Choosing kit (January 2012)

Modern motorbike helmet fitment is the result of years of development, crash testing, computer modelling and safety testing, which can all be undone if your helmet doesn’t fit properly. Although...

Sidi Vertigo Gore-Tex boots, from £207 at www.mcnshop.com Miles covered/time: 15,000/four years What’s good: These boots have seen four winters and many more miles in mostly terrible weather (and...

Q. I have recently bought a 2008 BMW R1200R which has the tyre pressure sensors fitted. I am not keen on the sensors and have a couple of queries regarding them. Can I have normal rubber type tyre...

Q. I have just bought a 1991 BMW K100RS. It has been unused for seven years, has only done a genuine 5000 miles and is in “as-new” condition. The bike was serviced 150 miles ago with new fluids...

Q. Is it possible to powdercoat the wheels on my 2005 Aprilia Tuono Factory? A mate told me they can't be done because they are magnesium. Airm8, MCN forums A. Magnesium wheels weigh 30% less than...

Q. I have an immaculate Kawasaki KLR650 with a Marvin stainless steel silencer that looks and sounds great. Marvin does not make a header pipe, so are there any exhaust firms who could manufacture a...

Q. I have a CCM FT35-S, the 400cc Suzuki-engined supermoto with a 120/70 x 17 front tyre and a 150/70 x 17 rear. What choices do I have in replacement rubber? Nick Scarr, email A. First off, the...

Q. We all know that manufacturers put a life expectancy on helmets of roughly five years but is there a life expectancy on leathers? I know we should replace any kit if it has been involved in a high...

Q. I own a 2008 Yamaha Fazer 600S2 which I plan on keeping for a few years. I like to do my own maintenance, but the bike has electronic fuel injection, ECU and a factory immobilizer, which is all...

Q. I have just received a fixed penalty notice for my Yamaha XJR1300, the bike is still taxed, but it’s been in bits since July so I let the insurance lapse. I thought that if the bike was taxed you...

I’ve got a 2004 Suzuki GSX-R750 which I love the look and power of. The problem is that when I open the throttle up in the second part of a corner while the bike is still cranked over, it starts to...

I've had a Kawasaki VN800 Classic for over 15 months now, and it had been running beautifully every day until a few months ago when it would just not start on the button, clicking loudly instead. I...

My wheels are looking a bit tatty on my Hornet and I’m considering spraying them myself. However the wheels take a lot of crap from the road and I am worried it won’t be durable. Cairnsie13, MCN...

I am going to take the swingarm off my Honda Fireblade RRX so that I can get it polished but I have read in the Haynes manual that I require a special tool to refit the swingarm pivot bolt/nut. Is...

Q. The battery on my Yamaha Virago ran dry so I replaced it at the same time as putting some heated grips on. I don’t use these much, but after two weeks the new battery has lost 60% of its...

Q. I’ve got a Kawasaki Z1000SX and I’m looking at getting a paddock stand for it. Rather than one that lifts it at the rear wheel spindle, I want to use the two threaded holes in the swingarm and two...