Bike news

Year: ALL

Bike sport insight: Rory Skinner opens up about losing his Moto2 seat after just one season in the GP paddock

14 December 2023 by Josh Close

British fans were shocked last month when Rory Skinner was informed that he would be losing his American Racing seat in Moto2 next year… despite having a two-year contract. Skinner’s future is now...

Devon and Cornwall Police catch 20 illegal drivers on first day of drink and drug driving crackdown

13 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Police in Devon and Cornwall are cracking down on drink and drug drivers this Christmas period. Officers detected more than 20 offences in just a few hours of the first operation on the A30 Victoria...

Motorcycling Legends Hicky and McGuinness confirmed for London

13 December 2023 by MCN

Thirteen-time TT winner and reigning MCN Rider of the Year, Peter Hickman, has joined a cast of racers and celebrities for the 2024 Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show. Hickman’s presence...

Motorcycle Live 2024 – Let’s get ready to go!!!

11 December 2023 by MCN

Paid partnership with Motorcycle Live 2024 The doors have only just closed on Britain’s biggest motorcycle and scooter show, Motorcycle Live in association with Bikesure Insurance, but plans are already well underway to ensure the 2024 show is...

InspireRide Bomber Command Centre ride-in returns for 2024

11 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

The popular InSpireRide event to Lincoln’s International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) takes place once again in May 2024, honouring 80 years since the ‘Great Escape.’ The mass ride will take place...

Adventure and naked bikes lead the charge in promising 2023 industry sales figures

11 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

November sales statistics released by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) have shown registrations are on the up in many categories, compared with 2022. In year-to-date figures, bikes...

MCN exclusive: Suzuki boss discusses bikes of tomorrow

11 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Suzuki’s general manager for motorcycle sales Akira Kyuji has confirmed to MCN that the Japanese firm remain on track to reveal their first electric two-wheeler next year, with further investment...

Ducati collaborate with luxury car brand Bentley to create exclusive Diavel V4 special

08 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Ducati have teamed up with luxury car firm Bentley to produce an exclusive version of their Diavel V4 muscle cruiser, limited to just 500 units. Called the ‘Ducati Diavel for Bentley’, pricing...

Mental Health Motorbike charity establish Welsh hub at Llandovery tea room

08 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

A motorcycling mental health charity has kicked off a new wellbeing hub at the Owl’s Nest Tea Room in Llandovery with a special event featuring a raft of local biking personalities. Taking place on...

Yamaha get amped up: New MT-09 gets an intake amplifier to enhance the riding soundtrack

08 December 2023 by Ben Purvis

Yamaha have taken steps to make sure their MT-09 naked models make the best sound possible – for the rider, at least. Like exhaust fumes, noise emissions are closely monitored and limited under Euro5,...

How to winterise your bike

07 December 2023 by Bruce Dunn

It was great to meet so many of you at Motorcycle Live, and one of the questions I was asked most often was about what to do with fuel when storing a bike. Storing a bike dry should be avoided, as...

Expert guide to: sub-£3k adventures

07 December 2023 by Jon Urry

Tall, upright and comfortable, adventure bikes make for great tourers – and that’s the secret of their enduring success. If you are after a bike to carry you and a pillion on a tarmac trip away,...

Big read: the story of Mental Health Motorbike – the charity that’s using bikes to help get us talking

07 December 2023 by Saffron Wilson

Mental health has been at the forefront of the news for a while now – even more so with the changes to everyday life since Covid and the cost of living crisis. It’s something that can affect any...

The MCN Test: Kings of the road

07 December 2023 by Carl Stevens

The current crop of big adventure bikes truly are some of the very best motorcycles on this planet, full stop. Not only are they built to rack up serious motorway mileage with the comfort of an...

World's greatest bikes #8: Suzuki RG500 XR14

07 December 2023 by Jon Urry

In 1974, Suzuki unveiled a bike that would go on to change the face of 500cc GP racing – the RG500 XR14. Although its first season didn’t give too much of a hint about what was to come, mainly as...

Divvy goes electric: Retired engineer cooks up battery-powered bike with some help from the internet

07 December 2023 by Phil West

If you’ve ever fancied building your own electric bike, why not take inspiration from 77-year-old Cumbrian Peter Hope who recently completed this battery-powered Yamaha Diversion 600 with the help of...

Yamahas built by CFMoto 'solely for the domestic Chinese market' says European boss

07 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Yamaha’s European President has spoken out to clarify the brand’s recently announced joint venture with CFMoto, by stating that any bikes built as a result will be solely for the domestic Chinese...

Langen reach for the stars: Brit firm go global with new LightSpeed

06 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

British firm Langen, famed for their naked Two Stroke café racer, have confirmed to MCN that they are planning to go global with their incoming V-twin LightSpeed LS12 muscle cruiser. Unlike the...

Get adventure ready with Charley Boorman at the 2024 Devitt Insurance MCN London Show

06 December 2023 by MCN

Prepare for inspiration at the Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show in February with the all-new Charley Boorman Adventure Base Camp. This new stage is set to ignite the wanderlust of riders at...

Naked revival: Milano name returns to Moto Morini line-up with new 1187cc V-twin brute

05 December 2023 by Phil West

While Moto Morini’s virtually all-new X-Cape 1200 adventure bike was the star of the brand’s line-up at November’s Eicma 2023 trade show in Milan, it was the similarly powered Milano naked that...

Italjet get serious with radical 58bhp Dragster 559 Twin

05 December 2023 by Phil West

Scooters don’t usually grab much attention, especially when they’re still in the prototype stage. But then scooters don’t usually have 550cc twin cylinder engines producing nearly 60bhp, feature a...

Operation Trail is go! Thames Valley Police launch new off-road motorcycle team against offenders

05 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Thames Valley Police are cracking down on anti-social quadbike and motorcycle riders with a new team of off-road officers aboard Honda CRF300Ls. Part of a larger initiative called ‘Operation Trail’,...

Check out Red Torpedo’s new winter range!

05 December 2023 by MCN

Paid partnership with Red Torpedo Red Torpedo is warming things up this winter by introducing a fresh new range of top-quality clothing with a cosy, classic, stripped-back look. While Red Torpedo are known for bold and eye-catching...

Winners are grinners: Lucky MCN readers meet 2023 world champions at exclusive FIM autograph session in Liverpool

04 December 2023 by Emma Franklin

Over 40 motorcycling world champions gathered in Liverpool last Saturday for the prestigious FIM Awards, and 12 lucky MCN competition winners got the chance to meet them in an exclusive pre-awards...

Mini Thruxton ready to roll: Triumph/Bajaj tie-up looks set to gain faired 400 retro café racer derivative

04 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

These spy shots recently snapped in southern Europe appear to show a new Triumph Thruxton 400 in the works, based on the firm’s latest small-capacity singles built in partnership with Bajaj...

Pan America takes on Africa: Harley-Davidson team up with ex-Dakar racer for 6000km rally

01 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Harley-Davidson have teamed up with ex-Dakar racer Joan Pedrero to compete in the 6000km Africa Eco Race using a specially-prepared version of their Pan America 1250. Related: Read our...

Kymco join fight against theft with free Datatool tracker and security markings offered to buyers

01 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Kymco have announced a new sales incentive that will see their two- and four-wheeled products equipped with Datatool motorcycle security free of charge (the £3499 electric I-One is not...

CFMoto showcase 675 engine concept: New triple set to top 100bhp

01 December 2023 by Phil West

CFMoto have released more details about their upcoming 675cc three-cylinder engine platform, which looks destined to spawn a new road-friendly sportsbike. The ambitious Chinese brand not only...

No more excuses: MCIA boss tells Government to make biking safer

01 December 2023 by Dan Sutherland

The boss of the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), has called for a major shake-up on motorcycle safety. Tony Campbell, CEO of Britain’s leading motorcycle industry body, was speaking at the...

How to: change your coolant for the winter months

01 December 2023 by Bruce Dunn

I own and run a Yamaha TZ250 race bike, and to comply with racing regs the cooling system must be filled with de-ionised water. This is because antifreeze, and other coolants, have the potential...

Biking legends: Julia and Kevin Sanders

01 December 2023 by Saffron Wilson

How many of us dream of travelling around the world on a motorcycle for a living? Well Kevin and Julia Sanders made that dream a reality. After bagging two world records – the fastest two-up ride...

Dream ride: Paradise found in New Zealand

01 December 2023 by Andy Davidson

The frothing river looks deep, which makes the GS feel twice as heavy the second it dips its toe in the water. Alissa decides to wade across and recce any deep spots for the as-big-as-a-house BMW.

Main test: Lord of the twins

30 November 2023 by Carl Stevens

When thinking about Italian exotica, a pair of middleweight parallel twins probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind. But this blossoming part of the market actually offers a sublime mix...

Exclusive interview: Andrea Iannone is back in WSBK. How does he think that will go?

30 November 2023 by Leonardo Villanova

Andrea Iannone smiles when he starts telling me how he felt in Jerez de la Frontera when he first sat on the Go Eleven Ducati Panigale V4R, the bike he will race with in the 2024 World Superbike...

MotoGP insight: Pecco's long road to the top

30 November 2023 by Josh Close

20 rounds, 39 races and a season-long title fight. We follow Pecco Bagnaia’s route to the title… Round 1 Portimao SPRINT 1 Bagnaia 2 Martin 3 M Marquez GRAND PRIX 1 Bagnaia 2 Viñales 3...

‘Pop bang’ car firm fined: Prosecution brought against noise-boosting vehicle mods

30 November 2023 by Dan Sutherland

A car modification company has been convicted and fined for ‘openly advertising and supplying illegal vehicle alterations which increased noise’ in what’s being called a ‘first of its kind’...