Innehållsförteckning för January 2019 från Fast Bikes

I love a good bargain. Who doesn’t, especially when it’s got two wheels and a throttle? As far as used bikes are concerned there are loads of great steals to be had. The bikes on the cover of this issue were bought for a grand apiece. Now that’s pretty jammy by anyone’s standards, but even on the net you’ll be able to pick up a base model Mille from under £2k, and the same goes for a ZX-7R. Some of us are pretty fickle when it comes to the age of our bikes, but some of the best times and best rides I’ve ever had have been on older models (I never did catch their names). I used to own a pre-injection R6. It was worth naff-all back then, and…

R&G WATERPROOF RAIN JACKET AND TROUSERS TESTED BY: Charlie MILES: 39 TIME: 1 day PRICE: £75.98 (+VAT) WEB: www.rg-racing.com TEL: 01420 89007 R&G’s support of BSB is not all a one way street, thanks to the fact that the feedback and product testing from riders has resulted in an extremely effective testing regime – all of which filters down to us regular folk. This is great, as this time they’ve nailed their own waterproof jacket and trousers. Sold separately, the jacket (£39.99) and trousers (£35.99) are a perfect combo to keep you dry in even the heaviest downpours. Competing at a recent club meet I got the opportunity to test the full combination in pouring rain and through spray without getting even remotely damp. The suit…

A well looked after RSV is a very reliable bike, however they have a few irritations that if not dealt with can make them a bit of a nightmare. All pre-2005 RSVs use a 50 Amp starter solenoid, which is known to fail, so fitting the later 150 Amp and also upgrading the 90CCA battery to a 230CCA unit is recommended to help preserve the sprag clutch. The sprag clutch is the V990 motor’s major weakness and any slipping or squeaking when the starter is hit hints at a worn unit, which will cost around £350 to replace. Other than this, the motor is very reliable, although out of balance throttle bodies can make the bike very snatchy to ride at low revs. On the chassis front watch out for…

The Suzuki actually felt the most lacklustre of the bunch in all honesty, even though it wasn’t last in the times. It launched with ease, didn’t really want to wheelie as much as the rest and was nice and easy, but it just didn’t have that zest of a supernaked to make it hound the competition. It was much the same on the top speed runs which was a shame as well – Suzuki, if you’re reading this, please give us an L7 engine package… 0-60MPH: 3.29 seconds TOP SPEED: 154mph…

Like all things MT, the MT-10 is a seriously cool cat. In fact in the MT world it’s the biggest, fastest cat going. Like a Siberian tiger crossed with a cheetah… with a bit of Top Cat thrown in for good measure. And never mind dredging up old sportsbike engines from the mid-Noughties, GSX-S and CB1000R style. Good grief, no. The MT-10 is equipped with the 1,000cc CP4 lump that you would more commonly associate with the YZF-R1. And a modern day YZF-R1 at that. Despite appearances the big Yam hasn’t just been wheeled off the set of Transformers 12: Robots in Demise. It’s a strange looking thing, I’ll give you that, with bits and pieces sticking out here, there and everywhere but as a whole, the thing looks really…

I’m sure anyone who has ever wheelied an MT-10 will agree with me when I say that there may be no other bike in the world which is better to wheelie. The masses of low-down grunt mean getting the front up in the air is no problem at all, wherever you are in the rev range. Because the riding position is so far forward, you do seem a long way up when you are hoisting proper mingers, which can be a bit unnerving at first, but you soon get over it. If you like doing wheelies, then buy an MT-10. 10/10…

Possibly the most familiar face on a No Limits European trackday is Ducati 999 owner Dibble. He’s organised 15 events over the years for groups of up to 24 of his mates. We asked him to share some wisdom… Mentality: Turn up, take it easy. You’re not on a single day shootout. You’ll probably have three days on the cards. Time’s on your side so chill out and enjoy it. There’s no need to get worked up and frustrated if you’re not braking the lap record on day one. It’s not MotoGP. Prepare you bike: Don’t turn up with a bike that’s not fit to ride. There’s no point lugging a motorcycle thousands of miles from home if it’s unusable. You’ve got to be that bit more independent on an…

THE ‘STATE’ OF IT! I let my subscriptions to the American bike mags expire as they just seemed rather bland, boring, and full of advertising. I had to subscribe to Fast Bikes to make sure I got your mag here in Newfoundland. Pics are from Gros Morne National Park. Beautiful scenic place to ride, with decent pavement too, if you guys ever make it over this way. George Dyer FB: George, thank you for supporting us here at FB! We love seeing our words reach out far and wide. Oh, and after seeing your pictures we’re going to have to get over at some point. It looks stunning! CRASH THE WEDDING! Dear FB, I am best man for my bike mad best mate and his soon to be Mrs’ wedding…

It seems like a few of the big name teams have been holding out on signing riders in case of Shakey’s return, but after his most recent check-up seeing the #67 on the grid is looking increasingly unlikely. Although his injuries are healing up well (or for a normal person anyway) it’s just not looking like enough to jump back on a superbike and race. This is because it’s only healed to about 70% of where it needs to be, so although he can do some light training, that dream return might just have to wait. It also means he may need to have another operation in early 2019.…

British Supersport champ Tarran Mackenzie knows a thing or two about racing a Supersport bike, so what does he think of the series? FB: What made you want to go into supersport? TM: For me, I’m not the tallest or biggest guy in the world so it seemed like the right step from stock 600 – it would’ve been a bit too big of a step to go to a 1,000cc straight away. I figured a supersport bike would be easier and more manageable, and I thought maybe with a good showing it would be the best route try and progress to the world stage, like Sam Lowes did. It worked out well for him. FB: When you jumped on one it just clicked straight away. How? TM: Between me…

Following on from the success of the Ninja 400 last year, Kawasaki have gone ahead and given their A2 sports bike the naked treatment, replacing the Z300 in their ever-growing list of roadsters. Being both lighter and more powerful than its predecessor, the Z400 comes equipped with the same 399cc parallel twin engine that comes in the Ninja, complete with an assist and slipper clutch for good measure. Kawasaki have then wrapped it in the same trellis chassis and used their Sugomi design philosophy to match the rest of the range, including the addition of a new digital speedometer which shows a gear indicator and even a fuel consumption indicator… if that’s what you’re into. Expect the Z400 to be priced at around £5,000, and in showrooms for early 2019……

GENUINE SUZUKI GSX-R1000 QUICKSHIFTER Got yourself a standard GSX-R1000 and fancy making it a little more, well, R? Then look no further than Suzuki’s genuine accessory quickshifter. Stick this on your L7 GSX-R1000 and you’ll have both clutchless upshifts and downshifts, which makes life much easier on the road or on track. The Genuine Suzuki Quickshifter features two sensitivity settings which alters the amount of pressure required to change gear, and is available from all authorised Suzuki dealerships now. £490 www.bikes.suzuki.co.uk HJC RPHA 11 JONAS FOLGER REPLICA Everyone loves a good old Monster logo right? Well if you do, this new Jonas Folger race rep will be right up your alley. Using HJC’s top of the range lid, the RPHA 11, means you get a PIM Plus shell…

To be brutally honest, the ZX-7R was outgunned from the very first moment it emerged in 1996. Taking over from the ZXR750, the ZX-7R swapped the ZXR’s finger followers for a ‘bucket and shim’ valve train (the ZX-10R has reverted to finger followers for 2019), altered the cylinders to give it a 2mm shorter stroke and 2.6mm wider bore and revised the motor’s internals to suit. The twin-spar frame was beefed up, six-piston Tokico calipers added, the wheels widened to allow for modern rubber and chunky fully-adjustable 43mm forks stuck in the front end while the shock was also updated. The problem for the ZX-7R was that in doing all these modifications, Kawasaki added bulk to the ZX-7R and it tipped the scales at a massive 21kg more than the…

So there we have it, two absolute corkers that you could buy with the change you’ll find down the back of the sofa. Okay, that last bit might be a bit of an exaggeration, unless you treat yours like a piggybank, but the bargain status of these two tools is undeniable and takes some topping. Better still, they’re both increasing with value day-by-day which is all the more reason you should check the living daylights out of your sofas right now! Hell, check the neighbours’ while you’re at it, because there’s no time like the present to snap up one of these bargain beauties. As to which one you should go for, that’s up to you. By now you’ll have read the good, the bad and ugly points of the…

Never judge a bike by its cost… or its front headlight, in the Suzuki’s case. A looker it might not be, but beneath the average-styled visage lies something of a track weapon. This was my first time spanking a GSX-S on a circuit and I was open-minded about the whole gig, trying to see past the harsh throttle pick-up and slap happy headshakes that had dampened many a good road ride in the past on the Gixer-fuelled delicacy. That’s a real talking point with this bike; it’s use of an old K5 engine. To some, that makes it iconic, while others call it a parts bin special. Whatever you think, on track, that motor comes into its own. It’s pretty slack low down, but then it grows some balls and…

The big Zed felt like a bit of an old fashioned kind of a bike to wheelie. No shifter, a slightly stiffer than average throttle (by today’s standards) and a revvy, inline four cylinder engine might not be the epitome of a wheelie machine, but it worked wonders for me. An easy to find balance point meant gear changes were a doddle and there was more than enough power to lift the front off the throttle alone. The lack of low down grunt meant a downshift was quite often required, though, to find yourself the necessary range. 8/10…

The CB didn’t feel the most natural bike on one wheel. Despite the Honda’s mega smooth power delivery, a well-timed crack of the throttle would get the front wheel pointing skyward but when in the air, I struggled to maintain a steady altitude. It was a bit up and downy, as if the bike was a bit too short to offer a decent amount of stability. It did get easier over time, but the twitchiness never disappeared. Had I been better at pulling wheelies I may have loved it. But I’m not, so I didn’t. 7/10…

New tracks can be pretty damn challenging to master, so what’s the best way to get to grips with them quickly and safely? The best bit of advice is to ask for help, taking advantage of the free tuition from a No Limits Trackday riding coach. But assuming you can’t get your mucky hands on one, there’s a system you can work to. First off, get familiar with the track’s layout. You can find any track’s map online, giving you a general idea for the flow of a circuit. What it won’t give you is a perception for undulations or gear changes, which is where YouTube videos come into play. But choose your video carefully, as anyone can post a video, so look for a credible, ideally professional and experienced…

As addictions go, Jay Martinez’s penchant is a pretty healthy one . “I do a lot of trackdays in the UK, but they’re so different to the experience you get on a European event. For a start, the atmosphere is so much more relaxed and that reflects in the paddock and gar ages, as well as out on the race track. People aren’t in such a mental rush to cram every single minute of riding into their day . Riders tend to be far less aggressive and chilled. That’s how it should be. Of course, the biggest appeal is the weather. When the winter sets in back at home , you can be out here riding bikes without t he rain or cold to contend with. I normally do two…

To be in with a chance of winning this most tasteful of tops, just email us (letters@fastbikesmag.co.uk) or post on our Facebook page with a pic of you, your bike and a few words about it, where you’ve been on it and why you rate it so highly. We’ll then pick our favourite post each month and that lucky person will be the proud owner of their very own Fast Bikes hoodie – which is proven to make you at least 60% faster!* Send yours to letters@fastbikes.co.uk…

They deal with personal injury claims and their sister company, Motor Defence Team, deals with all the motoring offences. They know everything about bike law. Andrew is a former London motorbike courier turned barrister and solicitor, and we know he’s good. All the White Dalton lawyers are qualified barristers, or solicitors, or both - and they all have full bike licences, too. They don’t act for insurance companies or the prosecution. They are Britain’s most specialist law practice, and if they don’t know the answer to your question, there probably isn’t one. Don’t rely on the advice from your insurance appointed solicitor, get proper independent advice.…

BHP: 150 GAIN: 0 TIME ON TEST: 7 MONTHS ODOMETER MILES NEXT AIM: SURVIVE WINTER THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Reminiscing about the good times.” Like most good things that come to an end, so too has my time with my termer. Having spent a good few months together, I’d say that we’ve established a ‘friends with benefits’ kinda relationship. It’s not been true love, however I’ve grown rather fond of the Suzuki’s GSX-S1k and like any good friend, she’s been 100% reliable, we’ve created some fond memories and shared a few special moments during our time together. The best of which has to be (hands down) our little Europe tour when the ol’ man and I had a wee jaunt down to witness the Italian MotoGP. The naked…

TIME ON TEST: 5 MONTHS ODOMETER MILES BHP: 144.5 GAIN: 1 NEXT AIM: TYRES THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN... “Sitting upright, and taking notice.” It’s been a busy month for me here at Fast Bikes HQ, and with a few changes comes sad times – the first was saying goodbye to my previous termer, the R6. In addition to this our Beej has left to go all freelance and of course Martin the previous keeper of the CB1000R has vacated too, which has been a real strain on me. I mean, you wouldn't believe how much I'm missing the R6. It's not all bad though as now I’ve inherited the CB. It’s funny inheriting a somewhat sullied termer, and the previous keeper Martin went to town on the CB1000R’s…

I’m glad to be the bearer of great news. The 2019 MotoGP season is already here. Sure, the one-day winter break wasn’t as long as some might have hoped yet 2019 has all the ingredients of being an absolute classic. But first... Out! At Valencia the top class bid goodbye to a number of familiar faces who won’t be back in 2019. Top of that list was newly inducted MotoGP Hall of Famer Dani Pedrosa. A three-times World Champ in both the 125cc and 250cc classes, Pedrosa also now carries the unfortunate tag of ‘the greatest rider never to have won a premier class title’. Say what you want about the diminutive Spaniard, but his record speaks for itself. Eighteen seasons, 54 wins – 31 of those coming in the…

Yamaha R6: There looks to be no changes on the horizon just yet, but given the arrival of a new R1 in 2020(ish), hopefully there will be more changes than just a facelift. MV Agusta F3 675: MV have given the 675 RC some subtle updates for ’19, but with strong talk of an all-new F4 coming next year, things are looking promising for a new F3 by 2020. Kawasaki ZX-6R: Given that Kawasaki have just released their 636cc, we’re hoping that they’ll release a 600cc RR homologation special. Unfortunately it’s just a wish at the moment though. Suzuki GSX-R600: Surprisingly, there’s rumours and patents floating about that the GSX-R600 will be making a return in a few years, with an advanced electronics package and hopefully some more power. Honda…

It’s always a busy time coming up to Christmas and Plummet Air has been working overtime to deliver my books – it’s that time where I take up my second job of being Santa Claus. Of course, it depends on the weather whether I take the plane or the sidecar though… But then again, it’s not all been just about mince pies and naughty lists, as the off-season is still pretty lively. Since we last spoke we’ve had the EICMA bike show; the ridiculously huge bike show situated in Milan. It’s funny actually, as alongside all the lovely new bikes it seems like 40% of the show is just little bike companies over from the Asian part of the world, selling everything from pedal bikes to electric scooters. This is…

Yep, we aren’t pulling your leg – after testing the water at EICMA, MV have told us they’re putting this into production in the second half of 2019. Styled to look like a ‘modern interpretation’ of their iconic models, the Superveloce is essentially a facelifted F3 800 – using the same engine that’s been remapped for enhanced characteristics alongside a new, old-school exhaust system. The riding position hasn’t been altered much for a modern and sporty feel, while brakes and suspension will be the same – albeit possibly slightly tweaked for a smoother ride. Expect ‘em not to be cheap when they go into production next year!…

I really liked the ZX-7R. I must admit when I first sat on it, it seemed way too soft and a little bit cramped, but out on the road I had a right laugh razzing it around. The low seat meant getting your knee down was a piece of cake and the soft set-up gave it a really plush feel – okay it was maybe a little too soft, and when we upped the ante and started pushing on a bit on some of the faster roads it did tend to make a few shapes. But even then it wasn’t skittish and frightening, and it all added to the fun if you ask me. Low down fuelling, on this particular bike, had room for improvement, but once the engine was…

Sorry to point this out to RSV owners who are fans of WSB, but the bike you own never technically raced. WSB is a ‘silhouette’ racing class and Aprilia only actually homologated the limited edition RSV SP for the series, and it is actually a different shape to the road bike as well as having a totally different motor that was built by Cosworth! Moving on and the RSV Mille is the base model of the RSV range and lacks the R’s OZ Racing wheels and Öhlins suspension. That’s the bad news, the good news is that aside from carrying a Sachs shock and Showa forks, the Mille is identical to the R in terms of its V990 motor and chassis. In 2001 Aprilia updated the RSV engine with bigger…

There are plenty of folk with seriously fond memories of the K5 Gixer thou’ so you can’t blame Suzuki for wanting to capitalise on that by utilising the much-loved K5 motor in their addition to the super naked sector. A smart move, given that Suzuki would seriously struggle in a game of spec sheet Top Trumps, even just against the other Jap bikes but particularly if the Euro trash joined in too. Perhaps if the Suzuki’s only opponent was the Kawasaki, it might stand a chance of Top Trumps triumph – after all it does have price on its side, being the cheapest bike in the entire test (Euro stuff included) at £10,099. From side-on the GSX-S looks like a typical super naked. Short, stocky, muscular and aggressive – but…

The absence of a quickshifter on the Suzuki didn’t help it in the wheelie stakes, but in actual fact it wasn’t a bad bike to hoist up on one wheel. The peculiar thing about wheelieing the GSX-S is what happens when you put the front wheel down: the forks don’t seem to give at all and you get the feeling that if you were to land a little bit pissed-up, the forks would ask too much from the tyre and turn a small tank slapper into a big tank slapper. It never actually happened, but it wasn’t very confidence inspiring. 6/10…

On the roads the Honda’s a charmer, with its comfortable and suave mannerisms, but what’s good for the streets is seldom good on track… as quickly became evident. Where do we start? The suspension’s as good a place as any. The supple disposition of the CB really cost it big time on track. At times it felt like I was trying to steer a rubber duck around a bend, casually feeling it buckle and fold when I got a little forceful with my demands. It was not the stable dream I wanted it to be, with the front end making me feel edgier than a game of Russian roulette. It had a habit of running wide on corner entry, forcing me to lower my pace and introduce more trail braking…

When Yamaha say the MT has a shed load of torque, they really aren’t buggering about. As soon as I touched the throttle the MT would just unleash itself, and although it wants to wheelie the riding position really allowed me to get over the front end and use the rear brake easily. The fact that the thing is an absolute animal meant it lost a bit of time over the European nakeds, but it was still bloody fast… especially on the speed run where it made 159mph feel like nothing!…

This one is actually the third Hypermotard I’ve owned as I just absolutely love the models, and I bought the bike a couple of years ago with the paintjob as I loved the look. It’s had a fair few owners with me being the fifth, and I’m pretty sure it’s been tracked at some point in its life but not by me yet – I’ve spent time making it as trick as possible. Even so it had a crank seizure six months back, which initiated a full strip and rebuild of the bike. That meant I could give it even more love, especially on the outside as I’ve become pretty OCD on coatings. As per usual with Ducatis (and more so older ones) they’re not the best with their finish.…

On No Limits trackdays, at home or abroad, you’ll always be able to hire a track bike. Tim Jewitt explains why he’s a habitual hirer… “Not everyone sees my logic, but I think it makes a lot of sense to hire a trackday bike. Yes, it comes at a price, but I never have to pay for tyres, it costs me no money in servicing and there’s the luxury of just turning up somewhere and having a bike ready, prepped and with tyre warmers on. If I crash, it’s going to cost me £600.…

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Andy Hoare One of the best tracks in the UK and world. It’s fast fun and makes for good racing. Had some great times there and will always see it as my home track. Pablo Escoba Absolutely awesome circuit! Can’t beat Gerard’s for a bit of rear sliding elbow down action! Phil Harris Did a trackday with James Whitham track training last month (and a few previously). Great little circuit, especially for newcomers to track riding. There is a good contrast of corners from the fast sweeping Gerard’s, the drop through Devil’s Elbow, to the tight hairpin. The track surface itself is in good condition, with only a few little scrapes coming out from Edwina’s chicane from bikes being too eager to get on the gas! Good food is always…

It’s almost the New Year, which means we’re one step closer to the new racing season… and I for one am bloody excited as BSB is promising to be back and bigger than ever. Now yeah, I know people always seem to say that, but with Haslam and Shakey (probably) out of proceedings, it really is giving that little extra breathing space for the rest of the grid to get their guns on show. Although it will be far from easy… So what’s been happening since the last time I put pen to paper? Well the first little nugget is that the JG Speedfit Kawasaki squad have already been out spinning some laps, giving Irwin and Currie their fast taste of the ZX-10RR – albeit not the new one they’ll…

Christmas? Nah, next year has already been cracking, with the first of the pre-season tests held at Aragon circuit in Spain. So, with the biggest teams in the paddock attending, what did you miss? As you’d expect, the reigning champ (x4) Jonathan Rea looked to have started 2019 in very much the same way he finished this season; on a tweaked and updated version of the Kawasaki ZX10-RR he lapped 1.5 seconds quicker than anyone else. Yep, 1.5 seconds. A lap. When the guy is already wiping the floor, does he really need that 600 rev increase that the stock version has been given? Nope. It wasn’t all about Rea though as British champion Leon Haslam also got his first run out on the new bike. After a number of…

It seems like a long time since I wrote my last column. I remember writing how I was looking forward to getting the chance to race my twin brother, Tom, for the first time this year at Brands Hatch in the final round of the British Superstock Championship. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to as only a few laps into free practice he jumped off his Gixer and landed in A&E (eventually). I’ll tell you what, if brains were dynamite, that lad wouldn’t have enough to blow his nose! His recovery is going quite well, but I’ll let him tell you all about that next month. I was racing the Aprilia RSV4 for EHA/IN Competition Racing and I had done a few tests beforehand which went well, so I…