Bike news

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

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

“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?

Staff blog: Is the Judge worthy of a nod?

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

Staff Blog: Nailing The Basics

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

Ducati names new boss

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!

MCN Live kicks off tomorrow!

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

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

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

Long Way Round now on MCN TV

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

MCN isn't just for humans

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!

Two days to go until MCN Live!

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

Yamaha X-Max 400 due next month

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

Longterm Harley-Davidson Street Bob arrives

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

Living with the BMW F800GT

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?

Are you interested by the TT Zero electric race?

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?

Classic sixes – which would you rather have?

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?

Would you ever buy a Bimota?

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

You Ask/You Answer: Preparing for my first trackday

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

Zippydodah - zip pull replacement

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...

New MCN April 17: Why 600s are back

New MCN April 17: Why 600s are back

In this week’s MCN, out April 17, we take the top of the class supersport screamers to Italy for a road and track test with world champion Neil Hodgson We talk exclusively to Brit Chaz Davies as he...

Video: Shark Helmets Extreme Experiment

Video: Shark Helmets Extreme Experiment

Shark helmets have unveiled a new video to show the claimed energy-absorbing properties of their new Speed-R and Race-R Pro Carbon helmets. Recreating a Netwon’s Cradle device experiment (designed to...

Ducati boss to leave?

Ducati boss to leave?

Rumours from Italy suggest Ducati CEO Gabriele del Torchio is set to leave the company to take up the helm at Italian airline Alitalia after more than five years at the Bologna bike firm. Italian...

Modern retro

Modern retro

I’ve spent hours drooling over the bikes crafted by Sanctuary and Bulldock in Japan and longed to recreate something similar. You have to remember though, that these guys are quite well established...

Comedy acts return to MCN Live for 2013!

Comedy acts return to MCN Live for 2013!

Back by popular demand – comedy acts Scott Miller and Terry Gauci at MCN Live 2013! Terry has entertained audiences with his fast-paced show packed with one-liners, observations and impressions. Add...

New supermoto Honda CRF250 coming to UK

New supermoto Honda CRF250 coming to UK

Honda has confirmed that its new CRF250M, a supermoto-style bike based on the popular CRF250L trail machine, will go on sale in the UK later this year.   As with the L, the newcomer is powered by a...

Video: Adventure Bikes 2013 - Off Road

Video: Adventure Bikes 2013 - Off Road

MCN took the top dog of adventure bikes, the BMW R1200GS to South Wales to test it against Yamaha’s stalwart Super Tenere, last year’s winner the Triumph Explorer, and KTM’s new pretender the 1190...

Swansea Harley-Davidson launches this weekend

Swansea Harley-Davidson launches this weekend

The valleys are alive with the sound of Harleys, thanks to a brand new dealership. Hog fans in Wales can look forward to an exciting start to the summer as the country welcomes its first ever Harley...

It’s not too late to book for MCN Live!

It’s not too late to book for MCN Live!

Not yet booked for MCN Live at Butlins, Skegness, 19th-22nd April? Don’t worry, it’s not too late! Day tickets are still available to purchase on the day so don’t miss out on the ultimate party...

More acts announced for MCN Live

More acts announced for MCN Live

Check out the latest acts added to this year’s MCN Live line-up: Souled Out What started out as a soul band has now moved to a larger range of music to cater for all tastes and ages. Today’s set list...

Designer Terblanche joins Confederate

Designer Terblanche joins Confederate

Famous motorcycle designer Pierre Terblanche has joined American bike firm Confederate in a three-year contract and he has already moved from Italy to America. Terblanche is best-known for his work...

New MCN Sport on sale now!

New MCN Sport on sale now!

The latest edition of MCN Sport – in print and on the iPad – is out now. Essential reading for fans of bike racing everywhere ahead of the 2013 season, it’s packed with the finest writing and...

MV Agusta Rivale spied testing

MV Agusta Rivale spied testing

MV’s new 800cc inline three-cylinder Rivale has been spied testing on the roads around the Varese factory as the Italian firm gears up to launch the bike later this year. Two versions of the new 800cc...

Which reigning champion would you most like to see roughing it out racing the Isle of Man?

Which reigning champion would you most like to see roughing it out racing the Isle of Man?

Many short circuit racers nowadays don’t bother with the Isle of Man TT or road racing. But which of the current reigning champions frm BSB, WSB and MotoGP would you like to see tackle the mountain...

What's the ugliest bike ever built?

What's the ugliest bike ever built?

Among the masses of brilliant and beautiful bikes available there are also some real monstrosities. Below we’ve managed to come up with what we think are some of the ugliest bikes ever built. Which do...

Video: Adventure Bikes 2013 group test

Video: Adventure Bikes 2013 group test

MCN took the top dog of adventure bikes, the BMW R1200GS to South Wales to test it against Yamaha’s stalwart Super Tenere, last year’s winner the Triumph Explorer, and KTM’s new pretender the 1190...

You Ask/You Answer: Selling my first bike

You Ask/You Answer: Selling my first bike

“I’m selling my CBR125R, and will be stepping up to one of the new CBR500Rs, and obviously need as much money as possible from the sale of my 125. It’s the first vehicle I’ve ever owned and sold, and...

New MCN April 10: Adventure bike shootout

New MCN April 10: Adventure bike shootout

In this week’s MCN, out April 10, we pit the top four big adventure bikes against each other in the Brecon Beacons. The new BMW R1200GS and KTM 1190 Adventure both promise to offer more than their...

HMC Classic first ride

HMC Classic first ride

Now here’s a seemingly good idea: one so simple and obvious you wonder why no-one’s thought of it before. Your average Chinese learner 125 is, shall we say, a tad basic and budget, right? Invariably...