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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 you should be choosing in our expertly curated Best section, or find the perfect kit and accessories at MCN Product Picks.

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.

Year: ALL

(Under) a ton of fun! PCP heroes for under £100 a month

28 March 2024 by Jon Urry

(Under) a ton of fun! PCP heroes for under £100 a month

Imagine having a pot by your desk and every day you try to drop in three quid. Yep, just three. Wouldn’t be that hard, would it? On the way into work you could skip that posh coffee and instead get an...

Expert guide to buying used Yamaha YZF-R1 range

15 March 2024 by Jon Urry

Expert guide to buying used Yamaha YZF-R1 range

This year marks 25 years since Yamaha released the first R1. Featuring technology that at the time was radical but is now commonplace, the R1 created the blueprint for the modern sportsbike...

Expert guide to used sports tourers on a budget

15 March 2024 by Jon Urry

Expert guide to used sports tourers on a budget

Blisteringly fast when requested, these high-speed tourers are also sporty enough to enjoy on twisty mountain roads while delivering comfort, luggage-carrying capacity and relaxed riding positions to...

Honda and Suzuki’s rugged adventure bikes take on the MCN250

14 March 2024 by Jon Urry

Honda and Suzuki’s rugged adventure bikes take on the MCN250

Entering the world of adventure bikes can be daunting as this rapidly expanding segment is filled to bursting point with a huge variety of bikes all falling under the ‘adventure’ umbrella. And they...

Can Chinese-built Voge DS525X rival the updated Honda NX500?

14 March 2024 by Jon Urry

Can Chinese-built Voge DS525X rival the updated Honda NX500?

When it comes to the light/middleweight adventure motorcycle market, one machine has been dominating the show – Honda’s CB500X. Launched in 2013 alongside its naked CB500F and fully-faired CBR500R...

Expert guide to buying used old-school sportsbikes

07 March 2024 by Jon Urry

Expert guide to buying used old-school sportsbikes

Yamaha’s beautiful and brilliant YZF750, Kawasaki’s gorgeous ZX-7R and their old-school superbike stablemates still deliver a more than-sufficient 120bhp+ yet do so with analogue technology, lack of...

Apex predators | Bag a used superbike bargain and enjoy genuine racing pedigree on the road

06 March 2024 by Jon Urry

Apex predators | Bag a used superbike bargain and enjoy genuine racing pedigree on the road

World Superbike has quite literally defined and directed the course of litre-class sportsbikes for the last 20 years with the leading brands developing ever-more potent, extreme and sophisticated...

Expert guide to buying used Kawasaki Ninjas from £1500

04 March 2024 by Jon Urry

Expert guide to buying used Kawasaki Ninjas from £1500

When it comes to sporting dynasties, one name is synonymous with performance – Ninja. First used by Kawasaki in 1984 on the GPz900R Ninja in the US market (the same year that Mirage Studios...

Expert guide to buying used winter motorbikes

01 March 2024 by Jon Urry

Expert guide to buying used winter motorbikes

This week we look at buying a winter motorbike for soaking up those cold, hard miles and ensuring you arrive at your destination ready for the day ahead. They may not be the most alluring bikes...

Can BMW’s blacked-out R18 Roctane steal a slice of the Indian Springfield Dark Horse’s American pie?

29 February 2024 by Phil West

Can BMW’s blacked-out R18 Roctane steal a slice of the Indian Springfield Dark Horse’s American pie?

You can’t help but admire BMW’s determination to take on classic US cruiser motorcycle brands Harley-Davidson and Indian with their all-new R18 Roctane bagger. First, in 2020, they came up with...

Welcome to Wallonia | Explore one of biking’s best kept secrets with 1300km of great riding routes

29 February 2024 by MCN

Welcome to Wallonia | Explore one of biking’s best kept secrets with 1300km of great riding routes

Paid partnership with VISITWallonia Ever heard of Wallonia? It’s the southern half of Belgium, and as far as motorcyclists are concerned, the more exciting half. It’s home to the Spa-Francorchamps race circuit, classic racing at...

These top-spec middleweights are the cream of the crop, but which one is the best used buy?

27 February 2024 by Jon Urry

These top-spec middleweights are the cream of the crop, but which one is the best used buy?

The middleweight class has been on fire over the last few years with no shortage of bikes packing stacks of performance – and that is great news if you are after a bargain because plenty are entering...

Expert guide to buying your first big motorbike used

27 February 2024 by Jon Urry

Expert guide to buying your first big motorbike used

Buying your first big bike can be a daunting experience. These five machines make for handy ‘first big bikes’ that have enough power to ensure you won’t be left lacking should you wish to embark on a...

Why mid-size scooters offer the best of everything around town

22 February 2024 by Jon Urry

Why mid-size scooters offer the best of everything around town

There is a tendency to assume mid-size scooters are an unpopular choice of two-wheeled transport in the UK. While European cities seem packed full of scoots, with everyone from teenagers to glamorous...

Cheap, comfy and quick! These £3k sports tourers offer plenty of bang for your buck

15 February 2024 by Jon Urry

Cheap, comfy and quick! These £3k sports tourers offer plenty of bang for your buck

Who doesn’t love the thought of escaping the confines of their local neighbourhood in search of pastures new? And, better still, some thrilling and challenging roads to explore for the first time. If...

Middleweight road-going adventure mega-test! We pit V-Strom 800RE vs Transalp vs Tiger 850 Sport

02 February 2024 by Jim Moore

Middleweight road-going adventure mega-test! We pit V-Strom 800RE vs Transalp vs Tiger 850 Sport

Of all the myriad motorbike sub-classes, the middleweight adventure sector is perhaps the most important. With machines ranging from 700 to 900cc in capacity, and prices starting at less than...

A year in film: Watch MCN’s most popular YouTube videos of 2023

29 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

A year in film: Watch MCN’s most popular YouTube videos of 2023

It’s been another busy year for the MCN team, bringing you the latest news, reviews, and sport coverage from the world of motorcycling. It’s the same story on our YouTube channel too, with an...

Buying your first big bike: MCN's guide to the best A2 friendly motorbikes in 2023

12 December 2023 by Ben Clarke

Buying your first big bike: MCN's guide to the best A2 friendly motorbikes in 2023

A2 motorbikes may exist to fulfil a licence category, but they can also be a lightweight, simple and budget-friendly option for any level of rider – and great fun to ride, too. Once you’ve passed...

How to choose your first beginner motorbike

15 November 2023 by Curtis Moldrich

How to choose your first beginner motorbike

Choosing your first motorbike is an exciting milestone, but it can also be a bit daunting. Motorbikes come in all shapes and sizes; from agile superbikes all the way to comfortable tourers – and it’s...

How to pass your module tests

14 November 2023 by Curtis Moldrich

How to pass your module tests

You’ve passed your CBT, but what’s next? When you’re learning to ride, to get your full bike licence you’ll need to sit a number of theory and practical riding tests, each consisting of two parts...

Learning to ride: Why you should take advanced motorcycle training

06 November 2023 by Gareth Evans

Learning to ride: Why you should take advanced motorcycle training

Learning to ride a motorcycle doesn’t stop when you pass your test. In our opinion, particularly for new riders, some of the best money you can spend in your formative years is on advanced motorcycle...

Check out these handy tips for riding a motorbike in strong winds, and stay safe when out in a storm

20 October 2023 by Ben Clarke

Check out these handy tips for riding a motorbike in strong winds, and stay safe when out in a storm

Learning to ride a motorbike in windy conditions may sound daunting, but it needn’t be. If you think about it, riding at the national speed limit on even a perfectly still day produces the same effect...

How to ride a motorcycle: a beginner's guide

26 September 2023 by Gareth Evans

How to ride a motorcycle: a beginner's guide

Learning to ride a motorcycle safely is one of the most exciting things you can ever do. Offering freedom like no other mode of transport and delivering a sense of speed and exhilaration unmatched on...

Learning to ride: How to pass your A1 motorbike licence

19 September 2023 by Gareth Evans

Learning to ride: How to pass your A1 motorbike licence

Welcome to MCN’s guide to passing the A1 motorbike licence, where we explain what it is, who it’s for and crucially, how to pass it. For a younger person learning to ride a motorbike, this is the...

Ice 'n easy: How to ride a motorbike in winter

14 September 2023

Ice 'n easy: How to ride a motorbike in winter

Learning to ride a motorbike involves getting a handle on dealing with various conditions. Biking all year round is one of the most life-enriching things you can do, and that includes riding a...

Ready to Ride: Fix a roadside flat

13 September 2023 by Bruce Dunn

Ready to Ride: Fix a roadside flat

READY TO RIDE WITH AMAZON In this week’s how-to, we show you how to get going again after a puncture while on the move. These types of repairs can really get you out of a spot. The Gryp kit that we deployed here is really...

Beginner tips: Your first month motorcycling after learning to ride

01 September 2023 by Gareth Evans

Beginner tips: Your first month motorcycling after learning to ride

In your first month motorbiking, you’ll make some mistakes, but you’ll also make some incredible memories. That’s because when you learn to ride a motorbike, the lessons don’t stop when you pass...

Ready to Ride: Fit soft luggage safely

30 August 2023 by Bruce Dunn

Ready to Ride: Fit soft luggage safely

READY TO RIDE WITH AMAZON Don’t take for granted that when you have fitted soft luggage to your bike that it will stay secure. You should check that it is still safely fitted when you stop for fuel or park up. A pal of...

MCN’s guide to learning to ride a motorcycle

15 August 2023 by Gareth Evans

MCN’s guide to learning to ride a motorcycle

Want to learn to ride a motorbike? Then you’ve landed on the right article. MCN is the leading authority in the UK motorbike industry, and our expert testers have ridden all the bikes, tried all the...

Ready to Ride: How to fit heated grips

09 August 2023 by Bruce Dunn

Ready to Ride: How to fit heated grips

READY TO RIDE WITH AMAZON When it comes to choosing a set of heated grips, having the ability to vary the amount of heat with a controller is top of my agenda, but more importantly than that, is some sort of battery-saving...

Ready to Ride: Service your brakes and change pads

02 August 2023 by Bruce Dunn

Ready to Ride: Service your brakes and change pads

READY TO RIDE WITH AMAZON When it comes to changing the brake pads on your bike it’s worth checking out what type of brake pad is available, as there will be a dizzying array on offer, each one claiming different benefits.

Fixing Up: How to refresh your oil

25 July 2023 by Bruce Dunn

Fixing Up: How to refresh your oil

Ready to Ride with Amazon In part two of our Amazon Fixing Up: Ready to Ride series we get the 2019 Kawasaki Z1000SX back in the workshop. This week’s job is to replace the engine oil and fit a new filter. An oil and...

Suzuki Hayabusa in detail: One of the best hyper bikes of all time

14 July 2023 by MCN

Suzuki Hayabusa in detail: One of the best hyper bikes of all time

The hyper bike motorcycle category was born out of an arms race between manufacturers to claim the accolade of highest top speed through the nineties. Bikes like the Suzuki Hayabusa, Honda Super...

Fixing up: Your 10-point checklist for looking after your bike

11 July 2023 by Bruce Dunn

Fixing up: Your 10-point checklist for looking after your bike

Ready to Ride with Amazon One of the joys of motorcycle ownership for me is being in the workshop and getting the tools out. It’s a way of unwinding and learning the detail of maintaining and looking after your bike. This...

How to protect your bike from damage in a crash

01 June 2023 by Bruce Dunn

How to protect your bike from damage in a crash

The thought of ever damaging your bike can be enough to turn your stomach, which is why plenty of us choose to lavish them with crash protection. Made from tough nylon, crash protection is designed to...

Stay connected: Wire in a motorcycle USB port and phone cradle for navigation and more

09 May 2023 by Bruce Dunn

Stay connected: Wire in a motorcycle USB port and phone cradle for navigation and more

Plenty of bikers enjoy time on two wheels precisely because it’s time that we can’t be reached, distracted or hassled by our phones. The time spent ‘off-grid’ in the saddle can be a sacred break from...