August

Year: 2001

Month: August

Strange but true

05 August 2001

Here’s our latest round-up of motorcycle-related madness from an increasingly odd world. FRANCE: Inspired by the Starboyz and their fur-covered FireBlades, this French biker seems to have taken the...

John Robinson dies

05 August 2001

It’s with enormous sadness that we report the passing of John Robinson, Performance Bikes’ technical editor. He was 56. John died peacefully in the evening of August 6, in the BUPA Hospital,...

Cash for crashes on foot and mouth mats

05 August 2001

Riders who crashed on disinfected mats put down to curb the spread of foot and mouth could get compensation. Carole Nash is investigating a batch of 23 claims. If the claims are successful, it could...

Land’s End to John O’Groats without putting a foot down

05 August 2001

Wayne Booth has set a record for riding Land’s End to John O’Groats without a stop for so much as a pee… let alone to refuel. Careful planning meant his 854-mile journey was completed without even...

Bulldog Bash now on

05 August 2001

Picture a cross between Ibiza, Brands WSB, Reading Festival and a tattooists’ convention and you’ll get an inkling of what’s going on near Stratford-upon-Avon from Thursday to Sunday this week. From...

James Whitham in his own words

05 August 2001

MCN: In a recent VIP chat Chris Walker said that his ideal team-mate would be you. Who would your ideal team mate? JamesWhitham: Er, probably Chris. The thing is, I like to be in a team where I can get on with people. Somebody like Chris or Steve Plater, just somebody I get on with, and to be honest, most people in racing I get on with cos they’ve got a similar background but Chris would be a good...

Foggy, Perry, Corser fly with the Red Arrows

05 August 2001

For years, the eyes of Carl Fogarty glinted out from inside his crash helmet striking fear into his rivals. But not today. It’s like he’s caught a glimpse of his own reflection and the colour is...

Whitham considers a return to British superbikes

05 August 2001

World Supersports rider Jamie Whitham was in our VIP Lounge on Thursday lunchtime answering your questions on everything from filling his pants on the grid to how he got a scar on his chest. He...

The CCM Roadster with 65% more power

05 August 2001

Mick Keogh has managed to squeeze an extra 65 per cent more bhp from a CCM Roadster, giving it 78bhp. Makes you wonder what he’d do with a Hayabusa… Devon-based Mick, of tuning firm Sportax, is still...

The best of the best

05 August 2001

More than 50 crack pilots apply to join the Red Arrows every year. Only three of them are successful. Those who do succeed become part of a flying legend which has been wowing crowds all over the...

Swindon Speedway meet off

05 August 2001

The torrential rain the Swindon area has seen in the last 24 hours means Friday night’s home Knockout Cup meeting with Exeter has had to be called off. The semi-final tie will now be staged on Sunday, August 12 at 6.30pm.

Carmichael in stunt action

05 August 2001

Watch Kevin Carmichael abuse a Suzuki at the GSX-R Festival.

Buell’s Firebolt radical? We’ve seen it all before

05 August 2001

When Buell released its new Firebolt two weeks ago, it came with a host of unusual features. But how many of these are actually new? Is the bike a radical machine bristling with 21st Century concepts,...

First ride on the Hodgson Replica 996S

05 August 2001

Marc Potter has been riding the Hodgson Replica 996S and you can read his first test verdict here. Next week you’ll be able to see video of Hodgson himself on the bike on the Isle of Man. And the WSB...

Revealed: Suzuki’s giant trailie

01 August 2001

We’ve been talking about it since 1999, now Suzuki has finally given it a name and a finished form, and here it is: the XF1000L. Our artist’s impression is just as you’ll see the bike when it is...

How good is your lid?

01 August 2001

Does your lid fit brilliantly or let too much wind noise in? Is it easy to change the visor? Do the vents work? Are the fasteners easy to use? Tell us and tell the world by writing a review.All you...

The new look of the R1

01 August 2001

This exclusive drawing is the most accurate impression yet of how the new Yamaha R1 will look for 2002. It’s based on detailed information from the factory. Only the colour-scheme is likely to change.

Benefit from Ray’s advice

01 August 2001

Ray Stringer was in our chatrooms at 1pm on Thursday to dish out valuable advice on tyres, suspension and engine tuning. He answered close to 60 questions in the 45-minute session ranging from how to...

Brands WSB: the way you saw it

01 August 2001

Here are just some of your pictures from the experience that was Brands Hatch World Superbikes. If you’ve got some to add, send them by email to david.cushman@emap.com. We’ve got 10 copies of The...

The Sahara and back in six days

01 August 2001

We rode to the Sahara and back on a BMW R1150GS, Aprilia CapoNord and Triumph Tiger 955i. Here’s the day-by-day story… This was originally updated daily, which is why you’ll find the final day at the...

Crescent GSX-R750 Parts List

01 August 2001

Forks: Factory Showa/Ohlins, £12,000/£1500; Shock: Factory Showa, £5000; Swingarm: Factory Suzuki, £3000; Magnesium yokes: Factory Suzuki, £1000; Handlebars: Factory Suzuki, £400; Front brakes: AP...

Don’t believe everything you read about speeding

01 August 2001

The police and media seem all too willing to believe in the big, bad menace of speeding motorcyclists… so much so that they’ve really ended up with egg on their faces this time. Chelmsford newspaper the Essex Chronicle ran a story about a rider caught doing 137mph on a local road, and got so indignant about it that they ran a " comment " column about it, berating the rider and insisting he be...

Feel the speed in a Hayabusa outfit

01 August 2001

A Hayabusa feels shatteringly fast from the relatively high position of the rider’s seat. Imagine what if feels like from that Tarmac-level outfit? Sidecar firm boss Phil Ball has been dreaming of...

Ray Stringer’s live advice clinic

01 August 2001

MCN:- I own a 2000 CBR600FY, I’m 6′ 1” tall and weigh 13 stone. I find that to prevent the bike from wallowing in bends I have to increase the rebound damping so much it becomes uncomfortable the rest of the time. Would different springs to suit my weight help? RayStringer:- Yes. Yeah, if you went to a proper weighted spring but you’d probably want more compression damping on there more than just...

Your pictures of the stars

01 August 2001

All the pictures of the riders and legends that were at the Kent track

First test of Foggy rep Monster S4

01 August 2001

According to the crowds at Brands there is only one Carl Fogarty. Fortunately there is more than one Fogarty replica. First there was the 996SPS Foggy rep. Now there is the Monster S4 Foggy rep. So...

Strange but true…

01 August 2001

Here’s our latest round-up of motorcycle related oddities from around the planet. If you know of one worthy of inclusion in our next collection, e-mail jon.urry@emap.com GERMANY: SPOTTED in German...

Win a WSB video signed by Foggy

01 August 2001

Since early Monday morning you’ve been e-mailing in your pictures of the racing, stars, babes and casualties of Brands Hatch WSB. Now’s your chance to win a copy of the History of the World Superbike Championship video simply by picking which submitted picture you like best. We have five copies signed by Carl Fogarty. Four will go to the people who sent in the pictures which get the four highest...

What the parts will cost you

01 August 2001

It’s difficult to justify forking out the price of a three-bedroomed semi in Accrington for a road bike, let alone a machine you’d have trouble using outside a track and which is destined to see...

Your pictures of the fans

01 August 2001

A selection of the best pictures of the crowds and atmosphere at Brands Hatch

Ask Schwantz

01 August 2001

We’re interviewing GP legend Kevin Schwantz on Wednesday, and here’s your chance to take part. If you have a question, e-mail it to us now and we’ll put the best of them to the man himself. E-mail...

Your pictures of the ladies

01 August 2001

All the pictures of the lovely ladies that provided such a distraction from the racing.

The new bikes of 2002 brought together

01 August 2001

From now until the big bike shows of Autumn, you’ll find an ever-growing section on motorcyclenews.com bringing together all the new bikes of 2002. Each time we break news of a 2002 bike, we’ll also add it to this new section. That way you can see all the bikes together. Why not check it out now? There may be some you’ve missed from the Gilera 600 and 2002 FireBlade to a Laverda scooter and...