2014 Honda Ctx700 on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Stocking filler suggestion: 3

Before going out on my high-powered motorcycle I always like to make sure that I'm wearing clean boxers with good elastic. Having once been admitted to A&E in a tatty pair of shreddies that weren't only on inside out (improved mileage) but were also on back to front (got dressed in the dark) and - if that wasn't already embarrassing enough - the elastic in the waistband had gone, too. Deep shame.To avoid any similar thunder-pant faux-pas, Red Torpedo have decided to run a Christmas offer so that everyone can get a pair of funky Crawford pants in a tin to put in their stocking as well as a "pick your own" brand new PRIMO quality t-shirt all for £25 - a festive saving of ten, whole English pounds.

A Weighty Issue

For as long as I can remember, motorcycle manufacturers have been playing fast and loose with regard to what they claim for the weight of their bikes. The “dry weights” they foisted upon us had little basis in reality. The “dry” part of that claim meant that listed weights on a spec chart were the result of all fluids being MIA from the bike, including necessities like engine oil, coolant and fork fluid (not to mention fuel), but even that didn’t fully explain the overly optimistic specs.

475cc NS400R. Marquez and Spencer.

Winter may be here but I seem to be as busier than ever, maybe the economy is finally turning around. At my last UK track day of the year I had some fun testing this little beauty.  It’s a late eighties NS400 triple bored out to 475cc and it felt sweet as I zinged round the GP Arena track at Silverstone.   Being stripped bare to reduce weight gives it a very respectable power to weight ratio which means it could live with 600s (on the twisty bits at least).