MCN Get Britain Biking

GET BRITAIN 

BIKING 

Why 2020 is the perfect 

year to get on two wheels 

ALL THE GEAR... 

No idea what kit you need? Don’t worry, 

we’ll guide you to the must-have essentials 

HOW TO GET YOUR LICENCE 

From provisional to professional 

WHAT BIKES TO BUY 

£65 

PER MONTH (x37) 

New and used metal to tempt you 

PLUS REAL LIFE TEST STORIES • 10 GREAT HELMET BUYS • SWITCH TO COMMUTING BY BIKE

ducati.com 

VÄVgksVT¹Å^z] 3VQ]i^QGg¹sGvèiVv 

@k{v¹G[ékvTGPgV¹VÄVváTGá¹v^TV¹¹¹ 

0{sVv0skvè¹˚¹≅ìŸííí¹{QGz^¹ 

,VvékvhGiQV¹9k{Q]Vv * 

:]Gz¹hkvV¹Qk{gT¹ák{¹ÅGiz¹[vkh¹G¹hkzkvQáQgV¹z]Gz¹GggkÅw¹ák{¹zk¹v^TV¹VÄVváTGá¹î¹GPwkg{zV¹ 

Qkh[kvè¹GiT¹wzágV¹Å^z]¹z]V¹sVvéVQz¹PgViT¹k[¹wskvèw¹sVvékvhGiQV¹GiT¹ÄVvwGz^g^záfl¹ÄVi¹hkvV¹k[¹^zfi 

4wV¹ák{v¹[vVV¹≅ìŸííí¹Äk{Q]Vv¹zk¹GTT¹zk¹ák{v¹0{sVv0skvè¹VÜsVv^ViQVŸ¹Å]Vz]Vv¹z]Gzšw¹G¹wVz¹k[¹sGii^Vvw¹kv¹G¹Qkh[kvè¹wVGz¹[kv¹ 

PVzèVv¹zk{vî\¹kv¹w]GvsVi¹ák{v¹wskvèw¹skzViz^Gg¹Å^z]¹Gi¹fvGskÄ^R¹VÜ]G{wz¹wáwzVh¹kv¹QGvPki¹[^PvV¹GQQVwwkvá¹ksz^kiwfi¹3]V¹ 

{QGz^¹ssGvVg¹QkggVQz^ki¹k[éVvw¹VÄVi¹hkvV¹ksz^kiw¹zk¹hGfV¹z]V¹hkwz¹k[¹ák{v¹iVÅ¹v^TVfi¹0VV¹z]V¹wz{iiî\¹vGi\V¹k[¹eGQfVzwŸ¹ 

]VghVzwŸ¹\gkÄVwŸ¹Pkkzw¹GiT¹hkvV¹[kv¹VÄVvá¹v^Tî\¹wzágVfi¹i\G\V¹ák{v¹wskvèî\¹ws^v^z¹Å^z]¹≅ìŸííí¹Åkvè]¹k[¹GTTVT¹VÜzvGwfi 

Book an appointment with your local Ducati Dealer to take a test ride 

‘¹hG\V¹^w¹[kv¹^gg{wzvGz^ki¹s{vskwVw¹kigáŸ¹sGii^Vvw¹w]kÅi¹GvV¹ikz¹[^zèVT¹Gw¹wzGiTGvTfi¹ssg^Vw¹zk¹!kTVg¹@VGv¹îíîí¹{QGz^¹0{sVv0skvè¹GiT¹0{sVv0skvè¹0¹hkTVgw¹kigáŸ¹s{vQ]GwVT¹GiT¹vV\^wzVvVT¹ 

PVzÅVVi¹òz]¹{\{wz¹îíîí¹GiT¹ïíz]¹0VszVhPVv¹îíîífi¹"VÅ¹hkzkvQáQgVw¹kigá¹˛¹VÜQg{TVw¹svV˛vV\^wzVvVTŸ¹svV˛kÅiVT¹kv¹VÜ˛TVhk¹P^fVwfi¹Giikz¹PV¹{wVT¹î¹Qkie{iQz^ki¹Å^z]¹Giá¹kz]Vv¹k[éVvfi 

02 | August 26 2020 www.motorcyclenews.com 

FP_MCNSUP_SSvouchMCNid4346124.pdf 08.06.2020 17:39

GET BRITAIN BIKING 

WELCOME 

RICHARD NEWLAND, EDITOR 

P16 

PROTECT YOUR HEAD 

Whatever else you buy, you must have 

a helmet. Here’s ten options from £59 

P4 

HOW TO GET A LICENCE 

We reveal what you need to do to go 

from novice to a full UK bike licence 

£54.99 

P7 

CASE STUDY 1: THE CBT 

Join virgin bike rider Adam Binnie 

as he swaps four wheels for two 

‘I took my 

bike test by 

accident’ 

GETTING 

BRITAIN 

At the tender age of eleven, I 

somehow managed to bully my 

parents relentlessly enough that 

they bought me a Suzuki RM80 

‘Big wheel’. The bug had bitten 

me hard after having had a quick 

ride on a neighbouring kid’s 

bike – but when it came to road 

riding, I sort of took my full bike 

test by accident. 

Having booked a CBT for 

a dank February Friday, it 

was mid-afternoon when my 

instructor said: “We’ve had a 

weekend course cancellation, 

do you want the slot so you can 

P8 

THE RISE OF THE SCOOTER 

No longer the target of ridicule, scooters 

are the new must-have urban accessory 

BIKING 

P19 

ALL THE GEAR... 

Don’t rush out and buy the whole shop, 

but these essentials make lots of sense 

P10 

CASE STUDY 2: MODULE 1 

Join Sarah Norman for Module 1 as she 

blasts through a Direct Access course 

P15 

THE HOTTEST USED 125s 

You don’t have to buy a new bike as your 

first love – how about one of these? 

P12 

CASE STUDY 3: MODULE 2 

Join Gareth Evans as he becomes the 

Modfather with the final riding test 

Rich had way more hair back in 1985 

do your test on Monday?” It felt 

like fate calling – so I said yes. 

Less than 72 hours later I had 

a full licence. 

Of course, it’s a little more 

convoluted to do in 2020. The 

CBT still remains, but age and 

experience hoops, and multiple 

tests, mean you can’t now just 

nail a weekend super-course. 

But don’t be put off if you’re 

at the beginning of that journey. 

Those hoops mean you’re then 

better trained to be riding on the 

road – and the exhilaration and 

satisfaction of getting there are 

well worth the effort. 

Enjoy the ride! 

£99 


P20 

SHOULD I GO ELECTRIC? 

The urban dream is a swarm of electric 

P21 

bikes – but are they the best option? 

RIDING TEMPTATION 

Got your licence? Now it’s time to use it. 

Check out some new-bike temptation... 

65 years of MCN August 26 2020 | 03


YOUR ROUTE 

There’s no greater 

moment than getting 

to bin those L-plates 

Q: HOW OLD ARE YOU? 

Find out more at: www.motorcyclenews.com/learn 

TO RIDING 

HAPPINESS 

Ready to take your first steps to 

riding on the road? Here’s how… 

16 

CATEGORY 

17- 

18 

19- 

23 

50cc or less (Moped) 

24+ 17-18 19-23 24+ 

19-23 24+ 

24+ 

A2 

up to 35kW & less than 

0.2kW/kg can be derived 

from a machine producing 

no more than 70kW 

as standard 

AM A1 A 

CATEGORY 

125cc or less (up to 11kw) 

CATEGORY 

CATEGORY 

Any size 

NO 

DO YOU CURRENTLY 

HOLD A MOTORCYCLE 

LICENCE? 

YES 

DO YOU HOLD 

ANY OTHER TYPE 

OF LICENCE 

NO 

NO 

HAVE YOU HELD YOUR 

LICENCE FOR MORE 

THAN 2 YEARS? 

Already got a bike 

licence? Spread the love 

and pass this on to family 

or friends who haven’t 

yet discovered the 

joy of biking… 

To go from biking zero to 

fully licensed hero there 

are a few hoops you have to 

jump though along the way 

in the form of a number of 

theory and practical riding tests – a 

process which is also governed by 

your age. But don’t be dissuaded 

– the reward is huge. For a simple 

guide to your fastest route to 

riding happiness – follow the 

chart on the right-hand page. 

Take the first step 

To ride legally on the road as a 

learner, you need a provisional 

motorcycle licence and 

Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) 

certificate. These let you ride a bike 

or scooter of up to 125cc and 15bhp 

(11kw). You must display L-plates 

and can’t use motorways or carry 

anyone as a pillion. 

A provisional licence is obtained 

by completing an application 

from the Post Office or online. You 

must be at least 17 to get one for 

a motorcycle. However, at 16 you 

can get one for a moped (defined as 

having an engine of no more than 

50cc and top speed no greater than 

30mph). This is an AM licence. 

If you already have a full car 

licence, it might already include 

Great instructors 

make the whole 

process simple 

provisional motorcycle entitlement, 

flip your card over and check if 

the categories on the back list 

provisional entitlement to vehicle 

category A. If you obtained a full car 

licence before February 1, 2001, you 

can ride a moped without a CBT. 

So what’s a CBT then? 

Compulsory Basic Training is a 

course, rather than a test, usually 

taking no more than a day. 

Assuming you are starting from 

the very beginning, you will be 

taught everything from wheeling 

the machine around to riding safely 

on the road. An instructor will 

assess you throughout the day and 

if you’re safely in control you will 

be signed off as safe to ride a moped 

or small motorbike (depending on 

your age). Your CBT is valid for two 

years and then needs to be retaken 

l ‘The reward 

for passing your 

test is freedom!’ 

unless you pass your full bike test in 

that two-year timescale. 

Moving on up: Mod1 

Once you’ve got your CBT you can 

progress to Module 1, the next step 

to a full licence. If you were a twowheel 

virgin at CBT level, make sure 

you book training to pass Mod1. 

Once you’re ready to progress, your 

training school will get you booked 

in for your test, which normally 

takes about 20 minutes and includes 

wheeling the bike and using its 

stand, riding a slalom and figure of 

eight, a slow ride, a U-turn (most 

riders’ nemesis), cornering and a 

controlled stop, cornering and an 

emergency stop, and cornering and 

hazard avoidance, during which 

you must be riding at a minimum 

speed of 19mph on a moped or 

31mph on a motorcycle. 

Go the whole hog: Mod2 

Module 2 of the riding test is the 

final hurdle between being a learner 

and proudly rocking a full 

bike licence. Unlike Mod1, 

Module 2 is all completed on 

the road, involving a road 

riding test, which will last 

at least 30 minutes. You’ll be 

asked to answer two vehicle 

safety questions known as the 

‘show me, tell me’ questions. 

These test that you know 

how to carry out basic safety 

checks to a motorcycle, then 

you’ll drive in various road 

and traffic conditions, but not 

on motorways. 

You’ll be asked to carry 

out normal stops, an angle 

start (pulling out from 

behind a parked vehicle), a 

hill start (where possible) 

and the examiner will give 

you directions using a radio 

(while normally following 

you on a motorcycle). Then 

there’ll be about 10 minutes of 

independent riding to assess 

your ability to safely ride 

making your own decisions. 

CAR 

LICENCE 

PROVISIONAL 

LICENCE 

If your car licence is obtained 

before Feb 2001 you can ride a 

moped without L plates and carry 

a pillion passenger. There’s no 

need to do a CBT or practical test. 

If your licence is from after Feb 

2001 all you need is a CBT and you 

can do all of the above. For other 

categories please carry on. 

CBT 

Once a CBT is obtained you can ride an AM 

vehicle with L plates if under 17 and an A1 

vehicle with L plates if over 17. 

You don’t need to do a CBT if: 

■ You just want to ride a moped and 

passed a car driving licence before 

February 1, 2001 

■ You have a full moped licence obtained 

after December 1, 1990 

■ You live and ride on off-shore islands 

GET A PROVISIONAL 

LICENCE 

DO YOU HAVE A CBT? 

NO 

YES 

THEORY 

TEST 

DO YOU HAVE A VALID 

THEORY CERTIFICATE? 

NO 

YES 

YES 

You must take your 

practical test within 2 

years of receiving 

your theory 

certificate and CBT. 

PRACTICAL TEST 

Must be taken on the following: 

AM 

moped of 

50cc (up to 

4kW) 

A1 

between 

120cc- 

125cc (up to 

11kW) 

A2 

at least 

395cc 

(between 

20-35kW) 

■ L-plates displayed front and 

rear (L or D in Wales) 

■ Insured and road taxed 

■ Roadworthy with and no dash 

warning lights showing 

A 

at least 

595cc (at 

least 50kW) 

04 | August 26 2020 www.motorcyclenews.com 65 years of MCN August 26 2020 | 05

MIND THE GAP. 

SOCIAL 

DISTANCE 

ON A HONDA 

20YM NC750X DCT REPRESENTATIVE FINANCE EXAMPLE * 

On the Road Price (cash price) £7,949.00 

Deposit £1,220.17 

Honda UK Deposit Contribution ** £750.00 

Amount of Credit £5,978.83 

36 Monthly Payments (duration 37 months) £99.00 

Final Payment † £3,236.29 

Total Amount Payable £8,770.46 

Representative APR 5.9% 

Annual Contracted Mileage 4,000 

Excess Mileage Charge £0.03 

Fixed Interest Rate p.a. 5.68% 

5.9% APR 

REPRESENTATIVE PCP 

ON 2019 AND 2020 NC750X MODELS 

WITH £750 DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION 

GO YOUR OWN WAY. 

If you’re having doubts about using public transport in these difficult and unprecedented times – when social distancing 

is important – traveling on two wheels is the answer. Now available with a £750 deposit contribution finance package, 

the NC750X is the solution to all your commuting needs. Visit honda.co.uk or call 0345 200 8000 for more information. 

0345 200 8000 

honda.co.uk 

PCP Terms & Conditions: * New retail NC750XA (all variants) orders from 4 August 2020 to 30 November 2020 and registered by 30 November 2020. Subject to model and colour availability. Offers applicable at participating dealers and are at the promoter’s absolute discretion (excluding Channel Islands). Representative example based on 3 years 5.9% PCP and £750 

deposit contribution. ** £750 Honda UK deposit contribution available. Excess mileage rate applies. † Final payment includes £10 option to purchase fee. You do not have to pay the Final Payment if you return the bike at the end of the agreement and you have paid all other amounts due, the bike is in good condition and has been serviced in accordance with the Honda 

service book and the maximum annual mileage of 4,000 has not been exceeded. Excess mileage rate applies should this be exceeded. At the end of the agreement, there are three options: i) Pay the optional fi nal payment to own the vehicle, ii) Return the vehicle, or iii) Replace: Part exchange your Honda for a new one. Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances. 

Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over, subject to status. All fi gures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. Honda Franchise Dealers are credit brokers, not lenders. Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe Plc. Cain Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HL. Honda Financial Services is a trading name of Honda Finance Europe Plc. 

a company registered at Companies House No 03289418. Honda Finance Europe plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Register number 312541. Image features NC750X model fi tted with additional accessories that are not covered in the representative fi nance example. 


FP_MCNSUP_30574HUKMCid4353751.pdf 08.19.2020 14:24


CASE STUDY 1 


MASTERING THE BASICS 

Your first gateway to two-wheeled heaven is taking a CBT – this is what happens… 

THE PUPIL 

PICS ADAM SHORROCK 

This is what it’s all 

about – the freedom 

of the open road 

Hilariously, when I did 

my Compulsory Basic 

Training – referred to by 

one and all as ‘the CBT’ – 

I was 32-years-old, twice 

the minimum age to do a CBT, and 

had been driving a car for nearly 

that many years and pedalling on 

two wheels for many more. 

The CBT is not a test, you can’t 

fail it, although you can be asked to 

come back for more training. 

What happens in class? 

Here you’ll be taught about all the 

equipment you legally need and 

the stuff you don’t legally need but 

should have anyway. You’ll also 

head back into the classroom 

Years of car driving 

and cycling were a 

mixed blessing 

before the road ride to discuss 

lane positioning and what the 

main hazards are, plus the legal 

things you need like insurance, an 

MoT and L-plates. I suspect this is 

also a chance for the instructor to 

gauge whether you’re going to be a 

liability when faced with traffic. 

We spent a while chatting about 

l ‘Remember 

you have two 

ears, one mouth’ 

the main cause 

of a crash (rider 

error, not other 

people) and how to deal 

with mistakes made by other 

road users. Remember that you 

have two ears and one mouth for a 

reason during this element. 

Name: Adam Binnie 

Age: 32 

Who are you then? Car journalist 

and keen cyclist Binnie (not a good 

name for a new rider) has been 

driving for 15 years and been 

around bikes all his life – now 

it’s his turn to ride. 

What about the ride? 

This is the fun bit. It starts with 

a chat about basic maintenance 

and how to check the bike over for 

things like flat tyres or low fluid 

levels. Then there are some basic 

manual handling skills off the bike; 

how to move it around and put the 

stand down, why you shouldn’t 

grab a handful of brake with the 

bars turned and how to get the 

steering lock on and off. 

Low speed manoeuvres next, 

but first you have to get your 

head around setting the gas and 

finding the clutch’s biting point. 

It’s worth taking your time with 

this part before moving on, 

because working the gearshift and 

bite point and getting your head 

around how fast the engine revs up 

are all vital pieces of the puzzle. 

Coming to a stop and working 

out the timing of putting a foot (or 

both) down on the ground also 

requires a system and practice. 

Balancing the front and rear 

brake is something that would be 

unusual for most car drivers but 

not so alien to cyclists. 

And then you 

go out on-road?! 

Yes! In what felt like barely 

enough time to get over the fact 

motorbikes don’t have seat belts, 

we were out on the actual road 

with actual cars on it. My first 

impressions? How fast 30mph feels 

on a bike, and how much more I 

was looking around – forwards, 

backwards, over my shoulder, and 

into the eyes of drivers waiting at 

give way lines. 

Riding a motorbike feels like 

operating a piece of mechanical 

equipment. If you drive a modern 

car (especially an automatic) you’ll 

know how far away from the actual 

process driving has become. It’s 

essential to take enough time to 

allow the various procedures of 

changing gear or braking to a stop 

to become second nature, or you’ll 

spend all your cognitive capacity 

thinking about them and there 

won’t be any spare to concentrate 

on looking for hazards. 

With good tuition it all slots 

into place quite quickly, and 

before I knew it I was negotiating 

roundabouts, merging with 70mph 

traffic on a dual carriageway, 

and leaning into a pretty brutal 

crosswind blowing over the flat 

fields of Cambridgeshire. 

And that was that. After a very 

full-on day of concentrating, I was 

given my CBT certificate. 

Half a day of familiarisation and 

you’ll be heading out on the road 

TOP TIPS 

Do! 

Watch: reputable vids on 

bike control techniques online 

Listen: to your instructor, 

they’re your friendly new 

messiah, and do know it all 

Ask: questions if you don’t 

understand what’s happening 

Don’t! 

Presume: that you 

already know what you’re doing 

Be a gobshite: the yappy one 

is always first on the floor 

Look down: you can’t see 

what’s happening ahead if 

you’re looking at the tarmac 18 

inches in front of your nose 




GOING SCOOTER-LOOPY 

Post-lockdown Britain is going mad for scooters – this is why… 

Modern scooters are 

no less impressive 

out of town, too 

WHAT THE HELL IS PCP? 

Understanding the highs and lows of Personal Contract Plans 

As the UK continues 

to drift back to our 

office-based working 

lives there has been a 

rampant spike in the 

sale of scooters to commuters 

who don’t much fancy the 

prospect of sitting next to the 

local bus nutter or sniffing 

someone else’s armpit on the Tube 

for six stops of standing misery. 

Scooter sales in July were up 

by an astounding 56.6% versus 

the same period last year, while 

sales of motorcycles jumped by 

a nearly-as-impressive 37.5% as 

pent-up gratification blended 

seamlessly with public transport 

This lucky chap hasn’t 

sniffed a commuter’s 

armpit this morning 

defectors. While a good portion of 

the scooter-newbies are actually 

likely to be existing bikers 

grabbing a commuting tool to sit 

alongside their weekend pride 

and joy, the fact that demand for 

CBTs also doubled suggests that 

there’s a lot of brand new bikers 

l ‘They’re the 

perfect way to 

get to the office’ 

now enjoying their first addictive 

taste of two wheels. 

So should you join them? 

The allure of the scoot 

Scooters used to be the preserve 

of pizza delivery folk, training 

taxi drivers trying to absorb ‘The 

Knowledge’, college kids and 

people who ‘can’t afford a proper 

bike’. Not now. From the very 

bottom of the glamour pool all the 

way to the top-flight executive 

scooter, there’s never been more 

choice, class, or panache amongst 

these jelly-mould travel heroes. 

Bikes like Yamaha’s TMAX, 

Suzuki’s Burgman, and the everin-fashion 

Vespa range have 

elevated the humble scooter into 

a whole new ballpark – and the 

attraction is obvious. Effortless 

to ride, big comfy seats with 

cavernous storage beneath, great 

weather protection, engaging 

engines, decent handling, and 

levels of fit and finish once 

only dreamt of – they’re 

now chic, not shabby. Even 

MCN’s Chief Road Tester 

owns a TMAX for the daily 

grind, shopping trips, 

airport flits and weekend 

giggles. And if you’re 

looking for the perfect 

way to cut the cost, 

time, and social misery 

of getting to the office – 

they’re a no-brainer. 

Viva la scooter! 

Plenty of room for a laptop, change 

of clothes and your sandwiches 

Scooters have come a very long way 

in terms of tech and build quality 

Don’t just get 

sucked in by the 

low monthly figure 

We’ve pulled together 30 great 

new PCP bike options over the 

coming pages to tempt you, split 

into different categories depending 

on which style of bike you’re 

interested in, or which licence 

category stage you’re at. PCP is 

the most common way to finance 

a new bike right now – but it’s not 

right for all riders, so make sure it 

suits your needs. 

How does it work? 

Most dealers offer PCP schemes 

through one of several big finance 

houses. This is how it works... 

Get your budget worked out, 

based on what you can afford 

as a deposit and as monthly 

repayments for the duration of the 

contract BEFORE you wander into 

a dealership and get convinced to 

spend dramatically more (come 

on, we’re all weak in the face of 

temptation). Choose your new 

motorcycle (or a used one – see 

below), and get the repayment 

term set. This is usually between 

two to four years. Make sure your 

agreed annual mileage meets your 

needs – penalties might be applied 

if you exceed the figure – then go 

home and have a bloody good think 

before you sign on the line. 

Yeah, I like that… 

PCP is a great option if not owning 

the bike outright doesn’t bother 

you, you like to keep your options 

open, you want a more expensive 

bike than you can afford by other 

payment methods, or you’re 

obsessively worried about an 

unexpected fall in the value of the 

bike (negated here by the ‘G’ in 

Guaranteed Future Value). 

At the end of the contract 

you have can part-exchange 

the motorcycle for another one, 

subject to settlement of your 

finance agreement; return the 

motorcycle and walk away; or hand 

over the final payment figure and 

keep the bike. If you think at the 

start that you’ll take option three, 

PCP isn’t your best way to buy. 

Factor in that you’ll need to have 

fully comprehensive insurance 

cover in place throughout, excess 

mileage charges may apply and any 

abuse or neglect will damage your 

bike’s guaranteed future value. 

What about a used bike? 

You can also pick up a used bike 

on a PCP deal and it will almost 

certainly have a smaller gap 

between the cash price now and 

the GFV. There are hoops for the 

bike to jump though to be eligible 

(you won’t get a nine-year-old bike 

with 75k on the clock on PCP) – but 

all else mirrors a new bike plan. 

But, But, But, But… 

Don’t be fooled into thinking 

that PCP is the only option – or 

necessarily the best option – for 

you. A good old-fashioned HP deal 

could be dramatically better value 

for you, especially if you actually 

want to own and keep the bike at 

the end of the agreement. And 

let’s not forget that pure, simple, 

cold hard cash (if you’ve got some) 

is often still the best way to buy 

a bike. And if you haven’t got any 

cash, a personal bank loan could 

actually be the cheapest way to 

land yourself a new set of wheels 

without a load of strings attached. 

£45 


A1 

LICENCE 

£75 


A2 

LICENCE 

£69 


HOT 

OFFER 

BMW are offering a 

bonus £500 deposit 

contribution on the 

C400X right now! 

NEED 

A 125? 

Suzuki also offer the 

Burgman as a 125 

which is available on 

HP finance, but 

not PCP. 

£59 


£65 


A2 

LICENCE 

£43.35 


A1 

LICENCE 

A2 

LICENCE 

Kawasaki J125 

125cc | 182kg | 12.7bhp | 775mm seat 

Cash price £3574 Deposit £856.76 Mileage 4000pa 

Rate 6.3% APR Optional final payment £1498 

Suzuki Burgman 400 

400cc | 215kg | 30bhp | 755mm seat 



BMW C400X 



Rate 5.9% APR Optional final payment £3069.59 

Suzuki Burgman 200 




A2 

LICENCE 

Kawasaki J300 




Honda PCX125 




If you want to commute 

in comfort with style and 

reliability, look no further – the 

J125 hits the spot. Don’t be 

put off by its lack of capacity, 

in any major city you really 

don’t need more than a 125. 

There is enough under-seat 

storage for a full face helmet 

and laptop and ABS comes 

as standard, as does an antitamper 

ignition system. 

A major selling point of 

the Burgman is its ample 

underseat storage, which 

puts some rivals scooter’s 

luggage carrying ability to 

shame. Which means if you 

are looking at ditching the bus 

and turning to two wheels, 

Suzuki’s mid-sized scooter 

makes for an extremely 

practical form of transport 

that is right at home on city. 

A funky styled effortless 

congestion-beater, BMW’s 

middleweight scooter makes 

for ideal urban transport for 

any city-dweller who wants 

to avoid overcrowded public 

transport. And all for just 

£69 a month. You get traction 

control and ABS as standard 

and the single cylinder engine 

delivers great fuel economy 

and impressive drive. 

Want a bit more than a 125 

without stepping up to a 

maxi-scoot? How about this 

200, packing over 7bhp more 

than the Burgman 125, it’s got 

all the benefits of the smaller 

capacity machine, but with 

more ‘go’ – especially useful 

if you carry a pillion, too. You 

get a 3-year warranty and 

a year’s AA cover, too for 

complete peace of mind. 

The J300 sits perfectly 

between lighter 125cc 

scooters and much larger 

and heavier maxi scoots, 

combining a good spread 

of power with good, easy 

handling. Despite ‘only’ 

making 27bhp the 299cc 

single-cylinder engine has 

plenty of go. It’s easy to 

overtake uphill at 70mph and 

it’ll happily cruise at 80mph. 

The PCX125 scooter is the 

first ever two-wheeler to 

feature a fuel-saving idle 

stop system. The UK’s bestselling 

scooter is very easy to 

manoeuvre and the handling 

is stable and reassuring. It’s 

fitted with 14in wheels, which 

are a nice compromise, and 

the 4-stroke 125cc motor is 

good for 70mph on the clocks 

– pretty nippy for a 125. 




As the training 

stages progress, 

the bikes get bigger 

Suzuki 

A1 

LICENCE 

Light, peppy, and 

neutral, it’s a great 

first bike or commuter 

THE PUPIL 

GSX-S125 

PICS MARK MANNING 

CASE STUDY 2 

GETTING A LICENCE TO THRILL 

The CBT was step one, but Mod1 is a big leap into a whole new world of riding joy 

Igot into biking because I love 

the idea of getting out with 

friends on a Sunday, or out on 

my own with no particular 

place to go. I’ve always 

thought it would be such a release – 

and it really is. 

An intensive course... 

My course was with BMW rider 

training and took me through a 

five-day programme, with the 

Module 1 test booked for the third 

day and training taking place on 

the training pad at the test centre 

as well as out on the road. 

Going to the test centre and 

having a practice helped me feel 

a lot better about the Mod 1 test, 

because the area they use is much 

bigger than where we had been 

practising previously, so it all felt a 

lot less hemmed in, and therefore 

easier. We also got to see someone 

else do their test, which was really 

valuable as I could be sure the 

examiner wouldn’t ask me to do 

anything we hadn’t practised, 

l ‘You learn a 

lot about riding, 

and yourself...’ 

On happy lady! Sarah 

passed CBT, Mod1 and 

Mod2 to get a full licence 

and it reduced the sense of the 

unknown seeing someone else go 

through the motions. 

It’s all about control... 

Module 1 is mostly about 

establishing that the rider can 

control the machine. You start by 

showing you can get the bike on 

and off a stand and push the bike 

about, as though getting it out of 

the garage. During training I just 

kept pushing the bike around 

every time we stopped to get used 

to it. My instructor showed me how 

I needed to keep the weight close 

to my thigh, and even though I 

practised it a lot it was still the part 

I was most dreading. 

Then you start the bike, put it in 

gear and ride in a slalom through 

some cones, into a figure of eight, 

until the examiner tells you to stop. 

Going into the figure of eight is just 

a continuation of the slalom. The 

examiner will walk ahead while 

you do a slow, controlled ride, 

which feels really slow! 

Next up is the U-turn, which 

many people dread. Observations 

first, then move off, get your 

balance and your biting point, 

look to the right, turn the bars and 

keep your eyes moving. By the 

time you’re halfway you should 

be looking up the road – this will 

help you to keep your balance. 

Then the pace picks up. 

Heading up the far end of the 

area you have to get up 

to 19mph as you head 

round the corner, then 

accelerate up to 32mph, 

where the examiner 

tells you when to do an 

emergency stop. I felt like 

I was shooting around 

the bend, but then forgot 

to check the speed as 

I headed towards the 

examiner. Then I was just 

looking at him – waiting 

for his hand to rise – 

after which he told me I wasn’t 

fast enough – I didn’t have to do it 

again but he gave me a minor mark 

for that. Then you repeat the run 

but instead of an emergency stop 

you have to perform a swerve test, 

where you are braking quite hard 

as you steer around an obstacle. 

Again, I was slightly too slow on 

approach – another minor mark. 

In total I got three minors – but it 

wasn’t enough to stop me passing 

Module 1. It felt absolutely brilliant 

to have passed, allowing me to 

progress rapidly on to Module 2. 

Doing it right first time 

The training was exceptional, too. 

You learn so much about riding, 

but also about yourself. There is a 

load to learn, but the school just 

helped me through it all – I can’t 

thank them enough. Now I’ve got 

the best bit ahead of me; buying a 

bike, and racking up the miles! 

Name: Sarah Norman Age: 37 

Who are you then? Sarah is 

a very busy lady. She MCN’s 

marketing guru as well as looking 

after all our sister publications, 

too. She took to two wheels 

like a duck to water, and 

loves the thrill of 

riding. 

Lots of constructive feedback is 

the only way to learn properly 

TOP TIPS 

Do! 

Think: about your 

weaknesses and discuss them 

with your instructor 

Practise: as much as you can, 

ideally on your test bike 

Focus: on slow control – it’s 

the foundation on which all 

your riding skills are built 

Don’t! 

Assume: that because 

you’ve done a U-turn once that 

you’ve nailed it forever 

Confuse: increasing speed 

with competence, they’re 

completely different things 

Give up: when it gets harder 

124.4cc | 133kg | 14.75bhp | 785mm seat height 



While the GSX-S125 is essentially just a naked 

version of the faired GSX-R125, the upright 

bars actually make the GSX-S that much 

better as an everyday ride – especially if you’re 

an urban dweller. You still get similar performance and 

handling to the R, only with more comfort and flickabilty 

at low speed, perfect for nipping round town or having 

fun in the twisties. 

The suspension is well-damped and firm enough to be 

competent both in town and on open roads and there’s 

also plenty of ground clearance to inspire a good degree 

of lean, which is helped by the aggressively-placed foot 

pegs, which give the riding position a little added flair. 

Dressed in grippy Dunlop D102 rubber, it is more than 

capable of taking the punishment both in the dry and in 

rainy conditions at faster road-going speeds. 

Coming to a stop, the Bosch ABS system will kick in if 

you give it a big handful of front brake at low speed, but it 

is otherwise unobtrusive and ample for a bike of the size. 

The motor also offers reasonable engine braking as you 

shift down gears, too. 

It boasts the same 124.4cc single-cylinder lump as 

its sportier brother and offers a similarly linear power 

delivery all the way to its 11,500rpm redline. 

As well as being punchy, the DOHC motor is also 

incredibly free-revving. Accelerating through the gears, 

the bike will happily do a speedo-indicated 40mph in 

second gear, with revs to go and, flat out, the clocks 

will show an indicated 80mph. It will do all of this while 

returning an indicated 80+mpg too. It also comes with a 

unique secure shutter-key lock system, which hides the 

ignition barrel until the separate receiver next to it has 

been triggered, using a unique magnetic fob found at the 

top of the key. The clutch is ultra-light, and the GSX-S 

feels well-balanced, making it trouble-free for slow 

speed control, which is ideal for new riders. 

A1 

LICENCE 

£117.99 


Zero S ZF 14.4kWh (11kw) 

Electric Z-Force 75-5 | 185kg | 59bhp (peak) | 807mm seat 

Cash price £9990 Deposit £2497 Mileage 4000pa 


Due to a fabulous quirk within 

electric power measurement, 

you can ride this powerhouse 

Zero S 11kW on an A1 licence, 

despite it peaking at 59bhp 

and stomping out 80lb.ft of 

£117.99 


torque! It costs about £2.70 

for a full charge, which will 

carry you around 100 miles, 

on average. It’s a full-scale 

bike that also delivers a great 

ride, too. Makes a lot of sense. 

HOT PICK 

Although the GSX-S125 boasts perfectly 

proportioned big-bike styling, it’s 

actually a superbly compact and light 

offering, meaning that smaller, 

lighter riders have nothing 

to fear from this attractive 

naked 125. 

£29.64 


HOT 

OFFER 

Honda are currently 

offering the CB125F 

at an unbeatable 

0% on PCP! 

The CB is so cheap that it’s 

almost free! Capable of being 

the most economical way of 

getting from A to B, as well 

as being durable, easy to live 

with and economical. 

Honda CB125F 

A1 

LICENCE 

124.7cc | 128kg | 10.5bhp | 775mm seat 


Rate 0% APR Optional final payment £1136.73 

It’s steel framed with 18in 

six-spoke wheels, five-step 

spring preload adjustable 

rear shocks and single disc 

brake up front. No frills and 

super simple, but huge value. 

£145.35 


Zero FXS ZF 7.2kWh (11kw) 

Electric Z-Force 75-5 | 133kg | 44bhp (peak) | 836mm seat 

Cash price £9990 Deposit £2497 Mileage 4000pa 


Just like the S (left), the FSX 

sneaks though as an A1 bike 

on a technicality despite 

producing 44bhp and 78lb.ft 

torque. Bonus! Styled as an 

urban supermoto, the FXS 

£49 


A1 

LICENCE 

uses the smaller capacity 

7.2kWh battery pack, but 

will still carry you around 

75 miles between £1.35 full 

charges. Also comes with a 

5-year power pack warranty. 




THE PUPIL 

Quality training time plus 

practising in all weathers 

will get you through Mod2 

Name: Gareth Evans Age: 35 

Who are you then? The king 

of binary finery as MCN’s Web 

Editor, he’s a self-confessed 

petrolhead with a strong love 

of engineering, races classic 

cars and enjoys a bit of 

sailing, too 

CASE STUDY 3 

BECOME THE MODFATHER 

With the CBT and Mod1 under your lid, it’s time to embrace full-licence freedom 

After taking two attempts 

at the Module 1 motorbike 

test (damn that U-turn!), 

where you’re assessed on 

your low-speed riding 

skills (or lack of, in my case...), I 

was a little nervous about taking 

the final Module 2 section. 

This final piece of the puzzle 

shines the spotlight on my road 

riding – awareness, safety and 

making reasonable progress. 

Having driven cars for years I felt a 

little better equipped to deal with 

That’s another two 

fully-licenced bikers 

released into the wild 

this test, but there are plenty of 

additional aspects of two-wheeled 

motoring to take into account over 

and above how I’d drive a car. 

l ‘I encountered 

an unexpected 

horse mid-test’ 

To prepare, I had a pair of 

plans. First, I’d be riding my 

GSX-S125 much as I could in varied 

situations. Plus, I’d be taking 

another block of training with ART 

Rider Training down in Basildon on 

an SV650 so I could brush up on the 

things I didn’t already know. 

Horses, lorries and 

lashing down with rain 

So, once I’d got another four 

hours of rider training in, it was 

time to head once again to the 

now-dreaded DVSA test centre 

in Basildon. I’d done enough 

training to feel slightly more 

relaxed, and it’s a good job too, 

because on the day nature threw 

rain and heavy wind into the mix. 

I also encountered an unexpected 

horse on a country lane, shortly 

before having to stop quickly 

to let an HGV perform a threepoint 

turn on a bend, all during 

my 40-minute test ordeal. 

Sure enough, in the debrief the 

examiner said I hadn’t had an 

easy time of it. 

The examination itself consists 

of a number of activities on a 

variety of types of road, aimed at 

proving you’re safe and proficient 

enough to handle two wheels 

in the real world. You start with 

a Q&A session on bike safety and 

maintenance, before swinging 

your leg over and heading out 

onto the road. You’ll do things like 

angled and hill starts, national 

speed limit sectors and a 10-minute 

‘independent riding’ session to 

look at your ability to follow signs 

and act accordingly. 

I took it on the same Suzuki 

SV650 I’d done Mod1 on – an 

approachable, friendly and 

engaging bike that I’ve come to 

gel with so much I’d quite like to 

get one myself – and focused very 

much on keeping my head up and 

planning ahead. 

So – did you pass then? 

I did! The examiner marked me 

down for two ‘minor’ faults: a 

hesitation when accelerating and a 

steering fault. Frankly, with horses 

and HGVs along with the weather, 

I wasn’t sure how I’d done right 

up until the moment I learnt I’d 

passed. It was a huge load off. 

Now a world of big bikes awaits, 

the first being another 650 – 

Royal Enfield’s wildly popular 

Interceptor 650 – a brilliantly 

gentle and confidence-building 

bike for a new rider. 

If I could impart one nugget of 

wisdom from this stretch of my 

biking journey, it’s this: if you’re 

learning to ride and struggling 

with any aspect – just stick with 

it. The first time you head out 

on a bike, on your own with no 

L-plates flapping in the breeze, 

is a magical moment that will 

remain with you forever. 

TOP TIPS 

Do! 

Ride: on the road as much 

as you can before your test, on 

all road types, in all weathers 

Visualise: what will happen 

in the test based on your Mod1 

experiences – it will help 

Wait: until you’re ready to 

attack the Module 2 with 

complete confidence 

Don’t! 

Think: that Mod2 will be 

easier than Mod1 – real roads 

are less predictable 

Panic: about the previous point 

– learn the decision processes 

and you’ll be absolutely fine 

12 | August 26 2020 www.motorcyclenews.com

Realise the full potential of your Kawasaki 

Tourer with complimentary panniers and Whether you prefer sport touring performance or a more upright seating 

interior bags available on the Versys 1000 and position for your adventures, Kawasaki has the model to suit your needs. 

Ninja H2 SX ranges until 30th September 2020. The increased carrying capacity is worth up to £890.70 for the Versys 1000 

and up to £867.70 with the Ninja H2 SX. Take your adventure further with 

more luggage and revel in the exhilarating rush from your Kawasaki tourer. 

To find out more contact your local Kawasaki dealer or visit WWW.KAWASAKI.CO.UK 

Complimentary panniers available on 19/20MY Versys 1000, Versys 1000 SE, Ninja H2 SX, Ninja H2 SX SE and Ninja H2 SX SE+ and Ninja H2 SX SE. Offer available for models registered 

to customers between 01/08/2020 and 30/09/2020. 

65 years of MCN August 26 2020 | 13 

FP_MCNSUP_MCNversyshid4353952.pdf 08.19.2020 16:07

LOOKING FOR 

A BETTER WAY 

TO COMMUTE? 

$QHZ6X]XNLVFRRWHURUPRWRUF\FOHLVWKHVPDUWZD\WRJHW 

WRZRUN6RFLDO'LVWDQFLQJ$RUGDEOH(FRQRPLFDO&RQYHQLHQW 

TOP TEN 

USED 

125s 

Save yourself a stack 

of cash by buying a 

used gem. Here’s our 

favourite 125s… 

2014 Yamaha YZF-R125 

1 

124cc | 14.6bhp | 

818mm seat height 

Wring as much power 

out of a 125cc engine as 

the law permits, make 

it look like an R6, save 

cash on a steel frame 

and basic suspension, 

add a digital dash, 

underslung exhaust 

and Brembo brakes 

and watch the sales 

graph go vertical. It does 

80mph and 100mpg, 

and is about as good 

as supersport 125s get 

without waking up to the 

smell of two-stroke in 

the morning. Lovely. 


£2200 

2 3 4 

2017 KTM 125 Duke £2500 2016 MT-125 £2650 

2011 Honda XL125V Varadero £2250 

125cc | 15bhp | 820mm seat height 

A great single-cylinder roadster with top-notch cycle parts 

and a TFT dash, WP suspension, illuminated switchgear, 

radial front brake caliper and LED headlight. It’s roomy, too. 


Brilliantly styled and bang on the legal power-to-weight 

limit, the upright riding position gives good visibility, the 

equipment levels are good and it’s amazingly frugal. 


Its generous proportions suit bigger riders and it’s well 

equipped, light, nimble and ridiculously easy to ride. The 

V-twin spins up happily and it’ll keep up with most traffic. 

5 

6 

7 

2017 Aprilia RS4 125 £1950 


Not the legendary 2-stroke, but the highest-spec 4-stroke 

Aprilia could make. DOHC, inverted forks, radial brakes, a 

braced swingarm and even a quickshifter. Full factory! 

2016 Suzuki VanVan 125 £2750 


Yeah baby! A modern take on the old RV125 dune hopper, 

it looks cute as a kitten, but to be honest it’s very basic and 

quite slow, even by 125 standards. Super-friendly, though. 

2015 Honda MSX125 ‘Grom’ £2000 


This MSX125 – or Grom, as it’s often known – has become 

a cult bike. It’s got a perky little engine, 12in wheels and fat 

tyres, good brakes, decent equipment and it feels tiny! 

8 

9 

10 

2018 Benelli TNT 125 £1850 

124.8cc | 11bhp | 780mm seat height 

A streetfighter-styled monkey bike like the MSX125, the 

little Benelli looks sensational. A fun bike that’ll hit 60mph. 

Treat the engine to a new spark plug and oil – and have fun. 

2015 Honda CBR125R £2000 


Not as sporty as the Yamaha YZF-R125, but it is a bit 

cheaper and almost unbreakable. High-mileage examples 

should have valve clearances checked, but it’s a simple job. 

2005 Yamaha XT125X £1500 


It’s smooth, doesn’t vibrate and will (eventually) make its 

way up to 70mph. The clutch is nice and light, the gearbox 

slick and the lack of weight makes it very easy to ride. 



HEAD 

GEAR 

You only get one head, so 

wrap in a decent helmet 

from just £59.99 

Arai Debut 

The Debut is a UK exclusive that brings 

the high-end manufacturer into the 

realms of affordability for the average 

biker. It uses the firm’s Super Fibre 

Laminate construction for the shell 

and boasts lots of venting, replaceable 

cheek pads and a Max Vision visor. 

www.whyarai.co.uk 

£299.99 - 

£379.99 

SIZES XS-XL 

Shoei Glamster £399.99 - £499.99 

Shark Spartan 1.2 £269.99 - £299.99 AGV Orbyt Mayfair £109.99 - £159.99 

King of the comfortable 

retro helmets, the Glamster 

blends 70s glam with 2020 

tech on a multi-composite 

shell. There are three shell 

sizes, multi-density EPS 

layers, a double D-ring 

strap and a washable liner. 

Sizes XS-2XL 

shoeiassured.co.uk 

The Spartan is big value 

for money and comes in a 

wide range of designs. Great 

venting, top build quality, 

and a MaxVision Pinlock 

visor as standard, and one 

of the easiest visor swap 

mechanisms going. 

Sizes XS-2XL 

www.nevis.uk.com 

Jet style open-face for the 

urban dweller, the Orbyt 

comes in a broad range of 

colours and graphics to suit 

any taste, and boasts a large 

clear visor backed up by a 

drop-down sun visor and a 

seat-belt style closure. 

Sizes XS-XL 

www.agv.co.uk 

Box BX-1 £54.99 - £59.99 

HJC RPHA 90S £399.99 - £499.99 Schuberth E1 £499.99 - £599.99 

How much? Yep, it may 

be cheap but it still has a 

4-star SHARP rating. The 

synthetic shell has five 

vents and a surprisingly 

plush liner, quick-release 

visor and removable 

breath guard. 

Sizes XS-2XL 

oxfordproducts.com 

This RPHA 90S has dual 

homologation for open 

and closed riding, and 

anti-fog/scratch visor, 

drop-down sun visor, 

micro-buckle fastener, 

tool-less visor change, 

and is Bluetooth-ready. 

Sizes XS-2XL 


Not cheap, but the E1 is 

a 3-in-1 helmet: peaked 

adventure, normal fullface, 

and a flip-front. 

It comes with a 5-year 

warranty and has a builtin 

antenna for the firm’s 

comms system. 

Sizes XS-3XL 

www.bikerheadz.co.uk 

Bell MX-9 Adventure Mips £189.99 Momo Fighter Classic £149.99 LS2 Vector HPFC Evo from £159.99 

This Mips-enabled Bell is 

also one of the most keenly 

priced in the adventure sector. 

The polymer shell comes in 

three sizes, it uses a normal 

full-face style visor, D-ring 

closure, has full EPS coverage 

and a 5-year warranty, too. 

Sizes XS-3XL 

www.bellhelmets.co.uk 

Momo are style icons, and the 

Fighter Classic is a superb 

lid, too. Understated styling, 

lovely quality and a seriously 

retro feel, it uses a microbuckle 

closure, ABS shell, 

has a washable liner and a 

unique visor system. 

Sizes XXS-XL 

www.momohelmets.com 

LS2 helmets are great value. 

The High Performance 

Fiberglass Composite 

shell is available in three 

sizes, has a quick-release 

visor, MaxVision Pinlock, a 

removable/washable liner 

and drop-down sun visor. 

Sizes XXS-3XL 

ls2helmets.com/uk 

16 | August 26 2020 www.motorcyclenews.com

65 years of MCN August 26 2020 | 17 

FP_MCNSUP_439531id4344419.pdf 06.08.2020 10:36

FREEDOM 

HAS NEVER 

FELT SO GOOD 

WITH OUR BMW UPGRADE OFFER 

Trade in your current bike – any model, any brand – and we’ll enhance its 

value by at least £500 when you upgrade to a new BMW from stock.* 

Visit bmw-motorrad.co.uk for more information 

*Receive an enhanced value to your trade-in when you purchase an eligible new BMW Motorrad Model from stock (built before 30 June) 

between 1 July and 30 September 2020. Receive £1,000 to the value of your trade-in when you purchase a new R 1250 or K 1600 

model from stock. Or £500 when purchasing any other new BMW Motorrad model from stock. Offer excludes C Evolution, F 900 R, 

F 900 XR, S 1000 XR and R 18. Applies to bikes purchased between 01 July and 30 September 2020 and registered and delivered 

by 30 September 2020. No cash alternative available. Not in conjunction with The Rookie to Rider Offer. Offer subject to availability 

and withdrawal at any time. Trade-in motorcycle must be in the owner’s name for a minimum of 3 months. Trade-in to be valued and 

offered at retailer’s discretion. Trade-in motorcycle needs to at least match the value of the enhancement. Participating retailers only. 


FP_MCNSUP_439620id4337956.pdf 27.07.2020 15:11


ALL 

THE 

GEAR 

No idea what you need 

yet? Just grab a few 

high quality basics 

Kriega Max28 backpack 

Buy a £45 rucksack every three months, 

or do it properly once? Kriega are the 

masters, and this stylish new MAX28 

boasts a 100% waterproof laptop 

pocket, expandable main body, their 

superb Quadlock-Lite harness, YKK zips 

throughout and a 10-year guarantee. 

www.kriega.com 

£199.99 

SIZE 22-28 LITRES 

LiteLok Gold Moto 108 £119.99 

RST Axis Textile Jacket £99.99 Knox Micro-Lock Air £99.99 

Don’t rush out and buy a 25kg lock 

and chain – you’ll never carry it 

or use it. Buy one of these light 

(1.5kg), flexible, 107.5cm-long Sold 

Secure Gold-rated Moto 108 locks 

and use it at home and out on the 

road and revel in its usability. The 

neoprene outer is washable, too. 

Colours: Black or Red 

www.litelok.com 

You don’t need to spend thousands 

to get CE rated kit. This year-round 

jacket is A-rated with Level1 

shoulder and elbow armour, 

a pocket for a back protector, 

waterproof liner, removable 

thermal liner, vents, plus arm 

and waist adjusters. 

Sizes S/40 - 4XL/52 

www.rst-moto.com 

Don’t ride without a back protector, 

it’s as important as a helmet. If you 

don’t want one in your jacket, get a 

standalone one – like this – which 

you can wear under any kit. Certified 

to CE Level2, this one is light, 

breathable, has adjustable straps 

and also accepts a chest protector. 

Sizes S/L 

www.planet-knox.com 

Oxford Original CE Jeans £119.99 

TCX Street Ace boots £124.99 Richa Bobber gloves £74.99 

You can spend obscene amounts on 

protective jeans, but these new Oxford 

strides are CE AA certified, and at the 

less bulky end of the market – making 

them all-day comfy. Made with the 

firm’s own Armourlite material, they’re 

single layer and available in several 

styles for both men and women. 

Sizes 30-40 (mens) 

www.oxfordproducts.com 

A waterproof biker boot that 

looks casual and is all-day 

comfy. Ideal for commuters, 

they’re constructed from 

full-grain leather, have that 

modern classic feel about 

them and are armoured at 

the ankle toe and heel. 

Sizes 3.5-12 (m) 2.5-8 (w) 


Available in black or brown, the 

Bobber is a shorty made of highquality 

cowhide with CE-approved 

impact knuckle protectors. There is 

smart touch fabric on the index finger 

for touchscreen, reinforcements on 

the fingers, palm and thumbs and a 

zip and stud fastener. 

Sizes S-3XL 


Abus Detecto SmartX 8078 £227.99 Oxford Comfy neck tubes £14.99 

Sena 50R Bluetooth headset £309 

This funky looking disc lock from 

masters of security, Abus, features a 

13.5mm steel bolt to lock it in place, 

a 100dB alarm to scare the bejeezus 

out of light-fingered bike fiddlers, app 

connectivity via Bluetooth to memorise 

your bike’s last location and weighs a 

solid 990g. Great secondary defence. 

Colours: Blue, Yellow, Grey 

mobil.abus.com/uk 

Wearing a neck tube makes riding 

more comfortable – and right 

now they double as a face 

mask in petrol stations and 

shops. Made form Polyester 

Microfibre, they’re soft, 

comfortable, lightweight 

and breathable (luckily!). 

Colours: Ruddy loads! 


Riding doesn’t mean ‘out of contact’ 

– unless you want it to. But if you 

can’t stop talking, get a Bluetooth 

comms kit like this Sena. Sleek, 

easy to use, Bluetooth 5 enabled, 

with one-click connectivity, voice 

commands and with a 5-mile riderto-rider 

intercom range. Yabber on! 

Single and dual packs available 

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk 




A1 LICENCE 

Electric bikes like 

this Super Soco are 

great urban options 

£49 


A2 

LICENCE 

£99 


£59 


What can I ride? 

Any bike up to 125cc and 

15bhp (11kW) if you’re over 

17 years-old (50cc/4kW for 

16-year-olds – on an 

AM licence) 

What do I need? 

A CBT, and a Theory test. 

How hard? 2/5 

Time taken? 1-8 days 

Cost? £120 for a CBT, up to 

£600 for Module 1 

BMW G310R 

313cc | 158.5kg | 33.5bhp | 785mm seat 


Rate 0% APR Optional final payment £1777.25 

Honda CB500X 

A2 

LICENCE 


Cash price £6199 Deposit £1 033.84 Mileage 4000pa 


Kawasaki Z400 

A2 

LICENCE 




The light and fun G310R 

makes for an ideal urban bike 

that is also a hoot on the back 

roads. Its A2-legal single 

cylinder engine produces 

a perfectly peppy 33bhp, 

ABS comes as standard and 

there’s a huge array of options 

such as heated grips and soft 

luggage should you require 

more creature comforts. And 

all for an impressive £49pm! 

The CB500X oozes so much 

class in just about every 

situation, it’ll impress new 

and experienced riders alike. 

Power feels so much fatter 

than its 47bhp would suggest 

and it’s spacious, agile, plush, 

characterful and handles 

superbly both on tarmac and 

dusty off-road trails. A full 

range of official accessories 

are available, too. 

As well as modern styling, 

the Zed is light, agile and 

has a wonderful big bike feel 

about it that ensures it suits 

all sizes of rider. Powered by 

the Ninja 400’s parallel twin 

engine, the Z400 makes for a 

cool naked middleweight and 

a brilliant A2-legal runabout. 

Frugal to run and at just £59 

a month it is also extremely 

gentle on your bank account. 

A2 LICENCE 


Any A2-compliant 

motorcycle or scooter up to 

46.9bhp (35kW), you must 

be 19 years-old, or over 


To pass your CBT, Theory 

test, and Modules 1 & 2, and 

you must take the test on a 

bike with 26.8-46.9bhp 

How hard? 3/5 


Cost? £300-£800, 

depending on skill and 

existing experience level 

SHOULD I JUST 

GO ELECTRIC? 

There’s nothing cleaner or simpler, but is electric the best option? 

£85 


Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark 




£65 


A/A2 

LICENCE 

LICENCE 

Suzuki SV650 

A/A2 




A2 

LICENCE 

£201.60 


Zero DSR Black Forest Edition 

Electric Z-Force 75-7R | 190kg | 69bhp (peak) | 843mm seat 

Cash price £16,590 Deposit £4147 Mileage 4000pa 


A LICENCE 


Any motorcycle or scooter 

you fancy, but you must be 

over 21 and have held an 

A2 licence for 2 years, or 

you can go through Direct 

Access if you’re over 

24 years-old 


To pass your CBT, Theory 

test, and Modules 1 & 2 – it’s 

actually the same process 

as getting an A2 licence, and 

you must take the test on 

a bike with over 595cc and 

67bhp and a kerb weight 

of over 180kg 

How hard? 3/5 


Cost? £500-£600 for a 

full training package 

The rampant charge 

towards evermore 

complex rider aids, big 

power, increased engine 

capacity and clever 

chassis tech has been phenomenal 

over the last decade, but the real 

battleground now is developing 

the electric bike tech that can 

erase the current limitations 

(price, range and charging times) 

and make them a true like-forlike 

petrol alternative. 

Electric bikes and huge price 

tags seem to go together like 

metal-oxide cathodes and graphite 

anodes. But the Super Soco 

TC Max could be the first electric 

motorcycle to break that mould. 

With an OTR price of just £4054, is 

this the first electric bike to tackle 

petrol power head-on? 

Putting it in perspective 

The TC Max is powered by a 6.7bhp 

electric motor, driving the back 

wheel through a toothed belt. 

Not powerful, but it doesn’t have 

heaps of work to do, as the whole 

bike weighs just 100kg – that’s less 

than a Honda MSX125. 

But despite the claims that it’s 

“for the highway” and “blisteringly 

fast”, the TC Max’s performance 

means it’s still really only 

for use in town. It can be a large 

town though – a single charge of 

the 3.24kWh lithium-ion battery 

l ‘A full charge 

is 50p – that’s a 

penny per mile’ 

lasts up to 60 miles at city speeds, 

compared with around 30 miles 

flat-out. It’s easy to keep tabs on 

battery health too, with the range 

displayed on the LCD dash, the 

state of charge shown as a percentage 

and also a bar graph. 

When the battery gets low, you 

can recharge it either by plugging 

the external charger into the side 

of the bike, or remove the battery 

and charge it indoors. It’s no easy 

task though: the battery weighs 

21.6kg. A full charge takes around 

eight hours, fine for an overnight 

refresh but not quick top-ups. 

The pros and cons 

There are neat touches like keyless 

ignition, linked brakes (no ABS), 

and an alarm which locks the rear 

wheel when it’s triggered, while it 

also boasts a two-year warranty, 

extended to three for the battery. 

The lack of exhaust 

is the only immediate 

electric bike giveaway 

A full charge costs about 50p – 

that’s as little as a penny per mile. 

As a commuter there’s plenty 

to be said for its near-zero running 

costs and the convenience of 

refuelling while you sleep. Does 

it spell doom for petrol? Not yet – 

but it comes closer to replacing a 

125 than an electric superbike gets 

to replacing a Fireblade. 

PICS ADAM SHORROCK WORDS MARTIN FITZ-GIBBONS 

The Dark is a welcome 

alternative to the bold 

colours used on the rest of 

the range. Behind the black 

frame, forks, engine and 

paintwork remains the same 

£78.13 


HOT 

OFFER 

Honda are giving 

buyers a £500 deposit 

contribuion on 

the CBR500R 

right now! 

The 47bhp A2-legal 

CBR500R is far from 

mundane; its parallel twin 

motor is peppy and the 

chassis remarkably good 

considering its bargain 

air-cooled 803cc engine and 

you also get cornering ABS 

as standard. Better still, the 

Dark is £700 less than the 

yellow Icon. An A2-legal 

version is also available. 

Honda CBR500R 

A2 

LICENCE 




price tag. It’s a bike that is 

guaranteed to bring a smile 

to your face. Not only does 

the CBR look like a Fireblade 

(from a distance…), it can be 

yours for under £79 a month. 

In the crowded middleweight 

market it is very easy to 

overlook the wonderful 

SV650. A new-rider’s bike of 

choice for so many years, the 

SV’s V-twin motor has lots of 

Kawasaki Ninja 400 




The Ninja 400 is a genuine 

sportsbike in every respect; it 

has character, great handling 

and a superb engine. It’s also 

light and comfortable enough 

to be a usable all-rounder. 

grunt as well as charm and 

the chassis is light, agile and 

fun to ride with a surprisingly 

sporty edge. Available as an 

A2 option as well, at £65pm 

you really can’t ignore the SV. 

£75 


A2 

LICENCE 

The perky engine is its raison 

d’etre and it’s a gem. It’s an 

eager, flexible mill with bags 

of character, enough grunt for 

overtaking, and it can hold its 

own on motorways, too. 

The Zero DSR is an ambitious 

concept, an electric 

motorbike intended for 

adventure riding. Despite the 

DSR’s 69bhp and 108ftlb 

of torque, the current rules 

A/A2 

LICENCE 

Ducati Hypermotard 950 


Cash price £10,995 Deposit £2629.70 Mileage 5000pa 


Think of it more as a tall 

street bike than a supermoto 

and you’ll see why this ballsy 

brawler might be attractive. 

The 950 boasts an updated 

937cc Testastretta engine 

mean that it can be ridden 

on an A2 licence! The BFE 

takes the adventure theme 

to its limits, with aluminium 

luggage, crash bars and camo 

detailing. Explore in silence! 

£119 


that gives almost 4bhp more 

at peak and one more lb.ft of 

torque than the old Hyper, is 

lighter, and features stubby 

underseat pipes. An A2-legal 

version is also available. 




DON’T BE A SHEEP 

It’s time to break free from the pack – ditch the public transport and ride instead 

£125 


£85 


£227.82 


A 

LICENCE 

A 

LICENCE 

A 

LICENCE 

If you live in Tunbridge Wells 

and commute to London 

Charing Cross five days per 

week, your season ticket 

is costing you £4928 every 

year (according to Trainline). 

That’s a salty chunk of your takehome 

pay soaked up on sharing 

the same air as your commuting 

brethren, touching the same 

dirty handles and pressing your 

nose against the same windows 

wondering which grotty suburb 

you’re passing through now. 

And that’s not the end of the 

expense. Did you drive to the 

station? Pay for parking? Get 

the tube at the other end? Buy a 

thimble of coffee on the platform 

for £342.27? It all adds up… 

Now imagine putting that 

budget – £15k+ over three years 

– into a new bike instead. Not a 

garage-queen, but a bike destined 

for commuting duties. You can get 

No more bus or tube journeys, ride 

your own seat to your destination 

a hell of a lot of metal for that sort 

of moolah. In fact, pretty much 

everything on this page, even once 

you’d adjusted for the necessary 

mileage hike. Or what about 

buying the perfect toy with the 

money, and pressing your current 

bike into commuting duties? 

Better than the financial 

positives, you’ll be riding every 

day, setting your own route, 

travel times, guaranteeing 

yourself a seat, and revelling 

in delightful isolation. No 

more missed connections, 

bus replacement services, or 

hours of travel tedium. There 

are potential downsides, too – 

l ‘There’s never 

been a better 

time to ride’ 

obviously. Clearly it could be a 

brave commute in December and 

January, but even stumping up 

for the train during those months 

would see you landing on the right 

side of the cashflow calculator. 

Doing it right 

If the maths and riding happiness 

appeal – make sure you factor in 

doing it right. If you’re currently 

a dry-weather, warm-weather 

Oh the misery! 

Masks, dirt, noise 

and timetables... 

Nothing gets 

through traffic 

faster in town 

rider (and there’s nothing 

wrong with that) make sure 

you kit yourself out with some 

high-quality waterproofs, 

all-season textiles, waterproof 

boots and gloves and anything 

else that you’ve never needed 

before. In many ways, your kit 

is more important than which 

bike you choose. Being warm/ 

cool/dry/comfy will have a 

huge impact on your happiness. 

Above all, it has to work for 

your lifestyle – but there’s never 

been a better time to consider 

the benefits of ditching public 

transport to ride instead. 

Ducati Multistrada 950 

937cc | 204kg | 111bhp | 840mm 



The base model Multistrada 

may lack the S version’s semiactive 

Skyhook suspension 

but that means you save a 

stack of cash – and it has the 

same V-twin heart as the S 

£65 


model and shares most of its 

electronics. The Multi 950 

has long 18,000-mile desmo 

service intervals and a 4-year 

warranty, too. Well worth 

serious consideration. 

Suzuki V-Strom 650 

The V-Strom 650 makes for 

an excellent middleweight 

adventurer that, while it 

doesn’t in all honesty have 

a whole heap of off-road 

potential (the XT version is 

A/A2 

LICENCE 

645cc | 213kg | 70bhp | 835mm 


Rate 3% APR Optional final payment £3551 

a bit hardier), it is a brilliant, 

rugged commuter and 

effortless tourer. It can tackle 

two-up touring trips or hustle 

along small country lanes 

going solo. A superb do-it-all. 

The Z650 is a wonderful 

middleweight parallel 

twin that has a pleasingly 

old-school feeling engine. 

Updates for 2020 have seen 

the Zed gain a new TFT 

Kawasaki Z650 

649cc | 188kg | 67bhp | 790mm 



dash that has smartphone 

connectivity as standard, as 

well as even sharper styling. 

It’s a brilliant all-rounder that 

is as at home on the daily 

commute as a weekend blast. 

Ducati SuperSport 

937cc | 183kg (dry) | 108.5bhp | 810mm 



The SuperSport delivers a 

day-to-day ride more akin 

to a sports-tourer than a 

superbike thanks to a relaxed 

riding position and easy-going 

motor. But if you like the idea 

£139 


A/A2 

LICENCE 

of owning a Ducati sportsbike 

and don’t want your wrists 

and back start to ache in 

protest, try the SuperSport. 

Brilliantly, an A2 legal version 

is also available to order. 

Zero SR/S ZF 14.4kWh 

Electric Z-Force 75-10 | 229kg | 110bhp | 787mm seat 



The SR/S is the first faired 

roadster from Californian 

electric veterans Zero. But 

despite the bodywork, this 

isn’t a superbike. With its high 

bars, pillion grab handles and 

£99 


New for 2020, the F900R 

picks up on the popular 

F800R’s base and using 

a bigger 895cc engine, an 

uprated electronics package, 

and improved styling to take 

BMW F900R 

optional luggage, the SR/S 

straddles the line between 

naked roadster and sportstourer. 

In essence it’s the 

SR/S with more rider weather 

protection: An electric VFR! 

A/A2 

LICENCE 

895cc | 219kg | 104bhp | 815mm 



it to another level. It makes 

for a very enjoyable naked 

bike that is agile, goodlooking 

and a blast on the 

back roads and through town. 

A2 version also available. 

New for 2020, the F900XR 

is billed by BMW as a bike 

that combines athleticism 

with genuine long-distance 

performance and is a funfilled 

adventure bike that is a 

hoot in the bends as well as 

being very practical. 

BMW have done a great job 

of balancing the XR’s power 

delivery and chassis’ agility 

and it is a delight to flick 

through corners, delivering a 

composed ride that is further 

enhanced by the (optional) 

ESA rear shock. 

Powered by the new largercapacity 

895cc parallel 

twin engine, although the 

XR’s 104bhp and 68lb.ft of 

BMW F900XR 

895cc | 219kg | 104bhp | 825mm 



torque doesn’t make it feel 

that dramatically fast, the 

motor’s free-revving nature 

and flexibility ensure it is very 

easy-going and fun, and the 

throttle response excellent. 

The brakes are excellent, 

traction control is standard 

as well as ABS, the screen 

is adjustable in its height 

and the TFT dash has 

connectivity built in. 

Fun, engaging to ride 

and yet still packed full of 

helpful safety assists and 

electronics that enhance 

the ride quality, the XR is well 

worth taking on a test ride 

and is able to be restricted to 

make it A2-legal, too. 

£129 


A/A2 

LICENCE 

£235.22 


A 

LICENCE 

Zero SR/F ZF 14.4kWh 

Electric Z-Force 75-10 | 220kg | 110bhp | 787mm seat 



The Zero SR/F is a huge 

leap forwards in speed, 

sophistication and recharge 

time over the firm’s previous 

generation of bikes. The 

result is easily their best 

road-going electric bike yet, 

offering truly comparable 

power, weight, handling 

and excitement to a regular 

roadster. Only range and price 

count against its positives. 

£149 


A 

LICENCE 

Ducati Panigale V2 

955cc | 176kg | 152.8bhp | 840mm 



Why not treat yourself to 

a proper slice of exotica 

and press your current 

bike into daily riding duties 

instead of trading it in? The 

new Panigale V2 is utterly 

wonderful in every way. Still 

packing a 959 V-twin, married 

to V4 styling, it’s also armed 

with a massive electronics 

package. A ready-made 

future classic. Just sublime. 

£89 


A/A2 

LICENCE 

The X part of its name means 

it has off-road styling (but 

not much ability) however, 

what you get is a comfy bike 

that is cheap to run and very 

easy-going. But if you want a 

Honda NC750X 

HOT 

OFFER 

Honda are giving 



NC750X right 

now! 

745cc | 220kg | 54bhp | 830mm 



no-frills commuter that has a 

bit of spirit about it and is very 

unlikely to ever let you down, 

the NC750X should be right at 

the very top of your list. It’s a 

superb everyday workhorse. 

£89 


HOT 

OFFER 

BMW are giving 



F850GS right 

now! 

The F850GS comes with 

rugged styling, a 21in front 

wheel and high specification 

suspension to allow it to deal 

with the rough stuff. As with 

all BMWs, the list of upgrades 

BMW F850GS 

A/A2 

LICENCE 




is extensive, making this 

peppy parallel twin excellent 

both on and off road. It’s been 

a strong seller and at £89 per 

month, that’s not surprising. 

A2 version also available. 


EXPOSED 

ISOLATED 

RISKY 

SAFER 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT 

TWO-WHEELS 


TWO-WHEELS 

www.unlockyourfreedom.co.uk 

BEAT PUBLIC TRANSPORT, 

COMMUTE ON A SCOOTER 

OR MOTORCYCLE 

The safest way to commute is in isolation, and the most isolated way of travelling 

is on two-wheels. Get where you want to go safely and economically. 

#unlockyourfreedom 

CONFINED 

FREEDOM 

FEAR 

FUN 


TWO-WHEELS 


TWO-WHEELS 

GOVERNMENT ADVICE Consider all other forms of transport before using public transport

MCN Get Britain Biking

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?