Fast Bikes Magazine September FREE 20 PAGE FREE PREVIEW

2012 APRILIA RSV4 R & FACTORY

WHAT THE TECH:

AIRBOXES EXPERT INSIGHT INTO YOUR BIKE’S LUNGS

HOW WE MANAGED TO RESUSCITATE OUR ZX-7R PROJECT BIKE

SE P ISS TEM UE BE 407 R 2 0

23

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY THIS AWESOME V4

BACK TO LIFE!

STR

TI CA DU TER H FIG V4S EET

ATI DUC IGALE N PA V4S

E K I B S T R O P S VS. KED A N R E SUPHICH IS FASTER?

S E D A L Y BAB B

W

CBR 650R CBR 500R

WE GET TO GRIPS WITH HONDA’S MIDDLEWEIGHT CBRS

ISSUE 407 SEPTEMBER 2023

THE KNOWLEDGE Used Bike Guide.............................. 54 It’s easy to forget how long Aprilia’s been making the fantastic RSV4. The 2012 version was only around for a single year, but it was a corker. Here’s what you need to know about it.

TESTS Sportsbike vs. supernaked............. 18 To wear clothes or not? We pitch Ducati’s Panigale V4S against its naked sibling Streetfighter V4S to find out.

Baby Blades .................................... 30 Checking out Honda’s entry-level CBRs – the 650R and 500R.

COLUMNISTS Tom Neave ...................................... 94 Our Honda man talks BSB and how things are going.

Christian Iddon ............................... 96 Iddon’s been turning his fortunes around, but there’s still more to come.

Steve Parrish................................... 98 Prepare yourself for more tales from Parrish.

FEATURES Ducati DRE ........................................ 2 A star-studded line-up of GP riders made it to Silverstone to meet Bruce at Ducati’s inaugural DRE Racetrack Academy.

What the tech: Airboxes................. 60 You might not have though that much about your bike’s airbox before, but you probably will after reading this.

Shed find to Superbike: Part 3 ...........

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

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GEAR

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68

Before petrol gets outlawed, Bruce intends to finish his ZX-7R project bike. So here it is, along with all the twists and turns he’s been experiencing.

Longtermers.................................... 78 Better late than never, Andy and Johnny are bringing their fresh metal to the section.

Say hello to BMW’s S 1000 RR and Kawasaki Z H2.

Alternatively, scan the QR code on this page and order your next copy today.

We will send it directly to you!

78

WELCOME

Out and about

A

nd just like that, it’s summertime. That time of the year when the flowers bloom, the pub gardens brim, and there are bikers aplenty going here, there and generally any which way, taking them away from the household chores they’re meant to be tackling. At least, that’s the technique I’ve adopted... and I’ve been lapping up every mile clocked under the sunny skies we’ve had of late. I’ve also enjoyed bumping into old friends and nattering with new ones, brought together by the common theme of two wheels.

The older you get, the harder it becomes to make friends, but bikes seem to break down the walls like nothing else. I went to Boston Bike Night a few weeks ago and was amazed by how many people were out, on all different kinds of bikes, getting stuck in and mingling.

What was interesting was to see so many sportsbikes in the mix, both new and old… just like their riders. I wish I could have stayed longer and chatted more to those I bumped into, hearing about their bikes, their experiences and their plans for the year ahead. That latter point really hit home, because a few of the things mentioned made me take note, questioning my own plans this season and how I could maybe squeeze in a trip, test or trackday to rival the stuff being mentioned.

What I know of life is that the year goes by too quickly, the summer’s over in a flash, and unless you make the most of it, you really do miss out. I say this having ticked a big box in the last few days, having headed over to Berlin for BMW’s Motorrad Days (which used to be in the Alps), seeing a wholly different event to what I’ve known before, cruising around the city on a box-fresh M 1000 RR. It was great, but it also got me craving a bit more substance in the bike-riding department. It’s a conversation Johnny, Tim and I have been sharing of late, and we’ve come up with some epic plans to a few bucket list destinations. With a bit of luck and a lot of planning, we should find ourselves on some great adventures over the next few months and I hope you do too. And if you do, keep us in the loop. We are always keen to hear what you’re up to, and also for your suggestion for what you’d like us to test and where to test it. Drop us a line anytime. But for now, I’ll leave you to this issue.

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PLA NE T FAST BIKES – NE W ME TAL

, NE WS & REV IEW S

WORDS> SIR ALAN OF DOWDS

AMERICAN BEAUTY

MV Agusta Dragster RR SCS America

MV Agusta is set for a bit of a renaissance, it seems. The Pierer Mobility company, which owns KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas, invested a chunk of cash into the Italian exotica maker earlier this year and has already announced an expansion at the Varese factory. Next stage is to strengthen the firm’s retail operations, including in big markets like the UK, Europe – and the United States. Which brings us to this: the new Dragster RR SCS America. It’s actually the latest in a long line of stars n’ stripes-based special editions, dating back to 1973 and the inline-four cylinder 750 S America superbike.

Even then, the wealthy US market was vital for a luxury brand like MV, and soon after it relaunched in the late 1990s, another America special appeared, in the form of the Brutale 750 America. Since then, there’s

been more: Brutale 1090 and 800, and a Dragster 800, all clad in red-white-blue bodywork and laden with trick bolt-ons.

This Dragster 800 RR SCS is the latest America special. Limited to just 200 bikes, it features a RUSH-style carbon fibre rear wheel cover, transparent clutch cover, special paintwork and limited edition plaques and logos. There’s also an Akrapovic titanium race system with dedicated ECU, cover, and certificate of authenticity.

The rest of the bike is largely standard Dragster 800 RR, which means a 140bhp 798cc triple, with the SCS automatic centrifugal clutch transmission by Rekluse, 175kg dry mass, Marzocchi forks, Brembo brakes, quickshifter and colour LCD dash. No price as yet, but it’s available to order from MV Agusta dealers now.

ALPINESTARS RELEASES SUPERTECH R10 RACE HELMET We are old enough to remember when Alpinestars only really made boots. And it was a pretty special time when the Asolo firm launched its first leather suit after some collaborations with Japanese firm RS Taichi in the late 1990s.

This feels like another big leap forward and we’ve been waiting for it for a while now.

Alpinestars’ first road/track helmet has been in development for what feels like years, occasionally spotted on the head of MotoGP racers like Jake Miller and Jorge Martin. But there’s finally a helmet on sale, albeit as the super-limited Launch Edition of just 200 units.

It’s a gorgeous-looking bit of kit, featuring a multi-layer 3K carbon fibre outer shell with 11 venting ports, multi-density EPS liner, quick-change visor with a metal locking mechanism, and a new A-Head fitment 10 SEPTEMBER 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

system that allows fine-tuning of the height and angle the lid sits on your head at to suit your riding position on the bike.

Aerodynamics are a big part of the design, as expected from a MotoGP development.

The lid comes with two rear spoilers, a short road and longer track part, which are easily swapped, as well as a pair of side winglets to improve stability and drag. There are also some ‘turbulator’ parts on the visor to cut noise, and Alpinestars claims the new helmet has low levels of wind noise.

There’s no official word yet on price or availability of a standard mass-market version of the new Supertech R10 lid, but we expect to see it on wider sale next year, priced at similar levels to premium lids from Arai/AGV/Shark/Shoei.

More info: www.alpinestars.com

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

TRIUMPH’S SINGLE SERVING We’re always pleased to see new bikes from Hinckley – so it was good to head to the Bike Shed in London last month to check out the new Speed 400 and Scrambler X 400. Okay, they’re not the full-beans superbike we really want from Triumph – rather, they are the entry-level bikes that the firm has been missing for decades now.

Both bikes share a new 398cc single-cylinder short-stroke engine, and it’s actually quite an advanced little lump. It’s water-cooled for a start, and has both dohc and four valves, plus balancer shaft, slip/ assist clutch and six-speed gearbox. Fuelling is by Bosch ride-by-wire injection, and it puts

out a decent 40bhp. It’s a good-looking powerplant too, with the same satin black powder coated finish and stainless fasteners as Triumph’s bigger bikes.

The chassis basics are also the same on both bikes, with a steel tube perimeter/spine frame, aluminium monoshock rear swingarm and USD forks. The Scrambler X has a longer wheelbase and different geometry though, as well as a 19-inch front wheel rather than the 17-inch rim on the Speed 400.

There’s a ByBre four-piston radial caliper up front on each bike, with a 300mm disc on the Speed and a 320mm disc on the

Scrambler, plus dual channel ABS, which is switchable on the Scrambler.

The electronics also stretch to a switchable traction control set-up, key-chip immobiliser, LED lights, LCD dash display and a USB C charging socket.

Triumph was keen to underline the quality, fit and finish on the new entry-level bikes, and they do look good in the flesh; the stainless header pipe and silencers, gold fork stanchions, deep paint and cast aluminium wheels all look like they could come from a bigger, pricier machine.

The British firm is also releasing a wide range of accessories, from luggage to security to styling parts.

Both bikes are being produced in partnership with Bajaj, the massive Indian bike builder, though Triumph is keen to stress that the engine design is all its own work, which won’t be shared with other brands. Production will kick off in India this month, with the Triumph plants in Brazil and Thailand joining in later.

And it’s India which will get the new Triumph 400s first. UK fans of small-bore kit will have to wait until the end of 2023, when distribution will hit this country, as well as Europe and the rest of the globe.

AKRAPOVIC RELEASES FULL SYSTEM FOR SUZUKI GSX-8S Slovenian pipe-bender Akrapovic has just dropped this saucy device: a full race system for the new Suzuki GSX-8S naked bike. The system has stainless headers and a resonator in the link pipe, plus a carbon fibre silencer, and

HARLEY X440

Harley-Davidson has also released an entry-level, Indian-built single-cylinder roadster, the X440. It’s a lower-performance unit than the Triumph, with an air/oil-cooled two-valve

saves a hefty 3.2kg of mass compared with stock. The non-road-legal pipe also adds a chunk of power and torque: up 6.4bhp at 9200rpm and 4.7Nm more grunt at 7650rpm. No mapping is

needed (though we’d be getting it on a dyno anyway). Almost a bargain for 2023 at £1325... form a queue at www. performance parts-ltd.com

long-stroke engine making 27bhp and twin shock rear suspension.

There’s no word if it will make it to the UK, but it could snatch some Royal Enfield sales if so.

KAWASAKI ANNOUNCES PRICE FOR ZX-4RR MINI-NINJA We came over all funny when Kawasaki announced earlier this year that it was bringing the new inline-four ZX-4RR Ninja to the UK. The new 400 is a proper 80bhp sportsbike rather than a dull

twin-cylinder commuter in sporty kit and has sparked plenty of interest from fans of the mid-1990s Japanese market 400cc fours. And we’ve come over all funny again this month, as the

firm announces a price and availability for the ZX-4RR: it will cost £8699 and be in the shops in September. Very decent cash in 2023, we reckon, and should make it even more of a hit.

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PLANE T FAST BIKES – NEW METAL

, NEWS & REVIEW S

DUCATI OIL

DUCATI AUCTIONS

Did your numbers come up big on the EuroMillions last week? Did you bet big on Boris Johnson not finishing the election he won in 2019?

Are you just really, really minted? Then get yourself over to the Silverstone Auctions event at Shuttleworth House on July 30, where a pair of utterly saucy megabucks Ducati classic specials are on offer.

First up is one of the actual Ducati 916 SPS Carl Fogarty Replicas from 1998 – this was the bike built to homologate a new frame for WSBK, that let the firm use a bigger airbox to give more power. Only 202 were built, 200 for folk to buy, one for Fogarty, and number 001 for the Ducati Museum. And it’s the 001 bike which is up for auction, complete with all

the kit it came with 25 years ago: paddock stand, paperwork, race and road cans, manuals, cover, etc.

Estimated price is £70-80k for the brand-new, unridden bike, which actually sounds not bad for a genuine museum piece.

Joining the Foggy rep is one of the original Senna replica 916s from 1995. The bike on sale is number 42 of 300, and is one of the first bikes sold after Ayrton Senna died to raise funds for his charity foundation. It’s also brand-new and unridden, with all the goodies intact, and will set you back about £40-50k.

The auction is on July 30 at Shuttleworth House, Bedfordshire – more info at www.silverstone auctions.com

This year, Ducati claimed its new Panigale V4R would make 240bhp in race trim. Part of that was down to the megabucks race exhaust – but for the full stable of ponies, you needed to use a special low-friction Shell oil too. The firm has now released the oil for sale through dealers, but there’s a catch. The super-slippery formula only works with dry clutch bikes; it will wreck normal wet clutches.

The Ducati Corse Performance Oil powered by Shell Advance is in shops now, price tbc.

PIRELLI SIGNS MOTO2/3 TYRE DEAL

Italian tyre firm Pirelli is already the control brand rubber for WSBK and BSB. And now it’s signed a deal to supply the black round stuff to the Moto2 and Moto3 championships as well. The deal lasts from 2024 to 2026, and will see the Pirelli Diablo Superbike slicks used on the feeder class machines.

DUCATI FACTORY MEMORABILIA The Ducati factory shop has started selling fancy bits of old super-trick race Ducatis. The new range of memorabilia includes used

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Desmosedici GP16 race pistons, conrods, camshafts, cranks and finger followers. They’re (as you’d expect) not cheap: €1000 for a

camshaft, €800 for a conrod, €700 for a piston, and the crankshaft seems to be sold out already.

An 1199 F18 valve rocker arm keyring is

just €180 though – get it on the xmas list now and head to: https://shop.ducati. com/it/en/ accessories/ memorabilia.html

PLANE T FAST BIKES – NEW METAL

, NEWS & REVIEW S

BIG CC KICKS OFF GEN3 HAYABUSA TURBO PROJECT Suzuki’s Hayabusa is 25 years old next year, and the guys at Big CC Racing in Wokingham have got a 750bhp party planned. Owner Sean Mills has started development on a turbo kit for the latest thirdgeneration Hayabusa, with the aim of keeping all the standard bike’s electronic features but more than tripling the power – with a massive Garrett turbocharger, water-cooled

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charge cooler, piggyback engine management system and a super-stealth install that keeps almost all of the stock bodywork intact.

The development turbo is good for more than 750bhp, and the engine internals on this bike have all been replaced with high-end race parts: conrods, pistons, clutch.

That’s ideal for the normal Big CC

customers – drag racers, landspeed record nutters and wheelie record loons. But the kit will also be developed to allow lower power outputs with less involved engine work, so if you fancy a sweet 250-350bhp install, they can do that too.

We’ll be following the Gen3 Turbo Busa as it develops through the winter. www.bigccracing.com

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ALL THE LATEST, CO OL ES T & TRICK

ES T PERF ORMA NC E PRODUC TS

OXFORD STORMLAND SUIT Oxford Products has been gradually upping its premium kit game and this Stormland textile touring suit is the latest example. As the name suggests, it’s aimed at the most extreme weather, with a fully waterproof tri-laminated Dry2Dry outer shell and high-performance thermal liners, as well as dual-cuff gaiter sleeves and an integrated neck gaiter to give perfect weather sealing. It’s got top-level crash protection, too: the outer shell is CE AA certified for abrasion resistance and there’s SuperFabric reinforcement on the shoulder impact zones, together with Level 2 CE armour in elbows and shoulders and back protector provision. There are 10 ventilation zones for when the weather improves, and it’s even got a RECCO transponder that helps emergency services find you should you get very, very lost indeed. Comes in desert, black or grey colourways, with short, medium and long trouser length options and sizes S-5XL.

RRP: £399.99 (jacket) £299.99 (trousers)

www.oxfordproducts.com

GB RACING CHAIN GUARD WITH INTEGRATED BOBBINS FOR YAMAHA R7 A neat design from GB Racing for the new Yamaha Y7, this cunning ‘shark fin’ chain guard incorporates a set of paddock stand bobbins into its design. There’s no need to drill or modify the standard swingarm, and the guard is made from tough glass-reinforced nylon composite.

It’s also compatible with the factory Yamaha GYTR quick-release wheel system, and is available with or without the stand bobbins built in. (www.gbracing.eu)

RRP: £57.60 (no bobbins) £80.89 (with bobbins)

ALPINESTARS HALO GLOVES We like a short glove these days – and these Alpinestars Halo designs look just the job for daily use outside winter. They’ve got a bit of adventure style, but not too much, and the perforated construction will keep your pinkies cool in the heat.

The slimline cuff fits easily under jacket sleeves, and there’s a premium leather outer shell, with goat leather panels and stretch fabric on the back. Add a rubber palm grip, touchscreen finger inserts, CE-approval and tough knuckle protectors and you have a solid-looking product.

RRP: £105

www.alpinestars.com

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WEISE EARHART LADIES JACKET It’s named after Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, and this jacket will hopefully protect wearers from a fate as tragic as hers (she died in a plane crash in the Pacific Ocean, probably). The Weise Earhart is a classically styled design with a tailored fit and is made from proper protective materials. The outer shell is made from 1.1-1.3mm cowhide with a waxy outer finish, quilted detail and tough YKK zips throughout. CE-approved armour and a removable thermal liner rounds off the tech spec, but it’s the style that wins, we reckon. Available in black or bright red in sizes 8-22 – smart.

RRP: £349.99

www.weiseclothing.com g

PRODUCTS

FORCEFIELD TRILOBITE ZIP-OFF TROUSERS

DETLEV LOUIS JM-11

These look just the job for hot days: a pair of riding combat-style jeans with zip-off lowers, so you can ride to work or to an event, fully protected, then zip off the bottoms to give you above-the-knee shorts to cool down. They’re made from Kevlar/aramid reinforced material, which is AA rated for abrasion protection, and also come with Level 2 CE hip and adjustable knee armour. They have six pockets to stash loads of stuff in, and come in black or beige.

This retro-style urban textile jacket has a classic water-repellent waxed cotton outer shell with some modern protection and features. There’s double-layer panels and safety seam stitching on impact areas and removable CE-approved armour in elbows and shoulders, plus provision for a back protector. The design features quilted outer sections and adjusters, with a trouser connecting zip and removable thermal liner.

It’s also available as a longer cut beltedstyle jacket, too – the JM-4, priced at £257.

RRP: £149.99

www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com

ABUS GRANIT EXTREME XPLUS 59 CHAIN LOCK Abus locks are tried and tested; we’ve got some we’ve had in service for more than 20 years and they’re still as solid as ever. This integrated lock and chain has 12mm links made of super-tough German steel, and it is Sold Secure Gold approved. Professional baddies will get through it eventually with an angle grinder, no doubt, but it’s as tough as you’ll get in a portable (about 4kg) package.

RRP £215

https://mobil.abus.com/uk/Consumer/Motorbike

HUSQVARNA X PUMA NITRO 2 SHOES Everyone needs a decent pair of trainers, and if you can pair them up with some bike branding, we reckon that’s a perfect scenario. These Puma sneakers are official Husqvarna team wear, with the sweet blue and yellow Husky colourways and timeless Puma style. Essential for any fan of either brand, we say!

RRP: £126.84

www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com or local dealer

TCX HERO 2 BOOTS When we started out riding, a pair of old army boots, probably from the Second World War, was more than acceptable biking wear... you’d earn more style points from that than from some of the early ‘proper’ bike boots in the 1970s and 1980s… Now, TCX is offering an army-style boot with proper bike protection, waterproofing and comfort.

RRP: £229.99

RRP: £215

www.louis-moto.co.uk

RUROC ATLAS 4.0 STREET HELMET British lid firm Ruroc has added a lower-priced model to its range, the new ATLAS 4.0 STREET. It has a fibreglass outer shell with ECE 22.06 and DOT approval, and a double-D ring strap. It is pre-fitted for the firm’s Shockwave intercom, and has plush interior lining. It echoes the style of the pricier Track and Carbon versions, with similar ‘edgy’ graphics and colourways, and features the same quick-release visor system and extensive venting.

RRP: from £275

www.ruroc.com

There’s lace fastening, with a quick-access side zip and velcro flap, a gearchange protector, T-DRY waterproof membrane and a padded joint at the heel. Full leather outers and reinforced ankle/toe/heel sections for protection, and they have proper grippy treads. Sizes 36-48 in any colour you like – as long as it’s black.

www.tcxboots.com SEPTEMBER 2023 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 17

SPORTSBIKE VS. SUPERNAKED

N AN IDDO CHRISTI ES / G E A C M U I R B IMPACT / WORDS: N O T E IM KE PICS> T

E K I B S T SPORVS. ED K A N R SUPE

WH H IS WHICH S FASTER?

It’s a question that needs answering. With a chunk of help from Ducati, Pirelli and a certain BSB star, we pitched one of the finest sportsbikes on the market against its technically similar supernaked sibling.

L

et’s be honest, we all like a bit of rivalry in our lives. Be it an egg and spoon race, a cage fight, or a hit of motorcycle racing – each and every discipline can leave us hooked, shouting at the TV and desperately anticipating our favoured outcome. Through competition, we are able to categorically cut through the crap, crowning the rightful winner with the adoration and praise they’re deserving of. In my book, and as my uncle always used to tell me, it’s not about the taking part… it’s about the winning. Admittedly, I’ve not known a great deal about reaching the top step of the podium in my 36 years, but a mate of mine has – Christian Iddon. The BSB star’s racing accolades are too long to list, but needless to say he’s a talent on two-wheels, especially when it comes to pedalling a Panigale fast around a race track, which is how the idea

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came about to use his riding skills and analytical expertise to help settle a question we’ve been pondering for some time now: sportsbike or supernaked – which is faster?

I know, it’s an obvious one, right!

Sportsbike. It’s got to be, because that’s the way it’s always been. The thing is, even just a few years ago I’d bet my house on that eventuality, but times are changing and the one-time sideline supernakeds of yesterday are fast becoming the main course.

Motorcycle brands the world over are experiencing huge uptakes in demand for these super-powerful, comfortable and high-tech hustlers, to the extent that there are now a number of machines out there claiming more than 200bhp (more ponies than what you can expect from some stock sportsbikes) and offer the kind of tech package you’d find on a world superbike

grid. Being quite frank, if we’d chosen specific nakeds and certain sportsbikes, we could have actively steered a supernaked to victory around a racetrack… but where’s the fun in that? Coming back to my inaugural point, victory must be earned, and we figured that the fairest way to go about crafting such a test would be to take the most similarlysculptured DNA siblings and set them on a collision course around Donington Park – the fastest lap time wins.

Those machines in question are the two you see before you. They are aesthetically different, I’ll grant you that, but when you go scratching their technological surfaces, you soon come to realise that they are much more alike than your eyes would ever have you believe. They both make more than 200bhp.

They both weigh less than 200kg. They both feature Öhlins semi-active suspension,

SPONSORED BY

backed up by the same plethora of classleading Ducati rider aids. You get the point: a better duo for this test could not be found, and some would argue the same about me and Iddon, putting them through their paces… I’m just not sure who?

Back to the plot, and the idea was that we’d take ownership of a bike apiece for half a day each, clocking three 20-minute sessions in the process and adapting the Ducatis as much or as little as was needed to conquer the chrono. And to make things supercompetitive (and to tackle Donington’s newly-laid super-abrasive surface), we leaned on our good friends at Pirelli to kit the bikes out with fresh endurance-spec Diablo Superbike SC3 slicks, both before and after lunch. The scene was set, the bikes were warmed up, and Iddon was soon a speck on the horizon. Here’s his take on them…

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SPORTSBIKE VS. SUPERNAKED

WORDS> CHRISTIAN IDDON

THE SUPERNAKED...

DUCATI STREETFIGHTER V4S 1M 37.01 – 155MPH

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