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2008

Video: Miles Per Gallon Fuel Test

12 November 2008 by Trevor Franklin

With the downward spiral from credit crunch to full-on recession MCN senior roadtester Trevor Franklin wanted to see if the economy of motorcycles can still be highly prized. To find out Trevor took Suzuki’s Sixteen, BMW’s F650GS, Kawasaki’s Z1000 and a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade to Bruntingthorpe testing circuit in Leicestershire to conduct two tests. How far would a gallon of unleaded fuel go at...

On sale now: 'Rossi- Celebrating the Greatest'

12 November 2008 by James Keen

On sale now: 'Rossi- Celebrating the Greatest'

A glossy limited edition MCN bookazine celebrating the life and career of Valentino Rossi, arguably the greatest motorcycle racer the sport has ever known, is available to own now. Scroll down for...

MCN in Alcatraz

11 November 2008 by stripe

MCN in Alcatraz

Just some pictures of me reading MCN in Alcatraz…

New MCN November 12: New Suzuki Bandit 650 revealed

11 November 2008 by Liam Marsden

New MCN November 12: New Suzuki Bandit 650 revealed

In this week’s MCN, we have pictures of the new faired and unfaired Suzuki Bandit 650, which was unveiled at the Milan Show. The headlights on both versions have been given a new, sleeker design, and...

Video: Bob Farnham tunes Yamaha R1

11 November 2008 by Michael Neeves

The racing season has only just finished, but Senior Road Tester, Michael Neeves is already looking ahead to the 2009 season with his trusty 2007 Yamaha R1 long term test bike. He took it along to Bob Farnham, one of the UK’s top engine tuners just down the road from Brands Hatch for an engine refresh and a bit of a tune. Watch the video below to see how the bike got on and little tour around...

Bikes on TV: November 12-18

11 November 2008 by Alison Silcox

Bikes on TV: November 12-18

KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – Discovery Real Time DRTE -Discovery Real Time Extra DSC – Discovery Channel  DHD – Discovery Channel HD EXS – Extreme Sports Channel MM – Men and Motors MOT – Motors TV   SS1...

Video: BMW S1000RR onboard footage

10 November 2008 by Chris Newbigging

Video: BMW S1000RR onboard footage

BMW has released official onboard footage of the new S1000RR superbike testing at Oschersleben recently. BMWs for sale The bike appears to be testing on a public trackday, and is seen catching and...

MCN made my daughter better

10 November 2008 by ANDREW MOORE

MCN made my daughter better

My seven month old daughter in Bradford Royal Infirmary having her kidneys sorted. All she wanted was MCN.

Video: 2009 Aprilia RSV4 and Yamaha R1 take to the track

07 November 2008 by Michael Guy

Video: 2009 Aprilia RSV4 and Yamaha R1 take to the track

We’ve got video of the 2009 Yamaha R1 and the Aprilia RSV4 in action for the first time with Max Biaggi, Ben Spies and Tom Sykes out on track at the Portimao circuit. The two machines have been...

Petrol station problems

06 November 2008 by Steve Ball

Just a story about my ride home tonight. I was riding home on the bike, ran out of fuel right outside the garage so i pushed it in to fill up in Tesco’s express Norbury, A23 (south London). Pulled in, opened fuel tank, put in pump, tried to pay at the pump but the machine was out of order seemingly. The security guard (always worrying at a petrol station) comes out and tells me the cashier didnt...

Ban motorcycles? What about...

06 November 2008 by Graham Sims

Just recently hundreds of hedonistic persons went joy walking across the lake district. They were people acting selfishly, without a thought for other persons that would have to pay for rescue services to help them out when their irresponsible activities caused them to get into great difficulties. Is it not time ACPO suggested that persons wishing to access the fells held a full mountaineers...

Consider banning motorcycles, police tell MPs

05 November 2008 by Steve Farrell

Consider banning motorcycles, police tell MPs

The time has come to consider banning motorcycles from the roads, police chiefs have told MPs. They are ‘motorised toys’ which may not belong on public highways, the Association of Chief Police...

‘Cops let me refuel during chase,’ says 140mph speeder

05 November 2008 by Steve Farrell

The biker followed for miles by an unmarked police bike at up to 140mph has told how cops allowed him to refuel before continuing the chase. 140mph chase was ‘safe’ Police followed Michael Collins, 22, for 40 minutes to ‘gather evidence’. When he stopped to fill up, an officer in plain leathers on a silver Honda Fireblade simply waited further along the road. Collins claims he only went so fast...

Video: Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport first ride

05 November 2008

MCN Man Michael Neeves headed out to Lake Como in Italy to get the first ever ride on the new 4v Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport. Check out the video below to take a tour of the impressive factory and see the bike in action around the lakes.

New MCN November 5: Ducati Streetfighter 1098 revealed

04 November 2008 by James Keen

New MCN November 5: Ducati Streetfighter 1098 revealed

In this week’s issue of Motorcycle News, we reveal official shots of the new Ducati Streetfighter. The wild Ducati Streetfighter is a naked version of the Ducati 1098 and shares the same 1098cc...

Milan Show: BMW unveil Lo Rider concept

04 November 2008 by Andy Downes

Milan Show: BMW unveil Lo Rider concept

This great looking bike, which is supposed to be a BMW concept bike, has just been unveiled at the Milan show. But the motorcycle looks so finished it could go into production within 18 months. Dubbed...

Milan Show: Husqvarna SMQ450

04 November 2008 by Chris Newbigging

Milan Show: Husqvarna SMQ450

Husqvarna has just pulled the covers off the SMQ450 concept, a single-cylinder street bike that mixes vintage flavour and modern technology. The new motorcycle is based around Husqvarna’s own 450cc...

MCN or Casino?

04 November 2008 by Bob Haigh

MCN or Casino?

Bev Henderson might not have been able to get into the Casino in Monaco but found time to have a quick look through MCN.

MCN beats F1

04 November 2008 by Bob Haigh

MCN beats F1

Bob Haigh went to Monaco to check out the F1 Grand Prix circuit and took time out to catch up with MCN while sat on the inside of the curve outside the Cafe de Paris.

Milan Show: Aprilia Mana X

04 November 2008 by Chris Newbigging

Milan Show: Aprilia Mana X

Aprilia has revealed the Mana X- a wild flat-track style concept based on the semi-automatic Aprilia Mana 850. The Mana X uses the same 830cc v-twin from the Aprilia Mana 850, but instead of plain...

Milan Show: Bimota DB7 Oronero

04 November 2008 by Chris Newbigging

Milan Show: Bimota DB7 Oronero

Bimota has just revealed the carbon-framed DB7 Oronero at the Milan show. The bike is based around the same basic design as the standard Bimota DB7 launched earlier this year, but is eight kilograms...

R&G adds some aggression to latest Speed Triple

04 November 2008 by Michael Carroll

R&G adds some aggression to latest Speed Triple

Add some muscle to the rear of Triumph’s 2008 Speed Triple 1050 with this R&G tail tidy. The plastic one-piece tidy brings the number plate level with the end of the exhaust, to give the motorcycle a...

Mini-GPS motorcycle tracker goes on sale

04 November 2008 by Michael Carroll

Mini-GPS motorcycle tracker goes on sale

A portable GPS tracker promises to locate your motorcycle if it’s stolen. The Zoombak Portable Assisted GPS will alert you by text message if the motorcycle is moved outside pre-determined zones, and...

Speeding idiots give us bad press

04 November 2008 by Anonymous

When riding my 1961 Norton Manxman 650 to Malton in North Yorkshire on a 60mph B road (I riding up a hill at 60mph), some speeding bikes zipped past me at 80 plus on one wheel! These guys are idiots playing with death! Then they wonder why the police are on their backs. Riding a motorcycle is not all about speed.

Ducati Streetfighter 1098: Official pictures

03 November 2008 by Chris Newbigging

Ducati Streetfighter 1098: Official pictures

Read the world first ride of the Ducati Streetfighter! Ducati has revealed the Ducati Streetfighter at the Milan show today, a new super naked bike based on the 1098. The engine and chassis of the...

Ducati 1198 official pictures

03 November 2008 by Chris Newbigging

Ducati 1198 official pictures

Ducati has just released official pictures of the new 1198, an updated version of the 1098 with the larger capacity engine from the 1098R. The new motorcycle retains most of the running rear and the...

Ducati Streetfighter 1098 latest

03 November 2008 by MCN

Ducati Streetfighter 1098 latest

The new Ducati Streetfighter will be among the most aggressive performing machines in the supernaked class, according to the latest info available. Ducati Streetfighter teaser video The Ducati...

Rivetted to Frank Thomas

02 November 2008 by mazza

In the days of almost non existant customer service, it gives me great pleasure to tell you about super dealer and manufacturer service. The sleeve fasteners for the thermal inner on my Frank Thomas XTI textile jacket had become unstitched making it difficult to remove my arm without the sleeve coming out with it. The jacket was taken in on the Friday to Rivetts of Hull and a replacement ordered...

Friday funny: David Attenborough on bikers

31 October 2008 by Liam Marsden

This week’s Friday Funny comes in the form of a David Attenborough spoof video about bikers and their habits during winter. The video follows the lives of two bikers through winter as if they were animals in a wildlife documentary, using phrases such as ‘Tim sheds his summer coat, in favour of a thicker, more durable winter coat.’ Which would mean changing to thicker bike kit for the winter. The...

Great Christmas subscription offers for bike fans

31 October 2008 by James Keen

Great Christmas subscription offers for bike fans

If you’re struggling to figure out what you’re going to give your friends and loved ones for Christmas this year, then this just might be the answer… A subscription makes a great Christmas gift so why...

Video: 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R launch test

31 October 2008 by Angus Farquhar, Adam Child

Video: 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R launch test

MCN man Adam Child is now back inthe UK after testing the 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R for the first time and he brought back this video report on the new motorcycle. Check out the video below to see what Chad...

Sigma slipper clutch now available for KTM RC8

31 October 2008 by Michael Carroll

Sigma slipper clutch now available for KTM RC8

Sigma Performance has launched a slipper clutch for KTM’s RC8. The wet clutch has six ramps to help maintain engine braking while ensuring the rear wheel doesn’t lock up. It comes in anodized grey,...

Ridley at Laconia Bike Week

30 October 2008 by Phat Bob

Ridley at Laconia Bike Week

Further to the readers news item about the 750cc Ridley motorcycles maybe being available in the UK soon, see attached photo taken at Laconia Bike Week 2007. The finish is very good – they all look...

Keyring copies motorcycle knee-slider

30 October 2008 by Michael Carroll

Keyring copies motorcycle knee-slider

Here’s a clever way to stop your keyring scratching your top-yoke. The Keyslider attaches to a patch of Velcro on your bike to stop it flapping around. Extra patches can be bought to hang the keys up...

Video funny: Long Way Round spoof episodes

30 October 2008 by Liam Marsden

Video funny: Long Way Round spoof episodes

Check out these hilarious videos from Big Face TV, parodying the well known TV series Long Way round with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. The mini-spoofs of the pair’s TV adventures show Boorman as...

Taz Motorcycles receives 'Best Performing European Dealer 2008 for Aprilia Motorcycles'

30 October 2008 by Liam Marsden

Taz Motorcycles receives 'Best Performing European Dealer 2008 for Aprilia Motorcycles'

Aprilia dealer Taz Motorcycles, of Peterborough has received the accolade of Best Performing European Dealer 2008 for Aprilia Motorcycles at a ceremony held in Sepang, Malaysia. Taz is already...