April

Year: 2002

Month: April

Three die in biker shootout

29 April 2002

Over 200 bikers are being questioned by police in Nevada, USA after a shootout in a casino between rival biker gangs left three dead and 16 injured over the weekend. The gunfight erupted on Saturday night after an argument broke out in the Harrah’s resort. Gamblers ran for cover as around 70 members of the Hell’s Angels and Mongol gangs fought with pistols and knives. Within minutes more than a...

Speed trap cops a parking fine

29 April 2002

There is justice after all. An unnamed Welsh policeman has been booked for parking illegally as he sat in a van trying to catch speeding motorists. The constable from Gwent Police was on duty in Cwm,...

May 4 is protest day in Scotland, too

29 April 2002

The protest ride to Westminster on May 4 will be matched by a similar protest north of the Border, too as Scottish riders lobby their Parliament against proposed anti-biker legislation. Organiser Gary...

Give us a sign

29 April 2002

You’re belting along when a rider coming the other way flashes his lights. Is he simply saying ” Hello ” or is he trying to tell you there’s a speed trap ahead? We’d like to establish a common sign...

Join our ultimate road test

29 April 2002

In the new issue of MCN, out Wednesday, May 1, we’re launching the biggest ever road test of bikes, bolt-ons and kit, and we want you to take part in it. We’ll be bringing you our weekly updates on...

Make our voice heard

29 April 2002

Protest organiser Christopher Coleman has sent us his final update before the planned May 4 protest ride to Westminster. Over 4000 bikes are expected to descend on the capital to protest about planned...

TT travel information

29 April 2002

This year’s TT promises to be a belter. Race entries are amongst the highest for years and there’s an awful lot of partying to do to make up for last year’s disappointment. Ferry places are available...

Get a company bike on Gordon

29 April 2002

The Chancellor’s not exactly know for his generosity. But thanks to the Prudent One hundreds of company car drivers are taking advantage of a change in the tax laws to grab themselves a great bike.

BMW enters GP race

29 April 2002

This is the bike that will change the way you think about BMWs. It is a totally new three-cylinder four-stroke designed to compete in GPs. You can get the full story on the new BMW GP bike in MCN, out...

This is Spinal Tap

22 April 2002

No it isn’t dry ice, but the throttle does go up to 11

First love never dies

22 April 2002

Paul Long watched anxiously as the clock ticked around to midnight. He was ready. Helmet buckled, leather jacket zipped up, white socks rolled over the top of his boots. Finally, the clock began to...

Free stickers with BikeMart

22 April 2002

Get free MCN British Superbike stickers with MCN BikeMart magazine – on sale now. As an added bonus, if your bike is spotted sporting one of the stickers, you could win a Hizzy rep OGK FF3 rep...

Send us your tips

22 April 2002

Have you got a top tip you’d like to share with us? We’d like to hear how you save time or a few quid with a helpful hint. Every day motorcyclenews.com publishes the best of the tips we receive. But...

High enough for you?

22 April 2002

AC Farias demonstrates some techniques for annoying the police.

BMW’s GP bike revealed

22 April 2002

This is the bike that will change the way you think about BMWs. It’s a totally new three-cylinder four-stroke designed to compete in GPs. You can read full details of this stunning machine in MCN, out...

You’re our pillion in a million winner

22 April 2002

Thanks you for your entries to our pillion in a million ride competition. Congratulations to Neil Summers from Liverpool, he’s won a pillion ride with with Randy Mamola at this weekend’s Boxer Cup...

Ducati tests super single

22 April 2002

Ducati has begun tests of a single-cylinder engine destined to find its way into a new range of bikes – including a supercharged one. For the full story on Ducati’s super single, don’t miss the new...

Theives raid Harpers

22 April 2002

Thieves broke in through the roof of Harpers in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex and stole several sets of expensive leathers and gloves. Alpinestars and RST kit was amongst the thieves’ haul, but Wolf leathers...

Kawasaki’s ZZ-R1200 takes on its rivals

22 April 2002

In the new MCN, out Wednesday April 24, we’ve taken some of the world’s fastest tourers and pitched them against Kawasaki’s blistering new ZZ-R1200. It went head-to-head with Yamaha’s belting FJR1300,...

Your response to Carnell take-over

22 April 2002

Users of motorcyclenews.com chatboards have been responding to the news that Royal Bank of Scotland has confirmed its offer to buy Dixon Motors, the parent company of the Carnell-Motorcycle City...

We want to be together

22 April 2002

Is this what’s meant by close control riding?

The Triumph factory fire

22 April 2002

The Triumph factory " could collapse at any minute " , claim fire fighters who spent the entire weekend battling a blaze there. Even as MCN went to press on Monday afternoon, fires were still burning inside the building in Hinckley, Leics. Fireman won’t let people inside to assess the damage, but as our photos prove, the destruction is massive. A third of the roof has fallen on to the...

Your views on "unsafe" sportsbikes…

22 April 2002

News that a ZX-12R owner is preparing a complaint against Kawasaki, after claiming that the bike’s compact design prevents him from making proper " rear observations " , has stirred up a storm on our News boards. On the advice of Trading Standards officers, Steve Breeze, 42, is compiling evidence to present to Kawasaki and hopes others who have the same difficulty will step forward. " I like...

KTM V-twin set for WSB

22 April 2002

KTM plans to shed its off-road image with an innovative V-twin 170bhp superbike designed to take on the best in WSB or Grand Prix. For the full story on KTM’s race project, and a world first test of...

Manufacturers respond to Yamaha insurance deal

22 April 2002

Yamaha’s ambitious across-the-range insurance scheme exclusively revealed in last week’s MCN has left the other big motorcycle manufacturers scratching their heads and wondering how to combat such a...

TRIUMPH BLAZE: THE AFTERMATH

22 April 2002

Triumph’s insurers face a bill of over £25 million to rebuild the factory after the devastating fire, which firefighters say was caused by a petrol leak. And Triumph plans to used the cash to make the brand even stronger by rebuilding the factory so it contains the very latest technology. The insurance pay-out also covers lost income from sales and workers’ wages. But many Triumph dealers face...

How the disaster unfolded

22 April 2002

Friday: 20:41 Leicestershire Fire Brigade receives a phone call from the Hinckley area saying there’s flames licking out of the top of Triumph’s factory in Jacknell Road. Friday: 20:46 Two engines arrive from nearby Hinckley Fire Station. The crew commander carries out a risk assessment and immediately radios for assistance from other crews as smoke billows from the roof. Friday: 20:50 A third...

Back when men were men, and wore black leather.

22 April 2002

Part one of Mr Chorlmondeley-Warner’s guide to the Island. Hurrah for ration books and the King!

Scooters with car qualities

22 April 2002

Peugeot scooters are the most popular powered two-wheeled transport in the UK. And now they claim to be adopting car-style values with big moves on quality control and technology. No wonder their...

£11,000 Tuono ‘is too much’

22 April 2002

Aprilia’s UK importer wants the factory to rethink the £11,000 asking price of its new Tuono. The firm is making just 200 of the 130bhp RSV Mille R-engined naked bikes for sale via the internet on May...

How to make a chassis into British Superbike spec

22 April 2002

The chassis on Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 is good enough to keep even the most demanding rider happy… or so you’d think. But when you’re using one to defend the British Superbike title, a stock one simply...

Triumph will come out of this stronger and better

22 April 2002

TRIUMPH will take on a siege mentality to see it through the difficult times ahead, according to industry experts. They also believe the famous name could come out of the disaster stronger than ever. " Under extreme circumstances you get more production than you ever thought possible, said professor Garel Rhys, director of automotive research at Cardiff University. " People will roll their...

Starfish style

22 April 2002

This is one pillion who was taking no chances when the tactical firearms squad yelled ” spread ‘em ”

The ultimate carbon-fibre accessory

22 April 2002

What do you get for the sports bike rider who has everything? A carbon-fibre toilet seat obviously. Tastefully supplied with chrome brackets this lovely item can be yours for just £85 from U.S.

Triumph Blaze: How it happened

22 April 2002

Investigators are " 90 per cent certain " the blaze which tore through the Triumph factory was caused by leaking petrol. But they are still trying to discover where the leak actually came from. They helped us recreate what probably happened on that fateful Friday night. Once bikes reach the end of the assembly line (1), they are fuelled and then tested on the dyno before the petrol is emptied.

What’s your view like?

22 April 2002

A ZX-12R owner is preparing a complaint against Kawasaki, claiming that the bike’s compact design prevents him from making proper ” rear observations ” . You can read the full story on this case in...