NATTY MIDDLEWEIGHT ADVENTURERS!

Ducati Multistrada V2/Triumph Tiger Sport 660

There’s still plenty of interest in heavyweight adventure bikes these days – but a lot of folk definitely prefer something a little less behemoth-like. The middleweight adventure-touring sector is on fire with loads of options, and both Ducati and Triumph have released new contenders.

The Multistrada V2 is, as expected, a fairly modest update on the already great Multistrada 950. It uses the 113bhp 937cc Testastretta motor off the Hypermotard and Supersport in a smaller, lighter, cheaper Multistrada chassis. There’s been a bit of weightsaving on the engine and chassis – it’s about 5kg lighter than the old 950 at 199kg (202kg for the S model) – but Ducati’s not held back on the kit list. You get the full beans electronics package: IMU ABS and traction, rider power modes, and options for quickshifter and cruise control. The S version has Ducati Skyhook semiactive suspension, standard quickshifter and cruise, plus a colour LCD dash and cornering headlights. The mighty V4 Multistrada is still the king, but if you don’t need a massive 160bhp weapon, the V2 makes a lot of sense. It costs from £12,495, with the V 2 S starting at £14,495

Triumph’s Tiger Sport 660 is a level down from the Multistrada in terms of performance and cost – 80bhp and £8450– and is aimed at the lower middle weight class; your Yamaha Trace r 700 and Kawasaki Versys 650 level, rather than the Ducati. It’s heavily based on last year’s entry-level Trident roadster, so has the same 660cc triple engine and steel tube frame with fairly basic road-biased running gear. The Showa suspension only has rear pre-load adjustments, while the Nissin brakes use sliding twin-piston calipers up front. The equipment list is decent: colour LCD dash, power modes, switchable traction control and ABS, plus LED lighting, manual-adjustable windscreen and integrated mounts for the accessory hard luggage options.

There’s little sign of any clarity for foreign trackday fans when it comes to shipping bikes into the EU post-Brexit. A press release from the National Motorcyclists’ Council (NMC) attempts to clear up confusion surrounding the current situation, but for the moment there remains a number of uncertainties around taking bikes out of the country, especially at the popular UK-France crossings.

If you’re riding your bike across for a tour or whatever, then there’s nothing to worry about – apart from carrying your licence, V5 logbook and having a UK sticker on your numberplate. Similarly, if you’re taking your own bike in a van or on a trailer and you’re present, so long as you have all the paperwork – V5, driving licence, and a letter from your mum – you should be okay to carry on to your trackday.

However, if you’re sending your bike in a van a courier or mates and you won’t be there (if you’re flying down separately, say), then you may run into problems. Your bike is freight being carried by a third party, so third-country customs rules apply, even if the bike is abroad for just a few days.

There is the ATA Carnet system which can be used to temporarily import things like non-roadregistered motorbikes, two sets of slicks and race wets on wheels and large Snap-On tool chests into the EU, but it’s expensive and bureaucratic. And according to the NMC, the precise situation is not at all clear for bikers.

“The UK Customs and Excise department give you different answers depending on who you asked and the day of the week,” said NMC chair Anna Zee, “I.e. they didn’t know.”

And it doesn’t seem like there will be hard and fast rules any time soon. Anna Zee again: “Sadly, the Cabinet Office is hitting brick walls when it comes to third parties shipping bikes into the EU. Customs counterparts on the other side of the Channel are so far unwilling to offer a solution to the problem.

“Given that there is no ‘single market’ as such in border crossings, each government has a different view and the EU has yet to regard the matter as a priority.

“The NMC will be stepping up pressure at the political end of things on the UK side, as although Government officials have been incredibly helpful, ministers themselves will now need to step in on the issue to support the efforts of officials.”

For the moment, then, if you’re sending a bike to a EU trackday and you won’t be with it, get some advice from the trackday firm and see if they have an organised transport route with the correct paperwork etc. It might save a load of cash and grief – including being turned away at the French or Spanish borders.