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
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
A liquidation auction for a KTM and Harley-Davidson dealership seems to have everything you’d need to start your own bike shop
A race-prepared Kove Rally has taken first and second place in the Swank Rally in Tunisia
The Ducati 748 SP variation boasts a host of upgrades over the standard bike, and this might be one of the most original on the planet
For the second consecutive year Ducati has posted huge profits and revenue, with more than 58,000 new bikes sold
An engineering company in Australia is trailing photoluminescent road markings, that soak up light during the day, and emit it after dark
Pol Tarres has set a world record aboard his Tenere 700, taking the model to (literally) new heights
The biggest festival of all things Ducati is getting closer, and tickets for the event are now available
The government is issuing new guidance for councils on how so-called ‘anti-driver’ schemes are implemented 
More than 200 people duped into handing over their pension pots to Stuart Garner’s Norton Company have finally been paid compensation
The National Motorcycle Museum has announced that the mighty ‘Hogslayer’ will take part in this year’s Dragstalgia event at Santa Pod
Data from the website Motorcycle Sales Data shows Honda is globally the biggest bike brand, with around one-third of new bike sales
Steve Parrish has taken on quite possibly one of his weirdest challenges, racing a bus from Dunstable Asda to Luton Railway Station
Ducati is currently taking recommendations for riders to take part in a mammoth 60,000km tour of Europe later this year