March

Year: 2016

Month: March

The home-built TT bike

10 March 2016 by MCN Sport

his is the kind of bike the Classic TT was invented for. Built by Manx Grand Prix front runner Gary Gittins, the 1990 GSX-R750L started as a way of getting extra practice time for his goal of a...

Remembering Sheene

10 March 2016 by James Archibald

Thirteen years ago today, motorcycling lost one of its most enigmatic and colourful characters. Barry Sheene at the age of only 52 when he sadly lost his battle to cancer, he would have been 65...

Classic Bikes take centre stage at the Scottish show

10 March 2016 by MCN News

A staggering 465 classic bikes will be on display at this year’s Carole Nash MCN Scottish Show in Edinburgh on March 12-13. Situated in the Classic Bike magazine hall, Scotland’s biggest ever...

Go different – Alternative travel guide (Part 2/3)

10 March 2016 by MCN

Biking trips are what you make them. So make yours awesome by trying something new this summer forest adventure. Discovering the hidden beauty and solitude of southern Sweden via off-road...

World launch of the 2016 MT-07 Moto Cage at the Scottish Motorcycle Show

09 March 2016 by MCN News

If you prefer your bikes a little more up-to-date it doesn’t come any more current than the new Yamaha MT-07 Moto Cage. Making its official public debut at the Scottish Show, the MT-07 Moto Cage is a...

540bhp, 209mph… one wheel

09 March 2016 by Performance Bikes

Clearing the double ton on both wheels is a serious achievement, but Gary Rothwell’s Hayabusa manages it on just the back one ary Rothwell has a fair claim to being one of the godfathers of the stunt...

Rule the roads with Tyco replica

09 March 2016 by MCN News

BMW have created a limited-edition Tyco BMW Race Replica which will be the highest-specification S1000RR available from your local dealer. The bike is painted in an exact replica of the 2016 Tyco race...

Go different – Alternative travel guide (Part 1/3)

09 March 2016 by MCN

Biking trips are what you make them. So make yours awesome by trying something new this summer here’s no finer way to bond with your offspring than taking a trip to the cradle of Rossi fanaticism in...

More supercharged bikes from Kawasaki

09 March 2016 by Andy Downes & Ben Purvis

Given the exotic nature and high prices of the two supercharged Kawasaki models currently available, it’s easy to believe that forced induction is just a vanity project. But that would be a...

Kawasaki Ninja R2 planned

09 March 2016 by Andy Downes & Ben Purvis

This image, crafted using insider information from Kawasaki, is the best interpretation yet of the supercharged superbike the Japanese firm could use to rip up the class rules next year. Rumours and...

Poll: Who's going to be top Brit in MotoGP this year?

08 March 2016 by MCN News

The season is about to start, so who’s going to finish top Brit in the MotoGP class?

New MCN March 09: Triumph Thruxton R first test

08 March 2016 by James Archibald

In this week’s edition of MCN, available in newsagents, on iPad and Android from March 9: Kawasaki’s secret supercharged Ninja R2 MotoGP showdown – Final Qatar test shock 20-page new bike special New...

7 great Euro Retros

08 March 2016 by Phil West

Triumph’s Bonnie isn’t the only master of its own history. Ducati Sport 1000 (2005-2008) Now widely considered a bike before its time. Ducati’s short-lived Sport Classics were killed off before...

41% of UK motorcyclists wearing helmets that should be replaced

07 March 2016 by MCN News

Around 400,000 UK motorcyclists are currently wearing helmets that ‘need to be replaced’, according to industry experts and new figures from insurance broker Carole Nash. Carole Nash surveyed over...

The Secret Ninjas

07 March 2016 by MCN

hese rare factory styling sketches show the options Kawasaki were weighing up for the ZX-12R Ninja in 1998, two years before the launch. It’s easy to spot one they chose, although its fairing fins...

Triumph Thruxton R launch report

07 March 2016 by Jon Urry

Live from the launch of the Triumph T120 Black and Thruxton R. After a gentle morning on the T120 Black, the pace certainly picked up with the arrival of the Thruxton R this afternoon. Compared to the...

Whatever happened to Pat Hennen?

07 March 2016 by Phil West

America’s first GP winner and Sheene’s team-mate at Hennen became the first American rider to win a 500cc Grand Prix when he took the Finnish round at Imatra in 1976. As team-mate to Barry Sheene in...

Team UK clinches joint second in BMW GS Trophy!

05 March 2016 by Michael Guy

After seven days of competition, 18 special stages and nearly 900 miles of off-road riding, Team UK have clinched joint second position in the 2016 BMW GS Trophy. The UK team, which was made up of...

Whatever happened to Frank Thomas kit?

05 March 2016 by Phil West

The British brand dominated for over 30 years but vanished overnight Frank Thomas? Didn’t he used to be a TV comedian? No, you’re thinking of Frank Skinner. Or maybe Frank Sidebottom, Or Frank Carson...

Six arrested over Padgett’s bike thefts

04 March 2016 by Andy Downes

Six men have been arrested in connection with the theft at Christmas of new and classic motorcycles worth £100,000 from the famous Padgett’s Motorcycles in Batley, Yorkshire. The Padgett’s showrooms...

MCN's BMW GS Trophy diary: Day Nine

03 March 2016 by Michael Guy

Team UK deliver the goods once again to retain place on the podium The fifth stage of the BMW GS Trophy was arguably the toughest yet. While the riding itself was not hugely technical it was a long...

Too Tall Tel's tall tales

03 March 2016 by MCN Sport

Abusing Lawson, riling Foggy, chasing Doohan. Terry Rymer has lived a full and fruity racing life… he 90s were a heady time for British race fans. They not only got to marvel at the sights of Rainey,...

Christmas Quiz: The results

03 March 2016 by Ped Baker

Better late than never eh? If you’re still trying to nail the last few questions in our quiz published in our Christmas bumper print edition we can finally put you out of your misery. The correct...

MCN's GS Trophy diary: Day 8

02 March 2016 by Michael Guy

Today’s win puts Team UK back in the top three Stunning riding, river crossings, puncture repairs, dust and no less than three special stages defined day four of the BMW GS Trophy in Thailand...

Learn from John Hopkins’ data engineer

02 March 2016 by MCN News

Reactive Suspension is holding a two-day data logging course on March 21-22 under the intruction of Bob Gray, John Hopkins’ crew chief for 2016. The course is aimed at club or national racers and...

New 1190’s big screen test

02 March 2016 by Andy Downes

Despite the strategic smattering of disguise tape, we can see the windscreen – built on this bike from rapid prototyping material – is taller, adjustable and also offers a wider area for improved...

Clubs galore at this year’s MCN Festival

02 March 2016 by MCN News

Owners clubs from far and wide will be flocking to this year’s MCN Festival of Motorcycling and all are planning to have some very special bikes on display. We’ve increased the number of clubs at the...

Poll: Is where a bike is built important to you?

02 March 2016 by MCN News

Is where a bike is built important to you?

KTM’s secret weapon

02 March 2016 by Andy Downes

KTM’s upcoming parallel-twin has been spied testing – and official word from Austria has now confirmed a family of middleweight bikes will stem from this all-new 800cc engine layout. The first of this...

My Life in bikes; Federico Sabbioni

02 March 2016 by MCN

‘It’s an emotional moment seeing a bike come to life’ e’s the father of the Scrambler family, but it all started with a write-off When did you first become interested in bikes? I started to...

Triumph Bobber gets Bonnie grunt

02 March 2016 by Andy Downes

This is the second time this bike has been spied testing on the road but, unlike last time in the summer of 2015, it appears now to be in almost completely finished form except for a missing front...

MCN's BMW GS Trophy diary: Day seven

01 March 2016 by Michael Guy

Tough day for team UK as South Africa extend lead After running in the top two during the opening two days of the 2016 GS Trophy, team UK dropped to joint fourth today alongside the Central Eastern...

MCN gearing up for Victory Octane launch

01 March 2016 by Phil West, MCN Contributor

MCN is getting ready for the launch of Victory’s latest addition to its performance cruiser rang – the new Octane which we’ll be testing near Daytona Beach, Florida later this week. The Octane is the...

Picture story: The summer of rocket bike mania

01 March 2016 by MCN

Rocket propulsion was one of motorcycling’s more predictable dead-ends. Promoted by Opel’s head of testing (and grandson of the company’s founder) Fritz von Opel, 1928’s ‘Monster’ was based on the...

9 Ways to ensure you never fail an MoT

01 March 2016 by MCN

Your bike’s MoT test doesn’t have to be worse than a trip to the dentist 1. Is the chassis sweet? Inspect your bike’s chassis well in advance of the MoT date. Check for clunks, creaks, loose parts...

New MCN March 2: Sportsbike of the year

01 March 2016 by MCN News

In this week’s edition of MCN, available in newsagents, on iPad and Android from March 2: Exclusive mega-test: Sportsbike of the year KTM 1290 Super Duke GT first ride Secret KTM 800s spied Surtees...