Simon Hancocks
Editor
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
Prior to Visordown, Toad worked in the motorcycle insurance industry, before creating a role at a small motorcycle website and starting his journey as a journalist and road tester.
Since then Toad has launched bikes on all of the world's continents that aren't permanently frozen, covered hundreds of thousands of road test miles and always maintains that a bad day on a bike is better than a good day in a car!
Toad is happiest when touring through Europe, hammering a big adventure motorcycle up a trail, or riding around a race track, his favourite is Jerez, accompanied by a Panigale V4! He had a go at trials once, but it'd didn't go terribly well - his ambition definitely outweighed talent!
Now Toad is working through the restoration of a classic Ducati sports bike, and yes, it's taking much longer than he planned.
New Bikes
20m ago
The Suzuki GSX-8T and GSX-8TT use the same 776cc parallel twin engine as the V-Strom 800, GSX-8S and GSX-8R, all wrapped in neo-retro styling.
New Bikes
17h ago
Brough Superior and the uber-expensive watch maker Richard Mille have joined forces - the result is the RMB01.
New Bikes
19h ago
Patents filed with the JPO show what looks like a CB1000R featuring Honda’s E-Clutch system
General
03/07/25
The switch to E20 fuel is coming, and in some markets has already arrived. Here's What It Means for You and Your Motorcycle.
General
02/07/25
Dean Barnes was killed earlier this year as he fled from a burglary he took part in while riding a stolen bike - and the bike’s real owner is facing charges.
Product News
02/07/25
The people at Powerbrick have developed a bolt-on kit of parts that turns any Pan America 1250 into a minimalist streetfighter.
Motorbike
02/07/25
The Ultraviolette F77: Mach 2 is a sporty-looking naked electric bike, with a motor that delivers 39bhp and 74lb ft of torque.
Product News
01/07/25
Arai is set to adjust the pricing of some of its helmets, with the Japanese brand citing rising material and labour costs as the main reasons.
General
01/07/25
A member of the Met Police has shared what tactics his team use to stop illegal e-bike riders, as the Met faces mounting pressure to take action.
General
01/07/25
The new speed camera was installed in the village of Sherburn, although it was toppled, apparently on purpose, before it could even issue a ticket.
Gear
01/07/25
Shark’s MotoGP-spec Aeron GP is something of a novelty in that it features moveable aerodynamic elements to reduce drag.
Gear
01/07/25
The new flagship product in the Ruroc range is the Eox, a full carbon fibre lid with distinctive styling and an improvement in functionality over the Atlas 4.0.
General
30/06/25
The Carole circuit near Paris is reported to be under threat, after a number of developments, including hotels, have sprung up in the area.
General
30/06/25
The Honda Fireblade was built by Holzhauer Racing Performance for Schumacher, who used it for test days and track days during his sabbatical from F1.
General
29/06/25
Car drivers are easily distracted enough as it is, we can probably do without an Audi full of people playing Pictionary.
Gear
28/06/25
Caberg has launched itself into the elite of helmet makers, with its cut-price FIM-spec GP01
General
27/06/25
The Longest Day Challenge sees riders heading from Land's End to John O’Groats on bikes costing no more than £600!
New Bikes
27/06/25
Honda is expanding its range of E-Clutch models, with the CL250 and Rebel 250 being next in line to gain the technology.
Industry
27/06/25
Quadzilla has been chosen as the UK distributor of CFMoto Motorcycles following its split from KTM.
Product News
26/06/25
The petition was set up by a well-known motorcycle safety campaigner who wants to stamp out the imports of shady gear - but there are only days left for it to hit 10k signatures
General
26/06/25
Some students from Clermont-Ferrand recently unveiled a self-built electric race bike that started life as a Honda Fireblade.
Product News
26/06/25
The Italian boot maker, Sidi, has revealed a whole new brand identity, with on and off-road now clearly defined.
General
26/06/25
The custom bike maker RindPerformance has turned a 2007 Honda Fireblade SC52 into a homage to ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer and his NS500
General
25/06/25
Futuristic Yamaha concept scoops prestigious design prize