2014

Year: 2014

Month: ALL

Video: Kawasaki Versys 650 and 1000 first ride

31 December 2014 by MCN

Both the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Versys 1000 get an update for 2015, stylistically and mechanically. MCN put the new bikes through their paces at the recent launch.

First ride: 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 and 1000

30 December 2014 by MCN

MCN has recently been at the world launch of Kawasaki’s new Versys 650 and 1000 in Sicily. Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves rode both models and said: “The 1000 was in sore need of an update, not...

MCN Award winner: Kawasaki Z1000SX

29 December 2014 by Michael Neeves

It’s the final week of 2014, so we got some of our MCN Award winning bikes of 2014 together for one last blast. Here’s our all-rounder, the second generation Kawasaki Z1000SX. This is one of my...

Video: Tom Sykes' ZX-10R ridden

29 December 2014 by Michael Neeves

We witnessed the end of a WSB era in 2014, and the ultimate evolution of the big-bucks factory WSB bike. They may look like normal superbikes from the outside, but the factory bikes locking horns at...

MCN Award winner: BMW R nineT

26 December 2014 by Michael Neeves

It’s the final week of 2014, so we got some of our MCN Award winning bikes of 2014 together for one last blast. Here’s our favourite retro, BMW’S R nineT. Stretching from Oundle to Corby the A427 is a...

Video: Ducati Scrambler first ride

23 December 2014 by MCN

Ducati launched the much-hyped Scrambler recently on the warm, sunny roads of California. MCN Senior Road Tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child went along to see if the reborn Scrambler can really live up to all...

Video: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer first ride

22 December 2014 by MCN

How do you turn a good bike into a great one? Well, on the evidence of this first ride, and if you’re Yamaha, you take your already best selling MT-09 Triple and make it better still. Much...

Brash but Brilliant: Honda F6B vs Harley Road Glide Special vs Victory Cross Country

19 December 2014 by Adam Child

Honda’s new F6B has a crack at Harley’s mad-looking Road Glide Special and Victory’s hugely capable Cross Country There’s no doubt the Honda is different. Parked next to the two conventionally-styled...

Yamaha MT-07 Long Term Test Report

17 December 2014 by Andy Calton

The Yamaha MT-07 is hard to fault. Hard? Yes, but not impossible. While the perky twin is undoubtedly brilliant value for money, it does lack a little in the handling department. Get a bit jiggy with...

Honda CB650F: long-term bike report

17 December 2014 by Alison Silcox

I’ve had fun riding the Honda CB650F all year, riding some long distances, visiting exciting places and having chance to ride at Silverstone circuit but none of these brought as big a smile to my face...

First ride: Ducati Scrambler

11 December 2014 by MCN

Ducati’s eagerly anticipated Scrambler is being launched today in sunny California in the hands of Senior Road Tester Adam Child. Here’s what Adam had to say about the all new Ducati. “We’ve flown all...

First ride: 2015 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer

10 December 2014 by MCN

Yamaha’s new half-faired, all-rounder version of the popular MT-09 three cylinder roadster is currently being put through its paces in Spain in the hands of MCN Executive Editor Phil West. Here are...

Yamaha XV950: Long-term test report.

08 December 2014 by Steve Hunt

My year with Yamaha’s XV950 has been an interesting one. From the moment I picked it up people were questioning my choice, but not because of the bike you understand – the reviews for it have been...

First ride: 2015 BMW R1200R

04 December 2014 by MCN

BMW’s new R1200R is getting it’s world first test ride today in Spain in the hands of MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves. Here’s what he has to say: “The new roadster will cost £10,250 when hits...

2015 Honda Crossrunner tested

01 December 2014 by Phil West

Honda’s 2015 updates to its VFR800-based adventure bike, the VFR800X Crossrunner are much more than skin deep – as MCN Executive Editor Phil West revealed in this exclusive video from the world launch...

Honda VFR800F: long-term test report

01 December 2014 by Phil West

A quick recap: I’m (mostly) a VFR man. I’ve ridden or tested all of ‘em over the past 25 years or so; had a lovely Mk II VFR750FL for a year back in the early ‘90s; owned the last of the 750s, a...

Ducati 899 Panigale: long term test report

29 November 2014 by Richard Newland

Ducati 899 Panigale, £12,495 Weight 193kg • Seat height: 830mm • Servicing: £215 (625miles) Miles to date 6473 • Average MPG 44.8mpg Value of mods to date: £5573.31 The highlights from my year to...

Honda CB650F: long-term bike review

28 November 2014 by Alison Silcox

It’s been an absolute whirlwind of a summer and looking back I’ve had a fabulous time, clocking up the best part of 6000 miles on the Honda CB650F and with a plan to continue to ride through the...

Ducati Monster 1200: Long-term test report

20 November 2014 by Tony Hoare

I’ve been running a Ducati Monster 1200 on MCN’s fleet since March, and we’ve done plenty together in the past eight months – but it took a rideout with a colleague to realise the full effect of the...

2015 Triumph Tiger 800 first ride

18 November 2014 by MCN

Triumph’s new band of Tiger 800s are currently being put through their paces on and off-road in Spain by MCN’s Andy Davidson. Here are his first impressions from sunny Marbella. “Triumph have decided...

Yamaha MT-07 Long term test report

11 November 2014 by Andy Calton

The Yamaha MT-07 is fast-approaching 4000 miles and so far so good. The little twin has been a barrel of laughs this year, it’s not missed a beat and the finish is still strong. It’s handled...

2015 Honda Crossrunner ridden

31 October 2014 by MCN

Honda’s all-new 2015 VFR800X Crossrunner is currently being put through its paces for the first time in southern Spain by MCN Executive Editor Phil West. These are his first impressions. “Don’t be put...

Moto Guzzi launch V7 II range in Italy

30 October 2014 by MCN

Moto Guzzi’s trio of new-for-2015 V7 IIs are being put through their paces around the city streets of Pisa and the surrounding countryside by MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child. Here are his first...

2015 BMW S1000RR first ride

29 October 2014 by MCN

The 2015 BMW S1000RR represents the superbike’s biggest overhaul since the original version was launched in 2010. It has a staggering 199bhp (so easily breaking the magic 200bhp with a race exhaust),...

MV Agusta Brutale 800 and Dragster RR first ride

24 October 2014 by MCN

MV Agusta’s new 2015 Brutale 800RR and Dragster 800RR are today being put through their paces around the stunning roads of Tuscany by MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child. Here are his first...

2015 BMW S1000RR launch today

21 October 2014 by Michael Neeves

MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves is at the launch of the 2015 BMW S1000RR at the Monteblanco circuit near Seville, Spain today. It’s the superbike’s biggest overhaul since the original version...

The SPecial One

14 September 2014 by Jon Urry

Honda’s SP-1, or the VTR1000 SP-1 RC51 to give it its proper name, will always hold a very special place in motorcycle history. This is a bike born out of necessity – not to mention a considerable...

Hesketh 24 first ride

13 August 2014 by Phil West

The British revival rumbles on. Or in this case THUNDERS. And then some. Hesketh is the latest UK heritage motorcycle brand to be reborn, (following Triumph in 1990, Norton in 2009 and Ariel last...

We ride the Ariel Ace at Goodwood

09 July 2014 by Michael Neeves

Looking for our full review of the Ariel Ace? Click to see the 2014 model or the Ace R 2018 model. It’s hard to believe the Ariel Ace cruiser really is a new bike. It’s seemingly come out of...

Simply Ballistic: Can MV's new Dragster 800 out-gun its rivals?

07 July 2014 by Adam Child

The MV Agusta Dragster is the latest model to come from the iconic Italian brand – and it’s a bit of a confused beast. Using the 798cc triple and cycle parts from the Brutale 800 roadster, it has a...

Whitham and Lowes on bikes, battles, and the KTM Freeride

02 July 2014 by Michael Guy

Give two racers dirt bikes and a place to ride and the chances are you won’t see them for hours – or until one of them needs an ambulance. Luckily when KTM lent Sam Lowes and James Whitham a pair of...

Norton TT Racer On The Road

23 June 2014 by Adam Child

You can’t underestimate how hard it is to compete at the Isle of Man TT. It’s a mammoth task, and it’s almost impossible to convey with mere words the sheer scale of the mountain they have climbed,...

First Ride: Bimota BB3

14 June 2014 by Adam Child

MCN is at the world launch of Bimota’s new BB3, powered by a revised BMW S1000RR engine, at the Tazio Nuvalari circuit in Italy today. Senior Road Tester Adam Child will be testing the all-new Bimota,...

Ducati 1199 Superleggera, First Ride

21 May 2014

Dripping in magnesium, carbon fibre and titanium, and boasting the highest power-to-weight ratio of any production bike, the 200bhp, 155kg 1199 Superleggera is the most exclusive Ducati ever...

Video: Triumph Thunderbird LT group test

09 April 2014 by MCN

With the arrival of Triumph’s new ‘LT’ bagger version of its Thunderbird cruiser, never before have there been so many, truly credible alternatives to the all-dominant Harley-Davidson Road King. Moto...

Video: WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Norton Domiracer Ridden

12 March 2014 by MCN

Norton’s new, limited-edition Domiracer is arguably the most exciting British motorcycle in years, in being not just beautiful but promising a fabulously sensual riding experience. MCN’s Phil West got...