New rider
Welcome the the MCN New Rider section, where we'll help you navigate your way from complete biking novice to confident beginner. If you're unsure how to begin your journey onto two wheels, the diagram below is for you.
Get On two wheels for free in 2017!
14 November 2016 by
This weekend Get On were at the Carole Nash MCN Festival of Motorcycling getting people of all ages and sizes on motorbikes and scooters for the first time. Get On brings its free ride experience to...
155 years of experience: Top tips for new riders from the MCN staff
21 October 2016 by
There’s perhaps no other office in the world that offers the same wealth of motorcycle knowledge as MCN. With that in mind, we asked a few of the members for their top tips for new riders. Between the...
Are aftermarket throttle grips any good?
19 August 2016 by
Q. Riding home tonight I was aware of a slight twinge in my throttle hand (nothing major) which set me wondering about my grips and the angle of the clip-ons. It feels like I was gripping (not...
How to use a paddock stand on my own?
12 August 2016 by
How can I safely use a paddock stand on my own? “I recently purchased a rear paddock stand for my Honda NC750X. Unfortunately, my wife isn’t confident holding the bike in an upright position for me to...
Video: How to ride a motorcycle in the rain
24 June 2016 by
As you’ve proabably already noticed, the British summer is quickly turning into another damp squib. The chances of running into a few sharp showers is high and if you’re inexperienced in wet weather...
Video: The perfect MOD 2 bike test pass
17 June 2016 by
You’ve left your CBT and Motorcycle Theory Test long behind you by now…your Module 1 was only a few weeks ago and you passed with flying colours… NOW comes the big one. You’re preparing for Module 2...
Herald Rambler 250 first ride
24 May 2016 by
Herald describe themselves as a British company that designs, builds and creates stylish, yet simplistic, vintage-themed motorcycles. And there is a refreshing honesty about the way they conduct their...
Learn new skills with Kawasaki and BikeSafe
04 March 2016 by
Kawasaki Motors UK and BikeSafe are extending their partnership to continue offering the BikeSafe Off Road Skills courses run by Kawasaki Off Road Experience partners. The course is designed to show...
How can I keep my Suzuki SV650 safe from tumbles?
19 January 2016 by
Q. I’d like to protect my Suzuki SV650 against crash damage. What are the best options? Sharpey, email Answered by Tony Hoare, MCN Consumer Editor Because the SV650 is raced in a series called...
Have you got any bright ideas for high-viz clothing?
14 January 2016 by
Q. Now I’m commuting in the dark, my other half wants me to wear high-viz. What’s best? Phillip Brewer, Dorset Answered by Tony Hoare, MCN Consumer Editor There are several things you can do to make...
Coping with extreme cold
17 December 2015 by
Riding in cold weather can be more dangerous than in hot. As your body redirects your blood to protect vital organs our brains fall into ’emergency-mode’ and sensible cognitive thought becomes a...
Stay visible this winter
03 November 2015 by
The nights are drawing in, and for most people it’s now dark on the way home from work. If as a new rider you’ve never ridden in the dark, it can be quite a daunting prospect, especially if you add in...
The route to getting your licence
13 October 2015 by
The motorcycle licence system in the UK can be confusing and daunting at first, depending on your age and riding experience. The interactive flow chart here will make your journey to getting your...
Shoei XR1100 wind noise
31 May 2013 by
I ride a Yamaha FZ6 which I have had for approx 4 years, during that time I had a Nolan Intergrale. Never once did I think about wearing earplugs with this helmet. I then booked a track day for later in the year and found I needed an helmet with the appropriate certification. I bought a Shoei XR1100 from Hein Gericke in Leicester, who were very good with fitting and care of my new helmet. The...
Video: How to take your helmet on and off without undoing the D-ring
31 May 2013 by
Consumer Editor Tony Hoare lets us in on the little known secret of taking your helmet on and off without undoing the D-ring.
What you can ride under new licence laws
30 January 2013 by
The new licence laws, which came into effect on January 19 might seem baffling, but a grounding in smaller bikes is the foundation of brilliant riding. And there’s no shortage of bikes to choose...
How to change a front sprocket
26 November 2012 by
Q. I want to raise the gearing on my 1997 Bandit 600 by changing the front sprocket. What’s the best way of getting it off and torqueing it back up correctly again? vmcpakmcn, MCN forums A. Such a...
My Honda VFR750 won’t rev past 6000rpm
26 November 2012 by
Q. My Honda VFR750FR revs and runs well in the first four gears, but struggles in fifth and sixth to get past 6000pm. It also backfires – especially at low revs. I’ve changed the fuel filters and air...
Why won’t Bandit 1250S start on the button?
26 November 2012 by
Q. My dad has a Suzuki Bandit 1250S on an ’07 plate and it’s 50/50 whether it will start each time he thumbs the button. He’s replaced the battery but it’s not turning over at all. Suzuki Dude, MCN...
Best suspension upgrade for a GSX-R750?
24 September 2012 by
Q. My GSX-R750 K2 is now 10 years old (obviously!) and has nearly 35,000 on the clock. Everything I read about ‘suspension’ says it will need replacing or refreshing after about 16,000 miles, so I can...
How do I clean my radiator?
21 September 2012 by
Q. Is there a product or a process to clean aluminium radiators and oil coolers? You could eat your dinner off the rest of my bike but these get covered in crap and corrosion. It can’t be good for...
Can I put different sized tyres on my rim?
21 September 2012 by
Q. I have a bike with stupid tyre sizes – 100/90 x 19 front and 130/80 x 17 rear. I’m looking at the possibility of sticking different tyre sizes on the same rims. I’ve done this before but what I...
How to secure your new bike
21 September 2012 by
Q. I’ll be getting my first bike next week, a 2010 Kawasaki ER-6F and I’m trying to work out what kind of security mechanisms to get. The bike will be kept overnight in a locked compound (I live in a...
Why is my GS750 hissing?
05 September 2012 by
Q. I have an old Suzuki GS750 and it’s running very sweetly since I cleaned and synced the carbs, but it’s just developed a bit of a hissing sound (in time with the engine) from the front of the...
How do I tell my SV’s bearing are shot?
05 September 2012 by
Q. My 10-year-old SV650 is coming up to new tyre time and I was told to watch out for wheel bearing seals and spacers with high mileage bikes. The thing is, I don’t actually know what I’m looking for...
Will a loud horn cause MoT failure?
05 September 2012 by
Q. I am just wondering if there are any MoT or legal issues with a Steibel Nautilus horn that pumps out 139 decibels? My existing horn is fading slightly and I lost count of just how many people...
What’s caused sudden loss of tyre pressure?
05 September 2012 by
Q. I recently changed my tyres just fine, but 300 miles later I was on my way home from work when the front went all soggy and it was obvious the front tyre had lost pressure. I limped to the nearest...
Best tyres for a Kawasaki ZXR400?
29 August 2012
With my 1991 ZXR400 weighing the same/slightly more than a modern 600 sports bike what rubber should I buy next? I use the bike every day as it is my only form of transport. So is there something that...
Drop-down visors: are they any good?
29 August 2012
What are your thoughts on internal drop-down sun visors? Are they worth having? Debthehog, MCN forums The only downsides to them are that a few can become loose and rattle inside your helmet or drop...
ZZR1100 clutch has given up!
29 August 2012
I seem to have a major problem. After riding my Kawasaki ZZR1100 to work on a dairy farm I came back to it after milking to find that the clutch was completely unusable. The lever is solid and when I...
Why’s my Gixer overheating?
29 August 2012
My 1997 Suzuki GSX-R600 is overheating. After a 45-minute ride the temperature had risen to around 125°C. Since then I have had the radiator drained, flushed and filled with new coolant. I have had...
What’s causing my GSX-R600’s poor fuelling?
24 August 2012
My brother’s got a problem with his GSX-R1000 K6, the symptoms are: No fault codes showing; misses when held between 3-4000rpm; only does it when hot; all four plugs sooted up; no problem...
Suzuki Intruder won’t start up properly
24 August 2012
My Suzuki Intruder 1500 has a starting problem, sometimes it starts fine, but about 50% of the time it will turn over really slowly and not start. I have adjusted the decompressor cables, fitted a new...
How can I turn my bike around in an enclosed space?
24 August 2012
Getting my Triumph Sprint in and out of a more and more cluttered garage is becoming hard work. So much so that I am avoiding taking it out. I know that you can spin a motorbike around on the...
Why won’t my TL1000S fuel properly?
23 August 2012
I have no fuel going into the cylinders of my Suzuki TL1000S. The ignition system is normal and the fuel relay kicks in, so the fuel pump in the tank working and fuel reaches the injector rail. The...
Best track tyres for a Honda Fireblade
08 August 2012 by
Q. I’m on my third track day using Bridgestone 016s on a Fireblade. I set the pressures at standard road pressure minus 2psi front and rear. But at the end of the day my tyres looked like I’d been...