2004

Year: 2004

Month: ALL

Toy Runs this weekend

08 December 2004

It’s that Toy Run time of year. If you need a kick up the butt to get out for a ride as the nights draw in, then this is it. On Saturday (Dec 11) North West Bikers hold their charity toy run. Meet at...

Save £5 on web ads

08 December 2004

Now you can save £5 on the price of advertising your bike online. Our new deal offers the saving on a three-week online ad on motorcyclenews.com – the UK’s most-visited bike site.* You can add...

Own a Yamaha XJR?

08 December 2004

We’re looking for owners of Yamaha’s XJR musclebike to take part in a feature on the machines. If you own one of the earlier bikes, or the newer models with Ohlins suspension as standard, we’d like...

M-way lane win for bikes

08 December 2004

Riders will be allowed to use Britain’s first car-pool motorway lane whether or not we carry pillions. The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane is being trialled on the M1 between St Albans, Herts and...

WIN round world DVDs

08 December 2004

If Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s Long Way Round has whetted your appetite for round-the-world biking mayhem, let the following video clips introduce you to Mondo Enduro. The series tells the...

Bike Meets: Dec 8 on

08 December 2004

Each week we publish a list of BIKE MEETS on in the UK. Those listed here are for the week commencing December 8, 2004. WEDNESDAY December 8 Breidden Tea Room, Welshpool, Powys. 6pm. 01938-570053. Bulls Head, Clotton, Cheshire. 01829-781354. Bulls Head, Trinkingstone, Leicestershire. 01530-224327. Coach House Inn, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire. 01455-840330 or...

New boss for Harley

08 December 2004

Harley chief Jeffrey L Bleustein has decided to retire next year, on April 30, 2005. The 65-year-old will remain as Chairman of the Board of Directors, and his successor as Chief Executive Officer...

Rideouts: Dec 8 on

08 December 2004

Each week we publish a list of RIDEOUTS being held across the UK. If you’d like to organise one, or check for the latest ones being arranged, take at a look at our Rideouts forum. Click here WEDNESDAY December 8 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. The Plough, Swinderby, Lincolnshire. 7pm. 01522-881736. THURSDAY December 9 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. Rochdale Road Runners...

Had a theft ignored?

08 December 2004

If you have been an unfortunate victim of a bike theft, and have been ignored by the police, then MCN would like to hear from you. We’re compiling an investigation into how the police handle bike...

Bargain learner bikes

08 December 2004

Honda’s CBR125R is currently the second highest selling bike in the UK with only the Yamaha R1 beating it. But – as a new rider – if you can’t stretch to a new one for £2500, what are your 125cc...

Scooters aren't fun?

08 December 2004

How many scooter riders does it take to perform a wheelie? Follow the video link below and you may be surprised by the answer. We hope they’ve swapped the baseball caps for crash helmets by the time...

Star Jolie buys own MV

08 December 2004

Screen siren Angelina Jolie is now the proud owner of an MV Agusta Brutale. And unlike so many celebs – she’s bought and paid for it herself – the whole £10,500. Jolie, who lives in the UK, appears...

Honda builds new giant

08 December 2004

Honda has started construction work on a new bike factory which will produce half as many bikes in a year as there are bike owners in the UK. The joint venture with the Guangzhou Motors Group Company...

Long Way Round UK tour

08 December 2004

Long Way Round star Charley Boorman is on tour again – but this time it’s a swift blat around the UK with his big-mileage R1150GS to answer your questions about his world-lapping trip with Ewan...

Toseland aids lock idea

08 December 2004

World Superbike champion James Toseland will officially launch a new security scheme at the MCN London Motorcycle Show in February. Lock-2-Lock is the brainchild of London bikers Mike Sladden and Ian...

Set Santa record Dec 19

01 December 2004

The attempt on the record for the largest number of Santas on bikes has changed date and venue. And you now only need to commit to raising £20 as minimum sponsorship. So far around 2000 riders have...

Bargain naked bikes

01 December 2004

With Honda announcing a new Hornet 600 for 2005 and Suzuki’s move to a 650cc Bandit there will be plenty of people looking to upgrade to the new bikes making it a great time to pick up a bargain 600. ...

Backlash over new Bill

01 December 2004

Road user campaign group the Association of British Drivers reckons the new Road Safety Bill just shows the Government is bereft of ideas. “Road death numbers have failed to improve significantly in...

2005 Bandit: First test

01 December 2004

MCN road tester Adam Child has just got back from the first test of the new 650cc Suzuki Bandit and reckons it will make a great first bike. Despite the 50cc rise in capacity the new Bandit gets no...

Shows: Dec 8 on

01 December 2004

Each week we publish a list of SHOWS, RALLIES, EXHIBITIONS and AUCTIONS. These are those for the week commencing December 1, 2004 EXHIBITIONS WEDNESDAY December 8 Sammy Miller Museum, Bashley Manor, New Milton, Hampshire. 10am-4.30pm, open every day. Adults 4.50, children 2 01425-620777 or 01425-616446. WEDNESDAY December 15 Sammy Miller Museum, Bashley Manor, New Milton, Hampshire. 10am-4.30pm,...

MGS-01 going fast

01 December 2004

If you want to be one of the five people in the UK to own one of Moto Guzzi’s exclusiv MGS-01 Corsa track bikes then you’d better move fast. Five of the bikes will be delivered to the UK next week...

4000-strong toy run

01 December 2004

More than 4000 riders are expected to converge on Barnardo’s High Close School in Wokingham on Sunday, each bearing a gift for the children there. The Reading Toy Run it is organised by a teacher at...

Bike test for all drivers?

01 December 2004

Every new driver in Britain should be forced to do the CBT for bikes before being handed their licence. That’s what Transport Secretary Alistair Darling and DSA boss Stephen Hickey have been told in...

Rennie leaps 162ft

01 December 2004

Jason Rennie set a new world indoor record when he leaped 162ft on his Honda CRF450 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday night (Dec 4). And just in case anyone in the audience for the...

First test: 05 ZX-6R

01 December 2004

MCN Road tester Trevor Franklin has just stepped off the 2005 Kawasaki ZX-6R with a big grin on his face and he got straight on the phone from the world launch in Almeria, Spain, to tell us all about...

C-charge boost for bikes

01 December 2004

Bikes are set to get another Mayor-backed boost in London with plans to raise the Congestion Charge for car drivers by 60%. Bikes are exempt from the current £5 charge and Mayor Ken Livingstone is...

Bill makes riding safer

01 December 2004

The latest road safety plans announced by the Government should help the police crack down on dangerous drivers making the roads a much safer place for motorcyclists. But they also include plans to...

05 Hornet 600 unveiled

01 December 2004

Honda unveiled a new-for-2005 Hornet in Italy on Wednesday night (December 1). It now has upside-down forks – the only machine in the naked 600cc class to have them. They’re adjustable for preload. ...

New MCN - out Dec 8

01 December 2004

The latest issue of MCN reaches newsagents on December 8, and if you don’t get a copy, you’ll miss: World’s first ride of the Kawasaki ZX-6 World’s first test of the Suzuki Bandit 600 Old vs New: 2001...

New Diesel spills forum

01 December 2004

Spotted a diesel spill? Alert the biggest possible audience of fellow riders as quickly as possible by posting on our newly-created Diesel Watch forum. We’ve already set-up a Theft Watch forum for...

Bike Meets: Dec 1 on

01 December 2004

Each week we publish a list of BIKE MEETS on in the UK. Those listed here are for the week commencing December 1, 2004. WEDNESDAY December 1 Breidden Tea Room, Welshpool, Powys. 6pm. 01938-570053. Bulls Head, Clotton, Cheshire. 01829-781354. Bulls Head, Trinkingstone, Leicestershire. 01530-224327. Coach House Inn, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire. 01455-840330 or...

Trackdays: Dec 8 on

01 December 2004

Each week we publish a list TRACKDAYS, RIDING SCHOOLS and MINI MOTO. Those listed below are for the week commencing December 8, 2004. TRACK DAYS SUNDAY December 12 Focused Events Track Day, Brands Hatch Indy, Kent. 01903-744011 or www.focusedevents.com. RIDING SCHOOLS WEDNESDAY December 8 Windy Corner Off-Road Experience, Barwell, Leicestershire. 01455-842922 or www.windycorner.co.uk. SUNDAY...

National Museum opens

01 December 2004

The National Motorcycle Museum re-opened for to the public today, Wednesday December 1, a stunning 13 months after it was gutted by fire. Around 380 machines were damaged as the fire swept through...

Off Road: Dec 8 on

01 December 2004

Each week we publish a list of off road events held in the UK. They include SPEEDWAY, MOTOCROSS, SUPERCROSS, TRIALS and SUPERMOTO events. These are those for the week starting December 1 on, 2004. MOTOCROSS SUNDAY December 12 Moredon MXC, Devizes, Wiltshire. 01454-883569. Wilden MXC, Kidderminster, Worcestershire. 0121-520-4261. Matchams MX, Matchams Park, nr Ringwood, Hampshire.

New Italian V-twins

01 December 2004

MotoMorini has used the Bologna Motorshow to officially launch its long awaited new bikes. The 9 ½ and the Corsaro 1200 have been on the cards since the company relaunched a year ago but this is the...

Off Road: Dec 1 on

01 December 2004

Each week we publish a list of off road events held in the UK. They include SPEEDWAY, MOTOCROSS, SUPERCROSS, TRIALS and SUPERMOTO events. These are those for the week starting December 1 on, 2004. MOTOCROSS SUNDAY December 5 East Kent SSC, Lamberhurst, Kent. 07969-458863. Mid Wilts SMXC, Westonbirt, Gloucestershire. 01666-840551. Llanthorny Castle, Bettws Newydd, Monmouthshire.