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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.
Davidson, director of motorcycle development at the launch, "today is an historic chapter in the history of Harley-Davidson. We are very proud of this day.To pull the covers off this motorcycle is a great moment for us." When the covers finally came off
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What's MotoGP ever done for us? Pt.2
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/05/2010 12:52:33
Following on from looking into how Grand Prix racing has revolutionised the very bikes we ride, here’s how the riding kit the fastest racers on the planet wear has shaped what we use today
covered in greased leather. The early steam locomotives in the late 1800 used to explode with alarming alacrity if too much pressure was allowed to build, and who can forget the American John Stapp, who in 1947 subjected himself to 46g on a rocket
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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."
and the snug-fitting 984cc fuel-injected 45-degree ram-aired motor. But the front-end has a more aggressive look, thanks to those twin bug-eye headlamps and number board. At the back you have the after-thought of a pillion seat (may as well cover it up
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Used Review: BMW R1150GS and R1200GS buyer's guide
By Bertie Simmonds on 12/10/2010 20:32:37
Once one of biking's best-kept secrets, BMW's capable-of-anything GS is now one of the biggest selling multi-purpose bikes in the UK.
getting into fuel pump electronics, causing corrosion and engine cut-out2005 R1200 GS: for possibility of throttle cable pulley getting snagged by foreign objects and holding the throttle open. Covers later fitted to the cable pulleys2005 R1200 GS
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Used Review: Aprilia Tuono
By Bertie Simmonds on 08/04/2008 22:00:52
For sheer naked fun, nothing short of a frolic with Lucy Pinder can beat the Aprilia Tuono. Launched in 2003, it immediately won an army of fans
, but some small problems do occur. Some owners complain of small oil leaks - these can be relatively common to all of the Mille/Tuono family. Sometimes after a valve check it is common for the rubber seal under the front cylinder valve cover to get trapped
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Used 600s: Kawasaki ZX-636R, Honda CBR600FS, Yamaha R6, Suzuki GSX-R600
By Bertie Simmonds on 10/09/2010 10:14:43
Yesterday's supersports screamers are still duking it out on the used battlefield. Under cover of sunshine, Bertie advances on middle England with a bunch of war veterans to find out who still cuts the mustard gas
at least, should be more exciting? This, after all, is the version tweaked for more excitement. Damn it all, my rose-tinted memory is telling me that the standard F with plusher seat, centre-stand, slightly less poke and a few different engine internals
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Living with a 2002 Aprilia RSV Mille R
By Bertie Simmonds on 12/12/2002 11:48:54
Did Bertie get on with the RSV Mille R, read on for his longterm verdict...
June 2002On your right is the Aprilia RSV Mille R. Bertie Simmonds not pictured. And why wasn't I? Well, I just couldn't do it...Sticking my ugly mug in the picture alongside such a thing of great beauty would have been tantamount to Bernard Manning
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Road Test: Kawasaki ZZ-R600
By Bertie Simmonds on 28/05/2008 22:54:45
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...
seat, vast, protective fairing and a 14,000rpm redline equalled raised eyebrows and the ring of cash tills.Right up until its demise in 2006, the ZZ-R600 confounded biking fashion pundits by remaining popular despite their guffaws at its antiquated
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Living with a 2001 Honda CBR929RR Fireblade
By Bertie Simmonds on 26/04/2002 10:59:44
Former TWO magazine editor, Bertie Simmonds, talks about his experience of owning a Honda CBR929RR Fireblade
under lock, key and cover chez Bertie, the Blade started on the button, first time of asking when I fired her up to get back down t0 the office after my time off. And since then I've eventually managed to put another 800 miles on the Blade in the last
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Used Review: Sports 600s
By Bertie Simmonds on 05/04/2008 17:38:51
Yesterday's supersports screamers are still duking it out on the used battlefield. Under cover of sunshine, Bertie advances on middle England with a bunch of war veterans to find out who still cuts the mustard gas.
FS guise at least, should be more exciting? This, after all, is the version tweaked for more excitement. Damn it all, my rose-tinted memory is telling me that the standard F with plusher seat, centre-stand, slightly less poke and a few different
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