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700 MILES IN 1½ DAYS ON A PEUGEOT METROPOLIS
HELMETS:
REVIEWS, BUYING GUIDE, MYTH BUSTER
BIKES & SCOOTERS RATED OR RIDDEN
NEW BIKES FOR 2017:
THE ADVENTURERSTHAT ADVENTURERS THAT MAKE GREAT COMMUTERS
TESTED:
KYMCO DOWNTOWN 125cc SCOOTER
LOCK ’EM UP:
CIT Y ADVENTURE WINTER SPORTS THE NEW GSX-S125 BRINGS SPORT TO THE STREETS
HONDAA X-ADV HONDA RREWRITES EWRITTES THE RRULEBOOK ULEBBOOK
January/February 20017 Issue 114
KEEP YOUR BIKE SAFE FROM THIEVES
Editor: Mau Spencer mspencer@mortons.co.uk Publisher: Steve Rose Contributors: Gary Chapman, Pete Henshaw, Mau and Mikko Apologies to anyone we’ve forgotten. Design: Fran Lovely Picture desk: Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Divisional advertising manager: Martin Freeman mfreeman@mortons.co.uk 01507 529538 Advertising: Zoe Thurling zthurling@mortons.co.uk 01507 524412 Subscription manager: Paul Deacon Circulation manager: Steve O’Hara Marketing manager: Charlotte Park Publishing director: Dan Savage Commercial director: Nigel Hole Twist & Go magazine PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ www.o2w.co.uk www.whatscooter.com Editorial call: 01507 529408 General queries and back issues: 01507 529529 (24hr answerphone) Email: help@classicmagazines.co.uk Web: www.classicmagazines.co.uk UK: 6 issues £22 Europe: 6 issues £27 ROW: 6 issues £31 Archivist: Jane Skayman 01507 529423 jskayman@mortons.co.uk Customer services number: 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open: Monday-Friday 8.30am-7pm Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm Distribution: COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE. Tel 01895 433600 © 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 No 1471–0501 USA SUBSCRIPTIONS Twist & Go magazine TWIST & GO (ISSN:1471-0501) is published bi-monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd., PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK . USA subscriptions are $36 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Postmaster: Send address changes to TAG, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com Printed by William Gibbons & Son, Wolverhampton. Some articles within these pages express the opinions of the contributors and are not necessarily those of Twist & Go. E&OE: While we do our best to ensure our information is accurate, all mention of special offers or other deals are subject to alteration by the companies mentioned. NEXT ISSUE (115): Published on February 15, 2017 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: January 13, 2017
CONTENTS
6 12 14 20 26 29 30
Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine?
Why not Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?
WHO’S WHO?
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MAU SPENCER Heading up the T&G team, Editor Mau has been riding bikes since he was 16. He’s also the founding editor of Classic Scooterist magazine – often leading to him being ribbed by his scooter-riding buddies – he gives as good as he gets. MIKKO NIEMINEN Staff writer, Mikko, had his first taste of biking at the age of 15 on a 50cc Suzuki. Since then he’s been happiest on two wheels – regardless of the make or size of the bike. He’s an all-year rider and is never happier than when he’s road testing a new bike, or a new bit of kit.
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GOSSIP ‘N’ GADGETS
36
Punchy performance with a few creature comforts.
EURO 4
38
The easy-going adventurer that proves size doesn’t matter.
Up-to-date news and product information. What does it all mean?
NEW METAL
Exciting new machines for 2017 revealed at the international shows.
PRODUCT REVIEWS
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BMW C 650 GT
HONDA CB500X
KEEWAY RKS 125 SPORT
The mid-range 125 that’s a good seller. .
KYMCO DOWNTOWN 125
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MUTT MONGREL 125
46
BUYING A FULL FACE HELMET?
52
LOCK ’EM UP
A closer look at the latest goodies. More agile than you might think. Chinese bike, but transformed in Birmingham.
PIAGGIO MP3 LT 500IE SPORT
Mikko checks out the difference a third wheel can make.
YAMAHA MT-03
It might only be 300cc, but it’s a tempting option for an A2 licence holder.
PETE HENSHAW Pete doesn’t own a car and is happily dependent on two wheel transport – anything powered by petrol, diesel, pedals or slight electrical assistance. He specialises in riding small, slow bikes for very long distances; he’s also a sucker for anything eco-friendly, or out of the norm.
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Fast forward
NICE IN NICE
A 700-mile ride in a day-and-a-half on a Peugeot Metropolis.
What makes them so popular? Read our buyer’s guide special. Bike theft is common, but there’s plenty of ways that you can put the thieves off.
WHICH BIKE?
Our expanded guide to new scooters and motorcycles.
If you went to Motorcycle Live or one of the other international motorcycle shows then you’ll already have seen some of the new machinery that will be around in 2017 – but if you didn’t, and would like a taster, you can check out our ‘New Metal’ roundup on page 14. New models tend to hit the UK showrooms around early spring; a fair proportion of these will be the new and interesting stuff, but some of it will be existing models regurgitated to comply with the latest Euro 4 standards that came into force in January – and if you’re not sure exactly what the implications are with the latest regulations, we’ve covered it in more depth on page 12.
NEWS
The Mash Black Seven is one of the first geared 125s to Euro 4 spec
Euro 4: A Bluffer’s Guide
What is Euro 4 and how will it affect you? Here’s the T&G back-to-basics guide.
E
uro 4, a whole raft of EU legislation on motorcycle and scooter emissions and other standards, came into force on January 1, 2017. But it hasn’t just come from nowhere – it’s just the latest in a succession of increasingly strict legislative instruments that kicked-off with Euro 1 back in 1999. Euro 1 unified standards across EU member states for all sorts of things, from tyres to mirrors. But for the first time it also set emissions limits for
powered two-wheelers. This whole drive to cut pollution is part of a much bigger picture, as countries all over the world seek to tackle the biggest polluters – China and India are now introducing emissions legislation, part of a global trend that affects industry and agriculture as well as transport. But getting back to bikes, Euro 1 was followed by the stricter Euro 2 in 2005, Euro 3 in 2007 and now Euro 4 for 2017. Incidentally, Euro 4 has arrived in two stages: all new bikes and
WILL BREXIT STOP EURO 4? In a word, no. The Brexit vote doesn’t mean that all Euro laws will be repealed. Euro 4 is coming in now, but Britain’s final leave-taking of the EU is still at least two years away. So Euro 4 will still apply for the time being, referendum or not. In fact, my personal view is that it’s here to stay even after we have left. Why? Because Euro 4 unifies legislation across Europe and means that Honda can sell virtually the same PCX125 or Africa Twin to us as it does to the Bulgarians or Czechs. Given that our Government is setting great store by Brexit not hindering trade, it seems very unlikely that it would ever get rid of legislation which makes life easier for import/export business.
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scooters launched since January 1, 2016, have had to comply with Euro 4; from January 1, 2017, it applies to every new registration. But the good news is that it’s not retroactive – it doesn’t apply to older bikes, only new ones. So how tough is it? Well compared to Euro 1 and 2, very tough indeed. Back in 1999, Euro 1 set a carbon monoxide (CO) limit of 13g/km (grammes per kilometre). Euro 2 cut that to 5.5g/km, Euro 3 to 2g/km and now Euro 4 to 1.14g/km. That sounds quite draconian, but bikes and scooters actually have more lenient limits than cars do (assuming the car manufacturers haven’t fiddled them of course...). Like its predecessors, Euro 4 sets limits on three main pollutants. As well as CO, the limit on hydrocarbons (HC) is cut from 0.3g/km in Euro 3 to 0.17, and nitrogen oxide (Nox) from 0.15 to 0.09. What’s new is a durability test – bikes have to still meet these limits at 20,000km (12,000 miles). And it makes sense, because from a pollution cutting point of view, there’s no point in a bike being
clean and green when it’s new, if it deteriorates into a dirty polluter just a few years later. So we’ve got something called OBD1, (On Board Diagnostics) which includes plug-in fault finding and measurement of the engine management system’s performance. There’s also SHED – nothing to do with man caves, but a limit on the amount of evaporative emissions. This is unburnt petrol that evaporates out of the tank or fuel system, and it’s a worse pollutant than what comes out of the silencer, hence the limit. The usual answer is a little tube full of charcoal which captures the petrol fumes before feeding them back into the system. But Euro 4 isn’t all about emissions. The other headline grabbing bits are that all new bikes bigger than 125s will need to have ABS. They’ll also need to have fuel injection (though barring some Chinese-made 250s and 400s, plus a few others, most of them already do). As for 125s, these don’t need to have ABS, but can use a cheaper linked braking system instead – this
NEW METAL M AL
Best new bikes ffor 2017 With all the international shows now having taken place, it looks as though you’re going to be spoilt for choice if you’re planning to buy a new bike in 2017. These are our favourites... VESPA GTS 125 AND 150 REVAMPED
Aprilia RS 125
Aprilia Tuono 125
APRILIA UPDATES ITS 125CC RANGE
Aprilia has updated the RS 125 sportsbike and the Tuono 125 street fighter, making them Euro 4 compliant. There’s no power figures yet, but if the current models is anything to go by, the 125cc single-cylinder, four-stroke, four-valve, liquid-cooled engine is a lively one. Info: www.aprilia.com
The Vespa GTS has been revamped with the adoption of the i-get power plant in its most advanced version. Two engine sizes are available: 125cc and 150cc, both Euro 4 approved, with electronic fuel injection, four-valve timing and liquidcooling. Power figures are 12bhp at 8250rpm for the 125cc version and 14.7bhp at 8250rpm for the 150cc version.
The scooter features a stopstart system that switches the engine off at standstill, a remote control to open the underseat compartment, and a ‘bike finder’, for finding your Vespa in a crowded car park by making the turn indicators flash. And there’s a USB port too. Service and maintenance intervals are impressive at 10,000km. Info: www.vespa.com
250 Duke
SUZUKI BURGMAN 400 GETS A MAKEOVER KTM STREET BIKES NOW COVER THE FULL LICENCE-RANGE For 2017 KTM’s single-cylinder 125 Duke and 390 Duke get the high-tech TFT display and LED headlight. They both have a radial ABS brake system, but the 390 sees its front brake disc enlarged to 320mm and gains the KTM ride-by-wire technology. The 250 Duke shares most of the chassis with its siblings: the frame, swingarm, suspension, brakes, seat, tank and exhaust are identical.
125 Duke
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390 Duke All bikes are Euro 4 compatible and feature singlecylinder, four-stroke engines. The 125cc version produces 15bhp, the 250cc pumps out 30bhp, and the 390cc variant tops the charts with 44bhp. All Dukes get a new, bolt-on rear sub-frame, a larger steel fuel tank and steeply rising lines. Info: www.ktm.com
Suzuki has revamped the Burgman 400 with a range of performance, comfort and styling updates. The new model gets LED lights, and a sharper sporty new coupe-like design, as well as a 20mm thicker seat, cutaway footboards and multi-function instrumentation. There’s a new 15in front wheel, ABS, new air cleaner box, and an updated engine with revised power characteristics to increase low to midrange torque. The new bike is Euro 4 compliant, with a 399cc, four-stroke, one cylinder, liquid-cooled, dohc engine, and available in black, white and grey. Info: www.suzuki-gb.co.uk
Bullit Hero arrives in the UK The new Hero 125 Euro 4 compliant motorcycle from Bullit will be available in early 2017 according to the importer Mooof. UK brand manager Henry Maplethorpe says that this will be Europe’s first true custom-style production 125cc Scrambler which will be available with a full range of customisable accessories. The RRP is estimated to be £2400 and pre-orders are being taken now! Info: henry@mooof.eu
PRODUCT REVIEWS Richa Daytona ladies jacket RRP: £249.99 Reviewer: Julie Robinson
Jetboil Flash Stove RRP: £105 Reviewer: Mikko I’m a bit of a coffee addict (Ed: that’s an understatement!), so whenever I go camping on the bike, I want to make sure I can get my morning cup of coffee, which means I never travel without a travel cooker and some coffee. The Jetboil Flash is the crème de la crème of travel cookers. It boils two cups of water in two minutes, features a push-button igniter, heat indicator, and a soft cover to stop you burning your hand when handling it. The cooker is very lightweight (400g) and
compact (104 x 180mm). All the bits, including a 100mm gas canister and fuel canister stabilizer fit inside the pot when packed. The Flash has a drink-through lid with pour spout and the bottom cover doubles as a measuring cup and bowl. But the best thing is that it comes with a strainer which effectively turns the pot into a coffee percolator. That’s me sorted! I suppose you could use the Flash for non-coffee related purposes – but why would you? Info: www.twistmoto.co.uk
Sena 10C Bluetooth helmet camera and intercom RRP: £314.99 Reviewer: Mikko Helmet cameras are becoming more and more popular as motorists equip themselves with the latest technology, so we wanted to get in on the trend and got our hands on a Sena 10C Bluetooth camera. The thing is, this is not just a camera; it’s also a music player (inbuilt FM radio and links to your smart phone), intercom (bike to bike or rider to pillion) and navigation aid too (you can link it to your sat nav). The camera shoots either 1080p:30fps or 720p:60fps video and 3.5MP stills (there are also burst and time-lapse options) and the quality is very good. Recording time with a full battery is about two hours. Sometimes the video is a little shaky, depending on the road surface and bike suspension, but usually it’s pretty impressive. You can also record your own commentary to the video with the helmet microphone, and even play music from your phone as a soundtrack. The only problem is that at faster speeds the wind noise distorts the sound a bit, so commentary is best done at slower speeds. The intercom range is really
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impressive, close to a mile, so you don’t have to be riding right next to each other to get the message across. The audio quality is great – it sounds as if you’re talking to someone who’s standing right next to you. The unit is about 10cm long and sits neatly on the left side of the helmet. It can be attached either with an adhesive or a bolted mount (both supplied in the box) depending on which fits your helmet better. The speakers are easy to fit under the helmet lining (there are adhesive and Velcro adjustment pads in the box to help with the fit), and the device comes with two microphone options: a boom mic that’s great for open face or flip-front helmets and an adhesive option that’s great for full-face helmets. This is a very impressive piece of equipment, and something that will very quickly become an indispensable part of every ride. Info: www.sena.com // www.motohaus.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 adjust the waist band and cuff width, which I found quite stiff to adjust, although 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 cottonlined, and has a separate chest pocket. In terms of protection, it has D30 back, shoulder and elbow armour, all removable if required, and CE-certified to level 1. Comfort-wise, my initial thought was that it wasn’t as comfortable 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. The jacket comes in sizes 6-24, and the colour options are black, cognac and red. Info: www.nevis.uk.com // 01425 478936 // info@nevis.uk.com
EURO 4E F PDATE U
BIG is beautiful KYMCO’s Downtown 125 may look like a maxi-scooter, but it’s more agile than you’d think.
t first glance it’s hard to see how the Downtown could work: it looks good, but it’s also very ryy big and heavy vyy for a 125cc scooter. With a net weight of 176kg, you’d be excused for expecting a sluggish and uninspiring ride. But add to the mix a maximum power output of 14.2bhp and it’s anything but a dull ride! In fact, it’s one of the most fun and capable 125cc scooters I’ve been on for a while.
A
WE SAY: Far more fun than it looks.
★★★★★★★★★★
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ST F F IR E RIDE
SPEC: ENGINE
321cc, 4-stroke, liquidcooled, dohc, 4-valves MAX POWER
41.4bhp @ 10,750rpm MAX TORQUE
29.6Nm @ 9000rpm TRANSMISSION
Constant mesh, 6-speed BRAKES
Front: hydraulic single disc, 298mm Rear: hydraulic single disc, 220mm TYRES
Front: 110/70-17M/C (54H) tubeless Rear: 140/70-17M/C (66H) tubeless SEAT HEIGHT
780mm WEIGHT
168kg (wet) TANK CAPACITY
14 litres CONTACT
www.yamaha-motor.eu/ uk/products/motorcycles/
PRICE £4499
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Yamaha MT-03 Can a naked bike be economical and comfortable, but still retain the fun factor? The MT-03 says it can!
T
he MT range has been hugely popular for Yamaha, and it’s no coincidence that the line-up has grown steadily over the last few years. The MT-03 is the A2 licencefriendly machine in the range, perfectly positioned to offer a step up the cc-ladder for new riders, or a capable lightweight option for those wanting to downsize.
LOOKS
The MT-03 is bare naked and proud. The front has an edgy and aggressive look, with a single main light, LED daytime running lights and a smoke-tinted flyscreen.
The extended radiator guards and the bulging air-intake vents add to the muscular stance and there’s very little covering the twin-cylinder engine. At the rear, the small pillion seat and rubber-mounted grab rails don’t exactly fill me with confidence, but the visual effect is appealing. Our test bike featured the moody ‘Dark Side of Japan’ colour scheme, giving the machine a lovely black overall finish. The small exhaust can on the right gathers the two front pipes into one and releases an impressive rumble.
ENGINE
The 321cc four-stroke, liquid-cooled, dohc, four-valve engine offers impressive performance. The official
power figure is 41.4bhp at 10,750rpm, which seems to be plenty for the small and light (168kg) frame. Off the line, the first gear won’t get you far, but shifting-up fairly swiftly helps get the bike up to speed nicely. Speed-wise, 80mph is reached easily, but from there it feels like a long way to the top speed of 100mph plus and getting there requires a very long straight road and flattening yourself on the tank. The gearbox is very smooth and accurate, which isn’t always the case with machines in this category. And a good job it is too, as you have to work those gears pretty hard to keep the revs near the top of the range to get all the available power out of the engine.
ST F F IR E RIDE
Honda CB500X Honda’s most easy-going adventurer proves that size doesn’t matter.
onda has a pretty impressive line-up in the 500cc category ry. y We’ve already tested (and been impressed with) the naked CB500F and the sporty CBR500R, and now we’ve got our hands on the adventure-styled CB500X. All bikes share the same engine and most of the chassis, so the differences between them are mostly to do with riding position and aesthetics.
H
LOOKS
The CB500X is technically very ryy close to the other bikes in Honda’s 500cc range, but it has an unmistakable adventure look about it. From the tall screen and the adventure beak at the front to the big (17.5-litre) tank and the tall handlebars, this bike looks ready to take on the world. What it doesn’t have though,
WE SAY: Brilliantly versatile and pleasant bike for commuting and weekend fun.
★★★★★★★★★★
is the frightening size of the bigger adventure bikes: the seat is 810mm above ground level, making it easy for most riders to get their feet firmly on the ground. The colour options are red, white, or the one that we tested, brown, which actually looks much better than it sounds. The bike’s styling is subtle but effective, with small graphics on the sides of the tank covers, a long stainless steel silencer, and plenty of engine on show.
ENGINE
The 471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine powering the CB500X is one of the easiest in this category ryy to get on with. There’s nothing frightening about it; power delivery ryy is super-smooth, and there’s plenty of low and mid-range power so you don’t have to make it scream to get it moving.
CHASSER L’HORIZON
Nice in Nice Faced with a 700-mile ride to Nice in a day-and-a-half, what else could Pete Henshaw ride but a Peugeot Metropolis?
R
ide a lonely road in England or Wales and sooner or later your journey will be interrupted. There will be a village, town, a junction, or maybe even the sea, and the horizon is rarely more than a couple of miles away. We live on a smallish island, and nowhere is very far from anywhere else, if that makes sense. But ride across northern France and you can get the sense of riding forever, chasing a horizon that just keeps on retreating as the road stretches out over hills and dips, as straight as you like. France is big. Get into the Highlands and Scotland is like this too, while Northumberland could probably qualify as well; but it’s quite different from the average 300-mile ride through England. I was halfway through the first day when all this occurred to me, heading for the south of France on a Peugeot Metropolis. It sounds a bit idyllic, destination Nice on big scooter in April, and like every bike journalist travelling to a fairly distant location I could legitimately argue that this was ‘work’. But it wasn’t a complete jolly;
Mountain town, before the weather closed in
wife Anna teaches on a yoga course in Nice and had travelled down the week before by Eurostar and TGV. My job was to ride down there in a day-and-a-half, have an afternoon in the city and spend a more leisurely four days riding home, two-up. And quite apart from being French, the Metropolis had all the signs of being the right scooter to do it on. With 400cc and 37bhp, it’s not a mega-scoot like the BMW 650s or biggest Burgman, but it looked big and comfy enough to cross its country of origin without too much trouble.
TREE TROUBLE
Ornate detailing, Vervaine
There’s a lot to be said for overnight ferries, especially when you’ve got over 400 miles to do the next day. Brittany Ferries Portsmouth-Caen boat docks on the French side at 7am, and you’re on the road within half-an-hour, refreshed and ready for a long day
Faded adverts are part of the Route National experience
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BUYING GUIDE
FULLFACE
HELMETS Full-face helmets are the safest, quietest and most widely used sort. But what makes them so special? We found out.
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SECURITY Lock ’em up Bike theft is unfortunately common, but there’s plenty of ways to put the thieves off. Here’s how to go about it…
T
here aren’t many downsides to being a biker (let’s be honest, life on two wheels is pretty good), but one worry shared by many of us is bike theft. According to crime data from the Office of National Statistics, more than 33,000 motorbikes, scooters and mopeds are stolen every year. Luckily, there are various ways of protecting your bike.
SECURITY AT HOME
When you’re at home you have plenty of choice in securing your pride and joy, with heavy-duty chains, locks and anchors or even keeping the bike in the garage. We’d always recommend using the best equipment you can afford to keep your bike safe. Even if it’s in the garage, it’s good to have it chained up, either to a ground anchor or something else solid. Alarms and security cameras will also help, as the thieves may well decide to head for an easier target once your alarm starts going off and security cameras are flashing. If you don’t have a garage, a bike cover or a shelter will be useful as it’s difficult to know what’s hiding under the cover. Again, chains, locks and any additional security will be essential.
OUT AND ABOUT
When you’re on the move and it’s not practical to carry a chain with you (they weigh a ton!) there are options such as disc locks. They don’t offer the same level of protection against theft as heavy-duty chains, but they might just be enough to deter opportunistic thieves.
There are also some good old-fashioned tricks that don’t cost anything, such as always parking in a welllit, busy location, and using the steering lock. These might sound like trivial things, but they can make a huge difference in how appealing your bike looks to thieves.
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www.o2w.co.uk/whichbike REALLY USEFUL SECTION: WHO SELLS WHAT?
A guide to importers and points of contact
THE WHEEL DEAL
Find out what deals are currently available
NEW TECH
Artificial intelligence comes to motorcycling
WINTER RIDING TIPS
Preparing for the winter season
HEATED GLOVES A better option
ROAD TO RECOVERY
The cost of breaking down
STAYING WARM Layering for women
FREE YOUR INNER CHIMP Transport of the future
EBIKE SUBSIDIES
Go electric and save money
GET CONNECTED
Vodafone and Yamaha join forces
Your indispensable guide to brand-new machines All the stuff you need to know; value for money; key features