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.
Vredestein Centauro ST tyre review: new kid on the block
10 December 2019 by
This is Vredestein’s first big bike radial tyre. The Dutch firm, better known in the car world, have been owned by the Indian Apollo group since 2009 and are kicking off their motorcycle range with...
Get down and dirty today with MCN's best off-road bikes
06 December 2019 by
While winter may put a chill and a dampener on road and track motorcycling it remains a great time of year for those who enjoy riding in the dirt. After all, colder temperatures and slippery surfaces...
Cold caller: MCN’s guide to buying a winter motorbike
04 December 2019 by
Buying a second motorbike to use as a winter hack is a sensible and practical way to keep riding through the colder months without adding hard miles to your pride and joy. Related: Essential winter...
Ice 'n easy! Your MCN guide to using a motorbike in winter
03 December 2019 by
Riding in winter conditions with the wrong kit can be awful, but with some better gear to keep you warm there's no need to put the bike away over winter and you can keep building your #ride5000miles...
Silverstone celebrate rich heritage with new Experience Centre
11 November 2019 by
After a seven-year-project to restore a WW2 RAF hangar into an interactive museum, the all-new Silverstone Experience centre will open its doors to the public on Friday, October 25. Celebrating the...
Embrace the street scrambling scene with MCN's best ‘soft-roaders’ and enduro motorbikes
18 October 2019 by
No type of motorcycle is currently more fashionable than that of retro-styled street scrambler. Related: Best enduro motorbike helmets Inspired by the trail bikes of the 1960s and ‘70s these largely...
Learning to ride a motorbike: your MCN hub
14 October 2019 by
Welcome to MCN's hub linking everything you need to know about learning to ride a motorbike. Below we list all of the guides and bike information you need, and if you're looking to start your...
The ultimate motorcycling high. Riding the Himalayas
14 October 2019 by
Mountains are earth’s giants. They’re behemoths, slowly pushing their way through the clouds over millions of years to scratch at heaven’s belly. Related: Royal Enfield Himalayan review on MCN The...
State style? It's the best cruiser motorbikes of 2021
10 October 2019 by
Take the easy rider route with MCN's best cruiser motorcycles. American-style cruisers and customs may not be for everyone, as they emphasise States-style rumbling and leather-clad posing over sporty...
Peter Fonda, 1940-2019
19 August 2019 by
Peter Fonda, the star of the iconic motorcycle film Easy Rider, has died aged 79. Fonda had a long and varied career, however it was his depiction of Wyatt in the cult 1969 road movie that he was...
The UK's best biker cafés of 2019
15 August 2019 by
The best motorbike cafés in the UK are places to meet, eat and socialise with likeminded people who love motorcycles. Related: vote for the UK's best biker cafe 2020 here! Latest biker café news:...
Cornering a motorbike with confidence
10 August 2019 by
Cornering is one of the most exciting parts of riding a motorbike but it’s also a tricky part to get right and is where most accidents happen. This can be because riders try to corner faster by...
How to pass your motorbike theory test
08 August 2019 by
The theory test is the second element of passing your full motorbike licence, occuring before the two practical modules and after the CBT. Related: Best motorcycle training...
Slick operation! How to change your motorbike oil and filters
08 August 2019 by
The oil in your motorbike’s engine plays an incredibly important role. It acts as a cushion between moving parts, such as between camshaft and head, reducing friction and wear. Related: Best socket...
Shock therapy: How to set up your motorbike’s suspension
31 July 2019 by
Your motorbike’s suspension can seem a daunting thing to take some spanners to, but do it right and you’ll almost certainly transform your bike’s ride and handling. Related: Guide to top...
Don't be a stranger: Pillion passenger riding tips
30 July 2019 by
Riding with a pillion can be the best way to get friends and family understanding just what you love about biking. But there's a real art to carrying a passenger on a motorbike. If you've never ridden...
Just passed your test? Check out MCN's 2021 best first big motorbikes!
25 July 2019 by
The route to big bike ownership is complicated. Once you’ve passed your full, unrestricted A licence, either at the age of 21 or older via the progressive route through the lesser licence categories,...
Twist-and-go today with MCN's best cheap 50cc scooters and mopeds for 2021
16 July 2019 by
Though not in the spotlight as much as their bigger alternatives, there is a thriving 50cc scooter market that will get you on two wheels and honing your road craft so that, come the right age, you...
The missing link? How to look after your motorbike chain
12 July 2019 by
A motorbike chain is a vitally important bit of kit. It’s essentially the part that connects your motor to your back wheel in most cases, so careful maintenance is key to keeping your bike...
2019 MCN Sicilian Superbike Shootout
22 June 2019 by
Three very special 200bhp-plus superbikes require an equally special stage, so we’ve brought them to Sicily. Related: Best sports motorbike helmets It’s a chance to let these incredible machines off...
Go motorcycle racing on a budget with the MZ Experience
21 June 2019 by
Run as part of the British Motor Cycle Racing Club (Bemsee), the Chilton Motors MZ Championship is the latest in a long line of MZ racing series spanning 30 years. Shod with Moto3 Dunlop slicks, these...
Pirelli Angel GT II tyre review - ultimate all-rounders
12 June 2019 by
Pirelli only had themselves to beat when it came to developing their new Angel GT II sports touring tyre. Of course, it needed to be better than the Angel GT (Gran Turismo) original, but it also had...
Like dodging downpours? Find out how to ride your motorcycle in rain
12 June 2019 by
The latest rubber offers incredible wet weather grip, but we often wonder whether it helps to be a bit obsessive about riding a bike. Obsessive people think about every detail, and test the smallest...
How to get your knee down on a motorbike
22 May 2019 by
There’s something undeniably cool about seeing a skilled rider, mid-corner with their knee on the deck (on track, obviously) – and I couldn’t help but feel envious of other MCN staff members as they...
How to ride your motorbike off-road
21 May 2019 by
Riding a motorbike off-road can dramatically improve your road riding, as well as being a whole heap of fun. There are just over 2000 miles of motorway in the UK. But there are more than 6000 miles...
How to start motorcycle club racing
15 May 2019 by
It has been said that there’s nothing like racing to improve your road and trackday skills. Riding in close proximity at high speed, pushing your bike and tyres to the limit is the ultimate in...
What's that noise? Motorbike troubleshooting by sound
14 May 2019 by
Bike engines will make a variety of noises; hardly surprising with several hundred metal parts whizzing round thousands of time a minute. Related: Best basic motorbike tools If you are worried about...
Repairing your motorcycle on the move
13 May 2019 by
Learning to fix your motorcycle at the roadside is a skill all bikers need. It can happen to the best of us – you thumb the starter after stopping for a rest break and nothing; your bike doesn’t want...
A glimpse at "motorcycling mecca" - the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
06 May 2019 by
When it comes to biking bucket lists there are a handful of undisputable destinations that’ll take your breath away. A visit to the TT will fry your mind and the barely-controlled chaos of the...
Dunlop SportSmart Mk3 review
23 April 2019 by
Dunlop says their new SportSmart Mk3 offers more wet and dry grip, but unlike rivals, that improved performance lasts the life of the tyres, right down to its wear blocks. That’s an impressive claim,...
How to wheelie a motorbike
19 April 2019 by
A wheelie is the oldest motorcycle trick in the book, and I’ve wanted to be able to pop a decent one since I first threw my leg over a bike aged 16. After seven years of riding, I was still unable to...
Bike selling advice: How to avoid the online scammers
09 April 2019 by
Scams around bike sales are as old as motorcycling, but as the riding season begins and more people start shifting their bikes, scammers and thieves are rubbing their hands with glee. With a huge...
Continental ContiTrailAttack 3 tyre review
05 April 2019 by
Replacing the successful ContiTrailAttack 2s, the new third generation is claimed to offer quicker warm up times, greater grip in wet and dry, offer longer life and more agile handling than the...
Bridgestone S22 tyre review
05 April 2019 by
Bridgestone’s new S22 sports tyre might be designed for life on the street, but here at their world launch in Jerez they’ve proved they can handle a day at one of the finest MotoGP circuits in the...
How to ride a motorbike
12 March 2019 by
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...
How to ride a motorbike at night
12 March 2019 by
With warm, drawn-out summer evenings it's the ideal excuse to maximise your time on the bike. Riding a motorcycle at night can be very satisfying, with the roads less crowded and distractions...