January

Year: 2009

Month: January

The Tories are against bike parking taxes… so why the parking charge?

14 January 2009 by ojosef

A document unearthed today outlines the positive Conservative Party policy on motorcycling, moped and scooter use. So we ask, why the parking charge imposed by Cllr Danny Chalkley in the Conservative...

Cyclists- Red-route rage

14 January 2009 by andyg36

If more push-bikers respected the rules of the road then perhaps we would have more respect for their views. I ride in London every day and the number of pedallists who ignore red lights is shocking. I wouldn’t mind if they zoomed across said junction like Lance Armstrong on a time trial – as it is, too many spend too long faffing around with their clip-in shoes to give a damn, thus clogging up...

Honda extends 'Brave the Elements' deal

14 January 2009 by MCN News Desk

Honda is extending its ‘brave the elements’ scheme this winter, by extending the current offer on four of its most popular motorcycle models until 31 March 2009. Honda’s VFR800 VTEC sports-tourer,...

Video: 2009 Kawasaki ER-6n vs. Suzuki SV650 vs. Ducati Monster 696

14 January 2009 by MCN

The previous Kawasaki ER-6n was a great bike and didn’t need much improving, but Kawasaki has made a few tweaks. The new revised version tested here has slightly changed fuelling, a revised chassis...

Have your say: Cycle group attempts to sabotage bikes in bus lanes

14 January 2009 by Steve Farrell

A cycling group determined to sabotage London’s motorcycles in bus lanes trial is asking for complaints about us. Unhappy over a failed bid to stop the scheme going ahead in the first place, the...

Report on a MotoGP round with Bridgestone

14 January 2009 by MCN News Desk

Bridgestone has today announced the 2009 Bridgestone e-reporter competition for young aspiring journalists is now open for entries. As the contest enters its sixth year, the e-reporter initiative...

Florida to Alaska - part 2

13 January 2009 by marcus Kingma

R1Sjaak and Doris are on their way to Key West-Florida, the official starting point of their extreme trip tot Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. Tempatures are now – 35 C.

New MCN January 14: Donington Park loses MotoGP

13 January 2009 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s edition of MCN Donington Park loses the British round of MotoGP to Silverstone after 22 years. Silverstone managed to secure a deal with MotoGP bosses to host the British GP for five...

Video: The best bits of the outgoing Yamaha R1

13 January 2009 by MCN

MCN will be testing the new ‘growler’ Yamaha R1 next week so we’ve trawled through the archives to find some of the best road test with previous model Yamaha R1s. The new Yamaha R1 will be the most...

Suzuki extends finance deal

13 January 2009 by MCN

Suzuki has extended until the end of March 2009 a 0% finance scheme on a number of bikes in the range including the 2008 GSX-R1000. Other models included are the RM-Z450 and 250 models. The finance...

Launch report: 2009 KTM 990 Adventure R

12 January 2009 by Chris Newbigging

MCN has just ridden the new for 2009 KTM 990 Adventure R for the first time on a 250km on/off road trek in Sardinia. The new motorcycle takes over from the 990 Adventure S as the top-of-the-range...

Norton move in!

12 January 2009 by Andy Downes

The revived, iconic Norton motorcycles has moved into its brand new premises at Donington Park – and MCN was there. Brought back to UK by Midlands businessman Stuart Garner, Norton has plans for both...

Florida to Alaska - part 1

12 January 2009 by marcus Kingma

R1Sjaak and Doris Wiedemann started their bikes and are on their way to Key West-Florida.

Riding to Alaska in winter

12 January 2009 by marcus Kingma

R1-Sjaak and Doris Wiedemann are on their way to Alaska in winter. (-40 C) They make a pitsstop in Danville. Rusty, owner of Triangle Cycles, tells his story.

MotoGP coverage 2009

11 January 2009 by martin shaw

If you’re a MotoGP fan like myself are you also getting worried? BBC are advertising the sport they are going to show this year and not one mention of bikes! So get ready for poor coverage with poor commentary (please Dorna rethink Eurosport).

Ducati Supersport 1000

09 January 2009 by Oberdan Bezzi

This is my idea of what a new Ducati Supersport 1000 could look like. It’s light, it’s clear and is small and manageable. It’s pure Ducati!

The Royal British Legion Riders Branch 2009 World Record Attempt.

09 January 2009 by Mark Keeling

June 2009 will see an attempt by The Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLR) to break the ultimate endurance World Record. The RBLR have joined forces with Iron Butt Association to try to beat the...

Honda electric motorcycle ready next year

09 January 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Honda has announced that it will have an electric moped on sale by the end of 2010. The moped will be built as a zero CO2 emissions alternative to a petrol-powered 50cc moped, using a 360kw light...

Police appeal for motorcyclists’ help in murder hunt

08 January 2009 by Steve Farrell

Police investigating the murder of a man whose body was found burning at the side of the M45 are appealing to motorcyclists. They want to speak to riders who were using the motorway in Warwickshire...

Motorcycle sales buck financial trends

08 January 2009 by Andy Downes

Motorcycle sales are bucking the rest of the miserable financial trends being seen with the global economic downturn with figures of just 3.4% down for the whole of 2008 according to the Motor Cycle...

Thieves get to keep stolen motorcycles

08 January 2009 by Steve Farrell

Stolen motorcycles recovered in raids are being given back to thieves because of a lack of identifying marks, police have said. With no way to trace rightful owners, officers have no choice but to...

2000 miles in Cambodia

08 January 2009 by Garry Moloney

The first photo is my girlfriend and I with our copy of MCN outside the Bayon temple in Siem Reap Cambodia. We did about 2000 miles in and around Siem Reap on our 125 Honda Dream in 2 months. About...

Brad Pitt loves the anonymity of riding motorcycles

08 January 2009 by Andy Downes

Brad Pitt has spoken about how riding motorcycles have given him ‘anonymity’ and turned him into ‘just another a**hole on the streets’ in an interview with celebrity magazine W. Pitt has been spotted numerous times on a wide variety of bikes and owns – among others – a Ducati Desmosedici RR, a Monster 696 and a selection of Harley-Davidson choppers. Pitt, got up to leave the interview about his...

Dartford Crossing suggestion

07 January 2009 by dpaj1066

I sent the following to the Dartford Crossing site suggestions. I only sent it tonight so will wait with interest for their response. I wonder what other bikers think of my suggestion? I use the Dartford Crossing in a lorry (work) and in my car or on my motorbike (depending on weather conditions). It may not be possible but I would like to suggest that particularly on the bridge (as the lanes...

The time to act is NOW- No to the bike parking tax!

07 January 2009 by ojosef

The time for actual direct action has never been more prevalent. On 18th February 2009, Westminster City Council will enter a brief consultation period to decide whether to make this bike-parking tax...

Suzuki launch new cross country range

07 January 2009 by Sarah Carnell

Suzuki has launched two new cross country enduro style motorcycles for the UK market. Derived from Suzuki’s RM motocross range, the new RM XC range will be available in 125cc and 250cc versions and...

Win a copy of the official season review of the BSB Championship 2008

07 January 2009 by James Keen

You can win one of 5 DVD copies of the Official season review of the BSB Championship in a free-to-enter prize draw. Click here to enter the competition now! The double disc official BSB...

Video: Padgetts HRC race bike

07 January 2009 by Adam Child

Senior road tester Adam Child test rode the latest HRC bikes from Padgett’s Motorcycles at a cold and wintery Cadwell Park. Padgett’s are now offering HRC brand new track ready bike for novice track...

Nigerian bikers use pumpkins as helmets

07 January 2009 by MCN

According to the BBC, Nigerian taxi bikers have resorted to wearing dried pumpkin shells as a measure of avoiding a new law requiring them to wear helmets whilst riding. The Nigerian road safety commisioner says authorities will be taking a hard line with riders wearing ‘improvised helmets’. For the full BBC story click here