Bike news

A year in news | MCN's biggest biking stories of 2024

A year in news | MCN's biggest biking stories of 2024

With 2024 now drawing to a close, we at MCN decided to look back at the most-read motorcycling news stories from the past 12 months. It’s been an interesting year for the bike industry, with Euro5+...

Scanning for danger | Crash protection firm R&G embrace scanners and computer modelling for design

Scanning for danger | Crash protection firm R&G embrace scanners and computer modelling for design

We’ve been buying bolt-on extras for our motorcycles for decades, with many now opting for aftermarket crash protection in a bid to give their bike a little extra armour should it take a...

Aprilia refreshes their 125 range to bring the RS, Tuono, RX and SX through Euro5+

Aprilia refreshes their 125 range to bring the RS, Tuono, RX and SX through Euro5+

Aprilia have given their geared 125 range a tickle for 2025, upgrading the four-bike line-up with a smattering extra technology and a cosmetic refresh to sharpen them up. The single-cylinder,...

Here are the most popular new bike reviews and long-term tests on the MCN website in 2024!

Here are the most popular new bike reviews and long-term tests on the MCN website in 2024!

Our team of expert testers spend their working lives bringing you verdicts on the bikes that really matter, both in our in-depth reviews and during our long-term tests. With that in mind we’ve...

What's in a name? Benda Moto LFC700 cruiser could come to the UK under 'BD Moto' branding

What's in a name? Benda Moto LFC700 cruiser could come to the UK under 'BD Moto' branding

Multi-brand motorcycle importers MotoGB got bikers talking late last year, by showcasing a new raked-out 700 cruiser, powered by a 676cc inline-four engine. Currently called the Benda LFC700, due...

Shelsley Walsh to celebrate 120-years of hill climbing history with the 2025 Bike Bonanza

Shelsley Walsh to celebrate 120-years of hill climbing history with the 2025 Bike Bonanza

The UK’s oldest motorsport venue, Shelsley Walsh will once again open its doors for a celebration of high-speed motorcycle hill climbing action at the 2025 Bike Bonanza. Related: Thousands of...

Motorcycles not included in Government's new 2030 combustion vehicle phase out consultation

Motorcycles not included in Government's new 2030 combustion vehicle phase out consultation

The UK Government has today launched an online consultation looking into the phase-out of new petrol and diesel car and van sales by 2030, with a spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT)...

Royal Enfield scale up production with new plant following impressive 2024 global sales figures

Royal Enfield scale up production with new plant following impressive 2024 global sales figures

Worldwide, Royal Enfield sold a staggering 110,574 motorcycles in October 2024 (almost double Ducati’s yearly output for 2023). It’s a figure which represents the highest ever in the company’s...

Moto Guzzi launch Stelvio Duecento Tributo honouring 200 years of the iconic Stelvio Pass

Moto Guzzi launch Stelvio Duecento Tributo honouring 200 years of the iconic Stelvio Pass

Moto Guzzi must be running short of notable events to celebrate because for 2025 they have chosen to honour the 200th anniversary of the famous Stelvio Pass being opened to traffic through a new...

Benelli take inspiration from Harley-Davidson with all-new V-twin Leoncino Bobber 400

Benelli take inspiration from Harley-Davidson with all-new V-twin Leoncino Bobber 400

Benelli are stepping into the bobber game with the introduction of their all-new Leoncino (Italian for lion cub) Bobber 400 cruiser. Joining the existing three strong Leoncino family, the...

Husqvarna show Vitpilen 801 concept packed with bespoke aerodynamic upgrades and underslung exhaust

Husqvarna show Vitpilen 801 concept packed with bespoke aerodynamic upgrades and underslung exhaust

Husqvarna’s Vitpilen 801 naked bike has been tricked up for a new special edition concept roadster, fitted with a selection of high-performance aerodynamic goodies.  Displayed for the first time...

Chinese owned Italian brand Benelli take to the rough stuff with new TRK 902 Xplorer

Chinese owned Italian brand Benelli take to the rough stuff with new TRK 902 Xplorer

The rugged middleweight adventure bike market is currently experiencing a resurgence and 2025 looks to see it grow again with the arrival of the Benelli TRK 902 Xplorer. Alongside established...

Former Grand Prix racer Jeremy McWilliams officially dropped from KTM testing role after 15 years

Former Grand Prix racer Jeremy McWilliams officially dropped from KTM testing role after 15 years

An official spokesperson for KTM in Austria has confirmed to MCN that former Grand Prix race winner Jeremy McWilliams has been dropped as a test rider by the brand after 15 years of development...

MCN Compare competition winner bags brand-new Yamaha MT-09 Y-AMT and Furygan riding kit bundle

MCN Compare competition winner bags brand-new Yamaha MT-09 Y-AMT and Furygan riding kit bundle

An MCN reader from Lancashire has bagged the Christmas gift of a lifetime, winning a brand-new £10,656 Yamaha MT-09 Y-AMT, and over £600 worth of Furygan riding kit, courtesy of our insurance...

Honda CB500 crown calling | New club racing series gains ACU championship status and £5k prize

Honda CB500 crown calling | New club racing series gains ACU championship status and £5k prize

The British Motorcycle Racing Club (known as Bemsee) is set to host an all-new Honda CB500 championship for 2025, the winner of which will officially take the accolade of British Champion thanks to...

Tommy Robb 1934-2024 | The life of former Grand Prix racer and Isle of Man TT winner remembered

Tommy Robb 1934-2024 | The life of former Grand Prix racer and Isle of Man TT winner remembered

Former Grand Prix motorcycle racer and Isle of Man TT winner Tommy Robb has died at the age of 90. The Northern Irish rider’s racing career highlights included multiple North West 200 victories in...

Tech in the town! Piaggio launch A2 licence friendly Beverly 310 urban scooter family for 2025

Tech in the town! Piaggio launch A2 licence friendly Beverly 310 urban scooter family for 2025

Italian urban scooter specialists, Piaggio have revealed a new Euro5+ version of their Beverly scooter, equipped with a larger 310cc single-cylinder twist-and-go engine. The new bike is the latest...

Pair jailed for assaulting onlooker that confronted them over illegal off-road riding in Coventry

Pair jailed for assaulting onlooker that confronted them over illegal off-road riding in Coventry

Two men have been jailed for assaulting a man in his 60s, after he confronted them for riding off-road motorcycles anti-socially around children in a public place. The offence occurred on Keresley...

MCN Law December round-up | 'My employer wants me to repay 12 weeks’ sick pay'

MCN Law December round-up | 'My employer wants me to repay 12 weeks’ sick pay'

Paid partnership with BikeLawyer Each month, we take a look at the questions that were sent to the MCN Law column, which is written by Andrew Campbell from BikeLawyer. In December, Andrew was asked about paying an employer back...

CCM's new Managing Director promises fresh product lines in the next three years

CCM's new Managing Director promises fresh product lines in the next three years

CCM’s new Managing Director, Jason Broome may have only taken the reigns to the Bolton-based motorcycle company in May 2024, but he’s already got big plans – helping to launch a Project...

KTM Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Experience is to end after five-year partnership

KTM Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Experience is to end after five-year partnership

KTM UK have confirmed they are ending their Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Experience ahead of 2025, after a five-year partnership with the expansive mid-Wales venue. A spokesperson for the UK arm of...

Rally fans invited to attend 'An Evening of Dakar' event at the Bike Shed Moto Co. this December

Rally fans invited to attend 'An Evening of Dakar' event at the Bike Shed Moto Co. this December

As Dakar 2025 looms on the horizon, fans of the rally are being invited to attend an evening of pre-race celebrations this December 28 at the Bike Shed Moto Co. in London.  Hosted collaboratively...

Endurance racer Sylvain Guintoli raises over £4000 for children's cancer charity with kit auction

Endurance racer Sylvain Guintoli raises over £4000 for children's cancer charity with kit auction

Former World Superbike and Endurance World champion, Sylvain Guintoli has auctioned off several racing items from his 2024 season in order to raise money for Young Lives vs Cancer – a British...

Ready to Rally | KTM introduce more rugged 1390 Super Adventure R packing more advanced technology

Ready to Rally | KTM introduce more rugged 1390 Super Adventure R packing more advanced technology

KTM have launched their most radical off-road focussed globetrotter to date, whipping the covers off a new 170.6bhp 1390 Super Adventure R. The V-twin rally-raiding behemoth joins the earlier...

Dainese launch revolutionary helmet recycling project to cut back on plastic waste problem

Dainese launch revolutionary helmet recycling project to cut back on plastic waste problem

Dainese, owners of AGV Helmets, have announced a world-first helmet recycling and manufacturing scheme that could cut virgin plastic use by several tonnes, all without compromising rider...

Motorcycle Live 2025 tickets on sale now with early bird prices set at the same as this year’s event

Motorcycle Live 2025 tickets on sale now with early bird prices set at the same as this year’s event

Tickets for Motorcycle Live 2025 are now on sale, with early bird prices fixed at the same fee as this year’s recent event.   Still costing £23 for adults and £2.50 for children, the show will once...

November registration figures show positive turn for UK motorcycle industry despite dealer closures

November registration figures show positive turn for UK motorcycle industry despite dealer closures

November registration figures released by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) have revealed a slight uptick in sales for the month, closing the gap on the struggling figures seen throughout the...

Somerset Blood Bikes charity reunited with trusty Yamaha Tracer following shock theft

Somerset Blood Bikes charity reunited with trusty Yamaha Tracer following shock theft

Life-saving charity Freewheelers EVS Blood Bikes Service are celebrating the swift return of one of their Yamaha Tracer 9 GT delivery motorcycles, after it was stolen from the driveway of a volunteer...

No ordinary Blade! James Toseland’s WSBK Championship winning Honda for sale in Sheffield for £150k

No ordinary Blade! James Toseland’s WSBK Championship winning Honda for sale in Sheffield for £150k

Racing enthusiasts are in with the chance of owning the Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade that James Toseland piloted to victory in the 2007 World Superbike championship. Related: Expert guide to...

Custom cruising | Triumph launch punchier Bobber TFC limited edition priced at £17,195

Custom cruising | Triumph launch punchier Bobber TFC limited edition priced at £17,195

Triumph Motorcycles have introduced a new Bobber TFC cruiser to their range, limited to 750 bikes worldwide at a price of £17,195 on the road. The TFC (which stands for Triumph Factory Custom) is...

Power play! Stark Future plug into the enduro scene with new road legal Varg EX model

Power play! Stark Future plug into the enduro scene with new road legal Varg EX model

Stark Future have lifted the lid on their first factory road legal offering, bringing the capabilities of their inaugural Varg motocross model to the enduro and trail riding crowds.  Related:...

Battery bike crackdown | Derbyshire cops seize 99 illegal electric two-wheelers in one month

Battery bike crackdown | Derbyshire cops seize 99 illegal electric two-wheelers in one month

Police in Derbyshire have seized 99 illegal e-bikes, electric mopeds, and scooters across a month of action, with 39 of those machines apprehended in just one day.  Related: Illegal electric bikes...

Self-stopping radar technology debuted with KTM looks set to appear on more motorcycles coming soon

Self-stopping radar technology debuted with KTM looks set to appear on more motorcycles coming soon

Head of Two-Wheeler and Powersports at Bosch, Geoff Liersch has confirmed to MCN that we will see more high-end motorcycles arriving in the near future, equipped with their second-generation Advanced...

Small screamer | Four-cylinder Kove 450RR sportsbike to produce 69.7bhp at 13,000rpm

Small screamer | Four-cylinder Kove 450RR sportsbike to produce 69.7bhp at 13,000rpm

Last month’s EICMA trade show in Milan saw the arrival of a new Kove 450RR sportsbike, powered by a Kawasaki ZX-4RR rivalling 442.9cc inline four-cylinder engine. Conversations with representatives...

Ducati celebrate their Italian heritage with limited-run £48,000 Panigale V4 Tricolore superbike

Ducati celebrate their Italian heritage with limited-run £48,000 Panigale V4 Tricolore superbike

Meet the Ducati Panigale V4 Tricolore: a £48,000 special edition superbike that will be limited to just 1000 units worldwide, built in celebration of the Bologna brand’s Italian heritage. Launched...

Bike Stop Stevenage hands over the reins to Infinity Motorcycles after over 40 years of trading

Bike Stop Stevenage hands over the reins to Infinity Motorcycles after over 40 years of trading

Motorcycle clothing and kit specialists, Infinity Motorcycles have officially purchased Bike Stop Stevenage – taking their number of retail stores to 16 across the UK. Infinity Motorcycles will run...