Bike Kit | Page 14

A guide to the best motorcycle levers tested by MCN and how to replace them

10 October 2023 by Charlotte King

One of the most tactile parts of your bike are its control levers, for the front brake and clutch. But it’s also true that they’re one of the most vulnerable motorcycle accessories; even in a...

Be seen and boost your vision with the best motorcycle spotlights for maximum visibility

10 October 2023 by Robin Kirkley

The benefits of adding riding or auxiliary spotlights to your bike are mainly two-fold. First, the additional lights will help you to see better at night, depending on where you position them on the...

A cleaner rear end: Best motorcycle tail tidies

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Bikes are usually well-designed and stylish but the one area that often lets them down is around the rear number plate and mudguard, where clumsy fenders and overlarge hangers often clutter up the...

Scratch-stoppers: Best motorcycle tank protectors

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

There are a couple of good reasons you might want to fit a tank protector to your bike’s fuel tank, both cosmetic and practical. On the first hand, one on the very rear of the tank will help protect...

Balancing act: Best motorcycle bar-ends

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

It’s a fact we must accept somewhere along the line that some motorcycles are not perfect. I know; it’s hard to accept but it’s true. One of the things that can detract from the perfection of a ride...

Best motorcycle clothing for new riders | MCN's buying guide

10 October 2023 by Charlotte King

If you are looking to buy your first motorbike, looking to take your full motorbike licence or maybe you are about to take your CBT, chances are you are going to be looking to buy yourself some...

Best Motorcycle Mirrors and Accessories

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Sometimes, no matter how hard they try, manufacturers can’t get everything right. And something that can be completely dependent on the size and shape of the rider is how well the mirrors and...

Best motorcycle indicator upgrades

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Motorcycle indicators are hardly the stuff of legend or discussion; you will rarely get another biker coming up to you at a bike meet or a bacon-butty stop to ask where you got them, how you find they...

Comfort Air seat cushion review

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

There are lots of accessories available on the aftermarket to make your motorcycle more comfortable. And one of the most important things to keep comfy on a bike is your bum. In this respect, the...

Stay dry whatever the weather: Alpinestars Hurricane waterproof oversuit review

10 October 2023 by Michael Neeves

These two-piece motorcycle waterproofs are designed to be worn over road riding kit. A one-piece version is also available of the Alpinestars Hurricane Waterproof oversuit as well. Is the...

The Best Aftermarket Motorcycle Replacement Screens

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Part of the attraction of motorcycling is the freedom, the exposure to the environment, the wind-in-the-hair (helmet notwithstanding, of course) riding experience. Sometimes though, that can get a bit...

A guide to motorcycle seat pads to help you stay comfortable while covering big miles

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

For those that like to cover long-distance, be that big day trips or long tours abroad, there’s little more likely to cause dread on a ride than an uncomfortable seat. The feeling of ‘numb bum’, where...

Virtual racer: Best motorbike video games

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

If you’re anything like me, you harbour fantasies of racing against Valentino Rossi, taking on Dougie Lampkin or flying high over a motocross course. But a combination of age, lack of talent and...

Build your dream bike: Best Lego motorcycles as chosen by MCN

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Not all biking ‘buys’ have to be sensible. It’s not always about purchasing prudent protective gear or investing in wise accessories. Lego motorcycles show bikes can be fun and frivolous as...

KTM eDrive 16 electric balance bike review

10 October 2023 by Emma Franklin

Balance bikes are the perfect first step to getting nippers on to two wheels, but powered versions take things that one step further by introducing the concept of throttle control. Made by US company...

Pack it away: Best motorcycle kit storage options

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

If you only have a single motorbike outfit and helmet, then keeping your kit stored when you’re not using it will probably be fairly straightforward. However, if you have more than one set of kit, you...

Valentino Rossi: All His Races book review

10 October 2023 by James Taylor

This could have been a simplistic book. Some nice pictures, a quick summary of each race, job done. But there’s more to it than that in this All His Races book of Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP career.

Motorcycle armour buying guide | The best ways to protect yourself on a motorcycle explained

10 October 2023 by Phil Clarke

Riding a motorcycle gives a feeling of liberation unlike any other, but the more we do it, the higher the chances we’ll find ourselves in a difficult situation. That’s where good motorcycle armour...

Heated motorcycle grips buying guide | How to warm your hands in a pinch without lifting a finger

10 October 2023 by Phil Clarke

Keeping your hands warm can be a struggle riding without some heated motorcycle kit, with frosty fingers a very real risk for motorcyclists most of the year in the UK. Even on summer days, the dew...

Shad SW45 Rucksack Review

10 October 2023 by Ben Clarke

The Shad SW45 Rucksack is a little bit like a roll bag that’s been transformed into a highly effective waterproof motorbike rucksack with a few adaptations. The main body of the rucksack is a...

SW Motech Legend Gear Tailbag LR2 Review

10 October 2023 by Saffron Wilson

The SW Motech Legend Gear Tailbag LR2 line was specifically designed to complement retro-style motorcycles and sits alongside a range of luggage options such as tank bags, backpacks, saddlebags and...

Get Your Kids Into MX: Best junior off-road bike kit

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

For many riders who have been on or around bikes their entire lives, the chances are they first got their feet up on a dirt bike or a motocross bike. There are numerous reasons for trying MX but the...

MCN’s pick of the the best motorcycle books | Great stories still matter in the age of digital

10 October 2023 by Robin Kirkley

Motorcycle books might seem like they’re from a bygone era in this online age where YouTube and social media dominate. But humans are still humans, and the love of great storytelling has been part of...

Pit-lane essentials: Everything you need to get the most from a motorcycle trackday

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

It doesn’t matter what bike you ride and how you ride it. You may be a courier, a commuter, a recreational chip-hunter with your mates or a track day addict with a hotblooded sportsbike. Somewhere...

Oxford Original Approved AA MS Shirt Review

10 October 2023 by Ben Clarke

Riding shirts like the Oxford Original Approved AA MS have been around for a few years now and are a more protective option than wearing a Carhartt or Dickies lumberjack number on your...

Best Kids' Motorcycle Gear

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

We’ve said it before – it’s both hugely exciting and a little scary when your kids express an interest in following you onto two wheels. Generally, they can either do this themselves or on the back...

Alpinestars Tech-Air 3 Stella Airbag Vest Review

10 October 2023 by Emma Franklin

Alpinestars’ Tech-Air motorcycle airbag project has been around since 2003, but back then it was strictly the preserve of world championship riders only. Since then the brand has gone commercial and...

Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar Review | "The best bit of off-roading kit I own"

10 October 2023 by Ben Clarke

A well-known brand for off-road bike gear and these Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar motorbike boots are the latest in a long line of popular, high-quality dirt bike kit. When I ride on the...

Insta360-ONE-R-Ultimate-Kit: Is It Worth The Price?

10 October 2023 by Curtis Moldrich

If you’re looking for a way to capture your rides for insurance purposes or just for fun, it’s worth getting an action camera like this one from Insta360. Small and easy to mount, they give you peace...

Motorcycle Touring Essentials

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

There’s a lot more to heading off motorcycle touring than simply chucking a few bits of clothing in a bag and chucking a leg over a touring bike. It doesn’t need to be a particularly complicated...

Shark Spartan RS Review 2023

10 October 2023 by Dan Sutherland

The Shark Spartan RS was one of the first motorcycle helmets from the French safety firm to meet more stringent ECE 22.06 safety regulations – meaning it should perform better in rotational impacts. A...

Held Phantom Pro Review

10 October 2023 by Dan Sutherland

The Held Phantom Pro is the most expensive sports glove in brands racing range and combines abrasion resistant kangaroo leather with strips of stingray leather and aramid fibres to produce a highly...

Oxford Protex Stretch Motorcycle Cover Review

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

There are two main reasons to keep your bike under a cover like this Oxford Protex Stretch. The first is if you don’t have anywhere ‘indoors’ to keep your bike, such as a garage, workshop or shed. A...

Best kit for adventure bikes | MCN's top picks whether you're blazing trails or traversing coffee shop car parks

10 October 2023 by Phil Clarke

As we’ve said before, getting the right kit for your ride and your motorcycle are crucial and it’s the same for riders of adventure bikes. Whether you are hitting the trails or travelling through the...

Top Heated Motorcycle Kit

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Many motorcyclists approach winter in the same way some animals do; stock up on luxuries, hunker down and wait for spring and the onset of better weather. Others use a more arctic approach, adapting...

Top Casual Motorcycle Clothing

10 October 2023 by Maria Martin

There’s a lot of casual riding gear on the market that looks stylish, is great for warmer riding days around town and doesn’t compromise safety. In fact, more and more riders are looking for casual...