Fast Bikes UK 02.2022

W W W.FA S T BIK E S M A G.C O M

SPECIFICATIONS

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FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 53

FEATURE

WORDS: JOHNNY MAC PICS: TRIUMPH

WOLF IN

RR

It might look harmless with its soft appearance,
but be in no doubt that Triumph’s new fully-
loaded Speed Triple 1200 RR is out to shake up
the sportsbike class.

Hands up who thought we’d ever see Triumph has hit the Speed Triple 1200RS Triumph has sold 102,000 of since 1994, all of
the day when a sportsbike was with a brilliantly simple formula. The them aggressively styled naked bikes. Yet this
derived from a naked bike, instead handlebars are 135mm lower and 50mm one has a smooth and curvy half fairing and
of the all-too-common opposite way round. further away, the footpegs are 15mm higher a single large headlight not dissimilar to that
The list of naked bikes that have derived and 26mm further back, and a tidy little top found on the ‘modern classic’ Bonneville.
from sportsbikes is long, and for good reason. fairing completes the transition from naked
Only last month I was waxing lyrical about bike to sportsbike. It’s all the blurb and It’s very odd positioning, and these mixed
the genius of Ducati taking a Panigale V2 marketing speak that accompanies the RR messages are probably its biggest challenge
and, with a few simple tweaks to the riding which is much more difficult to navigate and when it hits the showrooms because, setting
position, ending up with the brilliant understand. It’s got a sportsbike riding aside the waffle, the Speed Triple RR is
Streetfighter V2. position, half fairing, and Pirelli Supercorsa simply brilliant.
tyres, but it’s not a Daytona. It bears the
So why can’t it work the other way round? Speed Triple name – the name of a bike that
Well, Triumph doesn’t seem to see a reason
why it can’t – especially when its bespoke
naked bike is so good. Say hello to the
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR.

54 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1200 RR

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 55

FEATURE

T-Mac got a first-class view of Johnny’s rear end.

These are interesting times. In the last torture devices, and tech that not very long Apart from the massively different riding
three issues of Fast Bikes we’ve been ago was cutting-edge in MotoGP. For a lot of position to the Speed Triple RS and softer
introduced to three new bikes that have people including us, experiencing even just a appearance thanks to the small fairing,
jumped into wide-open spaces in the market, percentage of the absolute very best a everything on the Speed Triple RR is exactly
starting with the Yamaha R7, then the Ducati manufacturer can come up with is the thrill the same as the RS, except for the
Streetfighter V2 and now the Speed Triple that keeps on giving. Others see the modern suspension. The geometry is the same, the
RR. Each makes a strong case for your sportsbike as pointless because they can’t be centre of gravity is the same, so is the wheel
money, due to being different and there not used to their full potential and thus are travel, the engine, the gearbox and gear
currently being a pigeon hole to put them in. irrelevant to the world – which is a shame ratios, the rider aids, and the brakes are the
and, of course, missing the point. same brilliant Brembo Stylemas, albeit with
With the Speed Triple RR, what you have less aggressive pads. The suspension is the
is not an alternative to the Speed Triple RS At 178bhp and 200kg, the Speed Triple RR very latest Öhlins semi-active S-EC 2.0 OBTi
– or any naked bike, for that matter. You have still probably won’t please the nay-sayers, kit front and rear that, as well as taking its
is a serious alternative to the current and it probably won’t please the hard core cues from the usual sources like speed, gear
ultra-intense interpretation of a sportsbike: a headbangers either, but Triumph is obviously position, revs and throttle position, is also
superbike. Sportsbikes have evolved to counting on there being a lot of open-minded plugged into the bike’s IMU, so pitch and
become race winners first and foremost, with people out there who don’t want a naked lean angle are factored into the three pre-set
very little, if any, concession to the road. bike, adventure bike or superbike, but do maps for the active damping – comfort,
Reflected glory is their game, but to achieve want a highly competent all-rounder... dare I normal and dynamic.
that glory they need to have massive power, say for those of a certain age, a ‘steelie’
extreme geometry, riding positions akin to CBR600 for the 21st century. It is also possible to fix the suspension; as
in, set it to work like normal passive/
Electric pogos make the bike super- analogue suspension by using the advanced
versatile. mode, where you get the same pre-set maps
from the active mode as a starting point and
you can set the damping manually via the
screen by dialling in a setting with a button
on the switchgear instead of clickers on the
shock or forks (one being the firmest, 23
being the softest).

Each of the four rider modes has its own
bespoke suspension maps to go with one of
the three throttle maps, two cornering ABS
maps, and four traction control maps. Within
the suspension pre-set maps, it is possible to
further adjust the set-up via a set of clever
prompts rather than the traditional
terminology. For example if you want more
support under braking, you just find that

56

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1200 RR

The bikini fairing suits the RR.

Ain’t nothing wrong
with that...

Pick your pillions ON THE ROAD THE SPEED TRIPLE RR
carefully. MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

menu and increase the number. There is a
fifth mode called rider, which you can
programme with your preferred settings from
each rider aid and suspension and it will then
save those settings, even if one of the settings
is to switch the traction control off.

Elsewhere, other tech includes an
autoblipper/quickshifter and Bluetooth
connectivity for your phone and thus expose
yourself to the possibility of unwanted
interruptions while out enjoying your pride
and joy, which is as per the Speed Triple RS.

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 57

FEATURE

TECH DATA

Triumph Speed Triple RR

ENGINE 1160cc, liquid-cooled,
three-cylinder
Type: 90mm x 60.8mm
13.2:1
Bore x Stroke: EFI, ride by wire
Compression: 177.6bhp @ 10,750rpm
Fuelling: 125Nm @ 9000rpm
Claimed power:
Claimed torque:

ELECTRONICS Yes
Yes
Riding Modes: Yes
Power Modes: Yes (cornering)
Traction Control: Yes
ABS: No
Quickshifter: No
Wheelie Control: No
Slide Control: No
Launch Control: No
Pit Limiter:
Cruise Control:

CHASSIS Aluminium twin-spar frame ELECTRONICS: RIDING POSITION:
Öhlins S-EC2.0 OBTi, 43mm,
Frame: semi-active, fully adjustable By the standards of many bikes, the The single biggest change to the Speed Triple RS in order
Front suspension: Öhlins monoshock, fully adjusta- rider aids package is basic in terms of to transform it into a sportsbike and spawn the RR.
ble, S-EC2.0 OBTi, semi-active its functionality and the interface is Handlebars are 135mm lower and 50mm further away
Rear suspension: Brembo Stylema four-piston fiddly. The rider aids themselves are from the rider and set flatter and wider. The footpegs are
monobloc calipers, 320mm discs very refined and work very well in all 15mm higher and 26mm further back. Seat height is the
Front brakes: Brembo twin-piston caliper, but the most extreme scenarios. same, so the net result is the rider is tilted a lot further
220mm disc However, the ABS and anti-wheelie forward and ground clearance is increased.
Rear brakes: can’t be switched off, options that
would enhance the bike a great deal. TYRES:
DIMENSIONS My Triumph Connectivity is standard
and via your phone incorporates sat Pirelli Supercorsa SP tyres as standard, which is an odd
Wheelbase: 1439mm nav on the screen and music and, of choice given where Triumph is positioning the Speed Triple
course, phone calls. Lap times is also RR as ‘The Ultimate Sportsbike for the Road’. If you are
Rake/Trail: 23.9 degrees/104.7mm standard, but a tyre pressure planning to take the bike on track, you can spec it with the
monitoring system is an extra £235 and optional outright track-spec Supercorsa SC2 tyres.
Seat height: 830mm a GPS tracker is £245.

Wet weight (claimed): 199kg

Fuel capacity: 15.5 litres

INFO £17,950
www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk
Price:
From:

Forking brilliant... On the road the Speed Triple RR makes a lot changes. I really like the fact that there is a very
of sense, mainly by having a sportsbike riding noticeable difference in the suspension’s
position that lends itself to much more natural pre-sets; it makes the bike more versatile and
movements around the bike when it comes to it’s much better use of the available technology
shifting bodyweight around. The handlebars – although it does rely on you, the rider, having
are quite wide and flat and remind me a lot of it in the right mode for the sort of riding or
the handlebar position of the Ducati Panigale. roads you’re going to be using.
They aren’t so far away from the narrow seat
that you end up needing to support your We already know and love the all-new 1160cc
weight with your arms when plodding around three-cylinder engine that debuted last year on
town, but they are far enough away to be able the Speed Triple RS, and there’s not a lot to add
to get tucked in and well off the side of the to what’s already been said about it. Its power
bike when the time comes. It feels just as delivery and throttle are predictable and
natural to hang off the bike as it does to sit on smooth. There are no lumps or dips anywhere
it and peel off motorway miles for hours at a – just power wherever you are in the revs, and
time. for how Triumph is pitching the bike, it’s
perfect. No drama, and no effort needed; just hit
The suspension really comes into its own on the throttle, and even if you’re in the wrong
the road. All too often, when manufacturers fit gear you’ll drive hard off the corner. The
their bikes with semi-active suspension they combination of the fuss-free but very powerful
will write the maps for each suspension mode engine and the excellent suspension with the
to be quite close to each other as a way of geometry really does make the Speed Triple RR
playing it safe. Not so on the Speed Triple RR. a proper weapon on the road. Don’t be deceived
Try throwing it about on the 50km road from by the soft looks: it wasn’t very long ago that
Malaga to Ronda in comfort mode and expect to 178bhp and 200kg was considered the absolute
be unimpressed – rightly so. Comfort mode is pinnacle of motorcycle performance, and now,
perfect for riding through towns or on with the benefit of some modern technology
motorways. Flick it to sport mode, or even road, (specifically the suspension), all the Triumph’s
and it’s a completely different bike... much power is available and accessible more of the
more planted and better able to manage all the time. Sure, it doesn’t have the absolute urgency
weight transfer of braking and direction and instant firepower of most, but not all, of the

58 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1200 RR

HEADLIGHT:

Possibly the part of the
bike that divides opinion
the most, as it dominates
the overall look of the bike.
The sharp aggressive
pointy twin headlights of
the RS are gone in favour
of a soft, friendly round
LED headlight which is a
couple of kilos lighter than
the RS lights; a weight
saving that is negated by
the addition of a cockpit
fairing and all the bracketry
that comes with it.

ENGINE: SUSPENSION:

Exactly the same as the motor in the RS, which means The very latest semi-active
1160cc, 176bhp and 125Nm. It’s a giant departure from kit from Öhlins that gets its
the long-serving and venerable 1050cc unit that used instructions from sensors
to grace the Speed Triple; 7kg lighter and 650rpm more all over the bike, including
due to a shorter stroke, and a trick finger follower its IMU to constantly adjust
set-up in the valve train for greater control opening and the damping front and rear,
closing the valves. It’s also a smaller package than the depending on the loads on
1050cc engine thanks to a stacked gearbox. In short, the bike at any one time. It
it’s a peach. comes with three pre-set
semi-active modes –
comfort, normal, and
dynamic – but is still fully
adjustable. It can also be
setup in an advanced
mode which disables the
semi-active status, and the
suspension functions the
same as a passive set-up.

current litre bikes, but don’t think for one It’s not what we were expecting, but we are
second that this is a handicap. It isn’t. In due not complaining.
course we will be able to put the Speed Triple
RR alongside some or all the current FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 59
superbikes, and I strongly suspect it will make
a lot of them look a bit average on the road
– although it could be a different story on the
track.

Triumph isn’t pitching the Speed Triple RR
as a track bike. Its exact words to describe it
are: ‘The Ultimate Sportsbike for the Road’.
Nevertheless, we still spent an afternoon at
Ascari Circuit thrashing the RR round the
almost-6km lap and 26 corners, most of which
are unsighted on entry, exit, or both. There
was a lot to take in during my first visit to the
track but after a couple of sessions figuring it
all out, the combination of the billiard
table-smooth surface and stiffer settings in
track mode meant the Triumph was a lot of
fun to ride, and never felt out of its depth too
much.

If anything, instead of noticing things that
suggested the bike really doesn’t belong on
track, the track highlighted a few areas that, if
they were a little bit better, would help the RR
really fly – which isn’t the same. I would have
liked to play around with the suspension and
try it in the fixed advanced mode, but we only
had three sessions, so that will have to wait.

FEATURE

The strong points that really help put a when you’re pressing on and getting on the sentence is enough to remain frustrated and
quick lap together are the same things that throttle early to pick the bike up out of the disappointed that something which should
make it a good road bike. It has smooth, slower corners and your focus is already on be a very simple thing to programme and
punchy power delivery, and excellent the next corner, that very brief moment I had would make a big positive difference to the
stability during transferring weight while on to wait is just enough to feel inconvenienced. bike on track and on the road isn’t included.
the brakes or from upright to lean. While it’s
at full lean through some of the long, The brakes are brilliant, with loads of However, I also accept it’s a function that,
high-speed corners, the bike is on absolute power and not a hint of fade, but I’d happily in reality, given that a Speed Triple RR isn’t
rails (pardon the cliché), which in turn lets swap the less aggressive pads fitted to the RR going to be something you see many of on
you get greedy with the smooth throttle. The for the pads from the RS for some more bite track, isn’t really an issue in the wider
final corner that finishes the lap is a long, and better feel at the lever. Most of all, context.
fast right-hander that’s approached and though – and I find it hard to forgive this –
entered in forth gear, knee down all the way given that the bike has a six-axis IMU and a Triumph has built a bike that could just be
through, and clicking fifth gear on the exit... very sophisticated suite of rider aids and its latest masterpiece in a line of many. It has
130mph knee-down has never been more semi-active suspension, the lack of a a habit of predicting the market and playing
stable or easy, so much so that by the end of separate anti-wheelie control is a surprise. to its strengths. It’s rightly spotted a gap in
the day I even started contemplating taking Pretty much every bike these days with a the sportsbike market that’s, frankly, huge.
on the entry in fifth gear, such were my six-axis IMU has anti-wheelie that can be Basically, today, if you don’t want a hard
confidence levels. switched off while leaving the traction core litre bike, there isn’t a sportsbike for you
control on, whereas the Speed Triple RS and – but now there is, and just because it isn’t
It might not be pitched as a track bike, and RR have their anti-wheelie integrated with absolute weapons-grade, it doesn’t make it
it would struggle to keep up with one of the the traction control; to switch it off, you have impotent. Build quality is off the chart, and
current litre bikes, but that’s not to say it to switch the traction control off. It’s not an there are lots of nice touches all over, like the
isn’t properly fast or at home on track. It issue for the road: traction control is really a quality carbon infills here and there. Even
needs so much less effort to get the best out solution to a problem that doesn’t exist on the bracket inside the fairing, which is out of
of it than a litre bike, and while it is the road, so switching it all off in order to be sight to all but the rider, has a really nice
undeniable that the thrill of digging deep able to perform impromptu wheelies is no carbon fibre cover. The suspension is,
mentally and physically – which you have to biggie. On the track though, having even just frankly, as good as it gets, the cables and
do to ride a litre bike fast on track – is a small amount of traction control is a wires are all hidden, and it must have taken
rewarding, I never got bored. benefit and these days does make it easier to someone weeks to figure out where to put it
lap faster for longer, while letting a bike all. The dashboard is brilliantly laid out and
That’s not to say there weren’t things that wheelie naturally over crests or out of slow easy to read, even if it isn’t as intuitive as it
raised an eyebrow and got noted for being corners also lets the bike drive forward could be to access the menus via the
just that little bit irritating. Pulling out of the instead of being held back... plus, wheelies switchgear. And crucially, the price tag of
slower, second-gear corners, there was are fun. £17,950 is no more and no less than it
sometimes a slight hesitation at the throttle should be for a bike with that level of
with the first touch, just after the apex and at I’m nit-picking here, and I accept the finish, spec, tech, engine, and chassis
full lean. My instinct is that it is an overly caveat is that the Speed Triple RR isn’t a performance.
keen traction control issue rather than a fuel track bike. But for me, the fact that it and the
injection one. It’s tiny, but it’s there – and word ‘sportsbike’ get mentioned in the same I just wish they’d called it
something else.

Taxi to the apex!

60 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

TRIUMPH HAS BUILT
A BIKE THAT COULD JUST
BE ITS LATEST
MASTERPIECE IN A LINE
OF MANY.

The RR’s a charmer.
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 61

WORDS: JON URRY PICS: MORTONS ARCHIVE

Used Bike Guide

GOBIG, GOGREEN!
In 2003, Kawasaki returned to form with the excellent Ninja ZX-6R B1H

Running a big company the game. Rivals had bikes such from Mazda (where he looked like it was doing 100mph
can be a tricky old as the game-changing FireBlade, spearheaded the MX-5’s look), when standing still and even
business, and despite mental GSX-R1000, and rocket Kawasaki’s top brass gave him nowadays remains a real
the fact Kawasaki Motorcycles is ship R1 – Kawasaki had the carte blanche permission to go crowd-pleaser. Especially in
a gnat’s cock of Kawasaki Heavy ZX-9R and ZX-6R, both of which nuts with his styling pen. He did, green – it has to be in green.
Industries, it still has to succeed still had carbs and fuel taps. and the first result was the
– and that means pressure on the ZX-6R in 2003, arriving alongside But this was far from just a
management. In the early 2000s, Something needed to be done. the equally nuts-looking Z1000. facelift model. The Ninja ZX-6R
Kawasaki’s big bosses were After a humble apology to the was also treated to a thorough
feeling the strain... world by the main boss, in 2003 Styling-wise, the B1H (to give redesign deploying the latest
Kawasaki finally hit back... and it its proper designation) is one tech. In 2003 the Ninja became
Flogging a load of dead horses, hit back hard! of the more outlandish Ninja the first supersport bike to come
Kawasaki’s model range was models. Sharp, aggressive, and with inverted forks and radial
outdated, heavy, and well behind Having poached a radical with bags of thuggish attitude, it brakes, which were attached to
designer called Shunji Tanaka

62 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

KAWASAKI ZX-6R B1H

COLOUR CHOICE:

The ZX-6R was sold in black, blue, and
green in 2003, with silver added to the
list in 2004. Colour makes a difference
to the price tag, with blue and silver
bikes going for roughly £300 less than
green or black ones.

PRICE GUIDE: £3000 - £4500

Cheapest private: £3370

21,383 miles, green 2003 model

with new MoT and extras.

Our choice private: £4190

8505 miles, just serviced and very

clean with a good service history

Cheapest dealer: £2898

15,354 miles, 2003 bike in blue

– sold as seen

Our choice dealer: £3988

18,205 miles, lovely bike with a

long MoT in green

Ex-demo: n/a

USED BIKE GUIDE Kawasaki ZX-6R B1H

FINISH: RACE REP: CAM CHAIN
TENSIONER:
The Ninja’s overall finish isn’t brilliant and paint flakes off the engine’s cases, while The ZX-6R was sold alongside an RR
the tank is also prone to wear. Check the radiator and brake calipers for corrosion, homologation special that came with a Not a huge weak point, but one
any oil lines for leaks, and the fairing fasteners for signs of butchering after they 599cc motor, slipper clutch, close ratio that does start to go on older
have become seized in place. Also ask when the fuel filter was changed, as rust can gearbox, adjustable swingarm pivot, bikes; a new tensioner costs
build up in the tank (have a check), and when it drops into the fuel it can clog the and forged pistons. Oddly enough, this £96.12 and should take a
filter, robbing the bike of power. model doesn’t command much of a mechanic about an hour to fit.
premium in the used market, with Listen out for a rattle when it is
examples available for around the started up and ticking over with a
£4000 mark. More rev-happy than the cold engine that reduces once
636cc version, it’s worth considering for the motor is warmed up.
the sheer cool factor of rolling up on an
RR. As long as it isn’t an ex-racer...

EXTRAS:

A lot of owners modify their Ninja
and screens, loud pipes and tank
protectors, as well as crash
bungs, and tail tidies are
common. Be wary of any stick-on
protectors – they are not only a
pain to remove, they could also
be concealing damage – and
check the legality of any pipe. If
you want to do a trackday, noise
limits are strictly enforced. If the
bike has replacement levers, see
where they were made... cheap
Chinese ‘monkey metal’ levers
are flooding the market and some
aren’t very robust.

an all-new aluminium frame,
with its geometry tuned for track
success – something you can tell
when you ride one. Which is
good and bad news...

This generation of Ninja is far
from relaxing to ride (thinking
about it, very few are...). The
B1H has low clip-ons and a high
seat, sticking you in an extreme
bum up/head down stance that
is pretty painful unless you are

BRAKES:

The B1H’s Tokico radial brakes have a habit of looking
pretty tatty fairly fast, with the gold finish quickly wearing
off. The pistons also like to seize, so check for any sticking
and factor in a rebuild kit (about £40) if they do. The discs
are £245 each from Kawasaki, so ensure they aren’t
warped and have a reasonable amount of meat left on
them. If the bike has rubber lines, assume you will need to
swap them for braided items on the grounds of safety.

RUNNING COSTS:

Service interval: 4000
Minor: 8000
Major: 16,000
Valve clearances:

Service costs: £180
Minor: £260
Major: £550
Valve clearances:

Right fairing: £527.29 (currently n/a)

RH Engine casing: £157.86

Brake lever: £51.44

SUSPENSION:

The Ninja is getting on for 20 years
old now, so you have to assume its
forks will need a rebuild and that
the shock could be starting to lose
its damping qualities. Have a good
look for any oil leaking past the fork
seals and also inspect the chrome
sliders for chips etc., as replacing
them is costly. Bounce the rear and
see if the damping feels like it is
working; if not, assume a bill of
about £500 for an aftermarket
replacement shock.

TYRES:

A bit of a weird one here. The ZX-6R
came with a 120/65 front tyre,
where most rival machines run a
120/70, which is pretty much
standard nowadays. The ZX-6R can
happily run a 120/70 (and most do),
and it does sharpen the steering
slightly. However, if yours is a bit
flappy, maybe try a 65-profile front,
which are still widely available.

in full-on attack mode. If you which was music to the ears of feel – but not everyone will motor. With not only a slipper
are, you will certainly appreciate aftermarket suppliers, as it really appreciate it, and Ninja’s chassis clutch as standard, but also now
this focused nature, as it allows does need one. On a bumpy doesn’t make it easy to take it fuel injection (and no fuel tap),
you to lever the bike around at road, the combination of easy. A shame, because the the motor was completely
speed and really get a feel for aggressive geometry, firm engine is a cracker and more reworked internally in the update
what the front end is doing. suspension, and a pretty wild than up for road use. and the result remains incredibly
However, if you just want to take motor all mean that the front is impressive. Fast revving,
it easy, it’s not great fun. And prone to the occasional shake Packing an extra 36cc on rival brimming with mid-range (for a
then there is the stability, or lack (fairly occasional... some would bikes (it is the same 636cc supersport bike) and sounding
of it... even say regular!) In many ways, capacity as the outgoing Ninja like a pissed-off banshee when
this adds to the fun factor as it model ran for a single year), the you feed it fossils, the Ninja’s
Kawasaki didn’t give the Ninja gives the bike a seat-of-the-pants B1H’s inline four is a far cry heart is one of those motors that
a steering damper as standard, from the older generation’s

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 65

USED BIKE GUIDE Kawasaki ZX-6R B1H

TECH DATA

Kawasaki ZX-6R B1H

ENGINE 636cc, liquid-cooled,
16v, inline four
Type: 68mm x 43.8mm
12.8:1
Bore x stroke: EFi 38mm bodies
Compression: 102bhp @ 13,400rpm
Fuelling: 63.8Nm @
Tested Power: 11,800rpm
Tested Torque:

CHASSIS Aluminium perimeter
41mm inverted forks,
Frame: fully adjustable
F Suspension: Monoshock, fully
R suspension: adjustable
Front brakes: Four-piston radial
calipers, 280mm
Rear brake: discs
Single-piston caliper,
220mm disc

DIMENSIONS 1400mm
825mm
Wheelbase: 161kg
Seat Height: 18 litres
Dry Weight:
Fuel Capacity:

SPEED 3.13 sec
7.25 sec
0-60: 20.96 sec
0-100: 12.27sec @
0-140: 122.82mph
Stg ¼ mile: n/a
159.1mph
Standing mile:
Top speed:

just encourages you to hammer mid-range drive for when you asthmatic in comparison to the market for an early 2000s
it and giggle with delight as it want to take it easy, it delivers storming Ninja. supersport model? If you are
screams towards its rev limit. the best of both worlds and is after a bike to ride and enjoy,
the machine’s stand-out feature. With all these things then yes. The Ninja is far less
With all the naughty rev- considered, is the Ninja ZX-6R annoying than the CBR600RR,
happy nature of a supersport Ridden back-to-back, rival B1H worth looking out for as a which is seriously lacking in
bike, but also a welcome bit of bikes of the day feel gutless and used bike if you are in the

66 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

BEARINGS:

Another age-related issue – you need
to have a good feel of the bearings
(wheels, headstock) to see if they need
changing, and also a very good look at
the suspension linkages. Ask the owner
when the linkages were last stripped
and re-greased (ideally every four
years), as this can be a can of worms if
left unchecked...

grunt, and it also looks better ALSO CONSIDER THESE:
than the R6 and GSX-R600,
which both nowadays appear 2005 YAMAHA YZF-R6
very dated.
Private: £3600 Dealer: £4000
The Suzuki is, however, a far
more comfortable road bike, and The final ‘old-style’ R6 is a cracking machine with a strong
the CBR is arguably better on motor, inverted forks, radial brakes, and excellent chassis.
track than the Ninja, but neither Well worth searching out, but don’t pay extra for the R46.
have the Kawasaki’s lovely wild Engine: 599cc, l/c, 16v inline four
spirit and feeling of being on Power: 104bhp @ 13,000rpm
something that is designed to be Torque: 65Nm @ 12,000rpm
a touch antisocial.
2005 HONDA CBR600RR
So overall, yes – if you are in
the market for a supersport bike Private: £3600 Dealer: £4000
and have in the region of £4000
to spend, you could do a lot The updated RR gets inverted forks, radial brakes, and a bit
worse than blow it on a Ninja more mid-range than the original model, so it is worth paying
B1H. the extra for.
Engine: 599cc, l/c, 16v, inline four
In fact, you could even go one Power: 104bhp @ 13,800rpm
step further and buy the (slightly Torque: 63.1Nm @ 11,500rpm
gutless in comparison, it has to
be said) exclusive homologation 2004 SUZUKI GSX-R600
special RR version.
Private: £3400 Dealer: £3800
Now that really would set you
aside in a crowded car park as a The GSX-R that came of age, the K4/5 makes for (arguably)
true Kawasaki connoisseur... the best road-going supersport bike due to its slightly bigger
size and superb gutsy motor. A real beauty.
Verdict: 8/10 Engine: 599cc, l/c, 16v, inline four
Tested Power: 102bhp @ 13,450rpm
The B1H is a cracking supersport bike Tested Torque: 60.8Nm @ 10,600rpm
that is wild enough to thrill yet has a
welcome extra bit of grunt from its FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 67
636cc engine. Well worth considering.

+ GUTSY MOTOR, COOL STYLING, SHARP

HANDLING

- IT’S A BIT FLIGHTY, FINISH COULD BE

BETTER, AND THE RIDING POSITION IS

VERY EXTREME

TECH

THE WORDS> JOHNNY MAC
PICS> TIM KEETON/HONDA

BLADE EVER

Over the past 30 years Honda has graced us with some awesome
Fireblades, but one stands out as being more special than most.

BEST FIREBLADE EVER

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 69

TECH

Rutter and Kiyo
put the Blade on
the BSB map.

The solid HRC
swingarm was
super trick and
only around for
the 2004 season.

Depending on what you consider which were competitive as race bikes and Fireblade there has ever been and, thanks to
constitutes a new model, the last 30 some of which weren’t. Pre-1000cc, the rule changes over the years, ever will be.
years has yielded eight different Fireblade wasn’t eligible for superbike status
versions of Hondas iconic Fireblade, or as due to the capacity limit at the time being Even the subsequent Fireblades that raced
many as 14. While more than happy to pay 750cc, so most of the success was had at Isle in 2005 weren’t in the same league, the 2004
homage to arguably one of the most of Man TT, winning the ’96, ’97 and ’98 bike was the result of all the stars aligning at
significant bikes for several generations, we Production TT before Yamaha moved the exactly the same time for something very,
didn’t want to just look back and reminisce goalposts with the R1. The truth is that apart very special to happen. The rule book was
about the good old days and analyse the from the fact that Honda’s 100th TT win was essentially a free-for-all; Honda had plenty of
evolution of the species. It’s all been done taken by Jim Moodie on a Fireblade in the budget available due to withdrawing from
before, and for good reason – the Blade has ’98 Production TT, the early Fireblade didn’t WSB, not to mention no longer having to
been consistently one of the go-to sportsbikes give cause for much celebration on track for cover the Yamaha-bound Valentino Rossi’s
for longer than Tim has been on this planet the first 11 years of its existence. wages – but crucially, Honda was in the
and Bruce has been out of nappies. mood. It took advantage of the free tyre
Then, in 2004, two significant things choice available in BSB at the time and
Luckily, when the original Fireblade was happened which would change the way we brought Michelin in to take care of its two
debuted in 1992, I was 20 years old and thought of the Fireblade forever – the riders and nobody else in the paddock, with
therefore old enough to not only remember superbike rules were changed to allow 1000cc
the moment but also, as a fully paid-up four-cylinder engines and, significantly for
head-banging club racer at the time, I UK race fans, World Superbikes switched to a
appreciated the significance of what it did single control tyre rule.
to the sportsbike sector. So when the
question came up in conversation with It was for that reason that Honda turned its
Bruce as to which Fireblade do I think rates back on World Superbikes and chose the
as the ultimate, it fell to me as the most British Superbike Championship as the series
qualified (oldest) person in the room to to give the Fireblade its world debut as a
provide the answer. superbike – and boy oh boy, there was no
holding back. The 2004 HRC HM Plant-
A new Blade was always a big deal and sponsored Fireblade is, to this day, the most
there were many over the years, some of expensive and definitely most exclusive

Who needs fancy wine glasses? Watching the footy...
70 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

BEST FIREBLADE EVER

full factory support, including prototype tyres ever on a superbike to clock more than Toseland, the Suzuka 8 Hours race, and
and year-round testing. Legend has it that the 200mph anywhere in the world. countless TTs before it was replaced in 2008.
tyre bill was in excess of £300,000 for that
one season for the two riders. The other rider in the team was the then But it’s the 2004 Fireblade that HRC built
unknown Ryuichi Kiyonari, who went on to to win the British championship that year,
Honda persuaded (paid a lot of money to) win three of the four British titles for the which is the ultimate and most unobtanium
Michael Rutter to turn down a good offer Fireblade – which sounds impressive because version of the most successful Fireblade of
from Ducati to race in WSB and stay in the it is. However, it does shine a light on the fact them all.
UK for another couple of years. He was the that the record books don’t smile favourably
form rider at the time and very much at the on Fireblades that came after the original As luck would have it, the bloke who raced
peak of his powers, but Honda would still not 1000cc version. It’s the first 1000cc Fireblade it that year and led the development of it is a
allow him to race at his beloved TT due to a (SC57, to use its official designation) that mate of mine, and he is still in touch with his
bizarre policy it had at the time to not allow sprayed the most champagne... probably crew chief from that season – so what two
its short circuit riders compete on the roads more than all others Fireblades put together better people to talk to about the greatest
and vice versa. Rutter did, however, get – 49 BSB race wins in just four seasons of Fireblade ever built?
Honda to let him race it at the Northwest 200 racing, not to mention a World Superbike
that year, where he became the first person title courtesy of Ten Kate Racing and James First up is Michael Rutter, the man behind
the bars and early success on the Blade, who
was keen to reminisce.

Billet bling! Crew chief Les Pearson was blown away by the Blade.
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 71

TECH

It wasn’t just
Rutter who was
flying on the
Blade.

“I had a really good offer to race in World “Me and Kiyo had to share the same bike
Superbikes in 2004 with Renegade Ducati, for the whole week. Because he had already
and even an offer to be Ducati’s test rider on been testing it in Japan on Dunlops and now
its MotoGP project,” he explained. we were using Michelins, he went first.

“I turned down the test rider job as I “I remember so clearly thinking that Kiyo
wasn’t ready to stop racing then and was all was going to be easy to beat because he
set for a season in World Superbike, but wouldn’t know any of the UK circuits, but
when Neil Tuxworth told me what Honda when he exited the final turn on to the start/
and HRC were putting into the 2004 BSB finish straight to start his first flying lap at
season, I just couldn’t say no. Almeria, he was on the lock stop and smoke
was pouring off the rear tyre. I knew then I’d
“They wanted me to go testing before the have my hands full.
end of that year, so I had to pay £10,000 to
Renegade to get out of my contract. The first “When my turn came to ride the Blade,
test was at Almeria, in Spain. Honda hired they didn’t change the rear tyre because they
the track exclusively for me and Kiyo for a wanted me to put more miles on it to test its
few days, and I’ll never forget that first day durability, so my first ever ride on it was on
when I got there – there was literally dozens tyres that Kiyo had spent the last 30 minutes
of Japanese technicians and engineers just to or so just destroying. Then, about 10 laps or
look after the one and only Fireblade that so into my first run on the bike, the rear had
had been built for the test. lost so much grip that it came round on me
on the way into turn one on a closed throttle
Above: Here’s and highsided me. The bike went end over
some more end through the gravel and was a write-off,
champagne which was bad enough, but I’d been lectured
spraying... so much about it being the only one and not
to damage it or over-rev it, or anything like
Right: ...And a that, and there it was, in a heap in a gravel
bit more, while trap, probably 30 minutes after I’d sat on it
we’re at it. for the first time.

“By the time we got to round one at
Silverstone, we’d done so much testing and
worked through so much of the bike’s
development, yet the clutch was still horrible
and it was a really difficult bike to launch off
the line. We only really got it sorted towards
the end of the season, but if you watch any
of the races from 2004 I’ve usually qualified
on the front row or pole position but am
nowhere at the end of the first lap.

“A lot of the time in races I had to come
through sometimes from outside the top 10,
but when it was rolling, that Fireblade still
rates as one of – if not the best – bikes I have

72 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

BEST FIREBLADE EVER

Behind every great racer is a
crew chief like Les.

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 73

TECH

Rutter ranks the ‘04 Blade among
his favourite-ever race bikes.

ever raced. From a riding point of view, it’s “The thing about riding for HRC is that as to the datalogger on the bike, I actually went
hard to pinpoint just one thing that made it the rider, you’re aware that there are literally faster in practice, but they didn’t use the
so good. It was all of it, and how it was just hundreds of people back in Japan all working speed traps during practice week, so I had to
so smooth yet so unbelievably fast. on the project, and it’s just me sitting on the do it in the race for it to count.
bike when it’s time to take it on track. It’s a
“At Silverstone, the pressure on everyone strange feeling, but it also means that literally “The bike was still pulling and it really
in the team was massive. Tady Okada, who I anything I wanted doing to the bike I could didn’t feel like I was hurting it at all by sitting
raced against when I did GPs in 1999, was have done – except when Honda wanted me that high up in the revs for that long; going
the team manager and I always got on really to race it in the Suzuka 8 Hour race that year. so fast was new for everyone involved. It had
well with him never been done before, so it was a massive
“I was the only rider in the team that deal at the time and was a bigger talking
“But the big cheese from HRC flew all the wanted a thumb-operated rear brake and the point than my race win when we were out
way over to the first race and he put the fear team said it wouldn’t fit one just for me, as it celebrating that night.
of god into everyone. was something else on the bike that
potentially could go wrong. I said I wouldn’t “By the end of the season, we’d got the
“To be honest, I know the result is a bit of race it unless one was fitted, so I was clutch sorted and my starts were a lot better,
a fairy tale – me winning on my debut for a replaced by another rider who won the race. but we just got beaten to the championship
new team, and the Fireblade winning its first by John Reynolds on the factory Suzuki.
ever superbike race also on its debut – but “I don’t really have any regrets about my
the truth is, that weekend was pretty grim. racing career or the choices I made but “Most of the grid was on full factory bikes
looking back, I really shouldn’t have been and Suzuki had an extra season on its bike so
“I can’t even remember what happened in such a dick and just rode the bike with a were just that bit further down the road with
race two, such was the relief of winning the normal rear brake and won the Suzuka 8 development and set-up. For the 2005 season,
first race. Hour. Honda made some small changes to the road
bike and insisted that the race bike had to be
Look and learn... “Clocking 200mph on that Fireblade at the based on the new road bike, so it was like
Northwest 200 was pretty special. According starting all over again. It also wanted the

74 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

BEST FIREBLADE EVER

Catch me if you can...

Kiyo would go on to win his first BSB
championship on a Blade.

2005 race bike to look closer to the couple of engines. After that, it was decided shock out. Each bike had a crew chief, two
road bike than the 2004 race bike that the crew chief shouldn’t be the engine chassis mechanics, and a tyre guy, and there
did. If you look at pictures of the builder because of how much work was were also two more chassis engineers from
2004 bike, the giveaway as to which involved. The second time I went was to HRC who worked on both bikes. Tady was
bike it is (apart from my race build the bike, but after that I spent a lot of the team manager and oversaw the whole
number) is the swingarm. The time with the HRC guys, having discussions job.
all-out full factory bike we had in and meetings about the project and what we
2004 has a one-off, handmade, needed to do. We’d go over spreadsheets of “With the ‘04 bike, if you had it on the
filled-in swingarm, where the 2005 ideas and share them with HRC, which was footrest stand and held the back of the
bike has a braced swingarm from the pretty cool. swingarm and tried to move it, you might get
road bike, so it still has the cut-out in its side. 0.5mm maximum of movement; it was really
“Everything about it was just factory – I solid – there was virtually zero tolerance.
“Riding for HRC was one of those mean everything just fitted... we didn’t have
opportunities that only comes along once… if to elongate any holes or pull the fairing to get “Then, when we went to the semi-factory
you’re lucky. Riding for such a massive it on because even that came from HRC, too. bike in ’05, there was 3mm of movement at
company with so many people all focused on Everything was a perfect fit, which was the back,which is still a very good tolerance.
what you’re doing was amazing and brought probably the trickest thing about that bike of
a different kind of pressure than what I was all. The motor was very strong, maybe a little “We’d feed back to the engineers who’d
used to – not necessarily more or less, just bit peaky, not that it was a problem... it made say it was normal for that bike; the build
different. 212bhp, which was massive at the time. The tolerances were totally different between the
chassis was trick, too – especially the ’04 and ’05 bike. It was under the weight
“That bike in 2004 still rates as one of the swingarm and how it was made, and how the limit, so we had to put some weight on it to
best bike I ever rode. It’s a little-known fact shock mounted to the top of it and not the get it up to the championship’s minimum
that every new bike HRC delivers to its teams frame, although it was difficult to get the mass.
is fitted with a gold-coloured clutch lever,
which usually gets replaced at some point “There was trick material everywhere, but
and is why you rarely see them in pictures. I for me it was how everything just fitted on it.
think enough time has passed since I raced
for HRC for me to own up and admit that I
have been ‘looking after’ the gold clutch
lever that was fitted to the first and only
Fireblade in existence at the time that I wrote
off in Almeria. I keep it at home alongside
my trophies, a sign of just how cool I think
that bike was.”

Rutter’s a man who’s literally raced for
decades, all over the world and on countless
machines. For him to hold the ’04 Blade in
such high regard tells you all you need to
know. Well, kind of... from a pure riding
point of view, yes, but what was the bike like
to work on? What made its DNA stand out
from all the rest? What was it like from the
point of view of the team working on it, day
in, day out, putting a package together for
Rutter and Kiyo to do battle and win races?

One man than knows better than most is
Michael’s crew chief, Les Pearson, who picks
up the story.

“I’d been at Suzuki for a while,” he said.
“I’d heard about this factory bike coming to
BSB and that Michael would be riding it. We
were both new to it, and it was pretty full-on.

“I travelled to HRC eight times in two
years; the first couple of trips were just
engine building and bike development. The
very first trip was in the November to build a

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 75

TECH

AT THAT FIRST RACE, WE WERE
EVEN UMMING AND AHHING TO GET
MICHAEL AND KIYO TO START AT THE

BACK OF THE GRID.

BEST FIREBLADE EVER

Rutter and the
Blade were a
potent pair.

“I’m not kidding. For every single nut, bolt try and take some of the sting out of the were even umming and ahhing to get Michael
and fastener on the whole bike to line up initial part of the power delivery. and Kiyo to start at the back of the grid
perfectly is extraordinary – it’s not normal. because it was so unpredictable – but we got
Even the way the fairing went on and how “There are horror stories about HRC being that sorted by the end of the season.
the swingarm just slotted in... I’ve never seen difficult to work with but it’s just not true.
anything like it, before or since. Having said that, HRC really liked its process. “Winning the Northwest 200 and being the
first bike to break 200mph was very special,
“The castor angle was set by Japan, but “I remember Thruxton. We’d been racing too.
the offset and pivot position were adjustable there and had done the first race with a
and we had four different rear links. The 3.5-inch wide front wheel, and for the second “The low point was when Michael broke
suspension was factory Showa, which was race we changed the front springs and used a his collar bone, which pretty much put an
really trick, and they were always trying 3.75-inch front wheel. end to the championship for us.
different things, like carbon fibre rods down
the front and back of the forks to increase “Michael won the race but I got a massive “Being the only people on Michelins was
rigidity under braking but not on the side of bollocking because we hadn’t used the wide sometimes a help and sometimes a
the tyre. We had quite a few different wheel that weekend, or tested it. hindrance, but overall it probably balanced
fairings, with subtle differences at the front itself out. Sometimes it just over-complicated
and the tail unit to alter the balance of the “On one of the trips to Japan to build some things. I remember driving to a tyre test in
bike when it was travelling at speed. We engines, each guy had to build three engines the south of France because Michael had to
were looking at everything. each, and two of the engines that one of the test 32 front tyres! It was unbelievable and
guys built failed on the dyno and he got goes with the deal of being a factory team
“When the bike first came, the electronics sacked straight away! supported by factory tyres; nothing gets left
were pretty basic and HRC was quite guarded to chance. A test would be dropped on you
about them until it was realised that we “There were unbelievably high standards. with zero notice. Once I’d booked a weekend
could offer input – then they opened them up To work on development and sharing ideas away with my wife that I’d spent a fair few
to us. Stuff like traction control was still a was great, but racing with a set-up that quid on, and a test was sprung on us a few
long way off, but we started experimenting hadn’t been tested was a massive no-no, days before for the same dates. I didn’t go!
with retarding the ignition in two cylinders to regardless of the result. Sticking to the
get a twin pulse effect at low throttle process was something everyone had to do. “I stayed just for the two years with
openings, which we did using throttle Michael and then went back to Suzuki.
position, RPM, and the gear. The idea was to “The highlight of the year has to be
winning the first race at Silverstone, although “Even today I would still rate that bike as
it nearly didn’t happen. The weakest part of the best put-together bike I’ve ever worked
the bike was the clutch; it wasn’t rigid on”.
enough, and I remember at that first race we

Peek-a-boo! ‘Michael, do your concentration face.’
FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 77

PICS> CAMIPIX WORDS> TIM NEAVEFEATURE

PAUL’S

BMW S1000RR

If you’ve had anything to do with the No Limits racing paddock in recent years, then
you won’t have missed the Bilstein racing team. The bikes are unmistakably bold, and
there has been three of them across the sprint races and endurance categories in
2021. We’ve decided to take a
closer look at Paul’s BMW
S1000RR, which has taken him
to the Clubman 1000 Endurance
championship this season.

78 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

Paul’s bike was bought as a brand
new road bike in 2020; after 400
miles of running it in on the road, he
cnaitoelinwismvbeBiartMetcedkWdRtisoPt, Mtiynhotetouodameruaturlneastrctshkcheorimpaecnptiognleighnteaewv4ieen0a,0tphaomenndiE.leCWtshUeiatnth
uttoinckdloeocdkthtehidsisawnbidollxtv,hoietidwwtaahrserabwnactaykrrsationgtnhyei.sdAw–ftoefrarkiPlsuahruoelp,
and the bike was stripped down to the bare
frame and engine ready for road-to-race

cfimthoranrsWetpveahet-rrhyersneeiivaosternhtda.reano2cdni0an2rtghd0ewEgseaCcnrUeranfwoneu,thyryi,loSesu1om0ca0ao0WiunRlotRdaonimln’wtionliedcgghetalhlley
EotlhouCoetUmtoiflfmaatnehsdhew,dqafauosserthshe,texiwoafnmuh.liplcThlBhe,M,eawoWltnohulokyluidtogtMhhhaCeavrRepoKrbpiecEteieConynU,at
£pftmur5raola0lcpt0tecsi0coo..tnnu.etdptrchgoouerlnnaoltddirvsoeeet,lrr/imswathneeaentarinrdEwatlCnehhsUteiyss.emalBYinaoeMdp,uWpeajniulnsgrsgoietn,mgnefaueabieeinnrdlealeidkandighn,igm
good guy who knows how to use it all and
yuopuPoa’rfuetlhltaeuuregnlheecidntrgtoo.nDicasv,eanCdarhnaesllbfeoernthveersyethtianpgpy
with his work.

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 79

wduywtebasromIhisaaaePterfauebDt’ltrcrPcaofsPanoBayrtiawkauaHrnenaeTenaMeuvutelrHrndcMiglhhtfeestmmlwyepWatoheeeepayssrrCrlmaRoew.nsdae-BmiB.harPnasataci.dikiMrdto‘pertfilcatiIsnsesoyhsrl:tupinshWdethtnft.er“trenphoc,ialregEopIfitoelurhiaatnrhvavnimrhfehqierensbaeeregkrpafttauatdadcrntohhev.orbdaghientardetcecshprketaecmkreabahitaaittfoeens-knnshtioort,bcfkhih’itigru,uftwosssunsbeeheinkgoy,mfsigeebsiet–blheoydtte-ptrhhhmaeslyusjriboiftoteedlpteepohhltuenetbonajiihlr-nemeunatsinoruesdondsgtolHphotryettke.eo.enededdlebd,e aaIstbcfieebcnIeantsmsthaheemloe-dhitfdimauctltewSoelpoatiiauuvaoPpBneraevneHgwsematarlpgKrete’taalufeshteiblrtlbrin,ftoalhoyclsrneoyirhidvltaacdaonusemmciebBernacntutmtyasdbrhlrklidoecttlymiiitseowihieslpdsrthntonmlInefehaeiebaitnt’edaamtrrkhtebrpupeHh,enasBeeebondra,turHiitero,ltafe.bdadweHIchlHegcb’cbyasIhmimemPlekrthesP,uroc’eelcaps-bpsikKwBtuustcsrsklProrosrsfos,sahohweiaedoei-ittvrnhGdvfnbiri,smirireilcisfgekeulmatcePlanorhych,becacsr4qgfhrsmakeoatelamiuitta.lnsdRaenisthhnyetsi.T,clnadt..X”ayeeteehnhbowdhyyPIgepuceeiiSolertttpeeBhoslddSli

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 81

arliimargechpitntrhwogev,eecaigonthnhdtetrtDohbyleikmstyeear’saegraiewngfiihlttihetteeyeldseantntohddauthhtreealnpcein power while maintaining a smooth
tburblcRhrfnefbeamroesaroxeavoaceAaeaorrehcien-ebcdrftnbairtanapksdonhssgnrtseueeenaoegestslagtsdwtieedtnnsfetsBPactruea,nisedntaaMaruafriyarguemrtdon.pfipsneeWiclnntTorbestdteahaminewhhromonpSaeR:iebfnpaidrs1setArgorori0Acnibceksofltltlh0auhexkptlhieta0ihksecetrathaegrsrRcetaalnrgneapaoltplRbeaugiictartnorocdoosr,teracaelnv;t;tdpsbaihcocsdip..Faynlicooqyno-hnPawtdriouthrgcadrritntotoeaethevhoicasrGcsleaepifklMmnttoovBa-lb;ybiysrcriaouenpeekcsmeseghtantc delivery out of this machine.
Finally, data logging, suspension
tssohtaeeyhnnalnseepdtpsmepfortumeeehrenstterltmiiytynndhegimgaofanfuwtnueodgrschhehhbiPnlrotaeecahwuvekheleebehrMceypaaitstorrnwhdetreisekinhcdseegueinelnorptiegthgshoga–benitrn’ffsaregrkooyminentg
acylonaoonWduklrniheeneiaaglererndawitttforhaiosenkmeidnnl ohclsowrpoeoewdkewiidbtnhoslga.eitnawytteohtrhuapet’rryeedotauitta.,..
temthhleeaicsyntsroooofpntheeincerashstaiaanrysegndo’tathntgelayomltoa,tsgobggouiotncogPadararuanilesddkthnaeowwasy

with it.

82

WE WANTED TO KNOW A BIT MORE,
SO WE ASKED PAUL...

What made you go for the BMW? Dave Carnell, get it on the dyno, give it
“I’ve had four before this one, and I just a good check over, and do any updates
like them. I’ve got a 2018 Suzuki GSXR on the electronics, because there is
1000, but it just doesn’t put a smile on always something new coming out for
my face in the same way that the the electronics on the BMW.”
BMWs do. I think it’s the power delivery;
the Beemers just seem to be that bit Is it the right bike for you?
wilder, and I like that. The Suzuki is “It definitely is. I’ve tried the rest but
brilliant, with a great front end, but I’m going to stick with the best, as they
when I get on the Beemer, it’s like being say. We’ve got the championship won
a cowboy on it, bucking me all over the this season, so I think it’s fair to say
place, and it just makes me smile that the bike is good and we are getting
more.” on well. I’ve been racing for eight years
now, and this has been my favourite
What upgrades do you have bike so far. I raced it at No Limits last
planned for next season? year, albeit a short season with half the
“I think I’ll run it just as it is next year; rounds, and then used it again for this
it’ll just get an engine refresh over the season and I’ve not had any bother at
winter, and then I’m going to look at all. I think I’m only going to do the
some engine tuning for the following sprint races next season.”
season. As it stands, the engine is
completely standard. I’ve had Dave A bit about Bilstein suspension...
Carnell do all of the dyno work on it, Bilstein has been at the forefront of
and it’s been absolutely bang-on; the automobile suspension since the
bike is making about 200bhp at the rear mid-1950s and is recognised for its
wheel. I do have a little play with the high-quality products. It has recently
engine braking if we have some real turned its attention to the motorcycle
hard stop-and-start kind of tracks, but racing world, with this all-new product
its never anything massive. They are prototype. The forks are a complete
really good out of the box, to be in-house design with billet bottoms and
honest.” the fork stanchion dimensions are the
same as factory fork legs, so they fit
What’s the maintenance into the standard yokes. You can’t yet
like with this bike? buy the gen four BMW shock and it’s
“It’s been very easy to maintain. I do an only available for the gen three BMW,
oil and filter change every meeting, so Paul is using a prototype shock. He
because I’m racing in the sprint races said: “It has worked brilliantly out of the
as well as the endurance, so I’m getting box, and it’s been very easy to set up
plenty of track time and getting my and get it in that ‘window’. There are
money’s worth out of the oil. I’m using only 10 clicks of rebound and
Motul 300V oil, which is obviously top compression adjustment, which I think
quality stuff. The bike has been 100% has helped with getting it set up
reliable and I’ve never had any trouble quickly. We change the spring for the
with it over the last couple of years. wet; other than that, it’s been fairly
Once a year, I’ll send the bike back to straightforward.”

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 83

MASTERCLASS

LEARN FROM THE BEST

For the ultimate
one-to-one
instruction,
which includes
everything from
initial bike checks
to video playback and
on/off track tuition tailored
to suit all abilities from
a former WSBK racer,
check out Dean Ellison
Rider Coaching at
www.Ellison42.co.uk

STRAP IT UP,

STRAP IT IN,

LET ME BEGIN Transporting by 'You've got beautiful eyes'.
Conventional Trailer
Sick of scratching your beloved bike in Depending how limited you are
transit? Here are Dean’s top tips for strapping Whether it’s a DIY project trailer for distance between the strapping
your bike down for any kind of journey... or a specific single/double bike point on the bike and the anchor
trailer, there’s normally a cut-out point on the trailer, you may need
Most trackday riders will level or low down and forward of area to house the front wheel to look at other options. For
at some point cause your strap fixing points on the and this makes it much easier example, if you have a race/track
unnecessary damage bike. for one-person loading and bike then you may not be able to
to their bike due to incorrectly securing. strap at the subframe and you
tying down their bike during 3.When pulling down on the may need to go through the
transportation. There’re lots of straps or tightening the ratchet As mentioned above, you footrest hangers. But you may not
different ways you can tie the bike strap, you want to compress the want to pull the bike forward have enough area between the
down but for the most effective rear suspension. (So, ideally strap against a solid fixing, so the footrest and the anchor point so
way you need just two straps and to the subframe or footrest front wheel is going to take the you may have to investigate some
to follow some very simple rules. hangers.) brunt of the force and that will bolt-on brackets. I’ve seen some
then allow the suspension to eyelets that utilise the boltholes
1.Front wheel must push Here’re my best tips taken from compress, giving more resistance for the pillion hangers, or there’s
against something solid. a few years of experience: and ultimately a more solid hold. a simple product I’ve seen banded
I have a road bike and to get the around the Facebook groups
2.Anchor points are ground best compression I loop my which goes through the swing
ratchet straps through each of arm pivot and houses lifting eyes
We're sure this has something to the rear pillion peg hangers and on each end which are ideal for
do with bike transport. ratchet each side down a bit safely strapping a bike in place.
more at a time so that the bike
remains upright as it’s being
pulled forward and down.

TO BOOK ON TO A DAY WITH NO LIMITS, CHECK OUT WWW.NOLIMITSTRACKDAYS.COM OR CALL 01525 877087

84 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

RIDING

Transporting by Van scrap wood and buy a purpose- IN ASSOCIATION WITH
made folding ramp because they
I’ve seen some sights when it will come complete with a NO LIMITS
comes to strapping a bike in a retaining/safety strap. This is a TRACKDAYS
van, normally when someone simple strap with hook and it
has borrowed or hired a van for holds the ramp securely in place forward against the chock on the Dean loves strapping up.
the first time and they almost while you run the bike up on the stillage. Also ensure that you use
expect the bike to just sit in the clutch. It’s safer to fire the bike the metal hooks on your straps upright with lots of room
back all safe and sound... that’s up and ride it on the clutch with to secure at the anchor point on between yours and the other
until you need to do an you walking at the side;the strap the stillage. DO NOT loop the bike. Once at this stage you’ve
emergency stop or take avoiding prevents your rear wheel strap through the anchor point done the most stressful part and I
action at speed. So, leaning your spinning it backwards if you get because the sharp edge would now squeeze some soft
bike against the wall of the van a bit lively with the throttle. combined with the constant items between the rear wheel
with an old cushion in-between movement will just cut the strap. and set unit then cover the bike
and a strap thrown over the seat Having the bike securely Two thousand miles of rocking with a proper bike cover.
unit isn’t going to protect your strapped towards the bulkhead side to side will take care of that,
pride and joy; take a bit more or front wheel chock and down so use the metal hooks. I’ve already done a feature on
time to properly secure your bike to the floor is 100% the most loading a stillage, so I’ll keep this
following these tips. secure way. There’s no need to Secondly, line the bike up in part brief:
use a rear paddock stand front of the stillage at a slight
As with the trailer advice, you because that can just cause more angle so that the engine casing Pack small items underneath
want to pull the bike forward problems if you hit a manhole, stays clear of the corner post; and in between the bikes.
and compress the suspension. speed bump or even just driving that would mean the nose of
Using just two straps, you want over a humpback bridge at your bike is facing slightly away Use soft baggage for tools and
to find two fixing points speed. The bike can jump off the from the other bike as you start kit so that you can squeeze them
reasonably high up on the bike bobbins which would loosen the to load. I would then start the into small areas and not damage
that won’t allow the straps to straps and even damage the bike and in 1st gear walk your paintwork.
come into contact with anything swing arm. alongside it and use the engine
breakable or painted (brake to steadily run the front tyre on Drape your leathers over the
levers, brake fluid reservoir, Stillages (Euro Events) to the raised lip on the left side; tank area rather than pack a
indicators or the main fairing this gives more ground clearance large kit bag.
panels). This will be dictated by This job is much easier when around the engine and belly pan
your anchor points in the van. there’s two of you, but you don’t but also keeps your bike slightly Rest loose tyres on the top of
Some vans have the tie-down always have that luxury so I wide of the other bike. the bike and over the seat unit.
points already installed, or you have a few tips that will help.
could buy a handful for not a lot I’ve been through this a few Finally, when your bike is If you’re the first bike on, make
of money and fit them to suit times and made enough mistakes almost in place, turn the sure you use a bike cover and
your own loading requirements. myself. I’ve also had my bike handlebars to the right and let then wrap everything together so
For me, I would have a front damaged because the person the front wheel drop into place that your bike is fully protected.
wheel chock loose and against sharing my stillage hadn’t loaded and up against the front chock. (Clear wrap only.)
the bulkhead so that I can easily their bike securely. You will then need to realign
load the bike on my own. A your rear wheel by dropping it Tim's the best rapper...
chock will support the bike in an If you arrive at the drop-off off the lip (the same lip you used
upright position whilst you strap point and there’s already a bike to lift the front wheel) and into
it down. You can also just butt on your stillage then you need to the runners to line the bike
the front tyre up against the be very careful and prepare your straight. Because you planned,
bulkhead of your van. Then, every move. Space can be tight the straps are already in place
simply take two straps from your and you have to respect the bike and just need fixing to the bike,
fixing point on the bike, either and kit that’re already loaded. using the footrest hangers, rear
from your footrest hangers or subframe or the contraption I
bolt-on bracket, down to the Your first job is to place the mentioned earlier that goes
tie-down anchor points situated tie-down straps/hooks in through the swing arm pivot and
forward of the pegs and wide position on the stillage, ensuring has perfectly-sized lifting eyes for
enough either side to ensure the that the anchor points you your strap hooks.
bike cannot move sideways; a choose are forward of the fixing
central bike position allows for a point on the bike. As When strapping the bike
stronger fixing. mentioned above, you down, make sure you can
want to pull the bike feel lots of tension and
Before this can happen you that the front tyre is butted
need to get the bike safely in the right up to the choc. You should
van, so avoid using a piece of also try and get the bike

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 85

YOUR LIFE ON BIKES

WIN A TRACKDAY

COMPETITION
THE PRIZE: ONE UK TRACKDAY OF YOUR CHOICE FOR
ANY UK CIRCUIT WITH NO LIMITS TRACKDAYS.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
NO LIMITS
TRACKDAYS

FastBikesMag.com/ Facebook.com @FastBikesMag
FastBikes-Forum FastBikesMagazine

WANT TO
WIN?

sweinnTndoipnubagsegaaienNpowirociteLohminmaaoiitclushorantFneracactecoekobdfoaoyk,
[email protected]
Closing date:
10th January.

Here at Fast Bikes magazine, we love
trackdays... so much that we want to
give something back to you, the
reader! We’ve teamed up with the
lovely lot over at No Limits Trackdays
to offer a free trackday every month.
All you have to do is send us a picture
of yourself at your last trackday for a
chance to win. If you’re the lucky
person highlighted on these pages,
you’ve won a trackday of your choice.
If it’s you, get in touch and we’ll look
after the rest. If you haven’t won this
time, there’s always next month.
There are no cash alternatives
available. The winning image is drawn
at random. Terms and conditions
apply. To view the privacy policy of
MMG Ltd (publisher of Fast Bikes
magazine), please visit www.mortons.
co.uk/privacy

FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM 87

YOUR LIFE ON BIKES

WIN A *Disclaimer: WINNING RIDE
May not actually
FAST BIKES make you any faster. SDean Birkumshaw
HOODIE! Honda CR250 Did some Moto X

To be in with a chance of
winning this most tasteful of
tops, just email (letters@
fastbikes.co.uk) or post on
our Facebook page with a pic
of you, your bike, and a few
words about it, where
you’ve been on it, and why
you rate it so highly. We’ll
pick our favourite post each
month and that lucky
person will be the proud owner of their very own
Fast Bikes hoodie – which is proven to make you at
least 60% faster!*

Send yours to [email protected]

Martin Fisher

Ducati V4 S

Buying this little number

Gregory Jay Blackbeard

Yamaha R1 & Triumph
Daytona 675

Deep-cleaned the bikes ready for
winter storage, while trying to find
an enduro bike to play with in
winter

Wayne Richardson

Yamaha R6

Got an R6 to join my Street Triple,
enjoying having a choice of two
bikes of a weekend now!

Stephen Clarke Stuart El Toroloco Neil Captain Scarlet Barker

Keeway RKF 125 Thompson Kawasaki Ninja650

Winter cleaning Suzuki GSXR 1000 Out scrubbing tyres in on the Pennines
and peaks of Huddersfield. Loving the
This 24/7 rain, sun, frost, and
Roadtecs
salty roads

88 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

FastBikesMag.com/ Facebook.com @FastBikesMag
FastBikes-Forum FastBikesMagazine

Jason Clarkin Spike John Griffin
Got a bit moist
Suzuki Hayabusa
Ashleigh Williams
Drag racing at Willowbank on my
daily street bike. New pb of 9.51@ Kawasaki ZX-6R
150mph
General clean
John Monkeyboy Kirby

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Warmer and less salty roads from
time gone by (summer)

Russ Wilson

Suzuki SV650

Servicing my wife’s bike

Gary Wheeler

Honda CR250 Enduro

Out in the Peak District with Mr

Classic Bike Trackdays, Rob Scott

Max Garside David Wren

Honda CBR 125 MV Augusta Brutale

125cc endurance racing at Mallory. 1/4-mile sprint on the MV
Who knew 12hp could be so fun
Barry-Jon Rooke
Matt Kent
Kawasaki Versys
Honda Fireblade
Horseshoe Pass in September with
Trying to keep it old-skool with the
Mrs my lad on his first big ride out

John Boyd Steven Feltham

Honda Fireblade Honda Grom

Trackday-ing the big bikes Bought a grom

SUBS CRIBESee page 8
for the best deals

YOUR LIFE ON BIKES

STAR LET TER

DANGEROUS DAD

Hi Fast Bikes,
Please could you print this to wind up
my dad? Waiting for the session to start
– then in the back of an ambulance for
a week in hospital. Too impatient, and
lack of concentration to blame. A few
months later we came across the
history of the number 74. Our joint
track bike was somewhat bent but on
the positive side, the engine survived.
Dare I mention our shared Porsche
Boxster he also wrote off...

Thanks,
Simon

FB: Hi Simon, We’ve all been there. Our
advice would be keeping your dad
away from the race track… or possibly
anything with an engine in it. On the
upside, the bike does look salvageable,
and at least the old man is okay! Better
luck next year.

You can win a pair of Weise
Nomad Gloves for simply

writing the Fast Bikes Star Letter.

Email [email protected]

WEISE NOMAD GLOVES

Stand out, stay safe. A reversible neon and orange gilet £W59O.R9T9H!
that will ensure visibility whatever the conditions, with
reflective stripes front and rear, and handy external
pockets. Find out more at www.thekeycollection.co.uk

LET’S TALK A BIT ABOUT SIZE...

Dear FB, and drag strip, and they did not disappoint. We did use
First of all, congratulations for your fabulous tyre warmers for the track riding, but even without, it
magazine – great job. doesn’t take long for them to warm up.

Anyway, I would like to ask your opinion, Regarding going to a size 200 rear, it will not be a
because reading your mag I got in trouble. I problem and you would do well to notice a difference
currently own a Suzuki GSXR 1000R, using from the 190. It might feel slightly slower in the change
Dunlop Sportsmart TT tyres on it. I use it 70% of direction, but you’ll gain in the grip level with a
track and 30% road and like it very much, so I bigger contact patch. Some bikes require a tyre
totally agree with your comments and calibration though, so be wary of that.
experiences of it – but you have shown a new
target for me, the Michelin Power Cup 2. Reading
about it, it seems to be a good alternate for me,
so that is the background of my interest. My
question is changing the size from 190/55 to
200/55 – could it be worthwhile?

Let me wish all my best to you from Hungary,
and I’m looking forward to waiting for your knock
on my door.

Yours,
Gabor PAPP

FB: Thanks for reaching out us, Gabor.
The Michelin Power Cup 2 is a brilliant tyre. We used
them all week long for our Ultimate Sportsbikes test
back in the summer; on the road (wet and dry), track,

90 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

NO LIMITS
TRACKDAYS

ANDALUCÍA

CIRCUIT

Jump on this off-season getaway to the
Andalucía circuit in southern Spain. With nine
right turns, eight lefts, changes in elevation
throughout each lap and Spain’s longest
straightaway, Andalucía is a track
you won’t want to miss. Not that
you’ll need any persuasion, but
this location also has the least
rainfall and more hours of
sunshine than anywhere else
in Europe.

What’s included
in your package:

7 x 20-minute sessions each day.
Accommodation based on a
twin-share basis.
Bike transportation, with use of
stillages to transport your bike.
Free instruction.
Full tyre support (fees apply).
Parts service.
Suspension advice.
Garages available.
Free tea and coffee throughout
the event.
Circuit length: 3.1 miles.

For more info, visit

www.nolimitstrackdays.com
February 3rd-6th Feb: £799 (open pit)
March 3rd-6th: £589
April 7th-9th: £589

MASTERCLASS

If you’ve been a naughty biker, you need some decent
legal advice. Get it from [email protected]

WHO DUN IT?

Identifying who caused an accident is core to conviction...

GAVIN Q I am a delivery rider for a They’ve told me that they will claim, the MIB will not be liable
GREWAL well-known food company. I close my file and that I won’t get for property damage (in your case,
won’t name them, but it any compensation. Surely this can’t your helmet and protective
PENAL SERVITUDE PREVENTER rhymes with kangaroo. I was doing be right? Help! clothing) if you did not suffer a
a food drop-off in my local town ‘significant personal injury’ –
The Fast Bikes Legal Clinic centre when I was knocked off my A First of all, sack the which is described as death, two
is compiled by Gavin bike. A VW Polo was stationary at a claims management nights or more of hospital
Grewal and his bike-riding junction, and I thought I would company and get a proper in-patient treatment, or three
barristers and solicitors at undertake it. I pulled alongside it solicitor. They clearly sessions or more of hospital
White Dalton Motorcycle and looked at the driver. As I did so, don’t know what they are doing. out-patient treatment. Your
Solicitors. he took off at speed and turned left, The only correct advice you have injuries were transient in nature,
clipping my bike and knocking me had so far is that there is no and you took painkillers and
They deal with personal off onto the pavement. The driver presumption in law that the rested at home. The damage to
injury claims, and their initially stopped for a few seconds registered keeper is always the your motorcycle kit would have
sister company, Motor and then drove off. driver of said car. been recoverable against the
Defence Team, deals with all Let me start from the insurer of the motorcar, had the
the motoring offences. They It was a busy town centre and beginning: identity, identity, driver been identified.
know everything about bike some passers-by came to my identity. This is so important. I can
law. Gavin can usually be rescue. One even tried to stand in see that the car was insured to a The MIB will also not pay for
found in a court room or front of the car to stop the car well-known insurer. They have vehicle repairs if you have the
racing his Kawasaki around driver from leaving! The driver rejected the claim to your current benefit of fully comprehensive
a racetrack. All the White drove around the pedestrian and clown outfit on the basis that you insurance, meaning you have to
Dalton lawyers are qualified raced off. Another passer-by took a cannot identify the driver. This is pay your excess, and this will sit
barristers, or solicitors, or photograph of the car as it drove correct, and any decent solicitor as a fault claim on your claim’s
both – and they all have full away. The police were called and will know of the case of Cameron history. However unfair that
bike licences, too. They attended. They were really good, as v. Hussain, which basically seems, that is how the Untraced
don’t act for insurance were the witnesses, who all gave reaffirmed the law that you can Agreement is drafted. I think the
companies or the statements and the photographs. only sue a named driver, not rationale behind this is to protect
prosecution. They are ‘drivers unknown’ – save for in the limited pot of money the MIB
Britain’s most specialist law I wasn’t badly injured but enough exceptional circumstances. controls.
practice and if they don’t to be off work for three weeks. However, and most importantly,
know the answer to your Burger and chips were left all over your claim does not stop there. It In summary, you have a claim
question, there probably the pavement. My manager had to can continue against the Motor and you will win. It is shame that
isn’t one. Don’t rely on the call the customer and tell them Insurers Bureau (MIB), an insurer the other driver was not
advice from your insurance what had happened. I work on of ‘last resort’. Each year, insurers identified, as the insurer for the
appointed solicitor – get commission, so the more jobs I do, pay into a central pot of money VW Polo would have had to deal
proper, independent advice. the more I earn. I am out of pocket controlled by the MIB. It was set with all of your losses in a more
and my bike needs repairing. up in 1946 to deal with claims comprehensive way than the
For road traffic offences where the wrong-doer is either MIB.
call Motor Defence Team I have now heard from my claims uninsured or untraced, the latter
0800 280 0912 management company that the being formalised as early as 1969 Your case is one where I would
claim cannot continue as the driver in the Untraced Drivers imagine having a helmet camera
For non-offence cases was not traced. The registered Agreement. Get your claim form would have paid for itself three
call White Dalton Motorcycle keeper of the VW Polo refused to in as soon as possible and before times over. That video evidence
Solicitors 0800 783 6191 respond to the police for info, so the third anniversary of the would have potentially helped
was fined at court and got points. accident. I will not hide the fact the police investigate and
Visit their websites My claims management company that the Untraced Agreement is identify the driver. In turn, this
whitedalton.co.uk tell me that the registered keeper less generous to you as an injured would mean you could have
may be different from the driver, party. For example, in an untraced brought your claim against him
www.motordefencesoliticors.co.uk despite them having information and his insurer, meaning a more
that only one person is insured on comprehensive settlement of
that VW Polo. your damages claim.

92 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM

W W W.FA S T BIK ES M A G.C OM GREAT BUT GONE

Email: [email protected] Revisiting three cracking bikes we wish were still in
production – the KTM RC8R, Triumph Daytona 675R, and
EDITORIAL Suzuki GSX-R750.

Editor: ‘Dangerous’ Bruce Wilson, [email protected] TRIUMPH TIGER
Designer: Michael Baumber SPORT 660…
Production Editor: Lucy Wood
Nippy, nimble, and surprisingly naughty.
CONTRIBUTORS Here’s our take on the new Trumpet.

Words: Steve Parrish, Tim Neave, Tom Neave, Jon Urry, Andrew Dalton, Jack SIDEWAYS FOR SPEED
Thompson
Gary Johnson, Christian Iddon, Jack Fairman, Rob Bean, Jamie Morris, Peter Hickman There’s a good reason why all the top racers around
Photography: Gary Chapman, Dave Parsons, Double Red, Les Liddle, Matt Sayle, the world get stuck in with flattrack, as we learn
Danny Inwood, Jamie Morris, Rob Gray, Polarity Photo first-hand.

ADVERTISING PLUS LOADS MORE GREAT TESTS AND FEATURES

Group Advertising Manager: Sue Keily On Sale February 1, 2022
Divisional Advertising Manager: Tom Lee, [email protected]
Tel: 01507 529412 Buy it from WHSmith, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and
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CIRCULATION ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?

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MORTONS MEDIA GROUP LTD

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Publishing Director: Dan Savage
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or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

COLUMNIST VISIONTRACK DUCATI
BRITISH SUPERBIKES

Christian
Iddon

Apparently, as the song would have you believe, ‘Can you smell that?’
‘it’s the most wonderful time of the year’... but
with no racing anywhere, I’m pretty convinced my 2022 plans. A month down the line, despite plenty of
it isn’t. All the niceties of early nights in, chilling by the talks, the only thing that has become more certain is the
fire and feeding up a little more than I normally would is uncertainty.
nice – but I’m already wishing spring would arrive so the
racing world will awake from its winter hibernation. I find it hard to fathom that I currently find myself in
this situation. After two of the best seasons in my short
I’m currently back on the tools, which is something I circuit career, I’m surprised to be in this predicament. I’ve
wasn’t able to do once the 2021 season got going. With taken the championship battle down to the last race
the condensed back-to-back style schedule, there was weekend of the season for the last couple of years and
simply no way I could hold down a second vocation but taken more than 25 podiums in that time, but
now I’m enjoying a bit of the real-world lifestyle. I use the circumstance has played its part. We are playing the
word ‘enjoying’ pretty loosely. Of course, when it’s yearly game of musical chairs, and the music is about to
freezing cold outside and you are covered in muck and
dust, I wonder why I bother – but I do get a good feeling
after a day of graft. I’m also really lucky that any
additional manual work I do isn’t really necessary, and I
don’t have the stress of having to go in day in, day out. I
pick and choose who I work for, which means all my
bosses are always my mates... which always helps.

It’s pretty much routine for me now to race during the
summer and do a bit of manual work in the winter, but at
the moment the racing side of things for next year is
looking uncertain, and that could mean that I may
actually have to go find a proper job sooner than I
expected. I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen and it is
looking a bit brighter now, but there has been moments in
the last few weeks where it has looked very likely that I
could be left high and dry. During the last column I let
you guys know that things were far from certain regarding

Is this Iddon’s next
ride?

Winter's here...
94 .FASTBIKESMAG.COM

COLUMNIST

Iddon pulled off some
awesome results in
2021.

DO I TAKE WHAT I HAVE Hopefully PBM hasn’t
BEFORE ME, OR DO I WAIT seen the back of
TO SEE IF SOMETHING ELSE Iddon.
COMES OFF...?

stop. I’ve been having lots of meetings with different
teams (including my current one), but getting a full
picture of the situation is really difficult.

I have an offer or two on the table. I also have a couple
of things that might come off but just as easily they might
not. It leaves me in a pretty tricky situation. Do I take
what I have before me, or do I wait to see if something
else comes off and therefore run the risk of the uncertain
situation never even coming to fruition? All the while, the
current offers I have won’t stick around forever. It’s like
having an alarm clock that you don’t know when will go
off. I also have the possibility of turning my back on BSB
entirely and going racing in another series – but it’s a big
step into the unknown. At the moment nothing is off the
table, and I’ll be off to Germany this weekend to have a
meeting and see how that sits with me. At this time, I feel
I have unfinished business in BSB, so if the opportunity
comes, I will be staying. I still have the same goal as I had
when I first came into the series, and I won’t be content
with my time in our amazing domestic series until that
goal is achieved.

I thought I was going to be able to give you the big
reveal in this column... all the usual racer chat about how
happy I am to have signed or resigned for my team but
hey, I can do that in the next column.

If you don’t hear from me again, it didn’t work out.
Until next time (hopefully). ;)

COLUMNIST ROAD RACER
CHASINTHERACIN.COM

Dom
Herberston

Bonjour to all at Fast Bikes magazine and you If in doubt...
fantastic readers! I hope you’ve all enjoyed a
well-deserved Christmas break and you’re ready late, and I didn’t get on a track myself until I was 21 years
for another crack at a new year. It’s amazing to be asked old at Croft circuit with the North East Club. Years later
to join this great line-up of columnists and before we get this has led on to winning championships, winning road
the ball rolling let’s clear one thing up first – I’m not races around Irish roads, and even winning on the
French like the beginning suggests. In all honesty, I can world-famous mountain course on the Isle of Man.
barely speak English at times! If you’ve met me in person
you will understand, but those who haven’t, I am in fact There are so many stories both past and present that
from the northeast of England, not too far from Newcastle I’m really looking forward to telling you throughout these
upon Tyne. As you may know the northern accent can be columns (if I don’t get the sack by February!). For now,
hard to understand at times so if I wrote Alreeeet! at the it’s a new year and I’m in the middle of preparing my
beginning you might be reading this thinking the editor roads campaign for 2022. I’m busy looking out for new
was having a mild stroke. But anyway, let me introduce sponsors to come on board this crazy adventure and join
myself properly in this first column! the fantastic bunch of people who have supported me so
far to help me achieve my dreams at the TT. But
Hi, my name is Dom Herbertson and I wrote all this by preparing both on and off the track, this winter I’m
myself - which I’m very proud of considering my GCSE concentrating on keeping myself fit and sharp for the new
English teacher said I would never achieve anything. In roads season by getting out on the motocross circuit!
some cases, she was right, but not this time, here I am
writing for Fast Bikes magazine! Hope you’ve enjoyed this one and catch you next time.
Dom
How did I get here though? Well, I did try my best in
classes, but I can honestly say school wasn’t for me and I
can blame that on one thing… I was ever so slightly
distracted by girls and my love for motorbikes, which just
so happens to be the two most expensive things in the
world. Once I discovered the financial implications of
these passions, I took the least life-threatening option,
which was motorbike racing. I left school and got straight
into the hard work of lumberjacking/tree surgery to help
pay the bills. In the forest every day cutting down trees
and I don’t wear ladies’ underwear. For those confused
right now, that was a Monty Python reference. Google it

and have a laugh on me!
Now I never had a racing craft background, unlike a

lot of people do with schoolboy motocross from an
early age. My one advantage in racing was my
hero – apologies for being corny right now
– my old man himself. My dad Mark
Herbertson is a real road racer who has
had many successes and was racing long
before I came along and ruined it like
all kids do for their parents. I grew up
in road race paddocks all my life and I
wouldn’t have it any other way, it
really does feel like home to me. Despite
this, I’m one of those racers that started

I GREW UP IN ROAD RACE PADDOCKS
ALL MY LIFE AND I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY
OTHER WAY.

96 FEBRUARY 2022 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM



COLUMNIST EX-RACER & TEAM MANAGER
RACE INSIDER

Steve
Parrish

I’m just about a week into the Motorcycle Live show, Trading glasses and
at the time of writing this, and I’m nearly sick of tales with Roger
talking... but not quite. I’m on the Blackhorse stage, Marshall.
running the chat show, and so far it’s been a good craic.
Anyone that’s anybody in the road racing world has been Mine’s
up for a natter, and it’s interesting to see who is coming bigger
and going for the upcoming racing season. I think the than
biggest news must be that Taz Mac is staying to defend yours...
his British Superbike title and will be running the no.1 on
his R1, but also that Toprak is staying in WSBK to defend BSA is back.
his title. It’s strange how these brilliantly talented and
youthful lads haven’t had the opportunities to progress one day. We all used to drink in there every night during
up the ranks into WSBK and MotoGP, but I’m sure they’ll the Northwest 200 in the 1970s and 1980s – it was the
get their chance... the cream always rises to the top. place to be, and we’d regularly see Roger up on the stage
singing Maggie May and drinking 18 pints of Guinness!
For the first time in 15 years, we’ve gone for an Air
B&B house-share rather than the usual hotel for the MCL I’m pleased to say nothing has changed and Roger was
show week. We’ve decided we don’t want to sit in the still belting out Rod Stewart on the karaoke. I couldn’t
bar of a snotty hotel all night paying £10 a pint, so me stay at the party all night, but Jim Whit tells me when he
and Whit have rented a house and we are talking it in was heading back to his hotel, he came across three
turns doing the cooking. Thankfully, no one’s been ill fights, some bloke shagging someone up a back alley
yet, and we’ve swapped pints of beers for cups of tea... I (who didn’t flinch when he walked past), and the police
can’t believe what I’m writing. were all over place... it sounds humbling, but a good
night was had by all.
In other big news, BSA is back on the scene after a
serious hiatus when the company died of death in the Hope you’ve all had a brilliant Christmas and got to fill
mid-1970s. The UK firm has been bought by Mahindra, a your faces.
very wealthy Indian company, and will be manufacturing
British motorcycles in Birmingham next year, which is quite
fitting as that’s where Birmingham Small Arms originated.
Triumph is doing really well, and Norton is back after its
nightmare, so it’s really good to see the British
manufacturers of old times back in the game.

I was invited to Mercedes Benz Northside Truck and
Van to present Ryan Smith with his sixth British Truck
Racing Championship trophy, which now equals my
record; I’m going to have to make a comeback. Joking
aside, he’s invited me to have a drive in his truck next

year for a parade lap or two, so I’ll definitely be up
for a bit of that... it’s been a while.
I was over in Cleethorpes the other week
for Roger Marshall’s birthday bash, and
that was lively, should I say. I’d pinched
a Guinness glass back in the Sea Splash
Hotel in Portstewart back in 1982 and
just knew it would come in handy

Parrish’s home of
late...

Make yourself at
home!

98