MCN
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2010

Properly fitting a set of leathers

03 September 2010 by MCN

Properly fitting a set of leathers

A set of leathers is a major investment, so it’s important that they fit you well. Although leathers will give a little bit over time, they aren’t as flexible as textile garments, so the makers cut...

How to know it's time to change your tyres

03 September 2010 by MCN

How to know it's time to change your tyres

Q. I am on a very tight budget as a poor student (bloody tuition fees), so I can’t afford to change my tyres until I absolutely have to. Save cash on motorcycle tyres Apart from a lack of tread,...

How to tie a bike down on a ferry

03 September 2010 by MCN

How to tie a bike down on a ferry

Q. I’m taking my bike over to Spain next month and I wondered what’s the best way to tether the bike with the ratchet straps I have just purchased. I have a centrestand-free Kawasaki ZRX1200S and I...

Why are my ZX-6R's lights blowing?

03 September 2010 by MCN

Why are my ZX-6R's lights blowing?

Q. I own a 2004 Kawasaki ZX-6R. When I go out with my lights on, it blows the stop/tail fuse within a mile or so. If I leave the lights off, I can ride all day with no problems. I changed the bulbs...

Advice: Why have my tyres worn so quickly?

24 August 2010 by Marc Abbott

Advice: Why have my tyres worn so quickly?

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

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

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...

Will o2 sensor eliminator cure GSR600 stalling?

17 August 2010 by MCN

Will o2 sensor eliminator cure GSR600 stalling?

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

Will changing spark plugs cure a misfire?

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

How to get better mileage on a rear tyre

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...