Bike news

Disabled and disappointed

14 January 2008 by DaveyBoi

I am a biker with only a bike license as I wouldn’t drive a car. Recently I became disabled, and after losing my bike to mechanical wear and tear and being unable to afford to repair it I sold it for the most I could get which was nowhere near what I had paid or spent on it. After selling I started to look around for another bike and looked on the Motability site as I am disabled and I note that...

MCN Daily 14/0/08: Your daily motorcycle video news update

14 January 2008 by Angus Farquhar, Daniel Thornton

In episode 26 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show Suzuki confirm the details for the new Bandit 1250 GT, a police instructor is banned for speeding, Karl Harris rides for Yamaha in BSB and Cyril Despres races int he UK after the Dakar cancellation.  Subscribe to this podcast with RSS  Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email...

118mph police driving school head banned

14 January 2008 by MCN News Desk

The former head of a police driving school has been banned from driving after being caught driving at 118mph on the M8 motorway. Click here to read of Merydydd Hughes’ speeding case Paul Gee, now retired from Durham Constabulary, claimed he was carrying out a risk assessment for the force’s driving school on November 3 2006 when he was caught by a mobile speed camera at 118mph in a marked police...

Suzuki announce Bandit 1250 Grand Touring

14 January 2008 by Liam Marsden

Suzuki GB has announced the price and final specifications for the new Bandit 1250 Grand Touring which was seen for the first time at the NEC show and is set to be in dealers by the end of...

Video: Kawasaki ZX-10R v R1

14 January 2008 by Michael Neeves

Check out the first monster battle of 2008. In this video we pitch the new Kawasaki ZX-10R against the Yamaha R1; our superbike of choice for 2007. The ZX-10R has already ripped up the rule book by producing a staggering 170bhp; 8bhp more than the R1. It also flew down our test track at a genuine 184mph, in the wet! But for this test we take both bikes to Brands Hatch and put them through their...

160,000 mile 250

13 January 2008 by Mark Powell

It’s all very well doing high mileage on big bikes but what about my brothers 250? He bought it in 1989 with 24,000 miles on the clock and it’s now done 160,000! Not bad for a bike that cost him £150!...

Let the Rabbit see the Dog!

13 January 2008 by Lincs Biker

These are probably the best roads in the country and I happen to be one of the statistic’s, when in 2007 when a car pulled across me on these roads and I was only doing 30mph. I appreciate the concern here but hidden cameras! Is this legal? Only a while ago they had to mark Gatso’s yellow so we could see them, surely visual ones are more of a deterent? Come on, let the Rabbit see the Dog! It reads...

25th december at sea

12 January 2008 by martin bishop

The only read to have on christmas day at sea in the atlantic. Thanks, Bish

MCN Daily 11/01/08: Your video motorcycle news update

11 January 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 25 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we hear about Troy Bayliss injuring himself in testing at Phillip Island, the new Kawasaki ZX-10R making 170bhp at the rear wheel and riders are facing lower legal alcohol limits than car drivers under new proposals.  Subscribe to this podcast with RSS  Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three...

The Long Way Back

11 January 2008 by jcmental

The Northwest sports bike forum are planning a sponsored ride in aid of the Northwest air ambulance. Members from http://www.nwsportsbikeforum.co.uk are planing a long riding week end in order to raise money for their flying ambulance. The Long Way Back. The trip is taking place on the 8th,9th & 10th of August 2008 They plan to set off from Devils Bridge (Kirkby Lonsdale)and ride over to...

Lower drink limit for motorcyclists

11 January 2008 by Steve Farrell

Motorcyclists will face a lower legal alcohol limit than car drivers under new proposals. The limit for riders will drop from 80mg to just 20mg per 100 millilitres of blood in a move outlined by...

Win a 2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R

11 January 2008 by MCN

Kawasaki will celebrate the nationwide launch of the new Ninja ZX-10R on Thursday 7 February by giving away one of the brand new bikes. Click here to see video of the Kawasaki ZX-10R launch Cick here...

Britain's got biking talent winner ridden

11 January 2008 by Michael Neeves

The Carole Nash ‘Britain’s Got Biking Talent’ competition that MCN ran last year pulled in over 4500 examples of specials and restored classics. Michael Neeves tried out the winning 170bhp Kawasaki...

MCN Babe entry 68: Ann Richer

11 January 2008 by MCN

Name: Ann Richer Vital Stats: 34B Vote for Ann: By text: BABE68 to 84188* By email: BABE68 T&C’s – You will be billed 50pence plus standard network charges for the SMS you send. This is not a...

John Surtees

10 January 2008 by SCOOTA

What I want to know is why didn’t John Surtees get a knighthood when MCN wanted one for Valetino Rossi for his achievements? John did the same plus a F1 world championship. The only man ever to win world titles on two and four wheels at the top level. Stirling Moss got one for what not winning a World Championship.

Infinity Motorcycles bargain motorcycle kit

10 January 2008 by Liam Marsden

Infinity Motorcycles currently have a special deal, whereby motorcycle riders can get boots, gloves and a one-piece rainsuit for just £41! The equipment is called NBC (No Brand Clothing), and the...

TNT lorry - Diesel filler cap hanging off

10 January 2008 by focusrich

This morning whilst driving up the M1, I passed a line of trucks, and then in the car I noticed that smell we all dread when out on our bikes – Diesel. I have a keen nose for it when i’m out riding,...

Dustbin Ducati

10 January 2008 by Chris Newbigging

You wouldn’t believe it but  the motorcycle underneath this bizarre hand beaten metal dustbin fairing is a Ducati Monster! The bizarre creation was seen being used by an untraced rider in the US, so...

Video: Charley Boorman on the 2008 BMW R1200GS

10 January 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Long Way Down star Charley Boorman joined our man on the launch of the 2008 BMW R1200GS and gave us his opinion on the heavily updated bike. Check out the video below to hear what Charley had to say about the new machine and watch the bikes in action at the Welsh launch.  Zoom & Watch more videos on MCN |...

Highways Agency’s wind warning for bikers

09 January 2008 by MCN

The Highways Agency is warning motorcyclists to take extra care in high winds and rain over the course of tonight and tomorrow (January 9/10). Gale-force and severe gale-force winds are expected...

2008 FIM Red Bull Motocross of Nations at Donington

09 January 2008 by Dave

2008 MXDN at DONINGTON ! 2008 FIM Red Bull Motocross of Nations in Donington Park FUNCHAL, 9 January 2008 Following the cancellation of the location Moneyglass Demesne due to lack of infrastructure and improvement to the venue, Youthstream and Donington Park found an agreement for the organization of the 2008 FIM Red Bull Motocross of Nations. Dr. Wolfgang Srb, CMS President, was delighted with...

Freebird falls short

09 January 2008 by Steve Farrell

New biker movie Freebird is described in the makers’ bumf as a cross between the cult classics Withnail & I and Quadrophenia, but it’s more like Pirates of the Caribbean on bikes. MCN attended an...

A Good Day!!

09 January 2008 by Gazza

What better way to spend Christmas. Snowboarding in Andorra and catching up with the MCN 2007 review!

Picture gallery: BMW's uncrashable motorcycle patent drawings

09 January 2008 by Liam Marsden

Here are all the pictures of BMW’s patent design for an “uncrashable” motorcycle. The system works through a system of pivots and hydraulics to move the wheels about. Even the handle bars can be moved...

Honda CB1100 concept gallery: Honda CB1100R and CB1100F

09 January 2008 by Liam Marsden

Here you can download exclusive wallpapers of Honda’s two new protype motorcycles. The Honda CB1100F and the Honda CB1100R. See the latest pictures of the CB1100 here Whether it is the naked CB1100F...

Video: Carole Nash Britain's got biking talent winner

09 January 2008 by Michael Neeves

This very special Kawasaki is the winner of the ‘Britain’s Got Biking Talent’ competition we ran last year with Carole Nash; seeing off over 4500 entries. Check out our video to see what makes this 170bhp ZXR1200 so special and more importantly what it’s like to ride. For a full report, check it out in this week’s MCN (Wednesday, 9th January).

Radical Ducati Cafe Racer

09 January 2008 by Ben Purvis

Spanish tuner Radical Ducati is set to launch its first complete homologated road bike later this month – the RAD 02 Cafe Racer. Designed around Ducati’s two-valve and three-valve V-twin engines, the...

Road Tax rip off

09 January 2008 by Brian Clark

I am writing to bring to the attention of MCN readers the address of a petition against motorcycle tax – http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Motorbike/. I own a Renault Megane 1.5Dci which is tax band B. 101 – 120g/km of CO gas. This means I pay £35 a year. I also own a Kawasaki ER-6N Euro III spec. I pay £64 a year according to the Documents that came with the Bike. The ER-6N pumps out 1.04g/km of CO gas.

MCN Daily: Your daily video motorcycle news for 08/01/08

08 January 2008 by Daniel Thornton, Angus Farquhar

In episode 23 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we hear that the Honda CB100R concept could make it to production, Ducati puts it’s MotoGP bike on ice and Johnathan Rea puts on a good show in Philip Island  Subscribe to this podcast with RSS  Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email us here to let us know what you think of...

Lincolnshire's hidden cameras

08 January 2008 by coffee

We always need plenty of luck in Lincolnshire – they hide speed cameras behind trees or signs, pull us up at every oppurtunity and now it’s hidden cameras, just for bikes. Never mind all the other idiots on the pot holed roads. We even have pace cars doing 35 in a 50!

Video: Freebird: trailer for new British motorcycle film

08 January 2008

Cancer deflecting motorcycle seat patent

08 January 2008 by Liam Marsden

Randall Dale Chipkar, the barmy Canadian motorcyclist who claimed that motorcycles cause cancer, has been granted a UK patent on his “electromagnetic shielding motorcycle seat”. The book, entitled...

First Impressions - Yamaha xs650

08 January 2008 by Mark Arians

For all of us there seems to be a golden era in our youth when our pay packets were bigger than our debts. A period when the demands on our time were pretty much limited to the hours per day it took to earn a wage. Our days off belonged to us. If you were like me they were spent on a motorcycle. Every Saturday morning, rain hail or shine I’d meet up with a mate. We’d take a brief look at the sky...

Sporty days.

08 January 2008 by Mark Arians

Twenty one years ago Harley Davidson re introduced the 883 ‘Sporster’. It came at a time when only Harley die hards looked forward to the latest offerings from Milwaukee. Japan was well and truly King of the two wheel domain. Reliable four cylinder, fully faired, race replicas from the land of the rising sun had eclipsed all before them. I was twenty one and in the market for my first new bike!...

Lonely Planet guide to Costa Rica

08 January 2008 by Lonely Planet

The latest in our series of Lonely Planet guides takes us to Costa Rica. Click here to check out the full range of guides online. Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. The country’s...

Peugeot Vivacity 3 gets major upgrade

08 January 2008 by Liam Marsden

Peugeot’s  50cc 2-stroke Vivacity 3 scooter has been given a complete overhaul for 2008, to become a mini-GT scooter. The French firm upgraded the Vivacity after a survey of urban scooter riders...