April | Page 14

Staff Blog: A glimpse of Spring…at last

25 April 2013 by Andy Downes

There are now more than 2000 miles on the clock of the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring and until last week it felt like every single one of them had been done with teeth gritted against the harsh...

Staff Blog: The long way home

25 April 2013 by Tony Hoare

“The ride to work is going to be a blast on the nimble triple – and the ride home again is going to be even better. Dear A1, you’ll not be seeing much of me.” The grey and red Triumph Street Triple R...

Focused Events unveil 'uncrashable' BMW F800

25 April 2013 by MCN

Trackday specialists Focused Events have unveiled a very special trackday instruction BMW F800, complete with outriggers! The new ‘Cornering Techniques System’ bike will be used as part of their...

Picture gallery: 250cc trailies to Slovakia and back

25 April 2013 by Andy Davidson

The trusty 250cc trailie obediently sat at motorcycling’s side for years. Ready, resilient, hard-wearing and undemanding, willing to shepherd new riders into the fold or accompany the experienced on...

Adventurers unite at HUBB UK

25 April 2013 by Andy Davidson

Overlanders website Horizons Unlimited are once again hosting the UK’s premier travel event, the HUBB UK. In its 13th year the popular gathering will take place from May 30 to June 2 at the Donington...

Donington Park WSB deal for MCN readers!

25 April 2013 by MCN

Donington Park is offering MCN readers a red hot deal on 2013 WSB tickets. Order your weekend or Sunday, May 26 tickets online using the offer code MCNDP13 and you’ll get £10 off each ticket...

Warning of motorcycle insurance creeping clauses

24 April 2013 by Gareth Nightingale

This is a warning to all motorcycle riders to check their insurance terms carefully. I have been riding and insuring motorcycles for some 35 years now and have always been able to declare the bike as garaged. In the beginning this meant a simple decrease in premium, they trusted you to be sensible and put it in the garage most of the time. A few years ago a clause was introduced that this...

Video: Ducati Panigale 1199R First Ride

24 April 2013 by MCN

Last month MCN travelled to Austin, Texas, for our first ride of Ducati’s new 1199R, their ultimate superbike. Check out what road tester Michael Neeves thought of the bike around MotoGP’s newest...

Staff Blog: Are Harley's cool?

24 April 2013 by Ped Baker

A couple of years ago I asked an MCN work experience girl what she thought of motorcyclists. I was hoping she’d use words like ‘cool’, ‘exciting’, perhaps even ‘sexy’ but instead she said, “They’re...

Nominate the best place to live!

24 April 2013 by Steve Farrell

MCN wants your nominations for the best place in the UK for motorcyclists to live. We’ll use your answers in a forthcoming feature. We’re interested in places with access to great roads, bike...

Staff Blog: Bird Strikes

24 April 2013 by Tim Thompson

I’m developing a theory, or at least something more substantial than a random thought, that birds have it in for my Suzuki GSX-R750. Pigeons definitely don’t like it. Each morning they wait in...

Honda VFR owners needed

23 April 2013 by MCN

MCN is looking for Honda VFR owners for an upcoming feature! We need VFR750, VFR800Fi and VFR800 V-TEC owners. Just fill out the questionnaire below and email it with a head and shoulder photograph of...

Staff Blog: Taking charge of my Yamaha Fazer 8

23 April 2013 by Alison Silcox

Today’s the day my riding year really gets under-way; I’m taking charge of my new Yamaha Fazer 8 long termer this afternoon. After a weekend of bikes and beer at MCN Live at Butlins SkegVegas and the...

April 24 - May 7 Bikes on the Box

23 April 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...

Triumph TT600 and Daytona owners needed!

23 April 2013 by MCN

MCN is looking for Triumph Daytona and TT owners for an upcoming feature! We need Triumph TT600, Daytona 600 or 650, and Daytona 675 owners. Just fill out the questionnaire below and email it with a...

New MCN April 24: World's Fastest Adventure

23 April 2013 by MCN

In this week’s MCN, out April 24th, we test the ultimate fast adventure bikes on the Isle of Man TT course We have a Texas GP special on Marc Marquez – MotoGP’s youngest ever winner Also this week:...

How often do you clean your motorcycle?

22 April 2013 by MCN

How often do you clean your motorcycle? pollcomment

Would you answer a call while riding?

22 April 2013 by MCN

Bluetooth headsets for motorcycles are quick and easy to fit and use, many with voice activation as standard. But would you answer a call whilst riding? pollcomment

How do you react to being asked to remove your helmet at a petrol station?

22 April 2013 by MCN

It’s cold, fingers are numb, the sun is setting and there’s still twenty frosty miles left before the warmth of home. But first it’s time for petrol: pull up at the station, unhook the nozzle and the...

You Ask/You Answer: Should I carry a pillion?

22 April 2013 by MCN

“I passed my direct access two months ago and have been riding every day since. I am confident commuting to work and riding on local roads but I am worried about taking a pillion. “I have been able to...

Staff blog: Is the Judge worthy of a nod?

22 April 2013 by Liam Marsden

Riding back from MCN Live at Butlins Skegness at the weekend was the first weekend with good weather and plenty of bikes on the fantastic roads of the Lincolnshire Wolds. On previous long term bikes...

Staff Blog: Nailing The Basics

22 April 2013 by Steve Hunt

With the sun threatening to finally breakthrough and bring back some semblance of normality to the spring climate, now is the time that most riders come out of their enforced hibernation and return to...

Ducati names new boss

18 April 2013 by Nathan Bellows

Ducati’s CEO Gabrielle Del Torchio is being replaced by Claudio Domenicali, it has been announced. Rumours emerged earlier this week suggesting Del Torchio was set to leave the firm. These were...

MCN Live kicks off tomorrow!

18 April 2013 by MCN

MCNLive! kicks off its party weekend tomorrow. Hopefully you’ve packed your fancy dress for Saturday night’s competition, we can’t wait to see this year’s entries! Still not booked? What are you...

Suzuki Test Ride Events coming to Plymouth, Doncaster and Bristol this weekend

18 April 2013 by Nathan Bellows

Eleven of Suzuki’s wide range of motorcycles will be available to test ride this weekend at three dealerships across the country. The models available for riding are: • GSXR1300R ABS Hayabusa...

Long Way Round now on MCN TV

18 April 2013 by MCN

Long Way Round, the first adventure series from Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman which started the adventure bike craze proper is now available on MCN TV. In 2004 McGregor and Boorman embarked on an...

MCN isn't just for humans

17 April 2013 by Nicola

Just wanted to share a picture of our 6-year-old beagle Bramble. It’s not just the humans that love reading MCN every week.

Two days to go until MCN Live!

17 April 2013 by MCN

Weekend tickets are still available to purchase but don’t worry if you can’t make the whole weekend, you can still come for the day. From amazing stunt shows to learning how to ride a trials bike to...

Yamaha X-Max 400 due next month

17 April 2013 by Nathan Bellows

Yamaha has revealed details of its new X-Max 400 scoot, which will be going on sale in the UK at the end of May. Key features of the new model, which is based on the current X-Max 250, are a 400cc...

Longterm Harley-Davidson Street Bob arrives

17 April 2013 by Ped Baker

My longterm Harley-Davidson Street Bob Dark Custom has turned up this morning. No camp metal flake, trinkets or radio here! Old Skool chopper styling looks ace but it could do with some louder pipes...

Living with the BMW F800GT

17 April 2013 by Steve Hunt

After a month of ownership and a few emails and messages coming in from people who’ve read my longterm reports in the MCN paper I thought it would be a good start to this blog if I responded to these...

Are you interested by the TT Zero electric race?

17 April 2013 by MCN

Whether you like it or not, electric bikes will be part of the future of motorcycling and they’re alreadyheld a couple of electric races at the TT. But is anyone bothered about the one lap electric...

Classic sixes – which would you rather have?

17 April 2013 by MCN

Inline sixes sound amazing and produce their power in an addictive way, but sadly there are few about. Which of the classic sixes would you rather have? pollcomment

Would you ever buy a Bimota?

17 April 2013 by MCN

Bimotas are some of the most exotic, expensive motorcycles you can buy today. Is the exclusivety of the brand enough to tempt you to buy one? pollcomment

You Ask/You Answer: Preparing for my first trackday

17 April 2013 by MCN

I’ve just booked my first trackday, which will be at Brands Hatch in May, and I’m a healthy mix of excited and bricking it. What prep should I do to my bike, and myself, to make sure I get the most...

Zippydodah - zip pull replacement

16 April 2013 by David Hodson

Fed up with zip pulls breaking on my gear and, at the time, not finding anything on the web I decided to create my own replacement zip pull. I spent a couple of years over this perfecting the design...