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.
Eagle Rider celebrates Route 66 turning 100 with one epic adventure
A once-in-a-century ride: EagleRider is marking Route 66’s 100th birthday with an exclusive 16-day tour limited to just 66 riders.
Clarke SHHH50/350 Shhh Air Max review: Pro-grade pressure at home
The Clarke SHHH50/350 Shhh Air Max is a high output air compressor for when performance really matters.
Clarke PRO122 – 10 Piece Pro Screwdriver Set review
The Clarke PRO122 10 piece screwdriver set professional quality and has a selection of the most commonly used sizes of slotted and Philips drive screwdrivers.
Clarke Monza portable air compressor: rapid and portable tyre inflator
The Clarke Monza portable air compressor is extremely light and portable, and a godsend for any home mechanic.
Clarke CMS2 Height Adjustable Mechanics Seat: Are you sitting comfortably
The Clarke CMS2 Height Adjustable Mechanics Seat is as simple to put together as it gets, and means you no longer have to spend long hours stooped next to your bike.
Clarke MCD1 Motorcycle Dolly review: Take the strain out bike storage
The Clarke MCD1 Motorcycle Dolly is as brilliant as it is simple, can carry bikes up to a whopping 560kg and can easily be used by one person.
Yamaha MT-07 Grand Prix de France 2025 edition launched
The Yamaha MT-07 Grand Prix de France 2025 special edition is to commemorate this year's race at the Le Mans Bugatti circuit.
Norton ends V4SV, V4CR, and Commando 961 production
Norton is gearing up for a bold new era as it winds down production of three of its models.
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Police reveal details of Ex-Mastodon member Brent Hinds’ fatal motorcycle accident
The former guitarist and co-founder of the heavy metal band Mastodon was killed in a motorcycle crash.
Dunlop road and track tyres issued with a recall
Dunlop has issued a recall for its TT93 GP road and trackday tyre.
Consumer safety experts want to make buying bike kit online safer
A new law could finally force online giants like Amazon, eBay, and Temu to take responsibility for the flood of unsafe motorcycle gear sold through their platforms.
LiveWire drops prices, adds features, and expands across Europe
LiveWire slashes prices, adds handy new features, and rolls into seven more European countries in a bid to charge up sales.
Robots on the Road: Should Riders Trust AI Behind the Wheel?
As Bosch and Volkswagen push AI-driven cars closer, bikers are left wondering if robots can really be trusted to spot, predict, and protect us.
Fancy winning inters? This 2019 Ducati MotoGP bike can make that happen.
This Ducati is the one used by Andrea Dovizioso during the 2019 MotoGP season and presented in 'all-original' condition and in running order.
Criminal moped rider weeps in court before being jailed
A London moped rider who filmed himself kicking cyclists off their bikes is reported to have wept in court before being sent to prison.
Police recover 18 suspected stolen or illegal bikes from just two addresses
South Yorkshire Police have recovered 18 stolen bikes in a major crackdown on crime gangs in Sheffield.
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Iran is finally thinking about allowing women to ride motorcycles
As it stands in Iran, women can drive cars but only ride as passengers on bikes - but that could be set to change.
MAG warns “Lives Depend on Getting Automated Vehicles Right”
The Motorcycle Action Group warns that self-driving cars could put riders at risk unless the Government sets tougher safety standards.
The KTM X-Bow project is owned by the world’s largest beer company
With KTM focusing on its core two-wheeled products, a new owner was needed for its X-Bow supercar brand. Enter the beer company InBev.
Phoenix Training wants to get more youngsters riding motorcycles
It’s no secret that fewer young people entering the world of two-wheels is hurting the industry - this initiative could change that.
European motorcycle lobby hits back at Trump and his tariffs
Brussels’ latest trade deal leaves European bikes facing sky-high US tariffs thanks to President Trump - and manufacturers are understandably fuming.
CFMoto is cooking up an interesting new sports bike
Patents from CFMoto show that the Chinese brand is looking to get into the electric sports bike sector, with a very unusual design.
Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP patents reveal advanced aerodynamics
The Aprilia RS-GP is one of the most aerodynamically advanced on the grid, but could its high-tech winglets one day land on road bikes in the future?
How can a Bimota, apparently worth £30k, fail to sell for £5,000?
A recent auction listing I’ve been following has yielded an unexpected result, as a £30,000 Bimota KB4 ends pitifully.
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