February

Year: 2005

Month: February

No more Little Chef?

25 February 2005

You could be tucking into your last Sunday morning Little Chef breakfast this year. The firm is being sold off and the brand could disappear for ever. Owner Permira plans to sell the 120 Little Chef...

Mystery of Madrid riders

25 February 2005

motorcyclenews.com user Andy Reeves spotted this mystery gang of riders in Madrid last week. Andy explained: “All the riders appeared to have Pepsi logos on their helmets. I saw in the papers the...

Black box threat from EU

25 February 2005

The threat of a ‘black box’ being fitted to every new motorcycle has come a step closer with an EU request to police forces to test the technology. The results will be used to help the EU decide...

Euro fine loophole closed

25 February 2005

The loophole which allowed speeders to avoid fines if the offence was committed abroad has been closed by a new European Union law passed on February 24, 2005. Now, if you are given a fine or fixed...

Bike sales at 5-year high

25 February 2005

The number of bikes bought and sold in the UK is at its highest in five years. The growth is being driven by a boom in used bike sales – an increase so great that it easily outstrips the relatively...

Deals on new Guzzis

25 February 2005

Get your hands on a new Moto Guzzi before the end of March and not only will you get it interest free but you could win a trip to Italy. The Italian firm is offering an interest free finance package...

BMW and Aprilia in talks

18 February 2005

BMW and Aprilia are having talks over merging some elements of their production and development plans. The firms have worked together in the past – on the first generation BMW F650 bikes. They were built by Aprilia from 1993 to 1999 –after which production switched to Berlin. In a statement on Friday, BMW said the discussions related to “conceivable efforts in development and production,” but...

Piaggio loses top boss

18 February 2005

Piaggio UK’s top man has quit his job after only a year and a half. Martin Marshall, general manager of Piaggio UK, has decided that the high rolling job is not what he wants at the moment and has...

Shows: Feb23 on

18 February 2005

Each week we publish a list of SHOWS, RALLIES, EXHIBITIONS and AUTOJUMBLES. These are those for the week commencing February 23, 2005. SHOWS THURSDAY February 24 Paris Tuning Show, Parc des Expositions, Paris-le Bourget. www.paristuningshow.com. FRIDAY February 25 Paris Tuning Show, Parc des Expositions, Paris-le Bourget. www.paristuningshow.com. Historic Motorsport Show, Stoneleigh Park, nr...

Bikes on TV: Feb 23 on

18 February 2005

Each week we publish a list of biking TV shows so you don’t miss out. Those listed here are for the week commencing January 5, 2005. KEY TO CHANNELS: DHL = Discovery Home & Leisure MM = Men & Motors EXS = Extreme Sports Channel MOT = Motors TV, SS1 (2,3 or X) = Sky Sports 1 (2,3 or Extra) EUR = British Eurosport Wednesday 23 1am SS2 Bikesport UK 12noon MM Full Throttle Famous 12.30pm MM Road vs...

Bike Meets: Feb 23 on

18 February 2005

Each week we publish a list of BIKE MEETS on in the UK. Those listed here are for the week commencing February 23, 2005. WEDNESDAY February 23 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...

Barred riders sue bar

18 February 2005

A bike club is suing a bar because its members were turned away for turning up on bikes and wearing bike kit. The Sons of Silence Motorcycle Club has filed a lawsuit against the North Star Bar in...

50 greatest bikes: 30-21

18 February 2005

We asked you to name your favourite bike of all time and you responded in your tens of thousands – choosing everything from pre-war Brits to cutting edge racers. Each week in MCN we’ve be counting...

Off Road: Feb 23 on

18 February 2005

Each week we publish a list of off road events held in the UK. They include MOTOCROSS, TRIALS, ENDURO AND SUPERMOTO events. These are those for the week starting February 23, 2005. MOTOCROSS SUNDAY February 27 Melville MXC, Lochhouse Farm, East Lothian. 01368-863883. Mid Wilts SMXC, Luckington, Wiltshire. 01666-840551. Wilden MXC, Kidderminster, Worcestershire. 0121-520-4261. Leicester Hunters,...

Road surface worries

18 February 2005

A new road surface being used on motorways and trunk roads across the UK has serious safety concerns according to an investigation by the BBC. The material, stone mastic asphalt (SMA), has been...

Gatso nets £4.2m

18 February 2005

A single speed camera in Nottingham has netted £4.2m in fines after catching almost 76,000 motorists in five years. The Specs camera, located on the A610, has caught almost one third of the 280,000...

Top time to bag a Hornet

18 February 2005

The Honda Hornet is a hit with seasoned riders and new arrivals to biking alike. And with a new buying guide on the built-for-fun 600 published in this week’s MCN (out since Feb 23, 05) it’s a great...

Riding Schools: Feb23 on

18 February 2005

Each week we publish a list of RIDING SCHOOLS on in the UK. Those listed here are for the week commencing February 23, 2005. FRIDAY February 25 MCN Honda Off-Road Experience, Caister. 01933-674036. SATURDAY February 26 First Bike on Scene course, Preston, Lancashire. 45 01772-773040 or www.firstaid-training.com. MCN Honda Off-Road Experience, Caister. 01933-674036. WEDNESDAY March 2 MCN Honda...

Two new Piaggios

18 February 2005

Piaggio has announced the arrival of two new scooters for 2005, the latest in the Vespa family and a new member of the X family with vast acres of storage space. The new Vespa LX will replace the...

New MCN - out NOW

18 February 2005

The new issue of MCN hits the shelves on Wednesday February 23, 2005, with the exclusive revelation the Government Transport Minister wants us to go out and have fun on bikes. And we pit the Yamaha...

Blair's bike plan revealed

18 February 2005

Tony Blair’s Government has finally come up with a National Motorcycling Strategy – eight years after he first told MCN it was on its way. Better late then never – because the great news is that...

Video: FireBlade for sale

18 February 2005

Want to take a closer look at a bike for sale before you go and make an offer? You can, with the video clips MCN offers FREE. Here’s the latest one added – it’s a 2002 Honda CBR900 FireBlade. It’s...

Boorman on tour again

18 February 2005

Charley ‘Long Way Round’ Boorman is on tour again – this time it’s a whistle-stop promo trip around UK BMW dealerships, taking in the MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show. And the tour starts on Friday – Feb...

Dirt Show to expand

18 February 2005

The organisers of the 2005 Dirt Rider Expo are planning to make the event bigger and better after the success of the 2004 show. The 2005 Dirt Rider Expo will again take place at Stoneleigh Park, on...

Mad Fireblade fighter

18 February 2005

German bike firm Spaehn Racing has launched the latest in it’s range of customised naked bikes, offering styling to rival some of the top production machines. The Deep Bull is based on a Honda...

Rideouts: Feb 23 on

18 February 2005

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 February 23 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. The Plough, Swinderby, Lincolnshire. 7pm. 01522-881736. THURSDAY February 24 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. Rochdale Road...

Track events: Feb 23 on

18 February 2005

Each week we publish a list of track events. Those listed below are for the week commencing February 23, 2005. ROAD RACING SATURDAY February 26 Test day for race bikes, Bishopscourt, County Down. 028-4484-2202. World Superbikes, Losail, Qatar. 00974-4379-788. NG Road Racing – test day, Pembrey, Dyfed. 01452-538135 or www.ngroadracing.org. TRACK DAYS WEDNESDAY February 23 100% Bikes Trackday,...

MCN raises £18k for RfH

18 February 2005

Suzi Perry and Randy Mamola helped MCN and the biking industry raise more than £18,000 for Riders for Health. That’s the final total raised during a charity auction at the star-studded MCN Awards...

3000 mile charity ride

18 February 2005

Motorcyclist Jonathan Formstone will begin a 3000-mile ride around the coastline of Britain on Sunday February 27, 2005, to raise money for Tsunami victims. Formstone, 29, will raise cash for the...

Video: MZ SF first test

18 February 2005

You can see the MZ 1000SF in action during the world first test ride by downloading the video, below. MCN’s Matt Wildee flew out to Malaga in Spain to test the bike, and the full report will be in...

GSX-R1000 group test

18 February 2005

MCN’s crack road testers are off riding Suzuki’s new GSX-R1000 against its hottest rivals and you can read our full verdict in the March 9 issue of MCN. You’ll be glad to know we’ve left our...

50 greatest bikes: 40-31

11 February 2005

We asked you to name your favourite bike of all time and you responded in your tens of thousands – choosing everything from pre-war Brits to cutting edge racers. Each week in MCN we’ll be counting...

Rate this week's MCN

11 February 2005

If you’ve already seen this week’s MCN – complete with its world first group test of the new Bandit and the Fazer – we want to hear what you think of it. Simply CLICK HERE to give us your verdict. ...

Rideouts: Feb 16 on

11 February 2005

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 February 16 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. The Plough, Swinderby, Lincolnshire. 7pm. 01522-881736. THURSDAY February 17 IN-4 (KTM) tracks and trails. 01270-768562. Rochdale Road...

Video verdict: 05 Hornet

11 February 2005

MCN’s Trevor Franklin has been testing the updated 05 version of Honda’s Hornet 600F. You can read his full, exclusive report in MCN – out on Wednesday February 16, 2005 (alongside our world first...

Bikes on TV: Feb 16 on

11 February 2005

Each week we publish a list of biking TV shows so you don’t miss out. Those listed here are for the week commencing January 5, 2005. KEY TO CHANNELS: DHL = Discovery Home & Leisure MM = Men & Motors EXS = Extreme Sports Channel MOT = Motors TV, SS1 (2,3 or X) = Sky Sports 1 (2,3 or Extra) EUR = British Eurosport Wednesday 16 2am MOT 2004 French Supermoto 3am MOT World Supersport 7am MOT Le...