Fast Bikes Magazine November 2024 issue **20 PAGE FREE PREVIEW**

ALL THE GEAR…

STOCK VERSUS SPECIAL – WHY TRICK SUSPENSION’S WORTH THE MONEY

NO V ISS EMB UE E 421 R 20 24

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH YAMAHA’S CLUTCHLESS Y-AMT SYSTEM

SUSSING OUT SUSPENSION

O T C E PERF LE

A G I PAN

ST SMARTE , T S E T S FA ERS ITS V I L E D I D DUCAT RFECTE E P T S O AND M E V4 YET PANIGAL

RETR RETRO RO

RACIN ING...

GRINNING AND WINNING NING AT A CLASSIC ENDURANCE RACE E ON A TOP-SPEC SUZUKI GSX-R1000 K1

USED BUYER’S GUIDE

YAMAHA AMAHA R1

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2007 SPORTSBIKE

ISSUE 421 NOVEMBER 2024

54

60

TESTS

COLUMNISTS

Ducati’s Panigale V4 gets a head-to-toe shake-up in the pursuit of perfection.

He’s had a strong start, but what’s on the cards in the second half of the season?

Perfecting the Panigale .................. 18 Retro Racing....................................30 Getting to grips with a K1 GSX-R1000, classic endurance race style.

Yamaha T-AMT ................................38 Clutches… what are they good for? Yamaha ditches the lever in favour of a new auto gearbox. Here’s what we make of it.

Used Bike Guide..............................54 Yamaha’s R1 has taken on many guises, but one of the best was the 2007 head-banger.

BUY

GEAR

FASTBIKESMAG.COM

30

Christian Iddon ...............................96 Steve Parrish...................................98 More madness and wisdom from the man they call Parrish.

FEATURES

Sussing out suspension..................60 Just what difference does fancy suspension make to your bike? We take a trip to Öhlins to find out.

A day in the dirt.............................. 72 Big Mac goes for a roll around in the mud and learns a few tips for enduro riding.

Fit to go fast ...................................82 Why do racers put so much emphasis on fitness? Joe has the answers.

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

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

WELCOME Join us on Twitter:

@FastBikesMag

View Fast Bikes video content:

Join us on Facebook:

Facebook.com/ FastBikesMagazine

Download Fast Bikes:

Mortons.co.uk/FB

youtube.com/ fastbikesmag

What comes next?

I

t’s that time again, when next year’s models start showing their faces. I’m writing this having just got back from sampling the awesomeness of Ducati’s new Panigale V4S. Needless to say, it didn’t disappoint, but what really blew me away was how different that bike was to the original Panigale V4 I tested back in 2017. The tech, the geometry, even the motor... pretty much nothing’s the same, other than the number of cylinders and the brand’s choice of configuration.

Power’s up (just) and weight is down (slightly), and a double-sided swingarm has returned to the mix on Ducati’s flagship head-banger. That was something I didn’t see coming, which has got me wondering about what else will we see in this raft of new metal.

By the time you’re reading this, the first of the major international motorcycle shows will be about a month away, so the wait to find out won’t be that long. Will we see a resurgence of litre sportsbikes? Or will the middleweight sector steal the show? There are way more questions than

answers right now, but that’s all part of the fun. The irony is that while we are trying to guess what the brands are going to bestow on us, they are just as puzzled about what the end users wants. Do we want more power? Do we want more tech? Do we want more pokey-out bits on our bikes? Do we want simpler, more affordable motorcycles? It’s fair to say that great bikes at great prices is what all of us want, so let’s hope there are plenty

more options that fit those criteria on the way. My guess? Who knows, but I’m anticipating it’s going to be a busy winter – at least, I hope so. If you’ve got any ideas, drop us a line and let us know your thoughts.

Enjoy the mag,

nd epic wheelie puller BOSSY MAN

OLD MAN

SEASONED SCRIBE

bwilson@mortons.co.uk

gramps@fastbikes.co.uk

...and epic wheelie puller

FA ST MAN

BSB SU PER S TA R

RACING PUNDIT

tneave@mortons.co.uk

...and Britain’s best builder

...and pro at pranks

MONEY MAN

RACER TRAINER

SUPERSTOCK CHAMP

‘Dangerous’ Bruce Wilson

Christian Iddon

Tim Neave

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

SUBSCRIBE! 6 NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

John McAvoy

Brad Howell

… and proper food and fitness guru

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

Alan Dowds

Steve Parrish

Tom Neave

...and combine king

LEGAL LORE

Gavin Grewal

...and hardcore off-roader

NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 7

JOIN OUR MOTORCYCLING COMMUNITY

Some things are better left behind, but Fast Bikes isn’t one of them... trust us. For a start, we’d miss you, but it’d also mean you’d miss out on a whole

load of news, reviews, tech, talks and insight into pioneering protagonists. Just think about the road trips, the project bike builds – and all the excuses we throw in with them. We want you on this ride, and we want your stories, your input and guidance, so don’t be a stranger! Check

out the cracking deals we’ve got here and let’s get you settled into another season of the good stuff from the UK’s leading sportsbike magazine.

BRUCE WILSON, EDITOR

Call 01507 529529 and quote FBDPS

Online: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/FBDPS

or scan the QR code to go straight to our secure online store

E B I R C S B U S Y A TOD CHOOSE WHICH FAST BIKES SUBSCRIPTION SUITS YOU BEST 1:

12 print issues for £48 Direct Debit 12 print issues for £52 credit/debit card 2:

BEST VALUE

12-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION

SAVE £15

SIX-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION

6 print issues for £25 Direct Debit 6 print issues for £27 credit/debit card

SAVE £6.50

WHAT OUR READERS SAY ABOUT FAST BIKES

Great mag for anyone interested in sporty road bikes, racing and trackdays!

A great magazine with a good mix of related topics.

A fab magazine with great articles and humour!

GRAHAM SALEM

BRUCE BENEDICKTER

CHRIS ROLLINGS

WHY YOU SHOULD READ FAST BIKES EVERY MONTH

>> Fast Bikes delivered straight to your door. >> Saves £££s from buying them in the shops. >> Subscriber exclusive offers and competitions. >> Delivered before it arrives in the shops. >> Be part of the classic motorcycle community.

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Rates are based on UK orders only – for overseas please visit www.classicmagazines.co.uk/fb-overseas. Subscriptions will start with the next available issue.

Offer closes 29/10/24. Direct Debit payments will continue at the price you paid, on this offer, at these intervals thereafter unless you tell us otherwise. Full terms and conditions can be found at www.classicmagazines.co.uk/terms. Quoted savings are based on a direct debit subscription when compared to the same number of issues at full printed price.

WORDS< SIR ALAN OF DO

AL, PLA NET FAST BIKES – NEEW ME TA

WDS

NEW S & REV IEW S

Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS Triumph has unveiled a new, updated Speed Twin 1200, plus a brand-new RS version, that adds some sweet chassis upgrades to the stylish modern classic roadster.

First launched in 2018, the Speed Twin uses the firm’s high-output 1200 Bonneville parallel-twin engine in a sporty naked classic chassis, with some tasty running gear and a premium finish. It got a refresh in 2021, but 2025 will see a full overhaul with more power, and a higher-spec RS model added to the range.

Both the standard 1200 and the RS get a new engine tune, with bigger throttle body and revised cam on the liquid-cooled eight-valve SOHC twin.

There’s not a big jump in performance; about 5bhp more peak power, up to 103.5bhp@7750rpm, while torque stays as you were at 112Nm @ 4250rpm.

The chassis sees the biggest changes on the Speed Twin 1200 RS. There’s a pair of Öhlins rear shocks, with piggyback reservoirs and full adjustability for preload, compression and rebound, while the fork is a 43mm USD Marzocchi unit, also fully adjustable. The brakes get uprated to full Brembo Stylema calipers with dual 320mm discs and cornering ABS. Wheels are new thin-spoked cast aluminium parts, and the RS also gets some proper sporty rubber in the form of Metzeler Racetec RR K3 tyres as standard. The riding position is more committed too, with the back end lifted up a little and more rear-set footpegs.

Those rearsets also allow a proper up/down quickshifter for the first time on a Hinckley modern classic 10 NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

– the longer shift rod has room for a shifter sensor, which isn’t possible on the stock Speed Twin.

That all sounds pretty cool – but with just 105bhp on tap, you wonder if it will make much difference to the overall performance. The tyres in particular are race fitments more often seen on bikes with twice that power. We’ll find out quite soon, when we ride the new RS. Triumph makes a big deal of its premium finish and build quality, and the Speed Twins are no different, with aluminium mudguards and headlight bezel, brushed stainless exhaust, a new sculpted tank design, and fresh paint design in two colour options: orange or black.

The new Speed Twin 1200 RS will be available from £14,495 OTR. Customers can configure their own or find out more online at triumphmotorcycles.co.uk. Bikes will be arriving in dealerships from December 2024.

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

Bikes web

STANDARD SPEED TWIN The standard 2025 Speed Twin 1200 has the same engine layout and basic chassis set-up as the RS but misses out on the up/down quickshifter and comes with more basic running gear. The brakes are Triumph-branded four-piston radial calipers with 320mm discs, rear shocks are preload-only adjustable Marzocchi units, and the front Marzocchi forks are non-adjustable 43mm USD parts. You get less radical tyres, Metzeler Sportec M9RRs, and a less commited riding position with slightly lower seat (805mm vs 810mm). Both bikes have the same wet weight of 216kg.

The base Speed Twin 1200 will be available from £12,495 in white, red or silver colourways from December.

007 GIVES TRIUMPHS TO CHARITY We knew James Bond was, technically, a Royal Naval Reserve Commander, but didn’t know that the most recent actor to play him, Daniel Craig, also had a seafaring background.

The British thespian has donated his own two limited-edition 007 x Triumph bikes to be auctioned off to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The two bikes – the #003/250 Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition and the #001/250 Tiger 900 Bond Edition – were inspired by the 25th Bond film No Time To Die and will go under the hammer at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show on October 12 and 13 in Staffordshire.

The winners will also get the opportunity to ride with Bond stunt co-ordinator Lee Morrison and 007 Bond stunt double Paul Edmondson at the Triumph Adventure Experience in Wales.

B th bik ill be b hand-signed h d i d by b Both bikes will Craig on each side and come with the original V5C documents bearing his

name, as well as a certificate of authenticity signed by both Daniel Craig and Triumph CEO Nick Bloor.

Craig said: “The RNLI has been close to my heart all my life since growing up near the RNLI station at Hoylake. I have incredible memories of going afloat with the RNLI crew at Ramsgate to experience first-hand what it’s like to be part of the organisation that has saved more than 146,000 lives since starting up 200-plus years ago. I am honoured and immensely proud to support the RNLI and hope the auction of Triumph’s limited-edition Bond motorcycles proves popular. The riding experience with Lee Morrison and Paul Edmondson adds another unique and exciting dynamic to the lots. I worked with Lee on Casino Royale, all the way through to No Time To Die; the opportunity is not to be missed and will h l raise i ffunds d ffor th l lif i help the ttruly lifesaving cause that is the RNLI.” More info: https://cars.bonhams.com

WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2024 11

PLANE T FAST BIKES – NEW METAL

, NEWS & REVIEW S

SEGRAVE TROPHY AWARDED TO THE BIRCHALL BROTHERS We got out our best bib and tucker a couple of weeks ago to attend a very special gig up in London town. The Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, round the back of Buck House, was the venue, and the Segrave Trophy presentation was the gig.

The Segrave is one of the most prestigious trophies given out by the RAC’s awards committees, only when a very deserving winner comes up. It’s named after Sir Henry Segrave, a land, air and water record breaker, who sadly died during a record attempt on Lake Windermere in 1930, and is awarded to British speed record breakers who show exceptional skill and bravery.

Which is pretty much the textbook description of the Birchall Brothers, Ben and Tom. The pair smashed the 120mph lap barrier at the Isle of Man TT in 2023 on their 600cc outfit with a simply incredible run. It’s been compared with a two-up ride on a Gold Wing round the Mountain course: the power and weight are similar (though the Birchall’s sidecar is lacking the stereo and sat-nav, sadly).

Previous winners include fellow sidecar racer Steve Webster, and TT legend Joey Dunlop to Barry Sheene, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees and Geoff Duke. Illustrious company indeed, as Ben Birchall recognised. “To be put anywhere near those names

– I’m so thrilled we’ve been chosen, it means so much,” he said.

“It’s absolutely mind-bending,” added Tom. “Motorsport and the TT are such wonderful environments and to get an accolade like this is just bizarre.”

DUCATI WATCH Ducati’s 916 is thirty years old this year – which is frankly terrifying for the older denizens of FB Towers. And the Bolognan firm has commissioned this super-trick £35k watch to celebrate. It’s a Gerald Charles Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30° Anniversario 916 (probably because Casio couldn’t match the 916 red on an A159) and features a ‘jumping-hour complication’ which looks like a Ducati 916 three-spoke wheel. Us neither, but sounds amazeballs. www.ducati.com

MOTORCYCLE LIVE BACK The schools are back, the rain is back, xmas selection boxes are back in the supermarkets – which means that the Motorcycle Live Show at the NEC in Birmingham is very much about to be back. And for 2024, the organisers have given it a bit of a revamp, with the theme being ‘festivals’. The MCIA has no doubt seen the success of slightly different show formats like the ABR festival and the Bike Shed Show in London, and seems to be tweaking its own show to suit.

There’ll be a summer festival feel – tricky in November perhaps – with a new Festival Zone, live music, stunt shows, revised entertainment on the Blackhorse stage, and a new lineup of celebs, racers and presenters. The food and drink is also being revamped, with more gourmet street food vendors offering higher-class options, and much more.

Of course, the halls will still be crammed with bikes and kit, with hundreds of exhibitors and all the major 12 NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

manufacturers represented. New, old, custom, concept, race and competition machinery – it will all be there on show, alongside the latest bolt-ons, tyres, helmets and kit.

Tickets are on sale now, frozen at last year’s prices.

More info, and the latest on what’s happening, at www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

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

STONER’S 800 SELLS FOR OVER £400K Another high-priced Ducati hit the news this month: Casey Stoner’s title winning 2007 Desmosedici GP07 racebike sold at auction for over £400,000. It’s reportedly the most expensive Ducati ever sold, and perhaps the most expensive bike ever auctioned full stop. It’s a runner as well, so we’re hoping to see it at Mallory in Inters next season, bashing fairings with the CB500 crew.

VMOTO STASH Yes yes, we know – you’d rather see a new two-stroke 250 than a battery-powered bike in these pages. But the new Vmoto Stash is more interesting than you might think, and good fun to ride.

It’s a 125-class learner legal machine, so can be ridden on a CBT, despite its swoopy full fairing and decent chassis spec. But a loophole in the regs mean that while the air-cooled motor is restricted to a learner-friendly 12bhp constant power output, it can make up to 19bhp ‘peak’ power for a short time, when accelerating while pressing the ‘Boost’ button on the bars. That means it’s much livelier than an old-school petrol machine off the line. It’s also got just one gear and no clutch, so gives pure, uninterrupted thrust, where a manual petrol machine would mean juggling cogs and clutch in a clunky budget transmission.

Riding it for a few days around London, it made a strong urban performer in its full-power mode, beating every car we came across off the line, squeezing through the smallest gaps, and generally being a silent asphalt assassin. Our snapper, Tom, was on his Ducati 848, and he had to put in some effort to keep up with the Stash.

It’s not all perfect: there’s limited cornering clearance with the pegs decking out far too early, which makes the excellent Pirelli Diablo Rosso rubber a bit moot.

The front USD fork is also very harsh, crashing its way over speed humps and potholes. But the stopping power from the radial-mount four-piston front brake caliper is great, and the handling nimble and sharp.

KTM/HUSQVARNA DEALS The C-suite crowd has clearly gone crazy at Pierer: it’s also offering VAT-free sales across its KTM and Husqvarna models this autumn.

Snatch up to £3090 off a KTM Super Duke 1290 GT or nearly £2k off a Husqvarna FE501. More info on the firms’ websites.

It’s packed with kit as well – more than some premium superbikes. You get cruise control, a full colour LCD dash, built-in GPS tracking system accessed with a smartphone app, keyless ‘ignition’, ABS, traction control, alarm, USB socket and three power modes.

The Stash name refers to a useful ‘stash’ space where the fuel tank would be, with electric central locking.

There are a couple of main problems: the price at £6,299 is higher than petrol machines – but you’ll have cheaper running costs.

The other common quibble is with the battery range and charging regime. Vmoto claims 90 miles of urban range which is more than adequate for most daily commutes, especially if you can add some charging time at work.

It’s a bit like an old iPhone: you’ll keep an eye on your charge and top up whenever you can, engaging one of the lower power modes if you need it to last until you get home. If you go flat-out on the Stash, it’s great fun: I saw 78mph on the LCD dash on the motorway. But range will plummet to nearer 50 miles. It’s simple science.

Some old two-strokes have terribly short ranges as well – but you can fill ‘em up much faster than the Stash of course. It takes around five hours to fully charge from zero to 100 per cent, which would be impractical if you tried to live like that. But unlike an old stroker, you’ll have a full tank every time you leave the house, and your workplace, assuming you can charge at both of those.

That fact, and a willingness to adjust your biking life to suit, will make bikes like the Stash much more usable in the medium term – and you’ll never need a rebore or new reeds. www.vmoto.co.uk

WP SUSPENSION DEALS Winter’s coming, so it’s time to get planning some machinery upgrades.

WP Suspension is desperate to help owners of Pierer bikes – KTM/ GASGAS/Husqvarna, and is offering up to 25 per cent off fork and shock upgrades across road and dirt ranges. More info: www.wpsuspension.com

NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 1

WORDS: SIR ALA

N OF DOWDS

ALL THE LATEST, CO OL ES T & TRICK

ES T PERF ORMA NC E PRODUC TS

RUROC MARVEL EOX HELMETS

LS2 DRIFTER HELMET

ALPINESTARS APRILIA JACKET Alpinestars has released a new range of kit, co-branded with Aprilia, so you get solid A-stars quality gear with the sweet design cues of the Noale bike maker – smart. We like this Speed Blast Air Tex jacket. It’s a textile item, with extensive venting and mesh panels... ideal for the 40-degree heat Italy’s been having this summer, perhaps less so if you live in Glasgow or Newcastle. Full Nucleon Flex CE armour package for protection in shoulders and elbows, and you’ll want to add your own back protector or airbag.

RRP: £195

https://store.aprilia.com

Chinese lid maker LS2 is expanding its range once more, with a new matt black and orange ‘Mud’ graphic for its Drifter multi-purpose urban lid. The Drifter is a convertible design, with a removable chinbar and peak, so it can be an open-face jet lid on hot days, a full-face with the chinbar, or adventure-style with the peak as well.

Both parts come off in seconds without tools.

You get a proper ECE 22.06-certified shell made from LS2’s exclusive Kinetic Polymer Alloy (KPA) composite material, which weighs in at only 1300g.

It’s packed with vents and internal channelling, has a removable and breathable hypoallergenic lining, and a micrometric buckle fastener.

RRP: £119.99 (£99.99 plain colour) www.ls2helmets.com

Whether you like Marvel comics or not, many of the superheroes have entered culture in general.

You’ll definitely recognise the Wolverine, Deadpool and Venom characters – and now British helmet maker Ruroc has licensed the graphics for its high-end EOX range of helmets.

The Deadpool design features metallic foil sword logos and satin finish, while the Wolverine scheme has a matt finish, and the Venom lid has a deep gloss lacquer on top. Under the paint is Ruroc’s flagship carbon EOX helmet, with 22.06 approval, a quick-release visor and a super-wide 215-degree field of view. The Marvel designs do look pretty smart – you’ll know if this is the sort of thing for you.

RRP £499 www.ruroc.com

PYRAMID R1300 GS ENGINE GUARD British accessory maker Pyramid has released a new sump guard for the new BMW R1300 GS. It’s a properly solid unit, made from extra-strong AW5083 aluminium/magnesium alloy, and protects the entire underside of the motor (engine casings, header pipes and sump) from stones, logs, and other debris thrown up from the front wheel.

Pyramid claims it’s much tougher than BMW’s standard guard, and the British unit is powder-coated in textured matte black with gloss silver inserts for that OEM look. It’s easy to fit, using the bike’s standard fitting holes, and comes with all the fixings and full instructions.

RRP: £174.99

14 NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

OXFORD CUBE LIGHTS Add-on LED driving lights are all the rage and make a big difference to both seeing and being seen on a bike. These Oxford Cube units are made from tough CNC anodised aluminium pods, with 2.7 watt LED light elements and a fully waterproof IPX7 rating. They come in pairs, with integral stainless steel brackets and easy-connecting wire splices, so will be simple to install on most bikes.

Oxford also offers a ‘Strip’ linear version with similar specs.

www.pyramidmoto.co.uk

RRP:£99.99

www.oxfordproducts.com

PRODUCTS

WEMOTO TDC GAUGE

DUCATI SILVERSTONE SUNGLASSES

One of those handy little tools that you’ll not use often, but when you need it is invaluable. The Wemoto TDC finder screws into the spark plug hole on (probably) a mad old two-stroke or ancient British classic, so you can find

the top dead centre (TDC) position and set ignition or valve timing. Available in 10mm,12mm and 14mm plug sizes, with a 1mm graduated gauge that moves up and down as you rotate the motor.

RRP: £10.96 (14mm); £21.92 (10/12mm); £9.95 (British bikes)

AS we go to press, summer is making a last appearance, so we’ve been digging our old sunnies out the back of the drawer.

These Ducati Carrera Silverstone shades look much better than the old garage specials we’ve been reduced to lately, and they are specially designed to wear under a lid (though the fashion police will be watching). Red lenses, red rubber leg tips and a subtle Ducati logo rounds off the ideal fancy sunnies recipe... nice.

RRP: £108

www.ducati.com

BULL-IT TROJAN MEN’S RIDING JEANS MACHINEARTMOTO AVANT FENDER EXTENDER RST TRACTECH EVO 5 LEATHER JACKET Smart sport-style leather jacket from UK brand RST, the Tractech has all the spec you’d want: tough cowhide outer shell, CE Level AAA approved construction, Level 2 CE armour in elbows and shoulders, and a supplied Level 2 back protector. A removable thermal liner adds comfort all year round, and there’s a universal joining zip that lets you attach the jacket to any other RST riding jeans/trousers. It has a less aggressive cut for more comfort off the bike, comes with stacks of pockets too, and has four colour options: black, white, blue or red.

£319.99

www.rst-moto.com

Fitting a longer mudguard is almost the definition of dull.

Cleaning up crap from the front of your engine and watching the finish flake off and start to corrode after a few thousand winter miles is arguably worse than dull.

This Avant fender extender from American firm MachineartMoto has a cunning design that clips onto the stock mudguard without drilling or modifying

anything. It adds 15.6cm to the length and 3.15cm to the width and matches the finish of the stock part, which makes a big difference to the water, mud and debris coming off the front wheel. Fits in three minutes with two screws is the claim – easy peasy! Also available from the UK importer Nippy Normans for loads of other bikes.

RRP: £74.90

www.nippynormans.com

British riding jeans maker Bull-it has redesigned its range recently, with the firm’s own Covec Oneskin reinforced denim cloth and RE ZRO level 1 CE armour. These Trojan jeans come in black, with copper stitching and antique copper rivets, and have contoured armour panels in hips and knees. The best bit is the sizes available: Bull-it offers short, regular and long leg fittings, so those who are stumpy or stonking in limb length can get a better fit, with the armour in the right places…

They also come in slim, straight or easy cuts to suit different tastes and body shapes. Bull-it also has loads of other options for men and women.

RRP: £174 www.bull-it.com

SW MOTECH LEGENDS TANKBAG Bikes like the Indian FTR1200 don’t have a normal metal fuel tank, so there’s no way to stick on a magnetic tank bag. And the FTR also has a weirdly-positioned fuel filler cap with no surround, so you can’t have a clip-on one. On bikes like that, you need a strap-on device (fnnarr!) like this SW Motech Legends bag.

RRP: £112.99

It attaches with neat buckles and quick-release clips and adds a small but perfectlyformed 5.5-litre storage space to any bike with ease.

It has a double overlap lid and an add-on rain cover for total waterproofing. A nice premium feel and semi-

classic design cues – ideal for the Indian.

www.sw-motech.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 15

THE VERY BES T KIT – US ED, ABUS

D REV IEW ED ND ED AN

SHARK AERON GP TESTED BY: Bruce TIME: Two months RRP: From £949.99 WEB: www.nevis.uk.com

I never like to take chances when it comes to riding kit, with perhaps the biggest red line being what I put on my head. After all, you’ve only got one of them, so why risk it? That said, price can have a lot of influence on decision-making, and when you hear that the new Shark Aeron GP will set you back £949.99 of King Charles’s finest pounds, it’ll possibly make you stop and think twice before clicking the ‘buy now’ button. Of course, there’s reason behind the GP’s price tag… in fact, there are many that add together to make up the marvel of this latest-generation lid.

At its heart is a class-leading level of safety, benefiting from an innovative COVA (Carbon On View: Aramid) construction type that not only brings strength to the party, but lightness too.

16 NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

Hitting the scales at just 1410g, you’d be worried if it weighed much less, especially when you appreciate how many components come together within its shell, which comes in two sizes to suit different head shapes – larger or smaller. The inner protection is made up of tried and tested EPS, while three-dimensional ‘Morpho’ cheek pads also find themselves at home, alongside an emergency quick release system. The chin strap is a double-D type, and there are five air inlets plus seven exhausts, ensuring good air flow should you need it.

There’s also a removable chin guard, an easy-fit system for glasses wearers, and the whole interior can also be removed and washed if you find yourself a sweaty mess. In short, this helmet doesn’t lack for anything.

Its biggest talking point is its aerodynamic prowess. An industry first, the Aeron boasts some funky flaps on the rear spoiler that are actuated with speed to not only minimise drag in a straight line (by up to 5%), but to also reduce turbulence by 50%. Dubbed the Adaptive Aero System, Shark claims it can reduce the flag effect on riders by as much as 80% also, which is no bad thing if you find yourself on the grid of a 24-hour endurance race.

So, that’s the spec, but what’s it like to ride in?

I’ll admit, I’ve not always been a fan of past Shark helmets, my biggest complaint being that they just didn’t fit me that well. But time’s moved on, and so has the shape and design of its flagship sports helmet, which is good news for me. Off the shelf with no tweaking, I was impressed by the fit and comfort of the lid, which gripped my face nicely without leaving any extreme pressure points to moan about. The thickness of the chin strap took a bit of getting used to, but the brilliance of the huge visor was appealing from

the get-go. Shark helmets are pretty sizeable compared to some rival brands, but that’s not a bad thing when you get to benefit from such great peripheral. Within a few rides, I found myself accustomed to the helmet, which surprised me. It felt like I’d been wearing it for months, having become used to the weight, design, and the functions of the Aeron, which features a lockable visor to guarantee it doesn’t ping up when you’re pinning the throttle.

The first major use of the GP was on track, over two days and 14 sessions. That amount of riding, at a fair pace, tells you all you need to know about a helmet – short of what it’s like in a crash. The comfort was pretty exceptional, and while I can’t comment on whether I could feel if the Aeron’s aerodynamic virtues offered me a more pleasurable riding experience, what I would say is there was no buffeting to note and that my neck felt remarkably unstrained after so much riding in short succession. I should also point out that the quietness of the Shark was notable, and another great talking point is the ease with which you can change a visor. I hate instructions, and thanks to the simplicity of the foolproof system, none were needed to change from the stock clear visor to the dark tint that comes with every Aeron purchased, within its own helmet bag, alongside five tear-offs… in case you want to make yourself feel really fast.

Long story short, it’s a hard helmet to fault, and I’ve continued enjoying to wear it on many road rides since that track debut. Despite not being much of a Zarco fan, I quite like the colours of his replica too, though there’s a whole range of colours and carbon designs to pick from. For more info, head to the Nevis website or, better still, pop down your local dealer and try one on for size.

NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 17

FEATURE

WORDS: DANGEROUS PICS: DUCATI / A LE X PHO T O

PERFECTO

PANIGALE In a bid to ensure it stays firmly at the top of the sportsbike pecking order, Ducati’s gone all-out to create nothing short of a modern masterpiece.

T

here are some new bikes that come along and grab your attention for less time than it takes to tie a shoelace… and then there are bikes like Ducati’s new Panigale V4 – a simply exceptional machine that’s littered in so many performanceinducing intricacies that even the likes of Einstein would need a lie-down after getting through half of them. As for me, my brain was fried after reading the first of many pages about this new model’s raft of features and heavily revised focus. To put it simply, there’s never been a Ducati quite like this before so, before you go down the route of thinking it’s just a tarted-up take on the model that came before it, think again. No less than 94% of the Panigale is new, while it could be said that 100% of the thinking behind it is fresher than a mountain glade soaked in Febreze.

Building on the success of the three previous versions of the Panigale V4, Ducati’s seventh-generation sportsbike has blown the doors off convention, delivering to the market a masterclass in innovation, while hammering home the point that Ducati will stop at nothing in its bid to build the very best of the best. If there’s one thing we all know about Ducati, it’s that insatiable thirst for winning; a thirst so profound it could make a seasoned alcoholic feel like they’re having their first pint. Winning is very much in Ducati’s DNA, and it’s a point that the Italian marque hammers home with conviction on the racetrack. Be it at MotoGP or World Superbikes, it’s at the top… for now, at least. If history has taught us anything, it’s to never forget that complacency comes at a hefty – and often heartbreaking – price. Take your hand off the throttle for a moment and a rival will willingly escort you off of the podium.

So, how does Ducati ensure it remains at the very forefront, while taking on manufacturers with far higher budgets and more resources at world championship level?

18 NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

Well, it has to work harder, smarter and faster. If you’re a fan of racing you’ll have seen innovation after innovation appearing on Ducati’s race machines, often starting out at MotoGP level, where the gloves are largely off in development terms, before these trickle down to production bikes in order to fuel the homologated machines we see on the World Superbike grid, such as the Panigale V4R that took back-to-back wins in the hands of Bautista in 2022 and 2023.

And maybe again in 2024? Time will tell, but time is also the reason for the major overhaul of the brand’s flagship road-going sportsbike.

It only seems like yesterday I was on the launch of the original version of the Panigale V4 at Valencia back in 2018, being blown away by its brute force, smart tech and unmistakably GP-inspired soundtrack. It was a pivotal point for the brand, which then decided to turn its back on a long and successful V-twin lineage in pursuit of that next step. Fast-forward to 2020 and refinements came the V4’s way, followed by more tweaks in 2022. But if there’s a message in the launch of this latest iteration of the model, it’s that tweaks alone aren’t enough to stay ahead of the game. To be the best, you must build the best – and that’s the reason for the top-to-bottom rework of this protagonist. To call it revolutionary would encourage chuntering from armchair warriors, but rest assured that pretty much all of the bike is new… and not just the addition of an unexpected doublesided swingarm or 916-inspired nose job.

Before I get stuck into the riding experience, I’ll tick off the major focuses that were hammered home during the model’s presentation at a swelteringly hot Vallelunga racetrack, just outside Rome. From a pure numbers point of view, the gains simply

DUCATI PANIGALE V4

NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 19

FEATURE

don’t do the model justice. The headlines are that this latest iteration weighs one kilo less than the last offering, while making 0.5bhp more. Of course, more power and less weight is what it is all about, but if you were expecting to see some massive hike in power or slash in weight, now’s the time to send an angry letter to the fun police that govern Euro5+ emissions. That Ducati has actually seen any kind of increase over the last

20 NOVEMBER 2024 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

Panigale is irrefutably impressive and it’s had to work hard to achieve it. How? Well, the addition of new, higher duration lift cams have helped things along, while longer travel velocity stacks (going further in each direction) has helped to achieve a better level of induction throughout the rev range. These enhancements aside, the V4 motor benefits from the same gearbox as the one found in the Superleggera V4, while the alternator

rotor and oil pump has been donated by the race-inclined V4R... the combination of which means more power with less heat, made all the sweeter by a big radiator to ensure optimised thermodynamics.

In the presentation room, neatly arranged along its walls were a variety of core components, with the front frame being among the most enticing of all. For such a big, powerful bike, it beggars belief that the unit holding the motor to the forks is quite so minute, weighing in at just 3.5kg (a reduction of 700g). While weight loss was one goal of the new unit, the 40 per cent drop in lateral flex was perhaps the bigger of the aims. As good as the old frame was, complaints of its stiffness did not fall on deaf ears, and the same can be said about the swingarm. It seems strange to see a Ducati sportsbike with a double-sided unit, but that’s where the brand now finds itself at, having been urged

by Ducati Corse to go down this route. Less weight, more flex, a massive hike in mechanical grip and consistent tyre wear formed the basis for this trajectory into new territory. Taking slimming to another level was the addition of forged five-spoke alloy wheels that saved further kilos from the mix.

Bad news if you want to become the proud owner of a set, though – you’ll have to invest in the pricier V4S version of the Panigale, which hits home at £29,995. But for that sum you will also gain ownership of Öhlins third-generation electronic suspension.