MCN Fleet
These are the 10 new-for-2021 bikes that will be joining this year’s MCN long-term test fleet. From off-roaders to nakeds, superbikes to adventure machines, our team of highly experienced riders will be taking them on road, track and dirt – hopefully both at home and abroad – to cut through the marketing hype and find out just how well each one performs.
Along the way we’ll be testing tyres, kit and hard-parts, speaking to experts and owners, logging every tank of fuel and enjoying each and every mile in order to bring you the most thorough review possible. And if you own one of these models, please get in touch with us and we’ll compare notes.
To read each bike's full review, click on the images below. We will continue to update these pages as the year progresses. There will also be plenty of posts to social media, our #ride5000miles page and videos on our YouTube channel.
Click on the pictures below:
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MCN Fleet 2021 videos
View a selection of expert video reviews of some of our long-term test bikes from their respective launches.
Triumph Trident 660
Ducati Multistrada V4 S
Aprilia RS660
Check out previous MCN Fleets below:
MCN Fleet: A simple (and cheap) gearbox fix for the 2002 Fireblade
30 May 2017 by
In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m in love with my 2002 Honda Fireblade. It’s the definitive real-world 1000cc sports bike. The 954 model Blade is comfortable, practical and stonking good value right...
MCN Fleet: First Impressions Count with the Honda X-ADV
26 May 2017 by
First impressions count and after my first hectic week of riding the Honda X-ADV I’ve grown rather fond of the quirky, slightly odd looking machine. I say machine because I still haven’t worked out if...
MCN Fleet: My first 1000 miles with Triumph's Bobber
26 May 2017 by
The first two weeks with my long term Triumph Bobber have gone incredibly fast and the odometer is already reading over 1300, so the Bobber is well on its way to reaching the #ride5000miles goal. Here...
MCN Fleet: Supersport S lights up my life
24 May 2017 by
The SuperSport had me riled. I couldn't wait for it to arrive and I was counting down the seconds... When it did finally arrive… at 4.26pm, by the way, I spent 10 minutes just walking round it soaking...
MCN Fleet: What a way to watch MotoGP
22 May 2017 by
A few good mates and me went to see the Le Mans MotoGP at the Bike Shed in Shoreditch at the weekend. You might think the trendy bike shop is all about hand-built retros, flat whites and...
MCN Fleet: Let's talk about my GSX-R1000R's can
15 May 2017 by
I've had my GSX-R1000R for a couple of weeks now, but before we mention anything else I think we need to address the big grey elephant in the room: the Suzuki’s exhaust can. Some say you can see in on...
MCN Fleet: 954 Fireblade modifications. The results are in...
10 May 2017 by
Last month I asked for advice on which upgrades I should fit to our 2002 Honda Fireblade, and you didn’t disappoint. With over a hundred responses on email and social media the suggestions ranged from...
MCN Fleet: V-Strom 650XT chewing up the miles
04 May 2017 by
I’ve just clocked up 1700 miles on the V-Strom 650XT so my #ride5000miles challenge is coming along nicely. It’s funny, the more I get used to the V-Strom I keep starting to think it can be a little...
MCN Fleet: First service ticked off for V-Strom
15 April 2017 by
The V-Strom headed back to Suzuki for its 600-mile service on Thursday, although by the time I’d reached Suzuki GB HQ in Milton Keynes the odometer was reading well over 800 miles – I’ve got right...
MCN Fleet: Street Glide - The Empire Strikes Back
10 April 2017 by
With 600 miles under the Street Glide’s belt, the Harley is proving itself to be a capable cruiser First impressions last, so the old saying goes, and my first impressions of the Harley-Davidson...
MCN Fleet: First 200 miles with Suzuki's V-Strom 650XT
06 April 2017 by
Earlier this week, I took delivery of Suzuki’s V-Strom 650XT and from my first impressions after clocking up 230 miles over the past few days I can tell we’re going to get along. As I explained the...
MCN Fleet: Yamaha R6 one month away!
04 April 2017 by
I’m still one month away from R6 ownership as Yamaha’s all-new YZF-R6 was only launched to the world two weeks ago.However, I was lucky enough to spend a day testing the new R6 in Almeria, Spain so...
MCN Fleet: 'Blown away' by Street Triple 765
03 April 2017 by
A couple of weeks ago I got my hands on the new Triumph Street Triple 765 RS and was instantly blown away. From the second I put my leg over the bike it felt like home. Everything is just placed...
MCN Fleet: How special is the 2017 Fireblade SP?
31 March 2017 by
Twenty five years ago, give or take a week, I was handed the key to the first Honda Fireblade into the country. For those pre-internet times, the hype around the bike had been borderline hysterical...
MCN Fleet: 2017 Triumph Bobber is on its way
31 March 2017 by
I'm counting down the days until I take delivery of the new Triumph Bobber as my longterm test bike for 2017 and despite more red crosses appearing on my calendar, it's not getting any easier. The...
MCN Fleet: KTM 1290 Adventure S – Arrival imminent!
30 March 2017 by
To say I’m excited about the impending arrival of my longterm KTM 1290 Adventure S is an understatement. Having got up close and personal with the model at the MCN London show in February, I was...
MCN Fleet: GSX250R ready to roll
30 March 2017 by
This year’s all about fun and frugal commuting in almost equal measure. The GSX is the smallest bike I’ve spent time with since passing my test more than 20 years ago but having enjoyed Yamaha’s MT-03...
MCN Fleet: We’ve bought a 954 Blade (and we’re smitten)
30 March 2017 by
MCN have taken the plunge and bought a 2002 Honda CBR900RR Fireblade for this year's long termer fleet. After an online poll and much deliberation over the last few weeks we looked at a...
MCN Fleet: Ducati SuperSport S set to impress
30 March 2017 by
Sometimes you read a job ad and it feels like it’s been written for you. Everything they offer, you want and everything they want you to have done, you’ve done. That’s how I felt when I first read...
MCN Fleet: BMW R nineT Racer coming soon
30 March 2017 by
We’re still waiting for our R nineT Racer to arrive, but I’m lucky enough to have ridden the Racer on a couple of occasions and it’s going to be interesting getting to know BMW’s beautiful...
MCN Fleet: V-Strom 650XT incoming!
29 March 2017 by
Having spent the last few years riding A2 licence friendly bikes, I was keen to step up to something a bit more substantial for 2017. As soon as I saw the fleet MCN had secured for the months ahead,...
MCN Fleet: Suzuki GSX-R1000R coming soon
28 March 2017 by
It won’t be long before I take delivery of Suzuki’s long-awaited GSX-R1000R. I was also thinking about choosing the new Blade and Ducati SuperSport as my MCN long-term test bike for 2017, but I reckon...
MCN Fleet: We’re on the hunt for a 2002 Fireblade
24 March 2017 by
We’ve decided on a 2002-03 Fireblade as our second hand long term test bike this year. The 954cc model came top of our poll earlier this month (with 31% of the vote) closely followed by the 998cc...
MCN Fleet: The Eva has landed
23 March 2017 by
MCN has joined the electric revolution by spending the summer months with the stunning Energica Eva naked bike. The £27,999 Eva arrived from the Italian factory, via UK importers Moto Corsa, this...
MCN Fleet: Hankering for a Harley
23 March 2017 by
I’ve always had a soft spot for a Harley, so I was really excited to find out that I’d be testing a Street Glide. The 2017 Street Glide is fitted with a Milwaukee-Eight, H-D’s first new big-twin...
MCN Fleet: How versatile is Ducati's Multistrada 950?
22 March 2017 by
I’m really looking forward to my time with the Ducati Multistrada 950. Some people baulk at the idea of the model with the smaller engine, saying it won’t live up to its big brother’s level of...
MCN Fleet: Waiting for the adventure to begin!
22 March 2017 by
I first saw the Honda X-ADV in the flesh at the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show in February, it was swamped by interested punters and I was at the front of the queue itching to have a closer...
MCN Fleet: BMW R1200GS Rallye joins the fleet
22 March 2017 by
Some bikes just get under your skin, and for me the R1200GS is one of them. I’ve done a lot of miles on GSs over the years – including a Land’s End to John O’Groats double and a lap of the coast of...
2016 Yamaha MT-03 long-term test
29 April 2016 by
MCN spent 12 months living with Yamaha’s A2 licence-friendly MT-03 to see what this ‘small big bike’ is really like to live with. Related: 2020 Yamaha MT-03 review Here’s how we got on: Jump...
BMW S1000RR (2015-2019) long-term test
23 December 2015 by
During 2015 then-Deputy Editor of MCN Richard Newland was lucky enough to run a BMW S1000RR superbike for 12 months to see what life's like with the Bavarian missile. Related: expert 2015-2019 BMW...
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (2015-2019) long-term test
10 March 2015 by
After nigh-on a year and more than 13,000 miles, it’s time to say goodbye to the Kawasaki Versys 1000. Related: full expert 2015 Kawasaki Versys 1000 review I’d like to tell you it’s been emotional,...