2013
Staff Blog: Black Bikes...
14 June 2013 by
I love the idea of black bikes. They're the stealth option. In 2013 black also seems like the sensible choice for a sports bike like the GSX-R750, not so much because it helps you slip unnoticed from...
Michelin v Pirelli
14 June 2013 by
I’ve spent this week getting to know the new Pirelli Angel GT tyres I fitted on Monday. I’ve been using my bike for commuting to work and the other day I rode the 320-mile round trip down to Ramsgate...
Motorcyclists can join POLITE force
14 June 2013 by
Motorcyclists have been told they can legally wear a high-visibility vest that resembles police uniform. The yellow bibs have the word ‘polite’ printed on the back in large capital letters, along...
Sorry mate, I didn’t tree you
14 June 2013 by
No amount of training can prepare us for some hazards of the road, as one riding instructor learned. Barry Briggs had a lucky escape when a tree fell on him as he followed a student. The...
Monster wanted for road test fame and glory!
14 June 2013 by
MCN's road test team urgently need a M900 for a photoshoot this coming Tuesday. The bike will be picked up and returned by our professional courier and ridden only briefly for test impressions...
Finance offer on new GS models
14 June 2013 by
BMW Motorrad UK have launched a special finance offer for its new F700 and F800 GS models. This means that it's now possible to purhcase the new F700 GS, which updates the F 650 GS with increased...
Bike chooser: Funky 125s
13 June 2013
In the latest Bike Chooser series, MCN have looked at some of the quirkiest 125s on the market. If you are a learner looking for a small bike with a bit of an edge then here is a list of some of our...
Win a prize for the best Ride to Work Day picture!
13 June 2013 by
MCN is offering a free HJC IS-17 Jorge Lorenzo replica helmet worth £180 for the best Ride to Work Day picture sent in to us to celebrate the event happening on Monday June 17. One winner will receive...
Staff blog: In defence of the Burgman, pt 1
13 June 2013 by
I’m experiencing mild frustration at some of the preconceptions I’ve encountered about the Burgman. If you’ve read my replies to reader comments under my previous blog entries, you may have detected a...
How often do you check your tyre pressures?
12 June 2013 by
Tyre pressures - supposed to be checked regularly... But do we? How often do you check how much air you've got in yours?
Yamaha MT-09 Launch Video
12 June 2013 by
Yesterday, Yamaha announce their all-new 850cc street-focused triple, the MT-09. It’s an all-new naked middleweight designed specifically for the European market with a brand-new 850cc transverse...
Kawasaki Z1000 owners needed!
12 June 2013 by
MCN is looking for Kawasaki Z1000 owners for an upcoming feature. We're specifically looking for owners of: 2003-2006 original pea shooter exhaust model 2007 - 2009 second generation 2010 - current...
Win a Tracker Retrieve system!
12 June 2013 by
Vehicle tracking firm Tracker is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an exclusive MCN competition. Five lucky readers will receive a battery-powered Tracker Retrieve unit with full installation and...
Video: New BMW F800 GS Adventure first ride
12 June 2013 by
The 'baby' version of BMW's ever-popular Adventure bike gets put through it's paces in deepest Wales. Will it live up to the reputation gained by it's elder sibling?
Yamaha's new MT-09 850cc triple - love it or hate it?
12 June 2013 by
Yamaha's new long-promised triple 850cc machine has finally broken cover, and its looks are sure to be as controversial as its powerplant. What's your take on it? Already pre-ordered one or do...
Three Sisters charity track day
11 June 2013 by
I spent a great afternoon at Three Sisters circuit in Wigan on my adapted trike. The event is once a month for charity and this month it was in aid of the blood donor bikes and was attended by...
You Ask/You Answer: Wet weather confidence
11 June 2013 by
"I really struggle with confidence when riding in the wet. This didn't used to be a problem because I'd only take the bike out in the dry, but I'm now using my bike to commute on, and every time it...
Trip on despite stolen bike
11 June 2013 by
Having arranged a four day trip to Belgium my mate had his CBF1000F stolen in Brighton three days before we were due to go. Within three hours he had been offered three bikes to borrow as well as...
So, what now for Guy Martin's TT dreams?
11 June 2013 by
Guy Martin went into his 2013 TT campaign with big hopes, still chasing that sought-after win, but left having barely made an impression, and with a best finish of 4th. So what now for the truck...
Adventure Bike Festival Competition
11 June 2013 by
The Adventure Bike Festival is kicking off its July event by giving two MCN readers a VIP ticket each worth £150. Set in the Welsh forests near Llandovery, the new event is aimed specifically at...
New MCN June 12: McGuinness The Master
11 June 2013 by
In this week's MCN, out June 12, we have the round-up of TT fortnight, with all the latest news. McGuinness takes maybe his greatest win ever, as the old master proves he's still fast. Also this week:...
Staff Blog: Please don't kill me
11 June 2013 by
Well that was the scariest, most bum-puckery, head-duckery moment I’ve had since I got back on a bike in the Spring. Casually riding south on the A1, thinking about whether to make one more overtake...
Best bikes for under £5k: 2003-2012 KTM Adventure
11 June 2013 by
What was it like then? The 950 Adventure has a pedigree other bikes in the class can only dream of. Originally designed to race in the Dakar, the road-going version made it onto the streets in 2003...
Staff Blog: Not so naked now
10 June 2013 by
I have finally fitted a screen from German firm MRA. The aftermarket plastic is not specifically designed for the Z800 but is a racing screen built for newer, aggressively-styled naked bikes. I fitted...
Suzuki GSX-R600 owners wanted
10 June 2013 by
MCN is looking for Suzuki GSX-R600 owners for an upcoming feature. We're specifically looking for owners of the Suzuki GSX-R600 and in particular the 2001-2005, 2006-2010 and 2011- current model. We'll be using the information to help with our article and there may be a chance you get featured in the paper. Just fill out the information below and email it to mcn.news@motorcyclenews.com aqlong...
Staff Blog: Barely a sign of 6000 miles ridden
10 June 2013 by
The odometer clicked through 6000 miles on the Multistrada 1200 S Touring on the way to work this morning and in light of this approaching milestone I spent three hours giving the bike a deep clean...
Staff Blog: Hyperstrada Tyre Testing
10 June 2013 by
I’m working my way through as many new-for-2013 tyres as I can for this year, so I can see what the tyre companies have been up to. With each new generation of tyre, we get more bang for our buck. The...
Staff Blog: Thanks for all your suggestions
10 June 2013 by
Further to my previous blog I've been really chuffed with the amount of reponses I've received so thank you. My route around North Norfolk is taking shape nicely with the addition of a particularly...
Competition: Win Tom Sykes' ACTUAL Winter Leathers
10 June 2013 by
A few weeks ago on our Facebook channel we gave away the chance to win a weekend at Donington with Kawasaki KRT rider Tom Sykes. Now, our new, best-friends at Motocard.com have given us...
Best bikes for under £5k: 2005-2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000
10 June 2013 by
What was it like then? This was the superbike to have in the mid-noughties. The K5/K6 was magnificent, but little did we know it would be the best GSX-R1000 ever. After a steady improvement through...
Staff Blog: Get your thinking caps on......I need your help!!!
08 June 2013 by
With the sun shining and hopefully continuing to shine for some weeks to come I’m planning to ride as much as I can and need your help. My next planned jaunt is to the North Norfolk coast in a...
Staff Blog: Passports at the ready
07 June 2013 by
There’s always a tingle that comes with the thought of riding abroad. And, now the working day is coming to a close, I’m feeling the tingle. The sun’s shining, the TT commentary is piping out of the computer and I’m headed for Belgium on the Street Triple R. It’s not designed for touring, but you can go anywhere on anything if you’re in the mood. Which I am. The ride is part of my girlfriend,...
TT Withdrawal?
07 June 2013 by
If you're suffering from TT withdrawl already, we might have the perfect cure for you over on MCN-TV.com The David Jeffries Story - A portrait of 'DJ' as a much loved and much missed burly Yorkshireman. Often cited as the most naturally gifted rider ever to roll a wheel onto the mountain course, Jefferies cemented his legendary status with treble wins in three consecutive years and was the first...
California Superbike School aim to turn students into teachers
07 June 2013 by
California Superbike School are holding a special, 'coach try-out' day at Rockingham on Monday 24th June, in a bid to attract more coaching experience into their school. While out on...
Clampdown on un-roadworthy bikes catches 15 times as many cars
07 June 2013 by
A police clampdown on un-roadworthy motorcycles ended up catching up to 15 times more cars than bikes. Police had warned riders in advance: 'Don't risk it by taking to the roads without ensuring...
Staff Blog: Neeves on the Hyperstrada launch, broken keys and trackdays.
07 June 2013 by
This is the second in the series of video reviews for my Ducati Hyperstrada long term test bike. Here I go along to the official launch of the Hyperstrada, get a puncture, bend my ignition key and do a trackday at Anglesey. BLOG13 | HYPER13