Motorbike Advice

Your one-stop shop for all motorbike advice, including how-tos, getting a motorcycle licence, servicing, maintenance and more.

Find out which bikes you should be choosing in our expertly curated Best section, or find the perfect kit and accessories at MCN Product Picks.

For those looking to learn how to ride a motorbike, head to our Learning to Ride hub, where we cover all you need to know about getting into this wonderful lifestyle.

If you've already got going, check out our Riding Tips section for the best guides and top techniques.

Looking for somewhere to go? Don't miss our Places to Visit area for some ideas for your next rideout.

And when you get home, learn how to look after your bike in our Bike Maintenance hub.

How to get your knee down on a motorbike

How to get your knee down on a motorbike

There’s something undeniably cool about seeing a skilled rider, mid-corner with their knee on the deck (on track, obviously) – and I couldn’t help but feel envious of other MCN staff members as they...

How to ride your motorbike off-road

How to ride your motorbike off-road

Riding a motorbike off-road can dramatically improve your road riding, as well as being a whole heap of fun. There are just over 2000 miles of motorway in the UK. But there are more than 6000 miles...

How to start motorcycle club racing

How to start motorcycle club racing

It has been said that there’s nothing like racing to improve your road and trackday skills. Riding in close proximity at high speed, pushing your bike and tyres to the limit is the ultimate in...

What's that noise? Motorbike troubleshooting by sound

What's that noise? Motorbike troubleshooting by sound

Bike engines will make a variety of noises; hardly surprising with several hundred metal parts whizzing round thousands of time a minute. Related: Best basic motorbike tools If you are worried about...

Repairing your motorcycle on the move

Repairing your motorcycle on the move

Learning to fix your motorcycle at the roadside is a skill all bikers need. It can happen to the best of us – you thumb the starter after stopping for a rest break and nothing; your bike doesn’t want...

A glimpse at "motorcycling mecca" - the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

A glimpse at "motorcycling mecca" - the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

When it comes to biking bucket lists there are a handful of undisputable destinations that’ll take your breath away. A visit to the TT will fry your mind and the barely-controlled chaos of the...

Dunlop SportSmart Mk3 review

Dunlop SportSmart Mk3 review

Dunlop says their new SportSmart Mk3 offers more wet and dry grip, but unlike rivals, that improved performance lasts the life of the tyres, right down to its wear blocks. That’s an impressive claim,...

How to wheelie a motorbike

How to wheelie a motorbike

A wheelie is the oldest motorcycle trick in the book, and I’ve wanted to be able to pop a decent one since I first threw my leg over a bike aged 16. After seven years of riding, I was still unable to...

Bike selling advice: How to avoid the online scammers

Bike selling advice: How to avoid the online scammers

Scams around bike sales are as old as motorcycling, but as the riding season begins and more people start shifting their bikes, scammers and thieves are rubbing their hands with glee. With a huge...

Continental ContiTrailAttack 3 tyre review

Continental ContiTrailAttack 3 tyre review

Replacing the successful ContiTrailAttack 2s, the new third generation is claimed to offer quicker warm up times, greater grip in wet and dry, offer longer life and more agile handling than the...

Bridgestone S22 tyre review

Bridgestone S22 tyre review

Bridgestone’s new S22 sports tyre might be designed for life on the street, but here at their world launch in Jerez they’ve proved they can handle a day at one of the finest MotoGP circuits in the...

Are you scared of the dark? Here's how I make sure I stay safe on my motorbike as the nights draw in

Are you scared of the dark? Here's how I make sure I stay safe on my motorbike as the nights draw in

As the nights draw in for the winter, many of us will find ourselves riding in the dark more often and possibly for the first time in several months. Readjusting to night time riding (or navigating...

How to pass your A1 motorbike licence

How to pass your A1 motorbike licence

Welcome to MCN’s guide to the A1 motorcycle licence, where we explain what it is, who it’s for and crucially, how to pass it. Related: Best motorcycle training aids Related: everything you need to...

Best A2 sportsbikes for trackdays

Best A2 sportsbikes for trackdays

With the 750cc and 600cc sportsbike classes shrinking and manufacturers locked in a 200bhp+ superbike arms race, it could appear that your only option for modern trackday fun lies in an arm-wrenching...