PREVIEW! Fast Bikes January 2023 issue

TRIUMPH H’S TRIPLE TRE REAT…

WHAT IT TAK TAKES TO TACKLE E YOUR BIKE LICENCE

USED BUYER’S GUIDE

FIREBLADE

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HONDA’S 929 AND HO 954 IICONS

JA N ISS UAR UE Y 2 399 02 3

EXPLORING THE V VIRTUES OF TRIUMPH’S FAV VOURED CONFIGURATION

TICKING OFF YOUR TEST

SUBLITRE SPORTS BIKES LAPPING LA APPING IT T UP ON MV AGUSTA’S F3 RR AND DUCATI’S V2 PANIGALE

BIRTHDAY BLITZ REVISITING HONDA’S 100TH TT WIN IN ITS 50TH YEAR

001 Cover FastBikes_FBK399.indd 154

11/18/2022 12:51:42 PM

002-003 advert FB_FBK399.indd 2

11/18/2022 8:34:31 AM

002-003 advert FB_FBK399.indd 3

11/18/2022 8:34:36 AM

ISSUE 399 JANUARY 2023

34

60

THE KNOWLEDGE

COLUMNISTS

Honda’s Fireblade needs no introduction, but if you’re interested in buying a 929/954, then you could probably do with checking out our buyers’ guide.

We turn to our top tier trainer for more tips and advice.

Used Bike Guide.............................. 54

YOUR LIFE ON BIKES

You and Yours ................................. 88 All of your adventures

Chatter ............................................ 78 A page dedicated to the best readers in the world…

TESTS

Sub-litre sportsbikes ...................... 18 If you don’t fancy a litre bike but still want plenty of spice in your life, MV’s F3 or Ducati’s V2 might just be exactly what you’re craving.

BUY

GEAR

FASTBIKESMAG.COM

Brad Howell .................................... 92 Tim Neave ....................................... 94 It’s been one hell of a year for Tim but he’s already buzzing for 2023.

Christian Iddon ............................... 96 With a new signing in the bag, Iddon’s keen to tell us what he’s up to.

To pre-order your next issue of Fast Bikes, head to classicmagazines. co.uk/pre-order-fb

Steve Parrish................................... 98 Parrish gets up to his usual shenanigans.

FEATURES

Triumph’s triple treat ..................... 34 We look into what makes the triple the configuration of choice for the UK’s biggest bike builder.

Ticking off your test ....................... 42 Wondering what it takes to get your test in the bag? Read this!

Birthday blitz .................................. 60 On it’s 50th birthday, Honda has clocked its 100th TT win on a Blade in the hands of Jim Moodie. Here’s how it happened.

Alternatively, scan the QR code on this page and order your next copy today. We will send it directly to you!

Track Spec ...................................... 80 We check in on a special Street Triple that’s blurring the line with a Daytona.

18

004 Contents_FBK399.indd 4

11/21/2022 9:00:50 AM

005 advert FB_FBK399.indd 5

11/18/2022 8:29:46 AM

WELCOME

That’s all, folks I

t’s been one hell of a year, but one that’s slipped through my fingers faster than a superpole lap… on fast-forward.

The older I get, the more I wonder where the time goes, but it’s now, during the build-up to Christmas, that I’ve finally got the chance to kick back and take everything into account. The bikes, the places, the routes, the people... I don’t think I could have crammed in much more if I’d tried, and I hope you can say the same. As far as highlights go, riding Bautista’s world championship-winning Ducati V4R is right up there, along with tackling the GS Trophy, plus clocking some very special miles on my Aprilia RSV Mille project bike that even I doubted would ever make it over the finish line. In all honesty, the highlights are so numerous that it’s hard to think them all through in this moment, but needless to say it’s been a blast. Generally speaking, riding bikes is awesome, regardless of where you are or who you’re with, so it’s hard to not have made so many great memories.

Johnny, Tim and I have had some proper laughs this year, which is what it’s all about, while doing our best to put a worthy mag together for you. I hope we’ve kept you entertained, informed, and hungry for more – because next year promises to be

another belter. We’ve got a pretty good grasp of what new metal is heading our way, with plenty of excitement on the cards, and we’ve also been running through some must-do antics for 2023.

It’s at this point that I want to give a big thanks to you. The only reason can able to plan out what we’re up to next is because you’ve kept us in a position to do so. Cheesy as it sounds, we wouldn’t be here without you, and we are well aware of that – so trust me when I say we’ll be sinking a few pints in your honour in appreciation this Crimbo. And on that note, all that’s left to say is I hope you and yours have an absolutely brilliant time over the festive season and that 2023 brings you all laughs, wheelies, adventures, and burnouts you could wish for.

Join us on Facebook:

Facebook.com/ FastBikesMagazine View Fast Bikes video content:

youtube.com/ fastbikesmag

Download Fast Bikes:

Mortons.co.uk/FB Join us on Twitter:

@FastBikesMag

BOSSY MAN

BSB SU PER S TA R

bwilson@mortons.co.uk

...and Britain’s best builder

...and pro at pranks

MONEY MAN

TRACK RIDING GURU

YOUNG MAN

coakman@fastbikes.co.uk

...and super nice bloke

FA ST MAN

TT WINNER

SUPERSTOCK WINNER

tneave@mortons.co.uk

...and karaoke king

...and combine king

OLD MAN

MOTOGP SAGE

SUPERBIKE SNAPPER

...and wine connoisseur

...and eBay addict

‘Dangerous’ Bruce Wilson

Charlie ‘The Sheriff’ Oakman

Tim Neave

John McAvoy

gramps@fastbikes.co.uk

SUBSCRIBE! See page 8 for the best deals, or visit classicmagazines.co.uk/ subscription/FB/fast-bikes

Christian Iddon

Dean Ellison

Gary Johnson

Jack Fairman

ROAD RACING LEGEND Peter Hickman ...and BSB winner

RACING PUNDIT

Steve Parrish

Carl Stevens

Tom Neave

Jamie Morris

LEGAL LORE

Gavin Grewal

...and hardcore off-roader

6 JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

006 Editorial_FBK399.indd 6

11/22/2022 2:08:47 PM

007 advert FB_FBK399.indd 7

11/17/2022 1:37:12 PM

If you’re ’ llooking ki ffor gifts for your friends or family this Christmas, then hunt no more!

A magazine is the perfect pressie for loved ones (or even yourself!), not only that... we’ll even send you this superb free gift.

If you is enjoyed th e or b i r c s b u s , e issu S E U S S I 2 1 r renew fo and 7 4 £ t s u j from e gift e r f r u o y claim ssicmagazines.co.uk/ la nd Visit www.c 07 529529 a 15 0 ll a c r o xmasfb FB quote XMAS

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Rates are based on UK orders only – for overseas, please visit: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/fb-overseas Subscriptions will start with the issue selected at the basket. Offer closess 31/01/2023. Twelve-issue subscription gifts are available while stocks lasst.

Full terms and conditions can be found at www.classicmagazines.co.uk/ter ms Any gifts are for UK orders only and will not be mailed out until December 20022.

008 FB xmas subs 2022_FBK399.indd 8

Get your gift subscription today 11/23/2022 1:24:52 PM

Try y one of our other great g titles too!

Get 6 issues of one of these mags for just £20

Your guide to buying, running and owning a classic. Broadminded with a practical twist.

Classic, twinshock or Evo, it’s the place for you to dive into the dirty side of biking.

Real bikes. Real riders.

Real rebuilds. Real rides.

RealClassic!

Celebrating the rich history of motorcycles and motorcycling, then and now.

The bible of the British-US car scene. If it’s American and got wheels, we’ve got it covered!

The personalities, legendary bikes, and the racetrack heroes who mattered then... and still matter now.

Real-world tests of the latest bikes and kit, places to go, and features not to miss.

Running, riding and repairing Japanese, European and US classics from the 70s onward.

The best classic and modern scooters. For enthusiasts, by enthusiasts.

From steam locomotives to new developments in scale engineering.

For those who like building model boats or just enjoy soaking up this huge hobby.

UK’s biggest model flying mag packed with reviews, features and expert opinion.

The original and best mag for choppers, bobbers and all kinds of customs!

Britain’s best magazine for those who love to grow their own fruit and veg.

Enthusiast-led content, news, in-depth expert features and outstanding imagery.

News and features for the modern traction and heritage modern traction enthusiast.

Recalling Britain’s steam era through photos, recollections and historical features.

The UK’s best rail title since 1897 – modern, steam, and everything in between.

The tools and techniques used by model makers, light engineers and restorers.

The best rail news, features and images covering the UK’s preservation movement.

Visit www.classicmagazines.co.uk/xmasfb Or call 01507 529529 and quote xmasfb TERMS & CONDITIONS: Rates are based on UK orders only – for overseas, please visit: www.classicmagazines.co.uk Subscriptions will start with the issue selected at the basket. Offer closes 31/01/2023.

008 FB xmas subs 2022_FBK399.indd 9

11/23/2022 1:25:14 PM

, NE WS & REV IEW S PLA NE T FAST BIKES – NE W ME TAL

THE ITALIAN COLLECTION It’s like Christmas has come early in here these past few weeks, what with all the sweet new bikes dropping. The Milan Show was the first proper one post-Covid, and it didn’t disappoint, with plenty of hot fresh machinery appearing throughout the launch season. Here’s our pick of the crop, starting with those crazy Italians…

V4 VICTORY

V4 DIAVEL

It’s taken a few years, but Ducati has finally fitted all its high-end machinery with V4 engines, with the mental Diavel mega-cruiser getting a Multistrada-based four-cylinder motor to replace the old 1260 V-twin. Add in some detail tweaks to the Streetfighters with a new SP2 variant and an updated Panigale V4R with 240.5bhp (don’t forget the 0.5), and all you Ducatisti are truly spoilt this year…

Starting with that Diavel, it’s long been the cruiser that it’s cool to love. Proper superbike-spec running gear and an explosive 162bhp motor, plus a long and low chassis, meant it could blow most stuff away from the lights – yet had decent ground clearance and went round corners, too. The new bike is now 13kgx lighter than before and has a stonking 168bhp V-four Granturismo engine. It’s actually dead sensible, with massive 40k valve

check intervals and smart cylinder deactivation; it shuts off the back pair when idling and under light loads to reduce heat to the rider and cut emissions.

We’re not bothered about that, of course – we can’t wait for the insane acceleration, that 240-section rear Pirelli, Brembo Stylema brakes, NASA-spec rider aids package and the naughty four-exit silencer design. The price for all this nonsense? From £23,595.

ITALJET 500 00 DRAGSTER GS

SCRAMBLERS EGGED ON From the outrageousness of Ducati’s V-four firebreathers to the much cuddlier end of the market now, and the firm’s entry-level Scrambler range. The base 803cc Desmodue engine has been overhauled, with a new ride-by-wire throttle and more compact side covers, plus a new clutch. That all saves 2.5kg of mass, and the new fuel injection makes things like traction control and an up/down quickshifter easier to

implement. The chassis has a new lighter frame, saving another 1.5kg, and relocates the rear monoshock to a more central position, with a new swingarm design, too. Power is about 73bhp for the 170kg dry mass.

Equipment levels are raised, depending on the model, with a new colour dash, LED lights, USB sockets, quickshifter and Bluetooth phone link all available. Prices from £9995.

They say that nostalgia’s not as good as it used to be – but we disagree. The original Italjet Dragster scooter was a 180cc two-stroke urban strike weapon with mad skeletonised styling. This new 500 version looks to carry that on, with a 500cc single motor making 43bhp, Brembo brakes, aerodynamic wings and USD forks. Just a concept at the moment, but it looks great.

10 JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

010 Upfront_FBK399.indd 10

11/21/2022 9:00:41 AM

Keep an eye on our online channels – Facebook, Twitter, and the Fast Bikes website (www.fastbikesmag.com) – for news as it happens.

DUCATI PANIGALE V4R In our dark moments, we wonder if we’ve already seen the best of petrol-powered bike engines. With engineers and designers set to turn their attention fully to batteries and electric motors in five or six years’ time, have they already given up on the powerplants we all love?

On the face of it, the new Panigale V4R suggests not: the headline peak power figure is a frankly jaw-dropping 240.5bhp, up from the 231bhp claimed last year (both with the optional Ducati Performance race exhaust system fitted). But 3.5bhp of that new figure comes from the use of a unique new race oil developed by Shell with Ducati, which cuts friction by 10% and adds the last gobbets of grunt to the final output.

The main engine mods behind the power boost are at the top end: 5mm shorter intake trumpets, more aggressive cams, and new two-ring forged race pistons, which are 5g lighter each, and have a DLC diamond-like carbon coating on the skirts to further cut friction. The titanium con rods are also new, modified with a

drilling down their length to feed pressurised oil from the big end bearings to the small ends.

That’s probably more about improving durability and reliability than a pure performance change, but it will let the engineers push combustion pressures and revs up that last little bit without needing to prescribe a change of rods, gudgeon pins and pistons every 1500 miles…

Away from the engine, the other mods are minor. Tweaks to the chassis include a reshaped fuel tank for better grip in corners and an extra litre of gas, the steering geometry is slightly modified with a 20mm higher rear ride height, and the Öhlins

suspension has a tad more travel. Bodywork gets thinner aero-wings and new cooling ducts for the engine and (curiously) the quickshifter sensor.

Wet weight is an impressive 193.5kg stock, and the titanium Akrapovic race pipe takes 5kg off that for a 188.5kg weight.

The V4R won WSBK this year under Alvaro Bautista, and though the stock factory bike isn’t the be all and end all of a race effort, the changes here won’t do any harm to the 2023 campaign. Price is £38,995: form an orderly queue.

STREETFIGHTER V4 We covered the 2023 updates to the Panigale V4 superbike earlier this year and, as you’d expect, most of those tweaks have been applied to the 2023 Streetfighter V4 range, so the V4 and V4 S SF models now have a new electronics package with new power modes – full, high, medium and low, plus a new ‘wet’ riding mode. The chassis now comes with a slightly

BIMOTA BX450

No, it’s not April 1 just yet, but this was one of the more bizarre things to erupt at EICMA. Bimota – a firm already with more than a hint of confusion about its direction – unveiled a Kawasaki KX450-based enduro bike (Kawasaki, of course, essentially owns Bimota nowadays). It looks good, with the Bimota colour scheme and a neat branded silencer, but it’s not exactly what the firm is known for and seems a little pointless. Half-done, too; the engine still has Kawasaki logos on the covers.

higher rear swingarm pivot point and the larger 17-litre fuel tank that gives better grip in cornering. The 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale motor is as you were – still putting out a wild 208bhp, with some very minor remapping and a new clutch cover design.

The biggest Streetfighter news for 2023 is the track-ready SP2 version, though. Replacing last year’s SP, the SP2 has sweet black-and-white winter-testing livery and comes with

MV AGUSTA 921 S RETRO We can’t decide if this MV Agusta retro concept machine is genius or a design crime against humanity. It’s an homage to the 750 S America of the early 1970s (also a bit of a minger), which explains the garish red/white/blue scheme. The concept has a new 921cc inline-four engine, making just 115bhp, but with loads of low-down grunt and a special balancer system for extra smoothness. The frame is a mix of steel tubes and aluminium plates, and suspension is by Öhlins, with a massive braced swingarm and crazy shrouded front brake discs. Fancy it?

heaps of carbon fibre goodies – splitspoke wheels, mudguard, clutch cover and aero-wings. You get a lightweight aluminium race tank, the brakes now have the latest Brembo Stylema R calipers up front, and there’s a trick STM-EVO SBK dry race clutch fitted. Add in a custom upholstered seat and numbered plaque on the top yoke, and you’ll feel much better about the £30,595 price tag.

APRILIA RS660 EXTREMA

Remember the Aprilia RS125 Extrema GP125 replica from the early 1990s? It made nearly 35bhp when de-restricted, weighed 115kg dry, and with an alloy frame, USD forks and gull swingarm, it was the source of more teenage yearning than Samantha Fox (ask your dad). This RS660 variant pays vaguely appropriate homage to the tasty eighth-litre buzzbomb, with slick graphics and a light 166kg dry mass, down 3kg over stock, thanks to a special street-legal SC Project exhaust system with carbon can. Nice.

JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 11

010 Upfront_FBK399.indd 11

11/21/2022 9:01:11 AM

, NEWS & REVIEW S PLANE T FAST BIKES – NEW METAL

2023 TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLES, CHROME COLLECTION, AND PERKINS CHAT Normally, a MotoGP race weekend would be a rubbish place to launch your new naked middleweight roadster machine. But, of course, Triumph has a very special link with the Grand Prix world, and Moto2 in particular, where its 765 Street Triple engine is the control powerplant. So, it was at the final round of the 2023 championship in Valencia where the new 2023 Street Triples were unveiled.

There are two standard models now – the R and the RS, with the old entry-level 675 S variant replaced by the new 660 Trident. The R and RS have had a hefty engine revamp, with about 7bhp more peak power, meaning 118bhp

for the R and 128bhp for the RS – nice. The extra power comes from a comprehensive top-end retune: revised inlet ports, altered combustion chamber, new pistons, con-rods and gudgeon pins, and more compression, now 13.25:1 from 12.65:1. There are new valves and camshafts with shorter intake trumpets, and the bottom end is also refined, with improved crank, balancer, clutch and transmission setup. A new slipper/assist clutch and revised gearing helps get the new power down to the Tarmac, and you get a standard up/down quickshifter, too.

The chassis has had less done to it, with the frame and swingarm remaining largely as you

were, but there is an upgrade to the brakes, with Stylema calipers on the RS. Suspension is Showa both ends on the R, with the RS getting an Öhlins STX40 rear shock.

The electronic riding aids also get the onceover, with a new IMU-assisted suite and a fancy colour LCD dash.

The big news at Valencia was a new Moto2 edition of the Street Triple. This has all the RS performance and kit, but adds Öhlins forks, clip-on bars, and a load of carbon fibre bodywork. Prices are reasonable for the spec, we reckon: £9595 for the R; £11,295 for the RS; and £13,795 for the Moto2 edition.

WHAT MAKES TRIUMPH’S FAST BIKE RANGE TICK? Miles Perkins is the head of brand management at Triumph, and we spoke to him about the new Street Triple range, its role in Moto2, and asked why the firm doesn’t just make a ‘proper’ sportsbike and be done with it…

“Naked performance motorcycles, like Speed and Street Triples, are the mainstream of what the market wants. Faired middleweight or litre sportsbikes aren’t. At the top of the capacity with litre-plus, those manufacturers at WSBK, there’s a market – and we could have a bike in that market. But it’s not a giant market. What they sell from that are quite ‘halo’ – wonderful things that do a great job. It’s a lovely thing to do, but it’s a big investment, and the trickle-down effect to a mass-produced or mainstream bike is not our strategy.”

And Perkins argues that Triumph’s 765 range is actually the new generation of middleweight

sportsbikes: “Moto2 and Supersports racing has become a naked sports category. Peter Hickman rode a Street Triple at the TT, not a Daytona.

Brandon Paasch won the Daytona 200 not on a Daytona, but on a Street Triple 765, with a fairing. So, what sportsbike are we not making?

It’s the Street Triple! And now we have the Moto2 edition, the new bike is the best it’s ever been.

“The link between race and roadbikes is complicated. But the simple facts are still there – the naked sports category is what people are buying and we are now in a situation where we can race them.”

12 JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

010 Upfront_FBK399.indd 12

11/21/2022 9:01:14 AM

Keep an eye on our online channels – Facebook, Twitter, and the Fast Bikes website (www.fastbikesmag.com) – for news as it happens.

HONDA MCGUINNESS 100TH FIREBLADE Yeah, yeah, we know. It’s not even Christmas, mate, and you’re writing about the TT? Well, to be accurate we are writing about last year’s TT and John McGuinness’s 100th start at the

Island. Honda has released this gorgeous special edition CBR1000RR Fireblade to mark the occasion and is building just 30 for sale.

Based on the 30th anniversary edition Blade, it comes with the same huge initial spec: Öhlins semi-active suspension, 214bhp 999cc motor, Brembo brakes and 201kg kerb mass. On top of that, the 100th start replica adds a one-off paint job, signed by McGuinness, a numbered plaque on the headstock, carbon mudguard, hugger and rear seat cowl, and JM’s trademark tall windscreen.

You also get a massive goodie bag of extras, including Metzeler Racetec RR rubber already fitted, a Fireblade garage mat, indoor cover, a laser-engraved crystal trophy, and McPint will even hand the bike over to you himself at the Honda Racing HQ in Louth.

Orders are via Honda dealers, and we’d recommend being quick – even at £30,000, they’ll soon be gone, we reckon.

PARALLEL LINES SUZUKI GSX-8S Upper-middleweight parallel twins are all the rage now, with most of the Japanese firms, plus KTM and BMW all offering a variation on the theme. And now Suzuki has joined in, with a new 776cc powerplant that has a patented new dual-balancer system, forged pistons, 270° firing order and a decent 81bhp output. On the new GSX-8S roadster, it’s bolted into a steel frame with aluminium swingarm, with a basic roadster suspension package and radial

brakes. There’s a smart, angular design to the bodywork, plus a decent electronics package – up/ down quickshifter, switchable traction, colour LCD dash and ABS. Kerb weight is 202kg, and it comes in three colourways: blue, white, and dark grey.

It looks like a solid replacement for the elderly GSX-S750 – but it would have looked a lot better if Honda’s Hornet hadn’t launched last month with 9bhp more power and 12kg less mass…

YAMAHA’S 2023 UPDATES

The tuning-fork brand didn’t have any show-stopping new models at Milan, but it has given its whole range a bit of a tickle up, with colour LCD dashboards and new quickshifter options appearing on the MT-07 and MT-125, as well as the Ténéré 700 range. There’s a new YZF-R125 learner-legal sportsbike for 2023 though, with revised R7-style bodywork, colour dash with Bluetooth phone link, and even a traction control set-up.

At the other end of the scale is the new Tracer 9 GT+, which adds radar-assisted cruise control and a huge seven-inch colour LCD dash to the semi-active electronic suspension, IMU-assisted rider aids, and hard luggage on the

standard Tracer 9 GT model.

Powerplant remains the excellent 890cc CP3 triple motor, putting out 117bhp, with loads of lazy torque.

JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 1

010 Upfront_FBK399.indd 13

11/21/2022 9:01:23 AM

, NEWS & REVIEW S PLANE T FAST BIKES – NEW METAL

HONDA TRANSALP Honda’s new release at the Milan Show was a revival of a very old name. The original Transalp was a soft dual-sport 600 from 1986 that was ahead of its time – in the UK, at least. Now that adventure tourers are all the rage, the big H has brought the name back, this time as a 750 parallel twin, using the same 755cc motor as on the new CB750 Hornet. Steel tube frame and mid-level chassis kit, plus a

decent electronics package should put it right in contention as a well-priced alternative to more high-spec options like the BMW F850 GS or KTM 890 Adventure. It’s a handsome bugger, too, we reckon, certainly much sharper than the old Transalp ever managed, and fits in perfectly between the CB500X and Africa Twin models. Expect to see a lot of them on UK roads next summer.

14 JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

010 Upfront_FBK399.indd 14

11/21/2022 9:01:58 AM

Developed with

Technical partner

Ducati.com

New Ducati Panigale V4 R

This is Racing The closest production model to a competition bike – ever. Every technical detail has been thought out and designed to enhance the pure racing feel of the bike, from the newly refined Desmosedici Stradale R engine to race orientated electronics and beyond.

The track soul of the new Panigale V4 R makes it perfect for your track days. The new livery is inspired by MotoGP in its graphics and conveys a racing spirit from the very first glance, incorporating white number plates with the number “1” prominently displayed.

Available in Standard* and Racing configurations, the latter able to produce an incredible 240.5 hp.**

Contact your local Ducati Dealership for more details * Displacement 998cc (61 cu in) | Power 218 hp (160.4 kW) @ 15,500 rpm | Torque 111.3 Nm ( 82 lb ft) @ 12,000 rpm | Dry weight 172 kg (379 lb) ** In combination with the full titanium racing exhaust and new performance oil developed by Shell in collaboration with Ducati Corse.

015 advert FB_FBK399.indd 15

11/16/2022 3:31:19 PM

ES T PERF ORMA NC E PRODUC TS ICK TR & T ES OL CO ST, TE LA E TH L AL

ALPINESTARS TECH-AIR 3 AIRBAG

LITELOK U-LOCK British lock maker Litelok has been working on high-security bike locks for a few years now, and this is its latest piece of kit. The X1 Moto U-lock claims to offer ‘unparalleled’ resistance to angle grinder attack, thanks to a composite steel/ceramic construction with layers of super-hard ‘Barronium’ material (named after the firm’s founder, Professor Neil Barron), bonded with high grade steel. The composite material gives angle grinders a torrid time, wearing out discs and batteries faster than normal steel locks. It’s Sold Secure Diamond rated, so has passed some pretty tough tests, and the top-spec X3 version uses an ABLOY Sentry lock cylinder. Made in the UK, it also features a soft rubber outer sleeve to protect your bike and weighs in at 1.7-1.9kg.

£149.99 (X1), £249.99 (X3)

www.litelok.com

The latest crash protection airbag from Alpinestars is a universal-fit vest, the Tech-Air 3. Aimed at commuting, touring and light off-roading, it’s an all-in-one integrated crash protector that fits over or under your kit and doesn’t need fitting to another jacket or suit. It’s operated via an LED control panel, which has a vibrating haptic notification set-up, and is designed to protect your chest and back areas from impacts. It has a six-way sensor package, with three gyros and three accelerometers, and uses the firm’s latest smart crash detection algorithm. Comes in sizes XS-4XL, and a Stella woman’s fitment, in high-viz yellow or subtle grey.

£499.99

www.alpinestars.com

FORCITE MK1S SMART HELMET Australian smart helmet maker Forcite is launching in the UK, starting with its MK1S lid. It’s a lightweight (1500g) full-face ECE22.05 and DOT-approved helmet with a carbon fibre outer shell and a series of useful electronics already built in. There’s a chin-mount 1080P action camera, Harman-Kardon speakers with dual microphones, and a peripheral LED display system that sends signals to the rider about navigation, speed traps, mobile cameras, and traffic alerts. It’s controlled via a smartphone app and a supplied handlebar controller, charges via USB-C, and links with Bluetooth 5.0. The lid’s battery lasts about seven hours and charges in 90 minutes. Forcite has also signed a deal with Aldo Drudi for some subtle new paint designs going forward.

£799 (special price for first 500 UK buyers) £929 (normal price) £1299 (Drudi Nexus edition) https://www.forcitehelmets.com/en-gb/

BREMBO 19RCS CORSA CORTA RR MASTER CYLINDER Launched at the Milan Show last month, Brembo’s latest high-end radial master cylinder is crammed with tech from the firm’s MotoGP and WSBK efforts and features six possible settings for bite-point and lever action. It has three bite-point modes: normal, sport, and race, with each giving a different level of aggression on the initial lever pull. There are also two lever fulcrum settings, 18 and 20mm, with a RCS cam that physically changes the

£TBC

distance between the lever pivot and the piston. The floating piston and gaskets are the same as the components used in MotoGP, as are the bleed and brake fluid delivery circuit couplings, while the crash-proof folding lever has the usual span adjustment.

The unit is machined from billet, with a tough dark-titanium anodised finish and also has the new Brembo logo embossed into the body.

www.bremboparts.com

16 JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

016 Products_FBK399.indd 16

11/17/2022 12:20:45 PM

PRODUCTS

OPTIMATE BATTERY MONITOR Winter’s here, and the number one cause of breakdowns now will be tired batteries giving up the ghost.

Get an early warning of any problems with one of these, an Optimate inline battery monitor, now redesigned to work with lithium, sealed AGM, gel, and normal lead-acid batteries. It fits into a standard SAE Optimate charging connector and can be left in place on the bike. It displays the battery health at a glance and also shows that the bike is charging properly when the engine is running.

R&G RACING RACE GRIP PADS Anyone who pushes hard on a track knows how much the legs and thighs work when gripping the bike under braking and in extreme cornering. A set of grippy pads either side of the tank area is one of those little changes that makes a huge difference. There are a few brands out there, and now Hampshire firm RG Racing has launched its own version. The Race Grip pads are made from high-quality durable polyurethane for strong grip without damaging your leathers.

Available for a range of superbikes.

From £36

www.rg-racing.com

GB RACING CB1000R COVERS More slick crash protection from Brit firm GB Racing, with a set of engine covers for the Honda CB1000R supernaked. These fit the 2018-23 models and protect the alternator, clutch, and pulser cover, and can be purchased individually or as a set.

£88.03 (alternator), £95.78 (clutch) £73.64 (pulser), £244.58 (set) www.gbracing.eu

£21.22 https://optimate1.com

OXFORD SMART FINGERS Genius, this – if you have a favourite pair of gloves that don’t work with touchscreens, simply fit some of these self-adhesive fingertips from Oxford. Instant upgrade for all the comfy old gloves in your kit cupboard. We’re getting some lush old RS Taichi ones out now.

£14.99 (pack of six) www.oxprod.com

TALON SX50 CNC MACHINED EXTENDED SWINGARM This is so saucy that it’s hard to believe it’s for a kids’ 50cc dirt bike.

Produced by UK engineering firm Talon, it’s a super-tough

machined aluminium extended arm, which is 673g lighter than stock, to fit the KTM SX50 mini ‘crosser. Comes in silver or

£1095

black anodised, and with a choice of chainguard colours, it is fully compatible with the stock shock and chassis fittings.

https://talon-eng.co.uk/

MOTOJEAN RIDING JEANS Good quality protective riding jeans at a decent price is the promise from start-up family firm Motojean, which launched at the start of 2022. These single-layer denim jeans are UKCA and CE-approved to AA, with CE Level Two hip and knee protectors included. There’s a choice of black and blue jeans, in skinny, slim, or straight cut.

£99.99 https://motojean.com

JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 17

016 Products_FBK399.indd 17

11/17/2022 12:21:02 PM

SUB-LITRE SPORTSBIKES

W

hen you look at the way the sportsbike scene has changed this past decade, it’s hard to anticipate what will happen next. We are as likely to see 250bhp streetbikes as we are a resurgence to the trends of the Noughties when 600s were still very much a living, breathing, and thriving thing. There’s a lot of uncharted territory out there at the moment,

with big question marks on every corner.

And it’s a manufacturer’s job to get its head around our whims, to navigate this minefield and put the kind of juicy and desirable offerings on the table that we simply can’t refuse.

But what exactly are those offerings? What exactly do we want? Do manufacturers give us bikes with more power than the generous

thresholds we are already experiencing, or do they look to offer more affordable, practical and maybe even less sophisticated options?

Another question is how significant to the above is capacity? In days gone by, things were much simpler, with a raft of sportsbikes ranging from 125cc to 250, 400, 600, 750 and 1000cc. Each could be considered a destination or a stepping stone, according to

18 JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

018 sub litre intro_FBK399.indd 18

11/21/2022 11:55:17 AM

who owned what and how content they were with what they had. And if they wanted more, they simply took another step up the ladder. In recent times, the margins between the sectors have become much greater and the options on the cards far fewer... which is why you have to take your hat off to the likes of Ducati and MV for throwing something a little bit different out there in the shape of the V2 and F3 respectively.

Both machines are sub-litre. Both machines make about 140bhp. And both machines offer a credible alternative to a balls-out litre bike with circa 200bhp. While that latter

figure might tantalise the likes of you and I, it’s worth remembering that not everyone wants that kind of power, and some younger riders might be laughed all the way off the phone if they tried to call and insure one.

From a purely personal point of view, these bikes kind of figure, but as for defining what

WORDS: BRUCE PICS: CHIPPY WOOD

they are and where they sit in the spectrum of sportsbikes, you’d have to content yourself with that answer, because there’s not really a set box out there for either of them. What I do know – on the back of testing them extensively on the road and track – is that these models should not be overlooked…

SUB-LITRE

SPORTSBIKES 018 sub litre intro_FBK399.indd 19

11/21/2022 11:55:22 AM

SUB-LITRE SPORTSBIKES

DUCATI PANIGALE V2 On the road…

It’s 1994. Carl Fogarty is the World Superbike champion, and Ducati is basking in the success of its box-fresh 916 – a motorcycle that literally burst onto the scene that year and cleaned up on the racetrack and in the showrooms at a pace no one could have anticipated. A legend was born, powered by an L-twin motor that packed a meagre 109bhp in stock form. Of course, fast-forward

to the present day and that kind of output on a flagship sportsbike would get you more abuse than a pudding-bowl haircut in a school playground. Being blunt, you’d hope for more than that from a contemporary machine’s rain mode setting, and for further perspective, it’s about 45bhp less than what you can expect from this bike here, Ducati’s ‘baby’ Panigale – the V2. Ironically, despite being notably smaller in capacity and peak power than the big bro V4, the V2 is actually 39cc larger in size than the inaugural version of the 916 (that grew in time to 996cc and

claimed 130bhp in SP spec). You get the point... times have changed, and so have perspectives – which is no bad thing as far as mullets are concerned.

Back to the point and the V2 is a key model to Ducati and motorcyclists alike, yet it is often overshadowed by the brilliance and desirability of the V4. But trust me when I say that this is no second-rate sideliner. Well, I guess it’s less attractive if you’re hell-bent on owning a machine with 200bhp-plus, but there’s a lot to be said – and had – from this virtuous V-twin operator.

JANUARY 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

020 Sub litre Ducati V2_FBK399.indd 20

11/21/2022 4:33:00 PM