Bike news

Forced out of the way

Was riding to work and coming to one of the left hand corners that make the whole trip worthwhile. I was close to the white lines giving myself the maximum view round the corner. And what did I see coming towards me at a great rate of knots with the blues and twos flashing, but our friendly boys in blue! They were in the wrong lane and showed no signs of trying to slowdown. I had to change my...

Image gallery: Ace Cafe Racer

Image gallery: Ace Cafe Racer

In this week’s edition of MCN, road tester Adam Child takes a ride on the gorgeous Ace Cafe Racer created by custom bike builder Nick Gale. In case the road test left you wanting more, here’s some...

Aprilia RSV4: Your questions answered!

Aprilia RSV4: Your questions answered!

If you’ve got a question for the designers, engineers or bosses at Aprilia about the new V4 RSV4 superbike then now is the time to ask as MCN is heading out to the factory for a visit later this week.

Ducati 1198/1198S first ride!

Ducati 1198/1198S first ride!

MCNs Chief Road Tester, Trevor Franklin, is at the launch of Ducati’s new 1198/1198S at the Circuito de Algarve near Portimao, Portugal, here’s what he has to say: “While the new 1198 retains the...

New Helmet

New Helmet

This is Rhys Bott, age 5, trying on my new Rossi face helmet!

Official BMW sketches show Lo-Rider's customisation potential

Official BMW sketches show Lo-Rider's customisation potential

BMW is choosing from twelve designs for the Lo-Rider concept, official sketches reveal, and the concept is designed to make personalising your bike easier than ever. BMW gave MCN access to the twelve...

Video: BMW S1000RR in action

Video: BMW S1000RR in action

BMW has released another video of it’s road-going S1000RR superbike – this time undergoing testing at the Spanish Albacete circuit. The bike is covered in contour-deflecting black and white camoflage...

Marked police car crashes with fireblade

Motorcycle ctashes with marked police car and the police are looking for anyone who saw the motorbike being driven prior to the accident… What about anyone who saw the police car being driven? See this link for the full story.

Story of a very cautious female 40 year old

Story of a very cautious female 40 year old

Great story from the ’19 year old idiot’. Well, I’m the complete opposite! I’ve just bought a Honda cbr125 in red and black. I’ve passed my test, but I’m only a size 8 and 5ft 1, so even though I...

Crashing

I remember getting my first real bike a Yamaha RD250 when i was seventeen many moons ago, I would always ride it with trainers on, not a good idea..  I only had this bike for a week when coming up to a set of lights. I stopped but unfortunately my laces got caught around the gear lever and brake lever and I went down like a sack of you know what, to the amusment of traffic and passers by! Highly...

Suzuki SRAD is a great bike

Suzuki SRAD is a great bike

I read the latest PB100 article on the Suzuki SRAD. I agree, the SRAD is a great bike, I’ve had 2 600 srads converted, one to the 750 and managed to squeeze a 2001 1000cc motor in my second. The...

another unmarked police camera van in derbyshire

I’ll keep it short but sweet, I was in the local supermarket filling station in ripley derbyshire when i spotted what appears to be another unmarked police camera van with all the facilities for speed trapping. The vehicle i saw was a dark green mercedes sprinter with black metal racking on the roof with the registration FJ51 NJZ whick was in front of the blue van you mentioned in an earlier...

Friday funny: Amazing motorcycle control

If you ever thought you were fairly good at slow speed riding, think again. You’re probably not as good as these guys. The riders in question are Japanese police officers, showcasing their skills in public.

Special paint for Aprilia Dorsoduro

Special paint for Aprilia Dorsoduro

A UK Aprilia dealer has taken matters into its own hands, after the factory refused to produce a Dorsoduro 750 in red and white. Aprilias for sale Dorset-based Motosport Aprilia has made the Red...

Showcase cinema Leeds- helmet trouble

I recently ran up against a blatant example of discrimination. On Tuesday this week (11th) my partner and I went to the Showcase cinema in Leeds to see the new Bond film. Having paid for the tickets and refreshments we were told on trying to go through to the screen itself that we were not allowed to take our helmets in and that they would have to be left with the staff. I questioned this and the...

Reflections of a 19 year old idiot.

Reflections of a 19 year old idiot.

My brand new Yamaha YZF R125. Lying there on its side, back wheel spinning slowly, no more than six hours old and already dead at the end of a yellow streak of paint and plastic. What did they teach...

In the year 2525 if man is still alive...

I was woken from my cryogenic sleep and allowed to go for a walk. I wandered down to where I could see a crowd looking over a concrete fence. Over the fence the was an empty road. I asked the guy next to me what was happening. “We’re waiting for the race” he said. “What race” I asked. “The Cop Race” he said “Is someone racing the cops” I asked “Naaaa the coppers race each other, we’re only...

Gilera 600 Supersport & Streetracer

Gilera  600  Supersport & Streetracer

After the presentation of the new APRILIA Superbike, Piaggio Group want to throw again also the historic brand GILERA. In fact, I think in the first days of the 2009 it will come introduced to...

Poll: Should BMW build the Lo-Rider?

Poll: Should BMW build the Lo-Rider?

BMW is looking for feedback on the Lo-Rider concept revealed at the Milan Show last week, so MCN has setup an online poll to see what you think. BMWs for sale The motorcycle is based on BMW’s 1170cc...

Vigilante biker’s murky past

Vigilante biker’s murky past

A vigilante motorcyclist who films other bikers speeding is an ex-lag with a string of previous driving convictions, MCN can reveal. We recently revealed how busybody Geoff Smith, 62, spends his days...

Is three-time convicted speeder behind ban motorcycles proposal?

Is three-time convicted speeder behind ban motorcycles proposal?

A proposal from the Association of Chief Police Officers to ban motorcycles was written under the direction of a three-time convicted speeder, MCN can reveal. Meredydd Hughes, who was last year...

Video: Miles Per Gallon Fuel Test

With the downward spiral from credit crunch to full-on recession MCN senior roadtester Trevor Franklin wanted to see if the economy of motorcycles can still be highly prized. To find out Trevor took Suzuki’s Sixteen, BMW’s F650GS, Kawasaki’s Z1000 and a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade to Bruntingthorpe testing circuit in Leicestershire to conduct two tests. How far would a gallon of unleaded fuel go at...

On sale now: 'Rossi- Celebrating the Greatest'

On sale now: 'Rossi- Celebrating the Greatest'

A glossy limited edition MCN bookazine celebrating the life and career of Valentino Rossi, arguably the greatest motorcycle racer the sport has ever known, is available to own now. Scroll down for...

MCN in Alcatraz

MCN in Alcatraz

Just some pictures of me reading MCN in Alcatraz…

New MCN November 12: New Suzuki Bandit 650 revealed

New MCN November 12: New Suzuki Bandit 650 revealed

In this week’s MCN, we have pictures of the new faired and unfaired Suzuki Bandit 650, which was unveiled at the Milan Show. The headlights on both versions have been given a new, sleeker design, and...

Video: Bob Farnham tunes Yamaha R1

The racing season has only just finished, but Senior Road Tester, Michael Neeves is already looking ahead to the 2009 season with his trusty 2007 Yamaha R1 long term test bike. He took it along to Bob Farnham, one of the UK’s top engine tuners just down the road from Brands Hatch for an engine refresh and a bit of a tune. Watch the video below to see how the bike got on and little tour around...

Bikes on TV: November 12-18

Bikes on TV: November 12-18

KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – Discovery Real Time DRTE -Discovery Real Time Extra DSC – Discovery Channel  DHD – Discovery Channel HD EXS – Extreme Sports Channel MM – Men and Motors MOT – Motors TV   SS1...

Video: BMW S1000RR onboard footage

Video: BMW S1000RR onboard footage

BMW has released official onboard footage of the new S1000RR superbike testing at Oschersleben recently. BMWs for sale The bike appears to be testing on a public trackday, and is seen catching and...

MCN made my daughter better

MCN made my daughter better

My seven month old daughter in Bradford Royal Infirmary having her kidneys sorted. All she wanted was MCN.

Video: 2009 Aprilia RSV4 and Yamaha R1 take to the track

Video: 2009 Aprilia RSV4 and Yamaha R1 take to the track

We’ve got video of the 2009 Yamaha R1 and the Aprilia RSV4 in action for the first time with Max Biaggi, Ben Spies and Tom Sykes out on track at the Portimao circuit. The two machines have been...

Petrol station problems

Just a story about my ride home tonight. I was riding home on the bike, ran out of fuel right outside the garage so i pushed it in to fill up in Tesco’s express Norbury, A23 (south London). Pulled in, opened fuel tank, put in pump, tried to pay at the pump but the machine was out of order seemingly. The security guard (always worrying at a petrol station) comes out and tells me the cashier didnt...

Ban motorcycles? What about...

Just recently hundreds of hedonistic persons went joy walking across the lake district. They were people acting selfishly, without a thought for other persons that would have to pay for rescue services to help them out when their irresponsible activities caused them to get into great difficulties. Is it not time ACPO suggested that persons wishing to access the fells held a full mountaineers...

Consider banning motorcycles, police tell MPs

Consider banning motorcycles, police tell MPs

The time has come to consider banning motorcycles from the roads, police chiefs have told MPs. They are ‘motorised toys’ which may not belong on public highways, the Association of Chief Police...

‘Cops let me refuel during chase,’ says 140mph speeder

The biker followed for miles by an unmarked police bike at up to 140mph has told how cops allowed him to refuel before continuing the chase. 140mph chase was ‘safe’ Police followed Michael Collins, 22, for 40 minutes to ‘gather evidence’. When he stopped to fill up, an officer in plain leathers on a silver Honda Fireblade simply waited further along the road. Collins claims he only went so fast...

Video: Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport first ride

MCN Man Michael Neeves headed out to Lake Como in Italy to get the first ever ride on the new 4v Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport. Check out the video below to take a tour of the impressive factory and see the bike in action around the lakes.

New MCN November 5: Ducati Streetfighter 1098 revealed

New MCN November 5: Ducati Streetfighter 1098 revealed

In this week’s issue of Motorcycle News, we reveal official shots of the new Ducati Streetfighter. The wild Ducati Streetfighter is a naked version of the Ducati 1098 and shares the same 1098cc...