Go nuts!

Is it just me, or has the world become softer than a tub of Mr Whippy ice cream? I had an epic childhood, full of risk, dirt and, typically, some ratty field bike, which bruised me and my brothers to high heaven on any given weekend. Crashing was all part of the fun, and the more spectacular the tumble, the more respect we got for it. It never did me any harm, despite what my doctor says, and the memories made are the kind that stay with you forever. It’s sad to think that people nowadays frown upon such antics, insisting on safety first and pleasure last… if at all. It’s a plague that’s spread the world over, limiting the chance for future generations to know what it feels like to wheelie off the back of a Honda CR125, or wear through the knees of your school trousers on an Aprilia RS50. I’m sure most of you can relate to such larks, and see what I’m getting at. To a certain extent, intervention has even started to castrate the simple pleasures of motorcycles. Take ABS, for instance. That’s now compulsory on everything with two wheels, and means that you won’t be able to endo yourself silly like Boothy and Carl did testing this month’s cover bikes. Back in 2004, when exhaust fumes were potent enough to put hairs of your chest and a calculator had more tech than a sportsbike, good times seemed a lot easier to find, as I was reminded by this issue’s thoroughly spanked, 15-year-old R1 and Blade, that were given a road and track thrashing for good measure.

Bikes might have been a bit steadier back then, a little lardier even, but plenty crazy enough to offer a good time, all the time… which can’t be said of everything hitting the showrooms of today. One bike that bucks that trend is Ducati’s new Hypermotard 950, which left me beaming for days after testing it earlier this month. It was a pure weapon, as offensive as you like, with little regard for practicality or economy, as you’ll digest if you read my report. Boothy felt very much the same about the likeminded KTM 690s he went banzai on, disturbing the peace in the Algarve (and stacking it in the process – shhh!). Both models proved a breath of fresh air, reminding us exactly why we love motorcycles like we do, and showcasing that in an age of sensibility and heightened snow-flaking, you can still find sanctuary and insanity behind a pair of ‘bars. All we need now is for summer to get here. Enjoy your read, and thanks for your continued support.