2002

Bimota rescue bid fails

01 April 2002

A buyout of ailing superbike firm Bimota has fallen through, leaving rescue plans in tatters. In December last year, the firm – which was being auctioned off by Italian courts after falling into...

Chainstore deals, individual service

01 April 2002

Wide choice and the kind of great deals we demand from a bike superstore, is one thing. Combining that with the sort of service and knowledgeable staff you expect from your local friendly bike shop is...

Rider’s blind faith at 150mph

01 April 2002

Reckon you could ride this at 150mph? In a blindfold? With earplugs in? Graham Hicks is both blind and deaf, but he’ll be aiming to pilot this Super Blackbird-based device to a new world record this...

Italians unite to drive down costs

01 April 2002

Italian manufacturers are teaming up to prevent being undercut by their Japanese competitors. Piaggio and Aprilia have already agreed to a trade alliance to secure cheaper parts and Ducati is being...

Have you seen the new MCN?

01 April 2002

We want to know what you think about the new MCN. It’s out now with an exclusive first road test of the Benelli Tornado, first pictures of an all-new Triumph and unique insight into the Ducati V4...

Suggs’ insurance madness

01 April 2002

Pop star and TV presenter Suggs – real name Graham McPherson – was left thinking he wasn’t the only nutty boy involved when insurers refused to cover him to ride a Moto Guzzi. The Italian firm’s UK arm paid for the Madness frontman to pass his test and had a freebie 72bhp California Stone lined up for him for publicity purposes. But insurance firms wouldn’t cover him. They feared he would be...

Benelli Tornando first test

01 April 2002

Benelli has allowed us a first taste of its new Tornado Limited Edition – and preliminary impressions are that the £22,500 machine goes as good as it looks. You can read Marc Potter’s full test in...

April 3 is coming…

25 March 2002

MCN is counting down to a major relaunch on April 3. That issue will come complete with 20 per cent more of what you want, and every issue after it will come with more pages, offering even better value than ever before. We’ll be adding new elements, reacting to the things you tell us you want, and coming up with plenty of surprises. But rest assured, we won’t forget the things you know and...

Can they fix it? No

25 March 2002

Mechanics are missing faults when they carry out services on our bikes, according to an undercover survey carried out by MCN sister magazine RiDE. They picked a range of seven dealers from around the...

World’s first test: ZZ-R1200

25 March 2002

We’ve been riding in France to test the new ZZ-R1200 for the first time. The full test will be published in MCN, out on Wednesday. But here are our first impressions: i. Even the updated engine has a...

The brands of Piaggio

25 March 2002

You probably think of Piaggio purely for its scooters, but no other manufacturer in the world has as many bike-building off-shoots. The deal with MV Agusta means the company, run by Stefano Rosselli...

Smart replica by 2004

25 March 2002

Ducati’s retro-styled Paul Smart replica won’t go on sale until 2004 – even though it was designed four years ago. Chief designer Pierre Terblanche created the bike, which has never been seen in...

Join the Southend Shakedown

25 March 2002

We’re used to roads to the seaside getting clogged up every Bank Holiday. But it won’t be caravans holding up the traffic on the way to Southend this weekend – instead it’ll be a massive procession of...

Norwich Union puts ZX-6R in higher group

25 March 2002

Kawasaki’s new 636cc ZX-6R has been bumped up one insurance group by Britain’s biggest bike insurer, Norwich Union. The move brings the Kawasaki into line with the likes of Yamaha’s R6 in Group 15,...

Harley in Europe’s sights

25 March 2002

Harley fans may have to pay more for new bikes because the European Union is targeting the firm as part of a trade war with the U.S. EU bosses have included Harleys on a hit list of American products...

Rate your kit, and ours

25 March 2002

MCN’s Marc Potter rides thousands of miles each year testing the latest bikes to the limit. He needs the right kit. Find out what he chooses and how he rates it in the April 10 issue of MCN. And if...

Mexican wave on a bike

25 March 2002

Three-up wheelie? There’s hands and legs everywhere…

Going skiing… in a kilt

25 March 2002

Most people wait until it snows…

Voxan deal falls through

25 March 2002

It looks like we won’t be able to buy Voxan V-twins next year as expected. A deal to save the French firm from bankruptcy collapsed when the first instalment of the buyout cash failed to arrive.

Bigger, best value MCN from April 3

25 March 2002

MCN gets 20% more packed pages from our April 3 issue plus a new improved formula. You’ll still get everything you’ve come to expect from MCN – the hottest news, tests, features and sports reports –...

Piaggio set to be bigger than Suzuki

25 March 2002

Europe’s biggest bike firm has just signed a deal which will see it snapping at Suzuki’s heels to become the third largest manufacturer in the world. Scooter giant Piaggio – already owner of Gilera,...

EU to limit bike emissions

25 March 2002

Bikes will be subject to stricter emissions controls from 2003 after the European Commission ratified proposals for lower limits on carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. For 4-stroke engines, the 2003...

Six days to a giant leap in motorcycling

25 March 2002

We’re more interested than ever before in what you have to say about your life in motorcycling because it’s right at the heart of what we’re doing with the re-launched MCN, in the shops on April...

Go to Le Mans with Carnell

25 March 2002

If you fancy a trip to Le Mans, you can now go on Carnell’s works trip. The dealer chain is opening up its annual party to anyone. For £220 you get ferry tickets, accommodation, a support van and race...

Instant smoke screen

25 March 2002

Craig Jones ruins some perfectly good rubber

Dark visor consultation opens

25 March 2002

As promised, the Government has opened up the question of dark visors to public consultation. They say they will take account of all views; so make your voice heard. 10,000 people had their say when...

New dealer joins our online bike stores

25 March 2002

Chiswick Honda is offering to match the price of any UK supplied Honda when you buy online through motorcyclenews.com. They are also offering, nationwide delivery, parts and accessories, finance, two...

Strange but true motorcycling tales

25 March 2002

More strange biking stories from around the world. England: The crack motorcycle escort which usually accompanies the Queen had a rather less important job last week – flanking a limo carrying the...

2002 R1, Blade, GSX-R1000 and ZX-9R in video action

25 March 2002

You’ve read how they compare, in MCN, now see for yourself as we ride them round the challenging Ledenon track in France. Our video clips allow you to see how they perform on the limits and how they...

Protest update

18 March 2002

Update (April 9) Coleman has asked MCN to pass on his request for protest stewards. He told MCN: ” Things are going realy well, the flow of registrations is still good and I’m confident we can...

Triumph factory blaze: Video added

18 March 2002

Fire tore through Triumph’s Hinckley factory on Friday leaving Britain’s biggest bike firm in a state of disarray. For more on this, complete with dramatic pictures, see MCN, out on Wednesday, March 20. To see the video, shot by fire crews, click on the link on the right. Firefighters were called to the scene when the fire at 8.41pm on Friday night. When the blaze was at its peak, at around...

Video: Stunning pictures of Triumph fire

18 March 2002

CLICK on the link on the right to see the stunning film of the fire that devastated Triumph’s Hinckley plant. Supplied by Leicestershire Fire Brigade the film details the brigade’s efforts to save the factory. At one point 120 firefighters from both Leicestershire and Warwickshire brigades were tackling the blaze, which took over five hours to bring under control. The film is a Real Media file,...

Bimota rescue bid fails

Chainstore deals, individual service

Rider’s blind faith at 150mph

Italians unite to drive down costs

Have you seen the new MCN?

Suggs’ insurance madness

Benelli Tornando first test

April 3 is coming…

Can they fix it? No

World’s first test: ZZ-R1200

The brands of Piaggio

Smart replica by 2004

Join the Southend Shakedown

Norwich Union puts ZX-6R in higher group

Harley in Europe’s sights

Rate your kit, and ours

Mexican wave on a bike

Going skiing… in a kilt

Voxan deal falls through

Bigger, best value MCN from April 3

Piaggio set to be bigger than Suzuki

EU to limit bike emissions

Six days to a giant leap in motorcycling

Go to Le Mans with Carnell

Instant smoke screen

Dark visor consultation opens

New dealer joins our online bike stores

Strange but true motorcycling tales

2002 R1, Blade, GSX-R1000 and ZX-9R in video action

Protest update

Triumph factory blaze: Video added

Video: Stunning pictures of Triumph fire

Kawasaki ZRX1200: Long term report

Here come the fall guys

Stop messing around Farias

Always warm your tyres