Is the 2005 Triumph Sprint ST ABS the ultimate sports tourer today? Maybe it is, it certainly is very fast and unashamedly flickable for its weight of well over 200kg. We went on several fast runs on our High Peaks route and we could go very fast because the whole bike feels solid whether we are jumping sideways or braking hard.
Aprilia Pegaso Strada 650 Pegaso 650 Strada is pure agility on the roads, specially the twisty mountainous ones. The new 660cc single cylinder engine from Yamaha's Italy factory is a major contributor.
Suzuki GSX-R600
One of the lightest and most powerful high tech 600cc motorcycle has got GSX-R stickers on the side. Highly tuned in all departments for one thing only, to own the racetrack.
Yamaha MT-01
"Macho-Macho man" is what you keep singing in your helmet whilst riding the 1700cc Yamaha MT-01. People just can't stop looking either when we pass them despite it having bog standard silencers.
MZ 125SM
The pencil in this pic illustrates that the MZ125 SM is learner legal. Good fun around town as well if a little less inspiring than a stroker. Performance is at least on par with a two stroke 15bhp, but that's it. A stroker can normally easily be tuned to 30bhp, MZ125 SM can't since it is a four stroke. I could see 140km/h on the speedo anyway so not bad at all.
Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Sprint ST is a house full of torque and stable handling. Is the 2005 Triumph Sprint ST ABS the ultimate sports tourer today? Maybe it is, it certainly is very fast and unashamedly flickable for its weight of well over 200kg. We went on several fast runs on our High Peaks route and we could go very fast because the whole bike feels solid whether we are jumping sideways or braking hard.
Triumph Speed Triple 2005
Looks and sounds great, specially in golden yellow. Loads of stuff to play with in the instruments. Strong typical triple engine where the best is saved until the last couple of thousand rpms. It has got loads of lovely torque as well, but to get that potent triple scream you need to rev it. Torque even lower down than previous years and those brilliant Michelin Pilot Powers and powerful radial Nissins is the icing that tops the cake. Yes it kind of feels like its your tenth year birthday riding the Speed Triple the first time. Text&photo: Tor Sagen Full article will be available within one week as this is my current bike. Sprint ST is next Triumph. e-mail tor.sagen@raptorsandrockets.com for further details.
MZ1000SF Superfighter
Article: 1000 words and 2000 words. Info: Spain World launch. Black and Orange bike. Stills of bikes in all colours. Text: Tor Sagen in Norwegian and English. Photo: Jonathan Sauer, Pixelrace.de. Ian Kerr and Tor Sagen. E-mail tor.sagen@raptorsandrockets.com to arrange details. Article will be e-mailed along with photos. It can also be sent on CD if requested. Examples of pics here: Also : Road test of the 1000SF in the UK.
Harley-Davidson Street Rod
Article:1000 words in Norwegian or English. Info: 2006 model. Tested in the UK with photos taken in perfect sunny conditions in the Peak district. Text: Tor Sagen Photo: Carlos Ballester and Tor Sagen. E-mail tor.sagen@raptorsandrockets.com to arrange details. Article will be e-mailed along with photos. It can also be sent on CD if requested.
Buell City-X
Article: 867 words in Norwegian and English. Info: 2005 model. Tested in the UK. Text: Tor Sagen Photo: Carlos Ballester and Tor Sagen. E-mail tor.sagen@raptorsandrockets.com to arrange details. Article will be e-mailed along with photos. It can also be sent on CD if requested. Examples of pics here:
Triumph Daytona 650
Article:1450 words in Norwegian or English. Info: 2005 model. Tested in the UK with photos taken in the Peak district. Text: Tor Sagen Photo: Claire McHugh and Tor Sagen. E-mail tor.sagen@raptorsandrockets.com to arrange details. Article will be e-mailed along with photos. It can also be sent on CD if requested.
Victory Kingpin
Buckets of torque and more powerful with its 1507cc(92cu) engine than the Twin Cam88B Harley-Davidson motor. The acceleration does not stop even at 120mph. With Victory's stage 1 kit it sounds awesome as well. Rock solid in a straight line and great stoppers from Brembo. More confidence inspiring front end than Vegas due to the USD front fork. Rear wheel seems to lack a bit of traction though... Beautiful the teardrop A & C Ness designed petrol tank and the lines of those gigantic fenders...
Dynamite TNT. Seat is good during acceleration but not for much else. Nice minimalist design. 1.130cc triple, 140 bhp and 100nm @7.000 rpm.
Triumph Rocket III
2.3litre triple. The worlds largest triple, larger than life. Extreme torque that is easy to handle. Believe it or not!
Yamaha R1
Fantastic top end rush of power! Beats everything from 9000 rpms' and to the top. Very enjoyable. 172bhp 110Nm 998cc 172kg
Aprilia RSV-R
Top twin that has been the benchmark for twin power the last two years. Starch competition from Ducati with the 05 999, but the Lion symbolises the RSV's intentions. 140bhp is very good for a bog standard Italian super twin and it cost less than £9000! Quite large compared to a R1 or ZX10, but superior aerodynamics keeps this twin very close to the road going fours. Tor Sagen. Photo: Carlos Ballester.
Harley-Davidson Springer Classic
The most classic looking new bike? Twin cam torque machine with looks g + g would die for! Understated compared to the Deluxe and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Springer front fork works ok with the lazy package, but this machine isn't really made for fast motorway use. Best suited on route 66 or sightseeing on a scenic B road. But still fast enough for everyday use as well. Rider: Tor. Photo: Claire McHugh
Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe
Very classy cruiser from Harley-Davidson. The bike equivalent of the pimp mobile ...
MZ1000S
Very nice 1000 cc parallel twin with more beautiful lines than anything we have seen from MZ in the past. MZ1000S is a very fast machine indeed. 117bhp 95NM Rider: Tor Photo: Dr Claire McHugh
Aprilia Tuono R
Unchanged superbike RSV Mille with wide bars! Rider: Tor Photo Daniel Ø Sagen and Tor Sagen 998cc 60 degree V-twin 130bhp
Ducati 749 Dark
749 Dark at Silverstone. The black stallion is a very sensible choice for people that want something nicer than a Japanese 600. Not faster though. Rider: Tor Photo: Carlos Ballester and Dr Claire McHugh 103bhp 70Nm 749cc L-twin
Ducati 749S
Almost as fast as a Japanese 600 on the track.
Cagiva Raptor 125
Mito engined two stroke with 29BHP! Good fun!
Cagiva Mito
Top 125 with 916 looks.
Aprilia Tuono RS 125
Unrestricted Aprilia Tuono RS125 which means 29 bhp of two-stroke fun. A bit softer than the Raptor 125 and more average brakes. Very nice handling. Rider: Tor. Photos: Carlos Ballester.
Aprilia MX125 Supermotard
Aprilias' new supermotard in 30bhp unrestricted shape. Very entertaining two stroke 125. Rider: Tor. Photos: Claire McHugh
Sachs X-Road
Does this look mad or what? Supermoto/trail styling with the EXC 125cc single cylinder four stroke detuned engine. Top speed 62MPH/100km/h
MV Agusta Brutale S
Harley-Davidson V-Rod
Some people think this is the best Harley ever built. Who am I to disagree? Great engine that revs to P
As beautiful as they get. And the sound ...
Rider: Tor Photos: Dr Claire McHugh 127bhp 79NM In-line four 750cc
Cagiva Xtra Raptor
The most extravagant bird of prey with TL1000s engine 1997 spec. For those that does not know what that means, you are missing out on possibly the best v-twin engine ever built. This is a tarted up V-raptor. Carbon and mean looks.
Rider: Tor&Claire Photos: Dr Claire McHugh 116BHP 106NM 996cc V-twin.
Buell XB12R Firebolt
Little bike with brute low revving 1200cc engine. Great fun and fast enough for B road fun. Rider: Tor Photos: Carlos Ballester V-twin 101BHP 110NM.
Victory Vegas stage 1
Stage one fitted. Sounds very nice. Fast for a cruiser too and great brakes and handling. Better than the rubber as a matter of fact. Brembos' front and back. Designed by Corey and Arlen Ness and it shows ... Rider: Tor Photos: Claire McHugh & Tor Sagen
Triumph Thruxton900
Café racer deluxe from Triumph. Parallel twin, 900cc. Rider: Tor Photo: Tor Sagen 69bhp 72Nm 865cc
Triumph Tiger
Big triple engined traile which actually goes well on gravel as well. Heavy for serious stuff, but good for a thrill. Rider: Tor Photos: Dr Claire McHugh
Ducati Multistrada 1000DS
Toured Ireland and the Dublin area in particular. Excellent tourer, fun bike and handles really well the Multistrada. A shame I could not reward it with a pint of Guinness. Rider: Tor Photos: Dr Claire McHugh and Tor Sagen 84bhp 85NM L-twin 992cc
Benelli Tornado
Beautiful Italian triple or tre. Sounds absolutely amazing with the Arrow standard muffler. Feels like there's a turbo somewhere and it revs beautifully. The slipper clutch is exiting on a standard bike as well, until it died ... Rider: Tor Photos: Carlos Ballester and Tor Sagen 142bhp 100NM triple 899cc
Benelli Tornado RS
Radial brakes, unbelievable beauty and great engine. But is it reliable? We shall see. Rider: Tor Photos: Dr Claire McHugh 147hp, 100NM Triple 899cc.
Ducati Monster S4R
Excellent Chassis, engine, suspension and brakes. What more do you want? Rider: Tor Photos: Dr Claire McHugh 113bhp 100NM L-twin 996cc
KTM Duke II
Supermoto with street styling. The ultimate fun machine. Rider: Tor Photos: Carlos Ballester 55bhp 58Nm Single four stroke 625cc
Kawasaki KLR650 SM
Supermoto modified off-road bike. Michelin Pilot Race 120/60-17 front tyre. Great, cheap fun!! Rider: Tor Photos: Daniel Ø Sagen 47bhp
Honda VTX1800
Biig cruiser. 1800 cc V-twin. Rider: Tor Photos: Dr Claire McHugh
Suzuki GSF600 Bandit
Honda CBF600
Hondas 2004 effort towards a user-friendly bike that does everything effortlessly. It does not exceed in any particular area but is comfy and safe. However it has not got the same coolness of the Suzuki Bandit and Yamaha Fazer. A dull boy but unarguably a good bike. Rider and photos: Tor Sagen 76bhp/58NM in line 599cc four.
Triumph Sprint ST 04
Good and fast sports tourer from Triumph. Very fast actually and very good brakes. Suspension on the soft side and a bit of chattering from the front when braking hard. Rider: Tor Photos: Claire McHugh 120BHP 100NM Triple 955cc
Harley-Davidson XL1200C Sportster 04
Beautiful finish on this popular and brand new Sportster. Rider: Tor Photos: Carlos Ballester & Tor Sagen 60bhp 90NM V-twin 1200cc
Triumph Speed Triple SE 04
Speed Triple Special 2004 Edition. Good fun in a great chassis. Rider: Tor Photos: Carlos Ballester 118bhp 100nm triple 955cc
Triumph Daytona 955i
Triumph's flagship in gorgeous red. Neutral and powerful. Rider: Tor Photos: Dr Claire McHugh and Tor Sagen 147bhp 100nm triple 955cc
Sachs B-805
Oddball. Limited edition and number 122 of 150. Suzuki VX800 engine that never fails. It is bomb proof if I may say so. Photos: Claire McHugh and Tor Sagen. Rider: Tor 58bhp 70NM, V-twin 800cc
BMW R1100S
The most sporty BMW motorcycle ever. At least until 2005...
Peugeot Jetforce
This is the ABS version but later this year we will also see a version with compressor as a first on a production scooter! They don't come more sport orientated than this. Poor light unfortunately on these photos. Rider: Tor and Claire. Photos: Claire McHugh and Tor Sagen.
Honda NES @125
Photos taken in Salford Quays in Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Photos: Claire McHugh and Tor Sagen. Rider: Tor 15bhp
Suzuki SV650S
Good little twin.
Aprilia ETV1000 Caponord
Detuned Mille mill in travel enduro chassis. Surprisingly fast through the twisties. Too heavy for off road glory. Caponord is comfortable enough for a trip to the North cape. Rider: Tor Photos: Carlos Ballester 98bhp 96Nm V-twin 998cc
