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.

New Rider

Year: ALL

Kawasaki ZZR notchy steering solution?

08 August 2012 by MCN

Q. The steering on my Kawasaki ZZR1200 has gone all notchy. Is it worth changing them to tapered roller bearings? Vince Taylor, email A. In fact Kawasaki used to have taper roller bearings fitted to...

Getting feel back in Fireblade’s lever

08 August 2012 by MCN

Q. I have replaced the original brake lines on my 2008 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade as they were feeling ‘baggy’ on a long, fast ride, but I can’t get the lever to firm up now. If I tie the lever in...

How to remove sheared spark plug

08 August 2012

Q. I have managed to shear off a new spark plug from my 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000. What are my options for getting it out? Oz Stephens, email A. You may well have to lift the cylinder head to get at it,...

Best sports-touring tyres for an R1100RT

30 July 2012 by MCN

Q. I am looking for sport touring tyres for a 1996 BMW R1100RT which has a rear size of 160/60 ZR 18. I’m rather taken by Metzeler Roadtec Z8 Interact that was recently tested. John Hagger, email A.

What’s cause of my Fireblade’s oil leak?

30 July 2012 by MCN

Q. Over the past couple of days I’ve noticed a small amount of oil dripping from one of the breather hoses under the rear shock on my 2001 Fireblade. I’ve only noticed this happening after I’ve ridden...

How to grip Honda CLR125’s rounded-off bolt

25 July 2012 by MCN

Q. I have to replace the fork seals on my Honda CLR125, but someone’s been in there before me and the Allen socket on the end of the damper rod has rounded out so my Allen key just spins around.

Will my aftermarket exhaust become illegal?

25 July 2012 by MCN

Q. If I have a dealer-approved Arrow exhaust system fitted on my Triumph by the dealer and these EU rules come in saying no aftermarket exhausts, would this mean I have to take it off and refit the...

What’s causing FZ750’s fuelling problem?

09 July 2012 by MCN

Q. I’ve got a technical problem with my 1986 Yamaha FZ750. Everything was fine until I removed the radiator to spray it, and then add new coolant. Whilst the radiator was off, I cleaned up the HT...

Product review: SBK Generations

09 July 2012 by Liam Marsden

SBK Generations, £29.99 Time played: One month What’s good? The career mode is improved from last year. You now start in 2009 and have up until the end of the 2012 season to win the WSB title. So this...

Best tyres for a Suzuki GSX400

09 July 2012 by MCN

Q. I am having problems finding a pair of matching road tyres for my 1982 Suzuki GSX400. The front is a 90/90/19, the rear is a 110/90/17, if I have to mix brands what would be the best combination? ...

Jacket review: Germot Oxford wax jacket

09 July 2012 by Simon Brown

Germot Oxford wax jacket, £239.99 Miles covered/time: 2000/three months What’s good: This jacket combines retro charm with a degree of 21st century protection and I really love wearing it – it’s a...

How can I restrict a Honda VF400F?

25 June 2012 by MCN

Q. I am looking into buying a Honda VF400F. But I can’t find a 33bhp kit or any legal way of restricting it. I have tried as many people and places as I can think of, including Honda dealerships and...

Will WD40 damage tyres?

25 June 2012 by MCN

Q. My son can be a bit like Frank Spencer sometimes. When cleaning his chain he often gets WD40 all over his rear tyre, too. Despite me warning him not to, he declares: “It’s OK, I clean it off...

Why is my ZX-6R’s front end juddering under braking?

15 June 2012 by MCN

Q. When I brake at slow speed on my Kawasaki ZX-6R J2 track bike it feels as if the brakes are only working intermittently and at higher speeds the front shudders a lot. The brake pads are new, the...

How to remove a seized bolt from CBR600F Sport’s radiator

07 June 2012 by MCN

Q. I’ve a Honda CBR600F Sport and was just about to give it a good clean today when one of the bolts on the V-piece under the radiator just kept turning. So I thought I’ll take the left-hand fairing off and carefully take the V-piece off with the left-hand fairing. All was going well until I found another seized bolt in its rubber grommet on the left fairing. How can I get them out? Dom501, MCN...

Have my wheel weights been wrongly fitted?

07 June 2012 by MCN

Q. I have just had new Bridgestone tyres fitted to my Gold Wing by my local Honda dealer. The rear tyre has not got any weights and on the front they have put all the weights on one side, 2 x 10 and 3...

Why is my almost-new Kawasaki Z1000SX rattling?

07 June 2012 by MCN

Q. I have a new Kawasaki Z1000SX with 900 miles on the clock, which has a faint rattle. It comes in when I am gently opening the throttle at low revs in the low gears. It’s similar to pinking or a...

Most ‘comfortable’ tyres for a Speed Triple

28 May 2012 by MCN

Q. I’m 83 and in memory of the happy days my late wife and I had on Triumphs in 1950s I’ve got a 2008 Triumph Street Triple to have fun on. I did find it set up quite hard, so I’ve had the suspension...

Can I use silicone sealant instead of a gasket?

28 May 2012 by MCN

Q. I have bought a second hand slip-on exhaust for my 2009 Suzuki GSXR750. The pipe that connects to the end pipe is slightly out of shape and the gasket does not fit in correctly. When trying to fit...

Why is my Yamaha R6 dying on me?

23 May 2012 by MCN

Q. I recently rebuilt my 2002 Yamaha R6 and all seems ok. It starts up and ticks over OK, but when I go to ride off it feels like it’s got no fuel and the revs die on me. She will restart just fine,...

Which springs to upgrade my FJR’s forks?

16 May 2012 by MCN

Q. I want to uprate the front fork springs on my FJR1300A (2008 plate) as I’m finding it too soft fully-loaded. The brand names I’ve heard of don’t do replacement uprated springs for my year of bike.

Can I re-use an old tyre?

16 May 2012 by MCN

Q. Is it acceptable to re-fit a motorcycle tyre? I replaced the rear tyre on my 2007 CBR600RR last year as I was going on a long trip and didn’t want the hassle of changing it when I was away. Now...

What’s causing front-end shimmy?

30 April 2012 by MCN

Q. I am getting a slight front end shimmy at higher speed on my Honda CBR600F. The bike is fitted with Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsas and I’ve done 1000 miles on them during which time they have been...

Best textile trousers on a budget

30 April 2012 by MCN

Q. After 28 years off bikes I have decided to go back to riding. A lot has changed in this time and I need some advice. I am thinking of buying a pair of textile trousers with a limited budget of £75,...

How do I remove Suzuki GSX600F exhaust headers?

30 April 2012 by MCN

Q. I need to get the exhaust headers off my Suzuki GSX600F while the engine is out of the frame to repair an oil leak. All the exhaust bolts are off the studs, but the pipes themselves are wedged in...

Are five-year-old race tyres past their best?

24 April 2012 by MCN

Q. I recently bought a pair of new Metzeler Racetecs off eBay for my track bike. Now it’s my own fault because I should have asked how old they were, but when they arrived I realised they were made in...

Will a Power Commander sort low-rev jerkiness?

24 April 2012 by MCN

Q. I’ve a 2002 Suzuki GSX-R750 with an Akrapovic end can. It runs very well, certainly not short on power! However slow speed running below 4000rpm is a bit jerky and erratic at times! Would fitting a...

Can I repair brake disc mounting holes with helicoils?

24 April 2012 by MCN

Q. I’ve stripped the threads on two of the front disc mounting holes on my Hayabusa. Would it be OK to repair them with helicoils? David Stowe, MCN forums A. You can do a helicoil repair as a...

Best sports-touring tyre for a Triumph Speed Triple

02 April 2012 by MCN

Q. Can you tell me what the best sports-touring tyre for a 2011 Triumph Speed Triple is? The last tyres were Metzeler Racetec Interacts that I got 3500 miles out of. I’d like some rubber that will get...

Triumph Speed Triple stuck in gear

02 April 2012 by MCN

Q. My 18,000-mile 2005 Triumph Speed Triple 1050 has started sticking in first gear when stationary. No amount of force on the lever will shift it, the only way to get neutral is to turn off the...

Can I convert Kawasaki ER-6 to thumb throttle?

02 April 2012 by MCN

Q. My octogenarian father still rides his Kawasaki ER6-F regularly, but worsening arthritis in his right wrist means he is having problems maintaining proper throttle control. I have been trying to...

Can police stop you for emissions?

02 April 2012 by MCN

Q. We know the police can do you for a noisy exhaust, but have they ever done anyone for excessive emissions on aftermarket exhausts? S Boucher, email A. Not as far as we’re aware. The police don’t...

Why is there stepped wear on my front tyre?

21 March 2012 by MCN

Q. I was getting my GSX-R out from hibernation and I’ve noticed some stepped wear on the front tyre, it probably occurred with that end of the year track day and 300-mile ride I did last October. A.

What to wear for desert riding

21 March 2012 by MCN

Q. Work is taking me to Qatar and I’ll be swapping my Honda CB100R for a CRF450 to ride the dunes. As gear isn’t readily available out there, and I’m clueless when it comes to MX gear. Can you give me...

Shoei XR-1100 problem

15 March 2012 by Anonymous

I wanted to pass on a concern I have with Shoei’s XR-1100 crash helmet. The lid is awesome, very comfy, visor removal is easy and it is reasonably quiet. It suffers in one way only and has really...

How to get back at a scammer

14 March 2012 by MCN

Q. I have been stupid and trusted a stranger from the UK who I thought wanted to buy my 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R from me here in Slovakia. I won’t go into details, but I lost a lot of money and I don’t...