Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, and is it that time already? This, in all its error-strewn glory, is episode 149 of the biking podcast presented by Martin Fitz-Gibbons and Simon Hargreaves in which they attempt to steer a smooth path between pot-holes on the A87 of modern motorcycling, and avoid denting their rims. Front End Chatter is, as ever, proud to be supported by Bennetts, the bike insurance specialists, and Bikesocial.co.uk, the best website in the world for getting all your motorcycling news, reviews, product tests, racing info and first rides of the latest bikes. And on FEC this week Simon fails to understand much about anything, leaving Martin to soldier on nattering about: • EICMA No-Show – the big Italian bike show normally flush with new bikes... but minus some big names this year... • new Bimotas, Hondas – including the resurrection of the Hornet, by name at least – Kawasakis, Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta • Toprak Razgatlioglu finishes the WSB season in dominant style by losing the final two races but winning the title Plus samples from the FEC-sack, including: • what would a bi-directional track day be like as a way of teaching on-road rider training? • what bike would we love to ride but never want to own? • what bike would we love own despite there being more exciting rivals? • what bikes were ahead of their time, failed, but would be a success now? • what are our best, or closest, near misses? • plus lots, lots more Thanks for listening, please keep your mails coming to [email protected] Come and see us at Motorcycle Live at the NEC on Thursday 9th at 11am, catch us on the socials: @SimonHBikes @Mufga And thank you for your ears.