Motorbike Advice
Your one-stop shop for all motorbike advice, including how-tos, getting a motorcycle licence, servicing, maintenance and more.
Find out which bikes and kit you should be choosing in our expertly curated Best section.
For those looking to learn how to ride a motorbike, head to our Learning to Ride hub, where we cover all you need to know about getting into this wonderful lifestyle.
If you've already got going, check out our Riding Tips section for the best guides and top techniques.
Looking for somewhere to go? Don't miss our Places to Visit area for some ideas for your next rideout.
And when you get home, learn how to look after your bike in our Bike Maintenance hub.
Smile for miles! It's the best touring motorbikes
20 May 2020 by
If you decide that you want to go touring on two wheels for long distances, the first decision you need to make is what motorbike you will use. Getting this wrong has the potential to make or break...
Forty years of the GS: Original BMW R80G/S designer tells us the untold story
20 May 2020 by
It’s exactly 40 years since the first ever BMW GS went on sale: the R80G/S. No one knew it would go on to be the most popular bike in the company’s history and that it would help to change the course...
How to pass your CBT and ride a motorbike on L-plates
15 May 2020 by
If you've decided you want to ride a motorbike, the first thing you'll need to do is complete a Compulsory Basic Training, or CBT course. It may be a step down from your dreams of exploring the open...
Shed Zed packs a bigger head: Kawasaki Z1 Super Six from Allen Millyard
13 May 2020 by
Shed-based engineering hero, Allen Millyard is putting the finishing touches to his latest project, a pair of six-cylinder Kawasaki Z1s that he’s built by hand at home. Despite the fact that the bikes...
Back on the bike: Brush up on safe riding with these great tips
12 May 2020 by
With filthy roads, nasty weather and a distinct shortage of daylight, it’s not surprising that so many of us choose to put our hard-earned pride and joy to bed for winter. But while we’re saving our...
The lids are alright: Best sports-touring motorcycle helmets for under £300
12 May 2020 by
In the market for a new sports touring motorcycle helmet? Got a budget of up to £300? We're here to help. As well as being in direct contact with manufacturers and distributors of the latest lids, our...
How to pass your full UK motorbike licence
12 May 2020 by
Passing the motorcycle licence in the UK - known as a category A - opens the door to one of the most exciting and liberating experiences going, but doing so can seem offputtingly complicated. Never...
In the blood: MV Agusta marks 75 years of building soul-stirring motorbikes
08 May 2020 by
Few motorcycle marques have combined racing success with showroom sex-appeal quite like MV Agusta. With 38 Grand Prix World Championship titles, the Italian brand have enjoyed the most on-track...
VE Day celebrations: remembering the Royal Enfield 'Flying Flea'
08 May 2020 by
It’s 75 years since World War II officially finished as the Allies accepted Germany's surrender on May 8, 1945. And as VE Day celebrations remember big characters and big machines, there was also one...
Busting the boredom: Your guide to the best video games for bikers
30 April 2020 by
Have you ever dreamed of sitting on a packed MotoGP grid - surrounded by the greatest motorcycle racers in history? Or lusted over the thought of pushing the latest bikes on road and short circuits...
Having fun without two wheels Part 4: motorbike-themed things to do during Coronavirus
30 April 2020 by
Ding dong! Your latest delivery of 10 fresh boredom-busting ideas is here to see you through lockdown. Be it pure entertainment or a bit of self- or bike-improvement, you can indulge your passion for...
Two tribes go to war: The story behind the Honda SP-1
28 April 2020 by
It is not often that the might of HRC gets rattled, but in 2000 this was the case. Despite dominating the premier class of racing with Mick Doohan and the NSR500, Honda were being given a very...
Best 125cc motorbikes of 2020
24 April 2020 by
If you’re learning to ride and aged 17 or older, after passing your CBT certificate (Compulsory Basic Training) you can gain your provisional A1 bike licence, which allows you to ride up to 125cc...
Best electric motorbikes of 2020
24 April 2020 by
It’s time to take electric motorbikes seriously. In 2016, Germany voted to ban the internal combustion engine by 2030, and the UK Government is under pressure to bring its ban on the sales of new...
MCN's guide to selling your motorbike
21 April 2020 by
Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, modernising or just fancy a change, selling your motorbike is often a big part of the process of buying a new one. Here are MCN’s tips for getting the most for...
Lego reveal Ducati V4R with working suspension and moving V4 engine
17 April 2020 by
Lego have announced a new addition to their Technic motoring range and it’s a Ducati Panigale V4R complete with ‘authentic moving features’ and a two-speed gearbox. Ideal for kids of all ages, the...
How to get your motorbike back on the road after a long time
13 April 2020 by
The Coronavirus pandemic may have delayed the start of the riding season, but there’s nothing stopping you from making sure your bike’s ready to roll as soon as the restrictions are lifted. Related...
Safety on the move: How to ride like a road test pro
08 April 2020 by
I thought I’d share some of the ways I ride to stay in one piece on the road. Not the mechanics of going through corners – body position and all that stuff, but the zen-like way you think about what...
Charge! Keep your motorbike battery healthy while it's laid up
07 April 2020 by
When a bike’s being used regularly, the battery should stay fit and healthy for several years. But when a bike is laid up – as the vast majority across the UK are right now – it can go flat in a...
Neevesy's bike-hacks: How to set up your motorbike like a road test pro
01 April 2020 by
So your bike is sitting patiently in your garage, waiting to blink back out into the sun again when this is all over, but what can you do to it to make it work better for you, without spending any...
Beat the isolation blues with MCN's top YouTube videos of the last 12 months!
23 March 2020 by
It’s tough being locked up indoors desperate for your biking fix, and there’s only so much cleaning and prep you can do. MCN is here for you with a list of our top ten most popular YouTube videos from...
Been window-shopping? Check out our advice on how to buy a used motorbike
20 March 2020 by
Buying a pre-loved motorbike is one of the most exciting experiences there is, but with so much money changing hands it can also be stressful. Buying a lemon can be costly, inconvenient or even...
Clinical trials: Dougie Lampkin trains Riders for Health workers in Lesotho
19 March 2020 by
The rider ahead is still sitting down, which I find reassuring. If he can navigate the wet clay, loose rocks and increasing gradient without having to leave the saddle, then even a wobbly off-roader...
Things to do during Coronavirus isolation: give your motorbike a proper clean
18 March 2020 by
As many of us find ourselves isolated and at a loose end in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, what better time is there to give your motorbike a proper clean? While scrubbing your bike isn’t...
Putting the style in textile: MCN's guide to the best waterproof gear you can buy right now!
11 March 2020 by
Aside from being unpleasant and sucking the fun out of your riding, being uncomfortable or cold on a motorbike can lead to distraction or slow down your reactions. One of the best ways to avoid this...
Lock it or lose it: MCN's guide to the best locks, chains and disc locks on the market right now
06 March 2020 by
Lock your bike. It’s one of the most crucial lessons you learn, when you get your first push-bike; lock it up wherever you leave it because if you don’t, it might not be there when you get back.
Fuels rush in: Will my motorbike run on E10 petrol?
04 March 2020 by
The Government has announced a consultation proposing that E5 fuel be replaced with E10 as the standard grade of petrol in the UK. Under the plan, E5 fuel would continue to be available as a ‘Super’...
Motorbike tyre advice: know your bike’s boots
03 March 2020 by
Tyres are the most important part on your bike – your sole connection with the road for the overwhelming majority of the time. Latest tyre reviews on MCN Metzeler M9 RR review Metzeler 01 SE...
Tyre test: Metzeler M9 RR sports tyre review
03 March 2020 by
Seven years after their launch, Metzeler’s Sportec M7 RR sports tyres can still mix it with the best. Related: Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE review But under attack from new rivals in the rubbery shape of...
Tyre test: Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE review
02 March 2020 by
Metzeler’s Roadtec has been at the top of the sports touring tree for a decade now, firstly the Interact Z8 version, followed by the 01 in 2016 – both offering class-leading levels of all-weather...
Can do attitude? It's MCN's guide to replacing your motorbike exhaust silencer
02 March 2020 by
Fitting a new motorcycle exhaust is usually a luxury rather than a necessity. It’s nice to slip off a clumpy, heavy OE silencer and slip on something altogether lighter and sexier. But sometimes you...
Learning to ride: from MTB to motorbike
28 February 2020 by
Learning to ride a motorbike is a challenge weirdly harder than the sum of its parts. If I can ride a mountain bike and drive a car with a manual gearbox (obviously not at the same time) then surely...
Triumph Daytona exhibition opened at Hinckley Visitor Experience
26 February 2020 by
The Triumph Factory Visitor Experience in Hinckley has assembled a collection of 14 Triumph Daytona models that display the chronology of the firm’s sportsbike over a 50-year period. The centrepiece...
It's all in the jeans: MCN's guide to the best motorbike denim
24 February 2020 by
There are loads of options on the market these days for riding jeans that look casual and keep you cool in summer, without having to sacrifice rider safety. And with so much choice at a range of price...
Braking bad? How to change your motorbike's brake fluid
18 February 2020 by
Changing your motorbike’s brake fluid is a relatively easy DIY job. It may be hidden from view, but the liquid inside your bike’s braking system should never be taken for granted. Over time the fluid...
Video: Joacim Boive riding his KTM enduro bike off-road
07 February 2020 by
A Swedish motorcyclist is aiming to be the first one-legged person to compete in an enduro series after taking up off-road riding. Joacim Boive lost his right leg to cancer when he was 13 but was...