Latest Motorbike News

Bank Holiday off road

25 August 2004

Each week we publish a list of off road dates on in the UK. Theses are those for the week commencing August 25, 2004 – and includes those on over the Bank Holiday Weekend. Speedway WEDNESDAY August 25 Hull. 7.30pm. 01482-784848. King’s Lynn. 01553-771111. THURSDAY August 26 Ipswich. 01473-623640. Sheffield. 0114-285-3142. FRIDAY August 27 Oxford. 01865-711346. Edinburgh. 01501-734404. ...

New ZZ-R600 launched

25 August 2004

Kawasaki has revealed a new version of the ZZ-R600 based on a previous ZX-6R. Kawasaki is not thought to be bringing the bike to the UK. It appears to be essentially the same as the old J1 model...

Sportsters' Euro battle

25 August 2004

The Harley-Davidson UK competition to find the Best Sportster 2004 goes into its final round next weekend with 14 UK contenders battling it out with the best of Europe. The final, on September 4, is...

Bank Holiday rideouts

25 August 2004

Each week we publish a list of RIDEOUTS. These are for the week starting August 26. They cover the Bank Holiday weekend. You can find out about more rideouts – or try to organise your own – here THURSDAY August 26 IN-4 (KTM) Tracks and Trails. N Wales. 01270-768562. Royal Oak, North Kelsey, Lincs. 7pm. 01652-678544. FRIDAY August 27 IN-4 (KTM) Tracks and Trails. See Thursday. Fasttrack Trail,...

Cooler BMW leathers

25 August 2004

BMW has launched new leathers which aim to be more comfortable in hot weather. Black leather usually absorbs 95 per cent on sunlight, making them too hot and sticky in warm weather. The new BMW Black...

Book an MCN track day

25 August 2004

* This offer has now closed * Time is running out to join in an MCN trackday this year. Each of our days includes ample track time plus tuition from top instructors. Novice, intermediate and advanced...

E-clip: August 25

25 August 2004

The e-clip published in this week’s MCN has been taken offline since the paper went to print. Instead, here’s a clip of the master of slide Thierry Van Den Bosch taking backing it in to the extreme on...

Long termers on track

25 August 2004

A host of MCN long term test bikes and their riders enjoyed a cracking night at Rockingham on Wednesday. Editor Marc Potter was there with his blade, road tester Michael Neeves took his R1 out, road...

Bank Holiday bike meets

25 August 2004

Bank Holiday weekend is coming up. Make the most of it by getting out to one of the hundreds of BIKE MEETS held in the UK over the next few days. The ones listed here are for the week commencing...

Video: R1 for sale

25 August 2004

Want to take a closer look at a bike for sale before you go and buy? You can with the video clips MCN offers. Here’s the latest one added – it’s an R1 on offer at £4895 ONO. The bike is currently...

Sharpen your skills

25 August 2004

Free riding skills top-ups are being offered at BikeSafe Day 2004 in Chelmsford, Essex. Run from 10am to 3.30pm on Sunday, September 5, the free event features trade stands, observed ride outs, tips...

New Triumph 646 spied

25 August 2004

Our spies have spotted Triumph’s new Daytona 600 being tested with a new 646cc engine. It was spotted close the the British firm’s Hinckley HQ. The bigger bore is expected to raise power by as much...

Superbike stunner due

25 August 2004

A stunning new superbike is causing a stir in the MCN office today. We’re gathering first details – and seeing first pictures – of an important new four-cylinder sports bike which looks set to take...

05 ZX-6R: more pics

25 August 2004

Kawasaki has released more pictures of the stunning new ZX-6R – among them the first pictures of the bike in action. More spec has also been revealed. There’s confirmation of the slipper clutch (back...

Trackdays, Aug 25 on

25 August 2004

Each week we publish a list of TRACKDAYS being held in the UK. These are those for the week staring August 25, 2004 and includes events over the Bank Holiday weekend. WEDNESDAY August 25 Track Evening, Rockingham, Northants. £65. 01536-271100. MCN staff in attendance. FRIDAY August 27 Mick Boddice Trackday, Darley Moor, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. 01332-677079. Phil Bevan Trackday, Pembrey, Dyfed.

Race meets: Aug 25 on

25 August 2004

Each week we publish a list of ROAD RACING, MINIMOTO, HILLCLIMB and DRAG RACING events on the UK. These are those for the week starting Aug 25 and includes the Bank Holiday Weekend. ROAD RACING WEDNESDAY August 25 Manx Grand Prix, Isle of Man. 01624-644644 or www.iommgp.com THURSDAY August 26 Manx Grand Prix. See Wednesday. FRIDAY August 27 Manx Grand Prix. See Wednesday. SATURDAY August 28 ...

2005 ZX-6R revealed

25 August 2004

Kawasaki’s 2005 ZX-6R features a slipper clutch as standard, MotoGP-style fuel injection, wavy brake discs and a high-revving 107bhp engine. Full details are revealed in the issue of MCN dated August...

20th anniversary V-Max

25 August 2004

Yamaha has launched an anniversary special V-Max in the US to celebrate the bikes 20th year in production. The new edition is essentially the same bike but gets a special ‘Shift Red’ paint scheme...

05 GSX-R1000 unveiled

25 August 2004

This is the first official picture of Suzuki’s 2005 GSX-R1000. It promises to be even more powerful and even sharper handling than the current cutting edge K4 version. Engine capacity is up from...

Tested to the limit

25 August 2004

Most bikes can cope with spending all day on the road, but how many can cope with going balls-out on a track, non-stop, all day long? We took three bikes – one Japanese, one Italian, and one British...

GSX-R tweeks tested

25 August 2004

The tweeks to my GSX-R1000’s suspension have made a significant improvement to the way the bike handles on track. I rode Rockingham on August 18. Harris’s Ohlins suspension experts adjusted my...

In MCN: September 1

25 August 2004

In this week’s new-bike-packed MCN – out on Wednesday, September 1 – First official pics – full spec and the inside line on the all-new bigger-bore GSX-R1000. PLUS: New Supermoto DR-Z400 and bigger...

Bike meets: Aug 19 on

18 August 2004

MONDAY August 23 Castle of Comfort, East Harptree, Bristol. 7pm. 01761-221321. Lysley Arms, Chippenham, Wiltshire. 01249-652864. MFN, Shipley Gate, Notts. 01773-530313. Reubens Coffee House, Grantham. 01476-576742. Saddler’s Arms, New Yatt, Oxfordshire. 01993-868368. The Lazy World, Birmingham. 8pm. 0121-454-8282. The Newcastle, Tuxford, Notts. 5pm. 01777-870208. White Cow, Ilkeston,...

MZ 1000N revealed

18 August 2004

MZ’s new naked 1000 will be the cheapest bike in its class when it goes on sale next year. But this first picture, taken at the firm’s R&D HQ, shows it won’t lack style. The MZ1000N is expected to...

Video: Hornet for sale

18 August 2004

Here’s our latest video ad – this one sent in by Barry Pringle to show off the Honda Hornet 600 he’s selling. The video (see the link below) gives you the chance to have a good look over the bike and...

Crescent's big weekend

18 August 2004

Hundreds turned out to meet British Superbike stars John Reynolds, Yukio Kagayama and the MCN Babes at Crescent Suzuki’s open weekend at Verwood, Dorset. The racers signed loads of autographs and...

Owners celebrate GPZ

18 August 2004

GPZ900R owners from across Europe gathered in Germany to celebrate the bike’s 20th birthday. Organisers estimate up to 300 900R-derived bikes attended – including 42 from the UK. Discuss this bike ...

RAC staff choose bikes

18 August 2004

RAC headquarters staff are being offered bikes to beat the traffic nightmare caused by motorway resurfacing and repairs on the M6 and the Aston Expressway A38(M). From Monday August 23 to Friday...

Rideouts: Aug 18 on

18 August 2004

MONDAY August 23 IN-4 (KTM) Tracks and Trails. See Thursday. Plymouth MCC, Plymouth Novotel, Marsh Mills, Somerset. 7pm. 07899-954789. Classic Rideout, Sammy Miller Museum, New Milton, Hants. 01425-620777. TUESDAY August 24 IN-4 (KTM) Tracks and Trails. See Thursday. WEDNESDAY August 25 IN-4 (KTM) Tracks and Trails. See Thursday. King Billy, Northampton. 01604-621325. The Plough, Swinderby,...

M-way hogs accused

18 August 2004

If lazy middle-lane motorway hogs had a bit of lane-discipline it would do as much for congestion as adding 700 miles of motorway. That’s what the RAC is revealing today (Sunday, Aug 22) as the...

Riding schools: Aug 25

18 August 2004

Each week we publish a list of RIDING SCHOOLS on in the UK. These are for the week commencing August 25, 2004. THURSDAY August 26 MCN Honda Off-Road Experience, Midlands. 01933-674036. Track Sense Trail Riding, Kent. 08704-450600 or www.tracksense.co.uk FRIDAY August 27 MCN Honda Off-Road Experience. See Thursday. SATURDAY August 28 Phase 2, Devizes, Wiltshire. 01380-726018. SUNDAY August 29 ...

New ZX-6R spotted

18 August 2004

Sneak previews of an important new bike have been leaked on to the internet – and we’re convinced it’s the new ZX-6R. Kawasaki will be launching its 2005 range at the end of August and the updated...

Crunch time for our RVF

18 August 2004

Our long term test RVF400RR (on loan from DK Motorcycles) is in need of cosmetic repair work after a bit of off road action at a rain-soaked Rockingham on Wednesday night (Aug 18). Used Bikes Editor...

E-Clip: August 18, 2004

18 August 2004

X Games’ gold medal star Chuck Carothers shows just why he won the competition, with one of the best stunts we’ve ever seen. Click here to download the video

Shows/rallies: Aug 25

18 August 2004

Each week we publish a list of shows, rallies and open days being held in the UK. These are for the week starting August 25 and include those on over the Bank Holiday weekend. SHOWS FRIDAY August 27 Anglesey Motor Bike Show, Anglesey Showground, Galchmai, Anglesey. £15 in advance for three days and nights or £8 for day tickets, under 16s free. 0870-774-3541. SATURDAY August 28 Anglesey Motor...

Learner bike bargains

18 August 2004

Trail style bikes are very popular with learners with new Honda XL125 Varaderos selling very well. There are several in our BIKES FOR SALE section, like this 2002 model with 3600 miles on the clock...

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