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First Love

29 April 2010 by Tim Horsfield

The road drops behind me as I open the throttle and feel the weight of my bike surging away from the intersection, a light crosswind snaps against into my slipstream as I slide through the shady lanes and over the hill I see the twisting roads of Hampshire open up before me. A pale sunlight warms the light chill in the mid-April air as I slip the clutch and downshift to roll over a hill and into a...

Donington Park race track re-opening plans

29 April 2010 by Andy Downes

Donington Park race track re-opening plans

Owners of Donington Park have just sent out this statement claiming the track will reopen for racing in August this year. The track has been closed after a disastrous effort to move the Formula One...

New Frank Thomas range in this week's MCN

29 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

New Frank Thomas range in this week's MCN

There’s a sizeable range of new kit from British firm Frank Thomas this year, and this week’s MCN shows you the highlights. Save cash on motorcycle clothing Here at MCN we’re stuck on the affordable...

New TomTom Urban Rider satnav announced

29 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

New TomTom Urban Rider satnav announced

TomTom’s latest motorcycle satnav is claimed to be “glove-friendly, have an intuitive screen and simplified user interface”. Save cash on motorcycle satnavs The simple menu has just two buttons ­-...

New Blaster jacket from Spyke

29 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

New Blaster jacket from Spyke

The new Spyke Blaster jacket has evolved from the firm’s one-piece suit of the same name. Save cash on motorcycle jackets It made from cowhide, and features CE-approved shoulder and elbow armour,...

Battle of the Brands - Arizona Mile May 1st

29 April 2010 by Ped Baker

Battle of the Brands - Arizona Mile May 1st

No less than eight different brands of twin cylinder motorcycle will be competing in this weekends Grand National Championship Flat track race at the Yavapai Downs in Prescott, Arizona. Run on a...

Video: Ducati Multistrada 1200 v KTM SMT v BMW GS v Tiger 1050

29 April 2010 by MCN

Video: Ducati Multistrada 1200 v KTM SMT v BMW GS v Tiger 1050

Ducati’s new top-of-the-range adventure bike has four different riding modes – but can it beat its three best rivals in each of those applications? Read the 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200...

Ducati Multistrada 1200S: Used alternatives under £4k

29 April 2010 by Liam Marsden

Ducati Multistrada 1200S: Used alternatives under £4k

The new Ducati Multistrada 1200S looks set to redifine the adventure bike market with its four switchable modes (sport, touring, urban and enduro), which adjust power delivery, suspension and traction...

80mpg and 140bhp from new concept hybrid

28 April 2010 by Charlotte Cousins

80mpg and 140bhp from new concept hybrid

This new concept bike by Russian Igor Chack, 26, is the latest in a line of innovative ideas based on hybrid power – where electric motors are used alongside petrol engines. The Izh-1 was inspired by...

Where to watch at Silverstone

28 April 2010 by MCN

Where to watch at Silverstone

MCN’s Senior Road Tester has just returned from riding the full circuit at Silverstone and came back raving about the freshly revamped Northamptonshire track. He said: “The best seats in the house for...

'Distressed' Harley Road King Custom

28 April 2010 by Ped Baker

'Distressed' Harley Road King Custom

Distressing chrome and paintwork has been popular in the custom car world for some time but this is the first time we’ve seen it applied to a Bagger Harley. Chris from Fox Custom Paint and Ric Greene...

My first sportsbike

28 April 2010 by Neil Manning

My first sportsbike

Having taken my test at the ripe old age of 42, I played safe and rode a brand new Suzuki Bandit 650SA. Having mastered the basics of riding a bike I then wanted a bit more power and moved up to the...

Getting hitched at Gretna Green with MCN

28 April 2010 by pierro6

Getting hitched at Gretna Green with MCN

Here’s a pic of me and my lovely wife having a quick read of MCN after riding through to Gretna Green and getting hitched in our leathers!

2010 Aprilia Shiver 750 - tech specs revealed

27 April 2010 by James Keen

2010 Aprilia Shiver 750 - tech specs revealed

Aprilia has revealed full tech specs for the 2010 Shiver 750 which is set to cost £6,199 when it goes on sale in May. Find an Aprilia Shiver 750 for sale As MCN’s story back in November revealed,...

Video: 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 longterm review

27 April 2010 by MCN

Video: 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 longterm review

MCN’s longterm test fleet for 2010 includes the Kawasaki Z1000. MCN road tester Michael Neeves has had the bike for a month and covered 600 miles so far. Read the Kawasaki Z1000 review Find a...

Free Rukka kit with new Yamahas

27 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

Free Rukka kit with new Yamahas

Infinity Motorcycles are giving away a Rukka Armax suit worth over £1500 with every new Yamaha FJR1300A purchased from them. Save £££s on motorcycle clothing Fully CE-approved and with a 5-year...

Five Desmosedici RRs up for grabs on MCN Bikemart

27 April 2010 by Phil West

Five Desmosedici RRs up for grabs on MCN Bikemart

A mouth-watering FIVE examples of Ducati’s fabulously exotic, ultra-exclusive Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica are for sale in MCN Bikemart this week. The V4 machines, which are faithful, road-going,...

New MCN April 28: Brits rule the world

27 April 2010 by Liam Marsden

New MCN April 28: Brits rule the world

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale April 28, we test the new Ducati Multistrada against the BMW R1200GS, KTM 990 SMT and Triumph Tiger. Police: ‘1000s of bikers are riding death trap ringers.’ The...

Michael Rutter at Riders, Bridgwater

26 April 2010 by Peter james

Michael Rutter at Riders, Bridgwater

My Granddaughter Alysia Ellis meeting Michael Rutter at Riders in Bridgwater at a recent open day.

New Yoshimura exhaust for KTM Superduke

26 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

New Yoshimura exhaust for KTM Superduke

Yoshimura’s new twin RS-3C slip-ons are the first exhaust to come out of the legendary tuning firm for a KTM road bike. Improvement in power over stock is claimed to be 2.52bhp (up to 109.85bhp from...

Ducati is only bike firm at Beijing show

26 April 2010 by Charlotte Cousins

Ducati is only bike firm at Beijing show

Ducati is the only motorcycle firm to have been given space at the Beijing exhibition, adding to the manufacturer’s interest in the Chinese market. The Beijing automotive show is very car-dedicated...

Exhausts and pressure gauges to be won with Michelin

26 April 2010 by Charlotte Cousins

Exhausts and pressure gauges to be won with Michelin

Michelin is offering the chance to win a digital pressure gauge and an Akrapovic exhaust if you buy a pair of Michelin Power Pure motorcycle tyres. Save cash on motorcycle tyres Motorcyclists buying...

Staff bikes: BMW R1200RT - Marseille, Bologna and Skegness and 2500 miles in five days

26 April 2010 by Andy Downes

Staff bikes: BMW R1200RT - Marseille, Bologna and Skegness and 2500 miles in five days

It’s the words you learn to dread while working at MCN – “Can I borrow your bike please?” In this case there was no way out. MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin needed to get to Marseille in the...

Confederate Satan's Whiff 66

26 April 2010 by Oberdan Bezzi

Confederate Satan's Whiff 66

This is a proposal for Confederate Satan’s Whiff 66, which I have designed.

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSX-R600 - First impressions

26 April 2010 by James Keen

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSX-R600 - First impressions

My gleaming new GSX-R600 turned up at the office at 2.50pm on Friday and by 3 I was on the way up to Skegness for the MCN Live! weekend.  I’d volunteered to help marshall the MCN ride out on Saturday...

‘Ringers’ in dealers’ showrooms

25 April 2010 by Steve Farrell

‘Ringers’ in dealers’ showrooms

Hundreds of dealers are unwittingly accepting stolen bikes in part-exchange for new machines, police say. The dealers, including franchises for major manufacturers, have become so keen to secure...

The £800,000 speed camera cock-up

25 April 2010 by Steve Farrell

The £800,000 speed camera cock-up

High-tech new speed cameras on one of the country’s most popular bike routes are useless due to an apparent oversight. The new cameras are aimed at catching motorcyclists on the A537 Cat and Fiddle...

‘Bikers are orphan-makers’ MP in ‘cynical U-turn’

25 April 2010 by Steve Farrell

‘Bikers are orphan-makers’ MP in ‘cynical U-turn’

A Labour MP who called motorcyclists “widow-makers and orphan-makers” has been accused of a “cynical” bid to diffuse the scandal to protect votes. Four weeks ago Barry Sheerman said 650 people died a...

Perfect tents for motorcycling touring

25 April 2010

Here at MCN we’re planning a feature on the best tents for touring, from £50 to £610! Here’s a video showing just how easy it is to erect (quiet at the back!) the more pricy option, the Hilliberg Nallo. Keep a look-out for a large range of biker-friendly camping kit in a future issue of MCN

Potholes in Plymouth

24 April 2010 by morandave

The state of the roads is terrible, pot holes and badly laid topcoats stripping off by the mile. What’s worse is the local council in Plymouth see fit to send one person round with a can of paint to mark up the ones for repair, followed by another single bloke with a pot of hot tar to carry out the so called temporary repairs. Why the hell can’t the same bloke do it, saving both time and...

Staff bikes: BMW R1200GS - MCN Live! priorities

23 April 2010 by Ian Jubb

Staff bikes: BMW R1200GS - MCN Live! priorities

Getting the priorities right for MCN Live at Butlins, Skegness. The GS is really a do anything bike and it carries beers and snacks pretty well too! Now on with the disk lock and away with the key...

Finding proof I have a motorcycle licence

23 April 2010 by peter halford

I’m 57 years old, and at the age of 16 became a telegram boy. I passed my motorcycle test with the GPO Newport Gwent. At the time our licences were put in the Civic Centre Newport and some years later went to Swansea, but unknown to me when I moved my motorbike licence was not put on with my full car licence. I really have tried hard to find out why it was not added to my licence way back in 1969,...

Save £2800 on a new Yamaha R6

23 April 2010 by John Westlake

Save £2800 on a new Yamaha R6

Brand new 2008 Yamaha R6s are for sale at £7199 – £1800 less than the 2010 model’s £8999 – despite rumours that Yamaha had stopped dealers discounting the bikes.    Find a Yamaha R6 for sale Dave...

AJS surprises with super-cool custom 125s

23 April 2010 by Phil West

AJS surprises with super-cool custom 125s

These two, super-cool looking customs aren’t one-off hogs from California or Orange County Choppers – they’re the latest production bikes from Britain’s AJS and are a learner-friendly 125cc! The black...

Staff bikes blog – Victory Hammer S: 48mpg!

23 April 2010 by Chris Newbigging

Staff bikes blog – Victory Hammer S: 48mpg!

When you don’t have a fuel gauge, you get tuned in to how many miles you can do on a tank. My Hammer S usually gets around 125 miles before I fill up, returning 38mpg on a country roads blat – fairly...

New Hypermotard tank almost doubles fuel capacity!

23 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

New Hypermotard tank almost doubles fuel capacity!

Ducati’s Hypermotard 1100 carries just one problem – its paltry fuel range when caned as its makers intended. But Sandbar Composites have the alternative to investing in a petrol station loyalty card,...