Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Fast Bikes

Looks familiar? I’ll admit that on face value the 2020 Street Triple RS appears near identical to the 765 models that came before it, but take a step closer and the differences hit you thick and fast. For starters, it’s sharper. Not just from a spec point of view, but in terms of the looks. The bike’s cowling has been given the Gok Wan treatment, with bolder, sharper lines punching at your retinas, while its all-new, whiter, brighter LED headlamps are set to burn them. The menacing looking daytime running lights are also worthy of a mention, along with the second generation TFT dash that now embodies all the colours of the rainbow, and there’s no way you’ll skim past the sexier silencer that comes capped with carbon for that…

I’m 30 next year and all my mates (well, both of them) reckon it’s as good an excuse as any to have a massive party – after all, when I look back at the decisions I’ve made over the last 29-and-a-half years, it’s pretty phenomenal that I’m still alive, so I decided they were right and started party planning. It’s going to be the party of the century, but unfortunately fireworks and dancing girls are out of my price range. Not that I’m into dancing girls; I’d never objectify women in that way, even if they have got really big boobs and a nice arse. No, for Boothy’s Big Birthday Bash, think more along the lines of party rings, Now 56 on the ghetto blaster and loads and loads and…

Thanks to our jaunt over to France I have got a big stack of booze in the garage, just waiting to intoxicate me and my buddies on my 30th birthday. But that wasn’t the only good thing to come from our weekend away, heavens no. Frodo and I learnt an awful lot about the three touring specials we ventured over to France on. But it’s still difficult to really say which one is best. If long-distance touring is your thing and money is not much of an object, then you’d probably want to lean towards the KTM. Its massive fuel tank means you won’t be stopping every five minutes; it’s got all the electronic aids that you could wish for; and it’s as fast as fudge. On the contrary, the…

Winter. Come on, how crap is it in terms of riding? I mean, Me, Dangerous and Boothy have had a mega season of racing this year, but to be honest, we just didn’t want it to end; and the fact we still can’t decide which one of us is the quickest means it can’t just yet (although spoiler alert, it’s definitely my good self). Yet every year, Mother Nature has her say, the weather changes, and all of a sudden we’re racing to pick up the biggest turkeys, rather than racing around a racetrack. And you know what? It had us thinking – we hadn’t even packed up from our final round of endurance racing and we were already hungry for more. Over the last couple of years we’ve had…

Yeah, it’s a bit off piste from our usual tarmac escapades, but my god, riding dirt bikes is serious fun – whatever the weather. In a day of getting dirtier than an Amsterdam sex worker, I don’t think the three of us have laughed so much – plus it’s the most I’ve ever seen Boothy end up on his face, which is always a laugh. And I couldn’t praise it enough. There’s loads of places around and I’d definitely recommend having a craic at off-roading. Not only does it seriously hone in on your road-riding skills, but it also teaches a whole new aspect of bike control... although I’ve yet to find it. Thankfully, I had a good bike underneath to at least make me look like I knew what…

For most of us track riders a UK winter can feel like an eternity, with British circuits generally closing to motorcycles for about four months, meaning it could be up to six months between the last race of this season and the first race of next season. So, for some of you, your bike could be stood still for just as many months as when you’re thrashing it around the track. With that in mind, it’s worth doing a bit of winter preparation before all the Christmas parties kick in and you forget about your beloved bike – it becomes too easy to say you’ll do it next week, then the next week and before you know it, it’s March, the battery is flat, there’s a coolant leak coming from…

FB: Let’s start easy! What’s the purpose of the valves? DM: Well, they’re a vital part of an engine! Basically, the valves in the engine open and close, which then allows the fuel and air to enter the combustion chamber. As the pistons go up and down they turn the crankshaft… and you’re going! FB: How good are standard valves? DM: In all honesty, they’re usually pretty good – for the most part anyway. Especially on road bikes; back in the day there were a few models that had earlier intervals for checks, and the odd issue which was recalled, but they’re much better than say, off-road bikes. I mean, there are some off-road models which can need the clearances done every six or so hours! FB: How long will…

Oliver’s Mount always reminds me of family holiday as we always used to come here as a family to watch dad race (Conrad, Dean’s dad, is a TT winner and still races at Oliver’s). Me and my brother would be messing around the paddock while dad raced. Then, after the racing, we’d be down the seafront in the arcades and have fish and chips for tea. It’s the same now. I made my road racing debut at Oliver’s Mount as many British lads did, like James Cowton. We all wanted to be road racers, but we couldn’t afford to race over in Ireland, so we all started at Scarborough. Back then we’d be sleeping in vans, riding our own bikes on no budget: me, our kid, Cowton, Chad, all the…

Come on then, who can honestly say they love riding and razzing round when temperatures are nudging zero? You know, when the ground is covered in salt, grime and crap and to top things off, there seems to be a constant stream of showers whenever I roll my lovely little Kwak out for a spin. Don’t get me wrong, I always enjoy riding no matter what, but the British winter does ‘en half make it difficult sometimes. The problem I’ve found though is that the ZX-6R is so bloody good, I really don’t want to leave it tucked up in the garage. I’m genuinely going to be sad to see it go, and unfortunately, we’re coming ever closer into the danger zone of saying goodbye – which means that I’ve…

You might have read in my twin brother, Tom’s, column last month about the DTRA Flat Track championship round that we entered – it was a mega event, and great to be back to my racing roots. I shoulda-coulda-woulda won it if I hadn’t of crashed in the ‘final’ race. At least me and Tom showed the regulars we haven’t lost our touch just yet. The penultimate round of the British Superstock 1000 championship at Donington Park was next and I had my best result of the season there, finishing fifth. Poor Tom didn’t – I think it must have flustered him when I passed him at the start of the race and the red mist got to him – he only managed three corners before throwing it at the…

CARDO PACKTALK SLIM TESTED BY: Carlos MILES: 2500+ TIME: 6 Months RRP: £310 WEB: www.pama.com/cardo If you’d have told me a couple of years back that I’d be using comms pretty much every time I ride, I probably would’ve laughed in your face. I mean, am I an old dude on a big, fat tourer already? The answer is far from it, yet especially on long journeys, I can’t imagine riding without one now. The problem I always found was they just looked a bit crap, so when this diddy little unit from Cardo caught my eye, I just had to get one on the go. Me, Bruce and Boothy are all kitted up with them, and from the outset they were an absolute doddle to install in my lid…

I’ve got a lot of time for Kawasaki’s ‘Z’ range, particularly the Z1000. With their big, rev happy engines, they’re a bike that’ll put a smile on your face, but they’re hardly packed with all the mod cons. And the Z1000SX is no exception to that rule. At £10,299 it’s the cheapest of the three on our little trip and it doesn’t take many miles in the saddle to get an idea of why that might be – no shifter or blipper, no cruise control, no heated grips, a dashboard that would have looked at home on a bike 15 years it’s senior – it certainly didn’t feel like a premium motorbike as far as 2019 standards go; but I think it’s price tag reflects that. And whilst we are…

The KTM looks and feels like the most adventurous out of our trio of touring bikes. It’s big, hefty and the moment you swing a leg over it, you feel as though you could take on the world. But, by gum, it’s expensive. Its £16,799 price tag is by far the strongest out of the three bikes on test, but on paper it’s easy to see why. It would certainly win you a game of Top Trumps with its electronic suite consisting of everything the Yamaha has, and more – shifter, blipper, wheelie and traction control, cruise control, heated grips and the holy grail of modern motorcycling that is switchable ABS. And with more power and torque (claimed), and a gigantic 23-litre fuel tank, the KTM ought to run away…

Are you happy with where you’re at? I still want to be doing better. I feel like this last 18 months I’ve really come on with my riding, understanding things I never used to and making strong and consistent steps with my riding. The truth is I’m loving racing right now, more than I ever have, because I’ve taken the pressure off myself. I’ve always wanted to do better, push harder and be more, but I’ve learned to relax and the results keep coming. I guess the big challenge is to consolidate third in the championship and then I’ll start focusing on what’s coming next. When I look back, it’s been one hell of a journey so far. I’m proud to have got to where I am and I feel…

I’d heard loads of good things about the S1000RR, so after years and years of Fireblade ownership I decided to make a change and start searching for a Beemer to try. I’m live in Reading, and I’d set my eBay search preferences to a 50-mile radius – or at least I thought I had. I saw the bike I liked, so I threw a bid at it and won it for £6,300, but it was in Manchester! I thought it was a good price though, so I didn’t mind trekking up north to collect it. When I got there I asked him about the ABS, as I wasn’t really sure how it worked, but to my surprise he told me that this model didn’t come with ABS – I think…

Ducati have something of a chequered history when it comes to their sporty naked bikes. Having effectively started the genre with the launch of the Monster 900 in 1993 (although Aprilia will argue this citing their 2003 Tuono as the real originator), the firm has enjoyed far greater success with the more relaxed café racer style of naked than a full-on super naked. When the firm did try and push the boundaries by launching the Streetfighter it wasn’t well received and as a result was relatively short-lived. Especially when compared to the enduring Monster. However, times change and in 2014 Ducati needed to do the unthinkable to their flagship café racer – add water-cooling… To be fair it wasn’t the first time a Monster carried a water jacket, as the…

WHAT IS IT? A box full of socket, bar and ratchet goodness. IS IT ANY GOOD? Here’s a box set that shouldn’t really need much explanation. It does exactly what it says on the tin (ok, steel) container it comes in, providing a broad variety of sockets, ratchets, bars and extenders. I have been using it since the start of this year and I’ve found it a great companion to have by my side and the race track and at home in the garage. The sockets are top quality and have always offered a flawless fit when used, being chrome vanadium plated so you don’t need to worry about getting them wet or chucking them around. The 3/8” set sockets range from 10-18mm, and there’s also the same scale in…

1000-MILE RAMPAGE I and my three colleagues from South London went to Wales on the last sunny weekend of summer. From the door-to-door in three days we made 1000 miles, including all the winding roads to Bangor where we stayed two nights. Peter Gawaluch FB: That sounds absolutely mega! Brilliant photography as well. We bet you had a blast. BELFAST! Hey guys, Emmett Hughes here from Dundalk, Co. Louth in Ireland. Massive fan of your magazine. This picture was taken after an evening’s blast out to Carlingford Lough. I was aboard my 2011 Fireblade in the Castrol colours and my mates on their 2015 Repsol Blade and 2019 MT-09SP. The second picture is of my Blade outside the Titanic building in Belfast during the summer. Would be great to get…

Remember, Oliver’s Mount is made up of a public road, which means you can visit and even ride the track when the racing isn’t on. We must highlight that there is a strict 30mph speed limit and we’d never, ever recommend trying to get your knee down on the famous kerbing – never. Oliver’s Mount Road Race circuit is the only real road circuit on mainland UK soil. It’s unique, with every combination of corners and even a few fifth and sixth gear, 140mph-plus jumps thrown in for good measure. ■ Start straight – The starts are action-packed, with up to 22 riders on the grid, three to a row. Starts are closely fought, and riders regularly touch elbows. ■ Mere Hairpin – One of the tightest turns in motorsport.…

Heading into the winter months I am almost ashamed of the number of miles I have put on the CBR650R. In years past under different circumstances, I had a working commute before being based at home, meetings did not necessitate the use of a car and I was far more outward bound – I would have easily completed five times as many miles at this stage as I have on this Honda. I hasten to add that the low mileage is absolutely no reflection on this cracking bike, and the 2,000+ miles completed so far have been a joy. The truth is that other Honda-based biking commitments have dominated this year with competing in the EMRA CB500 series, which seriously scratched my riding itch. These racing exploits did have a…

It’s quite simple really; I want to be racing one of these next year. I love my Street, but the advancements made to the RS are easy to tell. The chunk of torque you get in the midrange is awesome for acceleration, but it also helps the bike to turn so much easier. It’s a brilliant package and just as much fun on the roads as it is on track. It’s mega for wheelies and you’ll be surprised at just how hard you can crack on when you wind the throttle back. The thing sticks to the ground through the corners and keeps you posted with what’s going on at all times. The new blipper and shifter work a treat, and who can knock the way this thing looks? It’s…

For a bit more cash than the Kawasaki would set you back, you could have an MT-10 TE. For the extra dough, you get a bit more tech than you would on the Kawasaki, and a shed load more attitude. Now, having one as a long termer, I’ve done a lot of miles on an MT-10 SP this year, so I’m very familiar with the non-touring version. In fact, when I say familiar, what I actually mean is in love. It’s a motorbike that does almost everything, and is especially good at making you grin, and that’s why I think I love it so much. So what’s the difference between a normal MT-10 and this, the Tourer Edition? Well, not a great deal, if truth be known. A standard MT-10…

“I guess I get a bit bored when my hands aren’t tinkering,” beamed Clive when explaining his latest creation. If you’re a regular reader you’ll have come across one or two of his masterpieces over time, but in the words of Tina Turner, we reckon this one’s “simply the best”. “Where did the idea come from? I’m a racer, a racing fan and I know I’ll never own a MotoGP bike, but where’s the harm in making something look like it could be off that grid? I did it before with a Vinales-rep RGV250 and this V4 powered Honda just seemed a no-brainer. My missus has got an RVF and I’ve always thought it’s a great little bike, with loads of features, which made it a great starting point for…

Here at Fast Bikes magazine, we love trackdays. So much so, we wanted to give something back to you, the reader! We've teamed up with the lovely lot over at No Limits Trackdays to offer a free trackday every single month, for simply being chosen from our social media posts. So, if you're the lucky person in the blue square, you've won a trackday of your choice! Send us a message over on our Facebook page and we'll look after the rest, and if you haven't won this time, there's always next month. The usual T&Cs apply, blah, blah... THE PRIZE: ONE U.K. TRACKDAY OF YOUR CHOICE, FOR ANY U.K. CIRCUIT WITH NO LIMITS TRACKDAYS. IN ASSOCIATION WITH NO LIMITS TRACKDAYS…

Hi Fast Bikes, hello from NJ, USA! Your terrific magazine has played a big role in my getting back into motorcycling. In fact, you have had considerable influence in my motorcycle purchases over the past few years. Here’s a shot of my BMW dream machine out in the woods of the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Park in New York state. Yes, it’s a bit of an odd place for a sports bike, but it’s really only about 100’ off a dirt road at a ‘primitive’ campsite. This was my longest ride yet (about 400 miles) and what a great ride it was. Nice quiet roads, cool, fresh air and plenty of sites. I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting the US. Please keep up the great magazine and…

Last year, Scarborough’s Oliver’s Mount, the only road race circuit in England, lay silent. Since 1946 bikes had raced around this undulating and daunting track, but at the end of 2017, after a number of serious incidents, the track was closed. No longer would excited commentary boom across the hillside; no longer would the paddock rumble with the sound of race engines; and no longer would local pubs fill with knowledgeable enthusiasts regaling stories of days gone by. Race fans feared the worst – Oliver’s Mount, it seemed, was on the brink and like so many once-great tracks in Europe, heading for the history books. However, a few brave men chose to take on the impossible and try to resurrect Oliver’s Mount. Multiple TT winner Mick Grant and former Manx…

Well, I finally got round to fitting the Pipe Werx de-cat link pipe and silencer, and boy am I glad. To start with, the standard item looks a bit drab, doesn’t it? I mean, you might have thought that the SP version of the MT-10 might come with something a bit flasher looking out of the factory, exhaust-wise, considering how trick the rest of the bike is, but no. So reason number one for going down the Pipe Werx route is purely aesthetic. Reason number two is aural; the bike wasn’t quiet, but there wasn’t much of an exhaust note – it was a mixture of induction noise and engine rumble which, if I’m being brutally honest, didn’t set my world on fire. Reason three was weight – I know…

It seems like only yesterday I was picking up the KTM, when in the first blog I mentioned how weird it feels when you first mount the 790 Duke. It was like having that new girlfriend you’re not sure about, but once you’ve ridden it a few times, it becomes more familiar… and enjoyable. We’ve toured, we’ve commuted, we’ve track day-ed and it’s even had a pillion. Whatever ‘I’ve asked of it, the 790 Duke has delivered, and been brilliant in the process. It just proves that you should never judge a book by its cover, unless, of course, it has the words Carl & Stevens written on the front! But yeah, I knew deep down it would be a wolf in sheep’s clothing for hooning around the back lanes,…

Well, that's another season done and dusted. This year in race terms has probably been one of my most disappointing if I'm honest, but that's mainly due to the fact that I came into it with such high expectations. BMW brought out their brand new bike and that was going to be my golden ticket to World (or BSB) domination, but as it transpired with the late arrival of our bikes and with the goal posts being moved (the Ducatis) that was never the case. As you all know I then went and bust my leg in the middle of the season and despite the fact I didn't miss any races, it was a sizeable inconvenience. With four mechanical no scores thrown in, we still came damn close to the…

Alright kids? If you have read Dangerous Bruce’s launch report from the Triumph 765 Street Triple RS event, you’ll know that I’ve been as busy as ever working with Triumph on the release of their new naked road bike at Cartagena in Spain. We did a bit on the road, but I was mainly on track, so we got to do a load of laps putting the bikes through their paces round the circuit, and it’s a great bike. Having raced one with No Limits Racing all season (albeit last year’s model), I’m an extra big fan of the bike; they’re just so easy to get on with. The events themselves are always loads of fun too, and me and the rest of the Triumph lads had a real good…