New MCN May 2: Norton V4 prepares for TT

Published: 01 May 2012 Updated: 20 November 2014

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In this week’s MCN, out May 2, the Norton V4 undergoes shakedown tests with less than a month until the Isle of Man TT.

We test the new BMW G650GS Sertao against the Yamaha XT660Z Tenere, Ross Noble’s amazing biking year, the best and worst motorcycle song lyrics and stand-up wheelies: how hard can it be?

Also this week, we have spy shots of new Ducatis and KTMs.

Plus we have all the news from the Jerez MotoGP race weekend.

MCN has worked hard to make sure the all-new paper will feed your passion for motorcycles better than ever before. It’ll take a moment to get used to the new surroundings – but we’ve tried to make as little stand between you and the fantastic stories that biking breeds as possible.

Here’s how the new paper works:

The week
All the news that matters from a week in bikes, all in one place. Catch up quick on all the must-know stories and whet your appetite for the big stories in Focus.

Focus
Where we go in deep on the stories that matter. Road tests, features, analysis, interviews, surprises, MCN brings every tool to bear to crack the story.

Comment
Letters, celeb columns, polls and advice – Comment feeds the discussions that define the week’s debate, and harnesses the power of MCN’s readership.

Bike life
Men and machines with stories to tell. From used bikes to dream garages, epics enjoyed and nightmares survived: why a life in bikes is better.

Sport
The best writers in bike sport. Bringing you the inside story on the riders, race bikes – and rucks – that make up the greatest spectacle in sport.

Norton battle to get new TT bike race-fit
After a successful high-speed test, Norton engineers have less than a month left to finesse the V4 in time for the 2012 Isle of Man TT.

MCN January 11

New Ducati and KTM Adventure spy shots
Spyshots of the new Ducati Hypermotard and KTM Adventure models confirm the wave of new bikes from European makers isn’t slowing.

Adventure middleweights tested
The BMW G650GS Sertao and Yamaha XT660Z Tenere are often overlooked in favour of their bigger brothers. Can they punch above their weight?

MCN January 11

Ross Noble’s year on bikes
Comedian and MCN columnist Ross Noble has just taken 12 months out to devote time to his other passion: biking. He talks us through his year.

Harley-Davidson’s forgotten road racer
Forty years ago Harley’s 750cc four-stroke V-twin took on the might of Japan’s screaming two-strokes. Cal Rayborn was the hero of the piece – in the US and in Transatlantic Match Races.

Why smoking is making a comeback
Fifty years after the first 250cc road bike hit 100mph, exotic 250s are fetching huge money. MCN looks into the phenomenal two-strokes of the 1990s.

Sykes: ‘The best I’ve ever ridden’
The Kawasaki riding Brit is showing the best ever form of his career. And he aims to make up for the disappointment of Assen with a storming performance at Monza this weekend.

Rossi’s best time is still only a tenth better than Moto2 pace
The Doctor denies he’s about to quit but it doesn’t make any difference on track. He’s still struggling with understeer.

Dovizioso admits: ‘I’m still not fast like Cal’
Crutchlow’s Italian team-mate says aggressive superbike style is more effective.

By Liam Marsden

Former MCN Web Producer