2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Kit: How to choose leather trousers

19 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

As important as your leather jacket, leather trousers serve the same purpose (that of protection), albeit with slightly less style if you’re riding to the pub. Compare and buy leather trousers The...

Kit: How to choose a leather jacket

19 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

It doesn’t matter what we say here – most motorcyclists, if they’re being honest, will choose something that looks good. And why not? Compare and buy leather jackets in the MCN Shop However, beyond...

How does suspension affect understeer?

19 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

Also known as running wide, understeer is the bike’s inability to track a line through a bend. It usually occurs when a bike is set up too soft and the suspension wallows and struggles as physical...

FAQ: How to cure a vibrating wheel

19 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

If you have some harsh vibrations or the steering feels loose or wobbly then your front wheel could be out of balance. Those vibes will stress wheel bearings, make the tyre run hotter and could...

Suspension FAQ: How can your suspension and tyres cause a slide?

12 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

The rear end of a bike can slide for a number of reasons. Over-firm suspension dials out compliance and suppleness, making a bike’s tyre do more work than the suspension itself. This can cause the...

Best tyre for a Suzuki Bandit 1250

12 August 2009 by MCN

Reader Mike Lecras came to us looking for the perfect combination touring and sporty rubber for his 2009 Suzuki GSF1250 GT. He was running the standard Dunlop D218N 180/55 V17 at the rear. MCN’s...

Tyres FAQ: Why do tyres have wire in them?

12 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

The high-tensile steel wire is also known as the bead and runs circumferationally around the inner part of the tyre. Its job is to anchor the tyre on the rim so that the tyre can’t creep on the wheel...

Kit: How to buy winter motorcycle boots

05 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

Think about what sort of riding you’ll be doing, and when you¹ll be doing it. If you’ll be commuting throughout the year, there will be days when you rue the purchase of those vented summer race...

Kit: How to buy summer motorcycle boots

05 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

Whether it’s a race-spec boot or a simple touring boot for summer rides or commuting, the theory behind making sure it fits is the same. The golden rule is to make sure you visit a dealer to try on as...

Tyres FAQ: Why do tyres have air in them?

05 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

A tyre has to deform slightly at the point of contact with the road for instance in, order to achieve any change of direction or speed and it has to do this in a progressive and predictable way in all...

Tyres FAQ: Why are tyres black?

05 August 2009 by Marc Abbott

There isn’t any natural rubber in a tyre’s construction. But there are about 200 raw materials from man-made rubbers, reinforcing fillers, rayon, nylon, all sorts of additives and aramid...

Kit: How to buy motorcycle gloves

31 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

You hands are the most vital parts of your body for riding a bike they control your speed, your upper body balance and are unfortunately the first things to hit the deck in a crash on almost every...

How to change your tyres at home

29 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Tyre changes are quite easy to do at home if you have the right tools. A purpose-made bead breaker will get the tyre off the rim, and once the rubber is in the ‘well’ of the wheel, good quality tyre...

The importance of balancing your wheel

29 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

If you’ve got some harsh vibrations or the steering feels loose or wobbly then your front wheel could be out of balance. Those vibes will stress wheel bearings, make the tyre run hotter and could...

Tyre advice: Running different tyres

29 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Q. I ride a 1997 VFR750, a superb bike. On the front I have a perfect Bridgestone Battlax BT56 with lots of tread left. My question is, can I replace the worn out BT57 with a new Bridgestone Battlax...

Can adjusting your chain affect the suspension?

22 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

In short, yes. When the suspension is compressed to about one third, the front sprocket, swingarm pivot and rear spindle form a straight line. Compare and buy motorcycle suspension This is the...

Suspension advice: Replacing fork seals

22 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

The first piece of advice for replacing for seals would be to always get a workshop manual of some description when stripping major components down, if only for the torque settings. Compare and buy...

Tyre advice: Good tyres for light trail use

22 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Q. I have a 2009 Triumph Tiger 1050, which I am delighted with. I am well aware it is not a full-blown off-road motorcycle, but I would like to improve the grip on light trail use, without sacrificing...

Where to go for suspension

16 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Here’s a list of useful contacts in the suspension world. Whether it’s set-up advice, work or shock and fork components, these guys are among the country’s greatest. Harris Performance, Hertford.

USD versus conventional forks

16 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Suspension-wise, given springs and dampers of equal quality, there is no difference between upside-down and conventional forks. But the fork leg is not a suspension unit, it is also a structural...

Fork 'pump down' explained

10 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Pump down, or packing, occurs when you hit a series of bumps after dialling in too much rebound damping. Because you’ve over-slowed the rate at which the suspension can return once it’s compressed,...

Unsprung weight explained

10 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Sprung weight is the mass of those parts supported by the suspension. Unsprung is the rest; wheels, tyres, brakes, chain etc. Changing the unsprung weight has no direct effect on springing (as it’s...

How to repair a puncture

10 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

If you need to repair a puncture at the roadside, there are several methods you can use. There are preventative sealants out there that are designed to seal off a puncture as soon as it...

Kit: Buying waterproofs

03 July 2009 by Rob Hull

There’s three key things to consider when buying waterproofs – they’re completely waterproof (obvious, but there are things to look for), they’ve quick and easy to get on and they’re...

Suspension advice: 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R: Setting the suspension for you

02 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

I have just bought a 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R Mille. I have no idea who has fiddled with the suspension in the past or how it’s set up now. It will be a while before I get on a track to have it tweaked...

How to tell when it's time to change your suspension

01 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

Age takes its toll on the rubber seals through degradation and springs sag as the coils deform under the continued load. You can spot seal problems such as perishing or oil leaks, but to check springs...

British Standards for puncture repairs

01 July 2009 by Marc Abbott

A British standard exists for motorcycle tyre repairs (BSAU159f), which determines the strength of the repair and where it can and can’t be made in the tyre. Compare and buy motorcycle tyres Being a...

What effect does ride height adjustment have?

24 June 2009 by Marc Abbott

Ride height adjustment is usually only found on top-of-the-range sports bikes, nakeds and the occasional sports-tourer, It raises or lowers the height of the rear shock, lifting or lowering the entire...

How to scrub in your tyres

24 June 2009 by Marc Abbott

In a word ‘gently’. When the tyre comes out of the mould there are release agents that need to be removed before the rubber performs at its optimum. Compare and buy motorcycle tyres To do that you...

How much to spend on a rear shock

24 June 2009 by Marc Abbott

If you’re thinking of replacing your rear shock and are unsure of how much to spend, consider this… Choose a specialist supplier/manufacturer who can give decent back-up and advice. You are going to...

Firmer brakes overnight

19 June 2009 by Chris Dabbs

For an easier way to get better brakes, use a cable-tie or similar to hold the front brake on quite tightly and leave overnight. When returning to the bike next day tap the brake hoses thoroughly to...

Suspension advice: Stopping my bike 'flopping' into corners

18 June 2009 by Marc Abbott

Q. My 2004 Kawasaki ZR-7 has a tendency to flop into corners although I fitted a new rear shock recently. Compare and buy suspension products I’ve checked the head bearings for play and set the tyre...

How to extract a weathered header pipe bolt

18 June 2009 by Marc Abbott

If your socket just spins on the bolt, don’t panic! Go for a run on the bike to get it really hot, then when you get back leave it ticking over for 5-10 minutes. Compare and buy motorcycle...

Why does a single-shock set-up work better than twin shocks?

18 June 2009 by Marc Abbott

The greatest difference comes from how the dampers are driven. With twin shocks the dampers travel almost the same distance as the wheel. Compare and buy suspension parts The tends to over-heat the...

Tyre advice: I need a tyre for high mileage commuting

17 June 2009 by Marc Abbott

Q. I just took the plunge and bought a Sprint 955 which I’m loving but I need a new rear tyre. The bike is currently fitted with Bridgestone BT014s. Compare and buy motorcycle tyres However, I am a...

Kit: Choosing the right kit

17 June 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Choosing the right kit for any motorcyclist, new or experienced, should always follow the same guidelines. Just because you’re a new rider, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the optimum level of...