Motor Cycle Monthly June 2015 - Full issue!

CRASH TEST! WHAT HAPPENED

TO THE KIT WHEN IT ALL WENT WRONG

UNDER THE SKIN

OF A TT SUPERBIKE! PLUS 1100s OF BIKES & BItS FOR SALE

June 2015

MCM is FREE in dealers, clubs and biker cafés

F R EE T

AKE M HOME E the smartest bike ever built Aprilia’s RSV4-RF P24

the Italian super sport tourer for everyone MV Agusta’s Turismo Veloce P26

Inside:

Improve your riding the 300cc superbike is unleashed Yamaha’s YZF-R3 P20

Basic road positioning P42

SUZUKI’S STUNNING GSX-S

Naked GSX-R for the road with extra attitude

2

24 FIRST RIDE

Feels like a 600cc bike on the move.

Aprilia’s RSV-4RF: Epic adventures on track

The tech-laden superbike is the last one to launch of the current crop of superstar motorcycles – but last most definitely does not mean least. Oh no.

Tested by: Tony Carter Photography: Milagro

First impressions count in the superbike world. You’ll know instantly if you can get on with the bike underneath you while the pair of you hit nearly 200mph. It’s a special sort of bond between machine and rider that just isn’t found anywhere else in the two-wheeled world.

So, in terms of those all-important impressions, here’s the run-down on the RSV4-RF Aprilia, a new Italian entry into the now awesome, tech-laden modern superbike market.

The seat is fairly low (not like big Aprilia superbikes of old), there’s a lot of room to shuffle about in, the footrests aren’t cramped, the new tank is tucked out of the way… the whole narrowness of the V4 belies its size.

For a first impression, and one at zero miles an hour, this superbike already

feels like it’s been thought through for the rider instead of chasing numbers.

The throttle pick-up, from 2000 to 14,000rpm, is instantly amazing.

There’s not an engine underneath you but a supersmooth turbine of pure power. Flicking the bike through a few corners it’s clear that you’re riding something crafted by those who know about suspension.

Pick a line and the RSV barks obligingly and hurries along it. The brakes are WSB stoppers on the new front end and hit them hard enough to get the bike just lifting the back wheel and the new chassis (longer, lower centre of gravity, much more stable) isn’t fazed.

The engine, all-new with a host of race-bits as standard, is in the 200bhp club – 16bhp up on the old engine and

an absolute gem to use. That motor is luscious to use. Deliberately going into slow corners a gear too high doesn’t worry it, the electronics save your momentum and the engine note drops but it can stand hamfisted abuse.

The power builds rapidly as you stir the pot and it’s so responsive (and gives a great ‘boost’ from about 8000rpm onward) that there’s a real delight in letting the bike rev and holding a gear between corners.

The chassis is all-new with a lower centre of gravity, a longer feel and pulled-in steering angle. It’s super clam and wonderfully easy to flick about.

That Sachs rear shock is predictable and tiny in feel. Where a month ago I was dragging the whole of the side of my boot on the floor on the Yamaha R1, on the RSV my toes never touched the

track. That gives you some idea of just how narrow this bike feels. It never dominates the rider, mostly because it’s physically as intimidating as a nice pair of slippers.

The riding position puts you at less of a radical pitch to the bars than on the Tuono sibling. The bars feel wide at first but make sense on the move and that fairing is both easy to get under and absolutely brilliant at keeping the wind off.

Playing around with sub-routines in the digital brain isn’t straightforward however. It’s definitely worth investing time with the RSV4 and learning how to set up the myriad of options that you can dial in for traction control, throttle and anti-wheelie settings. I dropped the traction control over the course of a 20 minute session and from ‘7’ to ‘4’

there wasn’t too much difference in terms of feel, but setting ‘3’ found the bike sliding on the edge of my skillset.

It’s a very sophisticated system in truth and knows your lean angle, throttle aggression and acceleration rates as you ride. You never feel the system butting in to the ride though, it’s seamless in its interaction and never detracts from sheer and repeated joy of cracking the throttle and listening to that V4 howl.

Turn eight at Misano is crucial because, like many turns at the track, of the straight that follows it where you jet along the track, lean into turn nine – but use it as part of the straight – and then fixate on braking for turn 10.

I found that going into turn eight in second was fine but eventually I opted to hit turn eight in first, just so I could

Versions and colours Aprilia RSV4 RR is the factory’s fullon ‘race replica’ and gets; magnesium external housings, oil sump and head covers, a wide range of chassis adjustments and the variable setting intake ducts.

Aprilia RSV4 RR is available in two colour schemes, both matte, on a black and grey base (Bucine grey and Ascari black) and a ‘Race Pack’

is also available that includes lightweight forged aluminium wheel rims and more sophisticated Öhlins suspension (shock absorbers, forks and steering damper).

Aprilia is also offering a limited edition of 500 numbered units called the RSV4-RF, which comes standard with the Race Pack, as well as a dedicated ‘Superpole’ graphic.

The line-up here goes; RR grey, RR black and RF in superpole.

NEWS 3

Huge boost in bike sales!

Street Triple gets new retro clothes

According to European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers stats, registrations of powered two and three wheelers are up by 11.8% for the first three months of 2015, with 25,394 units logged. A total of 250,080 machines were registered in the EU during the first three months of 2015.

Cumulative motorcycle registrations grew by 4% on a year-on-year basis – a total of 189,950 motorcycles were registered in January and February – and in the UK it was up by 14.3%. A total of 60,510 mopeds were recorded.

The ACEM, the Motorcycle Industry in Europe, is the professional body representing the interests and combined skills of 14 powered two wheelers manufacturers producing more than 30 brands and 18 national associations out of 15 European countries.

Check out this awesome Powerbronze body kit – made as a project for the Triumph Street Triple.

Powerbronze says that this is just a one-off kit at the moment and is not in production but we think that if enough Street Triple owners say to the company that they want this sort of thing then maybe (just maybe) we might see this go into production after all.

And let’s face it – we want this on our bikes. Now. So if you like it then give Powerbronze a shout, sharpish.

In the UK and across Europe, the biking bug is biting and sales are soaring.

Motor Cycle Monthly, Media Centre, Morton Way,Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529529 Email: editorial@ motorcyclemonthly.co.uk Editor Tony Carter Staff writer Carli Ann Smith Editorial design Holly Munro Publisher Steve Rose Advertising Team Leader Richard Sinclair 01507 529538 Advertising Jo Scarbro 01507 529468 Julia Pritchard 01507 529575 Marketing manager Charlotte Park Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Associate director Malcolm Wheeler Advertising deadline for July issue June 8, 2015

Subscribe to MCM and just pay the postage!

Call 01507 529529 or visit classicmagazines.co.uk/MCM or email help@classicmagazines.co.uk

Motor Cycle Monthly is published monthly on the last Friday of the month by Mortons Media Group Ltd and printed by Mortons Print Ltd.

For more information or to see the stats for yourself; visit: www.acem.eu

Got a Triumph?

Check out the new Trek suit

RRP: Jacket – £279 and jeans – £189 Info: www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk / 01455 251700

MCM recommends BikeSafe.co.uk

Independently proven pick up: 67,717 copies

Triumph has launched its spring/summer collection – a range which includes the adventure-style Trek suit.

Both the jacket and jeans have 600D Polycordora and Micro Rip stop combination outer shells and come with removable CE certified D30 protectors at the shoulders, elbows, back, knees and hips.

The two-piece set is has a removable waterproof liner – which doubles as a separate casual jacket and a ventilation system to keep you cool when the weather warms up. There are specialist stretch flex zones for comfort and the jacket features Superfabric ceramic laminated panels for added protection.

4 NEWS

Ride a Suzuki for just a quid Suzuki GB has unveiled its latest effort to make taking to the road on two wheels more affordable than ever before.

Its new 0% finance campaign, which is available over 48 months with just a £1 deposit, is already underway and will run until July 30 on a range of models in the range.

Included in the offer is the V-Strom 650 and new V-Strom 650XT, while all variations of the V-Strom 1000 are also included. The Hayabusa and Hayabusa Z models are also available as part of the new offer, along with the GSR750 and GSR750Z, the M800 and C800 cruisers, the SFV650, and Burgman 650 Executive luxury scooter.

Suzuki GB national sales manager Jonathan Martin said: “With summer just around the corner, we’re confident that this new finance campaign will be a hit with customers.

“The £1 deposit element removes the need to find a big deposit up front, while offering 0% finance means manageable monthly repayments. It makes buying a brand new Suzuki easier than it ever has been, and with customers being able to choose their deposit amount it gives them even greater flexibility and control, too.”

For more information and to see full terms and conditions, visit: www.suzuki-gb.co.uk

Get every issue of MCM delivered to your door!

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New street boots launched

by Prexport

RRP: £99.99 Info: www.thekeycollection.co.uk / 0117 971 9200 With a full-grain leather upper, Texon insole reinforced with a steel blade and composite protectors in the heel and toe, the Street boots combine the protection needed from a motorcycle boot with the fashion of casual footwear.

The upper is treated and aged for a vintage look; inside is a fully breathable Airtex membrane, which helps to keep your feet cool and dry.

There’s padding around the ankle provides extra comfort.

They’re fastened using laces and a zip and there’s a pull tab on the rear, making the Street quick and easy to get on and off. Reflective detailing on the heel is featured for added visibility.

Available in vintage brown or grey in sizes 7-12.

NEWS 7

Triumph launches TWO more Tiger 800s This is the new Tiger 800 XRT - the more road-biased version, the XCA is pictured over to the right. The XCA gets better suspension and a bigger front wheel amid the changes.

Triumph has revealed two new Tiger 800s which have been added to the range, so now there’s six different on/off-road 800s to choose between.

Here’s the run-down on what you get with the bikes: Two new Tiger 800 models launched – the more road biased XRT and the more off- road biased XCA. Sitting above the already wellequipped XRX and XCX models, the new XRT and XCA focus on rider comfort.

Larger capacity 650W alternator to power the standard fitment heated rider / passenger seats, heated grips, and LED fog lights plus other ancillary devices such as GPS systems or heated clothing.

New colours of intense orange on the XRT and matt khaki green on the XCA

Both bikes are ready to tour with the fitment of pannier rails for the optional Triumph Expedition aluminium pannier system.

The new Tiger 800 XCA is the top tier of the Tiger XC family. Featuring the same 95bhp triple engine and ride-bywire throttle as its road-biased stablemates, the new model gets a host of off-road features. Chief among these is the WP suspension front and rear giving greater front and rear wheel travel to tackle the rough stuff. Heated grips, heated rider and passenger seats, CNC machined foot rests, a larger 650W alternator to power accessories and LED fog lights are all fitted as standard as are the aluminium pannier rails (which accept the optional Expedition luggage) and three auxiliary sockets.

8 NEWS

JTS hits 25 year anniversary

JTS is a family run business and this year it is celebrating 25 years of designing and producing its own brand of motorcycle clothing.

The founder, Tony Hall, passed away in 2002 but the company still remains a family business.

It was in the early 1990s that one of the key features Tony promoted was leather bike jeans in different leg lengths. These were in high demand due to limited supply, so he made them widely available through shop outlets, dealers throughout the UK and exhibiting at various

motorcycle events in the UK and Europe. JTS now cater for 27in-37in inside leg lengths.

To this day, the business boasts of having one of the most extensive size ranges in the UK. No matter short or tall, slim or rather larger.

To mark its 25th Anniversary this year, JTS is launching more than 25 new products and is also holding a celebratory, promotional long weekend from Friday to Sunday, June 5-7. For more information visit www.jtsbikerclothing.com or call 01530 812121

Jon Birchall is determined to make the most of his time left to do some good.

Brave Jon’s ride for charity Jon Birchall is soon to set off on a solo charity ride around the coast of Britain... but for the 54-year-old, the trip will have special poignancy.

Farmer Jon is terminally ill with kidney cancer and has been given an estimated 30 month survival time.

With the time he has left Jon has decided to undertake his lifelong ambition on his Yamaha FJ1200 to raise awareness of early detection of kidney cancer.

The Herefordshire man has also set a target of £50,000 to raise to fund a research assistant into treatments and an eventual cure for kidney cancer.

Jon will be starting his ride on June 6 in Blackpool and would love as many riders as possible to join his at the start and at any point in the ride.

He said: “I’m not a ‘do nothing’ person, and once I’d conquered the initial shock, I made my mind up to do everything I could to prevent other people suffering the same fate.

“I want to emphasise to everyone – including the medical profession – the vital importance of early diagnosis of kidney cancer.”

To find out more or to donate to the cause go to: www.facingup2kidneycancer.org

10 NEWS

Foggy and Granty to be stars of the LlanBikeFest

Seven-time TT winner Mick Grant will join king of the jungle Carl Fogarty as guest of honour at the Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival (LlanBikeFest) on Saturday, August 1.

Mick (70) is currently working with the Norton Race Team on development of the SG3 Norton racer and will appear at the North Wales bike show just weeks after this year’s TT races. The bike will be competing in the Superbike and Senior events, ridden by Australian Cameron Donald.

The Yorkshireman will be talking about his career as a works-supported rider for Norton, Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki, and his success riding bikes such as the three cylinder Triumph Trident, dubbed Slippery Sam. The Llangollen site has previously hosted successful bike shows – the last in 2011 – but LlanBikeFest 15 is being organised by a new team of local motorcycle enthusiasts, led by Harry.

The Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival is set amid some of Britain’s best biking roads – at the foot of the Horseshoe Pass and the bikefriendly Ponderosa Café, and on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park.

On-site attractions will include displays, stunts, demonstrations, trade and club stands, plus beer, bands and evening entertainment. Follow the event on Twitter at @llanbikefest and Facebook at Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival.

Visit www.llanbikefest.co.uk or contact 07960 693398 / office@llanbikefest.co.uk

Businessman selling fake motorcycle helmets imprisoned A businessman selling fake bike helmets so weak that full impact tests could not be completed in case the test equipment was damaged has been sentenced to six months in jail.

Moortaza Walji, 55, from Peterborough, a director of

BargainworldUK, was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court. He was also fined £182,091 and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

If you bought a helmet from the firm, contact the Public Protection team at Peterborough City Council.

Real Riders Speak Out Real Rider is an app set up by bikers for other riders. Go and check them out and contribute to their research panel and focus groups to be part of a fascinating work of statistics about the state of motorcycling today.

Get involved before the end of June and you can be in with the chance of winning an iPad Air. Find them at: www.realriderexplainonline.co.uk

How many motorbikes have you owned since you passed your test? 1 to 2: 22% 3 to 4: 20.1% 5 to 6: 15.9% 7 to 8: 9.8% 9 to 10: 6.1% Over 10 motorbikes: 26.1%

What is the greatest amount of miles you have ridden in a single day? 100 – 199 7% 200 to 299 17.8% 300 – 399 27.2% 400 – 499 15% 500+ 32.9%

Do you use a satellite navigation device on your motorbike? Yes 71.2% No 28.8%

11

12 NEWS

Capital record – Rhys’s trek makes history

42,000 miles done and he’s STILL going!

Rhys looks remarkably fresh considering he’s done so many miles at a pretty gruelling pace.

Rhys LawRey, aka 2mororider, has ridden into the record books, smashing the existing tally for The Most Consecutive Capital Cities Visited by Motorcycle.

Riding his trusty Triumph Tiger 800XC – called Tigger – 23-year-old Rhys, also known by the pseudonym 2moroRider, had already travelled 42,000 miles across europe, asia, australia, New Zealand and the americas, before starting his record attempt in Montevideo, Uruguay.

From there he headed straight to Buenos aires in argentina, arriving at easter.

To get into the record books, it states that riders are not allowed to rest between cities, only stopping for fuel, the toilet and/or borders – which is why the current record is just five capitals, (all in Central america).

Rhys has set his sights much higher, aiming for more than 50, which will take him across africa, up through europe and then home to Britain this July.

Rhys and Tigger flew from argentina to Cape Town in south africa for the

There are ways to dry out a helmet and then there are ways to dry out a helmet, coolly.

next stage and his longest day in the saddle yet – the 630-mile journey from Cape Town to Bloemfontein. south africa is unique in having three capital cities; Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) and Pretoria (administrative). he equalled the current record in Maseru, in the landlocked kingdom of Lesotho, and beat it when he reached Mbabane, swaziland. Then Maputo in Mozambique (seven), back into south africa to visit Pretoria (eight), where he got stuck in a traffic jam, and finally Gaborone in Botswana – capital city number nine.

It is nearly a year since Rhys set out from London’s ace Cafe and during that time he has travelled through 39 countries and covered more than 45,000 miles. his next destination is Madrid and the beginning of the european stage, pushing himself and his motorcycle to the limit, trying to reach his target of 52 capitals.

Rhys has produced a video showing highlights of his first year on the road, which can be seen here: https://youtu.be/MUv1XbtCz0I

14 FIRST RIDE

The details are very race-track bred.

Suzuki GSX-S1000: gaining traction It’s lighter than Kawasaki’s Z1000, will outsprint BMW’s S1000R and is cheaper than Honda’s CB1000R. This is the GSX-S1000 – a bike with a family lineage that means it has a lot to live up to.

Tested by: Bruce Wilson Photography: Suzuki Price: £8999 (£9499 with ABS) THE mOST TAlKED about element of this machine is its donor K5 GSXR1000 engine. The same engine which powered riders to five world championships, 16 national Superbike championships and four Isle of man TT wins. But more importantly it’s THE engine and chassis combination that is still widely regarded as the best ever combination for road riding that has appeared in the GSX-R family tree.

Suzuki’s experiment motor engineer, Keisuke Namekawa, said that he was drawn to using the engine because of its ‘fantastically characterful and torquey nature’. It’s not the exact same package as it was back in 2005, having been substantially modified with new, lighter pistons, completely different camshafts and the latest kind of throttle bodies.

These changes club together to actually pull-in the peak power in favour of some much more usable

low-to-mid-range drivability. While the option was there to use the latest GSX-R engine, apparently it lacked the attitude needed and its gear ratios weren’t as appealing either. So now you know where this bike is aimed at.

Aside from the swingarm, which is borrowed from the latest GSXR1000, the rest of the bike is all-new.

It’s no parts-bin special, blending a whole host of eye-catching components seamlessly.

The Suzuki’s fitted with adjustable Kayaba suspension front and rear and there are specifically designed sixspoke wheels, too.

The GSX-S’s designer, Shinji Tamura, said he wanted to craft a muscular, beast-like image for the new naked, which has very few sharp lines to be found. Each panel blends on to the next component effortlessly, creating a very minimalist look to the model.

Up front are some easy-to-read digital clocks, which spark into life at the turn of the ignition key, giving off all the typical info you’d expect including a gear indicator. The dash also hosts a three-tier traction control monitor.

Three colours are available.

Dash is basic but easy to read.

The levels of traction are adjusted using a switch on the left bar, from which you can toggle the modes between Sport, City, Wet or off. On the right bar is the all-important starter button. Suzuki was really keen to push the premiere of its Easy Start System, which requires just a simple touch to get the motor firing into life – in a similar way to how most modern car starters work.

The GSX’s stubby, underslung exhaust sounds a treat. Deep and harsh, things only get better when you select a gear and head off down the road.

Accompanying the bark from the rear is an enticing air induction whine, which synchronises with the engine’s growl.

16 FIRST RIDE The first few miles on our 120-mile route were urban. The GSX wasted no time in showing off its agility, easily negotiating its way through tight turns with a neutral and lightweight feel.

Things only got better as the pace increased, eventually reaching a stint of motorway. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the bike’s fuelling.

The Suzuki feels super lean. Every time you get on or off the throttle the bike lunges awkwardly. We’re not talking MT-09 standards, but it wasn’t the smooth delivery I was expecting.

Speaking at the end of the test to one of Suzuki’s development riders, they confirmed the fuelling had been an issue throughout the whole development process. But owing to tight legislation, which demands the bike’s fuel supply is restrained, there was no way around the problem.

With every mile passed, I did feel myself adjusting to the throttle, calibrating my hand to smoother, less aggressive actions. The engine itself is pretty impressive. It does deliver the strong and characterful delivery that Suzuki said it would. Once you’re over that initial throttle pick-up, the revs rise through the range effortlessly and I was particularly impressed with the bike’s ability to roll on from a low rpm in top gear.

With glorious sunshine and dry, grippy roads, the traction control system was mostly unemployed. To get a feel, I’d toggled between the modes, but the only interaction I witnessed came as I gassed the bike up over a slippery white line. With the system set on Sport – the least intrusive of the three modes – a small slide happened before the bike’s ECU stepped in and dulled down the moment.

It wasn’t overly meddling, simply reducing the output for the best part of a second before the litre motor was free to go banzai again. The ABS had a very similar persuasion. It never compromised the ride, but I was glad of its presence when I started braking over some gravel and it allowed me to stay on two wheels.

This bike is otherwise low-tech.

There aren’t dozens of modes to switch between, or a multitude of electronic suspension adjustments to be made. It’s real world.

Engine:

The GSX-S1000’s engine started life in Suzuki’s K5 GSX-R1000. It was picked to power the new naked model because of its torquey, longstroke motor and strong gearbox ratios. The engine has been fitted with new cams, throttle bodies and a different airbox.

Frame:

An all-new aluminium main frame has been made specifically for the GSX-S. It weighs less than the current GSX-R1000’s, which is where the naked bike’s swingarm has been borrowed from.

The more I rode the bike, the more I liked it. It showed itself to have a playful character, especially on the undulating, cracked roads in the mountains above Alicante. At high speeds, the bike felt a little wallowy and it was also easy to unsettle on bumpy bends. But it never once felt dangerous. Gassing hard out of corners got the front wheel lofting slightly and the bike wasn’t opposed to the odd playful headshake, but the Suzuki’s road holding was otherwise fantastic.

When the pace lessened, it felt as planted as anything, and held a line nicely through the corners. The route we rode was relentlessly twisty and this really highlighted the wonders of the package. It tackled all that came its way and planted a smile on my face in the process.

The face is sharp and striking.

Suzuki Easy Start:

By pushing the starter button once, the ECM continues to turn the starter motor until the engine bursts into life. Unlike previous Suzuki models, you no longer have to engage the clutch to start the bike – unless it is in gear.

Traction control:

There are three different tiers of traction control on the GSX-S1000, including Sport, City and Wet modes.

The system can also be completely switched off should a rider wish to do so. The system is managed by five sensors, which restrict the air, fuel and ignition feeds as required.

Best of all, on completion of the route, I wasn’t aching in the slightest. The riding position is a comfortable one, with plenty of leg room and a sensible reach to the tapered Renthal Fatbars.

They proved fantastic for levering the big bike around and offered a nice, relaxed stance for my arms.

The wind protection is obviously minimal, but the bike’s aerodynamics felt no worse than any other naked’s.

One thing I did pick up on was a lot of vibration, especially through the pegs.

Getting off at a coffee stop, my feet were actually buzzing as a result.

Thankfully, the same resonance didn’t affect the bars as much, or the seat for that matter. The rider’s perch is low, large and loving. It’s kind on you and the pillion seat looks half decent too, although we didn’t get a chance to try it out for size. You can tell it was constructed with function in mind, which is the story of this bike. It’s been well-built and wellpriced, too.

Starting from £8999 (£9499 with ABS), there’s a lot to be said for the model’s value for money. It’s priced very competitively and delivers a good quality of ride, with fantastic looks. Suzuki’s done pretty well with the GSX-S, and I’d like to think it’s going to be one of the better sellers in its segment, despite its late arrival to the market – reaching dealerships in June. A test ride’s essential, but be prepared to part with some cash, because I’ve a feeling you’re going to like this bike a lot.

TECH SPEC Engine: Liquid-cooled, inline-four, dohc Peak power: 143bhp (107kW) @ 10,000rpm Peak torque: 78lb-ft (106Nm) @ 9500rpm Transmission: six-speed Frame: Aluminium perimeter frame Wheelbase: 1460mm Kerb weight: 207kg Seat height: 810mm Fuel capacity: 17 litres Price: £8999, £9499 ABS Contact: www.suzuki-gb.co.uk

18 LETTERS

HAVE YOUR SAY

We want to hear from you! We’d love to read your tips, stories and opinions, so why not get in touch and tell us what’s on your mind Email us at: editorial@motorcyclemonthly.co.uk Send your post to: Your letters, MotorCycle Monthly, Mortons Media Group, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Please ensure you include a telephone number if you’re contacting us by post – it helps if we need to get back in touch with you.

Upcoming classic, surely?

Dear MCM, I wonder if the R1100RT will soon be approaching classic status ? Consider this – it’s really only BMW’s third stab at the fully faired tourer concept which they pretty much invented, and the first one on which the bodywork didn’t look like an aftermarket add-on but was an integral part of the bike.

I question whether there is any better bike to tour on.

I have a 1996 model which I’ve owned since 2003. It had 24K on when I bought it but now shows 97K. Apart from a new clutch it’s had no major work, still runs smoothly and reliably and uses virtually no oil. Plug changes take about five minutes each side. It’s taken me (and in earlier years my wife and I) all over Europe, and latterly me to Morocco, Russia and the Baltic states without a murmur. It did once have a hiccup on the way back from Morocco, just outside Alicante when it wouldn’t start after a fuel stop, but when the breakdown truck unloaded it at the dealers it fired up first go and gave no further probs.

It’s all-day comfortable. On the Morocco trip I left home at 4am and was having dinner in Bordeaux at 7.30. Likewise on the Russian trip I

came off the ferry at Hook at 8 and was in my hotel on the Polish border by 6. It didn’t have a problem fully loaded when I had to climb 1.5km of grassy, rock-strewn hillside to get to an overnight on the way to Morocco, nor when my “motorway” exit from Riga on the way back from Russia was found to start with 5km of un-consolidated ballast (road repairs).

Yet despite the touring bodywork you always know there’s a bike underneath and it can hustle surprisingly well if it has to. I dropped it fully loaded, two up, once just outside my gate, bound for the Camargue. Visions of horrendous damage proved to be limited to a dislodged mirror. That’s good design. And I reckon it still looks good too.

It somehow gives you a commanding and stable platform from which to apply your skills and concentrate on the road.

I now ride my G650GS a lot as I’m nearly 70 and the RT is heavy. The 650 is great fun and will do the miles just as well and in comfort, but whenever I go back to the RT I get off thinking, “Ah yes, now I remember”.

John Gudgeon Email

Swings and roundabouts

The seat issue question Dear MCM, I always look forward to reading Motorcycle Monthly. I feel it provides down to earth, real-world views on bikes, kit, etc.

I currently ride a 2005 Yamaha TDM900 and I’m looking to replace it with a similar bike in the near future. I’ve been riding for more than 40 years and tour in Europe regularly.

When I first read about the Yamaha Tracer it appeared to be a suitable replacement for my TDM900.

I read the recent UK review elsewhere and was disappointed to read that the seat was uncomfortable after only an hour’s riding; this stopped me considering buying one. The same outlet then did a review in Europe late last year and no mention was made about the comfort of the seat. I then read Tony Carter’s review in the current Motorcycle Monthly but no mention was made about the seat comfort. I did test ride a Tracer a couple of weeks ago and really liked it but was only allowed a short test ride; this didn’t really enable me to fully evaluate the seat comfort. So I’d like to know what Tony thought of the seat in terms of comfort.

As I spend up to eight hours riding a day when touring this really is an important matter.

Hopefully you may be able to help.

Hello Ron, thanks for the letter. I’ve gone back to my original notebook from that test ride to see what I thought about the Tracer seat and can honestly say that it didn’t even make my notes during the world launch which is a clear indication that it wasn’t anything either hugely good or bad about it, as far as I was concerned. We rode all day and I do remember thinking that the bike was very comfortable.

From my point of view the Tracer seat is fine for the type of riding you describe. Hope that helps. TC

Ron Still Email

The youth speaks out Dear MCM, Many motorcyclists mention to me that there is not enough coverage about young bikers, or as we’re often referred to – ‘the next generation’. I just wanted to write in to let everyone that doubts it knows that we are out there.

I’m a 21-year-old university student who has been riding for four years. I was lucky enough to grow up around motorbikes so it is something I am truly passionate about. I get out on my motorbike as often as possible, including touring around the country and even hopping over to France for the experience of riding on the ‘wrong side of the road’.

When I go to motorbike rallies there is a significant lack of younger people who ride. I’m lucky enough to know a group of younger motorcyclists who I have grown up. However, in 2013, I joined Shropshire and Powys Advanced Riders group which is a spin off of RoSPA. They

★ MCM STAR LETTER OF THE MONTH ★

encourage younger riders to take safer riding training, by even offering a Young Riders Scheme which reduces the fees it takes to take the RoSPA advanced test and enters them into a prize draw to win a track day.

Even with this scheme there are very few of us, but through the years I have come into contact with several people who have achieved their Advanced Rider Certificate; I passed with a Silver grade in 2014.

So I just wanted to highlight the fact that although we are rare there are young riders still out there and we are just as passionate as everyone else to get more of us involved.

If anyone knows younger people who are interested in riding encourage them as much as possible. I know it has got harder to get a bike licence but it is 100% worth it.

Catt Mills Email

Dear MCM, After reading Mr Cunliffes’s letter I thought I’d have my say. Yes, publications like yours and others feature heavily bikes such as the Kawasaki H2R, Yamaha’s R1 and BMW’s S1000RR, and there’s a reason for this. These bikes are at the cutting edge of technology.

This is where the latest technology is developed; this is the area where the manufacturers like to show off all the hard work they’ve put into developing motorcycles.

I know I’ll never own an H2R or an R1 as they don’t appeal to me, but I still like to look at them. I ride with people who, after a long day in the saddle look like they need to see a chiropractor. Bikes now have lean angle sensors linked to ABS which helps to keep bikers safe. KTM has now effectively put a handbrake on a bike to stop them rolling back on hill starts. Now, who wouldn’t want that when they come to an uphill off- camber junction on a fully laden bike? I know I would love that on my bike. All these gadgets on the top-end bikes will no doubt, sooner or later, filter their way down to the more mainstream (affordable) bikes.

I prefer to be more upright and not having to strain my neck to look up. I’d rather have the MT09 Tracer as that is my style of riding; long days in the saddle done in reasonable comfort, but at the moment I can’t afford to swap my bike. I’ve ridden a Suzuki Bandit S 650GSF for the last four years. Not the most agile of bikes, not the best performing bike, but a bike that has taken me to the Lakes and the Yorkshire Dales more times than I can count, down to Devon and Cornwall quite a few times and into Wales on many a time, as well as a 3036-miles-in-nine-days journey to Austria. On this bike I’ve outridden people on GSXRs, S1000RRs and ZZRs. I’ve had it on track at Cadwell, scraping the pegs on more than one occasion and leaving a chicken strip of about 5mm on either side of the tyre.

It was a perfect sunny day though. Mr C may not see the point of my bike as relative to the latest FJRs it is a dinosaur; basic suspension, no electronic gadgetry to control traction

and no ride modes except for my mood.

Mr Cunliffe may prefer to do this on a bike such as the FJR. I don’t get bikes that virtually ensconce the rider in comfort and wind/weather protection but then are so susceptible to side winds. My brother rides a Kawasaki 1400GTR so I do have a bit of an understanding of this type of bike, but more often than not he prefers his old CBR. I’m not a fan of Harleys and that style of bike but I still like to read about them, especially if there’s a new innovation on them which may, one day improve/add something to other bikes. Who wants the hassle of wheeling a bike like an FJR or GTR around a car park that is more than half the width of some of the cars on the road and probably about half the weight of a small car too? I don’t but I understand others do.

Why do people buy bikes like BMW’s GS or KTM’s Super Duke when they’ve no intention of going off road or on an adventure? Because they like them. And how many innovations first featured on these have filtered their way through to other bikes?

So to summarise, the manufacturers give us choice. They spend lots of money giving us that choice. To get some of that money back they have to let people know that these bikes are about and that is done through the press.

Obviously as true bike nuts the press are going to go wild for something as “mad” as the H2R and are going to shred tyres like there’s no tomorrow. If someone said to me: “Here Alan, here’s a bike we’re going to let you ride and don’t worry about the cost of the fuel or smoking the tyres. All we want after is your opinion,” I’d rip the keys out of their hands.

So, Mr C we just have to accept that the press like writing about this type of bike and the majority of people like reading about them. Lots of us do dream that we could afford the money to buy one, as well as have the garage space to house one, not to mention having the ability to ride a bike to an inch of its full potential.

This month’s star letter wins a fantastic pair of RST Blade gloves worth £59.99. With a double-layer leather palm, carbon knuckles and pre-curved outstitched fingers it’s a great do-it-all sports glove. www.rst-moto.com

Get every issue of MCM delivered to your door!

Enjoy Britain’s biggest bike monthly for just the cost of postage and packaging. See page 62

Alan Bussell, Email

20 FIRST RIDE It’s got the looks, it’s got the poise, it’s got a small engine.

The R3 is an amazing package from Yamaha for those with sporty aspirations. £4799 | 41bhp @ 10,750rpm | 22lb-ft @ 9000rpm | Liquid-cooled four-stroke parallel twin 321cc Tested by: Carli Ann Smith Photography: Yamaha You maY think that Yamaha has jumped on the 300cc class bandwagon, when actually it could be said, Yamaha is going back to its roots. think back to the RD series from the 60s/70s, showing riders that you didn’t have to be on a big bike to have fun and go fast. Just like the two-stroke RD range was derived from the race track, so is the R3 – just this time it’s the YZF-R1m and maybe the gap from road to race is a tad bigger.

Tell me about the engine

Yamaha R3: The 300cc Superbike

the Yamaha R3 has been designed to fill the gap between the YZF-R125 and the R6 and as such, it needed to be powered by an exciting but friendly engine to appeal to both camps of rider – the liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dohc, parallel twin 321cc does the job and does it well. it powers out 41bhp @ 10,750rpm – making it a2 compliant and about as powerful as the original RD250LC

FIRST RIDE 21 At 169kg fully fuelled, it weighs 20kg less than the R6 – a bike that is one of the lighter options from the 600 class.

ABS comes as standard and the R3 is fitted with hydraulic disc brakes on the front and rear which work well and bring the bike to a progressive stop.

The 780mm seat height means it’s accessible to riders with legs on the shorter side. At 5ft 6in, I could easily put my feet down properly on both sides, something which is always a confidence booster.

The dash is dominated by a large RPM indicator, there’s a gear indicator, speedo and an adjustable shift light, clock, fuel gauge, current fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, coolant temperature gauge, two trip meters, fuel trip meter, oil trip meter and oil change indicator.

The family lines are easy to spot, R3 looks very similar to an R6 or even an R1! (okay, no more ancient Yamaha references from now on) – and has 22lb-ft of torque at 9000rpm. It’s been purposefully designed to offer added ‘spice’ and focus has been put on the mid to high range.

The bore and stroke is similar to that of an R6 (68 x 44.1mm and 67 x 42.5mm respectively) and it has plenty of punch, redlining at 13,500rpm. Fitted with a progressive throttle pulley, it ensures the power delivery isn’t scary for new riders and first gear is easy to manage through town. The six-speed gear box comes in handy for motorway use – stick it into sixth to cruise and it’s not uncomfortably revvy.

Yamaha has taken steps to make it efficient as well as fun: plating the pistons to reduce weight, carburised con rods – as seen on previous generation R1s – and offset cylinders to reduce the friction against the cylinder wall.

I got an average fuel consumption of 63mpg from the 14-litre fuel tank and can’t say that economy was front of my mind while riding up the undulating roads of Barcelona and out on the track so the figure could easily be more.

What’s the chassis like?

Being a supersports bike, a lot of emphasis was placed on handling by the development team – a diamond steel frame holds the engine, and just like its bigger brothers in the R-series, weight distribution is 50/50. A long swingarm, which is around the same size as on the R1, helps maintain this.

The long swingarm also adds highspeed stability to a chassis that turns quickly.

KYB takes care of the sporty but comfortable suspension – forks on the front with 130mm travel and sevenstep pre-load adjustable direct link monocross on the rear.

Front brake hauls up well.

Headlight apes the racey look.

Dash is comprehensive in detail.

Switchgear feels quality.

Should I buy one?

There are essentially two camps of riders for whom it could be a dream bike – young riders who are sportsbike minded who may be restricted to an A2 licence or who are moving up the cc-ladder but also more experienced riders looking for a fun supersport bike that’s more affordable than a bigger machine.

Talking of affordability – it’s worth checking out the PCP deals with your local authorised Yamaha dealer. With a deposit of just over £1100 and monthly payments of £79, you could be riding away on one…

Colour options include Race Blue and Midnight black and the bikes will be in dealers at the beginning of May. There’s a whole host of accessories that you can add including: Akrapovic slip-on muffler, seat cover, licence plate holder, engine protectors, sports screen, rim stickers, tank pad, LED indicators and a number of luggage options. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Good for newbies and riders looking to downsize.

22 FIRST RIDE

The finish across the bike is top notch.

High-ish bars help the comfort.

So, what’s it like to ride?

We had the opportunity to ride at the Calafat track in Spain – on track you can see the full potential of the R3 and really see it’s capabilities. Moving around the flat top seat was easy and the Michelin Pilot Street types – 110/70 on the front and 140/70 on the rear – performed well on track as well as on the street.

Yamaha points out that it has wind protection in the form of a slightly higher than normal windshield. Of course, it’s not as much as you’d get on a scooter – but it does help buffer some of the wind over the top of you.

I like this bike and I love what it represents – good fun on smallercapacity machines. The ride is what you make of it and the R3 is happy to be your reliable friend, but it’s more than happy to get up to mischief if you want to…

I’ve owned my R6 for around six years so the bike had a lot to live up to.

Would it give me the same smile as my beloved machine? It did – in fact it gave me a bigger one.

It’s easy to look at a bike such as the R3 and think that because of its capacity it’s purely for new riders – it’s not. It’s great fun and for some riders, knowing that they’re using all the engine and power makes it more fun.

Likewise for new riders, it will really build your confidence – a combination of things including the ABS, the riding position and the power delivery make it a friendly machine, but one you can have fun and experiment with.

The riding position isn’t too extreme – yes, it’s sporty and there is some weight on your wrists but not as much as you might think, which would make riding it every day a pleasure rather than a pain. It’s nimble in traffic and the focus on ‘ease of handling’ is evident as you weave in and out of parked cars and traffic.

There’s movement in the bars too – 34º both ways to be precise – which makes it easy to move around and park up in tight spaces. The clutch was light and easy and it was smooth throughout the revs.

TECH SPEC Price: £4799 Engine: Liquid-cooled four-stroke four-valve two-cylinder 321cc Power: 41bhp (30.9kW) @ 10,750rpm Torque: 22lb-ft (29.6Nm) @ 9000rpm Wet weight: 169kg Seat height: 780mm Tank size: 14 litres www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk

FIRST RIDE 25 keep the revs high and enjoy a small slide on the exit. This happened after just one session on the RSV and tells you just how at home with the RSV a new rider feels almost straight away.

Aprilia was at pains to ram home the message during the launch that this bike was built to echo the first RSV4 in 2009: the best, uncompromising superbike and one that comes closest to the real racing bike. Without riding Haslam’s factory RSV4 it’s hard to say how close to that goal they’ve come with this bike, but what is immediately obvious is that here is a massive step forward for superbikes once again.

There’s no getting away from the fact that this is an immensely brilliant motorcycle which looks, sounds and goes like something you see whizzing around in WSB every other Sunday, but the pricing might be the factor that puts people off the crafted motorcycle missile. £3000+ more than the Yamaha R1, it might find that it’s roundly beaten in the sales stakes. £18,000+ is a lot to ask for a bike these days and time will tell if enough riders have enough money to sweep up these things for the road.

On track however, well, this is arguably the very toppest of the top in the Superbike stakes.

Starting from the top, the 65° V4 has a new race-team derived airbox with a new filter. The upper injectors are new, whereas the variable setting intake ducts are redesigned with more travel, as with previous models, each bank has a dedicated servo unit actuating the two throttle bodies of that bank only.

In order to improve the fluid dynamic performance, the heads were redesigned with

|

The engine

Up by 16bhp and tipping the scales 2.5kg less than its predecessor, the motor is largely new although it’s a case of evolving the old engine rather than redesigning it – but the tech and parts come from the racing side of things.

The work was done on decreasing internal friction, improving combustion efficiency and fluid-dynamic efficiency as well as on increasing the maximum rotation speed.

intake and output ducts that have new geometries and contouring on the ends machined by a numerically controlled tool.

The combustion chambers are CNC’d for the first time to make them more precise and to improve reliability.

The heads now have a triple layer of gaskets. The timing system uses the mixed chain and gear kinematics of the Aprilia V4 (with the chain camshaft

driving only the intake camshaft, which in turn drives the exhaust camshaft via a gear) which allows for extremely compact heads especially beneath the frame spars, much narrower than would otherwise be possible.

In order to increase the maximum rotation speed a painstaking study was conducted on lightening the parts in motion of the elements included in the heads. All four valves are now lightweight titanium (the intake valves are oversized at 33mm); the valve springs are completely new and the relative tappets and caps were lightened.

The camshafts have a brand new profile and were lightened by a whole 600g. The crankshaft now has connecting rod pins reduced to 36mm in diameter with 450g more weight, while the Pankl connecting rods are lighter by a total of 400g.

The upper half of the engine case is now made with a new shell fusion and has been lightened (–1.3kg) and reinforced; it also now has a better ventilation system in order to reduce power loss due to air pressure inside the engine crankcase. The lubrication system has also been redesigned and optimised.

A brand new oil sump ensures increased draught no matter what position the engine is in despite the oil level being decreased in order to decrease friction. The ‘rose pipe’ is also new (oil pump intake duct), now equipped with a new overpressure valve and a filter in an optimised position. The piston cooling oil nozzles were also replaced and the gearbox now has a valve regulated direct hydraulic lubrication circuit.

The latter uses lightened drive shafts and gears (–0.35kg), a lightened primary drive (–0.1kg) and takes

advantage of new ratios which have been optimised to fully exploit the increased engine power. The entire exhaust system has also been completely redesigned with revamped electronic valve management, now equipped with two oxygen sensors (one per bank), while a new there’s also a more powerful ECU.

TECH SPEC Engine type 999.6cc 65° V4 cylinder, fourstroke, liquid cooling system, double overhead camshafts (dohc), four valves per cylinder Bore and stroke 78 x 52.3mm Maximum power at crankshaft 201bhp (148kW) @ 13,000rpm Maximum torque at crankshaft 89lb-ft (115Nm) @ 10,500rpm Kerb weight 180kg www.ktm.com/gb/ready-to-race

Did you know?

That your smartphone can control this superbike?

The system is called V4-MP and via an app and the smartphone’s GPS system the electronics tell the bike where it is, via this you can then get the bike to alter traction control, anti-wheelie and other functions for each individual corner of a track as you want.

The system will also be able, in time with an upgrade that is still in development, to colour the screen on your phone as you ride so that it acts like a riding coach to help you get the perfect lap. An all-red screen as you hit the brakes for a corner means you’re riding too aggressively and need to slow up a tad and smooth off to keep the time low, green means you need to go for it more to find time.

The system also knows the lean angle, the throttle percentage at different openings and how hard you’re accelerating on each part of a myriad of circuits around the world.

Tell your phone which track you’re on and it’ll change set-up for each corner as you ride!

SubScribe or renew…

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62

26 First ride

MV’s new Turismo 800: Premium pricetag Softer, easier to get on with, classy looking exhausts.

Yep, that’s the new MV – but it’s got a fight on its hands to win sales.

Tested by: Bruce Wilson Photography: MV Agusta There was something of a problem with the original Turismo from MV – and it was the motor. That first generation bike had been built with the same engine as used by the firm’s Dragster 800, and it was too sporty by far for a touring sort of bike.

If MV wanted to make the new Turismo work then it’d have to rethink how the power was delivered to the back wheel.

So, the plan was simple for the Italians – softer power on tap and a stronger low-rev performance. More oomph when you need it without that oomph getting too out of hand.

New pistons, cams and gearbox ratios helped cool things down enough and to make the bike even more user friendly the engine also got a hydraulic clutch.

But none of this is to say that the MV is all beige and grey, oh no.

Unlike on MV’s other touring option, the Stradale 800, the Turismo sports a slipper clutch, as well as a quickshifter and a downshiftingblipper. The ride-by-wire throttle is of the same ilk as used on MV’s F3 675, along with a counterrotating crankshaft which is in place to reduce the effects of inertia when the bike changes direction. It’s all very clever stuff and the tech doesn’t stop there.

Slotted

behind the bike’s wide bars is an allnew TFT dash.

As with an ever growing number of motorcycles, this bike offers different riding modes (Custom, Rain, Sport, Touring), along with different levels of traction control (a range of eight options, as well as the ability to switch it off entirely), which can all be adjusted on the fly by tapping away on a dedicated left-barmounted switch. The same switch also allows you to set a speed restrictor, disengage your ABS or quickshifter, as well as completely customise the mapping of the Turismo’s motor to the extent that I’ve never seen on another bike before (everything from altering the mapping to changing the amount of engine braking you require). There’s no questioning the MV’s level of sophistication, which is taken to the next level on the soon to be released ‘Lusso’ (Luxury) version of the Turismo, which will feature panniers, a centre stand, heated grips and semi-active electronic suspension as standard.

The lesser priced base model Turismo doesn’t come with the 30 litre panniers as standard and it is equipped with adjustable Sachs suspension front and rear, nestled within a narrow steel trellis frame.

The bike’s wheelbase is visibly short, measuring just 1424mm long, but the thing which blew my mind was discovering its tank could hold 22 litres. To look at, you’d think it’d struggle to squeeze half of that volume within its sleek and stunning profile, but the figures don’t lie.

Lined up on the outskirts of Nice, we were set and ready to test this bike on a multitude of roads on a 120 mile loop, kicking off with some nadgery street riding on the town’s edge.

The fuelling was excellent. Pick-up from down low was torquey and smooth, with the quickshifter making life even more pleasant as I rattled my way up and down the motor’s seamless gearbox. I wasn’t expecting this to be the case, having heard lots of bad things about the fuelling on MVs in recent times, made worse by taunts over dodgy electronics. But that certainly wasn’t the experience I was having as we climbed higher and higher above the Mediterranean coastline below.

You sit very upright and forward on the bike which gives you a comfortable stance, but also the opportunity to really hustle the bike around with ease; pulling it around on its big bars. I was blown away by the MV’s agility and I’m sure the model would have impressed me more had I had chance to stiffen up the soft rear shock. As it was, the back end tended to bounce around too much for my liking; compressing downwards on every bump before being fired back hastily because of too much rebound. This being the case, the MV would still hold a decent line and the more smoothly I rode it, the more rewarding it was.

Riding at the very front of our group, I was line astern of the factory’s outrider who didn’t hold back on pace, literally backing the bike into corners on every given opportunity. It was really impressive to watch and gave testimony to the

The ABS feels like it’s interfering a lot even without much lever useage.

It wouldn’t be an MV without the triple-stack exhausts... oh, yes...

It’s a minimal look to what is a pretty large pillion perch.

Stylish and chunky where it needs to be, all adds to the look.

The engine has come in for a lot of work to make the power delivery smoother and overall easier to live with.

TECH SPEC Engine: 798cc, liquid-cooled, three-cylinder Peak power: 110bhp (81kW) @ 10,000rpm Peak torque: 61lb-ft (83Nm) @ 8000rpm Transmission: 6-speed Frame: Steel tubular trellis-type Wheelbase: 1424mm Dry weight: 191kg Seat height: 850mm Fuel capacity: 22 litres Price: £11,899 (Lusso £14,199) www.mvagusta.com

First ride 27

The smoother you are, the better the ride that the MV returns in reward.

The front of the bike is neat and stylish, aping the top of the F3’s fairing.

model’s handling prowess and the potential of the steel/aluminium blend chassis.

I’m not going to criticise the bike’s choice of Pirelli Scorpion Trail tyres, as they performed perfectly well, but I was a little confused as to why they’d be chosen for this bike, which has zero off-road or dual-purpose inclinations. Maybe something stickier and sportier would have been a much better fit?

Not that the bike was found to be lacking in grip. The only slide I had during the test was when I gassed the bike over some loose stones, just to get a gauge of the traction control’s otherwise defunct input. The ABS on the other hand never seemed to want to leave me alone. I never felt I was braking excessively hard, yet the Boschpowered system seemed overly eager to join the party at every given chance.

As the ride drew to an end, we headed back along the coast road through Nice and straight into the heart of a car park-style traffic jam.

The bike’s fan had been coming on intermittently during our test, but it was almost permanently on by this point, blasting me with hot air.

On a cold day, I was grateful for the added heating, but figured it could leave you roasting during the summer months.

A small niggle, joined only by one other criticism of the bike; its clutch.

The lever itself is adjustable for span, but you can’t alter the biting point, which was really far out on my bike.

Almost all the guys I was riding with had the same complaint, having over-revved the bike accordingly for fear of stalling it when setting off from junctions, or tootling through town.

Closest Rival:Yamaha MT-09 Tracer ABS - £8149

Yamaha’s triples have gone down a treat with the European market, owing mostly to their simplicity and affordability. The Tracer is the most recent addition to the MT family and it’s also the most refined and practical. The bike’s a comfortable machine to ride and its front fairing and three-position screen combine Come the end of our ride I’d calibrated my hand to the bike’s excitable throttle and the awkward clutch, but I’d have hoped for better on a bike this expensive.

Costing £11,899, the Turismo Veloce 800 carries the premium pricing you’d expect from the premium motorcycle it is.

But in a world that’s probably more focused on affordability than it’s ever been before, it’s imaginable that MV

to offer good levels of protection from the elements. The ride’s bolstered further by a torquey and dependable motor, which is assisted by different power maps and varying levels of traction control. The bike’s agile and fun to ride, but also good at tackling long distance owing to its 18 litre fuel tank. will be challenged to sway people into spending several thousand pounds more than they would for a similarly sized, similarly inclined product, which probably comes as standard with a similar wealth of tech and features.

But that bike wouldn’t be an MV Agusta, and nor would it be able to deliver the unique riding experience of the Turismo Veloce.

As motorcycles go, this one is pretty special.

28 up close and personal

Under the skin: TT Superbike GB Moto is a team on the up, and it’s about to enter the awesome Isle of Man TT races this June. Here’s what goes into making a weapon that is capable of taking on the infamous Mountain course.

By: Tony Carter Photography: Gary Chapman

The sTaTisTics tell the story of this bike; 208bhp at the back wheel, 169kg without fuel and sophisticated electronics and engine internals from the World superbike paddock. Make no mistake about it, this is a weaponised motorcycle. and the target is the Mountain course on the isle of Man. This sort of riding brouhaha costs.

On the GB Moto bike the front brake calipers alone cost £1750 each, the Ohlins forks are £7500, the wiring harness knocks on for £4500 and the thumb brake master cylinder alone goes for £1100 – and that’s just the tip of the go-faster iceberg. so, here it is in part-naked glory, the bike that Gary Johnson will ride in the senior TT race on the isle of Man on June 12.

Which bits cost what to go quickly at the TT The GB Moto Kawasaki ZX-10R in all its glory Wheels 6 sets OZ Wheels £1200 pair Much lighter than standard and have less gyroscopic effect to overcome

Front master cylinder Brembo £250 Much more braking power and feel over standard

Brake discs front x 2 Brembo Various options £250-£400 each Much more braking power and feel over standard and do not fade

Rear master cylinder (Thumb) Brembo £1100 To give rider option of using either thumb or foot to operate rear brake

Brake discs rear x 1 Brembo £170 each Much more braking power and feel over standard

Rear master cylinder (Foot) Brembo £300 As above

Brake calipers front x 2 Brembo £1750 each Much more braking power and feel over std, lighter and less gyro effect Brake caliper rear x 1 Brembo £660 Much more braking power and feel over standard Front brake pads Brembo £400 per set Much more braking power and feel over standard

Front forks Ohlins FGR300 £7500 Complete racing package fully adjustable to suit requirements Rear shock Ohlins TTX40 £5500 As above Steering damper Ohlins £200 To dampen down front-end movement Triple clamps Promach

£750 Made to our own spec to give adjustability and feel and rider position for handlebar mounting Handlebars Renthal £120 To put rider in correct position Air intake CRC £160 Carbon fibre. Much lighter than original also fitting for top fairing and dash surround all in one unit Radiator Boro £750 Made to our spec with fittings for oil cooler to keep coolant temp in control with extra horse power of tuned engine Oil cooler Boro £295 To keep oil temperature where we want it and improved reliability from standard heat exchanger Fuel tank (alloy) Chris Ambler Fabrications £1800

Keep weight down and increase capacity to 24 litres to get two laps of TT circuit Engine tuned by JT Performance centre £4000 Tuned within rules to give max performance and rideability Exhaust system Akrapovic £1700 For max performance and good power delivery Swingarm FTR £4500 To give longer wheelbase and improved flex plus faster wheel changes Fairing Speed fibre £900 Lighter and more aerodynamic Wiring harness (inc sensors etc) Motronics £4500 Bespoke wiring harness to use with Motec electronics to our spec with sensors for suspension, brake engine etc

ECU Motec £1500 To give range of adjustability DashMotec £1500 To work with ECU Oil catch tank and battery holder Mash £450 Made to our requirements Rear linkage MSS £295 (each) Various link options Throttle assembly MSS £150 Throttle cables Kawasaki kit part £30 each Battery Racing Batteries £112 Smaller and lighter than standard GPS box Motec £666

up close and personal 29

Gary Johnson he’s the rider

GJ won a TT last year on a Triumph and then suffered a severe crash a couple of days later that turned his dream year on the Island into a nightmare. But he’s back and strong and is a serious podium man in 2015.

IR: As we’re going into the 2015 TT, how’s things looking for you – especially considering that last year finished with you badly beaten up and in hospital following a race crash.

GJ: It’s been good, we’ve been doing a lot of work on the bikes over winter.

I had that crash last year at the TT and to be honest with you any crash at the TT is bad. What happened though did happen at one of the slower bits, thank God, and it’s taken a lot for me to recover from it but we are there now and we’ve been testing the Kawasaki out in Spain and things have been very well on it. So things are looking good.

The thing that everyone really knew about was that I had a broken shoulder, but what people don’t know is that I broke five vertebraes in my spine, and part of where my spine was broke was where the nerves were that control the mechanics of my right arm.

So I spent two and half months with an arm that I couldn’t really do anything with, I just put it in my pocket. And at that point I was really

worried, like would it get better or could I even get competitive again on a motorcycle?

It was what every racer’s nightmare is. I was caught out with the weather.

It was a bit greasy and it came down to probably an instant, split second decision I made that was wrong and it ultimately cost me last year’s remaining TT. So, I had a good chiropractor and I saw some good people and physios and that and they bashed us around a bit and after three months my arm started working again.

30 up close and personal Everything TT for just £7.99!

The only International Isle of Man TT publication is on sale now priced at just £7.99. PLUS, once more Island Racer will be giving away a free DVD for all readers from the best in the business – Duke – worth £14.99.

It’s THE essential read for TT fans and those who want to know the ins and outs of the ultimate road race.

To order online just go to: www.classicmagazines.co.uk

IR: So, you’ve got a strong team behind you but this is pretty unusual for you at the TT isn’t it?

GJ: Signing with Mark and the Kawasaki boys is the first time I’ve signed with a big team and been the sole focus for them, you know I’ve always run my own ship a bit with some great loyal sponsors and I’ve had some good bikes but it puts a lot of stress on you while you’re doing stuff.

The TT is stressful enough without having to run around organising everything for everybody and the team performed well before but this is a new venture, they’re building the bikes and I just have to turn up with my leathers and do the professional rider thing. So, hopefully that’s going to relieve the tension at the TT, relax and be able to focus more.

The bike feels good and if it rides well around the TT – because you never know how any bike’s going to go around that place until you’re actually on the circuit and fingers crossed it’s good and stress-free in practice week.

Hopefully come Race Week I can start off like last year but avoid an accident.

I showed in practice last year that we were strong on the Triumph and we were strong on the Kawasaki stocker, we struggled on my Superbike a little bit to get it to handle as well as we wanted but we had strong lap times. If we can start off anything like we did last year I physically feel better in my mind with the circuit and I’m confident that we’ve got the same bikes and machinery and better this year so, if we can get an incident-free practice week and roll into Race Week calm and collected then hopefully we can pick some trophies up.

DiD YOU KNOW? Gary has appeared as a disco-dancing farmer in Emmerdale and as a cop in the film, Keeping Mum, with Patrick Swayze!

31

32 TRieD AND TeSTeD

Women riders: On track and going quick MCM despatched our Carli Ann to take part in the Maria Costello female only track day at Donington Park for a racey day of quick fun and plenty of personal improvement.

What is it?

Run by TT racer and hugely experienced racer Maria Costello, the female-only track days are run in association with No Limits and, as the name suggests, means that only women can take part as paying customers.

There are two dates still to go on this year, July 15 and October 14 and they cost £199. Book online: www.nolimitstrackdays.com/wom enonly or by calling 01727 827794.

BeIng The only girl on the MoreBikes.co.uk editorial team, I was in pole position to try out Maria Costello’s female only track day at Donington Park.

It was the first of three dates throughout the year, offering women a chance to get on track with no boys allowed. The days are run in conjunction with no Limits Trackdays, which puts on a whole host of events throughout the year at various tracks – not just in the UK but also europe.

Maria has teamed up with Donington Park this year to give the ladies chance to ride the iconic undulating track near Derby.

She said: “My aim is to see more women improve their riding skills by using the track as a controlled coaching environment. I’ve been overwhelmed by the response and feedback I’ve received from all the women who attended my previous events, saying how much their confidence had improved riding on the road.”

The days aren’t just aimed at track nuts – they are for women of all abilities.

Speaking to other ladies on the day, many of them hadn’t had their licences for long and were taking to the track for the first time.

Melissa hook from Chesterfield was one of those there and said: “I’ve had my licence for two years but had

an accident just two weeks after I passed my test. This is my first time back on the bike since then – my boyfriend bought me this day as a surprise present.”

Riding behind Melissa on track in the intermittent rain and wind, I was so pleased for her. She was getting to know her bike and building up her confidence. She hadn’t even liked taking it on and off the stand by herself – and her furrowed nervous brow turned into a smile throughout the day. Would she have done a mixed track day – no, she wouldn’t.

So, what’s her plan now? “I’m going to get back out on the road and get some experience. I think I’ll come back and do another track day later in the year.”

Awesome. I’ve done a few mixed track days and I’m used to riding on

track with both men and women. It could be said that I’m not a massive ‘girly girl’ – no surprises there – but it was a great atmosphere and gave women who prefer the support of other ladies a chance to get out on track.

Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t a complete ban on men, spectators can come along and it was lovely to see the garages full of supportive partners and friends.

There were seven 20-minute sessions throughout the day – so there’s plenty of track time. The first session incorporated three sighting laps and included showing riders how to enter and exit the pits correctly. There was no pressure either, as riders could sit out of sessions to have a rest or to avoid the inclement weather.

Maria was milling around the pits and

speaking to everyone – she headed out on track too, tapping the rear of her BMW S1000RR to signal for you to follow her lines, she’d wave you past and then follow you too, before shooting off to coach someone else and finding you later in the pits to give you feedback. Along with the other guest instructors and fellow attendees, there was always someone on hand for advice or to chat to.

There were additional services on the day too, including track photography, bike hire, suspension set-up and mechanical and tyre assistance.

At the end of the day, there was a presentation of certificates for all those who had ridden on track and special awards for those who had made the ‘biggest’ progress as recommended by their instructors.

34 TRieD AND TeSTeD

Five reasons why you should do a track day…

If you’re unsure about booking a track day or have never considered doing one, check out our five reasons why you should book one... today.

1 Chance to learn new skills

“It’s all about finding the limit of you and your bike.” You may well hear this from friends and family when thinking about a track day – but it’s not. Finding your limit involves going past it, which in turn usually means falling off – not something you want to do – instead think of your experience as a way to try things out. Take advantage of the fact there is nothing coming the other way, the nice big run off areas and a totally smooth surface.

2 Ride iconic race tracks

Motorcycle racing is cool – so imagine the chance to ride a circuit that your racing idol has weaved their way around. It doesn’t have to be in the UK either, there are companies who offer track days around the globe. Often to get the chance to ride around the track just once is enough to tick it off your list, but if more laps are on offer then you’d be mental not to take them…

Safer than riding on the road, which really helps you to develop your bike skills.

3 It’s safer than riding on the road… honest

Maria (bobble hat) gives great instruction on body position to a customer (cap).

One of the biggest fears that people have about doing a track day is falling off, but in reality, there are actually fewer hazards on the track than there are on the road. What’s better is that you will be riding the same route every lap, so you can try new things and see if they work. You’re encouraged to fold in your mirrors or tape them up, to stop the temptation of spending more time looking behind you instead of in front.

Be aware of people around you but it’s their responsibility to overtake safely.

Yes, people fall off on track days but it’s often a case of them

overestimating their ability. Riding out of the pitlane onto the track can make you feel like your racing hero – but don’t think that you will instantly be able to ride like them.

4 Go as fast as you like. Legally.

Riding fast is fun. Admit it, we know you like it, because we do too. Riding fast on the road is fraught with dangers such as vehicles coming out of entrances or across junctions, mud on the road and obviously breaking the law isn’t something you should do. On the track, everyone is going the same way, there isn’t anything that will pull out on you and there are no speed limits to stick to

– so make the most of it! Just remember to recalibrate if you’re riding home.

5 You can do it on any bike

You may think that turning up on your road bike is a mistake – it’s not. By doing a track day on your road bike, you can get to know it better and ‘bond’.

Learn what it feels like when you brake hard into a corner, lean it over so that the footpeg scraps on the floor and get used to knowing that it will be okay.

Then, should you need to use it on the road, you will have the confidence in tipping it into that corner that you’ve gone into a bit hot, instead of grabbing the front brake and sitting it up straight.

35

36 STAFFORD

Top Gear duo bag £77k at storming Stafford show

May and Hammond sell their bikes at the most amazing Stafford two-wheeled event ever Selling their top gear

JAMES MAy and Richard Hammond were among the Staffordshire County Showground crowd to see their personal motorcycle collections go under the hammer at a recordbreaking Bonhams’ bike auction.

All of the 12 machines owned by the duo were snapped up by

enthusiastic bidders at the sale, which took place at the 35th annual Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show, on April 25-26.

The two shared laughs with onlookers as Mr May even jokingly bid on his first lot after auctioneer Malcolm Barber had opened with

Hammond (left) and May (right) get tips from James Robinson, editor, The Classic Motorcycle

the line: “We all know why these are being sold…”

Despite their time as presenters on the BBC motoring series Top Gear appearing to be at an end, both men seemed in good spirts and played along with the joke despite the fact their auction appearance had been organised long before the recent Top Gear furore.

Hammond’s 2010 Norton Commando raked in the most money from the pair’s garage clearout, selling for £15,180. A range of British and Japanese examples completed the line-up achieving a total of £77,625.

Well-known for their love of classic motorcycles, both considered bids during the auction but continued to play the part when asked about potential purchases. “I was interested in a 3.5 horsepower Raleigh but I lost my bottle because I am unemployed. I did have a job in a pub but they said I am too old,” May said.

The two also became disgruntled when the same TV crew asked about their Top Gear futures despite the subject clearly having been banned from discussion before the chat. The clip has become something of an internet sensation, appearing in the national press and on the popular Lad Bible website.

From £10 and a carb swap to nearly £276,000! The Rapide was the best seller.

A Stafford Spring record-breaker

Pulling in more than £2.2 million and with 86% of lots sold, Bonhams’ 2015 Stafford Spring Sale surpassed all previous totals for the annual event.

A 1939 Vincent HRD Series-A Rapide, originally bought as a swap for a £10 note and an Amal TT carburettor, topped the lots selling for a staggering £275,900 to a bidder in the room.

Bonhams reported that it was British machines which sparked the highest bidding with nine out of the top 10 lots sold coming from iconic UK manufacturers. Among the highlights were: a 1930 Brough Superior ohv 680 Black Alpine (£138,140), a 1955 Vincent 998cc Black Shadow Series-D (£72,060), the 1926 Coventry Eagle 980cc Flying Eight (£106,780), and a 1933 Brough Superior 1096cc 11-50hp Project (£52,900).

Ben Walker, international director of the motorcycle department at Bonhams, said: “This is our best-ever

Spring Stafford Sale and we’re delighted with the results. We’ve seen some fantastic prices, with a new precedent being set.

“The level of enthusiasm at Stafford is always brilliant with people travelling from across the globe to attend and those that couldn’t were able to bid from the comfort of their homes on the phone or via our online bidding platform.”

Stafford welcomes racing royalty

This year’s April Stafford show might just have seen the greatest ever collection of motorcycle superstars to have graced the event, according to Classic Racer magazine editor Malc Wheeler.

Nick and Tony Jefferies, star guests of the Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show, were joined

by Charlie Williams, Alex George, Steve Plater, Colin Seeley, Sammy Miller and Mick Andrews as the weekend saw the great and good of motorcycling descend on

STAFFORD 37 Staffordshire County Showground.

Malc said: “By my count there was a total of 17 Isle of Man TT race wins present; Williams, 8, George, 3, T Jefferies, 3, Plater, 2, N Jefferies, 1. That’s not to mention two of the best and most successful off-road riders of all time in Sammy Miller and Mick Andrews.

“While the bikes and celebrities in the auction might have stolen a few of the headlines, there’s no doubt in my mind who the real stars of the show were!”

The brothers Jefferies took part in several of the event’s attractions across the weekend including regular on-

stage interviews with compere Steve Plater. The Yorkshiremen talked about their decades of racing experience, touched on their family’s history in the motorcycle industry and brought two of their winning machines to showcase.

There was also a focus on The David Jefferies Memorial Fund, which was set up in honour of Tony’s late son. DJ, as he was affectionately known, died following a crash during TT practice in 2003, prematurely bringing an end to a career which had already yielded four North West 200 victories and nine TT wins.

The Best in Show

A classic motorcycle show wouldn’t be a classic motorcycle show without a machine crowned as the best in attendance. Michael Barraclough, journalist at The Classic MotorCycle magazine, takes up the story of the impressive Best In Show winner from Stafford, Mike Allaway’s 1968 Montesa Impala…

Top: Tony Jefferies (Above: Classics in the cavalcade)

This beautiful little 250cc Montesa was bought new – in the form of a kit – in 1968 by its current owner. The model in question is American, distinguishable by its wider blocktread tyres, wider mudguards, folding footrests and crinkle-finished headlamp, among other characteristics. The colour scheme is

a giveaway too – European Impalas are typically finished in blue or red.

The story behind the bike is as intriguing as its appearance. Mike had previously sold it, before it subsequently changed hands several times. It also accomplished some commendable feats in that time, including a ride in the Rally

Internacional Colombres. In 2010, Mike and the Montesa were reunited and he began the arduous process of returning it to the glorious state it’s in today. A great deal of time has been spent polishing the aluminium components, which really make it stand out on display.

A top-notch effort.

38 STAFFORD

TT superstar set for Stafford October JoHn McGuinness, the 21 times TT winner, has been confirmed as guest of honour for october’s classic bike event in Stafford.

The Morecambe Missile will headline the Carole nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show on october 17-18, and he’ll be in attendance all weekend participating in interviews, race paddock sessions and award presentations. following on from a hugely successful Stafford April event, the october weekend will continue the momentum with plans in place to repeat the success of the new Restoration Theatre along with continuing the popular Cavalcade sessions.

With the growing popularity of emerging and modern classics from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and even 90s, the show focuses on these machines with iconic Japanese and european marques featuring heavily.

More than 900 traders, dealers and autojumble stands will offer a wealth of parts and spares, there are a host of excellent club stands, Bonhams will host the Autumn Stafford Sale and visitors can enjoy exciting live action in the GP paddock and off-road area. for more information on this and all upcoming motorcycle shows go to: classicbikeshows.com

classicbikeshows.com

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October 17-18, 2015

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Geoff Duke: 1923-2015

Geoff Duke, a six times TT winner and six times world champion, has died aged 92.

Making his name during the 1950s, Duke dominated on the Isle of Man while also claiming 350cc and 500cc championships. In 1953 he was made an oBe for his services to the motorcycling industry.

Although a Lancastrian by birth, the Island became Duke’s spiritual home and he set up business interests there following his retirement from racing. His son

Peter founded Duke Video which has its headquarters in the capital Douglas.

Tributes to Duke have poured in, including those from within the motorcycle press. Classic Racer editor Malc Wheeler said: “If ever the word legend described anyone, it was Geoff Duke and what he achieved racing among, and being, one of the very best at what he did.” for a full tribute to Duke check out the next issue of Classic Racer, on sale June 18.

39

WHAT’S ON EVENT GUIDE 41

What’s on: the next four weeks of motorcycling

Welcome to our What’s On page where we tell you everything worth going to in the coming month of motorcycling.

The biggest event in the coming month is the start of the action on the Isle of Man for the annual TT Races. The end of May sees the start of Practice Week where the superstars of road racing get to lap the course in anger for the first time since last year’s event.

The 37.73 mile long course (known as The Mountain Course because it wraps around the infamous Snaefell mountain) is widely regarded as the ultimate challenge for man and machine. The course itself is made up of public roads with very little run-off, but this doesn’t slow down the racers looking for a podium top spot. Speeds topping 200mph are nowadays almost commonplace on the superbikes along the fastest sections of the iconic course.

If you want to go then you might find it difficult to physically get over to The Island this close to the event; most ferry and plane places have been booked up for months now, but there are cancellations so you might get lucky.

Give the Steam Packet ferry company a call to see what’s what. Get in touch with them at: 08722 992 992

The important TT times to know TT Qualifying:

Qualifying for the Isle of Man TT races runs from Saturday, May 30-Friday, June 5.

The sessions are held every evening at 6.20pm. However, there is NO qualifying session at all on Sunday, May 31.

TT Race Week:

Saturday, June 6 11am – RST Superbike TT Race, 6 laps 2pm – Sure Sidecar TT Race One, 3 laps Monday, June 8 10.45am – Monster Energy Supersport TT Race One, 4 laps 2pm – RL360 Superstock TT Race, 4 laps Wednesday, June 10 10.45am – SES TT Zero Challenge, one lap Noon – Monster Energy Supersport TT Race Two, 4 laps 2.30pm – Sure Sidecar TT Race Two, 3 laps Friday, June 12 10.15am – Bennetts Lightweight TT Race, 3 laps 1pm – PokerStars Senior TT Race, 6 laps

What’s On elsewhere this coming month MAY 2015

Friday 15 - Sunday 17 Berwick & District MCC’s 4th Monks Rally, The Barn at Beal, Holy Island, Northumberland, 07859 903995, brianhill1@aol.com The Scorched Rally, The Royal Oak, Christchurch Road, Downton, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 0LA. Tel 07864 105287 Aliens Infest Rally, Ashover

Showground, Milken Lane, Ashover, Derbyshire S45 0BA. Tel 07713 128017 Saturday 16 Scorton Giant Auto/Bike Jumble, North Yorkshire Events Centre DL10 6EH. Bert 07909 904705.

Ridethecounty, finishes at the H-Cafe, Oxford. www.ridethecounty.org.uk Saturday 16 - Sunday 17 National Motorcycle Races (No Limits Racing), Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2RP. www.donington-park.co.uk Women Bikers’ Skills Day & Rideout, Weymouth College, Weymouth DT4 7LQ. www.womenbikers.co.uk Sunday 17 VMCC (Essex) Sunday Run. Costa car park, Tollgate Centre, Stanway CO3 8RG, 9.30 for 10am. Terry Windsor 01206 384764 VMCC (Northampton) Girder Fork Run. Sywell Airport, 10.30am. John Bulmer 07850 909340.

Yamaha Bike Day, Ace Cafe London NW10 7UD. www.ace-cafe-london.com MotoGP – France. www.motogp.com Rugby BikeFest, Market Place and High Street, Rugby Town Centre, Rugby, Warwickshire. Tel 01788 890789. www.rugbytowncentre.co.uk/bikefest Rattlesden Five Bells Bike Show, Five Bells pub, Rattlesden, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 0RA. Tel 01449 737669 LIVES Charity Motorcycle Ride Out, meet at Horncastle Market Place, Horncastle, Lincs. Tel 01507 523513 or 07788 415819 Ride of Respect, Hullavington Airfield. www.rideofrespect.co.uk Charity Ride for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, Two Wheel Centre (Mansfield) Ltd, 1-5 Priory Works, Priory Square, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire NG19 9LN. Tel 01623 627600. www.twowheel.co.uk Tuesday 19 7th Annual Spilsby Bike Night, Spilsby Town Centre, Lincolnshire. Tel Pete or Lisa 01790 753219. wildmansmotorcycles.co.uk Wednesday 20 Sports Bike Night, Winterton Rovers FC. www.lincolnshirebikenights.com Cruiser Bike Night, Yardbirds Rock Club, Grimsby. lincolnshirebikenights.com Thursday 21 Open Night for Motorcycles, Coventry Transport Museum, Sandy Lane Stores CV1 4EX. Tel 02476 234270.

The Greetham Gathering, Greetham Community Centre, Greetham, Rutland LE15 7NG www.greethamgathering.co.uk Thursday 21 - Tuesday 25 FHDCE Super Rally, Lincolnshire Showground, Grange-de-Lings, Lincoln LN2 2NA. superrally2015england.com

Friday 22 Classic Bike & Car Meet, The Victoria, Coalville, Leics LE67 3FA. Tel 01530 814718. www.vicbikerspub.co.uk Friday 22 - Sunday 24 Fallen Angels ‘Tarts in Tartan’ Rally, Corus Sports & Social Club, Rowleys Drive, Shotton, Deeside CH5 1PY. 07786 913281 Friday 22 - Monday 25 Sheep Dip Rally, Lightfoot’s Farm, Silver Street, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 6DG. www.blacksheepbikeandtrike.co.uk/shee pdip.html Trikefest, Littleport Leisure Centre, Camel Road, Littleport, Ely, Cambs.

Tel Ged 07815 784798, Sue 07970 474603. www.trikesrus.co.uk Adventure Before Dementia Rally, Tablers Wood Campsite, Carr Lane, West Cowick, Doncaster, Yorkshire DN14 9ED. Tel 07715 925784 No Bull Just Beer & Bikes Show, Penmaenau Farm, Llandelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys, Wales, LD2 3RD. Tel 07500 850663. www.nobullbeerandbikes.co.uk Pendine Sands Speedweek, Museum of Speed, Pendine, Camarthenshire, Wales. www.pendinelsr.com Saturday 23 Southern Classic Bike Show & Jumble, Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-onThames TW16 5AQ. www.egp-enterprises.co.uk

Beartown Bikers 7th Charity Ride Out, Church House Pub, Buxton Road, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 2DY. Tel 07838 790631 Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 Bike Shed London 2015, Tobacco Dock, London E1W 2SF www.thebikeshed.cc Saturday 23 - Monday 25 Chipping Steam Fair, Green Lane Showground, Chipping, Preston, Lancs PR3 2TQ. www.chippingsteamfair.co.uk BEN Motorcycle Rally 2015, Town Thorns Care Centre, near Rugby. 01344 294714. www.ben.org.uk/motorcyclerally Sunday 24 Sampford Peverell EX16 7BJ bike meet.

Tel. Bill 01884 820022.

Sunbeam Motorcycle Club Conyboro Run, Chiddingly, East Sussex.

Charlie Smith 07802 468109 LE Velo (Lancs & S Lakes) Slaidburn, meet car park, 11 for 12. Tel 01772 782516.

VMCC (Northampton) Box of Matches Run, Jack’s Hill Cafe, A5 Towcester, Northampton, 10.30am. David Hibbert 01604 766480.

The 24th Douglas Bristol Cavalcade, Warmley, near Bristol. gpbudd@hotmail.com Sunbeam MCC Conyboro Run, Chiddingly, Sussex. Charlie Smith 07802 468109.

RBLRB Day (in aid of Poppy Appeal), Ace Cafe London NW10 7UD. www.ace-cafe-london.com World Superbikes – Round 6, Donington. www.worldsbk.com Autojumble, Manchester Road, Rixton, near Warrington, WA3 6EA. T Taylor 07860 648103.

Cambridge Custom, Classic & Food Show, Cambridge Rugby Club, Volac Park, Granchester Road, Cambridge CB3 9ED. Tel 07952 768539. harveyscustoms.co.uk Sunday 24 - Monday 25 23rd Ragley Hall Classic Car & Transport Show, Ragley Hall, Alcaster, Warwickshire B49 5NJ transtarpromotions.co.uk Monday 25 Craven Collection Motorcycle Museum.

Open Day. Brockfield Villa, Stockton on the Forest, York YO32 9UE. 01904 400493.

Margate Meltdown, Ace Cafe London NW10 7UD. www.ace-cafe-london.com Pendle Powerfest, Nelson & Colne College, Barrowford, Lancashire, BB9 7YT. www.pendlepowerfest.com Renal Ride, Start: Southmead Hospital, Southmead Way, Avon, Bristol, BS22 5NB. Tel 01934 740557 Emma Radford Memorial Buell & Italian Motorcycle Festival, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Spilsby, Lincs, PE23 4DE. Chris Jessop c.jessop@hotworkct.com http://tinyurl.com/nny4ec9 12th Suffolk Autojumble, Church Farm, Kettleburgh, near Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 7LF Tel. 01728 724858 (before 9pm)

Wednesday 27 JUNE ISSUE OF CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE VMCC (Essex) Evening Run, Writtle Green, near Chelmsford, 7 for 7.15pm.

John Beckinsale 01268 763805.

Cruiser Bike Night, Shires, Grainthorpe. www.lincolnshirebikenights.com Friday 29 - Sunday 31 Bournemouth Wheels Festival 2015, Bournemouth seafront BH2 5AA. www.bournemouthwheels.co.uk Rorke’s Drift Rally 2015, Brecon County Showground, The Watton Fields, Brecon, Powys, Wales. Tel Pete 07531 909721, Amanda 07762 316341. www.rorkesdriftrally.moonfruit.com Saturday 30 LE Velo Northampton gathering, The Lilacs, Isham NN14 1HD, noon.

Tel 01604 499858.

Saturday 30 - Sunday 31 Thunderfest at Welsh Classic Motorcycle Festival, at Anglesey Racing Circuit, North Wales. thundersprint.com Sunday 31 Lincs BTSC Meet, Cleethorpes Light Railway. Bob or Maureen 01526 345270.

Off-Road Riders Day, Ace Cafe London NW10 7UD. www.ace-cafe-london.com MotoGP – Italy. www.motogp.com Ladies’ Sunday, CMC Motorcycles, High Street, Clay Cross, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S45 9DP. Tel 01246 860046. www.cmcbikes.com Centre 81 Bikers’ Breakfast, Centre 81, Tar Works Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 1QR. Tel 01493 332253. www.centre81.co.uk Kenley Autojumble, The Portcullis Club, Kenley Airfield, Victor Beamish Avenue, Caterham CR3 5FX (just off Jct 6, M25). www.facebook.com/KenleyAutojumble Erskine Motorbike Meet, Erksine (Hospital), Bishopton, Renfrewshire PA7 5PU. Tel 07814 984082. www.erskinemotorbikemeet.co.uk

JUNE 2015

Wednesday 3 VMCC (Essex) Wrinkly Run. Brock Hill Nursery, Brock Hill, Wickford, 10am for 10.30am. Alan Williams 01268 570145.

Sports Bike Night, Torksey. www.lincolnshirebikenights.com Cruiser Bike Night, Blacksmiths Arms, Rothwell. lincolnshirebikenights.com Thursday 4 LE Velo (Lancs & S Lakes) Arnside, meet car park by Viaduct, 11 for 12.

Tel 01772 782516.

Thursday 4 - Saturday 6 Unwanted MCC’s Annual Bike, Trike & Custom Show, The Rockbar, Shobnall Sports & Social Club, Shobnall Road, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs. Tel 07988 521400. www.unwantedmcc.co.uk

Spectating at the TT is as serious or as fun as you want to make it.

42 IMPROVE YOUR RIDING

First episode

Improve your riding: Basic road positioning

Ride better. Ride smarter.And it won’t cost you a penny to improve.

Tested by: Tony Carter Photography: Joe Dick

Er... no. The key here to being safe and clever is distance. You want to be between 10 and 15 bike lengths behind the vehicle, in the two-thirds lane position. From here you can see over most things and still have the immediacy to get up to speed safely and make the pass.

If the vehicle is a behemoth-type truck similar in height to a small building, then dropping back that bit further will have a dramatic effect on how aware you are of traffic coming at you.

Any further than 15 bike lengths and two things happen. Firstly, some clot in a car will overtake and fill the space, but more importantly, when an overtake presents itself, you might not have the time to take advantage of it safely.

Step five: Look well ahead

WElCOmE to the Improve section of MCM. Everything you need to know about motorcycling but were afraid to ask. Because no matter how long you’ve been riding; 30 days or 30 years, there’s always something to learn. Especially as so many riders of our generation are... ahem... self-taught and survivors rather than highly trained and invincible.

First up is road positioning. In some ways it’s the simplest part of better riding. Ride here, not there – how much more straightforward can things be? Except, so many of us don’t quite get it right. And being in the wrong place compromises your ability to get through a corner as smoothly, safely and quickly as you could.

And as always, the key is practice.

Read the feature, follow the instructions and swap those ingrained bad habits for shiny, fresh new ones.

Good luck.

Step one: Straight, not narrow

Visibility is key here. Your ability to see what’s coming at you, whether that’s traffic or changes in direction of the road. But also other road users’ ability to see you.

So let’s assume that you’re riding along a straight, level road. There’s no other traffic... so where should you be positioned? Ideally, if you imagine you’re looking down on the road from above and the left side of the road itself is split into equal thirds then you should be sitting on the line one third in from the centre of the total road. Or two-thirds away from the gutter, if you’d prefer.

There are three main reasons and crossing the white line (because for this. The first is so that you’re this is a road, not a racetrack and not in the gutter, riding over debris. we’re having fun, not setting records).

You’ve paid for your part of the road If you’ve never done this, you’ll and you’ve got every right to be be genuinely surprised how much on it, so make the most of it. Don’t more visibility you can get from an be timid. Control extra foot to the your part of the right. If you do it road, and ride in already, try another DiD YOU KNOW? the two-thirds six inches and see position what happens.

Crashes involving confidently.

Traffic makes it motorcycles and other The second is so trickier.

Should vehicles account for 56% of that you have you find a truck all motorcycle accidents. the most available blocking your view, amount of road the smart move is to to either side of you hang back a bit and quickly should you need to get on to it shimmy left so you can see down the to avoid trouble. And the third is that side of him (if the geography of the ‘V’ word again, visibility. Ride in this corner will allow without having high position and you will be able to see hedgerows etc) and judge the road the progression of the traffic in ahead for overtaking opportunities front of you and the once the corner opens out. It progression of the traffic feels weird at first if coming towards you you’re new to this, but on the other side of once it becomes a the road. habit you’ll wonder why everyone Step two: doesn’t ride this Left-hand way. Out to the corners right, look across Getting in the the inside arc of correct position for the corner and corners should be get an idea of what’s done in plenty of time up ahead in some BEFORE you get to the cases even before you corner. Get this right and enter the corner. you can see much further round the corner much Step three: sooner so you can plan your line Right-hand corners through it and set your speed and The procedure is exactly the same gears accordingly. for right-hand corners as for left, So, nice and early you need to except you are moving to the left of get over to the right-hand side of the road. Get into position early, and your lane – without drifting too far move as far as you can comfortably get without riding in the gutter.

Once you’re there make sure there’s enough room between you showing you what NOT to do on and the vehicle in front so that the road. you’re not focusing on what he’s So follow Fast-and-Smooth doing in order to give you some Dave, not the plod and you’ll soon time to look around. Then look be getting things sorted. across the corner to the right, just as you did for the left-hand corner set-up, and get all that lovely information about what’s around the corner before it’s even got anywhere near you.

How these features work In the pictures, Lego man Smoothie Dave (red bike, above) will show you the correct position to be in, his two helpers, PC Gary and PC Roy will risk all by

Step four: The right distance back

We’ve all seen the impatient rider sitting right up the chuff of a car or van or lorry, weaving and neckcraning around the edge to see if it’s all clear.

Hold a pencil in front of you and stare at it. Now, move it away to your left while staring straight ahead. You can move that pencil 90 degrees to the left and still see the outline in your peripheral vision. This phenomenon is your biggest friend in advanced road positioning.

Approaching a right-hand corner, move as far to the left as you need.

Now, stop looking at the kerb and stare straight ahead. Don’t worry about where your wheel is, peripheral vision is keeping it in check.

Somehow you instinctively know and the more you ignore it and focus ahead, the easier it becomes, letting you focus on looking through the corner and not at your boots.

Step six: The safety bubble in town

When you’re in busy traffic the need to maintain your area of safety grows.

This is all about being aware of what’s around you. Good observation is key here, as it is during all rides, of course, but when you find yourself surrounded by several tons of metal then position and thinking ahead are critical.

Key points

■ Hang back, don’t be right up the

chuff of the vehicle in front – it’ll actually slow up your progress if you do ■ Be in the critical two-thirds lane position ■ Commit to the overtake when you decide to go, if there is a safe gap and you decide to make the pass be deliberate and precise in your move.

■ Get into position nice and early, no sudden sweeping moves out to the edge of the lane ■ Drop back from the traffic in front ■ Use your clever positioning to give you a view across the corner and much further ahead ■ Stay on the two-thirds line as much as possible ■ Stay out of the gutter ■ Stay away from hogging the centre line

Position should stay basically the same at the two-thirds of the lane spot – own the road, don’t be intimidated... control what’s happening. Staying there will stop drivers chancing their arm and muscling in, especially if things have ground to a virtual halt.

Slow and steady wins the race in town traffic though, maintain forward momentum as much as possible and keep the clutch and brakes covered at all times.

In short, treat every town driver like they haven’t seen you, own the space and do the thinking for them. Take responsibility and you’ll be far better off for it.

44 FIRST RIDE

Triumph’s Icon: 21 years of the Speed Triple It’s been the British firm’s most successful and enduring motorcycle, but the true story of how the big naked came about reveals that we very nearly didn’t get the popular roadster at all.

Words and pics: Roland Brown

It’s 21 years since Triumph discovered, almost by accident, the format that has made arguably the biggest contribution to the firm’s current health and prosperity. When the original Speed Triple was launched in 1994, there was little fuss.

The naked three-cylinder roadster shared almost all of its components with other models, had low ‘ace’ bars and a single round headlight, and generated nowhere near the excitement that had greeted the introduction of Ducati’s Monster a year earlier.

Two decades later the Speed Triple has proven to be Triumph’s equivalent of the Monster. It is the

1994

Hinckley firm’s all-time top seller and the machine that arguably defines the modern British manufacturer.

It has starred in Hollywood movies, spawned the smaller and also hugely successful Street Triple, done much to popularise the super-naked sector, and projected an image of individuality and raw attitude that has served Triumph brilliantly over the years.

How different things were when the original Street Triple was developed back in 1993, just a couple of years after John Bloor’s Triumph had begun production in its new Hinckley factory. In ’92, Triumph had built barely 3000 bikes; even this figure was

almost 50 per cent up on the previous year’s total.

The young firm was still committed to the modular format that reduced costs by sharing most components — even engine internals — of its 750 and 900cc triples, and 1000 and 1200cc fours.

That first Speed Triple, dreamt up by sales chief Mike Locke, was essentially a “parts bin special”. Depending on your view, it was either the Daytona 900 sports bike with its fairing removed, or a revamped version of the Trident 900, the naked triple that had been the most popular and arguably the best of the original six-model range.

The Trident’s responsive, 885cc triple engine had been much praised, but the model was a relatively simple roadster, with conservative styling and basic suspension parts.

Locke had noticed the impact that the M900 Monster had made by combining a simple, fairly softly tuned engine with aggressive naked styling and high-quality chassis components.

The Speed Triple followed a similar format. Its liquid-cooled, 12-valve engine produced 97bhp, and was essentially identical to the lump that powered not only the Trident and Daytona, but also the Trophy tourer and half-faired Sprint, though the Speed Triple was given a five-speed instead of six-speed gearbox.

It also shared an identical steel spine frame with the other models, gaining its main edge over the Trident 900 via better cycle parts. It used multi-adjustable 43mm Kayaba forks, an adjustable shock from the same Japanese firm, and a front brake combination of big 310mm discs and four-piston Nissin calipers. Threespoke cast wheels held sticky Michelin Hi-Sport rubber, the rear a fat, 180-section radial.

1997

Styling was little more than stripped-down Daytona, with a single, round headlight. But the retained low handlebars gave an aggressive look, in combination with a black finished engine and either black or yellow paintwork. And the new bike’s Speed Triple name – inspired by the 1937model Speed Twin that had been one of the old, Meriden-based Triumph firm’s most successful models – suited its café racer image well.

That first Speed Triple struck a chord, partly because it was so much fun to ride. Its character shone through the moment you opened it up, when its blend of zippy engine, responsive handling and windblown riding position combined to give an impression of easy speed. Without a fairing and with much of its rider’s body weight over the front wheel, the bike had less of the top-heavy feel of previous Triumphs.

Despite its low and narrow bars, conservative steering geometry, and 209kg of dry weight, the Triple steered with appealing urgency. It was a hit in that first year, becoming Triumph’s best selling model — although in those early days that only meant a modest total of 2683 Speed Triples were produced (including a small number of 750cc models that were otherwise identical) out of a total that by now had gone past the 10,000 mark.

Unfortunately for Triumph, the impact didn’t last. Sales the following year almost halved, and by 1996 were down again to just 553 units, relegating the Speed Triple to seventh place in the firm’s nine-model line-up.

Something needed to be done, and luckily inspiration was at hand. By this time Triumph’s engineers and design team were well under way with development of the T595 Daytona, the

FIRST RIDE 45 955cc super-sports triple that abandoned the modular format and would elevate the British brand to a new level of performance and sales on its launch in 1997.

In those days much of Triumph’s development was based at the Northamptonshire workshop of John Mockett, the designer who had shaped many of the firm’s early models (and was also involved with Kenny Roberts’ 500cc grand prix race team). At one point, while working on the Daytona, Mockett realised that the triple, with its distinctive tubular aluminium frame, looked good without its curvaceous twin-headlamp fairing.

“I said to Stuart Wood [chief development engineer] that we should do this without the bodywork,” recalls Mockett, who admired the aggressively styled streetfighter specials built by his friends Steve and Lester Harris of Harris Performance.

“Stuart said, ‘No, we’ve got to get the 595 finished in time for the [Intermot] show,’ so I said, ‘Okay, we’ll work on it in the other shed and see what we can do.’ John [Bloor] was always down there but we kept this thing secret from him.”

A few months later, Bloor arrived to inspect the finished Daytona T595. “We’d painted it and added decals by then and he said it looked

2002

alright — in fact he was very pleased.

Then I said, ‘I’ve got this other one,’ and uncovered the naked bike. He looked at it and said, ‘It looks like it’s been crashed!’”

Bloor’s instinctive reaction summed-up the naked triple’s appeal. The previous decade had seen the emergence of a biking subculture, especially in Britain, where a magazine named Streetfighters had become popular, highlighting the urban look that had grown up, initially around twin-headlight Suzuki GSX-R750s and 1100s whose fairings had been removed, often following a crash.

2005

DiD YOU KNOW? The Speed Triple has been a huge sales success for Triumph, representing one in seven of all Triumphs sold.

“The streetfighter look was rampant in the specials world but there was no major manufacturer doing anything like that,” recalls Mockett. Bloor took some persuasion, but agreed to put the naked triple into production alongside the Daytona.

“He was so pleased with the 595 that he accepted the other one on the back of it. If it had been on its own he’d have turned it down, but the fact that it was on the coat-tails of the 595 appealed to him because it didn’t need many extra bits.”

This new Speed Triple retained its predecessor’s 885cc capacity but was upgraded with a T595-style bottomend, airbox, fuel-injection system and a new exhaust. The aluminium frame

was identical to the Daytona’s except for being painted instead of lacquered, and held similarly high quality cycle parts: multi-adjustable 45mm Showas, four-pot Nissin front brake calipers and a single-sided swing-arm: the type of kit that most naked bikes did without.

The revamped bike was initially called the T509 Speed Triple. (Like the sports model’s T595, the T509 was a factory code, a Triumph tradition that was soon dropped due to confusion with its engine capacity.) It produced 106bhp, coincidentally almost identical to the current Street Triple’s output, with plenty of mid-range torque — enough for plenty of straight-line fun.

Handling, braking and roadholding were excellent, as might be expected of a bike so closely related to the Daytona.

At 196kg dry the Triple was slightly lighter than the sports bike. Its Showa suspension was firm without being harsh; its fat, 190-section rear tyre gave plenty of grip. The T509 Speed Triple looked great, its image was right, it was fun to ride and competitively priced.

It was an immediate success, selling almost 2500 units to become Triumph’s second most popular model behind the Daytona. And vitally, this time the popularity proved much longer lasting, helped by Triumph’s decision to fit a higher, one-piece handlebar in 1998 (US market models had this all along) and enlarge the engine to 955cc a year

46 FIRST RIDE

Simon Warburton, Product Manager

Trevor Barton, Product coordinator

later. Sales remained strong for the next few years, and by 2001 had increased to 4364, making the Triple the firm’s second most popular model once again, behind only the recently released Bonneville.

By this time the Speed Triple had become something of a cult model, its bullish style and performance in some ways encapsulating the way that Triumph was forcing itself to become a serious player in the global motorcycle scene.

It stood out even more due to some vibrant paint schemes including an acidic Roulette green and even more corrosive Nuclear Red — in reality a bold pink, as ridden by Natalie Imbruglia in the movie Johnny English.

Appearances in The Matrix (ridden by Carrie-Ann Moss) and Mission Impossible 2 (Tom Cruise) also boosted Triumph’s profile.

Since the turn of the Millennium, Triumph have done a good job of keeping the Triple’s essential look and character intact, while updating it every so often. One significant step came in 2002, when it gained the larger, 955cc engine whose 118bhp output gave a useful 10bhp increase, and also had its chassis tweaked to steepen steering, shorten the wheelbase and reduced dry weight to 189kg.

Perhaps the biggest update came in 2005, when the Speed Triple followed the Sprint ST sports-tourer by being fitted with a new engine whose longer-stroke, 1050cc capacity it has kept ever since. Almost everything in the motor was new, from cylinder head and pistons to the redesigned gearbox and lightened clutch. New cams and injection mods combined to give a peak output of 128bhp, another 10-horse increase.

Most of the chassis was new, too, starting with a double-tube aluminium

frame that looked familiar but was a kilo lighter due to more modern casting techniques. Overall weight remained 189kg. New cycle parts included multi-adjustable Showa suspension at both ends, and Nissin radial four-piston calipers for the first time. The result was a quicker, more agile, more entertaining bike that topped Triumph’s sales charts that year with 8796 sales out of a total of almost 35,000.

Since then there have been two major updates, the first in 2008 when Speed Triple owners’ replies to questionnaires inspired Triumph to upgrade the front brake with a radial four-piston system from Brembo, and to improve comfort with a new seat.

an unchanged, 133bhp engine into a chassis featuring Öhlins suspension, Brembo Monobloc front calipers, forged PVM wheels and a sprinkling of carbon-fibre components.

It was the best Speed Triple yet, and Simon Warburton, Triumph’s Product Manager, was in no doubt about the family’s significance. “We couldn’t afford to get the R wrong,” he said. “The Speed Triple is the most important bike in our range. It’s a premium model, and we sell a lot of them. It’s a glamorous, emblematic machine that has been very good to us and is very competitive in its class.”

That remains true, but Warburton and his team have faced some difficult decisions of late as the Speed Triple has been left behind by the latest batch of 160bhp-plus super-nakeds.

With Triumph’s 1050cc engine dating back a decade, it surely can’t be long before we see a new-generation Speed Triple with ride-by-wire fuelling, a more powerful and compact motor, low-level exhaust and more sophisticated chassis.

The style, character and name are sure to remain intact, however. Nothing sums up the modern Triumph quite like the Speed Triple.

DiD YOU KNOW? The Speed Triple has appeared in Mission Impossible II and The Matrix and is about to debut in the computer game RIDE. Other changes included a tapered Magura handlebar but the riding position was unchanged, and so was the trademark style. “It’s our most important model, not just for its sales over the years but as a signature for the Triumph brand,” said Trevor Barton, Triumph’s Product Coordinator, on that bike’s launch.

The standard Triple’s most recent revision came in 2011, when the faithful 1050cc motor got a revised airbox and bottom end, and was bolted into a sharper-steering chassis that also incorporated non-round headlights — a controversial move with some traditionalists.

A year later that bike was tweaked to create the Speed Triple R, which bolted

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47

48 TECH TALK

Tech Talk: Telelever suspension BMW’s decision to introduce telelever on the R1100RS in 1993 was revolutionary in terms of the reaction it got on the dealer’s showroom floor.

Words by: Bruce Wilson Pictures by: Mortons Media Archive THe TeleleveR system was far from perfect as an alternative to conventional motorcycle forks. Take the factor of unsprung mass for example. Back in 1993, putting telelever on a motorcycle meant nearly 2kg more mass than you had on a telescopic front end (alongside the R1100RS were the K series bikes that had conventional forks but the same brakes and wheel in the front – weight difference was 1.8kg).

These days the telelever set-up isn’t quite as clunky as the original forms of the idea, but it’s still a given that if you go for telelever over conventional forks on a motorcycle then you’re going to have more unsprung mass up front – and in terms of handling then that’s not what you want on a bike.

If it wasn’t then you’ve got to think that a clever company like BMW would have this sort of funky front end on the bikes it makes where handling on the limit is of paramount importance – the S1000RR or HP4 Superbikes, for example.

But that’s not to say that telelever doesn’t have benefits. The system separates the two functions of wheel guidance and damping/suspension, significantly improving ride comfort on smooth (ish) roads.

The function of wheel guidance is still performed by the actual fork, consisting of two struts with sliding and fixed tubes. This design with the greatest possible overlap ensures a high level of stability.

A trailing link attached to the front of the frame supports the fork and front wheel. A central strut is responsible for suspension and damping.

Further benefits of this design, with telelever stanchions smaller in diameter than conventional telescopic forks, are the weight advantage and an extremely responsive performance.

The low unsprung masses and the quick reaction of the suspension

The telelever is the mechanism that works the wishbone-bit sited behind the front forks. make for excellent road contact over bumpy surfaces.

The telelever system allows geometries that minimise diving during sudden braking, giving the rider improved feedback.

So, no brake dive is a big benefit to most road riders and with the advance of electronics in motorcycle braking (think of ABS for example) the beauty of telelever is that it can be much more fine tuned than conventional forks.

The electronic brain that looks after the antiblocking system (ABS) can be more finely tuned and even though when the ABS system is activated it causes lots of pulsing brake movements there are no pitches forward.

The system works from a central single shock, like a rear set-up.

How it all came about The telelever system is easiest described as an ‘A’ arm or ‘wishbone’ that’s been mounted to the sliders just above the wheel; it originated from a design by British company Saxon-Motodd in the early 1980s.

The BMW telelever, from SaxonMotodd’s original design, went one step further in chassis construction.

The now patented telelever front wheel suspension has an additional swingarm mounted to the frame supporting the spring. This causes

Out and about on the telelever and you can feel the minimal front dive working.

the rake and trail to increase during braking instead of decreasing as with traditional telescopic forks.

While there were other, smaller bike builders who made weird front ends such as Tony Foale (early 1980s) and Jack Difazio (late 1960s) the only other manufacturer to venture into the telelever front end for the masses was Yamaha which tried the system on the famed GTS tourer – although the big bike failed to grab the imagination of the buying public.

50 PRODUCTS

TesTed

Putting in the miles with the kit that matters

Track crash TesTed! WhaT really saves your skin

So how well does a set of track kit really stand up to a fall? This well.At 70mph.

Alpinestars Atem suit €1199.95, Supertech R boots €399.95, GP Pro gloves €199.95 and Bionic Air backprotector €79.95 | Tested by Tony Carter | www.alpinestars.com

What happened…

This was a pretty fast crash. I was testing the new Yamaha R1 superbike at the Eastern Creek racetrack and fell off the bike at 70mph in Turn Two. The result was a 50 yard slide on my side and bum into the gravel trap.

The bike was pretty badly damaged and by rights I should have been too, but the kit I was wearing stood up to the fall very well – so well in fact that I was riding again 20 minutes later on another bike at the same track and carried on riding all day.

Here’s a breakdown of the kit I was wearing, how it performed and what the best points about it are. If you want to know how full sportriding kit fares in a crash then as far as this kit goes, I can tell you exactly…

Supertech R boot Two boots in one go to make up the Supertech R. An inner soft boot carries hard torsion flex bars through the ankle and has reinforced areas, while the outer is lightweight leather with substantial body armour reinforced with metal plates on the heel.

During the crash my left foot was trapped under the bike for a lot of the slide. The damage to the boot was minimal, in fact I’ve ridden with them on track since and they’ll easily take more poundings for a long while yet. If I was bothered about the scuffs then it’d be fairly easy to replace those parts for new ones to keep everything spick and span.

Fit-wise, these are the best boots I’ve ever worn. They feel more like slippers with a lovely thin sole which lets all the bike’s feedback get through to your feet.

product Atem suit Getting on for the best part of a grand means, in my world, that a suit had better be good – and after crashing twice in this suit in the space of four months I can vouch that it is just that. 1.3mm leather with very flexible aramidic stretch panels, great ventilation through the suit and a MotoGP-profile aerodynamic back hump which is also vented keep you very comfortable and able to move around the bike easily.

The external

Bionic Air Back Protector

Essentially, this has two parts to the spine protection. The first is an outer honeycomb plate – made of polypropylene, the second is an inner honeycomb foam made from an elastometric compound.

What that means in

protection on the shoulders, elbows, knees are barely felt when you’re wearing the suit and there’s an easily-removable and washable liner. Collar and all cuffs are Neoprene-edged for comfort, too.

You can see from the pics how little damage the suit suffered. Aside from the cosmetics there was very little ‘real’ damage to the structure of the suit. I carried on riding throughout the day happy in how the suit would perform should I crash again – and that tells you a lot about how this suit stood up to a fast crash.

A lot of money, yes, but worth it to literally save your skin.

the real world is that this back protector is light and very low profile. The double Velcro waist closing straps are ideal and nicely wide too.

Once this is on, you can forget about it. I don’t even realise I’m wearing it when I’m out on track, it’s that comfortable. In the crash it was clear that my lower back had taken a clonk or two as I slid along, but I never felt it and there wasn’t even so much as light bruising afterwards.

GP Pro glove The external protection on the heel of the palm, combined with the large and comprehensive wrist outer protection (plus the external knuckle and back-of-the-hand items) might make these gloves look bulky, but the truth of it is that the soft kangaroo palm and

pliable outer leather means that this is another hugely comfortable glove.

During my crash the gloves dragged on the track for quite a while and the only damage was cosmetic scuffing to the palm of the heel and the very outer of the wrist protection. The palms stood up to damage exceptionally well too. They take a while to break-in but the GP Pro is a top-end glove done very well indeed.

52 PRODUCTS

Schuberth c3 Pro womenS From £499.99 | www.tranam.co.uk | 01425 620580 | Tested by Carli Ann Smith

It may weigh just 1570g, but the flip-front C3 Pro is no lightweight when it comes to features.

The Pro has 23 changes from the original Schuberth C3 – including a rear spoiler, reduced noise levels, improved ventilation and revised liner and cheek pads – and the female version that I have on test has been specially designed to fit ladies’ facial shapes perfectly.

It’s got a microlock fastener which allows you to get the perfect close fit and also for the girls, there is a Coolmax liner which has Interpower coatings for wicking away moisture – i.e. getting rid of sweat – and which prevents staining from make-up. The liners are fully removable and washable too.

There’s an integrated sun visor which is operated by using an easily accessible slider at the bottom of the chin bar which is perfect to flick down when the sun is shining.

The vents – one on the chin bar and one on the top of the helmet – can be opened to get some fresh air in.

I love the attention to detail on the lid. It must have been designed by someone who is pernickety about their gear just like I am… I love that the top vent can be popped off to clean the flies out and the visor has an easy-peasy changing mechanism. There are two reflective patches on the rear of the helmet too on the lining – which help raise your levels of visibility at night too.

Noise can be an issue in helmets – it’s very rare that I ever ride without earplugs – however, I tried it on the Schuberth and was surprised with the results. It’s one of the quietest on the market during testing thanks to an ‘integrated acoustic collar’ – which is the posh way of saying the gap for you to get your head into the helmet is small.

Just 82dB(A) at 100kph was measured on a motorcycle without fairing. A lot of wind noise gets into a helmet by air coming up into the helmet under the chin. Having a small hole and a chin curtain helps to prevent this. As a result, you can’t get the helmet on your head without opening the flip front – but you soon get used to that.

Schuberth helmets have a two year warranty – TranAm has extended it to five years if you buy in the UK and register the product on its website.

For those wanting to fit a communication system, there are two integrated antennas and optimised FM-Radio reception.

It comes with an anti-fog Pinlock insert included and I have a darker visor for the summer months too. Available in sizes XXS-M, I have the pearl white option – priced at £529.99 – but it’s also available in matt black for £499.99, pink for £529.99 and a colour scheme called ‘Euphoria’ which retails for £549.99.

The version for the guys comes packed with all the same features except for the Interpowder coating on the lining and it’s available in sizes XXS-3XL and 14 colour options.

product 53

ResuRgence Vintage BRown VoyageR PeKeV MotoRcycle Jeans

£240 | www.resurgencegear.net | 0203 5142413 | Tested by Luke Brackenbury There’s no denying that £240 is a lot of money for a pair of jeans, but I’ve paid more for motorcycle trousers – textile and leather – and, as these are for that very purpose, there’s no point in comparing them with regular jeans. But I will anyway.

Most of us want to ride in jeans because it looks cool and it’s less hassle and faff when you get to wherever you are going. But we all know that regular jeans are only really protective when stumbling over from a drunken stupor, not for stepping off a moving motorcycle. Despite being well aware of this fact, I’ve ignored it for years.

Well, saying that, I tried some armoured jeans a while back and, despite being my size, they looked awful and the protection wobbled around. What was the point?

I happened across the Resurgence range of protective jeans at a show in January. The first thing that caught my eye from the whole range – six styles, 13 colours, three fits and two cuts (even combats) was that they looked mega. The next thing I know is I’m touching them. And then I’m trying them on; they look good, fit amazing and are really comfortable.

The Voyager jeans are one of the most expensive Resurgence offers. Damn. But they’re fully lined with their own innovative material – Pekev – claimed to be over 200% stronger than Kevlar and holding the honour of the world’s highest abrasion rating for motorcycle jeans at 10.83 seconds. There’s also removable Knox armour in the knees and hips, and a cut to fit them over boots, with Velcro straps to hook under boots to stop them riding up.

Why I wanted them is because I fly a lot for work and always ride to the airport, trying to pack light.

The Resurgence jeans have revolutionised these trips. They’re thick enough to be warm and I wear

only a thin and foldable pair of waterproof trousers over the top if needed. When I arrive, I take out the armour. I can remove the hip protectors while wearing them, but have to take them off to get the knee guards out.

The first trip was a cold ride to Heathrow, through the hustle/hassle of security and on for five of the 11 hours of the flight to Thailand. Then back on for a full days riding in the Thai heat. No problems. The last mission was to Gatwick in the rain and I had the jeans on for four days solid in Austria – on the plane, in the hire car, in meetings and in the pub.

Hopefully I won’t have to properly test them, but they feel bulletproof. Also, you have to remember to tuck the Velcro strap firmly out of the way when you don’t want to hold them in place – people always tell me when I’m dragging it. I can see the strap being the first thing to wear away, though.

Comfy, protective, great fit, look good, proper armour, fully lined – I love them.

54 The ulTimaTe big boy Toy

The ultimate motorcycle model kit We All remember small-scale model plastic construction kits when we were young, but now you can get your hands on what’s being branded the ‘world’s first full-size plastic motorcycle kit’.

And the life-size plastic kits look incredible.

This is a full-size plastic motorcycle kit that looks realistic and can be assembled and painted by any competent adult. A unique feature allows somebody to sit astride the motorcycle for photos without any weight going through the lightweight model itself.

Peter Manning, a professional product designer innovator, has received investment into his company Full Size Kits from MHP

www.mhp-uk.com a large UK plastics manufacturer which will produce the kits.

He said: “I am a Harley-Davidson owner and enthusiast and know that a 1960s classic motorcycle would be popular. I designed the kit so that it could be produced in easy-toassemble parts.

“It had to be light enough to pick up and hang on the wall and weighs 16 kg.

There is also a commercial market for themed bars or retail displays where assembled kits will also be available. I am passionate about the project which I have been working on for two years.”

This Harley model weighs just 16kg and can be hung on a wall!

The kit has been designed so that it could be manufactured to be cost viable and not too heavy. Vacuum formings rather than injection moulded plastic was the way to go giving low tooling cost and simplicity.

Designing a motorcycle so that it could all be vacuum formed and look realistic was quite a task. Peter added: “I got permission from Haynes Motor Museum to photograph and take measurements of its classic 1960s HarleyDavidson Duo-Glide. I have applied for a patent, which is currently being processed.

“I spent weeks drawing up full-size drawings of all the components in three elevation fullsize dimensioned drawings as vacuum formings. These were so that the two CAD (computer aided design) engineers could produce 3D models of all parts and then assemble them on the computer.

“The CAD files took three months and were essential for the production of the tooling. There are more than 50 vacuumformed ABS plastic parts and over 180 components in total including metal handlebars and side stand. As the sample parts were produced and sent down to me from the manufacturer I began to paint and assemble the first sample kit. It was very exciting and like Christmas opening the large boxes every time I received one from the manufacturer. It was very satisfying seeing the individual plastic components and then the final assembled kit, which looks fantastic.

“The first kit available to reserve is the Route ‘66’ Classic and we intend to produce a range of motorcycles which may include a licensed Triumph Bonneville and a Manx Norton.”

Check out: www.fullsizekits.com

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ONLINE www.motorcyclemonthly.co.uk EMAIL freeads@motorcyclemonthly.co.uk POST MCM Reader Adverts, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR

BMW R80RT 800cc, gold, MoT, new tyres, panniers, back trouble, too heavy for me, £850. Tel. 01767 691209 leave message if not in. Sandy, Beds.

AERMACCHI SPRINT 350 TLS brake, alloy rims, s/s spokes, s/s exhaust, very rare, restored for £3500+, Mikuni carb, painted by Rapier, lovely bike, reducing collection £5500.Tel. 01724 845235 for more details. N Lincs.

AJS DD125 EOS 2008 for sale, 3900 miles, full MoT, selling due to bigger bike must be seen, £1250. Tel. 07434 311608. Tyne & Wear.

BMW GS1200 2013 white, 5200 miles (may go up weather permitting), BMW warranty until July 2015, full main dealer service history, vgc, extras include full Vario pannier and top box set, matching keys, spoked wheels, Garmin sat nav, tall touring screen, engine bars, £1900. Tel. 01908 887415.

Newport.

BMW R100R5 1000cc, 1978, excellent order, white, Motorsport pin striping, white pannier cases, original equipment, MoT, £2750.

Tel. 07981 027912. N Bucks.

APRILIA SL750 2012 Shiver, only 700 miles, full luggage kit, £4650 ono. Tel. 01736 752028. Cornwall.

BENELLI K2 Namur, 50cc, two stroke scooter, good condition, years MoT, 2001, £500 ono. Tel. 07704 804893. Bucks.

BAOTIAN BT49-QT-9 49cc, red, automatic, first time starter, good condition, only 1,850 miles, new top box fitted, £350 ovno. Tel. 01946 861404. Lamplugh, Cumbria.

BMW 1200RT SE 26k miles, reg July 2012 (12 reg.), vgc, fsh, last service Jan 2015, ABS, electronic suspension, panniers, heated grips/seat, cruise control & more, £7499. Tel. 07788 593463. Oxfordshire.

BMW K100RC 1000cc Classiic big touring bike, good condition, £1100 or swap/p/x 600cc plus trail bike, SLR 650 or similar Tel. 07909 502143; 01422 316310.

W Yorks.

BMW K100 83/84 (A) first batch reproduction silver, black panniers, genuine 9k miles, serviced, new f/seals, tyres, battery, ex BMW HQ, tool kit, f/aid kit, £2950.

Tel. 07759 607498. E Berks.

BSA A10 1961, 650cc, suspect Super Rocket but ideal for Rocket Goldie lookalike, full deep valance mudguards, Goldie back wheel average condition, ally head with twin carburetors, thick flange barrels, DA10R crankcases HC, 120mph chronometric speedo, Hagon back shocks. Tel. Ralph 01724 864220. Lincs.

BMW R1000GS 1996,ABS, Fournales shocks, Remus exhaust, Touratech seat, BMW panniers, heated grips, Goodrich lines and more, plus all original parts, well cared for and vgc, ready for next trip, £3000.Tel. 01885 410757 or 07850 465286. Worcs.

BMW R100RS 1983, A reg, Pearlescant white with red and grey coachlines, 46,200 miles, full fairing with profiled screen, BMW rear rack and panniers, in good clean running order, current owner since 2009, stored since 2012, £1650 ono. Tel. 07970 235358. Bucks.

BMW R850R 2003, (6 speed), 50k miles, PSH, panniers, top box, tank bag, engine guards, hand guards, heated grips, workshop manual, MoT March 2015, £2100. Tel. Brian on 01325 721669. Darlington.

BMW K100 1000cc, 1983/84, first 'K' batch, 9k miles, silver, serviced, new fork seals, battery, tyres, BMW hard panniers, tools, first aid kit! vgc, £2950; BMW K1200 RS, 2001, red/fr blue, 37k miles, panniers, extra r/rack, vgc, £2950.Tel. 07759 607498. Berks.

BMW R1150GS 1150cc, 2003, one owner from new, full s/h, 32k, ABS, h/grips, hand guards, BMW panniers, always garaged, good condition, t&t, £3400 ono. Tel. 01484 682822 (daytime). Yorks.

BSA B40 350cc, ex mod, registered 1974, constructed 1967, c/w log book, sound runner, ready to ride, £2350. Tel. 01404 46570.

E Devon.

BSA A7SS (ASS) 500cc, complete bike for restoration, head work done, new rods, pistons, etc, spare engine, new cosmetic parts, old log book, £2295 ono. for details. Tel. 01254 829999; 07999 255013. Lancs.

BSA SPITFIRE 650cc, Mk 2, 65/66, reg 67 (E), Peony red, Comp, rebuild, receipts m/nos, orig log book, invoice 99.9%, original running in 505 miles, £15,500 ono; Triumph T90 Daytona cafe racer, handcrafted ali p/tank, rims, pegs, goodies, £4950.Tel. 07759 607498. Berks.

BSA STARFIRE 250cc, 1970, good condition, rechromed r/mudguard, headlamp, new s/s rear rim/spokes, new tyres/ silencer/seat cover, professionally repainted tank/side cover, new clutch springs and plates, 2LS front brake, £2450 ono. Tel. 07800 527698; 01773 862761. Notts.

CONDOR A580 1953, rare original Swiss military bike, with history and V5C, £5999. Tel. 07798 866071. Greater London.

DIRECT BIKES DB125 CRUISER 125cc, 4-seater, Y, 2010, 5,003 miles, new parts: carb, battery, piston set (starter clutch), very tidy scooter, all working condition, MoT on purchase, photos via phone, bargain - only £250. Tel. 07941 473812. N Lincs.

DUCATI 750SS 1997, 13,000 miles, great condition, new transmission, tyres cam belts and MoT, contact for pics, £1895. Tel. 07807 920067. Cardiganshire.

DUCATI 916 MONSTER S4, 2001, 24,000 miles, a lot of money spent on engine, very fastbike needs tlc, MoT until June 2015, would swap for Enduro or middle weight bike, sale £1999 ono. Tel. 07525 749132. Leics.

DUCATI MONSTER S4R 2004, black, vgc, 9006 miles, fsh, belts changed, MoT till March 30th 2016, many new parts, great performance, Sports cans, iconic motorcycle, two keys, manual, £4350. Tel. 07956 253608.

Greater London.

DUCATI MONSTER S4R 2004, black, 9006 miles, vgc for age, fsh, belts changed, MoT till March 30th 2016, tyre condition, excellent, great performance, Sports cans, iconic motorcycle, two keys, manual, £4350. Tel. 07956 253608. Gtr London.

DUCATI 916 new belts, great condition, 17,000 miles, Termi cans and more, £4850.Tel. 07760 571399. Surrey.

DUCATI M600 Monster, dark, 1999, good condition, MoT til June, black/red, £1100 ono. Tel. 07576 104774. Essex.

DUCATI SEBRING 350cc, 1972, free tax, good all round condition, 12v electrics, MoT, recent chain sprockets, front tyre, used all last year, £4250. Tel. 01322 275022 before 9pm. £4250. Tel. 01322 275022. Kent.

GILERA XV RUNNER 125 very low miles, first reg 20/12/07, A1 condition, MoT June, collectable reg no, £1450. Tel. 01333 720250. Fife.

HARLEY DAVIDSON Sportster 883 XLH, 1998, MoT August 2015, custom wheels swing arm tank, fair bit chrome, 31,000 miles, £3500.Tel. 07906 727593.

Cornwall.

HARLEY DAVIDSON Sportster XL883, 2013, 63 reg, immaculate, 4k miles, alarm, h/grips, garaged, 6 months warranty, one careful retired owner, new 883 in garage so quick sale needed, save £3500, just see it, only £4950.Tel. 0117 9673008. S Glos.

HARLEY DAVIDSON Sportster 1200 Custom, 2011, in outstanding condition, selling for only £6495. Tel. 07811 490463. Norfolk.

HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDC Superglide custom 2010, MoT August, backrest, luggage rack, heated grips, under 8000 miles, showroom condition. Tel. 07880 712544. Somerset.

ELECTRIC FOLDING CYCLE suitable paddock bike, brand new batteries, cost £80, vgc, suitable age 8-80, £125 ono. Tel. 01273 812101. Lewes, Sussex.

GAS GAS 2-stroke 125cc trials, 2002-3, yellow/silver, disc brakes, engine overhauled, good plastics, not road registered, deliver 50 miles, owner unable to ride due to illness, £850. Tel. 01743 860362.

Shrops.

HARLEY DAVIDSON WLC 750cc, 1942, in excellent civilian trim, correct hand clutch,panniers,rear rack etc, reluctant sale, £12,995. Tel. 07798 866071. Greater London.

HARLEY DAVIDSON. Soft Tail 1450, runs perfect, low miles, well built, p/x or £7750. Tel. 07549 543140. Lincs.

HARLEY DAVIDSON 1200cc 2002, XL Sportster Limited Edition, black/silver, extra chrome, LED display, new MoT, 6k miles, extras included, panniers, seat conversion, Stage One, £5995. superb p/x considered Tel. 07950 398750. W mids.

HARLEY DAVIDSON XL883 Sportster Iron Trike, 2010, 5125 miles, Klicktronic hand operated gear system, custom made luggage, tow bar twin seat with backrests, stage 1 MoT until April 2015, £13,000 ono. Tel. 07949 679138. Renfrewshire.

HARLEY ULTRA Classic Electra Glide trike, 1340cc, five gears & reverse just been serviced, garage said it’s one of the best conversations, never been out in rain, fsh, 42,000 on clock, bike is 91 converted in 2003, fantastic condition, £12,750. Tel. 01773 534001. Notts.

HONDA 1500SE Goldwing with hydraulic stabilisers, 43,000 miles, recently services, new tyres, new brake pads, new battery, stainless exhaust, £5999 ono. Tel. Matt 07777 687930.

Flintshire.

HONDA CB360 1975, G5, green, very clean bike in original unmolested condition, new rear tyre, new battery and spark plugs, starts and runs well, 19k miles only, no MoT but should sail through it, £1950 ono. Tel. Mike on 01204 597772. Lancs.

HONDA C90E 10/88 only 5,500 miles! Rickman carrier and top box, mechanics excellent, red/white, easy kick-start, 12v, first prod MoT/tax, very economical with lively performance, £900.Tel. 01300 320446. Dorset.

HONDA CB500 1999, 12 months’ MoT, eye-catching yellow, 20k, only shield Italian top box, excellent condition, 6-speed gearbox, very reliable, perfect, ready to go, bargain £1300. Tel. 01354 610269; 07500 148900. Cambs.

HONDA CBF600 2005, December MoT, 11,342 miles, vgc, heated grips, K&N reusable filer, hugger, Smart water, two keys, documentation and part service history, £2200.Tel. 07925 285108. Essex.

HONDA CG125 2005, commuter 15,000 miles, good condition, well maintained (oiled and cleaned),new front and rear sprockets, chain and high intensity Halogen head light bulbs, used primarily to go to and from school good learner friendly 125, pick up only, silver, two owners, part service history, centre stand, electric start, luggage rack, top box, £900 ono. Tel. 01483 894087. Surrey.

HONDA CUB 90cc, two for sale, 1996 and 2002, completely overhauled, new paint, both have new MoTs, £2500 the pair; will seperate Tel. Bill 07572 931129. W Sussex.

HONDA CBR 400 1988, 3,500 miles from new, all original, new tyres and battery, serviced and MoT, £2500. Tel. 01793 826375.

Wilts.

HONDA CBR500R (Cat A2), black, 9515 miles, FSH, fun + great mpg, lovely condition + heated grips, £3300 ono. Tel. 07751 422256. Flintshire.

HONDA CD175 1978, 22,250 miles, warranted, lovely condition, two previous owners, toolkit, handbook etc, perfect running order no faults, MoT, new battery & tyres a classic, £1750 ono. Tel. Steve 07814 355571. Lancs.

HONDA CRF 250 2014, 350 miles only, remainder of warranty, as new, £3250. Tel. 02392 214606.

Hants.

HONDA CX500 EC Eurosport, 1983, A reg, black, only 13.5k miles, serviced regularly, my 77 year old father owned this bike from new, and it is totally original, in excellent condition, new original Honda silencers fitted, an appreciating classic, great investment £3495. Tel. 07859 919598. North Yorkshire.

HONDA FIREBLADE 929 2001, 28k miles, fsh, MoT, mint condition, new tyres, standard bike, Smartwater, two keys, £2500.Tel. 01933 624493; 07508 567576.

Northants.

HONDA GL1800 Goldwing, custom trike & trailer, professionally built, 2001 converted 2005, £40,000+ spent on this award winning outfit, 54,000 miles, many extras including LED lights, £22,000. Tel. Mick 07742 626584. Cambs.

HONDA INOVA blue, 90 miles, only 12 months’ MoT Apr 2012, kept in garage, £1900 ono. Tel. 01884 820531. Tiverton, Devon.

CLASSIFIED HONDA NT700V 700cc, metallic grey, h/grips, 23k miles, one mature owner from new, ABS, garaged, service history, new tyres, (not import), excellent reliable bike, £3650. Tel. 07743 383968. Lancs.

HONDA SH300 scooter auto, MoT March 2016, abs 24,000 miles, front screen silver, £995 ovno.Tel. 07772 797112. Derbyshire.

HONDA TL125S 1978, one owner, road registered, nuts & bolts, rezinced, new tyres tubes, spokes, re powder coated, new seat cover, new chain & sprockets, new battery, seals & bearings, too much to list, 7400 miles, needs little work to finish, £2000.

Tel. 07970 111468. South Yorkshire.

HONDA TRIALS 190cc, 1980, twin shock, fully rebuilt, £1600 spent, parts, unused, daylight MoT, competition spec or green laner, mint bike, £2495. Tel. 074340 40520. Lancs.

HONDA CUB 90 two for sale, new MoTs, 1996, 2002, vgc, fully overhauled, £750 each; also trailer, single bike, h/duty, new tyres plus spare, new electrics, jockey wheel, £250.Tel. 07572 931129. Sussex.

HONDA VF1000 FE/FF a VF1000FF frame and engine, 1986, 65k miles, with FE red bodywork, owned this bike for 12 years and it’s been a fun and reliable, supremely capable all rounder, V5 present, MoT till April, £500 can deliver at cost within 100 miles, cash on collection Tel. 0777 3641786. Suffolk.

HONDA VFR750FV 1997, 30,000 miles, new MoT, vgc, serviced, garaged, summer use only new tyres, Scottoiler, Givi wing rack panniers, touring screen, rear hugger, front fender extender, alarm, sat nav and mount Honda tool kit and handbook seat cowl, lovely bike, £1500. Tel. 07749 047164. West Yorkshire.

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HONDA VTS TRICOLOR 750 3023, as new, Givi screen, heated grips, need lighter bike now, 9,439 miles, £4150 ono.Tel. 0151 6485470. Wirral.

HONDA VTX1800C 2007, Custom Cruiser, many extras inc Vance and Hines pipes, Hyper charger, sports screen, twin back rests, tool roll and saddlebags, approximately 7500 miles, excellent condition, first to see will buy, cash on collection only.Tel. 07776 233750. Greater Manchester.

HONDA XR 250 Tornado, 54 plate, 12,500 miles, electric start, MoT Sept 15, £900. Tel. 07802 662697. Powys.

HONDA VFR800FI Anniversary Model, 1999, excellent condition, 45k miles, MoT till May 2016, s/h, new front wheel bearings, new tyres 2014, Scottoiler, hugger, f&r extenders, headlight protector, £1795. Tel. 07722 278872. Derbys.

HONDA VTS 750 Tricolour, 2012, under 10k miles, Givi wind screen, heated grips, lovely condition, £4150 ono. Tel. 0151 6485470. Wirral, Cheshire.

HONDA XR250 1979, reliable, simple, air cooled single, great town/field bike, not fast, nice thump, MoT July, low seat, lots of spares, £1450 ono. Tel. 02921 152771. Glamorgan.

HONDA 500S year 2000, 19,000 miles, MoT May 2015, excellent condition including topbox & Givi panniers if required, £1300 ono.

Tel. 01926 336246. Warks.

HONDA C90 90cc, nice little bike, 31k miles, runs well, new tyres, seat cover, carb mirrors, not immaculate but vgc, long MoT, red, £695 ovno. Tel. 01257 462185 after 6pm. Lancs.

HONDA C90 CUB 90cc, 2002, 100 miles on rebuild engine, new MoT, all cycle parts, overhauled, new paint, single bike trailer, heavy duty for sale, £250; new tyres, electrics, jockey wheel, £750.Tel. 07572 931129. Sussex.

HONDA CB250RSA 1980, W, only 5800 miles, time warp condition, stainless Motad, manual handbook, recent tyres, some history, very original, £1495 ono.

Tel. 01246 200842; 07935 175649. Derbyshire.

HONDA CBR600F 1999, yellow/blue met, recent new tyres, exhaust, above average condition, 15k miles, only 1k miles since 2007 Sorned, will MoT on sale, £1850. Tel. 01896 756921. S Scotland.

HONDA CD200 BENLY 10 months' MoT, fitted carrier/top box, windscreen, vgc, £755. Tel. 078130 31407. Lancs.

HONDA NC700 Integra, 2012, 6speed, twin clutch, automatic /tiptronic, 70+ mpg, ABS, 35 ltr Givi panniers, Honda warranty until September 2015, quick off the mark, comfortable ride, ideal for commute or touring, £5500 ovno.

Tel. 07798 842421.

HONDA ST 1100 spares/repair, £800. can deliver. Tel. 01944 738652. N Yorks.

HONDA VFR FH 750cc, 1987, for sale, off the road past 5 years, needs rear tail fairing apart from that excellent condition, £500.Tel. 01256 893295 for details.. Hants.

INDIAN 741B 1942, lovely fully restored military spec bike, panniers, rifle holster, Ammo box, rear rack etc, original reg number, V5C, £14. Tel. 01895 624554. Greater London.

Kawasaki W650: Nostalgia with a modern touch or two Look around you and see how just how much

OLD IS THE new future and nostalgia is much more vivid than it used to be. If you don’t quite get it check out how many traditional twins Hinckley Triumph punts out ever y year. If the modern, faux Bonneville and its analogues aren’t your scene then there’s a real and

viable alternative out there...

Kawasaki’s W650.

On sale in Blighty from 1990 through to 2006 it offered a genuine alternative to the reborn Triumphs and, quite possibly, looks much more like the original’s profile. Check out the swoopy seat ; just like the one in

KAWASAKI J300 2014 Special Edition, 1045 miles only, as new condition, never seen rain, always garaged, datatag security kit fitted, £3300. Tel. 07955 632133.

Bristol.

KAWASAKI W650 year, 1999, red, cream, 16,700 miles, Givi top box, side pan, s/spokes, mint cond, plus spares, £4000. Tel. 01446 790157. Glamorgan.

KAWASAKI Z650 1980, restoration project almost complete, engine turns, before I acquired it I was told it ran, V5, sold as seen, pay with paypal or on collection, £1500. Tel. 01689 891345; 07799 813523. Kent.

KAWASAKI ZL600 ELIMINATOR 1995 onwards B1, wanted a rear rack, in good condition.Tel. 01706 875441. Lancs.

KAWASAKI ZZR250 1992 model, with V5C, no bodywork or silencers but has tank and seat, for spares, repair or project, £250 ono. Tel. 01229 465311 or 07939 430576. S Cumbria.

MOTO GUZZI Old Airone 250cc year, 1961, runnung well, need new battery, £5990. Tel. 07424 461894. Greater Manchester.

KAWASAKI ZZR1100 D6 vgc, 11,800 miles, MoT, original bike with low mileage, Scottoiler, good tyres, new battery, very reliable bike, extras, Corbin type seat and pannier racks, plus two screens, handle bar risers, £2500 ono. Tel. 07504 735534. W Yorks.

KTM DUKE 690 2010, black, best one with WP suspension etc, 4600 miles, two brand new tyres, one owner, serviced by owner, 99% mint condition, only ridden gently (71mpg), £3750. Tel. 07583 286075. Worcs.

MALAGUTI 125 2011, (same as Yamaha XT125), needs new battery but kickstarts ok, 360 miles only, ideal learner or green laner, MoT until June, £1000.Tel. 07795 087319. South Yorkshire.

MOTO GUZZI Cali EV, 1997, MoT Sept, new gearbox/final drive, fork oils, MoTs back to 2002, hard panniers, big screen, two new brake master cyclinders, bike now to heavy, £2100 ono. Tel. 01254 603332. Lancs.

grandad’s album. Those silencers?

Pure British styling.

The petrol tank with its chrome badge, contrasting colours and rubber knee pads is pure Meriden circa 1959; it could have come off the drawing board of Jack Wickes (go look him up). The side panels look like old-fashioned oil tanks, gaitered forks maintain the illusion and, for crying out loud, even the disc brake carrier looks like one of those devviilishly dangerous single leading shoe drum brakes. Arguably Kawasaki did a better job with Meriden’s legacy than Hinckley did.

And the good news is that it’s not all show and bluster. Kawasaki’s bestever retro is something of a tour de force in the engine department.

Although smallish by modern standards the 676cc motor knocks out fairly creditable 50bhp at a not too frantic 7000rpm.

If you want a non-sportsbike with some genuine style that doesn’t demand to be ridden like a racetrack refugee the W650 may well be worth considering. Tucked away in that compact parallel twin is an eight-valve motor that runs a balance shaft to reduce the fabled vibrations associated with the engine layout.

The long stroke motor allows the power to be delivered in loping manner and makes the most of the 21lb-ft of torque on offer. In terms of bragging rights the W650 aces any of its direct competitors in terms of the cam drive system. Forget ffllailing metal cam chains or toothed rubber belts with

MOTO GUZZI Le Mans Mk 5, 1989, F reg, owned since nearly new, 52k miles, runs fine, always maintained & never stored longer than winter so have every MoT cert, too heavy for me now, £2500.

Tel. 07775 433995. N. Yorks.

MOTO GUZZI Nuovo Falcone, 1973, 10,000 miles approx, good unrestored condition, runs well, new battery, MoT, no VED, £2995.

Tel. 07947 249128 after 5pm.

Lincs.

MOTO GUZZI ZIGOLO two with V5C registration documents, there is a complete 110cc and the remains of a 98cc, the 110cc was registered in 1957 & the 98cc was registered in 1960. Tel. 07840 251105. Lancashire.

their attendant longevity issue; the Kawasaki does it properly.

Running up the right-hand side of the motor is a tunnel containing a bevel drive mechanism. Ask any proper engineer the most accurate way to drive a cam and they will say gears.

Know that the original V-twin Ducatis used exactly the same system and be suitably impressed. Oh and in world of homogeneity the bike still has a kickstarter to back up its electric foot. This feature alone makes it a real bike in some people’s book.

In terms of handling the bike is never going to embarrass an EN-6R but it corners a lot better than many might expect. With lower bars, some decent rear shocks and possibly stiffer fork springs it’ll go around bends far more capably than many of its ilk and can make a very enjoyable B road hustler.

The Kawasaki W650 is one of those machines that some see as a blank canvas for tweaking, tuning and modifying and it seems to work rather well. Flat trackers, scramblers and cafe racers have all been very successfully produced from this bike. And if you wanted to add a little gravitas and kudos to ownership look out for exracer James Witham’s take on the bike.

He and a mate have created a pair of stunning street scramblers that parody the W650’s progenitor while taking their aesthetic cues from early 70s Kawasaki strokers.

Not so long ago the Japanese factories were, rightly, accused of not being in touch with their heritage. The

Visit www.classicmagazines.co.uk/cmmvjmc Call: C all: 0 01507 1507

529529 529529 aand nd qquote uote ccode: ode: C CMMVJMC MMVJMC

PUCH ALPINE SRA 150cc scooter, 1960, few years ago this scooter had some refurbishment including new tyres, brakes, bearings etc, no rust or rot, like many scooters of this age (55 years old) have, stood in a heated and humidity controlled building for the past five years, it ran very well when it was put away but will require a new battery given the time it has stood, looks as good as the photo, £1250 no offers, too good to sell any cheaper Tel. 07831 353622. Cumbria.

PUCH YAMAHA 125cc, 1970, £1250 ono. Tel. 01524 735039; 079190 614123. Lincs.

MZ TS250 1975, 8000 miles, beautiful original condition, £1400. Tel. 07836 759302.

Cheshire.

Want your fix of Japanese classics? Then you need...

5 issues for £12

MV AGUSTA F4S 750cc, year 2000, red/silver, 28k miles, carbon parts, just had full engine and injector service, good condition, tax and MoT, £6000 ono. Tel. 01274 869256. W Yorks.

NORTON DOMI 99 600cc, 1960, rebuilt Grimeca front brake, alloy yokes, alloy s/arm, new carb, 12v, £5600 or original wheels, £5100.

Tel. 07505 602257. N E Lincs.

ExEpxirpyyii:ry3:03/10 0//50/72/01154. *UK only offer

Japanese mindset was that yesterday had already gone and in order to generate profit and develop motorcycles they needed to look to the future. With the demographic getting older, manufacturers have suddenly seen that the future may lie in the past.

The W650 apes the company’s earliest four stroke twins; the long running W1 and W2 series.

These bikes came courtesy of Kawasaki’s takeover of the ailing Meguro company. With suitable revisions and a capacity hike from 500 to 650cc Kawasaki had a potential Brit beater that sold well in Japan but failed to make siggn nificant inroads into Europe or the USA. By the end of the model’s run it was sporting forks, brakes, clocks and sundry running gear originally destined for the legendary Z1 900.

Quite why the Japanese Meguro factory would consider producing a 500cc push rod parallel twin might seem odd in the extreme until you pick up on one key point. It was licensed the design by the mighty BSA empire which had no further need to produce the A7 500 twin. So, the W650 has as much historic authenticity as the modern Triumphs... or possibly even more!

Get joining If you fancy joining a great band of vintage Japanese motorcycle enthusiasts then check out membership_vjmc@yahoo.co.uk or 01634 361825/07948 563280

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Selling your bike is FREE for private readers

Online: www.motorcyclemonthly.co.uk Email: freeads@motorcyclemonthly.co.uk Post: MCM Reader Adverts, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle LN9 6JR

ROYAL ENFIELD Bullet 500, 2014, purchased November, genuine reason for sale bike to heavy for me, original seat and handlebars can be refitted if required, 350 miles, £3400. Tel. 01524 733604. North Lancs.

SUZUKI RF900 1996, purple/ yellow/grey, new chain and sprockets, new rear tyre, dynojet, K&N filter, heated grips, bubble screen, aftermarket can, MoT 10/2015, one owner last seven years, good condition for age & mileage,£1095.Tel. 07528 723247. Wiltshire.

TRIUMPH TIGER 800 ABS, Road 2011, 10 mths MoT, 24,000 miles, good condition, heated grips, radiator cover, progressive forks springs, great all round performance, £4980 ovno. Tel. 01484 861608. West Yorks.

YAMAHA FJR1300 beautiful example in exceptional condition with just less than 16k miles, colour coded panniers and top case, service history, electric screen, ABS, heated grips, security system and all the usual extras for this model, viewing is welcome, absolutely faultless, will be sold with a full MoT.Tel. 07791 723949. W Yorks.

YAMAHA YZF-R1 1000cc, 1999 (Q plate), 39k miles, MoT till 2016, on Sorn at present, trick tubes, swing arm, Fox suspension unit, rear sets, Micron exhaust, race components forks, sprint steering damper, new tyres and battery, £1000 ono. Tel. 07539 688031. S London.

YAMAHA XT660X red, 2014, mint condition, garaged, 1700 miles, bought from new, £3900 ono. Tel. 07804 250750. Glos.

PARTS FOR SALE

ROYAL ENFIELD Bullet Electra X, 2004, good condition, new rear tyre, new battery, MoT June, very economical, 14k miles, £1725.

Tel. 01228 528483; 07796 814489. Cumbria.

SUZUKI 650 Katana, 1984, restored, excellent condition, long MoT, spares manuals, must be seen, £2000. Tel. 07757 099844.

West Midlands.

SUZUKI BANDIT 1200 1999, 25,000 miles, good tyres, 12 months MoT, previous MoTs point to mileage being about right, two keys, new hugger, new plugs, oil and chrome oil filter, new wide bars fitted over winter, also a red bagster tank cover, vgc free with bike,. Tel. 07475 746569. Lancs.

SUZUKI GSX1400 very nice bike it has Kawasaki VN front forks, it has Black Jack Daniels paint work and a new MoT, £4000 ono.

Tel. 07870 381621. Wales.

SUZUKI GSX750F 2000, X reg, good condition, MoT to August 2015, 22,000 miles, Sorn, £1250 ono. Tel. 01526 354141. Lincolnshire.

SUZUKI GW250 INAZUMA better than new, all fittings copper greased, garaged, fender extender, screen, 2000 miles, 2013, £2200 ovno. Tel. John 07901 621607. South Yorkshire.

SUZUKI INTRUDER 1800cc, mint cond, 2012 registered, blue and white strip, 9400 miles, Avon Cobras are new, V Stream Screen, chrome crashbars, £8000 ono.

Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

SUZUKI INTRUDER 1800cc, 2012 plate, blue white, new Avon tyres,V Stream scream and crash bars, 9400 miles, great condition, K&N filters, oil and filters changed, £7850 ono. Tel. 07894 078815.

Notts.

SUZUKI SV650S 15,300 miles, MoT no advisories, new gel battery, serviced custom exhaust, hugger protectors remote control, led runing lights, exceptionally well looked after, sounds and looks fantastic. Tel. 07799 761806. Gwent.

SUZUKI DR BIG 800cc, great condition, MoT on Sorn, £1600 ono. Tel. 01944 738652. N Yorks.

SUZUKI EN125-2A 55 plate, 6k miles, blue, excellent condition, just done 650 mile round trip, must be seen, a little cracker, must be worth £650 ono. Tel. 07884 227237. Edinburgh.

SUZUKI GSF600X one lady owner from new, built to my spec by Trike Shop, Cardiff in 1999, 9,550 dry miles, always garaged, fully adjustable wishbone suspension on rear, gas shocks, 185/65/14 tyres, very reluctant sale due to ill health, will have new service and MoT, £3600 ono. Tel. 01646 651058. Pembs.

SUZUKI GSXR1000 K6, low mileage, excellent condition, blue, maintained carefully by mechanic owner, £4500 ovno. Tel. 01526 353453. Lincs.

TERROT 1956, 125cc 4 stroke, original and complete with great detailing, runs & rides but not registered for the road, a rare opportunity to own something different, £1850. Tel. Dave 07738 047413.

Lancs.

TRIUMPH DAYTONA 955I 2002, 51 reg, metallic silver & black, 56,600 miles, vgc, throttle cables & fuel lines replaced & bottom suspension rebuilt, current owner since 2011, MoT end of May 2015, £1750.Tel. 07970 235358.

Buckinghamshire.

TRIUMPH SPRINT ST 955i, 2002 01 reg, 15,000 miles, MoT Sept, top box and heated grips, vgc, £1995.Tel. 01162 862597. Leics.

TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE fsh, 12,000 miles, lots of factory fitted extras, full Arrow 3-1 exhaust system, Ohlins rear shock, Matris f/fork inners, Datatool S4 alarm, R&G protectors, full body kit etc, garaged & dry miles only, £5500 ono. Tel. Mark 07412 551559.

Berkshire.

TRIUMPH T110 650cc, pre-unit, 1957, blue, older restoration, trophy style alloy head, m/mag, good runner, easy convert, original, sold as seen, matching nos, £4250 ovno.Tel. 07951 247635.W Mids.

TRIUMPH TIGER 800 excellent condition, purchased new 2011, black, 11,750 miles, MoT until July 2015, recently renewed front & rear tyres & disc pads, full service history, £4750. Tel. Emlyn 07855 707862. Bristol.

TRIUMPH TIGER 90 350cc, 5k miles since total restoration, matching nos, a real head turner, finished in Grenadier red and Alaskan white, sensible upgrades, good investment at £5000 firm Tel. 01752 843990. Cornwall.

YAMAHA FZR600R M reg (95) MoT 9 Feb 2016, full stainless art exhaust, recent chain + sprockets, good tyres, twin headlamp cockpit fairing g/belly pan, new spare brake pads in packs, every receipt + MoT since 09, totally reliable, reluctant sale, £900 ono.

Tel. 07516 840677; 01492 203073 anytime. Denbighshire.

YAMAHA R125 just over 1000 miles, been very well loved, great looking bike turns heads, hardly ridden in, mint condition, no modifications, recommend view-ing, selling bike with heavy duty bike chain and cover, £3700 ono. Tel. 07715 561701. Leics.

TRIUMPH TROPHY 1200, Azure blue, one owner, full history heated grips, coded top box other extras fitted 2001 with 13,500 miles, mint condition, any inspection, £3000 no offers. Tel. 01502 539825. Suffolk.

TRIUMPH TROPHY 1200 2003, mileage 21.4k, chain oiler, h/grips, new chain rear tyre, MoT July, garaged, £2150. Tel. 07711 546282. Bucks.

TRIUMPH 100A 1960, beautiful condition, black and white, regularly maintained by mechanic owner, MoT certificate till July.Tel. 01526 353453; 07922 544786.

Lincs.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 2001, Y, red/silver, 4.5k miles by one owner from new, excellent, Sorned, can MoT, Givi panniers and top box, oiro £2750.Tel. . Derbys.

DerekBrock01@Tiscali .co.uk for photos.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE SE 2013 navy blue/cream, only 1,475 miles, just serviced, under warranty, purchased from Two Wheels, Edinburgh. Last bike made by Triumph in this colour/model, bike not being used, mature owner, £5750. Tel. 01383 825245. Fife.

TRIUMPH T100 Hinckley silencers, as new, 2005/2006, £150. plus p&p Tel. 01452 410622. Glos.

TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD Sport 900, yellow/black, 1997, 23k miles, on Sorn, parcel rack, vgc, £3250 ono; Suzuki Hayabusa, red/black, 2000, W, 22k miles, Quill cans, many extras, vgc, on Sorn, £3200 ono. Tel. 01945 581440. Cambs.

TRIUMPH TIGER CUB T20 200, 1960s, with matching numbers, nice condition as I would like to use it this Summer. Tel. Steve 01642 322236. N Yorks.

VELOCETTE MAC 350cc, 1953, first swinging arm, all original, only 61k miles, exc cond, all alloy engine, dynamo, regulator recently overhauled, good tyres, chains, brakes, owned 7 years, £4850 ono. Tel. 01273 812101.

Lewes, Sussex.

YAMAHA DT 175 twin shock, 1997, 8k miles, restored, MoT, £2200.Tel. 07816 347623. Leics.

YAMAHA VIRAGO XV535 which was first registered in 2000 (W reg), very low mileage (3460) & in excellent condition, not driven on road since then but runs perfectly, customisations include, handlebars, stainless hose, new petrol pump, crash bars, new tyres, new stainless spokes,. Tel. 07713 651632. West Midlands.

YAMAHA XJ600 S, green, 1997, 16,000 miles, years MoT, good runner, reliable bike, some history, £1350.Tel. 07719 777175. Bristol.

4 LS TYPE GRIMECA 230mm front brake, hub and spindle, 36 s/s spoked into 18in x 1.85 Classic Akront aluminium valenced TS type rim, all new and unused, oiroWill send photos if you email interest to: £950. Tel. 0. Derbys. derekbrock01@ tiscali.co.uk APRILIA MANA 850 exhaust, came off very low mileage machine, excellent condition, £135.

Tel. 0161 766 6353. Lancs.

BAGLUX TANK COVERS Triumph Speed Triple, 2007, green, new; Suzuki Hayabusa, 2005, blue/silver, as new; BMW Boxer, light grey, good condition plus bag, all offers.Tel. 01655 331721; 07920 141700. Ayrshire .

BMW REMUS twin outlet silencer, excellent condition, suit R850R, R1100R etc, possible other models, £150. Tel. 01512 608612.

Merseyside.

BREAKING FOR SPARES: Honda Foresight scooter, all parts available. Tel. 01299 266742. Worcs.

BROCKHOUSE CORGI frame, engine, wheels, exhaust, saddle, fuel tank, ideal project, £300 ono. Tel. 07788 116526. Worcs.

CG125 PARTS seat, £20; foot pegs, £8; side panel, £7; air box and filter, £10; battery box, £8; seat latches, £5; exhaust bracket, £5; chrome head light brackets, £20 or the lot, £60. Tel. 07752 443794. Denbighshire.

DUCATI EXHAUST STANDARD CANS for 748, with chip, only 2,500 dry miles, £90. Tel. 07711 539523. W Sussex. jobocar6@ liv.co.uk EXHAUST SYSTEM Akrapovic Titanium slip on exhaust system for Honda CB 1300 (2004 on) no scratches, no dents, carbon clamp, street legal certificate, removable baffle all fittings and instructions, immac cond, when new £500+, looking for £300 ono.

Tel. 01424 425856; 07773 084372. East Sussex.

HARLEY DAVIDSON 22 amp stator, fits 84-88 big twins, OEM no.

29961-81, new in box, North London can post at cost, £45. Tel. Brian 07903 380308. London.

HONDA 400(4) 1976-78 parts inc f/yokes, c/stand, carbs, tool tray, a/filter box, coils, brake mast cyl, colonoid, regulator etc, manuals, Suzuki GSXR 750 Katana, Kawasaki Vulcan, Honda CB750/ 900, Suzuki GS650, Honda XL500.Tel. 01772 783774. Lancs.

HONDA 600 TAUREG wind fairing/side panels, 125 Toureg exhaust, Suzuki GSF 400 Bandit stainless exhaust, GT 125 Twin pipes, GT 250 twin wheels, side panels, GSXR 250/400 seats, Kawasaki GPZ 600R/500 spares, garage clean out. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

HONDA BENLY ENGINE 1981, 198cc, complete p/t loom, CDI unit levers, Honda CM wheels, forks/yokes, log book, abandon project, bad health, £300 ono. Tel. 01787 473999. N Essex.

HONDA BLACKBIRD 1100cc, rear Nitron shock, 12 months old, 6 months used, cost £450, want £300. Tel. 01524 35657. Lancs.

HONDA CBR500R 2013 on, Hepco Becker panniers, complete kit with mounting frames and panniers, c bow bags, fitting instructions and all assembly bolts included, bags lock to frames, both keys supplied, £126. Tel. 07707 232066. Kent.

HONDA CBR600RR 2005 items, black seat cow, £65; tinted screen, £30; matching Baglux black/grey tank base, £38; Honda u-lock, £45 all vgc, fixing kit for ABBA stand, £8. Tel. 02088 684740. Greater London.

HONDA CX 500 front and rear Comstar wheels, £50; Yamaha FJ 1200 clutch, complete, £40; Yamaha R6 jacket, Medium size, £35. Tel. 0208 2004868. London.

HONDA CX 650 Eurosport, 63k miles, breaking engine, £300; carbs, £60; wiring harness, complete, £75; includes switches, front pipe, £70 pair; frame V5, £75; tank, £50; seat, £25; forks/yoke, £100; wheels front and rear, £50 each; discs, calipers, etc. Tel. 07858 134475.

Durham.

HONDA DEAUVILLE 650 W reg, spares, nose fairing, as new, £125; r/h middle fairing,£100; f/mudguard, £100; sml pannier lids x2, £30; extending pannier bags, x2, £35; all genuine Honda parts, all vgc, Tel. John 01723 581593. N Yorks.

HONDA PAN EUROPEAN ST 1100, 90-95, new EBC brake pads front and rear, unopened, bought for abandoned project, £25. plus post Tel. 01453 731345.

Stroud, Glos.

HONDA TRANS ALP XL650V standard seat, £100 ono; standard silencer, £100; both vgc. Tel. 07780 602583. .

HONDA VFR 750 FM-FV micron silencer, vgc, £40; vintage Kett 2piece leathers, black, blue, one white stripe, 40" chest, 36" waist, short leg, excellent condition, £75 ono. Tel. 01305 761058. Dorset.

HONDA VTR FIRESTORM 1000, 1998, £1500 ono; Honda VFR750, 1991, £700 ono; Yamaha TRX750, 1996, £1200 ono; Yamah XV750, all parts available. Tel. 07891 968597. Man. KAWASAKI CRUISER 125cc, 55 plate, rolling classic, new tyres, Skyjet/Honda 125 engine replacement no wiring project, also lots of chrome bits and alloy bits not known from which bike, sell or exchange, back rack and sizzy bars, for Honda CG125.Tel. 07400 689696 text only. Avon.

YAMAHA XT350 1988, F reg, MoT Oct 2015, new disc & pads, Micron stainless exhaust, rack, brush guards, Scottoiler, spare knobbly tyres, £950. Tel. 07989 237837. Staffs.

YAMAHA XT600E great original condition + full, legal, stainless exhaust + heated grips, new Avon Distanzia tyres, recent C&S, £1995 ono. Tel. Mark 07817 393092. West Sussex.

YAMAHA DIVERSION 900 48k miles, good condition, but second gear snatch, £550; too heavy for old geezer, also old Duplex bobber ridged frame, £75. Tel. 01525 38332. Beds.

YAMAHA FJ 1200 1990, 27k miles, two previous owners, full Givi luggage, engine crash bars, full service, lots of stainless, 12 months' MoT, 6 months tax on sale of bike, well worth a phone call for full details. Tel. 07931 175508. E Yorks.

YAMAHA R1 2001, fully serviced, wavy discs all round, new zero gravity screen, Goodridge hoses, recent chain and sprockets and tyres, £2150 ono. Tel. 07906 343480. Kent.

Fo ra ll yo u rYa m a ha n eed s, b ikes, pa rts, servic e a n d c lo thin g fro m the b est!

W innerso fYa m a ha M a stero f C usto m erC a re A w a rd 2 010

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CLASSIFIED KAWASAKI ER6F handle bar and brake master cylinder, alloy tall tinted screen, £35; rear hugger, £30; cover, £20; stainless radiator cover, £40; rear luggage rack, £40; workshop manual, £15; three oil filters, £15; footrest, £15; Rickman soft top box QD, £20; wax cotton jacket, 44" chest, £50; two rear shockers, new, £25; size 9 motorcycle boots, £35; Bandit 600 workshop manual, £15; 4 carb tuning gauges, £40; buyer collects. Tel. 01484 350451; 07532 335938. W Yorks.

KAWASAKI ER6F O/S fairing panel, sliver, light scuffs, no breaks, £30. Tel. 07900 578854.

N Yorks.

KAWASAKI GPZ550 A1 project or good bike for spares, £375 ovno come with spares + engine.

GPZ600R parts, job lot, £130 ono.

GT550/750 wheels, forks, s/w arm, headlight, seats, footrests, c/stand, etc garage clean out phone for details. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

KAWASAKI GPZ550 1875, breaking, V5, 4/1 black chrome Neta, seat, rear mudguard, rear brake assembly, lock set, red wheel complete, rear tailpiece, rack etc, Kawasaki GT 550 swing arm, rear hub, rear wheel, rack, seat, s/panels. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

KAWASAKI GPZ600R forks, forks for other models, GPZ 550 A1, GT 750, GT 550, Honda CB 350 SG, CB 400, 90s model, Yamaha 535 Virago, CM 125 drum brake model, Hyosung 125 Cruise III, MZ 250 stanchions and gaiters.Tel/text:Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

KAWASAKI GT 550 SPARES: Forks/yokes, rear wheel, footrest, rear drums, side panels, headlights, brackets, GT 750 forks/yokes, discs, clocks, GSF 600 Bandit air box, RF 900 front pipe, side panels, yokes, handle bars, rear m/c assembly. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

KAWASAKI INFO: Hi I'm looking for a guy called Paul from Flint, North Wales, I've lost your phone numbers, Milly from North East.

Cagiva 125 Freccia spares 88-90, full bike, load sod spares, i.e: wheels, forks, panels, seats, 7 speed engine, Dellorto carb. Tel. 07858 134475. Durham.

KAWASAKI KLX250 2009 onwards, pair USD fork legs, good condition, £60. KLX250 engine, low mileage, £400. Other useful spare parts, buyer collects heavy parts. Tel. 01282 613619 after 5.30pm. Lancs.

KAWASAKI ZX9R silencer, oval, stainless, vgc,Tel. 01432 265726.

Hereford.

KAWASAKI ZZR600 full fairing, vgc, red, 1990, a little damage to left hand side panel, £200 ono.

Tel. 07801 547884. Suffolk.

M/C HYDRAULIC RAMP with front wheel clamp, full size, good clean condition, £200 ono. Tel. Alan on 01268 775184. Essex.

MOTO GUZZI rear pillion seat squab for older style models, new, £15. Also original Ural air filter 1992 approx, £15. Tel. 07798 866071. Greater London.

MOTO MORINI kick-start, 350 K1, £70; tank Morini 25, £60; camel tank and G10E panels and bits, Royal Enfield Interceptor tank, £20. Tel. 01621 868745. Essex.

OSSA MAR 250 Trials, spare parts catalogue, 12 pages A4, every part number listed, essential when sourcing that elusive item, £12. plus p&p Tel. 074340 40520. Lancs.

PAIR BRIDGESTONE Battlax BT023 120/70 & 170/60x17, brand new, old stock, fit late VFR750 and some Triumphs, BMWs etc, £125. the pair plus carriage or can deliver 20 mile radius Lincoln Tel. Paul 07876 521870; 01522 792104. Lincs.

PAIR OF HARRIS performance brake and clutch leveRs (short), in perfect condition to fit Yamaha R1, 2008 onwards. Tel. John on 07906 343480 anytime. Kent.

PIRELLI Angel ST 180/55ZR17 tyre, never fitted as bike now sold, £85 ono. Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

R & G AERO CRASH PROTECTORS c/w all fittings/teardrop shaped bobbins for Suzuki GSF1250 GT (faired version), £75 ono. Tel. 0789 4078815. Notts.

R&G AERO crash protectors complete with all fittings/teardrop shaped bobbins for Suzuki GSF1250 GT (faired version), £75 ono. Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

TRIUMPH AMERICA "Norman Hyde" rear shocks, new, £200; front footrest kit, £35; Scrambler after market exhaust system, £75; Kawasaki Z200 optimistic restoration/spares, £30; galvanised bike trailer, fully equipped, £295. Tel. 01297 4895778. Dorset.

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE Hinkley flyscreen, genuine hardly used works item in silver as fitted to Daytona etc, rrp over £100, only £60 inc free postage. Tel. 01803 853445. Devon.

TRIUMPH DAYTONA 675cc, held bars, raises bars, 1 3/4" with a more relaxed riding position, as new and unmarked, £120; Honda CBR 600 silencer, original, 4k miles use only, £40. Tel. 01305 761058. Dorset.

TRIUMPH DAYTONA 675 end can, never used, 2006, £50; also original seat, never used, £25; Ducati red leather tank cover, never used, £40. Tel. 07787 525198. Solihull.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1050 swing arm for sale, 2011 model, excellent condition, £250. no offers! Tel. 01324 620111. Falkirk, Stirlingshire.

TRIUMPH SPEEDMASTER dual seat, genuine part, almost new, £80 + p&p; Triumph Speedmaster "off road" exhaust, vgc, £60. plus p&p Tel. 07967 593 026 not after 19.00 hrs. Notts.

TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE or 675 Daytona, 2013-15 model, SC project, carbon silencer, unmarked condition, 400 miles only, Italian style, cost £320, £160 ono.

Tel. 01305 761058. Dorset.

USED REMUS EXHAUST suit Honda VFR. 2 stainless cans and down pipe, £99. Tel. 07952 645977. E Riding of Yorks.

Subscribe to Motor Cycle Monthly: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/MCM or call 01507 529529 WHALE submersible pump, £12; outboard impeller, new, £12; outboard impeller, used, £5; outboard Honda manual, £8; Honda red cable throttle with clip. £1; chrome taps, new, £4 each; buoyancy aid, £5; fenders from £1; mooring pins, large, 2ft, £2.50; Freeman chrome roof parts, £1 each; Freeman flag pole holder, £2; BWB windlasses, £5 each; Freeman chrome roof vent, £7; Thornycroft service manual, £10; small s/s sink, new, £7; boxed Proops ignition timer, £6; one wheel trailer brake linings, new, £4; 15mm Surrey flange, new, £4.

Tel. 01932 707165. Surrey.

YAMAHA PW50 breaking: Manuals TS125ER RS/RSX100/125, £7.50 each; Kawa 400/500/550 Fours, GP100/125, £7.50 each; books: The Soft Science of Road Racing (Keith Code), £10; Motorcycle GP year book, '99/2000, £10; MV Agusta (Carrick), £10.

7.50 each Tel. 07852 921265.

Powys.

YAMAHA XJ 600 DIVI 600cc parts surplus to restoration, exhaust standard, not bad condition, racks, top boxes, good condition, ring about other parts cables etc.

Tel. 01287 640472. N Yorks.

YAMAHA XJ600 Divi racks, boxes, both in very good condition, medium sizes, black, offers.

Tel. 01287 640472. N Yorks/Cleveland.

YAMAHA YN 50cc engine/transmission plus exhaust for scooter, £35. Tel. 01729 822706. N Yorks.

Wanted

ANY MAKE OR SIZE classic motorcycle wanted from a basket case to one in nice or restored condition. Cash waiting. Tel. 07811 189755. Staffs.

ANY OLD MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINES or race programmes, (Road Racing, Scrambles, Grass Track etc) offered free for collection within a reasonable distance of Sleaford. If you are clearing out your loft I'll be glad to take them off your hands. Tel. Pete 01529 461304. Lincs.

BMW TWIN WANTED early 70s to mid 90s, any condition considered, genuine private enthusiast.

Tel. 07931 555747. Merseyside.

COSSACK JUPITER 3 I need r/h ex manual ignition switch, h/light rim, rear light assembly, shocks, coil bracket, rust on exhaust ok, will be painted, urgent.Tel. 01744 25096. Merseyside.

GRASS TRACK track photos, programmes, books, DVDs, videos.

Tel. John 0208 6416866 eves.

Surrey.

HONDA CB450DX 1989, owners handbook or/and works manual.

Tel. 01268 695550. Essex.

HONDA TRANSALP 650 crash bars and centre standard wanted for 2005 model. Tel. 07974 715357. Lincs.

MOT TESTER/GARAGE MANAGER 54 years, extensive experience testing all classes bikes, trikes, light vans, mini buses, cars, seeks full-time employment in West Midlands area. Tel. 07950 398750. W Mids.

MAICOLETTA WANTED good bad or ugly, anything considered. Tel. Paul 01482 866986. E Riding of Yorks.

OPEN-FACE HELMET in good condition, not damaged, size large, preferably black but not essential, price etc to Tel. 01743 860362. Shrops.

ROYAL ENFIELD leading link front forks for Super 5. Tel. 07990 882776. Hants.

SUZUKI GSX 1400 standard handlebars. Tel. 01865 849759. Oxfordshire.

TOURING SEAT FOR 2012 Harley Davidson Street Glide. Tel. 01902 411919. West Midlands.

TRIUMPH 951 ENGINE pre 2002, must be running, may consider complete bike, prefer low miles.

Tel. 07966 053452. Durham.

TRIUMPH T100SS 500cc, 1966, r/h headlamp bracket, 18" WM2 steel chrome rim, in good condition, have spare l/h headlight bracket. Tel. 07990 585437.

Lancs.

TRIUMPH TIGER 1050 instrument pod wanted, internal workings not critical as I just need front casing, why? Tel. 01453 731345.

Glos.

VILLIERS 9E ENGINE would the person who bought my 9E engine contact me as I have the old Villiers small brown engine handbook which I will gladly post on to you. Tel. 01723 515546. North Yorkshire.

WANTED BMW System 6 helmet spares: - have you got a scrap helmet? I need a chin piece left side trim as mine came off any colour. Tel. 01427 787174. Lincs.

WANTED CAFE RACER SEAT BSA A10, Triumph, Norton etc, also standard A10 B31 Gold Star seat. Tel. 01723 515546. North Yorkshire.

WANTED PAIR OF Ohlins GF831 forks. Tel. 07778 210011.

Cheshire.

WANTED TRIUMPH TR6 any condition, long time storage etc but no box of bits and no dealers, would consider any Tri twin offered. Tel. 0151 2591596. Liverpool.

YAMAHA RD400 400cc wanted, looking for a good condition RD 400 E or F. Tel. 078960 84797.

Thetford.

Parts Wanted

WANTED GIVI WINDSCREEN or similar for Kymco Downtown 300i, 2014. Tel. 07812 748994.

Staffs.

MIsCeLLaneOUs

ALPINESTARS Jet Road Goretex gloves, size L (10), unworn, £70 ono. Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

BARBOUR INTERNATIONAL JACKET 38"/40", bought by myself in 1965, hardly worn, best you will find, offers over £100.Tel. 0191 4901762. Tyne & Wear.

BARRY The Story of Motorcycling Legend 'Barry Sheene by Steve Parrish and Nick Harris, abridged on 3 CDs, £13. .99 post free; running time over 3 hours Tel. 0115 9586031. Nottingham.

BELSTAFF LEATHER COAT XXL size, 48 chest, 'Black Prince' style, excellent condition, £145 ono.

Brando style leather jacket, dark tan lapels and belt, new, size small male, excellent condition not worn, £50 ono. Tel. 07704 343331. Stockport.

BELSTAFF TRIALMASTER size 44, black, never worn, brand new, half price, £250. Tel. 01765 688721; 07864 335715. North Yorks.

BIKERS LEATHER TROUSERS XL, long suit, 6ft male, hardly used, excellent condition, bargain £45; also grey/black textile jacket with armour, XL, £35. or £70 the pair. Tel. 07583 872432. Suffolk.

BMW K100/75 service manuals, clymer, 1985-95, £20 and Haynes 1983-87, £15 both vgc ono. Tel. 02088 684740. Greater London.

BUFFALO JEANS leather, 34" waist, £50. Tel. 07769 848510. N Wales.

CABERG HELMET flip front 61 X, large, silver, £20; paddock stand, £15; Scott oil 500ml, new, £5; pants, armour in knees, 38/41, as new, £15; dynamic thro-over saddle bags, large capacity, as new, £20. Tel. 01706 667125.

Lancs.

CADILLAC FLEETWOOD SEDAN 1992, auto, white, matching leather, new MoT with sale, with service history, 70,000 miles, smooth V8 motor v reliable, owned 6 years, new battery, £3995. will consider p/x Retro Jap Muscle or Cruiser Tel. 07950 398750. W Mids.

CLASSIC CIGARETTE CARDS:Suzuki GT 750 Kettle, 500 Cobra, 250 Super Six, GS 750, GT 550, and rotary res, all mounted in picture frame, £30. Tel. 01803 607265 or 01364 653515.

Torquay.

DAYTONA ARROW SPORT motorcycle boots, size 44, new, black, £95. Tel. 0151 4203976.

Cheshire.

DESPATCH RIDER GAUNTLETS brown leather, wide cuffed, medium, mint, £35; lots GL1200 spares, Bulldog manual, £10; Vulcan 500 manual, £10; Diversion manual, £10; Speedmaster America rear section silencers, mint, boxed, £300. Tel. 07434 513161.

Lancs.

DUCATI 860 Darmah range, parts manual (genuine) and workshop manual, (photocopy of original), £25; Suzuki GT 750J,K, parts manual, (genuine), £10; Honda 750 SOHC workshop manual (Haynes), £10 all plus p&p. Tel. 01323 892659. E Sussex.

FEMALE JACKET (size 14), ankle boots, size 7, man's jacket/legging/high boots, size 12, 2 saddlebags, £50. Tel. . London. jilloxley.1917@btinternet.com FLIP HELMET size 'S', (55/56), boxed, as new, £20; boots, size 8 1/2, almost new, £15; K&N chain guard, so it 06 on CBF 600;/1000/Hornet or similar, £10 Tel. 01902 884225. W Mids.

FRANK THOMAS new black leather trousers, waist 32", inside leg 29", bargain £45. Tel. 01298 25134. Buxton, Derbys.

FRANK THOMAS Lady Rider size LL, vgc, waist and hem adjustment, four zipped pockets on outside, zip to attach trousers, has shoulder, elbow and back protectors, inner lining has phone pocket and one other pocket. Tel. Richard 07848 917218. Lincs.

FREE TO COLLECTOR over 100 1950s Motorcycling magazines, collection only, too heavy to post.

Tel. 07719 451352. Worcs.

GAUNTLET GLOVES vintage motorcycle gauntlet gloves, in black leather, excellent condition, fleece lined, press stud fastening around wrist area, reflective triangle, design, medium size, made in England, nice soft leather very comfortable to wear, £20. Tel. 07508 559829. West Yorkshire.

GENUINE PILOTS SUNGLASSES and gloves, size 81⁄2, ideal Summer wear, £25. Tel. 01263 512433 after 6pm. Norfolk.

GIVI TOP BOX with lockable keys, model E260 Micro 2 with owner's manual, opening mono lock case with key, £28; also black weatherproof armour protection, 3/4 fabric jacket, 5XL bargain, £25; inner lined. Tel. 07836 700313.

Maidstone, Kent.

GORTEX SUIT 2-piece by IXS, black/blue, approx size ladies 12/14, zips together, jacket size small (mens), trousers large (ladies), worn only a few times, £55 ono. Tel. 0161 4275652. Gtr Man. HALVARSSONS TEXTILE SUIT new 2014, Prime jacket, size 56 and Prince trousers, size 54, lining in jacket damaged, otherwise both items as good as new, sold separate or together, new price £399 and £299, £50. each Tel. 07803 281747. Cambs.

HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA 2006+ Mustang wide touring vintage solo seat with driver backrest and recessed rear seat, £300; FLD switchback HD detachable rack and sissy bar, £175; Klock Werks billboard flare windshield, 16.5", will fit 1994+, FLHR and 2012 + FLD, £100. Tel. 07753 318979. Merseyside.

HJC FLIPFRONT HELMET ISMAX BT black gloss, as new, genuinely only worn twice, size small, £30. Tel. 01625 531109.

Cheshire.

LADIES WEISE Retro leather motorcycle jacket, size 18, brand new, still tagged, never worn, cost £200, absolute bargain! £60. Tel. 01708 746444. Essex.

LARGE GIVI top box and rack (2 helmet) for a Suzuki Bandit 1200 or 1250, vgc and has 2 keys. Tel. 07717 377472. Somerset.

LARGE QUANTITY of Whitworth and A/F spanners, flats, rings, sockets, £20 ono; also some Honda CD175/200 spares. Tel. 01484 462230. W Yorks.

LEATHER TROUSERS black, size 32" waist, medium length, knee armour, good condition, £25 plus p&p. Tel. 07761 857674. North Lancs.

MOTORBIKE 40kg hydraulics, full length lift, foot pedal lift, very little use, as new, £150. Tel. 07970 268610. Cambs.

MINI TRAILER 2-wheel, open aluminium body, one metre wide x 2 1/3 metres drop, tail takes two bikes, coil sprung suspension, non-braked, £250. Tel. 01767 691209. Beds.

MOTORCYCLE BOOTS top of the range, Daytona Travel Star, GTX, never worn, black, size 11, made in Germany, cost £400, sell for £300. buyer collects or £32 postage Tel. 01827 895891.Tamworth, Staffs.

MOTORCYCLE BOOTS short leg, Nitro "Street Hopper", black, size 12, never worn, bargain at £85. buyer collects Tel. 07984 978518.

Tamworth, Staffs.

MOTORCYCLE BOOTS Weiss model WBLM 40, black, brand new, size 11, cost £70, sell for £35. buyer collects Tel. 01827 895891. Tamworth, Staffs.

MOTORCYCLE GPS ZUMO Garmin 550 motorcycle GPS, European maps but not updated for some time, in good condition with windscreen mount and original case, £50. Tel. 07803 281747.

Cambridgeshire.

MOTORCYCLE LEATHERS late 70's, yellow/black, fit 38" chest, 5.6/5.8 height, good condition, £50 ono. Tel. 07765 696781.

Kent.

NEW VENTURA RACK £30; sissy bar, fit Harley, £25; Oxford panniers, £20; tank bag, £10; two sets of rigid panniers for older BMs, offers; Frank Thomas aqua jacket, size 14, unworn, £25. Tel. 01472 752348. N E Lincs.

RICHA LEATHER BOOTS brand new, size 44 (9 1/2), too tight! £50. Tel. 07759 607498. E Berks.

SHARK EVOLINE flip front helmet, size small, black, little used, spare visor, excellent condition, £50.Tel. 07947 354411. Derbys.

SUOMY JET 70 brand new, matt black, size M helmet, unwanted gift, never worn, £50. Tel. 0207 7915439. Gtr London.

TOP BOX 46 ltr, will take two helmets complete with passenger back rest, scratch on side, new £126.99 plus £35 for back rest, £75. Tel. 07712 328415. Lancs.

TRAILER Erde single motorbike trailer, all lights working tyres are good, brilliant sturdy trailer, ready to be towed, £280 ono. Tel. 07771 521249. Lincs.

TRITON PROJECT Slimline rolling chassis, road holders, wheels, brakes, tank, seats(s), clip-ons, Norton gÍbox, rear set gearshift, 6T engine and brackets, carbs, no docs, £3500. oiro Tel. 0. Derbys. derekbrock01@tiscali.co.uk TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 790cc Givi top box, £25; only complete with two keys, £25. Tel. 07836 700313. Kent.

TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD leather jacket brand new, size MM, 42-46 inch chest, £280. Tel. 01293 400091. Surrey.

VARIOUS JACKETS leathers, gloves ideal for new motorcyclist 5'8, 12 stone ish, cheap + post.

Tel. 07516 304412. Cumbria.

VFR750F full set of works manuals covering all models from FG to FR/S, local Ex-Honda dealer stock and all in good condition in a folder, £25. the lot plus postage or collect from Lincoln area. Delivery possible within 10 miles of Lincoln. Tel. 01522 792104; 07876 524870. Lincs.

VINTAGE M/C BOOTS leather, long leg police style, size 9, £30 (size 9 short leg boots, £25; Kawasaki ER6F, 2009, £15; Shoei motorcycle helmet, size 45, £40.

Tel. 01484 350451; 07532 33938. W Yorks.

WAX COTTON JACKET £25; onepiece suit, detachable lining, £25; Lazer full-face helmet, £25; m/c boots, size 10, £25; disc lock, £10; U lock, £10; sissy bar, £25; large bike trike cover, £25; Goldwing centre stand, new, £40; car trailer, 5ft x 4ft, ideal quad bike, £150. Tel. 01228 530241.

Carlisle.

YAMAHA FJR 1300 panniers, as new, £200. Tel. 0191 3852809.

Tyne & Wear.

YAMAHA X CITY 125/250 top box rack with grab handles small scratch on side new £98.99, £50 Tel. 07712 328415. Lancs.

60 CLASSIFIEDS ACCESSORIES

EVENTS

DYNO

ACCOMMODATION/TOURING

EATING OUT

EVENTS

MOT AND SERVICING

PAINTWORK

CHAINS AND SPROCKETS

SEATING EXHAUSTS

PARTS AND SPARES

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

SECURITY SERVICING PLASTIC REPAIRS

SPECIALIST KEY CUTTING

Motorcycle keys cut to code Motorcycle keys made to locks

Tel: 01522 532038 T: 0 12 0 2 3 74 0 4 2

M : 0 70 17 5 10 0 0 8

Email: info@lincolnsecurity.co.uk www.lincolnsecurity.co.uk

Springcourt Auto Centre Tel: 01706 631245 Specialists in motorcycles

• MoT STATION • SERVICING & REPAIRS • CARS & LIGHT COMMERCIALS • ALL MAKES AND MODELS WHITWORTH RD, ROCHDALE, LANCASHIRE OL12 0RA

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Guided Motorcycle Tours Take in the most breathtaking scenery Arizona has to offer on a Harley Davidson.

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62 Used Bike ReVieW

Honda’s CB500F: The nearly perfect commuter As easy as pie to ride and around 60mpg make this bike a secondhand cracker Words and photography: Bob Pickett

The CB500F is one of a trio of machines released in 2013 (the X is more trailbike-styled, the sporty R features a full fairing) modelled around the same frame and engine.

At 47bhp it is planted precisely at the top of the A2 licence category.

The bike we tested was a 2014 model, earning its keep as a courtesy bike until it finds a new home.

Give me some spec

A 471cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin engine is housed in a tubular steel backbone frame, putting out 47bhp at 8500rpm, with maximum torque of 32lb-ft at 7000rpm. Economy is impressive, estimate at around 60mpg. Braking comes courtesy of a single 320mm wavy disc with two piston callipers up front, supported by a 240mm wavy disc with a single piston at the rear. ABS is optional, as on our test machine.

So what’s it like to ride?

The first thing you notice about the little Honda is how userfriendly it is. Our test ride started just after a heavy downpour, so the ability to lay down the power gently, along with the nicely balanced feel to the ride was

welcome. Knowing ABS was in place was also a comfort.

Later in the day, the weather picked up and the road dried out, allowing the CB500F to show what it can do. And what it can do, it does well.

The engine wants to work (it was happiest running at about 6000 revs and upwards), rewarding a twist of the throttle with decent acceleration – quickly planned overtakes on the CB500F are easy as pie. In town, it didn’t like low revs in lines of traffic, feeling lumpy, but when you do open up the ride smoothes out considerably – I don’t think I have ridden a parallel twin that gives such a vibration-free ride.

The way to ride the Honda is smoothly – it likes to describe graceful arcs, holding the line with confidence. Chucking it about will not get the best out of the suspension. The suspension was up to most challenges, giving reasonable feedback and never once allowing the wheels to step out of place. The brakes are more than enough to haul up the CB500F, with the optional ABS giving reassurance to newly qualified riders (or, when you are first on board on cold tyres on wet roads).

I mentioned the economy earlier – and it is impressive. The fuel indicator refused to move all day, until right at the end of the ride when it finally dropped one notch.

The CB500F would make for an excellent commuter bike.

What nick is it in?

There is a rather long scratch on the end can, otherwise nothing notable to report.

What’s it worth?

The dealer is looking for £4695 for a 2014 model with just 400 miles under its belt and a scratch on the

exhaust. The dealer search revealed precious few alternatives around, which ranged from a 2013 model with 250 miles on the clock at £3400 to another 2013 bike with 1300 miles on the clock for £4199. There are pre-registered bikes available at anywhere from £4500 to £4999.

Meet the dealer John’s of Romford Honda Romford, Essex, RM7 9QX www..johnsofromford.co.uk Tel: 01708 746293