Bikes 21 November 2013

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bikes

21 NOV

2013

BRISTOL HAS A NEW CHAMPION BRING PAGE 4 TO LIFE Get our new app (by searching Bristol Post on the App Store or Google Play), scan the back page of Bikes and see the video from Morses Motorcycles of Weston-super-Mare

Seventeen-year-old Luke Hedger has won the 2013 Pirelli National 600 Superstock Championship in his rookie year.

Jon Bennett reports on a young rider in his ascendancy

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www.bristolpost.co.uk

Thursday, November 21, 2013

MotoGP

NEW KTM SUPER DUKE

Marquez celebrates historic title victory

1290R The Beast unleashed at last

MARC Marquez became the youngest ever rider to win the MotoGP world title after riding a controlled race to third place at the season finale in Valencia.

The 20-year-old Spaniard needed only to finish fourth or higher to be sure of beating Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo to the crown, and did all that was required of him with a performance that yet again belied his tender years.

Marquez’s achievement sees him become the series’ youngest champion, breaking the record of Freddie Spencer who was 21 years and 258 days old when he won the 500cc title in 1983.

Marquez is also the first rookie to win the premier class title since Kenny Roberts in 1978.

The Honda rider’s title triumph was just reward for his stunning consistency across his debut season, with his podium finish last Sunday his 16th in 18 races – of which six of those were victories.

Lorenzo, the only man who could deny Marquez his moment of history, won the race but that was not enough for the outgoing champion to overcome the 13-point advantage his rival enjoyed at the start of the day.

as its name would suggest. The result is a monstrously powerful engine that without an effective engine management system would be completely uncontrollable even in the hands of a seasoned rider.

Jon Bennett Motorcycling correspondent jon.bennett@b-nm.co.uk

I

T’S great to watch a motorcycle develop from inception to production, and it feels like it’s taken a while with KTM’s latest offering. The new 1290 Super Duke R has been the source of much press speculation, with even the prototype gaining the nickname ‘the Beast’.

With a 1.3 litre engine and 180bhp on tap, it’s a mouth-watering prospect to say the least. In fact Fowlers of Bristol have already secured several orders based on rumour alone.

Whether it’s a supermoto that’s grown road manners, or a road bike that’s adopted the trappings of the supermoto, the 1290 Super Duke R is a leap of faith that further establishes KTM in the world of bigger capacity road bikes. It’s been given a brand new 75-degree V-twin engine that was developed from a merger of the RC8R and the 1190 units and now sports larger pistons and a longer stroke.

The actual capacity is 1301cc and not 1290cc

What does it cost?

The latest Super Duke R isn’t cheap at a shade over £14,000 but the detailing on the bike is excellent. The new Brembo brakes, the 1190 Adventure dash with digital speedometer and analogue tacho, the beautifully integrated exhaust and tail light assembly all hint at a hefty development budget.

The 1290 Super Duke R is certainly distinctive and will stand out on the roads around Bristol whatever company you keep.

How does it handle?

Despite the huge power output and massive wave of torque, the 1290 Super Duke R is not as much of a handful as you might expect. It is of course ludicrously fast, but the clever, unobtrusive engine management and ride-bywire systems ensure both wheels can stay

rooted to the ground most of the time.

For a V-twin, the new engine is pretty smooth throughout its rev range while the softer springs make for an unexpectedly smooth ride. The steering geometry is also softer than previous Super Dukes and a brand new Bosch traction control system helps to keep it on the straight and narrow. For a hugely powerful bike, the Super Duke R is remarkably rideable.

Stylish

2-12 Bath Road, Bristol, BS4 3DR

SAVINGS!

FOR

171 Was £3

save

2 7 6 £

471 Was £2

save

2 7 4 £ LX50 £1999

LX125 £2499

OTR*

OTR*

0%APR £60 FROM ONLY

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New63 PLATE

0117 971 8811 www.fowlers.co.uk | find us on facebook

Representative

✝

per month!✝

FINANCE EXAMPLE - LX50 ✝ | Deposit: £199 | 30 x monthly payments: £60 | Total payable: £1999 | 0% APR representative Pictures for illustration purpose only. Prices/offers are subject to change without notification. Subject to availability; while stocks last; no cash alternatives available; excludes any other offers & discounts. †Finance and insurance are available to people aged 16 years or over & subject to status; indemnities may be required; written details available on request; terms & conditions apply.

An admin charge of £59 applies to Triumph bikes and £40 to scooters; an admin charge is included in the price on all other bikes. *OTR = On the Road charges included in all prices advertised, i.e. delivery to dealer, 12 months vehicle excise duty or 6 months on machines over 600cc, number plates, pre-delivery inspection & build, vehicle first registration fee, petrol and VAT. TPFT = Third Party Fire & Theft insurance, TPO = Third Party Only insurance, CBT = Compulsory Basic Training, RFL = Road Fund Licence. Marked prices of all motorcycles are for payment by cash, cheque or debit card. Conditions apply to demo rides.

Errors and omissions excepted.

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Thursday, November 21, 2013

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FACTFILE ✔ Price: £14,132 at Fowlers ✔ Engine: 1301cc liquid cooled, 8-valve, 75° V-Twin ✔ Top speed: 170 mph ✔ Power: 180 bhp 8,870 rpm ✔ Torque: 106 lb ft 6,500 rpm ✔ Weight: 202 kg ✔ Seat height: 835 mm ✔ Fuel capacity: 18 litres ✔ Fuel consumption: 45 mpg ✔ Available: Late December

● Former MotoGP rider Jeremy McWilliams shows off the handling of the new 1290 Super Duke R

ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING...

Verdict

“ The result is a monstrously powerful

engine that without an effective engine management system would be completely uncontrollable, even in the hands of a seasoned rider

The KTM 1290 Super Duke R defies rational explanation. It fits in no particular box but when it comes to offering hedonistic enjoyment, there aren’t too many bikes on the road that can touch it. Individual and never boring, the new 1290 Super Duke R can’t fail to raise a smile.

■ Call Fowlers on 0117 977 0466 to find out more.

2-12 Bath Road, Bristol, BS4 3DR

For ALL your...

20F% F

#

O YCLE C 3 1 0 2 L AL

MODELS

Only while stocks last!

● Ducati Streetfighter S £15,050 / 155bhp Even more expensive than the new KTM and starting to age, but still a cracking machine.

● Aprilia Tuono V4R £12,430 / 170bhp Fast and light with an awesome V4 soundtrack, updated for 2014 and cheaper than the 1290 Duke.

E BE SAFN BE SEE

clothing needs 'Jaguar'

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www.fowlers.co.uk | find us on facebook

EPB-E01-S4

0117 971 8811

Pictures for illustration purpose only. Prices/offers are subject to change without notification. #Subject to availability; while stocks last; no cash alternatives available; excludes any other offers & discounts. †Finance and insurance are available to people aged 16 years or over & subject to status; indemnities may be required; written details available on request; terms & conditions apply.

An admin charge of £59 applies to Triumph bikes and £40 to scooters; an admin charge is included in the price on all other bikes. *OTR = On the Road charges included in all prices advertised, i.e. delivery to dealer, 12 months vehicle excise duty or 6 months on machines over 600cc, number plates, pre-delivery inspection & build, vehicle first registration fee, petrol and VAT. TPFT = Third Party Fire & Theft insurance, TPO = Third Party Only insurance, CBT = Compulsory Basic Training, RFL = Road Fund Licence. Marked prices of all motorcycles are for payment by cash, cheque or debit card. Conditions apply to demo rides.

Errors and omissions excepted.

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www.bristolpost.co.uk

Thursday, November 21, 2013

NATIONAL CHAMPION

Who needs Marquez, when we’ve got Luke Jon Bennett Motorcycling correspondent jon.bennett@b-nm.co.uk

I

T may have been an incredible year for new boy Marc Marquez in the MotoGP, but it’s also been a cracking season for local lad Luke Hedger who has won the 2013 Pirelli National 600 Superstock Championship in his rookie year.

It caps a memorable start to the Yate-based 17-year-old’s career, which last year saw him take the 2012 British Motostar series – and it’s partly thanks to a Weston bike dealership.

Tim Morse, of Morses Motorcycles, on Herluin Way, has been a family friend for many years and, as well as supplying Luke with tyres in the past, now provides him with top-of-therange Shoei helmets and Sidi boots.

Tim said: “I’ve followed Luke on the path to success for several years now.

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Scan the photo to see more...

● Luke Hedger with his trophy and the helmet supplied by Morses “Local sponsorship is important to help young riders meet the high costs of taking part in racing championships, and I’m delighted to be able to help out for the 2014 season as well.

“I’m really looking forward to travelling to Assen next year to see him ride as he moves up to Supersport.”

Luke won this year’s championship by 16 points in his debut season from

Jordan Simpkin and Callan Cooper.

Riding for Gearlink Kawasaki, he said: “I’m absolutely over the moon with the Championship win, to move up to the Superstock 600 class this year from the Motostar class was a big jump and it took me a while to adjust to the new riding style to suit the 600.

“I couldn’t have done this without the help and support this year. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me this season, my personal sponsors, my team, my girlfriend and especially my mum and dad.” ● Call Morses Motorcycles on 01934 621187 for more on their range.

BRING THIS PAGE TO LIFE Get our new app (by searching Bristol Post on the App Store or Google Play) and use it to scan this page to see the Morses video