Bike UK 09.2022_downmagaz.net_compressed

B r i t a i n ’s best-selling bike magazine 22 pages of SEPT 2022 £ 27 JULY - 30 AUG £4.80 KawasakiH2-the ultimate used buy Racing at Knockhill and Spa Living with a Hayabusa Lots of Guzzis THTHE EBEBSETSTOF[BikeoftheYear2022] 2022’s topnewbikes TriumphTiger ridden and rated Honda 1200 Rally Pro NT1100 Yamaha Yamaha The cleverest Triumph XSR900 R7 Looks dull. Isn’t Retro done right Basic brilliance Ducati DesertX Adventure got sexy PLUS: TriumphSpeedTripleRR, Suzuki GSX-S1000GT, BSA GoldStar, Husqvarna Norden, Zero SR/S &more! ‘I’m a biker, SuperstarDJand WHAT A WANKEL!racesponsor CarlCoxraps 220bhp,129.5kg and no traction control withMatOxley New Crighton ridden on Goodwood hill



Issue594September 2022 Hello Contactus: [email protected] or 01733 468099 facebook.com/bikemagazineUK twitter.com/BikeMagazine Delighted it Eligibility rules for Bike’s coveted exists: BSA’s Bike of the Year award are new Gold Star simple – to qualify motorcycles have to be new, or very substantially re-worked, for this year and available in dealer showrooms. The criteria for judging are more complicated and harder to define. New technology and design innovation are important, and so is performance in all areas. We also expect the new model to shake up an existing class or even create a new one. And while we don’t want to get hung up on value, a bargain price will shake things up. But there are a couple of other things that are less quantifiable too: first there’s just the celebration of the fact that it exists. Which is really why the BSA Gold Star is in the top ten even though we’ve only ridden it 7.6 miles – twice up the Goodwood hillclimb, and back down again. And also why we’re taking a gamble that the Gold Star will actually be in showrooms soon, to qualify as a 2022 bike – delivery was originally promised for March, but now we’re being told August. Hopefully. The sheer fact that the bike exists and that the brand appears to be credibly revived after a 50 year break is worth celebrating. Most important though is the seat of the pants sense of joy that a bike brings – that gabbling enthusiasm that comes across as soon as you get off the thing. We were all set to award this year’s top prize on the basis of technology and design innovation, but big grins changed our minds. Which is how it should be, bikes are for riding, and for getting excited about. Enjoy the issue, and write and tell us whether our Bike of the Year choice is wrong. Or right. PIC: ADAM SHORROCK Hugo Wilson Editor Having trouble finding Bike 1Print edition 2 Digital edition on 3Add it to your 4Still available to your door Bikes Unlimited online shopping in the shops We sell single editions by post at the We also have some superb offers You can add magazines to your Bike is still available in the shops too cover price or you can take out a available on BikesUnlimited, our online, home delivery grocery order so if you prefer a meander down the subscription and save money. digital app that allows you to read and have it brought to your door with High Street you can pick up your Subscribe to the print edition of Bike Bike magazine, as well as other the eggs and frozen peas and pay copy on the newsstand or from and get FREEUKdelivery as well as motorcycling publications; for it with the housekeeping budget. bigger supermarkets. Or get it while great discounts. Visit Motorcycle News, Ride, Practical If your provider doesn’t offer Bike, you are at the railway station or greatmagazines.co.uk Sportsbikes, Classic Bike and Built. then demand that they do. airport. 3

Subscribeto forjust£4.30amonth CALL 01858 438884 ONLINE greatmagazines.co.uk/bike Lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat) Quote ref: ZIAA ‘The Crighton is un-the- same as anything else’ 76 30 84 Any excuse for a picture The Dalton of a Ducati Supermono highway, on ice 4

Contents Bike of the Year, Carl Cox, return of the rotary and riding (sort of) through a jungle… Front end 08 THE FIVE BIKES THAT MATTER THIS MONTH 70 Energica’s new Experia, a custom KTM and more… Peter Hickman and Carl Cox discuss 19 BRAKING NEWS dance moves Herald, autobahn bad news, new bike crime research… Sport 24 DEALS ON WHEELS 08 HOW TO MAKE A TT WINNER Look back in delight with these cut-price retros. How P. Hickman’s BMW superbike became a TT winner. 26 WHAT’LL IT DO MISTER 16 AGAINST ALL ODDS Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT on Bike’s dyno, test track and scales. What it takes to run a Panigale V2 in World SuperSport. 28 THE ROAD 70 THE OXLEY INTERVIEW: CARL COX It’s out there calling to you. Just scan the code and go. Oxley talks Beats per Minute with road racing sponsor. 30 TECH 106 TEAM BIKE: SECOND AT SPA The problems of making a high performance single. Finishing second at Spa is turning into a habit. 33 BEEN THERE, GOT THE T-SHIRT 110 FRANCO AND BOASTY Classic Wayne Rainey attire bought at Donington in the ‘90s. Franco nets another win, Boasty chats with Neave twins. 34 LETTERS Know How DCT Fireblade, the joys of trail riding and the 1970s. 93 TOOL OF THE MONTH 36 SUBSCRIBE Having difficulty getting secure nipple purchase? Go on, you know it makes sense. 94 BUYING Features and Tests The ultimate used buy? Kawasaki Ninja H2 advice. 38 BIKE OF THE YEAR: THE COUNTDOWN 96 TEMPTATION Nine of 2022’s best bikes, ridden and rated. We all want to own a Moto Guzzi. Don’t we? Here’s some. 58 BIKE OF THE YEAR: THE WINNER 98 LAST RIDE: SUZUKI HAYABUSA Telling you now would spoil the excitement. What we’ve learnt after two months living with a ‘Busa. 68 BIKE OF THE YEAR: RUNNERS UP 101 THE TEST RESULTS The ones that didn’t make the final cut, and why. All the current bikes we’ve tested, with info and rating. 76 MAD BIKE OF THE YEAR 108 FAVOURITES 220bhp, 129 kilos, no electronics and the noise… The riding jeans we’ve been using, rated. 84 ADVENTURE: CROSSING THE DARIEN GAP 109 EVENTS Welcome to the jungle. Actually, unwelcome to the jungle. Some things to do in August. Mainly in Lincolnshire. 38 112 GLORIOUS RIDE Bike of the Year. We return to the Scottish Borders. The top five 112 TRY THIS Look confident when asked to kickstart an old single. 114 WEIRD AND WONDERFUL Family transport is a double scooter concept. 5

Team Bike This magazine is made by the most talented team of bike journalists, writers and photographers in the universe. Here’s what they’ve been doing this month… 1 2 3 Mike Armitage Hugo Wilson John Westlake Extraordinary insight and opinion from a 45 years of road riding experience on The boffin brained bike nerd, and ex-Bike man who’s been testing bikes for 21 years. everything from mopeds to BMW K1600s, magazine editor is overwhelmed by Bike of And still childishly excited about riding the bring Bike of the Year balance. One of the the Year quality, so he’s taken the Suzuki amazing Crighton Wankel. first to ride the new BSA Gold Star. GSX-S1000GT to Spa for the weekend. Mad Bike of the Year, page 76 Nostalgia Bike of the Year, page 44 Sports Tourer Bike of the Year, page 48 4 5 6 Michael Neeves Mat Oxley Franco Bourne Michael’s a blur as he flits across Europe Given Mat’s enthusiasm for dance music The British National Junior Superstock testing bikes and tyres. He sat still long and motorcycle racing he’s the perfect championship just got very exciting. Bike enough to provide Bike of the Year opinion backed teenager and Peter Boast protégé, and Triumph Speed Triple RR words. person to interview fellow raver, bike nut and road race sponsor Carl Cox. Franco is just four points off the lead. Superbike Bike of the Year, page 46 The Mat Oxley interview, page 70 Winning, page 110 EDITORIAL Print production Bike magazine is published 12 times a year contact details) can be found at www. Phone 01733 468000 [email protected] by H Bauer Publishing, registered bauermediacomplaints.co.uk.Company info is H Editor Hugo Wilson Advertising Production address Academic House, 24-28 Oval Road, Bauer Publishing, registered office is at Academic Art Director Paul Lang 01733 468341/8397 London, NW1 7DT. Registered number LP003328. House, 24-28 Oval Road, London, NW1 7DT. 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[ RACING ] How to m BIKES a TT w THAT REALLY MATTER THIS MONTH New fangled wings cause less drag than expected PICS: DAVE KNEEN AND PACEMAKER PRESS ‘People think you have to build a special TT bike, but you don’t’ 8

make No TT race is ever easy, but Peter Hickman and his winner BMW M1000RR made the Superbike and Senior races look that way this year. So how did the team Peter Hickman and this BMW wring such performance from a machine that had serious reliability M1000RR dominated this year’s TT, issues in the early part of the BSB season? Hicky’s FHO Racing crew but he was, ‘short shifting everywhere’. chief Darren Jones explains… Which means there’s quite a bit more Leave it as a BSB bike to come from his Beemer… ‘A lot of people take things a bit too far and think you have to build a ‘I can see the special TT bike, but you don’t. In 2018 when we did the 135 [mph pub from here’ average lap], it was Pete’s BSB bike. This year we had a specific TT bike, but didn’t change much – same engine, oil cooler, radiator, King of the electronics, subframe and Akrapovic titanium exhaust as the BSB Island, and machine. There’s a larger fuel tank – 24 litres – and we lockwire and there’s still threadlock a lot of things like rearsets, which we don’t normally plenty more bother with, but not much else. We weren’t sure about the wings before we went, but there was no drama there. We topped the speed to come trap at 199.8mph so they weren’t causing too much drag. We were worried about engine reliability, but BMW seem to have sorted that.’ Sort your mpg ‘The first time Pete did two flying laps in practice he ran out of fuel almost in sight of the finish line. We leaned it off in certain areas – took some fuel out of it on the overrun, for example. We ended up finishing the Senior with just under 0.5 litres left. That’s almost perfect. Not quite as good as 2018 though – we finished the Senior and they pushed it straight to the dyno [for engine regulation checks] and when they started it, it ran out. The disadvantage we have is because the bike produces so much power and because Pete has the throttle open longer than most, we use more fuel. Tweak the suspension ‘We run different fork internals, which are softer in the first part of the stroke to absorb the bumps but stiffer at the bottom [to take the big hits]. We put extra trail into the bike [by changing the head angle] to make it more stable. But it’s not much. We also use a softer link [rear suspension linkage]. Honestly, that’s it. The brakes are the same. The braced frame is the same.’ Watch the onboard footage ‘I’ve watched all the races on TV and I think we could make it more stable, but Pete says it was fine. It was the same when I watched an onboard in 2017 and thought it looked as unstable as hell. Pete said it was fine, but it wasn’t and I knew we could make it better. We changed a few things and went back in 2018 and it was better. This year it looked loose coming out of fast turns, maybe because we ran the braced chassis. Pete disagrees. This might come across as bragging, but perhaps Pete was OK about it because he wasn’t absolutely pushing. Because we’d had [reliability] problems with the engine in the past, when he got a lead he was short shifting everywhere. At one pitstop I said, “you’ve got a hell of a gap, calm down,” and he said, “I’m short shifting everywhere already”. It sounds mental, but there’s a lot more to come. After the Superbike race he said, “if we have to, we can go so much faster”. For him to say that is really good, because he’s not normally like that – he is not big-headed in the slightest. It would be interesting to see how fast he can go. Looking at the times and data he can definitely do 136mph. I don’t know how much faster he could go if he was pushed, but he did 133.4 on the lap he pulled into the pits, which was impressive.’ 9

Five bikes... [ NEW BIKES ] Most practical E-bike yet New Energica Experia claims 153-mile range, GS comfort and 80 percent recharge in 40 minutes MOTOR PRICE All new: peak power is A fruity £27,790, which makes it 101bhp, torque is 85lb.ft. £7500 more than the excellent It’s also lighter than previous Zero SR/S and £5700 more than versions, with less rotating an R1250GS Anniversary with mass so it spins up faster. It’s counter-rotating to aid every extra ticked. agility. PICS: ENERGICA RANGE BATTERY Combined urban and open road is 153 miles, urban All new: capacity increases to a whopping 22.5kWh only is 261miles (because of the regenerative braking but it’s lighter than before and weight is positioned and low speeds), and 70mph range is 112 miles. lower for improved low-speed balance. 10

CHARGING The slow march towards an Little of electric bike that Energica’s MotoE Level 1, 2 and 3 genuinely rivals decent charging capability as petrol ones continues: this new experience has standard. On level three gone into new you get 80% charging Experia in 40 minutes. Energica Experia looks like the best yet… at a price. The Italian manufacturer calls the Experia a tourer, which is pushing it (and what you’ll be doing if you treat it like one), but with a range of 153 miles over a mix of urban and open roads it’s closer than ever. The claimed range at a constant 70mph is only 112 miles though, which is way off GS Adventure territory. Still, the Experia weighs about the same as a GSA (260kg), accelerates just as hard, and is likely to handle sweetly, given Energica’s experience building bikes for the MotoE race series which supports clean MotoGP. It also looks comfortable, with a lower saddle sheet because than current Energicas and more weather protection. we wanted a new ‘We worked a lot in the wind tunnel in order to platform,’ says have the best aerodynamics so we could increase Giampiero. ‘It range and comfort,’ Energica’s chief technical needed to be officer Giampiero Testoni tells Bike. ‘It’s a new completely Green touring: might segment for us, but in Europe it’s the most different from the be stretching the popular and we need our bike to be sporty, sporty bikes that we case a bit comfortable and with good weather have in our line up now. protection like the GS, Multistrada, XR…’ We started from the key point The Experia’s lower seat height was also which is always the battery – this is all new, and gives a key factor in the design according to the bike a new weight distribution and lower centre of Giampiero. ‘The biggest issue we had with gravity. We also have a new chassis, swingarm, fairing, our other bikes [the Ribelle, Ego and and dashboard – very few components are carried over EsseEsse9] was people dropping them when from the old bikes. Also, the charging port is no longer stationary because our bikes always had a high under the seat but is on the side so it’s easier when you sporty seat. We wanted to attract a new kind of need to recharge.’ customer – smaller people. Even very short-legged Interestingly, little of the new technology came from people can touch the ground and be safe Energica’s MotoE project, which helps explain why the on the Experia. Also we wanted it company stepped away from the series, letting Ducati to be as slim as possible, so we take over. ‘This platform is one or, in places, two redesigned the motor so it’s in generations ahead of MotoE. Dorna [owners of a lower position and MotoGP] stopped us improving the bike because it’s a moved backwards so it single manufacturer series and they weren’t worried as does not push your long as all the bikes were the same. The fact they are legs out as much.’ doing another four years with a single manufacturer is It’s not just the a big mistake because it won’t push the technology motor that’s new. forward. The Experia is a new era for Energica. It is a ‘We started 18 platform that can host a whole different range of months ago with a motorcycles – that is our future.’ ‘We wanted to attract a new kind of customer – smaller people’ 11



TANK SUSPENSION Five bikes... AND TAIL Standard WP, but lowered ENGINE Handmade from by 175mm front and rear. aluminium sheet. Noel Standard 300EXC two-stroke also made the number with Lectron flat-slide carb, plate mount, headlight board, radiator covers stainless exhaust and and fork protectors. cut-down silencer. WHEELS Custom made 19in KKE alloy rims. [ CUSTOM ] Suspension lowered Hands up quite a bit who wants one Aussie customiser builds a street tracker that KTM really need to replicate Plenty of KTMs have been transformed into flat trackers but difficult No joystick we’ve never seen one that looks as factory as this. ‘Yeah I than that? nonsense wanted to make it look futuristic, like a 2025 KTM,’ says Noel Muller from Black Cycles in Australia. ‘Well, I here The base bike is a 2013 300EXC – the two-stroke enduro – that was wouldn’t say it owned by a previous customer of Noel’s called Zach Hegde. ‘The bike was sitting out the back of his workshop and he asked what I could was an easy build. Aluminium is a do with it. Then before I could answer he said, “actually, don’t tell me, just do something.” So I took it home and got on with it. new thing for me [the tank, tail and ‘I’d had the idea of this sharp-angled flat tracker for a few years so I most of the panels and brackets are made stripped the bike down and set the wheels up – I knew it had to have 19in front and rear flat track wheels. I got those made up and put from sheet ally] – I prefer steel because it them on, then I set about lowering the bike until it looked right [it eventually dropped by a whopping 175mm at each end]. Then I set up doesn’t warp as easily. But this bike called for aluminium because it the subframe and then built the tank and tail.’ needed to be light. Noel isn’t one for blowing his own trumpet, but surely it was more ‘I sketched the tank and the tail, then mocked up about ten ‘The bike is lower, slimmer and lighter than before…’ versions. Then when I fabricated it I had to change the rear of the tank a bit, but the rest was right. I’m self-taught, but I’ve met a few people along the way who’ve showed me aluminium welding and it looks good. But if I have a choice next time, it’ll be steel.’ Because the engine was very low mileage and felt fit, Noel left that PICS: NATHAN DUFF alone and just fitted a new exhaust to replace the battered old one and cut the silencer down to match the tail. ‘The customer has put a front fender and mirrors on, which offends me, but the bike is lower, slimmer and lighter than before and he loves it, which I suppose is the main thing.’ 13

Five bikes... [ NEW BIKES ] MP3 plays new tune New Piaggio MP3 has radar, riding modes, a big telly and reversing camera S ixteen years after Piaggio stunned scooterists with their Sport – which as per usual adjust power curves and throttle leaning three-wheeled marvel, the Italian company have sensitivity. There’s also cruise control (though not a radar-guided turned the MP3 into the most electronically advanced scoot one, which is disappointing), keyless ignition and a 7in TFT display ever. The new MP3 530 HPE Exclusive is equipped with a radar that can connect to your phone and run sat-nav. Plastics have been system that warns you if traffic is in your blindspots and helps guide completely redesigned to improve weather protection and stability you when using reverse gear. And just like in the latest cars, when while the constantly variable transmission (CVT) and leaning you engage reverse, a camera displays what’s going on behind you on three-wheel cleverness remain unchanged. the dash. Traditionalists will no doubt question whether all this is Naturally, there is a cost penalty to all the new gubbins. The top of strictly necessary on a scooter, albeit the range 530 HPE Exclusive comes a heavy one, but we like the idea of Battle of the luxo-scoots in at £11,030 which is strong money French and Italian commuters – for a scooter, but there again it has who buy boatloads of MP3s – Yamaha Piaggio MP3 530 got more electronic toys than a bombing around backwards while TMax Tech Max HPE £20,000 BMW K1600GT and is still staring at their dashboards. It’ll add £1400 cheaper than the Yamaha another dimension to the devil-may- » Price £12,500 £11,030 T-Max Tech Max. Below the HPE care atmosphere of Paris and Milan. 3 in the revamped MP3 range is a » Wheels 2 new 400 (£8950) and a 400 Sport The HPE also comes with plenty 530cc single with – as far as we can make out – of the more common motorcycle » Engine 562cc twin 44bhp some stickers and red brake calipers electronics. The new 44bhp 530cc for £9375. All will be available later single-cylinder motor has three » Power 47bhp 95mph (est) 7in TFT » Top speed 115mph » Dash 7in TFT riding modes – Comfort, Eco and this summer. 400 Sport: for fans of stickers and red calipers Top of the range HPE features reversing camera ‘The most electronically advanced scoot ever…’ 14



















































10: Zero SR/S Premium Compare it as an equal » Price: £22,240 » Power: 110bhp » Weight: 235kg » Engine: permanent magnet AC electric motor » Seat height: 787mm The first electric carriage was invented in the 1830s. Cars with rechargeable batteries went on sale in 1884, and by 1900 almost 30% of the car market was electric. But despite the fact electric predates petrol by 50 years, designers of the latest machines seem to think they must be all sci-fi and futuristic. Seen the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the BMW iX cars? Urgh. Two-wheelers aren’t much better if the BMW CE 04 scooter and long-promised Arc Vector are evidence. tech too, with cornering ABS and traction, This is a big part of why Zero’s new SR/S Premium works. We bikers are conservative cruise, TFT display, modes and options. and getting our heads around electric is hard It’s great with a pillion as getaways are enough without riding a cyber fantasy. But always unruffled, there are no gearshifts with its crisp-yet-familiar styling, steel trellis causing helmet collisions, and regenerative frame and Showa suspension the SR/S looks, braking brings smooth deceleration. Heated feels and behaves just how we expect. Don’t grips are standard, the lockable space in the compartmentalise it as different because it’s dummy tank has the capacity for a hearty a quality and finely-equipped motorbike that family fish supper, and the Cypher III gizmo happens to use electricity rather than petrol. system lets you unlock goodies including Except this last bit does make a difference, sat-nav and a parking creep mode. And it’s so of course. Because the Zero’s performance is quiet your neighbours will be delighted. seriously impressive and extremely addictive. This year’s new 15.6kW battery gives about There’s a vast 140 lb.ft of torque delivered 70 miles of high-speed silliness, 120 miles of instantly. With no gears or clutch to faff with steady swinging, and 95 miles on average. It and surreal smoothness, the roll-on rush is then takes seven hours to charge from empty epic – at realistic road speeds you tease the on a three-pin plug, or reaches 95% charged twistgrip and effortlessly outperform almost in two hours at a type-two charging point. anything. It’s like a Kawasaki H2 SX with a The cost of recharging is the equivalent of a Honda DCT gearbox. But better. Sporty filthy fossil-fuel bike doing about 240mpg. without being harsh, agile but always secure, The only problem is the SR/S Premium is the chassis rolls with a fluid feel. Plenty of £22,240. You’ll have to do serious miles for running costs to offset the price difference to a Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT, but this would highlight range and charging issues. The Zero is a great bike to ride and there is fresh battery tech over the horizon: next year Horwin have a 125cc-equivalent bike that charges in ten minutes, and when this tech reaches big bikes such as the Zero they’ll be hard to resist. I’ll have £5 on a top five slot in the 2025 Bike of the Year. Mike Armitage The alternative view » As long as they are this expensive electric bikes are bound to divide opinion, so I’m going to ignore the £22,240 price tag. The Zero SR/S makes it into the Bike of the Year top ten because its the best electric yet, and a compelling bike in its own right; a great riding experience, good looking and well made. Get a test ride, just for the hell of it. Hugo Wilson. 40

Bike of the Year ‘It’s a quality and finely-equipped motorbike that happens to use electricity rather than petrol’ 41

Bike of the Year 9: Husqvarna Norden Road testers are opinionated but it’s rare they completely disagree about a Let’s bike. It happened with the Norden though, agree to with Bike’s guest tester Jordan Gibbons disagree concluding you’d be better off with one of the two KTMs that spawned it, while Bike’s other » Price: £12,349 » Engine: 889cc 8-valve DOHC parallel twin guest tester Chris Northover said it was a » Power: 105bhp » Weight: 218kg » Seat height: 854/874 adjustable happy compromise and better than both. Scything down a local B-road, I can see where Chris is coming from. The Norden is powered by KTM’s 889cc parallel-twin giggle factory (unchanged from the 890 Adventure and Adventure R) which spends its time hoiking the front wheel up and zapping out of corners like a super-naked. Jordan found the response a tad harsh from a closed throttle – and I can see what he means – but for me it’s just the right side of annoying. When you’re plodding in to work you soon get used to it and when you’re riding hard, it helps make the Norden feel raucous, up for it and naughty. 42

‘The Norden spends its time hoiking the front wheel up and zapping out of corners like a super-naked’ The suspension, meanwhile, plays a problems, but I’m 6ft and my head poked into The alternative view different game. The WP Apex forks and a turbulent zone that created a bassy racket shock are tuned for comfort – especially at that went straight through earplugs. It seems » KTM make engaging bikes and their 890 the top of the travel – and waft over the kinds such a basic error – the NT1100 and Adventure is great. But I wouldn’t buy one – it of bumps that would make its more firmly GSX-S1o00’s slightly lower screens leave your feels plasticky and I don’t like the styling. I’d sprung KTM relatives feel rattly. They’d be head in clean air and are consequently far, far buy a Husky, mind. They feel classier and just as fast, mind, but you’d be nowhere near quieter than this one. look cool enough to let me overlook the as relaxed. Ridden hard down these roads, Norden’s screen, vibes and heat in traffic. the Norden is a pleasing mixture of So it’s not perfect. But there’s a lot to love Shame it doesn’t look quite as fit now we’ve excitement and civility. about the Norden, and Husqvarna have seen Ducati’s DesertX. Mike Armitage worked hard to separate it from its KTM Husqvarna have done a similar refinement donors. The new plastics and single round job on the saddle, which is broad, sumptuous headlight cleverly give the Norden an entirely and all-day comfy in a way that an 890 different look – though can’t disguise the Adventure is not. The Norden’s pillion huge frontal area created by the pannier-style accommodation is just as good, with a petrol tank – and the dash is reskinned, with similarly posh saddle and whacking great all the orange details replaced by yellow. If grabrails. Husky’s PR blurb goes on about the you didn’t recognise the KTM switchgear, Norden being a ‘travel’ bike, and the you’d be hard-pressed to recognise its origin suspension and saddle live up to the bluster. until you pinned the throttle in Explorer mode and the front wheel heads upward… The screen doesn’t though – I hated it. Again. John Westlake Shorter riders like Chris and Jordan had no 43

8: BSA Gold Star The nostalgia votes go to… » Price: £6500-7000(tbc) » Engine: 652cc single » Power: 45bhp » Weight: 213kg » Seat height: 780mm The power of the BSA brand is Hill, in front of a crowd of 50,000, and back amazing. Fifty years after the original down again. This will increase this demo company disappeared, possibly in a puff of bike’s total mileage by over a third, but there smoke caused by burning oil and electrical will be no gentle running in procedure. meltdown, they are back, and people seem to love what they’re doing. Gunning the bike from the startline reveals that the rev limiter kicks in at just The new Indian made 650cc Gold Star is below 7000rpm, while more measured parked under an awning in the Goodwood throttle application in second and third gear Festival of Speed’s Supercar Paddock, suggests peak power is happening at 6000 alongside Lamborghini and McLaren rolling revolutions. As an introductory ride, sculptures that cost well north of £100,000, thrashing an almost brand new bike up the and there’s a non-stop stream of people Goodwood hill is quite extreme, but it does admiring the new bike and explaining that show that the BSA’s controls are all their dad/uncle/granddad used to own one, completely intuitive, the riding position is before asking about pricing and delivery. natural, the steering is neutral and handling on Pirelli Dragons is reassuring through the When the bike was shown in pre- nasty off-camber left hander at Molecombe production form at last year’s Motorcycle and the scary right hander alongside the Live at the NEC we were told to expect it in Flint Wall. dealers in March. Now BSA’s sales and marketing manager David Edwards is The fastest part of the course is the run hoping the bikes will be on sale in August. past the finish line and taking the sign that And the signs are promising – a UK says ‘Slow’ as a suggestion rather than a distributor has just been appointed and command I glance down at the speedo – the there’s a press launch scheduled for July. needle on the old fashioned, upside-down analogue clocks is pointing at 80mph. We didn’t want to wait that long, so Bike’s first test is a 3.8 mile ride, up the Goodwood The BSA’s single-cylinder 652cc engine is derived from the Rotax unit that was used in the old BMW F650 that was discontinued back in 2009. Re-engineered for retro looks – there are now fins on the cylinder barrel and head, and the right side case mimics the magneto drive on the original Gold Star – and with Euro 5 compatibility BSA claim a 45bhp output. For the new bike’s target audience that may be enough, but with a claimed wet weight of 213 kilos you’d hardly describe the performance as sprightly. Still, it is a convincing package; good looking, well finished, nicely equipped and easy to ride. As the first new BSA for 50 years they’ve done an impressive job. No price yet, but expect it to be between £6500-7000. Hugo Wilson The alternative view » No, I’ve not ridden it. But I’ve pulled the levers, bounced on the seat, and the BSA is credible. Quality seems to justify a price that’s likely to be more than an RE Interceptor. It’s an obvious bike for those missing the RE Bullet 500, but I worry its weight and old Rotax single will steer folk to the lighter and cheaper RE Classic 350. And an Inter’ will be more fun. Mike Armitage 44

Bike of the Year ‘As an introductory ride, thrashing an almost brand new bike up the Goodwood hill is quite extreme’ 45

Bike of the Year 7: Triumph Speed Triple RR When Triumph announced the new Speed Triple 1200 RR there Superbike was a ripple of excitement among sportsbike in all but fans. Here is a bike that has genuine its looks superbike performance but is altogether more grown up and less race reppy than you »Price:£17,950 »Engine:1160cc12-valveDOHCinlinethree might expect. » Power: 166bhp » Weight: 204kg » Seat height: 830mm I’ve already done over 7000 miles on Bike’s long-term test RR in just a few months – on track and around Europe – and it’s proven to be everything we’d hoped for. It’s very fast and rails through sweeping corners with the stability of a well sorted race bike. It’s a little slow-steering, but it was never conceived to flick through the Foggy Esses at lightning quick speed. It is also fair to say it isn’t cheap, but it’s the price you pay for a motorcycle that is this good. The headline performance comes from an ultra-refined three-cylinder engine controlled by latest generation, lean sensitive 46

‘Because it doesn’t look like a superbike the Triumph gives you permission not to have to ride it fast or dress like a trackday fiend’ electronics. Support comes from Brembo, Not only is it quick it’s also easy to get the The alternative view Öhlins and Pirelli, and there’s a colour dash best from too, thanks to the gentle way the with beautifully laid out graphics. triple delivers its power, the poise of its » Sportsbikes aren’t my bag, but I really rate chassis and the brilliance of its rider aids. But the RR. It’s as uncomfortable as a full-on race Thanks to semi-active suspension the RR because it doesn’t look like a superbike the rep, but the triple’s rich midrange and plush rides so much nicer than its rock-hard super Triumph gives you permission not to have to suspension mean it works at speeds that are naked Speed Triple RS sister. But you can ride it fast or dress up like a trackday fiend. slightly illegal, rather than mad. Pretty colour easily make it stiffer, if you’re feeling racy, by and retro cool make you feel less of a lout too switching to a sportier riding mode. It isn’t perfect, though. The engine lacks – folk smile as you pootle through a village, soul low down, the brakes aren’t as crisp as instead of frowning at the invading yobbo. So Despite not looking like a sportsbike it they should be and the sat nav, that you it brings something new. Mike Armitage actually is, and that’s down to how low beam to the dash via the Triumph app, can Triumph have placed the clip-ons and the be confusing. But most of all the RR is hard seat. It’s a riding position designed to painfully uncomfortable over distance. It’s weight the front end and let you feel for grip fine in small doses, but it’s just as hard to when you’re going for it. The engine is just as spend time with as a superbike. That makes keen to give you a good time and what it it hard to see where it fits into the world. lacks in low down grunt it makes up for by kicking you in the unmentionables under If only the seat was a bit plusher and the hard acceleration. All this adds up to a bars were a couple of inches taller and pulled machine that’ll both mix it with fast group further back, it would be damn near perfect trackday traffic and monster your favourite, and, consequently higher up the Bike of the or never tried before, roads. Year pecking order. Micheal Neeves 47

Bike of the Year ‘The GT is so fast and so good that you get off and wonder why no-one has done it before’ 48

6: Suzuki GSX-S1000GT Sports tourer renergised »Price:£12,749»Engine:999cc16-valveDOHCinline four »Power:150bhp»Weight: 226kg»Seatheight:810mm The GSX-S GT is proof you don’t have handsome, particularly without the optional to do anything particularly clever to panniers cluttering the view. create a fantastic motorcycle. Sure, us journalists get frothy over flashy electronics, The new electronics package with its automatic gearboxes and snazzy Öhlins, but modes, TFT screen, quickshifter and cruise do you need all that to have a great time and control, isn’t class-leading or innovative, but arrive at your destination feeling perky like the rest of the bike it works flawlessly rather than hurty? Of course not. and lets you get on with the main event: riding. And because Suzuki have sorted the Suzuki’s recipe for the GSX-S GT is spot slightly snatchy throttle response afflicting on: install an outstanding engine, surround the old GSX-S, you can stick the GT in its it with components that are all pretty good, most sporty mode – A – and leave it there no then make sure there’s nothing to annoy or matter what sort of riding you’re doing. The distract the rider. So no vibey mirrors, noisy way the power builds is so smooth and linear screen, uncomfortable saddle, baffling that there’s little to be gained from using the switchgear or silly riding position. softer engine maps, and should you decide you want to arrive somewhere three minutes The result is a delight in almost every ago, you can always tap into that searing situation. You can hoon from corner to 150bhp top-end. corner at nigh-on superbike speeds, powered by the greatest road-going GSX-R engine of The GT is so fast, so comfortable and so all time – the 2005 K5 – and then carve good that you get off and wonder why round bends on the entirely competent KYB no-one has done it before… then remember suspension. Or you can sit comfortably on they have: Kawasaki’s Z1000SX has been the motorway with your helmet in the plying its sports tourer trade for years. But smooth airflow above the screen, while your the GT is different and better. It’s 9kg lighter shoulders and body are protected by the and 13 measured-bhp more powerful so it fairing. Or you can trickle through town feels a bit faster, the suspension is slightly with the 1000cc headcase between your firmer and gives a sportier, friskier feel, and ankles behaving like a docile middleweight because the GT is a new bike, the dash and commuter. And when you stable the GT at styling look contemporary. Ride the SX after the end of the day, you can linger a while the GT and the Kawasaki feels like it needs a and enjoy staring at it – not something refresh. Given how brilliant the SX is, that’s owners of the gopping old GSX-S were in the some compliment. John Westlake habit of doing. The GT looks positively The alternative view » This has to be Suzuki’s greatest hit since the K5 GSX-R1000. Not only is it nice to see a conventional sports tourer back again after a bombardment of identikit tall-roaders and adventure bikes, the GT does everything it’s supposed to do. It’s fast, comfy and thanks to its K5-derived engine it has a naughty edge to it, too. Michael Neeves 49

Bike of the Year ‘For a bike that looks as exciting as roof insulation, it can’t half shift’ 50