May

Ducati factory unscathed after earthquake

Ducati factory unscathed after earthquake

The Ducati factory in Bologna, Italy has not been effected  by the earthquake which hit nortern Italy last night. A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck in the middle of the night, 22 miles north of...

Jay Leno on the Mission Motors Mission R

Jay Leno on the Mission Motors Mission R

American comedian and chat-show host Jay Leno has recently ridden the Mission Motors Mission R electric bike on the road in the US. The Mission R uses a lithium ion battery and makes a claimed 160bhp,...

Destination dealer: Wheels Motorcycles

Destination dealer: Wheels Motorcycles

ADVERTISING PROMOTION Wheels Motorcycles were delighted when they acquired the Kawasaki franchise in March 2011; since then it has gone from strength to strength.  This year Wheels will be running...

Your lights are broken?

Your lights are broken?

This may be a daft question, but… Why do manufacturers insist on only illuminating one side of a bikes lights? My last bike was a Kawasaki 2007 Z750 and I would be a rich man today if I had a penny...

New KTM Super Duke 1290 spied

New KTM Super Duke 1290 spied

This is the new 150bhp 1290cc KTM Super Duke that was recently spied testing on the roads near the KTM factory in Mattighofen, Austria. The Super Duke will be getting a more powerful version of the...

2013 Triumphs get new colours

2013 Triumphs get new colours

Triumph has unveiled new colours for several of the British manufacturer’s line-up for 2013. The Daytona 675 gets a new Sulphur Yellow paint scheme with yellow pin stripes on the wheels. The front...

Rider denied compensation for crash with lorry that crossed white line

Rider denied compensation for crash with lorry that crossed white line

A motorcyclist who collided with an oncoming lorry which had partly crossed over the central white line has been denied compensation.  To blame the lorry driver would impose too high a standard on...

May 16 Bikes on the Box

May 16 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...

MCN Sport iPad edition now available!

MCN Sport iPad edition now available!

MCN Sport iPad edition is the ultimate endulgence for racing fans, getting you closer to the action from MotoGP, WSB, BSB, the TT and the full spectrum of bike sport than ever before. From the makers...

New MCN May 16: Honda V4 celebration

New MCN May 16: Honda V4 celebration

In this week’s MCN, out May 16, we celebrate 30 years of the Honda V4.. We test iconic Honda V4s – the RC30, NR750 and RC45. We also test the new Honda VFR1200 against the outgoing model. Also this...

Poll: Would you let your child ride a motorcycle?

Poll: Would you let your child ride a motorcycle?

You ride a motorcycle and your child has asked if they can ride one too. Were you looking forward to this day? Is it hypocritical to say no? What would you say?   Would you let your child ride a...

Senior citizen advice

I’ve been riding for many moons and currently ride a BMW 1150RT, but old age is catching up with me and I find that the BMW is just too big and heavy for everyday use. I am looking at buying a Honda 750VTS for commuting, breakfast rides with the guys, keeping out of my wife’s hair and a bit of fun. What do you think?

New colours for TCX riding shoes

New colours for TCX riding shoes

TCX has released a range of new colour options for its X-Street sneaker, which will be available in UK dealers from this month. Originally launched in a black waterproof version earlier this year,...

Trackers work... if you're quick!

The trouble with bike trackers is you have to activate them quick as the criminals will try to remove them as soon as possible. So if you’re asleep when the bike’s nicked and wake up 6 hours later it’s too late! You need a loud alarm and tracker so you get agood chance at activating the tracker. On a lighter note local police arrested two thieves last night who had been stealing high powered bikes...

Brammo Empulse and Empulse R unveiled

Brammo Empulse and Empulse R unveiled

Brammo has recently unveiled the Empulse, an electric bike set to go on sale in 2013. The Empulse uses a six-speed gearbox, has a claimed top speed of 100mph, a claimed range of upto 120 miles and can...

Late eighties Honda CBR600F needed

Late eighties Honda CBR600F needed

MCN is in need of a 1987-1989 for a feature in a forthcoming issue. The ideal bike would need to be in good fettle, but it is not required to be road legal. If you think you can help email...

Kawasaki ZX-10R available on 0% finance

Kawasaki ZX-10R available on 0% finance

The latest Kawasaki ZX-10R is now available on 0% finance with monthly payments of under £250 over four years. Kawasaki is also offereing finance packages on 15 other models, including the Versys 650,...

Video: Ducati 1199 Panigale vs BMW S1000RR and Aprilia RSV4

Video: Ducati 1199 Panigale vs BMW S1000RR and Aprilia RSV4

It’s a sad fact for speed freaks that superbike sales have slipped in recent years, while things like naked and adventure bikes are on the up. So can one of the most exciting, talked-about motorcycles...

WSB homologation specials at a glance

WSB homologation specials at a glance

Britain has always loved World Superbikes: not just the racing, but the limited edition models that manufacturers produced to let them to compete. To celebrate 25 years of WSB, we’ve got the top five...

Destination dealer: Grantham Honda

Destination dealer: Grantham Honda

ADVERTISING PROMOTION Lincolnshire’s leading Honda dealer is gearing up for its first open day of the year on Saturday 12 May.  Grantham Honda Bikes has pulled out all the stops to make the first...

Rare classic military scooter up for auction

Rare classic military scooter up for auction

What you see in the picture to your right is a 1959 Vespa Militare. And yes, it is real. The scooter was modified to take a 75mm cannon because it was seen as perfect for negotiating the rough terrain...

More signatures needed on 'Motorcyclists Matter' petition

More signatures needed on 'Motorcyclists Matter' petition

More of your signatures are still needed on the ‘Motorcyclists Matter’ petition, which hopes to get a motorcycle question on every driving theory test. The petition is now over a third of the way to...

Finished Triumph Trophy spied

Finished Triumph Trophy spied

Triumph’s all-new 1200cc Trophy is still months away from being officially launched but an MCN reader managed to get the best shots yet after seeing the bike hidden behind a McDonald’s. The Trophy is...

Best road in the world?

As infuriating as some drivers are in the UK, most are careful, considerate and capable in comparison to some foreign countries. Two years ago myself and my wife were touring Egypt. We stayed for a week in Cairo. The main road leading right up to and passing our hotel started a mile or so up the road, at this point there were 13 lanes of traffic. By the time the road passed our hotel it narrowed...

Adventure Map – motorcycle tours in North America

Adventure Map – motorcycle tours in North America

North America offers everything you could ever want from a biking holiday. Whether you want to get away from it all and set your own pace in the deserts of Nevada, New Mexico or Utah, or see what...

Ducati Woes

I own a Ducati Multistrada 1200S which I bought from new in 2010. After a year and a half of trouble free riding the ABS warning light came on last November. I took it to the Ducati dealer and 6 months and 4 visits later, the bike has not been fixed. Various parts have been replaced on the bike (under warranty) with little or no urgency and each time I pick up the bike the problem still exists. I...

Garmin Montana Moto bundle

Garmin Montana Moto bundle

In the May 2 issue of MCN we featured a new Garmin Montana Moto bundle, quoting an incorrect price of £166. The actual cost of the product is £529.99. For more info, and to purchase one:...

Suzuki offer £800 cash back with GSX-R600 and GSX-R750

Suzuki offer £800 cash back with GSX-R600 and GSX-R750

Suzuki is offering £800 cashback on the GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 as well as low rate finance deals. Suzuki is also offering £500 cashback on the GSX1250FA, GSX650F, Gladius 650 ABS, GSR750 ABS and...

Rider and pillion ‘blown off bike’ by wind

Rider and pillion ‘blown off bike’ by wind

A rider and pillion were taken to hospital after being ‘apparently blown off their bike by the wind’ on the motorway according to emergency services. Two lanes of the M4 were closed for nearly three...

Poll: how do you choose your tyres?

Poll: how do you choose your tyres?

Choosing tyres is notoriously difficult. Even if you pick a set that a mate has recommended, there’s no guarantee they’ll work as well on your particular bike, with your riding style. Consequently...

New MCN May 9: 25 years of WSB

New MCN May 9: 25 years of WSB

In this week’s MCN, out May 9, we celebrate 25 years of World Superbikes. We ride some of the limited-edition, homologation specials built for WSB, speak to Carl Fogarty as he gives his take on WSB...

May 9 Bikes on the Box

May 9 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...

We knew BMWs were good but…

We knew BMWs were good but…

BMW is reportedly being sued by a man who claims he was left with a permanent erection after riding one of its bikes. Californian Henry Wolf says he was left with an erection for two years after a...

KTM Duke 200 European launch delayed

KTM Duke 200 European launch delayed

The new KTM Duke 200, spied by MCN in February 2011, has been delayed by a month due to demand from emerging markets. The bike, which is effectively a Duke 125 with a big-bore kit, is built for KTM by...

Dinli DL282 unveiled

Dinli DL282 unveiled

This is the new Dinli DL282, a cruiser which was shown at the International Motor Show in Taiwan last week. It’s powered by a Taiwanese-built single-cylinder, 750cc water-cooled engine. Curiously,...

Future MotoGP champion

Future MotoGP champion

Here’s my son – he’s only 5 weeks old on the first pic but already a huge bike fan! He watched all the BSB,WSB and MotoGP races last season from inside my belly! Now this season he can watch them...