Innehållsförteckning för January 2021 från Fast Bikes

It seems like a long time ago when BMW introduced their first iteration of the S 1000 R, all the way back in 2014. And now finally, after what feels like a long time coming, their new contender has arrived… Strangely, even though the new R is based heavily on a mixture of the latest RR (as you’d expect) and a lot of work making it its very own machine, they’ve opted to use the heavily detuned version of the motor, stolen from the XR. This essentially means that the naked has had a serious chop in terms of performance compared with the RR…although BMW say that this does massively improve the mid-range. This is all well and good, but that means that on paper the S 1000 R makes…

I’m sorry to say it but superbikes don’t suit everyone. They might be the coolest thing since the end of the last ice age but for most of us, they are far too fast, far too expensive and far too uncomfortable. And it’s for that very reason that we decided to bring you this, a test of some slightly more sensible steeds. All either new or updated for 2020, here is a collection of motorbikes that isn’t going to land you in the dock, isn’t going to require a loan from the International Monetary Fund to buy, and isn’t going to cause another flare-up of your piles. And we’re representing four different nations in this international test: Japan, Austria, Germany and the UK, to find out which one of these…

I’d heard a hell of a lot of good things about the new 890 Duke R, so I was as keen as mustard to take the bike out for a spin and see for myself if it really was as good as everyone had said it was. KTM seem to have a knack for building bikes that are nothing if not fun to ride, and I had a feeling the 890 was going to be no exception. I did quite a few miles last year on a 790 Duke, and I think I was expecting something similar to that when I first climbed aboard the 890. Initially, it’s not too dissimilar; you get the typical KTM supermoto-esque feeling straight away, which isn’t a bad thing. You are sat up high…

When it comes to discussing the rider aids on a modern bike, mainly in the Superbike category, it’s normally met with some debate over the need or requirement for assistance when riding on the road or on track. For road riding, why wouldn’t you just trust billions of pounds worth of R&D and simply run with it? Any bike that’s been built in recent years has such a high level of electronic rider aids that you don’t even know when you’re being assisted. But track riding is quite different, so here’s what I think about rider aids. Ten to 15 years ago, I would’ve said turn it off, the anti-wheelie systems just felt like the whole bike was shut down for one second before slamming the wheel back down, traction…

It already seems a lifetime since we were clocking laps at Brands Hatch, fighting in the final round of the championship. It’s been the most crazy of years, but I’m pretty happy with how it all played out; finishing fifth in the championship on my Hawk Suzuki…just a few points off third. It was a big year for me, in which I got my first Superstock 1000 win, found myself at home in a mega team and I’ve come out of the season fighting fit and hungrier than ever for the 2021 season. I’ll put it out there right now; I want to win the title next year and I reckon I’ve got just as much chance as anyone else. There’s been so much to reflect on, and I know…

There’s a reason that Kawasaki have won the last six (yeah, six!) WSBK titles -and it’s not just because of the bloke(s) sitting on top. The ZX-10R has been a staple machine on every grid from Monza to Mallory Park, from World Superbike to trackday, and although it isn’t anew bike from the ground up, Kawasaki have been very busy improving on their proven platform. So what do you need to know? Well essentially, the engine and chassis remains largely the same, with minute changes to each that will, in turn, hopefully chisel out those tenths on track. The riding position has been altered for a racier type position, and the new fairing package has been created with serious aerodynamics and downforce in mind, alongside gifting the ZX-10R with some…

Yamaha have been impressive with their amount of releases for 2021, but one of the most important for us is their sub-litre naked wheelie monster…the MT-09. For 2021, Yamaha have gifted the MT-09 with a new, chunkier engine; it’s got an extra 42cc, which in turn means the new ’09 gives an extra four horsepower, alongside an extra 6Nm of torque from last year’s model. It isn’t just bigger though, oh no; it comes with a whole host of updates, including new camshafts, pistons, crankcases, exhaust system and even a redesigned fuel injection system, which Yamaha say will make that throttle connection extra crisp. They’ve also given the new ’09s a whole new chassis and swingarm combo, which is not only lighter and more compact but also offers more lateral…

I was really quite excited to have a go on the F900 R. I had a feeling that this might have been the first time BMW have decided to make a bike that was all about fun. I’m not entirely sure what made me think that, and when I clapped eyes on this one I quickly realised that I may have been barking up the wrong tree. The first things I noticed about the bike were the big sat nav plonked in front of the dash and of course the centre stand. This wasn’t going to be the naughty little naked that I had thought it was going to be; in fact it looked as though it was going to have somewhat of an adventure-y, touring-y bent, but I was…

Highlights The Triumph was another bike that’s been treated to a few tweaks for 2020, mainly in order to get it Euro5 compliant without losing too many ponies. The Hinckley lot have faffed with the motor and slapped on a new exhaust system which has increased the midrange torque by 9 %, which isn’t to be sniffed at, as well as shortening first and second gears to give the thing a little bit more punch when you are firing away from the traffic lights. While they were at it, they chucked some LED lights and a smarter electronics system in, that you can connect your phone and your GoPro to (why anyone would want to do that, I don’t know), and faffed with the bodywork a real little bit, but…

Big, bold and most certainly not a bike that can easily be ignored, Suzuki’s monster naked is one machine that does exactly what it says on the can. And in the case of the В-King, that is to “Be the King of the road.’ Well, as long as that road is straight and to be the ruler you are blessed with arms like Popeye and a neck like an Fl driver… Born under a bit of a cloud of disappointment in 2008, the В-King never really gained the popularity it deserved in the UK due to the fact Suzuki hyped it up so much that when it arrived it failed to meet expectations. Lacking the supercharger that the concept bike had teased riders with since the prototype appeared in 2001,…

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 this page, 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 haven’t won this time, there’s always next month. There are no cash alternatives available. The winning image will be drawn at random. Terms and conditions apply. To view the privacy policy of MMG Ltd (publisher of…

FB: Considering you’re a Brit, I think it’s fair to say you’ve gone under the radar for most of your career, as far as fans in Blighty are concerned. Tell us a bit about yourself? GB: Well, I was born in England, and actually come from Derbyshire. Both of my parents are English, but we moved to France, not far from Bordeaux, when I was three. It wasn’t actually for any particular reason, other than they wanted to live somewhere a bit sunnier with a little less rain! I’ve been here ever since, and I’ve just built a house in the same region. It’s lovely here. FB: And was racing always a big part of your life? GB: Bikes definitely always have been! My dad has always been into them,…

Ducati; redefining the term ‘bike porn’ since, well, as long as we can remember. Just look at this, their new Panigale V4 SP, which is the latest addition to the everexpanding Panigale family. So what is it exactly? Well essentially, the V4 SP is based on the bigger-capacity V4S rather than the homologation special V4R, which means that it comes equipped with the very same 1103cc powerplant, chassis and pogos; the latter being an Öhlins NIX-30 fork, Öhlins TTX36 rear shock absorber and Öhlins steering damper controlled by the second-generation Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 system. Oh, and talking of electronics, the Panigale V4 SP has everything you’d expect and incorporates the new strategy that’s on all of the new Pani V4s, which is the new Ducati Traction Control EVO3 (DTC…

Have you ever looked at a bike and come to realise that as long as you’ve got two ears and a nose you’ll never own one, let alone ride one? It’s not just me then. Bike shows are he worst for it, getting you all giddy as your each down to poke the titanium and can on Rossi’s Factory Yamaha M1, before the next bloke in line pushes you out of the way to repeat the process. Lustisaterrible thing, and it’s not just exotic women and prototype race bikes that are out of reach for the majority of us financially deficient (broke) mortals,because there’s often the occasional, exuberant production machine that comes to life in limited numbers and teases you worse than a lap dance…what ever they are. Yes, you…

Since 2016, the Z900 has proved to be a mega-popular bike, so it’s no surprise that Kawasaki decided to drag it into the 21st century for this year. Don’t get me wrong, the Zed hasn’t received a full-on overhaul, but it has been treated to some LED lights, some chassis bracing, anew cat’ and new dash that you can use to scroll through the new rider modes and TC settings. Other than that the Z900 is a lot like the old one – which is no bad thing. It’s certainly an interesting-looking bike, with its bright green trellis frame, but it didn’t grab me by the balls. It does have a slightly aggressive stance, but then the rubbers on the foot pegs seem to give the game away that the…

Have you decided which of these four bikes is your favourite yet? I know, it’s a tricky one, isn’t it. They all offer something unique, something that will help you get to your destination with greater ease, comfort, style or fun; all things that are important to most of us, but, I would wager, in vastly different proportions. If you’re planning a bit of a journey, and you want to get to your far, far away destination in comfort and style, then the BMW F 900 R ought to be the thing that gets your vote – the sat nav will see to it that you don’t get lost and the riding position will work wonders for your lumbago. If you want to do it in just as much comfort,…

2020... The age of 230bhp fire-breathing tractionless Superbike monsters. To ride around on the two-wheeled equivalent of one of Satan’s assistants, you’re going to need deep pockets and a lot of technical know-how to be able to get your hands on one, park it in your garage and get the best from it. The current flock of British Superbike monsters are unsurprisingly at the cutting edge of power, chassis and electronic development, aside from the traction control in WSBK. To get the maximum out of a BSB bike or even to enjoy riding one you’ve got to be a pretty high standard of rider yourself, or they’ll pull your arms into the next county and leave you feeling like an incompetent newbie who’s just passed their CBT. But, how far…

If you’re looking at heading out on to the track and want are liable, fast, exciting sports bike, there are an abundance of options to go for; the April law thits fantastic engine and brakes,the new Honda withits flawless front end, the BMW with its all-round capability and even the R1 with its ease of usability and agazillionworth of rider modes to choose from. If you’re ab it old fashioned, Ducati’s offerings are perhaps a choice you may look past due to old demonstrations of mechanical and electrical failures,plaguing the rider with frustration and anxiety as to how many sessions you would actually get out of a track day before it needs anew head gasket or anew loom. To that end you’d be forgiven for thinking the V4R needs a…

Q I was involved in quite a high energy impact on my motorbike. I broke my pelvis and still have pains in my lower spine. I made a fairly decent recovery, but I have a problem. My old fella will not perform reliably. I’m 47, I’ve had my kids, I had a vasectomy and I don’t want any more children, but I do not fancy the idea of another 40 years of me hoping that occasionally my little Mickey will rise to the occasion. My wife is understanding, and despite thinking before my accident I was a bit of a sex pest, she is not enjoying her new life as a nun. As far as I can tell, my marriage is okay but this is a real strain. I’ve raised…