2013

MCN columnist Kevin Ash dies

23 January 2013 by MCN

MCN is deeply saddened to report the death of long-time columnist, former staffer and hugely respected freelance motorcycle journalist Kevin Ash. ‘Ashy’, as he was fondly known throughout the...

The rules: Sports bike adventure travel

23 January 2013 by Andy Davidson

More often than not, when the magical words adventure motorcycling are thrown into pub conversation, images of a pannier clad dusty GS equipped with dual tyres spring to mind. The adventure bike is...

Don't be a victim of bike theft

23 January 2013 by MCN

In November last year, MCN reported that 15 bikes were stolen within minutes in the Dorset area and were later found dumped and smashed up in a nearby ditch. Unfortunately, theft is becoming an ever...

Dorset HOC on the move

23 January 2013 by Stritchy

The Dorset branch of the Honda Owners Club have moved meeting place. They now meet at The Bakers Arms, Dorchester Road, Lychett Minster, Poole BH16 6JF on the 1st Friday of the month from 7.30pm. The...

Video: African adventure - part two

22 January 2013 by MCN

After riding through Spain and putting the Ducati Panigale S and BMW S1000RR through their paces on a track day at Almeria, our intrepid explorers head for the ferry to Africa before heading back to...

You Ask/You Answer: Tyre Pressures

22 January 2013 by MCN

“There’s a lot of pub talk about what tyre pressure s you should run. I ride a 2007 GSX-R750 on the road (mainly) and on the track (sometimes). I’m happy with setting track pressures as there’s always...

Is Dovizioso going to humiliate Hayden this year on the Ducati?

22 January 2013 by MCN

Last weekend Ducati unveiled their new MotoGP machine at their now-annual press launch, Vroom. Andrea Dovizioso comes across from the Tech 3 Yamaha team to join Nicky Hayden at the Bologna...

When will you be back on two wheels?

22 January 2013 by MCN

Despite a lot of bikers having rode all through the worst of the year’s weather, some opted for the car this winter, locking away the bike until spring starts to appear again. But it’s almost Febuary...

Does the inconvenience of wrapping yourself up for winter outweigh the benefit of riding?

22 January 2013 by MCN

Base layer. Heated vest. Jacket. Goretex. Socks. Boots. Inner gloves, then outers. Buff, or balaclava. Getting ready to go out on your bike in this weather often isn’t the most straightforward task,...

Ice denies hundreds last chance to take old bike test

22 January 2013 by Steve Farrell

Ice and snow denied hundreds of riders their last chance to get a bike licence before new rules came in on Saturday. The Driving Standards Agency said 514 on-road riding tests were cancelled between...

New BMW R1200GS ridden!

22 January 2013 by Adam Child

BMW’s all-new and eagerly-awaited R1200GS is currently being put through its paces in South Africa by MCN Senior Tester Adam Child. Here are his first impressions: “We’re in 40 degree heat heading...

Motorcycle theft: Don't become a statistic

22 January 2013 by MCN

Have you ever looked at the bike theft statistics for your area? Do you know what bike and manufacturer is most likely to be stolen? MCNcompare.com have produced an infographic to share that has all...

OSSA release lightweight new trials bikes

21 January 2013 by Simon Patterson

Spanish trials bike manufacturer OSSA have unveiled two new two-stroke models for 2013, the TR280 and TR125. The TR125, which the Spanish manufacturer claims is an ideal beginner bike, is supposedly...

Taking the Bonneville to Bonneville in memory of MikeyMan

21 January 2013 by Anonymous

Our friend, Mike Page, tragically died in 2010 and at his funeral, a group of his close friends decided to rebuild his old Triumph Bonneville in his honour and memory. Mike had owned the Bonneville...

A small tribute...

19 January 2013 by Andy Westlake

After a lifetime working as a precision engineer West Countryman Tony Haines has developed the sort of skills that most of us can only dream about; and if you’re the sort of person who struggles to...

A2 licence holders wanted

18 January 2013 by Steve Farrell

MCN is looking for holders of the new ‘A2’ motorcycle licence, created under rules coming into force on Saturday. The new category, which carries a 47bhp limit, is part of sweeping changes to the...

Video: African adventure

17 January 2013 by Michael Neeves

Remember the old days when we used our sports bikes for everything? They brightened up our weekends, took us to work, and off on holiday, but now there’s a bike built for every occasion. Still, who...

Schwantz on Schwantz

17 January 2013 by Steve Farrell

When former GP world champion Kevin Schwantz dropped into the MCN office, we threw a net over him and dragged him into the cavernous vault of our picture archives. There he was forced to earn his...

Used KTM buying guide

16 January 2013 by MCN

Ten years ago, if you asked someone what they knew of KTM the answer would almost certainly involve the company’s off-road bikes. Despite the Austrian firm building a formidable reputation in the dirt...

Honda CB1100 Launch – First Impressions

16 January 2013 by Phil West

Honda’s new CB1100 Retro Roadster is currently being put through its paces in the countryside around Valencia, Spain, by MCN’s Executive Editor, Phil West. These are his first impressions, ahead of a...

New BMW R1200GS Test - What Do you Want To Know?

15 January 2013 by MCN

This week our intrepid road tester Chad jets off to South Africa for the launch of BMW’s all-new R1200GS super-traillie. With stiff competition from KTM this year, BMW have strove to out-do themselves...

New MCN January 16: Exclusive - New Triumph Tiger Sport

15 January 2013 by MCN

In this week’s MCN, out January 16, we have exclusive photos of Triumph’s new Tiger Sport, the replacement for the venerable Tiger 1050. We have an exclusive interview with Casey Stoner on Valentino...

You Ask/You Answer: New Licences

15 January 2013 by MCN

“I turn 17 next month, and want to get my bike licence, but is it really worth doing the A1 motorcycle test for a 125, or should I just stay as a learner until I can take the A2 test at 19? I would...

True or false? Electrically heated clothing is for wimps

15 January 2013 by MCN

There’s a long standing debate in the MCN office about heated clothing. While heated grips are seen by most as acceptable, if not a necessity, for winter riding, plug-in clothing brings a different...

If you could only do one track day this year, it would be at...

15 January 2013 by MCN

It’s almost summer, and with it, a return to on-track action, both racing and trackdays, with most of the UK circuits now offering at least some trackdays. Will you be taking on a track this year? And...

MCN's Michael Neeves rode to Africa on a sportsbike, and to Ibiza on a naked bike - but what would you have ridden?

15 January 2013 by MCN

Our senior road tester Michael Neeves has done a lot of miles this year – he’s ridden to Ibiza for a summer holiday, and even to Africa, just to prove he could! But Neevesy’s choice of bike wasn’t always conventional. He rode his long term test Ducati 848 Streetfighter to Ibiza, while the Africa trip was done on a Ducati Panigale and a BMW S1000RR; hardly touring bikes! Is he mad, taking bikes so...