August

Year: 2001

Month: August

Aprilia ETV1000 Capo Nord

19 August 2001

The new Aprilia was Smith’s favourite – it’s the one that feels most like a conventional sports tourer. Its 96bhp V-twin engine feels as strong as the Tiger’s and has the bottom-end punch you’d expect...

TT 600 gets naked

19 August 2001

Triumph is thought to be ready to launch a naked TT600 sports bike after this successful experiment in Italy. Italian Triumph importer Numero Tre has built a run of 50 unfaired bikes and dubbed it the...

Video: Potter does Magny-Cours – backwards

19 August 2001

IN his most recent long-term test of Suzuki’s GSX-R1000, MCN features editor Marc Potter rode to the French Formula One GP track Magny-Cours, with British biking holiday firm Byrne-Up Bike Tours. You...

50mph signs go up on the Cat and Fiddle

19 August 2001

The speed limit on the famous Cat and Fiddle run was cut on Monday from 60mph to 50mph. As signs warning of the new limit went up police were already in place, lurking for speeders on the stretch of...

Ducati trailie IS coming

19 August 2001

The long-rumoured big-bore Ducati trailie is finally nearing a launch, probably at the Milan Show next month. It will be powered by the same 916cc engine as the Monster S4 and ST4. It will compete with bikes such as the Cagiva Navigator, Suzuki XF1000L, Honda Varadero, Triumph Tiger and BMW R1150GS. An MCN source revealed Ducati has completed testing the bike on Italian roads. It is likely to make...

Aprilia to launch naked musclebike

19 August 2001

Aprilia’s RSV-based naked musclebike has been undergoing road tests in Italy and will go on show for the first time at next month’s Milan show. It will have a similar twin-spar frame and the 1000cc...

A Ducati, by Gaz

19 August 2001

This is Gaz before he took the substance.

Swingarms explained

19 August 2001

Like sticky tape, motorcycle swingarms come in both single-sided and double-sided versions. Sticky tape may have come in handy for that Blue Peter project you attempted as a kid, but swingarms fulfil...

Ten biker gatherings in one weekend

19 August 2001

Beer always gives people strange ideas. Nothing is so preposterous that it doesn’t seem like a viable proposition after a few pints. You can bet Eddie the Eagle decided to take up ski jumping after a...

Race bike… by PJ

19 August 2001

PJ tells us this entertained his daughters at Scarborough Bike Week. How bored were they?

If you’ve ever had a crash…

19 August 2001

Ever been involved in a bike crash? We want to know how your lid, leathers, gloves and boots stood up. When kit hits Tarmac and metal it goes through the ultimate test. Your feedback will help others...

See the 2002 R1 here, first

19 August 2001

First thing in the morning of August 1 we’ll show you exactly how the 2002 R1 will look. The picture, based on inside factory information, will reveal each new curve and indent. And our latest report will reveal how developments using the R1 engine in a Jetski could point the way to a cleaner, more efficient power unit. You’ll see how the screen is reshaped, the nose longer and the tank flatter,...

Video: Suzuki’s super model in the studio

19 August 2001

John Crawford’s GSX-R750 is just about as sexy as his namesake Cindy. So when Crescent produced a limited edition version of JC’s Suzuki superbike we thought we’d give it the same star treatment. Click on the link on the right and we’ll give you the £30,000 Crescent machine from every one of its sexy 360 degrees.

The original… and best?

19 August 2001

Your chance once more to measure yourself against the original. This is the daft two-stroke racer that kicked us off.

The preparations so far…

19 August 2001

Nearly every motorcyclist at some time or another dreams of travelling around the world on their bike. My dream started around 15 years ago after a few half-hearted attempts at travelling around France. Since then I promised my self every winter that the next year would be that year, I was going! Life is a bitch! There was always something cropping up to stop me, ranging from being too busy, kids,...

Rob McDonnell’s Matchless going over the Mountain

19 August 2001

Not to be outdone by your efforts, MCN Editor Rob McDonnell has waded in with this. It is (as if you needed telling) a Matchless going over the Mountain on the Isle of Man.

First the Sahara, next, the World!

19 August 2001

On August 7 Dave Marsden and Ian Wright will be setting off on the first leg of their round the world journey on Kawasaki W650s. They will be reporting back every day on their journey and the things...

You tell Yamaha how to improve their bikes

19 August 2001

Yamaha has asked users of this site to name the things they want improving on their bikes. Now the info will be fed back to Yamaha’s product planners. We put the question to FJR owners in our...

Triumph Tiger 955I

19 August 2001

It’s neither little nor light, but the Tiger felt the smallest here, with agile handling, easy power and easy steering. With 104bhp and solid power at any revs, the re-tuned Daytona engine is silky...

The Blast had everything… except an audience

19 August 2001

The Blast should have been the biggest non-racing motorcycle event this side of the BMF Show but inaccurate weather reports that suggested there would be a deluge and a confusing advertising campaign...

2001 and 2002 Gas Gas bikes arrive

19 August 2001

The first 2002-model Gas Gas Pamperas have arrived in the UK – at the same time as the first batch of the firm’s 2001-model Supermotos finally arrive. The all-new Pampera is a lightweight two-stroke...

Back to Brighton beach

19 August 2001

Triumph’s Bonneville doesn’t look retro enough for some. That’s why Swedish firm Raask has taken the modern bike even closer to its rocker roots. Company founder Sivert Raask said: ” I’ve been in...

First test of Borile’s hand-built café racer

19 August 2001

The Borile B500CR is an exceptionally neat-looking machine. The frame’s exaggerated curves are inspired part by function – to clear the round airbox covers at each side – and partly, says designer,...

Van plus R1 engine equals embarrassed sports car drivers

19 August 2001

Builder Tony Lynch has slapped an R1 engine in a Suzuki Supercarry van and created a vehicle that will accelerate to 60mph in under 7 seconds. The weedy 1000cc 38bhp engine that used to power the...

Video: Stalker’s eye view of Mallory

19 August 2001

Click on the link on the right to download our exclusive video of Mallory Park, from on-board Chris Walker’s GSX-R750. This video is around two minutes long and so may take slightly longer than usual...

EU plans tougher warranties

19 August 2001

They make us buy bananas in kilograms instead of pounds, they want to re-label British chocolate ” vegelate ” and they’re threatening to regulate the great British banger out of existence. Now the...

Race-spec GSX-Rs for the road

19 August 2001

Crescent Suzuki race team has got the go ahead to build limited edition GSX-Rs for the road – the 600 is yours for £15,000 and the 750 for £30,000. Click on the link on the right to see our exclusive...

How do you make a Trophy churn out 1200bhp?

19 August 2001

WHAT makes 1200bhp and does a standing quarter in under seven seconds and is doing 200mph by the time it gets to the end. The surprise answer is a Triumph Trophy… but perhaps not the one you are used...

Champion Dobb takes world motocross title in Germany

19 August 2001

JAMIE DOBB took Britain’s first 125cc motocross Grand Prix world title for over 25 years on Sunday, after a battling ride in Germany saw him take fourth to seal the crown. Works KTM star Dobb, who has...

A lap of Mallory on board with Chris Walker

19 August 2001

Ever wondered what Mallory Park looks like to Chris Walker from a flying GSX-R750? Our new video brings you exclusive on-board action and commentary from a flying lap of Mallory Park with the Stalker...

BMW R1150GS

19 August 2001

The GS may be the most off-road orientated of the trio, down to its alloy bashplate, but it’s not a real trail bike. Mostly, it’s for show, but I liked its funky looks and the chunky way it goes about...

A fast Ducati, by Gaz

19 August 2001

We believe this impersonation was conducted under the influence…

Yamaha updates revealed

19 August 2001

We’ve got exclusive details of two new Yamahas. Both the updated Fazer 600 and all-new TDM900 will be launched at shows this autumn, according to insiders. The TDM900 replaces the outgoing TDM850...

Dartford Crossing toll to be scrapped for bikes

12 August 2001

RIFLING through your many pockets for the 40p required at the Dartford Crossing will be nothing but a memory from the beginning of 2003. The Highways Agency, which has overall responsibility for the...

Video: Hodgson goes for it on the Hodgson rep

12 August 2001

Click on the video links right to watch Neil Hodgson leaping high on the Hodgson 996S Replica. Don’t go trying this at home now, will you? This man is a professional.

Riding with the California Highway Patrol

12 August 2001

In the fast lane of Los Angeles’ hyper-busy 605 freeway, my car’s pushing 85mph and struggling to keep up with a gang of 30 or so motorbikes that are blasting over the sun-scorched surface in a sharp...