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Discuss: Chinese bikes will take over from Japanese
By Bertie Simmonds on 15/10/2008 17:17:00
Oriental, non-Japanese bikes are set to become the new Rice Rockets?
Fancy a Chinese? I do. Well, let me put it this way: in a couple of years I reckon I might.Y'see, China is getting into motorcycles big time. And in the next few years I'll put a large bet down that they will be building the sort of bikes you or I like to ride. No, not the tradit...
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Used Review: Yamaha YZF-R1
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/04/2008 17:50:05
A quantum leap in performance over the mighty FireBlade, the Yamaha YZF-R1 set new standards for power and performance at its launch back in 1998. New and old models alike still sizzle today.
with fuel-injection slapped on the four-cylinder motor, a new Deltabox III frame, bigger, 43mm diameter front forks and an aggressive new look with minimal fairing, sleek, angular lines and a pointed, LED rear-light unit. The latest version is the crazy 172
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First Ride: Ducati Multistrada 1000
By Bertie Simmonds on 14/09/2010 10:16:47
The new 2003 Multistrada. It's a practical, useful alternative to a sportsbike, but it can tour, commute and still cut it in the twisties as it was born on the mountain roads
for the merest balls-up is a 20 foot drop. If you're lucky.Roll off the throttle, Simmonds, and repeat after me. "The Multistrada isn't a sportsbike, the Multistrada isn't a sportsbike, the Multistrada isn't a sportsbike." It does a damn good impression of one
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Used Review: Ducati Monster S4 & S4R
By Bertie Simmonds on 08/04/2008 21:11:47
Like the original but on steroids, the Monster S4 grasped bare-biking from Bologna by the bars and took it into the new millennium. But are there any bugs? Used-bike fact hound Bertie Simmonds finds out.
Ducati's evergreen favourite, the Monster had been around for seven years when - in Y2K - the S4 was launched.This was a much-needed shot in the arm for the Monster family, which by this time had been overtaken by the opposition, such as the TL1000S-engined Cagiva Raptor.Out went...
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Used Review: Triumph Sprint RS
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/04/2008 21:38:34
Quiet, unassuming and unpopular the Sprint RS may have been as a new buy, it now has a loyal following and makes a bargain sports tourer.
I was at the launch of the Sprint RS in southern Spain in 1999. Some muppet in the office thought it would be a good idea to ride back from there to the Midlands, in late December.But thanks to decent winter kit and the Sprint RS's solid attributes, I got back in one piece and no...
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First Ride: Buell XB9S (2002-03)
By Bertie Simmonds on 29/03/2008 23:55:41
"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 rewarded with a couple of bemused looks as the assembled journalists scratch their heads and look at each other in some confusion. Then one brave soul, after looking at the specs of this new, third generation Lightning, puts his hand
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Motorcycle Theft - There for the taking
By Bertie Simmonds on 06/05/2007 13:44:55
"Brand new R1, one stupid owner, free to anyone with bolt croppers and a van..." Bike theft isn't going away, but things are changing - and you can at least do something about it
Bikes are fast, sexy, liberating and, above all, damned good fun. Sadly they stop being all of the above when they're nicked. And it's a growth industry for those on the wrong side of the law.The proof of this distasteful pudding is that bike theft costs insurers Carole Nash £7.5...
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First Ride: 2002 Harley-Davidson VRSCA V-Rod review
By Bertie Simmonds on 27/03/2008 21:03:21
Harley-Davidson unleash their most important model for 50 years. With a watercooled, 115bhp, 60¡ V-twin motor straight out of their VR1000 racebike, it marks the start of a new direction for the Milwaukee firm. This is big.
Massive, in fact, as Harley-Davidson hope this motorcycle will open up new markets and new owners to the legendary marque. They say this bike combines the heart of a superbike, the style of a custom and the soul of a drag bike. In the words of Bill
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First Ride: 2007 Buell 1125R
By Bertie Simmonds on 02/04/2008 17:59:37
25 years in the making and Erik Buell finally makes the bike he always dreamed of: a liquid-cooled V-twin with plenty of poke and handling to die for. So has junking the Harley engines given Buell a new edge?
. But TWO's columnist Colin Edwards has had a couple of good results around Laguna, home of the launch of the new Buell 1125R, so I thought he'd be the right person to ask. Thing is, despite it being my first lap, the advice is lost on me as the bike
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First Ride: 2007 Buell 1125R
By Bertie Simmonds on 29/03/2008 09:55:29
25 years in the making and Erik Buell finally makes the bike he always dreamed of: a liquid-cooled V-twin with plenty of poke and handling to die for. So has junking the Harley engines given Buell a new edge?
Simmonds...letting rip on the new 1125R"Turn six is the left hander before the Corkscrew. You don't need to go to the paint on the entry, hold it around three-quarters of the track width, then bring it back left so you can get the Corkscrew right
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