WI WINTER WONDERLAND PROJECT NINJA WO NJA ZXR ZXR-8 EURO TRACK SCENE
HOME-BUILD HYBRID
JANUARY 2019 ISSUE 348
£3K USED LEGENDS EGEN
10 PLUS TOP IN S
USED BARGA
ZX-7R VS RSV MILLE MASTER MALLORY PARK
HOW TO:
❯ BUY A USED DUCATI 1199 ❯ LIVE WITH AN ELECTRIC BIKE ❯ GET THE BEST FROM YOUR ‘BOX
JAPANESE E NAKED SHOOTOUT SHOOTOUT VS
SUZUKI GSX-S1000
VS
KAWASAKI Z1000
VS
HONDA CB1000R
YAMAHA MT-10
ISSUE 348 JANUARY 2019
IT’S THE NEWS!
Upfront ............................................ 10 All the tastiest biking titbits.
GEARED UP!
Products .......................................... 15
All the latest, coolest and trickest products.
THE KNOWLEDGE
Used Buyer’s Guide ......................... 76 Everything you need to know when buying a 1199 Ducati.
MASTERCLASS
Project .............................................82 Rob’s been doing some more decorating and the ZX8 is starting to take shape.
Track Attack ....................................86 How to master the best of British circuits. This month: Mallory.
Legal ................................................90
20
When your bike goes pop, should you take it to court or take it on the chin?
TESTS
Know Your .......................................92
£3k Used Legends ........................ 20
…Gearboxes. The lads from Nova tell us a thing or two about ‘boxes.
YOUR LIFE ON BIKES
Addiction.........................................56
COVER STORY
Bruce and Boothy took to the streets on a pair of budget bullets and had a blast while they were at it.
COVER STORY
Like supermotards? You’re going to love this month’s centrefold.
Get Naked ..................................... 36
Chatter ............................................ 73
Zero FXS Supermoto..................... 68
It’s only fair we give the best readers in the world a page of their own!
You & Yours ..................................... 74 All of your latest adventures around the UK and beyond!
OUR LIFE ON BIKES
Staff Bikes .......................................92
More models, more miles and more mods for our fleet of test bikes. • Kawasaki Ninja 400 • Suzuki GSX-S1000 • KTM 1290 GT • Yamaha YZF-R1M • Honda CB1000R
RACE SECTION
36
Part two sees four of the best Japanese bikes put to the test. Will Frodo be buzzing after riding the electric supermoto?
FEATURES
Winter Wonderland ...................... 62 Bruce flew to Spain to take in the Euro Trackday scene.
Top Ten Sensible Superbikes ....... 32 Ten of the very best bikes you can buy with a budget of £5k.
62
Pit Pass.......................................... 100 The lowdown on everything to do with BSB, WSBK and MotoGP.
Supersport; Sink or Swim ............ 104
COLUMNISTS
Neave twins ...................................111 Tim tells us about his new job and his 2019 signing.
Gary Johnson ................................ 112 Gaz looks to the New Year, fresh from his stellar performance at the Macau GP.
4 JANUARY 2019 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM
Christian Iddon ............................. 113 It’s the off-season but Iddon’s keeping busy.
Steve Parrish................................. 114 Parrish’s take on all things bike-racing.
SUB
With the factories churning out fewer 600cc sports bikes, is there a viable future for Supersport racing?
B I E R C S 8 age p e l Se etai s d for
WELCOME
Treat yourself...
I
love a good bargain. Who doesn’t, especially when it’s got two wheels and a throttle? As far as used bikes are concerned there are loads of great steals to be had. The bikes on the cover of this issue were bought for a grand apiece. Now that’s pretty jammy by anyone’s standards, but even on the net you’ll be able to pick up a base model Mille from under £2k, and the same goes for a ZX-7R. Some of us are pretty fickle when it comes to the age of our bikes, but some of the best times and best rides I’ve ever had have been on older models (I never did catch their names). I used to own a pre-injection R6. It was worth naff-all back then, and probably even less now, but it meant the world to me and I’d have another in a heartbeat. Bikes have moved on dramatically in the 20 years since that R6 left the production line, but as the Mille and Kwacker test demonstrated, a great bike remains a great bike no matter how old it is. Me and Boothy had a right laugh on both machines, which you can read about inside. And once you’ve finished indulging in that, and you’ve written a massive wish list of used gold, make sure to check out the second half of our big naked group test. The European posse went down well last issue, but there have been plenty of calls for the Japanese offerings to show their face and strut their stuff… so here they are, wheelies an’ all. That said, if you’re prepared to go naked in a bid to save the planet, Pretty Boy’s test on a battery powered motard is also well worthy of a read, but if you prefer sun loungers, mojitos and tales from foreign tracksides, have a good gander at my Euro trackday piece. Heading out to Spain and banging in some hot laps under a scorching sun proved a perfect tonic to the winter blues, which have hit us all hard in the Fast Bikes office. It’s not that long until the New Year and the good times that’ll come with it, but in the meantime we’re stuck on pause, sheltering indoors and listening to Wham’s Last Christmas on repeat with sprinklings of mince pie crumbs littering up our leathers. No, it’s not a good look, but if you can’t let your hair down and indulge in excessive calories at this time of year, when can you? Get stuck in! All that’s left is to say a massive thank you for your continued support and to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let’s make 2019 a corker!
20
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RACE MAN
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NE W S & RE VIE W S PL ANET FAST BIKES – NE W ME TA L, Monsterish?
KAWASAKI RELEASE THE Z400 MOTO MORINI UNVEIL THEIR MILANO Lean and green...
Following on from the success of the Ninja 400 last year, Kawasaki have gone ahead and given their A2 sports bike the naked treatment, replacing the Z300 in their ever-growing list of roadsters. Being both lighter and more powerful than its predecessor, the Z400 comes equipped with the same 399cc parallel twin engine that comes in the Ninja, complete with an assist and slipper clutch for good measure. Kawasaki have then wrapped it in the same trellis chassis and used their Sugomi design philosophy to match the rest of the range, including the addition of a new digital speedometer which shows a gear indicator and even a fuel consumption indicator… if that’s what you’re into. Expect the Z400 to be priced at around £5,000, and in showrooms for early 2019…
NEW STOPPERS FOR SUZUKI’S SV650 Bargain.
10 JANUARY 2019 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM
As much as we love to have an abundance of tech, it’s nice to have the simpler things in life sometimes, and they don’t come much simpler than Suzuki’s SV650 – which has just been uprated for 2019. Okay, it might not be a big deal but Suzuki’s V-twin middleweight will now come with four-piston front brake calipers instead of the two-piston jobbies equipped on the 2018 models, which is good news if you plan on racing one in a minitwin type championship… or if you just happen to like stopping. As well as new brakes, Suzuki have gifted the SV with a bunch of new colour options which will be available in dealerships by spring.
After something that’s slightly different, Italian and, ideally, named after a city? Well then the Moto Morini Milano might just be right up your alley. If you’ve never heard of Moto Morini then you’ll have to look back a bit; basically they’re an Italian company (obviously) who were big in the 70s and looking to make a comeback – and it looks like they’ve done a decent job. Powered by a 1,200cc V-twin engine that delivers 116hp and 108Nm of torque, the Milano should go as well as it looks, and Moto Morini tell us that it sounds pretty special as well thanks to the dual exhaust terminal. They say that the Milano is a highperformance machine that’s pleasant to ride, thanks to the purpose-built steel trellis chassis combined with fully adjustable Mupo suspension front and rear. If that doesn’t seem like enough, braking power comes in abundance courtesy of Brembo, thanks to two 320mm discs on the front and four-piston radial mounted calipers, alongside a switchable Bosch ABS system. There’s no word on price just yet, but Moto Morini say that the Milano will be available in red and blue from next spring. Italian style.
NEW S & REV IEW S PLA NET FAST BIKES – NEW METAL,
£90,000 ELECTRIC IRON MAN STYLE CAFÉ RACER? Yeah, that’s a lot of money. Yes, it’s electric. And yes, Arc may be a new brand on the block – but they don’t do things by half. Their first venture, dubbed the Vector, is a technological masterpiece if nothing else, thanks to a 399 Volt power cell and hand built lightweight carbon-composite structure, which means even when combined with the battery module monoque it tips the scales at just 220kg ready to roll. It’s not all about the weight either as the carbon chassis and swingarms (yes, arms both front and rear!) is said to have ‘MotoGP’ levels of stiffness, alongside custom-made Ohlins for the ultimate ride. It also comes equipped with a set of meaty Brembo stoppers and some skinny BST wheels, meaning the Vector comes in about 60kg lighter than its electric rivals, thereby giving it the best power to weight in its class. And this means it can take you from 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds and up to 120mph at the top end, with a
battery life of about 200 miles – or 120 miles if you fancy riding it reasonably quickly (is there any other way?). Oh, and if you do end up splashing out the cash, Arc will install a personal electric charger at the owner’s desired location, meaning the Vector can be charged to full in 45 minutes at a service station – which makes a huge difference to some of the previous electric examples. But the coolest part? The Vector comes as standard with a ‘Zenith’ helmet and ‘Origin’ Jacket, which work with intelligent tech to include a head up display like in Iron Man, alongside audio-type haptic amplifiers – which give feedback through vibration. We aren’t sure exactly how this will work or feel, but we’d love to have a go… There will be 399 (the same number as the batteries voltage) produced in the first year, and just one of them will set you back £90,000 for the full package…
Where’s Tony Stark when you need him?
KAWASAKI RELEASE PRICING FOR THE VERSYS 1000 & SE
Adventure bikes seem to be all the rage nowadays, with Kawasaki being the latest marque to give some numbers and details, this time for their new Versys 1000 & Versys SE. The base model will be available from December at a price of £11,199, while the all singing, all dancing SE version will be available at £14,399. 12 JANUARY 2019 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM
MV TEASE THEIR ULTRA-HIPSTER SUPERVELOCE 800 Yep, we aren’t pulling your leg – after testing the water at EICMA, MV have told us they’re putting this into production in the second half of 2019. Styled to look like a ‘modern interpretation’ of their iconic models, the Superveloce is essentially a facelifted F3 800 – using the same engine that’s been remapped for
Retro relish.
enhanced characteristics alongside a new, old-school exhaust system. The riding position hasn’t been altered much for a modern and sporty feel, while brakes and suspension will be the same – albeit possibly slightly tweaked for a smoother ride. Expect ‘em not to be cheap when they go into production next year!
14 JANUARY 2019 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM
ED AND RE VIE W ED THE VERY BEST KI T – US ED, ABUS R&G WATERPROOF RAIN JACKET AND TROUSERS TESTED BY: Charlie MILES: 39 TIME: 1 day PRICE: £75.98 (+VAT) WEB: www.rg-racing.com TEL: 01420 89007
R&G’s support of BSB is not all a one way street, thanks to the fact that the feedback and product testing from riders has resulted in an extremely effective testing regime – all of which filters down to us regular folk. This is great, as this time they’ve nailed their own waterproof jacket and trousers. Sold separately, the jacket (£39.99) and trousers (£35.99) are a perfect combo to keep you dry in even the heaviest downpours. Competing at a recent club meet I got the opportunity to test the full combination in pouring rain and through spray without getting even remotely damp. The suit is clear so that you can show off your sponsors’ logos (or novice bib in my case), the trousers have cut-outs for wet sliders (pictured R&G £31.50), and for the perfect fit they come equipped with Velcro fastenings at the bottom of the ¾ legs and an elasticated waist band. All seams are taped on the trouser and jacket, the latter boasting zipped cuffs to go over glove gauntlets and zip up front with stretch panels aiding the perfect fit. A crotch strap holds the two pieces snugly together. Each item comes in a handy pouch which would fit in any kit bag and for me this suit was invaluable. As the sun broke that afternoon I was in dry leathers, as opposed to a dank, heavy and sodden full piece leather suit. As an added bonus my low speed off at the hairpin saw this suit take the brunt of the slide, leaving not a scratch on my RSTs. Not what they are designed for of course, just a nice bonus to also being kept bone dry.
CABERG XTRACE ADVENTURE HELMET TESTED BY: Boothy MILES: 1,000 TIME: 1 year PRICE: £149.99 WEB: www.feridax.com
Shelling out big bucks for a top of the range adventure helmet seemed a bit pointless to me – I’m more interested in seeing how fast I can go rather than how far I can go – so I thought I would give the new(ish) Xtrace a try. It might be nearer the budget end of the market but it feels light and well balanced on my head, though the padding doesn’t feel as plush as I would like. It’s got a drop down sun visor (the lever for which is a bit of a struggle to operate in MX gloves and nigh-on impossible in winter gloves), a removable peak, and the main visor comes Pinlock ready, which is a good thing as the first few outings were plagued with visor steamage (I’ve since ordered a Pinlock lens). The visor aperture is really big so visibility is brilliant, when it’s not steamed up. I would prefer a double-D chin strap but the clicky-ratchet type that it comes with is easy and quick to use. For the money it’s a cracking lid and is great for the amount of adventure riding that I do.
JANUARY 2019 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 15
PRODUCTS
VNM BASE LAYER TOP
SC PROJECT CR-T SILENCER
TESTED BY: Martin MILES: 3,500 TIME: 6 months PRICE: $108.99 (approx £83.99) WEB: vnmsport.com
TESTED BY: Ben MILES: 1,000 TIME: 3 months PRICE: £480 WEB: www.sc-project.com
If you asked me to recommend one piece of kit over everything else I use, I’d choose the VNM base layer top that I’ve been testing. Why? Not because I like kinky body tight clothing, but because before you get to your boots and lids you need a good base layer to regulate your body temperature; it’s no good wearing your Rossi T-shirt made from 100% cotton, unless you really want to look like a sweaty fool. VNW use Italian sourced fibres to create a unique compression top that aids in muscle fatigue by targeting the build-up of lactic acids which causes arm pump – and on track I felt much more comfortable in it. By using a honeycomb structure the fabric breathes much easier than cotton and will dry eight times faster, or 2.5 times faster than the leading competition, so even when you sweat you feel a cooling sensation when you’re moving which is a bonus in the toasty months. The fit is great and slightly longer on the back so no arse cracks appear. This is further aided by the silicone band around the waist that stops the top riding up. They’re available in a multitude of colours and there’s even a custom design service if you’re feeling posh as well…
KNOX TRACK VEST TESTED BY: Pretty Boy MILES: 3,000+ TIME: 8 months PRICE: £169.99 WEB: www.planet-knox.com
Joking aside, crashing hurts and there’s two things that you really need to protect in my opinion: both your back and your noggin, which is why I’ll never head out on two wheels without a trusted back protector – and this jobbie from Knox might just be my favourite yet. Between us, I have a torso the size of a partially grown child which means I’ve regularly struggled to find the perfect fit, yet thanks to the wrap around vest-like design of the track vest, it fits like a charm without poking out the top or riding up. My suit is fairly tight on the chest yet even so it’s not restrictive or too chunky when riding. Once it’s on you can barely even feel it’s there. The mesh is nicely done and even though I’ve thrown it about, sent it through thousands of miles of sweat and pouring rain and had it folded in all sorts of positions to fit in luggage, it still looks and feels like new. Top marks, Knox.
16 JANUARY 2019 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM
SC Project are out to take on the big guns of the zorst world and if you haven’t already noticed, they’re stamping their mark on the race scene with HRC’s Repsol Honda being the bigg’un to fly their flag. From the moment I cracked open the packaging, it was clear to see the level of craftsmanship that’d been poured into producing this bad boy was nothing less than tip-top. This Moto 2-esque trumpet with its satisfyingly arty welds, paired with a carbon heat shield and etched branding round off a sweet looking pipe, which not only offers a weight saving of 1.2kg but also drastically improves the appearance of the naked Gixxer. My initial perception didn’t waver upon bolting the bugger on. The fit was as snug as a bug; giving no need for tarting about with a drill or dremel to get the fixings to align and five minutes later I was thumbing my GSX-S1000 termer to life, which emanated a sweeter soundtrack than that of the sedate, standard fitment. All in all, this is a crackin’ bit of kit. And with it being priced £315 cheaper than Suzuki’s Yoshi GP Evo can that features in their genuine accessories brochure, one of these should be at the top of the to-do list for any bike. Bravo SC!
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#48
ISSUE
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OCTOBER 2018
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MOTO MEMORIES // TECH TALK // MONTESA COTA 200 // BULTACO MATADOR
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