Bike news

Year: ALL

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...

High-tech 2022 KTM RC390 gets all the bells and whistles

31 August 2021 by Ben Clarke

KTM have officially unveiled their new RC390 A2 sportsbike with a new look fairing and headlight and a load of new technology, too. We’ve ridden the new KTM RC390 and gave it five stars in our full...

Swedish super-single surprise: NCCR turn half a Buell V-twin into race engine

27 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Well before the 916, in 1992, Ducati created a racebike called the ‘Supermono’. Essentially an 888 with the rear cylinder removed the Supermono was an effective race bike that became the stuff of...

Honda Africa Twin models updated for 2022

27 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Honda have updated their Africa Twin models for 2022 with tweaks to both to make them a little more practical as well as sharper looking. Related articles on MCN Honda NT1100 sports tourer...

A Svart move: Latest Husqvarna Svartpilen looks to be getting a serious overhaul

25 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Spyshots have emerged that show Husqvarna are working on a replacement for the Svartpilen 401. Related articles on MCN Husqvarna Norden 901 is nearly ready Spyshots: KTM 990 Duke Husqvarna Svartpilen...

Back to the start: Harley-Davidson Serial 1 e-bikes channel 117-year-old heritage

20 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Long before Harley-Davidson made V-twins that go potato-potato, they built lightweight singles that were pretty much beefed-up bicycles. Related articles on MCN LiveWire One drops the Harley badge...

Incoming: Yamaha ‘R9’ sportsbike based on MT-09 looks certain

19 August 2021 by Ben Purvis

The once-dominant four-cylinder 600cc supersports class has now disappeared and in its wake there’s a vacuum for lightweight sportsbikes. Enter the Yamaha R9, an MT-09-based model that’s almost...

Legendary customisers join forces to create unique Indian Chief

16 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Hot on the heels of the production version of the Indian Chief, the American firm have released the first of three customs. The first one, seen here, is known as the Cox-Keino Chief as it’s been built...

Harley-Davidson unveil limited Street Glide Special Arctic Blast

16 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Harley-Davidson have used the Sturgis rally as the perfect excuse to unveil a limited run of Street Glides with a special paintjob. Known as ‘Arctic Blast’ the scheme consists of a pearlescent white...

Kawasaki reveal Z900RS SE with uprated suspension and 70s tribute paint

16 August 2021 by Dan Sutherland

Kawasaki are gunning for the retro bike top spot after revealing a new Z900RS SE model for 2022 featuring beefier suspension components, uprated brakes and a striking ‘Yellow Ball’ 70s tribute paint...

Yamaha Ténéré ready to rally: Deus turn middleweight adventure bike into a retro Dakar machine

13 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

If there’s two things that are hot property, it’s the 1980s and it’s the Dakar rally. Both hark back to a time before electronics, when life was a little simpler, smartphones didn’t exist and travel...

Motorbikes permanently excluded from Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

12 August 2021 by Ben Clarke

The organisers of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb have announced that motorbikes will be permanently excluded from the competition. Bike racing was temporarily excluded from the event after...

Falklands hero Simon Weston fulfils lifelong dream to take up biking

12 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Falklands veteran Simon Weston CBE has taken to the road on a bespoke Triumph trike paid for by crowdfunding. Related articles on MCN Father and son ride 1040 miles for charity Memorial ride planned...

Steve McQueen's Husqvarna Viking 360 goes under the hammer

11 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

A Husqvarna Viking 360 previously owned by Steve McQueen is to be sold at a three-day auction in Monterey, Californa, USA courtesy of RM Sotheby’s. As a keen racer, McQueen was on a quest to find the...

Playing dirty: New Honda CRF250RX and CRF250R unveiled

09 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Honda have revamped their popular mid-sized off-roaders with new frames, updated engines and overhauled suspension. Related articles on MCN Triumph to build competition off road bikes Yamaha reveal...

KTM 1290 Super Adventure R is globe-trotting rally raider

06 August 2021 by Dan Sutherland

The KTM 1290 Super Adventure R is the Austrian firm’s assault on the 2021 large-capacity off-road-centric adventure bike class. Priced at £15,999, the Euro5-friendly brute is claimed to be the most...

Patents reveal new Brixton 1200 to rival Bonneville

05 August 2021 by Ben Purvis

Triumph have had very little large capacity competition for the retro Brit-style bike crown, but that could soon change when Brixton bring their new 1200cc twin to the market. The new machine, which...

Father and son ride 1040 miles in under 24 hours in charity challenge

05 August 2021 by Dan Sutherland

A Newcastle-based father and son biking duo have raised around £3500 for defibrillator and diabetes charities by riding over 1000 miles in under 24 hours. Lee Atherton and his father Neil Atherton set...

Aprilia Tuareg 660 aims for mid-sized adventure bike supremacy

02 August 2021 by Dan Sutherland

After more than a year of teasing, Aprilia have finally revealed their incoming Tuareg 660 adventure bike online, which looks set to take the fight directly to Yamaha’s 689cc parallel-twin Ténéré...

Indian Motorcycle dealer creates pair of custom Scouts

02 August 2021 by Ben Clarke

French dealer Indian Motorcycle Metz have unveiled two new custom creations based on the Indian Scout. The Hundred is inspired by the drag strips of America with a riding position to suit the sprint...

Bagger is better: BMW supersize the R18 with Transcontinental and R18B

29 July 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

BMW have unveiled two new R18 based tourers – the R18B ‘Bagger’ and the R18 Transcontinental ‘full dresser’. Both bikes take the core of the R18, a giant 1802cc air-cooled boxer engine, exposed shaft...

Spyshots show BMW R nine T Scrambler and Urban G/S models are set to get serious off road

29 July 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

BMW are working on two new scramblers inspired by the early R80G/S. With a focus on competent off-road ability, it’s likely these bikes will be successors to the R nine T Urban G/S and the Scrambler,...

Nevermind the Sex Pistols: deBolex create carbon custom from Ducati Monster 1200

28 July 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

British customisers deBolex have finally unveiled the fruits of nearly two years’ work with the db25 – a limited run of radically customised bikes based on the Ducati Monster 1200. Related articles on...

Andromeda Moto create track-rated vegan 'leathers'

28 July 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Andromeda Moto have created both one and two-piece ‘leather’ suits for bikers that don’t use any leather at all – in fact, it’s completely vegan. Related articles on MCN Best vegan motorbike gear How...

Bikes not chopped: Reports of the death of motorcycles 'greatly exaggerated'

26 July 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

The government has published a paper on their plan to ‘decarbonise transport’ with plans to have all new cars ‘fully zero emission at the tailpipe from 2035’ but when it comes to motorcycles, reports...

Forever 21: Ducati pay tribute to Troy Bayliss with special edition Panigale V2

22 July 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

Ducati have honoured one of their most successful and well loved racers with a special edition bike to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his first world title. The eponymous Panigale V2 Bayliss 1st...

DAB Concept-E combines roadster charm with supermoto cool in learner legal package

19 July 2021 by Dan Sutherland

French boutique bike builders DAB Motors have whipped the covers off their new Concept E – a 13.4bhp learner-legal roadster and the firm’s first foray into electrification. The prototype was produced...

Auction prices hit record high: AJS Porcupine sees auction prices spike

16 July 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

The Bonhams Summer Stafford Sale set new records as the auction paid its first visit to the show since the autumn of 2019 – with the ultra-rare 1940s AJS 497cc E90 ‘Porcupine’ Grand Prix bike setting...

Riding on coconut shells: Activated carbon inserts made from sawdust and coconut shells could transform your bike

15 July 2021 by Ben Purvis

Motorcycle firms have dabbled with the idea of air suspension for decades, but now a British firm have developed a technology that breathes new life into the idea. Related articles on MCN How helmet...