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March

ASBO boy behind bars for riding bike

27 March 2007 by Rob Hull

A 15-year-old boy from Mitcham, Surrey, has received a four month detention order after police caught him riding a motorcycle which was a breach of his Antisocial Behaviour Order. The teenager who was excluded from school and given a two year ASBO was not allowed to operate any motor vehicle under the order. Police arrested him late last month riding a bike while disqualified in the town.

Bike thugs jailed

27 March 2007 by Rob Hull

Two members of the Outlaw Motorcycle Club have been jailed after kicking a pub singer unconscious when they mistook him for a club doorman. The incident happened back on October 2 2005 after one of the club members was thrown out of a club by doorstaff in Blackpool. Five minutes later the evictee and several other group members returned with knuckle-dusters, batons and knives and set on the...

MV F4 312R first ride

27 March 2007 by Michael Neeves

MV F4 312R first ride

Just finished riding the new MV Agusta F4 312R at Monza and it is properly, mentally fast. The 312 part of the name signifies that it will do 312 kph, about 192 mph and although we couldn’t get near...

Moto Guzzi Bellagio first ride

27 March 2007 by Phil West

Moto Guzzi Bellagio first ride

Having just ridden Moto Guzzi’s new Bellagio, in the Italian Lakes, we can report that there’s now a new, credible rival to Harley’s 1200 Sportster. We rode the 940cc v twin roadster/cruiser in the...

Paired up

27 March 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Paired up

Looking down on the world….

Horse riding more dangerous than bikes

26 March 2007 by Chris Newbigging

Figures from Stoke Mandeville hospital have revealed that horse riders are over 21 times more likely than motorcyclists to have a serious accident. The hospital found that horse riders have a serious accident every 350 hours on average, compared to every 7500 hours on a motorcycle.

Video: Harley XR1200 in action

26 March 2007 by Angus Farquhar

Video: Harley XR1200 in action

We’ve seen Harley’s incredible XR1200 prototype sitting on trade stands and even there it looks impressive, but now you can see it in action. The bike, which is based on Harley’s old flat-track...

Search for bike-mad teens for TV series

26 March 2007 by Dan Thornton

Bike-mad teenagers are being sought by a production company for a documentary series for Channel 4 Education. Lambent Productions are looking for 14-17 year olds living with at least one parent or guardian for Welcome to My World. The programme focuses on the life of one teenager and one of their parents or guardians to give an insight into each other’s lives, so you could star with your teenage...

Residents learner hell

26 March 2007 by Chris Newbigging

Residents learner hell

Residents in a Newton Abbot street are claiming that the road outside their home seen up to 50 learner riders and drivers every day. House owner Mike Crees has even taken to photographing the drivers...

M25 horror smash

26 March 2007 by Andy Downes

Two motorcyclists died after a lorry and a car were in collision and crossed the central reservation of the M25 in Essex – colliding with a group of five motorcyclists travelling in the other direction. Two of the bikers – a 40-year-old from Enfield, North East London, and a 44-year-old from Ilford, East London – were declared dead at the scene. A third was taken to hospital with serious head...

Goldwing owners get limited

26 March 2007 by Chris Newbigging

Goldwing owners get limited

The Goldwing Owners Club of Great Britain has just become a Limited Company to protect itself against Civil Claims. The change will not affect club activities or the running of the club, but will help...

Roehr superbike revealed

26 March 2007 by Ben Purvis

Roehr superbike revealed

An American-made superbike powered by Harley-Davidson’s V-Rod engine has finally been revealed by designer Walter Roehrich. The V-Roehr has been under development for several years, and is set to go...

sunlit babe...

26 March 2007 by Sarah Carnell

sunlit babe...

In the shade of the sunlight…

Wooden handling on GSX-R

25 March 2007 by Rupert Porter

Wooden handling on GSX-R

I was in Willemstad in Curacao recently and saw this kippered GSX-R. Nice wood-effect paint job, swingarm extended by six inches or so and a lovely single disc front brake conversion – could even be...

King of the road

25 March 2007 by Anonymous

King of the road

I had never seen or heard of the Boss Hoss until my mate, Steve Drinkwater emailed me a picture of one. From then on I had to have one, so I imported one myself. I own the small block 5735cc and it’s...

MCN at Weapons range

25 March 2007 by Duncan Eley and John Wickham

MCN at Weapons range

Whilst riding through the Egyption desert, we stumbled upon a weapons range and felt this was a good time to take a break and catch up on news from MCN back home.

Fuertenduro experience

25 March 2007 by martin power

While holidaying in Fuerteventura I came across Fuertenduro. This is an off-road school run by an Italian, exprofessional enduro rider called Fabrizio. He caters for all levels from novice to pro. Taking a day off from the beach and the family, I was riding over rocks, sand dunes and twisty mountain roads. I had my most exhilarating day on a bike for a long time. Fabrizio is a top man and this...

Benelli TnT recall nightmare

24 March 2007 by shaun frost

Benelli TnT recall nightmare

Ahh, the joys of owning an Italian bike: the speed, the design, the individuality… and the way they suddenly start melting in unexpected places. The bike in question is my Benelli TnT 1130 – a perfect...

Cultural moment

24 March 2007 by John McLaughlin

Cultural moment

Enjoying a cultural moment in front of the Egyptian Temple at The New York Metropolitan Museum…

Cheaper way to buy a new Busa

23 March 2007 by Tom Rayner

Cheaper way to buy a new Busa

Suzuki GB has just announced a new finance scheme that makes it even cheaper to own a brand new Hayabusa. The Personal Contract Purchase Scheme works in this way: you pay a deposit, have an agreed...

Crescent expands with Rob Willsher take-over

23 March 2007 by Andy Downes

Crescent Motorcycles has expanded after buying Rob Willsher motorcycles in Southampton. The move makes Crescent one of the largest outlets for new Suzukis in the UK – when the Willsher business is combined with existing dealerships in Bournemouth and Verwood, Crescent will retail approximately 900 new Suzuki motorcycles a year. Crescent Director Martyn James said: “Southampton is a key area for...

BMW heads to Le Mans

23 March 2007 by Ben Purvis

BMW heads to Le Mans

This is the first works road race bike to emerge from BMW in 50 years – a prototype racer which will appear at the Le Mans 24 hours next month. Based on an R1200S, the prototype will race in the open...

Win a pillion ride with John Reynolds

23 March 2007 by Dave Rawlings

Win a pillion ride with John Reynolds

If you’re planning on going to the opening round of BSB at Brands Hatch on April 7-9 then book your tickets early and you could win a chance to be a pillion passenger with John Reynolds on board a...

Knee down!

23 March 2007 by Phil

Knee down!

How to get your knee down… without sliders!

BMW450 caught on video

23 March 2007 by Chris Newbigging

BMW450 caught on video

MCN has tracked down this amateur footage of the new BMW 450 enduro bike testing at a race in Germany. The bike features conventional enduro bike design mixed with more unusual design (the front drive...

Judges announced for supreme show

23 March 2007 by Chris Newbigging

Judges announced for supreme show

Judges have been confirmed for the second annual Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance in San Francisco . Headed by Chief Judge Ed Gilbertson – Chief Judge of the Pebble Beach Concours, the...

IoM TT VIP Club launched

23 March 2007 by Ben Purvis

IoM TT VIP Club launched

The Isle of Man department of Tourism and Leisure has announced its new TT VIP Club for the centenary year of the TT. Based in a marquee next to the TT Grandstand in Nobles Park, the VIP Club will be...

Reckless biker banned

23 March 2007 by Chris Newbigging

Police in Sussex are investigating a security van robbery where a bike was used to get away with the cash as they believe it could be linked with a similar crime last year. A man robbed a van in Hove last Tuesday taking the money at knifepoint and getting away on a motorcycle ridden by a second man. Witnesses should contact local police.

Security van held up by bike

23 March 2007 by Chris Newbigging

Police in Sussex are investigating a security van robbery where a bike was used to get away with the cash as they believe it could be linked with a similar crime last year. A man robbed a van in Hove last Tuesday taking the money at knifepoint and getting away on a motorcycle ridden by a second man. Witnesses should contact local police.

Stern look...

23 March 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Stern look...

All pencilled in….

Death Valley - the ride of my life

22 March 2007 by Jane Sherwood

Death Valley - the ride of my life

I recently visited Las Vegas and thought it would be good to hire a bike for a day to visit Death Valley. It had always been a romantic ‘must do it before I die’ dream of mine. I contacted a small...

Judge's warning over OAP drivers

22 March 2007 by Chris Newbigging

A judge has called for a review of driving laws allowing over 70’s to declare themselves fit to drive following the case of a 90 year-old who killed a motorcyclist. Albert Bradley, who suffers from dementia, ran into 44 year-old Brian Emmerson’s stationary bike last June, and was banned from driving for a ten years and fined £500 last week by Judge Michael Mettyear.

Youtube 'speeder' gets off

22 March 2007 by Tom Rayner

Youtube 'speeder' gets off

Charges have been dropped against the biker accused of posting an illegal blast on his Yamaha R1 on the Internet video jukebox, You Tube. Biker, Jeremy Parrott was ostracised by his local community...

Bimota Tesi 3D: World first ride

22 March 2007 by Michael Neeves

Bimota Tesi 3D: World first ride

MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves has just become the first rider, other than Bimota personnel, to ride the third generation Bimota Tesi, the 3D. “Just one example of this radical, hub-centre...

New Nexus 125

22 March 2007 by Ben Purvis

New Nexus 125

Gilera has revealed its new Nexus 125 scooter this afternoon – the smallest machine in the firm’s sporty Nexus range. The 125, which is launched alongside an updated 250cc version, gets a 14.5bhp...

Ladyman speaks out against anti-bike bill

22 March 2007 by Steve Farrell

Ladyman speaks out against anti-bike bill

Stephen Ladyman has emailed MCN voicing his opposition to a Bill requiring all non road-going bikes be road legal and display number plates. The Roads Minister opposed MP Graham Stringer’s off road...