84
BMW Scrambler revealed O RCV road bike: Official details O New R3 v Ninja 300 v RC390 YEARS 1955-2015 GSX-R750 OBSESSION MUST-BUY MONGREL BIKES TOP 10 SPORTY BOOTS SORTED Nine jobs that’ll take years off your bike NEW: 17 PAGES OF USED BIKES & ADVICE TT SPECIAL SIZZLING SENIOR PLUS 23 wins – and faster than a speeding (Bingley) bullet + Hutchy hat-trick + Dunlop disaster + Martin 132mph but still no win Every Wednesday June 17, 2015. £2.20

TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

Mang sản phẩm: Trà Thái Lan - Trân Châu - Trân Châu Thái Lan - Thạch Thái Lan. Cách Pha Trà Sữa đến khách hàng ! Với mục tiêu cùng khách hàng tồn tại và phát triển nên CTy NGUYÊN LIỆU TRÀ SỮA THÁI hướng tới CHẤT LƯỢNG và UY TÍN lên HÀNG ĐẦU.

Citation preview

Page 1: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

BMW Scrambler revealedO RCV road bike: Official detailsONew R3 v Ninja 300 v RC390

YEARS1955-2015

GSX-R750 OBSESSION� MUST-BUY MONGREL BIKES� TOP 10 SPORTY BOOTS�

�SORTEDNine jobs that’ll take years off your bike

NEW: 17 PAGES OF USED BIKES & ADVICE

TT SPECIAL SIZZLING SENIOR

PLUS

23 wins – and faster than a speeding (Bingley) bullet

+ Hutchy hat-trick+ Dunlop disaster + Martin 132mph

but still no win

EveryWednesday

June 17,

2015.

£2.20

Page 2: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

KTM and Kawasaki have had a bit of a wake-up call with the arrival of the arousing Yamaha’s R3. All are light, sporty and under £4k. They all comply to A2 licence laws but offer proper thrills to anyone willing to work a bit for their reward. We put the three machines head-to-head on the road and on the track.

Oh we do love a V4 at MCN. So do Honda and they’ve spent the last 45 years making some absolute corkers. We embrace and celebrate the bikes that have broken records, broken bones and broken budgets.

300 sports shootout

45 years in the making

TIM

KE

ET

ON

P22

P4

P6

P8

HUTCHY IS A BANK RUBBER!Ian Hutchinson admitted to being a ‘bit

embarrassed’ after this major moment

at Bedstead during the Superstock

TT. Not shocked, or shaken or feeling

lucky to be alive. No, embarrassed!

His Kawasaki ZX-10 was starting to

run out of fuel, causing him to run out

wide and glance the bank. “I’ve never

even clipped a kerb before,” said the

softly-spoken Bingley man. He went

on to win the race by 17 seconds from

Michael Dunlop. A win later in the

week on Keith Flint’s Team Traction

Control Yamaha R6 rounded out an

incredible comeback week and a hat-

trick of TT victories.

We’ve waited a long time for the

road-going version of Honda’s

awesome RCV MotoGP bike, but

it looks like a decade of despair

has finally come to an end. Well

it has if you’ve got £140k! Honda

reveals full official details of the

bike for the first time on pages

4-5. And, yes we know it’s June

and halfway through the year,

but new (2016) bikes are already

breaking cover. BMW’s hot

Scrambler and a new Yamaha

MT-07 are getting us all excited. TT DRAMA

NEW BIKESKEEP COMING

Page 3: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

PA

CE

MA

KE

R P

RE

SS

INT

L

BARGAIN OF THE WEEK

SUZUKI GSX750F £2450SELLER SAYS: 2005, 13,000 miles.

Full service history, just serviced & full

MoT. Heated grips and a Scottoiler.

MCN SAYS: Unloved and underrated,

but the ‘teapot’ is actually something

of a special brew. It is a reliable sports

tourer with a smooth engine. Get over

the looks and it’s a great bike. 14,432 bikes for sale

Ian Hutchinson aft er

taking three TT wins

‘It’s special beating Michael Dunlop.

He’s been the man around here and I knew it would be hard. But the graft

fi nally paid off’ P68

P52

BIGGER AND BETTER!

Following the

introduction of MCN

Garage a year ago we’ve

listened to feedback

and requests for more

practical advice and

inspirational tales about

owning motorcycles. The

result is this improved

section with completely

new elements. We’ve

also revamped some of

the old favourites (like

long-termers) and tried

to make them even more

useful and insightful.

NEW NEW

9 ways to bust the rust and sort the sag P36 We speak to one of the midwives P38

SORTED! Freshen up your ride Birth of the first GSX-R750 SRAD

Plus: Bikes you ignore... but shouldn’t P40-41 Owning, fixing, improving & comparing P42

Ride this route without smiling Our bikes - your bikes

Best sporty boots, from £100 to £900 P46 Expert advice on travel, tech, legal issues P50

Feast your eyes on new stuff Any Question Answered

17 PAGES OF USED BIKES & ADVICE

NEW

NEW

Page 4: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Stripped of bodywork the LED front light assembly is clearly visible Full colour digital dash changes layout and information in each mode Chassis is identical to the race machine and hand welded

www.motorcyclenews.com

04 THIS WEEK

Honda have unveiled a produc-tion version of the super-exclu-sive RC213V-S MotoGP replica,and bosses have admitted that

there’s a possibility of cheaper 1000ccV4 models to follow in its wake.

Chief Operating Officer Tetsuo Suzukisaid the firm will monitor demand forthe road bike before making any furtherdecisions, but added: “It makes sensefor us to keep this first batch of bikeslimited to small numbers, but after thatwe will have to see how many orderswe will get.

“If we get many, many orders forthe RC213V-S then perhaps we canlook at a cheaper version that could sitbetween the CBR1000RR Fireblade andthe RC213V-S.”

Honda revealed the full spec of thenew RC213V-S (S stands for ‘Street’)at the official launch on the day beforequalifying and practice at the CatalunyaMotoGP round near Barcelona, Spain.Both reigning world champion MarcMarquez and Repsol Honda team-mateDani Pedrosa were on hand to unveil thebike, and Honda had flown in top brassfrom Japan, as well as those responsiblefor the development of the bike.

The bike boasts a disappointing159bhp in fully road-legal trim, but eachof the 200 or so built will be availablewith an HRC kit that converts it to trackspec, and boosts power to a dramati-cally more impressive 215bhp. The kitcomprises ram-air ducts, an exhaust,new ECU, different spark plugs, quick-shifter, race gearshift, datalogger, racebrake pads, remote span adjustment forthe front brake lever, and some sundryparts to make it track ready – such as abellypan with incorporated catch tank.

Is it really an RC213V?The 999cc V4 keeps as close to the rac-ing machines as possible. Honda set out

at the very beginning of this project tomake a bike as close to the racing bikeas legislation would allow.

“The new RC213V-S is not merely theresult of a feedback of technologies cre-ated by Honda through its competitionin races into a commercially availablemodel, but rather represents a whollynew endeavour to make it possible for amachine developed for competition inMotoGP races to run on public roads,”say Honda. “The RC213V-S has inher-ited the specifications of the RC213V tothoroughly ensure mass concentrationand reduced friction, as well as all keyaspects in manufacturing that set theRC213V apart as a MotoGP machinefrom ordinary mass production models.

“In addition, the RC213V-S isequipped with control technologiesused on the RC213V. The RC213V consistsonly of the necessary parts for winningraces. To achieve the specifications thatmake the RC213V-S eligible to run onpublic roads, the minimal amount ofnecessary changes and additions hasbeen made compared to the RC213V.”

The idea for the RC213V-S came from the HRC test team which was devel-oping the RCV1000R customer racing

bike that could be leased to MotoGPprivateers. They said the bike was soeasy to ride they suggested to bosses itcould be made into a road bike.

But the project was beset by delaysthought to have been caused by in-ternal wrangling over the viability ofthe bike, costs and the availability ofresearch and design resources. It was2012 when Honda first made the of-ficial announcement of the intentionto build a MotoGP replica for the roadbut it was another two years before areal bike appeared at the Milan show.Even at that point Honda bosses toldMCN the decision to build the bike wasstill ‘not 100%’.

Bikes will be hand built in a new as-sembly area at the Kumamoto factory inJapan by the most skilled of the work-ers in the factory. They will be buildingthem at a rate of around one per day;this might initially be even slower suchis the complexity of the construction.

The price was announced as €188,000in Germany, which is likely to equate toaround £140,000 for the UK market – while orders can be placed online from midnight July 13, 2015 on the dedicated www.rc213v-s.com website.

New £140,000 RC213V-S road bike could lead to cheaper V4 superbike

RC213V-S LAUNCH

TITANIUM GLORYThe standard titanium exhaust is as close to the

look of the MotoGP bike as possible but still man-ages to be road legal for noise and emissions. The

quality of the construction is sublime but most impressive is the way the silencers and thecatalytic converter has been hidden away.

212BHP POTENTIALIn road trim the 90° V4 pro-duces 159bhp but delivers a claimed 215bhp at a peak rev limit of 12,000rpm with the HRC kit. Crankcases are aluminium rather than the racer’s magnesium. Pistons

are modified to increase service intervals and there

are conventional valve springs, slipper clutch and

gearbox to replace the pneu-matic valves, seamless shiftgearbox and pistons that are

developed for racing.

JUST LIKE MARC’SThe swingarm is another

part that has maintained asmuch of the design and engi-neering of the MotoGP bikeand is the same aluminium

design. The swingarm is55mm longer than that of

a CBR1000RR Fireblade inorder to control wheelies.

‘Just like mine…’

Marquez on the

RC213V-S

IAN

JU

BB

& H

ON

DA

T

Page 5: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Mirrors meet homologation rules but look a bit unusual Engine layout is the same V4 as race version but cases are cast aluminium This is the fully-road legal exhaust. Race kit replaces this for 215bhp

#MCNwednesday

05 BUYING & SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

Honda have – for the first

time – admitted that a V5

1000cc replacement for the

CBR1000RR Fireblade was

under development but was

canned before getting the

go-ahead for production a

decade ago.

The admission by Honda’s

Chief Operating Officer

Tetsuo Suzuki was made

when he said the concept

of the V5 was very different

from that of the RC213V-S

because it was aimed at

mass production rather than

strictly limited numbers.

MCN ran numerous

stories at the time about

plans for a V5 replacement

for the Honda CBR1000RR

Fireblade, but these were

strenuously denied by

Honda. Almost a decade

later the confirmation comes

with the explanation that the

bike was under development

but was dropped because

Honda couldn’t manage the

weight effectively enough to

make it viable.

Mr Suzuki was asked

what made the V4 RC213V-S

different to the V5 project

that was dropped in the mid-

2000s. He said: “It’s not that

there has been a big change

at Honda but the V5 was a

very different bike. It was not

a GP replica; it was for mass

production and it looked

very different to the GP bike.

This time the RC213V-S is a

closer copy.”

HONDA DID PLAN 1000CC V5

EXCLUSIVE IMAGEST SECOND V4

SLEEK LED LIGHTING

The production bike has LED lights that keep to the lines of the MotoGP

bike front air intake and all of the other lights are LEDs too.

STYLING

The overall styling of the bike is identical to that of the show

‘concept’ bike shown in Milan last year. Indicators are narrower and

longer than those seen on the concept bike last year. It is expect-ed to come in a Freddie Spencer-inspired paintjob (see below) or

this gorgeous carbon finish.

ELECTRONICS

The RC213V-S is a precursor for the next step in Honda electronic development for road bikes with adjustable riding modes, ride-by-wire, traction control, selectable

engine braking, quick shifter and a dashboard that changes on

command. Expect much of this to filter down to road bikes in the

coming years.

Page 6: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

0800 7836 191whitedalton.co.uk

REAL BIKERS. REAL LAWYERS. REAL ANSWERS.Real specialists in:

s��-OTORCYCLE�!CCIDENTS�IN�%NGLAND���7ALES��%UROPE�AND�THE�)SLE�OF�-AN

s�4AKEOVER�CLAIMS�FROM�OTHER�3OLICITORS

s��2OAD�4RAFl�C�/FFENCES��FROM�SPEEDING�TO�$EATH�BY�$ANGEROUS�$RIVING

s��/BTAINING�COMPENSATION�WHERE�YOUR�PERSONAL�INJURY�CLAIM�HAS�BEEN�UNDERSETTLED�BY�YOUR�PREVIOUS�APPOINTED�SOLICITOR�

www.motorcyclenews.com

06 THIS WEEK

‘It’ll lead the way for a similarly

inspired MT-07 offering’

This week is Ride To Work Week, soif you’re one of the unlucky ones whodoesn’t normally get to ride for thedaily commute, this is your primeexcuse to dig out your bike and arriveat your place of work with a smileon your face.

The annual event started as a one-day only gig, but has grown to last awhole week, and is an internationalinitiative to prove the benefits foreveryone on our roads. Motorcyclistsare happier when they commute bybike, saving time and money formost commutes that would normallyinvolve a car or train journey, andcumulatively reducing congestionfor other road users, too.

The MCN team obviously rides towork every day, but we understandthat it’s not always practical – de-pending on your job, location, orschool-run duties – but this is theweek to make whatever exceptionsyou can to get on your bike and showyour car/train/bus commuting col-leagues what they’re missing.

Head to ridetoworkweek.co.uk tofind events and incentives in yourarea to make riding to work evenmore enjoyable – from vouchersto discounts, to free bacon butties.

When asked about the possibility of production for something similar, Miyazawa was quick to respond, “This design is about providing validation of our ideas, rather than asking Kimura-

MCN’s bike of 2014 is preparingto enter the world of ‘retro’cool with the unveiling of anew, ‘Café Racer’ Yard Built

custom, and it’s the work of renownedbike-builder and artist, Shinya Kimura.

Previous Yard Built collaborationshave influenced several upcomingversions of Yamaha production bikes- with both Deus and Wrenchmonkeesbuilds inspiring the new XJR1300 Racermodel, and Marcus Walz’s recent XV950Café Racer proving the blueprint for the

new ‘racer’ variation of the popularcruiser, due to hit dealers in the com-ing weeks. And MCN believes that thisnew ‘Faster Son’ custom build willlead the way for a similarly inspiredMT-07 offering.

While little has been altered me-chanically from its parallel-twin donor,it’s the stance and bodywork that arethe focus of the major changes. This isalso the first bike outside of the ‘SportsHeritage’ range to be given official ‘YardBuilt’ status.

Shun Miyazawa, European Prod-uct Manager at Yamaha spoke to MCN

on the evening of the bike’s unveil-ing at the Wheels & Waves festival in Biarritz. He said: “With all of the other manufacturers reviving – or adapting – their air-cooled engines for this custom market, we wanted to ask questions of ourselves and see if we could do some-thing different; could Yamaha come at this from the opposite direction?

“I was talking to Kimura about this question and he offered to take this engine, take some of Yamaha’s design and then add his own thing. So this project began with the objective of providing an answer to this.”

There’s always that one person in

the office who takes things too far...

MCN interviews

custom builder

Shinya Kimura in

Biarritz

Commute with a smile

NEW MT-07 ‘FASTER SON’ REVEALEDFirst hint of retro future for Yamaha’s parallel-twin

By Steve Hunt

Page 7: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

SnettertonBSB & Misano

WSB

PLUS

#MCNwednesday

FEATURES 07 BUYING & SELLING SPORTEVENTSGARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

San to design our bike. This sector is all about taking key elements of the ‘scene’ and blending this into our designs. He acted as our mentor and helped us to confirm our hypothesis; is it possible to have the fun-riding characteristics of our modern bikes with a retro-cool, styling point of view? With ‘Faster Son’ we have this answer.”

Kimura also remained guarded about the production possibilities, “I was given a choice by Yamaha of what en-gine to work with and as I like light-weight motorcycles the MT-07 was very good for me. Yamaha didn’t give

me any restrictions at all with regardsto the build, but I had certain design constraints that I gave myself. I don’t have a press so I have to hammer all of my metalwork by hand, but in my work I have the opportunities to talk to many motor companies and they always say just do what you want, so this time I wanted to really challenge myself and produce something that was completely street legal.

“I am proud of the whole build, there isn’t one piece that I’d choose as a standout part. My bikes are all about harmony and the design as a whole.

Everything has to flow as a completedesign and the ‘Faster Son’ does that for me. Perhaps, if the law allowed, I would have liked to do more with the muffler, to make it even louder!

“Of course, I would be honoured if Yamaha took elements of this and moved them into a production motorcycle, but I’m not sure exactly what they will do to make that happen. If they maintained the harmony of my bike then I’d be really proud.”

MCN expects that Yamaha will unveil the production version at the EICMA show in Milan, this November.

Custom builder Kimura fathered the Faster Son

Hand-beaten bodywork has a touch of Steam Punk

Retro concepts don’t get much cooler than this

Show-stopping

Faster Son custom

will inspire a

production bike

NEXT WEEK

Unseen pics and untold tales — 15 years aft er his death

JOEY DUNLOP SPECIAL

NEW ARIEL ACE TESTED

NUTTY NAKEDS AT WAR

ALL-NEW MCN GARAGE

Awesome British bike bettered for 2016

Aprilia Tuono

and BMW

S1000R go at it

— pass me

the aspirin!

How to make your bikehandle better + bikes worth investing in + meet the man who eats, sleeps and dreams about R1s

20 PAGES OF INSPIRATION & ADVICE

Page 8: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

08 THIS WEEK

Ignore the surfboard hanging offthe side, the eccentric paint joband concept bike tag, because thisis the shape of the forthcoming

BMW R nineT Scrambler expected tobe launched at the Milan show thisAutumn. This bike – dubbed ConceptPath 22 – was launched last weekendat the Wheels & Waves custom bikeshow in Biarritz, France.

MCN revealed BMW’s plans to releasea Scrambler version of the big-sellingR nineT two months ago, and thisConcept Path 22 is clearly far more thanjust another concept bike; it appearsto use real production parts that willbe seen on the finished bike.

The fuel tank is a cheaper pressedsteel version that will be used on theScrambler instead of the expensive-ly handmade aluminium tank usedon the R nineT roadster, the fork is alower-specification than the S1000RRsuperbike-derived set-up used on thenineT, while the fork fitted here boasts

BMW reveals concept bike, but the real thing

is expected soon

By Andy DownesÖhlins internals that are unlikely tofeature on the production Scrambler.Hanging off the fork legs are the mid-spec Brembo calipers we expect tomake it to production, gripping discsfitted to mag-style wheels that alsomatch the style seen on leaked BMWsketches of the production bike. Eventhe front light appears to be the finishedunit. BMW have been clever with theway they have managed to reduce thecost of the high-end parts used on theR nineT to make the Scrambler modelmore affordable.

Head of BMW Motorrad DesignEdgar Heinrich said: “A scrambler isthe perfect match for Wheels & Waves.It’s the epitome of a motorcycle beyondestablished standards and conven-tions. Performance specifications arenot so much of interest - style andoriginality all the more so. Scramblersexpress passion and are as varied astheir owners. The Concept Path 22 isour own interpretation based on theR nineT. The latter is the perfect basis for a scrambler conversion.”

SCRAMBLERMAKES DEBU

Ola Stenegard, Head of BMWMotorrad Design, says: “The idea of aBMW scrambler is not new to us. Nowseemed to be the right time to presentour interpretation of this legendaryvehicle concept.” At the heart of theConcept Path 22 there is a power-ful two-cylinder boxer engine withcardan drive - as is typical of BMW.The single-sided swing arm makes thefive-spoke rear wheel visible, again afamiliar BMW feature.

BMW motorcycle boss StephanSchaller confirmed a Scrambler wason the cards at the recent launch of theConcept 101 bagger. He told MCN: “Wewant to create families around all ourengines and chassis. We want three tofive models around each version. I thinkthe Scrambler is a very good idea andperhaps you will see something laterthis year. In fact I think you can expectthis to happen this year for sure. Butit will only be shown and not for saleuntil next year. I think there are someother models we can do. Perhaps a café racer and maybe one more too.”

Fine linesThese twin-stacked silencers are

titanium and manufactured by Akrapovicbut mirror the exact lines the production

spec Scrambler will take.

Super subframeAnother big clue as to the production nature of this

bike can be seen in the form of the new rear subframewhich is different to that of the R nineT and matches

the minimal styling of the new seat unit.

The real thingIt’s believed that these are the actual five-spokemilled aluminium wheels the Scrambler will be

available with, although it’s expected that a rangeof optional wheels will be available as accessories.

Simple springsA smaller-diameterconventional fork

replaces the S1000R-derived invertedfork fitted to the

R nineT, again aimedat reducing the

showroom price ofthe new Scrambler.

Upgraded dash hints at the possibilities

MCN’s artist

impression

of the BMW

Scrambler

back in April

Concept’s paint and trimming is a bit Austin Powers but the bike beneath looks ace

RSD cylinder head covers add real bling

Plenty in the tankThis is the actual tank that will getused on the Scrambler, check out

the heat shielding tape underneath.MCN sources have revealed a plain

white colour option will be available.

Page 9: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

Finance is subject to status and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. TriStar Personal Contract Purchase is only available through Triumph Motorcycle Finance which is a trading style of Black Horse Ltd, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. Finance figures correct as of 01.05.15 and

are subject to change. Bikes must be registered by 30.06.15. Finance off er ends 30.06.15. *Accessory Terms and Conditions: Fitting charges may apply. Off er subject to the purchase of a new full price motorcycle. Off er subject to stock availability and applies to motorcycles registered between 01.05.15 and 30.06.15.

For more information or to book your test ride, visit triumphmotorcycles.co.uk

There’s a road out there. Way out there.

Places where you’ll appreciate having a little extra.

Times when you’ll appreciate having it all.

#fortheride

GET 3 YEARS(OR 18,000 MILES)FREE SERVICINGWhen financing using...

Applies to bikes registered

between 22.05.15 30.06.15.

Participating dealers only.

Terms and conditions apply,

see website for full details.

ACCESSORY PACK INCLUDES:

Two Box Pannier Set,

Heated Grips & Switch,

Heated Rider Seat.

Tiger Explorer

£11,599 OTR

Tiger Explorer XC

£12,599 OTR

+ £940 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ACCESSORIES*

Based on: Tiger Explorer @ 5,000 miles per annumREPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE

£11,599.00 £129.00 £2,727.00 £8,872.00 37 Months £10.00 £6,480.00 £13,851.00 9.44% 9.9% APR

On the

Road Price

36 Monthly

Repayments

Deposit/Part

Exchange

Total Amount

of Credit

Agreement

Duration

Purchase

Fee†

Final

Repayment

Total Amount

Payable

Interest Rate

(Fixed)

Representative

APR

† Included within

Final Repayment.

Page 10: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

10 THIS WEEK

THIS WEEK’S HOT BIKES

1

2

6

3

5

7

4

1. Ducati Scrambler ‘Magione’by Fred ‘Krugger’ BertrandThe Ducati Scrambler is slowly

beginning to show its promise as a

donor bike after a few, inauspicious

early builds. Krugger cleaned up the

lines with subtle changes to the tank,

then dropped the front-end slightly and

added a new rear that cleverly inverts

the stock Scrambler’s LED rear light.

2. 1983 Suzuki GSXE 750 byKikishopFrench builders Kikishop rode their

GSXE 750 along to the festival. Only

the motor and tank survive from the

original bike. The front-end, shock and

swingarm are from a GSX-R1000 K6.

3. Harley-Davidson Street 750‘SHDB 04’ by HD PragueCzech builder Ondrej Odehnal admits

to being inspired by the recent Lotus

C-01 and the Shaw’s Bell & Ross HD

– and it shows. With its hand-beaten

metalwork and perfect proportions it’s

no surprise that it won Harley’s ‘Battle

of the Kings’ competition.

4. Ducati Scrambler ‘Hero 01’ by Holographic HammerSylvain Berneron designed and

built this street-race ready Ducati

Scrambler along with his brother,

Florent. It boasts a Showa fork,

Beringer 4D brakes and stunning 17in

Rotobox carbon race wheels; it’s a bike

that means business.

5. Kawasaki Z1 ‘La Bestia’ byValtoronThe four-cylinder, turbo-charged

900cc Z1 won MCN’s ‘Machine of The

Year’ four years running between 1973

and ’76. Here Spanish builders Valtoron

take it as their base for their stunning,

sand-cast aluminium bodywork.

6. BMW R nineT ‘HighwayFighter’ by Cherry’s CompanyContinuing its tour of Europe, this

BMW-commissioned nineT by

Japanese builders Cherry’s Company

features hand-fabricated 70s-inspired

aluminium fairings, solid RevTech rims,

BMW S1000RR fork and PSR steering

damper.

7. Mystery Benelli 900 SeiWe couldn’t find the owner of this

beautifully simplistic Benelli 900 Sei,

but had to include it. The stripped-

down café racer runs on laced rims,

with four-piston calipers, has a cute

Imola-style fairing, open clutch cover,

and stunning six-into-six system.

Seven of the best creations seen at the Wheels and Waves custom festival last weekend in Biarritz

Page 11: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

We’re Supercharging the ‘World of Kawasaki’festival and taking it to Rockingham Speedwayon Sunday 28th of June

* Track Sessions * Demo Rides * MX & Utility Demos* Maxxis Drift Cars * Lee Bowers Stunts * Minimotos

* Sykes and Rea “TT Specials” * Rider Interviews* Live music * Plus H2 Owners Parade Lap

* Exclusive KRC VIP Hospitality * Family fun* Kawasaki By Night - Camping, Music & Hog Roast

BOOK OR REGISTER NOW - www.kawasaki.co.uk

Page 12: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

12 THIS WEEK

Variablevalve timing, anti-lock brakes, fuel injection and a four-valve head sounds like the spec of a well-equipped sports tourer, but Yamaha’s new NMAX scooter has all

of this... and it’s only a 125. The com-pany hopes that its loaded scooter will grab sales from Honda’s best-selling PCX, which topped the UK scooter sales charts for the first four months of this year.

Central to the NMAX’s appeal is an all-new four-stroke engine with VVA (Variable Valve Actuation). Un-like more sophisticated systems like Ducati’s DVT, which offers infinitely-variable valve timing, the NMAX has

two different cam lobes – one tailoredfor low engine speeds, one for high – asolenoid switching between the two at6000rpm. In theory, this should give the NMAX good low speed torque and high speed power. In practice, it makes slightly more power than the PCX and marginally less torque. Either way, it’s pretty pokey for a 125.

Yamaha say they’ve done a lot of work to make the motor as efficient as possible, cutting down on internal frictional losses by 18% with a roller bearing rocker arm, plus attention paid to piston rings, cylinder bore and crankshaft oil seals. The cooling system bypasses the thermostat from cold – this isn’t exactly a new idea, but it does cut down on fuel-hungry warm up time. All this adds up to a claimed fuel consumption of 107mpg, which

sounds good but falls well short of theHonda’s 133.9mpg on the same stand-ard test cycle.

Given how laden it is with high-tech gizmos, the NMAX doesn’t look that special. There is a family resemblance to the TMAX and X-MAX sports scoot-ers, but it’s not strong. That’s partly because, despite the goodies, the NMAX is aimed firmly at first-time buyers – Yamaha reckon that up to half of them will be novices with the rest stepping up from a 50cc scoot.

Step onto the NMAX and that nov-ice friendliness is confirmed by a low 765mm seat, which allows the short-legged to get both feet flat on the ground. But it’s still a biggish scooter by 125 standards, with plenty of room for two, and space for the rider to stretch out, feet forward. The riding position

is upright and in-town sensible.Fire up the liquid-cooled motor and

there’s little clue of VVA in the innocu-ous exhaust note, but the NMAX gets away from the lights smoothly and quickly enough – it’s certainly got

the pace to stay out of trouble in thechaotic rush hour traffic of Lisbon,where Yamaha launched the bike. Infact, it has all the right ingredients for no-fuss urban commuting, with decent acceleration, upright riding position, a good lock and a waistline slim enough to slip through gaps. In short, it’s nippy, flickable and convenient.

When the speed limits open up, power builds smoothly up to 55mph – there’s no power step, which you might expect from a two-stage VVC (remem-ber the original Honda VTEC?) and it all feels very conventional. Yamaha claim a top speed of 62mph but there’s prob-ably a bit more to come on top of that.

Lisbon is famous for its tarts (as in pastries), hilly terrain and tiled archi-tecture. It also boasts some of the most knobbly, cobbled streets in southern

‘Fire up the motor, and there’s little clue of VVA in the exhaust note, but the NMAX gets away from the lights quickly’

NMAX has all the makings

of a perfect urban scooter

– it’s light, handles well,

and having ABS boosts

rider confidence

YA

MA

HA

By Peter Henshaw

MCN CONTRIBUTOR

YAMAHA NMAX 125

FIRST TEST

‘All the right ingredients for no-fuss urban commuting’

Page 13: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

What is Variable ValveActuation?

Valve timing is a compromise,

because the precise points at

which inlet and exhaust valves

open, and how long they stay open

before closing, will only suit a

particular engine speed and load.

Variable valve timing breaks

out of this by changing the timing

according to the rpm and load.

Sophisticated electronic systems

such as Ducati’s DVT make it

infinitely variable, in theory always

suiting the engine’s need perfectly.

The NMAX’s VVC isn’t that clever,

switching between two cam

profiles at 6000rpm, but it all

helps its performance.

#MCNwednesday

FEATURES 13 BUYING & SELLING SPORTGARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

TRIUMPH ROCKET X

Europe, and some huge potholes. TheNMAX’s forks and twin rear shockscrashed and banged over all of this,but so would most other scooters. It doesn’t have preload adjustment on the rear shocks, which many scoot-ers do. The ABS, on the other hand, works well, kicking in on dry tarmac front or rear if the levers are grabbed hard enough – it will be a real boon for year-round commuters coping with wet and greasy UK roads.

All the features you’d expect are there: enough underseat space for a full-face lid, decent mirrors and an informative digital dash, which in-cludes an economy meter plus, for the real fuel efficiency fanatics, instant/average mpg readouts. According to this, we managed 108mpg dashing around Lisbon.

VERDICT

VERDICTA great 125cc urban scooter from

Yamaha, roomy and well thought-

out. While its performance isn’t

exactly outstanding, it’s quick

enough, and the standard ABS

will be enough to convince many

buyers.

A ground-breaking bike with

amazing street presence, but

mainstream cruiser riders should

aim towards the Thunderbird.

WE LIKE WE LIKE

WE DON’T LIKE WE DON’T LIKE

■ ABS as standard

■ Easy to ride and live with

■ Sheer presence

■ Stomping engine

■ Thirstier than a Honda PCX ■ Exhaust paint will scratch easily

NEED TO KNOW

PerformanceOne of the faster 125s, but VVA

doesn’t make it a rocketship

LooksClean cut, in a modern scooter

sort of way

ValueIt’s £100 cheaper than the Honda PCX,

which doesn’t have ABS but

does have idle-stop

TECH SPEC

TECH SPEC

Price £2671

Engine Liquid-cooled OHC

single, 125cc

Power 12bhp @ 7500rpm

Torque 8.6ftlb @ 7250rpm

Weight 127kg

Fuel capacity 6.6 litres

MPG 108

Seat height 765mm

Available June 30

Price: £14,999

Engine: Liquid-cooled dohc

triple 2294cc

Power: 148bhp @ 5750rpm

Torque: 163.1ftlb @ 2750rpm

Weight: 367kg (wet)

Tank capacity: 24 litres

Seat height: 750mm

Chassis: steel tubular

Contact: triumphmotorcycles.co.uk

YAMAHA NMAX 125

TRIUMPH ROCKET X

The NMAX has a beefy

look for a small bike

and is clean and classy

The Rocket’s in a class

of its own, but the

limited-edition paint

isn’t special enough

UK buyers will get their choice of all four colours: Red, White, Titanium or Black

Dash displays plenty of information,

especially on fuel consumption

Silver boomerang panel gives family

resemblance to X-Max and TMax

By Jon Urry

MCNCONTRIBUTOR

FIRST RIDE

‘A cruiser that will nail most sportsbikes’

The Rocket III is the sledgehammer that Triumph built to crack the American market. Unleashed in 2004, everything about this machine was designed to appeal to US buyers’ values of excess, and not only does the Rocket remain the largest capacity production motorcycle, it still cuts an incredibly imposing and impressive form. Eleven years after its launch, Triumph are celebrating the Rocket’s anniversary with a special-edition model – the Rocket X.

For an extra £1400 over the stock Rocket III, owners of the X version get a bike that is limited to just 500 models worldwide and boasts an ar-ray of extras aimed at making the bike visually moodier. The exhaust gets a lick of high temperature, matt black paint and the bars, mirrors and levers are also blacked out.

But it is the paintwork that Triumph are especially proud of. They say it has been developed by paint specialists 8 Ball, and takes four days to achieve the finish. But aside from the very cool ‘grind’ effect stripes, the look is not much different to any other black paint.

Despite weighing 367kg, the Rocket III isn’t that ungainly at low speed. I’ve ridden plenty of smaller cruisers that are far harder to manoeuvre at walk-ing pace. Backing the Triumph out of a parking space is a fairly fraught affair, but it doesn’t feel anything like as top heavy as a full-dress Victory – a fact I’d put down to the triple engine.

Located low in the frame, it not only gives the bike a low centre of gravity, it also kicks like a pissed off mule. Laugh at this bike at you peril because, given a straight-line drag race, the Rocket III will nail most sportsbikes.

Bang the throttle open and you can see why Triumph restrict the Rocket’s acceleration in its first few gears. The

triple may not rev that high, but it makes a mountainous 163ftlb of tar-mac-rippling torque. Thank goodness it also has ABS, because stopping it takes some effort. Thankfully, cornering requires considerably less.

Americans don’t really do corners and that fact is reflected in the Rocket’s handling. It has next to no ground clearance and its long and low wheel-base makes for a ponderous rate of turn. It’s stable in the bends and surprisingly easy to aim towards and apex, but could never be described as agile.

IAN

JU

BB

Page 14: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Pauline Hailwood

Mike’s widow, heard

the race on the phone

Ted Macauley

Friend, and organiser

of the TT comeback

Steve Wynne

His shop supplied

Hailwood’s Ducati

Mick Grant

TT rival, showed Mike

around in practice

Phil Read

TT rival, couldn’t live

with Mike in the race

11 years retired and crippled by injury, Mike the Bike didn’t have a chance... did he?

Hailwood’s TT comebackIn 1978, after an 11-year retirement

from racing, Mike Hailwood decided

to make a comeback in the Formula 1

TT. Despite being widely regarded as

the greatest bike racer of all time, no

one truly believed he could win after

such a long lay off. After all, he was 38

years old and partially crippled from

a Formula 1 car crash. But Mike was

out to prove everyone wrong. This is

the story of the greatest comeback in

sporting history.

Pauline Hailwood: ‘We were living in

New Zealand at the time and he was

just bored. I think in many ways the TT

was just a challenge to himself to see

if he could still do it.’

Ted Macauley: ‘When Mike phoned

me and said he fancied doing the TT I

thought he was pissed! We originally

had an understanding that he would

just ride round and enjoy himself – but

of course he was lying.’

Steve Wynne: ‘Mike didn’t say

anything to me before he set off for

the race because he was too busy

leaning on the pit wall talking to a

good-looking blonde! He had the

knack of making all the other riders

nervous because he wasn’t.’

Mick Grant: ‘He’d been struggling in

practice and asked me to show him

round the course. I thought ‘F**king

hell! That’s like God asking me to

explain the Bible!’ I was good from the

start to Ramsey but absolutely awful

going up the Mountain, so the only

place I didn’t want Mike to follow me

was up the Mountain. I followed him

to Ramsey Hairpin and, sure enough,

he waved me past. I made an even

bigger balls of going up the Mountain

than I usually do. Afterwards Mike said

“Thank you Mick, but how the f**k you

get round like you do I don’t know!”’

Ted Macauley: ‘When I drove him

THE EYEWITNESSES

EYEWITNESS The moments that made biking

history Formula 1 TT race, Isle of Man, June 3, 19781955-2015

up to the grandstand on the morning

of the race he was silent all the way,

he was so focused. Then when I

looked into his eyes on the start line I

could see nothing. It was like looking

through a porthole on a very clear

day. His eyes were absolutely vacant

because he was focusing so hard.’

Phil Read: ‘Mike rode really well and it

was a fantastic race. For three-and-a-

half laps we were together, swapping

places. We pitted together, we came

out together, and he was riding like

he’d never been away. When he caught

me up on the road I knew there was no

way I could beat him unless his bike

blew up or he fell off. But he didn’t.’

Ted Macauley: ‘The thrill in the

grandstand when Mike came past for

the first time – well, I go cold even now

thinking about it. He didn’t glance at

his pit, he was just head down, tucked

in, and rocketing straight towards

No clever headline required,

MCN’s report from June 7, 1978

simply said it all

www.motorcyclenews.com

14 June 17 2015

ENJOY 6 MONTHS OFMCN FROM JUST £42PLUS get Guy Martin Autobiography worth £20

Terms & Conditions: Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. The minimum term is 26 issues. After your first 26 issues (6 months) your subscription will continue unless you are notified otherwise. You will not receive a renewal reminder and the Direct Debit payments will continue to be taken unless you tell us otherwise. Th is off er closes on July 8, 2015. Th is off er cannot be used in conjunction with any other off er. We reserve the right to provide an alternative gift of equal or higher value, or a 3 issue extension, if stocks are exhausted. Please allow up to 28 working days for delivery of your gift . Gift s are not available for overseas subscribers. Cost from landlines for 01 numbers per minute are (approximate) 2p to 10p. Cost from mobiles per minute (approximate) 10p to 40p. Costs vary depending on the geographical location in the UK. You

may get free calls to some numbers as part of your call package – please check with your phone provider. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training purposes. For our full terms and conditions go to http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/off er-terms-and-conditions.

Visit: www.greatmagazines.co.uk/mcn or call *01858 438 884 and quote FBAA

OFFER 1 PRINT ONLY6 monthly Direct Debit £42

Annual Direct Debit £80

1 year Credit/Debit card £93

CHOOSE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

Closing date July 8, 2015GET GUY’S BOOK

SAVE££s on your

MCN and get

this brilliant Guy

Martin book OFFER 2 DIGITAL ONLY6 monthly Direct Debit £42

Annual Direct Debit £80

1 year Credit/Debit card £93

OFFER 3 PRINT & IPAD 6 monthly Direct Debit £47

Annual Direct Debit £90

1 year Credit/Debit card £103

Page 15: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Riding like he’d never been away, Hailwood’s performance put fans into fever pitch

The Ducati 900SS was tuned by Wynne

and blew up just as it crossed the line

A devastating mix of calm, focus and

chest hair, it was the 70s after all...

Bray Hill. It was remarkable.’

Pauline Hailwood: Mike didn’t want

me to go over for the actual race

so I stayed with my parents and

the children in England. Instead,

Ted Macauley gave me a running

commentary by telephone. When

it came to the last lap he was

screaming: “He’s gonna do it!”

Steve Wynne: ‘Just as Mike crossed

the line the engine blew up. After the

race I was in deep discussion with

one of the stewards who had a noise

meter to test the winning bike (I can

tell you now it would not have passed).

He was saying, “It won’t start will it?”

Not knowing the engine had blown, I

was saying “Of course it will.” It was

only when he repeated “It WON’T start

will it?” that it dawned on me he didn’t

wish to be lynched for disqualifying

Mike Hailwood from this historic win!’

Ted Macauley: ‘I remember jumping

up and down on the track and I was

actually embarrassed at my own

reaction. But I was overjoyed, first

because my best pal was home safe,

and secondly because he’d won after

an 11-year retirement. As Mike and I

walked up to the winner’s enclosure

we both had tears streaming down our

faces, and everybody was jostling to

pat him on the back. I was very proud

to have organised something which

gave so much joy to so many people. It

was an amazing sensation.’

VOTE NOWFor your MCN Man of the Last 60 Years

motorcyclenews.com/awards

#MCNwednesday

15 BUYING &SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

Image taken on closed road.

AVAILABLEWITH AFFORDABLE*

MONTHLY REPAYMENTS

Cash Price £7,131.00

Deposit £1,450.00

Total Amount of Credit £5,681.00

Purchase Fee§ £10.00

Duration of Agreement 37 Months

36 Monthly Repayments £95.00

Final Repayment £3,448.00

Total Amount Payable £8,318.00

Interest Rate (Fixed) 8.31%

Representative APR 8.7% APR

REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE:

Based on Scrambler Icon - ’62 Yellow with acontracted annual mileage of 6,000.

THE LAND OF JOYInventive, youthful and free-spirited,

the new Ducati Scrambler is much

more than a bike, it’s a land of joy,

freedom and self-expression

§ Included in Final Repayment.

*With a PCP product a significant proportion of the total amount payable is payable at the end of the contract by one large final repayment, so your regular monthlyrepayments are low. Finance is subject to status and is only available to UK residents aged 18 or over. TriOptions PCP is only available through Ducati Finance which is atrading style of Black Horse Ltd, St. William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. Figures are correct as of 11th March 2015. Finance offer ends 30th June 2015.

Page 16: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

YAMAHA YZF-R3 v KTM RC390 v KAWASAKI NINJA 300

www.motorcyclenews.com

16 June 17 2015

They’re light, they’re quick and they cost under fi ve grand. But whichBATTLE OF

The Moto3 refugee

It’s the KTM RC390 that immediatelyslaps a smile on our testers’ faces. Aswe stand in the MCN bike park, oglingthe three half-pint middleweights,all eyes are fixed on orange. With itsunderslung exhaust, trick headlight,Moto3-style steel trellis frame andsharp angular lines, it looks just likea proper race bike. It’s wiry, athleticand looks like it’s about to head-buttthe Kawasaki. I want one.

I swing a leg over the lofty 820mm-high seat and grab the bars. The 390forces my body into a racing crouch,the seat’s hard and the bars are low – Ican already feel pressure on my wrists.I fire the single-cylinder into life, grabfirst gear, and watch the gear shift-lightflash madly as the redlining engine asks

for another ratio. I click into second and the furiously blinking shift-light goes into meltdown. I feed it third and fourth gears, the combination of short gearing and 44bhp injecting a shot of serious go. This bike is fun.

The B-road I’m riding tightens and the surface deteriorates too. The KTM’s ride starts to get choppy while its harsh-ly damped forks make sure I feel every bump. It’s set up stiff like an old-school race bike and feels quite crude. When I grab a handful of brake I get plenty of stopping power, but little in the way of feedback or finesse.

The green machine

The Kawasaki shares similar issues with the KTM. It isn’t harshly damped, but its fork and shock internals are still budget and lack the control of more expensive units. And while the brakes aren’t

STAFF WRITER

Continued over

ON THE ROAD

Page 17: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

The missionYamaha’s new YZF-R3 has KTM’s

RC390 and Kawasaki’s Ninja 300

in its sights. To find out if it has

what it takes to be the king of the

A2 sportsbikes, we take all three

for a thrashing on road and track.

The riders

Andy Davidson

MCN Staff Writer

Age 27 Height 5ft7in

CV Learnt to ride on

an FZR400. Soft spot

for middleweights.

Tony Hoare

MCNConsumerEditor

Age 41 Height 5ft 10in

CV Riding since 2001,

raced a Yamaha

TZR250 for six years.

Liam Marsden

MCN Web Producer

Age 25 Height 6ft1in

CV All year rider. Not

a huge fan of out-and-

out sportsbikes.

The bikes

Yamaha YZF-R3, £4799

The latest bike to join the A2

sportsbike fray. It has the look of

Yamaha’s larger R-series bikes but

has a friendly 321cc parallel-twin.

Kawasaki Ninja 300, £4899

Convincing ZX-10R replica with a

super-smooth parallel-twin motor.

It’s revvy and roomy, but is it too

soft to be sporty?

KTM RC390, £4998

Nutty single-cylinder bike that

makes no excuses about its ‘ready

to race’ ethos. But will its sporty

nature ruin its road manners?

#MCNwednesday

17 BUYING &SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

of the new generation of A2 sportsbikes would you want? THE 300S

TIM

KE

ET

ON

ROAD AND

TRACK

Page 18: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

18 June 17 2015

woolly like the KTM’s, the twin-pots up front still need a good tug. It does, however, have a lower seat (785mm), is much more comfortable and has a more everyday, upright riding posi-tion, making it a welcome relief after the RC390.

Our Ninja test bike is in Kawasaki’s 30th Anniversary colour scheme (£5049) and has smart touches such as faired-in indicators. But the dash is lacking and unlike the KTM and Yam it doesn’t have a shift-light or gear indicator, which would come in handy as the parallel-twin’s power is located in the top end.

The Kwak makes the least power and torque (39bhp and 20ftlb) of the three bikes on test, so you have to rev it up to 10,000rpm before it truly wakes up. At 174kg it’s also the heaviest bike here and doesn’t flick or change direction as easily as the other two, feeling relatively slow steering when thrown into corners. But it likes to be thrashed. The exhaust screams, the motor comes alive and, like the KTM, the Ninja becomes great fun. You have to work at it, though.

The new kid on the blockEnter the Yamaha R3. It’s not like the race-hungry KTM and it’s not like the benign Kawasaki, which has to be screamed to be a laugh. Instead, it takes the best from both machines and wraps them into one exquisite

Not too focused, not too

placid - the new Yamaha

R3 is the perfect pitch

for A2 road riding

300cc SPORTSBIKES

package. The riding position is near-perfect, with low seat and comfy, semi-upright position. There’s even a comprehensive dash.

Get a move on and the super-creamy twin motor is incredibly smooth. Like the Kawasaki, the magic happens at high revs, but unlike the green machine there’s still plenty of midrange power to keep things moving right through the rev range. Its flexible engine and power delivery make the 321cc twin easier to live with than the KTM and Kawasaki. The super-light clutch, silky gear change, well set-up suspension and strong brakes all combine to make one seriously competent contender.

There’s more than enough poke to make the Yamaha a fun and engaging machine. The R3 is stable and com-posed and it’s easy to climb all over it as you rail round swooping corners like a Moto3 nutter.

The KTM may wipe the floor with the competition in the aesthetics and race-rep department, but on closer in-spection the Indian-built machine lacks in build quality and finish compared to the swish Indonesia-built Yamaha. The Thai-built Kawasaki also lacks, and doesn’t share the modern feeling of the Yam. KTM pushed the little single so far along the race bike spectrum that it’s not a practical, everyday machine, while the Yam is far more rideable and more than capable of keeping up with the RC390.

Kwak makes the least

power, but looks just

like a ZX-10R

Track talkMCN’s regular speed tester Bruce

Dunn rode timed laps around

Rockingham’s International circuit

until he was happy he’d got to the

limit of each bike’s ability on track.

Bruce races a Yamaha TZ250 GP

bike so he knows all about getting

the best out of light bikes. But he

also spends day after day riding

and capturing data on the world’s

fastest machines, and he was

impressed by how much fun he

could have with just 40bhp.

“These small bikes are very

satisfying to ride,” he said after

finishing his laps. “If you had a

dozen of you, all on bikes like this, it

would be more of a laugh than if you

were all on superbikes. Everyone

aspires to ride superbikes, but you

feel more of a passenger half the

time. Riding bikes like these tells

me something about my riding

style: I have to adapt my style for

superbikes, but with these you can

maximise corner entry speed and I

like that. I had a lot of fun.”

Kawasaki Ninja 300“What I like about the Ninja is that every aspect is predictable, which is a really good thing for riding on track. You know that after a certain lean an-gle you will be scraping, predictably, because there’s not a lot of clearance. Braking is good, you can grab as much as you like and lean on the ABS in a straight line. Handling-wise, it’s pre-dictable and smooth. The suspension is budget, but it works quite well at this track; Rockingham can be choppy, but the Ninja’s suspension irons it out quite a bit. There’s a chicane at the end of the lap and I was going very confidently from left to right – though a lot of that will be down to the Pirelli control tyres; I wouldn’t have that confidence in the stock tyres. There’s not a lot of power, but the delivery is turbine smooth throughout the rev range, and there’s the satisfaction that comes from being able to cane an engine through every gear and challenge yourself to get the best out of the momentum you’ve got. I enjoyed this bike”.Continued over

ON THE TRACK

Page 19: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

19BUYING &SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

Footpegs are positioned for comfort The green bike’s ABS impressed on track

The Ninja is left behind in the dash department, there’s no shift light or gear indicator

Massive hero blobs limit on-track lean Twin-pot caliper is simple but effective

Footpegs touch down easily on track There’s WP suspension but it’s crude

YZF-R3

RC390

NINJA

Up close

The MCN boys love loitering in lay-bys

Get a Kwak and start hunting the apex

These frugal funsters simply sip juice

‘The R3 is composed and it’s easy to climb

all over it as you rail round swooping

corners like a Moto3 nutter ’

Low-slung exhaust

and orange trellis

frame means the RC

turns heads

KTM’s clocks look a little on the cheap side, but they boast impressive functionality

Classy Yamaha dash has it all, and you simply can’t beat an analogue tacho, can you?

3 FASTEST 1’49.79rd

Page 20: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

20 June 17 2015

‘It’s exciting, easyto ride and moreforgiving than its competitors’The 2012 Kawasaki Ninja is a good

laugh if you keep the revs up, but

its competitors surpass it with a

more modern feel. The KTM lacks

in build quality and its harsher,

track-focused ride is fun but

tiresome as an everyday machine.

The Yamaha takes the win as it’s the

most competitively priced, has the

best build quality and is a credible,

very well thought-out machine.

It’s exciting, easy to ride, more

forgiving than its competitors and

is a proper big bike in its own right.

Yamaha are onto a winner with the

new R3.

ANDY DAVIDSOSTAFF WRITER

VERDIC

Price £4998

Engine 373cc, 4v, single-cylinder

Power 44bhp @ 9500rpm

Torque 26ftlb @ 7250rpm

Kerb weight 160kg (est)

Tank size 10 litres

Seat height 820mm

Tested mpg 62.54

KTM RC390

Price £4799

Engine 321cc, 8v parallel-twin

Power 41.4bhp @ 10,750rpm

Torque 21.83ftlb @ 9000rpm

Kerb weight 169kg

Tank size 14 litres

Seat height 780mm

Tested mpg:56.03

YAMAHA YZF-R3

Price: £4899

Engine:296cc, 8v, parallel-twin

Power 39bhp @ 11,000rpm

Torque 20ftlb @ 10,000rpm

Kerb weight 174kg

Tank size 17 litres

Seat height 785mm

Tested mpg 56.49

KAWASAKI NINJA 300

Yamaha R3 beats the rest with build

quality, credibility and road-ready fun

TECH SPEC

Yamaha YZF-R3“This bike is in a similar vein to theKawasaki, but it has a bit more punchfrom the engine. It has a nicer dash witha gear indicator and shift-light, whichis always useful to have. The shock feelssofter than the Kawasaki’s and, aftera few laps on track, it feels as thoughit’s faded completely. The back-endwas wallowing and moving up anddown as if it had lost all the damping,which makes it completely useless fortrack riding.

“If I left braking as late as I did on theKawasaki, the R3 would judder andjump quite a bit because the ABS waskicking in and extending my brakingdistance. It had similar ground clear-ance issues to the Kawasaki, and maybemore. The steering is nice and neutral,but that shock fading means the bikehas sunk and the ground clearance hasreduced even more. The Kawasaki andYamaha are both good fun to ride asyou can really concentrate on pickingthe perfect line, but the Yamaha is that little bit faster and better”.

2 FASTEST 1’47.19nd

1 FASTEST 1’43.28st

KTM RC390“It’s a lot faster around the track thanthe other two, and that’s down to itslarger engine, but it’s hampered bythe short gearing. For example, I takeRockingham’s hairpin in third gear onthe KTM, while on the other two bikesI was in second. But the punchy enginereally suits this track, you’re leant overfor a lot of the time so you need powerand torque to continue driving the bike,and the KTM has much more shove thanthe other two. While the engine workswell on track, the suspension feels verybasic, almost crude. The brakes don’tfeel overly powerful and the ABS kicksin far too early.

“The KTM’s let down by a lack ofbuild quality, and I can imagine thisbike being a bit of a pain on the road.If I had to go on a trip I’d rather go onone of the other bikes as this enginewould get on my nerves after a while.If I took this on a trackday I’d be confi-dent of running in the medium groupand mixing it with most of the otherriders, especially on braking and in theturns. It’s a faster bike out of the box,but it’s not necessarily better to ride.”

2nd

3nd

1st

Page 21: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

* Test ride is subject to applicant status and availability.

To book a test ride* contact your local BMW Motorrad Centre orvisit www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk to explore the entire BMW Motorrad range.

The UltimateRiding Machine

BMW Motorrad UK

The S 1000 XRand R 1200 RS

WHY COMPROMISE WHEN PERFECTION AWAITS. MAKE LIFE A RIDE.

‘The new S 1000 XR is probably one of the best BMWs ever.’

‘The R 1200 RS brings a new level of handling and technical sophistication to its class.’

Page 22: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

June 17 2015

www.motorcyclenews.com

22

The new RC213V-S

road-legal MotoGP

bike (bottom left) owes

a debt of gratitude to

the NR750 (above) and

NR500s that paved the

V4 way before it

10Honda’s stunning new RC213V-S has its roots way back in the 1970s, when

ULTIMATE

FROM NR TO RCV

STEPS TO THH

Page 23: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

23 BUYING & SELLING SPORTTHIS WEEK NEW BIKES GARAGEFEATURES June 17 2015

Honda have been in love with V4s since the 1970s, though recently their sportsbike range has sadly lacked the wondrously easy speed and

evocative exhaust note of a V4.Honda have long believed the V4 to

be the ultimate engine layout for a mo-torcycle, and they may be correct. Done right, a good V4 mixes four-cylinder power with V-twin midrange and torque. That combination of devastating speed and effortless power has made Honda’s four-stroke V4s dominate all kinds of racing, from the Isle of Man TT, the Bol d’Or 24 hours and Daytona 200 to World Superbike and MotoGP.

By Mat Oxley

MCN CONTRIBUTOR

the company raced its fi rst V4, the oval-piston NR500

HONDA V4

1979 NR500Honda’s first V4 began

life at a set of traffic

lights near their Asaka

R&D centre. Engineer

Shoichiro Irimajiri was

on his way home from

another gruelling day spent dreaming

up ways of beating the two-strokes

when he had his Eureka moment.

Gazing at an oval (ish) traffic-light

housing he realised similar-shaped

pistons might allow him to increase

valve area and give a combustion area

similar to two normal pistons.

The result was the madly exotic

oval-piston New Racer. Honda thought

they might achieve the impossible and

beat the two-strokes if the NR could

rev twice as high. At 22,000rpm it

failed but Honda learned a hell of a lot

along the way, about exotic materials,

special oils, slipper clutches and so

on. They also worked hard: an NR500

engine with its 32 valves and eight con

rods took 60 hours to build!

1

HE

Page 24: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

June 17 2015 ULTIMATE HONDAS

3

1982 VF750S

Despite the NR’s

failure, Honda had

faith in the V4.

The VF750S (the

Americans called

it the Sabre) was

revolutionary: it was the first water-

cooled, 16-valve 90-degree V4. The VF

featured cylinders cast into the upper

crankcases, a hydraulic clutch and

a cylinder head that owed details to

the NR. Despite water-cooling the VF

weighed 30kg less than the air-cooled

CB900 it replaced.

The VF was praised for its

smoothness and friendly power, but

shaft drive and mid-Atlantic styling

didn’t go down well with riders

expecting something sporty. Also,

early models were beset by engine

problems which brought Honda close

to axing its entire V4 programme.

1982 RS1000RW

Although the VF750S

was a cruiser with no

sporting aspirations,

Honda were itching to

show what a V4 could

do on the racetrack.

The RS1000RW was

packed with NR tech, like its slipper

clutch. The engine proved Honda’s

belief in the V4, making 150bhp and

excellent torque. In fact, it made too

much power for 1980s tyre tech –

Freddie Spencer led the 1982 Daytona

200 until his rear tyre blew apart. The

RS was also heavy; its size and its

water-cooling – at a time when other

four-strokes were air-cooled – earned it

the nickname the Water Whale.

2

41983 VF750F

It didn’t take Honda

long to improve

on the VF750S.

The VF750F

(Interceptor in

the US) was their

first V4 sportsbike and scored

the V4’s first major successes.

When Freddie Spencer got a VF at

Daytona in 1983 he took just five

laps to beat his lap record on a

1024cc inline four. Spencer says

the bike represented the biggest

development jump he experienced

in a superbike career that spanned

the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Spencer loved the F because

it felt much more like a race bike

than a road bike. He also liked

its narrowness, which increased

cornering clearance. The inline

four had long ago run out of ground

clearance, so Honda removed the

alternator from the crankshaft and

mounted a belt-driven snowmobile

ignition box behind the cylinders.

The Honda VF750F inherited its

slipper clutch (a road-bike first)

and Pro Link rear suspension

from the NR, while the rest of the

chassis owed much to lessons

learned from the Water Whale (see

story, right).

www.motorcyclenews.com

24

Early VF engines suffered problems

Page 25: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

51983 RS860Superbike racing was

already huge in the US

but it had yet to cross

the Atlantic. So while

Spencer and Fred

Merkel dominated

with the Interceptor, Honda built

something different for Europe.

The RS860 – an over-bored VF750

motor in an F1 race chassis – and

it marked the start of Honda’s V4

domination that continued into the 90s.

The 135bhp/170mph RS was fast

and bullet proof, partly due to the V4’s

shorter, stiffer crankshaft which also

required fewer bearings for reduced

internal friction, always a Honda

obsession.

61985 RVF750The RVF750 was

the bike that fully

forged Honda’s V4

legend. For more

than half a decade

it was the most

successful four-stroke on the planet.

In 1985, when Spencer won the first-

ever Daytona 200 superbike race on

the VF, the RVF won the F1 TT, the

Bol d’Or and the Suzuka Eight Hours.

If the RVF’s engine was similar

to the RS860’s, the chassis was all

new. The twin-spar aluminium frame

was based on Honda’s NSR500 and

NSR250 GP bikes.

71986 VFR750FThe VF750F

dominated the US

scene in 1984 and

1985 but Suzuki’s

GSX-R750 had

arrived, so Honda

had to get busy. The VFR750

turned up in 1986 and swept past

all that had gone before, adding to

the V4 legend. The VFR was also

the bike that turned the masses

onto Honda’s V4. On road and track

it was a superb all-rounder: fast,

agile and easy to live with.

Once again, lessons learned

in HRC’s V4 racing programme

featured heavily. From the RVF the

VFR inherited gear-driven cams

which reduced friction by 30 per

cent.

The twin-beam frame, also

inspired by the RVF, allowed Fred

Merkel to ride so hard that he bent

the front forks, so Honda equipped

the bike with a GP front end.

#MCNwednesday

25 BUYING & SELLING SPORTGARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES FEATURES June 17 2015

Introducing the new OXFORD all-weather luggage range, from just £49.99

N�t��������������t�JOGP!PYQSPE�DPN

NEW

Takeo FukuiChief engineer on

the NR500, he later

became president

of the Honda Motor

Company in the late 80s.

Shoichiro IrimajiriThe NR500 engine

designer who also

created Honda’s

fabled 250 six-cylinder GP bike

and CBX1000 roadster

Wayne GardnerWon the 1991 and 1992 Suzuka

Eight Hours on the RVF750, with

Mick Doohan and Daryl Beattie.

Joey DunlopMade the Isle of

Man a Honda V4

island, scoring no

fewer than 11 TT

V4 victories between 1983 and

2000.

Alex VieiraUnsung Frenchman

who scored an

endurance world

title hat-trick on the

bullet-proof RVF.

Marc MarquezThe Spaniard came,

saw and conquered

on the RC213V,

breaking just about

every record along the way.

V4 people

Haslam demonstrated VFR’s ability

Page 26: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

June 17 2015 ULTIMATE HONDAS

91994 RC45

The RC45 was

the RC30’s

successor but

did little to

further the V4

legend. Honda

started all over again; so much so

that the RC45 project leader never

even spoke to the RC30 boss!

Everything was new. Bore and

stroke were changed for the first

time since the VF750S, from 70 x

48.6mm to 72 x 46mm, for more

revs. The chassis was all-new, and

the bike was heavier than the RC30.

If the RC30 won WSB first time

out, the RC45 took four years, by

which time HRC were spending

more on it than the NSR500. The

45’s strong point was endurance –

it won five Suzuka Eight Hours.

102015 RC213V

And here it is, the bike that’s

the blueprint for Honda’s latest

racer-on-the-road, just as the

RVF750 was the blueprint for

the RC30. The RC213V was

Honda’s first V4 four-stroke

MotoGP bike, arriving 30 years

after the VF750 turned. Of

course, it’s entirely different

from its ancestor but at its

heart it’s still a 16-valve,

90-degree V4. It does make a

bit more power, however, up

from 80 to 250bhp.

The RC213V has dominated

MotoGP 2013/2014, its

stubby chassis and fully

seamless gearbox getting it

into the turns faster than the

competition.

81988 RC30

The RC30 was Honda’s

greatest V4 for the common

man; well, the common man

who had £8499 to blow. The

RC was a World Superbike

homologation special which

took sportsbike development forward by at

least five years.

The engine was much changed – its

360-degree firing order created that

wonderful droning exhaust note, which

evokes memories of the TT and the Bol. It had

titanium rods, which weighed 50g less than

the VFR’s and cost eight times as much.

The twin-beam chassis shared the same

geometry as the RFV, allowing riders to ride

impossibly tight cornering lines, just like Mick

Doohan and Wayne Gardner on the RVF.

The RC won the first two WSB titles and

dominated the Isle of Man for years, winning

its last TT in 1993, five years after its launch.

www.motorcyclenews.com

26 BRAKIN

GTHEMOULD

RRP £90.72 each

As used byJosh BrookesMilwauekeeYamaha

www.bandcexpress.co.uk

RENTHAL ROAD LEVER ALLOWSTHE BLADE TO DISLOCATEDURING A CRASH THEN EASILYPOP BACK INTO PLACE

Page 27: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

Page 28: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

The missionBMW say the R1200RS is the ideal

do-it-all. MCN decided to put this

claim to the test by pitting the RS

against the Bavarian firm’s leading

sportsbike, the S1000RR, as well as

its ultimate tourer, the K1600GTL.

The riders

Jon Urry

Road tester

Age 38 Height 6ft 2in

CV Experienced road

tester and fan of rapid

mile munching

James Doherty

Road tester

Age 34 Height 5ft 8in

CV Former R6 Cup

racer and regular

MCN tester

Simon Lee

Road tester

Age 40 Height 6ft

CV Photographer

who uses bikes for

work and fun

The bikes

BMW S1000RR Sport £14,760

At the sharpest end of litre bike

development with an even more

advanced electronics package

than before and a claimed 198bhp.

BMW K1600GTL £17,800

Germany’s ultra tourer boasts

a thumping inline six-cylinder

engine as well as all of the creature

comforts you would expect.

BMW R1200RS Sport SE

£12,915

125bhp water-cooled boxer engine

finds its way into a sports tourer

with cutting-edge electronics.

BMW S1000RR SPORT v BMW R1200RS SPORT SE v BMW K1600GTL

www.motorcyclenews.com

28 June 17 2015

BMW has three class-leading bikes in the S1000RR, R1200RS andCHOOSE YOUU

Page 29: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

29 BUYING &SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

K1600GTL. But which is the best at a bit of everything?UR WEAPON

‘Middle of the road’ is aphrase that’s become apolite but pointed eu-phemism for the word‘boring’. But when abike is described as

such, it invariably means it is simplyvery good at doing everything well, asopposed to more focused bikes’ ability todo some things brilliantly, while gloss-ing over other holes in their skill sets.

Sportsbikes are designed to thrill,while tourers should cosset both therider and pillion as the miles slip past.

But what if you don’t want extremes?Is it too much to ask for the best of bothworlds? Compromise is a dirty word inbike design, but BMW’s R1200RS wasshaped to be a Jack-of-all-trades, anda bike for all seasons – handy conces-sions for our UK needs.

A hint of rain in the air is never agreat start to a day of big miles, butwhen you have the fob (it’s a keylessignition) to a K1600GTL, it’s no hard-ship. Some riders view über-tourerslike the GTL with disdain, but when itcomes to doing their specific job theyare hard to fault. The GTL’s job is to getme along some dull dual carriagewayswhile the other riders on this test suf-

fer the sportier bikes. A screen to hidebehind and a comfortable riding posi-tion and I’ll be a happy man, and theGTL fits the brief.

With a wet weight of 348kg it’s nosurprise that the GTL is a handful atlow speed – once this beast starts totip, there is no way you are going to saveit. Two-up and fully-loaded, it’s a realhandful under 5mph but once you getthe GTL going, the weight drops off.

The inline-six is incredibly strong,and its electronics ensure your com-fort is a priority. Crank up the heatedseat and grips, turn up the radio, setthe cruise control and you can justrelax into the deeply padded seat and

watch the miles drift past. It’s touringbliss, nearly.

The sublime motor will pull sixth geareffortlessly from as low as 1500rpm,which is a good thing as the gearboxis pretty horrible. The changes be-tween cogs feel rough, and in completecontrast to the RS and RR’s two-wayquickshifter slickness.

Looking through the GTL’s largescreen at Jimmy on the S1000RR aheadI was waiting for the moment he firstdid the ‘sportsbike stretch’, attemptingto shake feeling back into aching wristsand knees. It came just after an hour onthe road, when me and the GTL were just

GUEST TESTER

Continued over

PA

UL

BR

YA

NT

Page 30: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

‘I can’t believe howhard you can powerout of roundabouts,

even in the damp’

www.motorcyclenews.com

30 June 17 2015

getting into our stride. According to Jimmy the S1000RR wasn’t that bad when it came to comfort and keeping up a dual carriageway pace, but we are talking relative to other sportsbikes here, not the RS or GTL.

When BMW first put heated gripson the S1000RR it was almost treated as a joke. This year the firm has gone one stage further and added cruisecontrol as an optional extra. Whilethis may sound ludicrous, the reality is that it works, and by the time wereached Cromer, Jimmy was a convert.

“The electronics make a huge dif-ference to the RR in damp conditions. The heated grips are a godsend and you can set the cruise control to hold the throttle steady and take the pressure off your wrists,” he said. “The traction control and smooth fuelling make the power completely manageable. Theriding position is pretty extreme, but the electronics help take the edge off the discomfort as you are riding re-laxed rather than tense. It’s no tourer, but it’s not uncomfortable.”

It may not have the attitude of the S1000RR, but under its half-fairingthe all-new R1200RS is almost asadvanced. The bike we tested camenot only with the semi-active DDAsuspension, but also the gyroscopic-sensitive DTC traction control, twofeatures that transform the ride.“I can’t believe how hard you canpower out of roundabouts, even inthe damp,” enthused Simon. “It’scomfortable and the electronics aregreat – but the screen does nothingon its lowest setting and isn’t fantastic on its highest. That said, it’s a lovely bike that feels a lot like a GS in itspracticality, just with far better looks and without that ‘GS club’ stigma.”

To me, that’s one of the RS’s keyselling points. This is an incrediblypractical bike that’s almost as com-fortable as the GTL – with none of the bulk – for the mile-munching part of our ride, but boasts looks nearly assporty as the S1000RR and a similar level of technology. Having riddenone at its Spanish launch on hot and sinuous road, I know it’s something of a back-road weapon, too.

When you sit on the RS it feels very upright. The bars aren’t clip-ons, they are clip-overs, set well above the top yoke in a relaxed stance while the pegs are nice and low. It’s sporty, but notaggressively so, unlike the RR.

Riding the RS swiftly on unfamiliar roads is a lovely experience. Unlikethe RR it doesn’t flick into corners,but rolls with intent, creating a steady and assured, yet rapid, feel to its han-dling. The boxer engine has enoughtorque to ensure gear changes are kept to a minimum, the traction controlis excellent and at a legal pace it ismore than quick enough to keep the RR in its sights without ever feelingon the edge.

It’s not until you swap straight from something as relaxed as the GTL to the No lack of attitude from the S1000RR Always remember to read the manual…

Shift light proves the sporting intent but the electronics make it so easy to control

Smartest can here and it has two of them It looks complex but you get the hang of it

Two-into-one silencer with deep chrome Scroll between electronics on the bar

R1200RS

K1600GTL

S1000RR

Up close ‘Riding the RS swiftly on unfamiliar roads is lovely. Unlike the

RR it doesn’t flick into corners, but rolls with intent’

As practical and comfy

as a GS but without the

Ewan and Charley

overtones

Only the finest health foods for us

BMW GROUP TEST

More info than Wikipedia and all of it useful and clearly displayed on the RS’s dash

All the info you need and a sat nav so you won’t get lost. The GTL is a bike that has it all

RR that you realise just how cramped sportsbikes are. Over the years I’ve learnt to fold my six-foot two frame onto sportsbikes, but for the first mile of riding the RR I felt like I was going to fall onto the front wheel. It’s a com-promised position, but one that works perfectly when you want to push on.

I know the headline figures for the RR revolve around its astonishing power and lack of weight, but what BMW should really be highlighting is how the electronics make this stagger-

ing performance so manageable. Turn all the assists on and you can open the throttle hard without the fear of being catapulted into the middle of next week while the semi-active suspension does an incredible job of smoothing out the surface. Sportsbike reviews used to be filled with comments such as ‘on a smooth road’, but the RR’s DDA makes every road smooth. However, it still has a sharp edge, and it’s this that keeps you from pushing too hard, and is why the RS can keep the RR in its sights.

Ride the RR hard on the road and there is an air of intimidation. Accel-erate with aggression in the first three gears and very quickly you are doing well into three figures. On a track this is fine, on the road it’s all-consuming.

The pent-up aggression within the motor makes the RR feel like a bike that is wishing for a better rider, where on the RS you feel the boss as you nail it through the gears. However, this leads to one of the main issues I have with the RS. Focus lends character to a bike, and the RR’s nasty edge makes riding it a thrilling and involving experience – something the RS can’t match. While almost impossible to criticise its skills, the RS does leave me a little cold.

Page 31: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

31BUYING &SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

Get moving and the six-cylinder GTL is

a torque-laden mile-munching delight

Only one thing in this picture handles

like a barge (and it’s not the bikes)

The RR has the

power but the RS

can hold its own

‘The RS is the clear winner’While you can tour on an S1000RR,

it is a pretty miserable experience

compared to doing it on a dedicated

tourer. And while going fast on

K1600GTL is briefly amusing,

it’s nowhere near as thrilling or

capable as a sportsbike. Sherlock

would find little to be shocked

by on either count. Conversely,

the R1200RS does touring and

scratching with equal ability, but its

lack of focus on one specific area

does leave it feeling a little bland.

It’s a harsh label to tag it with for

being so talented, but if your riding

is more than one-dimensional, it’s

th l i

JON URRYGUEST TESTER

VERDI

Engine 1170cc (101mm x 73mm), l/c,

dohc, 8v flat twin. Six gears. Fuel

injection.

Claimed power 125bhp @ 7750rpm

Claimed torque 92ftlb @ 6500rpm

Chassis Aluminium twin spar

Front suspension: 45mm inverted

Sachs forks, semi-active damping

Rear suspension: Monoshock,

semi-active damping

Wet weight 236kg

Front brake 2 x 320mm discs with

four-piston radial calipers. ABS

Rear brake 276mm disc with two-

piston caliper. ABS

Fuel capacity 18 litres

Seat height 820mm (optional

760/840mm)

Electronic rider aids Traction

control, engine modes, quick

shifter, autoblipper, ABS, cruise

control, integrated GPS, semi-

active suspension.

PCP deal Deposit £2451.66 / 36

x £159 / Guaranteed final value

£7439.31

2015 BMW R1200RS SPORT SE, £12,915

Engine 1649cc (72mm x 67.5mm),

l/c, dohc, 24v. Six gears. Fuel

injection.

Claimedpower158.2bhp@7750rpm

Claimed torque 129.1ftlb @

5250rpm

Chassis Cast aluminium bridge

Front suspension: Duolever,

electronically-adjustable damping.

Rear suspension: Monoshock,

electronically-adjustable damping

and spring preload.

Wet weight 348kg

Front brake 2 x 320mm disc with

four-piston caliper. ABS

Rear brake 320mm disc with two-

piston caliper. ABS

Fuel capacity 26.5 litres

Seat height 750mm (optional 780,

810, 830mm)

Electronic rider aids Traction

control, engine modes, ABS, cruise

control, integrated GPS, electronic

suspension.

PCP deal Deposit £3518.11 / 36 x

£239 / GFV £9294.32

2015 BMW K1600GTL, £17,800

Engine 999cc (80mm x 49.7mm),

l/c, dohc, 16v inline four. Six gears.

Fuel injection.

Claimed power 198bhp @ 13,500rpm

Claimed torque 83.4ftlb @

10,500rpm

Chassis Aluminium twin spar,

double sided swingarm

Front suspension: 46mm inverted

Sachs forks, semi-active damping.

Rear suspension: Monoshock,

semi-active damping.

Wet weight 204kg

Front brake 2 x 320mm discs with

four-piston radial calipers. ABS

Rear brake 220mm disc with on-

piston caliper. ABS

Fuel capacity 17.5 litres

Seat height 815mm

Electronic rider aids Variable

traction control, engine modes,

quick shifter, autoblipper, ABS,

cruise control, semi-active

suspension, launch control.

PCP Deal Deposit £3490.12 / 36 x

£179.95 / GFV £7482.46

2015 BMW S1000RR SPORT, £14,760

For versatility, the RS is hard to beat

THE DETAIL

Big miles, big bike

and a real handful

at low speeds

Page 32: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

32 COMMENT

Your letters Email [email protected]

Write MCN Letters, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA

Long livethe Imps!Inspirational kids on stunningform on their shiny new bikes

LETTER OF THE WEEK

IAN

JU

BB

GO

LD

& G

OO

SE

Display teams don’t come

much more fun than

the Imps – and now their

future has been secured

Den Cartwright was amazed by the brilliant Imps show in Suffolk

Den Cartwright, Brandon, Suffolk

Ed: They are indeed a brilliant team and a great cause. Find out if the Imps are

coming your way by visiting www.impsonline.com

I saw your article in MCN (MCN, May 13) about the

Imps Display Team, and thought what a wonderful

job the people who run the team are doing for these

young people, and what a shame if they have to

close. Then to learn that they had secured more

sponsorship was fantastic. I recently had the good

fortune to watch this team in action with their new

fleet of bikes at a show in Suffolk, and WOW! What a

great performance! To see children as young as six

doing stunts was something else. When I was six I'd

only just learned to ride a push bike!

MCN STAR LETTERIf you’re looking to insure a bike, visit

MCNcompare.com and you can quickly

compare prices from 43 top motorcycle

insurance brands. The writer of the

best letter each week published in the

Letters pages will receive a free retro-

design MCN T-shirt courtesy of the

MCNcompare.com website.

Hutchy’s an inspiration to us all

@ I was lucky enough to be at theTT in 2010 when Hutchy scored

five race wins; the atmosphere waselectric, the island was buzzing. Thento see his accident at Silverstone wasgut-wrenching. Of course other riders,like Conor Cummins, have had massiveaccidents where us mere mortalswould’ve just given up due to the mam-moth rehab task ahead. They all aremodern-day gladiators. Mindset iscritical to success in all walks of life,focusing on the goal, forgoing whatmost of us enjoy in life, so they can wina TT is something that as a nation weshould embrace and somehow try toemulate in whatever we do. Hutchy is,and always will be, the example I usewhen someone says “that’s not pos-sible, no way, too much hard work”.Mark BW McDermott, email

I love my chopsBack in the day there were someof us who took hacksaws to their

bikes in the search for a bit of indi-viduality (MCN Letters, June 3). Therewere those who looked down on us andthey called us ‘knobheads’. We calledthem ‘w*****s’. Now I have no problemwith those who want to be ordinary,but I always thought that being a bik-er was about being tolerant of others.Shaun Henderson, email

Curse of the damp crotch

@ Just had to comment on the word‘waterproof’ on bike clothing –

it’s a joke on so many products. I’m fedup of buying clothing that make boldclaims for waterproofing abilities whenit would be more accurate to say ‘show-erproof’. A case in point, my newtrousers have been fine in light rain orwee showers but the first time out inproper rain and within 15 minutes thedreaded wet crotch feel was there.Come on manufacturers, try beinghonest with your labels.John, email

Ed: If something claims to be waterproof

but isn’t, you are within your rights to take

it back and complain.

WSB looks a bit sameyJust spent a great day at thePortimao World Superbikes,

while on holiday in Lagos. Great to seemy fellow Ulsterman Johnny Rea do-ing so well (aka kicking ass.) He wasso far ahead in the second race hecrossed the line sitting up with hisarms folded! But with JR and Sykesydicing for the lead in the first race itwas impossible to tell them apart asthe race numbers are too small to be

Spot the difference… Rea and Sykes

seen either on the big screens or as theyhurtle past. Any chance of a nice bignumber decal on the fairing sides? Something needs to be done!Mike "Dino" MacLennan, N Ireland

Treasured Island is unreachable

@ The Isle of Man has always beenon my ‘mus-go’ list but life and

work got in the way for many years.But for the last five or six years I keepcoming up against the same problems:ferries booked solid a year in advanceand accommodation booked up for twoyears. I can’t camp for health reasonsso B&B or self-catering is all I can do,but talking to people who’ve been theyseem to have the inside track and re-book while there. How about giving someone else a chance?Paul, Yorkshire

Ed: Have you tried the Classic TT?

There’s no need to be nastyWhy has it suddenly becometrendy for some sections of the

biking public to essentially bully rid-ers? First Guy Martin was hounded andattacked for telling what I consider tobe the truth about the NW200 (for therecord, I believe the organisers shouldapologise to him and to Tyco BMW forthe way they treated them over thewhole affair), then there were VernonNewman’s comments about JohnnyRea in your letters page (June 3). Throwin the near-constant negativity di-rected towards various MotoGP riders,most notably Rossi, on social mediaand you have what’s becoming a real problem.Shelley Blair, email

Folding chair mystery

@ What a coincidence, my letter toyou (MCN Letters, June 3) and

then a feature on motorcycle camping.But ’ang on, Alison. Where did thatchair come from? How did that fit onthe bike? The only chair I’ve foundsuitably compact is the expensiveHelinox one at £75. Glad I bought itthough, can’t sit on the ground for long.Colin Gray, email

Alison replies: ‘Good spot, I nicked it for

the pictures!’

READER POLL

You’ve got a day free for a blast on

your bike, how far is a good rideout?

8.8

e home

anaged

30 mil

fine with

Page 33: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

John McGuinness is not normal.

Most 43-year-olds have long-

since stopped racing... very few

are still winning, especially

on one of the world’s most

challenging and dangerous

circuits against men more

than half their age. Most have

stopped playing football and

taken up snooker.

Most are fighting a bit of a

bulging midriff and tuning into

Absolute 80s, Absolute 90s

when they’re feeling a bit lively.

John McGuinness is not yet

doing any of those things – well,

except for fighting to keep his

belly (a little) in check.

Two years ago he cut a forlorn

figure as Michael Dunlop ripped

through the record books, but

Big John got his head down in

the Senior that year and did

the business. After an injury

ravaged 2014, this year

was billed (not least by

MCN) as Guy Martin v

Michael Dunlop with

McGuinness snapping

at their heels.

The scene was set.

Enter stage far, far

left an incredibly

brave Ian

Hutchinson.

He had not

read the

script and

stole the

show. Well, most of the show.

While Hutchy’s tale is one

of incredible bravery and a

resolute refusal to ever give

up, it’s McGuinness who had

the last word. McGuinness, the

Morecambe Missile to give him

his full fighting name, is much-

loved by fans and his Honda

team alike and he reflects that

emotional connection. He gives

as much as he gets.

As ‘there’s only one John

McGuinness’ echoed down

Glencrutchery Road and

drowned out the popping

champagne corks seconds

after the climax of the Senior

TT, McGuinness was already

plotting future crusades: “I feel

like I can still do it (beat Joey

Dunlop’s record 26 TT wins).”

After breaking the outright

lap record, with an incredible

132.701mph average he is

justified in keeping that dream

alive. Although you feel that

if he did ever get that close,

simply equalling the record

might be enough. To rank

next to his ultimate hero

in the record books and

to walk away from an

event to which he has

contributed so much

and which has also

given him so much,

would be the ultimate

mark of respect.

#MCNwednesday

33 BUYING &SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

My Thunderace in Andalucia, 1600 miles from home. 3200 miles in seven days. Jim & Mandy Franklin

Phil Johnson by the Danube in Serbia on his Triumph Trophy

Bit damp on our trip around Scotland. Lee & Ashley Barwell

On our BMW R1200RTs in County Donegal, Ireland. Tony & Alan

Near Stenungsund Sweden, en route to Norway. Dave MouldChilling out on the bike with some ice lollies. Andy Knitter

Me and my mum Wendy after a summer ride. Stephen Dance

Every week, MCN

prints the best

pictures sent in by

readers or website

users. You can

post your pictures

onto our Facebook

page or email them

to mcn.letters@

motorcyclenews.com

We want the full

array of weird and

wonderful images

that reflect your

biking life. As you

can see here, we are

happy to celebrate

the lighter things from

the world of biking.

YOURPICTURES

EDITORIAL

EditorAndyCalton,01733-468006

[email protected]

DeputyEditor RichardNewland,01733-468447

[email protected]

ManagingEditor(DigitalandEvents)

PedBaker,[email protected]

BIKES

SeniorRoadTester MichaelNeeves,01733-468010

SeniorRoadTester AdamChild,01733-468427

OfficeManagerAlisonSilcox,01733-468025

NEWS

SeniorReporterAndyDownes,01733-468011

StaffWriterAndyDavidson,01733-468026

FEATURES

HeadofContentTimThompson,01733-468095

CONSUMER

ConsumerEditorTonyHoare01733-468580

SeniorReporter ChrisDabbs,01733-468002,

[email protected]

SPORT

Editor MichaelGuy,01733-468883

MotoGPReporterSteveEnglish,01733-468005

PRODUCTIONSeniorProductionEditor SimonBrown

ProductionEditor EmmaFranklin

ART

SeniorArtEditor NickLemon

SeniorDesigner SimonRelph

Designer LeeLaughton Photographer IanJubb

MOTORCYCLENEWS.COM

SeniorWebProducer SteveHunt

WebProducer LiamMarsden

Junior Web Producer Simon Patterson

ANDY CALTON EDITOR

17.06.2015

He’s not a missile, he’s faster than that

ADVERTISING

GroupCommercialDirector

GarethAshman,01733-468118

HeadofOnlineAdvertising

RobFairburn,01733-468691

KeyAccounts ShaunCollin,01733-468229

ClassifiedEventsExecKayleighLynch,01733-468692

ClassifiedProductsExec DannyChapman,01733-366312

Adproduction KerryBeasley,01733-468876

MarketingManagerSarahNorman

PUBLISHING

MD,Motorcycling RobAherne

GroupManagingDirector RobMunro-Hall

BAUER CONSUMER MEDIA

GroupFinanceandStrategyDirectorSarahVickery

ChiefExecutive PaulKeenan

BauerConsumerMediaLimitedisacompanyregisteredin

EnglandandWaleswithcompanynumber01176085,registered

address1LincolnCourt,LincolnRoad. Peterborough,PE12RF.

Subscriptionshotline01858438884

MCNispublishedweeklybyBauerConsumerMediaLtd.Nopartofthe

magazinemaybereproducedinanyforminwholeorinpart,withoutprior

permissionofthepublisher.Allmaterialpublishedremainsthecopyrightof

BauerConsumerMediaLtd. Wereservetherighttoeditletters,copyorimages

submittedtothemagazinewithoutfurtherconsent.Thesubmissionof

materialtoBauerMediawhetherunsolicitedorrequested, istakenas

permissiontopublishinthemagazine, includinganylicensededitions

throughouttheworld.Anyfeespaidinthe UKincluderemunerationforany

useinanyotherlicensededitions.

Wecannotacceptresponsibilityforunsolicitedmanuscripts, imagesor

materialslostordamagedinthepost.Whileeveryreasonablecareistakento

ensureaccuracy,thepublisherisnotresponsibleforerrorsoromissionsnordo

weacceptanyliabilityforlossordamage,resultingfromuseinthepaper.

BauerConsumerMediaLimitedisamemberoftheIndependentPress

StandardsOrganisation(www.ipso.co.uk)andtriestorespondtoandresolve

concernsquickly.OurEditorialComplaintsPolicy(includingdetailsofhowto

contactusabouteditorialcomplaintsandIPSO’scontactdetails)canbefound

atwww.bauermediacomplaints.co.uk.Ouremailaddressforeditorial

complaintscoveredbytheEditorial Complaints Policy is complaints@

bauermedia.co.uk.

Page 34: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

Page 35: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

7 sweet-temperedbikes of mixed

parentage seekloving home p41

MONGRELS

GARAGEGet more from your bike, your time, your money

SORTED

ALL NEW

17-PAGE

SECTION

PLUS

SPORTYBOOTS

10

from £119, P46

FRESH

ODucati Scrambler

O BMW S1000RR

O Triumph Trophy SE

O Kawasaki 1400GTR

O Suzuki V-Strom &

GSX-R1000

O KTM RC390

LIVING WITH

BEST

Page 36: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

GARAGE

www.motorcyclenews.com

36

Get that bike show feelImagine you’re at

a bike show, twisting controls

and squeezing levers on new

models. Now try yours. Not

nice, is it? Take an hour to

remove and clean the pivot

points on your brake/clutch

levers, add a little bit of

lubricant and replace. Now lube

your clutch and throttle cables

(plus the choke cable on carbed

bikes) and take excess slack out

of your cables. When adjusting

the clutch, most of the slack

should be removed with the

adjuster nearest the engine

– the dial on the clutch lever

should only be used to fine tune

the final bit.

� Do this: Set levers at the

perfect height while you’re at it.

� Don’t do this: Use chain lube

for the cables. It’s too thick.

Tickle your touch pointsThe crisp, tactile feel fades from handlebar grips as the miles

and years pile on. Cheap aftermarket grips make things even

worse. Invest in a new set of originals or quality aftermarket replacements

for less than £30. Look at your foot controls too – worn rubbers look and

feel awful. Replacements are cheap too. Footrest rubbers themselves

wear out, and even the footpeg pivot points can wear, leaving them

drooping slightly, making your bike feel baggy. Check the gear linkage too –

replace if your rose joints or pivot have excessive play.

� Do this: Use hairspray to slide new grips on.

� Don’t do this: Use any kind of lubricant. They’ll slip for ever more.

Give your chain the VIP treatmentThoroughly degrease and clean every last link on your chain,

plus the sprockets. Rotate the rear wheel slowly, and watch

the lower chain run. If it rises and falls, your chain has tight spots. If you’re

lucky, the deep clean and re-lubricating will free off lightly-binding side

plates. But a knackered chain definitely needs replacing. It’s surprising

the difference a chain struggling to run smoothly over sprockets makes to

throttle response and vibration.

� Do this: Oil from the inside of chain.

� Don’t do this: Clean or lube with the bike in gear. Ask the man with

nine fingers why not.

Deep-service your brakesEven if you don’t think they’re mushy or binding, remove and

check the pads, then gently ease the pistons out with lever

pressure so you can clean them with an old toothbrush and brake cleaner.

Lubricate with a squirt of silicone polish, then press them home. It’ll save

money because they’ll last longer, and maintained brake pistons move

and return better, improving feel. Bleed at the start of each riding season

– brake fluid goes off from the moment you open the sealed bottle. Heat

from use just makes it worse.

� Do this: Pump your brakes a few times after, and check they don’t bind.

� Don’t do this: Try and get away without bleeding if you pop a piston out.

2

1

3 4

Restoring that new bike feel is just a few short doses of well-targeted TLC away. Wind back the years this weekend

SORTED

ways you can shave years off your bike9

Page 37: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Retrain its brainFuel injection can give perfect fuelling for all

scenarios. But manufacturers have to tune

fuel maps to suit noise and emission rules first. That

often compromises performance, throttle action and

fuel efficiency. However many bikes can be improved via

a plug-in fuelling module, or can have their ECU remapped.

� Do this: Tell the dyno operator how you ride to get a

set-up to suit what you really need.

� Don’t do this: Try it yourself. The means are available,

but it’s easy to really screw it up.

Retire your rubberThe effects of a squared off rear are well-

known, but less recognised is the effect of

‘stepping’ between tread, where one edge wears more than

the other. Grip, steering and feel diminish, but you may not

notice the gradual drop. Maintaining correct pressures

helps. The grip from tyres more than four years old will

often be compromised even if they look perfect.

� Do this: Be obsessed with tyre pressure.

� Don’t do this: Buy mismatched or part-worn tyres.

Rarely is a good tyre removed.

Replace the head bearingsOriginal head bearings will often still

be serviceable, but even regreasing and

adjustment never gives the feel of a new set. Buy original,

or premium Japanese replacements, and grease them

properly. Set the bearing preload correctly, and check a

few weeks later after they’ve settled in. Good prep from

the start will see them last far better.

� Do this: Buy bearing tools to make the job easier.

� Don’t do this: Hammer at bearings with a cold chisel

or other inappropriate implements.

Corrosion builds on connectors

Change the fork oilChanging your

fork oil can make a dramatic

difference. It’s another fluid that

deteriorates so gradually your

bike could be a pogoing horror

before you realise. It’s not just

excessive dive – ride quality,

steering and stability all go to pot

too. In an ideal world you’ll pull

the forks apart to remove all the

old oil and debris, and measure

spring free length too. If that’s a

bit out of your league, suspension

specialists won’t charge a

fortune if you remove the forks

and take them to them.

� Do this: Invest in good-

fitting tools to avoid mauling

suspension caps.

� Don’t do this: Try and fully

remove fork tops with the front

end weighted.

Care for carbsGot carbs? Then

you’ve got carb wear. Some carbs

are particularly prone – Mikuni

CVs are known to reach a point

of no repair. But more often, you

can restore much of the original

function. Fuel eats jets away,

and the contact of the needle in

the needle jet wears it oval. Take

them out, noting the numbers on

them. It’s also worth replacing

as many seals and o-rings as you

can. Fuel degrades the rubber,

and they compress under load.

You lose the tight seal, and the

fuel/air mix is affected. Set the

float heights, pilot screw, then

balance them.

� Do this: Experiment with

setting pilot screws further out.

� Don’t do this: Use ill-fitting

tools or forcibly remove brass

jets/screws.

#MCNwednesday

37 SPORT June 17 2015

BUYING &SELLINGFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES

Dave Ball,

Suzuki Master

Technician

at Fowlers in

Bristol:

“Look after

their electrics!

As a mechanic

I enjoy getting

electrical problems fixed, but

most of them are needless.

And as electrics are important

to so many systems on bikes

these days it makes sense to

stay on top of them. Corrosion

is the number one cause

of problems with a bike’s

electrics and you can prevent

it by taking apart connectors,

spraying in some electrolyte

grease and putting them

back together. I’m not talking

about taking the bike to bits –

the connectors you can’t see

are likely to be faired away

enough not to be too exposed

to the elements. Usually it’s

the ones you can see that are

in most need of protection –

like the regulator/rectifier,

which is often stuffed away

at the front of the frame right

behind the front mudguard.

“If you’ve got a new bike the

first thing I would do is make

sure all the connectors are

well-protected – by coating

them with something like

Wurth HHS 2000. If you’ve

got a second-hand bike you

should clean the connectors

using contact cleaner which,

with the help of a bit of wet-

and-dry, breaks down the

corrosion until the connectors

are a brassy colour again.

Corroded electrics can

cause your bike to lose

performance, without you

noticing. All the sensors

on the bike allow a certain

degradation in performance

before showing a warning

light. You won’t know if you’re

bike’s at its best unless your

electrics are in good nick.”

What’s the onething you wishowners would do?

PLANETMECHANIC

7

5

6

8 9

NEXT

WEEK12 ways to

be your own

crew chief

Page 38: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

August 1995: in Japan, Suzukihad just finished work on itsreplacement for the iconicbut past-its-best double-

cradle GSX-R750. It had sent fourprototypes of the beam-frame, wasp-tailed new bike to Germany, seekingthe feedback of the top test riders fromeach of the four biggest European mar-kets. But it was really a rubber-stampjob – perhaps a chance to change theOE tyres, or tweak mirrors and footrestpositions, but Hammamatsu was wait-ing for the signal to start production.

One small problem.“I’ve never experienced weave like

it. It was horrifying. The bike just wentcompletely bonkers at very high speed,”remembers Roger Simmons – chief UKtester of Suzukis from Bandit to Busa.

“It would start at about 260kph[161mph]. We couldn’t get sustained

high speeds like that on the track so wedid it on autobahns and autoroutes. Itwas a weavy-tankslapping type thing.It was awful. Most people would neverexperience it, but we just couldn’t letthe bikes go out like that. We trieddifferent steering dampers, differentshocks, different fork springs, differenttyres, the combinations were endless.”

And it had all started so well.“The size of it was the first thing that

had struck me, and the weight. 506-

When Suzuki test rider Roger Simmons left home to sign off the radical new ’96 GSX-R750it was supposed to take 10 days. Ten weeks later he returned – with the perfect sportsbike

odd pounds on the old bike down to395 f***ing pounds! And the more youlooked, everything about it was differ-ent. It was nimble, powerful, it brakedbetter. It would pass the FireBlade onthe straight easily. It was unbelievable.Revolutionary.” Up to 10mph off its topspeed anyway.

So dogged were Roger and his fellowtesters that even with costs mounting,the factory sat idle and “bosses goingbonkers”, they insisted the testing

KEY DESIGN FEATUREThe SRAD’s bulbous tail and dayglo

acronym mark it out, but its frame is

the key to the bike. Derived from the

firm’s RGV500 GP racer it shared the

same wheelbase and steering geome-

try. Not only was it dramatically stiffer

and lighter than its predecessor’s up-

and-over jobbie, but it offered riders a

direct link to GP racing experience.

must go on – “I didn’t care who I upset.I never compromised,” he says.

The ultra high-speed, public roadstesting continued across Europe, run-ning from the weather as summerturned to autumn. “We had Kayabasuspension guys there, tyre peoplethere – about 15 people working on thetesting all day – and then they wouldreplicate each day’s tests in Japan over-night. It was a 24-hour effort.”

In southern Italy in October thesolution was found – a combination ofsuspension and tyre spec tweaks. Theprocess hadn’t been without attrition.“One week they sent a Japanese guyover – the lap record-holder at theirRyuyu test track – everyone was inawe of him, so on the ride back to basewe gave it some and we got back a goodfive minutes earlier than him. Whenhe got back he said “This is not roadthis is motocross track!” and by thenext morning he was on his way backto Japan. An Italian tester who lobbed

THE SPECIAL

RELATIONSHIP

NEW

SERIES

‘I made it perfect for British riders’

it stood up and brushed himself down and proclaimed ‘That’s it. I go and I never come back’ and he left the bike in the gravel and walked off. I never saw him again.”

The programme finished with 80% of the testing having been carried out on road and 20% on track. And the bike ended up being “just what people wanted,” says Roger. “They were obsessed with lightness and it was lighter than most 600s. It made big power, very reliably. It looked the business. We sold more than half the first year’s allocation before anyone had ever sat on one!”

It remains one of Roger’s proudest achievements and favourite bikes. “To me it’s like a Katana – it may be years old but it can still hold its head up. It still looks good in the company of any sportsbikes. It’s a modern classic. And a 170mph motorbike! You’d have to be a very, very sharp rider to make a modern superbike go A to B any faster.”

SUZUKI GSX-R750 SRAD

By Guy Procter

MCN CONTRIBUTOR

38

Page 39: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

FEATURESBUYING &SELLING SPORTGARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

1996 GSX-R750 T

The original, on its way tomodern classic status just

like the ’92 Blade.Private good: £1600

Average: £1300Tatty: £1000

Dealer: £1500

1997 GSX-R750 VSales were so good there was

no reason to change it, bartiny bodywork tweaks.

Private good: £1650Average: £1350

Tatty: £1000Dealer: £1600

1998 GSX-R750 WThe first injection model

raised power a useful 15bhp to134bhp at the crank.Private good: £1800

Average: £1400Tatty: £1050

Dealer: £1700

1999 GSX-R750 XNo changes for its final year

bar graphics and a bigger 190-section rear tyre.Private good: £2200

Average: £1600Tatty: £1200

Dealer: £1750

51 GSX-R 750S FOR SALE

Scott Russell smoked his rivals to a Daytona

200 victory in 1996. The SRAD’s acres of plastic

have always made it a great canvas. Is there

anything better than the Lucky Strike scheme?

Biking’s Gazza World Cup moment came thanks

to the same SRAD, when Walker’s bike brought

the most dramatic BSB season in memory to an

end by blowing up at the final round.

Chris Walker rode the wheels off his SRAD to

chase Hodgson’s bigger 996 Ducati to the title

wire. “My confidence was skyhigh on that bike.

I could do anything on it,” he remembers.

HOORAY! BOO! PHWOAR!

‘Everything before was wooden’

“This was the first GSX-R with six pot brakes

– proper kit. Everything before was wooden,”

says Roger. But Suzuki wanted to err on the

conservative side. “They feared people would

crash with really aggressive pads in them – in fact

this happened with one tester.”

‘My Mates went touring on it’

“The riding position suited most people – it was

lower than before – and it was an easy bike to

ride, not aggressive, you could proper pin it,” says

Roger. “You could wind on the power confidently.

“Light, not intimidating, yet it was producing

more power than the FireBlade. I had mates who

went touring on the bloody thing!”

‘You have to rev it a bit, of course’

Early SRADs were carb-fed (injection didn’t

appear until 1998), which can cause carb-icing

on cold, damp days. ”You have to rev it a bit, of

course,” acknowledges Roger, which dovetails

neatly with its track-focus, but can be an issue if

you’d rather dawdle than thrash. Early cylinder

head/piston clearance problems were sorted fast.

What goes wrong?

Most of the problems that occur are caused by

poor maintenance and careless owners. There

was a perception that the engines suffered from

poor lubrication to the top end and a number of

firms produced a twin feed conversion to the top

end, but they’re not necessary. Corrosion on the

calipers and shock is a common issue.

KEY MOMENTS

GSX-R750 T

Year introduced: 1996

Power: 118bhp

Weight: 179kg

Price new: £8995

EXPERT EYE

WHAT TO PAY

39

Keep it sharp

Refresh tired old suspension and suddenly you’ll

discover a machine of dazzling handling quality.

The forks are quite soft and heavier and faster

riders will benefit from an extra 30cc of fork oil to

firm them up a tad. The six-piston Tokico brakes

are sensational, but will need braided hoses now.

Bang on for Britain

“It was our job to put the European finishing

touches to it – something they DIDN’T do with

the TL1000S (they insisted it wasn’t necessary, it

was perfect – but it was an absolute disaster)” says

Roger, who went through dozens of suspension

iterations to ensure the set-up was bombproof.

Page 40: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

GARAGE

TURN-BY-TURN

EAST TO WEST FROM MOLD

A494 Ruthin

STRAIGHT ON AT ROUNDABOUT

B5105 Cerrigydrudion

RIGHT B4501 Denbigh

LEFT A525 St Asaph

LEFT B5381 Conwy

LEFT B5106 – Betws-y-Coed

Attack ofthe killer Bs!Taking in some of the best B-roads in north Wales, this is a great way into Snowdonia

North Wales is a popular

weekend ride, and this run

from Mold to Betws-y-Coed

incorporates some of the best roads.

It’s also a superb base to explore the

delights of Snowdonia.

Mold is easily accessed by the M56

and so is an ideal starting point. From

here you head towards the Clocaenog

forest on the A494 before switching to

the smaller B5105 which cuts through

the trees. Turning right and passing

the Brenig and Alweb reservoirs on

the B4501 towards Denbigh is one

of the highlights of the route and

despite the narrowness of the road,

is relatively traffic free. Most tourists

stick to the A-roads, but a thrilling set

of alternative Bs produces a thrilling

Route: North Wales run Distance: 66 miles Time: 2 or 3 hours

iSWALLOW FALLS – Local landmark appears on many things

from postcards to TV shows. GREAT ORME – Limestone

headland that reminded sailors of giant sea serpents.

PONDEROSA CAFÉ – Popular biker meet on the Horseshoe

pass near Llangollen. COLWYN BAY – Fish and chips on the

sea front recommended

GREAT RIDES

TANK PAD SIZE MAP

route towards Betws-y-Coed, from

where a world of options are open to

you. The A4086 or A498 will take you

deep into Snowdonia while the A470

drops through Wales and towards

the coast. The whole of Wales is your

oyster, get out there and explore it…

Get out and enjoy

Wales’ lesser

known roads

DOWNLOADTHE ROUTE

motoryclenews.com/greatrides

CU

T O

UT

AN

D K

EE

P

Ma

p d

ata

©G

oo

gle

20

15

TOMTOM RIDER

The new TomTom RIDER has been

completely redesigned for life on

the road and, with MCN, we’re going

to help you discover, explore and en-

joy new routes each week. Download

each from motorcyclenews.com/

greatrides onto an SD card and your

TomTom Rider will show you the way.

40

RIDE YOUR WAYWinding RoadsFind the most exciting winding roads and avoid the boring straights.

CarMounting Kit

Anti-theftSolution

TravelCarry Case

Now withHands-free Calling

Hilly RoadsStay at sea level or climb the highest peaks.

Round-trip PlanningDiscover new routes by simply tapping the area you want to explore.

RIDER400

PREMIUM PACK

Tel: 01425 620580

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.tranam.co.uk

For more detailed product information please email [email protected]

Page 41: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

June 17 2015

Some bikes have reason to be coy about theirparentage – but nowthey’re all grown up,does that make themmore or less desirable?

Yamaha RD350R (1992-1996)What it is really? A zombie from the

Amazon!

If you’ve seen The Returned you’ll know

the plot. Yamaha’s stroker died a tragic

death in 1991, only to return six months

later, except... different. This time your

definitive Japanese fizz-bomb was slower,

wore less cool clothes and had been born

in the wrong continent... in Brazil.

What you’ll pay today: £1500-£4000

But should you? No. Collectors only

Kawasaki KLV1000 (2004-05)What it is really? A Suzuki V-Strom

Rebadging Suzuki’s V-Strom wasn’t

one of Kawasaki’s proudest moments,

but by adding an adjustable screen,

better clocks, black frame and bright

orange paintjob it came up with a canny

improvement on the TL1000-engined

donor – and a more interesting used buy

than the similarly-priced ‘Strom.

What you’ll pay today: £2200-£3300

But should you? Yes

Cagiva Raptor 1000 (1999-2006)What it is really: A TL-engined Monster

More fruit from the great Suzuki TL1000

engine glut of the early 2000s, the Raptor

is what the designer of the Ducati Monster

would have built had costs at the cash-

strapped firm not limited him to the parts

bin. Describing it as ‘Permanently out of

control… fun’, it nearly had a Speed Triple

engine, and is a hoot to ride to this day.

What you’ll pay today: £1000-£2400

But should you? Watch for iffy electrics

Cagiva Alazzurra 650 (1985-1987)What it is really? A rebadged Pantah

Here’s a good way play the ‘My Ducati’s

rarer than yours’ card on the cheap: buy

the bike new owner Cagiva built out of

leftover unsold Pantah TLs. It’s a fine

650cc all-rounder with that hard-to-place

80s look, that classic exhaust note and (if

you can track one down) a fraction of the

price of the Ducati donor.

What you’ll pay today: £2100-£3500

But should you? Yes. If you can find one

Road (2014) £5‘Terrible. DVD is in

European PAL format

and will not play on any

DVD machine in North

America?!? So now I have

a new drink coaster.’ 

‘The special effects were

average. If you were a non-

motorbike supporter you

would find it quite boring.’

‘Good clean fun for all

the family. Shame they

don’t make them like this

anymore, no swears at all.’ 

‘Watched in hospital after

being knocked off my bike

during the TT. Lost my TT

viewing, this is better!’

‘Bought as a gift so cannot

really write a review.’

TT Closer tothe Edge (2012)

£4.75

No Limit (1950) £9.50

TT OfficialReview (2014)

£16.55

The History ofthe TT (2013)

£14.14

best-sellingTT DVDs

on Amazon... and their

least helpful reviews

BMW Funduro (1993-99)What it is really? Aprilia-built

and co-designed

A younger BMW was more

promiscuous – and in 1993 it

felt like trying chain-drive. Into

an Italian hayloft it hopped with

spritely young Aprilia, and nine-

months later, triplets: the F650

Funduro, Strada and

Aprilia Pegaso.

Light, dependable

and lumpy, they

continue to do well

and be much loved.

What you’ll pay

today: £600-£900

But should you?

Yes.

KTM Duke 125What it is really? Built by

Bajaj not far from Mumbai

It may be the first

Austrian bike built on the

Subcontinent, but that’s

to take nothing from the

bike that’s re-punked the

125 market singlehanded.

It might be built like a

pair of Converse trainers,

next to rivals’ loafers or

running spikes, but it’s

just as likely to be the one

you’d choose to look good

and feel great.

What you’ll pay today:

£2100-£3500

But should you?

Yes.

Benelli BN600(2014-present)What it is really?

QianJiang Group’s

Keeway RK600

With an engine based on

the 2004 Yamaha R6,

frame from an Aprilia

Shiver 750, Benelli badge,

Chinese construction

and an identical twin

sold in Asia which bears

the name of a company

(Keeway) headquartered

in Hungary, behold! The

king of the mongrels. Not

without fun or looks, but

it’s an oddball alright, and

a painful reminder of the

curdled promise of one of

Europe’s oldest brands.

What you’ll pay today:

£4599-£5299

But should you? Let’s

be honest, probably not

Part Benelli, part

Aprilia, part R6, built in

China. Confusing, eh?

Silly name but

now available at

bargain prices

The hottest thing to

come from India this

side of a vindaloo

SHOULD

YOU LEARN

TO LOVEA MONGREL?

TOP 5

41 GARAGE

Page 42: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

GARAGE

It’s been a while since I’ve spent

every day with an inline four, and

I’ve been surprised by some of the

revelations now a few thousand

miles have passed between us.

The strangest feeling it evokes

– considering how technologically

advanced it is – is an overwhelming

sense of retro sportsbike heaven.

There’s something about the exhaust

note’s howling bass tones, and

pops and bangs on the overrun that

transports me right back into the ’90s.

It isn’t a million miles – tonally – from

my 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750. I like that.

The only downside of the pleasingly

fruity exhaust is that it does telegraph

my arrival by several minutes.

The most pleasing surprise is that

the RR isn’t soulless, as I’d feared it

might be. I can’t pretend I’ve fallen in

love with its wonky face, but to be fair it

probably hasn’t fallen in love with mine,

either. But the view from the hot seat is

perfect, and the sense of specialness

it dredges from the pit of my stomach

every time I open the throttle has

cemented it in my affections.

The less welcome surprise is the

amount of vibration delivered to the

bars and footrests. After having two

L-twins, a boxer twin, and a triple over

the last five years, I was expecting my

return to inline fours to be silky smooth.

If you’re always making throttle inputs

pointlessly overcomplicated fairings.

The six screen bolts and two little

damping grommets swapped over with

ease, and it took only the merest of

wiggles to position. The windblast has

left my chest, and now flows just over

shoulder height. Get tucked in though,

and it delivers wind-free serenity.

The rearsets, tooled by Gilles for

BMW, are the nicest I’ve seen from

any catalogue (£534, bmw-motorrad.

co.uk). The CNC work is stunning,

and the fit and tolerances between

the clever eccentric sliding pegs and

rearset bodies, and action from the

levers, is superb. Gearchanges through

the slightly spongy Gearshift Pro

feel crisper and more positive, and

I can now get my feet where I want

them (one of the joys of suffering with

cake retention is that stock pegs feel

unilaterally too far forward). They’re an

absolute doddle to fit, too – see below.

The mods aren’t dramatic, but

they’ve made the RR feel more tailored

to my needs, more comfortable, while

also enabling me to ride with more

confidence and aggression thanks to

improved body positioning. It’s gone

from feeling like a great bike, to feeling

like my great bike.

and climbing all over it like someone’s

greased the seat then all is well. But sit

at a constant speed for half-an-hour,

and the vibes become intrusive. Catch

it at the wrong rpm for too long, and

you’ll have an impressive case of white-

finger to show your mates.

Make it your own

Regardless of how good a bike is in

standard trim, there are always things

you want to change. Two obvious mods

forced themselves to the top of the list

before I’d even spent 50 miles on board.

The most important was changing the

stock footrests for adjustable rearsets.

The other was to move the windblast

up over the broadest part of my chest.

BMW’s accessory catalogue seemed

like the logical start point – there’s a

lot to be said for factory-fit precision

and warranty-friendly modifications.

Before I did anything though, I fitted a

set of BMW’s paddock stand bobbins

(£21.10), and retired my ancient and

unstable Micron stand in favour of the

official BMW item (£158). The bobbins

are, well, bobbins – no complaints

there. The stand is a rock-solid work of

smooth-rolling art. A sound investment

if you’ve ever seen the damage a

paddock stand collapse can cause.

Changing the screen was the warm-

up act, and took just five minutes,

which is a rare mercy in this age of

42

Key first mods turn stunning stocker into personalisedweapon of choice. If only the face wasn’t so ugly (the RR’s)

‘Searching forthe perfect ride’

2UPDATE

2217MILES

OUR BIKES

The RR now feels more

like it's been tailored to my

needs. We’re bonding well.

I’m struggling to see the

benefit of all the rider modes.

Slick mode is all I ever use.

+

-

O�Read previous updates at motorcyclenews.com/richS1000RR

RUNNING VERDICT

THE RIDER

Richard Newland, Senior Editor

[email protected]

Height 5ft 11in Weight 117kg

His riding Sportsbike addict with a love

of road and track riding, all year round

THE BIKE

Weight 204kg

Seat height 815mm

Servicing to date: £140

(1st service, at 313 miles)

Mods to date: £2599.10

BMW S1000RR SPORT, £14,760

BMW’s stunning accessory rearsets

are produced by Gilles, purveyors of

exceptionally nice kit. They’re a work of art.

Photograph the standard items extensively

so that you’re sure what went where, and

what relative position the pegs were in.

Carefully remove and replace one side at

a time – and transpose all parts that are

reused on the Gilles rearsets.

Fit the new rearsets, using correct torque

settings and a dab of threadlock on the main

bolts. Experiment with peg positions.1 2 3 4

FITTING NEW REARSETSTime taken: 35 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Tools: Torx keys, threadlock, 10mm spanner, torque wrench

Page 43: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

FEATURES 43 BUYING & SELLING SPORTGARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

BMW S1000RR Sport,£14,760

36 months @ £179.95£3490.12 deposit

Final Value: £7482.46bmw-motorrad.co.uk

RUNNING COSTS

41MPG

Tested Power 196.26bhpTested Torque 85.05ftlb

£179.95Best PCP deal

Servicing

PER MONTH

Minor

£140

This is the

cost of the first

service, which

was carried

out at 313 miles.

Go for a short ride to check your settings

(take tools with you). Once satisfied, double

check that everything’s tight and secure.

Remove the six screen bolts, tease the

screen out from the fairing, and ease out the

captive nuts and damping grommets.

Carefully fit the rubber nuts and grommets

to the new screen. If it’s cold, pop the nuts in

warm water to soften them up first.

Slide the new screen into place without

knocking the captive nuts out. Insert all the

screen bolts half way, then tighten them all.5 1 2 3

WIDESCREEN PLAYTime taken: 5 mins Difficulty: Novice Tools: Torx keys

‘It dredges a special feeling from the pit

of my stomach every time I open

the throttle’

InsuranceMCNcompare.com quotes for a 2015

BMW S1000RR worth £14,760 – each

rider has three years’ NCB.

35-year-old

in Hull

(£500 excess)

45-year-old

in London

(£600 excess)

£586.44 £357.84

Page 44: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

THE RIDER

Simon Brown Senior Production Editor

[email protected]

Height 5ft 9in Weight 70kg

Type of rider 20 years experience,

loves twins and singles

THE BIKE

Weight 186kg

Seat height 790mm

MPG 49

Servicing to date

600 miles, £158

www.motorcyclenews.com

GARAGE

Full Throttle meets the ancestors

V-Strom versus Multistrada on Andy’s 200-mile commute

How good do these two bikes

look parked nose-to-nose?

Flipping gorgeous. I couldn’t

help but smile when confronted with a

pair of Ducati Scramblers – especially

two that are separated by 45 years.

My Scrambler was on the Ducati

Owners Club stand for MCN’s recent

Festival of Motorcycling, alongside this

handsome 1970 SCR 450 Scrambler

owned by Graham Stoppani.

It’s immediately clear how Ducati

has taken cues from the original.

For my part, I love the way my Full

Throttle’s paintjob is the reverse

of Graham’s bike. Check out the

mudguard – his is yellow with a black

stripe and mine is the precise opposite.

Both sport similarly fetching lines and

the detailing on the engine covers of

the 2015 bike is an echo of the design

of the air filter on Graham’s original

(I may be reading too much into that

one, blame the strong espresso on the

owners’ club stand).

There are plenty of differences

between the two, of course. My bike

is a twin, while Graham’s is a single,

and I have modern essentials such as

disc brakes, ABS and monoshock rear

suspension. But the fun-loving spirit of

the older bike definitely lives on.

I’d have loved to have ridden the

two back-to-back, but sadly the

old bike isn’t a runner right now.

So what does Graham, who

rode his bike in the 2008 Moto

Giro d’Italia rally, think of the

new pretender? It’s a thumbs-

up, although he does have some

reservations. “You can see in

places that it’s been built to a

price,” he says. “The finish on the

fasteners doesn’t look as good as other

Ducatis – but you can easily upgrade

them. I’d prefer wire wheels too.”

Of course, being built to a price isn’t

necessarily a bad thing because it

means you can have more fun for less

cash – especially if you go with a PCP-

type purchase, which will have you on

the road for around £95 a month.

Scrambledup DNA

DUCATI SCRAMBLER FULL THROTTLE £7855

THE QUESTION

YOUR BIKES

V

As commutes go, my twice-weekly run

from Slough to Peterborough is pretty

boring; sat upright on motorways,

longing for the respite of seven

roundabouts, three sharp turns and one

long right-hand swooper.

But thanks to my V-Strom it is an easy

ride. I’m always met by a red ants’ nest

of flickering brake lights as I join the M4

in the morning. But the little 650 V-twin

twists, wriggles and glides through it all.

And once we’ve joined the free-flowing

A1, the Strom relaxes and eases into a

smooth hum for the rest of the journey.

I have never sat on the Strom wishing

for more – but last week I pulled up at

MCN and laid my eyes upon a gorgeous

Italian. The Multistrada was sat waiting,

160bhp and 100ftlb of torque dripping

from its Desmo V-twin. It looked

delicious; I had to ride it home.

Swinging a leg over the bigger,

badder V-twin is like stepping into a

realm of luxury. Variable valve timing,

brimming with electronics, semi-active

suspension and more sex appeal than

Nigella Lawson whispering Fifty Shades

of Grey in your ear. But it comes at a

price; you can buy two V-Stroms for the

price of one Multi – with £533 change.

The 1198cc motor thumps like a mad

man as it growls and howls its way

onto the A1 for an hour-and-a-half of

testosterone-fuelled riding. Forget a

comfortable 85mph cruising speed, the

Italian Stallion hits triple figures and

doesn’t even break a sweat.

Riding along, thinking I’m doing the

speed limit, only to glance at the speedo

and see more numbers than an A-level

maths equation was terrifying. As soon

as I got home, I sat in the corner rocking,

convinced I’d receive an envelope with

more points than my mum’s Nectar card.

After a more… conservative ride back

to the office, I was glad to get back

on the Strom for the next commute, if

only to calm myself down. But what

surprised me most was that my run from

Peterborough to Slough on the V-Strom

was actually seven minutes quicker

than my ride on the Multistrada. And

on the round trip the V-Strom was an

impressive eight minutes quicker, with a

4.92mph faster average speed, and cost

66p less in fuel than the Multi.

I’m putting it down to maintaining a

consistent, smooth speed on the Strom

and it being an incredible filtering

machine. So the Ducati is rip-roaring

fun – but my solid Strom gets me home

quicker and for less money. Perfect.

IS MORE BHP ALWAYS BEST?

IAN

JU

BB

SIM

ON

HIP

PE

RS

ON

Ready for round-the-world action

I _____ my ______________________Triumph Trophy SEloveYear: 2014  Had since: 2014 Miles done: 7275 Total mileage: 7275

Prolific bike buyer

Rob Barron is a serial

adventure bike rider and

was close to getting

a KTM 1290 Super

Adventure when he plumped for this

beautiful Trophy SE – his first full-

dress tourer. “I love all the gadgets

and the engine,” he says. For a man

who’s owned over 100 bikes, and who

once sold a Fazer 1000 on Monday

he’d bought the previous Friday, the

Trophy has done outstandingly well

to last a year in his company. The

highlight of his 7000 miles so far has

been an epic trip to Scotland over a

weekend, which took him through the

Yorkshire Dales and Lake District en

route. It’s just the sort of punishment

the Trophy was designed to take,

and the big bike hasn’t missed a beat

on that trip or any other: “Nothing’s

gone wrong and I wouldn’t change a

thing about it.” Michelin Pilot Road

4 GTs transformed the handling but

squared off in 3500 miles. He has no

plans to sell, but predicts his next

purchase will take him back into the

adventure fold: “The Trophy could

take me round the world no problem,

a Super Adventure could do the

same... off-road.”

THE STATS

DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 S £15,731To work distance:

198.9 miles

Time: 3hr 15min

Average speed:

60.8mph

MPG: 48.84

Cost: £14.92

SUZUKI V-STROM 650 XT £7599To work distance:

198.9 miles

Time: 3hr 07min

Average speed: 65mph

MPG: 51.77

Cost: £14.26

44

Page 45: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

‘I love the way my FT’s paintjob is the

reverse of Graham’s original Scrambler’

#MCNwednesday

We love May, but

his name on the

V5 doesn’t double

the value

I’ve got to admit I blinked at the

prices achieved by the Top Gear

crew’s bikes at auction recently.

James May’s Fizzie made

£7475, or about double what it

would have made had it been

owned by you or I. Richard

Hammond’s Gold Wing made

£6900. Same applies. And

Hammond’s new-build Commando

fetched £15,180, or about a grand

less than a brand new one.

Provenance is important.

That’s why Lawrence of Arabia’s

Brough Superior is worth seven

figures. Anyone who thinks that

Hammond’s name on the V5

is worth a £3000 premium is

deluded, though.

Buying at a specialist auction is

only for the expert. It’s not what

the description says, but what it

omits that counts. Two years ago, I

was bidding at Bonhams’ Stafford

auction. I was interested in a

Honda NR750 (estimate £50,000),

and the catalogue description

rang alarm bells. There wasn’t

enough of it. So I hung back,

and after the auction, voiced my

misgivings to a Bonhams’ valuer.

“Ah, yes,” he said. “The NR750.

Well, it had been down the road

at some point, and we think it had

been used on the track.” Thank

you, God.

At the time, I thought prices for

Vincents were weak, and bid on

a Series C Rapide, setting myself

a limit of £28,000. It went up to

£28k, going once, going twice, and

the hammer was about to fall, and

somebody stepped in, and it went

for £32,000. I still think that was a

bargain. I also bid on the restored

Kawasaki 750H2C, with a limit

of £6500. It sold for £6800, but

who knows? The winning bidder

might have been prepared to go to

£10,000.

Next week

And on the above note, is the

new H2 a good used buy?

When to pay more for provenance

Aprilia RSV1000R £3500Seller says: 5600 miles, same owner

since 2007. Neil says: High spec

model, should be the facelifted one

too, long ownership, incredibly low

miles, should be solid as a rock. Much

better choice than an equivalent age

Ducati 999 if you want a reliable intro

into Italian exotica.

Honda CB1000R £4495Seller says: 5264 miles, one lady

owner, never been ridden hard.

Neil says: 2007 Fireblade engine,

2008 Fireblade forks, 130bhp with the

Honda comfort and sophistication that

a Speed Triple lacks. New, these are

ten grand on the road, which makes

this one less than half price. Bargain.

ALSO CATCHING MY EYE THIS WEEK

THE BUYERNeil Murray makes a living buying & selling

pre-loved metal – and he’s on your side

0 0 0 0 31 0 0 4 6 91 0 0 0 0 11

While I wait for the GSX-S1000 to

arrive, I’m running its sister superbike.

The big Suzuki set the slowest lap time

in our recent track test, but out here

in the real world I’m impressed. The

only rider aid is ABS, but I’m enjoying

the old-school feel. I used the bike

for open-roads rides during the Isle

of Man TT, to help me prepare for my

races. It was great practice to fly over

the mountain, front wheel hovering in

the air, and to experience the rear tyre

fighting for grip out of Windy Corner.

After 1200 miles on the standard

Bridgestone BT-021 tyres I’ve replaced

them with more up-to-date Metzeler

Roadtec Z8s. First impressions have

been positive – the new tyres felt good

straight out of the car park and where

the standard Bridgestones often

felt a bit vague during cornering, the

Metzelers feel much more stable. At

present the tyre pressures are 43psi

front and rear, which feels a little hard

– familiar bumps feel harsh so I’ll knock

them down a couple of psi.

Sometimes small isn’t beautiful.

Although the KTM’s slim, lightweight

chassis appeals to me, its tiny fuel

tank is starting to annoy. KTM claim

it holds 10 litres, but I’ve run the bike

dry and only managed to squeeze in

9.5. And, although the RC returns an

average of 63mpg, there’s still only 115

miles before I’m on fumes. Not too bad

when scooting across town, but highly

annoying when going further afield –

finding fuel is always a concern and it

really takes the joy out of a day’s riding.

NAME: ADAM CHILD JOB: SENIOR ROAD TESTER

NAME: LIAM MARSDEN

JOB: WEB PRODUCERNAME: EMMA FRANKLIN

JOB: PRODUCTION EDITOR

SUZUKI GSX-R1000

£10,559

KAWASAKI 1400GTR

£13,699

KTM RC390

£4998

FEATURESBUYING & SELLING SPORTGARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

2UPDATE

1447MILES

45

Page 46: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

GARAGE46

www.motorcyclenews.com

TCX R-S2 Evo, £299.99TCX’s sturdy and reassuring boots have man-

made outers with a breathable lining and a series

of vents to keep feet cool, plus moulded heels,

shins and ankles for extra protection. There

are reinforced gearchange pads and the alloy

toesliders are replaceable. With a pump-air

system and elasticated insert as well as a zip and

Velcro closure, the fit can be highly personalised.

Colours: White/black, black/chrome, red/black

Sizes: 5-13.5

Contact: www.nevis.uk.com

Sidi Roarr £199.95These new-for-2015 CE-approved

boots look robotic with ankle

braces for extra protection plus

moulded shins and heels.

There is a ventilation

system for warmer

weather, operated by the

flick of a switch on the outer

edge of the foot. They fasten

by a combination of Velcro

and zips and there’s an

additional adjuster to

ensure a close and

secure fit.

Colours: Black,

black/grey, black/

white

Sizes: 5-13

Contact: www.

sidiselect.co.uk

Gearchange pad

A slice of durable rubberon the upper left foot helps

cushion the rider from contactwith the gear lever and helpsthe boot last longer. Purely in

the interests of symmetry,most right boots have

one too.

Toesliders

When racers of the ’70s started leaning over so far

they were wearing through boot after boot, firms added hard-wearing slabs. Replace

before you wear through any exposed mounting

screw heads.

camp10 of the best pairs

of sporty boots for

summer riding

KIT SHOWCASE

Forma Ice Pro Flow £239.99If hot and sticky feet are giving you

drama, look to these CE-approved

boots from Forma. They’re

leather, which is more

breathable than synthetic

materials, and have

perforations, ventilation

and a breathable liner. The

removable stainless steel

toesliders are also

vented. They have

plastic shin and

heel protectors

plus ankle supports.

Colours: Black,

white

Sizes: 5-12.5

Contact: www.

factoryagencies.co.uk

Dainese Axial Pro In £349.99Dainese’s boots are designed to

be worn under their leathers and

are CE approved with Kevlar and

carbon ankle protection

plus a gearchange pad. The

stainless steel toesliders

are replaceable and there’s

a separate inner boot with

Velcro fastenings, while

the main boot secures

with a zip.

Colours: Black,

red/black,

white/black,

black/fluro

Sizes: 7.5-13

Contact: www.

dainese.com

Alpinestars, Sidi or Daytona?

Sidi’s first foray into

motorcycling came in the early

70s, by which time Alpinestars

had five years of experience

in bike boots. But the German

company now known as Frey

Daytona takes the honour by

three years, having made their

first pair of Frey boots in 1962.

WHO WAS

FIRST?

Page 47: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

FEATURESBUYING & SELLING SPORTGARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

CE approval

CE is the shortform for the safety testing on a wide range of products. CE boots

have been tested for their ability to withstand abrasion,

cutting and crushing forces. Look for ‘EN13634:2010’.

Ankle bracing

Keeping an ankle braced helps avoid injuries in a

crash, but you still want it to flex for you to be able to walk, ride and change gear. Braces

allow the right kind of flex while stopping

lateral flex.

Ratchets

Ratchet closures come from the motocross world

and use clasps to help fasten the boot. They are usually in

addition to Velcro and/or zips and allow the rider

to adjust the fit to suit their feet.

Inner boots

It’s usually reserved for top-end boots, but an inner boot provides bracing and strength and then a more

flexible outer boot does the rest of the work. Daytona

allow you to replace damaged outers.

Prexport Evo 9100 £139.99 Italian boots constructed from

man-made materials with

shin, heel, ankle and calf

reinforcements. They

have perforated sections that

mean you shouldn’t suffer

from sweaty feet in warmer

weather and the toesliders

are removable too. The

Prexports secure with a

combination of Velcro

and zip closures.

Colours: Black,

black/white

Sizes: 4-12

Contact: www.

thekeycollection.co.uk

RST Tractech Evo CE £119.99The cheapest boots here are made

from leather with perforated

sections and stretch panels

for added comfort. They are

CE-approved for protection,

with reinforcements at the

shin, ankle and heel and

there’s also a gearchange pad.

The removable toesliders are

made from aluminium.

Colours: Black, white,

blue, red, green, flo

red, flo green

Sizes: 6-13

Contact: www.rst-

moto.com

Daytona Security Evo 3 £859.99How much? For the money you get a hard-shell

Kevlar and plastic inner with shock absorbing

protection for calves and heels, plus reinforced toe

sections. The outer is kangaroo leather and secures

with Velcro and a zip. There are three colour options

or for 30% extra (£260) you can design your own.

Colours: Black, black/

blue, black/red

Sizes: 6-13

Contact: www.

tranam.co.uk

Stylmartin Stealth £279.99 A breathable mesh liner and air intakes at the heels

help cold air get in and hot air escape from these

CE-approved boots, which have uppers made from

Lorica. There’s moulded heel and shin protection

and a gearchange, as well as toesliders made from

lightweight titanium. They fasten with a zip and

ratchets that help get the fit exactly right.

Colours: Black, white

Sizes: 4-13

Contact: www.

dpc-distribution.com

Alpinestars SMX Plus £259.99AStars is possibly the first name in motorcycle boots

and these secure with ratchets and a zip for peace

of mind. The SMX Plus have a man-made outer and

are CE approved. They have moulded support for the

ankles and heels plus removable heel and toesliders.

Colours: Black, black/white, red/white,

black/white/fluro

Sizes: 4.5-12

Contact: www.

alpinestars.com

Falco 309 Eso Pro 2 £249.99These Italian boots have uppers made from Lorica

and are CE-approved to the higher level 2. They have a

removable inner protection boot and articulated ankle

joints for flexibility as well as moulded ankle, heel and

toe protection. There is a buckle closure in addition to

the more traditional zip and Velcro.

Colours: Black, white,

black/white

Sizes: 5-12

Contact: www.

tri-motive.com

£303 UNDER

TAPMotorcycle Theory Test

Android app £1.49If you’re planning on taking

your UK theory test then you’ll

be aware of how tough and/or

bonkers some of the questions

can be. This app for your

Android-based phone contains

every official revision question

from the DVSA. (The answer to

the question in the screenshot,

by the way, is soapy water.)

http://bit.ly/theoryapp

WIPEOfficial MotoGP doormat £9.99

It turns out there isn’t anything

that Dorna can’t make money

from by putting the MotoGP

logo on it. But for under a tenner,

we can’t think of a better way

to clean your work boots off

before entering your

hallowed garage!

http://bit.ly/GPdoormat

PLAYTurbospoke £17.99

Remember when you were a

kid and used to stick a playing

card between your pushbike

spokes to make it sound like a

superbike? Well… THIS is THAT,

but for the 21st century! It even

comes with different shaped

cards so you can ‘tune’ your

exhaust for the perfect note!

www.turbospoke.com

47

Page 48: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

GARAGE48

www.motorcyclenews.com

TESTED‘Proper sturdyand easy to use’Alpinestars Tech Aero tankbag £119.99Tester: Alison Silcox

Time tested: Two months/750 miles

What’s good? This is a really sturdy bag and so far

the zips and straps are proving reliable and showing

no signs of wear. I’ve been caught out in a couple of

showers and found the bag doesn’t leak (it does have

a waterproof cover for extra peace of mind if the rain

is really heavy but I’ve not yet needed to deploy it).

The bag has a variety of pockets, including a clear

map pocket that is a really decent size and can hold

either a GPS or for those who are more traditional, like

me, a good old paper map. There are also a couple of

handy and easily accessible external zipped pockets

that I use for stowing my keys, phone and purse.

What’s not? Whilst the strap and magnet

combination makes it fit securely to the bike, looping

the straps round the frame is fiddly. It also

means that when I want to take the bag

off the bike I’m either left with dangling

straps or have to go through the

palaver of fully removing the straps.

Contact: www.alpinestars.com

Richa DesignerPrice £79.99

Similar in shape and capacity, butwith magnets and a headstock

strap. Easier to mount, almost asroomy, also resists showers –

and is £40 cheaper.www.nevis.uk.com

Quality ★★★★★ Value★★★★★

Sturdy construction, decent

capacity, keeps the rain out and

there are useful compartments

Straps that loop around the

frame are annoying when you

take the bag off. It’s also pricey.

+

-

750MILES

Straps and magnets

The straps are fiddly to fitbut do mean the bag stays

securely in place

Pockets galore

Handy side pockets foressentials and the map

pocket is a bonus

1Dainese Laguna Seca D-Dry, £199.99Armoured textile

jacket in a wide range of

colours. Has a removable

breathable waterproof

membrane on the

inside and a water-

resistant treatment

on the outer. Also

has a removable

thermal liner.

Rev’it Shield, £189.99For sportier riders

who want a closer fit than

a touring jacket but still

want waterproofing.

It’s a breathable three-

season jacket with a

removable thermal

liner. Has zip-open

vents and a zip to

join to trousers.

Ixon Shiroki HP £179.99Has seven pockets

to carry all of your

essentials, along with

CE-approved shoulder

and elbow armour and

a removable thermal

liner. Waterproofing

duties are carried

out by a Drymesh

membrane.

Alpinestars Gunner £169.99Waterproof and

breathable. There are

vents on the front and

rear of the jacket, CE-

approved shoulder and

elbow armour and a

neoprene-edged collar

for comfort, two

external pockets and

one internal.

Spada Burnout £129.95Comes with a

full complement of

CE-approved armour,

including a back

protector insert, and

has a waterproof

and breathable

membrane as well

as a removable

thermal lining.

TOP FIVE SPORTY TEXTILES UNDER £200

2 3 4 5

Page 49: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

FEATURES 49 BUYING &SELLING SPORTGARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

Tester: Michael Neeves

Time used: Six months

What’s good? It’s an extremely light (39 grams),

compact (just 80mm long), durable easy-to-use

waterproof ‘bullet’ camera, which I’ve used to shoot a number

of onboard videos while racing this season. The 1080p HD

camera comes with lots of different mountings, so it can go

anywhere on a bike, or helmet, but I use my tried-and-tested

lump of ‘black tack’ to fix it securely in seconds. A built-in laser

helps me line up the camera. Files write to a MicroSD card.

What’s not? Compared with some of the market leaders the

clips from the Hedcam aren’t as clear or vibrant, and for high-

speed onboard videos there’s excessive wind noise.

Contact: www.hedcam.com

Quality ★★★★★ Value ★★★★★

Tester: Tony Hoare

Time tested: Three years

What’s good? When it comes to bringing batteries

back up to tip-top condition, usually after a period

of inactivity, I’ve turned to CTEK for years. The XS 0.8 is their

latest 12V charger and it’s reliable, effective and easy to use.

It comes with a cable that can be attached to the battery

terminals to make charging more convenient and it can be left

connected to the battery without fear of causing damage.

What’s not? The system of lights isn’t intuitive and you’ll

need the instructions (or a good memory) to see when the

battery is fully charged. There are six lights and the battery is

charged enough to start the bike when three are illuminated.

Contact: www.ctek.com

Quality ★★★★★ Value ★★★★★

Tester: Andy Downes

Time tested: Two months/1500 miles

What’s good? This jacket is aimed at city riders,

but I have been using it a lot over the past couple

of months for my 60-mile daily commute. It’s comfortable,

stylish and waterproof. It’s also warm, has D3O armour in the

shoulders and elbows and adjustable waist straps to reduce

flapping at speed. There are pop-out bright orange strips on the

wrists and neck for extra visibility and those can be tucked away

when not riding. Pockets are plentiful and do up tightly. The

jacket has been waterproof through heavy downpours.

What’s not? The material is not heavy-duty Cordura and seems

lightweight, so it’s a bit of a compromise.

Contact: www.tucanourbano.com

Quality ★★★★★ Value ★★★★★

Tucano Urbano Four Seasons jacket £160Hedcam Ten80 onboard camera £167.99 CTEK XS 0.8 battery charger £38.99

3YEARS

6MONTHS

www.motorcyclenews.com

DAVIDA WRS74PRESCRIPTION GOGGLESDavida Goggle + Reactolite prescription lenses

£135 + P&P

www.optique-goggles.co.ukFor further details take a look at our website.

These goggles sit comfortably underyour helmet and seal against the wind- There is no better goggle available.

Steve 07968435078

SEARCH ‘OPTIQUE GOGGLES’ON MOTORCYCLENEWS.COM

FOR REVIEW

Waterproof GPS case

Waterproof GPScase & mount£20.99+P&P

Hear your Satnav in yourhelmet with NEW ‘GPS audio’

With Blueto

01473 823351

From £37.99+P&P

Like a BMW, only more.

Ask your local BMW dealer or call us01485 542000 www.ac-schnitzer.co.uk

S1000RR RNineT K12/13 F800 R1200S

Superbike and clip-on handlebarconversions for your BMW bike.

CALL TODAY FOR A QUOTE TO BE ENTERED!*

WIN your biking year on us! We’ve got you covered*

BIKEINSURANCE

£1,000 OFBIKING GEAR

RON HASLAMTRACK DAY

YEAR’S WORTHOF FUEL

SHOWTICKETS

Opening hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 4pm. *Terms and conditions apply, visit carolenash.com/bike-giveaway-terms-and-conditions. On Modern, Classic and Six Wheel quotes. Carole Nash InsuranceConsultants Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, fi rm reference no. 307243. Carole Nash is a trading style of Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd, registered in England and Wales no. 2600841.

0800 144 46272013

MOTORBIKE INSURANCE

2014

MOTORBIKE INSURANCE

Carole Nash, a name you can trust

2015

MOTORBIKE INSURANCE

GET IT WITH

The

BEST

place

to buy

biking

kit!

1500MILES

Page 50: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

GARAGE50

www.motorcyclenews.com

Q What’s the bestsoft luggage for me?

I want soft luggage that I can

fit and remove easily that won’t

melt on the high-level exhaust

on my Triumph Street Triple.

Adam Korai, email

Answered by: Chris

Dabbs, MCN

A tailbag will be best for you.

The most important feature

of any soft luggage is that it is

a stable fit and most tailbags

come with a Velcro band that

you pass under the pillion seat

area, with bungees to secure

it to pillion pegs and subframe.

They’re available from four

litres to 40 litres, so a bag that

is expandable will give you the

best of both worlds. External

storage like side pockets and

cargo nets are great, and we

go for a fully waterproof bag.

Some incorporate storm hoods

which are OK but a faff to fit and

too easy to lose.

Q ReplacementLED indicators

freaked out myPanigale 899?My 2014 Ducati Panigale 899 has

started playing up. At first the engine

warning light would come on for a little

while, then clear itself, or I would have

to stop and restart the bike. Then it

packed up completely until the AA man

appeared and ran some checks and

it started again. The only change I’ve

made is to fit some aftermarket rear

LED indicators eight months ago.

Tony Oliver, Dudley

Answered by Tony Dawson,

Ducati Wolverhampton

I’ll bet the way those LEDs were wired

in is the culprit. Because the LEDs

draw less current than standard, I’ll

guess that the ‘electrician’ you used

cut through the wires and used the old

bulbs as resistors to fox the ECU and

Canbus electrics. But that doesn’t work

and the bike’s brain will keep logging

minor ‘unexplained‘ fault codes until it

freaks out. Just reverting to standard

won’t solve the problem as once error

codes are logged you need to go back

to a dealer to get the ECU reset.

899 uses bulbs in its indicators, not LEDs

Fitting official parts solves the issue

I have a Honda

VFR1200 with Dual

Clutch Transmission

(DCT) and I’m having

trouble getting it to

select a gear. Is it

going to be hard to fix?

Ian Wicks, Oxford

Answered by: Scott

Bullett, Doble

Motorcycles

Honda’s DCT-equipped

bikes – the VFR1200

and NC700 – need the

system re-initialising

every now and then,

especially after an oil

and filter service. The

good news is it’s a job

you can do.

The engine needs

to be run until it’s

up to temperature

before switching off.

Then hold the Drive

button in while turning

the ignition key to

On. Once the engine

management light

goes out, release

the button and

press the Drive and

Neutral buttons in the

following sequence;

Drive, Drive, Neutral,

Drive, Neutral. An ‘S’,

a ‘D’ and a flashing

underscore will come

up on the dash.

Now start the engine

and wait until the

flashing underscore

and check letters go

off as it relearns the

settings. This can take

up to five minutes.

Turn the engine off

and restart it, put it

into Drive to check

if ‘D’ comes up and

you are good to go.

If the engine wasn’t

warm enough,

you’ll get an ‘L’

warning and

have to repeat

the procedure.

Is my DCT gearbox going to cost a

fortune to fix?

Q

OWNING & RIDING

ANY QUESTION

ANSWEREDIf we don’t know the answer, we’ll fi nd the person who does

Resetting the DCT

is as easy as pressing

a few buttons

Bag ConnectionSlipstream, 13 litres

Givi EA107 EasyRoll Bag, 35 litres

MCN CHOICEKriega US-20 DryBag,

35 litres

Oxford Lifetime X4Tank N Tailer,

4 litres

£80 £70£62£74.99

Page 51: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

FEATURES 51 BUYING &SELLING SPORTGARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

What’s wrongwith my 2009

R1’s gearbox?

I’ve just bought a 2009 Yamaha R1

and the gear selection isn’t brilliant,

with second gear skipping at

8000rpm.

Owen Williams, email

Answered by Stuart Gaines, Herne

Bay Motorcycles: It sounds like you

have got yourself a bike that’s spent

more time with its front wheel in the

air than is good for it. Those through-

the-gear wheelies necessitate brutal

gearchanges, and if it’s up in the

air that long it has probably been

coming down with a bang, putting too

much force through the forks. Fixing

the gearbox means an engine strip

and replacing any chipped or bent

components.

Q My Speed Triplehas a stutter

My 2006 Triumph Speed Triple 1050

has developed a stutter at around

4000rpm, irrespective of what gear

I’m in, although it does seem worse

on a constant throttle. Any ideas?

Graeme Wilding, Surbiton

Answered by Adrian Clancy, Total

Triumph, Taunton: This seems

to occur when the ECU transitions

from using the manifold pressure

(MAP) sensor to the throttle position

sensor (TPS) for its fuel control. It’s

hard to cure completely, but it helps

if the throttle bodies are clean and

balanced, the ECU map is correct, the

spark plugs and air filter are fresh,

and the adaption process has been

properly set by the dealer.

You’ll need to strip the R1’s gearbox

Careful set-up can cure fuelling glitch

Q Will newlicence laws

wreck my trip?

I understand that driving licences

are changing and that they’re

scrapping the paper counterpart

section. I’ve seen reports that it

could cause problems abroad and

as I’ve got a riding trip around Spain

planned in August I was wondering if

there is anything to worry about.

John Price, Bedford

The paper part of the licence is no

longer required, it shouldn’t cause

you any problems on your trip but

there are a few things you can do

just to be certain.

The paper counterpart to your

licence was used to record the type

of licence you held and any driving

offences. These days the class of

bike (and any other vehicle you can

drive) is on the back of the photocard

and the police have been able to

access your convictions online from

the roadside for some time.

If you are hiring a bike abroad,

the area where you may need to be

a bit careful is that it is anticipated

It’s easy to tow a bike from your

machine if one of you breaks

down on a trip – and you don’t

have to use a bit of old rope.

You do it with a pair of tie-down

straps, the ones with a metal

clip at one end and nothing at

the other (£6.99 a pair, http://

bit.ly/microstrap). Tie one strap

to the rear of the towing bike

and connect the empty end to

the clip of the second strap. So

you’re now left with the empty

end of the second strap and your

mate’s bike. You don’t tie the

loose end to the second bike, as

the rider being towed needs to

be able to instantly disconnect

from the lead bike and coast to

a stop. So take the loose end

of your strap (the bit without

the buckle), loop it under the

towed bike’s handlebars and

then around one bar grip. The

towed rider holds the strap to

the bar and if it gets a bit hairy

during the tow he releases his

grip and the strap unravels and

disappears in an instant. When

you’re being towed and the lead

bike goes round a right-hander,

ride further to the left and don’t

follow the towing rider’s trail.

That will keep some tension

in the strap and stop you

from jolting.

How do I tow my mate’sbike if he breaks down?

Q

The Monster saved Ducati in ’93, but what about after the 999 disaster?

Answered by MCN: Ducati sales

in the early 2000s were indeed

faltering. Two very important

models, the 916 replacement 999

followed by the Multistrada 1000

both bombed, largely because of

styling issues. The retro Sport

Classic series in 2006 didn’t do

well either as Ducati appeared to

be losing focus on its strengths and

crucially, its brand values.

But 2006 was the year that

Ducati Corse director Claudio

Domenicali was appo

Product Director, and

there’s a key event in t

company’s recent

history, this is it.

Domenicali made

it his mission to

understand why people were

not buying Ducatis – he attended

many press launches and the first

question he’d ask after getting off

a new model was not what testers

liked about it, but what was wrong

with it: right he could leave, wrong

he needed to work on.

Domenicali understood the

need for continuity, realising that

a link to Ducati’s past underpinned

the brand’s strength. That’s why

the 999 replacement, the 1098,

ed to 916 styling cues, it

hy Domenicali kept a picture

Porsche 911 on his office

and it was why the all-new

nster in 1998 was changed

little visually from Galluzzi’s

990 original.

Loop the strap under

the bars so you can

release it fast

What’s the mostexpensive road

bike spare part ever?Answered by MCN: Almost

certainly anything for Honda’s oval-

pistoned NR750 of which 300-ish

were made in 1992. The tail-light

alone cost £688 to replace, but the

most expensive ‘part’ was a conrod

and valve set – which came in at an

astonishing £29,180. Breathtakingly

astronomical as it is, that figure

could well be topped once Honda’s

road-going RCV goes on sale next

month. Turn to pages 4-5 for the full

story on Honda’s new MotoGP bike

for the road.

Q

Q

TRAVEL & TOURING

PUB QUIZ

‘There’s no harm in

keeping your old

paper licence

somewhere safe’

Andrew

CampbellSolicitor and author

of the MCN Law

column for the last

five years

Andrew Campbell, Bikelawyer.

Visit www.bikelawyer.co.uk or

email [email protected] or

call 01446-794169

Motorcycle Accident Solicitors

Your legal questions

Q

there may be teething problems

with foreign hire firms who have

traditionally asked to see the paper

licence, and they may not be aware

of the changes.

The DVLA say the changes

have been well advertised abroad,

though it remains to be seen as to

how well foreign hire companies

keep an eye on DVLA press

releases. The easiest thing to do is

to call ahead to check exactly what

information they want on the day

of collection and then, just to be

certain, take a copy of your paper

counterpart licence with you. The

DVLA suggest destroying the paper

counterpart but until everyone is

used to the changes it wouldn’t hurt

to keep it somewhere safe.

Page 52: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Please note that calls to numbers starting 0871 published in the private adverts above are charged at 10p per minute from BT landlines. Calls from mobiles will cost more. For more information as to why these numbers are used please see www.mcnbikesforsale.com

www.motorcyclenews.com

Sell today by visiting mcnbikesforsale.com or call 0845 051 5001BUYING&SELLING52

SELL WITH EASE, BUY WITH CONFIDENCEGet your advert in front of thousands of bikers at mcnbikesforsale.com

or call us on 0845 051 5001 for more info

Hugestock forall modelspost 1970.

we go the extra mile

Fast, competitive international shipping

01484 353 600 • 0845 458 0077 • www.motorworks.co.uk

The BEST

place to buy

biking kit!

for over 10,000motorcycles

for sale

BMW

APRILIA

AJS

Page 53: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Please note that calls to numbers starting 0871 published in the private adverts above are charged at 10p per minute from BT landlines. Calls from mobiles will cost more. For more information as to why these numbers are used please see www.mcnbikesforsale.com

www.motorcyclenews.com/digital

Find 1000’s more bikes online at mcnbikesforsale.com #MCNWednesday | 17 June 2015 |53

ALL MAKES & MODELS BOUGHT

FOR CASH & COLLECTED

HONDA, KAWASAKI, SUZUKI,

YAMAHA, TRIUMPH

WWW.IRMOTORCYCLES.CO.UK

07956248955�

HARLEYWANTED07956 248955

1000’s more

bikes for sale at

www.mcnbikesforsale.com

HARLEYDAVIDSON

GILERA

ENFIELD

DUCATI

DERBI

CAN-AM

BUELL

BMW

Page 54: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Please note that calls to numbers starting 0871 published in the private adverts above are charged at 10p per minute from BT landlines. Calls from mobiles will cost more. For more information as to why these numbers are used please see www.mcnbikesforsale.com

www.motorcyclenews.com

Sell today by visiting mcnbikesforsale.com or call 0845 051 5001BUYING&SELLING54

The BEST

place to buy

biking kit!

for over 10,000motorcycles

for sale

HARLEYDAVIDSON

HONDA

Page 55: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Please note that calls to numbers starting 0871 published in the private adverts above are charged at 10p per minute from BT landlines. Calls from mobiles will cost more. For more information as to why these numbers are used please see www.mcnbikesforsale.com

www.motorcyclenews.com/digital

Find 1000’s more bikes online at mcnbikesforsale.com #MCNWednesday | 17 June 2015 |55

KAWASAKI

HYOSUNG

HONDA

Page 56: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Please note that calls to numbers starting 0871 published in the private adverts above are charged at 10p per minute from BT landlines. Calls from mobiles will cost more. For more information as to why these numbers are used please see www.mcnbikesforsale.com

www.motorcyclenews.com

Sell today by visiting mcnbikesforsale.com or call 0845 051 5001BUYING&SELLING56

for over 10,000motorcycles

for sale

1000’s more

bikes for sale at

www.mcnbikesforsale.com

SACHS

PIAGGIO

PEUGEOT

NORTON

MV-AGUSTA

MOTO-GUZZI

LAVERDA

KTM

KAWASAKI

Page 57: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Please note that calls to numbers starting 0871 published in the private adverts above are charged at 10p per minute from BT landlines. Calls from mobiles will cost more. For more information as to why these numbers are used please see www.mcnbikesforsale.com

www.motorcyclenews.com/digital

Find 1000’s more bikes online at mcnbikesforsale.com #MCNWednesday | 17 June 2015 |57

ALL MAKES & MODELS BOUGHT

FOR CASH & COLLECTED

HONDA, KAWASAKI, SUZUKI,

YAMAHA, TRIUMPH

WWW.IRMOTORCYCLES.CO.UK

07956248955�

1000’s more

bikes for sale at

www.mcnbikesforsale.com

Check out

www.mcnbikesforsale.com

for over 10,000

motorcycles for sale

TRIUMPH

SUZUKI

Page 58: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Please note that calls to numbers starting 0871 published in the private adverts above are charged at 10p per minute from BT landlines. Calls from mobiles will cost more. For more information as to why these numbers are used please see www.mcnbikesforsale.com

www.motorcyclenews.com

Sell today by visiting mcnbikesforsale.com or call 0845 051 5001BUYING&SELLING58

The BEST

place to buy

biking kit!

YAMAHA

VICTORYTRIUMPH

Page 59: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Please note that calls to numbers starting 0871 published in the private adverts above are charged at 10p per minute from BT landlines. Calls from mobiles will cost more. For more information as to why these numbers are used please see www.mcnbikesforsale.com

www.motorcyclenews.com/digital

Find 1000’s more bikes online at mcnbikesforsale.com #MCNWednesday | 17 June 2015 |59

Top prices paid for allRARE and INTERESTING bikes!

WE WANTYOUR HARLEY®

Call Glenn 07815 949302or Ian 0115 896 7771

AWARD WINNING HARLEY-DAVIDSON® DEALERSHIP

Top prices paid for allRARE and INTERESTING bikes!

WE WANTYOUR TRIUMPH

Call Glenn 07815 949302or Barry 01246 384002

AN OFFICIAL TRIUMPH DEALERSHIP

www.mcnbikesforsale.com

www.motorcyclenews.com

WANTED & EXCHANGE

������� ���������������������� �����

��������������� �

��� ��� ���� ��� �������������

����� ��� ������� ��� ���� �������

����

�������� ���� ��������������������������

BREAKFASTJUNCTION CAFÉ

A46 Southbound, Warwick CV35 8RHoff J15 M40

Open: Mon-Thurs 7am-10pm;Fri 7am-6pm; Sat & Sun 8am-3pm

IDEAL MEETING POINTFOR BIKERS

ALL DAY BREAKFAST+ HOT PIES + SAUSAGE ROLLS +

+ SAMOSAS +Home-made Indian curries available

to eat in & take awayTo arrange a regular Bike Meet

[email protected] or 01926 400252

Ample

parkingGroupswelcome

WEBUYALLBIKES.24/7

BEST CASHPRICES PAID 24/7

[email protected]

OR CALL

0844 409 7587

ALL BIKES

WANTEDCash paid, Will collect,

Friendly professional service,Finance settled,

Approx valuation by phone,Contact Norman

07747 810259www.hythehillmotorcycles.co.uk

BIKERFRIENDLY

CLASSIC &VINTAGE

ROAD RACING

Trikes & Sidecars, SIDECARS 1x5

YAMAHA

Page 60: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

C LAS SI FI E DBUYING&SELLING60

www.hagon-shocks.co.ukSHOCK ABSORBERS

SPARES

KAWASAKI

2-12 Bath Road, Bristol, BS4 3DR

EUROPE’S LARGEST PARTS STOCKIST

e: spares ow ers.co.uk

SPARES Same day dispatch!

0117 972 5597

IN SURREY

CALL 020 8399 7449FOR ALL YOUR HONDA NEEDS

Most service items reduced312-320 Ewell Road, Tolworth, Surrey

www.honda-tippetts.co.uk

AUTOCOMDEALER

GIVIDEALER

HONDA PARTS IN LONDON AND THROUGHOUT UK!ALL HONDA PARTS MOTORCYCLE,

MOTOCROSS & POWER EQUIPMENT

ORDER ONLINE, OR CALL:

01728 [email protected]

s 1000’s of NOS parts, many rare/obsoletes Reproduction parts for your 60’s-90’s Hondas Searches conducted if not in stock

Vintage Honda parts specialistsince1986

PARTS ACCESSORIES & ESSENTIAL LUBRICANTS FUEL TUBE GIFT IDEAS

COMPARE BIKE INSURANCE:

PART TIME MOTORCYCLEINSTRUCTORS REQUIRED FOR

BUSY NORTH LONDON SITEV Full training givenV No previous experience requiredVWeekend work is essentialV You must have held a full bike licence for

over three yearsPlease contact Daniel Everitt

at Camrider on 0208 [email protected]

187 St James’s Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 2BZ

Call 0208 689 2341www.inmoto.com Email: [email protected]

SPARESfast and friendly service

Ignition stator repairs for vintage and modern road & off road bikes.Rewound to heavier duty. Regulators supplied.

Fast, friendly service.

www.westcountrywindings.co.ukUnit 6 & 7 Kingstons Farm, Matching Green, Harlow, Essex CM17 ORB

Tel: 01279 731172

THE IGNITIONREPAIR

SPECIALISTVAPOUR BLASTING SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE

MOTORCYCLE SHOP IN WEST LANCASHIRE FOR SALESituated in the Market Town of Ormskirk

Opened in 1963, Honda Dealer from 1966 to 1999.$ WRWDO RI ����� 6TXDUH IHHW� FRPSULVLQJ RI�� �7ZR6KRZURRPV �:RUNVKRS �6WRUHV �7ZR 2IÀFHV �7ZREHGURRP )ODW ZLWK URRP IRU DQRWKHU � EHGURRP )ODW

&XUUHQWO\ DQ 027 7HVWLQJ 6WDWLRQ�

OWNER RETIRING. £310,000

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT CHRIS ON 07769 728348

BUSINESSES FOR SALE ELECTRICS

SITUATIONS VACANT

GET IT WITH

The

BEST

place

to buy

biking

kit!

20YEARS

SERVICE

SHOW PLATESfrom £9.95+ £2.00 P&P

Standard Plates7x5.5, 7x5, 6x4.5, 10x2.5, 9x3, 9x2 ..................£9.958x6 Plates.......................................................£11.95Any other size cut to order ............................+ £1.00Names or Slogans.........................................+ £1.50Borders (black) ........ + £1.00 ...... Colour......+ £2.00Smoked Plates..............................................+ £2.00Honeycomb backings....................................+ £3.00Custom Lettered Plates.................................+ £2.00Polycarb (off road) Plates ....................... from £10.00Black and Silver acrylic plates ........................£11.95Black and Chrome acrylic plates.....................£13.95U.S. Style Harley Plates8.5x5 or 7x4.5 inc. border, slogan & reg date..£14.95

Credit card orders on

01254 663213or send cheques or postal orders to

AUTO REG357 Preston New Rd Blackburn BB2 7AA

PLEASE NOTE: We no longer manufacture ROAD LEGAL PLATES

www.autoreg.netEXPRESS SERVICE + £2.00

TT 2016Classic TT 2015ACCOMMODATIONExcellent b&b ands/c accommodationIn the Douglas area

From only: £35 PPPNTel: (01493) 717303www.eventaccommodation.co.uk

PROFESSIONALLEATHER REPAIRS

INSURANCE WORK WELCOMEQUICK TURNAROUND TIME - ALL WORK GUARANTEED

COURIER/POSTAL WELCOMEOPENING TIMES: 9am-6pm Mon-Sat

1 Barrington Close, Oxley,Wolverhampton WV10 6AZTELEPHONE:- 01902 780902or MOBILE:- 07940 396588www.splr.co.ukMIDLANDS

LEATHERS:- ZIPS REPLACED, VELCRO,CORDURA RE-SIZING, LETTERING & BADGES,GORE-TEX TEARS & RIPS, PRESS STUDSBOOTS:- NEW ZIPS, VELCRO & RE-SOLEDGLOVES:- TANK BAGS:- SADDLE BAGSSEATS:- REPLACING & RESHAPING,

RECOVERED IN A VARIETY OF COLOURS

TYRES,SERVICING

MOTs, SPARES

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

CHASBIKESLTD

TYRES,SERVICING

MOTs, SPARESIN CENTRAL LONDON

020 7582 7878

w w w. a a ro n r a d i a t o r. c o. u k

5 4 W h i t e h o r s e L a n e, L o n d o n S E 2 5 6 R Qw w w. a a ro n r a d i a t o r. c o. u k

Est. 1962

Radiators &Oil-CoolersNew or repaired

Modern / Classic / VintageNational Service

Established 1977

We stock a huge range ofnuts, bolts, washers

& screws in:CHROME

STAINLESS STEELMetric, Metric Fine, UNF,UNC, BA, BSF, WHIT &Cycle threads available

Email: [email protected]

Order Online at:

www.custom-fasteners.co.uk

QualstitchThe Bikers Tailor

Alterations,Repairs,Zip Replacements toLeathers, Clothing,

Gloves, Boots, Bags.Seats Recovered.

If it needs StitchingContact us.@Marshalls

T:01332 771716E:[email protected]

W:Qualstitch.com

MOTOLINER LTDSame Day Frame, Forkand Yoke Straightening

Cast wheelsrepaired from £55

11 Yewtree Industrial EstateMill Hall, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7ET

www.motoliner.com(01622) 790705

MOTOR CYCLE REFINISHERSs &ACTORY 0AINTS s /RIGINAL #OLOURSs /RIGINAL�2ACE 3CHEMES�#LASSICSs 4HE 5LTIMATE 1UALITY FOR "ODY�

0AINT IN 7EST 9ORKSHIRE(IGHLY 2ECOMMENDED

WWW�IMAGERElNISHERS�CO�UK01924 40771007973 962773

CLECKHEATON

0208 293 5335

genuine spare

parts

BIKERS WORLD

Solus Aprilia dealer for allyour Aprilia spares.

(Mail Order)

East Grinstead

01342 325955

G9421

ABC Tyres Bridgend

HIGH GRADE PARTWORN TYRES

Specialising in190-55-17, 180-55-17,

120-70-17 tyresMail order next day delivery

Tel: 01656 662202

BLACK FOREST, GERMANYPension Williams

SmallEnglish runhotel just 5minutes fromthe famousB500.Relax, unwind

and ride some wonderful roads.

www.pension-williams.come-mail: [email protected]: 0049 7842 2853

0208 293 5335

THE IMAGE WORKSmotorcycle graphics

X Pattern GraphicsX Latest Race ReplicasX One-OffsX 20 YEARS experienceX Insurance ApprovedX Country’s BIGGEST databaseX The Professionals choiceAll decals are digitally printed onto

one layer of quality vinyl.CREDIT / DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED

0115 9443111WWW.THE-IMAGE-WORKS.CO.UK

TEL 0118 9574 577e-mail: [email protected]

www.revolutioncustompaint.co.ukBURGHFIELD BRIDGE IND. ESTATE, GREEN LANE, READING RG30 3XN

PAINTWORK TO ORIGINAL SPECCUSTOM DESIGN

CRASH HELMETS, ALL REPAIRS,PLASTIC WELDING, TANK REPAIRS

NORMANDYLA MOTTE

BIKE FRIENDLY B&BSecure covered parking

PHONE BILL OR CAROL0033-233-510084

www.lamottebandb.fr

01484 353 600

0845 485 0077

www.motorworks.co.uk

A personal service formotorcycle servicing,

MOTs & repairsAPRILIA BMW DUCATI HONDA KAWASAKI

KTM SUZUKI TRIUMPH YAMAHA ETC

£99 winter eco serviceSee website for details

Tel: 01474 833553www.bbsmotorcycles.co.uk

VISORS

PINLOCK

www.ridersoffshore.com

Call now on

01481 728300

0208 293 5335

ACCELERATIONMOTORCYCLE

COLLECTIONANDDELIVERY

Nationwide,competitiverates,

Accommodateallbikes.FullInsured.

CallAcceleration07774964386�

CYCLESPRAYSTHEULTIMATE

PAINTWORKREPAIRS,RACE

REPLICAS,CUSTOMPAINTAND

HELMETS.WWW.CYCLESPRAYS.COM

01483275258SURREY�

TRIUMPHNEW/USEDPARTS/

ACCESSORIESHINCKLEYMODELS.

SPRINTMANUFACTURING

WWW.TRIUMPHPARTS.CO.UK01985

850821�

LEATHERREPAIRS

MOTORCYCLETRANSPORTATION

LEATHERREPAIRS

FRAMESTRAIGHTENING

CHROMEPLATING

SHOCKABSORBERS

NUTS ANDBOLTS

NUMBERPLATES

HELMET &VISORS

TYRES

SERVICES

PAINTWORKDECALS

TYRES

RADIATORS

FORKS

EXHAUSTS

BRAKE DISCS

ACCOMMODATION

Opening hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 4pm. *Based on an average customer saving of £243. Saving compared to buyingtwo separate Carole Nash policies. Average customer = 48 year old male with 7 years NCB, riding a Honda 900RR Fireblade and a BMW R1200 GS.Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference no. 307243. Carole Nash is a trading style of Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd, registered in England and Wales no. 2600841.

0800 093 5577You can only get this offer by calling

2013

MOTORBIKE INSURANCE

2014

MOTORBIKE INSURANCE

2015

MOTORBIKE INSURANCE

Save up to £243 with a Multi-Bike policy through Carole Nash*

If you ride more than one bike, you could save money!*

Page 61: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com/digital

I NSURANC E #MCNWednesday | 17 June 2015 |61

Opening hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 4pm.

^Based on an average customer saving of £243. Saving compared to buying two separate Carole Nash policies. Average customer = 48 year old male with 7 years NCB, riding a Honda 900RR Fireblade and a BMW R1200 GS. †DNA+ protection system, terms and

conditions apply - carolenash.com/dna-terms-and-conditions. *Terms and conditions apply, visit carolenash.com/bike-giveaway-terms-and-conditions. On Modern, Classic and Six Wheel quotes. **Rider Cover: Both bikes must have comprehensive cover, terms and

conditions apply - carolenash.com/rider-terms-and-conditions. Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, fi rm reference no. 307243. Carole Nash is a trading style of Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd,

registered in England and Wales no. 2600841.

���� ��� ����2013

MOTORBIKE INSURANCE

2014

MOTORBIKE INSURANCE

Carole Nash, a name you can trust

2015

MOTORBIKE INSURANCE

� UK & European breakdown and accident recovery,

including Homestart assistance worth over £100

� Up to £100,000 legal expenses cover in the event

of an accident which is not your fault

� RIDER COVER** - FREE accidental damage

cover when riding other bikes

� Free DNA+ protection system worth £30†

� Plus many more benefi ts

CALL TODAY FOR A QUOTE TO BE ENTERED!*

WIN your biking year on us!We’ve got you covered*

BIKEINSURANCE

£1,000 OFBIKING GEAR

RON HASLAMTRACK DAY

YEAR’S WORTH OF FUEL

SHOWTICKETS

SAVEon a

Multi-Bike

policy ^

UPTO

£243

Page 62: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

I NSURANC EBUYING&SELLING62

Freephone:

0800 954 9842Online quotes at: www.bwzz.co.uk

For all your insurance needs - bike, car, van, multi-vehicle, home & travel

O The best policy at the best price

O We search over 30 insurance companies

O FREE Breakdown Cover

O FREE legal protection

O Instant cover and instalments

O FREE Helmet & Leathers Cover including Personal Accident Cover

Proud sponsorsof the new 2015

Be WiserKawasaki

British SuperbikeTeam

BikeInsuranceBe Wiser... Save Money

A freshapproach to

insurance

Call us FREE on:

0808 168 3759*

Find out more at www.principalinsurance.co.uk

Principal Insurance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.*Calls are free from a landline, mobile providers may charge.

Principal Insurance Ltd, Dalton House,Dane Rd, Sale, Manchester M33 7AR.

Now available in

Republic of Ireland

Call us FREE on:

1800 945 946*

www.principalinsurance.ieCall today, get covered and join

mcebikes.com

0844 338 6

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK8.30am - 9pm Mon - Fri,9am - 5pm Sat & 10am - 4pm SunOpen Bank holidays: 9am - 5.30pm

Or visit us at:

CLUB MCEIncredible once in a lifeat every round of MCE

BE PART OF IT!

*Calls will cost 7 pence per minute, plus your phone company's access charge.

*

Opening hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 4pm. *Based on an average customer saving of £243. Saving compared tobuying two separate Carole Nash policies. Average customer = 48 year old male with 7 years NCB, riding a Honda 900RR Fireblade and a BMWR1200 GS. Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference no. 307243. Carole Nash is a trading style of Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd, registered in England and Wales no. 2600841.

0800 093 5577You can only get this offer by callingSave up to £243 with a

Multi-Bike policy through Carole Nash*

If you ride more than one bike, you could save money!*

Page 63: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com/digital

I NSURANC E #MCNWednesday | 17 June 2015 |63

For those tight corners.Andy, 45, York

To meet people like me.Tim, 36, Birmingham

For the adventure.

Max, 48, Sheffield

That’s why I ride

Recommended by riders Common modifications covered as standard 24 hour claims

Motorcycle insurance specialist Bennetts Exclusives Bonuses†

Why ride with Bennetts?

For your chance to win a Suzuki GSX-R1000 and a monthly prize of £250 worth of kit*

Get a new quote at bennetts.co.uk 0800 107 0778

#thatswhyiride

*Prize draw available to direct quotes only obtained before 31st October 2015.For full Terms and Conditions please visit www.bennetts.co.uk/whyiride-tcs.

†Full details of Bennetts Exclusives can be found when you purchase a policy, register and log in to www.bennetts.co.uk/rewards.

Page 64: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

GO

LD

&G

OO

SE

DANNY KENTSHOWS CLASSIN EPIC VICTORY

p77

GET ALL THE MCE BSB GOSSIP!

OFFICIAL TITLE SPONSOR

SIMPLY ‘LIKE’ BIG ED ON FACEBOOK

www.motorcyclenews.com

BSB PREVIEW

Many thought Michael Laverty wouldbe a force to reckoned with as he re-turned to MCE British Superbikes after aseason in MotoGP. But it hasn’t workedout like that so far.

He’s struggled to get his BMWS1000RR to work the way he wants itto and he’s been overshadowed by histeam-mate Tommy Bridewell, whoeven had the audacity to snatch a winlast time out at Oulton Park.

But the Northern Irishman is nowconvinced that the team have diag-nosed the source of the issues withthe bike. He says they have done a lotof work since the last round and is tar-

MotoGP refugee is ready to prove he can be a BSB front-runner after solving major problems with his BMW

‘We can really get going now

and show the true potential of

the bike’ MICHAEL LAVERTY

DO

UB

LE

RE

D

New helmet antenna seems to be doing the trick for Michael Laverty and his BMW

LAVERTY’S FIXED IT!

geting a podium place this weekend at Snetterton, where the series bursts back into life after its seven-week break.

His main problem has been around the complicated fly-by-wire throt-tle system, which has then created problems with getting to handle in the way he would like. But the Tyco team claim to have the issue sorted and are confident in their man’s ability to get back on the pace.

“We’ve been going round the houses, but finally we’ve put our finger on it and have a bike that responds exactly how I expect it to. That means that I can concentrate now on getting the very best out of the bike and out of myself – and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season!

“It’s frustrating in some ways that it happened just before the break, because we had a long time before we could

SIMON PATTERSON

[email protected]

BRITISH SUPERBIKE

REPORTER

Page 65: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

65BUYING & SELLING SPORTFEATURESTHIS WEEK NEW BIKES GARAGE June 17 2015

‘It’s a good sign.I’m already on

the podium as itis, so all I need ismarginal gains’

JOSH BROOKES

‘I was pulling huge

wheelies on the slow

down lap because I

was so happy!’MICHAEL LAVERTY

Another man fired up for Snetterton is Josh Brookes, who, with the help of some much-anticipated new parts for the new Milwaukee Yamaha R1, smashed the lap record at the circuit during last month’s official test.

Waiting weeks on a new fuel tank to replace the standard road-going item and lower the bike’s centre of mass, Brookes says he couldn’t believe the difference the changes made to the overall performance of the bike.

“The plan with the new tank was to put it on with a half fuel load, so that the bike should have felt the same, and then put in a full load and see if it’s consistent. But the beauty of it has been that straight away the bike is better in every single way with the new tank!

“I went from the old tank with 10 litres in to the new tank with 10 litres in and went 0.7 a lap faster! Even without looking at what it’s like in the first five laps, it’s better in every way.”

Laverty might’ve

missed the recent test,

but it won’t take long

to get up to speed on

the Tyco BMW

However, with one-lap pace very different from race performance, it’ll be on track this weekend before the changes properly show their worth – but Brookes is remaining confident.

“It’s a good sign for the rest of the year, but the main thing is that we don’t even need big changes. I’m already on the podium as it is, so all I need is marginal gains – if I can find a couple of tenths in the first few laps of a race then I can be fighting for the wins.”

Fans visiting this weekend’s

Snetterton round will be in for a

treat not only on track but also in the

air, with the 6 Regiment Army Air

Corps thrilling the crowds with one

of their Apache attack helicopters.

The machine will not only be on

Have a high old time at Snetterton

display in the paddock during the

weekend, but will also take to the air

on Sunday for a display flight over

the historic airfield circuit.

On top of that, the Army team

will also be offering visitors the

opportunity to take to the skies

themselves and get a great view

over the track. The Air Corp’s very

own hot air balloon will be used for

these special flights.

RECORD MAN BROOKES ON SONG WITH IMPROVED R1

Snetterton, NorfolkLength 2.99 miles

Corners 12

Lap record 1:47.882 (Josh Brookes, 2014)

Absolute lap record 1:46.861 (Josh Brookes, 2015)

2014 race winners Shane Byrne (x2)

2014 pole positions Shane Byrne (x2)

Agostini

Murrays

Brundle

Bomb Hole

Nelson

Coram

Riches

Palmer

MontrealWilliams

Oggies

Hamilton

Bentley Straight

get going and show the true potential of the bike – but the second race at Oulton showed me that it’s actually a bit of a weapon. It’s nice to be feeling so positive now after a difficult start to the season.”

Laverty and his team turned the corner at Oulton. In between the two BSB races, they made some major dis-coveries and changes, and he finished fourth as a result.

“I rode the out lap from the pits at Oulton and thought ‘hmmm, some-thing’s different here!’ I came onto the grid and was going to tell the boys we’d cracked it, but didn’t want to say anything until I’d pushed it. I knew on the first lap, though – as soon as I got into that battle and could do what they were doing for the first time this year. I fixed 15 problems all at once, and I was pulling huge wheelies on the slowing

down lap because I was so happy!“Up until that moment, I was starting

to think I was losing the plot! The team were reinventing the wheel between sessions, trying to fix all these chas-sis problems, and in the end it was all caused by an electronics fault!”

Laverty hasn’t had a chance to test the new settings further though – and now needs to explore a whole world of new chassis configurations that were previously discarded by the team. The

Tyco squad has been flat out at the TT, so much so that it meant Laverty missed the BSB test at Snetterton a couple of weeks ago.

“It’s a little frustrating not to have got to the Snetterton test, but from the team’s perspective the TT has to take priority at the minute. They’ve got big backing from BMW in order to perform at the TT and North West 200, and I haven’t given them any grief about it. But to be honest it probably only puts us down the time sheets for one or two sessions. If the weather’s good all weekend, it generally doesn’t affect the end result come race day.”

Even with a lack of testing, though, Laverty has a new confidence about him, with the former British Supersport champion upbeat about his prospects for the remainder of the year – despite admitting that it’s been a struggle so far.

“I’ll have a bike at Snetterton that’s capable of running at the front, and then it’s all up to me. I haven’t had all my ducks in a row so far, and it’s frustrating because people have been saying ‘oh, it’s good to see you enjoy-ing being back in BSB’ – and I wasn’t! That personal satisfaction was gone, because when you’re giving everything and not getting the best out of the bike it brings question marks!

“I’m very confident that I can stand on the podium for the first time this year. There are so many potential race winners but I think I can join that party now too. To say you’re going to win races when you haven’t been on the podium yet is a bit of a statement to make, but I can at the very least be in that fight. These things are sent to test us though, and it’ll just make it sweeter for the second part of the season.”

Page 66: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

METZELER & HUTCHYRULING THE ROAD.

METZELER and Ian Hutchinson take 3 IOM TT victories.Road Racing technology, RACETECTM RR and SPORTECTM M7RR,A�FAMILY�OF�PRODUCTS�TO�GIVE�TOTAL�CONl�DENCE��WHEREVER�YOU�RIDE�

© J

oh J

esso

p ph

otog

raph

y

Page 67: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

67 BUYING &SELLING SPORTFEATURESNEW BIKESTHIS WEEK GARAGE June 15 2015

ROTORS, WE’LL HAVE YOU INHOSPITAL IN TWO MINUTES’

People often say that TT racers don’tpush to the limit. Trust me that’sbullshit. Every rider, from the frontto the back, lives on the limit of theirability. The problem is you can’t keeppoking an angry dog in the eye andexpect to get away with it, somethingI’ve learnt now.

As I started the mountain climb infinal practice for the Lightweight raceI was pushing way too hard. I made amistake at the Gooseneck then RyanFarquhar overtook me on the exit and,despite his superior skill, experienceand bike, I was determined to stay withhim, at least to the Mountain Mile. Idropped my right knee on the deck atGuthrie’s, brushed the wall with myright shoulder and tapped up a gearon the exit with 100% throttle. But asRyan disappeared around the next leftI was in a whole world of trouble: I wasrunning wide, running out of road andheading into the mountain.

My Kawasaki-powered twin rode offthe side of the road and into a cliff face.For a brief second I thought I might getaway with it, then I was launched intothe air. I remember taking a big impactto my head and right thigh. I seemed

to be sliding down the road for ages.When I came to rest I crawled to the

side of the road and called the marshalsfor help. I was worried another riderwould hit me or the bike – then the painkicked in. The marshals told me an airmedical team was on their way and thesession had been red-flagged. At thetime I thought they were overreacting,but they were looking at a rider with asmashed helmet and heavily batteredleathers. The impact was so big it hadripped off the sole of my left RST boot.Thankfully, one marshal called back tothe paddock to give my fiancée Sarah

CHAD’S TT DIAR

By Adam Child

an update. She got the message I wasalive, sat up and talking, worst casescenario a few broken bones.

Within no time at all I was on the spi-nal board and carried to the chopper. Iremember the air medical guy saying,“Close your eyes as you go under the

rotors, we will have you in hospitalin less than two minutes”. The staffat Noble’s hospital were outstandingand within an hour my entire lowerhalf had been X-rayed. It turned outI’d been lucky, I’d got away with justheavy muscle and tissue damage.

Just a few hours after leaving casu-alty I was calculating how I could raceagain. My team of Motorcycle Academystudents only had two days to rebuildthe bike and I had lots of physio ahead.In true TT style everyone chipped in:GB racing lent us some parts and weborrowed pegs from Simon Bleasdale of

Chad’s TT practice ended in a helicopter ride to Noble’s. But heand his British Motorcycling Academy team weren’t done yet

SBT Engine Perfection. While my teamof teenage students worked around theclock, stripping the bike to its frame,replacing the wheels and getting thesuspension and swingarm checked, Ispent the next two days in the ScottPhysiotherapy tent with Isla and hermagic team. Within 48 hours of crash-ing into a mountain I was declared fitby the Motorsport Medical Service,and after a few laps at Jurby airfieldwe were ready to race!

I’d like to tell you we had a fairytaleending, but we didn’t. I rode hard onthe first lap, managing a 107.3mphfrom a standing start – and I’d takenGuthrie’s cleanly. We’d moved into thetop 35 and the fuel stop was smooth andprofessional. By the second lap I wasstarting to hurt, but the more worryingissue was that the clocks had moved,clearly something was vibrating loose.

The clocks are held in place by twobolts and as I entered the 13th milestonethe second bolt failed, leaving themhanging on by tie-wraps and bouncingaround in the top faring. So with onehand in the air I rolled off the powerand pulled over at Kirk Michael. Wordscan’t describe the gut-retching feel-ing of retiring from the TT on the lastlap. But this year it wasn’t meant to be.

‘The impact wasso big it had rippedoff the sole of my left RST boot’

The BMMA team worked

hard to rebuild Chad’s twin

In pain, but

ready to race

Arai did its job

in protecting

Chad’s bonce

Page 68: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Brothers Ben and Tom Birchall on their way to a clean sweep in the sidecar races

All that rehab was

worth it for TT

comeback king

Hutchinson

STEPHEN DAVISONAT THE ISLE OF MAN

ROADS REPORTER

www.motorcyclenews.com

68 SPORT

The opening Superbike race, wonby Bruce Anstey on the ValvolinePadgetts Honda, was followed by thefirst Sidecar and Supersport TTs onMonday. Brothers Ben and Tom Birchall and Ian Hutchinson were the race win-ners at the start of a week that wouldsee the trio add to their TT tallies. This is how an epic week of racing – wit-nessed by more than 40,000 fans that travelled to the Island – panned out.

Superstock TT: Hutchy

continues winning ways

Held over until Tuesday, the Superstock race saw Ian Hutchinson continue his

Lap records tumble in a week of perfect conditions and

‘Over thefour years that Ihave been away

Dunlop’s beenthe man here and

I knew he wasgoing to make

my life hard’IAN HUTCHINSON

incredible comeback from the seriousleg injury he sustained in 2010 to takehis 10th TT win on Paul Bird’s KawasakiZX-10R. Bird’s last TT win was in 2000when Joey Dunlop won the FormulaOne race on an SP1 Honda.

Hutchy survived a last lap excursioninto the undergrowth at Bedstead totake the chequered flag from MichaelDunlop on the MD Racing BMW.

“I am a bit embarrassed about itreally,” Hutchy said after his off roadmoment.

“In all the time that I have raced hereI’ve never even clipped a kerb. The bikewas cutting out from the Bungalowbecause I was so low on fuel and itcut out completely on me on the left-hander so I just went up the kerb on tothe pavement and gave the banking abit of a bang. It looks ridiculous but itwasn’t because I was trying too hard.”

ROADS | ISLE OF MAN | ROUND-UP

Dunlop had set the early pace, lap-ping at almost 131mph from a standing start to lead Hutchinson into the pits at the end of lap two. The PBM squad elected to change the ZX-10R’s rear Metzeler, an incredible feat achieved in just 35s thanks to hours of practice by mechanic Steven Neate and clever adjustments to keep the brake caliper and spacers in place. The result was a pit stop four seconds faster than Dunlop’s, giving Hutchy extra grip and it proved to be the turning point of the race.

In spite of feeling the effects of his crash during Saturday’s Superbike race, Dunlop held on to secure second, his only podium finish of TT 2015.

“It’s just not easy holding onto these bikes when you are not 100% fit,” he said after his challenge faded to allow Hutchy to win by 17 seconds.

“It’s more special beating Michael

Dunlop,” Hutchy revealed after the race. “Over the four years that I have been away he’s been the man round here and I knew he was going to make my life hard when I finally did get back to being able to push. All the hard work I put in over the winter, when people were taking the piss out of me for going to the gym, has paid off.”

Dunlop’s compatriot Lee Johnston was in tears after taking his first ever TT rostrum finish. The ECC/Burdens BMW rider clocked the fastest Super-stock speed trap time ever recorded at 191.2mph to help him close down on James Hillier’s Quattro Plant Muc Off Kawasaki and grab third by 0.3s.

“I saw I was only about four sec-onds behind at Ramsey and I decided to push like mad over the Mountain,” Johnston said.

Guy Martin was in contention for a

podium before he lost 35 seconds in the pits when an overheating battery prevented his Tyco BMW S1000RR from firing up after refuelling.

Although Dunlop’s year-old lap record wasn’t broken all of the first four home broke the old race record.

Zero TT: McGuinness takes

TT win #22

John McGuinness led home a field of just seven starters and six finishers in the electric bike race on Wednesday. The Morecambe man raised the lap record by almost 2mph to 119.279mph to win for the second year in succession on the Mugen Shinden. Team-mate Bruce Anstey was four seconds behind in second. Lee Johnston trailed in third over a minute later on the Victory ma-chine. Guy Martin was fourth on the second Victory.

M

Page 69: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

TTRESULTS

1 Ian Hutchinson Kawasaki 01:10:05.298

2 Michael Dunlop BMW 01:10:22.437

3 Lee Johnston BMW 01:10:30.677

4 James Hillier Kawasaki 01:10:30.947

5 Peter Hickman BMW 01:10:50.444

Pos Rider Machine Race time

6 David Johnson. 7 Guy Martin. 8 John McGuinness. 9 Bruce Anstey. 10

Conor Cummins. 11 Michael Rutter. 12 Dan Kneen. 13 Dean Harrison. 14

Ivan Lintin. 15 Daniel Cooper. 16 Ross Mountford. 17 Martin Jessopp. 18

Alan Bonner. 19 Ryan Kneen. 20 Daniel Hegarty. 21 Michael Sweeney.

22 Jamie Coward. 23 Sam West. 24 Ian Pattinson. 25 Christopher

Dixon. 26 John Ingram. 27 Derek McGee. 28 Paul Shoesmith. 29 Ben

Wylie. 30 Allann Venter. 31 Nuno Caetano. 32 Kamil Holan. 33 Dominic

Herbertson. 34 Tom McHale. 35 Mark Miller. 36 James Neesom. 37

Rafael Paschoalin. 38 Bill Callister. 39 Steve Heneghan. 40 Alan

Connor. 41 Philip Crowe. 42 Mark Goodings. 43 David Madsen-Mygdal.

44 Matthew Rees. 45 Xavier Denis. 46 Paul Duckett.

MarTrain Yamaha’s Dean

Harrison had a torrid 2015 TT,

suffering numerous breakdowns

as he struggled with mechanical

failures and handling issues with

the new R1. Harrison blew an

engine in the opening Supersport

race and retired from the second

with a broken clutch. His best

finish was a 13th place in the

stocker race before he posted a

130mph lap on the R1 superbike

in the Senior.

“Frustrating,” was how Honda’s

Conor Cummins described his

TT race week. The Ramsey man’s

factory Fireblade broke down

in the Superbike race before he

took a seventh and eighth in the

Supersport races on his Jackson

Racing CBR600RR. Eighth place

was the best he could manage in

the Superstock race before the

29-year-old posted his fastest

ever TT lap at 131.7mph in the

Senior to take sixth.

Ryan Farquhar suffered a

disappointing TT comeback as

he failed to finish the Superbike,

Superstock, Supertwin or

Senior races on his SGS/KMR

Kawasakis.

Keith Amor crashed out of his TT

comeback when he dropped his

Rig Deluge Honda at Stella Maris

in the first Supersport race.

Dave Molyneux’s runner- up spot

in the second Sidecar TT retained

his record of having finished on

the podium at all of the last 20

TTs he has competed in.

SUPERSTOCK: TUESDAY

1 Ian Hutchison Yamaha 01:11:58.750

2 Bruce Anstey Honda 01:12:13.570

3 Guy Martin Triumph 01:12:30.775

4 James Hillier Kawasaki 01:12:39.835

5 Gary Johnson Yamaha 01:12:53.400

Pos Rider Machine Race time

6 Lee Johnston. 7 Conor Cummins. 8 John McGuinness. 9 Dan Kneen. 10

David Johnson. 11 Peter Hickman. 12 Ivan Lintin. 13 Cameron Donald. 14

Jamie Hamilton. 15 Daniel Cooper. 16 James Cowton. 17 Dan Stewart. 18

Michael Rutter. 19 Derek McGee. 20 Michal Dokoupil. 21 Robert Wilson.

22 Ian Pattinson. 23 Christopher Dixon. 24 James Ford. 25 Bjorn

Gunnarsson. 26 Davy Morgan. 27 Jim Hodson. 28 Hudson Kannaugh. 29

Mark Parrett. 30 Colin Stephenson. 31 Sam West. 32 George Spence. 33

Paul Shoesmith. 34 Nuno Caetano. 35 James Shipley. 35 Allann Venter.

37 Adrian Harrison. 38 Timothee Monot. 39 Paul Baleta. 40 Xavier

Denis. 41 Andrew Soar. 42 Matthew Rees. 43 Robbin Harms. 44 Chris

Petty. 45 Richard McLoughin. 46 David Madsen-Mygdal.

SUPERSPORT: WEDNESDAY

1 Ivan Linton Kawasaki 57:06.070

2 James Hillier Kawasaki 57:09.945

3 Michael Rutter Paton 57:43.318

4 James Cowton Kawasaki 58:05.032

5 Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki 58:15.457

Pos Rider Machine Race time

6 Daniel Cooper. 7 Michael Russell. 8 Mark Miller. 9 Conor Behan. 10

Daniel Webb. 11 Derek McGee. 12 James Ford. 13 Tuukka Korhonen.

14 Bjorn Gunnarsson. 15 David Johnson. 16 Adrian Harrison. 17 Maria

Costello. 18 Jamie Coward. 19 James Shipley. 20 Paul Shoesmith.

21 Xavier Denis. 22 Michal Dokoupil. 23 Ben Rea. 24 Chris Petty. 25

Paul Baleta. 26 David Madsen-Mygdal. 27 Anthony Redmond. 28 Dave

Moffit. 29 Brian McCormack. 30 Wayne Axon. 31 Ian Pattinson. 32 Alan

Bud Jackson. 33 Tim Sayers. 34 Jack Hunter. 35 Daniel Harrison. 36

Billy Cummins. 37 Paul Duckett.

LIGHTWEIGHT: FRIDAY

1 John McGuinness Honda 01:09:23.903

2 James Hillier Kawasaki 01:09:38.117

3 Ian Hutchinson Kawasaki 01:09:44.730

4 Guy Martin BMW 01:09:52.148

5 Michael Dunlop BMW 01:10:03.010

Pos Rider Machine Race time

6 Conor Cummins. 7 Peter Hickman. 8 Bruce Anstey. 9 David Johnson.

10 Michael Rutter. 11 Dean Harrison. 12 Gary Johnson. 13 Dan Kneen. 14

Martin Jessopp. 15 Alan Bonner. 16 Russ Mountford. 17 Daniel Cooper.

18 Daniel Hegarty. 19 Sam West. 20 James Cowton. 21 Ryan Keeton. 22

Jamie Coward. 23 Ian Pattinson. 24 Brian McCormack. 25 Mark Parrett.

26 Paul Shoesmith. 27 Kamil Holan. 28 Nuno Caetano. 29 Christopher

Dixon. 30 Rafael Paschoalin. 31 Brandon Cretu. 32 Tom McHale. 33

Michael Russell. 34 Allan Venter. 35 Bill Callister. 36 George Spence.

37 David Hewson. 38 Andrew Soar. 39 Colin Stephenson. 40 Mark

Goodings. 41 Alan Connor. 42 Xavier Denis. 43 Steve Heneghan. 44

David Madsen-Mygdal. 45 Anthony Redmond. 46 Philip Crowe. 47 Paul

Duckett. 48 Matthew Rees. 49 Fabrice Miguet.

SENIOR: FRIDAY

1 John McGuinness Mugen 18:58.743

2 Bruce Anstey Mugen 19:02.785

3 Lee Johnston Victory 20:16.881

4 Guy Martin Victory 20:38.987

5 Robert Wilson Sarolea 21:15.256

6 Michael Sweeney Notts Uni 30:56.695

Pos Rider Machine Race time

TT ZERO: WEDNESDAY

1 Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall LCR 58:24.971. 2 Dave Molyneux/Ben Binns

Suzuki 58:32.555. 3 John Holden/Dan Sayle LCR 58:44.836. 4 Conrad

Harrison/Milke Ayl Shelbourne Honda 01:00:00.881. 5 Ian Bell/Carl Bell

LCR 01:00:58.065. 6 Matt Dix/Shaun Parker Baker Yamaha 01:01:51.854.

7 Wayne Lockey/Mark Saye Ireson Honda 01:02:37.392. 8 Steve

Ramsden/Matty Ra LCR 01:02:52.696. 9 Robert Handcock/Aki Aalt

Baker 01:03:03.752. 10 Tony Baker/Fiona Baker Suzuki 01:03:14.313

SIDECAR: WEDNESDAY

TT GOSSIP

20 years of podiums for Molyneux

Hero of the Zero. McGuinness lapped at 119mph on the Mugen Shinden electric bike

Anstey airborne in the Superbike TTDebut win for Lintin in the Lightweight

Hutchy goes on a TT nature trail

Hutchy smoked his

rivals then gave

the fans a good

smoking after the

Superstock TT

#MCNwednesday

69 BUYING & SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

intense racing as TT 2015 comes to a close

MEMBER

“I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I had a lot of fun out there,” McGuinness said. “I remember sitting on the bank with the missus in 1990 watching Hizzy doing the first 120mph on a RC30, so we are not a million miles away. Whether you like it or whether you don’t, whether you call it a TT or you don’t, they are calling it a TT and I will take it as a TT. It’s my 22nd win and 119mph on a 260kg bike with loads of lead and batteries on it is amazing.”

Second Supersport TT: Hutchy again as Guy sneaks a podiumBingley Bullet Ian Hutchinson com-pleted a stunning TT 2015 hat-trick with victory in the second 600cc race on the Team Traction Control Yamaha R6. Jubilant team boss and Prodigy frontman, Keith Flint punched the air

with delight as Hutchy crossed the line.“I am speechless, I’m just so proud,”

the rock star said as he embraced Hutchy in the winner’s enclosure. “It’s a massive thing for me. This means more than people could ever imagine.”

“It’s amazing to have a guy like Keith involved in racing and to be so genu-inely passionate about it,” Hutchinson said after his 14.8-second victory over Bruce Anstey.

“I asked him at the Donington World Superbike round if he fancied doing the TT with a week to go and I think he was gobsmacked. Now he’s won two TTs!”

Circulating with Hutchy, Guy Martin grabbed a tow on his Smith’s Triumph that helped him get the better of Hillier (Quattro Plant Muc Off Kawasaki) in their battle for third spot, 17 seconds behind Anstey. It was Martin’s 16th TT podium finish without a win.

Second sidecar TT: Birchall’s double delightBen and Tom Birchall made it a double on their Manx Gas LCR Honda outfit in the fastest sidecar TT of all-time.

The Mansfield brothers followed on from their success in Monday’s race by taking a start-to-finish win but local hero Dave Molyneux and passenger Ben Binns (DMR Suzuki) pushed them all the way. On the final lap the Manx veteran established a new lap record of 116.785mph, just two thousandths of a second faster than the Birchalls, as they surpassed Nick Crowe’s 2007 mark.

“Dave is the man to beat around here,” Ben Birchall explained. “I got sight of him on the third lap and that kept me going. I was getting a sniff of his brakes and could see the dust he was leaving behind. That stopped me from making mistakes.”

Lightweight TT: 120mph lap on a commuter bikeIvan Lintin took his maiden TT win in Friday morning’s three-lap Lightweight race on the RC Express ER6 Kawasaki.

The Lincolnshire rider held off the challenge of James Hillier (Quattro Plant Muc Off Kawasaki) who raised the lap record for the class to over 120mph. Lintin also broke the old record on the final lap as he beat the Ringwood rider by 3.8 seconds but Hillier was three thousandths of a second faster at 120.848mph. Michael Rutter was third on the ILR Paton.

Lintin said: “I can remember when I came to the Manx GP and I was doing 116mph on my 600. I thought ‘flipping heck how do you go any faster around here?’ and now we are doing that and a lot more on a commuter bike. It should have panniers and a top box on it!”

PA

CE

MA

KE

R P

RE

SS

IN

TL

Page 70: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

70 SPORT ROADS | ISLE OF MAN

If 2015 was the year of the come-back for Ian Hutchinson and JohnMcGuinness it was also the year ofthe breakthrough into the top levelof TT racing for James Hillier andPeter Hickman.

“Yes, I guess it was,” Hillier agreedon the morning after the SeniorTT. “Things just gelled for me and I

Hickman and Hillier make the step up to join the 131 and 132mph TT club

‘Things just gelled. I moved out of my comfort zone and

on to the next level’JAMES HILLIER

PA

CE

MA

KE

R P

RE

SS

IN

TL

.

moved out of my comfort zone and on to the next level.”

The Quattro Plant Muc Off Kawasaki star enjoyed a stellar 2015 TT, finish-ing third in the opening Superbike TT and runner-up to Ivan Lintin in the Lightweight race after setting a new lap record for the twins class. He was on the podium again in Friday’s Senior, finishing second to John McGuinness and posting a 132mph lap on his ZX-10R.

“One of the best things is that I did it by myself,” the 30-year-old said, referring to the criticism that his pre-vious fastest TT laps have come when

he has run in the wheel tracks of John McGuinness. “I am proud of that,” he went on. “You have to do it on your own but there is still time to be made up. I am strong on the first sector and I led to Glen Helen in most races but I have to go quicker over the mountain. I will concentrate on that section next year.”

Hillier’s comment reflects his pre-cise approach to TT racing. “I think you have to be methodical because it is such a long course and big event,” he said. “You have to work your way through it and if you do, the finished product will be so much better. Some

people go fast quickly but it is sketchy fast. You have to try to be safe.”

Earning his living as an electri-cian and selling bike gear through his website, www.yourmoto.bike, Hillier is confounding the experts by largely confining his racing to the TT.

“I just do what I enjoy,” he says. “At home I do enduros and trials. Short circuits just don’t appeal. I think it proves that you don’t have to be out on a bike all the time like some people say.”

Peter Hickman is another rider who is turning the perceived wisdom sur-rounding TT racing on its head. The

Louth man became the fastest new-comer in Mountain course history with a lap of 129.104mph in 2014. In 2015 Hickman left the experts, who say you need years to learn the 37¾-mile course, scratching their heads with a stunning 131.626mph lap in the Senior on his superstock-spec Briggs Equipment BMW S1000RR.

“I came thinking that perhaps I could crack 130 this year but not 131,” Hickman smiled afterwards. “I did a 130.4mph from a standing start, then a 130.5 on lap two, but words can’t describe how it felt to do the 131 on a

BREAKTHROUGHS

STEPHEN DAVISONAT THE ISLE OF MAN

ROADS REPORTER

D

Page 71: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Hickman flew on

the superstock

BMW to set a

131.626mph lap

Hillier joined

McGuinness and

Hutchy on Senior

TT podium

#MCNwednesday

71 BUYING & SELLING SPORT June 17 2015FEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES

‘I should’ve cracked

on more but to be

honest that’s as hard

as I could have gone’GUY MARTIN

‘We have exceededwhatever we weregoing to do when

we came’MICHAEL DUNLOP

TT 2015 will be a meeting Guy Martin and his Tyco BMW team-mate, William Dunlop, will want to forget.

“I’m not doom and gloom but look at the facts, we’ve not had the best of race weeks,” Martin admitted after a tough week that once again saw him fail to realise his dream of winning a TT.

The fast-talking truck fitter’s Superbike TT lasted less than four miles before his S1000RR ground to a halt with an electrical problem at Glenlough. William Dunlop managed a fifth place finish in the six-lapper, more than two minutes behind race winner, Bruce Anstey.

Things went from bad to worse for the Northern Ireland-based squad when the Ballymoney rider was ruled out of action for the rest of race week after he sustained broken ribs in a crash dur-ing a practice lap on Monday. Martin inherited the Victory electric bike that the injured Dunlop was to ride in the Zero TT, and finished fourth.

With so much expectation on the Tyco squad’s TT performance after the shift from Suzuki to BMW machinery during the winter, Martin’s seventh place finish in Wednesday afternoon’s Superstock event offered little comfort.

The 33-year-old had been putting in a strong performance before his S1000RRwas slow to start following the fuel stop.Guy’s pitlane gremlins had struck ear-lier when the Lincolnshire racer wasdocked 30 seconds for speeding dur-ing a pitstop on the Smith’s Triumphduring the opening Supersport race.Martin regrouped to take his 16th TTpodium with a third-place finish inSupersport race two.

With controversy raging aroundMichael Dunlop following his de-fection from Milwaukee Yamaha toBuildbase BMW during TT practice, theBallymoney star struggled to make theimpact he desperately wanted duringrace week.

The 26-year-old’s campaign wasblighted by the injuries he picked upafter being knocked off his BuildbaseBMW in Sunday’s opening Superbikerace. Backmarker Scott Wilson crashedat The Nook just as Dunlop caught himon the final lap. Wilson’s Honda skittledDunlop, leaving the Irishman with aninjured shoulder and leg.

Limping heavily throughout raceweek, last year’s four-time win-ner’s best performance came in theSuperstock race where he finishedsecond on his MD Racing BMW.

“I just struggled all the way,” Dunlopsaid after the race.“The first couple oflaps weren’t too bad and I just triedto push on. I said to myself come on,we will dig deep here. I knew I had topush in the first lap and I did, and thenit just fell apart from there. The bodyhas just had enough.”

When he pulled out of Wednesday’sSupersport race after a single lap, ru-mours circulated that the Ballymoneyman had gone home, but he appearedon the line for Friday’s Senior race.

Dunlop in a sling after Friday’s Senior

A personal best lap for Guy still wasn’t enough to take his maiden TT victory

“I do think that the bike is betterthan that, better than third place,” hesaid afterwards.

“It does go like shit off a shovel. Ithink I should have just got my fingerout of my backside and cracked on a bitmore but to be honest that’s as hard asI could have gone.”

INJURY-HIT MICHAEL DUNLOP STRUGGLES

A TT TO FORGET FOR MARTIN AND TYCO

DELIVERsuperstock bike. I am really, really happy.”

It was the culmination of an im-pressive TT race week for the lanky BSB star as he posted performances that will put him firmly in the sights of the big teams for next season.

His eighth place finish in the opening Superbike race was eclipsed by his pace in the Superstock race, earning him an impressive fifth place overall. “I didn’t realise just how close I was to a podium finish in that race,” Hickman explained. “I ended up 20 seconds behind third but I actually lost 16 seconds in the last sector because I was running out of petrol.”

Having only acquired a Trooper Beer liveried MV Agusta 675 for the Supersport races just as TT practice began, the 28-year-old steered the Valmoto-prepared machine to an 11th place finish with a 126mph fastest lap.

But Hickman saved his best to last, posting his first 131mph TT lap and finishing seventh in the Senior.

“It is only year two for me and I am still learning,” he said. “I have been back over to the Island three or four times during the winter to do laps in the car just to make sure I still remember where I am going and I will definitely be back again next year. The TT is part of me now.”

on the Buildbase BMW to become the second fastest rider ever around the Mountain course. The 26-year-old appeared at the prize-giving with his right arm in a sling as his collected his fifth place award.

It was scant consolation for the man who has won eight TT races in the last two years, especially after his deci-sion to abandon the uncompetitive

Martin told MCN he was enjoying the TT, walking his dog Nigel to help him relax between races.

Although Guy managed a lap of 132.398mph in Friday’s Senior, he never looked likely to challenge the leaders, eventually finishing almost 30 seconds behind winner John McGuinness.

Milwaukee Yamaha R1 in practice week.“The team I came with wasn’t giv-

ing me the tools to do the job,” he said. “These boys (Steve Hicken’s Buildbase squad) came and we took two bikes out of the back of a van. We have exceeded whatever we were going to do when we came. It’s funny how one mistake at the start of the week can wreck your two weeks. I came here fighting fit. Not through my own fault I went down and we have just been struggling ever since.”

In spite of his injuries, and riding the S1000RR superbike that he had only completed two laps of practice on, Dunlop posted a final lap of 132.515mph

Page 72: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

72 SPORT

TT legend, John McGuinness demon-strated why he is still the King of theMountain by winning last Friday’sSenior race. The Honda racing starequalled Mike Hailwood’s record ofseven Senior wins as he smashed theoutright lap record to win his 23rd TT.

“The real John McGuinness turnedup today,” the 43-year-old smiled ashe savoured his moment of glory witha pint and a pizza. “I gave everythingtoday. There was 19 years of TT experi-ence ploughed into those laps. If anyonecould do more, then they could have it.”

On the day, no-one could do more.McGuinness bounced back from thewrist injury that had destroyed his 2014season to prove he is still the master ofthe toughest motorcycle race on theplanet. The Morecambe Missile was adifferent man in the Senior race to theone that he admitted had “doubtedhimself” after finishing fourth in theopening Superbike race a week earlier.

“I was putting a lot of effort in butdidn’t feel I was getting anywhere,”McGuinness said. “But I knew therewas no reason why I couldn’t win.”

Intensely focussed on the start line,McGuinness immediately took thefight to his rivals. First down BrayHill on the factory Fireblade, he waslying second with just three secondscovering the leader, Ian Hutchinsonand third-placed Michael Dunlopwhen the red flags came out follow-ing Jamie Hamilton’s crash at Cronky Voddy (see right).

In the restarted four-lapper, theHonda man’s charge was even moredominant. Once again the pace wasnothing short of extreme. Less than asecond split early leader James Hillier,McGuinness and Hutchinson beforeMcGuinness moved to the front at the

struggling Hutchinson for second spot.Behind the leaders Guy Martin

showed that he still is one of the fast-est TT racers by also breaking throughthe 132mph barrier on lap two to securefourth spot on the Tyco BMW. MichaelDunlop joined the 132mph club withthe second fastest Mountain courselap of all time at 132.515mph on theBuildbase BMW to finish fifth.

But the day belonged to a resurgentand triumphant McGuinness. He im-mediately paid tribute to his Hondacrew and highlighted some key changesthey had made to the bike between theSuperbike and Senior races.

“We changed the rear tyre com-pound,” McGuinness explained. “Weput the slightly harder rear tyre onwhich is the tyre Bruce won on in thefirst race. We thought there is nothingelse we can do. The Honda might not bethe fastest bike but it’s not the slowestand it’s a sweet-handling thing. I knowhow it reacts to everything.”

Undoubtedly the change that madethe greatest difference was to the manrather than the machine. Aware thathis critics had written him off after hisdesultory performances earlier in theweek, the 43-year-old used the slightsto fire himself up. “When I read thatI was 16-to-1 with the bookies for theSenior I was really pissed off. I knewthere was no reason why I couldn’t doit the way I had in 2013.”

McGuinness added the Senior victoryto the win he had taken on the Mugenearlier in the week in the Zero electricbike TT, bringing him to within threevictories of Joey Dunlop’s all-time tally.

“We are real close to Joey’s recordnow,” he reflected. “To match Joey’s26 and hang my boots up would be agreat thing to do. It’s still three winsand I’m getting older and these boysare coming stronger and stronger. Idon’t want to retire, I just love racingmy bikes too much. It won’t let go ofme this TT track, it’s got hold of me. It’slike a drug and won’t let go. We’ll see!”

-year-o e es e oo es o a e s unn ng en or w n an new ap reco

‘When I read that Iwas 16-to-1 to win

the Senior I wasreally p****d off’

JOHN McGUINNESS

Bungalow. Laying down the fastest ever standing start TT lap at 131.850mph,McGuinness led Hutchy by 1.2 secondsby the start of the second circuit.

The atmosphere amongst the throngsof fans around the 37 ¾-mile coursewas electric as it became obvious theHonda star was on a flier. A massivecheer greeted McGuinness as he pulledinto Gasoline Alley to refuel at the endof lap two. Despite slowing for his pitstop, the Honda rider set an incrediblenew outright lap record of 132.701mph.

“I don’t know where that lap camefrom,” McGuinness said after the race.“I was concentrating so hard becauseI knew that if you get caught withyour pants down by just by 1/10th of asecond you are done. The boys got mein and out of the pits fantastically andI just gave it everything I could. Thereaction from the pits felt like it didwhen I broke the first 130mph lap. The

PA

CE

MA

KE

R P

RE

SS

IN

TL

A slick, calm pitstop allowed McGuinness to maintain his race leadHonda Racing’s Fireblade isn’t the quickest but it’s sweet-handling A popular result for a popular rider. Fans greet the winner on his return

STEPHEN DAVISONAT THE ISLE OF MAN

ROADS REPORTER

atmosphere on the grandstand and the reaction from everyone on the third lap was phenomenal. I was nearly crying.”

It was the turning point in the race. Unknown to McGuinness, his main rival’s challenge was already falter-ing. Hutchinson had lost vital seconds when he outbraked himself at Signpost on his way to the pit stop and by Glen Helen on lap three McGuinness had a 12-second cushion.

From that point on the Morecambe man made hay while the sun shone on the Mountain course. A 23-second lead at Ballaugh on the final circuit dropped to 17 by the flag as James Hillier banged in a 132.414mph lap to overhaul the

SENIOR TT SENSATION

ROADS | ISLE OF MAN | SENIOR TT

A

Page 73: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

73 BUYING &SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

‘It was a smallrattle at first butthe exhaust had

blown the pipe off’IAN HUTCHINSON

Only three more to go for Joey’s recordCelebrating with wife Becky, son Ewan and daughter Maisie Some had written him off but McPint knew he’d be back on top

Northern Ireland’s Jamie Hamilton, who crashed at Burnside on the sec-ond lap of the Senior TT, was airlifted to Nobles hospital and has since been transferred to Liverpool. The 24-year-old is described as being in a critical but stable condition.

Manx Grand Prix winner Roy Richardson also remains in hospital with serious leg injuries sustained in a practice crash at Ballagarey.

HUTCHINSONCHANCES OF FOURTH WIN EXHAUSTED

INJURED RIDER UPDATE

Ian Hutchinson was bitterly disap-pointed at not being able to add a superbike race win to his Superstock and double Supersport hat-trick in Friday’s Senior.

“I feel a bit flat not being able to finish the race, racing,” the 11 times winner said after having to nurse his PBM Kawasaki home with a broken exhaust header pipe.

“I made a little mistake coming into Signpost. I was braking with the throt-tle still open and it was just pushing me forward and I had to do a U-turn. I lost about 10 seconds there to John. I got the hammer down and was really enjoying riding until it sounded like the engine was starting to go. It was a small rattle at first but the exhaust had blown the front pipe off. Eventually it just went totally flat and took the power out of it.”

Hutchy’s dreams of a fourth win went

up in a cloud of exhaust smoke

The 2015 Senior race saw lap

times take a significant step

forward. Since John McGuinness

broke the 130mph barrier in 2007,

speeds have inched up slowly in

tenths or hundredths of a second.

Unfavourable conditions and

the lack of development of new

machinery have been blamed.

8.8 seconds divide a 131 from a

132mph lap and 2015 saw four

riders – John McGuinness, Michael

Dunlop, James Hillier and Guy

Martin – join the first man to break

the 132mph barrier, Bruce Anstey,

at the new benchmark.

Other riders who set notable

personal bests this year included

BSB star Peter Hickman with

131.626mph on the Superstock-

spec Briggs Equipment BMW during

the Senior.

David Johnson became the ninth

quickest TT racer of all-time and the

fastest ever Australian around the

Mountain course with an impressive

131.595mph on the Smiths BMW.

132 THE NEW BENCHMARK

ATS THE ODDS

John McGuinness broke the outright

lap record by over three seconds

Page 74: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

Page 75: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

75 BUYING &SELLING SPORTGARAGEFEATURESNEW BIKESTHIS WEEK June 17 2015

Ticket Current MCN

Price Offer Price

■3dayadultadmission £85 £70

■3daychildadmission

(11–15yrs) £20 £15

■Sundayadultadmission £70 £60

■Sundaychild(11–15yrs) £20 £15

■3dayadultadmission

andgrandstand £100 £90

■3daychildadmission

andgrandstand £50 £40

■Sundayadultadmission

andgrandstand £90 £80

■Sundaychildadmission

andgrandstand £40 £35

Generaladmissionfor all children aged 0–10 years is

FREE of charge.

MotoGP is coming home, with theBritish Grand Prix MotoGP returningto Silverstone on August 28-30, andpromising to be a fantastic three-dayfestival of motorcycle sport, all height-ened by our British riders enjoying theirmost successful season in decades.

Redding: ‘It’s home’

“Going back to Silverstone means alot. It’s our home GP, and I love ridingthere in front of the British crowd. Ijust really hope that I put on a goodshow, and it would be awesome toget a good result at Silverstone,” saidScott Redding

“I’m trying to understand the bikeas much as I can so that I can put on agood performance there. I’ve had somegood results over the last few years, andit would be a shame to let that drop, soI’m just trying to find a good rhythmbefore Silverstone, because for me it’sone of the best races of the season, soit’ll be really interesting to get there.”

Save £££ with MCN!

MCN have negotiated a cracking readeroffer for the 2015 British Grand PrixMotoGP at Silverstone this August28-30. MCN readers can save up to£15 per adult by taking advantage ofthis great deal.

It’s the one big domestic opportu-

Book Now!To take advantage of thisoffer visit www.silverstone.co.uk process your order andenter promotion code ‘MCNAUG’when prompted. Alternativelyplease phone the Silverstoneticket hotline on 08443750 500, and quote

‘MCNAUG’

LET’S FILL UPSILVERSTONE!Hot deals to help you back the Brits this August as MotoGP comes to the UK

UPGRADE TO‘CLUB CLASS’

Club Class hospitality is located

in Hall 4&5 of the stunning Wing

building, overlooking Club Corner.

You can watch from the balcony

or the Lakeside grandstand as the

riders approach the fast Stowe

corner before braking hard for the

tight left-hander at Vale.

Club Class upgrade includes:

■ All day catering package

■ Tea, coffee and water

■ Unreserved seating in

Lakeside grandstand

■ Indoor giant screen ■ Compere

Upgrade to Club Class

Adult Saturday £69

Child Saturday (8-15 years) £59

Adult Sunday £129

Child Sunday (8 -15 years) £109

Adult weekend £199

Child weekend (8-15 years) £149

nity of the year to see MotoGP live,and at one of the fastest tracks on thecalendar, being part of the crowd thatwelcomes our British riders to theirhome circuit. Silverstone are planninga three-day festival that includes ac-tion from MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 andClassic bikes. In addition to the action

on track there will be a line-up of actson the main stage and activity in theentertainment zone.

Three-day adult tickets are currentlypriced at £85 but can be purchasedusing the MCN offer at just £70 and adetailed breakdown of savings can be seen above.

Redding can’t waitfor Silverstone, makesure you are there too

www.BikeHPS.com/ebcOR ORDER ONLINE NOW...

Price excludes delivery. Calls may be recorded for training/security purposes. E&OE

01773 831122CALL US TODAY...

After years of research and development, the world's largest motorcycle brake pad manufacturer - EBC have introducedthis totally new breakthrough compound which outperforms all track-only pads ever tested by the HPS team.

Unbeatable high temperature fade resistanceInstant stopping power - even from cold and when wetSuperb feel and feedback at the brake leverMinimum ‘in-stop’ friction/retardation variation

Not only is this a superb pad compound, but HPS also offers you an exclusive limited-time two-for-onedeal and full Money Back Guarantee. Visit our website for more technical data or call us to discuss.

YOUR ON-TRACK ADVANTAGE

...DOUBLED EXCLUSIVELY AT HPS!

Compatible with all original or aftermarket steel discsFully approved by many leading racers and track ridersQuickly usable - minimal bedding-in requiredLowest pad wear and disc rotor abrasion levels

NOT FOR ROAD USE. The high friction levels delivered by this compound is for use with race tyres and unsuitable for any street/low adhesion surface. May invalidate road insurance as NOT ECE R 90 approved. These are not to be confused with EBC's

regular Road Performance ‘Double-H’ or GPFA Race pads. *HPS MONEY BACK GUARANTEE, If you don't think these are the best race/track pads you've used, return your used set with the unused packaged 2nd set for a full refund - exc. postage.

FROM...

£54 PERCALIPER

DOUBLED...BUY ONE SETGET ANOTHERABSOLUTELY

FREESAVE UP TO £132

LIMITED TIME OFFERAVAILABLE ONLY FROM HPS

FOR RACE &TRACK DAY

USE ONLY

EXCLUSIVEMONEY BACKGUARANTEE*

FROM HPS

“...the pads I was looking

for all along.”

Matt Wildee, Editor

Performance Bikes Magazine

HIGHESTPERFORMING,LATEST RACECOMPOUND

Page 76: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

STILL THEBEST.

We're the most successful tyre

manufacturer in the history of the TT.

/ In 2015 we claimed Senior TT, Superbike

and TT Zero wins, the outright lap record

and another 10 podiums.

/ This year saw John McGuinness's 23rd TT

win on Dunlop tyres.

www.dunlopmotorcycle.co.uk

Page 77: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

Sam Lowes moved into third in theMoto2 championship standings afteranother solid result in Catalunya. TheEnglishman was fourth for the thirdconsecutive race, and his consistencycompared to last year’s erratic seasonhas been a revelation.

Having been a serial crasher last yearin Moto2, Lowes has been able to ironout his mistakes and ride to the limit inraces without overstepping the mark.

“This was another really good week-end and we’ve made so much progresswith the bike, especially in the heat. Ithink that we’re really strong right nowand I can’t wait for Assen. I love thattrack and I’m really confident aboutmy chances there.”

Having spent last week testing inSpain, Lowes will test again this weekto evaluate a host of new parts includ-ing new front forks.

“In the test I’ll use the new front forkswhich Johann Zarco (Moto2 champi-onship leader) has been using and theyshould be an improvement. Our bike isreally good at the moment, but we needto make some steps with it because it’sa bit too sensitive to conditions. In therace I felt that I had the grip of the Kalexbikes for the first 13 laps but after thatI started to lose time. We’re definitely making progress though.”

RELIABLE LOWES UP TO THIRD IN TITLE CHASE

#MCNwednesday

77 BUYING &SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

Danny Kent stamped his authorityon his Moto3 title challenge with atactically brilliant win in Sunday’sCatalunya GP. Having dominated inAmerica and Argentina, slugged outa win at Jerez and having shown greatmaturity in France and Mugello to fin-ish fourth and third, the Brit got backto winning ways in Spain.

In a class filled with riders who seemto struggle to plan from one corner tothe next, Kent sets his race plan 24 hoursin advance and more often than notthis year he’s been able to enact it. Thatmaturity, confidence and guile has al-lowed him to stretch his championshiplead to 51 points from Enea Bastianini.

Kent’s plan at Catalunya was to tryand break away if he could, otherwisesettle back and conserve tyres and pushto get to the front on the last lap Unable

to break away, Kent found himself atthe very back of the lead group startingthe final lap. Lesser riders would havepanicked – but not Kent.

Speaking to MCN, he said: “The lastfew races have been difficult becauseit could have been anyone’s race withthe long straights, so you need to putyourself in the right position at theright time. Maybe my experience ishelping me because I’ve always beenputting myself in the right place. Nor-mally I improve in the second half ofthe season and that’s where most ofmy favourite tracks are, so hopefullywe can get even stronger.”

Kent has consistently been able toout-ride and out-think his rivals ontrack, making him a formidable propo-sition for the future.

“I think that it’s everything – myapproach, my fitness and my mentalstrength. That’s why we’re so strong atthe end of races and it lets me ride fastbut still think about what’s happening.That’s why we can fight in the race and still come out on top ”

Switched-on Brit shows he can win in any situation with a brilliant last-lap performance

DANNY KENT

STEVE ENGLISH

[email protected]

AT CATALUNYA

MOTOGP REPORTER ‘Normally I improvein the second half, sohopefully we can get

even stronger’DANNY KENT

After a tough last

couple of races,

Kent finds his way

back to the top step

Lowes put in

another solid

weekend in

Spain

Kent put himself

in the right place

at the right time in

Catalunya

GO

LD

AN

D G

OO

SE

Page 78: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

78 SPORT MOTOGP | ROUND 7 | CATALUNYA

Bradley Smith stamped his authority at Tech3 securing an impressive fifth place at Catalunya last Sunday. While the performance itself failed to grab the headlines, its significance cannot be underestimated.

Rewind 12 months and Smith was fast gaining a reputation as a prolific crasher, but now he is delivering results week in, week out – even at difficult tracks such as Catalunya where many

After crashing out during the race Espargaro said that he was at a bit of a loss to explain his lack of form.

“I have to adapt more to the bike than the bike to me,” said the Spaniard. “I have a black and white riding style and sometimes that’s a problem. I’m not adapting to the Yamaha. This year I’m not fast. But I don’t know what to think. I’m lost.”

Smith’s form has made life very difficult for Espargaro, and while the Spaniard has a factory Yamaha contract the summer will be pivotal in seeing which Tech3 rider is now in favour with Yamaha. Smith’s mature approach to the race was the polar opposite to the

In-form Brit heaps the pressure on team-mate Espargaro in battle for 2016 contract

‘We’re 21 points ahead of Cal in the championship so our satellite battle

is a bit stronger’BRADLEY SMITH

of his rivals faltered (see p80-81).As a result the British rider now holds

a 21-point lead over Cal Crutchlow in the battle to be top satellite rider, but far more important than that, Sunday showed the advantage he now holds over his factory-contracted Tech3 team-mate, Pol Espargaro.

Having finished ahead of him in all but one race so far this season, it’s clear that Smith has taken on the role of the leading rider in Tech3, while Espargaro has struggled. The speed, consistency and maturity that the Spaniard showed last year is a thing of the past and he is now over-riding his M1 in a bid to make it work.

GO

LD

AN

D G

OO

SE

attacking Espargaro. Smith was cau-tious with his set-up to avoid the pos-sibility of crashing and he was able to take advantage of a sensational start to pick his way through the pack and

eventually finish fifth. His decision to set the bike up to give as much feedback as possible clearly paid off.

“At the end of the day you’ve got to keep racking up points,” said Smith. “There’s not a lot to write home about but in terms of the points that we have and our consistency, it’s been a very solid performance. We keep setting the bike up so that I’ll know what’s underneath me. We went ultra con-servative with the front end and that hampered us a bit in terms of outright performance but it gave us a lot of feel-ing in the front and I’d know when it was about to tuck.

“If I had the chance to do the race

SMITH STEPS UP WITOP FIVE FINISH

STEVE ENGLISH

[email protected]

AT CATALUNYA

MOTOGP REPORTER

Page 79: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

CATALUNYA 14/06/15

Jorge Lorenzo25 points

Dominated to take his

fourth win in a row

Valentino Rossi20 points

Needs to qualify better to

challenge for the win

Dani Pedrosa16 points

Welcome result after

major arm surgery

1

2

3

MOTOGP

RACE TOP SPEEDS

CHAMPIONSHIP MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP MOTO2 CHAMPIONSHIP MOTO3

FINAL POSITIONS FINAL POSITIONS FINAL POSITIONS

MOTOGP TOP SPEEDS

FASTEST RACE LAP

LAPS LED THIS SEASON

POSITIONS

1’42.219Marquez

Gains& losses(gridvfinish)

Ridersafter 7rounds Ridersafter 7rounds Ridersafter7rounds

MOTOGP MOTO2 MOTO3

213.57IANNONE

MPH

213.50mph

213.57mph

211.39mph

211.33mph

211.14mph

210.40mph

Iannone

Pedrosa

Rossi

Dovizioso

Smith

Redding

Circuit lap record:

Marquez 1’42.182

■ Length: 2.937 miles■ Corners: 13 – 5 left, 8 right■ Longest straight:

0.651 miles■ Race conditions:

Dry 28° air temp,46° track temp

CHAMPIONSHIP DASHBOARD

MOTOGP

1 LorenzoYamaha

2 RossiYamaha

3 PedrosaHonda

4 IannoneDucati

5

2

7

7

35 Smith

Yamaha

6 VinalesSuzuki

7 ReddingHonda

8 BradlYamaha

9 PetrucciDucati

10 BautistaAprilia

3

4

7

7

7

GP qualifying

Moto2 race

Moto3 race

1’40.546(A Espargaro)

1’46.474(Rins)

1’50.606(Vazquez)

QMarquez

QRossi Q Lorenzo

1 Lorenzo SPA 42’53.208

2 Rossi ITA +0.885

3 Pedrosa SPA +19.455

4 Iannone ITA +24.925

5 Smith GBR +27.782

6 Vinales SPA +29.559

7 Redding GBR +36.424

8 Bradl GER +42.103

9 Petrucci ITA +49.350

10 Bautista SPA +52.569

11 Miller AUS +53.666

12 Laverty IRL +55.765

13 Baz FRA +55.832

14 Di Meglio FRA +1’09.037

15 De Angelis RSM +1’25.263

16 Barbera SPA +1 lap

DNF A Espargaro SPA 20 laps

DNF Hayden USA 13 laps

DNF Melandri ITA 6 laps

1 Rossi ITA 138

2 Lorenzo SPA 137

3 Iannone ITA 94

4 Dovizioso ITA 83

5 Marquez SPA 69

6 Smith GBR 68

7 Crutchlow GBR 47

8 Vinales SPA 46

9 P Espargaro SPA 45

10 Pedrosa SPA 39

1 Zarco FRA 134

2 Rabat SPA 94

3 Lowes GBR 80

4 Luthi SWI 78

5 Rins SPA 74

6 Folger GER 66

7 Morbidelli ITA 62

8 Simeon BEL 49

9 Salom SPA 36

10 Kallio FIN 35

1 Kent GBR 149

2 Bastianini ITA 98

3 Oliveira POR 77

4 Vazquez SPA 76

5 Fenati ITA 75

6 Vinales SPA 64

7 Binder RSA 57

8 Quartararo FRA 54

9 Bagnaia ITA 50

10 Antonelli ITA 42

1 Zarco FRA 41’15.487

2 Rins SPA +0.426

3 Rabat SPA +1.115

4 Lowes GBR +3.914

5 Salom SPA +7.080

6 Luthi SWI +7.383

7 Folger GER +8.839

8 Morbidelli ITA +10.352

9 Aegerter SWI +10.638

10 Baldassarri ITA +10.730

11 Marquez SPA +11.052

12 Kallio FIN +16.338

13 Corsi ITA +16.649

14 Syahrin MAL +19.584

15 Simon SPA +19.657

16 Schrotter GER +19.966

17 Pons SPA +27.233

18 Krummenach SWI +30.281

19 Shah MAL +30.344

1 Kent GBR 40’59.419

2 Bastianini ITA +0.035

3 Vazquez SPA +0.600

4 Antonelli ITA +0.687

5 Oliveria POR +0.827

6 Navarro SPA +0.913

7 Vinales SPA +8.871

8 Fenati ITA +8.917

9 Binder RSA +11.068

10 Oettl GER +14.968

11 Martin SPA +16.596

12 Locatelli ITA +17.340

13 Ajo FIN +19.086

14 Quartararo FRA +19.320

15 Herrera SPA +19.366

16 Danilo FRA +22.257

17 Tonucci ITA +23.345

18 Masbou FRA +26.414

19 Loi BEL +27.080

Pos Rider Nat Race time

Pos Rider Nat Points Pos Rider Nat Points Pos Rider Nat Points

Pos Rider Nat Race time Pos Rider Nat Race time

QDovizioso

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

BRIT WATCH

CALCRUTCHLOWQUALIFIED 9TH

RACE - DNF

‘The twoYamahas, Marcand me had thestrongest paceover the race. I’mdisappointed notto take advantageof that position’

EUGENELAVERTYQUALIFIED 22ND

RACE 12TH

‘We made achange in warm-up and it helpedgive me morefeeling. In the raceI struggled withthe rear pumpingand lost time’

SCOTTREDDINGQUALIFIED 14TH

RACE 7TH

‘The positive is Iwas able to holdonto the secondgroup for muchlonger. We needto work on thesecond half of therace now’

JOHNMCPHEEQUALIFIED 11TH

RACE DNF

‘I was trying togain as muchground as I couldbut I lost the rearand highsided. Iwas riding 100%and sometimesthis happens’

1189

40

4

MELANDRI’S APRILIA FUTURE IN JEOPARDY

#MCNwednesday

79 BUYING & SELLING SPORTFEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES June 17 2015

again I probably wouldn’t be that conservative but we ened up with a good fifth position and we’re 21 points ahead of Cal in the championship so our satellite battle is a bit stronger. We’re one point behind Marc Marquez and he’s had all sorts of problems but at the end of the day in racing you have to finish the race.”

Marco Melandri’s future at Aprilia was cast into doubt over the week-end with the Italian squad report-edly coming close to splitting with him before Sunday’s race. Ulti-mately Melandri rode in Catalunya but his performance was the latest in a sad run of form for the former 250cc world champion.

Team boss Romano Albesiano told MCN it was tough seeing Melandri riding so poorly: “We know how good he can be. Even last year in WSB he was able to beat Laverty and Baz but now he looks like a normal rider. After Mugello we had a meeting because that race was very poor and we tried to see

how we can improve. When he is riding well he’s still one of the best riders so we need to make sure that he finds that improvement now.”

Over the course of the weekend MCN learned that test rider Michael Laverty had been brought to Spain as a reserve rider for the team in case there was any potential of a split with Melandri.

Laverty has tested the bike ex-tensively and played a key role in bringing on new parts that have helped improve the performance. On Sunday Alvaro Bautista was able to show how much progress has been made, with the Spaniard finishing tenth.

TH

Clever set up and

a mature ride saw

Smith finish fifth

Page 80: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

STEVE ENGLISH

[email protected]

AT CATALUNYA

MOTOGP REPORTER

www.motorcyclenews.com

80 MOTOGP | ROUND 7 | CATALUNYASPORT

Marc Marquez’s crash in Sunday’sCatalan Grand Prix has all but ruledhim out of retaining the MotoGP crown.The Spaniard’s third non-score of theseason leaves the reigning championnow trailing Valentino Rossi and JorgeLorenzo by almost 70 points, with his100% commitment and all-or-nothing

All-or-nothing Spaniard leaves home race with no points as chances of retaining his

‘I can fi nish the race 20 seconds behind but you know it is

not my style’MARC MARQUEZ

It’s glory or gravel for Marquez in 2015

2S

NA

P

OVER-STEPPING THstyle coming back to bite him in 2015.

Throughout the weekend Marquez said that he had no regrets about his ap-proach to racing and that his mentality is completely correct for how he wants to race. That ‘win-it-or-bin-it’ ap-proach has come under fire throughout this season, and when he lost control of his Repsol Honda under braking, narrowly missing rival Jorge Lorenzo in the early stages of last weekend’s race, it once again cost him dearly.

After he clashed with Rossi in Argentina, Marquez refused to admit

that it was a mistake to have pushed over the limit, while in Mugello he put his crash down to tyre wear and having to ride on the limit. But his crash on Sunday was simply an unforced error.

“When I’m riding alone in practice I can go wide or tight when I slide,” said Marquez. “When I was behind Lorenzo I braked at the same point but I had the slide and it was difficult to stop the bike. Then I saw Lorenzo in front and had to decide to go in or go wide. I saw that to go in was too dangerous for us both, so I decided to go wide.”

These mistakes have effectively costhim any chance of winning a third MotoGP title, and having fallen so far behind, Marquez said the title was now “difficult” for him to win. When asked to assess his tactics in races, Marquez stood his ground about his approach.

“Today I took the risk and people asked ‘why don’t I finish the race’. Sure I can finish the race 20 seconds behind them but you know it is not my style. Yesterday I say that now I am at the point where I need to take risks if I want to win this championship.

CATALAN CALAMITY

Page 81: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

81 BUYING & SELLING SPORT June 17 2015FEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES

title begin to bite the dust

‘I’m really happy with my performance. It

was a difficult race’ANDREA IANNONE

You’re only as good as your last race is an old racing adage and it’s currently very apt at Ducati. At Catalunya both Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone had their most difficult weekends of the season. Dovizioso crashed out of a safe podium finish with Iannone sal-vaging fourth in a race where some of his faster rivals crashed.

Last year Catalunya was a very dif-ficult race for Ducati too, so last week-end’s reault was not totally unexpected. However, with Yamaha having been so

The track surface came under fire afterSunday’s Catalan Grand Prix with therace becoming a war of attrition, withplenty of crashers and riders complain-ing of an acute lack of grip. While thesafety commission has recommendedthat the track be resurfaced it will fallon Dorna to ensure that this happensin time for next year.

The slick track offered so little gripthat despite the traditional searingtemperatures of the Spanish summer,Bridgestone were forced to bring tyrecompounds as soft as they dared to tryand generate grip for the riders. Thismeant that the tyres were working atthe extremes of their operating windowin terms of performance, temperatureand longevity.

“We’re having to use the softer com-pounds here in the hot temperaturesbecause it’s how we can get grip,”Bradley Smith told MCN. “It’s gettingto the point that it’s risky, and with theamount of crashes in the race it’s be-coming a safety issue. That’s how hardit is to ride on that track at the momentand if there was rain it’d be so slick thateveryone would have crashed.”

The track surface is old and nearingthe end of its lifespan, but when it’s

Crashing out of a safe Catalunya podium wiped the smile from Dovizioso’s face

Marquez wrestled the RC213V out of the gravel, but retired to the pits

Iannone stayed upright to take fourth

Cal couldn’t blame the track for his crash

GO

LD

AN

D G

OO

SE

CRASH FRENZY SPARKS SAFETYCONCERNS OVER SLIPPY TRACK

DUCATI’S DISAPPOINTING RACE

E MARCNow it will be really difficult for the championship but the next target is to try to find the way, or find the level, to be as close as possible to both Yamaha riders.”

Despite the crash however,Marquez did have some positives to take from his home race.

“When I started the race I felt strong behind Jorge, but we still have this problem with corner entry - I’m happy because this weekend we did make a step forward - but the problem is still there.”

That problem is still a lack of feel under braking and an inability to match the corner speed of the Yamaha. Improving the bike under braking will be key to bridging the gap to the curently dominant M1s of Lorenzo and Rossi.

Marquez has always said that he’d rather crash out of a race giving it 100% rather than be beaten. During his first two seasons in MotoGP he’s been able to achieve unbelievable success taking that approach, but in 2015 that is no longer the case.

WHAT CAUSED THE KEY CRASHES?Cal Crutchlow

“At the end of the day it’s a racing

incident. He (Aleix Espargaro)

didn’t mean to knock me off , but

he got a bad start and needed to

make up time and positions to be

the hero of his home GP, but he

never fi nished the race anyway.”

Nicky Hayden

“I made a small mistake and hit

the bumps on the way into turn

fi ve and I lost the front.”

Andrea Dovizioso

“In turn four I was a little bit faster,

and when I lost the rear with the

traction control at the maximum

it wasn’t enough to save me.”

Aleix Espargaro

“All race I was battling with the

front and I felt the bumps. I just

lost the front.”

combined with the effects of hosting events such as Formula 1 it gives the added challenge of bumps and rip-ples on the surface. The track is used for almost 12 months of the year and it has become clear that work needs to be done.

dominant it’s clear the Italian squad has lost ground since the development war got fully underway.

The performances of the GP15 is still very competitive and both riders felt that there were plenty of positives to take from Catalunya, but a solitary fourth place finish by Iannone wasn’t enough to keep them in title contention. Dovizioso, who rarely crashes, was a victim of the difficult track conditions and carried too much corner speed and crashed out of the race on lap six.

For Iannone, coming away with solid points was a major positive on a week-end where he struggled throughout.

The Italian also made the surprising admission that last year’s bike felt better and had more grip than the much-hyped 2015 bike.

“I’m really happy today for my per-formance,” said Iannone. “It was a re-ally difficult race and a really difficult weekend. Generally I’m happy for the result and it’s important for the cham-pionship. I think last year the bike had more grip than the GP15. For sure it had other problems with the turning, but at this track especially it had more grip. This weekend the bike was slid-ing and spinning too much and it was impossible to save the tyre.”

Page 82: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

www.motorcyclenews.com

82 SPORT MOTOGP | ROUND 7 | CATALUNYA

OF SPAINJorge Lorenzo joined an elite group ofMotoGP riders on Sunday by scoringhis fourth premier class victory in arow – a feat previously achieved onlyby Valentino Rossi, Mick Doohan, AlexCriville and Marc Marquez and showsjust how special Lorenzo’s form hasbeen of late.

Since the Spanish Grand Prix atJerez, Lorenzo has led every lap, 103in total, and stalked down Rossi inthe title chase. Now there is just asingle point separating the Yamahateam-mates. The momentum is withthe Spaniard, but he knows that thecoming two races will be crucial indeciding the ultimate destination ofthe 2015 MotoGP crown. Going into thesummer break, which kicks in after theAssen and Sachsenring rounds, withrace-winning momentum is going tobe key with both Rossi and Lorenzodesperate to have their name at thetop of the leaderboard.

It seems incredible now, but justfour rounds ago Lorenzo was a riderunder intense pressure to perform onhis factory Yamaha R1 – even more sowhen you consider his appalling yearin 2014. Lorenzo had a miserable racein Argentina and had looked to havelost all of his confidence. However, a

mented about Rossi’s greatest strength.“Valentino almost always improves

something on Sunday,” said Lorenzo.“He’s a Sunday rider. He gets muchmore victories than pole positions.Always in the race he’s very strong,very consistent. Luckily for me I’malso very constant and focused. TodayI had to risk a lot to win.”

When the subject of the title fightwas broached Lorenzo was keen tostress that he’s focusing on the racesrather than the championship rightnow and that it’s far too early to ruleout Marquez or Dovizioso from thefight at the moment.

“This is the seventh race and wehave not yet reached the middle of thechampionship. We have seen Dovi andMarc have problems in the first part ofthe championship and the same couldhappen to us in the second half of theseason,” said Lorenzo. “At the momentwe are very constant. Vale and myselfdon’t crash so much, but there’s alwaysa risk we could crash three times andlose a load of points.”

While it’s possible that the Yamahariders could hit trouble at one of theupcoming races, their form has beensublime and Lorenzo is now lookinglike the man that was so dominantin 2010 and 2012 when he won hisMotoGP titles. Whether it’s his victorycelebrations on Sunday or the bravadohe’s been showing in parc ferme, he’sbeen keen to make the point that he isa man to be feared.

Four wins in a row as Lorenzo closes in on Valentino

VALENTINO ROSSI

‘The rules meanyou have a lot ofbikes capable of

one fast lap’

dominant win at Jerez put a spring in hisstep and his form since has been breath-taking. The contrast between the wayLorenzo and his team-mate, ValentinoRossi, have gone about their racing thisyear has been stark. Where Lorenzowins by dominating the timesheets allweekend, Rossi is a notoriously slowstarter – only finding the necessarypace come race day.

It’s not something that’s been loston Lorenzo and after the race he com-

GO

LD

AN

DG

OO

SE

More champagne for Lorenzo but he

knows the Assen round will be crucial

Rossi has the race speed but he needs to improve on his miserable qualifying

Narrow escape for Lorenzo

as Marquez almost takes

him out, see p80

TITLE FIGHT IS ON

STEVE ENGLISH

[email protected]

AT CATALUNYA

MOTOGP REPORTER

Rossi still has the cunning to winFor most riders, suffering a

fourth consecutive defeat to your

team-mate could be enough to

leave you feeling pretty anxious,

yet Valentino Rossi left Spain

with plenty of reasons to feel

optimistic. Yes Lorenzo is on a

great run of form but the most

important thing for Rossi is that he

still leads the championship.

It may be by the slender margin

of one point but it still gives him

enough reason to think that he

has some momentum on his side.

Lorenzo has been at his best and

still hasn’t been able to overcome

the deficit. How has it been possible

to keep the Spaniard at bay? Put

simply, Rossi has consistently found

a way in 2015 to get the job done on

Sunday. He’s not shown anything

particularly impressive during the

early stages of any race weekend

but by race day when it really counts

he’s always ready to fight.

Lorenzo’s qualifying performance

and front row start was the

foundation of his win, while Rossi’s

all-too-familiar third row start was

Page 83: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

#MCNwednesday

83 BUYING & SELLING SPORT June 17 2015FEATURES GARAGETHIS WEEK NEW BIKES

‘Luckily for me I’m very constant and

focused. I had to risk a lot to win’

JORGE LORENZO

Aleix Espargaro gave Suzuki their first pole position since Chris Vermeulen at the Dutch TT eight years ago but his home race will be one he looks back on with disappointment after crashing out. Within the team, however, there was plenty of positives with Espargaro’s crew chief, Tom O’Kane, saying that overall this was a hugely important step for the team.

“I think that Aleix is being very hard on himself and he can’t see the positives of what he achieved this weekend. His pole lap was fantastic and unfortunately at the start we just didn’t have enough acceleration to stay in the leading group and he dropped back through the pack. He was trying to recover that lost time and he used his front tyre too hard and that’s what caused him to crash.

“I think that if he had been able to take it a bit easier and conserve that tyre he would have been very strong. His pace was solid and he would have been in a safe top four place at the end of the race and maybe able to challenge Pedrosa for third.”

Suzuki brought an engine upgrade with them and while it allowed them to get closer to the other factories in terms of outright top speed it still left them lagging behind their rivals in acceleration and until they can solve that, startline problems will continue to beset their chances of a podium MotoGP finish.

Suzuki’s performance is improving fast

Historic poll but Espargaro crashed out

With 2014 champ Marquez out of form Rossi is the only man who can fight Lorenzo

SUZUKI TAKE FIRST POLE SINCE 2007

the reason for his defeat. Rossi

is determined to address this

weakness in his title challenge as

it has been the difference between

winning and finishing second or

third in recent weeks.

“It’s a shame this time because

I had the potential for a top five

qualifying position. The other

problem is that with the rules

(allowing softer tyres for the non

full factory bikes) you have a lot

of bikes that are fast for one lap.

But at the same time Jorge has my

bike and my tyres and he is able

also to put fast qualifying laps

together. So we have to work like

this, too.”

Rossi is no longer the dominant

force he once was but he’s more

skilled, and crucially smarter,

than ever before. The manner in

which the Italian consistently finds

a way to solve problems during

a race and keep his lap times

consistent has been the reason for

his renaissance. And with Honda

struggling and Ducati dropping

back a bit in the last two races,

Rossi knows he is the only rider

capable of going toe to toe with

Lorenzo for the title.

Page 84: TRA SUA TRAN CHAU THAI LAN

HUTCHY IT COULD’VE BEEN 4 GUY I NEED TO CRACK ONp68 p71

Rossi and Lorenzo celebrate

with race boss Lin Jarvis

and general manager

Kouichi Tsuji

BRIT THINKS HISWAY TO WIN

KENTSHOWSCLASS

YA

MA

HA

PA

CE

MA

KE

R P

RE

SS

IN

TL

PA

CE

MA

KE

R P

RE

SS

IN

TL

MOTOGP SPECIAL

Spaniard wins fourth race in a row but Vale still tops title table

GET YOUR KNEDOWN ON TRAC

EECKDAY COVER

TH EVERYMPREHENSIVEE POLICY