2008

Year: 2008

Month: ALL

Video: Aprilia Dorsoduro - world's first ride

29 April 2008 by Adam Child

Aprilia reckons its new street supermoto, the Dorsoduro, is something of a beast so we sent MCN road tester Adam Child to ride it. Chad travelled an hour north of Rome to take part in the world’s first ride of Aprilia’s new Shiver-derived street supermoto. Watch the video below to see what he thought and read the full article in MCN, Wednesday, 30 April, 2008.

MCN Daily 17/04/08: Your daily video motorcycle news

17 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 87 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show MCN’s deputy editor Ped Baker has completed his ride of Yamaha’s new Tenere, Jorge Lorenzo is praised by Lin Jarvis, and Susie Grayson puts Feisty Racing on the podium. Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email us here to let us know what...

Video: Aprilia's new SMV750 Dorsoduro First Ride!

17 April 2008 by Adam Child

MCN Road Tester Adam Child has just been to Italy to ride Aprilia’s new street supermoto, the Dorsoduo. It is based on the mechanicals from the Shiver 750, and going by the antics we captured on video it’s an absolute hoot to ride. Watch a little video teaser below and Chad’s full test in MCN (and full video) is coming soon!

All the top motorcycles ridden and rated

16 April 2008 by Phil West

If you’re looking for a new motorcycle, or merely just want to find out what’s currently hot, don’t miss the massive 2008 Ridden & Rated supplement in association with Bennetts Insurance, free with...

Picture special: Budget Yamaha Tenere gives a taste of adventure

16 April 2008 by Ped Baker

Yamaha’s XT660Z Tenere is aimed at riders who dream of adventuring to the end of the Tarmac and beyond. With long travel suspension, a huge 250 mile tank range and practical ‘crash resistant’ panels...

First impressions: Kawasaki Ninja 250R launch

15 April 2008 by Trevor Franklin

MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is in Barcelona to get a first taste of the sauciest 250 sports bike in years, the Euro-spec, fuel-injected Kawasaki 250R Ninja. Here’s what he’s found out so...

MCN Daily 14/04/08: Your daily video motorcycle news

14 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 84 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show MCN’s editor, Marc Potter has been in Italy checking out Honda’s new CB1000R, we start the countdown to MCN Live at Butlins and Jorge Lorenzo is in heaven after his maiden win in Portugal. Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email us here...

First test: Honda CB1000R is the bike to beat

12 April 2008 by Marc Potter

MCN Editor Marc Potter has just ridden Honda’s new naked CB1000R on the banks of Lake Como in Italy and to say he is impressed would be putting it mildly. He said: “The engine is an absolute peach.

Video: Moto Guzzi Stelvio Group test

11 April 2008 by Michael Neeves

To see where the new Moto Guzzi Stelvio fits into the adventure tourer world, we took it, a BMW R1200GS, KTM 990 Adventure and Triumph Tiger to Italy to visit the world famous Stelvio Pass. Of course, we checked to see if it was open first… Watch the video above to see how the group test went and read the full article in MCN, Wednesday, 9 April, 2008.

First ride: Honda DN-01 is a little confusing

11 April 2008 by Marc Potter

MCN editor Marc Potter has just ridden the new 680cc Honda DN-01 around Lake Como in northern Italy as part of the first group to test the bike. He said: “Unfortunately Lake Como is covered in mist...

First ride: Getting ready to ride the Honda DN-01

10 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

MCN editor Marc Potter has just arrived at Lake Como in northern Italy to become one of the first people in the world to ride the all-new and radical Honda DN-01. Honda claim the DN-01 has created an...

Video: MV Augusta Brutale 1078RR first ride

10 April 2008 by Michael Neeves

MV Agusta’s new Brutale 1078RR has the engine from the F4 RR312 superbike crammed into its tinny, sexy chassis. But it’s not just its 154bhp and 166-plus mph top speed, which sets this apart from any Brutale built before, the best bit is that it’s smoother and easier to ride than ever. Check out the video below to see Senior Road Tester, Michael Neeves tackle the £13,000 Brutale amd read the full...

First impressions from the Harley Davidson X1200R launch

09 April 2008 by Phil West

Harley Davidson is launching its European only Flat Track inspired XR1200R in and around Valencia road test editor Phil West has been riding the motorcycle today for MCN. Here are Phil’s first...

Moto Guzzi Stelvio against its rivals

09 April 2008 by Sarah Carnell

In this week’s MCN you can see how the Moto Guzzi Stelvio gets on when put through its paces against its main rivals. MCN tested the Moto Guzzi Stelvio against the BMW R1200GS, KTM 990 Adventure and...

First ride: Yamaha Tenere pre launch report

08 April 2008 by Peter Baker

Deputy Editor, Ped Baker is in Morocco to test Yamaha’s new XT660Z Tenere and he’s sent his first report back ahead of riding the motorcycle over the coming few days. The Tenere is the third bike in...

MCN Daily 07/04/08: Your daily video motorcycle news

07 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 80 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we ride the new Ducati Monster, JamesToseland taks to the phones and snow gets in the way way of the first British Superbikes round. Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email us here to let us know what you think of the new show.

Video: Onboard the Husqvarna WR250 Off road

03 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Six weeks after competing my first Enduro on the Husqvarna WR250 I managed to blow the cob webs away with a day practising last weekend. Living just North of London it’s not easy finding places to ride an Enduro bike legally short of entering an actual event, but after trawling the web I found Enduroland. The dedicated piece of land located just a few miles from Silverstone on the A43 is actually...

MCN Daily 02/04/08: Your daily video motorcycle news

02 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 77 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show a motorcyclists bid to become London mayor gets shot down, we’ve got exclusive video of the incredible new Bimota DB6R and Rossi says he’s happy with Yamaha’s progress. Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email us here to let us know what...

Video: Bimota DB6R first ride

02 April 2008 by Michael Neeves

£16,600 is a lot of money to spend on a bike, let alone a naked one, but the new Bimota DB6R is the best of the super naked breed. Check out our video to see why Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves reckons this exotic, hand-built Italian beauty is so good.

Video: Victory Vision takes on its rivals

31 March 2008 by Adam Child

Victory’s all new Vision brings a new rival to the full-dress tourers from Honda, BMW, and Harley. But can it compete against the already established competition? Road tester Adam Child embarks on a mammoth journey from London, to Edinburgh, via Cardiff, Dublin and Belfast to find out. Check out the road trip as the Vision, Electraglide, Goldwing and K1200LT tour the UK and Ireland in freezing...

Video: Triumph Bonneville Evel Knievel replica

27 March 2008 by Trevor Franklin

In 1968 Evel Knievel jumped the Caesar’s Palace casino fountains on a Triumph Bonneville T120. To make sure that the Las Vegas event isn’t forgotten Triumph specialist dealer Jack Lilley has built a motorcycle to commemorate the fact it was Triumph who kickstarted Knievel’s career. Watch the video below to see what MCN Chief road tester Trevor Franklin thought of the tribute motorcycle. Read the...

Video: Ducati Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica on the road

27 March 2008 by Michael Neeves

MCN senior road tester Michael Neeves is the lucky man who got to take Ducati’s £40,000 Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica on the world’s first road test. Watch the video above to see if the motorcycle can maintain its sensational track reputation as it takes to the streets of Glasgow. Read the full article in MCN, Wednesday, March 26, 2008.

Video: Custom built Husqvarna road racer

18 March 2008 by Adam Child

This Husqvarna racer has been designed in partnership between Husqvarna UK and HM racing to compete in the new Moto 450 class run by the new Thundersport GB club this year. Watch the video to see MCN road tester Adam Child take the motorcycle around Mallory Park and read the full article in MCN, out Wednesday, 19th March, 2008.

First impressions from the Suzuki GSX-R750 launch

13 March 2008 by Michael Neeves

MCN Senior road tester Michael Neeves, has just finished four sessions of intense riding on the new Suzuki GSX-R750 at the twisty Guadix circuit in the south of Spain. The good news is that Suzuki...

Video: Have Buell solved their 1125R problems?

13 March 2008 by Trevor Franklin

The launch of Buell’s 1125R last year showed it to be a woefully under developed motorcycle and six months later, Buell claims that all the problems have been sorted. MCN chief road tester Trevor Franklin travelled to Seville to test the Buell on the roads and the twisting Monteblanco circuit. Watch the video to see the bike put through it’s paces to find out if the problems have been fixed.

Video: 2008 600cc group test

13 March 2008 by Michael Neeves

Last year Honda blew the doors off the 600 class with its new CBR600RR but can it hold on to its crown against the new Yamaha R6, Triumph’s Daytona 675, Suzuki’s new GSX-R600 K8 and Kawasaki’s ZX-6R. MCN Senior road tester Michael Neeves tested the motorcycles on road and track to see if the contenders could match the Honda CBR600RR. Watch the video below to find out the finishing order and read...

Video: Cagiva Mito SP525 as fun as a Moto 125?

12 March 2008 by Trevor Franklin

When looking at the captivating styling of Cagiva’s brand new Mito SP525 you must remember certain things. Its engine size is only 124.6cc, power out-put is capped to 14.7bhp and the SP525 looks like the 1994 Caviga V594 500GP motorcycle. MCN’s chief road tester Trevor Franklin put the motorcycle through its paces to see if the SP525 could be the same source of sports fun as the 1990 Moto...

Video: Husqvarna's 2008 SM510IR, SM450RR and a World Championship winning bike

06 March 2008 by Michael Neeves

For the past ten years, Italian off-road motorcycle manufacturer Husqvarna has been in the business of making fiery supermotos. The company, recently bought by BMW, have continued to tweak and upgrade their range year on year and 2008 is no different. MCN’s Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves travelled to Benidorm to try the new SM510R, the SM450RR and the S1 World Championship winning 450 machine...

Video: 2008 KTM RC8 - it was worth it

05 March 2008 by Trevor Franklin

KTM already produces decent V-twin powered bikes in the shape of the 990SM and the Super Duke but these aren’t machines burdened with the ‘tag’ of Superbike like the new RC8. MCN’ Chief Road Tester...

MCN Daily 04/03//08: Your daily video motorcycle news

04 March 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 56 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we get a 2008 Yamaha R6 up to a whopping 172.34 miles per hour, satellite road pricing appears to be put on the back burner and MotoGP rookie James Toseland says he is happy to have racing legend Valentino Rossi on his side Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just...

MCN Daily 03/03//08: Your daily video motorcycle news

03 March 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 55 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we test the new Buell Ulysses XB12XT, the Government may allow the usage of hard shoulders to ease motorway congestion and Mick Jagger reveals members of the Hell Angels planned to assassinate him Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email...

First ride: Buell Ulysses XB12XT

01 March 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Following on from the successful sales debut of Buell’s Ulysses, the American company has introduced a new model – the XB12XT. The motorcycle has just been launched in Spain and is a full on touring...

Video: BMW F650GS first ride

27 February 2008 by Phil West

Despite the 650 name, the BMW F650GS actually has a 798cc twin cylinder motor derived from the F800GS and has just been laiunched alongside its bigger sibling. MCN Road Test Editor Phil West travelled to South Africa to see if the motorcycle could better the ‘Funduro’ tag associated with its predecessor. Click here to watch the first ride of the new F800GS

MCN Daily 26/02/08: Your daily video motorcycle news

26 February 2008 by Jack Thorpe, Sarah Carnell, Angus Farquhar

In episode 51 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we have the world’s first ride of the new Suzuki GSX-R600, Princes William and Harry get told not to ride to Africa and Casey Stoner says give Marco Melandri some more time. Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email us here to let us know...

World first Suzuki GSX-R600 test: "The engine is lovely"

26 February 2008 by Adam Child

MCN Road Tester Adam Child has just had his first ride about Suzuki’s new GSX-R600 at Misano, Italy in very British-style mist and damp. He’s managing to tip toe around the circuit and his first...

2008 Suzuki GSX-R600 First Ride!

26 February 2008 by Adam Child

MCN Road Tester Adam Child is at Misano in Italy waiting to ride the all-new 2008 Suzuki GSX-R600. The bike’s ready, Chad’s ready, now all he’s waiting for is the freezing fog to clear! The key...