July

Sensor connected to pager

15 July 2001

Ingenious but legal

15 July 2001

If shotgun cartridges, guard dogs and electric shocks seem a bit extreme, there are plenty of equally creative methods to secure your bike which can be just as effective – and they won’t land you in a court of law

Swingarm lock

15 July 2001

If you can’t buy the security device you want – make your own. That’s exactly what John Smith of Wallasey, in Liverpool, did when he developed a bespoke security lock welded to the swingarm of his...

The man who invented the Desmo dies

15 July 2001

Fabio Taglioni, the man who invented Ducati’s famous Desmodromic engine, has died at his home in Bologna at the age of 80. Born on September 10, 1920 in Lugo di Romagna, Italy, Taglioni graduated as...

Shotgun cartridges

15 July 2001

Two years ago, Robert E, from South Shields, had his garage broken into. Strangely, the thieves didn’t touch his bike. In fact, they made away with nothing more than a frozen turkey. But it was enough...

Have you had a tyre nightmare?

15 July 2001

Your tyres are often the only thing between you and disaster. Reliable high quality rubber is a matter of life or death for us. But tyres aren’t always perfect. We’re conducting a survey to find out...

How far would you go to protect your bike?

15 July 2001

This week, around 600 motorcycles will be stolen in the UK. Only 84 will be recovered and returned to their owners. With organised criminals developing ever more sophisticated methods, keeping our...

Guard dog

15 July 2001

Jon F of Northampton reckons his two Mastiff bitches are the ultimate in bike security. He said: ” They’re completely loyal and very protective. As soon as the dogs hear something they go absolutely...

Just when you thought they’d finally eased off…

15 July 2001

The Home Secretary has been telling police forces to down-grade their focus on speeding, the Met Police have called a halt to any additional Gatsos, to spend more cash on catching real criminals. You...

Hydraulic lift

15 July 2001

According to Barry Hood, from Birmingham, his hydraulic lift is a far more effective means of securing a bike than a conventional ground anchor. He said: ” Once a thief has got into your garage the...

Shop a bike thief and grab a grand

15 July 2001

If you have information that could convict a bike thief, dial 0870-444-8448 and you could get a reward of up to £1000. If you’ve got the gen on an organised gang, that amount could rise to £10,000...

New details of 2002 R1 revealed

15 July 2001

Next year’s Yamaha R1 will be radically revised to challenge the competition from Suzuki’s class-leading GSX-R1000. It will also have to deal with new machines in the form of Honda’s 2002 FireBlade –...

996 successor shown to Ducati top brass

15 July 2001

A prototype just shown to high-ranking Ducati employees is thought to be the closest anyone has yet seen to the actual successor to the legendary 996. Ducati presented its plans for the next three...

New range of Italian lids from Devel

15 July 2001

The lids featured here are Italian firm Devel’s latest offerings. The full-face Vaga and the flip-up Razor are both available in British dealers for the first time this week, for £149.99. They use...

Rate your dealer

15 July 2001

We want to know your experience at your dealer. How good is the level of service? Would you recommend them to a friend? We all know how good it is to find a place you’re happy with to do your...

Trading Standards order clothing off the shelves

15 July 2001

Trading Standards officers ordered Buffalo to replace the armour in one of their jackets because it didn’t meet the CE standard it had claimed to. Importer Bifax moved swiftly and all examples of the...

Baby monitor

15 July 2001

AFTER having the entire contents of his garage stolen, including his Kawasaki ZX-7R, Kirk Walker, from Sheffield, wasn’t too happy. He said: ” I felt like crying. The police weren’t interested, the...

The repairs

15 July 2001

FOR a man who confesses to having no mechanical aptitude whatever, Duncan Goose was very, very lucky. He learnt as he went along, ran into the right people at the right time and picked a bomb-proof bike that hardly lost its reliability over 42,000 miles. But the ability to improvise is essential. Friendly dealers are not an option in Peru, and if you lack imagination with old Fairy Liquid bottles...

Pepper spray

15 July 2001

Ray M, from Tyne and Wear, has installed a pepper gas sprayer in his garage. Such devices are illegal in this country, so Ray has declined to comment. He got hold of his from an American company via...

FJR long term test (2): The owners’ gathering

15 July 2001

Going for a ride-out and then chewing the cud with fellow riders is always a pretty good way to spend a day. While a football fan will (season permitting) relish the idea of a few pints in the boozer...

Fort Knox

15 July 2001

Fireblade owner Dave Manchester, from Bradford, had his bike stolen in March last year. In the 16 months since, he’s been a man on a mission, installing every security device imaginable to make sure...

High-voltage shed

15 July 2001

Ken D gave his local bike thief the shock of his life with his very effective but highly illegal invention – the electric shed. Angry at having his previous bike nicked, Ken vowed never to let it...

John O’Groats to Land’s End… by classic scooter

15 July 2001

The idea of travelling from John O’Groats to Land’s End isn’t enough of a challenge for some people. These guys, among them a 28-year-old diagnosed with terminal cancer, decided to make it hard for...

Infra-red movement sensor

15 July 2001

Despite living in an area of Norwich with low levels of crime, Peter Jenks’ insurance company insisted he garaged his Triumph Bonneville, installed immobilisers and secured it with a lock. Hoping it...

The evolution of the Ducati 996 engine

15 July 2001

If ever an engine proved worthy of evolutionary development instead of replacing it with a new design it has to be the Ducati 996 motor. The eight-valve, liquid-cooled V-twin which has dominated World...

Place your bets…now!

15 July 2001

He’s an ultra fit athlete who trains hard and is in peak physical condition. BUT how long can British Supersport rider John McGuinness hold his breath? 18 seconds, 28 seconds or 58 seconds?...

Save £100 more than ever on new bikes

15 July 2001

If you thought Carnell-City’s Real Prices were good, you ain’t seen nothing yet! From today, on selected new bikes you’ll want to own, we’ve been able to take even more off the already cut-to-the-bone...

Police stop adding Gatsos and start offering alternatives to points

08 July 2001

While police in London call a halt to adding to the capital’s Gatsos, Northants police seem to be making life marginally easier, too. In the capital the force says it is concentrating its budgets on...

You’re never going to win like that

08 July 2001

Staying in the saddle is a prerequisite for victory

We are being sacrificed to make drivers safer

08 July 2001

The current design of UK roadside barriers may protect drivers in a crash but they only serve to maim and kill riders, according to a leading professor of structural engineering. Dr John Knapton is...

Grass is less grippy

08 July 2001

Not sure that this is the line he was shown…

Moving around

08 July 2001

Many feel they get the best from their bike by moving around it during corners… this bloke over does it.

Meet Reynolds at open day

08 July 2001

MCN’s dealer of the year for clothing and accessories hosts an open day on Saturday, July 14. John Reynolds will be there and there will be bargains galore, too. The Harpers superstore, in the heart of London, won the prestigious MCN award despite having only been open for just over a year. On the day there will be a huge sale with leather suits available from as little as £100. There will be a...

Riding Honda’s factory 500s at Goodwood

08 July 2001

I’m about to ride my dream bike – Mick Doohan’s NSR500. The one that took Doohan on to his second title with seven wins in 1995. All 180bhp and more of its savage two-stroke power around a park in the...

Q8 Oils arrive in the UK

08 July 2001

The choice of which oil to use in your bike in Britain has increased, with the launch of Q8 Oils for motorcycles and scooters. The motorcycle range includes Q8 SBK part synthetic for four-strokes at...

Sachs to add 125 to its range

08 July 2001

GERMAN firm Sachs is adding a new 125 machine to its range, the ZZ Funbike. It uses the Yamaha DT125R engine. Sachs says the bike is designed for use either on or off road, but it comes with Pirelli...