Kawasaki proves that bigger is best 25 February 2002 Chances are, the last time you talked big-bore kits you were 16 years old, munching a saveloy and slurping a can of Shandy Bass outside the chip shop while you wondered if it was worth splashing out... Read more ...
Organising the protest 25 February 2002 Motorcyclenews.com user Revetts has set-up a micro-community so that people wishing to organise their protest against Meacher and other anti-bike Government policies can share ideas.Follow this link to be taken there: http://communities.msn.com/BikersProtest Read more ...
Gilera’s V-twin prototype revealed 25 February 2002 These are the first pictures of the V-twin prototype Gilera is building as a first step towards a new range of machines.It hosts the first full-size engine the Italian firm, currently best known for... Read more ...
Bikes excluded from congestion charging 25 February 2002 Motorcycling has been handed a massive potential boost with the news that bikes are excluded from controversial plans to make motorists pay per mile.With talk of commuter runs along the M6 around... Read more ...
Long term CBR600 25 February 2002 It’s an old cliché that Hondas are more reliable than Swiss watches.But it’s true. Over the last 12 months I’ve covered more than 20,000 miles – around three times the average annual UK mileage... Read more ...
Suggested text for a letter to your MP 25 February 2002 Here’s some suggested text you might want to include in your letter. You could just copy and paste it into a document to send (e-mail or letter).The Treasury issued a public consultation paper on reforming motorcycle VED last year – and I disagree with many of the pointsI am worried that this is a thinly-veiled excuse to raise more tax from bikes. The Treasury has proposed a new higher road tax... Read more ...
£14,300 Joey Dunlop reps sell out 25 February 2002 The strictly limited run of 25 Joey Dunlop replica SP-1s has now been sold. The only way you now have of getting hold of one is to bid in the MCN auction for the exclusive no26.It has taken less than... Read more ...
Your road tax letters to MPs made easy 25 February 2002 You’ve started sending letters to your MPs to follow up your massive response to the public consultation on bike road tax. Our tips, make it easy for anyone to join in.Read on for advice on what to... Read more ...
Bikes to ride free in London 25 February 2002 London Mayor Ken Livingstone has announced he’s going ahead with plans to charge drivers £5 a day to use central London roads. But motorcyclists and scooter riders will go free.Faced with forking out £25 a week on top of fuel and other car costs, many drivers could find themselves tempted by the many bargain scooter deals currently on offer. Those commuting from further afield may be lining up at... Read more ...
The 10 best secondhand buys and why 25 February 2002 SUZUKI TL1000R ’98Price when new: £8649. Price now: £3650-£4050Slow sales ever since it was launched in 1998 – its TL1000S sibling has already been discontinued – means big discounts are available on... Read more ...
Harley evening classes 25 February 2002 Chesterfield dealer Harleyworld is opening its doors every Wednesday evening in March to help owners get to know their Harleys.Mechanics will explain what needs checking on their bikes after the... Read more ...
Choose from 15,000 used bargains 25 February 2002 March is the best time to buy a secondhand bike, as 15,000 of them flood into showrooms and get crammed on to the pages of MCN BikeMart.The surge in the number of secondhand bikes is due to the... Read more ...
Ducati admits it is building Smart rep 25 February 2002 Ducati has finally admitted it is building a modern-day replica of Paul Smart’s 1972 Imola 200-winning 750SS –three years after MCN told you it was coming.The bike follows on from the successful MH900e Mike Hailwood replica, which has just finished its production run of 2000 units.The bike is expected to be heavily based on the MH900e – sharing a similar tubular steel trellis chassis. However, it... Read more ...
The best ways to buy secondhand 25 February 2002 From a dealer:Know the market. Make sure you know the value of what you’re buying and are familiar with any mechanical problems it’s prone to. Never be afraid to haggle. Name a starting price confidently, making sure it’s lower than the maximum you’re prepared to pay. Privately:Once you’ve found your bike through MCN BikeMart, take your time inspecting it. Look for any tell-tale signs of crash... Read more ...
Buy yourself a bargain 25 February 2002 You can get yourself a very nice new or nearly-new 599cc ZX-6R for a lot less than the 636’s £6990 asking price.The ZX-6R is listed at £6895, but people are buying them new for £4795, which is a real... Read more ...
All-rounders 18 February 2002 Most popular all-rounder: Suzuki Bandit 600The Bandit has been a phenomenal sales success for Suzuki. That means there are plenty about, so there’s no reason to put up with a ropey or rattly one,... Read more ...
Tourer 18 February 2002 Most popular tourer: Honda ST1100 Pan EuropeanHONDA’S Pan European is a massive sales success. No other tourer comes close.Riding 1000 miles in a day isn’t possible on many bikes, but on the Pan, with... Read more ...
Not like that… just like that 18 February 2002 For my next trick I shall make a motorcycle disappear (partially). Read more ...
Yamaha FJR1300: Long term test report 18 February 2002 Boy that was good! It had only taken a couple of hundred yards of ever-so-slightly damp roads, glistening in the brilliance of a blue winter’s day, to make me realise what I’d been missing. It must... Read more ...
Own a Castrol Honda racebike for £17000 18 February 2002 IF you think the chances of getting your arse in the seat of a pukka race bike are about the same as winning the Lottery, think again. This time it really could be you.At £17,037, the CBR600F Sport... Read more ...
Does it hurt less in black and white? 18 February 2002 When the world was in monochrome, the accidents were no less spectacular. Read more ...
Win Butlins bash for four by midnight 18 February 2002 Text your entry to our latest mobile phone competition by midnight on February 19 and you could win a weekend for four at the MCN Butlins Spring Spectacular for just £1.It’s on at Skegness on April 12-15. Not been before? It’s one hell of a party. Runners-up get tickets tot he Scottish Motorcycle Show.This is how you can win (competition is currently only available to Vodafone and BT Cellnet... Read more ...
Trailies 18 February 2002 Most popular trailie: BMW R1150GSDon’t expect to get an R1150GS for a bargain-basement price – but do expect one of the most versatile and enjoyable bikes ever.While Japanese bikes may depreciate by... Read more ...
Cruisers 18 February 2002 Most popular cruiser: Harley-Davidson 883Fancy buying into the Harley mystique on a budget? Well, the 883 could be ideal.But make sure you know what you’re getting – Harleys are all about image, so... Read more ...
First test: Jog R and Jog RR 18 February 2002 This machine is a phenomenally important two-wheeler. Not convinced? How about the fact that it replaces one of the biggest-sellers in one of Europe’s biggest markets. Still not that fussed? How about... Read more ...
Sports bikes 18 February 2002 Most popular sports bikes: The CBR600 has been one of Honda’s biggest successes and is now in its 15th year. Few bikes can match its longevity, let alone its sales success. But there’s no secret to... Read more ...
Sports Tourers 18 February 2002 Most popular Sports Tourer: Honda VFR800The VFR800 has been one of Honda’s best-sellers ever since its launch in 1997. That success means there’s no shortage of secondhand bikes about.Dealers reckon... Read more ...
Over 1000 sign-up for protest 18 February 2002 Updated at 9am, Tuesday, February 19: Your response to a newly set-up site to gather response for a possible protest proved so great that a wider band width has had to be installed. You’ll find a link... Read more ...
Honda V4 has the power 18 February 2002 Honda’s 2004 V4 will put bikes like Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 in the shade in pure power terms.Tony Scott, renowned for his tuning work on Honda’s RC30 and 45 V4s says the new superbike will " easily... Read more ...
Litre sports bikes 18 February 2002 Honda FirebladePhone around for insurance before you even decide to buy a FireBlade (the same is true for the R1). You just might get a shock.Most firms insist on two years’ no-claims, as well as two... Read more ...
Better deals on new bikes in comparison with Europe 18 February 2002 WE’RE now getting a better deal on new bikes next to our European neighbours, according to the latest survey of prices.MCN examined the real prices you are likely to pay for 15 different models – and... Read more ...
Tesi mutates into Vyrus 18 February 2002 IF you thought Bimota’s jelly-mould-shaped, hub-centre-steered Tesi was an oddity, take a look at this.It’s called Vyrus. There’s a Forth Bridge-style latticework chassis, an almost complete absence... Read more ...
Cat and Fiddle among danger roads 18 February 2002 The Cat and Fiddle run has been named the second most dangerous road in Britain.The famous stretch of the A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton was only topped by an eight-mile section of A-road in the... Read more ...
How it’s being pitched: The Video ad 18 February 2002 Yamaha has come up with a life-style ad for the new Jog. View it by selecting the Quicktime (MOV) or Real Player (RM) downloads, right. Read more ...
Compare the original letter with Government response 18 February 2002 A Government spokesman has issued an official response to the growing outrage at Environment Minister Michael Meacher’s anti-bike letter to Chief Constables.It appears to claim we have nothing to... Read more ...