Motorbike Advice: make the most of motorcycling

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.

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

The Ace Café London through the ages

19 October 2020 by Ben Clarke

The Ace Café on London’s North Circular has been a home from home for motorcyclists for over 80 years, so we at MCN thought we’d put together a gallery of pictures to show how it has changed in that...

Zef Eisenberg, 1973-2020

08 October 2020 by Jordan Gibbons

Multiple world and British speed record holder Zef Eisenberg tragically lost his life in an accident during a record attempt at Elvington airfield on Thursday, October 1. Zef, 47, was a businessman,...

Smile for miles! It's the best touring motorbikes of 2021

07 October 2020 by Ben Clarke

Touring by motorbike is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things you can do on two wheels. While it’s true that you can tour on anything from a superbike to a 125, this list will concentrate on...

Boxing clever: BMW R18's engine was 100 years in the making

05 October 2020 by Jordan Gibbons

The 1802cc air-cooled unit inside the new BMW R18 is the largest and torquiest boxer they’ve ever built. It sets a whole new standard in modern, air-cooled engine design but the basic layout stretches...

30 years on: The story behind Triumph's rebirth

23 September 2020 by Phil West

Thirty years ago this month, in September 1990, Triumph Motorcycles were reborn when, not one, not two, but SIX all-new Hinckley-built bikes were unveiled on the opening day of the Cologne Show in...

Cow herding…on a bike! Ex-Great Escape Triumph TR6 is a firm farm favourite

09 September 2020 by Michael Guy

Nearly 60 years ago Steve McQueen wowed motorcyclists with his riding in the classic movie The Great Escape. Following completion of filming, the Triumph TR6 that was used in the famous jump over the...

Upright aggression: MCN's guide to the best stripped-back super nakeds on the market in 2021

26 August 2020 by Michael Neeves

The super naked motorbike market is sizzling right now, with bikes such as the Ducati Streetfighter and BMW S1000R bringing superbike performance to the upright, naked bodystyle. There’s never been a...

MCN's August Bank Holiday events guide

24 August 2020 by MCN News

The August Bank Holiday weekend is almost upon us and is offering bikers a chance to get out and about at some great events, as well as enjoy some cracking world championship motorcycle racing...

All-rounder rubber! It's the best sports-touring tyres

14 August 2020 by Matt Wildee

Welcome to MCN’s 2021 sports-touring tyre test. This is the rubber that promises the best of everything; handling performance, allweather grip and thousands of miles of life. In fact, apart from...

Go-anywhere Garmins: Montana 700 series launched complete with SOS feature

10 August 2020 by Dan Sutherland

Riding a motorcycle along a rugged trail just got a little safer, thanks to a new all-terrain sat-nav system from Garmin, complete with emergency SOS functionality. Consisting of three navigation...

Biking on the big screen: On Any Sunday turns 49

28 July 2020 by Ben Clarke

Not only was it nominated for a 1972 Academy Award for best documentary, but On Any Sunday was also backed by Steve McQueen – the coolest man ever to have graced Planet Earth. Related: Best motorbike...

Testing times: How to pass your motorbike MoT first time

09 June 2020 by Bruce Dunn

All motorcycles over three-years-old (and under 40) require a valid MoT test certificate in order to be ridden legally on the road in the UK. And even if your vehicle is exempt, it is a legal...

Teenage dreams: We ride Allen Millyard's Honda SS50 specials

03 June 2020 by Bruce Dunn

The humble Honda SS50 is iconic. Built and sold in their thousands as the moped craze swept through 1970s UK, the slick-looking four-stroke looked like a miniature motorcycle. Flat bars, upswept...

Safety first: Join a Biker Down! course near you

02 June 2020 by Maria Martin

There are plenty of courses available to bikers to help them with improving riding skills, awareness and basic maintenance – you can join an IAM training course or sign-up for a Bikesafe workshop, for...

Fun in the sun: Top tips for riding your motorbike in a heatwave

02 June 2020 by MCN News

When the sun comes out it’s more tempting than ever to get the bike out of the garage and rack-up some miles. Riding in hot weather is great but you and your bike need to be prepared. This is...

Forty years of the GS: Original BMW R80 G/S designer tells us the untold story

20 May 2020 by Jordan Gibbons

It’s exactly 40 years since the first ever BMW GS went on sale: the R80 G/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...

Back on the bike: Brush up on safe riding with these great tips

12 May 2020 by Justin Hayzelden

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 RiDE magazine

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...

In the blood: MV Agusta marks 75 years of building soul-stirring motorbikes

08 May 2020 by Jon Urry

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 Andy Calton

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...

Having fun without two wheels Part 4: motorbike-themed things to do during Coronavirus

30 April 2020 by Emma Franklin

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 Jon Urry

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 public...

MCN's guide to selling your motorbike

21 April 2020 by MCN News

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...

Safety on the move: How to ride like a road test pro

08 April 2020 by Michael Neeves

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 Martin Fitz-Gibbons

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 many are over the winter months, and many more were during 2020’s...

Neevesy's bike-hacks: How to set up your motorbike like a road test pro

01 April 2020 by Michael Neeves

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...

Clinical trials: Dougie Lampkin trains Riders for Health workers in Lesotho

19 March 2020 by Ben Clarke

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...

Putting the style in textile: MCN's guide to the best waterproof gear you can buy right now!

11 March 2020 by MCN News

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...

Motorbike tyre advice: know your bike’s boots

03 March 2020 by MCN News

Tyres are the most important part on your bike – your sole connection with the road for the overwhelming majority of the time. Related: Best tyre pressure gauges There’s a lot to know about your...

Tyre test: Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE review

02 March 2020 by Michael Neeves

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 Bruce Dunn

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...

Triumph Daytona exhibition opened at Hinckley Visitor Experience

26 February 2020 by Ben Clarke

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...

Braking bad? How to change your motorbike's brake fluid

18 February 2020 by Bruce Dunn

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. Related: Top...

Video: Joacim Boive riding his KTM enduro bike off-road

07 February 2020 by Jordan Gibbons

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...

Special investigation: Lookalike fake helmets have never been more dangerous

30 January 2020 by Jordan Gibbons

Counterfeit goods are nothing new but the problem is now worse than ever. Not only are the copies looking better, making it harder to distinguish a fake at first glance, but online retailing makes it...

Yamaha RD350LC at 40 - a celebration

28 January 2020 by Phil West

Arguably the most loved and inspirational Japanese bike of all – Yamaha’s RD350LC – went on sale for the first time 40 years ago. And while the abilities of the 47bhp stroker twin are now the stuff of...