First rides & tests

Year: ALL

World First Ride: Evaproducts Track T800CDI diesel motorcycle

04 June 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Evaproducts Track T800CDI is the most advanced diesel production bike built yet and MCN has exclusively tested it. The Track T800CDI is a new adventure-style motorcycle from Dutch manufacturer...

Cheaper Ducati Streetfighter tested

04 June 2009 by Michael Neeves

• First ride of standard Ducati Streetfighter • £2500 cheaper than S version • Still costs £11,495 though MCN’s Michael Neeves is the first journalist to ride the standard Ducati Streetfighter. This...

Kawasaki VN1700 Voyager v Harley-Davidson Street Glide v Victory Vision Tour

04 June 2009 by Michael Neeves

Kawasaki’s new VN1700 Voyager is the Japanese firm’s first fully-dressed V-twin American-style tourer. It’s a Harley clone through and through, albeit loaded with the sort of cutting-edge technology...

Supersport 600s head to head on track

03 June 2009 by Adam Child

600cc sportsbikes are more track focused than ever – not one of the current class has any real concessions to road ability. That’s why they’re so popular on track days – there’s always a swarm lapping...

World first test: Aprilia SL750 Shiver GT

02 June 2009 by Chris Newbigging

MCN has just finished the world-first test of the new Aprilia SL750 Shiver GT. The motorcycle is a new model for 2009, taking its complete chassis and engine from the naked Aprilia SL750 Shiver but...

Video: Onboard a MotoGP mechanic's tuned Kawasaki ZX-10R

02 June 2009 by MCN

In this week’s issue of MCN we take a look at ex-MotoGP mechanic Stewart Miller’s 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R – a bike capable of lapping Almeria 2 seconds faster than a £45,000 Ducati Desmocedici. ...

Video: Sports bike of the year 2009

01 June 2009 by MCN

The Aprilia RSV4 takes on the best of the best to find the UK’s ultimate sports machine for 2009. The KTM RC8R, Yamaha R1, Aprilia RSV4 and Triumph Daytona 675 were taken to the Isle of Man for 2000...

Top 5 three-quarter litre corner eaters

29 May 2009 by James Keen

Is 750cc the perfect capacity? For many it strikes the perfect balance between the light weight and sharp handling of a 600 and the all out power of a litre bike. Thinking of trading in? Sell your...

MCN's top sports bikes of the year 2009

29 May 2009 by James Keen

In the May 27 issue of MCN the sporty group test winners go head to head to see which sports bike is the best of the best in 2009. Video: Watch the sports bike of the year 2009 video test The...

Suzuki Bandit 650 launch: First impressions

22 May 2009 by MCN

MCN’s Marc Potter is on the Isle of Wight riding both the unfaired and faired (650SA) versions of Suzuki’s updated Bandit at the UK launch. Here are his first impressions of the faired version. Find...

Top 5 best handling bikes - according to you

21 May 2009 by James Keen

Here’s a top 5 countdown of the bikes rated highest for handling by user reviewers in the MCN bike reviews section. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for £9.99 Do you agree with the...

Video: Aprilia RSV4 vs Yamaha R1

20 May 2009 by MCN

The Yamaha R1 claims its its biggest scalp yet by taking on and beating the brilliant new Aprilia RSV4 Factory in a shoot-out on the roads of Southern France. Video: Aprilia RSV4 ridden on the...

Top 5 commuters under £2k

15 May 2009 by James Keen

If you’re after a bargain run-around or workhorse, look no further. Here’s 5 of the best commuters for under £2k, as rated by MCN readers in the MCN Biking Britain survey. Thinking of trading in?...

First ride: Triumph Thunderbird

14 May 2009 by Phil West

Phil West is on the world launch of the Triumph Thunderbird in Barcelona, Spain and these are his first impressions. Video: Triumph Thunderbird launch ‘Triumph are heading into the big time with...

Top 5 best value bikes

08 May 2009 by James Keen

Here’s a top 5 countdown of the bikes rated highest for sheer value by user reviewers in the MCN bike reviews section. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for £9.99 Scroll down to see...

Top 5 hypertourer heavyweights

07 May 2009 by James Keen

If you munch serious miles and like your bike trips to be more sports than touring, then you need a hypertourer. Here’s 5 of the best. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for £9.99 A...

Aprilia RSV4 review: 415 miles later...

06 May 2009 by James Keen

At the world launch of the Aprilia RSV4 it was pouring with rain, so MCN road tester Michael Neeves couldn’t push the bike to the limit – until now. Read the updated MCN Aprilia RSV4 bike...

Video: Aprilia RSV4 ridden on the road

06 May 2009 by James Keen

The stunning new Aprilia RSV4 superbike is ridden on the road for the first time in a 415-mile trip from the Aprilia factory to Cannes and Monaco. Watch the video to see how it got on – is it as good...

Top 5 motorbikes for women

30 April 2009 by Alison Silcox

You’ve probably heard the term ‘girls bike’ at some point, especially if you’ve ever owned a Suzuki SV650 or Ducati Monster 695. But sexism aside, a lot of us lady riders have specific requirements...

World Exclusive: First ride of the RSV4 on the road

30 April 2009 by Michael Neeves

MCN’s world first road ride on Aprilia‘s new RSV4 has proved what an exceptional bike it is. But it has also highlighted problems that did not show up on the racetrack launch. New V4 Aprilia ridden...

125s test: new Cagiva Mito 525 v Aprilia RS125R v Yamaha YZF-R125 v Honda CBR125R

29 April 2009 by Trevor Franklin

MCN road testers give their verdict on the latest 125 racer-replicas Honda CBR125R For many years Honda‘s CBR125R was the perfect way to through your bike test. It was cheap, uber reliable, modern and...

Top 5 drag strip heroes

23 April 2009 by James Keen

In this week’s issue of MCN the BMW K1300S challenges the Suzuki Hayabusa for the speed title. But they’re not the only bikes capable of blistering straight-line pace… here’s 5 bikes that beg to be...

The best of British metal

23 April 2009 by James Keen

Since it’s St. George’s Day we’ve decided to get all patriotic and take a look at some of the best modern British motorcycles on the market. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for...

Kawasaki VN1700 Classic & Classic Tourer first rides

22 April 2009 by Guy Procter

MCN’s Guy Procter reports from the VN1700 launch in the South of France. Kawasaki claims fans of it cruisers prize the firm’s heavy-industry heritage and the weight of these bikes certainly evokes...

Kawasaki Ninja 250R v Honda VTR250

22 April 2009 by Keiichiro Miyazaki and Yasuhar Ota

Honda’s revised ‘mini-Monster’ VTR250 will be in Europe this autumn, giving another shot in the arm to the rejuvenated 250 class. But it’s already in Japan – where the VTR has existed in all its...

Harley-Davidson Judgement days: Take a test ride and win a bike

18 April 2009 by MCN

Harley-Davidson is asking riders to challenge their preconceptions and try out their machines with a four-week test ride campaign in all UK dealerships. This week is focused around their performance...

Half-faired but twice as practical?

17 April 2009 by James Keen

Are half-faired bikes the perfect compromise? They’re cheaper to insure and more comfortable than sportsbikes, plus offer better wind-protection and distance potential than naked bikes. Here’s 5 of...

Top 5 engines as voted for by you

17 April 2009 by James Keen

Here’s a top 5 countdown of the bikes ratest highest for their engines by user reviewers in the MCN bike reviews section. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for £9.99 The top 5 rated...

Your opinions wanted on MCN bike reviews & bikes for sale

17 April 2009 by James Keen

At MCN we’d like to hear your suggestions on how to improve the bike reviews and bikes for sale sections of our website. If you’ve ever used these areas of our site, we’d like to know what you...

5 great parallel twin motorcycles

09 April 2009 by James Keen

Is the parallel twin engine dead? A thing of the past or only good for powering boring commuters? The designers of these current models certainly don’t think so. Thinking of trading in? Sell your...

Yamaha MT-0X 660

09 April 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

Imagine a bike more fun than the XT, plus more attractive than MT-03!

Video: KTM Adventure v BMW GS on the beach

07 April 2009 by James Keen

The KTM 990 Adventure takes on the BMW GS Adventure in this week’s MCN. Does the KTM have what it takes to beat the BMW GS’s blend of long-distance comfort and off-road fun? Find out in the April 8...

ZX12R creates future biker

07 April 2009 by John Aubrook

I visited some friends last Saturday and went there on my ZX12R. They let me take it through the house to the back garden for security as I was staying over for a party that night. My friend’s...

Video: Aprilia RSV4 first ride

06 April 2009 by James Keen

The Aprilia RSV4 is so much fun that despite a soaking wet track and pouring rain, MCN’s Michael Neeves didn’t want to give the keys back. Visit the Aprilia RSV4 information centre Neeves says that...

Report on riding a KTM 990 SMT

02 April 2009 by rogersouthcott

Spring fever is upon me so, being a fickle individual, I am considering changing my bike for something new. Perhaps not brand new, but certainly different to my existing BMW R1150R (Rockster – yes I know it’s a stupid name for a bike!). Having had in-line 4 rice rockets, I wanted a naked twin with a bit of pillion comfort and the Beemer fitted the bill. Continuing with this trend I recently took...

Poll: How excited are you about the new Aprilia RSV4?

31 March 2009 by James Keen

MCN wants to find out what British bikers think about the issues facing motorcycling today. That’s why from now on we’ll be running weekly polls to gather your opinions on all aspects of biking. ...