2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Honda XRE300 is smallest ABS Honda motorcycle

18 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Honda is releasing its smallest capacity ABS-equipped motorcycle – the XRE300 trail bike – but only in Brazil. The new Honda XRE300 is powered by a 25bhp air-cooled 291cc DOHC four-valve...

Euro standard on motorcycle guard rails by next summer

18 December 2009 by Steve Farrell

A European-wide standard for roadside barriers which takes into account motorcyclists’ safety could be established as early as summer 2010, according to the Federation of European Motorcyclists’...

WW2 German fighter plane sidecar

18 December 2009 by Ped Baker

This beautifully bizarre and unique creation is the brainchild of Hungarian bike builder and Wild West theme park owner Henrik Toth. The design is based on a Second world war Messerschmitt ME109...

Motorcycle insurance bargains: retro roadsters

18 December 2009 by James Keen

Motorcycle insurance costs are an important consideration for any bike buyer. That’s why over the past few months MCN has been highlighting some of the best cheap-to-insure motorcycles out there. ...

More 20mph speed limits on way

18 December 2009 by Steve Farrell

More roads will get a 20mph speed limit under plans announced by road safety minister Paul Clark. Councils will be allowed to introduce 20mph zones without traffic-calming measures such as speed...

Video: MCN vs winter

18 December 2009 by MCN

The snow today may have kept most motorcycles off the road, but MCN doesn’t admit defeat so easily. All you need is some determination, good winter kit and an enduro bike… Find an off-roader for...

Rossi replica laptop revealed!

18 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

Check out this Aldo Drudi-designed Rossi laptop! Save cash on motorcycle products Prices are yet to be announced, but it’s been reported that this is just the first in a range of Rossi laptops due...

Video: Kenny Roberts and the TZ750 reunited

18 December 2009 by MCN

The Yamaha TZ750 & King Kenny Roberts return to the Indy Mile after 34 years…

This week I was knocked off my bike by an Afghan taxi driver who drove off and left the scene! My beloved bike was sent flying up junction 15 and me the other way. Fortunately five lads runnning to...

Step-by-step custom helmet paintjob

17 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

This video shows what goes into a custom helmet paintjob it’s several hours of work condensed into a few minutes, so don’t be kidded into thinking it really is as easy as this bloke’s making it look.

Police charge amnesia pothole victim

17 December 2009 by Steve Farrell

A motorcyclist with amnesia was charged with careless driving even though police knew his crash had been caused by a pothole, a lawyer has claimed. Avon and Somerset Police made no mention of their...

Speeding prosecutions are ‘postcode lottery’

16 December 2009 by Steve Farrell

Speeding prosecutions are dished out in a postcode lottery with the chances of getting one varying widely from one region to another, according to a report. One in eight motorists in North Wales...

Video: BMW S1000RR world first group test

16 December 2009 by MCN

The Big Four becomes the Big Five as BMW’s first real superbike battles it out with the established stars. Facts and figures: BMW S1000RR vs the competition Find a 1000cc superbike for...

Video: Riding the roof of Africa

16 December 2009 by MCN

We join Riders for Health co-founder Randy Mamola and a band of fellow adventurers on the launch of the charity’s Africa Experience holiday. Learn more about Riders for Health Find out how you...

Pick your technical highlights of 2009

16 December 2009 by John Westlake

MCN’s technical expert Kevin Ash is currently deciding who should receive the MCN Golden Piston Award for technical innovation in 2009. Should it be Honda for its off-set crank pins in the VFR1200F?...

MCN in Barbados

16 December 2009 by smudger65

Karen my better half on our holiday outside the port of Barbados

Which bike has the best ABS: scientific test

15 December 2009 by John Westlake

MCN is about to scientifically test the braking performance of a selection of ABS-equipped bikes. Which do you think will perform best, and worst, out of: • BMW S1000RR – has a phenomenally...

Aprilia’s 2010 Dakar competitor MXV 4.5 revealed

15 December 2009 by Chris Newbigging

Aprilia has revealed that it will be backing Team Giofil’s specially-prepared RXV 4.5 in the 2010 Dakar rally. The motorcycle has already notched up a 450-class win in both the 2008 and 2009 Rally of...

Tron Lightcycle life-size replica

15 December 2009 by Andy Downes

This mad-looking bike is a life-size replica of the Lightcycles that will star in the new Tron Legacy movie which will be out soon. Tron was a big hit back in the 1980s and saw digital Lightcycles racing around inside a computer-generated world. A modern sequel to the original 1982 movie, it sees Jeff Bridges returning along with his son as they try to escape from the world where Bridges has been...

‘Drivers should get random eye checks’

15 December 2009 by Steve Farrell

Drivers should be randomly stopped and given eyesight checks to tackle so-called ‘looked but didn’t see’ crashes, the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has said. The motorcycle lobby group made its...

Video: Yamaha R1 long term report

15 December 2009 by MCN

MCN’s Adam Child has had his longterm Yamaha R1 for almost a year in which he has covered over 16,000 miles. The year has had its ups and downs for Chad and his Yamaha R1 with the only major modification being the addition of an Akrapovic exhaust system.

Knievel & Kidd reunited tomorrow

15 December 2009 by Guy Procter

Legendary daredevils from opposite sides of the Atlantic will be reunited tomorrow, when Robbie Knievel and Eddie Kidd meet up for the first time in 16 years. The pair haven’t seen each other since...

New MCN December 16: 2009 review of the year

15 December 2009 by Liam Marsden

In this week’s issue of MCN, on sale December 16, we have 48 pages of the bikes, the tests and the moments that made biking great in 2009 with our Review of the year supplement. Also in this issue we...

Bikes on TV: December 16-22

15 December 2009 by Alison Silcox

KEY TO CHANNELS: DRT – Discovery Real Time SHED – Discovery Shed (used to be DRTE) DSC – Discovery Channel DHD – Discovery Channel HD EXS – Extreme Sports Channel MM – Men and Motors MOT – Motors...

Robbie Knievel to jump 16 double decker buses

15 December 2009 by Guy Procter

Robbie Knievel is set to jump 16 double decker buses in London on a Harley-Davidson XR750, on May 22, 2010. That’s three more than his father Evel Knievel in his failed 1975 Wembley Stadium record...

First ride on sportiest Bonneville: the Hyde Harrier

15 December 2009 by Trevor Franklin

The latest Hyde Harrier is the sportiest, most enticing road-going Bonneville ever made, MCN can reveal after an exclusive first ride. Find a Triumph Bonneville for sale Ohlins suspension and a...

Heads-up visor displays get closer

15 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

With orders now being taken on ski goggles featuring a heads-up, real-time display that shows location, speed, elevation and loads more, Canadian firm Recon Instruments is looking to bring its...

New Cal Crutchlow replica revealed

15 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

World Supersport champion Cal Crutchlow was wearing a new celebration helmet at last week’s Valencia WSB test - sporting the world cycling champion’s colours. Save cash on motorcycle helmets Cal’s...

Underseat exhausts without the hot bum!

15 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

Zircotec’s ceramic coated exhausts are claimed to offer strong thermal protection to rider, pillion and panniers. Save £££s on motorcycle exhausts The makers even claim that, by applying a Zircotec...

Cycle group's silence over bus lane evidence

15 December 2009 by Steve Farrell

Its purpose is to represent cyclists’ interests. So you might expect the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) would be quick to tell the pedal-powered fraternity that a pioneering trial has seen their...

Phase 4 XT500 Supermoto

14 December 2009 by Anonymous

Thought your readers might be interested in seeing my (Final Edition) XT500 Supermoto. You exhibited my phase 3 model on your stand at the Excel Show in London last year. Bike weighs 110KG wet...

New colourful bike covers

14 December 2009 by Marc Abbott

Oxford have produced these new eye-catching waterproof bike covers exclusively for www.2wheeljunkie.co.uk. You have a choice of green, red, pink or St George cross. See www.2wheeljunkie.co.uk to order...

Ultimate xmas: Motrax Paddock Stands

14 December 2009 by MCN

These gorgeous aluminium paddock stands are ideal for any biker who plans on spending the winter months in the garage working on their machine. Save cash on paddock stands They’re made from...

Ultimate xmas: Ducati Oakley Inmate

14 December 2009 by MCN

These £161 Oakley Inmate are the sunglasses that you see Ducati MotoGP and WSB wearing on the starting grids. Save cash on motorcycle eyewear The frame is an ultra-light metal and the lenses have a...

Ultimate xmas: Valentino Rossi #46 hoody

14 December 2009 by MCN

This hoody straight from the Valentino Rossi official merchandise line is the same one the nine-time World Champion wore to this year’s TT as the special guest of honour. Save £££s on casual...

Ultimate xmas: Foggy Kiddimoto

14 December 2009 by MCN

This is the latest entry to the Kiddimoto Legends range - a mini Carl Fogarty replica. Save money on motorcycle products All the Kiddimoto bikes are ideal for kids from the age of two to learn...