New rider

Ten years ago, at the age of 16, there were only two bikes I wanted once I turned 17. The Aprilia RS125 - which was the bike to have back then - or Yamaha's DT125X supermoto. What did these two bikes...

Learn for less with an NUS card Kawasaki UK will launch their Kawasaki Rider Training scheme (KRTS) at Motorcycle Live tomorrow and are offering NUS-card holding students a £15 discount. TOP...

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...

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...

When it comes to practicality and ease-of-use the scooter is king. A clumsy clutch lever and gears are out, replaced with twist-and-go power and underseat storage for your helmet or shopping. While...

So you've discovered biking and you've fallen in love with it. Naturally you want your mates to experience the unique thrill that comes with riding a bike, but they can't just go out and ride one, so...

That's it, summer's over. Put the bike in the garage under the heated blanket and leave it to catch its breath until Spring next year, right? Well, you can do that or you can kep riding through the...

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 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...

The new Honda CBR250RR could be the most desirable A2 licence-friendly sportsbike on the market, but at the moment Honda has no plans to bring it into the UK or Europe. In lieu of the CBR250RR below...

Naked bikes are easy to use and practical, but what self-respecting 17-year-old cares about practicality? All that matters at that age is looking fast, which is where our top 125cc sportsbikes come...

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...

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...

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...

You’re looking at the UK’s most important machines – the best sellers. And they’re record breakers for a reason because they’re the new– and urban – riders’ bikes of choice. These are the machines...

Not so long ago, learner bikes were perceived as nondescript, you weren’t part of the club as a newbie. Low-capacity bikes – by which we mean sub-500cc – were shrugged-off by mainstream bikers. I...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Winter certainly feels like it's here already, and the roads are already noticeably grimier, which means dirtier bikes, even after a quick ride to the shops. Keeping your bike clean and free of grime...

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 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...

Yamaha’s new YZF-R3 has KTM’s RC390 and Kawasaki’s Ninja 300 in its sights. To find out if it has what it takes to be the king of the A2 sportsbikes, we take all three for a thrashing on road and...

Consumer Editor Tony Hoare lets us in on the little known secret of taking your helmet on and off without undoing the D-ring.

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...

Q. I have been running Dunlops on my Yamaha R6 and didn’t get on very well with them. I did start looking at Pirelli Diablos or Metzelers, then someone suggested Michelin 2CTs… Plumbus, MCN Forums A.

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...

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...

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...

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...

Q. I am currently using Avon Storm 2 Ultras on my Kawasaki ZZR1400 but fancy trying Bridgestones what should I try, BT023 or S20s? I’m not a track day loon but I like to get a move on. But I want them...

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...

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...

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...