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BMW enters GP race

29 April 2002

BMW enters GP race

This is the bike that will change the way you think about BMWs. It is a totally new three-cylinder four-stroke designed to compete in GPs. You can get the full story on the new BMW GP bike in MCN, out...

This is Spinal Tap

22 April 2002

This is Spinal Tap

No it isn’t dry ice, but the throttle does go up to 11

First love never dies

22 April 2002

First love never dies

Paul Long watched anxiously as the clock ticked around to midnight. He was ready. Helmet buckled, leather jacket zipped up, white socks rolled over the top of his boots. Finally, the clock began to...

Free stickers with BikeMart

22 April 2002

Free stickers with BikeMart

Get free MCN British Superbike stickers with MCN BikeMart magazine – on sale now. As an added bonus, if your bike is spotted sporting one of the stickers, you could win a Hizzy rep OGK FF3 rep...

Send us your tips

22 April 2002

Send us your tips

Have you got a top tip you’d like to share with us? We’d like to hear how you save time or a few quid with a helpful hint. Every day motorcyclenews.com publishes the best of the tips we receive. But...

High enough for you?

22 April 2002

High enough for you?

AC Farias demonstrates some techniques for annoying the police.

BMW’s GP bike revealed

22 April 2002

BMW’s GP bike revealed

This is the bike that will change the way you think about BMWs. It’s a totally new three-cylinder four-stroke designed to compete in GPs. You can read full details of this stunning machine in MCN, out...

You’re our pillion in a million winner

22 April 2002

You’re our pillion in a million winner

Thanks you for your entries to our pillion in a million ride competition. Congratulations to Neil Summers from Liverpool, he’s won a pillion ride with with Randy Mamola at this weekend’s Boxer Cup...

Ducati tests super single

22 April 2002

Ducati tests super single

Ducati has begun tests of a single-cylinder engine destined to find its way into a new range of bikes – including a supercharged one. For the full story on Ducati’s super single, don’t miss the new...

Theives raid Harpers

22 April 2002

Theives raid Harpers

Thieves broke in through the roof of Harpers in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex and stole several sets of expensive leathers and gloves. Alpinestars and RST kit was amongst the thieves’ haul, but Wolf leathers...

Kawasaki’s ZZ-R1200 takes on its rivals

22 April 2002

Kawasaki’s ZZ-R1200 takes on its rivals

In the new MCN, out Wednesday April 24, we’ve taken some of the world’s fastest tourers and pitched them against Kawasaki’s blistering new ZZ-R1200. It went head-to-head with Yamaha’s belting FJR1300,...

Your response to Carnell take-over

22 April 2002

Your response to Carnell take-over

Users of motorcyclenews.com chatboards have been responding to the news that Royal Bank of Scotland has confirmed its offer to buy Dixon Motors, the parent company of the Carnell-Motorcycle City...

We want to be together

22 April 2002

We want to be together

Is this what’s meant by close control riding?

The Triumph factory fire

22 April 2002

The Triumph factory " could collapse at any minute " , claim fire fighters who spent the entire weekend battling a blaze there. Even as MCN went to press on Monday afternoon, fires were still burning inside the building in Hinckley, Leics. Fireman won’t let people inside to assess the damage, but as our photos prove, the destruction is massive. A third of the roof has fallen on to the...

Your views on "unsafe" sportsbikes…

22 April 2002

News that a ZX-12R owner is preparing a complaint against Kawasaki, after claiming that the bike’s compact design prevents him from making proper " rear observations " , has stirred up a storm on our News boards. On the advice of Trading Standards officers, Steve Breeze, 42, is compiling evidence to present to Kawasaki and hopes others who have the same difficulty will step forward. " I like...

KTM V-twin set for WSB

22 April 2002

KTM V-twin set for WSB

KTM plans to shed its off-road image with an innovative V-twin 170bhp superbike designed to take on the best in WSB or Grand Prix. For the full story on KTM’s race project, and a world first test of...

Manufacturers respond to Yamaha insurance deal

22 April 2002

Manufacturers respond to Yamaha insurance deal

Yamaha’s ambitious across-the-range insurance scheme exclusively revealed in last week’s MCN has left the other big motorcycle manufacturers scratching their heads and wondering how to combat such a...

TRIUMPH BLAZE: THE AFTERMATH

22 April 2002

Triumph’s insurers face a bill of over £25 million to rebuild the factory after the devastating fire, which firefighters say was caused by a petrol leak. And Triumph plans to used the cash to make the brand even stronger by rebuilding the factory so it contains the very latest technology. The insurance pay-out also covers lost income from sales and workers’ wages. But many Triumph dealers face...

How the disaster unfolded

22 April 2002

Friday: 20:41 Leicestershire Fire Brigade receives a phone call from the Hinckley area saying there’s flames licking out of the top of Triumph’s factory in Jacknell Road. Friday: 20:46 Two engines arrive from nearby Hinckley Fire Station. The crew commander carries out a risk assessment and immediately radios for assistance from other crews as smoke billows from the roof. Friday: 20:50 A third...

Back when men were men, and wore black leather.

22 April 2002

Back when men were men, and wore black leather.

Part one of Mr Chorlmondeley-Warner’s guide to the Island. Hurrah for ration books and the King!

Scooters with car qualities

22 April 2002

Scooters with car qualities

Peugeot scooters are the most popular powered two-wheeled transport in the UK. And now they claim to be adopting car-style values with big moves on quality control and technology. No wonder their...

£11,000 Tuono ‘is too much’

22 April 2002

£11,000 Tuono ‘is too much’

Aprilia’s UK importer wants the factory to rethink the £11,000 asking price of its new Tuono. The firm is making just 200 of the 130bhp RSV Mille R-engined naked bikes for sale via the internet on May...

How to make a chassis into British Superbike spec

22 April 2002

How to make a chassis into British Superbike spec

The chassis on Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 is good enough to keep even the most demanding rider happy… or so you’d think. But when you’re using one to defend the British Superbike title, a stock one simply...

Triumph will come out of this stronger and better

22 April 2002

TRIUMPH will take on a siege mentality to see it through the difficult times ahead, according to industry experts. They also believe the famous name could come out of the disaster stronger than ever. " Under extreme circumstances you get more production than you ever thought possible, said professor Garel Rhys, director of automotive research at Cardiff University. " People will roll their...

Starfish style

22 April 2002

Starfish style

This is one pillion who was taking no chances when the tactical firearms squad yelled ” spread ‘em ”

The ultimate carbon-fibre accessory

22 April 2002

The ultimate carbon-fibre accessory

What do you get for the sports bike rider who has everything? A carbon-fibre toilet seat obviously. Tastefully supplied with chrome brackets this lovely item can be yours for just £85 from U.S.

Triumph Blaze: How it happened

22 April 2002

Investigators are " 90 per cent certain " the blaze which tore through the Triumph factory was caused by leaking petrol. But they are still trying to discover where the leak actually came from. They helped us recreate what probably happened on that fateful Friday night. Once bikes reach the end of the assembly line (1), they are fuelled and then tested on the dyno before the petrol is emptied.

What’s your view like?

22 April 2002

What’s your view like?

A ZX-12R owner is preparing a complaint against Kawasaki, claiming that the bike’s compact design prevents him from making proper ” rear observations ” . You can read the full story on this case in...

Yamaha Tmax: Long term report

22 April 2002

Yamaha Tmax: Long term report

My name is Steve Farrell and I’m a scooter apron wearer. I have visions of myself saying that, standing in front of a room full of people guilty of equally heinous biking fashion crimes, at a support...

You couldn’t make it up…

22 April 2002

You couldn’t make it up…

Speeder has phone joke: The man fined a record-breaking £72,000 by police in Finland for breaking the speed limit on his Harley has still got a sense of humour. Launching a new range of Nokia phones...

Triumph blaze: Morale boosted by Royal Visit

22 April 2002

The devastated workforce in Hinckley raised a smile last week when the Duke of York visited the site. After seeing the destruction inside the factory first-hand, Prince Andrew said: " It?s rather sad in there. This is a great British name that has been reborn and it?s a tragedy to see this happen to a company that has done so well. The fact they have had to suspend production is a great sadness.

Win bikes on BMF tickets

22 April 2002

Win bikes on BMF tickets

Fancy winning a KTM Duke 640? Or how about an Aprilia Atlantic 500cc scooter? Both will be given away at this year’s BMF Show on May 18-19 at Peterborough’s East of England Showground, Cambridgeshire.

Savour Skeggy at the MCN Autumn Spectacular

22 April 2002

Savour Skeggy at the MCN Autumn Spectacular

More than 10,000 people piled into Butlins for the annual MCN Spring Spectacular last week, and just as many were disappointed because tickets sold out so quickly. That’s why we’re laying on another...

On the back with Ron Haslam

22 April 2002

On the back with Ron Haslam

Flying through Schwantz Curve at 140mph on a FireBlade, I close my eyes. Weird. By the time I open them a split second later I’m at the McLeans right-hander and leaning over with about 20 degrees of...

Bank wants Carnell-Motorcycle City

22 April 2002

Bank wants Carnell-Motorcycle City

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is lining up a take-over of Dixon Motors, the parent company of the Carnell/Motorcycle City franchises. The Sunday Times reports that a formal offer is expected later...

Latest May 4 protest timetable

22 April 2002

Latest May 4 protest timetable

The timetable for the May 4 protest rides has just been released, complete with meeting points and times for people travelling from across Britain. Up to 4000 bikers are expected to join the ride,...