Hints and tips for riding your motorbike

Welcome to the MCN guide to riding tips! From how to ride your first motorbike to a walkthrough on getting your knee down on a race track - our experts are here to help.

Year: ALL

Riding tips: How to ride a motorbike in strong winds

20 October 2023 by Ben Clarke

Riding a motorbike in windy conditions may sound daunting, but it needn’t be. If you think about it, riding at the national speed limit on even a perfectly still day produces the same effect as a...

How to ride a motorcycle: a beginner's guide

26 September 2023 by Gareth Evans

Learning to ride a motorcycle safely 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 unmatched on...

Fun in the sun: Tips for riding your motorbike in hot weather

15 September 2023 by MCN

Right from when we learn to ride a motorbike, it’s long days of cruising in the sunshine or hot, sticky trackdays or quick blasts to the coast in the hot weather that we imagine and look forward...

Staying out of trouble on your bike: The perils of the video camera

21 March 2023 by Michael Neeves

In this video, Michael Neeves explores the increased number of cameras in the UK and how it can affect bikers. Aside from traditional speed cameras, there are now evidence-gathering devices on car...

Winter wonderland: 16 secrets of conquering even the coldest conditions

28 February 2022 by John Westlake

Riding all year round is one of the most life-enriching things you can do. Yes – some people will think you’re mad; yes – you’ll have to wash your bike more in salty conditions and be more attentive...

Learning to ride: how to avoid stalling your motorbike

02 February 2022 by Chris Dabbs

Stalling turns your fleet-footed steed that responds to every delicate touch, into a 150 kilo lump of metal that wants to crush your leg. But if you learn the warning signs you can pull away cleanly...

Pass that test: How to u-turn on a motorbike

24 January 2022 by MCN

Perfecting the dreaded feet-up U turn can be one of the most stressful parts of learning to ride a motorbike. Most of us neglect the skill the minute we pass our test, but it can be a useful manoeuvre...

Try track-based training: Improve your cornering skills in a safe environment

27 October 2021 by Saffron Wilson

I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never been confident when it comes to cornering. Whether that’s because of the scrape of my footboards when I try to lean or my complete lack of experience on a track,...

Motorcycle track day tips for beginners

26 August 2021 by MCN News

Motorcycle track days in the UK are big business – particularly since international travel dwindled during the Covid-19 pandemic. And here’s why… Related: Best motorbike trackday essentials Taking...

Back to your biking best: How to shake off the lockdown riding rust

30 March 2021 by Emma Franklin

We made it! Spring’s here, the days are getting longer, and Monday, March 29 saw England’s stay-at-home order lifted, meaning just a little more freedom to start enjoying biking for pleasure. Although...

Thanks for the memories: Honda Ron Haslam Race School calls time after 24 years of expert tuition

03 November 2020 by Dan Sutherland

After 24 years and an estimated 87,000 customers, the chequered flag has fallen on the Honda Ron Haslam Race School. Having announced that 2020 would be their final year of operation back on...

Plans announced to ban all mobile use at the wheel

29 October 2020 by Jordan Gibbons

A consultation has been opened to toughen up the laws around using a mobile phone while in charge of a vehicle on the road. You might think that the rules stop you from doing it already, but...

Jam busters! How to filter on a motorbike

03 August 2020 by Tim Thompson and Mark Edwards

As cars and 4x4s get ever fatter, the lanes we use for filtering are becoming narrower, the margins for error tighter. So more than ever the slickest and safest way to slip through traffic is to slow...

Safety first: Join a Biker Down! course near you

02 June 2020 by Maria Martin

There are plenty of courses available to bikers to help them with improving riding skills, awareness and basic maintenance – you can join an IAM training course or sign-up for a Bikesafe workshop, for...

Fun in the sun: Top tips for riding your motorbike in a heatwave

02 June 2020 by MCN News

When the sun comes out it’s more tempting than ever to get the bike out of the garage and rack-up some miles. Riding in hot weather is great but you and your bike need to be prepared. This is...

Back on the bike: Brush up on safe riding with these great tips

12 May 2020 by Justin Hayzelden

With filthy roads, nasty weather and a distinct shortage of daylight, it’s not surprising that so many of us choose to put our hard-earned pride and joy to bed for winter. But while we’re saving our...

Safety on the move: How to ride like a road test pro

08 April 2020 by Michael Neeves

I thought I’d share some of the ways I ride to stay in one piece on the road. Not the mechanics of going through corners – body position and all that stuff, but the zen-like way you think about what...

Cornering a motorbike with confidence

10 August 2019 by MCN News

Cornering is one of the most exciting parts of riding a motorbike but it’s also a tricky part to get right and is where most accidents happen. This can be because riders try to corner faster by...

How to ride with a pillion passenger

30 July 2019 by MCN

Riding with a pillion can be the best way to get friends and family understanding just what you love about biking – and possibly tempt them to learn to ride themselves. But there’s a real art to...

Go motorcycle racing on a budget with the MZ Experience

21 June 2019 by Dan Sutherland

Run as part of the British Motor Cycle Racing Club (Bemsee), the Chilton Motors MZ Championship is the latest in a long line of MZ racing series spanning 30 years. Shod with Moto3 Dunlop slicks, these...

Like dodging downpours? Find out how to ride your motorcycle in rain

12 June 2019 by MCN News

The latest rubber offers incredible wet weather grip, but we often wonder whether it helps to be a bit obsessive about riding a bike. Obsessive people think about every detail, and test the smallest...

How to get your knee down on a motorbike

22 May 2019 by Ben Clarke

There’s something undeniably cool about seeing a skilled rider, mid-corner with their knee on the deck (on track, obviously) – and I couldn’t help but feel envious of other MCN staff members as they...

How to ride your motorbike off-road

21 May 2019 by Adam Child

Riding a motorbike off-road can dramatically improve your road riding, as well as being a whole heap of fun. There are just over 2000 miles of motorway in the UK. But there are more than 6000 miles...

How to start motorcycle club racing

15 May 2019 by Dan Sutherland

It has been said that there’s nothing like racing to improve your road and trackday skills. Riding in close proximity at high speed, pushing your bike and tyres to the limit is the ultimate in...

How to wheelie a motorbike

19 April 2019 by Dan Sutherland

A wheelie is the oldest motorcycle trick in the book, and I’ve wanted to be able to pop a decent one since I first threw my leg over a bike aged 16. After seven years of riding, I was still unable to...

How to ride a motorbike at night

12 March 2019 by MCN

Whether you’re maximising your riding time on warm, drawn-out summer evenings or just commuting through the winter, you’ll need to know how to tackle riding a motorbike at night. Riding a...