December

My top five bikes of the noughties

My top five bikes of the noughties

As another decade in biking draws to a close, the MCN office has been rife with debate over the most important bikes in the last ten years. MCN staff will be sharing their lists on motorcyclenews.com...

Neevesy’s top three bikes of 2009

Neevesy’s top three bikes of 2009

At the end of the year it’s often time to reflect on the last 12 months, so we asked MCN’s road testers for their personal three best bikes of 2009. Their answers may surprise you. Here are Michael...

Buell: Goodbye or good riddance?

Buell: Goodbye or good riddance?

The passing of 2009 somehow seems to draw the final curtain on the sad demise of Buell Motorcycles, which parent company Harley-Davidson decided to kill off in the autumn and which produced its final...

Triumph Thunderbird's toughest test

Triumph Thunderbird's toughest test

MCN’s tests have proved that Triumph’s new 1600cc Thunderbird is one of the best cruisers out there – its mixture of lazy parallel twin power and surprisingly sharp handling more than matches rivals...

Neevesy's predicted 2010 top five motorcycles

Neevesy's predicted 2010 top five motorcycles

The global financial crisis seems to have hit the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers the hardest. There’s very little to get excited about from them next year except for Kawasaki’s funky Z1000. One...

Suzuki SV560: Great do it all bike

Suzuki SV560: Great do it all bike

I first got my Yellow Canadian 1999 Suzuki SV650S and it was a great bike. I got it super cheap as a multi-owner used bike. Great bike. It has all the power you need but not too much as to get you...

No need for hanging off

No need for hanging off

I got my naked Suzuki SV650 K5 new in June of 2005 and I absolutley love it. Coming from a mostly dirt background, I don’t really ‘hang off’ the SV, but you don’t have to! The thing will rail any...

Chad's favourite video tests of all time

Chad's favourite video tests of all time

MCN senior road tester Adam Child gives us his three favourite MCN videos from 2009.   On board 2008 Suzuki GSXR1300R Hayabusa One of my all time favourite clips. Flat out on Hayabusa at...

Andy Downes' top five bikes of the decade

Andy Downes' top five bikes of the decade

Five best bikes of the decade – Andy Downes, MCN Chief Reporter 1. BMW K1300R The bike I have just done 9000 miles on as my long term test bike this year and one that was a brilliant combination...

Trevor Franklin's top three bikes of 2009

Trevor Franklin's top three bikes of 2009

1) KTM RC8R When KTM introduced the 1190 RC8 in 2008, its specification promised so much. The 1148cc motor was credited with a 152.6bhp and 88.56ftlb of torque – big figures for a 75° V-twin. With...

BMW K1300S wins ABS test, beats car

BMW K1300S wins ABS test, beats car

MCN recently conducted a rigorous test of ABS to see how the latest and most sophisticated versions fared against more basic systems. We also tested a standard family car with ABS. The bikes tested...

Chad's top three bikes of 2009

Chad's top three bikes of 2009

At the end of the year it’s often time to reflect on the last 12 months, so we asked MCN’s road testers for their personal three best bikes of 2009. Their ansers may surprise you. Here are Adam...

BMW S1000RR dyno curve

BMW S1000RR dyno curve

MCN’s readers correctly spotted a mistake in the comparative test (issue December 16) of BMW’s new S1000RR superbike against the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Yamaha R1 and Kawasaki...

Motorcycle insurance bargains: retro roadsters

Motorcycle insurance bargains: retro roadsters

Motorcycle insurance costs are an important consideration for any bike buyer. That’s why over the past few months MCN has been highlighting some of the best cheap-to-insure motorcycles out there.    ...

Video: MCN vs winter

Video: MCN vs winter

The snow today may have kept most motorcycles off the road, but MCN doesn’t admit defeat so easily. All you need is some determination, good winter kit and an enduro bike… Find an off-roader for...

Video: BMW S1000RR world first group test

Video: BMW S1000RR world first group test

The Big Four becomes the Big Five as BMW’s first real superbike battles it out with the established stars.      Facts and figures: BMW S1000RR vs the competition  Find a 1000cc superbike for...

Which bike has the best ABS: scientific test

Which bike has the best ABS: scientific test

MCN is about to scientifically test the braking performance of a selection of ABS-equipped bikes. Which do you think will perform best, and worst, out of: • BMW S1000RR – has a phenomenally...

Video: Yamaha R1 long term report

MCN’s Adam Child has had his longterm Yamaha R1 for almost a year in which he has covered over 16,000 miles. The year has had its ups and downs for Chad and his Yamaha R1 with the only major modification being the addition of an Akrapovic exhaust system.

First ride on sportiest Bonneville: the Hyde Harrier

First ride on sportiest Bonneville: the Hyde Harrier

The latest Hyde Harrier is the sportiest, most enticing road-going Bonneville ever made, MCN can reveal after an exclusive first ride. Find a Triumph Bonneville for sale Ohlins suspension and a...

Paul Malin’s verdict on 2010 Suzuki RM-Z250

Paul Malin’s verdict on 2010 Suzuki RM-Z250

Ex-motocross GP rider Paul Malin says the new 2010 Suzuki RM-Z250 is awesome, after riding it at its launch for MCN. Although the 2010 Suzuki RM-Z250 has a brand new chassis, the overall riding...

Ducati Glasgow’s £22k Streetfighter S special

Ducati Glasgow’s £22k Streetfighter S special

It’s hard to imagine how you could improve on an impressive machine like the Ducati Streetfighter S, but Ducati Glasgow has given it a go anyway and created this fantastic special complete with...

BMW S1000RR group test: "An exciting and surprising bike"

BMW S1000RR group test: "An exciting and surprising bike"

MCN’s Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is in the South of France pitting the new BMW S1000RR against the Honda Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Yamaha R1. He has just phoned in his...

BMW S1000RR group test first impressions

BMW S1000RR group test first impressions

MCN’s Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is in the South of France pitting the new BMW S1000RR against the Honda Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Yamaha R1. He has just phoned in this...

Video: Kawasaki GTR1400 takes on the mighty BMW K1300GT

Video: Kawasaki GTR1400 takes on the mighty BMW K1300GT

Kawasaki has the BMW K1300GT firmly in its sights with its uprated 2010 GTR1400. Can the Japanese maker beat the German experts at only their second attempt?     Read the Kawasaki GTR1400 review Read...

Video: The fastest Desmosedici we've ever tested

Video: The fastest Desmosedici we've ever tested

Ducati Desmosedici RRs are pretty special to begin with, but this one is even more spectacular. It’s packed with Grand Prix technology (it’s almost a GP bike with lights) and makes 203bhp at the rear...

Owners pay tribute to the Suzuki SV650

Owners pay tribute to the Suzuki SV650

In the 10 years since its launch in 1999, Suzuki have sold 20,700 SV650s in the UK alone.     Find a Suzuki SV650 for sale Suzuki SV650 buyers guide Here just a few of those owners pay tribute to...