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November

New MCN Sport November 24: Bike racing 2011 - the definitive review

21 November 2011 by MCN

New MCN Sport November 24: Bike racing 2011 - the definitive review

The latest edition of MCN Sport goes on sale Thursday November 24 with the foreword from 2011 MotoGP champion Casey Stoner. We remember Marco Simoncelli, talk to Cal Crutchlow after his first season...

Yamaha price cut shock

21 November 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Yamaha price cut shock

Yamaha has announced dramatic and favourable price reductions on five key 2012 models. The bikes are all 600cc plus and are from several classes including sports, adventure and roadster models. The...

Brit bikes steal show at Motorcycle Live

21 November 2011 by Steve Farrell

Brit bikes steal show at Motorcycle Live

British bikes proved a massive hit at the NEC Motorcycle Live show last weekend thanks to stunning displays from Triumph, Norton, Metisse and Royal Enfield. Triumph led the way, with show-goers...

Video: Motorcycle Live - Day Two

21 November 2011 by MCN

Video: Motorcycle Live - Day Two

See highlights from the second day of Motorcycle Live at the NEC in Birmingham as manufacturer’s detail their latest sports bike offerings; from the all-new Ducati 1199 Panigale, to the updated Suzuki...

Video: Motorcycle Live - Day One

19 November 2011 by MCN

Video: Motorcycle Live - Day One

Watch the video below for the highlights from the opening day of Motorcycle Live at the NEC in Birmingham, which was opened by Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow. Check back soon for more news &...

Suzuki reveals sub-£3500 Inazuma 250

19 November 2011 by Guy Procter

Suzuki reveals sub-£3500 Inazuma 250

Suzuki has launched an all-new 250 called the Inazuma at the NEC show. An all-new 248cc parallel twin powers what Suzuki says is B-King-influenced design for newcomers and returning riders. No price,...

Revamped engine for latest Moto Guzzi V7s

18 November 2011 by Phil West

Revamped engine for latest Moto Guzzi V7s

Moto Guzzi’s popular smaller V-twin range has received a complete makeover for 2012 – proving once again that parent Piaggio is investing heavily in reviving the historic marque. At last week’s Milan...

German police seek bike-hating bend boobytrapper

18 November 2011 by Guy Procter

German police seek bike-hating bend boobytrapper

German Police are appealing for information leading to the arrest of a bike-hating boobytrapper who’s been lacing bends with oil and gravel. There’s been a spate of what are thought to be deliberate...

Suzuki angrily terminates VW tie-up

18 November 2011 by Guy Procter

Suzuki angrily terminates VW tie-up

The dream of a GSX-R Passat or TDi Gladius is over. Suzuki has acrimoniously ended its partnership with VW. Chairman and CEO Osamu Suzuki’s statement is worth a read for anyone who has ever...

Adventure Map – motorcycle tours in France

17 November 2011 by MCN

Adventure Map – motorcycle tours in France

You don’t need to fly across the globe to enjoy leaving it all behind on an adventure tour – there are some fantastic roads on offer just across the channel in the south of France. If you want to make...

Do we need electronic rider aids? You decide.

17 November 2011 by Michael Neeves

Do we need electronic rider aids? You decide.

Hi, it’s Michael Neeves, Senior Road tester here and I’m looking for willing volunteers to help me with a road test feature. I would like to invite a couple of you to try some bikes fitted with and...

Ex-Manx Suzuki XR69 for sale

17 November 2011 by Jim Moore

Ex-Manx Suzuki XR69 for sale

This achingly-gorgeous Harris Performance XR69 is being offered for sale by long-time endurance race campaigners Alf’s Motorcycles in Worthing. The bike, which lapped the Isle of Man’s 37.73 Mountain...

Ducati's 848 Streetfighter overpowers Triumph Street Triple R

17 November 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Ducati's 848 Streetfighter overpowers Triumph Street Triple R

Ducati say their Streetfighter 848 is suitable for riders who want Ducati’s legendary sports bike performance without the head down, arse up seating stance of a race replica. And our world first group...

‘Every rider should join MCN Brussels protest’

17 November 2011 by Steve Farrell

‘Every rider should join MCN Brussels protest’

Riders’ rights groups have urged motorcyclists to join MCN’s Brussels protest ride as the day of the action approaches. We’re asking readers to meet us next Tuesday in Brussels, where we’re staging a...

Techy Kawasaki Versys 1000 is dark horse of class

17 November 2011 by Phil West

Techy Kawasaki Versys 1000 is dark horse of class

Despite its derivative styling and the impression of parts sourced from other bikes, Kawasaki’s new entrant into the adventure bike class is much more than a Z1000 in new clothes, MCN can now...

Honda's V4 Crosstourer GS-rival gets sporty edge

17 November 2011 by Phil West

Honda's V4 Crosstourer GS-rival gets sporty edge

Honda’s all-new adventure bike – the V4 Crosstourer – is significantly different to the prototype version first unveiled a year ago and will bring new sophistication, technology and riding pleasure to...

Video: 1980s Paris-Dakar box-set

17 November 2011 by Marc Abbott

Video: 1980s Paris-Dakar box-set

Duke Video have recently released a box-set of their coverage of the 1984-89 Paris-Dakar rallies. It costs £54.99 for the six-DVD collection, and covers a whopping 547 minutes of off-road action. And...

'Ace' prize for winner at Warr's Harley custom night

17 November 2011 by MCN

'Ace' prize for winner at Warr's Harley custom night

A dream trip to the legendary Daytona Bike Week in Florida awaits Harley owner Robertas Sakalauskus after winning the experience in the Warr’s Harley-Davidson big prize night at the Ace Café. Europe’s...

“Ultimate Kawasaki Experience” competition launched

17 November 2011 by MCN

“Ultimate Kawasaki Experience” competition launched

Anyone joining the Kawasaki Riders Club at the Motorcycle Live show at the NEC could win an ‘Ultimate Kawasaki Experience’. The prize includes riding a 2012 Kawasaki of your choice for a week, getting...

No Farmyard ticket price rise

17 November 2011 by MCN

No Farmyard ticket price rise

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has announced that ticket prices for the Farmyard Rally will not rise in 2012. This is the fifth year running tickets for Europe’s biggest motorcycle-only rally have...

See Guy Martin tow girls on skates this weekend

17 November 2011 by John Westlake

See Guy Martin tow girls on skates this weekend

Road-racing superstar Guy Martin will headline a new event called Rollerburn this weekend featuring scantily-clad women being towed behind bikes. The event is at the Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire...

New meeting place for Brussels protest

16 November 2011 by Steve Farrell

New meeting place for Brussels protest

MCN’s Brussels protest ride now has a new meeting point. At the request of Belgian police, riders will gather in a prestigious park opposite the European Commission instead of outside European...

Visit Alpha at the NEC

16 November 2011 by MCN

Visit Alpha at the NEC

ADVERTISING PROMOTION Essex-based official Yamaha and Suzuki dealers Alpha Motorcycles are well known for their show deals and special offers. After many years exhibiting at the NEC they know what...

Guy Martin creates own tea blend with competition winner

16 November 2011 by Guy Procter

Guy Martin creates own tea blend with competition winner

Guy Martin has created a bespoke tea blend with Bennetts Biker Dream competiton winner Rachel Heath from Chesterfield. The 23-year-old’s dream was to have a cuppa with the TV and TT star, but he went...

Video - Keith Flint’s final race of the season

16 November 2011 by MCN

Video - Keith Flint’s final race of the season

Bike-mad Prodigy frontman Keith Flint races in the Sorrymate.com Junior 1000 Endurance championship with Hottrax. Teaming up with Ben Neeves (brother of Senior Road Tester, Michael) they run under the...

Michael Neeves blog – Racedays, Jerez

16 November 2011 by Michael Neeves

Michael Neeves blog – Racedays, Jerez

I’ve just come back from riding my BMW Park Lane S1000RR at Racedays in Jerez. It was my final ever outing on No.5, after two years racing it in MRO. What is/who are Racedays? Racedays is a three-day...

Yamaha TZR-1 King Kenny concept

16 November 2011 by Oberdan Bezzi

Yamaha TZR-1 King Kenny concept

Here’s my concept for a modern old-school racer. Based on the engine from the current Yamaha R1, it is a tribute to Kenny Roberts Sr.

Help highlight potholes

15 November 2011 by Steve Farrell

Help highlight potholes

A new BBC consumer affairs programme wants to hear about hazardous unfilled potholes. Programme makers are looking for examples to film this week for a pilot series to be broadcast on Wednesday...

New MCN November 16: New Metal 2012 - unmissable new bikes from Milan & Tokyo

15 November 2011 by MCN

New MCN November 16: New Metal 2012 - unmissable new bikes from Milan & Tokyo

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale Wednesday November 16, we bring you all the details on new metal for 2012, with 13 pages of unmissable new bikes from the Milan and Tokyo bike shows.   We take a...

2012 KTM Duke: most potent single-cylinder road bike ever

14 November 2011 by Michael Neeves

2012 KTM Duke: most potent single-cylinder road bike ever

More power, less weight, improved refinement and ABS as standard  – the new KTM 690 Duke promises to be more fun, easier to ride and safer. Now making a claimed 70bhp, it’s also the most powerful...

Bumping into Ian Hutchinson

13 November 2011 by Mark Vestey

Bumping into Ian Hutchinson

I am Mark Vestey, an avid MCN reader for over 20 years, now living in Hong Kong. I just bumped into Ian Hutshinson at the Macau ferry here. Ian was on his way to Macau to race there next weekend.

El Sardinero Rally

11 November 2011 by Jeff Rogers

El Sardinero Santander 2011 (Spanish Classic Motorcycle Rally). I entered the rally for the first time this year having heard many stories of the atmosphere, the roads and the welcome of the Spanish people. I can testify that all the tales were true and would recommend it to anyone, but my story is of a different aspect of the rally that many riders will possibly not want to think about. On one of...

Video: a decade in MotoGP

11 November 2011 by Marc Abbott

Video: a decade in MotoGP

Duke Video have just announced this extremely tempting DVD which covers the most controversial moments in the premier class of racing over the last 10 years. With expert analysis from the people who...

Honda CR1100 Dick Mann concept

10 November 2011 by Oberdan Bezzi

Honda CR1100 Dick Mann concept

Here’s my design for a Honda motorcycle, built as a tribute to 1970 Daytona winner Dick Mann.

‘Thousands of learners could have to pass test twice’

10 November 2011 by Steve Farrell

‘Thousands of learners could have to pass test twice’

Thousands of learner motorcyclists could have to take a controversial riding test twice despite passing the first time, riding instructors have warned. They are also likely to be charged twice as a...

Second MP backs MCN Brussels protest ride

10 November 2011 by Steve Farrell

Second MP backs MCN Brussels protest ride

An MP has given a major boost to MCN’s planned Brussels protest over stifling EU measures by promising to join the ride. Steve Weatherley, Tory MP for Brighton and Hove, will join MCN readers taking...