HEATED JACKETS
Keep warm this winter
YAMAHA TMAX
Tech MAX super scooter
25 PAGES
OF TRAVEL & ADVENTURE FROM PLYMOUTH TO PORTUGAL
WHO’S THE MOST
ADVENTUROUS? YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700
KTM 890 DUKE
MAKING THE BEST BETTER STILL
VS KTM 790 ADVENTURE
LOST IN PORTUGAL
WITH SAM MANICOM
DUCATI V2
STRONGER, FASTER, AND STILL RED
February 2020 Issue 713
Let it snow! Mikko Nieminen
H
ow cold does it have to get before you abandon your plan to ride a motorcycle? My personal limit is ice on the roads. I’m not so bothered about icy temperatures (I was born in Finland, after all), but the lack of traction that black ice brings with it puts me right off getting on two wheels. So, if it’s slippery underfoot when I walk the dog first thing in the morning, there will be no riding for me until the roads have cleared. If it’s just cold then let’s go for it. I would rather be cold on a motorcycle than warm in a car – I’m sure many of you know the feeling. But the thing is that these days, you don’t necessarily have to be cold when riding in winter. At least, not as cold as you used to be. Thanks to the developments in riding kit, even the cold days can offer great rides now. Thermal layers really have improved a lot, being thinner, but more effective than before. Heated kit is also better than a few years ago, and the prices are acceptable if you do enough cold miles to get plenty of wear out of them. Last winter I tested a couple of textile suits specifically designed for winter riding (Furygan Cold Master and Dainese Antarctica). They were a bit of a revelation. The amount of heat-preserving tech that you can pack in a garment that isn’t massively thick is impressive. I appreciate that riding all-year round isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but with the right kit, it becomes a lot more tempting for many. This winter I have gone up a league, and tested heated jackets (see pages 110-111 in this issue) and heated gloves (more about them in the next issue). Having heated motorcycle clothing is a bit of a luxury, since you have to pay for it in addition to all the
We’ve never had it so good when it comes to winter riding other necessary gear, but for me it’s definitely worth spending the money on. The difference in riding in complete comfort rather than constantly scanning for the next café to dive into for warmth is marked. You can actually enjoy the ride, not just the challenge of it. It’s also interesting to see the variety of heated kit there is available, but you can read about all that in the Tried & Tested pages… Another area where things have improved is the bikes themselves. Heated grips, hand guards, touring screens and heated seats are now available for many big-mile bikes and scooters, although they’re not by any means universal. But oh boy, do they make a difference! The difference between riding a motorcycle with no winter riding aides in the same gear that you wear all year, and riding a veritable motorised hot water bottle while wrapped in electrically heated kit is stark, to say the least. With all these accessories and kit in place, the only thing we can’t change is the road conditions. And given that councils are unlikely to install under-floor heating on the roads to keep them from freezing, there will be days when the bike stays in the garage. Mind you, a few days like that are always useful so you have a bit of time to fettle with the bike or plan the next two-wheeled adventure. Time to put the kettle on!
Mikko Nieminen, Editor
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure’s contributors... Alan Cathcart
Alan Cathcart has been writing about bikes for more than 30 years, and riding them for even longer. He’s regularly given the keys to factory prototypes and being on first name terms with the bosses of bike companies around the world allows him to bag many scoops.
Roland Brown
A bike journalist for more than 30 years, Roland has contributed to countless publications worldwide and authored a dozen books on bikes. He has tested machines ranging from Rossi’s YZR-M1 to a 1923 Douglas, but still can’t decide which type of bike he most enjoys riding.
Chris Moss
Mossy has made a living from bikes since 1985 – first as a motorcycle courier in London, and then as a journo from 1995. He’s raced, ridden and tinkered with hundreds of different bikes, but he’s the first to admit there’s still loads to experience and learn.
Peter Henshaw
Peter is our history man – he’s written more than 60 books and is a former editor of this very publication. Now a freelance journalist, he writes about transport of all kinds, though bikes are really at the heart of it all. He’s an all-yearround rider who does not own a car.
Ross Mowbray
Ross works across several motorcycling magazines. That means he gets to ride all manner of twowheelers, from Monkey bikes to trikes. Don’t let his youthful appearance fool you, he’s a seasoned petrol-head, respected test rider and a handy off-roader, too.
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MSL goes motocrossing
Your letters
46
The High Sider
Maynard Hershon
TOURING & ADVENTURE
Highly anticipated Triumph Tiger 900 is here.
22
24
26
32
MSL readers put the world of motorcycling right.
The story of switching bikes concludes in this issue.
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72
Our man from the sporty side of motorcycling has his say.
Touring news
Day ride
60
Mid ride
64
70 72
78
4 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962
16
13,000km from Mongolia to Austria by moped.
56
Latest products
These 10 items have caught our eye this month.
We get a taste for dirt with the Kawasaki MX Experience.
Following the River Wye from sea to source is a great ride.
Off-season is the time to have a little Alps trip to Austria and Italy.
Long ride
Mountains, valleys and salt flats in South America.
Richard Millington
ROAD TESTS 10
Ducati V2
16
KTM 890 Duke
28
Flying tips for motorcyclists.
On- and off-road in Portugal
34
History Boy
48
Sam Manicom explores this motorcycling gem.
Our location scout goes castle hunting.
It’s not all about new red V4s. This twin is worth a look, too.
We get a go on a prototype of the street-conquering Austrian.
Yamaha TMax
Maxi-scooters are already good. Can this one up the game?
Riding adventurously
Yamaha Ténéré 700 & KTM 790 Adventure put through their paces.
CFMoto 650GT
New tourer from the Chinese brand focussing on quality.
February 2020
TEST FLEET 90
91
Yamaha Niken
Mossy compares his Niken with a new one.
Triumph Scrambler 1200
What’s the final verdict on the Scrambler?
92
28 KNOWLEDGE 83
84
All about oil
98
Buyer's guide
The black gold is essential for bikes. Here’s why.
This month we have a Triumph Thruxton R on our shopping list.
Ross has fallen for the big scooter.
93
Suzuki Katana
94
Ducati Diavel
95
Knowledge
Custom scene goes electric with a new take on Zero bikes.
Kymco AK550
It’s a stunning bike, but is it right for winter months?
Time to say goodbye to the big mad Italian.
Suzuki V-Strom 1000XT
Stu hits the wintery roads with the litre adventurer.
96
97
Kawasaki Versys 1000
Is Bertie still in love with the green giant?
Honda CB500X
A trip to the seaside and more goodies for the Honda.
104 Classic test
Laverda Jota is a proper legend. And lucky Roland got to ride it.
110 Tried & Tested
Baby it’s cold outside – so we look at some heated kit to keep warm.
114 Kevin Cameron
Torque curves can tell us all sorts of interesting things.
10
EDITOR: Mikko Nieminen mnieminen@mortons.co.uk DESIGNERS: Charlotte Turnbull, Fran Lovely PRODUCTION EDITOR: Mike Cowton PICTURE DESK: Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schofield PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: Dan Savage PUBLISHER: Tim Hartley GROUP KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGER: Steff Woodhouse: swoodhouse@mortons.co.uk 01507 529452 / 07786 334330 GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER: Sue Keily DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER: Zoe Thurling zthurling@mortons.co.uk 01507 529412 ADVERTISING SALES: Charlotte Mountain: cmountain@mortons.co.uk 01507 529538 SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER: Paul Deacon: pdeacon@mortons.co.uk CIRCULATION MANAGER: Steve O’Hara: sohara@mortons.co.uk MARKETING MANAGER: Charlotte Park: cpark@mortons.co.uk COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Nigel Hole EDITORIAL ADDRESS: MSL Magazine, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR WEBSITE: www.mslmagazine.co.uk GENERAL QUERIES AND BACK ISSUES: 01507 529529 24 hr answerphone help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES: Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk 01507 529423 SUBSCRIPTION: Full subscription rates (but see page 26 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £51.60. Export rates are also available – see page 26 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. SUBSCRIPTION AGENTS: Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR CUSTOMER SERVICES NUMBER: 01507 529529 TELEPHONE LINES ARE OPEN: MONDAY-FRIDAY 8.30AM-5PM DISTRIBUTION: Marketforce UK Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HU. 0203 787 9001. PRINTED: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If you are sending material to us for publication, you are strongly advised to make copies and to include a stamped addressed envelope. Original material must be submitted and will be accepted solely on the basis that the author accepts the assessment of the publisher as to its commercial value. © Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. ISSN: 1478-8390 MOTORCYCLE SPORT & LEISURE (USPS:001-522) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK. USA subscriptions are $66 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to MOTORCYCLE SPORT & LEISURE, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@ classicbikebooks.com
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WORLD LAUNCH
Test Ride KTM 790 Adventure & Yamaha Ténéré 700
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS re and KTM’s 790 Adventu g-awaited n Yamaha’s equally lo trasting on Ténéré 700 took c iddleweight m routes in search of macy – re adventure bike sup up ahead? d so which one ende
Used test: 2017 Triumph Thruxton 1200R
THE SPORTY SIDE OF
BONNEVILLE The Thruxton’s got the looks, build quality and performance. What’s not to like? WORDS: Chris Moss PHOTOGRAPHY: Andy Dutton
A
modern motorcycle manufacturer Triumph may well be, but there’s no doubt the British firm draws heavily on its original history for selected models. The Thruxton 1200R is one of them. When early Triumphs were built in its Meriden factory between 1942 and 1983, the first Thruxton was a specifically designed, hand-built homologation special. Named after the famous Hampshire race circuit, the ‘Thruxton Bonneville’ model was made from 1965 to compete in the prestigious 500-mile endurance race. In the 1969 race, the Triumph filled the top three places. When the first Triumph company ceased trading, it was brought back to life by the entrepreneur John Bloor in 1983. His new firm began building machines in Hinckley, Leicestershire, in 1991. The first batch of the second-generation Thruxton 900s started leaving the production line in 2004, the 68bhp air-cooled 360° parallel twins coming in an 865cc capacity. These café racers were essentially sportier, more powerful versions of the Bonneville model, featuring rear-sets, analogue clocks, reverse-cone silencers and a flyscreen. Despite the nationality of the company, the Thruxton was made in Thailand. In 2016, the Thruxton 900 was replaced by two 1200cc versions, also built in the Far East. They may have looked similar to the older model, but they featured distinct differences. Following the established trend, the new Thruxtons bore a close relation to the existing T120 Bonneville models. Each featured ‘high power’ tuned variants of the now liquid-cooled parallel twin motor, with a 270° firing order. The 96bhp engine produced an extra 17bhp, courtesy of increased compression, and a lighter crankshaft allowing it to rev 500rpm higher. It also featured an additional Sport mode to join the T120’s Road and Rain options, which sharpened throttle response still further. It shared the same tubular steel double cradle frame as the ‘Bonnie’, though ran steeper geometry and a 17” front wheel instead of the softer bike’s 18” item.
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