Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2015 i BIKE

WITH MIKE ARMITAGE Adventure bikes are big business, or at least BMW’s GS is. That’s the one that sells, that everyone tries to simulate – just ride a Crosstourer or Stelvio. But something about the new Honda stands out. Let’s hope for fresh flavour. THIS IS HONDA’S CRF1000L Africa Twin, and it could be an invigorating blast of crisp air for the adventure market. Its 998cc parallel twin has four-valve Unicam heads, two plugs per pot and a 270° crank for feel and noise. Twin balance shafts drive the oil pump and also the water pump, which is hidden in the clutch housing. The original XRV750 Africa Twin had lazy power, and the new bike makes its 94bhp at an accessible 7500rpm. There’s 72 lb.ft at 6000rpm, and Honda claim…

» MotoGP viewing figures in the UK, Spain and Italy have plummeted following Dorna’s decision to sell live TV rights to pay TV. In Britain, BT Sport pulls in around 200,000 viewers, a sixth of the BBC’s former audience, while in Spain pay TV attracts audiences of 700,000, whereas the races shown on terrestrial attract four million. All of which is not good news for MotoGP, says Moto2 team owner Sito Pons: ‘If most people cannot watch MotoGP on television we have nothing to sell to sponsors, so we are struggling.’…

» 5 September Brighton Speed Trials, Madeira Drive, Brighton Watch bikes blast along the seafront at 178mph (that’s fast, the course isn’t smooth). brightonandh vemotorclub.co.uk » 11-13 September Moto Guzzi Open House, Mandello del Lario, Italy See the museum, the historic wind tunnel, tour production lines, test ride new models, buy merchandise and talk Guzzi to similarly afflicted people. uk.motoguzzi.it » 16-18 October Endurance Legends, Snetterton, Norfolk A four-hour classic endurance race for pre-1987 bikes. Expect early Suzuki GSX-R1100s, P&Ms and, hopefully, Team Bike. endurancelegends.co.uk…

» We’ve compiled a selection of exploits and adventures from the last decade of Bike . It’s stuffed full of inspirational stories and amazing images: sleeping on beaches, lapping the USA on a sportsbike, Dan Walsh wrestling BMWs, riding a GP racer on the road, drunk frozen camping, seeing how far you can get in 24 hours, towing a caravan, down the pub with Mr Boorman… plus the full story of our epic ride to Japan on a Suzuki V-Strom. On sale in Tesco, WHSmith, newsagents and at greatmagazines.co.uk/partnership/bikebookazines/probvet/bikeadventures…

WITH CHIPPY WOOD This year’s MX1 World Championship has been incredible. We’re midway through the season, there have been six different manufacturers in the top six positions, and four of the riders who started the season as likely champions, or who have actually led the championship, Max Nagl (Husqvarna), Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki), Clément Desalle (Suzuki) and now Antonio Cairoli (KTM), have had to drop out through injury. Romain Febvre (Yamaha, below) is now favourite to become the first Frenchman to lift the crown. But he’s got to survive the remaining rounds. Find a mate with Eurosport and take round some beers. There’s still time for a few more twists. IF YOU’VE NEVER ridden off-road you need to give it a go and it’s never been simpler to rent a bike…

27 Bienville Legacy » £200,000+, depending on spec » 1650cc V4 » 160mph » 185bhp » 40mpg » Issue tested: not yet ‘I saw this at Goodwood and didn’t know where to look first. Completely bonkers, beautifully built, incredibly complex, sensational sound, laughably expensive. Where would biking (and internet forums) be without bikes like this?’ Nick Broomhall 26 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce » £11,899 » 798cc triple » 143mph » 110bhp » 48mpg » Issue tested: July 2015 ‘A practical MV Ð who’d have thought it? Good spec, good looking and sensible size (for an adventure bike) too.’ Luke Plummer 25 Honda CB125F » £2499 » 124.7cc single » 65mph » 10bhp » 120mpg » Issue tested: coming soon ‘This choice might raise a few eyebrows but its predecessor, the…

SORCERY IS AFOOT in the motorcycle market. New bike sales are up 19% on this time last year, and last year’s figures were up 12% on the year before. Sure, the economy is recovering a bit and there are some tasty new bikes about for a change, but 19%?! There has to be something else going on. There is. It’s called Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), a finance scheme that lets you buy a new bike for a very low monthly payment. So, for example, you can currently get a Triumph Daytona 675 (list price: £9599) for £86 a month with a £2700 deposit. Or a Yamaha Tracer (£8282) for £115 a month with a £1821 deposit. Hell, you can even pick up a £22,136 Kawasaki H2 (see p38) for £295…

ATTEMPTING TO CATCH a ferry is no excuse for big speed under law. There is, however, some weird mitigation that occurs in the brain. Logic would tell you there’ll be another ferry along in a few hours, it’s not worth the ban. But logic and motorbikes are seldom life partners. It would be wrong to incriminate myself in any way by mentioning speed, time or location, so I won’t be doing that. What I will reveal is that hanging off an Indian Scout owing to a brisk sou-westerly, in sixth gear at considerable engine revolutions, on a largely deserted dual carriageway, watching the clock as dutifully as the mirrors concentrates the mind and heightens the senses wonderfully. The weather is foul. One of the ferries has broken its moorings in…

OVERALL WINNER 2015 Honda VFR1200F: £9000 » Launched mere moments after Kawasaki’s gizmo-laden 1400GTR in 2010, the VFR1200’s lack of electronic widgets meant it was dismissed by fickle journalists. However, the silky-fast Honda makes up for absent toys with something far more desirable – and that’s classy engineering with a sublime finish. The 1237cc V4 whirrs sweetly on bimbles yet has soaring top-end thrills. Sweet handling and plush suspension deliver a blend of comfort and control, and the bar-seat-peg triangle is cock-on. Then there’s the detail – supple handlebar grips, pin mirrors, robust switchgear. With the kind of quality responsible for Honda’s reputation (not many bike’s have a standard three-year warranty), the VFR doesn’t need to hide behind a veneer of trinkets. And yet despite being the only genuine, big-bore,…

WE’VE GOT TOGETHER with Big Rock Holidays to offer Bike readers a great package to head down to the sunny south of France and the Bol D’or. Lend your support to the wonderful Team Bike, quaff cold beer in the hot sun, gorge on barbecued Merguez sausages and wince as the emergency services apply ointment and bandages to your sunburned skin. This is the BIG ONE. » Return ferry crossing between Dover and Calais (various departure dates and times). » Camping inside the circuit (open Thursday evening to Sunday evening). This is a motorcycle only campsite with restrooms and showers but no electricity. » General admission to include: Access to the village and concerts, paddock access and pit building terrace, snack voucher (1 drink, 1 dish, 1 coffee) and helmet…

This month: Suzuki GSX-S1000 Other bikes ridden: Ducati Monster M900, Miles ridden: 1867 YOUR CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE is probably twinned with a foreign place. My beloved home town of Swindon is twinned with Salzgitter in Germany and Ocotal in Nicaragua. Everytime time I visit home and pass the welcome sign I wonder if there are signs in Germany and Central America with ‘Twinned with Swindon’ written on them. I felt a road trip coming on but Nicaragua is a tad far. I knew the trip was daft but what the hell, it’s as good an excuse as any for a few days of European riding. I wanted (for some reason) to go from sign to sign in a day. It’s 611.1 miles, which is one hell of a trek…

This month: Ducati Scrambler Other bikes ridden: Yamaha Tracer, Coventry Eagle gent’s pushbike Miles ridden: 909 OUR SCRAMBLER IS proving easy to fall for. The chassis’ craving for long lines and sweeping lean appeals to my inner Ducati traditionalist, and its medley of image, noise and stripped-back kicks gives instant pleasure. It’s a breeze to ride. Bikes like Yamaha’s MT-07 are as friendly, but the Ducati is somehow warm, cuddly – it’s as intimidating as Winnie-the-Pooh. So it’s ideal for my eldest nipper’s first pillion ride. A tall ten, Edward’s at a size where proper kit fits. We get a HJC CS-14 in size XS – a snug fit for his 54cm bonce, and the small shell size stops him looking like a Chupa Chup. Then we swipe Mrs A’s…

Panniers » Yamaha’s accessory soft ABS side cases need special mounts to fit (even though the Tracer is ready to accept luggage). Although a decent size (50 litres – so that’s 25 big bottles of Vimto) they won’t take a crash helmet, and they’re not waterproof either – they come with rollbags to go inside, robbing a bit more space. There are tags on the zips to allow locking with a small padlock. Price: £242 (+ £210 mounts) Comfort seat » Official accessory perch has thicker padding – in the low position it’s about as tall as the stock seat in the high position. Also has a slightly different profile, moving you away from the tank a bit. Far more comfort on a long day, but like the standard item…

Honda VFR800X Crossrunner The previous Crossrunner was a bit nowt-nor-summat and looked like a platypus. The latest version is based on the classy VFR800F, with engine, chassis, features and looks that all appeal. There’s nothing wrong with it… apart from being £2k more than the livelier, fresher Tracer. Price: £10,299 otr Triumph Tiger 800XR Tiger is grunty, composed, and with ABS, traction, trip computer and 12v socket it’s close to the Yamaha on spec and price. The Tracer’s a tad perkier, but the Triumph’s proven. XRx (extra grand) has adjustable traction, four maps and rider modes, centrestand and cruise control. Tempting. Price: £8499 otr Kawasaki Z1000SX ABS Kawasaki UK’s best seller is comfy, well equipped and sod-off fast. Perfect for those who want a sportsbike with practicality. Hasn’t the MT’s…

» 2011 VFR1200 Ad says: 27,000 miles. Super V4 sports touring model. Comes with top box and panniers. We say: 27,000 is no problem for a Honda V4 but check the service history has been maintained. A cheap bike. Price: £5999 Contact: mcnbikesforsale.com » 2010 VFR1200 Ad says: 19,533 miles. Two-owner bike comes with Honda panniers that will be re-finished prior to delivery. We say: Ask what damage was sustained by the panniers and why. Be sure there’s no damage to the bike itself. Price: £6220 Contact: mcnbikesforsale.com » 2012 VFR1200 DCT Ad says: 17,500 miles. Full Honda service history. MoT February 2016. Showroom condition. Oxford heated grips and Baglux tank cover fitted. We say: FSH and those little aftermarket extras make this VFR a real steal. Price:…

Back when I was young my friends and I had a simple rule about borrowing each other’s bikes. If you crashed it, your mate had your bike until you sorted the repairs out. That was back in the days of the ‘Norwich Union Rider Policy’, which covered you for any bike and pretty well any use. Those days are long gone, and borrowing a mate’s bike can get you into all kinds of trouble, as can lending a bike. With insurance there are always two golden rules. The first is you get what you pay for and the second is read the policy document. Pretty well all of the cheapest insurance quotes cut out things you might presume you have like third party cover for other bikes, so presuming you…

UNDER-ARMOUR Base or mid-layers with body armour are becoming more popular, and are arguably safer than more traditional armours found in jacket pockets. No matter how well-fitting a jacket is, any armour attached within may move about in a crash. The best way to make sure armour stays in the right area is to attach it as closely as possible to your body and having the armour in a base or mid-layer means it’s much more likely to stay in place and do its job of protecting you (Forcefield Pro Shirt body armour pictured). Racers tend to go for base layer armour, which should tell you all you need to know. It may be more of a performance to put on – but that’s a tiny price to pay for…

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. * DUCATIFANITI? Those passionate about Ducati who think of themselves as part of the brand’s family are known as Ducatisti. They used to be Ducatiano, however – this was the term used from the 1930s to 1950s for employees and supporters, and the tag given to the first fans when Ducati entered their Cucciolo moped in the Motogiro.…

Bike special on sale » We’ve a glossy one-off stuffed with antics like the Elefant Rally and riding to Japan plus Walsh and Boorman. £5.99 from Tesco, WHSmith and newsagents. That’s proper rubber, chief... » Metzeler have a Racetec RR Guy Martin special edition tyre. It’s a slightly softer version of the K2, as Guy used at this year’s TT, embossed with his logo and with his name on the side. Rumour mongers » Top Japanese magazine Young Machine (great title) says Suzuki will release a mini V-Strom based on the Inazuma 250. They also say Kawasaki are planning a rival Versys based on the Ninja 300. £28k Triumph  » The one-off Triumph Scrambler ridden by actor bloke Chris Pratt in the film Jurassic World has been sold…

WITH MAT OXLEY The good times keep rolling, with Sam Lowes up for a 2016 MotoGP ride. We talked to Sam about the 250,000 Euros it cost him to quit WSB and chasing his MotoGP dream. SAM LOWES IS looking good for a MotoGP ride next year, which has surprised some people, since he’s only scored one Moto2 win so far. But MotoGP’s talent spotters know skills when they see them. The big thing to remember about Lowes is that this is only his second GP season, while most of his rivals have been in GPs for half a decade or more. So, he’s still climbing that learning curve, at a rapid rate. ‘I feel like I’ve got five years to make up on these guys,’ says the 24-year-old from…

WITH HUGO WILSON The Ducati Pantahs raced by Tony Rutter are the best looking race bikes ever made. Probably. They’re slim and purposeful, but pleasingly curvy too. It’ll be great to see Michael Rutter on one at the Classic TT. British Superbike stalwart Michael Rutter is to race a replica of his dad’s F1/F2 Ducati Pantah in the F1 Classic TT on 31 August. Tony Rutter won the Formula Two TT (600cc four-strokes, 350cc two-strokes) four times between 1981-85 (and finished second in ’84) and got third in the 1984 Formula One TT on the 750cc engined version. ‘I was only about 12 years old then,’ says Michael, ‘But I remember the sound of those bikes.’ Michael’s bike is a 750cc version prepared by Belgian Ducati specialists Redfox Grinta. Tony…

WITH JAMIE DUNCAN Brought to you from various cafés and bars in Dakar, all boasting far from fat internet connections. Currently struggling to revive the Tengai and resume my ‘Bike to Afica’ journey (p50), but meeting plenty of interesting folk along the way (see p50 again). WE’VE ALL HEARD the excuse before: I’ll get round to doing that Big Trip one day, once the kids have grown up. For Melanie Cowpland though, there is another option: take the kids with you. In December this year she’ll be setting off from East London to ride a Ural sidecar outfit all the way to East London in South Africa, and daughter Sofia, 10, will go along for the ride. ‘Some friends who are currently exploring Africa in a truck thought it was…

WITH MARK GRAHAM » This is our official Custom Bike Of The Year, and Kontrolled Kaos rumbles off with the prize. And what we’ve got lined up for next month made the decision-making process very tricky indeed. Hats off to Larry for this classy, ground-breaking build. ‘There’s nothing space age here’ LARRY MOORE IS steeped in the world of custom fabrication. His dad still builds the street rods (mainly ’32 Fords) that the family grew up with and Larry’s just finished a Corvette-engined ’55 Chevy for his brother Lonny. ‘I think of custom bikes as basically street rods on two wheels,’ says Larry. Larry’s old man didn’t have a lot of time for bikes and it wasn’t until he moved out of the family home aged 18 in 1979 that…

» 29 October–1 November International Dirt Bike Show, Stoneleigh Park,Warwickshire The largest off-road show in Europe with manufacturers showing off the latest tackle, tickets on the day are £16 but you save £8 if you book early. dirtbikeshow.co.uk » 13 September Husqvarna test day, Tunbridge Wells Get to test the latest Husqvarnas at Action Trax. Call Freestyle on 01892782288 to arrange a spin on 2015 bikes. actiontrax.co.uk » 8 November Beach race, Skegness Now in its 6th year. Not quite Weston-size yet but with 20,000 spectators it’s a big event for the east coast seaside town. Book yourself into Butlins and eat fish and chips all weekend. amca.uk.com…

We asked 78 experts, from engineers and designers to racers and journalists, to pick their top three new bikes of 2015. Nobody could vote for a brand they work for. Thanks to all who voted, especially those happy to have positive views on bikes from rival companies published. » Adam Kelley, divisional manager, Yamaha UK » Alan Jones, press manager, Ducati UK » Alessia Riboni, marketing, MV Agusta » Andrea Friggi, marketing manager, Triumph » Atsushi Ueshima, senior staff officer, Kawasaki » Austin Vince, adventuring eccentric » Chaz Davies, World Superbike racer » Chippy Wood, Bike’s chief photographer » Craig Dent, designer, Kiska and KTM » Craig Vetter, motorcycle designer » Daniele Torresan, external relations, MV Agusta » Dave…

So what is PCP? Imagine you want to borrow £10,000 to buy a bike in the normal way. For simplicity, lets ignore the deposit for now, and imagine it’s interest free. So over three years your 36 payments are £278 a month. At the end of three years you sell the bike for the market value, say £6000. So you’ve borrowed £10,000, swallowed the monthly payments, and then gained £6000 at the end. You’ve effectively spent £4000 yet you’ve been paying monthly payments on £10,000. This is where PCP comes in. Instead of borrowing the full £10,000 and then getting a load back at the end, with PCP your monthly payments just cover the £4000 depreciation, so are much lower. In this interest-free example they would be £111 a month.…

ENGINE PRODUCTION This takes place in the Takatsuka plant. It’s a huge complex, employing 8000 workers. Fifteen percent of the workforce are women and most work in Takatsuka doing jobs that require accuracy and patience. Aluminium for the engines comes from Suzuki’s own smelting plant. The photo shows engine final assembly, but each sub-assembly (eg cylinder head) has its own production line. LOW TECH SOLUTIONS Despite the high tech of the testing stations (see page 79) and the bikes themselves, many of the factory’s solutions are reassuringly basic. Here the top yokes for V-Strom 1000s are protected from getting scratched by bits of foam held in place by fabric gaffer tape. Elsewhere, paper checklists hold sway over barcode scanners. THE BOSS Suzuki’s Toyokawa assembly plant on the outskirts of Hamamatsu…

WITH A DUCATI Scrambler to one side and Yamaha’s MT-07 to the other, Kawasaki’s Versys 650 looks like it might be lacking something. The MT is immediately a riot to ride; the Scrambler’s appeal so obvious it barely needs the ignition key. But dig a little deeper and it’s clear the Versys doesn’t come up short at all. Quite the contrary. After the other two bikes, the Versys feels massively more substantial. Its riding position is taller, grander, and far more welcoming. It’s the only one that makes a 6ft rider feel well accommodated. The seat, for example, is the broadest and plushest. And its height advantage – two inches above the Scrambler’s saddle – also adds welcome legroom between bum and footpegs. Bars are wide, like the Ducati’s, but…

» Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Total mileage: 4500 Tyres: Pirelli Angel GT Price: £8284 otr Story this month: Amazingly enough – more camping, this time in La Belle France. Scotland’s worn out with it. » Suzuki GSX-S1000 Total mileage: 3337 Tyres: Dunlop Sportmax D214F Price: £9499 otr Story this month: Frolics aplenty in Germany as Paul Lang attempts to achieve recognition for Swindon. » Kawasaki Versys 1000 Total mileage: 873 Tyres: Pirelli Angel GT Price: £11,060 otr Story this month: Working out what it needs to become an übertourer of distinction. Luggage. » KTM 1050 Adventure Total mileage: 2040 Tyres: Metzeler Tourance Next Price: £10,999 otr Story this month: Been on holiday. Done nothing except move it a couple of times before I went. Missed it though. » Lexmoto Adrenaline SR…

This month: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Other bikes ridden: Aprilia Falco and Yamaha MT-07 Miles ridden: 539 BIKE, TENT, SUNSHINE. Recipe for total two-wheeled satisfaction. I’ve stayed in loads of bike-friendly campsites in England, Scotland and Wales, and these are my three absolute favourites. » The Shore Caravan Site, Achmelvich, Scotland » Price: £7.50 per night for tent and motorcycle If the weather is good there’s no better campsite in Scotland. It’s right up on the North West coast with epic riding in any direction. No shop so stock up with Pot Noodles and cider in Lochinver before you go. Jump the fence opposite the showers and head north over the rocks in search of the Hermit’s Castle, then sit and watch the sun set over the Atlantic. shorecaravansite.yolasite.com » Cae…

This month: Ducati Multistrada Other bikes ridden: Victory Gunner, Ducati Scrambler, MZ ETZ250 Miles ridden: 922 THE EARTH HAS NOT shifted on its axis, but something almost as dramatic has happened. Apparently a 140bhp Ducati twin is now a practical motorcycle. In the past two months I’ve made four trips to central London on our Multistrada S long termer, two of them two-up, and I’m deeply impressed. The out and out performance is a given. On regular roads it’s ridiculously fast. So is the booming exhaust note, but a decent steering lock, engine tractability and excellent mirrors make it a pleasure in the congested city too. And it’s got hard luggage. What the hell is going on? Of course, the old model (introduced for 2010) had power and impressive comfort,…

600 miles (after run-in): change oil and oil filter, sync injection, safety checks. 6000 miles: change oil, clean and regap plugs, sync injection, lube controls, safety checks. 12,000 miles: change oil, oil filter and spark plugs, sync injection, lube controls, safety checks. 18,000 miles: as 6000. 24,000 miles: as 12,000, plus check valve clearances and replace air filter. The schedule then repeats. In addition: new brake fluid every two years, coolant at three years, brakes hoses every four. Swingarm to be regreased at 30,000 miles.…

SERVICING In keeping with VFR tradition service intervals are every 8000 miles, the major service for the valve clearances coming at 16,000 miles. However, because the 1200 does not have VTEC, the service is simpler and cheaper than for a VFR800. The minor service costs £160 for both the manual transmission version and the DCT, the major service costs £470 for the manual and £500 for the DCT. The extra £s are labour charges for checking the dual-clutch system. Money well spent. RIDING POSITION As standard the VFR’s riding position is set more on the sporty side with the rider hunched over the tank. However, Honda do offer a lower seat, bar risers and a taller screen as optional extras, all of which help make the VFR more comfortable for…

» Looking for an alternative route into Scotland? The road through Kielder Forest threads its way past Kielder Water and connects Bellingham in England with Saughtree in Scotland. Don’t make the mistake of pronouncing Bellingham how it looks on paper; the locals call it Belling-jam. Stop for a café visit at Kielder Water if you want, but expect to buy a pay and display ticket. The road is so good you might not want to stop; smooth and full of buttery curves, turning into a tighter forested route when it runs towards the border. Turn right onto the B6357, which takes you north up to Bonchester Bridge. Get ready for some absolutely hooning bends around Singdean. If needed, relax in a café and refuel at the petrol station in Jedburgh,…

WHEN I’M TRAINING I often see someone riding to a very high standard for a long time, then suddenly making a howling mistake. So they’ll take 99 corners perfectly and then go far too fast into the next one, grab the brakes mid-corner, stand the bike up and head to the middle of the road. This is what happens when you stop having a riding plan. You have to constantly ask yourself: what can I see, what can’t I see, and what might I reasonably expect to happen? If you’re doing that, you’re anticipating so you can then prioritise the danger. You’re planning ahead. If your concentration drops the riding plan can suddenly disappear with disastrous consequences. This is usually down to fatigue, which creeps up on you. You often…

» Knox Dry Inside Joseph Shirt – £54.99 This is the Merino wool base layer I’d recommend. It’s got all the properties of Merino wool – moisture wicking, temperature regulating, breathable, and antibacterial – but twinned with cooling and quick drying synthetic fibres. Made in the Lake District using Merino woven in Australia. » Gerbing 12V Heated Socks – £84.99 Stocking up for winter? These extra-tall heated socks are made for the all-year-round rider. Each sock is cut individually for left or right feet, to make sure they deliver their heat optimally. Their wires attach directly to a bike battery, or to connectors in other heated Gerbing goods. » Buff – £15 Heard of Buff? The company doesn’t just print snazzy designs – these seamless microfibre tubes snuff out cold…

» Yamaha’s new NMAX 125 scooter features variable valve timing. Tagged VVA, it uses separate low and high-speed cam lobes on the four-valve single, switching at 6000rpm to give both economy and pace. The NMAX certainly has beefy acceleration at low speed, but expecting a Honda VTEC-style step change would be a mistake. In fact the NMAX feels like any other hyper-convenient twist ’n’ go. The 765mm seat is low enough for most folk to get both feet down flat, and it’s roomy enough to allow a leg-forward stretch out. Handling is decent enough (no rear preload adjustment, though) and 13-inch wheels cope with bumps better than really tiddly ones. And actually the real tech highlight is ABS. It’s a rarity in the scooter market, and works well. Yamaha hope…

» If Michael Dunlop’s miserable TT pace had you thinking that Yamaha’s all-new R1 is a turd, the Suzuka Eight Hours should change your mind. The R1 swept all before it – ZX-10R, Fireblade, GSX-R1000 and the rest – to record Yamaha’s first win in the world’s biggest endurance race since 1996. The Japanese factories take Suzuka more seriously than any other single race, so the R1’s domination – pole position, dominant victory and lap record – proves Yamaha have overtaken their rivals on outright speed and handling. Boosted by that success Yamaha are aiming to run a factory effort in next year’s World Superbike series.…

» 28/29/30 August British GP, Silverstone Just be there. Danny Kent could win the Moto3 race, Sam Lowes may win Moto2 and Valentino Rossi MotoGP. Do you really need any more reasons? » 18/19/20 September Spanish WSB, Jerez Jerez town is mental during MotoGP week. Visiting its WSB event will (probably) give you a British winner and room to check out the town and its many welcoming bars. » 12 December Superprestigio, Barcelona Marquez defends his dirt title in the centre of Barcelona. If you love road racing, dirt track will leave you spellbound. Then hit another Spanish city’s bars.…

» 18–20 September Haggs Bank Adventure Meet, Cumbria Now in its third year, guided tours of the North Pennines’ trails and roads, as well as bonfire, bbq and beers. The Beamish Trophy Trial passes through on Sunday too. haggsbank.com » 22–25 October Horizons Unlimited Campingplatz Pfrimmtal, Germany Located in the fantastic Palatinate Forest, the usual Horizons mix of inspiration and instruction to get those feet really itching. Beer and sausages, natch. horizonsunlimited.com » 28 November–6 December Motorcycle Live 2015, NEC Birmingham Surely it cannot be that time already? All things adventure and travel, along with shiny new motorcycles, the latest gear and probably the odd pint of beer to wash it all down with. Tickets are already on sale. motorcyclelive.co.uk…

» 4-6 September Smaaashfest V, Guernsey Fifth year of this charity event on the west coast of Guernsey run by Sarnians MCC. Venue is (and you’ll like this): A field, Rue du Val, St Saviours, Guernsey, Channel Islands. Local bands, local ales and one of the best views of a sunset you’re ever likely to see. Free camping with a donation. Le5454@hotmail.co.uk » 27 September Custom Bike Show, North Manchester Back under the control of bikers after this big event was Shanghai’d by businessmen. Categories in show are: best paint, best streetfighter, best chop, best rat, best trike, best American and best in show. £3 gets you in to The Ramsbottom Cricket Club, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, Rossendale, Lancs. Tel: 01298 938082 » 16-18 October Championship of the Americas Custom Bike…

Buyers We get a low deposit and low monthly repayments. But we don’t get to own the bike unless we stump up a hefty lump sum at the end of the loan period. Also, the interest rates are almost always higher than on a straight forward loan. It doesn’t make financial sense if you plan to keep your new bike longer than three years, and piling on loads of extra miles can add to the costs too. Manufacturers They sell more new bikes and have a way of keeping customers coming back on a regular basis. Which, when it comes right down to it, is the name of the game. You can swap between brands after your PCP finishes, but most customers don’t. Dealers More new bike sales and because…

This month: Honda RC30 and Harris Yamaha FZ750 Other bikes ridden: 3 x RC30 at Donington Park Classic Festival THE PLAN’S CHANGED,’ announces Team Bike’s Ian Martin when we arrive at the team’s HQ in Berkshire. ‘We’re not just running one bike at the Classic Bol,’ he laughs. ‘We’re going to run two.’ That sounds quite ambitious. The big race takes place on 18-19 September (as a support race for the Bol d’Or main event) and the team’s number one bike, the 1989 Honda RC30 that they used last year, isn’t ready. Today its being fitted with new brakes, then it needs a session on the dyno and further pampering, then a shakedown at Donington’s Classic Festival at the end of August. Still, if you’re going to run one RC30…

This month: Walking Other bikes ridden: Lexmoto Adrenaline 125, Honda CBX750-F, Honda VT500 Ascot LAST NOVEMBER, AS an honoured recipient of Chooser’s imaginary £3000 to spend however I damn well liked, I fantasised about importing a Honda Ascot, a flat-track-stylee, USA-only model powered by the same liquid-cooled, shaft-drive motor found in the VT500E. And following the kindly intervention of Kevin Neesum at DK Motorcycles (dkmotorcycles.com), fantasy has become reality. DK regularly import container-loads of classics from the States, so I rang him to ask if they could bring over an original if weary Ascot a friend had located in California if I could get it to DK’s Denver HQ. He said he knew of a much nicer one for sale just outside the city. So, the vendor sent numerous snaps…

This month: Kawasaki Versys 1000 Other bikes ridden: Yamaha FZ1, Beta Rev 3, BMW R1200RS Miles ridden: 888 AFTER JUST ONE WET weekend with my new Versys, many things are clear. Firstly, this is one humungous motorcycle. Having ridden BMW’s S1000XR fairly recently I thought I’d still be acclimatised to large bikes, but the Versys is another notch up. The nose and screen are bigger than the BM’s, the saddle is wider and at 250kg, it’s 22kg heavier too. That size makes perfect sense splashing along the A14. With the screen on its highest setting (you adjust it by twirling two knobs on the front) you sit in a cocoon of still air. There’s no buffeting on your shoulders, only the outside edges of your knees are in the breeze…

» Bike’s team of test riders for this bike: Stephen Herbert Art Editor (Digital) » Keeper of the Yam’s key and has ridden it almost everywhere. Ben Lindley Contributor » Young, enthusiastic, wants excitement as much as usability. Mike Armitage New Bikes Editor » Fast commutes and B-road dashes when he can nick the key. LAST YEAR’S MT-09 signalled a return to form for Yamaha. Powered by a new 847cc three-cylinder engine giving 104bhp, the naked bike was punchy, fun, capable and sensibly priced. Despite the sharp throttle and comparatively soft rear shock not being to all tastes, some 10,000 Europeans bought one in 2014, making it Europe’s third most popular bike (behind the BMW R1200GS and twin-cylinder MT-07). For this year the MT-09 is also available…

Dunlop D222 People can often be rather negative about OE (original equipment) tyres. However Steve thought these were good – they’re the only tyres he’s ever worn right to the edges on the road. Used for 1333 happy miles before a screw punctured the rear. Pirelli Angel GT Great everywhere, for all conditions and surfaces. Used for 2000 miles of touring and commuting, two-up and solo. Barely started to show any wear. Rounded, smooth profile makes for nice predictable steering. Pretty much perfect tyres for this bike. Mitas Sport Force+ Mitas’ recommendation for the Tracer is a rather sportier fitment. They get hot and give great grip in the dry, and a steeper front profile makes steering faster. Steve had concerns about the amount of release agent (‘more than any…

» 2010-2012 Honda VFR1200F Long awaited ‘big’ VFR had an all-new V4 engine, shaft drive and modern styling. Great to ride, very well made, but 150-mile range disappointed. 1237cc – 152bhp – 267kg £6000-£8500 » 2010-2012 Honda VFR1200 DCT Identical to the manual VFR except Honda added their fantastic Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). See above for the good news. 1237cc – 152bhp – 277kg £6500-£9000 » 2013-present Honda VFR1200F + DCT Slightly larger fuel tank, traction control, revisions to the fly-by-wire throttle and refinements to the shaft drive system create a subtly better VFR. 1237cc – 152bhp – 267/277kg £10,000-£13,599 » 2013-present Honda VFR1200F GT + DCT Full-on touring version of the VFR features hard panniers, top box, centrestand, vario-screen and heated grips. £1000 more than the standard VFR. 1237cc…

» Obviously, the fastest way north is via the M6 on the west side of the Pennines, or the A68 on their east. From Bike HQ we usually romp up the A1 to Scotch Corner, then take the B6275 via Piercebridge before joining the fabulous A68. Just past the village of Toft Hill, on the edge of Weardale, we stop at The 68 café for breakfast. A decent run is 2 ½ hours from Peterborough. From there you’re poised for the glorious roads of the northern Pennines, Northumberland and Scotland.…

» KEEP LOOKING AT signs, anticipating what’s ahead and riding accordingly. This will keep you safe and (funnily enough) is also far less tiring than flying by the seat of your pants. » TAKE REGULAR BREAKS and stop as soon as you feel tired. Riding on for just 15 minutes longer could be a big mistake, as your concentration will drop off significantly. » BEING TOO HOT OR COLD seriously dents concentration. If you’re going abroad in summer, think about investing in a cool vest, vented jacket or mesh armour.…