Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i BIKE

This is 1994, and Bike’s chief road tester Phil West has pulled rank, as befitting a man courageous enough to wear those leathers in public. He’s on the new VFR750FR and has told the gibbering staff writer (that’ll be me) to try and keep up on a Suzuki RF900. I can remember the day clearly because of that VFR – the first dream bike I genuinely promised myself I would own. I couldn’t believe how much it looked like the NR750 in the flesh. The new nose, tail unit and louvres transformed the old VFR from a gloriously-engined, but slightly old-farty, sports tourer into a dreamy vision of motorcycling’s future. It looked like it should be the preserve of people with trust funds and horses, yet in ’94 it cost…

THERE ARE FOUR catalytic corks rammed up the 2019 R1’s new exhaust system. Four! These are required to get the bike through Euro 5 emission tests, and Yamaha have had to work hard to counteract the restrictions. The cylinder head, finger follower rocker arms, throttle bodies, 10-hole injectors, crank and oil system are all new. But despite all this there’s no increase in output – the motor puts out the same as the last model – 197bhp and 83 lb.ft. However, Yamaha insiders say the R1 makes substantially more than that when you remove the cat-infested pipe. The dyno charts of the catless new R1 were apparently enough to convince its BSB riders to stay with Yamaha for 2020 and put a smile on the face of the WSB team.…

Customising is about re-purposing standard machines, to creatively bring them inline with the tastes of riders who want something a bit different. And because most of us want something that can actually be ridden on the road, the majority of customs still look and perform like, well, motorcycles. However, very occasionally we come across builds that represent a leap forward. Like this one… For ten years the genial Argentine engineer Patricio Castelli, has been bending the rules when it comes to building bikes… and cars. His Buenos Aires-based company, Castelli AFF, often applies the panel-beater’s craft to create radically streamlined bodywork, sometimes for competition. Others such as this build, that Patricio christened ‘Abandon All Hope’ (AAH), are simply extraordinary visions made metal. And yet it’s also a working, rideable motorcycle…

I’ve been riding since I was 18 and apart from a few camping excursions I have never done a ‘proper’ bike trip. While I like to read about the adventures people have riding thousands of miles in remote corners of the world, it somehow puts me off doing it myself – all a bit out of reach. So inspired partly by the trip you made to Tan Hill (Bike August, 2019) I amazed myself a few weeks ago by taking my 15-year-old, 50,000 mile Fazer thou on a 1100 mile trip from my home in Devon to Tan Hill. I went with a friend and we avoided motorways and took it easy using B&Bs, reaching the highest pub in England (via Buttertubs Pass) in high wind, rain and thick mist.…

The Adventure Sports can be ordered with Showa electronic semi-active suspension (known as Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment, or EERA) for an extra £1400. Linked to the IMU and using stroke sensors, it has three road settings (Sport, Medium, Hard) and an off-road mode, with the damping automatically controlled. The shock’s spring preload can be electronically altered when stationary through four default settings covering pillions and luggage. An additional ‘User’ option allows fine-tuning the 24-points of spring preload available. EERA adds 2kg to the bike’s overall weight.…

MAGNUM (NOT P.I.) Guzzi branded two-strokes were produced in significant numbers during the 1970s. This is a Magnum mini-bike with a 49cc engine and five-speed gearbox. Just the thing for nipping down to the café in Mandello. Wheels have ten inch rims and the fuel tank is contained in the frame’s tubular spine. They were made between 1976-’79. At this time the company was owned by automotive baron Allessandro De Tomaso who also controlled the Benelli brand. Many models were produced in Benelli and Guzzi versions. GET YOUR PARTS OUT Local shops and cafés go Guzzi themed for the weekend, with bikes and ephemera on show in shop windows, cafés and bars. Nice to see the town’s underwear shop flaunting some parts from a Galletto scooter alongside their regular items.…

BMW K1600B £19,140 Astoundingly similar to the Wing; six cylinders, wishbone front, single-sider, low-line panniers. Actually, maybe the Wing is like the BMW. H-D ROAD GLIDE SPECIAL £22,995 Genuine US bagger lines and the bike that inspired this Wing. 1745cc eight-valve V-twin is refined, but it's more of a cruiser than the Honda. INDIAN CHIEFTAIN £22,449 Big, shiny 1811cc V-twin with trad' US styling but a hefty dose of modern tech and a surprisingly willing dynamic. But no reverse gear.…

» How do motorcycles fit into your life now? In my personal life I ride less than when I worked on motorcycle magazines. If a journey is faster, more convenient or more enjoyable I’ll use the bike. Otherwise I have a perfectly good £400 car. In my current professional life the motorcycles I work on are an absorbing, creative challenge; a ticket to a delightful lifestyle, and a living. » Being a bike journalist would seem like a dream to many, why the change? I spent 30 years writing about bikes, which is half fun (riding new bikes or being creative) and half dreary (sitting in front of a computer for days on end). Eventually the twin evils of smartphones and the global financial crash sucked most of the fun…

Hands-free filler cap Stop forecourt fumbling and swearing. Should be a standard part, but at least it’s available as an accessory. Plugs in to the keyless system. Pity it’s a whopping £244. Gran Turismo screen This is 20mm wider and also 35mm taller, so will increase weather protection and also reduce some of the noise. Tinted so you look cool for £170. Touratech steel ’pegs You’re not going to take your 950 S off-road unless you’re some sort of nutter, but these will offer more grip than the stock rubbers in the wet. Look good, too. £155. Carbon sprocket cover No self-respecting Ducati owner can be seen without some carbon fibre on their pride and joy. This sprocket cover is the cheapest way to bling-up at £146.…

Spa-ing partner Richa’s Francorchamps one-piece leather suit Used for: 6 months Price: £699.99 Info: richa.eu/en » I’m not sure how you say it. Is it ‘Ricka’ or ‘Ry-cha’? What I do know is the Belgian firm knock-out good value clobber. I’ve got a well-made, warm, comfy wax-cotton jacket that was a snip, and a three-year-old pair of three-season gloves which perform like the rivals from a high-end Italian brand, but cost half the price. And now I’m quite taken with this suit. It’s 1.3mm-thick leather, has lots of D30 armour and is CE-approved as protective kit. It felt thick and stiff when new, but after a couple of hot trackdays and sunny road rides it’s softening nicely. The matt finish gives a classy air, neoprene edges provide comfort, and the…

» 2016 Triumph Trophy 1200 SE Ad says: only 16,483 miles, comes with crash bars and Triumph three-part luggage. Full-service history, two keys and Datatag. We say: looks cosseted, and at this mileage engine should still feel factory fresh. £8750 » 2013 Triumph Trophy 1200 SE Ad says: beautiful condition, full-service history, all handbooks. No scratches. Reluctant sale to clear garage. We say: done 32,137 miles so just had an interim service. Great value. £5000…

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. ✱ FINAL STAND OF THE 750 The 2001 British Superbike championship was dominated by V-twins, with Reve Racing and MonsterMob Ducatis winning 25 races in the 13-round season. The only non-Ducati victory was by Michael Rutter in race two at Rockingham – he was riding Kawasaki’s venerable ZX-7R, making it the last bike of the 750 era to win a BSB…

1991 BMW K75S MILEAGE: 26,883 TYRES: Bridgie Battlax MPG: 42-ish Decades ago when I was a bike and rock journalist in Los Angeles I knew a punk band who lived in their cars. In balmy California that wasn’t so tough, but for the past few months I’ve been doing the same, kinda, in Britain. I’m not going to risk ridicule by explaining exactly why but it’s nothing to do with being broke and there’ve been periods, weather-related it’s true, when I’ve swopped my sturdy BMW luggage for a suitcase and an SUV. But if nothing else it’s proven one can live one’s life aboard a motorcycle, albeit kipping at B&Bs and the like. The motorcycle is my 1991 BMW K75S and though hardly glamorous, its smooth, bullet-proof engine provides all…

Save £1900 Yam Super Ténéré We keep banging on about how overlooked the big twin is... and aren’t stopping now. Modes, cruise, adjustable maps, 12v outlet, ace screen, easy power, two-height seat, superb comfort, shaft drive – we could go on. List price is £12,399 but Wigan Yamaha’s pre-reg spanker is £10,495. Save £1000 Ducati SuperSport Not often you see much money knocked of Ducati’s list prices, but DMC Stoke (01782 917808) have a SuperSport Titanium for £10,995. That’s a grand off a brand-new unregistered 2019 version of the fast, engaging, sporty road bike, not a pre-reg or anything. Save £800 Husqvarna 701 A proper adventure bike. The clever single purrs at 80mph and averages 65mpg (80 if you’re steady), the ride is plush, but it’ll also romp on serious…

‘Honda will face a well-sorted Ducati, a rampant Kawasaki plus the R1s and an improving BMW. That is a daunting prospect’ PORTIMAO IS A wonderful track. I’d never been before Eurosport sent me off last month to commentate on a World Superbike race for the first time in around ten years. The event coincided with much debate about the future of Alvaro Bautista and whether it would be with Honda’s new Superbike effort for 2020. Well, we now know that Alvaro will indeed be on Honda’s new bike for next year, what we don’t know is what it will look like. We do know that the project is running late and it will be all new. So what’s the engine? There was talk of a V4, but that’s gone quiet.…

» You’ve just come back from your first solo ride? Where did that take you? From London I ploughed through Brussels, the Netherlands and Germany for the Petrolettes festival (a female-only event). Then on to Switzerland and France and back to Portsmouth. It was 3500 miles over 16 days. » What were you riding? A 1980s Honda CX500. I’d owned it for ten months before the trip, all without a hitch. However, when I returned I was down to one indicator, the head gasket had blown and the engine had burned £860 worth of oil. » Your approach was refreshingly low tech… Yes, I spent £10 on some army ammunition boxes. Dad welded up brackets for me and I bolted them on as panniers. I could only use the rack…

» 5-10 November EICMA, Milan, Italy Held in the city’s Rho Fiera fairgrounds EICMA is Europe’s biggest and best all-round motorcycle show. And as the custom scene matures and grows, so too do the number of builders from across the continent showing off their wares. This year there’ll be a focus on the work of Italy’s highly imaginative engineering students. Banish any post-Br***t blues by being there. eicma.it » 16-24 November Motorcycle Live, NEC, Birmingham Custom bikes have featured at Motorcycle Live for years, but for 2019 it’s going to be as much about the builder as the bikes. The ‘Custom Heroes’ section in Hall 3 will give us the chance to meet and see some of Britain’s finest craftsmen in action. Expect top engineers, airbrush artists and…

I thought I would have a go at adding to your understanding of ‘whisky tasting on Islay’ (Bike, November, 2019). There are in fact nine distilleries on Islay and all are well worth a visit. As a side note the chocolate brownie (with a wee dram poured over) at Kilchoman distillery is worthy of the trip alone. And Jura is but a ten minute ferry ride away. For those curious about the nine, and possibly planning a trip they are: Bunnahabhain; Ardnahoe; Caol ila; Bowmore; Kilchoman; Bruichladdich; Ardbeg; Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Nick Simms, email…

Bonneville, USA The spiritual home of speed records are the beautiful and barren salt flats in Utah. In 1956 Johnny Allen’s streamliner reached 214.4mph and gave Triumph a record and a new model name. The record currently stands at 376.6mph. Records meetings happen in August and September when temperatures can reach 40°C, so take sun cream and a hat. Fly to Salt Lake City (for around £750 return) and then drive 120 miles west. » bonnevillespeedtrials.com Misano, Italy The word is that 2020 will be Valentino Rossi’s last season in MotoGP, so this will be your last chance to see him in action on his home circuit. 13 September (tbc) will be quite a party, and well worth the 850-mile ride from Calais » motogp.com Bol d’Or, France Everyone should…

DUCATI PANIGALE V4 S £24,438 So light, powerful and exotic, so high-tech and so ruddy noisy, yet amazingly usable – but not quite as usable as the BMW. HONDA FIREBLADE SP £19,999 Not as fast as the BMW, nor as blingy and high-tech. But there's a class and quality to the SP that's hard to resist. 2018 models are £99pm on PCP. YAMAHA YZF-R1 £16,645 Looks like Rossi's MotoGP bike, and feels like one too (we imagine). The most track focused sportsbike and updated for 2020 – see p14.…

» How do motorcycles fit into your life now? Racing takes up all of my spare time. I’m a self-employed builder, so luckily I can be flexible with my work time, so I tend to go to work early in the morning, get as much as I can done and organised, then get off about 2pm and go to the workshop. I’m there until I go home at about 6pm for dinner and to spend some time with the wife. I try not to go back to the workshop in the evening – though sometimes I do skip dinner and stay there until 11pm. I try to balance normal family life, business life and motorcycle life. You can’t let one go too far, otherwise the others suffer. After a…

SUSPENSION LINKAGE The rear linkage is critical on these, because if it seizes it can wreck the rear shock and a new Triumph replacement will set you back £1300. The linkage’s needle bearings need greasing when the bike’s serviced, but I’ve noticed some main dealerships overlook this; you can’t rebuild the Triumph shocks so you have to buy new – even an aftermarket one will cost over £500. GEARBOX Clumsy clutchless downshifts seem to cause gearbox problems. I’ve seen a couple of completely destroyed gearboxes with wrecked dogs, cogs, shafts, the lot. The symptom to watch out for is it jumping out of gear under power – usually between second and third. Fortunately the gearbox on the Trophy is a cassette type so it’s pretty painless to replace a couple…

WHAT IS A BASE LAYER AND HOW DO I WEAR ONE? Base layers are the foundation of a layering system and exist to keep you comfortably warm, cool and dry. They wick sweat away from skin which helps riders stay cooler and drier, and can act as a trap for a layer of air that’ll keep you warmer. Base layers are a gateway to a much more comfortable riding experience. SUMMER V WINTER BASE LAYERS The primary function of summer base layers is to keep you cool by wicking sweat away from the skin, and heat along with it. Winter base layers perform that same function to a lesser degree, but also retain a layer of air that acts as a very effective insulator. ‘Many manufacturers offer base layers nowadays,…

THESE ARE THE first pictures of two new 650s from Chinese giant Zongshen. Shown at the International Motorcycle Exhibition in China recently, the Cyclone RX6 adventure bike and left-field RK6 use a parallel-twin engine – and it’s the one from Norton’s new Atlas. Zongshen paid ‘millions of dollars’ for a 20-year licence to produce the 650cc twin-cam unit, developed by Norton with renowned engine gurus Ricardo. The British company claim 84bhp at 11,000rpm and 47 lb.ft for the Atlas, but the version built by Zongshen has a lower state of tune – they claim 69.7bhp at a rather more accessible 8500rpm, with peak shove of 46 lb.ft at 7000rpm. The RX6 using the twin is a step up in the equipment and performance we expect of Chinese metal. ‘Cyclone’ is…

MAKE NO MISTAKE, the Street Triple RS is a naked sportsbike. Chassis feel, grip and confidence are up there with the best race replicas, it’s loaded with high-spec components and gadgetry, and the 765cc three-cylinder engine craves a caning – this is the motor that provides the power and soundtrack for Moto2. Thing is, we found the RS was a bit much for the road when it arrived in 2017, lacking the playful torque of the original 2007 Street Triple, and it was set-up so that RS could stand for Really Stiff. ‘As sharp on track as it is friendly on road, it’s a phenomenal machine’ Good news for 2020, however, as Triumph have given the range-topping Street Triple extra grunt that makes it more flexible and thrilling on the…

» 17 November Grand Prix of Valencia, Circuito Ricardo Tormo, Valencia The last GP is a good one to go to. The stadium circuit is easy to get to from the city and you can see everything. A word of warning though, don’t go unless you’ve got a ticket. A second word of warning, the weather can be anything from tropic to Baltic. motogp.com » 14 December 8 Hours of Sepang, Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia A new event that will attract a good number of MotoGP and SBK riders. Morbidelli and Van de Mark are already signed up. The 8 Hour is a day/night race and it’s a double bill – there’s a World Touring Car Race on Sunday. And Malaysia is a great venue for a winter…

» 18-21 June, 2020 Horizons Unlimited Meeting, Hay-On-Wye Start your travels with a ride to the original gathering of the clans: speakers, workshops, trail rides and loads more. horizonsunlimited.com/ events » 10-12 July, 2020 The Adventure Bike Rider Festival, Warwickshire The second year for this newcomer. Expect plenty of new bike test rides and an off-road course in the grounds of Ragley Hall. adventurebikerider.com » 14-16 August, 2020 The Adventure Travel Film Festival, Gloucestershire The ATFF is back and next year it has a new home in the Cotswolds. Come for the outdoor screenings and stay for the bonhomie. If you’re not already adventure-friendly, prepare to be inspired. adventuretravel filmfestival.com…

Fuel crisis averted Just read Hugo Wilson’s article Beating petrol’s gremlins (Bike, October 2019). Firstly, he may find Mechanic In A Bottle may cure the stuttering without the need for a carb stripdown. Secondly, years ago I was having carb icing problems with my 2002 Kawasaki W650, which was cured (along with one cylinder start-up in cold weather) by adding a fuel stabilizer, a practise I continue to this day. I use Ethanol Shield, purchased from my local mower repair place and at only 8ml per five litres of fuel, a 236 ml bottle lasts for ages. It is important that this is added to fresh fuel, not stale. However, it’s a preventive, not a cure; that’s where the first product may be beneficial, which is where I came in!…

»Yamaha RD350LC 1982 Every curve, every graphic, the way it sat on its italic wheels – it was such a rock star that seeing one for real made me go quiet. I worked like a dog to get mine, which had just 300 miles on the clock but turned out to be a wildly thrashed ex Pro-Am racer. Dream fulfilled but… »Honda RC30 1989 Two things. As the ultimate racer for the road it was slightly too realistic: a high maintenance V4 whose coolant bubbled over on sight of a traffic jam. And it cost ten-grand. Instead a ridiculously heavy and handsome Kawasaki ZXR750H got my cash and stayed with me for 18 years. Dream half fulfilled »Suzuki RGV250 1990 Enthusiasm for racy two-strokes meant the RGV250 was the best…

THIS MIGHT BE the ‘stripped back’ version of Honda’s range-topping showboat, but the new GL1800B ‘bagger’ Gold Wing still weighs a huge 365kg. That’s more than the BMW and KTM combined. Add its low seat height, enormous length and vast dimensions, and it needs an electric reverse gear to help you paddle it around. The engine has six cylinders and is 200cc larger than the average UK car’s, yet has 10% less power-per-cc than a Super Cub step-thru’. And it's over twenty-two grand. Bloody heavy, flippin’ massive, not very powerful, expensive… why would anyone want one? Well, that’s easy. There’s never been anything quite like riding a Gold Wing, and this version is the greatest yet. Making car references when talking about the Honda’s engine might be predictable, but it’s…

How do motorcycles fit into your life now?  I still ride most days, commuting to work, and take regular breaks of a month or more to ride all over the world – the only places I haven’t ridden in are South America and Australia. I’m riding round the world in bite-sized chunks and there’s half left to do. How did the dream of riding round the world take a hold of you?  I started doing this in the early 1980s when I was despatching in London – I’d work for nine months then take three months off to ride round Europe. I did that for five years, then decided to set up my own courier company in Manchester. There were a couple of years of no holidays as I set…

Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE LT+ Pros: James Bond-smooth and flexible inline four, high-quality ride, loaded with all the latest must-have extras, and a bit different too. Cons: same cost as best European rivals, but will depreciate more. It’s also bloody ugly. BMW S1000XR Sport SE Pros: bewilderingly brisk, oh-so-very capable chassis, great comfort, all the trimmings, high-status brand. Gets ShiftCam engine next year. Cons: well, let’s see... it’s a grand more than the Multi’ 950 S Touring. And it’s not as handsome. Ducati Multistrada 1260 S Pros: truly amazing variable-valve engine, festooned with gizmos and whatnots, people will clearly know how successful you are. Cons: semi-active ride is unpredictable and mushy, 950 does a better job for less outlay.…

BEFORE YOU MAKE a decision whether or not to represent yourself check out the publicly available Magistrates Court Guidelines , because it may surprise you to know that 45mph in a 30mph zone can get you a 28-day ban. Also know that, if this is your first trip to the beaks, you can make things a lot worse for yourself… The most common howler I used to see was the belligerent or annoyed justification of speeding emanating from the dock: Magistrates are not impressed by protestations about how the police could more productively use their time. Neither are Magistrates interested in how a ban would inconvenience you. This is a mistake easily made so, if you do find yourself taking the walk of shame into the dock at the Magistrates’,…

2012-2015 Triumph Trophy 1200 The base model didn’t sell as many as the gadget-laden SE, but is still an excellent tourer. Besides sharing the gurgling three-cylinder masterpiece of a motor from the Explorer, it also had clever linked brakes, a fly-by-wire throttle, an all-new aluminium twin-spar frame, WP suspension and an adjustable seat and screen. 1215cc – 315kg – 132bhp – £4500-6500 2012-2015 Triumph Trophy 1200 SE Triumph’s touring flagship was an instant rival to BMW’s R1200RT, matching it for weather protection, comfort and gadgetry. On top of the base model’s kit, you got electronic suspension, bluetooth connectivity, a tyre monitor, heated seats and heaps more. It’s worth spending 30 minutes checking it all works before buying. 1215cc – 315kg – 132bhp – £6000-8000 » 2015-2017 Triumph Trophy 1200…

Dainese D-Core Dry 1PC £89 The best all-rounder. If you’re looking for a base layer that’ll give you some relief from the heat and protection from the cold, then you’ll need a good wicking layer and a bit of insulation. Dainese’s D-Core Dry range is probably your best bet here as it does both tasks extremely well, without being overly bulky or thick. Available as both a one-piece suit and a top/bottom combo set. It boasts flat seams and under-armour pads for increased comfort. Made in Italy, it’s a high-quality item. dainese.com Halvarssons Outlast sweatshirt £54, pants £49 Halvarssons, the Swedish manufacturer, take a different tack and use merino wool and Outlast for their cold-biased layers (with a Light Wool version for when it’s not too cold). For…

1983Harley-Davidson FXWG MINI BREAK DESTINATION: Staithes, N. Yorks MILEAGE: 375 TRIALMASTER POINTS: 10/10 The pressure from Trialmaster was almost unbearable and metronomically relentless. As summer flitted south it became a ceaseless tirade: ‘You promised us a mini-break, you miserable bastard.’ And so it was we set off north on the freshly painted and rewired FXWG (what some of you may remember as the US-import soft-porn Muriel bike). There was minor drama as the starter relay failed, but it was only an earthing issue, easily, but not quickly resolved. We were running late for our appointment with the Royal George Hotel, Staithes, N. Yorks and the engine was on a fresh top-end. A four-speed Shovelhead on a hone and new rings cannot be hurried. The speedo had to sit around the…

2004 HondaCB1300 TOP SPEED SO FAR: 140mph NECK CIRCUMFERENCE: +3 inches AVERAGECONSUMPTION (FUEL, NOT GIN) 43mpg GHENT IN BELGIUM delights and the Netherlands is the birthplace of gin. And both are near. My, new to me, big and simple Honda CB1300 is prepped at short notice for its bigger, simpler rider. A solo visit to the Arnhem battlefields and three bottles of Bobbies and Loopuyt gins are the targets of our first big trip out. A road I ride as an aperitif for my European trips is another low country – the naughty and oh-so-tricky A259/A2070 marsh road from Rye toward the ferries at Dover. It’s a workout for cornering, brakes and power, officer. My expectations of the 250kg Honda are modest, yet grab two handfuls of the CB’s throttle…