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

Slick operation! How to change your motorbike oil and filters

08 August 2019 by MCN News

Slick operation! How to change your motorbike oil and filters

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 MCN News

Shock therapy: How to set up your motorbike’s suspension

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 motorbike...

How to ride with a pillion passenger

30 July 2019 by MCN

How to ride with a pillion passenger

Riding with a pillion can be the best way to get friends and family understanding just what you love about biking – and possibly tempt them to learn to ride themselves. But there’s a real art to...

Just passed your test? MCN's best first motorbikes

25 July 2019 by Phil West

Just passed your test? MCN's best first motorbikes

The process of learning to ride and choosing your first motorbike is complicated. Once you’ve passed your full, unrestricted A licence, either at the age of 21 or older via the progressive route...

Twist-and-go today with MCN's best cheap 50cc scooters and mopeds for 2021

16 July 2019 by Phil West

Twist-and-go today with MCN's best cheap 50cc scooters and mopeds for 2021

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 Bruce Dunn

The missing link? How to look after your motorbike chain

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...

Go motorcycle racing on a budget with the MZ Experience

21 June 2019 by Dan Sutherland

Go motorcycle racing on a budget with the MZ Experience

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 Michael Neeves

Pirelli Angel GT II tyre review - ultimate all-rounders

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 MCN News

Like dodging downpours? Find out how to ride your motorcycle in rain

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 Ben Clarke

How to get your knee down on a motorbike

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 Adam Child

How to ride your motorbike off-road

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 Dan Sutherland

How to start motorcycle club racing

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 MCN News

What's that noise? Motorbike troubleshooting by sound

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 Bruce Dunn

Repairing your motorcycle on the move

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 Michael Neeves

A glimpse at "motorcycling mecca" - the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

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 Michael Neeves

Dunlop SportSmart Mk3 review

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 Dan Sutherland

How to wheelie a motorbike

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 Jordan Gibbons

Bike selling advice: How to avoid the online scammers

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 Chris Moss

Continental ContiTrailAttack 3 tyre review

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 Michael Neeves

Bridgestone S22 tyre review

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 at night

12 March 2019 by MCN

How to ride a motorbike at night

Whether you’re maximising your riding time on warm, drawn-out summer evenings or just commuting through the winter, you’ll need to know how to tackle riding a motorbike at night. Riding a...

How to pass your A1 motorbike licence

12 February 2019 by MCN News

How to pass your A1 motorbike licence

Welcome to MCN’s guide to the A1 motorcycle licence, where we explain what it is, who it’s for and crucially, how to pass it. Related: Best motorcycle training aids Related: everything you need to...

One step at a time: What is an A2 motorcycle licence and how do you get one?

12 February 2019 by MCN

One step at a time: What is an A2 motorcycle licence and how do you get one?

The A2 motorbike licence is the single quickest and most cost-effective way for 19-year-olds to learn to ride a motorbike and progress to a full UK licence. In order to qualify to take the A2...

Best A2 sportsbikes for trackdays

26 February 2010 by Dan Sutherland

Best A2 sportsbikes for trackdays

With the 750cc and 600cc sportsbike classes shrinking and manufacturers locked in a 200bhp+ superbike arms race, it could appear that your only option for modern trackday fun lies in an arm-wrenching...