Front End Chatter #73

Hello and welcome to a slightly sweary, distinctly snowy Front End Chatter Episode 73, supported as ever by nos amis at BikeSocial (wwwbikesocial.co.uk) and Bennetts the bike insurers – and which ignores the current level of white precipitation (sounds iffy) while resolutely chattering on about: last weekend’s racing season opener, with World Superbike at Phillip Island – was it or wasn’t it dull, and what’s the difference between an exciting race and dull racing? recent MotoGP testes, and what’s the likely outcome of Tech 3 and Yamaha announcing their conscious uncoupling? ...and then FEC73 dives headlong into proper motorcycling and confronts pressing issues such as: the launch of Triumph’s new Speed Triple S and RS, and when is a hooligan not a hooligan? how does Triumph’s Daytona 675R rate against MV Agusta’s 675 and 800 F3s? is it only us thinking this, or have Triumph got some massive holes in their model line-up, and does that presage a completely new, large-capacity engine powering a range of new models in the near future? would we buy a Panigale 959 Corse if a) we wanted it and b) could afford it? • are some new bikes ‘better’ than other new bikes, and does it matter, or is modern motorcycling more about deciding what the bike feels like? what’s the wisdom of filming ourselves for vlogs – does it make motorcycling look bad? should we feel guilty about not using a bike all the time? how much does rider weight and fitness level affect our ability to ride a bike? Plus there’s loads more of waffle about grid boys, why manufacturers build the bikes they build, and a satisfied FEC customer! Thanks for listening, and please keep sending us your questions, thoughts and queries... and picking us up on our errors (that should get a few emails). Email to: [email protected] @Mufga @SimonHbikes