Motorcycle Monthly - May 2019 - Preview by Mortons Media Group Ltd

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Aprilia’s RS660 concept

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May 2019

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FTR1200 £11,899 120bhp 221kg

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Overtake like a pro ✪

ROVE YO UR IMP

It’s BMW’s Tracer

G★

Here for 2020!

E YOUR RIDI N OV R P

Motorcycling is BRILLIANT for mind and body: OFFICIAL! Pioneering study ﬁnds riding to be the perfect antidote to stress

It’s SHOWTIME

Stafford is GO!

It’s something that we’ve all known for years, but now there’s actual scientific data to back it up: motorcycling is a great thing to do to boost both your physical and mental health. The results of a neurobiological study conducted by UCLA researchers in the USA have yielded pioneering scientific evidence to support the claims that riding your motorcycle is a terrific way to improve positive mental health and actually relieve stress. > More on page 6

NEWS 3

So it IS coming, after all

Latest patent designs virtually conﬁrm F 850 RS will appear as a 2020 bike

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After ofﬁcial denials by BMW, there's no getting away from a very interesting batch of patent designs that look virtually identical to our exclusive spy shots... Words: Tony Carter Last year we brought you the first ever photos of a secret 850cc powered BMW roadster that looked like a smaller, roadster version of the German firm’s S1000XR upright superbike. In case you forgot what our exclusive spy shots revealed, here they are again: So, that was that. A few months later we were sent THIS brochure (below), printed by BMW, that appeared to reveal the identity of the new model – here’s the brochure details that we exclusively brought you:

Hellmet Happy Veldt Helmets has unveiled a new collection of custom helmets, as part of Pharrell Williams new Chanel collection. The helmets are bespoke bits of kit, and can be ordered in open or full face designs, with or without a flip p-up p visor.

We contacted BMW to find out what the factory thought about the brochure image we were sent. A spokesman for BMW said that the model name change was just a misprint and that it definitely was not anything to do with current model plans. What’s now added doubt to those

claims (on top of the undeniable fact that our spy shots have already unearthed the 850 roadster) are a new crop of Cad Cam patent drawings showing a new motorcycle – one which looks absolutely identical to our photographs that we first brought you last year. Here’s the patents:

FIG. 1.1

Full Factory RSV4

Aprilia has unveiled a track-only version of its RSV4 sportsbike. Ridden around the Italian circuit by former WSBK and 250cc world champion Max Biaggi, the 225hp ‘X’ has been tailor-made by Aprilia Racing and weighs just 165kg. Price is £35,000 – so it’s pretty pointless to 99% of riders.

FIG. 1.3

Electric Triumph

FIG. 1.6

FIG G. 1.7 Motor Cycle Monthly, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529529

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Editor Tony Carter Editorial design Fran Lovely Publishing director Dan Savage Publisher Tim Hartley Email editorial@motorcyclemonthly.co.uk Production editor Mike Cowton

So with all this evidence, does anyone now actually believe that BMW won’t put the F 850 RS (it might yet be called the F 850 XR in the end, but whatever the name though, it’s the same bike) into the Picture desk Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schoﬁeld Group advertising manager Sue Keily Divisional advertising manager Zoe Thurling 01507 529412 Advertising Emma Knott 01507 529583, Mirela Vulaj 01507 529409 Advertising deadline for June issue Thursday May 2, 2019 Distribution 01507 529529 Marketing manager Charlotte Park

2020 model year range? No, neither do we. Expect this bike to be shown for the first time officially to the world towards the end of the year at one of the large motorcycle shows. Commercial director Nigel Hole Customer services number 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday 8.30am-6pm, Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm 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. Subscribe to MCM and just pay the postage!

Reports are circulating that Triumph has filed a new trademark application under the ‘Trident’ name – and the rumours around the news suggest it’ll be used for the British brand’s first foray into the electric market. Worth knowing about, should you be interested in an electric bike that might end up looking like a chunky Bonneville.

MCM recommends bikesafe.co.uk

Independently proven pick up: 67,717 copies

4 NEWS

Here’s the latest photo of KTM’s 390 Adventure prototype The 2020 small Adventure roadster was caught nipping between trafﬁc during road testing work in India Last year, we brought you the first spy shots of the upcoming 390 KTM Adventure bike being put through early-doors road tests by the Austrian company – now another photograph of the bike, this time in different trim and with some chassis changes, has surfaced in Mumbai. The bike is powered by KTM’s punchy single cylinder, 373cc motor that’s currently used in the company’s 390 Duke, meaning that the small Adventure bike should kick out around 43bhp with 37Nm of torque when it’s released as part of the 2020 model range later this year. What we can see from the photos posted to the website Thrust Zone is that the tiny Adventure offering has LED daytime running lights, a new top fairing that’s more flared out than has previously been seen, a new windscreen to offer more protection to the rider, and the large pillion seat remains. The new photo also shows serious engine protection bars and the previously wire wheels are changed for new cast, multi-spoke options. The front wheel looks considerably larger than the back and could possibly be a 21-inch item, which should make the small bike very stable on the road

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BMW’s new secret CRUISER caught out in Germany!

SPY SHOT #1

A spy shot of BMW’s top secret big cruiser has appeared on German website Motorrad – courtesy of snapper Alen Tomovic. Motorrad has been saying for quite some time that there’s a big Cruiser coming from BMW – and the Germans have finally been proved right, with a spy shot of the new machine out on the road appearing on its website. There’s no official information from BMW just yet, but looking closely at the image, we can glean a few things about the new machine. First off, BMW’s cruiser is equipped with a big air-cooled, two-cylinder boxer engine. No news on capacity, but chances are it’ll be a seriously

– luggage frames are now in place on the latest version of the bike. The bodywork, now clad in full prototype camouflage paint, also looks more beefy than the fairly sleek all-black version we snapped before, apeing the firm’s 1260 Adventure bike, which is a best-selling model for the Austrian company. Expect to see the 390 Adventure make it’s official debut around October this year and be on sale in early 2020.

John McGuinness CANNOT race his factory Norton at the North West 200. For now... There’s been a fracas over Isle of Man TT legend, 23-time TT winner John McGuinness and his bid to contest the 1200cc V4 Norton at this year’s North West 200

According to the rules (as they stand as MCM went to press) the machine that McGuinness has been recently testing at Cadwell Park runs Norton’s own 1200cc engine as opposed to the Aprilia-derived motor used by Josh Brookes at last year’s Isle of Man TT. McGuinness had planned to race the updated Norton V4 at the North West 200 from the May 12-18, as he prepares for the TT, but under current NW200 regulations, fourcylinder machines must be limited to a maximum of 1010cc, which means that the new Norton is ineligible for the Superbike class. “The organisers of the 2019 fonaCAB International North West 200, in association with Nicholl Oils, received an entry from John McGuinness dated February 7, 2019, to compete for the Norton team in the May 12-18 races,” said NW200 event director Mervyn Whyte. “The entry specified the machine John was entered on for both Superbike races would have an engine capacity of 1000cc. “The entry was accepted on that basis and a recent announcement was made to the Press that John would

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big unit. Motorrad reckons it’ll have around 1800cc – which makes sense when you look at BMW’s recently introduced Boxer engine, which was fitted to a custom board tracker in December last year. It comes with a chunky rear and front wheels, a big fairing and a windscreen – and as a result the new Cruiser is fairly reminiscent of a big Harley or an Indian. But it’s not. It’s a BMW. And knowing BMW’s track record for stepping out of its comfort zone and coming up trumps, we’re very excited to see the new Cruiser in the flesh. And considering the bike looks close to complete, the chances are we won’t have to wait too long.

SPY SHOT #2

Lewis Leathers OPENS new store in Osaka

Lewis Leathers has just opened a new store in the Japanese city of Osaka. First established in 1892, vintage leather specialists Lewis Leathers opened its latest outpost in Osaka, Japan, following on from the success of its Tokyo store which opened back in 2017. A love letter to the iconic British brand, the new store in Osaka looks set to be a success, particularly considering the number of Japanese customers who’ve been buying leather jackets from the company’s original store in London’s Great Portland Street and later the current Whitfield Street location for decades. For more information on Lewis Leathers, check out www. lewisleathers.com

make his comeback to the North West 200 after a two-year absence because of a leg injury sustained in 2017. The organisers were delighted at this prospect. The organisers were subsequently informed on March 26, 2019 by Norton that the engine capacity of the SG8 superbike they intend to race at the North West will be 1200cc. It does not, therefore, meet the current Technical regulations for the NW200 superbike races and would not be eligible for competition at the event. “John McGuinness and Norton CEO, Stuart Garner, have both been

informed of that situation. It is hoped that a solution can still be found to resolve this issue before May and that both John McGuinness and Norton will take part in the 90th anniversary event.” McGuinness said: “I need the North West 200 organisers to let Norton race as well – how, when or what I don’t care, I’m not interested in the politics. The Norton will drag a few more thousand people to that north coast in Ireland to watch that bike. I want to ride there, even if we don’t get any results, but I want to ride there and be sharp for the TT.”

NEWS 5

Charging in H-D

Classic Racer #197 is C

Harley-Davidson’s first electric motorcycle, the LiveWire, is set to arrive in H-D dealerships later this summer – and in preparation, dealers across America have been installing EV charging stations. The company plans to have at least one dealer stocking a LiveWire in every state in the USA, with dedicated LiveWire sales staff on hand to help punters get to grips with the new electric machine.

OUT NOW! O TThe best racing publication in the world has hit the stands so get yours before it sells out Isssue #197 of Classic Racer is packed to the brim with w fantastic features, brilliant bikes and the biggest personalities p from the racing world. There’s Carl Fogarty as you’ve NEVER heard him before; Honda’s all-conquering RC45 World Superbikes b riidden and stripped bare; an excellent look behind he scenes at one of the most incredible motorcycle th documentaries of all time; plus loads more. d Classic Racer costs just £4.50 and you can find it in oads of places that sell magazines. If you’re struggling lo o get hold of a copy (because it’s sold out... happens to quite a bit) then log on to www.classicmagazines.co.uk q and a they can send an issue directly to your front door. Nice.

Bullet Trials is go

Royal Enfield has just released its new off-road ready Bullet Trials, based around its hugely successful Bullet. Available in both 350cc and 500cc, the new Bullet Trials comes with dualpurpose rubber, raised mudguards, a luggage rack, and an upswept exhaust. The engine, suspension and brakes are the same as on the Bullet 350 and 500.

6 NEWS

Study ﬁnds that motorcycling is good for mental and physical health Hey, we all knew that! But now science agrees Words: Ross Mowbray A UCLA study funded by Harley-Davidson has revealed a selection of potential mental and physical benefits to riding a motorcycle. Many motorcyclists champion riding as an invaluable tool for stress relief and positive mental health – and now the results of a neurobiological study conducted by UCLA researchers has yielded pioneering scientific evidence to support that claim. Researchers recorded participants’ brain activity, heart rate, as well as levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol before, during, and after motorcycling, driving a car, and resting – and found that motorcycling increased metrics of focus and attention, and decreased relative levels of cortisol, a hormonal marker of stress. While riding a motorcycle, participants also experienced increased sensory focus and resilience to distraction. And that’s not all – riding also produced an increase in adrenaline levels and heart rate, as well as a decrease in cortisol metrics – results often associated with light exercise and stress-reduction. “Stress levels, especially among young adults, continue to rise, and people are exploring pathways to better their mental and physical health,” said Dr Don Vaughn, the neuroscientist who led the research team.

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Behold the Kiddimoto Karbon balance bike! It weighs the same as a can of soup

At just 350g for the bike (without the wheels and seat), the balance bike not only looks as trick as anything you can find on a superbike proper, it also means that your little one “Until recently, the technology to rigorously measure the impact of activities like motorcycling on the brain didn’t exist. The brain is an amazingly complex organ and it’s fascinating to rigorously investigate the physical and mental effects riders report. The differences in participants’ neurological and physiological responses between riding and other measured activities were quite pronounced. This could be significant for mitigating everyday stresses.”

Here’s what the study found ■ Riding a motorcycle decreased hormonal biomarkers of stress by 28%. ■ On average, riding a motorcycle for 20 minutes increased participants’ heart rates by 11 per cent and adrenaline levels by 27 per cent —similar to light exercise. ■ Sensory focus was enhanced while riding a motorcycle versus driving a car, an effect also observed in experienced meditators vs nonmeditators.

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■ Changes in study participants’ brain activity while riding suggested an increase in alertness similar to drinking a cup of coffee. ■ UCLA Professor and senior team member Dr Mark Cohen, said: “While scientists have long studied the relationship of brain and hormone responses to attention and stress, doing so in real-life conditions such as these is rare. No lab experiment can duplicate the feelings that a motorcyclist would have on the open road.”

will have a nearly weightless experience when paddling away on it. It’s the world’s first carbon fibre balance bike and it weighs the same as a can of Campbell’s condensed tomato soup (which we’ve said a couple of times because… well… wow). The Kiddimoto Karbon is made entirely (apart from the tyres and saddle) from 3k carbon fibre and features a unique ‘flat’ bar chassis design. The bike’s forks ape the svelte lay-out, whilst the bike’s nicely chunky grips mean that small riders can get a good grip on the bars. The saddle is made specifically for the Karbon and the bike is designed for little riders aged two plus. It’s not cheap, but it is class. The Karbon sells for £399.99 and is only available from the Carbon King. For more details on the bike or to order one for your little Valentino Rossi, go to the-carbon-king.com

8 CROSSWORD

IT’’S THE MOTOR CYCLE MONTHLY

CROSSWORD! Win an Innovv K2 FULL HD camera system. WORTH £289.95 Crossword compiled by Ben Rumbold of MotoXwords

A hhello ll ffrom B Ben Rumbold R b ld

(he makes this crossword)

You know how it is, moving house. You have every small thing you own in vessels of cardboard and it takes ages to reveal all those contents at the new address. Except when you have a deadline for a crossword submission two days after the move! Then a special satchel containing the vital supplies of laptop, grid paper, rubber, pencils and ruler must be kept ready to go as soon as the WiFi is plugged in. Thank you to my Moto Crossword widow who has managed the move entirely around a flurry of puzzle production. What a woman. Happy head scratching,

How about this for a great way to sttart your riding season? You can ge et your hands on a brand new In nnovv K2 camera system for the price of a stamp. The Innovv K2 is a recently re eleased dual camera system for motorcyclists, which is ca apable of recording tw wo channels of siimultaneous full HD fo ootage at the same time. The system can be controlled using the Innovv mobile app, which allows you to adjust settings, view live video and download or share your footage. The system consists of two waterproof external cameras that can be mounted anywhere on your bike, and a DVR unit that connects them to the power. Talking about power, the K2 is wired directly to your bike’s electrics using an easy-to-use power converter, ensuring that the

camera runs seamlessly every time you ride (providing you’ve got a big enough memory card). The system also offers continuous filming, a parking mode and a movement detection system, which starts filming if your bike begins to move. It also features GPS, which means you can track speed and record your rides, too. It’s straightforward to fit and is engineered to be robust, totally weatherproof and reliable. Best of all, it’s compatible with pretty much every bike, including those with CAN bus electrical systems. For more information on the funky K2 camera system from Innovv, visit www.innovv.co.uk. Don’t worry if you can’t get all the answers to this month’s puzzle. We will print the answers to this issue’s crossword in the next edition of Motor Cycle Monthly.

April 2019 Issue #154

Last Month’s Answers:

Across

1 & 3 Across Three Tuning Forks, 8 CCM Spitfire 11 Naked 12 Oset 15 Corrosion 16 Degner 18 Mousse 21 Donut 23 Sump 24 Ohlins 27 Copper 30 Reparto 31 NSU 32 & 33 Down Upside Down 34 Airoh 35 East Germany 36 Thunder In The Glens

Down

1 & 27 Down Tactical Contact 2 Ram Air Scoop 3 Titanium 4 Nieto 5 Fence 6 Rake 7 Sidecar 9 Pylon 10 Icon 13 Side 14 Tag 17 Number Plate 19 Oils 20 Sun 22 Torque 23 Slipper 25 Strength 26 Moon Eyes 28 PW 29 Nissin 35 Ear

CROSSWORD 9

8 11

Niken Turbo

14 15 17

Australian Yamaha dealer Trooper Lu’s Garage has pulled out all the stops and unveiled its own custom Yamaha Niken with a power-boosting turbo. The turbo unit gives the custom an extra 33hp, taking it up to an impressive 148hp. Beyond its new Turbo, the custom Niken comes with upgraded KYB front forks, complete Akrapovic system, special touring screen, top box, and a sand and red paint scheme.

18 19

21 22

31 32

Handbag Racers

36 37

Across 1: 7: 9: 11: 14: 15: 17: 19: 21: 25: 27: 30: 32: 33: 34: 36: 38:

Iconic British bike model celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. (7,10) Kymco’s 50cc or 125cc scooter model has what it says on the tin. (7) Home state to the Salt Flats that gave 1 across its name. (4) The Dakar rally was originally based around tackling this desert. (6) A full-face helmet gives you more protection for this bit. (4) Renthal version of the devices that work your brake and clutch, with extra cleverness. (13) See 18 Down Frame design, still championed by KTM despite most others using aluminium. (5,7) Japanese premium helmet makers. (4) Italian helmets ‘by Fimez’. (2) Riding two up? You’re on the back then mate! (7) Not wise to be sliding this on the road but for a modern-day racer it’s imperative (5) Carole, sponsors of several shows including the International Classic Motorcycle one at the end of April. (4) The vessels that carry coolant to your engine. (8,5) Honda’s 800cc Sports Tourer, known as the Interceptor in the U.S. (5) Tension on suspension to be adjusted to a rider’s weight. (7) V-Twin dual-sport model from Bologna, literally ‘many roads’ in Italiano! (6,11)

Down

1 & 22 Down: The industry standard for alarms that directly affects your insurance. (8,8) 2: Thin metallic element used for coating visors and lenses. (7) 3: Malaysian oil giants who put their name to Carl Fogarty’s superbike. (8) 4: Classic Spanish manufacturers who curiously use a very Irish logo. (4) 5: Electronic device that gathers data regarding a bike’s position and movement. (3) 6: Multiple pipes leading from the engine. (8) 8: Small Honda four-stroke that was hilariously made to sound like a two-stroke in Terminator 2. (2) 10: To fettle and improve the performance of an engine. (4) 11: McQueen in the U.S., Parrish in the UK? (5) 12: Italian bike accessories maker, literally ‘battering ram’ in Italian. (6)

13: The 34 down has a 1200cc version that is used in this awesome model from Ariel. (3) 16: What you inflate your tyres through, or the outlet device leading to 6 down. (5) 18 & 17 Across: Massive British motorcycle makers came from the military industrial combine known as Birmingham ___ ___. (5,4) 20: Not a cranny, but a classic part of the TT course near the end of the lap. (3,4) 22: See 1 Down 23: Particularly potent fuel used for Speedway and drag bikes. (8) 24: Too much force used in gripping the handlebars leads to these pumping up. (8) 26: Indian bike maker that abandoned MotoGP to push more into the world of Formula E. (8) 28: One of many that make up most modern road bike headlights. (3) 29: A less famous manufacturer from Bologna that specialises in smaller machines – not planes as the name might suggest. (7) 31: This machine from the makers of 1 across takes its name from a more famous American racing venue. (7) 35: An orange van from these guys is a welcome sight if you’re stranded on the roadside. (3) 37: All the distances on continental road signs are in this measurement. (2)

Log on to MoreBikes.co.uk to watch a proper bust-up between two racers who clashed on track in Costa Rica. The ensuing scrap on track left both without a bike and throwing punches. The pair received a two-year ban each. Funny video though.

Kawasaki World back

This year’s World of Kawasaki will happen at Donington Park on June 30. There’s going to be plenty to see and do with Kawasaki laying on track sessions, demo rides with 2019 models on the road, off-road experiences and stunt displays.

Here’s the legal bit that you need to know To be in with a chance of winning, fill in your details on the form and return the completed crossword to: Motor Cycle Monthly, May 2019 Competition, Mortons Media Group Ltd, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR. Competition closes: May 10, 2019

Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms (please circle) First name:................................................................... Surname:.............................................................................................. Address:.................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................................. Town/City:.............................................................. County:................................................ Postcode:..................................... Country:................................................... Telephone:................................................................................................................ There are no cash alternatives available. The winner(s) will be the ﬁrst name(s) drawn at random from the upturned MCM helmet. Terms and conditions apply. To view the privacy policy of MMG Ltd (publisher of MCM) please visit www.mortonsmediagroup.com/privacy. Please tick if you are happy to receive information about: Magazine subscriptions, Merchandise and Shows  3rd Parties  Research  Are you happy to be contacted via: Email  Phone  Letter  SMS  3rd Party  Social Media 

10 NEWS

Get to the Prescott 2019

An eclectic mix of modern superbikes and those of engineering signiﬁcance are gearing up for the famous bike festival on Saturday June 15 and Sunday June 16

It's the biggest annual fundraiser for the Blood Bike charities and in order to raise the much-needed funds, the organisation puts on a brilliant show that you should make sure is part of your motorcycle diary for this year. The Prescott Bike Festival will feature an extensive display of historic, custom builds, race bikes, factory bikes, prototypes and shed builds to record-beating machines. The festival is renowned for its diversity of machinery and this year will be no exception. Famed for multicylinder creations, iconic motorcycle builder Allen Millyard will run five of his incredible home builds. From the ever-popular 4894cc ‘Flying Millyard’ V-twin; a bike designed around two cylinders from a Pratt and Whitney radial aero engine; to a 1967 handmade replica of Mike Hailwoods iconic RC174. Multiple record holder Zef Eisenberg and the Mad Max Race Team make a welcome return with a collection of their crazy recordbreaking bikes including the MadMax Streetfighter, which holds the speed record as the world’s fastest jet-turbine street-legal motorcycle (234.01mph one way over a standing mile). All the main marques are well represented with the likes of HarleyDavidson, Honda, BMW, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Norton, Ducati and Suzuki to Aprilia on show, in addition to: ■ A 2006 Bimota Tesi 2D. The Bimota evolved from the graduation work

of two mechanical engineering students who, in the beginning of the 1980s, designed and developed a bike utilising a swing arm as the front section. For the name of their motorcycle they choose ‘TESI’, the Italian word for ‘thesis’. The design replaced the conventionally used hydraulic fork in the front, which was part of their university thesis. Further technical development led to the decision for a limited production of the TESI 2D. This is one rare example of only 25 ever made and the only one currently in the UK. They are mainly kept in glass boxes or form part of private collections worldwide. ■ The Diamond Mob Land Speed Racing Team record-breaking pink Triumph. The Diamond Mob Land Speed Racing Team headed to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, America, the holy grail of land speed, and successfully broke the Southern California Timing Association record for the Fastest Special Construction, Push Rod, Blown, Gas 650cc class at 127.3mph. ■ 1998 Honda CBR600 600cc. This bike was raced by World Superbikes Champion James Toseland when he was first contracted to Castrol Honda. ■ 1994 Aprilia RSV 250. A factory bike ridden by Jean-Philippe Ruggia. ■ 1967 Replica of the famous Honda RC181 500/4 Grand Prix bike as raced by Mike Hailwood and Jim Redman. The fine example was hand built by the owner over five years to resemble the factory race machine of the period.

■ 1978. A modern-day homage to The Beast that Kenny Roberts stated: “They don't pay me enough to ride that thing.” Yamaha TZ750 engine fitted into a bespoke chassis by Curtis Racing (CMR) in Canada. ■ 1971 MV Agusta 750cc Corse Factory prototype. ■ 2004 Suzuki GSXR1000 446hp chargecooled Holeshot turbo, which set the World Wheelie Speed Record at 189.4mph for a kilometre wheelie. New for 2019 is Kickback, the National Custom Show and UK Championships, displaying the best of custom and shed builds. There's 80 finalists competing for the National Custom Championships with ‘Butchered Classic’ and ‘Young Builder’ just two of the prized titles up for grabs. Aside from all the incredible machinery, Bike Fest includes plenty of ‘off-track’ attractions, too. You can book a thrilling passenger experience in anything from a professional racing sidecar to a Morgan Three-Wheeler or Grinnall Scorpion,; enjoy live hot rockin’ bands; eat great food; wander round over 100-plus quality exhibitors and the Kids Zone; plus see the odd famous person wandering about the paddock. What’s more, all proceeds from the event support the work of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers. The Blood Bike charities provide a FREE vital out-of-hours medical transportation service to the NHS.

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The details Date: Saturday June 15, 2019 (preview day, 12pm-5pm) and Sunday June 16, 2019 (main show, 8.30am-5pm). Venue: Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, Cheltenham GL52 9RD. Admission Tickets: £12 (advance) for adults on Saturday, £15 (advance) for adults on Sunday, under 16’s free when accompanied by a paying adult. For further information and tickets visit: www. prescottbikefestival.co.uk.

12 NEWS

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali CONFIRMS Streetfighter V4 is COMING Rumours have been swirling about the possibility of a new Ducati V4 Streetfighter making it to market – and at the Geneva International Motor Show, CEO Claudio Domenicali spoke out to finally confirm it’s on its way

Our Swiss mates at AcidMoto took the chance to question Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali directly. They asked him about the rumblings that have been ongoing for some time surrounding a possible mega-Streetfighter based on the Italian firm's V4 R Panigale superbike – and the Italian boss told them that it's happening. That wasn't all, however. The AcidMoto team also quizzed the big brain behind the recent raft of superb motorcycles from Bologna about the chance of a Bologna-built maxi-scooter, too. Here's the conversation they had directly with Domenicali: AcidMoto: Okay, let’s talk about the V4. The Panigale V4R wins all the votes. Can we hope that this engine is found on other motorcycles, a Streetfighter V4 for example? Claudio Domenicali: Do you think that Ducati should produce such a motorcycle? AcidMoto: Yes, there is a big demand. It’s a This isn’t the ofﬁcial streetﬁghter from Ducati, but a special made from the V4 R superbike. It’s quite incredible

Let’s hope something like this appears from Ducati soon

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YES! Aprilia’s RS660 is CONFIRMED for 2020 No idea of price for the scalpel-like mini-RSV superbike yet, but it won’t be cheap

question that often comes to us from our readers. Domenicali: Then the bike will be there as soon as possible! AcidMoto: So it’s planned. Fantastic! Speaking of the V4, is a development of this layout for smaller capacities planned for the future? Domenicali: No. Clearly no. The V4 engine is much more complex than the classic two-cylinder motor and it is very expensive to produce. If we were to make this as a smaller sized engine then it would raise the price of production, and any motorcycles made using that motor would then have to be sold at a price that would be too high. Because of this, the V4 engine will remain only for the premium motorcycles of the Ducati brand. AcidMoto: Ducati is an Italian brand with a strong identity. How do you explain that, for a brand from a country where the Vespa was born, and where the scooter is king, there is still no maxi-scooter in the range? Domenicali: (with a big smile) It’s a top secret plan!

We’ve already brought you spy shots of the motorcycle in track and road guises during an intensive period of testing to hone the 100bhp version of (effectively) the firm’s RSV4 superbike, and the latest news confirms how far along the motorcycle is in terms of development. The awesomelooking motorcycle was first revealed officially to the world at last year’s EICMA motorcycle e show in Milan. Aprilia, however, would not be drawn on whetherr or not the 660 would eventually become a motorcycle you could d buy in dealers. Now news reaches us from colleagues over at Moto Station n in France. Here’s what they said d about the red-hot road proposa al for next year: “We have been to o two Press launches recently by the Piaggio group (the Piaggio group own Aprilia - Ed) and the opportunity to go fishing for information about the RS660 was too good. “Obviously, the spokespersons s of the Piaggio group saw us arriving from a distance with our barely hidden questions,

but at least the response was clear. They said: ‘We continue the development of the RS660, it follows its path. There are no special reasons that would prevent it from arriving in 2020. At the upcoming EICMA fair in Milan, it will be presented in fi fin nal version’.”

NEWS 13

Mugen Shinden Hachi is go for the TT Fresh from the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, here’s a look at Mugen’s next generation Shinden superbike ahead of the 2019 Isle of Man TT. The Mugen Shinden Hachi is the eighth version of Mugen’s Shinden electric superbike (hachi means eight in Japanese) – and although it’s not dramatically different to the previous model, Mugen has announced it’s been further developing the bike’s electric drivetrain (to increase power), in addition to making a selection of aerodynamic improvements geared towards bike stability and reducing drag. For this year’s Isle of Man TT, Mugen is returning with John McGuinness and Michael Rutter at the helm. As a result, it’s looking increasingly likely that the Shinden will once again dominate Zero TT.

Honda’s newest CR crosser unveiled – it’s a bright spark! What a big moment for Honda that passed almost everyone by – the Japanese factory took the wraps off its secret new electric prototype CR motocross bike at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show in Japan last month. At this stage, there’s been no official information from Honda on the latest machine to break cover, so we’ve got no idea about the motor or battery – but if you have a closer look at the image, you’ll be able to pick out a few notable features. First off, it makes use of the same aluminium twin-spar frame design as the current CR250 – and comes with Showa suspension and knobbly Dunlop rubber. In essence, it looks like it’s ready to go and

it’s going to be completely silent with zero emissions during use. Regarding the electric drivetrain, it’s likely that Honda has had some help from Mugen (check out the electric bike company’s 2019 TT racebike opposite), the firm that worked closely with Honda in electric bike competition and has recently dominated the Zero TT single lap race on the Isle of Man Zero TT.

IT’S HERE! Island Racer 20199 iss unleashed u eas ed You want to know everything about the TT for this year? Then look no further – the world’s NUMBER ONE TT publication is available to ordder NOW You want race times? How about the best TT features around? Fancy seeing under the skin of an Isle of Man racing weapon? Want to grab yourself a FREE Duke DVD worth £11.99? Well, here’s the good news, because you can do all of that and swim in the motorcycle loveliness of the world’s greatest road racing photography for just £7.99 with the 2019 edition of Island Racer. Island Racer is 148 pages crammed full of TT expertise and opinion from the fellas that compete at the world’s most challenging motorcycle race event. IR sits down the mega-stars and gets them to open up about how and why they do what they do. There’s on-screen amazement too, with the FREE Duke DVD of top TT action PLUS all the stats and information you u could ever want with the exclusive TT Encyclopaedia, too. Island Racer is in the shops in early May and it costs just £7.99. If you want to get your copy delivered then things get even easier. Just go to www.classicmagazines s. co uk and search ‘island racer’. co.uk island racer

14 PRODUCTS

✪ NEW PRODUCTS ✪ NEW PRODUCTS ✪ Each month MCM features a range of new gear to help you ﬁnd the best-value products on the market

Arai RX-7V Isle of Man TT Helmet

RST Classic IOM TT Wax Jacket

RRP: £875.00 // www.thevisorshop.com Once again, Arai has joined forces with the Isle of Man TT to create a limited edition version of its top-spec RX-7V race helmet. Unveiled by TT royalty Michael Dunlop and Eelco van Beek from Arai as part of the official TT launch event, the new TT RX-7V comes with a truly special paint job from world-renowned helmet designer Aldo Drudi of Drudi Performance. And it looks the business doesn’t it blending fluorescent yellow, black and gunmetal grey with the famous Isle of Man triskelion. The Isle of Man TT RX-7V will set you back £875 in total, but if you order before May 25, 2019 you can pay half now and half later.

RRP: £169.99 // www.rst-moto.com

Of course, Arai helmets are also extremely popular with TT racers – and for 2019 expect to see Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson, Conor Cummins, Davey Todd, Harry Payne, Derek McGee, David Johnson, Lee Johnston, Ben and Tom Birchall, John Holden and Lee Cain, and Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes all wearing helmets from the iconic Japanese manufacturer. That’s not all – Arai will have a big presence on the island throughout the two weeks of qualifying and racing with the Arai Village in the TT paddock, showing off the entire collection while offering customers the chance to get an official fitting or even a service.

To celebrate its parrtnership with the Isle of Man TT, RST has updated its hugely successful TT wax jacket for 2019. Constructed from m HD Wax with a removable quilted Manx quilted lining (and a fixed comfort mesh lining), the jacket comes with three internal and four external pockets, a belt and rear ventilation. Despite its retro appearance, the stylish jacket should be well up to the job should the worst happen and you take a tumble, as it meets the new CE A-standard, with Level 1 protection on the shoulders and elbows. Plus there’s space for a back protector, too.

Bike-Seal Auto-Seal RRP: £43.00 // www.bikeseal.co.uk

MCM TOP PICK

Shoei GT-Air II Touring Helmet RRP: From £449.99 // www.shoeiassured.co.uk

Shoei has just unveiled the latest incarnation of its touring helmet, thee GT-Air II. An evolution of its hugely successful GT-Air, the new second generation lid is constructed by layering organic and multi-compositte fibres to create a strong, shockabsorbent shell, which contains an EPS liner system. It comes equipped with a CNS-1 Pinlock Visor with a wider field of vision, which Shoei claim is fast and easy to change, and a built-in QSV-2 sun visor. For ventilation and airflow,, there are inlets on the helmet’s chin and forehead, in addition to four outlets at the rear to remove warm air. There’s also an integrated spoiler to help aero-dynamic performance. It comes with a completely detachable detachabl and washable lining,

ear pads to reduce wind and engine noise, and it’s also ready and waiting to take SENA’s SRL2 Communication system. To fix it in place, you’ll make use of the straightforward stainless steel micro-ratchet system.

Bike-Seal has sent us details of its new compact Auto-Seal Puncture Repair Kit , to help you get back on the road if the worst happens and you get caught out with a flat tyre. Essentially, it’s a tubeless puncture repair kit which can be used on motorbikes, cars, vans, 4 x4s, off-road vehicles and even wheelbarrows. You know, pretty much anything with a puncture. It’s a clever bit of kit, which is compact and lightweight enough to be tucked safely under your seat, in the bottom of a pair of panniers, a top box, or even thrown into a rucksack. So what do you actually get for your money? Well, the kit comes equipped with a tin of lubricant, a knife, a needle, a probe, six repair plugs, and a Rolson multi-tool (with a built-in torch), all zipped up in a sturdy case. Impressively, the kit has been T.U.V. tested in Germany up to speeds of 186mph – so it’s going to be more than up to the job for the vast majority of riders. Oh, and don’t worry if you’re not particularly hands-on. The kit also includes a fairly straightforward set of instructions, to make repairing a puncture as pain free as possible.

Knox Handroid MKIV Gloves RRP: £220 // www.planet-knox.com Knox has just unveiled its next generation pair of Handroid MKIV gloves – and the British brand reckons the best just got better. Knox’s next generation Handroid gloves are the result of a decade of evolution and improvement, building on the successful base to offer the highest levels of protection and performance yet. For 2019, the Handroid has received a range of technical upgrades, in addition to some subtle styling changes. More specifically, the gloves come with

numerous upgraded protective features, including new lower profile, softer feel and more aerodynamic exoskeleton spines, an updated Knox-patented SPS Impact Scaphoid protection system and an improved wrist closure system. The gloves are available in a range of new colour schemes, and there is also a choice between either long or short cuffs. They’re not cheap though, and will set you back £220. That’s a small price to pay for a pair of quality gloves used and trusted by a number of top-level racers.

PRODUCTS 15

Blaze Wear Heated Motorcycle Jacket Liner RRP: £169.99 // www.blazewear.com Heated apparel and accesso ories specialists, Blaze Wear, havee launched a range of heated clothing sp pecifically designed for motorcyclists and scooterists. Although the weather’s starting to take a turn for thee better, there are no guaranteeed consistent conditions on Britain’s shores, and as a result, Blaze Wear’s new heated motorcycle jacket liner could be just what you need to stay warm and toastty on two wheels this year. It’s fitted with seven heating elements, which aree integrated into the nylon outer shell and lining of the jacket. There are two on the chest, two on the back, one per sleeve and one on the collar, meaning riders are protected from whatever the weather throws at them. Best of all, the jacket’s lightweight fabric and flexib ble carbon fibre heating pads mean thaat riders can wear it under their norm mal riding gear without having to worry about bulky wiring. Rest assured, the temperature control has been designed to still be accessible, to allow you to adjust heat on the go (up to a maximum heat of 52°C). Blaze Wear’s connected items come with a one-year guarantee as well as benefiting from FREE standard UK delivery and FREE UK returns and exchanges.

Oxford Kickback Shirt RRP: £99.99 // www.oxford-products.co.uk There’s far more to Oxford Product’s Kickback Shirt than n initially meets the eye. At firstt glance, the British brand’s casually styled shirt simply looks like a piece of fashion clothing. On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that it’s a serious bit of biking kit. Beyond its cotton exterior, the shirt comes fully lined with DuPont Kevlar aramid fibres to help save your skin should you end up sliding along the tarmac. Admittedly, there’s no builtin armour as standard, but there are pockets ready to take shoulder, elbow and back protection, should you choose to add it. The shirt comes with two externall front pockets, a secure interna al pocket, stud and zip cuffs with soft edges, and it even gets a water-resistant coating.

Visorcat

RRP: £36.99 // www.visorcat.com Ever struggle to keep your visor clean? Not any more, thanks to Visorcat’s innovative gadget, which allows you to wash your visor while on the move. In essence, the Visorcat’s a strap-on attachment, which can be added to any glove to help you keep your visor clean and clear while you’re on the open road. Recommended by MAG, BMF and IAM RoadSmart, its award-winning, patented design allows you to wash road dirt, salt, flies and dust from your visor before it has a chance to dry. The Visorcat comes ready to go with a sponge and a 50ml pocket bottle of visor wash,– and once you’ve filled the gadget up with fluid, you’re good to go. You wash your visor by moving Visorcat across your visor in one direction, and then wipe the residue away by moving it in the other direction. Simple. It comes with a two-year unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty (covers all aspects of the product except the sponge, which is a consumable item and will eventually wear out).

16 TRIED & TESTED

TRIED & TESTED

Each month MCM features a range of gear that we’ve tested extensively out on the road, to try and ﬁnd the best-value products on the market, so you can spend your hard-earned cash with conﬁdence

Sealey Steel Mesh Folding Ramp RRP: £100.74 // Tested by: Tony Carter // www.sealey.co.uk

I’m a bit old school. Which actually means, I’m a bit tight. Ever since I started motocrossing when dinosaurs roamed the earth I’ve used a builder’s plank to transport motorcycles from the ground to the back of a van. I very nearly have a 100% record with this (it’s almost never gone wrong or let me down). Times change, however, and, quite frankly, I’ve had enough of lugging a heavy, messy plank around when I want to take a track bike anywhere – so I’ve got the best possible alternative, the Sealey mesh folding

ramp. So I’m telling you now, if you want a ramp to load motorcycles with, then get this one. Yes, when you pick it up, folded in half, it feels a bit lightweight (the entire thing weighs just 11.5kg), but it’s brilliantly strong. The handles are a nice touch too, and mean that you can carry the ramp around without much effort. The ramp has a load capacity of 360kg. Yeah, 360kg! That’s more than enough for almost every modern bike other than the behemoths like Gold Wings and lump big Harleys. Made from powder-coated steel

and strong mesh, the ramp even comes with a strap and hook so that you can tie it in securely in the back a van. Look, it’s terrific. I’ve used it for all sorts of bikes and into all heights of vans. It’s secure, strong and easy to use. It looks very good and tucks away easily. If it was any easier to get along with it’d be called Terry and it’d make you a cup of tea first thing in the morning. At £100 it’s a no-brainer when you’re looking for a ramp. Absolutely get one of these when you can.

Things to know The dimensions of the ramp when folded are: L = 1050mm, W = 290mm, H = 90mm) and when extended they are: L = 2060mm, W = 280mm, H = 40mm. The whole thing weighs in at 11.5kg.