January

The Ten Worst Safety Innovations

03 February 2013 by Steve Farrell

Over the years there’s been some interesting, awful, and downright dangerous suggestions made to make biking safer, from researchers, manufacturers and government. We’ve compiled our top ten worst...

School for Slide

03 February 2013 by Rupert Paul

If a passing stranger informed you that this time next week you could be sliding a motorcycle round corners like Nicky Hayden in the off season, you’d write him off as a dangerous lunatic. Well, I am...

Ever held on to a piece of kit too long?

02 February 2013 by Andy Davidson

In the Anatolian mountains of Turkey the summer sun burns so hot that it cracks the Tarmac. To ride in full biking gear is bordering on suicide, and you find yourself resorting to just a pair of...

BMW sells Husqvarna

31 January 2013 by Andy Downes

BMW has officially announced the sale of Italian dirt bike brand Husqvarna to Pierer Industrie AG – the firm headed by Stefan Pierer who is currently boss of KTM. MCN was the first to reveal BMW was...

2013 BMW R1200GS – your questions answered

31 January 2013 by MCN

This week’s edition of Motor Cycle News (30 Jan 2013) features a 7-page first test of the all-new BMW R1200GS, which was launched in South Africa last week. Senior Road Tester, Adam Child, was highly...

Youth experiment: Kymco K-Pipe

31 January 2013 by Phil West

This bike is the freshest breath of air in small capacity motorcycling in years. There, I’ve said it. It could also be exactly what’s needed if today’s youth are ever going to get back into...

Chasing my motorcycle racing dream!

31 January 2013 by Dushmantha Ranathunga

I work as a Technical Writer for an IT company in Sri Lanka. I’m a real harcore fan of motor racing, especially MotoGP, WSB and the TT. I am really passionate about being a motorcycle racer one day, where I could continue it as a career. Unfortunately, in my country the support for such sport is lacking and the financial status I’m in right now is not really favourable for me to chase the dream of...

BMWs on show at Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show

31 January 2013 by MCN

The Carole Nash MCN London motorcycle show is happening on February 15 to 17 at Excel in London’s Docklands; almost every new bike for 2013 will be there along with loads of other customs, classics...

More Power! New MTT Y2K

30 January 2013 by Andy Davidson

Los Angeles based Marine Turbine Technologies (MTT) has announced an upgrade to their 320bhp turbine powered MTT Y2K superbike. It has been reported that the new 2013 MTT Y2K will be fitted with a...

Marc Marquez or Dani Pedrosa? Who'll be the Repsol Honda king this year?

30 January 2013 by MCN

This year at Repsol Honda sees the battle of the Spainards – rookie and protege Marc Marquez takes on the old hand of Dani Pedrosa, and it’s sure to be a hell of a battle. But will the sheer speed and...

At what point do you consider a bike to have too high mileage on the clock?

30 January 2013 by MCN

We’ve all done some tyre-kicking in our time – a wander around the local dealers just to see what’s there. Sometimes, though something will invariably catch you eye, and you’ll have to take a closer...

Would you consider using your bike to commute to work instead of taking the car / train / bus etc?

30 January 2013 by MCN

How do you make your way to work in the morning? In this weather, the train or bus is probably the most sensible answer at least – there’s a lot to be said for arriving at work warm and dry! Or do you...

Husqvarna being sold to KTM?

29 January 2013 by Andy Downes

High-placed motorcycle industry sources have tipped MCN off that BMW is negotiating the sale of Husqvarna to Austrian firm KTM with an announcement expected as early as the end of this week to...

New MCN Jan 30: World first BMW R1200GS test

29 January 2013 by MCN

In this week’s MCN, out January 30, we have a world-first test of BMW’s update to their best-in-class R1200GS. We test sub-47bhp bikes ideal for new riders, and we ride the ultimate Zed special with...

New BMW R1200GS on show in London

29 January 2013 by MCN

The Carole Nash MCN London motorcycle show is happening on February 15 to 17 at Excel in London’s Docklands; almost every new bike for 2013 will be there along with loads of other customs, classics...

Sports bikes to Africa

29 January 2013 by Michael Neeves

We all know that sportsbikes are so focused that you need a track to get the best out of them. But, as has always been the case, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them every day. The Ducati Panigale...

Bike holidays in jeopardy after adventure firm ceases trading

28 January 2013 by Steve Farrell

A motorcycle adventure firm has ceased trading days before customers were due to begin a two-week tour in Cambodia. Riders booked on the £3495 holiday were expecting to travel to Cambodia this...

Jan 30 Bikes on TV

28 January 2013 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...

Phil McCallen: 'The Britten was a dark horse'

26 January 2013 by Adam Child

Nick Jefferies was the fastest man around the TT course on a Britten in 1994 How did you come to race the Britten at the TT in 1994? I’d won the Formula One race in 1993 on the Honda RC30 and I knew...

S.M.I.D.S.Y

25 January 2013 by Karina

A very good friend of mine was killed on his motorcycle last year due to a van driver, using his mobile phone. The driver got 3 points and a fine, even though the investigation proved the guy was using his phone – so not driving with due care and attention. This by our very own laws is an offense! I have set up a petition that I hope with enough signatures can be presented to government for a...

New Aprilias on show at MCN London show

25 January 2013 by MCN

The Carole Nash MCN London motorcycle show is happening on February 15 to 17 at Excel in London’s Docklands; almost every new bike for 2013 will be there along with loads of other customs, classics...

'How I bagged a Britten'

25 January 2013 by Adam Child

Britten owner and dedicated biker, Kevin Grant, bought his first bike aged 15, then got into racing and collecting bikes. How did you come to own a Britten? I picked it up in 1996, or ’97, I think.

Jan 23: Bikes on the Box

24 January 2013 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...

TT Legends documentary set to debut on ITV

24 January 2013 by Simon Patterson

A new eight-part documentary series filmed during the Honda TT Legends’ 2012 road racing and World Endurance campaigns will debut on ITV4 in February. The behind the scenes documentary follows the...

MCN rides the Britten V1000

24 January 2013 by Adam Child

‘Outstanding’, ‘amazing’, and ‘work of art’ are all labels liberally applied to the exotic race bikes built by John Britten, but in reality the Britten deserves a unique accolade to celebrate its...

Video: Honda CB1100 first ride

23 January 2013 by Phil West

MCN Executive Editor Phil West traveled to Valencia in Spain last week to ride Honda’s completely new CB1100 retro roadster. Check out his opinions on Honda’s brand new link to the past!

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...