Bike news

Year: ALL

Dig in and make the turn

01 July 2001

That’s really going to work those thigh muscles…

An amateur inventor with a background in designing bus engines reckons he’s come up with a way to blow traditional pistons away – by using a wedge-shaped version which moves sideways. Mervyn Davies,...

Designed and built outside Japan

01 July 2001

THE Bulldog, or BT1100, claims to address a change in the market. The bike is the first Yamaha to be both designed and built outside of Japan. In true V-twin tradition this is an Italian bike, created by Yamaha’s Italian importer Belgarda. Unlike the UK importer, Belgarda is now a full construction company and key staff have been taken from Japan to oversee quality control in Italy. The engine of...

Sort your forks, learn to wheelie… and much more

01 July 2001

Check our News Features section for some great new additions. Read how to sort your forks for not a lot of cash or watch our video guide to pulling a wheelie in relative safety. We’ve also included a huge report on the revival of a classic race to mark Ducati’s 75th anniversary. To find the New Features section simply click on NEWS in the navigation bar. Once in NEWS you’ll see NEWS FEATURES...

Voxan files for bankruptcy… but it isn’t the end

01 July 2001

Voxan has filed for bankruptcy – despite a full order-book and waiting lists for its bikes. The French firm, which builds a range of 1000cc V-twin machines using its own fuel-injected motor, has...

Winners ride Rockingham

01 July 2001

Five motorcyclenews.com winners spent a day thrashing around Britain’s newest circuit on Wednesday – Rockingham Speedway. And it wasn’t just the usual infield circuit – our winners got to try the...

How you can do it

01 July 2001

You don’t need to ride an old knacker to take part in the Motogiro d’Italia. As wella s the old racers, there is a touring section for road bikes, new or old, which joins up with the main event in each town the race stops off at. This year’s tour group included bikes ranging from a 1929 Panther to a 996. If you want to do the trip on a classic bike there are alternatives to travelling down to the...

Another big air day

01 July 2001

Stars in flight at the Motocross Des Nations

Chris Walker in his own words

01 July 2001

The following is a full transcript of the conversation between Chris Walker and motorcyclenews.com users in the VIP Lounge in Talk Bikes on July 5, 2001. Where " MCN " precedes the questions, it means this is a question which was put by a motorcyclenews.com user. MCN: Hi, Hope your feeling well and hope that you can race on Sunday. I read that you had hoped Ron Haslam would team mate you while...

Mad, bad and occasionally dangerous to do: Wheelies and how to pull them

01 July 2001

They are illegal and can be hazardous to both rider and bike, but almost anyone who ever swings a leg over a bike wonders; ” Can I pull a wheelie? ” Our video guide will answer your question. We...

UK circuits are finally cleaning up their act

01 July 2001

WE all love to watch bike racing. The noises, the smells, the atmosphere, the danger… it all adds up to a unique experience. Sadly, though, regular race-goers could put a different interpretation on...

Shut your eyes

01 July 2001

You just know what’s going to happen next… and it won’t be cheap

You put the questions… here are Walker’s answers

01 July 2001

We’ve added the full transcript from yesterday’s live web chat with Chris Walker. If you missed it live, at least you can catch up now. You’ll find the full transcript by following the ” Chris Walker...

Here’s mud in your eye

01 July 2001

A slew of grit and dust could be the only explanation for this.

One small step

01 July 2001

One small step for a man… one giant get-off for mankind

We want your maddest snaps

01 July 2001

If you’re going to Donington Park for the GP this weekend we want you to show us the way you see it through the lens of your cameras. Take a digital camera (try to beg or borrow one if you don’t...

FireBlade-powered Hornet by the end of the year

01 July 2001

Honda will bring us a Blade-powered Hornet later this year. And this drawing is thought to show exactly how it will look. The CB900 Hornet uses a 918cc motor based on the pre-2000 FireBlade, but it...

First full test on the Bulldog

01 July 2001

On Friday we heard from Adam Morrissey with his first impressions on the new Yamaha Bulldog. Now after some reflection and consideration, here’s his verdict on the first bike Yamaha has both designed...

You vote new Gilera 600 a gorgeous hit

01 July 2001

UPDATED WITH EXTRA PICTURES 2.45PM, JUNE 28 You’ve been mesmerised by the magic of the new Gilera 600’s looks, if comments in our Talk Bikes section are anything to go by. Rmezza, said: ” It’s simply...

Video: How to wheelie

01 July 2001

Click on the link on the right to download Kev Smith’s video guide to pulling wheelies. Controversial maybe, illegal on the road certainly, but without a doubt amazing to watch and cool to...

Crowds turn out

01 July 2001

The Motocross Des Nations is a real crowd-puller. Watch and find out why.

Mellor says riders deserve rising death toll

24 June 2001

Riders who crash while jumping long queues or filtering in traffic are ” getting what they deserve ” , according to former Cabinet Minister David Mellor. The Tory made the claim in his weekly column...

Gilera’s Ice is very cool

24 June 2001

Italians have a fantastic ability to design bikes that are striking and different. The Ice is just that, totally unique, beautiful – but in a quirky kind of way. The crazy look of the bike is only...

Mad motocross

24 June 2001

The Des Nations event always brings out the wildest off-road action

How we can prove Mellor wrong

24 June 2001

WITHIN days of David Mellor’s comments, the Transport Research Laboratory published a report into the real reason why people are dying in bike crashes. And, Mr Mellor, it’s nothing to do with riders exercising their right to ride on the outside of a queue or getting up your nose by passing your chauffeur-driven motor. The TRL looked into police reports of 717 fatalities which involved a motorcycle...

Muck spreaders

24 June 2001

Every sideways corner throws up more mud from the Des Nations action.

Supersport CBR takes on both road going versions.

24 June 2001

Honda must inject some kind of sedative into the saddle of CBR600s which enables you to ride exceptionally fast, yet feel extremely relaxed doing it. Either that or it has got the balance of the...

One at a time please

24 June 2001

Some corners attract more riders than others…

Latest Blade marks 10th anniversary

24 June 2001

The original Blade went on sale in March 1992 – almost exactly a decade before the latest version will hit the showrooms. With a 122bhp, 893cc engine mounted in a race-style alloy frame, it had the power of a contemporary litre bike, but at 185kg it was the weight of a 600cc machine. Ever since its launch, the Blade has been subject to regular updates every two years – making the new bike the...

Flying tonight

24 June 2001

Here’s the first in a series of video clips from the Motocross Des Nations. Prepare to have your breath taken away.

Under starters orders…

24 June 2001

The dash from the tape at the Motocross Des Nations

Mud in your eye

24 June 2001

Some serious soil disturbance from the Motocross Des Nations

First test reveals Yamaha Bulldog is built for cruising

24 June 2001

LATEST UPDATE: 5PM, JUNE 29 Yamaha’s new Bulldog may be styled like a Buell or a Ducati Monster, but it’s much more focused on cruising rather than sport. That’s the first impression Adam Morrissey...

Eat dirt

24 June 2001

It’s all going to get a bit gnarly out there…

Mixed reaction to first pictures of 2002 FireBlade

24 June 2001

Our pictures of the 2002 FireBlade have got everybody talking… and not everyone has been immediately won over by the new look. In postings in our Talk News bulletin board, peterfoley said: ” Deffo...

24 June 2001

Serious Accidents on the open road: Loss of control, Rider’s fault: 61%, Other’s fault: 5%. Failed to give way, Riders fault: 2%, Other’s fault 36%. Failed to avoid, Rider’s fault: 13%, Other’s fault: 12%. Poor turn/manoeuvre, Rider’s fault: 7%, Other’s fault: 31%. Poor Overtaking, Rider’s fault: 11%, Other’s fault 7%. Total (accidents/percentage). Rider’s fault: 456 (67%), Other’s fault: 227...