Choosing a bike
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...
Choosing the right bike for the right test
30 September 2010 by
If you are looking for a bike to pass your test on, make sure that you purchase the right bike for the category of test you want to pass, or you could find yourself restricted to a 125 with only an A1...
New rider: Parallel twins explained
24 September 2010 by
The parallel twin cylinder engine has a long history of use in motorcycles, being the mainstay of the British motorcycle industry for 50 years until the smoother, more sophisticated four-cylinder...
New Rider: Why triples rock
17 September 2010 by
The first ‘modern’ three-cylinder engine was an inline design built by the Triumph/BSA conglomerate back in the 1969 using their existing twin-cylinder motors, as a response to Honda’s revolutionary...
New rider engine layouts: Singles
10 September 2010 by
The simplest bike engine design is the single cylinder and it’s what’s fuelled generations of young and new bikers’ love affair with two wheels, as well as keeping the masses moving in poorer...
New rider engine layouts: V-twins
03 September 2010 by
The V-twin engine has a long and noble history in motorcycling as it was adopted early on by manufacturers like Harley and Indian because it allowed two cylinders to be bolted into the narrow,...
New rider engine layouts: Inline fours
27 August 2010 by
The inline four-cylinder engine is the most popular layout for bikes because it combines high performance with relatively low cost. First made popular by Honda in 1970s, after they’d gained experience...
New Rider: Best 33bhp bike for distance
09 July 2010 by
Bogumil Kusiba has just passed his bike test for the 33bhp restricted licence and he wants to trade in his Honda Varadero 125. “It’s a great bike, however due to my high commuter mileage, 54 miles...
New rider: Do you really need a powerful bike?
11 June 2010 by
There’s no right or wrong time to buy your first big bike, the key to the process is to be honest with yourself. If you have been driving a car for years and have built up a fund of...
Best first bike for a 50-mile commute
16 April 2010 by
Q. I’ve finally got the nerve to do my bike test, and I’m now wishing I could have been one of the happy elite to have taken my test when I was 18, and had a man shouting at me with a clipboard some...
New rider: questions to ask a seller
19 February 2010 by
When you’re buying a new bike it’s easy to get carried away with the occasion and just rush to swing your leg over and get riding But before you hand over the cash for those lovely keys, there...
New rider: what to look for in a test ride
19 February 2010 by
If you’re looking at a bike to buy and you’ve given it a good once over, ask for a ride. You may have to leave the asking price in cash, or your family, or both. At the very least you should get a...
New rider: Top 5 commuter bikes
03 July 2009 by
Are you new to biking and looking for affordable and comfortable work transport? You’ll be needing our guide to the top 5 used commuter bikes. Thinking of trading in? Sell your bike with MCN for...
Buying your first bike on a budget
26 June 2009 by
If you are in the market for a new bike, but your budget is tight so you are heading towards one of the crop of Chinese-made bikes that have entered the market over the last few years, you need to...
5 great 125cc scooters
12 June 2009 by
So you've just passed your CBT and you're in the market for a decent 125cc scooter... but which one? There's so much choice out there it can be overwhelming for new riders. That's why we've short...
Is a Honda CBR600RR sensible as a first bike?
27 May 2009 by
MCN's problem-solving community has the answers to most biking queries you could imagine. Here, they help another newbie with their bike choice... Burqoil: All my friends and work mates are...
Naked or faired for a first bike?
27 May 2009 by
MCN's problem-solving community has the answers to most biking queries you could imagine. Here, they help a newbie with new bike choice... Ziqnzoq: I passed my test last week and am now thinking about...
First time bikes for tall riders
21 March 2009 by
Q. I am due to take the Direct Access Scheme and test in a couple of weeks. Once I pass, I am looking to buy an all-rounder middleweight. However, being a tall bloke - 6'4", I...