First rides & tests

Year: ALL

Fancy coming on an MCN road test?

02 September 2013 by Michael Neeves

We’re putting a road test feature together next week and we’re after owners of the following bikes to come along and get involved: Yamaha TDR250 Yamaha RD350 LC Kawasaki ZXR400 The plan will be to...

Staff Blog: What are your Wiinter Riding Hints and Tips?

02 September 2013 by Alison Silcox

I’m just about to head off for my summer holiday and already I’m thinking of the weather turning and the nights drawing in. I’m needing your help, tips and advice for prepping the Yamaha Fazer8 for...

Video: Water-cooled Harley-Davidsons ridden

28 August 2013 by MCN

It might not look it, but Harley’s touring range is virtually all-new for 2014 and includes water-cooling – but how different are they REALLY? View more great motorcycling videos on the MCN channel:...

Special K: BMW K1300S Anniversary

28 August 2013 by Phil West

When it comes to ‘special editions’, BMW pretty much leads the way. Although Ducati and Triumph, in particular, have their own successful lines of ‘specials’ (bikes like the Tricolore or Steve McQueen...

Triumph Daytona 675R initial thoughts

24 August 2013 by jeffpatrick

I’ve had the Triumph Daytona 675R for about a month now, and I have to say it is absolutely brilliant. Having come from a 2010 675, I wasn’t sure what to expect, and to be honest, I found the standard...

Staff Blog: Too Many Fazers, Too Little Time

24 August 2013 by Alison Silcox

I’ve not just been riding the Yamaha Fazer8 this week, for a forthcoming long term feature I’ve been out on my mate’s Yamaha FZS600 Fazer and the big brother of the range the FZ1 Fazer. I was really...

Suzuki GSR750 comfort seat

23 August 2013 by gtufnell

I’ve had my GSR750 supplied by the superb team at Crescent in Verwood for a year now and have found it uncomfortable after about 40 miles riding. After searching and talking to upholstery companies I...

Video: Small bikes for big adventures

23 August 2013 by MCN

Green lanes in the Peak District on 125s, the Snake Pass, a curry and a pint. Who needs to go to the far side of the world for an adventure? View more great motorcycling videos on the MCN channel:...

Video: Suzuki Intruder C1500T vs bagger rivals

23 August 2013 by MCN

The rise of the bagger shows no signs of abating, with manufacturers stripping the excess from their cruisers in the hope of attracting new buyers. But should you buy on heritage, specification, or...

Staff Blog: Trying to solve my wind problem

21 August 2013 by Liam Marsden

If there’s one thing the Judge lacks, it’s wind protection. The only thing up front to deflect the wind is the single clock. At Kevin’s Last Lap recently I saw a perfect opportunity to cure my wind...

Classic sports bike owners needed!

20 August 2013 by MCN

Classic sports bike owners needed! MCN are looking for owners of some of the best superbikes ever made for an upcoming test. Specifically we’re looking for owners of: 1992 Honda FireBlade owner 1989...

Staff Blog: You Can't Beat a Bit of Bike Therapy

17 August 2013 by Alison Silcox

I’ve been down in the dumps for the last couple of weeks and I’ve really not felt like going out on the Yamaha Fazer8 but today I thought enough is enough and decided to blow away some cobwebs. The...

Staff blog: Fourth time lucky!

16 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

First of all, I need to say thanks for all the emails I’ve received over the past few days. I’ve had a ton of comments, tips, suggestions and offers of free training since my piece in Wednesday’s...

Staff blog: Bad back stops play

14 August 2013 by Andy Downes

I did my back in a couple of weeks ago so riding the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring was put on hold while my life revolved around physiotherapy, 500mg Naproxen tablets twice a day, paracetamol...

Staff Blog: Riding into the East

12 August 2013 by Alison Silcox

In my long term test report in the issue on sale this week (14 August) you’ll see that me and my mate, Sue, spent the weekend riding round East Anglia taking in sights and sounds that you lovely blog...

Video: Chad's KTM 250EXC-F - Final Part

08 August 2013 by MCN

MCN’s road tester Adam Child took delivery of a KTM 250EXC-F back in March to build up his fitness and improbe his offroad skills. After five months with the bike, find out what he thought of it as it...

Staff Blog: F800GT - A feeling of belonging.

07 August 2013 by Steve Hunt

The grey, British skies seemed determined to quell my excited mood and, as I joined the queue for the channel tunnel, the drizzle misted across my visor and I wasn’t entirely sure that a six hour...

Video: Indian is back - The three new bikes tested

07 August 2013 by MCN

The new Indian Chief range is just the beginning: taking on the mighty Harley-Davidson is definitely on the cards. MCN, senior reporter Andy Downes was at the launch. These are his first opinions…

Staff Blog: Down to Ramsgate

05 August 2013 by Michael Neeves

For the last 11 years, since I moved up to MCN-land from my home town in Ramsgate, I’ve done the 170-mile journey on lots on hundreds of different bikes. Tourers are, of course, the most comfortable,...

First ride: New Indians

05 August 2013 by MCN

Indian has launched three new variants of the Chief – an all-new 1819cc V-twin which MCN has been riding around the Sturgis motorcycle rally in America. After around 50 miles split between two of the...

Staff Blog: Top Box Woes

05 August 2013 by Alison Silcox

You might have read in my recent long term report, featured in July 24 issue of MCN, about fitting the top box to the Yamaha Fazer8. I’m testing different types of luggage to see which is the easiest...

Staff Blog: It’s not all about the new stuff

01 August 2013 by Richard Newland

While at the Goodwood Festival of Speed a couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with an MCN reader about the BMW 90th Anniversary display, each of us singling out the models we’d own if money was no...

Video: 800-class shootout

31 July 2013 by MCN

MV Agusta’s new F3 800 got us excited after its recent track launch at Misano. It’s rapid, handles like a racer and fuels better than any MV we’ve ever ridden. But is an MV good enough to really...

Video: Yamaha XV950 first ride

31 July 2013 by MCN

The new XV950 is the first example of what Yamaha calls its ‘Sports Heritage’ range. As well as retro styling aimed at attracting artistic custom builders the world over, these bikes are viewed by...

Staff Blog: Thundersport Rockingham

29 July 2013 by Michael Neeves

I haven’t had much of a chance to do anything of note with my Hyperstrada over the past week. But it did treat me to a glorious ride cross-country to Donington last Wednesday, where I instruct at the...

Staff Blog: To Flash or Not to Flash?

29 July 2013 by Alison Silcox

My hubby and I were riding through the rolling Leicestershire countryside towards Rutland Water on a recent Sunday morning ride when we were flashed twice by oncoming cars but not at all by the...

Staff Blog: Solving the Ducati Multistrada luggage conundrum

22 July 2013 by Andy Downes

A little while ago I rode to Italy and back on the Ducati Mulitstrada 1200 S Touring and as part of the preparation I wanted to take a tankbag because of the extra practicality they offer. I am a big...

Staff Blog: Dirty Ducati

22 July 2013 by Michael Neeves

I’ve been away for over a week testing, but for all that time I’ve been thinking of my filthy Hyperstrada. Covered in thick dust, it looks like it’s spent months abandoned in the Sahara, but all that...

New Yamaha XV950 first ride

22 July 2013 by MCN

Yamaha’s new XV950 ‘performance bobber’ – or Harley Sportster rival to you and us – has just been put through its paces in Los Angeles, California, by MCN’s Andy Davidson. These are his first...

Staff Blog: Bolt from the blue proves electrifying

19 July 2013 by Richard Newland

I’ve been thinking recently that I might be the worst sort of motorcyclist there is. A hypocritical one. One who is nervous of letting his kids ride motorbikes. When I was growing up the desire to...

Staff Blog: I Love Wednesdays.....

18 July 2013 by Alison Silcox

The lads in the office are bored stiff of hearing me say it but I’m going to say it again, I don’t work Wednesdays and what better way to spend the day than riding the Yamaha Fazer8. Along with a...

Staff Blog: The Mirror Cracked!!

15 July 2013 by Alison Silcox

Riding out of the work car park the other night I glanced at my mirrors, as I always do, before heading out on the main road to make sure they are in the right position. How gutting to see the left...

Staff Blog: Back from Bavaria

12 July 2013 by Steve Hunt

That’s it. My Garmisch trip is all over. It was a fantastic few days, made all the better by a glorious, bookend of rides through France, Germany and a little bit of Austria. I’ve written a longer...

Video: CCM GP450 Adventure

10 July 2013 by MCN

Bolton’s CCM is on its way back with a vision for an all-new, mid-size adventure bike. But can a 450 single really compete with world-beating giants?

Video: BMW F800GS vs R1200GS and Triumph 800XC vs 1200 Tiger Explorer

10 July 2013 by MCN

Do you really need anything bigger than the new F800GS from BMW? Is there any need for the larger R1200GS? And by the same token, why would you go for Triumph’s larger 1200 Tiger Explorer when its 800...

Hypersport owners needed!

09 July 2013 by MCN

MCN are looking for owners of hypersports bikes for an upcoming test. Specifically we’re looking for owners of the Kawasaki ZX-12R (2000-2006), Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird (1997-2003), and Suzuki...