2009

Watch best ever classic GPs

MCN has just spotted that ESPN Classic (Sky Channel 442) is showing a classic MotoGP race each night this week at 19.40. Tonight is Schwantz v Doohan v Barros at the untamed and utterly terrifying Assen. As we remember that was one awesome race! See www.espnclassicsport.com/tvguide.php

GlobeBusters London to China Blog

GlobeBusters London to China Blog

Kevin and Julia Sanders from GlobeBusters continue to head east on their epic adventure to China, researching the new GlobeBusters London to China Expedition, which will take place in 2010. After...

Watch the 2000cc two-stroke V4 rev to 200bhp!

Watch the 2000cc two-stroke V4 rev to 200bhp!

Two-stroke junkies tune in! Witness the first time this incredible CR500-based 2l V4 ever fired up, before proceeding to bark out its full 200bhp in front of its delighted engineers, in this exclusive...

CB1000R owners visit MCN HQ

CB1000R owners visit MCN HQ

MCN and HondaCB1000R.com arranged a ride out on 17th of April.  The users of HondaCB1000R.com came in to meet the staff at MCN and to have a chat about motorbikes. The users gave some useful feedback...

Poll: Would you ride an electric bike?

Poll: Would you ride an electric bike?

MCN wants to find out what British bikers think about the issues facing motorcycling today. That’s why from now on we’ll be running weekly polls to gather your opinions on all aspects of biking.   ...

Cars racing in city centres?

Yesterday i was walking down Deansgate in Manchester around midday and saw a BMW M3 convertible and the similar offering from Mercedes racing down the road, side by side! 30mph limit, one of the busiest pedestrian roads in Manc and they were doing way over 50mph (very conservative estimate) and weaving between traffic undertaking and overtaking. No speed cameras or police in the middle of town...

What's on: April 22-28

What's on: April 22-28

Our What’s On listings now show events by their date, making them easier to find. Click the links below to choose the listing for your area and find out what events are on near you this week. If you...

New MCN April 22: BMW S1000RR tech secrets revealed

New MCN April 22: BMW S1000RR tech secrets revealed

In this week’s edition of MCN, we reveal the hich-tech secrets of the new BMW S1000RR. The sporty BMW is the firm’s most advanced bike yet and experts reveal the bike uses the same technology as used...

Kawasaki surprise with new VN900 Light Tourer

Kawasaki surprise with new VN900 Light Tourer

Kawasaki has announced a surprise fourth new bike at the European launch of the VN1700. The VN900 Light Tourer adds a screen, passenger back rest, spot lights and saddlebags to extend the range of...

Suzi Perry to MCN readers: ‘Thanks, and I hated watching Qatar on the TV!’

Suzi Perry to MCN readers: ‘Thanks, and I hated watching Qatar on the TV!’

Brave Suzi Perry says she’s been uplifted by messages of support she’s received from MCN readers and can’t wait to get back to pacing pitlane on our behalf. The BBC television MotoGP...

Akrapovic exhausts for new Suzuki GSX-R1000

Akrapovic exhausts for new Suzuki GSX-R1000

If you’ve bought, or are on the verge of buying, a 2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000 and are hankering for some new pipe work then Akrapovic has four different exhaust slip-ons that will be available later this...

Lord Brocket rides for charity

Lord Brocket rides for charity

Lord Brocket is setting off on a 9-500-mile trip around the perimeter of the Mediterranean to raise money for charity. He will be accompanied by a group of seven other motorcycle adventurers on the...

Billy Joel’s café-racer Royal Enfield

Billy Joel’s café-racer Royal Enfield

This is the custom-build café racer Royal Enfield built for legendary musician Billy Joel. Built by Royal Enfield’s US importer, the drum-braked Bullet 500 based-machine features a 1960’s style...

More DVLA problems

I’ve read all the stories about DVLA and the motorcycle entitlement denial but I’ve got a better one…  I ride a kawasaki z750 and because of the bad weather I decided to sorn it for a couple of months. So I filled in my forms and sent ’em off. Two weeks later I decided I couldn’t do without my trusty bike, so on the 15th of march I went to tax it, expecting the tax disc to run from the 1st of...

Won't be long boy!

Won't be long boy!

My little ‘un on me sv thou… won’t be long boy!

MCN in Moscow

MCN in Moscow

Taking time out from work to read MCN in Red Square at Easter.

Ride all the bikes and make your own decision

Ride all the bikes and make your own decision

I was very shocked at the out come of the MCN 2008 600s review… being a zx6 owner you would expect me to be biased, but my only advice to people is ride all the bikes and make your own decision. I...

MCN in Cape Town

MCN in Cape Town

Our trip to cape town, south africa, 21/03/09.

Harley-Davidson Judgement days: Take a test ride and win a bike

Harley-Davidson Judgement days: Take a test ride and win a bike

Harley-Davidson is asking riders to challenge their preconceptions and try out their machines with a four-week test ride campaign in all UK dealerships. This week is focused around their performance...

130mph driver gets no prison sentence

With regard to Robert Bennett being caught doing 122mph. See the link from lincoln press. This guy was caught racing his Golf at 130mph, yet he did not end up doing time. Doing 122mph was wrong but at least he was not racing and filming it! http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/999/130mph-racer-caught-videoarticle-841287-details/article.html

Four day charity ride - Skyes the Limit

On friday 1st May 2009 appx 50 bikes leave the shores of Northern Ireland for a four day trek around the west coast of Scotland, to raise money/awareness for Downs Syndrome NI. We will spend the first night by Loch Lomond, then on up to Skye before returning on Sunday through Oban and into Inveraray where we spend the final night before heading home. If anyone is interested come along for the fun...

Half-faired but twice as practical?

Half-faired but twice as practical?

Are half-faired bikes the perfect compromise? They’re cheaper to insure and more comfortable than sportsbikes, plus offer better wind-protection and distance potential than naked bikes. Here’s 5 of...

MCN in Cairo

MCN in Cairo

Sammy, Ellie and James keeping up to date with MCN on a trip to Cairo, April 2009.

Damien Hirst uses Harley-Davidson as a canvas

Damien Hirst uses Harley-Davidson as a canvas

The world’s most expensive living artist Damien Hirst has revealed an unusual canvas for his creative talent. Hirst’s ‘Spin Harley’ is a fully functioning Harley-Davidson Softail Cross Bones, which...

Top 5 engines as voted for by you

Top 5 engines as voted for by you

Here’s a top 5 countdown of the bikes ratest highest for their engines by user reviewers in the MCN bike reviews section. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for £9.99 The top 5 rated...

Triumph Thunderbird beats competition on price

Triumph Thunderbird beats competition on price

Triumph has announced prices for the new 1600cc Thunderbird cruiser – the most important bike the firm has made in years as it takes on the American market. Triumph Thunderbird launch centre Triumph...

Niagara wedding with MCN

Niagara wedding with MCN

My wife and I on our wedding day at Niagara Falls, Canada.

Bimota DB7 Viamaggio

Bimota DB7 Viamaggio

Bimota’s answer to the Ducati Streetfighter. Pure Italian style. Viamaggio is the name of a famous mountain road that the Italian riders love.

Airbag jacket saved me in a crash

I have been wearing Hit-Air jackets from Mugen Denko in Japan for years. I have survived one 104 kph crash where there other two bikers wound up in hospital with all sorts broken – I had just a sprained ankle and thumb. The airbag protected my neck, althought the helmet was scraped and the rest of me slid down the road on a cushion of air. The system uses a mechanical release which is more...

Your opinions wanted on MCN bike reviews & bikes for sale

Your opinions wanted on MCN bike reviews & bikes for sale

At MCN we’d like to hear your suggestions on how to improve the bike reviews and bikes for sale sections of our website. If you’ve ever used these areas of our site, we’d like to know what you...

Bikes left out of electric vehicle plans

Bikes left out of electric vehicle plans

Motorcycles are to be excluded from a government scheme offering motorists up to £5,000 toward the cost of an electric vehicle. Drivers will be offered money toward electric cars but buyers of...

Harley-Davidson axes hundreds more jobs

Harley-Davidson axes hundreds more jobs

Harley-Davidson has announced more job cuts and a further slump in profits. The American manufacturer has said it will axe between 300 and 400 more jobs in the next two years, bringing total job...

Valentino Rossi stars in Nutella advert

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has taken time out of his busy racing schedule to promote breakfast spread, Nutella.  Video: Rossi talks on the 2009 Yamaha R1 Rossi, who has already appeared in a multitude of Italian TV adverts including the endorsement of his own replica Aprilia SR50 back in his 125cc glory days, features in the breakfast spread ad. The short clip shows...

My son Heath enjoying his MCN

My son Heath enjoying his MCN

Heath just fell asleep after reading his favourite paper in this picture.

MCN in Miami

MCN in Miami

Just hat to take MCN to Miami!

Apriila RSV4 Tuono mock-up

Apriila RSV4 Tuono mock-up

This is a rendering of the future Aprilia Tuono. Naked engine with 2 cylinders. What do you think? From www.motorenderin.com