Innehållsförteckning för June 2018 från Fast Bikes

May 4-6 – BMAD Bike Festival (Devon) May 5-7 – Bike 1066 and May Day Run (Hastings) May 6 – Nightingale House Motorbike Ride out (Llangollen) May 12-13 – Pendine Speed Week (Wales) May 15-19 – North West 200 (Ireland) May 19-20 – MCN Festival of Motorcycling (Peterborough) May 19-20 – Race Rock ‘N’ Ride (Northants) May 24-28 – Mach 3 Motorbike Festival (Powys) May 25-27 – Blackford Pre-TT Classic Road Races (Isle of Man) May 25-27 – FIM World Superbike Championship (Donington Park) May 26-June 8 – Isle of Man TT (Isle of Man) May 28 – Margate Meltdown…

It’s easy to think that a fairingless, street bike with big handlebars and a Fireblade engine is nothing new. And with as thriving a ‘super-naked’ sector as there currently is, who is going to get hard over an updated CB1000R? Well, not me, but thankfully erectile dysfunction, on this occasion, isn’t going to be a problem as Honda haven’t just thrown ABS and a few new colour schemes at an outdated model, they have gone back to the drawing board and completely reinvented the wheel. Okay it’s still the running the same 2006 ’Blade engine as its predecessor, but that’s where the similarities end (and even that isn’t that similar); in fact the Big H haven’t just gone down the already well blazed trail of the naked sports bike. Instead,…

I think it was written in the bible, or some other holy place, that there is no replacement for displacement. It’s a notion we’re all familiar with, and once upon a time it was undoubtedly true. But in a world where motorcycles have got more computers on board than con-rods, and are aspirated about as naturally as a man with an iron lung, we wondered if that proverb still held true. So in the spirit of investigative journalism, we persuaded our friends at Wheels Motorcycles to let us loose on one of their freshly run-in, all singing, all dancing Kawasaki H2 SX SE sports-tourers and pitch it against a 2017 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX-1300R they had gleaming away in their showroom. The legendary ’Busa needs no introduction, but I’ll give it…

Who says that when your saddlebags are stacked to the brim with pants, socks and johnnies, and you’re on an umpteen-hundred mile expedition to a land far, far away you have to ride as slow as Pretty Boy? Not us. And not Bridgestone either. They have just launched their new Battlax Sport Touring T31 tyre so we flew over to Morocco to see exactly what they had to offer. The T31 (T for touring) replaces the T30evo and, according to the bods at Bridgestone, gives the rider more feel and more grip without affecting wear rate. I know what you’re thinking and you’re right – that’s a pretty standard claim for a manufacturer launching a new tyre. Specifically, though, Bridgestone reckon they’ve worked hard to improve wet grip, particularly in…

The Triumph Daytona 675 will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first ever bike I rode on a track. Ever since I was a kid I’d wanted to ride on the track so when I got my first track bike I was like a dog with two… erm, bones. It was a 2008 model that I had bought off a local lad who had raced it (so it had a few trick bits on) and I fell head over heels in love with it. I couldn’t believe how good it was and it made it so easy for me to keep up with my mates on faster, newer bikes – they all hated it when I’d ride round the outside of them in the…

In an age of quite frankly wonderfully-ludicrous 160bhp-plus super nakeds such as the Tuono V4 1100 or BMW S1000R, sometimes it is nice to get on a bike with flat bars that is just damn good fun to ride. And doesn’t force a small bit of wee to escape every time you nail the throttle… Step forward the Triumph Speed Triple 1050, or more precisely the updated 2011 generation. In this major overhaul to the best naked British creation since Jordan before she got all comically plastic, Triumph absolutely nailed the balance between sporty and fun, delivering a Speed Triple that while a bit porkier than its rivals, was simply brilliant fun to ride. And wheelied like an absolute demon too! Triumph knew they needed to up the ante on…

Q Can you help please? I absolutely hate riding in the rain and try to avoid it at all costs to the point of not going out if there is any chance of rain. What can I do to overcome this hatred? I live in the UK so it’s going to rain at some point and it’s having a real impact on the amount of saddle time I can enjoy. A Riding in the rain can be great fun, and some of the best days coaching I have had at the school have been in the rain. What primarily concerns riders in the wet are the issues of grip and the road surface, inducing the fear of a loss of traction. The important thing to remember is that…

No matter how good a bike’s suspension is when it rolls off the production line, if you are serious about riding on track it’s not going to be long before you reach the limits of its capability. Whether that be adjustability, strength or pure feel – which we found out first hand when testing the GSX-R1000R last month. Yes, the standard Showa kit is good, but is it good enough to withstand the brutality of racing? Not quite, which is why this month I had a spring in my step all the way to K-Tech Suspension in Derby. There has been a bit of bad press lately over the quality and functionality of K-Tech suspension components, but after riding on the stuff for the best part of five years I…

FB: What are lightweight wheels? GH: In the past, aftermarket/ accessory wheels – ordinarily described as ‘lightweight’ – were manufactured from alloys of aluminium or magnesium, produced by gravity casting or by forging. However unless a wheel is significantly lighter than what it’s replacing, it isn’t really lightweight at all! You have to be careful nowadays with metal wheels as what some guys have bought as lightweight wheels occasionally turned out to be heavier than original equipment! FB: Why is that? GH: Because motorcycle manufacturers naturally know that the benefits of having the lightest wheels are massive (more of this later). They have lately often produced their original-equipment (OE) wheels by high-pressure die-casting (where molten aluminium is injected very rapidly into a mould with often very narrow/ thin flow passages)…

By the time you read this the TT will be but a stone’s throw away and we at Fast Bikes can’t wait to see the greatest show on earth get its wheels rolling (May 26 to June 8). The annual pilgrimage to the Isle of Man seldom disappoints, and while we’re collectively devastated to hear of Bruce Anstey’s poor health and concerns surrounding both John McGuinness’ (re)damaged leg, plus Hutchy’s continued fight for fitness (read his exclusive interview inside), we’re optimistic that the rest of the best road racing gladiators will be keener than ever to grasp glory with both hands. Arguably, considering the collective brilliance of Anstey, McGuinness and Hutchy, their absence pretty much leaves the door wide open for the likes of Hillier, Harrison and Hickman to come…

Those of you who’ve been living under a rock might not have heard Fast Bikes has paired up with MSVT for a trackday on June 10. We’ve got loads of great partners on board for our circuit-based shenanigans, with gifts and advice aplenty from some of the biggest biking brands known to two-wheels. And we’re delighted that Arai helmets have joined us for this soiree, and will be offering free servicing and guidance on owners of Arai and AGV lids. Better still, RST’s also joined the ranks and will be offering their own promotions and competitions to make your trackday the best one yet. Keep an eye out on www.fastbikesmag.com for more info and to get booked on!…

ALPINESTARS BELIZE DRYSTAR GLOVES The Drystar gloves from Alpinestars offer both safety and style in abundance. Made from a multi-panel, multi-material construction, they have a DRYSTAR PERFORMANCE sealed triple layer membrane for both waterproofing and control sensitivity. Alpinestars say the Drystar will keep you cool, dry and safe. They come with a matt carbon knuckle guard and an innovative new wrist closure system for added safety as well, while the fingertips are touch screen compatible for everyday use in today’s world. There are stretch accordion inserts on the fingers and hand alongside an ergonomic stretch insert between thumb and palm for the ultimate fit, and they’re certified to CE level 1 for peace of mind. £139.99 www.alpinestars.com ALPINESTARS SUPERTECH R BOOTS Alpinestars’ range-topping Supertech Rs have kept many…

Tyres may seem boring, but they’re the fine rubber line between having either an awesome ride or ending up on your backside. This means that they’re one of the most important considerations when it comes to bike setup and with so much competition nowadays the bar keeps being raised – making us throttle jockeys ever more spoilt for choice. We all have our favourites, but if you can look past Dunlop’s inability to name tyres in any sort of logical way, you’ll see that the new SportSmart TTs (Track Technology) are pretty special. This is mainly thanks to the unpredicted rise in hypersport sales, meaning that the British brand has had to work tirelessly to create a better, grippier, longer lasting tyre; a brand new model that sits directly between…

Anyone can see his braking points, turn-in points, rate of lean, lean angle, brake release, on-gas, lines, body position, etc. We can also see his head position but we cannot see how, where, when or even what he is looking at. Is that his secret weapon? Top racers of the past have been photographed in action wearing a ‘1000-yard stare’. For example, Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood had an unshakeable calm about him. His easy regard for the unfolding action with face and mouth relaxed, just looking, stands in stark contrast to the often strained visages of today’s riders when seen with clear face shields. The real perceivable difference is not in their apparent stress levels, however, but in their degree of head rotation. In the evolution of body position, a…

1 Riches You’ll be heading into Riches flat out and touching sixth gear no matter what bike you’re on, meaning commitment is a must. Get as close to the white line on the left as you can, before hitting the anchors at about the 300 yard board and banging back two or three gears. Let off the brakes and tip in at about the 100 yard board. Apex at the widest chunk of paint on the kerb as you get back on the gas, drift towards the middle of the track (no further) and clip the second apex at the latest possible point and get hard on the gas for the maximum drive out. Try going slow in and fast out to start with in order to build up…

SBOTY 2018 We hire a track, invite the latest and greatest sportsbikes known to man and spank them silly against the clock to find 2018’s greatest offering. DIRTY WEEKEND Boothy gets dirty in Wales… and rides Triumphs off-road. MT-10 TE VS MV TURISMO VELOCE The gloves are off in the search for the comfiest and sportiest motorcycle out there. PLUS LOADS MORE: ■ PIRELLI DIABLO ROSSO CORSA II LAUNCH ■ AERODYNAMICS – KNOW HOW TO FLOW ■ GETTING ON TRACK WITH A HIRE BIKE On Sale 29 May, 2018 Buy it from WHSmith, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and all good newsagents. Failing that, try a bad one. Check out the eye-poppingly good digital edition at www.classicmagazines.co.uk…

Alrighty, who’s ready to go racing? Not me. Well, not quite. I’ve got to that point of the season where racing’s suddenly upon us and I’m about as ready for it as snowmen are for heat-waves. Still, this is nothing new to me, and I reckon it’s the same score for most racers out there, whatever their discipline. Anyway, excuses aside, the main thing is that with a bit of hard graft and a few nights burning the midnight oil, all will be well. I’ve been particularly busy with the little Lightweight TT bike; I’ve lost count of what iteration we’re on now, but the thing’s set to be the best it’s ever been… assuming I can remember how to put it all back together. Last year I built my…

We got pretty excited about KTM’s brand new 790 Duke last month, and now it’s now finally arrived in dealerships, you can too. Nicknamed ‘The Scalpel’, the 790 Duke comes in at £8,499, and is finally available to go and buy or test ride alongside a massive array of Powerwear and Powerparts – each developed alongside the KTM 790 Duke from day one, for boosting performance, practicality or style. The other good news is the bike’s been kitted with rider-friendly smartphone software that interacts with your phone and transforms your dash into a sat-nav. The KTM MY RIDE app also lets you listen to music and receive phone calls on the go. Better still, the app’s also available for use on the 125 and 390 Duke, 1290 Super Duke R,…

Fresh from the release of their updated 2018 Brutale 800 RR (which you can read about in this issue), MV’s just revealed the America version – which comes in a stunning metallic blue colour scheme with a star-studded tank and ‘comfort-enhanced’ padded seat. Performance wise, the America is identical to the standard Brutale 800 RR, with its revised gearbox and electronics for 2018. Inspired by the 1975 MV S America 750, the Brutale 800 RR America also comes with an individual production number and is marked with ‘America Special Edition’ on the instrument cluster, although it’s not a limited production run (and a certificate to pin on your wall). If you fancy one, it will set you back £15,940 which is £2,100 more than the standard RR, and will be…

AGV PISTA GP-R TESTED BY: Pretty Boy MILES: 1,500 TIME: 8 months PRICE: RRP £899.99 You’ve probably seen AGV’s top-of-the-range sports lid spanked on board a certain Valentino Rossi’s noggin – and if it’s good enough for the GOAT I’m sure it really is good enough for the rest of us. I opted for the Matt Carbon design and had it sprayed, but even standard they come in a range of snazzy colour schemes with a finish that is absolutely stunning for a crash helmet. Unboxing the Pista GP-R you’ll find it comes equipped with a removable hydration system (not for alcohol apparently) and a high quality helmet bag and an easily removable visor which are nice touches – yet even so the real trump card is picking the thing…

If you’re in the market for a new ZX10 you’re spoilt for choice. Those that only fancy splashing out £14,149 can get what Kawasaki are calling the ‘entry level’ bog-stock Ninja ZX-10R (or £14,299 if you want it dressed in KRT Replica colours). For the ‘track user’ that fancies Marchesini wheels and Brembo calipers there’s the ZX-10RR which will set you back £16,249. But for those feeling a little more flush – the ‘high end user’ – Kawasaki have just launched the ZX-10R SE which for £18,949 comes with the fancy lightweight Marchesini wheels off the RR, an up and down quickshifter but most importantly, new Kawasaki Electronically Controlled Suspension (KECS). With most of its major competition already offering electronic suspension, Kawasaki may be fashionably late to the semi-active suspension…

It’s every lad’s dream to sample a little exotica every now and again, so there was no need to think twice when the chance came to head out to Italy for a joyride on MV’s 2018 Brutale 800RR. Feasting my eyes on the beaut as it basked in the clinical light of the MV Augusta factory, I was liking every inch of what lay before me. It was a vision of something that had taken three years in the making, being both a generally improved product compared to its predecessor, but also one that made the grade of Euro 4 bureaucracy. Bad news for the ugly ducklings out there – first impressions are largely based on appearance, with three fifths of us average folk forming our opinion within the first…

FB: Jean, when designing the SportSmart TT, why did you decide to consider track before road performance? JF: Usually it’s the other way round but wanted to make a tyre which would be exceptional on track, and this is the best way. If you have a track tyre that works, we can then focus on improving the other factors like wet grip and durability after! FB: So how rigorous was track testing on the SportSmart TT, compared to a race tyre? JF: It wasn’t far off at all! We did the main testing at Mireval & Idiada tracks in order to get a good level of data in every aspect of the tyre, before testing the tyres during Promosport events and even club racing to make sure the performance level…

A There is a lot of talk in the mags and on telly when watching racing about rider’s lines. My question is what makes a good line and how do you know it’s a good line? When watching the racing you see a difference between riders’ lines in the same corner and it’s a much greater difference when on a track day. Q There is no such thing as an ideal line through a turn, but a rider can have a good line. Riders can consider themselves to have had a good line if they steered the bike just once, were able to apply good throttle control through the turn, and they made the turn as straight as possible (so they will have used the minimum amount of…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or simply don’t give a damn about the TT, the name Ian Hutchinson should be well and truly smacked on your radar. Endearingly known as the ‘Bingley Bullet’, the soft spoken Yorkshireman remains the first and only person to have taken all five TT wins in a single year, back in 2010. And despite horrifically breaking his leg later that season during a BSB round at Silverstone, which demanded countless operations, fixators and pleading with doctors not to cut off his blackening and blood deprived lower left leg, he somehow overcame the odds to look every bit set for a return to the Mountain Course that very next season. Or at least before a freak 5mph accident on a trail bike turned his…

You may have read last month that I had an off at Mallory and broke my wrist; well my twin brother Tom took care of our column last month and he doesn’t know what he is talking about… it was at Oulton Park. It was a compound fracture to my radius but it was only a small one so we didn’t worry too much about it. They stuck a cast on it for me but we had to whip it off with the angle grinder because I couldn’t fit my race gloves over the top – well, we had got the Boxing Social/Nigel Racing Yamaha R6 all ready for the British Supersport Championship so I didn’t fancy missing round one. Unlike Tom, who is still complaining about his poorly shoulder…