Friday night at the Ace Cafe seemed like a great antidote to enduring a week without the Victory. Hinckley dealer Windy Corner had discovered a stone wedged in the drive belt while changing the tyres after the bike suffered a puncture. It had lacerated the Kevlar-reinforced belt badly enough to need replacement at £250 for the belt and £90 to ...
- Motorcycle News
- 12 August 2011
Norton took two big steps toward an even bigger future this week, with production of its first Euro 3-compliant Commandos, and the approval of plans for a substantial new Donington Park factory. Euro 3 is the latest EU emissions standard for bikes and compliance means Commandos are now marketable in a bigger range of countries worldwide and potentially speeds up ...
- Motorcycle News
- New bikes
- 01 July 2011
Spain is the spiritual home of MotoGP and Jerez is traditionally the first Spanish race of the season. I’d never been there, so it seemed a great way to kick off my year of new biking experiences. A quote from Jorge Lorenzo that I’d read, about Jerez being one of the few tracks where the riders can hear the crowd, ...
- Riding & Events
- Touring & travel
- 20 June 2011
Having taken the Santander ferry to go to the Jerez MotoGP, here are Mark Holmes' ferry tips for bikers: 1. Check your sailing details to see how early you have to check in at the port. You don’t want to be late and miss the boat – especially as Santander ferry sailings are often days apart! 2. If you don’t ...
- Riding & Events
- Touring & travel
- 16 June 2011
Last September I celebrated my 50th birthday. As I struggled to blow out the candles on my birthday cake, two things dawned on me. First I realised that, in terms of time, my past now greatly outweighed any future I might have. Then it dawned on me that there was still a hell of a lot of motorcycling stuff I ...
- Riding & Events
- Touring & travel
- 16 June 2011
Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa tyres, £220 a pairMiles covered/time: 3500/four months What’s good: I had these tyres fitted to my long-term test KTM Duke 690 R this summer and absolutely loved them. I’m always dubious of claims like ‘the only hypersport tyre for road and track use with WSB technology’ and acronyms like EPT (Enhanced Patch Technology) but these finely-crafted ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Tyres
- 21 February 2011
Arai Quantum helmet, £469.99Miles covered/time: 3000/four monthsWhat’s good? I got this helmet last September, to replace my ageing Viper GT which had just about had its days after giving years of sterling service. This Quantum caught my eye – it’s designed by Aldo Drudi, the guy who does Rossi’s lids.It has the same combination of perfect fit and maximum comfort ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Helmets
- 21 February 2011
Hein-Gericke Voyage GTX suit, £730Miles covered/time: 3000/four monthsWhat’s good: I’ve been asking a lot of this suit. I’m wearing it for my 80-mile daily commute in all conditions on my KTM Duke 690R – a bike with no wind or weather protection whatsoever. The suit has to do all the hard work to keep me dry and warm, and it’s ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Leathers, jackets & suits
- 15 February 2011
KTM rear tailpack, £107.17Miles covered/time: 2500/four monthsWhat’s good: This seemed like a great idea as an alternative to a drag-inducing, shoulder-straining rucksack – a tail pack that pops easily onto a bracket on the tailpiece of my KTM Duke 690R.It looks good, it’s big enough to take my lunchpack, spare visor and gloves during everyday commuting duties (and can be ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Parts & accessories
- 07 February 2011
Held Spark leather trousers, £150.20Miles covered/time: 3000/five monthsWhat’s good? I wanted a pair of good quality, kneeslider-free leather trousers – and these looked just the job. In thick but supple cowhide, with stretch leather around the knees and on the calves, they felt immediately comfortable and needed no ‘breaking in’. Save £££s on motorcycle trousers The Knox CE-approved armour on ...
- Motorcycle Products
- Leathers, jackets & suits
- 11 January 2011
