2008

Year: 2008

Month: ALL

MCN at Mount Rushmore

09 June 2008 by hadleybigreb

All that way and I still can’t get to read it first!

MCN Daily 09-06-08: Your daily video motorcycle news

09 June 2008

In episode 121 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show MZ closes up shop, Dani Pedrosa wins in Cataluyna and Casey Stoner takes to the track on the 2009 Desmosedici. Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email us here to let us know what you think of the new show.

Kawasaki recall ZZ-R1400s over frame collapse risk

09 June 2008 by Chris Newbigging

Kawasaki is set to recall a number of 2006 and 2007 model ZZ-R1400s over fears that part of the frame could fail and cause the rear suspension to collapse. The UK announcement follows a US recall by...

Donington MotoGP - way overpriced

09 June 2008 by michaelcaulton

Has Bernie Ecclestone taken over MotoGP? I see the cost of tickets has risen along with everything else! Well Mr. Ecclestone you have just lost the cost of two entries. I would rather sit in front of my 42″ LCD HD television and watch the lovely Suzi Perry introduce the motorcycling gods.

Historic motorcycle manufacturer MZ to shut down

09 June 2008 by Liam Marsden

One of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in the world, MZ is to shut down at the end of the year. MZ’s for sale here The German motorcycle manufacturer is due to close down on December 31, 2008...

Harley-Davidson to buy MV Agusta?

09 June 2008 by Ben Purvis

Harley-Davidson could be on the verge of buying the MV Agusta group – including Cagiva – if reports in Italy prove correct. Italian paper Il Messaggero claims Harley is planning a buyout that will see...

No motorcycles at 2012 Olympics site

08 June 2008 by Anonymous

I work at Stratford on the Olympics building site. You can park a bicycle on site but motorcycles are not allowed on site. Surely that is discrimination against motorcyclists.

MCN at Mont St Michel

08 June 2008 by owen

This is a group of motorcyclists who met at the Food Stop cafe, Quatford Bridgnorth and became friends. This picture is outside Mont St Michel in France.

Three days of Thunder video preview

07 June 2008 by Marcus Kingma

Here is a short demo clip from an upcoming motorcycle video.

Motorcyclists should react better

07 June 2008 by brandviolet

I recently was in my car (sorry all) on the Old Kent Road, pulling out into busy traffic in the middle of the day. As a motorcyclist, I was of course being hyper-observant, head on a swivel, really checking all around and pulling out slowly between cars. After checking left-right-left again I edged out and a motorcycle courier, filtering WAY too fast, emerged from behind a white van and nearly...

Video: Yamaha R1 Cup behind the scenes

06 June 2008 by Michael Neeves

MCN man Michael Neeves has been competing in the Yamaha R1 Cup all season and brings us up to date with life in the paddock. The last time we caught up with Michael he’d just had his race snowed off at Brands Hatch, this time we get a proper tour of the action. Watch the video below to see how Michael got on and read the full article in MCN, Wednesday 4 June, 2008.

Video: Bimota DB7 launch report

06 June 2008 by Michael Neeves

Bimota has launched the latest in it’s stunning range of bikes, the Ducati 1098 powered Bimota DB7 and you can see the video report on the motorcycle below. MCN man Michael Neeves has been in Italy to ride the motorbike at it’s launch at the Misano circuit and was impressed. Watch the video below to see what he thought and read the full article in MCN, Wednesday, 11 June, 2008.

Petrol tanker drivers gear up for four-day strike

06 June 2008 by Michael Carroll

Trades union Unite claims it is not trying to use fears of fuel shortages as leverage in a dispute involving tanker drivers who deliver petrol to Shell’s UK forecourts. Motorcyclsits stage fuel...

Bennetts Insurance rip off

06 June 2008 by Paul

I took out some insurance to cover a scooter last year, but towards the end of my insurance deal I sold the bike and let my insurance lapse. I was surprised to find Bennetts insurance company had taken another years payment from my account without notification. I phoned them to find out what was going on and they said they do this automatically if I don’t cancel it. Anyway, I was more surprised to...

Camera overkill on the A505

06 June 2008 by Joe Feely

I live near Stevenage in Herts and work in Bassingbourn near Royston. I travel to work on my 1992 Kawasaki ZZR1100 along the A505. Having just come back from two holidays I was very surprised to find six speed cameras installed along a two mile stretch of the A505 dual carrageway between Baldock and Royston. Five of these are in the central reservation and beside each of those five cameras are...

Video: First look at the 2009 Yamaha V-Max in action

05 June 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Yamaha has officially launched one of it’s most hotly anticipated motorcycles, the new 2009 V-Max and you can see the first video of the V-Max in action here. Check out the video on the right to see...

MCN Daily 05-06-08: Your daily video motorcycle news

05 June 2008 by Michael Carroll, Chris Slade

In episode 119 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show bikers protest against the high cost of petrol, Ducati’s technical director heaps praise on Yamaha’s MotoGP team, and a battered Bradley Smith is aiming for a podium finish at the Catalunya GP this weekend. Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes...

Incident, not Accident

05 June 2008 by Anonymous

Dear MCN, As a motorcyclist of more than 40years standing, I am writing to you, to tell my tale of woe and warn all other bikers. I recently purchased a Kawasaki Z1100 that, whilst being 15 yrs old was immaculate in its condition. I had it checked from head to toe by a local, long standing , family run ‘Kwaka’ dealer. They declared it to be the ‘best example of its kind they had seen. This check...

Car drivers are the danger!

05 June 2008 by hewittrl

Talk about irony. I have been riding bikes for years and haven’t had an accident in nearly 5 years. However my daily commute takes me through Warwick. The traffic in Warwick has got so bad that filtering on my Aprilia RSVR became impossible. So I took to the push bike and on to the new cyclepaths built by Warwick councillast summer. In the last 9 months I have knocked off my pushbike by car...

Accidental death verdict in Steve Hislop inquiry

05 June 2008 by Michael Carroll

Pilot error was not to blame for the fatal helicopter crash that killed Steve Hislop, according to a determination by Edinburgh Sheriff Court. The Sheriff recorded a verdict of accidental death...

2009 Yamaha V-Max official details and pictures

04 June 2008 by Liam Marsden

Yamaha has officially unvelied the 2009 V-Max and MCN can now reveal the official specifications and pictures of the motorcycle. Rea the review of the original Yamaha V-Max The V-Max was orgininally...

MCN and Ducati present the Monster 696

04 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell, Adam Child

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a launch of a new bike? Well Ducati has decided to spill the beans. The full story behind the development and world launch of the new Ducati Monster 696...

New MCN June 4: Pictures of Aprilia's RSV4 Road bike

04 June 2008 by Liam Marsden

CLICK HERE to have a look at the free 16-page digital sample of this week’s MCN! This week MCN has pictures of Aprilia’s RSV4 superbike in road trim during final testing. Showing how the V4 motorcycle...

One-way becomes two for cyclists

04 June 2008 by Michael Carroll

Cyclists are being offered the chance to legitimately ride the wrong way along one-way streets, under a trial being conducted by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The trial is being run on...

Video: John McGuinness tries out 2007 & 2008 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades on TT Mountain course

04 June 2008 by Adam Child

Honda’s new CB1000RR Fireblade won our superbike group test and is great on track but is it better than last year’s motorcycle around the Isle Of Man TT and now you can see them in action in our video test. MCN roadtester Adam Child and TT lap record holder John McGuinness travelled to theIsle Of Man to find out if the 2008 Honda Fireblade is better than the 2007 version. Watch the video below to...

Bad road caused my highside

04 June 2008 by ton57

please could you advise riders of a very dangerous piece road at craig goch reservoir i`ve uploaded some photos for you to see, i was highsided off the bike at about 25-30 mph the road was wet at the...

Hertz Scooters announce three day rental

04 June 2008 by Liam Marsden

Hertz Scooters now has a range of scooters available to rent in London, Paris and 15 other locations in the South of France. The scooters offer a cheap alternative to travel through London since they...

Better roads are key to increasing safety

04 June 2008 by Michael Carroll

UK motorists believe that improvements to the quality of our roads would help to reduce accidents, a survey by the AA shows. Two inch potholes left untreated The AA questioned 17,481 motorists and...

Mobile phone drivers face larger insurance premium

04 June 2008 by Michael Carroll

Insurance companies could hold the key to stamping out the scourge of drivers using their mobile phones without a hands free kit. Information from the AA shows that many insurance companies have...

Oxford Products launch back protector range

04 June 2008 by Liam Marsden

Oxford Products has taken its first foray into the world of motorcycle protection clothing with the launch of its ‘Max Protection’ range of back protectors. In the first independent tests carried out...

Kawasaki announce ‘Ninja Choice’ scheme

03 June 2008 by Michael Carroll

Kawasaki is set to unveil a trio of special offers designed to entice customers towards its Ninja range of motorcycles (the ZX-10R and ZX-6R). ‘Ninja Choice’ is scheduled to launch tomorrow (June 4),...

Video: Kawasaki 250 R Ninja v Hyosung GT250R

03 June 2008 by Michael Neeves

Kawasaki’s new Ninja 250 R and Hyosung GT250R are once again giving new riders something to get excited about and now you can see them in action in our video test. MCN road tester’s Michael Neeves and Adam Child relive their younger days with a nostalgic trip to Chelsea bridge in London. Watch the video below to see if the Ninja 250R made them feel young again and read the full article in MCN,...

MCN on the Beach

02 June 2008 by Elizabeth Blair

My partner Alan Martin reading his MCN on a recent holday to Thudufushi in the Maldives. No place better for reading MCN. Not too great for riding his motorcycle, though!

Road Kill

02 June 2008 by andrew lawrence

On my way to do a trackday at Lydden race track on Sunday 1st June I decided to collect dinner on the way. Got to lydden about five minutes after collecting my dinner but it was still a bit raw –...

Rossi on new Repsol Honda

02 June 2008 by FirebladeRR8

I picked up my new 2008 Honda Fireblade on Friday and being my new pride and joy, thought I would give it a little clean before putting it away. Went into the house, then came back out, only to fine...

My Immaculate R1 Trashed by a Holding Company

02 June 2008 by Ian Skelton

I was knocked off my almost immaculate Yamaha YZF-R1 1998 on 2nd January this year. I was filtering as I was coming out of Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. I was within the white line, then without warning the car I was passing decided he was going to turn into a side road, without looking or indicating. I managed to ride my bike home, despite there being heavy damage to the top fairing, left hand...