May

Pictures of supercharged Bimota emerge

15 May 2013 by MCN

These are the first pictures to emerge of Bimota’s upcoming supercharged DB11 VLX, under development, taken by a factory insider. The completed machine is expected to go on sale early next year. The...

Enfield opens new factory

15 May 2013 by MCN

Another sign of the huge growth of motorcycling in India and Asia came this week with Royal Enfield opening an all-new plant and revealing plans to produce up to 250,000 motorcycles a year –more than...

MCN exclusive competition: Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Festival of 1000 Bikes

15 May 2013 by MCN

The Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Festival of 1000 bikes is kicking of its return to Mallory Park on July 12-14 with a spectacular MCN competition. One lucky reader will be in with a chance of meeting...

Manx bus drivers to strike during TT

15 May 2013 by MCN

Isle of Man bus drivers are planning to strike during the TT fortnight. Strike days will be announced seven days in advance and timed to cause maximum disruption, according to Unite the Union. Bobby...

Track day gift vouchers could be worthless after firm’s collapse

15 May 2013 by Steve Farrell

There may be no end in sight to the economic gloom but at least we can escape for a few hours on a track. As long as it’s not with the firm Easytrack. Gift vouchers for track days with the firm are...

Explorers love a hug

15 May 2013 by Tony Hoare

Bodywork specialist Skidmarx has developed and released a hugger for Triumph’s Tiger Explorer XC, designed to keep crud off the rear shock. Triumph don’t make a hugger for the bike, either as original...

The rules to being fast and smooth on track

15 May 2013 by MCN

Watching professional racers glide around a track with incredible grace and finesse can leave even the quickest of us in awe. Riding on track is a beautiful thing, but when it comes to our turn, it...

Ultimate Superbikes 3rd place: Aprilia RSV4 Factory

15 May 2013 by Michael Neeves

Lap time: 1:49.8 Top speed at end of straight: 164.4mph Max braking (g): 1.38 Max lean: 48.2 Why it’s so special The 1199R and HP4 may be the latest and greatest superbikes to arrive, but neither can...

2013 AMD Freestyle Champion Rondine up close

14 May 2013 by Ped Baker

Irish custom bike builders Medaza Cycles took top honours last weekend at the AMD World Custom Bike Building Championships in Germany with this stunning Guzzi powered creation called Rondine. Based...

Ducati ST owners needed

14 May 2013 by MCN

MCN is looking for Ducati ST owners for an upcoming feature! We need Ducati ST2, ST3 and ST4/ST4S owners Just fill out the questionnaire below and email it with a head and shoulder photograph of...

New MCN May 15: Best bikes for £5k

14 May 2013 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s MCN, out May 15, we have the ultimate used guide to the best bikes available for under £5000. We also test the new adventure-styled Honda CB500X. Also this week: New high-powered...

Worst biking fashion mistake?

14 May 2013 by MCN

There are plenty of questionable biking fashions, but which is the worst?

Staff blog: Blinded by handlebar muffs

14 May 2013 by Steve Farrell

In this week’s paper I report how the heated grips on the Suzuki Burgman 650 could be warmer. Just about every journalist on the launch in Scotland seemed to agree on the point. Some said they seemed...

The new Indian Chief has been announced. Tempted?

14 May 2013 by MCN

Indian released a teaser image of their new Chief yesterday, ahead of the full unveiling in August.

You Ask/You Answer: How can I improve acceleration?

14 May 2013 by MCN

“I’d like a bit more acceleration from my Honda CB1000R – and I’m not really bothered about top speed (so long as it’ll still cruise at 90mph). What’s the best way to change the gearing – bigger rear...

Ultimate Superbikes 4th place: MV Agusta F4RR

14 May 2013 by Michael Neeves

Lap time: 1:53.86 Top speed at end of straight: 163.6mph Max braking (g): 1.19 Max lean: 41.62 Why it’s so special MV Agusta F4s are the ultimate poster bikes. The iconic Massimo Tamburini-designed...

All-new Indian Chief comes out of the shadows

13 May 2013 by Phil West

This is the first look at the all-new, eagerly awaited Indian Chief, as developed by Victory owners Polaris and set, MCN can reveal, to be publicly unveiled at Sturgis this August. The silhouette...

Irish Guzzi takes top honours at AMD World Custom Bike Championships

13 May 2013 by Ped Baker

122 of the world’s finest custom bikes were on display last weekend as the 10th annual AMD World Custom Bike Championships kicked off in Essen, Germany. 23 countries were represented in the five...

Staff Blog: Let the journey begin!

13 May 2013 by Ian Jubb

My week of riding has begun, destination Northern Italy. Sitting in the sunshine at Folkstone waiting for my slot on the Chunnel makes me realise what biking is all about. This years seemly endless...

Mock KKK lynching in front of motorcycle club’s crest

13 May 2013 by MCN staff

Police have arrested a man over pictures of a mock Ku Klux Klan lynching in front of a motorcycle club’s crest. The photographs were taken at a neo-Nazi music gig after a so-called ‘white pride’...

Yamaha planning 'crossplane' dynasty

13 May 2013 by MCN

As well as its promised ‘crossplane’ three-cylinder engine Yamaha is preparing a -parallel-twin and further variations on the R1’s four-cylinder crossplane motor to create an entire family of...

The ultimate superbike test

13 May 2013 by Michael Neeves

These are ‘Top Trump’ superbikes – the kind of machines you’ll probably only ever see in pictures and rarely in the flesh. The new Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC, BMW HP4 Carbon, Ducati 1199R Panigale and...

Staff Blog: Filthy Street

13 May 2013 by Tony Hoare

I’d forgotten how dirty a minimalistic bike like the Street Triple R can get. I was caught out in a rain storm yesterday and within half an hour the Triumph looked like it had been taken down a farm...

Staff Blog: What is it with this blinking weather?

13 May 2013 by Alison Silcox

Not sure what it is with the local councils, they must have come into money, three of the roads I used have been re-surfaced and are covered in chippings. A bugger to ride over and getting peppered by...

MotoGP on UK TV... Will you be able to watch it?

10 May 2013 by Steve Hunt

After BT Sport announced that they have secured the TV rights to MotoGP from 2014, we wanted to work out just how easy it will be to watch first class motorcycle racing here in the UK. As you can see,...

Ace 1200CR Street Special ridden

10 May 2013 by MCN

It’s a café racer, the acceptable face of Harley Sportster ownership, a two-wheeled AC Cobra and an exclusive limited edition. It’s also a celebration of 75 years of Britain’s most famous transport...

Calls for tougher enforcement as minister warns of £90 fine for driving on the phone

10 May 2013 by Steve Farrell

Plans to increase fines for using a phone while driving need to be backed up by tougher enforcement, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists. Fixed penalty fines for a variety of motoring...

BMW's anniversary special: The NineT

10 May 2013 by MCN

BMW’s soon-to-be-launched R1200-based café racer – designed to celebrate 90 years since the firm launched its first bike – will be called the NineT. It’s been months since BMW revealed its plans to...

Staff Blog: Prepping for Italian adventure

09 May 2013 by Andy Downes

In just a few days I am heading to Italy on the Multistrada 1200 S Touring and I am getting the final bits sorted. I’ve done loads of European riding in the past and I much prefer to get all of my...

Great service

09 May 2013 by Paul Dolby

I just wanted to say what fantastic service I received when I bought my BMW K1300S from Williams BMW in Manchester. Their salesman (Dave Barrowcliffe) was extremely helpful getting panniers and decals fitted on the Friday morning so I could make the ferry that same night for Assen WSB. Very friendly and with a ‘can’t do enough for you’ attitude, this dealership is one of the best I’ve ever bought...

KTM confirms electric scooter for 2015 release

09 May 2013 by MCN

KTM has confirmed that its cheeky electric E-SPEED concept scooter, which was shown at the Tokyo show, will be joining the range line-up as a 2015 model. Harald Plöckinger, KTM Executive Board Member...

122mph speeder jailed after forum boasts

09 May 2013 by Steve Farrell

A motorcyclist has been jailed for eight months after boasting on a forum about lying to police over a speeding offence. Andrew Kelly, 37, was filmed speeding at 122mph by a speed camera van but told...

You Ask/You Answer: Have the prison sentences handed out for speeding slowed you down?

08 May 2013 by MCN

“This is not a question about whether the punishment fits the crime, my personal view is ‘no way’, it’s what the thought of jail has done to my behaviour. “I’ve enjoyed powerful bikes for a good many years now and over that time I, like many riders, have had points for speeding. “I’ve deserved those points and will hold my hands up to admit my guilt, but the recent prison sentences have really...

Pictures of supercharged Bimota emerge

Enfield opens new factory

MCN exclusive competition: Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Festival of 1000 Bikes

Manx bus drivers to strike during TT

Track day gift vouchers could be worthless after firm’s collapse

Explorers love a hug

The rules to being fast and smooth on track

Ultimate Superbikes 3rd place: Aprilia RSV4 Factory

2013 AMD Freestyle Champion Rondine up close

Ducati ST owners needed

New MCN May 15: Best bikes for £5k

Worst biking fashion mistake?

Staff blog: Blinded by handlebar muffs

The new Indian Chief has been announced. Tempted?

You Ask/You Answer: How can I improve acceleration?

Ultimate Superbikes 4th place: MV Agusta F4RR

All-new Indian Chief comes out of the shadows

Irish Guzzi takes top honours at AMD World Custom Bike Championships

Staff Blog: Let the journey begin!

Mock KKK lynching in front of motorcycle club’s crest

Yamaha planning 'crossplane' dynasty

The ultimate superbike test

Staff Blog: Filthy Street

Staff Blog: What is it with this blinking weather?

MotoGP on UK TV... Will you be able to watch it?

Ace 1200CR Street Special ridden

Calls for tougher enforcement as minister warns of £90 fine for driving on the phone

BMW's anniversary special: The NineT

Staff Blog: Prepping for Italian adventure

Great service

KTM confirms electric scooter for 2015 release

122mph speeder jailed after forum boasts

You Ask/You Answer: Have the prison sentences handed out for speeding slowed you down?

Staff Blog: Daily smiles from CBR500R

Is MotoGP's move to BT a good idea?

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service offer free Biker Down courses