June

Video: Givi's waterproof luggage

30 June 2011 by Marc Abbott

Ever wondered how to fasten a bag and strap it to your bike? This (very European) video showcases two of Givi‘s new waterproof textile bags. Could be a good bet if you’re planning on getting away in...

Riders urged to join high-vis demo

30 June 2011 by Steve Farrell

Motorcyclists have been urged to join a protest this Saturday against the threat of compulsory high-visibility vests and other restrictive new rules from Brussels. The Motorcycle Action Group is...

Suzuki V-Strom 650 first ride

30 June 2011 by MCN

The new Suzuki V Strom 650 is currently being tested in Croatia, by MCN’s Phil West, these are his first impressions: “We’ve just ridden about 150 miles, along the spectacular Dalmatian coast, and...

BMW HP2 – only 20 left to buy

30 June 2011 by Trevor Franklin

BMW Motorrad UK has announced (30-6-2011) only 20 of its HP2 boxer-twin sports bikes exist in UK BMW dealers and that any prospective buyers should be quick to snap one up because production of the...

New Triumph Trophy 1200 tourer spied again

30 June 2011 by Andy Downes

Triumph’s all-new 1200cc three-cylinder tourer has been spotted undergoing final endurance testing on the road in Spain just months ahead of its launch. This spy picture – which is shown in full in...

Thanks to Neil Hodgson

29 June 2011 by MOO51E

Thanks to Neil Hodgson for offering us a lift from Creg Ny Baa to Douglas on sat 4 June just after the Superbike TT race. Neil very kindly took ourselves (Rhondo, Craig, Diesel, Colin, Eagle, Oggster...

Suzuki V-Strom launch

29 June 2011 by John Westlake

MCN’s Executive Editor Phil West has flown to Croatia for the launch of Suzuki’s much anticipated, updated V-Strom. He’s just phoned through this brief report: “My first thoughts are that in the flesh...

Warrs 'Bullet' Café Racer debuts at Ace

29 June 2011 by Trevor Franklin

This Harley-Davidson is the latest ‘themed’ bike to roll out of the workshop of Warrs Harley-Davidson, Europe’s oldest H-D dealer. The ‘Bullet’ café racer is based around the rolling chassis of a new...

Free gift for every MCNcompare policy buyer in July

29 June 2011 by MCN

Not only can MCNcompare save you up to £150* on your insurance but we are giving away a free gift to EVERYONE who buys a policy in July – including a Hein Gericke £10 voucher, Havoc helmets, a year’s...

Bikes on TV: June 29 - July 5

29 June 2011 by Alison Silcox

KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – Discovery Real Time DSC – Discovery Channel DHD – Discovery Channel HD EXS – Extreme Sports Channel EUR1 (2, HD) – Eurosport 1 (2, HD) MOT – Motors TV CH4 – Channel...

Brammo starts European production

29 June 2011 by Dan Aspel

Electric motorcycle manufacturer Brammo has started production in Hungary, expanding its business into Europe for the first time. Production is taking place at the Flextronics facility in Sarvar and...

Wanted: "Extraordinary Honda rider"

29 June 2011 by Dan Aspel

Honda is looking for “extraordinary” Honda owners to feature in a Channel 4 documentary short film. Hoping to celebrate the “interesting and innovative” ways in which people use their Hondas, the...

New Suzuki V-Strom price announced

28 June 2011 by Phil West

The revised V-Strom 650 ABS will go on sale at a price of £6899 on the road when it becomes available in dealers in late July, Suzuki has revealed. The facelifted machine features new bodywork,...

Electric superbike smashes Pikes Peak record

28 June 2011 by Dan Aspel

Chip Yates’ 240bhp electric superbike has smashed the electric motorcycle record at the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, beating the previous year’s time by over four minutes. The American’s...

Bimota TB-S Concept

28 June 2011 by Oberdan bezzi

Here’s my idea for a retro Bimota. What do you think?

Have you gone from sportsbikes to naked bikes?

28 June 2011 by Nadia Bouzenada

We want to hear from riders who used to ride sportsbikes but have recently switched to a naked machine. We want to know: • Why you changed bikes • What attracted you to the naked bike • What...

Columnist’s second call for motorcycle ban

28 June 2011 by Steve Farrell

A newspaper columnist has written his second article calling for motorcycles to be banned. Hugh Curran appears to relish having angered motorcyclists with the first column, which said they should be...

New MCN June 29: Lorenzo: 'Ban Simoncelli'

28 June 2011 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale 29 June, MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo vents his fury at MotoGP wildman Marco Simoncelli Plus, you could win a Suzuki GSX-R600 when you insure your bike with...

Face of Ducati 1199 superbike revealed

27 June 2011 by Andy Downes

Italian magazine Motociclismo has scooped images of the new Ducati 1199 superbike according to a story on the website. The full story will be out later this week in Italy. It appears studio images of...

Win VIP tickets to Brands Hatch

27 June 2011 by MCN

Enter Powerbronze International’s prize draw to win a pair of VIP passes to the Brands Hatch round of the British Superbike Championship on August 7 2011. Courtesy of Swan Yamaha, this prize includes...

Major fire hits M&P Motorcycles

27 June 2011 by Tom Cambio

A major fire has destroyed the Swansea headquarters of Europe’s largest motorcycle parts and accessories company, M&P Motorcycles. The company has temporarily re-located to nearby premises where they...

Stalker's Superbike circuits

25 June 2011 by Mark Coles

Of interest to the many riders that I speak to over a race weekend is how Stalker trains for riding a Superbike. Up until now you’ve not had the chance to learn about the hard work that goes on behind...

"Our kids ride bikes and we're proud"

24 June 2011 by Steve Farrell

Proud parents have hit back after a road safety charity said it was irresponsible to buy children motorcycles. The influential charity Brake last week told a national newspaper: “Junior motorbikes...

New ultra-light Ducati special

24 June 2011 by MCN

It’s got the power-to-weight to match a Moto2 bike, the looks to murder it and it’s green too. Well, it’s built around recycled Ducati ST3 engines. The RAD02 Corsa Evo is a reworked RAD02 Corsa...

Campaign for Isle of Wight TT

24 June 2011 by Steve Farrell

A Facebook campaign for an Isle of Wight TT has gained over 1000 supporters in days. The page says: ‘The Isle of Wight is able to accommodate a music festival of 90,000 people, so why not start a...

Newspaper columnist: Ban motorcycles

24 June 2011 by Steve Farrell

A newspaper column saying motorcycles should be banned has attracted dozens of objections from readers. Hugh Curran begins his article: ‘It’s time to ban the motorcycle. There, I said it. It needed to...

Hodgson tests Aprilia and Ducati rider aids for MCN

24 June 2011 by MCN news team

Even the base spec versions of Aprilia and Ducati’s latest superbikes, the RSV4 and 1198, are now bristling with electronic rider aids such as traction control and anti-wheelie – but how good are...

Best of Bikemart: Modern classics up for grabs this week

24 June 2011 by Phil West

We’ve been browsing MCN bikes for sale every day to bring you some of our top picks from over 10,000 motorcycles for sale. Read more modern classics news and features Here’s just a few...

Video: Keith Flint revs up for Brands Hatch GP trackday on Suzuki GSX-R1000

24 June 2011 by Michael Neeves

Prodigy frontman Keith Flint is pounding the tracks this year on his Crescent Suzuki-prepared Suzuki GSX-R1000 race machine. In this short video he joins MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves, on his...

Video: Neil Hodgson tests superstock BMW S1000RR

24 June 2011 by Michael Neeves

New MCN Road Tester and ex-WSB/BSB champ Neil Hodsgon got to throw his leg over two superstock spec Park Lane BMW BMW S1000RRs at Brands GP recently. One of the BMW S1000RR’s, which is raced by Senior...

Video: auto-throttle blipper for R1

24 June 2011 by Marc Abbott

Techtronics have just launched a ground-braking automatic electronic downshift blipping system for Yamaha’s R1 and R6. Operating seamlessly with the Yamaha YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle)...

Video: Keith Flint's FTR Moto2

24 June 2011 by Michael Neeves

If you’ve got deep enough pockets you can now buy your very own Grand Prix bike. This £75,000 FTR Moto2, belonging to Prodigy front man Keith Flint, is the first customer machine to be built by the...

How to TT-proof your GSX-R1000 by Guy Martin team boss Philip Neill

24 June 2011 by Michael Neeves

Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 will get you round the TT at 125mph+ no problem. But that fancy feather-light race bodywork you’ve been hankering after? It could cost infinitely more time than it saves, says...

VIDEO: Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE v some Datsun – are bike firms growing their balls back?

23 June 2011 by Guy Procter

Look at bike ads from decades passed and you come away thinking some manufacturers today aren’t fighting hard enough for the customers they have. Most of all, why did they ever decide to let cars get...

New Aprilia SR Max 125 and 300 scooters

23 June 2011 by Andy Downes

Aprilia has unveiled two new scooters called the SR Max 125 and 300 with styling Aprilia optimistically suggests is inspired by the RSV4 Superbike. The SR Max will go head to head with bigger scooters...

Video: New Husqvarna 900 spied on the road

23 June 2011 by Andy Downes

This spy video reveals the new Husqvarna 900 undergoing testing on the road near a BMW testing facility in Munich, Germany and shows the parallel-twin undergoing endurance testing on the road. We’re...