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.
General
23/05/25
Yamaha is giving you the chance to win a brand new MT-07, and here’s how to get the best odds
General
23/05/25
The Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 Recon is a 39bhp bike you can ride on a CBT, and it’ll be on display at the Bike Shed Moto Show this weekend
New Bikes
23/05/25
The 2025 Yamaha Tricity 125 has been launched, boasting a host of new technology and revised styling
General
23/05/25
The motorcycle tracker company BikeTrac is celebrating today, after its technology led police to 25 stolen bikes on the same day
Industry
22/05/25
Honda is set to add another production line at its Vithalapur facility, boosting production capacity up by another 650,000 units
Industry
22/05/25
Despite buying up the Forcite helmet brand some time ago, GoPro moves into a technical partnership with helmet maker AGV
New Bikes
22/05/25
The funky-looking bike developed by Lit Motors looks like it's being resurrected, after the self-balancing C-1 reportedly gained $1.6 million in backing
Industry
22/05/25
In its 76th year of business, Honda has achieved a cumulative global motorcycle production of 500 million units
General
22/05/25
Ducati could be the next big name motorcycle maker to change the way we change gear, as these patents reveal
Industry
21/05/25
Buell Motorcycles is officially back in the UK market, with the American brand confirming the news and stating which models are to arrive first
New Bikes
21/05/25
The American car maker General Motors has filed some interesting patents showing that it's working on an EV motorcycle project
General
21/05/25
Royal Enfield and The Great Frog have joined forces to create a one-off custom cruiser with a 650cc twin-cylinder engine at its heart
New Bikes
21/05/25
Honda has secured the trademarks relating to its V3 engine concept, and they point to two versions of the innovative machine
Industry
21/05/25
It looks like the eleventh-hour bailout of the famous KTM brand has worked, as the Pierer Mobility Group confirms a restructuring plan quota has been secured
New Bikes
20/05/25
Based on the beautiful Yamaha XSR900, the custom XZR900 Thunderbolt will be on display at the Bike Shed Moto Show this weekend
Industry
20/05/25
Suzuki has begun work on a new motorcycle factory in India, with an estimated 750,000 new bikes a year to be produced
General
20/05/25
The Catalan government is at its wits' end, after the road from Tossa de Mar to Lloret de Mar is proving popular with motorcycle street racers
General
20/05/25
If you are in the USA in July, you need to head to Laguna Seca, where you could share the track with the MotoGP legend, Wayne Rainey
New Bikes
20/05/25
All new Aprilia, Piaggio, and Vespa scooters will now come with an inclusive four-year warranty
General
20/05/25
The timing of the recall can only be described as terrible for the KTM group's Husqvarna and GasGas brands
Product News
20/05/25
The official spec and details of the Carberg GP01 have landed ahead of its UK launch - here’s what you need to know
New Bikes
19/05/25
BMW has released a teaser image widely believed to be the next generation 2027 S1000 RR before its official debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza
General
19/05/25
Ewan and Charley are hitting the stage, as the Long Way Chat live show is announced for just one night only
Motorbike
19/05/25
Landing in the Voge range for 2025 is a new middleweight adventure bike, as the DS625X - a budget-friendly ADV that wants to take the fight to Honda and Yamaha