A more subtle tone. With the same engine as the Yamaha Bolt, the bike is propelled by a characterful v-twin 942cc engine that delivers great punch at low revs and speeds. It is also a member of an exclusive club that has higher torque value than bhp (54.1 pound-feet of torque at 3,400 RPM and 48.5 horsepower at 5,400 RPM), which suits the round town jaunts perfectly although lacking top end speed above 65-70mph. With the addition of an Akropovic exhaust end pipe the bike crackles and burbles on releasing the throttle and always delivers that intangible feel-good emotion of riding a bike. I was fortunate that when I purchased the bike the exhaust modification had already been fitted making by bike even more of a bargain off the shop floor for around £5k with 100 miles or so. Having grown up with a ‘biker dad’ that would ride big cruisers with short pipes, I remember being woken up to the sound of the world ending on a Saturday morning, sponsored by the chopped unbaffled pipes of the Yamaha Wildstar. The more subtle tones of this exhaust setup were exactly what I was looking for. I am sure my neighbours are also appreciative of this choice.

Let there be light. The worst part of the bike is often thought to be the speedo dial which despite being round houses a small lit box for all speed and mileage info. Infact, the dial and mini readout gives me excitably what I need and no more, especially as a beginner. No rev counter, no countdown fuel gauge, no rider modes, or Bluetooth capability here. A few log counts and speedo digital dial are the only essential bits of info I need, forcing me to learn how the bike feels and reacts to my input only. The only possible addition would be the ability to switch off ABS but, on this bike, I feel like less is more.

The real issue is the main headlight. To say it is poor would be an understatement. It is dangerous. After getting back from a longer than expected ride I found myself having to ride the last 30 miles in darkness along the M3. From that point on, if I was considering night riding of any description, I knew I would have to upgrade the main headlight. I managed to fit a 7inch LED light to replace the 6inch halogen bulb setup. Although my handy work leaves a lot to be desired, it has done the trick and vastly improved my road vision and the overall look, appearance, and visual balance of the bike.

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My first off-road motorcycle rally