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 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 <a href="http://BikeSocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BikeSocial.co.uk</a>, 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 <a href="http://bit.ly/fecwales" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bit.ly/fecwales</a> 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: <a href="mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> Aye. Youse brilliant, youse are. @SimonHbikes @Mufga

Front End Chatter #179

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 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: <ul> <li>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...</li> </ul> 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

Front End Chatter Bonus Episode

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 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 <a href="http://BikeSocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BikeSocial.co.uk</a>, 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: <a href="mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> @simonhbikes @mufga

Front End Chatter #178

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 &amp; conditions, plus a link to take you through to book your place, at Snetterton, on Thursday 13th July.  See you there!

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: <a href="https://rewards.bennetts.co.uk/rewards/snetterton-trackday-13072023-discount-voucher-code" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> https://rewards.bennetts.co.uk/rewards/snetterton-trackday-13072023-discount-voucher-code</a> You’ll find all the info you need, the terms &amp; conditions, plus a link to take you through to book your place, at Snetterton, on Thursday 13th July. See you there!

Front End Chatter #SnettertonTrackDay

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, 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 <a href="http://www.bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bikesocial.co.uk</a> 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 <a href="mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> Get me and Martin on the socials @simohbikes @Mufga  This episode is dedicated to the memory of Boz.

Front End Chatter #177

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 &amp; Pamela, Andy &amp; Carol, Stuart &amp; Leonie, Stuart &amp; Jenny, PJ, Connor, Matt, Avi and Jake. @SimonHbikes @Mufga

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 <a href="http://BikeSocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BikeSocial.co.uk</a> for their enduring and endearing support. Thanks also to Paul at MCI Tours (<a href="http://www.mcitours.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.mcitours.com</a>) 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 &amp; Pamela, Andy &amp; Carol, Stuart &amp; Leonie, Stuart &amp; Jenny, PJ, Connor, Matt, Avi and Jake. @SimonHbikes @Mufga

Front End Chatter #176

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

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 <a href="http://BikeSocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BikeSocial.co.uk</a>, 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 <a href="mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> @SimonHbikes @Mufga

 Front End Chatter #175

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 

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 <a href="http://bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikesocial.co.uk</a>, 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: <a href="mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> @SimonHBikes @Mufga

Front End Chatter #174

Hello &amp; 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 &amp; 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 <a href="http://www.BikeSocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.BikeSocial.co.uk</a>, 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: <a href="mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> Catch us on the socials at:  @SimonHBikes @Mufga Aye.

Front End Chatter #173

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 Episode 172, hosted by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons and supported in their noble endeavours by Bennetts, the bike insurance gurus, and <a href="http://bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikesocial.co.uk</a>, 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:  <a href="mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> Get us on the socials:  @SimonHBikes @Mufga

Front End Chatter #172

Britain's best biking podcast, with Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons

Well rounded show with added bonus of answering &amp; advising listener questions.

High Fun Factor

No other moto pod like it. Best guys, best moto podcast there is, period.

World’s Best

Front End Chatter

Front

Hello and welcome to the podcast they said would never happen – 'they' being 'us' – yes, it's Front End Chatter E101 – the one hundred and one-est motorcycling podgasm in the world.   And thanks as ever to the munificent and mellifluous melodians of motorcycling, Bikesocial.co.uk, and the brains behind the beauty, Bennetts the bike insurance specialists.   In E101 we have:   • our biking Room 101s (as suggested by Mian Cowell but whom I suspect we forgot to credit!) including:    – Steppenwolf    – Polite vests     – riding certificates     – the good old days      – PR    – track tyre pressure obsession    – moaning about other riders' kit • plus! all the fact -free opinions from Silverstone MotoGP (which, yes, seems like a long time ago but was only last weekend ffs) • opinion about new bikes, including Triumph's Daytona 765, Honda's 1100 Africa Twin, and Triumph's Tiger 900... and a radical guess at Suzuki's 2020 range...  • plus #2 – emails on topics as diverse as: • helmet HUDs • heated visors • how a KTM 1290 and 1050 have the same gearing apart from top gear • best sub-500cc second bike for a short all-year commute • why learning to ride in your 30s might save biking • what are wire crash barriers all about?  • best underwear for hot weather and long distances  All this and much more, so give FEC a go!  Thanks again to Bennetts and Bikesocial.co.uk, thanks to you for listening (please continue to spread the words!), thanks to all race commentators everywhere for giving us free plugs, and get FEC on Twitter @SimonHbikes and @Mufga.      

Hello and welcome to the podcast they said would never happen – 'they' being 'us' – yes, it's Front End Chatter E101 – the one hundred and one-est motorcycling podgasm in the world.  And thanks as ever to the munificent and mellifluous melodians of motorcycling, <a href="http://Bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bikesocial.co.uk</a>, and the brains behind the beauty, Bennetts the bike insurance specialists.  In E101 we have:  • our biking Room 101s (as suggested by Mian Cowell but whom I suspect we forgot to credit!) including:    – Steppenwolf    – Polite vests     – riding certificates     – the good old days      – PR    – track tyre pressure obsession    – moaning about other riders' kit • plus! all the fact -free opinions from Silverstone MotoGP (which, yes, seems like a long time ago but was only last weekend ffs) • opinion about new bikes, including Triumph's Daytona 765, Honda's 1100 Africa Twin, and Triumph's Tiger 900... and a radical guess at Suzuki's 2020 range...  • plus #2 – emails on topics as diverse as: • helmet HUDs • heated visors • how a KTM 1290 and 1050 have the same gearing apart from top gear • best sub-500cc second bike for a short all-year commute • why learning to ride in your 30s might save biking • what are wire crash barriers all about?  • best underwear for hot weather and long distances All this and much more, so give FEC a go! Thanks again to Bennetts and <a href="http://Bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bikesocial.co.uk</a>, thanks to you for listening (please continue to spread the words!), thanks to all race commentators everywhere for giving us free plugs, and get FEC on Twitter @SimonHbikes and @Mufga.

Front End Chatter #101

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter Episode 94, and the clue’s in the name: for the 94th time, two hoary old motorcycle journalists stand around and make front noises into a pair of microphones for your auralisation – fertilised and fermented by bikescocial.co.uk (the world of motorcycling on a website) and Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists. Good old Bennetts. And this week we have, for your listening infuriation:    gossip and stats from Le Mans MotoGP, including Marquez showing Lorenzo how to stay upright, and Quartararo showing Marquez how to be faster by not crashing who’ll top the TT timesheets this year? Mud, sweat and beers with two days and 350 miles in Wales, following a rally-style route map on road and off on a Scrambler 1200XE News and first impressions from the launch of long-awaited, entry-level Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 and hilarious, expensive XSR700 XTribute How young is too young to ride a bike? And what’s the best route into riding for youngsters? Why aren’t there more Ducatis racing at the TT? What’s the best big naked bike for touring? How to avoid the buffering wheel of death on the online MotoGP feed Is it an unwritten rule of bikes that you need to go fast, and does that put people off? And much, much more...  Many thanks for listening to FEC and please come to Cadwell Park on 13th August where, alongside a Bennetts track day, we’ll be recording FEC E100 – LIVE! Wow. Are we?  Please send your thoughts, jokes, contentions and opinions to:   anything@frontendchatter.com  And catch Simon and Martin on the social medias @SimonHBikes @Mufga  Thanks again for listening! X

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter Episode 94, and the clue’s in the name: for the 94th time, two hoary old motorcycle journalists stand around and make front noises into a pair of microphones for your auralisation – fertilised and fermented by <a href="http://bikescocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikescocial.co.uk</a> (the world of motorcycling on a website) and Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists. Good old Bennetts. And this week we have, for your listening infuriation: <ul> <li>gossip and stats from Le Mans MotoGP, including Marquez showing Lorenzo how to stay upright, and Quartararo showing Marquez how to be faster by not crashing</li> <li>who’ll top the TT timesheets this year?</li> <li>Mud, sweat and beers with two days and 350 miles in Wales, following a rally-style route map on road and off on a Scrambler 1200XE</li> <li>News and first impressions from the launch of long-awaited, entry-level Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 and hilarious, expensive XSR700 XTribute</li> <li>How young is too young to ride a bike? And what’s the best route into riding for youngsters?</li> <li>Why aren’t there more Ducatis racing at the TT?</li> <li>What’s the best big naked bike for touring?</li> <li>How to avoid the buffering wheel of death on the online MotoGP feed</li> <li>Is it an unwritten rule of bikes that you need to go fast, and does that put people off?</li> <li>And much, much more... Many thanks for listening to FEC and please come to Cadwell Park on 13th August where, alongside a Bennetts track day, we’ll be recording FEC E100 – LIVE! Wow. Are we? Please send your thoughts, jokes, contentions and opinions to:</li> </ul>  anything@frontendchatter.com And catch Simon and Martin on the social medias @SimonHBikes @Mufga Thanks again for listening! X

Front End Chatter #94

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter and the 95th outing for Britain’s most stubbornly random motorcycling podcast, suspended as ever between the 48mm upsidedowners of bikesocial.co.uk – the world of motorcycling in a webby nutshell – and the fully adjustable monoshock of Bennetts, the bike insurance experts.  And what a weird podcast we have this week, as two – well, one – of Britain’s funniest, smartest, sassiest and damn amazing moto journalists – that’s him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, with me, Simon Hargreaves –  discuss subjects as widely disparate as:  • how MotoGP from Mugello (remember that?) was won by a man who used to race an EXUP  who did what at the wettest TT ever, including how Peter Hickman used an S1000RR engine he didn’t use, why it was a hybrid bike but not a hybrid engine, and why Harrison, not Dunlop, won the Dunlop Senior, on Metzelers, not Dunlops why John McGuinness might want to check the details of his Norton pension plan why FEC probably holds the lap record for the North Coast 500 the practical and psychological merits of air-bag suits is it a risk buying a new bike in the first year of production? does wearing hi-viz make you a fluoracist? why oh why isn’t there a magazine website with videos and stories and everything (like, er, bikesocial.co.uk, maybe)? are any skills learned off road transferrable to road riding? is the polite biker nod a dying habit, and should you wave at other riders anyway? are racers made on the roads they grow up riding on?    Thank you so much or listening, we really appreciate it – and please email your thoughts, ideas, questions and stories of helmet paint scheme inspired accusations to anything@frontendchatter.com   Follow @Bennetts on Twitter and Insta and Facebook Follow @Mufga and @SimonHBikes on Twitter/Insta etc  Laters taters.

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter and the 95th outing for Britain’s most stubbornly random motorcycling podcast, suspended as ever between the 48mm upsidedowners of <a href="http://bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikesocial.co.uk</a> – the world of motorcycling in a webby nutshell – and the fully adjustable monoshock of Bennetts, the bike insurance experts. And what a weird podcast we have this week, as two – well, one – of Britain’s funniest, smartest, sassiest and damn amazing moto journalists – that’s him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, with me, Simon Hargreaves –  discuss subjects as widely disparate as: • how MotoGP from Mugello (remember that?) was won by a man who used to race an EXUP <ul> <li>who did what at the wettest TT ever, including how Peter Hickman used an S1000RR engine he didn’t use, why it was a hybrid bike but not a hybrid engine, and why Harrison, not Dunlop, won the Dunlop Senior, on Metzelers, not Dunlops</li> <li>why John McGuinness might want to check the details of his Norton pension plan</li> <li>why FEC probably holds the lap record for the North Coast 500</li> <li>the practical and psychological merits of air-bag suits</li> <li>is it a risk buying a new bike in the first year of production?</li> <li>does wearing hi-viz make you a fluoracist?</li> <li>why oh why isn’t there a magazine website with videos and stories and everything (like, er, <a href="http://bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikesocial.co.uk</a>, maybe)?</li> <li>are any skills learned off road transferrable to road riding?</li> <li>is the polite biker nod a dying habit, and should you wave at other riders anyway?</li> <li>are racers made on the roads they grow up riding on?</li> </ul> Thank you so much or listening, we really appreciate it – and please email your thoughts, ideas, questions and stories of helmet paint scheme inspired accusations to anything@frontendchatter.com Follow @Bennetts on Twitter and Insta and Facebook Follow @Mufga and @SimonHBikes on Twitter/Insta etc Laters taters.

Front End Chatter #95

Hello and welcome to E109 of Front End Chatter, a biking podcast without barriers or boundaries – we know not the meaning of constraints other than the fairly obvious extent of our knowledge and articulacy, the limits of both of which will become obvious as soon as you press ‘Play’. However. Enormous and sincere thanks to our patrons at bikesocial.co.uk, which is where you should go for new bike news, reviews, consumer info and racing gubbins – and Bennetts, the bike insurance bods who are often the cheapest and even when they’re not, at least put something back into biking. Like this podcast. It’s not all about you, you know. Aaaaand on this edition of FEC we have:  no news to speak of because the last FEC was plenty newsy enough thanks a patchy film review of 1917 – Kermode &amp; Mayo we are not what we’ve both been up to, including riding around the Peaks on a 2020 Africa Twin, and a visit to Triumph’s splendid museum at Hinckley... a look at the state of UK biking in 2019: what’s selling and what isn’t gossip about Ducati’s V4 Superleggera a rant about the irrelevance of quoting dry weight figures instead of wet weight figures... in fact, taking any manufacturers’ quoted figures as gospel and repeating them, parrot-fashion, without question. And does it even matter? FEC sack emails on a wonderful variety of topics such as: protective clothing standards and the merits of textiles v leather the return of two-stroke to MotoGP snowflakes how to deal with mansplaining motorcycling dead ends and missed opportunities long legs and webbed toes  ...and much, much more.  Thanks for listening, apologies for rambling on so much (never mind editing your letters, we should try editing the replies), and please keep your mails and thoughts and queries coming to: anything@frontendchatter.com Big up ’spec again to bikesocial.co.uk and Bennetts... And get us both on the Twitters (again) @Mufga @SimonHbikes Aye.

Hello and welcome to E109 of Front End Chatter, a biking podcast without barriers or boundaries – we know not the meaning of constraints other than the fairly obvious extent of our knowledge and articulacy, the limits of both of which will become obvious as soon as you press ‘Play’. However. Enormous and sincere thanks to our patrons at <a href="http://bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikesocial.co.uk</a>, which is where you should go for new bike news, reviews, consumer info and racing gubbins – and Bennetts, the bike insurance bods who are often the cheapest and even when they’re not, at least put something back into biking. Like this podcast. It’s not all about you, you know. Aaaaand on this edition of FEC we have: <ul> <li>no news to speak of because the last FEC was plenty newsy enough thanks</li> <li>a patchy film review of 1917 – Kermode &amp; Mayo we are not</li> <li>what we’ve both been up to, including riding around the Peaks on a 2020 Africa Twin, and a visit to Triumph’s splendid museum at Hinckley...</li> <li>a look at the state of UK biking in 2019: what’s selling and what isn’t</li> <li>gossip about Ducati’s V4 Superleggera</li> <li>a rant about the irrelevance of quoting dry weight figures instead of wet weight figures... in fact, taking any manufacturers’ quoted figures as gospel and repeating them, parrot-fashion, without question. And does it even matter?</li> <li>FEC sack emails on a wonderful variety of topics such as:</li> <li>protective clothing standards and the merits of textiles v leather</li> <li>the return of two-stroke to MotoGP</li> <li>snowflakes</li> <li>how to deal with mansplaining</li> <li>motorcycling dead ends and missed opportunities</li> <li>long legs and webbed toes</li> </ul> ...and much, much more. Thanks for listening, apologies for rambling on so much (never mind editing your letters, we should try editing the replies), and please keep your mails and thoughts and queries coming to: anything@frontendchatter.com Big up ’spec again to <a href="http://bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikesocial.co.uk</a> and Bennetts... And get us both on the Twitters (again) @Mufga @SimonHbikes Aye.

Front End Chatter #109

Hello, good morning and welcome to Front End Chatter, E93 in the long-running series of two men talking bobbins about bikes, and if you're looking for someone to blame try bikesocial.co.uk, the bike magazine on the web, or Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, because they're in it as much as we are.    This week on FEC we have:  • rambling thoughts on Jerez MotoGP, including Suzi Quartararo's hot laps, Zarco's loose lips, how this is the joint closest MotoGP championship since 2009, and a resurfaced Silverstone • the experience of Yamaha's Off Road Experience • what off-road bike should you get for you wife, except it's really for you? • are bike vloggers the new bike journalists?   • is there something in the water in Lincolnshire to create so many great racers, and does it match whatever they put in the water in Catalan?  • and much much more....   Thanks for listening to Front End Chatter, download it from bikesocial.co.uk, get your insurance from Bennetts, buy RiDE magazine, we love you, come to Cadwell for FEC 100 #LiVE, and email your thoughts and questions to  anything@frontendchatter.com

Hello, good morning and welcome to Front End Chatter, E93 in the long-running series of two men talking bobbins about bikes, and if you're looking for someone to blame try <a href="http://bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikesocial.co.uk</a>, the bike magazine on the web, or Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, because they're in it as much as we are.  This week on FEC we have:  • rambling thoughts on Jerez MotoGP, including Suzi Quartararo's hot laps, Zarco's loose lips, how this is the joint closest MotoGP championship since 2009, and a resurfaced Silverstone • the experience of Yamaha's Off Road Experience • what off-road bike should you get for you wife, except it's really for you? • are bike vloggers the new bike journalists?  • is there something in the water in Lincolnshire to create so many great racers, and does it match whatever they put in the water in Catalan? • and much much more....  Thanks for listening to Front End Chatter, download it from <a href="http://bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikesocial.co.uk</a>, get your insurance from Bennetts, buy RiDE magazine, we love you, come to Cadwell for FEC 100 #LiVE, and email your thoughts and questions to anything@frontendchatter.com

Front End Chatter #93

Hello, good morning and welcome to Front End Chatter E90, Britain’s most least favourite biking podcast, veritably triggered by www.bikesocial.co.uk, the world’s biking on the web, and Bennetts, the bike and travel insurance specialists.  And this fortnight we have, for you aural delectation, spoken words on:  RACING  MotoGP is back, at Qatar where Miller’s seat comes off, Mav goes backwards, Rossi goes forwards, Marquez and Dovizioso repeat last season’s last lap, and Ducati plot a spoiler why MotoE isn’t coming to a short circuit near you soon Dave Bautista keeps on winning in WSB, but it’s not Ducati’s fault... ... so no pressure in BSB then, Scott...    BIKES  first ride on Moto Guzzi’s new V85 TT ‘classic enduro’    PLUS!  do business biking miles count as much as personal biking miles? more hi-viz pros and cons trail braking explained properly the great seat height debate, and how to make bikes fit more people more of the time more ideas on getting kids into bikes – and were 125s better in the 1990s? which brands offer the best value for money? why are there no wheelies in bike magazines any more?    ... plus much more rubbish, nonsense and stuff.   Thanks for listening!  email your thoughts, questions and comments to anything@frontendchatter.com visit www.bikesocial.co.uk, get your insurance from Bennetts, book yourself on the FECtacular/FECstival on 13th August at Cadwell Park, follow @SimonHbikes and @Mufga on the Twitters, Instas etc 

Hello, good morning and welcome to Front End Chatter E90, Britain’s most least favourite biking podcast, veritably triggered by <a href="http://www.bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bikesocial.co.uk</a>, the world’s biking on the web, and Bennetts, the bike and travel insurance specialists. And this fortnight we have, for you aural delectation, spoken words on: RACING <ul> <li>MotoGP is back, at Qatar where Miller’s seat comes off, Mav goes backwards, Rossi goes forwards, Marquez and Dovizioso repeat last season’s last lap, and Ducati plot a spoiler</li> <li>why MotoE isn’t coming to a short circuit near you soon</li> <li>Dave Bautista keeps on winning in WSB, but it’s not Ducati’s fault...</li> <li>... so no pressure in BSB then, Scott...</li> </ul> BIKES <ul> <li>first ride on Moto Guzzi’s new V85 TT ‘classic enduro’</li> </ul> PLUS! <ul> <li>do business biking miles count as much as personal biking miles?</li> <li>more hi-viz pros and cons</li> <li>trail braking explained properly</li> <li>the great seat height debate, and how to make bikes fit more people more of the time</li> <li>more ideas on getting kids into bikes – and were 125s better in the 1990s?</li> <li>which brands offer the best value for money?</li> <li>why are there no wheelies in bike magazines any more?</li> </ul> ... plus much more rubbish, nonsense and stuff. Thanks for listening! <ul> <li>email your thoughts, questions and comments to <a href="mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a></li> <li>visit <a href="http://www.bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bikesocial.co.uk</a>,</li> <li>get your insurance from Bennetts,</li> <li>book yourself on the FECtacular/FECstival on 13th August at Cadwell Park,</li> <li>follow @SimonHbikes and @Mufga on the Twitters, Instas etc</li> </ul>

Front End Chatter #90

Look out, it’s Front End Chatter E92, the biking podcast enabled, empowered, energised and veritably triggered by the cosmonauts at bikesocial.co.uk and bods at Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, without whom this would all still happen but much less often. And this week we have:  Why being a MotoGP legend is bad for your health (especially if you’re a Brit) who’s actually likely to win the MotoGP title the next time Marquez doesn’t? what happened at the unfeasibly warm Bennetts British Superbike season opener at Silverstone why we won’t be watching the 2020 Dakar Rally from Saudi Arabia ideas to replace a Honda Blackbird with a £4500 sporty all-rounder why fixed spring rates are a great unspoken compromise of biking is the cost of insurance is putting off new riders? should you wait and get a used Svartpilen 701 or Iannone your KTM 990 SM? if you could spend two weeks touring in the UK, where would you go? ...and lots lots more. It’s a vintage FEC-sack.  Thank you to you, to BikeSocial.co.uk, to Bennetts, and see you at Cadwell Park on August 13th. Please email thoughts, questions and comments to: anything@frontendchatter.com @SimonHbikes @Mufga

Look out, it’s Front End Chatter E92, the biking podcast enabled, empowered, energised and veritably triggered by the cosmonauts at <a href="http://bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bikesocial.co.uk</a> and bods at Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, without whom this would all still happen but much less often. And this week we have: <ul> <li>Why being a MotoGP legend is bad for your health (especially if you’re a Brit)</li> <li>who’s actually likely to win the MotoGP title the next time Marquez doesn’t?</li> <li>what happened at the unfeasibly warm Bennetts British Superbike season opener at Silverstone</li> <li>why we won’t be watching the 2020 Dakar Rally from Saudi Arabia</li> <li>ideas to replace a Honda Blackbird with a £4500 sporty all-rounder</li> <li>why fixed spring rates are a great unspoken compromise of biking</li> <li>is the cost of insurance is putting off new riders?</li> <li>should you wait and get a used Svartpilen 701 or Iannone your KTM 990 SM?</li> <li>if you could spend two weeks touring in the UK, where would you go?</li> <li>...and lots lots more. It’s a vintage FEC-sack.</li> </ul> Thank you to you, to <a href="http://BikeSocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BikeSocial.co.uk</a>, to Bennetts, and see you at Cadwell Park on August 13th. Please email thoughts, questions and comments to: anything@frontendchatter.com @SimonHbikes @Mufga

Front End Chatter #92

Hellooo and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain’s most homoerotic motorcycling podcast, supported and empowered by www.bikesocial.co.uk and Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists. And for your aural delectation this week we have gossip on:  Andrew Iannone’s jawline Maverick Marquez and his pants Dave Bautista’s Rea-beating form at Phillip Island the perfect Franken-racer unfeasible plum-o-meters in the BSB paddock why is bike gear so expensive? what bike did Nev buy? And is a BMW R1250RS better than a Z1000SX? how do we know when not ride a bike but take the car instead? tips for touring in Alaska why there are no exotic small-bore race replicas and how to get more young riders on bikes and much, much more (but definitely no chat about motorcycle magazines; well, a bit...) ...plus! Super-really-very-exciting news of the 100th episode FECstravaganza at...  Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire, Tuesday August 13th; a Bennetts/BikeSocial/California Superbike track day – and at which we’ll be recording FEC’s centenary episode in front of an eager audience of grass and air. You’re welcome to sign up to the track day, or just come along and have a listen... more details of the 100th episode FECstravaganza in the next FEC!    Meanwhile, thanks for listening and supporting what we do, keep the emails coming to anything @frontendchatter.com – don’t listen to Mufga, you write what you want to write – and catch us both on Twitter: @SimonHbikes &amp; @Mufga, and on Insta/FB/the usual.  Love and rockets

Hellooo and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain’s most homoerotic motorcycling podcast, supported and empowered by <a href="http://www.bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bikesocial.co.uk</a> and Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists. And for your aural delectation this week we have gossip on: <ul> <li>Andrew Iannone’s jawline</li> <li>Maverick Marquez and his pants</li> <li>Dave Bautista’s Rea-beating form at Phillip Island</li> <li>the perfect Franken-racer</li> <li>unfeasible plum-o-meters in the BSB paddock</li> <li>why is bike gear so expensive?</li> <li>what bike did Nev buy? And is a BMW R1250RS better than a Z1000SX?</li> <li>how do we know when not ride a bike but take the car instead?</li> <li>tips for touring in Alaska</li> <li>why there are no exotic small-bore race replicas and how to get more young riders on bikes</li> <li>and much, much more (but definitely no chat about motorcycle magazines; well, a bit...)</li> <li>...plus! Super-really-very-exciting news of the 100th episode FECstravaganza at... Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire, Tuesday August 13th; a Bennetts/BikeSocial/California Superbike track day – and at which we’ll be recording FEC’s centenary episode in front of an eager audience of grass and air. You’re welcome to sign up to the track day, or just come along and have a listen... more details of the 100th episode FECstravaganza in the next FEC!</li> </ul> Meanwhile, thanks for listening and supporting what we do, keep the emails coming to anything @frontendchatter.com – don’t listen to Mufga, you write what you want to write – and catch us both on Twitter: @SimonHbikes &amp; @Mufga, and on Insta/FB/the usual. Love and rockets

Front End Chatter #88

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter Episode 87 #Remy Gardner... it’s only just occurred to me, but what kind of name is Remy? Is he named after a cognac or something? Anyway, welcome, one and all, to surreal bantz supported, enabled and triggered by the meaty skinbags at www.bikesocial.co.uk – the best resource for all things motorcycling on the interwebs – and under the munificent auspices of Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists.  This week we have:  why Suzuki Hayabusa mirrors remind Simon of Rosa Klebb’s shoes • a timely review of the 2002 Assen MotoGP, back in the days when races could be won by a two-stroke or a four-stroke, and when one four-stroke in particular appeared to be so much faster than the others it was like cheating... ...and how a last lap manoeuvre foreshadowed a more notorious coming-together 13 years later... a mini-review of the new Honda CBR650R and CB650R and is it a ‘new’ CBR600F? And how does the CB compare to a KTM 790 Duke? ...and why does no-one makes a Dakar replica? effective anti-rain visor solutions why do we wear the kit we wear? more on police/scooter tactics an inverse game of ‘what bike should I buy?’, with ‘what bike have I bought?’ have some bike magazines may have lost their sense of humour, and is there a correlation with the demise of sportsbikes? ...and much more natter chatter...  ...and if you’re interested in attending a FECstravaganza in August in Lincolnshire, let us know!  Many many thanks for listening, please continue to download FEC from www.bikesocial.co.uk.  Email your thoughts, queries, questions, observations and comments to:   anything@frontendchatter   ....and catch us on Twitter   @SimonHbikes @Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter Episode 87 #Remy Gardner... it’s only just occurred to me, but what kind of name is Remy? Is he named after a cognac or something? Anyway, welcome, one and all, to surreal bantz supported, enabled and triggered by the meaty skinbags at <a href="http://www.bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bikesocial.co.uk</a> – the best resource for all things motorcycling on the interwebs – and under the munificent auspices of Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists. This week we have: <ul> <li>why Suzuki Hayabusa mirrors remind Simon of Rosa Klebb’s shoes • a timely review of the 2002 Assen MotoGP, back in the days when races could be won by a two-stroke or a four-stroke, and when one four-stroke in particular appeared to be so much faster than the others it was like cheating...</li> <li>...and how a last lap manoeuvre foreshadowed a more notorious coming-together 13 years later...</li> <li>a mini-review of the new Honda CBR650R and CB650R and is it a ‘new’ CBR600F? And how does the CB compare to a KTM 790 Duke?</li> <li>...and why does no-one makes a Dakar replica?</li> <li>effective anti-rain visor solutions</li> <li>why do we wear the kit we wear?</li> <li>more on police/scooter tactics</li> <li>an inverse game of ‘what bike should I buy?’, with ‘what bike have I bought?’</li> <li>have some bike magazines may have lost their sense of humour, and is there a correlation with the demise of sportsbikes?</li> <li>...and much more natter chatter...</li> </ul> ...and if you’re interested in attending a FECstravaganza in August in Lincolnshire, let us know! Many many thanks for listening, please continue to download FEC from <a href="http://www.bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bikesocial.co.uk</a>. Email your thoughts, queries, questions, observations and comments to: anything@frontendchatter ....and catch us on Twitter @SimonHbikes @Mufga

Front End Chatter #87

Hello and welcome to Episode 89 of Front End Chatter, Britain’s most insured motorcycling podcast delivered fresh to your ears by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons – enabled by the humanoids at www.bikesocial.co.uk and supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists.  This week we’re chattering about:  Andrea Iannone’s smelly secretions Jonathon Rea’s Book Of Excuses first ride of KTM’s new 790 Adventure and Adventure R how practical and fun is Enfield’s Interceptor? which bike can renew the sense of fun in your biking is £200 for a one-piece leather race suit on Ebay worth buying? should we feel guilty about NOT riding our bikes much? what’s the best non-sportsbike for track days? does Fairy Liquid work as an anti-misting visor coating? how to find the right people with whom to tour Europe ...and much much more...   Thank you once more for listening to out nonsense, and contributing with your thoughts, queries and opinions: email  anything@frontendchatter.com  Please add August 13th to your diary, when Front End Chatter will be recorded LIVE! at a BIkeSocial Bennetts track day at Cadwell Park! More info at www.superbikeschool.co.uk  Simon H and Martin are on Twitter: @SimonHbikes @Mufga ...and you can also fund us on various other social media platforms...

Hello and welcome to Episode 89 of Front End Chatter, Britain’s most insured motorcycling podcast delivered fresh to your ears by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons – enabled by the humanoids at <a href="http://www.bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bikesocial.co.uk</a> and supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists. This week we’re chattering about: <ul> <li>Andrea Iannone’s smelly secretions</li> <li>Jonathon Rea’s Book Of Excuses</li> <li>first ride of KTM’s new 790 Adventure and Adventure R</li> <li>how practical and fun is Enfield’s Interceptor?</li> <li>which bike can renew the sense of fun in your biking</li> <li>is £200 for a one-piece leather race suit on Ebay worth buying?</li> <li>should we feel guilty about NOT riding our bikes much?</li> <li>what’s the best non-sportsbike for track days?</li> <li>does Fairy Liquid work as an anti-misting visor coating?</li> <li>how to find the right people with whom to tour Europe</li> <li>...and much much more...</li> </ul>  Thank you once more for listening to out nonsense, and contributing with your thoughts, queries and opinions: email  anything@frontendchatter.com Please add August 13th to your diary, when Front End Chatter will be recorded LIVE! at a BIkeSocial Bennetts track day at Cadwell Park! More info at <a href="http://www.superbikeschool.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.superbikeschool.co.uk</a> Simon H and Martin are on Twitter: @SimonHbikes @Mufga ...and you can also fund us on various other social media platforms...

Front End Chatter #89

Happy New... oh, is too late for that?  Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain’s most enduring motorcycling podcast (much to chagrin of Les343) presented by me, Simon Hargreaves and him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and supported by the humanoids at www.bikesocial.co.uk and Bennetts, the bike insurance people.   And this month, FEC sinks its teeth into:  the Greatest Grand Prix Of All Time, aka the 1990 Australian 500cc Grand Prix, feat. Sir Mick of Doohan, Lord Wayne de Rainey, Baron von Gardner and the Marquis of Schwantz going at it hammer, tongs and forceps • the 125cc side-spectacle of Hans Spaan aiming a punch at Fausto Gresini and Loris Capirossi winning his first world title the year of 2019 in review, as FEC jumps into the Chatter Tardis and zooms 12 months into the future – including the best bike of 2019, the Brit GP from Donington, and some shocking new Suzuki news – yes, you read that right a deep dive into the FECsack with contributions on topics as varied as buying used instead of a new bike on PCP, the mechanics of trail braking and why it’s a good (and bad) idea, how tightly controlled the Triumph 765-powered Moto2 series will be, the reliability of KTM electrics, how odd is it that Marc Marquez’ dad is STILL hanging around his pit box, bike community garages in the US, a FEC track day in August, how to make MotoE more of a spectacle by using an accountant from Bromley, • why is insurance so bloomin’ expensive?   Thanks for listening, please keep emailing your thoughts, ideas and questions to: anything@frontendchatter.com Also remember to download this podcast from www.bikesocial.co.uk, and nip out and buy RiDE magazine!  You can catch Simon and Martin on the Twitters: @SimonHBikes @Mufga   

Happy New... oh, is too late for that? Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain’s most enduring motorcycling podcast (much to chagrin of Les343) presented by me, Simon Hargreaves and him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and supported by the humanoids at <a href="http://www.bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bikesocial.co.uk</a> and Bennetts, the bike insurance people. And this month, FEC sinks its teeth into: <ul> <li>the Greatest Grand Prix Of All Time, aka the 1990 Australian 500cc Grand Prix, feat. Sir Mick of Doohan, Lord Wayne de Rainey, Baron von Gardner and the Marquis of Schwantz going at it hammer, tongs and forceps • the 125cc side-spectacle of Hans Spaan aiming a punch at Fausto Gresini and Loris Capirossi winning his first world title</li> <li>the year of 2019 in review, as FEC jumps into the Chatter Tardis and zooms 12 months into the future – including the best bike of 2019, the Brit GP from Donington, and some shocking new Suzuki news – yes, you read that right</li> <li>a deep dive into the FECsack with contributions on topics as varied as</li> <li>buying used instead of a new bike on PCP,</li> <li>the mechanics of trail braking and why it’s a good (and bad) idea,</li> <li>how tightly controlled the Triumph 765-powered Moto2 series will be,</li> <li>the reliability of KTM electrics,</li> <li>how odd is it that Marc Marquez’ dad is STILL hanging around his pit box,</li> <li>bike community garages in the US,</li> <li>a FEC track day in August,</li> <li>how to make MotoE more of a spectacle by using an accountant from Bromley, • why is insurance so bloomin’ expensive?</li> </ul> Thanks for listening, please keep emailing your thoughts, ideas and questions to: anything@frontendchatter.com Also remember to download this podcast from <a href="http://www.bikesocial.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bikesocial.co.uk</a>, and nip out and buy RiDE magazine! You can catch Simon and Martin on the Twitters: @SimonHBikes @Mufga

Front End Chatter #86

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