The 50 best specials in the world

We’ve all sat down and thought ” What would I do to my bike if I had the dough ” ? In the latest issue of MCN, out October 23 we’ve got a FREE 16-page special on, erm, specials. There are 50 – each one lavished with cash and time to make them the best in the world.

You won’t find shonky old GSX-R1100s with bent frames and Renthal bars, but you will find bikes like Dave Parker’s exquisite RG500/RS250 hybrid.

He won’t disclose how much he spent on it, only that the sum was ” hideous ” , but it is worth every penny.

It boasts a Stan Stephens tuned, big bore 570cc RG500 motor and Gibson spannies for 110bhp, wrapped up in a tight-handling Aprilia RS250 chassis with six-piston AP brakes. All in Roberts/Telefonica Suzuki colours. Utterly perfect.

Or, if you’d prefer brute power there’s the 190bhp Yoshimura X-1. Never heard of it? It’s a Suzuki Hayabusa. Built for racing in the Suzuka Eight Hours with a top speed of over 200mph…

PLUS:

*We ride the UK’s wildest superbike – A £20K Harris R1

*Barry Sheene on his battle with cancer

*First test: The Buell Lightning

*Scott Russell and his amazing return to racing

*In News this week: Stunt rider’s narrow escape on the latest Hollywood blockbuster ” xXx ” , Triumph’s new Bonnie-based scrambler, Laverda on the verge of a comeback, a monster Monster with 130bhp, the footsoldiers in the new war against Gatsos, Gilera future in doubt.

*For New Bikers there’s information on help on how to avoid being ripped off in the secondhand market

*Our long-term bikes this week are Harley’s V-Rod (and a nice picture of Britney) and Suzuki’s V-Strom

*Buying and Owning looks at Triumph’s superbike, the Daytona

*When bikes were bad. We’ve got a special feature on the very worst of motorcycling

*In Sport this week: Rossi turns 50 Down Under, Jeremy McWilliams and THAT pole lap, the engineering genius behind Yamaha’s M1 talks to MCN, news on Chris Walker’s injury enforced lay-off. Ben Bostrom and Colin Edwards talk to our WSB reporter Andy Downes, hot news from Renegade Racing and Steve Hislop responds to his shock sacking.

*AND there’s What’s On, your letters and your FREE MCN Bike Mart weekly. It’s all in the latest issue of MCN. Don’t miss it.