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.
3813 articles
Road Racing
13/01/22
The latest Isle of Man TT game, Ride on the Edge 3, looks more polished than before, with dynamic improvements to the in-game physics
New Bikes
13/01/22
The CCM Spitfire Dakar Rallye 600 and Baja 1000 tribute bikes feature long-travel suspension, upswept exhausts, and a host of off-road goodies!
Product News
12/01/22
Picking up where the 3.0 left off, the Ruroc Atlas 4.0 keeps the aggressive styling but adds more comfort, less noise and improved safety
General
12/01/22
The government is ‘pausing’ the smart motorway rollout and injecting £900m to ‘ensure drivers feel safe and confident’
Industry
12/01/22
A letter from MCE confirms the motorcycle insurance firm is cancelling insurance polices January 31st 2022
New Bikes
11/01/22
The internet is awash with rumours that the Harley-Davidson Low Rider S is getting updated in 2022 with a bigger engine and more power
New Bikes
11/01/22
THE Excelle 525X is a middleweight adventure motorcycle that has just been officially launched in Asia, and should it one day come to the UK in some form or another, it actually might be quite good.
Learner
11/01/22
It’s the final hurdle you need to pass to get on two wheels. To save you the cost and misery of a fail here is how to pass your motorcycle test and avoid the most common fails
New Bikes
11/01/22
Aprilia is fleshing out its leaning multi-wheel trike idea, as new patent images show in detail its frame and suspension set up
Product News
07/01/22
The new Michelin Road 6 hoops will arrive in 18 sizes including a GT variant for heavy weight touring and sports motorcycles
Product News
07/01/22
Alpinestars has pulled the wraps off four new Tech-Air motorcycle airbag systems at CES Las Vegas
General
07/01/22
Giniel De Villiers the driver for the Toyota Gazoo Racing in the Dakar has received tough sanctions after a second motorcycle incident
Product News
06/01/22
REC timepieces feature recovered, reclaimed, and recycled elements, taken from some of the most iconic motorcycles and cars in history
General
05/01/22
A box-fresh and brand new Honda RC123V-S has become the most expensive Japanese motorcycle sold at auction
New Bikes
05/01/22
Colove is reported to be in the development stage of a new inline four-cylinder, 400cc engine that makes a claimed 75hp!
Product News
04/01/22
A major new book from MotoGP journalist Mat Oxley charts the highs and lows of the career of Valentino Rossi
General
03/01/22
If you’re thinking of buying a new bike, there is a strong chance you’ve heard the phrase PCP mentioned. If you don’t know what it means – read on.
Product News
01/01/22
The Galfer Floatech rotors feature patented pins that join the rotor to the carrier to provide optimum performance on the track
General
21/12/21
An Isle of Man TT bike ran by the works Triumph team to star at Silverstone Auctions London Motorcycle Show sale
General
21/12/21
A panel of A-list judges will decide upon the winner along with the public, and one voter will walk away with the winning bike!
New Bikes
21/12/21
The very limited edition Honda CBR1000RR-R Spa 100 is built by DG Sport and it features a host of go-faster goodies to track day junkies!
Product News
21/12/21
Suzuki has announced a special edition Arai RX-7X MotoGP replica helmet that strictly limited to 100 units worldwide
MotoGP
20/12/21
Ducati has pulled the wraps off its latest racing motorcycle, the MotoE machine that will compete from 2023 onwards in the MotoGP World Championship
New Bikes
20/12/21
The Bimota KB4 was the hot ticket at EICMA 2021, and just a month later, the Italian-brand has announced the pricing for the bike in the Japanese market