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Used Review: Honda VTR1000 SP-1 & SP-2
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/08/2008 22:16:35
Designed to take on and beat the Ducatis in WSB, the SP-1 and SP-2 did just that. But how does it fare in the more cut-throat world of used sales? Bertie Simmonds finds out.
the roadbike a major leg-up on the ease of use scale, and helped Colin to a second title. Still officially on sale, the SP-2 is now an over-priced, under-powered V-twin alternative to the raft of 1000cc fours (oh, the irony) but as a used bike, it's a much
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Tyre launch: Bridgestone Battlax BT-016
By Bertie Simmonds on 22/10/2008 11:25:39
With its first MotoGP title, not to mention the services of a fast Italian, Bridgestone is on a high
Bridgestone’s new Battlax BT-016 Hypersport tyre follows on from the enormously successful BT-014 tyres and sits below the racier BT-002 Racing Streets and above the sports-touring BT-021s. If you’re a tech-head, you’ll love the BT-016s. During the launch at Jerez technical featu...
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Used Test: Yamaha Fazer 1000
By Bertie Simmonds on 16/08/2008 21:50:12
Eagerly anticipated but horrendously expensive on its launch, the Fazer needed a price cut before gaining the popularity it deserved. But what about a used one?
When it was launched back in 2001, the Fazer 1000 was being touted as a sports bike alternative. In reality it was very close to a sports bike, but mainly on price: a whopping £8100, or nearly £1900 dearer than the Bandit 1200! An R1 was only a grand more. A year later Yamaha too...
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Used Test: Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom
By Bertie Simmonds on 09/04/2008 23:01:00
Handsome is as handsome does. And if that's the case, many owners reckon the V-Strom is drop-dead gorgeous and offers plenty of smiles for the miles.
Let's get the looks out of the way. Yes, it's the kind of mush only a mother could love, but it's only skin-deep. Scratch the surface of the Suzuki V-Strom (and sadly that's all too easy) and you'll find a comfy, mile-munching two-up tourer for second-hand learner bike money.Rele...
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Used Test: Kawasaki ZZ-R600
By Bertie Simmonds on 09/04/2008 23:13:49
Like Barbara Windsor, it hasn't been considered sexy for years. So what's kept the ZZ-R600 on Kawasaki's books all this time? It's the fastest, squashiest, flying sofa has ever seen, that's why...
Back in the mists of time (1990 to be precise), Kawasaki launched two rocket ships. Strange with hindsight, but at the time of their birth, both the ZZ-R1100 and ZZ-R600 were cutting edge sports tackle and fast as hell. Then FireBlades and R6s came along and the Kawasakis lost th...
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Used Test: Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa
By Bertie Simmonds on 10/04/2008 19:17:39
Half elephant, half cyclops, but all-conquering when it came to the title of King of Speed in the late 1990s, the Hayabusa is still the yardstick for sheer velocity and a fantastic cult motorcycle.
The figures take some beating: 192mph, 157bhp, a quarter-mile in just 10 seconds and you could have all this for just a shade over £3,000. Suzuki's Hayabusa came on the scene in 1999 and the lumpy looks were for a reason: this bike was one of the first to be designed with a lot o...
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First Ride: 2001 Honda VTX1800
By Bertie Simmonds on 29/03/2008 13:12:58
There's a low, mean burbling coming from somewhere near my pants as my posterior is pummeled by a searing wave of torque. God, can you believe I've just written such tosh?
sales.So, it's a good, comfortable, well-braked bike. Despite sheer size and torque, it's not an intimidating creature - more of a Val Doonican than a Keith Flint.It's just a shame that I can't get Honda's superb - and comparitively priced - F6C Valkyrie
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First Ride: Buell XB9S
By Bertie Simmonds on 13/09/2010 11:49:56
Buell's naked, promises big kicks from its punchy motor but with a wheelbase smaller than a gnat's wheelbarrow, sharp handling too
Click to read: Buell XB9S owners reviews, Buell XB9S specs and to see the Buell XB9S image gallery."So, gentlemen, as you can see, the new XB9S Lightning is the latest generation in the street-inspired Buell family and a different take on the Buell XB series."The speaker is rewar...
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First Ride: Aprilla RSV-R Mille Factory review
By Bertie Simmonds on 14/09/2010 14:30:43
The Mille R is dead. It's replacement, the Mille Factory, has moved Bert to proclaim the machine to be the best Italian V-twin sportsbike on the market
Click to read: Aprilla RSV-R Mille Factory owners reviews, Aprilla RSV-R Mille Factory specs and to see the Aprilla RSV-R Mille Factory image gallery.Hug the kerb through the long downhill fourth-gear left and you'll come on to the heat haze that is Mugello's main straight.As yo...
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Used Review: Triumph Daytona T595-955i
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/04/2008 17:59:57
A revelation when it first appeared: here was a proper British effort at a big sportsbike. Over the years while the competition has got wilder, the Daytona has stayed milder which makes the mature Daytona a very solid road bike
The impact of the first Triumph T595 should not be under estimated. Here was the first proper big British sports bike for many years and one which - on paper at least - promised to give the legendary FireBlade a run for its money. Cue 'Land of Hope and Glory' and much jingoistic ...
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