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.
Classic scooters quit smoking: Battery conversion for Vespas and Lambrettas
Yesterday 16:12 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...
Piaggio scoot into the radar age: Tie-in with Israeli-based Vayyar promises entire radar safety system by next year
25 August 2021 by
Radars are fast becoming the ‘next big thing’ with companies all over the world rushing to develop bike-mounted sensors for adaptive cruise control and collision warning systems. Related articles on...
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...
Better together: Kawasaki working on hybrid bikes and AI assistants
26 November 2020 by
Kawasaki are exploring hybrid technology and motorcycles with artificial intelligence as they consider the future of motorcycling. Related articles from MCN Electric motorbikes coming soon Best...
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...
Blowing hot air: Yamaha set to fit turbos across their range
11 June 2020 by
Yamaha are working on turbocharging for their next range of bikes. This isn’t Yamaha’s first use of the tech as they briefly made an XJ650 Turbo in the early ’80s, however this new system is...
Tilt to the future: Patents reveal work on a three-wheeled Yamaha TMAX
09 June 2020 by
The 'Leaning Multi-Wheel' (LMW) arm of Yamaha’s model range looks set to grow with the development of a new model derived from the TMAX 560. Sliding into the range between the NMAX-based Tricity 300...
Actual rocket science: The geometry magic that helps Triumph's Rocket 3 handle so well
25 May 2020 by
One look at Triumph’s Rocket 3 R and you’d imagine it handles with all the deft agility of a Mississippi paddlesteamer. But ride the 2458cc beast and you’ll be amazed at how easily it turns, given its...
Exploding the myths: Everything you need to know about motorbike airbag vests
28 April 2020 by
Airbags used to be the preserve of factory racers and wealthy trackday riders but with prices now dropping below £400 for the first time, everyday road riders can benefit from the latest safety tech.
Time for a two-stroke comeback
03 April 2020 by
Cutting carbon emissions and accepting dried-up oil supplies means adopting alternative technology. So, the obvious thing is of course to bring back two-strokes... In a few years Formula 1 racing will...
The shape of things to come: 3D-printed Morlaco heralds a revolution in specials building
10 March 2020 by
This Fireblade-powered, ‘funny-front-end’ superbike has become one of the very first to have its bodywork and other components produced by 3D printing technology. Dubbed the Morlaco, it’s the latest...
Jeans stronger than steel: lightweight kit strong enough to lift a skip
07 February 2020 by
The latest gear from cutting-edge clothing company Saint combines a stretchy and comfortable denim with AA-rated protection, with enough strength to lift a two-tonne skip from just a single layer of...
Are bike manufacturers doing enough to stop bike theft?
07 January 2020 by
Bikes are pretty easy to steal. A vehicle with no windows or doors that can be picked up by a few strong people is easier to steal than, say, a car. Steering locks are defeated by a firm kick and...
Getting to the hub of Bimota's 'funny front end'
03 January 2020 by
Your bike’s forks offer certain advantages: they’re light, neatly packaged, provide lots of feel and have ample stiffness. But forks are a compromise. Related articles on MCN Bimota KB4 set for...