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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

Small bikes, big plans: Birmingham-based Mutt shed more light on their first middleweight models

29 March 2022 by Dan Sutherland

Small bikes, big plans: Birmingham-based Mutt shed more light on their first middleweight models

Small capacity retro specialists Mutt are working on their first middleweight, revealing to MCN that both twin- and single-cylinder designs are on the table, ranging from 400 to 650cc. We spoke to...

Going the distance: 120 years of Royal Enfield adventures

01 March 2022 by Simon Weir

Going the distance: 120 years of Royal Enfield adventures

In the world of YouTube and Instagram and massive machines with satnavs, spotlights and metal panniers, it’s easy to imagine that adventure-biking is a modern phenomenon – but that’s not true. Royal...

Winter wonderland: 16 secrets of conquering even the coldest conditions

28 February 2022 by John Westlake

Winter wonderland: 16 secrets of conquering even the coldest conditions

Riding all year round is one of the most life-enriching things you can do. Yes – some people will think you’re mad; yes – you’ll have to wash your bike more in salty conditions and be more attentive...

How to fit clip-on bars for that tucked-in race-style ride

25 February 2022 by MCN

How to fit clip-on bars for that tucked-in race-style ride

If your bike has standard fitment one-piece handlebars and you want a tucked-in race-style riding position, then lower clip-on bars, which bolt directly to the fork legs, are the answer to your...

MCN's Jordan Gibbons finds battery bikes are the perfect pal for city life

25 February 2022 by Jordan Gibbons

MCN's Jordan Gibbons finds battery bikes are the perfect pal for city life

No matter how much some people might yearn for carbs, induction roar and the sweet smell of Castrol R, motorcycles are only going to get greener. The world is getting hotter, our air is becoming...

Riding a trio of special Honda RC30s and meeting the men who still use them as Honda intended

25 February 2022 by Michael Neeves

Riding a trio of special Honda RC30s and meeting the men who still use them as Honda intended

For many of us, Honda’s RC30 has been an object of desire since it was released back in 1988. With around 3500 made, they’re not as rare as you might imagine, but they were expensive – twice the price...

Safety expert urges retailers to meet the latest riding kit standards

21 February 2022 by Dan Sutherland

Safety expert urges retailers to meet the latest riding kit standards

A leading motorcycle kit safety expert says he would support heavier involvement from Trading Standards to stamp out sellers peddling substandard products at biking shows and other events. Paul...

Discography: How to change your brake discs

07 February 2022 by Alan Seeley

Discography: How to change your brake discs

Changing your brake discs yourself can save you a good chunk of cash and give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside as you complete a job well done. In this article we’re going to take you through the...

Royal Enfield’s Dean Coxson talks exclusively about their record-breaking expedition to the South Pole

04 February 2022 by Saffron Wilson

Royal Enfield’s Dean Coxson talks exclusively about their record-breaking expedition to the South Pole

On December 16th 2021, Royal Enfield rode into the history books when employees Dean Coxson and Santhosh Vijay Kumar reached the South Pole on a near-stock Himalayan, becoming the first people to...

MCN's guide to affordable two-strokes

03 February 2022 by Mike Armitage

MCN's guide to affordable two-strokes

Back in 2004, I flogged my Suzuki RGV250M. It was in good nick, had a complete spare engine in a box, and I got £1000. Since then two-stroke values have gone wild, and replacing it today in 2022 would...

Learning to ride: how to avoid stalling your motorbike

02 February 2022 by Chris Dabbs

Learning to ride: how to avoid stalling your motorbike

Stalling turns your fleet-footed steed that responds to every delicate touch, into a 150 kilo lump of metal that wants to crush your leg. But if you learn the warning signs you can pull away cleanly...

Pass that test: How to u-turn on a motorbike

24 January 2022 by MCN

Pass that test: How to u-turn on a motorbike

Perfecting the dreaded feet-up U turn can be one of the most stressful parts of learning to ride a motorbike. Most of us neglect the skill the minute we pass our test, but it can be a useful manoeuvre...

Stop motion: How to service your brake calipers

17 January 2022 by Bruce Dunn

Stop motion: How to service your brake calipers

Cleaning and servicing your brake calipers is a crucial job if you’ve ridden through winter or had the bike laid up for a while, but it only takes an afternoon. So what are you waiting for?  Related:...

Go off-road in a sidecar: We get a taste of outfit life by riding Ural’s latest three-wheeler in Portugal

14 January 2022 by Jordan Gibbons

Go off-road in a sidecar: We get a taste of outfit life by riding Ural’s latest three-wheeler in Portugal

How many riding situations are there in motorcycling where you effectively need to forget everything you know? Trials maybe? Ice racing perhaps? For me it’s riding a sidecar. It’s the single hardest...

Shaft-drive bikes vs chain-driven bikes

13 January 2022 by MCN

Shaft-drive bikes vs chain-driven bikes

What are the advantages and disadvantages of shaft drive motorcycles and chain-driven bikes? The major benefits of shaft-drive are lower maintenance and running costs, and cleanliness. The...

Try trials with the family for a one-of-a-kind shared experience

07 January 2022 by Saffron Wilson

Try trials with the family for a one-of-a-kind shared experience

What’s a better idea than trying trials for the first time in the depths of winter? That’s easy – taking my 59-year-old dad along for the ride. Off we both ventured, fuelled by nerves through pouring...

The youngest person to ride around the world... during a pandemic

05 January 2022 by Saffron Wilson

The youngest person to ride around the world... during a pandemic

Although still being verified by Guinness World Records, Jack Groves is the youngest person to ride around the world on a motorcycle. At just 22, Jack finished his studies and set out to break the...

Charge of the light brigade: Army Parachute Regiment trial electric bikes

24 December 2021 by Laura Thomson

Charge of the light brigade: Army Parachute Regiment trial electric bikes

It’s a frigid November evening and I’m standing in a muddy field in the middle of rural France, as diesel generators shake the air around me. The area is abuzz with activity as military vehicles move...

100 years of Moto Guzzi: we trace the up-and-down history of one of biking’s most important brands

17 December 2021 by Phil West

100 years of Moto Guzzi: we trace the up-and-down history of one of biking’s most important brands

2021 will inevitably be remembered most for the worst of reasons – Covid-19, the retirement of MotoGP GOAT Valentino Rossi… but 2021 also marks one of the biggest anniversaries of all – the 100th...

Fat Boy wonder: How a bold take on the cruiser put Harley-Davidson back on the map

16 December 2021 by Phil West

Fat Boy wonder: How a bold take on the cruiser put Harley-Davidson back on the map

‘I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle…’ It’s been 30 years since we first heard Arnold Schwarzenegger utter those immortal words in the film Terminator 2. Little did anyone know then...

Continuing the racing legacy: At home with Tarran Mackenzie

10 December 2021 by Josh Close

Continuing the racing legacy: At home with Tarran Mackenzie

Tarran Mackenzie followed in his dad’s footsteps this year by taking the BSB title for the first time. 25 years after Niall became the first champion of the modern era, Tarran came of age and topped a...

MCN's 2021 Black Friday motorbike kit deals guide

21 November 2021 by Chris Williams

MCN's 2021 Black Friday motorbike kit deals guide

MCN should be your first port of call when hunting for Black Friday deals. We will be hunting for top deals on worthwhile products. We appreciate that shopping is not everyone’s favourite pastime. But...

Chasing perfection: Honda’s oval-piston NR750 at 30

10 November 2021 by Alan Cathcart

Chasing perfection: Honda’s oval-piston NR750 at 30

In October 1991, the most exotic and most expensive production bike ever been produced by any Japanese brand was launched, embracing a level of tech which – even today – seems extreme. The Honda...

Best adventure motorcycle boots

02 November 2021 by Jim Blackstock

Best adventure motorcycle boots

If you’re heading off-road on your bike, then like the rest of your kit, your boots need to be ready for the job. Like your jacket and trousers, they need to be supportive and keep you dry yet allow...

Motorcycle helmets with a feminine twist

02 November 2021 by Maria Martin

Motorcycle helmets with a feminine twist

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections – read why you should trust us ‘Women’s...

Best motorcycle top boxes

29 October 2021 by Maria Martin

Best motorcycle top boxes

Motorcycle top boxes are bought mainly for functional reasons. No-one buys a top box because they want to improve the look of their bike so functionality has to come first. While it may not be as fun...

Best women's motorcycle clothing

29 October 2021 by Jim Blackstock

Best women's motorcycle clothing

While clothing options for men are enormous, and have been for years, that’s not necessarily the case for women. Up until fairly recently, women had little choice but to wear the appropriate size of...

Top motorcycle waterproofs

29 October 2021 by Jim Blackstock

Top motorcycle waterproofs

Sometimes, you may not want to wear your full waterproof, breathable and super-technical touring clothing when you’re out on the bike. It might be a lovely summer’s day and you’re heading for the...

Try track-based training: Improve your cornering skills in a safe environment

27 October 2021 by Saffron Wilson

Try track-based training: Improve your cornering skills in a safe environment

I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never been confident when it comes to cornering. Whether that’s because of the scrape of my footboards when I try to lean or my complete lack of experience on a track,...

Try an electric trials bike at Inch Perfect Trials

22 October 2021 by Justin Hayzelden

Try an electric trials bike at Inch Perfect Trials

Sweat is pouring down my face as I focus every ounce of concentration onto negotiating the rocky river bed, desperate to keep my feet up and avoid a ‘dab’ whilst my fingers tickle the throttle just...

Britain's best bikes: these are the 2022 MCN Award winners

20 October 2021 by MCN

Britain's best bikes: these are the 2022 MCN Award winners

The MCN Awards celebrate what we think are the very best motorbikes by category available in the UK right now. Some truly wonderful bikes have hit the roads this year, while others remain at the top...

Test your riding endurance in an Iron Butt Rally

12 October 2021 by Justin Hayzelden

Test your riding endurance in an Iron Butt Rally

The Iron Butt Association is dedicated to the pursuit of safe, long-distance motorcycling. Sure, most of us have done extended days on the bike, but to class yourself as a genuine ‘Iron Butter’ you...

Experience riding as fast as you want on a German autobahn

13 September 2021 by Bruce Dunn

Experience riding as fast as you want on a German autobahn

With sixth gear engaged and the throttle open to the stop, the three-lane-wide autobahn funnels ever narrower into a tiny apex in the distance. Accented orange by the rising sun on the horizon, every...

Motorcycle track day tips for beginners

26 August 2021 by MCN News

Motorcycle track day tips for beginners

Motorcycle track days in the UK are big business – particularly since international travel dwindled during the Covid-19 pandemic. And here’s why…  Related: Best motorbike trackday essentials Taking...

Learn the art of bike control: California Superbike School will teach you the secrets to speed

25 August 2021 by Ben Clarke

Learn the art of bike control: California Superbike School will teach you the secrets to speed

Riding in the company I keep at work can be a sobering experience. The wider MCN team have hundreds of years of experience of riding every type of bike on the roads, runways, trails and racetracks –...

Now is the time to design your own helmet

16 August 2021 by Richard Newland

Now is the time to design your own helmet

Hello. My name is Richard, and I’m a shameless hypocrite. OK, so this isn’t group therapy, but I felt it would be wrong not to share with the group that this rampant self-indulgence is spectacularly...