2009

Tayside police avoid speed penalties

Taken from PocketGPSworld newsletter this week (20/2/09): The Evening Telegraph has reported that a Tayside Police officer, who was caught speeding at 144mph by a speed camera on the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen road, escaped prosecution. It also reports that last year there were 250 incidents on Tayside’s roads where police vehicles were caught speeding, none of which resulted in prosecution. It adds...

Video: KTM 990 SMT first ride

Video: KTM 990 SMT first ride

The all-new KTM 990 SM-T uses the firms 990cc LC8 engine to give the SM-T the fun factor of a large supermoto, while the seat and fairing gives it all the practicalities of a tourer. Whether you want...

Video: Storming Westminster City Hall

The Storming of Westminster City Hall by the Notobikeparkingfees.com campaign on Feb 18th. The troops gather at park lane underground carpark… Please sign our petition as 3500 others have done – we need your support. Part 2 – More troops gather at park lane underground carpark Part 3 – Our illustrious General Warren rallies his troops Part 4 – We all depart en masse for Westminster City...

New speed cameras on Sherburn Cafe run?

I have been reliably informed that a new type of speed camera is being installed on what is known around these parts as the “Mad mile” – the A63 Leeds to Selby to the Sherburn Cafe meeting place.

Near Disaster

I attended the Classic Bike show on Sunday 15th. On arriving I followed other bikes across the parking bays and pulled up along side another bike. I noticed that he put his bike on the centerstand so thought I`d do the same. I put it on the stand and was taking my helmet off.All of a sudden a guy next to me shouted and I noticed that my bike was falling. The same guy then saved my bike from...

Dad can't wait to get back on bike after op

Dad can't wait to get back on bike after op

This is my Dad after just coming round from a Laminectomy – a spine operation to remove the portion of the vertebral bone called the lamina. Before he went in he told me MCN would be waiting for him...

Westminster City Hall Demo, Inside and Out!

What an amazing demonstration on Tuesday 17th Feb 2009, thank you to all that attended it was the largest protest to date and definitely a kick in the teeth for Westminster Council. Over 500+ of you made it out on to the streets of London to show your anger towards Westminster Council, Councillor Danny Chalkley, Alastair Gilchrist, Martin Low, Kevin Goad and Kieran Fitsall (The antagonists and...

Michael Jackson Harley Davidson up for auction

Michael Jackson Harley Davidson up for auction

Michael Jackson is selling his customised Harley-Davidson Road King as part of an auction or more than 2000 items from his Neverland ranch.   The Harley-Davidson is a customised police spec Road King,...

Airbag doctor: “I don’t wear one”

Airbag doctor: “I don’t wear one”

A doctor behind calls for airbag jackets to be made compulsory riding equipment has admitted he doesn’t wear one on his own motorcycle. Last week Andy Parfitt told BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat: “I think...

Parking protest storms City Hall

Parking protest storms City Hall

Hundred of protesters stormed City Hall in London in the latest protest over the scrapping of free motorcycle parking bays. Around 500 motorcyclists joined a slow ride which ended by invading the...

Video: 2009 Yamaha R1 vs Honda Fireblade

Video: 2009 Yamaha R1 vs Honda Fireblade

Michael Neeves says the new Yamaha R1 engine with crossplane crank gives the bike all the top-end rush of an inline-four, with the low down grunt of a twin and at the launch of the bike in Australia,...

Win a copy of WSB 2008 Season review by entering the MCN Biking Britain Survey

Win a copy of WSB 2008 Season review by entering the MCN Biking Britain Survey

MCN and Duke video have joined forces to bring you the chance to win one of 20 copies of the 2008 World Superbike Season Review on DVD if you enter the MCN Biking Britain Survey. The survey is the...

Warm, dry, hi-viz kit

Warm, dry, hi-viz kit

Stand out from the crowd with this high-vis combo from Weise. The Buzz jacket and trousers are made from 600-denier, abrasion-resistant textile, with CE-approved hard armour on shoulders, elbows, hips...

Florida to Alaska - Preparing for the cold

Florida to Alaska. Last preparing for the cold ice roads from Alaska.

Florida to Alaska - workshop preparations

Doris explains the changes on her bike and Helge tells about his ten year trip around the world.

New MCN Feb 18: 7 world first tests!

New MCN Feb 18: 7 world first tests!

In this week’s issue of MCN the 2009 Yamaha beats the Honda Fireblade and is set to redefine how we ride sportsbikes. Read all about why the R1 is king in our road test, which takes place on the epic...

Novelty bike lighters come in handy

Novelty bike lighters come in handy

Sometimes it’s handy to have a lighter, even if you’re not a smoker. These novelty items work just as well, but let you show off your biking blood. Standard versions cost £4 each, and windproof items...

New book offers real-world riding tips

New book offers real-world riding tips

Learn how to make every ride a pleasure with these real-world riding tips. Riding in the Zone is written by Ken Condon – an instructor with the US-based  Motorcycle Safety Foundation – and aims to...

Cold weather means hot bike bargains

Cold weather means hot bike bargains

I’m slapped pink with the realisation that the weather is only going to get worse; it’s either time to hang up your spurs or prepare yourself for the ritual of multilayered wind / rain resistant...

Yet more state control...

So the latest police gizmo will be more speed cameras to limit our freedom. I’m all for responsible riding but as usual minorities damage the reputation of the vast majority who ride for fun, friendship and the sheer thrill of biking. Other European countries are far more relaxed in thier policing methods; 10 of us did an 1800-mile trip accross France, Belgium and Germany and saw 5 police cars in...

Win an Ixon Galactica suit and a free trackday with the MCN Biking Britain Survey

Ixon has teamed up with MCN to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a top-of-the-range race suit and a free trackday to use it on, all for the sake of 15 minutes of your time. We’re giving away one Ixon Galactica suit and a free trackday courtesy of Ixon to one person who enters their details online on the MCN Biking Britain Survey. It’ll only take you a quarter of an hour and lets you have...

Motrax acquire Scorpion Exhausts deal

Motrax acquire Scorpion Exhausts deal

Motorcycle parts and accessories firm Motrax has today announced the addition of Scorpion Exhausts to their 2009 product range. Scorpion, a British brand, has a well-established racing and road-going...

Knox ‘honeycomb’ back protector

Knox ‘honeycomb’ back protector

Knox’s latest Kompakt back protector takes the bulk out of preventing injury. Compare and buy back protectors The CE-approved protector is one of the lightest available in the UK, weighing just...

New stubbies for 2009 R6

New stubbies for 2009 R6

Yamaha’s new R1 might be grabbing all the attention right now, but exhaust maker GPR isn’t overlooking its little brother. It has just launched this slash-cut titanium stubby slip-on for the 2008/9...

BMW launch 2009 riding collection

BMW launch 2009 riding collection

BMW has leaked a number of latest additions to their 2009 range including a new top-line road lid, textile two-piece and protective vest. Compare motorcycle products in the MCN Shop The Tailguard...

Cagiva 1125 Schiranna

Cagiva 1125 Schiranna

This is my vision of a new Cagiva twin. It uses Buell’s 1125 engine, but modified and upgraded. Since MV will have the task of having top of the range 3 and 4 cylinder bikes, it will fall...

1.5 million potholes after big freeze

1.5 million potholes after big freeze

The number of potholes on UK roads has soared to 1.5 million during two weeks of freezing weather, according to the AA. Road damage has increased 40% and the country ‘teeters on local road collapse’,...

Ducati Multistrada replacement: top 5 rivals rated

Ducati Multistrada replacement: top 5 rivals rated

Ducati’s new practical superbike – the Multistrada replacement –  will enter one of the fastest growing segments of the motorcycle market. Will it have what it takes to edge out the competition?...

Harrison Ford spotted on BMW R1200GS

Harrison Ford spotted on BMW R1200GS

Hollywood A-lister Harrison Ford has been spotted trying out a BMW in California.  The Veteran actor, who starred as Han Solo in Star Wars, and Indiana Jones, was spotted decked head to foot in BMW...

Win a pair of Rev’it Airvolution gloves with the MCN Biking Britain Survey

Win a pair of Rev’it Airvolution gloves with the MCN Biking Britain Survey

You could become the proud owner of one of ten pairs of Rev’it Airvolution sport gloves courtesy of Rev’it and the MCN Biking Britain Survey. Enter our products survey and you automatically go into...

Cycling columnist sparks row

Cycling columnist sparks row

A cycling columnist for The Independent has sparked a row on the paper’s website by claiming motorcycles in bus lanes is a ‘recipe for disaster’. James Daley says letting ‘carbon-emitting,...

Launch report: KTM 990 SMR

Launch report: KTM 990 SMR

KTM has billed the KTM 990 SMR as the world’s fastest supermoto, Chad is out in Portugal putting the bike through its paces on road and on the Portimao track. KTMs for sale Here are Chad’s first...

‘Motorcycle detection system’ on roads by Easter

‘Motorcycle detection system’ on roads by Easter

A new surveillance system designed to track movements of motorcyclists on the roads will be operational by Easter, MCN can reveal. The technology can tell motorcycles apart from other vehicles,...

New Hesketh V 1200

New Hesketh V 1200

For those which consider the new generation Bentley too “popular” and prefer to drive a Bristol Blenheim. For those who get their clothes made to measure from the taylor. For those which still watch...

Get a free pair of Bridgestone tyres with the MCN Biking Britain Survey

Get a free pair of Bridgestone tyres with the MCN Biking Britain Survey

We’re giving you the chance to win one of 10 free pairs of Bridgestone tyres as part of the MCN Biking Britain Survey. The survey is set to become the biggest of its sort in the motorcycle industry,...

Launch report: Ktm 990 SMT

Launch report: Ktm 990 SMT

The KTM 990 SMT supermoto isn’t just new for 2009, it’s an entirely new concept combining the exciting performance of a Supermoto with practical touches such as a taller screen and a fuel tank bigger...