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 Bikes
13/03/23
With just 29 set to be produced, the Indian Challenger RR pays tribute to the brand’s 2022 King of the Baggers championship victory
New Bikes
10/03/23
The Buell SuperTouring 1190 has undergone some significant aesthetic improvements since we first saw it, as the production model is revealed
Industry
10/03/23
Uncertainty around the economy and energy prices is beginning to bite, as UK new motorcycle registrations fall by nearly 8 percent
Industry
03/03/23
After the EU ignored widespread advice on motorcycle licence and safety reforms, the NMC hopes the UK won’t do the same
New Bikes
03/03/23
The Flux Motorcycles Primo boasts KYB forks, an Öhlins shock and is set to take on the might of the KTM 450 ECX in enduro racing
New Bikes
03/03/23
A Honda H’Ness CB350 Café Racer has been spotted, loitering on the stand at a Honda dealer event in India
Product News
03/03/23
The Harley-Davidson 130hp crate engine boasts 135ci (1,923cc) and is inspired by the King of Baggers racers
Industry
02/03/23
The European Commission’s Road Safety Package, which covers things like driving licence changes, has once again ignored the advice of the industry
New Bikes
02/03/23
Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition features upgraded suspension, a new windscreen, heated seats, heated grips, luggage and more
New Bikes
01/03/23
If these spy shots are anything to go by, yes, a bike that could well be the Husqvarna Nuda might be about to make a return
Product News
01/03/23
Suzuki has partnered with Kentex, to produce two special edition watches. One for the GSX-R and one for the Katana
Viral
01/03/23
A series of images on Chinese social media seem to show an 8-cylinder boxer-powered bike, boasting a 2,400cc engine with shaft drive!
General
28/02/23
Driving examiners will be striking across the UK this March, with industrial action beginning 6th and ending on the 28th
Industry
28/02/23
The EU has finally voted on the end of combustion engine privately owned vehicles and cars – 2035 will be the year of the petrol ban
First Ride
27/02/23
The big Suzuki V-Strom 1050 finally gets dirty with adventure spec upgrades for the 2023 model year
General
27/02/23
Self-driving cars aren’t even a feature on UK roads yet, but the UK government is already asking for opinions on remote-driving cars
New Bikes
21/02/23
KTM has today officially confirmed that the much-loved (and slightly bonkers) SMT is making a return, as the KTM 890 SMT
New Bikes
21/02/23
The Honda crash detection system used the bike’s ECU and the riders phone and Bluetooth headset to ‘detect’ serious injury
General
20/02/23
The statement from the organisers confirms that without the insurance for competitors, officials and the public, the event cannot go ahead
General
16/02/23
A Visordown reader has been stung by Islington’s new motorcycle parking charges and is urging all who ride in the city to be vigilant
New Bikes
16/02/23
We’ve been hitting the Northamptonshire B-roads for our latest review, aboard the new for 2023 Ducati Monster SP
MotoGP
16/02/23
15-time MotoGP winner Andrea Dovizioso has been inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame alongside Hans-Georg Anscheidt
General
16/02/23
THE Moto Morini X-Cape ADV-R has been given its first, official competitive outing, with Dakar racer Oriol Mena taking the machine to 8th place in the Basella Race in Spain.
General
15/02/23
The Yamaha R1 of Mathew Scholtz was the backdrop for an interview but ended up catching fire right in front of the cameras!