Motorcycle Monthly May 2017

GET UP TO SPEED

RACE, ROCK RACE, ROCK ‘N’ RIDE

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May 2017

Mackenzie on his FS1-E Yamaha Back to the glory days on the scoot

McGuinness on Guy Martin:

I’m worried about him at this year’s TT!

MCM is FREE in dealers, clubs and biker cafés

Triumph’s

Street Cup

● A2 friendly ✔ ● 1960s style ✔ ● Super cool ✔ ● Want one ✔

FIRST RIDE

Beware the new speed camera vans!

Falls off bike but officially ‘not dead’

▼

Hammond crash!

A police force in England is using speed camera vans that aren’t painted in the usual colour scheme because it says it wants to: “Make the vans more visible to road users.” The vans look very different to the familiar police-checked white vans that have become a regular feature of roadside traffic enforcement. The yellow-and-blue scheme apes a similar paintjob on vans that first appeared in Scotland.

More details on page 4

2

NEWS 3

REVEALED: Honda’s grand plans for a new screaming sports 600!

Secret NEW CBR600 patents are filed by the factory (and a French Honda boss says that the 600 ISN’T dead!)

Below: The new CBR600 in side-on view. The engine is an inline motor (1), there’s a pillion seat (2), underseat pipe (3) and pillion footrests (4)

Below: This is the Honda V4 patent that we showed you last month. It’s easy to see the difference between this bike and the new CBR600.

2: The CBR600 in these designs (above) has a pillion seat (red circle 2) and pillion pegs (red circle 4).

Nothing of which has appeared in any designs for the V4, which has been designed purely as a singleseat sportbike with active aero in the seat unit’s ‘wing’. Take a look at the V4’s side-on design to compare the differences in the entire back end.

3: The underseat exhaust (red circle 3 – above) is routed with the pipe snaking around the underside of the engine and up to the silencer. The V4’s exhaust routes the rear two pipes from the motor down and behind the bracketing for the right footrest before linking up with the others to join the low-slung right-side silencer.

So, these drawings are now all filed as one design for one bike – the CBR600 – and with this the comments made by the public relations director at Honda France, Bruno Chemin (pictured left) make more sense about an overall direction to what’s coming from Honda. Chemin made these comments last October and we brought you them first once again on MoreBikes.co.uk. Last year Chemin said: “If you ask me if this is the end after nearly 30 years of the CBR600 then I would say that simply, we cannot be so categorical. The development is suspended and there are currently no plans for a future CBR600. But nothing forbids us to return to class in a few years, if the market has changed.”

At the tail end of last year Yamaha launched its updated R6 – a bike that captured a lot of headlines around the world and looks to be capable of delivering something that uses the latest MotoGP tech for the road at an affordable price. Perhaps this was the final move to edge Honda into rebirthing the CBR6 with these updated designs.

Editor Tony Carter Editorial design Fran Lovely Publisher Dan Savage Picture desk Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield and Angie Sisestean Production editor Dan Sharp Divisional advertising manager Martin Freeman 01507 529538 Advertising Zoe Thurling 01507 529412 Sam Dearie 01507 529583 Kate Hayes 01507 529411 Advertising deadline for June issue Thursday, May 4, 2017 Distribution 01507 529529

Here’s a new Spanish motorcycle manufacturer that’s going for the smaller capacity market.

Called Macbor, the company is the brainchild of Jaime Bordoy – a former Bultaco man who also used to import MV Agusta and SYM bikes into Spain – his sons Albert and Jordi and partner Josep Lluis Merlos.

The Macbor range has been running since 1999 as a manufacturer of children’s motorcycles but has now unveiled its range of adultsized bikes in Barcelona.

The Macbor range currently uses two engines – a 125cc and 250cc brace of singles. The 125cc makes 10.5bhp and the 250cc four-valve, liquidcooled motor kicks out around 25bhp. The range includes the naked 125cc Stormer R retro-style city cruiser, the Shifter MC1 which is the more sporty modern 125 (in white), the XR1, which is a small semi-Adventure style bike (in silver with panniers) and the XR3 Adventure bike (in blue). No prices have yet been given for the bikes.

or email help@classicmagazines.co.uk Motor Cycle Monthly is published monthly on the third Friday of the month by Mortons Media Group Ltd and printed by Mortons Print.

Built-in GPS at your fingertips with the TurnPoint

The TurnPoint is a Bluetooth-enabled GPS device that embeds into a specially made motorcycle glove, and connects to a smartphone app to provide turn-by-turn directions.

The Turnpoint features a small disc which is surrounded by 18 LED lights in addition to a range of distances.

The dots light up corresponding to the distance remaining to the next turn, and when you approach the turn, which direction to go – in half-mile increments, from 0-4 miles.

To see a video of TurnPoint in action go to: MoreBikes.co.uk and search for ‘turnpoint’

Honda 150SS Racer concept unveiled

Marketing manager Charlotte Park Commercial director Nigel Hole Customer services number 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday 8.30am-7pm, Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm

Subscribe to MCM and just pay the postage!

Call 01507 529529 or visit classicmagazines.co.uk/MCM

One handed, wheelie filtering goes viral

This outrageously dangerous video is currently going viral and causing quite a stir. Shot from a helmet cam the anonymous rider takes filtering to a new level, even letting go of the throttle at one point! Watch it on MoreBikes.co.uk – search ‘filtering’

Above: The direct air intake goes through the frame for a cleaner route. Supports in the frame help.

A few things to point out with the side-on design (left): 1: The motor in the bike. We’ve outlined the engine in the CBR600 with a red circle (1) and coloured in the bike’s side profile of the engine, too. It’s an inline motor, NOT a V4 (to show you the difference we’ve put the upcoming V4 patent’s side-on design below, if you look at the outline of the engine in this patent you’ll see that it’s clearly a V4 and very different to the motor shown in the 600).

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Call 01507 529529 or go to www.classicmagazines.co.uk/mcm20

New Spanish motorcycle maker Macbor unveils range of bikes including small Adventure models

These are the secret Honda design drawings that prove that a CBR600 is in the works.

The designs concentrate on the air intake route through the nose of the middleweight and the fairing brackets that support it. The intake routes the air flow directly into a frame front opening.

Motor Cycle Monthly, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529529 Email: editorial@motorcyclemonthly.co.uk

A WHOLE YEAR OF BIKING FOR JUST

MCM recommends bikesafe.co.uk

Independently proven pick up: 67,717 copies

This awesome Honda 150SS Racer Concept was unveiled at the Bangkok Motor Show in Thailand last month.

The 150SS has been designed and produced by Honda Thailand, and it harks back to the heady days of the SS50 and SS125. The bike comes with a single round headlight which is mounted in typical café racer style, upside down forks, an aluminium banana-style swing-arm, custom side exhausts and futuristic flashing brake lights.

There’s been no word from Honda as to whether this bike is just an initial concept, or if it will go into production – fingers crossed that this appears soon.

4 NEWS

Richard Hammond crashes – again A WHOLE YEAR OF This time he’s fallen off a motorcycle... BIKING FOR JUST

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The Grand Tour presenter takes a tumble in Mozambique and hits his head – pretty hard – but lives to tell the tale The Grand Tour presenter has confirmed that he’s okay after being reportedly hurt during a motorbike crash in a remote part of Mozambique – he was knocked out in the accident while filming and miles from medical help. Thankfully, the news from Hammond himself is that he’s fine after his fall.

‘I’ve checked and I’m not dead!’

Richard Hammond

Putting out a message on social media, the not-tall telly star, nicknamed Hamster, said: “I can confirm that yes, I fell off a bike, many times, in fact, and yes, I banged my head and everything else.

“But life goes on.”

He added: “It’s true, I did fall off a motorbike while filming recently for The Grand Tour in Mozambique.

“I banged my head, yes, along with pretty much everything else apart from my left thumb, which remains unbruised. I’ve checked and I’m not dead! Can’t tell you more yet about the how and why of it; that’s all for later in the year on the show.

“As for injuries; well put it this way, I don’t think I can get a book out of it.”

It’s the second time that Hammond, 47, has been injured in a crash during

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If you want to buy or sell motorbikes, or anything to do with motorbikes (so no wardrobes or anything like that… seriously people, how come so many folk are trying to sell wardrobes?) just go to MoreBikes.co.uk and click on the More Bikes For Sale bar on the right-hand side of the screen.

In there you’ll see all the bikes and bike bits up for sale and you can get the form that will let you sell whatever you want to, too!

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Limited edition (chrome) V7 III

filming. He crashed while driving a jet-powered dragster at 288mph for BBC TV series Top Gear 11 years ago, following which he was in a coma for two weeks but made a full recovery.

According to his co-star on The

Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson: “He really did hurt himself quite badly.”

The latest accident happened miles from medical assistance.

It’s not known if he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Keep your eyes peeled

To celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the first Moto Guzzi V, the Italian brand has launched the latest incarnation of its iconic bike – the V7 III. The bike features a gold engraving of the Eagle of Moto Guzzi, chrome aluminium bodywork, polished rims and a brown leather seat. Only 1000 units of the anniversary model will be going on sale, which makes it one of the most exclusive Moto Guzzis ever to hit the market – it costs £8999.

New-look speed camera vans confirmed MCM was sent some blurry smartphone pictures of mysterious new vans parked up on popular biking routes recently and now we’ve had it confirmed that these yellow and blue vehicles are new-look speed camera vans.

It turns out that they’ve been introduced by Northumbria Police force, which reckons that the new-look bright yellow

and blue design will help them stand out to road users.

In an official statement the force said: “They’ve been introduced to make them more visible to road users. The vans are there to deter speeding and dangerous driving.

“We are not trying to catch people out; we’re here to keep people safe.”

John McGuinness opens up about concerns over Guy Martin’s TT ambitions this year

MV Agusta’s plans help avoid bankruptcy

MV Agusta has avoided bankruptcy after an Italian court ruled that the firm’s cost-cutting plans did go far enough to save the marque.

An application submitted to the court in Varese explaining that the factory was cutting costs and the amount of models in the range was upheld by Judge Miro Santangelo.

Santangelo has now appointed Riccardo Broggini as commissioner to oversee that the business plans are carried out. The current creditors who are involved in the financial side of MV Agusta will now have a meeting with Broggini on June 7.

Legendary Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness has spoken about his worry over Honda team-mate Guy Martin in this year’s event on The Island.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the April issue of Motor Sport magazine, McGuinness says that he’s nervous that Martin is out of practice when it comes to racing.

“I’m a bit worried about him.

He needs a year or two back.”

McGuinness said: “I’m a little bit worried about him. He hasn’t raced since he broke his back at the Ulster in 2015, so he needs a year or two back at the TT. He’s a world record holder on a sledge, the wall of death and all that, but he’s never won a TT, so he’s got to be pulling his hair out. I don’t want him to push too far.”

McGuinness, 44, has 23 TT victories to his name, making him the second most successful rider at the event after Joey Dunlop. McGuinness could surpass Dunlop’s tally of 26

wins on The Island this year. Martin has yet to win his first race around The Mountain Course but has been a regular podium finisher since making his debut in 2004.

Martin’s return to the TT will mark a dramatic comeback after he suffered a serious accident while leading the 2015 Ulster Grand Prix.

The 120mph crash left the 35-yearold with five broken vertebrae, five broken ribs, two broken metacarpals in his right hand and a broken sternum that needed a metal rod inserted in his spine.

KTM sacks five staff for ‘misusing’ new bikes

A video posted online showing five members of staff redlining brand-new KTM 250 and 390 Dukes has resulted in all the shop’s employees shown being sacked. The video was shot at KTM Trivandrum City Vazhuthacad Showroom, in Kerala – and surfaced when one of the five involved streamed the party and tagged Bajaj India, KTM India, their dealership page and popular KTM groups.

NEWS 5

KTM CONFIRMS production, two-stroke A WHOLE YEAR OF enduro bikes will be launched in MAY BIKING FOR JUST Two new models with the new two-stroke motor will be on sale within weeks.

The screamers are back!

The KTM 250 EXC TPI and KTM 300 EXC TPI models will be introduced to the market as part of the model year 2018 line-up.

KTM has said that it will unveil the world’s first production fuel injection two-stroke enduro bikes at an official launch in just a few weeks’ time.

We’ve told you many times before that KTM’s Research and Development department in Mattighofen, Austria has been developing this technology, which offers benefits over carburetted models including drastically reduced fuel consumption while also no longer having the need to pre-mix fuel or alter the machine's jetting. Not only that, the new two-stroke TPI (transfer port injection) models offer what KTM describes as: “A completely new experience in terms of power delivery and rideability.”

Joachim Sauer, KTM product marketing manager said: “This is an incredibly exciting development for KTM. We have been developing two-stroke fuel injection for some time, and our goal was to create competitive motorcycles with all the benefits of fuel injection, while fitting into our Ready To Race mantra.

There has been extensive testing and considerations for our Research and

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And so is Husqvarna (unsurprisingly)

Husqvarna has revealed that it is also going to have a couple of fuel-injected two-stroke enduro motorcycles going into production next year (Husqvarna is owned by KTM).

Aside from telling us that the tech will be incorporated as standard on the upcoming 2018 Husqvarna TE 250 and TE 300, and promising that more information will be revealed about the new models in a couple of months’ Development team to take into account during this process, so we are very motivated by this next step and world first in technology, as we take a major step forward in this segment. We are certainly looking forward to unveiling the new 2018

Africa Twin breaks altitude record by riding up a volcano to 19,570ft Honda’s Africa Twin has reached new heights (guffaw) by breaking the record for the highest altitude reached by a twin-cylinder motorcycle.

The scene of the record was the world’s highest active volcano, the Nevado Ojos del Salado – situated between Argentina and Chile – on which a team of five riders rode

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the Africa Twin to a record-breaking 5965m (19,570ft) above sea level.

This altitude does not constitute an outright motorcycle record, since it didn’t get higher than the 6471m (21,230ft) milestone managed in 2015 on a Suzuki RM-Z450. It still qualifies as a world record for twin-cylinder motorcycles though.

time, details are scant about the technical details. We’re betting that the Husky will pretty much be the same as we see from the Austrian side of the wing.

KTM 250 EXC TPI and KTM 300 EXC TPI machines in May. In Europe the bikes will arrive at the dealer floors in early summer. In the USA and Canada, the new 2018 KTM 250 XC-W TPI will be available in very limited quantities in late autumn.”

Gaming classic Full Throttle gets reboot

The iconic 1996 biker-based adventure game Full Throttle was finally due to get its long-awaited remaster for PC, PS4 and Playstation Vita in April.

Released by LucasArts in 1995, Full Throttle is a classic point-and-click adventure game telling the story of biker Ben Throttle, leader of the Polecats, who gets caught up in a tale of motorcycles, mayhem and murder.

More than 20 years on, Full Throttle is back in HD, featuring brand new, hand-drawn 3D artwork, and remastered audio and music. For the nostalgic among us, players will also be able to switch back and forth between classic and remastered modes, mix-and-matching audio, graphics and user interface (which sounds pretty awesome).

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6 NEWS

Classic Racer’s latest issue on sale now!

You’re a fan of motorcycles so you definitely don’t want to miss the latest issue of the excellent Classic Racer magazine.

This is a special edition of the magazine with the legendary John Surtees featured in detail, a FREE DVD on the cover and plenty of amazing articles and exclusive pictures from the heyday of motorcycle racing.

Packed from cover to cover with the biggest names from the greatest eras of motorcycle racing, Classic Racer is the one-stop shop for anyone who wants to see heroes in action.

Classic Racer also has the latest news on some of the most exclusive machineryy ever

made plus it tells the stories of the men behind the scenes during the iconic racing g events in motorcycling from the 1950s to the 1980s and 90s.

Classic Racer is available in all good newsagents (and we bet it’s on sale in some bad ones, too), but if you want to get this gorgeous slice of motorcycle racing history and legend delivered directly to your door for cheaper than it would cost you for the same amount of issues in the shops then go here: gazines.co.uk/issue/CR. classicmag

Driver who rammed biker with his car is given 15 years in jail Texan motorist William Sam Crum, 69, who was caught intentionally swerving into a passing motorcyclist in Hood County has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Crum has been convicted of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

He was accused of purposely swerving into a motorcycle, causing the rider, Eric Sanders, 37, to crash. Sanders’ pillion, Debra Simpson, 38, suffered multiple injuries including a broken arm, cuts and bruises.

The incident, which took place in October 2015, was caught on camera by a fellow rider who was riding behind Sanders.

Crum refused to apologise to the rider and said that it wasn’t entirely his fault. He did, however, apologise to the pillion rider. In an interview, Crum showed a spider bite on his leg

which, according to him, caused him to lose control of his car.

He also added that had Sanders been not overtaking his car in the no-pass zone, the accident wouldn’t have happened.

If you want to see the video that brought Crum to the attention of the police then go to: morebikes.co.uk and search ‘Crum’.

Dinosaur-themed electric dirtbike from Mugen and Honda!

Japanese developer and tuning house Mugen has joined forces with Honda to build a concept electric motocross bike – and it has been inspired by the T-Rex dinosaur.

Their electric racebike – the Shinden – which has won three successive outings of the electric Zero class at the Isle of Man TT, has helped cement Mugen as one the key players in the electric motorcycle world.

And the company has been hard at work, further developing the existing technology with the announcement of their new Electric Motocross machine; the E-REX. Mugen unveiled the E-REX

prototype on the Honda stand at the recent Tokyo Motor Cycle Show – it comes with Showa suspension and Nissin braking components (both brands which Honda owns).

Putting a CBR600 engine into a Dodgem... via a Colin Furze...

Go to morebikes.co.uk and have a watch of one of the bike videos of the year so far, and it only features (in motorcycling terms) the motor from a Honda CBR600.

What’s going on with the videos is a Top Gear project made by the hands of Colin Furze, the entertaining engineering chap who makes very weird things out of slightly less weird things.

In these videos he’s taken a Honda CBR600 motor and stuck it in a bumper car, for no other reason than it’s going to be funny.

And, let’s be honest here, we’ve all wondered what doing something like this would really be like… well thanks to the BBC and Furze, now we know. The films are well worth a watch.

8 WHAT’S ON

What’s On: the essential dates APRIL 20 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, Old Hall Farm, Bouth, near Haverthwaite.

Tel: 01772 782516 22 Ace Cafe London, Rocket III Owners’ Club Meet. www.ace-cafe-london.com 22-23 The 37th Carole Nash International Classic Motorcycle Show, County Showground, Weston Road, Stafford ST18 0BD. www.classicbikeshows.com Tel: 01507 529529 23 The Engineerium Run, The British Engineerium, The Drove Way, Hove BN3 7QA. Tel: 07900 465517 www.sbmoc.vpweb.co.uk 23 Autojumble, The Clitheroe Auction Mart, Lincoln Way, Clitheroe BB7 1QW. www.hoylespromotions.co.uk 23 Salisbury Motorcycle & Light Car Club Five Valleys Charity Motorcycle Run. Email: publicity@ salisburymotorcycleandlightcarclub. co.uk or visit the website itself at www.salisburymotorcycleandlight carclub.co.uk. Tel: Dave Weston 01264 364186.

23 Royal Enfield Ride In (provisional), Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, Bashley, New Milton, Hampshire BH25 5SZ. Tel: 01425 620777 (museum) seven days a week or 01425 616644 (workshop/office) Mon-Fri. Email: museum@sammymiller.co.uk www.sammymiller.co.uk 23 Ace Cafe London, Custom & Cruiser Bike Day + MAG St George’s Day. www.ace-cafe-london.com 23 The 10th Suffolk Classic Motorcycle Show, we have moved to Stour Valley Business Park, Brundon Lane

Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 0JQ just off A131 Tel: 01787 881803.

Email: johnwalker37@uwclub.net 26 Bike Night, The Plough Inn Town Street, South Leverton DN22 0BT. Tel: 01427 880323.

27-1 Ride Cymru 5 Day Perimeter of Wales Charity Motorcycle Ride-out. www.ridecymru.com 28-29 Edinburgh & District Motor Club Pre-65 Scottish two-day trial.

Tel: 01620 248045.

Email. tamweir7@gmail.com 29-1 May Llandudno Transport Festival 25th Anniversary, Bodafon Fields, Llandudno, North Wales LL30 3BW. Tel: 01492 545053 before 6pm www.llantransfest.co.uk 30 Sunbeam MCC Ixion Cavalcade, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex. www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk 30 Motorcycle Show, Ancient to Modern at Withington Village Hall, Hereford HR1 3PP. 30 Autojumble, Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, Bashley, New Milton, Hampshire BH25 5SZ. Tel: 01425 620777 (museum) seven days a week or 01425 616644 (workshop/office) Monday-Friday.

Email: museum@sammymiller.co.uk. www.sammymiller.co.uk 30 Pembrokeshire Vintage & Classic Motorcycle Club, Classic Motorcycle Show at Milford Haven Marina, Pembrokeshire SA73 3AF. Tel. 07795 485724. Email: seacaptains@icloud.com 30 Ace Cafe London, Italian Bike Day. www.ace-cafe-london.com 30 Classic Motorcycle Show. The Jolly Postie, 2 Baldock Street, Royston SG8 5AY. Tel: 07963 609143.

30 Military Open Day, Coalhouse Fort,

East Tilbury, Essex RM18 8PB. Tel. 01375 844203. www.coalhousefort.co.uk 30-1st May Notts Classic Motorcycle & Car Show Thoresby Park, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire NG22 9EP. www.classicshows.org. Email: info@ classicshows.org Tel: 01484 667776

MAY 1 Fleet Lions 34th Annual Classic Bike Rally, The Key Car Park, The Key, Elvetham Heath, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 1HA. Tel: 07850 191820 www.fleetlions.org.uk 4 Chopper Night. Krazy Horse, Empire House, Lamdin Road, Lark Valley Business Park, Bury St Edmunds IP32 6NU. www.krazyhorse.co.uk.

Tel: 01284 749645.

6 Rufforth Autojumble, Rufforth Park, York. Tel: 01904 738620. www.rufforthautojumble.com 6 Jeff Mountjoy’s Big Ride Out. Paulton Rovers Football Club, Winterfield Road, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7QZ 6-7 Endurance Legends. Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2RP. www.doningtonpark. co.uk/events/motorcycle/ endurancelegends/10227/#event 6-7 Westonzoyland Sprint.

Tel: 07753 146099.

7 Ace Cafe London, Yamaha Day – 50th anniversary of the YR1 350 GP. www.ace-cafe-london.com 7 Classic Motorcycle Show, Dover Transport Museum, Willingdon Road, Whitfield, Dover, Kent CT16 2JX. Tel: 01304 822409. Email. info@ dovertransportmuseum.org.uk

7 The British Two-Stroke Club (Leicester Section), The Windmill Run, Wymondham, Leics.

Tel: Eric Hathaway 0116 275 0532.

7 Classic Motorcycle Show, Drill Hall, Walker’s Haugh, Peebles EH45 8AU. Email: embelleville@gmail.com 7 Despatch Rally. Dorset wide.

HQ = Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, New Milton BH25 5SZ. www.despatchrally.co.uk 7 Sidecar, Trike & Three Wheeler Day. Jack’s Hill Cafe, A5 Watling Street, Towcester NN12 8ET. Email. treasurer@hedingham club.co.uk 7 Harley-Davidson & Indian Day. Tile Shop, Buntingford. Tel: 07963 609143.

7 Nightingale House Hospice Ride Out. Llangollen Pavilion, Llangollen, Denbighshire LL20 8SW. www. nightingalehouse.co.uk/event/ nightingalehouse-hospice-ride-out/ 8-12 Sunbeam MCC Shropshire midweek, Ironbridge. Tel: Bob Nix 01664 454396. Email: bnixmail@gmail.com 10-15 3rd Verano Indiano Motorcycle Rally. www.motoclubindianos.com 10 Bike Night, The Plough Inn Town Street, South Leverton DN22 0BT. Tel: 01427 880323.

10 Charterhouse Auctioneers Classic Car and Motorbike Auction. Classic Motorbikes – Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN. 11 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, Hebden Bridge (by canal). Tel: 01772 782516 13-14 MCN Festival of Motorcycling at Peterborough Arena PE2 6HE. www.mcnfestival.com Autojumble queries: Julie Diplock 01797 344277 MCNFestival@elkpromotions.co.uk

Test ride a Triumph – get a FREE T-shirt

Triumph Motorcycles is giving away an exclusive complimentary T-shirt with every test ride of a Triumph Tiger 800 or Triumph Explorer. The promotion is only running until April 30, 2017, so if you fancy a new T-shirt, get yourself booked in for a ride at your local Triumph dealership.

The new promotion is running in tandem with Triumph’s recently extended complimentary pannier offer – so if you’re tempted by the Tiger or Explorer, you’ll get a free set of Silver Aluminium Expedition Panniers (worth £535) if you commit before June 2017.

Not only that, if you are going to require a mounting kit to fit this new luggage system, Triumph will throw that in as well, and even go so far as to fit it for you too (offering an additional saving of £255).

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THE FREE WEBSITE

WIN with ith

COMPETITION 11

and

This month, we’ve teamed up with Cobrra to offer the chance to win a NEMO2 lubrication device for your bike, worth just under £100.

We all know that with the right care, you can significantly lengthen the lifetime of your motorcycle chain – and to make the lubrication process as painless as possible, Cobrra has come up with the NEMO2 – a clever device that saves both money and time, while offering immediate chain lubrication when on the move.

The NEMO2 is installed on to your bike handlebars and provides immediate chain

■ For full terms and conditions, visit www.morebikes.co.uk – the competition closes on May 5, 2017.

lubrication when you need it. All you’ve got to do is twist the NEMO2 a quarter turn, and the device begins a three-minute lubrication process. It’s perfect for whenever you are riding in the rain, riding quickly, riding in a dusty environment and when you reach a certain mileage.

The NEMO2 works on the principle of compression, with the oil displaced under pressure – so you can trust that the chain will be lubricated every time. It consists of three interconnected work chambers that provide the following: ★ Easy-to-use controls. ★ Continuous oil displacement under pressure, offering uniform lubrication and maximum chain lifetime. ★ Lubrication of the internal parts of the NEMO2, in order to maintain reliability.

For more information on the NEMO2 visit www.cobrra.co.uk To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, simply visit www.morebikes. co.uk and fill your details into the competition entry form.

Iron Maiden goes TT mad!

Iron Maiden has revealed itss new 2017 UK tour shirt and the monsters of metal’s allegiance is squarely set with Peter w Hickman and this year’s Isle of Man TT. A quote from the band says: “Maintaining the Maiden tradition of having some fun with our tour art, the UK shirt depicts Eddie aboard the ‘Trooperbike’, bombing down the motorway headed for the Isle of Man TT.” Trooper Triumph by Smiths Racing will be campaigned on the roads by Peter Hickman at the Northwest 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix, as well as the TT. This is the third yyear that Trooper has been a sponsor, and the first time on a British bike.

12 LAUNCH REPORT

Triumph’s Street Cup

More th than th the sum off it its parts t

LAUNCH REPORT 13

Triumph seems to be taking the task of attracting new people into motorcycling very seriously.

Words: Mikko Nieminen Photos: Alessio Barbanti / Matteo Cavadini Only days after the factory unveiled its new Street Triples – a family of bikes that includes not only the 765cc inline triples, but also a dedicated 660cc version that can be restricted for A2 licence-holders – I was in Seville, Spain, for the international press test ride of the new Street Cup. The bike is billed as fun, exciting, and most importantly, accessible (read: suitable for all shapes, sizes and abilities of riders, including novices and A2 riders).

With the introduction of the Street Cup, Triumph’s aim was to create a bike that was more sporty and capable than the stock Street Twin, while still maintaining the accessibility and ease of use that have been drawing the crowds.

To achieve the balance, Triumph has gone beyond just accessorising the existing bike with café racer looks.

The new machine not only has a race-inspired fly screen, sporty exhaust, bullet seat, removable pillion seat cowl and low bars, but the geometry has been revised too, with the rear jacked up and the riding position pushed forward towards the dropped bars to create an overall sportier stance.

The single round dash of the Street Twin has been replaced with dual

clocks with polished stainless steel bezels like the ones on the Thruxtons.

The large analogue speedo and tachometer are easy to read, with additional info including trips, fuel level and consumption, traction control setting (on or off ) and clock available on the small digital screens.

Build and component quality is high, with adjustable clutch and brake levers, bar end mirrors with forged arms, Thruxton-style foot pegs and the two-tone paint (yellow and silver or black and silver) with hand-applied coach lining adding the final touch.

Setting off from Seville, we spent a while navigating our way out of the city.

In the busy urban environment the super-light torqueassist clutch and smooth ride-by-wire throttle made stop-start riding a doddle.

The 900cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine with 54bhp is as much in its element on city streets as it is on the winding country roads.

There’s plenty of pull in the lower and mid-range, with the peak torque figure of 80Nm achieved at 3200rpm, which means you can be a bit lazy with down-shifting – there’s always enough poke in the engine to get you moving even if you’re a gear too high.

56

That’s the average mpg that we had at launch

TECH SPEC Triumph Street Cup

Engine: 900cc liquid-cooled sohc parallel twin Power: 54bhp (40.5kW) @ 5900rpm Torque: 80Nm @ 3230rpm Transmission: Five-speed, chain final drive Frame: Tubular steel twin cradle Tyres: Pirelli Phantom SportsComp (F) 100/90-18 (R) 150/70 R17 Suspension: (F) KYB 41mm forks, 120mm travel, (R) KYB twin shocks with adjustable preload, 120mm travel Brakes: ABS (F) Single 310mm disc, 2-piston Nissin floating caliper, (R) Single 255mm disc, Nissin 2-piston floating caliper Seat height: 780mm Dry weight: 200kg Tank capacity: 12 litres Contact: www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk

The five-speed gearbox transfers the power to the chain-driven rear wheel accurately and smoothly, allowing quick acceleration as well as downshifting without any nasty surprises.

Despite the sportier, more forwardleaning riding position, the Street Cup is still a fairly comfortable bike to ride.

The 780mm high bullet seat is more plush than it looks and although the bars are low, you don’t feel like you’re putting weight on your wrists.

The pegs are relatively high, which may reduce comfort levels for taller riders, but my 31in legs rested on

them quite merrily for the duration of the 115-mile test ride, with my ankles staring to stiffen up only right towards the end.

The Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tyres left a little to be desired in town where I had a couple of little slides when powering out of roundabouts, although in fairness much of the Tarmac in town had been polished by heavy traffic, making it slippery for any tyres. On the open roads out of town the tyres performed much better, but I still felt I needed to hold back a little just in case.

LAUNCH REPORT 15 I remember being impressed with the agility and quick steering of the Street Twin when I tested it last year.

The Street Cup seemed to require a bit more steering input for fast cornering, but once on course it took corners with admirable accuracy and poise.

With the high foot pegs, there is plenty of ground clearance for cornering, and I don’t think I came close to scraping the pegs all day.

The suspension units and settings are unique for this bike, and they seem to be very suitable for fun, sporty riding. A good job too, because the only setting that you can adjust is the rear shock preload. The twisty back roads of Spain seem to be almost entirely pothole free, so the suspension would probably have to work harder back in the UK, but hitting the odd bump in the road while cornering didn’t seem to upset the bike, and it felt perfectly firm around corners, under acceleration and while braking hard.

Once you get up to speeds that can be rather unhealthy for a clean licence, the bike starts to show its limitations and feels a little less planted, but still perfectly under control. The small fly screen provides a surprising amount of wind protection if you flatten yourself on the tank. It’s not an ideal riding position for long journeys, but it helps in high winds.

At £8600 the Street Cup is £1100 more expensive than the Street Twin, and delivers what it promises: a higher quality finish, and most importantly, a fun, exhilarating and accessible ride. Compared to the Street Twin it’s like your mate who has succeeded in his new year’s resolution to shape up: a bit thinner, faster and overall sportier, looking smart and on-trend, but can wear you out if you spend too long with him.

A2 READY

The Street Cup can be made A2 license ready (and back again) by any Triumph dealer. The kit involves an engine tune and different throttle parts.

PILLION-ABLE

You can remove the seat cover to carry a passenger, the footrests are already in place as standard.

FOOTRESTS

They are fairly high compared to other retro-styled bikes.

CLUTCHING

The torque-assist clutch is very easy and light to use. One-finger operation is very easy on the move.

BRAKING IT

Single front disc and twopot caliper are adequate.

FLY-SCREEN

It doesn’t look like much, but the fairly tiny fly-screen does a surprisingly good job of deflecting windblast.

TYRES

The bike comes with Pirelli Phantoms as stock.

GLORY DAYS 17

The Yamaha FS1-E

What is it about the Seventies sports moped that continues to allure? Niall Mackenzie pops out for a bag of chips to ponder the question.

Words: Niall Mackenzie, Bertie Simmonds Photos: Gary ‘D’ Chapman, Mortons Archive Few machines have had such an impact on a generation of fledgling motorcyclists as the humble, yet mighty, Yamaha FS1-E. For many the moped was as big a part of the 1970s and that decade’s culture as flares, glam rock, daft hair, power cuts and Pan’s People. The moped gave a whole generation of kids a new-found freedom, a way of not only getting from A to B, but a means of expression and access to a whole new social life. Many of us would never forget our first moped and the king of them all was the Yamaha FS1-E. Today the Fizzy is more than just a mini-motorcycle, it’s become a symbol of a carefree, more fun-loving time and the prices have begun to reflect that.

In the UK at least, the sport moped phenomenon came about as a result of Government policy.

18 GLORY DAYS Yamaha FS1-E timeline

TECH SPEC 1982-1983 YAMAHA FS1-SE

1969 YAMAHA FS1 Super Sports (SS)

Launched in 1969 as a 50cc, 6bhp, five-speed motorcycle capable of 50mph+: only available in Japan and a few European countries, including Austria and Switzerland between 1969 and 1970. Blue/white and red/white with frames and swingarms painted in the primary blue or red.

Engine type: Air-cooled, two-stroke, single, 49cc Bore and stroke: 40.0 x 39.7mm Claimed horsepower: 4.8bhp @ 7000rpm Maximum torque: 3.6lb-ft @ 6500rpm Transmission type: 4-speed, wet clutch chain final drive Compression ratio: 7:1 Carburetion: 1 x 16mm Mikuni VM16SC Tyres: 2.25-17 (F), 2.50-17 (R) Fuel capacity: 1.32 gallons (6 litres) Dry weight: 70kg (154lb) Wheelbase: 1160mm (45.24in) Overall length: 1755mm (68.5in) Overall width: 555mm (21.65in) Seat height: 730mm (28.5in)

1970 YAMAHA FS1

First available in Holland in 1970; Dutchman Ludy Beumer helped invent the pedal mechanism to turn a motorcycle into a moped. Restricted power output, F5B cylinder and four-speed ’box.

1973-1974 YAMAHA FS1-E

The MKII Candy Orange was identical to the SS except for the FS1-E livery on the side-panels and around 5500 were sold from August 1973 through to ’74.

1972-1973 YAMAHA FS1-E ‘SS’

On December 15, 1971, Conservative Transport Minister John Peyton brought into existence the ‘sixteener law’ which could have been the death knell for young, wannabe motorcyclists in this country. In the good old days you could saddle up anything and go ride. Then over successive generations a proficiency test was introduced and later a 250cc limit. Then, those in power felt something should be done to get novice riders off of 250s and onto 50cc machines equipped with pedals, commonly called a ‘moped’.

It was hoped that the number of accident statistics for new bike riders would be cut.

Initially all seemed well and casualties fell, but then the manufacturers began to notice that there would be an advantage if they could give youngsters what they wanted, rather than the elderly, pedestrian 50cc slopeds beloved of shopping grannies and district nurses.

They could see that if they ditched the bicycle seat and wire basket up front the ‘sports moped’ could well be a success.

The Japanese weren’t too au fait with the ‘moped’ so it took the Europeans to be the driving force behind it – because that was what they needed. Yamaha luckily already had something that almost fitted the bill.

First UK model arrived late 1972 featuring a white vinyl pin-stripe decal on the Candy Orange painted tank, Yamaha screw-on tank badges and vinyl ‘SS’ (Sixteener Special) decals on the side-panels.

Traditional drum brake on both the front and rear wheels. Around 7500 of these SS-badged models were sold in the UK. The decals were changed to FS1-E in August 1973, allegedly due to pressure from Honda. Yamaha carried on selling FS1s with the ‘SS’ side panel livery well into the mid-70s in Europe.

1974-1975 YAMAHA FS1-E

The 1975 model came in three different colour options although 95% of this year’s model were supplied and sold in Baja Brown, still with the white vinyl tank pin-striping and side-panel decals.

1974-1975 YAMAHA FS1-E

‘Popsicle Purple’ model (paint codes R1 and R9) was released around August 1974 until July 1975: the later (Dec 1974 R9) models-on wore the ‘flatter’ R9 shade of purple.

1975-1976 YAMAHA FS1-E D

(give or take 5mph) which led to many canny dealers pre-registering the older, de-restricted models before the August deadline.

My own relationship with the Fizzy was when, in 1977, I had managed to get a provisional licence and I bought – for £80 – a very tired 1975 DX that a mate had from new. Sadly it was pretty knackered. The gear lever rounded the splines on the selector shaft so I had to use mole grips to change gear. Later the left-hand side of the main stand fell off so I heated and bent the remaining part of it to make a side-stand.

I considered that a performance part!

Thankfully today such nonsense is not needed as there are a host of people ready to help with any Fizzy part. As said before, nostalgia comes at a price these days and even original ‘394 model’ projects come in at around a grand, with the later 3F6 model a few hundred quid cheaper.

You’ll even see some machines made to look like a Fizzy, such is the allure.

Mint early models can now go for up to five grand, with differing year models of varying quality sitting in between. Me? Well, I had to have one, so I stumped up £1100 to get back into the Fizzy club at the end of 2013 and then spent a fair few quid restoring this one you see in these pages. In fact, when I got a call requesting a full road test on my 1977 FS1-E, I’ll admit to being more than just a tad nervous.

You see, my last Fizzy run out was the 2015 Donington Park Classic festival where I hammered round the circuit for two days. Well, nearly.

All had gone really well until the last session on the Sunday when the motor went tight while I was fully tucked in along the back straight.

Fortunately my old two-stroke racing

13,500

That’s how many Fizzies were sold in 1970-71

FS1 was born

The FS1 was eventually sold in the Netherlands in 1970, restricted down to 25mph for their domestic market.

The machine used the cylinder of the F5B, but the FS1’s original high-level exhaust was replaced by one similar to that seen on the F5B, in a more traditional low-level position. The timing of the motor was altered and a 10mm carb replaced the normal 16mm unit. Available in Candy Blue or Candy Orange, these machines were an enormous success with 13,500 sold during 1970-71.

So what was the Fizzy’s secret? Its beauty was probably its simplicity: a humble pressed-steel frame, a basic 49cc disc-valve motor producing just under 5bhp at 7000rpm. The bike’s 17in wheels gave it an assured ride and the motor was pokey enough for a 16-year-old. Okay, so eventually another bit of legislation saw the sports moped wings clipped a bit.

From August 1, 1977, any moped sold was restricted to 30mph

skills hadn’t left me, so I instantly pulled in the clutch and free wheeled to the side of the track. A Fizzy club member in attendance feared the worst as he said a lock up at 50mph would normally result in a wrecked piston and barrel. It was a great weekend but I was still gutted to be wheeling my broken pride and joy into the van that night. I’d not had a worse feeling since dropping the thing off the side of the ramp when I was trying to ride it into my van…

After a top-end strip down (which takes about five minutes) I was amazed to find the barrel intact with the only damage being a heavily scuffed piston front and rear. The rings had survived too, so after a good buff up with petrol-soaked, wet-and-dry paper, I rebuilt her and crossed my fingers.

The ride

The track was fun but the FS1E’s natural habitat will always be scooting round towns and exploring countryside lanes, so it was only right that Bertie should show up with the photographer Gary and I should take them both for a bag of chips and that we should go the pretty way near my home in the Midlands.

Also launched in August 1975 was the first FS1-E with a front disc brake and single piston caliper. It also had handlebar-mounted ignition plus new flatter handlebars without the crossbar to accommodate the master cylinder/brake lever perch; also, single cluster left-hand switchgear for lights and horn.

1976-1977 YAMAHA FS1-E

Launched in late 1975/January 1976 through to July 1977, this was a facelift drum brake model featuring the handlebar-mounted ignition, pull-up choke, and wore famous Yamaha vinyl speed-block decals in place of the screw-on tank badges. Rear shocks were now open coil in chrome.

1976-1977 YAMAHA FS1-EA & DXA

Both facelift models now have Autolube oil pump, black frame down-tubes fitted on DXA and single-cluster left-hand switchgear for lights and horn.

Left-hand side front brake shoe holder plate for EA, fixed rear sprocket carrier, aesthetic and tyre changes.

1977-1978 YAMAHA FS1-M and FS1-MDX

Disc front (DX) rear drum, ignition on handlebars and footrests replace pedal system after new UK legislation and restricted to 30mph. Drum for EA. DX finished in Vintage Burgundy, drum-brake model painted in French Blue. 1500 drum and 3000 disc brake models sold.

1979-11980 YAMAHA FS1

Manufactured from 1979, new-style tank, seat with colour-coded cowl and higher handlebars, Available in Maxim Red or Caribbean Blue with front drum or disc brake. New style black plastic backed indicators fitted.

Production stops in 1982 then reintroduced in 1988-1992 due to a spare parts reorder error by Yamaha Europe: 16,000 sales of both models.

20 GLORY DAYS In more ways than one it was yet another trip down memory lane.

My yellow and black DX gave me a new-found freedom, allowing me to travel far and wide. Okay, it was mostly just down the road to The Pines Chippy in Denny. To this day that feeling still comes back when I sample the unique sound and smell of these great little bikes.

And I still prefer the paddle start method with my lightweight Fizzy.

In 1976 it looked cool but more importantly, kick-starting could play havoc with boney shins and Brutus jeans when clashing with the pedal mechanism. Considering there is very little power available, pulling away is easy and helped greatly with the low first gear and feather light clutch. And for me at least, that low first gear was brilliant as I grew up near countless country trails and paths. The nearest was Carron Glen where I honed some good basic trials skills riding over and around hills and quarries.

The bolt upright riding position is fine for around town but for speedier riding the rear pillion pegs are perfectly placed for comfier, more streamlined travel. Your left foot might be a long way from the gear lever but that’s a small price to pay for looking good and getting the perfect slipstream. These days, braking on modern bikes is mostly an effortless one or two-fingered affair with the front brake, but that’s certainly not the case on this bike. It is incredible how much things have improved as even at 30mph my front drum brake does very little for the slowing down process.

For sure the DX model would have been better but I soon remembered rear brakes played a much bigger role back then, and quite often (like my Fizzy) the rear anchor was better than the front.

This article comes from the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics stable.

To get the brilliant mag for yourself go to classicmechanics.com

The ‘all-down’ four-speed gearbox has nicely spaced ratios and on the speedo at least, I was seeing 50mph with any decent stretch of straight road. Tales of 60mph plus from sixteener-specials then and now are just that: tales from people who probably had more McEwan’s or Woodpecker than was good for them when it comes to telling stories. That said, there might only be five-bhp on tap but being a two-stroke, there is lots of fun to be had timing gear changes for maximum acceleration and speed. Anyone who has ridden Honda’s competition from back in the day, the four-stroke SS50, will remember it as a depressing experience. Sorry, but the Fizzy had it beat.

So, it wouldn’t have been a proper Fizzy test without a chip shop stop, especially as I was insisting on Bertie paying, so after having fun buzzing through the local villages

of Donisthorpe, Moira and Shellbrook it was on to Nick’s Fish Bar. I’m not sure why but chippies were the social nucleus for the youth of the Seventies. Where I grew up, on any night of the week teenagers, mostly with machines up to 250cc, gathered at the Pines Chippy to eat, drink, mess around and sometimes even grab a girlfriend. Grab? Okay, maybe that was just me.

Each bike I own brings back special memories for different reasons and the Fizzy was the start of a very special journey for me. Nearly 40 years on, this little bike is a hoot to ride and still brings a huge grin to my face.

At the end of our test we threw the chip wrappers in the bin and said our farewells. As it turned out I was only a mile from home but I couldn’t stop myself from making a substantial detour. I challenge anyone to go home early when they can spend more time on their Fizzy.

21

FREE 4-PAGE PULL-OUT SHOW PREVIEW 23

SHOW PREVIEW

GET YOUR TICKETS! ➨ racerockride.com

Saturday OR Sunday:

Advance £13 | On the gate £20 Under 16s go free

Weekend camping pass:

Advance £23 | On the gate £30

Pre-book your unlimited daily race voucher: £25 per day Closing date for advance ticket sales is Friday, May 12, 2017 Booking fees apply

Where: Santa Pod Raceway When: May 20-21, gates open 8am What: A weekendlong festival of motorcycling celebrating the need for speed

24 FREE 4-PAGE PULL-OUT SHOW PREVIEW

Revving up for the return of

Race, Rock ’n’ Ride Following a hugely successful debut in 2016, Race, Rock ’n’ Ride sponsored by Principal Insurance returns to Santa Pod Raceway on May 20-21, and for the second running of this weekend-long festival of motorcycling it’s all about the need for speed…

What’s on: Run What Ya Brung Santa Pod’s roaring Run What Ya Brung, backed by Fast Bikes magazine, is set to be a big-hitter. This specialist competition of bike mania allows you to challenge your two-wheel (or maybe threewheel) machine in the ultimate test as you hit the quarter-mile.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-timer or seasoned expert, whether you’ve got a retro classic or a modified turbo-charger – RWYB lets you see what your bike is made of and post a time.

And the best bit is you can then go and beat that time, because for just £25 per day you get unlimited runs on one of the world’s most iconic drag strips. You get a performance printout, and you’ll be automatically entered to our weekend competition with trophies up for grabs for the quickest time in each of the following classes: Class A – up to 500cc Class B – 501-750cc Class C – 751-1000cc Class D – more than 1000cc

SUPPORTED BY

Class X – non road-legal bikes (including bikes on slicks) Classes A-D are for road-legal machines only, and must run on UK road-legal tyres with full electrics. All bikes on slicks and with questionable road legality will go into Class X. You don’t have to apply for a race licence or own a superbike; most riders who come along with be on normal bikes. Some participants may have pro bikes – or be pros themselves – so who knows what you’ll be lining up against! So, don’t miss your chance to walk away with some silverware, earn those bragging rights and prove your weapon of choice by setting that allimportant PB. Your £25 one-day unlimited track time voucher can be purchased at the event, or in advance from racerockride.com

What’s on: ACU Drag Bike Championships New for 2017 is the addition of a national stage of the ACU Drag Bike Championship. The event’s third round is set to include a variety of machines from ET Bike (entry level), right up to the Super Street Bike which is THE top modern day drag racing class.

This top bracket operates a set of rules which ensures the bikes don’t stray too far from their ‘street’ origin. An extended swingarm, street tyres and relaxed rules on engine combinations – combined with a ban on wheelie bars and slicks – produces some of the closest and most entertaining racing you’ll ever see.

These bikes produce upwards of 700bhp so riders will have you on the edge of your seat as they blast up the track looking for six-second, 200mph form.

Funny Bike is another class worth highlighting with entrants forever pushing for six-second passes. The rules are a little more relaxed, and while they do permit wheelie bars and slicks as well as the use of methanol or nitromethane fuel, the bike must remain recognisable as a production machine to match the manufacturer of the engine. A look around the pit

area will reveal a variety of engine set-ups with the favourite being an enormous turbocharger, with the engine powered by a healthy dose of methanol.

Accompanying classes will be: Pro Stock Bike – the manufacturer’s class with emphasis on stock components and a recognisable appearance; Comp Bike; 8.5 & 9.5 bike; and finally

What’s on: Scooters come to Santa Pod

What’s on: New riders can Get On

New for the 2017 event, scooters will be a major part rtt of Race, Rock ’n’ Ride – and we’ll be seeing how fast they can go down the Santa Pod sprint track!

Whether you ride a classic geared scooter or a modern auto example, you can get involved and set a time. But even if you choose not to enter, there’s still plenty to see in the Scooter Paddock area support rted t by both Scootering and Classic Scooterist magazines and run by the expert rtt team at 100mph scooter club.

Got a friend or family member who wants to try two-wheels but doesn’t know where to get started? Then Race, Rock ’n’ Ride is the perfect place to bring them because Get On, the motorcycle industry’s free try-out programme, is coming to Santa Pod.

Junior Drag Bike for enthusiasts aged between eight and 16.

One thing’s for certain… you’ll be blown away by the engineering on show throughout the pit area, which is open throughout the weekend allowing you a rare chance to get up close and personal with your favourite teams before cheering them on from the stands.

Sessions are between 9.30am and 5.30pm on both Saturday and Sunday. They can be arranged at the event, but pre-booking is advised to avoid disappointment. For more information and to confirm your slot, visit geton.co.uk or call 02476 408040.

It is open to anyone aged 14 or over, no previous experience is required and it is completely FREE to take part. Riders will be offered a 30-minute session with a professional instructor, during which they will be introduced to the gears, brakes, clutch and slow-speed handling.

FREE 4-PAGE PULL-OUT SHOW PREVIEW 25 Also don’t miss...

Custom Bike Build Championships with Come and witness the incredible work of custom bike builders from across the country with a stunning display of machines in the Back Street Heroes Custom Bike Build Championships 2017!

With five awards up for grabs including Best Chopper and Best Paint, this is sure to be a spectacle you won’t want to miss.

Awesome stunt shows Watch death-defying displays from the Broke FMX Freestyle Motocross squad, and as part of the incredible British stunt bike championships.

What’s on: Eric the rocket man We’ve got a very special guest appearance at this year’s Race, Rock ’n’ Ride in the form of Eric Teboul.

The Frenchman will be taking centrestage to wow the crowds on his mindblowing rocket-powered jet bike.

Adrenaline-fuelled Eric holds the world record for being the fastestaccelerating man on two wheels, and he has been known to reach speeds of up to 280mph across the quartermile in his hydrogen peroxidepowered machine.

Eric will be tearing up the strip on both days of the event – it’s certainly a sight you don’t want to miss (and if you blink, you just might!). His astonishing runs require impeccable control and mastery of the bike, its quickest ever pass standing at a remarkable 5.121 seconds – the quickest in history.

This is the fastest rocket bike on the planet, and daredevil rocket man… make sure you walk away from Santa Pod saying: “I saw it in person”.

Loud machines and even louder music

Wheelie machine Learn how to wheelie on a safe and secure machine, without the risk of tipping off the back!

FireForce Jet Car

See this world record-breaking beast hit the strip at speeds upwards of 270mph. This is a spectacle you HAVE to see.

Ken Fox’s Wall of Death You’ve seen it on the TV, now experience the show in person. Look on in amazement as Ken’s daredevils ride vertically on the world-famous wall.

Classic Racer Grand Prix Paddock A favourite of the Stafford classic bike shows comes to Santa Pod, as we fire up some iconic racing motorcycles (and scooters) in the GP pits, backed by Classic Racer magazine.

Plus even more…

Make sure you catch the new-for-2017 Drift Trikes, check out the club stands and bag a bargain in the trade area. There’s also shows from the five-tonne car-crushing Podzilla monster truck, a chance to test your machine’s credentials with DynaBike and even more displays of various makes, models and eras of motorcycles. Also new for 2017 is round two of the British Stunt Bike Championships! The only thing you’ve got to worry about is how you fit it all in!

Critically acclaimed tribute act Limehouse Lizzy will headline this year’s evening entertainment for our weekend guests – and at just £23 for a

British Stunt Championships

camping pass there can be no excuse to miss out on the fantastic action.

The world-renowned Thin Lizzy act is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and is about as close you can get to the real thing with vocalist Wayne Ellis being described as an ‘uncanny ringer’ for the late, great Phil Lynott. The band oozes charisma, keeping the spirit of the Celtic rock icon and his muchloved band alive.

Adding to the Saturday night attractions in the Fuelers Bar – all of which are included in the price of a weekend ticket – are West Midlands four-piece alternative rock band Anchors and Alibis, plus TotalRock DJ Tina Saul.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BUY TICKETS, VISIT

racerockride.com

26 FREE 4-PAGE PULL-OUT SHOW PREVIEW

MARKETPLACE 29

Back protection

Armouring yourself up is a matter of choice and if you do want to give yourself a fighting chance then there’s a lot of back protection out there these days that you can add to your kit roster. Here’s a look at some of the back protection on sale right now.

Knox Defender Elite Jacket £249.99 I www.planet-knox.com Knox is at the forefront of armour technolog gy, and this Defender jacket is no exception. Its s CE approved armour sits in the shoulders and elbows and a full Aegis back protector cares sses your spine. It has flex channels to articulate around the spine, plus removable kidney protectors. It uses an Italian Carvico bi-elastic micro mesh. The shirt zips off the Aegis for washing purposes and it’s available in sizes s small to 3XL.

Alpinestars Nucleon KR-1

£139.99 I www.alpinestars.com

This level 2 CE certified back protector is one of Alpinestars’ finest individual units, and features a hard-shell vertebrae protector using energy absorbing viscoelastic memory foam. It will fit perfectly under any A’stars gear, as you’d expect, but isn’t obtrusive if you’re using it with differently branded clothing either. The breathable and lightweight unit is specifically designed for sports riding, be that on road or track, and comes in sizes from XS to fatty-tum-tum XL.

Dainese D-Air Misano

Furygan XP1

£1499.95 I www.dainese-moto.com

£64.99 www.nevis.uk.com

.

One of the new breed in protection featuring thin air! Yup, airbag type protection is here to stay, working alongside traditional armour. Which in the Misano means decent ‘hard’ armour on the pointy bits, and all the other benefits of a top-drawer jacket. The USP here is D-Air technology.

It uses gyros, accelerometers and a dedicated CPU to activate (or not) the airbag. You can even download info from it and the GPS unit, too, should you so wish.

KKnox Roscoe and Armoured shirt

££349.99/£99.99 I www.planet-knox.com

The French firm’s XP1 uses British-based D30 impact protection as its main protective layer. It creates a flexible, shock absorbing 18mm thick cushion that features molecules that lock together under impact. It’s lightweight, very flexible, CE level 2 approved and rather breathable, too.

A new idea (well, last year) in armour frrom Knox, where it isn’t incorporated in nto the actual jacket, rather it’s a seeries of layers you can add or subtract o as you wish. It also means that to he armoured shirt (£99.99) holds th he armour (an extremely clever th new n form of the stuff not affected by teemperatures) against things like your ellbows with far more purchase and a ot less chance of rotation during an lo off – very clever. And when you’re not on the bike the jacket is, er, just a jacket.

Hence why so much of the collection looks so stylish. The outer jackets are still fantastically well constructed and there are a lot to choose from.

Forcefield Limb Tubes £59.99 I www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com Doing essentially what they say on the tin, the Limb Tubes offer more protection on top of what you already have, or offer some where there’s none at all, like under a pair of jeans. They’re CE approved and feature repeat-performance-technology. They also do full top and bottom armour undersuits or pants. They’re available in sizes XS-L.

30 PRODUCTS

Anti-Gravity Lantern and Flashlight

RRP: £49.99

These are a couple of really cool little gadgets from Anti-Gravity that provide light, music, hands-free calling and USB charging in a bite-sized package.

The Lantern can be set down on a surface, hung, or used hand-held (even as a torch) – and features two light modes: half and full brightness.

It is fully Bluetooth compatible and can operate as a wireless speaker, while a built-in microphone means it can be used as a hands-free Bluetooth Speaker-phone too. It has a 1800 mAh capacity and we’re told it’ll last for around eight hours on a single charge – but recharging should be pretty straightforward, using its standard USB port.

The UltraLight X LED Flashlight looks like a pretty traditional torch, and as you’d expect, it can be used to light your way (or even have a poke around your bike by the roadside in the dark).

Like the Lantern, The UltraLight X can operate as a wireless Bluetooth speaker (and can do the hands-free stuff too) – but it’s unique in the fact that comes with a detachable second speaker, you just remove the Flashlight’s head and attach the second speaker in its place for louder sound.

The UltraLight can also act be used as a power bank, offering charge to other USB powered gadgets in your arsenal, via its 2600mAh lithium battery. As with the Lantern, you’ll need a 12V adaptor ready on your bike to charge it up via its standard USB port.

For more information visit: www.nippynormans.com

Spada Pilgrim Grande boot RRP: £129.99 // Sizes: 7-13 // Colour: Distressed Brown Despite their retro looks, these stylish new boots from Spada come packed with modern features.

An update of the original Spada Pilgrim, the (now-taller) Grande boots are made of oil distressed leather and have a Hipora waterproof lining i f d on the – th they are reinforced th oles, heel and toe, have welt so gear-change pads p and TPU ankle supports.

For more information visit: v dax. www.ferid com

Hedon Heroine Helmet RRP: £499 // Sizes: S-XL // Colours: Black, Coal, Ash, White (in both the Classic and Racer models)) Bespoke British helmet manufacturer Hedon has just released its brand new lid, the Heroine. In short, it’s a retro styled fu ullface helmet and we reckon it looks greatt.

There are a couple of models to choose from; the Heroine Classic, which can be worn with goggles or sunglasses, and th he Heroine Racer, which has an integrated flip-up flat visor. It’s also worth mentionin ng that, despite its name, the Heroine is perfect for both men and women.

Both models are lined with natural calf leather and Merlin anti-bacterial fabric, while the exteriors are made from a toug gh h composite shell of fibreglass and carbon n fibre (which also makes them very light).

And best of all, they meet strict ECE 2205 5 regulations – making them road legal for use in Europe, and perfect for keeping your noggin safe while out on two wheels.

These premium lids don’t come cheap - but they are hand crafted to order, so you’re getting what you pay for. It’s also worth noting that they will usually take about four weeks to be delivered.

For more visit: www.hedon.co.uk

PRODUCTS 31

Buffalo BR30 Sportbike Gloves RRP: £44.99 // Sizes: S-3XL // Colours: Black, Black and white, Black and blue, Black and red, Black and neon New to the Buffalo range, these affordable BR30 gloves are designed with the sportbike rider in mind.

They are made out of tough fullgrain leather, feature integrated TPU reinforced armour on the knuckles and fingers, and have a tough twin layer of leather reinforcing the palmss.

Plus, they’ve got a full internal linin ng for additional comfort, adjustable Velcro wrist straps and cuffs to ensurre a snug fit, and Silicon print on the palms providing extra grip.

For more information visit: www.thekeycollection.co.uk

Knox Leonard MK II Wax Jacket RRP: £249.99 // Sizes: S-3XL // Colours: Black, Russet Brown Knox has updated the Leonard Wax Jacket for 2017 – the aim being to offer a fresh take on the traditional wax jacket design.

It features a (breathable) waterproof membrane that is laminated onto abrasion resistant waxed cotton fabric, while fully tapered seams and Aquaguard zips offer further waterproof protection. A ribbed collar and cuffs, in addition to the removable throat guard, offer further shelter against the elements (though they can be removed in warmer weather).

The unique ‘Knox dual fit design’ means that you can adjust the fit of the arms and body, allowing room underneath for appropriate armour (not included) – which in turn means the jacket is perfect for either on-or-off the bike.

There’s a cotton interior lining on the body, an interior elasticated cord at the hem and adjustable cuffs and waist belt – which all work together to provide a more comfortable draught-free fit. Plus there are some discreet underarm loops for attaching reflective arm bands, meaning you’ll be visible in the dark too.

For more information visit: www.planet-knox.com

Hevik Identity Racer Gloves RRP £49.99 // Sizes: S-3XL // Brown and black, Grey and black Hevik has just launched a brand new pair of leather winter gloves – and they look perfect for the more style-conscious biker.

The Identity Racer gloves are (we’re told) 100% waterproof, and come with a thermal lining to help keep out the cold and protect you from the elements. They have some pretty cool design features too, with conductive fingertips making the gloves touchscreen compatible.

Hevik says that the gloves have been tailored with the café racer crowd in mind, and we reckon they’d look great coupled with a nice leather jacket.

For more information visit: www.hevik.co.uk

Oxford AQUAD Waterproof Packing Cubes RRP: £24.99 Oxford Products has just released this cool bundle of waterproof packing cubes. The colour coded 12 litre, seven litre and five litre waterproof bags look perfect for splitting and keeping track of your luggage on your next two-wheeled adventure.

For more information visit: www.oxfordproducts.com

32 TRIED & TESTED Clarke ½in drive torque wrench Tested by: Mikko Niemineen // RRP: £27.59 // Info: www.machinemart.cco.uk There are only so many jobs you can manage without a torque wrench. And even if you could get away with it, there’s a certain sense of satisfaction in knowing that all the torque settings on your bike are bang on the money.

The Clarke ½in drive torque wrench (model number CHT141) ensures that all those torque-sensitive fasteners are set to precise tolerance – no more ‘that feels about right’ kind of spannering, thank you very much! Using the torque wrench means that nuts are tightened in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations, avoiding undue mechanical stress and distortion, and hopefully keeping my bike on the road a bit longer.

Correct torque settings are essential for the safety and integrity of many fasteners and components, and although I know mechanics who don’t bother with torque wrenches for certain jobs, I’m enough of a pedant to want to get the settings right even for the partts where it doesn’t nece essarily matter (recently installed crash pads come to mind a as an example). For other jo obs,

such as adjusting chain tension, a good torque wrench like this is essential.

The reversible head and operating range of 28 to 210Nm (20 to 155lb-ft) means that I can cover most jobs that need high tension with this one tool, although its 465mm length and 28Nm low end limit makes it less suited for working on the more intricate parts of the bike.

The wrench is manufactured from chrome vanadium steel, and supplied in a tough moulded case, complete with a 5in extension bar, and a ½inThere’ss a 12 ⅜in adaptor. There month guarantee.

Knox Zephyr mesh jacket

Reviewer: Mikko Nieminen // RRP: £199.99 // Sizes S–3XL // Colour: Black // Info: www.planet-knox.com m If you have ever ridden in heavy leathers or textiles under the beating sun, you know exactly how stifling they can feel. So, what’s the solution? Enter mesh jackets, the perfect choice for those hot days, offering plenty of ventilation with their light structure and big mesh vents.

The Zephyr from Knox is a particularly nice-looking mesh jacket, and what’s more, it’s also tough, fully armoured and made in the UK. The jacket may look light, but the signature Knox level of protection is still there. The fabrics are abrasion resistant, and the jacket is fitted with Knox CE armour in the shoulder, elbows and back.

The protectors are fitted so they don’t move around and stay in the right place even in case of a

tumble. The back protector is nice and big, covering both upper and lower back. An optional chest protector is also available.

Plentiful ventilation is guaranteed by the arrownet mesh fabric on the front and back, and there’s soft cotton lining for added comfort.

There are two zipped pockets at the front, and a further pouch at the rear (useful for storing the waterproof over-jacket that can be bought separately).

In use, the jacket feels snug in a nice way (it’s designed to be worn over a base layer only), while still comfortingly solid with all the protectors.

The airflow is excellent and makes this a fantastic summer riding jacket. I also like that you can get a waterproof over-jacket that makes this a much more versatile product.

TRIED & TESTED 33 Sidi Deep Rain boots

RST Race Dept Premium Rucksack

Reviewer: Mikko Nieminen // RRP: £249.99 // Colour: Black // Sizes: EUR 41-48 // Info: www.sidiselect.co.uk

Reviewer: Mikko Nieminen // RRP: £34.99 // Info: www.rst-moto.com

The Deep Rain boots are designed for adventure, and come equipped with a waterproof membrane, good levels of protection, a practical fastening system and of course the chunky looks of true adventure boots. You don’t, however, have to go on a round-the-world trip to benefit from the boots. A regular rainy day back in the good old Blighty will be quite sufficient to demonstrate that these are very comfortable, practical and robust motorcycle boots.

As the name suggests, waterproofing is at the top of the agenda with these boots. The waterproofing system is not by GoreTex (as is the case with the slightly pricier Sidi Adventure boots), but even with Sidi’s own waterproofing solution, the boots have kept my feet dry even

When it comes to rucksacks that you take out on the bike, I’m looking for three things: comfort, waterproofing, and lots of pockets so I can organise all my clobber. And this RST Race Dept Premium Rucksack delivers on all accounts.

The rucksack is a bit of a Tardis: there’s much more space for all your biking bits and bobs than you’d think at first glance.

The shoulder straps and the back of the bag are padded and the rucksack is very comfortable to carry on your shoulders, even on a longer journey. Securing both the waist and chest straps also adds to the comfort.

The bag itself isn’t waterproof, but there’s a built-in fluorescent yellow waterproof cover in a small pocket at the bottom, which can be quickly pulled over the bag.

when riding in heavy rain for over an hour. Interestingly, these are not leather boots. Instead, the main material is Technomicro. Never heard of it? Me neither. Turns out it’s a composite microfibre material, in essence similar to leather but apparently stronger, softer and lighter. Technomicro is also waterrepellent, quick-drying, breathable and permeable to water vapour.

And it’s abrasion-resistant too. That all sounds rather good, and they certainly do feel light for such big boots. As to the other qualities of Technomicro; so far they have performed pretty much exactly as I would have expected regular leather boots to perform.

The boots are a little stiff at first, but soon wear in, and feel very comfortable both on and off the bike. The inner lining is nice and soft, and the shape is spot on for my feet.

My only criticism is that the soles are a little slippery on certain surfaces.

One of my favourite things about these boots is the Velcro and buckles combination for fastening. It’s perfect for getting the boots on and off quickly, with minimum fuss.

There are protectors on the shin and ankle, as well as reinforced areas in the heel and the toes. The boots don’t come with any mention of CE-approval, but even so, they feel sturdy and substantial, so I’m quite happy to trust them to protect my feet in case I need them to.

There’s a gear shift pad on both boots, funky Sidi logos and a reflective panel around the back of the ankle.

Overall, these are good quality boots that keep your feet dry, warm and safe.

The cleverest thing about this bag is that it has a separate helmet bag, which is again hidden in its own little pocket and can be pulled out when needed. This rucksack is well thought out and full of features that make life on two wheels a little easier.

Shoei Neotec Helmet Reviewed by: Ross Mowbray // RRP: £469.99 // Sizes: XS-2XL // Colours: Various // Info: www.shoei-europe.com On the styling front, the Neotec is undoubtedly a good looking helmet.

Slipping it on, it’s a snug but comfortable fit, and it feels secure. Releasing the chin bar couldn’t be any easier – there’s a large lock-release button on the chin which easily allows you to flip the front.

The Neotec features a CNS-1 scratch-resistant visor and a retractable QSV-1 sun shield,

operated by a slider on the left side of the helmet.

It also comes equipped with the Pinlock FogResistant System, and has three air vents to improve airflow into the lid, and again, reduce fogging.

Importantly, all controls are really easy to operate while wearing gloves.

The only downside is the price – it’s not cheap but the Neotec is an exceptional helmet – and

because of that I’ve pulled it on my head far more often than anything else currently in my collection, which is probably the best endorsement I can give it.

34 NEW RIDER

GET ON TWO WHEELS

Thinking about getting on two wheels? It doesn’t just have to be a pipe dream – anyone can do it. This four-part guide aims to help you get your hands on a full bike licence with as little hassle and heartache as possible.

Alright? My name’s Ross and I’m the new staff writer for Motor Cycle Monthly. I’ve been riding on a CBT for the past 18 months and have just passed my full motorcycle test, so I know just how daunting a looming test date can be. I wanted to try and break down the process and share some of my thoughts and experiences – hopefully easing some worries in the process.

Compulsory Basic Training (CBT)

From the age of 16 you can take what is known as Compulsory Basic Training. During your CBT

PART ONE

you’re taught the basics of riding a powered two-wheeler (either a 50cc scooter or a 125cc geared bike – 16 for a 50cc, 17 for a 125cc). You’ll be taught to ride both on and off the road, firstly in a car park and then in a two hour road session.

There are five separate components of Compulsory Basic Training: 1: You’ll cover the aims and objectives of the CBT course. In addition to your licence, your eyesight will be checked (if you’re able to read a number plate from 20.5m, you’re good to go). You’ll also be offered advice about the correct use of clothing and equipment and general road safety.

2: Next you’ll be asked to get comfortable with your machine’s controls – you’ll learn which checks to undertake (both daily and weekly), how to get the bike on (and off) the stand, wheel it about, use the brakes, and how to fire the bike up and then knock it off again.

3: Now, this is where it starts to get interesting – you’ll be undertaking a series of exercises actually riding the

Learners Commuters Buying On Two Wheels

Riding

For more information on getting on two wheels, check out our NEW sister publication – On Two Wheels. bike (still in a car park though, don’t worry). This includes throttle control, braking (including emergency stops), manoeuvres (that’s riding slowly and using your indicators correctly while doing simulated turns) and observation skills (like when to use a lifesaver).

If it’s appropriate, and you’re on a geared bike/scooter, you’ll be expected to use the gears confidently.

4: This is a classroom section aiming to prepare you for the road riding element. You’ll cover a range of topics including weather conditions, road surfaces, traffic, hazard awareness and the appropriate attitude for riding.

5: It’s time to prove yourself out on the road. You’ll be paired up with another student, and taken out for

a couple of hours’ riding, during which you’ll be in radio contact with your instructor throughout. If your instructor reckons you’re safe, you’ll be awarded a CBT certificate – meaning you can legally ride a moped or 125cc bike (depending on your age) with L plates for two years – after two years, you’ll have to take the CBT course again (unless you pass your bike test in the meantime).

A few things to note when you’re getting started ■ Make sure you’ve at least got a helmet and a pair of gloves – but you’ll also need to be thinking about sorting some CE approved riding gear, including boots, trousers and a jacket to help keep you safe out on the road.

■ Brush up on the Highway Code, and expect to be grilled by the trainer. You can download it for free at www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk ■ Check your eyesight beforehand – some opticians

offer free tests, and will be able to tell you if you’re within the legal limit for riding.

■ Take it steady, try to relax – and look up.

It’s also worth noting that there are plans to update the existing CBT course in the not too distant future, making it more rigorous to help improve the skill and safety levels of riders who pass. Nothing is concrete quite yet, but we’ll be sure to keep you informed as the changes are implemented.

36 BIKER FRIENDLY GUIDE

Biker Friendly Guide

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THE INSIDE LINE TO CLASSIC JAPANESE IRON WITH STEVE COOPER FROM THE VJMC 37

The engine part 2: inspection and repair of the top end Words and image: Steve Cooper

So let’s assume that, with the aid of a decent manual, you now have your engine broken down in large lumps and on a clean surface. Examination and measurement are the two tools that will now be employed regardless of whether the engine is two-stroke or four, has one cylinder or three etc.

If something/anything looks like it’s cracked or fractured you’ll be needing a new one; little if anything that’s a part of the engine or transmission can be welded or screwed back together.

The possible exception might be an engine case but at this juncture we’d politely suggest that, as first timer, you’ve probably chosen the wrong bike to restore.

Obvious issues that even the novice can spot are piston with the crowns nibbled away, smears running up the piston’s walls, wear marks in the cylinder bore or piston rings that are either broken or trapped in their grooves. Any of this would suggest an engine in need of specialist input.

Cylinder bores are round by design but tend to wear unevenly. The majority of wear is normally at the

top of the bore and this is the area the greybeards tend to check first. In reality you probably need to take the piston, their rings and the cylinder(s) to a specialist engineering shop or a good bike dealer and get them to measure the amount of wear.

If you’re lucky it may be that the whole lot is still within limits in which case the bore will just need a light honing to remove any glazing and aid oil retention. If the cylinder/rings/ pistons are worn then it’ll be time for a rebore which again is a specialised job. Oversized pistons and rings will be needed and anyone worthy of the title of engineer will probably want the new rings and piston before they rebore your cylinder. If the bore is too worn or is already on maximum oversize then there are still options.

The most obvious is to find a used cylinder that’s not as badly worn as yours. However if one is not readily available then it’s possible to have a new liner manufactured and installed in the original cylinder casting. This can be done with two- and four-stroke motors and, surprisingly, it’s not as expensive as you might think.

Sitting on top of the cylinder is the cylinder head and regardless of engine type the surface that mates

with the top of the cylinder block must be perfectly flush and true. In reality if a cylinder head has been leaking due to warpage its effects are normally glaringly obvious. On an air-cooled motor you have seen a lot of oil leaking down from the head to the engine cases. With a water-cooled engine the coolant may leak into the oil or vice versa. Neither is good news but again your friendly motor engineers should be able to check this out for you. Truth be told warped heads are a rarity but it’s worth checking just in case.

With two-stroke heads there’s not much more to worry about but on four-stroke motors you’ll have cam shafts and valves. With a full rebuild it’ll all need to come apart but to get to this stage you will have already removed the cams. Hopefully you will have noted where each cam cap sits!

The cam(s) should be inspected for general wear to their reciprocating surfaces and in particular for pitting.

This occurs when the surface hardening of the cam wears away revealing softer metal beneath. It’s possible to get cams resurfaced and reground but often a decent used cam will be cheaper. Most Japanese cams run directly on the alloy of the

“The home of the Japanese classic”

cylinder head with no other bearing materials used. If oil changes have been neglected or the motor has been starved of oil then these semi-circular areas can become badly scored.

Renovation is possible here but it’s not cheap and once again a good used example may be a better and more cost effective option.

It makes sense to remove the valves, remove any build-up of oil or carbon and check for damage such as burning areas, crack or even holes.

In almost every case the valves will just need a light clean up and light

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Visit www.classicmagazines.co.uk/cmm87 Expiry: 31/12/17 Call: 01507 529529 and quote code: CMM87 *UK only offer

grinding in. Always replace the valve in the position it came out of and, while you’re about it, check for wear of the valve guides… the manual will tell you how. Finally have a good look at the cam chain adjuster for wear and the chain itself which may just possibly be beyond its service limit.

The VJMC – run by motorcyclists for motorcyclists.

For membership enquiries only: Tel: 01454 501310 Email: membership_vjmc@yahoo.co.uk Address: PO Box 1949, Yate, Bristol, BS37 0BX Office hours: Monday-Thursday,10am- 4pm (please leave a message)

USED BIKE GUIDE 39

Harley’s 883R

Much more of a motorcycle...

The entry point into Harley-Davidson ownership is the 883 Sportster. Around since 1986 (earlier than that if you include the XLCH 900 which arrived back in the 1960s!), it comes in a bewildering variety of guises.

The one we got to take out is – to my eyes – the one you want to aim for: a 2015 XL883R Roadster, the one that comes with twin-discs up front (more on those later).

a hefty 260kg/573lb. Stopping this bulk are (on this model) twin 292mm, twin-piston front discs with a 292mm twin-piston rear.

Give me some spec

Wave the keyless fob, press start and the shorty exhausts put out a low rumble that soon settles into that familiar Harley ‘potato-potato’.

Pulling away, I let out the light clutch – Harley reduced the ‘lever effort’ by 8% – and the 883R immediately wants to pull hard.

An 838cc, four-stroke 45º twin puts out 69bhp/50.2kW at 4400rpm, with torque of 73Nm/53.8lb-ft at 4100rpm, transmitting power to the rear wheel via belt drive. This is housed in a mild steel twin cradle frame with a mild steel swingarm, weighing in at

So what’s it like to ride?

Out on the road, the low-rise bars sit at just the right height and combined with the mid-mounted pegs make for a relaxed riding position. An easy mistake is to let the engine chug at low revs. Do that and it can run lumpy. Give the bike it’s head and experiment to find the sweet spot and the 883R runs silky smooth. At 70mph in top, it just hummed along.

Cornering? Not a problem. Those mid-mounted pegs allow for 32º of lean... or more than enough to hustle the 883R round with clearance to spare. Stopping? Traditionally a Harley weak point, not on the 883R. The twin front discs give plenty of stopping power, more than enough feedback... and again don’t need much lever effort. The gearbox is solid and appreciates accuracy, the clock is simple but gives instant feedback at a flick of the eyes.

Inevitable niggles?

Just two. Harley’s ‘self-cancelling’ indicators. Left turns are fine but I got sick of accelerating when I wanted to indicate for right turns (you get the hang of it). And for

Words and photography: Bob Pickett such a robustly-built bike, why does the side-stand feel so flimsy?

But throw those preconceptions out of the window. The XL883R goes, turns, stops... and doesn’t need much effort to do any of them.

What nick is it in?

single front-disc models with prices ranging from a 2016 XL883L at £4999 with 5020 miles recorded to a 2016 XL883N with 400 miles under the belt for £7995. The closest bike I found to our test model was a 2014 XL883R with 1160 miles logged for £6450.

With just 1573 miles under it’s belt, the Roadster is pristine.

Thanks to

What’s it worth?

East London Kawasaki/ Bacons Motorcycles for the loan of the bike. Find them at 737-741 Eastern Avenue, Ilford, Essex IG2 7RT Tel: 0208 252 6020 www.baconsmotorcycles.co.uk

The dealer wants £5999 for a 2015 model with just 1573 miles logged, with 10 months’ Harley warranty still remaining. With the model in existence for 30 years there are quite a few at dealers, so I limited my search to 20142016. This still threw up 50, mostly the

WHITE DALTON 41 Th he MCM legal column is compiled byy managing artner pa Andrew ‘Chef’ Prendergast and P his bike-riding barristers and ssolicitors at White Dalton W Motorcycle M Solicitors.

S The firm deals with personal w injury claims and its sister a company, Motor Defenc Defence Solicitors, company deals with all the motoring offences.

White Dalton lawyers have a vast knowledge of bike law – and they have full bike licences, too. They don’t act for insurance companies or the prosecution. White Dalton is Britain’s premier specialist motorcycle law practice, and if its professionals don’t know the answer to your question there probably isn’t one. Don’t rely on the advice from your insuranceappointed solicitor, get proper independent advice.

For road traffic offences call the Motor Defence solicitors on 0800 280 0912 For non-offence cases call White Dalton motorcycle solicitors on 0800 783 6191

Need advice If you need advice on a biking-related legal question or query, email mail@whitedalton.co.uk The best Q&A will be published in MCM, in confidence, of course.

Q&A

Our specialist motoring solicitor Andrew Prendergast guides readers through their legal trials and troubles...

Q

I recently passed my test and have a Honda Superdream 250. I was on my way home when I saw my mate had broken down on her moped after running out of petrol. I told her to hop on the back as there was a petrol station up the road. She duly did but instead of straddling the seat she thought it would be funny to ride side saddle and shout “I’m a lady don’t you know.” We chuckled when the blue lights lit me up. The police officer was a friendly chap but gave us a stern talking to about my friend, ‘the lady’ riding side saddle. I didn’t want to get nicked (my mum would go mental!) so I was super polite. However, so long as there’s a seat for two, is it really illegal?

A

I now have images of a scene from Black Beauty, albeit that your trusty stead is a Superdream!

While I have no doubt your friend is a ‘lady’ the policeman was correct and riding side saddle is illegal by virtue of s.23 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

The law basically states it’s an offence to carry a passenger “otherwise than sitting astride the motor cycle and on a proper seat securely fixed to the motor cycle behind” the rider’s seat. If you hadn’t encountered a friendly copper you as the rider could have got done. The punishment would be three penalty points and a fine of up to £1000.

Q

I have owned a Royal Enfield Bullet 500 with Watsonian Manx Sidecar for a number of years and never had any issues… until last week. I was out with my wife now that ‘spring had sprung’. In typical Enfield style we had gently rumbled through the Cotswolds and had just stopped for a cream tea (I know – we couldn’t get any more English!). The sun was shining and all was well until a very young Mr Plod turned up as my wife climbed out of the sidecar. At this point he said he was going to fine my wife for not wearing a seatbelt. I politely pointed out there wasn’t a seatbelt by reason of it being a side car. He then said he was also reporting me

for carrying an unsecure load. At this point I must admit I laughed at him. However, my wife (being less amused at being called a ‘load’) simply took the paperwork off him. We politely told him we weren’t paying any fines and had done nothing wrong. With that he said we should expect a court summons and chipped off. I was flabbergasted. I don’t know what to do now. Help!

A

The majority of police officers are honest and do a good job. However, this absolute dipstick gives them all a bad name. Firstly, unless you are accepting you have done something wrong (which you are not!) I advise you do nothing further at this stage and see if a court summons turns up. My gut is a grown-up in either the police or the CPS will look at this and throw it in the bin. However, if either of you receive a summons you need to defend it. With regard to a side-car, it is regarded as part of the motorcycle itself and therefore seatbelts do not need to be fitted. As such, your wife will be found not guilty. As for “carrying an unsecure load” I genuinely have no idea what he is talking about. Defend, defend, defend! As an aside, I wouldn’t dare ever call my wife a ‘load’ unsecure or otherwise!

For more info, go to:

SOLICITORS

www.whitedalton.co.uk

Optimate 4-1A Dual Program V3 released

The Optimate 4-1A Dual Program charger has been updated for 2017 (they’re onto the third incarnation!), offering more efficient power circuitry, a 1 Amp charge current and refined software control. The Optimate features a weatherproof case, built-in wall mounts, a 6ft AC supply lead and a 6ft charge lead – it’s ideal for use in garages, sheds, workshops and other demanding environments.

There are a couple of models of the OptiMate 4-1A V3 – the standard model costs £70.99, while the dedicated BMW CAN bus edition costs £77.99.

Meet the Čezeta electric scooter

The CZ is back – this time as an electric scooter. It delivers 11kW output, giving a top speed of 75mph. Importantly, that means it is fast enough to use comfortably on UK roads with an A1 licence. It also has a smartphone app to adjust performance and efficiency, a USB charger, an AC outlet, a reverse gear, Bluetooth speakers, and undercarriage lighting. www.cezeta.com.

42 SPORT

The changes to MotoGP – by MotoGP bosses While the new racing season is under way, you will soon notice a change to the way that some key aspects of the premier league of motorcycle racing look and feel.

In a swathe of changes to the championship, the FIm Grand Prix Commission has issued a number of changes to the bikes, teams and penalty points system for 2017.

They are: ■ No more titanium. The ban on the use of titanium has been extended to include the entire chassis including the swinging-arm, suspension, handlebars, swinging-arm spindles and wheel spindles. For wheel

spindles the use of light alloys is also forbidden.

■ Number of team members in pitlane. It was previously announced that the number of team staff working on a MotoGP class machine during bike changes in flag-to-flag racing and during QP1 and QP2 is limited to four, each of whom must wear a crash helmet. After representations from the teams it has been confirmed that during QP1 and QP2 a maximum of six team staff are permitted, each of whom must wear a crash helmet. The maximum number in flag-to-flag bike changes remains unchanged at four.

■ Disciplinary regulations. Taking

Buy a Jurby T-shirt, support the MGP fund

into consideration that the FIM MotoGP stewards have many penalties options, the penalty points were no longer necessary. The Grand Prix penalty points are now withdrawn from the list of penalties.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Bob McIntyre becoming the first person ever to lap the 37.73-mile Mountain Course on the Isle of Man at over 100mph, and this year’s T-shirt design celebrates his achievement.

All profits raised from the sale of the T-shirts go to the Manx Grand Prix Supporters’ Club. The shirts are available to buy for just £10 at wemoto.com or in limited numbers at this year’s festival.

Leon Haslam lands wild card ride for Donington WSB round One-off ride on home circuit for Brit in time for next month’s race

Making his return to the World Superbike Championship, Leon Haslam is to make another comeback as a wild card with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, at his home round at Donington Park taking place from May 26 to 28.

Haslam, 33, has been a regular feature on the WorldSBK timesheets, with his last appearance in the final round of the 2016 season securing a top five finish in race two at the Gaerne Qatar Round. Making more than 200 appearances in the world’s fastest production-based motorcycle series, Haslam will certainly be one to watch out for as he races in a circuit that he has lapped literally thousands of times.

Testing with the team at the start of the year, Haslam says that he is fired up for the outing on the factory machine.

He said: “I’m so excited to be riding at my home World Superbike round for the Puccetti Racing Team. I had a really good test in January in Portugal and was posting quick times from the first time on track.

So to take that package to Donington Park and getting to work with the team again is so exciting.

“I just want to thank the Puccetti team and Kawasaki for the opportunity and hopefully I can give the home crowd something to shout about.”

Haslam takes double win at opening BSB round

Leon Haslam proved his prowess at Donington ahead of his WSB wild card outing by winning both races in the domestic series at the BSB championship’s first round of the year.

“To win at my home round at Donington and to get a 1-2 for the team is superb, it couldn’t have gone any better. In the first race I tried to keep a good rhythm and consistent lap times and then make a move in the later stages, thankfully it all went to plan. In the second race I made a mistake and lost time to Josh Brookes. I had to push a bit harder than I wanted to but it worked out in the end,” he said.

Indian storms Flat Track season opener

After a 63-year hiatus Indian has returned to the American Flat Track with a win on the Scout FTR750.

“You don’t know how special it is to win the first Daytona TT on the Indian,” said rider Jared Mees.

Indian’s team then went on to continue the winning streak by getting the top spot of the podium in the second and third races of the year.

43 ACCESSORIES

EXHAUSTS

PAINTWORK

TRAILERS

ACCOMMODATION/TOURING PLASTIC REPAIRS

TYRES

SEATING

BRAKE HOSES

MOT AND SERVICING SPEEDOMETERS/COMPUTERS

WEB WATCH CHROMING SERVICES

TRAINING COURSES

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES TRAILERS PARTS AND SPARES

OFF ROAD DEALERS

DYNO

Classified FREE Selling your bike is

for private readers

AJS 18S 500cc, Trials/Trail trim, built 3 years ago, many new parts used, including alloy tank, professionally painted, wheels, tyres/tubes, brakes relined, mudguards, exhaust, Lycett seat, and much more, £5250 ovno Tel. 07812 562009. S’oton.

BMW 1200 GS ADVENTURE 2008, 58 reg, 34,000 trouble free miles, never let me down, full s/h, with Baldersons BMW Peterborough, vgc, two new heated grips, full touring set panniers, one owner from new, MoT til April 2018, £5750 Tel. Trev 07903 509139; 01775 841787 for further info. S Lincs.

BMW K1200GT 2004, ABS, blue, 53K, BMW panniers, electric screen, heated grips, heated seat, one owner 9 years, always garaged, full history, vgc, meticulously maintained, used mainly for continental trips, very comfortable long-distance, but you need long arms, £2400 Tel. 00324 84361336. Email. info@ lines.be Oxfordshire.

BMW K1200RS 1999, vgc, long MoT, 28k miles, panniers and top rack, £2000 Tel. Alan 07831 301625or01228536085.Cumbria.

BMW K1200S 46,300 miles, MoT till 24/8/17, ABS, heated grips, aftermarket exhaust, great tourer, loads of power Tel. 07789 655932. Gtr London.

BMW R100RS 1979, blue/ silver, 55k, unleaded, very good original condition, Hagon shocks and fork springs, panniers, only 3,500 miles since service, head bearings, gearbox and bevel box overhaul, so, ready for the next 50k, genuine reason for sale, £3995 ono Tel. 07828 471867.

Leics.

BSA D1 BANTAM 1963, one of the last made, 125cc, green, great order, £2200 Tel. 01223 350289 eves. Cambridge.

BUELL ULYSSES 1200cc, 14k miles, black, exceptional condition, Harley engine, loads of grunt and character, MoT. Any inspection welcome, £3750 Tel. 07816 853095. S E London.

DUCATI ST4S 996cc, Sports Touring, 2002, red, one owner, 5k miles, excellent condition, always garaged, fast, good handling, with comfort Brembo brakes, Ohlins shock, Marchesini wheels, bargain at £3250 ono Tel. 01577 862107. Tayside.

GAS GAS TXT Pro 04, 80cc trials bike (youth/small adult), £1275 Tel. Peter 01282 771101. Email. peter@ padihamwindows.com Lancs.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON Sportster, 1200 Custom, vivid black, 11,700 miles only, this bike is in lovely condition, 2011, first to see will buy, £6500 Tel. 07850 495002. Leigh, Man.

HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDF Fat Bob, 1690cc , 2014, S/E billet air filter, V&H big shot exhaust, sissy bar and rack, Sundowner seat, custom footpegs, tool roll and tools, 16,500 miles, £10,700 Tel. 0749 2078537. Cornwall.

HONDA 2001, 11,922 miles, great condition except few minor marks, 2 former keepers, dealer s/h, Oxford h/grips, crash protectors, recent f/tyre, MoT Tel. 07737 339513. East Sussex.

HONDA CB400N good condition, 1979, MoT March 2018, 28k miles, many new parts fitted and some new spares included, £1750 ono Tel. 01482 634464 for more details. East Yorks.

HONDA CB1000R ABS, 2009, MoT Jan 2018, Diamond white, 19k miles, full s/h, new tyres, good standard condition, fast reliable bike that I have owned since it was 12 monthsold, Irunalongsidetwo other bikes, £3600 Tel. 01332 863059.

HONDA CB250N Super Dream, 1978, MoT July, 30k miles, recent service, good tyres, reverse cone meggas, nice runner Tel. 01228 528483; 07796 814489. Carlisle.

HONDA CB450K1 1968, total restoration, re-bored, engine strip/ re-build, frame/stands/f-rests/etc, powder coated, tank/panels/hlamp, Nacelle sprayed, k/start/glever/brake pedal, chromed, alloy parts polished, new seat cover plus foam, new ignition switch, on Sorn, £3850 Tel. Bob on 07973 863564. Derbys.

HONDA CB500T 500cc, 1975, good condition, red, historic tax, MoT til mid July, £1150 Tel. 01616 272700; 07970 888199. Man.

HONDA CBF500 2005, 499cc, 31k miles, blue, v good condition, rack, MoT, excellent commuter or step up from125cc,anyinspectionwelcome.

Tel. 07816 853095. S E London.

HONDA NIGHTHAWK 650 1985, 33,800 miles, MoT April 2018, steering head, serviced, carbs stripped, cleaned, new fork seals, back tyre, new HT leads, plugs, new brake seals, pistons, manual, lovely condition Tel. 02476 326018. Warks.

HONDA SHADOW 750cc, 2003 reg, Classic edition model, 29k miles, MoT till May, unusual original, colour scheme includes all bags etc, new chain sprockets and battery recently, scull mirrors, £2500 no offers Tel. Brian on 07779 821386. Email. sortit4u@gmail.com Cheshire.

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HONDA PCX SPORT 125cc, 64 reg, in immaculate condition, with useful extras, always garaged, serviced from new, less than 3000 miles, only seen 17 miles rain, stunning bike, comfy ride, even with 2 up Tel. Pete 077890 61218. Yorks.

HONDA SH300 300cc, showroom condition, serviced, only 4100 miles, £2850 Tel. 02084 028557. Kent.

HONDA SHI 300cc, black, 9600 miles, 2008, MoT, alarmed, heated grips, screen, top box, back rest, vgc, £2100 no offers Tel. Ron on 02476 325930.

Nuneaton, Warks.

HONDA TRANSALP 650 2007, 38,000 miles, high screen, centre stand, crash bars, top box, running lights, recent service, stainless steel ‘fuel’ end can exhaust, 12v socket, Avon road tyres, 10 months’ MoT, bargain £2100 ono Tel. 07704 343331. Stockport.

KAWASAKI EN500 19k miles, low mileage tyres, MoT, used daily, £990 Tel. 07741 691510. Shrops.

HONDA TRANSALP XL650 2000, 91k (engine 36k), black, good tyres, h/grips, t/box, t/cover & bag, used regularly, some usable spares, two sets keys, manual, all records and docs from new, £950 Tel. John 07752 128527. East Sussex.

HONDA CBR1100XX Super Blackbird, 1999, all original from new, only 4,700 miles, pristine condition, stored, £4500 Tel. 07919 373318. Milton Keynes.

KAWASAKI VERSYS 650cc, low mileage, 9018 miles, very clean condition, on Sorn, recent back new tyre, braided brake lines, pads, etc, Givi top box, rack, extras, rad grill, rear front huggers, £2995 Tel. 01142 589809. Sheffield, South Yorks.

rocker covers, just serviced, 7000, four previous services, superb condition, £3500 no offers Tel. 07519 154100. Kent.

EXCHANGE MOTO GUZZI NUOVO being built as a bobber or cafe racer, rolling chassis repainted, new tyres etc, engine needs finishing (new parts), exchange for British bike (interesting 1930s), rough basket case, might sell. Tel. 01978 842668. Clwyd.

RIEJU MRT50 2012, excellent condition, 7000 miles, MoT Feb 2018, Yamaha Minarelli 2 stroke liquid cooled engine, geared, 6 speed de-restricted since new by dealer using Rieju kit, all handbooks and keys, £950 no offers Tel. 07793 267366. Surrey.

ROYAL ENFIELD Model T, 150cc, green/silver, 1934, OHV 4 speed hand gearchange, good running order, £4200 Tel. 01223 350289 evenings. Cambridge.

ROYAL ENFIELD 1953, 350cc Model G, single cylinder, t&t exempt, good condition, ready to ride, £3500 Tel. 07931 501216.

Preston, Lancs.

HONDA VFR750FJ 1988, white, 22k miles, three owners from new, Krauser rack, top box and panniers, Scottoiler, £1650 Tel. 07734 458593. Glos.

HONDA CBR600 F2 currently on Sorn, garaged, run regularly, 20k miles approx, new oil, filter, battery, £650 Tel. 07909 191834. Lothian/borders.

HONDA CM400T 1979, rebuilt, ex Bermudan Police bike, UK age appropriate, registration, MoT March 2018, runs well, 22k miles, new battery, loads spares inc front and rear shocks, carburettors, wheels, too many to list, £1300 Tel. 01285 659376. S Glos.

HONDA GL500 1978, V5, good runner, original 2-2 exhaust, missing seat and front mudguard, original fairing with fittings if required, calipers stripped and cleaned, £750 ono Tel. 07989 237837. Staffs.

HONDA H100S 1969, ‘G’ stripped, painted, many genuine new parts, exhaust, mudguards, chain guard, new wheels/tyres, cables, chain etc, low mileage, lively light (186lbs), 2-stroke, VMCC eligible, £1050 Tel. 01300 320446. Dorset.

HONDA VFR800 (2000), 39,196 miles, MoT, spare art exhaust, carrier, powder coated wheels, new chain and sprockets, heated grips, two keys, handbook, toolkit, immaculate for year, £1999 Tel. 01704 569466. Merseyside.

HONDA VTX 1300cc, great runner, many extras, datatooled and alarm Tel. 01902 733544.

West Midlands.

HONDA XL200 2003, road and trail, used so some surface scratches but bombproof, Pirelli MT43s, 3,300 miles, MoT Nov 2017, reluctant sale, £675 Tel. 07976 700682. Herts/Beds.

HONDA SL125 1975, V5C, requires recommission, trials style, knobbly tyres, chrome tank, £1395 Tel. 07788 636027. Cambs.

KAWASAKI VN1500 Nomad, ‘Road King look-a-like’ with beautiful Watsonian Monza, assembled at Watsonian Squire, 9k miles, plenty of go and steers very well, car rear tyre, many extras, £6000 Tel. 01291 641073. Bristol.

KAWASAKI ZX10R 1000cc, titanium silver, 8,002 miles, second owner, standard plus hugger, good tyres, excellent condition, tools, books, 3 keys, dust cover, charger, MoT on sale, Tel. 07850 607141.

Rutland, Leics.

ROYAL ENFIELD 250cc Clipper, 1960 model, very good unrestored original condition, runs nicely with a new battery, coil & points, V5C available, £1595 can deliver if required Tel. 07798 866071. Uxbridge, Middx.

ROYAL ENFIELD EFI 2010, Combination, 24k miles, full stamped history, recent tyres, rides perfect with 1950s Watsonian Monaco chair, new MoT for buyer, £1700 no offers at this price Tel. 01825 744197. E Sussex.

ROYAL ENFIELD ELECTRA X 500cc, 2008, chrome and black tank, sporty exhaust, front disc brake, electronic ignition, 5,000 dry miles, one owner, original parts included, £2000 Tel. 07752 852537. Northants.

MOTO GUZZI 1000 Centauro, very rare, excellent condition, two owners, 9k miles, Sports Cruiser, white power suspension, Brembo brakes, fuel injection, new rear tyre, £4100 ono Tel. 01577 862107. Tayside.

MOTO GUZZI V11 9000 miles, all original, exceptional condition, appreciating classic, fantastic ride, MoT, any inspection welcome. Tel. 07816 853095. London

SUZUKI BANDIT 1200 05 plate, 22k miles, Ohlins shock, engine protector bars, nearly new tyres, £2200 ono Tel. 01604 905850.

Email. zygon95@ gmail.com for further info. Northants.

MOTO GUZZI V11 9,000 miles, all original, exceptional condition, appreciating classic, fantastic ride, MoT, any inspection welcome. Tel. 07816 853095. SE London.

MOTO GUZZI V7, Classic 2011, 61 reg, red/black, all Guzzi extras, screen, rack, centre stand, alloy

SUZUKI BANDIT 600S 2002 model, 35k miles, 12 months’ MoT, excellent runner, £1200 ono Tel. 07787 757892. Man. SYM JOYRIDE 200 Evo, 15,400 miles, fast, economical, MoT July, new exhaust, £825 ono Tel. 01492 534158. North Wales.

CLASSIFIEDS

Selling your bike is FREE for private readers

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SUZUKI GSX1250FA Sports Tourer, 2011/61, 11,000 miles only, one previous owner, fsh, MoT Nov 2017, all keys, security tag, hand and service book intact, abs, full Givi luggage, Monokey system, (including spare luggage key’s), 500m only on new tyre’s, outstanding condition, £4250 Tel. 07775 680094. Essex.

SUZUKI GSX1400FE 7,500 miles, one owner from new, MoT July, standard pipe, never been used, very reluctant sale due to no time to ride it with work, £5500 ovno Tel. 01565 723454; 07789 838687. Cheshire.

SUZUKI INAZUMA 250cc, L3, (2014 ), 28,500 miles, fully loaded with accessories, full s/h, two new tyres/chain and sprockets fitted, fantastic economic to run commuter Tel. 07746 347961. Beds.

SUZUKI INTRUDER 125cc Chopper, 2004, approx 7k miles, cost £6000, accept £1795 ono Tel. 01933 400748 after 6pm (if not in please leave a message).

Northants.

SUZUKI RV125 VAN VAN 2015, under 10k miles, very reliable and economical bike, owned from new, recently serviced, reluctant sale, this bike has been used daily, very fun to ride, £2500 ono Tel. 07462 211132. Stoke on Trent.

SUZUKI M1800R full exhaust for B.O.S.S been on bike for 800 miles only, £285 ono; Harley Davidson Screaming Eagle Tuner - part number 32109 08C, £215 ono; Suzuki 1250 Bandit aluminium chainguard, £15 ono Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

TRIUMPH ST1050 beautiful 2009 Sprint, metallic arctic blue, 30k miles, MoT to August, mechanically sound, runs well, rides like the wind, explore the Med this summer with your girl on pillion, ready to go.

Tel. 07460 457280. Hants.

YAMAHA DT125 with V5 in my name, needs full restoration, bought as retirement project, now 74 it’s just one of several that won’t get done, haggle at £650 Tel. 01293 410976. Surrey.

TRIUMPH 955I Speedtriple 2000, 40k, good condition, £1600 Tel. 07515 969524. Herts.

TRIUMPH SCRAMBLER 15 reg, 1600 dry miles, full s/h, numerous enhancements, all original parts (unused) with sale, condition as new, 6 months Triumph warranty remaining.

Possibly the best available! £7000 Tel. 07799 042256.

Email. jdp.kw@btinternet.com for further info & photos. Cambs.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 900 Mk 1 (95), black, 31k miles, excellent condition, MoT, new brakes and chain, lovely bike, a real classic for £3795 Tel. 07740 950074. Kent.

TRIUMPH 750cc Hinckley Daytona, 1991, MoT, one of only 200 ever made 39,000 miles, over £2000 spent recently so all ready for the summer, qualifies for cheap classic insurance, this fast appreciating investment could be ridden as is or with little work would make good show bike, £1700 ono Tel. 01502 476847. Suffolk.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 955I 2003, 26k, fully serviced, new C&S, generator, battery, ready for summer! £2600 Tel. 07892 968360. Cheshire.

TRIUMPH TIGER 955I silver, 2007, panniers, heated grips, only 8,000 miles, Scottoiler, recent tyres, £3800 Tel. 01460 221013. Somerset.

YAMAHA MT07 2014, brilliant, smooth, torquey, economical, ABS, hugger, flyscreen, FYSH, 7995 miles, mint condition, reluctant sale, £4250 Tel. 07976 700682. Herts.

YAMAHA XJR1300 SP 2000, near showroom condition, only 5800 miles you will not find better, fitted accessory colour matched fairing, all orig except new tyres fitted last MoT, £3995 Tel. 07982 250170 for more details and pics. Notts.

YAMAHA FJ1200 1188cc, 1993, 3XW, 43k miles, gold, black/blue, s/h, PDI checked, £1600 Tel. 01202 518284. Dorset.

YAMAHA FZS600 chrome radiator cover, excellent condition, fits Foxeye FZS600, £25 Tel. 07752 888958. Lincs.

YAMAHA XJR1300 2001, black, excellent condition, 27k miles, recent MoT, first to see will buy, £2450 Tel. 01684 563997.

Worcs.

Parts For Sale

TRIUMPH TROPHY 1200 (2002), one owner, many extras - ready to tour, £1995 Tel. 07929 630103. Oldham.

VINCENT COMET 1953, 1000 miles since renovation, very clean, new wheels, tyres, exhaust, fork spindles and bushes, mag rebuilt, original reg, £17,500 ono Tel. 01625 421574. Cheshire.

YAMAHA FJ1200 1188cc, 1993, 3XW, 43k miles, gold, black/blue, s/h, PDI checked, £1600 Tel. 01202 518284. Dorset.

YAMAHA XS1100 1979, silver, MoT, good condition Tel. 07811 731149; 01753 771695. Berks.

YAMAHA MT09 ABS, 2014, purple, 8701 miles, MoT till October 2017, outstanding condition, many Yamaha, Gillies, R&G extras, full Akropovic Titanium exhaust, Maxton rear suspension, recent f/r tyres, probolt stainless fasteners, all original parts included, mature owner. Tel. 07813 108139. Tyne & Wear.

YAMAHA VIRAGO 535cc, 1996, 24k miles, new brakes, new tyres, just serviced, MoT 3/2018, new seat, excellent condition, £1695 ono Tel. Noel 01935 400748 (if not in please leave a message). Northants.

2 BORING BARS Van Norman boring bar and SPS mini boring bar, complete set up with table tools, cutters and spacers for motorcycle engines, all good working order, SOS has no on/ off switch, new ones are available from Grampian Motors, has been used by me for 40 years, now retired, £1800. Email me any questions, buyer collects as very heavy. Tel. 07437 834917. N Yorks. Email. Jcar41@aol.com BAGLUX two-tier tank bag, light grey, £50 ono; Frank Thomas throw-overs, red, good condition, £35 ono plus p&p Tel. 07920 141700; 01655 331721.

Ayreshire.

BMW R1100RT breaking, complete bike, 1995, engine luggage brakes, most parts available Tel. 075199 36416. Gower.

BMW R1200RS workshop manual, oil filter, oil filter tool, set spark plugs, cam cover gasket, data lead plug, battery;

also two road winner tyres, front tubeless 110/80 17; rear 140/70 17, first class, £70; also CHIPS memorabilia, phone? Tel. 07514 405793 before 6pm. Yorks.

BRACEOFHondaSuperdreamsboth 400s, 1979 and 1981, black/red, MoT 27/03/2018, one kick start and electric, and the other just electric, bothworking,£2500eachTel.01689 891345; 07799 813523. Kent.

BSA BANTAM 175 PARTS headlight, Nacelle round bit, £10; Amal Mk I carb with cable and choke, £45; N.O.S. kickstart lever, £15; exhaust flange ring nut, £5; fork crown, £5. Tel. 01293 410976. Gatwick.

FAZER FZS600 Mk 1, 2000, full set of carbs - spares or repair, offers over bar ends clutch and brake levers, 5dm fairing screen, mirrors plus extension bars for mirrors, full set of inlet rubbers for carbs no cracks good condition.

Open to offers on all of the above.

Tel. 07831 090190. Beds.

GIVI MONOKEY top box fit two helmets, £30; Givi frame and monokey base plate from Kawasaki ER500, £30 Tel. 07857 383233. Kingswinford.

GIVI RACK ARMS to fit Honda CB900F, £30 and Haynes manual for Kawasaki ER-5 (97 to 05), £8.

Tel. 07857 383233. West Mids.

GIVI TREKKER top box, 46L, silver/black, £130 Tel. 01664 852758. Leics.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON Screaming Eagle tuner - part no 32109 08C, £215 ono Tel. 07894 078815. Notts.

HEPCO & BECKER top box and pannier rails to fit Suzuki VZ800 Marauder, good condition, £60 Tel. 01457 763977. Cheshire.

HONDA CG125 PARTS: chrome headlight brackets, £20; battery box, £10; air filter and box, £10; rear foot pegs, £6; clocks, bracket, £5; or the lot for £35 Tel. 07752 443794. Wales.

HONDA ST1300 Pan European pannier inner cases, vgc, £50 plus p&p Tel. 077840 61718. Cumbria.

HONDA VFR750 lowering links,

by Lust Racing, perfect condition,

lowers by 1 1/2:, cost £60, only £35; bar risers by Trick Bitz, raises bars by 1 1/4”, perfect condition, £30. Tel. 01305 761058. Dorset.

JAMES X-OVER r/wheel, complete, £75; James rear alloy trials wheel, £80; 8E4SP w/ratio g/box, £80; 8E barrels, pistons, Captain s/arm cub modified frame, £30; M/c Sport, 300+ miles, 60/70/80, £40. Tel. 01538 422480. Staffs.

KAWASAKI ER5 500cc, carbs need some float bowl screws and needle valves, diaphrams ok, air screws turn ok, throttle cables, petrol tap, fuel filter included, £20 the lot Tel. 01438 871619; 07799 220513. Herts.

KAWASAKI ZX-6R F1 ENGINE with starter motor, cylinder head overhauled, ports and combustion chambers cleaned out, valves reground and reshimmed to within tolerances, £250 Tel. 0151 6069983. Wirral.

MOTORBIKE SPARES mainly BSA, Triumph, 1950s-60s Twins and Singles, too many to list, also few old Jap projects, mostly big bikes. Tel. 0115 9414487 or 07804 876373. Nott’m.

MRA SCREEN for Yamaha MT 09 Tracer, excellent condition with no chips or scratches in a grey tint, screen measures H = 36cm, W = 32.5cm. Direct replacement for original screen. Surplus to requirements due to change of bike, £40 Tel. 07952 883720.

West Midlands.

OXFORD TAIL PACK unused, £20 Tel. 07544 500833. Man. NC705 HONDA 750cc, two screens, Vivaro touring, one tinted with spoiler, adjustable one, clear one bought from Honda, good as new, £40 each plus p&p Tel. 01275 830922. Bristol.

NORTON COMMANDO Mk 3, 1976, genuine girling shock absorbers, vgc, £40; Lucas S700P chrome headlight shell, small dent, £10. Tel. 01902 331807. W’ton.

PAIR CARBS 1973 RD350, £45; genuine Triumph tank bag suits, 2004 Triumph Sprint ST, used once, £35; approx 12 years Classic Bike mags, all full years, £50 all plus p&p or buyer collects Tel. Derek 07754 534366. West Yorks.

PUIG VARIO SCREEN excellent condition, fits 2013-14 Ducati Multi-strada, £35 plus p&p Tel. 01670 515864. Northumberland.

REAR RACK for Yamaha MT -09 Tracer, genuine Yamaha official part, excellent condition and complete with necessary fitting kit (bolts and spacers), surplus to requirements due to change of bike, £50 Tel. 07952 883720.

Solihull, West Midlands.

RENTEC SPORTS RACK - fits Suzuki Bandit 1200 (2001 onwards), full fitting kit included (no mods required - bolts straight on), £20 (collect only) Tel. 01604 905850. Northampton. Email. zygon95@gmail.com for further info.

ROYAL ENFIELD Bullet, 500cc, down pipe and silencer, from a 2016 bike, done 300 miles, suit Trailes or Bullet, as new, £85 collection or post at cost Tel. 01208 863590. Cornwall.

STEIB SIDECAR S501 black, 1950s, alloy trim, red upholstery, spoked wheel, £3800 Tel. 07788 636027. Cambs.

SUZUKI GS1000E swing arm, new, complete with torque arm and fittings, £110; l/h exhaust, fair condition, £100; new chain and rear sprocket, £90; rear disc, £15; 2 std indicators, £60; Suzuki genuine manual, £20. Tel. 07941 217158. W Mids.

SUZUKI M1800R full exhaust for B.O.S.S, been on bike for 800 miles only, £285 ono Tel. 07894 078815.

SUZUKI T500R parts, 1972, brake clutch, lever assemblies, £50; speedo rev counter, £100; right switches, silver sleeving, £40; badges and tank panels, £60; all original. Tel. 01577 862107.

Tayside.

TRIUMPH DAYTONA 675cc, hele bars, new clip-ons, raise 1 5/8”, 1” wide for more comfortable ride, perfect condition, cost £230, retails all hoses and cables, only £75 Tel. 01305 761058. Dorset.

TRIUMPH DAYTONA 675 Hele bars, Trakstars clip-ons, raises bars by 1 5/8” for greater comfort, as new, cost £250, only £125; Oxford battery charger, unused, only £30.

Tel. 01305 761058. Dorset.

46 TRIUMPH PETROL TANK 350/500 thick bottom, 1957-66, very clean inside, with badges and cap, £150; Tiger Cub silencer, unused, Unity Equipe made, £40; front mudguard stay/stand 500/650, £25. Tel. 01293 410976. Gatwick.

WANTED any parts for CZ Motocross or Enduro 1960s/70s, Tel. 01524 735039; 07919 064123. Lancs. Email. bobwoof41@gmail.com YAMAHA XT1200 MRA screen to fit 2010 to 2013 modal in good condition, £140 new, £70 Tel. 01664 852758. Leics.

YAMAHA XT1200 MRA screen to fit 2014 to 2017, new dash model, good condition, was £120 new, £60 Tel. 01664 852758. Leics.

YAMAHA XVS650 Dragstar, sissy bar, rack and pannier rails, £50 Tel. 07599 896631. Cheshire.

Wanted ANY CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE WANTED in any condition from a basket case to one in nice condition, cash waiting. Tel. 07811 189755. Notts.

ANYTHING CONSIDERED for a project bike, 250cc upwards, can collect and pay cash quickly Tel. Richard 07794 581647. Lancs.

HONDA GOLDWING 1200cc, Aspen orInterstate,white,ingoodcondition, or restorable, Tel. 07858 450960 (if no reply please text with your no, I’ll get back to you). Scotland.

KING & QUEEN SEAT for XV1100 Yamaha Virago. Tel. 07885 115757. Co Down.

LIFAN 9Y3A 125cc spares wanted or whole bike. Tel. 07717 608466. Norfolk.

MAIER, Fabri-Spitfire handlebar, fixing screen with brackets, 14 1/4” x 17 1/2”, smoked or clear screen. Tel. Roger 0208 8051486.

Enfield, Middx.

NORMAN PARTS WANTED I desperately need complete front and rear wheels for a Norman B3, reasonable condition and price please, can collect Tel. David 01256 321436. Hants. Email. thehubbards1954@hotmail.com

OLD MOPED or small motorbike from 1970s to 80s wanted, any condition, for project, will collect West Mids. Tel. Ron 07986 080118. W Mids.

WANTED: Vance & Hines pipes for Yamaha Virago 1100. Tel. 07885 115757. Co Down.

Parts Wanted BSA BANTAM D7 engine wanted or incomplete basket case bike (very rough condition). Tel. 01978 842668 (please leave message if no answer). Wrexham.

BSA WINGED-WHEEL throttle lever wanted (the one with small “latch” to operate the choke). Tel. Brian 07767 355493. South Yorks.

HONDA 50 ENGINE parts wanted, why? Have some CR93 parts to exchange or will buy, also Suzuki TR50 parts sought. Tel. 0777 5558399. Middx.

ORIGINAL SEAT for Harley Fat Boy wanted, 2006 model. Tel. 079230 14615.

Miscellaneous AMERICAN STYLE pull on m/c cruiser boots, size 9, hardly worn, £30 Tel. 01604 905850. Email. zygon95@gmail.com ARLEN NESS waterproof trousers, black armour, good condition, size L, absolute bargain, £25 Tel. 07944 514260. Staffs.

BMW SEAT or rack tailpack, sturdy design, in silver, perfect condition, little used, cost £150, only £75; Oxford tail pack, used once, perfect condition, only £45.

Tel. 01305 761058. Dorset.

CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINES - April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov 1995; Jan, Mar, April, May, June, July, Aug 1996; Feb, Mar, Aug, Dec 1999;no tears or rips, all in good condition. Open to offers. Tel. 07831 090190. Beds.

DRIVE-AWAY AWNING deluxe motor chalet, Raleigh by N.R, awning to fit camper van or store bike, old good condition, 3m x 2.5 approx, poles, all working order, real bargain, only £30 Tel. 07944 514260. Staffs.

HAYNES MANUALS, Yamaha Fazer 04-08, £8; Suzuki GS500, 89-08, £6; Yamaha XJ600N/S, 9299, £4. Tel. 078060 95738. Lincs.

KRAUSER K4 3 box pannier set, 42L each, one’s fitted with backrest rubber for top box, use c/w metal work for Suzuki GS500F/E, if wanted, open to offers. Tel. Tony 07923 430233. Herts.

LAZER LS2 crash helmet, size small; JTS short style motorcycle jacket, 3XL JTS motorcycle gloves, size small, all as new, worn once, £35 plus carriage Tel. 01473 211015. Ipswich, Suffolk.

LOTS GL1200 SPARES CBF front mudguard, £35; brand new torque wrench boxed, £30; despatch rider gauntlets, £35; Givi bulldog carrier, mint, £50; pair round chrome mirrors, £10; Goldwing mirrors, £30. Tel. 07434 513161. Lancs.

MJK CARBON black leather jacket, little worn and in perfect condition, with all armour, size 40-42, cost £400, only £75 Tel. 01305 761058. Dorset.

MANUALS HONDA CB750 CB500/350, CX500; Kawasaki KH125, ZX600/6R, Suzuki Trail bikes, 2-stroke Yamaha XS250/400, £5 each. Tel. 07974 822880 (text only). W Mids.

MOTORCYCLE JACKET ATC model yellow high viz & silver reflective all weather, armoured with detachable lining & neck piece for blocking draughts, various zip pockets & rear map pocket, not used a great deal, size small, £20 Tel. 07825 177717.

Cheshire.

MOTORCYCLE/MOTORCYCLING SHOW/ TT mags, M/C sport 300+, £40; BMW R65 T/shock spares, single bike trailer, unused, £220; Villiers 8E/1H barrels, pistons, C15 modified forks, £30; s/arm, £20; 50mm pipe bender, £80. Tel. 01538 422480. Staffs.

SINGLE BIKE TRAILER folds away, without tools for storage, spare wheel, lighting board, vgc, £250 ono Tel. 07791 930629. Kent.

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