Bike news

Destination dealer: Drayton Croft

Destination dealer: Drayton Croft

ADVERTISING PROMOTION Drayton Croft has been established for over 35 years and are proud to present their newly revamped website which means you now have access to a vast range of new and pre-loved...

MV Agusta Brutale 800 first ride: "Instant grunt in any gear"

MV Agusta Brutale 800 first ride: "Instant grunt in any gear"

MV Agusta’s new Brutale 800 is currently being put through its paces by MCN’s Andy Downes in the south of France. These are his first riding impressions: “I’ve been riding it for about an hour and...

MV Agusta Brutale 800 launch

MV Agusta Brutale 800 launch

MCN is at the press launch of the new MV Agusta Brutale 800 in Cannes this morning. MCN’s Andy Downes is just about to set off on a three hour test ride on the roads of the South of France and will...

You Ask/You Answer: Cheap winter riding kit

You Ask/You Answer: Cheap winter riding kit

I can’t afford super-expensive winter riding kit, but my cheap all-weather gear leaves me soaked to my pants if I ride for more than 30 minutes in the rain. I can’t afford new kit, so what works for...

Poll: What is most likely to make you speed less often?

Poll: What is most likely to make you speed less often?

Recently the Department of Transport are introducing more and more speed awareness courses as an alternative to the traditional points and a fine for drivers caught over the limit. But the...

Poll: The toughest motorcycle race on earth is...

Poll: The toughest motorcycle race on earth is...

Six laps of a 37.73 mile circuit at speeds approaching 200mph? A 5000 mile marathon over rock, sand and every other surface imaginable? 24 hours of flat out neck and neck racing on a GP circuit? A one...

Poll: Would you buy winter tyres?

Poll: Would you buy winter tyres?

In this week’s MCN, we look at the debate around riding all through the winter, and talk to people who ride 365 in much worse weather than the UK. One of the people we talk to is a Swedish bike...

New MCN November 28: Triumph Trio Spied

New MCN November 28: Triumph Trio Spied

In this week’s MCN, out November 29, we bring you exclusive shots of three brand new Triumphs, including a new Bonneville-based cafe racer and the long-awaited replacement for the Tiger 1050. We also...

Vespa announce 'retro-futurist' 946

Vespa announce 'retro-futurist' 946

Italian scooter legends Piaggio have unveiled their latest offering from Vespa – the rather beautiful special edition 946, in both 125cc and 150cc versions The bike will use the firm’s three-valve...

Manx Motorcycle Club announces Past Winners Parade

Manx Motorcycle Club announces Past Winners Parade

The Manx Motorcycle Club will hold a past winners parade as part of the celebration’s for the Manx Grand Prix 90th anniversary. The parade will take place over the mountain course on August 28 during...

BMW custom concept confirmed for 2013 launch

BMW custom concept confirmed for 2013 launch

BMW have confirmed at the Milan Show that their new rumoured ‘custom concept’ will be making it’s debut in 2013. The bike, based on a R1200, wasn’t on display at the show, but a statement by BMW boss...

Winter bolt-ons for Honda NC700

Winter bolt-ons for Honda NC700

Pyramid Plastics have just announced three new products to protect the Honda NC700 range from road muck over the grimier months. Firstly, the plastic Integra Hugger is said to require no drilling and...

Destination dealer: Metropolis Motorcycles

Destination dealer: Metropolis Motorcycles

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

Bike journo caught at 160mph was ‘euphoric’ after proposing to girlfriend

Bike journo caught at 160mph was ‘euphoric’ after proposing to girlfriend

A motorcycle journalist caught speeding at 160mph has been banned for three months after telling a court his girlfriend had just agreed to marry him.  Andrew Stevens, 30, who writes for a website,...

Big bikes escape EU anti-tampering measures

Big bikes escape EU anti-tampering measures

Motorcycles producing over 47bhp have escaped EU plans to make bikes impossible for owners to modify.  European Parliament has voted in favour of limiting so-called anti-tampering measures to smaller...

Video: MCN rides the Wall of death

I wouldn’t usually spend much time thinking about the word ‘hurt’. But I did recently give it some consideration after receiving an email warning: ‘There is a very good chance you will get hurt.’ Actually the word and its definition became a matter for urgent consideration. And I considered that it embraced anything from a scratch to a maiming. I didn’t know whether the email sender, a Wall of...

Poll: Yellow Hayabusa, yuk or yeah?

Poll: Yellow Hayabusa, yuk or yeah?

Suzuki have released photos of this rather bright colourscheme for the new Hayabusa out next year, which will be on display at their stand at Motorcycle Live. They’ve hinted that if they get enough...

Wigan bikers urged to give blood

Wigan bikers urged to give blood

A special bikers blood drive is being organised next week in Wigan in memory of local teenager Leah Davies, who died in a three bike accident that killed another 18-year old earlier this year. The...

BSA Lightning transformation

BSA Lightning transformation

This is a 1970 BSA Lightning I bought from MCN Bikes for sale two years ago. The pictures show how it looked when I bought it and how it looks now.

Rieju announce learner streetfighters

Rieju announce learner streetfighters

Spanish manufacturer Rieju have announced details of their new RS3 NKD, a naked version of their popular 125cc learner sports bike the RS3. The bike will share the 125cc Yamaha engine of the RS3 and...

New MCN November 21: Rossi's return

New MCN November 21: Rossi's return

In this week’s MCN, out November 21, we bring you all the news and gossip from Valentino Rossi’s return to the factory Yamaha squad at the Valencia test.. We also bring you all the information on the...

Last-minute changes to bike test rules

Last-minute changes to bike test rules

Wranglings over what motorcycles can be used under new bike test rules are continuing with only weeks to go before the January introduction date. In August the Driving Standards Agency said the test...

Speed awareness course could mean higher insurance costs

Speed awareness course could mean higher insurance costs

Taking a speed awareness course could lead to increased insurance premiums. Admiral is raising premiums of people who attend the courses, which are offered instead of a fine and licence penalty...

You Ask/You Answer: Italian Reliability

You Ask/You Answer: Italian Reliability

“Has the quality of Italian motorcycles really matched the Japanese and Germans now? I’d love something with a bit more character than my Hornet 900, but don’t want to have to employ someone to ride...

Poll: Retro roadsters

Poll: Retro roadsters

Many manufacturers are getting into the retro market, with BMW launching ther entrant into the field this week. But retro styling isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Are you a committed fan, or would you...

Poll: Your favourite winter accessory

Poll: Your favourite winter accessory

With winter well and truly here, all the talk at MCN HQ recently has been on the winter commute, and how to make it a little more bearable. There’s every accessory going being used, from heated...

Poll: What do you think of 'biking celebrities'?

Poll: What do you think of 'biking celebrities'?

This week saw yet another a-list celebrity take to two wheels, with shots from the States showing Justin Bieber cruising around Los Angeles on his new customised 848 Ducati. Bieber joins the ranks of...

Honda donate 'Skyfall' bike to Children in Need

Honda donate 'Skyfall' bike to Children in Need

Honda have donated one of the Honda CRF250s ridden by Daniel Craig in the new 007 film ‘Skyfall.’ The battered crosser is on eBay until Thursday the 22nd, with massive interest already. Honda, a...

Destination dealer: Doble Motorcycles

Destination dealer: Doble Motorcycles

ADVERTISING PROMOTION Now is a great time to buy a bike at Doble Motorcycles with some of the best prices you’re likely to find anywhere in the country on some of the hottest bikes available. Take the...

Steve McQueen's 1970 Husqvarna up for auction

Steve McQueen's 1970 Husqvarna up for auction

The Husqvarna 400 Cross ridden by Steve McQueen in ‘On Any Sunday’ will be auctioned off by London-based Bonhams in Las Vegas in January. McQueen became associated with the Swedish brand in the early...

Suzuki GS750 cafe racer

Suzuki GS750 cafe racer

In july 2011 I purchased a 1977 Suzuki GS750. Since then I have transformed the bike into a cafe racer. The engine is stock (65,000km). I made my own exhaust, seat, brackets, did all the welding jobs,...

Video: KTM 1290 Superduke at the Milan Show

Video: KTM 1290 Superduke at the Milan Show

KTM has unveiled a prototype Superduke 1290 at the EICMA Show in Milan. KTM also released a video showing the new bike in action, which can be viewed at the bottom of this page. milan12

BBC presenters lecture on road safety while not looking at the road

BBC presenters lecture on road safety while not looking at the road

A BBC road safety series has been criticised for having its presenters drive while looking at the camera in an episode focussing on distraction.  The AA accused BBC2’s How Safe are Britain’s Roads?...

Nov 14: Bikes on TV

Nov 14: Bikes on TV

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...

You Ask/You Answer: Winter Cleaning?

You Ask/You Answer: Winter Cleaning?

“My friend runs an old ‘winter bike’ and garages his prized R1 during the cold months as he says the salt etc. damages his bike too much. I want to ride all through winter, but don’t have enough...

POLL: Why did you buy an adventure bike… really?

POLL: Why did you buy an adventure bike… really?

This year’s Milan show has seen the release of a wide selection of adventure bikes, either updated or all-new models, from BMW, KTM, Aprilia, and Ducati among others. No doubt some of these bikes do...