2004

Year: 2004

Month: ALL

Report blames drivers

07 July 2004

The first detailed European study of bike accidents has shown that 60 per cent of cases involved a car driver, and in half, it was the car driver who was to blame. The ‘Motorcycle Accidents In Depth...

Babes rate sexiest bikes

07 July 2004

Think your sports bike is just the thing to draw the ladies? Think those skin-tight race leathers and full-face lid get them all-of-a-flutter? It’s nice to think, but is it true? We wanted to know...

Riding schools: July 9 on

07 July 2004

Each week we publish a list of RIDING SCHOOLS coming up. These are for the week commencing July 9. FRIDAY July 9 MCN Honda Off-Road Experience, Midlands. 01933-674036. The Powerslide Training School, Saddlebow Stadium, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. £195. 01507-313829 or www.powerslidetraining.co.uk. SATURDAY July 10 MCN Honda Off-Road Experience, Midlands. 01933-674036. Phase 2, Devizes, Wiltshire.

Free Brands WSB tickets

01 July 2004

Book an MCN track day and get a free pair of tickets to Friday practice for Brands Hatch World Superbikes. There are a limited number of places left on the three remaining Brands Hatch MCN track days...

Own your own BSB bike

01 July 2004

Here’s an offer that doesn’t come along every day – your chance to own a current and competitive British Superbike. It’s the GSX-R1000 that’s been run by motorcyclenews.com’s own Web Sales Director...

Have Your Say winner

01 July 2004

We’ve selected Trumpetman21 as the first prize-winner for the best messages postsed for the week. Not only did he bring B-list celebrity Fiona Phillips to everyone’s attention when she started...

East Anglian show no go

01 July 2004

The East Anglian Motorcycle Show scheduled to take place at the Hunts Race Course, Brampton, Cambridgeshire on Friday July 2 has been postponed. No event will be taking place on the above date, but...

Camera vans at Barton

01 July 2004

Police have resorted to using hidden speed cameras to catch bikers on the way to next week’s Barton Bike Meet. In response to criticism that not enough was done about speeding at last year’s event,...

Back to superbike school

01 July 2004

I know how to ride. Sounds arrogant doesn’t it? But it’s true, I really do know the theory of how to ride inside out. It’s the practice I sometimes struggle with. After a series of relatively hefty...

2005 Suzuki cruisers

01 July 2004

Suzuki’s 2005 cruiser line-up has been launched in the U.S. with a new model and completely new names for the whole range. All Suzuki cruisers are now called Boulevards in the US but it is not yet...

Rider shot dead in clash

01 July 2004

A rider has been shot dead after being deliberately knocked off his bike by a Mercedes-driving gang. He was shot several times as he ran from the two-or-more occupants of the car. The incident happened in Camberwell, south London, on Saturday, July 3. The victim was named today, July 5. Eric Akinniranye, 25, was on release from a 10-year prison sentence for firearm offences, police say. Initial...

Keep your eyes open

01 July 2004

There is a simple lesson to be learnt here: When on a ride-out always watch what your mates in front are doing in front Click here to see the video

Rapid Skills day

01 July 2004

There’s not much point in having a sports bike if you don’t know how to use it properly. Having only ever owned all-rounders before I thought it was about time to learn some fast riding skills now...

Bikes in car pool lanes?

01 July 2004

New lanes to cut congestion for car sharers on motorways are expected to be announced by the Government, but there is no indication whether motorcycles will also have access to the ‘car-pool’...

£3000 of variety

01 July 2004

It’s not too late to make a switch to a new bike in time for summer, and you can find a huge range to choose from in just a couple of minutes. Just £3000 opens up everything from an all-purpose 600cc...

Can you beat this?

01 July 2004

It’s the moment when pound signs flash before your eyes, your stomach makes balletic manoeuvres and your sphincter breaks out the morse code to spell out S-O-S. And free, in MCN, out on Wednesday July 7, there’s a whole supplement dedicated to it – Trackday crashes. Take a browse through them and then tell us – have you done better? If you’ve ever had a crash that’s been captured on film (or the...

Ride in a road test today

01 July 2004

You could be riding in a road test by this afternoon – July 5. To be in with a chance you have to be someone who has recently passed their test – and relatively close to Peterborough, Cambs, as that’s...

Share your superstitions

01 July 2004

Have you got a biking superstition? Are you like Valentino Rossi who always goes through the same crouching routine before he gets on a bike? Maybe you are one of those riders who rolls around on the...

Real price for 600s

01 July 2004

How much should you really pay for your new sports 600? The recommended retail price that manufacturers issue is only a guide price, and most dealers have got plenty of room to manoeuvre. A little bit...

Speed limits on IOM

01 July 2004

Speed limits could soon be imposed on every Isle of Man road. It would bring an end to decades of freedom on the Island that attracts thousands to the TT. The speed limit suggestion is in a Manx...

In MCN: July 7

01 July 2004

This week’s issue of MCN, out on Wednesday July 7, includes scoop details on the new GSX-R1000, a FREE supplement of all-new trackday crashes, the rumbling mayhem of our Triumph Rocket III shootout...

Powersports open day

30 June 2004

Powersport bikes in Bradford are holding an open weekend on July 10 and 11 with test rides on the 2004 Suzukis, a bike show, trade stands and dyno run. You’ll be able to ride anything from a GSX-R1000...

Bike meets: June 30 on

30 June 2004

Each week we publish a list of BIKE MEETS in the UK. These are those for the week starting June 30. If you want to discuss any of the meets, or arrange to meet at one, click here. WEDNESDAY June 30 Bulls Head, Trinkingstone, Leics. 01530-224327. Coach House Inn, Kirkby Mallory, Leics. 01455-840330. Crown Inn, Salisbury, Wiltshire. 6pm. 01980-629247. Fishermans Inn, Rochdale. 01706-378168. ...

Living with a CBR600F

30 June 2004

Too much cold tyre acceleration ruined the first set of new tyres I put on the CBR but when I had the new Pirellis fitted the different profile made the tyre rub on the Hugger that was fitted to the...

Diesel recall row

30 June 2004

A diesel van maker is refusing to issue a recall despite users warning that its fuel tanks need reinforcing to prevent spills. Iveco changed the design of its Daily van in April this year – raising...

GSX-R breezes service

30 June 2004

My GSX-R1000 has sailed through its first service – and that’s a stage further than the first one I had this year… That one, you may recall, got stolen the day before it was booked in for its first...

Race dates: June 30 on

30 June 2004

MINIMOTO WEDNESDAY June 30 Minimoto Arrive and Ride, GP Karting, Northampton. 01604-591591. SATURDAY July 3 Phoenix Racing – North of England and Eastern Counties Championship, Rowrah, Cumbria. 0870-443-6813. SUNDAY July 4 Phoenix Racing – North of England and Eastern Counties Championship. See Saturday. Minimoto Arrive and Ride, Trax Motorsports, Preston. 10am. 01772-731832. TUESDAY July 6 ...

Track days: June 30 on

30 June 2004

Each week we publish a simple list of the TRACKDAYS happening in the UK. These happen in the week starting June 30… WEDNESDAY June 30 Track Evening, Rockingham, Northants. £65. 01536-271100. THURSDAY July 1 C&C Trackdays, Cadwell Park, Louth, Lincs. £99. 07919-050345. California Superbike Race School, Rockingham (see Long Term Test bikes) FRIDAY July 2 100% Bikes Trackday, Cadwell Park, Lincs.

Ride out with Yuki

30 June 2004

Rizla Suzuki British Superbike rider Yukio Kagayama will be leading a ride-out to the Poole Quay bike meet, on Tuesday July 6, from his team’s base of operations at the Crescent Performance Centre in...

Are crashes our fault?

30 June 2004

Blame for bike accidents is usually pointed straight at us, but we don’t think it’s that straight forward. We want to find out what the real causes are. If you’ve had an accident in the last twelve...

Shows: June 30 on

30 June 2004

Here are the shows and open days happening in the week commencing June 30, 2004 OPEN DAYS WEDNESDAY June 30 Open Day, GT Motorcycles, Paignton, Devon. 01726-75999. SATURDAY July 3 Keep Your Head Campaign, In2Motorcycles, Kettering, Northants. 01604-763438 or 07860-108249. SUNDAY July 4 Italian and German Day, Sammy Miller Museum, Bashley Manor, New Milton, Hampshire.

Rideouts; June 30 on

30 June 2004

Each week we publish a list of RIDEOUTS. These are for the week commencing June 30, 2004. If you’d like to organise your own rideout, post on our rideouts board, in road riding. You’ll find it by first clicking on HAVE YOUR SAY from our main navigation board. WEDNESDAY June 30 King Billy, Northampton, Northants. 01604-621325. The Plough, Swinderby, Lincs. 7pm. 01522-881736. Purbeck and District...

Advisor slams bike skills

30 June 2004

‘Improving motorcyclists skills merely means they kill themselves in a more skilled way,’ according to one of the Government’s top advisors on transport. And when MCN contacted Robert Gifford to...

Cruiser chaos at MCN

30 June 2004

The news that a Honda Rune was in the MCN car park was enough to see the office empty this morning, Wednesday June 30, 2004. The added news that there was a Triumph Rocket and a Boss Hoss parked next...

'You're all crap riders'

23 June 2004

GMTV’s Fiona Phillips is the latest ‘celebrity’ to jump on the anti-biking bandwagon. First Jeremy Clarkson wrote about stringing wires across roads to tackle motorcyclists, then BAND – a regional...

Track days: June 23 on

23 June 2004

Each week we publish a simple list of TRACK DAYS. The following is for the week commencing June 23. THURSDAY June 24 100% Bikes Trackday, Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire. £99 0870-8722532 or www.100pc.co.uk 100% Bikes Trackday, Lydden Hill, Kent. £110 0870-8722532 or www.100pc.co.uk Speedfreak Trackday, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. £99 01625-859969. FRIDAY June 25 Red Piranha Racing, Cadwell Park,...