2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

My first track day

16 April 2009 by pbraithers

My first track day at Donnington park and definately not my last!

Northumberland Police force have stopped using motorcycles?

16 April 2009 by Anonymous

I have been given this story by an ex cop – Northumberland Police force have stopped using motorcycles in their force as of now and have already sold their complete stock of motorcycles to another force. This now means every motorcycle nutter in the country can come onto northumberland roads and race around without much fear of being caught. For us more sensible riders it means less protection...

New bike test shambles

16 April 2009 by WILLIAM PILKINGTON

At the tender age of 51 and after the DVLA had lost details of my original Bike license passed several decades ago, I decided to re-take the test and get back on the road before the new two part practical Bike test come into play on the 27th April. Unfortunately, I failed the current practical test this week and needed to book a re-test, which lands on the very first day the new test takes effect.

Welcome back to biking

16 April 2009 by harry blair

I’d like to say welcome back to biking to Harry Moffat age 77 of Johnstone renfrewshire, after 40 odd years, he just bought my 84 Suzuki sb 200. He has been a loyal MCN reader for years. Also welcome to my brother-in-law Ian Horner, age 59, who took his CBT and now has a 125 dragstar. He’d never been on a bike before that. He loves it and is planning to go for his test later this year!

Blog: Kerrang's Luke Wilkins on bikes part 3

16 April 2009 by Luke Wilkins

Motorbike: Yamaha XT660Z Tenere Engine: 660cc Miles: 200 over all terrain! Price: £4900 OTR Propensity to shout “To Infinity & Beyond” while getting on bike: Uber Okay, I’m not going to lie, when...

Can Brits beat Yanks to 400mph?

16 April 2009 by Rupert Paul

For over half a century the world motorcycle land speed record has been held by Americans. Now a UK team, led by a former Manx GP racer, hopes to change that. Gabriel Uttley plans to whup the...

New GPR exhaust for Suzuki Gladius

16 April 2009 by Marc Abbott

GPR exhausts has created a kit especially for the SXV650 Gladius. The Grand Prix Evolution slip on will shave a full 4kg off the standard OE exhaust part, and if you opt for the firm’s ‘de-cat’ pipe...

Three inline wheels better than two?

16 April 2009 by Rupert Paul

A Paris-based bike designer has come up with a new form of motorcycle – with three inline wheels. The idea is to keep all the fun and manoeuvreability of a two-wheeled bike, but make it harder to...

New 'Mobi' mobile pressure washer

16 April 2009 by Marc Abbott

The new Mobi pressure washer will run off either 240v mains or 12v car cigarette lighter. With a 15-litre tank, the Mobi has a variable pressure output, ranging from 45.5psi to 130.5psi, which the...

Sprocket picking out my new lid

16 April 2009 by mattbeef

My dog Sprocket picking my new lid from your helmet guide.

Nazi TT – you couldn’t make it up!

16 April 2009 by Marc Abbott

‘The Nazi TT – Hitler’s 1939 propaganda victory on the Isle of Man’, a 104-page hardback book by Roger Willis, is published next month – and it could well be the greatest motorcycling story never...

Learn adventure riding skills from the masters

16 April 2009 by Marc Abbott

New book ‘Adventure Riding Techniques: The essential guide to all the skills you need for off-road adventure riding’ by Robert Wicks & Greg Baker has just been published by Haynes. Here’s what they...

Made-to-measure leathers at knock-down prices

16 April 2009 by Marc Abbott

British leather kit manufacturer Carrera is having a huge sale of its stock of trousers, jackets, one-and two-piece suits at its Nottingham warehouse, including one-piece ready-made suits for sale at...

Future MotoGP champ

16 April 2009 by madstu

Sam dreaming of being a MotoGP champ!

MCN Live! Oct 08 video

16 April 2009 by MADMARK99

Here’s a taste of MCN Live! from October 2008. Top Bike weekend and Loadsa activities for all. Book tickets now for MCN Live! Get along to Butlins Skeggy in April 09 and see for yourselves 🙂

Tyga bodywork for Kawasaki Ninja 250

15 April 2009 by Marc Abbott

Aftermarket fairing, exhaust and performance legends Tyga are continuing their reputation for racier-looking body kits for smaller capacity machines, by creating this new kit for the big-selling...

Disabled biker - sorry won't quote you

15 April 2009 by Graham Picksley

I find myself so annoyed after phoning for a insurance quote from “The Bike Insurer”. I lost the use of my right arm after a racing accident at Mallory Park 7 years ago. However not ready to stop riding I got myself a nice light Aprilla RS250 and converted it to a thumb operated front brake and left hand throttle. I reapplied for my bike licence from the DVLA, which I got no problem. Since then I...

Jawa Californian 660

15 April 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

Are you sure that the bike you need is a superbike or a naked from 160 cv? What about a motorcycle that has a classic shape, is easy, inexpensive and can carry you to the sea with a guitar on your...

Petition (or new religion?)

15 April 2009 by s1eveandrew5

How about a petition? Something along the lines of “stop stereotyping and encouraging prejudice against bikers- spend police money on ‘intelligent’ traffic police, not ultra-specific electronic...

Harley-Davidson price increases announced

15 April 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Harley-Davidson has confirmed price increases of up to 10% across its motorcycle range from May 1. Find a Harley-Davidson for sale The Touring, Dyna and Softail families are hit the hardest with...

Chillin with MCN in Greece

15 April 2009 by theboywhite

This is me chilling out over the Easter holidays in Pergos, Greece!

Driving licences

15 April 2009 by P. E. Simmonds

As I recently turned 70 I have had to renew my driving licence, getting my first photo licence in the process. I knew of the DVLA losing motorcycle entitlements so before I applied for the new licence I rang the DVLA. The woman I spoke to confirmed that they had a motorcycle entitlement on my records, but did admit in the course of the conversation that there had been problems with losing such...

Fed up with being labeled as bad!

14 April 2009 by Wayne

I decided being that Bank Holiday Monday was a real nice day, to get out on my TL1000R for a ride out for a few hours, I decided to go from Swindon – Bibury-Burford-Stanlake-Wantage-A34 South – Newbury – Hungerford – Marlborough – Avebury then home. A nice ride out for a few hours on my own I thought, nothing to intense, just a nice ride out. Now reading recently in MCN about these new stealth...

Gutted

14 April 2009 by Anonymous

My pride and joy that I saved for years to buy got nicked last week. My beloved bright blue 2006 Triumph Sprint went missing last week after I left it outside a mates house in Battersea, London. For those that have had this happen to them you will know how this feels…. and with summer on its way with no bike, it just makes it worse. So if anyone has seen it reg. WA56AMK please contact the...

Barry Sheene - a great man

14 April 2009 by martin green

I just want to tell you of a story that happened to me a few years back in 2002 concerning the late great Barry Sheene. In the late 90s arai produced a Sheene nr3 replica which unfortunatley i could never afford to buy. Anyhow to cut a long story short i wrote to barry in late april 2002 to ask him if he knew of anywhere i could now purchase the helmet as my local arai stockists told me the...

Replacement of corroded parts under warranty

14 April 2009 by Anonymous

Bought my Suzuki SV650s brand new in October 2008. Despite regular cleaning and copious amounts of FS365, by March 2009 numerous parts of the bike had corroded (mainly nuts and bolts). Discussed with...

Free Movie download: A Winter Ride from Snow to Palm Trees

14 April 2009 by Stephen Corke

I survived! It was freakin cold but made it! And I have finally posted the video online free to download at www.keywestclutch.com. The documentary is about a winter motorbike ride from Toronto, Canada...

Poll: Should the government give you a subsidy to buy a new bike if you scrap an old car?

14 April 2009 by MCN

MCN wants to find out what British bikers think about the issues facing motorcycling today. That’s why from now on we’ll be running weekly polls to gather your opinions on all aspects of biking. This...

Hein Gericke under new British ownership

14 April 2009 by James Keen

Leading motorcycle clothing and accessories retailer Hein Gericke has been bought by its existing management team, meaning that the company is now British owned. The group of buyers is composed of...

Valentino Rossi to test Dainese airbag suit

14 April 2009 by Rob Hull

Eight-time World Champion, Valentino Rossi, will have his part to play in the development of Dainese‘s airbag racesuit. The D-Air suit broke cover in November 2007 when numerous smaller-class Grand...

New MCN April 15: 186bhp Bayliss rep ridden

14 April 2009 by James Keen

Read the world first test of the limited edition Ducati 1098R Bayliss Replica, pick up a free 16-page helmet guide and learn the secrets behind the 2-wheel drive Yamaha R1 – all in this week’s edition...

Big turn out at the 2009 Durham Easter Egg Run

14 April 2009 by Bulchy

There was a big turn out for the Durham Easter Egg Run!

DVLA license problem is widespread

13 April 2009 by terry phillips

This problem with the dvla wiping licenses is wide spread, I passed my bike test over 20 years ago, changed my licence and entitlement is missing. I rang DVLA, got told to prove i had passed my test – they will not add my entitlement back on my licence, but i have got 11 years no claims bonus on my insurance for my curent bike. I am prepared to go to court and fight it out there if i am ever...

Road Safety

13 April 2009 by Anonymous

Well summer is coming soon, a happy time for most of us who enjoy a good ride through the twisties. Unfortunately I made the mistake of going into Wales on a sunday morning, totally against my principles and better judgement. I bought myself a low mileage Ducati 999, two weeks ago, and like a big kid (i’m 54 and been riding for nearly fourty years), decided to try her out. Street legal pipes,...

R1 moment

12 April 2009 by Anonymous

Just wanted to share the moment…

Biker discrimination in Wales?

12 April 2009 by Tony Mills

What a glorious morning for a ride down to wales – or so i thought. I went my usual route, through Market Drayton to the raven up to llangolen on to the horse shoe pass to the ponderosa. Then down into wrexham and thats where it all changed the blue and a siren brought me to a stand still. I wondered what the problem was, i was totaly legal and hadn’t been speeding, “whats the problem” i asked,...