MCN long-term test fleet 2023

Welcome to the 2023 MCN Long-term Test Fleet.

Over the course of the year we'll be putting serious miles on these 10 bikes to find out what they're like to live with.

Keep an eye out for written updates, videos and more. Click through to each individual page to get the latest updates as we pile on the miles.

Click on the pictures below:

BMW M1000R	Triumph Street Triple RS
KTM 1290 Super Adventure R	Honda Transalp
Yamaha Ténéré 700	Suzuki GSX-8S
Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE	Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST
Ducati DesertX	Zero DSR X
Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally	Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+

BMW M1000R

Triumph Street Triple RS

KTM 1290 Super Adventure R

Honda Transalp

Yamaha Ténéré 700

Suzuki GSX-8S

Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE

Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST

Ducati DesertX

Zero DSR X

Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally

Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+

Check out previous MCN Fleets below:

Year: ALL

Michael Guy reflects on his year with the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R - But would he buy one?

Today 11:38 by Michael Guy

It’s finally the end of the road for my time with KTM’s flagship 1290 Super Adventure R adventure bike. While I haven’t done as many miles as I would have liked, the miles and trips I have done have...

"Bye bye bonkers Beemer..." Ben reflects on his year of neck and arm muscle training with the M1000R

Today 10:29 by Ben Clarke

The BMW M1000R super-naked isn’t the first 200bhp+ longterm test bike I’ve run; I was custodian of a Kawasaki ZX-10R in 2021. When I gave that bike back, the overriding feeling was one of relief, as...

Steve waves goodbye to the long-term Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ but not before one last blast

29 November 2023 by Steve Herbert-Mattick

Fibula back in the as-nature-intended one piece, I nabbed the keys back from Rich for one more go before the Yamaha mothership came to snaffle it back to base. After nearly two months of not riding...

After 6002 miles with the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, Rich has decided it's 'the one'... maybe

17 October 2023 by Richard Newland

I’m not a ‘one bike’ kind of a guy. I love being able to pick a style, age, or character of bike for the ride ahead, and that’s led to me having a five-bike garage (for now) that spans 50 years of...

The Suzuki GSX-8S's range predictor is frustratingly cautious, but that's the way I'd rather have it

15 September 2023 by Dan Sutherland

I love the real-world performance of the Suzuki GSX-8S. I love its comfort, its admirable ability to fend off the aggressive winter grit, and the way it makes me feel. I’ll be very sad to see it...

One last fling for the Zero DSR/X sees Ali Silcox exploring Scotland from charger to charger

19 April 2023 by Alison Silcox

My time with the Zero DSR/X adventure bike is coming to an end and for my last hurrah I’m riding to Scotland, which will be a challenge for the electric machine’s mileage ability. The good news is...

MCN Fleet: Ducati DesertX goes back home for some diagnostic investigations

19 April 2023 by Richard Newland

You may recall that the Ducati DesertX long-term test bike has been suffering with a sporadic electronics issue, resulting in a loss of ABS and Traction Control, and a few other dash functions – the...

A quick jaunt to Land's End ticks the MCN fleet Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST over the 10,000 mile mark

19 April 2023 by Saffron Wilson

Since collecting the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST back in April we’ve racked up thousands of miles together. But, with only a few weeks of the test period left, I was beginning to be irked by the fact...

Michael Neeves has covered 17,520 miles on a Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE | Here are his final thoughts

19 April 2023 by Michael Neeves

After a massive 17,520 miles spent aboard the MCN fleet Kawasaki H2 SX SE, Chief Road Tester, Michael Neeves reflects on his time with the supercharged sports-tourer. 18 miles With just PDI...

MCN Fleet: End of the World (Raid) - Steve’s time with Yamaha’s T7WR is over. So how was it?

19 April 2023 by Steve Herbert-Mattick

3300 miles in four months isn’t exactly big miles, but when your two-wheeled time is as limited as mine, it’s about making every mile count. The adventure bike is now being prematurely beamed back to...

Honda Transalp long-term test verdict | Gareth sums up his thoughts after 4576 miles

19 April 2023 by Gareth Evans

I’m sad to say it’s time to wave goodbye to the Honda XL750 Transalp. Safe to say that I’ve had a fabulous year with the middleweight adventurer, and have learned a lot along the way. My highlight...

After 3766 miles on test, how has the MCN fleet Triumph Street Triple RS coped with a winter of riding?

19 April 2023 by Emma Franklin

“You’ve missed a bit!” Who doesn’t love hearing someone say this while you’re cleaning your bike (along with my personal ‘favourite’: “Fancy doing mine next?”)? Unfortunately, though, when it comes...