2002

Year: 2002

Month: ALL

Last chance to book for TT

15 April 2002

This year’s TT has broken a record – six weeks before it even begins! Organisers say that every race is over-subscribed and only the most determined fans will now find anywhere to stay on the Isle of...

Got a ZX-7R? Want to star in MCN?

15 April 2002

Attention ZX-7R owners. Have you tweaked your bike, fitted aftermarket parts, had it tuned, or generally spent piles trying to perfect it? If you can answer yes to any of the above and have a quality...

Yamaha to cut cost of insuring all its bikes

15 April 2002

Yamaha is in the process of removing the biggest barrier to motorcycling in the UK with an across-the-range insurance deal. Its scheme earlier this year, to make premiums on 2001-model R1s affordable,...

Big bike boom looms

15 April 2002

Motorcycle sales figures have gone up for the first time in more than a year. With new bike prices more competitive than ever, dealers say that not only are they selling more bikes, they are also...

More pics from MCN Butlins party

15 April 2002

More of the crazy antics from the MCN Butlins party

Cop a load of this…

15 April 2002

U.S. bike cop Wilson Contreras from Santiago, Chile, was shot when he disturbed two bank robbers. Amazingly the bullet hit his metal cop badge and deflected harmlessly away leaving Contreras with bruising. His life saving badge is now on display at Santiago police headquarters.

How Triumph is functioning in the meantime

15 April 2002

Here’s how Triumph is planning to carry on while rebuilding. It’s a statement in full from the factory. Internal Arrangements: While they are rebuilding the Jacknell Road factory, Triumph are making internal arrangements to enable motorbike production to come back on stream at the earliest possible date. Machinery which was affected by smoke and soot in the Jacknell Road factory – known as T1 – is...

More dedicated discussion boards

15 April 2002

We’ve added new and dedicated discussion boards for the following bikes: The 2002 Blade, BMW R1150GS Adventure, Harley-Davidson V-Rod, Kawasaki ZZ-R1200, Honda STX1300 Pan European and Suzuki V-Strom. All those bikes are on our long-term test fleet for 2002 and the new boards should prove a great place for MCN’s team of riders to share their experiences with new owners as well as for owners to...

Hybrid Kawasaki

15 April 2002

An electric bike with the power of a 600 supersport machine? Sounds shocking, but that’s what designers Phil Hallahan and Robert O’Brien have come up with. For the full story on this, don’t miss the...

Triumph begins rebuilding process

15 April 2002

TRIUMPH started rebuilding its fire-damaged factory today (Tuesday) and reckons it will have completed the work in just 14 weeks. And in the meantime, the firm has confirmed it will be able to...

Piaggio tests 750cc…scooter

08 April 2002

Piaggio is testing a superbike-sized 750cc V-twin scooter which it hopes to launch later this year. Disguised as an X9 500 at this stage, the new bike runs a smaller version of the four-valve...

Rideout diary…

08 April 2002

Know of MCN Spring Spectacular ride-out to Butlins Skegness? E-mail the details to dave.batchelor@emap.com with Butlins Rideout in the subject line and we’ll add them below. Friday April 12: We are Burton upon Trent Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) and there are about 16 of us riding over to Skegness on Friday morning, we are meeting at Castle Donnington services on the M1 at 11.00am and riding...

Bike sales are warming up

08 April 2002

BRITAIN’S bike dealers are reporting booming sales as the weather prompts potential buyers into the showrooms. The UK’s biggest bike chain Carnell/City reported sales figures of 1500 over the weekend...

Long live the revolution!

08 April 2002

The new issue of MCN is out now. It celebrates the new era of GP racing with an eight-page Suzuka special, plus an unmissable guide to this year’s essential new bikes, FREE, in this week’s MCN, out on...

Spectacular day tickets available

08 April 2002

You don’t get much for £7.50 these days. Maybe a round for three mates, a seat at a Vauxhall Conference footy game or Steve Berry’s latest video in the supermarket bargain bin. But MCN is bucking the trend, by offering day tickets for just £7.50 to one of the best days out in Britain – our legendary Spring Spectacular. This weekend’s Butlins bash is among the most popular parties of the year, and...

Ex-officers on The Edge

08 April 2002

The Edge training programme is on the look out for any retired police officers who have ridden bikes as part of their job and would be able to assess riders. There are shortfalls in Scotland,...

The war on speed gets nasty

08 April 2002

A special team of scientists has been told by the Government to think the unthinkable in a bid to make British roads safer and less congested. For the full story on the war on speeding get the new...

Aprilia reveals plans for GP road bike

08 April 2002

Joining the likes of Honda, Ducati and Suzuki, Aprilia has confirmed there will be a road bike based on its all-new GP machine. But Aprilia insiders say the road version of the high-tech 220bhp...

Carmichael wins World Stunt Riding Championship

08 April 2002

Kevin Carmichael outrode the Starboyz on their home turf yesterday, Sunday April 7, to take the World Stunt Riding Championship in Tulsa, USA. The Scot, 2001 European Stunt Champion, was also...

What would you consign to Room 101?

08 April 2002

Room 101, the imaginary dumping ground for the objects of our deepest fear, hatred and loathing, is coming to MCN. We want to hear what you would consign to it. Perhaps it’s politicians, perhaps it’s...

Spanish flavour bikes bound for Britain

08 April 2002

The Spanish firm behind the sexy Kart 125 race bike shown below will bring us a 450cc four-stroke single-cylinder enduro bike for early next year. Sherco is better know for its trials bikes and 50cc...

MZ sports-tourer this autumn

08 April 2002

MZ’S sports-tourer will go on sale in the UK by the end of this year. The factory says the long-awaited 1000S, first revealed in September 2000, should be released just after the Munich Show this...

Ducati’s destiny revealed by V4

08 April 2002

These are the world first pictures of the stunning new Ducati V4 GP bike. This is the bike that could change the face of Ducati for ever. MCN has managed to get hold of two exclusive pictures of the...

Munich debut for new Ducati superbike

08 April 2002

Few bikes have been subject to as much rumour and speculation as Ducati’s 998 replacement – it could all end at the Munich bike show this September. For the full story on Ducati’s new superbike check out the new MCN, out April 10. Although Ducati is keen to keep the 998 in production as its mainstay road bike, for several years it has been working on another machine to replace it as the front-line...

Butlins rideout details

08 April 2002

If you are organising a rideout, or know someone who is, for MCN’s Spring Spectacular (starting Friday, April 12) send in the details and we’ll add them to our Spectacular round-up. See the link, right, for the latest additions, and ones you can join in. If you’d like yours added to the list, simply e-mail the relevant facts (start time, meeting place, who is organising it and their daytime...

Leaner, meaner CBR600 unleashed in 2003

08 April 2002

HONDA will unleash an all-new CBR600 next year. In the new MCN, out on Wednesday April 10, we’ll reveal the details on how Honda will use this much more advanced basic bike to grab World Supersport in...

Want a Drysdale? Prepare for a long wait

08 April 2002

THE new 140bhp V8 Drysdale has finally hit the streets. But anyone prepeared to meet the £25,000 asking price will have to wait up to six months before they see their bike. For the full story, and a...

Biking news from around the world

08 April 2002

The new MV Agusta F5 will make 183bhp when it is unveiled at the Munich Show in September. MCN revealed in February how the F5 will be the most powerful production bike in the world, seeing off the...

Cops clampdown on stunts

08 April 2002

Police will issue Antisocial Behaviour Orders on riders who repeatedly pull stunts, ride with illegal plates and cans or ride dangerously. You can catch the full story on the clampdown in the new MCN,...

MCN’s Spring Spectacular at Butlins

08 April 2002

It’s that time of year again – pack the missus (maybe), a change of pants (if you’re feeling lucky), and a packet of extra-strength aspirin (better make that two). The MCN Spring Spectacular at...

New Michelin tyres tested

08 April 2002

Michelin has launched a new sports touring tyre to replace its Macadam 100X. For the full story on the new Michelin Pilot Road tryes, don’t miss the new MCN, out April 10. The Pilot Road lines up with...

Supersize Blackbird on 2004’s menu

08 April 2002

Honda’s Super Blackbird will get a major overhaul for 2004 with a bigger capacity engine, possibly boosted further by the addition of the firm’s patented VTEC system. For the full story, and a free...

Test your biking knowledge

08 April 2002

Reckon you’re smarter than the average bear? Here’s your opportunity to show the world just how clever you are. Click on the link to our news boards on the right and test your biking general knowledge skills. And if you’ve got a question you want answered, or you can think of a really tricky one you reckon would stump even the specciest biking anorak, just e-mail it to: marc.potter@emap.com

Bimota rescue bid fails

01 April 2002

A buyout of ailing superbike firm Bimota has fallen through, leaving rescue plans in tatters. In December last year, the firm – which was being auctioned off by Italian courts after falling into...

Harley rival folds

01 April 2002

Failed U.S. manufacturer Excelsior Henderson has given up all hope of a recovery as creditors have sold off the contents of its factory. When Excelsior started selling bikes in early 1999, it had big...

Ducati unveils V4 GP bike

01 April 2002

Ducati has released its first pictures of the V4 GP bike which could change the face of the Italian firm for ever. Ducati worked closely with us to allow MCN exclusive access to the pictures and key personnel well in advance of its general release on Monday afternoon. That means our next issue, out on Wednesday, April 3, is able to bring you unmatchable pictures and exclusive coverage of how the...