2011

Year: 2011

Month: ALL

Husqvarna's new G650GS-powered Strada 'street bike'

30 December 2011 by Steve Farrell

This is Husqvarna’s latest road bike offering – a 650cc single-cylinder machine aimed at new riders. It uses the punchy engine from BMW’s G650GS, but promises to be lighter and more powerful. The...

Ducati 1199 Panigale - A new way of building a superbike

29 December 2011 by MCN

The targets laid down for the 1199 Panigale were so strict, so binding and so difficult to achieve that nothing less than a complete rethink was going to be enough. That maent ditching Ducati’s...

Redesigning the Trumph Tiger 1200 Explorer

28 December 2011 by MCN

The all-new Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer – directly targeted at the BMW R1200GS – went through a major, late transformation to end up as we see it now. MCN was given exclusive access to Triumph’s...

Very serious technical awards: sneak preview

27 December 2011 by John Westlake

The most important event of the year for all motorcycle engineers is the MCN Golden Piston Awards for New Technologies (G-PANT). Each year these prestigious awards celebrate the most cunning and...

'We wanted to create the ultimate Speed Triple'

26 December 2011 by Phil West

Triumph’s imminent new ‘R’ version of its best-selling super naked is much more than a cosmetic update, MCN can now reveal – in fact it’s been conceived to be “the ultimate Speed Triple”! So, where...

New street scrambler from Spirit of the Seventies

26 December 2011 by Gary Pinchin

No matter which angle you view this latest build by Kent-based Spirit of the Seventies, the aesthetics stop you in your tracks. But that’s only to be expected when you have two arty types, Tim Rogers...

Track diesel comes of age

23 December 2011 by Peter Henshaw

The latest version of the diesel-powered Track T800CDi is on test in MCN next week and if 80mpg and 16,000-mile service intervals sounds your sort of bike, it’s worth a look. Until now, diesel bikes...

New Triumph-powered sportster on the way

20 December 2011 by Phil West

Is this the machine Brit bike fans have been waiting for? It’s a Triumph 1050 triple-engined sportster equipped with the best in British chassis components and know-how and is on schedule to go into...

Horex reveals performance figures for Horex VR6

20 December 2011 by Andy Downes

Reborn German manufacturer Horex has revealed the all-new 1200cc VR6 six-cylinder engine being developed for a new roadster will have 161bhp and a thumping 100ft lb of torque. The bike and engine are...

Yamaha Super Tenere Worldcrosser GS Adventure rival is go!

15 December 2011 by Andreas Exarheas

The Worldcrosser version of the XT1200Z Super Tenere, first shown as a concept bike at the Cologne Show last year, will go on sale next March, Yamaha has announced. Like BMW’s Adventure compared to...

Revealed: The secrets behind MV Agusta's F3

15 December 2011 by Andy Downes

MV Agusta’s all-new three-cylinder F3 is days away from going into full production and looks set to rewrite the class rules as it takes on supersport all-comers with more power, lower weight and more...

Victory’s new ‘Hard-Ball’

12 December 2011 by Phil West

This is Victory’s new 2012 Hard-Ball – created by blending the American firm’s recent High-Ball cruiser and its Cross Country pannier-equipped tourers. Or, to put it another way, it’s a ‘bagger’...

Harley-Davidson Electra/Ultra Glide 2012

09 December 2011 by MarcKing

Riding the new models from Harley-Davidson. The colours are new. Electra Glide Ultra Limited Midnight Black & Brilliant Silver Pearl. Ultra Classic Electra Glide White Hot Pearl

2013 Triumph Street Triple spotted!

09 December 2011 by MCN

This exclusive shot is one of the best yet of Triumph’s 2013 Street Triple. Spotted in Spain, where Triumph has a testing base, the 2013 machine is a significant evolution of the existing Street...

Triumph Tiger Explorer spotted testing

08 December 2011 by Phil West

Triumph’s all-new Tiger Explorer is currently undergoing final testing – as these pics taken in Cornwall this week prove. Snapped by MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child in a motorway services near...

World’s first titanium framed Monster

07 December 2011 by Andreas Exarheas

American Randy Martin has built the world’s first titanium-framed Ducati Monster S4RS and says his custom-made frame is half the weight of the original – but it does cost around £4000! Martin said:...

French firm unveils carbon-framed V-twin superbike

29 November 2011 by Steve Farrell

A carbon-framed turbo-charged V-twin superbike has been unveiled by French manufacturer Boxer Design. Called the Superbob, its 1000cc engine has been developed in partnership with Akira Technologies,...

New G650GS-powered Husqvarna street bike unveiled

29 November 2011 by Steve Farrell

A new Husqvarna 650cc single-cylinder road bike has been unveiled today. The Strada uses the engine from BMW’s G650GS. It has been shown as a ‘concept’ at the Paris motorcycle show but is set to go...

Indian Sunoco Classic Racing Concept

25 November 2011 by Oberdan Bezzi

Here’s my design for an Indian concept motorcycle.

KTM drops prices for 2012

23 November 2011 by Rich Mellor

KTM has cut the prices on three of its 2012 models. The Austrian firm has reduced the price of the new 690 Duke and 2012 versions of its 990 Super Duke R and 990 Supermoto R. The Supermoto R is down...

Yamaha price cut shock

21 November 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Yamaha has announced dramatic and favourable price reductions on five key 2012 models. The bikes are all 600cc plus and are from several classes including sports, adventure and roadster models. The...

Suzuki reveals sub-£3500 Inazuma 250

19 November 2011 by Guy Procter

Suzuki has launched an all-new 250 called the Inazuma at the NEC show. An all-new 248cc parallel twin powers what Suzuki says is B-King-influenced design for newcomers and returning riders. No price,...

Revamped engine for latest Moto Guzzi V7s

18 November 2011 by Phil West

Moto Guzzi’s popular smaller V-twin range has received a complete makeover for 2012 – proving once again that parent Piaggio is investing heavily in reviving the historic marque. At last week’s Milan...

Techy Kawasaki Versys 1000 is dark horse of class

17 November 2011 by Phil West

Despite its derivative styling and the impression of parts sourced from other bikes, Kawasaki’s new entrant into the adventure bike class is much more than a Z1000 in new clothes, MCN can now...

Honda's V4 Crosstourer GS-rival gets sporty edge

17 November 2011 by Phil West

Honda’s all-new adventure bike – the V4 Crosstourer – is significantly different to the prototype version first unveiled a year ago and will bring new sophistication, technology and riding pleasure to...

Yamaha TZR-1 King Kenny concept

16 November 2011 by Oberdan Bezzi

Here’s my concept for a modern old-school racer. Based on the engine from the current Yamaha R1, it is a tribute to Kenny Roberts Sr.

2012 KTM Duke: most potent single-cylinder road bike ever

14 November 2011 by Michael Neeves

More power, less weight, improved refinement and ABS as standard – the new KTM 690 Duke promises to be more fun, easier to ride and safer. Now making a claimed 70bhp, it’s also the most powerful...

Honda CR1100 Dick Mann concept

10 November 2011 by Oberdan Bezzi

Here’s my design for a Honda motorcycle, built as a tribute to 1970 Daytona winner Dick Mann.

Honda's incredible RC-E Tokyo Show concept

10 November 2011 by Guy Procter

Honda will reveal this breathtaking electric sportsbike at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show next month. Dubbed the RCE, the road-legal supersport-style bike uses the large, powerful electric motor employed...

Milan show video: Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200

09 November 2011 by MCN

Triumph’s new Tiger Explorer 1200 adventure bike has been unveiled at the Milan show. The Tiger Explorer is set to be the most powerful shaft-driven adventure tourer for the foreseeable future, with...

Milan Show: Moto Guzzi unveils new V7

09 November 2011 by Phil West

Moto Guzzi has unveiled two new versions of its V7 Roadster at the Milan show, both also powered by an updated version of its 750cc Transverse V-Twin. The new engine is outwardly similar to the old...

Milan show video: R1200GS Rallye, G650GS Sertão and Husqvarna MOAB

09 November 2011 by MCN

MCN’s Executive Editor Phil West takes a look at the new bikes from BMW and Husqvarna that have been launched at the EICMA Milan motorcycle show. One new model unveiled by BMW is the R1200GS Rallye,...

Milan Show: Bimota reveal three new models

09 November 2011 by Phil West

Bimota were a surprise hit at the Milan show, with three all new-bikes. The DB10 is Bimota’s version of Ducati’s Hypermotard but with its own, tubular steel and aluminium frame. The DB9 Brivido is an...

KTM Freeride video brilliantly sells appeal of electric dirtbikes

09 November 2011 by Guy Procter

KTM has done the electric dirtbike industry a massive favour with its latest promo. The clip, which shows the lithe, ‘leccy Freeride E tearing up Barcelona from bedside to BMX track brilliantly...

Video: Ducati 1199 Panigale unveiled at Milan Show

08 November 2011 by MCN

Ducati finally took the covers off of their revolutionary new superbike – the 1199 Panigale at the Milan Show today, and MCN was there to capture the unveiling. The 195bhp, 190kg 1199 Panigale V-twin...

Triumph Tiger Explorer: 135bhp/£11,000ish

08 November 2011 by Guy Procter

Triumph’s new Tiger Explorer will give its R1200GS rival a 135bhp mauling the firm has revealed. That makes the Explorer’s all-new 1200cc+ motor 35% more powerful than its German rival’s, at least for...