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Icon: Che Guevara
By Bertie Simmonds on 22/10/2010 16:52:09
A political icon from the Swinging 60s and owner of the second most famous beret in the world (after Frank Spencer's) it's little known that Che was a very keen motorcyclist and biking author. Good on him...
to the poverty and social imbalance compared to neighbours like the USA. In 1954 he went to Mexico, where he joined exiled Cuban revolutionaries under Fidel Castro.Che soon became Castro's right-hand man, merging roles of guerilla leader into that of Cuba
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Special K: Project ZX-7R
By Bertie Simmonds on 11/12/2002 16:58:03
The Kawasaki ZX-7R is overweight, lardy and obsolete. Just like Bert in fact. But take both of these old buggers, strip them bare (well, maybe just the bike), put them on the track and what do you get? Carnage, probably. Behold Bertie's project ZX-7R
.Firstly, they've been around and unchanged since the launch in late '95, which means oodles of cheap machines and parts around. Secondly, since then they've been raced very competitively in the hands of privateers, which means they have the potential to be great
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Fit for purpose: Police BMW K1200RS
By Bertie Simmonds on 20/10/2010 10:50:45
The average road bike does a bit of everything. But there are machines in the biking world designed to do one job only. Pure specialists if you will. These are the bikes...
for carrying all our paperwork."BOOT BELT: "You can't ride comfortably with a baton around your waist, or wearing a utility belt, so this is how we carry the gear we need to hand. The boot belt carries our baton, cuffs and spray."BATON: "This extendable baton
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Used Review: Suzuki GSX1400
By Bertie Simmonds on 10/04/2008 19:10:37
It looked like a pit-bull, even if it was more of a lap-dog to ride. Blessed with good looks and mucho torque, Susuki's GSX1400 has proved to be a popular retro bruiser bike in used circles.
and curiously near the end, suspension mods! See www.gsx1400.org for more info on the bike. SECOND-HAND VALUESSuzuki GSX1400 K1-K4 (01-04)Colours: blue/white, silver, black, blue, black/redPrice new: £6,500 (2001)Price now: £2,500-£4,800Comments: Big, comfy
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First Ride: 2002 Buell XB9R Firebolt
By Bertie Simmonds on 29/03/2008 16:37:24
Look, children, here he comes. It's Tweedle Dee in the blue and silver Kushitani leathers on his dinky Fisher Price 'My First Ideal Sportsbike.'
After pinning the throttle down Valencia's main straight, he pops out of the bubble on the Buell XB9R Firebolt as the big hand points to the 220km/hr sticker (that's quite fast you know) and with his wobbly head lolling about in the 136mph airstream
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True Grit - Bikers with disability
By Bertie Simmonds on 31/03/2010 12:38:11
Getting hurt, badly hurt, on your bike isn’t something any of us like to talk about. But it happens. And not always to the other guy.
2002 Yamaha R1 and a Spondon Monster GSX-R1260. The R1 rear brake has a JRC racing thumb brake from Speedycom.com. The CRF has a Honda VTR1000 FireStorm clutch master cylinder on the left-hand bar. It’s a ten-minute job but it works brilliantly.”
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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
lefts of turns three and four, and the run up before Nieto, not to mention the fast right-hand kink before the final hairpin at Curva Ducados.Saying that even slow-old me had a couple of miniature slides on the Blade. Nothing too scary, but hitting
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Foggy's Little Wonder: The Petronas FP1 Story
By Bertie Simmonds on 29/05/2003 09:45:30
Clean-sheet design to front-row start in the WSB opener in 16 months? Here's how...
round at Laguna Seca in the US was missed, and then postponed indefinitely, you could almost hear the said knockers rubbing their hands in glee. Carl had failed, he'd screwed up, they said.But others who'd witnessed his determination on track, as well
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Team Hates: Eight intense team-mate rivalries
By Bertie Simmonds on 11/11/2010 11:36:45
It's a rule of thumb in racing that you have to beat your team-mate. And to beat him, you must employ every method at your disposal. Delve into the world of when the team-mate system goes wrong
could work off them. With me as a team-mate you had your hands full because I would try and beat you at everything. I wanted to devastate Eddie. I don't think he was ready for a team-mate like me. Maybe he thought he could control me, but I was past
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Living with a 2004 Honda CB1300
By Bertie Simmonds on 12/09/2004 15:56:49
Finally a bike that doesn't look like a Bertie's riding a mini moto. Yes it's the mighty CB1300 review
.Love BertieDear TWO,Top food at the hotel last night, top company, too. I awake woolly headed but ready to go. Just 15 miles into our ride, John Perry gets a puncture on his X-11. Shame, but Ron's on hand with the support van. That's another plus of such a
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