Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2019 i Fast Bikes

There’s no such thing as a stupid question. At least that’s what we tell Boothy every time we go to the pub (and he asks another barmaid for their name and number). But here’s one anyway: why are bikes designed the way they are nowadays? They (almost) all use a four-stroke water-cooled engine made of aluminium, with four valves per cylinder and fuel injection, telescopic front forks, monoshock rear suspension, hydraulic dampers, disc brakes, 17-inch(-ish) wheels with radial tyres, all held together in an aluminium frame. Every single one of these technologies has decent alternatives – iron engines, two-stroke motors, carburettors, drum brakes, steel frames, girder forks. And they’ve all been tried over the years. Indeed, some have arguably been better than what we’ve ended up with. But there’s been…

I’ve always loved my two-strokes and I was on the lookout for a TZ to use on track and do a bit of parading on. When I was scouting aroundIcameacross a Vdue advertisedin Italy and liked what I saw. There was a chap over there called Piero Carroni who was building them almost on demand, out of old stock. I knew nothing about him, but I decided the Vdue was the bike for me, so I hopped in the Discovery with my wife and told her we were off to Italy for a nice holiday – which was true. The bit about bringing a bike back with us what a bit of a surprise, but we somehow managed to fit the Bimota in our car and drive it back to…

Well that is the age-old question, isn’t it? And in a world of a dying (or actually, slowly recuperating) supersport market, all seemed lost – but alas, it’s not. Gone are the days of sports bikes being lumpy, uncomfortable and unpractical machines useful only for going fast, as we’ve been seriously blessed with a whole host of machines that offer speed, practicality, and indeed fun in equal measure… but does the fun factor rival that of a naked or a supermoto? If anything was going to bring the fight for under 10 grand, it was going to be Kawasaki’s ZX-6R. I’ve spanked thousands of miles on these puppies over the course of the year and it’s continuously surprised me how well rounded it can be; from long journeys to trackdays…

Rain tyres… they’re just brilliant, aren’t they? I remember the first time I got my knee down with them like it was yesterday, and I think I had a hard-on for months. This is because a modern wet Pirelli is exactly the same tyre that the BSB boys run and a Dunlop wet is the same as what’s abused in Moto2. They contain a high content of silica, which creates chemical grip, and they offer an incredible amount of water dispersion, too. It’s incredibly easy to spot a knackered wet as the lines of the grooves won’t be straight. They tend to overheat rather than wear out, especially if used in drying conditions. Another thing is using warmers on wets; the truth of the matter is, a wet tyre is…

“The CompK as a tyre has been around for a very long time, and was originally aimed as an entry level trackday slick. It had its limitations and never really set the world alight, but then things changed. In 2018 we got word of a new iteration of CompK that bore no resemblance to its predecessor, other than its name. The mandate was for a track tyre that could go the distance, offer good grip and work well in all conditions, being delivered to the market for an affordable price. It was a tall order for Metzeler to deliver the goods, but when we started trying the new tyres, they delivered on their promises. Everyone that tried them found themselves impressed, and after several months of sampling the goods in…

Shakey’s injuries meant his third tenure with Paul Bird’s team ended abruptly, and heralded a new era for the Lake District-based team. The six-times BSB champion won five of his titles with PBM, including 65 race wins riding for them in 2003, 2007 and from 2012 onwards until that fateful day last May. He also won two World Superbike Championship races as a wild card at his beloved Brands Hatch back in 2003, when the competition was particularly fierce. No one will know whether or not Byrne, who had won just one race in 2018, would have continued with the Be Wiser Ducati team had fate not intervened, but the indications were that the writing was on the wall and both rider and team were perhaps looking for a change.…

The first half of the 2019 MotoGP season has been the now customary mix of high adrenaline unpredictability with new heroes emerging, old heroes declining and saves from Marc Marquez ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. The summer break is almost a distant memory. The riders’ Instagram profiles have taken an absolute battering and Valentino Rossi has even been reliving his youth – showcasing his DJ skills on the old ones and twos. But alas, and I hate to admit it, those long summer nights are almost starting to draw in. So, whilst Marquez may be trotting away with the title, there's still plenty to keep us both intrigued and salivating over the coming months. First up, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone is just around the corner. It's…

If you’d read last month’s piece, you’d have seen that things were getting a little bit dirty with the old ZX-6R, and I’d left it on a bit of a cliff hanger. I’d just picked up a Sigma clutch, a new Austin Racing pipe and even a set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa IIs, and I was pretty much halfway through sticking everything on. Now let’s start with the bad news; I still haven’t managed to stick the Sigma clutch in. Basically, the clutch is slightly different to the previous generation, and as there’s different springs it doesn’t quite fit right. It’s a new bike though and these things are to be expected, so I’ve had to stick an order in for some different jobbies that are due in the…

If you’d read my termer piece last month, you’d know my thoughts on power – I still think that all bikes should come with a 12V socket and/or a USB port to charge our portable devices. So, after speaking with Simon Roots, the marketing gaffer at KTM UK, I just had to get one sorted for the 790. The funniest thing was, when it arrived, KTM usually advise that they (or indeed a proper professional) will fit it, but I actually responded to Rootsy and said I’ll have a go at fitting it myself. I mean, how hard can it be? And no one wants to spend their hard-earned cash when they can save it by doing it themselves. Now, for those that know me, you know that I am…

So I wrote my previous column whilst sat undergoing treatment on my broken Fibula. Pretty much every rider on the grid will have at least a one race weekend a year (but usually more) where they are dealing with some kind of injury. It is part of the game and some are more fortunate during their careers than others, but you have to take the rough with the smooth. It had been a tough Knockhill round for us in the TYCO BMW squad as Keith Farmer had also suffered a monumental crash and broke both his legs, which it appears has sadly put him out for the season. Then, the TYCO roads rider (Michael Dunlop) also had a low speed, but hefty highside at the Southern 100 and suffered 'multiple…

Okay, it might not be completely new, but Yamaha are the first to offer up their 2020 superbike contenders. As predicted, its evolution rather than a revolution… So, what’s new? Well, for starters, although Yamaha are keeping the same 998cc crossplane crank powerplant as before, they’ve been busy eeking out any extra advantage they can find; the biggest change being the newly designed finger-follower rocker arms and cam lobe profiles that allow for more stable valve moments, which has in turn upped the high-end rpm performance – something that will be incredibly handy in full-blown superbike trim. There’s also a new intake system with 10-hole Bosch fuel injectors giving a more efficient burn, and a reworked exhaust system, which will pass the ever-tightening Euro5 emissions laws while still keeping some…

Can you believe it’s been 25 years since the iconic 916 was released? No? Neither can we… Either way though, we’re bloody glad it is, as Ducati have just treated us to their very own tribute: the Panigale V4 25° Anniversario 916, of which only 500 numbered models are to be made. Using a V4 S as the base, Ducati have nicked some bits of the V4R to make things that little bit tastier; it has the same cut down front frame from its winged companion, alongside that incredibly iconic dry clutch (with an open clutch cover), and the new, updated Traction Control EVO 2 electronics system. It’s not just a lovechild of the V4S and V4R though, as the Anniversario has been gifted a set of Marchesini Racing Forged…

When you buy yourself a bike you have to ask yourself an important question: do you keep everything bog standard, or do you go down the bling-bling route? If you do decide to kit your bike up to the high heavens there are literally thousands of parts on the shelves (and the internet pages) that’ll bolt straight on to your bike. Easy peasy, right? Well, we all know that the decision-making process doesn’t end there. Do you go for budget or top spec parts? Do you spend your lunch-break scrolling through the aftermarket in search of go faster parts, or is a trip to the dealer on the cards, and a thumb through the official parts catalogue? These are hugely important life choices. And once you've decided who you are…

As soon as I had ridden my mate’s 2011 ZX-10R, I knew I had to have one. I just fell in love with it. His was essentially the same as this model and I couldn’t sleep for thinking about it! Less than two weeks passed before I started looking for one, and once I’d started looking, that was it – I was going to have one. My nearest dealer didn’t have any, so I went over to Colchester and bought one from them guys. I got the train down to Colchester Kawasaki and picked the bike up brand new in September 2013, then had to ride it back all the way to Reading in the pouring rain – I know most people would be in tears at the thought of…

The Bimota Vdue may have been a failure in most aspects of its life, however, it did achieve one notable accomplishment. So unsuccessful was this quite frankly ridiculous folly for parent company Bimota that it actually managed to send the entire company to the receivers. While recovering from some ‘financial issues’ in the mid 1990s, Bimota’s management decided it would be a great idea to build an ‘all Bimota’ bike. Up until this point the company had used engines built by other manufacturers in their products. However, as a new millennium approached, the bosses decided it was the perfect time to construct their own engine. What’s the worst that could happen? Bimota had been toying with entering 500GPs for a while, so they had the basic designs of a 500cc…

WINNING RIDE S Josh Hill Ducati Hypermotard 950SP Enjoying my new Hypermotard 950SP in Brecon. FB: We love the bike, but we absolutely love that shot! Would definitely look better with a Fast Bikes hoodie in it, though… Billy Burke Honda Africa Twin Spa-Francorchamps for the ‘Bikers Classic’ last weekend. The Africa Twin is my bike, the third bike is a 2005 Yamaha R1 and holds the Nurburgring lap record of 7.10 BTG with Andy Carlile on board. Tim Rogers Honda VFR I’ve been putting an old vfr to the ‘do anything’ test. Track day Sunday, commute Warwick to Maidstone Monday, Warwick-Portishead Wednesday, Warwick-Exeter Thursday. Just need a tour now ☒☒☒☒☒ oh supercorsas go well square well quick Dave Collins Kawasaki ZX-6R Done nearly 500 miles on the ZX6R since…

Fun – a big old book called the dictionary tells me that it means ‘enjoyment, amusement, or light-hearted pleasure’. But in reality, it’s all subjective, isn’t it? I mean, some people like to spend their time scraping knees on sportsbikes, while others, who are probably slightly cuckoo, are happy to cruise along on Harleys wearing those bloody ‘polite’ jackets. Hell, other people, like our very own Boothy, like to spend their time sitting around in their underwear, crying at chick flicks and eating junk food – but who are we to judge if it makes you smile? Actually, a bit of variety is the spice of life, and it got us thinking about what type of bike is the most fun. Yeah, bikes can be practical, but like the old…

When we think about all-rounded packages, an 847cc naked knocking on the door of the hyper class doesn’t really spring to mind – but believe me when I say it should. Utilising that glorious CP3 engine that’s become such a staple base in their range, Yamaha supped up the standard MT-09 last year by giving it an extra couple of letters on the name – oh, and they also threw in some better suspension and a snazzy looking colour scheme for good measure. But how does it measure up on the fun scale? At a first glance, and indeed a first sit, the SP oozed more class than even the poshest supermoto could ever dream off – even though it was pretty damn simplistic by today’s space-age standards. It looked…

What do you do if you have already left all of your sportsbike competition trailing in your wake? You up the ante, rip the fairing off your superbike and create a super naked – naturally. Well, that’s what BMW did in 2014 as they unleashed the S1000R, a full-on roadster that promised to do to the likes of the Tuono, Z1000 and Speed Triple what the S1000RR did to the Japanese sportsbikes. Or were we all being a little optimistic… Make no mistake, the R and RR most certainly share the same DNA. However, where the likes of Aprilia pull no punches when it comes to their class-leading super naked, BMW were a little more cautious. Yes, the R’s engine is basically the same inline four as found on the…

Here at Fast Bikes magazine, we love trackdays. So much so, we wanted to give something back to you, the reader! We've teamed up with the lovely lot over at No Limits Trackdays to offer a free trackday every single month, for simply being chosen from our social media posts. So, if you're the lucky person in the circled picture, you've won a trackday of your choice! Send us a message over on our Facebook page and we'll look after the rest, and if you haven't won this time, there's always next month. The usual T&Cs apply, blah, blah... THE PRIZE: ONE U.K. TRACKDAY OF YOUR CHOICE, FOR ANY U.K. CIRCUIT WITH NO LIMITS TRACKDAYS. FastBikesMag.com/ FastBikes-Forum Facebook.com FastBikesMagazine @FastBikesMag TO BOOK ON TO A DAY WITH NO LIMITS, CHECK…

If you do trackdays or race you’ll know your hobby is more costly and addictive than a crack addict’s penchant for class As. Riding bikes as fast as you can, for as long as you can, comes at a price, and it’s a steep one. You’ve got your fuel, your entry fees, copious amounts of food and, most importantly, your rubber to fund. I say most importantly because without good tyres there’s no point in you being on track. You won’t be fast, you won’t feel confident and you will probably end up lobbing your pride and joy down the road… which will hit you even harder in the pocket. Tyres are something you really can’t afford to scrimp on, and while some are happy investing in used scrubs (hoping…

FB: What is the idea behind getting your bike serviced? DM: In reality, you need to be servicing your bike not only to keep it on top of the maintenance schedule that’s set out by a manufacturer, but also to keep everything at its optimum. Oh, and to reduce the risk of any unnecessary issues as well. FB: How different is a service schedule between track and road bikes? DM: Usually it’s massive. If you think about it, a normal tyre would last you thousands of miles on the road. That same tyre though, would probably last you about a tenth of that when pushed on track, so if you use that as a marker, that’s how much harder every component is being worked. FB: How often should you service…

So it seems we are well into silly season, with the rumour mill of musical chairs that happens about this time every year absolutely rife. The general rider and team line-up looked to be sorted earlier on in the season, but recent rumours and rumblings seem to have rubbished any of those earlier claims. The most noteworthy is Alvaro Bautisa, winner of the first 11 races, then serial gravel trap inspector, who looked set to be resigned with Ducati early on. But the deal was supposed to have been made by Laguna Seca and reportedly still hasn't. But he’s been offered a big money contract by HRC to spearhead the (hopefully, I really do hope) brand new Fireblade and Honda’s big-time effort for World Superbikes in 2020. Ooooooh. Toprak Razgatlioglu…

So yeah, if you’ve read my termer page before this, my quick fix was basically to go and steal Boothy’s termer. If not, go and read it! Part of me was sorry to steal his pride and joy from right out underneath him, but as I needed the pillion pegs, and he’s got no girlfriend to take on the back anyways, I thought it was fair enough. And to be honest, I’d forgotten how much of a laugh and how bonkers these looney machines really are; they’re just great. I’d already done a couple of hundred miles on the MT before we set off, and considering how good it is I was excited to see how it would take having a pillion for a shedload of miles. If there was…

If the standard R1 just doesn’t do enough for you, Yamaha have gone the extra mile on the ‘M’ once again, giving it the very latest Öhlins NPX gas forks, which is an incredibly clever piece of kit. They have a small gas cylinder integrated within the fork axle, which actually reduces the fork oil cavitation (you know, an empty bit) which happens on the rebound stroke, giving a better all-round feel on the front end. The M has also been on a serious diet, with carbon fibre front fairings, mudguard and tail section shedding some weight, alongside a set of magnesium wheels and a magnesium sub-frame for good measure. Each bike will also come with its own engraving plaque and unique production number as well.…

SHARK RACE-R PRO + RICH-ART CONCEPTS PAINTJOB TESTED BY: Carlos MILES: 5000 TIME: 8 Months RRP: £589.99 + £700 WEB: www.nevis.uk.com + www.richartconcepts.co.uk In my humble opinion, it’s silly not to wear the best and most protective kit on the market while doing silly things at stupid speeds, and to me, there’s nothing more important than getting the very best protection possible for my melon. I’ve had a few different brands of lids of the years, but in all honesty, the fit of the Shark was definitely the best for my shape of head right from the off; I can genuinely say that it’s the first time I haven’t had to wear it in for a load of short distance rides to be perfectly comfy. If it isn’t quite right, Shark…

If you were lucky enough to pick up a copy of Fast Bikes issue 352 (or even luckier still, have one delivered through your door), you might have read about Zero Motorcycles’ newest electric weapon, the Zero SR/F. We went to see the bike being unveiled in Amsterdam earlier on this year and were pretty impressed by the spec sheet, so as soon as we could get our grubby mits on one, we did just that. I’ve ridden hundreds of bikes, but not many electric ones – in fact, this was to be one of my first real rides on a proper electric motorbike and I’m not ashamed to say that I was actually quite excited. I’d heard all the hype from the manufacturer about how amazing this new machine…

It would almost be rude not to start with, well, the rudest offering of the lot. And I say the rudest in the best possible way. When KTM set out to remake (or reintroduce) this naughty little number back into their range, they didn’t ease up on the spice. Oh no, KTM kicked the 690 SMC R up a notch with an extra 7bhp, 4Nm of torque, some new engine internals for a smoother ride, and have even doused it in electronic gadgetry among a few other bits – in fact, it’s the only bike out of the three that comes equipped with a blipper as standard, rather than just a shifter. Add into account some switchable ABS, newly sprung suspension and a slightly bigger fuel tank, and it looks…

You know what’s strange? All three of these machines are incredibly diverse in nearly every aspect; from the engine configurations to the rider position, they were all so varied, yet each offered their own little avenue of entertainment, dishing out smiles for as long as the tank ranges would last. As far as fun goes, though? Well, the 690 SMC R is the comedian of the group. It undoubtedly offered up the most laughs, thanks to its utterly bonkers nature. It wants to be ragged, wheelied, stoppied and just about everything in between. For a weekend blaster, or as a second or third bike, I couldn’t name a better machine, yet it just lacked that all-roundedness necessary to keep up with the MT-09SP. The naked was almost just as eager…

During my years of racing I was fortunate to work closely with product designers and R&D teams, which means I now know the difference between a good product for racing and something that’s been designed to pass the relevant tests and meet a consumer price point. I’m not going to mention any brand names here, just advise you on how to shop for the best quality gear you can afford. Please make sure you go to a shop and try all the kit on, as sizes vary between companies. Don’t buy anything on price either, as buying cheap normally means buying twice or just regretting it after a big crash, so even down to your earplugs, avoid cheap and cheerful. Check the product’s credentials. CE approval isn’t essential right now;…

Okay, hands up. Who here gets a bit tired after a session or two on a trackday? Because we all did at one stage. Being ‘bike fit’ is a real thing, and even after 15 minutes in the saddle, riding to our limits will take its toll – I mean on a quick bike, there’s enough force to almost feel like you’re strapped to a bull that’s been laced with acid. Saying that though, the more seat time you get the more comfortable you feel, and being that me, Dangerous and Boothy spend a fair bit of time in the saddle, we decided that it would be a great idea to enter the No Limits Endurance series this year – and so far it’s been awesome. If you’ve been reading…

My mate told me about the CompK slicks at the start of this year. He kept banging on about them and told me I needed to give them a try, so I did. I didn’t read too much into the spec, because I didn’t want other people’s thoughts to shape my opinion, so I just got them on my ZX-10R and took them for a spin at Donington Park for the first round of the No Limits championship. They impressed me. The edge grip wasn’t the best, but I was surprised by how hard you could drive on them and how supportive they felt. I got some good results, so decided to give them a second go at Cadwell Park, in very cold conditions, and was comfortably banging in 1m…

This is about the time of the year where I start chatting and speculating about all the rumours flying about the paddock, have a look at how everyone’s been doing and probably make some pretty dodgy predictions for the top six in the coming rounds, but in all honesty something has stopped me starting with that; and that was the racing from Thruxton. I know every race is different, but after watching the procession of MotoGP, the bahnstorming duo of races from the incredibly fast ex-airfield circuit couldn’t have come at a better time, giving some of the best, brutally fierce, insanely close and yet fairest racing I’ve seen in a long time. If you haven’t caught up yet, I’d recommend putting this magazine down for a moment, switching on…

With the 600-mile service shackles well and truly off, a mixture of blazing sun, super-hot dry roads and meetings to be had meant I have finally got some serious journeys in on the CBR650R this month. It seems to have been a long time coming, but has been worth the wait. It is difficult to compare this bike with anything else currently on the market. Much like Honda’s Neo Sports Café Racing CB1000R that I had as a Termer last year, this machine sits in a class of its own. It’s not an out-and-out sports bike in the same way that it’s not a tourer either. Honda appears to have re-defined the sports-tourer category, successfully designing a machine that manages to do both jobs well enough to not only keep…

I left off last month saying I wanted to take the Beemer on track, which is exactly what I’ve since done. I’d not ridden Snetterton in five years so figured now was as good a time as any to get reacquainted and to capitalise on its massive straights, unleashing all of the RR’s ponies. I live about two hours from the circuit, so opted to ride the bike there and learn a bit more about its road manners on the way. Of course, I’m not entirely new to the RR, but outside of the launch tests and Ultimate Sports Bike, this would be the farthest I’d travelled on the BMW and I couldn’t wait to get cracking. An hour into the journey, I was relishing the package on offer, making…

We're getting stuck into harvest on the farm at the moment so it’s been a mega busy couple of months trying to fit all the racing in, but we’ve managed! Since my last column, we have been to Knockhill and I was hoping for a really good result there as I had a second place finish up at the Scottish round of the British Superstock 1000 Championship last year. Although I didn’t get up to pace as quickly as I wanted to I was improving all through the weekend and I finished the first race in 9th, but was quick enough to qualify 4th for the second race. It rained for the second race, which usually wouldn’t have been a problem for me, but like a complete tit I forgot…