October

Generation Next

04 November 2015 by Michael Guy

Electric trials bikes are the TY80s of the digital age – but how easy is it to get your kids on two wheels? aving spent most of my adult life juggling work and family commitments in order to make more...

Picture story: Meet a real Jack Sparrow

01 November 2015 by Classic Bike magazine

It’s 1954 and Shrewsbury bike shop manager JJI Sparrow is returning from the Isle of Man where he’s just finished 16th in the Lightweight (250) TT. In the rain-affected race he averaged 66.83mph. The...

Foggy reunited with his first bike

31 October 2015 by Richard Newland

Carl Fogarty’s first bike, given to him on his 10th birthday in 1975, was presented to him again today – a full 40 years later – having been completely restored by the National Motorcycle Museum. A...

Tyre tech talk: Sticky when wet

31 October 2015 by RiDE magazine

Rain is a constant threat in the real world. Not a problem if you’ve chosen the right rubber. Michelin experts Tony Charlton and Daley Mathison reveal all… he stickiest sportsbike tyres in every...

MCN Sport Classic race team: It all started so well

31 October 2015 by MCN

When you race 44 year-old motorbikes, you accept that disaster will be gnawing at your ankle. You just hope it doesn’t try and eat your entire leg here’s an old saying: don’t try and teach a pig to...

Have a blast at MCN Live!

31 October 2015 by MCN News

Sign up for next year’s MCN Live! event at Butlins and you could find yourself riding a stunning classic, motocross or adventure bike – and all at no extra charge. We’ve teamed up with the National...

WK release Café Racer 125

30 October 2015 by James Archibald

As part of their plan to diversify and expand their range, WK Bikes have released a new retro-themed 125, aptly named the Café Racer 125. Powered by a simple 124cc motor that produces 7.9kw @...

Online Rossi petition goes mad

30 October 2015 by James Archibald

An online petition in response to the incident at the Malaysian MotoGP that saw Valentino Rossi penalised for his riding antics is gathering a huge amount of support, with over half a million people...

Yamaha’s robot rider (no, not Lorenzo)

28 October 2015 by James Archibald

Yamaha have revealed MOTOBOT Ver. 1 – alongside a host of concept vehicles – at the Tokyo Motor Show. MOTOBOT is a robot that can ride an unmodified bike all on its own. Rumours that it will soon...

Yamaha debut MT-09 trike

28 October 2015 by James Archibald

Just when you thought there were no more potential variants for the MT-09 family, Yamaha go and roll out a three-wheeled version at the Tokyo Motor Show. Dubbed with the catchy moniker ‘LMW-MWT-9’,...

Yamaha go electric in Tokyo

28 October 2015 by James Archibald

Yamaha have lifted the covers on their latest PES2 and PED2 electric concepts at the Tokyo show, two bikes that could be introduced into the Yamaha line-up in the very near future. The PES2 and PED2...

Yamaha target the next generation with Resonator 125 concept

28 October 2015 by James Archibald

Yamaha have unveiled a new 125cc concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, aimed at appealing to younger, more fashion conscious, riders. The Resonator 125 marries Yamaha’s motorcycling and musical influences,...

The Buyer: ‘Ask yourself why a bike is listed as rare?’

28 October 2015 by MCN

‘Rare bike’ it says in the advert. You read on, and if you’re like me you start chortling. here are rare bikes and there are rare bikes, and the one thing that counts is why they’re rare. Some are...

Project Bol d'Or Part 6: Run to the sun

28 October 2015 by MCN

It always felt like a fantasy; trying to revive MCN’s long-neglected and badly battered Paso 750 to go head-to-head against a superbly tidy K1 on an aspirational 1700-mile run to the Bol d’Or. The...

BMW C650 Sport and C650 GT first ride

28 October 2015 by Liam Marsden

BMW have updated their C650 Sport and C650 GT maxi-scooters for 2016 with styling changes alongside suspension and clutch revisions in an attempt to differentiate the two models. In the flesh the...

All-new Triumph Thruxtons revealed

28 October 2015 by Andy Downes

Triumph have finally unveiled their all-new 1199cc Triumph Thruxton and Thruxton R, the range-topping duo that herald the arrival of a completely new collection of five Bonnevilles. Starting from the...

Classic or crusher? Yamaha YZF-R7 OW02

27 October 2015 by MCN

Quite possibly the most beautiful homologation special ever, 1999’s YZF-R7 signifies everything that was glamorous about the 750cc superbike era. When it came to the R7, Yamaha gave its designers a...

Video: MV Agusta F4 RC & F43 800 RC onboard

27 October 2015 by MCN News

MCN Road testers Michael Neeves and Adam Child have been in Italy this week riding MV Agusta’s F4 RC and F3 800 RC around the Tazio Nuvolari circuit south of Milan. While there, they shot some onboard...

Motorcycle Live plays host to stars of racing

27 October 2015 by MCN News

Motorcycle Live is one of the best places in the UK to meet some of the world’s best racers away from the pressures of the paddock, and this year’s show is no exception. There will be a daily...

Ducati tease small Scrambler

27 October 2015 by Andy Downes

Ducati have already officially confirmed to MCN that the Scrambler will be joined by new models, but it now appears this will be a smaller-capacity version, not the larger version initially...

Project Bol d'Or Part 5: Back on Cours

27 October 2015 by MCN

To Magny-Cours? ith MCN’s dilapidated Ducati Paso 750 hammering a nail into its own coffin by dint of a fork that sounded like a slide hammer, it never even made it to the start line for its planned...

New MCN October 28: Has he lost it?

27 October 2015 by Simon Patterson

In this week’s edition of MCN, available in newsagents, on iPad and Android from October 28: Rossi’s tenth title in doubt after massive Marquez clash Guy Martin: ‘There’s more to life than racing...

'We're back' – Kevin Ash reports on the return of the British superbike, at the launch of the T595 Daytona

26 October 2015 by Kevin Ash

March 1997, Alicante, Spain: Triumph is at the biggest gaming table of its (second) life. And it’s just cast the dice in the shape of the bike they benchmarked on the FireBlade and the 916. Please god...

Poll: Can Rossi pull the championship victory from the jaws of defeat at Valencia?

26 October 2015 by MCN News

Can Rossi pull the championship victory from the jaws of defeat at Valencia?

Poll: Rossi or Marquez; who was most at fault?

26 October 2015 by MCN News

Rossi and Marquez were, at best, silly boys in Sepang – each looking guilty of some errors in judgement. But at whose feet do you lay the most blame?

Project Bol d'Or Part 4: It’s a bit of a Bols-up

26 October 2015 by MCN

There are few things more ignominious than a very public failure, but there’s no hiding the fact that MCN’s much-neglected Ducati Paso has fallen at the last hurdle, leaving it stranded without a...

El Solitario’s not afraid of the ‘Big Bad Wolf’

26 October 2015 by James Archibald

Spanish bike builder David Borras, best known for his custom bike outfit ‘El Solitario’, has built this fascinating XJR1300 as part of Yamaha’s ‘Yard Built’ series. Named the ‘Big Bad Wolf’, this XJR...

Picture story: Before Ducatis were fast

25 October 2015 by Classic Bike magazine

Here’s a trio of pocket-size Ducatis that promises to challenge your preconceptions about this storied Italian marque, currently enjoyiing its most successful year in the UK ever. Petite, sweet and...

Poll: Do you ride in the Winter months?

23 October 2015 by MCN News

The nights are (sadly) drawing in and winter is looming. Do you ride and what do you do with your bike?

Honda reveals updated NC750X and VFR1200X Crosstourer for 2016

23 October 2015 by Andy Downes

Honda has revealed a raft of substantial changes to the 2016 NC750X and CB500X ahead of the official launch of the bikes at the Tokyo show next week. The firm has also revealed minor updates to the...

MCN Awards 2015: Machine of the year

23 October 2015 by MCN Staff

With so many brilliant and groundbreaking machines being unleashed in 2015, choosing a bike of the year was always going to be tough. Motorbikes don’t get as big, bad or as bold as the Kawasaki Ninja...

Project Bol d'Or part 3: Insane Bol-der-dash

23 October 2015 by MCN

It’s now or never as our eclectic 90s sportsbikes head south for Europe’s biggest biking party Rich’s Paso – Odds 8/1 The Rider: Richard Newland, Deputy Editor The Bike: 1991 Ducati Paso 750 ...

FREE National Motorcycle Museum open day

22 October 2015 by MCN News

The National Motorcycle Museum are throwing open the doors to their phenomneal collection on Saturday 31 October for their second annual FREE open day. All visitors will be able to view the Museum...

World and British champions headline host of racers at Motorcycle Live

22 October 2015 by MCN News

Motorcycle Live is one of the best places in the UK to meet some of the country’s – and world’s – leading racers away from the pressures of the paddock, all under one roof, and this year’s show is no...

MCN Awards 2015: Best Sportsbike (Unlimited)

22 October 2015 by MCN Staff

With so many brilliant sportsbikes released this year, we were spoiled for choice when it came to making a decision about our sportsbike of the year. The new R1 though was outstanding in every...

Project Bol d'Or Part 2: Bold steps

22 October 2015 by MCN

With only a week to go until Europe’s biggest biking party, we couldn’t help but think – will it start without us? Rich’s Paso – Odds 6/1 The Rider: Richard Newland, Deputy Editor The Bike: 1991...