Bike news

Riding Schools: Feb23 on

Each week we publish a list of RIDING SCHOOLS on in the UK. Those listed here are for the week commencing February 23, 2005. FRIDAY February 25 MCN Honda Off-Road Experience, Caister. 01933-674036. SATURDAY February 26 First Bike on Scene course, Preston, Lancashire. 45 01772-773040 or www.firstaid-training.com. MCN Honda Off-Road Experience, Caister. 01933-674036. WEDNESDAY March 2 MCN Honda...

Road surface worries

Road surface worries

A new road surface being used on motorways and trunk roads across the UK has serious safety concerns according to an investigation by the BBC. The material, stone mastic asphalt (SMA), has been...

BMW and Aprilia in talks

BMW and Aprilia are having talks over merging some elements of their production and development plans. The firms have worked together in the past – on the first generation BMW F650 bikes. They were built by Aprilia from 1993 to 1999 –after which production switched to Berlin. In a statement on Friday, BMW said the discussions related to “conceivable efforts in development and production,” but...

Bikes on TV: Feb 23 on

Each week we publish a list of biking TV shows so you don’t miss out. Those listed here are for the week commencing January 5, 2005. KEY TO CHANNELS: DHL = Discovery Home & Leisure MM = Men & Motors EXS = Extreme Sports Channel MOT = Motors TV, SS1 (2,3 or X) = Sky Sports 1 (2,3 or Extra) EUR = British Eurosport Wednesday 23 1am SS2 Bikesport UK 12noon MM Full Throttle Famous 12.30pm MM Road vs...

Off Road: Feb 23 on

Each week we publish a list of off road events held in the UK. They include MOTOCROSS, TRIALS, ENDURO AND SUPERMOTO events. These are those for the week starting February 23, 2005. MOTOCROSS SUNDAY February 27 Melville MXC, Lochhouse Farm, East Lothian. 01368-863883. Mid Wilts SMXC, Luckington, Wiltshire. 01666-840551. Wilden MXC, Kidderminster, Worcestershire. 0121-520-4261. Leicester Hunters,...

Shows: Feb23 on

Each week we publish a list of SHOWS, RALLIES, EXHIBITIONS and AUTOJUMBLES. These are those for the week commencing February 23, 2005. SHOWS THURSDAY February 24 Paris Tuning Show, Parc des Expositions, Paris-le Bourget. www.paristuningshow.com. FRIDAY February 25 Paris Tuning Show, Parc des Expositions, Paris-le Bourget. www.paristuningshow.com. Historic Motorsport Show, Stoneleigh Park, nr...

Piaggio loses top boss

Piaggio loses top boss

Piaggio UK’s top man has quit his job after only a year and a half. Martin Marshall, general manager of Piaggio UK, has decided that the high rolling job is not what he wants at the moment and has...

Barred riders sue bar

Barred riders sue bar

A bike club is suing a bar because its members were turned away for turning up on bikes and wearing bike kit. The Sons of Silence Motorcycle Club has filed a lawsuit against the North Star Bar in...

50 greatest bikes: 30-21

50 greatest bikes: 30-21

We asked you to name your favourite bike of all time and you responded in your tens of thousands – choosing everything from pre-war Brits to cutting edge racers. Each week in MCN we’ve be counting...

Video: FireBlade for sale

Video: FireBlade for sale

Want to take a closer look at a bike for sale before you go and make an offer? You can, with the video clips MCN offers FREE. Here’s the latest one added – it’s a 2002 Honda CBR900 FireBlade. It’s...

New MCN - out NOW

New MCN - out NOW

The new issue of MCN hits the shelves on Wednesday February 23, 2005, with the exclusive revelation the Government Transport Minister wants us to go out and have fun on bikes. And we pit the Yamaha...

Video: MZ SF first test

Video: MZ SF first test

You can see the MZ 1000SF in action during the world first test ride by downloading the video, below. MCN’s Matt Wildee flew out to Malaga in Spain to test the bike, and the full report will be in...

3000 mile charity ride

3000 mile charity ride

Motorcyclist Jonathan Formstone will begin a 3000-mile ride around the coastline of Britain on Sunday February 27, 2005, to raise money for Tsunami victims. Formstone, 29, will raise cash for the...

Track events: Feb 23 on

Each week we publish a list of track events. Those listed below are for the week commencing February 23, 2005. ROAD RACING SATURDAY February 26 Test day for race bikes, Bishopscourt, County Down. 028-4484-2202. World Superbikes, Losail, Qatar. 00974-4379-788. NG Road Racing – test day, Pembrey, Dyfed. 01452-538135 or www.ngroadracing.org. TRACK DAYS WEDNESDAY February 23 100% Bikes Trackday,...

Boorman on tour again

Boorman on tour again

Charley ‘Long Way Round’ Boorman is on tour again – this time it’s a whistle-stop promo trip around UK BMW dealerships, taking in the MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show. And the tour starts on Friday – Feb...

Top time to bag a Hornet

Top time to bag a Hornet

The Honda Hornet is a hit with seasoned riders and new arrivals to biking alike. And with a new buying guide on the built-for-fun 600 published in this week’s MCN (out since Feb 23, 05) it’s a great...

Blair's bike plan revealed

Blair's bike plan revealed

Tony Blair’s Government has finally come up with a National Motorcycling Strategy – eight years after he first told MCN it was on its way. Better late then never – because the great news is that...

Rideouts: Feb 23 on

Each week we publish a list of RIDEOUTS being held across the UK. If you’d like to organise one, or check for the latest ones being arranged, take at a look at our Rideouts forum. Click here WEDNESDAY February 23 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. The Plough, Swinderby, Lincolnshire. 7pm. 01522-881736. THURSDAY February 24 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. Rochdale Road...

Dirt Show to expand

Dirt Show to expand

The organisers of the 2005 Dirt Rider Expo are planning to make the event bigger and better after the success of the 2004 show. The 2005 Dirt Rider Expo will again take place at Stoneleigh Park, on...

MCN raises £18k for RfH

MCN raises £18k for RfH

Suzi Perry and Randy Mamola helped MCN and the biking industry raise more than £18,000 for Riders for Health. That’s the final total raised during a charity auction at the star-studded MCN Awards...

GSX-R1000 group test

GSX-R1000 group test

MCN’s crack road testers are off riding Suzuki’s new GSX-R1000 against its hottest rivals and you can read our full verdict in the March 9 issue of MCN. You’ll be glad to know we’ve left our...

Two new Piaggios

Two new Piaggios

Piaggio has announced the arrival of two new scooters for 2005, the latest in the Vespa family and a new member of the X family with vast acres of storage space. The new Vespa LX will replace the...

Mad Fireblade fighter

Mad Fireblade fighter

German bike firm Spaehn Racing has launched the latest in it’s range of customised naked bikes, offering styling to rival some of the top production machines. The Deep Bull is based on a Honda...

50 greatest bikes: 40-31

50 greatest bikes: 40-31

We asked you to name your favourite bike of all time and you responded in your tens of thousands – choosing everything from pre-war Brits to cutting edge racers. Each week in MCN we’ll be counting...

Rate this week's MCN

Rate this week's MCN

If you’ve already seen this week’s MCN – complete with its world first group test of the new Bandit and the Fazer – we want to hear what you think of it. Simply CLICK HERE to give us your verdict. ...

Bikes on TV: Feb 16 on

Each week we publish a list of biking TV shows so you don’t miss out. Those listed here are for the week commencing January 5, 2005. KEY TO CHANNELS: DHL = Discovery Home & Leisure MM = Men & Motors EXS = Extreme Sports Channel MOT = Motors TV, SS1 (2,3 or X) = Sky Sports 1 (2,3 or Extra) EUR = British Eurosport Wednesday 16 2am MOT 2004 French Supermoto 3am MOT World Supersport 7am MOT Le...

Video verdict: 05 Hornet

Video verdict: 05 Hornet

MCN’s Trevor Franklin has been testing the updated 05 version of Honda’s Hornet 600F. You can read his full, exclusive report in MCN – out on Wednesday February 16, 2005 (alongside our world first...

Rideouts: Feb 16 on

Each week we publish a list of RIDEOUTS being held across the UK. If you’d like to organise one, or check for the latest ones being arranged, take at a look at our Rideouts forum. Click here WEDNESDAY February 16 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. The Plough, Swinderby, Lincolnshire. 7pm. 01522-881736. THURSDAY February 17 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. Rochdale Road...

New boss for BMW GB

New boss for BMW GB

Adrian Roderick has become the new General Manager for BMW in the UK, taking the place of Pieter de Waal. Roderick, 46, joined the BMW group in 1986 and has worked on the car side and as boss of...

Video ads are so easy

Video ads are so easy

A picture is worth a thousand words and a moving picture is even better. If you’re looking to sell your bike what better way to attract potential buyers than uploading a video of it with your ad. ...

Summer hols on track

Summer hols on track

If you’re thinking of taking your summer hols in France this year why not time it to coincide with two new trackdays just announced. Eybis – short for enjoy your bike in safety – is using two tracks...

Two MCNs ? out Feb 16

Two MCNs ? out Feb 16

Two new issues of MCN hit the shelves on Wednesday, February 16, with two collectable front covers celebrating two world exclusive first tests. We’ve got the first test of the new Suzuki GSX-R1000...

Look what you missed!

Look what you missed!

If you’ve been away from your computer all week you’ll have missed a bag full of great stuff on motorcyclenews.com. Start catching up right here: We offered a round-up of all the best of the MCN...

Ad offer ends

Ad offer ends

Our 50% off winter sale ends at 8pm on February 11, 2005. This limited-time deal offers you massive savings on selling your bike to the biggest audience in motorcycling. Advertise in the world’s...

Zongshens arrive in UK

Zongshens arrive in UK

Three new bikes will arrive in the UK next week, all powered by engines from Chinese firm Zongshen. The biggest of the three is the MRX200 entry-level off-roader, although bigger bikes are planned...

Bike Meets: Feb 16 on

Each week we publish a list of BIKE MEETS on in the UK. Those listed here are for the week commencing February 16, 2005. WEDNESDAY February 16 Breidden Tea Room, Welshpool, Powys. 6pm. 01938-570053. Bulls Head, Clotton, Cheshire. 01829-781354. Bulls Head, Trinkingstone, Leicestershire. 01530-224327. Coach House Inn, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire. 01455-840330 or...