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.
KTM parent group to take over MV Agusta
The Pierer Mobility Group will take a majority stake in MV Agusta, following on from its initial investment in the Italian firm last year
The 2024 Kawasaki ZZR1400 makes us miss the model even more
Sadly discontinued in the UK, the Kawasaki ZZR1400 was a mythical machine, and this 2024 retro reboot for North America makes us want it back so badly!
BMW R 12 cruiser images emerge
Images of the BMW R 12 cruiser have emerged for the first time after the bike was homologated in Australia, showing similarities with the R 18
How to filter your motorcycle safely and spot hazards
Filtering through traffic is one of the many ways a motorcycle can save you time on your morning commute. But are you doing it safely?
LiveWire S2 Del Mar review
The LiveWire S2 Del Mar picks up where the LiveWire One left off and arrives with flat-track styling, an all-new battery and motor configuration, reduced, weight and lower price.
UK pricing announced for Suzuki Hayabusa 25th anniversary edition
UK pricing has been announced for the 25th anniversary edition of the Suzuki Hayabusa, whose original version was launched in 1999
Suzuki GSX-8S vs SV650: does the SV650 still have a place?
The bike that launched a million motorcycle licences, the SV650 is as much loved by riding schools as it is by racers in the Supertwin class.
Marc Marquez officially announced with Gresini Ducati for 2024 MotoGP
The worst-kept secret in MotoGP is out - Marc Marquez will join Gresini Ducati for 2024 as the team officially announces the news.
2023 KTM 790 Duke review - Same Duke, new tricks!
The 2023 KTM 790 Duke is back on the Austrian roster for 2023. It may have travelled via China, but it’s most definitely here and with some improved features when compared to the original 2018 machine.
How to Secure the Best Motorbike Insurance Premiums
Unleash the power of savings: here’s how to make sure you get the best insurance premium for your motorcycle insurance policy.
Road-biased 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800RE officially revealed
Following hot on the heels of the V-Strom 800DE, the 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800RE offers road-tourers a sweeter handling package.
BMW North America lifts ‘Stop Sale’ notice for petrol motorbikes
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
Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X prices confirmed
Triumph has revealed how much its all-new single-cylinder models cost, with a starting figure just under £5k
National Motorcycle Museum Live is less than a month away!
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.
Honda drops big CRF1100L Africa Twin upgrades for 2024
All versions of the Africa Twin have received updates for 2024 with visual, mechanical, and performance improvements across the range.
2024 Ducati DesertX Rally is ready to take on any terrain
Ducati has announced a new more high-spec and capable mid-weight adventure bike, as the 2024 Ducati DesertX Rally powerslides into 2024
New Triumph Scrambler 1200 range revealed for 2024
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.
1930 Brough Superior SS80 set to make near £100k at auction
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!
White Motorcycle Concepts WMC300AE Hybrid goes up for public sale
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.
Sporty four-cylinder Voge RR 666 S supersport bike revealed
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.
Ex-MotoGP Suzuki GSX-RR seems to be up for sale on Facebook!
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!
‘Next level’ 2024 BMW R 1300 GS revealed
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.
Colin Furze builds a crazy pizza delivery bike complete with its own Pizza oven!
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!
2024 BMW R 1300 GS unmasked in leaked photos
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.