February

Fab motorcycle goggles

24 February 2010 by Jim Forkin

I needed a pair of glasses that could be multi-function; sun-glasses, regular prescription and most importantly comfortable. I purhcased a pair of Davida WRS74 Goggles and I have to say for just under £120 they are fantastic, comfortable and great with an open face helmet.

What effect does removing an exhaust baffle have?

23 February 2010 by MCN

Q. I have just purchased a new GSX-R1000 with dealer-fitted Arrow cans with removable baffles. Save cash on motorcycle exhausts Can you please tell me whether it would harm the bike if I removed...

How to set up your bike, the Ron Haslam way

23 February 2010 by MCN

Road race ace Ron Haslam’s years of experience of tracks and public-road circuits have taught him something that’s a mystery to most of us – how to set up a bike. Suspension changes are the only...

Best tyres for a Triumph Speed Triple

23 February 2010 by MCN

Q. I’ve just bought a new Triumph Speed Triple for very spirited riding on the roads (well, it’s what it was built for!) and for fast group track days. Save £££s on motorcycle tyres As I bought...

Brake disc rivets explained

23 February 2010 by Marc Abbott

Q. I recently read your advice column in MCN on floating discs from an Andrew Carroll (MCN, November 25) and was wondering, should the rivets on my discs rotate freely on my Aprilia RS250 because at...

New rider: questions to ask a seller

19 February 2010 by MCN

When you’re buying a new bike it’s easy to get carried away with the occasion and just rush to swing your leg over and get riding But before you hand over the cash for those lovely keys, there are...

New rider: what to look for in a test ride

19 February 2010 by MCN

If you’re looking at a bike to buy and you’ve given it a good once over, ask for a ride. You may have to leave the asking price in cash, or your family, or both. At the very least you should get a...

New rider: How to get your bike lowered

18 February 2010 by MCN

Don’t let a tall seat height put you off buying the bike of your dreams – there are a number of solutions out there for shorties or those who simply want more slow speed confidence. One such option is...

Product advice: Are 190- and 200-section tyres interchangeable?

15 February 2010 by Marc Abbott

The Suzuki B-King comes with a 200-section rear tyre profile but it can apparently take a 190-section tyre. Can someone explain this to me? If a 190 is used will the profile be less sharp? Forklift,...

Product advice: Is my tyre contaminated?

15 February 2010 by Marc Abbott

The rear tyre on my freshly-cleaned ZX-10 let go before I got to the end of my road, sending me and the bike sliding along on our sides. I can only think that the tyre must have had WD-40 or bike...

Product advice: Help! My bike's steering too quickly

15 February 2010 by Marc Abbott

My 2004 Kawasaki ZR-7 has a tendency to flop into corners although I fitted a new rear shock recently. I’ve checked the head bearings for play and set the tyre pressures, with 42psi in the rear it...

How much oil should my new bike use?

10 February 2010 by MCN

It is not unusual for bikes to use a litre of oil per 1000 miles. Oil consumption is determined by a variety of factors, and the one the rider has the most control over is the running in. If it is run...

What's the alternative to a coloured headlight cover?

09 February 2010 by MCN

Q. I Don’t want to get nicked for using a coloured headlight cover, but I’ve seen bikes with what looks like a blue-tinged headlight. Save money on motorcycle products When I spoke to a bloke at the...

Why's my exhaust header pipe glowing?

09 February 2010 by MCN

Q. I have an N-reg Kawasaki GPz500 which is restricted at the moment. I noticed that as it was warming up the other night, the right hand exhaust header pipe was glowing red but the left side...

Best tyres for riding to a track day?

09 February 2010 by MCN

Q. I’ve just bought a 2000 ZX-9R for track days. Save £££s on motorcycle tyres However I have to ride to the track so I need some advice on suitable tyre options? Ollie, MCN Tyre forum A.

How to adjust your chain properly

05 February 2010 by Marc Abbott

The first thing you’ve got to get right is the alignment. Check that by measuring the distance from swingarm to wheel on both sides. You can also put a straight edge against the rear tyre like a...

How to get your kids started early

05 February 2010 by Marc Abbott

There are a handful of projects running around the country that give youngsters a taste of two wheels. There’s an off-road school called the Geoff Mayes’ MX try-out (01379-852452) which is based in...

Can I change my headlight bulb from 35W to 55W?

01 February 2010 by MCN

The vast majority of wiring systems should be able to cope with uprating 35/35w bulbs to 55/60w bulbs without any problem. Save £££s on motorcycle products However if your bike has plastic headlamp...

How to set up a Blade exhaust valve

01 February 2010 by MCN

Q. I’m having problems setting up the exhaust valve on my 2003 Blade. Save money on motorcycle exhausts With the ignition on, the index mark on the control valve is not aligning with the horizontal...

Can you ‘shave’ a tyre to restore its profile?

01 February 2010 by MCN

Q. If you do a lot of straight line work and the profile of your tyre starts to ‘square off’, couldn’t rear bike tyres be ‘shaved’ back to a useful rounded profile to restore feel? Save £££s on...