2009

MCN’s Top 10 concept bikes that were never made

08 June 2010 by Phil West

We’ve all drooled over Honda’s CB1100R concept bike, willing Honda to bring it to the UK. On the other hand there was Suzuki’s B-King and Yamaha’s MT-01 that did hit the showroom floors. But what...

Chinese bikes get sexy

31 December 2009 by Phil West

This cool, three cylinder roadster is, believe it of not, the latest bike to come out of China! Dubbed the Vento Café GT its being built by PTS Motors and uses an air-cooled, 399cc transverse triple...

Moto Guzzi cash boost enough to make concept bikes real

31 December 2009 by Andy Downes

Just weeks after Moto Guzzi stunned the world with three gorgeous prototypes at the Milan motorcycle show, the company has confirmed it has received £9million from owner Piaggio. According to a...

New Aprilia RSV4 R on the road!

25 December 2009 by Michael Neeves

MCN raved about Aprilia’s new ‘budget’ RSV4R (if you can call £12,743 budget) when we rode it at Mugello in November. It was all going well until five of the launch bikes suffered terminal con rod...

Indian hybrid promises 280mpg

22 December 2009 by Andy Downes

Indian manufacturer Eko Vehicles is promising a hybrid electric/petrol capable of 280mpg. We’re just hoping not all future environmentally conscious bikes will look quite so ugly. Piaggio MP3...

Video: Electric Derbi GPR EV sneak peek

21 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Derbi is close to unveiling an electric race bike based on its GPR50 learner sportsbike. The Derbi GPR EV is revealed in this video taken by British company Sevcon in a test behind closed doors – the...

Honda XRE300 is smallest ABS Honda motorcycle

18 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Honda is releasing its smallest capacity ABS-equipped motorcycle – the XRE300 trail bike – but only in Brazil. The new Honda XRE300 is powered by a 25bhp air-cooled 291cc DOHC four-valve...

Aprilia’s 2010 Dakar competitor MXV 4.5 revealed

15 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Aprilia has revealed that it will be backing Team Giofil’s specially-prepared RXV 4.5 in the 2010 Dakar rally. The motorcycle has already notched up a 450-class win in both the 2008 and 2009 Rally of...

Hesketh Sportsman 1200

11 December 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

Here’s my idea of what a new bike from Hesketh could look like. I call it the Hesketh Sportsman 1200

World’s most important Honda launched

11 December 2009 by John Westlake

We might assume Honda’s VFR1200F is the most important bike on the Japanese giant’s agenda for 2010, and that the company’s desperately concerned about criticism of its iffy tank range, but chances...

New Yamaha Super Tenere 1200 video

10 December 2009 by John Westlake

Yamaha has released a promotional video of the new 1200cc Super Tenere – the upcoming rival to the BMW R1200GS, Triumph Tiger 1050 and KTM 990 Adventure. See the video here 2010 Yamaha Super Tenere...

2010 Triumph Bonneville Thruxton SE

09 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Triumph will sell a limited number of this new Bonneville Thruxton SE limited edition in 2010. The Thruxton SE is the first Triumph motorcycle to be painted in the new Crystal White paint colour,...

First UK BMW S1000RR dyno test: 183bhp at the wheel

09 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

The first test bike BMW S1000RRs have arrived at MCN and sister magazine Bike – and Bike’s dyno test has revealed it makes a real 183bhp! MCN uncovered a secret dyno test result sheet of a...

2010 Yamaha Super Tenere spy pictures

09 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

MCN has obtained leaked spy images showing the new 2010 Yamaha Super Tenere in production form for the first time. Yamahas for sale Greek website motorsite.gr was given the set of three images by a...

Read it and wince: Honda VFR1200F US price revealed

07 December 2009 by Guy Procter

Honda has set the US price of the new VFR1200F at a level guarantee to raise UK buyers’ eyebrows. More info on the Honda VFR1200 The new sports-tourer will sell for just £9,782 in the US – almost...

Ridley Enduro

07 December 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

Proposal to widen the range of Automatic American Bikes – Ridley. A scrambler/enduro based on the typical V-twin with CVT of this Factory, also in the military version.

Troy Corser marks BMW S1000RR dealer launch day

07 December 2009 by Guy Procter

BMW S1000RR factory rider Troy Corser marked the final hours leading up to the bike’s UK dealer launch with a string of appearances over the weekend. The former WSB champion has completed a hectic few...

New AJS 125 supermoto test published Wednesday

04 December 2009 by Guy Procter

Don’t miss Wednesday’s MCN for our exclusive verdict on this spicy-looking new 125 supermoto from AJS. The new £1795 JSM Super Motard 125 features what the firm claims is a super-smooth balance...

Kawasaki 1400GTR v BMW K1300GT - the verdict's revealed on Wednesday

04 December 2009 by Guy Procter

Kawasaki has the K1300GT firmly in its sights with its uprated 2010 1400GTR. Surly they can’t beat the German experts at only its second attempt? Our test in MCN on Wednesday will reveal all.

New 2010 Kawasaki Versys 650 pics surface

04 December 2009 by Guy Procter

Pics and spec of 2010’s eagerly-awaited Kawasaki Versys have been released by the firm, pointing to a refreshed and even perkier middleweight. Kawasaki USA says: Now and then, a clean-sheet idea that...

Triumph Street Triple: L675 Warbird

04 December 2009 by Guy Procter

German parts maker and modifier LSL has turned out this awesome-looking Triumph Street Triple, dubbed the T-L675 Warbird. Inspired by Germany’s Triumph Cup the bike develops 115bhp (20 more than...

Erik Buell Racing announces 1190RR, 1125RR and 1125R race bikes

04 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Erik Buell is revealing more about his independent race bike-building outfit, saying that three bikes including an 1190cc version of the 1125R will be offered. An 1190cc, big-bore version of the...

Norton’s Café Racer stars at NEC!

03 December 2009 by Phil West

The stunning new Norton Café Racer is proving one of the star attractions at this week’s International Motorcycle Show at Birmingham’s NEC. Video: Norton Commando 961 SE The bike, which was...

Ducati Multistrada 1200 prices confirmed

03 December 2009 by Laura Kennerley

The new Ducati Multistrada 1200 will cost £10,995 in its standard spec, it has been confirmed today. Ducatis for sale Ducati UK manager Tim Maccabee hinted it would carry a £10,000 plus price when...

Victory Cross Country bagger is coming to UK

02 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

The Victory Cross Country luxury ‘bagger’ is joining the Cross Roads as a late addition to Victory’s UK model line up. Victory says the delay is down to getting type approval for the bikes – Victory...

Victory Cross Roads: available in UK summer 2010

02 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Victory has confirmed it will sell the Cross Roads touring-cruiser in the UK next year – but it won’t be on sale until at least the middle of the year. Initially Victory didn’t include the Cross Roads...

Honda VFR1200F price announced: £11,596 on the road

02 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Honda‘s VFR1200F will cost £11,596 on the road when it goes on sale on Valentine’s weekend next February. More info on the Honda VFR1200 Honda has also been announced that it will come with three...

Asphaltfighters Stormbringer: the £52,000 280bhp, 200mph Kawasaki ZX-10R

27 November 2009 by Chris Newbigging

This is the most extreme road-going 1000cc sportsbike in the world: 280bhp, Kawasaki ZX-10R-based Asphaltfighters Stormbringer. Built in Germany, the Stormbringer takes a standard 165bhp Kawasaki...

NEC Show: Royal Enfield Woodsman and Lewis Leathers edition revealed

26 November 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Royal Enfield is showcasing its new Woodsman EFI and Lewis Leathers limited edition at the NEC show for the first time. Get all the latest NEC Show news The Woodsman harks back to the 1955 model...

NEC Show: Suzuki GSX-R750 special edition revealed

26 November 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Suzuki has unveiled its new GSX-R750 special edition to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the GSX-R name. Get all the latest NEC Show news Only 25 of the model, pictured here, will be available to...

NEC Show: Suzuki GSX1250FA makes UK debut

26 November 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Suzuki’s all-new GSX1250FA made its UK debut at the NEC in Birmingham today. Get all the latest NEC Show news The new 1250 is the big brother of the GSX650F, which was launched in 2007 and went on...

NEC Show: Harris Performance Harley-Davidson XR1200 race replica

26 November 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Harris Performance has unveiled a road-going replica of the XR1200 race bikes – before the UK series has even started! Get all the latest NEC Show news The XR1200 replica is kitted with a full...

New Bimota DB7R Diavolo Rosso unveiled

25 November 2009 by Laura Kennerley

This is what happened when an American firm decided it could enhance the exotic Bimota DB7R-. The DB7R Diavolo Rosso is the first bike with a load-bearing carbon-fibre frame and swing arm to be...

Ultralight Grace E-motoribke unveiled

24 November 2009 by Liam Marsden

This may look like just your average bicycle, but it is infact an ‘E-motorbike’ from Berlin-based company Grace. The Grace is powered by a 1300-watt motor, which runs off lithium-ion batteries. The motor powers the bike to a top speed of 30mph, while the batteries give a range of 31 miles and only need one hour to recharge. The bike will start shipping in January for a price of €5,877...

Royal Enfield proposals

23 November 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

Here are another two ideas of mine for new Royal Enfields. These bikes would be based around a flat tracker and Baja enduro bike.

2010 Yamaha FZ8: official first picture

23 November 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Yamaha has unveiled this first official picture of the new FZ8 middleweight naked – but nothing else. There’s no information or pictures beyond this headlight shot – Yamaha UK wasn’t even aware of the...