December
Suzuki SV560: Great do it all bike
28 December 2009 by
I first got my Yellow Canadian 1999 Suzuki SV650S and it was a great bike. I got it super cheap as a multi-owner used bike. Great bike. It has all the power you need but not too much as to get you...
My Winter Yamaha FZR400RR
27 December 2009 by
Here’s my winter ride – a Yamaha FZR400RR EXUP 3TJ. Look at the rake on the front forks and you’ll see why it was the best handling 400 of the 80s to early 90s. People rate the VFR400, but I had one...
No need for hanging off
26 December 2009 by
I got my naked Suzuki SV650 K5 new in June of 2005 and I absolutley love it. Coming from a mostly dirt background, I don’t really ‘hang off’ the SV, but you don’t have to! The thing will rail any...
Chad's favourite video tests of all time
25 December 2009 by
MCN senior road tester Adam Child gives us his three favourite MCN videos from 2009. On board 2008 Suzuki GSXR1300R Hayabusa One of my all time favourite clips. Flat out on Hayabusa at...
Weise Nomad jacket gets extreme test
25 December 2009 by
Weise’s all-weather Nomad jacket has been put through its paces in the MIRA automotive test facility’s climatic wind tunnel for BBC Breakfast’s Mike Bushell to discover just how effective modern...
Happy new year MCN!
25 December 2009 by
Our little group of bikers would like to thank all the staff at MCN for 2009, and wish you all a happy new year and all the best for 2010. From Barry and friends
New Aprilia RSV4 R on the road!
25 December 2009 by
MCN raved about Aprilia’s new ‘budget’ RSV4R (if you can call £12,743 budget) when we rode it at Mugello in November. It was all going well until five of the launch bikes suffered terminal con rod...
American custom builders headline Yokohama Show
25 December 2009 by
The 18th annual Mooneyes Hot Road and Custom Show at Yokohama is the biggest event of the year for the custom bike enthusiasts in Japan. 650 motorcycles. 250 cars. 220 trade stands. 15,000 fans. The...
Kent dangerous driver
24 December 2009 by
I read with interest the article about the biker involved with a road-rage Volvo driver. I had a similar experience when on an observed ride in South Kent as part the preparation for my IAM test. My observer overtook a car which was travelling below the speed limit in a national speed (60mph) area and when safe to do so I overtook, quickly and safely. The car driver, who I since refer to as...
Reflections of a love struck biker
24 December 2009 by
It was a different day; not the usual and most definitely a special one. It was the day when I would be united with my love. I arrived at the place where we were supposed to meet, my heartbeat almost...
Some New Years reading
24 December 2009 by
Here are some stories to make you smile over the New Year. Story 1 My mate came from a very strict family who were “Plymouth Brethren” and consequently were not in favour of either me or my 1955 AJS 350. His mother caught me swigging from a bottle of Corona in their kitchen and this was the end for me! We decided to visit Clacton for the day and I duly arrived at Arthur’s home on Saturday morning...
My son Samuel Killed
24 December 2009 by
Working offshore Denmark killed by a freak accident. Sam was a huge Ducati fan and we regularly meet at the Harside cafe and Devil’s Bridge. He will be missed by me and his three brothers.
Retro café: Lossa Hondas
24 December 2009 by
California-based Lossa Engineering specializes in café racers, vintage restorations and street-legal race bikes. We’re talking bikes like this latest hot-rod Honda CB75O – styled in the image of a...
Brassy Knuckle job from Jene Choppers
24 December 2009 by
Cop this latest old skool style Harley Knucklehead chop from Jene Choppers that’s on custom-bike master-builder Chico’s blog. All the parts you can see on the bike made from brass were fashioned from...
World’s most expensive chopper – but it comes with a free yacht
24 December 2009 by
Lubek, Germany custom bike builders House of Thunder have taken the term ‘boys toys’ to a new level. They claim to have built the world’s most expensive chopper – at a whopping £14.2 million! The...
Get Metzeler tyre info on your mobile
24 December 2009 by
Metzeler’s new mobile website offers quick access to the firm’s tyre catalogue, dealer locator, fitment charts and videos – so now you can find out if they make a tyre to suit your bike when you’re...
Speedway legend backs ThermaHelm
24 December 2009 by
Former speedway champion Martin Dugard has endorsed a revolutionary new chemical brain-cooling motorcycle helmet, saying it will save lives both on road and track. The ThermaHelm helmet combines a...
First bike in 14 years
23 December 2009 by
Here is a picture of me on my new MV Augusta 312R – the first bike I have ridden in 14 years. I bought the bike in June and was on track by September.
Cycle group: Don’t encourage motorcycling
23 December 2009 by
A cycle group has criticised a trial of motorcycles in bus lanes on the grounds it could lead to an increase in motorcycle traffic. The London Cycling Campaign (LCC) says it ‘is concerned that the...
Hayabusa creator says it was meant to be ugly!
23 December 2009 by
Ten years after the launch of the extraordinarily successful Suzuki Hayabusa, the man responsible has finally spoken about its controversial appearance. Koji Yoshiura spoke exclusively to MCN about...
Andy Downes' top five bikes of the decade
23 December 2009 by
Five best bikes of the decade – Andy Downes, MCN Chief Reporter 1. BMW K1300R The bike I have just done 9000 miles on as my long term test bike this year and one that was a brilliant combination...
Trevor Franklin's top three bikes of 2009
23 December 2009 by
1) KTM RC8R When KTM introduced the 1190 RC8 in 2008, its specification promised so much. The 1148cc motor was credited with a 152.6bhp and 88.56ftlb of torque – big figures for a 75° V-twin. With...
BMW K1300S wins ABS test, beats car
23 December 2009 by
MCN recently conducted a rigorous test of ABS to see how the latest and most sophisticated versions fared against more basic systems. We also tested a standard family car with ABS. The bikes tested...
Trevor Franklin's top three videos of 2009
23 December 2009 by
£1500 adventure bike challenge MCN’s £1500 Challenge made a return in 2009. This time the ‘Challenge’ was for three MCN staff to buy a large capacity trailie for £1500 or less. They then had to...
Skidmarx double bubble screen for Triumph Daytona 675
23 December 2009 by
Dorset-based screen manufacturer Skidmarx has developed a double bubble screen for the Triumph Daytona 675. Save £££s on motorcycle screens Proven to enhance the aerodynamics of the bike and...
New Mivv exhausts spice up the Gladius
23 December 2009 by
Italian exhaust manufacturer Mivv has just revealed these gorgeous new exhausts for the popular Suzuki Gladius. Save cash on motorcycle exhausts The Xcone, Suono, Tondo GP and Oval are all claimed to...
New Biketek heated trousers launched
23 December 2009 by
Keep your southernmost extremities warm this winter with these heated over-trousers. Save cash on motorcycle trousers They plug into your bike’s 12v system and come from three different heat...
Keep warm with a heated jacket
23 December 2009 by
This new BikeTek heated nylon jacket could be just the ticket for winter riding. Save cash on motorcycle jackets With three different heat settings, it is as simple as the push of a button to...
New heated gloves form Bike It
23 December 2009 by
If you’re mad enough to be riding through the snow, you’ll be needing these beauties to keep your mitts warm. Save money on motorcycle gloves These new gloves have three different push-button heat...
Bike-mad couple go ‘Beyond Bucharest’
23 December 2009 by
What would possess an otherwise sane grandmother to forsake her knitting and ride a Honda 650 to the Black Sea and back, tackling the worst roads, most atrocious weather and most dangerous driving on...
Watch Doohan vs Pastrana!
23 December 2009 by
The official DVD of the 2009 Race of Champions is now available. The race in a yearly affair in which the superstars of motorsports get together to decide who’s the master. This year it was held in...
Buy a Triumph print, win the £10,000 original!
23 December 2009 by
By buying a stunning print of this ‘Triumph 100 Years’ print by Billy Art you’ll be entered into a draw to win the original oil painting on canvas. When the edition sells out a number will be drawn...
2009 Ulster GP released on DVD
23 December 2009 by
You can now get your hands on the official DVD of the 2009 Ulster Grand Prix. The DVD, available from Duke Video, features jaw-dropping footage from the 7.4-mile Dundrod circuit - the fastest race...
Knox Hand Armour is almost here
23 December 2009 by
A few months ago we told you all about the revolutionary new gloves from master of protection, Knox. They’ve now released a video to tease us in advance of the products being available to buy. We’ll...
Look who was in Afghanistan
22 December 2009 by
My brother Dean met these three in Afghanistan this week. Even Charlie and Ross like to keep up with the news. They where out there doing a concert for the troops. Yes they took their bikes. My...
Steampunk MV Agusta Café racer
22 December 2009 by
Seeing a custom bike take shape in the workshop is always fascinating, even more so when the builder is someone as talented and as individual as Chabott Engineering owner Shinya Kimura. Formally of...