Simon Hancocks

Simon Hancocks's picture

Simon Hancocks

Head of Content

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.

Articles by Simon Hancocks
We’ve been out testing the new Maeving RM1S its natural habitat, London. Here’s how the new higher-speed electric commuter bike rides
Well, the CEO of Mini, Stefanie Wurst, has said she would ‘consider’ a switch, if there was an appetite for it
Triumph is offering you the chance to sample the awesome Oset range of bikes, with dedicated courses for all ages
£21,800 is no longer the price of the Enduro Veloce, although it is still the priciest middleweight adventure bike by some margin…
Bikers were set to be banned from certain routes in the region, although the protests and pressure seem to have done the trick
BMW R 1300 GS The Complete Story looks at the latest version of the adventure bike, as well as the history of the boxer GS models
Serious FOMO about this one, as our Japanese friends get two extra body kit colour options for the already stunning looking XSR900 GP
Tens of thousands of motorcyclists took to the streets in France to protest against what are described as ‘restrictive’ mandatory technical inspections
The driver took a selfie at the wheel and texted a friend, seconds before killing a 24-year-old motorcyclist. 
The ‘ride in’ event will see bikers converge on the Midlands venue and will offer visitors discounted entry, Q&As, displays and a BBQ
The Dorna-backed FIM Intercontinental Games will see riders across the world compete in multiple disciplines at the inaugural event later this year
A National Highways staff member has deemed the Smart Motorway network is ‘no longer safe’, according to a BBC Panorama investigation
As has been the way for some time, crash protection and detection systems still can’t effectively recognise a motorcyclist
The Balenciaga ‘Pantashoes’ are a leather trouser with built-in motorcycle ‘style’ boots and yes, they cost £10,000
The Yamaha XSR900 GP is for ‘Rose Tinted Racers’, according to Yamaha, but can it back up its styling with genuine ability?
An engineer has created what is thought to be the world’s first self-balancing ‘screw’ motorcycle
More than 60 destinations in more than 25 countries offer customers the chance to sample their chosen Royal Enfield model
Drone video footage released from Devon and Cornwall Police road safety operation purports to reveal ‘Dangerous Motorcyclist Behaviour’...
Take a look at racer Niccolò Canepa’s latest video as he spanks his Yamaha R1 around the Le Mans circuit
The rider, Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris was running late for the race and, as the video shows, got there just in the nick of time
The tour, in association with Compass Expeditions, goes from Melbourne to Sydney taking in the wild isle of Tasmania
Boni and the little Vespa 50 managed to cover 766 miles in 24 hours
It turns out there wasn’t too much demand for a £90k electric bike after all, as the company behind the Arc Vector goes under
If the zombie apocalypse does happen, we’re going to ride it out on this, the Oruga Unitrak   
The pair have joined forces to take part in the Full Chat podcast which begins later this month