First rides & tests

Year: ALL

Picture special: Moto Morini 1200 Sport joins the retro bandwagon

21 May 2008 by Eva Breutel

Moto Morini jumps on the retro bandwagon with its new 1200 Sport, but it’s actually a damn fine motorcycle. Remember the colours of the Aston Martin Le Mans race cars of the late 1950s? A lighter...

Video: Onboard BMW HP2 Sport and Aprilia RSV 1000R Factory

21 May 2008 by Adam Child

MCN road tester Adam Child travelled to the Albacete race circuit in Spain to pit the world’s best sports v-twin motorcycles against each other on track and you can see some of his on-track action below. Chad got to ride the BMW HP2 Sport, KTM RC8 and the Aprilia RSV 1000R Factory against some of the fastest bike testers in the world, including former GP stars Randy Mamola and Jurgen Fuchs. Watch...

Restricted power but the Rieju SMX125 still has lofty ambitions

21 May 2008 by Chris Pearson

Rieju is fast becoming one of the 125 class’s leading lights thanks to its combination of European style and Japanese engineering, quality and price, as its new SM125 proves. With a seat height as...

Test BUELL 1125R

19 May 2008 by Marcus Kingma

Test ride on the BUELL 1125R

Video: Kawasaki ZX-10R: Road v race

14 May 2008 by Adam Child

Kawasaki’s ZX-10R was designed for the race track but also happens to be road legal so just how far apart is it from a genuine racing ZX-10R? MCN road tester Adam Child travelled to Mallory Park to test his ZX-10R long-term test bike against the British Superstock ZX-10R of Astro Racing Kawasaki. Watch the video below to find out the difference and read the full article in MCN, Wednesday, May 14,...

First impressions: KTM 990 Super Duke R launch and journalist trophy

13 May 2008 by Adam Child

Road Tester, Adam Child, is at the launch of the KTM 990 Super Duke R which is being held at Salzburg Ring, in Austria and the track’s renowned for being the fastest in Europe. He’s competing in the...

First impressions: Moto Guzzi V7 launch - V7 classic is a retro roadster

13 May 2008 by Phil West

Phil West is testing the new Moto Guzzi V7 classic around Lake Como in Italy and these are his initial thoughts: “The V7 Classic is a straight forward retro roadster that aims to take on Triumph’s...

Picture special: BMW's 800 and 1200GS take on Honda Transalp

08 May 2008 by Michael Neeves

Thanks to its many appearances on the telly over the past few years, BMW’s big adventure bike is one of the most recognisable bikes of the modern era. Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor’s trips up and...

Picture special: Moto Morini Cosaro Avio - Taming the beast

07 May 2008 by Chris Pearson

MCN Road Tester Chris Pearson has been trying out Moto Morini’s new Corsaro Avio and here’s what he thought. If you’re struggling to keep up with the avalanche of new models from the more mainstream...

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...