Simon Hancocks
Digital Content Manager
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.
3820 articles
Industry
05/10/23
BMW Motorrad North America has removed its 'Stop Sale' notice to dealers in the region, which previously halted the sale of all new and used petrol-powered motorcycles
New Bikes
05/10/23
Triumph has revealed how much its all-new single-cylinder models cost, with a starting figure just under £5k
Commercial
05/10/23
The UK’s most famous and extensive collection of motorcycles is opening its doors for free later this month, as the countdown to the National Motorcycle Museum Live event begins.
New Bikes
04/10/23
All versions of the Africa Twin have received updates for 2024 with visual, mechanical, and performance improvements across the range.
New Bikes
03/10/23
Ducati has announced a new more high-spec and capable mid-weight adventure bike, as the 2024 Ducati DesertX Rally powerslides into 2024
New Bikes
03/10/23
Triumph has revamped its flagship Scrambler 1200 for 2024, with an updated Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE being joined by a more accessible Triumph Scrambler 1200 X.
General
03/10/23
The Brough Superior SS80 was bought as a box of bits in the 1990s, and reportedly took around 20 years to complete. Now though it's set to go under the hammer, and it could be selling for an insane amount of money!
New Bikes
03/10/23
The WMC300AE is a hybrid conversion built around the already whacky Yamaha Tricity and after a successful period used as a police bike, it’s now up for grabs to the general public.
New Bikes
02/10/23
The inline-four supersport motorcycle might not be dead and buried just yet, as Voge reveals the sleek-looking RR 666 S, a Chinese-built bike that shuns the cross-plane twin cylinder engine.
Viral
28/09/23
We aren’t quite sure how this has come about, but a fairly legitimate post has appeared on Facebook showing what looks like a Suzuki GSX-RR MotoGP that is being broken up and sold off piece by piece!
New Bikes
28/09/23
The latest iteration of the BMW R 1300 GS is lighter, more compact, more powerful and more advanced than ever before. Here are some of the headline talking points.
Viral
28/09/23
We’ve seen motorcycle adventurers over the years utilise a bike exhaust to either cook or keep food warm, but a motorcycle with its own pizza oven - that is a new one to us!
New Bikes
22/09/23
Some pictures have begun to circulate purporting to be the next generation BMW R 1300 GS, complete with a new engine, chassis, and totally revised styling.
MotoGP
22/09/23
The local wildlife at the Indian MotoGP round seems to be enjoying getting close to the stars, as Jack Miller is reported to have spotted a monkey clambering about above his pit garage!
New Bikes
22/09/23
The retro and custom bike maker Zeths has announced what might just be the cutest race replica ever, as its One-Joy ZOD 125 Mike Hailwood RC174 rep’ is revealed.
Viral
21/09/23
Changing a wheel on a bike is a pretty common job to do at home. And I’m pretty sure that without too much help most riders would be able to change a wheel on a bike without having to consult the manual. But what if that bike is the Hubless Verge TS?
General
21/09/23
TVS Racing Electric One Make Championship (e-OMC) will begin September 29, 2023, and feature eight riders picked by TVS Racing. All riders will use the all-new TVS Apache RTE (Racing Throttle Electric) motorcycles
MotoGP
20/09/23
Visa chaos, track modifications, and tax issues are all marring the first-ever MotoGP visit to the Indian nation.
New Bikes
20/09/23
The Arc Vector Test Ride Program is, as you’d expect, an opportunity for prospective punters to swing a leg over the ground-breaking electric bike here, on UK roads.
Gear
19/09/23
I’ve been out and about testing the flagship Shoei X-SPR Pro road and track motorcycle helmet this summer, and even took the chance to try out Shoei’s PFS bespoke fitting service.
New Bikes
19/09/23
The Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour features a special livery, improved comfort and practicality over and above the stock MTS V4 S.
MotoGP
19/09/23
There are plans for not just one, but two separate Dorna run events set to take place in Hungary in 2024, with both MotoGP and WorldSBK set to descend on Budapest in 2024.
First Ride
18/09/23
Ticking off a big box on his bucket list, Toad had the chance to sample the stunning Honda RC213V-S, ticking off plenty of miles zooming about the Welsh mountains on what is effectively a detuned version of Marc Marquez’ 2013 MotoGP machine
General
18/09/23
Leslie Harris from New Zealand has set a Guinness World Record and is officially the world’s oldest motorcycle racer. He’s still competing too, and shows no signs of stopping despite being nearly 100 years old!