Bike Kit | Page 11

Save yourself money by following MCN's guide to looking after your motorbike chain

14 September 2023 by Bruce Dunn

A motorbike chain is a vitally important bit of kit. It’s essentially the part that connects your motor to your back wheel in most cases, so careful maintenance is key to keeping your bike...

Drip feeders: Best motorcycle chain oilers as chosen by MCN

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Aftermarket, motorcycle chain oilers have proved popular with bikers who want to keep their chain lubed without the hassle of getting down on their knees with a spray can and a paddock stand. These...

Tried and tested: Muc-Off Pressure Washer review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Generally speaking, if you want to clean a motorbike, then you will probably find a pressure washer useful. However – and it’s a big however – sometimes, you need to be careful, particularly around...

Going nowhere: Best motorcycle rear wheel spinners

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Unless your bike has a centrestand, cleaning and subsequently lubricating and protecting the chain or cleaning the wheels can be a real pain. That task is made easier with a motorcycle wheel...

Fluid dynamics: How to change your motorcycle engine oil

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The oil in your engine is its lifeblood: it lubricates the moving parts and stops them wearing or destroying themselves. It helps to keep everything cool, particularly on ‘air’-cooled engines and it...

Power play: How to hard-wire heated motorcycle gloves into your bike

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Heated kit is a brilliant addition to your winter riding kit. It allows you to wear less insulating clothing and instead, generate heat to maintain your body temperature while remaining comfortable...

Dry cleaners: Best motorcycle waterless washes

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Sometimes, thoroughly cleaning your motorbike with a wash, dry, polish and wax, is not just essential to maintain its finish but can be eminently satisfying. The process of turning a filthy bike,...

Plug and play: How check and change your motorcycle spark plugs

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Unless you own a diesel motorcycle, then the spark plug in your petrol engine is probably one of the most key components if you want to operate your bike. Of course, there are others – tyres, brakes...

Let there be light: Best motorcycle headlight bulb upgrades

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Like many components on your motorcycle, the headlight bulbs are designed to do an acceptable job while mass production techniques make sure they are as cheap as possible. However, also like many of...

Do it all: Best multi-tools for motorcycle repairs

14 September 2023 by Chris Williams

Carrying lots of kit isn’t really in line with the motorcycling brief, even with the bigger touring bikes. Yet, multi-tools for motorcycle repairs are handy. Every so often, we need to fettle with...

Save your energy: How to look after your motorcycle battery

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Motorcycle battery maintenance is a key element to ensuring you can enjoy your riding as much as possible. There is nothing worse than excitedly approaching your bike only to find the starter won’t...

Motorcycle Jump Packs Buying Guide | Bring your bike back from the grave in a flash here on MCN

14 September 2023 by Phil Clarke

There’s no worse feeling than getting ready to go to ride only to hop on, press the ignition, and be met with nothing but cold dead silence. We’re all secretly hoping it won’t happen every time we...

Socket to me: Best socket sets for motorcycle maintenance

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Most motorcyclists will tackle some form of work on their bike at some point and if you do, one of the first items you need in your tool kit is a socket sets. Depending on whether you enjoy working...

Nutcrackers: Best spanners for motorcycle maintenance

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

A good socket set is generally top of the wish – or indeed, need – list for any home mechanic’s tool set. However, following it up very closely is a good set of spanners, as sockets without the best...

Fan favourite: How to check your motorcycle cooling system

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Checking your motorcycle cooling system is important. In the past, most bikes were air-cooled. Although that’s a bit of a misnomer; it was a combination of air and oil-cooling, with the oil being...

Mobile mechanic: Best portable and onboard toolkits

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

There are times when you need some tools with you on a ride. It might be a day out or a long tour but somewhere along the line you might need a portable and onboard motorcycle toolkit to do a little...

Advanced mechanics: Best motorcycle workshop luxuries

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

If you enjoy working on your motorcycle, either for essential maintenance or for more in-depth spannering such as restoration work, then you will probably already have a decent range of essential...

Flat-head or Phillips: Best screwdriver sets for motorcycle maintenance

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

In building a toolkit to use at home to look after your motorcycle, once you have sourced a socket set and spanners, then a screwdriver set is probably the next most essential component that you will...

Pull up a pew: Best workshop seats

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

If you have an elevating table, working on your motorcycle is so much easier than at ground level. However, they can still mean you need to get on your knees for certain jobs – working on brakes or...

Keep on stopping: How to change motorcycle brake pads

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

It’s inevitable that if you carry out your own maintenance, sooner or later you will be changing motorcycle brake pads. They are, after all, consumable and will need replacing more or less often,...

Best motorcycle battery chargers in 2024 | Get back on the road or keep your battery topped up

14 September 2023 by Phil Clarke

There’s a strong case for dedicated motorcycle battery chargers. Most batteries will become discharged if the bike is left alone for a period of time (sometimes as little as a couple of weeks), and...

Tried and tested: CTEK CT5 Battery Charger review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

It used to be really easy to look after motorbike or car batteries. You just connected a battery charger that you paid a few quid for from a high-street shop and Bob is your proverbial mum’s brother.

Get a grip! Best pliers for motorcycle mechanics

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Any home – or even professional – mechanic knows that sometimes, you need to get strong with a bike. Occasionally you need to go to your motorcycle toolkit and get the big breaker bar for a stubborn...

The best sporty motorcycle gloves tried and tested by MCN | Expert buying guide and glove reviews

14 September 2023 by Ben Clarke

Sporty motorcycle gloves aren’t necessarily designed for riding on a track but they take their design cues from the top-spec gloves you see worn by racers at all levels down to trackday riders. I...

Tried and tested: Richa Street Touring gloves review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

I’ve been wearing these Richa Street Touring gloves on longer trips and testing touring bikes for several years and again, this season since early spring. There’s a very good reason for that; they are...

Alpinestars Supertech gloves review | Tried and tested on road and track by Neevesy

14 September 2023 by Michael Neeves

There are a bewildering array of sports and track-riding gloves in Alpinestars’ line-up, but the Alpinestars Supertech sit at the very top of the range, just above the Alpinestars GP Tech V2, with...

Get your hands dirty: Best motocross and dirtbike gloves

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

When it comes to riding off-road, whether that’s mild trail riding perhaps on an adventure bike, to doing more serious dirt biking all the way up to enduro and motocross riding, apart for needing the...

Tried and tested: LS2 Swift racing glove review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

These LS2 Swift gloves are a sporty leather option from the firm best known for making helmets. They offer great feel and protection without breaking the bank. Gloves are an essential part of your...

MCN's complete waterproof summer gloves guide | What to look for and which ones are best

14 September 2023 by Phil Clarke

What are waterproof summer gloves for? Even in the height of summer (especially in the UK), you can never fully rule out the possibility of a storm to rain on your parade while you ride. But when...

Tried and tested: Oxford Montreal 4.0 gloves review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Oxford Montreal 4.0 is one of the latest gloves to be added to the British brand’s line-up alongside the fourth generation of its award-winning Montreal textile suit. The company doesn’t specify...

These are the best winter gloves to keep you riding all year, as reviewed by our team

14 September 2023 by Justin Hayzelden

A good pair of winter motorcycle gloves is essential through the colder months. Riding a motorbike with cold hands can be uncomfortable, painful or even dangerous once numbness sets in and affects...

MCN's complete guide to heated motorcycle gloves | A deep dive into the holy grail of winter kit

14 September 2023 by Phil Clarke

If you’ve been riding in winter for any significant time, you’ll know there’s one part of your body that gets numb before anywhere else — and it’s horrible. Even thermal motorcycle gloves won’t...

These are the best women's motorcycle gloves our expert testers have reviewed

14 September 2023 by Charlotte King

There are now many more options available in terms of women’s riding gear than ever before. Gone are the days of simply buying small men’s kit, or all ladies’ variants featuring pink accents. However,...

Tried and tested: Held Air N Dry gloves review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The Held Air N Dry gloves attempt to satisfy two very distinct riding conditions; hot and dry or wet and cold. We all know that finding biking kit that covers every eventuality is tough – while...

Motorcycle boots buying guide | MCN's top picks and pro tips to step up your ride in 2024

14 September 2023 by Phil Clarke

Motorcycle boots might be worn at the lowest part of your body, but that doesn’t make them the lowest priority thing to buy when considering your riding kit. Yes, they can make your feet feel like...

Wet weather performers: Best waterproof sportsbike boots

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

For riding sportsbikes you need sporty kit, and a pair of protective and comfortable boots with excellent feel for the bike’s controls is essential. However, inevitably — in the UK at least — even a...