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Africa Twin
2000 mountain miless. SIX crashes. Commutes every dayy.
Ride better
Improve your skills.
Ducati’s ubersuperbike
215bhp costs £66k!
The 2017 Adventture bikes you really CAN have an adventure on!
Small in size. Big in ability. BMW G 310 GS take this pa home for per Suzuki V-Strom 250 FREE! Benelli TRK 502
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NEWS 3
Ducati’s carbon super superbike raises the bar... again
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215bhp @ 11,000rpm // 108lbft @ 9000rpm // 156kg (dry) 167kg (wet) // 500 are being made and they’ve already sold out!
This is the Scrambler Café Racer... This is the 2017 1299 Superleggera from Ducati – a carbonframed superbike that sits at the top of the Italian tree. It’s more WSB-for-the-road than anything else on the market, and to get a slice of this action will cost around £66,000. No actual UK price had come from Ducati as Motor Cycle Monthly went to press, but factory sources in Milan at the EICMA motorcycle show are hinting at that sort of cash being needed for this gorgeous bit of metal. The Superleggera is the first ever production bike to get a carbon fibre frame, swingarm, subframe and wheels which accounts for the amazingly low weight (the frame alone is 40% lighter than the current Superleggera model), the bike’s carbon fibre fairing is also a first for a bike off the production line. The 215bhp Superquadro motor is the most powerful twin-cylinder engine from Ducati and the bike is laced with all-new electronics which use the six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit to manage the electronic controls like the Ducati Traction Control EVO, Ducati Slide Control, Ducati Power Launch (the first time ever used on a Ducati) and the Engine Brake Control systems.
It might look like a styling exercise, but the Café Racer Scrambler from Ducati has some really nice touches and parts. The 17-inch wheels are shod with Pirelli Diablo Rossi II tyres, the motor meets Euro 4 standards and comes directly from the Icon model with black-trimmed covers and cooling fins. The teardrop tank features aluminium side panels and the seat gets a passenger cover. The bar-mounted mirrors, stubby mudguard and nose fairing all add to the look while the Termignoni exhaust adds to the sound.
...and this is the Scrambler Desert Sled If the Café Racer is the Scrambler for the road in 2017, then this is the bit-more offroad version of the Scrambler; and it’s called the Desert Sled. The bike gets a 1960s-style makeover with a 19-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear. High mudguards, headlight mesh guard and the engine skid plate all add to the desert(y) look, and the high seat lifts the rider over a lot of the rough stuff.
The bike also gets a new version of the Bosch Cornering ABS system. Only 500 units will be built, but if you fancy one it’s already too late – the 1299 Superleggera is sold out.
Two new Monsters for 2017 Ducati is turning out two versions of the Monster for next year, one is a learner-friendly Monster 797 and the other a new 1200. The 797 gets 75bhp @ 8250rpm and is basically a stripped back Monster aimed at new riders. The 1200 has – according to Ducati – been designed along the same styling as the original 1993 model with the tank, frame and seat unit lines aping the first generation Monster.
Here’s the new Multistrada 950
The 1200 comes in basic or higher-spec S versions. It makes 150bhp @ 9250rpm (15bhp more than the previous Monster and 5bhp more than the Monster S), the bike also gets ride-bywire and three riding modes. Bosch Cornering ABS and Ducati Wheelie Control systems come as standard.
Motor Cycle Monthly, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529529 Email: editorial@motorcyclemonthly.co.uk
Editor Tony Carter Editorial design Fran Lovely, Tracey Barton Publisher Steve Rose Picture desk Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Production editor Jack Harrison Divisional advertising manager Martin Freeman 01507 529538 Advertising Lee Buxton 01507 529453 Marketing manager Charlotte Park Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Associate director Malcolm Wheeler Advertising deadline for January issue Thursday, December 1, 2016
Making 113bhp @ 9000rpm and 71lbft @ 7750rpm, the new smaller Multistrada has been launched to appeal to the rider who wants a more manageable, easy-going version of the upright roadster. Lighter than the 1200 Multistrada and with a seat height of 840mm, the bike also gets the Bosch 9.1MP threelevel ABS braking, eight-level traction control and four riding modes (Touring, Sport, Urban and Enduro). Ducati says the bike’s 19inch front alloy wheel is light enough to ensure comfort and light, engaging handling on
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any surface, and the 937cc Testastretta twin-cylinder motor has maintenance intervals at 9000 miles or 12 months with valve clearance inspection needed every 18,000 miles.
Independently proven pick up: 67,717 copies
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F 800 R and F 800 GT revisions
BMW unveiils its G 310 GS
The baby Adventure bike is small, light and fun. The smallest ever GS gets the same water-cooled, single-cylinder 80mm x 62.1mm, four-stroke 313cc engine with four valves, two overhead camshafts and finger followers and wet sump lubrication that powers the G 310 R naked roadster.
It makes 34bhp @ 9500rpm and 20.65lbft @ 7500rpm. Compression ratio is 10.6:1 and the motor is fed by fuel injection with emissions being taken care of by a closed-loop threeway catalytic converter which meets Euro 4 standards.
Here’s the new Benelli TRK 502! T This bike had yet to be revealed a as MCM went to press, so w we’ve got some first-look details from the factory. d Essentially the Benelli is a E 47bhp, 500cc twin with 17-inch 4 or 19-inch front wheel, a 20-litre o tank, and 800mm-high seat. It weighs 213kg dry and has ABS as standard. It goes on A ssale at the end of the year.
Top speed for the GS is a claimed 88.8mph, and BMW says that the bike is capable of nearly 85mpg as a best figure. The little bike's forks are 41mm upside-down units with no adjustability and the rear shock can be adjusted on preload. Both front and back have 180mm of travel. The front wheel is a 19-inch on a 2.5-inch rim, the rear is 17-inch on a four-inch rim. Tyre sizes are 110/80 R 19 front and 150/70 R 17 rear. Brake-wise, the bike has a fourpiston fixed caliper on the front, radially mounted on a 300mm disc, and the rear is a single-piston floating caliper on a 240mm disc. It comes with ABS as standard. The seat height is 835mm with both 820mm and 850mm options available, and the bike weighs in at 169.5kg wet.
The F 800 family gets some major additions for 2017 and while the 90bhp @ 8000rpm twin-cylinder motor and chassis stay the same, there are some Euro 4-compliant touches that will please many. Both bikes get a new-look silencer, ride-by-wire throttles with two rider modes (Rain and Road) as standard. A Dynamic riding mode is available as an aftermarket option. A new instrument dash with new dials and riding mode display is also on the 2017 spec. The GT model also gets a new windshield inscribed with the model name and new logos.
The F 800 R comes in red, metallic black and BMW white/ blue/red, while the F 800 GT is painted in metallic blue, white and metallic black.
NEWS 5
The R nineT Urban G/S is unveiled
It’s a modern version of the R 80 GS from 36 years ago, but comes with the excellent R nineT 1170cc, 110bhp motor and a 19-inch front wheel. The R nineT Urban G/S is supplied with light alloy-cast wheels, but the boxer can be ordered through the firm’s ex-works optional extra service. The bike also comes with ABS as standard and there’s an option of ASC (Automatic Stability Control) as an ex-works addition, too. The modular concept across the R nineT Urban G/S means that the old enduro-style look gets a three-section frame (front frame, rear main frame and integrated end piece with passenger support). The R nineT has a foursection frame (front frame, rear frame, removable end piece and detachable passenger frame). No prices for any of the additions to the 2017 range were available as MCM went to press, but we’ll bring you those as soon as they are announced by the German factory. Check morebikes.co.uk for the very latest news on the prices for all the BMW models.
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Here’s the 2017 BMW R 1200 GS
The 2017 K 1600 GTL gets better (and more) spec as standard
And there are changes to the R nineT, tooo
Mechanically, the bike stays the same but new and improved fairing, wind deflectors and bodywork will get interest going in this 160bhp, six-cylinder big tourer. The foot guards and storage compartments in the lower sides of the engine have also been redesigned. The top box is now standard equipment and the mirrors have been tweaked to give a bigger view of traffic behind. It will also come with electronic suspension Dynamic ESA with automatic damping as standard – the system can be set to either Road or Dynamic modes, the suspension settings can be adjusted on the move and reverse assist comes as standard. The K 1600 GTL will be available in three colours; white, metallic grey and metallic black.
The R nineT gets two round d instrument dash mounts instead of one, and the front forks are now fully adjustable e. The paralever swingarm and rear-wheel h l drive d i housing h i are now finished in black and for the first time two individual paint finishes are available as an option. The black metallic/vintage paint has an aluminium fuel tank in black metallic and silver with a yellow feature under the number 21. The second option is blue metallic/silver with a hand-brushed, ground weld seam on the fuel tank and seat hump with a golden surround.
The German factory says that the big Adventure bike has – for next year – undergone a raft of changes that make it more versatile, dynamic and comfortable than the current bike. And it’s also better at the off-road stuff, apparently. The Euro 4- compliant 125bhp @ 7750rpm motor has a tweak to the electronics and a new catalytic converter to meet new regulations, and the bike comes with two riding modes – Rain and Road – as standard, in conjunction with traction control. As an optional extra the bike can be fitted with Riding Modes Pro which include the Dynamic and Dynamic Pro modes, Enduro and Enduro Pro modes as well as Dynamic Traction Control. In Riding Modes Pro are the Hill Start system and the ABS pro. The GS gets Next Generation electronic suspension with Dynamic ESA that has automatic self-levelling suspension as standard. For the first time, GS owners can add one of two packages to the big Adventure bike; Rallye or Exclusive. For the Rallye kit the colour scheme is metallic blue bodywork with a blue frame and black drivetrain. Exclusive kit customers get their bike finished in matt grey with metallic grey frame. The drivetrain is black and the brake calipers finished in gold.
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TECH SPEC Suzuki GSX-S125
Suzuki launches its GSX-S125
Small naked gets public outing at the Milan show If you are looking for a 125cc street bike, Suzuki has an interesting new offering; and here it is, the GSX-S125. Suzuki claims that the new GSX-S125 has the best power-toweight ratio and acceleration in the 125cc street sport class. The bike features advanced fuel injection system, large-capacity air cleaner box, and highperformance exhaust system. There are also LED headlights and LCD dash to add to the modern looks. And naturally, the bike is compliant with Euro 4. The colour variations include black, black/red and blue.
The key points
1) According to Suzuki it’s the most powerful engine in the class (125cc street sport class) .
It boasts a high-performance, liquid-cooled, dohc four-valve power unit with class-leading power-to-weight ratio and class-leading acceleration performance. It meets Euro 4 requirements and the new Whole Vehicle Tyre Approval. 2) Low fuel economy. 3) Lightest weight in the class; 125cc street sport class at 133kg. 4) Lowest seat height in the class and comfortable riding position. 5) Slim and compact bodywork. 6) Shutter-key lock system. 7) LED headlight. 8) Informative multi-function full LCD instrument. 9) Suzuki Easy Start System for one-push engine start. 10) Dual-exit exhaust muffler. 11) Petal brake discs and cast aluminium wheels.
Overall length: 2020mm (79.5in) Overall width: 745mm (29.3in) Overall height: 1040mm (40.9in) Wheelbase: 1300mm (51.2in) Ground clearance: 155mm (6.1in) Seat height: 785mm (30.9in) Curb mass: 133kg (293lbs) Engine type: Four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, dohc Bore x stroke: 62.0mm x 41.2mm (2.4in x 1.6in) Engine displacement: 124.4cc Compression ratio: 11.0:1 Fuel system: Fuel injection Starter system: Electric Lubrication system: Wet sump Transmission: Six-speed, constant mesh Front suspension: Telescopic, coil spring, oil-damped Rear suspension: Link type, coil spring, oil-damped Rake/trail: 25.5° / 93.3mm (3.7in) Front brake: Disc (Petal) Rear brake: Disc (Petal) Front tire: 90/80-17M/C, tubeless Rear tire: 130/70-17M/C, tubeless Fuel tank capacity: 11.0L (2.9 / 2.4US / lmp gal)
at 8000rpm and 17.3lb-ft at 6500rpm. The bike is pretty frugal too and its tank size of 17 litres is good for a claimed range of over 310 miles. Fuel injection keeps the SOHC, parallel twin motor smooth when you crack the throttle and there’s ABS and non-ABS model options on the Euro 4 compliant motorcycle. Styling-wise, the bike has come in for some intensive aerodynamic testing and the new fairing and windscreen have been changed from other V-Stroms to be more effective at shifting the worst of the weather around the rider. The headlight and rear lights have also been specifically styled to fit in with the city/ open road/weekend rider theme – Suzuki says that the headlight has been designed to mimic the look of a torch! The bike’s ‘beak’ is a throwback to the firm’s iconic DR-Big desert racer and the subframe is beefy too – it can carry 8.5kg. The V-Strom 250 is going to be available soon in yellow/black, red/black and black/red. No price was available from Suzuki as MCM went to press but we’ll bring you all the details on how much this will cost in the UK when we have it.
Meet the Midula V6! You might have heard of Czech company FGR before – they raced in the old 125cc GP championship and the 2012 Moto3 series where they finished seventh out of 11 manufacturers. Well, now they’ve made this! The new Midula 2.5-litre V6 that looks like a cross between an Ariel, a Monster and a Motus.
The hulking motor kicks out 240bhp and 160Nm of torque, the bike weighs in at 262kg and it gets a carbon fibre fuel tank, beefy aluminium swingarm, Öhlins forks, Brembo brakes, six shooter exhausts (which look pretty fine), plus (and we’re not quite sure why you’d want this sort of thing on a bike quite like this) a 1.2-litre storage unit under the tank.
Check out this little beauty from Forged Motorcycles – it’s the Suzuki VanVan 125 turned into a scrambler, and it looks like you could have some serious fun on it. The one-off bike from the Gentilly (outside Paris) based custom builders has been thoroughly revamped, with every little detail from the Monzastyle fuel cap to the chunky tyres carefully thought through.
Guy Martin competing again
Suzuki’s V-Strom 250 revealed for 2017 Essentially the new V-Strom 250 is powered by the same unit that has been something of a stalwart for the Japanese factory in its Inazuma roadster – but finally Suzuki has taken the plunge and put the unit into a new baby Strom. Suzuki says that bike has been built specifically for city work with plenty of low to mid-range torque. The motor makes 24.7bhp
Awesome Suzuki VanVan scrambler
No price announced yet for the brute, but you know this isn’t going to be cheap.
It’s been confirmed that Guy Martin will take part in the Burt Munro Challenge which runs from November 24-27 in New Zealand. The racing event is held annually to celebrate the life of New Zealander Burt Munro who set a below-1000cc record of 183.59mph at Bonneville in 1967 – a mark which still stands. Guy recently returned from the US where he attempted to break the world land speed record with Triumph. Although the elusive world record wasn’t broken, he did pilot the Infor Triumph to the fastest ever speed for a Triumph-powered machine at 274.2mph.
BSA buyout: British marque to return?
Legendary British bike manufacturer BSA could be making a comeback with news that it’s been acquired by Indian firm Mahindra & Mahindra. The automotive giant has taken a controlling stake in Classic Legends, which had in turn purchased BSA for a reported £3.4 million. Mahindra has been on the lookout for new acquisitions for a while, and six months ago we broke the story of its interest in both BSA and Norton as potential targets. It was also announced that Classic Legends has signed an exclusive brand agreement with Jawa for India and other Asian markets.
8 A 2000-MILE TEST
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin DCT On and off the finest roads in Europe.
Words: Mikko Nieminen Photography: Mikko Nieminen and Sergio Reseco The Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin is an adventure bike through and through. As well as it behaves on Tarmac, I can’t help feeling that it would much rather be rolling through mud in the deepest ruts or tackling a rocky trail. So, when I took it touring I had to compromise – 2000 miles of riding on the finest EU-funded asphalt would be combined with some of the most amazing trails in the Spanish Pyrenees. I had a strong start! The Africa Twin passed the first test of touring even before I started the engine: its big panniers and top box swallowed my luggage, burped, and asked for more. Just to be on the safe side, I threw a Givi WP 400 soft bag on the pillion seat too. The soft bag is easy and quick to remove from the bike and carry around if I wanted to keep my valuables with me.
in Saint-Émilion in the Bordeaux wine region, and finally arriving in Andorra, in the heart of the Pyrenees. In the Pyrenees the going got tough as I hit the trails with the Mini Mondo trail riding crew. From there I took a little detour to Vilafranca del Penedès near Barcelona to visit friends, then headed out to Santander for a sailing back to the UK.
Miles of confusion
When I first arrived in France I had a mild panic as I was trying to work out how the speed limit signs in kmh correlated with my speedo in mph. Before I had too much of a meltdown, my TomTom Rider 400 came to my rescue, showing both the local speed limit and my speed in mph. Genius! I later managed to set the speedo to display kmh instead of mph, but I had to defer to the owner’s manual out to figure that out. Don't tell anyone!
50.7
Average MPG fuel consumption over 2000 miles
The route
The first stretch of the journey was a rather soul-destroying plod on the M1, M25 and A3. After the first two, the A3 seemed almost exciting. But I knew that better roads lay ahead, and so I pushed on. I sailed with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen in France, where I realised three things: I was wearing far too many layers, I didn’t understand the traffic signs and I couldn’t speak the language. But I was finally riding on foreign soil, so none of that mattered! From Caen I rode across France, stopping in Mont Saint-Michel, with its iconic island monastery, then
Travelling in comfort
The Africa Twin proved to be a top-notch tourer. Sitting high on the 870mm tall seat made it easier to see what was happening ahead of me and plan my actions when I didn't really know where I was going. The bike also got top marks for motorway work. The torquey engine helped me to slip into gaps in traffic that was travelling anywhere between 15mph and 150mph.
Eye candy
I quickly noticed that whether I stopped to fill up, visit a shop or just to have a rest, it was next to impossible to get off the bike without someone wanting to talk to you about
it. Not that I minded, I love talking about bikes, but it was obvious that everywhere I went, the Africa Twin stirred interest.
The setup
I had firmed up the suspension before the trip to cope with the full load, and it performed well on the fast windy roads as well as in the little towns and villages dotted with speed bumps. In fact, the suspension didn't feel noticeably different from riding without luggage. The same went for the engine, too, and it pulled keenly throughout the rev range; the only point where I noticed a slight hesitation being in sixth gear on steep ascents. Most of the time you could easily forget that the bike was loaded to the brim. The biggest giveaway in handling was slow roundabouts, where the added weight made the bike tip into a lean with more urgency than normal. It was nothing to cause concern, but you could feel the difference.
Crossing the Channel I sailed from Portsmouth to Caen in France and returned to Portsmouth from Santander in Spain. Both crossings were with Brittany Ferries. I had a clean and spacious cabin on both journeys, and the ferries were a great place to relax in between all the riding. They had restaurants, bars, shops and cinemas – you would struggle to get bored there. With the cabins and the bike, the total cost of both crossings came to £317. For further information or to book, visit brittany-ferries.co.uk or call 0330 159 7000.
It was a bit out of the way, but Mont Saint-Michel was worth the visit.
A 2000-MILE TEST 9 Portsmouth Caen Mont Saint-Michel Nantes
Santander Vitoria
Saint-Émilion Toulouse Andorra la Vella Barcelona
TECH SPEC An iPhone docking station fashioned from a waterproof jacket pouch and a cable tie.
DCT
I had done plenty of miles on the DCT version of the Africa Twin before the trip, and my favourite setting had always been what Honda calls manual — using the paddles in the left switchgear to quick-shift gears. This also proved to be the best mode for touring. The D-mode is just too lazy to carry that kind of weight anywhere in a hurry, and the sport settings seemed a little pointless when I could have full control with the manual mode. From the point of simplicity though, especially if you're riding in strange surroundings, the DCT system is brilliant as it's much easier to keep your full concentration on the road and other vehicles when all you have to do is twist and go.
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin DCT
Water and crisps – the lunch of champions!
The Africa Twin made easy work of the long and windy road from France to Andorra.
Engine: 998cc liquid-cooled parallel twin Maximum power: 94bhp Maximum torque: 72ft-lb Kerb weight: 242kg Tank capacity: 18.8L Wheels: Front 21in, rear 18in spoked Seat height: 870/850mm Price: Manual £10,499, DCT version £11,299
Off to the woods
At the halfway point of my trip, just after I had ridden from Andorra to Spain, it was time to join the Mini Mondo trip for five days. Mini Mondo, organised by adventure traveller and filmmaker Austin Vince, is a five-day trail riding trip in the Spanish Pyrenees, all about teamwork, self-catering and rough camping with only tarps for cover. There are no tents, GPS, back-up vehicle, mechanical recovery or satellite phones.
“Most of the time, you could easily forget that the bike was loaded to the brim.”
10 2,000 MILE TEST
Hotel Mini Mondo in the Spanish Pyrenees.
Mini Mondo Mini Mondo is a five-day guided trail ride and wild camping trip around the Pyrenees. The trip is designed for people who want a bit of an adventure but can only get a week off, or for those who want to embark on their own adventure but don’t know where to start. It’s basically an introduction to adventure riding and travel. For further information, visit austinvince.com/mini-mondo
What worked? What didn’t?
You can get a pretty good picture of what your bike can do when you take it for a 2000-mile ride covering all types of terrain. Here’s the final verdict…
LUGGAGE
NAVIGATION
MAINTENANCE
Hard luggage was another compromise for the trip. It was great for the road sections, but the panniers were demolished after a couple of spills on the rocky trails. Luckily I had the Givi WP 400 soft bag to keep me going until the end. For further info: givi.co.uk
The TomTom Rider 400 sat nav was a brilliant help throughout. I didn’t even take an atlas with me. On the days when I had more time I chose to avoid toll roads and motorways. On the days when I needed to get a move on I selected the fastest route possible. It couldn’t be simpler. For further info: tomtom.com
Two weeks and 2000 miles went by without the bike having anything but its chain lubed. Admittedly it had been serviced just before the trip, but still, it didn’t need liquids, chain tensioning or anything else doing. That’s touring made easy.
LIGHTS I didn’t do much riding in the dark, but Honda’s dipped and full beam gave an impressive amount of light on the odd occasion when I did. For fullblown illumination I switched on the LED fog lights. They were particularly useful on the trails at dusk.
TYRES
ACCESSORIES
With a combined road and off-road trip, the choice of tyres was always going to be a tough one. In the end, I decided on the Pirelli Scorpion MT 90 A/T dual-purpose tyres. They were exceptional on road, and even though the wet mud got the better of them, on the dry trails they offered a good amount of grip. For further info: pirelli.com
The Givi side stand pad made a big difference by allowing the bike to stand pretty much anywhere, regardless of the terrain. The short Touratech screen also came in handy as it allowed an unrestricted view of the road (or the lack of one) ahead and let loads of air through the helmet vents – ideal in the warm conditions. For further info: givi.co.uk and touratech.co.uk
The trails we rode varied from easy to challenging, and I would be lying if I said that the bike came back from the woods without a mark on it. In fact, by the end of the five days, the bike looked like it had enjoyed its time off-road: the hard panniers were in pieces, the cowl guard was scratched, the fog lights looked cross-eyed, and the rest of the bike was covered in small scratches and bumps. Despite the damage, the bike continued to run as well as it always had, not missing a beat, and ploughing on with single-minded determination. The DCT system proved to be perfect for off-roading. Essentially, you can’t stall the bike with the DCT, although more experienced riders might take a while to get used to not having control over the clutch.
Economy drive
Back on the smooth Spanish roads, the only thing that I wished the bike had come with was cruise control. On the long motorway stretches it would have been nice to just rest your right hand and arm a bit. Fuel consumption was pretty respectable too at 50.7mpg, and the 18.5-litre tank meant that I could do a 300-mile day on the bike with just one or two fuel stops, depending on how full I started the day. Something that might be seen as a minus in the touring score sheet for the Africa Twin is that it's a chain drive. Most bikes designed for touring use a shaft drive, because it needs less looking after, but I managed to do 2000 miles on the Africa Twin
Santander is the land of scooters. The Africa Twin stood out from the crowd, but at least it's automatic! without having to adjust the chain. Just keeping it lubed seemed to do the trick.
And 2000 miles later...
The week seemed to go far, far too quickly and before I knew it I was on a Brittany ferry sailing from Santander to Portsmouth. The trip was absolutely amazing. I had ridden on some of the finest Tarmac roads in Europe, darted around on exiting trails and witnessed the most stunning scenery I’d seen in a long time. The bike did me proud, and did not miss a beat all trip. I think this adventure might just be the first of many to come for me and Africa Twin.
Riding in Spain is bliss: smooth Tarmac, quiet roads and sunshine.