April

2010 Aprilia Shiver 750 - first ride

2010 Aprilia Shiver 750 - first ride

Aprilia’s updated 2010 Shiver is currently being tested by MCN’s Adam Child on the amazing Route Napoleon in the south of France. This is what he has to say… 2010 Aprilia Shiver 750 – tech specs...

257bhp Icon Sheene: it runs!

257bhp Icon Sheene: it runs!

MCN tested the Icon Motorcycles’ £107,000 Barry Sheene tribute bike at Silverstone this week with the world exclusive first test in next week’s paper. The Sheene Icon is an extraordinary machine but...

MCN celebrates 20 years of Triumph

MCN celebrates 20 years of Triumph

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the debut of the first new Hinckley Triumphs. At the Cologne Show way back in 1990, John Bloor’s all-new Triumph concern unveiled its first new bikes – the...

£20,000 James Dean tribute Harley Fat Boy

£20,000 James Dean tribute Harley Fat Boy

If you have enough money, you can have anything you want. If the object of your desires is a custom Harley styled like the Porsche Spyder that killed James Dean, star of iconic movie ‘Rebel Without a...

“Thousands could be riding ringers”

“Thousands could be riding ringers”

Thousands of motorcyclists who bought nearly-new sports bikes from main dealers could be unwittingly riding bodged-together stolen machines, according to police. Thieves are part-exchanging “ringers”...

Triumph Thunderbird gets hot-rodded

Triumph Thunderbird gets hot-rodded

In standard trim the Triumph Thunderbird has a grunty 1597cc parallel twin-cylinder engine, beautiful steering and solid stability. Next week in MCN we reveal a Thunderbird that’s like that, but more...

Transport Minister: ‘I’m not encouraging motorcycling’

Transport Minister: ‘I’m not encouraging motorcycling’

Transport Minister Paul Clark has refused to say he thinks motorcycling is something to be encouraged, but says riders should not reject Labour. Asked if he thought biking should be encouraged, he...

New accessories for new XT1200Z Super Tenere released by Yamaha

New accessories for new XT1200Z Super Tenere released by Yamaha

Yamaha has released prices and details of accessories for the new XT1200Z Super Tenere ahead of the launch next week. Save cash on motorcycle products The new Super Tenere adventure bike comes...

Jamie Dobb to contest Scottish Six Day Trial

Jamie Dobb to contest Scottish Six Day Trial

Former world motocross champion Jamie Dobb is to compete in the Scottish Six Day Trial next week to raise money for a cancer charity. Dobb will compete in the famous event with long-time friend John...

First Love

The road drops behind me as I open the throttle and feel the weight of my bike surging away from the intersection, a light crosswind snaps against into my slipstream as I slide through the shady lanes and over the hill I see the twisting roads of Hampshire open up before me. A pale sunlight warms the light chill in the mid-April air as I slip the clutch and downshift to roll over a hill and into a...

Donington Park race track re-opening plans

Donington Park race track re-opening plans

Owners of Donington Park have just sent out this statement claiming the track will reopen for racing in August this year. The track has been closed after a disastrous effort to move the Formula One...

New Frank Thomas range in this week's MCN

New Frank Thomas range in this week's MCN

There’s a sizeable range of new kit from British firm Frank Thomas this year, and this week’s MCN shows you the highlights. Save cash on motorcycle clothing Here at MCN we’re stuck on the affordable...

New TomTom Urban Rider satnav announced

New TomTom Urban Rider satnav announced

TomTom’s latest motorcycle satnav is claimed to be “glove-friendly, have an intuitive screen and simplified user interface”. Save cash on motorcycle satnavs The simple menu has just two buttons ­-...

New Blaster jacket from Spyke

New Blaster jacket from Spyke

The new Spyke Blaster jacket has evolved from the firm’s one-piece suit of the same name. Save cash on motorcycle jackets It made from cowhide, and features CE-approved shoulder and elbow armour,...

Battle of the Brands - Arizona Mile May 1st

Battle of the Brands - Arizona Mile May 1st

No less than eight different brands of twin cylinder motorcycle will be competing in this weekends Grand National Championship Flat track race at the Yavapai Downs in Prescott, Arizona. Run on a...

Video: Ducati Multistrada 1200 v KTM SMT v BMW GS v Tiger 1050

Video: Ducati Multistrada 1200 v KTM SMT v BMW GS v Tiger 1050

Ducati’s new top-of-the-range adventure bike has four different riding modes – but can it beat its three best rivals in each of those applications? Read the 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200...

Ducati Multistrada 1200S: Used alternatives under £4k

Ducati Multistrada 1200S: Used alternatives under £4k

The new Ducati Multistrada 1200S looks set to redifine the adventure bike market with its four switchable modes (sport, touring, urban and enduro), which adjust power delivery, suspension and traction...

80mpg and 140bhp from new concept hybrid

80mpg and 140bhp from new concept hybrid

This new concept bike by Russian Igor Chack, 26, is the latest in a line of innovative ideas based on hybrid power – where electric motors are used alongside petrol engines. The Izh-1 was inspired by...

Where to watch at Silverstone

Where to watch at Silverstone

MCN’s Senior Road Tester has just returned from riding the full circuit at Silverstone and came back raving about the freshly revamped Northamptonshire track. He said: “The best seats in the house for...

'Distressed' Harley Road King Custom

'Distressed' Harley Road King Custom

Distressing chrome and paintwork has been popular in the custom car world for some time but this is the first time we’ve seen it applied to a Bagger Harley. Chris from Fox Custom Paint and Ric Greene...

My first sportsbike

My first sportsbike

Having taken my test at the ripe old age of 42, I played safe and rode a brand new Suzuki Bandit 650SA. Having mastered the basics of riding a bike I then wanted a bit more power and moved up to the...

Getting hitched at Gretna Green with MCN

Getting hitched at Gretna Green with MCN

Here’s a pic of me and my lovely wife having a quick read of MCN after riding through to Gretna Green and getting hitched in our leathers!

2010 Aprilia Shiver 750 - tech specs revealed

2010 Aprilia Shiver 750 - tech specs revealed

Aprilia has revealed full tech specs for the 2010 Shiver 750 which is set to cost £6,199 when it goes on sale in May. Find an Aprilia Shiver 750 for sale As MCN’s story back in November revealed,...

Video: 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 longterm review

Video: 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 longterm review

MCN’s longterm test fleet for 2010 includes the Kawasaki Z1000. MCN road tester Michael Neeves has had the bike for a month and covered 600 miles so far. Read the Kawasaki Z1000 review Find a...

Free Rukka kit with new Yamahas

Free Rukka kit with new Yamahas

Infinity Motorcycles are giving away a Rukka Armax suit worth over £1500 with every new Yamaha FJR1300A purchased from them. Save £££s on motorcycle clothing Fully CE-approved and with a 5-year...

Five Desmosedici RRs up for grabs on MCN Bikemart

Five Desmosedici RRs up for grabs on MCN Bikemart

A mouth-watering FIVE examples of Ducati’s fabulously exotic, ultra-exclusive Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica are for sale in MCN Bikemart this week. The V4 machines, which are faithful, road-going,...

New MCN April 28: Brits rule the world

New MCN April 28: Brits rule the world

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale April 28, we test the new Ducati Multistrada against the BMW R1200GS, KTM 990 SMT and Triumph Tiger. Police: ‘1000s of bikers are riding death trap ringers.’ The...

Michael Rutter at Riders, Bridgwater

Michael Rutter at Riders, Bridgwater

My Granddaughter Alysia Ellis meeting Michael Rutter at Riders in Bridgwater at a recent open day.

New Yoshimura exhaust for KTM Superduke

New Yoshimura exhaust for KTM Superduke

Yoshimura’s new twin RS-3C slip-ons are the first exhaust to come out of the legendary tuning firm for a KTM road bike. Improvement in power over stock is claimed to be 2.52bhp (up to 109.85bhp from...

Ducati is only bike firm at Beijing show

Ducati is only bike firm at Beijing show

Ducati is the only motorcycle firm to have been given space at the Beijing exhibition, adding to the manufacturer’s interest in the Chinese market. The Beijing automotive show is very car-dedicated...

Exhausts and pressure gauges to be won with Michelin

Exhausts and pressure gauges to be won with Michelin

Michelin is offering the chance to win a digital pressure gauge and an Akrapovic exhaust if you buy a pair of Michelin Power Pure motorcycle tyres. Save cash on motorcycle tyres Motorcyclists buying...

Staff bikes: BMW R1200RT - Marseille, Bologna and Skegness and 2500 miles in five days

Staff bikes: BMW R1200RT - Marseille, Bologna and Skegness and 2500 miles in five days

It’s the words you learn to dread while working at MCN – “Can I borrow your bike please?” In this case there was no way out. MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin needed to get to Marseille in the...

Confederate Satan's Whiff 66

Confederate Satan's Whiff 66

This is a proposal for Confederate Satan’s Whiff 66, which I have designed.

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSX-R600 - First impressions

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSX-R600 - First impressions

My gleaming new GSX-R600 turned up at the office at 2.50pm on Friday and by 3 I was on the way up to Skegness for the MCN Live! weekend.  I’d volunteered to help marshall the MCN ride out on Saturday...

‘Ringers’ in dealers’ showrooms

‘Ringers’ in dealers’ showrooms

Hundreds of dealers are unwittingly accepting stolen bikes in part-exchange for new machines, police say. The dealers, including franchises for major manufacturers, have become so keen to secure...

The £800,000 speed camera cock-up

The £800,000 speed camera cock-up

High-tech new speed cameras on one of the country’s most popular bike routes are useless due to an apparent oversight. The new cameras are aimed at catching motorcyclists on the A537 Cat and Fiddle...