2001

Year: 2001

Month: ALL

Learning at the California Superbike School

05 August 2001

If you’ve ever entered a corner in mild panic or found yourself drifting wide uncontrollably, and let’s face it we all have, you’re a prime candidate for the famous California Superbike School. In one...

BMW R1150R long term test: Smooth gear-changes and more noise

05 August 2001

SOMETHING has been niggling me ever since I took delivery of my R1150R back in April. It’s the small matter of getting a slick, judder-free gearchange – the kind of clean shift that sends barely a...

"Coals to Newcastle" as BSA ready all-new twin for Japanese buyers

05 August 2001

ALTHOUGH BSA was once as powerful a force in biking as Honda is today, it may come as a surprise to some that the legendary British firm is still producing bikes at all, let alone readying an all-new...

The Brands track ride out

05 August 2001

Were you among those riding the circuit at the GSX-R Festival. Do you know someone who was? Take a look at the video and see if you can spot anyone you know.

Round-the-world duo reach southern Spain

05 August 2001

Dave Marsden and Ian Wright had got as far as southern Spain when we spoke to them on Friday morning. They plan to cross the border into Portugal and return to stay in Gibraltar tonight. Then it’s across by ferry to Morocco on Saturday morning to head for Fes and the dunes of the Sahara. " And it’s unbearably hot by 6 in the morning here!, " joked Dave. The pair stayed on a campsite last night...

Video action from the festival

05 August 2001

Follow the links, right, to see video of stunt star Kevin Carmichael doing his thing at the Suzuki GSX-R festival or to watch some of the many riders who took to the track. There’s also a link to watch Kevin Schwantz riding at Brands.

Big guns in favour of painting Gatso cameras bright

05 August 2001

Speed cameras look certain to be painted in eye-catching colours now that top cops and the Home Secretary agree it’s the right thing to do. Association of Chief Police Officers’ (ACPO) traffic...

First test of new BMW R1150RS

05 August 2001

New images added at 5pm, Wednesday The R1150RS is beyond competent. It is genuinely, spirit-lifting fun… whatever the weather. The changes over the old R1100RS are few and far between. Essentially,...

New Suzuki technology will make bikes accelerate faster

05 August 2001

Motorcyclenews.com has discovered Suzuki is planning to start using an electro-magnetically-operated clutch which will work even better than the quickshifters of today. It is likely to debut on a...

Blackbird goes red

05 August 2001

Honda’s 2002 Super Blackbird will only be changed in one respect from the current model, it will be available in Candy Blazing Red. The eye-catching colour will add to those currently available;...

Watch Carmichael’s GSX-R festival stunts

05 August 2001

Take a look in our NEWS FEATURES section and you’ll find updated and full coverage of the Brands Hatch GSX-R Festival, including exclusive video footage of stunt king Kevin Carmichael’s...

Harley’s Evel past revived by new flat-tracker replica

05 August 2001

HARLEY Davidson are hoping to draw on memories of Evel Knievel and flat track racing with its new limited edition XL 883R. Modelled on the legendary XR750 twin which made the Harley name famous in...

Strange but true

05 August 2001

Here’s our latest round-up of motorcycle-related madness from an increasingly odd world. FRANCE: Inspired by the Starboyz and their fur-covered FireBlades, this French biker seems to have taken the...

John Robinson dies

05 August 2001

It’s with enormous sadness that we report the passing of John Robinson, Performance Bikes’ technical editor. He was 56. John died peacefully in the evening of August 6, in the BUPA Hospital,...

Cash for crashes on foot and mouth mats

05 August 2001

Riders who crashed on disinfected mats put down to curb the spread of foot and mouth could get compensation. Carole Nash is investigating a batch of 23 claims. If the claims are successful, it could...

Land’s End to John O’Groats without putting a foot down

05 August 2001

Wayne Booth has set a record for riding Land’s End to John O’Groats without a stop for so much as a pee… let alone to refuel. Careful planning meant his 854-mile journey was completed without even...

Bulldog Bash now on

05 August 2001

Picture a cross between Ibiza, Brands WSB, Reading Festival and a tattooists’ convention and you’ll get an inkling of what’s going on near Stratford-upon-Avon from Thursday to Sunday this week. From...

James Whitham in his own words

05 August 2001

MCN: In a recent VIP chat Chris Walker said that his ideal team-mate would be you. Who would your ideal team mate? JamesWhitham: Er, probably Chris. The thing is, I like to be in a team where I can get on with people. Somebody like Chris or Steve Plater, just somebody I get on with, and to be honest, most people in racing I get on with cos they’ve got a similar background but Chris would be a good...

Foggy, Perry, Corser fly with the Red Arrows

05 August 2001

For years, the eyes of Carl Fogarty glinted out from inside his crash helmet striking fear into his rivals. But not today. It’s like he’s caught a glimpse of his own reflection and the colour is...

Whitham considers a return to British superbikes

05 August 2001

World Supersports rider Jamie Whitham was in our VIP Lounge on Thursday lunchtime answering your questions on everything from filling his pants on the grid to how he got a scar on his chest. He...

The CCM Roadster with 65% more power

05 August 2001

Mick Keogh has managed to squeeze an extra 65 per cent more bhp from a CCM Roadster, giving it 78bhp. Makes you wonder what he’d do with a Hayabusa… Devon-based Mick, of tuning firm Sportax, is still...

The best of the best

05 August 2001

More than 50 crack pilots apply to join the Red Arrows every year. Only three of them are successful. Those who do succeed become part of a flying legend which has been wowing crowds all over the...

Swindon Speedway meet off

05 August 2001

The torrential rain the Swindon area has seen in the last 24 hours means Friday night’s home Knockout Cup meeting with Exeter has had to be called off. The semi-final tie will now be staged on Sunday, August 12 at 6.30pm.

Carmichael in stunt action

05 August 2001

Watch Kevin Carmichael abuse a Suzuki at the GSX-R Festival.

Buell’s Firebolt radical? We’ve seen it all before

05 August 2001

When Buell released its new Firebolt two weeks ago, it came with a host of unusual features. But how many of these are actually new? Is the bike a radical machine bristling with 21st Century concepts,...

First ride on the Hodgson Replica 996S

05 August 2001

Marc Potter has been riding the Hodgson Replica 996S and you can read his first test verdict here. Next week you’ll be able to see video of Hodgson himself on the bike on the Isle of Man. And the WSB...

Revealed: Suzuki’s giant trailie

01 August 2001

We’ve been talking about it since 1999, now Suzuki has finally given it a name and a finished form, and here it is: the XF1000L. Our artist’s impression is just as you’ll see the bike when it is...

How good is your lid?

01 August 2001

Does your lid fit brilliantly or let too much wind noise in? Is it easy to change the visor? Do the vents work? Are the fasteners easy to use? Tell us and tell the world by writing a review.All you...

The new look of the R1

01 August 2001

This exclusive drawing is the most accurate impression yet of how the new Yamaha R1 will look for 2002. It’s based on detailed information from the factory. Only the colour-scheme is likely to change.

Benefit from Ray’s advice

01 August 2001

Ray Stringer was in our chatrooms at 1pm on Thursday to dish out valuable advice on tyres, suspension and engine tuning. He answered close to 60 questions in the 45-minute session ranging from how to...

Brands WSB: the way you saw it

01 August 2001

Here are just some of your pictures from the experience that was Brands Hatch World Superbikes. If you’ve got some to add, send them by email to david.cushman@emap.com. We’ve got 10 copies of The...

The Sahara and back in six days

01 August 2001

We rode to the Sahara and back on a BMW R1150GS, Aprilia CapoNord and Triumph Tiger 955i. Here’s the day-by-day story… This was originally updated daily, which is why you’ll find the final day at the...

Crescent GSX-R750 Parts List

01 August 2001

Forks: Factory Showa/Ohlins, £12,000/£1500; Shock: Factory Showa, £5000; Swingarm: Factory Suzuki, £3000; Magnesium yokes: Factory Suzuki, £1000; Handlebars: Factory Suzuki, £400; Front brakes: AP...

Don’t believe everything you read about speeding

01 August 2001

The police and media seem all too willing to believe in the big, bad menace of speeding motorcyclists… so much so that they’ve really ended up with egg on their faces this time. Chelmsford newspaper the Essex Chronicle ran a story about a rider caught doing 137mph on a local road, and got so indignant about it that they ran a " comment " column about it, berating the rider and insisting he be...

Feel the speed in a Hayabusa outfit

01 August 2001

A Hayabusa feels shatteringly fast from the relatively high position of the rider’s seat. Imagine what if feels like from that Tarmac-level outfit? Sidecar firm boss Phil Ball has been dreaming of...

Ray Stringer’s live advice clinic

01 August 2001

MCN:- I own a 2000 CBR600FY, I’m 6′ 1” tall and weigh 13 stone. I find that to prevent the bike from wallowing in bends I have to increase the rebound damping so much it becomes uncomfortable the rest of the time. Would different springs to suit my weight help? RayStringer:- Yes. Yeah, if you went to a proper weighted spring but you’d probably want more compression damping on there more than just...