October

Wedding cake topper!

Kate and Ryan Rankin on their wedding day, 29 May 2010. The cake topper says it all and is a copy of Kate’s Suzuki GSX-R1000. Couldn’t have a green Kawasaki on top of a wedding cake now!

Heading home to Ireland

Heading home to Ireland

On the ferry after riding back from Oulton Park bsb. In the photo is Patrick and Mick, too shy for the photo were Phil Moriarty and John (Burnt Paws) Cashman.

20% of motorists tweet behind the wheel

20% of motorists tweet behind the wheel

One in five drivers text, tweet and check Facebook while driving, an RAC survey has claimed. A further 39 per cent of drivers admitted being distracted by calls, texts and social media website alerts...

2011 Triumph Speed Triple first ride: 'beautifully tractable'

2011 Triumph Speed Triple first ride: 'beautifully tractable'

MCN’s Chief Road Tester, Trevor Franklin has just had his first ride of Triumph’s new 2011 Speed Triple at it’s world launch at Ascari in Southern Spain, here’s what he has to say: “Triumph states its...

2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 first ride: 'the start of a new era'

2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 first ride: 'the start of a new era'

MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves is in Italy riding Aprilia’s new Dorsoduro 1200. This is what he has to say so far: “This isn’t just any big supermoto, it marks the start of a new era for the...

Rizla Suzuki Kettle 2011 race team

Rizla Suzuki Kettle 2011 race team

The Kettle Club will have its usual high standard of bikes on display at the Classic Bike show this weekend at Stafford. Launching its 2011 Calendar it will have two stunning Kettles that have just...

2011 Triumph Speed Triple: countdown to first ride

2011 Triumph Speed Triple: countdown to first ride

Triumph’s all-new 2011 Speed Triple will be ridden for the first time by MCN tomorrow (Wednesday) and Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin has just arrived at the Ascari circuit in southern Spain. He...

Ducati Diavel - first official pic

Ducati Diavel - first official pic

This is the first official picture of Ducati’s eagerly-awaited power cruiser – the Diavel. Due to be officially unveiled at next month’s Milan Show, this picture, leaked on the factory’s Facebook...

Report every road defect

Up ‘ere in the southern Shire of York, the roads are getting so bad that I’ve turned to reporting every ‘kin pothole, crack or fault in as many roads as I can. T’other day my 17 year old Daughter (whom I introduced to bikes earlier this year) was travelling on a few of the roads. As a learner she was being careful – the roads were wet and it was slippy out there. On one of the local residential...

Bikes on TV: October 13-19

Bikes on TV: October 13-19

KEY TO CHANNELS:   DRT – Discovery Real Time  SHED – Discovery Shed DSC – Discovery Channel  DHD – Discovery Channel HD EXS – Extreme Sports Channel EUR1 (2, HD) – Eurosport 1 (2, HD)  MOT – Motors...

New MCN October 13: New bike special

New MCN October 13: New bike special

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale October 13, we have all the news on every new bike revealed at the Cologne Motorcycle Show last week. Plus, Jorge Lorenzo wins the MotoGP title, but is MotoGP...

Illegally parked CCTV Smart car

Illegally parked CCTV Smart car

After reading the recent article about the CCTV Smart cars in London, I noticed this one parked (illegally, according to the signage about parking) just off Holloway Road in Islington district, and...

2011 Triumph Speed Triple: your questions answered

2011 Triumph Speed Triple: your questions answered

The world launch of Triumph’s 2011 Speed Triple takes place in southern Spain this week and Motorcycle News will be there to send back web reports as the launch unfolds. The full story of how the new...

Six-year-old rider becomes “Crusty Demon”

Six-year-old rider becomes “Crusty Demon”

A 6-year-old boy has become a professional stunt rider, after being signed by daredevil team the “Crusty Demons”. Jasyn Roney, from Western Australia, will be performing 15m jumps on his his KTM50 as...

2011 Kawasaki Z1000 video

Following last month’s pulsating Kawasaki Z750R preview, Kawasaki have released the following footage of the 2011 Kawasaki Z1000. Apparently written by a 13-year-old Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, and shot on a camera phone, it may struggle to strike a chord with the Zed’s target audience. Still, if clichéd cod-poetry and barely glimpsed shots of motorcycles are your thing, you’re in luck.

Ride Spain with Spyder Club

Ride Spain with Spyder Club

Want to ride Spain on an MV Agusta F4 1000, an BMW S1000RR or a Ducati Streetfighter S? How about all three? Following the success of this year’s scheme, motorcycle rental group Spyder Club are taking...

Me, my niece and MCN

Me, my niece and MCN

I went to Ibiza for a week on October 2, making sure not to read my issue of MCN until I arrived. This is me and my niece, with my two nephews running for the sea in the background.

Start 'em young!

Start 'em young!

Corey Lee aged 12 months. The hand belongs to his Grandad, who featured in ‘Just Champion MCN’ by Norri Wyhte in 1977

Cologne Bike Show: ZX-10R Video

Cologne Bike Show: ZX-10R Video

The 2011 ZX-10R is all-new, with power boosted to an estimated 185bhp, weight down 10kg to 198k. Will this be enough to beat the S1000RR?

'Bonkers' road safety measure

'Bonkers' road safety measure

Highway chiefs have been criticised by a police accident investigator for erecting wooden screens to stop motorcyclists seeing traffic as they approach a roundabout. The screens are in the middle of...

DVLA apologises

DVLA apologises

The DVLA has apologised and renewed a commitment to send motorcyclists their old licences back after failures were exposed by MCN. The promise to return old licences was made last year after hundreds...

Exclusive look at Spyke's 2011 range

Exclusive look at Spyke's 2011 range

Take a look at this video for a sneak peak at Spyke’s 2011 range of motorcycle kit. You may have to put up with some models prancing about, but it’ll give you an idea of what to expect from the...

Leon Haslam at Brands Hatch

Leon Haslam at Brands Hatch

Alstare fan Danny Gladman with Leon Haslam at Brands Hatch BSB.

Staff bikes: Kawasaki GPz550 – A gut-wrenching tale

Staff bikes: Kawasaki GPz550 – A gut-wrenching tale

Every Sunday afternoon I try to restore my ‘bargain’ GPz550 to somewhere near acceptable condition. And on Sunday evenings I ask the internet how to undo whatever new damage I’ve caused. My latest...

2005 Rocket AKA Spike

2005 Rocket AKA Spike

2005 Rocket This is Spike.

New book tell history of Husqvarna

New book tell history of Husqvarna

‘Husqvarna Succes’, published next month is said to be the first history of the iconic brand. It’s written by by one of the Swedes who contributed to its American success in the desert and in the...

New Merino baselayers from EDZ

New Merino baselayers from EDZ

If you’ve never tried Merino wool you’re missing out. Apart from being snug and warm it’s very absorbent and naturally resistant to odours. EDZ’s latest base layer has flat seams, offers a cosy fit,...

Autumn danger for young riders

Autumn danger for young riders

Autumn is the most dangerous time of year for teenage moped riders, according the Institute of Advanced Motorists. The IAM said casualties of young riders rose as many started college or a job after...

Video: First appearance of Triumph Daytona 675R?

Video: First appearance of Triumph Daytona 675R?

Triumph has released a video showing their latest Triumph bikes that could show the new Daytona 675R. The video parades the 2011 model line-up including Speed Triple, America, Speedmaster and...

Braided brake lines from R&G Racing

Braided brake lines from R&G Racing

R&G Racing is now offering a full range of motorcycle braided brake lines. Save cash on motorcycle products Only available in black, single front kits and rear lines start at £29 with twin-line...

Cologne Bike Show: New Schuberth SR1 sports helmet

Cologne Bike Show: New Schuberth SR1 sports helmet

Schuberth has launched its new SR1 supersport helmet at this week’s Cologne show. It’s due in shops next spring. Save £££s on motorcycle helmets Here’s what Schuberth say about it: “As in the...

New open-face Arai helmets

New open-face Arai helmets

As well as the new Chaser V, Arai have today launched a new open-face helmet range, designed to offer more protection, more comfort, and a better fit without detracting from the benefits of an...

Finished Ducati Diavel spotted

Finished Ducati Diavel spotted

This picture leaked onto an Italian website shows Ducati’s eagerly-awaited ‘power cruiser’, the Diavel, in what looks like finished production trim, complete with black/red paintjob, mirrors and...

New Arai 'Chaser V' launched today

New Arai 'Chaser V' launched today

Arai launches its 2011 range at the Cologne show today, and as well as the mouthwatering carbon RX-7 RC and entry-level Axces that we’ve already shown you in recent months, there is a new mid-price...

Video: New Triumph Speed Triple and Triumph Tiger 800 in action

Video: New Triumph Speed Triple and Triumph Tiger 800 in action

Triumph has released a new promo video for its 2011 range, with the Speed Triple and Tiger 800 making extended appearances. The lush, shiny HD clip is dripping with reflective visors, slow-mo...

Cologne Bike Show: 2011 VFR and CBF colours

Cologne Bike Show: 2011 VFR and CBF colours

Not to be left out, Honda‘s sports tourers are to be lacquered up in a new paint job each for 2011. The VFR1200F ABS will come in a new black metallic / silver metallic scheme, while the CBF1000F ABS...