Latest Motorbike News

The fourth group of ten

11 November 2001

Rebecca Milner, 14, from Selby, also wants a bike when she’s old enough. FIRST VISIT TO NEC: Today. BEST BIKE AT THE SHOW: Yamaha R1. BEST-LOOKING MAN: Harley-Davidson’s dancer. BEST STAND: Honda.

Watch the stunt stars… or show them how it’s done

11 November 2001

Anyone can enter next year’s World Stunt championship, part of the MCN-backed Scottish Show. You could bag yourself a share of the £2000 prize fund. You don’t need to be able to rival the likes of...

Should ultimate Duke special be Monster or 998-based?

11 November 2001

THE ultimate Ducati special is on the drawing boards at John Hackett Performance. It will be based on a brand-new, hand-finished Testastretta engine, hot off the production line in Bologna and a Keppler carbon-fibre frame from Austria. But Hackett hasn’t decided yet whether to build the machine as 998-style race replica, or as a naked Monster. What do YOU want to see? A 125bhp Monster, or a...

Don’t worry, you’ll get your turn soon

11 November 2001

A race bike may seem far removed from our experience on the road, but the Tornado Racing is just the first step in the launch of the Tornado 900/3 Tre road bike. Benelli was keen to go racing because...

On-line auction for Edwards’ leathers goes through £1000-barrier

11 November 2001

The going price for Colin Edwards’ Castrol-Honda leathers has risen by £375 since we pointed you to the Riders For Health auction. But there’s still plenty of time to bid. Currently the highest bid...

The ninth group of ten

11 November 2001

Allan Davison, 40, from Chichester, Sussex, rides an Aprilia RSV Mille. FIRST VISIT TO NEC: 1997. BEST BIKE AT THE SHOW: Aprilia Blue Marlin. BEST-LOOKING WOMAN: The top-heavy one on the Piaggio...

Riders charity bags two Royal awards

11 November 2001

Riders for Health, the motorcycling charity which works to provide transport for medicine in Africa, has won the Prince Michael of Kent Road Safety Award for 2002 in two categories – the motorcycle...

It’s AKA a motorcycle…

11 November 2001

The NEC Show features plenty of jaw-dropping models, but few are quite as ” stand-out ” as this machine from AKA Design. But we want to hear what you think of it. The Hitchin, Herts-based firm...

First full test on Benelli superbike

11 November 2001

Halway through this year’s World Superbike race season a stunning green and silver bike appeared in the paddock and qualified for the two races at Misano. The Benelli Tordano had arrived. The even...

Watch our exclusive NEC Show video

11 November 2001

Choose from (MOV) Quicktime or (RM) Real Player downloads. The video plays for around two minutes once downloaded. It may take some time to download if you connection is not particularly fast. We...

100 people rate the best bikes, bargains and babes at the NEC Show

11 November 2001

We asked 100 people to choose their favourite bikes, the top stands to see, the hottest bargains to be had and the loveliest ladies to spot at the NEC Show. Check their answers to see if you agree or...

Yes, it looks amazing, but what’s under the fairing?

11 November 2001

Creating a motorcycle from scratch is no easy feat. Creating one that throws away conventional wisdom and can run in World Superbikes is unbelievable – but that’s exactly what Benelli has done with...

The seventh group of ten

11 November 2001

Steve Paston, 47, from Norwich, rides a Yamaha RD500LC. FIRST VISIT TO NEC: 1991. BEST BIKE AT THE SHOW: MV Agusta F4. BEST-LOOKING WOMAN: The Urchin stand girl. BEST STAND: BMW. BEST BARGAIN: I’m...

Triumph issues recall on range of bikes

11 November 2001

Triumph has issued a recall to have clutch cables replaced on many of its models. The Trophy is the only modern Triumph model to escape the recall, which affects bikes fitted with cables made by one...

CRESENT RACING SUZUKI GSX-R750

04 November 2001

£100,000 Power and torque Est 165bhp 72ftlb Weight, power to weight ratio 162kg (356lb), 1.01bhp/kg Acceleration (est) Standing 1/4 mile time, terminal speed 9.8s, 154mph Top speed 190mph Geometry...

Crashing on Tarmac

04 November 2001

Evel Knievel explains the pain of an 80mph crash

Meet Bayliss, Edwards, Xaus and Haydon in one go

04 November 2001

Troy Bayliss, Colin Edwards, Ruben Xaus and James Haydon will ALL be at Knotts Motorcycles in Stratford on Wednesday night, and you’re invited. Make the effort and you’ll meet the current World...

‘Maria’ looks set to be the oddest at the NEC

04 November 2001

No, this isn’t the latest toy delighting Japanese kids. This is a real, full-size motorcycle, and one that’s intended as a tribute to the Suzuka Eight-Hour. If you don’t believe us, you can see it for...

Best, wackiest and newest products to see at the NEC

04 November 2001

We’ve visited every stand to bring you the newest, best or even wackiest new products, and a round-up of some of Birmingham’s best buys, too. 1. Knox Aeropack £39.99 This rucksack has more features...

The testers

04 November 2001

When you’re testing top machinery you need top riders. Much as we’d all like to think we could ” give it good seeing to ” , it takes real talent to push a superbike to the limit. So we got a pair of...

Vital new report on bike theft due this week

04 November 2001

The National Criminal Intelligence Service will publish its first ever report into motorcycle thefts on Wednesday, November 7. They claim it will pinpoint hotspots and emerging trends in an organised criminal trade which is now said to be worth more than £3 million every month. We will bring you the report as soon as it’s available on Wednesday morning. The report is part of Project Contrail – the...

Repossessed bikes under the hammer

04 November 2001

Around 50 nearly-new motorcycles are being put up for auction as repossessions. There could be bargains to strike at the British Car Auctions venue at Bell Vue, Manchester on December 7. The firm has already held one successful bike auction, in October, and is looking to make them regular events. The bikes range from cruisers to sports bikes. For details e-mail enquiries@bca-group.com Thinking of...

Where to find NEC bargains

04 November 2001

D H Autos at hall 17, stand R3B has Akito commuter gloves for £15, down from £19.99, and Sportstars for £15. Padgett’s at hall 17, stand R5 has Spada Apex jackets for £85 from £105 and R1-branded...

News, as it happened, from Press Day at the NEC Show

04 November 2001

Eighth update: Thursday 5pm: German firm Sachs has revealed it is going to put its Beast into production. MCN’s Keith Farr reports the bike will be on sale by summer next year but no prices have yet...

First spy shot of Guzzi’s new water-cooled engine

04 November 2001

This hastily-snatched picture is the first to show one of the most radical steps forward Moto Guzzi has ever taken. It’s the firm’s first water-cooled production bike engine. The picture was taken...

The hardware and the details

04 November 2001

The school makes use of the Over The Top stunt team’s impressive collection of nutter tackle. The two-wheelers are a bog-standard Kawasaki KDX220 enduro machine and two motocrossers: A Yamaha YZ250...

MonsterMob Ducati 996

04 November 2001

£100,000 Power and torque Est 170bhp 85ftlb Weight, power to weight ratio 164kg (361lb), 1.03bhp/kg Acceleration (est) Standing 1/4 mile time, terminal speed 9.8s, 155mph Top speed 195mph Geometry...

First ride on Yamaha’s Road Star Warrior

04 November 2001

Yamaha’s new Road Star Warrior is no ordinary cruiser. With a mere 2000rpm displayed on the LCD tachometer (an arc of blocks which sweep around an analogue-style scale) the bike punches forward with a...

Virgin Yamaha R7

04 November 2001

£100,000 Power and torque Est 163bhp 75ftlb Weight, power to weight ratio 162kg (356lb), 1.0bhp/kg Acceleration (est) Standing 1/4 mile time, terminal speed 9.8s, 154mph Top speed 190mph Geometry...

Listen to the sound of the Benelli WSB bike

04 November 2001

Click one of the options, right, to hear the glorious sound of Marc Potter on board the Benelli superbike. The MOV option plays in Quicktime and the RM option plays on Real Player.

Lap of the UK… by Royal Enfield

04 November 2001

Travelling 3362 miles around the coast of Britain would be some feat on a modern tourer but antique dealer Graham Cashmore chose to do it on a Royal Enfield Clubman. The 50-year-old design means the 500c single was only really up for chugging along at 65mph a day, he said. But he was happy, and raised £4000 for charity in the process.

What did you say your name was?

04 November 2001

There’s only one Evel Knievel.

Big crowds

04 November 2001

The Ulster GP attracts one of the biggest crowds in UK sport

Another record

04 November 2001

Evel Knievel remembers the Astradome.

MACSPORT YAMAHA R7

04 November 2001

£70,000 Power and torque Est 150bhp, 68ftlb Weight, power to weight ratio 170kg (374lb), 0.8bhp/kg Acceleration (est) Standing 1/4 mile time, terminal speed 10s, 150mph Top speed 185mph Geometry Rake,...

What bike tests and features do you want next?

04 November 2001

We like to think we know what you want from our bike tests and features. Here’s your chance to put us right and win a unique prize, too. MCN features editor Marc Potter is currently planning his next series of feature and bike test ideas. And he’s ready and willing to listen to your suggestions. The best ones will be developed for inclusion on this website and in MCN the paper. Are there bikes you...

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