April

Year: 2010

Month: April

Monster 796 colours: did no-one tell the designers the red frame was staying?

20 April 2010 by Guy Procter

Ducati has rightly got highly excited by the near-instant colour-changing capabilities of its new Monsters, and the new 796 heralds the launch of a new set of tasty ‘logomania’ panels. Except, nobody...

New Stinger sports gloves from arc-on

20 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

These new race-spec gloves from arc-on pack a lot of features in for their £75 asking price. They’re made from cowhide with a carbon/plastic mix, vented knuckles, hard moulded protection on the...

“We’re the fastest” claim ZEV

20 April 2010 by John Westlake

Electric scooter manufacturer ZEV has windmilled into competitors over the performance of their new machine, the ZEV7000. Here’s what they say on their website: “Zev has had it with all of the claims...

New MCN April 21: New Yamaha FZ8 tested

20 April 2010 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale April 21, we ride the all new Yamaha FZ8 and FZ8 Fazer. The £800,000 speed camera cock-up on the Cat and Fiddle road as camera bosses fail to spot shortcut which...

Ducati reveals rider friendly Monster 796

19 April 2010 by Chris Newbigging

Ducati has launched a new Monster 796 with the 803cc engine from the Hypermotard 796 and other improvements based on owner feedback. Broadly, the new bike is similar to the 696 and 1100 version of the...

Help MCN test cool new biking iphone app!

19 April 2010 by Samuel Pinney

Motorcycle News is looking for bike riding iphone owners to help us test our new app before it goes on sale. All you have to do is use the app while riding your bike anywhere in the UK this week –...

New Ducati Monster 796 launch this Wednesday

19 April 2010 by John Westlake

MCN will be first to ride Ducati’s new middleweight Monster 796 this Wednesday on the roads surrounding Ducati’s Bologna HQ in Italy. The V-twin sits between the beginner-friendly Monster 696 and the...

Bimota-Moto Morini 1 (MMB-1)

19 April 2010 by Oberdan Bezzi

This is my idea of what a collaboration between Bimota and Moto Morini could look like.

World first ride - Yamaha FZ8 and FZ8 Fazer: 'Plenty of mid-range grunt'

19 April 2010 by MCN

MCN’s chief road tester Trevor Franklin has just finished riding the new Yamaha FZ8 and FZ8 Fazer at the launch in Marseille, France. So far Trevor has this to say about the two machines. “On...

Pothole, Northumberland

17 April 2010 by Kev Fowles

Here’s one for your pot holes feature. This happened today when we were out on a run up to Keilder via the A696 between Kowlesgate and Otterburn. Both wheels on my FJR are buckled and my wife and I...

MCN puts Harley-Davidson XR1200 racing bike to the test

16 April 2010 by MCN

MCN Senior Road Tester, Adam Child has just finished riding at Oulton Park putting one of the Harley-Davidson XR1200 race bikes through its paces in preparation for the first round being held as a...

116 MPs back MCN’s bike test call

16 April 2010 by Steve Farrell

Over 100 MPs have backed MCN’s call to shake-up a controversial new riding test. We’re demanding more test centres and changes to a new exercise which has led to dozens of crashes – and 116 MPs have...

“Our licences prove DVLA fraud claims wrong”

16 April 2010 by Steve Farrell

MCN readers have come forward to show their licences are identical to one DVLA said was forged because the vehicle symbols were wrong. Marcus Mee, 38, was charged with fraud after producing...

New-look Honda CBF1000 makes last-minute appearance

16 April 2010 by Chris Newbigging

Honda is reversing its decision not to import the new CBF1000 – it will now go on sale in August. The overhauled CBF gets a raft of chassis, styling and practical changes over the plain but capable...

Honda electric scooter on sale later this year

16 April 2010 by Andy Downes

Honda has revealed the latest prototype of the EV-neo electrical motorcycle and will begin lease sales in Japan of the model in December 2010. Honda first showed the EV-neo at the Tokyo Motorcycle...

“Bikers are orphan-makers” MP attacked by Labour colleague

16 April 2010 by Steve Farrell

The MP who branded motorcyclists “widow-makers and orphan-makers” has been attacked by one of his own party colleagues. Fellow Labour MP Steve Pound, a member of Parliamentary Motorcycle Group, said...

HJC launches ‘made-to-measure’ helmet

16 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

HJC’s top-end touring helmet, the new FS-11, has cheek pads with built-in air pockets which can be inflated around the rider’s face for the perfect fit. The makers claims it’s very simply operated by...

Batman and his new bike

15 April 2010 by LM MOTORCYCLES

Batman picks up his new bat bike, a Kawasaki ZX-10R!

New SBK X World Superbikes video game

15 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

MCN was at the launch of the new SBK ‘X’, the latest superbike simulation for games consoles, this week. To whet your appettite in advance of our first review of the game, here’s the promo video.

Yamaha FZ8 and FZ8 Fazer are go...

15 April 2010 by Trevor Franklin

MCN’s first ride of Yamaha’s new FZ8 and FZ8 Fazer takes place on Monday 19 April. MCN’s chief road tester Trevor Franklin will be one of the very first to get to grips with the new naked FZ8 and...

New Mustang gloves from Alpinestars

15 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

These new Mustangs look ideal for summer riding in the city and open road. With more than a touch of classic styling about them, they’re made from goatskin with a suede-reinforced palm. Save £££s on...

MCN Live! day ticket offer in next week's MCN

15 April 2010 by MCN

MCNLive! will be here in just 8 days, but you can still book for the biker party weekend of the year, packed with bands, bikes, stunts and Charley Boorman live on stage. Book now at...

Record-breaking BMW sales put Germans on top

15 April 2010 by Trevor Franklin

BMW UK has announced record sales for the first three months (2010). BMW sold 1539 bikes – double the amount sold in the same period in 2009. BMW sales were up by 40% in a motorcycle market that is...

Give your opinion on Britains roads & win an MCN subscription

15 April 2010 by MCN

Do you have strong opinions about driving on Britain’s roads? Do our potholed streets really frustrate you or are you delighted we still have national speed limit B-roads? Whatever your view, we’d...

Video: Ron Haslam Race School at Silverstone

15 April 2010 by MCN

The Haslam Race School has relocated to Silverstone this year after the disastrous attempt to bring formula One to Donington left the track unusable. 15% off Ron Haslam Race School at...

New BKS range in this week's MCN

14 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

The April 14 issue of MCN, out today, has full details of the 2010 range of track and road kit for from BKS, for men and women. It’s headed up by the £999.99 Sphynx suit. The top-end race suit, made...

54 years of Yamahas celebrated in new book

14 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

‘Yamaha Street Bikes 1955-2009’ features descriptions of all the firm’s major models, from the YA125 of 1955 to the V-max of 2009, an analysis of their impact, backed up with specs, photos and...

New book charts history of Brough

14 April 2010 by Marc Abbott

Brough Superior – The Complete Story has recently been published. The 320-page hardback contains 300 colour photos documenting the full story of Brough and Brough Superior from the early years of the...

Staff bikes: BMW R1200GS - Ilmberger carbon hand guards

14 April 2010 by Ian Jubb

The first change to the look of the BMW comes in the subtle form of new hand guards. Ilmberger Carbon to be precise. I think they look great, bringing a little bit of sportyness to the overall look. Next up – Fender and Hugger in carbon. Further reading Staff bike blogs | BMW R1200GS blog BLOG10 R1200GS10

Video: Suzuki GSX1250F v CBF1000GT v VFR1200 v FZ1 Fazer

14 April 2010 by MCN

After MCN’s first ride of the new £6,999 Suzuki GSX1250F we realised that it’s a great bike at a bargain price. But how does it compare to the more expensive all-rounder competition? Read the...

Belfast bike show

13 April 2010 by andy1390

My son Ben on the Ducati stand in the Kings Hall, Belfast at last years bike show.

Future biker

13 April 2010 by Simon Fisher

Need to start future bikers young. This is my daughter Jade and at age 9 she has already taken a liking to my Bandit 650!

Wanted: Your Triumph for an MCN road test

13 April 2010 by Trevor Franklin

MotorCycle news is compiling a feature about 20-years of Hinckley manufactured Triumphs, and MCN is looking for original 1991 models to be included. The bikes required are: 1991 Trophy 1200 1991...

Staff bikes: BMW R1200GS - 3000 miles in 2 weeks

13 April 2010 by Ian Jubb

After 3000 miles in three weeks it’s now the second time to top up the oil. It seems to use an awful lot of the golden stuff. I read on forums that this would be the case but didn’t expect to have to put so much in. Only my two stroke lambretta uses more! Pictured is the nifty little key you get to make sure nobody can mess with your filler cap. Further reading Staff bike blogs | BMW R1200GS...

Gas Gas SM 450 R

13 April 2010 by Oberdan Bezzi

This is my design for a new Gas Gas Supermoto. The Gas Gas SM 450 R!

Paolo Berlusconi saves failing Moto Morini

13 April 2010 by Chris Newbigging

Troubled Italian manufacturer Moto Morini has been bought for 2.5 million Euros by Paolo Berlusconi, brother of Italian Prime Minister Silvio. Moto Morini declared itself bankrupt in September 2009 –...