Bike news

Year: ALL

Bike sales are warming up

08 April 2002

BRITAIN’S bike dealers are reporting booming sales as the weather prompts potential buyers into the showrooms. The UK’s biggest bike chain Carnell/City reported sales figures of 1500 over the weekend...

Munich debut for new Ducati superbike

08 April 2002

Few bikes have been subject to as much rumour and speculation as Ducati’s 998 replacement – it could all end at the Munich bike show this September. For the full story on Ducati’s new superbike check out the new MCN, out April 10. Although Ducati is keen to keep the 998 in production as its mainstay road bike, for several years it has been working on another machine to replace it as the front-line...

Piaggio tests 750cc…scooter

08 April 2002

Piaggio is testing a superbike-sized 750cc V-twin scooter which it hopes to launch later this year. Disguised as an X9 500 at this stage, the new bike runs a smaller version of the four-valve...

Spanish flavour bikes bound for Britain

08 April 2002

The Spanish firm behind the sexy Kart 125 race bike shown below will bring us a 450cc four-stroke single-cylinder enduro bike for early next year. Sherco is better know for its trials bikes and 50cc...

Supersize Blackbird on 2004’s menu

08 April 2002

Honda’s Super Blackbird will get a major overhaul for 2004 with a bigger capacity engine, possibly boosted further by the addition of the firm’s patented VTEC system. For the full story, and a free...

Butlins rideout details

08 April 2002

If you are organising a rideout, or know someone who is, for MCN’s Spring Spectacular (starting Friday, April 12) send in the details and we’ll add them to our Spectacular round-up. See the link, right, for the latest additions, and ones you can join in. If you’d like yours added to the list, simply e-mail the relevant facts (start time, meeting place, who is organising it and their daytime...

Leaner, meaner CBR600 unleashed in 2003

08 April 2002

HONDA will unleash an all-new CBR600 next year. In the new MCN, out on Wednesday April 10, we’ll reveal the details on how Honda will use this much more advanced basic bike to grab World Supersport in...

Biking news from around the world

08 April 2002

The new MV Agusta F5 will make 183bhp when it is unveiled at the Munich Show in September. MCN revealed in February how the F5 will be the most powerful production bike in the world, seeing off the...

Test your biking knowledge

08 April 2002

Reckon you’re smarter than the average bear? Here’s your opportunity to show the world just how clever you are. Click on the link to our news boards on the right and test your biking general knowledge skills. And if you’ve got a question you want answered, or you can think of a really tricky one you reckon would stump even the specciest biking anorak, just e-mail it to: marc.potter@emap.com

Ducati’s destiny revealed by V4

08 April 2002

These are the world first pictures of the stunning new Ducati V4 GP bike. This is the bike that could change the face of Ducati for ever. MCN has managed to get hold of two exclusive pictures of the...

Ex-officers on The Edge

08 April 2002

The Edge training programme is on the look out for any retired police officers who have ridden bikes as part of their job and would be able to assess riders. There are shortfalls in Scotland,...

Cops clampdown on stunts

08 April 2002

Police will issue Antisocial Behaviour Orders on riders who repeatedly pull stunts, ride with illegal plates and cans or ride dangerously. You can catch the full story on the clampdown in the new MCN,...

MCN’s Spring Spectacular at Butlins

08 April 2002

It’s that time of year again – pack the missus (maybe), a change of pants (if you’re feeling lucky), and a packet of extra-strength aspirin (better make that two). The MCN Spring Spectacular at...

New Michelin tyres tested

08 April 2002

Michelin has launched a new sports touring tyre to replace its Macadam 100X. For the full story on the new Michelin Pilot Road tryes, don’t miss the new MCN, out April 10. The Pilot Road lines up with...

MZ sports-tourer this autumn

08 April 2002

MZ’S sports-tourer will go on sale in the UK by the end of this year. The factory says the long-awaited 1000S, first revealed in September 2000, should be released just after the Munich Show this...

Want a Drysdale? Prepare for a long wait

08 April 2002

THE new 140bhp V8 Drysdale has finally hit the streets. But anyone prepeared to meet the £25,000 asking price will have to wait up to six months before they see their bike. For the full story, and a...

Harley rival folds

01 April 2002

Failed U.S. manufacturer Excelsior Henderson has given up all hope of a recovery as creditors have sold off the contents of its factory. When Excelsior started selling bikes in early 1999, it had big...

Ride a CCM home for £246

01 April 2002

THE first of the new Suzuki-powered CCMs hits the shops this Friday – and you could ride away on one for £246, including insurance. CCM is marking the occasion with a combined finance and insurance...

Ducati unveils V4 GP bike

01 April 2002

Ducati has released its first pictures of the V4 GP bike which could change the face of the Italian firm for ever. Ducati worked closely with us to allow MCN exclusive access to the pictures and key personnel well in advance of its general release on Monday afternoon. That means our next issue, out on Wednesday, April 3, is able to bring you unmatchable pictures and exclusive coverage of how the...

Security at your fingertips

01 April 2002

Kawasaki is pioneering a new fingerprint-based ignition system factory sources have told MCN. The system can function on anything from bikes and cars to windows and televisions. A physical ignition...

Bimota rescue bid fails

01 April 2002

A buyout of ailing superbike firm Bimota has fallen through, leaving rescue plans in tatters. In December last year, the firm – which was being auctioned off by Italian courts after falling into...

Chainstore deals, individual service

01 April 2002

Wide choice and the kind of great deals we demand from a bike superstore, is one thing. Combining that with the sort of service and knowledgeable staff you expect from your local friendly bike shop is...

Rider’s blind faith at 150mph

01 April 2002

Reckon you could ride this at 150mph? In a blindfold? With earplugs in? Graham Hicks is both blind and deaf, but he’ll be aiming to pilot this Super Blackbird-based device to a new world record this...

Italians unite to drive down costs

01 April 2002

Italian manufacturers are teaming up to prevent being undercut by their Japanese competitors. Piaggio and Aprilia have already agreed to a trade alliance to secure cheaper parts and Ducati is being...

Have you seen the new MCN?

01 April 2002

We want to know what you think about the new MCN. It’s out now with an exclusive first road test of the Benelli Tornado, first pictures of an all-new Triumph and unique insight into the Ducati V4...

Suggs’ insurance madness

01 April 2002

Pop star and TV presenter Suggs – real name Graham McPherson – was left thinking he wasn’t the only nutty boy involved when insurers refused to cover him to ride a Moto Guzzi. The Italian firm’s UK arm paid for the Madness frontman to pass his test and had a freebie 72bhp California Stone lined up for him for publicity purposes. But insurance firms wouldn’t cover him. They feared he would be...

Benelli Tornando first test

01 April 2002

Benelli has allowed us a first taste of its new Tornado Limited Edition – and preliminary impressions are that the £22,500 machine goes as good as it looks. You can read Marc Potter’s full test in...

April 3 is coming…

25 March 2002

MCN is counting down to a major relaunch on April 3. That issue will come complete with 20 per cent more of what you want, and every issue after it will come with more pages, offering even better value than ever before. We’ll be adding new elements, reacting to the things you tell us you want, and coming up with plenty of surprises. But rest assured, we won’t forget the things you know and...