April

Year: 2009

Month: April

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,...

DVLA wiped my license too

12 April 2009 by phil jones

With regard to you item about wiping driving licences by DVLA, I had the same problem years ago. When I renewed my licence, it came back without the ‘d’ category. I contacted the DVLA and they said they had no record of my driving test. Although i had given them the test center (since closed) and the date they still had no record of my test. I didn’t have a bike at the time so I let it go.

MCN in Turkey

11 April 2009 by bikemad955

Icmeler Turkey in April 09 for a bit of R & R!

The kids on the Suzuki GS550

10 April 2009 by paul scott

The kids James and Ellie Mai on the old classic Suzuki GS550 1980 – mint!

MCN in Maldives

10 April 2009 by Terry

Holidaying in Maldives at the Meedhupparu Island Resort.

Nurburgring 2008

10 April 2009 by leecat

Lads trip to the Nurburgring in 2008, featuring Lee, Colin, Tony, Rob, Don, Kevin, Terry and Ian.

MCN in Gambia

09 April 2009 by deb

This is a pic of me in The Gambia with your most excellent newspaper… I’m a big fan of MCN as is my other half Rod. I can ride BUT need to actually take my test.. he has a lovely Triumph Daytona...

Globebusters London to China Blog

09 April 2009 by Kevin Saunders

The route has been planned, visas obtained, bikes serviced and kit packed. Global Motorcycle Guinness World Record™ Holders and Founders of the motorcycle adventure travel company, GlobeBusters, Kevin...

5 great parallel twin motorcycles

09 April 2009 by James Keen

Is the parallel twin engine dead? A thing of the past or only good for powering boring commuters? The designers of these current models certainly don’t think so. Thinking of trading in? Sell your...

Yamaha MT-0X 660

09 April 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

Imagine a bike more fun than the XT, plus more attractive than MT-03!

Half-price Walker replica Arai!

08 April 2009 by Marc Abbott

Mammoth dealer George White is selling its stock of Chris Walker replica Arai Astro-Rs for half price – that’s just £199.99 instead of the £399.99 RRP. What better way to show your support for the...

Airbag Motoair jackets hit the UK

08 April 2009 by Marc Abbott

New airbag jackets from Motoair are now available in the UK. Having been on sale in the US for some time now, www.wairbag.com has secured UK distribution for their whole range. The jackets claim to...

Cap Frehal, France 2008

08 April 2009 by Anonymous

Trip to France in June 2008 – roll on the 2009 trip!

DVLA lost my licence entitlements

08 April 2009 by Dave Tinkler

In November 2007 I swapped my Northern Ireland licence for ‘UK’ licence. My licence stated that I could drive a selection of vehicles which occupied 9 rows on the back of the licence. When I got the ‘UK’ replacement it only had the basic car entitlement, no bike! Luckily I had taken a copy of the original & sent them both straight back. The DVLA refused to amend it but after numerous telephone...