Motorcycle Sport & Leisure - October 2014

The school of hard knocks Tony Carter

I

t’s been a weird few weeks – I’ll not lie to you, but there’s been a constant thread running through everything that’s happened; learning.

It kicked off with a trip to the States to meet with a legend of motorcycling. I’ve not got enough space in this month’s magazine to put my feature in so you’ll see it next month – but this legend was, well… legendary. Dinner with him and then another meeting the following day just underlined how an amazing person who could really command anything that he wanted in motorcycling was, at heart, just enjoying motorcycles and motorcycling and not worrying too much about the bigger picture. He laughed a lot and drank IPA. Lesson learned. en I wrapped up my time on the Diavel, which you can read about in this month’s mag, and managed to refind that pleasure in just riding for riding’s sake. I don’t get to just head out for a few hours and ride outside of riding for work (which always feels slightly different when you’ve got a shoot to do, someone to meet or thing to test) so to make time to do that, to just riiiiide… well, it was brilliant. Especially in all that sunshine we’ve had recently. Second lesson learned. ird and fourth lessons were kind of combined. I’d been musing recently about the fashionable trend in bikers for once again riding with jeans inside boots. Oh what a wag I am (yeah, yeah… less wag more w*****) for suggesting that we killed that off in the 1980s. Until, that is I tried to ride in my gloriously comfortable Alpinestars track boots and Draggin Jeans made with loads of lovely Kevlar and other strong things. You see, as a combination I’d not really tried that before, and when I did I found that the tough riding jeans don’t have enough ‘give’ in them to be able to stretch them over the very large knuckle of body armour at the very top of the boot itself. So, I folded the over-long leg back over itself

MSL: Meet the Team Bruce Wilson

MSL’s deputy editor started riding aged 10. He’s 27 now.

Bruce has written for Motorcycle Racer, MCM, Classic Motorcycle Mechanics and others, before joining MSL three years ago. He has since tested almost every new bike launched.

Roland Brown

Has ridden for 37 years and been a bike journalist for more than 30. At Bike he ended up as deputy editor before going freelance. An author of 11 books, as a racer he was Bemsee 1300 champion 1984 and raced UK F1, Superstock and Superbike, plus World F1 races.

The finger-waggers and a legend.

Mixed with lots of riding.

Four fun weeks, y’all. and put the boot on over it. Very 1980s. Especially with the white boots (you may have seen this look as I modelled it for our Facebook page). And it works really well when on the move. No flapping jeans and no mess.

I’m happy with the look as it is now, just need a yacht, an alligator called Elvis and rolled up sleeves to complete the set (Google it if you don’t get the reference).

So that’s good. But the posting on Facebook also taught me that people like to moan and tut and still wag their fingers. e negative comments admonishing me for wearing jeans… Oh dear… e fact that they are super-tough riding jeans seems to have been missed by these waggers of the finger. But I can let that go. What I find still annoying is someone telling me off for wearing protective gear on a bike, just because it doesn’t agree with their idea of protective gear.

Lesson three this month: jeans in big-armour boots is okay. Lesson four: finger-waggers should know better.

You can always learn something new, I truly believe that. And I’ve learnt to enjoy life for what it is, make time to just ride without having a reason and to wear what I want, when I want, as long as it’s not hurting anyone else.

Do you think the finger-waggers will be annoyed when they see me in a green mankini and dark-visored helmet next month?

Have a safe ride

Tony Carter Tony has been riding for nearly 30 years, in most countries and on most types of bikes.

A journalist for nearly 20 years, MSL’s editor has written for a host of newspapers including The Sun, The Mirror and The Observer.

Formerly head of news at Motor Cycle News, he has written for dozens of motorcycle magazines around the world.

Tony Carter Editor

Alan Cathcart

Alan Cathcart has been writing about bikes for over 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.

Chris Moss

Mossy has raced the Isle of Man TT, dispatched in London and ridden everything from CX500s to full-blown GP prototypes. A former chief motorcycle tester for Motor Cycle News, the 53-year-old admits he’s still loving two-wheeled life, and still learning.

Malc Wheeler

Malc Wheeler has been riding motorcycles for 50 years, starting before he legally could and no one has been able to stop him since.

He raced in the TT for 16 years, collecting three podiums along the way.

mslmagazine.co.uk 3

MSL October EDITOR: Tony Carter: tcarter@mortons.co.uk PUBLISHER: Steve Rose: srose@mortons.co.uk DEPUTY EDITOR: Bruce Wilson DESIGNER: Sarah Scrimshaw REPROGRAPHICS: Simon Duncan & Max Elkins GROUP PRODUCTION EDITOR: Tim Hartley GROUP KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGER: Steff Woodhouse: swoodhouse@mortons.co.uk 01507 529452 / 07786334330 ADVERTISING TEAM LEADER: Richard Sinclair: rsinclair@mortons.co.uk 01507 529538 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 PRODUCTION MANAGER: Craig Lamb: clamb@mortons.co.uk PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: Dan Savage: asavage@mortons.co.uk COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Nigel Hole ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: Malc Wheeler 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 30 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £49.20. Export rates are also available – see page 30 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

40

48

SEE PAGE 30

SUBSCRIBE

It’s a simple thing, subscribe to MSL and get it cheaper, earlier and with extra sunshine pumped in (we made that last bit up). But do it. Go on, do it now.

DISTRIBUTION: COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE. 01895 433600 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.

Postmaster: Send address changes to MOTORCYCLE SPORT & LEISURE, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com

Independent publisher since 1885

Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine?

Why not just ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?

4 mslmagazine.co.uk

Member of the Professional Publishers Association

76

104

110 58

CONTENTS NEW 006

ONE TO RIDE

016

WIN! WIN! WIN!

020

It’s a mega ride, this one. Eight hours in the saddle and a combination of easy and demanding roads – St Tropez to Cannes.

Via a few up and down bits in between the millionaire’s playgrounds.

We’ve got more than £1000 worth of brilliant kit from the equally brilliant Acerbis company.

FIRST RIDE: DUCATI’S DIAVEL 2015

When it was originally launched three years ago the Diavel was a real game-changer. But there were niggles. Now the muscley monster has been tweaked and moves the goalposts again. Oh wow, it’s amazing.

030

SUBSCRIBE TO MSL

036

FIRST RIDE: MIDUAL 1200 2015

040

052

It’s an easy thing to do. And by doing it you can get your favourite motorcycle magazine delivered directly to your door ahead of the shops getting their mitts on it. Sorted.

It’s cool and classy and French and you won’t see another one on the roads where you live.

If you like something different but good then – voila! See what we did there?

FIRST RIDE: APRILIA CAPONORD 1200 2015

We can’t figure out why this bike doesn’t sell loads more models in the UK. It’s awesome and this new bike is even better than the terrific motorcycle that went before.

048

36

FIRST RIDE: BRAMMO

Electric bikes are the future and all that stuff.

Why can’t 250cc two-strokes be the future?

Oh, yeah. Emissions and all that. So where does the electricity come from that we pour into the electric vehicles? Fairy wings generate that, do they?

EWAN AND THINGY: WATCH THIS

It’s been a decade since Charley Boorman and his very good friend Ewan McGregor borrowed a couple of BMWs and rode somewhere with support vehicles following them. We loved it then and still do. But we love this spoof of it more which came out shortly after the original and is now a cult classic. Read this then watch it, you’ll love it too.

TOURING 058

072

GS DIARIES: PART TWO

Ahead of the massive competition to put GS rider through the most gruelling things possible, MSL delves deep into the kitting up process.

THE LONG WEEKEND TOUR: BRITTANY

And to prove how adept the Bulldog is as a tourer we’ve got a great tale of one going to Brittany alongside a Blackbird.

076

THE LIFE CHANGING TOUR: ZULU LAND!

A mega trip on two wheels around Swaziland, taking in Rourke’s Drift too. Yeah, we want to do this one too.

KNOWLEDGE 084

HOW TO: GET THE PERFECT JACKET

From fit to body armour, to care tips. It’s all here for those of you who don’t know and those who do too.

104

BUYER’S GUIDE: HONDA’S CBF1000

One of the best, and most overlooked, motorcycles of all time. How to buy a good one second-hand and be a better bike buyer than the other guy.

110

20

REFLECTIONS: SUZUKI’S X7

As landmark a bike as anything made by Suzuki, the X7 250 opened up a whole new world to the teenagers of the 1970s. God bless the blue haze of two-stroke! mslmagazine.co.uk 5

Top Stories Victory’s new Cross Country

NEW INDIAN SCOUT REVEALED

First-ever liquid-cooled Indian engine leads new models and various range tweaks for 2015.

The new Victory Cross Country boasts the lowest seat height in its class, a choice of four graphic schemes and has 100W speakers to play music from the in-dash audio system – the most powerful that Victory Motorcycles has ever fitted.

Under the chrome and fairings is a 1731cc engine, and stopping power is provided by fully floating brake discs with four-piston calipers and ABS. Prices start at £16,495 www.victorymotorcycles.co.uk

New AJS R7 125

Featuring a 124cc, singlecylinder, four-stroke engine, the new AJS R7 has sports bike styling and is in dealers now.

Priced at £2150 + OTR, the new water-cooled machine produces 10.1bhp and has a five-speed gearbox. Seat height is 789mm.

Visit www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk

T

his is the new Scout from Indian – the first ever bike in the firm’s line-up to use a liquid-cooled engine. e 1130cc V-twin is slotted (or squeezed depending on your point of view) into the 235kg chassis and the firm says that the suspension is top-end to make for a very engaging and high-quality ride. at motor isn’t likely to tear arms out of sockets though, the company is quoting 100bhp as peak power although the 72lb- of torque @ 5900rpm will hopefully make it a lot of fun to ride.

Indian says that the bike has a low centre of gravity specifically to make moving it around an easy thing to do, and ensure that low-speed

stability is “inspiring confidence” with “an outstanding angle of lean”.

At just 643mm from the floor, the seat height shouldn’t worry many people and there are even options for riders who want a shorter seat height than that (so everyone can be catered for).

Here in the UK prices start at £10,399, which for this style of bike in this sector of the market, is surprisingly low. e firm has also revealed two tweaked models, the Magnum and the Roadmaster. e Roadmaster is essentially the Chieain with fairing lowers, topbox and some tweaks; it also has a more retro two-tone scheme. While the Magnum is based on the Cross Country and gets a loier front wheel, a lower-riding rear end, and a better audio system.

Indian Scout in anger. Full test on all the bikes next month in MSL.

The Scout in blue, pretty tasty.

Cream and red, with brown suede really works, we think.

The Roadmaster is a biiiiiig bike.

This is the Magnum, nice in green.

And the Magnum in red and stripe.

The Scout looks long and very cruiser-y. Especially with that big front.

First Rides Ducati Diavel

Better. Better. Best.

It used to have imperfections but not anymore.

This is very nearly the most perfect motorcycle of all time.

Very, very nearly.

WORDS: Tony Carter PHOTOGRAPHY: Joe Dick

What you need to know This version is the new model of the Diavel. It costs £16,995 (£3000 more than the identically engined non-Carbon version).

It makes 160bhp at 9250rpm and kicks out 96.2lb-ft of torque at 8000rpm from the 1198cc, liquid-cooled V-twin motor.

NEW Argue all you like, but this is one of THE greatest motorcycles of the past three decades.

More people should try the Diavel to understand just how good it is.

M

assive tyre.

It’s a massive tyre. at tyre is MASSIVE. Up to fourth.

Give it a handful. Can see for miiiillleeeeess. e bike tracks like it’s bolted to the road but is shaking and vibe-ing every now and then, just to let me know it’s alive. So alive, at these sort of speeds.

Very, very much alive.

Up to fih. More power. Wind it on and hoooooooollllld it open. Boy, we are really shiing.

Snick sixth. Now the excellent aerodynamics are starting to lag behind. e upright riding position (ish) which hasn’t needed much adjustment so far is being le behind, too. Time to tuck in. Not a full-on superbike, silly-head-down-arse-up tuck in, but a proper lean forward and elbows down. It’s a bit old-school like that. Slam the knees into the frame and tuck in, adopt the position and kiss everything behind, alongside and in the near future goodbye as it all becomes a glorious blur that starts passing by fast and – Just. Gets. Faster.

Warp. Factor. Nine, Mr Sulu.

Engine. Engine. Listen to the howl, feel the surge. Bars start flapping easily in the hand. at rear tyre, that massive rear tyre, is biting hard. e speed has bent time, this is like riding through the end of the film 2001: A Space Odyssey only this modern Ducati version blows Kubrik’s

Massive tyre! It’s a MASSIVE tyre!

celluloid masterpiece into the weeds. e power feels epic. e bike doesn’t accelerate underneath you – this thing spins the world under the back tyre while you stay still. is is immense motorcycling on a grand scale.

Screw you Jeremy Clarkson. THIS is freaking acceleration. Take every little poxy million pound car you’ve ever had a fat man crisis in and shove them so far up your schoolyard rhetoric that they’ll never come out. What you say about cars being better than bikes has always been off the mark. Every ride on the Diavel just underlines how completely, arse-kickingly defunct the four wheel option, even at the megamoney end of the scale is. Just because your heart’s beating it doesn’t mean you’re alive... but every second with this bike brings existence clattering into HD spiked with lemon juice. is is gutteral. A barely refined animal.

And you’re perched on the back of this thing without seatbelts or airbags, flicking its nose over and over as it growls at you. is is the new Ducati Diavel. And it is very nearly the most perfect motorcycle ever built.

Brash statement yep, and at virtually £17,000 you can’t go bandying things like that about without being sure of what you’re saying. But you know what? I am. is is that good. ree years ago this was a controversial motorcycle in pretty much the same way that the original M900 Monster polarised the motorbike world when it was first shown to the world in 1992. And like that naked originator, the Diavel set about changing what we would come mslmagazine.co.uk 21

Letters Those GS boys – I’m envious

Dear MSL, Okay, well that’s gone and blown it. Your excellent features on the chaps taking part in the BMW GS Trophy has convinced me that at 38 years old I’ve got to try and take part in this sort of thing before it’s too late.

Everyone seems to be having a great if fearful time in the buildup to it but they’re then going to get out to Canada and ride those bikes too? Brilliant!

So all I’ve got to do is get the bike and get my entry in. Then tell work that I’m off riding my favourite bike somewhere brilliant. I think that all I need is a letter from MSL to help me with that, so when the time comes I can assume that you’ll send it to me without any hassle to help me take part in the ride of a lifetime before my 40th?

Gary Hertford Email

Hi Gary, yep – no problem at all with that mate! Just get to the final four going for the Trophy itself and I’ll write you a letter for work (although you do realise that we’re not actually running this competition, don’t you?). TC

34 mslmagazine.co.uk

Tips for staying dry, warm and fog free Dear MSL, I read with interest the article about Staying Dry in the September issue of MSL and noticed that it seems like the way you wear modern wet-weather riding gear is almost as important as the type of gear you choose.

But aer 30 years of riding through all sorts of weather, good and bad, I have come across a few tips of my own that I thought would be a good idea to share with other MSL readers.

One of the best things I have found on a motorcycle is the free, plastic diesel gloves that you can get at most petrol station forecourts. I always grab a few pairs of these and stuff them under my bike’s seat. at way if I need an extra layer or two for thermal reasons, or if I’ve been caught out by a sudden shower and I’m wearing dry weather gloves then I just take my gloves off, pop on a pair or two of the freebies

and put my gloves back on over the top. It always works. e only downside is that you might find your hands getting a bit sweaty because the plastic gloves don’t breathe, but that’s not an issue in the grand scheme of things.

I also have invested in a cheap cycling top (the sort of riding top that you can get from Halfords for a few quid, the cheapest ones they do are ideal for us) and I keep one of those in the bottom of every backpack trip or pannier on my bike that I use. e upshot is that I can always grab an extra layer and put that on under (or over, they’re quite stretchy!) any top that I’m wearing under a jacket.

Because it’s a unique top that I take with me, and one that folds up into a very small package, I don’t have to worry about fitting jacket-specific thermal linings, which makes life very easy for me.

And finally, something I’ve been using all my motorcycle life that keeps my visor 100% fog clear even on the coldest days: raw potato! Before a ride I get a freshly cut piece of raw potato and wipe the potato juice all over the inside of the visor. I let this dry, which takes a couple of minutes, and then carefully buff the visor clear with a piece of dry kitchen paper. Nothing makes the visor fog up and this treatment lasts for a few days. I hope other MSL readers try this because it really works.

Callum Withers Email Hi Callum, great tips, thank you! I too have tried the raw potato tip before (it’s something I’ve also used for deep dives in the sea) and found it to be excellent. Who knows, you might have just started a new pro-potato trend among bikers this winter! TC

NEW

RIDING IN LOW LIGHT Dear MSL, I’m enjoying this time of year on the motorbike, my Suzuki Bandit 1250, because of the incredible low-light opportunities in the evening.

There’s nothing quite like riding in the golden glow of the end of a British summer. I am amazed at how many other

riders seem to be out and about during these golden hours, too.

If you’re going out then the only bit of advice I’d offer is to have a clear visor ready if your helmet doesn’t have a flick-down dark visor option built in.

Enjoy the evening riding everyone!

James Millington Email

Hi James, Oh god yes!

That’s a great point to make about this time of year. We’ve been out and about here at MSL too for several evening jaunts and we’re very, very much enjoying this light and ambience of the later summer. Keep riding and enjoying the evenings. TC

Yamaha has got it!

Owning 41 motorbikes over my 60 years of riding I write in praise of the one that now gives me more pleasure than anything else in life… only talking motorbikes here!

The Yamaha MT-07 is the complete all-rounder for me. A top quality bike for a very reasonable £5199 which is some £2000 below any bike of a similar quality. Looks the ‘business’ and has some performance to match.

The downside at present is that demand is outstripping supply. I had to contact Yamaha HQ to help me track one down. Most dealers – if they had one, it was their demo bike, so would not sell it – offered to take an order for their next delivery which was expected in November!

Once you see and ride one you will want one (featured well in MSL April).

John Bywood North Yorks

Why are we so bloody rude?

Dear MSL, When I started out in motorcycling, not that long ago, it was the norm for one rider to acknowledge another. This was done with either a nod of the head, a wave or even a foot stuck out from the side of the bike. It was some small gesture.

But that’s all gone now, these days it’s a genuine surprise to see another biker say hello or acknowledge me when I’m out riding. I ride a BMW and I always make a point of nodding or waving at every other rider. I just don’t understand why we’ve become rude these days. It’s not what biking is about.

Patrick Gosling Email

Only £3.08 an issue when you subscribe

www.classicmagazines.co.uk or see page 30 mslmagazine.co.uk 35

First Rides Midual Type 1

FANCIFUL, FRENCH AND NAKED French engineer Olivier Midy has come up with something very special in the shape of his at-twin Midual Type 1 roadster.

WORDS: Alan Cathcart PHOTOGRAPHY: Kel Edge

NEW

H

aving stepped on to the world stage on August 17, it boasts a starting price of €140,000.

But for that figure you’ll be buying a handbuilt work of two-wheeled art unlike any other on planet earth.

It’s powered by Midy’s own innovative and unique designed dohc eight-valve flat-twin motor with vertically-split crankcases, whose cylinders being tilted forward by 25º provide space for the six-speed transmission to be mounted beneath the rear pot, combined with an oil-bath ramp-style slipper clutch, and straightcut primary gears.

According to its creator, the reason for the dry sump format – with the oil tank positioned above the engine – is to counter potential blow-by lubrication problems, especially starting from cold with the tilted cylinders, as well as possible starvation under braking and acceleration with a wet sump design and the longitudinal engine layout. e engine measures 100 x 66mm for a capacity of 1036cc, and the onepiece 180º plain-bearing cranksha runs on central plain main bearings and two outer ball bearings, with its bolted-up steel con rods carrying three-ring forged pistons delivering a 12:1 compression ratio.

It has been homologated for the street in France as Euro 3 compliant, and Olivier Midy is confident of meeting Euro 4 requirements in due course. As such, the engine produces 107bhp at 7800rpm at the crank, with

ABOVE: Unlike on most boxer twins, the longitudinal engine mounting means ground clearance isn’t an issue.

BELOW: The twin cylinder motor is tilted upwards at the rear to help shorten the wheelbase.

maximum torque of 10mkg at 6000rpm, but a very wide spread.

It’s mounted in an equally innovative chassis that’s the subject of two further patents as the result of 7000 hours of development work. is incorporates the integral 14 litre fuel tank – so it’s a true monocoque, not like the Ducati Panigale whose frame is a hollow open aluminium structure uniting the engine and steering head, with the fuel still carried in a separate tank. e monocoque also incorporates the subframe for the dual seat, as well as ducts leading to the airbox feeding the twin throttle bodies, and it carries the Midual’s flat-twin engine functioning as a semi-stressed member via twin boomerang-shaped cast aluminium spars bolted to it. At their upper ends these support the radiator mounted above the front cylinder, thereby helping hold down the wheelbase to that acceptable 1500mm, and at the bottom contain the pivot point for the cast aluminium cantilever swingarm. is operates the fully adjustable Öhlins TTX36 monoshock directly, without benefit of a link, with the shock’s upper pivot incorporated in the monocoque frame casting. is also includes the steering head housing the front 43mm Öhlins FGRT upside down fork, which is again fully adjustable and delivers 120mm of wheel travel, same as at the rear. Head angle may be varied by half a degree either side of the default 24.5º rake, with 100mm of trail.

Two-wheeled art unlike any other on planet earth.

e 17in Akront aluminium wirewheel rims carry Michelin Pilot Road 2 tyres – could a French bike wear anything else? ese don’t have to carry tubes because of the design of the Spanish rims, the front 120/70 cover mounted on a 3.50in rim, with the 180/55 rear on a 5.50in. Twin 320mm Brembo floating front discs are gripped by four-piston four-pad Brembo Monobloc radial calipers, while there’s a fixed 245mm rear disc with twopiston caliper. e Midual’s 229kg dry weight with oil and water, but no fuel, is split 49/51% for a slight rearwards weight bias which will enhance traction (there’s no traction control, nor any other electronic riding aids), or 239kg with a full fuel load. Because this is centralised in the wheelbase via its location in the monocoque frame, there’s no change in the weight distribution as the fuel level lowers, nor therefore in the dynamics of the bike.

In the months leading up to its launch, I twice visited the Midual factory, housed in a historical belle époque building in the centre of Angers, to ride the bike in two configurations. On my first visit I tested the distinctive but unlovely development prototype with 32,000 hard kilometres under its wheels, and on a return visit some months later rode the first of the two preproduction bikes. I’m glad to say that, in the meantime, Olivier and his team had successfully addressed most of the various areas of criticism I’d had aer riding the prototype, demonstrating that this is indeed work in progress, and that by the time the first customer bike is delivered early next year, this unique take on twin-cylinder mslmagazine.co.uk 37

Classified

BMW F800ST 2012, warrantied till Sept 14, datatagged, ABS,on board computer h/grips, panniers, taxed, garaged, immac cond, £6250. Tel. 07858 914512.

London

BMW F800ST 2010, 30k, s/h, engine paint needs tidying, runs great, £3950 poss cheap p/x Tel. 01244 332435; 07564 960647.

Cheshire

BMW R1100RT 1100cc, 1996, beautiful cond for year, long t&t, 30k, everything works as it should, some spares inc in sale, Cat C ins, loads of pics, £2000.

Tel. 07928 159849. W Yorks.

BMW R1100RT Dec 97, 60k, exc cond, giving up biking at 75 yrs old, due to ill health, t&t, all RT spec, any sensible offer around £2000 accepted. Tel. 01933 625169. Northants

BMW R1150 RT, 2004, tax Jan 15, MoT Feb 15, full s/h, h/grips, radio, panniers/top box, elec screen, 57k miles, superb condition, £3245. Tel. 07715 173607. Essex

BMW R1150 RT, 2000, one owner from new, full BMW s/h, 12 mths’ t&t expire 6/15, 16,800 miles, BMW h/grips, rocker cover, protectors, tyres, v good, £3950 ono. Tel. 07720 889265. Norfolk.

BMW R1200GS 2004, 27k miles, exc cond, ring for comprehensive service and accessories, £4750.

Tel. 01547 550658 for details.

Powys.

DUCATI MULTI-STRADA DS 39k miles, 2007, full s/h, excellent condition, two owners, £2950.

Tel. 01547 550658. Powys.

HONDA CB 250N Superdream, March 1981, 30,650 miles, MoT expired Apr 14, fair condition, runs well, age forces sale, £750.

Tel. 01434 344522. Hexham.

HONDA CBF 125 2010, fantastically reliable, exc fuel economy, one owner, full s/h, well looked after, std, tax til Feb 15, MoT until Dec 14, £1350 ono. Tel. 07772 085662. Berks.

HONDA CBF125 Black, 2010, 1500 miles, MoT & tax end May 2015, excellent unmarked condition one mature owner, £1550. Tel. 01458 273232.

Somerset

HONDA CBR 600 RR-B 2011 Ltd Ed, show cond, done 1300 miles, stored in a garage, never driven in the wet, in warranty, MoT till 1/4/15, Sorn, £6250 ono.

07804 628833. Angus.

HONDA DEAUVILLE 650 2004, MoT 06/15, 61k, very good s/h, one previous owner, new pads, r/tyre, Motad can, taller Givi screen, £1750 ono. Tel. 01325 288652. Durham.

HONDA HORNET 900 2003, 19,500 mileage, braided break hoses front and rear, Danmoto end cans, new rear tyre, t&t, (bike is sound with no issues), £2200 ono. Tel. 07852 361544. Norfolk.

HONDA GL 1200 1986 project bike, needs alternator to complete, recent cam belts and service, 51k miles, gold colour, excellent engine and condition, Offers Tel. 07930 663930. Lancs

HONDA PACIFIC COAST 1988, 7,700 miles, Candy glory red, year’s MoT, on Sorn, £3000. Tel. 01256 466423. Hants

HONDA REBEL 250 2000, 8,061 miles, t&t, vgc, extras include trailer, second bike, MoT, needs work, job lot, elderly owner, retiring, £2500 ono. Tel. 01706 657821; 07583 374449. Lancs

KAWASAKI GTR 1400 one previous owner, top box, 2010, ABS, lowered pillion pegs etc, MoT, tax, s/h, 7,700 miles, all keys and docs, plus std bits. £7999.

Tel. Andy 07775 672960. Hants.

KAWASAKI KLX 250 2009, taxed/MoT, serviced by Superbike Surgery, low miles, tool kit, data tag, £2200. Tel. 01384 287563. W Mids.

KAWASAKI VULCAN 500 belt drive custom, no t&t, 1995, easy project, £550 ono. Tel. 07789 801540. Wilts

KAWASAKI W650 2002, 41,000 kms, sensible extras, excellent condition, regularly serviced, good looking & reliable, £2550.

Tel. 01539 725292. S Cumbria

MOTO GUZZI STRADA 1996, 1000cc, bought as a keeper for touring, 45k , v orig, recent oils and filter, new tyres, 10 months’ MoT, 5 mths’ tax, £2300 ono. Tel. 07774 539417. E Sussex.

MOTO MORINI DART 1989 350cc, light and reliable, very original, on the road, damage to front fairing (see photo), £2200.

Tel. Alan Jennings 01327 879070.

Northants

SUZUKI DL 650 V-Strom, late 2011 (latest model), full dealer service history, last service July 5, engine bars, hand guards, side boxes, 11,500 miles, £3995. Tel. 07970 395684. Cambs

SUZUKI RF 600R 1994, 24,800 miles, tax July 14, MoT till Aug 14, 2 new tyres, good runner, £800.

Tel. 01644 440549. Dumfries & Galloway

TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 2010, immac, t&t, Pacific blue, Fusion white, 12,340 miles, dual seat, back rest, rack, plus solo seat, exc cond, £7250. Tel. 01983 854043. Isle of Wight,

TRIUMPH TT600 2001, 23k miles, yellow black with faded union jack on side fairings, MoT Apr 2015, new battery, good tyres, very clean runs well, £1600.

Tel. 01977 734277. W Yorks

VELOCETTE VIPER Electric starter, Alton generator, electric BTH magneto, large tank, s/s spokes etc, goes very well, £7000 ono. Tel. 01922 683710. S Yorks.

YAMAHA TDM 900 ABS, 2008, silver tech, 3,600 miles, hand guards, MRA screen, chain-oiler, crash bars, 60mpg, perfect light tourer, reluctant sale due to surgery. 01792 280338. Wales.

YAMAHA VIRAGO XV 250 2005, black, 15,889 miles, new tax and MoT, garaged, an immaculate lightweight cruiser, £1500. Tel. 07836 316142. Surrey.

116 mslmagazine.co.uk