INDIAN FTR12 200 FOR THE FLAT-TRACKER ROAD
RIDING IN SARDINIA
UK off-sale date – 05/07/2019
9 771478 839270
No.706 July 2019
NORTON 1200 V4 SS
SAM MANICOM
£4.40
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BMW’S
BMW R1250R LAUNCH RIDE ◆ BUYER’S GUIDE: AFRICA TWIN & MULTISTRADA ENDURO PRO
One size fits none Mikko Nieminen
W
e’re all different. Some more different than you’d think possible, but that’s another story... the point is, we all like different things, at times of our own choosing and in varying quantities. And so it is with motorcycles too. There simply isn’t an ultimate, unanimously accepted, perfect bike. Some of us like a motorcycle with lots of power, while others prefer big-miles comfort. And there are always some who don’t care about either of those things as long as their bike is more expensive than their neighbour’s. Each to their own. Regardless of the bike’s make, style, amount of power, number of cylinders, country of origin, or any other quality that appeals to us, there are also other forces at play when it comes to liking or disliking a bike. I thought that I had a reasonably good idea of what kind of bikes I like. However, recent experience proves that I’m just as fickle as the next man. But let’s start at the beginning: Having spent a few months off bikes due to my accident, I’m now determined to get my riding back to the standard it was. As part of my plan I have been to two track days, using two different bikes. Both bikes were the sort that I imagined I would like: Easy to ride, mid-range twins with enough but not too much power – perfect for me to ride on track, I thought. With the bikes being not too unlike each other, and both track days held at the same venue in similar weather conditions, you’d think that the experiences would have been fairly similar. How wrong I was! During the first event I was worried about going too fast for my own good, and too slow for the other riders. I didn’t gel with the bike. I couldn’t get a feel for corner speeds, braking points or turning markers. Moving about
No two riders are the same. And no bike is right for all. on the bike was awkward and clumsy. I didn’t enjoy myself or the bike. If truth be told, I spent most of the day wishing I was somewhere else, doing pretty much anything else. The second track day was only a couple of weeks later, so not much had happened in that time to make me a better or worse rider. Given how little I had enjoyed the first outing, I was tempted to not go at all. In the end I went, with a glum attitude and low expectations. And boy oh boy, am I glad that I went! That day was the complete opposite to the previous one: I enjoyed myself and the bike from the start. As the day progressed I found a bit of speed (by my standards anyway), and my confidence was slowly coming back. I felt like I was on it – and I loved the bike! So what had changed? Well, nothing. My initial thought was that it was because I was on a different bike, but I had ridden both bikes before, and had always got on with both – they’re really not that different. I presume that the change in me was just a case of being more familiar with the track, getting used to this kind of riding, and just having a better day. What this does demonstrate – in a highly un-scientific way – is that the question of a ‘perfect bike’ is dependent on a whole lot of different factors, many of which change from day to day. So if you’ve been riding the same bike for a while, or riding a succession of similar ones, pop into a dealership and test ride something completely different. But be careful, you might like it if you’re having a good day!
Mikko Nieminen, Editor
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure’s contributors... 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.
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.
Ross Mowbray
Ross works across the modern motorcycling magazines at our publisher, Mortons Media. That means he gets to ride all manner of two-wheelers, 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 PAY LESS
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20 NEWS & OPINION 7
News
10
Your letters
Biggest biking news of the month.
14
MSL readers have their say on anything to do with motorcycling.
Latest products
Kit, accessories and gizmos worth having a look at.
18
Maynard Hershon
32
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The High Sider
Loose lips sink ships. And racers have very loose lips.
34
P32
ROAD TESTS 20
34
42
KTM 970 Adventure
The most exciting dual-sport bike of 2019 so far.
53
Norton 1200 V4 SS
Alan Cathcart gets the first ride on the silver arrow.
Indian FTR1200
The American that set out to conquer the world.
BMW R1250R
Underestimated, but very, very capable. Ignore this one at your peril.
TOURING & ADVENTURE 61
Touring news
62
Day ride
66
Mid ride
70 72 78
4 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962
34k miles round the world on scooter and sidecar.
Spanish Picos offer great day rides.
You don’t need a lot of dosh to have a great time riding in Europe.
Richard Millington
What’s the way to go with panniers?
Long ride
China to Italy on electric bikes.
When in Amsterdam…
There are interesting riding options across the water.
53 80
Riding in Sardinia
Sam Manicom finds an island paradise in the Med.
TEST FLEET 102 Honda VFR800X
Getting the bike fitted with accessories makes it truly yours.
103 Kymco AK550
Top box adds 48 litres of carrying capacity to the scoot.
104 Yamaha Niken
It’s all good as long as you don’t care what you look like on the bike.
94 KNOWLEDGE 87
88
94
Quickshifters
What? How? Why? We get to grips with shifting quickly.
Pat Mooney
Americanised Brit Pat is fiercely fast, but he does crash quite a bit.
BMW interview
Big news from Bavaria. Alan Cathcart was (as usual) the first to find out.
100 Events
The best biking events in July.
114 Buyer’s guide
Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport and Ducati Multistrada Enduro Pro.
123 Tried & tested
We test the latest biking bits and bobs so you know what’s worth the money.
130 Kevin Cameron
Nothing is guaranteed, as Kevin finds out.
80
106 Suzuki GSX-S1000F
Filling the bike is one of the simplest jobs, right? Wrong!
108 KTM 1290 Super
Adventure S
Getting to know the big orange Austrian.
109 Honda CB650R
Speed cameras and bungee problems – not an easy month.
110 Kawasaki Versys 1000
Manual is needed to get to grips with the space-age tourer.
112 BMW R1250GS
Adventure
Road manners continue to impress. But what about off-road?
42
July 2019
EDITOR: Mikko Nieminen: mnieminen@mortons.co.uk DESIGNER: Gareth Williams 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 32 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £51.60. Export rates are also available – see page 32 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-6PM SATURDAY 8.30AM-12.30PM 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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e love our readers... and we’re especially smitten with our subscribers. That’s why we decided to give you a bit of extra in the form of a new online service, MSL Extra.
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Top Stories HARLEY-DAVIDSON LIVEWIRE PREORDERS OPEN
If you want to get your hands on one of the coolest new electric bikes, the LiveWire pre-orders are now being taken through the H-D website. The electric Harley sounds impressive: according to H-D it accelerates to 60mph in three seconds, delivers 140 miles range (city riding) on a full charge, and will charge to 100% in one hour using a Level 3 charger. Prices are starting at £28,995 and first deliveries are due in autumn 2019. To put your order in, go to: livewirepreorder.harley-davidson.com/en_GB
50CC SPEED RECORD ATTEMPT An intrepid group of UK-based NVT Easy Rider owners are entering the Bonneville Speed Week Challenge in the US in August 2020. They will use two specially prepared NVT (Norton Villiers Triumph) Easy Rider 50cc mopeds launched in the 1970s. The team will use a standard Easy Rider and another fitted with a sidecar. Both machines will be tuned in order to make realistic attempts at a number of American Motorcycle Association speed records.
TRIUMPH FACTORY CUSTOMS ARE ROCKETING Following the factory custom Thruxton a couple of months ago, Triumph follows with a new Rocket 3 TFC
Triumph’s Rocket III, launched in 2004, was a motorcycle with a difference. Now the all-new Triumph Factory Custom Rocket 3, with a new 2500cc triple engine, brings the old beast back to life. Production of the £25,000 bike is limited to 750 models worldwide, each with a numbered edition plaque and unique badging. If you wondered how special this new Rocket 3 TFC can be, here are some stats:
• The all-new 2500cc triple engine is the biggest production motorcycle engine in the world. • The peak torque of more than 163lb-ft (221Nm) is the highest torque of any production motorcycle. • This is also the most powerful Triumph to date, with peak power of more than 168bhp (170PS). Other features include twin LED headlights, sculpted three-header exhaust run, single sided swinging arm, interchangeable single and
8 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962
twin seat set-up, carbon fibre bodywork. There’s also tech galore, with 2nd generation TFT instruments, cornering ABS and traction control, four riding modes (Rain/Road/ Sport/Rider-configurable), Triumph Shift Assist and Hill Hold Control as standard. The Rocket 3 TFC also boasts keyless ignition, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a USB charging socket. Incredibly, the new Rocket 3 is over 40kg (15%) lighter than the previous generation, even with its imposing 240mm rear tyre. It also gets Brembo Stylema Monobloc brakes, adjustable Showa suspension and Brembo MCS span and ratio adjustable lever. For more information on the Triumph Rocket 3 TFC, visit: www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/ bikes/tfc/rocket-3
Specification TRIUMPH ROCKET 3 TFC Price: £25,000 Engine: 2458cc, inline threecylinder, water-cooled, DOHC Power: Over 170PS Torque: Over 163lb-ft Final drive: Shaft, bevel box Frame: Full aluminium frame Swingarm: Single-sided, cast aluminium Wheels: Cast aluminium (F) 17 x 3.6in; (R) 16 x 7.5in cast aluminium Tyres: (F) 150/80 R17 V; (R) 240/50 R16 V Suspension: (F) Showa 47mm USD cartridge forks; (R) Fully adjustable Showa Brakes: (F) Dual 320mm discs, Brembo M4.30 Stylema four-piston radial monobloc calipers; (R) Single 300mm disc, Brembo M4.32 four-piston monobloc caliper. Cornering ABS front and back Seat height: 773mm Weight: TBC Fuel tank: 19 litres Contact: www. triumphmotorcycles.co.uk
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