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.
3816 articles
New Bikes
26/10/21
Yamaha has added new colours to its range of highly successful scooters amidst extremely strong market growth
General
26/10/21
The Sky production about the life and career of the late Marco Simoncelli features interviews and testimonials from friends and MotoGP rivals
Advanced Riding
22/10/21
Can you think yourself faster? Visordown gets all zen as we tell you how to be a faster, safer and better rider... using only your mind
New Bikes
21/10/21
The Honda NT1100 looks set to bring cross-continent ability, sporty dynamics and high specification to the touring segment
Industry
20/10/21
After leaving the EU at the start of this year, the National Motorcyclists Council thinks the time is now to rethink motorcycle testing in the UK
New Bikes
20/10/21
Trademark documents have noted an incoming model from the winged badge as the Honda ADV 350 crossover scooter is named
New Bikes
19/10/21
Only available through French dealerships, the Suzuki GSX-S1000 and 950 SERT kit is to celebrate the firms 2021 endurance championship win
First Ride
18/10/21
To find out how the new Suzuki GSX-S1000GT handles a typical UK tour, we set off for Scotland and a sample of the North Coast 500
Viral
18/10/21
A video posted to Facebooks shows two motorcycle thieves using an angle grinder on the security chain of a motorcycle at 4am!
Commercial
18/10/21
With Motorcycle Live just around the corner, it’s time to get plotting the annual pilgrimage – here’s everything you need to know about the event
General
18/10/21
Motorway drivers could receive an automatic £100 fine for flouting the red X above closed motorway lanes
New Bikes
18/10/21
Pierre Terblanche is one of the most revered motorcycle designers of all time and he is revisiting one of his most iconic machines
Advanced Riding
16/10/21
The scenario is never one any motorcyclist wants to dwell on for too long, but if the time comes – here’s everything you should do after a motorcycle accident
Viral
12/10/21
Fresh off the launch of the new Yamaha R7, we pitch the new CP2 powered against the game-changing Aprilia RS660
New Bikes
12/10/21
A new higher-spec super naked looks set to land in 2022, as a KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo is likely to arrive
General
11/10/21
Yamaha is taking its much-talked-about Yamaha R7 to the final round of the BSB championship at Brands Hatch this weekend.
General
11/10/21
We sat down with Ian Podkamien of Vayyar to find out what Advanced Rider Assistance Systems are and how they will shape the future of motorcycling
Advanced Riding
08/10/21
Filtering, when done correctly, is the friend of every motorcycle rider. Some drivers are not – here’s how to spot them!
General
08/10/21
We spent a few weeks getting to grips with the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special
General
08/10/21
A nurse from Hull has prevented a motorcycle thief from making off with a bike after forcing the crook to ditch the machine
Road Test
08/10/21
If you want that iconic Harley-Davidson look, the Softail Standard is the bike for you. Here’s what we learned after a two-week road test
General
07/10/21
Taking a picture of your motorcycle to go in a for sale advert needn’t be stressful, follow these simple tips to nail it!
New Bikes
07/10/21
The Indian eFTR is an all-electric dirt bike aimed at children looking to get on two wheels with style
New Bikes
07/10/21
The Haojue XCR300 is powered by a 298cc twin producing 28bhp and it could form the basis of a new Suzuki in the coming months