August

He’s come a long way

26 August 2001

The Boxer factory was started by a man with a dream. The man is Thierry Henriette, and the dream was to give the public the kind of bikes he liked to build for himself. The 45-year-old had been...

First test on Boxer VB1 Sport

26 August 2001

If there’s one race that can really appreciate beauty, it’s the French. Look at their women, their art, their fashion, their food and – just to make doubly sure – have another look at their women...

Here’s a first look at Boxer’s VB2, the Voxan-powered machine to rival Ducati’s Monster. The Toulouse-built bike will go on show for the first time, officially, at the Parish Show next month. Given...

Help shape the next generation R1 and R6

26 August 2001

Yamaha is asking for your ideas and advice on how the current R1 and R6 should be changed. You can post your feedback on this site in the relevant Talk Bikes boards and we’ll gather it up to deliver...

First stunning stripdown pictures of Yamaha’s M1

26 August 2001

SOME said it was going to be nothing more than a R1 engine bolted into a 500 GP chassis. But these first stripdown shots of Yamaha’s M1 four-stroke prove that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Gilera’s big-bore twins to power superbikes… and scooters

26 August 2001

Gilera has revealed two new engines, which will provide the basis not only for future V-twin Gileras but Piaggios and Cagivas, too. They will power everything from scooters to superbikes. The two...

Here it is… the 2002 R1

26 August 2001

Yamaha’s 2002 R1 will be faster, more powerful and even lighter than the current bike in response to Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 and the challenge of Honda’s revamped 2002 FireBlade. MCN’s exclusive...

Ducati trailie IS coming

19 August 2001

The long-rumoured big-bore Ducati trailie is finally nearing a launch, probably at the Milan Show next month. It will be powered by the same 916cc engine as the Monster S4 and ST4. It will compete with bikes such as the Cagiva Navigator, Suzuki XF1000L, Honda Varadero, Triumph Tiger and BMW R1150GS. An MCN source revealed Ducati has completed testing the bike on Italian roads. It is likely to make...

TT 600 gets naked

19 August 2001

Triumph is thought to be ready to launch a naked TT600 sports bike after this successful experiment in Italy. Italian Triumph importer Numero Tre has built a run of 50 unfaired bikes and dubbed it the...

Aprilia to launch naked musclebike

19 August 2001

Aprilia’s RSV-based naked musclebike has been undergoing road tests in Italy and will go on show for the first time at next month’s Milan show. It will have a similar twin-spar frame and the 1000cc...

First test of Borile’s hand-built café racer

19 August 2001

The Borile B500CR is an exceptionally neat-looking machine. The frame’s exaggerated curves are inspired part by function – to clear the round airbox covers at each side – and partly, says designer,...

2001 and 2002 Gas Gas bikes arrive

19 August 2001

The first 2002-model Gas Gas Pamperas have arrived in the UK – at the same time as the first batch of the firm’s 2001-model Supermotos finally arrive. The all-new Pampera is a lightweight two-stroke...

Yamaha updates revealed

19 August 2001

We’ve got exclusive details of two new Yamahas. Both the updated Fazer 600 and all-new TDM900 will be launched at shows this autumn, according to insiders. The TDM900 replaces the outgoing TDM850...

How would you like your R1?

12 August 2001

Yamaha has been asking for opinions on a whole host of new colour schemes for its R1. The bike is due a revamp and insiders now believe the 2002 bike will be offered in plain blue, plain red or in a...

Video: Hodgson goes for it on the Hodgson rep

12 August 2001

Click on the video links right to watch Neil Hodgson leaping high on the Hodgson 996S Replica. Don’t go trying this at home now, will you? This man is a professional.

SV650 goes enduro

12 August 2001

You’ve seen the half-faired version, you’ve seen the naked version, now here’s the enduro version of the Suzuki SV650. This one isn’t straight from the factory, it’s straight f;rom the imagination of...

1000cc V8 to power new Aussie neck-snapper

12 August 2001

What’s got eight cylinders, up to 175bhp and will be ready for sale within six weeks? Our artist’s impression shows the answer, the latest 1000cc derivation of the Drysdale V8 concept, a naked bike...

Biggest twin is full of surprises

12 August 2001

Honda’s VTX1800 may be the biggest twin in production but the huge weight doesn’t overwhelm even at low speeds. It actually handles surprisingly well. The majority of the 320kg (and that’s dry) is...

See the Hodgson rep in video action

12 August 2001

Neil Hodgson has been testing the replica of his WSB 996 on the Isle of Man… and getting incredibly high…. Now we’ve added video clips showing his high-flying riding frame-by-frame. Follow the link,...

First test on Cagiva Xtra Raptor

12 August 2001

The Cagiva Xtra Raptor is exactly that, a Raptor with a little bit more: a bit more adjustment for the suspension, a bit better handling, a bit more carbon-fibre, a bit less weight, a bit more...

"Coals to Newcastle" as BSA ready all-new twin for Japanese buyers

05 August 2001

ALTHOUGH BSA was once as powerful a force in biking as Honda is today, it may come as a surprise to some that the legendary British firm is still producing bikes at all, let alone readying an all-new...

First ride on the Hodgson Replica 996S

05 August 2001

Marc Potter has been riding the Hodgson Replica 996S and you can read his first test verdict here. Next week you’ll be able to see video of Hodgson himself on the bike on the Isle of Man. And the WSB...

New Suzuki technology will make bikes accelerate faster

05 August 2001

Motorcyclenews.com has discovered Suzuki is planning to start using an electro-magnetically-operated clutch which will work even better than the quickshifters of today. It is likely to debut on a...

Harley’s Evel past revived by new flat-tracker replica

05 August 2001

HARLEY Davidson are hoping to draw on memories of Evel Knievel and flat track racing with its new limited edition XL 883R. Modelled on the legendary XR750 twin which made the Harley name famous in...

First test of new BMW R1150RS

05 August 2001

New images added at 5pm, Wednesday The R1150RS is beyond competent. It is genuinely, spirit-lifting fun… whatever the weather. The changes over the old R1100RS are few and far between. Essentially,...

Buell’s Firebolt radical? We’ve seen it all before

05 August 2001

When Buell released its new Firebolt two weeks ago, it came with a host of unusual features. But how many of these are actually new? Is the bike a radical machine bristling with 21st Century concepts,...

Blackbird goes red

05 August 2001

Honda’s 2002 Super Blackbird will only be changed in one respect from the current model, it will be available in Candy Blazing Red. The eye-catching colour will add to those currently available;...

Revealed: Suzuki’s giant trailie

01 August 2001

We’ve been talking about it since 1999, now Suzuki has finally given it a name and a finished form, and here it is: the XF1000L. Our artist’s impression is just as you’ll see the bike when it is...

First test of Foggy rep Monster S4

01 August 2001

According to the crowds at Brands there is only one Carl Fogarty. Fortunately there is more than one Fogarty replica. First there was the 996SPS Foggy rep. Now there is the Monster S4 Foggy rep. So...

The new look of the R1

01 August 2001

This exclusive drawing is the most accurate impression yet of how the new Yamaha R1 will look for 2002. It’s based on detailed information from the factory. Only the colour-scheme is likely to change.