February

Year: 2012

Month: February

Honda Crosstourer first ride: "One of the best mile munchers in class"

16 February 2012 by MCN

The Honda Crosstourer is Honda’s all-new adventure bike – aimed squarely at bikes like the BMW R1200GS and Yamaha Super Tenere. Powered by the same V4 engine from the VFR1200, the Crosstourer is...

Triumph Explorer 1200: What do you want to know?

16 February 2012 by Marc Potter

Next week MCN is riding the new Triumph Explorer 1200 at its world launch in Spain, and we want to put your questions to the Triumph team who built the bike. The new 139bhp three-cylinder adventure...

Video: MV Agusta F3 first ride

16 February 2012 by MCN

Riding the £9999 MV Agusta F3 at its world launch around the surreal blue and red-lined track at Paul Ricard in the south of France has left MCN seriously impressed with MV’s first brand new bike...

Bikes on TV: February 15-21

15 February 2012 by MCN

KEY TO CHANNELS. DRT – Discovery Real Time DSC – Discovery Channel DHD – Discovery Channel HD EXS – Extreme Sports Channel EUR1 (2, HD) – Eurosport 1 (2, HD) MOT – Motors TV CH4 – Channel...

Video: Onboard a Ducati 1199 Panigale with Neil Hodgson

15 February 2012 by MCN

2003 World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson was at the Ducati 1199 Panigale launch in Abu Dhabi and was kind enough to let MCN bolt-on some onboard cameras during one of his sessions. The Panigale is...

Bimota TB-CR concept

15 February 2012 by Oberdan Bezzi

Here is my concept for a Bimota cafe racer powered by the Triumph Bonneville engine. A perfect Anglo-Italian wedding.

Red hot read (the mag that is)

14 February 2012 by Tazborn

The boy’s and me reading MCN in pit lane at Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria, S.A. on our annual pilgrimage for the South African Classic TT Revival Series. This year’s Masters were Phil Read and Mick...

Nexx helmets

14 February 2012 by MCN

ADVERTISING PROMOTION When it comes to motorcycle helmets, brands like Arai and Shoei are used to receiving all of the plaudits. Now there’s a new name to sit alongside them, Nexx. This is the 10-year...

Picture gallery: Troy Bayliss having fun on the Ducati 1199 Panigale

14 February 2012 by Liam Marsden

Troy Bayliss may be retired but he’s still pretty handy on a bike, as these pictures show. Bayliss is pictured here at the YAS Marina circuit, Abu Dhabi having fun on the all-new Ducati 1199 Panigale,...

New MCN February 15: Three world first tests!

14 February 2012 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale Wednesday February 15, we have the world first rides of the Ducati 1199 Panigale, MV Agusta F3 and Suzuki GSX-R1000. MCN rode the all-new Ducati 1199 Panigale at...

Ducati for sale?

13 February 2012 by Andy Downes

Ducati is up for sale for £1billion by owners Investindustrial according to the Financial Times with a large car company thought to be the most likely buyer. Investindustrial is a private-equity firm...

Ducati Panigale first ride: 'Like no Ducati I've ridden'

10 February 2012 by Michael Neeves

UPDATE, 11 Feb, 15:10 “We’re midway through our day riding the new Panigale and it continues to impress. The 195bhp Superquadro engine is hugely impressive with just the right amount of usable torque...

BMW G650GS Sertao first ride

10 February 2012 by MCN

The Sertão region of Brazil is renowned for its rugged, inhospitable terrain – hence its inspiration as the name for BMW’s new hardcore version of its new G650GS. Effectively it’s a belated successor...

Ernst Degner documentary on Radio 4

10 February 2012 by Andy Downes

BBC Radio 4 is broadcasting a documentary about German racer Ernst Degner who defected from communist Germany and took top-secret two-stroke technology from MZ with him to the west and gave it to...

Kevin Schwantz and Randy Mamola to headline Festival of 1000 Bikes

10 February 2012 by Phil West

Kevin Schwantz on his works Suzuki RGV500 and Randy Mamola riding his 1980 XR31 RG500 will be two of the stars at this summer’s Festival of 1000 Bikes at Mallory Park. The two ‘80s and ‘90s GP legends...

2012 KTM 990 Adventure first ride

10 February 2012 by Adam Child

If this KTM Adventure 990 looks familiar then that’s entirely deliberate – but this is no limited edition ‘Dakar’ version, as debuted last Spring, nor the full-blown ‘R’ version – it’s the standard...

Is this the UK's only Munch Mammoth

10 February 2012 by Andy Westlake

When it comes to classics they don’t get much rarer – or wilder – than the Munch Mammut (or Mammoth in English). Unveiled at the 1966 Cologne show, the Mammoth was the creation of German engineer...

Video: 2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400, Suzuki Hayabusa and BMW K1300S flat out

09 February 2012 by MCN

It’s official! The new Kawasaki ZZR1400 is the fastest accelerating bike we’ve ever tested and has kicked the legendary Suzuki Hayabusa in to touch. The big Kawasaki goes from standstill to 180mph in...

Destination dealer: Kawasaki Leicester

09 February 2012 by MCN

ADVERTISING FEATURE Kawasaki Leicester is the sister branch to Drayton Croft – a name many riders will know well, after all, they’ve been in the bike business for over 32 years and have carved a name...

Video: New Victory Judge turned into cafe racer

08 February 2012 by MCN

Victory Motorcycles isn’t a firm you normally associate with cafe racers, but all that could be about to change thanks to Zach Ness, grandson of customising demi-god Arlen Ness. The bike you see below...

MV Agusta F3 first ride: "tiny, loud and angry"

08 February 2012 by MCN

MCN’s senior road tester Michael Neeves is in the south of France for the official launch of the new 675cc MV Agusta F3. It’s a critical bike for MV – because it’s relatively affordable (at £9999 it’s...

Harley-Davidson Soft Tail Slim first ride

07 February 2012 by MCN

MCN’s executive editor Phil West is testing the new Harley-Davidson Softail Slim and Sportster 72 in southern Spain. He’s just phoned in this brief first impression: “So far I have been riding the new...

New MCN February 8: Rossi returns

07 February 2012 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale Wednesday February 8, we have all the news from the first MotoGP test of 2012 at Sepang. Rossi was back on the pace on the all-new Ducati GP12, and Stoner...

February 8 Bikes on the Box

07 February 2012 by Alison Silcox

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8 6am, EXS, Lucas Oil AMA Motocross 9am, MOT, AMA Supercross Lites (also 2.15pm, 3.15am) 11am, EXS, Nitro Circus (also 3pm, 8pm, 12am) 1.40pm, MOT, Best of Crash 4pm, EXS, X Games...

New Aprilia Caponord 1200 revealed

06 February 2012 by Ben Purvis

This is the long-anticipated Aprilia Caponord, designed to rival machines such as Ducati’s Multistrada 1200 as a road-oriented dual-sport-tourer. The bike was snapped at Piaggio Group’s annual dealer...

Bimota XXX concept

06 February 2012 by Oberdan Bezzi

Here’s my “XXX” concept, the iconoclast of the “sport spirit” Bimota. Could this be the beginning of a new era?

IAM's 'unfair' claims over bike safety

06 February 2012 by Steve Farrell

The Institute of Advanced Motorists has been accused of unfairly focussing on motorcyclists with claims of rising casualties. An IAM release states that 18 motorcyclists were killed or seriously...

A bit cold but a great Revolution show

05 February 2012 by Simon Williams

It was definitely a chilly ride to The Ace Cafe from Maidstone at 7.30am so a few mugs of tea were required! The ride out with Ross Noble and Adrian Chiles was fun, topped off with meeting Randy...

Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show: Babe gallery

04 February 2012 by MCN

The 2012 Carole Nash MCN Motorcycles Show is underway at ExCel, London. As well as all the newest 2012 bikes on show and the bargains to be had on kit, there are also plenty of promo girls at the...

My Marco tribute

03 February 2012 by roxymaranello

Here’s my tribute to Marco Simoncelli – he will always be with me.

Great time at the MCN Show

03 February 2012 by roxymaranello

We had a blast at the MCN Show on Thursday and it was great to meet John McGuinness. Thanks guys, you did a great job.

Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show: Revolution gallery

03 February 2012 by MCN

The 2012 Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show is underway at ExCel, London and as well as some of the hottest new bikes on show, there’s also the amazing Revolution stunt show. John McGuinness, Neil...

Biking stars flock to Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show

03 February 2012 by Andy Downes

The Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show has attracted a host of racing and biking celebrities on both of the first two days of the show at London’s Excel with many more scheduled for the rest of...

Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show: Victory Judge and Cross Roads Classic LE unveiled

03 February 2012 by Andy Downes

American firm Victory has unveiled two new models at the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle show as they make a European first appearance. The bikes have been unveiled on the Victory stand at the show...

Destination dealer: Colchester Kawasaki

03 February 2012 by MCN

ADVERTISING PROMOTION Motorcycles Direct, the group name for Lloyd Cooper Motorcycles and Lids Direct has now taken over ownership of Colchester Kawasaki. This makes the ever-expanding Motorcycles...

New KTM Super Duke 1290 spied

03 February 2012 by Andy Downes

KTM’s all-new 1290cc V-twin Super Duke has been spotted strapped onto a trailer in Tenerife as the prototype machine undergoes endurance testing before its launch later this year. It is clear from the...