MCN
Reviews For sale News Insurance

2009

Tyre advice: Cause of stepped wear in tyres

02 October 2009 by Marc Abbott

Tyre advice: Cause of stepped wear in tyres

Q. I have a problem in that my tyres – particularly the rear – wear in ‘steps’. A clear step down develops across each groove. Compare and buy motorcycle tyres This has happened on my last two bikes...

Products advice: Upgrading my headlight

02 October 2009 by Marc Abbott

Products advice: Upgrading my headlight

Q. I have a Yamaha XJR1300 and the stock headlight is rubbish. It’s not bright enough to be visible during the day and makes night riding a bit tricky so I want to put a brighter bulb in there. What’s...

FAQ: How do I make a claim for poor service?

01 October 2009 by Marc Abbott

If you have had loads of grief with a bike you’ve just bought from a dealer, with some faults and a prolonged wait for parts it is sometimes possible to reject the bike. However, in order for there to be a right of rejection under the Sale of Goods Act, the goods must be sufficiently faulty in that they are either a) not fit for purpose or b) not of satisfactory quality. If you’ve suffered loss of...

Trouser review: Ixon Evil jeans

01 October 2009 by Andy Downes

Trouser review: Ixon Evil jeans

Ixon Evil jeans, £139.99 (£125.99 on MCN shop) Miles covered/time: 2500/six months What’s good? I wear these on my commute to work and for short trips on the basis that they offer more protection than...

Helmet review: Arai Freeway

01 October 2009 by Michael Neeves

Helmet review: Arai Freeway

Arai Freeway open face helmet £179.99 (£169.99 on MCN Shop) Miles covered/time: 10,000/5 years. What’s good? I’ve worn this on a Harley-Davidson across Australia, on holiday in southern Europe and on...

Trouser review: Dainese SF Pelle

01 October 2009 by Michael Neeves

Trouser review: Dainese SF Pelle

Dainese SF Pelle leather pants £289.99 Miles covered/time: 20,000/18 months What’s good? These zip to my Dainese jacket, so get close to providing the kind of protection you’d expect from full...

Jacket review: Dainese Gran Premo Pelle

30 September 2009 by Michael Neeves

Jacket review: Dainese Gran Premo Pelle

Dainese Gran Premo Pelle Jacket £399.99 Miles covered/time: 6000/4 months What’s good? Dainese are brilliant at making motorcycle leather jackets. They’re stylish, fit beautifully and I can...

FAQ: How do I build my mechanical knowledge?

25 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

FAQ: How do I build my mechanical knowledge?

You can save tons of your hard-earned cash and really increase your enjoyment of biking if you begin to build up your technical knowledge of how your bike works. We’ve collated a selection of sites...

Best all-weather tyres for Kawasaki ZX-10R

23 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

Best all-weather tyres for Kawasaki ZX-10R

Q. I have a 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R currently fitted with Bridgestone BT016s. They are fantastic tyres, however can you suggest some tyres suitable for winter road riding? Compare and buy motorcycle...

What difference does an exhaust make to weight?

23 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

What difference does an exhaust make to weight?

Ever wondered just how much the weight saving is when you ditch your bike’s restrictive standard exhaust system for a flash new one? Compare and buy motorcycle exhausts Watch this video featuring...

Converting a sports bike to tourer

23 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

Converting a sports bike to tourer

Tired of the racing crouch on your sports bike? MCN’s problem solving community has the answer on our forums… Compare and buy motorcycle products JBCompetes: I have a 2001 Fireblade that I threw...

Dunlop Qualifier RRs pass the toughest test

16 September 2009 by Michael Neeves

Dunlop Qualifier RRs pass the toughest test

I’ve just returned from a 3200-mile trip to Spain and back on my Ducati Streetfighter, and the Dunlop Qualifier RRs I’d fitted worked like a dream. Compare and buy motorcycle tyres They offered the...

How to fit tricky new grips

16 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

How to fit tricky new grips

Presuming you’ve already tried plenty of soap, WD40 or brute force, try this… If you can bear to ride your bike to a tyre depot or garage forecourt on bare metal bars, then you can insert the nozzle...

Tyre advice: Which tyres for track days and fast road riding?

16 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

Tyre advice: Which tyres for track days and fast road riding?

Q. I’m due a set of tyres on my Suzuki GSX-R1000 K5. Compare and buy motorcycle tyres It’s running Bridgestone BT016s at the moment. I am looking for a tyre that grips well in the dry, and is...

Suspension advice: My bike seems to 'flop' into corners

16 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

Suspension advice: My bike seems to 'flop' into corners

Q. My Honda CB1100R has a tendency to flop into corners although I fitted a new rear shock recently. Compare and buy motorcycle supension parts I’ve checked the head bearings for play and set the...

FAQ: what do I do if my bike won't start?

11 September 2009 by Chris Dabbs

FAQ: what do I do if my bike won't start?

If your bike is cutting out mysteriously, especially when you try to select a gear or pull away for the first time, check out the sidestand cut-out switch. It sits in a very exposed position low on...

Mod 1 test

10 September 2009 by Anonymous

I sat the Mod 1 test Sept 2009. Yes of course I was nervous, it was a test. However, all went well until the hazard avoidance exercise. I was too slow on the 1st attempt, 49kmph, so was sent around for another attempt. I was told by instruction and by other bikers not to look at the speedo as I would know how fast I would be going due to the noise of the bike in 2nd gear. This was not true.

Motorcycle Safety: How safe is riding a bike?

09 September 2009 by Rupert Paul

Motorcycle Safety: How safe is riding a bike?

If you’re starting out, this has got to be a question looming large in your mind – and if not yours, then definitely the mind of your nearest and dearest. The short answer is: riding a bike does...

Motorcycle Safety: avoiding common accidents

07 September 2009 by Chris Dabbs

Motorcycle Safety: avoiding common accidents

The most common accidents that we bikers get involved in are collisions at junctions, collisions while overtaking, loss of control, either from a shunt or, and, surprise, surprise, failing to get...

Suspension advice: Sorting the shcok to irradicate sliding

02 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

Suspension advice: Sorting the shcok to irradicate sliding

My Suzuki GSX-R750 has just been fitted with a new aftermarket rear shock, but since then it has been spinning its rear tyre under power when riding in the wet. Compare and buy motorcycle...

Why do tyres have wire in them?

02 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

Why do tyres have wire in them?

The high-tensile steel wire in motorcycle tyres is also known as the ‘bead’ and runs circumferationally around the inner part of the tyre. Compare and buy motorcycle tyres It’s job is to anchor the...

Tyre advice: Slippy roads in Southern Spain

02 September 2009 by Marc Abbott

Tyre advice: Slippy roads in Southern Spain

I have recently moved to southern Spain and I ride a Ducati Monster S4RS. Compare and buy motorcycle tyres I have ridden my bike a few times since living here but I am having serious trouble with...

Road surface in test areas

02 September 2009 by Anonymous

I am doing my test in a couple of weeks time so I went to my local centre to see what way it was set up and run. It had been a wet morning but the sun had come out and dried most of the test area but trees had prevented a spot from drying out. The candidate was carrying out the emergency stop and had failed to reach the required speed and was sent back to try again. As he approached the second...

suspension set up

31 August 2009 by phil langston

suspension set up

Help please? own a Honda CBR600FS2 2002 and the suspension set up is for someone who is a lot heavier than myself. I am 9stone 12lbs and 5ft 5inches tall, can you recommend some settings so I can...

Kit: How to buy a cheap helmet

28 August 2009 by Chris Dabbs

Kit: How to buy a cheap helmet

If you are starting out on two wheels your budget has to cover a lot of first-time purchases. One of the most important is your crash helmet which could costs hundreds. But there are great savings to...

Exhaust advice: Discoloured downpipes

27 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

Exhaust advice: Discoloured downpipes

I’ve bought a used 2006 Yamaha XJR1300 with 3000 miles on clock which runs very well. However the front downpipes are discoloured and have gone slightly purple. What do you think is the cause? Should...

Suspension advice: Front end knocking

27 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

Suspension advice: Front end knocking

My Yamaha Fazer 1000 has developed an occasional knocking (movement) at the front end. It tends to happen in corners and it feels very similar to loose head bearings. It’s been around for the last...

What category licence is a Suzuki Intruder 125?

27 August 2009 by offen

I have a 10 year old Suzuki Intruder 125. I want to take my module 1 bike test but I have been ask to produce a certificate of comformity, as this bike is not on the examiners list. Otherwise the examiner will have to assume category A1 licence, and I want a standard licence What is this and how do I obtain this information.?

Suspension advice: How age affects suspension

26 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

Suspension advice: How age affects suspension

Age takes its toll on the rubber seals through degradation and springs sag as the coils deform under the continued load. You can spot seal problems such as perishing or oil leaks, but to check the...

Tyre Advice: What affects tyre life on a GSX-R1000?

26 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

Tyre Advice: What affects tyre life on a GSX-R1000?

There are four factors that affect the life of a tyre. First, pressures; on your bike it should be 36psi front, 42psi rear. Next, the suspension needs to be compliant enough to help the tyre cope. If...

Make sure you get up to speed on the new test

24 August 2009 by Bike4Life

I did my module 1 at Erith, and got no minors, but I failed by 1 mile an hour! I could not believe it! Even a speed camera would not detect me travelling 1mph over the speed limit! They really need to consider scrapping this module 1 as it is a waste of time and is clearly a new scheme to make money. Did they not think of doing the speed maneoveure in a 40mph zone? Clearly a way to make money off...

Module 1 completed!

23 August 2009 by retrorider

Well done to everyone who has recently passed their module 1 test. I passed on the 9th August on my second attempt. My firt test ended in disaster after falling off the bike during the swerve section. That however, made me even more determined to pass and I practiced as often as I could in car parks and on quiet streets. I downloaded the course dimensions from the DSA website and marked the swerve...

Kit: How to buy a bike lock

20 August 2009 by Rob Hull

Kit: How to buy a bike lock

Buying a motorcycle lock is all about one thing – tailoring it to your specific needs. The motorcycle lock world is diverse with a variety of options meaning you could actually buy three or four...

Kit: How to choose leather trousers

19 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

Kit: How to choose leather trousers

As important as your leather jacket, leather trousers serve the same purpose (that of protection), albeit with slightly less style if you’re riding to the pub.  Compare and buy leather trousers The...

Kit: How to choose a leather jacket

19 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

Kit: How to choose a leather jacket

It doesn’t matter what we say here – most motorcyclists, if they’re being honest, will choose something that looks good. And why not? Compare and buy leather jackets in the MCN Shop However, beyond...

How does suspension affect understeer?

19 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

How does suspension affect understeer?

Also known as running wide, understeer is the bike’s inability to track a line through a bend. It usually occurs when a bike is set up too soft and the suspension wallows and struggles as physical...