First rides & tests

Year: ALL

First Ride: Kawasaki Z1000SX - day one gallery & impressions

25 October 2016 by Adam Child

Day 1 We’ve had very English weather in the south of France today, with a healthy mix of rain, rain, and more rain following us at all times. But while this might not sound ideal, it’s actually been...

First Ride: 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX

24 October 2016 by Adam Child

MCN Senior Road Tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child will be riding Kawasaki’s 2017 upgraded Z1000SX in the south of France tomorrow, and will be sharing live updates throughout the day. The new bike was unveiled...

Spot the difference: Harley-Davidson Street Glide old vs new

21 October 2016 by MCN News

For 2017 Harley-Davidson have introduced a new engine, dubbed the ‘Milwaukee-Eight’, which increases torque by 11%, while at the same time improving economy and smoothness. A single small oil-cooler...

Throwback Thursday: Aprilia SXV550 first ride

20 October 2016 by MCN News

If you’re a rival manufacturer to Italian bike makers Aprilia you’d have noticed their annoying but enviable knack of getting things right first time round. During the ’90s the Noale factory’s 125 and...

Mash TT40 first ride

20 October 2016 by Peter Henshaw

Mash have been selling their 400cc retro roadster in the UK for just 18 months, and have now launched a whole string of new bikes, including this 400 café racer, an unashamedly Brit-style 125 and even...

First ride: Suzuki GSX-S1000FA Tour Edition

16 October 2016 by Andy Davidson

GSX-S1000FA Tour Edition Specification Price £10,299 Engine 999cc (73.4 x 59.0mm) 16v inline four Power 145bhp @ 10,000rpm Torque 78ftlb @ 9500rpm Weight 214kg Wheelbase 1460mm ...

Gallery: Street crawlers

06 October 2016 by MCN News

The factory-fresh custom scene is growing rapidly, and Harley-Davidson reckon their new Roadster has it all, with decent handling and style. TOP STORIES Intermot: Ducati SuperSport revealed ...

Gallery: Sports tourer shootout

30 September 2016 by MCN News

There’s a myriad of choice when it comes to choosing a bike that will whisk you away on a long adventure. Historically, touring bikes were big and expensive, but is this always best? We took three...

Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide first ride

29 September 2016 by Phil West

Harley’s CVO bikes have always been the very best-accessorised and tuned offerings the historic American firm can muster – but its latest for 2017 takes even all that a stage further. CVO stands for...

F1 pundit Martin Brundle talks sports tourers

22 September 2016 by MCN News

We recently took five sports tourers to the famous Nurburgring – the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally, BMW K1600GTL, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT, Kawasaki ZZR1400 and Yamaha’s new MT-10 with every official...

First ride: Moto Guzzi MGX-21 Flying Fortress

10 September 2016 by Andy Davidson

First ride: Moto Guzzi MGX-21 Flying Fortress We’re on the launch of Moto Guzzi’s MGX-21 in Italy, two years after the initial concept art was first released at EICMA. The MGX is caked in aluminium...

First ride: 2017 Harley-Davidson tourers

09 September 2016 by Phil West

New Harley-Davidson engines don’t come around very often so the American legend’s headline news for 2017 – that its touring family all receive significantly updated motors featuring not just...

BMW G310R first ride today

08 September 2016 by Michael Neeves

MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves will be riding the eagerly-anticipated new BMW G310R today. It’s the first time the German firm has produced a small-capacity motorcycle, aimed squarely at...

2017 Harley-Davidson test incoming

07 September 2016 by Phil West

MCN is getting ready for the launch of Harley-Davidson’s massively-updated for-2017 touring family of bikes which we’ll be testing near Tacoma, Washington State, USA, later this week. The biggest news...

First Ride: Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber

07 September 2016 by Andy Davidson

Moto Guzzi are enjoying a resurgence in sales thanks to the ever expanding retro scene. Having recently celebrated their 95th anniversary, the Italian manufacturer pack genuine heritage, as proven by...

First ride: Bultaco Brinco

04 September 2016 by MCN News

Tech spec Price £4495 Motor brushless electric, AC Power 2Kw (2.6bhp) Weight 42kg Seat height 1011mm+ On sale Now Contact www.bultaco.com ‘It certainly gets the endorphins going’ “Forget the...

First ride: AJS Cadwell 125

03 September 2016 by Peter Henshaw

Tech Spec Price £1898 Engine 124cc air-cooled 2-valve SOHC single Power 9.2bhp @ 8500rpm Weight 113kg Seat height 740mm On sale Now Contact www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk ‘All it lacks is a...

Gallery: Around the world for £5000

22 August 2016 by MCN News

There’s no doubt the current leaders in the adventure bike sector are amazing bikes. Loaded with top-spec electronics such as electronically adjustable suspension, rider modes and ABS, there’s not...

Gallery: Where does the Ducati Hyperstrada fit?

19 August 2016 by MCN News

By adding panniers and a screen to the Hypermotard, Ducati claim to have given their big supermoto a degree of touring practicality without diluting its inherent fun factor. Does this make the Ducati...

First ride revisited: Lotus C-01

17 August 2016 by Andy Downes

mad as A concept bike, as fast as a superbike Monaco is awash with wall-to-wall money and supercars, and has a harbour rammed with mega-millionaires’ yachts, so standing out from the crowd isn’t...

BMW F800GS Adventure first ride

16 August 2016 by Andy Downes

Like almost all adventure bikes, the BMW F800GS Adventure is slightly hampered by the fact it’s not an R1200GS – the bike that defines the class and remains a massive global seller. It’s the same for...

First test: SWM Gran Milano 440

15 August 2016 by Peter Henshaw

If you can remember the 1980s, and hankering after a Honda XBR500 or Yamaha SR500, then you’re probably the target for SWM’s Gran Milano. It’s powered by an air-cooled 445cc single, assembled by...

Gallery: Yamaha Tracer 700 group test

03 August 2016 by Michael Neeves

Yamaha’s MT-07 is the latest machine to be given the sports touring ‘Tracer’ treatment. All the ingredients are there: a punchy engine, comfy riding position, funky styling and an affordable price...

First UK test: Zero DSR

30 July 2016 by Martin Fitz-Gibbons

Until now, the few electric bikes that have actually reached production have all had one glaring fault or another. They’ve been too slow, too expensive, too heavy or too impractical – or, sometimes,...

First Ride: BMW R nineT Scrambler

15 July 2016 by Jon Urry

I know what you are thinking – another bloody bike called ‘Scrambler’. But hang on a second: Yes, BMW’s latest addition to its air-cooled R nineT range has the current fashion-pleasing (and now a bit...

First Ride: Yamaha's bonkers YXZ1000R breaks free

27 June 2016 by Emma Franklin

Yamaha can do no wrong at the moment. From superbikes and super-nakeds to super-value retros, their range of ‘crossplane philosophy’ vehicles are as popular as they are diverse. Which brings us neatly...

Yamaha Tracer 700 First Impressions

27 June 2016 by Emma Franklin

Just stopped for lunch at the stunning Belvedere view point on the incredible Col dei Rossi, and Yamaha’s new Tracer 700 has been the perfect partner so far. It’s really light and effortless to chuck...

Dream ticket - MCN rides the Suter MMX500

16 June 2016 by Adam Child

MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child is in Germany at the demanding Lausitzring today, and is about to ride the stunning two-stroke Suter MMX500 race bike, fresh from the Isle of Man TT. Our very own...

Speed Triple S v GSX-S1000 v Z1000

11 June 2016 by Adam Child

You know the feeling. Your mate has just bought a brand new bike, the bike he’s been banging on about for ages. He then turns up on your drive bursting with pride and beckons you out of the house to...

Gallery: Riding the Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Honda Fireblade

10 June 2016 by MCN News

Enjoying the sun and delights of the Isle of Man? The MCN road test team were on the rock before practice week riding Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 and Honda’s Fireblade. TOP STORIES First ride: 2017 KTM EXC...

First ride: Bultaco Brinco R

06 June 2016 by Ped Baker

To most people Bultaco means one thing and that’s trials bikes. Incredibly successful in the 1960s and ’70s, the marque went on to dominate the sport with eight world titles and four Scottish six-day...

Launch video: Triumph Tiger Sport 1050

03 June 2016 by MCN News

Here’s MCN’s Senior Road Tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child in the South of France with Triumph’s new Tiger Sport 1050. For more of our motorcycle videos head over to our YouTube page here. Looking to buy your...

World first test: SWM RS650R

29 May 2016 by Michael Guy

Instead, serious round-the-world riders are using smaller-capacity singles including favourites such as the ancient-but-capable Suzuki DRZ400, Yamaha XT660 or the current KTM 690 Enduro...

Triumph Thruxton R v Norton Dominator SS

29 May 2016 by Michael Neeves

We’ve been in love with the Thruxton since it’s launch but how does it compare against that other great British icon, the Norton… They might both be the best of British but the Triumph and Norton...

First ride: Ducati Scrambler Flat Track Pro

19 May 2016 by Michael Neeves

Here’s a flattracker you can ride every day. The £8995 Ducati Scrambler Flat Track Pro is the latest addition to the Scrambler family. Ducati’s Scrambler range has been a phenomenal success, from the...

Benelli BN251 launch kicks off

12 April 2016 by Jon Urry

Like so many Italian motorcycle manufacturers, Benelli’s 105 year history contains more peaks and troughs than a rollercoaster ride. However, since the firm was taken over by the Chinese Qianjiang...