2016
Road racing comes to Coventry this weekend
03 June 2016 by
The two-day free-to-enter festival will see bikes and cars take over the city centre, with part of the ring road closed to normal traffic and turned into a temporary circuit where bikes like Michael...
The great summer ride guide – (Part 2/4)
03 June 2016 by
Unbelievable roads and destinations to escape to now Welcome to part two of MCN’s holiday special, your guide to escaping to the finest tarmac in Britain and Europe and coming home sated for another...
Fan pays ultimate tribute to Valentino Rossi
02 June 2016 by
We think we may have found something more thrilling than watching Valentino Rossi at the Catalunya Grand Prix. MCN reader John Collinson has shared his topairy Rossi tribute, which took several years...
Bradley Smith to ride YZR-500 two-stroke GP bike
02 June 2016 by
MotoGP rider Bradley Smith will trade his 250bhp four-stroke racing bike for a screaming 500cc two-stroke GP ROC Yamaha YZR-500 at this year’s Bikers’ Classic at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps track...
Event: Going straight at Shakespeare County Raceway
02 June 2016 by
Event: Public track weekend, Shakespeare County Raceway, Strafford-upon-Avon, CV37 8LL Date: June 11-12 Leave the traffic light GP behind and come and test your metal at one of the UK’s best-loved...
Honda to recall airbag Gold Wings in US
02 June 2016 by
Honda may be recalling Honda Gold Wing models fitted with airbags as part of a massive global recall of vehicles to replace potentially dangerous Takata airbags. The Gold Wing was available with an...
When Bike Swaps Go Bad. No 7: Mike Hailwood
02 June 2016 by
1965 MV Agusta to 1966 Honda RC181 ike Hailwood quit MV as triple 500 champion at the end of 1965 and won titles in 1966 on his return to Honda… but only in the 250 and 350 classes. Maybe it’s not...
The great summer ride guide – (Part 1/4)
02 June 2016 by
Unbelievable roads and destinations to escape to now Welcome to part one of MCN’s holiday special, your guide to escaping to the finest tarmac in Britain and Europe and coming home sated for another...
Kawasaki reveal ‘Final Edition’ W800
01 June 2016 by
Fifty years since the Kawasaki W-series was first launched the firm has announced that it will be sent out of production with a special ‘Final Edition’ model to mark the end of an era. The W800 Final...
How does Triumph’s Brilliant Thruxton R compare to the original?
01 June 2016 by
The first Thruxtons came out in the late 50s and carried on for 10 to 12 years. They started life as standard Bonneville T120s, fettled by the Triumph factory. Related: Full 2016 Triumph Thruxton R...
Victory reveals changes to Project 156 for Pikes Peak 2016 race
01 June 2016 by
American company Victory will be competing at the famous Pikes Peak International Hillclimb (PPIHC) event with both petrol and electric-powered motorcycles for 2016 and now MCN has been given...
World GP bike legends ride again
01 June 2016 by
Some of Grand Prix’s greatest legends will descend on the Sachsenring circuit in Germany on June 10-12 for the World GP Bike Legends festival. Fans will be treated to qualifying and two races,...
Norton on a mission at the TT
01 June 2016 by
Norton’s factory race team are hoping for a change of fortunes at this year’s Isle of Man TT after a breakthrough with electronics saw the British firm take a huge step forward with their V4 race...
Street Triple 765 at large
01 June 2016 by
After months of hiding in a tree, one of MCN’s spy photographers has finally managed to grab a series of decent images of the all-new Triumph Street Triple 765 as it was undergoes final road...
Wrenchmonkees XSR900 'Monkeebeast' breaks cover
31 May 2016 by
Danish house of custom loveliness, Wrenchmonkees, have long been involved with Yamaha’s extensive Yard Built activities, and their Copenhagen workshop has just opened its doors to reveal this, the...
Buy a Shark – and you could meet Lorenzo
31 May 2016 by
SHARK Helmets have launched a UK-wide promotion for one lucky Race-R PRO Lorenzo Replica owner to meet the man himself at the OCTO British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The prize draw winner will receive...
Whatever happened to Transatlantic racing?
31 May 2016 by
UK v US grudge matches starring Sheene, Roberts, Schwantz… very season between 1971 and 1991 a race series pitted a team of American riders against a team of Brits over several rounds at British...
When Bike Swaps Go Bad. No 6: Freddie Spencer
31 May 2016 by
1983 Honda NS500 to 1984 Honda NSR500 reddie Spencer’s nightmare came not from a change of make but of model, from nimble three-cylinder NS500 to the cumbersome V4 NSR. The NS was torquey and...
New MCN June 1: Massive TT special
31 May 2016 by
In this week’s edition of MCN, available in newsagents, on iPad and Android from June 1: Street Triple 765 New Norton TT racer Africa Twin v F800GS v Tiger Donington WSB RCV hits the TT New Pirellis...
When the Suzuki MotoGP bike hit 201mph at the TT
30 May 2016 by
It was meant to be an historic but undramatic ride, a demonstration lap showing off the first ever MotoGP bike on the Isle of Man. Instead, the Suzuki GSV-R’s 2010 parade lap left spectators, racers,...
Video: Suzuki GSX-S1000 and Triumph Speed Triple wheelies
30 May 2016 by
Ever wondered how and where we take our legal wheelie shots? We take a sneaky look behind the scenes during a recent photoshoot. The two bikes in question are Suzuki’s GSX-S1000 and Triumph’s new...
World first test: SWM RS650R
29 May 2016 by
Instead, serious round-the-world riders are using smaller-capacity singles including favourites such as the ancient-but-capable Suzuki DRZ400, Yamaha XT660 or the current KTM 690 Enduro...
Triumph Thruxton R v Norton Dominator SS
29 May 2016 by
We’ve been in love with the Thruxton since it’s launch but how does it compare against that other great British icon, the Norton… They might both be the best of British but the Triumph and Norton...
Gallery: Bike Shed London 2016
28 May 2016 by
The Bike Shed crew have pulled out all the stops for their 2016 London show. 150 of the finest custom machines you’ll see anywhere just ten minutes walk from Tower bridge. Here’s some of our favourite...
'I crashed at 180mph' Loris Baz tells his story
28 May 2016 by
Like Nakano, Crutchlow and Marquez before him, Loris Baz has survived a stupendous getoff. This is his story ot many people have crashed a motorbike at speeds approaching 200mph. Even fewer can say...
Harlow Council’s ‘biker injunction’ faux pas
28 May 2016 by
An Essex town’s council have caused an internet furore over the past week by issuing an injunction that stops groups of motorcyclists gathering there – and they have no one to blame for the ensuing...
New Harley-Davidson XG750R flat-tracker revealed
27 May 2016 by
A new-generation Harley-Davidson flat-tracker has just been unveiled ahead of its racing debut – and it looks absolutely stunning. The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team is unleashing the...
Video: Guy Martin prepares for cross channel flight
27 May 2016 by
Guy Martin may be missing this year’s TT but he’s still riding high as he prepares for another mad record attempt as part of his forthcoming Speed TV series. Martin was spotted earlier this week...
Bike Shed London 2016 kicks off this weekend
27 May 2016 by
Bike Shed London 2016 isn’t your usual custom bike event. In just short three years it’s managed to cement itself as the coolest bike show this side of the Atlantic. With a mix of art, music, food,...
Awesome t-shirt ideas wanted
27 May 2016 by
Are you a fan of your one-liners, a poet and you know it or just a dab hand at drawing? We need you! MCN are on the lookout for some awesome new designs to feature on t-shirts, hoodies and mugs on our...
BMW's Villa d'Este track record
27 May 2016 by
BMW’s stunning supercharged R5 hommage revealed last week is just the latest in a line of stunning concept bikes revealed at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shore of Lake Como, most of...
£10million dealer development for Glasgow
26 May 2016 by
Ducati Glasgow, Triumph Glasgow and West Coast Harley-Davidson will be moving into two new £10million showrooms in 2017 with building work about to begin in Glasgow. The two brand-new and...
When Bike Swaps Go Bad. No 5: Barry Sheene
26 May 2016 by
1979 Suzuki RG500 to 1980 Yamaha TZ500G arry was champion in 1976 and 1977 on a Suzuki. Then Roberts turned up and beat him on a Yamaha. The atmosphere soured, then big-time Barry played hardball in...
Meet two future GP champions (maybe)
25 May 2016 by
Fancy a long-term bet on a future MotoGP winner? You could do worse than dropping a fiver on Nicolò Bulega or Kyle Ryde, two young guns with serious corner men… Nicolò Bulega If you happen to catch a...
Victory Octane in dealers now
25 May 2016 by
Victory’s new Octane cruiser is now available in dealers with a UK tour planned to show off the rest of the Victory range too. The Victory Octane was launched last year as the start of a lot of work...