2009

Bikers always the Villains never the Victims

Five bikers have been killed in little over a week in Scotland and no one doubts that it is anything but a tragedy. As bikers we need to take responsibility for our own actions because in most cases if we are involved in an accident we are the ones who are going to face the most serious consequences. It is up to us to ensure our riding style and bike are up to scratch. Having said all of that I...

Ducati Streetfighter - countdown to first ride

Ducati Streetfighter - countdown to first ride

MCN will be the first people in the world to ride the new 155bhp Ducati Streetfighter at the Ascari racetrack in Spain on Wednesday morning. Read the world first ride report on the Ducati...

Tucano Urbano updates collection for ’09 spring/summer

Tucano Urbano updates collection for ’09 spring/summer

Italian scooter and motorcycle wear brand, Tucano Urbano, has released information on their latest range for 2009. News direct from Italy is that they’ve gone along the lines of hitting four different...

Roger the 70-year-old hooligan

Roger the 70-year-old hooligan

My Son David hired a Harley 883 Iron as a treat for my 70th birthday. I had it for 2 days and did 260 miles on it! I got over 60 mpg out of it too! It’s the largest heaviest bike I`ve ridden in 51...

TfL's unbiased bus lane survey

Following reports that not enough motorcyclists compared with cyclists are taking the opportunity to have their say about motorcycles being allowed in London’s bus lanes, motorcyclists visiting Transport for London’s survey web page will find that this survey/questionnaire is anonymous! Clearly LfT haven’t considered this means that militant cyclists with nothing better to do can sit around...

DL1000 V-Strom discontinued

DL1000 V-Strom discontinued

The Suzuki DL1000 and DL1000GT V-Strom models appear to have been discontinued by Suzuki. The bikes no longer appear on the official Suzuki UK website, although they are still available in the USA. It...

Wishing I was Vale

Wishing I was Vale

I started doing trackdays last May after passing my test. On the road bored me, so I only do trackdays now – more safe and no points! I decided to change my Honda SP1 into a Fiat Honda M2!

The famous Westgate Road in Newcastle

The famous Westgate Road in Newcastle

Always loads of bikes at Westgate Road in Newcastle!

At the Penshaw Monument

At the Penshaw Monument

Close to home – Penshaw Monument, Tyne & Wear.

Impression of the Norton F1 Rotation-66 build

Impression of the Norton F1 Rotation-66 build.

173mph driver avoids jail

OK, so this guy was in a car not on a bike, but I thought I should draw people’s attention to this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/7955457.stm The police have allegedly clocked him at nearly 50mph more than his car is capable of, the the CPS insist that “the officers’ speed recording device was reliable.” Why is this relevant to us? Well, imagine if he was riding something like a...

Florida to Alaska - Attican Pass

Florida to Alaska-Attican Pass and Deadhorse.

Ducati Pantah 696

Ducati Pantah 696

In the immediate future, besides “TOP” models , Ducait should launch a more basic range of motorcycles. The PANTAH in past has been the symbol of Ducati. Less sophisticated and powerful bike that...

Mirror wideners for Triumph Bonneville

Mirror wideners for Triumph Bonneville

Norman Hyde has added a new mirror stem extension for modern-classic Triumph Bonneville to their current range on the back of existing research findings on lack of rear view visibility on...

Muc-Off Microfibre wash mitt

Muc-Off Microfibre wash mitt

New from Muc-Off is this handy microfibre wash mitt, which features a double-sided surface. The microfibres are claimed to disintegrate dirt “into miniscule particles”, while the bug-removing...

Roadtrip to Germany

Roadtrip to Germany

Our trip to Germany via France in 06. From the left: Steve, Travis, Jurgen and John. 1800 miles in the week, resting at the peage in France, also trying to keep cool.

Is your Driving Licence valid?

Very Important for drivers…… Please pass on to all workers / volunteers. Unwitting motorists face £1,000 fines as thousands of photo card driving licences expire Thousands of motorists are at risk of being fined up to £1,000 because they are unwittingly driving without a valid licence. They risk prosecution after failing to spot the extremely small print on their photo card licence which says it...

Hein Gericke launch deal website

Hein Gericke launch deal website

Hein Gericke has launched a brand new website that’s aimed at getting the best deals on riding kit for us riders. 4THERIDE.co.uk gives motorcyclists the chance to take advantage of regular special...

KBC launch Ed Hardy tattoo range

KBC launch Ed Hardy tattoo range

Ed Hardy has put his own marks on celebrities including David Beckham, Sylvester Stallone and Madonna, and now you can have a helmet with designs penned by the man himself. Marketed as Ed Hardy...

New Norton rotary race bike testing at Donington

New Norton rotary race bike testing at Donington

MCN reader Richard Owen shot this new video and picture of the Norton NRV588 rotary race bike at Donington this week. The bike was testing on a public track day with factory rider Michael Dunlop, who...

Would you take business advice from American Chopper star!

Would you take business advice from American Chopper star!

The short answer is yes. Paul Teutel Snr invested his retirement fund in creating Orange County Choppers, and since 2002 (with the first showing of American Chopper on TV), his firm has gone from...

Avirex Top Gun jacket

Avirex Top Gun jacket

This jacket seems to have flown under the radar a bit – it’s an Avirex jacket based on the one worn by Tom Cruise in hit cult 80’s film, Top Gun. Grand Prix Legends have been selling this jacket with...

Ventura give Monster 696 touring wings

Ventura give Monster 696 touring wings

Luggage experts Ventura has put their knowledgeable minds to developing a touring kit for the middleweight Ducati Monster 696. Ventura has tired not to mess around too much with the weight...

The New Motorcycle Test and DSA sites

The new test is due to be introduced by the DSA on the 27th April 2009. No problem. If they were prepared. The first noises the DSA made about introducing the test were in 2001 about implementation in 2005. Then in 2005 they postponed it for three years then again, as we know, for six months. In 2001 at the consultation meeting the DSA were fairly adamant that they would have all sites...

Fuel Duty rise set to bring fuel tax to 71% in 2 weeks

Reported in petrolprices.com blog: “In just 2 weeks fuel duty will rise again, bringing the total tax paid at the pumps to 71 pence in every pound – despite Prime Minister Gordon Brown promising not to raise fuel duty.” So fuel prices go up putting more increases on the cost of living just when we don’t need it. See the full report at: http://www.petrolprices.com/blog/

Picked up a passenger at the TT

Picked up a passenger at the TT

Jeff was so slow round the veranda at the TT he picked up a passenger!

Cambodia Road Trip

Cambodia Road Trip

Whilst living in Cambodia a few years ago me and my brother did a 1500km off road trip round the country on an XR and my trusty CRM. It was an amazing experience.

Petition against introduction of 50mph NSL

Petition against introduction of 50mph NSL

A petition against proposals to cut the single-carriageway national speed limit from 60mph to 50mph has gained thousands of signatures in days. Sign the petition here Just nine days after roads...

Last chance to get hold of Rossi limited edition bookazine

Last chance to get hold of Rossi limited edition bookazine

We have just 1000 copies left of our amazing ‘Rossi: celebrating the greatest’, but you’ll have to be quick to get your hands on one. Click here to buy a copy online now from Duke The glossy limited...

New optical illusion motorcycle safety advert

New optical illusion motorcycle safety advert

A new motorcycle TV safety advert uses optical illusions to warn drivers how carefully they need to look for motorcyclists at junctions. The Transport for London ad was devised after psychologists...

Hear the Beautiful Norton Café

Hear the Beautiful Norton Café

In the Colorado Norton Works, way up in the Rocky Mountains in the USA, they’re building a rare batch of probably the world’s most expensive Norton Commandos – at £27,300/$39,500 each. The bike is...

Video: 1000cc superbikes test part 2 - on the road

Video: 1000cc superbikes test part 2 - on the road

The 2009 Yamaha R1 blitzed the competition in our 1000cc track test last week, but how will it fair in the place that matters for most – on the road? Watch the video to find out.   Video: 1000cc...

New MCN March 18: World first ride of the Triumph Thunderbird

New MCN March 18: World first ride of the Triumph Thunderbird

In this week’s edition of MCN, we get a World first ride on the new Triumph Thunderbird cruiser. The test reveals that the 1596cc parallel twin engined cruiser is easily good enough to shame its...

Limited edition Dainese Tattoo suit arrives at MCN

Limited edition Dainese Tattoo suit arrives at MCN

MCN has taken delivery of one of the first limited edition Dainese Tattoo suits – a completely new design for 2009. MCN Road Tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child will be wearing the suit for the year – a suit...

MotoGP Results Guide 1949-2009

MotoGP Results Guide 1949-2009

This new hardback edition of the bible for anyone with an interest in MotoGP and its history has been published yearly for more than 20 years. Complete statistics for all current race categories (and...

Davida Aviator Retro Pilot T3 Goggles

Davida Aviator Retro Pilot T3 Goggles

Designed to fit smaller heads – specifically the small shell Davida Speedster and XS, S and M Jet helmets, these new T3 goggles fill a gap in the market. The Anglo-French collaboration between Davida...