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#MCNwednesday
29
March 2 2017
rget Ewan...
and this week he gives a rare and exclusive interview to MCN
Shinji Kazama
(66) is the only
man to have
ridden to both
Poles and he
also set a world
record by riding
higher up Everes than any
motorcyclist had ever b en.
He was born in 1950 and first
rode his brother’s motorcycle
when he was 14. “I tried to ride
it up to the top of a st ep hi l,”
Kazama says. “I had gone 150m
and couldn’t ride any further so
started pushing it and when I
reached the top I thought ‘What
a view!’ I was fascinated by
the view from the top of the hi l
and so I became obse sed with
riding a motorcycle in nature.”
Who is Shinji?
‘I was fascinated
by the view
from the top’
The TW n eded major work to cope with the ferocious cold Continued over
he worst thing was
maintaining the
motivation to beat
altitude sickness’
Two-inch spikes
on Everest
in 1985
Riding on thin ice
(litera ly) on the way
to the North Pole
-
ing
much
y riding
TLR was
ans po sible.
to 250 c and
carbure tor that
d easy adjustment
e by turning a dial.
d specia ly-designed
es fi ted with 500 twopikes.
The snow was much d eper than
Kazama had anticipated (up to thr e
f et) so the bike was spinning hopele
sly for much of the time, forcing him
to dismount and push. At almost four
miles above sea level, sh er exertion
meant he had to stop every 80 feet to
rest and he eventua ly came close to
u ter exhaustion and had to stop.
Kazama held his Everest record for almost
a decade until, in 1 95, Hungarian
Istran Juhasz rode a Honda XL250R to
20,205 feet.
Reflecting on the trip, Kazama
says: “Riding up Everest was
a di feren type of di ficulty compared
to the poles. In the deep
snows of the Arctic and Antarctica
I had a rough time because often I
could not ride due to the tyres being
buried in the snow. On Everest, where
the oxygen levels are only 40% of the
normal sea level concentration, so the
bike’s performance dropped to 40%.
“The most di ficul thing was maintaining
the motivation to overcome
altitude sickne s and decreased physical
strength. Since we knew from the
outse that I could never actua ly reach
the summit, it was an adventure of
fighting with myself and constantly
asking myself, ‘When wi l you put an
end to the cha lenge?’
“Above the height I reached, the
rock face is vertical so I don’t know
if it’s po sible to go further on that
route. I repeatedly experienced fainting
and co lapsing. I tried to be calm and
waited until my breathing got be ter. I
even had to resor to pushing the TLR.
Eventua ly I told myself, ‘I have worked
hard enough. I wi l forgive mysel for
stopping here.”’
The North Pole (1987)
On March 8, 1987, a 36-year-old
Kazama set out from the Warhunt
Islands in Canada with the aim of
becoming the first man to reach the
North Pole by motorcycle. The expedition
was the culmination o five years
of planning and was born of a desire
to k ep chasing di ferent horizons.
Kazama set out with a back-up crew
of two fe low Japanese and two Inuit
guides, mounted on two snowmobiles,
while Kazama rode a modified twostroke,
air-c oled Yamaha TW200 with
a TY250 engine. “The TW200 was sti l
under development a the time,” says
Kazama. “Honestly, it’s bes to ride on
a caterpi lar on snow and ice but for me
it had to be two wh els. A motorcycle is
at a big disadvantage because it’s supported
by only two point so I chose the
TW200 because it has very wide tyres.
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SPARKS FLY AT
GUY’S ZERO TEST
Martin and McGuinness set scorching pace at Japanese tests
as they prepare to race the all-new electric Mugen at TT 2017
G
uy Martin became the first
person to crash a Mugen
Shinden in the machine’s
six-year history during
his firs test on the electric
bike.
The Lincolnshire man slid o f at
the first corner on the tight Tsubuka
circuit during the second test se sion
in Japan. But Guy, who had been setting
a seriously impre sive pace on the
money-can’t-buy Mugen, insisted: “I
didn’t do anything daft.
“I had b en using a bit more brake
pre sure but I braked a the same white
line that I had on every other lap. I just
los the front. I don’t know if the wind
had any e fect.”
The Mugen was too badly damaged
in the smash to be repaired a the track
and Guy had to sit out the rest of the
day’s testing. When asked how much it
would cos to repair, team bo s Akihiro
Miyata replied: “A lot!”
The fairings and ultra-expensive
air-fi led Showa forks were damaged
and the team were uncertain if the
ba tery or carbon-fibre frame had
emerged unscathed. The bike wi l be
rebuilt completely before it is shipped
to Britain in three weeks’ time.
Before the incident Guy had put
in the lion’ share of the test laps as
team-mate John McGuinne s rested
his injured hand.
“It is easier to ride than a conventional
motorbike in one way,” was the
37-year-old’s verdict on the Mugen.
“And harder in another way because
I have to recalibrate my brain to get
used to it being an electric bike. There
is no clutch or gearbox and the bike is
silent. It is a heavy motorbike but you
wouldn’t rea ly know once you get going…
until you come to a slow corner.”
before never mind crashed,” he smiled.
“But now we are ready to win because
a l of the bad luck has gone.”
After thr e years with Bruce Anstey
as his Mugen team-mate McGuinne s
is also enjoying working alongside
Martin in 2017.
“Guy is g od fun and he is up for the
cha lenge on a l of the bikes this year,”
the 44-year-old said.
“We get on we l and there is a bond
betw en us. He wi l k ep me on my toes
and he has made me more famous - I
ge three times as many likes when I
tw et something with him in it now!”
Is there any resentment that much
Lap times weren’t o ficia ly released
for the private test, but MCN believes
that at both Sodegaura and Tsubuka
the two TT riders were on a similar
pace. And Guy was adamant he wasn’t
chasing a quick time when he crashed.
“I don’t know wha the lap times
were bu there is only one lap time that
wi l count and that is in the Isle of Man
in June,” he said.
Ready to win
Team manager Miyata took a philosophical
approach to the crash.
“This is a historic moment because
a Mugen has never even fa len over
PACEMAKER PRE S INTL
THIS WEEK
BE INFORMED l New bikes l Brilliant pics l Places to go l Interesting people
TOP STORY
of the media focus has now shifted
towards his new team-mate?
“None at a l.” McGuinne s says.
“Guy is living every boy’s dream,
doing a l the stu f he does. That is great.
Sometimes I am not sure he realises how
special an opportunity he has with it
a l. But when it comes to the TT you
n ed to focus. That’s my thing and not a
day goes by that I don’ think abou the
TT. It is only six w eks away and then
we wi l be right in the middle of it a l.”
THE INSIDE
STORY
McGUINNESS
John McGuinne s was upbeat
after his firs test on the 2017
Mugen Shinden he wi l chase his
third Zero TT victory on in June.
Having dislocated his left thumb
at Castle Combe a w ek earlier
after crashing his superbike
Honda, the 23-times TT winner
was delighted with the new bike
and his recovery.
He said: “Six days ago I was
lying unconscious on the track
at Castle Combe and now I am
here riding the Mugen.
“Riding here has perked
me up. My hand is sore and I
probably shouldn’t be riding
bu these guys work on the bike
around the clock, 365 days a
year, so I n eded to be here.
“A l the tweaks that I asked
for on last year’s bike have b en
done” he said after completing
two days of testing in Japan.
“We have a higher seat and a
bigger scr en now, so the bike
doesn’t f el so cramped.”
McGuinne s also hit back
at critics of the one-lap Zero
TT, claiming it is absolutely a
proper race. “Guy wi l be there
to win and so wi l I”, he said.
“A one-lap, wheel-to-wh el
race at over 120mph wi l be
exciting. It is so hard to go to the
TT and do just one lap. On the
other bikes we have maybe 30
laps of practice but we only get
a couple on the electric bikes.”
McGui ne s added: “The
sp ed of development is amazing
– they’ve gone from a 102mph lap
to almost 120mph since 2012.
Imagine if there were a dozen of
these bikes with Michael Dunlop,
Hutchy, Dean Ha rison, James
Hi lier and the rest se ting o f
down Bray Hi l on them. What a
race that would be!”
Hurt, but
still handy!
Our Guy
in Japan
TURN TO P30
McGuinness shows
Guy the sights
By Stephen Davison
MCN ROADS RACE REPORTER IN JAPAN HIGHLIGHTS
l Sixth incarnation of Mugen’s TT
Zero racer has major updates
l Two tracks used for TT test
l 1 2mph TT lap is the target
l Guy is first person to crash one!
‘A Mugen has never
even fa len over
before, let alone
crashed’
TEAM MANAGER, AKIHIRO MIYATA
The main changes from Bruce
Anstey’s 2016 Zero TT-winning
Shinden 5 to the sixth incarnation of
the Mugen electric bike involve the
motor and the ba tery invertor.
“The ba tery cooling system is
a new design,” Kunio Yoshimi, the
Shinden’s chief designer, explained.
“Ba tery temperature has b en
a problem and the new system
weighs less. The motor is also new,
made in-house by Mugen.”
Overa l these changes shave
5kg o f the new bike. The team
were also testing a new shock and
linkage which wi l make the rear
suspension more adjustable.
Improved aerodynamics and new
software to control ba tery output,
completes the tweaks for 2017.
Mugen run a simulation for
the bike over the TT course each
year and the projected target for
Shinden 6 in 2017 is a 122mph lap,
2mph two faster than McGuinne s’s
cu rent record set in 2015.
“If we can achieve the target
we can win,” Yoshimi smiled, then
added: “We f el that some day it
may be possible for an electric
machine to match the sp ed of
a conventional bike on the TT
course.”
Mugen bright sparks make major changes
McGuinne s is hoping
he can win a third
Zero TT with Mugen
Guy and a Mugen mechanic
survey the crash damage
McGui ne s
ices his injured
hand betw en
se sions
More a work of ar than a bike
#MCNwednesday
www.motorcyclenews.com
SPORT
82 83
April 12 2017
MOTOGP | ROUND 2 | ARGENTINA
ROSSI IS THE
MIRACLE MAN
The Doctor pulls a result out of the bag to
celebrate 350th Grand Prix in style
Valentino Ro si marked his incredible
350th GP start by once again
delivering his traditional Sunday
miracle by turning a p or w ekend of
qualifying a the Argentinian Grand
Prix into a strong second-place that
k eps his title hopes very much alive.
Continuing to stru gle with the
problems that have b en plaguing
him since he first jumped on the
2017-spec M1 machine, Ro si l oked
adrift during fr e practice. He managed
to salvage seventh place on the
grid but even then it didn’t l ok like
it would be of much use to him come
Sunday’s race.
Yet, the old campaigner was able
to fight through the field, stalking
Cal Crutchlow for most of the race,
before pouncing in the later stages
to snatch second. After the race,
Ro si admi ted that even he’s not
sure how he did it!
He said: “I don’t know why it is! I
stru gled in practice – the situation
was not in control this w ekend,
because a l the riders now can push
from the beginning and make good
lap times. Sure, I was able to improve
in the race, but we n ed to work on
this for the future.”
Team bo s Lin Jarvis, the man
who has overs en four of Ro si’s nine
world titles, was able to hit the nail
on the head after the race, te ling
MCN that he believe su ce s just
comes natura ly to the 38-year-old
when the pressure is on.
“This w ekend was even more
troublesome for him than Qatar,
yet step by step he got there. When
it comes to the race, you’ve go to
be on it, you’ve got to go for it, and
it seems that when he forces himself
and starts to force the bike… it
starts to work.
“It’s quite remarkable, but his
race was incredible, and to have a
double podium after the firs two
races, considering the di ficulty he
seems to be in, is quite amazing.”
And as the season progre ses,
‘I’ve learned in
my long career
that you must
never give up’
‘We changed the
ride height and it
felt good’
‘People said
they wanted
more feel’
Yet again Rossi finds
fast pace when it
ma ters most
GOLD AND G OSE
Jorge Lorenzo has come away surprisingly
positive from what looks
on paper to be a disastrous w ekend,
after qualifying a distant 16th, crashing
out of the race in the first corner,
and heading into the third round with
only five points on the board.
Candidly admi ting after Saturday’s
qualifying that he’ spen the entire
pre-season chasing the wrong direction
on his Ducati GP17 machine, he now
f els that he’s fina ly made a significant
breakthrough, and while he might not
have got a chance to show it, he’s at last
content with his Ducati’s pace.
“It’s b en a long time since I didn’t
make the first corner, and I’m disappointed
because more than ever I
n eded to get kilometres and laps to
LORENZO UPBEAT DESPITE
ANOTHER RACE DISASTER
Ro si makes it stick
with a pass on
Cal Crutchlow
MOTOGP TITLE FIGHT
SIMON PATTERSON
simon.pa terson@motorcyclenews.com
MOTOGP REPORTER
AT TERMAS DE RÍO HONDO
The weekend saw controversy
erupt in the paddock after a move
by Michelin to bring a new type of
front profile tyre was turned from
a molehi l into a mountain over allegations
o favouritism.
A number of riders requested
tha the French firm help them find
more stability mid-corner, resulting
in plans being put in place to
a low them to try it out during the
w ekend – plans that were immediately
claimed to be solely to aid
Valentino Rossi.
The plo then took another twist
at Friday’s safety commi sion when
the a tend es voted to remove the
new tyre from the a location after
general strikes in Argentine capital
Buenos Aires saw their a rival a the
circuit delayed until Saturday.
Speaking on Saturday night,
Tyre wars: a
mountain out
of a molehill?
Ro s is ge ting closer and closer to
finding the magical se ting he n eds
for the bike to cha lenge not only for
the podium bu to take the ba tle to
team-mate Maverick Viñales and to
seriously cha lenge for that elusive
tenth world title.
Ro si said: “We got on the podium
after another di ficult w ekend, but I
a rived in Argentina hoping to be closer
to the front in practice. We stru gled
to do that, but we tried something in
the warm-up that was important for
the race. I felt quite comfortable with
it, and was behind Maverick and my
pace was good, so I was a bit more
optimistic from that point. keep improving. But we changed the
ride height of the bike over the w ekend
and in the warm-up I felt very good.
“In the first corner though, I went
to the inside, there were a lot of bikes
there, and somehow I found the wh el
of Andrea Iannone. I touched him just
a li tle bit and I crashed. It was a bad
moment, because there’s 10 days before
I can get on the bike again and I’d like
to get back on tomo row! It’s hard to
a cept, but at least I’m not injured and
we’ve found a good way to continue.”
Making a major alteration to the
bike after months of working in what
he now a cepts was the wrong direction,
Lorenzo says that he not only
believes he could have b en strong in
the Argentine race bu that he can get
the season kicked o f in style in Texas
in a few w eks’ time.
“Every time I ride the bike I improve
so much. I made a mistake trying to
make the bike lower, but it was the
wrong way. We were late to know it,
but it’s be ter late than never. I think
that with a g od start and no problems
in the first few laps I could have battled
with Alvaro Bautista for fourth or
fifth – that was my place.”
History has repeated itsel for
the luckle s Andrea Dovizioso,
after he was torpedoed o f his
bike during Sunday’s Argentine
Grand Prix for the second year in
a row. T-boned in 2016 by thenteam-mate
Andrea Iannone in
the last corner (a move that cost
the hot-headed Italian his seat in
the team), this year it was Aleix
Espargaró who took him out.
However, despite saying that
Aprilia rider Espargaró was partly
to blame for the incident, Dovizioso
was quick to lay the lion’s share
of the culpability on fe low Ducati
rider Danilo Petru ci, who the pair
were chasing a the time.
“When I was behind Danilo he’d
completely used up his rear tyre
and was riding in a bad way. He was
braking in a strange way, and I think
it was too much. Everyone tries to
use their own style, but the way he
used it was bad.
“I tried to pa s him on the inside
and he braked late and closed the
door, and that doesn’t give the other
rider the po sibility to do anything.
That created the crash, because I
almost hit him and ran wide, and that
caused Aleix to make his mistake.
For sure Aleix made a mistake, but
Danilo created it.”
Dovi’s double trouble
Dovi’s Argentine curse strikes again
Michelin’s Goubert says there’s
been no tyre favouritism
Lorenzo had nudged into the back of Ia none’s Suzuki… …and now he has to wait until Texas to have another try
It’s only the
first corner and
Lorenzo’s o f
“The entire pre-season for me
was a disaster and I was very sad.
Bu the importan thing is the
Sunday afternoon when you
cro s the line, and I’ve learned
in my long car er that you must
never give up. The race
in Qatar gave me a good
f eling and a good vibe
because I started to
know the bike, and
I have more points
and be ter races
than I did last
year after two
races.”
Michelin bo s Nicholas Goubert
brushed aside talk of conspiracies.
“We decided on a direction for the
tyres this season after testing, but
a the Qatar test we had quite a few
crashes – too many crashes– and
people said the f eling from the front
wasn’t what they expected.
“We t ok the decision to bring the
new tyres. Our objective wasn’t to
make it available for the race, bu to
prepare for the future, bu then with
the strike unfortunately we didn’t
have the tyres available on Friday.”
March 1 2017
#MCNwednesday
www.motorcyclenews.com
17
THE PERFECT BIKING YEAR
March 11-12
Carole Nash MCN Sco tish Motorcycle Show,
Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
It’s Scotland’s biggest motorcycle show and the
only place in the country where you’ll be able to
s e most of the new-for-2017 models in one place.
There’s an area dedicated to cla sic machinery,
plenty of trade stands, plus you’ l be able to m et
biking celebs such as Nia l Mackenzie.
www.sco tishmotorcycleshow.com
Ride this road: With the Highlands only 80 miles
further north, you’d be crackers no to jump on the
M9 then the A84 to pick up the A82 up to Glencoe.
CHOOSE A NEW BIKE
SEE THE NEW BIKES
November 06-12
Eicma motorcycle show
This chance to take a l ok at
2018’s bikes is also probably the
last chance for a European rideout
before the weather closes
in. The Milan show is twice the
size of the NEC, and all the major
firms wi l be unveiling new bikes.
It’s an 800-mile trip each way,
so a perfect way to get your
mileage count up…
www.eicma.it
Ride this road: D165 through
central France a lows big
sp eds and wide-open scenery.
KEEP SUMMER GOING!
September 15-17
Bol d’Or 24hr, Paul Ricard, France
It’s sportsbike heaven set in a Rivera paradise.
There’s something magical about watching
race bikes sp ed through the sti lne s of a
late summer dawn, smoke from the trackside
campsites swirling behind them. The Bol d’Or
returned to its spiritual home of Paul Ricard
two years ago, and with it returned the hordes
of race-loving riders from a l over Europe, k en
to be reunited with the majesty of the Mistral
Straight, and the warmth of the southern sun.
www.boldor.com
Ride this road: The DN8 from Le Beau se to the
circuit is po sibly the most perfect riding road
in Europe, but unfortunately this means that on
race w ekend it’s as busy as the circuit itself.
RIDE FOR BLOODY MILES
BUY SOME LEDERHOSEN!
June 1-18
Club of Newchurch, Neukirchen, Austria
For the last 1 years this event has b en
run in association with Triumph as their
Tridays festival, but now the stunning
Austrian town of Neukirchen has taken
over the reins to create a new w eklong
event for a l makes and models of
motorcycles. It’s a place to be inspired
by both the bikes on display and also the
spectacular scenery tha this part of the
world has to o fer. Expect guided tours,
static displays, f od, music and fun.
www.newchurch.at
Ride this road: Spectacular alpine pa ses
like the Gro sglockner or the Gelos
Alpenstrasse are very close by.
Brilliant events, places and roads that will have you itching to get out on your bike. These eight events will help you on your way to racking up those 5000 miles
August 5-8
Llanbikefest, L lango len, North Wales
Based near the heart of Snowdonia, the
Llanbikefest provides you with the ideal
excuse to venture out and explore this
beautiful part of Wales. Once you’ve had your
fill of the live stunt shows, sna ped a l your
selfies with the numerous biking celebrities
in attendance and rocked out to the sounds of
one of the Fest’s many bands, you can venture
west into the National Park and enjoy some of
the finest scenery and roads in Britain.
www. lanbikefest.com
Ride this road: For spectacular views of
Snowdon, take the A4086 from Capel Curig
through Llanberis to Caernarfon.
September 24
Distinguished Gentlemans’ Ride
A nual ma s ride out in various locations
acro s the country/world, in which tens
of thousands of we l-dre sed gentlefolk
ride their motorcycles to raise money to
battle prostate cancer. These amazingly
well-a tended charity ride outs were
designed to help convey a di ferent vision of
motorcycling to the general public. Leathers
and kn esliders go out of the window and
in their place are cravats, tw ed suits and
we l-gr omed beards (or hairdos for the
ladies). It’s a ride out of a different kind, with a
bri liant atmosphere.
www.gentlemansride.com
Ride this road: Whether it’s through the
str ets of London, across San Francisco’s
Golden Gate bridge, or cruising in
Copenhagen, a DGR ride-out is the perfect
way to s e any city in the world.
GET THE TENT OUT
August 18-20
British Superbikes Cadwe l Park, Lincolnshire
B ok the Friday off work, grab your tent and
head up to Lincolnshire for what is arguably
BSB’s most spectacular event. Not only is
Cadwell Park the place where you’ll s e 230bhp
superbikes get airborne over the infamous
Mountain, but you’ l also be able to indulge in
the incredible party atmosphere that goes down
after the chequered flag has fa len. It’s not in its
traditional August bank holiday slo this year,
but it’ l still a trac tens of thousands of bikers.
www.britishsuperbikes.com
Ride this road: Take in the B 183 betw en
Revesby and Horncastle.
Reckon you could #RIDE5000 on one of these beasts?
May 26-29
Brit Bu t Ra ly, Fo se Park Premier Inn, Leicester
The Brit Butt cha lenges riders to visit as many of
the ra ly’s pre-selected locations as po sible, then
take a picture as pr of before moving on to the next
one. Points are awarded for the various locations,
and the rider with the most points wins. It’s not
uncommon for top riders to cover a couple of
thousand miles with jus thr e hours’ compulsory
rest! www.britbu trally.info
Ride this road: The world is your oyster, here, as
you set your own route.
Sign up to our free newsletter @ motorcyclenews.com/ride5000miles
DRESS UP
REVEL IN THE SCENERY
Beards aren’t compulsory… but why not, eh?
16 RIDE MILES
#
15
May 10 2017
EVENTS KEY: ■ South West ■ Central ■ North & Scotland ■ South East
EXPERIENCE THE LATEST
BMWS WITH CHANDLERS
Meet up with Chandlers of Brighton at the legendary
Whiteways Café this weekend for test rides and more
BMW’s 2017 range includes some cracking machines
– from the a l-new R nineT Racer to the latest
incarnation of the continent-crushing R1200GS – and
they’ l be available for you to test a the Bury Hi l Ride
this weekend.
The Brighton-based dealership wi l be camping out
at Whiteways Café – a we l-known bikers’ m eting spot
in the Southdowns National Park – a l w ekend. As we l
as the test rides, there wi l also be the o portunity to
l ok over the range and chat to the team over a cu pa
and bacon sarnie.
Everyone is welcome. You don’t have to be an
existing BMW owner, but who knows… you may we l
be won over by the Bavarian brand.
As we l as the bikes, you’ l be able to m e the West
Su sex Advanced Motorcyclists and quiz them for
riding tips or even sign up for training.
The event wi l have a bit of a party atmosphere, t o,
with live music from The B otleg Bandits entertaining
everyone acro s the w ekend.
Essential info
What? Bury Hi l Ride
When? May 13-14, 9.30am-5pm
Where? Whiteways Café, Southdowns National Park,
Bury Hi l, Houghton, Arundel BN18 9FD
More info: Visit www.chandlersbikes.co.uk or ca l the
dealership on 01273 423312
Peterborough Services, Haddon (A1/A605),
Cambs. 9am. www.pecam.org.uk
n Hunstanton Rampage Run, Network
Rail Car Park, Milton Keynes, Bucks. M et
9am. leave 9.30am. www.faceb ok.com/
events/1194584367285703/?ti=cl
AUTOJUMBLES
n Garstang, Hamilton House, Garstang, Lancs.
www.garstangautojumbles.co.uk
DRAG RACING
n Public track w ekend, Long Marston,
Warks. www.shakespearecountyraceway.com
n Run What Ya Brung Public Track Day,
Santa Pod Raceway. www.RWYB.com
SP EDWAY
n Mildenha l, www.mildenha lfentigers.co/
n Newcastle, www.newcastlediamonds.co/
n Scunthorpe, www.scunthorpescorpions.co/
n King’s Ly n, www.kingsly nyoungstars.co/
BIKE M ETS
n BMW Bike Day, Ace Cafe, London. 9am. 020-
8961-1 0 or www.ace-cafe-london.com
n Cafe Plus, Baldock, Herts. 01462-8957 5
n Re ved Up Tea Bar, High Str et Seafront,
Walton on the Naze, E sex. 07947-408542
n We sons Cafe, Horam, East Sussex. 9am-
4pm. 01435-813 9
n Pit Stop Sundays, Iron Horse Ranch House,
Market D eping, Lincs. 9am-6pm. 01 78-
346952 or www.ironhorseranchouse.co.uk
n The O dballs M C, The Haygate, Telford,
Shropshire. www.oddba lsm c.co.uk
n The Square & Compass, Darley Dale,
Derbys. 01629-733255
n TT Pit Stop Super Sausage, Towester,
Northants. www.supersausagecafe.co.uk
n Yonderma n Cafe, Wardlow Mires, Derbys.
8am-3pm. 01298-873056
FESTIVAL
n MCN Festival of Motorcycling,
Peterborough Arena, Cambs.
www.mcnfestival.com
www.auto 6.com
World Superbikes, Imola, Italy. www.worldsbk.
com
TRACK DAYS
n No Limits, Ma lory Park, Leics. £105, 01727-
8 9173 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com
RA LIES
n Bugsplatz M C, The Haberdashers Arms,
Knighton, Sta fs. A l w ekend. £15 preb ok or
£18 OTG, www.bugsplatzm c.co.uk
n Weasel Ra ly, Bartleys Bar, Drumcr e, Co
Westmeath. A l w ekend. la rymcquaid08@
gmail.com
n Tyred ‘N’ Exhausted Ra ly, The Showfield,
Wharles, Lancs. A l w ekend. 07393-41 265
SP EDWAY
n Edinburgh, www.edinburghmonarchs.co/
n Redcar, Cleveland. www.redcarbears.co/
n Plymouth, Devon. www.plymouthdevils.co/
n Somerset, www.somersetrebels.co/
BIKE M ETS
n Bike Night, ce Cafe, Stonebridge, London.
6pm. www.ace-cafe-london.com
n The Romping Cat, Old W ods, Bomere Heath,
Shrewsbury, Shropshire. 01939-290273
IRISH ROAD RACING
n International North West 200, Portstewart,
Co Londonderry. www.northwest2 0.org
SATURDAY May 13
HI LCLIMB
n Jersey MC & L C, Mi lbr ok Sands, Jersey.
www.jerseymotorsport.com
ROAD RACING
n Cadwe l Park Croft Northern Clubman’s
Championship, Croft Circuit, Co Durham. www.
auto 6.com
n NG Road Racing Club, Donington Park,
Derbys. 07971-157899 or www.ngroadracing.org
TRACK DAYS
n No Limits, Anglesey International. £139,
01727-899173 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com
RA LIES
n Salutation M C Charity One Nighter, Birch
Co pice Social Welfare Club, Tamworth, Warks.
07818-485265 or www.salutationm c.com
DRAG RACING
n Public track w ekend, Shakespeare County
Raceway. www.shakespearecountyraceway.com
n Saturday Night Special Run What Ya Brung,
Santa Pod Raceway, Podington, Beds. www.
santapod.co.uk or www.rwyb.com
SP EDWAY
n Eastbourne, www.eastbourn eagles.co/
n Glasgow Sp edway, www.glasgowtigers.co/
n Workington, www.workingtoncomets.co/
n Leicester, www.leicesterlions.co/
n Peterborough, www.peterboroughpanthers.co/
BIKE M ETS
n Cabin Dairy Tearooms, High St, Burnham on
Crouch, E sex. 01621-782404
n Yonderma n Cafe, Wardlow Mires, Derbys.
open every day from 8am-3pm. 01298-873056
n Oasis Snack Bar, Monmouth Rd,
Abergave ny, Monmouthshire. 01873-8 5375
n Reading Birthday Party, Reading Harley-
Davidson, Berks. 0 18-3 4-3 0
FESTIVAL
n MCN Festival of Motorcycling, Peterborough
Arena, Cambs. www.mcnfestival.com
IRISH ROAD RACING
n International North West 2 0, Portstewart,
Co Londonde ry. www.northwest2 0.org
SKI L DAYS
n Emergency First Aid, Beacon Community
Centre, Market Drayton. 01630-653692
SUNDAY May 14
ROAD RACING
n East Midland Racing A sociation, Ma lory
Park, Leics. 02476-5 4463
TRACK DAYS
n No Limits, Anglesey International. £139,
01727-8 9173 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com
SHOWS
n Dover Cla sic Bike Show, Dover Transport
Museum, Dover, Kent. 01304-8 2409
n Herts Auto Show, Stanborough Park, Welwyn
Garden City, Herts. 01707-376020
RIDEOUTS
n Peterborough Advanced Motorcyclists,
WEDNESDAY May 10
RIDING SCHOOLS
n Honda Ron Haslam Race Sch ol,
Donington Park, Derbys. 01332- 8 323 or
www.haslamraceschool.com
RIDEOUTS
n Kilham BIkers, Bay Horse, Kilham, East
Yorks. 6.30pm. www.kilhambikers.co.uk
SP EDWAY
n Be le Vue, www.be levueaces.co/
n Cradley, www.cradleyheathens.co/
n King’s Ly n, www.kingsly nyoungstars.co/
n P ole, www.p olepirates.co/
BIKE MEETS
n Brit Bike Night, Ace Cafe, London. 6pm.
020-8961-1 0 or www.ace-cafe-london.com
n Road Ru ner Riders, Chequers I n, Gt
Blakenham, Su folk. 7.30pm. 07 83-271610
n Ryka’s Cafe, Box Hi l, Su rey. 0 730- 61013
n The Admiral Hawke, Sunbury on Thames,
Middlesex. 01932-781326
n Dick Turpin’s Rest, Blue Chip House (A64),
High St, Sherburn, Yorks. 019 4-71 11
n East Coast MC World, Cranswick Industrial
Estate, Dri field, East Yorks. 013 7-271200
n Gawsworth Jesters, Ha rington Arms,
Ma clesfield, Cheshire. 7pm. 07843- 23593
n Southport Carousel, Southport,
Merseyside. www.discoversouthport.co.uk
n Squires Cafe, Newthorpe, West Yorks.
01977-684618 or www.squires-cafe.co.uk
n Trave lers I n, Smithy W od Rd, Thorpe
Hesley, Rotherham. 0 14-2467870
n Wetland Bikers, Wildfowl Centre,
Washington, T&W. 5.30pm, www.wwt.org.uk
n Bikers Breakfast, The Dog I n, Nether
Whitacre, Warks. 9am. 01675-481318
n Spalding Bike Night, The Chequers, Weston,
Spalding, Lincs. 6.30pm-10pm. www.faceb ok.
com/events/496160957245426
n Alton Station Cafe, Alton, Hants. 5pm-9pm.
01420-8 205
n Bikers Nite, The Mi l, Withington,
Chelthenham, Gloucs. www.bikersnite.com
n Salisbury MC & L C, Harnham
Social Club, Salisbury, Wilts. www.
salisburymotorcycleandlightcarclub.co.uk
n The Plough, Cadsden, Risborough, Bucks.
h tp://plough-at-cadsden.co.uk
IRISH ROAD RACING
n International North West 2 0, Portstewart,
Co Londonde ry. www.northwest2 0.org
THURSDAY May 1
TRACK DAYS
n No Limits, Croft, Co Durham. £139, 01727-
899173 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com
n Focused Events - BMW Track and Training
day Level 1, Donington Park, Derbys. £329,
08450-267272 or www.focusedevents.com
n Focused Events, Donington, Derbys. £169,
08450-267272 or www.focusedevents.com
SP EDWAY
n Ipswich, www.ipswichwitches.co/
n She field, www.she fieldsp edway.co/
n Isle of Wight, www.wightwa riors.co/
n Swindon, www.swindonrobins.co/
BIKE M ETS
n Italian Bikes n’ Cars, Ace Cafe, London.
6pm. www.ace-cafe-london.com
n East Coast Motorcycle World, Cranswick
Industrial Estate, Hu ton Cranswick, Dri field,
East Yorks. 013 7-2712 0
n Highwayman Cafe, York, Yorks. Open until
8pm. 01904-4 0417
n The Guide I n, Keighley Rd, Hainworth,
Keighley, West Yorks. www.facebook.com/
groups/10682 612717228
n Warley Cro s Cafe, B eford, Yorks. www.
warleycro scafe-eastyorkshire.co.uk
n Whistlestop Cafe, HTM Busine s Park,
Rhu dlan, Denbighshire. 01745 591235
n Dusty Mi ler, Barlborough, Nr Chesterfield,
Derbys. www.dustymi lerbarlborough.co.uk
n Iron Horse bike Night, Iron Horse Ranch
House, Market D eping, Lincs. 6pm- 1pm.
www.ironhorseranchouse.co.uk
n Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics. 6pm- 1pm.
01530-814718 or www.vicbikerspub.co.uk
IRISH ROAD RACING
n International North West 2 0, Portstewart,
Co Londonde ry. www.northwest2 0.org
FRIDAY May 12
ROAD RACING
n Cadwe l Park Croft Northern Clubman’s
Championship, Croft Circuit, Co Durham.
MCN’s recommended viewing
GOLD AND GOOSE
8.30pm, MOT, Red Bu l MotoGP
Rookies Cup Replay. Also at 9.10pm
10.30am, BTS1, FIM Speedway
Grand Prix
MAY 10
MAY 16
10am, EUR2, Live World Superbikes, Imola, Italy:
Race 2 and support races. Also at 8pm
MAY 14
Key to channels DRT - Discovery Real Time DSC - Discovery
Cha nel DHD - Discovery Cha nel HD EXS - Extreme Sports Cha nel
EUR1 (2, HD) - Eurosport 1 (2, HD) MOT - Motors TV CH4 - Channel 4
CH5 - Cha nel Five BBC BBCi – BC Interactive ESPN – ESPN Classic
Channel INST – Insight ITV DST – Discovery Turbo SHED – Discovery
Shed S1 (2, 3 or X) - Sky Sports 1 (2, 3 or Extra) QUEST BTS1 – BT
Sport 1 BTS2 – BT Sport 2 TVL – TRAVEL UK
MONDAY May 15
TRACK DAYS
n No Limits, Snetterton, Norfolk. £105, 01727-
8 9173 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com
n No Limits Evening, Snetterton. £45, 01727-
8 9173 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com
SP EDWAY
n Kent, www.kentkings.co/
n Wolverhampton, www.wolverhamptonwolves.co/
BIKE M ETS
n Route 1, A 1 Northbound, A tleborough,
Norfolk. 0 702-629619
n W ody’s Bar, Ancaster, Grantham, Lincs.
6.30pm. 014 0-230552
n The Swan I n, To ton, Southampton, Hants.
7pm. 0 708-234078
n The Thr e Crowns, Wha don, Alderbury,
Salisbury, Wilts. 8.30pm. 017 2-7102 1
TUESDAY May 16
TRACK DAYS
n No Limits, Snetterton, Norfolk. £125, 01727-
8 9173 or www.nolimitstrackdays.com
n MSVT with Stalker, Oulton Park, Cheshire.
from £165, www.MSVTrackdays.com
n Focused Events, Silverstone MotoGP. £169,
08450-267272 or www.focusedevents.com
BIKE M ETS
n The Red Lion, Kings Langley, Herts. 6.30pm
onwards, 07411-93 954
n Bagby Inn, Thirsk, North Yorks. 5.30pm
onwards, 07541-059506
n Haven Arms, Havenside, Hedon, Yorks.
7.30pm onwards, www.havenarms.co.uk
n Olde Red Lion, Li tle Su ton, E lesmere Port,
Cheshire. www.olderedlion.co.uk
n Route 59 Cafe, Bolton A bey, Skipton, North
Yorks. 01756-7 1 54.
n T e side Bikers, Pitstop Diner, Stockton, Co
Durham. 6pm. www.t esidebikers.co.uk
n P ole Quay, Dorset. www.p oletourism.com
MAY 13-14
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TRACK DAYS IN PEMBREY
May
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th
Ca l Phil Bevan on 07885 453191
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• Real Ale & Cider Festival • Fu l Menu a l day • A l day breakfasts + BQ • Trade Stands
• LIVE Bands: 3. 0pm - SOBs, 5. 0pm - The Transitions, 8:30pm - The Mafi a
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BEERS + BIKES FESTIVAL
Bank Holiday Sunday 28th May - from 10am
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UPCOMING TRACK DAYS
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Tue 16 May Oulton Park General Bike Track Day - with Stalker £165. 0
Mon 15 May Bedford Autodrome General Bike Track Day £ 9. 0
Fri 19 May Cadwe l Park Novice Only Track Day £109. 0
Tue 23 May Sne terton 3 0 General Bike Track Day - with Stalker £105. 0
Tue 23 May Oulton Park Novice Only Track Day £165. 0
Sat 03 Jun Sne terton 3 0 General Bike Track Day £135. 0
Mon 05 Jun Cadwe l Park Open Pitlane Track Day £ 15. 0
Mon 05 Jun Cadwe l Park ACU Licence A se sment £129. 0
Thu 08 Jun Brands Hatch Indy Road Bike Only Track Day - with Stalker £139. 0
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NOVICE ONLY TRACKDAYS
Fri 19th May Cadwell Park
Tues 23rd May Oulton Park
GET IT WITH
GET IT WITH
The BEST place
to buy biking kit!
www.motorcyclenews.com #MCNwednesday
14
www.motorcyclenews.com #MCNwednesday
GARAGE
BE PREPARED ● Owning ● Fixing ● Advice ● Kit testing ● Tech
Find the best place to put it
A semble the mounting bracket and o fer it up to where you
are pla ning to fit it. Try doing this as you’re si ting on the bike
so you get a rider’s eye view. Idea l you don’t wan the satnav obscuring
anything on the dash, especia l your warning lights. Turn the bars fu lock
on both sides to check for interference against fairings and brackets, adjust
if nece sary and then tighten up the bolts.
Access the power
Gain a ce s to your bike’s battery by removing the
nece sary panels, seat and anything else that you n ed in
order to reach the terminals. Our Yamaha XT 60R n eded only the seat
and left-hand side/tank panels removing, and the tank bolts l osened to
a low the tank to be slightly raised. This proce s wi l vary depending on
your model, so check with your manual if you’re unsure.
2 3
Find your way when fitting a bike-friendly routefinder with this step-by-step guide
Fine-tune your bike’s front end
Fitting a satnav just got simple
Adjust your forks
Got everything you need?
Open your satnav fi ting kit and make sure a l the required
components are there. You should also check tha the cradle
itself is compatible with your particular satnav and that you have adequate
space to fit it on your bike. Lay out the power cable and run it along the
outside of the logical route it wi l take to co nect to the bike’s ba tery,
making sure that it is long enough to reach without sna ging.
How to care for
an off-road
bike
Fine tune the position
While sitting on your motorcycle do a final check to make sure
that you’re completely happy with the satnav’s location. L ok
again to s e that there is clearance betw en any fairing or brackets with
the bars turned at fu lock. Switch the satnav on; it should now be taking
power directly from your bike’s battery. Do a final check of mounting bolts
and fasteners to make sure they are secure.
Pick your route
Star to route the wires alongside your bike’s l om, this wi l k ep
things l oking neat and wi l also prevent damage to the wiring.
Pay particular a tention to the way in which the original wiring routes from
the headstock area and up and over the top yoke. If done inco rectly the wire
can snag or bind when the st ering is on fu lock.
Don’t get crossed wires
Before you co nec the ba tery check tha the colour of the
wires co responds to the co rect polarity. In this case it’s easy:
red equals positive, and black equals negative, but some kits from the far
east don’t have the same colour coding. You should also check that any inline
fuse is co rectly inserted and undamaged.
Test ride and tweak
K ep the satnav powered up and take the bike out on a road
test. It’s wise to pack a couple of t ols just in case you n ed
to tweak the position out on the road. K ep an eye on the satnav’s power
or charge icon while you ride to ensure tha the power is constant and not
intermi tent. Remember to tighten up fasteners properly once you’ve
finalised the insta lation – and don’t forge to read the instructions!
Tidy the wires
Once you have finalised the route of the power cable, run any
exce s wire to the ba tery where it can be gathered up and
shortened. Cable tie the power lead alongside the origina l om. L ok out
for any OE cable ties that are already fi ted and are reusable, as using these
wi l help k ep the job l oking tidy and profe sional.
Start to rebuild
Refi the seat and sidepanels, checking as you go that none
of the original wiring route has b en disturbed, and taking
care no to trap any part of the wiring betw en the panels. Turn the
handlebars to fu lock both sides to make sure the power lead doesn’t
pu l tight at any point.
8
4
6
9
5
7
Compression
Usua ly found a the
bo tom of the fork
leg, the compre sion
adjuster a fects
how quickly the fork
compre ses when
hi ting a bump or
braking. It’s what makes
forks f el sti f or plush.
Rebound
Controls how quickly
they return to normal
after compre sion.
The more you a d, by
turning the adjuster in,
the slower the rate of
return. Adjust in half-aturn
increments, f eling
for clicks.
Preload
The preload adjuster
compre ses the spring
inside your forks to
alter the range of
useable travel. This
also makes the forks
f el harder or softer
depending on how
much is a plied.
Ride height
Not one for casual
twiddlers, this a fects
your bike’ st ering
geometry, making it
quicker to turn or more
stable. Adjust it by
sliding the fork through
the top yoke. Only adjust
by 2mm at a time.
Charged and ready
Life with an electric bike
Project XT500 Classic
Yam nears completion
Used and abused
Top kit we’ve been testing
Got a biking problem?
We have the answers
Funny front ends
Method in the madness?
P58 P59 P60 P62 P63
PAUL BRYANT
1
Find new
roads for your
#ride5000miles
exploits
WORDS BRUCE DUNN
● Screwdriver
● Cable ties
● Spanner
● Selection of sma l
● sockets and ratchet
TOOLS #MCNwednesday
37
www.motorcyclenews.com
April 5 2017
‘In the wet the
less muscular
midrange helped
the ZX-10RR’
‘THEY’RE BACK!’
The GSX-R1000R and Fireblade SP are finally back
in the game, just in time for MCN’s definitive six-day
superbike showdown – but which should you buy?
36 ROAD TEST
THE TEST
Michael N eves
Age 47 Height 6ft
CV MCN Senior Tester.
A race wi ner at Rockingham
on a BMW.
Adam ‘Chad’ Child
Age 40 Height 5ft 6in
CV MCN Senior Tester.
Once TT team mate to
John McPint.
Emma Franklin
Age 35 Height 5ft 7in
CV MCN Consumer
Editor. Experienced
RS125 club racer.
Bruce Dunn
Age 51 Height 5ft 6in
CV MCN Road Tester.
Datalo ging expert and
250 club race genius.
Liam Marsden
Age 26 Height 6ft 1in
CV MCN Web Producer.
Represents the
convervative rider
Bob Stockley
Age 50 Height 5ft 7in
CV MCN Guest Tester.
Forme racer, avid
Ducati co lector.
Paul Be ryman
Age 48 Height 5ft 10in
CV MCN Guest Tester.
Silverstone trackday
instructor, cla sic racer.
David Rook
Age 46 Height 6ft 1in
CV MCN Guest Tester.
Youth trials expert and
cu rently owns an R1.
The riders
W
elcome to MCN’s annual
superbike shootout. This
year s es the return of two
Japanese 1000 c heroes,
in the guise of Honda’s
Fireblade SP and Suzuki’s GSX-R1000R.
A lot has changed since these two giants
ruled the world. It was BMW that
forced the superbike cla s to shift gears
with their S1000RR in 2010 when the
German monster set a new benchmark.
It made 190bhp and came dripping with
electronics. Ever since then the Honda
and Suzuki have fa len further behind.
Bu these two former MCN group test
winners are back, faster and leaner than
ever. Do they fina ly have what i takes
to dethrone the cu rent superbike royalty?
That’s what we’re here to find out.
Superbikes have outgrown the real
world in terms of price and power, so
in the spirit of ‘in for a penny, in for a
pound’ we’re testing the posh versions
here: the Rs, Ms, SPs and Factory versions.
We’ l be pitching the cheaper
base models against each other soon,
as we l as the mega-money exotica like
the Panigale R, Superle gera, HP4 Race
and Blade SP2.
But for now, make yourself comfortable
while we take you on a journey
through the fastest, most decadent superbike
test we’ve ever undertaken – a
w ek of hammering these seven twowh
eled mi siles in the dyno r om, on
the test strip, on a two-day road trip
and for two days on track.
But which is best? Read on to find
out. The result might just shock you .
By Michael N eves & Adam Child
MCN SENIO ROAD TESTERS
DUCATI 1299
PANIGALE S £21,995
189.56bhp l 196.2kg
MCN’s reigning superbike champ.
Came of age when Ducati turned
it into a 12 9 in 2015 and overnight
it became devastatingly quick
on track and refined on the road.
BMW S1000RR
£17,140 (AS TESTED)
191.95bhp l 2 1.4kg
Winner of every group test from
2010 to 2014, it last had a major
overhaul in 2015. Our test bike is
top spec with a fu l electronics
package and lightweight wh els.
HONDA FIREBLADE SP
£19,125
179bhp l 195.2kg
Honda’s new Blade has the power
and tech to compete with the best.
It’s 15kg lighter than the old model
and for the firs time gets a fu l
a ray of electronic rider aids.
SUZUKI GSX-R1000R
£16,099
184.93bhp l 204kg
This long-awaited new model has a
lightweight cha sis and a full electronics
package for the firs time.
Bu the jewel in the crown is the
new variable valve timing.
YAMAHA R1M
£19,399
189.96bhp l 201.8kg
Released in 2015, the YZR-M1-inspired
cro splane crank R1 had the
power, agility and tech to win . This
M model ha semi-active Öhlins,
carbon g odies and is Euro4 legal.
JOE DICK
Like most sportsbike fans, I dream of
riding a Panigale or S1000RR – or any
of the cu rent crop of litre superbikes
– on a sm oth and sun drenched racetrack,
day after glorious day…
Back in the real world, we spend
most our time on the road, piloting
our 180bhp thoroughbreds around
potholes and cursing the weather
forecasters. So how they perform at
60mph is arguably even more crucial
than how they perform at 160mph.
So we kicked o f our test by embarking
on a two-day, 500-mile trip from
Northants to Wales and back, taking
on te rible weather and everything
from motorways to tiny lanes and
shiny ca tle grids, using Pire li’s Diablo
Rosso I as a control tyre.
Kawasaki ZX-10RR
I began on Kawasaki’s neatly understated-in-black
ZX-10RR, which
despite its race credentials struggled
to translate its track cla s to the road.
Simply, I struggled to fit into its bar/
peg/sea triangle despite being only
5ft 6in ta l. And if I found the pegs way
too high and the bars too low, it was
even tougher for the six-f oters on test.
Worse, the racy scr en gave me li tle
protection agains the driving rain
while the motor felt starkly lacking
in helpful, low-to-midrange power,
making riding at legal sp ed a chore.
The Kawasaki did grow on me. The
clocks may be a bit ‘Casio’ bu they
ar easy to read and it’s relatively
straightforward to add or decrease
the level of TC or to soften the power.
In the wet a le s muscular midrange
a lied to precise fue ling and ta l gearing
made the ZX easier to tippy-toe
over slippery overbanding than th
more aggre sive Ducati and Apr
The quickshifter works e fort
too, while this RR model’s Ak
exhaust sounds raucously u
a standard inline-four.
Yamaha YZF-R1
Yamaha’s R1M is fa
The scr en is ta l
bike and there’s
APRILIA RSV4 RF
£19,999
192.64bhp l 2 1.2kg
Updated for 2017 with a Euro4 spec
V4 engine and the latest-Öhlins
suspension. Has a new autobli per,
pitlane limiter, cornering ABS and
wh elie control set-up.
KAWASAKI ZX-10RR
PERFORMANCE £16,949
191.89bhp l 206kg
Kawasaki’s homologation special
ha stronger cases to take heavier
tuning and there’s more r om for
lairy cams. Has forged a ly wh els,
an autobli per and Akrapovic can.
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On the road
PART 1
On road
Wales in the rain. We
su fer so that you
know the truth .
Turn o
THIS WEEK
www.motorcyclenews.com
06
ROADS TO GLORY
TT racer is carbon copy of new V4 RR road bike
NORTON SPECIAL
W
hen Norton pu led the
covers of their new V4 RR
road bike, first revealed
by MCN back in October
last year before its launch
to the public at Motorcycle Live last
November, the world gasped in admiration
– then the doubter started to
pick holes in it. Would it ever be built?
Would it work? Would this rea ly be
the basis for the TT race bike? Would it
rea ly justify the price tag?
With the V4 road bike now going
through the final stages of production
preparation, we strip the fairings
o f the SG6 TT race bike to uncover
the truth of just how close it rea ly
is to the V4 RR. Clearly there’s one
big elephant in the r om – or under
the silver fairing – in the shape of the
WSB-spec Aprilia V4 engine – but is
that where the di ferences end?
The frame game
The dimensions of the ro ling cha sis
are virtua ly identical. The hand-built
aluminium twin-spar cha sis is the
same on both the SG6 and V4 RR, bar
the engine mounts, which are di ferent
a the front while the rear mounts are
unchanged (to a commodate the Aprilia
engine). The sub-frame has a removable
ba tery box, but is otherwise identical.
Silver dream racer
The road and race bike run nearidentical
carbon-fibre bodywork. The
only di ference is the obvious lack of
indicators, lights and mi rors – plus the
TT bike uses a double-bubble scr en to
a low the riders to get fu ly tucked in at
top sp ed. The be lypan on the race bike
doubles as a fu ly enclosed catch tank.
Braking good
The race bike runs slightly sma ler
Brembo discs than the road bike, down
from 30mm to 320mm to help reduce
un-sprung weight. The rear disc is the
same on both versions. Brookes uses a
rear thumb brake whereas Johnson uses
a conventional rear brake lever.
Gas guzzler
The fuel tanks are very similar, both
being made from carbon fibre and
reinforced with Kevlar for impact
resistance by BST – who are be ter
known for their wh els. The main body
of the fuel tank is actua ly under the seat,
and while the same shape and position,
the TT bike runs a 5-litre larger fuel tank
Clock watchers
The electronics package wi l be very
familiar to the road bike buyers,
too. Both bikes use the same 7in
fu l-colour clocks, although the
information displayed is di ferent.
The road bike wi l show
miles, trips and a fuel
gauge whereas the
race clocks simply
show engine revs
and lap times.
Horses for Mountain Courses
The SG6 race bike uses an Aprilia WSB-spec engine.
That means a 60-degr e V4 1000 c producing a
claimed 20bhp. Bu the road bike uses a 72° V4
designed and build by Norton. The British-built
1200 c motor wi l produce a claimed 201bhp @
12,500rpm with 95.88ftlb of torque at 10,000rpm.
THE RACE ONE
Simple but e fective The race bike’s clocks are se to show lap
times and also what engine maps are in use
Nose job The front of the TT racer is smooth and shapely,
although a big double bubble scr en helps riders tuck in
Pre sing i sues A
a low riders to c
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