2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Video: Norton NRV testing at Donington

05 April 2009 by Anonymous

Look at this video! New NRV looks hot!

Joe Public 1 - Police 0

05 April 2009 by Jon

As an avid MCN reader and rider, and MCN Forum member, I have felt the compelling need to sit down and write in after your recent stories covering the newly installed ‘Motorcycle Detection Systems’...

Montblanc tunnel, Italy

05 April 2009 by jon spencer

Me and the mrs, Diane, waiting to go through the montblanc tunnel on our way to Italy.

Our bikes don't fly...

05 April 2009 by Davy F

We tried to get closer to the ‘Harry Potter’ railway bridge in Scotland, but found that our bikes didn’t have the ability to fly!

Czech Republic is a hidden biking gem

04 April 2009 by the rage

I’ve been over here in the Czech Republic for a wee while now, just thought I’d let you know it’s a hidden bikers gem. So are all the surrounding areas and countries – Austria, Poland, Germany...

Just nipping out for some (French) bread

04 April 2009 by ianludwell

Just nipping out for a loaf of bread I said… how did we finish up in Verdun France?! Who knows. She was not pleased!

My winter project

03 April 2009 by Norman Bell

I have been hard at work building a GP replica over the winter months, and this is it. Lightened, tuned, loads of go faster bits fitted, and it is as hard if not harder to ride quickly as my old 98...

On the way up Kirkston Pass

03 April 2009 by Paul1810

Last Thursday in the glorious weather we had on the way up to Kirkston Pass in Cumbria.

First Aprilia Shiver GT arrives in the UK

03 April 2009 by Chris Newbigging

On Yer Bike Aprilia has received the first 2009 Aprilia Shiver GT in the UK, and is on sale at £6499. Just one bike is available in maroon, and 0% finance over £36 months is also being offered with a...

Lord Brocket plans charity ride

03 April 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Celebrity jailbird Lord Brocket – best known for his love of fast cars – will embark on a 10,000 mile charity motorcycle ride. Brocket, who starred in the last series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of...

Friday debate: Your 1000cc dream garage

03 April 2009 by James Keen

You have a total of 1000cc to spend. What’s in your dream garage? The rule is you can have as many or as few bikes as you want, as long as in total their combined engine capacity does’t exceed 1000cc.

Video: Aprilia RSV4 promo video

03 April 2009 by James Keen

Aprilia have released this classy promotional video to coincide with the world launch of the new Aprilia RSV4. Visit the Aprilia RSV4 launch centre Read the world first ride report on the Aprilia...

Yamaha MT-02 concept idea

03 April 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

A new concept dedicated to Yamaha. The MT-02 Concept is a proposal for the purest style cafè racer. Based on a V Twin 1000 already used for concept SAKURA, it wants to start a new trend for Yamaha,...

Sports touring on a Desmosedici

03 April 2009 by Dave Larvan

I took my Desmo to AYR campsite in St. Ives, and used that as a base for exploring the tip of Cornwall and Lands end. After a week of riding down there, I head back home to South Yorks, with a little...

MCN in Havana

03 April 2009 by Geoff Cook

Here I am reading MCN next to Fidel Castro’s preferred mode of transportation in the Cuban capital.

Report on riding a KTM 990 SMT

02 April 2009 by rogersouthcott

Spring fever is upon me so, being a fickle individual, I am considering changing my bike for something new. Perhaps not brand new, but certainly different to my existing BMW R1150R (Rockster – yes I know it’s a stupid name for a bike!). Having had in-line 4 rice rockets, I wanted a naked twin with a bit of pillion comfort and the Beemer fitted the bill. Continuing with this trend I recently took...

Julian Ryder to appear in new series of Red Dwarf

02 April 2009 by Rupert Paul

Yes, that really is Eurosport MotoGP commentator Julian Ryder on the set of the new Red Dwarf mini-series. Ryder plays the part of a bus driver in Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, which goes out on Dave over...

30% off Yamaha leathers

02 April 2009 by Marc Abbott

Throughout April and May you can snap up a Professional one-piece or Mako two-piece suit with 30% off from official dealers. The kit, made for Yamaha by Dainese, is made from 1-2mm cowhide. Compare...

ABS? No Thanks!

02 April 2009 by Phil Darling

With regard to ABS for bikes i feel that it will not compensate for the lack of either steering or braking skill on the part of the rider. ABS fitted on cars etc is fine, in good weather/condition. However in icy/slippery conditions it is a different situation altogether as no doubt many of us have experienced even under gentle use of brakes only to find that the brake pedal goes solid. Whatever...

Aprilia RSV4 first ride

02 April 2009 by Michael Neeves

The Aprilia RSV4 launch took place at Misano in Italy. MCN’s Michael Neeves was out there riding the RSV4 and reporting back with his impressions of Aprilia’s new flagship supersports bike. Weather...

At the Nurburgring

01 April 2009 by steve hallam

Out on a trip with my pal Joe, just waiting for our first lap of the nurburgring…. No I didnt remember any of the bends – just head down and go!

Aprilia RSV4: countdown to first ride

01 April 2009 by Michael Neeves

It’s the night before the big day! Tomorrow I finally get to ride Aprilia‘s brand new RSV4 around Misano circuit in northern Italy. I still haven’t actually seen one in the flesh yet, but they’ve got...

Get your tyres fitted at home

01 April 2009 by M.Blacker

The magic of having your tyers fitted at home! oh what fun, and as it was on my drive no police issues…. As a local lad to MCN (Peterborough), how nice it was to find a mobile fitter and biker that...

Russ from Exile Cycles

01 April 2009 by bruce robinson

Krista and russ from Exile Cycles at earls court!

Free panniers with BMW R1200GS

01 April 2009 by Andy Downes

BMW is giving away free panniers with every new R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure from April 1 to the end of September 2009. The panniers are worth £459 on the regular GS and £603 on the Adventure. BMW is...

My Everyday Superbikes site

01 April 2009 by Phill Kaye

My site is about the bikes a couple of friends and I own, and the places we go – mostly the short break trips we go on to places like the Isle of Man or the Nurburgring and other race tracks that are now roads. It may be of intrest to somebody. I update it regularly and it gets between 10 and 30 hits a day, from somewhere! I am not selling anything from the site, however as its a free site...

Moto Guzzi V1000G5 - the rottweiler of the motorcycle world

01 April 2009 by Joe Mourino

Rottweilers. They burp, fart, and snarl like no-one’s business. To some they inspire dread, no doubt by association with satanic shennanigans in The Omen, while to others they are the best pets you could ever hope for; loyal, dependable, while being suitably scary enough to deter the would-be miscreant from any thought of mischief. Squadra Guzzista member Keith’s 1983 V1000G5 is a bit like a...

Why ride a bike?

01 April 2009 by Joe Mourino

Why you should ride a motorcycle?! I used to live in Central London. Approximately 15 years ago I moved to Kent (about 25 miles away) and my commuting fares would have cost me more than £2500 per...

Designer Ducati Monsters up for auction

01 April 2009 by James Keen

A group of fashion students have designed 3 one-off Monster 696s in conjunction with Ducati and Puma. Find a Ducati Monster 696 for sale Students Abigail Briggs, Charlotte La Roche, and Laura...

Aerostitch unveils remote-operated zip

01 April 2009 by MCN

Over one hundred all-new items are in the new 2009 Aerostich and RiderWearHouse catalog, including a miniature ‘Remote Control Zipper Sliders’ option. The battery powered zippers are an upgrade for the vents on Aerostich Roadcrafter and Darien suits. A separate version will be available in November for the waterproof leather Aerostich Transit suit. he unique sliders are the result of...

SRAD rebuild after a big off

01 April 2009 by Kevin Gorski

After a big accident involving a lorry, my Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD was left destroyed, so during the rebuild I took the opportunity to get a custom Shark paint job. A foreign truck pulled out of a side...

Ventura Luggage offer – Conditions

01 April 2009 by MCN

Offer Offer applies to full Ventura Bike Pack Systems only. Full System comprises: L-Brackets; Pack-Rack, Sports-Rack, Grab Handle and Spada or Delta Bag. The Ventura Aerodynamic Bike-Pack System is made up of three core components. The L-Brackets, the racks and the packs… L-Brackets All L-Brackets are individually designed and custom-made for your model bike to complement rather than detract...

Motrax Super Sticky Tyre Paint released!

01 April 2009 by Pete Sumner

Seen this on the Motrax website – super sticky Track Day Tyre Paint – looks like a right laugh! http://www.motrax.co.uk/index.php?mod=new_developments

Tired old knacker

31 March 2009 by bigbaldbikerbloke

My mate Pete, who fell asleep while doing a job on my son Alex’s ped!

Tiger woes in NZ

31 March 2009 by kiwikeith

On August the 31st last year I took my 2007 Triumph Tiger 1050, done 29,000ks, to my Triumph dealer to investigate a rather loud metalic knock in the motor upon cold start, which started at around 20k miles. To cut a very long story short, the three pistons and liners had deep scores in them and were replaced. I was told that a crook batch of pistons and liners had made their way to the...

1950s boat becomes bike trailer

31 March 2009 by Paul Vanderhook

We at GSS Motorcycle Carriers and Recovery are quite particular when it comes to our Motorcycle Transport, we run a Independent Motorcycle Carrier Service, so when I first saw the “boat” my heart sank...