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

Blackbird bars

13 September 2007 by Adrian Palmer

I have recently bought a 2005 Honda Super Blackbird. Having very short legs and only being 5′ 7″ tall I found it necessary to have the seat cut down slightly. I also read an article on the Blackbird...

MCN's A-Z material terminology guide

30 August 2007 by Nicola Fox

Are you living in a material world? Perhaps not. If you are not quite sure what Dynax, Brexcel or Primaloft materials are, MCN has produced an A-Z guide to get the know-how on all the product...

New rider blog: I have been accepted into the biking family

24 August 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Well it’s been 10 days since I last checked in and I can honestly say I think I am improving. Hooray! In my first blog I mentioned how I had become the stall queen. Well I think I have now been...

DIY screen extender

15 August 2007 by david ellson

Not being satisfied with the windscreen on my new bike I had a got at making it higher. I bought a new visor for my helmet and used the old one with the lugs cut off and attached it to the screen...

New rider blog: SarahC gets her L plates

14 August 2007 by Sarah Carnell

So when I was little there were three things I wanted to do. 1. Be a mechanic 2. Be a professional ballerina 3. Ride a motorbike So having dabbled on the car with my dad since I was about six and done...

Wheel alignment tip

15 May 2007 by David Deakin

To make sure my wheels are aligned I use a cheap laser pointer. Put the bike on stand or side stand, bluetak the pointer to brick. Align front and back wheel, get a piece of wood about six inches wide, mark the middle of the wood and add half of the rear tyre measurement. Mark the measurement on the wood, place the wood on the front tyre with the centre mark in middle of tyre and outside...

Tips for easy cleaning

12 March 2007 by Steve Wade

The most important bit of kit I keep in my garage is a can of Mr Sheen wax polish or supermarket equivelant (it’s cheaper!) Sprayed all over the bike it will get rid of splatted insects, brake dust and even chain grease. Simply spray on, leave for a minute and wipe off. Not only does it get rid of all the stuff you don’t want, but it also leaves a layer of wax, especially on wheels so you can just...

How to make your bike go better on the cheap

30 November 2006 by MCN Technical Staff

Nothing is ever free is it? No – but some things come pretty damn close. After laying out for the price of a bike and all the associated riding gear, anything which helps boost the bike’s and the...

How to revive your riding gear

30 November 2006 by Daniel Thornton

Why bother? Because you’ve paid good money for it and servicing it will keep it in tip-top condition for years to come. Remember the feeling when you first wore that new helmet, jacket or suit? You...

How to fit soft luggage

30 November 2006 by MCN Technical Staff

Why choose soft luggage? Soft luggage is cheap, easy to use and once you’ve invested in some, you’ll be able to use it on almost any bike (although soft panniers don’t work well with all exhausts).

How to secure your garage against thieves

30 November 2006 by MCN Technical Staff

If a thief really wants my bike, he’ll get it won’t he? Any form of theft deterrent is a big step towards keeping hold of your bike, especially when it’s locked in a garage. Yes, it’s true to say out...

How to buy riding kit that fits

30 November 2006 by MCN Technical Staff

What should I look for when buying gear? When it comes to leather, it will eventually break in to become comfortable. It becomes so because it stretches or the material breaks down from continual...

How to change your sparkplugs

30 November 2006 by MCN Technical Staff

What am I dealing with? Spark plugs are fed voltage from a bike’s ignition system, which creates the vital spark to ignite the air/fuel mix in the engine. If your spark plugs aren’t fulfilling this...