From road to track
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure|September 2022
There are some bikes that can only be fully appreciated away from the public roads. This is one of them.
Mikko Nieminen
From road to track

I remember how impressed I was when I got offthe Tuono 660 after my first ride on it. The 660 might be what some consider a small bike in a world ruled by litre+ machines, but on public roads, where you can only unleash so much power without seeing your licence go, too, I’d had a fantastic ride on it. ‘Who needs anything more?’ I remember thinking.

That conviction lasted about 15 minutes. Right until I had a go on the Tuono V4. Oh my!

Something’s missing…

The full-fat Tuono had all the appeal of the 660: Comfortable riding position, light and accurate steering, good brakes, quality suspension, and the rest... but what set it apart from the little ’un, was that it had almost twice the power. 175 horses. It’s mental. In a really good way.

The V4 engine is an absolute gem. It pulls you as hard as you dare to ask it to, and it sounds magnificient. But with muscles like that, you aren’t going to use very much of its potential on roads. It can break any speed limit before you can say ‘sorry officer’.

As I pottered about on the Tuono V4, admiring the firm but compliant suspension, strong brakes, light steering combined with impressive cornering stability, I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to ride the bike on track. It felt like the Tuono was wasted on the road – like a thoroughbred racehorse made to pull a heavy cart. I wanted to ride it on a track where I could only blame myself for not reaching the full potential of the bike.

Oh, happy day

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2022 من Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2022 من Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من MOTORCYCLE SPORT & LEISURE مشاهدة الكل
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin

Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
BMW R 12 nineT
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

BMW R 12 nineT

Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX

After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Portuguese Perambulations
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Portuguese Perambulations

Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2024
Highway to Heaven
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Highway to Heaven

Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...

time-read
9 mins  |
October 2024
Battlaxes at the ready!
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Battlaxes at the ready!

We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
Ducati Riding Experience
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Ducati Riding Experience

When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
Four pot flyer
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Four pot flyer

Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2024
Eastern adventurer
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Eastern adventurer

With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry

time-read
10 mins  |
October 2024
First Time Lucky?
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

First Time Lucky?

It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.

time-read
9 mins  |
October 2024