open. My work commitments and the dealer’s diary did not align so I got a BMW R nineT Urban GS as a loan bike for three days… I had it from Thursday to Saturday and each day was a heady experience. I found excuses to go out on the Urban when I would normally have taken my push bike. I felt like a teenager on a series of dates, but also guilty because my poor old…

Bikesays : ‘An attractive, lightweight 100bhp sportsbike is tempting’ » There was no pre-show teasing about the RS660 concept, and no-one at Aprilia seemed willing to say much about it, but the engine’s castings appear real, and the aluminium twin-spar frame appears to be production ready. The spec sheet says 660cc and 100bhp and not much else. The rest is as you’d expect, with ride-by-wire electronics, integrated aerodynamics and a TFT dash. Much of bodywork was carbon fibre, and the colour matching of wheels, engine and fairing highlights look great. An attractive, lightweight 100bhp sportsbike is a tempting proposition, though whether UK sized people can actually fit on the bike remains to be seen. Questions such as ‘when?’ and ‘how much?’ are met with Italian shrugs. Here’s hoping.…

Bike says: ‘Indian are surfing the success generated by their FTR750 race bike’ » The Husky (above) is all very well – it’ll be a B-road destroyer and an undoubted hoot to ride – but you’re paying £9000 for a 700cc single-cylinder device. It seems a lot. The new Indian FTR 1200, on the other hand, offers an equally colossal dollop of style, but gives you an extra 45bhp, a smoother twin cylinder ride and doesn’t cost a crazy amount more – the base model is £11,899 (the flashier S is £12,999). Indian are surfing the wave of success generated by their FTR750 race bike, which has decimated Harley’s grip on the American flat-track championship – from being predictable victors, Harley are now struggling to win races. Last…

» Obviously the word ‘sport’ here should be taken with a pinch of salt. This is not a sporty bike. What Guzzi mean (we think) is that they have taken some influences from the sports of dirt track and 1970s scrambling. So you get a single seat (which is actually a bit lower than the standard Bobber’s), adjustable Öhlins shocks, rubber fork gaiters and a rortier exhaust. We’re not sure which sport the oversized tyres and lashings of black paint came from. See 2019’s new Moto Guzzis at Motorcycle Live, NEC, Birmingham, 17-25 November, Hall 4 stand 4D15.…

THE BIKE’S JUST THE START Triumph have thoughtfully provided many further ways to unburden your wallet. There are over 80 accessories available and two kits – one for touring, one for hardcore off-roading. THE PROBLEM EXHAUSTS The high-level exhausts were essential for the desert sled look, but it required an entire new frame to keep them out the way of the rider’s legs FANCY NEW CLOCKS Both the Scrambler XE and more road-orientated XC get Triumph’s latest TFT clocks. There are five riding modes to play with and the XE gets a sixth – Off-road Pro turns off the ABS and traction control. And calls an ambulance (probably). ENGINE This is the High Power version of the 1200cc parallel twin that powers all the big Bonnevilles. For the two new…

» Two years ago Yamaha teased us with shots of a full-on adventure bike using the MT-07 parallel twin. The T7 concept looked perfect if you wanted a proper-sized road bike that was light, fun and gave you the option of going off-road without an ambulance and crane in attendance. And now the production bike has finally arrived. The Ténéré 700’s 698cc motor is virtually unchanged from the MT-07’s, making 72bhp at 9000rpm and 50 lb ft at 6500. That’s no bad thing – the engine is a modern classic, whipping through a perky midrange before hitting a hilariously feisty top-end. The Ténéré chassis is all new, designed to handle serious off-road terrain and the long distance hauls usually necessary to get there. That was Yamaha’s primary challenge; to give…

BONNEVILLE, UTAH, USA It’s always good to make amends for opportunities lost. Camping on Bonneville compensated for not having done so on Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni – even though we rode our motorcycles across the Bolivian wonderland we didn’t sleep beneath the stars there. Thankfully, Bonneville’s light was beautiful. As you can see… From 2016 Lisa’s bike is a 2001 Suzuki DR650 ALABAMA HILLS, CALIFORNIA, USA Waiting for parts so we could re-engage with Death Valley, in front of us a boulder field and the Sierra Nevada’s eastern slope. Orange volcanic outcroppings and natural arches made a scene straight out of Star Wars . Best of all it was free camping. BARREAL, ARGENTINA La Pampa Leoncito is a dried lake in Barreal. Its undulations defined a…

» 2007-2012 Triumph Street Triple Triumph took a detuned version of their Daytona 675 triple, lost the fairings and fitted wide bars to create one of the best bikes ever made. Round twin headlamps make it look like the larger Speed Triple, but the double-sided swingarm gives the game away. 675cc – 189kg – 107bhp – £2000-£4000 » 2009-2012 Triumph Street Triple R Sharing the same engine and chassis as the standard model, the Street Triple R has fully adjustable Kayaba suspension at both ends, which gives the bike a slightly taller ride height and increased rake. Brakes are also upgraded to Nissin radial calipers. 675cc – 189kg – 107bhp – £4000-£5000 » 2013-2016 Triumph Street Triple Benefiting from Triumph’s complete redesign of the Daytona 675 in 2013, the Street…

I HAVE FINALLY RE-FITTED the cylinder heads and rocker gear to the engine of my 1981 Morini Camel project, treating it to new nyloc nuts at the same time. The cylinder head nuts are a common M8x1.25 size, while the rocker gear nuts are a more obscure M7x1.00, though they’re now easy to find on the internet. The first number refers to the diameter of the bolt, the second to the pitch of the thread. On a European bike an M8 fastener will require a 13mm spanner, while on a Japanese bike it’ll probably have a 12mm head. The bigger the bolt, M8 and above, the more likely you are to find variations in head size and pitch, even if the shank is a common size. Be careful to get…

AT THE END OF EVERY SUMMER, when the crops are harvested, a very small window of opportunity opens up in our rural landscape when bike-friendly farmers hand over empty stubble fields to dirt bike racing. This, as I’m sure you can imagine, is as good as dirt bike racing gets. A Lincolnshire Enduro Club event near Tattershall offered me and the KTM 300 EXC TPI a chance to blow away some cobwebs (I’d broken a rib a few weeks before without realising it and stubble fields are a definite confidence builder). Straight away the beauty of riding a stubble field Enduro hit me. It was a wide-open playground rather than the game of follow the leader Enduro can too often become. It was like a seven-lane freeway at 5am on…