Bike news
#Ride5000miles members are plotting ways to make the most of motorcycling post lockdown
Yesterday 09:00 by
With riding a motorcycle for pleasure currently placed on hold for the foreseeable future, #ride5000miles members have come together online to support each other through this unprecedented time. One...
Hey big boxer! BMW R18 makes pricey production debut
03 April 2020 by
Here's your first official look at the BMW R18 cruiser. Taking visual cues from the classic R5 and sporting a whopping 1802cc air-cooled boxer twin, BMW have officially planted their flat twin...
Weekly wind-on: your roundup of the news that matters in motorbikes
03 April 2020 by
It’s been a hectic week on MCN as everyone continues to get used to the Coronavirus crisis and the way the world is at the moment. We started off last weekend by catching up with #R5K member, Mark...
MCN advice: How Coronavirus is affecting motorbike events
03 April 2020 by
MCN is compiling a list of motorbike events that have been affected by the outbreak of Coronavirus. Check here before setting out or striking it off your calendar. Related: how motorbike industry and...
Time for a two-stroke comeback
03 April 2020 by
Cutting carbon emissions and accepting dried-up oil supplies means adopting alternative technology. So, the obvious thing is of course to bring back two-strokes... In a few years Formula 1 racing will...
Super Soco announce 10% discount for all key workers during Coronavirus outbreak
03 April 2020 by
Small-capacity electric motorbike manufacturer, Super Soco have this morning announced they will be offering a 10% discount to all key workers during the ongoing Coronavirus crisis. The offer is valid...
Harley-Davidson up their game with new flat track and café concepts
02 April 2020 by
Filings from the European patent office have confirmed that Harley-Davidson are moving forward with two bikes powered by their new water-cooled engine that follow classic flat track and café racer...
Petrol stations in rural areas could be forced to close in weeks as demand drops
02 April 2020 by
Many independent or rural UK petrol stations could be forced to close in the coming weeks due to lack of demand during the Coronavirus pandemic, the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) have...
Dainese set-up GoFundMe to provide medical equipment for Italian healthcare professionals
02 April 2020 by
Dainese are currently appealing for donations as they attempt to raise €200,000 to help provide medical equipment for Italian healthcare professionals tackling the Coronavirus emergency. The...
Coronavirus, sport and the motorbike industry: BMW pull out of Eicma and Intermot 2020
02 April 2020 by
The Coronavirus pandemic has already caused significant disruption to the motorbike industry in a number of ways, and the signs are that it’ll continue to do so for weeks to come. From postponed races...
Under the skin of the 2020 KTM 890 Duke R: lighter, faster and much more expensive
01 April 2020 by
KTM have reignited our excitement for the 2020 890 Duke R with a new short film on YouTube debuted on Tuesday, March 31; detailing its place and purpose in the middleweight segment, as well...
Norton Motorcycles: Chinese firm bought rights to 961 engine platform
01 April 2020 by
Norton sold the rights to the 961 engine platform before the company went into administration, it has been revealed. Chinese company Jinlang, who make scooters and 125cc machines, say they did the...
Damon Motorcycles bring in tech and expertise from Alta and Mission
31 March 2020 by
Canadian electric bike newcomers, Damon have released details of two new versions of their Hypersport model, the Arctic Sun and the Midnight Sun. The two new model variants are the latest premium...
Download a FREE Ducati Panigale V4S colouring-in sketch right here!
31 March 2020 by
MCN free gift Got a printer and some pencils? Then your luck's in, because here at MCN we have a gift for you. Or indeed a younger member of your family... Fill in the form below and you'll gain access to a...
L-plate workforce need CBT clarity during Covid-19
31 March 2020 by
Thousands of workers who use a moped or scooter to do their jobs do so by virtue of the fact they have a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate. But since test centres are not on the Government’s...
Step up to the MCN Visor Challenge on social media!
30 March 2020 by
We challenged you all to see if you could beat Chief Road Tester, Michael Neeves’s visor change time in the #mcnvisorchallenge and you didn’t disappoint! If you want to take part, you can still post...
#R5K member Mark Silcox gets reunited with his beloved Ducati 998S after 11 years, following a serious racing accident
29 March 2020 by
For many, Ducati’s 916 family are regarded as the most beautiful sportsbikes ever made, and it’s the reason why 53-year-old Mark Silcox became the owner of a brand new 998S in 2002. Purchased after...
Honda step back in time: New CB-F Concept takes the CB1000R back to the '80s
27 March 2020 by
Honda have worked a little '80s magic on the CB1000R and brought us this: the CB-F Concept. It’s based on the CB900F (the original – not the recent Hornet), which itself was attempting to...
Will the Government's MoT extension affect vehicle tax or insurance?
27 March 2020 by
Grant Shapps MP, the Secretary of State for Transport, has granted an MoT exemption of six months but only if your MoT expires after March 30. Given the circumstances I'm granting an MOT temporary...
Riders fight plans to charge bikes to park in Hackney
27 March 2020 by
Hackney council have proposed emissions-based charging permits for motorcycles that could see locals paying hundreds of pounds a year to continue riding their bikes. It’s currently free to park a bike...
Spy shots: 2021 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT looks to gain chassis and engine from 2020 Super Duke R
26 March 2020 by
KTM’s raucous 1290 Super Duke GT looks set to receive a revised chassis and new Euro5-friendly engine courtesy of the 2020 Super Duke R, after fresh spy shots revealed test rider Jeremy McWilliams...
Watch: Ducati Superleggera V4 hot lap of Portimao
26 March 2020 by
Ducati have released an onboard video of test rider, Alessandro Valia taking the Superleggera V4 for a spin around Portimao in Portugal. Unlike the short track action video they released before where...
Coronavirus and bikes - a letter from our Editor
25 March 2020 by
Dear readers, As the world continues to get increasingly unrecognisable day by day, I’ve realised just how much I rely on motorbikes for my daily happiness and dose of soul food. But, for now, my...
Braaps the spirit: Movember ambassador offers self-isolating biking fix to all with new Instagram profile
23 March 2020 by
Self-employed men's health and mental health advocate, Ben Bowers, has created a new Instagram page, allowing bikers to indulge their passion for engine noise, without risking unnecessary harm during...
Ways to read Motor Cycle News
23 March 2020 by
MCN MCN is the world’s number one biking weekly. Every issue is packed full of the latest news from the world of biking, as well as new bike reviews and thorough testing of the bikes you care about on the...
Devitt MCN Festival postponed until September 19-20
23 March 2020 by
MCN Festival It is with regret that The Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling is being postponed until the 19-20 September in response to the Government guidance regarding Coronavirus. Our aim for September is to...
Ducati Streetfighter V4: the story
20 March 2020 by
We've had a chance to ride this new hyper-naked now, so check out our Ducati Streetfighter V4 review, or read on for the full story of this wild new bike. Ducati Streetfighter V4: bonkers 220hp...
The Cake Kalk INK brings similar performance to road-going Kalk& for a big saving
19 March 2020 by
Swedish electric bike makers Cake have added another machine to their range, focussing heavily on reducing the cost. The new Kalk INK is £4000 cheaper than the Kalk& - a bike we’ve...
Big helmet changes coming: new ECE standard could make lids safer but pricier too
18 March 2020 by
A big shake up of safety standards is coming that will see more protective helmets on the market within two years. The new regulations, dubbed ECE 22.06, take over from ECE 22.05, which was introduced...
Four on tour: Spyshots show Ducati's Multistrada V4 is almost finished
17 March 2020 by
New spyshots have emerged that finally confirm Ducati are working on a V4 Multistrada and it appears to be nearly ready. As well as a new engine, the machine has a new chassis and a full suite of...
Racking up the miles: How #ride5000miles is helping generations join the two-wheeled fun and games
16 March 2020 by
It could be said that riding a motorcycle is something of a selfish hobby. Just you, your bike and the road in front of you; there are no phones, no interruptions and often no real destination in mind...
Hit the road Jack: Indian tease fifth Jack Daniel's special to mark 80 years of Sturgis Rally
13 March 2020 by
Indian Motorcycles have announced their fifth collaboration with whiskey experts, Jack Daniel's, and will reveal a new limited-edition motorcycle at the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, in South Dakota,...
Giant plans for mini adventurer: middleweight Honda Africa Twin model incoming
13 March 2020 by
Honda are working on a small-capacity Africa Twin to muscle in on a lucrative segment of the adventure bike market. The new twin will be one of three models based on a modular platform, MCN sources...
How to buy MCN during Coronavirus
13 March 2020 by
We are doing everything possible to ensure the content of the MCN newspaper is still being produced during this period of disruption, to the high standard that you expect. However, like lots of...
New tax proposals could see poorer bikers penalised
12 March 2020 by
Following yesterday’s Budget, the HM Treasury has issued a ‘call for evidence’ to assess changing the way VED tax is charged for motorcycles on UK roads. The suggestion is to move to a CO2-based...
Potholes to petrol: what does the Chancellor's budget mean for bikers?
11 March 2020 by
The budget by Chancellor Rishi Sunak looks like good news for bikers with a pledged £2.5 billion pothole fund, which should go some way to filling the estimated 50 million bone-jarring blemishes...