Latest Motorbike News

The Decision

21 January 2002

IN a hotel conference room in Arcadia, 18 miles North of Los Angeles Harley-Davidson unveiled the V-Road to the world’s press. We took the chance to speak to the people behind the V-Rod with an...

Quill Oval Stainless

21 January 2002

THE Quill looks like it will retain its looks over the years and the makers are obviously confident because they offer an 18-month warranty and lifetime corrosion guarantee. Sleeve options include...

THE radical styling of the bike was lead by a lot of inspiration from Europe. The bike that won best in show at Daytona bike week was actually from France and that made Harley really sit up and notice...

Venom Carbon

21 January 2002

THIS is the most expensive can in Venom’s 2002 range – aluminium options start from £195. All of them include a link pipe. This version looks good and fits easily. The internals are stainless steel,...

MV’s tribute to Senna finally arrives

21 January 2002

MV Agusta’s special edition F4 Senna will finally hit UK showrooms next month. The bikes – which are built as a tribute to three-times F1 champion Ayrton Senna were originally supposed to be on sale...

Kawasaki and Suzuki announce shared bikes

21 January 2002

Senior Suzuki and Kawasaki managers have announced more details about how the two companies will work together to share models. We reported last year how the companies were forging new links. Now we...

All set for the Ally Pally?

21 January 2002

The MCN-backed Ally Pally show opens this weekend. More than 60,000 people are expected to visit before the London show closes on February 3. Among the glittering attractions are Honda’s new V5 GP...

Dagar Titanium race

21 January 2002

A COUPLE of years ago, you’d pay twice as much for a titanium sleeve, but this new brand proves how popular the material has become – and how it’s lost some of that early wow factor. There’s no sign...

Aprilia cuts list prices by up to £975

21 January 2002

Aprilia has taken between £500 and £900 off the price of all its 1000cc V-twins. It’s clearly a move aimed at going head to head on price with its rivals, and means the Futura sports-tourer drops from £8875 to £7899, a saving of nearly a grand. The Falco all-rounder will now cost £6999, almost £900 less than last year. And the list price of the RSV Mille and Mille R are down close to £800 to £8099...

Tadao Baba: Father of the Blade

21 January 2002

TADAO Baba is one of the few men in the world that knows the direction the FireBlade will go in the next few years. The softly-spoken Honda chief engineer is rumoured to already have dozens of even more evolved FireBlades built and undergoing testing. We caught him during a relaxed moment at Estoril and coaxed him into spilling a few beans. MCN: Is Honda committed to developing the FireBlade...

Matt’s the way to do it

21 January 2002

Ride with Matt Llewellyn.

Bimota back in the showroom

14 January 2002

Bimota’s new owner says he intends to have the SB8-R superbike back on sale before the end of the year. Late last year the famous company’s remains were bought up by Italian businessman, Guiseppe...

Ruth wins chance to learn from Frankie

14 January 2002

Speed Triple rider Ruth Prior is the winner of our place on the European Superbike School in France. She will be given lessons by WSB star Frankie Chili. The 30-year-old, from West Sussex, said: " I am a really big fan of Frankie’s, he’s just the best. " Follow the link, right, to see details of the competition Ruth entered and the European Superbike School she has won.

Learning from Kevin at the Schwantz Suzuki school

14 January 2002

THERE’S a five dollar baseball cap hanging on my bedroom wall which is as valuable as anything I own. Every time I glance at it I’m reminded of the day I rode with Kevin Schwantz. Imagine calling Old...

Triumph Sprint ST

14 January 2002

Compared to the current VFR the Sprint ST feels a bit big, a bit flat and looks a bit dated. But for the type of rider Triumph’s aiming the Sprint ST at it’s obviously working a treat as it was their...

A moment’s reflection

14 January 2002

Edwards future must be bright judging from those shades.

Keeping track

14 January 2002

On screen displays keep you up to pace with the 2000 WSB season

Last 20 tickets to Ally Pally given away

14 January 2002

10 pairs of tickets to the MCN-backed Alexandra Palace and Road Racing Show are on their way to the winners of the weekend’s competition. That’s on top of the 30 tickets we’ve already given away last...

Mixing it with Haga

14 January 2002

Edwards takes on Noriyuki in 2000.

Edwards on it

14 January 2002

And he said he sometimes struggled with the handling…

Top Yamaha man hints at road-going M1

14 January 2002

A leading Yamaha development engineer is suggesting that the four-stroke YZR-M1 GP bike will spawn a road-going replica which could eclipse the R1. Ichiro Yoda has led the M1 project since last April.

European superbike school dates and details

14 January 2002

The European Superbike School has announced its 2002 dates, each one with Frankie Chili as its senior instructor… and you could win a place by entering our exclusive competition. The schools aim to give you a grounding in everything from body positioning to suspension theory. There are four levels offered catering from the novice wanting to learn how to be a confident and quick rider, to a fast...

Carnell-City offers deal on Blade insurance

14 January 2002

If you’re struggling to get insurance on a FireBlade, or being offered it at a price verging on the impossible, a deal from Britain’s biggest chain of bike showrooms might offer a way...

Rider fined £72,000 for 46mph in a 30

14 January 2002

A Finnish rider has been hit with what could be the world’s biggest speeding fine for doing 75kph (46mph) in a 50kph (31mph) zone. Anssi Vanjoki has had to sign a cheque for £72,000 after being caught speeding in Helsinki. Finnish laws dictate that the fine is means-tested and since Vanjoki is a senior Nokia exec on a telephone number salary, his payment was set at the top end of the...