2011

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSX-R750 video review

30 December 2011 by MCN

Senior MCN Road Tester, Michael Neeves has been living with his Suzuki GSX-R750 L1 for most of 2011. He’s covered over 10,000-miles, riding it everywhere from the TT to Ibiza, on-track and to the...

Harley-Davidson Switchback meets its match!

27 December 2011 by Phil West

The new Harley-Davidson Switchback ‘bagger’ (or custom tourer) has already impressed MCN testers – but how’s it measure up against its closest rival, Victory’s Cross Roads Tour? In this week’s MCN we...

Akrapovic Morsus: If Carlsberg built custom bikes...

27 December 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Factory customs don’t get any more ‘factory’ than this. Say hello to Morsus, a unique custom machine built for aftermarket exhaust giant Akrapovic. They commissioned specialists Dreamachine...

Staff bikes: Triumph Tiger 800 - Tiger’s stripes well earned

23 December 2011 by Ped Baker

Riding a motorcycle from Peterborough to Brussels and back in a day in November is no picnic. The 600 miles aren’t the issue, but being cold is. Even with good riding kit, draughts start to creep in...

Video: 2012 KTM Duke 690 first ride

22 December 2011 by MCN

KTM’s 2012 690 Duke isn’t just an evolution of the hard core Duke – it’s a complete revolution: 90% all new, with just 10% of its components shared with its predecessor. Read the first ride...

Staff bikes: Suzuki V-Strom 650 - Brussels: Further than you think!

22 December 2011 by John Westlake

I thought Brussels was an easy day’s ride from MCN’s Peterborough HQ, so was first to agree to join senior reporter Steve Farrell on his rabble-rousing EU protest ride last month. In my brain, I...

2012 Kawasaki ER-6n takes on rivals

22 December 2011 by Jon Urry

If you’re currently in the market for a naked middleweight you’re spoilt for choice. Every manufacturer makes a budget bike aimed at this segment and because of this the range of machinery on offer is...

Video: Triumph Thruxton JVB Brit Bob ridden

22 December 2011 by MCN

Cologne-based JvB are kings in the art of creating specials with attitude, and this is their latest creation – the JvB Brit Bob. Based on a Triumph Thruxton, the Brit Bob has been lowered by 50mm,...

2012 KTM Duke 690 first ride: Duke for the masses

22 December 2011 by Michael Guy

KTM’s 2012 690 Duke isn’t just an evolution of the hard core Duke – it’s a complete revolution: an all-new bike – 90% new in fact, with just 10% of its components shared with its predecessor. The...

Video: Kawasaki Versys 1000 onboard

16 December 2011 by MCN

So does a four-cylinder adventure bike make any sense? On the strength of our world first ride of Kawasaki’s pioneering, Z1000-based Versys 1000, the answer is ‘Yes’… and ‘No’… The four-cylinder motor...

2012 Kawasaki ER-6n vs 2011 Kawasaki ER-6n

16 December 2011 by Jon Urry

Kawasaki’s ER-6n is one of the success stories of the naked middleweight class. Originally launched in 2006, this pleasingly quirky looking machine has won an army of fans thanks to its easy-going...

Video: Yamaha XTZ1200 Super Tenere long-term test review

08 December 2011 by MCN

MCN’s WSB reporter Michael Guy has covered approximately 8000 miles on the Yamaha XTZ1200 Super Tenere riding across Europe to cover WSB races at the Nurburgring and Magny-Cours, along the length of...

Staff bikes: Yamaha Super Tenere - The continent-trotter

08 December 2011 by Michael Guy

The wheels of the big Yamaha Super Tenere have barely stopped turning. It’s been into France, Belgium and Germany for the Nurburgring WSB round followed by a jaunt down to Magny Cours for another WSB...

Kawasaki Versys 1000 delivers more for your money

08 December 2011 by Adam Child

So does a four-cylinder adventure bike make any sense? On the strength of our world first ride of Kawasaki’s pioneering, Z1000-based Versys 1000, the answer is ‘Yes’… and ‘No’… The Versys 1000 has a...

2012 KTM Duke 690 world first test

07 December 2011 by Michael Guy

MCN’s Michael Guy is in Gran Canaria testing KTM’s all new 2012 KTM Duke 690. “First impressions of the bike is how different it looks to its predecessor. It’s still an aggressive looking bike with...

New Honda Fireblade still on top after 20 years

03 December 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Honda’s legendary Fireblade is 20-years-old and while the weight, shape and engine capacity in fact everything about it has changed since Tadao Baba’s rule-changing 1992 original, the fact that Honda...

Honda NC700X: A brave new world

01 December 2011 by MCN

The NC700X is the latest ‘crossover’ bike from the stable of Crossrunner and Crosstourer. But what sets the NC700X apart is a price of £5850 and a claimed 78.8mpg. The subdued exhaust note,...

Kawasaki Versys 1000 first ride

30 November 2011 by MCN

The new Kawasaki Versys 1000 is currently being tested by MCN out in Tenerife. Here is Senior Road Tester Adam Child’s first impressions: “Putting its looks to one side for a moment – beauty is in the...

2012 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade first ride!

24 November 2011 by MCN

The 20th anniversary Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade is currently being put through its paces at the Portimao circuit, Portugal by MCN chief road tester Trevor Franklin. This new model now comes with Showa...

Honda NC700X first ride

23 November 2011 by MCN

Honda’s all-new NC700X is currently being put through its paces by MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin in Portugal. Here are his impressions so far: “Honda is promoting its new bike as a step up...

Ducati's 848 Streetfighter overpowers Triumph Street Triple R

17 November 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Ducati say their Streetfighter 848 is suitable for riders who want Ducati’s legendary sports bike performance without the head down, arse up seating stance of a race replica. And our world first group...

Staff bikes: Victory Cross Country - Victory on a roll

10 November 2011 by Mark Holmes

After six months with the Cross Country, I finally get to stretch its legs on a 1300-mile tour of Spain and Portugal. It turned out to be an eventful trip with plenty of ups and downs. The ups start...

Video: 2012 Husqvarna enduros tested

10 November 2011 by MCN

Husqvarna’s 2012 range has been revitalised as a direct result of winning both the E1 and E2 world championships. MCN’s Michael Guy tests all the new 2012 models to see how they perform. Husqvarna...

Rieju MRT 125LC Pro SM: Hottest ever learner supermoto

04 November 2011 by Adam Child

Rieju say this new Yamaha-powered 125 is the ultimate Supermoto 125, and have even given it the code name ‘Duke Killer’, referring to KTM’s new 125 Duke. In terms of performance, Rieju have a point.

Video: Triumph Speedmaster takes on rivals

03 November 2011 by MCN

Chugging between hedgerows, wind in your face, twin-cylinder engine thudding beneath you… it’s easy to see why so many riders love the idea of cruisers. The looks, character and torque make the bikes...

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSR750 - GSR takes on the Nurburgring

27 October 2011 by Liam Marsden

Rising at 5:30am on a day off isn’t exactly what I’d call relaxing, but with the GSR already loaded up and sat waiting patiently in the garage and the Nurburgring as the finishing point for the day I...

Video: 2012 BMW S1000RR onboard

25 October 2011 by MCN

BMW has updated its class-leading S1000RR superbike for 2012, with new traction control, a modified chassis and more low-midrange power. MCN’s Adam Child rode the bike at the launch in Valencia, and...

Traction control raises new Yamaha R1's game

20 October 2011 by Michael Neeves

The addition of traction control – which Yamaha says is the same system as used on the YZR-M1 MotoGP racer – makes the 2012 R1 a better road and track bike. But MCN’s world first track test also...

Video: Aprilia RSV4 v Nissan GT-R: Battle of the computers

20 October 2011 by MCN

Electronic rider aids are where it’s at right now, love ’em or loathe ’em, and the Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) has the smoothest, most sophisticated system of any...

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSX-R750 - Viva el Gixer!

20 October 2011 by Michael Neeves

Now that’s what I call a summer trip. 3397.6 miles in two weeks, on a bike designed for the track, but absolutely perfect for everything else too. From the monotonous motorways of France to the...

Michael Neeves blog – Off Road Skills

18 October 2011 by Michael Neeves

I’ve just returned from two days in Wales with Paris Dakar legend Simon Pavey, at his off-road school, or the ‘Odd Road Skills, powered by World of BMW and Husqvarna’, to give it its full name. It was...

Maximum muscle, minimum cost: GSX1400 v XJR1300 v CB1300

17 October 2011 by MCN

How times change. In the late 1970s and early ’80s, bikes with silhouettes the same as these machines would have been called superbikes. Capacity was king and the bigger the cubes the better.

Staff bikes: BMW G650GS - Bye-bye Beemer

13 October 2011 by Steve Farrell

Like many motorcyclists I’m sure, every day I’m watched through my window by my little lad as I get on my bike and ride off to work. So I’m not the only one who will be a little sad that BMW has asked...

Staff bikes: Ducati Diavel - No pain, no gain

13 October 2011 by Ian Jubb

As with all my motorcycle adventures, it started with poor timing and a torrential downpour. The panic to make the 8.15pm Brittany Ferries sailing from Portsmouth to St Malo meant I had to average...

Staff bikes: MV Agusta Brutale - Brutale turns storm chaser

13 October 2011 by Andy Downes

The plan was simple enough. The reality turned out to be a tiny bit different thanks to the howling gales that affected the North of England courtesy of Hurricane Katia. It was supposed to be a...

Gilsons Type 1: New Brit café racer

13 October 2011 by Michael Neeves

Owned by a trio of die-hard biking enthusiasts, this is Gilson’s first creation: the Type 1 Café Racer, yours for £12,500. Jules and Mike Gilson and Mark Robbins have based the retro custom on an...