Bike news

DAS at Circuit Based Training Ltd

17 October 2012 by Rich B

Mallory Park Circuit Based Training has to be the place to go in the UK if you have never ridden a motorcycle before or want to take a Direct Access course. Many courses are available. I have seen people pass in only 3, 4 and 5 days without a problem. What if you are unsure of your own ability to follow an intensive course? Well if like me you’re unsure and have some issues, a personal structured...

2013 Kawasaki ZX-6R on the road: "Softer and much more compliant"

17 October 2012 by MCN

MCN Senior Road tester Adam Child is currently putting Kawasaki’s new ZX-6R 636 through its paces in California. Yesterday he was on track, today he’s in the mountains of northern California. Here are...

17 October 2012 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...

2013 Kawasaki ZX-6R first ride: "More torque, but still plenty of top end"

16 October 2012 by MCN

MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child is currently in Chico, California, at Thunderhill Race Park putting Kawasaki’s new 636cc ZX-6R through its paces around the demanding track. For 2013 Kawasaki has...

Video: 2013 Yamaha FJR1300 first ride

16 October 2012 by MCN

Yamaha’s FJR1300 has been around since 2001 and aside from a few updates along the way, it hasn’t really changed. On paper, it looks like the new 2013 FJR1300 is the more of the same, bar some nips,...

New MCN October 17: Shakey wins BSB title

16 October 2012 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s MCN, out October 17, we have all the news and analysis from a thrilling weekend of British Superbike racing which saw Shane Byrne win all three races and secure his third BSB...

Oxford HOC raise money for NABB

16 October 2012 by Stritchy

Twenty-four brave and hardy bikers faced fog and frosty roads to take part in the Oxford HOC End-of-Season Charity Poker Run in aid of the National Association of Blood Bikes on Sunday. A great time...

MCN IAM Better Riding Guide: A planned system of riding

15 October 2012 by Stefan Bartlett

Approaching riding in a planned way will quickly help you to improve your motorcycling skills. It will help you spot hazards earlier and plan your progress in an efficient way. Hazards you may...

Terry Shepherd (1931 – 2012)

15 October 2012 by Andy Davidson

Former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and legendary two-stroke engine tuner, Terry Shepherd passed away on October 5 2012, after a battle with cancer. He started racing Norton motorcycles in the...

Chinese Kawasaki-alike 250 for £2000

13 October 2012 by Steve Farrell

An Italian-designed 250 expected to cost around £2000 has been unveiled as a concept at the Chinese motorcycle show. The single-cylinder Kawasaki Z-esque KP250 could go into production within months.

New Loncin uses BMW G650GS engine

13 October 2012 by Steve Farrell

A road bike using the same engine as BMW’s G650GS has been unveiled at the Chinese motorcycle show. Chinese firm Loncin, which makes the single-cylinder 650 engine for BMW under licence, is using it...

Less than 30 left: Moto Guzzi Daytona RS 1000

12 October 2012 by MCN

The Moto Guzzi Daytona was always the pure, no messing race replica in the range, whether in 1000cc form, or the with the later 1100 motor. Fuelling problems slightly marred the performance, but...

Sons of Anarchy season four DVD launch at Ace Cafe

12 October 2012 by Liam Marsden

The Ace Cafe plays host to the launch party for Sons of Anarchy season four on DVD tonight, Friday October 12. Visitors will be able to grab some Sons of Anarchy goodies in the raffle, watch bonus...

Destination dealer: Metropolis Motorcycles

12 October 2012 by MCN

ADVERTISING PROMOTION Metropolis Motorcycles has three branches located in London, each with their own areas of specialism to cater for the city biker’s every need. The North London branch, located...

Öhlins invest in British Racing

11 October 2012 by Richard Newland

Öhlins Racing UK has launched a reward scheme with a difference to help support British Superbike championship riders. British Supersport and Superstock riders who choose Öhlins products for the 2013...

MCN Shop deal of the week: Oxford Bone Dry suit

10 October 2012 by MCN

The Oxford Products Bone Dry one piece waterproof suit is the perfect suit for the unpredictable British weather thanks to full waterproofing and the ability to quickly and easily pack up in to a...

BMW HP4 available from 1 December 2012

10 October 2012 by Andy Davidson

BMW has revealed the prices of the new HP4 and HP4 Carbon which will go on sale from December 1, 2012. The 193bhp standard 2013 HP4 is priced at £16,700 OTR while the Carbon version will cost £19,350...

Poll: What do you want from the RCV road bike?

10 October 2012 by MCN

Tetsuo Suzuki, the boss of HRC wants to hear from MCN readers about what they want the promised V4 1000cc RCV road bike to be like, and how much they think it should cost. One of the internal debates...

Oct 10: Bikes on the Box

10 October 2012 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...

Win a place on Troy Corser's off-road masterclass course

09 October 2012 by Andy Downes

MCN has teamed-up with double World Superbike champion Troy Corser to offer a place on his ‘Masterclass’ course at the Wheeldon Off Road centre in Devon; a three-day course with accommodation that...

New MCN October 10: Japan's back!

09 October 2012 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s MCN, out October 10, we have all the analysis from the Cologne Show, as Japanese manufacturers look to take the fight to the Europeans. Yamaha unveiled a three-cylinder engine which the...

You ask/you answer: Are newer bikes better?

08 October 2012 by MCN

“I’ve got £2,500 cash in the bank with which to buy myself a new (to me) bike, and I can’t decide what to get. “I’m currently own a rough ZXR400 L3 – my first post-test bike – and I’m looking to get a...

Poll: Are electric bikes the future?

08 October 2012 by MCN

Electric bikes are slowly but surely catching up to traditional motorcycles, with electric bike manufacturer Brammo claiming their Empulse makes 54bhp and has a range of up to 120 miles. With...

Poll: Should full riding kit be a legal requirement?

08 October 2012 by MCN

Helmets are currently the only item of protective clothing which must be worn while riding a motorcycle in the UK, although in some places around the globe no protective clothing is required. Is a...

Video: 2012 Cologne Show highlights

08 October 2012 by MCN

Cologne 2012 saw a raft of new bikes unveiled such as the all-new and eagerly-awaited BMW R1200GS, an updated Triumph Street Triple, Suzuki V-Strom 1000 concept and retro Honda CB1100. Also revealed...

Destination dealer: GT Motorcycles

05 October 2012 by MCN

Business partners Mike Grainger and Steve Haith opened GT just six months ago. Occupying two large modern showrooms in Plymouth and open seven days a week this popular dealership has quickly become...

Crosstourer too sporty for pillion insurance says Aviva

04 October 2012 by Steve Farrell

The UK’s biggest insurer is refusing cover for Honda Crosstourers unless riders agree to never carry a pillion. Aviva says the VFR1200X is a sports bike and on a list of machines the firm will not...

Video: 2013 Ducati Multistrada first ride

04 October 2012 by MCN

It might look barely changed but the 2013 Multistrada gets revised fuel injection, improved torque, cosmetic tweaks, new lights, advanced ABS and DTC and the new ‘Skyhook’ semi-active suspension...

MCN deal of the week: £200 off AGV GP Tech faces helmet

03 October 2012 by MCN

The AGV GP Tech is the same helmet worn by AGV’s top riders in MotoGP and WSB. The GP Tech is made from super-light carbon kevlar and features Cool Max lining to keep your head cool. This week we’ve...

Rate the new bikes from the Cologne Show

03 October 2012 by Liam Marsden

The major new bike announcements from the 2012 Cologne Show have all been made, with the all-new BMW R1200GS topping the bill. As well as the new GS, there was a new Street Triple and Street Triple R,...

Ducati Launch 1199 Panigale RS13 at Cologne

03 October 2012 by Richard Newland

This is the stunning new 1199 Panigale RS13, a race-ready customer version of the 1199 Panigale, which is eligible for most domestic and world superbike series. The Ducati Corse prepared machine is...

Oct 3: Bikes on TV

03 October 2012 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...

Unnecessary instruction?

02 October 2012 by applestead

I wanted to take my full bike test, but felt I didn’t need to pay to use a riding school. So my journey began with me booking my theory test. I logged on to direct.gov.uk to book which was really simple and I was pleased to find that the longest I had to wait was about four days. On September 11 I managed to ace the motorcycle theory test. I put this down to a copy of the Driving Test Success CD...

Suzuki V-Strom 1000 concept revealed

02 October 2012 by Andy Downes

Suzuki has unveiled the V-Strom 1000 concept today, the near production ready bike is still being called a concept but looks like it could go into production within a year. Suzuki has officially...

Aprilia RSV4 gets ABS for 2013

02 October 2012 by Liam Marsden

The Aprilia RSV4 APRC will get ABS for 2013 as well as a power and torque boost, as was revealed today at the Cologne Show. The 2013 RSV4 will be the most powerful to date, with a claimed power output...

Honda Dakar contender revealed

02 October 2012 by MCN

This is Honda’s all-new CRF450 Rally Paris-Dakar desert racer as officially unveiled at the Cologne Show. Based on Honda’s current CRF450X enduro and developed in conjunction with HRC, the Honda...