Fast Bikes August issue 20 PAGE FREE PREVIEW!

THECAS

CASH G

OURGUIDETO INVESTING INUSEDBIKES...

DREAMBIG,BUYSMART, MAKEMONEY.

LONG-TERMER

DUCATIPANIGALEV4SP2

PROJECTR7:

TACKLINGTHETT

KYLE RYDE 10 MINUTES WITH...

KYLERYDE

SUPERSPORT 600BUYER’S GUIDE

Topre-orderyournext issueof FastBikes, headto classicmagazines.co.uk/ pre-order-

Alternatively,scantheQR codeonthispageandorder yournextcopytoday.Wewill senditdirectlytoyou!

THEKNOWLEDGE UsedBikeGuide.............................. 54 WereallyrateYamaha’s2005R6.Somuch so,we’vedoneabuyer’sguideonit.

TESTS Splashthecash.............................. 18 Everwonderedhowtobuythebikeyou wantandmakemoneysimplyfromowning it?Thisshouldgiveyouafewpointers. Mid-sizedMaestro.......................... 60 KTM’strack-onlyRC8Chasbeengivena goodseeing-tofor2023.Here’swhatto expect.

COLUMNISTS BradHowell................................... 92 Ourfitnessguruoffersmoregreattraining wisdom.

TomNeave...................................... 94 Halfwaythroughtheseason,Tomtellsus howhe’sgettingon. ChristianIddon............................... 96 Iddon’sonetoughcookie,aswe’resure you’llagreeafterreadingthis. SteveParrish................................... 98 He’sbackfromtheTTandhasplentyoftales.

FEATURES

ThefairytaleTT............................... 40 MichaelDunlopwasthemanofthemoment atthisyear’sTT,butyoualreadyknowthat, sowe’retakingatripdownmemorylaneto bringyouthemagicbehindhis2017TTwin onhisHawkSuzukiGSX-R1000R.

Long-termerDucatiV4SP2............ XX With600milesclocked,BrucetreatshisSP2 toabitofTLCandaservice.

R7project........................................ 78 Afterallthegraft,stress,andpoundcoins investedinhisR7project,Rutter’sfinallyhad chancetoputittotestaroundtheTT–andit didn’tdisappoint.

Buyingbikes;it’sabigthingforallofus, regardlessofwhetheryou’respending theequivalentofamortgage,or handingoverthekindofcashyoumightfind downthebackofthesofa.

Iamhabituallytight,asregularreaders willnowknow,oratleastwhenitcomes tospendingmoneyonmyself.Butthings arechanging,andit’smostlydowntomy suddencravingtoownasmany motorcyclesasIcan.Thetruthis,thetype ofbikesI’mbuyingareoftentheones thatothersdon’twant,andthat’s reflectedinthepricing.ButI’vealways beenthetypeofpersontoseepastafew battlescars,orthenecessarygraftto makesomethingdecentoutofaheap.In thepastfourmonthsI’vefoundmyself

owningtwonew‘used’bikes…a KawasakiZX-7R(whichisabsentonce againthisissue,butthere’sgoodnewson theway)andaSuzukiGSX-R600SRAD, whichI’venotsomuchassatonyet.Why haveIboughtthem?Arguably,nostalgia hasalottodowithit,andthatwasalsoa factorwhenIboughtmyRSVMilleafew yearsago.I’mgettingolder,andthose bikeswerecoolwhenIwasawhippersnapper,sohavingcomealongatthe rightprice,I’vebaggedthem.Ultimately, theZX-7Rwillbesold,aspertheconcept ofour‘Shed-find-to-superbike’feature, buttheSuzuki’slikelytostayforastretch oftime...assumingthemissusdoesn’t findoutaboutit.They’restartingtogoup invalue,too,whichisabonus,andmy

‘getoutofjail’ifthebetterhalfdoesfind out–itthenbecomesaninvestment,for thesakeofthefamilyandnextyear’s holiday.Jokingaside,thereareplentyof cunningfolkthatrollthosediceandmake agoodlivingoutofbuyingtherightbikes attherighttime.That’sthecorebasisof thisissue,masterfullycoveredbyJohnny, who’sidentifiedthebikesthatarealready peaking,themodelsontheriseandthe onesworthapunt.IalmostwishIhadn’t readwhathehadtosay,becausenowI can’tstopscanningfornewmetal,so takethatasawarning…youdon’twant toendupwithmynewfoundaffliction.

Enjoythemag(andlet usknowwhatyoubuy).

NEW NINJA ONTHEWAY

Earlyreleasefor2024ZX-6R supersportsmachine

IfIcouldinventatimemachineand goback20years,I’mnotsurewhat wouldbemorestunningtothe 2003me–thefactthatthere’sonly onesportsbikemagazineonsalein theUKorthatthere’sonlyone properinline-foursupersport600 onsaleintheUK…

Bothwouldhaveseemedvery unlikely,butthereyouhaveit. Fast Bikes isthelastsportsbikemag standingandtheKawasakiZX-6Ris thelastfull-beansroad-legal600on showroomfloors.Thereasonswhy arecomplex(inbothcases),butthe 600markethashadatoughtimeof late.Bikebuyershavebecome morepolarised–ifyouwanta sportsbike,youtendtogofor straightforalitresuperbike nowadays,especiallysincetheygot somuchmorekitandhandling prowess.Andmuchofthe mainstreamhasmovedfrom GSX-Rs,CBRsandR6stoTeutonic

GSs,TriumphTigers,Ténérésand Transalps.Addinthepower-sapping requirementsofEuroemissions regsandthecostsneededto comeupwithbrand-newcleaner

enginesthatcouldmakemore power,andyoucanseewhy they’vetailedoffabit.

So,fairplaytoKawasaki,which hasgivenitsZX-6Raproper

going-overfor2024.Thesupersport Ninjahas,ofcourse,beenabelter formorethan20years,withthe 636ccB1modelbringingnewstuff likeradialbrakesandfuelinjection

totheJapanesemainstream.And for2024itgetsanoverhaultothe 636ccmotorthattakespeakpower upto127bhp@13,000rpmthanksto newcamshaftsandtweaked exhaustheaders,plusdifferentinlet tractdesign.Thebiggestobvious changeistothebodywork,which nowfeaturessubtleaerodynamic wingletsanddual-layerfrontfairing panels,aimedatimprovinghandling atspeed.Yougetageneralupdate oftheequipmentlevelstoo, bringingthe636Ninjainlinewith 2024tech,includingacolourLCD dash,BluetoothphonelinkandLED lighting.Rideraidsarelesstrick,but youstillgetthree-leveltraction control,quickshifterandriding modes.Onthechassisfront, Kawasakistickswithpremium Showasuspension,sothere’s SFF-BPF(separatefunctionbig piston)forksandrearmonoshock. TheNissinbrakecalipersbiteonto non-petaldiscs,andyouget high-endroad-sportrubber:Pirelli DiabloRossoIV.

Thenew2024ZX-636Rwillbein theshopsinOctober,justintime foralateEurotrackdayinInters, andcomesingreenorstealth black/greypaint.It’spricedwelltoo, at£10,599.

WASAKIELIMINATOR450

kidroppedsometeaserson new2024modellast too–theEliminator450. minatormarqueisahistoric Kawasaki:thefirst tor1000wasahot-rodstyle

musclemachinethatuseda GPZ900Rengine,aimedattheUS market.The450alsohassome historyinKawasakicruiserdesign: its450LimitedusedhalfaGPZ900R motorandchuggeditswaythrough the1980sand1990sinsomestyle. Thenewbikedoesn’tseemto use‘halfaZX-10Rengine’,which feelslikeamissedmarketing opportunityifnothingelse,butit doeslooklikeausefulentry-level machine.Thestylingissimilarto Honda’sCMX500Rebel,and Kawasakiwillbehopingtoemulate thatbike’ssuccess.Finalspecisto beconfirmed,butithasan18in frontwheeland16inrear,with steeltubeframeandsinglefront brakedisc.It’llbeonsalenext January,pricedatabout£6700.

NORTONV4CRPRODUCTIONVERSIONRELEASED

WeallsawthesaucyNortonV4 CaféRacerattheNECshow lastyear,andnowthe Solihull-basedpremiumbike makerhasreleasedthefinal productionversionwithfull specanddetails.It’salimited editiondeal,withonly200 bikesbeingmade,andfeatures a185bhpversionofthefirm’s 1,200cc72°V-fourmotor boltedintoahand-made aluminiumtubeframe,billet

CNC-machinedsingle-sided swingarm,andtheveryfinest inrunninggearfromÖhlinsand Brembo.Thebikecomesintwo versions:Carbon,with carbon-fibrebodyworkandBST carbonwheels;andPlatinum Manx,withsilverpainted bodywork(stillcarbon)andOZ Racingforgedaluminiumrims. Priceis£42k.

Nortonisawarethatitcan’t justifyitsshinynewMidlands

factoryorbuildabignew brandwithafewlimitededitionbikes,though.Andit seemstobebusyonanumber offronts,comingupwithmore prosaic‘volume’modelsthat willbeaccessibletoawider rangeofriders.Expectnew powerplantsandarangeof moremainstreamnakedand adventuremodelstostart appearing,perhapsassoonas theendofthisyear.

Kawasa another month, t The Elim one for Eliminat

2024M1000XR

BMWunveilsprototypeM-Sportversion ofitsexcellentsuper-adventuretourer

Aswewenttopress,BMWhad justdisplayedthemightofits standardM1000RRsuperbikeat theIsleofManTT.PeterHickman wontheSeniorandboth SuperstockracesonhisFHO RacingM1000RR–settingalap recordonthestockerof 136.358mph...soitwasthe perfecttimetodropthis–the M1000XRprototype.Themad Munichmassivehastakenthe alreadymentalS1000XR road-biased‘adventuretourer’and givenitamightyM-Sport makeover.Thatstartswitha full-bore200bhpmotor,basedon theunitoutoftheM1000RR, completewithShiftCamvariablevalveoperation.It’sboltedintoa tweakedS1000XRchassis,which getsnewbodywork,incorporating

aerodynamicwinglets,ofallthings. AnM-Sportbrakeinstallroundsoff theupgrades,withblue-finished calipersandaradialmaster cylinderset-up.It’sevengoingto offeranMCompetitionpackage, apparently,withgod-knows-what othergoodies.

Doesitmakesense,then?BMW reckonsitwillbethefastestway togocross-countryincomfortand style,andit’sfairtosaythat existingmachinesliketheDucati MultistradaV4anditsownS1000 XRalreadydothatverywell.

Longer-travelsuspension,tall screen,high-endequipmentlevels andcomfyridingposition,aswell asahugely-powerfulmotor,makes alotofsensewhenyouneedto getfromCornwalltoYorkshireina day.Butis200bhptoomuch?

BMW’susualset ofrideraids,tractioncontroland wheeliecontrol,plusride-by-wire throttleandpowermodes,willall helptamethosehorses,ofcourse, andtheaero-wingswill presumablyassiststabilityat speed.BMWknowswhatit’sdoing hereaswell:theM1000RRand M1000Rsupernakedareboth properlysortedpiecesofkit.

TheM1000XRisaprototypeat themomentbutBMWisdeffo launchingitfor2024.Expectmore detailslaterintheyear,andthe bikeinshowroomsthiswinter.

Keepaneyeonouronlinechannels–Facebook, Twitter,andthe FastBikes website(www. fastbikesmag.com)–fornewsasithappens.

2024KYMCO AK550PREMIUM

Maxi-scootersarestillmuchlesspopularin theUKthantherestoftheworld.But Kymco’snewAK550Premiumaimstochange that,withahigh-performance51bhp twin-cylindermotor,high-endequipment levels,andadvancedrideraidsincluding corneringABSandtractioncontrol.Wewent toPorto,inPortugal,lastmonthtotestit–anditmakesforanimpressivepieceofkit.

Theengineisstrong,smoothandgrunty, andthechassishasplentyofmotorbike-type handlingskillz.There’sgoodground clearance,thesuspensioniswell-damped, andtheBrembobrakesarestrong.Anelectric windscreen,heatedgripsandcruisecontrol allmakelong-distanceworkmucheasier,and it’scomfyenoughfortwo,withplentyof spaceundertheseat.Dryweightisadecent 223kgthankstothealuminiumframedesign andthecolourLCDdash,whileintegrated Bluetoothlinkandkeylessignitionalladdto thehigh-qualityfeel

It’snotcheapat£10,399–butnothingis nowadays,eh?It’spricedcompetitively againstthesimilarly-spec’dYamahaTMAX though,andiswellworthalook.Moreinfo: www.kymco.co.uk

BIKESHEDSHOW

HateLondon?HateTheBikeShed?Well, you’renotalone,butyou’realsowrong…

ToTobaccoDockinLondon’s Wappingtown,forthe2023 BikeShedshow,andit’sfair tosaythatitwasbiggerand betterthanever.Weknow plentyoffolkpoo-pooThe BikeShed,butwe’veheard fromalotofconvertswho wentalongthisyearandhad theirexpectationsexceeded.

Theorganisershave expandedtheirremit,sothe bikesonshowcoveredthe wholerangeofcustomand specialbuilds,from500GP machinerytoParis-Dakar racers,turbochargedZ900s, super-tricktweaked two-strokesand muchmore.Firms likeAlpinestars, BMW,Yamaha,

NortonandMichelinwereall exhibiting,andtherewas interestingstuffeverywhere youlooked.Thefoodand drinkonofferwasaleague abovethedeathburgersata normalexhibitioncentre,and therewasdecentlivemusic too.Doyourselfafavourand checkitoutnextyear.

Therewillalsobean AmericanBikeShedshow nextyear,basednearthe firm’sLAbranch,inOctober.

YAMXSR900 RD500LCCOPY

Wedidadouble-takeatthis specialXSR900atTheBikeShed Show.CustomisingfirmVelocity Moto,headedupbyouroldmate HagHughes,hascomeupwith thisspecialRD500LCreplicabody kitforthecurrentXSR900 retro-roadster.Itlooksace,and the‘YPXS900’graphicsare inspired.Moreinfo: http:// velocity-moto.com

MVAGUSTA

Italianexotica-mongerMVAgusta, freshfromanewfundingdeal withKTMownerPiererMobility, hasannouncedabigexpansion

andrefurbishmentofitshistoric factoryatSchiranna,onLake Varese,nearMilan.Thefirmis addingamuseumtothelocation, alongsidenewR&Dlabs, engineeringworks,anduprated

YAMAHATÉNÉRÉ700RAID

Yamaha’sreleasedthisnew WorldRaidversionofits Ténéré700off-roader.It’s similartolastyear’sWorld Rallyedition,withthe long-travelsuspension, 23-litredualfueltankand otherupgrades,butitalso comeswithaspecialretro

paintschemetocelebrate itsoldDakarracers,a specialseat,andatitanium Akrapovicendcan.Priced £13,000,it’sinshopsnow.

productionfacilities.Addinanew dealfordistributionintheUSA andEuropethroughPierer partnersandthefuturelooks prettybrightforthefirm.

SUBSCRIBEFOR BIKESOCIALBENEFITS

Bennettsisoneofthetopbikeinsurersinthe UKanditsBikeSocialmarketingsideworks hardtoprovideextrabenefitsforcustomers.

We’veagreedaspecialdealtolet FastBikes subscribersjoininonitstrackdaysforthis year.Signupforayearofyourfavourite magazineandyougetaccesstoallthe BennettsBenefits,includingitsextensive calendaroftrackdays.

ThenextoneisSnettertononJuly13and BennettsambassadorJohnMcGuinnesswillbe there,freshfromsmashingitattheTT,and there’splentyofBikeSocialeditorialstuff happeningontheday.ItsveryownJohn MilbankisplanningtofilmtheVFR800turning

100kmilesontrack,MichaelMannisriding the2023Hayabusa,andAdam‘Chad’Childis ridingtheKramertrackbike.

Formoreinfoandtobookon,visitwww. bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial

Ifyoumakeitontheday,here’swhat youcanexpect…

Onlythreegroups:seven20-minute sessionsontrack–LOTSoftracktime. FREEactionshotsofyou,takenbya professionalBSBphotographer. AnonsiteBSBmechanicforessential adjustments.

ChancetomeetandridewithJohn McGuinnessandBennettsBSBriders. Ateamofinstructorsreadytoofferriding advice.

Extendedsafetybriefingforthenovice group.

Twoclassroomsessionsforthenovice group,focusingoncircuittipsandbody position.

Optiontotakeadvantageofone-to-one on-trackcoachingforasession(firstcome, firstserved).

TRIUMPHRECORD

Howmanymileshaveyou managedinaday?We’vedone800 orsoridingbackfromFrance,and it’sprettytough.Triumph’s managedaworldrecordthough, withitsoff-roadambassadorIvan Cervantestopping2493milesona Tiger1200ExplorerGT.Hecheated alittlebydoingitontheNardo high-speedringratherthanthe AutoroutefromNicetoCalais,but fairplay–18fuelstops,onetyre change,andzerosleepgothima GuinnessWorldRecord.Topmarks.

BikeSocialpartnersinattendance, supportingtheevent.

Yamahatrackhirebikesavailabletobook. Hireleathers,helmets,glovesandboots availabletobook.

TheClassicSuperbikeExperienceavailable tobookwithRenaissanceRacing.

Formatfortheday;

7.30amSignon

8.30amSafetybriefing (novicegroup)

9amTracksessionlive

11amClassroom–circuittips (novicegroup)

1pmLunch

2pmTracksessionlive

2pmClassroom–bodyposition (novicegroup)

5pmThank-youandgoodbye

Servicesonthedayinclude: Mechanicandtyrechangingservice. MotoEventgroup–hirebikes,kit,tyres warmersetc.

BSBphotographer–freepicsfromtheday.

ALLTHE L AT ES T, COOL ES T&TRICK ES TPERFORMANC EPRODUCTS

ALPINESTARS GPPLUSRV3JACKET

Asmartcowhidejacketthat’s optimisedforusewithorwithout thefirm’sTech-Air5airbag,the GPPlusRv3usesanewRideknit materialforthestretchcomfort panelsaroundtheseams.There’s also plenty ofzipperedventing for

ridingincoolerandhot conditions,CEarmourinelbows andshoulder,pluspocketsfor optionalchestandback protectors.It’sgotasubtle,sporty design,andzipstosuitableAstars trousers.

ww.alpinestars.com

TCX JUPITER5GORE-TEXBOOTS

Nowinitsfifthgeneration,thismodelof shorturban/touringboothasbeen oneofTCX’sbiggesthits.They combinesolidankleandfoot protectionwithloadsofcomfort, bothonandoffthebike.A Gore-Texmembranemakesthem waterproof,securelaceandVelcro fasteningiseasytogetonandoff, andtheyevenlookdecent enoughtowearinthepubofan eveningifyou’retravelling super-lightwithnospaceforyour brownbrogues…

SWMOTECH BLAZEPANNIERS

DAINESE HEKLAJAC

HeklaisanIcelandicvolcanoandalso nameof‘ashorthoodedcloak’,sowe havenoideawhatthathastodowith this–Dainese’slatesthigh-endtourin adventurejacket.Thefirmhasmoved awayfromGore-Texthisyearinfavou ofitsown‘Absoluteshell20k’ laminatedbreathablemembrane outershell.Dainesesaysithasmore ultimatecontroloveritsfinaldesign byusingitsownmaterial,whereas Gore-Texhasquitestrictruleson howitsmembranescanbeused.

Newproductionmethodsaside,theHeklalooksgoodandis packedwithcunningtricks:magneticpocketfastenersandaspottostick Dainese’sownmagnetic-taggedgloves,too.Thereareone-handoperation backvents,removablethermalliner,outermeshpocket,anditattachesto matchingtrouserstomakeasmartsuit.Notcheap–butthen,whatis thesedays?AvailableingreyorgreeninsizesUK34-54.

www.dainese.com

GermanfirmSWMotech makesgreatlong-lasting uggage,andtheseBlaze nniersareastalwartofthe e.They’reasemi-soft ,withacunningmounting system thatmakesthemidealfor sportyornakedbikes,likethis BMWR1250R.Apairofaluminium bracearmsclipintosmall mountingbracketsonthepillion pegs,holdingthebagsextrasecureandawayfromexhausts andbodywork.AsimpleVelcro linkingpanelsitsontopofthe pillionseat,andsecuringstraps holditallinplace.Idealforlight touringandcommutingwork.

From£345

OXFORD MINTBIKEWASH

Youcanneverhaveenoughbike wash,wefind–anditcanbe priceystuff.EnterOxford,withits newMintbikewash,now availableinafive-litrecanof

www.sw-motech.co.uk

concentrateaswellas5land1l ready-to-usepre-mixedbottles. Makesupto20lofwash,readyto sprayonandcutthemuckall throughtheseason.

£49.99(concentrate)£19.99(5lpremix)£7.99(1lpremix)

HJCRPHA 11MILESMORALESSPIDERMANHELMET

OnefortheextremeMarvelfansoutthere–thisHJCRPHA11 helmetlookslikeaSpidermandesignbutisactuallyaMiles Moralesreplica.Ifyouknow,youknow,apparently.Under thespideygraphicsisHJC’supper-middleclassRPHA11 lid,withcarboncompositeoutershell,aerodynamic design,quick-releasevisor,Pinlockinsertandloadsof venting.Therearethreeshellsizesforoptimumweight andfit,anditcomeswithasparetintedvisor,plusa five-yearwarranty.

£549.99

www.oxfordproducts.com

VANUCCI TANKBAGS

Withmanybikesnowhavingplasticcovers ratherthansteeltanksinfrontoftherider, old-schoolmagnetictankbagsareless useful.TheseVanuccibagsusetheGivi Tanklockringmount(notsupplied),which boltsontothebike’sfuelcapsurround,

www.louis-moto.co.uk

NANO PLUSTRACKER

Thebestsecuritystopsyourbikegetting stoleninthefirstplace,ofcourse,butonce it’sgone,atrackingdevicegivesyouasolid chanceofgettingitback.ThisnewNano PlusTracker,distributedbyR&GRacing,isa super-compactall-in-oneGPSunitwithits ownbatterythatlaststhreeyearsandlinks tothefirm’smainoperationscentre.Thefull monitoringservicecostsjust£3amonth –decentvalue,wereckon.

£159.60 www.rg-racing.com

andhaveaneasyon-offclicksystem. Availableinsmall(3-5litre),medium(5-8 litre)andlarge(15litre)sizes,thebags comewithwater-resistantoutershellsand innerbags,outerzippocketsandcarry handles.

OXFORD ANCHORFORCE GROUNDANCHOR

We’realwaysthinkingabout securityhere,andthis hardenedsteelOxford groundanchorisasolid additiontoanyrider’s broadspectrum anti-scrotetheftdeterrentpolicy.Itbolts intoconcreteorbrick walls/floors,withfour tamper-resistant fasteners,andhas loadsofroomforupto 16mmlinkchains.All thefittingsareincluded; allyouneedisa16mm masonrydrillbitandachunky hammer/SDSdrill.

£74.99www.oxfordproducts.com

CHA ATLANTIC2GORE-TEXJACKE T

isthesecondeditionofthetop-endtouringjacketfrom haandcomeswiththefirm’slatestupgrades.Theouter ellislaminatedGore-Tex2Land3L,withstretchpanels oraperfectfitandextraabrasion-proofGore-Tex Armacorpanelsinhigh-impactareas.Aremovable thermallinerandampleclosableventsallroundwill helpkeepyouattheperfecttemperature.Itcomeswith D3Oarmourinelbowsandshoulders,plusaback protectorandpocketsforoptionalchestprotection. Comesinblack,whiteorblack/yellowinmen’ssizesand inblackonlyforwomen’ssizes.

£849.99

£104.37(3-5l),£139.17(5-8l),£173.97(15l).

Itispossibletoridethebikeofyour dreamscompletelyfreeofcharge,andif you’recleverenough,youcanevenmake afewquidwhileyou’reatit.Theideafor thisexaminationofhowthisispossiblecame aboutoneeveningbrowsingtheinternetwith animaginarybudget(yes,Istilldothat).I stumbledacrossabikesocheapthatIjust couldn’tbelieveit.Certainitwasamistake,I wentofflookingforotherexamplesofthe samebike–onlyto ndthattheywereall

SPLASH THECASH

indeedroughlythesameprice.Imessaged Brucealinktothebike.

“Haveyouseenhowcheapthisis?”I texted.“Youcouldbuythat,runitforyears, andneverloseapenny.”Andsotheideafor thisfeaturewasborn.Incaseyou’re wondering,thebikeinquestionwasa2004 HondaFireblade.

The rstthingtoputoutthereisthatthis isn’taguideonhowtoinvestintheright bikestomakemoney.Itisn’tabouthowto

buildacollectionofbikesthatjustsitthere andappreciateinvalueovertime.

Thisishopefullyacollectionofmusings basedonsomelevelofexperiencegained overaperiodof35yearsoffascinationforall thingstwo-wheeled–afascinationthat’sstill asstrongtodayaswhenIwasateenager... musingsthatmightchangehowyou approachbuyingyournextbike…ornot... butthefollowingpagesshouldatleastmake youstopandthink.

Ifyouplayyourcardsright,youcanbuythatbikeyou’ve alwayswantedandactuallymakemoneyfromit.Here’swhy…

FEATURE

Weallhavethatlist–bikeswe wishwestillhadandcan’t believewesoldforwhatwedid, becausesincethenthey’vegoneonto becomeiconsthateveryonewants...but whenweownedthem,theywerejustwhat wegotourkickswith.Inmycase,I’m talkingabout,amongothers,myKawasaki KR1-Ss,SuzukiRGV250,YamahaTDR250, SuzukiTL1000S,Ducati916,1998Yamaha R1,SuzukiGSX-R750YandKawasaki ZXR750-RR,allofwhichIvirtuallygave away.Atthetime,Igotfairpricesformy916 at£4500,myTDRfor£750andmyRGVfor £1500,andtheZXR-RRsoldforacoupleof grand.Icouldbedepressedaboutthesheer amountofmoneyI’velostindepreciation overtheyearsORIcouldactuallyactmyage andapplysomeoftheaccumulatedwisdom I’vegatheredandtrytobuymynext imaginarybikesmarter,soIneverlose anotherpennytodepreciation.

Therearesomedownsidestothis approach,though–speci cally,everysingle newbikeisoffthemenupurelyonthebasis ofthemdepreciatingmassivelyinthe rst fewyears.So,you’llbeinthewildernessof theusedbikemarket,withoutanywarranties ordealersupportthatcomewithanewbike, unless,ofcourse,youbuyyourusedbike formadealer.Youalsomightthereforenotbe abletotreatyourselftothebikeyoureally

wantaboveallothers,andbyde nition you’llnothavethelatestandgreatesttechat your ngertips.

That’snottosaytherearen’tbikesout thereatrock-bottompriceswhichcan’tblow yourmind.Remember,wearelivingina goldenageoftotalexcessandopulencewhen itcomestospecandperformancethatcan outdatebikesjustafewyearsoldand thereforemakethemsomehow‘less’.Weare talkingaboutbikesthat,whilenotdrippingin techandburstingwithpower,wereoften rewritingtherulebooktheirdayandmaking usweakattheknees…ornot,whichleadsme neatlytothe rstandmostimportantthingto haveinmindifyou’retemptedbytheideaof freeorevenpro tablemotorcycling:what doesmakeonebikeappreciateinvalueand anothernot?

Thereisn’tastraightforwardanswerto whichbikeyoushouldhedgeyourbetson. However,timeisprobablytheonlyfactorto consider.Signuptoalongertermof ownershipandyourchancesofridingFOC aresigni cantlybetterthanifyou’rethesort whocan’tstaywithonebikeformorethana yearortwo.Ifthat’syou,there’sanother option,whichistobuymorethanonebike, andaddtothecollectioninthegarage.

Spottingabikewiththepotentialtobea futureiconis,ofcourse,thekeytomaking thiswork,butjusthowdoyoudothat?

TheoriginalBlade isstillabig crowd-pleaser.