2007

Dan Thornton's Honda Hornet blog: Taking to the track

I’ve always enjoyed track days, but for a variety of reasons I’ve ended up missing out on any circuit riding for a while now. In fact, it’s actually been a couple of years since I took part in an actual track day. But I don’t think I could have wished for a better re-introduction than the Honda Hornet and a Motosport Vision Novice Track Day (0870-8505013). The day is aimed at riders with limited...

It wooden go

It wooden go

My son Jack enjoying the local scenery during a trip to Florence. I only managed to find a wooden bike (It wooden go – sorry!).

Nine out of ten cats love it

Nine out of ten cats love it

Here are photos of my two cats enjoying MCN.

Preview of the new Ducati DesmosediciRR

The first ride of the Ducati Desmosedici RR may have been delayed due to hurricane conditions at Misano, but while the test is rescheduled by Ducati, this video might help keep your anticipation building. Also, get to hear information regarding the bike exclusively from Claudio Domenicali himself.

2008 Honda CBR600RR motorcycle colour changes

2008 Honda CBR600RR motorcycle colour changes

In keeping with Honda’s two-year update cycle the CBR600RR motorcycle has been left untouched other than colour changes. The Honda CBR600RR will now come in a new combination of white/black/red,...

Potty about MCN!

Potty about MCN!

Hollie on Crantock beach, near Newquay. Catching up on the latest MCN gossip whilst spending a penny on the potty!

Brunstrom Tasered

Brunstrom Tasered

Chief constable Richard Brunstrom has been zapped with a Taser for a demonstration video on North Wales Police’s website. Richard Brunstrom volunteered for a 50,000-volt shock from the electronic stun...

Exclusive first pictures of the 2008 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR

Exclusive first pictures of the 2008 Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR

Here are the world exclusive first picture of the 2008 Honda Fireblade. It’s an official Honda picture, and we’ll be updating this story with more details about the motorcycle as we get...

Brunstrom: form an orderly queue!

Woke up to find this on the BBC: Chief constable zapped by Taser. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/6980867.stm I wonder how many volunteers there were….?

Speeding copper

Is there a conspiracy going on? This copper is obviously a long way over the 40mph speed limit and yet doesn’t get flashed by the speed camera. Also when I reported this to the local police station 30 minutes later they told me that he CAN’T be prosecuted because there was “no policeman present or speed camera evidence!”. Think about the double standards and the hypocrisy in British law.

Can't lick this!

Can't lick this!

During a recent weekend tour of the north of Scotland, members of Rollin Bones Motorcycle Club visited the village of Tongue.

Biker requires surgery after fending off thieves

Biker requires surgery after fending off thieves

A 23-year old motorcyclist needed to have his jaw rebuilt after fending off thieves from stealing his motorcycle. The man from Coatbridge Street, Clayton, near Manchester rushed into his backyard on...

What next?

What next?

These signs have appeared at Hill Chorlton, Staffs, on the A51 near Baldwins Gate. They appear to be rip-off copies of the biker beware signs. Are they legal? I thought you had to have permission to...

Download Bimota DB6C-1098 desktop images on MCN

The Bimota DB6C-1098 is claimed to be the ‘world’s best handling naked motorcycle’, according to its creators. The Bimota DB6C-1098 is a limited edition motorcycle and you can read more about it in this week’s MCN out Wednesday, September 5, 2007. Click on the images to download the stunning Bimota DB6V-1098 to set as your desktop background.

Bomb-proof speed camera pictures

Bomb-proof speed camera pictures

Meet the world’s first super speed camera, which soon could replace familiar GATSO and Truvelo units on our roads. Here we have some exclusive images of the new camouflaged safety cameras. For more...

MCN in Switzerland

MCN in Switzerland

This is a photo of me on top of the Schilthorn Mountain while on a trip to Switzerland in August on my BMW R1200GS.

New MCN out Wednesday, September 5, 2007

New MCN out Wednesday, September 5, 2007

In this week’s MCN we take an exclusive look at the new Honda CB1100 motorcycle. Also in this edition out Wednesday, September 5, 2007, MCN investigates how government MP’s have been urged to consider...

Lonely Planet Guide to Spain

Lonely Planet Guide to Spain

Once away from the holiday costas, you could only be in Spain. In the cities, narrow twisting old streets suddenly open out to views of daring modern architecture, while spit-and-sawdust bars serving...

Biased BBC

Watching the Look North (East) news late on 28th August, I was appalled by the biased coverage of the bank holiday’s accident reporting (covering Lincolnshire, and where bikes featured heavily thanks to Cadwell BSB and a few ‘juicy’ pictures & videos). I was fuming, so I sent the following to the BBC: During this news bulletin at approx 22:30, a great deal of airtime was devoted to the...

Not for the squeamish

Not for the squeamish

My injuries came on my Gixer 1000 K6. One broken fibula and severe bruising came… off quite lightly really. Ran wide at a bend coming on to a roundabout and ended up smashing into the roundabout!

ASBO for a wheelie?

We live in a small Scottish country town and in May 2007 my boyfriend was issued with an “Antisocial Behaviour ETC.(SCOTLAND) Act 2004 Section 127” for alleged… “Riding motorcycle on road on one wheel” He had just come from an off-road on to a main road with some dirt on his tyres. As he pulled off on to the main road the front wheel lifted up. At that exact moment, a cop car came round the bend...

Checkpoint Charlie

Riding home from the swimming pool last night, came across a strange sight in Belfast – plod stopping everything with a pulse on the Holywood road. Natch, I got stopped. I got asked what my name was, where I was going, where I’d just come from, if it was my bike I was riding – and how long I’d owned it! The copper then walked to the back of the bike and shone his torch at the numberplate. It was...

Calls to ban powerful bikes

Calls to ban powerful bikes

MPs have been urged to ‘insist’ Government looks at ‘downsizing’ motorcycles in a letter signed by some of the UK’s most influential road safety groups.   The letter, dated August 1, 2007,  says...

The Nation’s favourite motorcyclists

The Nation’s favourite motorcyclists

Past, present and even non- motorcycle riders were at the forefront of a test conducted by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI). In the recent survey, categories such as ‘Favourite biker of all...

Arlen Ness Smooftail pictures

Arlen Ness Smooftail pictures

British chopper builder Battistini has completed only the second Arlen Ness Smooftail bike ever built – 14 years after the American bike legend fabricated the frame. The ‘Smooftail’ was designed in...

Ducati Desmosedici RR first ride hit by hurricane

Ducati Desmosedici RR first ride hit by hurricane

The world first test of the Ducati Desmosedici RR has been hit by a hurricance and torrential rain at the Misano circuit in Italy. MCN Road Tester Michael Neeves is at Misano was all ready to get on...

Hit and run

Being a lover of bikes and having the greatest respect for bikers and their machines, I find myself at a loss. Myself, my partner and 2 young daughters (aged 7 & 9) were in Skipton, North Yorks back in july 2007. Having enjoyed an afternoon visiting the castle in town we decided to take the girls for tea. We found a safe place to cross the road and I had just let go of my eldest child’s hand for...

Four in Crown Court over Hells Angel murder

Four in Crown Court over Hells Angel murder

Four men appeared at Birmingham Crown Court via a video link on Monday over the murder of Hells Angel Gerard Tobin on the M40. Simon Turner, 40, Dane Garside, 41, and Sean Creighton, 43, are charged...

Speed limiting: a good thing?

I am trying to urge the government to make motorcycles have a speed limiter fitted, say at 67mph. I am sick to the back teeth of watching these idiots going down the road at excess speeds and coming around the corner and finding them killed or injured. They seem to care little for themselves or thier families or other road users. These born again bikers seem to think it will not happen to them...

Video: Sheene tribute RG500

MCN’s senior roadtester Michael Neeves has ridden Pete Tantrum’s incredible Barry Sheene tribute RG500 at Brands Hatch. Check out the video below to see what it is like to ride such an iconic bike around the Kent circuit.

Outrage over 176mph speeding rider

Outrage over 176mph speeding rider

A motorcyclist has made national news by posting footage himself speeding at 176mph in the wet on the internet. The rider is one of two shown on an accident blackspot on the A628 in South Yorkshire...

Feel safer on your bike with the new theory test

Feel safer on your bike with the new theory test

From today (September 3, 2007) learner riders and drivers will need to score 86 per cent or 43 out of 50 to pass their theory test, compared to 85.7 per cent current required. The Driving Standards...

Limited-run Bimota DB5 unveiled

Limited-run Bimota DB5 unveiled

Bimota has revealed this limited edition DB5 Borsalino, built to celebrate the anniversary of an Italian hat company! Based on a mechanically stock Bimota DB5 , the DB5 Borsalino was built to...

Further delays to Brunstrom verdict

Further delays to Brunstrom verdict

The Independent Police Complaints Commission’s investigation into chief constable Richard Brunstrom showing pictures of a decapitated motorcyclist is now due to conclude in October.  The Commission...

One-wheel nut

Have you ever been riding along on a nice sunny day, behind a couple of cars, waiting for a safe place to pass? Yes of course you have. The other day I found myself in this position while going to the DIY shop for some screws etc. To make the trip a bit more interesting I decided to go the long way round on a lovely stretch of the A444, calling in for a pint on the way. It was one of the few days...

Knee down on a ped

Knee down on a ped

just a picture of me with the knee down on my nrg (really pisses the big lads off on their GSX-R1000s when they see this). I can do it on left or right-handers which is more than a lot of the big boys...