Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2015 i BIKE

HELLO Leaning back in the warm late summer sun, running back over the swinging ride here and watching our Ducati Scrambler draw a crowd, it feels very good indeed to be in Britain. It’s not just because I’m devouring a too-salty tray of chips and charging lungs with Cromer’s sea air (p96). This month we’ve dashed to all points of the land in a celebration of the fantastic two-wheeled diversity that cements the Great into Britain. Senses still fizz from sideways methanol-burning lunacy on a Sunday in Lincolnshire (p43) and from squeezing Triumph’s Rocket III across Wiltshire and Somerset (p62). And William Dunlop’s view of Ulster puts a whole new angle on riding down country lanes (p56). Northumbria proves perfect for getting to the core of this year’s new-wave sports…

» Yamaha have a new 998cc triple. Like the 847cc MT-09 engine it’s tuned for midrange with 41mm throttles, 11.3:1 compression, and revs to 10,500rpm. It’s derived from the 140bhp snowmobile and Waverunner motor, and is in a new four-wheel buggy – however, Yamaha use XT660-based motors in their leisure vehicles already, and this new application uses a bike-style sequential gearbox. Does this sharing of technology hint at a future large MT model? Honda, meanwhile, have patented a new two-stroke. Yes, really. Three-stage injection sprays fuel to cool the piston and cylinder wall, and help fuel atomise. It’s fired into a scavenging port, with two other ports to clear waste gas and stop unburnt fuel finding the exhaust, which is managed by a valve in the head. A cunning new…

Mat Oxley So far this year’s MotoGP has been one of the best, but Rossi isn’t counting his chickens IT’S THE BIGGEST question of 2015: can Valentino Rossi beat the odds and win a tenth world title at the age of 36? The man is already a bona fide legend, almost certainly the greatest rider of all time, and what he’s doing this year goes against every rule in every sport. The usual theory in any sport is that a decade at the top is as good as it gets. But here’s Rossi, riding a twentieth World Championship season in one of the cruellest sports of all. The Italian is giving it everything in his quest for an eighth crown in the premier class and only a fool would bet…

» 17-18 October Classic Mechanics Show, Stafford County Showground By mid-October the leaves are turning colour, the nights are drawing in and it’s the Classic Mechanics Show at Stafford. Expect loads of traders, loads of good stuff and loads of tat. Perfect for stocking up on winter distractions. Bonhams auction on Sunday. Special guest John McGuinness. £13 on the gate. Classicbikeshows.com » 24 October Kempton Park Autojumble, Kempton Park Racecourse, Surrey Autojumble season gets into full swing as classic bike fetishists build up their winter stocks of nuts (and bolts). This is a big, bike only jumble with hundreds of stalls selling everything from complete bikes to Harley parts, rusty scooters to secondhand engines. Plus burgers and tea. £6 admission. Egp-enterprises.co.uk » 25 October South of England Motorcycle Show and…

» Seen that there Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation flick at the cinema? The bike action features a host of British riders, including David Knight, Steve Plater, Kieran Clarke, Jenny Tinmouth and Freddie Sheene, tearing about like lunatics on BMW S1000RR sportsbikes. Or at least some of the bikes are BMWs. Filmed in Morocco, a lot of the stunt action uses Husqvarna 450s dressed up like S1000RRs and using BMW wheels with road-racing wet tyres. ‘Four of them were built and you couldn’t tell – the only give away was that the suspension was taller. But I found I could do a lot of the stunts on the actual RRs,’ reckons Knight, who made his usual year’s salary in seven weeks of filming.…

FIRST THOUGHTS OF the GSX-S1000F are dominated more by what it doesn’t have than what it actually does. Maybe it’s something that’s highlighted by the presence of the other bikes, but as eyes dart back and forth between them the mental checklist grows longer. The GSX-SF doesn’t have an adjustable screen. No fittings for hard luggage. No pillion grabrails, no mainstand, nor anything to make setting the suspension quick and easy. ‘Of course not,’ explain Suzuki, though I may be paraphrasing. ‘The GSX-S1000F is a sportsbike, for sportsbike riders, so we didn’t bother with any of that sensible stuff.’ I’m not convinced – just leaving stuff out doesn’t automatically make what’s left over any better. Not putting baked beans on a Full English doesn’t make the sausages any sausagier. Yet…

» Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Total mileage: 5462 Tyres: Mitas Sportforce+ Price: £8284 otr Story this month: two-up holiday to La Belle France, new Garmin satnav and lots of cleaning and polishing. » Suzuki GSX-S1000 Total mileage: 3477 Tyres: Metzeler M7 RR Price: £9499 otr Story this month: dry (but cold) summer means Langy’s jetwash has been strangely redundant so far in 2015. » Kawasaki Versys 1000 Total mileage: 1419 Tyres: Bridgestone T30 Price: £11,060 otr Story this month: largely standing in Stanstead airport’s long-term bike park on its new tyres. What a waste. » KTM 1050 Adventure Total mileage: 2750 Tyres: Metzeler Tourance Next Price: £10,999 otr Story this month: see Big Test (p104) where an electrical malfunction has brought things to shuddering halt. » Ducati Scrambler Total mileage: 2436…

This month: H-D FXLR Other bikes ridden: Triumph Rocket III, CZ 175 Trail Miles ridden: 780 BELT DRIVES, WE ARE constantly reminded, are virtually maintenance free, clean and tidy, yeah, yeah, yeah. But when you have to replace one it’s a massive pain in the wallet on a Big Twin. The belt on this FXLR is 25 years old and shows no outward signs of corruption. But if you get stuck anywhere with a broken belt – you are properly stuck. Outer and inner primary cases and all therein have to come off, swingarm too. And it takes about six hours (with all the right tools). That spells the end of a holiday and no mistake. So as a strong believer in preventative maintenance, and equipped with all the parts…

LUGGAGE IS A very personal thing. You may think a clip-on tankbag is the last word in transportation of clutter, only to be bemused by another’s utter obsession with soft throwovers, or the obstinate bugger with ex-military canvas sacks wrapped in black bin bags. However, we’re offering the chance to broaden your luggage horizons with this snazzy tailpack. Intended to look like a single seat cowl, it’s got a hard outer, internal pockets and other stuff, too. It’s by Axio, who make laptop cases, rucksacks and so on. Or used to – from what we can tell they’re no more. Sent to us years ago, it was rediscovered at the bottom of a cupboard yesterday. Best of all, this isn’t a giveaway or a competition with boring terms and conditions.…

600 miles (after run-in): change oil and oil filter, adjust CO2 emissions, safety and chassis checks. £122 9000 miles (minor): change oil, oil filter and air filter, check fuel pressure, chassis and safety checks. £213 18,000 miles (major): change oil, oil filter, air filter and plugs, check valve clearances, new secondary air system membranes, check fuel pressure, chassis and safety checks. £339 Minor and major services then alternate every 9000 miles. Typical service costs from by Gear4 Motorcycles: gear4motorcycles.co.uk, 01778 380380…

SERVICING The Diavel’s eight-valve V-twin is from the 1198, but with less valve overlap (the time, measured in degrees, when intake and exhaust valves are both open) – hence the Testastretta 11› name. It has impressive service intervals; the basic service (oil and filter) is annually or every 7500 miles, and costs £220. The major service, which includes valve clearance and cam belt inspection/change, comes at 15,000 miles (18,000 miles on the 2015 bike) and costs £231. Ducati recommend that all fluids (fork oil, brake and clutch fluid, engine coolant) be changed every three years at a dealer cost of £144. NUMBERPLATE HANGER The Diavel is full of neat design touches, like the pillion footrests and grab rail that fold away when not needed, and LED strip rear lights. To…

» Shropshire is one of the largest inland counties in the UK yet has one of the lowest population densities. This is good news for bikers, but be aware the northern half of the county is quite flat. It’s the south and the Shropshire Hills – which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – that is most interesting for motorcyclists. » Trail-riding nirvana can be sampled in this area, with terrain suitable for all skill levels and types of bikes. Road bike riders can also find plenty to do on the deserted back roads and lanes in the Marches. The Shropshire AONB also borders Wales and acts as a springboard for trail-riding raids into mid-Wales. » Start in Church Stretton, a quaint little market town located half an…

NOISE REDUCTION Different ear plugs will be tested to different dB(A) ratings. dB(A) is the smart way of writing decibels. A higher number means a louder sound and as a rule, the noise level doubles every three decibels. Without hearing protection at 100dB(A) your riding time is limited to two hours of daily exposure before this noise level becomes damaging to your long term hearing. At 115dB(A) your allowed exposure is cut down to fifteen minutes. When buying ear plugs always read the packaging to know exactly what noise reduction you are getting for your money. If you are one of those riders who likes to remove the baffle or battle against the wind on an unfaired bike, a higher dB(A) rating might be a good idea. WHAT’S YOUR RIDING…

>> FIND SOMEWHERE QUIET, wide and flat to practice. Ideally go to a reputable wheelie school for your first attempts. >> DON’T PULL THE CLUTCH all the way in, let the engine bounce off the limiter and then let the clutch out. You’ll end up sat on the road. To pop the front wheel up, dip the clutch for a fraction of a second as you accelerate. >> COVER THE BACK BRAKE whenever you try to wheelie and practice using it, even if your wheelies are low to start with. Your aim is to make using the back brake instinctive.…

»If you like Mark Neale’s Faster and Fastest, you’ll love his latest, Hitting The Apex, which tells the story of Valentino Rossi and the men taking aim at the king of MotoGP . The film follows the rise of the youngsters then focuses on those four triumphant and tragic seasons – from 2010 to 2013 – when Rossi suffered at Ducati, won again at Yamaha, when Lorenzo, Stoner and Marquez won titles, and Simoncelli lost his life. Hitting The Apex is available now on DVD and Blu-ray.…

» After several years of different classes within the same race – CRT bikes, Open Option bikes and Factory Option bikes – everyone will run under the same rules with the same amount of engines and fuel, even the same electronics. But many riders don’t think the new MotoGP rules will be the biggest difference. ‘After seven years with Bridgestone we will use Michelin,’ says factory Ducati rider Dovizioso. ‘Everyone will have to change their bikes because the tyres have a completely different character from the Bridgestones. It could change things for a lot of the manufacturers and a lot of riders.’…

Mark Graham Loving the speedway vibe and fully expecting to see more of the same/similar at the Lincolnshire Poacher grass track meeting p43 AMAZINGLY, SIMPLY because there are few genres of motorcycle that haven’t been either referenced, re-invented or actually invented in custom building, this is one of the few speedway-inspired builds we’ve seen. Yes, there have been board trackers, flat trackers, hill climbers and the usual tranche of road-biased bolides, but not yet a thirties shale shifter. It could even be ’80s – until the laid-down engine generation arrived in the ’90s. And what a bike. Dubbed ‘Seven’ simply because it’s the seventh bike Virginia, USA-based Jeremy Cupp has crafted. It’s an arresting mélange of mind-bending engineering and straight homage to one of the purest and most entertaining racing…

Chippy Wood : It’s been another great month for new bike news and it’s great to see David Knight and the rest in a big movie Suzuki » There’s a host of changes to Suzuki’s RM-Z250 for 2016, based on successful alterations made to the 450 last year. These include Hole Shot Assist that alters the ignition map for the optimum start in a variety of conditions, and Kayaba’s second-generation PSF2 air forks that save 1kg and give rapid suspension changes with a hand pump. There’s the 450’s kickstarter, and weight is shaved off nearly every engine component – there’s a total of 80 tweaks, giving a wider and smoother spread of power. Honda Honda’s 2016 CRF250R sees plenty of detail changes over last year’s model. They include: new cams;…

Jamie Duncan The Tengai and I have somehow made it another two thousand miles to Accra in Ghana. I’m over halfway to South Africa, but the bike is going to need some fettling and I’m going to need some documents if the trip is to get any further see p82 HERE AT BIKE Travel we like how the rise of the adventure bike inspires more folk to take off exploring. We like the increase in tours and organised rides making it easier to take a bold first step, too. However, there’s still nothing like just taking off on whatever old bike you’ve got. Especially an inappropriate two-stroke. It’s exactly what 28-year-old Stergios Gogos did in October 2013. He simply rode off on his trusty 10-year-old Vespa PX200 – 198cc, 12bhp…

YEARS AGO, A RIDER who wanted both sporting credibility and touring comfort had two choices: own two bikes, or buy a Honda VFR. Today, Kawasaki’s Z1000SX fills that same role. Since its launch in 2011 the SX has repeatedly been Kawasaki UK’s best-selling bike, while it’s also frequently topped the nation’s sports-touring sales charts. It’s easy to see why. Originally built as a fully-faired version of the intense, super-loopy Z1000, the SX retained the naked’s thrills but added sportsbike style, welcome wind protection, a bigger fuel tank, room for two and even hard-luggage options. Enhanced only by a subtle update last year, every word of that still holds true. Chasing the A68 north-west, the Kawasaki dissolves a dozen miles in the blink of an eye. Traffic is dispatched with unthinking…

» As with Honda’s Integra mega-scooter, 2012’s NC700X was driven by a SOHC, 4-valve twin that was essentially half of a Jazz car engine. In 2014 the bores were enlarged by 4mm to 77mm, the stroke remaining at 80mm to produce 745cc. Claimed power output consequently rose from 48 to 54bhp and torque from 42 to 50 lb.ft. The NC700X wasn’t a fast bike and neither is its successor, especially with the optional Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which has one clutch disengaging a gear, as the other engages the next. A button on the righthand ‘bar clicks into Drive (D) or Sport (S) mode, the former for lazy if effortless travel, the engine shifting up through the gears as quickly as it can and changing back down much later than…

This month: his van Other bikes loaded into van: Hondas , KTM (see below) Miles ridden: zero IT FEELS AND LOOKS LIKE Steptoe’s parlour. Underneath garden umbrellas, push bikes, kids toys and motorcycle paraphernalia are my prized collection of motorcycles; a 1992 Honda FireBlade, KTM 300 EXC, 2x Honda XR650s, Suzuki RM 250, 2x GAS GAS trials bikes, a Bultaco Sherpa trials bike circa 1972 and a Suzuki PE175 in a box, all waiting to be rehoused in my new-to-me double garage. Nine trips in my van it took to fill this 20’x 8’ lorry container. I just cannot believe almost all of it came out of my old single garage. Now I have to plan how it’s all going to fit into my new pad. While the wife is…

This month: Honda RC30 and Harris Yamaha FZ750 Other bikes ridden: Kawasaki KM90 paddock bike BOL D’OR, LAST CALL for Bol D’or Frighteningly, the time is upon us for fun and frolics in the sunshine (and of course the night-time) with motorcycle endurance racing the backdrop. Or is it the other way round? It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters except Team Bike. ‘No panics, it’s all fitting into place,’ says Team Bike’s Ian Martin. ‘We’re getting the stickers made up for our sponsors, which are now P&O Ferries, who’ve “come on board”, Dunlop tyres, Rock Oil and now the West of Scotland’s fave hostelry, the Strathcarron Hotel. Two of them, P&O and Rock were with us in 1982, so it’s good to have them back with us. ‘Other important stuff is…

The 1050 comes on Metzeler Tourance Next, perhaps best described as a road-styled dual-purpose tyre. Grip, feel and confidence aplenty in all conditions. We’ve also tried Avon’s new TrailRider – Chippy loves the way they feel under heavy braking. Steering and dry grip are great, but we’ve had a few slides when it’s been wet. KTM’s recommended fitments: Dunlop RoadSmart and Pirelli Angel GT for pure road use; Conti TrailAttack 2 and Dunlop TrailSmart as equivalents to OE; and Pirelli Scorpion Rally and Conti TKC80 for dirt exploration.…

» 2011-2014 Diavel Loads of rider aids, keyless ignition and the first production bike with a colour TFT dash. Red or black. 1198cc - 143bhp - 210kg - £8000-£10,000 » 2011-2014 Carbon Carbon Red and Carbon Black have forged wheels, and carbon tank cover, cowl and mudguard. 1198cc - 143bhp - 207kg - £9500-£11,500 » 2012-2014 Strada Touring Diavel with panniers, heated grips, deep seat, bar risers, taller screen and titanium paint. 1198cc - 143bhp - 215kg - £10,000-£15,000 » 2012-2013 AMG Celebrating a short-lived tie-up with Mercedes AMG. Special wheels, paint and seat, very limited numbers and so very collectable. 1198cc-143bhp-207kg - £26,000 » 2015-Present Diavel Dark/Carbon Testastretta 11› engine from Multistrada, more low rpm torque, new seat, LED headlamp, styling revisions. 1198cc - 160bhp - 210kg - £13,750-£17,130…

» Find Birmingham on a map and look left. Craven Arms, north of Ludlow, is the gateway to the Marches, and Church Stretton is 14 miles along the A49. Take a tour with Bob Dixon and AdventureRide on his fleet of 250cc trail bikes – a day’s ride on their bikes is £150 each for a party of four. Three hour off-road taster sessions are £99. They also do giant trailie days, covering more miles on easier trails. A day riding on you own adventure bike is £60. See adventureride.co.uk.…

» Oxford Moldex – £2.49 These light ear plugs are made from Moldex foam. You’ll get two pairs to a pack, probably in crazy colour schemes whether you like them or not. A tapered shape allows them to slide into your ear canal and the foam seals out an impressive 35dB(A) of noise. Cheap enough to dispose of, or wash and reuse. » Auritech Biker – £19.99 These Auritechs cut out a good level of road and bike noise but are attenuated to allow conversation and intercom communication. It’s all done through a patented ceramic filter that sits deep in your ear, surrounded by levels of malleable plastic. » Ultimate Squidgy – £65 plus postage Yes they are at the top end of any ear plug budget, and you have…

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. * DIRT GOAT Flat track has always been big in America, and Harley-Davidson have always been at the front. Their greatest-ever rider was Joe Petrali. Starting on board tracks in the 1920s (while underage), he moved to dirt and in ’35 won every race in the 13-event National series. He won the title four more times, as well…

Mike Armitage I’ve nothing against electronics – traction control, anti-wheelie, all that. But it’s good to think firms are still doing ‘real’ engineering NEED YOUR MONSTER to live up to its name a little more? You’ll be wanting the new 1200 R. Its 1198cc V-twin is basically the Multistrada engine (though interestingly using Synerject-Continental injection, not Bosch) and makes 160bhp at 9250rpm and a hefty 97 lb.ft at 7750rpm. It’s a wedge more than the base 1200’s claimed 135bhp at 8750rpm (tested by Bike at 126bhp) or the S version’s 145bhp, and Ducati say it’s the most powerful naked they’ve ever built. Perhaps they forgot that they claim 162bhp for their fairing-free Diavel. There’s a shorter first gear to make sure you really notice the extra, plus the must-have riding…

» 2/3/4 October French WSB Jonathan Rea will probably have won the title by the time the WSB circus makes it to Magny-Cours, but you should go and tell him well done anyway. It’s the decent thing to do. worldsbk.com » 16/17/18 October Brands Hatch BSB Even if you think BSB’s points system is pants because it contrives to produce a last-round winner, the Brands finale is always unmissable for that very reason. Get your tickets today… britishsuperbike.com » 6/7/8 November MotoGP, Valencia Will the Rossi versus Lorenzo duel go down to the final round? Quite possibly, so book your ferry/flights now. And stay on for the first winter tests on the Monday. If the hangover’s worn off. motogp.com…

Mat Oxley Former Pro-am racer Mat Oxley talks to Niall Mackenzie about the weirdest classic race of the year YOU KNOW THE world is seriously hooked on classics, and racing classics, when the biggest support race at the recent British MotoGP round was a re-enactment of the notorious Yamaha Pro-Am series of the early 1980s. And the plan is to run more classic Pro-Am rounds next year! Depending on your individual point of view, the crash-strewn Silverstone outing was either motorcycling’s version of a Sealed Knot battle re-enactment, or ‘the ultimate school reunion’, in the words of race-winner Niall Mackenzie. Mackenzie (who last raced in 2003) didn’t just win the race, he also helped make the whole event happen, working with IDP Moto to get a grid of original RD250LCs…

» 11 October 2015 Normous Newark Jumble The autojumble to end all autojumbles. We keep hammering this home: looking for inspiration? Too much space in your hovel needing filled with ‘bargain’ rubbish? Newark Showground, Notts is very much the place to solve these issues. newarkautojumble.co.uk » 18 October 2015 Red Oktober Those of you pining for more than fleeting glimpses of the Eastern Bloc’s finest two-wheelers only have to wheel yourselves down to London Town’s Ace Café to feast on both wonders of the Cold War and post-Glasnost disasters. ace-cafe-london.com » 22 November 2015 So-Cal Cycle Swap Meet Newark (see left) does, of course, have its charms. Few would argue, though, that Long Beach, California might be a more salubrious place in which to rifle through old drawers of UNF…

» 1st November Enduro Extreme Indoor, Stafford County Show Ground Another amazing event put on by Paul Edmondson, attracting the world’s best extreme riders with the likes of Walker, Knight, Blazusiak and more. It will be Blazusiak’s first event since contracting Epstein Barr virus. Admission is £20 for adults, £10 for OAPs and under 16s, under 5s get in free. enduroextreme.com » 24th October Speedway World Championship GP, Melbourne, Australia Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium hosts the final round of the championship. Will Tai Woffy hang on to his lead and claim his second world title? If you’re heading out to Australia admission starts from $49 and goes up to $155. If that’s a bit rich for your wallet settle down in front of the TV and cross your fingers. speedwaygp.com »…

» 2-4 October 2015 The Overland Expo East, Asheville, North Carolina, USA 20-22 May 2016 The Overland Expo West, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA Simply the biggest overland travel event in the world. And so big that it is now split into two separate events on the east and west coasts of the United States. Expect over 8000 like-minded traveller types, more than 200 exhibitors and countless classes and workshops from experts, authors and filmmakers. There will also be music, food and film festivals, and the chance to meet Ted Simon. If all this isn’t enough to tempt you into splashing out on the airfare, why not also think about hiring a bike and exploring some of the most sublime backcountry riding the United States has to offer? Tickets for the east…

LINDISFARNE CAUSEWAY IS a mile-long stretch of road that, curiously, only exists for a few hours at a time. It hangs off the extreme north-east of England – virtually up on the same latitude as Moscow – alternately connecting and separating the mainland from Holy Island, where we’ve stopped to have a look round. Twice a day, and on an ever-changing schedule, the North Sea rolls back to reveal this secret strip of asphalt, then sweeps in to submerge it once again. Here, timing is everything – a lesson BMW know well. After nine decades of air-cooled Boxers, two years ago they could sense the tide was turning against their trademark twin. With emissions legislation soon to wash ashore, in 2013 the R1200GS became their first water-cooled Boxer road bike.…

THERE CAN’T HAVE been too many bona fide Lincolnshire poachers among the 1000 or so souls at Thorpe St. Peter. Or they would surely have bagged the hare scurrying up and down the front straight prior to Race Three. The crowd and commentators are loving it though, before it scrabbles through the safety netting, darting between parked cars and into the sanctuary of a hedge. It looks properly cheesed-off. Bloody grass trackers. You approach Thorpe St. Peter via Wainfleet St. Mary (if you’re heading north on the A52). First indication of the methanol mayhem about to unfold is a small green fluorescent sign writ ‘Poacher’. Next is another proclaiming ‘International Poacher’. Then across pancake flat vegetable fields you glimpse what looks like a caravan park. Seagulls feast on early Brussels…

This month: Suzuki GSX-S1000 Other bikes ridden: Ducati Monster M900 Miles ridden: 212 LAST MONTH’S MAMMOTH trip of over 1800 miles around Germany has killed the standard tyres on our GSX-S1000. The Dunlop Sportmax D214F had covered over 3300 miles but were starting to square off. I’d also lost confidence in them. Why? I swear the front let go on the twists around the Harz Mountains, not once but twice. Maybe I was going too hard, they weren’t up to temperature, or it was slippery. But whatever, I thought I was off. My head wasn’t right, so something more confidence inspiring was needed. Metzeler’s M7 RRs (front £98 and rear £141 rrp, www.metzeler.com) claim to have sporty handling, grip in all conditions and suffer 20% less wear than the earlier…

This month: Ducati Multistrada Other bikes ridden: Honda NC750X, GasGas Pampera 250 Miles ridden: 896 BEEN BUSY WITH all manner of things this month: movies, trail riding and European Multistrada holidays... » Adventure Travel Film Festival To Mill Hill school in North London. The Multi’s hard panniers swallowed camping equipment to allow me to pitch tent on the rugby pitch. Perfect. The festival is organised by Austin Vince and Lois Pryce and this year 800 people turned up, to see fantastic films, listen to speakers like former Bike contributor Chris Scott and soak up the atmosphere. Highlight was ‘14hp to Africa,’ a 1930s Austrian film. No date for next year yet, but it’s another one for the must do list and excellent value at £76. adventuretravelfilmfestival.com » Adventure Ride UK…

1190 Adventure » The same basic engine, frame and running gear as the 1050. But a larger bore and stroke take the V-twin’s capacity to 1195cc with a whopping 134bhp. Power wheelies in third gear? Oh aye. The 1190 has fatter forks too, along with spoke wheels in wider sizes, cornering ABS that works at full lean, an off-road riding mode, plus a two-piece seat with adjustable height for the rider. Price: £13,999 1190 Adventure R » Based on the 1190 above, the R is the jacked-up-enduro version. So you get proper off-road wheel sizes (21-inch front, 18-inch rear) on supple, long-travel suspension, a thin one-piece seat, shorter screen and steel crash bars ready for when you fall over at Tesco. Sorry, we mean go end-over-end down a deep ravine.…

BMW R1200GS Opposed twin is a squintyeyed, beak-wearing oddity with funny suspension, but also the defining adventure bike – gutsy, sweet-handling, solid, confidence inspiring. Must-have fancy bits are all extras and bump up the price (£15k anyone?), but it’s still the target for other brands. Price: £11,900 otr. PCP: dep £2489, 35 months @ £149 Yamaha XT1200Z Not as powerful, fast or light as the KTM (or BMW, above). But the parallel-twin has got a tad punchier recently and is as unruffled as engines get. Bulletproof, too. The ride’s secure, ergonomics are good, and this year’s colours look great. Super-safe buy if you want to fit in yet stand out. Price: £11,135 otr. PCP: dep £2400, 36 months @ £155 Triumph Tiger 800 Cast-wheeled XR is more road biased than…

» 2012 Ducati Diavel Ad says: 3500 miles, full history, just serviced, screen, carbon rear fender, paint protection, side mount number plate, only out on sunny days. Immaculate. We say: New service, low miles, cheapest around. Bite hand off. Price: £9500 Contact: mcnbikesforsale.com » 2013 Diavel Strada Ad says: 9874 miles, full history with 5000 miles until the next service. Great condition, comes with panniers and rear sissy bar. We say: Presence and touring ability of a full-dress H-D, with sportsbike performance. It’s a cracking two-up sports tourer. Price: £10,599 Contact: mcnbikesforsale.com » 2014 Ducati Diavel Carbon Ad says: 2300 miles, stunning one-owner bike, full Termi, Datatag. First to see will buy. We say: Machined wheels, white frame and black ceramic headers turns heads. The 2300 miles save…

Every now and then we get a telephone call from a motorcyclist who has been injured at an off-road school. Usually the people who call have sustained an incapacitating injury and attribute fault to the school. The typical story goes like this: ‘we were issued kit and our licences were checked. Then, after a safety briefing, we got on the bikes and we went through progressively more demanding tasks.’ At which point we get to something going wrong. A broken arm for a skilled, self-employed, manual worker can have a devastating financial consequence so you can understand why people look for someone to sue. But, contrary to urban myth, you have to do more than hurt yourself to sue someone and the reality is much more nuanced. The first hurdle…

THE SAFEST WAY to learn is to go to a reputable wheelie school. At ours, all the bikes have anti-flip devices to stop you going over backwards and you’re taught on an airfield so there are no cars or hedges to worry about. However, if you’re determined to go it alone, there’s a safe and quick way to learn. There are different ways to wheelie but the most common are the power wheelie (just open the throttle) and the clutch wheelie (dip the clutch momentarily). We teach the clutch method because it’s a lot more versatile – you can use it at different speeds and revs. Accelerate fairly hard then do a very shallow and fast clutch dip, letting the clutch back out immediately. The front wheel will come up…