Hello and welcome to the most excellent and hospitable Buccleuch Arms Hotel in Moffat, where we're bringing you a live episode of Front End Chatter in front of a special audience of FECers – yes folks, this is FEC Up The Borders 2024! 

Thanks as always to our cyberspace hosts Bennetts, the UK's best bike insurers, and bikesocial.co.uk, the UK's best biking website - and a very big thanks to Dave and his team at the Buccleuch Arms in Moffat for extraordinary hosting. 

And on this live, unscripted, unprepared and generally ad hoc episode of FEC, we have a bunch of questions from our live audience including:
• Pamela's interface with a Honda Rebel seat,
• exactly how long is it since Fazer John actually had a Fazer,
• how does Stuart's R1M feel on the B709,
• has the curse of the Simon struck yet again on a FEC Tour,
• how well does an Africa Twin camouflage in bracken,
• and much much – well, some – more...

Thanks to Paul and Jo at the amazing MCI Tours for being the grown-ups in the room, and – maybe maybe – see you on the next FEC Tour in 2025?

@Mufga
@SimonHbikes

Hello Geeks and Nerds, and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's Bestular Biking Podcast with him, me, and me, him. Or is it the other way round? Stick to the script! 

Anyway, your erstwhile hosts @SimonHbikes and @Mufga are, as always, indebted and in balls-deep with Bennetts, Britain's Bestular Bike Insurers, as voted for by the residents of Mavis Enderby for the fifth year running – and the quietly awesome bikesocial.co.uk, populated with over 6000 pages of news, views and reviews.

On the pod this fortnight we have words on: 
• Ducati's new V4 Panigale and the absence of a singularly-sided swingarm
• possibly Ducati's final V2 sportsbike, the Panigale V2 Superquadro Final Edition (the clue's in the name)
• the ongoing KTM cam drama
• the very quickly and efficiently executed Suzuki V-Strom 800DE recall (that's how ya do it lads)
• Bennetts BikeSocial new Bike Club (don't call it a forum but it is, no shame in that, I use them all the time)
• Kawasaki's hydrogen-powered prototype, and why we shouldn't take it too seriously because a) it'll never be practical and b) it's probably a corporate vanity project anyway
• Yamaha's decision to put their new auto-transmission on an MT-09, and will it wheelie? 
• ...which we discover Harley's LiveWire Costa Del Sol is more than capable of...
• plus loads of your FECsack emails containing thoughts, musings, amusing, ponderances and preponderances – sent in to:
anything@frontendchatter.com 

Thanks for your ears, and if you fancy two days riding around with Simon H (and Simon Weir) on the Road Test Experience, go to roadtestexperience.co.uk and sign up! 

Hello and welcome to FEC185, the new-bikes-for-2024 special version of Front End Chatter, Britain's fave motorcycling podcast with him Martin Fitz-Gibbons and him Simon Hargreaves.

But WAIT! Before you move on, thinking "Oh, I've already endured that pair of idiots nattering about the new bikes for 2024 in their EICMA Show review on the Bennetts BikeSocial YouTube channel they have these days,"... (to watch it, go to www.bit.ly/feconfilm)

...well – yes, that's what you're getting here; the audio version of the video, but one you can take on your travels while you're raking up fallen leaves on the lawn, walking the dog (or dogs if you have two of them), spannering in the garage (not heard it called that before) or even dogging on the treadmill in your local gymnasium. Jogging. I meant jogging.

But there's more! Because we're also revealing details of something far more important than the tired old toot the manufacturers are trying to foist on you in 2024. Because, dear FECers, we have details of not one, but TWO FEC Tours in 2024 – both flawlessly organised, as always, in conjunction with Paul from MCI Tours.

For the first tour, and to celebrate the 10th birthday of Front End Chatter (aka A Decade Of Drivel), FEC Tours is going international with a 10-day FECstravaganza – riding for two days across France down to the Pyrenees, spending three days exploring the sensational mountain passes, then another two days across to the fabulous Picos range in northern Spain before heading back to Santander and the leisurely cruise back to Plymouth – with a live podcast recording on the boat.*

*subject to sailing conditions and Brittany Ferries playing ball, which we're sure they will.

Viva FECspaña promises to be a spectacular motorcycling holiday and the trip of lifetime. The dates are: Sunday 2nd June (depart Portsmouth) to Tuesday 11th June (return Plymouth). Find more details here:

www.bit.ly/fecspain

The second tour is a little more modest in scope and commitment, as we FEC Up The Borders. Long overlooked by passing tourists, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway are regions of stunning riding and gorgeous scenery. FEC has (literally) taken over the Buccleuch Arms Hotel in Moffat, a legendary motorcycling establishment dedicated to serving the needs of hungry motorcyclists. We have an extensive ride-in and ride-out either side of two days exploring both areas including Britain's second-longest B-road, the birthplace of Steve Hislop (plus riding some the roads he surely cut his teeth on), a suite of border passes steeped in tribal history and legend, and the desolate splendour of the Galloway National Park. It's some of our fave riding in the UK.

The dates for FEC Up The Borders are: ride-in on Tuesday 30th July, ride-out on Friday 2nd July. More info here:

www.bit.ly/fecborders

STOP PRESS – the FEC Up The Borders Tour is almost sold out already, so get your enquiry in pronto to secure a place!

Only after putting up with all that – hope you enjoy the FEC Guide To 2024's New Bikes (well, the ones we're really interested in!).

Thank you for listening/watching, if you appreciate what we do please get your insurance from Bennetts and become a BikeSocial Member, email your thoughts and questions to anything@frontendchatter.com (normal service will be resumed next episode) and catch us on the socials:

@Mufga (wry commentary and nerdy tech stuff)
@SimonHbikes (drunken passive/aggressive shit-posting and paracord/bass guitars)

Aye.

Hello and welcome to Episode 184 of Front End Chatter, Britain's Bestest Biking Bodcast with him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and him, Simon Hargreaves – with thanks as ever to our patient and perfect partners Bennetts, the bike insurance specialisms, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the most informative and entertaining motorcycling website on the, er web. Is it still called the web? 

Anyway, check out the offers, discounts and competitions available should you choose to become a BikeSocial Member (free to Bennetts customers, £60 a year if not) – seriously, if you're planning on spending a few quid this year on tyres, kit and accessories, chances are the shop you'll buy them from has a discount offer with Bennetts – so sign up, ya fool!

Right, on with the show and today it's a bit of a FEC-sack Special because we're getting a bit behind with your emailed questions and queries – so it's all you today:
• whose leathers are on the wall of a hotel near the Nürburgring?
• great biking reassessments, such as Harley are technically advanced and Honda do think they can change gear better than you after all: with mandatory DCT and, now, Honda's Eclutch – another auto transmission. Honda really don't like manual gearboxes, do they? 
• plus, Martin recalls having to reassess adventure bikes after it became clear they were taking over the world
• how to regain a biking mojo
• how will BMW's front collision warning cope with 'progressive' riding in traffic? 
• best bike for long range commuting? 
• is the SWC300 any good? 
• do we grow out of modifying bikes?

And much much more...

Thanks for listening, please spread the word, please ring-fence a couple of dates in your diary – we have a FEC tour of Spain coming up in early June 2024, and a FEC tour of the Borders in late July 2024! YOU HAVE TO BE THERE! It's such a good time.

Also – keep your emails coming in to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's most foresighted motorcycling podcast and, as regular listeners, you don't need to be Nostradamus to know what we're going to say next. So no surprise it's a massive thank you to Bennetts, Britain's best motorcycle insurers, who continue to amaze and astound with a litany, nay, cornucopia of offers, competitions and nice things – one of which is bikesocial.co.uk with all the biking news, new bikes, consumer features and BSB info fit to eat. And check out Bennetts' YouTube channel coz it's amazing. And become a Bennetts BikeSocial Member and get access to all the above, for a paltry £60 a year – and it's free if you're insured with Bennetts. 

Right, after all that, onto the pod. And it's a Knobbly News kinda week, what with BMW's R1300 GS getting the full nerd-out in-depth detail – what's the motor/frame/suspension/styling, and how's it different, why's it different and will we like it? Plus Honda have nibbled at the Africa Twin and ruined the Adventure Sport by not importing a manual gearbox version (we love Honda, we really do, but blimey they make it hard sometimes). Meanwhile Suzuki unveil the V-Strom 800RE, possibly the most useful motorbike of 2024, and Triumph announce some prices. And in the green corner, literally, there's Kawasaki letting slip a small trump of details about the "Strong Hybrid Ninja 7" - a half battery, half petrol-powered 451cc parallel twin with what Kawasaki say is the fuel economy of a 250 combined with the performance of a 750 and the 0-60 of a ZX-10R, yeah right chinny chin chin (that bit wasn't in the press release).

And after all that, we FECsack about CX500s, commuting 100 miles a day and cramming a lifetime of motorcycle choices into a few years as you work out what kind of biker you are. 

Right, that's all for now. We should start a newsletter. Hey, that's a good idea. 

Email your thoughts and queries and desires and offers of, well, anything goes tbh but money's good, to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

Thanks for listening, you mad FECers you x

@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter Episode 182, live in front of a bunch o' FECers from the Elephant & Castle in Newtown, Wales!



Thanks as ever to Bennetts, the finest motorcycle insurers in the country, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the place to go for all your bike-related news, new bikes, tests and stories. Become a BikeSocial Member and take advantage of a plethora of offers, discounts and competitions. It just makes sense, ya heathens.

Anyway, on this episode of Front End Chatter, Simon and Martin natter about: 
• Suzuki's forthcoming GSX-8R, GSX-S1000X and V-Strom 800
• BMW's fifthcoming R1300 GS and F900 GS 
• Kawasakis sixthcoming EV-1s
• ...and much more, plus chat with the FECers on tour – where's the bar? 

Thank you for listening to Front End Chatter, and please send your questions, queries, thoughts and musings to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

I'm @SimonHbikes and he's @Mufga
 

Hello and welcome to Episode 181 of Front End Chatter, Britain's most electric, eclectic and eccentric motorcycling podcast, presented by hoary old motorcycle journalists Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons. We are as ever indebted and in cahoots with Bennetts, Britain's leading bike insurance experts, and BikeSocial.co.uk. No flipping, don't change that channel – check out the offers, competitions and discounts Bennetts offer and become a BikeSocial member to access them all even if, for some reason beyond the wit of man, you aren't insured with Bennetts. Don't take our word for it – see for yourself.

However, speaking as someone who always fails to take advantage of money-saving offers because I'm hamstrung by a belief that paying less than full value is somehow morally wrong (I don't like using loyalty cards because why should a supermarket item be cheaper for someone who has a 'loyalty card' than for someone who hasn't? An item should cost what an item costs for every human in that shop, regardless of where they habitually grant their custom). Mind you I'm perfectly happy to stream football matches off an eastern European website, so figure that one out.

On this episode of Front End Chatter we have topics as widely varied as:
• Triumph's new 660 Daytona and how middleweight sportsbikes now often less sporty than middleweight naked bikes

• Triumph's addition of user-lowered rear preload on Tiger 1200s to make them more usable for more people of inversely advantaged verticality

• why KTM's 890 Adventure R could be a forever bike, even if it doesn't last forever

• proving a Zero electric bike can manage a day's adventure (including off-road)

• and why every single commentator on YouTube, in print or on podcasts need their riding advice filtered through an 'it doesn't apply to me' filter – this stuff ain't Gospel, okay?

Anyway, that's enough for now because I'm on holiday and the wifi in the holiday cottage uploads at a prehistoric pace which, given I'm on the Jurassic Coast, is appropriate if not completely infuriating.

Please grace our inbox – anything@frontendchatter.co.uk – with your thoughts, queries, jokes, funny stories and any random stuff that passes across your grey matter.

Catch me and him here:
@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome back to Front End Chatter, Britain's most durable motorcycling podcast, with Simone Hargreaves and Marion Fitz-Gibbons – a pair of ye olde worlde motorcycle journalists like wot they had off them magazines they used to have, talking about bikes, talking about riding them, talking about remembering what it was like to ride them, talking about dreaming of riding them, and talking about other things as well. Or even better. There's more to life than bikes – you might think that's what you came here for, but bikes are just the start. 

Anyway, thank you to Bennetts, the marvellous bike insurers, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the best place on the web to locate all your motorcycling news, views and reviews. And check out their YouTube channel, whydontcher? 

On this mighty organ of FEC we have: 
• a chat about the BikeSocial group test of the Suzuki GSX-8S, Honda Hornet, KTM 790 Duke and Yamaha MT-07 
• Yamaha's Tracer 9 GT+ with added radar soup
• a bit of natter about manufacturers using throttle mapping to define the power delivery of their bikes
• KTM's upcoming 1390 motor, and what size it might actually be
• ...and do we really need more capacity, and is that what really sells new bikes? 
• plus some of your FECsack emails, including what bike best sums up the 1990s? 

Thanks again to everyone for your ears, and please write with your questions, thoughts, queries, jokes, funny experiences, and that time you met and he tried to get off with your girlfriend, to: 
anything@frontendchatter.co.uk

@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Hello everyone and welcome to episode 179 of Front End Chatter, Britain's Chattiest Motorcycling podcast with him Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and him, Simon Hargreaves – underpinned, as ever, by Bennetts, Britain's best bike insurer and BikeSocial.co.uk, the place to go for your biking info. 

And on this week's FEC we have: 
• EXCLUSIVE details of a special ADDITIONAL FEC tour THIS YEAR!

Yes, we've teamed up again with our friends at MCI Tours to bring you a FECin Welsh Weekend. When's that, I hear you ask?

I'm glad you did – the FECin Welsh Weekend is taking place from the afternoon/evening of Friday 22nd September, riding on Saturday and Sunday, departing Monday 25th September. JOIN US – on the best roads in Wales, officially selected by the Cannes Jury Of Mint Roads in Wales, Bach. 

Visit bit.ly/fecwales and get involved.

Also in this honestly massive episode of FEC (because bigger is better, right?)
• Ivan Cervantes, multiple enduro world champ and Triumph test rider speaks about his world record endurance ride on a Tiger 1200, doing 2493 miles in 24 hours – and also updates on the progress of Triumph's forthcoming range of enduro and motocross bikes

Plus! 
• all the info on two new technologies coming up on BMW's R1300 GS – radar-powered front collision warning system and a new suspension system with variable spring rate (haven't we heard this before? – Ed)
• details of Triumph's new 400 Scrambler X and Speed 400
• how to ride in the wet

...and if that's not enough, there's more of the same. Blimey.

Please keep your emails coming in – queries, thoughts, musings, amusings, funny stories, nothing too heavy if you don't mind, keep it light – to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

Aye. Youse brilliant, youse are.

@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Hello everybody and welcome to a Front End Chatter FECsack special. Special you say? Yes, very special indeed, thanks for asking.

Why so special? Special because in a change from FEC's (un)usual format, we've devoted a full hour to answering one single, solitary, lonely, individual question sent in by a listener. Well, you know, after 170-odd of these things, we figured it's about time we did one properly...

And as such it is the unbelievably enormously magnificently humongous pleasure of Britain's best bum-lickingiest biking podcast to welcome the one and only Adrian Morton - Britain's best bike designer - to the deepest deep dive (too soon?) you'll ever hear on:

• what it was like to work with (and then take over from) Massimo Tamburini
  - how the Cagiva, sorry, MV Agusta F4 750 came to life, and whether it can ever be repeated
  - how many designs does it take to get a footpeg right
  - who really designed the F3, despite what Wikipedia says
  - and much, much more, including the future of motorcycle design...

We hope you love this detour from our usual FEC waffling as much as we do. And if you'd like to contribute to our bulging FECsack of listener questions, please fire your ponderings through to anything@frontendchatter.com

Hello and welcome one and all to Front End Chatter, Britain's cakiest motorcycle podcast with she/him, Martina Fitz-Gibbons and it/blimey, Simone Hargreaves. As the country's leading formerly employed but subsequently jettisoned motorcycle journalistas, now freelancing for anyone with a gold sovereign and a glint in their eye, we're proud to be supported and stimulated by Bennetts, Brian's leading bike insurers, and BikeSocial.co.uk, more motorcycling news, reviews and blues clues on the web than the web really deserves. 

And on this mightily magnificent episode we have: 
• the NC500 and why it's not a Honda parallel twin, but a blummin' ace ride around the top of Scotland
• BMW's new M1000XR
• Kawasaki's new ZX-6R
• the price is announced for Kawasaki's ZX-4RR
• Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman dominate the 2023 TT
• how Triumph's Tiger 1200 is the fastest bike ever over the longest distance in 24 hours
• details of Bennetts High Performance Awards for bike clothing, taking the complexity out of bike kit protection ratings and why you should look out for it
• FECsack musings including why isn't cruise control fitted to smaller bikes, the best small-bore track bike, why bike modern bike seats don't always fit and much more...

Thanks for your ears, please keep your musings and queries and general thoughts coming to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

@simonhbikes
@mufga

Hello everybody, and welcome to a quick but exciting FEC cordially inviting you, dear FEC listener, to the Bennetts Snetterton Track Day on Thursday 13th July.

We're going, and we'd love you to be there with us for a chin-wag and a cup of coffee.

Bennetts BikeSocial trackdays aren't like other trackdays – they're WAY better.

As well as 7 x 20-minute track sessions, with novice, intermediate and advanced group options, you'll also get FREE action shots taken by a professional British Superbikes photographer, and be able to meet and ride on track with Mr John McGuinness.

An onsite BSB mechanic will offer set-up advice, a team of instructors will offer riding tips, and Yamaha track hire bikes are available to book. If you're a novice, this is the perfect introduction – there's an extended safety briefing if it's your first time, plus two free classroom sessions offering advice on body position and circuit riding.

And all of this costs just £139 – an absolute bargain.

Normally Bennetts trackdays are only available to BikeSocial members, but we've swung a deal to allow FEC listeners to come along too, even if you're not a BikeSocialist.

We'll be there, and we'll have a garage put aside exclusively for the use of FECers.

Obviously you will need all the usual trackday safety kit (ACU approved full-face helmet, full one-piece or complete zip-together two-piece leathers, proper boots and leather gloves and all the rest) plus a full length back protector, and a front brake lever guard or hand-guards, and your bike will need to meet the noise limit (102DB static / 92DB driveby).

To book, you'll need to head to the link below:

https://rewards.bennetts.co.uk/rewards/snetterton-trackday-13072023-discount-voucher-code

You'll find all the info you need, the terms & conditions, plus a link to take you through to book your place, at Snetterton, on Thursday 13th July.

See you there!

Hello one and all, and welcome to Episode 193 of Front End Chatter, Britain's best motorcycling podcast and winner of the coveted Wooden Microphone at the 2015 International Podcast Awards.

Thanks as ever to Bennetts, Britain's Best Bike Insurers – hey, "It's insurance by the people, for the people!" (you can have that for free, Newbs) – and bikesocial.co.uk, the website with all the news, reviews, twos, blues and clues. For youse. With lots of lovely YouTube content to digest too.

Right, on this episode of FEC we have:

• deets of BMW's R1300 GSA including its built-in coffee cup stand

• riding impressions of Yamaha's blingy MT-09 SP hooligan compared to Triumph's Street Triple RS

• Kawasaki's rad new H7 Hybrid with the acceleration of litre sports, the performance of a 650 and the fuel economy of a 250 (it says here)

PLUS a deep dive through the FEC sack where we chat about all things great and good, such as:

• should you buy a bike with your heart or your head?

• are auto transmissions the future and can motorcycling be *too* easy?

 • our thoughts on the KTM chocolate camshaft issues, and can history teach a manufacturer how to manage a reliability problem?

• how much do bike videos cost to make?

• is there any point to wings on road bikes?
...and much much more.

Please like and subscribe, tell everyone you know about the pod, and if you want to ask us a question, comment on any of the issues we've raised, start a new topic, ask for bike buying advice – get in touch and send us an email:

 
anything@frontendchatter.com

Thanks for listening, and see you again soon! 

@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Hello, good morning and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's best general-purpose biking podcast (apart from racing podcasts, of which there are many and excellent). This is Episode 177 of nonsense, the first since the FEC Grin Up North tour. And it's been a while because Simon and Martin have been busy eking a living from the dry, dusty soil of freelance motorcycle journalism. 

Thanks as always to Bennetts, with whom you ought to be insured for so many reasons – they're actually motorcyclists, for a start. And they support www.bikesocial.co.uk and its associated YouTube channel, where you can find road tests, launches, news, proper consumer advice and loads more genuinely useful, and entertaining, stuff. Check out becoming a BikeSocial Member, because the money-off offers alone are more than worthwhile – not to mention the competition offers. 

Anyway, on this episode of FEC Simon and Martin natter about: 

• The FEC800 Grin Up North Tour
• Martin's impressions of Suzuki's GSX-S1000 GT+
• Simon's impressions of Honda's Gold Wing
• Honda's DCT system and why it's taken 13 years for Simon to get over himself 
• why Ireland is SO NICE!
• speculation about BMW's M1000XR
• some truths about the hydrogen as an alternative fuel, and why the Japanese manufacturers have got together to find out it's probably not the answer
• your FEC Sack questions and queries including why changing your tyres is a Good Thing, why there's good riding in the south of England if you go looking for it, is Ducati's Monster defined by a trellis frame, and riding bikes before you were born. *From* before you were born, not actually pre-womb. 

Thanks for listening, send your questions, thoughts and lunatic ravings to anything@frontendchatter.com

Get me and Martin on the socials
@simohbikes
@Mufga 

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Boz. 

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter E176...

LIVE FROM THE 2023 GRIN OOP NORTH TOUR!

Yes folks, after a lengthy absence due to life, the universe and everything, Front End Chatter is back – and not only back, but back LIVE. Recorded in front of a hand-picked audience of FEC friends from a hotel in Lancashire, your hosts Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons talk a load of nonsense including:

• guff about the new Suzuki GSX-S 8S and why it might be better than Honda's Hornet

• guff about the new Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ and how it helps you brake

• Mufga goes trials riding with Inch Perfect Trials

• plus questions from the audience, including:
• how to set-up, or not, a GSX-S1000S

• why pillion seats are so small
• how to save motorcycling

• who will build the last petrol engine ever

And a bit more.

Thanks as always to Bennetts and BikeSocial.co.uk for their enduring and endearing support.

Thanks also to Paul at MCI Tours (www.mcitours.com) for organising and managing the FEC Grin Oop North Tour.

Thanks to the staff of Crooklands Hotel, Kendal, for their hospitality.

And, more than anything, thanks to our friends on the FEC Grin Oop North Tour 2023:
Matt, DJ, Peter, Jamie, Owain, Dale, Paul, Jono, George, John, Iestyn, Fazer John & Pamela, Andy & Carol, Stuart & Leonie, Stuart & Jenny, PJ, Connor, Matt, Avi and Jake.

@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Episode 175 of Front End Chatter, Britain's funkiest motorcycling podcast, presented by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons, supported as ever by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the best place to get your motorcycling news and other two-wheeled resources.

And on FEC175 we have:

• Simon becomes one of a handful of humans to ride both Suzuki's V-Strom 800DE and Honda's Transalp at their respective launches – find out what he thinks and which one might suit you

• KTM and MV Agusta re-organise their dealers (which only matters to the half of the podcast who owns an MV Agusta)

• Irish road racing is back on after securing £90,000 from crowdfunding and a renegotiation of their insurance premium, which is good news – although is this now going to be an annual issue?

• the first two races from World Superbike at Phillip Island and Mandalika

• plus more of our emails, including:

            - the when and where of throttle snatch

            - why can't I go round right handers?

            - how come Sikhs don't have to wear helmets?

            - recalibrating quickshifters – urban myth or actual thing?

            - why does my bum ache?

...and much more...

Thank you very much for listening, and please send your thoughts, queries and random comedy motorcycling moments to

anything@frontendchatter.com

@SimonHbikes

@Mufga

Dearest FECers, welcome to episode 174 of the long-running – well, it's our ninth birthday, apparently, Happy Birthday to us etc – motorcycling podcast brought to you by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and ably, nimbly and elastically supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists (and if you haven't yet, you really should) and bikesocial.co.uk, the world of wokecycling on the web. 

And on this episode of FEC we have: 
• Martin making his spring comeback on his MV
• top tips for getting back into it after a winter lay-off
• the current state of play on the roads in Ireland
• Simon rides BMW's R1250 RS and gets confused by Triumph's DRLs
• plus a bunch of FECmails including naming your bike, which Guzzi, does your confidence dip, and what a compression and why is it ratioed? 

Thanks for listening once more, please spread the word, and please keep sending your thoughts, ponderings, musings, anecdotes, jokes, questions and offers of, well, anything, to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello & welcome to Front End Chatter with him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and me, Simon Harararargreaves. This is episode #173 of a long-running saga, in which we are as ever indebted to Bennetts, the only bike insurers who actually invest a shed-load back into British motorcycling culture to promote the British Superbike series, create an ocean of free content at www.BikeSocial.co.uk, planted the seeds for a rich and fertile YouTube channel, and allow FEC to come in your ears once a fortnight. That's gotta be worth the entry fee. 

And on this fortnight's FEC we have a new bike blitz with the return of the sports 400 in the unlikely shape of Kawasaki's ZX-4RR, the return of the sports touring supermoto with KTM's 890 SMT, and the debut of Suzuki's V-Strom with a 21in front wheel.

We also dive into the FEC sack – and, in a break with tradition, we harvest it from the top down, responding to the most current emails first (mostly commenting on FEC172's rather depressing message about the end of life as we know it). 

Anyway, we're still here, you're still here, and bikes are still awesome. So we're good. 

Please keep the questions (bike choice or existential), plus any other queries, comments and funny stories, coming to us at:
anything@frontendchatter.com
Catch us on the socials at: 
@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Aye. 

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter Episode 172, hosted by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons and supported in their noble endeavours by Bennetts, the bike insurance gurus, and bikesocial.co.uk, the world wide web of wokorcycling. 

Bit of a special episode of FEC – c'mon, keep it light – as we visit the Motorcycle Industry Association annual conference and speak to the head of the MCIA, Tony Campbell, to find out what the great and the good of the British motorcycle industry are doing to prepare for the UK government's proposal to ban the sale of new petrol-engined bikes in just over a decade from now. It's not all bad news, but some of it might be. 

Thanks for listening, and please email your thoughts, reactions, questions and opinions to: 
anything@frontendchatter.com
Get us on the socials: 
@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter E171 and I'm a bit short on time this week so here's a condensed version of the usual word salad: FEC is a motorcycling podcast created by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves, a pair of motorcycle content creators (I wrote a load of other stuff here about crumbling ivory towers but thought the better of it and pressed delete).

Meanwhile, FEC is truly, deeply, madly proud to be supported and fertilised by the good people of Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and bikesocial.co.uk, the best motorcycling website in the world. Pay them a visit, check out what's going on, and get involved with Bennetts Membership with all its offers and discounts. And there are many. 

Bit of a slow news week for this episode, so in the absence of actual news worth repeating we have a deep dive into the FECsack instead, covering so many topics you might as well listen than have me type them out here, if that's ok? Ta. 

Please keep your thoughts, queries, musings and mumblings coming in to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

And thank you for your continued aural appreciation. 

@SimonHBikes
@Mufga 

Hello and welcome to episode 170 of Front End Chatter, the UK's finest motorcycling podcast with Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons (other finest motorcycling podcasts without Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons are available).

FEC is, as ever thus far, supported and ported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the greatest motorcycling website on the, er, web. 

And on this episode, we natter about: 
• birthdays, and why BMW are celebrating theirs like a death in the family
• prices for Suzuki's GSX-8S and P-Strom, and why maths isn't their strong point
• KTM's spy-shotted RC990, and possible the origins of its motor
• last chance for an exclusive place to the FEC tour 2023 (It's Grin (and indeed, Gin) Up North) before we spread the love on the internet
• our memories of ex-motorcycle journo John Cantlie
• plus loads of next bike recommendations, too late as usual but no-one ever does what we suggest anyway

Thank you for your listening ears throughout 2022, and 'ears to a similarly audible 2023. 

Please keep your thoughts, ponderings, musings and questions coming to anything@frontendchatter.com

@SimonHBikes
@Mufga
 

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's best biking podcast even if we – 'we' being Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves, a pair of motorcycling ne'er-do-wells who once had an opinion and now just have onions – do say so ourselves, which is just as well because no-one else does. 

Front End Chatter is as ever supported like a great surgical truss of benevolence by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and their media empire of bikesocial.co.uk, upon which one can find all the news, reviews, new bike and consumer tests one could wish for. And check out their YouTube channel too. 

On this esipode of Fnet Rund Chasser we have, for your aural delectation: 
• a bit of goss from that Motorcycle Live they had recently
• a thoroughly in-depth chat about Honda's new CB750 Hornet
• why World Superbike will be worth watching in 2023
• the return of KTM's 790 Duke and Adventure, only made in China and as we predicted ages ago
• details of the FEC Tour 2023 – It's Grin Up North! 
• plus a stack of your emails from the FECsack

Thank you for listening, and please keep your thoughts, queries and ponderings coming to: 
anything@frontendchatter.com

@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Episode 168 in the long-running series of Great Motorcycling Podcasts – yes, we're back after a late summer break in which one of us got married and one of us didn't. 

Thanks as ever to Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and BikeSocial.co.uk – supplying quality motorcycle news, reviews, videos, launches and consumer product tests longer than anyone can remember. No, not the consumer tests themselves; how long BikeSocial has been aro... oh never mind. 

Right, 168 is easy to describe:
• a big chatter about the finale of the MotoGP races of the season, who won, are the Japanese factories on the way out, and why it will be our last for a while
• tons of new bike news, including Honda's Transalp & Hornet 750 slugging it out with Suzuki's P-Strom 800DE and impossible-to-pronounce GSX-8S, plus a bit of green news from Kawasaki (geddit?), the most advanced radar system ever on the new Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+, revamped Triumph Street Triples and loads of stuff we forgot to mention. 

Thanks again for listening with your ears, and please send thoughts, questions and offers of pretty much anything to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Hello one and all, and welcome to a freshly squeezed episode of Front End Chatter, Britain's most absent motorcycling podcast featuring him, Simon Hargreaves, and him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons. 

We are, as always, indebted to and inebriated by Bennetts, Britain's best bike insurers, and biksocial.co.uk, the place to get all your news and views on motorcycling. 

And on this return to some kind of form, we have:
• what we've been up to (most of the episode, to be fair) including: the FECspagna tour of France and Spain on Suzuki's GSX-S1000 GX+ and BMW S1000 XR TE, Suzuki live, the ABR Festival, and a chat about the sudden appearance of auto gearboxes (including what, exactly, the definition of 'auto' is). 

Thank you for persevering and more episodes will be along shortly. 

Send emails, questions, queries and abuse to anything@frontendchatter.com 

@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello everyone, and welcome to episode 167 of Front End Chatter, Britain's poddiest motorcycling cast, supported as ever by nos amis at Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists and bikesocial.co.uk, not only the web's most informative and enlightening motorcycling website, but also refreshingly free of the nasty, irritating ads and pop-ups you get on other websites. So let that be a lesson. 

And on this FEC we rabbit about:
• the new Ducati Multistrada V4S Rally
• BMW's uprated S1000RR
• Honda's new CB750 Hairnet
• ...and which of those is the most important for the future of motorcycling
• the action from MotoGP in Thailand, including how Ducati are actually managing to beat themselves
• 42 MotoGP races at 21 MotoGP rounds next year, including one in Kazakhstan (why?) and India 
• Plus more ruminations from the FECsack 
• details of FEC at the NEC – yes, on the Black Horse stand talking with Jamie Whitham on Thursday 24th Nov

Thanks for your ears, and please send your thoughts, ideas, disputes and questions to:
anything@frontendchatter.com
Get us on the socials:
@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's chattiest motorcycling podcast with him, Simon Hargreaves and him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and supported as ever by the wonderful folk at Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the best biking website, er, on the internet.

And on E166 we have for your aural delectation:

• the fallout and the fall-offs from Aragon, son of Arathorn, including Marc 'Mayhem' Marquez
• a farewell to Dovi, the new Dani Pedrosa
• speculation around the new Honda Hornet 750 parallel twin and Transalp
• more speculation around Suzuki's forthcoming parallel twin adventure bike and roadster, including why it could be an 800, not a 700
• a whole thing about the future of motorcycling
• if there's anyone left, a bit of FECsack including Suzuki power modes, Groms, and how crash recovery isn't the same thing as breakdown recovery.
  
  Thanks for listening, please send thoughts, questions, contributions and other scribbled notes to
  anything@frontendchatter.com

@SimonHbikes

@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's best biking podcast, and episode 165 featuring him, Simon Hargreaves, and him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons. Front End Chatter is, forever and day, sponsored and supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists and www.bikesocial.co.uk – the best website on the planet to get your fix of news, views and reviews. 

Hot news – FEC will be *briefly* be on stage at the NEC at 11am Thursday 24th November at Motorcycle Live! Be there, and come prepared to FECkle! 

And also on this week's FEC we have: 
• MotoGP's plans for an additional Sprint Race in 2023
• Marc Marquez's Honda ultimatum
• the long-term future of Yamaha and Honda in MotoGP
• oh, and there was a race in Austria
• meanwhile, we take a guess at Ducati's seven new 'products' in 2023
• plus the usual deep dive in the FEC sack - your questions, queries, comments and thoughts - please send them to anything@frontendchatter.com

Thanks for listening! 

@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Episode 164 of Front End Chatter (or 'FEC' as it's also known around these parts) – a motorcycling podcast, ish, supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists and bikesocial.co.uk, the world of biking on the web. 

And on this episode of FEC we have: 
• a round-up of Silverstone MotoGP, for the benefit of the 26,000 people who went last year but didn't go this time.  
• Energica Experia – in a genuine ooo, Mufga test rides the best electric bike, by a mile, so far.
• Royal Enfield make the UK's best-selling big bike. 
• Triumph's Enfield Meteor rival, built by Baja .

All this and more, including ruminations from the FEC sack of listeners' emails. 

Thanks for listening, keep the emailed questions coming to: 
anything@frontendchatter.com

@SimonHBikes
@Mufga 

Hello and welcome to Episode 163 of Front End Chatter, Britain's most flavoursome motorcyclistic podcast with Simon Fitz-Gibbons and Martin Hargreaves if you're listening in black & white. 

Front End Chatter is supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the best place on the web to keep up to speed with all things two wheels (and don't forget the Bennetts' YouTube channel wot has tons of good stuff on it). 

And on this week's FEC we have: 

• testing jackets for RiDE magazine on the hottest day EVER 
• the splendour of a Bennetts' track day at Cadwell on an SV650
• World Supers from Donington
• running over cats and dead piglets
• does MotoGP visit democratic countries? 
• why boots squeak and how to fix it
• how much better is a Tracer 9 GT than a Tracer 900 GT?
• should we experiment with cornering ABS?

All this and much more, or less, depends on your point of view and the orientation of your ears. 

Thanks to everyone for listening, please keep your emails coming in to anything@frontendchatter and see you soon!

@simonhbikes
@mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Episode 162 of the long-running family of motorcycling podcasts featuring wayward sons Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons (combined motorcycle journalism age: 50+, combined mental age: -50), supported like a pair of workshy fops by the patriarchal benevolence of Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists and bikesocial.co.uk, the place on t'internet to get all your bike info. 

And on this week's FEC we have: 
• when does riding off-road stop being fun?
• Peco Bagnaia done for drink-driving and sticking his car in a ditch
• Suzuki cease World Endurance support as well as MotoGP – is it the beginning of the end? 
• detail on Ducati's V21L MotoE race bike (which exists and be ridden) and Triumph's TE-1 prototype (which exists but won't)
• bolt-ons that make you ride like an idiot
All this an much more... 

Thanks everyone for listening, please send your thoughts, feelings, emotive pleas and questions to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

Get us on Twitter and Insta:
@SimonHbikes
@Mufga

Welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's favourite biking and egg-throwing podcast, presented by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves, and supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and bikesocial.co.uk, the best and most complete motorcycling website on the, er, web.

On episode 161 of FEC:

• When is a MotoGP crash a mistake and when is it reckless riding, and what's the difference?
• what is a Maeving RM1 and are friends electric?
  • Mufga puts his best foot forward at the Royal Enfield Slide School
• RIP Steve Harris, one third of Harris Performance
• How much power is too much, and what does too much feel like?
• How do we ride with people who are slower than us, and is it ok to get a bit frustrated sometimes?
• Is a slow, safe rider a 'better' rider than a quicker but riskier rider?

All this and much more, including pillow-fighting.

Thanks for your ears, please spread the good word (and the bad ones), and get us on the socials:

@SimonHbikes

@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's Podcastiest Motorcycle, brought to you by Simone Hargreaves, Martina Fitz-Gibbons, Ben Nets (the bike insurance specialists) and bikesocial.co.uk (the best biking website on the er, web). 

And on this, the 160th episode, we have for your aural delectation, gossip about: 
• Marc Marquez – will he or won't he? 
• Suzuki – will they or won't they? 
• MotoGP – is it better than WSB or not? 
• The FEC800 – was it amazing, or was it amazing? 
• Simon's injury – is it broken leg or ankle? 
• Yamaha's Ténéré 700 World Raid – is it better than a Ténéré 700 or not? 
...and much, much more!

Thank you very much for listening, and please follow Simon and Martin on the socials: 
@Mufga
@SimonHbikes

And get your insurance from Bennetts, visit www.bikesocial.co.uk, subscribe to RiDE magazine and buy your kit from www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

Hello and welcome everyone to Episode 159 of Front End Chatter, Britain's Lengthiest Motorcycling Podcast – supported and extended by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and Bikesocial.co.uk, the best biking website on, er the web.

And on FEC159 we have: 
• MotoGP gossip from Portimao and Jerez
• the FEC800 is nearly upon us!
• Suzuki Bennetts BikeSocial Busa Bonanza
• the planned trials of 'noise speed cameras'
• more on motorcycling training in the US
• disappearing testicles and inopportune arousals
•... and plenty more where that came from

Thanks again for listening and please keep your thoughts, questions and poetry coming to anything@frontendchatter.com

And catch us on the socials:
@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Episode 158 of Front End Chatter, Britain's most sideways motorcycle podcast, supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the best place on the web for all your biking news, views and reviews. 

And on E158 we have: 
• the implications of Marc Marquez' remarkable ride at COTA
• what is going on with Alvaro Bautista's hair?
• The return of the Honda Hornet, but not as we remember it
• Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Rainey ride together again at Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Mufga's new bike revealed!
• why are some modern bikes too cramped to even fit an alarm?
• the merits of revamping your existing track bike instead of buying a new one
...plus much more! 

Thanks for listening, keep your questions, thoughts and admonishments coming to anything@frontendchatter.com

Follow me and him on the socials: 
@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome everyone to Front End Chatter, Britain's talkiest motorcycle podcast, and episode 157 presented by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves – supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the world of motorcycling on the web.

And on today's episode we cover the following ground:

• MotoGP gossip post Argentina but pre-Circuit of the Americas (well, the North Americas)
• will head-butting a herring gull write off your helmet?
• bar muffs – sensible and comfortable, or unforgiveable fashion faux pas?
• should you take your helmet as hand-luggage or checked-in hold luggage on a flight?
• does a wide helmet aperture reduce riding stress?
• suggestions for extending life of a high-compression two-stroke (no, really)
• best all-season daily textile jacket for under £200
• group riding as a confidence-builder
• and much much more

Thank you so much for continuing to grace us with your ears, and please keep your thoughts and questions coming to anything@frontendchatter.com

Catch us on the socials:

@SimonHBikes

@Mufga

Hello everyone and welcome to Front End Chatter, a motorcycling podcast of sorts in which Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons conspire, despite something like a combined half century in motorcycle journalism, to demonstrate the absence of having learned anything worthwhile. They are ably supported in their endeavours by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the best motorcycling website in the world. If you're insuring you bike, you'd be well advised to have a look at  Bennetts BikeSocial Membership scheme, which gives you access to a vast array of discounts, competitions, tracks days and events – including the upcoming Busa Bonanza: the chance for Hayabusa owners to come to Elvington near York and take their bike up the runway as often as they like. Details below.

Onto FEC Episode 156, among the contents of which you may find:

• guff from the second MotoGP race from Indonesia, including Marc Marquez – he gets knocked down, he gets up again... but how long can this go on?
• MotoGP Unlimited: hit or a miss?
• ex-500GP-and-lots-more old-age-race-ace Jeremy McWilliams wins a race in the US on an American V-twin for the first time since 2010, when he last won a race in the US on an America V-twin
• Busa Bonanza details, and why going fast in a straight line is a Good Thing
• KTM 790 Duke makes a comeback after a colossal one year's absence
• Honda Hawk, a modern café racer based on the, take a guess, yes, the Africa Twin platform
• Triumph's Tiger 1200 ridden, rated, and is it as good as a GS?
  
  There isn't lots more, because that's it for this week! Lots of FEC-sack emails thoughts, questions and ponderings in FEC158, promise!

Thanks for listening and supporting FEC, and please continue to spread the word!

Follow Simon and Martin on the socials at:

@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Busa Bonanza details!
Calling all Hayabusa (and B-King) owners, road legal or otherwise… how would you like to attend our event in conjunction with Suzuki GB for as many high-speed runs as you want?

What?
We're calling the event, The BikeSocial Busa Bonanza!

BikeSocial and Suzuki GB are inviting all Suzuki Hayabusa (and B-King) owners, road legal or otherwise, to a disused two-mile long airfield for a chance to run their bike flat-out.

Straightliners, the drag racing events experts, will use their immense experience to operate the event with support from BikeSocial and Suzuki GB. Bikes that have run at over 200mph will also be running, and a team of experts will be on hand to help with launches and body positions.

Free professional photos, as well as a commemorative printout of the registered speed at ½ mile and one-mile intervals, and a beautiful sticker(!) will form part of the record of your day.

Suzuki GB will bring several of the latest generation Hayabusa models which can be booked for a trial on the day.

The 2022 Buildbase Suzuki team who'll be competing in the Bennetts British Superbike championship will be in attendance along with riders Christian Iddon and Danny Kent, fresh from the season's opening round at Silverstone.

Come on, how many opportunities will you get to feel what 170mph+ is like?!

Where?
Elvington Airfield, Yorkshire, YO41 4AU. A former RAF base.

When?
Tuesday, 26th April 2022, 10.30am – 5pm. Gates open from 8:30am. First runs at 10:30 following the safety briefing. No need to pre-register, just turn up. Spectators are welcome too but it'll only be Hayabusa's and B-King's permitted on the runway!

How much?
After a £5 entry fee per person (rider, pillion or spectator), the opportunity to run-what-you-brung along the runway will be free of charge for BikeSocial Members, but there'll be a one-off £10 charge for non-members.

There is no restriction on the number of runs between 10.30am – 5pm.

Small print:
Riders will be required to sign an indemnity and have their riding gear checked (one-piece leathers preferred though 2-piece leathers must zip-together all the way around) then they'll receive a sticker for their bike and a wristband for themselves.

Only once a safety briefing is completed can the rider join a queue to be escorted to the beginning of the runway.

Only one bike at a time will be permitted on the runway.

The noise restriction is 105dB static.

For those wishing to book one of the latest Suzuki Hayabusa road bikes to test on the runway, you need to provide your licence and DVLA check code. You will be entitled to two runs.

Spectators: £5 (under 16s free but must be accompanied by a fee-paying adult).

BikeSocial members must bring their policy or membership number.

We look forward to welcoming you to Elvington, and don't forget to tell all your Hayabusa owning friends!

For further information or any questions, please email us on enquiries@bikesocial.co.uk or join the discussion at the Busa Bonanza Facebook Events page

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter E155, the Ben Bostrom episode, presented by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons from Chatter Manors, ably supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance experts, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the place for all your motorcycle news, launches, reviews, road tests, product tests and racing.

And on this edition of FEC we have:

• the first round of MotoGP 2022 from Qatar and matters pertaining...
• as Triumph announces the restarting of bike manufacture in the UK, would you pay more for a bike assembled in the UK instead of elsewhere in the world?
• should tech development in MotoGP, like carbon discs and shapeshifters, be limited to relevance on road bikes?
• Honda's V4 history filtered through the FEC mangle

...and much more – nearly two hours' worth of chatter and bobbins.

Thank you very much for your ears, please keep your emails, thoughts, opinions and musings to anything@frontendchatter, and catch Martin and Simon the socials...

@SimonHBikes

@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter E154, and – please put your lips together and pipe us a tune – it's our 8th birthday! That means Simon has been making Front End Chatter for 14% of his life – and 20% of Mufga's.

Front End Chatter is proud, nay, positively tumescent to be sponsored and supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and their multimedia wing, BikeSocial.co.uk. We implore, nay we beseech you to get your bike insurance with Bennetts – bike insurance run by motorcyclists, FOR motorcyclists, and putting more back into the industry than any other bike insurer, FACT. From BSB sponsorship to their YouTube channel with bike reviews and features and kit and gear tests, to the BikeSocial website with news, stories and tests – right through to BikeSocial Membership which gives you access to tons and tons of cool stuff such as: discounts at Sportsbikeshop, money off Yoshimura and Akrapovic exhausts, R&G stuff, Evotec stuff, a VIP weekend at the Nick Sanders Expedition Centre, and bargain track days exclusively for Bike Social members.

Anyway, before all that, a bumper episode of FEC including MotoGP testing from the disintegrating Mandalika circuit, rants about MotoGP Unlimited, surprising indifference to the news Wayne Rainey is riding at Goodwood Festival of Greed Speed, the new Yamaha Ténéré Wordle Raid, and a slew of lovely listener emails.

Keep 'em coming to anything@frontendchatter.com

And catch Simon and Martin on the socials at

@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front Endy Prongs number 153 in the long-running cerealised podcast of motorcycle-related things, sponsored forever and a day by Bennetts, the prince among Thebes of bike insurance specialists – and bikesocial.co.uk, the number one place to go for bike-related news, reviews and product and kit tests. And check out Bennetts' YouTube channel, with all the lovely lovely lovely moving images contained therein. 

Now, to business. This week Simon and Martin natter about: 
• MotoGP testing from Sepang
• sending long termers back to importers in a crate
• taking the bodywork off test bikes on location
• Norton ex-boss Stuart Garner pleads guilty
• Triumph's TE-1 electric Speed Triple ready for testing
• BMW's 2022 K1600 reviewed
• and a tone of other stuff, including a smattering of your lovely lovely lovely emails

Thanks for continuing to indulge our witterings, and please continue to send emails with thoughts, queries and questions to 
anything@frontend chatter.com

Catch us on the socials at: 
@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome everyone to Front End Chatter, Britain's Best Predominantly Road-Based Biking Podcast, with Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons supported for the 100th time by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and bikesocial.co.uk for all your motorcycle news, launches, reviews, road tests, product tests and racing.

And on episode 152 this week we have:

• quiz time: who had 152 MotoGP podiums in their career?
• Marc Marquez is making his comeback, but in his 10th season he's basically the old timer of the class now
• 2021 has given BMW and Ducati their best-ever sales results – but where in world do they sell the most?
• RIP to the man inspired a generation to ride bikes (okay, maybe just me), Mr Meatloaf

Plus FECsack specials including:

• got any good tips for sportsbike touring?
• what used litre sportsbikes will get me into the fast group?
• how a Grand Prix could be coming to Lincolnshire

Plus loads more – about 2 hours' worth. Blimey.

Thanks for lending us your ears, and please send your questions, queries and thoughts to:
anything@frontendchatter.com

And catch Simon and Martin on the socials:

@SimonHBikes

@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, possibly Britain's longest-running motorcycling podcast, don't sue us, we haven't done the maths, and welcome to episode 151, supported and enhanced as ever by the presence and patronage of Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and bikesocial.co.uk – the place get all your news and views and reviews of new bikes, used bikes, kit tests and everything happening in motorcycling.

And on Front End Chatter E151 we have a FECsack special, partly because there's no news to speak of (apart from Petrucci being a star), and partly special because Simon read the wrong emails. We hope you enjoy! 

Thanks again to Bennetts and bikesocial.co.uk, and please keep your thoughts, questions and ideas coming to: 
anything@frontendchatter.com

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter Episode 150, presented as ever by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves, and supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialist, and bikesocial.co.uk, your one-stop on the interwebs for everything bike-related – and don't forget to check out Bennetts' YouTube channel with a stack of new bike launch videos, consumer advice and how-tos.

And on this Christmassy episode we have:

• Some bad bike jokes
• FEC at the NEC; our chat on stage with Mr Jamie James Whitham live at Motorcycle Live
• Triumph's new Tiger 1200 gets more from less
• BSA's Goldstar gets something from nothing
• Ducati's Desert X gets it white first time
• John McGuiness returns to Honda for the NW and TT
  
  Plus
• why Sargent seats are good
• how having kids changes motorcycling
• synthetic fuel alternatives to electric as the future
• ...and loads of chit-chat in between

Thanks to all of you for downloading and giving FEC a listen, please continue to spread the word, and please keep your thoughts, queries, questions and musings coming in to 
anything@frontendchatter.com

...Ands catch us both on the various socials:
@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, and is it that time already? This, in all its error-strewn glory, is episode 149 of the biking podcast presented by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves in which they attempt to steer a smooth path between pot-holes on the A87 of modern motorcycling, and avoid denting their rims. 

Front End Chatter is, as ever, proud to be supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and Bikesocial.co.uk, the best website in the world for getting all your motorcycling news, reviews, product tests, racing info and first rides of the latest bikes. 

And on FEC this week Simon fails to understand much about anything, leaving Martin to soldier on nattering about: 

• EICMA No-Show – the big Italian bike show normally flush with new bikes... but minus some big names this year...
• new Bimotas, Hondas – including the resurrection of the Hornet, by name at least – Kawasakis, Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta
• Toprak Razgatlioglu finishes the WSB season in dominant style by losing the final two races but winning the title
Plus samples from the FEC-sack, including:
• what would a bi-directional track day be like as a way of teaching on-road rider training?
• what bike would we love to ride but never want to own? 
• what bike would we love own despite there being more exciting rivals?
• what bikes were ahead of their time, failed, but would be a success now?
• what are our best, or closest, near misses?
• plus lots, lots more

Thanks for listening, please keep your mails coming to anything@frontendchatter.com

Come and see us at Motorcycle Live at the NEC on Thursday 9th at 11am, catch us on the socials:
@SimonHBikes
@Mufga

And thank you for your ears. 

Hello and welcome to episode 148 of the long-running motorcycling podcast otherwise known as Front End Chatter, presented before your brain by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons and supported like a bridge over troubled water by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and bikesocial.co.uk, the place to get all your bike news, reviews, product tests and racing.

And on this week's episode Simon and Martin blather about:

• goodbye and farewell to you-know-who, managing to make the very last lap of his career one of his most impressive
  • what's his legacy, what was his finest moment, and what was his worst?
• more MotoGP farewells from Petrucci and Mr Steve Day
• Marc Marquez' eye injury – what does it mean long term for Marquez, Honda and Repsol?
• Jack Miller racing a Panigale V4 R in the Australian Superbike Championship
• the passing of Paul Smart, Ducati legend and all-round great bloke

Plus a bunch of new bike reviews:

• Ducati's Multistrada V4 Pike Peak
• Honda's NT1100 tourer
• Ducati's 'new' Multistrada V2 S
• Aprilia's Tuareg 660

And finally, news of the FEC800 Tour 2022 – and go see FEC at the NEC on Thursday 9th December on stage with James Whitham, where Simon and Martin will be talking bobbins about the best bikes of 2021 and what we're looking forward to 2022…

Hello everyone, two, three here we go and welcome to Front End Chatter episode 190 in series one of Britain's best (or at least longest-running) podcast-flavoured semi-occasional long-form motorcycling nattertainment, no thanks to him, Simon Hargreaves, and even less to him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons.

FEC has been FECing for a whole FECing decade now, mostly thanks to two things: not knowing when to quit; and the tireless support and encouragement and assistance of Bennetts, easily Britain's best bike insurers. You need some of that motorcycle insurance they have these days? Actually, that's not really a question. You need some of that motorcycle insurance they have these days! And you should head directly to Bennetts.co.uk to get it, or at least get a quote for it. Not only are they wonderful people who put back in the bike industry (like, cough, this load of free ear-muck), but if you buy your policy direct you'll get a year's free BikeSocial membership, which unlocks all manner of exclusive discounts, competitions, offers and experiences like some kind of cheat code for your wallet.

And in this episode, we have:

- Honda's new E-Clutch, ridden and rated - have Honda finally figured out a way to overthrow the manual transmission after nearly 70 years of trying?
- Triumph Tiger 1200 - only two years old and already updated, well a bit, but also a hell of a lot.
- BMW R1300GS - what's it like compared to the R1250GS, and what will BMW do with the Adventure?

And a hearty shuffle through the bulging FECsack, including
* Street Triple - standard or R?
* Guess the shaft-drive, garage-wood inducing tourer
* How long do helmets really last, really?
* The Biking Ladder - is it a load of tosh?
* Fun bikes for occasionally taking a pillion (who may or may not be fun)
* Best tyres for a Tenere
* Credit where Viva FECspana credit is (over)due

Please keep topping our FECsack up by emailing your thoughts, wonderings, ponderings and observances to anything@frontendchatter.com

And it's not too late to join us on a 10-day biking tour of a lifetime! Viva FECspana takes in amazing best roads in France and Spain, fab company and lush hotels. Don't miss out on the highlight of your summer - bit.ly/fecspain

And, as ever, find us on the socials: @SimonHbikes and @Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, and episode 147 of the world's most motorcycling podcast performed by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves, supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and www.bikesocial.co.uk, the number one place on the web to carbon capture all the info fit to eat on anything to do with news, new bikes reviews, gear guides and kit tests, used bike info and all manner of racing stuff. 

So on this episode of Front End Chatter we have a trundle on about:

• a new MotoGP champion, a retiring MotoGP champion and a MotoGP champion returning to form
• why are there no mean, moody bastards in racing any more, and do we miss them?
• WSB's knobbled Kawasakis and does it undermine the legitimacy of Yamaha's success? 
• Ducati's shock entry into the MotoE world cup
• new bike news including Honda's NT1100, Suzuki's GSX-S1000 GT, Ducati's Multistrada V2 and Triumph's Tiger 600 Sport
• good lids for oblong heads
• what are the best and worst adventure bikes to take on a track? 

All this and more in E147 of Front End Chatter. Thanks for listening, and please keep your emails, thoughts, queries and questions coming to: 
anything@frontendchatter.com
And also – if you fancy being part of a crowdfunded road test, check out Twitter: 
@SimonHbikes
@Mufga
And don't forget, only a couple of rooms left on the FEC800 Tour! Email for info!

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter E146, the UK's most iambically pentametered motorcycling podcast, poetically performed and produced by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves, and perennially supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and www.bikesocial.co.uk, the happeningiest place to go for offers, deals and square meals – if you can buy it for your bike or your riding life, you can get discounts and cool points with Bennetts BikeSocial. Fact.

And on this episode of FEC we have:

• Bagnaia and Bastianini go big in Misano, plus a bit of wow from Aragon the week before
• A look at the career of Chaz Davies, who's called WSB a day, so... see you at Darley Moor
• Suzuki's new GSX-S1000 GT – is it good value or not, and should we be excited or not?
• Ducati's Desert-X – a Multistrada in an off-road frock? Or an entirely new 'middleweight' adventure bike (we don't invent these categories... oh, hang on, we do)
• Triumph's new Tiger 1200, with a T-plane crank, and how it'll fare against BMW's R1250 GS – featuring the return of the Mufgulator and some educated guesses on the Tiger's actual capacity, bore x stroke, and a prediction on its power output
• Plus more of your thoughts, musings and questions from the FEC-sack
  
  Thanks for listening, and keep an eye out for details of the FEC800, a tour around Scotland's Greatest Hits in May 2022 and to which you are all cordially invited to ride with Simon and Martin, and drink beer in the evening. Full details on the socials: 
  
  @SimonHbikes
  @Mufga
  
  
  

Hello and go away to Front End Chatter, the UK's most motorcycling podcast featuring aural nonsense from Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves. This is episode 145, supported and nourished by Bennetts Bike Social; so much more than just bike – and now car – insurance: check out their website to discover the multifarious munificent benefits of membership. And, if you're at all interested in Yamaha's Tracer 9 GT v Triumph's Tiger 900 GT Pro v BMW's F900XR v Kawasaki's Versys 1000 SE GT, check out the road test video at https://youtu.be/C5SJO6trgz8

Anyway, on this week's moany, miserable-ass FEC we have:

• on-the-scenes goss from the British MotoGP at Silverstone, including why Mufga loved being there on Saturday and Simon hated it
• Dorna's race feed going down just before the race
• Marquez crashing out *again* and why he's the crashingiest rider this season
• Aprilia's... we can't call it a resurrection so let's just call it an erection...
• WSB gets a mention with some fab racing from Magny Cours – and some scandalous losing
• more new bikes from Triumph with a teaser for the all-new Tiger 1200 and leaked shots of the new Speed Triple RR
• ...and the new Moto Guzzi V100 – all-new water-cooled engine, with fins, with fairly *interesting* looks...

Plus the FEC sack, including:

• changing pads to change braking character
• re-setting the quickshifter on an S1000XR
• a touching story about becoming emotionally attached to items of bike clothing
• when is a tubeless tyre not a tubeless tyre? Answers please, because we don't know...

And much, much more – including more info on the first, and perhaps only, FEC Tour coming in May 2022...

Thank you for listening, please keep your questions and thoughts coming in to:

anything@frontedchatter.com

And get us on the socials:

@SimonHBikes

@Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter Episode 144, Britain's – nay, the world's – most irreverent motorcycling podcast, with Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves. Thanks as ever to Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the world of motorcycling on the web, for their unwavering support (especially while the new wing of Chatter Manors is built).

And on this week's episode we have:

• what year would Kenny Roberts Snr have retired if he'd had Rossi's career longevity?
• excerpts from the Secret Diary Of Maverick Vinales, Age 14 and a half, and does he need sympathy or a stiff talking-to, or possibly both?
• ...but if you think Vinales' behaviour is odd, wait until you hear what Miguel Oliveira's been up to
• ...and we finally get an explanation as to why Rossi's not come first for ages
• plus, the will-they/won't-they Isle Of Wight road race saga continues
• ex-Norton boss Stuart Garner is in the dock
• Triumph's new half-faired sporty-ish Speed Triple 1200RR...
• ...and Triumph's also new Tiger 660, based on the Trident
• speculation about Yamaha's sporty MT-09, the R9
• can we put E10 fuel in our tanks? Mufga has the answer (for SV650s)
• plus your FEC sack queries and thoughts...

PLUS! A vague hint about a potentially forthcoming FECing tour of Scotland sometime next year – gauging interest, what do you think? Fancy going for a big ride with Simon and Martin, involving bikes, beer and banter? Let us know at FECtours@frontendchatter.com

Thanks super so much for ears and support, please keep the FEC mails with your thoughts, queries and mad ideas coming in to anything@frontendchatter.com

Get us on the socials:

@SimonHbikes

@Mufga