Latest Motorbike News

How to go MZ racing

23 September 2001

How to turn an MZ into a race bike: They’re clunky, low-tech and have been objects of ridicule for years – but turning an old MZ ETZ251 into a race bike is remarkably easy. First, get yourself a...

Hailwood’s widow takes legal action against Ducati

23 September 2001

Updated at 5.30pm on Thursday, September 27 Mike Hailwood’s widow Pauline has spoken out after starting legal action against Ducati over the MH900e, or Mike Hailwood Evoluzione. She is upset over the...

Name an unsung riding hero

23 September 2001

We already honour the greatest rider of the year with our annual MCN Man of the Year accolade. And we recognise the best in motorcycling products, services and models with a series of other important...

Jeremy McWilliams: in his own words

23 September 2001

Emma: Just to let you know that Craig Kelly, from Chorley is racing your 1996/1997 Honda GP250 (second bike). He has just come second at the Ace of Aintree championship. He’d like to say it’s still pulling well and keep on riding well in the championship! My question is…what do you think of the scrapping of the 250 class. We are all so upset and angry at what the big boys are...

Touring on a Deauville, F650 and Tmax

23 September 2001

There’s something strangely satisfying about sitting in a field with just a thin piece of canvas, a few poles, a bike, some beers and a throwaway barbecue for company. Related: Full Honda Deauville...

TM ready to roll with new Supermotard

23 September 2001

Italian manufacturer TM has revealed a new 400cc four-stroke supermoto with a cast single-sided swingarm and a rim-mounted front brake disc. The TM400 Supermotard’s swingarm is similar to that on...

It’s a question of balance

23 September 2001

Steve Colley gets some on-the-job coaching.

First test of Kawasaki’s VN1500 Meanstreak

23 September 2001

Kawasaki’s MeanStreak isn’t just an excuse for another exercise in chrome. It’s a performance cruiser and a real blast. On an arrow-straight motorway in the Netherlands with my chin on the tank and...

Extreme Performance Blade

23 September 2001

It’s safe to say MCN road tester and ex-world endurance racer Dave Hill is impressed by Extreme Performance’s 2000 Blade. He blurts: ” This is excellent. Effin’ lovely. It handles, it turns in...

If the Clangers had trials bikes…

23 September 2001

Didn’t this used to be on children’s TV?

R1 at the TT

23 September 2001

V&M make an impression at the 99 TT

Kit turns R1 into GP look-a-like

23 September 2001

A new bodykit from France gives the R1 the look of Yamaha’s new four-stroke GP racer. Essonne Motos OW-M1 replica bodywork bolts straight on to any R1. There’s a headlight tucked under the nose and a...

Suzuki’s 2002 GSX-Rs

23 September 2001

Here are our first pictures of Suzuki’s 2002 GSX-R1000, 750 and 600. The only change to the GSX-R1000 is to its graphics. There are tweaks to the red/black/silver and blue/white schemes. The GSX-R750...

Mondial claims first owners will get bikes within a month

23 September 2001

Mondial is claiming the first of its new superbikes will be delivered to owners within a month. The firm used the Milan Show to finalise a dealer and importer network. The finalised bike has revised...

Budget MZ racing for beginners

23 September 2001

YES! I’m doing it! I’m actually doing it! Do you recognise those words? They’re what went through your head when you were in the process of losing your virginity. And they’re also going through mine...

World’s fastest bikes

23 September 2001

Fastest bikes in the world? Has to include an R1 doesn’t it?

Your 2002 new bike questions answered

23 September 2001

We were at the Paris Show on Thursday with many of motorcycling’s big cheeses and asked for your questions about the new bikes of 2002 to put to them. We had a huge response in a very short time and we’re sorry if yours is one of the questions we didn’t have time to answer. Many people who e-mailed in received individual replies. Others are listed below. Don’t worry if yours was missed out. We’re...

MV Agusta updates line-up for 2002

23 September 2001

MV Agusta has announced changes to its 2002 line-up amid strong suggestions that Italian scooter giant Piaggio is about to increase its 20 per cent holding in the firm to 100 per cent. And that’s...

See video of our CBR600 on the dyno

23 September 2001

My bike not only looks good – it goes well, too. With 10,000 miles showing, the engine had loosened up completely and was producing a genuine 95bhp at the rear wheel on the dyno of BSD...

Harley and BMW dig deep to help terror-rocked cities

16 September 2001

Harley-Davidson is donating the use of 30 police bikes and one million dollars to the relief efforts in New York and Washington. BMW has handed over 100 bikes to the New York Police department,...

Guzzi marks 80 years with birthday models

16 September 2001

Moto Guzzi has unveiled three special models to celebrate its 80th birthday. First, there’s the Le Mans Tenni which is based on the latest, half-faired Le Mans and named after legendary Guzzi racer of...

How do you tackle that?

16 September 2001

How to climb every mountain.

Does size matter: the answer.

16 September 2001

When it comes to the age-old pub debate of whose bike is fastest, there are two trains of thought. One states that there’s no substitute for cubes. It argues that horsepower and torque provide speed...

KTM unveils look of the 2003 Adventure 950

16 September 2001

KTM unveiled how its 2003 950 Adventure will look, at the Milan Show on Tuesday. The bike shown here is actually the competition bike, called the 950 Rally, and the firm has decided the Adventure will...

2002 Triumph Sprint and ST revealed

16 September 2001

Triumph has slotted a version of its 147bhp Daytona 955i motor into the 2002 Sprint ST and Sprint RS for 2002. The engine is identical to the one also used in the new Speed Triple, revealed previously...

Aprilia Blue Marlin divides opinion

16 September 2001

Some strong opinions are being expressed on our bulletin boards in the wake of Aprilia unveiling its Blue Marlin. The RSV Mille 1000cc V-twin-powered prototype is targeting the Ducati Monster. The...

Kawasaki ZX-7R

16 September 2001

THE ZX-7R is an old bike by anyone’s standards. Though it’s still popular, it has lost its way in recent years, as its slaying here shows. It managed reasonable speeds through most of the bends, was...

First pictures of Suzuki’s finished V-Strom

16 September 2001

You’ve seen our spy shots of the Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom, now here’s our first close-up and detailed pictures of the showroom-ready TL1000-powered V-twin. No official details have been released on the...

Falco gets new look and new name

16 September 2001

For the first time the Aprilia Falco has been given a sporty two-tone paint red and black job. The frame has been painted black and the upside-down Showa forks are now gold. The bike has even been...

So is it really true size isn’t everything?

16 September 2001

If it’s the fastest bike on an outright lap you want, buy the RSV. All but one rider found it the quickest lapper on test. It also set the fastest outright lap and was ultimately quickest in three out...

Haslam: Rossi and dad are my heroes

16 September 2001

Leon Haslam is racing alongside his all-time favourite bike racer: Valentino Rossi. Oh, and then of course there’s dad Ron. GP 500 racer Leon, 18, was answering your questions in a live web chat in...

More pictures of the Multistrada: will they change your view?

16 September 2001

NEW PICTURES ADDED ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2001 We’ve added new pictures of the new Ducati Multistrada in the wake of some cutting comments from some on our TALK NEWS bulletin boards. See below for...

The new bike launches of the Milan Show

16 September 2001

Here’s a very brief round-up of the new bike launches at the 2001 Milan Show in Italy. If you want more details, click into NEWS or LATEST ON NEW BIKES to see the latest launches. MONDAY: Yamaha...

Gilera unveils 600 SuperSport

16 September 2001

When we first showed spy photos of Gilera’s new SuperSport 600 in July, it was clear the bike was special. The first official pictures have confirmed that. And, if anything, it’s even better looking...

Aprilia RSV-R Mille

16 September 2001

This was the bike that brought the most adverse comments. Some loved it, some struggled to get on with it. Whatever, the personal views on its abilities, no one disputed the mega engine, though. The...

Sachs reveals new 805cc twin

16 September 2001

The Sachs B-805 uses a Suzuki cruiser V-twin engine, comes with upside-down forks and is styled by Target design, the firm behind the original Suzuki Katana. It is clearly a modified version of the...

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