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.
SarahC's Suzuki and BSM DAS diary day two: Good god I'm riding a 650!
13 May 2008 by
I arrived just before 9am ready for day two and really aching from yesterday, which I’d hoped would go away over night. After getting my Frank Thomas Alicia textile gear on and HJC helmet it was time...
SarahC's Suzuki and BSM DAS diary day one: Let's get riding again
12 May 2008 by
Well after a few months off the road I’ve finally got round to booking what will hopefully turn out to be my Direct Access route to a full motorcycle licence. Over the next week, I will be sharing my...
Faulty luggage position on Suzuki Bandit GT
07 May 2008 by
I have just purchased a bandit 1250 GT and when I got it home I found that you could not sit two people on the bike because of the position of the top box. It sits over the back seat and means there...
SHARP helmet tests remain a work in progress
06 May 2008 by
The first round of results from the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Program (SHARP) helmet test scheme are on-track to be published during the spring, a spokesman for the Department for Transport...
675 exhaust
09 April 2008 by
Hi, bought a Triumph Daytona 675 masterclass a few months ago. Wanted to get the best exhaust sound but didn't want to lose the fantastic looks of the back end. Bought a never been used end can off ebay for £35 and set about removing the baffle. It took some doing but after cutting, bashing, butchering and welding it was sorted. Fitted it to the bike and what a sound. Took the bike to local...
Video: Setting your suspension up for the track
25 March 2008 by
Last year Michael Neeves ran his Yamaha R1 as both a road and race bike but this year, he's saving it just for track so to give him that extra edge he's getting full ohlins race suspension fitted. Check out the video below to follow Neevesy and his R1 as the shiney new kit gets fitted and gives the bike a new lease of life.
KNOX chest protector
17 January 2008 by
British protection specialists KNOX have responded to a recent MAID survey with the release of their chest protector. The MAID survey showed that 27% of chest injuries are critical, compared to only...
Video: What happens in a motorcycle accident
03 January 2008 by
In the 10th of our helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, explains what happens to a your head and helmet in a motorcycle accident. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to...
Video: What to do if you damage your helmet
02 January 2008 by
In the 11th of our helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, explains what to do if you damage your helmet. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch the rest of our Helmet...
Video: How to reduce helmet noise
01 January 2008 by
In the 12th of our helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, shows you how to get rid of excess noise in your helmet. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch the rest of our...
Video: What happens to a helmet during a crash
31 December 2007 by
In the eigth of our helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, explains what happens to a motorcycle helmet in an accident. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch the rest of...
Video: How protective is an Arai helmet
30 December 2007 by
In the ninth of our helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, explains just how protective an Arai helmet is. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch the rest of our Helmet tips...
Video tip: How to fit a helmet properly
02 December 2007 by
In the seventh of our new Helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, explains explains the often missunderstood process of making sure your helmet fits properly. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the...
Video tip: What is an Arai helmet made of?
01 December 2007 by
In the sixth of our new Helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, explains what goes in to making on your helmet. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch the rest of our...
Video tip: Can I put stickers on my helmet?
30 November 2007 by
In the fifth of our new Helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, deals with the question of whether it is safe to put stickers on your helmet. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch...
Video tip: How to solve misting issues on an Arai helmet
29 November 2007 by
In the fourth of our new Helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, shows us how to solve misting problems with your helmet. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch the rest...
Video tip: How to adjust an Arai helmet visor
21 November 2007 by
In the third of our new Helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, shows us how to properly clean and care for your helmet. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch the rest of our...
Video tip: How to properly clean your helmet
20 November 2007 by
In the second of our new Helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, shows us how to properly clean and care for your helmet. Click here to check out the rest of the helmet tips in the series. Check out the video below to see John take you through how to get the most out of your lid then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch the rest of our Helmet...
Video tip: How to change an Arai visor in seconds
16 November 2007 by
In the first of our new Helmet tips series John Wakefield, from UK Arai distributor Pheonix, shows us how easy it is to change an Arai visor properly. Check out the video below to see John take you through the easy process of changing the visor then check back throughout the next two weeks to catch the rest of our Helmet tips series. Click here to ask John an Arai question
New rider blog: I've fallen in love... with a sports bike
26 October 2007 by
Well this week’s been a massive learning curve for me as I’ve been on my first test ride. MCN designer Adam Shorrock and myself were invited by road test editor Phil West to have a go on the Derbi...
How to lift your motorcycle on to a paddock stand
26 September 2007 by
If you’re a paddock stand virgin then getting a bike up can look a bit daunting. There’s a particular skill to getting a bike on a stand on your own, but if you’re doing a trackday or live on your own...
Blackbird bars
13 September 2007 by
I have recently bought a 2005 Honda Super Blackbird. Having very short legs and only being 5' 7" tall I found it necessary to have the seat cut down slightly. I also read an article on the Blackbird...
MCN's A-Z material terminology guide
30 August 2007 by
Are you living in a material world? Perhaps not. If you are not quite sure what Dynax, Brexcel or Primaloft materials are, MCN has produced an A-Z guide to get the know-how on all the...
New rider blog: I have been accepted into the biking family
24 August 2007 by
Well it’s been 10 days since I last checked in and I can honestly say I think I am improving. Hooray! In my first blog I mentioned how I had become the stall queen. Well I think I have now been...
DIY screen extender
15 August 2007 by
Not being satisfied with the windscreen on my new bike I had a got at making it higher. I bought a new visor for my helmet and used the old one with the lugs cut off and attached it to the screen...
New rider blog: SarahC gets her L plates
14 August 2007 by
So when I was little there were three things I wanted to do. 1. Be a mechanic 2. Be a professional ballerina 3. Ride a motorbike So having dabbled on the car with my dad since I was...
Wheel alignment tip
15 May 2007 by
To make sure my wheels are aligned I use a cheap laser pointer. Put the bike on stand or side stand, bluetak the pointer to brick. Align front and back wheel, get a piece of wood about six inches wide, mark the middle of the wood and add half of the rear tyre measurement. Mark the measurement on the wood, place the wood on the front tyre with the centre mark in middle of tyre and outside...
Tips for easy cleaning
12 March 2007 by
The most important bit of kit I keep in my garage is a can of Mr Sheen wax polish or supermarket equivelant (it's cheaper!) Sprayed all over the bike it will get rid of splatted insects, brake dust and even chain grease. Simply spray on, leave for a minute and wipe off. Not only does it get rid of all the stuff you don't want, but it also leaves a layer of wax, especially on wheels so you can just...
How to make your bike go better on the cheap
30 November 2006 by
Nothing is ever free is it? No – but some things come pretty damn close. After laying out for the price of a bike and all the associated riding gear, anything which helps boost the bike’s and the...
How to revive your riding gear
30 November 2006 by
Why bother? Because you’ve paid good money for it and servicing it will keep it in tip-top condition for years to come. Remember the feeling when you first wore that new helmet, jacket or suit? You...
How to fit soft luggage
30 November 2006 by
Why choose soft luggage? Soft luggage is cheap, easy to use and once you’ve invested in some, you’ll be able to use it on almost any bike (although soft panniers don’t work well with all exhausts).
How to secure your garage against thieves
30 November 2006 by
If a thief really wants my bike, he’ll get it won’t he? Any form of theft deterrent is a big step towards keeping hold of your bike, especially when it’s locked in a garage. Yes, it’s true to say out...
How to buy riding kit that fits
30 November 2006 by
What should I look for when buying gear? When it comes to leather, it will eventually break in to become comfortable. It becomes so because it stretches or the material breaks down from continual...
How to change your sparkplugs
30 November 2006 by
What am I dealing with? Spark plugs are fed voltage from a bike’s ignition system, which creates the vital spark to ignite the air/fuel mix in the engine. If your spark plugs aren’t fulfilling this...
How to fit a flyscreen
29 November 2006 by
What is a flyscreen? Flyscreen, headlight cowl, bikini fairing and handlebar fairing are different names for the same thing: a small fairing which deflects windblast, hopefully up and over the rider’s...
How to check & replace brake discs
29 November 2006 by
My discs look OK, so why check them? Looks can be deceiving. It’s not only high mileage bikes that will suffer from worn or damaged discs – today’s sports bikes can suffer just as badly if regularly...