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.
New Ninja ZX-4R-based retro four-cylinder ‘Z400RS’ rumoured
The Japanese motorcycle press has seemingly gotten wind of a new model from Kawasaki, a Z400RS based on the ZX-4R sportsbike
Here’s what the new Triumph Daytona 660 sounds like
A new teaser video for what is expected to be the Triumph Daytona 660 has dropped, giving our first bite of the bike’s sound
The top 10 best-sounding new motorbikes
With local and national governments in Europe taking a dim view of noisy motorcycles, we thought we’d share the best sounding new bikes you can go out and buy today!
Gran Turismo on two-wheels! Abandoned PlayStation game reviewed
Gran Turismo might be the most famous PlayStation game on four wheels, but did you know about its two-wheeled spin-off, Tourist Trophy?
Watch this stunning FPV drone take a tour of the Norton factory
Get a never before seen view of the Norton factory in Solihull, as an immensely talented FPV drone pilot takes a tour of the multi-million pound facility
Best motorcycle Christmas gifts 2023
Whether you’re buying for somebody else or looking to drop hints about what you would like, 25 December is nearly here, and it is time to begin thinking about those Christmas gifts
Department for Transport pledges extra £235m to sort London roads
The extra cash is going to be spent in the next eleven years and is being earmarked to help improve journey times and repair potholes and damage
2024 Triumph Tiger 900 review: full road test of the GT and Rally Pro
A re-style and a technical refresh awaits you for 2024, as the Tiger 900 range gets more power and more torque in a revised lineup
Dirt bike scumbags targetted by police force’s new off-road squad
Thames Valley Police is looking to clamp down on illegal motorcycle use, and it’s fighting fire with fire, as its off-road motorcycle team is formed
Reports emerge of employers discriminating bike-riding staff
The BMF is asking for the bike-riding UK public to get in touch if they feel like their employer has discriminated against them for riding a motorbike
Car tuner fined for pop-and-bang tuning maps - is this bad news for bikers?
It’s a move that could have big ramifications across the two and four-wheel automotive industry
BSB Champion excluded a month and a half after the season ends!
British Superbike National Superstock contender Dan Linfoot has been excluded from the final round of the championship, handing Richard Kerr the championship
Honda goes BIG with $3 billion investment in electric
The Japanese giant Honda is pouring $3.4 billion into the electrification of its two-wheeled business, with 30 new electric motorcycles set to launch by 2030
The Best Electric Motorcycles - Ultimate Electric Bike Guide
Visordown runs down the best electric motorcycles covering touring, sports bikes, nakeds, commuters and scooters and adventure motorbikes
‘Game-changing’ Brembo Hypure brake callipers announced
The new Brembo stoppers are designed for use on high-performance bikes, and its maker is claiming them to boast ‘unparalleled performance and a boundary-breaking design.’
2024 Triumph Scrambler 1200 X and XE review: retro perfecto!
A new and updated bike join the Triumph Scrambler 1200 range for 2024, the heavily updated base model X and top-spec, off-road XE
Kymco offering free Datatool security starting in December
The move means all Kymco petrol products (two-wheel and ATV) are to be equipped with two forms of Datatool security products free of charge
CryptoDATA RNF barred from 2024 MotoGP grid for “repeated infractions”
CryptoDATA RNF will not be contesting the 2024 season, with organisers citing “repeated infractions and breaches” that are “affecting the public image of MotoGP”.
Fabio Di Giannantonio to Mooney VR46 for 2024 MotoGP season
Di Giannantonio was a shining star in the last few MotoGP rounds of 2023, and it’s something that the Mooney VR46 squad has rewarded, saving the Italian from potentially losing his place in MotoGP.
Joan Pedrero to take on Africa Eco Race on Pan America 1250
The event takes place across 6,000 miles and will see the Dakar ace racing his Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 from 30 December 2023 until 14 January 2024.
Ducati DRE Adventure Academy lands in Wales
One of the UK’s premier off-road venues will host a new adventure riding experience in 2024, as the Ducati DRE Adventure Academy arrives at Sweet Lamb in Wales.
Five reasons to say, “Let’s go…to Motorcycle Live!”
With Motorcycle Live 2023 getting ever closer, here are five very good reasons to book your tickets!
Fantic Imola 125 looks to surf the sport bike resurgence
The Fantic Imola is a 125cc sports bike, featuring a Yamaha-derived four-stroke engine, Brembo brakes, and advanced electronics.
BSA Gold Star gets new colourway revealed at Motorcycle Live
The sleek-looking new Shadow Black option sees the BSA Gold Star get a stealthy makeover with a matt black engine and exhaust, and a gloss-finished fuel tank and bodywork.