Bike Kit

Year: ALL

Shad SW45 Rucksack Review

10 October 2023 by Ben Clarke

The Shad SW45 Rucksack is a little bit like a roll bag that’s been transformed into a highly effective waterproof motorbike rucksack with a few adaptations. The main body of the rucksack is a...

Best kit for sportsbike riding | From club racing to pub cruising, MCN have got you covered

10 October 2023 by Jim Blackstock

There’s lots of kit out there for sportsbike riders, from one-piece leather suits and FIM helmets to riding jeans and casual-style boots. Top-end sportsbike kit is some of the most expensive around...

Best kit for the retro bike rider | Let MCN take you back with our old school gear choices

10 October 2023 by Charlotte King

There is a definite retro vibe going on in motorcycling right now. All the big manufacturers – and a fair few of the smaller ones as well – have retro machines in their line-up. It’s an...

Our favourite Cardo intercom is 20% off - here's why you should snap it up while you can

10 October 2023 by Adam Binnie

Current range-topper, the Cardo Packtalk Edge motorcycle intercom, is on sale during Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (October 10th/11th) with a saving of 20%. It comes with all the key tech you’d expect –...

Next-gen sports-touring rubber: Metzeler Roadtec 02 tyres announced for 2024

09 October 2023 by Ben Clarke

Motorcycle tyre specialists Metzeler have announced a new version of their popular Roadtec 01 sports-touring tyre. The Metzeler Roadtec 02 will be available for purchase from January 2024 with claimed...

Can't stand wet hands? The Gore-Tex in these Richa Altantic gloves is so stealthy I didn't even notice it

27 September 2023 by Adam Binnie

Getting caught in a downpour can happen at any time of the year, and while it might be possible to stash a jacket drop liner somewhere on the bike for emergencies, I really don’t have space for a...

No need to break the bank or your fingers with these sub-£100 gloves: MCN's Oxford Nexus 1.0 review

25 September 2023 by Adam Binnie

Any motorcycle kit offering more than two attributes from the “affordable/protective/comfortable” pyramid demands a closer inspection, which is exactly why we’ve got these Oxford Nexus 1.0 gloves on...

Sporty styling meets touring practicality: HJC R-PHA 70 helmet review

19 September 2023 by Alison Silcox

I’ve been a fan of HJC motorcycle helmets for a number of years and have tried various flip-front and full-faced versions. This particular model, the HJC R-PHA 70 helmet has been around for a few...

Power play: How to hard-wire heated motorcycle gloves into your bike

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Heated kit is a brilliant addition to your winter riding kit. It allows you to wear less insulating clothing and instead, generate heat to maintain your body temperature while remaining comfortable...

Courier style: Best motorcycle top boxes

14 September 2023 by Maria Martin

Motorcycle top boxes are bought mainly for functional reasons. No-one buys a top box because they want to improve the look of their bike so functionality has to come first. While it may not be as...

Tried and tested: T.ur G-Two Adventure gloves review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

We know that the ultimate summer clothing consists of lots of mesh panels in the non-critical areas to allow as much air as possible to enter while critical areas feature solid material for...

Spoiler alert: Taylor Mackenzie helps Ruroc develop trackday helmet

14 September 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Gloucestershire helmet manufacturer Ruroc have set their sights on the race circuit, developing a track-focused helmet based on their Atlas 4.0 that’s both lighter and more aerodynamic than...

Heated vision: New heated visor claims to provide a day’s riding without the fear of fog

14 September 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

Space technology and British engineering have combined to make fogged visors a thing of the past with the invention of the Visin heated visor insert that promises to keep your vision crystal clear for...

Defiant against thieves: New Squire lock ramps up protection against angle grinders

14 September 2023 by Stuart Prestidge

Squire have launched what they say is their toughest ever motorcycle brake disc lock, promising angle grinder resistance that should deter even the most tooled-up thief. Named the Defiant, the...

Play time! Ride 5 video game on the way

14 September 2023 by Dan Sutherland

The fifth instalment of the Ride video game franchise will arrive on August 24, 2023. Players of Ride 5 can race the latest in motorcycling exotica on a series of iconic race tracks from around the...

Bricking it! Yamaha team up with Lego for new MT-10SP build

14 September 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Yamaha have teamed up with Lego to launch a new MT-10SP Technic kit, set to arrive in shops next month. The £199.99 build will be available on Tuesday, 1 August 2023 and consists of 1478 pieces.

A century of the Manx GP: Arai celebrate with limited edition RX-7V Evo

14 September 2023 by Ben Clarke

Arai helmets are celebrating 100 years of the Manx GP with a UK exclusive, limited edition version of their RX-7V Evo helmet. The design was unveiled on the island at this year’s TT and features a...

Tried and tested: Vanucci VAJ-4 textile jacket review

14 September 2023 by Ben Clarke

The unfortunately named Vanucci VAJ-4 textile jacket forms part of the brand’s modular bike kit range called Vanucci+ that lets the rider pick and choose which layers they want to buy and wear. So,...

Rate of inflation: Airbag jeans come to market

14 September 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Airbag jackets are nothing new, with most major kit brands producing inflating safety vests designed to provide additional protection. But there are also airbag jeans. You can wear them under your...

Hard as a diamond: Abus Granit 68 Xplus scores highest Sold Secure Diamond level rating

14 September 2023 by MCN

Abus are taking the fight to bike thieves with an updated range of Sold Secure approved locks and chains – including a Diamond rated cylindrical disc lock which meets the highest level of protection...

Travel in style: Best universal motorcycle luggage as chosen by MCN

14 September 2023 by Ben Clarke

One of the drawbacks of riding a motorbike is that you can’t carry as much with you as you can in other types of vehicles – but this can be improved with some luggage. Whether you’re commuting to...

Race trim: Best sporty leather jackets

14 September 2023 by Justin Hayzelden

A leather one piece race suit is the way to go for track riding, but if you want to keep the race look on the road then a sporty leather jacket may be a more practical solution. Most can be paired up...

Tried and tested: Rev'It Restless review

14 September 2023 by Ben Clarke

The Rev’It Restless is a AA-rated retro-inspired, leather motorcycle jacket that the brand says is inspired by the West Coast moto culture of the 1940s in America. Retro jacket touches include...

Tried and tested: Richa Blade review

14 September 2023 by Gareth Evans

These Richa Blade WP waterproof sports boots have served me will so far this year. Together we’ve weathered some impressive weather; most notably massive thunderstorms, both on road and on track. I...

Tried and tested: HJC C10 review

14 September 2023 by Emma Franklin

An all-new motorbike helmet for 2023, the HJC C10 is an entry-level model and replaces the CS-15. It is the first sub £100 helmet to meet the latest ECE22.06 safety standard, which replaced the...

Tried and tested: Alpinestars Faster V2 review

14 September 2023 by Joesph Wright

The Alpinestars Faster V2 is a sporty leather motorbike jacket that pairs protection fit for the track with comfort, practicality and style for the road. It follows the original Faster jacket which...

Tried and tested: Shark Ridill review

14 September 2023 by Gareth Evans

Shark’s Ridill is a low-price, high-feature motorbike helmet that would suit new riders perfectly. It’s not perfect, as you’d expect for a lid at this price point, but for a starting point it’s ideal,...

Tried and tested: Shark Spartan RS Carbon review

14 September 2023 by Adam Binnie

The SHARK Spartan RS Carbon is a sporty-looking touring helmet with a long list of features, impressive build quality and an ECE 22.06 safety rating, for less money than you’d expect. When we...

Tried and tested: DXR Bernie boots review

14 September 2023 by Simon Brown

These CE-approved DXR Bernie boots are billed as breathable and having just ridden two hours up the M5 in 30°C conditions I can confirm that they did indeed remain comfortable for the duration without...

Race-spec lids: Best FIM homologated motorcycle helmets

14 September 2023 by Justin Hayzelden

Whether you’re looking for an authentic race replica for the road or want to take to the track wearing the best protection available, then an FIM homologated motorcycle helmet is the only way to go.

Alpinestars Supertech R10 available now: First full face road helmet from the firm goes on sale

14 September 2023 by Michael Neeves

To compete head-on with the road helmet establishment is the tallest of tall orders, but Alpinestars are on the right track with their new Supertech R10 – the first full face road crash helmet the...

Membrane trust: The best motorcycle waterproofs to keep you dry whatever the weather chosen by MCN

14 September 2023 by Ben Clarke

Motorcycle waterproofs can be a real life-saver – especially in the UK where even the sunniest of mornings can become torrential afternoons. There’s plenty of purpose-made waterproof kit on the...

Winter blues beaters: Best winter motorcycle boots

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

As we head into winter, those of us who ride year-round often turn our attention to biking kit that will provide the best warmth and weather protection, and a good quality pair of winter motorcycle...

Fully loaded: Best motorcycle luggage racks

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

Sometimes, you don’t want full-on fitted luggage on your motorcycle. Sometimes, you just want to chuck a bag across the back, strap it on and go. And while this can often be entirely possible with an...

Head off-road: Best motocross and dirtbike helmets

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

The main difference between road and motocross and dirtbike helmets is the provision of a visor. Most MX helmets are designed to be used with goggles, as these can offer a better view as well as...

Tried and tested: Healtech Thunderbox review

14 September 2023 by Jim Blackstock

One of the issues if you run a collection of electrical accessories – sat-nav, heated kit, phone charger, spotlights – is remembering to turn it all off when you get to your destination and hop off...