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.

Motus Motorcycle Engine
What are the advantages of a V4 engine?
With manufacturers getting switched on to the idea of the V4 engine configuration, Visordown takes a deep dive into the layout
Triumph Rocket 3 GT 1200
How do you make a bike as big as the Triumph Rocket 3 handle so well?
Triumph Chief Engineer, Stuart Wood takes on a deep dive into the chassis of the new 2020 Triumph Rocket 3
Lead image
Top ten funniest Chinese copies of genuine motorcycles
China is globally known for not having much respect for copyright laws, and that also extends to the nations motorcycles builders
fireblade vs Ninja
Head 2 head: Honda CBR1000RR-R SP vs Kawasaki ZX-10RR Ninja
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
Kawasaki Zh2
Toad’s Dream Garage – Pt 2 naked bikes
If money really were no object and your lucky numbers came up, what motorcycles would be in your dream garage?