Bike news

Rider killed braking for a speed camera

Rider killed braking for a speed camera

A motorcyclist was killed after braking too hard for a speed camera, a coroner said. Timothy Rowsell, 64, was doing at least 78mph on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 as he approached the speed camera van on a...

Video: Which superbike for under £5000?

Video: Which superbike for under £5000?

With the advent of electronics and near-200bhp power outputs, it’s easy to forget just how good the sports bikes of 2005 were. They had huge power – up to 160bhp – yet were tractable in the midrange,...

Hooligan Triumph Street Triple R café racer special

Hooligan Triumph Street Triple R café racer special

This Street Triple R is the latest in the line of brilliantly-executed specials created by Triumph dealer Jack Lilley. Designed to mimic the café racer style, it actually looks uncannily like any...

Staff bikes: Moto Guzzi Griso SE - V7 Classic snaffled by actress

Staff bikes: Moto Guzzi Griso SE - V7 Classic snaffled by actress

Just when I was learning to love the V7 Classic and its gentle take on motorcycling life, it has been snatched away from me. Moto Guzzi have reclaimed it, and sent it on a far more glamourous mission:...

Staff bikes: Ducati Monster 1100 Evo - The modern cafe racer

Staff bikes: Ducati Monster 1100 Evo - The modern cafe racer

Over the months that I’ve owned the Monster, many have asked me “What’s it like?” My default answer is “A real, good, honest motorcycle”. Which sounds like damning it with faint praise; that’s far...

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSR750 - Tail tidy improves GSR's rear

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSR750 - Tail tidy improves GSR's rear

After riding the GSR for the first few miles there was only one modification that I could see needed to be made, to fit a tail tidy and get rid of the huge piece of plastic hanging off the rear end of...

Which used superbike for under £5000?

Which used superbike for under £5000?

With the advent of electronics and near-200bhp power outputs, it’s easy to forget just how good the sports bikes of 2005 were. They had huge power – up to around 160bhp – yet were tractable in the...

Kawasaki VN1700 Voyager takes on the baggers

Kawasaki VN1700 Voyager takes on the baggers

The imposing bulk of Kawasaki’s new VN1700 Voyager Custom has just landed on UK soil, sending a shudder through the large touring cruiser market. But how scared should the American competition be of...

MCN will be at your local bike meet - Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville

MCN will be at your local bike meet - Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville

MCN will be out and about in the coming months visiting bike meets across Britain – we could be visiting your local bike meet! Tonight (Thursday August 25) MCN will be at the Vic Bikers Pub,Coalville,...

Destination dealer: Big savings at Lidsdirect.co.uk

Destination dealer: Big savings at Lidsdirect.co.uk

ADVERTISING PROMOTION If you are in the market for a new helmet – or other biking accessories – check out Lidsdirect.co.uk Lidsdirect.co.uk is the fastest growing online motorcycle helmet, clothing...

Last of the Brit-built Broughs

Last of the Brit-built Broughs

This is the last British-built Brough Superior, and potentially the last example of what was once the most desirable marque in motorcycling. Produced by brothers Les and Dave Card, it was the final...

My Bimota "Mutòr" concept

My Bimota "Mutòr" concept

Here is a concept I design as a collaboration between Bimota and Moto Morini. It’s called “Mutòr” (which means motorcycle in the dialect of Romagna). It wants to be the icon of Italian style sports...

Vote for Britain's best bike!

Vote for Britain's best bike!

Britain’s favourite talent competition is in its final stages. Over the past few weeks our celebrity judges have been scrutinising every entry and after much head-scratching and arguing, they’ve...

Ross Noble's Sit Down Tour - the Lakes to the Wild West

Ross Noble's Sit Down Tour - the Lakes to the Wild West

Ross Noble, stand up comedian, bike enthusiast and enduro racer, embarked on the Sit Down Tour in May to celebrate half a million bikes being produced at the Hinckley factory. The tour of the UK was...

Video: MCN Adventure - MCN takes on Morocco

Video: MCN Adventure - MCN takes on Morocco

Over the past 10 years Morocco has become a Mecca for adventure motorcycling. Just 20 miles from mainland Europe, it’s cheap and accessible – a spectacular, ever changing country waiting to be...

Castle Combe celebrate their 60th anniversary with Avon Tyres

Castle Combe celebrate their 60th anniversary with Avon Tyres

Castle Combe are holding a special race event on September 3rd to honour the Wiltshire track’s 60th anniversary. The circuit was originally opened in the summer of 1950, making it one of the oldest...

Riders charged £hundreds for insurance firms’ error

Riders charged £hundreds for insurance firms’ error

Owners of Suzuki GSXR1000s face paying hundreds of pounds because an error in data used by insurance companies. The data lists the engine size of the machines incorrectly, leading customers who state...

BMW K1600 to Scotland

After the BMW K1600GTL-Knockhill video I started editing the movies from the tour on the K1600 through Scotland. Part one started with a rough boat trip.

Poll: Do you want traction control?

Poll: Do you want traction control?

MCN would like to know: do you want traction control? Vote in the poll and add your comment at the bottom of the page!

Test ride a Harley-Davidson at the Ace Cafe this August bank holiday

Test ride a Harley-Davidson at the Ace Cafe this August bank holiday

Europe’s oldest Harley-Davidson dealership is gearing up for what is set to be one of the biggest weekends in London bikers’ calendars this year. Warr’s Harley-Davidson, based on the iconic Kings Road...

New MCN August 24: New Honda Fireblade revealed

New MCN August 24: New Honda Fireblade revealed

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale August 24, we reveal all the details of the new Honda Fireblade, with updated styling and high-tech suspension. Plus, a free 48 page adventure touring magazine,...

New MCN Adventure Magazine free with this week's MCN

New MCN Adventure Magazine free with this week's MCN

This week’s MCN, on sale Wednesday 24 August, comes with a free 48 page magazine – MCN Adventure. We’ve brought together tales of epic adventure rides, unearthed the facts about bikes to use and spent...

Ace ambition

Ace ambition

I just recently fulfilled a long time ambition to have a ride-out down to the Ace Cafe on my Yamaha RD350 LC, which I bought 10 years ago and immediately started to dismantle and restore, and was...

Bird box disguised as a speed camera

Bird box disguised as a speed camera

A pensioner in Somerset has become so fed up with speeding road users breaking the 30mph limit through his village that he built a bird box in the shape of a speed camera and put it up outside his...

Experience Africa and ride with GP stars

Experience Africa and ride with GP stars

You can join Suzuki MotoGP rider Álvaro Bautista and 13-time grand prix winner Randy Mamola on the Riders for Health Experience Africa adventure ride in Zambia in November 2011. Participants will not...

BRD hopes to top 100mph with electric supermoto

BRD hopes to top 100mph with electric supermoto

A new American bike manufacturer claims that their upcoming electric supermotard could reach a top speed of 100mph and be the ideal urban police bike of the future. The company called BRD is still...

MCN Adventure – Top tips from Simon Pavey

MCN Adventure – Top tips from Simon Pavey

You never know what’s round the corner on any adventure ride, so to make sure you’re prepared for any eventuality MCN spent a day with Dakar legend Simon Pavey to get his top tips. From how to cross a...

Olivia and her new hero, Guy Martin

Olivia and her new hero, Guy Martin

My step daughter and Guy Martin – her new hero at the Ulster GP. We waited for ages for him to turn up on the Friday public paddock walkabout. Yes he had just got up to eat at the Relentless BBQ. A...

Water-cooled BMW GS is new from the ground up

Water-cooled BMW GS is new from the ground up

This exclusive spy shot proves the next generation BMW R1200GS will be new from the ground-up, with an all-new water-cooled engine, revamped styling and major chassis changes. The photographs – taken...

"Elvis Day" hits Harley exhibit

"Elvis Day" hits Harley exhibit

Britain’s biggest ever Harley exhibit marked the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death this week, with a day dedicated to the King. Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) hosted the event,...

Staff bikes: MV Agusta Brutale 920 - the highest mileage 2011 model

Staff bikes: MV Agusta Brutale 920 - the highest mileage 2011 model

MCN’s 2011 Brutale is now the highest mileage specimen in the UK, and possibly the world, after clicking through 4000 miles and its first major service. The scheduled service was carried out at MV...

Staff bikes: KTM Duke 125 - Duke to the Alps

Staff bikes: KTM Duke 125 - Duke to the Alps

This July I rode from Oundle (Cambridgeshire), to Interlaken (Switzerland) and back on my 125 Duke. The 2,000 mile, six-day route took me across country lanes, motorways, city streets, alpine passes...

How to choose an Adventure bike

How to choose an Adventure bike

While the iconic bike of Adventure travel remains the capable BMW 1200GS, it’s not your only choice of bike when it comes to embarking on an Adventure. Over the last 20 years the challenge of riding...

Hand built 'retro' is 125 money

Hand built 'retro' is 125 money

With continuing resurgence in interest in 70s and 80s superbikes, riders are once again buying bikes from their youth. But unless you’re after a true ‘classic’ version – ie original and standard –...

2012 Ducati 848 Streetfighter spied

2012 Ducati 848 Streetfighter spied

This is the first picture of Ducati’s eagerly-awaited new junior super naked – the 848 Streetfighter. Due to be publicly unveiled at the world-leading Milan Show in November, the new bike – spied here...

KTM RC8 now cheaper than TDM900

KTM RC8 now cheaper than TDM900

Fancy picking up a new KTM RC8 superbike for less than the price of a Yamaha TDM900 or Honda Crossrunner? If so, you’d better hurry – to clear out unsold RC8s, dealers have discounted the price to...