First rides & tests

Year: ALL

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...

KTM RC8 track verdict: "It will be the bike to beat"

25 February 2008 by Trevor Franklin

MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin has just sampled the awesome new KTM RC8 on track at Ascari in Spain. This is what he says… Vide: KTM launch the RC8 superbike KTM RC8 test first...

Video: First impressions and action from the KTM RC-8 launch

25 February 2008 by Trevor Franklin

MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is at Ascari in Spain where he has just had his first go aboard KTM’s stunning, all-new RC8. Check out the video below to see Trev’s first impressions of the...

MCN Daily 25/02//08: Your daily video motorcycle news

25 February 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 50 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we have the world’s first ride of the new KTM RC8, Troy Bayliss leads the World Superbike Championship after the first weekend and MCN gives James Toseland a good send off 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 test: KTM RC8 lives up to the hype

25 February 2008 by Trevor Franklin

MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is at Ascari in Spain where he has just had his first go aboard one of the most eagerly awaited bikes of the year – KTM’s stunning, all-new RC8. This is what he...

KTM RC8 World first test: first thoughts - it's a sure success

25 February 2008 by Trevor Franklin

MCN’s Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is in Spain testing KTM’s first superbike the RC8. This is an exciting new era for the Austrian manufacturer with its race-style dash and multi-function...

KTM RC8 test: First sighting

24 February 2008 by Angus Farquhar

MCN Chief road tester Trevor Franklin has just arrived in Ronda, Spain for the first ride of the long-awaited KTM RC8 sports bike. Checking in to the hotel Trev spotted the bike on display in the...

MCN Daily 21/02//08: Your daily video motorcycle news

21 February 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 48 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we hear that road pricing trials have been delayed, we test the new BMW F650GS and its a good day for the Brits in World Supersport 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.

Husqvarna 2008 supermoto model launch

21 February 2008 by Michael Neeves

Michael Neeves, Senior Road Tester, is out in Spain testing the 2008 Husqvarna Supermoto range at a cart track in Benidorm and here’s his first impressions. “The big news is their new SM510R which is...

Do you own a Victory Vision?

21 February 2008 by MCN

MCN is putting together a test of large capacity, super-comfy touring motorcycles, such as the BMW K1200LT, Honda Goldwing, Harley-Davidson Electra Glide and a Victory Vision. If you happen to live in...

First ride: BMW F650GS takes to the road

21 February 2008 by Phil West

BMW has launched it’s new F650GS in South Africa and MCN Road test editor Phil West has just ridden it. Don’t be fooled by the name the motorcycle is actually based very much on the F800GS two...

MCN Daily 20/02//08: Your daily video motorcycle news

20 February 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 47 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we have an exclusive first ride of the new BMW F800GS, Uk representatives recommend non-slip manhole covers and did Valentino Rossi make the right decision switching to Bridgestone tyres 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...

First ride: BMW F800GS on and off-road

20 February 2008 by Phil West

MCN road test editor Phil West is out in South Africa to ride the new BMW F800GS on the roads around Durban in South Africa. He has just ridden the bike for the first time and phoned in to give us his...

Video: Aprilia Mana vs. Suzuki SV650, Honda Silver Wing and Piaggio MP3

20 February 2008 by Michael Neeves

Aprilias’s 850cc V-twin Mana is the world’s first fully automatic motorcycle but does it live up to Aprilia’s claim of it being every motorcycle you’ll ever need, rolled neatly into one package? Watch the video below to see as we pitch it against the best-selling-middleweight of last year the Suzuki SV650 Sport, a conventional two wheel scooter in the Honda Silver Wing and the three-wheel Piaggio...

Picture special: Confederate F131 Hellcat Combat roams London

19 February 2008 by Michael Neeves

This week MCN’s Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves has been riding the £50,000 Confederate F131 Hellcat Combat, which is now available in the UK as an official import. The Confederate F131 Hellcat...

Video: KTM Duke 690, 690 Enduro and 690 Supermoto in action

14 February 2008 by Adam Child, Chris Slade, Angus Farquhar

MCN Roadtester Adam Child was in Spain last week for the launch of the new range of bikes from KTM powered by the LC4 690cc engine and you can see the video action here. Check out the video below to see the KTM Duke 690, 690 Enduro and 690 Supermoto in action.

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

08 February 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 39 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we hear that motorcycle casualties have risen in the past year, we report back from the world launch of the Triumph Speed Triple and Chaz Davies continues to impress 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...

First impressions from the Triumph Speed Triple launch

08 February 2008 by Roland Brown

Triumph’s class-leading Speed Triple has received a subtle but significant makeover. Here’s what Roland Brown thinks of the result from the world launch in the Canary Islands. “The old phrase ‘if it...

MCN Daily 07/02//08: Your daily video motorcycle news

07 February 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 38 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we hear that a survey claiming 38% of all motorcycles are untaxed may be flawed, we test four new 2008 1000cc bikes and Jorge Lorenzo beats his Yamaha team-mate to top the time sheets on the final day in Sepang Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three...

Video: 2008 1000cc superbike track and road test

07 February 2008

We’ve had all the top 2008 1000cc sports motorcycles out on track and on the road to bring you this years superbike test. We’ve put together a selection of videos below detailing how the Honda...

First impressions: KTM 690 Enduro

04 February 2008 by Adam Child

MCN Road Tester Adam Child is currently riding KTM’s brand new 690cc LC4 range out in Almeria, Spain, these are his first impressions. “The first bike of the new family is the 690 Enduro and although...

Video: Onboard with the 1000cc group test

04 February 2008 by Adam Child

Here’s a little taster of our forthcoming 1000cc group test. First MCN senior road tester Michael Neeves pushes the GSXR1000 and Honda Fireblade to the limit around Almeria. Then watch the ZX10 flat out as MCN road tester Adam Child, rides back in the UK, check out how twitchy the bars are on our test track. To see the full 1000cc group test featuring these bikes grab a copy of the next...

Picture gallery: KTM 990SM, Ducati Hypermotard and BMW HP2 Megamoto

31 January 2008 by Liam Marsden

In the January 30 edition of MCN, we brought you the three-way supermoto test between the KTM 990SM, Ducati Hypermotard and BMW’s HP2 Megamoto. Here we have more pictures of the beautiful giants for...

Video: Big Supermoto group test

31 January 2008 by Adam Child

KTM has updated it’s big supermoto this year giving it the 990cc engine so we put it up against it’s main rivals, the Ducati Hypermotard and the BMW Megamoto to see how it got on. Check out the video below to see the bikes in action. The slippy the conditions at the test track resulted in some impressive rear wheel slides.

Video: Ducati 1098R launch

30 January 2008 by Michael Neeves

Ducati’s new 1098R is the closest thing the Italian firm has ever produced to a full-blooded World Superbike racer. Costing £24,000 it has a 186bhp, 1200cc engine, top quality cycle parts, and for the first time ever on a road bike: traction control. Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves travelled to the Ducati’s world launch in Jerez to check it out. Read his full report in this week’s MCN...

Wallpaper gallery: Ducati 1098R

29 January 2008 by Liam Marsden

In this weeks MCN Michael Neeves tests Ducati’s 1098R with traction control and 180bhp. The 1098R is the first road bike to feature a true traction control system, which has eight programmable...

Video: BMW's G450X off-roader in action

29 January 2008 by Angus Farquhar

The January 30 edition of MCN features the first test of BMW’s new off-roader, the G450X, but the bike has already been in action at several races throughout 2007. Check out the video on the right to see highlights of BMWs win at the incredible Erzberg Enduro in Austria. The video starts with clips of the HP2 riping up the quarry course, but skip to 1:40 to see the little enduro in action on some...

MCN Daily 29/01//08: Your daily video motorcycle news

29 January 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 34 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news update we see Michael Neeves have the first ride on the Ducati 1098R, Ken Livingstone suppressing evidence on bikes in bus lanes and Brandshatch gets a revamp. 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...