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.
Industry
27/04/20
Suzuki has been forced to remove all its large capacity motorcycles from sale in India due to emissions regulations
Viral
27/04/20
A group of people riding sportsbikes, scooters and off-road motorcycles closed part of the North Circular Road at the weekend
General
27/04/20
A small Italian town has begun minting banknotes called Ducatis in a bid to help struggling locals
General
24/04/20
We pitch the new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R SP against one of the most successful sports bikes of the modern age, the Kawasaki ZX-10RR Ninja
Industry
24/04/20
Specialist motorcycle textile maker Bull-it and their parent company have won the Queen’s Award for Export
New Bikes
24/04/20
The new small-capacity off-road machine from Aprilia has been spotted at a factory in China
Industry
24/04/20
The DVSA has confirmed that CBT can still be carried out during the COVID-19 lockdown albeit through specific test centres
New Bikes
24/04/20
Mahindra-owned Jawa motorcycles has been given the green light to start selling bikes in Europe
Top 10s
23/04/20
If money really were no object and your lucky numbers came up, what motorcycles would be in your dream garage?
Industry
23/04/20
One of the new Joint Directors of Norton Motorcycles has unveiled TVS’ plans for the iconic British brand
New Bikes
23/04/20
Brixton Motorcycles have cleared their 1200cc EICMA concept for full production – could it rival the Triumph T120?
Industry
23/04/20
Former Royal Enfield President, Rudratej Singh has passed away this week aged just 46-years-old
General
23/04/20
Oxfordshire County Council has withdrawn a statement it published in a paper that claimed motorcyclists were a danger to themselves
New Bikes
23/04/20
Patents unearthed seem to chow that Honda is working on an even more dinky Monkey 125
Industry
22/04/20
Admiral motor insurance is to give back over £100m to customers unable to use their vehicles due to the COVID-19 crisis
General
22/04/20
Visordown looks at whether the slump in the global oil price could put people off switching to zero exhaust emissions motorcycles
General
22/04/20
Sammy Miller has released a video showing how he keeps his eye in at 86-years-young while playing around on his BSA classic trials machine
Workshop
22/04/20
Triumph Chief Engineer, Stuart Wood takes on a deep dive into the engine internals of the new 2020 Triumph Rocket 3
General
22/04/20
Automotive giant Honda has patented a new design of external airbags for cars that could help protect pedestrians and motorcyclists
Top 10s
21/04/20
Like any grand old pantomime, motorcycle history of full of good people but also those we could have done without
General
20/04/20
Triumph have assisted a motorcyclist left without his motorcycle after a theft by supplying him with a loan bike
General
20/04/20
With the power-cruiser motorcycle market getting ever more popular, we help you to make a choice between the Harley-Davidson FXDR and the Triumph Rocket 3
New Bikes
20/04/20
A series of videos from Kawasaki seem to show that their electric motorcycle project’s development is starting to near completion
General
20/04/20
With widespread financial and social upheaval in these times, the FCA proposes to help out with car and bike finance payments