Tools

Year: ALL

MCN's expert guide on removing bug splats, tar or any other stubborn stains from your motorcycle

08 July 2024 by Bruce Dunn

Summer in the UK brings with it lots of positives for bikers. Bright mornings, long evenings, warm sunshine and sticky tarmac are all positives but the downside is that your fairing, headlamp and...

How to deep clean your motorcycle's wheels and get them looking like new with MCN's expert mechanic

02 July 2024 by Bruce Dunn

You motorbike’s wheels can be one of the trickiest areas to clean, but they’re also prone to getting absolutely filthy. Related Best products for cleaning your motorbike Best deals on...

Here are the best motorcycle chain lubes we've found after thousands of test miles - From just $16

02 July 2024 by Ben Clarke

Chain lube is an essential maintenance spray for any motorcycle that uses a drive chain (which is the vast majority). Modern X-ring or O-ring chains have built-in lubricant on the inside of the...

Rabaconda Dirt Bike Tyre Changer - "I only wish I'd bought one sooner"

18 June 2024 by Michael Guy

Having spent my trials bike riding youth having to change my own tyres it’s not something I’m unfamiliar with, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy it. In fact I’d go further and say I dislike it. Chasing...

Save money and learn how to do basic oil and filter servicing on your motorcycle with MCN's expert

13 June 2024 by Bruce Dunn

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. Jump to: The right...

Stand up straight: Best motorcycle paddock stands as chosen by MCN

04 June 2024 by Jim Blackstock

There are lots of reasons why a motorcycle paddock stand is a fundamental accessory, even if you’ve only got a basic tool set-up. First and foremost, bikes like being stored upright. There are...

How to fit a Scottoiler or other automatic motorbike chain oiler at home

20 May 2024 by Bruce Dunn

An automatic oiler can take a lot of the work out of looking after your chain and sprockets and can actually extend its life. It’s especially useful in the winter months when salt, dirt and water from...

MCN's chain and sprocket buying guide | Find out the pros and cons of the different types

15 May 2024 by Ben Clarke

A motorcycle’s chain and sprockets may, at first glance, seem like slightly old-fashioned bicycle technology but are actually one of the most sophisticated bits of kit on your bike. Related: Save...

The Muc-Off Powersports Dirt Bucket kit is your one-stop shop for easy bike cleaning

15 May 2024 by Saffron Wilson

Muc-Off is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, and during that time they have stood by their iconic pink cleaner and expanded to a wealth of other products. If you’re anything like me, the worst...

Save money on motorbike maintenance and learn to change your own chain and sprockets with MCN

15 May 2024 by Bruce Dunn

Well-maintained motorcycle chains and sprockets will last thousands of miles, but like all service parts they will eventually wear out. The majority of motorcycles on the road use a chain and...

Vulcanet motorcycle cleaning wipes offer the ultimate in cleaning convenience

29 April 2024 by Michael Neeves

I’m a late comer to the waterless wash thing. Bike cleaning needs a hose and bucket of soapy water, right? And surely, you’ll scratch your paintwork if you wipe it without rinsing the dirt off first?...

Here's your guide to preparing your bike for winter storage so it's good to go in spring

05 February 2024 by Bruce Dunn

Plenty of bikers in the UK prefer not to ride through the winter months – whether that’s because they don’t want to expose their pride and joy to road salt, they ride focused sportsbikes that wouldn’t...

Keep it under wraps | Best motorcycle covers for indoor and outdoor use tested by us

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

There are lots of reasons for having a motorcycle cover – particularly if you have no garage and have to keep it outside. A cover can keep the wind, rain, and leaves off it so that you won’t need to...

Best Motorcycle Cleaning Brushes

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

It’s always nice to be able to spray a cleaning product onto a bike, let it dwell for a little while and then, simply rinse off. We all love it when cleaning the bike takes no more effort than that to...

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...

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...

Best motorcycle suspension upgrades and tools

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Forget about engine tuning or performance pipes if you want to make a dramatic change to your bike’s performance. If you’re looking for something that’ll affect every aspect of your riding,...

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...

Tried and tested: Healtech Thunderbox review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

One of the issues if you run a collection of electrical accessories – sat-nav, heated kit, phone charger, spotlights – is remembering to turn it all off when you get to your destination and hop off...

Tried and tested: Abba Superbike Stand Review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

This novel take on a motorcycle paddock stand from Abba is a great addition to your home workshop for general maintenance and cleaning. It’s a fact of life that if your bike has – or can have an...

Tried and tested: Ferodo HH sintered brake pads review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Royal Enfield’s Himalayan mini adventure bike has been a great success, thanks to its charm and keen price, of less than £5,000 brand new. However, it is not without its limitations and one has been...

Mobile mechanic: Best portable and onboard toolkits

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

There are times when you need some tools with you on a ride. It might be a day out or a long tour but somewhere along the line you might need a portable and onboard motorcycle toolkit to do a little...

Tried and tested: Oxford Mint bike care range review

14 September 2023

Mint smells nice, has a close association with freshness and goes well with lamb. Most of these are good affinities to have when looking for bike cleaning products, like the Oxford Mint bike care...

Plug and play: How check and change your motorcycle spark plugs

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Unless you own a diesel motorcycle, then the spark plug in your petrol engine is probably one of the most key components if you want to operate your bike. Of course, there are others – tyres, brakes...

Fluid dynamics: How to change your motorcycle engine oil

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The oil in your engine is its lifeblood: it lubricates the moving parts and stops them wearing or destroying themselves. It helps to keep everything cool, particularly on ‘air’-cooled engines and it...

Tried and tested: Gedore 172 Piece Socket Set review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

One of the key ingredients in any home mechanic’s toolkit is a decent socket set. However, getting the right size, particularly for working on motorcycles, is tricky. The Gedore 172 piece socket set...

Strong start: Best motorcycle batteries as picked by MCN

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

We’re all guilty of taking our motorcycle batteries for granted until they eventually run out. Whether it’s through lack of use or the battery is aged and discharging you’ll need a new one at some...

Fan favourite: How to check your motorcycle cooling system

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Checking your motorcycle cooling system is important. In the past, most bikes were air-cooled. Although that’s a bit of a misnomer; it was a combination of air and oil-cooling, with the oil being...

Keep on stopping: How to change motorcycle brake pads

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

It’s inevitable that if you carry out your own maintenance, sooner or later you will be changing motorcycle brake pads. They are, after all, consumable and will need replacing more or less often,...

Tried and tested: Ring RSC706 Battery Charger review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

There’s little particularly interesting about a battery charger. That is until you have a weakening battery, or are perhaps not planning on using the bike for a while over winter, and you want to look...

Tried and tested: Draper Expert T-handle hex keys review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Many of us will have a set of Allen keys in our toolkits that have been there forever. I know I have – several – and they are generally a bit rusty and a bit unloved. There is though another set of...

Get a grip! Best pliers for motorcycle mechanics

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Any home – or even professional – mechanic knows that sometimes, you need to get strong with a bike. Occasionally you need to go to your motorcycle toolkit and get the big breaker bar for a stubborn...

Tried and tested: Autobrite Direct Extreme Range motorcycle cleaning products review

14 September 2023 by Ryan Gilmore

Since 2005 Autobrite Direct has been offering an excellent range of cleaning products perfect for keeping cars looking better than new. It’s now launched a selection of motorcycle cleaning products...

Care for your bike and the planet: Best eco-friendly motorcycle cleaners

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

We all want to keep our bikes clean. Not only is it the best way to pride and joy looking its best but it’s an important part of its maintenance schedule and a vital way to ensure it’s performing to...

Tried and tested: CTEK CT5 Battery Charger review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

It used to be really easy to look after motorbike or car batteries. You just connected a battery charger that you paid a few quid for from a high-street shop and Bob is your proverbial mum’s brother.

Tried and tested: Metrovac Blaster Sidekick review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

When I first tested this Metrovac Blaster Sidekick motorcycle dryer, it was selling at £150. For that kind of money, I came to the conclusion that I would stick with a chamois leather or a microfibre...