First rides & tests

Year: ALL

World first ride: Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory

15 January 2010 by Phil West

Senior Road Tester Adam Child is currently in Italy about to test Aprilia’s stunning new Dorsoduro Factory street supermoto. Based on the existing Dorsoduro, which is effectively a hopped-up, Ducati...

Australia Blog: Day 8 - The final day

15 January 2010 by Michael Neeves

This was my last riding day in Oz. I’ve given my Streetfighter S back to Ducati and have ridden on my last bit of hot dry tarmac for the foreseeable future. The next time I turn a wheel will be on...

First ride: New MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR v Ducati Streetfighter S

14 January 2010 by Adam Child

MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child is currently testing MV Agusta’s brand new Brutale 1090RR against the reigning king of the exotic super nakeds, Ducati’s Streetfighter S, in Ducati’s own back yard –...

Australia Blog: Day 6 - Wayne Gardner's kids, future GP heroes?

13 January 2010 by Michael Neeves

Today I learned the secret to the success of Aussie world champions like Mick Doohan, Casey Stoner, Troy Bayliss and Wayne Gardner. It’s dirt track racing. Brought up riding small-capacity...

Australia Blog: Day 5 - Wild day with Extreme Creations

13 January 2010 by Michael Neeves

Today has been by far the wildest day in Oz for me. I’ve been with the guys from Extreme Creations, the most prolific specials builders in Australia. To cut a long story short, these guys are...

Australia Blog: Day 4 - Riding with Deus Ex Machina

11 January 2010 by MCN

Deus Ex Machina is undoubtedly the best shop I’ve ever been to. The showroom is choc-full full of retro-style custom bikes, mainly based on the Kawasaki W650, Yamaha SR400 and a variety of Triumphs.

Australia Blog: Day 3 - Ducati Streetfighter and the Old Pacific Highway

10 January 2010 by MCN

Today’s the day we rode the Old Pacific Highway with Jeff Ware, Editor of Rapid Bikes mag, with a couple of mates in tow. Jeff had said he’d try and get ex-GP racers Kevin Magee and Daryl Beattie (his...

Australia Blog: Day 2 - Ducati Streetfighter in Sydney

09 January 2010 by Michael Neeves

After an eight-hour sleeping pill-induced shut-eye session, I woke this morning to see the Australian sunshine for the first time since landing. God, I love it here. An English mate of mine, Andy, who...

World's top 100 bikes revealed!

08 January 2010 by MCN

More than 12,000 MCN readers have responded to our Biking Britain survey this year, and their combined scores on the bikes they own and love (or hate) have allowed us to put together the definitive...

Australia Blog: Day 1 - Neevesy arrives in Oz

08 January 2010 by Michael Neeves

Sorry to rub it in, but I’ve escaped the icy clutches of British winter. After 22 hours in the air, I’ve just landed in Australia (Sydney to be exact) and I’m planning a week of sunny biking excess. ...

Harley-Davidson’s ultimate full dresser tested!

07 January 2010 by Phil West

Harley-Davidson have produced, for 2010, an even grander version of its ElectraGlide full-dress tourer – and it’s on test in next week’s MCN! Dubbed the Electra Glide Ultra Limited – and if that name...

New BMW R1200GS first ride!

07 January 2010 by Phil West

The first test of BMW’s eagerly-anticipated new twin-cam R1200GS will feature in the January 13 issue of MCN. The twin-cylinder adventure bike, made famous by the globe-trotting TV exploits of actors...

Video: The last of the Buells

06 January 2010 by MCN

2009 saw the closure of Buell, a company characterised by quirky models like the XB9SX, 1125 Cafe Racer and 1125R. But will we miss them? Or are they gone for a reason? Find a Buell for sale Read...

Video: Aprilia RSV4 on the road - 'It's absolutely brilliant'

01 January 2010 by MCN

We already know that the Aprilia RSV4 is great on track, but how does it perform on the road? Find an Aprilia RSV4 for sale Read the Aprilia RSV4R review To find out, watch the video for our...

My top five bikes of the noughties

01 January 2010 by Chris Newbigging

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

31 December 2009 by Michael Neeves

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?

31 December 2009 by Phil West

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

30 December 2009 by MCN

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

29 December 2009 by Michael Neeves

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

28 December 2009 by Anonymous

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

26 December 2009 by weasel221

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

25 December 2009 by Adam Child

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

23 December 2009 by Andy Downes

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

23 December 2009 by Trevor Franklin

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

23 December 2009 by John Westlake

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

22 December 2009 by Adam 'Chad' Child

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

19 December 2009 by Trevor Franklin

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

18 December 2009 by James Keen

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

18 December 2009 by MCN

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

16 December 2009 by MCN

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

15 December 2009 by John Westlake

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

15 December 2009 by MCN

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.