Bike news

Year: ALL

Ultimate Ural arrives: Rugged top-spec three-wheeler is designed to go anywhere

16 August 2023 by Phil West

Quirky Kazakhstan-built sidecar brand Ural have just launched what they claim to be the ultimate motorcycle adventure machine, the top spec Gear Up Expedition. Based on the marque’s standard,...

The very best of Secrets of a Road Tester - episode 6

16 August 2023 by Gareth Evans

This year we’re celebrating the very best of our Secrets of a Road Tester series, which has been produced in partnership with Bikertek. The idea is to help you have a safe and exciting experience...

Help heroes keep airborne - Air Ambulance UK fundraiser kicks off

15 August 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Air Ambulance UK are gearing up for their annual fundraising week to raise awareness of the work of the 21 air ambulance charities across the UK – with many callouts assisting stricken motorcyclists.

Yamaha celebrates 50 years of YZ racing success with range of special editions

15 August 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

This year marks half a century since Yamaha YZ was the firm’s first foray into motocross, launching their original YZ production model and winning a first world title in the same year with the factory...

Last call for donations to the Joan Seeley Memorial Trust

11 August 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

Eva Seeley, widow of motorcycle manufacturer and British sidecar road race champion Colin Seeley, is seeking final donations before winding up the Joan Seeley Pain Relief Memorial Trust. Colin, who...

The need for speed! Thruxton BSB preview

10 August 2023 by Josh Close

Here’s what to look out for as BSB heads to the fastest circuit on the calendar… Thruxton! Ducati are flying high Ducati haven’t won at Thruxton since 2019 but given how PBM riders Tommy...

How-to: Keep your chain looking like new

10 August 2023 by Bruce Dunn

Getting intimate with your drive chain may seem like a bit of a geeky exercise, but I promise you, you’ll reap the benefits in terms of cost. Keeping on top of cleaning, lubing and adjusting will...

The Ural Sidecar Experience is open for business. MCN’s Saffron went along to, er, give it a ‘tri’

10 August 2023 by Saffron Wilson

Northumberland is an area of England that seems to be overlooked by bikers, with many motoring through it en route to Scotland or dashing west along the A69 to get to the Lake District. I...

The MCN Test: Find out which affordable adventure bike REALLY handles the rough stuff

10 August 2023 by Carl Stevens

We’ve been spoilt with adventure bikes of all sizes, and indeed prices, for 2023. Yet it’s not all about big, expensive beasts, as two of the most exciting new releases come in at the cheaper end of...

Biking Legends: Freddie Spencer

10 August 2023 by Josh Close

Freddie Spencer took the Grand Prix paddock by storm in the 1980s, rocking up as a fresh-faced 20-year-old ready and able to beat the man himself, King Kenny Roberts. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana,...

Insight: Jake Dixon's down, but not out!

10 August 2023 by Neil Morrison

Jake Dixon’s British Grand Prix ended in heartache as a first lap crash dashed his hopes of repeating the home podium from a year ago. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom in the Englishman’s camp at...

Heated vision: New heated visor claims to provide a day’s riding without the fear of fog

10 August 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

Space technology and British engineering have combined to make fogged visors a thing of the past with the invention of the Visin heated visor insert that promises to keep your vision crystal clear for...

Hey, hey we’re on Monkeys... eleven-day minibike adventure in the name of men’s health

09 August 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

Most normal folk choose something like a BMW GS for 2500-mile tours of the UK spread across the best part of two weeks… but not Dean Lambert and his merry band of Honda Monkey enthusiasts. Dean,...

New bangers from Mash: Affordable Belena 125 and 300 machines start at just £3399

09 August 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Mash Motorcycles have launched their new range of Belena scooter models, which will be available in a choice of 125 or 300cc guises and arrive in dealers from this month. “The Mash Belena embodies...

The Sammy Miller Museum gets fruity

08 August 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum has added two rare bikes to its collection with one counting towards your five-a-day. The first is a 1963 Victoria 155 49cc, otherwise known as the ‘Tin...

Springs can only get better: BMW’s latest suspension is the most adaptable yet seen on a road bike

08 August 2023 by Martin Fitz-Gibbons

BMW have led the way when it comes to electronic suspension – and their next-generation system will offer even more versatility. For the first time a production bike will soon be able to change its...

Two Wheels for Life smash fundraising total at British MotoGP

07 August 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

British charity Two Wheels for Life had one of its most successful Day of Champions events during last weekend’s British MotoGP race weekend at Silverstone, raising £275,000. The figure is...

After sixty years son fulfils dream of riding his father’s restored 1926 HRD

07 August 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

An 82-year-old biker has fulfilled a long-held dream of riding his father’s 350cc 1926 HRD motorcycle, having stored the bike in boxes of bits for 40 years, before undertaking a 15-year restoration...

Kawasaki’s cleaner screamer: How the new ZX-4RR meets emissions regulations

07 August 2023 by Ben Purvis

The biking world was surprised by the unveiling of the new Kawasaki ZX-4RR for the 2024 model range. Since the introduction of Euro5 emissions limits in 2020, we’ve seen an exodus of much-loved...

Expert guide to... middleweight naked Triumphs

04 August 2023 by Jon Urry

In late 2007 a bike arrived that changed the whole middleweight naked bike class for good – Triumph’s outstanding Street Triple. Borrowing heavily from their amazing inline triple Daytona 675...

Workshop: How to set your bike up for a pillion

04 August 2023 by Bruce Dunn

Adding a passenger and luggage will cause the bike to sag on its suspension. This means it will be soaking up more of the available travel on both the forks and rear shock before you have even...

Big Read: ‘Magically surreal Spain’

04 August 2023 by Eglė Gerulaitytė

Pondering a fork in a narrow dirt trail snaking across the badlands of Gorafe, I tried to reason with Google Maps. There weren’t supposed to be any splits in the track here; in fact, for the last two...

MCN250: These Guzzi and Kawasaki retros look spot-on but which REALLY delivers?

04 August 2023 by Jon Urry

The V7 harks back to the late 1960s when its ancestor shot Guzzi to global fame. Debuting the firm’s now trademark air-cooled 90-degree V-twin, the V7 formed the cornerstone of future success.

Cyril Despres: How the chance loan of a Honda XR400 led to five Dakar wins

03 August 2023 by Greg Moss

Finishing the Dakar is an achievement in itself, winning it is career defining but taking the top spot five times is monumental. Enter Cyril Despres, without doubt one of the Dakar’s greatest-ever...

John McGuinness MBE: ‘Jake could set the place wild’

03 August 2023 by John McGuinness

I’ve booked my campsite, I’m taking my family and we’ll be there all weekend. It’s great they have opened up the grandstands for the fans. As an event it has to do well, we need it to do well and...

An extra eye on the road: BMW’s collision warning system alerts you to hazards ahead

03 August 2023 by Martin Fitz-Gibbons

BMW have developed a front collision warning system that’s due to debut on a production bike “in the near future”. No prizes for guessing that’s the incoming BMW R1300GS, then. The system is...

Short circuit stunner: Krämer reveal their GP2-890RR

02 August 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Krämer Motorcycles have their sights set on racing glory with their new GP2-890RR: a limited run, £35,990 twin cylinder track specialist sportsbike model said to be their fastest and most capable...

GlobeBusters returns with Trans American adventure

01 August 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Epic motorcycle adventure tour company, GlobeBusters are getting back into the swing of things after years of Covid difficulty, with a sell-out 22,000-mile adventure from Alaska to...

Surron announce Devon based experience days

31 July 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

Electric motorcycle maker Surron have partnered with Wheeldon Farm Off Road Centre, in Devon, to introduce the new Surron Experience Days that will take place throughout the year. The experience...

Hard as a diamond: Abus Granit 68 Xplus scores highest Sold Secure Diamond level rating

31 July 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

Abus are taking the fight to bike thieves with an updated range of Sold Secure approved locks and chains – including a Diamond rated cylindrical disc lock which meets the highest level of protection...

Dorset's DocBike Run now open for registrations

31 July 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

Dorset’s DocBike run, which raises money for the injury prevention charity that places a trauma doctors and critical care paramedics on two wheels, is now accepting registrations for their annual...

Spy shots: Aprilia RS440 sportsbike spotted in testing

28 July 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Spyshots intercepted by MCN appear to show a new small-capacity A2 sportsbike thought to be an Aprilia RS440, which could bridge the gap between the 14.8bhp Aprilia RS125 and the 99bhp Aprilia...

The Heritage Sprint returns bigger than ever

27 July 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

The Heritage Sprint at Betteshanger Park in East Kent returns next month with almost double the number of racers competing in the classic bike sprints and more exhibition motorcycles than last...

Ducati honour 30 years of the Monster family with limited run special

27 July 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Ducati are kicking off a roster of 2024 new model reveals by celebrating 30 years of the iconic Monster name – unveiling a 30° Anniversario special edition limited to 500 units, said to be the...

The 400hp supercharged Triumph Speed Triple 1200RR wows at Goodwood

27 July 2023 by Dan Sutherland

A stretched-out, supercharged Triumph Speed Triple 1200RR drift bike captivated crowds at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed – boasting 400bhp, adaptive aerodynamics, and even artificial...

MCE placed into administration

27 July 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

MCE Insurance have been placed into administration by directors due to the company’s financial position, but existing customer’s policies will remain in place. Related: Find cheap bike insurance...