New rider

Welcome the the MCN New Rider section, where we'll help you navigate your way from complete biking novice to confident beginner. If you're unsure how to begin your journey onto two wheels, the diagram below is for you.

New Rider

Year: ALL

How should a motorbike helmet fit?

01 March 2019 by MCN News

Modern motorbike helmet fitment is the result of years of development, crash testing, computer modelling and safety testing, which can all be undone if your helmet doesn’t fit properly. Although...

How to get your motorbike licence

31 January 2019 by MCN News

The first step: CBT Getting a full bike licence Module 1 and 2: what to expect More things to consider Riding a motorbike is one of the most exciting and liberating experiences going, but getting a...

How to ride a motorcycle

29 December 2018 by Dan Sutherland

Learning to ride a motorcycle is one of the most exciting things you can ever do. Offering freedom like no other mode of transport and delivering a sense of speed and exhilaration like nothing else,...

Learn how to broaden your bike skills from the masters

16 November 2018 by MCN News

If you truly want to be the master of your motorcycle, the learning doesn’t stop when you get your pass certificate, nor indeed is it restricted to tarmac. There are many motorcycle schools to choose...

Everything you need to know about a CBT test

10 October 2018 by MCN News

If you’ve decided you want to get your motorbike licence, the first thing you’ll need to do is complete a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) course. It may be a step down from your dreams of exploring...

10 ways to protect your bike from theft

04 September 2018 by MCN News

According to a report in The Telegraph, Home Office figures towards the end of last year predicted that some 30,000 motorcycles would be reported stolen. And with only 40% expected to be recovered –...

How to brake in the wet

26 April 2018 by Jon Urry

While a lot of modern bikes come with ABS, not every new rider can afford a brand new machine and that means you need to learn to get the best out of your brakes – especially in the wet. So here is...

New rider: The five key skills that new riders need to master

19 April 2018 by Jon Urry

Ok, you have passed either your CBT or full bike test and you are therefore legally allowed to ride on the UK’s roads. Now it is time to forget those legal requirements that allowed you to gain that...

New rider: How to pick up your bike

05 April 2018 by Jon Urry

When you are learning to ride there are two kinds of bikes – one that has been dropped and one that is going to be dropped. A small tip-off is all par for the course when it comes to gaining...

New rider: How to sit on your bike

22 March 2018 by Jon Urry

In this short video, BMW Rider Training‘s Chief Instructor, Ian Biederman, demonstrates the right, and wrong, way to get on your bike. And yes, there is actually an easier way! Top tips Open the...

Video: Improve your riding with BMW Off Road Skills

21 March 2018 by Maria Martin

“It’ll be fun,” they said. “You’ll become a better road rider because of it.” But after day one of my two-day BMW Off Road Skills course in the Welsh hills, all I wanted was to go home. I was...

Video: Young riders shown the real cost of not wearing protective gear

14 March 2018 by MCN News

We take a look back at this moving Highways England‘s campaign targetting young riders to stress the importance of wearing protective clothing when riding. The campaign features the above video,...

New rider: Book a free motorcycle taster session

28 February 2018 by MCN News

If you’ve never been on a motorcycle before and don’t know where to start then perhaps try Get On – the organisation that helps budding riders try motorcycling for the first time. If you’ve ever...

Essential advice for new riders

15 February 2018 by MCN News

Riding and owning a bike is nothing like owning a car. Whether it be driving or maintenance, there’s a lot more to consider. Below are our essential tips for anyone new to the world of biking. Tyres...

Crafty tips to perfect overtakes

27 January 2018 by Mark Edwards

The sweetest moment to overtake a single car is when you first come up behind it. Carrying your momentum, you pass with a minimum of fuss in a decisive and understated sweep. One way to tell if...

5 tips to keep new riders safer on the road

22 December 2017 by James Archibald

When you first get a motorcycle, the exhilarating feeling you have as you take on the world via two wheels really is hard to beat. As a new rider you can even have too much fun, that you forget about...

Trials riding tips to help every rider

17 November 2017 by Maria Vallahis

Everyone knows trials riding is a great way to enhance your road riding. It also makes you look super cool. On my first day, I wheelie’d my trials bike, true story. I passed my A licence in April and...

Video: Protect your bike this winter

12 October 2017 by MCN News

Once you’ve got all the thick, horrible winter road grime off your pride and joy you’ll need to make sure you protect it, to keep corrosion over the winter months down to a minimum. Make sure your...

Master the art of riding at night

28 September 2017 by Adam Child

Riding at night can be very satisfying with the roads less crowded and distractions swallowed up in the dark, but you have got to take some extra precautions to make it safe as well as...

Emmerdale's Kelvin Fletcher officially gets on two wheels!

20 September 2017 by James Archibald

After a 5-day intensive course, Kelvin Fletcher, known for his tractor-driving role in Emmerdale, has passed all examinations to receive his full motorcycle licence this week. Already the owner of a...

Poll: Are the learner laws strangling biking?

19 September 2017 by MCN News

What do you think, are learner laws strangling biking? Are the learner laws strangling biking? Have a browse for your next bike on MCN Bikes For Sale website or use the MCN’s Bikes For Sale App.

Why zero interest in small bikes is good…

19 September 2017 by MCN News

Dealerships are currently offering good promotions across the board on low-powered motorcycles and scooters, making now a brilliant time for new riders to get involved in biking. The small motorcycle...

Top 8 beginner motorcycle mistakes

04 September 2017 by MCN News

If you’re looking to take your first steps into the world of biking it can be quite daunting – there’s a lot of information to take in and mistakes will happen, but they’re not the be all and end...

How to become a wet weather track master

20 August 2017 by Michael Neeves

Don’t let rain wreck your trackday, here are some tips to help make you a wet circuit master. Be an old smoothie Rain doesn’t need to spoil your trackday but the key to safe riding in the wet is being...

7 things to consider when commuting

28 July 2017 by James Archibald

Commuting by bike can be brilliant, not only because it will generally take less time to get to and from work, but also because it will often cost less and is better for the environment. Plus it’s...

Sinnis Terrain 125 promises adventure on a budget

05 July 2017 by Liam Marsden

Think of adventure bikes and your mind will most likely go straight to bikes like the BMW R1200GS or KTM 1290 Adventure. Both excellent bikes, but they’re expensive and not accessible to...

Charley Boorman supports 'Be a Better Biker' campaign

29 June 2017 by James Archibald

As part of a new motorcycle safety initiative Highways England are raising awareness for safer roads. Running until mid-July, ‘Be a Better Biker’ is about giving advice to help riders deal better...

Thinking of getting your bike licence?

22 June 2017 by James Archibald

Kawasaki are offering aspiring riders the chance to win a riding taster session at one of the Kawasaki Rider Training Services (KRTS) centres. The experience will give the chance to experience exactly...

How to deal with horses on the road

11 June 2017 by MCN News

The roads aren’t just occupied by motorcycles, cars and other motorised vehicles, they’re also used by horses and their riders, and passing a horse isn’t as simple as overtaking a car. Horses are big,...

Each engine has its own characteristics

20 April 2017 by Chris Dabbs

When you first start out, chances are that you will go through several changes of bike, from a small capacity two-stroke scooter, to a 1000cc inline four, 900cc V-twin or 675cc triple. Each engine has...

Video: MOD 1 bike test, see how it's done

12 April 2017 by Ped Baker

You’ve read the books, done the training and talked to your friends who’ve been through the convoluted process of passing their bike test but there’s no substitute to actually seeing it done. YouTuber...

Thinking about your observation

09 April 2017 by James Archibald

Observation is a key element of piloting any vehicle, but it’s importance while riding a motorcycle is far more prominent. As drivers become increasingly distracted by their phones, what hope do we...

'Mum, Dad - I want to ride a motorbike'

23 March 2017 by Rupert Paul

Andy Morrison, former boss of Rapid Training, had a saying about new motorcycle riders: “You start out with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the experience bag...

Hibernate your bike this winter

20 December 2016 by RiDE magazine

Planning on hibernating your bike this winter? Storing a bike well takes the same meticulous level of preparation as braving the elements. Read on for top tips from RiDE magazine on how to do it...

High street bargains for Christmas

02 December 2016 by MCN News

As fun and enjoyable as motorcycling is, it’s not always the cheapest hobby. Bikes aren’t cheap, and neither is motorcycle-specific gear, especially if you want the best stuff. But for some things,...

Get a student discount on rider training

18 November 2016 by James Archibald

Learn for less with an NUS card Kawasaki UK will launch their Kawasaki Rider Training scheme (KRTS) at Motorcycle Live tomorrow and are offering NUS-card holding students a £15 discount. TOP STORIES ...