Bike Kit

A guide to the best waterproof touring boots for dry, comfortable year-round riding

A guide to the best waterproof touring boots for dry, comfortable year-round riding

For road riders, getting your kit right is never more important than when you’re contemplating big miles and a pair of waterproof motorcycle touring boots is a good place to start. If you’re just...

Tried and tested: Forma Adventure review

Tried and tested: Forma Adventure review

Choosing boots for adventure bikes is a tricky one. Traditional touring boots may well keep your feet warm and dry but may not be up to the rigours of the odd off-road foray. Conversely, full...

Subtle safety: Best scooter boots as chosen by

Subtle safety: Best scooter boots as chosen by

For scooter riders, bikers who are hopping across town or those wanting more fashionable, comfortable biking footwear to go with a pair of motorcycle jeans, ankle boots are a great option. One of...

Tried and tested: DXR Bernie boots review

Tried and tested: DXR Bernie boots review

These CE-approved DXR Bernie boots are billed as breathable and having just ridden two hours up the M5 in 30°C conditions I can confirm that they did indeed remain comfortable for the duration without...

Tried and tested: TCX Street 3 boots review

Tried and tested: TCX Street 3 boots review

The TCX Street 3 are a motorcycle boot with a casual, street style that offers protection without making it obvious you’re wearing them when you walk around off the bike. While some riders’ blood...

Get shorty: Best short motorcycle boots

Get shorty: Best short motorcycle boots

If you’re going casual in a pair of jeans, riding around town on an urban commute or just want a bit more comfort and mobility when you’re off the bike, then a short motorcycle boot may well be the...

Tried and tested: Momo Firegun 3 boots review

Sometimes, you want some protection but you don’t want the bulk, the stiffness or the warmth of a pair of high-leg boots. You may be out on a summer ride or for a short blast and want something light and comfortable. You might be out in your favourite slim-fit riding jeans and don’t want to tuck them inside a tall sports boot. In which case, a pair of short, more urban boots are what you’re...

Tried and tested: Alpinestars SMX-6 V2 Drystar review

Tried and tested: Alpinestars SMX-6 V2 Drystar review

The Alpinestars SMX-6 V2 Drystar boots are sporty style waterproof boot that’s comfy enough to use for touring with the kind of protection you would expect on a track. It can be a dilemma...

Tried and tested: RST Paragon 2 review

Tried and tested: RST Paragon 2 review

These RST Paragon 2 motorcycle boots can cover many needs; waterproof, sporty, slim and comfortable and fairly warm. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking they will do you through the depths of...

Tried and tested: Spada Striders boots review

Tried and tested: Spada Striders boots review

The Spada Striders are motorbike boots with a baseball or high-top trainer feel to them. They look very street-like, with a suede finish to their nubuck leather outer. Available in black or brown,...

Best summer motorcycle boots | Tested by MCN for cool and fresh feet

Best summer motorcycle boots | Tested by MCN for cool and fresh feet

A good pair of summer motorcycle boots will make sure your feet don’t roast in hot weather without sacrificing protection. Summer boots at a glance We all love riding motorcycles in summer; long...

Winter blues beaters: Best winter motorcycle boots

Winter blues beaters: Best winter motorcycle boots

As we head into winter, those of us who ride year-round often turn our attention to biking kit that will provide the best warmth and weather protection, and a good quality pair of winter motorcycle...

Hard as a diamond: Abus Granit 68 Xplus scores highest Sold Secure Diamond level rating

Hard as a diamond: Abus Granit 68 Xplus scores highest Sold Secure Diamond level rating

Abus are taking the fight to bike thieves with an updated range of Sold Secure approved locks and chains – including a Diamond rated cylindrical disc lock which meets the highest level of protection...

Alpinestars Supertech R10 available now: First full face road helmet from the firm goes on sale

Alpinestars Supertech R10 available now: First full face road helmet from the firm goes on sale

To compete head-on with the road helmet establishment is the tallest of tall orders, but Alpinestars are on the right track with their new Supertech R10 – the first full face road crash helmet the...

A century of the Manx GP: Arai celebrate with limited edition RX-7V Evo

A century of the Manx GP: Arai celebrate with limited edition RX-7V Evo

Arai helmets are celebrating 100 years of the Manx GP with a UK exclusive, limited edition version of their RX-7V Evo helmet. The design was unveiled on the island at this year’s TT and features a...

Rate of inflation: Airbag jeans come to market

Rate of inflation: Airbag jeans come to market

Airbag jackets are nothing new, with most major kit brands producing inflating safety vests designed to provide additional protection. But there are also airbag jeans. You can wear them under your...

Best universal motorcycle luggage buying guide | Find the best ways to haul it all on any bike

Best universal motorcycle luggage buying guide | Find the best ways to haul it all on any bike

One of the drawbacks of riding a motorbike is that you can’t carry as much with you as you can in other types of vehicles – but this can be improved with some universal motorcycle luggage. Whether...

Baby steps: Best kids’ motorcycle boots

Baby steps: Best kids’ motorcycle boots

When it comes to kids’ motorcycle boots, most of what dominates the market are off-road or motocross versions. It’s hardly surprising, as the best way to get them going on two wheels and give them...

Tried and tested: Alpinestars Faster V2 review

Tried and tested: Alpinestars Faster V2 review

The Alpinestars Faster V2 is a sporty leather motorbike jacket that pairs protection fit for the track with comfort, practicality and style for the road. It follows the original Faster jacket which...

Tried and tested: RST Pro Series Commander jacket review

Tried and tested: RST Pro Series Commander jacket review

The RST Pro Series Commander jacket is the firm’s flagship textile motorcycle jacket. It’s a completely waterproof laminate jacket thanks to its SinAqua Pro technology – meaning you don’t have to mess...

Race trim: Best sporty leather jackets

Race trim: Best sporty leather jackets

A leather one piece race suit is the way to go for track riding, but if you want to keep the race look on your road going sportsbike then a sporty leather jacket may be a more practical solution. Most...

Tried and tested: Vanucci VAJ-4 textile jacket review

Tried and tested: Vanucci VAJ-4 textile jacket review

The unfortunately named Vanucci VAJ-4 textile jacket forms part of the brand’s modular bike kit range called Vanucci+ that lets the rider pick and choose which layers they want to buy and wear. So,...

Classic chic: Best retro leather jackets as chosen by MCN

Classic chic: Best retro leather jackets as chosen by MCN

Riders of classic, vintage or retro motorcycles have a duty to follow the visual impact of their machines, and donning an old school, retro leather jacket to complete the image is practically...

Tried and tested: Shark Spartan RS Carbon review

Tried and tested: Shark Spartan RS Carbon review

The SHARK Spartan RS Carbon is a sporty-looking touring helmet with a long list of features, impressive build quality and an ECE 22.06 safety rating, for less money than you’d expect. When we...

Tried and tested: Shoei Neotec II review

Tried and tested: Shoei Neotec II review

The Neotec 2 has now been replaced by the Shoei Neotec 3, which conforms to the later ECE 22.06 safety standard. It’s also got a number of tweaks to improve the six-year-old Neotec II. Flip-front...

Tried and tested: HJC C10 review

Tried and tested: HJC C10 review

An all-new motorbike helmet for 2023, the HJC C10 is an entry-level model and replaces the CS-15. It is the first sub £100 helmet to meet the latest ECE22.06 safety standard, which replaced the...

Tried and tested: Shark Ridill review

Tried and tested: Shark Ridill review

Shark’s Ridill is a low-price, high-feature motorbike helmet that would suit new riders perfectly. It’s not perfect, as you’d expect for a lid at this price point, but for a starting point it’s ideal,...

Head off-road: Best motocross and dirtbike helmets

Head off-road: Best motocross and dirtbike helmets

The main difference between road and motocross and dirtbike helmets is the provision of a visor. Most MX helmets are designed to be used with goggles, as these can offer a better view as well as...

Bricking it! Yamaha team up with Lego for new MT-10SP build

Bricking it! Yamaha team up with Lego for new MT-10SP build

Yamaha have teamed up with Lego to launch a new MT-10SP Technic kit, set to arrive in shops next month. The £199.99 build will be available on Tuesday, 1 August 2023 and consists of 1478 pieces.

Roadskin Taranis Elite AAA jeans review | Single-layer, AAA-rated jeans we can't stop wearing

Roadskin Taranis Elite AAA jeans review | Single-layer, AAA-rated jeans we can't stop wearing

Motorcycle riding jeans have come a long way over the years and these Roadskin Taranis Elite AAA genuinely boggle the mind with their combination of comfort, lightweight fabric and...

Play time! Ride 5 video game on the way

Play time! Ride 5 video game on the way

The fifth instalment of the Ride video game franchise will arrive on August 24, 2023. Players of Ride 5 can race the latest in motorcycling exotica on a series of iconic race tracks from around the...

Spoiler alert: Taylor Mackenzie helps Ruroc develop trackday helmet

Spoiler alert: Taylor Mackenzie helps Ruroc develop trackday helmet

Gloucestershire helmet manufacturer Ruroc have set their sights on the race circuit, developing a track-focused helmet based on their Atlas 4.0 that’s both lighter and more aerodynamic than...

Defiant against thieves: New Squire lock ramps up protection against angle grinders

Defiant against thieves: New Squire lock ramps up protection against angle grinders

Squire have launched what they say is their toughest ever motorcycle brake disc lock, promising angle grinder resistance that should deter even the most tooled-up thief. Named the Defiant, the...

Heated vision: New heated visor claims to provide a day’s riding without the fear of fog

Heated vision: New heated visor claims to provide a day’s riding without the fear of fog

Space technology and British engineering have combined to make fogged visors a thing of the past with the invention of the Visin heated visor insert that promises to keep your vision crystal clear for...

MCN's guide to the best motorcycle touring boots: Safe, rugged footwear for long-haul riding

MCN's guide to the best motorcycle touring boots: Safe, rugged footwear for long-haul riding

There are a lot of different types of motorcycle boots to choose from, all focused on different purposes and features. For riders who want to travel any real distance – whether it’s a long day-trip, a...

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

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

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...