2004

Year: 2004

Month: ALL

New forum added

14 July 2004

We’ve added a new forum to the site – and it’s one on which you can influence the future of MCN’s print version. You are invited to post your thoughts here about the print version of MCN – what you...

Hugh Palin: funeral

14 July 2004

Hugh Palin MBE has died at the age of 92 after suffering a stroke. His funeral will be on Monday July 19, 2004, at the Church of St Faith and St Tyfel, Lamphey at 11.45am. The cremation is at Narberth at 1pm. Mr Palin was one fo the last represenatatives of the era of the "old" British bike industry. He was a director of the Cycle and Motorcyccle Assocation, Managing Director of Norton Villiers...

Track days: July 14 on

14 July 2004

Each week we publish a list of UK TRACKDAYS. These are for the week commencing July 14 WEDNESDAY July 14 Focused Events Trackday, Brands Hatch Indy, Kent. £175. 01903-744011 or www. focusedevents.com Focused Events Track Evening, Brands Hatch Indy, Kent. £87. 01903-744011 or www. focusedevents.com Track Time Promotions Trackday, Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire. £99. 01386-423555 or www.

Exotica gets realistic

14 July 2004

Making your motorcycling dreams come true is all about the pursuit of perfection and the desire to stand out. And for some, that only comes with a machine laden with exotic parts which is so beautiful...

Prince Wills' trackdays

14 July 2004

Princes William and Harry are secret trackday fans who hire out Goodwood for kicks. The full amazing Royal World Exclusive is only in MCN, out on Wednesday, July 14, 2004. Our story reveals that the...

In MCN, July 14...

14 July 2004

This week’s MCN is one of our biggest and best ever. Out on Wednesday, July 14, 2004, it includes: Our Royal World Exclusive: Prince William and Prince Harry hire Goodwood for private trackdays. Twice...

Poor training warning

14 July 2004

Training firm BSM has criticised the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) for lacking the resources to properly police the quality of motorcycle training instructors. The firm claims the DSA has diverted...

Rideouts: July 9 on

07 July 2004

Each week we publish a list of RIDEOUTS. If you want to organise one at shorter notice, post a message in our Have Your Say forums: Go to roadriding/rideouts. FRIDAY July 9 IN-4 (KTM) Tracks and Trails, 01270-768562. SATURDAY July 10 IN-4 (KTM) Tracks and Trails, 01270-768562. Track Sense trail ride, Surrey. 08704-450600 or www.tracksense.co.uk. Beck Row Bikers Poker Run, Rose and Crown,...

GCSE in road skills

07 July 2004

Every school child should be taught to Think Bike as part of the National Curriculum – according to the Motorcycle Industry Association. And their education should ultimately result in the option of a...

Bike shows: July 9 on

07 July 2004

Each week we publish a list of bike shows on in the UK. These are for the week commencing Friday, July 9. FRIDAY July 9 Americana International 2004, Classic bikes from the US and American show, County Showground, Winthorpe, Notts. 01159-390595 or www. americana-international.co.uk. SATURDAY July 10 Americana International 2004. See Friday July 9. SUNDAY July 11 Americana International 2004. See...

37,000 bikes stolen

07 July 2004

37,000 bikes have been stolen in the past year, according to the Retail Motor Industry Federation. RMI motorcycle retailers director Frank Finch, said: “Motorcycle theft is a very real problem, and...

Kawasakis get your vote

07 July 2004

The Kawasaki ZX-10R and ZX-6R have been scored highest on average by owners in User Reviews on motorcyclenews.com. Both bikes were given an average rating of 98 per cent by user reviewers – the...

Rallies: July 9 on

07 July 2004

Each week we publish a list of RALLIES in the UK. These are for the week commencing July 9. FRIDAY July 9 Sewer Rats Get Ratted Rally, Addingham Moorside, Silsden, W Yorks. £10 pre-book, £13 otg. 01535-675174 or 01535-658173. Fenfir MCC It’s Grim Up North Rally, Atherton Collieries Football Ground, Manchester. 0151-293-0165. TR30C Beezumph Rally, Cadwell Park, Lincs. 01932-586955. Yamaha Aircooled...

£50M for MV Agusta

07 July 2004

Proton has agreed to invest around £50 million in MV Agusta in return for an undisclosed stake in the business. The deal was revealed in a statement from MV Agusta this week. The cash means the...

Ducati bids for Aprilia

07 July 2004

Federico Minoli, Ducati Chairman and CEO, said: “We are not financial investors. We are moved by passion and we are dedicated to the success of Italian bikes worldwide. “We are conscious that this...

Be a Mallory grid girl

07 July 2004

You could be one of the grid girls for the Hawk Kawasaki British Superbike team in our competition in conjunction with insurance firm Bennetts. Bennetts is the title sponsor of the BSB round at...

Last chance bargains

07 July 2004

This weekend could be your last chance to see many of the bikes whose ads come to the end of their run on motorcyclenews.com very soon. There are some great deals to be had including a 2003 Honda...

Superbikes for £4000

07 July 2004

Some of the most exciting bikes ever built are now available as used bargains at under £4000. In MCN, out on Wednesday, July 14, we road test four dream machines you can get your hands on for as...

Cops' new clamp-down

07 July 2004

Police are launching weekend clampdowns on riders going at ‘excessive speed’ and treating roads as ‘race tracks.’ But they say they will gather intelligence on individual offenders so that they can be...

05 GSX-R1000 revealed

07 July 2004

Suzuki will launch an updated and even more powerful version of its GSX-R1000 for 2005 complete with MotoGP inspired dimensions and a radical snout designed to scoop in more air. Its weight is being...

Pick up a bargain bike

07 July 2004

If you’re after a new bike then there are a whole range of offers available at the moment. Here are just a few to choose from. Ducati are offering a special insurance deal on the 999 and 749. Buy...

Off road: July 9

07 July 2004

Our off road listing for the week commencing July 9, includes Speedway, Motocross, Enduros and Trials events. SPEEDWAY FRIDAY July 9 Oxford. 01865-711346. Edinburgh, Armadale, West Lothian. 01501-734404. SATURDAY July 10 Berwick, Northumberland. 01289-307707. Rye House, Hertfordshire. 01992-440400. Workington, Cumbria. 7.30pm. 01900-608071. Eastbourne, Arlington, East Sussex. 7.30pm.

Gatso goes missing

07 July 2004

The anti speed-camera movement has moved the game on from simply defacing roadside Gatsos after the internals of a camera in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, were stolen from the yellow housing. Police say it...

More pics on your ad

07 July 2004

A bike ad on motorcyclenews.com is like no other – in more ways than one. With your online ads you can have extra images free, to reflect your personality or reveal more details about your bike. Show...

Race meets: July 9 on

07 July 2004

Each week we publish a list of the ROAD RACING events on in the UK. These are those for the week commencing Friday, July 9, 2004. This list includes drag races and minimotos. SATURDAY July 10 Aintree MCC, Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool. 01257-462216. BMCRC, Brands Hatch, Kent. 01304-831714 or www.bemsee.co.uk. Derby Phoenix MCC, Croft, Durham. 01623-636880. New Era, Snetterton, Norfolk. 01920...

Sheene memorial dinner

07 July 2004

A memorial black tie dinner is being held by the Friends of Barry Sheene MBE, with star riders set to attend including Gary Nixon, Marco Lucchinelli, Mick Grant, Dave Croxford, John Cooper and Paul...

Meet race stars

07 July 2004

If you’re at a loose end this weekend then there are a whole host of open days and special offers to take advantage of and plenty of chance to meet top British racers. The Bike People in Doncaster...

New look 999

07 July 2004

Ducati has listened to calls from racers riding its 999 and announced a series of changes to the bike for 2005 that will see a new upper fairing and more powerful engine. These are the first official...

C-charge threat for bikes

07 July 2004

Riders could be forced to stump up the £5-a-day congestion charge for going into Central London because figures compiled by Transport For London show bike accident rates have risen across the...

26,000 Beemer fans

07 July 2004

Over 26,000 riders descended on the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the 4th International BMW Motorrad Biker Meeting. Over a hundred Brits were among them, alongside guests from as far...

Verging on insanity

07 July 2004

Christian Pfeiffer has rewritten the stunt riders’ rule book with an awesome display on his Ducati Monster. It landed him top spot in the opening round of this year’s World Stunt Championship in the...

We ride new 999R

07 July 2004

MCN’s Adam Child rode the new Ducati 999R at Laguna Seca this week. Here are our first pictures as they arrive from the States, and his first impressions of the bike. They will be followed by a full...

McGregor trip update

07 July 2004

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are heading across the hostile, open wastelands and rugged roads of Mongolia, onwards to Siberia. After setting off from London at the end of May to circumnavigate...

Trackdays: July 9 on

07 July 2004

Each week we publish TRACKDAYS on in the UK. These are those for the week from Friday July 9 onwards. THURSDAY July 8 FRIDAY July 9 Mick Boddice Trackday, Darley Moor, Ashbourne, Derbys. 01332-677079. SATURDAY July 10 Mick Boddice Trackday, Darley Moor. See Friday July 9. Suzuki Performance Riding School, Mallory Park, Leics. From £140. 01455-251800. SUNDAY July 11 Track Attack, Donington Park,...

Bike meets: July 9 on

07 July 2004

WEDNESDAY July 14 Bulls Head, Trinkingstone, Leicestershire. 01530-224327. Coach House Inn, Kirkby Mallory, Leics. 01455-840330. Crown Inn, Salisbury, Wiltshire. 6pm. 01980-629247. Fishermans Inn, Rochdale, Greater Manchester. 01706-378168 or www.the-fishermans.com. Gloucester Old Spot, Cheltenham, Glos. 01242-571218. Honda Owners Club, Lower Sunbury, Surrey. 9pm. 07900-978903. Horseshoe, Silk...

CCM on the ropes

07 July 2004

CCM went into voluntary administration on Wednesday July 8 – and there seems little hope that the company can be saved. The British off-road and supermoto manufacturer told staff they were all being...