First rides & tests

Year: ALL

Video: 2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400 flat out

20 January 2012 by MCN

Want to know how fast Kawasaki’s new ZZR1400 is? Check out the on board video as MCN road tester Adam Child holds it flat out around Nardo’s test facility in southern Italy. Adam pushes the new ZZR to...

Video: Kawasaki Versys 1000 takes on R1200GS and Tiger 1050

19 January 2012 by MCN

Kawasaki’s controversial new Versys 1000 has set the cat amongst the adventure bike pigeons this week – as proven by MCN’s world exclusive first test of the new monster trailie against its leading...

First ride! 2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400

19 January 2012 by Phil West

Kawasaki’s updated 2012 ZZR1400 is currently being put through its paces by MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child at the enormous Nardo speed testing facility in southern Italy. This is what he’s so far...

Video: KTM 350 EXC-F long term test report

18 January 2012 by Marc Potter

Getting stuck upside-down in a ditch wearing your bike on top of you, watching it overheat as you get stuck between two tree trunks, or getting roosted in clods of mud by your mates. These have become...

Neevesy’s blog – Ducati Multistrada in Oz

13 January 2012 by Michael Neeves

Ducati’s Multistrada 1200 is MCN’s current king of the all-rounders. Like it says on the tin, it will do-anything and go-anywhere. Its superbike engine delivers a monstrous amount of power, it handles superbly and it’s an epic mile-muncher. It’ll even handle a bit of off-road, if you’re mad enough. I’ve ridden a fair few and if I’m honest, I’d normally set the electronic riding mode to full-fat...

Video: Riding Europe's finest retro bikes

11 January 2012 by Michael Neeves

German firm LSL are becoming famous for creating achingly-cool retro custom bikes, but for owner Jochen Schmitz-Linkweiler they’re merely a hobby – his real business is manufacturing accessories. When...

Battle of the twins: Harley Switchback vs. Victory Cross Roads Tour

05 January 2012 by Michael Neeves

These two similar-looking machines are the latest tourers from Harley Davidson and Victory. Fresh in from the States, the 2012 £13,400 Harley Davidson Switchback and £14,995 Victory Cross Roads Tour...

2012 Honda Fireblade - how good?

03 January 2012 by MCN

Although not all-new, Honda’s 2012 CBR1000RR Fireblade has had a significant makeover, with suspension, throttle response and styling all updated – but how much difference does it all make? To find...

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSX-R750 video review

30 December 2011 by MCN

Senior MCN Road Tester, Michael Neeves has been living with his Suzuki GSX-R750 L1 for most of 2011. He’s covered over 10,000-miles, riding it everywhere from the TT to Ibiza, on-track and to the...

Harley-Davidson Switchback meets its match!

27 December 2011 by Phil West

The new Harley-Davidson Switchback ‘bagger’ (or custom tourer) has already impressed MCN testers – but how’s it measure up against its closest rival, Victory’s Cross Roads Tour? In this week’s MCN we...

Akrapovic Morsus: If Carlsberg built custom bikes...

27 December 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Factory customs don’t get any more ‘factory’ than this. Say hello to Morsus, a unique custom machine built for aftermarket exhaust giant Akrapovic. They commissioned specialists Dreamachine...

Staff bikes: Triumph Tiger 800 - Tiger’s stripes well earned

23 December 2011 by Ped Baker

Riding a motorcycle from Peterborough to Brussels and back in a day in November is no picnic. The 600 miles aren’t the issue, but being cold is. Even with good riding kit, draughts start to creep in...

Video: 2012 KTM Duke 690 first ride

22 December 2011 by MCN

KTM’s 2012 690 Duke isn’t just an evolution of the hard core Duke – it’s a complete revolution: 90% all new, with just 10% of its components shared with its predecessor. Read the first ride...

Staff bikes: Suzuki V-Strom 650 - Brussels: Further than you think!

22 December 2011 by John Westlake

I thought Brussels was an easy day’s ride from MCN’s Peterborough HQ, so was first to agree to join senior reporter Steve Farrell on his rabble-rousing EU protest ride last month. In my brain, I...

2012 Kawasaki ER-6n takes on rivals

22 December 2011 by Jon Urry

If you’re currently in the market for a naked middleweight you’re spoilt for choice. Every manufacturer makes a budget bike aimed at this segment and because of this the range of machinery on offer is...

Video: Triumph Thruxton JVB Brit Bob ridden

22 December 2011 by MCN

Cologne-based JvB are kings in the art of creating specials with attitude, and this is their latest creation – the JvB Brit Bob. Based on a Triumph Thruxton, the Brit Bob has been lowered by 50mm,...

2012 KTM Duke 690 first ride: Duke for the masses

22 December 2011 by Michael Guy

KTM’s 2012 690 Duke isn’t just an evolution of the hard core Duke – it’s a complete revolution: an all-new bike – 90% new in fact, with just 10% of its components shared with its predecessor. The...

Video: Kawasaki Versys 1000 onboard

16 December 2011 by MCN

So does a four-cylinder adventure bike make any sense? On the strength of our world first ride of Kawasaki’s pioneering, Z1000-based Versys 1000, the answer is ‘Yes’… and ‘No’… The four-cylinder motor...

2012 Kawasaki ER-6n vs 2011 Kawasaki ER-6n

16 December 2011 by Jon Urry

Kawasaki’s ER-6n is one of the success stories of the naked middleweight class. Originally launched in 2006, this pleasingly quirky looking machine has won an army of fans thanks to its easy-going...

Video: Yamaha XTZ1200 Super Tenere long-term test review

08 December 2011 by MCN

MCN’s WSB reporter Michael Guy has covered approximately 8000 miles on the Yamaha XTZ1200 Super Tenere riding across Europe to cover WSB races at the Nurburgring and Magny-Cours, along the length of...

Staff bikes: Yamaha Super Tenere - The continent-trotter

08 December 2011 by Michael Guy

The wheels of the big Yamaha Super Tenere have barely stopped turning. It’s been into France, Belgium and Germany for the Nurburgring WSB round followed by a jaunt down to Magny Cours for another WSB...

Kawasaki Versys 1000 delivers more for your money

08 December 2011 by Adam Child

2012 KTM Duke 690 world first test

07 December 2011 by Michael Guy

MCN’s Michael Guy is in Gran Canaria testing KTM’s all new 2012 KTM Duke 690. “First impressions of the bike is how different it looks to its predecessor. It’s still an aggressive looking bike with...

New Honda Fireblade still on top after 20 years

03 December 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Honda’s legendary Fireblade is 20-years-old and while the weight, shape and engine capacity in fact everything about it has changed since Tadao Baba’s rule-changing 1992 original, the fact that Honda...

Honda NC700X: A brave new world

01 December 2011 by MCN

The NC700X is the latest ‘crossover’ bike from the stable of Crossrunner and Crosstourer. But what sets the NC700X apart is a price of £5850 and a claimed 78.8mpg. The subdued exhaust note,...

Kawasaki Versys 1000 first ride

30 November 2011 by MCN

The new Kawasaki Versys 1000 is currently being tested by MCN out in Tenerife. Here is Senior Road Tester Adam Child’s first impressions: “Putting its looks to one side for a moment – beauty is in the...

2012 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade first ride!

24 November 2011 by MCN

The 20th anniversary Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade is currently being put through its paces at the Portimao circuit, Portugal by MCN chief road tester Trevor Franklin. This new model now comes with Showa...

Honda NC700X first ride

23 November 2011 by MCN

Honda’s all-new NC700X is currently being put through its paces by MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin in Portugal. Here are his impressions so far: “Honda is promoting its new bike as a step up...

Ducati's 848 Streetfighter overpowers Triumph Street Triple R

17 November 2011 by Trevor Franklin

Ducati say their Streetfighter 848 is suitable for riders who want Ducati’s legendary sports bike performance without the head down, arse up seating stance of a race replica. And our world first group...

Staff bikes: Victory Cross Country - Victory on a roll

10 November 2011 by Mark Holmes

After six months with the Cross Country, I finally get to stretch its legs on a 1300-mile tour of Spain and Portugal. It turned out to be an eventful trip with plenty of ups and downs. The ups start...

Video: 2012 Husqvarna enduros tested

10 November 2011 by MCN

Husqvarna’s 2012 range has been revitalised as a direct result of winning both the E1 and E2 world championships. MCN’s Michael Guy tests all the new 2012 models to see how they perform. Husqvarna...

Rieju MRT 125LC Pro SM: Hottest ever learner supermoto

04 November 2011 by Adam Child

Rieju say this new Yamaha-powered 125 is the ultimate Supermoto 125, and have even given it the code name ‘Duke Killer’, referring to KTM’s new 125 Duke. In terms of performance, Rieju have a point.

Video: Triumph Speedmaster takes on rivals

03 November 2011 by MCN

Chugging between hedgerows, wind in your face, twin-cylinder engine thudding beneath you… it’s easy to see why so many riders love the idea of cruisers. The looks, character and torque make the bikes...

Staff bikes: Suzuki GSR750 - GSR takes on the Nurburgring

27 October 2011 by Liam Marsden

Rising at 5:30am on a day off isn’t exactly what I’d call relaxing, but with the GSR already loaded up and sat waiting patiently in the garage and the Nurburgring as the finishing point for the day I...

Video: 2012 BMW S1000RR onboard

25 October 2011 by MCN

BMW has updated its class-leading S1000RR superbike for 2012, with new traction control, a modified chassis and more low-midrange power. MCN’s Adam Child rode the bike at the launch in Valencia, and...

Traction control raises new Yamaha R1's game

20 October 2011 by Michael Neeves

The addition of traction control – which Yamaha says is the same system as used on the YZR-M1 MotoGP racer – makes the 2012 R1 a better road and track bike. But MCN’s world first track test also...