Motorcycle Monthly July 2017

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l l a b o t o M is BACK!

Win this mega GUY MARTIN replica lid in our brilliant FREE competition

July 2017

Spy shots!

Husqvarna’s 701 naked roadster

MCM is FREE in dealers, clubs and biker cafés

#133

The Street Triple RS. Game-changingly good.

✮ £9,900 ✮ 121bhp ✮ 186kg

Crusing in style

Yamaha’s SCR950

Bike thieves become targets!

Call goes out to vigilante groups to form

Suzuki’s RG500

▲

Iconic screamer

It looks as though thieves who prey on motorcycles and scooters could soon have the tables turned on them after notices were posted in various locations around the UK calling for groups to form and ‘sort out’ those responsible.

A flyer was posted in a London location popular with motorcyclists and similar calls-to-arms have also gone out in Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool.

Read more on Page 4

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NEWS 3

CAUGHT OUT!

This is the Husqvarna 701 prototype

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Naked modern cafe roadster snapped while out and about on secret Spanish road tests.

These exclusive shots of Husqvarna’s upcoming 701, the bigger version of the sweet 401 modern-twist cafe racer were taken in Spain a couple of days ago and give us everything we need to know about the bike that will be going on sale later this year.

Husqvarna is owned by KTM and unsurprisingly there’s much crossover between the brands for this almost ready-to-go prototype. In the images a quick glance shows that the bike bears a strong resemblance to the 401 concepts shown last year, but up close you get a lot more detail.

What we can see from the 701 version is that the bike has traction control with ABS on both the front and rear brakes, the bike gets Akront rims (the same as are used on the Husky 701 Supermoto) which are lightweight to make the steering feel more nimble. The spoked wheels are running 120 front and 160 rear Pirelli MT60 Scrambler tyres, so we can assume that these are likely to be OEM on the bike when it goes into production.

Handily, Husqvarna has also stamped a nice 701 into the footrest – just in case we weren’t sure about the bike.

Elsewhere, the bike gets the same 43mm WP forks as are on the KTM 690 Duke R. The units have 150mm of travel and are fully adjustable for compression and rebound with the adjusters mounted on top of each fork leg (you can just see the red adjuster visible on top of the right fork). The Husqvarna also uses the triple clamp from the 690 Duke R. Stopping the bike is a single 320mm disc gripped by a Brembo radial caliper (this looks to be the same as used on the upcoming 890cc KTM Duke, due out at the end of this year). The aggressive look

Log on to listen

is played on with the cut-down front mudguard.

Move up the bike and the headlight might look familiar but check out the neoprene-type material shroud that’s hiding some detailing and the single dial dash that appears to be movable back and forth, similar to how Triumph’s clock are able to be adjusted on the Bobber.

The bike doesn’t appear to have an adjustable-span clutch lever but has a front brake lever that you can dial in to suit your reach.

The exhaust exits on the right and looks pretty primitive given what we’ve seen in terms of KTM’s recent prototyping for getting rid of gases.

A Euro 4-friendly collector box mounted directly under the motor looks unsightly but – on this bike at least – is part shrouded by a split belly pan.

The 701’s swingarm is identical to that used on the 890 KTM prototype and there’s no rear mudguard; the

entire underseat of the bike is fully enclosed to stop dirt and grime getting to vulnerable bits like a rear shock.

The bike’s seat is very 401-esque, retaining the short and stubby look, but is capped off pretty neatly with a four LED light cluster rear brake recessed under the pillion perch.

Although the 701 is clearly a pullingtogether of various motorcycles undergoing development (and the odd bike still in production) the radiator on the bike in the photographs is all-new at about 20% smaller than what we’ve seen so far in the 890 KTM prototypes.

Fancy a whole load of helmet hedgehogs?

Marco Melandri’s special version of his Nolan X-802RR helmet – adorned with a world of hedgehogs – has gone on sale as a very limited edition run.

The Imola 2017 X-lite X-802RR helmet has been hand airbrushed

by GTT Design, an Italian artist who has customised all of Melandri’s lids over the years and if you decide to buy your own lid, they’ll add your name and number of the back.

The lids are available exclusively on Marco Melandri’s website for just over a grand (£1027.04 excluding delivery, to be specific).

Piper Cams Kawasaki GPZ1100 Endurance racer for sale For sale is this very rare British Piper Cams Kawasaki Special Endurance racer – it’s one of only four Piper Kawasakis in the world and (as MCM went to print) it’ll cost you £9000.

There’s something special about 1970s Kawasaki race machines – and this Kawasaki Endurance Racer is extra special, as one of only four bikes ever built by Piper Cams.

Piper Cams built four frames to house the GPZ1100 power plant (from the 80s), and were then used for endurance racing.

Don’t let the headlights fool you, this is a thoroughbred race motorcycle, it just happened to take part in endurance

Motor Cycle Monthly, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529529 Email: editorial@motorcyclemonthly.co.uk

If you want a bit of a giggle then log on to: MoreBikes.co.uk and type in ‘sweet’ to the search bar. The video you’ll see is a great bit of home ‘improvement’ Indian style of how to give your small capacity motorcycle a bit more bark for not much money.

competition which meant sometimes racing through the night. The GPZ engine powering the bike has been tuned to kick out 128hp, and bike has a close-ratio gearbox, Lockheed brakes with magnesium pistons and titanium bonds, magnesium wheels and an aluminium tank.

It’s absolutely gorgeous.

Wryst unveils its new Isle of Man TT watch Editor Tony Carter Editorial design Fran Lovely Publisher Dan Savage Picture desk Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield and Angie Sisestean Production editor Dan Sharp Divisional advertising manager Martin Freeman 01507 529538 Advertising Zoe Thurling 01507 529412 Kate Hayes 01507 529411 Advertising deadline for July issue Thursday, July 6, 2017 Distribution 01507 529529 Marketing manager Charlotte Park

Commercial director Nigel Hole Customer services number 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday 8.30am-7pm, Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm

Subscribe to MCM and just pay the postage!

Call 01507 529529 or visit classicmagazines.co.uk/MCM

or email help@classicmagazines.co.uk Motor Cycle Monthly is published monthly on the third Friday of the month by Mortons Media Group Ltd and printed by Mortons Print.

MCM recommends bikesafe.co.uk

Independently proven pick up: 67,717 copies

The new Wryst Isle of Man TT watch from the Official Isle of Man TT Races timing partner is now available for pre-orders at wryst-timepieces.com.

This second design creation of a Wryst TT watch is bigger and Wryst says that it has a more aggressive feel.

The watch will be the same watch that is presented to the winner of every TT Race this year.

The chronograph sports watch features a new case design with a large 50mm diametre outer. The watch face features the official Isle of Man TT logo and also the emblematic three-legged artwork on the left.

4 NEWS

Call goes out to vigilante groups to form and catch bike thieves in big UK cities

Shocking notices appear asking for hacked-off bikers to join in and help catch scumbags.

A leaflet is doing the rounds in London calling for motorcyclists to join a group to ‘Sort out’ bike thieves and scumbags carrying out crimes on scooters.

Alongside the flyer being handed out to riders, one of the call-to-arms posters was posted on the noticeboard at the Ace Cafe in north west London.

The Ace Cafe said that although the notice has appeared on the board briefly it was certainly not ‘something we support’. The notice was quickly removed from the board once staff spotted it in the iconic biker’s meeting place.

The notice reads: “Had your bike stolen recently?? Want to catch these f*****s?? Sort ’em?

Come Tmax hunting with Jack Th’ Lad.” According to reports on social media, similar calls have also gone out to bikers in Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool.

Superintendent Mark Payne of Operation Venice, a police team set-up to target moped-assisted crime, told Huffpost UK that the Met: “Does not support activities by individuals or groups who target suspected criminals.

Individuals or groups who

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Gorgeous Honda CBX900 illustrations appear in Japanese magazine These images are not real, yet, but they are sweet drawings.

target potentially violent criminals could be putting themselves at risk.” He advised anyone who witnesses motorcycle thefts to contact police, adding: “This type of action could jeopardise or interfere with ongoing investigations, and our advice to anyone who has information about a suspect or witnesses a crime is to contact police as soon as possible so it can be investigated and, where possible, bring people to justice.”

Payne also said revealing the identity of a potential suspect could “give them the opportunity to destroy evidence,” before police could become involved.

Check out these illustrations from Japanese magazine YoungMachine – they are based on rumours in the Japanese motorcycle market of some sort of modern, naked/half naked six cylinder-powered behemoth on the cards.

We’ve brought you these rumours some time ago but our Japanese friends have added some flesh on the considerable bones and come up with these images.

We love them. And if the bike appears and looks like this, then we’re going to be at the front of whatever queue there happens to be for a ride.

What do you reckon to this?

Is it Honda enough or has it all gone a bit Husky Vitpilen with that fairing on?

Bigger Royal Enfield on the way. Confirmed by RE boss.

Likely to be a 750cc version of the Adventure bike Royal Enfield CEO and managing director Siddhartha Lal has confirmed that a biggerengined Himalayan is on the way from the Indian company.

In an interview with Motorcycle Magazine in India, Lal admitted that the company has already picked out which models will get a larger engine and that the motorcycles that are on their way are being built for the Indian market.

Lal said: “So, about higher capacity, we have selected which models we will be making bigger and more powerful versions of than we have today, and the Himalayan is one of those – but because our Indian customer says so, not anyone overseas. However, I recognise of course that this is a benefit for our export sales, and as we get close to meeting demand in India for our products, then we must start to lift our sales overseas. In the next five-year horizon, we intend Royal Enfield should be No.1 in global sales in the middleweight segment.

“I’d say that in the order of 10% of our motorcycles in India are now 500cc, and 10%

Coolest Enfield Himalayan custom yet!

Kerala-based custom shop GRID7 Customs has just unveiled its latest creation – a Royal Enfield Himalayan scrambler.

The guys at GRID7 Customs have scalped a Royal Enfield Himalayan, stripping away much of the original bike’s bodywork and creating this gorgeous scrambler. They’ve switched the stock headlight for a retro-styled dual-pod headlight, and the rear features an updated custom tail-light too. There’s a new custom front fender, repositioned indicators, an offset handlebar-mounted instrument console and a custom number plate holder too.

The stock fuel tank has been replaced by a smaller unit and the factory-installed split seat has been replaced by a single-piece dark brown leather one. Both the wheels and tyres have been replaced too, with the front now featuring a 110mm and the rear a 140mm.

is now 60,000 bikes a year, so it’s not a small number any more – and learning from that, you realise there is a case from the Indian perspective for a bigger engined Himalayan, not just for export markets, I always come back to India because any product that we do manufacture with an eye on other parts of the world has to have its roots in India, where we have 96% of Royal Enfield customers.”

Currently, the Royal Enfield Himalayan’s long stroke 411cc single cylinder mill produces 24.5bhp of power and 32Nm of torque.

It’s most likely that the company is going to use the 750cc twin that we’ve been showing you over the past six months on our website, MoreBikes.

Lal also said in the interview that Royal Enfield “won’t go beyond that (750cc), and we won’t go below 250cc either.”

The mechanical details about the new twincylinder 750cc are currently still scarce but according to Indian media the new engine is likely to deliver over 50bhp and kick-out around 60Nm of torque.

5

6 NEWS

OUT NOW

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The most ESSENTIALL reading of your motorcycle month!

Make sure you pick up the latest editions of Classic Racer, Motorcycle Sport & Leisure and Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

They’ve just hit the shops and they’re jam-packed with brilliant articles, terrific interviews and the very best of motorcycle life.

And no matter what your taste in motorcycling, you’ll find everything you want to fill up your motorcycle needs for the next few weeks.

Xxxxxxxxxx Classic Racer looks at life sliding sideways from the grand days of motorcycle competition and this issue features a mega-feature on Jay Springsteen, iconic racer and true hard man of racing from the days when racing bit back. There’s also an in-depth look at Kork Ballington’s KR500 GP racer which used materials more exotic than the space race did PLUS there’s Grand Prix race reports from the early 1970s and what’s going on in the current classic racing scene.

Call 01507 529529 or go to www.classicmagazines.co.uk/mcm20

Motorcycle Sport and Leisure is the UK’s longest-running and best motorcycle magazine and this month’s issue feature a host of great machines including the BMW R1200GS Rallye, the new Suzuki V-Strom 650, a first ride on the incredible Yamaha R6 PLUS the crazy world of Nick Sanders, travel legend. There’s also a whopping 22 pages of travel and adventure writing from people just like you as they tell their tales of great trips on two wheels.

Classic Motorcycle Mechanics this month focuses on an amazing Kawasaki Z1000 special, there’s 37 pages of practical advice that’ll get you out of (nearly) any problem.

Two-stoke guru Stan Stephens takes you through stripping and tuning the Suzuki RG500 in a special look at the marvellous machine, PLUS there’s a look at the best bikes of 1982 and a modern touch to a gorgeous Honda CBX1000 that you’ve got to see.

How to get them All these magazines are in your local newsagent right now.

Go and grab them. But if you fancy having them delivered to your door (and for a bit of money off or some great subscriptions offer) then that’s very simple to do.

GET UP TO SPEED DAILY

Go to: www.classicmagazines. co.uk and you can find all the magazines there. We’ll look after you and then sit back and let the best motorcycle magazines you can buy land on your doormat without you having to lift a finger.

7

8 NEWS

W WIN WIN! WIN M L MOTOBALL

WITH

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Get YOUR own Guy Martin replica K3 SV AGV helmet worth nearly £200.

MOTOBALL is BACK. Yep, we’ve pulled the old competition from the MCM archive and it’s time to put all your expert knowledge of motorcycles, 1950s gentlemen and football to good use.

Because if you do then you might just be the lucky winner of an excellent Guy Martin replica lid!

The K3 SV (now available in pink and blue) was developed by the same team who brought you the firm’s Pista GP, Corsa and GT Veloce lids.

The helmet has plenty of vents (threee in the front mounted on the chin and sid de of the head) and two extractor vents at the back of the shell.

Aerodynamics are maximised to help cut lift, drag and noise on the move – as you’d expect, at racetrack speeds – and two shell sizes and four inner EPS options give a great fit for most heads. The AGV comes in a massive size range from 2XS to 3XL plus the range also includes MS and ML sizes, too.

HOW TO ENTER

Suzuki has released the first video in a two-part series, that follows the restoration of Barry Sheene’s 1976 world championship-winning XR14.

The bike was restored by Martyn Ogborne, who worked with Team Suzuki in the 1970s and was Barry Sheene’s race technician, and Nigel Everett, who was a Grand Prix technician from 1975 and worked with Suzuki from 1982.

To watch the film log onto: www. morebikes.co.uk and search ‘Sheene’

✁

This is a completely FREE-TOENTER competition and getting your entry into the upturned helmet from which the winner will be drawn couldn’t be easier.

There’s only one rule with this, and here it is: YOU HAVE FIVE CROSSES THAT YOU CAN DRAW ON THE PICTURE. That’s it. No more. If you put more than FIVE crosses on the picture then we’ll toss your entry into the bin.

Okay? Cool.

Watch Sheene’s bike undergoing restoration

So, here’s how you take part: 1: Study the old photo of the chaps playing football on motorcycles (Motoball, if you will...)

2: Using your skill and judgement – or just close your eyes and have a pretty loose stab at the paper with a pen, up to you – put your FIVE crosses on the image where you think the CENTRE of the football is on the original image.

We’ve removed the football. It is on the original and we’ll show you the original in the following issue of MCM. 3: Cut out your entry and send the ORIGINAL to us at the address below. That’s the ORIGINAL cut out of these pages. If you send us a photocopy or anything other than the ORIGINAL then we’ll throw your entry into the bin, too.

4: Sit back and wait for your sweet Guy Martin K3 SV AGV helmet to arrive – providing you’re

Outrageous (105bhp!)

Ducati Odioso sidecarcross

the winner picked at random from those entries judged to have been closest to the centre of the football on the original photo.

Phew, got all that? Cool. So pop off and get a pen then get your brain into full-on Motoball mode.

Good luck with the crosses!

Here’s the address, details, closing date etc MCM Motoball Competition JULY, Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 6LZ The closing date for entries to be with us is July, 20, 2017.

Custom bike builder Revival Cycles has just unveiled its latest project – an outrageous Ducati SP4 sidecarcross outfit that is aptly named Odioso (which is Italian for obnoxious).

The bike is a Ducati sidecarcross beast, based on a 1999 Ducati ST4 sport-tourer – complete with a 916 engine (4-valve DOHC liquid-cooled 996cc V-twin) and audacious 80s themed paintwork.

The 105bhp off-road custom is now 50kg lighter than the original ST4.

Terms and conditions apply. For full terms and conditions, please see www.morebikes.co.uk. The winner will be the first name drawn at random as described above. The ere are no cash alternatives available.

Triumph Motorcycles announces new colour options for Bobber, Thruxton, Scrambler, Bonnie and Street Twin Triumph has announced its new 2018 colour range. The British firm has added a Cranberry Red and Frozen Silver colour option to the new Bonneville Bobber, now giving potential customers a choice of five colour schemes.

The Thruxton R has a small colour change; Triumph will replace the Diablo Red option with Crystal White and Jet Black finish, while e the Pure White option on the Thruxton will switch to Korosi Red. The Bonneville T120 will have two colour changes, Aluminium Silver will replace Cinder Red option while the Jet Black and Pure White combination is replaced with Competition Green and Fusion White.

The final change to the line-up includes the Street Twin, which trades its Phantom Black finish for Crystal White with new decals.

The new colours will become available from this month (June), 2017.

Benelli’s future triple 1200 patents break cover in Australia

This CAD/CAM image of the new three-cylinder engine that will power the upcoming 1200 Benelli tourer has appeared in Australia.

Reports claim that this motor will likely be used in two motorcycles; a large touring-style bike and a big capacity Adventure motorcycle.

The new motor is likely to transfer the power to the back wheel via a shaft-drive too.

10 WHAT’S ON To get your event on these pages email jclements@mortons.co.uk

What’s On: the essential dates JUNE 21 Bucks British & Classic MCC Annual Classic Bike Concours event.

The Plough at Cadsden, Princes Risborough, Bucks HP27 0NB. www.bbcmcc.freeuk.com Tel: Dermot 07940 492348 21 Yorkshire Rose TOMCC Open Night.

The Waverley Pub, Brinsworth Road, Catcliffe, Rotherham S60 5RW. Tel: 0114 262 0195.

22 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, Dent (meet on main car park). Tel: 01772 782516 23-24 Wessex Ale ‘n’ Cider Fest. Roots Garden Centre, Priors Court Road, Hermitage, Berkshire RG18 9TG. www.wessexaleandcider.webs.com Email: iancamo@hotmail.com Tel: 07763 807915.

23-25 VMCC Northern Ireland Section – Antrim Coast Weekend. Based at the Halfway House Hotel, Ballygalley, Co Antrim. Tel: Ian MacDougall 02825 822356. Email: ian@macdougall. demon.co.uk vmccni.wordpress.com 23-25 Triumph National Rally, Pennsylvania 24-25 SCRMC Ltd (N). The Bob McIntyre Memorial Classic Races, East Fortune Raceway.

Tel: Agnes 01294 833320.

24-25 Summer Nationals. Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington,

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Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7XA. www.santapod.com 25 Open Day. Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury, Essex RM18 8PB. Tel 01375 844203. www.coalhousefort.co.uk 25 Ace Cafe London. Triton & Cafe Racer Day. www.ace-cafe-london.com 25 Salisbury Motorcycle & Light Car Club Horses & Henges Solstice Run. Tel: Andy Elliott 07909 778685 salisburymotorcycle andlightcarclub.co.uk 25 Big Bike Sunday Motorcycle Show.

Skipton Auction Mart, Gargrave Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1UD (off roundabout A629/A59/A65). Tel: 07931 312579 www.facebook.com/ bigbikesunday 25 Romney Marsh Show & Bikejumble.

Marsh Road, Hamstreet, near Ashford, Kent TN26 2JD. www.elk-promotions. co.uk 25 Autojumble, The Clitheroe Auction Mart. Lincoln Way, Clitheroe BB7 1QW. www.hoylespromotions.co.uk 25 Classic & Vintage Motorcycle Day. Cambridge Museum of Technology, The Old Pumping Station, Cheddars Lane, Cambridge CB5 8LD. www.museumoftechnology.com 25 Herefordshire on the Edge 2017.

Contact Geoff McGladdery for details geoffmac@globalnet.co.uk 28 Bike Night. The Plough Inn Town Street, South Leverton DN22 0BT. Tel: 01427 880323.

30-2 July British Two-Stroke Club Annual Meeting and President’s run.

Blackmore Caravan and Camping, Hanley Swan, Worcs WR8 0EF. Tel: Keith 01604 701925 or Robert 02392 460014.

JULY 1 Rufforth Autojumble. Rufforth Park, York. Tel: 01904 738620. www.rufforthautojumble.com 1 Ace Cafe London. Diamond Day – NCC London Custom Bike Show. www.ace-cafe-london.com 1-2 National Road Rally 2017. Various points around the UK. Tel: 01788 566409 www.nationalroadrally.co.uk.

Email: steph@acu.org.uk 2 Brooklands Motorcycle Day, Surrey.

Daytona display stand and race bikes.

Enquiries by May 28 to rightfoot_ shifter@yahoo.co.uk 2 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes. NW Rally, Astley Green Colliery (off A580), near Manchester. Tel: 01942 879147 (TBC) 2 Ace Cafe London. Ride Out to Brooklands Motorcycle Show. www.ace-cafe-london.com 2 Ace Cafe London. Honda Bike Day + Monkey Bike Meet. www.ace-cafe-london.com 2 Triumph Day, Jacks Hill Cafe, A5 Watling Street, Towcester NN12 8ET. 2 Grampian Transport Museum. A day of performance vehicles, featuring the history of motorsport.

2 Normous Newark Autojumble.

Newark Showground, Newark, Notts NG24 2NY. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 2 Crich Tramway Classic Motorcycle Day. Crich Tramway Museum, Crich, Derbyshire DE4 5DP. www.tramway. co.uk 2 Bike Life Classics Day. Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, Bashley, New Milton, Hampshire BH25 5SZ. Tel: 01425 620777 (museum) seven days a week or 01425 616644 (workshop/ office) Monday-Friday. Email:

museum@sammymiller.co.uk www.sammymiller.co.uk 7-9 The Old Goats Grumble 3. Sycamore Farm, Heavygate Lane, Shottle, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 2DS. www.loz-mcc. co.uk Email: league.of.zeal.mcc@ gmail.com or Tel: 07786 065341.

8-9 CRMC Croft. www.crmc.co.uk (provisional) 8-9 Shakespeare Raceway Summer Madness Public Track Weekend. Long Marston Airfield, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8LL. www.shakespearecountyraceway. co.uk. Tel 01789 720180.

9 Ace Cafe London. Victory & Indian Bike Day. www.ace-cafe-london.com 9 Sunbeam MCC Garden of England Run. Headcorn, Kent. Tel: Jo and Julian Swift 01233 756346. Email: julian@ julianswift.com 9 VMCC (Dorset) Veteran and Vintage Run. Village Hall, Leigh, Sherborne.

Tel: Rodney Hann 01935 872528 9 Garstang Autojumble, Hamilton House Farm (on A586, off A6), Garstang, Preston PR3 0TB Tel: Ian Sherrard 07836 331324 (day) or 01772 323654 (6pm-8pm). Email: info@ garstangautojumbles.co.uk. www.garstangautojumbles.co.uk 9 Classic Car Show. Dover Transport Museum, Willingdon Road, Whitfield, Dover, Kent CT16 2JX. Tel 01304 822409. Email: info@ dovertransportmuseum.org.uk 12 Bike Night. The Plough Inn Town Street, South Leverton DN22 0BT. Tel: 01427 880323.

13 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes. Stott Park Bobbin Mill, Newby Bridge.

Tel: 01772 782516.

14-16 Dragstalgia. Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7XA. www.dragstalgia.co.uk 15 South Midlands Autojumble. Rosson-Wye Livestock Centre, Oveross,

Ross-on-Wye HR9 7QQ. Tel: 01989 750731. http://tinyurl.com/js7nqos 15-16 Drumlandrig Dumfries (SCRMC) Ltd (N) Classic Scramble. Tel: Willie Brown 01576 202950.

15-16 Charterhouse Auctioneers Classic Car and Motorbike Auction. Classic Cars & Super Cars – with the Classic & Supercars Show at Sherborne Castle, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3SA 16 Haynes Biker’s Breakfast Ride-In. Haynes International Motor Museum, Sparkford, near Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7LH. www.himm.co.uk 16 Salisbury Motorcycle & Light Car Club Lightweight Run. Tel: Andy Elliott 07909 778685 www. salisburymotorcycleand lightcarclub.co.uk 16 South of England Summer Classic Show & Bikejumble. South of England Showground, Ardingly, W Sussex, RH17 6TL. www.elk-promotions.co.uk 16 Ace Cafe London. 70s Bike Day. www.ace-cafelondon.com 16 3rd Classic Motorcycle and American Car Show. White Swan car park, Hunmanby, North Yorkshire YO14 0JU. Tel: John Wragg 07804 709168 16-18 Anarchy on the Wirral at the 27th Snatch Rally. Wirral Rugby Club, Thornton Common Road, Clatterbridge, Wirral CH63 0LT. www. snatchmcc.com. snatchmcc@gmail. com or Tel: Frank 07759 579465.

17 Appledore Vintage and Classic Vehicle Rally. Appledore Recreation Ground, Appledore, Kent TN26 2AE. Tel: 07770 947067. www.appledorekent.co.uk 22 Kempton Park Motorcycle Autojumble. Kempton Park, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ. Tel: 01507 529435.

22-23 Ton Up Day. Jacks Hill Cafe on the A5 in Towester, Northampton NN12 8ET. www.jackshillcafe.com

11

12 NEWS

Don’t miss this – the massive Bexhill MotoFest 2017 is back!

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Motorcycles, music and stunts make this years’ Bexhill MotoFest on July 30 one of the biggest and best FREE to attend biking events in the South East.

Over the past four years Bexhill MotoFest has built a reputation for bringing surprises to the biking masses. From live Motogymkhana to Mini-Moto Racing and last year’s fantastic Led Zeppelin-fest, every year is definitely different and this year is no exception.

The details What: Bexhill MotoFest When: Sunday, July 30 Where: De La Warr Pavilion Car park and through out Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex TN40 1DP For further information go to: www.bexhillmotofest.com

Set against the seaside backdrop of the iconic art deco De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill MotoFest 2017 is bigger and better than ever. For this year’s event, the Bexhill MotoFest team have joined forces with Swinton Insurance to bring spectacular stunts to the De La Warr car park where you’ll see Motorcycle Stunts International and Stunted Reality performing.

There’s also a Zona Italia to welcome the Ducati owners club and all riders of Italian motorcycles, a Harley Cavalcade and a Gold Wing Cavalcade will be hitting town at around 10.30am. The Ride to the Music festival on the sea front terrace of the De La Warr Pavilion is headlined this year by Stoned – probably the best Rolling Stones

tribute band in the South East. There will also be traders and exhibitors from all aspects of the motorcycle industry as well as a family-friendly fun fair and a unique Ride the Future electric bike exhibition. Bikes will be display parked throughout the town and a wide range of food and drink will be served at more than 50 cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars.

Husqvarna new off-roaders Husqvarna Motorcycles has revealed its all-new range of 2018 TC and FC motocross machines.

In total, there’s a comprehensive line-up of eight two-stroke and four-stroke models.

From the TC 50 and TC 65 minicycles to the full-size TC 125, TC 250, FC 250, FC 350 and FC 450, all models have been revamped for 2018.

Husqvarna’s engineers have focused on introducing further engine and chassis advances in all full-sized TC and FC models.

The most notable upgrades are the Magura front and rear braking systems, a new Li-Ion battery, new graphics and a high-grip seat cover.

The TC 125 and 250 also feature an updated Mikuni carburettor with improved performance.

Husqvarna TC 85 Developed from the ground up, the brandnew TC 85 is a pretty impressive little machine that includes: ■ New WP AER 43 forks ■ New WP XPlor PDS shock ■ New throttle assembly ■ Formula brakes & wave discs ■ New exhaust & 50mm shorter silencer ■ Updated engine with new cylinder ■ New power valve

Friends make wooden bike powered by algae

A motorcycle made of wood and powered by burning algae oil has been developed in the Netherlands.

The motorcycle is the work of designer Ritsert Mans and scientist Peter Mooji. The two friends hatched a plan to produce an algae oil powered wooden motorcycle to highlight one of the options for moving away from traditional fuels.

Mans developed the motorcycle while Mooji grew and harvested the algae. The chassis is made of wood, including its front end. To watch a video of the bike being ridden go to: MoreBikes.co.uk and search ‘algae’.

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13

14 FACTORY SPECIAL TECH SPEC Yamaha XSR900 Abarth

Price: £9999 Engine: 847cc liquid-cooled DOHC triple Power: 114bhp (84.6kW) @ 10,000rpm Torque: 65lb-ft (87.5Nm) @ 8500rpm Transmission: Six-speed, chain final drive Chassis: Cast aluminium diamond frame Suspension: (F) 41mm USD forks, adjustable for rebound; (R) single shock, adjustable for preload and rebound

Take a cruiser and supe it up. Abarth style. Okay, so it looks uber cool but how does this sharpened Yamaha actually go on the road?

WORDS: John Milbank PHOTOGRAPHY: Yamaha Jumping off the XSR900 Abarth one journo exclaimed: “This’d be fantastic around Cadwell.” He’s right, but it’s a shame I found it so uncomfortable on the tight twisting roads of Sardinia where we were riding it.

To be fair, I was the only one who didn’t seem enamoured with the limited-edition machine, and I should also say that, for the first 15 minutes at least, I thought the extreme riding position bought on by the ‘swallow tail’, or ‘Ace’ bars, perfectly suited it.

I understood why 100 pre-orders were taken in just the first two hours of the online registration system going live in January – while using the well-proven, brilliant chassis and engine of the XSR900/MT-09, this is something very special indeed.

But after those 15 minutes, when I’d lost the feeling in my hands, I started to realise that I really wasn’t among the target audience. I’m 5ft 10in, 44 years old, and like a bit of comfort in my bikes. I’m not a committed enough rider for something so bumup, wrists-down, and while the higher

speed sections proved I would have had more fun on it if we’d been on track, I couldn’t help thinking that the last bike I rode on a high-speed circuit – Honda’s 2017 Fireblade – would have been more comfortable than this out here.

Yamaha’s not daft though – the company is well aware that this bike isn’t for everyone – and with only 695 being built, they know that they can afford to do something a little more off the wall.

Some 40-50 examples were preordered in the UK, which is the highest percentage of any country (it’s only for sale in Europe). Only 50-60 more will be brought onto our island for dealers to sell from April, and it looks likely that they’ll disappear very quickly.

The original plan was to offer 95 as pre-orders, with those customers given an invite to the Abarth factory, as well as a country-specific special event that will include driving the Fiat 500 XSR Abarth (in the UK, this will be at Rockingham). So many orders came in that this was extended to 145, meaning there are just 550 left for showrooms across Europe.

Uncompromising exclusivity

There’s no denying that this is a stunning machine. The café-racer-style carbonfibre fairing (a modified version of that on the XJR1300 Racer) wraps neatly around the headlight, with the traditional ‘Ace’ bars – similar to inverted cow-horns), plummeting down the forks, above a stubby carbon fender.

The clock looks something of an afterthought, and I wonder why this wasn’t tucked down into the fairing, but the negative display looks great, before your eyes skate over the red and black paintwork, the scorpion insignia of Abarth, and the laserengraved numbered panel, to the beautiful carbon-fibre tail-piece.

While the aluminium number-plate and indicator hanger’s many bolts are a little untidy, the sweeping lines of the removable pillion-seat cover are one of the best pieces of design seen on a bike for a very long time. Yamaha is adamant that this part is exclusive to the Abarth, and will only be available as a spare to owners of the bike. The individual numbers will be tracked, at least while the machines are with their first owners, so no option for XSR900 owners yet…

The seat is covered with a wonderful ‘Ultra Suede’ material over a waterproof membrane, and below this is the stainless steel and titanium Akrapovič exhaust system. All in, the £1700 premium over the XSR900 seems easily justified. The only real surprise is the lack of a quick-shifter; standard on the MT-09 models.

It’s not fitted to the XSR900, but it would have made perfect sense on a machine with the Abarth badge. That sub-£10,000 price point was obviously pretty important.

The Abarth is a dealer-fit kit that’s expected to sell to “experienced riders between 35 and 50 years old, looking for a truly unique bike”. While many of the parts are already in the Yamaha catalogue, and they’re fitted to a justifiably popular base machine, this is certainly something that will attract attention.

The exhaust isn’t drastically louder than the standard system, but it is a little more fruity (and the catalytic converter is removable if you’re naughty enough to ignore homologation issues), giving off the odd pleasing pop and bang on down-changes.

It doesn’t make any more power, but that’s no surprise given the efficiency with which the triple makes its 114bhp (it feels much more) and 65lb-ft. As with the other bikes using

this engine, I found the ‘standard’ mode to feel the best, ‘B’ being a softened delivery for wet roads, and ‘A’ just too sharp. All three have the same peak, but it’s surprising how different the throttle response can feel.

The suspension is unchanged from the XSR – adjustable for rebound at the front, and preload and rebound at the rear, it felt compliant and comfortable on the smooth Sardinian roads of the launch. Maybe the suspension felt particularly good because the ergonomics suited me so badly. I’m pretty sure I looked fairly cool – the other riders certainly did – but the only way I could get the weight off my wrists was to slide my bum right back in the seat and grip the tank tightly with my knees. If I was any further forward, the aluminium tank panel edges would dig into my legs when trying this.

At higher speeds, things got a lot better, and I was the only one of the nine other journalists not to be raving about how awesome this was. Of course it was fun – what bike isn’t?

But honestly, I’d have been a lot happier on an XSR900.

It might be too committed a ride for me, but it won’t stop me raising a contented smile if I’m fortunate enough to see one on the road in the future, while thinking: “I’m one of the lucky few to have ridden that…”

16 LAUNCH REPORT

Meet the SCR950. Fun in the sun (and a great cruiser, too)

A unique machine with a great deal of appeal. Honestly. You’ll struggle to pigeonhole this bike – once you’ve ridden it.

WORDS: John Milbank PICTURES: Yamaha Yamaha’s SCR950 is hampered by its marketing. It’s described as being: “Inspired by the street scramblers of the 1960s.” Many journalists’ default response to that will be to thrust it into a pigeonhole already swollen with the likes of Ducati’s Scrambler, Triumph’s Street Scrambler and BMW’s R nineT Scrambler.

I’d consider the XSR700 to have more potential to embrace the ideals of the scrambler stereotype, but the SCR950 is much closer to its cruiser roots. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so, and taking into account the low-slung main frame and lazy 942cc V-twin, the new Yamaha is a characterful machine that’s a lot of fun to ride.

“Born to find new ways,” is the slogan of this latest Sport Heritage bike, and our 100km launch route took in a rocky-bottomed watercrossing, and several miles of loose gravel tracks. I’m not the best off-road rider by any stretch of the imagination, but the SCR was far more fun to plough through the dust than it had any right to be.

LAUNCH REPORT 17

Weighing 252kg fully fuelled, it’s no lightweight – that mass of course fades into insignificance as you pull away, but it’s pretty obvious as you pick the bike up off the stand. Ground clearance is 10mm higher than that of its XV950 sibling, but at 145mm it’s not going to worry Ducati’s Scrambler at 170mm or the massive 240mm of the Desert Sled version.

It’s understandable that some journalists on the launch would compare the SCR to the off-road focused Ducati and at £9395, it’s not that much more expensive.

But all it shares with the SCR is the perception of a name. Group tests will no doubt pit the Yamaha against the Ducati, BMW and Triumph, but it’d be an irrelevance.

Bouncing across the track, chasing five other SCRs, I didn’t worry about the weight, and the ground clearance only showed itself when I crashed down into a large pothole I’d missed in the dust left by the other riders’

Bridgestone Trail Wings. I’m 5ft 10in and could get my feet down easily, and later, as we turned the bikes around for a photoshoot on the loose, gravelly lay-by, I appreciated that.

The SCR has the same engine and main chassis as the XV950, though the suspension has revised internals, and there’s a new sub-frame that allows for the flat, bench seat, which gives plenty of space to move around on, as well as making it easier to stand up.

The pegs are the biggest help to this, having been lifted by 30mm, and brought back by 150mm. While you might not realistically spend a lot of time needing to get upright on the SCR (it’s great fun on tracks, but the typical rutted UK green lane might be a bit much), having your feet beneath you takes a lot of the weight off your bum, giving what many will find a more comfortable position than that of the typical cruiser.

252

That’s the wet weight in kg for the easygoing cruiser

TECH SPEC Yamaha SCR950

While things are higher on the new Yamaha, it’s still surprising how quickly the pegs touch down on the road. Tipping into corners, the hero-blobs on the sprung footpegs are all too willing to scrape, though at least they give you a warning that you shouldn’t push much harder. Some on the test touched down the peg’s mounting bracket on the right, which didn’t lift the wheel, but did gave some cause for concern. Still, I didn’t find that point on the spirited test ride, and maybe it’s the upright riding position that tricks you into thinking there’s more room beneath.

The clock looks a bit of a let-down to me, with the small LCD set into a

large, round dash. Using an XSR-style full LCD unit would have looked better, or even simply making the display a negative, white on black design. The information on offer is basic by today’s standard, with just a speedo, odometer and a pair of trips, along with the usual cluster of idiot-lights, though these are a little tricky to see in bright sunlight. Still, it’s something many customisers will look to change anyway…

Another opportunity for more serious personalisation, in keeping with the Yamaha Yard Built ideals of making bikes unique, is the space under the seat – with the side panels off, it looks like there’d be a lot of

Price: £8499 Engine: 942cc air-cooled SOHC 4-valve 60° V-twin Power: 51bhp (38.3kW) @ 5500rpm Torque: 58.6lb-ft (79.5Nm) @ 3000rpm Transmission: 5-speed, belt final drive Chassis: Double cradle steel frame Suspension: (F) 41mm forks, unadjustable; (R) twin shocks, adjustable for preload Brakes: ABS (F) twin piston caliper, 298mm disc; (R) single piston caliper, 298mm disc Seat height: 830mm Fuel tank: 13 litres (2.9 gallons) Kerb weight: 252kg Contact: www.yamaha-motor.co.uk

room to strip out the battery box, replace it with a small lithium pack, and create an open look to the rear of the frame. The ABS module would need covering, or perhaps even removing, but there is a lot of potential here.

18 LAUNCH REPORT

The space under the seat is sadly wasted anyway – there’s a lot of room as it is, but with the seat bolted in place, there’s no real way to take advantage of it.

I’d also love to replace the air-box with a pair of free-breathing cone filters – not only would it help the Euro 4-stifled air-cooled motor release some power, it might create a little more space for my right knee. Not that it makes for a particularly uncomfortable riding position.

Your left leg also presses against the rear cylinder head, as the pots are offset to the left of centre.

A plastic cover disappears into the styling, and works with a single-piece metal ‘cage’ that prevents your leg from getting cooked. In the warm Sardinian weather, while we didn’t do any city work, I certainly never felt the heat of the motor.

Characterful as it is, the vibration from the big twin isn’t intrusive, yet it feels alive, and in high-walled, tight streets, there’s a decent note from the exhaust. A more free breathing can could sound brilliant, as well as releasing some more power from the 51bhp motor. Tuning this lump could be an awful lot of fun, but the

healthy amount of torque from so low down means I tended to use just third and fifth gear for almost all of my riding, except when pulling away from a standstill. The closest Harley to compare this to is the Iron 883, which makes 50lb-ft @ 4750rpm.

The brakes are best described as adequate – while there’s no real bite from the twin-piston front caliper, or the huge rear disc bitten by a singlepiston, I never felt panicked, and I’m not sure the chassis would benefit from anything much more aggressive.

Of course, the suspension isn’t plush like an adventure machine, but it is compliant enough for most surfaces. Over rocks and holes off road, it could get a little crashy, but this is a heavy motorcycle.

Tackling fire tracks will certainly be more comfortable than on any cruiser I can think of, and on Tarmac, where these bikes will really spend their time, it was compliant enough to be comfortable. And again, those rearset pegs give extra damping through your legs that’s lost on a typical feetforward cruiser.

Yamaha is quite realistic about the potential buyer – it’s not going to be a motocross champ, more likely either a 35 to 45-year-old commuter and

8499

How much the Yamaha costs on the road (in pounds)

pleasure rider looking for a machine to customise, or someone older and more experienced, perhaps after something easy to ride.

This is not a bike to be hurried, and honestly, I really appreciated being on something that makes me want to ride at a slower pace. To my eyes, the SCR950 is a unique machine with a great deal of appeal.

Will buyers really worry whether they can ride this across a desert? I’ve got to say that I have something of a soft spot for this bike – I could imagine myself having a lot of fun pottering around, as well as commuting. And maybe I wouldn’t go as far as Africa, but I quite fancy riding to Wheels and Waves in Biarritz again on one of these. Some canvas panniers and a roll-bag, and I’d be all set…

19

20 FIRST RIDE

TOP R I P L E

The Street Triple has always been able to deliver much more than you’d think. With the latest incarnation, the whole package has raised the bar even further.

The decline of the British sportsbike fan has been well documented, as has the rise of the retro hipster and the adventure commuter. And as far as Triumph goes, its sporty range has atrophied to just one, fastdisappearing model, the Daytona 675, while the Adventure and roadster bikes have enjoyed a time of plenty over recent years.

That’s not to say the Hinckley firm has dumped performance bikes altogether – the Speed and Street Triple naked roadsters have given Triumph lovers plenty of thrilling options over the years. And with strong rumours linking the firm to a Moto2 engine supply deal for 2019, with an all-new 765cc triplecylinder engine, there’s certainly plenty of cool stuff going on at Britain’s biggest bike builder.

That aforementioned 765cc engine is at the heart of the matter, and it’s powering no fewer than three versions (five if you include the special low-seat and 660cc A2 licence models). Punters

TECH SPEC 2017 Triumph Street Triple

Price: £9900 (RS), £8900 (R), £8000 (S) Engine: 12v inline-triple, DOHC, liquid-cooled, 765cc Power: 121bhp (90.2kW) @ 11,700rpm (RS) 116bhp (86.5kW) @ 12,000rpm (R) 111bhp (82.7kW) @ 11,250rpm (S) Torque: 57lb-ft (77Nm) @ 10,800rpm (RS), 57lb-ft (77Nm) @ 9400rpm (R), 54lb-ft (73Nm) @ 9100rpm Transmission: Six-speed, slipper clutch, chain final drive Frame: Aluminium twin spar Suspension: (Front) 41mm fully-adjustable Showa USD forks (S has SFF forks, R has SFBPF, RS has BPF); (Rear) Showa shock (S and R), Öhlins STX40 shock (RS) Brakes: (Front) Nissin twin-piston sliding calipers (S), Brembo M4.32 four-piston radial calipers (R), Brembo M50 four-piston radial calipers (RS) 310mm discs; (Rear) 220mm disc, single-piston Brembo caliper Tyres: Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa/Supercorsa (RS), 120/70 17 front, 180/55 17 rear Kerb weight: 186kg Fuel capacity: 17.4 litres (3.8 gallons) Contact: www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk

can choose from an entry-level ‘S’ version with budget chassis gear, basic electronics and 111bhp, a posher ‘R’ with flashier brakes and suspension, plus 5bhp more, or the ultimate ‘RS’ version, which combines 121bhp with Öhlins and Brembo running gear and adding a Premier League electronics suite to look after it all.

Come the day of the launch in Espagnia and things haven’t started out in a very legendary fashion. Our bit of Catalonia is damp, cold, and shrouded in mist and fog. We head out of the hotel car park, gingerly tiptoeing the shark-grey Triples down the steep hillside roads. The temperature reading on my bike’s luscious colour dash is 8°C. Not horrendous, but too cold for the Pirelli Supercorsa SP tyres the RS wears as stock. That SP rubber is ace on hot, sticky Tarmac, but on the damp, chilled, mud-strewn backroads we begin the day on, they’re well outside their operating margins.

I’m not feeling too worried though.

The forecast is set to improve plus we’ve got a full safety net in place on the bikes here – adjustable traction control, advanced ABS, and softer

power modes. The RS has rain, road, sport, track and user-defined modes, and I’m currently pottering along in sport. That gives full ABS front and rear, with moderately-low traction control interference. Swapping between the modes and customising your own setup is easy enough – the TFT dash is super-clear and bright, and the new switchgear includes a five-way joystick for easy access through the menus. If you want to turn ABS or traction control off altogether, you need to stop and put the bike in neutral first. Other changes can be made on the move.

That electronic peace of mind lets me concentrate on the motor for a bit. And it’s a corker. An extra 90cc might not seem like much, but it’s genuinely moved the 675 lump up a class, and the RS engine feels closer to something like the Speed Triple or Yamaha’s MT-09. There’s stacks of grunt from low-down in the rev range, together with a bruising top-end rush.

The roads at the moment aren’t quite fast enough to explore all the motor has to offer, but it’s very encouraging.

The fuelling is spot-on, although in the more aggressive modes, it is (as

FIRST RIDE 21

you’d probably expect) quite sharp on and off the gas. The up-only quickshifter works well for me (but some other testers don’t like it as much).

I’d really have liked an auto-blipping downshifter as well though – the rideby-wire throttle makes that eminently possible, and particularly on track, the little 765 misses it.

After stopping for a coffee it’s warmed up by three or four degrees, and we’re heading along some cleaner, faster, twistier roads. I’m following the Triumph test rider and racer ‘Pesky’ Pete Ward, and we’re having a bit of a laugh now. The Triple’s motor never misses a beat, pulling hard out of slow hairpins, and doling out plenty of top-end power when we hit a straight. The superbikespec M50 Brembo calipers up front give stupendous stopping power (plus there’s that ABS safety net).

The Öhlins rear shock is plush and sophisticated, while the steering is sharp, lively and agile.

Playtime stops for a while as we pull off the hills, and into Catalunya circuit. The rain that had been promised for teatime looks to be ahead of schedule, and dark clouds are gathering.

“The Triple’s motor never misses a beat, pulling hard out of slow hairpins, and doling out plenty of top-end power when we hit a straight.”

22 FIRST RIDE FRAME

Steering geometry is relaxed a touch, with a more shallow head angle and more trail. The swingarm pivot is 4mm higher for better grip under acceleration, and the swingarm itself is a new, stiffer unit.

ELECTRONICS

New ride-by-wire engine management includes traction control, a range of power modes and customisable options on the R and d RS. ABS can be turned d offf, and d there’s an up quick-shifter as standard on the RS (it’s an option on the R and S).

DASH

SUSPENSION

The RS gets the best set-up with an Öhlins STX40 shock and Showa Big Piston Fork up front. The R gets a fully-adjustable Showa shock and the S comes with a more basic Showa shock and forks.

ENGINE

Nikasil-coated aluminium bores replace iron liners.

Bore is bigger and stroke is longer, meaning a new crank. Head, pistons, balance shaft, cams are all new, sllipper cllutch h upd dated d and d new gear ratiios.

Power for the S, R and RS mostly differentiated by camshaft, inlet trumpet and exhaust mods.

R and RS get full colour TFT screen, which is tiltadjustable. The S has a more basic monochrome LCD screen.

BRAKES

Superbike-spec M50 Brembo monobloc four-piston radial calipers.

The R has less fancy M32.4 Brembos, wh hile th he S has Nissiin slliding twiinpiston units. They all bite on 310mm discs and switchable ABS is standard.

A quick rejig from the Triumph folks and we’re out on the hallowed asphalt.

I’m glad that we get a couple of sighting laps early doors. Of course, one man’s ‘steady trundle round’ is another man’s Deathride 2000. My group is released into the tender care of Gary ‘Driver’ Johnson, of TT and Macau road racing fame, and I pull out of pitlane behind him, glad for the guidance.

By turn three though, it’s the tyre warmers and that last pre-ride toilet visit I’m glad of. I’m frantically flapping at throttle, brakes and steering, trying to keep a respectable distance from Gary, while also trying to work out where I’m going… Once I calm down though, the 765 is a revelation. That engine – so good on the road – is every bit as sweet when you let it loose, even on this huge track. Any fears I had about the Triple being swamped by Catalunya disappear, as the motor digs hard out of every slow bend, before screaming its head off down the straights. The quick-shifter is bang-on, and the biggest problem I have is holding onto the little Triumph when flat-out down the main straight.

The first session is over quickly enough, and after a break I’m back in the pit garage, ready for round two.

Our day is done though – as I pull out for a second session, the clouds finally burst, and the track is soon awash with standing water. There’s no grip at all, and we pull in, a little dejected.

Bags packed, waterproofs donned, we head back to the hotel.

The Triumph folks should feel very far from dejected though. They’ve made a cracking job of the new bike, and it feels like it could beat anything else in the sector. Add in the competitive pricing and it seems that there are some interesting times ahead in the naked super-middleweight class…

23

24 WATERPROOFS

Keeping dry: OVERSUITS

In the UK rain is inevitable. No worry if you have textile kit but in leathers or vented clothing a purpose-built oversuit is the answer. Bob Pickett grabbed three of the most popular to see what’s what.

I tried three: Richa Typoon (picture 1) one-piece (RRP £49.99) and two twopiece suits, Hevik Rainstop (picture 2) (RRP £74.92) and Tucano Urbano Diluvio Plus (picture 3) (£69.99).

The Typhoon and Rainstop are 100% Polyester, the Diluvio Plus has a Polyamide Jacket/Polyester trousers.

The Typhoon and Rainstop fasten with zips/Velcro, the Diluvio Plus using zips/studs.

Their primary objective is to keep you dry. During the test I got rain, but nothing heavy. None of the suits let in a drop (speaking to other owners not one complained of the suits letting them down). The Diluvio Plus is rated to hold off pressure equivalent to a 10,000mm column of water, the Rainstop slightly less at 8000mm.

I couldn’t find this information on the Typhoon, but it is sold as “100% waterproof”, backed up by testimonials.

Main test passed, I concentrated on practicality. How did they fit? What were they like to get on and off? How did they perform when riding?

The maxim of ‘try before you buy’ applies. All three suits came via mail order. The manufacturers had my

1

measurements, but Hevik insisted I look at their size chart. Just as well; The Typhoon and Diluvio Plus came in Large. The Rainstop?

2XL! Slipping over ordinary clothes, all three were the correct fit. With two-piece leathers underneath, the story changed.

All three give bags of room (in theory), with legs that undo up to or close to the knee, and the Typhoon unzips to the waist (the others unzipping completely). The Typhoon wasn’t too bad once I had the technique (haul legs up as far as they go, adopt a stance with which Quasimodo would empathise, wriggle), but taking it off was a nightmare as the shoulder armour on my leathers caught and I found myself struggling to get free! The Typhoon is cut to be worn over other kit, but try it first, starting off a couple of sizes larger and working down.

The Rainstop and Diluvio Plus were much easier, being two-piece outfits. The jackets slipped on easily (unzipping all the way), but the trousers on the Diluvio Plus are narrow, so more of a squeeze (but do feature a nice little waist toggle... which I managed to pull off after the first ride!). Talking trousers, the Typhoon and Diluvio Plus are fairly short in the legs (which suits me), the Rainstop being a more conventional leg length.

To me the benefit of waterproofs is being able to put them on at the roadside in a sudden downpour, so over your boots. The Typhoon was difficult, but I got in after a fight.

The Rainstop was quite easy with the generous cut and wide opening leg vents. The Diluvio Plus? I quickly gave up trying to get my boots down the narrow profile legs.

If you’re carrying the kit, you need it to be compact. The Rainstop is great, tucking away into a cushion-size pouch. The Diluvio Plus goes into a two-pouch holder (at a push would squeeze into a single pouch). The Typhoon folds into itself via what I thought was a Napoleon pocket, but turned out to be an integral pouch.

That’s the theory. I struggled to see how... and lost patience with the Seven Minute Twenty Second (no, really) instruction video! If it takes closing on eight minutes to put it in a bag, I don’t have the patience! To compromise, I suggest one of those bags you keep sleeping bags in.

As I mentioned pockets... the Typhoon doesn’t have them.

So stopping to fill up, you have to undo it to get at your wallet. The Rainstop is great, having a Napoleon pocket for your wallet and a big, friendly velco-sealing external pocket.

The Diluvio Plus has two external pockets, sealing via studs.

Once you’re in it and moving, the Typhoon is lovely to ride in. Being cut to fit over leathers, it just works with them so well. Being a one piece, it means there are no gaps to let in a draught, which also keeps you warm.

That said the collar is quite low leaving space between jacket and helmet. The Rainstop is aimed at the touring biker and is the baggiest kit, but the rear venting in the jacket prevents flapping and helps prevent moisture build-up.

It has a tall but thin collar. The Diluvio Plus, being made of Polyamide has the best breathability (and a corduroy lined collar that goes right up to the chin). It is the only one that flapped at motorway speeds.

The Rainstop and Diluvio Plus are practical off the bike, both have integral hoods. The Rainstop is cut to be worn over camping gear, the Diluvio Plus works as a light urban waterproof. The Typhoon can’t compete here. I was expecting this test to be a price point comparision. But the real finding is how role-oriented each piece of kit turned out.

The Typhoon is great for people who ‘only’ have one- or two-piece leathers.

The Rainstop? Aimed at the touring biker; light, folds away to a very compact bundle, big friendly external pocket, venting to let moisture out.

The Diluvio Plus is great for the short to medium distance commuter: highest waterproof rating (polyamide opposed to polyester), nice warm corduroy inner collar. No Napoleon pocket, but two external pockets.

What is the difference between polyamide and polyester?

As mentioned in the test, the Diluvio Plus’ jacket is made from Polyamide, the other two are 100% Polyester. Both polyamide and polyester are polymers. This means that their fibres are made of molecules that are linked to each other in the form of long chains. In polyamides, these molecules are linked together by amide linkages (chemical bonds), while the molecules of polyesters are connected by ester linkages (bonding of organic acids and alcohol replacing a water molecule).

What this means in practice is that the two materials perform differently in certain key areas.

Both fabrics are moisture-resistant, though at varying degrees. A polyamide fabric absorbs more water, and also dries slower.

Polyester is hydrophobic (meaning essentially that it resists water), resulting in less water being absorbed by it. It also dries faster. Polyamides are also stronger and more durable than polyesters, but the latter are more stretch-resistant and less prone to ‘pilling’.

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Keeping warm and dry on a budget

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The kit tested isn’t that expensive (the Typhoon giving 100% waterproofing and being great to ride in for a penny under £50). But if you’re really cash-strapped... or get caught out with the waterproofs sitting in their pouch at home... there are things you can use to keep the rain off cheaply.

Marigold gloves. We’re big fans of the humble Marigold at MCM, and for good reason. Not only are they 100% waterproof, but they’re grippy. So if you can fit them over your thin gloves, they’re still going to grip your throttle. They have the additional benefit of being wind-resistant, so they’ll keep your hands warmer as well.

Shopping bags. These have two uses. If you do have your waterproofs with you, slip a plastic shopping bag over your boots and it makes it easier (note easier, not easy) to slip your boots through the trousers. If not, then you can wear them under, or even over your boots to hold off the rain. Plastic shopping bags are not breathable, so your feet will get sweaty.

Bin bags and packing tape.

In an emergency, stop at an office supplies store and pick up these items (they’ll cost next to nothing). Cut holes to make a neck and shoulder openings, tape more bags to the body to make sleeves.

The packing tape (Duct/ Frog tape is more waterresistant but costs more) seals the bags together and should hopefully keep it all together until you get home.

Again, not breathable, so perspiration is your enemy.

Bubble wrap is also handy.

Sheets of that under your jacket will hold the rain off your skin and again will keep you warmer.

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26 ICONIC METAL

Suzuki’s two-stroke bliss

95bhp and 154kg sounds like the type of motorcycle the modern factories would love to produce right now. But this 1980s piece of metal is not for the newly-qualified or the faint-hearted.

Words: Chris Moss Photography: Mike Weston Yet again I had to admit my negative judgement wasn’t just premature, but inappropriate too. After assessing bikes for not far short of a couple of decades now, you’d think I should know better. Being patient and seeing the whole picture is so important in this testing game, and is certainly the message I took away from my experience with this RG500. Maybe it was the stiflingly hot weather, maybe I was just expecting way too much from the Suzuki. Whatever, it took time for impressions to become fully favourable.

Owner Richard Adams had turned up on his gleaming example, eager to learn what I thought of it. At that

The world’s best place for superbikes from the 1970s, 80s & 90s

www.classicmechanics.com

point, things looked pretty positive.

The RG is still a very stylish bit of kit, and a lap ogling it on foot got my heart going a bit. The pretty, allencompassing bodywork reflects a design clearly well ahead of its day. It might be over a quarter of a century old now, but I reckon with just a few styling tweaks here and there, you could bring the 500 bang up to date.

With modern suspension and wheels, you could almost pass it off as new.

With more of a sit up and beg riding position than I’d expected, and a seat low enough to get my stubby limbs on the deck, all seemed set for an easy affair. Then I tried to start it. Chuckles greeted my search for a nonexistent starter button. And when I tried to boot over the square four motor in gear with the clutch in, only to deliver

a lifeless swing due to no direct link between kickstarter and crankshaft, the laughter was only interrupted by the question: “Are you sure you’re qualified to test this thing?”

It seemed like a justifiable enquiry, I have to admit.

Gamma:

ICONIC METAL 27 ENGINE

TYPE: 498cc, liquid-cooled, rotary valve, two-stroke, square four MAX AX X CLAIMED POWER: 95bhp @ 9500rpm MAX AX X CLAIMED TORQUE: 53lb-ft @ 8000rpm

SUSPENSION

FRONT: 38mm telescopic anti-dive forks, adjustable preload REAR: rising-rate monoshock, adjustable preload

CAPACITY/ DIMENSIONS SEAT HEIGHT 770mm WHEELBASE 1425mm DRY WEIGHT 154kg FUEL CAPACITY 22 litres

CHASSIS/ COMPONENTS

FRAME: Box-section alloy perimeter

TYRES

FRONT: 110/90 x 16 REAR: 120/95 x 17

TRANSMISSION GEARBOX: 6-speed FINAL DRIVE: Chain

BRAKES

FRONT: twin 260mm discs with four piston calipers REAR: single 210mm disc with twin piston caliper

28

ICONIC METAL 29

770

The Gamma’s (pretty low) seat height in mm

Once back in neutral, the action of my right foot proved effective, and endearing sounds and smells from the four pipes promptly filled the summer evening air. What an utterly fantastic racket and odour. To be honest, I could have just sat there revving the Suzuki, letting my ears and nostrils savour those wonderfully sharp sensations. You just don’t get opportunities to sample big twostrokes like the RG anymore.

With the tallish first gear snicked into place again I pootled off.

There’s decent drive from fairly low rpm thanks to the ‘Automatic Exhaust Control’ system that effectively alters the volume of the pipes to boost power. The whitefaced tacho may only start its rpm detection at 3000, suggesting a typically peaky output; the reality is more friendly. Screaming the motor and slipping its clutch to leave the line is not at all necessary.

However, that was the last compliment I paid the bike for quite some time. As we’d decided to take pictures of the RG before the sunlight faded, I went to turn round to get back to the corner we’d chosen. Trouble was, in an effort to slow the bike down I quickly discovered the brakes were… well, abysmal really. I would have been better off opening my jacket and putting my feet down. Give ’em a chance I thought, get some heat into the pads and they’ll improve. If they did, I didn’t notice. Though maybe it’s because my thoughts were then diverted by something else worrying – the tyres.

Man, they felt like they were made of mahogany, giving the impression they’d instantly have me off if I tipped the 500 over just a degree or two from vertical. I didn’t feel at all comfortable, and with Richard

stood keenly watching me piloting his pride and joy, visions of him exploding with rage as he witnessed his precious steed sliding down the road proved too disturbing. I pulled in and explained my dilemma. He was disappointed that I was disappointed.

Things got better when I just went for a normal ride. Rounding the same corner repeatedly for photos can often ask a lot from a bike, the more flowing nature of the journey once the camera has been put away often shows things in a somewhat better light. And so it was with the RG. Just a few miles is all it took to feel more positive. Sure the tyres and brakes still needed looking at, something emphasised by Richard, admitting he doesn’t ride the Suzuki that often. Storing bikes is like storing food to me – slowly but surely things start to go off. Servicing the brakes, and fitting some new rubber would no doubt improve the performance

of both, and make the Suzuki nicer to ride. It was a shame that I couldn’t sample more of it.

Even so, I still got to feel the distinct and thrilling pick up in power when the twin cranks were spun harder.

And though the thrust isn’t too strong by modern standards, like all strokers, when it got on the pipe a bit more it soon started to sing and thrill.

As it did, other things started to gel.

The light weight of the 500 makes steering it quite easy, and though it has a 16in front wheel, its lazy 30° head angle helps to keep things more stable. Suspension action felt okay too. All in all I was having a better time, and then I started to appreciate another key dimension of the bike – its reputation. I realised I’d not been judging the bike to the full. It didn’t matter that the Suzuki had felt under par dynamically. Just like it’s done to Madonna, the passage of time has taken the edge off it a bit.

30 KNOWLEDGE

Avon Spirit ST We went to the world launch of the Avon Spirit ST in Portugal to see if the all new model really is a solid, all round hypersport touring tyre...

Tech ATAC-TA - Advanced Tread Arc Combination - Tri Arc = Varies the tread profile across the tyre for the ultimate in handling and stability.

LPE – Lifetime Profile Engineering = Works in conjunction with ATAC to produce a tyre profile and footprint which even when worn, gives consistent handling and stability for the full life of tyre.

ES System – Enhanced Stability System = Carcass, sidewall and tread are designed to work in harmony so that the stresses absorbed are distributed evenly. This reduces localised flexing within the tyre’s structure.

RF – Reactive Footprint = Reactive footprint technology marries Avon’s unique ATAC, ES & LPE systems to produce a footprint which changes size and shape depending on the bike’s lean angle for the full

life of the tyre. The result is a contact patch which increases as the bike leans.

SIZES: Front: 110/70ZR17 (54W) 100/90ZR18 (56W) 110/80ZR18 (58W) 110/80R19 59V 120/60ZR17 (55W) 120/70ZR17 (58W) 120/70ZR18 (59W) 120/70ZR19 (60W) Rear: 150/70ZR17 (69W) 150/80ZR16 (71W) 160/60ZR17 (69W) 160/60ZR17 (70W) 160/70ZR17 (73W) 170/60ZR17 (72W) 180/55ZR17 (73W) 190/50ZR17 (73W) 190/55ZR17 (75W) 200/50ZR17 (75W)) 200/55ZR17 (78W))

Hypersport and touring aren’t really two categories you’d have put together 10 years ago yet nowadays the two almost come hand in hand with the evolution of high performance machines offering long range and every day rides with ease. This means tyres also need to evolve, and following on from its competitors Avon has unleashed a whole new model for its attack on the market – which is said to offer up to 10,000 miles on a single set.

This is all thanks to the new technologies used: the Advanced Tread Arc Combination, Enhanced Stability system and Lifetime Profile Engineering on the tyre work collectively to create consistent stability with stress distributed evenly throughout the carcass; meaning the varied tread profile can work to its full potential while keeping the tyre temperature down to give the maximum mileage possible, even if you want to push on a little on occasion with the new 3D Sipes offering a quick warm up time.

If that wasn’t enough Avon has worked incredibly hard on improving the wet grip; a combination of Super Rich Silica and a tread pattern produced for enhanced aqua flow mean that the new Sprit STs really should hold up well in the wet – you can almost tell they’re made and produced in Britain...

So how does the new tech hold up?

Before we got to tackle the roads and the track, we had the opportunity to try out the Spirit ST’s wet weather braking performance; an aspect which has seen massive improvement from the previous Storm 3D X-M tyre. With a tread pattern looking like almost a solid wet weather tyre it was incredibly exciting to fire down

the sprinkler-covered tarmac patch; cranking up to about 35mph on a big old Suzuki Bandit before jumping on the front brake as hard as possible with absolutely no trouble at all.

Those inverted front grooves on the front tyre really do displace the water incredibly well, and no matter how hard you hit the brakes (even with an ancient ABS system), the Spirit ST gives an incredible amount of confidence and grip – perhaps the best in its class. So in the little wet weather test they excel, but how do they hold up in the dry?

With a host of bikes on offer varying from a Honda Crossrunner to a KTM Superduke, it’s fair to say Avon wasn’t aiming for full on track bike with its selection by any means. I managed to nab a Kawasaki Z1000SX and GSX-S1000F to attack the bumpy roads surrounding the Portimao race track for starters, for a pretty solid example of a hypersport touring machine. With the route consisting of incredibly technical tightening hairpins, fast blind corners and an unbelievably bumpy and undulating surface it took a few runs to gain some confidence and familiarity, before being able to push on a little with the Sprit STs. Initially, the tyres gain heat incredibly quickly thanks to the 3D Sipes, but even after a few runs they

aren’t getting too hot, which means that limited flex in the grooves really is doing an impeccable job as the temperatures climb up in the mid-20s.

They also offer some pretty impressive stability both front and back as the Kawasaki eats up the massive bumps and challenging surfaces, with the Advanced Variable Belt Density truly delivering an impressively stable tyre footprint – even at lean angle. This is incredibly impressive considering the longevity the Spirit ST offers, and even jumping on the Yamaha XSR900 the same predictability is matched with an impressive level of grip and no drama whatsoever on the brakes, mid corner and through corner exit. With the route now etched deep in my mind it was time to take things up a notch though, which meant a quick buzz on the KTM 1290 Superduke to see how well the Sprit ST could deal with some

KNOWLEDGE 31

real hypersport. In all honestly they weren’t too shabby in the slightest; this is where the Reactive Footprint really does earn its stripes, as you can feel the enlarged contact patch squirm under the KTM’s monstrous amounts of torque. As you start to pull the pin the Spirit STs deal adequately under a moderately fast road pace, which is a real necessity for the market they’re aimed at. But what happens when you open up the taps that little bit more?

For that, we had the World Superbike spec track of Portimao to play on. Given basically an open pitlane and three hours of tyre shredding antics it was going to be a real test of longevity and character – especially as the air temperature is hot enough to leave me with a bright red skin tone. Easing into proceedings it was Triumph’s Street Triple that gave me my first taste of the Spirit ST’s capabilities while learning the incredibly technical circuit and its

undulations. Even though the track temperature is incredibly hot the tyres radiate heat incredibly quickly, meaning you really can start pushing on rather rapidly, and they handle the Street Triple with ease; aiming at apexes like they’re going out of fashion. As confidence spiralled it was time to give the Spirit STs some welly, and it really didn’t take long to find their limits; especially on the bigger bikes like the Superduke and Z100SX. With the traction control disabled (it’s only fair on a tyre launch!) you really do get a feel for the rear, which does tend to brake traction fairly easily when ploughed with heaps of power, while the front does seem to feel quite stiff when you have some good brakes pumping on the pressure. Even with the softer compounds on the edge the Spirit STs don’t offer monumental amounts of feedback, but when you remember that they’re a touring tyre they do a pretty good job nonetheless.

Think of them as a tyre you could ride

to a trackday and have a craic in the intermediate group with, but on a proper high performance bike a track thrash might be a bit of a stretch.

It’s not fair to judge the Spirit ST quite so harshly on track though, and as the range of bikes suggest it isn’t a tyre intended for track use – but is capable of running some solid speed, for a bucket load of miles in every condition. For that the Spirit ST does an incredible job; okay you won’t see them plastered around racetracks but for wet feel, longevity and value for money (they should come in under £270 a set) they are a solid option for those long range hooning sessions.

32 TOURING/NEW RIDER

Round Britain on 30-year-old café racers Friends Lee Marsh, Andrew Wort and Olly Wiltshire are planning to ride 4000 miles around the coast of the UK. That’s a challenging enough ride over two weeks on a big modern bike, but they’ll be riding 1980s Kawasaki KH125s, all of them (the bikes, that is) rebuilt as café racers!

“I did the same trip for charity seven years ago,” says Lee, “but that was on a Bandit 1200, and this time I wanted a bit more of a challenge.

Andrew and I both had KHs – he rebuilt his as a café racer, and wanted to do something with it, so I suggested this.”

Spotted! BMW S310RR!

The BMW S310RR (or TVS Apache RR 310S) test bike has been caught out again during testing in India.

The clearest images to emerge so far, they reveal a selection of fresh details which confirm that the bike is pretty much ready to go – and is being prepared for the European market.

Although the test Apache RR 310S is wrapped in camouflage, the new snaps reveal quite a few previously unknown features of the faired motorcycle. Among the bike’s highlights are LED DRLs, projector headlamps, an LED tail-light, LED turn indicators, Michelin tyres and a vertically stacked, fully digital instrument console.

To see all the images and video of the bike out on test, go to: MoreBikes.co.uk and search ‘BMW’.

Lee Marsh and friends are riding 125cc café racers 4000 miles.

This is the equivalent of riding to New York.

Five of the little Kawasaki air-cooled two-strokes have been used to build up three good ones, with April devoted to running them in and some shakedown mileage.

“We’ve changed them quite bit,” says Lee. “We’ve removed the oil pumps and made them pre-mix – as that’s one less thing to go wrong – converted them to 12V without a battery, and fitted electronic ignition. We wanted them to be as trouble-free as possible.”

Initial mileage indicates a cruising speed of 45-50mph, which they reckon will be enough for the mostly A and B roads they’ll be riding, with 130-150 miles per tank giving two-hour stints before refuelling.

That should be enough for the 300 miles a day they need to cover to make the entire UK circuit in two weeks. They’ll be camping to keep costs down, but a back-up vehicle will be carrying the luggage.

“We’re hoping to raise £10,000,” adds Lee, “split between the Stroke Association and Sands, the stillbirth and neo-natal death charity, which supports anyone affected by the death of a baby. All donations are welcome and can be made on Justgiving. I’d like to thank our sponsors so far – Ashley and James Coach building, TND Lymington Ltd and the Lymington Masonic Hall.”

The three KHs will set off from Lymington, Hampshire on June 24, riding anti-clockwise round the coast and hopefully arriving back two weeks later. “The bikes will make it,” says Lee Marsh, “the question is whether we can!”

If they do, there’s another challenge planned – Joe Traykov, part of the support team, is from Macedonia, so a KH125 cafe racer ride to Eastern Europe is on the cards for next year. www.bigbikecharityhike.com, https://www. justgiving.com/fundraising/caferacerchallenge

GETTING ON TWO WHEELS Module One Motorcycle Test

Thinking about getting on two wheels? This step-by-step guide will cover compulsory basic training, the motorcycle theory test, and module one and module two of the (full) motorcycle test.

Alright? My name’s Ross and I’m the new staff writer for Motor Cycle Monthly. I’ve been riding a used 2007 Yamaha XT125 on a CBT for the past 18 months and have just passed my full motorcycle test – so I have a pretty good idea of just how daunting a looming test date can be. I wanted to try and break down the process, share some of my thoughts and experiences and hopefully ease some worries while I’m at it. In the last issue of Motor Cycle Monthly we looked at the Motorcycle Theory Test, this time we’re looking at the Module One of the practical Motorcycle Test.

Module One Motorcycle Test

The Module One motorcycle test is simply an exercise in bike control – the examiner will instruct you to complete a number of slow and high speed manoeuvres around a selection of cones (in a closed, off-road environment). It might look pretty complicated, but don’t panic, broken down to its individual elements it’s all relatively straightforward.

The module one test is made up of nine individual elements – and typically takes around 20 minutes (though I was actually done and back in the examiner’s office within 10).

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be getting up to: ■ Wheeling the motorcycle ■ Using the stand

■ Riding a slalom ■ Riding a figure of 8 ■ A slow ride ■ A U-turn ■ Cornering and a controlled stop ■ Cornering and an emergency stop ■ Cornering and hazard avoidance It’s worth noting, that for the hazard avoidance and emergency stop exercises you must ride at a minimum speed of 19mph on a moped and 31mph on a motorcycle. The examiner will be looking out for dangerous faults (these involve actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property), serious faults (these are potentially dangerous), riding faults (these aren’t potentially dangerous, but could become serious if you keep making the same mistake). You’ll pass module one if you make no serious or dangerous faults and five or less riding faults.

If you remember that the test is simply about showing that you have full control over the motorcycle, while constantly assessing your environment for risks, then you should be fine.

If you’ve already been out on the road regularly (riding on a CBT certificate), you should already be pretty well equipped to deal with the module one test – but no matter your level of experience, make sure you put in the practice and get some proper training before taking your test (to ensure any bad habits are picked up

and worked on in time for your test).

If you pass the examiner will tell you what faults you made (if any) and give you a pass certificate which you’ll need to take with you to your module two test. If you don’t pass, you’ll have to book another module one test and try again.

A couple of things to note: ■ It’s quite a good idea to swing by the test centre and watch a few other people taking their module one bike tests. You can learn a surprising amount by simply observing what others do and why they pass and fail.

■ Make sure you’re kitted out with the appropriate safety gear. Although you are not officially being graded on what you are wearing, you need to ensure your gear meets your examiner’s expectations.

■ Make sure you’ve got your UK photo card driving licence, theory test pass certificate and your Compulsory basic training (CBT) certificate (unless you’re taking the test to upgrade your full motorcycle licence).

■ You’ll find out if you’ve passed on the day.

To book your module one motorcycle at a specialist centre near your, visit: www.dvsa.co.uk. It costs £15.50. With your CBT, Theory Test and Module One certificates in hand, you’ve only got one more step to go to get your hands on your full motorcycle licence!

Learners Commuters Buying On Two Wheels

Riding

For more information on getting on two wheels, check out our NEW sister publication – On Two Wheels.

PART THREE

Thanks Huge thanks to Walt and Bill from WOLTS Motorcycle Training in Lincoln for their advice and guidance, and for helping to get me through first time. If you’re looking for some training in the area, I couldn’t recommend them enough.

For more information – visit www.webbsoflincoln.co.uk

33

34

PRODUCTS 35

What you need to know about helm mets – in partnership with Airoh

If you ride a motorcycle, protecting your head should be pretty high up on your list of priorities. To gain a better understanding of what we should be looking for in a lid, we had a chat with Airoh Helmets’ resident technical expert Angela Locatelli.

Why are there so many types of helmet materials and which is the safest one?

Originally, helmets were made of composite fibres, like fibreglass.

Over the years the use of plastic materials was introduced, such as ABS and Polycarbonate. The main reason for this was to contain production costs and aid production volume and consistency. So, nowadays, different materials are used to meet and support all the various needs of

the market. Obviously, because of the homogolation standards applied to the industry, all helmets on the market have to reach a certain criteria to be fit for sale, so a thermoplastic helmet could be considered as safe as one made from composite fibres. Of course, some helmets will exceed the minimal standards set, so this is worth remembering.

What safety standards should I look for in a helmet?

Obviously, a helmet that meets the safety standards in force in the country of use, such as the ECE 22.05 standard for European countries, the DOT and Snell standards for the United States, NBR for Brazil, JIS for Japan. Each of these standards have very sophisticated and tough testing systems in place. Don’t buy a helmet that’s missing these regulated standards, else you’ll be putting yourself at risk.

Do SHARP ratings matter?

Yes, they do, because they certify the product meets certain standards. The SHARP test is very demanding on helmets, so the score ratings deserve to be respected. Every helmet should have a SHARP rating, so you can

check this out before you buy it. This being said, it’s important to note that SHARP standards aren’t an alternate for homogolation standards; they’re there in addition to help you know exactly what you’re buying.

Are flip-front helmets less safe?

No, they’re not, because all helmets are tested and homologated to the same standards. The latest generation of flip-up helmet has the double homologation P and J; that means the helmet exceeds the homologation standards as full face and jet (P stands for protective/full face; J stands for jet). The tests placed on all helmets are very particular, so as long as the helmet you’re looking at meets the homogolation standards, you can trust in it fully.

How do you know if a helmet fits properly?

Just like a shoe, a helmet should be comfortable when worn; neither too small/tight nor too large. The helmet must not be too tight because this will cause discomfort during use, and should not be too large because it may move excessively while riding and compromise its protective qualities in the event of an accident.

Wearing a correctly fitting helmet

ON SALE NOW

is essential, and its worth going to see a specialist to make sure yours fits you.

Can you tell if a helmet will be quiet or noisy?

It depends on many aspects of the helmet’s design. The presence of lots of air vents or protrusions to the surface of a helmet is likely to make the unit louder when it’s worn. It’s not always the case, but it’s probable in most instances. Most helmet manufacturers will shout about how quiet a helmet is, and you can sometimes learn of dB ratings to get a better idea of how noisy a helmet will be. Whatever your helmet, it’s highly recommended that you wear ear plugs to protect your hearing.

How often should you buy a new helmet?

It all depends. Generally, we would say that a helmet should be replaced after a period of about five years use – it varies between manufacturers.

What’s certain is you should definitely change your helmet after a crash.

Even accidentally dropping your helmet can render it useless. If you do drop it, chances are there will be an expert you can take it to who’ll assess the damage done.

How are helmets being made safer?

The technology that goes into designing and producing helmets is relentless.

We constantly experiment to see how we can achieve higher standards of performance, utilising new and innovative materials and designs to help us reach new levels. We invest massively in R&D to ensure our products are as safe and creative as possible. Helmets have already come a very long way in the relatively short amount of time motorcyclists have been wearing them, but it’s likely we’ll see even more quantum leaps in safety and function standards as the years pass by.

About Airoh...

Lesser known in the UK, Airoh has 18 years of experience developing helmets at the highest level – and has 71 world championship titles from multiple motorsport disciplines to its name. So it’s fair to say that the Italian helmet manufacturer knows a thing or two about lids.

If you want to find out more about the kind of kit they have on offer, visit www.airoh.com

36 PRODUCTS

Airoh GP500 Full Face Helmet

R&G Honda CBR1000RR accessories

RRP: £359.99 // Sizes: XS-XL // Colours: Black, Red annd White Gloss/Yellow, White and Black Gloss/Orange, Blaack and Grey Matt/White, Black and Grey Matt The Airoh GP500 is the latest dedicated racing HPC helmet from the Italian manufacturer – designed and conceived for both road and track. It’s made of handmade carbonKevlar HPC (High Performance

Composite), which helps to make it really lightweight (which should, in theory, also help with comfort). It’s equipped with an integrated ventilation system with 10 intakes (six adjustable), keeping fresh air circulating aroun nd the lid. There’s also a Pinlo ock, tear off ready visor, with an anti-fog system – and theree’s even a visor lock to preventt air frrom accidentally opening the vissor at high speed.

The lid is actually worn at the highest levels of motorcycle racing, including by current British Superbike rider Michael Laverty. Laverty said: “I’m really haappy with the Airoh GP500.

Thee helmet is super light and aero odynamic, how it handles in side/ head winds is great with no buffeting.

It’s qu uiet, although I wear ear plugs I went out accidentally without them by miistake in a test session and the wind noise was minimal.”

Alpinestars Tech Air Viper Jacket RRP: £299.99 // Colours: Black // Sizes: S-XXL One of the jackets compatible with the aforementioned TechAir™ System, is the Viper For Tech-Air (the clue’s in the name, I guess). The Viper is a streetstyled summer riding jacket, constructed from hard-wearing poly-fabric, PU-reinforced material, specially designed to accommodate larger volume mass in the event of airbag deployment.

The jacket is fastened to the Tech-Air system and features integrated sensors on the upper zip, with the electronic airbag system ‘arming’ automatically when the jacket is zipped up.

There’s even an Intelligent LED panel on left sleeve to check if the airbag system is functioning correctly. It features extensive mesh panelling on the front and rear and a fixed interior mesh liner, which helps to improve airflow, and should make this jacket perfect for warm-weather riding. The jacket comes with Velcro and D-ring waist

adjustment, to ensure you get the most comfortable fit – while pre-curved sleeves should help to increase riding comfort.

It’s worth mentioning that the jacket doesn’t have to be used with the Tech-Air system – it actually comes equipped with removable CE-certified shoulder and elbow protection, and there’s even a space for a chest protector too.

For more information, visit www.alpinestars.com

Knowing riders want to protect their pride and joy from the moment it’s ridden off the forecourt, Hampshire-based R&G has launched a collection of crash protection and styling accessories for the new Honda CBR1000RR (along with the SP and SP2 models).

The full range of R&G products available are: Aero Crash Protectors (including ‘non-drill’ type), Bar End Sliders, Boot Guard kit,

Cotton Reels, Downpipe Grille, Elevation Series Paddock Stand Bobbins, Engine Case Covers, Engine Case Sliders, Exhaust Protector, Fender Extender, Fork Protectors, Frame Plugs, Kickstand Shoe, Mirror Blanking Plates, Carbon and Moulded Brake Lever Guards, Radiator Guards (including real titanium), Rearsets, Swingarm Protectors, Tail Tidy, Tank Traction Grips.

For more information on the full range of R&G products, visit www.rg-racing.com

If you’’re pllanniing to use this lid out on the track, it comes with the AEFR (Airoh Emergency Fast Remove) system, which allows quick removal of cheek pads in emergency situations. All GP500 Helmets are supplied complete with one Pinlock, though there are additional Pinlocks available. Tear off ready visor (tearoffs available separately), Aluminium D-D-Ring Retention System.

For more information, visit: www.bikeittrade.com

Schuberth C4 modular helmet

RRP: £599 // Colours: Red, Orange, Yellow, Matt Black, Gloss Black, White, Blue, Fluo Yellow, Silver, Black/yellow, White/blue Silver/grey // Sizes: XS-3XL

German helmet manufacturer Schuberth has just launched its latest C4 flip-up fibreglass helmet – that’s been designed to work for both touring and sportsbike riders.

For the C4, Schuberth have teamed up with Bluetooth communication specialists Sena, to incorporate all the technology you’ll need into the actual shell of the helmet (and that includes an ariel, speakers and microphone) – which is a pretty brilliant development.

As you’d expect from Schuberth, it’s a really well-equipped helmet meeting all appropriate safety

standards. It’s made from fibreglass, using direct fibre processing to make a much stronger shell. In addition, the visor is designed to be as large as possible – both horizontally for improved peripheral vision and vertically for good forward vision.

There’s also an integrated sun visor which is operated using a (sensibly placed) slider at the bottom left edge of the helmet.

The C4 is also equipped with a single chin and single crown vent – unusually, the chin vent is opened/ closed by pressing the vent rather than sliding. The crown vent is opened d by the 3-way slider above the vent and feeds air through channels in the shock absorbing lining, thrrough the inner comfort lining and onto the scalp.

Inside the lid, the C4 uses a fabric called ShinyTex – which is a specially developed fast-drying and antibacterial material, and it’s fully removable and

washable too. Schuberth also specifi fiees that the fabrics used are Oko-Tex 100 certified, which means that the fabrics aren’t harmful to the end user, so if you suffer with particularly sensitive skin, it could be worth taking a look at the C4.

The helmet comes with a five year warranty, but for more information, visit: www.tranam.co.uk

Alpinestars Tech Air Street Airbag system

RRP: £999.99 // Sizes: S-XXL Alpinestars has launched its ground-breaking Tech-Air street airbag system, which claims to offer comprehensive upper body protection – keeping your back, shoulders, kidney area and chest safe during a crash.

Tech-Air is the first self-contained street airbag system that works independently of your bike, without

the need for sensors (or wires).

The clever electronic system is incorporated into a specially designed vest, which should theen be attached and used in conjunction with an Alpinestars compatiblee jacket.

Alpinestars reckons the Tech-Air street airbag system typicallly detects an impact in between 30-60 milliseconds (depending on thee type tyy of accident). Once fired, the sysstem will fully inflate in 25 millisecon nds.

The Tech-Air system is powered d by a little micro-processor, which wo orks to process data and detect imminent danger using a sophisticated algorithm, created by Alpinestars over 10 years of research and development.

It is capable of detecting crash impacts not just on impact, but also in situations of loss of control (including when riding off road). Alpinestars have managed this by pulling the data

from the Tech-Air race airbag system, used by Marquez, Lorenzo and Pedrosa in their MotoGP races, and many other testers along the way.

The race system features accident prediction and can also detect low-side and high-side incients. The system is activated by zipping up the

jacket – and again, you can ensure it is activated by checking the LED display on the left sleeve. The Tech-Air is powered by a battery pack which (we’re told) offers over 25 hours of continuous use – and from only one hour’s charging, you’ll get four hours of riding.

37

38 TESTED

ALL-SEASON GLO OVES Is there really such a thing as a glove that works all year round? We foound out...

Gloves are arguably one of the most important bits of riding kit. The French certainly think so as they recently made it compulsory for riders to wear protective gloves as well as a crash helmet. Here in Blighty, a helmet remains the only legal requirement when it comes to riding kit, but any sensible biker will surely wear a pair of gloves too.

The question is, what kind of gloves are the bestt?

Ones with armour? Water and windproof ones?

The comfiest you can find?

Or is it possible to find all those qualities in a single pair? The answer is yes and no: there are all-season gloves that can do all this, but as with any one-size-fits-all solution there will be some compromises to be made.

What to look for in all-season gloves Material

Textile materials are usually better at repelling water than leather and dry out more quickly, although they may not offer as much protection.

One option is to go for textile gloves that have a leather palm and leather reinforcements on the back of the hand.

Fastenings

Cuffs are much more about fitment and comfort, whereas an effective wrist restraint is vital as gloves are no good if they get pulled off in a crash. Velcro straps across the wrist on the palm side are better than a strap on the back. Cuffs ensure gloves fit tightly and keep draughts out.

WaterprooďŹ ng

There are various technologies, such as Gore-Tex, used to waterproof gloves. The idea is that water stays out but the glove still remains breathable to stop your hands sweating. If the system works well, you have a glove that works in wet and dry conditions.

Insulation

This is the tricky bit about all-season gloves. In wiintter a well-insulated glove keeps your hand warm, but in summer any excess insulation will make you too hot. Some gloves manage a balance by relying more on the outer layer taking care of the wind-chill and reducing insulation inside the glove.

Feel Thicker gloves tend to be warmer (more insulation) but may compromise your feel on the controls. Always check you can easily operate your bike’s switches and levers with your gloves on before buying. Thinner gloves offer better feel on the controls, but lack warmth. A happy medium can be found with some all-season gloves being surprisingly light, while still warm.

TESTED 39 Knox Covert

Spidi Alu-Pro H2Out

Reviewer: Mikko Nieminen RRP: £99.99 / Sizzes: S-XX XXL X / Colour: black

Reviewer: Anndy Catton RRP: £97.999 / Sizes: M-2XL / Colour: blackk and grey or black and yellow

The Covert is labelled as a a summer glove, but I have found them to be suitable for nearly all-year use. The waterp proof Outdry system keeps th he gloves dry because the e membrane is completely bonded to the leather outer. The ere isn’t much insulation, but the outer layer keeps wind chill at a bay so that the gloves can see e you through some colder weather. w The gloves are made from 1mm thick cowhide, with a goat leather 0.8mm ove erlay on the palms and fingertip ps for increased durability. Fo or added protection, there are arm mour sections on the knuckle es and palms.

Designed to be worn under your jacket, the gloves have a zip adjuster djuster in the cuff, which doesn’t offer as much flexibility as a Velcro one would, but there is a Velcro wrist closure to provide a more secure fit. The Covert gloves feel light but

offer great levels of abrasion and impact protection, and make for a smart choice when commuting or touring.

Info: www.planet-knox.com

Reviewer: Mau Spencer RRP: circa £90 / Sizes: S-3XL / Colour: black

feelling off th he levers, wh hich h does seem to be the case, as some gloves are too thick and give no feel at all. And to aid the use of touchscreen devices the forefingers and thumbs are equipped with Furygan’s ‘Sensitive Science’ inserts.

Weise Outlast Sirius

Reviewer: Andy Catton RRP: £69.99 / Size: S-2XL / Colour: black

I have relied on a Weise winter overs suit for many years to keep me warm an nd dry on many occasions, and learnt to love the brand’s no-nonsense approach to motorcycle clothing.

So, my expectations were high from the start with these gloves.

The plain black design looks good and makes the gloves a versatile choice in terms of fitting with any motorcyc cle or other item of clothing.

The MCfit and MCtex technologiess make the gloves thin, while still performing well, feeling very supple and retaining warmth.

This clever lining tech is also desig gned not to pull out when hands get wet.

Thinsulate and a breathable constru uction called Outlast works at regulating temperature well in the cold.

The Weise Outlast Sirius gloves were ere as warm and waterproof as the more expensive and thicker Spidi gloves, fitted better and allowed easy control operation. However, in an ideal world

protective and safe choice but more insulation would have made them even better.

Info: www.spidi.com

Richa RS-86

Furygan Mercury Sympatex

From the moment I first put on th hese CE-approved gloves I was impre essed; not only with the quality, but also o with the fit and flexibility they offered. The e 70% goat leather and Polyamide consstruction makes them so supple and flexib ble to wear. They also have leather and d foam reinforcement on the palm and fingers.

The Mercury Sympatex is desig gned hich as an all-season sports glove wh provides a high level of feeling on n the handlebars. They come with a Sympatex waterproof and breathable membrane which help ps to keep the moisture at bay. Theyy also have a Thinsulate padded thermal lining to trap and hold bo ody heat; it also allows moisture to esscape, giving protection against the cold d. The finger-stitched seams are positioned d on the outside of the glove, which means they provide less finger irritation and are thus more comfortable. Furygan says the gloves have a thinner construction in the finger area to give the wearer a better

I love the look off these bright winter gloves. It’s also g great that they are visible to other ro oad users when I’m riding in the dark k.

Spidi’s gloves a aren’t cheap, but they feature various useful u technologies, which explains th he cost. Most notably, the Kera amide reinforcements in the knuckle area give enhanced crash protection, and you get touchscreen cap pable finger pads.

The gloves are quite tight fitting, and with full f winter riding gear on (in ncluding thicker jacket cuffs) you may need to go up on ne size from your usual. In terrms of warmth, the gloves were okay: o they coped well with the firstt 50 miles of winter d set in, and held off a riding before cold erss with ease. few small showe ease At higher g e speeds on the motorway, I had to put the heated grips on to keep warm.

The Alu-Pro H2OUT gloves are a good,

I would have liked the protective feel of a stronger material in the knuckle area.

A brilliant pair of gloves.

Info: www.thekeycollection.co.uk

Reviewer: Ross Mowbray RRP: £69.99 / Sizes: S-4XL / Colours: black, fluo yellow, red, white The latest from the Richa racing line, the RS 86, is a glove that promises to protect your hands to the level required by racers, so you can be pretty confident it’s going to keep you safe on the road.

These Richa RS 86 gloves are packed with features. They are made from goat leather, offering exc cellent abrasion resistance e while also managing g to be both incredibly soft and lightweightt.

They also boast CE-certified knuckle e protection and foam m impact protection throughout. A fingerr bridge connects the fingerss, a feature typically only found in high-end racing gloves.

However, it’s worth noting that these are reallyy gloves for fair-weather ridin ng only as there’s no waterp proof

membrane or thermal qualities.

The Richa RS 86 are some of the safest and best-equipped sports motorbike gloves for (quite a bit) less than one hundred pounds – which are more than capable of keeping your hands safe and unscathed while out on two wheels.

Info: www.nevis.uk.com

Spada Freeride WP

Reviewer: Nick Mowbray RRP: £29.99 / Sizes: XS-2XL / Colours: black/tan Having heard good things a about the brand, I was thoroughly ple eased to get my hands on (or rather, in) this pair of Spada Freeride WP gloves.

They didn’t disappoint eitther, being truly brilliant motorcycle glo oves.

They are manufactured from m soft leather and feature a padde ed palm (but no knuckle armour), which helps to ensure that they are both comfortable and lightweight. They also come with a 100% waterproof liner, which has managed to keep my hands both warm and dry in some pretty appalling weather. I also really like the single Velcro strap, which offers a secure fit, but also makes it really easy to whip them off without any undue hassle.

Obviously, these gloves aren’t made for the track, but for touring or commuting

they are perfect. They are a good ‘old fashioned’ pair of motorcycle gloves that’ll keep you safe, comfortable and dry for only £29.99. What a bargain.

Info: www.spadaclothing.co.uk

40 TRIED & TESTED

Richa Cyclone Jacket and Trou users Revieweed by: Ross // Trousers – RRP: £299.99-£329.99 // Colours: Black or Grey // Sizes: M-6XL. Jacket – RRP: £3399.99£439.99 // Colours: Black, Fluo Yellow or Grey // Sizes: S-6XL I’m quite paartial to a bit of Richa gear – I’ve been using a pair of their Goretex glovves pretty tyy much h nonstop for the past 18 months, and I’ve barely taken off my Bonnevville wax jacket after getting my hands on it a couple of months ago. And I have to confess; this Cyclone jackket and trousers suit from Richa has more than lived up to my expectaations.

This Cyclon ne suit from Richa has coped admirably of late, as I’ve put in some seerious miles in pretty unpredictable conditions. The jacket and trousers are warm (when n they need to be)), cool (when they need to be), comfortable, 100% waterproof (according to Richa) to which I can testify, up to this poiint at least, and they even clean up pretty easily too.

The elb bows, shoulders and back all offeer Level 1 approved D3O impact protection and th his can even bee removed for washing – althouggh I have to confess, I wasn’t blown awayy by thee back protection on offer and have had to upgrade slightly.

Neevertheless, the armour does staay in place well, unlike some of the oth her gear I’ve worn where the pro otection ‘wanders’ while riding, wh hich is probably a testament to how w well the gear fits, more than anyything. There’s a removable theermal liner inside which zips in to place easily, and offers a decent degree of warmth in th he worst conditions – and on nce removed, the jacket nd trousers are both still an su urprisingly warm, but the Richa AVS (Air Vent System) is in ntegrated to increase airflow in n the jacket and help keep you at a reasonable temperature on th hose warmer days.

Elsewhere the quality remains high – with the fixed Gore-Tex laayer doing most of the hard work to keep you dry and good quality YKK zips on the plethoraa of pockets and air vents on offer,,

plus you can easily connect the jacket and trousers together using another zip.

It’s worth noting that I ordered my usual size gear and it didn’t fit – so I had to order a size up. Therefore, if you’re considering getting your hands on this mid-range textile gear from Richa, then I’d recommend you get yourself down to the closest dealer to try it on before you buy.

But overall these trousers represent excellent value for money and are well worth the investment.

For more information, visit: www.nevis.uk.com

TRIED & TESTED 41

Shoei RYD Helmet

Reviewed by: Ross // RRP: £349.99 // Colours: Tangerine Orange, Matt Blue, Black, Matt Black, Grey, Matt Grey, White // Sizes: S-XXL Shoei’s new RYD lid is a step up from than the firm’s entry-level QWEST helmet – and for the money, only £50 more, it’s a really well packaged helmet boasting many top quality features. Ultimately, I’m really impressed with this helmet.

Despite the relatively reasonable price, the RYD is well-equipped and comes with many of the features often found on more expensive Shoei lids.

It boasts a compact, aerodynamic shell design, coupled with aggressive,

street-fighter inspired styling – and most importantly, it’s really comfortable too.

It has exceptional airflow and as a consequence, the visor remains resilient to fogging – something I often have a bit of a problem with as a glasses-wearer. There are multiple vents and extractors, including a chin vent, inlets around the brow area for fresh air supply and a couple of outlet vents at the rear to get rid of the warm air.

In reality, the new RYD from Shoei is anything but ‘entry level’ – with its quickrelease, anti-fog visor and mounting setup offering protection from (a claimed) 99% of damaging sun rays. It also offers an excellent field of vision that reaches right round to the side of your head, and isn’t far off normal peripheral vision.

BRAND NEW FOR

2017

It features a fully fu u removable liner, including detachable and washable centre pad d, cheek pads, and chin strap cover – in addition to ear pods to help reduce noise.

The Shoei RYD comes with a race-spec Double-D ring and emergency quick release system, which allows emergency medical personnel to safely remove the cheek pads from an injured rider’s helmet, meaning the helmet can be gently removed from an injured rider’s head with minimal load placed on his/her neck.

Although Shoei has aimed this lid at younger riders, and those who own streetfighter/naked bikes, I think this helmet has an even wider appeal, and would be spot on for anyone in the market for a ‘reasonably’ priced, well equipped touring helmet too.

For more information, visit: www.shoeiassured.co.uk

42 TRIED & TESTED

TCX Fuel Waterproof Boots

Draper 400A Lithium Jump Starter/Charger Reviewed by: Ross // RRP: £119.94

Reviewed by: Ross // RRP: £199.99 // Sizes: 3.5-13 // Colours: Brown, Black I’m rather partial to a pair of boots from Italian footwear specialist TCX. Over the last couple of years I’ve had the chance to test a number pairs, from fashion styled boots through to dedicated touring and adventure boots. More recently, I’ve got my hands on, or rather feet in, a pair of their latest TCX Fuel waterproof boots.

TCX has introduced these waterproof boots to its ever expanding Touring/Custom line just recently.

In short, the Fuel boots are casuallystyled boots with a retro/vintage aesthetic,, and I reckon theyy look just as good on the bike as off.

But most importantly they are packed with all the necessary safety tyy features, as well as being agreeably comfy fyy too, thanks to the handy internal side zip, Velcro band and external

buckles, which together allow the boots to be adjusted to suit particular foot shapes and leg widths.

They are CE-certified in line with the new European EN 13634:2015 regulations, featuring both toe and heel reinforcements, meaning you can be secure in the knowledge that the boots will offer all the necessary protection if the worst happens and you’re involved in an incident.

The boots feature a full-grain leather upper, with a gear change

protection pad, in addition to a deep tread on the sole which offers pretty outstanding grip – and come with a waterproof and highly breathable lining, which means that the boots are more than capable of holding their own in the very worst of weather conditions. I can testify to how well they hold up, as I’ve been wearing them nonstop, and together we’ve experienced some truly terrible conditions.

The only time they’ve been bested is when I over enthusiastically rode through a ford (post-heavy downpour), causing water to pour into the top of the boots – though I have to confess, they did dry out surprisingly quickly.

After trying these Fuel boots I find that I’m just as partial to a bit of TCX footwear as I was before.

They’re well-designed, versatile, properly waterproof and, if I may be so bold, stylish too. If you’re in the market for a pair of boots that are capable of doing everything you need, from touring to track – then you could do a lot worse than checking out these boots from TCX. For more information visit: www.nevis.uk.com

This is a very handy piece of kit from Draper Tools, great for touring and suitable for tucking away on your bike for emergencies. In short; it’s a compact and powerful jumpstarter/charger, but really, it’s much more than that – with USB outputs and a even a work lamp should you find yourself in urgent need of one.

Thankfully, I’m not in the habit of draining batteries, but I managed to test it thoroughly on some smaller capacity machines with admittedly weak batteries – and it more than lived up to the task, jumping the bikes with ease on multiple occasions. More specifically, the clever gadget is capable of delivering a potent charge for emergency jump-starting a wide range of vehicles up to 6L petrol and 2L diesel.

It weighs in under 0.4kg, and is reasonably sized, fitting neatly into its padded carry case – and would be fine for shoving into a pannier, tankbag or even rucksack if you’re heading out on the road for any extended period of time.

It’s fitted with two USB ports and the previously mentioned work lamp, which has three settings –

constant, SOS and flashing. It is supplied with a padded carry case, smart jump leads, 4 in 1 multi- purpose USB lead for charging mobile phones and tablets, and 230V and 12V charging adaptors too.

If you’re in the market for a jump-starter/charger, I’d encourage you to take a look at this fantastic little gadget from Draper. I recognise that it’s not cheap, and with loads of other (slightly lower priced) options to choose from you might be reluctant to spend the cash – but with Draper, you can be confident in the quality of product on offer.

For more information visit: www.drapertools.com

43

On Two Wheels

Learners

Commuters

Buying

Riding

★★ BRAND-NEW ★★ 100% FREE ★★ YOUR GUIDE TO LIFE ON TWO WHEELS LEARNING, COMMUTING, BUYING, RIDING Know someone who is thinking about learning to ride or getting back on after a break?

Look no further than On 2 Wheels.

PICK UP FREE TODAY FROM YOUR LOCAL DEALER. To find dealers in your area visit www.o2w.co.uk/stockists

44 BIKER FRIENDLY GUIDE

Biker Friendly Guide

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24

THE INSIDE LINE TO CLASSIC JAPANESE IRON WITH STEVE COOPER FROM THE VJMC 45

The engine part 4: rebuild

“The home of the Jappanese classic”

The grunt work (largely) is complete and now it’s time to get some finesse.

Pistons and their rings. Measure, prep and don’t skimp!

Words and image: Steve Cooper So hopefully we now have a basic bottom half of an engine that has a revolving crankshaft and a gearbox with all the relevant cogs.

Before getting too excited it’s a fine idea to check that the former can transmit its potential motive force to the latter’s output cog. If it doesn’t the engine will need to come apart again; it’s best to suss this out now rather than when the engine is in the frame!

Temporarily attach the gear pedal to the gearshift and with the aid of a mate turn the engine over.

You’ll need to protect the con rods with some cardboard or similar but with a little care they’ll be fine. With the engine revolved in its normal direction of rotation carefully select each gear ratio and ensure that the output shaft revolves. Don’t expect the same number of turns from crank and sprocket as the engine turns.

The gearbox alters the two relative speeds… that’s its job! Finally ensure that the neutral position is easily and repeatably selectable.

Well done you’ve just rebuilt the bottom half of your engine! Almost without exception Japanese bike engines are installed in the chassis as totally built and complete units.

This is fine if you’re working on a production line with all the appropriate lifting gear but not necessarily ideal if you’re working off the floor of a draughty shed.

If you chose to drop the bottom half of your engine into the frame now to reduce the mass of the final lift you’ll need to be certain that it’s possible to fit the cylinder head in situ and access all of the requisite bolts. If it’s not feasible to work like this then the engine will have to be installed as a finished lump and lifted in with one or more mates to help.

Next up it’s time to fit the piston rings to the pistons which can be a little fraught first time around. The piston rings are precision made circles of springy ferrous alloys – hard wearing yet fragile at the same time.

They are generally location specific and should always be installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Twostrokes normally run upper and lower rings and furthermore these have to

be located such that their open ends sit either side of a ring peg in pistons grooves. Four-stroke rings generally come as a trio and are again location specific but don’t sit aside ring pegs.

In all instances the rings and pistons need to be well lubricated in engine oil before installation. Old hands (sic) seem to almost magically slide rings in place with their thumb nails.

Novices and the less adept will be using piston ring expanders! If the rings refuse to sit in their grooves don’t force them in; you’ve probably got them mixed up. Four-stroke rings are normally fitted with their end gaps 120 degrees to the ring above and below.

If the bike is a four-stroke with a cam chain let’s hope you installed the chain on the crank previously and move on from there. The pistons now need to be installed onto the con rods with new bearings where appropriate.

This can be something of a fiddly process but needs to be done carefully and methodically.

Noting which side of the engine you’ll be working from, select a piston and install a new circlip on the opposite making sure it’s properly

installed in its register. From the ‘working’ side, slide in the gudgeon pin through the piston part way then guide it through the top of the con rod the bearing if fitted and through the other side of the piston until it makes contact with the previously installed circlip. This process is made infinitely easier if messier by lubricating everything first in clean engine oil.

The piston should now just rock when the piston is tilted. Now install the second circlip into its groove. The same process is repeated on the other piston(s). Although a relatively simple process it’s not without issues and concerns. Firstly never, ever, reuse a piston circlip; they may not appear worn or compromised but don’t take chances. They cost pennies but if they fall out can totally and utterly wreck an engine. Secondly, when installing circlips protect the motor by pushing clean, lint free rag into the mouth(s) of the crankcase. One circlip dropped into the crank can waste hours of time trying to remove it.

Now go and have a brew because next time we’ll be adding the cylinders which is an art form in its own right!

Want your fix of Japanese classics? Then you need...

6 issues for £20

Visit www.classicmagazines.co.uk/cmm87 Expiry: 31/12/17 Call: 01507 529529 and quote code: CMM87 *UK only offer

The VJMC – run by motorcyclists for motorcyclists.

For membership enquiries only: Tel: 01454 501310 Email: membership_vjmc@yahoo.co.uk Address: PO Box 1949, Yate, Bristol, BS37 0BX Office hours: Monday-Thursday,10am- 4pm (please leave a message)

46

USED BIKE GUIDE 47

Hidden gem: Honda’s CBR600F

One day, when we look back at petrol bikes with nostalgia, the CBR600F will be up there as one of the greats. It was capable of winning World Championships, yet it could commute, tour and even cosset new(ish) riders.

Words and pictures:

by Bob Pickett Arriving in 1987 the CRB600F underwent numerous revisions and upgrades – 1998 was the year it moved to an ally frame – in 2003 the more race-focused CBR600RR appeared alongside. The CBR600F ceased production in 2006, by which time over 50,000 of them had been sold in the UK alone!

Give me some spec

A 599cc inline four cylinder engine puts out 108bhp with maximum torque of 48ft-lb, maximum speed of 155mph and ¼ mile acceleration of 11.5 seconds (to 125mph!). It lives in an aluminium twin-spar frame.

Weighing in at 193kg wet, hauling up the bike are two 296mm, four-piston calliper brakes up front, with a single 220mm, one-piston rear.

So what’s it like to ride?

The CBR600F amazes. This was a world championship bike yet is comfortable (in sportsbike terms), gives room to move about and is downright friendly until you’re used to it. If – like me – you haven’t been on a pure-bred sportsbike for a while, the forward-canted riding position, clip-ons that put all the weight on your wrists and tucked in stance are alien (the back grumbled on the way to the photo-shoot, the wrists were very unhappy riding back to the dealer in traffic).

But get moving and all is forgiven.

Get out of town and onto more open roads as soon as possible. The engine – famed for it’s bullet-proof nature – is silky smooth once warmed up, but crack open the throttle, soak in the induction note and watch the digits spin as it drives forward with real purpose, but always under control.

But the joy of the CBR600F

is corners. Is it as sharp as the CBR600RR? No, but it has all the precision you’ll ever need. On my test route there is a lovely increasing radius left hander, spoiled only by the series of inspection hatch covers on the best line. On the CBR600F I entertained myself by leaning over, adjusting the line slightly to squidge between the cover and the white line, slipping into ever smaller lines of tarmac with ease.

The suspension is just right. Firm enough to give great feedback and handle as I described, but compliant enough to cope with average road ordure. The brakes are spot-on, with loads of power, but lots of feel and can be loaded gently.

What nick is it in?

CBR600Fs last well with care, this one is a good example. The front tyre will need changing and the chain could do with a little TLC (taken care of in the pre-sale service), otherwise it is in lovely condition.

What’s it worth?

The dealer is looking for £2950 for a 2003 model with just 17,980 miles clocked, taking account of that front tyre. Being such a sales star there are a fair few around, my dealer search sourcing a 1999 model with 30,000 miles recorded for £1300 to a 2006 model with just 7700 miles on the clock for £4995.

Thanks to Johns of Romford Honda 46-52 London Road, Romford, Essex, RM7 9QX Tel: 01708 746293 Email: sales@johnsofromford.co.uk Web: www.johnsofromford.co.uk

48 ACCESSORIES

BRAKE HOSES

EXHAUSTS

MOT AND SERVICING

SEATING

TRAILERS

SPEEDOMETERS/COMPUTERS

WEB WATCH

CHROMING

SERVICES

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

TRAINING COURSES

TYRES NUT & BOLTS

PAINTWORK DYNO TRAILERS

PARTS AND SPARES

Deadline for advertising in the next issue is EXHAUSTS

PLASTIC REPAIRS

Thursday July 6 available on

Friday July 21 Call Emma on 01507 529410

Th he MCM legal column is compiled byy managing artner pa Andrew ‘Chef’ Prendergast and P his bike-riding barristers and ssolicitors at White Dalton W Motorcycle M Solicitors.

S The firm deals with personal w injury claims and its sister a company, Motor Defenc Defence Solicitors, company deals with all the motoring offences.

White Dalton lawyers have a vast knowledge of bike law – and they have full bike licences, too. They don’t act for insurance companies or the prosecution. White Dalton is Britain’s premier specialist motorcycle law practice, and if its professionals don’t know the answer to your question there probably isn’t one. Don’t rely on the advice from your insuranceappointed solicitor, get proper independent advice.

For road traffic offences call the Motor Defence solicitors on 0800 280 0912 For non-offence cases call White Dalton motorcycle solicitors on 0800 783 6191

Need advice If you need advice on a biking-related legal question or query, email mail@whitedalton.co.uk The best Q&A will be published in MCM, in confidence, of course.

Q&A

WHITE DALTON 49 Our specialist motoring solicitor Andrew Prendergast guides readers through their legal trials and troubles...

Q

I have a Honda CBR600F, but I’m not that mechanically minded. I have been using my local dealer for years to service the bike, and I’ve always found that he does a really great job.

However, he has recently taken on a new chap who didn’t bolt my rear brake caliper back on properly, with the result that it fell off and got wrapped in my wheel while I was riding.

It damaged the wheel and ripped the brake pipe off the caliper. More through luck than skill I stayed on, but I could have been killed. So far the dealer won’t pay for anything, as the new mechanic says he did all the work properly and I must have fiddled with things after I left. What can I do, as I feel really stuck here for a solution?

A

You need to prove on the “balance of probabilities” that the dealer did something wrong. Therefore, if the caliper fell off the day after it was serviced (and they did the brakes), then it would be likely you will be able to persuade a court the dealer is to blame.

However, if for example the service was done six months ago, a court may be slow to accept it was the dealer’s fault. As for bringing a claim, it is likely this will be a small claim as the loss is relatively modest; i.e. a damaged wheel etc. and you were not killed thankfully.

Q

I have been biking for many years, and decided to treat myself to a new Triumph Explorer with all the gear on it – the side boxes, racks, engine bars… the full works. I ordered it and was told by the dealer that it would be in the showroom in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime I moved home to a terraced house.

The only place to park a bike is in the back garden and the only access to the back is through a quite narrow passageway, and this is a real problem because when I picked up the bike I found I could not get it down the passageway

because it is too big. My mate at the pub told me that goods have to be fit for purpose and this bike simply isn’t. He reckons I have a good case, and that I should take it further. I have taken the bike back to the dealer and asked for a refund, but he told me to sling my hook and I heard the mechanics bursting into laughter out the back.

Can I successfully sue the dealer for my money back by using the Sale of Goods Act?

an hour I was a bit bored, so I razzed off for a spin on my own into a different field (we had been told to stick together). Unfortunately I didn’t see a ditch, and clattered off, breaking my leg. I want to sue the training school, but no solicitor will take on the case as apparently I didn’t follow the rules of the school. Surely the training school should have to pay as they had a duty to make sure riders are safe. Am I right?

A

A

Firstly, your mate ‘Lord Justice Lager’ might be qualified to drink pints, but he certainly isn’t qualified to give legal advice by the sounds of things. No you can’t sue the dealer successfully. Are you completely mental? A judge would do his nut if you sued the dealer after YOU ordered a Triumph Explorer but wanted to give it back because it won’t fit along YOUR narrow passage. It would be like suing a Ducati dealer for supplying a red motorbike that then clashed fashion-wise with your blue leathers you bought the week after.

Q

My brother was getting married and I arranged his stag do in Wales. The plan was a day out at an off-road motorbike school, and then a night out on the beer. We rocked up, had the safety briefing, got given all the gear and then rode out for instruction on off-road riding. The group was of mixed abilities, so the instructor was taking things really slow. As an experienced rider on- and off-road, after about

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From what you have said you are completely wrong. If there has been a safety briefing and you were told to ride in one field, but decided to razz off into another, it seems to me you are at fault. You can’t just sue people because you got hurt through your own stupidity; you decided to undertake a fun but risky activity, then you didn’t follow the rules and got hurt. Man up. It’s like telling someone the oven’s hot; they touch the oven, they get burnt and they moan they have a blistered hand. If everyone who got hurt could successfully sue companies when they ignored the rules, there would be no boxing clubs, no sailing clubs and no one hiring out motorbikes. Sounds like a pretty dull, bubblewrapped world to me.

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50 SPORT

Nicky Hayden: 1981-2017

The 2006 MotoGP world champion succumbed to injuries after a collision with car.

The 35-year-old was involved in a road accident with a car, just days after competing in the WSBK championship round at Misano. After the incident, Nicky was taken to a local hospital, and was then transferred to another nearby hospital for further assessment but on May 22 he died of his injuries.

Nicky lived and breathed motorcycles. He competed throughout his youth in Kentucky, moving on to the AMA

Q: What is your first memory on a bike: Nicky Hayden: I get that question a lot and I really don’t remember because I don’t remember life before bikes. From the time I literally crawled, I was around a motorcycle. My dad raced, even my mom raced because my dad – as the story goes – needed a fast

Pro Flat Track circuit first, then on to the AMA Superbike series. In 2006 he won the MotoGP world title from his good friend Valentino Rossi and had been continuing to compete at the highest level in World Superbikes for the Red Bull Honda team.

In light of his passing, here’s an illuminating interview with Nicky in which he talks about that pivotal moment in 2006 at Valencia that gave him the MotoGP crown.

girl because he wanted to make fast babies. He’d come from Kentucky, where horse racing is so popular, and the bloodline is so important. So my mom and dad both raced, my older brother was racing, and from the time literally I could crawl, I was already with the bikes.

focused. My mind was relaxed.

I was looking to see who was in second, third place, who else was doing what.

I got the pole position, I got the fastest lap, won the race. National anthem, I rode with my dad, and it was just a fairy tale. On that day, I felt unbeatable.

Q: And that first MotoGP win: NH: Laguna 2005 was like a dream for me because everything worked perfect. In racing, it doesn’t always go like a dream.

Normally on the weekend, you work, you try something with a bike. It’s maybe a little bit better on braking, but it’s worse on corner exit and it’s a compromise, but that week, everything was perfect. The bike, from the first practice, was working well.

Every change we made was only better. Every time the lap time came and I remember being here in the lead in the race, and my mind wondering, coming out of that corner, that turn three, I remember looking up at the tower during the race, when I’m leading the race and I should only be

Q: And then the title winning year: NH: Well, speaking of 2006, the race in Laguna that year was completely the opposite.

Everything that race weekend was really difficult, I felt a lot of pressure, I qualified sixth, it was really hot, that year was record highs, and I couldn’t have done that race a half-a-tenth faster.

Whereas the race in 2005, I think I could have done it maybe three, or four, or five seconds faster if I needed to, but 2006 was much more difficult. What I remember that year was coming out of the last corner of Valencia and realising my dream of being World Champion at the highest level was coming true and that was very special.

Q: How did you prepare for Valencia in 2006: NH: Well, for sure, in Portugal, that moment in the gravel trap, that thought of being World Champion just slipped through my hands. You never know how many times you’re going to be in that opportunity in life, but I gathered myself up, and after the race, maybe one hour after, I started to think of only Valencia.

I looked at the points and realised I still had a chance. I know Valencia is a small track, many guys go fast there – maybe it’s not the best track for Valentino at that time. And I somehow, as crazy as it sounds – people ask me now—from about an hour after that race, I always believed I was still going to be World Champion. Going into the last race, I think 11 points down on arguably the greatest rider of all

time, with all the momentum on his side, an injured shoulder. Not many people outside of my team and family gave me a chance, and for whatever reason, that whole season I believed it was going to be my year. And that’s what I said all along, this is my year and I still think when they let off the yellow fireworks, I laughed, and I’ve seen the pictures because I guess I like being the underdog. I did have to chuckle and being on the podium and seeing the yellow fireworks was just something incredible.

That moment for me was what I lived all my life for and not just me, it wasn’t like a goal I felt I won. I felt my family won it, like we won it together, because my parents, and my sisters, and my brothers, they sacrificed so much to give us this opportunity at a young age and I felt like we won it.

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APRILIA PEGASO 650cc, 2008, 8,600 miles, vgc, centre stand, light comfortable bike, fun to ride, MoT, £1650 ono.

Tel. 01797 320434 eves. Kent.

APRILIA TUONO GEN 1 1000, Vee Twin, low miles, long MoT, excellent condition, Blackbird stand oil jet mod done, many extras, £2500. Tel. 07979 714683; 01709 582960. S Yorks.

ARMSTRONG MT500 1989, good condition, not raced, 14,400 mile, recent service, Mikuni carb, new bike forces sale, £1300 ono. Tel. 01252 651425. Hants.

ARIEL ARROW 200cc, 1964, MoT March 2018, phone for details, £1850 ono. Tel. 01430 423971; 07719 567957. E Yorks.

BMW F800GT 2013, 4,800 miles only, MoT March 2018, Valencia orange, full BMW s/h, BMW panniers, full comfort package, h/grips, elec suspension, comfort seat, BMW alarm, ABS, one previous owner, £5950 ono. Tel. 07775 680094. Chelmsford.

BMW K100LT F reg, MoT 21/02/17, 90,224 miles, full service, air/oil/fuel/plugs all replaced, new seat cover, fitted professional, has a bundle of extras with it (computers/ relays/ign module and sensors/ more plugs and some, has all its luggage boxes, £1800 ovno. Tel. Mick 0787 7058995.

Beds.

BMW R100RS 980cc, 1980, metallic gold, present owner 34 years, new battery, saddle, tyres etc, Sorned last 2 years, £2750. Tel. 077220 41560; 02476 303246. Coventry.

BMW R60/6 600cc, 1976, MoT August, in use reliable bike, as photo, Haynes manual, 37,300 miles, £2400. Tel. 01767 691209. Beds.

BMW R65 1982, panniers, engine bars, screen, rear rack, clock & voltmeter, full MoT, 54,400 miles, £1950. Tel. 07765 187298. S Yorks.

BMW R80RT 800cc, Mystic red, 69k miles, genuine, original, 1984, not messed with, panniers, history, no MoT, Sorned, got to be viewed, haggle, £2500. Tel. 07795 292828; 0116 2106136. Leics.

BMW R1150RT 1150cc, red, 2004, 40k miles, full BMW service history, MoT Sept 2017, alarmed, new Pilot 4 tyres, new disc pads, panniers, tools, spares, extras, ready to tour, £3200. Tel. 0208 5955193. Romford, Essex.

BMW R80 F800R SPORT 2015, light white/black, satin gloss, 3,300 miles, immaculate condition, BMW options fitted incl - ABS, ASC, ESA, OBC, TPC, c/stand, rack, h/grips, part of dynamic and touring packs plus rear hugger, bar risers, comfort seat, K&N filter, BMW staff bike plus me, full s/h, £5750 ono. Tel. 01361 884222. david.radford@tiscali. co.uk .

BMW K100RS ABS, 1000cc, 1990, silver, 33k miles, to box, panniers, vgc, handbook, tool kit, 50 mpg, Sorned, £1250.

Tel. 01945 581440. Cambs.

BMW K1200RS 1200cc, yellow/black, 37k, full luggage system, brilliant bike, too heavy for 75 year old, everything works, MoT, need a loving home, got to go, £1750. Tel. 01707 870769. Herts.

BMW R80/7 800cc, 1980, red, good condition, MoT, £2500.

Tel. 01793 778160. Wilts.

BSA B40 WD 1967, MoT July, 9,825 miles, small and flight, good work horse, £2300. Tel. 07765 187298. S Yorks.

BSA BANTAM B175 1970, MoT till August, been restored, engine been rebuild, new seat, new wheels, new front forks, all black paint work been powder painted, £1800. Tel. 01376 339426. .

BSA C15 250cc, 1966, tax Dec 2017, new parts, new chain and sprocket, clutch cable, throttle cable and carburettor, good condition, £1800 ono.

Tel. 07570 129550. Staffs.

BUELL BLAST 2006, 492cc single cylinder, 6,500 miles only, MoT to 24/10/17, 648mm seat height, excellent condition, £1875. Tel. 01507 601644. Lincs.

BSA B31 rigid, 1946, V5, no tax or MoT needed, had a complete rebuild, ring for further info, £4250 ono. Tel. 07714 235463. Manchester.

CHANG JIANG M1 749cc, 1959, 9,500kms, horizontal twin side valve, shaft drive, 12v, electric start, locking boot, side car, windscreen, reverse gearbox bike, windscreen available, some tools, £2500 ono. Tel. 01427 616450. W Lincs.

CHOPPER long low hard tail with GS500 twin engine, wide back wheel, high bars, wide long front with 2 other sets of front ends, 2 rear fenders, wire harness, 3 petrol tanks, single seat base and banana seat, big box of parts, rear wheel is engraved on drum and sprocket, not GS wheels, nice mag, wheels, frame has not been stamped yet, box of parts, will not split as new owner, will have parts to sell to pay for carbs and longer cables etc, good project but I need new hip/knee, like a swap for motorbike in running order over 200cc for daughter or sell £600 but swap bike good. Tel. 07597 174839. Cheshire.

CLASSIC KAWASAKI KH125 1986, in good overall condition, in running order, been standing for a year, phone or email £595. Tel. 01670 515281 for

COTTON 250 VILLIERS 1966, in parts complete minus seat, last used some years ago, has original green log book and needs restoration, matching frame and engine numbers, £300. Tel. Steve 07587 183377. Norfolk.

DEMM 50 Sports Racer, thought racing motor, some small engine spares, £950.

TZ50 race bike, A/C DT motor, £1250. Ducson Sports 50 to assemble, stoved blue, new wheels, £900 ono. Tel. 01784 455066. Middx.

DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1000SDS 2005, 55 plate, red, 26,312 miles, Termignoni exhausts, Decat pipes, h/grips, gel seat, panniers, Ohlins, Ducati Specialist serviced, very tidy bike, great tourer, all sevice books, keys and original parts available, £3300.

Tel. 01453 872492; 07785 276176.

A BRACE OF HONDA SUPERDREAMS CB400s, 1979 and 1981, one red, one black, MoT due 27/03/2018, everything works, heated grips on one, just passed MoT, overhauled, nice touring bikes, classic electric start and kick start, £2500. Tel. 01689 891345; 07799 813523. Kent.

HARLEY 883R Sportster Roadster, twin front discs, 2002, only 5,500 miles, racing orange, excellent condition, tested, new spare seat and silencer, new set brake hoses, owned 7 years, £3300. Tel. 01709 582960. S Yorks.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1450 Streetbob, 2006 customized, bikes stage 2 Screaming Eagle heavy breather kit, Screaming Eagle plug in tune performance ignition module, bikes tuned up and shows on performance, lots spent on upgrades, up front and rear, bikes in excellent condition, well maintained, regardless of cost, new bike forces sale, cool looking bobber styled, viewing must, any inspection, no swaps genuine call only please. Tel. Gaz 07519 884029. W Mids.

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HARLEY-DAVIDSON Electra Glide Ultra Limited Low, 2016, amber whiskey & black, Rushmore, 2300 miles as new, one owner, £16,999. Tel. 01902 411919. W Mids.

HONDA 1135 commuter miles on the clock, one middle aged owner from new and always kept in a garage, full Honda service history including recall and the remainder of the warranty, garaged as in new condition, only selling because I’ve recently got a larger bike, £2299. Tel. 07804 794222.

Leics.

HONDA 250N SUPERDREAM 1980, been standing since 2004, 12 mths’ MoT, new tyre on rear, new brake pads and two new mirrors, 40k miles, good condition, £1500 buyer to collect. Cash on collection.

Tel. 01299 210758. Stourporton-Severn.

HONDA CB1300 2008, 2428 genuine miles, white and red, MoT 12 months, heated grips, crash bungs, brand new Honda flyscreen (never been fitted), done zero miles since oil, filter, antifreeze and brake fluid change, one mature owner since new, dry summer use only, never carried a pillion, cherished number not included in sale, the bike is absolutely mint and as new, firm on the price so no offers, genuine enquirers only please. Tel. 01803 844127. Paignton.

HONDA CB550F 1977, this is a beautiful bike to ride or show forty years old, new battery brakes and tyres, gets looks where ever it goes, 30,000 miles, quite rare now, £4500.

Tel. John 01443 226706. .

HONDA CBR600F 1988, N, high miles, immaculate new tyres, 2 keys, cheap classic insurance, MoT, mature 76 year old owner, garaged, not used this year, never seen rain, £1050. Tel. 0207 2377899. S E London.

HONDA SH125I scooter, 2006, 17k miles, 5 months’ MoT, oil changed every 1000 miles, regularly serviced, good condition for year, ridden by 74 year old, £725 ono. Tel. 07857 822653; 01626 776076.

Teignmouth, Devon.

HONDA CBR600F 2008, vgc, one owner, well cared for bike, full s/h, all MoTs and receipts, s/s down pipes and rad guard, tank cover, d/b screen, braided b/hoses, £2500 ono. Tel. 01709 549217. Rotherham.

HONDA CBR650F 2014, 1700 miles, one mature owner, condition as new, £5000. Tel. 02392 214606. Hants.

HONDA CX500 500cc, 1980, 30k miles, good runner, MoT till mid July, £1200. Tel. 07970 888199. Gtr Man.

HONDA DEAUVILLE NT700 VA Trike, 56 reg, serviced, MoT, only 12,200 miles, heated grips, good tyres, colour coded boxes, ABS, wind deflectors, chrome radiator guard, trickle charger, spare set of keys, adjustable screen, lovely eye catching blue, on Sorn, £5950.

Tel. 07799 000135. Cumbria.

HONDA NT650V Deauville, 2001, 11,933 miles, shaft drive, red, lots of accessories, £1500. Tel. 01485 541001.

Norfolk.

HONDA NX650 Dominator, 1988, red, 35,000 kms/18,700 mls, imported by me from Germany and fully UK registered, immaculate for age, Japanese built, fully serviced, braided hoses back and front, oil temp dip stick, engine spot on, no smoke or oil used between oil changes, Honda owners manual, nearly new (500 miles), Michelin Anakee 3 tyres, £1750 ono. Tel. 01361 884222. david.radford@tiscali. co.uk.

HONDA XL185 TRAIL lovely classic twin shock, restored, s/s exhaust, gold alloy silencer, MoT, sound, perfect, retiring mature owner, big Honda fan, £1950. Tel. 07784 783964.

Man.

CLASSIFIEDS HONDA PCXS 125cc, Super, 64 reg with less than 4000 miles, many extras, twin exhausts, Givi screen, comfy bike, unmolested engine with K/N filter + plug, serviced, garaged, £1850. Tel. 07852 650477. Yorks.

HONDA VARADERO XL1000V 2006, Tri colour, genuine Honda luggage with liners, far better than ugly aftermarket jobs, Baglux tank protector, hugger, USB and 12V charging sockets, only 21,000 summer miles, always garaged, one previous owner, excellent condition. Tel. 07702 521222.

North Yorkshire.

HONDA VFR750 1996, blue, great condition for year, 22k miles, all MoTs, loads of s/h, new tyres just fitted and serviced, £2200. Tel. 01945 589322. Cambs.

HONDA VISION 2012, 2,069 miles, two careful owners, £1600. Tel. Mike 07769 887086. London.

HONDA ANF125 (Innova), 2011 reg, blue. Includes :windscreen, carrier, removable large top box, only 2,800 miles, £975. Tel. 01788 810692.

Warks.

HONDA CB250RS 248cc, 1983, MoT Oct 17, tax Aug 13, 17, £700 ono. Tel. Chris 01342 894580. Surrey.

HONDA VT750 C2-7 Shadow, 19,979 miles, immaculate condition, one woman owner, MoT 2018. Tel. 07709 921545.

Essex.

HONDA XR600 1998, last used Nov 16, on Sorn, started first time last week, unrestored and well used condition, use for green lanes or project? £1750 ono. Tel. 07474 713953 eves.

Shrops.

HONDA XVZ1300 1988, very nice condition, only 53,000 miles that’s nothing for a V4 engine, got this bike in April this year from a dealer at a cost of £3995 just had new MoT to May 2018, had full service when I got it, I am the first owner in this country the last owner was the bike shop that imported it. Tel. 07851 701973.

HONDA CB500FA 471cc, black, 75000 miles, serviced, MoT, one owner, £3200.

Tel. 01750 20818. Scottish Borders.

HONDA CBF SA 600cc, 2007, Givi luggage, Scottoiler crash bungs, low mileage, 12 months’ MoT, new tyres, battery, good condition, £2500.

Tel. 01663 750827. Derbys.

HONDA CBX750 been standing in dye shed for a number of years, non runner, £300. Tel. 01728 830952. Suffolk.

HONDA CM250T 3 valve twin, mostly complete, running with V5C in my name, 1983 project, swap/px for 200cc-ish British bike/project, why? Tel. 0161 3038830. N West.

HONDA DEAUVILLE NT 650cc, 2003, MoT, green top box, built in side panniers and fairing, screen rides well, £1375. Tel. 01392 255397. Devon.

HONDA LEAD 125 scooter, ex race team paddock bike, needs electrical attention but good runner, £150. Tel. 0208 3012913. Kent/S E London.

HONDA PAN EUROPEAN 1300, genuine Honda top box lid only, brand new, not a mark on it, grey colour. Tel. 01642 475649.

HONDA SH300I 300cc, 2009, only 5,800 miles, full s/h, excellent condition, new tyre and fully serviced, MoT Aug 17, first to see will buy, silver, £2000 ono; wanted: Honda 125 PCX. Tel. 01626 776076.

Devon.

HONDA TRANSALP 2002, rear wheel fitted with very usable Bridgestone Trail Wing tyre, good condition, £75. Tel. 02085 088994. London/Essex.

HONDA VFR 750cc, red, 1996, 20k miles, one owner from new, immaculate condition, new tyres, riding position not suitable for me now, £2300 ovno. Tel. 01189 678802.

Berks.

HONDA VFR 800cc, silver, 1998, R reg, Remus exhaust, Givi top box, 41,000 miles, two owners, datatag, MoT to August, very good condition, £1200 ono. Tel. 01216 031782. West Midlands.

HONDA XL650 Transalp, 2007, 38,600 miles, high screen, centrestand, crash bars, top box, running lights, recent service, stainless steel, fuel end can, exhaust, 12 volt socket, 10 months MoT, road tyres Avon, spare seat and screen, £1900 ono. Tel. 07704 343331. Stockport.

HONDA XLV600VN Transalp, purple/silver, K, 1993, under 27k miles, 5 owners from new, last owner 8 years, new battery, 2 new CDI’s, MoT March 18, Givi rear top box plate, ideal first big bike, nice and comfy, also spare Reeve 600 engine/carbs, £1595. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

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HUSQVARNA 250, 4 speed, 1969, bike has not been started or run for at least 20 years since total rebuild by my late father Husqvarna specialist Tony Bullock, the bike had only done 3 AMCA races due to getting injured it has been garaged stored since, there is a small crack in the rear alloy mudguard lip and the guard at the back of the air filter is fibreglass also the airbox cover as these were prone to cracking, I have some spares and literature, £2500 ono. Tel. 07866 877918. Shropshire.

KAWASAKI ER6N 650cc, one owner, 30,000 miles, new MoT, top box, engine bars, screen braided hoses, higher bars, just had major service, good tyres, vgc, £2400 ono.

Tel. 01805 625529. North Devon.

KAWASAKI GPZ550 D1, 1981, been a great bike since I rescued it over two years ago, good all round reliable, tyres good, seat needs covering, tank needs a respray then a MoT and go! V5 my name, must go so £400 cash collect.

Tel. 07849 876150. Kent.

KAWASAKI GPZ900R A8 900cc, 16,000 miles, red and black, loads of upgrades, better than new, 12 months MoT, please phone to view, £5250 ovno. Tel. 01262 675986. East Yorkshire.

KAWASAKI NINJA 250cc, 2011, 160 miles yes 160 miles only, MoT Feb 2018, many extras bike is like brand new, genuine reason for sale, £2650. Tel. 07816 475758.

Wrexham.

KAWASAKI VERSYS 650cc, silver, late 07, very clean, low mileage 9,018 miles, extras include Givi, rack top box, Vince adj, screen, alarm, day lights, heated grips, f&r huggers, lowering kit fitted, if req., stainless b/pipes, recent service etc, new back tyre, great commuter bike, tourer, reluctant sale, £2695 ono. Tel. Paul 0114 2589093. S Yorks.

KAWASAKI W800 2012, immac cond, 2200 miles, got all the best extras, MoT Mar 18, serviced Jan 17, new battery fitted Jan 17, lovely bike, just not used, £4350 ovno. Tel. 07736 021456.

Cheshire.

KAWASAKI ZL1000 Eliminator, 1986, 24k miles, rare Japanese muscle bike cruiser, was converted from a ZL750 with a GPZ1000 rebuilt engine 2 years ago, just fitted a new front tyre, battery and fuel pump, ready for MoT which I’ve booked with my local bike shop to be done as soon as it’s sold, £1525 ovno. Tel. 07995 6375573. Surrey.

KAWASAKI Z250 Smooth 4-stroke twin, complete and running, 1980, many new parts, £750 ono. Tel. 07931 204726; 01423 565388 for details.

KAWASAKI ZZR1100 D1 full power model, 1993, good condition for year, new battery, carbs cleaned and balanced, Scottoiler, SS exhaust, front braided hoses, recent fork seals oil and filters, ring for more info, £1850 ono. Tel. 01723 586285. N Yorkshire.

KAWASAKI ZX400 1987, 95% complete (taken apart), engine, carbs, exhaust, frame, front end, swinging arm, rear shock, electrics, wheels, petrol tank, rear mudguard, radiator, + other bits, £250. Tel. 07752 443794. Denbighshire.

KTM 690 DUKE 2013, tail tidy, ABS, alarm and immobiliser, Pollisport hand guards, USB charger, Infrared speed camera detector, battery charger lead, carbon rear mud hugger, engine crash bars, h/ grips, KTM service satchel, originally sold by Via Moto (1st reg keeper), owned for approximately 2 years, keeping it as a run around on the back of my canal narrowboat, a great bike to ride, have regularly ridden it with a pillion which it easily copes with, extremely agile and light, hence it fits easily on the back of my boat! service and MOT expires June so will get them done as part of sale. Tel. 07778 875252. Macclesfield.

KZ1 A4 KAWASAKI 900 1976, metallic green, USA import, fitted with a 1000cc big bore kit and Yoshi pipes for extra power, runs but needs recommissioning (ie motor needs a head seating set, gasket and oil seal, starter recon and an MoT for V5, insurance and a £55 fee and a completed V55 will acquire the V5 in 14 working days, work will take 5 hours at a cost of around £600 for a mechanic and parts. This will DD public the value of the bike....A serious 70s superbike for capital investment for the serious collector.Nicknamed by it’s creators ‘The New York STEAK’ this bike has a steady value of £10,000-15,000. I am relocating to Europe so I have not the time to do this work, £6500. Tel. 07475 942720.

Hants.

KTM 990 ADVENTURE 2013, 10,964 miles, excellent condition, KTM heated grips, hand guards and engine bars, fender extender, serviced at 700, 4,500 and 9,300 miles, new rear tyre recently, MoT, alarm and immobiliser, very comfy ride, £6950. Tel. 0116 2607758. Leics.

from the 70s, runs and rides, unmolested, not restored, really original paintwork and condition, low miles bike at 14,000 miles, own matching frame and engine nos on nice brass plaques, a real beauty, first come, first served, grab a really nice looking Norton and a slice of the 70’s for just £7500.

Tel. 07475 942720.

MATCHLESS TRIALS 350cc, trials rep, alloy engine, enclosed push rods, comp mat, owned 20 years, V5, £4000 ovno. Tel. 01909 721563; 07748 726102. Notts.

ROYAL ENFIELD 350cc, 1948, 1958, 1967, 1990, all in bits, complete 500cc Bullets, 1958, 1991, S Meteor 1958 with spare engine, Cagiva Elefant 650cc sell as job lot with spares £6500. Tel. 01506 855766; 07970 625360.

Scotland.

RUDGE AUTOCYCLE 1954, exc cond, all documents and manuals, injury forces reluctant sale, photos available, £800.

Tel. 07919 158173. Hants. geoffrey.downing@ntlworld. com

MOTO GUZZI V7 CLASSIC 59 reg, excellent condition, 4200 genuine miles, serviced & garaged, Moto Guzzi screen, panniers & boxes, £2950. Tel. 07880 771261. Northants.

SOFTAIL BREAK-OUT fully customized, over 50 accessories, some specially fabricated. all brand new stock parts free, priced around £900 custom parts total £6000. all receipts and warranty, only 35 miles road test miles, photo shows cost of 13 items only, brand new pillion seat and footpegs, a brand new Harley, bought and garaged late 2016, an eye catcher/show winning bike, will not see another like it, £22,000. Tel. Mike 07880 346236; 07856 823075 for details/viewing. Glos.

NORTON COMMANDO 1972, Roadster 750cc, USA import, really original beautiful bike

SUZUKI BANDIT 1200 22k miles, 05 plate, Ohlins rear shock, engine protector bars,

CLASSIFIEDS

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Online: www.motorcyclemonthly.co.uk Email: freeads@motorcyclemonthly.co.uk Post: MCM Reader Adverts, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle LN9 6JR newish tyres, chain and sprockets, serviced regularly, stored in garage over all winters, £ono tel £2200 ono. Tel. 01604 905850.

Northampton.

SUZUKI BURGMAN 200cc, 2009, just like the 125cc model but much faster! Huge storage space under seat, just 3850 miles from new, in lovely condition, heated grips, nearly new tyres, new MoT, £1300 ono. Tel. 07866 622196.

Yorkshire.

SUZUKI BURGMAN AN400, 25,000 miles, 2006, excellent condition, MoT 2018, new tyres, brake pads, Givi screen, spare drive belt, Haynes manual, £1350 ono. Tel. 01492 534158. Colwyn Bay.

SUZUKI GSF-S 1200cc Bandit, 197, R reg, 19,724 miles, tidy clean bike, MoT, £1800 ono.

Tel. Barry 01543 276037.

Staffs.

SUZUKI GSX1400FE 7,500 miles from new, mint cond, MoT July, std pipe, never been used, one owner from new, very reluctant sale due to on going chronic back problem this is a bike not to be missed message me on here or contact me on no time wasters please looking for offers around £5100. Tel. 07789 838687; 01565 723454. Cheshire.

TRIUMPH TIGER 800cc XC, 2001, ABS Arrow can, panniers, top box, plus many more extras, fully serviced and tour ready, documented history, one of the best and cheapest £3995. Tel. 07989 326304. Leics.

SUZUKI TC120 1970, MoT Feb18, all original except for tank repaint and crank/bottom end rebuild, new Michelin M45’s, beautiful little bike, 3-speed, hi/lo box, Clymer manual inc, £2295. Tel. 07583 870029. Harrogate.

SUZUKI VL INTRUDER 125cc, reg 04, lots of Harley parts, cost £6000, accept £1795 ono. Also Yamaha Virago 535cc, 1996, 24,000 miles, new brakes, new tyres, new seat, serviced, MoT, £1695 ono. Tel. Noel 01933 400748.

Northamptonshire.

SUZUKI 1250 Bandit, aluminium chainguard, £15 ono. Tel. 07894 078815.

SUZUKI BURGMAN 400Z DoR July 2015, full s/h, Special model, back rest and heated grips, not seen rain, 6,490 miles, new scooter reason for sale, superb condition, £4395.

Tel. 07784 863633. Yorks.

SUZUKI BURGMAN 400Z only 5,900 miles, full s/h, DoR July 2015, exc cond, superb Maxi scooter, dark grey, 70mpg, just serviced, new scooter on order, low price, £4295. Tel. 07784 863633. Yorks.

SUZUKI GS850 classic, 1980, excellent condition, MoT till April 2018, new tyres carbs recently balanced, original condition, black frame and tank with blue stripes, excellent chrome must be one of best around, 64,000 miles, £3400 ovno. Tel. 07496 022954; 01254 263848.

Lancashire.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1050 black, 15th Anniversary Special Edition, 2,431 miles, MoT, £5000. Tel. 07813 527097. Norfolk.

TRIUMPH SPRINT RS/ST 2006, 955i, great bike ready for Summer, Sprint ST bars, Scottoiler, garage stored, on charge, for 9 months, only done 94 miles this year. Bad bits had a low side (not me) which scratched engine casing and resulted in a category D write off, left fairing and belly pan replaced, front fairing cracked at bolt hole, good things suspension currently wound down so lower seat height, I am 5ft 6” and its great for me, ST bars make for easy long distance riding, heated grips a boon in winter, no advisories on MoT, Triumph triple engine is full of torque and great for the twists, genuine and ready for the summer, 5+ owners, 2 keys, belly pan, c/stand, e/start, h/ grips, low seat height, r/hugger, tinted screen, green, £1995. Tel. 0777 7694265. Warks.

TRIUMPH SPRINT ST 1050cc, 2009, 23,000 miles, met black, excellent condition, full s/h, MoT Dec, superb engine with awesome soundtrack, very cosy ride, £4350 ono. Tel. 07931 873544. Man.

SUZUKI GT750 bike in standard trim, brilliant condition, full engine rebuild, everything been sorted 200 miles ago, costing £2500 ready for summer, red, new MoT, 1976, I’ve many bikes so must go, £750 ono. Tel. 01629 57812. Derby.

TRIUMPH Rocket III, 59 plate, private plate inc in sale R111 SRK, 9100 miles, vgc, MoT til Oct 2017, powerful yet nimble cruiser in black and chrome, £7500 ono. Tel. 07584 044502. Scotland.

TRIUMPH SPRINT ST1050 2005, stunning bike, s/h with every MoT from new, 35k miles, c/w all books and 2 keys, best of both worlds sports tourer and gives great fuel economy. Tel. 07725 644984. Durham.

SUZUKI M50 2008, 9375 miles, 800cc, V twin, MoT, great condition, only selling due to packing in biking, full history, two keys, Sissy bar, good tyres, ready for summer, £3495. Tel. 07517 703030. Lincs.

SUZUKI GSX1400 7,100 miles from new, mint condition, MoT July, standard pipe, never been used, dry use only, need to sell due to ongoing chronic back problem, £4995 ovno. Tel. 01565 723454. Cheshire.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 2006/56, 17k miles, Triumph service history, vgc, good tyres, grab rail, Scottoiler, up rated shocks & fork springs, Triumph after market pipes also included are the original pipes, £2750. Tel. 01267 281503. W Wales.

TRIUMPH T100 07-57 reg, 24,000 miles, one owner, MoT Aug, P.S.H., accessories std parts inc, vgc, £3450 ono. Tel. 01785 664093. Staffs.

TRIUMPH T100 500cc, 1964, runs, all there except clocks, £2000. Tel. 07765 187298. S Yorks.

TRIUMPH T90/DAYTONA SPECIAL f/rebuilt ali rims, ali pegs crafted ali tank etc, orig plate, £5500. Buffalo leathers one piece new, suit 5ft 10ins, 44/46, black/red, not worn, £180. Jet new helmet, 58/61 clr/visor, £45. Fabric jacket, 44/46, black/red, £25. Tel. 07759 607498. East Berks.

TRIUMPH TROPHY Triple, 2013, 19,500 miles, full s/h, heated grips, c/control, luggage, electric adjustable screen, trip computer, adjustable seat, 12 months’ MoT, excellent condition, £7000. Tel. 07929 256392. E Renfrews.

TRIUMPH SPRINT GT SE model, 2014 with ABS and full touring luggage in Phantom black, 4k miles so like new, additional extras of ASV levers, full Triumph alarm, second owner, serviced at 500 miles

by Triumph, superb sports tourer, all keys and paperwork present, £6195. Tel. 07900 438958. Durham.

TRIUMPH SPRINT RS955 26,000 miles, black, excellent condition, Scottoiler, c/stand, Viro screen, bar risers, new battery and oil & filter, garaged, on Sorn, £1200 ono. Tel. 07565 244657. Heathrow area.

TRIUMPH TIGER 90 350cc, 1966 lovely condition, dry stored since restoration, two tone orange/white, show winner, starts and runs great, many new parts, £4500. Tel. 07719 451352. Worcs.

VESPA GT200 commuter/ tourer 200cc with front rack & topbox, silver colour, currently on-road, serviced, garaged, MoT, 9571 miles, with extras, £2000. Tel. 07901 805219.

Surrey.

VINCENT COMET 1953, 1000 miles since renovation, very clean, new wheels, tyres, exhaust, fork spindles and bushes, mag rebuilt, original reg, £17,500 ono. Tel. 01625 421574. Cheshire.

YAMAHA FJR1300A Sports Tourer, 2010, very good condition, 36,170 miles, ready to jump on tour, full s/h, ABS, panniers, c/stand, e/screen, h/grips, mushrooms, fenderextender, large top box, £5600.

Tel. 01694 328253. S Shrops.

YAMAHA DIVERSION 600cc Bobber, selling as spares due to total loss accident, 1993 complete bike, new rear tyre headstock and front wheel bearings battery, runs really good, 4 into 1 exhaust, a few one off parts made from stainless, ring for full details, £525. Tel. 07752 443794. Wales.

YAMAHA XJR1300 05, 23k+ miles, Oxford heated grips, fairly new front tyre, new gold o-ring chain & sprocket set, new MoT, S/H, R&G crash bungs, cracking bike that has taken me around Scotland & to south Cornwall and much in between, now looking for something else, £3800.

Tel. Chris 07971 196330.

Herefordshire.

YAMAHA XT600E 600cc, 2003, one owner, 26,300 miles, Quill stainless steel exhaust, rack and Givi topbox, MoT March 2018, £1850. Tel. 07734 458593. Glos.

YAMAHA FZR600 1990, genuine low miles bike, with history, mature owner, MoT, new battery, possible delivery, £1150.

Tel. 07484 732140. Lancs.

Parts for sale BELSTAFF KIDNEY BELTS 2 leather, original Stoke-on-Trent made, never used, as new, £50 each plus p&p. Tel. 01782 786696, 07742 151797.

Stoke-on-Trent.

BMW F650GS 800cc, 2010 blue, breaking, engines done 23,000 miles, all parts available, except forks and front wheels. Tel. 07958 521846. West Sussex.

BRIDGESTONE TYRE new 120/70/18 BT54 tyre, brand new, £65. Tel. 01664 852758.

BSA B25 Q/D rear wheel, c/w brake, £95; oil tank, clean inside, £30 seat base, rusty but sound with worn cushion, £25; manly front mudguard with bent stays, £10. Tel. 01293 410976. Gatwick, Surrey.

CB1300 SLIP ON Akropovic titanium exhaust removable baffle, no dents or scratches all fittings excellent condition, £120. Two cargo panniers with rain covers, good condition used twice, three tank bags used good condition, panniers and bags £50 no offers. Tel. 01424 425856 or 07773 084372.

FAIRING OFF MZ with the fittings, also air operated bike ramp, open to offers or swap Greeves 250 twin or a Talisman 250 twin, call for more information. Tel. Brian 07956 232524.

FIREBLADE RR3 Rentec grab rail, £20; also front mudguard in black, disc lock damage but has had repair, £20. Tel. 01603 893663. Norwich.

GARAGE CLEAROUT Suzuki GSXR600/750, 04-10 aftermarket parts, too many to list, call for details, also a few RG500 left. Tel. 07791 930629. Kent.

GARAGE CLEAROUT: Suzuki GSXR 600/750 aftermarket and performance parts, too many to list, but does include carbon wheels, call for details.

Tel. 07791 930629. Kent.

GIVI MONOKEY fitting kits for:ZZR1100 1990-92; Triumph Tiger 900, Yamaha XJ600 Divvy, £20 each. Tel. 0208 3012913. S E London/Kent.

GPZ900 passenger grab rail, Ducati 250cc manuals, Triumph 350-500, Suzuki GS550 VTR. Tel. 01432 265726.

HARLEY EXHAUST PIPES part no. 65682-40, vgc, fit 2006 soft-tails, FXST’s (Night train), ideal for MoTs, and black beltguard air filter cover, footrests etc. Tel. 01296 713864. Bucks.

HARLEY FXDF FATBOB 2008, pair slip on baloney cut Rush silencers, low screen, brand new standard dual seat, washable air filter, new brake pads, standard Sportster silencers. Offers. Tel. 0121 4433024. W Mids.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON Screaming Eagle tuner, part number 32109 08C, £200 ono.

Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON rigid leather locking saddlebags for the Sportster range, part number 53050-10, virtually as new, cost £746, will sell for £350. Tel. 07748 080455.

Essex.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON Street Bob, full exhaust system and air cleaner, brand new, £100.

Tel. 07948 017345. Man. HARLEY-DAVIDSON Screaming Eagle tuner, part number 32109 08C, £195 ono.

Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON NIGHT ROD 125occ, black, widow slip-ons, Vance hines, £250.

Tel. 07773 347177. West Midlands.

HONDA 200TLR 1983, steel fuel tank professionally resprayed in original red/white/ blue colours, near perfect condition. Tel. 07581 489575.

Oxon.

HONDA 600 ABS Hornet, 08 parts, blue petrol tank, complete odd marks and small

dents, £500, new £1000; plus rear hugger, colour matched blue, £195; (discontinued item); rear wheel, complete, £350; swinging arm, £350, cost new £900; exhaust can, £70. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

HONDA CB1000R 2009 model, rear no plate, hanger/ mudguard and tail light assembly, removed when new, so excellent condition, £30.

Tel. 01603 893663. Norwich.

HONDA CB1000R 2009 model, rear no plate hanger/mudguard and taillight assy, removed when new so excellent condition, £30. Tel. 01603 893663. Norwich.

HONDA CB1-400 engine, £150; spares/repair, airbox, £35; carbs, £100; rear wheel rim, £25; rear disc, £25; swing arm, £15; rear spindle, £15; sat, £15; needs cover, rear brake, m/c pedal, £25; l/r rear foot pegs, £25; wiring harness, £25; rear mudguard and light, £25. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

HONDA CB1-400 frame, V5, £100; 88/89 petrol tank, black, £75 complete; Honda CBX650 Nighthawk motor, £135; spare/ repair VF750 Interceptor motor, £100; carbs, £60; fuel pump, £30; footrest hangers, £25 pair; rear m/c pedal/caliper, £35; other parts available. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

HONDA CBF 1000cc, genuine Honda rear panniers and stays, good condition, lockable, easy remove, £250; lots GL1200 spares, Hagon chrome rear shocks, large bikes, £150, boxed; American silencers, boxed, £300. Tel. 07434 513161. Lancs.

HONDA FIREBLADE 1999, 2004, d/bubble screen, as new, £40. Tel. 0208 3012913.

S E London/Kent.

HONDA NC700/750: Sargent comfort seat, vgc, only 18 months use, £75. Tel. 07803 813875; 01233 610836. Kent.

HONDA NC700S 700cc, two screens, Vivaro touring, tinted with spoiler, adjustable, also one clear bought from Honda, good as new, £40 each plus p&p. Tel. 01275 830922. Bristol.

HONDA NTV700 complete instrument gauge unit, just stopped working, any offers.

Tel. 07891 886907. North Yorkshire.

HONDA ST1100 panniers, midi blue metallic, excellent condition, £80 the pair; rear wheel, grey metallic with cush drive, vgc, fitted with very usable Bridgestone Battlaxe, £50; original screen, as new, £30; rear number plate bracket, £10. Tel. 0208 5088994. London/Essex.

IGNITER BOX for 750 Yamaha Virago, 1992 or detailed diagram of the components.

Tel. 01202 736432. Poole.

JUMBO AIR small paint spray set, gwo, ideal for bikes etc, £35; BSA petrol tank, painted, on chrome, few small dents but solid, poss B40, £15 ono. Tel. 01744 25096. Merseyside.

KAWASAKI ZX400 1987, 95% complete in parts, engine complete, carbs, frame, clocks, front end, petrol tank, wheels, swinging arm, rear shock, electrics, wiring loom, + some other bits, £250. Tel. 07752 443794. Rhyl.

KING & QUEEN seat, £100; rear rack, £50 for 465cc Hinckley Bonneville, £140 for the two; not for the new 900cc, good condition. Tel. Brian 01202 824086; 07817 457893. Dorset.

LARGE AMOUNT OF SPARES: rear hugger, swingarm, petrol tank, down pipes, left and right side fairings, exhaust, rear foot pegs, will sell separately or job lot if price is right. Tel. 07922 070301 (text). andygbw25@ hotmail.co.uk MOTO GUZZI V7 centre stand, new/unused, complete kit. Tel. 07855 163413. W Mids.

MV AGUSTA F4 750cc, tank red, £250; air box cover (small chip), £100. Tel. 01554 777209. S Wales.

OPEN FACE HELMET small, excellent, £65; Honda CB 400 forks, excellent, £70; Honda C50 petrol tank, £30 all post free. Tel. 07919 158173.

Hants. geoffrey.downing@ ntlworld.com PAIR RED SIDE PANELS for early CG125, new and unused.

Also suitable for Chinese lookalikes, BMC mini flywheel puller and spanner, £8. Tel. 01484 462230. West Yorks.

PRIVATE WORKSHOP CLEARANCE: due to serious illness by very experienced race engine builder loads of stuff, reasonable offers for items. Tel. Robert 01624 898240. Isle of Man. PUCH MAXI N, frame only, comes with handlebars and mudguards, May 1975, V5 present in my name, suitable for project, £30. Tel. 07890 180410. Worcs.

SINGLE BIKE TRAILER heavy duty, silver black, powder coated, 10” Mini wheels, spare, new tyres, steel mudguards, 4ft lighting board, brand new, ready to go!! £430.

Tel. 0121 3784104. W Mids.

SPARE PARTS FOR Honda 250/400, two wheels, one with twin discs, one with 19” new tyre and other items as shown in picture, £150 buyer to collect. Tel. 01299 210758.

Stourport on Severn.

SUZUKI 1250 Bandit aluminium chainguard, £15 ono. Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

SUZUKI BANDIT top box and side panniers, two mounting brackets, Givi Monokey, excellent condition, £2450. Haynes manuals: GSXR600, Honda CBR900RR, Yamaha Trials bikes, 1971-1980, Kawasaki fours, 1979, 1999, £10 each. Tel. 07510 674950. Coventry.

SUZUKI GSF1250/1250S Bandit 07-16 Powerbronze Gloss black/silver mesh, bellypan with all fittings/ instructions, absolutely as new, only used for 6 weeks before selling bike, will fit other models, £70; Renntec rear carrier also with fittings, in black for same bike again as new, will also fit other models, £30; Healtech Gipro gear indicator, model GPDS-S01, plugs into diagnostic socket, fits most Suzukis, was fitted to above Bandit 1250, £70; all as new.

Yamaha XJR1300 Renntec rear carrier off 2006 bike but will fit other years, with spacers, as new, £30. Collection only. Tel. 07941 385844. Lancs.

CLASSIFIEDS SUZUKI GSX-R400/GK71F spares: carburettors, complete rev counter, speedo assembly, radiator fan, coolant pipe, rear brake lever, starter relay, fuel tap, clutch inner basket, rocker cover and oil filter gasket, rear brake cylinder and reservoir, footrest, exhaust collars, £75 the lot. Tel. 01343 544528. Morayshire.

SUZUKI M1800R full exhaust for B.O.S.S, been on bike for 800 miles only, £285 ono. Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

SUZUKI M1800R full exhaust for B.O.S.S, been on bike for 800 miles only, £275 ono. Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

SUZUKI RG125 engine casings, £30; c/head, £70; crank, £50; clutch, £30; kickstart mech, £20; clutch side casing, £15; all prices above include postage. Suzuki TS50/80E frame no, V5, £50; gold rimmed wheels, £160 pair; yokes, £30. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

SUZUKI RM250 complete straight forks, f/wheel, offers; plus pair complete useable Honda CM200 wheels, offers. Collect only. Tel. 0161 3038830. Cheshire.

SUZUKI TL1000R end cans, £100. Ducati 620 end cans, £100. Yamaha R1, 2000 end can, micron, £75. R1 2000 track day fairing, £150.

Fireblade end can, 1997, £75.

Tel. 07831 116351. Northants.

SUZUKI V-STROM 1000cc, 2015, seat never used, still wrapped, exchanged for a lower seat when purchased, £50. Tel. 0121 5505026. W Mids.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE America seat, as new, £50. Tel. 01392 255397. Devon.

TRIUMPH DAYTONA 675 2006, front and rear indicators, £15. Exhaust end can, brand new, £50. Clip on brand new, £20. Tel. 07787 525198. West Midlands.

TRIUMPH PRE-UNIT 650 cylinder barrels and pistons, £110; 8-stud cylinder head and valves, £120; square four front hub, £60. Tel. 01782 786696, 07742 151797. Staffs.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 43T rear sprocket - brand new, unused and packaged, will suit most single S/A models, £14 post free. Tel. 07929 960363.

N Yorks.

TRIUMPH SPRINT 1050ST mirror and flasher units, new/ unused, £75; Triumph T160 workshop manual and parts catalogue, £10; Triumph T140V/ T140E/Tiger TR7V workshop manual and parts cat, £10; Honda CB550/650 Clymer service and maintenance manual, £5; Matchless parts, model not known; tool box, oil tank, chainguard with lugs for hand pump, £10; Givi 50 ltr top box; Monokey system, c/w backrest and top rack; two keys, as new, £100; period oblong front crash bar and Wipac 4in spotlight, needs rechroming, £8; trailer 3ft lighting board, good cond, £5; all items plus p&p; Motorcycle mags, over 400 inc: Classic Bike, Classic Motorcycle, Motorcycle Classics, British Bike, British Bike Mag.etc, all in good cond, £60. Tel. 07944 518704. W Mids.

TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 and sport seats, as new, £100 each; also Tiger Sport standard screen, new, £40. Tel. 0208 3012913. Kent.

WHEELS FOR SALE including road legal tyres: front 17MTx2.75 E DOT A4642, Sanremo Italy 03/05, Dunlop Sportmax D208F, 110/170 ZR 17 M/C (54W).

Rear 17MTx4.25 E DOT 92612, Sanremo Italy - 04/05 Dunlop Sportmax D208, 150/60 ZR 17 M/C (66W), both wheels in good condition, with legal Dunlop tyres, cash on collection only, viewing welcome on request, £375. Tel. Ben 07737 684949.

West Sussex.

YAMAHA MT-09 2014 genuine Yamaha accessories: fly screen & brackets, £40; comfort seat, £90; rad guards, £30; stainless intake grills, £10; Gillies MT09 genuine parts, billet adjustable hand levers, £70 pair; front and rear axle protectors, £50; chain adjusters and tool, £30; safety locking titanium axle nut, £25; aluminium chain guard, £40; Akropovic titanium full exhaust, £500. Maxton fully adjustable rear shock, £200, postage to be added to all items, all items in very good condition. Tel. 07813 108139.

YAMAHA R1 98-2001, air filter, quality Meiwa air filter, new, in box, part no 4XV14451-00, £9. Tel. 078060 95738. Sleaford.

YAMAHA TOWN MATE in boxes, all there but no frame, £40. Tel. 01269 594309. Carns.

YAMAHA TY TRIALS 250cc, rear wheel, buyer must collect, alloy complete, good condition, £100.

Tel. 01782 791574. Staffs.

YAMAHA TY175 petrol tank, two small dents £85; AJS twin alternator, alloy primary chain case, good condition, £120. Tel. 01782 786696, 07742 151797.

Subscribe to Motor Cycle Monthly: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/MCM or call 01507 529529 YAMAHA XT1200 MRA SCREEN I have two screens 2010 to 2013, £60 and 2014 to 2017, £60. Tel. 01664 852758. Leics.

Wanted MOTO GUZZI WANTED. Any V twin in need of rescue, bashed, bent, broken, or rusty. Tel. 07564 253776. Essex.

ANY MAKE OR SIZE classic motorcycle wanted, in any condition from a basket case to one in nice condition, cash waiting. Tel. 07811 189755.

Staffs.

BMW GS ADVENTURE 800cc, 014, low seat wanted. Tel. 07802 912529. Lancs.

BMW R65/R80 MONO wanted, runner, non runner, spares or repair, anything considered.

Tel. 01902 331807.

Wolverhampton.

BRITISH CLASSIC BIKES WANTED Norton, BSA, Triumph etc, spares, any amount, have cash will travel, anywhere from £1 to £100,000, cash, no messing, deal with the best. Tel. 07443 642408. W Yorks.

ERIC OLIVER SIDECAR man any photos, programmes, videos etc. Tel. 0208 6416860.

Surrey.

FRONT WHEEL needed, half decent for a Kawasaki Z250B to finish project, pay a good price. Tel. 01302 781996. S Yorks.

HI-VISIBILITY JACKET in yellow, with black/white check stripes, large size, sometimes has word “polite” at rear which at a distance can appear as police, excellent condition. Tel. 01743 860362. Shrops.

HONDA C OR SS50 WANTED as new, as possible, are there any new ones anywhere? Cash waiting. Tel. 07811 610207.

Wrexham.

LEATHERS ONE PIECE for a 5ft 4” male of medium build, phone with details. Tel. 07828 004399. Yorkshire.

NORTON WANTED: 16H or Big 4 for restoring, any (rusty/ basketcase) condition, (girder fork model). Tel. 01978 842668 (please leave message if no answer).

PEARSON HANDBOOKS covering “Triumph Twins” by A ST. J. Masters “Matchless Twins” by F. W. Neill and “The Jap Engine”, by A. C. Fenner. Tel. 01543 425795.

Hednesford, Staffs.

RO RO MOTORCYCLE TRAILER wanted in good condition, will pay good price.

Tel. 07828 103437. Notts.

TRIUMPH HINCKLEY BONNEVILLE wanted, scruffy or non running, as on a limited budget. Tel. 0151 2608612.

Merseyside.

TRIUMPH TIGER 800 or Ducati Multistrada wanted privately, must be in good to excellent condition and reasonable mileage, any distance considered. Tel. Cliff 07867 904777. cb.shipley@hotmail. co.uk VELOCETTE GTP 250cc wanted, contact breaker set, new or useable, secondhand. Tel. 01285 652612. Glos.

WAN TED PAIR OF DECENT WHEELS for a B175 BSA Bantam. Email: revoltingpensioner001@gmail. com with details.

WANTED SUZUKI V-STROM 02 onwards, front discs, centre stand, crashbars, Honda CB400SF Super Four, 90-2000 model, NC31 petrol tank, fuel cap, headlight, forks. For sale Honda CB650 Night-Hawk, engine, spares/repair. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

WANTED: JAPANESE TRAIL/ ROADSTER 250cc max, modern or classic, budget around £1000 for nice machine. Tel. 01543 372728.

Staffs.

Miscellaneous ALPINESTARS DRYSTAR JACKET & trousers, size XL as new, worn only twice, £220 new, £115 ono. Tel. 01366 728507; 07976 836569.

Norfolk.

BIKER JACKET black leather, ladies, size 18, £35 plus p&p; Hinckley Triumph Speedmaster or America short slash-cut silencers, £80 ono. Tel. 01543 675371. Staffs.

BIKINI FAIRING off Triumph Bonny but will adapt to any naked with a 7” round headlight, £50 (cost £105); Triumph 865cc skid plate, 325; BMW leathers, zip broken, £50.

Tel. 01939 260462. Shrops.

BSA GOLDSTAR £25; Velocette Racing Story, £25; Ducati Racing Story, £23; BMW Racing Story, £20; BMW Twins, The Complete Story, £20; Norton Dominator, £20; all new by Mick Walker. Tel. 01484 663007. W Yorks.

CLASSIC GERMAN Racing M/ cycles, (German language), £23; European Racing Motorcycles, £23; Kawasaki Fours, £20; All Mick Walker.

Triumph Thruxton Bonneville, 1959-69, £25; Stanley Woods Worlds First Motorcycle Super Star, £17. Tel. 01484 663007.

W Yorks.

DUKES KINGDOM Old Bike Mart Limited Edition print, 164/1000 Geoff Duke riding the McCandles featherbed Norton 1950TT, signed/framed, open to sensible offers. Tel. 01782 316943. Stoke, Staffs.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1584cc, left hand swing arm bag, La Rosa brand, fits 200 year onwards, £60. Tel. 07507 581027. Farnham, Surrey.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON books, eight of, £10 p&p extra. Tel. 02086 416866.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 833 custom seat, new model good condition, £80 + p&p. Mild steel twister max working 25mmx10mm, flatbar 16mm square upto 38” long, older but little use, £150. Tel. 07415 655100. Potters Bar. HAYNES MANUALS: Honda BR125 04/10; Honda VFR800 02/05; Yamaha XJR1300 95/03, £8 each. Givi monokey base plate and side panel for Honda CB1300, £25. Tel. 07850 567897. Yorks.

KAWASKI ER6 2012, onwards, 30L top box with Candy green inlay and back support, £50.

Also selling top case bike bracket, £60 both very good condition. Tel. 07907 298888.

Cambridge.

MODEL ENGINEERS HORIZONTAL MILLER TABLE size 5”x14”, £350 ono.

Motorcycle leather jacket, cost £200 asnew, size 36-38, sell £40. Tel. 01527 455224.

Redditch.

MOTO GUZZI V7 stone race pipes, less than 1000 miles, £150. Tel. 07506 471702.

Devon.

MOTORCYCLE BOOKS: for sale as new phone for lists. Tel. 01624 897998. Isle of Man. MOTORCYCLE JACKET JTS Tony XL, 44” chest, black with grey trim, very little use so in excellent conditon, £45 plus p&p.Tel. 01889 563794.

Staffs.

ONE PIECE HIDEOUT LEATHERS ladies 12, red/ black, chequer + flames, design, very good condition, British made, £300 ovno. Tel. 01293 521328.

OPEN FACE HELMET: Bieffe, medium 58 (Italy) white, in excellent condition with lightweight w/proof leggings, £20. Tel. 07504 327299.

Torquay.

SINGLE BIKE TRELGO TRAILOR c/w spare, electrics, loading ramp, ready to go, £150. Tel. 0208 3012913. S E London/Kent.

SINGLE MOTORCYCLE TRAILER strong and robust, mini wheels mudguards and brand new ramp, surplus to requirements, complete with lighting board and safety chain, £150. Tel. 01743 860362.

Shropshire.

SUZUKI GS500F 500cc, rear monoshock, good condition off bike under 5k miles, front fork springs from same bike, replaced for Hagon units, Offers. Tel. 07923 430233.

Herts.

TRIPLE DOLLY SYSTEM ideal to move your sidecar outfit, mobile in your garage, £60 ono. Tel. 01452 812158. Glos.

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