Bike news

Year: ALL

Step seven: Rubbers

21 October 2001

No giggling at the back! There are lots of rubber parts on your bike – hoses and the like. Whether you’ve had the fairing off or not, you can get to a lot of the engine hoses with a silicon spray.

Machine of the Year (Sports under 601cc)

21 October 2001

In a category where the Yamaha R6 doesn’t even get on the podium, you know that the standards are high. So congratulations to Suzuki’s GSX-R600 for taking the honours. The GSX-R was relaunched this...

Machine of the Year (Sports over 601cc)

21 October 2001

Every now and again a new motorcycle comes along which redefines what is great, which resets the standards and which everyone knows is the new benchmark. The GSX-R1000 has done that, just as the...

Machine of the Year (Scooter/Moped)

21 October 2001

The best way to provide a future for motorcycling is to get kids on bikes and if ever a scooter was going to do that it is the Gilera DNA, as sales are already proving. It is unique, affordable and...

Step six: Polish

21 October 2001

The machine needs to be dry for this – polish doesn’t work on a wet bike. Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need to apply polish by the gallon. All that does is leave white lines between the panels and around graphic stickers and fairing bolts. Apply polish to all the bodywork and the wheels, but don’t do black trim and obviously keep it off parts like brake discs. Unless you enjoy the...

Man of the Year

21 October 2001

Voted for by the readers and users of MCN this coveted Award has in the past been won by some of the greatest names in motorcycle racing. Men like Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, Barry Sheene, Carl...

The final verdict, the lack of any Japanese bikes, and how to ride sideways

21 October 2001

Verdict Despite its wild looks and our desire for the British bike to win, the CCM is the one that feels least comfortable on the road mainly because it’s pretty much set up as an out and out race...

Honda’s vision of future commuting

21 October 2001

IT seems Honda is not even pausing for breath after launching the the new all-new VFR800, Blade, Pan-European and Hornet 900 – for the firm will reveal no less than 15 new designs later this week,...

Machine of the Year (Cruiser)

21 October 2001

In the judges opinion, despite only just being released, the winner, and still the real thing…is the Harley V-Rod Other manufacturers have spent years trying to copy the look and feel of a Harley and...

Motorcyclist of the Year

21 October 2001

For the first time, MCN is proud to honour, in its Awards, the ordinary British motorcyclist. Why? Well because some of things that they do are amazing. Hardly a week goes by when we at the MCN...

Drysdale V8 1000 ready to roll

21 October 2001

Aussie firm Drysdale is putting the finishing touches to its new 1000cc naked bike. Only a handful will be built each year and it’s no surprise – with a tiny team of engineers and a price tag of...

Bid for WSB goodies and help Riders for Health

21 October 2001

You could be enjoying VIP treatment at a WSB round of your choice next season (where the battle between Chris Walker and Neil Hodgson will be rejoined) if yours is the highest bid in a great charity...

KTM LC4 Supermoto

21 October 2001

If you’re looking for the mad dog in this test, you’ve found it. The KTM LC4 Supermoto is a full-on dirt racer with 17 inch wheels and a bigger front disc. End of story. And you aren’t going to...

Product of the Year (Service)

21 October 2001

Congratulations CCM for your Supermoto Track Days. Certainly not a new company, at least in it current guise, but one which is constantly exploring ways to make a limited promotions budget stretch a long way while at the same time show motorcyclists original new ways to enjoy a bike. 1. CCM 2. California Superbike School 3. BMW Skills Course Shortlisted: Carole Nash Secure, Suzuki GSX-R Festival,...

Product of the Year (Accessory)

21 October 2001

Every year this category proves so hard to judge because every year the tyre manufacturers seem to come up with even more desirable tyre which British motorcyclists clamour for. The Metzeler Rennsport...

Step one: Preparation:

21 October 2001

Once you’ve set two hours or so aside, there are some things you can do to make sure the cleaning goes better. First of all, make sure the bike is cold. Applying chemicals to a hot bike will do one of...

World speedway action

21 October 2001

They’ve taken out the chicane for this year’s title challenge

Suzuki GS1200SS revamped for 2002

21 October 2001

Suzuki’s muscular GS1200SS has been updated only a year on from its Japan-only launch. The most obvious change is to the fuel tank. It’s now heavily sculpted to give a sportier riding position and...

Overall Machine of the Year

21 October 2001

The winner was chosen from each category winner. The shortlist therefore is: Gilera DNA 125, Suzuki DRZ400, Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer, Harley Davidson V-Rod, BMW K1200LT, Yamaha FJR1300, Suzuki GSX-R600,...

Machine of the Year (Tourer)

21 October 2001

What the judges are looking for is a bike that eats miles for breakfast, lunch and dinner while leaving the rider fresh and ready for more. For the second year runnign the winner is the BMW...

It’s official: Thundercat owners chat most

21 October 2001

There are more postings on our dedicated Yamaha Thundercat board than for any other bike in our Talk Bikes section. Owners of the Yamaha sports all-rounder have notched up 2161 postings. They are...

Lifetime achievement

21 October 2001

This Award is named in permanent memory of the late Dave Taylor, a tireless campaigner for motorcycling and bike safety. Previous winners include legends such as John Surtees, Evel Kneivel and Willie...

Wholesaler of the Year

21 October 2001

Congratulations to Lloyd Lifestyle, which has worked very hard this year to both expand its product range and profile and the level of service it provides to dealers, which is why it is a worthy...

And all without brakes

21 October 2001

Check out the sideways world of speedway.

What’s the 2002 GSX-R750 like?

21 October 2001

We’re about to find out what the new GSX-R750 is like with a first test coming soon. But what changes would you have liked Suzuki to have made? What gripes do current owners have that they would like...

Step four: Exhaust

21 October 2001

With after-market cans seemingly appearing on every bike over six weeks old, it depends what type you have, as to how you clean it. Many titanium cans come with cleaning instructions – if it does,...

Step five: Drying:

21 October 2001

This is your chance for a coffee break. Letting the bike drip dry for a few moments won’t hurt. Taking it off the centre/paddock stand and putting it on the side stand will help water drain. But you...

Victory’s new Freedom

21 October 2001

Victory’s latest machines may have conventional looks but there’s nothing old fashioned about the bikes’ technology. For 2002, all Victory’s get a new “Freedom” version of the firm’s 1507cc, SOHC,...

What do you call a scooter with 750cc? A Honda Elysium

21 October 2001

The litre-class scooter can’t be far away. This is the closest so far, a 750cc flat-four-powered brute with the kind of grunt scooter riders can only usually dream about… and a roof. The Honda Elysium...

What women want

21 October 2001

Chocolate, Robbie Williams and free minutes on their mobiles might be among the top answers you get when you ask most women what they want, but motorcycling women say better-fitting leathers would be...

CB400SS given a taste of the ’60s grid

21 October 2001

Honda’s own custom version of its CB400SS has made it a retro to be proud of. The bike has been transformed with aftermarket parts to give it a look like a 1960s GP racer. All the original bodywork –...

MZ Baghira

21 October 2001

It’s a little known fact that MZ, former manufacturers of everlasting two stroke commuters (and, before that, GP champions) have been making supermotos since 1996. One was the twin headlight Mastiff,...

Machine of the Year (Sports Tourer)

21 October 2001

And in the last 12 months there have been some fine entrants into this sector to run alongside a few old hands, which it has to be said are still among the most popular bikes in the UK. But the winner...

Directions

21 October 2001

You take a left, then a left, then a left and, oh just keep going until you see the chequered flag.

Yamaha builds a bike to handle like a BMX

21 October 2001

Yamaha’s new Tricker concept bike combines the 223cc SOHC four-stroke single of the new TW225 with an alloy beam frame. Yamaha says the bike was inspired by the X-Games – where BMXs and skateboards...

Why biking is back in fashion

21 October 2001

When we were kids, bikers were cool. Unless you’re over 50, you didn’t see hippie odyssey Easy Rider when it came out, and you almost certainly weren’t around when outlaw Marlon Brando terrorised...