Simon Hancocks

Simon Hancocks's picture

Simon Hancocks

Head of Content

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.

Articles by Simon Hancocks
Video footage shared on Twitter shows a Police Motorcyclist throwing everything (bike included) at a rider in an attempt to get them to stop
The idea is to give buyers of a new bike the unused helmet of a rider who died in a fatal collision, driving home the message to use it on every ride
BMW has teamed up with Rimac Technology with the opening of a new factory in Zagreb, Croatia
Potential new owners can now try out the latest models both on and off-road at selected venues
He might be a multiple British Champion and former Grand Prix racer, but surely this is his biggest achievement!?  
The National Motor Museum has held a night to pay tribute to the late trailblazing motorcycle adventurer Mary Sievier
Kieran Jones was recorded exceeding 80mph in a 30mph zone, crossing solid white lines and has since been disqualified from driving
The Triumph Scrambler 400 X was the best-selling modern classic in March although overall bike sales dropped by 3.7 percent
Watch as off-road legend Chris Birch pits a middleweight adventure bike against a KTM 450 XC-F
To help boost fundraising, Triumph is giving away a Thruxton Final Edition to one lucky participant 
The scenario is never one any motorcyclist wants to dwell on for too long, but if the time comes – here’s everything you should do after a motorcycle accident
Triumph has announced a special edition Trident 660 complete with an evocative Slippery Sam paint scheme
He was the founder and CEO of IRTA and will become the first non-rider to join the MotoGP Hall of Fame
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) road safety cameras will now be adopted by police forces across the UK
A new Royal Enfield European facility is to be set up, which is hoped to speed up international exports
The UK’s biggest adventure bike festival returns to Ragley Hall, guaranteeing bikes, food, ride-outs and entertainment
The global charity ride out is back and the registrations for the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride 2024 are now open
Triumph on Tour will see the the Hinkley brand loading up the lorry and hitting the road, with a raft of new models to test
In a move that could boost rider numbers, driving licence holders in this country can now ride lightweight motorcycles
Some police forces now have a new weapon in their arsenal to help fight illegal motorbike use and anti-social behaviour 
The LiveWire S2 Mulholland has been officially revealed by the American electric specialist manufacturer, offering a new take on its platform
A recent social media campaign from the ‘fashion’ brand JD Sports looks like it’s glorifying illegal motorcycle use - here’s what the National Police Cheif’s Council and others think about it
Following recent news of the discontinuation of the Yamaha R1, YME has outlined how the bike will continue to have a future in Europe
Local councils will be able to make high-risk roads safer in the coming years, as the government ear-marks money for the cause
Davey Todd will compete aboard a Ducati Panigale V2 in this year’s Isle of Man TT Supersport race