Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2021 i Fast Bikes

When I was a nipper, if you had the latest sportsbike parked up in your garage, you were considered pretty gosh-darn cool. If it had a fairing and a fast-as-fudge engine, you were ‘the man’. But times change and most of us will have seen a bit of a shift in fashion as more and more folk go down the supernaked route, rather than having a balls-out, ballistically fast superbike for that Sunday morning scratching session. And who can really blame them, when you’ve got weapons like Aprilia’s Tuono, Ducati’s Street Fighter, Yamaha’s MT-10 or KTM’s Super Duke – to name but a few? At the last Fast Bikes mag Annual General Meeting (down the pub) we had a discussion about why this might have happened. And we came up…

I don’t know about you lot, but I absolutely adore the cheap end of the middleweight, naked category. You know, I’m talking your Yamaha MT-07s, Honda CBR65ORs and Kawasaki Z650 type jobbies; all sitting about or below the hundred horsepower mark, those things are insanely fun and incredibly confidence inspiring – when the front wheel is actually on the deck anyway, which isn’t often. But it’s not just my selfish attraction to this budget bruisers, oh no; it’s such an important market, as these are the bikes that put bums on seats more than any other. Whether it’s someone’s first big bike, a bite of the biking cherry without having to take out a mortgage or a step back into some easy riding, they sell in their thousands. And that’s…

I think it’s safe to say that 2020 is a year that will be remembered for a long time. No, I’m not just talking about the C-word, or the fact that Joan Mir managed to grab the title. It was the year that Brad Binder joined an exclusive list of elite sporting firsts, like Valentino Rossi, Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods and others before him. Brad Binder broke through a barrier that only six short years ago seemed a wild dream. He became the first man to win a MotoGP World Championship race on a KTM, riding for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team. So, as a rookie in a factory team who have invested countless hours and even more euros into the project, how has it felt to play…

For a very long time now, we’ve admired the National Superstock 1000 championship, and all those who ride in it. Sure, it plays second fiddle to the premier Superbike class on the BSB roster, but it’s just as fiercely competitive, if not more so. You see, the ’stocker class is filled to the brim with riders who are striving to make it into the proper big league, and who knows, maybe even make a career out of it all, alongside riders that really are quick enough to be on a superbike, with names such as Richard Cooper, Billy McConnell, Michael Rutter... the list goes on. I mean, there’s even an ex-world champ, in the form of Danny Kent. And as far as classes go, in the last 20 or so…

Ever dreamed of being a superhero? Ever wanted to tackle crime using nunchucks while wearing a bandana in green body paint? Ever wanted to be a real life Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? If this is you then you’re probably not old enough to have a ’bike licence. But if by some strange evolutionary malfunction this does describe you, the new Benelli 752S (especially in green) is probably right up your dark, wet, badly lit alleyway. Fighting the enemy is certainly not the Benelli’s strong point though. It would be the equivalent of entering Johnny Vegas into an MMA fight; providing a comical experience for sure, but in no way equipped with the necessary aggression, athleticism or power needed to smash the enemy into unconsciousness. Let me tell you why; see,…

You see a fair variety of asphalt-assaulting motorbikes on the average UK trackday, ranging from two-stroke oil spillers to the ex-Superbike, laptop-powered money pits of machines. By far and wide though, one of the most common 1000cc weapons we see out and about has to be the ZX-10R, irrelevant of its generation. Kawasaki is synonymous with racing, and with Mr Rea (Jonny, not Chris) showing the rest of the thoroughbred WSBK field his Irish derriere almost every weekend. There must be a blend within the ZX-10R on track that the rest of the manufacturers haven’t yet quite caught up to and perfected. We know that although being a very competent contender overall, for the average road rider the ZX-10R struggles to keep pace in terms of performance, delivery, comfort and…

Just like the race season, the off season isn’t like any other year, with show season and testing being all cancelled. Between us, I have to admit that shows aren’t something that I look forward to normally; sure I do enjoy meeting all the BSB fans and having a nice chatter with my sponsors but apart from that, I actually have very little interest in heading to ’em. Especially when it gets to day five of a show, knowing that there are still another couple of shows displaying the exact same stuff on exactly the same stands still to attend. As they say however, absence makes the heart grow fonder and I have found myself missing it just a little. I’ve not done any post-season races or tests this year…

We love seeing good news, especially after the crazy year that was 2020. According to the Motorcycle industry Association (MCIA) who hold all the data and figures for this type of thing, the year ended with sales almost at 2019 levels – which is absolutely brilliant news, considering I the effects of Covid. Oh, and for us sportsbike nuts, sales of sporty machines have risen by a whopping 18%, which is brilliant to see! HONDA UNVEIL THEIR CRF300L AND CRF300 RALLY If you’re on the hunt for something a bit dirtier, then Honda’s CRF300 duo might be right up your alley. Both bikes now give you 10% more power and 18% more torque than last year’s model, thanks to a beefier, 286cc single-cylinder engine. It also comes equipped with reworked…

MUC-OFF RAINPROOF ESSENTIALS CASE If you’re heading out on two wheels over the next few months, chances are you’re probably going to end up getting a bit cold and wet. And if you do run into some rain, then you’re going to want to keep all your bits nice and dry, which is where this little Rainproof Essentials Case from Muc-Off really could come in handy. Internally, the case features a soft divider so you can throw in essentials like your phone and credit cards, while there’s also a zipped pocket to fit smaller bits, like keys and coins. It’s then protected by a tough, water-repellent fabric. RRP £19.99 www.muc-off.com OXFORD PRODUCTS HARDCORE XC13 CHAIN LOCK With winter upon us and more bikes going into hibernation as the weather gets grim,…

As if hypernakeds weren’t mental enough as it is, Aprilia really did take things up a notch with the release of their track-only, limited edition Tuono V4 X last year. And yeah, it looks epic, but what actually makes it up? Well, dubbed the ‘super Tuono’, Aprilia’s V4 X is a 221 horsepower, 166kg (dry weight] track weapon. The engine, derived from the RSV4 1100 Factory, comes equipped with a trick Akrapovic exhaust system and carbon end can, while the air filter has also been swapped out for a Sprint Filter – which is what Aprilia say they use in their MotoGP machine. As far as electronics go, the Tuono V4 X comes with all the gizmos you d expect including an electronics suite that has been developed purely for…

“They’re a fantastic engine, not full of shafts and crap, it’s neat, logical and very well thought out. Race engines are always going to be stressed with parts needing replacement as and when – everything has a limit, so that might be 50,000 miles on the road, but it might be 500 on a racetrack. We do an oil and filter every round, and a full engine refresh depends on the mileage. With these, keep an eye on the gearbox, especially if the rider is heavy-footed. There’s lots of little things to look out for, like this one I’ve just taken apart as the forks on the gear selector are bending – this shows the rider is putting pressure on the lever even when they’re not changing gear.”…

TIME ON TEST: 1 MONTH ODOMETER MILES ВНР: 40 GAIN: 0 NEXT AIM: GET DOWN & DIRTY Usually, I absolutely hate the winter. I mean, I’m a sporty or naked bike man through and through, but there really isn’t much fun that comes out of wobbling one of those around on the gritted, disgusting roads, while freezing your nuts off in the process. In a normal world, this is the perfect time to pack up the race bike for a Euro event and hop on a plane to sunnier climates... but it’s not a normal world by any stretch of the imagination, and it’s just not on the cards right now. This meant I was in a bit of a quandary; I’m lucky enough to ride bikes for a living,…

LEARN FROM THE BEST. For the ultimate one-to-one instruction which includes everything from initial bike checks to video playback and on/off track tuition tailored to suit all abilities from a former WSBK racer, check out Dean Ellison Rider Coaching at www.Ellison42.co.uk I’ll start with the dash because it’s going to be your biggest spend, but, if you’re building a race or trackday-only bike, then over time it’s a good investment and will save a good chunk of money as you want more information and functionality. When it comes to spending your hard-earned cash on upgrades for your bike, we always have to consider how best to split the spends and rightly so; what would be the point in buying full data logging if you have no idea what those squiggly…

If you’ve been a naughty biker, you need some decent legal advice: get it from mail@whitedalton.co.uk Q On a relatively straight stretch of road I could see a small pack of cyclists cycling two abreast. There was a Ford Mondeo gaining on them, and he went to overtake as I was approaching. Stupidly, I thought he might wait but he swung out and even though the carriageway is wide, he swung out so his left hand wheels were either on or just over the white line. I nearly crapped myself, got hard on the brakes on my old non-ABS CBR 600 and stacked it. He just about managed to stop before he ran my bike over, with me just behind. The police were called, the driver said, correctly enough that…

We’re not sure about you lot, but we got pretty bloody excited when Triumph let out the news that the official factory was going to make a return to national-level racing in 2021, with the potential to step up to the world stage in 2021 if all goes well. Short of a new, non-limited Daytona (which we’ve been told isn’t going to happen – boo), it’s probably some of the coolest news that could’ve come out of Hinckley since they announced their Moto2 expedition a few years ago. But how are they doing it, and is it a good move? Well, we caught up with Stuart Higgs (British Superbike series director/head honcho), alongside Triumph’s man in the know (and product officer) Steve Sargent to find out, and we’re glad to…

TESTED BY: Carlos MILES: 1500+ TIME: Three months PRICE: £199.99 (plus £82.50 battery pack) WEB: www.keisapparel.com Winter months… I mean, who invented those bloody things? Well whoever or whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t with bikers in mind. Getting wet and cold while out trying to enjoy two wheels is no fun at all, which is why a proper set of winter kit is an absolute must – starting with a good, solid, toasty set of gloves. I absolutely love a heated grip, but they aren’t on most of the bikes we ride nor are they always warm enough to keep that wind-chill at bay, so a set of proper gloves was a must for this year; and with the new tech advancements nowadays, they just had to be heated. Not just heated though, they…

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment when a ‘supernaked’ became an actual thing. After all, you’d hardly describe the Kawasaki KZ 1000 that took Eddie Lawson to the AMA Superbike title in 1981 as a Superbike in appearance by today’s standards. Completely devoid of a fairing or clip-ons, it was the ultimate Superbike of the day but undeniably a naked bike; a fast one. During the last 40 years, Superbikes grew bodywork, clip-ons and a status for being at the top of the food chain, while naked bikes got detuned, user-friendly engines and riding positions to match. They were the sensible option. Fast forward to the present day, and now we have bikes without fairings that produce 200bhp, are fully loaded with state-of-the-art electronic rider aids, aero aids and…

For many of us motorcycles are more of a hobby than a day-in, day-out form of transport. Two wheels are there for escapism, a blast away from the humdrum of modern life, enjoyed for relatively short periods on sunny days when time allows. Is there anything wrong with that? Not at all, if we are honest there is little enjoyment to be gained from slogging out miles in the pissing rain just wishing for the next coffee stop to dry off a soggy crotch. Riding a bike isn’t often the sensible option, but it is always the fun one – especially if you pick a bike whose sole role in life is to provide thrills. A bike such as the Ducati Hypermotard 821 SP. Making no bones about it, the…

FB: How did it come about, riding for Crowe Performance? CR: Basically, I was signed up to race for MSS Kawasaki, but the whole Covid thing meant they couldn’t run in 2020. When they pulled out, it left me in no man’s land. I basically ran around, and Gabriel, who runs Crowe Performance with Phil, was one of the first people I called, and he explained the position, that he had a bike for trackdays. He said we might be able to do something, and after some chats I went down to meet the lads and have a go on the bike, and decided to give it a bash! Crowey was going to be at the meetings anyway with Matt Truelove, and I was going to run myself, but because…

WANT TO WIN? To be in with a chance of winning a No Limits trackday, either send us a pic on our Facebook page or email one to fastbikes letters@mortons.co.uk к Closing date: February 1, 2021 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 month! All you have to do is send us a picture of yourself at your last trackday for a chance to win. If you’re the lucky person highlighted on these pages, you’ve won a trackday of your choice! If it’s you, get in touch with us, and we’ll look after the rest, and if you…

FB: What’s the biggest thing you learnt this year? AM: Everything is so different – the whole paddock life changes a lot, from press conferences to riding, to what we do in the box. There’s more work; you have to work with more information and data and need to learn what to look for, and not just try to work on everything as there is so much. The approach to a weekend was a big thing to learn as well; there’s many tyres to try for example, along with the set-up and the bike. The electronics are different, and it took time to learn things like changing a map mid-race, but I like it, because I like to work hard and be in the box for many hours. FB: And…

It goes without saying, but I’m hoping everyone had a great Christmas and New Year! With all the testing finished and most of the motocross tracks shut with the weather, I’ve spent a little bit of time just chilling out, which has been quite nice as everything was pretty hectic towards the end of 2020. Saying that though, it isn’t too laid back as we’re still flat-out on the farm and building Tim’s house into something that’s remotely nice, which is ace, because it means we can get him out as quickly as possible. All joking aside though, I’m hoping this whole vaccine thing hurries up so we can get him in quicker, and have a little party as well. It’s only fair after the amount of work we’ve put…