Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i BIKE

Sadly there’s no getting around the fact that it’s winter (well, except for our lucky southern hemisphere readers). That means the bike is either getting covered in salt, or is tucked up in the garage. Either way we’re dreaming of the great rides that will happen as soon as spring comes along. So, where will you ride to and what to do in 2019? Allow us to give you some suggestions. Freddie Paul recommends riding to the Italian GP at Mugello to enjoy a track invasion amongst the Rossi faithful. Based on his trip to the 2018 event this seems like a good idea. See page 32 for further proof. Ralph Edelstein proposes a cross-Europe rally, from Romania to Gibraltar, which could be what your adventure bike was made for.…

BMW own the boxer engine layout. Their very first bike, the R32 of 1923, was a boxer flat-twin. Boxers comprised all their output from 1966 to 1983, and it’s been used in tourers, adventure bikes and sportsbike, won the Dakar and even raced at the TT. Having been a four-valve design for over 35 years, today every third BMW produced is still a boxer – no wonder BMW boast it’s ‘the best selling motorcycle engine in the world’ (they can’t class Honda’s Cub as a bike...). With ShiftCam the layout gets another lease of life, ensuring its future and letting BMW retain their trademark sticky-out pots.…

22 April Red Marley Hill Climb, Great Witley, Worcestershire Pre-1970 bikes, mainly old Brits, some of them fuelled on methanol, race up a bumpy, grass covered, vertiginous slope on a Worcestershire hillside on Easter Monday. Great sound, great spectacle, great atmosphere. Take the family. redmarleyhillclimb.com 12–14 July Dragstalgia, Santa Pod Raceway, Northamptonshire Wallow in nitro fuelled nostalgia as period dragsters, bikes and cars, take to the strip. Expect Kawasaki triples, double-engined Triumphs, turbo Suzukis, flames, smoke and metalflake paint. Take earplugs, and maybe that sawn off denim jacket with patches that you’ve had in the cupboard since the seventies. santapod.co.uk 13-15 September Goodwood Revival, Chichester, Sussex Still the most impressive classic event in the world. The bike race is always a highlight, with top flight riders (Troy Corser, Freddie Spencer,…

‘I may just return to an unremarkable life. A quiet life sounds enticing right now’ Where are you right now? Bogota, Colombia. This is my final night in South America. My motorcycle is packed in a box and will be heading to Miami tomorrow. You’ve come up with a highly original idea as inspiration for your journey – visiting the 92 places mentioned in the country song, ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ (originally recorded in 1962 and made famous by Johnny Cash in the 1990s). Tell us more… The seed was planted about five years ago, as I listened to the song on a road trip. Since the song has existed for well over 50 years (beginning with an Australian version in 1959), I was sure someone would have taken a trip…

24–26 May The Bike Shed Show, London Once again London’s marvellous Tobacco Dock is the spacious yet suitably funky venue for this carefully curated showcase of all that’s great from Britain’s best builders, plus good food, booze and music. With added hairdressers, gents outfitters and tattooists it’s the full experience under one, rather large, roof. thebikeshed.cc 15 – 16 June Kickback, Prescott, Gloucestershire This year Kickback’s National Custom Championships moves to the Prescott Hillclimb site in leafy Gloucestershire. This means there’ll be another kind of competition where you can run what you brung. Sponsored by specialist insurers Devitt, with proceeds going to Blood Bike charities, what’s not to like? thecustomshow.com 3–6 October AMD World Championship, Cologne, Germany Not so well known in Britain, this massive event run by American Motorcycle…

14 April MotoGP of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA Watch the racing from the turn one grandstand, definitely the most spectacular view. In the evenings head onto 6th Street to enjoy great live music and play beer pong with the locals. Make sure you check out the Handbuilt Motorcycle Show which runs during the GP weekend in downtown Austin – awesome merch. motogp.com 16 June MotoGP Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain Stay in Barcelona if you can or, like we have done, Lloret de Mar. There’s excellent organisation at the circuit when driving in, however, make sure you’ve got a seat booked (we sat at T9) – there aren’t many decent spots to watch from on the grass, especially on race day. This place gets packed. motogp.com 11 August MotoGP Red Bull…

16-23 March Tuareg Rallye, Algeria The Taureg is probably the closest you’ll get to the full-on experience of the Dakar. This rally is completely off-road and takes place in the Algerian desert, which means no liaisons or roads. The organisation offers two levels of difficulty: Expert or Pro. Not one for the happy amateur. tuareg-rallye.eu 25-26 May Wales 500, starts from Malvern, Worcestershire A 500km (300 mile) event on Welsh tracks and back roads, with roadbook navigation and checkpoints. The route has been designed for adventure bikes of over 150 kilos, so there’s nothing super technical, but will be great riding and fantastic scenery. The perfect event for your GS. rallymoto.co.uk 28 Aug/3 Sep Serres Rally, Greece This tough seven-day off-road rally has been around for a number of years,…

15-17 February Mostra Scambio Novegro, Milan Fly into Milan’s Linate airport and the jumble site is within walking distance. Flying out has the advantage that you can’t bring too much back, but definitely book hold baggage for the return. Take a wad of euros and if you accidentally buy a bike search for UK registered vans in the car park. And plead. parcoesposizioninovegro.it 1-2 June Coupes Moto Legende A fantastically French classic experience with a diverse range of bikes and a relaxed atmosphere. Circuit Dijon Prenois is 400 miles from Calais and a good test of your freshly rebuilt classic bike; make sure your recovery insurance is up to date! Book early for track sessions. coupes-moto-legende.fr 17-26 August Classic TT, Isle of Man Book the ferry NOW, work out the…

Flyscreen Diminutive lightly-tinted screen helps fight blast for £54. Don’t expect tourer protection, mind – this accessory is listed under ‘styling’ and not ‘comfort’. Front brake reservoir We’re not fans of unnecessary adornment. But we’d just about justify £74 for this machined-aluminium reservoir as you’d appreciate it while riding. Tailpack The RS is not suited to liberal use of bungees. Attaching clutter requires proper kit, of which the 15-litre tailpack looks the most sensible (though £111 is a bit salty). Rear wheel finisher The Speed’s new ‘high gloss’ wheels need this rather fetching CNC-machined trinket as the finishing touch. Choose grey or black when handing over £79.…

Cartagena: the best introduction European events offer the best value and Spanish ones the best weather. For less experienced riders, Cartagena, south of Alicante, is a great circuit to start with. It’s not loony-fast – arguably too small for litre bikes – and its 17 turns can be learnt quickly, allowing you to focus on throttle and braking. Don’t go too early in the year as professional riders are testing and it gets hairy. The circuit isn’t far from the lovely town with an affordable port-side fish restaurant that’s out-of-this world, Restaurante Techos Bajos. We like relaxing four-day events, costing the same per day as Brands Hatch including shipping your bike and a good hotel. » When? 19-22 March » Who? No Limits » Price? £539 » Best track guide:…

Fashion is no crime Oxford Digby short boots  Used for: 10 months Price: £120 Info: oxfordproducts.com Though fashion normally hurtles by without affecting me, I confess to being drawn by the latest trend in motorcycle footwear. I’m rather partial to ‘retro’ boots that offer proper crash protection, yet also function for striding to the local and don’t look comical when strutting round the office. Multifunction? Lovely. Oxford call these short boots, though they look daft with my bermudas, and to add to confusion are named after the biggest dog in the world. Thankfully such concerns matter not as they’re proving excellent. Construction appears robust, the protection (ankle armour, anti-hyperextension sole, plus reinforced toe, heel and sole) feels convincing, they’re waterproof, and the toe area has yet to be scuffed by…

Look past the package holiday brochures and see the real Mallorca – the Balearic Island that was built for bikes. Fly into Palma with the charter-flight sun-seekers then instead of heading south to the traditional resorts, turn north into the mountains or east to the plains and find some of the best biking roads anywhere in Europe. ‘Why take 57 hazardous hairpins when you could use the Soller Tunnel?’ asks the headline on the cover of the local travel magazine. Sounds like a bit of a stupid question to me… The Ma-11a is a mountain pass that runs between Bunyola and Soller in the Serra de Tramuntana. It’s a series of 57 hairpin bends spread over seven kilometres that climbs 500m to the top. Thanks to the bypass tunnel that…

Save £1056 Triumph Bobber Look at a Bonneville Bobber and you’d assume it’s all about style. But ride one and it’s a different story – they’re fast and handle remarkably well. This one sold for £10,950 but the order was cancelled so it’s now up for £9894. Fowlers, Bristol, 01174400727. Save £1440 Yamaha MT-09 Yamaha’s three-cylinder MT-09 engine is a cracking road bike engine – smooth, torquey and with a ripping top-end. Stick that in a nimble chassis and you have a superb motorcycle. This is an ex-demo, with 242 miles, at £6899. Lamba Motorcycles, 0203 9176146. Save £995 Ducati Scrambler Icon Ducati’s Scrambler is decent value at list price. But with dealers wanting to clear 2018 stock there are some tempting bargains. This one (and a red version too)…

Price from £14,415 (£17,560 as tested) Engine 1254cc, liquid-cooled, variable-valve, 8v flat-twin Power 136bhp @ 7750rpm Torque 105.5 lb ft @ 6250rpm Top speed 145mph (est) Rake/trail 25.9˚/116mm Wheelbase 1485mm Wet weight 279kg Seat height 805-825mm Tank size 25 litres Economy 59.5mpg (claimed) Colours white, black, red/ black, or red Availability now Bike verdict The R1200RT was already a peerless performer with a great options catalogue. The R1250RT adds even more youthful energy. Bike rating 9/10…

IF YOU LOOK at length of career and number of rostrum finishes, Bradley Smith is arguably Britain’s most successful racer. Over 13 years in the paddock, six of them in MotoGP, he had 25 top-three finishes, nine pole positions and three victories. Not bad for a bloke who only turned 27-years old after the end of the season, but not enough to keep him on the grid full time in 2019. With four youngsters coming up from Moto2 Bradley found himself in the relegation zone, a fact he is admirably phlegmatic about mainly because he’d be the only person in the paddock who would have got upset about the situation. He understands team managers’ obsession with youth, which he characterizes as fear: ‘They’re afraid of missing out on the next…

1-3 February, 2019 Elephant Rally, Germany Now 60 years old, this almost mythical event attracts thousands of truly hardcore adventure riders from all across snowy Europe. There are no 4-wheel vehicles, no marquees or entertainment – just bikes, tents, hog-roasts, beer and bonfires in sub-zero temperatures. Nothin’ fancy. But that’s the whole point. bvdm.de 17-19 May, 2019 Overland Expo West, Arizona, USA 2019 marks the tenth anniversary of the Overland Expo, North America’s premier gathering of adventure travellers. A super-sized event featuring off-road training, celebrity speakers, trade stands, films and much more, plus it’s a regular halt for anyone riding the Pan-American Highway to meet up with fellow overlanders. overlandexpo.com 13-16 June, 2019 Horizons Unlimited Travellers’ Meeting, Hay on Wye, UK The UK’s longest-standing adventure motorcycling event returns to its…

THE BEAUTY OF enduro is its all-comer appeal. In fact that’s the beauty of all grass roots dirt bike sport: accessible, fun and anyone can do it without the need to have the best kit, the newest bike, tyres or be any kind of an expert. A care-free attitude to lots of mud also helps a lot. The Wild and Woolly enduro, 28 December, is run by the Northamptonshire Motorcyclists’ Club and proved exactly what’s great about dirt bikes. This historic event claims to be the world’s oldest off-road motorcycle race and though that’s debatable (events like the Scott Trial and ISDE are longer running), certainly 93 years is a good haul for any event.…

Number 13 is a thoroughbred framer, that means it had a chassis designed and made specifically for dirt track racing. It was made by Ron Wood Racing of California, whose chassis were used by the Harley-Davidson factory in the 1980s and ’90s. It’s a chromoly chassis with fibreglass bodywork. It has ancient WP rear shocks and 1990s RWU Yamaha R6 front forks in A&A flat track yokes, that are characterised by their increased offset. Forged alloy 19in Performance Machine wheels are fitted with Dunlop DT tyres. The engine is a tuned 600cc air-cooled, 4v Rotax with a huge Mikuni roundslide carb and UK-made Racefit titanium exhaust. The bike was painted by Death Spray Custom. A bike that looks like mine could be bought for as little as £3000, but for…

After this test the BMW spent a few days with Mike Armitage. They didn’t go well. ‘Parked on Saturday, the GS was dead by Monday – no dash lights, nothing. There’s a recess in the undertray to place the key to start the bike via an aerial connection if the fob battery is dead; this didn’t work, confirming it was the bike. I popped a charger on and it went a little crazy. The dash flashed up odd shapes and warnings about faulty LEDs appeared – and, most curiously, the ignition started turning on and off repeatedly by itself. Then the sat-nav joined in. After two hours on charge the bike still wouldn’t even turn over, so was ferried to our lock-up in a van. Despite the key fob not…

SHAPE The shape of the shell is designed around the spoiler on the back and is all about helping the rider slice through the air while ensuring stability. The 2019 Pista GP features a spoiler that’s been tweaked for improved aerodynamics, and this can be retrofitted to older Pista helmets. The Shoei X-Spirit III also offers different-sized rear wings to suit the characteristics of motorcycle and circuit. Although manufacturers like Shoei, Shark and AGV evolve shell shapes to boost aerodynamic efficiency, Arai tend to be very traditional and you’ll find the shape of their range-topping RX-7V GP will be similar to their lower end lids. However, the RX-7V’s aerodynamics are aided by the shape of the top vents and the adjustable wing-flap at the rear. GRAPHICS You’ll find that 100%…

CENTRESTAND RECALL AND CHAIN TENSION There is a new recall regarding centrestands which need to be checked to ensure that the clip that holds it on doesn’t come loose and fall off. Also, the chains run pretty slack at 50mm and need to be checked with the bike on its side stand. do TUBELESS TYRE CONVERSION Due to the 150/70/18 rear tyre, the choice of rubber is limited and some people don’t like the faff of having to change tubes while on a touring holiday. Some owners have converted their AT wheels to take tubeless tyres by applying some special tape from 3M to the inside. You just remove the wheels, tyres and tubes, then clean the rims up and apply the tape over the spoke nipples to form an…

The Metropolitan Police in a flurry of social media hoop-la released a montage of ‘tactical contacts’ with escaping criminals on mopeds. It was all a bit ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ for readers of a certain vintage. It was said to be a warning to hoodlums on mopeds that the Old Bill have a few tricks up their blue woolly sleeves. Indeed they do. But British police officers are not paramilitary forces or gendarmes – they are citizens in uniform and governed by the law. So can coppers really play tactical skittles with absconding scallywags on mopeds? As the law currently stands the police officer who on direct instruction from his superiors forces a wretched felon from his – probably stolen – scooter is almost certainly guilty of the offence of dangerous…

AT JUST 5ft 7in large adventure bikes scare and annoy me in equal measure. Why? Because they are too tall, too heavy, too hard to move around and adding a pillion just adds to my anxiety. However, when recently faced with no other way to get home I reluctantly took the keys to Bike’s long term test Triumph Tiger 800, stumpy little legs trembling at the thought of the 26 endless miles that lay ahead… But I’m here to confess that I was wrong. Well wrong about the Tiger. And here are five things that I love about it… Low seat height My biggest fear but in the lowest setting reaching the ground is as easy as it is on a cruiser. Armchair-esque riding position means no aches or pains…

THE VAST POLISHED boxer engine you see here is BMW’s latest prototype motor, thought to be destined for a new range of cruisers to take on Harley in the States. It’s the centrepiece in a bike built by Japanese outfit Custom Works Zon which was unveiled at the Mooneyes custom show in Japan. The bike’s R18 nametag suggests 1800cc – the physical size of the thing backs this up – and there is no sign of watercooling. There are tubes which presumably house pushrods so it’s possible BMW needed the vast capacity to make up for all the strangulation that would have to take place to get such a motor through Euro5 emissions regs. Or perhaps BMW felt the capacity was needed to match Harley big-sellers such as the 1746cc…

LUMPY OLD FLAT twin? The new BMW R1250RT is anything but. In fact, it’s staggering quite how refined, smooth and slick the power delivery of this latest BMW tourer truly is. The RT is now blessed with a cunning 1254cc flat-twin boxer engine featuring variable camshaft profiles, also used in the latest GS (see this month’s group test on page 58). And the engine is fabulous in every situation. Drive is so smooth and sophisticated, making low-speed manoeuvring and crawling in traffic easier and more reassuring, especially uphill. Roll-on midrange thrust is silky and effortless. And if you really give it a fistful, the boxer soars – revs eagerly climb above 5000rpm then really race from six, the RT scorching ever upwards to just shy of the redline at nine…

OVER NINETY MV Agustas will be auctioned on 9 February at the Retromobile show in Paris. The single-owner collection was built up over many years and the catalogue reads like a history book for the Italian marque. Bikes range from a 1949 125 scooter to a 2012 F3 800 Serie Oro and include mopeds, off-roaders, transport tricycles, factory prototypes as well as race bikes. There’s even an MV rotavator. The combination of a famous brand and a Paris auctioneer makes for slim chances of a bargain, and auctioneer’s estimates are very broad. Still, a good excuse for a trip to Paris… 1 1959 250 Raid, to military spec. 2 1972 750S, formerly owned by ex-Ferrari racer Arturo Merzario who swapped it for a Range Rover. 3 1975 750 Turbo prototype…

22-25 August British Grand Prix, Silverstone I know, I know. After the balls up of last season, why would you? The answer is ‘of course you want to’ because you want to see the best, maybe the best we’ve ever seen. And you want to see Valentino in case it’s his last season. And you want to see Cal. And you want to see the top level of racing on a scarily fast track. Grit your teeth and book motogp.com 20-22 September Bol d’Or, Circuit Paul Ricard There is no better way to end a summer than to drift down to Provence for the start of the 2019/20 Endurance season. Endurance racing is big again, the factories are involved, and there are a few Brits on private bikes who can…

FUNNY PLACE INDIA. Visit its delightfully jam-packed cities and you’ll be astonished by the hordes of bikes, very often accommodating helmetless riders, mainly sub-200cc singles of aged Jap design, plus of course a few 350 and 500cc Enfields. But despite its motorcycling millions, India’s custom scene is tiny because, as Josh Craston of Garage 52 explains: ‘Here it’s just about basic transport. Most people don’t care about maintenance and so don’t have the skills to create anything out of the ordinary, or the money to pay anyone else to do it for them.’ But enter Craston and Adwait Samanti of Jedi Customs, the other custom builder I recently hooked up with in Mumbai. Garage 52 run a ‘community workshop’ where a small staff headed by ex-journalist Craston build a variety…

6-11 May Scottish Six Days Trial, Fort William Must-see events in off road? I can’t think of a better destination for a dose of sporting endeavour, history and a hospitable welcome than a trip to the highlands in May. The SSDT remains one of the greatest annual off-road events as 100s of trials bikes take on 100s of miles of Scottish rockery for six days. Take waterproofs. ssdt.org 23 June European Grasstrack Championships, Fosse Way, Leamington Spa Midshires Grasstrack Club host the second semi-final of the 2019 European Individual Grasstrack Championships. Britain’s best pitch for a place in the finals on home, err, grass in this most accessible of sports. Support classes include 1000cc sidecars and 500cc solos. midshiresgrasstrack.com 21-22 September World Enduro Super Series, Hawkstone Park, Shropshire The Hawkstone…

3-5 May Tour of Portugal Rally, Pampilhosa de Sera This sounds great. A three-day roadbook navigation rally for trail and adventure bikes that is 85% off-tarmac and covers 250km per day. It’s organised by UK based Rallymoto, so understanding the briefing shouldn’t be a problem either. They can even arrange to transport your bike down. rallymoto.co.uk 19-22 June Faro Rally, Faro A trad bike rally, but much, much bigger. You know the script. Bands, beer, customs, beer, stunts, beer, etc. Plus the added attraction of sunshine and a nearby beach. 2000km from Calais or 1000km from the Santander ferry in Northern Spain, so you’ll get plenty of riding in too. motoclubefaro.pt 6-8 September World Superbikes, Portimao Even if next year is another Johnny Rea walkover it’ll be worth a trip…

4/5 May Hells Race, Lelystad Dirt Track, Netherlands My favourite race from the last couple of years has been Hells Race, Lelystad Dirt Track, near Amsterdam. Most racers camp around the track and hit the Heineken as soon as Saturday’s practice ends. The Euro scene isn’t as developed as the UK’s, so the bikes are more make do and mend, and more charming as a result. sinnersupply.com 18-19 May MCN Festival, Peterborough The Dirt Track Racers Association (DTRA) hold a race per month over six months, April to September, and races are usually free to spectate. Indian Motorcycle sponsor the series and the DTRA also partner with MCN Live to promote two days of racing at the paper’s Peterborough event in May. mcnfestival.com 20-21 July DTRA, Amman Valley, Ammanford, Wales…

OFF-ROAD INDOOR The classic off-road scene is booming globally, and the Italians seem especially keen. Period bikes are being restored and raced with KTM the most popular brand at Milan. There are several indoor stands showing off perfect restorations and offering an impressive range of new parts, both old stock and freshly remanufactured. This isn’t just a bunch of enthusiasts, this is a business. VAN SALES 200cc ohc single-cylinder Ducati engine shares back of the van display space with a couple of two-stroke KTM motocross engines, a brand new Minarelli barrel and an assortment of off-road forks. This stuff keeps coming out of the woodwork. Van also provides shelter at the three-day event. It takes place in November, and the weather is iffy for outdoor stall holders. SITTING COMFORTABLY No…

Triumph Speed Triple S Pros: all the RS’s grunt and on-road handling, almost all its gizmos, plus a more compliant ride and a rather handy two grand cheaper. Cons: regular ABS, not cornering, and lacks Arrow cans and Öhlins logos (if that matters). BMW S1000R Sport Pros: long-time class leader with fat 162bhp motor, semi-active ride, full electronics, and £600 cheaper than RS. Has heated grips, too... Cons: hasn’t the Triumph’s milled-from-solid feel or bold character. This paint is £140 extra. Yamaha MT-10 Pros: wonderous gurgling inline four, super-light feel to the handling, more practical and friendly than looks suggest, £2k less than RS. Cons: not as many toys as the blingy Triumph or BMW, styling and colours a tad divisive.…

Arai RX-7V RC £2799.99 This super-special handmade lid features a 100% carbonfibre shell, and each one takes an Arai craftsman a day to make. Because of the time scales involved Arai only make 300 export models per year, so availability is limited. Developed as a spin-off of the firm’s £5000 GP-6 RC Formula One racing helmet, the motorcycle variant is essentially the same as the composite-shelled RX-7V GP, so features all the same aerodynamics, ventilation, lining and EPS. However Arai claim the RC weighs ‘substantially less’ than the GP version. whyarai.co.uk AGV Pista GP-R from £899.99 As worn by one Mr Valentino Rossi, the Pista GP-R is a state-of-the-art 100% carbonfibre shelled helmet. Advanced aerodynamics help it slice through the air in order to shave precious milliseconds from lap times,…

CRF1000L Africa Twin 2015-2016 All-new model brought Honda back into the adventure-sport game with arguably the most iconic name in the business. Unlike the V-configuration AT of old, the new bike featured a 998cc parallel-twin engine, three-stage traction control and digital dash. 998cc – 232kg – 94bhp – £6750-£11,600 CRF1000L Africa Twin DCT 2015-2016 Identical to the manual model but with Honda’s brilliant Dual Clutch Transmission. Can be ridden fully auto in ‘D’ or ‘S’ modes as well as ‘G’ mode for off-road terrain, or semi-auto via a paddle on the switchgear. There’s no clutch lever but you get a parking brake. 998cc – 242kg – 94bhp – £7000-£9300 CRF1000L Africa Twin 2017-2018 Lightly updated model brought emissions into line with Euro4 without affecting performance. Meanwhile, Honda attempted to solve…

This isn’t a limp brochure-style round-up of all the bikes you can buy. No, your guide is far more useful as it only contains bikes that we have tested, with comparable on-the-road prices plus data, expert opinion and must-know detail gathered by fussy full-time testers. We do hundreds of thousands of miles, dyno, datalog, weigh and answer the big questions. Don’t buy a new bike without reading this first. ✱ SQUARE PEG, ROUND HOLE At the end of the 1970s, Honda decided the way to beat Harley in US dirt track was with their own V-twin. Instead of using a dedicated racer, they turned to the CX500 commuter. The RS750 used a bored-and-stroked 92bhp CX engine, turned 90˚ in the frame. This one was ridden by a young Freddie Spencer.…