Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

SPECIAL

EDITION

DUCATI DIAVEL 1260 YAM MAHA TENERE TENERE 700 7 January 2019 Issue 700

KAWASAKI VERSYS 1000 INCLUDING BIKES FROM: KAWASAKI ◆ HONDA ◆ YAMAHA ◆ DUCATI ◆ KTM ◆ TRIUMPH ◆ APRILIA ◆ BMW ◆ HUSQVARNA ◆ PEUGEOT ◆ ROYAL ENFIELD ◆ ARC ◆ FANTIC ◆ NORTON ◆ SWM

700 cheers for MSL Mikko Nieminen

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he magazine you’re reading right now is Motorcycle Sport & Leisure, issue 700. Yep, 700! There’s not many magazines that can claim the same history, prestige and longevity. MSL has carried motorcycling news, tests, opinions and insights for longer than most of us have been riding (or even been alive). But the magazine never grows old, and has no intention of slowing down. The team behind the mag is still as enthusiastic about bringing you the latest and greatest in motorcycling as it always has been. And to tell you the truth, we’re having far too much fun to stop now!

I’ll try to refrain from too much navel-gazing, but the magazine’s deep and rich roots make me immensely proud to be part of the MSL team today.

So bear with me, this is the shortest history lesson you’ve ever had – I promise!

The first MSL appeared in 1962, the same year when the Cuban missile crisis threatened to turn the whole earth into a nuclear testing site, and Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday to President Kennedy. Back then, MSL went by the name of Motorcycle Sport, and instead of the Cuban crisis and presidential liaisons it concentrated on what the title suggested, along with other timely motorcycling topics.

From that first issue the magazine evolved into one of the most important motorcycling monthlies in the UK. Along the way there have been features on topics as exotic as sidecar racing on grass and dispatch riders in the war, as well as the usual reviews of the latest metal, leather and rubber that keeps the industry going. Today we want to keep on delivering the same high standard of motorcycling journalism that has been the MSL trademark over the years – some things are best left unchanged.

This is a big issue. It’s MSL number 700.

As time has ticked by, the emphasis has shifted from sport to leisure, with the magazine’s current (although not necessarily last – who knows what the future brings?) title reflecting the changing tastes of the British riding public. The rise of adventure and retro bikes, and decline of supersports has been noted.

But MSL is a broad church, and the 56 years of the mag have been full of all sorts of bikes, races, tests, tours, technical revelations and know-how – it’s been a helluva ride! That’s it, history lesson over – class dismissed (told you it would be short).

As luck would have it, the 700th issue of MSL has coincided with the international motorcycle shows, so the big news this time is about the class of 2019.

We are particularly excited about the long-awaited update to Yamaha’s Tenere, the powerful Ducati V4 R, and the Adventure version of the new BMW F850 GS. But that’s just us – what’s your favourite from the bunch?

To celebrate the big round number stamped on this issue we also tested half a dozen 700cc(ish) nakeds. It wasn’t the easiest test to organise and the capacities are more varied than we originally planned, but the main thing is that we unearthed some excellent bikes.

On top of this we also have the usual test rides, touring stories, buying guide and product insights, as well as the long-term test bikes, tried & tested kit and razor-sharp columns.

That’s it. MSL 700. Enjoy!

Mikko Nieminen, Editor

Motorcycle Sport & Leisure’s contributors...

Alan Cathcart

Alan Cathcart has been writing about bikes for more than 30 years, and riding them for even longer. He’s regularly given the keys to factory prototypes and being on first name terms with the bosses of bike companies around the world allows him to bag many scoops.

Roland Brown

A bike journalist for more than 30 years, Roland has contributed to countless publications worldwide and authored a dozen books on bikes.

He has tested machines ranging from Rossi’s YZR-M1 to a 1923 Douglas but still can’t decide which type of bike he most enjoys riding.

Chris Moss

Mossy has made a living from bikes since 1985 – first as a motorcycle courier in London, and then as a journo from 1995.

He’s raced, ridden and tinkered with hundreds of different bikes, but he’s the first to admit there’s still loads to experience and learn.

Peter Henshaw

Peter is our history man – he’s written more than 60 books and is a former editor of this very publication. Now a freelance journalist, he writes about transport of all kinds, though bikes are really at the heart of it all. He’s an all-yearround rider who does not own a car.

Stuart Barker

Stuart Barker has been a freelance motorcycle journalist for 17 years, writing for most of the major bike titles. He has written biographies of Barry Sheene, Steve Hislop, Niall Mackenzie and Evel Knievel, and is currently editor of the official Isle of Man TT programme.

www.mslmagazine.co.uk 3

Contents

PAY LESS

Get the original & best bike magazine every month

P36

7 NEWS & OPINION

TOURING & ADVENTURE

7 2019 bikes

The show season is in full swing, and there’s lots of new metal to drool over.

32 Testing makes perfect

We find out how BMW tests its bikes.

36 Subscription offer

Save £££ by subscribing. Plus you get the mag before it hits the shops.

38 Maynard Hershon

Coming of age in San Francisco.

40 Latest products

Lots of cool kit is appearing for the new riding season.

44 Your letters

This is what MSL readers are talking about this month.

59 The High Sider

Are we fans of racing or the racers?

66 Kawasaki riding school

Remember what it was like to get on two wheels?

4 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962

77 Touring news

You don’t need a big bike for touring.

You really don’t.

78 Day ride

Finding the Hovis boy in north Dorset.

82 Mid ride

Touring France doesn’t have to take a long time.

86 Long ride

Riding in China, Mongolia and Russia.

96 Riding in Thailand

Welcome to the world’s most dangerous roads.

101 Richard Millington

Everything changes – but that’s okay, as long as you plan ahead.

46

TEST FLEET 108 Honda CB1000R

Ross makes his case for the CB as the ideal commuter.

110 Kawasaki H2 SX SE

60

It’s not as insane as you might think a supercharged bike would be.

111 Honda X-ADV

Mossy has seen the light – quite literally.

112 Yamaha Tracer 900 New tyres and old petrol worries for Finchy.

113 Honda Africa Twin DCT Lots of miles on and off road gives Matt new perspectives.

114 KTM 1090

Parting with the big 1090 is sweet sorrow for Jonathan.

104 ROAD TESTS 46 700cc group test

Celebrating MSL’s 700th with a fitting group test.

60 Ducati Multistrada

Enduro 1260

The Enduro gets the same muscles as its road-loving brother.

72 Fantic Caballero 250

& 500 Scrambler

Two power options, one stylish flat trackish package.

128 Confederate FA-13

Combat Bomber

Alan Cathcart tests the final product from Confederate.

115 Suzuki GSX-S1000F

Stu gets a grip. Or at least new grippy tyres for the Suzuki.

KNOWLEDGE 103 Knowledge

Potholes and how to survive them.

104 Parrish times

Steve Parrish talks about fast bikes, Barry Sheene, racing and lots more.

117 Tried & tested

We test riding gear and gizmos so you know if it’s worth buying.

120 Buying guide:

Suzuki Burgman 650

The big scooter as a used buy.

138 Kevin Cameron

Just how do crankshafts handle all that power?

January 2019 EDITOR: Mikko Nieminen: mnieminen@mortons.co.uk ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Tony Carter: tcarter@mortons.co.uk SENIOR DESIGNER: Justin Blackamore DESIGNERS: Fran Lovely, Charlotte Turnbull PRODUCTION EDITOR: Dan Sharp PICTURE DESK: Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schofield PUBLISHER: Dan Savage: asavage@mortons.co.uk GROUP KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGER: Steff Woodhouse: swoodhouse@mortons.co.uk 01507 529452 / 07786 334330 DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER: Zoe Thurling zthurling@mortons.co.uk 01507 529412 ADVERTISING SALES: Lee Buxton: lbuxton@mortons.co.uk 01507 529453 SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER: Paul Deacon: pdeacon@mortons.co.uk CIRCULATION MANAGER: Steve O’Hara: sohara@mortons.co.uk MARKETING MANAGER: Charlotte Park: cpark@mortons.co.uk COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Nigel Hole EDITORIAL ADDRESS: MSL Magazine, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR WEBSITE: www.mslmagazine.co.uk GENERAL QUERIES AND BACK ISSUES: 01507 529529 24 hr answerphone help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES: Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk 01507 529423 SUBSCRIPTION: Full subscription rates (but see page 36 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £51.60. Export rates are also available – see page 36 for more details.

UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. SUBSCRIPTION AGENTS: Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR CUSTOMER SERVICES NUMBER: 01507 529529 TELEPHONE LINES ARE OPEN: MONDAY-FRIDAY 8.30AM-6PM SATURDAY 8.30AM-12.30PM DISTRIBUTION: Marketforce UK Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HU. 0203 787 9001.

PRINTED: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If you are sending material to us for publication, you are strongly advised to make copies and to include a stamped addressed envelope. Original material must be submitted and will be accepted solely on the basis that the author accepts the assessment of the publisher as to its commercial value. © Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. ISSN: 1478-8390 MOTORCYCLE SPORT & LEISURE (USPS:001-522) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK. USA subscriptions are $66 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft WI and additional entries.

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6 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962

NEW Need to know ◆ Your letters ◆ First rides

The T7 lives!

Technical features

Yamaha gives us the lip-smacking Ténéré 700 production bike for 2019

YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700 High-torque, 689cc, 4-stroke, CP2, parallel-twin engine New lightweight double cradle tubular steel frame Slim, compact and ergonomic body and seat Aggressive rally-bred face with four LED headlights and two LED position lights Adjustable long-travel 43mm upside down forks with 210mm travel Remotely adjustable link-type rear suspension with 200mm travel Compact rally style cockpit with tapered handlebars 21in/18in lightweight spoked wheels fitted with adventure tyres Slim long-range fuel tank with 16-litre capacity for 350km+ range Compact rally-style multi-function instruments Switchable ABS for on the fly adjustment

Colours: Ceramic Ice, Competition White, Power Black

A

fter years of teasing the motorcycle world with the T7 prototype Adventure bike, Yamaha finally turned out the production-ready Ténéré 700 at the EICMA show in Milan.

The new Ténéré 700 is equipped with the 689cc parallel-twin engine. Yamaha says that the key characteristic of this compact CP2 engine is its strong and linear torque that gives instant throttle response and ‘outstanding acceleration’.

Producing maximum torque at 6500rpm, the factory claims excellent fuel economy, too.

The bike gets an all-new lightweight double cradle tubular steel frame that combines a low weight with strength, making it ideally suited to a variety of riding conditions. Featuring a compact 1590mm wheelbase and a slim body, the chassis delivers responsive handling characteristics, and with 240mm of ground clearance the Ténéré 700 should be able to tackle the rough stuff.

The ability to shift your body weight forwards and rearwards to suit the terrain ahead is crucial when you want to maintain full

control in off-road riding situations, and so the Ténéré 700 is equipped with a flat 880mm high seat and slim body that allows maximum rider agility.

The compact bodywork and narrow fuel tank also let the rider grip the tank with their knees whether sitting or standing.

At the front end, the bike is equipped with a distinctive headlight assembly that is a direct spin off from Yamaha’s latest factory rally bikes and the T7 concept machine. A total of four LED headlights are stacked in a two plus two layout and

Screen and handguards give good rider protection

protected by a nacelle – with two position lights at the base.

There’s 21in front and 18in rear spoked wheels for greater off-road feel and that slim fuel tank holds 16 litres, which Yamaha reckons means the bike is capable of 217 miles between fill-ups. No price had been announced for the Yamaha as MSL went to press.

AVAILABILITY:

The new Ténéré 700 will be available in the second half of 2019 at Yamaha dealers across Europe.

www.mslmagazine.co.uk 7

2019 Bikes

Ducati’s new Diavel gets back to sportier basics Loads of power, tonnes of tech and a chain drive.

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f you ever wanted or rode a first-generation Diavel then the latest version of the muscle cruiser is going to tickle your fancy a lot. The new Diavel might be a bike that we’ve been bringing you in spy-shot form for months now but the actual details of the production bike make for some sweet reading.

The 2019 Diavel does get the Testastretta DVT 1262 engine, Bosch Cornering ABS and user-friendly engine performance control – according to Ducati.

A sportier S version of the Diavel 1260 is also available.

Features include fully adjustable Öhlins suspension at both front and rear, dedicated wheels and

an even higher-performance braking system.

The 1262cc Ducati Testastretta DVT engine with variable cam timing, already used on the XDiavel, has now been upgraded for peak performance and given a chain-drive final transmission. It puts out 159hp @ 9500rpm and 129Nm @ 7500rpm. Thanks to a variable timing system which acts continuously on the intake and exhaust camshafts, the engine adjusts power delivery to suit riding conditions: smooth at low revs, sporty at high revs. In addition, the S version mounts Ducati Quick Shift up and down Evo (DQS) as standard to allow clutchless shifting.

The new Diavel sports a prominent new tubular steel Trellis frame. Anchored to it is an aluminium swingarm and the rear wheel – 240mm wide with a diameter of 17 inches – remains a Diavel hallmark.

The six-axis Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU) instantaneously detects bike speed and acceleration and is crucial to the proper operation of

many of the control devices on the Diavel 1260.

The electronics package includes Bosch Cornering ABS EVO, Ducati Traction Control (DTC)

The new Diavel 1260 in standard trim.

The Panigale V4 R arrives

234hp @ 15,500rpm It’s expensive. Very expensive.

It’s £34,995 expensive. But it’s just jaw-droppingly beautiful.

This is the V4 R from Ducati.

It’s rocked the motorcycle world.

There’s lesser power figures if you get the bike with the stock pipe... but why would you? No, what you want is the V4 R with a full Akrapovic pipe that makes 234hp @ 15,500rpm. Yep.

The superbike also comes with an aero package that includes MotoGP-esque wings. Oh my...

The Panigale V4 R is a road-legal WSBK category racing bike and constitutes the technical platform for the official Ducati Superbikes that will compete in the 2019 season.

The 1103cc 90° V4 engine has been replaced with the 998cc

8 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962

NEW EVO, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO, Ducati Power Launch (DPL) EVO and Cruise Control.

The Diavel 1260 is available in Sandstone Grey with a black frame while the Diavel S offers two livery options: Thrilling Black and Dark Stealth (motorcycle surfaces feature two contrasting blacks with different finishes, with red frame) and Sandstone Grey (with black frame).

This new Diavel 1260 is also compatible with the Ducati Link app: this lets riders set ‘journey mode’ (a combination of Load Mode and Riding Mode) and personalise the parameters of each individual Riding Mode (ABS, Ducati Traction Control, etc.) in a user-friendly manner via their smartphones.

The details...

DUCATI DIAVEL 1260 (S) Price: £16,795 (£19,895) Colour: Sandstone Grey with black frame and black wheels (Thrilling Black and Dark Stealth with red frame and black wheels.

Sandstone Grey with black frame and black wheels) Ducati Testastretta DVT 1262 engine Tubular steel trellis frame Aluminium single-sided swingarm Fully adjustable 48mm forks (Fully adjustable Öhlins 48mm forks) Shock with adjustable pre-load and rebound damping (Fully adjustable Öhlins shock absorber) Brembo brakes with Ø 320mm front discs and monobloc M4.32 calipers and Ø 265mm rear disc (Brembo M50 monobloc front brake calipers) LED headlight, tail-light and indicators (LED headlight with Daytime Running Light system) Colour TFT instrumentation Electronics package with Bosch 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit including: Bosch Cornering ABS EVO, Ducati Traction Control EVO, Ducati Wheelie Control EVO, Ducati Power Launch EVO, cruise control Ducati Multimedia System ready (Ducati Multimedia System) Ducati Quick Shift up and down EVO ready (Ducati Quick Shift up and down EVO)

Desmosedici Stradale R which brings it within the displacement limits established by WSBK championship rules.

It also has race-grade Öhlins suspension with mechanical adjustment and an aluminium swingarm with an adjustable four-position pin. Moreover, the Front Frame has been modified to achieve the stiffness targets set

by Ducati Corse. Sophisticated electronic controls borrowed from the Panigale V4 S now have revised threshold levels to make them more compatible with pro rider requirements.

The suspension system has

been optimised for track use.

Both the steering damper and the Öhlins suspension mount mechanically adjustable top-drawer components. More specifically, the brand new pressurised NPX 25/30 front forks take as-standard Öhlins components to new heights.

The rear TTX36 shock absorber completes the package.

The details...

DUCATI PANIGALE V4 R Price: £34,995

Colour: ‘R’ livery with an aluminium tank

www.mslmagazine.co.uk 9

2019 Bikes

New Hypermotard unveiled Return to the nutty original values. At last!

We’ve been telling you about this bike for some time now, even bringing you our spy snaps of the Hypermotard in action on road tests a couple of months ago and with the official unveiling of the new Hypermotard 950

by Ducati we can see that the proddie bike is virtually identical to the prototype.

The details of the bike tell the story of what Ducati wants to do with the Hypermotard. The new version of the bike goes back to

its roots by being smaller, lighter and more punchy out of corners.

It gets a comprehensive tech package, too.

The new Hypermotard 950 has wider handlebars, slimmer sides and a new seat. Riders’ feet can be placed more firmly on the ground thanks to an in-seam measurement that is now 53mm shorter than the bike it replaces.

There’s two versions available from Ducati, the stock 950 and an SP uprated version.

The bike’s twin under-seat tailpipes and exposed subframe hark back to the original Hyper and as well as being more visually compact, the Hypermotard 950 is also 4kg lighter (the engine alone accounts for a 1.5 kg saving) compared to the previous model. That has happened thanks to a new frame made up of tubes of varying diameter, new rims, brake discs with aluminium flanges and lightweight Marzocchi forks with aluminium fork bodies/tubes.

Both Hypermotard 950s get a renewed 937cc Testastretta 11° twin with (Ducati claims) more muscle, greater pulling power and new electronics for smoother control. It makes 114hp @ 9000rpm and 71lb-ft of torque – of which 80% is available at 3000rpm.

The latest generation Hypermotard 950 uses a Bosch six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit

(6D IMU) to detect the bike’s roll, yaw and pitch angles instantly.

The Hypermotard 950 electronics package includes Bosch Cornering ABS with the Slide by Brake function (with setting 1), Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO and Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up and Down EVO (as standard on the 950 SP version and available as an accessory on the 950).

Price and colours HYPERMOTARD 950 (SP) Price: £10,995 (£14,295) Colour: Ducati Red with red frame and black wheel rims (SP colour scheme with red frame and black wheel rims)

New-for-2019 2019 Ducati Multis Multistrada strada a 950 and 950S Ducati has upped its game w with the new Multistrada 950 bec cause as well as the new ‘stock’ mo odel, there is the Italian firm’s firstt ever higher-tech ‘S’ spec machine e.

For 2019 the new Multistrada 950 comes with a six-axis Bo osch IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), Bosch Cornering ABS, Vehicle e Hold Control (VHC) for easier uphill starts (especially when the b bike is carrying passenger and lugg gage) and a hydraulic clutch.

The swingarm and wheels – both the newly designed alloy wheels and spoked versions –

Price and colours MULTISTRADA 950 Price: £11,755 Colour: Ducati Red with Ducati Red frame and Glossy Black wheels

MULTISTRADA 950 S Price: £13,355-£14,583 depending on colour and spec Colour: Red, Grey

are lighter too. An upgraded rider-bike interface (HMI) is now – according to Ducati – more user-friendly and elsewhere the bike’s indicators feature an auto-off function that takes into account both lean angle and distance travelled.

Then there’s the new Multistrada 950 S, which gets electronic suspension with the Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) system which continuously adjusts fork and shock absorber damping so the suspension responds instantaneously to changes in road surface.

10 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962

Ducati Quick Shift up & down (DQS) allows clutchless upshifting and downshifting and the bike also features a full-LED headlight, 5in colour TFT display, a handsfree system, cruise control and backlit switchgear controls.

From a styling viewpoint, the new Multistrada 950 inherits the side ‘wings’ from its bigger 1260 counterpart and it’s 937cc twin cylinder Testastretta 11° engine puts out 113bhp (83 kW) @ 9000rpm and 71lb-ft of torque @ 7750rpm . The bike also comes equipped with a self-servo wet slipper clutch that now requires

less on-lever effort thanks to the new hydraulic control system.

Maintenance intervals have been set at 15,000 km or 12 months, with valve play inspection every 30,000km.

The tubular steel trellis frame is linked to a new, lighter double-sided aluminium swingarm, giving. The 19in front wheel is mated to 170mm of suspension travel and the Strada comes with a 20-litre fuel tank.

The Multistrada 950 is available in Ducati Red while the Multistrada 950 S comes in Ducati Red and Glossy Grey.

2019 Bikes

Kawasaki reinventts the Versys 1000 11

The big Kawasaki gets a complete makeover for next year with loads of tech and electronic suspension.

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here’s a new motor, electronically controlled suspension and more tech than you could shake a stick at (well, not really, but you get the gist). The Japanese bike maker has really upped its game with the new Kawasaki Versys 1000 and 1000 SE.

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14 1/ INLINE-FOUR ENGINE The 1043cc Inline-four has, according to Kawasaki, strong torque at all rpm (especially in the low-mid range), and a new intake howl. Electronic Throttle Valves, used for the first time on the 2019 Versys allow the bike to run with Electronic Cruise Control.

The valves also mean ideal fuel injection and throttle valve position, resulting in smooth response and prime engine output at all throttle positions. The bike also gets an Assist & Slipper Clutch which gives both a back-torque limiting function and a light lever feel.

2/ LONG-TRAVEL SUSPENSION + SPORTY 17IN WHEELS Lightweight 17in wheels front and rear mean quick, sporty handling. A spacious, upright riding position is good for both bike control and rider comfort.

3/ NEW RADIAL-MOUNT FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS The ø310mm front petal discs are now gripped by highly rigid radial-mount monobloc calipers complemented by a radial-pump front brake master cylinder.

4/ KCMF (KAWASAKI CORNERING MANAGEMENT FUNCTION) Using feedback from a compact Bosch IMU, the KCMF system monitors engine and chassis parameters throughout the corner, modulating brake force and engine power for a smooth transition from acceleration to braking and back again, helping bike and rider keep on a

consistent line through a corner.

On the Versys 1000, KCMF oversees the following systems: • KECS (SE version only) • KIBS (including pitching management and corner braking management)

13

5/ KIBS (KAWASAKI INTELLIGENT ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) KIBS is now standard equipment on the Versys 1000. This is the same base system used on the Ninja H2 and Ninja ZX-10R, with programming and settings revised to suit street riding needs.

2

6/ KECS (KAWASAKI ELECTRONIC CONTROL SUSPENSION) (SE) KECS adapts to road and riding conditions in real time, providing the ideal amount of damping.

KECS also includes electronically adjustable rear preload. Riders can choose from three payload modes (each with +5/-5 adjustment): • Rider only • Rider with luggage • Rider with passenger and luggage

7/ KQS (KAWASAKI QUICK SHIFTER) (SE) Enables clutchless upshifts and downshifts for seamless acceleration and quick and easy deceleration.

3

9/ INTEGRATED RIDING MODES (SE): SPORT, ROAD, RAIN, RIDER (MANUAL) All-inclusive modes that link KTRC, Power Mode and KECS allow riders to efficiently set traction control, power delivery and suspension character to suit a given riding situation.

8/ ALL-LED LIGHTING From the new twin headlamps and compact LED turn signals to the new LED tail-light and LED licence plate bulb, the Versys 1000 offers an all-LED lighting package.

12 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962

10/ INSTRUMENTATION The analogue-style tachometer is complemented by a full digital LCD screen (STD model), or a high-grade full colour TFT LCD screen (SE model).

11/ ADJUSTABLE WINDSCREEN The adjustable windscreen can be tailored to rider preference, contributing to comfortable highway cruising. Windscreen height can now be easily adjusted from the rider’s seat.

12/ HIGHLY DURABLE PAINT (SE) Kawasaki’s new Highly Durable paint and Highly Durable matte paint feature a special coat that allows scratches to repair themselves, enabling the paint to maintain its high-quality finish.

NEW

Kawasaki ZX-6R is back from the dead ABOVE: Versys looks just as smart in orange or white.

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COLOURS VERSYS 1000 Pearl Stardust White / Metallic Spark Black Candy Steel Furnace Orange / Metallic Spark Black

VERSYS 1000 (SE) Emerald Blazed Green / Pearl Storm Gray Metallic Flat Spark Black / Pearl Flat Stardust White

13/ LED CORNERING LIGHTS (SE) Each of the three lights has a fixed direction and is activated based on lean angle. As the bike leans over, the lights come on in order, creating a wider illuminated path in the direction the bike is heading.

14/ TWIN LED HEADLAMPS

Now Euro 4-friendly and offering both more power and more tech, Supersport fans will be happy that Kawasaki has decided to bring its middleweight missile ZX-6R back as a 2019 model.

Essentially, the same chassis and motor as the old bike are used, with the biggest change being that the 636cc inline four-cylinder engine is now Euro 4 compliant. The bike has also had its gearing shifted for more low-down pick-up – that’s handy because the Kwakka now comes with an quickshifter (up-shift only) and two riding modes. No power figures have yet been quoted by Kawasaki but it does claim that the ZX-6R is faster than before.

Up front there’s Showa balance free front forks and chunky Nissin brakes with ABS. The bike also gets new (a bit more ZX-10RR, doncha think?) bodywork, a new dash, a 12V utility socket and sticky Bridgestone Battlax S22 tyres.

Price for the ZX-6R is £9499 with the KRT (WSB-lookalike) version selling for £9699.

Each of the new LED headlamps features low and high beams as well as position lamps.

15/ HANDY POWER SOURCE A DC socket (previously an accessory) is now standard equipment. The socket is complemented by prepared pre-wiring. A total of 40W of power is available.

16/ SMARTPHONE CONNECTIVITY (SE) A Bluetooth chip built into the

instrument panel enables riders to connect to their motorcycle wirelessly. Using the smartphone application Rideology, a number of instrument functions can be accessed.

www.mslmagazine.co.uk 13

2019 Bikes

2019’s Ninja H2 SX SE+ Kawasaki has unveiled it’s new Ninja H2 SX SE+, a bike which the factory says features the most advanced array of rider aids yet assembled on a Kawasaki tourer.

Headed up by KECS electronic control suspension, the new system can be adjusted from the handlebar, or as part of a suite of functions offered by Kawasaki’s new Bluetooth rider-to-machine Rideology app.

The functionality of the app expands way beyond suspension adjustment and includes machine logs, service interval reminders, riding logs and even a note of any incoming calls and emails that have been received.

Adding to the smartphone pairing function and information screens, the colour TFT meter panel of Kawasaki’s hyper tourer

shows an array of functions including bank angle, supercharger boost indicator, average fuel consumption plus a handy economical riding indicator for when ‘full gas’ turns to ‘frugal’.

For 2019 the bikes gets Brembo’s latest Stylema front calipers which boast cooler, more consistent operating temperatures plus an even more direct feel at the brake lever.

Additionally, the Ninja H2 SX SE+ benefits from body panels treated with Kawasaki’s new Highly Durable Paint, which allows minor scuffs to self-repair thanks to a layer of paint which

acts like a trampoline, absorbing abrasions and then flowing back into the damaged areas.

No price had been announced for the Ninja H2 SX SE+ as MSL went to press.

The W800 is back Want something In Street or naked and 400cc? Cafe clothes Take a Ninja 400 and get rid of the clothes, revise the riding position and make it a bit more street ‘family’ looking and viola! You’ve got the new Z400 from Kawasaki.

Powered by responsive, rider-friendly 399cc parallel twin engine complete with an assist and slipper clutch, the new Z400

is both lighter and more powerful than its Z300 predecessor.

For the rider, the view over the handlebars is complemented by a compact dash.

Featuring a digital speedometer plus gear position indicator, additional convenience is supplied courtesy of a fuel consumption indicator and an economical riding indicator among other rider-centric features.

No price had been announced for the Z400 as MSL went to press.

14 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962

One of the most enduring and identifiable Kawasaki motorcycle families, the Kawasaki parallel twin, air-cooled W stable will house two more thoroughbreds in 2019 bearing the names W800 Street and W800 CAFE. Having little in common with previous iterations, the newly born Euro 4 compliant twins are “90% new” with a whole host of styling, technical and practical changes.

Sharing a completely new chassis, each machine has new brakes – including a rear disc for the first time on a W – as w well as ABS and LED lighting.

Celebrating the fact that

“original never goes out of style,” both the stripped for action 773cc bevel driven camshaft W800 Street and W800 CAFE can trace their roots back over half a century to the original 1966 W1 650; at the time the largest capacity four-stroke made in Japan.

No price had been announced for the W800s as MSL went to press.

www.mslmagazine.co.uk 15

2019 Bikes The details...

BMW F850GS 2-cylinder inline 853cc engine with 70kW (95hp) @ 8250rpm and 92Nm @ 6250rpm Powerful sound due to crank with 90º crankpin offset and 270/450º ignition spacing New steel bridge frame for increased robustness New upside-down telescopic fork plus aluminium two-sided swinging arm ABS, ASC and the riding modes Rain and Road as standard Riding modes Pro with ABS Pro and dynamic brake light, DTC and the new optional riding modes Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro Pro Electronic suspension Dynamic ESA as an option Connectivity with multifunctional instrument cluster including 6.5in full-colour TFT screen Emergency eCall system option 23 litre fuel tank New colour plus Rallye and Exclusive colours will be available

F850GS goes Adventure For those who want lots of GS fun without the 1250’s bulk, the Germans have the perfect answer.

T

he small Adventure gets a ‘new’ two-cylinder inline engine with 90º crankpin offset and 270/450º ignition spacing. Vibrations are absorbed by the new engine’s two counterbalance shafts.

A self-amplifying, anti-hopping clutch not only makes the clutch lever action lighter but reduces engine drag torque when you’re out on the road, too.

Transmission to the rear wheel comes from the six-speed

16 Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – established 1962

gearbox with secondary drive that is now positioned on the left-hand side of the bike.

The riding modes Road and Rain plus ABS and ASC come as standard with Pro-riding modes available as optional equipment.

There’s a new, brighter and more obvious (really) brake light, too.

The Adventure can be fitted ex-works with optional riding modes, such as Pro, Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro Pro as well as the DTC (dynamic traction control) and cornering ABS. The bridge frame of the new F850GS Adventure is made of deep-drawn, welded components.

It uses the motorcycle’s engine as a stressed member. The fuel tank has been placed between the seat and the steering head, for what BMW says is optimised packaging and an improved centre of gravity. On the F850GS

Adventure it holds 23 litres for a claimed range of 550km (341 miles).

A larger two-step windscreen and hand protectors provide increased wind and weather protection. Wide enduro footrests, adjustable shift and foot brake levers as well as engine protection bars and a stainless steel luggage rack round off the F850GS Adventure’s standard equipment. In addition to the basic version, the new F850GS Adventure is available in Exclusive and Rallye colours.

The 850 Adventure is being launched with a range of equipment that includes; different seat heights, aluminium cases and trim panels, the new full LED headlight as well as the LED additional headlight and the Connectivity option with 6.5in full colour TFT display.

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