We all know that sportsbikes are so focused that you need a track to get the best out of them. But, as has always been the case, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them every day. The Ducati Panigale and BMW S1000RR we have here might have close to 200bhp, sticky tyres and track-orienated suspension, but power deliveries are smooth, ...
- Motorcycle News
- First rides & tests
- 29 January 2013
It may look the same as the old one, but the new F4 is totally new. It has the short-stroke engine from the old flagship RR model and a host of chassis tweaks. MCN travelled to the Valencia GP circuit in Spain to see what makes it tick and also tried the top-spec RR with the latest Ohlins electronically-adjustable suspension.
- Motorcycle News
- First rides & tests
- 23 January 2013
Pics by Bryan Lancaster. Well, that was a surprise. Three wins in Bemsee’s new Respro Premier 1000 class at Snetterton 300, a fastest lap and a pole position in the new BSB-style races - grid positions are set from the lap times of the previous race and there’s a qualifying session for the first race. Not a bad way to ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- Club racing
- 30 March 2012
Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves has just taken delivery of the Ducati Streetfighter 848 he’ll be running this year. After his time spent with the 1098 version in 2009, the Streetfighter is one of his favourite bikes. He will be producing regular ‘blog-style’ videos on what this smaller-engined version is like to live with and how it compares to its ...
- Motorcycle News
- First rides & tests
- 28 March 2012
UPDATE, 11 Feb, 15:10"We're midway through our day riding the new Panigale and it continues to impress. The 195bhp Superquadro engine is hugely impressive with just the right amount of usable torque to fly out of the corners and monster power for devouring the straights. "Everything from the suspension, engine braking, traction control, ABS and god knows what else is ...
- Motorcycle News
- First rides & tests
- 10 February 2012
German firm LSL are becoming famous for creating achingly-cool retro custom bikes, but for owner Jochen Schmitz-Linkweiler they’re merely a hobby – his real business is manufacturing accessories. When MCN visited LSL, we expected to find a small custom shop, but instead were welcomed into a 900 square meter, solar-powered factory turning out everything from handlebars to rearsets. So how ...
- Motorcycle News
- First rides & tests
- 11 January 2012
Check out this on-board lap of Jerez aboard Michael Neeves’ BMW Park Lane S1000RR. The footage was taken at the 2011 Racedays event on 9th November. brightcove.createExperiences();
- Motorcycle News
- General news
- 29 December 2011
Back in 1989 Yamaha created the OW-01, a homologation special built for superbike racing. With a staggering £12,700 price tag, it cost more than the Honda RC30 and with only 500 built, the Yamaha was more exclusive too. In this video, MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves gets to realise a 22-year old dream and ride this classic superbike for ...
- Motorcycle News
- First rides & tests
- 24 November 2011
Hi, it’s Michael Neeves, Senior Road tester here and I’m looking for willing volunteers to help me with a road test feature. I would like to invite a couple of you to try some bikes fitted with and without traction control and ABS, to see what you think of electronic rider aids. The bikes would include the 2012 R1, so ...
- Motorcycle News
- General news
- 17 November 2011
More power, less weight, improved refinement and ABS as standard - the new KTM 690 Duke promises to be more fun, easier to ride and safer. Now making a claimed 70bhp, it’s also the most powerful single-cylinder bike ever. The 690 Duke’s 654cc engine has been comprehensively reworked, and now has a twin-spark head and an electronic ride-by-wire throttle system. ...
- Motorcycle News
- New bikes
- 14 November 2011
