2007

Video: 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa first test at the Salzburgring

Watch our exclusive video from the world first test of the 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa at the Salzuburgring in Austria, and find out what MCN road tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child thinks of the motorcycle. You’ll be able to read more on the new 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa in MCN, out Wednesday, September 12, 2007, and at the end of the video ‘Chad’ reveals details of an upcoming group test…

Trail bike challenge: Part two

Trail bikes – remember them? We did, and, going by the growing popularity of 70s/80s trailsters in the classics scene, more and more of you do, too. Which is why we set up this challenge. We wanted to find out what you get, and what the experience is like, if, say, you spend £1,000 on an old shonker trail bike from this era. Last week, MCN stalwarts Editor Marc Potter, Acting Deputy Editor Tony...

Video: World first test of the 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa

Video: World first test of the 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa

Here is our exclusive video from the world first test of the 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa at the Saltzburgring in Austria. MCN road tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child is riding the new 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R...

Video: Trail bike challenge: Part one: Trails of the unexpected

The mission was to buy and prepare three late 70s/early 80s trailies and ride them from Morecambe to Scarborough to find out which is the best within a budget of £1,000. Old trail bikes are suddenly becoming cool and collectable. In the 1970s and early 1980s bikes like Suzuki’s TS, Yamaha’s DT and XT and Honda’s XL were everywhere. Check out the video below to see our trail bike challenge from...

Ducati Desmosedici RR first ride hit by hurricane

Ducati Desmosedici RR first ride hit by hurricane

The world first test of the Ducati Desmosedici RR has been hit by a hurricance and torrential rain at the Misano circuit in Italy. MCN Road Tester Michael Neeves is at Misano was all ready to get on...

Video: Sheene tribute RG500

MCN’s senior roadtester Michael Neeves has ridden Pete Tantrum’s incredible Barry Sheene tribute RG500 at Brands Hatch. Check out the video below to see what it is like to ride such an iconic bike around the Kent circuit.

Video: Harley Nightster, Guzzi Belagio, Triumph Speedmaster

Harley’s new Nightster is undoubtedly a great looking bike but how does it fair against its European rivals the Triumph Speedmaster and the Moto Guzzi Belagio. Check out the video below to see how the three bikes compare.

Ducati Desmosedici RR first ride countdown: What can we expect

Ducati Desmosedici RR first ride countdown: What can we expect

As you might have guessed, we’re pretty excited about riding the Ducati Desmosedici RR motorcycle at Misano next Tuesday, but just how close to a MotoGP motorcycle will it actually be? We know it...

Desmosedici first ride countdown: What makes it so special?

Desmosedici first ride countdown: What makes it so special?

Next Tuesday, as the dust is still settling from the weekend’s MotoGP race at Misano, we’ll be following the wheel tracks of the gods when we get to ride the ultimate MotoGP replica: the Ducati...

Tigcraft 450 Supermono - could they replace 250GPs?

The debate is still raging about what will replace 250cc bikes on the GP circuit last week we tested a 250GP bike against a 600cc fourstroke and this week we try the other option – a 450cc single cylinder prototype supermono machine. Watch the video below to see how it compares.

Ducati Desmosedici RR: Six days to the first ride

Ducati Desmosedici RR: Six days to the first ride

This is it, the big one. In just six day’s time at Misano, MCN will be exclusively riding one of the most awe-inspiring motorcycles ever built: the 989cc, V-four, Ducati Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica.

Video: Street Triple first group test

The Triumph Street Triple has a lot to live up to, with some great bikes in its class so we got the leading contenders together to see if it can hack the pace. Check out the video below to see how the Triumph compares to the Ducati Monster, Kawasaki Z750, Honda Hornet, Suzuki GSR600 and Yamaha FZ6

Video: Buell 1125R first ride

MCN man Trevor Franklin has just ridden Buell’s brand new 1125R sports bike and you can see the bike in action. Check out the video below to see Trev putting the bike through it’s paces around Laguna Seca and get a look at the first non-harley engine in a Buell.

World first test report of the Buell 1125R

World first test report of the Buell 1125R

MCN’s Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is currently at Laguna Seca riding Buell’s radical, all new 1125R. “The looks may be familiarly quirky Buell, but the 1125R is a revolutionary bike for Buell...

Video: Could 600s take over from 250s in GPs?

To answer the question we got the leading British 250 and put it up against the leading British 600 Supersport bike at Cadwell park to see how they compare. Check out the video below to find out what we thought.

Video: Z1000 to Brno

MCN man Andy Downes took his long-term-test Kawasaki Z1000 to Brno to watch World Superbikes and filmed his trip. Check out the video below to see how he got on.

Video: Set your suspension up properly

MCN man Andy Downes knew he could get more from the suspension on his long-term test Kawasaki Z1000 so he enlisted the help of Harris Performance to set it up perfectly with tips that apply to any bike. Check out the video below to see exactly how to improve your bikes handling.

A happy GTR owner

Kawasaki GTR: Just that bit better. Having tested Yamaha’s FJR the natural replacement for my previous XJ900 I read a follow up report on Kawasaki’s new GTR. This report compared not only the FJR but also BMW’s K1200 GTSE. Confused I called BMW. I could practically see the dealership if only a couple of houses were removed. They answered ‘Yes we have a K1200GT demonstrator here right now and it’s...

R6 vs GSX-R750 at Cadwell Park

Having bought my New Repsol Fireblade in 2005 my mate got himself a new Suzuki GSX-R750 K5. He wanted to do a Cadwell track day but I decided to hire an R6. By the afternoon session I was pleased with my decision. Someone nudged my mate at Chris Curve, causing them both to go down which made a right mess of his four-month-old Gixer. All was restored OK but it certainly makes you realise how easy...

Aprilia RSV1000 - Strawberry fields forever - almost

Aprilia RSV1000 - Strawberry fields forever - almost

Here’s what happens when you hit mud strewn across the road from the exit of a strawberry field… After locking the front but keeping upright, an excursion into the field saw our long term Aprilia RSV...

Video: MCN sees what happens when you put a Supercharger on a Rocket III

TTS Performance are famous for taking powerful motorcycles and making them even more mental. So guess what happened when they put a supercharger on the side of the 2300cc Triumph Rocket III motorcycle (more). Check out the video as MCN road tester Adam Child puts the motorcycle through its paces.

A leaning trike you say? Surely not?

This is the Hobbs R8, a prototype based around a Monkey bike that has been designed to prove that it is possible to build a trike that leans in to corners like a normal bike. Check out the video below to see the impressive bike in action

Road Test Blog: Triumph Rocket 3

Road Test Blog: Triumph Rocket 3

I’d always wondered what it was like going on a road test for a motorcycle magazine. Luckily on Tuesday, July 31, 2007,  I was given the chance to find out. I tagged along with Adam “Chad” Child and...

Video: Kawasaki GTR1400 v Yamaha FJR1300 and BMW K1200GT

Kawasaki’s GTR1400 has impressed in tests so far but how does it fair against its main rivals, the Yamaha FJR1400 and BMW K1200GT. Check out the video below to find out.

Video: B-King worlds first ride - first impressions

MCN Editor Marc Potter has just got off track after being the first person to ride the new Suzuki B-King and we’ve got the first video of the bike in action. Check out the video below to see Potter in action on the 1340cc muscle-bike and hear his first impressions of the impressive machine.

Video: Amazing Ducati Sport Classic race bike

NCR are renowned for turning out amazing Ducati special motorcycles and they have done it again with the incredible New Blue race bike. Based on the Ducati Paul Smart Sport Classic it has been completely reworked in to an amzing lightweight racer. Check out the video below to see our first ride of the beautiful new machine.

Video: Racing a British Superstock Yamaha R1

MCN man Michael Neeves already races his long term test Yamaha R1 in the MRO powerbike series, but he recently got the chance to use the Rockforge British Superstock R1 at Brands Hatch – and loved it. Check out the video below to see how he got on on the impressive motorcycle.

Video: Honda VFR1200 DCT review

Video: Honda VFR1200 DCT review

Our first full road test of Honda‘s new DCT-equipped VFR1200F proves – for the second time in 2010 – that motorcycling is entering a all-new, high-tech era.

Video: Harley's cool new convertable seat

The new Harley Rocker was launched in New York last week and as well as being a pretty cool bike, it has got an aamzing pillion seat contraption that allows the seat to be folded away. Check out the video below to see just how easy the conversion is.

MCN's Brno run finally arrives

MCN's Brno run finally arrives

MCN Features Editor Andy Downes has finally arrived at Brno, just in time to catch the practice for Sunday’s race. “We finally arrived in Brno after 1100 miles with conditions varying from 41 degree...

MCN tests the 2008 Harley-Davidson Rocker, Rocker Custom, Nightster, CVO and Fat Bob

MCN tests the 2008 Harley-Davidson Rocker, Rocker Custom, Nightster, CVO and Fat Bob

MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is currently in New York testing the brand new 2008 Harley-Davidson range, which includes the new Rocker, Rocker Custom, Fat Bob, Nightster and CVO machines,...

Video: Do Chinese bikes come up to scratch?

Video: Do Chinese bikes come up to scratch?

Video: Three diferent bikes, same Ducati engine

Video: Three diferent bikes, same Ducati engine

These three bikes may be very different on the outside but they all share the same air-cooled Ducati 1100 v-twin engine. But which works best with the versatile motor? Check out the video below to...

Video: Carmichael stunts on the Triumph Street Triple

Video: Carmichael stunts on the Triumph Street Triple

Stunt god Kevin Carmichael jumped on a Triumph Street Triple at its European launch to show us exactly what the new bike can do. Check out the video below to see the bike in action as Carmichael hurls...

Naked ambition

The big questions: Is the new Triumph Street Triple better than the Speed Triple? Is the new Buell better than the Speed Triple? Is there a new Buell naked coming? Come on, don’t be shy with your views…

Kawasaki’s GTR1400 First Crash Caught On Film

Kawasaki’s GTR1400 First Crash Caught On Film

Here’s the first crash on the all-new Kawasaki GTR1400 – courtesy of some French mates of ours at top motorcycle magazine Moto Journal. The testers were at the launch of the bike last week, then set...