YOUR FREE
November 2016
Triumph’s Bobber B 1940s style Bonnie is go!
MCM is FREE in dealers, clubs and biker cafés
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2017
Yamaha’s R6 It’s a mega mini-R1 superbike!
4 5 NEW BIKES
BMW’s W’ G310GS
FREE
A2 Adventure caught on test
take this pape r home for
The biggest montth EVER
FREE!
It’s been an amazing four weeeks with a MASSIVE load of 2017 metal appearing
We’ve got ALL the bikes from Inte ermot PLUS spy shots of BMW’s G310GS min ni-Adventure bike AND some hot SECRETS fo or next year!
IT ALL STARTS ON PAGE 3
MT-10SP
4 NEWS
Honda's new Fireblade revealed (two versions are on the way!)
Honda has unveiled its 2017 Fireblade with TWO versions of the bike launched for next year – the SP version and a track-spec SP2 option that can use parts derived from the RC213V MotoGP programme. The SP2 special gets carbon bodywork, gold Marchesini wheels that cut inertia by 18% at the front and 9% at the rear. The special can also fit specific race part kits from Honda’s RC213V MotoGP programme that includes larger-diameter intake valves, bigger exhaust valves and pistons with an exclusive crown design.
This is the Fireblade SP1.
This is the Fireblade SP2.
A WHOLE YEAR OF BIKING FOR JUST
£10
Call 01507 529529 or go to www.classicmagazines.co.uk/mcm20
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Star Wars inspired helmets released From an aesthetic point of view there’s a new TFT full colour dash, the titanium tank is a new shape and the bike gets new wheels and a new titanium exhaust. The new Blade’s seat height is 831mm, and with the model’s frame shedding half a kilo in weight and the subframe trimming off 800 grams – combined with a full two kilos off the 998cc engine weight alone – the new bike is a full 14 kilos lighter than the current incarnation. Power is up by 11bhp to measure 189bhp at the crank, thanks mostly to a combination of new pistons, revised cam timing, new crank and revised valve lift. The redline has now gone up to 13,000rpm. The 2017 Blade gets the ride-by-wire package which includes a five-axis measuring IMU brain working hand in hand with the nine-level Honda Selectable Torque System – a combined set-up which incorporates the traction control with an antiwheelie system.
Oh yes! We’re up for this one. HJC has added to its recent run of film-linked helmets (the company did Marvel lids a while back) with these two. Clearly in some sort of tie-up with the upcoming release of Rogue One (the newest Star Wars film) there are two options, Kylo Ren and Boba Fett. No prices as yet, but we figure around the £450 mark.
ABS and anti-rear lift is standard on the new bike and it gets a quickshifter as standard along with a downshift and slipper clutch which combine to let you crash through the gears. Suspension-wise, the Blade is getting semi-active Öhlins units.
Get up to speed daily
PLUS... two versions of the new CB1100 The new Honda CB1100 is getting two versions for 2017 – the CB1100EX (pictured below) and CB1100RS (pictured right). Both get an Assist and Slipper clutch and smaller silencers.
The RS is a sharper bike than the EX, with better handling. It runs with 43mm Showa dual-valve two-piece forks and remote reservoir shocks, while its 17-inch cast aluminium wheels hold radial Tokico fourpiston brakes. There’s a revised inlet and exhaust system on the 1140cc air-cooled in-line four motor, and the newly designed petrol tank has been shaped so that the rider sits slightly more prone on the bike.
THE FREE WEBSITE
The EX also gets the new tank but this version comes with 18-inch wheels and Showa suspension front and rear. Colour-wise the RS comes red or black and the EX is going to appear in white or yellow.
Here are the 2017 updates for the S1000RR, S1000R and S1000XR
The 2017 BMW S1000RR gets... ● Adaptation to Euro 4. ● ABS Pro as a new part of the
To be honest, the biggest difference in the S1000 family centres around the S1000R, with the XR also getting a power hike. The big bruiser and its upright cousin both get 5bhp more than the current model. The S1000R also gets a lighter frame and there’s a more narrow cowling and bodywork on the bike, too. The XR can carry more weight now and there are various options and colours that have been added to the mix. With the S1000RR the differences between this year’s bike and next year’s are minimal, and won’t make much difference if you’re already interested. Obviously, becoming compliant with Euro 4 is at the top of the list, but other than that there’s not much more to shout about. Here are the details on each model in the S1000 family for next year:
aftermarket Riding Modes Pro.
● DTC as standard. ● The new RR now as standard
The 2017 BMW S1000XR gets... The 2017 BMW S1000R gets... ● Adaptation to Euro 4. ● Output increased to 121kW /
● Adaptation to Euro 4. ● Output increased to 121 kW /
165hp @ 11,000rpm (previously: 118kW / 160bhp). ● Vibration-free handlebars. ● Increase in maximum permissible weight from 434kg to 444kg,
increasing payload by 10kg. ● Colour concepts: Racing Red non-metallic and Lightwhite nonmetallic / Granite Grey metallic matt / Racing Red non-metallic. ● New colour variant: Ocean Blue metallic matt.
165bhp @ 11,000rpm (previously: 118kW/ 160bhp). ● 2kg weight reduction to 205kg ● Payload increased by 2kg. ● HP titanium rear silencer as standard. ● Vibration-free handlebars. ● New frame structure with lighter main frame rear section. ● ABS Pro available in ‘Riding Modes Pro’. ● HP Shift Assistant Pro for quick shifting up and down without clutch as an ex-works option. ● Light HP forged wheels (2.4kg
lighter compared to the standard version) as a new optional equipment item on ex-works. ● Design Option wheels with red rim lines as a new ex-works option. ● Multi-function dash with improved readability, including outdoor temperature display. ● Significantly reduced fairing. ● New colour variants: Racing Red non-metallic / Blackstorm metallic, Catalano Grey nonmetallic and BMW Motorsport (Lupine Blue metallic / Lightwhite non-metallic / Racing Red nonmetallic).
as a single-seat model with passenger seat cover. The optional passenger package is available free-of-charge as an alternative. ● Colour concepts: Racing Red non-metallic / Lightwhite nonmetallic and BMW Motorsport (Lupine Blue metallic / Lightwhite non-metallic / Racing Red nonmetallic), though in a new design. ● New colour variant: Granite Grey metallic / Blackstorm metallic. ● Design Option Wheels with red rim lines now included as standard as part of the colour concepts Racing Red nonmetallic/Lightwhite non-metallic and BMW Motorsport.
14 NEWS
More from the Intermot show:
Aprilia’s 2017 RS 125 gets even more clever and ‘little RSV44’ foor next year
A WHOLE YEAR OF BIKING FOR JUST
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The 2017 Aprilia RS 125 gets some cosmetic updates and colours for the range. It also gets a larger storage area (it can hold a sixinch smartphone) with a charging point and fitment for a quick shifter as standard on the bike. The new RS 125 version is available in two colours: Silver Speed and Black Speed. Looks-wise the bike has been updated and performance-wise the brakes now use a four-piston radial caliper on the front with Bosch single-channel ABS that grips a 300mm diameter steel disc. The rear mounts a single-piston caliper that grips a 220mm disc and has anti-rollover protection. The new instrument cluster provides all the functions from the analogue rev counter to the multifunctionWal digital display with handlebar controls for the speedometer, trip master, battery voltage, time and stopwatch with memory for 20 laps, cooling circuit temperature indicator, fuel reserve indicator, OBD warning light and ABS fault warning light. The AMP ECU that connects the bike and smartphone is also available as an accessory. The 125cc single-cylinder, four-stroke, four-valve electronic injection engine with liquid cooling is Euro 4 approved.
★
NEW for
2017 ★
Small KTMs get 2017 update
Here are three 2017 KTM smaller Dukes that are going to be launched at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November. We’ve also got the specs for the 390, 200, 125 which are under each of the full-on, side-on pics below. These bikes are sooooo tasty!
Specifications: RC390
Want a baby Tuono 125? Yeah? Aprilia has just lifted the wraps off this little cracker...
For next year we’re getting two Tuonos – the 1100RR and the Factory versions Like its much-bigger-capacity sibling, the new baby Tuono is based around it’s more sporty brother. So you know the score with this one; goes like the RS4 125, a bit more upright in the riding position and bosses the tiny naked-bike-looking market. The bike has a lot of the same details and spec (as you’d expect) as the RS4 including the 14-litre petrol tank, chassis and brakes. The braking system mounts a four-piston radial caliper on the front wheel, assisted by Bosch ABS, that grips a 300mm diameter steel disc. On the rear, the new J.Juan caliper grips a 220mm disc.
£10
Aprilia has taken the wraps off two updated Tuonos that will be part of the Italian firm’s 2017 line-up: the Tuono V4 1100RR and the Tuono V4 1100 Factory. They also come with a joystick to let you toggle through the various digital menus. Yep, a joystick. Still based around the RSV4
superbike, the big naked is staying at 175bhp but is now Euro 4 compliant and gets a raft of new electronics and has tweaked suspension and brakes, too. The Tuono V4 1100 RR is the full-on ‘standard’ Tuono while the Tuono V4 1100 Factory is the more exclusive version equipped with bits taken from the Aprilia RSV4 RF superbike. The RSV4RR and RF versions of its superbike for 2017 are – according to the factory – vastly improved over the current models to the tune of a whole second a lap faster due to new suspension, electronics, brakes and a downshifter. It also gets the joystick-led menu navigation system as do the Tuonos.
The RSV4RR, RSV4RF, Tuono V4 1100RR and Tuono V4 1100 Factory APRC get... The big capacity superbikes (faired and unfaired) have a raft of new bits and electronics for 2017 that includes a joystick on the bike.
Displacement: 373.2cc Maximum power: 43bhp @ 9000rpm Maximum torque: 35Nm @ 7000rpm No. of cylinders: 1 No. of gears: 6 Seat height: 820mm Ground clearance: 178.5mm Kerb/wet weight: 166kg Fuel tank capacity: 10L Top speed: 111mph
Specifications: KTM RC200 Displacement: 199.5cc Maximum power: 24.65bhp @ 10,000rpm Maximum torque: 19.2Nm @ 8000rpm No. of cylinders: 1 No. of gears: 6 Seat height: 820mm Ground clearance: 178.5mm Kerb/wet weight: 154kg Fuel tank capacity: 10L Top speed: 87mph
● New ATC: Aprilia Traction Control, adjustable on the fly,
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(without having to release the throttle) to eight settings thanks to a joystick control, now has even more fi finetuned and higher performance operating logic. New AWC: Aprilia Wheelie Control, adjustable to three levels, has new, much more precise operating strategies thanks to the repositioning of the inertial platform. Wheelie control can now be adjusted on the fly without closing the throttle, like the ATC, thanks to the new and more practical left side electric block. New ALC: Aprilia Launch Control, for use on the track only, with three settings, uses even more effective new operating strategies. New AQS: Aprilia Quick Shift, the electronic gearbox that allows shifting without closing the throttle and without using the clutch, now with the downshift function as well, to allow clutch-less downshifting. Its open-throttle downshifting feature is exclusive. New APL: Aprilia Pit Limiter, the system that lets you select and limit the top speed allowed in pit lane at the track, or simply to make it easier to comply with posted speed limits on the road.
Specifications: KTM RC125
● New ACC: Aprilia Cruise Control. The new electronic
management allows an advanced cruise control system to be introduced, very convenient on longer trips because it lets you maintain the set speed without touching the throttle.
Displacement: 124.7cc Maximum power: 14.8bhp @ 9500rpm Maximum torque: 11.8Nm @ 8000rpm No. of cylinders: 1 No. of gears: 6 Seat height: 820mm Ground clearance: 178.5mm Fuel tank capacity: 10L Top speed: 77mph
NEWS 19
Here’s Yamaha’s 2017 R6 Who says supersports are dead? This little R1 gets six-level traction control, quickshifter, D-Mode, 43mm R1 forks with radial mount calipers and 320mm discs, plus full Euro 4 compliance and ABS. There’s no price announced yet for the new 600 but the spec panel and overall stats of the latest screaming addition to the Yamaha line-up are impressive. The little superbike also gets a newly designed aluminium fuel tank which weighs 1.2kg less than the steel equivalent (the whole bike tips the scales at a svelte 190kg wet). Braking-wise the YZF-R6 has the same awesome radial braking system that we’ve seen on the company’s R1 superbike, using dual 320mm discs and aluminium 4-pot opposed piston calipers. Ergonomically-wise, there’s an allnew rider seat and rear magnesium subframe for a bit more room on the bike, while the seat itself stays at 850mm high. While the traction control set-up can be switched off entirely, Yamaha says that its intelligent software is designed to not only be virtually undetectable but to also compensate for rear tyre wear. The bike also gets a new quickshifter. The 43mm KYB inverted forks come straight from the R1. The rear shock is an all-new KYB unit.
KEY FEATURES
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Next generation R-series design YZF-R1 inspired face Best ever YZF-R6 aerodynamics 6-level TCS to suit changing riding conditions Quickshifter for faster full throttle clutchless upshifts 43mm YZF-R1 type fork with YZF-R6 specific settings 320mm diameter YZF-R1 type front brakes with radial 4-pot calipers Slimline magnesium rear sub frame New angled seat Lightweight aluminium fuel tank Enhanced riding position ABS Euro 4 compliant D-Mode
Okay, so this is a bit ‘out there’ for now – but this motorcycle is what BMW thinks is at least a pointer to future tech. The bike is a self-balancing (according to BMW it’s uncrashable because it can’t fall over, even at speed) electric machine with a selfadjusting frame that actively becomes part of the motorcycle’s steering at speed. If you want to watch a video of this that explains the whole concept at length log onto: www.morebikes.co.uk and search for ‘BMW’.
■ 599cc, 67mm x 42.5mm, liquid-cooled, 4-valve, dohc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder ■ Forged aluminium pistons, 13.1:1 compression ratio ■ Titanium intake/exhaust valves ■ Air Induction System and Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I) ■ Twin-injector Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) ■ Slipper clutch ■ Close-ratio 6-speed transmission ■ Magnesium head and case covers ■ EXUP valves contributing to excellent torque characteristics ■ Titanium exhaust silencer ■ Aluminium frame and swingarm ■ Colours: Race Blu or Tech Black ■ Available: April 2017
Triumph unveils its Bobber ‘authentic’ battery box and the machine’s ignition barrel has been shifted to the right of the panel so as not to get in the way of the Bobber’s looks. It also gets bar end mirrors and you can move the clocks up or down to suit your viewing preference. Paddock stand bobbin mounts are standard kit. No price was available from Triumph for the Bobber as MCM went to press.
Kawasaki is loading even more downforce wing-age onto the H2R hyper bike for next year. Or maybe even later on this year. It’s difficult to say exactly when the new designs shown in the patent drawings will happen – but the changes to the aerodynamics will happen. Rumours are rife that the aero-tweak is planned because the big bike is getting even more power for 2017, but this isn’t explained in the documents or drawings.
BMW shows its wacky future
TECHNICAL 2017 Yamaha YZF-R6
Triumph has taken the wrappers off its Bobber, a version of its modern Bonneville that is styled to look like a classic bike from the 1940s. The bike comes with the independently-sprung, aluminium solo seat that can be adjusted back or forward depending on what you want – it also gets the full-on hardtail look. Essentially, the bike is a T120 Bonneville from the modern range that has been stripped back and lowered for the Bobber look. The bike also had new, onepiece wide bars, a stylised
More wings on the way
TECHNICAL 2017 Triumph Bobber
■ 1200cc, 97.6mm x 80mm, liquid-cooled, 8-valve, sohc, parallel twin ■ 10.0:1 compression ■ 76bhp @ 6100rpm ■ 78lb-ft @ 4000rpm ■ Fuel consumption (claimed) 69mpg ■ 6-speed transmission
Colours: Burgundy, Green, Grey, Gloss black
BMW’s G310GS A2 Adventure bike caught in spy shots! This is the 2017 BMW G310GS – the small Adventure bike that is going to be launched at the Milan show in early November. The bike is powered by the same engine that is at the heart of the firm’s G310R naked roadster which was launched earlier this year, it’s an 80mm x 62.1mm, single-cylinder motor that is going to kick out around 34bhp and 21lb-ft of torque. More details once BMW releases the bike officially in Italy, but for now here’s how it’s going to look in all its road-riding glory.
Avon’s new tyre caught out
This is the new Storm tyre replacement from British firm Avon. The new rubber will be out next spring. Apparently it has massive wet performance, good mileage, lots of different tread cuts, racing wet-style and 3D sipes with link bars on the rear. The front has tread link bars on the big ‘S’ shaped tread cuts, too.
24 TEST RIDE Timeline: 1956
Johnny Allen records 214mph at Bonneville Salt Flats
1959
The Tiger 120 Bonneville is launched
1960
New duplex frame introduced
1963
Unit construction, as well as TT (for American dirt track racing)
1965
Thruxton Bonneville production racer is listed
1967
Last year of the TT Bonneville
1968
Twin-leading shoe front brake added
1971
Oil-in-frame (OIF) and conical hubs appear
1972
Modified OIF (inch-and-a-half lower) introduced
1973
T140V (initially 722cc, soon 744cc, V for five-speed) version makes its bow
1975
The 1959 Bonneville was brash and aggressive, its twin-carbs and bright orange finish a break from the 1950s norm.
Switch to left-foot gearchange
1977
Silver Jubilee Bonneville made
1981
Royal Wedding Bonneville
1982
Factory custom TSX
1983
Eight-valve TSS
1985
Harris Bonneville appears
2001
790cc ‘Hinckley’ Bonneville launched
2002
Bonneville America and T100 introduced
2003
Speedmaster makes its bow
2004
New 865cc Thruxton introduced
2006
Scrambler variant appears
2007
All models go to 865cc
2008
Fuel-injection across the range
2009
Bonneville SE launched
2015
1200cc T120 Bonneville debuts
Happily, we managed to pull up, but it was a salient reminder that often on these old motorcycles, it’s not keeping up with modern traffic that’s the problem, it’s stopping with it. There’s no such drama on the new ABS-equipped T120 – braking is a straightforward affair, the large twin discs hauling up the 224kg (494lb – the 1959 Bonnie weighed 404lb) machine in impressive time, and with no fuss at all. Just like everything on this machine, it all works really well and nicely, everything doing as it should, when it should, with no fuss, no drama, no panic, no worries. There’s next to no vibration, it’ll pull from really low revs in a high gear with minimum fuss. No obvious quirks are discernible, no glaring weaknesses apparent, no flaws in the new Bonneville’s make-up. My only gripes were there was hardly anywhere to tie my tail-pack on the back (which is in common with lots of modern machines – why no hooks?) while the 140-mile tank range seems a bit small, also. All in all, though, sure there are plenty of modern motorcycles that do things better, but the Bonneville T120 does everything well-enough to satisfy those who are expected to buy it. I’ve perhaps made it sound like a bland appliance – and it seems to me its makers sense that too. So the guys and gals at Hinckley have spent even more time making sure that attention to detail has reintroduced (‘engineered in’) what a focus
group would call ‘character’ to the motorcycle. There are admittedly some very neat touches – check out the Amal-lookalike ‘carburettors’, the white-script Triumph name on the back of the seat, even the lockable fuel filler is a really nicely made thing, its keyhole hidden under a little rotating piece of metal. I even think they have gone so far as to offset the exhaust slightly, with one side higher than the other; now, this could be a coincidence, but on Triumphs (like my old ’55 Thunderbird) the left pipe was a fraction lower when viewed from behind than the right one. And it is on the new T120! Neat. In conclusion, Bonnevilles of old (actually, the majority of Triumph twins; it was why kids loved ’em) were always great fun, and they were about accelerating fast and looking great – and this one does, or can do, all those things (and would certainly leave any ‘old’ Bonnie for dust as it has 79bhp, the 1959 has 46) but it’s just a bit more grown up and sensible than some of what went before. Right from its first incarnation in 1959 – the initial single-downtube pre-unit hotrod, under-braked, under-framed – it could be argued that Bonnies have become less exciting almost year on year, gaining more manners but at the expense of sheer exuberance as time has rolled on. Maybe, but that reflects the market; the 20-year-old coffee bar cowboys of the 1960s just, quite simply, don’t exist any more
and the Bonneville buyer (nay the motorcyclist) is generally going to be at least double that age, probably nearer triple (or more) if truth be told. As I’ve been writing this feature I’ve realised that actually none of the Bonnevilles I’ve had anything to do with could be considered ‘bad’ but the new T120 shares not only the colour scheme with the 2001 790cc Bonneville, but more of its traits than either of the newer pair do with the 1970 version, which first used the paint job (or a variation of ). And so the Bonneville has been tailored to meet that market’s demands. And what does that market demand? What does the modern Bonneville buyer require? A good name? Check. A good look? Check. Easy – and adequate – all-round performance? Check. Ease of maintenance and servicing (10,000 mile service gaps!)? Check. Triumph has skilfully manoeuvred itself into a winning position. Checkmate, I’d say.
30 PRODUCTS
Bike Seal Puncture Prevention System
RRP: £25 + P&P
Bike Seal Puncture Prevention System is a permanent puncture prevention system, which the manufacturer says is currently used by organisations from police forces, the NHS and UPS worldwide, to the US and UK military and the entire NATO forces. The main aim of the product is to improve safety, with secondary benefits of saving money on tyres/recovery, lost time, and inconvenience, along with its ecofriendly properties. Once installed, the puncture prevention system claims to
New Duchinni D705 Syncro helmet RRP: £59.99 // Colours: Black/neon, black/orange, black/white or black/gun // Sizes XS-XL, (and up to XXL in black/gun) Duchinni’s entry-level D705 helmet is now available in a choice of four striking graphics. The D705 Syncro has a strong ABS/fibre composite outer shell that is certified to the latest ECE22.05 safety standard. Its aerodynamic design creates a cleaner airflow over the helmet, which keeps the head more stable and eases strain on the neck at higher speeds. UV protection shields the shell and the colours from the effects of direct sunlight. Vents to the top and chin bar, linked to an exhaust vent at the rear by advanced channelling through the EPS liner, keep the head cool as the temperature rises. The high quality textile lining is also fully removable
and washable, so it can be kept fresh and bacteria-free. It also has a double curvature visor with an anti-scratch coating, plus a breath-deflector to keep it fog-free. And the Syncro is fastened by an adjustable micrometric quick-release buckle. For further information: thekeycollection.co.uk // 0117 971 9200
permanently plug and seal up to a 15mm diameter puncture within two to three revolutions of a wheel, losing negligible tyre pressure (0.5-1.0 PSI). Installation of the product permanently protects tyres from 95% of tread area punctures, stops most rim and bead leaks and slow punctures permanently and protects tyres for their legal life. The product is non-corrosive and suitable for both tube and tubeless tyres. The 500ml bottle will provide protection for one motorcycle, so enough two tyres. For further information: bikeseal.com // 01278 671900 // enquiry@bikeseal.com
Elite protection from the new Knox Defender
RRP: £249.99 // Sizes: S–3XL Colour: Classic black and grey Knox says that the Defender Elite combines track levels of protection with the comfort and convenience of an armoured shirt. Alongside the Knox CE-approved armour in the shoulders and elbows, the new Defender Elite is fitted with a full length Aegis back protector, making it fully CE-certified to Level 2 – the highest rating of the latest back protector standard. A lightweight CE-approved chest protector is also fitted to the Defender Elite as standard. It can be adjusted to suit the wearer, or removed altogether. The low-profile cut of both the Aegis and the shoulder and elbow protectors means that it can fit under close-fitting jackets and suits with relative ease.
Watsonian sidecar kit for new Triumph T120
RRP: From £5995
Watsonian Squire has developed a sidecar fitting kit for Triumph’s new T120 Bonneville. The GP700, a wide-bodied sidecar with a 70cm bench seat, is suitable for an adult and a child. Its fibreglass body retains the traditional octagonal nose shape from the 1930s, and is trimmed with polished aluminium beading. The lockable boot measures 76 x 61 x 40cm, providing plenty of secure luggage space.
It’s fitted with a 15-inch wheel with stainless spokes. Prices start at £5995 in plain black, and the T120 fitting kit costs £350. Watsonian builds sidecars in its
Oxford Rota Force ground anchor RRP: £84.99 The ground anchor bolts down with four security bolts. The unique rotating head allows easier fitment and better bike positioning, and the 26mm diameter case hardened steel head resists all forms of attack. The 59mm internal diameter allows all Oxford chains to be fitted. The ground anchor is sold with all necessary fittings included. For further information: oxfordproducts.com
factory in the North Cotswolds and is the UK’s biggest and longest-established manufacturer, founded in 1912. For further information: watsoniansquire.com // 01386 700907
TomTom V10 RRP: £149.99 TomTom has created the world’s first scooter smart phoneconnected sat nav called TomTom VIO. The circular glove-friendly touch screen device acts as an extension to a connected smart phone, which uses the welldeveloped app as the brains. The weatherproof display unit offers turn-by-turn navigation both visually and audibly via a Bluetooth helmet audio system. When a call comes in, the display will show a photo of who it is so the rider can take it via the headset while directions remain on the TomTom VIO display. TomTom’s famous speed camera warning system is built-in. Design detailing continues as the snap-on silicon covers are available in six different colours and the maps can be set to the same colour using one simple touch in the app. For further information: tomtom.com
All the armour in the Defender Elite can be removed for washing but, unlike any other garment of this type, the wearer simply zips the shirt off the back protector – no fiddly pockets or fasteners to wrestle with – making it very easy to keep it fresh and clean throughout the riding season. For further information: planetknox.com // 01900 825825
Furygan Jean D30 RRP: £149.99 // Sizes: 36-50 Colours: Denim blue or slate grey The CE-approved D3O Kevlar jeans may look like a normal pair of jeans, but Furygan assures us the stylish denim exterior hides a multitude of protective features. There is D3O protection and an Aramid fibre lining in the hips and knees, and areas exposed to abrasion in a crash situation are reinforced with triple or quadruple stitching. The knee protectors are adjustable to three heights and the slightly wider, yet straight, cut provides increased comfort on the bike. For further information: nevis.uk.com // 01425 478936
Absaar mini jump starter and power pack RRP: £59.95 The new Absaar mini jump starter and power pack provides enough power to jump start your bike or to charge your phone and other gizmos several times over. There’s even a built-in torch, which is particularly handy if you’re camping. The device is only the size of a smart phone (138 x 78 x 18mm) and weighs 230g, making it easy to take with you on your travels. It comes with a micro-USB charging cable and crocodile clips for jump starting your bike. Capacity: 6000mAh (22,2 Wh). Rated input voltage: 5V/2A. Rated current: 150A. Peak current 300A. For further information: absaar.co.uk
34 TRIED & TESTED
Spada Pilgrim boots
Nano waterproofs from Tucano Urbano
The Pilgrim motorcycle boots were introduced as part of Spada’s new ‘everywhere’ range. They are a classicstyled lace-up boot with a leather outer construction which is set-off by a cross-stitched inset around the ankles, giving the boots a slightly twotone effect, which I think makes them good-looking and easy on the eye with their slightly retro urban styling. Other features include an authenticlooking wooden and leather sole construction, plus reinforced fitments to both the toe and the heel – there’s also a reinforced gear pad. As with most new boots, they were a little stiff at first. Putting them on is a relatively simple affair – just undo the laces to expand the ankle gap, then
Tucano Urbano offers a good choice of rainwear, and there’s one particular range that I like above all others: the Nano collection. The jacket and trousers in the Nano range are super lightweight and thin, making them ideal for touring as they take up very little space and weigh next to nothing. The Milanese brand says the Nano collection is positioned midway between performance and comfort, and designed for those who hate being caught out by bad d weather. Well, that’s me then. I find the jacket and trouserrs a lot easier to live with than one-piece waterproofs. I can even make my peace with the fact that one-piece suits offer better performance. If it gets that rainy you’ll find me e in the nearest tea shop, thank you very much. Both the jacket and trousers can be packed away in the e small carry pouches provided and take very little room in the panniers or back pack, so I have started to carry these around with me wherever I go on the bike. They’re ideal fo or changing weather conditions.
Reviewer: Mau Spencer // RRP: £99.99 // Sizes: EUR 41-47 // Colours: Brown or black // Info: spadaclothing.co.uk
simply slide them on using the ‘pullon’ tab; then it’s just a case of doing them up. Being ankle length, they grip comfortably around the contour of your ankles, providing a firm, but gentle and flexible fit. Admittedly the boots are more about style than protection – and from that point of view, they certainly look the part.
Reviewer: Mikko Nieminen // RRP: Jacket, £42.99; Trousers £39.99 // Sizes: Jacket, S-4XL; Trousers, XS-3XL // Colours: Black or fluo yellow // Info: tucanourbano.com
Richa Daytona ladies jacket
Reviewer: Julie Robinson // RRP: £249.99 // Sizes: Ladies 6-24 // Colours: Black, cognac or red // Info: nevis.uk.com I was very excited about getting my hands on my first leather jacket – and the Richa Daytona did not disappoint; it really is a head-turner. It has a real classic, fitted look, with subtle quilting detail on the shoulders and elbows, a centre zip and two zipped hand pockets. It has press studs to change the waist band and cuff width – although I found them quite stiff to adjust – but to be fair no adjustments were really necessary. Inside, the jacket features a
zip-out removable thermo liner with pockets suitable for a wallet and mobile phone. The jacket itself is cotton-lined, and has a separate chest pocket. In terms of protection, the jacket has D30 back, shoulder and elbow protection, all removable if required, and CE-certified to level one. Comfort-wise, my initial thought was that it wasn’t as easy to wear as textile jackets I’d used previously. However, after a ride on the bike I no longer
noticed this, so I assume it just takes a while to adjust to your body shape. In terms of warmth, the jacket has been perfect for summer days, even the slightly cooler ones, and there is a removable thermal lining, but the short cut makes it more suitable for warmer rides than winter touring. But then, that was inevitable with a jacket of this style. If you like classic leather jackets, then you’ll struggle to find one more stylish than this.
40 BACK TO THE FUTURE
TECH SPEC Suter MMX500
The excitement was building, especially so after Suter himself hopped onto the readied motorcycle and took off down the pit lane with a wrist full of revs, leaving a hazy, blue cloud of smoke in his wake. Out of sight it might have been, but the bike was never out of earshot, reappearing onto the start straight with the most piercing of sounds. My appetite needed no more whetting. When I was 17 I once rode a Kawasaki KR-1S. More than a decade later and my second ever two-stroke ride was to be on a full-factory Grand Prix machine, with more performance than any of its predecessors. I swung a leg over the bike’s narrow and tall carbon fibre seat unit, raised a foot onto a towering rearset and took a moment to digest my surroundings. Sunken below the thick billet aluminium headstock and swept back clip-ons sat the MMX’s large dotmatrix 2D dash. Rammed with info, my eyes darted to every corner before scanning the cluster of buttons on the left bar. I hadn’t a clue what any of them did, but a warning from the team highlighted the lack of traction, ABS or wheelie control – electronics are for girls, apparently. With the rear paddock stand removed, a quick shove from behind saw me rolling down the
Engine: 576cc, liquid cooled, V4 two-stroke Peak power: 195bhp (145.4kw) @ 13,000rpm Transmission: Six-speed cassette gearbox Clutch: SuterClutch dry multi-disc Aspiration: Direct port injection / carbon reed valve Frame: Aluminium twin-spar with adjustable steering / wheelbase / height Suspension: Fully adjustable Öhlins FGR forks TTX rear shock absorber Wheels: OZ rims: (F) 125/75/17; (R) 205/75/17 Brakes: (F) Dual Brembo 320mm steel discs with radial M50 calipers; (R) a single 218mm disc with a dual piston caliper. Bodywork: Carbon fibre Price: £85,000 Contact: suter500.com
pit lane; I dropped the clutch and the engine barked into life. Revs climbed effortlessly with the addition of throttle, causing the motor to burble and gurgle beneath. Steering onto the track, the lithe-handling lightweight dropped razor sharp into the pit lane exit bend, and lined me up for a slalom of corners. This was it, the moment had finally arrived. I wound the throttle back, but not much happened. Maybe I’d flooded it? Maybe the plugs were fouled? Who knows, but the ride was jerky and hard work. I tried the bike a gear lower, banging down the slick six-speed ’box into first
ahead of the long back straight. The power simply wasn’t there; the bike was continually slowing and I was visioning a long push back to the pits. What to do next? Then, from nowhere, the bike burst into life as the front wheel launched boltupright as if to signal the end of its triumphant ruse. Game on. That first lap was something else, rammed with unknowns, fear and an equal dollop of pure excitement. The Suter is as unconventional as bikes come, highlighted best by the braking at the end of that long back straight. The motor wasn’t entirely
devoid of engine braking but, assisted by the fitted Suter dry slipper clutch, the bike felt pretty unadulterated as I worked my way down from fifth to second, lining up for a left-right flick. The pressure was almost entirely on the bike’s powerful Brembo brakes to get the thing stopped, which didn’t prove too much of a challenge. A few corners in and I was still struggling to find the right gear, lines and throttle positions. The Suter was making me work harder than any bike I’d ever ridden before it. With every lap came a greater appreciation for the MMX, which blew me away with its handling skills. It would turn so sharp, hold a line rock solid and still be open to tweaks even at mid-corner. The
85
Thousand. Pounds. That’s how much it’s going to cost you for a MMX.
lean angle on tap was also impressive, as was the level of feel through the Suter’s stiff frame and Öhlins suspension. The bike felt so planted, even over the bumpiest sections of track, which provided the confidence to power faster into bends and trust the bike would be able to deal with whatever was thrown at thrown at it. And it did. As my cornering competence grew, so did my relationship with the motor. It had taken a while to grasp just how important it was to keep the V4 singing in its narrow-banded sweet spot; marked on the dash by a couple of coloured bits of gaffer tape. Keep the revs there and the V4 motor would drive like an animal, desperate to unleash all 195 of its ponies at every given opportunity. There were times when the oomph felt too much, causing the front wheel to rise uncontrollably and demanding the
WHITE DALTON 47 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 have a Hornet 600 worth about a grand. I got spanked off by some young kid in a Corsa. While I have fully comprehensive cover, my insurer told me not to claim off my insurance and get the money from the kid’s instead. They put me in touch with a bike hire/repair company who said I wouldn’t have to pay anything. I signed some paperwork and they took my bike away and gave me a hire bike (even though I have another two bikes). All was well, I thought. However, the kid has denied liability and now the bike hire/repair company say I owe £6,000 for storage and hire charges, and my bike will not be repaired until liability is admitted and I must go to court and sue the kid if I don’t want to pay their bill. Do I really owe £6000?
A
I hate hearing these stories and your insurer is out of order in my view. You had fully comprehensive insurance and you could have claimed off that. After all, that’s why you pay insurance. While your no-claims bonus may have been affected you would have avoided all this grief. On the face of it you may well owe £6000 but I would need to see the paperwork first to confirm. However, if you did sign to say you are liable you could have some problems. If liability is in issue you may have no alternative but to issue court proceedings against the kid but you need to be aware that a judge will unlikely accept the kid/his insurer should pay you £6000 for a hire bike and storage etc. when your Hornet was only worth a grand in the first place. In short, the judge will likely find you ‘failed to mitigate’ your loss especially as you didn’t need a hire bike as you had two other bikes. My advice for all bikers is there is no such thing as a free lunch, so only hire a bike if you need one. The costs are reasonable and you can afford to pay it if the other side is not liable.
Q
Me and my mate both got stopped by the police for speeding at 40mph in a 30mph. As soon as I got off I apologised to the female officer and basically put my hands up. However, my mate gave her a load of verbal, called her ‘sweetheart’ and asked why she wasn’t out catching burglars. I told him to stop being a dipstick, but she was unimpressed to say the least. The result: I got told to slow down by the officer and asked to leave while she dealt with my mate. He then got nicked. He is not a happy bunny and reckons he is going to court to defend the case on the basis I got off. Can he do that? And why didn’t I get nicked?
A new best-sseller
We’ve just been sent the latest registration figures for September 2016. Most of the stats are pretty predictable: Honda’s PCX 125 and CB 125 F dominate the scooter and 125cc categories, and BMW’s G 1200 GS has the lead in the 1000cc-plus and Adventure sections. But the top bike in the 601-1000cc bracket was a bit of a surprise to us. No, it’s not the Honda Fireblade or the Suzuki GSX-R – it’s the 900cc Triumph Street Twin.
A
In England and Wales your friend has a right to go to court and ‘put the prosecution to proof’ i.e. to be convicted the CPS need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he was speeding. However, your mate attempting to defend the speeding allegation on the sole basis that you got off will not work. As for why you didn’t get nicked, it’s because of ‘the attitude test’. It’s as simple as that. You weren’t out of order to the police officer and she used her discretion to not take any further action.
For more info, go to:
SOLICITORS
www.whitedalton.co.uk
Three limited Streets
Triumph has unveiled three limitededition models of its Street Triple roadster to celebrate a decade since the bike’s launch. Both Street Triple Gold and Grey editions feature handpainted wheels colour matched to the machine livery, housing Triumph’s 10-year anniversary logo. Like the DARK option, both these versions include half Alcantara seats with colour matched hand stitching.
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