Latest Motorbike News

Piaggio tests 850cc twist-and-go bike

14 January 2002

THE world’s first full-size twist-and-go bike is now being tested in Italy. Piaggio’s850cc V-twin prototype has a fuel-injected sohc engine which originally designed for a big-bore scooter. But the...

You CAN stop the £100 supertax for bikes

14 January 2002

MCN is campaigning to stop what we see as a potentially grossly unfair hike in the road tax we pay for our motorcycles. The proposals are hidden in a DVLA consultation paper, which question riders on...

Life on the road

14 January 2002

Through the keyhole paddock-style

First production Tornados to be built by March

14 January 2002

Benelli’s long-awaited Tornado 900 will finally start rolling of the production line in March with first deliveries to the UK in May. These first bikes will be limited-edition, hand-built machines...

Triumph Daytona Centennial

14 January 2002 by MCN News

One hundred years ago a new name entered motorcycling, the now famous Triumph. Which is why we have the new Centennial Daytona 955i. Related: Full Triumph Daytona 955i review on MCN At first glance...

SmartWater spray could mark out bike thieves

14 January 2002

Security specialists SmartWater is asking for your help to refine a new system which would mark out anyone who tried to steal a bike. The best idea will win one of its current security marking...

Triumph Daytona

14 January 2002

The Daytona has been with us pretty much since the new Triumph company started selling us bikes. This version of it, however, shares little beyond the name with the original. Constant updates have...

New bike show on BBC TV

14 January 2002

Radio DJ Mary Anne Hobbs will present a new TV show about bikes starting on digital channel BBC Choice on February 5. She travelled the planet to gather motorcycling experiences, the most memorable...

Aerodynamic tweaks

14 January 2002

Air is a strange thing. On one hand it can’t stop a feather falling, but on the other it can lift a jumbo jet off the ground. It’s also the thing that caps a bike’s performance. If bikes could be speed-tested in a vacuum they’d be much, much faster. So it’s no wonder aerodynamics are taken so seriously. Manufacturers have teams of engineers dedicated to getting this black art to work for us. In...

How you can ride with Schwantz

14 January 2002

BOOKING a place on Kevin Schwantz’s race school is as easy as booking any UK track day. For details, just log on to: www.schwantzschool.com and see the registration form or call: 001-7709-677-207.

Official team statement on Corser deal

14 January 2002

Carl Fogarty today completed the rider line-up of his new Foggy Petronas Racing team by capturing the coveted signature of former team-mate Troy Corser. The 30-year-old Australian former World...

Triumph TT600

14 January 2002

TRIUMPH went so far with the TT600, a brave move in to the ultra competitive world of the Japanese 600cc supersports class. But just hadn’t quite got it sewn-up until now. There’s plenty of horror...

Could 996 power tempt you to a Multistrada?

14 January 2002

Sources close to Ducati say the ill-received Multistrada could be spiced-up by slotting in the 120bhp 996 engine shortly after the bike goes on sale in 2003. Sources close to the firm claim the...

Bikes you’ll find on sale in the Paddock Bargains area

14 January 2002

Here are the bikes you’ll find up for grabs in the Paddock Bargains area at this years’ MCN-Backed Ally Pally show. The information (and spelling) included is as supplied. SPONDON CHASSIS COMPLETE WITH YAMAHA RUNNING GEAR. SPONDON YAMAHA 1985 ALUMINIUM BOX FRAME. 400cc CD1 MOTOR. KEHIN FLATSIDES BUILT TO USE ON ROAD. FULLY REGISTERED. [ ‘B’ REG] WITH LIGHTS / HOM ETC. WHITE POWER SHOCK REQUIRES...

What made 34 the most famous number in GPs

14 January 2002

KEVIN SCHWANTZ can lay claim to being one of racing’s true stars. Even though the Texan retired nearly seven years ago, from the moment he took the first of his 24 500 GP wins as a full-time rider in...

Carnell-City organiser strips for naked weekend

14 January 2002

Carnell-City is running a ” Get Naked in January ” event at all its branches on January 19 and 20 to showcase the latest unfaired 2002 bikes. The Camberwell Road branch in London will run it on...

Ducati reps will debut at Ally Pally show

14 January 2002

A Bostrom replica Ducati will make its first ever public UK appearance at the Ally Pally show from January 26 to February 3. With only 465 Bostrom bikes scheduled to be made they are among the rarest...

Riding the ZX-10R Kawasaki should build

14 January 2002

Finally, someone has done what Kawasaki hasn’t – made a bike that should be dubbed the ZX-10R. Under the plastic is a bored-out version of the ZX-9R’s 900cc engine. It’s wet, and I’m worried the...

Your scores reveal Suzuki riders have more fun

07 January 2002

Suzuki riders wear the biggest grins when riding…but they are only fractionally wider than those worn by most riders of modern machinery. It’s just one of the results of our giant survey of almost...

Your experiences reveal the bikes to rely on

07 January 2002

Breakdowns are becoming fewer and further between with each new generation of bikes but a few faults do still happen. Which bike makers do you trust most to get reliability right? Close to 1200 owners...

Are we really abandoning sports bikes?

07 January 2002

Half of those who responded to a motorcyclenews.com survey will choose to ride something other than a sports bike or sports tourer this year. We asked you what bike you ride, whether you plan to...

Second-hand off roaders, tested by Chris Walker

07 January 2002

As Chris Walker heads for the dirt ramp flat-out, the tiny Yamaha whose neck he’s wringing starts to sound like a distressed tumble-dryer at full chat. A tumble-dryer that’s about to launch itself...

The 2002 Fireblade, tested on the road

07 January 2002

THEY say time flies when you’re having fun. In that case, we must really have been enjoying the Honda FireBlade because it doesn’t seem possible that the bike, through various guises, is 10 years...

New name and new bosses for M&P

07 January 2002

What’s left of ailing chain M&P has been rescued by members of its management team. A new company, M&P Direct, has taken over the mail order operation and the chain’s branches in Coventry, Oxford and Swansea. The firm went into administration in October and nine branches were closed in the following two months. Two former M&P employees – Martyn Lewis and Stan Hartill will be joined by Martin...