2009

Video: Aprilia RSV4 vs Yamaha R1

Video: Aprilia RSV4 vs Yamaha R1

The Yamaha R1 claims its its biggest scalp yet by taking on and beating the brilliant new Aprilia RSV4 Factory in a shoot-out on the roads of Southern France.   Video: Aprilia RSV4 ridden on the...

Top 5 commuters under £2k

Top 5 commuters under £2k

If you’re after a bargain run-around or workhorse, look no further. Here’s 5 of the best commuters for under £2k, as rated by MCN readers in the MCN Biking Britain survey. Thinking of trading in?...

First ride: Triumph Thunderbird

First ride: Triumph Thunderbird

Phil West is on the world launch of the Triumph Thunderbird in Barcelona, Spain and these are his first impressions. Video: Triumph Thunderbird launch  ‘Triumph are heading into the big time with...

Top 5 best value bikes

Top 5 best value bikes

Here’s a top 5 countdown of the bikes rated highest for sheer value by user reviewers in the MCN bike reviews section. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for £9.99 Scroll down to see...

Top 5 hypertourer heavyweights

Top 5 hypertourer heavyweights

If you munch serious miles and like your bike trips to be more sports than touring, then you need a hypertourer. Here’s 5 of the best. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for £9.99 A...

Aprilia RSV4 review: 415 miles later...

Aprilia RSV4 review: 415 miles later...

At the world launch of the Aprilia RSV4 it was pouring with rain, so MCN road tester Michael Neeves couldn’t push the bike to the limit – until now.  Read the updated MCN Aprilia RSV4 bike...

Video: Aprilia RSV4 ridden on the road

Video: Aprilia RSV4 ridden on the road

The stunning new Aprilia RSV4 superbike is ridden on the road for the first time in a 415-mile trip from the Aprilia factory to Cannes and Monaco. Watch the video to see how it got on – is it as good...

Top 5 motorbikes for women

Top 5 motorbikes for women

You’ve probably heard the term ‘girls bike’ at some point, especially if you’ve ever owned a Suzuki SV650 or Ducati Monster 695. But sexism aside, a lot of us lady riders have specific requirements...

World Exclusive: First ride of the RSV4 on the road

World Exclusive: First ride of the RSV4 on the road

MCN’s world first road ride on Aprilia‘s new RSV4 has proved what an exceptional bike it is. But it has also highlighted problems that did not show up on the racetrack launch. New V4 Aprilia ridden...

125s test: new Cagiva Mito 525 v Aprilia RS125R v Yamaha YZF-R125 v Honda CBR125R

125s test: new Cagiva Mito 525 v Aprilia RS125R v Yamaha YZF-R125 v Honda CBR125R

MCN road testers give their verdict on the latest 125 racer-replicas Honda CBR125R For many years Honda‘s CBR125R was the perfect way to through your bike test. It was cheap, uber reliable, modern and...

Top 5 drag strip heroes

Top 5 drag strip heroes

In this week’s issue of MCN the BMW K1300S challenges the Suzuki Hayabusa for the speed title. But they’re not the only bikes capable of blistering straight-line pace… here’s 5 bikes that beg to be...

The best of British metal

The best of British metal

Since it’s St. George’s Day we’ve decided to get all patriotic and take a look at some of the best modern British motorcycles on the market. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for...

Kawasaki VN1700 Classic & Classic Tourer first rides

Kawasaki VN1700 Classic & Classic Tourer first rides

MCN’s Guy Procter reports from the VN1700 launch in the South of France. Kawasaki claims fans of it cruisers prize the firm’s heavy-industry heritage and the weight of these bikes certainly evokes...

Kawasaki Ninja 250R v Honda VTR250

Kawasaki Ninja 250R v Honda VTR250

Honda’s revised ‘mini-Monster’ VTR250 will be in Europe this autumn, giving another shot in the arm to the rejuvenated 250 class. But it’s already in Japan – where the VTR has existed in all its...

Harley-Davidson Judgement days: Take a test ride and win a bike

Harley-Davidson Judgement days: Take a test ride and win a bike

Harley-Davidson is asking riders to challenge their preconceptions and try out their machines with a four-week test ride campaign in all UK dealerships. This week is focused around their performance...

Half-faired but twice as practical?

Half-faired but twice as practical?

Are half-faired bikes the perfect compromise? They’re cheaper to insure and more comfortable than sportsbikes, plus offer better wind-protection and distance potential than naked bikes. Here’s 5 of...

Top 5 engines as voted for by you

Top 5 engines as voted for by you

Here’s a top 5 countdown of the bikes ratest highest for their engines by user reviewers in the MCN bike reviews section. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for £9.99 The top 5 rated...

Your opinions wanted on MCN bike reviews & bikes for sale

Your opinions wanted on MCN bike reviews & bikes for sale

At MCN we’d like to hear your suggestions on how to improve the bike reviews and bikes for sale sections of our website. If you’ve ever used these areas of our site, we’d like to know what you...

5 great parallel twin motorcycles

5 great parallel twin motorcycles

Is the parallel twin engine dead? A thing of the past or only good for powering boring commuters? The designers of these current models certainly don’t think so. Thinking of trading in? Sell your...

Yamaha MT-0X 660

Yamaha MT-0X 660

Imagine a bike more fun than the XT, plus more attractive than MT-03!

Video: KTM Adventure v BMW GS on the beach

Video: KTM Adventure v BMW GS on the beach

The KTM 990 Adventure takes on the BMW GS Adventure in this week’s MCN. Does the KTM have what it takes to beat the BMW GS’s blend of long-distance comfort and off-road fun? Find out in the April 8...

ZX12R creates future biker

ZX12R creates future biker

I visited some friends last Saturday and went there on my ZX12R. They let me take it through the house to the back garden for security as I was staying over for a party that night. My friend’s...

Video: Aprilia RSV4 first ride

Video: Aprilia RSV4 first ride

The Aprilia RSV4 is so much fun that despite a soaking wet track and pouring rain, MCN’s Michael Neeves didn’t want to give the keys back. Visit the Aprilia RSV4 information centre Neeves says that...

Report on riding a KTM 990 SMT

Spring fever is upon me so, being a fickle individual, I am considering changing my bike for something new. Perhaps not brand new, but certainly different to my existing BMW R1150R (Rockster – yes I know it’s a stupid name for a bike!). Having had in-line 4 rice rockets, I wanted a naked twin with a bit of pillion comfort and the Beemer fitted the bill. Continuing with this trend I recently took...

Poll: How excited are you about the new Aprilia RSV4?

Poll: How excited are you about the new Aprilia RSV4?

MCN wants to find out what British bikers think about the issues facing motorcycling today. That’s why from now on we’ll be running weekly polls to gather your opinions on all aspects of biking. ...

Poll: Which bike is the world's best all-rounder?

Poll: Which bike is the world's best all-rounder?

The world’s best all-rounder motorcycle is identified once and for all in the April 8 issue of MCN. What do you think will win and why? Let us know by voting in our poll and commenting on this...

Top 5 supermoto sportsbike-beaters

Top 5 supermoto sportsbike-beaters

KTM’s new SMT could be the bike UK riders have been waiting for – it combines sports bike style specs and performance with the comfort and practicality of a tourer or commuter, but it’s not the only...

Video: Ducati Streetfighter first ride

Video: Ducati Streetfighter first ride

The Ducati Streetfighter is Ducati’s answer to bikes like the Triumph Speed Triple and Honda CB1000R. Watch the video for Marc Potter’s report from the world launch and his verdict on how the new...

Ducati Streetfighter world first ride - UPDATED

Ducati Streetfighter world first ride - UPDATED

The Ducati Streetfighter is one of the liveliest bikes Ducati currently makes. And since it comes out of the same gates as the Hypermotard and super powerful 1098R, that really is saying something.

Poll: What do you think of the Honda DN-01?

Poll: What do you think of the Honda DN-01?

What do you think of the Honda DN-01? Have your say in the online poll below. Honda’s odd-ball DN-01 costs a whopping £9,223 OTR. For the same cash or less, you could pretty much have your pick of the...

Video: 1000cc superbikes test part 2 - on the road

Video: 1000cc superbikes test part 2 - on the road

The 2009 Yamaha R1 blitzed the competition in our 1000cc track test last week, but how will it fair in the place that matters for most – on the road? Watch the video to find out.   Video: 1000cc...

The evolution of the Honda Fireblade

The evolution of the Honda Fireblade

Since it’s arrival in 1992, the flagship Honda Fireblade has continued to re-invent itself and stay at the forefront of sportsbike development. In 1992, the original Fireblade moved the goal posts by...

5 of the best factory streetfighters

5 of the best factory streetfighters

Streetfighters have come a long way. What started out as a cheap way to make your crash-damaged sportsbike road legal again has evolved into a whole sub-culture and motorcycle genre. Here’s some of...

Video: Yamaha R1 v Honda Fireblade v Suzuki GSX-R1000 v Ducati 1198 v Kawasaki ZX-10R

Video: Yamaha R1 v Honda Fireblade v Suzuki GSX-R1000 v Ducati 1198 v Kawasaki ZX-10R

In this week’s MCN we have the 2009 1000s track test where we reveal which litre supersports machine can cut it best on the circuit. Watch the video for some action footage from the track test and...

5 of the funkiest single-cylinder street bikes

5 of the funkiest single-cylinder street bikes

A few years ago it looked like the single-cylinder street bike was making a comeback. In 2006 Yamaha released the MT-03 and Derbi brought out the gorgeous Mulhacen. More recently in 2008, KTM gave us...

5 of the best big-bore bruisers

5 of the best big-bore bruisers

Kawasaki recently revealed their new for 2009 Kawasaki ZRX1200. The good news is that the bike had been brought up to date with fuel injection and revised suspension, new six-speed gearbox and...