Motor Cycle Monthly - November 2014

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November 2014

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Jawa 660 Sportard A new experience in bike ownership P16

The incredible engine and craftmanship of a £110,000 bike P14

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2015 2 201 01 0 1 NEW BIKES 30 GREAT NEW MACHINES INSIDE

2

NEWS 3

Kawasaki reveals Ninja H2R Motor Cycle Monthly, Media Centre, Morton Way,Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529529 Email: editorial@ motorcyclemonthly.co.uk Editor John Milbank Staff writer Carli Ann Smith Editorial design Sarah Scrimshaw Publisher Steve Rose Group production editor Tim Hartley Advertising Team Leader Richard Sinclair 01507 529538 Advertising Jo Scarbro 01507 529468 Julia Pritchard 01507 529575 Marketing manager Charlotte Park Production manager Craig Lamb Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Associate director Malcolm Wheeler Advertising deadline for December issue November 7, 2014

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Motor Cycle Monthly is published monthly on the last Friday of the month by Mortons Media Group Ltd and printed by Mortons Print Ltd.

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Independently proven pick up: 67,717 copies

THIS track-only Ninja H2R could be one of the most historic launches for many years. Details of the road version will be revealed in November at the EICMA show in Milan.

The stunning trellis frame is designed for high-speed stability without a long wheelbase, with the 998cc inline four using a supercharger designed in-house with a target of 295bhp. The concept of this carbon-fibre-clad machine was to ‘offer the kind of acceleration no rider had experienced before’, so we don’t expect the actual output to be much lower!

The aerodynamic bodywork should minimise drag and ensure control when riding at high speed: it’s a real show of craftsmanship, and we can’t wait to see its road going brother. While a lot of guesswork has surrounded the H2R, a very reliable source has quoted a price of £50,000, with just 10 bikes available to UK buyers.

For more information and to see the full spec visit www.MoreBikes.co.uk The Versys 1000 and 650 have new bodywork, larger tank and dual front headlamps, as well as a reinforced chassis to support more luggage.

A centrestand is now standard, along with an adjustable windscreen; ABS; 3-mode traction control and power mode selection.

The 649cc engine of the Versys 650 retains its familiar low and midrange torque but has received a boost in the high rpm performance. Fuel efficiency has also been improved.

Upgrades have been made to the long travel 41mm suspension which

now has separate functions for each tube, allowing all adjusters to be at the top of the fork for easy personal refinement. The rear suspension features an easy-to-access remote preload adjuster.

New calipers, revised master cylinder settings, new brake pad material and a larger diameter rear disc all improve the overall brake force. All information available on the website www.kawasaki.eu/en

4 NEWS EVENTS

EvEry Thursday from 6pm-9pm Stephen Billau & Sons, Darlington (DL1 1QQ) holds weekly bike nights.

Cafe. www.sbillau.co.uk

NovEmbEr 1 Ghost Rider Bash, British Sugar Sports & Social Club (IP32 7BB). Live bands, bike show, camping. Supporting local charities. bikereventsuk@gmail.com UKBEG Fireworks Spectacular, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (PE23 4DE). www.ukbeg.com www.lincsaviation.co.uk NovEmbEr 2 Ton Up Day – England Expects at the Ace Cafe (NW10 7UD). www.ace-cafe-london.com Biker first aid courses in Cardiff. £65 with discounts for IAM, BMF, MAG, RoSPA RoADAR. www.rainbowtda.co.uk NovEmbEr 6-9 Original Cruisers’ Halloween Extravaganza at Pontins, Southport (PR8 2PZ). www.southportoriginalcruisers. webs.com Guy Fawkes Evening Event, Krazy Horse (IP32 6NU). www.krazyhorse.co.uk NovEmbEr 9 Garstang Car & Bike Autojumble at Hamilton House in Preston (PR3 0TB). www.garstangautojumbles.co.uk

Upgraded Crossrunner and new Honda Forza HONDA’S VFR800X Crossrunner features revisions to its 800cc V4 engine for more top-end power and midrange torque; new wheels and brakes; longer travel suspension and sharper looks.

Other features include Honda’s selectable torque control (HSTC) system, ABS, LED lights, selfcancelling indicators, height adjustable seat and five-stage heated grips as standard.

The riding position is more aggressive and the bike has a stronger all-round sport performance. The heart of the machine remains the VTEC-equipped 90° V4 dohc 16 valve engine, with increased peak power of 104.6bhp.

The aluminium twin-beam frame features a lighter, revised subframe and new aluminium swingarm. Dual 310mm brake discs are fitted to the front 17-inch wheel worked by radialmount four-piston calipers.

Honda also announced the all-new Forza 125 with a height adjustable windshield, 48 litres of storage room – enough for two full-face helmets, a 12v power socket and an LED head and tail-light. The 125cc liquid-cooled

Moto Guzzi V7

SEVERAL revisions have been made to the V7 II including two-channel ABS braking, traction control, six-speed gearbox with revised clutch actuation, lower seat height and footpegs.

The engine has been tilted 4° to the front and lowered by 10mm to increase kneeroom too. Three versions are available: V7 II Stone in four matt colours, V7 II Special in three colours and the V7 II Racer with a chrome tank. uk.motoguzzi.it

engine produces 14bhp with a peak torque of 8.9lb-ft. Honda claims 123mpg from the 162kg machine and its 11.5 litre tank. The steel frame employs 33mm telescopic forks and seven-stage adjustable twin rear shocks. A 15-inch front wheel is backed up by a 14-inch rear. There are single disc brakes on the front and rear and ABS comes as standard. www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles

Ducati unveils longawaited Scrambler

BMW announces three new additions to the range

Poppy Day Parade and Service – Military Vehicle Meet at Ace Cafe (NW10 7UDD). www.ace-cafe-london.com NovEmbEr 16 Super Moto and Scramblers Day at Ace Cafe. www.ace-cafe-london.com ’Normous Newark Autojumble at Newark Showground (NG24 2NY). www.newarkautojumble.co.uk NovEmbEr 22-30 Motorcycle Live 2014 at NEC, Birmingham. www.motorcyclelive.co.uk NovEmbEr 23 Huddersfield Autojumble (HD1 1RG). www.phoenixfairs.jimdo.com Ariel Bike Day at Ace Cafe. www.ace-cafe-london.com Salvation Army Toy Run, Southwell, (NG25 0EH). Meet 10am, entry price is a (new) toy or gift. 01636 812838.

16th Malvern Drive-In Classic Car and Bike Autojumble, Three Counties Showground (WR13 6NW). www.classicshows.org NovEmbEr 30 Bike Day at Ace Cafe. www.ace-cafe-london.com LIsT your EvENT hErE Visit www.morebikes.co.uk/events

BMW has announced a new R12000R. Using the same 123.3bhp engine as the R1200 GS, RT and RS, it’s claimed the 92lb-ft lump has a more uniform torque delivery through the rev range.

The engine is a self-supporting element of a new tubular-steel bridge frame with USD forks and an EVO Paralever rear. It also incorporates a new air intake and central radiator. It features ABS and automatic stability control (ASC) as standard with dynamic traction control (DTC) as an optional extra.

The new R1200RS features the same engine and frame as in the new R1200R, however, the sports-tourer design also has new fairings and an adjustable windshield. It comes with ABS and ASC as standard with traction control part of a ‘Riding mode Pro’ option.

The iconic S1000RR has lost 4kg and gained 6bhp through a redesigned cylinder head and exhaust system to reach 196bhp. Torque delivery has been refined with a peak of 83lb-ft, which according to BMW makes the bike more rider-friendly.

2015 Caponord Rally joins the family THE Caponord family is extended for 2015, with the addition of the new 1200 Rally. The new model features spoked wheels, hard panniers with aluminium covers, a 24-litre fuel tank, LED running lights, a larger screen plus protection for the sump, oil cooler and bodywork.

It’s powered by Aprilia’s 1200cc V-twin engine, has a ride-by-wire

throttle with three engine maps, traction control, cruise control, switchable ABS as well as Aprilia Dynamic Damping (ADD) suspension which automatically adapts its calibration to match the road surface and riding style. Prices to be announced. uk.aprilia.com

The chassis has been tweaked with a lighter structure for optimised rigidity and flexibility, while modified geometry and suspension promise improved handling, traction and feedback.

Dynamic damping control – already available on the HP4 – and Rain, Sport and Race riding modes come as standard with ‘Pro’ an optional extra offering launch control, pit lane speed limiter and ‘Slick’ and ‘User’ modes. www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk

THE Scrambler is “a whole new world, one that expresses itself,” according to the Italian company.

The bike features front and rear LED lighting (with a traditional bulb for main-beam), and has LCD instruments in a single, round housing. It’s said to be a contemporary take on the iconic machine built by Ducati in the 1970s.

It is available in two paint options – 62 yellow and Ducati red – and the teardrop-shaped tank features interchangeable aluminium side panels. The low seat height of 790mm should make it easy to scramble through city traffic with the oil-cooled 90° V-twin (or L-twin as Ducati calls it) 803cc motor making 75bhp and 50lb-ft.

The enduro-style Pirelli rubber is wrapped around 10-spoke alloy wheels with dual-channel ABS as standard. Unadjustable Kayaba forks and a preload-adjustable shock link to the tubular steel trellis frame.

We expect it to cost around £7000 when it goes on sale in the UK. www.ducati.co.uk

NEWS 5

New XJR1300 and custom styles from Yamaha OVER the last five years, Yamaha has been collaborating with professional custom builders to create a series of concept machines. Yamaha has started to incorporate these ‘yard built’ designs into factory bike production – including the new XJR. The slim 14.5 litre fuel tank emphasises the four-cylinder air-cooled engine while the new solo-seat design gives that custom feel. The black 4-2-1 exhaust pipe and muffler ends in a new tail cap design, which sets off the look.

Further additions include an aluminium side cover in a buffed finish with mesh inserts.

Tapered aluminium handlebars and a compact headlamp come together to highlight the muscular image and wide bars sit close to the rider for an upright seating position.

Yamaha also unveiled the new XJR1300 Racer – a custom twist based on the new XJR1300 – which will be a special edition built by an official Yamaha dealer with genuine parts including carbon cowl and clip-on handlebars. There’s a sporty styled solo-seat with a carbon passenger seat cover.

Like the XJR Racer, the MT-07 Moto Cage will be built by dealers. It features a vibrant new colour scheme with special tank and tail graphics, and is equipped with a range of new components to include frame-mounted engine guards, tough tubular under guard, knuckle protectors, an adjustable front light mask and protective stickers.

It also has a newly designed passenger seat and lightweight radiator guards.

ABS versions of the YZF-125 and MT-125 join new colour schemes across the range, and LED indicators for the XVS1300 custom. www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk

Street-fighter style Suzuki unveiled

THE naked GSX-S1000 features an all-new frame with the engine from the iconic GSX-R1000 K5, famed for its low-down torque and midrange power. It has a three mode traction control system and ABS. The F variant features all the benefits as its naked sibling but is wrapped in a newly designed

fairing. Both models are expected late spring 2015 with prices to be announced.

The new Address 110 scooter boasts 139mpg and a 5.2 litre fuel tank, along with 20.6 litres of storage capacity under the seat and a rear handbrake. It has a new fuel injection system, redesigned body work and cast aluminium wheels.

Taking its design cues from the iconic single cylinder trail bike – DR Big – the new V-Strom 650XT features a front ‘beak’, benefits from ABS as standard and has wire-spoked aluminium wheels. It’s expected in December this year.

The Bandit is back. It’s home of the newest version of Suzuki’s

1255cc inline four-cylinder engine and gets a styling update with aero dynamic fairings.

Other updates include a fully faired Inazuma 250 – the Inazuma 250F due in early 2015. The GSXR1000 now comes with ABS and it will also be available in the replica colours of Suzuki’s new MotoGP racer. www.suzuki-gb.co.uk

6

NEWS 7

How about a...

Special Edition Bonnies and Street Triple TRIUMPH has announced a number of special and limited edition motorcycles. The iconic 865cc parallel twin engine has been used to power all the Bonneville special/limited editions, which produces 67.1bhp peak power and 50.2lb-ft of torque.

The Bonneville Newchurch celebrates the international Triumph Tridays festival in Austria and will go on sale in spring for £6999.

The Bonneville Spirit is a T100based special edition to “celebrate the spirit of customisation” with a unique blue and white paint scheme combined with blackened details.

It will be hitting dealerships in spring at £7499.

The Bonneville T214 commemorates Johnny Allen’s 1956 Salt Flats land speed record and 100 years of land speed setting at Bonneville. Limited to a total of 1000 bikes worldwide, they are due at the end of October for £7849.

500cc Velocette Venom 1955-1970 ONE of the finest all-round pushrod singles to be produced in Britain, the Velocette Venom is a well-mannered 100mph roadburner with excellent braking and roadholding.

The Thruxton Ace marks Triumph’s association with the Ace Cafe in North London. It features a unique retro paint and decal scheme, sculpted Oxblood custom seat, bar end mirrors and a handlebar plaque.

Just 100 will be available for UK customers available from December at £8199.

The Street Triple RX (£8459) features a red rear subframe courtesy of the Daytona 675, diablo red wheels, special decals, seat cowl, belly pan and fly screen combined with a race-inspired quickshifter as standard. www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk

Why should I want one?

Still rising in value, the Venom, along with the Special, Clubman and Thruxton variants, is both a sound investment and a thrilling riding experience. With an easily sustained cruising speed of 80mph, it is just as capable on today’s roads and motorways as it ever was in the 1960s.

What should I look for?

Sometimes leaks develop around the oil pipe unions but they are easily

KTM Super Adventure and Freeride electric THE new KTM 1290 Super Adventure is powered by a development of the V2 power pack from the 1290 Super Duke R with new cylinder heads and a new crankshaft to provide 160bhp.

It features an easily adjustable windshield, heated seat, heated grips and a 30 litre tank. Motorcycle stability control (MSC), motorcycle traction control (MTC), semi-active WP suspension and cruise control come as standard.

It also has newly developed cornering headlights. Optional extras include electronic hill hold control (HHC).

The Freeride E range is run by a

brushless motor powered by a lithium-ion 2.6kWh battery. The high torque motor only needs a single drive ratio and no gearbox, with power peaking at 21.5bhp through a choice of three riding modes. The battery provides up to an hour of power.

The E-SX is not for road use – with off-road riding opportunities becoming increasingly restricted, it’s hoped that this zero-emission and zero-noise machine may offer a solution.

The E-XC is light and powerful like the E-SX, but it has everything it needs to be street-legal such as

lights, indicators, mirrors and an ignition lock.

Fitted with street tyres, the E-SM is a dedicated road-going electric bike. It’s geared taller for higher speeds and has smaller wheels. The suspension has been specially tuned for the road too. www.ktm.com

cured; clutch drag or slip (in the Venom the clutch is positioned between the gearbox and gearbox sprocket) can often be cured by making sure the plates are completely flat, then carefully adjusting the cable to leave about 1⁄8in of play at the handlebar lever; on certain models teeth could strip from the fibre timing cog, putting the bike completely out of action until a replacement – preferably metal — was fitted.

For the Venom Clubman in 1960, the compression ratio was raised to 9.3:1, making the peppy model notoriously difficult to start and resulting in very painful kickbacks unless the starting technique in the handbook was very carefully followed.

How do I look after it?

Regular oil changes, routine checks and adjustments will go a long way towards keeping a Venom in sound condition. The quality of finish, both paintwork and chrome, was usually very good.

Expect to pay: £2500-plus for a restoration project and well upwards of £8000 for a mint example.

Find this and many more great bikes in Subscribe from only £7 by calling 01507 529529 and quoting ‘OBM00068’ or online at classicmagazines.co.uk/obm00068 Offer ends 31/12/14

8 NEWS

See all The new bikeS aT MoTorcycle live

The Intermot show in Cologne earlier this month saw the leading manufacturers unveil a whole host of new and updated models for 2015.

If you couldn’t make the trip to Germany, you only have a matter of weeks to wait until the majority of these models hit UK soil, with many being debuted at Motorcycle Live at The NEC, Birmingham, on November 22-30.

Motorcycle Live is the UK’s largest bike show and first and foremost, that’s what visitors get to see. Every November, thousands of two-wheel fans make the winter-season pilgrimage to see the next year’s new models in the UK for the first time.

This year will be no different, with over 35 of the world’s leading

motorcycle manufacturers signed, each one showcasing the very latest machinery – from sports bikes and scooters to adventure models and offroaders.

In addition to the new bikes, visitors can also enjoy a trip down memory lane in the Classic/Retro feature sponsored by the Coventry Transport Museum. The Classic section will feature unique, mint-condition machines from the First World War era, while the Retro collection will focus on old favourites and rare gems from the 1980s. One not to miss!

Shiny machinery doesn’t get more eye-catching than the weird and wonderful bikes on display in the Custom Xtreme feature supported by

Back Street Heroes. This high-profile showcase is dedicated to the work of the UK’s most talented and ingenious bike builders – professional and amateur alike – all of whom remain consistently passionate about fusing exquisite engineering and absolute art into a single motorcycle.

Motorcycle Live takes place at The NEC, Birmingham, from November 22-30, 2014. Advance tickets cost £17 per adult, £11 for seniors and £7 for children aged 1116* (kids 10 and under accompanied by a paying adult go free). There is also a £20 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and a three-pack of Oxford Comfy neck warmers worth £15.

To book, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk * Advance ticket price, closing date for advance tickets is 5pm on November 21, 2014. All information correct at the time of release.

9

10 PRODUCTS

TesTed

Putting in the miles with the kit that matters

GIVI X-Stream XS317 ruckSack

£108.25 | www.givi.co.uk / 01327 706220 | Tested by Carli Ann Smith WITH a 30 litre capacity, there’s plenty of room in the X-Stream – I often carry 10kg in it and haven’t suffered, thanks to the padded shoulder straps and two compression straps which spread the weight no matter how tightly it’s packed.

Zips are good quality and secure, featuring safety locks to enable you to put a slim carabiner or even padlock through.

Inside the main compartment are three handy inner net pockets – one long rectangular one at the front, which is useful for storing your phone, and two on either side for bottles of water or extra base layers.

It’s worn well, and when it gets grubby I simply wipe it with a damp cloth and it looks brand new. The material has been treated to prevent fading from the sun and there are two reflective stripes on the bag and shoulder straps.

There’s an integrated helmet holder that comes out from the bottom of the backpack to carry your lid when you’re off the bike, and a padded laptop pocket which will take up to a 15in screen size.

A fluoro yellow rain cover zips out of the top of this bag too – if you’re anything like me, you’ll be happy it’s integrated as separate rain covers always seem to get lost…

At just over £100, the X-Stream isn’t the cheapest option out there, however, with its large carrying capacity, ergonomic straps and good attention to detail, I feel it’s a price worth paying for a versatile, comfortable and stylish looking rucksack that will last.

rSt Brooklyn Jacket

£119.99 | www.rst-moto.com / 01773 864420 | Tested by Helen Milbank WHILE John (husband and editor of MCM) is out on a bike almost every day, my trips as a pillion tend to be far less frequent.

I’ve been riding around in begged, borrowed and (ahem) stolen kit for the past decade, but to really enjoy a ride you need to be in good-fitting, decent quality gear.

The RST Brooklyn jacket is well designed and great value, offering a removable lining, reflective panels, good quality zips and a waterproof, breathable membrane.

I haven’t had to endure any really heavy soakings, but so far I’ve had no problems with the rain getting in. Of course, I’m generally nicely tucked behind John, so he takes the brunt of the elements.

At the price, it’s understandable that there’s no back protector included, but there is a pocket for one, and the elbows and shoulders come with removable CE-approved armour. I’m quite short in the arm, but once I’ve tightened the cuffs the elbow protection falls into place nicely.

There are zipped vents built into the shoulders and back, and three (rather small) zipped pockets on the outside, with one inside (or two with the lining in).

The elasticated waist offers a great fit, with plenty of Velcro adjustment, along with zips at the hips and poppers on the arms. The collar has a nice soft feel to it, but I’d have preferred the ability to tweak how tight it is – a single popper means it’s either open or closed.

At the price, this is a wonderful bit of kit, and suits our trips perfectly. Combined with the £89.99 Brooklyn trousers, it’s excellent value gear to get you protected.

DrIft GhoSt-S actIon camera

£329 | driftinnovation.com | Tested by John Milbank FROM trackdays to touring, for bragging rights or safety, action cams are increasingly popular... but which to choose? At the top of the market are GoPro and Drift, but with GoPro’s large fan base, it’s often hard to get a useful opinion on which is best suited to your needs.

For more than a year, I’ve used a GoPro Hero 3 Black (the top model before the new ‘plus’ was introduced) and a Drift HD Ghost (now topped by the Ghost-S on review here). While the GoPro’s 4k resolution (at a low 15 frames per second) and the ability to shoot in a raw ProTune mode might appeal to professional broadcasters, it’s ease of use that really separates the two units for us bikers.

The new Drift Ghost-S has improved image quality over the older model, and running the GoPro Hero 3 Black alongside it can make choosing a winner tricky. Log onto MoreBikes.co.uk and search for ‘Drift S’ for a video showing results from both cameras.

The GoPro comes with a case that’s waterproof down to 60m. The Drift is waterproof to 3m, but that’s fine for biking and as you wouldn’t run the GoPro on a bike without its case, the weight of the two is very similar. And that’s impressive, when you consider that the Drift includes a screen and speaker for setting up and reviewing your videos. Both cameras allow you to connect to a smartphone app, but I’ve never felt the need with the Drift as the screen is such a huge benefit.

The user interface is quickly accessible from a pair of buttons on the GoPro, but the Drift’s screen offers far simpler control of all the camera’s functions, making it much more intuitive to use.

It’s the mounting system that really puts the Drift ahead – the simple clip of the Drift might be a little larger than the GoPro’s, but it’s easy to pop the camera in and out with gloved hands. This can save a lot of hassle when checking your settings just before riding. Unscrew the clip and you’ll find a

standard tripod socket, offering even more options for fitting.

The Drift sits snugly against the side of your helmet or bike, but the GoPro is actually a little cumbersome with its brackets and wide form, and can vibrate when riding. What really makes the difference however is the Drift’s superb Gorilla Glass-protected rotating lens: 300° of movement means you can mount the camera anywhere with the minimum of fuss, but still get the angle you want.

Video tagging is a great feature on the Drift that leaves the camera constantly recording and overwriting itself. Press the remote button and it will save the previous specified interval (five minutes for example), the current five minutes, and the next five minutes. If something interesting happens, hit the button and it’s stored on the MicroSD card.

Before the Ghost-S was launched, I used my GoPro for high-speed photography, as it offers 60fps, or a whopping 120fps at 720p, which was great for slow-motion shots. The new Drift-S now matches this, but with a superior battery life – in my tests recording at 1080p/60fps onto matching 32GB cards, the Drift recorded 156 minutes of footage, against the GoPro’s 63 minutes. The flipside to this is that the GoPro’s standby time is better than the Drift, so keep that in mind if you intend to leave the camera waiting to record for a long time.

When I’m testing a bike I’ll often record a video review while riding. On a new machine and foreign roads, the last thing I want to be doing is worrying about my cameras. I’m lucky enough to be able to use a pair of Drifts, and the new S allows up to five to be synchronised, meaning settings only need to be changed once, and recordings are started/stopped together.

The included RF remote control can also operate multiple cameras, and with its coloured LED feedback, you always know what’s happening. The LEDs blink just a little slowly for my liking, meaning I need to take my eyes off the road for too long to see what colour it flashes.

The Drift’s audio quality is acceptable. Keeping

in mind that the unit is waterproof, it does a reasonable job of picking up sound, though on a bike it’s all lost to wind noise. In its waterproof case, the GoPro is hopeless at picking up speech, but manages to filter a lot of wind noise out so you can hear the engine when riding.

The Drift allows you to use an external mic – something the GoPro doesn’t offer – and that’s how I record my voice in launch reports. A little high-pitched interference can be heard, but it could allow you to focus on exhaust or engine tones quite well. The Drift isn’t as waterproof with the mic inserted, but I’ve ridden in pouring rain without any problems (though I do pop a bit of tape around the connector, just to be sure).

Both cameras give superb quality results, worthy of any HD TV, but as a biker the only downside to the Drift is its audio quality when in the wind. The ease of mounting, simple remote control, superior battery life and the built-in screen make it a great piece of kit for motorcycles.

12 LETTERS

HAVE YOUR SAY Find a missing bike

Regarding the letter in October’s MCM, according to the DVLA site www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk Roy Huggin’s Norton hasn’t been taxed since September 1, 1981, so it may have been exported, scrapped or be lying in a barn somewhere.

George Strong

Saved by the buzz

I was riding towards a double junction recently when a police car pulled out from the right in front of me. I grabbed the brakes and started to fume... I then checked my indicators and sure enough, I hadn’t cancelled them!

I am sure this will ring a bell with some of your readers. The trouble is that bikes don’t cancel indicators the way cars do and a full-face helmet can obscure the warning lights.

Then I saw an advert in MCM for an indicator warning buzzer from Azonic Solutions and sent away for the kit – a small buzzer with just two long wires and connectors, with a printed instruction leaflet. So easy to fit and now I have peace of mind with an audible indicator.

The safety aspect was brought home to me shortly after when a family was approaching a kerb with their backs to me. The sound of the indicator made them stop and look at me. I have much more confidence and peace of mind now.

Raymond Miles

We want to hear from you! Whether you’ve got a great riding tip, an interesting story to tell, or simply need to get something off your chest, get in touch today. email: editorial@motorcyclemonthly.co.uk Post: Your letters, Motor Cycle Monthly, Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Or why not post on our Facebook page. It’s a great chance to get chatting with us, and hundreds of like-minded bikers. See you at facebook.com/MotorCycleMonthly

★ MCM STAR LETTER OF THE MONTH ★ Budget bikes are just as much fun

I had to sell my Aprilia RSV1000R a couple of years ago due to ill health and gave up motorcycling. I was off work for a fair period of time, and the money from the sale was absorbed into the cost of living during my illness. After I recovered I missed riding, but thought a good quality sports bike would be out of my reach.

Sifting through various bike ads, I was disheartened as my budget of £2k didn’t seem to offer much more than scrap.

Then I stumbled across a 2004 Benelli Tornado TRE900 at £2.5k. I thought it must be a misprint but offered the dealer a cheeky £2000.

He accepted if I took it sold as seen! It was snowing, but I jumped on a train and headed north to collect it. I really could not believe my luck as it was in almost showroom condition and looked amazing. We wheeled it outside and started it up – boy what a sound. I handed over my money and headed off for

This month’s star letter wins a fantastic pair of RST Blade gloves worth £49.99.

With a double-layer leather palm, carbon knuckles and pre-curved outstitched fingers it’s a great do-it-all sports glove. www.rst-moto.com

the 160 mile snow-bound journey home. The roads were clear but it was cold, yet the bike behaved perfectly all the way home. It was one of the best riding experiences I have had, and I must have looked a right idiot smiling ear to ear all the way home on a hardcore sports bike in rubbish weather.

It’s since done 3500 miles and has been great fun and rewarding to ride with the awesome power and handling. The only thing to go wrong was a failed coil. It just proves that two wheels need not be expensive as for £2k I have a bike that’s more than capable of producing the level of fun of a £6k machine, and it attracts more attention and questions everywhere I go than my mates £10k race rep.

John Wheatcroft

Blimey John, that makes my cheap CBR600 seem less of a bargain – your bike’s stunning! Have a pair of smart RST gloves to go with it…

COMPETITION 13

THE INTERNaTIoNal DIRT BIkE sHoW Is a gREaT Day ouT FoR all BIkERs It doesn’t matter what you ride, the fantastic show at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire has stands, attractions, bikes and more for riders of every age and background, plus there’s a chance to win an amazing Honda CRF450R...

W I N CRF450R A

The 2014 International Dirt Bike Show returns to Stoneleigh Park later this month for four days of action-packed fun. Doors open at 9.30am on Thursday, October 30, and the displays, action and entertainment run flat-out through to the close at 5pm on Sunday, November 2.

on display

All the major manufacturers will be in attendance this year, with the disciplines of adventure, motocross, enduro, trail, trial, supercross, supermoto, flat track, classic and minibikes all represented.

KTM, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Husqvarna and Kawasaki will all show off their latest production and factoryspec race bikes in the main exhibition hall. Over in Hall Three, you’ll find TM, GasGas – trials and enduro, Beta, Sherco, Oset and Mecatecno, as well as a host of machine displays.

On the parts, accessories and kit front, you can expect to see the latest gear from major distributors lining up alongside tyre, oil, insurance, race truck, graphics, trackside display companies and the main sporting clubs and associations. Of course, many of the distributors will be supported by outlets selling their wares in the retail-dedicated hall one.

activities abound

On-stage entertainment will be steered by the authoritative, off-road fact-sharing Jack Burnicle, who will oversee popular activities such as the daily PS3 challenge, the Michelin tyreholding endurance test – which always looks easier than it actually is, and Danny Butler’s MTB stage show.

Naturally, Jack will interview the leading lights of the sport, making a visit to the International Dirt Bike Show a firm diary date each year.

The gravity-defying Wall of Death will be out front, adjacent to the catering units, and then once inside, the activity halls will house Inch Perfect Trials – with displays to watch and machines to try out; Owd Codgers Trials – bringing a sense of decorum to proceedings; Lee Bowers’ stunt spectacular – using both superbike and motocross machines; Flat Track and Supermoto demos – with a few surprises planned; My First

Honda Licence – letting the youngsters of the family get the biking buzz; the Electric Zone with Oset and Mecatecno – children from as young as two can have a go; remote-control bikes – challenge your family and mates; kids’ quads and more.

spectator viewing and a trade area selling mini bike goods.

Thursday and Friday will serve as practice days with qualifying heats and finals starting from 10am on both Saturday and Sunday.

Half the size, twice the fun

See below for your chance to win an incredible Honda CRF450R, and an auction will also take place over the weekend of the show in aid of the Fight like a Girl cancer charity. This year’s bidding war will be for a giant bear signed by some of motorcycling’s sporting greats such as Guy Martin, Tony Cairoli, Josh Brookes, Jeffrey Herlings, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Tommy Searle, Chris Walker and many, many more.

Fast and furious is the name of the game here as the organiser of the MiniBike National and British Championships is running a standalone event at the Show which will see six classes – Vets, Clubman, Pro, StockMod, Pro 88 and Youth 125 – battle it out over eight frantic laps for show glory.

The MiniBike championships have been running for three full race seasons and such is the popularity of the events that they’re usually oversubscribed. Show visitors can expect to see plenty of packed races with top-level riders, live timing screens, a new and bigger supercrossstyle indoor track layout, better

WIN a HoNDa CRF450R

We’ve teamed up with Honda to offer you the chance to win an off-road bike worth almost £8000 in our FREE to enter prize draw!

Matching an agile, state-of-the-art chassis to big-hitting four-stroke power and torque, since its introduction in 2002 the Honda CRF450R has proven itself a complete, winning package. With a host of upgrades, the 2014 CRF450R Black Edition builds on this success…

■ Improved bottom-end torque from the 449cc single-cylinder engine ■ Finer feel at partial throttle openings to control drive ■ Greater top-end power ■ New dual fuel injection timing and updated twin rear silencers ■ Lighter clutch springs with no loss of durability ■ 9.35kg aluminium twin-beam

frame and swingarm with ProLink rear suspension linkage ■ 48mm air suspension KYB front forks with revised internals for improved damping response ■ Forks fully adjustable for rebound, compression damping and preload ■ 240mm wave-pattern disc and twin-piston brake caliper ■ Talon wheels ■ Yoshimura exhaust Competition open to UK entrants only. Specific terms & conditions and general competition terms & conditions apply; visit www.dirtbikeshow.co.uk for full details. Closing date: Monday, December 1, 2014.

Enter at the Classic Dirt Bike magazine stand at the show, or enter online today at www.dirtbikeshow.co.uk The winner will be the first name selected at random.

Be a winner

Buy in advance

Huge savings can be made by buying tickets in advance and, thanks to its tremendous success in recent years, half-price Thursday for adults is back.

This means an adult buying a ticket in

advance can gain entry for just £6, or the on-the-door price for the Thursday will be just £7.50. Children aged 10 and under go free but if your offspring are over the age of 10, a family ticket for the opening day is just £24 which, when coupled with free parking and souvenir show guide, makes it a cracking value day out for the whole crew! What’s more, in many parts of the country, the show coincides with the autumn school half-term so what better way to keep the youngsters entertained?

As plans develop, further announcements will be made on the show website and via its Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Money-saving advance tickets are on sale now – and will remain on sale right up until midnight on Sunday, October 26, 2014 – and can be bought online via the ON SALE NOW link at www.dirtbikeshow.co.uk where the Show App can be downloaded, or by calling 0844 338 8000.

14 First ride

Midual Type 1 €140,000 | 1036cc | 4-stroke flat-twin 107bhp @ 7800rpm | 72.3lb-ft @ 6000rpm Tested by: Alan Cathcart Photography: Kel Edge It’s increasingly difficult to dream up any new way of building a four-stroke motorcycle engine – with Honda’s MotoGP world title-winning V5 RC211V being the last notable such example over a decade ago – but now French engineer Olivier Midy has come up with something almost as innovative: his flat-twin Midual Type 1 roadster.

Tell me about the engine

All 520 component parts were designed by Midy himself. The 1036cc Midual engine is a dual overhead cam eight-valve flat-twin with verticallysplit crankcases, whose cylinders being tilted forward by 25º provide space for the six-speed transmission to be mounted beneath the rear pot, combined with an oil-bath ramp-style slipper clutch, and straight-cut primary gears.

The monocoque frame is machined from an 84kg aluminium casting.

Midy holds five global patents relating to its design and it accounts for 15,000 hours of collective work by Midual’s eight-person team – including his wife and brother.

The one-piece 180º plain-bearing crankshaft runs on central plain main bearings and two outer ball bearings, with its steel con rods carrying threering forged pistons delivering a 12:1 compression ratio. A layshaft is mounted above the crank and driven directly off it, which in turn actuates the rear of the two high-pressure trochoidal oil pumps, whose pinion then drives its forward companion.

That layshaft also drives the two camchains operating the twin overhead camshafts per cylinder, fitted with hydraulic tensioners. These operate the four valves per cylinder – twin 36mm inlets set at a 21.5º included angle to the 31mm exhausts – via cylindrical tappets.

Twin 54mm Magneti Marelli throttle bodies each incorporate a single 12hole Marelli injector positioned south of the butterfly, although the engine management system’s ECU isn’t one of theirs, but a Walbro specially developed for Midual. The twin separate stainless steel exhausts incorporate a balance pipe joining them beneath the engine, and each contains a catalyst inside the silencer, as well as a single lambda probe.

The Midual has been homologated for the street in France as Euro 3 compliant, and Midy is confident of meeting Euro 4 requirements in due course. The engine produces 107bhp at 7800rpm at the crank, with maximum torque of 72.3lb-ft at 6000rpm.

What’s the chassis like?

An immensely stiff cast aluminium double-wall monocoque frame sourced from an 84kg raw casting which has been five-axis machined and manually polished down to the finished product weighing 24kg. It’s

the subject of two further patents and 7000 hours of development work that takes hundreds of hours to craft. It incorporates the integral 14 litre fuel tank, so it’s a true monocoque.

The monocoque also incorporates the subframe for the dual seat, as well as ducts leading to the airbox feeding the twin throttle bodies, and it carries the Midual’s flat-twin engine as a semi-stressed member via twin boomerang-shaped cast aluminum spars. These support the radiator mounted above the front cylinder, thereby helping hold down the wheelbase to 1500mm, and at the

bottom contain the pivot point for the cast aluminium cantilever swingarm.

This operates the fully adjustable Öhlins TTX36 monoshock directly, without a link, with the shock’s upper pivot incorporated in the monocoque frame casting. This also includes the steering head, where angle may be varied by half a degree either side of the default 24.5º rake, with 100mm of trail.

The 17in Akront aluminium wirewheel rims (cast wheels are one of the many options – each bike is essentially built to order) carry Michelin Pilot Road 2 tyres.

First ride 15 The design of the Spanish rims mean there’s no need for inner tubes. Twin 320mm Brembo floating front discs are gripped by four-piston four-pad Brembo Monobloc radial calipers, while there’s a fixed 245mm rear disc with two-piston caliper.

The Midual’s 239kg wet weight is split 49/51% for a slight rearwards weight bias which will enhance traction – there’s no traction control, nor any other electronic riding aids. The fuel tank is centralised in the wheelbase, so there’s no change in the weight distribution or in the dynamics of the bike when the fuel level decreases.

The speedometer is in front of the one-piece taper-section handlebar mounted on 35mm risers which is made right next door to the Midual factory in Angers, by Neken, which makes handlebars for BMW too. All other components of the dashboard are mounted in the upper face of the monocoque chassis, with the large tacho flanked by six smaller round

dials, three each side – a clock, oil temp and oil pressure gauges on the left, and fuel, water temp and voltmeter on the right, with a quartet of warning lights in the centre, above the large red starter button.

Both the handlebar-mounted metal control units are made in-house by Midual. Out of the 1550 components in this entire bike, only one is plastic and that’s the numberplate. There are the old-style BMW indicator buttons so you must push the button on the right to turn right, then press it again to stop it flashing, and the same thing on the left to turn left. You wouldn’t guess that Midy has been riding BMW Boxer twins for the past 20 years!

Should I buy one?

The €140,000 asking price may not be within everyone’s reach – and Olivier knows this: “I’ve always been interested in fine watches – even if I don’t have the money to buy any. It seemed to me that our best chance of finding a place for the Midual was to build an extremely high quality product that appealed to the same kind of connoisseurs who buy such watches – people who appreciate mechanical objets d’art as much for the beauty of their design and creation, and their complex, unique mechanical specification, as for their excellent dynamic function. So that’s our strategy for producing the Midual, and I’m very confident that we’ve chosen the right path.”

Midy already has orders for two bikes under deposit – even before its official launch.

So what’s it like to ride?

15,000 hours of collective work went into creating this stunning motor.

Leading up to its Californian debut, I’ve twice visited the Midual factory – I first tested the development prototype and on a return visit, the first of the

two pre-production bikes. The beautifully upholstered 810mm high seat is a good place to spend a full day riding hard and fast, with the relatively low footrests delivering a comfortable stance, although your knees are slightly more splayed than would be ideal, because of the need to find extra space in the monocoque’s fuel tank.

The whole aura of the bike is exclusive and upmarket. Fit and finish is superlative, with every single component exquisitely made – I’ve never ridden anything before that simply reeked of exclusivity as much as this bike.

I personally didn’t like the semicruiseresque handlebar – I’d like something narrower that’s more pulled back, so I don’t have to lean as far forward with my arms out wide.

However, with the handlebar manufacturer across the street, Midy can give each customer whatever they want. It’s a bespoke bike.

It has a completely unique engine character, with absolutely no vibration down low and in midrange, while the unique exhaust note takes care of stirring the senses. It builds power smoothly yet strongly and not far from the 1300rpm idle speed, allowing you to cut down on gearchanging – you can ride through town at 30mph in top gear, and the Midual will pull away smoothly with zero transmission snatch when you wind it open. The broad spread of torque makes this an enjoyable and satisfying real world ride, plus the Walbro ECU is well mapped, with no snatch off a closed throttle.

The gearbox’s shift action is light but positive, and the best I ever encountered riding a Boxer twin. The clutch was very heavy on the brandnew show bike I rode, whereas on the

prototype it had been acceptably light. A faulty selector spring had been the reason it was also hard to find neutral with a hot engine, a new Italian clutch cable was fitted to give a smoother and lighter action. Things like this underline that I was riding pre-production prototypes which are still work in progress...

The handling is outstanding – it’s one of the most neutral-steering bikes I’ve ever ridden. While you have a single crankshaft rotating crosswise in the frame, it’s powering twin horizontally-opposed pistons, the dynamics of whose operation all but cancel each other out in terms of their effect on the handling, leaving just the minimal effect of the very narrow forwards-rotating crankshaft. So, blip the Midual’s throttle at rest, and the bike doesn’t rock’n’roll fore and aft beneath you. Out on the road this makes for an ideally balanced engine package. The low-down centre of gravity occasioned by the distinctive engine layout means it rides bumps very well at speed – I found a great fourth gear sweeper with some wicked bumps right on the apex, and took several runs at it cranked right over, without once managing to get the Midual shaking its head. The Öhlins suspension is just icing on the cake, of course, ditto the Brembo brakes which haul the bike down hard from high speed, aided by the nicely dialed in slipper clutch – though I found it best to blip the throttle for downshifts to get a smooth change, sometimes just to hear that sweet exhaust sing a little harder…

There’s still one important issue that Olivier Midy and his team must address and are aware of – the engine vibration that cuts in at higher revs, which can spoil your enjoyment of the bike. On the prototype it started at

The speedo is mounted on the bars, but the rest of the analogue clocks are set into the top of the frame.

6000rpm, as if someone had flicked on the vibrator switch. It lasted until 7400rpm, when it began diminishing.

On the new show bike the boys had succeeded in diminishing it, without removing it altogether – now it kicks in at 6800rpm and lasts for 600-900 revs before gradually going away.

It’s hard not to stand in awe of what Olivier and his team have achieved. In theory, such an exploit as developing a completely new engine of any kind – let alone a one-litre twin as individual as this – should be out of reach of such a small company with minimal resources. It takes a rare commitment to investing 20 years of your life in working on developing and building your own completely new vision of what a motorcycle should be, but Olivier Midy is such a man, and the Midual the result.

TECH SPEC Price: €140,000 starting price (around £112,000) Engine: Water-cooled, eight-valve, 180° flattwin four-stroke 1036cc Power: 107bhp (79.8kW) @ 7800rpm Torque: 72.3lb-ft (98Nm) @ 6000rpm Wet Weight: 239kg Seat height: 810mm Tank size: 14 litres Contact: www.midual.com

16 FIRST RIDE

Jawa 660 Sportard From £6745 | 48.8bhp@6500rpm | 42lb-ft@6000rpm | 660cc four-valve sohc single-cylinder Tested by John Milbank Photos by Joe Dick

Givi Trekker luggage is very versatile.

Building bikes since 1929, Jawa is a European manufacturer exporting to more than 20 countries worldwide. Its popular twin-cylinder two-stroke 350s are the last of the big oil-burners, but the new 660 Sportard is the first of a new range: A line of bikes that the Czech Republic factory hopes will bring a wider audience to the marque.

Tell me about the engine

Built by Italian manufacturer Minarelli – a business now owned by Yamaha – it’s the same five-speed motor as used in the Japanese company’s XT660. The fuelling and electronics are shared between the two machines (so maintenance parts can be picked up from any Yamaha dealer if necessary), but the engineers at Jawa have eked out an extra 1.2bhp with their own well-crafted exhaust.

Peak power comes in 500rpm higher than the XT, and peak torque is 750rpm further up the range, but 2lbft lower. These variations at peak

TECH SPEC Price: £7595 OTR (£6745 without Explorer pack) Engine: Water-cooled, four valve, single cylinder 660cc Power: 48.8bhp (36kW) @ 6500rpm Torque: 42lb-ft (57Nm) @ 6000rpm Wet Weight: 207kg Seat height: 860mm Tank size: 17 litres Contact: 01945 410165 www.jawamotorcycles.co.uk

make little difference on the road, but the engine pulls smoothly from 3000rpm right up to the rev limiter, around 7500rpm. Unfortunately for Jawa, that extra poke puts the standard bike just out of the reach of A2 licence holders, but a simple restrictor is freely available.

What’s the chassis like?

A tubular steel frame, it’s solidly built with a quality aluminium swingarm. A subframe supporting the headlights, bikini fairing and clocks is cleverly designed to offer crash protection to the sides if you’re unlucky enough to drop the bike.

The 860mm seat height gives a good view of the road, yet at 5ft 11in I was still able to get both feet flat on the ground. The bars aren’t too wide, and seem to rest your arms in a good position for a very comfortable ride.

My only criticism would be that I found the seat a little too soft, and the front of its frame pushed on my thighs. Other riders haven’t complained, so it’s most likely down to your own riding position.

Front brakes are twin two-pot calipers biting on solid 320mm discs, suspended by unadjustable Paioli forks. The rear shock is a Bitubo unit adjustable for rebound damping and preload. Unusually, the rear brake is a four-pot radial-style caliper – the largest I’ve seen on a bike. With the

standard rear master cylinder it feels fine in use, and as Jawa builds its own brakes, it may well be a hint at some of the tech coming on the expected 1000cc twin- and 1200cc multicylinder engined bikes.

Should I buy one?

At the price, Jawa has picked a fight with the big manufacturers, but this is a machine that offers something different. By combining proven engine technology with Jawa’s own chassis and bodywork, it’s an exclusive bike that should appeal both to fans of the Czech heritage, and riders wanting something less ‘run of the mill’.

The UK importer for over 10 years, F2 Motorcycles, is able to boast of a very good relationship with the factory, which goes out of its way to supply any quantity of parts as and when needed. With general items always carried in the Cambridgeshire showroom, and quick access to other parts, it’s a relatively cheap and reliable way of buying a fairly unusual motorcycle.

The cost includes all On The Road charges, as well as a full tank of fuel, 12 months’ Road Tax and Alpha Dot protection with a lifetime membership. The bike comes with a twoyear/12,000 mile parts and labour warranty, and incredibly, self-servicing is supported. When you collect your bike, if you’re mechanically competent you’ll be shown how to carry out maintenance tasks for yourself if you prefer, and will keep your warranty as long as you buy your oil filter from F2.

Many purchasers pay to have their first service done, but are free to video, photograph and take notes of the process as David – the boss of F2 – does the work. Support is just a phone call away, but it’s a great idea for experienced bikers who want the security of a warranty with the pleasure of looking after their own bike.

So what’s it like to ride?

This bike had the full Explorer kit fitted, which includes removable Givi Trekker 33 litre panniers, a rack for a top box, hand guards and short fork protectors. Continental’s TKC 80 tyres were also fitted, which while

A good chassis helps the Sportard handle well. dual-purpose, they’re certainly more aimed at the dirt than road.

The tyres’ large blocks – perfect for digging into loose mud – make for a bike that drops into corners quite quickly on the Tarmac, and doesn’t offer the stability you expect at high road speeds.

However, the chassis keeps everything under control, and there’s a choice of Continental’s more road-biased Trail Attack for those dabbling in dry green lane riding, or the Road Attacks if you don’t intend to venture off the black stuff.

Personally, I’d opt for the Trail Attacks, but the stunning spoked wheels can be shod to suit your riding style and aspirations.

Predictably, the big single-cylinder engine works a treat, offering plenty of grunt for overtakes, with decent manners when cutting through busy traffic. There’s some hesitation at low speed, but that’s to be expected of these engines. Vibration is generally unintrusive, though you’ll start to notice it through the pegs if you’re sitting for long periods at 7080mph on the motorway.

If you hanker after something a bit different, it’s worth taking a look at the Sportard – it’s a well-built bike that might not have some of the refinements of a more mass-produced Japanese, German, Italian or British machine, but does offer not only a different look, but also a very different attitude to new bike ownership.

18 First ride

Piaggio MP3 500 ABS-ASR £7632 | 40bhp @ 7250rpm | 33.5lb-ft @ 8000rpm 493cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder Tested by: Roland Brown

SINCE its launch in 2006 the Piaggio MP3 has become a success in many countries including Britain, but you have to go to France to appreciate the three-wheeled scooter’s full impact.

Heading towards the MP3 500’s launch venue in central Paris by taxi, I glanced out of the window at a set of lights and assumed we’d arrived because there were three shiny MP3s parked in a row alongside.

But that was just an everyday bikebay scene in a city whose gourmet menu of hazards – from slippery cobbles to perilous Périphérique ringroad – is enough to steer many scooterists towards the extra security of a second front wheel.

More than 70,000 MP3s – almost half the total production – have been sold in France, the majority in the capital. Now, with local marque Peugeot finally having retaliated with its own Metropolis three-wheeler, the Italians have hit back by revamping the flagship model to create the MP3 500 ABS-ASR.

Tell me about the engine

This scooter is a major update, with an estimated 80% of components new, but the 493cc, liquid-cooled single cylinder engine is the least changed part of it.

There are still numerous modifications though, most notably the adoption of a ride-by-wire throttle control that allows two riding modes: normal and a low-power Eco. Alongside the addition of ABS braking, the ASR acronym refers to the new traction control system, which Piaggio calls acceleration slip regulation.

Main mechanical change to the sohc, four-valve motor is a revised tappet design. It also gets new intake and exhaust systems, and a revamped CVT transmission, aimed mainly at

The ‘boot’ has a decent amount of storage space. improving smoothness and reliability. Just as well, because the maximum output of 40bhp at 7250rpm is unchanged.

What’s the chassis like?

It’s substantially changed, both the mechanical parts and the allenveloping bodywork which gets a subtle restyle. This includes a wider, three-way adjustable screen, plus a new seat that is also wider, and incorporates small backrests for both rider and the pillion, who gets new footrests and a pair of chunky alloy grab-handles. The rear of the scooter has been slimmed and simplified to allow fitment of an accessory topbox but few riders will need one because the under-seat storage area has been enlarged, and can hold two full-face helmets.

Beneath the bodywork the twinshock chassis is built around a new tubular steel frame that Piaggio says is 35% stiffer. There’s little change to the all-important twin front suspension assembly, but the front wheels are bigger, at 13 instead of 12in diameters (rear remains 14in), which allows the front brake discs to be larger too, at 258mm. The newly ABS-enabled system is linked so has a foot pedal,

First ride 19 working the rear and one front disc, as well as two handlebar levers.

Should I buy one?

If you’re looking for a high-end scooter, or any two-wheeled commuter really, and are attracted by the idea of an extra front wheel, then the MP3 500 ABS-ASR is worth a serious look. There can’t be much doubt that the extra front wheel gives additional stability and grip that can be very useful, especially on slippery surfaces. This could be particularly valuable for relatively inexperienced riders, and those coming from cars (the MP3 can be ridden on a car licence if you passed your test before the January 19, 2013 cut-off ), but all riders can benefit.

In many ways the MP3 concept gives the best of all worlds. The 500 is

as slim and manoeuvrable as any big scooter, and potentially safer and more stable. It also has the typical scooter benefits of generous storage space and there are plenty of clever design touches.

At £7632 on the road it’s fairly expensive for a scooter, costing more than its closest rival the Peugeot Metropolis 400i (which is £6999), but it’s a more refined machine with superior, more conventional handling. It’s also a fair bit less expensive than other top-end scooters including BMW’s C600 and C650, Suzuki’s Burgman 650 Executive and Yamaha’s Tmax, all of which cost more than £8500.

So what’s it like to ride?

Much like a good conventional maxiscooter in normal conditions, and a

revelation on wet and slippery roads, when like other MP3s it benefits from the additional front wheel’s extra grip and stability. Not that I was able to confirm that on the dry launch in Paris, where it coped very well with the many cobbled streets and other hazards. But riding the similar Gilera Fuoco on its launch in rainy Berlin in 2007 – and being astonished by its grip and general cornering safety – remains a vivid memory.

Performance in a straight line is much like that of the Fuoco and previous MP3 500, but this model would almost certainly feel a little more refined if ridden back-to-back with its predecessors. Its ride-by-wire system works well, giving very smooth and glitch-free throttle response that combines with the twist-and-go CVT transmission to make for a very effortless ride. (Piaggio says fuel economy is notably improved too).

Acceleration was fairly brisk rather than adrenaline-producingly quick but the Piaggio always had enough grunt to get ahead of the Paris traffic.

On the faster roads towards the end of the launch ride it cruised along fairly smoothly at 70mph, with a bit of acceleration in hand.

On dry roads with only 40bhp to deal with there wasn’t much need of the traction control, but the ASR system is worth having especially for bad weather. The Eco mode, selectable via a button on the bars, was less useful, cutting power enough to make the Piaggio feel very flat.

The MP3 wasn’t dull in bends, though, handling well enough to be fun to ride despite weighing a fairly hefty 263kg dry. For a fairly big scooter, never mind one with an extra wheel, it corners well, steering with an impressively neutral feel and seeming more ‘normal’ than its Peugeot

MP3 Dealers

Metropolis rival, which requires more effort to make it change direction. The Piaggio is helped by its fairly firm but well damped suspension, and probably by its larger wheels, which did a good job of gliding over bumps.

Like other MP3s (and the Metropolis) the 500 has a ‘tilt lock’ button on the bars that allows you to fix the front wheels in a vertical position, and avoid the need to put a foot down at a standstill. I found childish pleasure in keeping feet up whenever possible, though I soon learned that trying to steer the MP3 like a normal scooter after activating its tilt-lock was activated, at very low speed, wasn’t a good idea. The tiltlock releases automatically when you pull away.

Stopping power from the larger front discs was impressive, and backed up both by the rear disc and by the ABS system, though there’s enough grip from the trio of Michelin City tyres that activating the anti-lock required a very firm squeeze of the lever. The foot pedal gave a useful amount of stopping power on its own, but I doubt that many experienced bike or scooter riders will have much use for it.

The other key aspect of a scooter is of course its practicality, and here the MP3 showed plenty of evidence that Piaggio had put thought into this redesign. The riding position is slightly roomier for both rider and pillion; I found the scooter comfortable and adequately roomy, although I’m tall.

Up front there’s a glove compartment that incorporates a USB socket for a smartphone, which can be connected to run Piaggio’s accessory Multimedia Platform. This syncs to the scooter’s electronic system to show data

A handy USB charging port is tucked neatly above the clocks. including performance, fuel economy, tyre pressure and even lean angle, as well as having a sat nav function. In Paris I rarely needed to use it but the technology is clever, and further proof of Piaggio’s forwardthinking approach.

Launching that original 250cc MP3 eight years ago was a step into the unknown for the Italian firm, but it’s one that has already proved a masterstroke. This MP3 500 ABS-ASR flagship moves the three-wheeled scooter forward again, adding some subtle but worthwhile refinements that make it arguably the safest scooter on the market, as well as one of the best. If more people – especially non-motorcyclists – got to try one, soon Paris would not be the only city teeming with Italian three-wheelers.

TECH SPEC Price: £7632 Engine: 493cc, liquid-cooled, sohc four-valve single Power: 40bhp (29.5kW) @ 7250rpm Torque: 33.5lb-ft (44.5Nm) @ 8000rpm Kerb weight: 263kg dry Seat height: 790mm Tank size: 12 litres www.uk.piaggio.com

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21

22 Long term test Mike, Dave, Mark, Tyler and John at Glencoe.

ThE PERfEcT bikE foR

PERfEcT RoadS John Milbank takes the Kawasaki Z1000SX on a biking holiday he’ll never forget…

Photography: John Milbank and Tyler Bacon WE’VE just ridden for an hour through the most stunning scenery, round beautiful corners, and on the best surfaces. It’s baking hot, and we’re stood in a service station forecourt eating ice creams.

“What was that road we just did?” I ask. “I know,” said Tyler, “It was the best f*****g road in the world”. It’s also known as the A87 past Loch Garry and Loch Loyne, in Scotland.

I’d never been this far north in the UK – family holidays (by car) had only reached Loch Lomond, but by God, the roads around Glencoe, Inverness, Ullapool and Applecross are un-bloody-believable.

Sun, lakes and panniers

My mate’s dad, Mike Hardy, planned the route for our lad’s bike holiday. A lifelong biker and a truck driver, he knows every bump, every pothole, and every perfect corner in the country. We met from a local bike dealer one Thursday morning: me on the Kawasaki Z1000SX; Mark on his Triumph Tiger; Dave on his Yamaha R1; Tyler on his Kawasaki ZX-9R and Mike on his Triumph Trophy.

The first day’s riding was inevitably a lot of motorways – we weren’t on this trip to explore England, we wanted the good stuff in Scotland. The Zed was, of course, faultless, and once I’d learned that I needed to flex my bum muscles every 20 minutes or so, the gel seat provided plenty of comfort.

No buffeting from the screen, stable

despite a topbox crammed with gear, and my only disappointment being that Kawasaki’s own luggage is topbox or panniers, not both. A pair of Oxford throw-over panniers hosted my pants, socks and glad rags, so unlike the rest of the riders, I didn’t have a tank bag in the way. I hate reaching around to steer my bike, though Mark did look pretty comfortable with his head rested on his Buffalo pack as we destroyed the miles.

That gel seat is an optional extra…

It looks great, and while I wasn’t impressed at first, I do think it made the bike a little comfier. Whether it’s £360 comfier is debatable.

Stopping for Dave’s R1 tank range meant the Kawasaki was never short of fuel, and the day’s riding finished at The Old Stables in Beattock. The next morning started well, with haggis for breakfast (another first for me, which is pretty shocking at 42), then the ride past Glasgow, to Loch Lomond. We had to break here, not just for the views, but for drinks. It was too hot! Not something you often say about Scotland.

From Loch Lomond, it was through Glencoe, past Fort William and on towards Inverness. And that’s where it happened. That’s where we found the most incredible piece of road... Ever.

From the Highland boundary fault of Loch Lomond, the roads had been good. From Glencoe they’d been amazing. But that section of the A87

Despite the rain, Applecross was an amazing ride with stunning views. was awesome. If it sounds like I’m getting a bit overenthusiastic, let me put it this way: We all agreed that we’d ride the 457 miles from home just to do it again, then come straight back if we had to.

It’s the complete lack of decreasingradius corners that makes the Highland roads so enjoyable. Unlike so many English roads that can catch you unaware as they tighten up, the Scots have laid quality Tarmac (which sees relatively little traffic) in well considered streams past the most amazing scenery you’ll see this side of Switzerland.

The Z1000SX was stable, easy to flick about (remember I still had all my luggage on) and mind-blowingly fast.

People complain about ABS and traction control on modern bikes, but I’m all for it: I was so confident in winding the throttle on as I left each bend that the standard fitment Bridgestone S20Rs started to snot up – not something I usually manage off the track.

The Kawasaki’s screen is adjustable for height, and generally stays upright, but with temperatures soaring, I had it dropped down low to let the wind blow through the open vents in my Held Tortosa jacket.

Roads to remember

One of the many fuel stops during the 1339 mile journey.

We were buzzing by the time we reached our base for the next two nights – Torguish House in Inverness, a bizarre mix of suits of armour, lavishly painted walls, and a huge antique/architectural salvage yard.

The family was welcoming, but it was clear they didn’t want these five lads crashing drunkenly around at night, so were more than happy to drive us to a local restaurant for the evening.

“There’s nothing in Inverness anyway,” they told us, and the exsidecar racing boss lady insisted we were back in by 11pm.

The versatile Kawasaki Z1000 taking a break at Torguish House.

Don’t think that A-roads in the Highlands mean they’ll be big, boring and busy – the A87 had proved itself already, and the next day on the A835 to Ullapool was almost as much fun (beware of overpriced coffee shops if you reach harbour). With the luggage left at the hotel, we were going for it.

For some reason, the Albannaich have dropped some truly huge metal manhole covers in the middle of a few corners, which could have spoilt the ride had it been raining. Which it finally did. A lot.

As we rode towards the Applecross peninsula, the clouds came in, and really let go. Signs warn that the road is ‘Not advised for learner drivers, very large vehicles or caravans’, and with gradients of 1-in-5 taking you up to 2054ft (625m), it’s obvious why. In the sunshine, this would have been incredible. In the rain, it was only amazing. The Pass of the Cattle was the highlight – an Alps-like switchback running down and into a valley, we might have been treading carefully as we eased through the low cloud, but it was still awesome.

The night is best left untold – we snuck out to Inverness, realised it was a bloody brilliant place to go out, and it ended in a messy blur of beers, shots, clubs and kebabs. But we got away with it, managing to creep back in at 2am without waking anyone. Not sure how we did that.

Our return journey took us around the Cairngorms to Pitlochry. The A9 was fast, with plenty of visibility (watch out for speed traps), and despite being busier, it was still a great ride. We didn’t stop to sample the Bells Whisky, but we did take a diversion off towards Blairgowrie to enjoy a break in the rain on some wonderfully tight twisties, before returning to the A9 and flash floods.

We called in at Knockhill for a ride around the perimeter of the circuit,

Traction control and great roads give you the confidence to really wind it on out of corners. and it was only in Dunfermline that we finally saw any police in all of Scotland. They gave us a friendly wave as we rolled through the speed trap and onwards to our final night’s stop at Pot-A-Doodle Do – a wigwam village in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

We’d ridden more than 230 miles, but as we started to unload the bikes I remembered that I still had the next day booked off work. With 267 miles left to get home, if I pushed on I’d have a free day with my wife and five-year-old daughter.

All credit to the Kawasaki Z1000SX that I felt happy to do it. The rain had stopped, I was dry (thank goodness I had taken my winter gloves), so I reluctantly left my mates behind, and took the A1 home.

We’d covered 1339 wonderful miles.

The green sports-tourer had proved itself an absolutely incredible bike for motorways, fast A-roads and tight, greasy mountain tracks. It was comfortable. It was capable. It was fast. And it was damn good fun.

TECH SPEC Price: £9699 Engine: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke four cylinder Power: 140bhp (104kW) @ 10,000rpm Torque: 82lb-ft (111Nm) @7300rpm Weight: 230kg (kerb) Seat height: 820mm Tank size: 19 litres www.kawasaki.co.uk

Dealers near you

24 know-how

Racing for everyone John Milbank discovers the most enjoyable, and cheapest motorcycle racing in the UK. It’s fast, fun and open to anyone…

Photography: John Milbank THERE’S a gasp from the crowd as four racers fight their way into turn two. It’s the final lap, and there’s no way they’re all coming out of that bend. The TV camera swings round; the heli-cam hovers expectantly above…

Three bikes exit the corner as another motorcycle slides past, the rider close behind it. This is close racing, and it’s what the crowd wanted to see, yet it costs nothing to watch. This is the world of the National Mini-bike Road Racing Championship (www.nmrrc.co.uk).

Oh, and the rider that crashed was back on his feet and riding in seconds.

There are two sets of nine races to enjoy – from six-year-olds in the Junior Production mini moto, through adults still flexible enough to squeeze on the little machines, to tuned junior race bikes, and various pit bike classes for all ages.

Mark and Aaron with their pit bike.

Really, it’s free?

Yep, and you’re also completely free to wander around in the pits, chat to the racers, or stand wherever you like outside of the track. This is racing on a small scale, but with all the excitement (and far more crashes) of BSB, WSB and MotoGP. It takes place on go-kart tracks around the country, which not only makes for incredibly tight competition, it also means that you can see the whole race from pretty well any viewpoint. Try that at Brands Hatch.

Events are televised on MotorsTV, with much more coverage planned for next year’s season.

Who races these bikes then?

There’s everyone from plumbers to floor-fitters, first time racers to Superbike pros. Aaron John Evans is 15, and rides a 140cc pit bike which he shares with his dad, Mark: “We both ride the bike, which we bought off eBay for £400, but have spent about the same getting it sorted. This has opened the doors to a great new hobby for me. Dad’s a welder and got it for me to enjoy, but I can’t help thinking there’s a hidden agenda – he loves it as much as I do.”

Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki WSB) and his Moto2 racing brother Sam have raced pit bikes and mini bikes, as has Dan Linfoot, BSB

Racing is close, exciting, and relatively safe. star: “I raced pit bikes for fun and training – it’s great riding closely with others, and really makes you sharp on a bike. It’s also a brilliant grounding for the younger generation to learn racecraft on geared machines.”

There’s a good chance you could see some of racing’s future champs jumping into their parents’ arms after a win in the junior mini moto rounds, or stumble across a current race champion hacking around on a pit bike.

I wish I could have a go…

You can! Mini motos can be quite expensive, but for most of us who don’t have the flexibilty to perch on

the tiny motorcycles, pit bikes are perfect – they’re cheap, easy to work on, and relatively safe to crash (and they bounce really well).

There are three pit bike classes in the NMRRC – 140, 160 and open. The latter is for any four-stroke engine up to 200cc (or two-stroke up to 80cc), but the former two classes only allow for standard Chinese-made engines of 140 and 160cc.

Enter the Stock 140 class race for just £59 and you can run a well-specified bike for anywhere between about £800 for a good used example, to £1100-£1300 for a race-ready brand new machine. You’re not allowed to tune these C90-copy motors, besides

fitting a hotter cam (for about £20), and while you could tune the suspension, few of the leading riders bother.

As Alan Lord, co-director of the NMRRC tells us: “This isn’t cheque book racing – almost anybody can afford to compete, and with riders from all walks of life and ages taking part, it’s a hell of a lot of fun.”

There’s no ACU race licence needed either: “We’ll lend you a transponder at the race for free,” says Alan. “So you really can just turn up on your motorcycle and enjoy it. All we do insist is that the bike is fitted with crash bobbins to protect the track, a catch tray

know-how 25 under the engine, and that the sump plug is drilled and lock wired.”

Where can I get a bike?

You might have seen motocross pit bikes tearing around private land.

Chinese machines can be picked up brand new for as little as £500, they’re basic but fun. As they’ve found their way on to Tarmac tracks, riders have fitted sticky slick race tyres and adjustable suspension to turn them into cheap supermotos.

With companies now offering race-ready bikes, it’s even easier to get started, and there are plenty of great suppliers out there for any parts you might need.

If you’re buying used, you can pick one up on eBay, but you’d be well advised to go along to a race or practice session to get a feel for what you need (and maybe bag a bargain while you’re there). Most current

bikes are based on a Honda CRF50 or CRF70 style frame (the 70 tends to be preferred by taller riders, as it’s a little bigger). There are also TTR and KLX style frames, which can make buying spares slightly confusing. Fortunately, most of the suppliers are friendly and helpful, so do your research before buying.

You could pick up an MX-style bike and convert it to supermoto spec; you might want to build your own machine from new and used parts, or you could simply buy a race-ready bike brand new. Which is what I did. I spent £1125 on an M2R Racing KX140SM supermoto from FunBikes.

All I needed to add was a catch tray and a set of crash bobbins for the footpegs. It’s the best money I’ve ever spent – it’s fun to ride, and it’s cheap, easy and enjoyable to tinker with.

Jon King is the boss of FunBikes: “It’s not overly competitive racing –

Editor John’s new M2R race bike. it’s just a good laugh really. You do have people banging handlebars at the front, but equally it’s there to enjoy, and there are plenty of father and son teams.”

These are cheap Chinese bikes, and you need to keep on top of the maintenance: greasing dry headraces; repacking bearings; adjusting tappets and checking everything’s tight after each race. Parts will break, but when they do, it’s still cheap. A complete, brand-new engine will cost about £250, while a frame could cost you as little as £58, a chain £12 and a gear lever £4.50.

Ben Lord (one of Alan’s three racer sons) is currently leading both the 140 and open classes, but on the same, untuned 140cc. If you needed proof that it’s not about throwing money at expensive engines and set-ups then this is it. Ben rides a standard Monster-Pro (monsterpro-pitbikes.co.uk) CRF50 worth just £1072.

What if I don’t want to race?

10-year-old Jack Hart – one of the incredible junior mini moto racers.

Then enjoy the cheapest trackdays you’ll ever come across. Not all go-kart tracks let pit bikes on, but check www.nmrrc.co.uk for a list of bike-friendly circuits. A Tuesday evening at Whilton Mill near Daventry costs £30, while a day at Stretton in Leicester is just £35 (£25 if you

You’ll find all ages racing – this guy’s 61 and has never raced before... become a member). No pre-booking, no long briefing, just turn up, pay and ride. You can even call the Stretton circuit any day of the week, and if the track’s available you can ride for £30 (£20 for members).

The NMRRC is about to host classes for junior mini moto and geared-bike riders taught by ex-champions and BSB riders, as well as introducing the Bambino Gearbox classes for six- to nine-year-olds on mini pit bikes and mini GP bikes.

Whether you want to compete, enjoy some cheap track time, or simply watch the action, this really is racing for absolutely everyone.

Useful contacts

If you’re buying a new bike, give the seller a call and explain what your background is. They’ll be able to help you make sure you buy the machine that suits you. www.nmrrc.co.uk www.luckymx.co.uk www.funbikes.co.uk monsterpro-pitbikes.co.uk www.cwbikes.co.uk www.pitbikeparts.co.uk www.ooracing.com www.fiddyparts.co.uk

26

KNow-how 27 The MCM legal column is compiled by managing partner Andrew ‘Chef’ Prendergast and his bike-riding barristers and solicitors at White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors.

The firm deals with personal injury claims and its sister company, Motor Defence Solicitors, 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 insurance-appointed 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

Specialist motoring solicitor Andrew Prendergast guides our readers through their legal trials and troubles...

I was bimbling to work last week on my Q battered old scooter worth about £300 (I save the Harley for the weekends and the car when

it’s raining!) when some silly old sod pulled out and knocked me off. No real harm done, and I didn’t get hurt thankfully.

The old boy and I swapped details, and he agreed it was his fault. I reported it to my insurer but since then I have had the ‘panel solicitor’ on the phone telling me I can claim for personal injury, and a bucket load of texts telling me there’s two grand waiting for me.

I have also had a bike hire company telling me I can have a brand new free hire motorcycle to use while my old scooter is taken off to be repaired, and the other side will pay for it. Do I have to claim against the old boy, and what’s the score with the hire bike?

The personal injury law world is a murky A pond and there are a shed-load of leeches only too happy to suck some blood.

Bluntly, if you haven’t hurt yourself you shouldn’t be claiming for personal injury... simple as that. If anyone else tells you otherwise they either don’t know what they are talking about, or they are dodgy. Stay well clear.

Also, as a point of note a lot of ‘panel solicitors’ are owned by insurers nowadays, so if you make a claim the law firm/insurer earns money from the legal fees.

As for a hire bike, in a lot of circumstances it is reasonable to have one. However, the key word there is ‘reasonable’. As you have a car and another bike a court is likely to find you were unreasonable in having a hire. In this situation, you could end up having to pay it personally, depending on what paperwork you have signed.

Q

I got bashed off by an ambulance. Ironic as I’m a policeman. The ambulance service

“NICE BIKE MATE…” 1994 Honda RVF400 NC35

admitted liability and I have just been offered £100,000 to settle my claim. While that is a lot of cash, I need another operation on my ankle and my career might be affected. From this amount, my solicitor says the £17,000 I was paid by the police while I was off work has to be repaid to the police service as claimed in the court papers. Is that right, as I had a contract to be paid sick pay and I don’t see why I should I repay it?

You need to check your contract of A employment. However, having represented plenty of policemen/firemen/paramedics over

the years it is very likely your contract of employment will have a clause in it that means you have to repay your employer.

If your contract has it, your employer has a right to bring a subrogated claim for the money paid to you while you were off work if that reason was because of a negligent third party. To put it another way, your employer paid you so you suffered no loss. However, your employer did this even though you couldn’t work. As such, they suffered a loss.

In summary, check your contract but it’s likely to be right.

For more info, go to:

Name: Elise Allen From: Bedfordshire Occupation: IIT project manager Owned bike for: Two years Tell us about it: I got the bike through a friend of a friend, who thought it’d be ideal as I’m a short-arse! It had 24,000 miles on the clock when I bought it, but had hardly been run for the three years previous. It’s now done 30,000, and I can say I have loved every one of them.

I’ve taken the RVF to Cadwell Park on what was one of the wettest days ever, but it was still fun. I’ve also ridden all around the UK on it, and despite there not being many easy options to carry luggage, I just learned to travel light.

I love everything about the bike – the sound, the looks and the ride – it just handles so well and it always attracts attention.

Servicing can be expensive, especially with the hard-to-reach and costly spark plugs, but I have some talented mates who help me out.

Considering it’s a 400, I have no problems keeping up with bigger bikes, and it’s much better handling than a lot of them.

The brakes are great, as I found out on a rideout with mates one evening, when a car just in front hit the central reservation and rolled across all three lanes of the A1.

Prior to the RVF, I’ve had a 1988 Honda CB350 SG and a Suzuki SV650S… both of which I loved, but in different ways.

My bike now shares garage space with my Triumph Street Triple, and 1989 VFR 750, so it’s in good company.

Engine: 399cc water-cooled V-four Power: 60bhp (105kW) @ 11000rpm Torque: 27lb-ft (102Nm) @ 9200rpm

www.whitedalton.co.uk

Weight: 165kg Seat height: 780mm Current value: Dependant on condition – clean examples are sought after, but tatty ones aren’t. Estimate £1000-£1800

Data supplied by The vehicle check and valuation experts.

28

Classified

Selling your bike is

FREE for private readers

BMW K100 silver, 83/84, genuine 9k, full s/h, ex GB HQ panniers, new tyres, fork seals, battery, vgc, £2650. Tel. 07759 607498. E Berks.

AJS 600 Model 30, 1958, extremely good condition, easy starter and great runner, good tyres, carrier and nice screen fitted, £4500. Tel. 0151 5268947.

Merseyside.

APRILIA SR50 Reg 10/09, 7,581 miles, MoT 05/15, new battery, starter motor, tyres all good, £690 ovno. Tel. 07775 707786. Hants.

ARIEL HS 500cc, 1956, fully restored, stainless guards/spokes /fasteners, alloy tank/rims, '56 reg, with buff log book/V5C, 7,300 miles since rebuild, matching nos, rare model now, £6995. Tel. 01225 776528. Wilts.

BMW F800 GS Black/yellow, one owner from new, full s/h, MoT until Jul 05, h/grips, ABS, h/guards, trip computer, centre stand, new back tyre, BMW top box included in sale, £4750 ono.

Tel. 07715 292674. E Riding of Yorks.

BMW R65 1980, MoT, stainless exhaust, crash bars, panniers, Surefoot side stand, auxiliary lamps, £1100 ovno. Tel. 0.079276739. Lincs.

BMW K1200 RS red/f. blue, 2001, full s/h, 37k, t&t, extras, BMW panniers, vgc, £2650. Tel. 07759 607498. E Berks.

BSA B40 350cc and sidecar, 1961, good condition, on Sorn last 3 years due to ill health, new battery, V5C, 6 former keepers, £2950 ono. Tel. 01584 891482.

Ludlow, Shrops.

BSA C15 250cc, 1965, MoT, V5, taxed, good runner, in excellent condition, £1950. Tel. 01223 872554. Cambs.

48CC T2 ENGINE in post-war BSA bicycle, amazing patina, recommissioning begun: new tyres, exhaust, Brooks saddle, manual, engine turns over, selects gears and neutral, £1200. Tel. 07788 442155. Bath, Somerset.

BULTACO MATADOR 350 1976, rare model, earlier restoration, bills for £700+ in parts, new MoT (Sorned), actual bike featured in Classic MC magazine, stunning condition, £2995. Tel. 01235 764269 - please leave message if I’m out. Oxon.

EPC SHINING 150cc scooter, 2002, metallic blue, two owners, MoT Apr 15, Honda GY6 based 4 stroke and CVT transmission, carried in our motorhome, hence low 2,610 miles, £600.Tel. 01636 677069. Notts.

EXCELSIOR UNIVERSAL 150cc, excellent condition, resprayed maroon, engine, gearbox, rebuilt

by Villiers Services, wheels, powder coated, MoT June 15, lo9ads of history and receipts, nice lightweight, £1650 ono. Tel. 01743 366727. Shrops.

GILERA GP 800 2009, MoT, full s/h, 13,482 miles, good condition, very fast, handles well, top box, £2800. Tel. 01604 751837.

Northants.

HONDA CM 200T 200cc, for restoration, 28k miles, spares or repair, V5C, £200 ono. Tel. 01626 776076. S Devon.

HARLEY DAVIDSON AMF SS175 Complete rebuild using nos parts, exc cond, MoT, 1979,V reg, ready to ride, p/coated frame, respray, not imported. Tel. 01623 612538; 07960 606502. Notts.

HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDWG Wideglide 1450cc, MoT Aug 15, 19k miles, excellent condition, Screaming Eagles, back rest, wind deflector, front drop bars, panniers, £5900 ovno.Tel. 01223 964973. Cambs.

HARLEY DAVIDSON FXRS Convertible, 1993, Stage 1 tuned, Screaming Eagle carburettor and mufflers by H/D, original QD Flexane screen, canvas/leather saddle bags, rear luggage rack, low 24k miles, exceptional condition for age, unmolested classic, more pics available. £7500.Tel. 01634 221 885. Kent.

HARLEY DAVIDSON 1200cc 2002, Custom Sport XL Limited Edition, 6k miles, MoT, superb condition, extras, chrome, black/silver, serviced, ultimate sportster panniers, single seat, sounds awesome, £5995. Tel. 07950 398750. W mids.

HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDC Superglide, 1600cc, 2010, black luggage rack, heated grips, under 8k miles, showroom condition, MoT, may p/x for large van, value up to £2000. Tel. 07880 712544.

Oxon.

HARLEY SPORTSTER Sport 1200, 1999, met blue/cream, MoT Aug 15, low 17,700 miles, excellent pampered cond, extras fitted but original parts retained, always garaged, with receipts, £4000.Tel. 01636 677069. Notts.

HONDA 400/4 1975, F1, ride or restore, been off the road for a few years but still runs well, owned by me for 20 years, £995.

Tel. 07779 244290 . Devon.

HONDA INOVA 125cc, blue, reg Apr 2012, 90 miles, only used once, £1950. Tel. 01884 820531.

Tiverton, Devon.

HONDA CB 200 1975, superb condition, MoT, some spares, or consider swap for 2-stroke, e.g: Bantam etc, must be mint, with docs, can deliver for few bob may way, £1750. Tel. 01270 781235.

Cheshire.

HONDA GOLDWING GL Beautiful 2 tone, Merced Green, 1520cc, first reg’d 2003, under 6k miles, km speedo/milometer, bills and new MoT, knee injury forces sale, £7600 ono. Tel. 01283 702601.

Derbys.

HONDA VFR 750 1997, 42k, full s/h, up to 35k then home serviced, new PR2CT tyres, Scottoiler, gel seat, seat cowl, tool kit, owners manual, h/grips, needs nothing, £1300. Tel. 07770 581335. Staffs.

HONDA CBR 1100XX Super Blackbird, 2005, silver grey, 16k miles, MoT Feb 2015, new Michelin tyres, alarm, Givi rack, heated grips, stunning bike - only £4250 ono. Tel. 07515 883087. S Yorks.

HONDA HORNET CB600-F4 (Restricted), 2005, 8,300 miles, MoT April 2015, includes luggage box, battery charger and sat nav system, ideal for new riders, £3300.Tel. 07946 711346. Essex.

HONDA VFR 800FI 1999, 34k, exc cond, MoT Jul 15, good tyres, recent major service (valves/ shims etc), original toolkit and owner’s manual, colour-coded panniers, garaged, alarmed, everything works, toured Europe this summer, selling to fund project, £1850. Tel. Nigel 07799 491265. Warks.

HONDA CBR 600 FV 1977, black, 25,600 miles, s/s exhaust, braided b/lines, new Dunlop qualifier tyres, data tagged, lovely condition, dealer serviced, garaged, mature owner last 7 years, £1400 no offers; view by appointment. Tel. 01827 880819.

Leics.

HONDA CX500 EC Eurosport, 1983, A reg, black, only 13.5k miles, serviced regularly, my father owned this bike from new, totally original, exc cond, new orig Honda silencers fitted, an appreciating classic, good investment at £3995. Tel. 07859 919598. N Yorks.

HONDA DREAM 250cc, 1978, 12 mths MoT, 16k, exc cond, frame powder coated, many new parts including forks, exhausts, suspension, battery, chain etc, reliable, regularly used, £1350 ono. Tel. 0790 6080814.

Northumberland.

HONDA GL 1000 1980, project, 95% complete, loads of gold plate, low miles, needs slight fettling, £1000. Tel. 07914 671048. Lancs.

HONDA TRIAL Fully rebuilt twin shock, parts cost £1600; CD disc of work, stunning bike, ready to compete, £2495. Tel. 074340 40520. Lancs.

HONDA VF700C Super Magna, 1997, 33k miles, MoT until Aug 2015, new battery, new front disc and pads, new front tyre, owned since 1993 and always garaged, original toolkit and manual, runs beautifully. Tel. 07977 769871.

Bucks.

HONDA VFR 400R MoT till Sept 15, advisories, steering head movement slightly stiff, anodised brake banjoes fitted, on Sorn, 32k kms (20k miles), NB wheels are now black, recent new parts inc wheel bearings and new tyres, clean, two keys, with 33 bhp plates, £1500. Tel. 07949 983501. Essex.

HONDA CG125 125cc, immac cond, 1992, owned 11 years, mature rider, 18,953 miles, recent MoT, genuine reason for selling, £785. Tel. 01787 479063. Essex.

HONDA VFR 800FI 1999, 13k miles, very good condition, tyres, only 500 miles, serviced, new MoT, red. Tel. 07983 215274.

Hants.

HONDA 100 99cc, not used for some time, quiet good condition, 1984, 17,521 on the clock, not many of these bikes around, first time starter, £350. Tel. 01929 463760. Dorset.

HONDA 250R 250cc, 1994, M reg, good condition, £650. Tel. 0208 5290620. London.

HONDA CB 1100 January 2014, white, 500 miles only, has had first service, mint condition, warranty to Jan 2016, health issues force reluctant sale, £7300. Tel. 01702 217273 (genuine calls only please). Essex.

HONDA CB 250 RSA 1980, W, 5,800 miles, time warp condition, 12 months' MoT, stainless Motad, manual, handbook, recent tyres, very original, some history, £1495 ono. Tel. 01246 200842; 07935 175649. Derbys.

HONDA CB 250RS 250cc, reg'd 1980, 19,950 miles, garaged, unused 25 years, single, original condition, runs well, handbook and manual, one owner, offers over £500. Tel. 0151 3347585.

Merseyside.

HONDA SILVERWING 600cc Twin, mint condition, in silver, only 4,500 miles, best Maxi scooter around, my second Silverwing I've owned, 62 plate, reg Sept 12, £3999 ono. Tel. 01302 534155. S Yorks.

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HONDA CB 500 (1994), 26k, with one private owner, stainless exhausts, full MoT, no insurance, stored in Kenley, no damage, perfect. Offers, tel. 07455 128328. Gtr London.

HONDA CB 650 also for sale Nighthawk/z basketcase with spare engine, £350 ono buy both together and I will throw in a CZ125 for nowt. Tel. Paul 01943 875279; 07770 933811 for further details. W Yorks. Email: tommyslad@talktalk.net HONDA CB250T 1978 Dream, red/chrome, 15k recorded miles, good chrome exhausts, replacement forks and rear shocks, seat professionally recovered, 12 mths' MoT, £825. Tel. Peter 01229 831091. Cumbria. Email: wareing@talktalk.net for photos HONDA CBF 1000F excellent, hardly used, black, 11k miles, 2007, brilliant bike, must go, health retirement, clothing, boots, size 9 included, reasonable offers, will deal, ring to talk, buyer will get good deal! Tel. 01287 640472. N Yorks/E Cleveland.

HONDA CBR 600F 600cc, 1999, 15k miles, met blue/yellow, above aerate condition, new exhaust, will be sold with year's MoT, £1795. Tel. 01896 756921; 07847 997397. S Scotland.

HONDA CG125 Good and reliable, 1999 reg, new chain and sprockets, front brake and oil change, mature rider desires 600/650cc bike, presently in France - will arrange visit depending on offers. £700. sell or exchange; cash adjustment. Tel. 00 33 241 832086. N Yorks. boast.john@orange.fr HONDA CX 650 Eurosport, red, A83, 63k miles, runner, ideal cafe racer, projected dog rough or ideal for spares, £500 ono; CX 500 radiator and cover, £70; side panels £5 each; CB 250 Superdream spares. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

HONDA FJ 600 600cc, Silverwing Maxi scooter, (silver), mint condition, never seen rain, 62 reg, only 4k miles, garaged, new price £7000, first to see will buy, £4199 ono. Tel. 01302 534155. S Yorks.

HONDA GOLDWING GL1200 Aspencade, Dec 1985, 12 months' MoT, used daily, fully dressed, first £2000. Tel. 07456 662523. Dudley.

HONDA HORNET 600 only 3,900 miles, full Honda s/history, stunning pearl acid yellow, MoT and superb condition, just had new battery, £3600. ovno Tel. 07832 260238. Cheshire.

HONDA HORNET 600 V reg, 44,000 miles, Stage One dynojet, recent full service, new pads all round, new fork seals, MoT July 15, bargain £1000. Tel. 07450 287567. Bristol.

HONDA HORNET CB600F 2003, blue, 4600 miles, owned by a lady for first 9 years, full Scorpion stainless exhaust fitted when new, rear hugger and fly screen, this bike has never repeat never seen the wet, immaculate to include full standard exhaust, front and rear stands, recent rear tyre, battery, tested, £2250. no offers Tel. 01723 515546. N Yorks.

HONDA NTV 650 V-TWIN 647cc, 1995, 50k, vgc, MoT, top box, £900. ovno Tel. 01282 813077.

Lancs.

HONDA TRANSALP XL700 Genuine, 45L top box (blue/white cover), including base plate n rack, excellent condition, £180.

Tel. 07904 541547. London.

HONDA VT 250cc, black, fairing, petrol tank, front mudguard, plastics, front brake, carbs, air box etc, Kawa GT 550 forks, GT 750 forks, GS 850 seat, UK model, King & Queen style, forks, petrol tank,Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

HONDA VTR 1000 Firestorm, 51 reg, big tank model, 9,200 miles, MoT July 15, immaculate Italian red, Goodridge hoses, Powerbronze screen hugger, grab rail, data tagged, data tool alarm, v good tyres, £1995 ono. Tel. 01246 200842; 07935 175649. Derbys.

HONDA XBR 500 year's MoT, new parts, £1600 ono. Tel. 07506 562346. Kent.

HONDA XL 250N Degree, 1992, DOHC, water cooled mono shock classic, vg original condition, MoT Spring 2015, owner too old now, £1595. ovno Tel. 01527 873674.

Worcs.

KAWASAKI 1100 Spectre, vgc, v original, 30k miles, needs registering, but paperwork supplied, £1275. Tel. 0161 766 6353. Lancs.

KAWASAKI GPX 750R 1987, D, 42k miles, s/s exhaust, nearly new tyres, 12 months’ MoT, very good condition, might p/x, £750.

Tel. 07881 516673. Cheshire.

KAWASAKI GPZ 500 with rack and top box, year 1989 mileage, 30,775, MoT until Jan 2015, the bike is in good running order, garaged and has been well maintained, current (mature) owner last 8 years, not using enough to justify keeping. Tel. 07709 207198. Dunbartonshire.

KAWASAKI W650 1999, red/creme top, stainless spokes, panniers, top box, first to see ail buy, MoT, on Sorn, £3700 ono.Tel. 01446 790157. Glam.

KAWASAKI W650 2002, immaculate condition, 7,500 miles, new tyres & battery, Givi screen, MoT April (previous records available), £3250. Tel. 01683 220477. Dumfriesshire.

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NORTON DOMINATOR 500SS matching numbers, Barlow tuned, Cafe Racer tuned heads, pistons and high lift cams, new Akront alloy rims with s/s spokes, new magneto, rebuilt gearbox, suspension, new brakes and chains, sprockets, high torque clutch, low mileage. Tel. 01415 736460, 07909 912543. Lanarks

KAWASAKI ZX6R F3 (1997 mod), excellent condition, MoT till 10/14, European mod, I have this bike since bright new, and I’m keeping my bike as new as possible, lots of accessories and Akraprovic full exhaust and WP rear suspension, no scotches, no crashes, I’m selling it for £1500. Tel. 01273 401483. E Sussex.

KAWASAKI EXCHANGE: Old Twin Z400/Z440/Z750, any condition considered for my immaculate GPZ 500, 8k miles for happy to buy outright, would also like Yamaha XS 650, XS 500, SR 500, all offers appreciated.Tel. 079299 10974. Staffs.

KAWASAKI GT 550 1989, shaft drive tourer, MoT to May 2015, new r/tyre, fork seals, head and front wheel bearings, Koni shod, Goodrich brakes, newish coils, saddle,cover etc,large Givi top box, garage receipts approx £900 plus, have 10 years receipts for new parts and MoTs, servicing receipts etc, from three different garages, good deal for a young rider, too heavy for me now, £795. ovno or p/x useable 125cc Tel. 07526 583398; 07849 449443. E Sussex.

KAWASAKI KH 250cc, 1976, stood in garage 12 years, not seized, few bits missing, winkers, side panels, Offers or swap, Tel. 01625 267516. Cheshire.

KAWASAKI ZXR 400 L4 race bike, top spec, lots of spares including wheels etc, £3500. Tel. 07624 452967 for details.

Merseyside.

KAWASAKI ZXR 400C 400cc, race bike, top spec, lots of spares inc wheels etc, £3000.Tel. 01624 617310 for details. Isle of Man. KTM DUKE 690 2010, black, vgc, 4k miles, MoT, new tyres, 70mpg, £4350. ovno Tel. 07583 286075.

Worcs.

LEXMOTO VIXEN 125cc, 2008, 9k miles, two owners, cruiser style, MoT, new battery, chain and sprockets, clutch cable, 100mpg, very reliable, £400. Tel. 0161 3300664 anytime. Manchester, Lancs.

MATCHLESS G2 250cc, 1957, 12v sporty look, on Sorn, original, (reg worth £325), £1250 ono. Tel. 01245 329941. Chelmsford, Essex.

MOTO MORINI K2 350cc, 1986, 30,500 miles, red, MoT until May 15, new rear tyre and cam belt, very good condition, £2750. Tel. 01752 771506. Devon.

MZ TS 125 1985, black, 10 months' daytime MoT, single seat, new battery, £385. Tel. 0781 3031407. Lancs.

MOBYLETTE/MOTOBECANE MOPED 1975 for restoration, dry stored, easy project, space needed, £250. Tel. 07949 653017. Staffs.

NORTON ES2 1950, all matching numbers, nut and bolt rebuild, too many new parts to list, still running in, £5250. Tel. 07736 907937. Worcs.

MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA Special 1100i/Squire sidecar outfit, 1999, T, tested Mid March, 39,500 miles, stainless silencers, screen, engine bars, panniers, rack on sidecar boot, vgc, £4300 ono. Tel. 01977 510546. W Yorks.

MOTO GUZZI LE MANS 5 1989, have owned since it was 9 months old, now looks more traditional, MoT July 2015, tax April 2015, runs like a watch, very well maintained, getting a bit heavy for me now, will be sad to see it go, £2500. Tel. 07775 433995. N Yorks.

MOTO MORINI Kangura 350, 1990, 16,200 miles, currently Sorned, previous owner stripped bike and rebuilt it, I had it recommissioned by NLM with bills for £900 plus on hand, £1450.Tel. 01636 677069. Notts.

MOTO MORINI GRAN PASSO 2009, 8,500 miles, full s/h, just had a major service inc valves, new coil packs, fork seals, AF/AM chain and sprockets,APTC clutch, (£817) GPR titanium slip on, (£399), factory heated grips and more, always been garaged, MoT May 2015. £4900. Tel. 07847 065438. Dorset.

MONTESA CUB 1974, 50cc, frame, stovenamel engine, complete non-runner, wheels, bars, rusty tank, hand painted, £100. Offers Tel. 07811 980330.

Notts.

MORINI 3 1/2 SPORT 1977, 34k miles, good clean condition, not all original but lots of new consumables, t&t, ageing owner hardly uses.For further info tel.Tony £3650.Tel. 01865 874980. Oxon.

NORTON DOMINATOR 600cc, 1960, MoT Aug 15, last one released from factory 1961, in red, now in black, (Norton) (records) matching nos, very good condition, £5000. Tel. 01234 768981. Bedford.

NSU L 1959, 49cc, 2 gears, V5 reg 125 NVW, rare model, rebuilt, temporary for sale, needs proper job, lots of new parts and spares, original owners manuals, info, folder full, set of NSU leg shields, can be seen running, 85% all there, good condition, bets offer secures, sensible offers please, cash on collection. Tel. 01840 211762. N Cornwall.

PIAGGIO NRG 50 Power DD scooter, 12/10 mths t&t, VLM 3,300 mls, derestricted, excellent condition, 2006 model, clean/ honest scoot, £799. Tel. 07930 398098. Neath, Glam.

PIAGGIO MP3 300cc, Jan 2013, tyre seal, h/bar, muffs, leg cover, carrier, top box, serviced, £5950 ono. Tel. 01704 505026 or 878376. Southport, Lancs.

PUCH 50D 49cc, 3-speed, 1974, M, black/cream,originalchromewheels, V5, 80% done, £150. Tel. 07899 693015; 01530 519373. Leics.

ROYAL ENFIELD 2008, Bullet, Classic Electra X, 500cc, black/chrome, no rust at all, excellent condition, one owner, 2,200 miles, full service, Summer use only, tax til Nov 14, MoT til July 15, fair price of £2800. Tel. 01271 861655. N Devon.

ROYALENFIELDBulletElectra,2010, ClassicEFI500ccelectric&kickstart, new Avon road rider tyres, touring screen,fullsetofreplacementcables, tested April 2015, 7,500 miles, mint cond, £2750. Tel. 01388 608132.

Tyne & Wear.

ROYAL ENFIELD Bullet 500cc, taxed March 15, MoT May 15, good runner, lady owner, full history, £1300 ono. Tel. 01905 358188. Worcs.

ROYAL ENFIELD Thunderbird, only 44 miles, unregistered and approx 5 years old, needs a good clean and slight attention, sale due to bereavement, £1600. Tel. 07914 671048. Lancs.

ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET 500cc, electra EFI, good condition, MoT, black, some spares, parts manual, under 2000 miles, £2500 ovno.cashTel.01452 713093.Glos.

SUZUKI DRZ 400 SM K7, 400cc, one owner from new, only done 2800 miles, 2008, excellent condition, £2850 ono. Tel. 01371 856729. Essex.

ROYAL ENFIELD EFI 500cc Bullet, 2013, 6 months’ manufacturer’s warranty, taxed February 2015, as new, full service, £3150 ono. Tel. 01271 343790. N Devon.

ROYAL ENFIELD 350cc Classic Bullet, reg 2006, only done 1700 miles from new, in lovely condition, MoT till June 2015, elderly owner down sizing, £1700. Tel. 01524 903496.

Lancs.

ROYAL ENFIELD Classic EFI, battle green, 21k miles, reg Dec 2011, one owner, full s/h, hagon shocks, Scottoiler, heated grips, higher handle bars, rear carrier, passenger seat, good condition, reliable bike, 85 mpg, £2800 ono.

Tel. 01443 776059. Glam.

SUZUKI GLADIUS 650 12 reg, black/silver, good condition, 3700 miles, extras, full s/h and all paperwork, £3550. Tel. John 07887 654353. Mid Lothian.

SACHS R800 2002, black, MoT Jul 15, only 2 owners with just 24k miles so in excellent pampered condition, with receipts, manuals and 2 sets of keys, £2000. Tel. 01636 677069.

01636 677069.

SUZUKI GSF 600X trike, one lady owner from new, built to my spec

by Trike Shop Cardiff in 1999, 9,500 miles, always garaged, dry miles only, fully adjustable wishbone suspension on rear, ideal lady’s trike, reluctant sale of much-loved, prize-winning trike, £3800 ono. Tel. 01646 651058. kay.wrenn98@gmail.com W Wales.

SINNIS STRADA 125cc scooter, 2014 model, electric/kick-start, taxed, remaining warranty, 4 stroke engine, excellent condition, £699 ono. Tel. 01492 585461.

Denbighshire.

SUZUKI BANDIT 1200cc, 1998, 11k miles, tax and MoT, twin headlights and fairing, very good condition, black, £1800 ovno. Tel. 01604 714483. Northants.

SUZUKI BANDIT 650cc, 2010, 11,500 miles, serviced, MoT, oil change every 1,000 miles, one mature careful owner from new, all receipts 2 x keys, this bike is immaculate and in as new condition, first to see will buy, £2500 ono. Tel. 01691 661208.

Oswestry, Shrops.

SUZUKI BANDIT GSF 600S 1998, (R), MoT till June 14, good condition, reluctant sale due to young family, . Tel. 07710 868200. Oxon.

SUZUKI BANDIT GSF 650SA 2007, 24,400 miles, blue, excellent original condition, full MoT January, s/h, mature owner, medical retirement forces sale, must be seen, £2595 ono. Tel. Glen 01502 567027. Suffolk.

SUZUKI GP100 new coil rectifier, ignition switch, seat recovered, good chrome rims, forks, exhaust etc, 28k, five keepers, garaged, dust sheeted, starts with quick start squirt! been standing, £595.

Tel. Paul 01202 427222. Dorset.

SUZUKI GSX 1400 full MoT, three owners, new front tyre and battery, two small scratches on front mudguard otherwise fantastic condition, only 8,204 miles, reluctant sale. Tel. 0151 2017574. Merseyside.

SUZUKI GSX 1400 K3 2003, blue/black, 22,950 miles, t&t, good condition, extras, call for details, £2700 ono. Tel. 07733 618418. Cheshire.

SUZUKI GSXR 750 02 immac, black/yellow, only 7,300 miles, + one off Akraprovic, £3650. Tel. 07828 841121. London.

SUZUKI GSXR 400 1993, the rare RRSP model with ultra close box and adjustable suspension, 17k miles, new battery, race pipe and standard, rebuilt carbs and brakes, new MoT, £1295 ono. Tel. 07785 543499. Hants.

SUZUKI GW 250 L3 250cc, Inazuma, 63 reg, Sept 13, very low mileage and vgc, genuine reason for sale, £2600. Tel. 0116 2354013. Leics.

SUZUKI INTRUDER 805cc, 59 plate, 3,070 miles, mint condition, over £2000 worth of extras, sounds brilliant, real head turner, full history, total dry miles, £4740 ovno. Tel. 07528 144197 or 01443 423081. Glam.

SUZUKI INTRUDER 1500 great, lots of spare chrome and full screen, new paint job, looks like 2014 model, a must see, t&t. Tel. 07544 120559. Hull, E Yorks.

SUZUKI SV1000S 2004, exc cond, loads of extras, Art twin cans, carbon fibre pegs, Power Commander 3 fitted, small rear indicators and tail tidy,Alphadot inc paperwork, Accumen Cat 1 alarm and immobiliser including fitting cert, c/w all original parts too, excellent condition for age, £1650.

Tel. 0777 2017543. E Sussex.

TRIUMPH 3TA Twin, 350cc, black/silver, 1963, excellent condition, runs well, £3850 ono.

Tel. 01753 869566. Old Windsor.

TRIUMPH 595 955cc, 12k miles, serviced, standard extras, careful owner, 1998, always inside, £1700 ono. Tel. 07873 498867.

Rhondda Weles.

TRIUMPH AMERICA 2007, MoT, recent service, new battery, 5,800 dry miles, semi slash cut exhaust, fly screen, sissy bar, as new, £3950. Tel. 07891 584787.

Worcs.

TRIUMPH AMERICA 900cc, blue/white, 2012, many extras including footboards, screen, rack, saddle bags, centre stand, £5500. Tel. 078120 45264 after 6pm or w’ends. Lancs.

SUZUKI VX800 1994, shaft drive V-twin, 12,250 mile,s new MoT, good condition, top box, recent new tank, little ridden in the last few years, £950 ono. Tel. 01939 260522. Shrops.

SUZUKI BANDIT 1200 beaten up... not run for 8 years, new Hagen rear suspension and extended swing arm, £850. Tel. 07904 506011 for info. London.

SUZUKI BANDIT HUGGER 00-04, 600cc, c/w stainless brackets and fasteners, good condition, £40. inc deliveryTel.07786 138879.Shrops.

SUZUKI BURGMAN AN250 test Jun 15, maroon, 19,700 miles, used daily so will increase, good condition, £750 ono. Tel. 01642 651383. Durham.

SUZUKI GR 650 Tempter, 1983, spares/ info wanted, Tel. Tony 0161 7483210; 07840 413124.

Gtr Man. SUZUKI GS 500F 2006 (56), one owner, garaged from new, 21k miles, MoT, £1000. Tel. 01530 223580. Leics.

SUZUKI GS 550T 1979, nice cond American import, lovely looking bike, black, new exhaust, new MoT, runs really well, low mileage, new battery, must sell due to no more room, moved house, ideal for bobber or trike, £1200 ono.

Tel. 07743 357997. Bristol.

SUZUKI GS 5OO 06 model, lowered seat, professionally done, vgc, £35 ono. Tel. 07719 717621.

S Yorks.

SUZUKI GSX 750F 750cc, 2003, black, immaculate condition, 25,800 miles, any test, 2 months' MoT, £2195 ono. Tel. 07958 403766. London.

SUZUKI GSXR 1000 K1 02, MoT 8/15, vgc, 17,600 miles, new rear tyre, chain and sprockets, Akrapovic can, £2100.Tel. 07951 234378. Lincs.

SUZUKI GSXR 750 56 reg, K7, blue/white,11,500 dry miles,recent service, MoT June 15, excellent condition,must be seen,£4200.Tel. 07768 907047. Northants.

SUZUKI SV 650 SPORT 2002, half faired caf_ racer, 11 months' MoT, recent new battery, rear tyre, chain & sprockets, 26k, used regularly, absolute bargain, no reasonable offer refused. LetÍs talk. Need to reduce collection.

Classic fun bike. £1400 ono. Tel. 07890 943640. W Sussex.

SUZUKI SV 650S MoT Aug 15, 9,600 miles, Scorpion exhaust, tail tidy, Suzuki Rizla paint job, new head bearings, new Wavy rear disc, my bike last 6 years, garaged, vgc, 02 model, all past MoTs, Alphadot security, £1700 ono. Tel. 07761 530660. Scotland.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE T140E 750cc, 1983, US spec, immaculate, one of the last Meriden boniness, 13k miles, good investment, £4250. Tel. Mike 07880 977343. Wales.

TRIUMPH AMERICA 2011 for sale - in great condition and loaded with extras, c/w Triumph leather panniers, sissy bar, luggage rack, valeted every 6 months by Harley Davidson Thurrock, runs like a dream, low ride, very comfortable, forward controls, low mileage. Tel. 07931 167780. Essex.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE SE, excellent condition, extras include: Hagon shocks, Norman Hyde rack, centre stand, Oxford h/grips, genuine Triumph fabric bags and stays, new Pirelli Sport demons, 1500 miles ago, bike looks and rides fantastic, viewing welcome, £4000 ovno. Tel. 07946 615114.

Gtr London.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE T100 790cc, 2002, with Velorex/Jawa sidecar, matching green and silver, excellent condition, 22k only, 3 owners, t&t, recent service, includes rev counter, knee pads, steering damper, tonneau cover and manuals, £3400 ono. Tel. 01573 420520. Roxburghshire.

TRIUMPH DAYTONA 955I 17k miles, 56 reg, s/h, 9 mths’ MoT, too many extras to list, nice machine, stand out from the crowd, £2695 ono. Tel. 07712 184511. N Yorks.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 865cc, 2010, 21k, white/black wheels, chrome rack, good condition, £3500.Tel. 07951 930995. Beds.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 865 SE 2010/59, black, one retired owner, 14,500 miles, centre stand, rack. MoT end Dec, £4400 ono. Tel. 01543 370440. W Mids.

TRIUMPH DAYTONA SUPER III 900cc, 1995, excellent condition, needs new tyres for MoT, (ran out Sept 6th), Haynes manual, few spares, too heavy now for pensioner owner, £2800. Tel. 01226 291362. Barnsley, S Yorks.

TRIUMPH ROCKET 3 2006, 13k miles, loads of extras: belly pan, screen, brake discs, manifold covers, gel seats, rack ‘n’ back rest, extra clocks, exhaust ends, excellent condition,black/chrome, £6995. Tel. 07816 613215. W Mids.

TRIUMPH SPEED 4 53 reg, 7,500 miles, full s/h, alarm, recent tyres, MoT Sept 2015, mint, £1950. Tel. 07809 686645. Lancs.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 2010, white, low mileage 2,900 miles, full s/h, MoT July 2015, flyscreen, belly pan, hugger, radiator cowls, Datatool alarm S4, Scottoiler, immaculate condition, £5700.Tel. 07840 644640. Warks.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 2001, 955i, nuclear red, MoT till Jan 2015, Sorned.Tel. 07984 713050.

N Yorks.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1050 2008, full s/h, 12k miles, 11 months’ MoT, good tyres, heated grips, beauty, £4500. Tel. 07800 867053. Gtr London.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1050 13k miles, full s/h, MoT, data tool, extras, always garaged, fantastic condition, new bike arriving soon, £4700. Tel. 07805 208816.

Cornwall.

TRIUMPH SPEEDTRIPLE 955I 2003, 12 mths’ MoT, new battery, decent tyres, 24,400 miles, great condition. Tel. 07503 623906.

Merseyside.

TRIUMPH SPRINT 955ST 2002/01 reg, very good condition, 15k miles only, year’s MoT, top box included. Tel. 0116 2862597.

Leics.

TRIUMPH T120 1965, matching nos and original reg, excellent condition, my pride and joy for over 30 yrs, £7950. Tel. 0191 5294856. Tyne and Wear.

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TRIUMPH SPRINT ST 1050cc, 2008, 5k miles, MoT, perfect running order, one owner, Offers near to £4750. Tel. 07593 575530. South Leics.

TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 1995, vgc, low miles, with extras, on Sorn at present, no MoT, sale due to bereavement, £2200. Tel. 07914 671048. Lancs.

TRIUMPH ST 955 2002, MoT 2015, 34k miles, Aston green, vgc, Scottoiler bubble tinted screen, bobbins, top box and carrier, always garaged, £2200 ovno; may swap for british 60s why? Tel. 07546 265577.

Clackmannanshire.

TRIUMPH TIGER 90 350cc, owned for 5 years, four previous owners, beautifully finished in Alaska white, Grenadier red, 12v, sensible upgrades, loads of receipts, a real head turner, matching nos, £5000 firm. Tel. 01752 843990. Cornwall.

TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE 675 09 plate, 10k miles, South Wales area, 9 mths’ MoT, £3000 no offers, cash on collection. Tel. 01656 372855; 07842 833362.

Glam.

TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 900cc, 1997, 10,150 miles, owned since 2003, MoT Feb 15, King & Queen seat, screen, crash bars, panniers, rear rack and grab rail, £4000.Tel. 07989 719369 eves. Dorset.

TRIUMPH T90 DAYTONA Cafe Racer Comp, rebuild, eng r/in, handcrafted ali tank, ali pegs, s/r seat, twin clocks, chromed headlamp, Goldies, ali rims, strbars, f/tls sheen, metallic blue, receipts, unique! £5500 ono. Tel. 07759 607498. Berks.

TRIUMPH TIGER 955I 2002, 36,558 miles, factory alarm, great bike, used daily so mileage will go up, any trial, tyres ok and chain and sprockets good, two small scratches to paint not to metal, you won’t find another as clean at this, £2300. Tel. Chris on 0770 774 3095. Lancs.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE T140E 750cc, 1981, black/silver, on Sorn, £4500 ono. Tel. 07989 719369. Dorset.

TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 900 2002, maroon colour, good condition, extras, MoT March, 19k miles, £3950.Tel. 07787 132190.

Gtr London.

TRIUMPH TIGER 955I with all the sensible accessories, hugger, Scottoiler,sports exhaust (remapped and original included), h/grips, panniers,matching top box,Michelin Anachies, 2 mature owners from new, 29k miles, used mainly for touring not commuting, any inspection,no test pilots,Contact me for loads of pics of Silver Tiger. £2995. ono; p/x 800XC considered Tel. 0759 1054570. Glam.

TRIUMPH TIGER 750cc, 1973, tax exempt, very good condition, much spent, too much to list, very reliable, good useable classic, UK spec, blue/white, £3750 ono. Tel. 07718 611600. Essex.

TRIUMPH TROPHY 1200cc, 2001, bought as light damage Cat D, quite useable in its initial condition, spent approx £1500 to improve, new parts, electrics, respray, service, full luggage,TOC member, £1850. Tel. 07788 153323. Cumbria.

VECTRIX VX 1 LI+ electric scooter, excellent condition, s/h, only 8,539 miles, year’s MoT, 3 years old, best offer. Tel. 01234 881358. Email: jeffwaistell@ live.co.uk Beds.

VELOCETTE LE 1958, hand start, hand and gear change, 150cc with spares, 1958 so tax and MoT free, with V5, needs a complete rebuild, in £700. Tel. 01452 524481. Glos.

VELOCETTE MOV RACEBYKE Oval s/arm, alloy petrol and oil tanks, alloy flanged rims, early kit front brake woods, alloy head and barrel, TT carb, upswept and downswept ex pipes, needs piston, £6000. Tel. 0161 443 2492. Stockport.

YAMAHA SRX 600cc, 1991, electric start monoshock, superb Deltabox framed single with Brembos, 2k, MoT, Hyde exhaust, good condition, looks, sounds and goes fantastic, currently on Sorn, £1500. Tel. 07872 951788.

W Mids.

YAMAHA BULLDOG 1100cc, 2004, MoT, 11,800 miles, screen, top box, panniers, well maintained, mature owner, £1850 ono.

Tel. 07770 713864. W Mids.

YAMAHA CUSTOM 125cc, only done 1200 miles, lovely condition, top box, heated grips, 9 months’ tax and MoT, £1500 ono. Tel. 01375 406174. Essex.

YAMAHA FAZER FZS 600cc, 1998, tax 31/12/14, MoT July 2014, good tyres, new battery, 12k miles, good clean bike, serviced, £1250. Tel. Alan 07931 887498; 01474 564865. Kent.

YAMAHA FZ8 2010, 11,600 mile, dealer serviced, screen, Givi rack, £3500 for quick sale Tel. 01233 624463. Kent.

YAMAHA SRX 400 prefer good tidy runner, but anything considered. Tel. 01270 811762.

Nantwich.

YAMAHA YBR 125cc, 2008, red, in very good condition, nice low miles, long MoT, ideal learner or commuter, £1200 ono. Tel. 01234 822908; 07826 631821. Beds.

YAMAHA ROYAL ADVENTURE 1200cc, 44k miles, MoT until April 2015,no tax,excellent cond,£1400 ono.Tel. 07737 918904. E Yorks.

YAMAHA T-MAX 530 vgc, tax June 15, gold Nebura rims, 3,300 miles, factory immobiliser, heated grips, special toe plates, engine cover, top box included, new helmet, armoured jacket, disc lock cable lock and more. Tel. 07734 466297. N Yorks.

YAMAHA YZF 600R Thundercat, 2000, W, silver, black, orange fairing, 16,300 miles, MoT Aug 2015, Sorned, new rear tyre, braided hoses, data tagged, non fango panniers & top box, two keys, two mature owners, never ridden in rain, Oxford garage cover, Haynes manual, £1349.Tel. 01778 380458. Lincs.

YAMAHA FAZER 8 2013, ABS with full touring kit & Akropovic exhaust plus lots more, I’ve owned from new April 13, 2,800 miles, £5999 ovno. Tel. 07979 895989 for more info. Surrey.

YAMAHA XS 1100 Trike, bolt-onoff Capri axle, new tyres, 4-into-1 stainless built by (P.H.F.) Engineering, excellent mechanics, 100% reliable, (on Sorn), will have full 12 months' MoT when sold, any trial inspection welcome, reverts back to bike easily, not on Q, (sprung rear), new battery, ride away and enjoy, £2500 ono. Tel. 07984 186551. London S/East.

Honda CB750 Every month Steve Cooper from the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club picks out another great example of classic oriental metal

The VJMC; run by motorcyclists for motorcyclists www.vjmc.com membership_vjmc@yahoo.co.uk Membership enquiries only 01634 361825/07948 563280 Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30pm

YAMAHA FJR 1300 51 plate, only 20k miles, new tyres, MoT Feb 2015, full colour coded Givi luggage, tall screen, heated grips, front & rear fender extenders, good condition, well maintained, £3600 ono. Tel. 07545 984229.

Somerset.

YAMAHA VIRAGO 535cc XVS, 1994, cherished stylish custom cruiser, 10,960 miles, 2-tone maroon paint scheme, grey/gold tank, twin slashed chrome exhausts, Dunlop tyres, buttoned leather seat/luggage, comfortable seat height, garaged, MoT Mar 15, regularly maintained, £2885.

Tel. 0758 3036035. Devon.

YAMAHA VIRAGO 535 1998, MoT Sept 2015, excellent condition, lots of chrome, a real eye catcher, only 7400 miles from new, £2000 ovno. Tel. 01673 849042; 07722 869333. Lincs.

YAMAHA FZS 600 Fazer, 2003, good condition, 15,800 miles, MoT Aug 2015, heated grips, part s/h, £1600. ovno with some extras. Tel. 01568 708022.

Herefordshire.

YAMAHA XJ 600N 1997, MoT Aug 15, new engine 4k miles ago, starts every time, resprayed in black with red stove enamelled frame.Tel. 01473 736324. Suffolk.

YAMAHA XJ6 2010, very low miles, good condition, dry use, few extras added, good first bike, £3150 ovno. Tel. Dave 07985 622640. W Mids.

YAMAHA FZR 600R 600cc, 1995, MoT Feb 15, new chain, sprockets, good tyres, stainless exhaust, totally reliable, new brakes, ridden daily, reluctant sale, £900 ono. Tel. 07516 840677. Colwyn Bay, N Wales.

YAMAHA SRX 600 600cc, 1986, t&t, all original except exhaust, tidy condition, would p/ex for 250cc, electric start bike, £950 ono. Tel. 07950 303459. W Yorks.

Fo ra ll yo u rYa m a ha n eed s, b ikes, pa rts, servic e a n d c lo thin g fro m the b est!

W innerso fYa m a ha M a stero f C usto m erC a re A w a rd 2 010

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Honda’s 1969 CB750 is quite rightly regarded as the first modern superbike launched.

This one machine turned the world of motorcycling on its head... but Honda was then guilty of sitting on its laurels and letting the opposition catch up. By the mid 1970s the bike was beginning to show its age, and by the end of the decade something was needed urgently.

The subsequent CB750F dohc upheld the family for several years until Honda sorted out the V fours, and the company also launched the CBX750 (aka RC17). This bike was the corporate fallback, just in case the VFR750 went to hell in a handbasket.

Running from 1983-85 the all new 750 sold relatively well but was soon pensioned off... well, almost.

The CBX’s motor had proved (alternator drive train excepted) to be a damn fine power unit, and Honda saw an opportunity to produce a cash cow with little investment; enter the Honda CB750 F2N (aka RC42). Sold in the UK from 1992 through to 2001, the bike is the final iteration of the aircooled 750 Honda.

Overshadowed by faster bikes, initially mocked by the press, and when launched the Plain Jane to Kawasaki’s various Z1-aping Zephyrs, the RC42 is now being recognised for the true gem it is. 73bhp in a 215kg bike might not initially float your boat, but take a spin on one and digest exactly what it does: All day comfort; genuinely enough space for two; 175 miles on a tank; an accessible torque

curve and a top speed just shy of 130mph. Lots of more modern machinery might better some of the above, but chances are you’ll end up cramped, tired or both.

Sometimes accused of being worthy rather than exciting, the Honda CB750 F2N is simply a practical machine with shy and retiring understated good looks. Perhaps easily overlooked is the Honda build quality: Even high mileage examples seem to scrub up nicely as there’s a good layer of paint on all the critical stuff despite being sold as a budget machine when new.

Even the brakes are top-drawer items having been borrowed from the contemporary CBR600. For your money you also get hydraulic tappets and a decent centrestand which makes chain adjustment a doddle, and is a blessing for those with back problems. The physics of the unit are such that no lifting is required: Stand on the easily accessed foot pedal and simply transfer your weight as the bike hops up onto its perch.

If you like your bikes to be easy to get along with, then this machine could be what you’re looking for.

Simple switchgear, a decent grab rail, some bungee points and a true peach of an engine. The mechanically quiet power unit spins up fast enough for most nonsports bike riders and will rev its heart out if required. 70-80mph cruising is supremely stress free and the midrange torque means fewer gear changes. The bike will

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

5 issues for £12 Visit www.classicmagazines.co.uk/cmmvjmc Call: 01507

529529 and quote code: CMMVJMC

Expiry: 31/12/14. *UK only offer

run around town in top and pull away without cogging down from as low as 2500rpm.

If sensible is your thing then this is the classic bargain of the year for less than £2000. Know that police forces worldwide have used RC17/RC42derived mounts and you just have to be onto a good thing.

Get more from the VJMC

As it’s October it has to be the Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show at Stafford.

If you wanted to know why the VJMC get all frothy about old lumps of metal this is the place to be. The event is now the largest of its type in Europe, and there’ll be older Japanese motorcycles there from every decade since the 1960s, plus occasionally 1950s iron. The one constant that runs through the event and the VJMC stand is the heritage that’s on hand. Your latest Fireblade might very well never have been built if it wasn’t for the profits derived from the 1962 Honda CB77 or the 1979 Honda CX500.

Likewise the latest Yamaha R1 would probably never have been designed if countless fiftysomethings hadn’t bought Fizzy mopeds and YPVS 350s.

There’s a Chinese proverb that suggests you can only know where you are now if you also know what happened before. It wasn’t that long ago that The Big Four had little apparent empathy for their own histories. The VJMC would like to think that, perhaps, it’s played a small part in changing that.

CLASSIFIED YAMAHA XJ6N ABS, (2010), black/grey, very good standard condition, 6k, MoT done in June 2014, 6,700 miles, fitted with Datatool Cat.1 alarm, Open to offers. Tel. 07950 823904. Gtr London.

YAMAHA YZF R1 VIRGIN MOBILE 1999, two owners, full MoT, Sorn, loads of extras, single seat, under seat cans, fantastic bike, £2500. Tel. Jason 07795 567779. S Yorks.

YAMAHA FAZER FZS 600cc, 55k miles, lowered suspension, heated grips, hugger, engine bars, £1200.; Honda CB 900 hornet shop manual, £25. Tel. 01706 810653. Lancs.

Parts For sale

YAMAHA XJ6N 2010, very low mileage, good condition, dry use only, genuine reason for sale, ideal 1st bike, £2800 ovno. Tel. Dave 07985 622640. W Mids.

YAMAHA XS 650B 1975, American import, reg UK 1992 ‘N’ plate, 75% restored by previous owner, very original, needs finishing, dry stored but running, recent battery, £2350 ovno. Tel. 01392 439545. Devon.

YAMAHA XS 750 1977, 47,500 miles, electronic ignition, very useable, MoT Apr 15, taxed Nov 14, £1150 ono. Tel. 01955 661345. Caithness.

YAMAHA YBR 125 custom-style, 2011, 2,500 miles from new, full service history, one previous owner, only used in dry weather by wife to pass CBT test, stored in garage, now no longer required, red, MoT till Aug 2015, vgc, £1650 ono. Tel. 02381 789619.

Hants.

YAMAHA FZR 600R 1995, MoT Feb 15, new chain and sprockets, good tyres, s/steel Art exhaust, new brakes, totally reliable, ridden daily, reluctant sale, £900 ono. Tel. 07516 840677; 01492 203073. N Wales.

APRILIA DORSODURO 750 parts, new clocks, £250; Evotech tail tidy, £30; DPM race levers, pair, £50; Arrow cans, with link pipe, £250; sprockets, 15T, 48T, 3,000 miles, offers. Tel. 01744 895863. Lancs.

BMW K75RT 1991, metallic red, breaking for parts, Tel. 07549 182059. Suffolk. Email: william. beacham@virginmedia.com BMW R1150 RT new tank bag, £70; box with Titan silver lid, £100; pair pannier lids, titan/ silver, £40.

Tel. 01244 810260. Flints.

BMW R1200RT 2010-13, heated comfort (and lower) dual seat, as new, half price - £200.Tel. 07774 675672. S Hants.

BMX BOXER engine bars, chrome, £40; 1982 R100RT/RS grab rail/rack, chrome, £20; R80 mono side stand, bolts onto front footrest, exc cone, £35 will post.

Tel. 01902 331807. Wolvs.

GENUINE HONDA wheel 'U' lock, with two keys, £25; screen for Z1000 SX Kawasaki, £25 ono; Instruction book for Vincent HRD 1935 Series A and Rapide A, 28 pages, offers.Tel. 07970 268610.

Cambs.

GIVI MONORACK BRACKETS for Honda Hornet, top box for years 1998-2002, brand new condition, no rust or scratches, with all fittings and instructions, £20. plus postage or buyer collects Tel. 01582 601467. Beds.

HONDA 550 FOUR petrol tank with key repairable dent to rear offside, £45; VFR seat cowl, mint condition to fit Pre V-tec model, £55; D Silver £400 plus. Tel. Martyn 07923 930119. Derbys.

HONDA CBR 250 engine carbs, electrics,£750; GP2 high-level tinted screen,£20; loads CBR 250 spares.

Tel. 07831 188224. N Wales.

HONDA CD/CM 200 parts: dismantled engines, forks, wheels and lots of small parts. No tank, exhausts mudguards or seat, best offer for the lot. Tel. 01536 516786. Northants.

HONDA EXHAUST COMPLETE never fitted, black, genuine Honda, original part for 125 eg SH125 01-04; Dylan 02-07; NES 02-05, £40 ono. plus delivery or collect. Tel. 01246 208379.

Derbys.

HONDA SILVERWING windscreen 2001, unmarked, £40.Tel. 07774 675672. S Hants.

Subscribe to Motor Cycle Monthly: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/MCM or call 01507 529529 HONDA CG125 PARTS seat, headlight brackets, side panel, kick start, air box and filter, rear light, foot pegs, forks badge, seat latches, rear mudguard/no plate bracket, the lot £80 or sell seperately Tel. 07752 443794.

Denbighshire.

HONDA FIREBLADE 919cc, complete bike less engine, breaking all parts, Tel. 07759 683121. Staffs.

HONDA GL 1000 Goldwing exhaust system, complete Jama, original, very good condition, £175.Tel. 0161 766 6353. Lancs.

HONDA ST 1100 Pan European single seat and Police type rear storage compartment, good condition, £40.Tel. Paul 0151 678 8883. Wirral.

HONDA VFR 1200 custom built Nitron rear shock, 2000 miles use, set up and data sheet, £250; Baglux harness, red/black, new condition, £50; Bazzaz z bomb tre, £30. Tel. 07900 371020.

Northumberland.

HONDA VFR 400 NC 30 spares.

Tel. Craig 07770 987038. Suffolk.

KAWASAKI ER5 low seat, £20; Oxford tank bag, large, £20. Tel. 01787 474082. Essex.

KAWASAKI Z KONI Dial A Ride twin shocks, suit Z650/750/900/ 1000/1100 GPZ, adj preload/damping, correct off set Kawasaki bottom-mount, exc cond, no leaks, £360 new, £110.

Tel. 07788 442155. Somerset.

KAWASAKI ZX6RJI front brake disc, "miked" at 4.826cm (min tolerance 4.5mm),not warped,£50.

Tel.0151 6069983.Wirral,Cheshire.

M4 HEX stainless steel full nuts (10 pack), £1.27; price includes p&p. Also available M5, M6, M8, M10, M12 Hex, full and Nyloc nuts, M4-M12 flat and spring washers, threaded bar/screwed rod, various lengths available. Tel. 07905 771547. Lancs.

KAWASAKI ZX10 1989, Rentec rear carrier, good condition, £25 plus p&p. Tel. 01655 331721; 07920 141700. Ayrshire.

MOTO GUZZI BREVA low seat, factory spare, exc cond, £100. buyer collects or delivery charge extra Tel. 07803 176532. Worcs.

MOTORCYCLE WORKSHOP TABLE LIFT hydraulic, large sized, max load 400 kgs (PDSLIFT03) for sale, perfect condition with original crate, £125. Tel. 07803 281747. Cambs.

MV AGUSTA 750 PARTS bare swing arm, exhaust cans, rear shock, rear light lens, rear footrest hanger, suspension pivot arm, all used but ok, Tel. John 01757 618605. N Yorks.

PIRELLI ANGEL ST 180/55Z R17 tyre, never fitted as bike sold, £90 ono. Tel. 0789 4078815. Notts.

R & G AERO CRASH PROTECTORS c/w all fittings/ teardrop shaped bobbins for Suzuki GSF1250 GT (faired version), £85 ono. Tel. 0789 4078815. Notts.

SUZUKI BANDIT 1250-650cc, Beowulf silencer, stainless oval, as new radiator cover, stainless Bandit, £160 ono. Tel. 01432 265726. Hereford.

SUZUKI BANDIT 1200cc, 1999, fairing, black, c/w headlamp, tinted screen, horn and fittings, slight damage, £60. plus p&p Tel. 01655 331721; 07920 141700.

Ayrshire.

SUZUKI GSX 1400 K2/K4, pair stainless round fuel silencers, £170; K&N air filter, £25; mirror extensions, stainless steel, £10; blue Universal Power Bronze fly screen, £35 or the lot for £220.

Tel. 01642 280530; 07816 340143. N Yorks.

SUZUKI HAYABUSA 2005, K5, Bagster tank cover and tank bag, blue/silver, used twice, as new, £60. each Tel. 01655 331721; 07920 141700. Ayrshire.

TIGER 1050 PANNIERS Phantom black, c/w mountings, rear grab handle with adaptor and Givi plate, £250 ono; centre stand c/w all required fittings removed from 2011 bike, £50 ono. Tel. 07793 048390. W Yorks.

TRIUMPH AMERICA\SPEEDMASTER luggage rails, £30; footboards, £130; king and queen seat, £130; all as new condition.

Tel. 07769 954456. Gtr London.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1050cc, 2007, bagster tank cover, green, new, never used, £70. plus p&p Tel. 01655 331721; 07920 141700. Ayrshire.

TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 standard silencer, £35; standard screen, £30; both or £50. Harley Davidson seat, swept back handlebars, few other bits and pieces, £25 the lot to clear. Tel. 01642 280530; 07816 340143. N Yorks.

TRIUMPH UNIT 650 rear sprocket and brake drum, 43T high gear racing type with ventilation holes as per Thruxton Bonneville, as new condition, £25; r/h rear engine plate, F5908, £5. Tel. 01529 306877. S Lincs.

VICTORY HAMMER 1731cc, parts/accessories, new Lucas battery, Lytx 20lbs, may fit others, bobber seat, compete with pillion cover, in black, tow bar bracket, galvanised steel, Tel. 07733 446980. S West.

YAMAHA DIVERSION 600cc parts, manual, screen, starter motor, clutch & basket, cush drive rubbers, oil pump,swinging arm, coils, cdi, foot pegs, kill switch, chain adjusters, plus some other parts, £100. the lot or sell separately. Tel. 07752 443794.

Denbighshire.

YAMAHA VIRAGO 1100 king seat, £60; one pair panniers, two pouches, (Ledrie), studded leather, 12 x 12 x 6, all good condition, £65. Tel. 01733 708289.

Peterborough, Cambs.

YAMAHA FZR 400 1989, rear brake disc, £15; motorbike spring compressor, £10; Oxford hot hands heated over grips, £15.Tel. 07580 728231. Suffolk.

YAMAHA XJR 1300 stainless round fuel silencer (later 4-into-1), £85; Hagon progressive fork springs, £45; K&N air filter, £20; stainless mirror extensions, £10; Universal smoke Power Bronze flyscreen, £35, the lot £175. Tel. 01642 280530; 07816 340143. N Yorks.

Wanted

CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE WANTED Any make or size from a basket case to one in nice or restored condition. Cash waiting.

Tel. Mark 07811 189755. Staffs. g3-web@tiscali.co.uk CLYMER MANUAL: Honda XL 750, Honda 125 CB 70s model, for pensioner to play in garage with, must be reasonable price.

Tel. 01253 736245. Lancs.

HARLEY DAVIDSON FXSTDI Fat Boy. Tel. 4102 856786. Maryland, USA. Alex@gemail.com PUCH MAXI 2 stroke moped, or similar make and model. Email: geoffcowton@yahoo.co.uk Cleveland, Durham.

SINGLE WANTED late 50s or early 60s, 500cc/350cc, anything considered.Tel. 01132 873420 or 07740 830268. Leeds, W Yorks.

SUNDOWNER SOLO SEAT wanted for Harley to fit a 2002 FXD Dyna Super Glide. Tel. 07787 379908 after 6pm. Cheshire.

WANTED YAMAHA VIRAGO 535 or Kawasaki EN 500, will pay up to £750. cash Tel. 07597 174839.

Mold, Chester.

WANTED YAMAHA YZ 125 road bike, any condition. Tel. 0741 4647222. Northants.

WANTED: 70'S/80'S Bell Moto 3 motocross style crash helmet, any condition. Tel. 07896 871451. N Yorks.

WANTED: STANDARD TRIUMPH T100 seat (Hinckley) wanted, standard Triumph 900 Thunderbird seat, Tel. 01642 280530; 07816 340143. N Yorks.

YAMAHA SRV 250 wanted, your price paid. Tel. Dick 01707 870769. Herts.

YAMAHA YZF 1000 CRI Thunderace, urgent exhaust manifold or all exhaust. Tel. 07925 340627.

Avon.

Parts Wanted

HONDA CB500 FOUR exhaust system or just 4 downpipes, will be black, so chrome quality not important. Tel. 01270 811762.

Nantwich.

MOTORCYCLE TABLE LIFT required, will collect, distant 50 mile radius from Bolton, cash waiting.Tel. 01204 574813. Lancs.

TREALE MK2 easy load trailer wanted,this is the one with a winch fitted, top money for good trailer, or any trailer where bed drops to floor to make loading easy, Tel. Jack 07828 103437. Notts.

Miscellaneous

2-BIKE BOX TRAILER 750kg, MGW, very little use, 2 years old, £850. ovno Tel. 07900 265268.

Norfolk.

ALPINE STARS MOTORCYCLE JACKET size 12, trousers, size 14, gloves, medium, cost over £400 new, worn twice only, £100. buyer collects Tel. 01793 778222; 07761 952258. Wilts.

BELSTAFF TEXTILE JACKET black/red, size M, (5ft 9" medium), with armour, good condition, £30. Tel. 07774 675672. S Hants.

BELSTAFF M/C COAT leather, XL, 48" chest, in excellent condition, £280 ono. Tel. 07704 343331.

Stockport.

BIKE TRAILER with new tyres, wheel bearings, lighting bar and socket, £175. Tel. 01723 585864 eves. W Yorks.

BIKER GEAR box mens new black laced upsides trousers, size 38" waist, 30" inside leg, £30; head lamp/screens, £10 each; Honda lock, £10; Harley Davidson rear shocks, £50; Harley Davidson back rest to fit 2006 Street Bob, £90 ono (new); Yamaha XS 650 workshop manual, £10; Clutchmaster, will fit VTB 1000 Bandit/1200 and other bills, £45; Yamaha XJR 1200/1300 collector box, as new, £90 ono; Harley Davidson clutch cable (Street Bob), £25; Honda lock, £10. Tel. 07790 934835. Staffs.

BUFFALO LEATHER JACKET gents, size 44, fair condition, zips ok, black, £60.Tel. 01364 653515; 01803 607265. Torquay, Devon.

BUFFERLOW BIKE JACKET gents, size 46", full Ammore black, fair condition, £60; also h/duty bike chain and lock, including 4 keys, vgc, £15. Tel. 01364 653515; 01803 607265.

Torquay, Devon.

CLASSIC SUZUKI cigarette type cards, mounted in picture frame, RE5, GT750, 250 Hustler, T500, GT 550, GS750 etc, c/w specs, a nice piece, £35. Tel. 01803 607265; 01364 653515.Torquay.

CLYMER BMW 500cc/600ccTwins, 1955/1969,workshop manual,new, £10; Clymer BMW 500/750, 1955/1973 workshop manual, £8; Honda SL 125, 1973 parts list, £9.

Tel. 01484 663007.W Yorks.

COMPRESSOR "SEALEY" SA5020, 50 litre tank, 2hp motor, 116 PSI "Italian" quality, unwanted prize, was £220 brand new, now £160. Tel. 01642 484073. Cleveland County.

DAINESE K-SERIES 2-piece leathers, red/white/black, size 52, trouser zip broken, £100; vgc Sidi Vertebra bots, red/black, Euro size 45, good condition, £50. Tel. 01462 634148. Hitchin, Herts.

BMW R1200RT 2010-13 Cymarc Crud Catcher, unused, £30. Tel. 07774 675672. S Hants.

DRAPER B/BLASTING CABINET w/top, Clarke p/washer, new w/top, Clarke Pro/mig welder, new, all three £150. pick-up only Tel. 0161 224 5447. S Man. FRANK THOMAS textile jacket, black/grey, size L, (5ft 9" medium), with armour, good condition, £30. Tel. 07774 675672. S Hants.

FULL FACTORY workshop manual for Moto Guzzi VII Sport, cost £70, take £25. ovno Tel. Rob 07800 790856. Notts.

H/DUTY BIKE CHAIN chain and padlock, one metre long, canvas covered and 4 keys, excellent condition, £15. Tel. 01803 607265; 01364 653515. Devon.

H/DUTY LOCK AND CHAIN almost 4ft long, canvas covered with strong lock and 4 keys, £15.

Tel. 01803 607265. Torquay.

HEIN GERICKE one-piece suit, red/white/black, fit 5ft 8", 40" chest, used 4 times, £120. Tel. 07544 500833. Man. HEIN GERICKE GORTEX waterproof jacket, size medium/large, dark grey/black, good condition, £40. Tel. 07769 954456. W Mids.

HIGHWAYMAN one piece leathers, blue/white, worn 10 times, suit 12 to 13 stone, 5ft 10in to 6ft, £100. ask for Ken on ansaphone I will pick up if in. Tel. 01494 874746. S Bucks.

JTS WOMENS TROUSERS leather, size 16, short, black, vgc, as new, worn once, £20. Tel. 078540 72189. Notts.

KRIEGA R25 back pack ruck sack, approx 8 months old, perfect condition, £85 ono. Tel. 0789 4078815. Notts.

M/C BOOTS leather (9), r/r zipper, good nick, robust, £60.Tel. 07759 607498. Berks.

M/C BOOTS black/silver, as new, size 11, £20; IXS motorcycle trousers, black, XL Cordura full protection, as new, £20; Hein Gericke wet suit, XXL, £20 or £50. the lot Tel. 01295 272068. Oxon.

M/C JACKET lightweight fabric, black, XL, as new, £25.Tel. 07759 607498. Berks.

MAGNETIC TANK BAG nearly new, plenty of handy pockets with perfect zips, c/w rain cover and clear map pocket on top, the bag does not have a manufacturer's name, but is still an ok looking bag, £30. Tel. 07923 930119. Derbys.

MOTORCYCLE CLOTHING leathers, Belstaff and Barbour gear, male and female balaclavas, gloves and helmets, Offers, tel.

01531 822982; 07855 184655.

Glos.

LEATHER BOOTS size 9, black, £50; l/w, XL jacket, £20. respectively. Tel. 07759 607498.

E Berks.

NATIONAL CYCLE SWITCHBLADE chopped, clear screen, suit XVS 1300 plus fittings, used only once, save £100, as new, £250 bargain - no offers. Tel. 07984 881538. Bury, Lancs.

ONE PIECE LEATHERS Classic black, GP, 6 months' old with full hard armour, worn 6 to 7 times in competition only, with base layer under, chest 48", waist 44", inside leg 31", £95. Tel. 07923 930119. Derbys.

OXFORD EXPANDABLE PANNIERS 50 ltr, black, never been used, new Dec 13, £110 (still with sales tag) would like £60. plus postage Tel. 01543 897601. W Mids.

OXFORD EXPANDER tank bag, also tail pack, c/w all bungies and waterproof covers, with fitting instructions, booklet, never used, still in original packaging, £40. plus postage or buyer collects.Tel. 01582 601467. Beds.

PADLOCK AND CHAIN almost 4ft long, canvas coloured, heavy duty c/w 4 keys, vgc, £15. Tel. 01803 607265 or 01364 653515.

Torquay, Devon.

NEW BLACK LEATHER JACKET XL, lined, zipper, £55. Tel. 07759 607498. Berks.

PAIR AJS Craven Golden Arrow panniers, as used by Ken Craven on his tours, clasp locks but no keys, vgc, panniers have fittings on back, £35.Tel. 01708 450968.

Essex.

PAIR KRAUSER PANNIERS original classic suitcase, with mounting plates attached, one key only, BMW or could be used on other makes, £50. ovno Tel. 07849 876510. Deal, Kent.

PRO-ACTIVE TENT 2 person, used, once, £10; Halfords sleeping bag, used once, £2.50; waterproof trousers, XXL, £10; aqua bike jacket, XXL, £20; ladies lace-up bike boots, oil resistant soles, never worn, size 4, £20; sissy bar, as new, £30; luggage rack, unused, £25. Tel. 01472 752348. N E Lincs.

TRIUMPH LEATHER JACKET never worn, black, has labels, size 46/56, cost new £260, sell for £125 ono; no longer needed, sold Triumph. Tel. 07792 563151.

North Gwent, S Wales.

YAMAHA FJR 1300 blue, 01-05, petrol tank cover, £30; handlebar raisers, £35; panniers, blue, £200; Wilbers shock, £175, only 4000 miles; FJR workshop manual, £30. Tel. 0191 3852809. Tyne & Wear.

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34 CLASSIFIEDS ACCESSORIES

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N FL M OTOR CYCL E TR AIN IN G & TES TIN G • C BT TRA INING • FULL TEST/ DIREC T A C C ESS D riving Standards Agency Approved

Te l: 0 190 2 494422

Trade advertisers call Jo on 01507 529468 WEB WATCH

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SECURITY SPECIALIST KEY CUTTING

Motorcycle keys cut to code Motorcycle keys made to locks

Tel: 01522 532038 Email: info@lincolnsecurity.co.uk www.lincolnsecurity.co.uk

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Springcourt Auto Centre Tel: 01706 631245 Specialists in motorcycles

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38 know how

How a HigHland break could make you a safer rider

Andy Catton joined two mates for a half-day introduction to off-road riding, at the MotoScotland training centre, that’s also helped to transform his road skills.

THIS isn’t just another off-road school. Owner Clive Rumbold has ensured that as many of the skills learnt as possible are easily transferrable to riding on the road.

From front braking exercises on different surfaces, to balance and machine control – it’s this level of training within 50,000 acres of stunning Highland scenery that singles out MotoScotland as an exceptional training centre.

MotoScotland’s aims are simple: to give everyone who attends a fun, scenic and usefully informative time, tailored around individual motorcyclists’ riding needs, on trails around some of the most stunning and exclusive countryside.

The training begins

Kitted up, and after an in-depth briefing, the three of us set off on a BMW 650 GS, a small-wheeled AJP PR3 (125cc), and full-size AJP PR4

Every type of surface can be practiced on within the 50,000 acres.

(240cc). We were briefed on the practical techniques of riding, like how to stand up on the bike, body position, even how to get on and off the machine – it’s not as easy as it sounds on a hillside.

This is quite different to road riding.

Standing up, cornering left, the bike is leant to the left while you act as a counterbalance; leaning your body out to the right, twisting your knee and foot outwards to push down through the centre of the bike and on to the tyres for greater grip. Very strange for a road-rider like myself – used to leaning with the bike – but it works, and standing up to ride was so exhilarating. I struggled to change gear in a standing position, but I think this is where two complete days on a novice course at MotoScotland would be an advantage.

My riding gradually improved as the lane turned a grassy and muddy path which ended at an old quarry where

There’s a bike to suit every level of experience (and height).

we could appreciate the scenery (views included Beinn Bhuidhe and Ben Cruachan, two of Argyll’s Munro mountains and Loch Awe). Our group spent the next three hours practising various exercises designed to get the novice off-roader feeling more at home in the dirt. We did a standing and circling exercise around a cone, with the aim of getting the bike on full lock while travelling in slow circles.

This made us all use clutch, throttle, body and bike balance along with steering… being nimble is a bonus offroad! I fell off on the second circle, but we all improved drastically after a few more attempts, quickly learning how to pick up our bikes after falling off.

Next was a rear-wheel braking exercise; locking the back brake at various speeds to see how grip changes on different terrain, and understanding how engine braking is the best way to slow down off-road for maximum traction and machine control.

We finished the quarry time by locking the front wheel repeatedly on loose gravel and through a small bog – unnerving, alien and amazing at the same time. Both sound and feel were far more important to remaining in control than any of us would have imagined. The ride back utilised the concepts of engine braking, good observation on a very slippery descent with several varied surfaces, then

Don ’tS lip it - G rip it B ra k e Sho es & Clu tc h Pla tes

professionallyre-lined with top quality m aterials forveteran,road and com petition use.

O versize linings available.

Alloy brake shoe casting.

Allm akes and m odels catered forat com petitive prices.

UK collection and delivery.

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opened out and sped up. Great fun, and much easier than our first attempt.

Ambitious plans for the business include longer off-road expeditions incorporating wild camping and/or luxury accommodation overnight.

Get a group together with anyone you know with at least a CBT, or go by yourself – all the long-term benefits of a session will give your future riding a real boost. I’ve got the bug, and will be back in November for two full days of learning, exploring and improving my skills.

give it a go

MotoScotland is open all year except Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year, and bookings can be made online or by phone Tuesday to Saturday, between 9am and 5pm

Riders get the chance to learn full bike control in a safe environment.

For details of all the Highland courses available, visit the website at www.motoscotland.com or call 01499 320460

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