2012

Year: 2012

Month: ALL

BMW R1200GS Rallye first ride

08 March 2012 by Adam Child

It’s been a long time coming, but if any bike’s deserving of a commemorative special edition model surely it’s the BMW R1200GS. The class-defning German adventure bike has been a market leader...

Triumph Speed Triple R takes on Aprilia Tuono V4R APRC and Ducati Streetfighter S

08 March 2012 by MCN

If you’re into the wild side of motorcycling, super nakeds like the Triumph Speed Triple R, Aprilia Tuono V4R APRC and Ducati Streetfighter S are the perfect bikes for you. Though MCN’s testers agreed...

Video: MV Agusta F3 vs Triumph Daytona 675R

08 March 2012 by MCN

The lightest, most powerful and elecronically-advanced supersport machine you can buy – the new MV Agusta F3 goes up against the Triumph Daytona 675 R on the roads of northern Italy. Triumph Daytona...

2012 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 first ride!

06 March 2012 by MCN

Aprilia’s updated 2012 Dorsoduro 1200 is currently being put through its paces in the foothills of Mount Etna, Sicily, by MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child. Here are his first impressions: “We’ve got...

Video: 2012 KTM 990 Adventure ridden

05 March 2012 by MCN

If this KTM Adventure 990 looks familiar then that’s entirely deliberate – but this is no limited edition ‘Dakar’ version, as debuted last Spring, nor the full-blown ‘R’ version – it’s the standard...

Video: Triumph Explorer 1200 first ride

29 February 2012 by MCN

Triumph is making no bones about gunning for BMW’s best-selling R1200GS – its new Explorer 1200 is aimed squarely at giving the BMW a bloody nose. Triumph motorcycles for sale. And in every possible...

Honda NC700X is brilliant

27 February 2012 by mark

I took a Honda NC700X for a road test recently and ordered one as soon as I got back to the showroom. I’ve traded in a 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 – a great bike in all respects. The biggest problem I had was worrying what would come in the post for two weeks after every ride. I travel many miles a year and the increase in money making machines (sorry, safety cameras) is amazing! As fines are reportedly...

Triumph Tiger Explorer First Ride

24 February 2012 by Marc Potter

MCN Editor, Marc Potter, is at the world launch of the Triumph Tiger Explorer and here are his first thoughts. “Triumph admits it is aiming the Tiger Explorer squarely at the BMW R1200GS, and claims...

Honda Crosstourer first ride

23 February 2012 by MCN

Adventure bikes are moving into a new dimension this week – as MCN’s first test of the Crosstourer proves. The new Honda brings V4 performance and sophisticated automatic transmission to the class for...

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim first ride

17 February 2012 by Phil West

Considering the turmoil Harley-Davidson has been through the last couple of years, what with plummeting US sales, the MV and Buell shockers and the little matter of having to restructure fundamentally...

Honda Crosstourer first ride: "One of the best mile munchers in class"

16 February 2012 by MCN

The Honda Crosstourer is Honda’s all-new adventure bike – aimed squarely at bikes like the BMW R1200GS and Yamaha Super Tenere. Powered by the same V4 engine from the VFR1200, the Crosstourer is...

Video: Onboard a Ducati 1199 Panigale with Neil Hodgson

15 February 2012 by MCN

2003 World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson was at the Ducati 1199 Panigale launch in Abu Dhabi and was kind enough to let MCN bolt-on some onboard cameras during one of his sessions. The Panigale is...

Ducati Panigale first ride: 'Like no Ducati I've ridden'

10 February 2012 by Michael Neeves

UPDATE, 11 Feb, 15:10 “We’re midway through our day riding the new Panigale and it continues to impress. The 195bhp Superquadro engine is hugely impressive with just the right amount of usable torque...

BMW G650GS Sertao first ride

10 February 2012 by MCN

The Sertão region of Brazil is renowned for its rugged, inhospitable terrain – hence its inspiration as the name for BMW’s new hardcore version of its new G650GS. Effectively it’s a belated successor...

2012 KTM 990 Adventure first ride

10 February 2012 by Adam Child

MV Agusta F3 first ride: "tiny, loud and angry"

08 February 2012 by MCN

MCN’s senior road tester Michael Neeves is in the south of France for the official launch of the new 675cc MV Agusta F3. It’s a critical bike for MV – because it’s relatively affordable (at £9999 it’s...

Harley-Davidson Soft Tail Slim first ride

07 February 2012 by MCN

MCN’s executive editor Phil West is testing the new Harley-Davidson Softail Slim and Sportster 72 in southern Spain. He’s just phoned in this brief first impression: “So far I have been riding the new...

Staff Bikes: Ducati Multistrada - What a year!

03 February 2012 by Marc Potter

That’s it. Time to send my Multistrada 1200S back. And I’ve never been sadder to see a bike go. It fits into my life perfectly and that’s saying something as I’ve owned, run and tested just about...

Staff bikes: MV Agusta Brutale - Life's more fun naked

03 February 2012 by Andy Downes

It’s been an amazing year with a bike that managed to combine a muscular engine with fantastic styling and almost daily use, including commuting and lovely trips on some amazing British roads. The...

KTM Freeride 350 first ride

03 February 2012 by MCN

KTM is at it again – attempting to redefine the bikes we ride. The Freeride 350 is the latest example, featuring the Austrian off-road experts’ latest 350EXC-F enduro engine set in a compact...

Triumph Speed Triple R: The harder you ride, the better it gets

02 February 2012 by MCN

Triumph has added a dynamic new dimension to the hugely popular Speed Triple by giving it the ‘R’ treatment. For an extra £2500 over the standard version (£8799), which was released (and heavily...

Video: 2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400 first ride

26 January 2012 by MCN

Twenty-two years after the powerhouse ZZR1100 was launched, Kawasaki has released its all-new ZZR1400 complete with a bigger engine than ever, more power, and sophisticated traction control. To find...

First ride: Triumph Speed Triple R

24 January 2012 by MCN

Triumph’s new-for-2012, uprated Speed Triple R is currently being tested by MCN in southern Spain. These are Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves’ first impressions: “I’m at the launch of the new Triumph...

Video: 2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400 flat out

20 January 2012 by MCN

Want to know how fast Kawasaki’s new ZZR1400 is? Check out the on board video as MCN road tester Adam Child holds it flat out around Nardo’s test facility in southern Italy. Adam pushes the new ZZR to...

Video: Kawasaki Versys 1000 takes on R1200GS and Tiger 1050

19 January 2012 by MCN

Kawasaki’s controversial new Versys 1000 has set the cat amongst the adventure bike pigeons this week – as proven by MCN’s world exclusive first test of the new monster trailie against its leading...

First ride! 2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400

19 January 2012 by Phil West

Kawasaki’s updated 2012 ZZR1400 is currently being put through its paces by MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child at the enormous Nardo speed testing facility in southern Italy. This is what he’s so far...

Video: KTM 350 EXC-F long term test report

18 January 2012 by Marc Potter

Getting stuck upside-down in a ditch wearing your bike on top of you, watching it overheat as you get stuck between two tree trunks, or getting roosted in clods of mud by your mates. These have become...

Neevesy’s blog – Ducati Multistrada in Oz

13 January 2012 by Michael Neeves

Ducati’s Multistrada 1200 is MCN’s current king of the all-rounders. Like it says on the tin, it will do-anything and go-anywhere. Its superbike engine delivers a monstrous amount of power, it handles superbly and it’s an epic mile-muncher. It’ll even handle a bit of off-road, if you’re mad enough. I’ve ridden a fair few and if I’m honest, I’d normally set the electronic riding mode to full-fat...