August

Securing your bike on a ferry

27 August 2010 by MCN

If you are heading abroad on the ferries it’s important that you are able to tether your bike down properly in the hold in case of rough weather. Park it so it is almost leaning against the deck wall...

New rider engine layouts: Inline fours

27 August 2010 by MCN

The inline four-cylinder engine is the most popular layout for bikes because it combines high performance with relatively low cost. First made popular by Honda in 1970s, after they’d gained experience...

Advice: Why have my tyres worn so quickly?

24 August 2010 by Marc Abbott

Why have my tyres worn so quickly? Q. I’ve been using the same make and model of tyres on my bike for a few sets now, but the last pair seemed to have worn faster than before. Both the front and the...

Advice: Are my Fazer's brake discs at fault?

24 August 2010 by Marc Abbott

Are my Fazer’s discs at fault? Q. My recently acquired Yamaha FZS600 is great but for the high-pitched “scraping” whine from the front wheel. The dealer tells me it’s the front discs and says all...

Position yourself correctly

20 August 2010

Getting yourself in the right position in the lane of the road you are travelling on is a vital skill that keeps you safe and lets you make good progress. The greatest risk to you is other road users,...

How do you know your tyres are warmed up?

20 August 2010 by MCN

With your contact on terra firma reliant on two hand-sized patches of rubber it’s hard to know when your bedded-in tyres are up to operating temperature, but there are a couple of factors that will...

Will o2 sensor eliminator cure GSR600 stalling?

17 August 2010 by MCN

I have only been riding a short length of time, and the last couple of times that I took my bike (Suzuki GSR600) out I found that it stalled when I was travelling at relatively low speed when changing...

Will changing spark plugs cure a misfire?

17 August 2010 by MCN

Q. My Ducati 900SS has a misfire which starts after I have ridden a few miles. Will changing the plugs sort it out? George Booth, email A. A misfire is either related to the fuelling or the...

How to get better mileage on a rear tyre

17 August 2010 by MCN

Q. I have a Harley XR1200X with Dunlop Qualifier tyres that I am very pleased with. The rear is getting close to the end of its life at 2200 miles. Save cash on motorcycle products If I fitted a...

How to tell when your tyres need replacing

13 August 2010 by MCN

The obvious visual sign that your tyres are worn are when the tread becomes so shallow that tread wear indicators, which are small raised areas at the bottom of the main tread grooves, have reached...

How to fit earplugs

13 August 2010 by MCN

Part of the attraction of riding a bike is being in touch with the elements around you, not cut off in a little steel box. But one of those elements, wind noise, can be distracting and damage your...

What's causing battery drain?

10 August 2010 by MCN

Q. I have all sorts of electrical problems with my bike. When the lights are on the battery seems to lose charge even when the engine is running. Anon A. You don’t say what happens with the lights...

Best tyres for a hot track day

10 August 2010 by MCN

Q. I recently highsided a Ducati Monster S4RS on a set of Bridgestone BT016s at the Salzburgring in Austria. The local expert (superbike racer) looked at the tyres and thought they looked overheated.

Can I use a 2010 R1 rear shock on a 2007 R1?

10 August 2010 by MCN

Q. Any chance you could give me the standard settings for the rear shock on a 2009/10 Yamaha R1 I’ve had this shock recommended to put onto my 07/08 model. Steve Cope, MCN forums A. When you are...

New rider: what was that noise?

06 August 2010 by MCN

When you get your first big bike, it can take some time to get used to all the mechanical noises that it makes, and they can seem quite worrying at first. If you’re on a tight budget and your new bike...

What's engine braking and how does it differ?

06 August 2010 by MCN

Engine braking can be a useful tool to riding smoothly when you first start out, or it can get you into a bit of trouble if you don’t pay attention to the gear you’re in. It occurs when you shut the...

My speedo can't cope with my turbo!

02 August 2010 by MCN

Q. About one year ago I fitted a nice little turbo to my first generation Suzuki 1200 Bandit. Save cash on motorcycle products Now, I’ve covered about 7000 miles (3000 of them in 10 days around...

Can I service my R1200RT's throttle at home?

02 August 2010 by MCN

Q. I have a 2005 BMW R1200RT which I have started to service myself; I have found this to be very straightforward, however I am not sure about the throttle body/cable adjustment/synchronisation. Save...