Innehållsförteckning för March 2020 från Fast Bikes

It’s clear to see that things have moved on substantially, and fantastically in the last two decades. But not every piece of space-age tech is worth its weight in gold. There is no question that the latest Speed Triple is a better motorcycle than the 20-year-old Speed Triple that Nick so kindly let us take for a spin; it’s faster, lighter, comfier, easier to ride, the list goes on. But it’s also five or six times the price (£13,600 for the 1050 RS, like the one we tested). Can you have five or six times the fun on it, though? Well, I’d say probably not. I know it’s not just about fun; you’d expect a lot better reliability from an uber-modern bike, and there is always the question of what…

Here at Fast Bikes magazine, we’re bag fans of the big M (and no, I’m not talking about McDonalds, Boothy). And for good reason as well; for years their slicks and treads have kept us upright on tracks all over the country, and the new CompK slick is an absolute corker in terms of price versus performance. But after struggling a touch during last year’s slick test, how would they hold up with cuts against the competition? Well from the get-go, it was all good news. I’d never done any racing or such like on Metzelers, but from pit exit there was an instant familiarity; yeah, they felt like a new set of rubber, but they did ooze that essence of Pirelli-esque softness, which inspired me to go for it,…

There’s a lot to be said for rubber hoops. I mean, most of us spend a shed-load of time, money and effort on our bikes, so why not equip the very best rubber to look after ‘em, and more importantly, ourselves? To be honest, like Dangerous found out when testing the slicks last year, there genuinely wasn’t a bad tyre on test. It’s worth remembering that every lump of rubber we thrashed had taken a hell of a lot of time and money to develop, which is exactly why we had to be so brutal in the reviews; every tyre had to be treated equally with the proper factory pressures, the same time on warmers, and near enough to the same track temp we could get. And even though they…

Dean Birkumshaw My GSXR has a daytime MOT. Was fairly simple... left the horn on, all lights removed and got the MOT done. It didn't have these tyres and I don't recommend V02s for the road, though! Colin George This has a daytime MOT. Helps being able to run it up the road to check and make adjustment before a race weekend. Ian Taylor As above, horn, rear number plate and reflector, road legal tyres and exhaust, and you’re good to go. Kevin Day Track bike back on the road; rear light with single filament bulb, horn, plate, MOT, tax, and there you go. Rodger Lovelace My R6 has what you’re calling a daytime MOT, horn and reg plate; some stations ask you to put a reflector on. Most MOT…

Darryl Roberts BMW S1000RR Lucky I had my camera with me… [true story!] Gary Sinclair Suzuki GSX-R600 Mission Bay, New Zealand, the sun setting on 2019. Michael Noah Honda CRF450 The cold, wet weather didn’t stop us doing a 60-mile green laning trip around Cambridge area. Was very wet in places. Anthony Hall Kawasaki ZX-6R Cambridge Bikers toy run to Addenbrookes hospital. Andy Dondhew A couple of wayward Aprilias… Took both mine out on Boxing Day, returned them to the garage and came out the next day to find this. Micael Mulcahy Kawasaki Versys 1000 I commute all-year round. Herefordshire, UK Spike John Griffin Ducati Hypermotard December 23, Ryka's Café, up Box Hill then back to High Beach. Kyle Ardito Suzuki V-Strom 180-mile round trip for breakfast at the Iron…

I’ve been really busy since writing my last column and had a really good Christmas and New Year. I did loads of travelling, seeing people that I don’t get time to see much of throughout the rest of the year, so that was really good. For Christmas Day and Boxing Day I was on the Isle of Man with a good friend who owns L’expérience restaurant in Douglas – he might look a bit like Hayley Cropper, but he is a bloody good chef, so if you are ever over there, his restaurant comes fully recommended by me, but don’t say I’ve sent you – he might add a bit onto the bill! I came home for the New Year and then went to a party at a friend’s house…

TRIUMPH UNVEIL THEIR LEARNER FRIENDLY 2020 STREET TRIPLE S Fresh from the release of their Street Triple RS at the end of last year, Triumph have just dropped their newest addition to the range, a wallet-friendly, A2-friendly 660cc middleweight. Unlike its bigger capacity and higher spec sibling, the Street Triple S is aimed at riders on an A2 licence, which means that it’s powered by a 660cc triple engine that delivers 47 horsepower and 60Nm, thanks to a restrictor kit. Don't fret though, as this can be easily de-restricted once you’ve passed your full test by any Triumph dealer, to then give you 94 horses and 66Nm of torque, which makes it good value if you don’t fancy buying two bikes. Mind you, it’s not all about being entry level,…

I’m not sure about you lot, but I absolutely loved the first iteration of Ducati’s V4S. It proved an utter, fire-breathing monster, with a riding experience that felt more like an acid-laced dragon than a MotoGP inspired protégé. For sheer fun that’s not such a bad thing, but when it came to hunting down lap times or having the fitness to fight it all day on track, let’s just say it proved pretty damn draining. The good news is that for 2020 Ducati’s been back in the lab and has delivered us something a little softer, cuddlier, and supposedly easier to blast around on… but how have they managed it? Looking at the spec sheet, the new V4S’s DNA may only look trivially different to what’s come before, but don’t…

Whilst we were all busy worrying about whether or not the millennium bug was going to initiate a self-destruct sequence on our plasma screened desktop computers, the good people of Hinckley were working on a machine that, along with the Daytona (on which it was based), would reignite the brand’s popularity the world over. And I’m glad they did because 20 years later I found myself astride reader Nick Mowbray’s gleaming example of said motorcycle, the Speed Triple 955i. But what for, and why, I hear you ask? Well, the last 20 years have been pretty exciting times as far as new bikes go, with more powerful engines, lighter and more efficient chassis, better suspension, and that’s not to mention all the electronic systems that adorn all our super-modern space-aged…

FB: After a few bad years, you really found something last season. What made it click for you? TB: Erm, in all honesty? It was probably just a lot of belief in the team really. It sounds strange, but not permanently being spilled a load of bullshit about bikes, bits and everything else that I’ve previously had to deal with really made all the difference in myself. When I’ve made my mind up about someone or something, that’s it – and I’ve had a lot of bad experiences in previous seasons, if I’m going to be brutally honest. It just took away from my riding. Yeah, Wilf [Steve Moore, Moto Rapido Boss/Bike Setup) is a bit like Marmite to get on with, but it’s completely black and white with him…

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. When I finally got my hands on it, I fell in love straight away! From then on, I couldn’t help but do a few little improvements, starting with the carbon fairings after a little off… I think I’m a bit addicted to carbon! I then did some work on the brakes, and a little on the performance, and I think it’s near enough perfect.…

I find Michelin a real funny subject when talking about two-wheeled tyres. Think about it; they represent and run the rubber at the very pinnacle of racing in MotoGP, yet when was the last time you ever saw a significant amount of branding, support or any involvement at a national level? Nah, I don’t remember either. But then again, brand awareness definitely doesn’t equate to grip on track, so I was secretly excited to have the Michelin man watching over me. From the very off in my head I was little cynical, as Michelin was the only manufacturer to deliver us a 190 section rear tyre (instead of a 200). This meant that after half a lap or so I could throw the GSX-R into corners with absolute and unparalleled…

Having trashed more Pirellis than I probably have done nappies in my lifetime, it’s fair to say, I was pretty excited to stick on a set of Supercorsas and see what I could do. I mean, racing a GSX-R on Pirelli rubber itself almost lended itself to a slight advantage, as from pit exit, I felt utterly confident to go balls out, without even a hint of doubt – and the Pirellis obliged with undeniable ease. It was definitely the tyre I went fastest on straight away, and from the offset, the thing that was the most impressive was the agility; compared to the competition, the flick-ability of the Supercorsas made me feel I was riding a 600, while the levels of stability right on the edge of the tyre…

Considering Suzuki are a company that have a reputation for brashness, not to mention a real flair for naked bikes that sell, it seemed remarkable that as the world turned super naked crazy, they were the only manufacturer missing out. Surely they could take their aging, but packed full of grunt, GSX-R1000, rip off its fairing, fit a set of flat bars and hey presto, create a proper full-on super naked? Well, in late 2015 it looked like they had finally done just that as the GSX-S1000 was launched. Or had they… A deeper delve into the GSX’s spec sheet revealed that it was indeed powered by a GSX-R1000 engine – but not the latest version, one that was based on the K5 lump. Hang on a second, wasn’t that…

It doesn’t matter what level you’re competing at, you will always look back on a race weekend and criticise the way you managed some of it, probably dwell on something you forgot to take or how you handled a particular incident or situation, so be as prepared as you can. A successful racing team will have a procedure in place for all team members, ensuring that the key jobs are literally ticked off a to-do list and each weekend the whole team becomes much more professional and super slick. You could manage your race prep by making your own basic check lists and developing them over the year, to create a number of check lists that cover everything. From packing the van, tools and equipment, to jobs to do before…

FB: What is Datatag? MT: Essentially, Datatag is a forensic security marking system which, when applied to an asset, marks it with a unique identity. It’s used on a whole range of different products, and is done using multiple layers of technology for the ultimate in security. FB: Are there different kinds of Datatag? MT: Yes, as there are so many uses, Datatag systems are product specific – Datatag has systems for many different assets including motorcycles, scooters, jet skis, bicycles, cars, boats, diggers and much more. Datatag has been the supplier for the official motorcycle industry scheme for over five years now and most brands fit a standard kit to their 126cc and above capacity machines – so most big bikes since 2012 already have Datatag fitted out of…

Q I was riding in a long queue behind what I eventually discovered to be a car being driven very badly. As I worked my way to the front I could see a car being driven in ‘classic old lady’ mode. The driver was hesitant, her speed varied between 25mph and 45mph in a 60 zone. Her brake lights were coming on for no reason, so I decided to go for an overtake in a safe area. Just as I was overtaking, and I do have loud pipes, the car violently braked and slewed right, just clipping me. The rear corner of the ‘old lady mobile’ had a slightly damaged rear offside balance, a scuff mark left by my tyre. Neither me nor my bike came off that well. I…

When the 955i came along, superseding the T509 with its 955cc engine, it was considered pretty cutting edge, with its fuel-injected engine and its 120bhp. It was a man’s bike. Big, bulky and brutish it may have been, but under-seat cans and a single-sided swinging arm gave the Speed’ the ‘edge’ that made it stylish as well as substantial. The more I looked at the thing, the more it struck me as a kind of halfway house between the modern and the retro; its aggressive stance wouldn’t look out of place in a supernaked line-up even today, but its twin round headlights are a real throwback to the days of old. The new Speed’s twin headlights, whilst they seem to pay a loose tribute to those of the old bike,…

MEET SCOTT This self-employed builder hasn’t been riding bikes as long as some, but what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in enthusiasm. A self-confessed Ducati fanboy, his 899 takes pride of place in his garage, but there is an R6 track bike in there too; an R6 that he plans on racing with No Limits Racing this season. Good luck Scott, we’ll see you there! I’ve always found myself drawn to Ducatis. It’s not really intentional, but there is just something about them! I remember seeing them when I was a kid and loving everything about them, it’s like they are the Ferrari of the bike world and that’s probably why I fell in love with them. They are just a bit more special than your run…

There’s a lot to be said for some good rubber. It can save you a lot of pain, heartache and crashes… and I’m not even talking about tyres yet. But joking aside, what’s the point in spanking all your hard-earned crash on the latest machine and some of the greatest parts, to then go and put some crap hoops on? I mean, you wouldn’t see Mo Farah running the Olympics in rubbish shoes, and with the price of tyres nowadays, you need to be extra picky with what you want. And that got us thinking. Last year Dangerous went out and thrashed the very latest and greatest that the world of slick tyres had to offer, sampling all the delights of purebred race rubber. By scoring them on their feel…

There’s a lot to be said about brand awareness, and Continental really does lag behind in that respect. I mean, who can honestly say they’ve thought about equipping their superbike with a set of Contis? I hadn’t, but after sampling their delights, I’ll my preconceptions were wildly irrational – there’s a reason they’re becoming a bigger face in the club racing paddocks. After a day of getting acquainted with the track, I slipped the Conti Race Attack Comps in first. Between you and me, I’d always wanted to try a proper set of Continental rubber but never had the chance, so after an hour of tyre warming-temptation, I was like a giddy child laced up on sugar. And you know what? I was about as ham fisted and excitable as…

Truth be told, I have actually sampled the delights of Dunlop track tyres before. Alas, I was wobbling around on Boothy’s TT-spec ZX-10R and I was concentrating so hard not to crash the bloody thing that I didn’t even give a thought as to what rubber I had on. But you know what? After hearing how highly he spoke of ‘em (they can get his big old bum round the Isle of Man pretty quickly) I couldn’t wait to have a taste. You see these D213GPs are slightly newer with a few bits of new tech for more grip, which meant from the very beginning I had incredibly high hopes; even after sticking in what seemed to be some utterly astounding pressures. 21 PSI at the back? Jeez. But I’m…

Daytime MOT; what is it? There is a lot of confusion over the phrase ‘Daytime MOT’ because that isn’t really what it is. There is only one type of MOT, and that is a standard one, which you can either pass or fail. You can have major fails, minor fails and you can have advisories. The so-called ‘daytime MOT’ is really an MOT pass, with an advisory to say that there were ‘no lights fitted at the time of testing, therefore the bike can only be used during hours of good visibility’, which is predominantly the daytime. There are other advisories, like misting fork seals and things like that – you don’t have to do anything about them, it’s just advisable to do so. There are some advisories, like the…

SNAZZY Hi, please find attached a few photos of my 2017 S1000XR. Fully Ilimberger Carbon, BST wheels, Akra titanium headers and SC can. Loads of other added extras also. Best regards, Steven Snowball FB: Wow, that’s pretty trick if we do say so ourselves. Nice going! NICELY DONE Hiya! Well, popped out for a ride with my boss, me on my Rivale 800 and him on his HP4 S1000RR and headed to Loomies café outside Alton from Basingstoke. Had a nice cuppa and some lunch, and the boss suggested popping into Bahnstormer Alton on the way from the café for another cuppa. Next thing I know I’m on a test ride of a S1000R in motorsport colours. I blink and I’m heading home to show the wife my new 68…

“It’s crazy that people still think like that; building a stocker isn’t the gig it used to be,” explained Crowe Performance’s front man and TT racer Phil Crowe. “Yeah, you can cut corners, you can cap costs, but to build a pukka stocker takes some serious graft, parts and a whole lot of knowledge.” Phil’s built his company’s name on transforming road bikes for the track, building for trackday customers and international racers alike. On paper, he slots in among an elite group of UK tuners, but where he bucks the trend is in that he races what he builds! Or as Phil likes to put it: “We test, race, and can fit most of the products that we recommend and sell to our customers. “Part of the reason I…