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

Hello friends and welcome to episode 196 of the long-running but desperately sporadic motorcycling podcast otherwise known as Front End Chatter, hosted by its own petards, Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves.  As ever, we are mightily humbled to be supported and nourished by Bennetts, the UK's leading motorcycle insurer, and bikesocial.co.uk, where all your biking needs – and, indeed, nerds – are well met.  And on this episode of FEC we chatter about:  • the rise and rise of Chinese adventure bikes – Kove, Voge and CFMoto to name but three – and are they any good and how long do they last? • can riding bikes be TOO easy?  • what's it like riding a Multistrada the entire length of the A1?  • and loads of other stuff, including a healthy rummage through the FEC Sack of your emails and questions.  Thanks for listening, please come back for more and tell yer mates about FEC, and see you on the next one! X

<description>&lt;p&gt;Hello friends and welcome to episode 196 of the long-running but desperately sporadic motorcycling podcast otherwise known as Front End Chatter, hosted by its own petards, Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; As ever, we are mightily humbled to be supported and nourished by Bennetts, the UK's leading motorcycle insurer, and bikesocial.co.uk, where all your biking needs – and, indeed, nerds – are well met. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; And on this episode of FEC we chatter about: &lt;br /&gt; • the rise and rise of Chinese adventure bikes – Kove, Voge and CFMoto to name but three – and are they any good and how long do they last?&lt;br /&gt; • can riding bikes be TOO easy? &lt;br /&gt; • what's it like riding a Multistrada the entire length of the A1? &lt;br /&gt; • and loads of other stuff, including a healthy rummage through the FEC Sack of your emails and questions. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Thanks for listening, please come back for more and tell yer mates about FEC, and see you on the next one!&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; X&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Chinese One

Front End Chatter #196

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

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

The FEC Up The Borders One

Front End Chatter #195

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: <a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com">anything@frontendchatter.com</a>  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 <a href="https://www.roadtestexperience.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">roadtestexperience.co.uk</a> and sign up!

<description>&lt;p&gt;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! &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; 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.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; On the pod this fortnight we have words on: &lt;br /&gt; • Ducati's new V4 Panigale and the absence of a singularly-sided swingarm&lt;br /&gt; • possibly Ducati's final V2 sportsbike, the Panigale V2 Superquadro Final Edition (the clue's in the name)&lt;br /&gt; • the ongoing KTM cam drama&lt;br /&gt; • the very quickly and efficiently executed Suzuki V-Strom 800DE recall (that's how ya do it lads)&lt;br /&gt; • Bennetts BikeSocial new Bike Club (don't call it a forum but it is, no shame in that, I use them all the time)&lt;br /&gt; • 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&lt;br /&gt; • Yamaha's decision to put their new auto-transmission on an MT-09, and will it wheelie? &lt;br /&gt; • ...which we discover Harley's LiveWire Costa Del Sol is more than capable of...&lt;br /&gt; • plus loads of your FECsack emails containing thoughts, musings, amusing, ponderances and preponderances – sent in to:&lt;br /&gt; &lt;a href= "mailto:anything@frontendchatter.com"&gt;anything@frontendchatter.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; 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 &lt;a href="https://www.roadtestexperience.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;roadtestexperience.co.uk&lt;/a&gt; and sign up! &lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Sixth Sense One

Front End Chatter #194

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

Front End Chatter

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