MCN Road Test

Or the difference in price, stick luggage on the VFR and you are looking at about 12 grand

 

Don't know why they are knocking the engine?
This would be the same 1050 that they rave about when it's on the Speed Triple.

I'm sure they work on who ever gives the biggest bribe gets the best review.

 

It doesn't seem that long since the Sprint was being praised in the biking press as the best thing since sliced bread. Its hasn't suddenly become a bad bike and yes Steve its the same fantastic 1050 engine.

 

In 2012 I got sucked into believing the hype of the bike press; bought the latest, greatest technological marvel that was the newly released Ducati Multistrada 1200 S.
Yes it was fun to ride..... when it worked
Returned 8 times to Ducati Coventry in it's first 18 months!
Just plain over complicated and what could go wrong did.
I hope Triumph keep it simple, I don't want any gadgets from now on.

 

MCN? Mostly crap nonsense.

 

I spoke to Chris Moss who used to write for MCN and has now gone freelance and writes for Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, He said he is glad to be away from it as with MCN you would ride the bike and then it would be straight on the laptop for the review sometimes until 3 in the morning and the article had to be written before the next day to which the editor decided that the article would go in next weeks issue.
There is a great deal of pressure on the writers at MCN to churn reviews out as quick as possible, and I think there is no time to actually have a think about what you have actually ridden.
My other biggest gripe with MCN is the whole emphasis on what goes fastest around a race track and what has the most horsepower and electronic gadgets must be the best bike.
Ok ABS, Honda's electronic steering damper and to a lesser extent traction control are very good but all the rest is just getting in the way of actually riding a motorbike.
Most of us spend the vast majority of our time on the road and what we look for (well what I do anyway) is a bike that is enjoyable and comfortable to ride and as well as the odd trip up to Scotland, France or Spain also you can have a bit of fast A and B road riding on it on the odd fine weekend.

Tiger 1050's, 1050 Speed Triple's and 1050 Sprints all fit this. A BMW S1000rr, Yamaha R1 or Ducati Panna whatever the hell you call it don't.

And all of these bike are good enough for you to loose your licenses on. Although I think that the R1 and company is more of a blue light magnet than the others.

And if anyone wants a good bike mag I would suggest Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, the bike mag for grown ups :wink:

End of rant.

Steve