First rides & tests

Year: ALL

MRO Powerbike blog: Silverstone 18/19 June 2011

22 June 2011 by Michael Neeves

That was the best weekend’s racing I’ve ever had –three out of three wins (two in the dry, one in the wet). I just scraped the fastest lap of the weekend on Silverstone’s national circuit, ahead of...

Is the new Honda CBR600 worthy of the name?

16 June 2011 by Phil West

Honda’s new-for-2011 CBR600F brings an iconic name back to the middleweight class – but does it live up to its illustrious forbears? Where the original CBRs were market-leading supersports in their...

Staff bikes: Triumph Tiger 800 - Fitting an eSystem Scottoiler

15 June 2011 by Ped Baker

Last weekend I fitted an eSystem chain oiling system to my long term Triumph Tiger 800. Unlike traditional vacuum valve operated oilers, Scottoiler’s eSystem uses a small electric pump to dispense...

Video: Riding Keith Flint's Moto2 bike

13 June 2011 by Michael Neeves

Senior Road Tester, Michael Neeves went along to the Brands GP circuit to ride the FTR Moto2. You don’t have to be a GP god to own this bike, as it’s the British firm’s first ever Grand Prix machine,...

Staff bikes: Triumph Tiger 800 - The first month

03 June 2011 by Ped Baker

I’ve now had the Tiger 800 for a month and when it’s not being thrashed on a group test or chasing Ross Noble across the UK, I’ve been riding it on my 30 mile commute every day. Here’s what I’ve...

Harley-Davidson XR1200 Trophy Blog: Thruxton BSB

03 June 2011 by Adam Child

After a busy week racing at the North West, I was invited by Harley-Davidson to be guest rider in the XR1200 Trophy at Thruxton – and I jumped at the chance. Racing in front of a packed BSB audience...

Staff bikes: BMW G650GS - When different isn’t better

03 June 2011 by Steve Farrell

In my last update on the G650GS I’m riding this year, I mentioned how BMWs are different to other bikes in the detail. I said they were not always better but never without effort. Well, here’s an...

Video: Aprilia Tuono V4R takes on rivals

02 June 2011 by MCN

The Aprilia Tuono V4R APRC has taken the super naked class to a whole new level. We pitched the Italian firm’s naked superbike against its top-spec rivals – the MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR, Triumph Speed...

Riding the FTR Moto2 bike

31 May 2011 by Michael Neeves

Husqvarna SMR511 - road legal but ready to race

27 May 2011 by Adam Child

Husqvarna’s new SMR511 is the now BMW-owned firm’s most radical track-ready supermoto to date. At just 118kg it’s radically light, hughly impractical, and, for a fairly basic single-cylinder,...

Harley test rides

27 May 2011 by Reismotor

Last weekend I tested two Harley-Davidsons – the Street Bob and Rocker C. For months I was thinking how I can make a videoshot from a motorcycle witch is riding through a camera. Now I found out… Can you tell me how I did it?

Staff bikes: MV Agusta Brutale 920 - Something goes wrong

24 May 2011 by Andy Downes

It started innocently enough with a bit of a hiccup when starting the MV Agusta Brutale one evening for my ride home from work. It just wouldn’t start very easily for a second or two, then fired up...

Michael Neeves MRO Powerbike blog: Brands Hatch GP

23 May 2011 by Michael Neeves

It’s been a busy old May. I rode my GSX-R750 to Le Mans to watch the MotoGP, tested a Taiwanese 50cc supermoto, carried out a Tuono group test, spent four days at Brands Hatch instructing and racing...

Staff bikes: Ducati Diavel - A few tentative laps at Silverstone

23 May 2011 by Ian Jubb

This weekend was Ducati Days at Silverstone and it would’ve been rude not to attend and take the Diavel around the GP circuit. The first session of the afternoon arrived and I headed out with Maria...

Video: Husqvarna SMS630 first ride

13 May 2011 by MCN

The new Husqvarna SMS630 is claimed to be the most user-friendly supermoto yet but thanks to its all new twin-cam engine it’s no softy either. MCN tested the SMS630 on the road and on track at Mallory...

Poll: Suzuki GSR750 vs Triumph Street Triple, Yamaha FZ8 and Kawasaki Z750

12 May 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Triumph’s successful Street Triple exploded onto the market in 2007 and hasn’t been outclassed since. But there’s a new bike in town… The Suzuki GSR750 has received rave reviews since its 2011 launch.

Staff bikes: Ducati Diavel - First impressions

12 May 2011 by Ian Jubb

A slow three hour train journey from Kings Lynn to Coventry allowed just enough time for the nerves to build up. I say nerves I mean more apprehension about the 162 horses waiting to be unleashed. The...

Staff bikes: Ducati Diavel - It's almost time!

06 May 2011 by Ian Jubb

My excitement is mounting by the bucket load as after a few weeks of waiting I have finally been given the date for collection of my Ducati Diavel long termer for 2011. On Monday I’ll be getting the...

Video: Suzuki GSR750 vs Suzuki GSX-R750

05 May 2011 by MCN

The new Suzuki GSR750 is a naked streetbike that costs £7,125, while the GSX-R750 is a focused sports bike that costs £10,026. £3000 more than the GSR750. But do you really need a focused sports bike,...

Staff bikes: MV Agusta Brutale 920 - That’s it run-in then!

05 May 2011 by Andy Downes

Last year I arranged with the factory on a recent visit that MV Agusta would supply MCN with one of the new 920cc Brutales as a long term test bike. The plan was for an MCN person to fly out to the...

Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 8V - "a cracking do-anything, go-anywhere machine"

21 April 2011 by MCN

Moto Guzzi has never made a secret of aiming the Stelvio squarely at the mighty BMW R1200GS and thanks to a raft of changes, the Italian and German machines are closer than ever, to the point where...

Moto Guzzi Norge GT 8V - "a hugely capable mile-munching tourer"

21 April 2011 by MCN

Moto Guzzi seems to have all the bases covered with its new Norge GT 8V tourer. It’s smoother and friendlier than ever, and a stiffer suspension set-up has stopped the old bike’s tendency to get a...

Is the new Honda CBR250R better than a 1982 Super Dream?

21 April 2011 by Steve Farrell

A glance at the specs of Honda’s new CBR250R and the Kawasaki Ninja 250R could leave you wondering exactly what manufacturers have been doing for the last 30 years. Like the Ninja 250R, Kawasaki’s...

Staff bikes: BMW G650GS - 'Quality'

21 April 2011 by Steve Farrell

I’ve just spent my first weekend with the BMW G650GS, after taking delivery of it on Friday, and the word I want to say is: quality. You’d never guess this is one of the cheapest big bikes you can...

Triumph Bonneville America - First Ride

20 April 2011 by MCN

The Bonneville America is Triumph’s alternative take on the entry-level middleweight cruiser. The America pairs the Bonneville 800 engine and tubular steel twin loop/dual rear shock chassis with...

Aprilia Tuono V4R: "An astonishing all-rounder"

20 April 2011 by MCN

The new Aprilia Tuono V4R (Don’t like the looks? Find an older Aprilia Tuono for sale) knocked us for six at its world track and road launch in Valencia, Spain. The 167bhp super naked has close to the...

Honda CBR 250 v Kawasaki Ninja 250R - will either go ton-up?

15 April 2011 by Guy Procter

Senior MCN road tester Adam Child and MCN road tester Bruce Dunn are currently at Bruntingthorpe proving ground pushing Honda’s new CBR250 and Kawasaki’s Ninja 250R to the limit flat out down the two...

Aprilia Tuono V4 R – first road impressions

14 April 2011 by MCN

Aprilia’s eagerly-awaited new Tuono V4 R is currently on test in Spain in the hands of MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves. Find an Aprilia for sale After sampling the awesome new super naked on...

Aprilia Tuono V4 R first ride – “I’m blown away!”

14 April 2011 by MCN

The new Aprilia Tuono V4 R is essentially an RSV4 without a fairing, and is one of the most powerful naked bikes on the market, producing 167bhp. Find an Aprilia for sale MCN Senior Road Tester,...

MRO Powerbike blog: Cadwell Park

13 April 2011 by Michael Neeves

It was one of the best racing weekends for me so far on my beloved BMW Park lane S1000RR. The weather was glorious and I managed three thirds in Powerbikes, with a best lap time of 1.33.01. That’s...

Staff Bikes: Ducati Multistrada - It continues to impress

11 April 2011 by Marc Potter

If you’re going on a long trip then the first thing you need is a motorcycle that’s capable of covering big miles in comfort with luggage on board. That’s the Multistrada 1200S then. The next thing...

Video: Are 1000cc sports bikes still relevant?

07 April 2011 by MCN

The new Suzuki GSX-R750 and Ducati 848 Evo have all the cubes you’ll ever need on the road or track, so do we still need 1000cc sports bikes? We test the two bikes against a Honda Fireblade on road...

Ducati Monster 1100 Evo first ride: "superbike technology in naked form"

07 April 2011 by MCN

Senior Road Tester Adam Child is currently riding the mountain roads of Sicily aboard the new £8995 Ducati Monster 1100 Evo. Right now he’s drawing breath and enjoying the view from the top of Mount...

Moto Guzzi Norge GT 8V first ride: "It’s a very civilised package"

06 April 2011 by MCN

This afternoon Michael Neeves has been riding the updated Moto Guzzi Norge GT 8V, costing £11,549. Find a Moto Guzzi for sale “Like the Stelvio that was tested this morning the Norge has a host of...

Moto Guzzi Stelvio first ride: "Very easy and relaxing to ride"

06 April 2011 by MCN

Moto Guzzi is celebrating it’s 90th birthday with two new Moto Guzzi Stelvio Adventure bikes and a revised Moto Guzzi Norge Tourer. Michael Neeves, Senior Road Tester, has ridden both Stelvios this...

Carl Fogarty: “Ducati Diavel is f**king awesome”

05 April 2011 by Andy Downes

Carl Fogarty’s immediate verdict on the Ducati Diavel he picked up yesterday afternoon was that the bike is “f**king awesome”. Four-times World Superbike champion Fogarty picked up a borrowed Ducati...