First rides & tests

Year: ALL

Off-road excursion

05 October 2007 by Graham Hoskins

Went on a tour to France and ended up taking our road tyre-shod GS1150As off road for our first taste of dirt riding. We just happened to have 4 cameras running at the time – see how it worked out! For our latest TV venture, see www.ironbutts.co.uk

Video: Aprilia Shiver vs.the Suzuki SV650, BMW F800 and Street Triple

03 October 2007 by Trevor Franklin

Aprilia’s new Shiver 750 v-twin is no ordinary naked bike, it handles like a supermoto and boasts a fly-by-wire throttle. Check out the video below to see how it fairs in the real world against the sensible usability of the Suzuki SV650, the handling of the BMW F800S or the shear fun of the Triumph Street Triple.

Video: The back roads of Britain by Bullet

27 September 2007 by Gary Pinchin

“We were two up, weighed down with a tank bag and saddlebags, and lost somewhere in Wiltshire, trying to ride up a one-in-four narrow lane that was bereft Tarmac and covered in loose gravel. “The Bullet was chugging away effortlessly in second gear and I swear to God you could count each firing stroke. It was so utterly ludicrous in this modern era that I burst out laughing and nearly veered off...

Video: Words first test of the BMW Sport Boxer R1200S

26 September 2007 by Trevor Franklin

BMW’s endurance racing Sport Boxer is more than just a racing protoype, it’s the development mule for the firms new road-going sports bike, the HP2 Sport, which is set to be unveiled at the Paris show next week. Check out the video below to see what MCN man Trevor Franklin thought of the race bike and then check back later in the week to get the first look at BMW’s 2008 range of bikes.

Video: Italjet are back with the Grifon 650

25 September 2007 by Michael Neeves

Italjet is one of Italy’s most famous bike makers. They went out of business in 2003, but now they’re back making scooters, quads and pit bikes – but the Grifon 650 could be their first step back onto the big-bike ladder. It’s a collaboration between Hyosung and Italjet; the 650cc V-twin engine and chassis comes from the Korean firm, while things like the suspension, spoked wheels, suspension,...

Boss Hoss test

23 September 2007 by Marcus Kingma

On Saturday, we did a test ride on the Boss Hoss and made a little video with a simple camera. It was for Oliepeil.nl and motornieuws.nl

Haslam vs Tornado

19 September 2007 by mike spells

Leon Haslam racing an RAF Tornado GR4 on a Ducati 1098. Who won? Who cares? It was still awesome!

Video: Trails of the unexpected Part III

18 September 2007 by Chris Slade

Time for the off. Can our three vintage trail bikes make it to Scarborough unscathed? And which will win? The mission was to buy and prepare three late 70s/early 80s trailies and ride them from Morecambe to Scarborough to find out which is the best within a budget of £1000 and we rejoin our team as the day of reckoning has come (see part one here and part two here). The moment, or hopefully...

Video: Full report on Ducati's Desmosedici RR

18 September 2007 by Chris Slade

We’ve already brought you ourfirst impressions of the new Ducati Desmosedici RR when MCN road tester Michael Neeves got to ride the bike at the Mugello Circuit but now you can see Michael’s full report on the increible new motorcycle. Check out the video below to watch as Michael walks you through all the technical aspects of the MotoGP replica motorcycle and then takes the beast out on track to...

Ducati 1098 versus Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

18 September 2007 by MCN News Desk

This test by TV show Fifth Gear puts the £151,000 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera up against a £11,250 Ducati 1098, ridden by British Superbikes Airwaves Ducati star Leon Haslam. The Ducati 1098...

BMW F800ST

13 September 2007 by Trevor Franklin

Anyone with the age-old problem of a 29-inch or less inside leg measurement will know all too well the difficulty in finding a bike that allows you to get both feet, or even tip-toes, flat on the floor at standstill. Custom bikes, cruisers, custom-cruisers aren’t everyone’s cup of Typhoo, but at least they have low seat heights. For a more sportier way of life the occasional imported Japanese...

Video: Ducati Desmosedici first test

13 September 2007 by Michael Neeves

MCN road tester Michael Neeves has just sent the first pictures and video from Mugello, where he is today riding the Ducati Desmosedici RR. The test was scheduled to take place at Misano one week ago,...

Video: Onboard lap of the Salzburgring on the 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa

12 September 2007 by Adam 'Chad' Child

We’re already brought you action and opinion on the world first ride of the 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa in our first test video, but now you can enjoy a flying lap of the Salzburgring on the 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa with MCN road tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child. So strap yourself in as the 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa rockets up to 300km/h on the straights (in fifth gear), and the new sharper...

Video: 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa first test at the Salzburgring

12 September 2007 by Adam 'Chad' Child

Watch our exclusive video from the world first test of the 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa at the Salzuburgring in Austria, and find out what MCN road tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child thinks of the motorcycle. You’ll be able to read more on the new 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa in MCN, out Wednesday, September 12, 2007, and at the end of the video ‘Chad’ reveals details of an upcoming group test…

Trail bike challenge: Part two

11 September 2007 by Phil West

Trail bikes – remember them? We did, and, going by the growing popularity of 70s/80s trailsters in the classics scene, more and more of you do, too. Which is why we set up this challenge. We wanted to find out what you get, and what the experience is like, if, say, you spend £1,000 on an old shonker trail bike from this era. Last week, MCN stalwarts Editor Marc Potter, Acting Deputy Editor Tony...

Video: World first test of the 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa

10 September 2007 by Adam 'Chad' Child

Here is our exclusive video from the world first test of the 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa at the Saltzburgring in Austria. MCN road tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child is riding the new 2008 Suzuki GSX1300R...

Video: Trail bike challenge: Part one: Trails of the unexpected

07 September 2007 by Phil West

The mission was to buy and prepare three late 70s/early 80s trailies and ride them from Morecambe to Scarborough to find out which is the best within a budget of £1,000. Old trail bikes are suddenly becoming cool and collectable. In the 1970s and early 1980s bikes like Suzuki’s TS, Yamaha’s DT and XT and Honda’s XL were everywhere. Check out the video below to see our trail bike challenge from...

Ducati Desmosedici RR first ride hit by hurricane

04 September 2007 by Michael Neeves

The world first test of the Ducati Desmosedici RR has been hit by a hurricance and torrential rain at the Misano circuit in Italy. MCN Road Tester Michael Neeves is at Misano was all ready to get on...

Video: Sheene tribute RG500

03 September 2007 by Howard Boylan

MCN’s senior roadtester Michael Neeves has ridden Pete Tantrum’s incredible Barry Sheene tribute RG500 at Brands Hatch. Check out the video below to see what it is like to ride such an iconic bike around the Kent circuit.

Video: Harley Nightster, Guzzi Belagio, Triumph Speedmaster

31 August 2007 by Angus Farquhar

Harley’s new Nightster is undoubtedly a great looking bike but how does it fair against its European rivals the Triumph Speedmaster and the Moto Guzzi Belagio. Check out the video below to see how the three bikes compare.

Ducati Desmosedici RR first ride countdown: What can we expect

31 August 2007 by Michael Neeves

As you might have guessed, we’re pretty excited about riding the Ducati Desmosedici RR motorcycle at Misano next Tuesday, but just how close to a MotoGP motorcycle will it actually be? We know it...

Desmosedici first ride countdown: What makes it so special?

30 August 2007 by Michael Neeves

Next Tuesday, as the dust is still settling from the weekend’s MotoGP race at Misano, we’ll be following the wheel tracks of the gods when we get to ride the ultimate MotoGP replica: the Ducati...

Tigcraft 450 Supermono - could they replace 250GPs?

29 August 2007 by Howard Boylan

The debate is still raging about what will replace 250cc bikes on the GP circuit last week we tested a 250GP bike against a 600cc fourstroke and this week we try the other option – a 450cc single cylinder prototype supermono machine. Watch the video below to see how it compares.

Ducati Desmosedici RR: Six days to the first ride

29 August 2007 by Michael Neeves

This is it, the big one. In just six day’s time at Misano, MCN will be exclusively riding one of the most awe-inspiring motorcycles ever built: the 989cc, V-four, Ducati Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica.

Video: Street Triple first group test

23 August 2007 by Angus Farquhar

The Triumph Street Triple has a lot to live up to, with some great bikes in its class so we got the leading contenders together to see if it can hack the pace. Check out the video below to see how the Triumph compares to the Ducati Monster, Kawasaki Z750, Honda Hornet, Suzuki GSR600 and Yamaha FZ6

Video: Buell 1125R first ride

23 August 2007 by Angus Farquhar

MCN man Trevor Franklin has just ridden Buell’s brand new 1125R sports bike and you can see the bike in action. Check out the video below to see Trev putting the bike through it’s paces around Laguna Seca and get a look at the first non-harley engine in a Buell.

World first test report of the Buell 1125R

23 August 2007 by Trevor Franklin

MCN’s Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is currently at Laguna Seca riding Buell’s radical, all new 1125R. “The looks may be familiarly quirky Buell, but the 1125R is a revolutionary bike for Buell...

Video: Could 600s take over from 250s in GPs?

21 August 2007 by Ian Jubb

To answer the question we got the leading British 250 and put it up against the leading British 600 Supersport bike at Cadwell park to see how they compare. Check out the video below to find out what we thought.

Video: Z1000 to Brno

16 August 2007 by Andy Downes

MCN man Andy Downes took his long-term-test Kawasaki Z1000 to Brno to watch World Superbikes and filmed his trip. Check out the video below to see how he got on.

Video: Set your suspension up properly

15 August 2007 by Ian Jubb

MCN man Andy Downes knew he could get more from the suspension on his long-term test Kawasaki Z1000 so he enlisted the help of Harris Performance to set it up perfectly with tips that apply to any bike. Check out the video below to see exactly how to improve your bikes handling.

A happy GTR owner

15 August 2007 by Paul Kenyon

Kawasaki GTR: Just that bit better. Having tested Yamaha’s FJR the natural replacement for my previous XJ900 I read a follow up report on Kawasaki’s new GTR. This report compared not only the FJR but also BMW’s K1200 GTSE. Confused I called BMW. I could practically see the dealership if only a couple of houses were removed. They answered ‘Yes we have a K1200GT demonstrator here right now and it’s...

R6 vs GSX-R750 at Cadwell Park

15 August 2007 by jamocbr

Having bought my New Repsol Fireblade in 2005 my mate got himself a new Suzuki GSX-R750 K5. He wanted to do a Cadwell track day but I decided to hire an R6. By the afternoon session I was pleased with my decision. Someone nudged my mate at Chris Curve, causing them both to go down which made a right mess of his four-month-old Gixer. All was restored OK but it certainly makes you realise how easy...

Aprilia RSV1000 - Strawberry fields forever - almost

14 August 2007 by MCN

Here’s what happens when you hit mud strewn across the road from the exit of a strawberry field… After locking the front but keeping upright, an excursion into the field saw our long term Aprilia RSV...

Video: MCN sees what happens when you put a Supercharger on a Rocket III

09 August 2007 by Adam Child

TTS Performance are famous for taking powerful motorcycles and making them even more mental. So guess what happened when they put a supercharger on the side of the 2300cc Triumph Rocket III motorcycle (more). Check out the video as MCN road tester Adam Child puts the motorcycle through its paces.

A leaning trike you say? Surely not?

07 August 2007 by Ian Jubb

This is the Hobbs R8, a prototype based around a Monkey bike that has been designed to prove that it is possible to build a trike that leans in to corners like a normal bike. Check out the video below to see the impressive bike in action

Road Test Blog: Triumph Rocket 3

02 August 2007 by Liam Marsden

I’d always wondered what it was like going on a road test for a motorcycle magazine. Luckily on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, I was given the chance to find out. I tagged along with Adam “Chad” Child and...