2009

Poll: Should classic British bike brands make a return?

Poll: Should classic British bike brands make a return?

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...

Ambulance chasers target bike accidents

Sirs, Usual story have ridden motorcycles for about 35 years. No accidents since I was a young tearaway. Had an accident last year where a woman failed to indicate right, was in the middle of the lane allowing her to stop traffic to let her friend out of the turning, lots of smiling and waving. She failed to see me stopped on her offside rear wing and as we moved off turned right without moving...

Quick stop at the Falkirk wheel

Quick stop at the Falkirk wheel

A quick stop at the Falkirk wheel… good to get a nice day!

Double standards

How is this for double standards?! I have just read in the scunthorpe evening telegraph that the Earl of yarborough has been banned from driving after hitting speeds 125mph in his bmw 750i on the a1. He admitted speeding near the cambridgeshire town of huntington november 27. lord charles pelham 45 and is said to be worth 70-million was fined £600 and banned from driving for 90 days Ii think...

Scotland tour 2008

Scotland tour 2008

We usually do two major tours a year – one south into France and another to Scotland. In the attached photo we can be found at the top of glenshee on the road from Blairgowrie to Braemar.

Florida to Alaska-The Dalton Highway

Florida to Alaska-The Dalton Highway. Still 425 mile to go without any service.

Costly Sunday spin

Costly Sunday spin

I thought i would share this picture of an unlucky sunday afternoon blast. On my way home going at 25mph I felt this wobble from the back wheel, i stopped and thought OMG! The tyre was not going down...

12 month ban for killing a biker

12 months driving ban for killing a biker! check the link please, how can you kill someone and even after being convicted of driving without care not be adequately punished? the inquest reports a conclusion of “unhappy coincidence” the life of a UK biker comes cheap… http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/news/Wrexham-biker-killed-after-car.5075089.jp

Aprilia RSV4 launch centre

Aprilia RSV4 launch centre

Welcome to the MCN Launch centre for the new Aprilia RSV4. Here you can find all the information you could want about the new Aprilia V4 motorcycle. Remember to check back regularly as we will have...

Video: Simon Pavey's Dakar bike

Video: Simon Pavey's Dakar bike

Dakar veteran Simon Pavey explains the details of his customised BMW Xchallenge rally bike. Video: Walker Ecosse dakar truck tour What started life as a standard production motorcycle has been...

Kawasaki Zed owners club

Kawasaki Zed owners club

Hi there. I am on the admin team of the not long formed Kawasaki Zed owners club (www.zedoc.co.uk). We have a steadily growing membership from across the globe, and a very good technical section for...

On bike entertainment system

On bike entertainment system

I pulled into Focus this morning in Nuneaton and saw this fantastic audio system in the car park!!! I quickly snapped a picture just before the proud owner came out (caught me). I have to share this,...

Credit Crunch Biking Pt 2

Credit Crunch Biking Pt 2

The old CBR1000F has now done its first busy month-1100 miles without problem. (See photo after a week!) It revs to the red line and goes up and down sweetly through the box. Read credit crunch...

Great accessories for new Ducati Monster 1100

Great accessories for new Ducati Monster 1100

Accessories for new Ducati Monster 1100 In preparation for the launch of Ducati’s all-new Streetfighter, we’ve been reminding ourselves what the Monster 1100S feels like. In short – it rocks. But,...

Rolling Thunder – the history of CCM

Rolling Thunder – the history of CCM

A new book on the history of the UK’s biggest off-road competition success story is due for publication this month. Rolling Thunder, CCM Motorcycles: The Odyssey, is a 208-page hardback published by...

Reflective gear that actually works

Reflective gear that actually works

Oxford has just announced a new reflective outer skin that won’t flap around or make you look like a courier. The Oxford Bright Top Active, beyond the obvious visibility benefits, also has a few...

Cut-price riding kit from Lidl

Cut-price riding kit from Lidl

From Monday, March 16, you’ll be able to buy riding kit and accessories while you pick up your groceries from Lidl! The new range will be available from selected stores (check www.lidl.co.uk for your...

Buy a Hein Gericke suit this weekend, get cash back

Buy a Hein Gericke suit this weekend, get cash back

Hein Gericke has extended its cashback offer on leathers until this Sunday, March 15. If you buy any full price leather suit they’ll give you back 20% of the purchase price to spend in any Hein...

Road Death Texting Lord Escapes Jail

Lord Ahmed, 51, was charged with dangerous driving after using his mobile phone shortly before hitting a stationary car in the fast lane of the M1, killing Martyn Gombar, 28, from Leigh, Greater Manchester. So let me get this straight. It is “OK” to text whilst driving and kill someone, but speed and you go to jail for six months? Robert Bennett who killed no one, injured no one is at risk of...

FireBlades.org

http://www.fireblades.org FireBlades.org

The evolution of the Honda Fireblade

The evolution of the Honda Fireblade

Since it’s arrival in 1992, the flagship Honda Fireblade has continued to re-invent itself and stay at the forefront of sportsbike development. In 1992, the original Fireblade moved the goal posts by...

Misleading parking signs & texts

Misleading parking signs & texts

I am a pretty regular visitor to various parts of London on Business (I’m an IT Project manager Fujitsu Services). Last week I visited the Baker Street Offices, and parked in the on-street parking...

Florida to Alaska - Ice Carving

Florida to Alaska – Ice Carving

Ouch that sand is hard!

Ouch that sand is hard!

My colleague Kim and his son Luka (and buddy) took me for my first off road excursion in 25 years in the desert around Dubai last week.   All was going well until I (blue tee shirt) tried again after...

The ultimate BMW GS history lesson

The ultimate BMW GS history lesson

BMW GS: Adventure Motorcycle is probably the only book you’ll ever need if you’re into your Boxer twins – or, for that matter, even if you’re just a fan of engineering and motorcycling...

Stig On Patrol

‘Isle’s Stig On Patrol’, the Thanet Adscene proudly proclaims on the front page of it’s recent edition! ‘Mystery biker after illegal school parkers. With 64 horsepower and a top speed of 125mph a mysterious unnamed traffic warden is scouring the isle’s schools on his motorbike for illegal parkers.’ One hopes of course that this unnamed rider (who refuses to reveal his identity for fear of...

New Michelin website makes tyre choice easier

New Michelin website makes tyre choice easier

Michelin has launched a new website which takes the mystery out of tyre choice. To publicise the new Michelin Power One motorcycle tyre, the firm has developed a tyre chooser, which allows owners to...

5 of the best factory streetfighters

5 of the best factory streetfighters

Streetfighters have come a long way. What started out as a cheap way to make your crash-damaged sportsbike road legal again has evolved into a whole sub-culture and motorcycle genre. Here’s some of...

Speed Limits and the IAM

I have been riding/driving for over 52 years, so I am not a young tearaway. Having covered over two million miles with only a couple of minor accidents you may think I know something about road safety. I passed my IAM bike test in 2006 but I am seriously considering resigning from the IAM. When renewing my membership I am required to declare that I will obey the law when riding/driving. With the...

Poll: 50mph limit on country roads. What do you think?

Poll: 50mph limit on country roads. What do you think?

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...

Florida to Alaska - crossing the Alaskan border

Florida to Alaska. crossing the border from Canada to Alaska.

Cold engine? Start Ya Bastard!

Cold engine? Start Ya Bastard!

Aussie cold engine starter ‘Start Ya Bastard’ has arguably the best name of any motorcycling product. Designed for all four-stroke and two-stroke petrol engines with low battery condition, poor choke...

Spidi confirm airbag prices and details

Spidi confirm airbag prices and details

New for 2009 from Spidi is the upgraded DPS03 airbag jacket – an evolution of the original DPS01 vest from 2000. Two weeks ago, MCN brought you the news on the DPS03 with spec detail unconfirmed. But...

Bikes on TV: March 11-17

Bikes on TV: March 11-17

KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – Discovery Real Time  DRTE -Discovery Real Time Extra DSC – Discovery Channel  DHD – Discovery Channel HD EXS – Extreme Sports Channel MM – Men and Motors MOT – Motors TV   SS1...

Earplugs - not always for the bike

Thanks for the fab earplugs, don’t need them on my CBR125, but are great in the office to combat my colleague who never stops talking!

Video: The Canada/Alaska border

Lot of snow and the border Canada/Alaska.