2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Radical Victory concept bike unveiled

17 January 2009 by MCN

This whacky-looking machine is the CORE – an all-new concept bike produced by American manufacturer Victory motorcycles based around one of its existing V-twins and unveiled to the public at this...

No To the Bike Parking Tax Demo video

17 January 2009 by freeparkingwarrior

On the 15th Jan we had a demonstration against Westminster Council’s charging of motorcyles for parking to Conservative Party HQ in London to hear a reply to our campaign, also briefly stopping outside Westminster City Hall to make ourselves heard. Here is the video of that demo in three parts. Click here to watch Part 2 Click here to watch Part 3 The next demo is on Sunday 1st feb from the Ace...

Florida to Alaska - part 3

17 January 2009 by marcus Kingma

R1Sjaak and Doris on their way to Key West and then up to Prudhoe Bay.

OCC unveils stealth bomber custom

16 January 2009 by MCN

This weird-looking beast is the latest creation by renown customisers Orange County Choppers. Dubbed the B-2 Stealth Bomber tribute, it’s been built to mark the 20th anniversary in 2009 of the first...

2009 BMW K1300GT first ride report

16 January 2009 by Andy Downes

MCN’s Andy Downes is on the BMW K1300 series launch in Spain with three new bikes being ridden for the first time – the K1300 R naked bike, the faired S and the touring GT model. Andy has just...

WRP brake discs come to UK road bikes

16 January 2009 by Michael Carroll

UK riders can now buy aftermarket WRP wavy brake discs for road bikes for the first time. Discs are available for sports and naked bikes including the Honda CBR600RR, Suzuki GSX-R’s, Ducati Monsters,...

New online order form for Venhill brake lines

16 January 2009 by Michael Carroll

Brake hose maker Venhill says a new online ordering system will make it easier to buy custom brake lines. Brake parts for sale A three-step ordering system allows you to pick the length of hose...

Free motorcyle insurance from Kymco

16 January 2009 by MCN News Desk

Kymco has re-launched its own-branded insurance scheme for motorcycles and scooters with free cover for 16-19 year olds across Kymco’s complete range of 50cc and 125cc bikes and scooters. Supported by...

Demonstration: No To the Bike Parking Tax! 15th January 2009

16 January 2009 by ojosef

We’re riding to Millbank Conservative head office to get a reply to our letter to them asking them to explain why a Conservative council (City of Westminster) have introduced a stealth tax on motorcycles. You may now officially object to this parking tax via email, we have made it very convenient for you, all you need to do is fill out this...

Cyclists have an easy ride

15 January 2009 by Anonymous

Facts: motorcyclist take a test, have insurance, have yearly MOT, have road tax, get caught by cameras if they speed or jump lights or stop in the wrong place ie red routes. They dont slow down trafic flow, dont go up one way streets the wrong way, dont ride on paths, motorcyclist follow the rules of the road… and the biggest joke is, I have to tax my 1800cc as a bicycle- I DON’T HAVE PEDALS!

Tuesday ‘most dangerous day of week’

15 January 2009 by Steve Farrell

Tuesday is the most dangerous day of the week for motorcyclists, according to insurer Bennetts. The firm’s annual report looked at claims in the year to July 2008 and found bike accidents would drop...

Craig Jones’ stolen helmet returned

15 January 2009 by Steve Farrell

A crash helmet stolen from late World Supersport racer Craig Jones has been returned to his mum. Yvonne Jones had collected every helmet her son ever raced in except for a distinctive ‘stormtrooper’...

2009 BMW K1300R on test!

15 January 2009 by Andy Downes

MCN’s Andy Downes is on the new BMW K1300 launch in Spain with three new bikes being ridden for the first time – the K1300 R naked bike, the faired S and the touring GT model and has now just stepped...

Immobiliser released for scooters

15 January 2009 by Michael Carroll

Scooter security has been boosted with the launch of a small, battery operated, immobiliser for machines up to 125cc. Made by Acumen, it automatically arms 30 seconds after the engine is switched off,...

The Tories are against bike parking taxes… so why the parking charge?

14 January 2009 by ojosef

A document unearthed today outlines the positive Conservative Party policy on motorcycling, moped and scooter use. So we ask, why the parking charge imposed by Cllr Danny Chalkley in the Conservative...

Cyclists- Red-route rage

14 January 2009 by andyg36

If more push-bikers respected the rules of the road then perhaps we would have more respect for their views. I ride in London every day and the number of pedallists who ignore red lights is shocking. I wouldn’t mind if they zoomed across said junction like Lance Armstrong on a time trial – as it is, too many spend too long faffing around with their clip-in shoes to give a damn, thus clogging up...

Honda extends 'Brave the Elements' deal

14 January 2009 by MCN News Desk

Honda is extending its ‘brave the elements’ scheme this winter, by extending the current offer on four of its most popular motorcycle models until 31 March 2009. Honda’s VFR800 VTEC sports-tourer,...

Video: 2009 Kawasaki ER-6n vs. Suzuki SV650 vs. Ducati Monster 696

14 January 2009 by MCN

The previous Kawasaki ER-6n was a great bike and didn’t need much improving, but Kawasaki has made a few tweaks. The new revised version tested here has slightly changed fuelling, a revised chassis...

Have your say: Cycle group attempts to sabotage bikes in bus lanes

14 January 2009 by Steve Farrell

A cycling group determined to sabotage London’s motorcycles in bus lanes trial is asking for complaints about us. Unhappy over a failed bid to stop the scheme going ahead in the first place, the...

Report on a MotoGP round with Bridgestone

14 January 2009 by MCN News Desk

Bridgestone has today announced the 2009 Bridgestone e-reporter competition for young aspiring journalists is now open for entries. As the contest enters its sixth year, the e-reporter initiative...

Florida to Alaska - part 2

13 January 2009 by marcus Kingma

R1Sjaak and Doris are on their way to Key West-Florida, the official starting point of their extreme trip tot Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. Tempatures are now – 35 C.

New MCN January 14: Donington Park loses MotoGP

13 January 2009 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s edition of MCN Donington Park loses the British round of MotoGP to Silverstone after 22 years. Silverstone managed to secure a deal with MotoGP bosses to host the British GP for five...

Video: The best bits of the outgoing Yamaha R1

13 January 2009 by MCN

MCN will be testing the new ‘growler’ Yamaha R1 next week so we’ve trawled through the archives to find some of the best road test with previous model Yamaha R1s. The new Yamaha R1 will be the most...

Suzuki extends finance deal

13 January 2009 by MCN

Suzuki has extended until the end of March 2009 a 0% finance scheme on a number of bikes in the range including the 2008 GSX-R1000. Other models included are the RM-Z450 and 250 models. The finance...

Launch report: 2009 KTM 990 Adventure R

12 January 2009 by Chris Newbigging

MCN has just ridden the new for 2009 KTM 990 Adventure R for the first time on a 250km on/off road trek in Sardinia. The new motorcycle takes over from the 990 Adventure S as the top-of-the-range...

Norton move in!

12 January 2009 by Andy Downes

The revived, iconic Norton motorcycles has moved into its brand new premises at Donington Park – and MCN was there. Brought back to UK by Midlands businessman Stuart Garner, Norton has plans for both...

Florida to Alaska - part 1

12 January 2009 by marcus Kingma

R1Sjaak and Doris Wiedemann started their bikes and are on their way to Key West-Florida.

Riding to Alaska in winter

12 January 2009 by marcus Kingma

R1-Sjaak and Doris Wiedemann are on their way to Alaska in winter. (-40 C) They make a pitsstop in Danville. Rusty, owner of Triangle Cycles, tells his story.

MotoGP coverage 2009

11 January 2009 by martin shaw

If you’re a MotoGP fan like myself are you also getting worried? BBC are advertising the sport they are going to show this year and not one mention of bikes! So get ready for poor coverage with poor commentary (please Dorna rethink Eurosport).

Ducati Supersport 1000

09 January 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

This is my idea of what a new Ducati Supersport 1000 could look like. It’s light, it’s clear and is small and manageable. It’s pure Ducati!

The Royal British Legion Riders Branch 2009 World Record Attempt.

09 January 2009 by Mark Keeling

June 2009 will see an attempt by The Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLR) to break the ultimate endurance World Record. The RBLR have joined forces with Iron Butt Association to try to beat the...

Honda electric motorcycle ready next year

09 January 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Honda has announced that it will have an electric moped on sale by the end of 2010. The moped will be built as a zero CO2 emissions alternative to a petrol-powered 50cc moped, using a 360kw light...

Police appeal for motorcyclists’ help in murder hunt

08 January 2009 by Steve Farrell

Police investigating the murder of a man whose body was found burning at the side of the M45 are appealing to motorcyclists. They want to speak to riders who were using the motorway in Warwickshire...

Motorcycle sales buck financial trends

08 January 2009 by Andy Downes

Motorcycle sales are bucking the rest of the miserable financial trends being seen with the global economic downturn with figures of just 3.4% down for the whole of 2008 according to the Motor Cycle...

Thieves get to keep stolen motorcycles

08 January 2009 by Steve Farrell

Stolen motorcycles recovered in raids are being given back to thieves because of a lack of identifying marks, police have said. With no way to trace rightful owners, officers have no choice but to...

2000 miles in Cambodia

08 January 2009 by Garry Moloney

The first photo is my girlfriend and I with our copy of MCN outside the Bayon temple in Siem Reap Cambodia. We did about 2000 miles in and around Siem Reap on our 125 Honda Dream in 2 months. About...