Motorcycle First Rides & Tests | Latest Bikes Road Tests

First ride preview: BMW K1600GT and K1600GTL

17 February 2011 by Marc Potter

We’re at the world press launch of the new BMW K1600GT and it’s even bigger K1600GTL touring brother in South Africa. Over the next two days we’ll be testing the new 160.5bhp in-line six cylinder BMW...

Michael Neeves – MRO Powerbike blog: Rain, crashes and Bemsee Rookie racers.

15 February 2011 by Michael Neeves

A soggy Brands Hatch Since it’s been resurfaced, Brands is super-slippery in the wet and now almost as bad as Donington when the heavens open. The Kent track used to be really grippy and you could set...

Staff bikes: Kawasaki GPz550 - 'I want to throw it in the river'

14 February 2011 by Steve Farrell

Sometimes fixing bikes can be almost as satisfying as riding them. But lately I’ve felt like dumping my £300 ‘bargain’ GPz550 in the river. Which is where much of it appears to have come from. More...

Video: BMW S1000RR onboard at Bruntingthorpe

11 February 2011 by MCN

Following MCN’s test of Kawasaki’s 2011 ZX-10R against its superbike rivals on road and track last week, which placed the ZX-10R third, this week we have taken them all to MCN’s performance test...

Road test preview: Kawasaki Z750R vs Triumph Street Triple R vs Yamaha FZ8

11 February 2011 by Liam Marsden

Next week the new Kawasaki Z750R takes on the Triumph Street Triple R and Yamaha FZ8 for the middleweight championship of the world. Michael Neeves wasn’t blown away by the Z750R when he rode it at...

2011 Suzuki GSX-R750 - full review

11 February 2011 by MCN

The 2011 Suzuki GSX-R750 has been ridden and rated by MCN – you can read the full web review in the bike reviews section. Read the Suzuki GSX-R750 review Find a Suzuki GSX-R750 for sale “After years...

Video: 2011 Suzuki GSX-R750 first ride

11 February 2011 by MCN

Like the new Suzuki GSX-R600, which rocketed to the top of the supersports pile in our recent group test, the new GSX-R750’s rolling chassis and bodywork is completely new. But it doesn’t get the...

Poll: 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 vs 2004 Ducati 999S vs 2005 Honda Fireblade

10 February 2011 by MCN

MCN’s Michael Neeves recently rode the 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 at the launch, and he reckons it’s so good it’s as fast as 1000cc sports bikes from just a few years ago. With that statement in mind we’re...

MRO Powerbikes blog: Preparing for the first race

09 February 2011 by Michael Neeves

I’ve been away for the past few weeks testing all the 1000cc superbikes in Almeria and the fabulous new GSX-R750 in Monte Blanco, near Seville. It’s times like these I still have to pinch myself –...

Ducati Diavel first ride: "I'm simply blown away!"

07 February 2011 by Phil West

MCN’s Phil West has just ridden the all-new Ducati Diavel ‘power-cruiser’ at its world launch in southern Spain. This is what he has to say: “I’ve got to say I’m simply blown away by the Diavel. It’s...

Video: KTM SMT ABS first ride

04 February 2011 by MCN

KTM’s new SMT has bucked the trend for ever-increasing bike prices – it undercuts the outgoing model by £350. Not only that, the new bike has ABS as standard where the old bike didn’t – and the...

Video: Ducati Diavel first ride teaser

04 February 2011 by MCN

MCN’s Phil West is currently in Spain for the launch of the all-new Ducati Diavel, which he’ll be riding tomorrow. Here’s a little teaser to whet your appetite, ahead of the review in MCN on Wednesday...

Video: Kawasaki ZX-10R takes on rivals

03 February 2011 by MCN

The 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R gets a host of changes for this year, including ABS and traction control. MCN has already tested the ZX-10R in isolation at Qatar where it was mightily impressive, but is it...

2011 GSX-R750 ridden!

01 February 2011 by Michael Neeves

Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves is currently testing Suzuki’s all-new 2011 GSX-R750. His full report will be in next week’s MCN but here are his first impressions: “We’re at the Monte Blanco circuit...

MCN video guide: How to back it in

31 January 2011 by MCN

Backing a motorcycle in is probably one of the hardest things to do on a motorcycle, yet racers do it all the time. So just how is it done? In this latest MCN video guide, senior road tester Michael Neeves talks you through his method to backing it in. Our onboard cameras give you a new look at how it’s done, as Neeves demonstrates the different steps to successfully backing it in. Watch the...

Video: 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R vs rivals teaser

31 January 2011 by MCN

The 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R gets a host of changes for this year, including ABS and traction control. MCN has already tested the ZX-10R in isolation at Qatar where it was mightily impressive, but is it...

MCN video guide: How to wheelie

28 January 2011 by MCN

For most of us, if we had to name one thing we’d like to be able to do on a bike, it’s pull wheelies. In this latest MCN video guide, senior road tester Michael Neeves talks you through his wheelie...

Which £1500 sports tourer? - The Honda CBR600F

27 January 2011 by MCN

I have a £1500 budget for my next bike. It needs to be comfortable and quick enough to keep up with my mate’s ZRX1200… Matthew Jackson, email We’d go for a Honda CBR600F – it gives you the much...

Bike vs car: cost comparison

27 January 2011 by Dan Aspel

Getting on a moped or bike costs half as much as driving a car, and we’ve got the figures to prove it. Our research below shows that a 17-year-old driving a car will have spent around £2640 to get on...

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R takes on rivals

26 January 2011 by Michael Neeves

Kawasaki’s eagerly-awaited 2011 ZX-10R is finally here and MCN is currently pitching it against its 1000cc, four cylinder rivals in Southern Spain. The weather hasn’t quite gone to plan and the...

2011 KTM 990 SMT - first ride

26 January 2011 by Adam Child

Senior Road Tester Adam Child is in Southern Spain at the launch of the new 2011 ABS-equipped KTM SMT. Aside from the anti-lock brakes the model is largely unchanged, but KTM are keen to point out...

World first test! Tiger 800 XC v BMW F800GS

25 January 2011 by MCN

In next week’s MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin exclusively pits Triumph’s new Tiger 800 XC against its closest rival, the BMW F800GS. And it’s a test with a difference. To fully explore the new...

MCN to race BMW S1000RR in MRO Championship

21 January 2011 by Michael Neeves

We may have just clicked into 2011, but my racing season has well and truly started. I’m pleased to be riding for the BMW Park Lane team again on their rapid BMW S1000RR in the MRO championship.

Insure your dream bike: Triumph Street Triple

20 January 2011 by MCN

Each week, we’ll take a look at one of your top rated bikes in MCN’s Biking Britain survey and let you know just what it would cost to insure them. This week, we use MCNcompare to find out what it...

Video: 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 blows away rivals

20 January 2011 by MCN

Suzuki’s new GSX-R600 is finally at the top of the supersports tree, after years of playing second fiddle to the competition. Find a 600cc sportsbike for sale We took the new GSX-R600 and its...

BMW S1000RR races car on Top Gear this Sunday

19 January 2011 by Andy Downes

After years of ignoring bikes, Top Gear has finally seen sense. This Sunday’s show will feature a BMW S1000RR racing against a £150,000 Ariel Atom V8 around the BBC show’s famous test track. MCN...

Video: 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 flat out!

18 January 2011 by MCN

Aside from a few minor parts the 2011 GSX-R600 is completely new. It’s a massive 9kg lighter, has lighter engine internals and a higher compression ratio. It also has a close-ratio gearbox, Showa Big...

Poll: 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 v Daytona 675 v ZX-6R v R6 v CBR600RR

14 January 2011 by Adam Child

Suzuki’s new GSX-R600 is lighter, has more midrange torque and extra revs, but can it beat the competition from both Japan and the UK? Find a used sports 600 for sale Senior road tester Michael...

2010 Yamaha Fazer8 - full review

13 January 2011 by James Keen

The 2010 Yamaha Fazer8 has been ridden and rated by MCN – you can read the full web review in the bike reviews section. Read the Yamaha Fazer8 review “The Fazer8 shares crankcases with the...

Amazing prices on used Yamaha FJR1300s

12 January 2011 by Chris Newbigging

Used Yamaha FJR1300s are looking to be the smart used big-bore tourer choice in 2011, with nearly 50 for sale in bikes for sale at prices considerably less than the equivalent Honda Pan Europeans. ...

Norton Café Racer SP v Triumph Thruxton – coming soon!

07 January 2011 by Phil West

In an exclusive first test, next week’s MCN sees Norton’s stunning new, all-black Café Racer SP – one of the stars of the NEC Show before Christmas – pitted head-to-head with that other great, British...

2011 Kawasaki Z750R - full review

07 January 2011 by James Keen

The 2011 Kawasaki Z750R has been ridden and rated by MCN – you can read the full web review in the bike reviews section. Read the kawasaki Z750R review “The Z750R features new forks (taken from...

Video: Triumph Tiger 800 vs BMW F650GS

05 January 2011 by MCN

This is our first chance, not only to ride the first official Triumph Tiger 800 on UK roads, but to pitch it against the very bike Triumph were gunning for in the first place: the BMW F650GS. ...

Top 5 most reliable sportsbikes

03 January 2011 by MCN

More than 12,000 MCN readers have responded to our Biking Britain survey this year, and your combined scores on the bikes you own and love (or hate) have allowed us to put together this definitive...

Enfield Fury first ride - 'More like slightly miffed…'

30 December 2010 by Trevor Franklin

It might look slightly odd, wrapping a worthy old Royal Enfield in US flat-track clothing, but there’s genuine history here. But whether the new Fury credibly delivers that character and history is a...

Video: Suzuki GSX-R600 first ride - 'It’s fantastic'

29 December 2010 by MCN

Just pushing it out from the garage and into the pit lane tells you all you need to know about Suzuki’s new £8904 2011 GSX-R600. It’s very light. As well it should be, Suzuki has put their supersport...

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