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New rider

Welcome the the MCN New Rider section, where we'll help you navigate your way from complete biking novice to confident beginner. If you're unsure how to begin your journey onto two wheels, the diagram below is for you.

New Rider

How to fit earplugs

13 August 2010 by MCN

How to fit earplugs

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

What's causing battery drain?

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

Best tyres for a hot track day

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

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

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

New rider: what was that noise?

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

What's engine braking and how does it differ?

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

My speedo can't cope with my turbo!

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

Can I service my R1200RT's throttle at home?

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...

New bike dos and don'ts

30 July 2010 by MCN

New bike dos and don'ts

When you’ve got your first bike there are a few add-on dos and don’ts. Do consider fitting a hugger. It will keep the back of your bike cleaner and looks neat. Don’t just fit any old loud pipe. Quite...

Product review: Abus Granit Extreme Chain

27 July 2010 by Guy Procter

Product review: Abus Granit Extreme Chain

Abus Granit Extreme Chain 37-1.1m-12mm, £199 Time used: Five years What’s good? Words can’t describe the lack of care I have lavished on this faithful friend. Save £££s on motorcycle locks But it’s...

Can I change FireBlade front wheel size?

26 July 2010 by MCN

Can I change FireBlade front wheel size?

Q. Not sure if you’ve ever been asked this before, but I want to get some decent modern rubber on my ageing CBR900RR FireBlade. Is there a way I can go about putting a 17-inch wheel on the front to...

How do sintered brake pads differ from standard?

26 July 2010 by MCN

How do sintered brake pads differ from standard?

BAZX6R: I have just replaced my front brake pads on my J2 Ninja ZX-6R. I changed them for some EBC double H sintered, they do as I was told ­- stop the bike a lot better and do take some getting used...

Helmet review: Shoei XR-1100

23 July 2010 by Trevor Franklin

Helmet review: Shoei XR-1100

Shoei XR-1100 helmet, £299 (plain colours), £379 (graphics) Miles covered/time: 18,000/nine months What’s good? The sales assistant’s golden rule for buying a crash helmet is: If you’ve a ten-bob head...

How to fix broken electronic screen

22 July 2010 by MCN

How to fix broken electronic screen

Q. I have a 1999 BMW R1100RT with an electric screen. The screen gets stuck in its highest position every now and again, but it sorts itself out each time. Unfortunately it has happened again and is...

Could my XJ900’s tyres be causing a shimmy?

22 July 2010 by MCN

Could my XJ900’s tyres be causing a shimmy?

Q. I ride a 1993 Yamaha XJ900 with about 24k miles on the clock. I had new Avon tyres fitted at the start of the year and have covered about 2500 miles since. During the past month I have noticed a...

How to check for warped discs

12 July 2010 by MCN

How to check for warped discs

Q. When I brake quite hard between 80-40mph on my CBR600FS I feel a pulsing up to the brake lever. Save £££s on motorcycle brakes I have checked the discs they don’t seem to be warped and I have new...

Best tyres for a 4000-mile Alpine tour

12 July 2010 by Marc Abbott

Best tyres for a 4000-mile Alpine tour

I’m doing a 4000-mile tour round central Europe in August and I need a new set of rubber before I go. What should I use on my Bandit? It will be a mix between motorways and Alpine roads and will last...

Does ZXR suspension need an overhaul?

12 July 2010 by MCN

Does ZXR suspension need an overhaul?

Q. I’ve just got a very keenly priced ZXR750 dating from the early ’90s but the handling seems very choppy no matter what I do to the rear suspension. Save cash on motorcycle suspension I didn’t get...

Are my wheel bearings shot?

12 July 2010 by Marc Abbott

Are my wheel bearings shot?

Fellhopper: My GSX-R750 K2 has just developed a ‘droning’ noise from the front end (wheel?) it does it in all gears at speed and also with the clutch pulled in ‘coasting’. I have just solved one noise...

New Rider: Slow speed shimmy

09 July 2010 by Chris Dabbs

New Rider: Slow speed shimmy

If you are new to biking there are lots of fresh sensations to get to grips with, from leaning into bends, to the front dipping under braking or that pull on your arms as you accelerate hard. One...

Web wisdom: Proper coolant for a ZX-6R

06 July 2010 by Marc Abbott

Web wisdom: Proper coolant for a ZX-6R

jonboymp: Guys, I have a 2009 ZX-6R. It needs a drop of coolant, what should I use? The normal car stuff from Halfords? Can anyone point me in the right direction? triumphrider600: Nooooooo. Bikes use...

Is my NTV's fuel system causing rough running?

06 July 2010 by Marc Abbott

Is my NTV's fuel system causing rough running?

My Honda NTV650 93 model is running rough at idle and at speed it has a lot of vibration from the engine. I have put some carb cleaner though the tank for three tanks of petrol and it has helped the...

Checking your new bike has a SORN

02 July 2010 by MCN

If you have bought a bike and applied for SORN at the same time, you should receive a new logbook and confirmation of its SORN status too. But if you can’t find the SORN paperwork anywhere, you can check the date of liability for your bike via http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk or by calling vehicle enquiries on 0300 790 6802.  Get a friend into biking and win £10000 for you, and £5000 for them...

How to avoid a SMIDSY

02 July 2010 by MCN

How to avoid a SMIDSY

No one likes crashing and it can dent your confidence and bank balance as well as injuring you. Here’s how to avoid one of the most common accidents, a SMIDSY (“Sorry Mate I Didn’t See You”) when...

What happens when I remove exhaust baffles?

01 July 2010 by Marc Abbott

What happens when I remove exhaust baffles?

I have just purchased a new GSX-R1000 K7 with dealer fitted Arrow cans with removable baffles. Can you please tell me whether it would harm the bike if I removed them. I have also read in the Arrow...

What happens when I remove exhaust baffles?

30 June 2010 by MCN

What happens when I remove exhaust baffles?

Q. I have just purchased a new GSX-R1000 K7 with dealer fitted Arrow cans with removable baffles. Can you please tell me whether it would harm the bike if I removed them. Save cash on motorcycle...

How to troubleshoot a Power Commander

30 June 2010 by MCN

How to troubleshoot a Power Commander

Q. I have a Dynojet Power Commander III USB on my GSX-R750, but when I try to connect it to the control centre software on my computer the software says “No Power Commander Connected”. What am I doing...

How to make a Superduke less twitchy

30 June 2010 by MCN

How to make a Superduke less twitchy

Q. I’ve just bought a 2007 KTM Superduke with 5000 miles on the clock after owning a 2005 Kawasaki ZX-10R. All the reviews say the handling is perfect and near superbike level, but when I up the pace...

Plan your first ride with care

25 June 2010 by MCN

Plan your first ride with care

You’ve passed your test, bought the kit and blown all your hard-earned on your dream bike. Now it’s time to go for your very first ride. And that needs preparation. If you passed your test by the...

Why aren't my cooling fans working?

22 June 2010 by MCN

Why aren't my cooling fans working?

Q. I’m having trouble with my 2000 MV Agusta F4. The cooling fans aren’t coming on when the engine gets hot (105 degrees). I’ve checked the fuse and that’s OK, I’m not too sure where to look next.

Can I rethread a sump?

22 June 2010 by MCN

Q. When I changed the oil on my GSX-R750 K2 last time I managed to overtighten the sump plug so I felt the thread giving a bit. I was using a torque wrench too. I have just changed the oil again today and fine bits of ‘thread’ came out of the sump thread as I removed the plug! Have I now screwed up the sump or is there a way of re-threading it? I managed to re-fit the sump plug but it was hard to...

Best tyres for less-than-spirited riding

22 June 2010 by MCN

Best tyres for less-than-spirited riding

Q. My girlfriend has just returned to biking after a long lay-off and at present I’m doing 95% of my riding with her. Save cash on motorcycle tyres It’s great and she’s rapidly building confidence...

Sorting out your confidence

18 June 2010 by MCN

Sorting out your confidence

Confidence isn’t just a ‘preference of the habitual voyeur’ as Blur would have it, but arguably one of the most vital parts of a rider’s armoury. Building it up as you start out, without straying into...

Kit review: Hein Gericke Milan jacket

17 June 2010 by Marc Abbott

Kit review: Hein Gericke Milan jacket

Hein Gericke Milan jacket, £149.99 Miles covered/time: 1000/two months What’s good? Many people, those who ride and those who don’t, have commented that it doesn’t look like a bike jacket. I think...

Best tyres for a Multistrada 1100S

15 June 2010 by MCN

Best tyres for a Multistrada 1100S

Q. I’m hoping you can help me with some advice on tyres. I recently bought an ’08 Multistrada 1100S and I need to put some new tyres on it. The Metzeler Z6 looks to be a good, if slightly expensive...

Respraying your bike? Who to inform...

15 June 2010 by MCN

Respraying your bike? Who to inform...

Q. I am getting my bike resprayed in a different colour. I know I have to change the logbook, but how do I go about getting the MoT certificate changed? Olly Heggs, Redditch   A. As you say, you need...