ride
DESCRIPTION
Britain's most useful motorcycle magazineTRANSCRIPT
In this issue
Essential contactsWant to get in touch with us?
RiDE, Media House, Lynchwood,
Peterborough PE2 6EA
Tel: 01733 468 000
Fax: 01733 468 290
Email: [email protected]
Want to subscribe?
Call 0845 601 2672 or go to
www.greatmagazines.co.uk/ride
Want to advertise?
Call 01733 468892
Got an editorial enquiry?
Call 01733 468081
Can’t find RiDE in the shops?
Call 01733 555161
Need a back issue?
Call 0845 601 1356 (UK) or
0044 1858 438828 (overseas)
MARCH 2012
NEWS & VIEWS What’s going on and why 4
Q&A Legal and technical solutions 24
HOW TO BUY A KAWASAKI ZZR1400 Detailed used buying guide 28
2012’S KEY BIKES AND THEIR HALF-PRICED ALTERNATIVES How to get state-of-the-art thrills without
breaking the bank 37
TOURING CANADA Part 3: The ultimate road 48
WIN A £12,000 BMW R1200GS You could win a limited edition GS 55
NEW RiDER Another test fail, the Yamaha WR125R and
a new series on life with the IAM 56
PLAN & SAVE Your brilliant 2012 starts here 58
BUILD YOUR PERFECT SHED Our guide to sorting out your space 68
THE RiDE PRODUCT GUIDE Crash protection 72
KTM 690 DUKE Fun, fun, fun 82
PEOPLE’S LONG TERM TEST Living with Honda’s brilliant Blackbird 84
BMW K1600GT ON TOUR Just how good is it on a big trip? 88
ESSENTIAL BIKES AND KIT The best of everything 112
ESSENTIAL TOURING Amazing routes for all budgets 128
S U B S C R I B E T O R I D E
GET YOUR MAG EARLYClaim your Keis heated grips worth more than £50
and get RiDE delivered to your door every month for
£46.99. Subscribe to RiDE – see p26 for details.
28
55
72
37
58
88
112
MARCH 2012 |
128
84
82
56
3
In this issue
Essential contactsWant to get in touch with us?
RiDE, Media House, Lynchwood,
Peterborough PE2 6EA
Tel: 01733 468 000
Fax: 01733 468 290
Email: [email protected]
Want to subscribe?
Call 0845 601 2672 or go to
www.greatmagazines.co.uk/ride
Want to advertise?
Call 01733 468892
Got an editorial enquiry?
Call 01733 468081
Can’t find RiDE in the shops?
Call 01733 555161
Need a back issue?
Call 0845 601 1356 (UK) or
0044 1858 438828 (overseas)
MARCH 2012
NEWS & VIEWS What’s going on and why 4
Q&A Legal and technical solutions 24
HOW TO BUY A KAWASAKI ZZR1400 Detailed used buying guide 28
2012’S KEY BIKES AND THEIR HALF-PRICED ALTERNATIVES How to get state-of-the-art thrills without
breaking the bank 37
TOURING CANADA Part 3: The ultimate road 48
WIN A £12,000 BMW R1200GS You could win a limited edition GS 55
NEW RiDER Another test fail, the Yamaha WR125R and
a new series on life with the IAM 56
PLAN & SAVE Your brilliant 2012 starts here 58
BUILD YOUR PERFECT SHED Our guide to sorting out your space 68
THE RiDE PRODUCT GUIDE Crash protection 72
KTM 690 DUKE Fun, fun, fun 82
PEOPLE’S LONG TERM TEST Living with Honda’s brilliant Blackbird 84
BMW K1600GT ON TOUR Just how good is it on a big trip? 88
ESSENTIAL BIKES AND KIT The best of everything 112
ESSENTIAL TOURING Amazing routes for all budgets 128
S U B S C R I B E T O R I D E
GET YOUR MAG EARLYClaim your Keis heated grips worth more than £50
and get RiDE delivered to your door every month for
£46.99. Subscribe to RiDE – see p26 for details.
28
55
72
37
58
88
112
MARCH 2012 |
128
84
82
56
3
16 | Month 2011
Win a Bike Trac uniT WorTh nearly £300!Send your pictures to
[email protected] and each month
one reader will win a Bike Trac unit, plus a
year’s subscription to Bike Trac, courtesy
of the good people at Road Angel. As well
as boosting bike security it also helps
you log your journeys.
See www.biketrac.co.uk for more.
Me in the North Yorkshire Moors
with my Yamaha TDM900 for the first
time, two days after passing my Mod
2 test – Nev Styles
Me and my two friends Tom and
Greg in Italy just before the Austrian
border, during our 4000-mile trip
around Europe this summer
– Will Woodham
My trusty VFR at Culmore Point, Northern Ireland, on a
warm, sunny October afternoon – Steven Gardiner
Welsh whisky, R1200GS, Welsh roads – fantastic. Just
don’t do all three together – Paul Greenough
Your bikesSPONSORED BYBIKETRAC
17
16 | Month 2011
Win a Bike Trac uniT WorTh nearly £300!Send your pictures to
[email protected] and each month
one reader will win a Bike Trac unit, plus a
year’s subscription to Bike Trac, courtesy
of the good people at Road Angel. As well
as boosting bike security it also helps
you log your journeys.
See www.biketrac.co.uk for more.
Me in the North Yorkshire Moors
with my Yamaha TDM900 for the first
time, two days after passing my Mod
2 test – Nev Styles
Me and my two friends Tom and
Greg in Italy just before the Austrian
border, during our 4000-mile trip
around Europe this summer
– Will Woodham
My trusty VFR at Culmore Point, Northern Ireland, on a
warm, sunny October afternoon – Steven Gardiner
Welsh whisky, R1200GS, Welsh roads – fantastic. Just
don’t do all three together – Paul Greenough
Your bikesSPONSORED BYBIKETRAC
17
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Title Initial Surname
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* Please enter this information so that Bauer Consumer Media, the publisher of this magazine, can keep you informed of newsletters, special offers and promotions via email or free text messages. You may unsubscribe from these messages at any time.
Postcode
Telephone Mobile*Email*
YOUR DETAILS
Title Initial Surname
Address
Postcode
TelephoneEmail
DELIVERY DETAILS (if different, ie purchased as a gift).
Account Name
Account Number
Sort Code
Name and Address of Bank
Direct Debit Guarantee. • This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct
Debits. • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit Bauer Consumer Media Ltd will notify
you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Bauer Consumer Media
Ltd to collect a payment, confi rmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. • If an error is
made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Bauer Consumer Media Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to
a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. - If you receive a refund you are not entitled
to, you must pay it back when Bauer Consumer Media Ltd asks you to. • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply
contacting your bank or building society. Written confi rmation may be required. Please also notify us.
Signature Date
Postcode
Please pay Bauer Consumer Media, Direct Debits from the account detailed in the instructions subject to the safeguards of the Direct Debit Guarantee.
Originator’s Identifi cation Number
PAYMENT DETAILS
Bauer Consumer Media, publishers of this magazine, would also like to keep you informed of special offers and promotions via post or telephone. Please tick the box if you do not wish to receive these from us or carefully selected partners
I enclose a cheque/postal order for £made payable to Bauer Consumer Media Ltd.
Please debit £ from my debit/credit card:
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Card Number
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SEND TO: Please include completed coupon and cheque if appropriate with the magazine name on the back.
Magazine Subscriptions, FREE POST, EDO3995, Leicester, LE16 9BR
To view how we store and manage your data go to
www.greatmagazines.co.uk/datapromise
7 2 0 9 64
26
H O W T O B U Y A . . .
Kawasaki have always known how to
make big, lairy four-strokes. From the
original Z1 of 1973, through behemoths like
the six-cylinder Z1300 in the ’80s and a
decade of ZZR1100 rockets in the ’90s, the big k
was in the thick of the fight to build the fastest,
most powerful bikes on the planet.
But when the ZX-12R faced up to the suzuki
hayabusa and honda Blackbird, and the
Japanese factories arbitrarily decided to call it a
day and limit their hyperbikes to a top speed of
‘only’ 186mph, we thought the party was over.
Fast forward to 2006 and enter the all-new
ZZR1400 – still limited, but with a genuine
170bhp at the rear wheel, slippery bodywork and
surprisingly sporty handling, it was a useable
hyperbike. it couldn’t challenge the bulbous,
grotesquely powerful hayabusa for outright
horsepower honours but that didn’t seem to
matter any more – it was more nimble on the
road, just as fast (in standard form) and easier to
ride at legal speeds. The only real gripe most
owners had was it lacked the effortless low-
down grunt we’d been expecting. To put that in
perspective, by 6000rpm it was already making
110bhp – more than most sports 600s would
make screaming past their redlines. it was only
in comparison to the Busa’s low-down stomp
that it felt lacking, and even then it was actually
faster than a Busa up to 60mph because it was
more controllable.
a mild update in 2008 (different pistons, an
extra catalyser and an oxygen sensor in the
exhaust, a new eCU) added low and midrange as
well as ensuring the ZZR complied with euro 3
emissions and noise regs.
and after six years at the top of kawasaki’s
tree, a new model’s coming along to shake the
branches – similar in styling but with a bigger
engine, more power, more torque, more comfort,
more acceleration and more electronics (traction
control, choice of engine management modes).
The new bike’s appearance (see page 43) means
2011 models are discounted and there are plenty
of used examples out there, so let’s have a closer
look at the highs and lows of ownership.
Just when we thought the battle of the hyperbikes was over,
Kawasaki went nuclear with its most powerful four yet Words Kev Raymond
3 REASONS YOU WANT ONE
Massively powerful engine
Surprisingly nimble handling
Puts the sports back into
sports tourer
HOW OWNERS RATE THE
ZZR1400
Brakes 4.67
Build quality 4.09
Controls 4.42
Dealer 3.79
Engine performance 4.86
Gearbox 4.03
Handling/suspension 4.17
Headlights 4.57
Maintenance 3.44
Mirrors 4.4
Passenger comfort 3.98
Reliability 4.59
Rider comfort 4.17
Running costs 3.64
Wind 3.98
OveRall SCORe 85.45%
Kawasaki ZZR14002006–2011
| MARCH 201228
H O W T O B U Y A . . .
Kawasaki have always known how to
make big, lairy four-strokes. From the
original Z1 of 1973, through behemoths like
the six-cylinder Z1300 in the ’80s and a
decade of ZZR1100 rockets in the ’90s, the big k
was in the thick of the fight to build the fastest,
most powerful bikes on the planet.
But when the ZX-12R faced up to the suzuki
hayabusa and honda Blackbird, and the
Japanese factories arbitrarily decided to call it a
day and limit their hyperbikes to a top speed of
‘only’ 186mph, we thought the party was over.
Fast forward to 2006 and enter the all-new
ZZR1400 – still limited, but with a genuine
170bhp at the rear wheel, slippery bodywork and
surprisingly sporty handling, it was a useable
hyperbike. it couldn’t challenge the bulbous,
grotesquely powerful hayabusa for outright
horsepower honours but that didn’t seem to
matter any more – it was more nimble on the
road, just as fast (in standard form) and easier to
ride at legal speeds. The only real gripe most
owners had was it lacked the effortless low-
down grunt we’d been expecting. To put that in
perspective, by 6000rpm it was already making
110bhp – more than most sports 600s would
make screaming past their redlines. it was only
in comparison to the Busa’s low-down stomp
that it felt lacking, and even then it was actually
faster than a Busa up to 60mph because it was
more controllable.
a mild update in 2008 (different pistons, an
extra catalyser and an oxygen sensor in the
exhaust, a new eCU) added low and midrange as
well as ensuring the ZZR complied with euro 3
emissions and noise regs.
and after six years at the top of kawasaki’s
tree, a new model’s coming along to shake the
branches – similar in styling but with a bigger
engine, more power, more torque, more comfort,
more acceleration and more electronics (traction
control, choice of engine management modes).
The new bike’s appearance (see page 43) means
2011 models are discounted and there are plenty
of used examples out there, so let’s have a closer
look at the highs and lows of ownership.
Just when we thought the battle of the hyperbikes was over,
Kawasaki went nuclear with its most powerful four yet Words Kev Raymond
3 REASONS YOU WANT ONE
Massively powerful engine
Surprisingly nimble handling
Puts the sports back into
sports tourer
HOW OWNERS RATE THE
ZZR1400
Brakes 4.67
Build quality 4.09
Controls 4.42
Dealer 3.79
Engine performance 4.86
Gearbox 4.03
Handling/suspension 4.17
Headlights 4.57
Maintenance 3.44
Mirrors 4.4
Passenger comfort 3.98
Reliability 4.59
Rider comfort 4.17
Running costs 3.64
Wind 3.98
OveRall SCORe 85.45%
Kawasaki ZZR14002006–2011
| MARCH 201228
somewhere in the background.
www.officialbikeweek.com
Saturday 10-Sunday 11:
MCN Scottish Show
Bikes, kit, customs, classics and
family fun at the Royal Highland
Great times aheadStart planning and saving now to get the most from 2012Words Colin Overland, Simon Weir and Stuart Barker
how many precious hours of riding will you be able to fit in
before the weather goes to hell again? not enough. To make
the most of those weekends, that week off work, those long
summer evenings and that sneaky visit to the imaginary
dentist, it pays to start planning now.
and when we say it pays to plan, we’re not speaking loosely.
Book your crossing, your tickets and your hotels now, and you can
often get a lower price. if you need a new tent or sleeping bag, you
should be snapping one up right now in the winter sales. and if
your bike gear is due for replacement, don’t wait until the shiny
new 2012 gear arrives – use essential Kit in the back of this
magazine to identify the best buys, and buy while they’re cheap.
we’ve even lined up hundreds of pounds worth of savings,
exclusively for riDe readers – you’ll find them on pages 66-67.
This isn’t a comprehensive list. Various events that will definitely
happen in 2012 – such as motorcycle Live at the nec – hadn’t
confirmed the dates as this issue of riDe went to press. check out
the where to Go column in riDe every month for updates.
JANUARYSaturday 21:
Rockers Reunion Winter Party
The 29th reunion will be held at the
Rivermead Leisure Complex in
Richfield Avenue, Reading, from
5pm to 1am. Live music from the
likes of Ray Campi and Crazy Cavan
and the Rhythm Rockers.
FEBRUARYThursday 2-Sunday 5:
London Motorcycle Show
See page 64 for details.
www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com
Sunday 5:
Le Touquet beach race
Hundreds of slightly demented
French people racing on a beach.
www.enduropaledutouquet. fr
Saturday 18-Sunday 19:
Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show
Mostly indoors, at the Bath and
West Showground.
www.classicbikeshows.com
Friday 24-Sunday 26:
Race Retro
Cool old stuff at Stoneleigh Park.
www.raceretro.com
Sunday 26:
WSB Australia
www.worldsbk.com
Monday 27-Friday March 2:
BMW Portuguese Paradise
Five days of trail riding in the
Algarve, guided by Simon Pavey.
www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk
P L A N A N D S A V E
MARCHFriday 2-Sunday 4:
Swansea Beach Race
From the people who brought you
the Weston-super-Mare event, a
new addition to the beach racing
calendar, in south Wales.
www.wbruk.com
Friday 9-Sunday 18:
Daytona Bike Week
Thousands of Harleys, millions of
pints of beer, and a bit of racing
A day out on the bike is great, a couple of days away
amazing, a week-long riding trip truly life changing. Who
wouldn’t want that? The only catch is cost: a day out is
cheap, a couple of days will cost a bit but you can’t fund
a week away out of small change. That’s why planning
your big trip now is vital.
In fact, there are three great reasons to budget for
your trip now. First, you can put aside a little every
month to fund it (set up a separate bike-trip bank
account fuelled by a monthly direct debit) so, when the
time comes, it’s already paid for. Second, you can get
cheap deals on accommodation and any crossings by
booking early. Third, knowing where you’re staying
means you can spend all the time before you leave
working on your routes, to make the absolute best of
your trip.
Setting the budget starts with ticking off the major
costs: accommodation first; fuel; any crossings; food
and drink. Shopping around should take care of hotels
(and crossings). Allow £30-£35 a head each day for food
and drink – a bit more if hotels don’t include breakfast.
To budget for your fuel cost, you need to know your
bike’s average consumption. It’s easier to calculate the
cost if you work in miles-per-litre: divide the mileage of a
tank by the litres of fuel it takes to fill it. Do this for a
dozen tanks to get an average. Then just divide your
planned routes by this mpl figure to see how much fuel
you’ll need, multiply by the price of a litre of super-
unleaded to estimate your fuel bill. We’d work this out
based on doing 100 miles more than the planned route,
to allow for getting lost and to provide a small
contingency fund.
That’s the secret to getting a good tour: decide where
you want to go early, do a bit of maths and start saving.
PLAN YOUR TRIPS NOWG E T A H E A D
| MARCH 201258
Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh.
www.scottishmotorcycleshow.com
Wednesday 14:
Masters of Dirt at Wembley
Spectacular freestyle action.
www.mastersofdirt.com
Friday 16:
Masters of Dirt in Manchester
www.mastersofdirt.com
Sunday 18: Pioneer Run
Pre-1915 bikes run from Epsom to
Brighton.
sunbeam-mcc.co.uk
Friday 23-Sunday 25:
Masters of Dirt in Dublin
www.mastersofdirt.com
APRILSunday 1:
WSB Imola
www.worldsbk.com
Monday 9:
BSB Brands Hatch
www.britishsuperbike.com
Saturday 14-Sunday 15:
Bol d’Or
Endurance racing at Magny-Cours.
The Stranglers will be playing on the
Saturday 28-Sunday 29:
International Classic MotorCycle
Show
The big one – the Stafford show.
www.classicbikeshows.com
Sunday 29:
MotoGP Jerez
www.motogp.com
MAYSunday 6:
WSB Monza
www.worldsbk.com
Sunday 6:
MotoGP Estoril
www.motogp.com
Monday 7:
BSB Oulton Park
www.britishsuperbike.com
Saturday 12-Sunday 13:
Thundersprint
Huge bike show and sprint in
Northwich town centre in Cheshire.
thundersprint.com
It wasn't the runaway success of Casey Stoner on the
Repsol Honda that grabbed all the headlines during the
2011 MotoGP season, it was the abject failure of
Valentino Rossi to turn the Ducati into a race winner.
For the first time since making his debut in GP racing
in 1996 he failed to win at least one race. The problem, it
seemed, was down to Ducati's insistence on running
their carbon 'stressed airbox' frame while every other
team campaigned a tried and tested twin-spar
aluminium design.
Yet even when the Italian factory bowed to Rossi's
pressure and built him a bike with a more conventional
frame, he remained uncompetitive. The nine-times
world champion took just one (lucky) podium all season
long while former Ducati rider Stoner utterly dominated
the series, taking 10 wins and his second MotoGP world
title with two rounds to spare.
Yet even Stoner's magnificent performance was
overshadowed by the death of Marco Simoncelli in a
freak accident at Sepang in Malaysia. The 24-year-old
Italian – a close friend of Rossi – may have caused some
controversy with his aggressive overtaking during the
earlier part of the season, but that same balls-out riding
style had made him hugely popular with fans. His
untimely death proved that, despite the huge steps in
safety that have been made in recent years, grand prix
racing can still be a deadly sport.
British hopes were more than upheld by Cal Crutchlow
in his rookie year on the Tech 3 Yamaha. The Coventry
rider exceeded all expectations early in the opening
rounds (taking two eighth-place finishes and a seventh)
only to suffer a mid-season lull after a bout of
confidence-sapping crashes. But the 26-year-old
bounced back with some gutsy rides to finish the season
with a brilliant fourth at Valencia which was enough to
earn him the MotoGP Rookie of the Year title.
For 2012, the unpopular 800cc machines will be
replaced by 1000cc prototypes and a handful of
Claiming Rule Teams (running highly tuned production-
based engines in prototype chassis in a bid to bolster
the 17-man grid that ran in 2011).
MOTOGP 2012W H AT T O L O O K O U T F O R I N . . .
British hopes were more than upheld by Cal Crutchlow
Saturday night.
www.boldor.com/endurance-moto.
html
Sunday 15:
MotoGP Qatar
The season opener from the Losail
International Circuit, Doha.
www.motogp.com
Sunday 15:
BSB Thruxton
www.britishsuperbike.com
Friday 20-Sunday 22:
MCN Live!
Music and bike-related
entertainment at Butlins, Skegness.
www.butlins.com
Sunday 22:
WSB Assen
www.worldsbk.com
Sunday 22:
Prescott Bike Festival
Hillclimb, bike show, big-name
racers and family fun in
Gloucestershire.
www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk
Saturday 28
10th Bristol Italian Auto Moto
Festival
Celebrate all things Italian in the
closed streets of Bristol. This year
the celebrated two-wheel marque is
MV Agusta.
www.italianautomotoclub.co.uk
SENd YOUR TRIP PICTURES TO RidE
When you’ve come back from this
year’s big trips, send the best
pictures to RiDE and we’ll make
room for them in the magazine.
Email them to [email protected]
MCN Live at Skegness is all about bikes, beer and scary-looking men in drag
Du
ca
ti C
ors
e P
res
s
Will 2012 be the year The doctor cures the ducati?
MARCH 2012 | 59
somewhere in the background.
www.officialbikeweek.com
Saturday 10-Sunday 11:
MCN Scottish Show
Bikes, kit, customs, classics and
family fun at the Royal Highland
Great times aheadStart planning and saving now to get the most from 2012Words Colin Overland, Simon Weir and Stuart Barker
how many precious hours of riding will you be able to fit in
before the weather goes to hell again? not enough. To make
the most of those weekends, that week off work, those long
summer evenings and that sneaky visit to the imaginary
dentist, it pays to start planning now.
and when we say it pays to plan, we’re not speaking loosely.
Book your crossing, your tickets and your hotels now, and you can
often get a lower price. if you need a new tent or sleeping bag, you
should be snapping one up right now in the winter sales. and if
your bike gear is due for replacement, don’t wait until the shiny
new 2012 gear arrives – use essential Kit in the back of this
magazine to identify the best buys, and buy while they’re cheap.
we’ve even lined up hundreds of pounds worth of savings,
exclusively for riDe readers – you’ll find them on pages 66-67.
This isn’t a comprehensive list. Various events that will definitely
happen in 2012 – such as motorcycle Live at the nec – hadn’t
confirmed the dates as this issue of riDe went to press. check out
the where to Go column in riDe every month for updates.
JANUARYSaturday 21:
Rockers Reunion Winter Party
The 29th reunion will be held at the
Rivermead Leisure Complex in
Richfield Avenue, Reading, from
5pm to 1am. Live music from the
likes of Ray Campi and Crazy Cavan
and the Rhythm Rockers.
FEBRUARYThursday 2-Sunday 5:
London Motorcycle Show
See page 64 for details.
www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com
Sunday 5:
Le Touquet beach race
Hundreds of slightly demented
French people racing on a beach.
www.enduropaledutouquet. fr
Saturday 18-Sunday 19:
Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show
Mostly indoors, at the Bath and
West Showground.
www.classicbikeshows.com
Friday 24-Sunday 26:
Race Retro
Cool old stuff at Stoneleigh Park.
www.raceretro.com
Sunday 26:
WSB Australia
www.worldsbk.com
Monday 27-Friday March 2:
BMW Portuguese Paradise
Five days of trail riding in the
Algarve, guided by Simon Pavey.
www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk
P L A N A N D S A V E
MARCHFriday 2-Sunday 4:
Swansea Beach Race
From the people who brought you
the Weston-super-Mare event, a
new addition to the beach racing
calendar, in south Wales.
www.wbruk.com
Friday 9-Sunday 18:
Daytona Bike Week
Thousands of Harleys, millions of
pints of beer, and a bit of racing
A day out on the bike is great, a couple of days away
amazing, a week-long riding trip truly life changing. Who
wouldn’t want that? The only catch is cost: a day out is
cheap, a couple of days will cost a bit but you can’t fund
a week away out of small change. That’s why planning
your big trip now is vital.
In fact, there are three great reasons to budget for
your trip now. First, you can put aside a little every
month to fund it (set up a separate bike-trip bank
account fuelled by a monthly direct debit) so, when the
time comes, it’s already paid for. Second, you can get
cheap deals on accommodation and any crossings by
booking early. Third, knowing where you’re staying
means you can spend all the time before you leave
working on your routes, to make the absolute best of
your trip.
Setting the budget starts with ticking off the major
costs: accommodation first; fuel; any crossings; food
and drink. Shopping around should take care of hotels
(and crossings). Allow £30-£35 a head each day for food
and drink – a bit more if hotels don’t include breakfast.
To budget for your fuel cost, you need to know your
bike’s average consumption. It’s easier to calculate the
cost if you work in miles-per-litre: divide the mileage of a
tank by the litres of fuel it takes to fill it. Do this for a
dozen tanks to get an average. Then just divide your
planned routes by this mpl figure to see how much fuel
you’ll need, multiply by the price of a litre of super-
unleaded to estimate your fuel bill. We’d work this out
based on doing 100 miles more than the planned route,
to allow for getting lost and to provide a small
contingency fund.
That’s the secret to getting a good tour: decide where
you want to go early, do a bit of maths and start saving.
PLAN YOUR TRIPS NOWG E T A H E A D
| MARCH 201258
Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh.
www.scottishmotorcycleshow.com
Wednesday 14:
Masters of Dirt at Wembley
Spectacular freestyle action.
www.mastersofdirt.com
Friday 16:
Masters of Dirt in Manchester
www.mastersofdirt.com
Sunday 18: Pioneer Run
Pre-1915 bikes run from Epsom to
Brighton.
sunbeam-mcc.co.uk
Friday 23-Sunday 25:
Masters of Dirt in Dublin
www.mastersofdirt.com
APRILSunday 1:
WSB Imola
www.worldsbk.com
Monday 9:
BSB Brands Hatch
www.britishsuperbike.com
Saturday 14-Sunday 15:
Bol d’Or
Endurance racing at Magny-Cours.
The Stranglers will be playing on the
Saturday 28-Sunday 29:
International Classic MotorCycle
Show
The big one – the Stafford show.
www.classicbikeshows.com
Sunday 29:
MotoGP Jerez
www.motogp.com
MAYSunday 6:
WSB Monza
www.worldsbk.com
Sunday 6:
MotoGP Estoril
www.motogp.com
Monday 7:
BSB Oulton Park
www.britishsuperbike.com
Saturday 12-Sunday 13:
Thundersprint
Huge bike show and sprint in
Northwich town centre in Cheshire.
thundersprint.com
It wasn't the runaway success of Casey Stoner on the
Repsol Honda that grabbed all the headlines during the
2011 MotoGP season, it was the abject failure of
Valentino Rossi to turn the Ducati into a race winner.
For the first time since making his debut in GP racing
in 1996 he failed to win at least one race. The problem, it
seemed, was down to Ducati's insistence on running
their carbon 'stressed airbox' frame while every other
team campaigned a tried and tested twin-spar
aluminium design.
Yet even when the Italian factory bowed to Rossi's
pressure and built him a bike with a more conventional
frame, he remained uncompetitive. The nine-times
world champion took just one (lucky) podium all season
long while former Ducati rider Stoner utterly dominated
the series, taking 10 wins and his second MotoGP world
title with two rounds to spare.
Yet even Stoner's magnificent performance was
overshadowed by the death of Marco Simoncelli in a
freak accident at Sepang in Malaysia. The 24-year-old
Italian – a close friend of Rossi – may have caused some
controversy with his aggressive overtaking during the
earlier part of the season, but that same balls-out riding
style had made him hugely popular with fans. His
untimely death proved that, despite the huge steps in
safety that have been made in recent years, grand prix
racing can still be a deadly sport.
British hopes were more than upheld by Cal Crutchlow
in his rookie year on the Tech 3 Yamaha. The Coventry
rider exceeded all expectations early in the opening
rounds (taking two eighth-place finishes and a seventh)
only to suffer a mid-season lull after a bout of
confidence-sapping crashes. But the 26-year-old
bounced back with some gutsy rides to finish the season
with a brilliant fourth at Valencia which was enough to
earn him the MotoGP Rookie of the Year title.
For 2012, the unpopular 800cc machines will be
replaced by 1000cc prototypes and a handful of
Claiming Rule Teams (running highly tuned production-
based engines in prototype chassis in a bid to bolster
the 17-man grid that ran in 2011).
MOTOGP 2012W H AT T O L O O K O U T F O R I N . . .
British hopes were more than upheld by Cal Crutchlow
Saturday night.
www.boldor.com/endurance-moto.
html
Sunday 15:
MotoGP Qatar
The season opener from the Losail
International Circuit, Doha.
www.motogp.com
Sunday 15:
BSB Thruxton
www.britishsuperbike.com
Friday 20-Sunday 22:
MCN Live!
Music and bike-related
entertainment at Butlins, Skegness.
www.butlins.com
Sunday 22:
WSB Assen
www.worldsbk.com
Sunday 22:
Prescott Bike Festival
Hillclimb, bike show, big-name
racers and family fun in
Gloucestershire.
www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk
Saturday 28
10th Bristol Italian Auto Moto
Festival
Celebrate all things Italian in the
closed streets of Bristol. This year
the celebrated two-wheel marque is
MV Agusta.
www.italianautomotoclub.co.uk
SENd YOUR TRIP PICTURES TO RidE
When you’ve come back from this
year’s big trips, send the best
pictures to RiDE and we’ll make
room for them in the magazine.
Email them to [email protected]
MCN Live at Skegness is all about bikes, beer and scary-looking men in drag
Du
ca
ti C
ors
e P
res
s
Will 2012 be the year The doctor cures the ducati?
MARCH 2012 | 59
DO YOU NEED CRASH
PROTECTORS?
P R O D U C T G U I D E
From bar-end sliders to swingarm
protectors, there are hundreds of
products on the market designed to
protect your bike in a crash. But
are they really worth having?
Words Stuart Barker Pictures Mark Manning
Engine covers, bar-end sliders,
cotton reels/crash mushrooms,
exhaust protectors, fork protectors,
lock-stop savers, spindle sliders,
radiator guards, swingarm protectors,
under-body frame sliders, tank sliders and
crash bars. These are just a few of the huge
array of products available that you can
bolt to your bike to protect it in the event of
a fall or crash.
if they’re well chosen and properly fitted
they should save you a tidy sum in repairs
and replacement bodywork.
no one has more experience of crashing
than race teams and riding schools – after
all, it’s part of the job. so we asked two
prominent team managers, Jack valentine
of crescent suzuki and nick Morgan of
Mss Kawasaki, and a riding instructor, ian
biederman, to explain the importance of
crash protectors and to reveal exactly
which ones they use.
and then we survey the key products
currently available to help you decide
exactly what’s right for your bike.
Jack Valentine, Crescent Suzuki BSB team boss We use a custom-made
R&G chassis protector
which is bolted through
the top engine bolts on
the side of the frame. If you look at any
pictures of our bikes from 2011 you’ll see
the white protectors sticking out.
We’ve found them to be very effective
which is why we carry on using them – we
don’t just use them because we get them
supplied by R&G. They’re more important
now with the one-bike rule because
they’ve saved a lot of damage and, in some
cases, meant the difference between the
rider being able to pick the bike up and
continue, or being ruled out of the race.
Even just being able to pick the bike up in
practice and ride it back to the pits is
crucial. Sometimes the rider might lose the
front end in a slow corner and go down
and the protectors will absorb the damage,
leaving the bike totally unscathed. Ours
stick out slightly further than the frame
and the engine casing. It’s a very basic idea
but it works and helps to protect the whole
side of the bike, not just the frame.
We use carbon/Kevlar engine covers
because if you use those materials, they
don’t have to be to FIM spec. If you use
plastic protectors, they need to be FIM-
approved but it can be a nightmare getting
that sorted because you never seem to get a
reply from the FIM!
We probably had about eight crashes in
2011 - Hopper (John Hopkins) only had a
couple but John Kirkham had about six,
some of them very high-speed like the one
at Island Bend at Oulton Park. The crash
protectors saved a hell of a lot of damage
with that one. Over the course of a season
they must save us well over £12,000,
which is a big saving considering how little
it costs to buy the protectors.
We don’t use things like swingarm
protectors or bar-end protectors, just the
chassis protectors and engine covers. You
might get scuff-marks on other parts of the
bike but, from a racing point of view, the
main thing is for the riders to be able to
pick it up and get it back to the pits. That’s
so important to us now with the one-bike
rule but it may be that, going into the
World Superbike Championship, we might
look at other areas so we can protect the
bike even more because every advantage is
so critical at world level.
I think crash protectors make great sense
for the road. Even though you won’t be
doing the same speed as we do on track,
you can soon tip off in your driveway or
turning round in the petrol station, and
even with the smallest of crashes, they
could save you a lot of damage.
They’re easy to fit too - as long as you
buy them off a reputable manufacturer.
The main thing is not to buy any cheap Far
Eastern products; make sure they’re good
quality and you’ll get all the proper
instructions and you’ll know they’ve been
made specifically to fit the bike you ride.
Nick Morgan, MSS Kawasaki BSB team boss and ownerWe have all our crash
protectors custom-made
by GB Racing. We run
crash protectors on the
frame but they’re a lot smaller and neater
than some of the others you can buy, and
that means they don’t tend to dig in and
cause the bike to cartwheel in a crash. I’m
not saying the protectors eliminate that
completely, but they go a long way to
preventing it from happening. We also use
all the engine covers - clutch cover,
generator cover, and also an ignition cover.
We’ve done a lot of development work
with GB Racing. We had six riders across
the classes last year and had a total of 48
crashes, so you could say we’ve done some
extensive product testing. But the product
is fantastic at what it’s designed to do,
which is to protect the engine and also to
stop oil being deposited on the circuit,
which can cause races to be stopped. There
were so few stoppages in 2011 that were
down to oil being dropped through
crashing - in fact I can’t think of one
occasion. If an engine blows then that’s a
different matter, but it’s testament to how
good these products are now that we don’t
get stoppages due to crash spillages.
We send all our engine covers, from all
our crashes, back to GB Racing so they can
constantly develop better products. We
have to replace the engine covers all the
time to keep the bike looking good, but for
racers on a budget they will last for ages
Crescent Suzuki fit cutsom-made R&G chassis protectors to their race bikes
MSS Kawasaki use custom-made GB Racing
frame protectors and engine covers
Over the course of a season crash protectors must save us well over £12,000
MARCH 2012 | 73
DO YOU NEED CRASH
PROTECTORS?
P R O D U C T G U I D E
From bar-end sliders to swingarm
protectors, there are hundreds of
products on the market designed to
protect your bike in a crash. But
are they really worth having?
Words Stuart Barker Pictures Mark Manning
Engine covers, bar-end sliders,
cotton reels/crash mushrooms,
exhaust protectors, fork protectors,
lock-stop savers, spindle sliders,
radiator guards, swingarm protectors,
under-body frame sliders, tank sliders and
crash bars. These are just a few of the huge
array of products available that you can
bolt to your bike to protect it in the event of
a fall or crash.
if they’re well chosen and properly fitted
they should save you a tidy sum in repairs
and replacement bodywork.
no one has more experience of crashing
than race teams and riding schools – after
all, it’s part of the job. so we asked two
prominent team managers, Jack valentine
of crescent suzuki and nick Morgan of
Mss Kawasaki, and a riding instructor, ian
biederman, to explain the importance of
crash protectors and to reveal exactly
which ones they use.
and then we survey the key products
currently available to help you decide
exactly what’s right for your bike.
Jack Valentine, Crescent Suzuki BSB team boss We use a custom-made
R&G chassis protector
which is bolted through
the top engine bolts on
the side of the frame. If you look at any
pictures of our bikes from 2011 you’ll see
the white protectors sticking out.
We’ve found them to be very effective
which is why we carry on using them – we
don’t just use them because we get them
supplied by R&G. They’re more important
now with the one-bike rule because
they’ve saved a lot of damage and, in some
cases, meant the difference between the
rider being able to pick the bike up and
continue, or being ruled out of the race.
Even just being able to pick the bike up in
practice and ride it back to the pits is
crucial. Sometimes the rider might lose the
front end in a slow corner and go down
and the protectors will absorb the damage,
leaving the bike totally unscathed. Ours
stick out slightly further than the frame
and the engine casing. It’s a very basic idea
but it works and helps to protect the whole
side of the bike, not just the frame.
We use carbon/Kevlar engine covers
because if you use those materials, they
don’t have to be to FIM spec. If you use
plastic protectors, they need to be FIM-
approved but it can be a nightmare getting
that sorted because you never seem to get a
reply from the FIM!
We probably had about eight crashes in
2011 - Hopper (John Hopkins) only had a
couple but John Kirkham had about six,
some of them very high-speed like the one
at Island Bend at Oulton Park. The crash
protectors saved a hell of a lot of damage
with that one. Over the course of a season
they must save us well over £12,000,
which is a big saving considering how little
it costs to buy the protectors.
We don’t use things like swingarm
protectors or bar-end protectors, just the
chassis protectors and engine covers. You
might get scuff-marks on other parts of the
bike but, from a racing point of view, the
main thing is for the riders to be able to
pick it up and get it back to the pits. That’s
so important to us now with the one-bike
rule but it may be that, going into the
World Superbike Championship, we might
look at other areas so we can protect the
bike even more because every advantage is
so critical at world level.
I think crash protectors make great sense
for the road. Even though you won’t be
doing the same speed as we do on track,
you can soon tip off in your driveway or
turning round in the petrol station, and
even with the smallest of crashes, they
could save you a lot of damage.
They’re easy to fit too - as long as you
buy them off a reputable manufacturer.
The main thing is not to buy any cheap Far
Eastern products; make sure they’re good
quality and you’ll get all the proper
instructions and you’ll know they’ve been
made specifically to fit the bike you ride.
Nick Morgan, MSS Kawasaki BSB team boss and ownerWe have all our crash
protectors custom-made
by GB Racing. We run
crash protectors on the
frame but they’re a lot smaller and neater
than some of the others you can buy, and
that means they don’t tend to dig in and
cause the bike to cartwheel in a crash. I’m
not saying the protectors eliminate that
completely, but they go a long way to
preventing it from happening. We also use
all the engine covers - clutch cover,
generator cover, and also an ignition cover.
We’ve done a lot of development work
with GB Racing. We had six riders across
the classes last year and had a total of 48
crashes, so you could say we’ve done some
extensive product testing. But the product
is fantastic at what it’s designed to do,
which is to protect the engine and also to
stop oil being deposited on the circuit,
which can cause races to be stopped. There
were so few stoppages in 2011 that were
down to oil being dropped through
crashing - in fact I can’t think of one
occasion. If an engine blows then that’s a
different matter, but it’s testament to how
good these products are now that we don’t
get stoppages due to crash spillages.
We send all our engine covers, from all
our crashes, back to GB Racing so they can
constantly develop better products. We
have to replace the engine covers all the
time to keep the bike looking good, but for
racers on a budget they will last for ages
Crescent Suzuki fit cutsom-made R&G chassis protectors to their race bikes
MSS Kawasaki use custom-made GB Racing
frame protectors and engine covers
Over the course of a season crash protectors must save us well over £12,000
MARCH 2012 | 73
76 77
76 77
R i D E R E A L I T Y C H E C K
Reliability, build quality, comfort,
controls, engine peformance
Nothing bad, though dealer support
and ease of maintenance were average
How owners rated tHe HONDA BLACKBIRD in
S P E C I F I C AT I O N Engine: 1137cc, 16v dohc inline four, l/c
Power: 164bhp @ 9500rpm
Torque: 88lb.ft @ 7250rpm
Top speed: 176mph
Chassis: aluminium twin spar
Transmission: 6spd, chain drive
Seat height: 810mm
Dry weight: 227kg
Capacity: 23 litres
download the digimarc discover
app for your iPhone or android
smartphone and scan the main
photo to see Honda Blackbirds for
sale on mcnbikesforsale.com
T H E P E O P L E ’ S L O N G T E R M T E S T
HONDA SUPER BLACKBIRDBig, powerful, comfortable and fast – the CBr1100XX is the perfect sports tourer
Words Gez Kane Pictures rory Game
HugH ROSIER 2006 Honda CBr1100XX-6Hugh’s current 2006 model
is the second Blackbird the
heating engineer from
Flitwick, Bedfordshire, has owned. His first
was a 2000 bike he ran for eight years.
“When I decided it was time to replace
my first Blackbird, I decided to try
something new,” says Hugh. “I test rode a
Honda CB1300S – a pretty good bike
actually – and a BMW R1100GS, but
neither of them quite ticked all the boxes
for me. So I ended up buying this 2006
Blackbird in early 2011.
“I really feel the Blackbird is the
complete package. They are so well built
and finished and are a surprisingly good
all-round machine. The engine and
gearbox are absolutely bulletproof and the
only problems I’ve encountered have been
with the alternator and the regulator/
rectifier. I’ve fitted a charge indicator light
on the dash to keep an eye on charging. I
bought it from the USA and it’s specifically
designed for motorcycles. It’s just for peace
of mind really. I bought four units (the
other three were for friends) and the lot
only cost £80 including shipping and
import duty.
“I service the bike myself – there’s
nothing scary about it. In fact, apart from
the fuel injection, Blackbirds are fairly old
school. I change the oil at 4000-mile
intervals, even though Honda say it only
needs changing after 8000 miles. I check
the valve clearances at 16,000 miles, but
they haven’t needed touching yet.
“A lot of Blackbird owners seem to
personalise their bikes and I’m no
exception. My wife Jules and I organise
touring trips abroad fairly frequently – in
fact we’ve just come back from Normandy
– so I’ve fitted a Givi Wing rack, a higher
Givi screen and a set of Gilles adjustable
handlebars. They give a bit more height
than the standard bars and are a lot more
comfortable for riding all day. I’ve also got
gold wheels (bought from a lad on the
www.superblackbird.co.uk Blackbird
forum) from a 2004 model and the exhaust
cans from a pre-catalytic converter model.
“The bike’s versatility is the best thing
about it. A friend told me that he’d had a
Blackbird and found it a bit bland and
boring. But I think that’s probably because
it’s just so good and predictable. Boring?
Boringly brilliant I’d say.”
Higher screen is effective at reducing wind blast
Mechanically it’s as robust as they come
Hugh’s gold wheels are from a 2004 Blackbird givi Wing rack improves luggage-carrying ability
O W N E R # 1
It’s the complete package. The engine and gearbox are brilliant
MARCH 2012 | 85
R i D E R E A L I T Y C H E C K
Reliability, build quality, comfort,
controls, engine peformance
Nothing bad, though dealer support
and ease of maintenance were average
How owners rated tHe HONDA BLACKBIRD in
S P E C I F I C AT I O N Engine: 1137cc, 16v dohc inline four, l/c
Power: 164bhp @ 9500rpm
Torque: 88lb.ft @ 7250rpm
Top speed: 176mph
Chassis: aluminium twin spar
Transmission: 6spd, chain drive
Seat height: 810mm
Dry weight: 227kg
Capacity: 23 litres
download the digimarc discover
app for your iPhone or android
smartphone and scan the main
photo to see Honda Blackbirds for
sale on mcnbikesforsale.com
T H E P E O P L E ’ S L O N G T E R M T E S T
HONDA SUPER BLACKBIRDBig, powerful, comfortable and fast – the CBr1100XX is the perfect sports tourer
Words Gez Kane Pictures rory Game
HugH ROSIER 2006 Honda CBr1100XX-6Hugh’s current 2006 model
is the second Blackbird the
heating engineer from
Flitwick, Bedfordshire, has owned. His first
was a 2000 bike he ran for eight years.
“When I decided it was time to replace
my first Blackbird, I decided to try
something new,” says Hugh. “I test rode a
Honda CB1300S – a pretty good bike
actually – and a BMW R1100GS, but
neither of them quite ticked all the boxes
for me. So I ended up buying this 2006
Blackbird in early 2011.
“I really feel the Blackbird is the
complete package. They are so well built
and finished and are a surprisingly good
all-round machine. The engine and
gearbox are absolutely bulletproof and the
only problems I’ve encountered have been
with the alternator and the regulator/
rectifier. I’ve fitted a charge indicator light
on the dash to keep an eye on charging. I
bought it from the USA and it’s specifically
designed for motorcycles. It’s just for peace
of mind really. I bought four units (the
other three were for friends) and the lot
only cost £80 including shipping and
import duty.
“I service the bike myself – there’s
nothing scary about it. In fact, apart from
the fuel injection, Blackbirds are fairly old
school. I change the oil at 4000-mile
intervals, even though Honda say it only
needs changing after 8000 miles. I check
the valve clearances at 16,000 miles, but
they haven’t needed touching yet.
“A lot of Blackbird owners seem to
personalise their bikes and I’m no
exception. My wife Jules and I organise
touring trips abroad fairly frequently – in
fact we’ve just come back from Normandy
– so I’ve fitted a Givi Wing rack, a higher
Givi screen and a set of Gilles adjustable
handlebars. They give a bit more height
than the standard bars and are a lot more
comfortable for riding all day. I’ve also got
gold wheels (bought from a lad on the
www.superblackbird.co.uk Blackbird
forum) from a 2004 model and the exhaust
cans from a pre-catalytic converter model.
“The bike’s versatility is the best thing
about it. A friend told me that he’d had a
Blackbird and found it a bit bland and
boring. But I think that’s probably because
it’s just so good and predictable. Boring?
Boringly brilliant I’d say.”
Higher screen is effective at reducing wind blast
Mechanically it’s as robust as they come
Hugh’s gold wheels are from a 2004 Blackbird givi Wing rack improves luggage-carrying ability
O W N E R # 1
It’s the complete package. The engine and gearbox are brilliant
MARCH 2012 | 85
| MARCH 2012
Ronda, AndalucÍaAmazing roads, little rain and easily accessible – this stunning corner of
Spain is the perfect place to savour some breathtaking routes
S P O T L I G H T O N
TEBA
AndAlucíA
RONDA
MARBELLAMALAGA
Where is it: The south of Spain. It’s a deliciously hot holiday destination in summer but in winter it’s home not only to heat-seeking silver-haired tourists but also to numerous motorcycle launches every year. Why do manufacturers
come here to show off their new bikes? Because the roads are amazing and chances are they’ll be warm and dry all year round.
Best way there: Honestly? By plane. The low-cost airlines fly to nearby Malaga all year round and bike
hire is fairly readily available in southern Spain. The best way to get there by bike is to take a ferry to Bilbao or Santander, then enjoy two days crossing Spain while avoiding the motorways as much as you can. Those with a real appetite for huge mileages can ride direct, through France and Spain – but unless you sit on the motorways all the way that’s at least a four-day trip, five if you have choose to have some fun in the Pyrenees on the way down.
Where to stay: For fly-ride, we’d base ourselves in nearby non-touristy Teba, taking advantage of the accommodation/bike-hire package deals from www.bmwmotohire.com. In fact, that’s a great base even if you’ve ridden down.
This is the CA531 in the Grazalema National Park
128 MARCH 2012 |
Route one: The bike-launch loop Total distance: 195 miles Allow: 4.5-5 hours (riding only)
From On Towards Miles Total
Teba petrol A5404 Malaga 3 3
T-junction A357 Malaga 18 21
A357 A354 Zalea 11 32
Alozania A366 El Burgo 26 58
Ronda A397 San Pedro 28 86
La Venta café car park Red café - -
Stop at the café immediately inside the 40km/h zone, before heading back to Ronda
La Venta café A397 Ronda 28 114
Rhonda Av de Malaga Town centre 0.5 114
Stop at petrol station the left, fill up and zero the trip
Ronda petrol Av de Malaga Roundabout 0.5 0.5
Ronda roundabout A374 Seville 8 9
A374 A372 Grazalema 1 10
A372 A372 Grazalema 6 16
T-junction A372 Arcos de la Frontera 4 20
There’s a decent café on the corner as you ride through Grazalema, parking at the
back. If you stop there, resume by carrying on through the town on the A372
National park CA9104 Zahara 10 30
T-junction A7375 Arroyomolinos 9 39
A7353 MA8404 Montecorto 1 40
Montecorto A374 Seville 7 47
A374 N342 El Gastor 9 56
Olvera A384 Antequera 21 77
A384 A7278 Teba 4 81
Route finishes in the centre of the small town of Teba
An utterly brilliant day’s riding exploring the sierras of south-western Spain.
The only road in this route RiDE hasn’t ridden on a bike launch is actually our
favourite: the CA9104 from Grazalema to Zahara, a narrow and ultra-tight,
spectacularly scenic pass with a perfect road surface. The famous Ronda-San
Pedro road is ridden in both directions (though it’s probably best as a downhill
run). Depending on where you’re staying, this loop can be easily adapted
– especially if you’ve found a cheap out-of-season place to stay down on the
coast: that would make the Ronda road the first and last bit of real riding in the
route. Not a bad way to book-end a day of awesome roads.
Route tWo: The secret Spain loop Total distance: 244 miles Allow: 6-6.5 hours (riding only)
From On Towards Miles Total
Teba petrol A5404 Malaga 3 3
T-junction A357 Malaga 22 25
A357 A357 Malaga 14 39
Malaga A7 Torremolinos 11 50
A7 junction 244 J238 Limonar 0.5 51
T-junction C de la Era Hotels Norte - 51
Roundabout C de los Almendrales
Hotel Humaina 0.5 52
Traffic lights A7000 Colmenar 18 70
Colmenar C de Granada Campo de futbol - 70
Colmenar A7204 Casabermeja 0.5 71
Colmenar A356 Riogordo 16 87
Reservoir A402 Periana 9 96
Stop at the garage in Ventasde Zafarraya, fill up and zero the trip
Ventas petrol A402 Alhama de Granada 12 12
Alhama A402 Granada - 12
Alhama A402 Granada 15 27
Loreto A92 Montefrio 1 28
Loreto A335 Loreto/Montefrio 1 29
Loreto A335 Montefrio 29 58
Alcala N432 Alcaudette 2 60
Alcala ramp Alcala la Real - 60
Alcala A339 Priego 15 75
Priego (two garages) A333 Loja 1 76
Priego traffic lights A333 Parking 18 94
T-junction A333 Iznajar - 94
Stop at the garage just after the junction, fill up and zero the trip
Iznajar petrol A333 Iznajar 12 12
A333 A92 Malaga 17 29
A92 j146 A348 Campillos 21 50
A384 A7278 Teba 4 54
Route finishes in the centre of the small town of Teba
A full day’s ride on quieter roads, away from the famous biking routes… with a
bit of motorway to speed things up and dodge the worst of the Malaga sprawl.
Take care there and look at the route before you go, as the signs in the suburbs
are awful – we navigate by hotel signs. By the time you ride this, they should
have finished the Moraleda/Loreto bypass, making it easier to nip over the
A92 on the way to Montefrio. That’s where we’d stop for lunch, but take care
not to get lost in the warren of streets in the town centre.
129
| MARCH 2012
Ronda, AndalucÍaAmazing roads, little rain and easily accessible – this stunning corner of
Spain is the perfect place to savour some breathtaking routes
S P O T L I G H T O N
TEBA
AndAlucíA
RONDA
MARBELLAMALAGA
Where is it: The south of Spain. It’s a deliciously hot holiday destination in summer but in winter it’s home not only to heat-seeking silver-haired tourists but also to numerous motorcycle launches every year. Why do manufacturers
come here to show off their new bikes? Because the roads are amazing and chances are they’ll be warm and dry all year round.
Best way there: Honestly? By plane. The low-cost airlines fly to nearby Malaga all year round and bike
hire is fairly readily available in southern Spain. The best way to get there by bike is to take a ferry to Bilbao or Santander, then enjoy two days crossing Spain while avoiding the motorways as much as you can. Those with a real appetite for huge mileages can ride direct, through France and Spain – but unless you sit on the motorways all the way that’s at least a four-day trip, five if you have choose to have some fun in the Pyrenees on the way down.
Where to stay: For fly-ride, we’d base ourselves in nearby non-touristy Teba, taking advantage of the accommodation/bike-hire package deals from www.bmwmotohire.com. In fact, that’s a great base even if you’ve ridden down.
This is the CA531 in the Grazalema National Park
128 MARCH 2012 |
Route one: The bike-launch loop Total distance: 195 miles Allow: 4.5-5 hours (riding only)
From On Towards Miles Total
Teba petrol A5404 Malaga 3 3
T-junction A357 Malaga 18 21
A357 A354 Zalea 11 32
Alozania A366 El Burgo 26 58
Ronda A397 San Pedro 28 86
La Venta café car park Red café - -
Stop at the café immediately inside the 40km/h zone, before heading back to Ronda
La Venta café A397 Ronda 28 114
Rhonda Av de Malaga Town centre 0.5 114
Stop at petrol station the left, fill up and zero the trip
Ronda petrol Av de Malaga Roundabout 0.5 0.5
Ronda roundabout A374 Seville 8 9
A374 A372 Grazalema 1 10
A372 A372 Grazalema 6 16
T-junction A372 Arcos de la Frontera 4 20
There’s a decent café on the corner as you ride through Grazalema, parking at the
back. If you stop there, resume by carrying on through the town on the A372
National park CA9104 Zahara 10 30
T-junction A7375 Arroyomolinos 9 39
A7353 MA8404 Montecorto 1 40
Montecorto A374 Seville 7 47
A374 N342 El Gastor 9 56
Olvera A384 Antequera 21 77
A384 A7278 Teba 4 81
Route finishes in the centre of the small town of Teba
An utterly brilliant day’s riding exploring the sierras of south-western Spain.
The only road in this route RiDE hasn’t ridden on a bike launch is actually our
favourite: the CA9104 from Grazalema to Zahara, a narrow and ultra-tight,
spectacularly scenic pass with a perfect road surface. The famous Ronda-San
Pedro road is ridden in both directions (though it’s probably best as a downhill
run). Depending on where you’re staying, this loop can be easily adapted
– especially if you’ve found a cheap out-of-season place to stay down on the
coast: that would make the Ronda road the first and last bit of real riding in the
route. Not a bad way to book-end a day of awesome roads.
Route tWo: The secret Spain loop Total distance: 244 miles Allow: 6-6.5 hours (riding only)
From On Towards Miles Total
Teba petrol A5404 Malaga 3 3
T-junction A357 Malaga 22 25
A357 A357 Malaga 14 39
Malaga A7 Torremolinos 11 50
A7 junction 244 J238 Limonar 0.5 51
T-junction C de la Era Hotels Norte - 51
Roundabout C de los Almendrales
Hotel Humaina 0.5 52
Traffic lights A7000 Colmenar 18 70
Colmenar C de Granada Campo de futbol - 70
Colmenar A7204 Casabermeja 0.5 71
Colmenar A356 Riogordo 16 87
Reservoir A402 Periana 9 96
Stop at the garage in Ventasde Zafarraya, fill up and zero the trip
Ventas petrol A402 Alhama de Granada 12 12
Alhama A402 Granada - 12
Alhama A402 Granada 15 27
Loreto A92 Montefrio 1 28
Loreto A335 Loreto/Montefrio 1 29
Loreto A335 Montefrio 29 58
Alcala N432 Alcaudette 2 60
Alcala ramp Alcala la Real - 60
Alcala A339 Priego 15 75
Priego (two garages) A333 Loja 1 76
Priego traffic lights A333 Parking 18 94
T-junction A333 Iznajar - 94
Stop at the garage just after the junction, fill up and zero the trip
Iznajar petrol A333 Iznajar 12 12
A333 A92 Malaga 17 29
A92 j146 A348 Campillos 21 50
A384 A7278 Teba 4 54
Route finishes in the centre of the small town of Teba
A full day’s ride on quieter roads, away from the famous biking routes… with a
bit of motorway to speed things up and dodge the worst of the Malaga sprawl.
Take care there and look at the route before you go, as the signs in the suburbs
are awful – we navigate by hotel signs. By the time you ride this, they should
have finished the Moraleda/Loreto bypass, making it easier to nip over the
A92 on the way to Montefrio. That’s where we’d stop for lunch, but take care
not to get lost in the warren of streets in the town centre.
129