December

Year: 2017

Month: December

Electric motorcycles: The buzz so far

11 February 2019 by MCN News

The end is nigh for vehicles powered by fossil fuels. In 2016, Germany voted to ban the internal combustion engine by 2030, and the UK Government is under pressure to bring its ban on the sales of new...

2019 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT - the story

02 October 2018 by MCN News

The 2019 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT broke cover at Intermot, Cologne in 2018. The new bike gets a raft of technical upgrades including a 6.5” TFT dash, Quickshifter+ and lean-angle sensitivity for braking...

6 craziest bikes of 2017

26 December 2017 by MCN News

As years go, 2017 was a pretty crazy one, and we’re not talking about the bikes. But, it just so happens there were some pretty crazy bikes to come out in 2017. Not quite as crazy as the Kawasaki H2...

Is this the battery we've been waiting for?

22 December 2017 by Jordan Gibbons

Research done at the University of Waterloo, Canada, could lead to the development of new batteries that triple the range of electric vehicles. The research has found that altering the material the...

Get your biking fix over winter

22 December 2017 by MCN News

Hands up if you’ve put your bike away for the winter? Yeah, there’s quite a few of us. And while we might be warmer on our way into work, there’s no doubt leaving the bike at home leaves a little hole...

BMW are planning a pocket-rocket

22 December 2017 by Jordan Gibbons

TVS have just released the Apache RR 310, a lightweight sportsbike that should be big news for BMW fans. Eh – BMW? Back in 2013, the German brand struck a deal with Indian motorcycle manufacturer TVS...

The best motorcycle reads for this Christmas

21 December 2017 by MCN News

When the weather outside is frightful, and your bike is tucked away for winter, the next best thing is reading about other peoples’ experiences on two wheel. So put your slippers on, turn the fire up,...

Huge bike test shake-up

21 December 2017 by Jordan Gibbons

Back in December 2016, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) published a consultation with the Department for Transport (DfT) about proposed changes to the way that motorcyclists are taught...

Levis blasts back

21 December 2017 by Jordan Gibbons

Levis motorcycles are blasting back with this stunning – and very clever – torque-laden V6 cafe racer. The story behind the rebirth of the British bike firm started in 2004 when an English engineer...

The Old Empire strikes back

20 December 2017 by James Archibald

Norfolk’s Old Empire Motorcycles are no strangers to classy and refined builds and, when commissioned by Triumph last year to go to town on a T120 Bonneville, they produced the goods, and then...

Roland Sands Bobber gets flat track fantastic

20 December 2017 by James Archibald

It’s fair to say that Roland Sands is a busy guy. It seems that every other week he’s rolling out another jaw-dropping motorcycle from his esteemed Californian workshop. And, that’s exactly the case...

Multi-million pound improvements underway at Donington Park

19 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

A multi-million pound programme of improvements is underway at Donington Park as the circuit’s new owners look to bolster the experience the venue can offer from 2018 and beyond. Donington was...

Poll: What will be your biking New Year's Resolution?

19 December 2017 by MCN News

With the end of 2017 looming, we wanted to find out what you and your machine will be doing next year… What will be your biking New Year’s Resolution?

News podcast episode 20: End-of-year special

19 December 2017 by MCN News

Welcome to the latest episode of the MCN News Podcast, an online offering from MCN discussing the latest news in the biking world. The MCN News Podcast is available regularly via Soundcloud and the...

Clearing the roads for Christmas

18 December 2017 by James Archibald

We all know the frustration of driving or riding by roadworks on the motorways without actually seeing a soul working on them, leaving roads congested with miles and miles of seemingly useable lanes...

The Sunday Social with Iwan Thomas

17 December 2017 by Liam Marsden

This week we caught up with former Olympic runner and TV presenter Iwan Thomas to talk sports bikes, customised Harleys, and hiding his bikes from his parents. Hi Iwan, how you doing? “Good, thank...

Yamaha return with the Fazer R

15 December 2017 by James Archibald

Yamaha have brought back the Fazer name to their repertoire of products, but not on what you might think. No, the new Fazer isn’t actually the bulletproof motorcycle that we all fondly remember, it’s...

Monster Dakar theft

14 December 2017 by James Archibald

A Monster Energy Honda CRF450 has been stolen ahead of its departure for January’s Dakar rally in South America. Thieves broke into a lorry at the port in Le Havre, France, where the vehicles destined...

Police pursuit laws could be changing

13 December 2017 by MCN News

After years of escalating motorcycle crime, there’s the potential for real progress on the horizon as Sir Henry Bellingham MP has tabled a bill in parliament that could give extra protection to the...

Wolf in Sym’s clothing

13 December 2017 by MCN News

The mini adventure segment is hotting up with BMW, Suzuki and Kawasaki all releasing 300cc adventure bikes and now Sym are getting in on the act with the Trazer 200. The Trazer 200 is a lightweight...

Moonlight serenade

13 December 2017 by James Archibald

The Yokohama Hot Rod Custom show, also known as the Mooneyes show, is one of the highlights of the international custom calendar. This year Warr’s Harley Davidson took something very special to the...

Waze adds navigation features for motorcycles

13 December 2017 by MCN News

Google-owned satnav app Waze has gained a new motorcycle mode, which has been tweaked for two- wheeled types in the UK. The update has improved arrival times that vary from cars and has added routing...

Don’t go for a ride on Tuesday, January 2nd

13 December 2017 by MCN News

If you go for a ride on Tuesday, January 2 2018, there’s a 5% higher chance that you’ll crash your bike and be killed than if you ride tomorrow. The same goes for January 31, March 2, March 31, April...

MCN's Christmas wishlist

12 December 2017 by MCN News

Sure, right now it’s not exactly biking weather, but that means there’s more time to spend inside – where it’s warm – checking out some of the awesome products that you hope to find under the tree in...

Win a Speedmaster with the National Motorcycle Museum

12 December 2017 by MCN News

The National Motorcycle Museum have announced the details of their summer raffle and the winner takes home a brand new Triumph Speedmaster. Tickets cost just £2 each and as well as the Speedmaster top...

Watch: Dougie Lampkin ride around abandoned theme park

11 December 2017 by MCN News

After recovering from doing a wheelie around the TT course, trials ace Dougie Lampkin has gone for a ride around an abandoned theme park in Milan. It all looks fun until he decides to ride up the...

Remembering Bruce Brown

11 December 2017 by MCN News

Californian filmmaker Bruce Brown was a renowned director of surf films, most notably for his 1966 epic, Endless Summer, but for bike fans he’ll be better known as the force behind On Any Sunday,...

The Sunday Social with Rachael Clegg

10 December 2017 by Liam Marsden

Rachael Clegg is an artist and journalist with a passion for the TT. Since 2013 she has produced a calendar celebrating the quirkier side of the Isle of Man TT. Milestones: The Singles Collection...

New beginnings after MCN's Forum closes

08 December 2017 by MCN News

Have you joined #ride5000miles for 2018? Now, although our MCN Forum era has come to an end (boo), all is not lost. We have our #ride5000miles Facebook group to continue all the wonderful...

Suzuki extend three-year warranty offer

08 December 2017 by James Archibald

There’s nothing more frustrating than a bike going wrong, especially when it’s just out of its warranty period – but life is often unjust and sometimes these things can happen. Suzuki however are...

Dainese scoop design award

08 December 2017 by James Archibald

Dainese have won the prestigious Italian Compasso d’Oro award for the design of their Pro-Armour protection system. Winning the performance and innovation in the sport category, it celebrates the...

Ticket prices held for 2018 British Speedway GP

07 December 2017 by MCN News

Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will come alive to the sound of thumping singles when they host the 2018 Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix on July 21. It will be a fantastic night of...

Ducati’s new theme park: Big kids read on

06 December 2017 by James Archibald

Time to leave adulting to one side. Ducati are pairing up with Italy’s second-biggest theme park vendor, Mirabilandia to open a new area in its Emilia-Romagna based park that, as you’ve guessed, will...

Ducati vow to keep V-twin in their sportsbike line-up until 2020

06 December 2017 by Matt Wildee

Despite unveiling their all-new MotoGP-inspired Ducati Panigale V4 just weeks ago, Ducati have confirmed they are far from stopping making V-twin sportsbikes. While visiting Ducati’s Bologna factory...

Poll: How do you protect your bike from thieves when you're parked up?

05 December 2017 by MCN News

This year appears to be the year where countless videos appear online, on Twitter, on Facebook…of bikes being stolen from shops, down side roads and on busy streets. Some of these motorcycle thefts...

BMW to invest £176 million into new battery technologies

05 December 2017 by MCN News

BMW have announced their intention to invest €200 million (£176 million) over the next four years by building a new battery technology centre in Munich. The strangely named Battery Cell Competence...