Simon Hancocks

Editor

Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!

Prior to Visordown, Toad worked in the motorcycle insurance industry, before creating a role at a small motorcycle website and starting his journey as a journalist and road tester.

Since then Toad has launched bikes on all of the world's continents that aren't permanently frozen, covered hundreds of thousands of road test miles and always maintains that a bad day on a bike is better than a good day in a car!

Toad is happiest when touring through Europe, hammering a big adventure motorcycle up a trail, or riding around a race track, his favourite is Jerez, accompanied by a Panigale V4! He had a go at trials once, but it'd didn't go terribly well - his ambition definitely outweighed talent!

Now Toad is working through the restoration of a classic Ducati sports bike, and yes, it's taking much longer than he planned.

smart motorways
TOAD TALKS: Tales from the hard shoulder of a 'smart motorway'
With the news that smart motorways are under scrutiny regarding safety concerns, I thought I’d share with you just one experience I’ve had with this type of road
Kawasaki Z h2 vs Ducati Streetfighter V4 head to head
Head to head: Kawasaki Z H2 vs Ducati Streetfighter V4
We take a hypothetical look at what would happen if the latest metal from Ducati and Kawasaki had a dust-up
Triumph Scrambler
TOAD TALKS: Why do folk get so worked up about retro-style bikes?
With many manufacturers dressing up new bikes in old clothes, Visordown thinks if what we actually want is the real thing??