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.
Bad news for motorcyclists as 20 new cycle lanes are planned
With 20 new cycles lanes planned at a cost of £20m, Visordown asks where we are supposed to go when the bicycles take over?
Is a new Honda CBR300RR inbound?
Pictures have begun circulating the internet claiming to show concept designs of Honda’s latest A2 friendly sports motorcycle the Honda CBR300RR
2019 Yamaha R1M Review
The 2019 R1M is a formidable machine, and much easier to ride at high speed than you may have been led to believe.
Biker Bishop is planning charity skydive
Harley-Davidson Rt Rev Richard Jackson is the current Bishop of Lewes and takes up his new post in Hereford this year
Self-drive village opened at Millbrook proving ground
Future of Transport Minister opens Autonomous Village at Millbrook with 40 miles of secure test tracks to ensure autonomous vehicles pass muster before release
Would removing all vehicle controls make self-driving cars safer?
Google’s self-driving cars arm wants to remove all controls from their autonomous taxis to enable them to carry one more passenger
Tougher tactics cut Moped crime by more than half
Since the police adopted new, hard-line tactics against moped criminals, London’s scooter enabled crime stats have fallen by 53.7%
Acoustic cameras rolled out in Paris
Paris has begun trials of acoustic cameras in a bid to cut down on noisy vehicles, The UK government may follow suit
TRIUMPH BOBBER BUILD-OFF FINALISTS CHOSEN
Pure Triumph Wellingborough; Peterborough Triumph and Laguna Ashford will now battle head-to-head for the title of Bobber Build-off Champion
Get to grips with Honda’s 2020 CRF250R and CRF450R
Honda are launching nationwide test days for the CRF250R and CRF450R off-road motorcycles this September
Suzuki pull the wraps off new colours for the SV650
Suzuki have announced the SV650 naked motorcycle and Address scooter are to receive new colour options for 2020
Elvis’ Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 sells for $800,000
Elvis Presley’s 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide has sold in a Hollywood memorabilia auction for $800k making it the third most expensive motorcycle in the world
This 143hp GSX-R1000 powered quad is seriously quick!
We aren’t really fans of quad bikes here at Visordown, the lack of lean just doesn’t ‘do it’ for us. But a GSX-R powered quad with moveable wings?
How to tour Europe after Brexit
With it looking increasingly likely that the UK will leave the EU on 31st October 2019 with no deal, Visordown looks at the facts that could impact your next EU motorcycle tour
New ‘Smart’ motorways deemed unsafe by Highways England
Smart motorways have been called unsafe in a Highways England report uncovered by the AA
ACEM claim some autopilot cars fail to detect motorcycles
ACEM (the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers) has released a paper that sets its position on how it feels automated safety features on cars could negatively impact motorcycles.
Malham Show tries a Junior Kickstart revival
After posting the other week about much we all missed Kick Start, motorcycle trials took place at the Malham Show in what they describe as a Junior Kickstart Trials competition
Why did Triumph build a limited edition Daytona 765?
Having just come back from the unveiling of Triumph’s new limited edition (and now sold out) sportsbike, Visordown asks what’s really going on…
What’s it like to line up at the front of the MotoGP grid?
Visordown was lucky enough to ride onto the grid with the stars of MotoGP as we join the official Dorna track inspection team with BMW
McGuinness, Anstey and David Johnson the big winners at the TT
WITH the Isle of Man Classic TT getting off to a shaky start as bad weather enveloped the island, the weather gods got their act together for race weekend as the sun shone and the crowds enjoyed some stunning racing.
Sur Ron to create electric Supermoto
If any motorcycle would be perfect for an electric makeover it’s a Supermoto. And thanks to Sur Ron, it’s happening!
Visordown last minute MotoGP ride shock
Well nearly, we will though be riding a BMW S1000RR in the circuit inspection laps prior to each race at this weekend's British MotoGP round at Silverstone
VIDEO: Harley-Davidson Streetfighter
A video has emerged from a US motorcycle show that gives us the first video showing the new Harley-Davidson Streetfighter motorcycle in the flesh
Is a new KTM 890 Duke in the offing?
A keen-eyed photographer has caught a glimpse of what could be the newt generation of KTM Duke being tested on track