2008

Year: 2008

Month: ALL

James Toseland gets Aston Martin sideways

15 September 2008 by Steve Farrell

James Toseland gets an Aston Martin sideways in TV’s Fifth Gear tonight. The MotoGP star takes tips on fast driving and drifting from presenter Jason Plato in a V8 Vantage, then takes the wheel to...

Police helicopter targeting bikes in W Berks?

15 September 2008 by andyjn

Traveling on the A4 yesterday PM between Hugerford and Newbury, I spotted what looked like a police helicopter rising from behind a nearby hill which then started tracking the A4 (luckily in the opposite direction). I think I also later saw it hovering over the A34 near Newbury. Anyone also see this, or know if West Berks have started operations?

Road deaths up for Brunstrom – again

15 September 2008 by Steve Farrell

Deaths have doubled on the roads of controversial police chief Richard Brunstrom, nicknamed the Mad Mullah of speed cameras. Figures just released on North Wales Police’s website show 17 people lost...

Camping with MCN

12 September 2008 by anthonyR1

I went camping with the family and it was raining all weekend, and yes I had to have my MCN…

Bikers shell out £1000 a year on kit

12 September 2008 by Michael Carroll

British motorcyclists spend an average of almost £1,000 on kit every year, according to research by retailer Infinity Motorcycles. Shop for over 45,000 products with MCN Leather goods account for the lion’s share of the £960 per annum average spend, with riders shelling out £321 each year on jackets and jeans. Helmets were the next highest (£241), followed by textiles (£183), boots (£138), and...

Friday funny: Yamaha R1-engined golf kart

12 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

Think golf is boring and an old mans game? Well how about livening the game up with a golf kart? Not just any old golf kart, mind. One with the engine from a 2007 Yamaha YZF-R1 that produces 125bhp! It’s not everyday you see a golf kart wheelying down the high street! Some people have too much time on their hands…

Yamaha extends free and subsidised insurance campaign

12 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

Yamaha has extended its Free and Subsidised Insurance campaign to Sunday 30 November, on all mopeds, 125cc scooters, both the XT125X and R models and both YBR125 models. View Yamahas for sale Yamaha...

BMW quality issues- rear shock

12 September 2008 by Alan Brigden

After reading the artical regarding BMW reliability I would like to ask the question, as an owner of a 2006 1200 GS Adv with only 6675 miles on the clock, how many of you fellow owners have had there rear shocks fail? I’m on my second one to date, my local dealer when questioned about the quality of the replacement told me that I’m the only one he has fitted in the past 12 months, if the previous...

New Test Postponed

11 September 2008 by Steve Farrell

The new motorcycle test has been postponed by six months due to a shortage of test centres. The new test was due to be introduced from September 29 but has now been pushed to March 30 next year. The...

MCN search for Honda's greatest fan

11 September 2008 by Laura Kennerley

Are you a fanatical follower of Honda? Do you have a garage bursting with Hondas from across the years or a select collection of rare machines? If so, MCN wants to hear from you. We are looking for...

Sneak preview: Dainese's 2009 range

11 September 2008 by Michael Carroll

Dainese unveiled its 2009 motorcycle clothing collection during a major launch event in Italy last week. Buy Dainese clothing The latest Dainese range comprises everything from full-on one piece...

Ducati Hypermotard and Multistrada get Pearl White option

11 September 2008 by Andy Downes

Ducati has extended its colour range by adding the pearl white option to two more of its top models, the Hypermotard and Multistrada. Following the pearl white finish introduced on the Ducati 848 and...

BMW Quality problems

11 September 2008 by BMW_Mick1962

I have read with great interest about the BMW quality problems of late and would like to add my experience of it. I bought a R1200RT as an ex demo machine on a 54 plate at 7 months old with just over 6,000 miles done. It was the biggest pile of rubbish I have ever owned. in the year and a half I had it it suffered the following: Bohth cam chain tensioners failed, front discs warped, 3 fuel sender...

Petition to protect trackdays

10 September 2008 by Anonymous

How many times have we been told that track days are restricted because some $*%! has just moved next to a race circuit that’s been there for 70 years and has complained to the local council – and got away with it! Credit to a guy called Keith Watts who’s started a petition to get a green paper in place that would require any complaints from new residents to be rejected. So if you want to protect...

Stolen Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail

10 September 2008 by Ray Ursell

Here is a picture of my 2001 Harley Davidson Heritage softail, stolen from my garage in North Hykeham, Lincoln last night. The garage door was forced open, a heavy duty bike chain cut & I believe...

Bikes on TV: September 10-16

10 September 2008 by Alison Silcox

KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – Discovery Real Time DRTE -Discovery Real Time Extra DSC – Discovery Channel DHD – Discovery Channel HD EXS – Extreme Sports Channel MM – Men and Motors MOT – Motors TV SS1...

Motorcyclists cannot park

10 September 2008 by hairyMuppet

Why is this? What is so hard about parking your bike in an efficient and considerate manner that bikers find impossible? Near my work there are 3 bike bays capable of holding 15 bikes in total. But they rarely hold more than 9 because bikers round here seem to be a bit too dim in the parking stakes. Either they park at 45 degrees, right across the bay, somewhere in the middle or on their centre...

Isle of Man: Urgent appeal for missing camera

10 September 2008 by Geoff Lane

I am making an urgent appeal for the return of my friends camera. My good friend left his camera outside the Empress Hotel in Douglas, Isle of Man during the Manx Grand Prix last week. Two bikers noticed this and kindly offered to take the camera to the local police station. Unfortunately this doesn’t seem to have happened. My friend is obviously very upset as this very expensive camera had...

Richard Brunstrom hits out at off-road riders

09 September 2008 by Steve Farrell

Police chief Richard Brunstrom has defended taking a helicopter trip over Snowdonia by saying he needed to see the damage done by off-road motorcycling. The controversial North Wales chief constable,...

Hear the 2009 Yamaha R1 running

09 September 2008 by Chris Newbigging

MCN was on hand to witness the covers being pulled off the 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1 in Amsterdam yesterday (September 8), and Yamaha fired the bike up to demonstrate the big-bang, cross-plane crank motor’s...

New MCN September 10: 2009 Yamahas and Hondas

09 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s edition of Motorcycle News we reveal Yamaha’s 2009 range of motorcycles including the new Yamaha R1, Yamaha XJ6 Diversion, Yamaha XVS950A Midnight Star and Yamaha’s latest editions to...

Video: See and hear the 2009 Yamaha R1 in action

09 September 2008 by Angus Farquhar

The first video has emerged of the 2009 Yamaha R1 in action and it sounds incredible. Check out the video on the right to see the new 2009 Yamaha R1 in action as part of a US promo video and hear the incredible sound it makes. The video explains all the technical aspects of how the engine works with Colin Edwards taking you through how it feels to ride. Get 10 pages of 2009 Yamaha’s in the...

2009 Yamaha XVS950 Midnight Star- First pictures

08 September 2008 by Rob Hull

Yamaha’s sub-1000cc cruiser, the XVS950 Midnight Star, gets boosted with a newly-designed 942cc air-cooled V-twin engine and a lengthened and lowered chassis for improved handling. The new...

Yamaha MotoGP riders unveil new YZF-R1 in Las Vegas

08 September 2008 by Rob Hull

All four Yamaha MotoGP representatives: Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Colin Edwards and James Toseland, have been part of the global unveiling of the new YZF-R1 in a glitzy Las Vegas...

2009 Yamaha minor changes

08 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

In addition to the brand new models from Yamaha such as the Yamaha XJ6 Diversion, Yamaha R1, Yamaha WR125X/WR125R and the Yamaha XVS950A Midnight Star the majority of Yamaha’s models will receive a...

2009 Yamaha YZF-R1 - First pictures

08 September 2008 by Rob Hull

Yamaha has released the first official pictures and information for the revised 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1. The biggest change is the move to a ‘big-bang’ inline four-cylinder 998cc motor that Yamaha claim is...

Marzocchi sold to Tenneca

08 September 2008 by Michael Carroll

U.S. suspension firm Tenneco, which produces Monroe shock absorbers, has bought Group Marzocchi’s suspension business for US$15 million (£8.5 million). Suspension in the MCN shop Shop for over 45,000...

Oxford offer free back protector to racers

08 September 2008 by Michael Carroll

Oxford Products is offering free back protectors to any ACU license holder who is currently racing in any British road race championship. Shop for over 45,000 products with MCN The Oxford Max Back...

Schumacher testing at Hockenheim

08 September 2008 by Alan Hopps

I’ve just returned from a touring holiday in Europe, starting in Amsterdam down to Southern Germany then across heading towards Lake Konstanz. Deciding to have a break at Hockenheim circuit on the...

Prince Harry and Prince William to ride motorcycles across Africa

08 September 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Prince William and Prince Harry have been given the go-ahead to ride across southern Africa on motorcycles as part of a charity visit in the style of Ewan McGreggor and Charley Boorman’s Long Way...

Waiting for blade-cop

07 September 2008 by paul wears

wizza in north wales waiting for blade-cop!

Rossi takes a paws to read MCN!

06 September 2008 by michele smith

Castleford based Michele is so Valentino obsessed that she even named her dog Rossi and makes him bark when MCN is delivered!

2009 Honda Fireblade ABS - First official pictures

05 September 2008 by Steve Farrell

The flagship Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade becomes the first superbike to get ABS in 2009 and comes in a range of new colours. Video: 2008 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade launch test The optional anti-lock...

Shock - motorcyclist thinks new test is good thing!

05 September 2008 by Anon

As a keen motorcyclist for many years I cannot understand why so many people are up in arms about the new test. Surely a test that is designed to be more challenging and ensure learners have sufficient control of the bike before being let out alone on the roads can only be good for everyone. Perhaps it will weed out those reckless few who give us respectable bikers a bad name! I know that not...

Proper posing advice

05 September 2008 by martin lowndes

my neice mckenzie showing me how to pose properly

BMW Quality Issues

04 September 2008 by tomo1200

If BMW produced cars of such shoddy quality as their motorcycles, they would never sell another car. I have had BMWs for over 10 years, my R1100GS I bought new in 1998, and had numerous warranty/quality issues, including 2 sets of corroded wheels replaced within 18 months, alternator failing after 12 months and leaving me stranded, front wishbone being replaced due to corrosion after 12 months.