GET UP TO SPEED
February 2018
MCM is FREE in dealers, clubs and biker cafés
#140
KTM’s 1290 Super Duke GT Apache Attack BMW-powered mini superbike is launched
It’s SHOWTIME!
Bristol Show is go
BEWARE THE MOON!
Study claims that full moons make us crash more
Nice Burg-man Riding Suzuki’s 400 super scoot
It sounds like some bizarre myth, but there’s data to back up a study’s claim that riding under a full moon puts motorcyclists at higher risk of falling off their bike. Four decades of statistics from America have been pulled together for a report in the British Medical Journal which analysed the ups and downs of riding when the moon is at its fullest. Donald Redelmeier from Princeton University said: “Our study suggests that extra care is needed when riding a motorcycle under a full moon. The average ride for a motorcyclist is more dangerous than for a drunk driver with no seatbelt who travels the same distance.” More on page 5
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NEWS 3
Suzuki’s future plans REVEALED
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Riding the ridgeline
Claims made about what’s on the horizon from the Japanese factory after whistle-blower dealer meeting. Suzuki is going to launch a GSX-700T, a turbocharged modern cafe-roadster-cum-naked that’s based on the factory’s Recursion concept. That’s the claim by a host of Greek Suzuki dealers who have said that, at a meeting between them and Suzuki recently, they were told about the new model. The same source took the photo of the dealer’s screen listing, saying that this is the proof that outlines the factory’s plans. The claims continue with the Greek dealers saying that they were also told that the bike will be called the GSX700T before being taken through the model range in full. This new T model will be powered by the 700cc XE7 twin-cylinder engine block with a variable geometry turbo (the 588cc version of that motor was shown alongside the
original Suzuki Recursion concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2013). And as if that’s not quite enough, the news also includes this snippet about the future model – the new motorcycle will probably run under the name ‘Recursion’ too. Suzuki registered the model name as a trademark two years ago for use across Europe and the US. You can see what is claimed to be the official Suzuki document that proves the impending arrival of the GSX-700T. MCM asked Suzuki about the validity of these claims and Paul de Lusignan, Suzuki GB’s general manager, said: “We are continually evaluating our new model plans, and explore different avenues of development when doing so. However, at this stage we are not able to comment further.”
Say goodbye to this Hayabusa (if the photo, right, is correct).
But look a little deeper...
So the GSX-700T looks and sounds like a full-on motorcycle for (possibly) the end of 2019/into 2020 but there are more motorcycles named in the supposed official document. All of which are worth paying attention to. On the list are a new GSX-R300, the new GSX-S250/300 and the possible return of the DRZ250S/SM (Supermoto version) to the range. And that’s still not all because next to the Hayabusa is ‘FMC’ pointing to the all-new, much rumoured supercharged big bike finally making an appearance next year. If this document and batch of Greek claims turn out to be true for the next 12-18 months then it looks like Suzuki is going to get its mojo back into gear after what has been a lacklustre performance at the endof-2017 motorcycle shows around the world.
Audi CEO confirms commitment to Ducati Early in 2017, we brought you the news that Audi was poised to sell Ducati – but Audi’s chief executive Rupert Stadler has finally confirmed its commitment to the iconic Italian brand. Stadler explained that Audi is working to reduce costs by €10 billion, cut red tape and deepen ties with fellow Volkswagenowned brand Porsche, “gradually increasing our financial and organisational leeway for the strategic realignment”. He confirmed that there is no economic need to sell Ducati and said: “I can assure you that Ducati belongs to the Audi family. Ducati is the perfect implementation of our premium philosophy in the world of motorbikes.” Earlier this year, Volkswagen asked banks to evaluate options for Ducati and transmissions maker Renk as the German automotive giant begins to make the shift towards electric and self-driving cars following its diesel emissions cheating scandal. But VW’s powerful labour unions, supported by the controlling Porsche-Piech families, opposed the logic and need for asset sales given the group’s financial resilience.
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E ditor Tony Carter Editorial design Fran Lovely Publisher Dan Savage Picture desk Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield and Angie Sisestean Production editor Dan Sharp Divisional advertising team leader Zoe Thurling 01507 529412 Advertising Lee Buxton 01507 529453 Kate Hayes 01507 529411 Advertising deadline for March issue January 31, 2018 Distribution 01507 529529 Marketing manager Charlotte Park
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Get over to www.MoreBikes.co.uk and search ‘ridgeline’ to see an incredible video of riding skill. American action-man and world record holder Gavin Godfrey (he was the first to land a triple backflip on a mountain bike) – headed out to Caineville, Utah to ride the ridgeline – a single track just inches wide along the top of mountains while his brother Preston filmed everything on his head cam. Sounds simple – looks absolutely nuts…
If you’re intent on camping in TT style...
For the 99th edition of the Isle of Man TT, the Metzeler Village will once again be set up at the Douglas National Sports Centre for the easiest way to stay at the road racing event with the least amount of hassle. Registrations for the Metzeler Village are already open and you can book your stay between May 31 and June 9. Metzeler has kept prices unchanged for 2018, starting from £22 per night/person based on the type of accommodation chosen. For more information log on to: www.MoreBikes.co.uk
Incredible gymkhana action in the wet
Japanese police riders love a competition and if that can be held on a vacant car park then it’s game on for the two-wheeled fellas. And if it’s pelting it down, too? All the better. To see some rapid footage from the 1990s that you just won’t believe get over to www.MoreBikes.co.uk and search ‘gymkhana’.
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4 NEWS
The TVS Apache RR 310 is launched! It’s here (kind of) and it paves the way for a BMW mini-Superbike. How very cool.
For the best part of two years we’ve been showing you the development of the TVS Apache (which has been developed in partnership with BMW – so this is also the BMW S310RR mini-Superbike). And now the bike is here. Making 34bhp @ 9700rpm and 27.3Nm @ 7700rpm, the bike is powered by the four-stroke, four-valve single-cylinder, liquid-cooled which has a 10.9:1 compression ratio. The gorgeous small bike is just 170kg (wet) and comes complete with ABS, an LCD dash, LED lights, ByBre (Brembo) brakes and KYB suspension.
We’re loving it. And for any of you that aren’t loving it, then imagine this bike with a BMW S1000RR colour scheme. As far as price goes, well, TVS is selling the bike in India for 2.05 lakh rupees which converts to an eyeopening £2317. Yep, that cheap. Of course, by the time this bike gets a BMW badge on it and is imported to the UK, it’s not going to be that cheap – but if we look at the price of the German firm’s G310 GS which is from £5100 and factor in the growing market of mini-GSX-Rs and Ninjas then figure on this BMW miniSuperbike being in the £4500-£5000 bracket on cost.
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Want to see the OFFICIAL video of this bike? Then go to www. MoreBikes.co.uk
When cyclists fight back (with fireworks… aimed at a scooter rider…) Head over to www.MoreBikes.co.uk to see this, frankly, pretty unbelievable video. Watch it and you’ll see a cyclist firing fireworks at a scooter rider and pillion after a bit of a row over using (or not using) cycle lanes. At first we thought this was definitely fake but given how close the fireworks get it might be real… probably a bit fake though. Anyway, watch it. You’ll like it. When you’re on the website search ‘firework’.
NEWS 5 This is the new Sport Glide from Harley - it may spur on a new bigger tourer.
Harley-Davidson files two new model names: the 48X and Pan America – new bikes for 2019 (possibly) News from our brothers across the pond is that Harley-Davidson has (possibly) filed a further two new model names for upcoming models. However, things aren’t quite as simple as they may first appear. Last month, Harley filed the name ‘Harley-Davidson Bronx’ but this was filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office only. The latest news reports that the model names 48X and Pan America have also been filed but neither of these have been registered in the US, instead being filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Neither ‘48X’ or ‘Pan America’ names are official linked with HarleyDavidson but both names ARE listed for use with ‘motorcycles and
structural parts therefor’. It makes sense to suspect that the 48X is going to be some sort of hard-assed roadster built around the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight (perhaps using the Revolution X motor used in the Street 750 and Street 500) but what could the Pan America be? There’s some wishful thinking that the Pan could be some sort of KTM 1290 Super Duke GT-style sharp semi-naked thing but the reality is probably going to be something a bit more traditional and built around the Softail-based Sport Glide model but with considerable more weather protection and carrying capability. A top box and bigger panniers with a half fairing and a stereo, if you will.
Beware the full moon risk to bikers A report in the British Medical Journal pulls together 40 years of data on motorcycle deaths across the US, and has found that the risk of having a fatal crash is higher under a full moon. Writing in the British Medical Journal, Donald Redelmeier – together with Eldar Shafir from Princeton University – said: “Our study suggests that extra care is needed when riding a motorcycle under a full moon. The average ride for a motorcyclist is more dangerous than (for) a drunk driver with no seatbelt who travels the same distance. Risk is one of those things that people just can’t sense until it is too late – that’s why we need science about this.” In total, there were 494 full moons between the start of 1975 and the end of 2014, with 4494 fatal crashes between the late afternoon and the next morning on those days. The results reveal that on
average 9.1 crashes took place on nights with a full moon, compared to just over 8.6 when the moon was not full, which translates into a 5% greater risk of crashing. The result held regardless of factors including the time of year and decade as well as the motorcyclist’s age, engine size, and whether or not they used a helmet. “Five per cent is a great big deal when it comes to road safety,” said Redelmeier. Plus, when investigating the effects of supermoons the impact appeared even greater, with a 22% higher risk compared with a regular full moon. To analyse whether crashes were more common on moonlit nights, the team looked at the number of night-time crashes one week before and one week after each full moon – allowing comparisons between the weather, year, day of the week and even changes to road layouts and traffic levels. Commenting on the study, David Spiegelhalter, Winton professor for the public understanding of risk at the University of Cambridge, said: “The typical fatality is a middle-aged man having a head-on collision on a big bike in the country while not wearing a helmet. Five per cent more bikers get killed on fullmoon nights, and the authors suggest this may be because of distraction.”
Want a FREE ringtone?
Cool, so how about we give you the ringtone and some shorter message alerts for your phone then? It really does cost nothing to get this brilliant audio of Triumph’s 765cc Moto2 engine being revved hard. To get it just go to www.MoreBikes.co.uk on your phone, search ‘ringtone’ and click on the lozenges as directed and it’ll automatically download to your phone. That’s it, easy.
Watch Eskil ragging it If you’ve got a few minutes to fill then go to www.MoreBikes.co.uk and search ‘Eskil’. Do that and you’ll see an amazing bit of video of 50-yearold Eskil Suter absolutely spanking a Suter 500 at Jerez. Turn the video up loud and enjoy the ride. It’s brilliant.
6 NEWS
John Lennon’s 1969 Monkey Bike to be auctioned in March Fancy getting your hands on a pretty neat second-hand Monkey Bike for the whole ‘new year, new bike’ thing? How about John Lennon’s Monkey Bike? Would that do it for you? With a starting bid of £0, there’s no guide as to what the current owners are expecting the tiny motorcycle to fetch at auction.
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The 1969 Honda Z50A is being auctioned by H&H Classics on March 4 at The National Motorcycle Museum Motorcycle Auction and you can register your interest in the bike now by visiting www.MoreBikes.co.uk and searching ‘Lennon’. Here’s the official description of the tiny bike from H&H Classics: ■ Owned and ridden by John Lennon around his Tittenhurst Park estate ■ Current family ownership since June 1971 (Lennon emigrated to New York in August that year) ■ Extensive history file including green log book, old MoTs, Honda dating letter etc. ■ In running order with ‘matching’ frame and engine numbers ■ Largely unrestored and original ■ Huge investment potential
Fancy a Royal Enfield Himalayan? Find out the OTR price here
British Enfield importer MotoGB has announced the price for the 2018 Royal Enfield Himalayan with advance orders now being taken for the bike – costing £1 under four grand on the road. The SOHC carburetted air-cooled engine kicks out 24.5bhp at 6500rpm and 32Nm of torque between 40004500rpm. It gets a five-speed gearbox with a wet multi-plate clutch.
The Texas Tornado Boot Camp is back! Sign up now for two-wheeled action
It’s the sort of boot camp for bikers that can see you riding alongside the elite of two-wheeled fun. And you can get booking up your time with the Texas Tornado right now. Starting off the year for Edwards and crew is the always popular Racer Camp, slated for February 12 to 18. The week includes on-track curriculum and drills, team activities, a four-race points paying series as well as for the first time ever, roadtrack instruction. The Tarmac portion of Racer Camp will take place at SpeedSportz Racing
Park located in New Caney, TX. SpeedSportz is a 30-minute drive from the Tornado compound which includes two tracks, a clubhouse and amenities. Students will need to bring their own leathers, boots and gloves. The camp provides all off-road gear including Arai helmets that will work for the Tarmac section of the course. Students will be riding alongside special guests including BSB men James Ellison, Peter Hickman, James Rispoli and World Supersport racer, Sheridan Morais.
Continuing throughout the 2018 season, Texas Tornado Boot Camp is back in April with the pre- and post-Austin GP four-day camps. These camp dates will start just before and after the MotoGP event at the Circuit of the Americas. TTBC will also be back with a September date as well as the Halloween edition of Boot Camp happening later in the year. ■ Seven-day racer camp – 12/2/18 – 18/2/18 ■ Pre-Austin GP – four-day camp – 14/4/18 – 17/4/18 ■ Post-Austin GP – four-day camp – 24/4/18 – 27/4/18 ■ September – four-day camp – 27/9/18 – 30/9/18 ■ Halloween – four-day camp – 1/11/18 – 4/11/18 The Dirt Wars and Mad Dog racing series will begin in January. Dirt Wars is a one-night ‘racing under the lights’ event which features heat races, LCQs and main events. Yamaha TTR-125 machines are provided for the Dirt Wars classes.
Calling all classic motorcycle fans! WHERE: The Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN WHEN: Saturday-Sunday, February 3-4, 2018 WHAT: The 38th Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show HOW MUCH: Advance show tickets cost £11 Hundreds of beautiful classic machines from the golden age of motorcycling will go on display at the brilliant 38th Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show. From humble beginnings in 1980, the show has grown and evolved into Britain’s greatest annual celebration of all that is best about the motorcycles of yesteryear. The event features the finest themed club displays in the world and there is fierce competition for the muchcoveted ‘best stand’ award and cash prize every year. Dozens of private owners offer up their pride and joy for public scrutiny, including everything from immaculate showroom-condition motorcycles to rusty barn-finds freshly dragged from a dark corner somewhere. From oils to tools, clothing to spares, painters to welders, the Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show is the place to find what you are looking for. Go to www.classicbikeshows.co.uk for more information and to buy tickets. See eight-page supplement from p25.
Mad Dog racing is a ‘bring your own bike’ event. Mad Dog racing will feature novice, intermediate and pro classes. ■ Dirt Wars and Mad Dog racing – January 20 ■ Mad Dog only racing – March 17 ■ Dirt Wars and Mad Dog racing – June 2 ■ Mad Dog only racing – July 7 ■ Dirt Wars and Mad Dog racing – August 25 ■ Mad Dog National – October 13 Edwards said: “I can’t wait to get 2018 started at the Boot Camp. First, our Racer Camp in February is going to be insane with all of the talent already signed up. “I’m trying to plan a few surprises for the pre- and post-Austin dates as well. You never know who might drop in! Come have a blast with us. See you soon!” Registration is now available. Visit www.texastornadobootcamp.com for details.
Frame-wise, the Himalayan has a half-duplex split-cradle frame and gets telescopic 41mm forks (200mm of travel) at the front and monoshock set-up at the rear (180mm travel). The bike has a 1465mm wheelbase, 220mm ground clearance, it’s 2190mm long and 840mm wide with a 800mm seat height. Wet weight is 182kg. The fuel tank can hold 15 litres of fuel.
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8 WHAT’S ON
What’s On: the essential dates 2018 JANUARY 14 Ace Café London. Bike Day. london.acecafe.com 14 Maldon British Motorcycle Owners’ Club Bike Jumble. Memorial Hall, Newland Street, Witham, Essex CM8 2AZ Tel: Roger 07787 847874. Cliff 01245 262047. 18 Ace Café London. Super Moto + XJROC + NABD+ MAG + Classic Scooters. london.acecafe.com 20 Kempton Park Motorcycle Autojumble. Kempton Park, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ. www.kemptonparkautojumble.co.uk 20 35th Annual Rockers Reunion. Rivermead Leisure Complex, Richfield Avenue, Reading RG1 8EQ. www.rockersreunion.co.uk 20 Scorton Auto & Bike Jumble. North Yorkshire Events Centre , Scorton DL10 6EJ. Tel. Bert 07909 904705. 21 Ace Café London. AJS and Matchless OC ‘Founders Day’ + Classic Bikes. london.acecafe.com 21 Malvern Drive-In Classic Car & Bike Autojumble. Three Counties Showground, Wye Halls and outside, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NW Tel: 01484 667776. www.classicshows.org 28 ’Normous Newark Autojumble. The Showground, Drove Lane, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts NG24 2NY. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 28 Ace Café London. Australia Day. london.acecafe.com
FEBRUARY
3-4 The 38th Carole Nash Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show. The Royal Bath and
West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN www.classicbikeshows.com 4 Ace Café London. Bike Day. london.acecafe.com 11 Sunbeam MCC Gordon Jackson Trial. Bagshot Heath, Surrey. Contact Neil Sinclair 07885 660939. sinclairndp@hotmail.co.uk 11 Ace Café London. Bike Day. london.acecafe.com 11 Ace Café London. MAG ‘Fred Hill’ Memorial Ride-out. london.acecafe.com 17 Scorton Auto & Bike Jumble. North Yorkshire Events Centre, Scorton DL10 6EJ. Tel. Bert 07909 904705. 17 Stunt Fest. Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7XA. www.santapod.com 17-18 The Classic Dirt Bike Show Sponsored by Hagon Shocks. The International Centre, St Quentin Gate, Telford, Shropshire TF3 4JH www.classicbikeshows.com 18 Battlesbridge Motorcycle Museum Numbfinger Run. Battlesbridge Motorcycle Museum, Maltings Road, Battlesbridge, Essex SS11 7RH. Contact Dave Evans davejoolivia@googlemail.com 18 Ace Café London. Bike Day. london.acecafe.com 18 Ace Café London. Ride-out to MCN Bike Show at Excel. london.acecafe.com 23-25 Word Superbikes Round 1 – Yamaha Finance Australian Round. www.worldsbk.com 25 ’Normous Newark Autojumble. The Showground, Drove Lane, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts NG24 2NY. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk
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25 Ace Café London. 59 Club Renewal Day. london.acecafe.com
MARCH
4 Malvern Drive-In Classic Car & Bike Autojumble. Three Counties Showground, Wye Halls and outside, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NW. Tel. 01484 667776 www.classicshows.org 4 Ace Café London. Sidecar-Trike3Wheeler Day in aid of NABD. london.acecafe.com 10 Kempton Park Motorcycle Autojumble. Kempton Park, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ. www.kemptonparkautojumble.co.uk 11 Kenley Autojumble. The Portcullis Club, Kenley Airfield, Victor Beamish Avenue, Caterham, Surrey CR3 5FX. Tel. 07772 169524 or 07971 823314. www.facebook.com/ KenleyAutojumble 11 Ace Café London. British + Classic Bike Day. london.acecafe.com 17 Scorton Auto & Bike Jumble. North Yorkshire Events Centre, Scorton DL10 6EJ. Tel. Bert 07909 904705. 18 Wistanstow Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Show and Autojumble. Tel. 07792 983020. Email. wistanstowbikeshow@hotmail.co.uk 18 VMCC (Essex section). Cobwebs Run from Tesco, Maldon. Tel. Dave Iszard 01621 892206. 18 Sunbeam MCC 79th Pioneer Run. Epsom-Brighton. Contact Ian McGill 01293 771446. acsociable1@sky.com 18 Ace Café London. Overland + Adventure Bike Day. london.acecafe.com 18 Straightliners. Santa Pod
Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7XA. www.santapod.com 18 MotoGP Round 1 – Grand Prix of Qatar. www.motogp.com 23-25 World Superbikes Round 2 – Thai Round. www.worldsbk.com 24-25 Manchester Bike Show. EventCity, Phoenix Way, Off Barton Dock Road, TraffordCity, Manchester M41 7TB Tel. 01484 482005. www.manchesterbikeshow.com 25 Classic Motorcycle Show. Cafeplus, Baldock. Tel 07963 609143. 25 Ace Café London. Scooter Sunday + Raleigh Chopper Meet. london.acecafe.com 26 South of England Classic Show & Bikejumble. South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TL. www.elk-promotions.co.uk 28 VMCC (Essex section) Wrinkly Run from Tesco. Maldon. Tel. Grace & Clyde 01621 855899. 30-01 Festival of Power. Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7XA. www.santapod.com 31-02 British Superbikes Round 1 – Donington Park GP. www.britishsuperbike.com 31 South Midlands Autojumble. Ross-on-Wye Livestock Centre, Oveross, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 5QQ. Tel. 01989 750731.
APRIL
1 Scooter Show, White Lion, Baldock. Tel. 07963 609143. 1 Ace Café London. Bike Day. london.acecafe.com 2 Ashford Classic Motorcycle Show & Bikejumble. Ashford Market, Orbital
Park, Ashford, Kent TN24 0HB. www.elk-promotions.co.uk 7 Sammy Miller Museum. Adventure Bike Ride-in. www.sammymiller.co.uk 7 Isle of Wight Vintage and Classic Bike Show. The Winter Gardens, Pier Street, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO38 1SZ. Tel. 01983 752861. 7-8 Cardiff Motorcycle Show. Llanishen High School, Heol Hir, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5YL. Tel. 01443 435125. www.southwalessunbeammcc.co.uk 8 ’Normous Newark Autojumble. The Showground, Drove Lane, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts NG24 2NY. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk 8 Kenley Autojumble. The Portcullis Club, Kenley Airfield, Victor Beamish Avenue, Caterham, Surrey CR3 5FX. Tel. 07772 169524 or 07971 823314. www.facebook.com/ KenleyAutojumble 8 Forfar Classic and Vintage Autojumble & Show. Strathmore Hall, Forfar Livestock Mart, John Street, Forfar, Angus, Scotland DD8 3EZ. Tel. 01241 852369. 8 BTSC Croydon Club Run. Blue Haze, The Feathers, Merstham, Surrey. Tel. 01883 623049. 8 Malvern Festival of Transport. Three Counties Showground, Wye Halls, Avon Hall and outside, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NW. Tel. 01484 667776. www.classicshows.org 8 Salisbury MAG’s 17th Spring Surprise Motorcycle Show. Salisbury Market Square and Guild Hall Square, Wiltshire. Tel. 07450 992298. salisbury.mag-uk.org 8 Ace Café London. British + Classic Bike Day + BSA Special. london.acecafe.com
NEWS 9
Here’s the SEXIEST ever bodykit for a Kawasaki ZRX1200 and Zephyr
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Look, if you’ve got a ZRX1200 or Zephyr 1100 Kawasaki then you’re going to want one of these kits. The Japanese company Doremi Collection first showed the 1100 kit last year at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show and they’ve just added the Endurance-replica kit to their range for the 2017 ZRX 1200 too. If you want to contact Doremi Collection directly then go to: www.doremi-co.com
New Guy Martin book hits the shelves
Stephen Davison, the brilliant Northern Irish photographer and journalist who has photographed and written about motorcycle road racing for 30 years, has produced a new photobook on the career of Guy Martin. The book, called ‘Guy Martin: Road Racer’ is priced at £18.99 and is available in shops now or you can buy it at www.blackstaffpress.com
On Any Sunday’s director and narrator Bruce Brown has died. His profession – motorcycle film maker Bruce Brown, the director and creator of the iconic motorcycle film On Any Sunday, passed away on Sunday, December 10 aged 80.
Brown’s iconic film, released in 1971, brought motorcycling into the mainstream. No other single piece of media did more to fire the imaginations for two-wheel fun and helped banish the misconception that motorcyclists were largely law-breaking hoodlums than the so-typically 1970s-made movie. “I think many people changed their minds about motorcyclists after watching the movie,” Brown once said about the film that was nominated for a 1972 Academy Award for Documentary Feature. From the 1970 Grand National dirt-track season featuring Mert Lawwill to the film’s unforgettable closing scene in which On Any Sunday producer Steve McQueen rode Husqvarna dirt bikes with off-road legend Malcolm Smith on a beach at the Camp
Pendleton marine base on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, On Any Sunday made motorcycling fun and interesting. “Bruce Brown’s influence on motorcycling in the 1970s was profound,” said American Motorcyclist Association President and CEO Rob Dingman. “On Any Sunday highlighted the unique talents needed for different forms of racing and showcased the fun that people find in motorcycling.”
Classic Dirt Bike Show: Calling all dirt fans…
Love dirt bikes? Then get down and dirty at the Telford International Centre for the awesome Classic Dirt Bike Show sponsored by Hagon Shocks. The show is sure to have something that will tickle your fancy as clubs and private entries pack into the venue to display the most fascinating collection of historic off-road machines you’ll find under one roof. They will also be joined by a mass of traders offering everything from parts, accessories, riding kit and project bikes to tempt you – and that’s not even including the autojumble that opens an hour before the show on both days and will be overflowing with bargains. To add to the excitement, Gerrit
WHERE: Telford International Centre WHEN: SaturdaySunday, February 1718, 10am-4.45pm HOW MUCH: Advance show tickets cost £12 (£15 including earlybird autojumble) and dinner tickets cost £33 per person.
Wolsink, Colin Dommett, Peter Duke and Roger Garrett will all be in attendance as guests of honour, plus there’s also a chance to rub shoulders and hear from the legends themselves at the Classic Dirt Bike dinner on the Saturday, which is held at the Holiday Inn on-site hotel. It includes a three-course meal and talks from Gerrit, Colin and Peter, as well as a Hagon Shocks 60th anniversary special, all for just £33 per person! For more information and to buy your tickets go to: www.classicbikeshows.co.uk.
Arai launches two new Nicky Hayden replica lids Arai has just unveiled two new models to honour Nicky Hayden, following his tragic death earlier in 2017. The first model is the all-new Corsair-X Nicky-7, which has been designed with the Starline graphics that Nicky wore during the first five rounds of the Superbike World Championship during the 2017 season. Available in sizes ranging from XS to 2XL it’ll cost around £673. The second model that has been released is the off-road ready VX-Pro4 Nicky-7, which incorporates the same design as the Corsair-X. It’s also available in sizes from XS to 2XL and will cost around £561.
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10 MEGA MILE TEST
KTM 1290
Super Duke GT If you could only ride one bike for the rest of your life, the KTM 1290 Super Duke would be a great choice. It’s a naked, a superbike and a tourer all in one. WORDS: Tony Carter PHOTOGRAPHY: KTM and Gary Chapman
MEGA MILE TEST 11 The crucial information This is the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT. More specifically, this was the Motorcycle Sport and Leisure long-term test bike, that spent the second half of 2017 in the hands of MCM Editor, Tony. The bike is born from the Super Duke R and kicks out 173bhp at 9500rpm and 106.2lb-ft of torque at 6750rpm. It has revised mapping, a ride-by-wire throttle, a slipper clutch with Motor Slip Regulation (MSR), combined ABS braking with in-corner control courtesy of the Bosch Motorcycle Stability Control (MSC) and three riding modes (Sport, Street and Rain). It also comes with a quickshifter, heated grips, easily-adjustable windscreen and cruise control. You can
get Hill Hold Control as an extra, too. The 23-litre tank means a respectful range of 250 miles if you don’t thrash the bike, it has LED cornering lights that illuminate the inside of a corner at night as you lean the motorcycle over (more lean, more light) and, on this test, Tony managed an average of 39.3mpg. It sits at just under 4000rpm for 70mph. The redline is at 10,500rpm and it’ll cruise at 100mph without feeling like it’s even getting into its stride. It’s also one of the most fun machines we’ve ever ridden. If you want to buy this bike then it’ll cost you £15,999. To find out more go to www.ktm.com/gb
39.3
That’s the average mpg managed across Europe
The current motorcycle world can be a puzzling place. Oh, sure, if you want something sporty – as in, track day sporty – there’s a plethora of fine motorcycles out there. Have you seen this year’s Yamaha R6? You fancy something more Adventure-biased? Step this way Sir/ Madam (delete as appropriate). Any number of bikes are up before you for selection. Big naked? Same deal. Big tourer? Yep. Loads of them. It’s what you’d call a smorgasbord of super bikes. And I don’t just mean superbikes. I use the term to describe just how all-round brilliant about 90% of the modern motorcycling crop is. These bikes are super. If you see what I’m saying. But... and it’s a pretty big but... I don’t tend to live in a world where I want one bike to just go and do one thing. Aside from trackday specials I want a bike that fits my mood. Tickles my fancy. Sticks its metaphorical hand down the front of my kilt and shakes things about a bit. Not possible? Well, as it happens, I’ve just ridden across a whole chunk of Europe and found a bike that will really (yeah, really) do everything. Where the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT really scores is that it does what it does without the pomp and fuss you might expect that comes in pretty bright orange, barks from 1000rpm like a drill sergeant on uppers and has roughly 90% of its DNA directly taken from that Jurassic Park T-Rex. No, this is a motorcycle that is just superb. It’s crafted. It’s punchy. It’s pliable. It’s a bloody surprise. And most importantly, it’s a naked, a superbike and a tourer all in one.
How this all came about...
Let’s put a bit of a timescale on all of this. A couple of years ago I attended the first outing for KTM’s 1290 Super Duke R. The bike was pre-launch hyped, probably more than I think I’ve seen before or since. That particular bike, we were assured, was a beast that would rip your arms off and beat you with the bloody end if you so much as looked at it cross-eyed. After a memorable ride up the Ronda roads in Spain and half a day blatting around the demanding Ascari racetrack before blasting back along the Ronda to base, I realised that the pre-hype had missed the mark a bit. The only time that this bike really was a beast was if you turned all the electronics off. Then it became fiesty. In usual trim however, the R is a great road bike. It’s not scary or intimidating. Despite the frowny face, trimmed back mechanicals and bare
chassis, it’s a bit of a pussycat on the road. It’ll do what you want, when you want. So, with all that in mind – and a collection of opinions saying the same – KTM realised that if it took the R model and changed a few things, added a bit of what’s needed here and there, but essentially kept the mechanicals the same, then it would probably have something of a winner on its hands. And that’s what it set out to do.
You take a Super Duke R and...
KTM has made no secret about what it did to the R in order for the original bike to spawn its GT sibling. By keeping the same motor in the same chrome-moly steel trellis frame, the GT oozes the family line everywhere you look – even down to the chunky single-sided swingarm. The similarities continue with things like wheels, brakes (Brembo M50 four-piston Monobloc calipers) and electronics (Sport, Street, Rain on the throttle; Sport, Street, Comfort on the Horncastle
ride damping). The suspension is the same WP semi-active 48mm forks and a WP semi-active monoshock rear, too. The semi-active tag means that you can dial in exactly what damping you want on the bike and, like the different rider settings, you can do it on the move. It’s not a gimmick on this bike either – it just makes dialling in what you want so easy that you end up making changes more times than you think you would – it’s biking bliss. So, with all that remaining the same, what’s different between the R and the GT? KTM has slightly revised the riding position to pitch up a touch more upright, the GT gets wider handlebars, there’s a strengthened subframe with nattily carried panniers (which fit to the bike by slotting into pockets moulded into the bodywork, so there’s no need for any brackets or extraneous frame supports on show), factory heated grips come as standard, the one hand-adjustable windscreen sits on top of the large top fairing, which spreads its shoulders wide and forcibly forward.
F
Peterborough Cambridge
NETHERLANDS
A1(M) M11
Rotterdam
London M20 Dover Calais
E40
A26 Arras
GERMANY
Brussels E42
A2
E19
BELGIUM
E25 1
A26 Luxembourg
Paris
Nuremberg
6
Reims A4
A4
5 Strasbourg
Nancy
92
A35 81
Munich 96
95
Basel
FRANCE
Bern
SWITZERLAND
Gassa
S
12 MEGA MILE TEST
The petrol tank on the GT is larger, too. Up to 23 litres from the R’s original 18-litre size. In short, there’s a ticklist that most of us have to make a motorcycle absolutely ideal. And the GT is the product of Austrian bike nuts following that list to the letter. The GT even has the same lightweight wheels and where the R comes from the factory fitted with outrageously sticky Metzler M7RR (tailor-made for the bike) rubber, the GT comes equipped with Pirelli Angel GT hoops.
So, you’re a factory and you want to do an ‘event’...
Let me tell you a tale. It comes from the launch of the Super Duke R. The massed ranks assembled for the morning brief on the day of the ride. It was early o’clock and the few of us invited were sat in our leathers and shown screenshots of route, bike etc. “Now remember,” said the KTM man
standing in front of us in his leathers, knee and toe sliders melted away from a previous outing. “This is not a race. We will take it steady until we get to the circuit.” He pulled a third gear wheelie before we got out of the hotel grounds and rode like a devil all the way to Ascari, grinding away huge swathes of Spanish Tarmac en route. It was terrific. So, knowing that, you can understand why, when KTM told me that it wanted to hold an ‘event’ for the GT, I was excited and a touch hesitant at the same time. An ‘event’ in KTM language usually means something special. And so it was that the first time I swung a leg over the 2017 GT was at Munderfing in Austria, a small town a few miles away from Mattighofen, which is the M in KTM. At the rapidly expanding KTM works in Munderfing I collected my motorcycle, along with a couple of other riders, one of whom
was Austrian motorcycle journalist Peter Schönlaub. Peter sorted out the route we were to ride. It took us from Munderfing to Resia in Italy. And what a route it was – fast sweepers, tight climbs and even a few miles without a solid road surface beneath us, all underpinned by not knowing what was around the next corner. These roads really underlined how nimble and responsive the bike is. That fairing and screen might look obtrusive from the outside but on the back of the bike you feel as though there’s virtually nothing between you and anything whizzing by. For these sorts of roads I ditched the Sport setting and favoured Street mode on the power delivery instead and the same on the suspension.
Martina
185
Nauders
27 Ramosch
Scuol
FS
Kapron
Piz S-chalambert SS40
Lavin
27
San Valentino Alla Muta St. Valenin auf der Haide
Sur En Piz Pisoc
Piz Nuna SS40
Piz Sesvenna
Zernez 28
Malles Venosta Mals
Parc Naziunal Svizzer
SS40
27
Tuore Taufers i. M. Pizz Quattervals
28 Santa Maria
SS40