Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain’s premium motorcycling podcast, hosted by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves. This is episode 205, probably, and is supported in its endeavours by Bennetts, the 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. And on this week’s FEC we natter about • Motorcycle Live – was it any good, what was the vibe, any hot takes? • KTM – more financial woes, and they thought chocolate cams were bad... • Why the Govt’s failure to have plans to encourage the use of motorcycles isn’t the bad news it might sound like... • ...but we can’t still use all bus lanes • plans to introduce a blanket 50mph speed limit on Scottish single-lane carriageways • when is depreciation slight enough to make an upgrade worthwhile? • some EV stuff Simon doesn’t understand Plus loads... well, *some* more... please get in touch at anything@frontendchatter.com with your thoughts, musings, questions and ponderings. Or get us on Instagram: @Mufga @SimonHbikes Or Bluesky: @mufga.bsky.social @sihbikes.bsky.social

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain’s premium motorcycling podcast, hosted by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves. This is episode 205, probably, and is supported in its endeavours by Bennetts, the 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.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;And on this week’s FEC we natter about&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;• Motorcycle Live – was it any good, what was the vibe, any hot takes?&lt;br /&gt; • KTM – more financial woes, and they thought chocolate cams were bad...&lt;br /&gt; • Why the Govt’s failure to have plans to encourage the use of motorcycles isn’t the bad news it might sound like...&lt;br /&gt; • ...but we can’t still use all bus lanes&lt;br /&gt; • plans to introduce a blanket 50mph speed limit on Scottish single-lane carriageways&lt;br /&gt; • when is depreciation slight enough to make an upgrade worthwhile?&lt;br /&gt; • some EV stuff Simon doesn’t understand&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Plus loads... well, *some* more... please get in touch at anything@frontendchatter.com with your thoughts, musings, questions and ponderings.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Or get us on Instagram:&lt;br /&gt; @Mufga&lt;br /&gt; @SimonHbikes&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Or Bluesky:&lt;br /&gt; @mufga.bsky.social&lt;br /&gt; @sihbikes.bsky.social&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;br style= "mso-special-character: line-break;" /&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--&gt;&lt;br style= "mso-special-character: line-break;" /&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description>

The KTM One

Front End Chatter #205

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's nerdiest motorcycling podcast with him Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and him, Simon Hargreaves, supported in our double century of biking chatter by Bennetts, the UK's best bike insurance bods of whom let it not be said by any man nor woman nor anyone in between that they take the money and thank you very much. Bennetts put more back into biking than any other insurance company by an absolute country mile, and that's a fact. For example, there's BikeSocial.co.uk, the website with the news, reviews and booze, and Bennetts' mighty YouTube channel with tons of cool consumer content, and <a href= "https://bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk/">bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk</a> – a forum to ask your questions and find your answers.  Right, welcome to Episode 200 – or not, as it turns out – of the podcast... and to be honest, it's a tough listen. For a start, we're both a bit under the weather, and then we completely geek-out over a three-cylinder Honda concept bike for like, about an hour, of informed speculation (him) and idle ignorance (me). And if it's going to make any sense at all you really need to be looking at the pics of the bike while we natter, and have watched the video of which we speak. Here, if you're interested (and I really don't blame you if you're not) are some links to where you can find this stuff:  Video is here: <a href= "https://youtu.be/nkv9CGYHdik?si=SIwQ7Fw2rCBguMUm">https://youtu.be/nkv9CGYHdik?si=SIwQ7Fw2rCBguMUm</a> Pics are here: <a href= "https://global.honda/en/newsroom/news/2024/c241105ceng/image_download.html?from=newslink_media"> https://global.honda/en/newsroom/news/2024/c241105ceng/image_download.html?from=newslink_media</a> We encourage you to look at them as we speak – otherwise everything we say makes even less sense than it would otherwise.  We also mention a few other things, like Suzuki's wonderful new (no, they really are) DR-Z4 and DR-Z4SM – a pair of deliciously simple green-lane and urban supermoto 400cc singles. Yes please.  We also natter about KTM's ongoing financial woes, plus the revamped 1390 SDGT and 390 Adventure. And a few other new bikes, and more musings from the FECsack – please keep your missives, thoughts, queries and offers of help with the garden coming to:  <a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> Thank you for making it this far, and fingers crossed we won't be quite so ill and tedious on the next one. Aye! @SimonHbikes @Mufga

<description>&lt;p&gt;Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, Britain's nerdiest motorcycling podcast with him Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and him, Simon Hargreaves, supported in our double century of biking chatter by Bennetts, the UK's best bike insurance bods of whom let it not be said by any man nor woman nor anyone in between that they take the money and thank you very much. Bennetts put more back into biking than any other insurance company by an absolute country mile, and that's a fact. For example, there's BikeSocial.co.uk, the website with the news, reviews and booze, and Bennetts' mighty YouTube channel with tons of cool consumer content, and &lt;a href= "https://bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk/"&gt;bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk&lt;/a&gt; – a forum to ask your questions and find your answers. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Right, welcome to Episode 200 – or not, as it turns out – of the podcast... and to be honest, it's a tough listen. For a start, we're both a bit under the weather, and then we completely geek-out over a three-cylinder Honda concept bike for like, about an hour, of informed speculation (him) and idle ignorance (me). And if it's going to make any sense at all you really need to be looking at the pics of the bike while we natter, and have watched the video of which we speak. Here, if you're interested (and I really don't blame you if you're not) are some links to where you can find this stuff: &lt;br /&gt; Video is here: &lt;a href= "https://youtu.be/nkv9CGYHdik?si=SIwQ7Fw2rCBguMUm"&gt;https://youtu.be/nkv9CGYHdik?si=SIwQ7Fw2rCBguMUm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Pics are here: &lt;a href= "https://global.honda/en/newsroom/news/2024/c241105ceng/image_download.html?from=newslink_media"&gt; https://global.honda/en/newsroom/news/2024/c241105ceng/image_download.html?from=newslink_media&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; We encourage you to look at them as we speak – otherwise everything we say makes even less sense than it would otherwise. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; We also mention a few other things, like Suzuki's wonderful new (no, they really are) DR-Z4 and DR-Z4SM – a pair of deliciously simple green-lane and urban supermoto 400cc singles. Yes please. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; We also natter about KTM's ongoing financial woes, plus the revamped 1390 SDGT and 390 Adventure. And a few other new bikes, and more musings from the FECsack – please keep your missives, thoughts, queries and offers of help with the garden coming to: &lt;br /&gt; &lt;a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com"&gt;anything@frontendchatter.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Thank you for making it this far, and fingers crossed we won't be quite so ill and tedious on the next one. Aye!&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; @SimonHbikes&lt;br /&gt; @Mufga&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Really Really Really Boring One (sorry)

Front End Chatter #200ish

Hello and welcome to Episode 199 of Front End Chatter, Britain’s Longest-Running Motorcycling Podcast, spoken out loud by motorcycle journalists Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons. They, and indeed it, are is am supported by Bennetts, Britain’s Best Bike Insurer, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the web’s best motorcycling, er, website. And on this episode the boys natter at interminable length about a whole bunch of new bikes, including but not limited to: • Honda’s revamped X-ADV adventure scoot • Honda’s remarkably priced Hornet 1000 and Hornet 1000 SP • Triumph’s hits-the-spot Tiger Sport 800 • KTM’s 1390 Super Adventure S Evo • Ducati’s new V2 engine – and what models it might end up in • plus a bit of a natter about Yamaha’s Y-AMT auto gearbox and KTM’s AMT auto gearbox, and wonder what the point is and lament the fact several flagship models are only available as autos • plus a few missives from the FEC Sack re KTM cams Thanks very much for listening, please email in your questions, queries, thoughts, gags and corrections to: anything@frontendchatter (and it really *has* to specifically be ‘anything’) Catch us on the Instagrams @SimonHbikes and @Mufga

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Hello and welcome to Episode 199 of Front End Chatter, Britain’s Longest-Running Motorcycling Podcast, spoken out loud by motorcycle journalists Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons. They, and indeed it, are is am supported by Bennetts, Britain’s Best Bike Insurer, and BikeSocial.co.uk, the web’s best motorcycling, er, website.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;And on this episode the boys natter at interminable length about a whole bunch of new bikes, including but not limited to:&lt;br /&gt; • Honda’s revamped X-ADV adventure scoot&lt;br /&gt; • Honda’s remarkably priced Hornet 1000 and Hornet 1000 SP&lt;br /&gt; • Triumph’s hits-the-spot Tiger Sport 800&lt;br /&gt; • KTM’s 1390 Super Adventure S Evo&lt;br /&gt; • Ducati’s new V2 engine – and what models it might end up in&lt;br /&gt; • plus a bit of a natter about Yamaha’s Y-AMT auto gearbox and KTM’s AMT auto gearbox, and wonder what the point is and lament the fact several flagship models are only available as autos&lt;br /&gt; • plus a few missives from the FEC Sack re KTM cams&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Thanks very much for listening, please email in your questions, queries, thoughts, gags and corrections to:&lt;br /&gt; anything@frontendchatter (and it really *has* to specifically be ‘anything’)&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Catch us on the Instagrams&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;@SimonHbikes and @Mufga&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Simon Is Confused About Everything One

Front End Chatter #199

Hello and welcome, dearest FECers, to Front End Chatter, Britain’s best and boldest and brightest biking podcast, bringing a little ray of motorcycling sunshine into the darker corners of your motorcycling minds, hosted by him, the man with the resting disposition of a flattened hedgehog, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and him, the man with the resting heart-rate of an amphetamine-addled Zebedee, Simon Hargreaves.  We are as always, healed by Dr Bennetts, Britain’s best bike insurer. He’s got a clean bill of health, fit as a fiddle, always ready with a cheery smile to offer a whole host of discounts and money-off deals on biking kit and caboodle, as well as competitions and discounted track days. And if you’re insured with someone else, become a Bikesocial Member in the meantime to take advantage of all that stuff. And you know how in the old days in a doctor’s waiting room you had piles of magazines to look at? Well with Bennetts, you get bikesocial.co.uk, the world of wotorcycling on the web, plus their YouTubes channel. Gor blimey guv, innit.  And on today's FEC we have an actual proper, serious, piece of journalism: Mufga has grilled KTM bosses about the 790 LC8c cam issue – what's caused it, how many bikes are affected, which bikes are affected and how they're planning on putting it right. You can only hear it, er, here, on Front End Chatter.  If you or any member of your family has been affected by the issues raised on today's Front End Chatter, please email <a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a>  Also on today's 2-hour extravaganza: • Yamaha's new R9 supersports is finally here! • Honda's revamped NT1100 gets Africa Twin-bling! • Kawasaki's Ninja 1100SX get less power! • Triumph's new Trident 660 gets louder paint!  Plus an aggregation of your thoughts, musing and ponderings sent in, as always, to <a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> Thanks for listening, please like and subscribe or whatever it is you kids do these days, and be kind. Instas: @SimonHBikes @Mufga

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Hello and welcome, dearest FECers, to Front End Chatter, Britain’s best and boldest and brightest biking podcast, bringing a little ray of motorcycling sunshine into the darker corners of your motorcycling minds, hosted by him, the man with the resting disposition of a flattened hedgehog, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and him, the man with the resting heart-rate of an amphetamine-addled Zebedee, Simon Hargreaves. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; We are as always, healed by Dr Bennetts, Britain’s best bike insurer. He’s got a clean bill of health, fit as a fiddle, always ready with a cheery smile to offer a whole host of discounts and money-off deals on biking kit and caboodle, as well as competitions and discounted track days. And if you’re insured with someone else, become a Bikesocial Member in the meantime to take advantage of all that stuff.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;And you know how in the old days in a doctor’s waiting room you had piles of magazines to look at? Well with Bennetts, you get bikesocial.co.uk, the world of wotorcycling on the web, plus their YouTubes channel. Gor blimey guv, innit. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; And on today's FEC we have an actual proper, serious, piece of journalism: Mufga has grilled KTM bosses about the 790 LC8c cam issue – what's caused it, how many bikes are affected, which bikes are affected and how they're planning on putting it right. You can only hear it, er, here, on Front End Chatter. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; If you or any member of your family has been affected by the issues raised on today's Front End Chatter, please email &lt;a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com"&gt;anything@frontendchatter.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Also on today's 2-hour extravaganza:&lt;br /&gt; • Yamaha's new R9 supersports is finally here!&lt;br /&gt; • Honda's revamped NT1100 gets Africa Twin-bling!&lt;br /&gt; • Kawasaki's Ninja 1100SX get less power!&lt;br /&gt; • Triumph's new Trident 660 gets louder paint! &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Plus an aggregation of your thoughts, musing and ponderings sent in, as always, to &lt;a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com"&gt;anything@frontendchatter.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Thanks for listening, please like and subscribe or whatever it is you kids do these days, and be kind.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Instas:&lt;br /&gt; @SimonHBikes&lt;br /&gt; @Mufga&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The KTM Confess One

Front End Chatter #198

Hello boys and girls, and welcome to Episode 197 of Front End Chatter, a motorcycling-themed podcast spoken out loud by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons, very much the Ying and Yang, the Ego and the Id, the – if you will – Laurel and Hardy of motorcycle journalism.  We are supported as ever by our compadres Bennetts, Britain's best bike insurer (which I think we've basically established as fact, now) and bikesocial.co.uk, the most amazingly comprehensive motorcycling website on the, er, web. And not forgetting, as if we could, bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk – the place to speak your motorcycling brains.  And on this episode of FEC we have:  • exhaustive details of Ducati's new Multistrada • extensive details of Kawasaki's new Versys 1100 • executive details of the recall notice for Kawasaki's Ninja hybrid • exemplary details of Triumph's new Speed Twin 1200 • economic details of KTM's woes  • plus your questions, queries, thoughts and musings from the FECSack – please send your missives and misgivings to:  <a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a> and we'll get round to reading it out in six months' time. Probably.  Thank you very much for watching and you can no longer reach us on Twitter because there is no more Twitter. But we're still on Instagram: @SimonHBikes @Mufga

<description>&lt;p&gt;Hello boys and girls, and welcome to Episode 197 of Front End Chatter, a motorcycling-themed podcast spoken out loud by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons, very much the Ying and Yang, the Ego and the Id, the – if you will – Laurel and Hardy of motorcycle journalism. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; We are supported as ever by our compadres Bennetts, Britain's best bike insurer (which I think we've basically established as fact, now) and bikesocial.co.uk, the most amazingly comprehensive motorcycling website on the, er, web. And not forgetting, as if we could, bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk – the place to speak your motorcycling brains. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; And on this episode of FEC we have: &lt;br /&gt; • exhaustive details of Ducati's new Multistrada&lt;br /&gt; • extensive details of Kawasaki's new Versys 1100&lt;br /&gt; • executive details of the recall notice for Kawasaki's Ninja hybrid&lt;br /&gt; • exemplary details of Triumph's new Speed Twin 1200&lt;br /&gt; • economic details of KTM's woes &lt;br /&gt; • plus your questions, queries, thoughts and musings from the FECSack – please send your missives and misgivings to: &lt;br /&gt; &lt;a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com"&gt;anything@frontendchatter.com&lt;/a&gt; and we'll get round to reading it out in six months' time. Probably. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Thank you very much for watching and you can no longer reach us on Twitter because there is no more Twitter. But we're still on Instagram:&lt;br /&gt; @SimonHBikes&lt;br /&gt; @Mufga &lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Unsocial Media One

Front End Chatter #197

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

Front End Chatter

Details

Recent Episodes