Fast Bike May 2017

SUSSING SUSPPENSION DOWNFORCE DIVAS GET SET U UP THIS SEASON

WHY MOTOGP GIVES VES YOU Y WINGS!

MAY 2017 ISSUE 326

YAMA AHA MT-100SP

HIGH-TECH HOO OLIGAN SUPER NAKED UNLEASHED U

BARG GAIN BULLE ETS 2010 HONDA FIREBLADE F 2012 BMW S 1000 1 RR 2013 KAWASAK KI ZX-10R

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• KTM

90

PER ADV SU E

RE R TU N

12

HALF THE PRICE...

ICE ...ALL THE FUN!

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160

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SUITS YOU BUYING LEATHERS: TOP 10 TIPS PLUS: BMW’S UPDATED S1000R, DUCATI 749S BUYER’S GUIDE, TOSELAND’S TOP TRUMPS, PROJECT MOTO3, TECH TALK: TYRES, TROY BAYLISS: ‘MY BEST WORLD SUPERBIKE MOMENTS’

ISSUE 326 MAY 2017

IT’S THE NEWS

Upfront..............................................8 Silly speed and WIN WIN WIN for you guys!

GEARED UP

Products.......................................... 12 Our special is the best race gloves around!

GET IT FIRST

Subscribe ...................................... 114 Do you enjoy spending more than you need to, or searching high and low for a copy of Fast Bikes? Thought not. Save yourself the grief and subscribe today!

THE KNOWLEDGE

Used Buyer’s Guide......................... 72 Remember Ducati’s 749 baby boomer? Yeah, the funny looking one. Read all about it...

MASTERCLASS

Riding ..............................................82

Looks aren’t everything, but vision is the key!

Technical .........................................84

20

YAMAHA MT-10SP

THE HOOLIGAN YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE!

It’s all about sucking and banging this issue.

LAUNCHES

Legal ................................................87

Yamaha’s not disappointed with its blingy new MT-10SP. Here’s why...

On why you don’t ride an MX’er on the road!

YOUR LIFE ON BIKES

Chatter ............................................88 All the best blurb – from the best readers!

Travel and Tracks............................90 Thailand trip part II, plus to CB, or not CB?

OUR LIFE ON BIKES

Project bikes ...................................93 We like a challenge. Say hello to our TZR250 and Moto3 projects. Have faith.

Yamaha MT-10SP ...........................20

BMW S1000R & friends ..................26 BMW send us to Spain for the new S Thou’ and some R NineT variants. It rained. Lots...

FEATURES Half Price Heroes ............................30 £7.5k buys a lot of used superbike – 2010 Honda Fireblade, 2013 Kawasaki ZX-10R & 2012 BMW S 1000 RR duke it out!

Doing the Dakar .............................42

Staff Bikes.......................................98

Fagan’s clocked up the air miles and bragging rights, having blitzed KTM’s new 1290 Super Adventure R around the Dakar.

!

Suspension explained ................... 49

Just the two – Beej’s MT and Bruce’s pitbike!

Yamaha MT-10

!

Slam MSR 160

RACE SECTION

Pit Pass.......................................... 106 WSB kicks off & JT reveals his picks!

Ever wondered how suspension works? We get the pros from K-Tech to talk us through it and tell you how to get the best from yours.

54

LEATHER GODS RST TALK TOP BU UYIING G TIPS S AND TEC CH.

Race Feature ................................. 108 It’s all about how you interpret the rule book as far as GP’s aerodynamics are concerned.

COLUMNISTS

Pretty Boy ..................................... 118 Carl’s been sunning himself in Spain, styling his bonce and, oh, riding bikes too...

Chaz Davies .................................. 121

SUBS

Two WSB rounds down already for V’Chazzle!

Steve Parrish................................. 122 Stavros stitches Matt Roberts up a treat!

BUY

GEAR

FASTBIKESMAG.COM 4 MAY 2017 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

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WORLD SUPERBIKES HITS 30, BUT HAS IT BEEN A HAPPY BIRTHDAY?

IBE R C

See page 114 for the bestt deals

WELCOME

Getting out there

SUBS

S

ummer may still seem something of an age away, but it’s been fantastic to have had the odd smattering of dry and relatively warm days of late. It seems every man and his bike’s been making the most of these elusive spells to dust off the cobwebs and scratch up some knee sliders. Bravo to them! In truth, I’m bike-less right now, so I’ve been little more than an observer to these enviable antics, although I did get the chance to hop on a mate’s Daytona 675 and spend a day wobbling around Cadwell Park.

That track’s got to be one of the very best stretches of tarmac known to motorcycling. Have you ridden it? If not, make that a must for 2017. It’ll blow your mind. Trust me.

Speaking of minds being blown, the MT-10SP did a pretty good job of that in sunny old South Africa. If you’re familiar with the sheer brilliance of the original MT then all you need to know is that the SP takes things to a whole new level. If you’re unfamiliar with the MT, just like Cadwell, get a test ride on your list of musts – it’s an experience you need in your life. But, as good as it is, the SP’s not without its competition, as Beej discovered in a wet and dreary Spain. He was there to swing a leg over BMW’s updated S1000R, which also promises to be a real contender in the white hot super naked category. While we’re on the topic of hot, now seems the perfect time to chat about Mr Fagan’s antics in deepest Peru. He wasn’t there searching for Paddington, but rather the chance to go mental on the 2017 Dakar course riding KTM’s new 1290 Super Adventure R; a mission he well and truly accomplished. He did eventually come home, but not by his choosing, as you’ll understand once you’ve read about the awesome experience he had out there.

But it’s not all been a case of jet setting this month, or new bikes, as we’ve been working hard to bring you contents from a little closer to home.

Beej, with his rain cloud in hot pursuit, dusted off a trio of recent litre bikes and paired up with Al to evaluate the bottomless pit of virtues they possess – king of which has to be their half price costs.

They were both stunned to realise just how much bike you can get for your money these days, which is food for thought if you’re considering a swap for the new season. It’s well worth a read, so get stuck in and see if it inspires you to think a little differently? We might have just saved you a fortune.

Let us know.

IBE R C

See page 114 for the bestt deals

Have you been lapping up the weather?

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BOSS MAN

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

WINGMAN

Benjamin ‘BJ’ Kubas Cronin beej@fastbikes.co.uk

FAST MAN

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

AD MAN

Charlie ‘The Sheriff’ Oakman coakman@fastbikes.co.uk

NEW MAN

Carl 'Pretty Boy' Stevens teaboy@fastbikes.co.uk

TECH MAN

Neil ‘Know It All’ Charlton techguy@fastbikes.co.uk

MAY 2017 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 7

NE W S & REV IEW S PL ANET FAST BIKES – NE W ME TA L,

SPEED SMART Not so long ago, a fellow got into a spot of bother speeding. Or, rather, put himself in a giant cauldron of scorching hot water through his own choice. The gentleman in question was recently jailed for two speeding offences (among some other, er, things…), one of which was 47mph in a 30mph zone, the other was vanishing into the distance from a police vehicle that itself was travelling at over 140mph!

The recently jailed chap had also been using false number plates on his machine but, possibly worse, he was seen goading the cops by waving at them before leaving them for dust. The police, who filmed both speeding incidents, eventually backed off because the speeds they were doing to try and catch him were too high, and his was estimated during one chase to be in excess of 180mph. Blimey…

Now, a few decades ago this would have been the kind of thing we’d have (probably, maybe) smiled at, being we were all young, daft and spent most of our time raging against the machine, man. In 2017 however, it’s not something we can condone. But at the same time we won’t condemn, either, because it’s a free (as it can be) world and people are likewise free to make their own choices within it, even stupid ones. The problem we now have with it, and coincidentally the reason the Fuzz backed off, is the potential danger to others.

148mph, and the bike has vanished...

There’s a moment in the video where the cop car twitches at over 140mph on the motorway. All was well, but an out of control car is tonnes of kinetic trouble once it’s lost. Likewise a bike travelling at silly speed may as well be a wayward Exocet missile if the rider loses it. Be a rebel hero, it’s on your

head – but don’t make innocents pay the price. There once was a time when baiting the police was almost a national sport in some areas. An anonymous FB staff member remembers: “Once the lights and sirens went on, that was it, game on! Silly looking back, really, but then there was nothing

Want to do these kinds of speeds on the road?

Better be willing to give up your freedom, then...

8 MAY 2017 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

quite like being chased by the cops and getting away with it, either.

“That being said, it only ever really happened at night when the roads were otherwise empty. We were still very, very stupid though!”

Yet these were the days before speed cameras, intelligent recognition systems on cop cars, dash cams or even helicopters – there’s little getting away with it.

Are we now suddenly saints?

Nope, of course not, this is Fast Bikes! But we’re smarter and as we’ve gotten older (a little) more responsible. Of course we still cock about a bit at times, but at the right time and in the right place, and certainly when there’s nobody around that our actions could impact upon. Now is no time to be goading police, either, like the chap you can see in the video here – http://mrtns.uk/coppursuit – as it’ll only end in (hopefully just your) tears. Be smart and responsible, people, this kind of stuff makes us look bad! And for the incarcerated fellow in question, there’s a time and a place. This wasn’t it, and now you’re paying the price…

UPFRONT

WIN! RED BULL HONDA & BARRACUDA! THE CHANCE TO LIVE THE ‘WSB EXPERIENCE’ WITH

We’ve teamed up with the official Red Bull Honda WSB squad and their partner Barracuda (who supply quality aftermarket parts to the team), to offer you the chance to experience a brilliant day out at Donington’s World Superbike round on either the 27th or 28th of May. We have two pairs of tickets on offer – one pair for the Saturday and one for Sunday – the lucky winners will meet riders Nicky Hayden and Stefan Bradl, but also enjoy: • Entry on either Saturday or Sunday • 10:00am – Meet in hospitality, receive gifts such as hats, gadgets and T-shirts & enjoy a coffee • 11:00am – Guided Paddock tour, and a drink, with your own dedicated selfie-taking hostess • 12.30pm – Hospitality lunch at your own exclusive reserved ‘Barracuda’ table • 14:00pm – Watch the WSB race from your choice of the stands or Hospitality • 15:00pm – Pit garage tour with a mechanic who’ll talk you over the amazing WSB bikes • 16:00pm – Meet the riders Hayden & Bradl, plus photos together and autographs • And have fun!

Nicky Hayden will come say hi to y’all!

To be in with a chance to live this experience, send in pictures of your own motorcycle, telling us about it, you, your travels and so on. Little tip – the most interesting, brilliant or bizarre entries will score highly!

Email your entry titled ‘Red Bull WSB Comp’ and all your contact details to: fastbikesletters@mortons.co.uk The competition closes on the 1st May – good luck!

Your very own spot for lunch.

WIN TROPHIES AT RR’N’R’S RUN WHAT YA BRUNG The Race, Rock ‘n’ Ride 2017 event at Santa Pod is getting closer! This year we’re supporting the ‘Run What Ya Brung’ competition, where you can sling your pride and joy down the hallowed strip, by yourself or against your mates! A mere £25 will get you unlimited runs, and you’ll also receive a performance printout and competition entry after a thrash, too. You don’t need a race licence for it, but you also won’t get pitched against the pros, either. The classes are as follows: • Class A – Up to 500cc • Class B – 501-750cc • Class C – 751-1000cc • Class D – Over 1000cc • Class X – Non road legal bikes (Including bikes on slicks)

This could be you, ready to thrash!

Classes A-D are for road-legal bikes only, on road-legal tyres. If you’re on slicks, or your bike doesn’t quite meet road-legal status, you get put in the X class. So, for the chance to win some silverware (plus all important bragging rights!) you need to get yourself there, capeesh?

And, don’t forget, all the other amazing stuff going on over the two days of May 20-21st, too. Stunt shows, pro drag racing, demo runs, monster truck demos, bars, classics and Lime House Lizzy performing on stage for Saturday’s entertainment – there’s something here for everyone!

■ Head to www.racerockride.co.uk for more event info, and how to get involved!

MAY 2017 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 9

UPFRONT

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

MORE GOOD DUCATI NEWS! It seems rarely a week goes by without Ducati announcing more good news, be that awards they’ve won or sales being up. This month saw them reveal that their turnover

grew to a far from shabby €731-million (euros) for 2016, a result up 4.1 per cent compared to the previous year. This was presented at the annual Audi HG

Even more ’appy than usual...

press conference, and Ducati also contributed an operating result of €51-million with a margin of 7 per cent to the Audi group. “The continuous evolution of our range, both in terms of quality and technology, the constant development of our dealer network and the effectiveness of a strategy based on investments aimed at the products, the quality and the customers, have enabled the company to continue on its growth curve,” said Ducati bigwig Claudio Domenicali. “This allows us to look to the future with optimism, knowing that we are heading in the right direction.” Fair enough, say we, and indeed since Audi’s takeover the company has gone from strength to strength eschewing the downwards trend over recent years. Permission to feel smug, granted…

WIN!

TWO X-LITE CHAZ DAVIES REPLICA LIDS! Oh yes, that’s right, here is the chance to win not one BUT TWO versions of Chaz Davies’ gorgeous X-Lite X-802RR replicas. How good are we to you lot? Very good! As are X-Lite and UK importer Motogear, we say, as we’ve teamed up with them to offer the chance to win an amazing helmet for the weekdays – and one for Sunday best!

The X-Lite X-802RR is a stunning helmet, and features: • Carbon fibre shell construction • Scratch resistant Pinlock visor (insert included) • Intake vents at front, top and chin • Rear air exhaust vent • Double D retention system • Removable activated carbon fibre liner and cheek pads • Wind protector and breath deflector • Visor lock and demister • 3 shell sizes

Look like V’Chazzle!

You’ll also get a black visor included, and another bearing Chaz’s signature, too – can’t say fairer than that, eh?

To be in with a chance to win both of these helmets, answer the following: How many WSB races did Chaz win in 2016 A: 11 B: 10 C: All of them!

Send your answer by email entitled ‘Chaz X-Lite Comp’, plus all your full contact details and lid size, to fastbikesletters@mortons.co.uk by the closing date of May 1st. Motogear and X-lite may even decide to throw in some Donington WSB tickets too, which we’ll try and twist their arm on – good luck!

FACEBOOK X-LITE X-802RR WINNER ANNOUNCED! Just to show we, X-Lite and Motogear are serious, the winner of our Facebook competition to win a carbon SBK 802RR lid has been drawn. Matthew Gibbard was the lucky winner, and is seen here clearly chuffed with his new (and free!) helmet.

So, get entering the competition above, folks, tout suite!

MAY 2017 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 11

S T PERF ORMA NC E PRODUC TS ES ALL THE LATEST, CO OL ES T & TRICK

TCX RT-RACE Can anyone remember what name TCX boots used to run under? der? Tickling the back of that brain box, is it?

Oxtar! Their boots were good d then then, but now they’re y just superb and right up there with the best of the rest. The new RT-Race is their top-line sports offering, and features a DFC flex control anti-torsion system, a fasten-fit-control and an air-tech breathable lining. It has a replaceable, anatomic and extra light mid-sole, is stuffed with reinforced PP protection and a mono-compound rubber sole. It comes in EU sizes 38-49, and there’s a waterproof version available for £249.99, too.

£229.99

www.nevis.uk.com

OXFORD DORMEX Made specifically for covering bikes indoors, don’t use the Dormex outdoors! But the price reflects the fact that it’s for use in garages (or your lounge?), outdoor covers are far pricier. It’s a breathable dust cover that allows air to passs through, which eliminates dust thereby reducing the ch hances of sccratched paintwork, and features an elastticated bottom with a belly strap to secure it.

FURYGAN HURRICANE The Hurricane jacket is available with four different left-breast highlight colours: red, green, blue or white. It’s a CE approved item, made from high tenacity polyester and sports D30 CE certified protection in the shoulders and elbows. It also has a back-protector ‘pocket’ with D30 protectors and

£179.99

available option. It has a waterproof insert, a removable thermal lining and a weather flap, and there are matching trousers available that will connect to it.

The Hurricane has two external pockets, two internal pockets and a neoprene insert on the collar. It is available in sizes S-XXXL.

www.nevis.uk.com

SHOEI GT-AIR ROYALTY The GT-Air’s shell (which comes in three sizes) is made from organic and multi-composite fibre set down in various layers for optimal shock-absorption and rigidity. It has an emergency removal system too, plus an internal sun-visor (shudder...). The interior is removable and washable, different sized cheek pads are available and the lid features plenty of ventilation via multiple in and outlets. One seriously comfortable lid, but with a serious dollop of sporting pretensions, too.

From £19.99

www.oxfordproducts.com

12 MAY 2017 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

£499.99

www.shoeiassured.co.uk