December

MCN Biking Britain survey: top 10 MCN shop bestsellers of 2009

03 January 2010 by Marc Abbott

Of the 42,000-plus products available to buy at www.mcnshop.com, here are the top 10 bestselling this year. All those readers can’t be wrong… 1. Shoei XR-1000 helmet, RRP from £295 MCN Shop best...

Tyre advice: 16.5inch wheels for road bikes

03 January 2010 by Chris Dabbs

Q. I have been offered a set of 16.5in Dymags for the right money for my GSX-R1000 K5. Getting race tyres is not a problem and I can get treads cut in them. I thought I heard a rumour about tyre...

Kit review: Arai SZ Ram

31 December 2009 by Simon Relph

Arai SZ Ram 111, £324.99 (from £299.99 on MCN shop) Tester: Simon Relph Miles covered/time: 2800/Nine months What’s good? The SZ Ram 111 is the update to my old SZ/F which has unfortunately passed...

Kit Review: Dannisport X2 Racer leathers, £399

31 December 2009 by Samuel Pinney

Dannisport X2 Racer leathers, £399 Tester: Samuel Pinney Miles covered/time: 1000/one month What’s good? I tested them on the Reclaim Wales protest rally, so I wore them constantly between 7am and...

Product advice: Will aftermarket levers be an MoT failure?

31 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

“I read somewhere that brake/clutch levers without ball ends will fail an MoT. The clutch lever on my XTZ660 got broken recently and I fitted an aftermarket lever, but it doesn’t have a ball end and...

Product advice: How to get kitted out from head to toe

31 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

“I’m just about to start riding and I’m fortunate enough to have about £2000 to spend getting kitted out from head to toe. How should I spend that budget on everything from a helmet to boots?” Hamish...

New rider: How to ride in a snowstorm

31 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

If the roads are white with snow you are best off leaving the bike at home. But if you get caught out by a sudden weather change and you’ve no choice, here are some tips to keep you rubber side...

New Rider: How to top up a battery – the christmas way!

25 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

If you are running an older bike with a lead acid battery that needs topping up now and again with distilled water, save one of those discharged plastic ‘party popper’ cases from the Christmas...

New Rider: How to prevent your ignition freezing

25 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

These freezing conditions mean that your exposed ignition or fuel tank lock can get iced up solid. But try these quick fixes and long-term remedies and you should be up and running quickly. If you’re...

Could my exhaust fail an MoT for noise?

23 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

Q. I’ve been finding it difficult to find out what the current law is regarding motorcycle noise levels. Can you help? Save £££s on motorcycle exhausts My MoT test centre told me it is now ‘lax’ and...

How to cure a ZZR1100 wheel wobble

23 December 2009 by MCN

Beaconsman: I¹ve been fixing up my ZZR11 on a tight budget this year and I have an issue with the rear wheel. The bearings are OK, but when assembled, the sprocket and cush drive move quite a lot. A...

Best tyres for a Suzuki Hayabusa

23 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

Q. I’ve owned a 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa from new and I’ve been using Michelin Pilot Sport HPXs which were great. When I was in France in the summer I got a puncture in the rear so I got a Suzuki dealer...

Can you use flashing cycle lights on a motorcycle?

18 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

Some riders are starting to use flashing bicycle lights in addition to their normal dipped beam when they are riding through heavy traffic. The trouble is that it is illegal under the Road Vehicle...

What's the best tyre for year-round riding?

16 December 2009 by Chris Dabbs

Q. As I commute through winter on my bike, I’m interested in fitting a rear tyre that will cope with all the rain, slush and snow and still give decent grip when the weather is fine. I’ve got the OE...

Will a Power Commander and pipe cure Hornet vibes?

16 December 2009 by Chris Dabbs

Q. I like my Honda Hornet 900, but I was wondering if a Power Commander and a pipe might cure the vibes a bit? I don’t mind losing some power as it’s got plenty and I already like the torque that it...

Benefits of changing brakes lines

16 December 2009 by Chris Dabbs

Q. When I replace the brake lines on my Yamaha FJR1300 is there any benefit (apart from cost) in braking function or performance to change the set-up from a single line splitting with a Y-piece into...

Can't see anything

10 December 2009 by committed

I once had a 2 day green laning adventure in the Welsh mountains in snow. I had absolutely no problem keeping warm because of the amount of work I had to do to stay on the bike, but my goggles kept steaming up. When you ride slower your breath has more effect upon what happens to the inside of your helmet. So I smear a small amount washing up liquid onto the inside of my visor if I’m anticipating...