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.
3829 articles
General
22/03/21
The latest video campaign focusses on filtering safely, overtaking and more, and see the world through the eyes of a biker and car driver
MotoGP
19/03/21
Saudi Arabia to create a ‘city of motors’ that will host rally, cross country, motocross, and MotoGP
New Bikes
18/03/21
The Silence range of scooters incorporates bikes for urban commuters through to professional delivery couriers and business users
MotoGP
18/03/21
Andrea Dovizioso will be stepping back on a MotoGP 2021, as Aprilia RSGP test confirmed for Jerez
Industry
18/03/21
A Leeds councillor is taking the admirable step of backing motorcycles in a bus lane sharing trial
Industry
18/03/21
Ex-Norton Motorcycle CEO Stuart Garner assured the family the money was safe although showed ‘no compassion’
First Ride
17/03/21
SINCE 2015 the Tracer has been the sensible one in the otherwise lairy Yamaha MT family, with the GT model adding a bit more sophistication alongside it since 2016.
General
17/03/21
Health restrictions in Japan have forced the organisers of the EWC to push back the Suzuka 8 Hours motorcycle endurance race
General
17/03/21
Honda has cancelled the 2021 Adventure Roads motorcycle event in Iceland due to ongoing travel restrictions
Product News
17/03/21
LITELOK has announced its toughest bicycle and motorcycle lock to date, as the LITELOK CORE is announced
General
16/03/21
The Harley-Davidson Revolution Max engine that powers the new Pan America 1250 models is one of the most ambitious and advanced ever created by the firm
WorldSBK
16/03/21
The Belgian-based team last competed at WorldSBK level back in 2013 as a Bimota effort but is best-known for its title-winning exploits with Suzuki and Troy Corser in 2005
New Bikes
16/03/21
Honda has filed for the name Transalp in the US, pointing to the return of the popular adventure motorcycle
General
16/03/21
A motorcycle thief has been jailed for 21 months despite pleeding to be spared after raising concerns over supporting his family financially if he was jailed
![Josh Brookes, Tarran Mackenzie, Jason O'Halloran BSB 2020 [credit: Ian Hopgood Photography]](https://cdn.visordown.com/field/image/Josh%20BrookesAK8I1163%20%281%29.jpg?width=1500)
BSB
16/03/21
An updated 2021 British Superbike calendar has been released, with the new tweaks hopefully opening the door to fans
General
16/03/21
A mildly modified KTM 390 Adventure has taken the victory on the world’s highest hill climb race
New Bikes
15/03/21
Legendary Italian brand Moto Guzzi might just have hidden a new model in plain site in this centenary anniversary image
New Bikes
15/03/21
The Harley-Davidson optional Adaptive Ride Height system is a big talking point of the new model - here's what it does and how it can be configured
New Bikes
15/03/21
The new touring addition to the BMW R18 range has been revealed in a series of design patent drawings
General
12/03/21
When looking back through history for people who truly change motorcycling, nothing comes close to the story of two-stroke pioneer Ernst Degner
BSB
12/03/21
The Powerslide Catfoss Racing Suzuki team have just revealed the bike Bjorn Estment will campaign in the 2021 championship
New Bikes
12/03/21
Homologation documents are pointing to a new lighter KTM 1290 Adventure arriving in 2021
New Bikes
12/03/21
Chinese company Longjia is in the process of bringing a 650cc cruiser type motorcycle to market – and it’s refreshingly original
General
12/03/21
A serial noise complainer in France has been ordered by a court to pay the Nogaro Circuit damages after his campaign of complaints against motorcycle racing noise!