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TOP 20 BIKES OF 2020 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BEST NEW RIDES
KTM 390 ADVENTURE
Best specced miniadventurer yet?
HARLEY CVO LIMITED Stateside cruising gets even better
January 2020 Issue 712
The calm before the storm Mikko Nieminen
T
his is a peculiar time of year. On the surface it looks like motorcycling is going into hibernation – across the country bikes are being cleaned and prepped for winter, boots polished, and instructions dug out to see how you’re supposed to wash that waterproof jacket again (Can it go in the machine? Do you need to iron it to reactivate the waterproofing?). For some, this is the time to pack it in for the cold months, while others keep going all-year round. Even for the winter riders, everything slows down a bit – you don’t gas out of a corner covered in leaves with the same enthusiasm you did a couple of months ago. There are some changes in comfort too, as the gloves get thicker, and layers of clothing multiply. But away from our everyday riding, cleaning and fettling with our bikes, the big wheels are turning with motorcycle manufacturers gearing up for the spring when the new models will roll into showrooms. I love this build-up to what’s coming in the new riding season. Some new models are confirmed for production and sale, others emerge as ‘concept’ bikes (which often means that you can expect them in the dealerships the following year), and some get updates, ranging from anything from new colours to completely new components. And then there are the motorcycles that everyone expected to see, but never appeared. Months of spy shots showing us new bikes in varying states of readiness for the market usually culminate in those bikes being unveiled at the big international shows. But not always. Sometimes this is intentional, other times there are delays in the bikes’ development. We never know, and that’s what makes it so interesting. One thing that surprised me this year was that there
Don’t worry about the weather being grim for riding. The sunny days and new bikes are just round the corner! weren’t many electric bikes revealed at the shows. What we did see, though, was a great selection of good old-fashioned petrol bikes. As you’d expect, some have got bigger (I do wonder how long that trend can be sustained), others smarter, and a whole bunch of brand new ones were born. The most interesting bikes for me were in the naked and adventure categories. You can hardly walk past the new Ducati V4 Streetfighter, Kawasaki Z H2 or the new Suzuki V-Strom without stopping to have a closer look. But there were plenty of sports bikes, too – the offerings from Ducati, Aprilia and Kawasaki somewhat thwarted by the new Honda Fireblade. It was much quieter in the sports touring corner, with the new Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX perhaps the closest thing to taking you very far, very fast. We have gathered our favourite 20 bikes from the new crop in this issue. I hope that our selection matches your taste. One thing is for certain though – next spring will offer some pretty exciting test ride opportunities if you are looking for a new ride (or even if you aren’t, but just fancy a go). So, whether you ride all year or not, the bikes in this issue should give you that nice warm and fuzzy feeling and get you through the cold and dark months. Now, hurry up spring!
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.
Alan Dowds
Alan Dowds is a freelance journalist, who’s been writing about bikes for 25 years. He’s Scottish, but based in London, and cut his riding teeth as a courier, so loves a bit of hardcore traffic splitting. Books, magazines, websites – he’s written for them all, and still loves it.
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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Contents
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Guide to waterproofs
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Latest products
54
The High Sider
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Your letters
TOURING & ADVENTURE
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Feast your eyes on the hottest motorcycles of 2020.
Motorcycle gear and accessories we’re excited about.
MSL readers’ comments on the mag, motorcycles and life beyond.
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Touring news
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Day ride
62
Mid ride
74
66
26
MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo retired. This is probably why.
57
Maynard Hershon
It’s time for a new bike for Maynard. But which one?
This is what you need to know when you kit out for the wet season.
13,000 miles London to Beijing ride completed.
Tour de Cornwall is a circular gem.
The Elephant Rally puts the cool in cool bikes.
Long ride
Adventures on two wheels in Thailand.
KNOWLEDGE 80
Buiding an electric racer
96
Buyer’s guide
Bristol University students charge ahead in Zero TT
GSX-S1000F is underrated. Which makes it a good buy.
104 Classic test
72
Richard Millington
74
Riding in Morocco
110 Tried & tested
79
WIN WIN WIN
114 Kevin Cameron
4 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962
Successful flying for motorcyclists.
Camels, bazaars and fabulous twisty mountain passes.
Your chance to do the same Morocco tour for FREE.
Suzuki GT750B & Honda CB750F2 – superbikes from the seventies
Kit and accessories for winter and summer tried & tested.
How to plot for world domination, and the best Brexit analogy so far.
TEST FLEET 82
86
BMW & KTM
Mikko and Carl take a trip up north to say goodbye to the bikes.
Triumph Scrambler 1200
Winter gives a new perspective to the Scrambler.
104
87
Kymco AK550
88
Suzuki V-Strom 1000XT
Ross swaps the Monkey bike for a maxi-scooter.
All luggage and no hassle makes Stu a happy boy.
ROAD TESTS Triumph Rocket 3
89
38
Harley-Davidson Ultra CVO
90
Kawasaki Versys 1000
48
KTM 390 Adventure
92
Honda CB650R
93
Ducati Diavel
94
Suzuki Katana
26
The biggest-capacity production motorcycle updated big time.
The new high-spec Harley is like a fine watch. Bear with us on this...
We test the prototype of the exciting mini-adventurer.
48
95
Yamaha Niken
Mossy goes out on a rather wet ride.
Bertie talks to a man with 100k-mile experience of the green giant.
It's time to reflect on the months spent on the CB.
There are two things you should know about the Diavel...
Accessories are starting to emerge for the Katana.
Honda CB500X
Roger compares the adventurer to its naked sibling.
January 2020 EDITOR: Mikko Nieminen mnieminen@mortons.co.uk DESIGNERS: Charlotte Turnbull, Fran Lovely & Tracey Markham 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 44 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £51.60. Export rates are also available – see page 44 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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