May

Year: 2013

Month: May

John Surtees supports Fun Day

20 May 2013 by Andy Davidson

Motorsport legend John Surtees OBE will be supporting the Edenbridge Fun Day this Bank holiday weekend. Surtees, the only person to have won world championships on both two and four wheels will join...

Win an incredible Festival of 1000 Bikes weekend

20 May 2013 by Andy Davidson

The Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Festival of 1000 bikes is kicking of its return to Mallory Park on July 12-14 with a spectacular MCN competition. One lucky reader will get a chance to meet GP, WSB and...

Dirt Quake

20 May 2013 by Andy Davidson

Dirt Quake, the ultimate mix of high octane dirt track racing in a never before seen way will take place in Norfolk this June. What is it? ‘Dirt Quake is Sideburn magazine’s Day at the Races,’ says...

Staff Blog: All the action from the recent trip

20 May 2013 by Alison Silcox

This week’s issue, on sale 22 May, includes my full report from the recent trip to Normandy. I thought you might find it interesting to see the routes we took each day. Day...

The face of Honda's MotoGP road bike?

20 May 2013 by MCN

Few bikes are as intriguing as Honda’s forthcoming MotoGP-derived superbike. Since its announcement last year, details of the machine have remained a mystery. But now a new patent filed by Honda...

In search of CX500 outfit rider

20 May 2013 by Cyril Blackshaw

I think it was in the late ’80s that a group of bikers paid a visit to a special needs school called Fountaindale, just outside Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. Some of them had sidecars and they took...

Exceptional service from GT Motorcycles Plymouth

18 May 2013 by Dr Iain H Wilson

I bought a Ducati 2013 Multistrada Touring from GT in Plymouth in March. At a fuel stop on the way to the Portsmouth ferry to Spain on Friday 17th, I noticed that I had a significant oil leak from the left hand fork. I phoned GT at around 15:30 and spoke to Steve, explaining the situation. He arranged to stay late and I travelled back to Plymouth that night where he fitted another fork since no...

Longer reach for CTEK chargers

17 May 2013 by Tony Hoare

There’s not always enough cable on a battery charger to reach from the plug to your bike, which is why charging specialist CTEK has added an extension lead to its range. The 2.5-metre cable extends...

No plans for IOM national speed limit

17 May 2013 by Steve Farrell

The Manx government has said there are no plans for a national speed limit after a coroner accused it of “putting innocent lives at unacceptable risk”. Coroner of Inquests John Needham said the...

New dedicated courts for minor traffic offences

17 May 2013 by Steve Farrell

Minor traffic offences will be dealt with by new dedicated courts under plans announced by the Government today. Setting up special traffic courts will free up magistrates to deal with more serious...

Video: Honda CRF250M first ride

17 May 2013 by MCN

Take the useful, liquid-cooled, four-stroke single out of the popular, learner friendly CBR250R and create a proper trailie around it (the CRF250L). Then let’s go one step further and make a supermoto...

MZ rescue fails

17 May 2013 by MCN

Bad news for fans of the legendary German MZ marque. Despite positive noises at last year’s Milan Show and meetings, reportedly, with more than 30 possible investers, the historic firm from Zschopau...

Norton cuts waiting time for new bikes

17 May 2013 by MCN

Norton has cut the waiting time for new orders of the Commando 961 to six months; the shortest time since the British firm was reborn in 2009 thanks to improved parts supply. Norton has not only cut...

Ultimate Superbikes 1st place: Ducati 1199R Panigale

17 May 2013 by Michael Neeves

Lap time: 1:46.7 Top speed at end of straight: 164.01mph Max braking (g): 1.19 Max lean: 50.94 Why it’s so special Ducati built this homologation special for World Superbike racing. It shares the same...

Check points after buying a second hand bike

16 May 2013 by MCN

You’ve done all the necessary checks, handed over your cash, found the best insurance deal through MCN Compare (and claimed your free T-shirt!*) and now you own a brand new (to you) second hand...

Staff Blog: Bagging the F800GT

16 May 2013 by Steve Hunt

Another weekend, another trip down to Somerset to catch-up with friends and family. It was also another weekend when the heavens have opened and I’ve had to ride the F800GT down in the pouring rain.

May 15 - May 28: Bikes on the Box

16 May 2013 by Alison Silcox

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...

Le Mans 24-hour competition

16 May 2013 by MCN

Fancy smooth sailing to the 2013 Le Mans 24-hour race and free entry to the Bugatti race track? Brittany Ferries (www.brittanyferries.com/biketouring) and Le Mans tour operator Travel Destinations...

Pictures of supercharged Bimota emerge

15 May 2013 by MCN

These are the first pictures to emerge of Bimota’s upcoming supercharged DB11 VLX, under development, taken by a factory insider. The completed machine is expected to go on sale early next year. The...

Enfield opens new factory

15 May 2013 by MCN

Another sign of the huge growth of motorcycling in India and Asia came this week with Royal Enfield opening an all-new plant and revealing plans to produce up to 250,000 motorcycles a year –more than...

MCN exclusive competition: Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Festival of 1000 Bikes

15 May 2013 by MCN

The Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Festival of 1000 bikes is kicking of its return to Mallory Park on July 12-14 with a spectacular MCN competition. One lucky reader will be in with a chance of meeting...

Manx bus drivers to strike during TT

15 May 2013 by MCN

Isle of Man bus drivers are planning to strike during the TT fortnight. Strike days will be announced seven days in advance and timed to cause maximum disruption, according to Unite the Union. Bobby...

Track day gift vouchers could be worthless after firm’s collapse

15 May 2013 by Steve Farrell

There may be no end in sight to the economic gloom but at least we can escape for a few hours on a track. As long as it’s not with the firm Easytrack. Gift vouchers for track days with the firm are...

Explorers love a hug

15 May 2013 by Tony Hoare

Bodywork specialist Skidmarx has developed and released a hugger for Triumph’s Tiger Explorer XC, designed to keep crud off the rear shock. Triumph don’t make a hugger for the bike, either as original...

The rules to being fast and smooth on track

15 May 2013 by MCN

Watching professional racers glide around a track with incredible grace and finesse can leave even the quickest of us in awe. Riding on track is a beautiful thing, but when it comes to our turn, it...

Ultimate Superbikes 3rd place: Aprilia RSV4 Factory

15 May 2013 by Michael Neeves

Lap time: 1:49.8 Top speed at end of straight: 164.4mph Max braking (g): 1.38 Max lean: 48.2 Why it’s so special The 1199R and HP4 may be the latest and greatest superbikes to arrive, but neither can...

2013 AMD Freestyle Champion Rondine up close

14 May 2013 by Ped Baker

Irish custom bike builders Medaza Cycles took top honours last weekend at the AMD World Custom Bike Building Championships in Germany with this stunning Guzzi powered creation called Rondine. Based...

Ducati ST owners needed

14 May 2013 by MCN

MCN is looking for Ducati ST owners for an upcoming feature! We need Ducati ST2, ST3 and ST4/ST4S owners Just fill out the questionnaire below and email it with a head and shoulder photograph of...

New MCN May 15: Best bikes for £5k

14 May 2013 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s MCN, out May 15, we have the ultimate used guide to the best bikes available for under £5000. We also test the new adventure-styled Honda CB500X. Also this week: New high-powered...

Worst biking fashion mistake?

14 May 2013 by MCN

There are plenty of questionable biking fashions, but which is the worst?

Staff blog: Blinded by handlebar muffs

14 May 2013 by Steve Farrell

In this week’s paper I report how the heated grips on the Suzuki Burgman 650 could be warmer. Just about every journalist on the launch in Scotland seemed to agree on the point. Some said they seemed...

The new Indian Chief has been announced. Tempted?

14 May 2013 by MCN

Indian released a teaser image of their new Chief yesterday, ahead of the full unveiling in August.

You Ask/You Answer: How can I improve acceleration?

14 May 2013 by MCN

“I’d like a bit more acceleration from my Honda CB1000R – and I’m not really bothered about top speed (so long as it’ll still cruise at 90mph). What’s the best way to change the gearing – bigger rear...

Ultimate Superbikes 4th place: MV Agusta F4RR

14 May 2013 by Michael Neeves

Lap time: 1:53.86 Top speed at end of straight: 163.6mph Max braking (g): 1.19 Max lean: 41.62 Why it’s so special MV Agusta F4s are the ultimate poster bikes. The iconic Massimo Tamburini-designed...

All-new Indian Chief comes out of the shadows

13 May 2013 by Phil West

This is the first look at the all-new, eagerly awaited Indian Chief, as developed by Victory owners Polaris and set, MCN can reveal, to be publicly unveiled at Sturgis this August. The silhouette...

Irish Guzzi takes top honours at AMD World Custom Bike Championships

13 May 2013 by Ped Baker

122 of the world’s finest custom bikes were on display last weekend as the 10th annual AMD World Custom Bike Championships kicked off in Essen, Germany. 23 countries were represented in the five...