Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2018 i Fast Bikes

King of the jungle and World Superbike legend Carl Fogarty has finally made his return to Speedway, after having a big crash back at DirtQuake last July and suffering a broken shoulder blade, broken ribs and a punctured lung. Hitting a wet Buxton Hitmen Speedway in Derbyshire last month on a standard Triumph Street Scrambler, Foggy got some laps under his belt and looked to be back to his usual self and having fun. He said “This I what I love about flat tracking. I can bring my own bike down here, even with road tyres on a wet muddy day, have some fun and chuck it back in the van.” He may not be jumping back on a Superbike like Troy Bayliss is in Australia, but nevertheless we’re just…

It’s not every day a manufacturer comes along and systematically rewrites the rulebook, or at least not in the way the V4 is set to. I’m sure there are those that are still drying their tears following Ducati’s unexpected decision to part ways with their iconic V-twin tradition, but trust me when I say it’s not the hardcore Ducatista that should be upset by the Panigale V4’s arrival; it’s the Italian brand’s rivals. But, of course, this was a moment we’d all been expecting, right? Following months of teased hype and more video plays than a pop star’s leaked sex tapes, there was only ever going to be one eventuality for this latest iteration of Panigale that might have carried the same name and colour of its forebears, but little…

Ducati’s released three variants of the V4 with even its base model sporting a whole host of smart tech, plus a 210bhp output and 198kg wet weight. The pricier V4 ‘S’ comes equipped with high-spec Öhlins electronic suspension, aluminium forged wheels, a lithium-ion battery and a cast magnesium alloy front sub frame. The premier V4 Speciale option comes with all of the aforementioned plus its own colour scheme, complete with an identification number on the top yoke, carbon fibre mudguards, adjustable footpegs and a performance kit which includes a racing screen, a bike cover and a full racing Akrapovic exhaust system which should see power figures crest upwards of 220bhp. TECH DATA…

2008-2017 HONDA CB1000R • WHY IT ROCKS: If you after a refined and sensible naked bike, then look no further than the Honda CB1000R. With an engine that is turbine-like in its power delivery all wrapped up in a classy-looking naked that handles well, the CB is hard to fault. But it is missing in one very important area… soul. • WHY IT SUCKS: The CB is so sensible it lacks that spark of excitement a naked bike requires. How Honda have managed to make a 123bhp street fighter dull is a mystery, but sadly they have and it ruins what could be an amazing naked bike. Let’s hope 2018’s new model resolves this factor. • WHAT GOES WRONG: Check the eccentric adjuster on the single sided swingarm isn’t seized…

1 Hoses Steel hoses and fresh fluid will give a more direct brake feel and power compared with rubber hoses and old fluid. 2 Pads If you’re spending a lot of time on track, some proper race pads might make sense. They’ll deal much better with heat, reducing fade in long track sessions. Make sure you use new brake fluid to cope with the extra heat being generated. 3 Master cylinder If your bike still has an old conventional ‘axial’ master cylinder, changing it for a modern radial pump design will sharpen the whole show up. Radial pumps have a more efficient direct action – the cylinder is at 90° to the handlebar, so when you pull on the brake lever, you’re directing the force of your grip straight back…

Some bikes develop an aura around them and rather than fade into the annals of time, instead become living legends. The Suzuki GSX-R1000 K5 is one such bike. Unlike its contemporaries, this mid-2000s litre bike has far from slipped from riders’ minds and is currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity. But just what is it that has made the K5 withstand the test of time so well? Launched in 2005, the K5 was the first major update of Suzuki’s all-conquering litre bike. Where the K3 with its radial brakes was basically just a bit of a tweak to the K1’s solid base, the K5 was an all-new bike and as such gained some noticeable improvements that moved it a step above everything else on the market and cemented its place…

If you’ve prowled upon last month’s column you will have seen that the ol’ bank balance had taken an absolutely royal battering… but then again you have to treat yourself over the Christmas period, right? So, with a mountain of boxes full of lovely bits, an empty workbench and an extra pair of hands, it was time to finally get down and dirty with the Gixer. First stop? Getting the old girl on the operating table and letting the stripping commence. Fortunately for me, compared to Bruce’s Moto3 project where he’s essentially building the beast from scratch, creating a Superstock spec rocket ship is a comparable piece of piss (assuming you have a large enough hammer). Plastic surgery For anyone who’s torn a bike to pieces before for a rebuild,…

Let’s just imagine for a second that Valentino Rossi goes on to win the 2018 MotoGP championship. It would be some triumph, especially given that the last time he won a title was approaching an entire decade ago – a decade! Okay, the odds of this actually happening are pretty slim, even though he’s been there or thereabouts in the title race for some years since his return to Yamaha. That elusive 10th title teases him though – don’t think for one second that he keeps going as he approaches his 40th birthday just because he loves racing – he does it because he still believes it can happen. His detractors may just say this is wishful thinking, and for the most part I agree with them. There are far…

You might have read about what Tim, my identical twin brother, got up to last month. Well, I’m Tom and I’ve just got back from Superprestigio in Barcelona. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a really big event. It’s an end-of-season flat track tournament that kicked off in the Eighties but dwindled out until Marc Marquez started it up again in 2013. There are national and international champions from all disciplines of bike racing involved. Tim and I were invited in 2015 when we both finished in the top three in the British Flat Track Championship. This year I fluked my way in by pestering the organisers to find out if there was a space and I got lucky. Tim wanted to go too, but there was only one…

The term ‘setting your bike up’ can cover a plethora of options. Yes, most of us just get used to the bike we have, and unless we’re a modding mentalist or setup perfectionist will occasionally throw a few bits at them when we can. Setting a bike up can be split into two main camps: chassis and engine. With suzzies, the majority of bikers ride their bikes as is, nothing wrong with that, we’ve done the same in the past. But there’s nothing quite like setting it specifically for what you do most. When it comes to the engine, who wouldn’t want more power? As you’re reading this in Fast Bikes, we’ll take it as read that you probably would. But how it breathes and fuels is crucial. Anyhoo, here…

As you read this, the 2018 Aprilia RSV4 RR will be hitting UK showrooms for the first time, alongside the full fat 2018 RSV4 RF. The RSV4 RR comes in at £15,599 and features the exact same 201bhp V4 engine, adjustable frame and aPRC electronics package as you’d find on the RF, although you don’t get the same graphics set, it comes on Sachs suspension instead of Ohlins, and you’ll find yourself on cast wheels instead of forged. All of this being said, you’ll be happy to hear that these little economies save you a whopping £4,400 over the RF and you still have pretty much all the bells and whistles, which even includes having a Pit Limiter, Launch Control and cruise control. If you fancy it, a range of…

With 55,871 bikes delivered to customers worldwide, Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding has reason to be happy after “Another positive year for Ducati from both a business and racing standpoint”. The biggest sales boom was in Argentina with a stunning growth rate of 66%, followed by China with 31% growth. The upward trend was also evident in Europe, where Ducati increased bike deliveries by 4% to a total of 31,123. The Italian brand grew on the Spanish market where sales rose by a considerable 28.3%, while Ducati chalked up a 12% growth rate with 8,806 bikes delivered in Italy. Over in our neck of the woods, Ducati UK didn’t have a bad time either with an increase in registrations last year compared to 2016, which in turn meant…

How many times have you put a bike up for sale and not had one phone call? Or gone down to your local bike shop to chop your current model in for the latest fanny magnet only to be told that they will give you a fraction of what you thought it was worth? It’s happened to me loads. Maybe it’s because I haven’t quite grasped the art of valuing bikes. Or maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that whenever I buy a used bike, it’s never long before it looks ‘used up’. I realise not everyone is as crap at looking after their bikes as me, but I’m sure one thing we all have in common is that whenever we sell a bike, we want as…

My name is Wayne Cummings and I’m a 36-year-old from Gillingham in Kent, and I passed my bike test in November 2016. I had always fancied a Street Triple but my first bike was a Kawasaki ZX-6R P7F in wildfire orange, although after only a couple of months I sold the ZX-6R and bought the Triumph Street Triple; a 2008 model originally in white. It only stayed white for three days! I stripped all the panels off to put my own look on the Street Triple, which meant that all the bodywork, sprocket covers and side engine casing are hydro-dipped by myself in gold carbon fibre on a black base with a graphite grey stripe through the centre, with a metal flake in lacquer to make it pop in the…

Understanding why some corners can be completed effortlessly, engendering that warm, fuzzy feeling, while others seem riddled with small errors, has value. My original take on this from 40 years ago was – and still is – this: Success is based on how many reference points the rider used correctly and reference points can make or break any corner. The simple definition of a reference point is easy enough: an object or area that doesn’t move and, more importantly, alerts the rider to some action necessary for controlling the bike. Examples include a designated turn-in point for a corner and a beginning brake marker. What is not so simple, however, is deciding how exactly to use the reference point you’ve identified. Is it the place to prepare for the action?…

STAR LETTER GREECE’D RIDING! In my opinion Greece is still a biker’s paradise. The place is relaxed, the police are okay, talk to them politely, admit your mistake and you are fine, most of the time. Speed cameras are just on a few highways, and portable police cameras yes but see the rule above. The main issue is the quality of the tarmac, especially in and around the cities. Caution when riding there! I am living in Athens and I know places and great roads around the central part of Greece and Pelloponnisos. My home city is Patras the main port from Italy to Greece and also I have a house in Pyrgos city south of Patras where you could stay if you like. To cut a long story short…

1 Start-finish straight It’s by no means the longest start-finish straight going but it’s possible to be cracking on at a fair rate of knots come the end of it. If you’re on a flying lap you’ll typically be crossing from the left hand side of the circuit over to the right, so be aware of slower (or faster) bikes doing the same thing. Aside from that, it’s a case of keeping your elbows tucked in, your head low behind the screen, and the throttle wide open. 2 Coppice You can leave your braking really late for this fast, positively cambered uphill left hander and carry much more speed into it than you think (on smaller bikes you won’t even roll off). If you’re riding a six hundred or above,…

At a plush presentation in January, Ducati revealed their hand for the 2018 MotoGP championship. Well, they partially revealed it, as they are still working on the new aero package we’ve been told to expect after the first couple of races when they start running the bike. Whether it will appear in testing remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to observe where they go with it. Ducati have been at the forefront of aerodynamic packages in recent years, first with ‘wings’ and now with wings that aren’t actually wings – more like vertical scoops that are an integral part of the fairing. Good on them, because GP is such a tightly controlled series it may as well be a spec’ affair, and the original external wings were…

This wasn’t the first time Michelin have had their party ruined – after a brutal tyre war with Bridgestone during the 2008 MotoGP Championship, the FIM (MotoGP’s governing body) and Dorna (MotoGP’s promoter) announced that the Japanese tyre giant would be the sole supplier of rubber to the premier class. Fast-forward five years and after having “achieved everything we set out to do when we entered the championship 10 years ago,” according to Kyota Futami, the then General Manager of Bridgestone’s Global Motorsport Department, they decided enough was enough and announced they would be leaving the paddock at the close of the 2015 season. After a three-week tender process, the Michelin Man came out singing and dancing and signed a three-year contract to supply rubber to all the teams on…

Howdy sports fans! I hope you’re doing well and revving to get this year off the ground. That had been my plan over the Christmas break, when I took a much needed break with my better half, fellow racer Steve Heneghan and his missus. I’ve always been a fond boarder, so a week in the Alps seemed the best way to see in the new Year. And I don’t regret that decision one bit. But what I do regret is getting our chalet’s rooms mixed up, which meant I ploughed head first down a flight of stairs on the very first night of our hols. You’d have thought the others would’ve given me a bit of sympathy, but they were about as sympathetic as brick towards my grazed elbow and…

Regular track day’ers would probably be surprised to learn the majority of bikers have never had the pleasure of circuit riding. If you happen to be one of those, read on! It’s true, the vast majority of bikers in the UK have never been on track. Yes there’s a very healthy track day scene in Blighty, and many of those who partake do days abroad, too. But the number of those who have never tried it is far greater than those that have. So find here the best way to get on track, or learn new skills, or find a favourite track day company to take care of you! Ron Haslam Race School We think that the Ron Haslam school is by far the very best way to get your…

It’s funny, isn’t it, how many of us like our bikes and biking the way it is, and rarely try anything new or different. Or, we’re happy as we are, and are not bothered that we’ve never gotten our knees down, or pulled a wheelie, tried a different brand or style of motorcycle, or learned how to tackle a seemingly vertical drop on an Enduro bike, and a dozen other things of the same ilk. Yet all these experiences are out there, awaiting us, and not all cost the earth either unless it’s new bike we’re talking about. The best part though, is that it’s usually only a day’s activity, maybe two, but enough to discover whether or not you actually like it and want more. So we’ve gathered together…

Low on the dosh but fancy a new bike for summer? Well thankfully for you Suzuki has put together a brand new finance offer, which will allow you to tailor a bespoke deal to suit your needs. Available on a host of models in the 2018 line-up (yes, it includes the GSX-R1000!), you’ll be able to choose between a 2% APR agreement, 3% APR over three years or 4% over four years. You also get to choose between a PCP agreement or opt for a hire purchase deal as well. An example of the new offer means that the GSX-R1000 can be had on a four-year PCP deal for £119 per month, with a £3,161.62 deposit or trade-in. Over the same period of years, as part of a PCP deal…

HOT WHEELS Looking great and helping exponentially in the handling department are all new wheels. The standard Panigale V4 is fitted with three-spoke cast aluminium rims, while the fancier ‘S’ and ‘Stradale’ versions are kitted with three-spoke forged aluminium options. All of the models are equipped with Pirelli’s latest generation Supercorsa SPs, sporting a 120/70/17 profile front and a 200/60/17 sized rear. BOUNCY BITS While the standard V4 is equipped with fully adjustable 43mm Showa Big Piston Forks and a fully adjustable Sachs shock and steering damper, the V4 ‘S’ and V4 ‘Speciale’ get the full Öhlins electronically adjustment treatment, featuring the suspension guru’s second generation Smart EC 2.0 and corresponding NIX-30 forks and a TTX36 rear shock – which allow for compression and rebound adjustments at the touch of…

FB: What do you make of the new model? SM: I first saw it at the factory last year, and it was clear to see from the off that Ducati had been working incredible hard. They’ve literally managed to stick a four cylinder engine in a two cylinder bike while moving power, electronics and even the geometry a step further. It doesn’t get much more impressive than that, and that was before we even got to touch one. FB: How advanced is the engine? SM: They’ve essentially built a brand new engine based on what they know from MotoGP. I know a lot of diehard fans are struggling to get to terms with the change, but it really is an absolutely stonking work of art in the right direction. Power…

According to Yamaha “the MT range is constantly evolving and moving ahead in its never ending quest to give every motorcyclist the opportunity to get the most out of every ride” so it should come as no surprise that only a year after the launch of the latest MT-09, we’re getting an SP version. Just as the MT-10 SP did for the MT-10, the SP (Sport Performance) version of the ’09 is set to take an already awesome ‘hyper naked’ and turn it into a sharper handling, sharper looking 113bhp street bike. Arguably the saviour of a struggling Yamaha during the late the naughties, the cross-plane crank triple, or ‘CP3’, motor has helped Yamaha sell more than 48,000 MT-09s since its launch in late 2013. And what you get with…

Whaddya need brakes for? They only slow you down! It’s a daft joke and, of course, it’s way off the mark. Better brakes will make your bike faster – the quicker you can decelerate on the way into a corner, the more time you can spend at top speed before braking, and the later you can get onto the stoppers into a bend. But away from the track there are very obvious benefits to good brakes too, in terms of ‘not dying’ every time some (insert expletive) nutter pulls out on you in a car. And it’s also fair to say that a really good, strong, controllable set of brakes is one of the great pleasures in performance riding. When you’re really on song at a trackday, right in the…

So naughty combustion engines are ruining this planet, along with microwaves, atomic bombs and lawnmowers. But fear not because the electric motor is here to save the day… and one’s eardrums from the relentless rhetoric of tree hugging folk who clap hands and drink green tea. Now, I’m a conscientious person and I get that we all need to do our bit to keep our environment as healthy and vivacious as is humanly possible, but all I ask is that due consideration is given to the upkeep of our much needed two-wheeled kicks. I love motorbikes. They’re more than a passion to me, and I find it staggering that every year manufacturers manage to up their game and better their stock while working to ever more stringent emissions legislation Well,…

FB: How often should you be checking your engine oil? LM: We recommend checking your oil at least every 1,000km (620 miles) – you’re always better to be safe than sorry. It’s a quick and easy thing to do, so why wouldn’t you? If you’re not sure what you’re checking, take a look in an owner’s manual or speak to an expert mechanic for guidance. FB: How does heat effect oil within the engine? LM: Heat can quickly break down motor oil, creating a deposit on the intake valve. This can impede airflow to the engine and contribute to poor sealing of the combustion chamber – this in turn can lead to problems with idling, misfires, reduced power and poor fuel economy. Let’s face it, no one wants that! FB:…

British Superbikes news starts to fly in January and early this new year we’ve had news both good and, sadly, bad. A low point was the sad passing of Norma de Bidaph, who BSB fans will know as the lovely Gearlink Kawasaki lady, who would be wildly animated on the pit wall while her racers plied their trade. She was a paddock live-wire and a wonderful person. That no black clothing at all was permitted at her funeral is testament to her bubbly personality. She will be sorely missed indeed. RIP Norma… Someone who will also be missed for a while is John Hopkins. Word is circulating that John’s injuries he sustained in a horrific looking crash at Brands Hatch were worse than first thought. John travelled back to the…

YAMAHA R1M Just when you thought the R1M couldn’t get any better, Yamaha only go and bring out a new one. Better still, they let us cock a leg over it. HOW TO RUN YOUR BIKE IN Just bought a new bike? If so, here’s what the pros have to say about bedding in engines, gearboxes and all those other fiddly little bits that make your motor go vroom. KAWASAKI H2 SX As if the H2 wasn’t already head-warping enough, Kawasaki’s bunged some panniers on its supercharged speed freak and sent us out to test it. PLUS LOADS MORE: ■ JUST HOW MUCH BIKE WILL £2K GET YOU? ■ 2010 ZX-10R USED BUYER’S GUIDE ■ TAUNTING TIGERS IN THE HIGHLANDS On Sale 6 March, 2018 Buy it from WHSmith, Sainsbury’s,…

If you guys tuned in to last month’s exciting episode, you’ll know that I got married in December. I may have already said this, but wifey has been my best friend since we met, and it can’t get much better than nailing the chance to spend the rest of your life with your bezzie, no? I’m a lucky guy alright! I was remiss in not sending any snaps from the do last time around because we were busy being newly-weds, but have chucked a load of pics from my Instagram account over to FB so hopefully they’ll use them, including the biking Trump one! Ordinarily I would say he wouldn’t be welcome, but in this instance we let it slide so hope you enjoyed the wedding Trumpster! Thought I looked…

Ah, the light of the day is starting to last a little longer, the roads aren’t covered in ice, but you’re still not quite ready to get biking just yet – what to do? Well, there’s quite a bit that you can, in matter of fact. We all know about the three upper case Ps, right? PPP – Piss Poor Preparation! There’s no point just jumping on your bike after it’s been holed up in the garage (or wherever) for months and expecting all will be well. It might, true, but then it never hurts to be as ready as possible, either... YOUR BIKE Now, hopefully you’ve been a good, sensible biking person and have had your bike on a trickle charge over the winter? No? Ah... Batteries, be they…

Top level motorcycle racing isn’t just great to watch on the telly, it’s also brilliant to attend and admire with your own mince pies. While we’ll have rounds of both series in the UK, which will be the biggest ones for us, it’s more than worth putting the time, money and effort in to visit rounds abroad. Plus, there’s nothing quite like having a mega event for a destination if you want to go touring. Here, we’ll look forwards to the UK based events, but also list the very best ones to attend in person. MOTOGP While the next few years look to be the playground of the incredible Marc Marquez, we’ve not too many years left to watch the man whose records he’s breaking, and still chasing – Valentino…

Ah, there’s something special about getting ready to go away on your bike for a long journey. It’s not like a track day, where nerves can often get the best of even the most confident of pilots. Touring is an entirely different feel; the anticipation builds beautifully whether you’ve a specific destination in mind, or your trip has been meticulously planned, or even if you’re winging it. Who knows what will happen, what biking joys you’ll savour or what you’ll stumble across – and if it’s with a group of like-minded mates, so much the better! There are many seasoned tourers out there, but the fact for us sportsbikers is simply that our preferred type of bike is actually the very best to go touring on. It’s true! While a…