Fast Bikes May 2018

1T0 TOBP LAS S UK

MAY 2018 ISSUE 339

DUCATI

V4

11 PAGES OF LISTED, MAPPED & RATED RIDES

BSB SB PREVIEW THE TEA AMS, THE BIKES,

THE DRAMA

W IN HELMET & GLOVES* *TS & CS APP LY

FIRST UK ROAD TEST HOW TO: TO

HONE YOUR RIDING SENSES BUY A USED CBR600F SPORT MAKING SENSE OF FORK LEGS

MAST MASTER OULTON PARK

MIDDLEWEIGHT M MAESTROS KTM 790 7 DUKE AND YA AMAHA MT-07

ISSUE 339 MAY 2018

GET IT FIRST!

Subscribe .........................................8 You get the mag first, at a bargain price, straight through your letterbox. You know it makes sense.

GEARED UP!

Products.......................................... 14 All the latest, coolest and trickest products.

IT’S THE NEWS!

Upfront............................................ 10 All the juiciest goss.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Used Buyer’s Guide......................... 70 Supersport star of yesteryear – Honda’s CBR600F Sport.

MASTERCLASS Riding .............................................. 76 Coming to your senses.

Legal ................................................ 79 When the wife won’t take your speeding points, mercifully.

Track Attack....................................90 How to master the best of British circuits.

This month: Oulton Park.

Know Your.......................................94 Forks. We spend some time forking about with K-tech.

YOUR LIFE ON BIKES

18 LAUNCHES COVER STORY KTM 790 Duke............................... 18 Is it the middleweight murderer we’ve been waiting for?

COVER STORY Yamaha MT-07............................... 26 Yamaha let us loose on their best-selling refined renegade.

Chatter ............................................80

Michelin Road 5 tyres................... 34

You & Yours.....................................82

FEATURES

Addiction.........................................56

Britain’s Best Blasts...................... 45

It’s only fair we give the best readers in the world a couple of pages of their own!

All of your adventures!

This month we feature a tricked up K6 Gixer ‘thou track weapon.

OUR LIFE ON BIKES

Project Gixer ..................................84 Testing, testing 1,2,3.

COVER STORY Ten of the best routes the UK has to offer.

26

Charlie gets to grips with his R6 and Beej enjoys his Gixer.

•Yamaha R6 •Suzuki GSX-R1000R

RACE SECTION

Pit Pass.......................................... 100 The lowdown on BSB, WSBK and MotoGP.

COLUMNISTS

Neave twins ...................................111 Can someone call an ambulance?

Gary Johnson ................................ 112 Gaz announces his 2018 signing...

Parrish down under.

SU

Christian Iddon ............................. 113 Steve Parrish................................. 114

COVER STORY Ducati Panigale V4 ........................ 38 Our first UK road test on the all-new V4 Panigale.

Used MV Agusta F3 800 ............... 62 Fast Bikes reader Trev Johnson tells us why he loves his Italian stallion.

Are sports touring tyres are your thing, look no further.

Staff Bikes.......................................97

A warm welcome to our new columnist.

TESTS

CRIBE S B See page 8 for details

56

WELCOME

Get out there!

W

hen it comes to great roads we really are spoilt. I’ve clocked some big miles in the 14 years I’ve been a bike journo, both at home and away, discovering new roads, seeing new sights and making new friends; there really is no better way to explore the world than on two wheels. That much is a given, but so too is the reality that you don’t have to step off this fine Isle if you want to have your horizons broadened… and your sliders slithered. We’ve all got our ‘go-to’ roads, and my list’s longer than Pretty Boy’s excuse book for getting his ‘wordz’ in on time. The best thing about that list is that the destinations are littered up and down the UK, just like the top 10 routes we’ve listed and mapped out this month. Chances are you’ll know one or two of them, but there’ll likely be a few that’ll get your brain ticking for the right excuse to bag a weekend away from the better half (help me out with a few if any spring to mind).

I’m writing this after our second hit of heavy snow, which has put the brakes on making the most of early spring. But this weather can’t last forever, and I’m gagging to bang some big miles in.

One man who’s been doing just that is Beej, who’s been exploring the delights of the Ducati Panigale V4 on UK soil. It’s not disappointed, but I’ll leave him to tell you the ins and outs. Its undoubtedly one hell of a weapon, assuming hardcore, arse-up, head-down sportsbikes appeal to you as much as they do to us. But for those seeking a slightly more relaxed (wheelie-tastic) alternative, there are plenty of new nakeds for 2018, including the joyous all-new 790 Duke that Carlos made some shapes on out in Gran Canaria.

As for me, I had a top laugh on the basic but brilliant refined MT-07. Both are worthy rivals for your hard earned readies, so check out what we make of them. Or you could go down the used bike route. I was scanning the net the other day and wondering how I’d fill up my dream garage.

One thing’s for sure, there are some great second hand rides to be bagged. The CBR600F Sport is one such steed, which you’ll find in our buyer’s guide, and TT racer Gary Johnson’s dad Turbo Trev has told us the joys of owning his Italian bit on the side – a 2014 MV Agusta F3 800 – that he’s owned from new. Now that is a sight for sore eyes… and at a price that’s much more suited to my penny protecting principals.

Anyway, that’s enough about my wallet. Enjoy the mag and the start of the season.

26

Spring is in the air!

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BOSS MAN

‘Dangerous’ Bruce Wilson dangerous@fastbikes.co.uk

WEB MAN

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FAST MAN

Alastair ‘A-Force’ Fagan fit@fastbikes.co.uk

AD MAN

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NEW MAN

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RACE MAN

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, NEW S & REV IEW S PLA NET FAST BIKES – NEW ME TAL

GET ON TRACK WITH TEAM FAST BIKES!

Yep, you heard that right. Working with MSVT and Bridgestone we’ve decided to go ahead and launch our very own trackday at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on June 10. With separate groups for Novice, Intermediate and Advanced riders, there’s no excuse not to join the Fast Bikes crew and fellow readers for a day of frolics and throttle abusing goodness around one of the nation’s best-loved stretches of squiggly tarmac.

And to guarantee you’re entertained in more ways than one, we’ve lined up a whole host of prizes and giveaways for those of you lucky enough to join us on this very special gig… which we’ll be teasing out over the coming months.

But for now, get that date in your diary and get yourself booked on. Because when it’s full, it’s full (and you really don’t want to miss out on this chance to see how impressively slowly Pretty Boy can lap). Hire bikes will be available, alongside technical support and guidance, but you’ll have to bring your own talent. For more info, check out www.msvtrackdays.com or give them a buzz on 0843 453 3000 or head over to our website www.fastbikesmag.com

10 MAY 2018 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

RUBBER WITH REWARDS Being a Bridgestone supported event, our good friends at the tyre magnates have announced they’ll give out £40 RST helmet bags to anyone who shows up with Bridgestone tyres fitted to their bike, or who buys some from the affiliated tyre supplier on the day. What’s more, one lucky blighter will find a golden ticket in their bag, entitling them to a night for two at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, in Wales, with a paid for day at the Mick Extance (off-road) Experience. Now that’s one prize you don’t want to miss out on!

NEW S & REV IEW S PLA NET FAST BIKES – NEW METAL,

T ll us what Tell h t you want and win Held gear!

Ducati UK announces V4 powered trackdays Ducati UK have just announced the dates for their Ducati-only trackdays, which will take place at Silverstone GP circuit on May 31 and Donington Park GP on July 5 alongside the California Superbike School, who will be on hand to provide you with all the expertise and guidance you’ll ever need.

Both days cost £199 each and include breakfast and lunch for those riding, while

WHAT’S ON IN APRIL? March 31-April 2 April – Bennetts British Superbike Championship Round One (Donington Park) April 1 – Reading MAG’s Easter Bike Show (Reading) April 8 – Squires Egg Run charity ride (Yorkshire) April 13-15 – Bennetts British Superbike Championship Round Two (Brands Hatch) April 14-15 – Prescott Bike Fest (Gloucestershire Hill) April 15 – NWUK Coast to Coast Charity Bike Ride (Lancashire) April 15-16 – Red Marley Hill Climb (Worcestershire) April 20-22 – National Youthbike Charity’s Fat Skeleton Blues and Bikes Weekend (Caistor) April 21-22 – Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show (Staffordshire) April 22 – Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival (Shrewsbury)

12 MAY 2018 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

having a high noise limit of 108db for each day. The unique feature of these days though is the chance to hire a brand new Ducati, where you have the choice of the Supersport for £265, 959 Panigale for £285 or the Panigale V4S for £365.

Places are limited, so for more info or to book a place contact the California Superbike School on 01327 855554.

PRESCOTT BIKE FEST EXTENDED TO TWO DAYS! For the first time ever, Prescott Bike Fest has been extended to two days to enrich the visitor experience and encompass modern, classic and the future of biking (which is electric, we’re told). The festival is all in aid of the charity Blood Bikes, who save thousands of people’s lives every year, rely solely on charity donations and are not supported by the NHS. Throughout the weekend there’s a ton of show bikes such as a Mike Hailwood rep 1962 Honda RC163 250cc and a Joey Dunlop rep 2000 Honda Joey Dunlop SP1 Vimto 1000, alongside nonstop live music, special guest appearances, On the Edge Stunt Show, Show ‘n’ Tell area, passenger ride experiences, large kids’ zone, more than 100 quality trade stands, clubs, a beer tent, the Blood Bike Village and great food alongside a load of dealers. All proceeds from the event go to The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers.

For more info check out: www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk

We want to make your favourite mag even better(er), and by filling in our short reader survey you could bag some great kit.

No one’s perfect, not even us (apparently).

So to help us polish up our act and deliver more of the good stuff that gets you going, we’re turning to you guys to tell us what you want. More road tests; more product reviews; more technical insight; more great rides; more track action; more daft captions; more UK themed content?

Whatever it is you want, we want to hear it. And by doing us the huge favour of filling in our reader survey and wearing down your fingertips, you’ll automatically be entered into our fantastic prize giveaway to win a Held by Schuberth H-R2 full-face helmet, worth £419.99, while three jammy runner-ups will each be in with a shout of bagging themselves a pair of Held’s Gore-Tex Air ‘n’ Dry gloves, worth £175.99 each.

To be in with a chance of winning big, just head over to www.fastbikesmag.com and complete the simple online survey.

And remember, your mag needs you!

Good luck, and thanks.

Bruce Wilson, Fast Bikes Editor

Terms and conditions apply – see website for details. There are no cash alternatives available. Closing date is June 30, 2018. The winners will be the first names drawn at random.