Bike news

2005 Suzuki cruisers

2005 Suzuki cruisers

Suzuki’s 2005 cruiser line-up has been launched in the U.S. with a new model and completely new names for the whole range. All Suzuki cruisers are now called Boulevards in the US but it is not yet...

Rider shot dead in clash

A rider has been shot dead after being deliberately knocked off his bike by a Mercedes-driving gang. He was shot several times as he ran from the two-or-more occupants of the car. The incident happened in Camberwell, south London, on Saturday, July 3. The victim was named today, July 5. Eric Akinniranye, 25, was on release from a 10-year prison sentence for firearm offences, police say. Initial...

Keep your eyes open

There is a simple lesson to be learnt here: When on a ride-out always watch what your mates in front are doing in front Click here to see the video

Rapid Skills day

Rapid Skills day

There’s not much point in having a sports bike if you don’t know how to use it properly. Having only ever owned all-rounders before I thought it was about time to learn some fast riding skills now...

Bikes in car pool lanes?

Bikes in car pool lanes?

New lanes to cut congestion for car sharers on motorways are expected to be announced by the Government, but there is no indication whether motorcycles will also have access to the ‘car-pool’...

£3000 of variety

£3000 of variety

It’s not too late to make a switch to a new bike in time for summer, and you can find a huge range to choose from in just a couple of minutes. Just £3000 opens up everything from an all-purpose 600cc...

Can you beat this?

It’s the moment when pound signs flash before your eyes, your stomach makes balletic manoeuvres and your sphincter breaks out the morse code to spell out S-O-S. And free, in MCN, out on Wednesday July 7, there’s a whole supplement dedicated to it – Trackday crashes. Take a browse through them and then tell us – have you done better? If you’ve ever had a crash that’s been captured on film (or the...

Ride in a road test today

Ride in a road test today

You could be riding in a road test by this afternoon – July 5. To be in with a chance you have to be someone who has recently passed their test – and relatively close to Peterborough, Cambs, as that’s...

Share your superstitions

Share your superstitions

Have you got a biking superstition? Are you like Valentino Rossi who always goes through the same crouching routine before he gets on a bike? Maybe you are one of those riders who rolls around on the...

Real price for 600s

Real price for 600s

How much should you really pay for your new sports 600? The recommended retail price that manufacturers issue is only a guide price, and most dealers have got plenty of room to manoeuvre. A little bit...

Speed limits on IOM

Speed limits on IOM

Speed limits could soon be imposed on every Isle of Man road. It would bring an end to decades of freedom on the Island that attracts thousands to the TT. The speed limit suggestion is in a Manx...

In MCN: July 7

In MCN: July 7

This week’s issue of MCN, out on Wednesday July 7, includes scoop details on the new GSX-R1000, a FREE supplement of all-new trackday crashes, the rumbling mayhem of our Triumph Rocket III shootout...

Powersports open day

Powersports open day

Powersport bikes in Bradford are holding an open weekend on July 10 and 11 with test rides on the 2004 Suzukis, a bike show, trade stands and dyno run. You’ll be able to ride anything from a GSX-R1000...

Bike meets: June 30 on

Each week we publish a list of BIKE MEETS in the UK. These are those for the week starting June 30. If you want to discuss any of the meets, or arrange to meet at one, click here. WEDNESDAY June 30 Bulls Head, Trinkingstone, Leics. 01530-224327. Coach House Inn, Kirkby Mallory, Leics. 01455-840330. Crown Inn, Salisbury, Wiltshire. 6pm. 01980-629247. Fishermans Inn, Rochdale. 01706-378168. ...

Living with a CBR600F

Living with a CBR600F

Too much cold tyre acceleration ruined the first set of new tyres I put on the CBR but when I had the new Pirellis fitted the different profile made the tyre rub on the Hugger that was fitted to the...

Diesel recall row

Diesel recall row

A diesel van maker is refusing to issue a recall despite users warning that its fuel tanks need reinforcing to prevent spills. Iveco changed the design of its Daily van in April this year – raising...

GSX-R breezes service

GSX-R breezes service

My GSX-R1000 has sailed through its first service – and that’s a stage further than the first one I had this year… That one, you may recall, got stolen the day before it was booked in for its first...

Race dates: June 30 on

MINIMOTO WEDNESDAY June 30 Minimoto Arrive and Ride, GP Karting, Northampton. 01604-591591. SATURDAY July 3 Phoenix Racing – North of England and Eastern Counties Championship, Rowrah, Cumbria. 0870-443-6813. SUNDAY July 4 Phoenix Racing – North of England and Eastern Counties Championship. See Saturday. Minimoto Arrive and Ride, Trax Motorsports, Preston. 10am. 01772-731832. TUESDAY July 6 ...

Track days: June 30 on

Each week we publish a simple list of the TRACKDAYS happening in the UK. These happen in the week starting June 30… WEDNESDAY June 30 Track Evening, Rockingham, Northants. £65. 01536-271100. THURSDAY July 1 C&C Trackdays, Cadwell Park, Louth, Lincs. £99. 07919-050345. California Superbike Race School, Rockingham (see Long Term Test bikes) FRIDAY July 2 100% Bikes Trackday, Cadwell Park, Lincs.

Ride out with Yuki

Ride out with Yuki

Rizla Suzuki British Superbike rider Yukio Kagayama will be leading a ride-out to the Poole Quay bike meet, on Tuesday July 6, from his team’s base of operations at the Crescent Performance Centre in...

Are crashes our fault?

Are crashes our fault?

Blame for bike accidents is usually pointed straight at us, but we don’t think it’s that straight forward. We want to find out what the real causes are. If you’ve had an accident in the last twelve...

Shows: June 30 on

Here are the shows and open days happening in the week commencing June 30, 2004 OPEN DAYS WEDNESDAY June 30 Open Day, GT Motorcycles, Paignton, Devon. 01726-75999. SATURDAY July 3 Keep Your Head Campaign, In2Motorcycles, Kettering, Northants. 01604-763438 or 07860-108249. SUNDAY July 4 Italian and German Day, Sammy Miller Museum, Bashley Manor, New Milton, Hampshire.

Rideouts; June 30 on

Each week we publish a list of RIDEOUTS. These are for the week commencing June 30, 2004. If you’d like to organise your own rideout, post on our rideouts board, in road riding. You’ll find it by first clicking on HAVE YOUR SAY from our main navigation board. WEDNESDAY June 30 King Billy, Northampton, Northants. 01604-621325. The Plough, Swinderby, Lincs. 7pm. 01522-881736. Purbeck and District...

Advisor slams bike skills

Advisor slams bike skills

‘Improving motorcyclists skills merely means they kill themselves in a more skilled way,’ according to one of the Government’s top advisors on transport. And when MCN contacted Robert Gifford to...

Cruiser chaos at MCN

Cruiser chaos at MCN

The news that a Honda Rune was in the MCN car park was enough to see the office empty this morning, Wednesday June 30, 2004. The added news that there was a Triumph Rocket and a Boss Hoss parked next...

'You're all crap riders'

'You're all crap riders'

GMTV’s Fiona Phillips is the latest ‘celebrity’ to jump on the anti-biking bandwagon. First Jeremy Clarkson wrote about stringing wires across roads to tackle motorcyclists, then BAND – a regional...

Track days: June 23 on

Each week we publish a simple list of TRACK DAYS. The following is for the week commencing June 23. THURSDAY June 24 100% Bikes Trackday, Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire. £99 0870-8722532 or www.100pc.co.uk 100% Bikes Trackday, Lydden Hill, Kent. £110 0870-8722532 or www.100pc.co.uk Speedfreak Trackday, Mallory Park, Leicestershire. £99 01625-859969. FRIDAY June 25 Red Piranha Racing, Cadwell Park,...

Bike meets: June 23 on

Each week we publish a list of bike meets in the UK. These are for the week starting June 23, 2004: WEDNESDAY June 23 Bulls Head, Trinkingstone, Leicestershire. 01530-224327. Crown Inn, Salisbury, Wiltshire. 6pm. 01980-629247. Fishermans Inn, Rochdale, Greater Manchester. 01706-378168 or www.the-fishermans.com Horseshoe, Silk Willoughby, Lincolnshire. 01529-303153. MFN, Shipley Gate, Notts.

More bikes at Goodwood

More bikes at Goodwood

Nearly 150,000 people turned up at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend and there were more bikes there than ever as it was the first time the festival didn’t clash with the British...

BMWs escort torch

BMWs escort torch

Ten BMW R1200GS bikes are guarding the runners carrying the Olympic flame as it makes its way from London to Athens for the start of the summer games on August 13. Each torch bearer runs for about a...

Prices you should pay

Prices you should pay

Have you just bought a new bike? Are you planning to? We want to track the real prices real riders are paying right now to create the most accurate price tracker you’ll ever see. Share your feedback...

Off road: June 30 on

Each week we publish a list of the ENDURO, MOTOCROSS AND TRIALS events in the UK. These are those for the week commencing June 30, 2004. Click here to discuss any of the events. ENDURO SATURDAY July 3 Practice Day, Buildwas, Shropshire. 01952-432281. SUNDAY July 4 Ride-It, Exeter, Devon. 01404-861212. Cotswold EC, Owthorpe, Leics. 01162-202332. Seaton Delaval and DMC, Pauperhaugh, Northumberland.

2005 Yamaha YZs launch

2005 Yamaha YZs launch

Yamaha has unveiled it’s 2005 range of YZ off-road bikes at the Belgian motocross Grand Prix in Neeroeteren (Saturday, June 26, 2004). The two-stroke 125cc and 250cc bikes both feature aluminium...

Mobile menace probed

Mobile menace probed

MCN has investigated the menace of mobile phones and has photographed and shamed drivers who continue to flout the law. In three hours we saw 39 drivers in two counties using hand-held mobiles while...

Sheene TZ sold for £20k

Sheene TZ sold for £20k

A unique piece of racing history has gone under the hammer – Barry Sheene’s Yamaha TZ500 GP bike. The 1980 machine – sold by former team-mate Steve Parrish – rasied just over £20,000. But that’s...

In MCN's June 30 issue...

In MCN's June 30 issue...

This week’s MCN, out on June 30, 2004 includes a FREE supplement to improve your riding the Mick Doohan way. The five times world champion will have you riding smoother, cornering better and going...