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First Ride: 2002 Suzuki GSX1400 review
By Niall Mackenzie on 20/09/2010 12:36:30
Just another member of the Bandit family? Not quite. Suzuki delve back into the history books to bring you a genuine muscle bike with all the trimmings. Niall Mackenzie finds it's not quite what he expected
totally at 8,000rpm. I was expecting a redline of at least 11,000rpm with loads of midrange torque to it as well.Well the midrange is certainly there - the 1400 makes a Bandit 1200 feel like a teenage girl's blouse in the middle - but first time I tried
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First Ride: 2004 Triumph Daytona 650
By Niall Mackenzie on 30/03/2008 22:17:28
The Daytona 600 has always had the legs; it's one of the best-handling 600s around. With an extra 47cc - and a load more mid-range - the Daytona 650 might nearly be the perfect middleweight.
. The ZX-6R sold well, and as a road bike the extra mid-range was more than useful.For 2005 Triumph has taken note of this and followed suit with its new Daytona 650. Somewhat given away by the name the new bike is basically a Daytona 600 with a 3.1mm
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First Ride: 2005 KTM Super Duke Review
By Niall Mackenzie on 30/03/2008 22:46:45
An Austrian brute pumped full of steroids is the only way to describe the first ever-pure streetbike from KTM. If Arnold Schwarzenegger was a bike he'd be the Super Duke...
temperature and a low fuel warning light. But fire it up and instead of the thud-thud of a single the 999cc 75-degree twin barks like a police dog at a peace march en route to making 120bhp. But, unlike the 950 Adventure motor, it has strong torque from 4000
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First Ride: 2006 BMW R1200GS Adventure
By Niall Mackenzie on 20/09/2010 20:03:34
If you fancy a lap of the planet put one of these on your shopping list. R1200GS gets the Adventure treatment
.There are many changes to the new Adventure over the standard GS, the most notable being more power from the 1200cc twin motor. It puts out a claimed 100bhp, with a 17 per cent increase in torque helping to keep gear changes to a minimum whether you're on- or off
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Advanced Riding Course: Trackday riding etiquette
By Niall Mackenzie on 20/03/2010 14:24:48
The trackday paddock can be a daunting place. For track newcomers Niall advises a calm approach at your own speed – after all, it’s no race
flag his event, get everyone in the pit lane and use some choice language to express his concerns.My worry was that customers wouldn’t like this but of course the majority know they are innocent so actually welcome these chats and even applaud him when
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Advanced Riding Course: Awareness
By Niall Mackenzie on 20/03/2010 15:10:34
Niall Mackenzie talks you through his top tips which could save you from a nasty incident
to start all over again but this time being gentler with brake lever pressure and when possible using more engine braking.While accelerating, the risk is obviously with the rear tyre sliding; so again the more upright you are the safer you are. Being 100
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Advanced Riding Course: Throttle control
By Niall Mackenzie on 22/03/2010 13:50:28
Get on the gas with the best, Niall Mackenzie walks through a guide for throttle control
20 gear shifts in one lap, it is wasted energy gripping tight while wrenching the throttle open at every gear change. Never mind the stretched cables and arm pump, I used to do this but found out in my youth it really doesn’t make your bike go any
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Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 - Mackenzie track test
By Niall Mackenzie on 01/04/2010 09:07:07
No traction control, no fancy cranks and no need - the boss is back. Niall Mackenzie falls for Suzuki's new big GSX-R
. The tank, seat, fairing, wheels, engine, exhausts, suspension, electronics and dash are all new, making it quite the revelation of 2009.With 1000cc sportsbikes now making more power than most riders can use, manufacturers are less interested in top speed
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Niall's Spin: 2005 Kawasaki ZX-6R review
By Niall Mackenzie on 17/09/2010 15:56:04
The two-year development cycle the Japanese manufacturers all follow for their sports bikes means previous models can quickly be forgotten and the ZX-6R is a case in point
Click to read: 2005 Kawasaki ZX-6R owners reviews, 2005 Kawasaki ZX-6R specs and to see the 2005 Kawasaki ZX-6R image gallery.I've seen some recently at bargain prices and with tempting finance deals, and you could do a lot worse than snap one up
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Living with a Yamaha WR250F
By Niall Mackenzie on 15/05/2005 14:46:29
Niall rolls in the dirt on the WR250F
with no enduro timing equipment, just an indicator and high beam warning lights, so no creature comforts there.The engine makes 40bhp at 10,500 rpm and while it would out accelerate most cars on the road it is never going to feel like a sportsbike. Having minimal
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