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

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: [email protected] 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 roadtestexperience.co.uk and sign up!

Hello one and all, and welcome to Episode 193 of Front End Chatter, Britain's best motorcycling podcast and winner of the coveted Wooden Microphone at the 2015 International Podcast Awards.

Thanks as ever to Bennetts, Britain's Best Bike Insurers – hey, "It's insurance by the people, for the people!" (you can have that for free, Newbs) – and bikesocial.co.uk, the website with all the news, reviews, twos, blues and clues. For youse. With lots of lovely YouTube content to digest too.

Right, on this episode of FEC we have:

• deets of BMW's R1300 GSA including its built-in coffee cup stand

• riding impressions of Yamaha's blingy MT-09 SP hooligan compared to Triumph's Street Triple RS

• Kawasaki's rad new H7 Hybrid with the acceleration of litre sports, the performance of a 650 and the fuel economy of a 250 (it says here)

PLUS a deep dive through the FEC sack where we chat about all things great and good, such as:

• should you buy a bike with your heart or your head?

• are auto transmissions the future and can motorcycling be *too* easy?

• our thoughts on the KTM chocolate camshaft issues, and can history teach a manufacturer how to manage a reliability problem?

• how much do bike videos cost to make?

• is there any point to wings on road bikes? ...and much much more. Please like and subscribe, tell everyone you know about the pod, and if you want to ask us a question, comment on any of the issues we've raised, start a new topic, ask for bike buying advice – get in touch and send us an email:

[email protected]

Thanks for listening, and see you again soon! @SimonHbikes @Mufga

Hello one and all, and welcome to a freshly squeezed episode of Front End Chatter, Britain's most absent motorcycling podcast featuring him, Simon Hargreaves, and him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons. We are, as always, indebted to and inebriated by Bennetts, Britain's best bike insurers, and biksocial.co.uk, the place to get all your news and views on motorcycling. And on this return to some kind of form, we have: • what we've been up to (most of the episode, to be fair) including: the FECspagna tour of France and Spain on Suzuki's GSX-S1000 GX+ and BMW S1000 XR TE, Suzuki live, the ABR Festival, and a chat about the sudden appearance of auto gearboxes (including what, exactly, the definition of 'auto' is). Thank you for persevering and more episodes will be along shortly. Send emails, questions, queries and abuse to [email protected] @SimonHBikes @Mufga

Hello everyone, two, three here we go and welcome to Front End Chatter episode 190 in series one of Britain's best (or at least longest-running) podcast-flavoured semi-occasional long-form motorcycling nattertainment, no thanks to him, Simon Hargreaves, and even less to him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons.

FEC has been FECing for a whole FECing decade now, mostly thanks to two things: not knowing when to quit; and the tireless support and encouragement and assistance of Bennetts, easily Britain's best bike insurers. You need some of that motorcycle insurance they have these days? Actually, that's not really a question. You need some of that motorcycle insurance they have these days! And you should head directly to Bennetts.co.uk to get it, or at least get a quote for it. Not only are they wonderful people who put back in the bike industry (like, cough, this load of free ear-muck), but if you buy your policy direct you'll get a year's free BikeSocial membership, which unlocks all manner of exclusive discounts, competitions, offers and experiences like some kind of cheat code for your wallet.

And in this episode, we have:

- Honda's new E-Clutch, ridden and rated - have Honda finally figured out a way to overthrow the manual transmission after nearly 70 years of trying? - Triumph Tiger 1200 - only two years old and already updated, well a bit, but also a hell of a lot. - BMW R1300GS - what's it like compared to the R1250GS, and what will BMW do with the Adventure?

And a hearty shuffle through the bulging FECsack, including * Street Triple - standard or R? * Guess the shaft-drive, garage-wood inducing tourer * How long do helmets really last, really? * The Biking Ladder - is it a load of tosh? * Fun bikes for occasionally taking a pillion (who may or may not be fun) * Best tyres for a Tenere * Credit where Viva FECspana credit is (over)due

Please keep topping our FECsack up by emailing your thoughts, wonderings, ponderings and observances to [email protected]

And it's not too late to join us on a 10-day biking tour of a lifetime! Viva FECspana takes in amazing best roads in France and Spain, fab company and lush hotels. Don't miss out on the highlight of your summer - bit.ly/fecspain

And, as ever, find us on the socials: @SimonHbikes and @Mufga

Welcome ladies, gentlemens and ornithologists, to Front End Chatter – episode 189 of Britain's favouritest motorcycling podcast presented by him, Simon Hargreaves, and him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons. This pod is, as ever, nurtured and natured by Bennetts, the gorram best bike insurers in 'verse, with their wealth of offers, discounts and competitions – and BikeSocial.co.uk, the website & YouTube channel with all the latest news, views, road tests and consumer info. And on this episode of FEC we have: • Martin's experience riding the Triumph Daytona 660 at its recent launch • Simon's experience riding the Moto Gutzi V85TT at its recent launch • Norton victims get some of their money back • KTM assume control of MV Agusta • and lots more – I mean, if I list it all here it's a bit of a plot spoiler so download the pod and have a listen, is the idea Please email your thoughts, queries and general comments – in fact anything at all, even poetry – to: [email protected] Please have a think about coming on tour with us: FECspana will be a glorious ten-day ride across France and Spain with a select group of FECers riding the finest roads, tasting the finest wines and eating the finest food. We'd love to have you along. Go to www.bit.ly/fecspain for more info. Reach us at: @SimonHBikes @Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, the motorcycling podcast presented by Simon Hargreaves and Martin Fitz-Gibbons, a pair of bike journalists who've been riding and writing about dem motorbikes they have these days for bleedin' ages. The pod is, as ever, supported and enabled and ennobled by Bennetts, the bike insurance gods, and BikeSocial.co.uk – the brightest and best biking website and YouTube channel rammed with motorcycling goodness content. Including lots of new bike reviews. Oh yes. So on this long-awaited return to pod action, Martin and Simon talk about: • the new bikes they've been riding, such as: BMW's R1300 GS Honda's Africa Twin Adventure Sports Triumph's Speed & Scrambler 400s Suzuki's GSX-8R Yamaha's MT-09 Moto Guzzi's Stelvio Harley's Road and Street Glides Kawasaki's Eliminator 500 Phew! No wonder there's not been a pod for over a month! Plus the lads natter about Yamaha's defunct-or-is-it R1, what is Euro5+ and why World Superbike might be making a comeback to a podcast near you soon. Please like and subscribe, no, hang on, that's videos innit, getting me content mixed up... please download and tell your mates about the pod, what do you mean you haven't got any mates, tell you mum then, I dunno. Compose questions, queries, ideas, perverted thoughts and musings, offers of free stuff, recreational and/or procreational pharmaceuticals, and send them electronically to: [email protected] Bless ya, we're all in it together x @SimonHbikes @Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, the UK's most flexible motorcycling podcast with him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons, and him, Simon Hargreaves – a pair of disreputable motorcycle journalists who have yet to find a block around which they have not been. We are supported in our endeavours as ever by the estimable Bennetts, the UK's most bike-friendly bike insurers (a higher standard than some meet), and their multi-media wing on the web at bikesocial.co.uk Right, on this episode we have: • all the deets on the new Triumph Daytona 660 brought to you from a meeting with the bike itself – listen here, or watch us wrestle with words in realtime on FEC TV – search Front End Chatter on YouTube or go to bit.ly/fecdaytona • Simon's been to Scotchland on a Suzuki V-Strom 800DE and mighty cold and mighty comfy it was too • he still also chuntering about a bike he'll never buy, and now can't decide between not buying a BMW R1200RT or a Triumph Trophy 1200 SE – but is leaning towards the Triumph at time of recording... • plus a pile of FECers emails including not watching racing in 2024, are fast, fun, lightweight bikes gone forever, will anyone be building specials with engine swaps in the future, and much much more. Thanks for listening, please check us out on YouTube, please email questions and queries and thoughts and musings to [email protected] And it's goodnight from him, and goodnight from me. @SimonHbikes @Mufga

Hello and welcome to Front End Chatter, the UK's most flammable motorcycling podcast with him, Simon Hargreaves, and him, Martin Fitz-Gibbons. This is episode 186, a gentleman's agreement of an episode, in which we thank Bennetts, Britain's best bike insurance experts, and BikeSocial.co.uk, all your two-wheeled needs and nerds catered for on the web and on YouTube – before once more diving into a couple of hours of chatter. And on this episode we bring you a FEC first – our inaugural (but not last) new bike launch – yes, Front End Chatter was privileged to be invited to the first ride of Triumph's 2024 Tiger 900 range in Spain – the new Tiger 900 GT Pro and Rally Pro, on road and off. The fact the bike's a corker is entirely coincidental, and we can confidently state the launch gift of a dose of Covid didn't sway our opinion even it it ruined Xmas at Chatter Manors. In this episode we also sling a leg over Suzuki's GSX-S1000 GX which at a slightly compromised launch that didn't let us really get under the skin of the bike and left us with more questions than answers – which gives us an excuse to put more miles on the bike later in the year, and which is no bad thing. Also in this episode, Mufga and a crew of ne'er-do-wells win a historic trophy by riding a pair of Zero electric bikes through thick, but mostly thin, the length and breadth of Britain. Thank you very much for listening, please email your thoughts and musings and questions to [email protected], and get us on the socials (when we're feeling up to it) at @SimonHbikes and @Mufga. Have a splendid Christmas and see/hear you/us in 2024.