2012

Adventure bikes for me please

I’ll confess I’m a GS Adventure rider, but I have got my eyes on a shiny new 990 at the moment – awaiting test ride, then I’ll make the choice. My GS has been nothing but bullet proof. I know it has a few achilles heels, such as the sidestand switch but overall I have a big grin when I get home from a ride. I recently took it off-road at the Walters Arena during the Touratech Adventure Travel...

BMW pushing ahead with E-Scooter development

BMW pushing ahead with E-Scooter development

BMW has yet to confirm its E-Scooter will even make it into production, but looking at the advanced nature of this prototype it would appear it will be sooner rather than later. The firm is still...

Speeding penalties set to rise

Speeding penalties set to rise

Fixed penalties for speeding could rise from £60 to £90 under proposals announced by the Government. Careless drivers will become an offence that can be dealt with by a £90 fixed penalty instead of a...

Union Jack-inspired paint job for Honda off-roaders

Union Jack-inspired paint job for Honda off-roaders

Honda has given its CRF250R and CRF450R dirt bikes a Union Jack-inspired paint job. The limited edition red, white and blue colour scheme is to celebrate this summer’s sporting events. A Honda...

Spied: Is this the BMW Custom Concept?

Spied: Is this the BMW Custom Concept?

The Custom Concept has been in the background since it was unveiled in 2008 but because the news has been so non-committal in the past two years, most people had assumed BMW had decided not to pursue...

UK Government to match every donation to Riders for Health

UK Government to match every donation to Riders for Health

Riders for Health has launched an appeal in which every donation made by a UK citizen until September will be matched by the UK Government, doubling its impact. The money raised by this appeal will...

Brit Superbike legends of the ’90s in new TV show

Brit Superbike legends of the ’90s in new TV show

July 4, 7pm – make a note in your diary now! ITV4 is showing a new documentary that celebrates the British dominance of bikesport in the 1990s. As you’d expect, ‘Superbikes! When Britain Ruled the...

Win 50% off your bike policy this June!

Win 50% off your bike policy this June!

Fancy saving some dosh on your bike insurance? Then head over to MCNcompare to get a cracking deal. Not only could you save a whopping £150** or more on your bike insurance policy, you could also be...

You ask/you answer: How do I set-up my suspension?

You ask/you answer: How do I set-up my suspension?

When I bought my 2006 GSX-R600, the salesman said I would need to adjust the forks and shock. What’s the best way to discover the perfect suspension set-up? Your advice could help. Leave a comment...

TT luggage

TT luggage

My missus and I went to the TT, here’s what we managed to pack onto our bikes. I also managed to pack a signature from Guy Martin on her boobs, I’ll follow up with that photo if you like!

Poll: What's your dream commuter?

Poll: What's your dream commuter?

Ride to Work Day is on June 18. So… pollcomment

Poll: Riding in the rain is fun, right?

Poll: Riding in the rain is fun, right?

Several journalists in the MCN office claim to enjoying riding in the rain (provided they’ve got good kit, it’s not freezing etc). Are they masochists?   pollcomment

Honda Terrierist Alarm System

Honda Terrierist Alarm System

I spotted this ageing Honda whilst on a trip to Glastonbury with a very unfriendly passenger who turned out to be a fantastic bike alarm!

New MCN June 13: Smart money superbikes

New MCN June 13: Smart money superbikes

In this week’s MCN, out June 13, are 1000cc sports bikes like the Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Yamaha R1 better on the road than electronics-laden bikes like the Ducati Panigale? We take them to the the...

Jun 13 Bikes on the Box

Jun 13 Bikes on the Box

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...

ITV4 TT review shows air Monday 11 and Tuesday 12

ITV4 TT review shows air Monday 11 and Tuesday 12

ITV4 will screen the first of its two TT2012 review programmes this evening at 8pm. The first of the two one-hour specials will feature a track guide with Steve Parrish and James Whitham, full preview...

Video: Extreme adventure test - part one

Video: Extreme adventure test - part one

Four bikes. A Dakar hero. 100+ miles off-road. Just one question: can adventure bikes live up to their billing? We took the BMW R1200GS, Yamaha XT1200Z Super Tenere, Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 and...

A dream come true

A dream come true

Wirral Bikers Motorcycle Club founder, George Girven got the surprise of his life when being contacted by Bennetts last week to inform him that he had been chosen to have his Bennetts Biking...

Suzuki SV650 Trail concept

Suzuki SV650 Trail concept

Here’s my concept of a retro-inspired trail bike based on the SV650 engine. The dual sport that everyone wants!

Gorgeous Yamaha TZR250 cafe racer

Gorgeous Yamaha TZR250 cafe racer

This gorgeous, retro-styled, all-black café racer is based on a Yamaha TZR250 V-twin two-stroke. It’s been built by Japanese custom shop 09Racing and uses the rear wheel and swingarm from a Honda...

BMW S1000RR naked bike spied testing

BMW S1000RR naked bike spied testing

BMW is already well ahead in the development of a naked version of its class-leading S1000RR superbike as these spy shots taken at a BMW test facility reveal. The naked S1000RR – to be called the...

£1765 of free kit with BMW R1200GS

£1765 of free kit with BMW R1200GS

BMW is offering £1765 worth of free kit with every new R1200GS bought before the end of the year. You’ll get a titanium Akrapovic end can, tinted screen, 13-19litre tank bag, expandable Vario panniers...

Extreme adventure test - which would you choose?

Extreme adventure test - which would you choose?

Designed for travelling to the remotest corners of the globe, big bore adventure bikes have become the must have biking accessory in recent years. While for many, adventure bikes represent comfort, on...

BMW R1250GS spied

BMW R1250GS spied

The upcoming BMW R1250GS has been spied during testing, showing many upgrades over the current R1200GS. It’s impossible to overstate the importance to BMW of the new R1250GS – the firm simply has to...

Video: Husqvarna TE310 longterm review

Video: Husqvarna TE310 longterm review

Based on the super-light TE250, the Husqvarna TE310 sits squarely between the 250 and the monstrous TE449. Husqvarna have bored and stroked the 250 engine ou tto 302.44cc to create a bike that is just...

Destination dealer: Thunder Road

Destination dealer: Thunder Road

ADVERTISING PROMOTION Voted best dealer in Wales, Thunder Road is number one for Honda and Suzuki. Thunder Road has over 500 new and used bikes in stock at their two stores in Bridgend and Cwmbran,...

Win the chance to be an MCN photographer at Day of Champions

Win the chance to be an MCN photographer at Day of Champions

This is a great chance for budding photographers to get a close up view of one of the best days out in British motorsport.   The winner will be able to shadow an MCN photographer for part of the day.

Piaggio X10 first ride

Piaggio X10 first ride

The Piaggio X10 is not dirt cheap: the £5,000 you need to score one will seem like a lot to plenty of bike riders, who inevitably consider what motorcycle they could get for that money, but against...

Schwantz and Mamola lap the TT course

Schwantz and Mamola lap the TT course

Racing legends Kevin Schwantz and Randy Mamola were just two of the racing legends taking part in the Arai Parade Lap at the Isle of Man TT today. Other famous riders included current TT racers...

Poll: Who got you into bikes?

Poll: Who got you into bikes?

With father’s day coming up we want to know who was responsible for your love of bikes.   pollcomment

Poll: Has the price of petrol changed how you ride?

Poll: Has the price of petrol changed how you ride?

The AA have a depressing spreadsheet showing the price of petrol for every year since 1896 (http://bit.ly/LkFK6D). It got us reminiscing about the days when you could fill an average bike up for a...

Poll: What do you think of ITV4's TT coverage?

Poll: What do you think of ITV4's TT coverage?

With Whitham, Plater, Parrish and super-slow-motion cameras, you can’t deny ITV have put some effort into their TT coverage. What do you think of it? Don’t forget to add your comment after the...

New Randy Mamola Arai revealed

New Randy Mamola Arai revealed

A new Randy Mamola helmet design has been unveiled by Arai marketing boss Olaf van Schijndel at the Isle of Man TT this morning, just in advance of the Arai Parade Lap. This is the first time anyone...

A right royal burn up

A right royal burn up

Notwithstanding a demanding Diamond Jubilee schedule, the family still managed to sneak an early morning right royal burn up.

New MCN June 6: McGuinness on his 19th TT win

New MCN June 6: McGuinness on his 19th TT win

In this week’s MCN, out June 6, we have all the action from the first races of the 2012 Isle of Man TT. John McGuinness gets ever closer to Joey’s record with his 19th TT win. We talk to the Honda TT...

Get a Yamaha 125 for the price of a pint a day

Get a Yamaha 125 for the price of a pint a day

From today, all of Yamaha’s motorcycles and scooters up 125cc are available on a 0% finance offer. The plan runs over a 24 month period with a minimum of a £99 deposit. Or look at it this way; the...