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Latest news in motorcycling

Stay informed with the very latest news in motorcycling. Our crack team of reporters cover the issues you need to know about, from new bikes to community, and the latest tech to bike crime. We apply professional rigour to our journalism and ask the key questions to the right people, to ensure our readers stay fully informed.

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The ‘leaked’ letter from Meacher to police

11 February 2002

The following is the reported content of Meacher’s leaked letter. While the Department of the Environment has not confirmed its contents, it has said it " does not discuss leaked documents " and has made no denial. " I am writing to you and to other Chief Police Officers with responsibility for all or parts of a National Park or Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB), to seek your help in dealing...

Win a 2002 R1 at one of 140 launch parties

11 February 2002

Win a 2002 R1 at one of 140 launch parties

Get hold of next week’s MCN and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a 2002 Yamaha R1. The February 20 issue of the paper will include an entry coupon for the Yamaha competition. Fill it in and...

Buell stops making Cyclone, Thunderbolt and Lightning

11 February 2002

Buell stops making Cyclone, Thunderbolt and Lightning

Buell has stopped production of its tubular framed large capacity bikes to concentrate all its efforts on making the new alloy beam framed Firebolt. It means the end of the line for the Cyclone,...

Strange but true

11 February 2002

Strange but true

Those born under Gemini are the most likely to crash… our latest Strange But True round-up reveals. If you have something worthy of inclusion in the next, e-mail jon.urry@emap.com AUSTRALIA: Next time...

Knee down… and the rest

11 February 2002

Knee down… and the rest

One of these guys gets rather more than just his knee down

Come Dancing

11 February 2002

Come Dancing

If you can’t find a bar to work on your ballet routine, a motorcycle will have to do.

MCN voices your views on road tax reform

11 February 2002

MCN voices your views on road tax reform

MORE than 3000 of you sent MCN your response to the Government’s proposed road tax hikes – and we made sure all your voices were heard last week when MCN editor Rob McDonnell personally delivered the...

Meet Hodgson at Ducati store opening

11 February 2002

Meet Hodgson at Ducati store opening

Neil Hodgson, James Toseland and Steve Hislop will be attending the opening of the new Ducati Manchester store, this weekend. The dedicated store in opens to the public for the first time at 9am on...

Spot the differences

11 February 2002

Spot the differences

Chassis: The new frame uses the same dimensions as the old model, but has been completely redesigned for extra stiffness and better handling. The price you pay is a 3kg (6.6lb) weight gain. This is...

Anyone got a dustpan?

11 February 2002

Anyone got a dustpan?

You’re going to be sweeping this one up to take home.

Testing the 2002 ZX-9R

11 February 2002

Testing the 2002 ZX-9R

Kawasaki is so worried about the repercussions of a 900cc sports bike hitting the symbolic 300kph mark, it has deleted the offending ” 300 ” from the new ZX-9R’s speedo. That’s what it looks like,...

Developing a 170bhp Blade

11 February 2002

Developing a 170bhp Blade

THIS 170bhp FireBlade is the basis for a 2002 British Superbike – and you can buy one for around £13,000. It is being developed by Motopower, a leading Honda squad in this year’s championship. I say ...

How to complain to Meacher himself

11 February 2002

Here are some of the tips, suggestions and ideas for contacting MPs and Michael Meacher in particular which you’ve posted on the boards. pie eater offers on the subject of Michael Meacher MP: Email address: House of Commons: massonm@parliament.uk Telephone numbers: House of Commons Phone number: 020 7219 4532/6461 House of Commons Fax number: 020 7219 5945 Constituency Phone number: 0161 626 5779...

Llewellyn sees the potential of the racing Blade

11 February 2002

Llewellyn sees the potential of the racing Blade

MOTOPOWER invited another rider to Bruntingthorpe last week to test a Blade – former British champ Matt Llewellyn. The team asked him to try the British Superbike-spec machine before offering him a...

Testing the Harley XL883R Kneivel replica

04 February 2002

Testing the Harley XL883R Kneivel replica

By Jon Urry One of my lasting childhood memories is my Evel Knievel toy.You know the one I mean – the little white figure on his Harley which you wound up and let fly across the room as it performed...

Triumph to reveal sharper 600

04 February 2002

Triumph to reveal sharper 600

Triumph is planning to replace its TT600 with a lighter, faster version and it will be unveiled before the end of the year. Codenamed ” R ” , it will not only have improved performance, but also a...

Fifth RiDER POWER survey launched

04 February 2002

Fifth RiDER POWER survey launched

RiDE magazine has launched its fifth RiDER POWER survey – giving readers the chance to comment on everything from what’s gone wrong with their bikes to what they think to their dealers and what they...

Can’t get quoted on R1 cover? Now you can

04 February 2002

Can’t get quoted on R1 cover? Now you can

YAMAHA has responded to the biggest problem currently facing would-be superbike buyers – finding an insurer who’ll offer cover at all, let alone at a fair price or on reasonable terms. A new scheme...

Ear we go, Ear we go!

04 February 2002

Ear we go, Ear we go!

Will these be adorning every Shoei and Arai in the country this Spring… or are they so daft that they’ll actually reduce your street cred? We think there are enough of us with slightly deranged glints...

Lighter, faster engines for all

04 February 2002

Lighter, faster engines for all

Yamaha has invented an aluminium casting technique which saves up to 30 per cent on the weight of engine parts. The firm is already tooling up its motorcycle engine factory to take advantage,...

Knievel targets record, any record

04 February 2002

Knievel targets record, any record

Robbie Knievel is setting his sights on a record-breaking jump this year… but it hasn’t yet been decided quite what the record will be. Organisers of the National Grand Prix of Washington, in the U.S,...

Getting on the jumping bandwagon

04 February 2002

Getting on the jumping bandwagon

It’s not just Ago who used to do the leaping

MX somersaults

04 February 2002

MX somersaults

Flippin’ heck! Don’t fancy being in his boots… or lid

2.2-litre Triumph spotted on test

04 February 2002

2.2-litre Triumph spotted on test

Triumph’s new 2.2-litre cruiser has been seen undergoing hot-weather testing in Death Valley, California. The rigorous testing suggests the machine is nearing production form. It has a massive in-line...

Keeping the TT alive

04 February 2002

Keeping the TT alive

Lining up at the Glencrutchery Road startline

0% finance on new Kawasakis

04 February 2002

0% finance on new Kawasakis

KAWASAKI has resurrected its interest-free credit scheme on its entire range. Called ” Fastlane Finance ” , if you put down a deposit of at least 10 per cent on a new Kawasaki, you can pay the rest...

Benelli opens UK order books

04 February 2002

Benelli opens UK order books

BENELLI has named the 19 UK dealers who will sell its long-awaited Tornado superbike, and has today opened its order books for the exclusive limited-edition version of the triple. Between 40 and 50 of...

Bike covered by Wren? No it isn’t

04 February 2002

If you have a covernote or policy which says your bike is insured by Wren Motor Policies, look for alternative cover immediately. The firm says it hasn’t offered insurance for bikes since 1992 and is concerned that its good name may be being mis-used. Police in West Yorkshire are investigating. More than 200 bike owners are believed to have covernotes which look as if they have been issued by...

Win a Fazer 600

04 February 2002

Win a Fazer 600

It’s true, you never get something for nothing in this life. We’re going to give one of you a 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, another one will get a place on an MCN track day and one more will win a pair of...

Back to when the TT was a GP

04 February 2002

Back to when the TT was a GP

There was a time when ALL GP bikes were four-strokes

Honda plans road-going V4 and V5

04 February 2002

Honda plans road-going V4 and V5

HONDA is working on an all-new 1000cc V4 superbike AND a Hayabusa-style V5. Both are expected to draw heavily on technology being developed for the firm’s new V5 four-stroke GP race bike. The V4...

You hand £13,500 to Riders charity

04 February 2002

You hand £13,500 to Riders charity

You donated a grand total of £13,500 to biking charity Riders for Health in auctions at the Ally Pally show. Over the nine days of the show items ranging from a wooden statue of Colin Edwards to a...

Win a VIP British GP weekend

04 February 2002

You can win a fantastic VIP hotel break at the British GP by entering our new MCN2U mobile phone text message competition. We have 10 tickets to the GP itself as runners-up prizes, too. The first prize gives you and a friend a night’s Hilton hotel accommodation at for the GP weekend and grandstand seats at Donington. Entries have to be made by text message via your mobile phone. The competition is...

Ally Pally sets new record

04 February 2002

Ally Pally sets new record

More of you than ever before visited the Ally Pally for the MCN Superbike and Road Racing Show which finished on Sunday, February 3. World firsts such as Suzuki’s B-King, Triumph’s Speed Four and the...

Long term test: Yamaha Tmax

04 February 2002

Long term test: Yamaha Tmax

JUST because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you, according to an old saying. And while I might hesitate to share that gem of wisdom with the barefooted bloke I regularly see...

Hail to the crashers

04 February 2002

Hail to the crashers

Yes, they all walked away. Amazing. Not that we need to say this, but DON’T try this at home… these are paid professionals!