Bike news

Year: ALL

One-off 1920s-style Brooklands racer took four years to make

07 October 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Building a bike is the dream of many motorcyclists – but making one completely from scratch, including most of the engine, frame and bodywork, is virtually unheard of. Yet that’s exactly what this...

Put a ring on it: MV Agusta launch Nürburgring special edition Brutale

07 October 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Masters of the limited edition, MV have unveiled another short-run model, this time a modified version of their hypernaked Brutale. Called the Nürburgring after the iconic German track, the bike is...

Mid-sized Multi: Ducati welcome more riders to the adventure segment with lighter Multistrada V2

30 September 2021 by Dan Sutherland

Ducati are doing away with their aging Multistrada 950 range for 2022, revealing a new lighter, more approachable Multistrada V2 line-up in its place, complete with a 47bhp version for A2 licence...

Zongshen Cyclone RA9: Aprilia-derived V-twin is a near production-ready concept

30 September 2021 by Ben Purvis

Zongshen might not be a brand that sparks many emotions for European riders but among the hordes of Chinese bike firms it’s a well-respected company that’s been around for decades. Related articles on...

Rare MotoGP race bikes up for grabs at Bonhams Stafford auction

29 September 2021 by Phil West

An astonishing 24-bike collection of rare racers – including five genuine MotoGP machines – is among the stars of the upcoming Autumn Stafford Sale by auctioneers Bonhams. The MotoGP machines are all...

It’s the Flying Dutchman: Nico Bakker gives BMW K1600GT the GS treatment

29 September 2021 by Alan Cathcart

This 1600cc, 160bhp beast has to be the maddest ‘GS’ ever. When Willem Heijboer started grinding out the engine cases of his BMW K1600GT he realised that he needed help. That help came from Dutch bike...

Lifting the lid: A new £40 scan claims to reveal hidden helmet damage after an accidental drop

28 September 2021 by Emma Franklin

For the first time ever, a company is offering a service that claims to be able to scan your helmet’s shell for hidden signs of damage or degradation. Before, if you accidently dropped your lid there...

Big backer for CCM: British firm to expand and explore new markets

28 September 2021 by Andy Calton

CCM’s 50th birthday present has just arrived in the form of a huge chunk of investment which should help the firm go from strength to strength. Related articles on MCN CCM celebrate 50 years with two...

Air today, gone tomorrow: One last hurrah for Honda CB1100 as air-cooled fours look ready for retirement

27 September 2021 by Ben Purvis

Despite the fact that 1970s-styled bikes are in vogue at the moment with manufacturers scrambling to revive machines from their pasts, one of the most convincing of those retro models is on the way...

New for old: Kawasaki give their Z650 the retro RS treatment

27 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Kawasaki have expanded their retro naked model range to include the A2-friendly Z650RS. Clearly targeted at younger riders, the Z650RS is to the Z900RS as the Z650-B1 was to the Z1 back in the 1970s...

Parkers Awards: Best Large Van and Best Electric Van winners revealed  in association with MCN

27 September 2021 by MCN

Parkers – the definitive resource for car buying advice in the UK – have partnered with MCN to bring you the awards for the Best Large Van and Best Electric Vans in the prestigious Parkers New Car...

New Ducati Desert X adventure weapon leads new bike charge

23 September 2021 by Andy Calton

Ducati is planning to unleash a raft of red-hot new machines between now and Christmas with the all-new Desert X adventure weapon being the headline machine for the firm’s 2022 line-up. Related...

Three new 300s ready to roll from CFMoto

22 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Chinese firm CFMoto have reinvented their range of 300cc singles with three new models. The new 300 CL-X will be joined by a revamped 300NK naked roadster and a high-spec 300SR-R sports model. Details...

Suzuki GSX-S1000GT unveiled: naked roadster gets the Grand Tour treatment

22 September 2021 by Ben Clarke

Suzuki have unveiled a new sports touring version of their recently updated GSX-S1000 called the GT. The new bike uses the same 150bhp K5 GSX-R engine as the naked bike but wrapped in a new set of...

Triumph Tiger 900 gets the James Bond treatment

21 September 2021 by Ben Clarke

To celebrate the long-awaited release of James Bond: No Time to Die, Triumph have announced a Bond Edition of another of their models. Related articles on MCN Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition The...

New MV Agusta F3 RR sheds weight, increases stiffness and adds aero to go in search of lap records

21 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

MV Agusta have unveiled a new F3 RR that’s been engineered to set blistering lap times just as WSS have announced that 800cc triples will be allowed to compete alongside the 600 fours – what an...

Race-inspired Zero creates a buzz: Quickstrike carbon kit turns SR/F into Pikes Peak tribute model

21 September 2021 by Phil West

Electric brand Zero have added race-inspired style to their top-spec SR/F model with this new limited-edition bodykit. Called the Quickstrike it’s a restyling package of special carbon-fibre and...

Kawasaki ramp up technology for three-wheeled superbike project

20 September 2021 by Ben Purvis

Anyone who’s ridden a tilting three-wheeler like the Yamaha Niken or Piaggio MP3 has probably idly wondered what might happen if similar chassis tech was applied to a full-blown superbike. Related...

Classic scooters quit smoking: Battery conversion for Vespas and Lambrettas

17 September 2021 by Phil West

No two-wheelers are better-suited to electric power than scooters and no scoots are cooler than classic Vespas and Lambrettas – and now you can get electric versions of both thanks to these British...

Holy moly! Mad-looking British speed machine hits the track in high-speed testing

17 September 2021 by Ben Purvis

The outlandish Brit bike that’s targeting the speed record for electric motorcycles has hit the track as it undergoes initial test runs in the UK. Related articles on MCN Max Biaggi claims 11 speed...

Sharper Kawasaki Z900 SE gets improved suspension and more stopping power

16 September 2021 by Dan Sutherland

Kawasaki’s Z900 naked is getting the SE treatment; with the more premium model complete with better Brembo brakes, revised forks, and an Öhlins shock joining the line-up in December 2021. Starting up...

Sammy Miller scoops top honours at star-studded Salon Privé Concours

16 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

This fabulous 1951 Moto Guzzi racer owned by Sammy Miller MBE was one of three bikes that scooped top honours at the 2021 star-studded Salon Privé Concours. Held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace,...

Triumph launch Ride Out to Help Out campaign

16 September 2021 by Phil West

Triumph and some of our best known biking celebs have launched a scheme to get Britain biking. Star names, including Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton and TT racer Maria Costello MBE, are urging...

All the fun of the fairing: Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR unveiled

14 September 2021 by Ben Clarke

Triumph are no strangers to building thoroughly modern bikes that draw on styling inspiration from yesteryear and that’s exactly what they’ve done with this new Speed Triple 1200 RR. Read our full...

Bullit Bluroc 125 incoming

13 September 2021 by Dan Sutherland

The retro-inspired L-plate-friendly Bullit Bluroc 125 hit dealers on Monday, March 9 2020 costing just £1999. It was released alongside a 250cc, V-twin version. Revealed on the Anglo-Chinese small...

Lincolnshire firefighters on course to raise £2000 with 400-mile county charity ride

13 September 2021 by Dan Sutherland

Five firefighters from across Lincolnshire have ridden 400 miles in a day, visiting every fire station in the county to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity and Prostate Cancer UK. “To see people...

Brit tennis star Emma Raducanu shares motocross memories

13 September 2021 by Andy Calton

British teenage tennis sensation Emma Raducanu shocked the sporting world by winning the US Open on Saturday 11 September, but many of the millions watching her make history may not have known that...

Hubless Verge TS electric combines super-efficient performance with next-gen looks

09 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Hot from the continent comes the Verge TS – a hubless electric bike that could change the way we think about motorcycle design. Verge are a Finnish company, previously known as RMK (see below), who...

Variable-rigidity 'chain mail' that stiffens on command could be the future of motorcycle clothing

07 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Motorcycle clothing is a conundrum that’s proved tough to crack. Even ignoring the problems that weather conditions pile into the equation, there’s a stark contrast between the requirement to move...

Battery swap plan for a plug-in future: More firms sign up to scheme that aims to banish electric bike range anxiety

07 September 2021 by Dan Sutherland

The Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium founded in September 2021 by KTM, Honda, Piaggio and Yamaha, has revealed that it now has 21 companies taking part. The idea is to speed-up deployment...

BMW electric concepts give glimpse of the future of personal mobility

06 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

BMW have released a new electric vehicle concept that’s neither motorcycle nor scooter, but which is aimed at pulling youngsters into the brand. Related articles on MCN BMW CE 04 electric scooter...

Mansell mania: Custom BMWs honour F1’s most committed driver

03 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Greg Mansell, son of Formula One World Champion, Nigel Mansell, has launched a short production run of custom BMW R18s to honour his father’s successes. Until the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, Mansell...

Streamliner shakedown: Guy Martin completes slow speed tests of 400mph record attempt bike

03 September 2021 by Dan Sutherland

Guy Martin has completed a slow speed shakedown run on a 1200shp land speed streamliner ahead of attempting to eclipse a new 400mph record on the Bolivian salt flats. The veteran road racer turned...

Rough Crafts custom Yamaha XSR900 build joins firm’s cool Yard Built series

01 September 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Custom builder Winston Yeh has worked his magic once again, this time turning his hand to Yamaha’s XSR900 – and you could have one just like it. Most of Winston’s customs are one-offs but this time...

Portuguese Honda dealership wins CB650R custom competition

01 September 2021 by Dan Sutherland

Portuguese Honda dealership Mototrofa has bounced back from the effects of a devastating fire to claim victory in the 2021 European CB650R Honda Customs contest. The online competition attracted over...

Buell fly the flag for 40th Anniversary Hammerhead special edition

31 August 2021 by Stuart Prestidge

Buell Motorcycles, have added a heavy dose of patriotism to their 40th-anniversary Hammerhead 1190 Freedom Edition draping it in a red, white, and blue stars and stripes livery. “We’re thrilled to...