The latest new motorbike and rider technology
Read exclusive stories about the latest motorcycle and rider technology, paving the way for bikes of the future.
Yamaha’s SpinForged wheels save weight, improve handling and don’t cost a packet
02 December 2021 by
Excess weight has always been a bike designer’s nemesis, but while overall reductions are welcome, there are disproportionate benefits from cutting the mass of a motorcycle’s wheels. That’s where...
LiteLok take lightweight motorbike security to the next level
11 November 2021 by
Lightweight motorcycle security specialists LiteLok have unveiled their latest product, the Core Moto. Rather than aiming to be impervious to attack, the LiteLok is intended to be as secure as...
New heads-up helmet display tech has almost limitless potential
05 November 2021 by
Swiss firm Aegis Rider AG is using augmented reality to create a helmet that seamlessly integrates information into the view ahead. It’s an idea with virtually limitless potential, from providing...
Angle grinder eater: British designed Hiplok D1000 steps up the fight against bike thieves
20 October 2021 by
There’s an ongoing war between the powers of good and evil as riders find new ways to combat the ever-evolving tactics of criminals. Now British lock firm Hiplok is stepping up with a new weapon in...
Kawasaki hybrid revealed: Petrol-electric bike shown as firm reveal eco plans
13 October 2021 by
Kawasaki have announced plans for a future range of hybrid and battery-powered bikes with a timescale that will see the first examples hitting showrooms in the very near future. In doing so, the...
Charged in 90 seconds: Brand new battery type could be electric vehicle breakthrough
11 October 2021 by
Powertain experts Mahle, together with Allotrope Energy, have created a new form of battery technology that promises to end concerns about charging times once and for all. Related articles on...
Bags for the masses: Inflatable airbag protection is no longer just for the rich and pro racers
08 October 2021 by
The sight of airbags inflating has become a common one in MotoGP since the tech became mandatory in 2018, but In&Motion – one of the companies supplying that gear – want to see more road riders...
Lifting the lid: A new £40 scan claims to reveal hidden helmet damage after an accidental drop
28 September 2021 by
For the first time ever, a company is offering a service that claims to be able to scan your helmet’s shell for hidden signs of damage or degradation. Before, if you accidently dropped your lid there...
Air today, gone tomorrow: One last hurrah for Honda CB1100 as air-cooled fours look ready for retirement
27 September 2021 by
Despite the fact that 1970s-styled bikes are in vogue at the moment with manufacturers scrambling to revive machines from their pasts, one of the most convincing of those retro models is on the way...
Kawasaki ramp up technology for three-wheeled superbike project
20 September 2021 by
Anyone who’s ridden a tilting three-wheeler like the Yamaha Niken or Piaggio MP3 has probably idly wondered what might happen if similar chassis tech was applied to a full-blown...
Classic scooters quit smoking: Battery conversion for Vespas and Lambrettas
17 September 2021 by
No two-wheelers are better-suited to electric power than scooters and no scoots are cooler than classic Vespas and Lambrettas – and now you can get electric versions of both thanks to these British...
Variable-rigidity 'chain mail' that stiffens on command could be the future of motorcycle clothing
07 September 2021 by
Motorcycle clothing is a conundrum that’s proved tough to crack. Even ignoring the problems that weather conditions pile into the equation, there’s a stark contrast between the requirement to move...
Swedish super-single surprise: NCCR turn half a Buell V-twin into race engine
27 August 2021 by
Well before the 916, in 1992, Ducati created a racebike called the ‘Supermono’. Essentially an 888 with the rear cylinder removed the Supermono was an effective race bike that became the stuff of...
Hidden radar tech: 2022 Kawasaki H2 SX has sensor in numberplate bracket
25 August 2021 by
In just a couple of weeks’ time Kawasaki will pull the wraps off the second-generation of the supercharged Ninja H2 SX and introduce an array of new technology in the process. Among that kit will be...
Yamaha lays out a plan for the future: New models, new niches and new power sources
30 July 2021 by
Yamaha have outlined a plan that pushes the firm towards carbon neutrality by 2050. That’s a long way off but the firm gives strong hints about the models it’s working on right now. Related articles...
Riding on coconut shells: Activated carbon inserts made from sawdust and coconut shells could transform your bike
15 July 2021 by
Motorcycle firms have dabbled with the idea of air suspension for decades, but now a British firm have developed a technology that breathes new life into the idea. Related articles on MCN How helmet...
A cool idea for summer riding: Chill Ride vest aims to solve the comfort conundrum
18 June 2021 by
Even in the temperate climes of the UK every rider’s wardrobe is filled to bursting point with riding gear to cope with the weather conditions we face. Whether you’re battling to stay warm in winter...
Synthetic petrol: How bikes could become carbon-neutral without switching to battery power at all
03 June 2021 by
As governments propose firm dates for the end of petrol and diesel powered vehicles you might be forgiven for thinking we’re living in the end days of the internal combustion engine. But the...
Less is more: Why bike manufacturers are taking a new approach to valve action
06 May 2021 by
Read the spiel on the new Suzuki GSX-S1000, or Hayabusa – or bikes from many other manufacturers, actually – and they’ll say the same thing: reduced valve overlap. But what is it, how did we end up...
Kawasaki’s auto-clutch revolution: New patent reveals tech that blurs quickshift and semi-auto transmission
03 May 2021 by
Quickshifters are standard kit among a growing number of new models, giving a taste of the track by easing clutchless changes. The tech is relatively simple, with load sensors in the linkage that tell...
Head first into speed records: How helmet tech helped Zarco become MotoGP’s fastest rider
21 April 2021 by
On the 27th of March this year, Pramac Ducati rider Johann Zarco took the previous MotoGP top speed record and hurled it out of the window. Related articles on MCN Yamaha MT-09 exhaust...
Saved by the app: New smartphone tech could save your life after a crash
01 April 2021 by
When it comes to pushing the boundaries of lifesaving motorcycle tech, Bosch have been at the forefront for years. Related articles on MCN Bosch accident detection built into your bike All you need...
Virtual insanity: VR software could see more of us trying out prototypes
28 January 2021 by
Virtual reality is finally starting to fulfil decades of Tomorrow’s World promises and filter into everyday life. It’s even forged a place in the development of new bikes at Yamaha. What’s more,...
F1 tech for future Hondas: Prechamber combustion to maximise fuel efficiency
14 January 2021 by
Honda are looking to Formula 1 car racing to address the demand for ever-cleaner engines – with a patent revealing a superbike engine featuring the sort of prechamber combustion that’s universal in...
Eyes for your bike: Bolt-on camera tech could make biking safer
02 December 2020 by
Next year sees the start of something new in motorcycling as the Bosch-developed radar system used by Ducati and BMW gives top-end bikes' on-board computers a picture of what’s going on around them...
BMW turn to 3D printing to perfect their race bikes
05 November 2020 by
BMW are well known as masters of tech on the road and track but now they’re staking a claim as masters of tech off the track too with their latest venture. In a bid to gain valuable seconds for their...
Half a superbike, twice the fun: your in-depth look at Aprilia's new 660 motor
30 October 2020 by
Aprilia’s new RS660 is the Noale firm’s first new machine in years, plugging a gaping hole in their sportsbike range between the RSV4 1100 and the RS50 and RS125. It also has a brand-new engine…well,...
Bright idea: BMW's new headlights see round corners
16 October 2020 by
Riding in the dark highlights an innate problem with traditional headlights – when you lean into a turn the beam is angled away from the direction you’re trying to go. Related articles on MCN BMW...
Like water off a biker's back: Why Belstaff turned to Gore-Tex to create kit for the Long Way Up
09 October 2020 by
You might think of Gore-Tex – as used in Charley and Ewan’s kit for their latest TV epic – as a bit of a wonder material. It magically stops water getting in while letting sweat get out. But you might...
Piping up: How nuclear subs gave us titanium exhausts
22 September 2020 by
As bikes get heavier manufacturers search for ways of making them lighter. Just look at the latest superbikes, such as the Ducati Superleggera or Honda Fireblade, with their titanium pipes. But what...
UK electric bike specialists Saietta target global sales with new high-tech motor
09 September 2020 by
One of Britain’s leading electric motor makers have announced ambitious expansion plans which could see their workforce multiply 10-fold and their technology used in thousands of machines on the...
Diamonds are forever: BMW create maintenance-free motorbike chain
28 August 2020 by
BMW say they’ve created motorbike chain that needs no lubrication and no tension adjustment. The maintenance-free unit is to be made available on the S1000RR and S1000XR models as a factory option...
BMW's carbon-fibre swingarm replacement concept
19 August 2020 by
Amongst the landmarks in motorcycle design, the swingarm stands out as one of the greatest. But now BMW have come up with a revised version of the idea that takes advantage of their extensive...
2electron McFly: Electric bike tech emulates petrol engine of your choice
11 August 2020 by
Electric bike tech firm, 2electron, have been working on further developing their McFly system, which emulates the power and torque characteristics, gear ratios, sound and vibration of a potentially...
Push comes to shove: Harley-Davidson patent reveals VVT pushrod engine
10 August 2020 by
Harley-Davidson have patented a variable valve timing (VVT) system for their next engine in a bid to meet emissions targets for an air-cooled engine. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen drawings for...
False ecology? The truth about electric motorbikes and the environment
11 June 2020 by
The message that electric vehicles are the zero-emissions transport of the future is impossible to ignore. We’re beaten over the heads with a constant stream of news that tells us internal combustion...