2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Electric superbike launched with new video

06 November 2009 by John Westlake

The company that built the world’s first electric superbike has unveiled the machine at the SEMA tuning show in the US. The company has produced a new video of the bike to accompany the launch. The Mavizen – which was first shown in MCN two weeks ago – is based around a KTM RC8. It has a lithium-ion battery, and a claimed top speed of 131mph. The bike’s expected to cost about £25,000 in...

New fuel-injected RMZ250 breaks cover

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

New fuel-injected RMZ250 breaks cover

Visitors to the Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh got their first public glimpse of the 2010 Suzuki RMZ250 – the first MX2 race bike equipped with electronic fuel injection. The 2010 &7mm bore x 53.6mm...

World premier: Sherco st2.9 trials bike

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

World premier: Sherco st2.9 trials bike

Sherco launched their all-new st2.9 trials bike at the Dirt Bike Show, Stoneleigh today. The 290cc two-stroke single had not even been shown to the Spanish press and fans when the UK importer, Malcolm...

Sherco’s new 300cc enduro

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Sherco’s new 300cc enduro

Sherco have developed a new 300cc fuel-injected enduro machine to suit the trail rider. The SE 3.0i-f was launched at the Dirt Bike Show, Stoneleigh today. Sherco’s Martin Rathmell told MCN: “The new...

KTM’s new cross-country quad

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

KTM’s new cross-country quad

KTM unveiled its new road-legal, cross-country quad at the Stoneleigh Dirt Bike Show today. Dubbed the 525XC ATV it features a revised version of the race-bred single-cylinder engine used in KTM’s...

First glimpse of Husqvarna’s 2010 125 two-strokes

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

First glimpse of Husqvarna’s 2010 125 two-strokes

It is several months since Husqvarna launched their 2010 range of off-road machines but visitors at the Dirt Bike Show, Stoneleigh today got their first look at the firm’s CR125 and WR125 two-strokes...

New Husaberg FE390 enduro

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

New Husaberg FE390 enduro

Husaberg launched its brand new FE390 enduro machine for the first time in the UK at the Dirt Bike Show, Stoneleigh Park yesterday. The 393.3cc four-valve, four-stroke, fuel-injected, six-speed,...

My new Moto Guzzi designs

05 November 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

My new Moto Guzzi designs

Here are my designs for three new Moto Guzzis. Based on the 1200 eight-valve engine are the fully faired Daytona R, the half faired Daytona S and the naked Sport 8V.

Spot the difference: 2007 Vs 2010 R1200 GS Adventure

05 November 2009 by Andy Downes

Spot the difference: 2007 Vs 2010 R1200 GS Adventure

BMW are claiming there are a multitude of changes to the new R1200GS but we reckon its going to take a pretty keen eye to spot all of the changes. How do you think you can do. The new BMW R1200GS has...

BMW R1200RT gets twin cam motor for 2010

05 November 2009 by Andy Downes

BMW R1200RT gets twin cam motor for 2010

The BMW R1200RT is getting a new double overhead camshaft engine in common with the new BMW R1200GS with more power and a better fairing for even better comfort. BMW motorcycles for sale The R1200RT...

2010 BMW R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure first official photographs

05 November 2009 by Andy Downes

2010 BMW R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure first official photographs

BMW‘s massive-selling R1200GS has been given an engine overhaul for 2010 as the firm attempts to keep the bike at the top of the sales league and head-off opposition from rivals. The 2010 BMW R1200GS...

New Rieju RS3 125 to be launched at Milan - UPDATED

02 November 2009 by Phil West

New Rieju RS3 125 to be launched at Milan - UPDATED

MCN has just received full technical details of Rieju’s new RS3 sports 125 which is due to be officially unveiled at the Milan Show next week (Nov 9). These images show how the new bike, which...

New Ducati Multistrada name confirmed

30 October 2009 by John Westlake

New Ducati Multistrada name confirmed

Ducati has finally officially confirmed that its new GS-rival will be called the Multistrada. Read Ducati motorcycle reviews In a press release announcing that the 1198cc bike will appear at...

Rossi's naked Yamaha M1

30 October 2009 by Andy Downes

Rossi's naked Yamaha M1

This is what Valentino Rossi¹s YZR-M1 looks like stripped of all sponsor logos and painted in Yamaha corporate racing colours. Find a Yamaha R1 for sale Read the 2009 Yamaha R1 review The bike...

The Honda Cub returns in Japan

30 October 2009 by Andy Downes

The Honda Cub returns in Japan

This recently launched version of the classic Honda Cub is an all-new incarnation that meets new emissions regulations yet still looks like the model that helped start up the Honda company with...

More green bikes at the Tokyo show

30 October 2009 by Andy Downes

More green bikes at the Tokyo show

Honda had two zero emissions bikes with the EVE-neo and EV-Cub. Suzuki was the first to bring out a production fuel cell bike with the hydrogen burning Burgman Fuel-Cell, which takes compressed...

Honda CB1100R 'can't stay a concept'

30 October 2009 by Andy Downes

Honda CB1100R 'can't stay a concept'

The man behind the Honda CB1100 road bike has told MCN he’s going to fight to get the gorgeous CB1100R in production. Chief Engineer Hirofumi Fukanaga was responsible for several recent generations of...

Video: Honda VFR1200F in action

29 October 2009 by Andy Downes

Video: Honda VFR1200F in action

We’ve just got some action video sent back from Japan following the preview launch of the new Honda VFR1200F last week. More info on the Honda VFR1200 First impressions of the VFR1200F The video...

Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory on the way

29 October 2009 by Andy Downes

Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory on the way

Aprilia will unveil a new Factory version of the Dorsoduro 750 and a mildly tweaked Shiver at the Milan motorcycle show in two weeks. Aprilia motorcycles for sale There is no official word on the...

Aprilia RSV4-R launch cut short

28 October 2009 by Michael Neeves

Aprilia RSV4-R launch cut short

The launch of the new Aprilia RSV4-R at Mugello was cut short yesterday after five of the bikes suffered terminal con rod failures. Senior Road Tester, Michael Neeves was there: “I did two 20-miniute...

Yamaha hybrid scooter for production?

26 October 2009 by Andy Downes

Yamaha showed a new hybrid scooter at last week’s Tokyo Motor Show and it’s thought the clever petrol and electric technology may well make production in 2010. The concept bike was kept mysteriously out of the main talk of the Yamaha bosses on stage but it appears this bike is the latest evolution of the Gen-Ryu bike we saw a couple of years ago. The HV-X combines a 15KW electric motor with a...

Poll: Would you consider buying the Honda CB1100?

26 October 2009 by Andy Downes

Poll: Would you consider buying the Honda CB1100?

Honda wants to know if you would buy the CB1100 which was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show for the first time in full production form. At the moment there aren’t plans to bring the bike to Europe or...

Video: Kawasaki GTR1400 traction control explained

26 October 2009 by MCN

Video: Kawasaki GTR1400 traction control explained

The new Kawasaki GTR1400 features advanced traction control – watch the video for a technical explanation of how the system works. Video: Kawasaki GTR1400 official promo Kawasaki GTR1400 first...

Video: Kawasaki GTR1400 official promo

26 October 2009 by MCN

Video: Kawasaki GTR1400 official promo

Kawasaki have released this official promo video of their new GTR1400 hyper tourer. Kawasaki GTR1400 first ride report Find a Kawasaki GTR1400 for sale

Yamaha reveal futuristic electric scooter

23 October 2009 by Luke FitzGerald

Yamaha reveal futuristic electric scooter

Yamaha have unveiled two electric concept scooters, the EC-F and the EC-Fs, at the Tokyo Motor Show. Described by Yamaha as “electric commuter vehicles”, they are far more ambitious in design than...

Zero emissions Suzuki Burgman unveiled

23 October 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Zero emissions Suzuki Burgman unveiled

The new Suzuki Burgman fuel cell scooter will be available in the UK within months. The zero emissions scooter is due to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show today. The scooter has been developed...

Moto Morini unveils up-dated Granpasso

23 October 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Moto Morini unveils up-dated Granpasso

Engineers at the Bologna factory have concentrated on ergonomic changes and improvements to the off-road handling of the 118bhp v-twin. The handlebars have been upgraded with risers that allow...

Blindspot electric bikes may be green, but they're not pretty

22 October 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Blindspot electric bikes may be green, but they're not pretty

A new American company is transforming junkyard relics in to zero emission bikes. But despite all of their green credentials, its difficult to get round the fact they lack looks thanks to the bulky...

VFR1200F first ride blog: First impressions of the VFR1200F

22 October 2009 by Andy Downes

VFR1200F first ride blog: First impressions of the VFR1200F

MCN’s Andy Downes is testing the new VFR1200F in Japan. Andy is at Sugo race track right now, and has just been out riding on the VFR1200F for the first time. More info on the Honda VFR1200 ‘I’ve...

Yamaha Super Ténéré concept update: more pictures

21 October 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Yamaha Super Ténéré concept update: more pictures

Yamaha is drip-feeding more pictures of its interesting, if slightly ludicrous, made-from-cloth Super Ténéré concept, revealed today (October 21) at the Tokyo show. It’s quite clear that this is no...

Video: Honda VFR1200F 360 view

21 October 2009 by MCN

Video: Honda VFR1200F 360 view

MCN’s Andy Downes will be testing the new VFR1200F in Japan later this week, but right now he’s at the Toyko motor show and he just sent back this quick mobilephone video showing 360-degrees of the...

New Yamaha Tenere concept is made of cloth!

21 October 2009 by Andy Downes

New Yamaha Tenere concept is made of cloth!

Yamaha has shocked the Tokyo Motor Show crowds by unveiling a concept version of the new Super Tenere which is due for release next year. Weirdly, the concept bike is made of cloth, though it does...

Vyrus: The world's most-powerful road motorcycle

19 October 2009 by Guy Procter

Vyrus: The world's most-powerful road motorcycle

Tiny Italian firm Vyrus will launch a new hub-centre-steered superbike in November which in its ultimate form offers 211bhp. That makes it easily the most powerful street bike in the world – eclipsing...

Yamaha launches two new X-Max scooter models

16 October 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Yamaha launches two new X-Max scooter models

Yamaha has unveiled two new X-Max scooters – with 250cc and 125cc engines. The new X-Max’s have new rigid frames, increased storage capacity and a new dashboard design. They echo the...

Video: Ducati Hypermotard 796 promo

16 October 2009 by MCN

The new Ducati Hypermotard 796 is a smaller version of the Hypermotard 1100, with an all-new engine and a lighter, lower chassis aimed at new riders. Here’s Ducati’s promotional video for the new bike.

796 Ducati Hypermotard Vs 1100 Ducati Hypermotard

16 October 2009 by MCN

796 Ducati Hypermotard Vs 1100 Ducati Hypermotard

MCN’s Michael Neeves has been testing Ducati‘s 796 Hypermotard in Italy, here he reveals the raft of changes that make the 796 Hypermotard a superior machine to the 1100 Hypermotard. The 796’s seat...