A total of 4000 miles is planned to ride on a Honda C90 to raise money for the the RNLI.

Kevin Hancock, 39, is the rider who plans to complete the journey in only two weeks. Kevin is planning to ride about 8 hours a day. The plan is also to visit the 172 lifeboat stations along the way.

Kevin is doing this ride in memory of Lee Wood who died on 25th April 2004 in a boating accident. RNLI searched in vain for him for 16 days. His body was found on 11th May. Steven Wood, Lee’s father, has always wanted to play tribute to RNLI for their efforts to find his son. Kevin is Steven’s friend and wants to help him in this plan.

Kevin will be riding on his 17 years-old Honda C90. He’s planning to leave the RNLI station at 2pm on May 1st. He will be then riding in the anti-clockwise direction around the coast of Britain. He’s hoping to be back on 16th May.

If you’d like to sponsor his ride, please visit www.justgiving.com/numbumring for more information.

Peugeot Motorcycles plan to build a hybrid which will be half-car half-motorcycle. Peugeot Motorcycles, specialists in scooter field, created an innovative three-wheel drive with fuel consumption in the combined cycle of just 141mpg and CO2 emissions of 47g/kph.

There are no plans to build the new vehicle for sale in the near future but its model looks very impressive. It is very stable and drivable. It’s 82 cm wide which means it’s still going to be very efficient in the urban traffic. The new vehicle combines both features of a car and bike with HYbrid technology. It’s got supercharged petrol engine technology which has already been used in the Peugeot Jetforce Compressor scooter. Its two electric motors have been placed in the front wheels. It consumes only 141mpg in the combined cycle and CO2 emissions only 47g/kph.

The HYbrid3 compressor can be ridden in three ways: electric only mode (when starting up or at low speed), petrol only mode (at constant speeds with the engine optimum efficiency) and petrol/electric motors combined (for acceleration/power boost).

The Stop and Start System switches the petrol engine to standby mode during stop phases and makes the bike very efficient. It will also be very economical:a typical 50cc scooter will return 100mpg, while the 500cc Satelis will deliver 65mpg at motorway speeds.

MCN invites bike riders to Silver Apartments for the weekend of MCNLive 23-26 April.

The tickets are £95 for self-catering or £140 for eat-as-much-as-you-like breakfast and dinner buffet.

The apartments are very well equipped for a perfect weekend away with the kitchen, TV, tea and coffee facilities.

Apart from great accomodation the weekend will be packed with lots of live music and parties at four venues of your choice. During the day there will be amazing stunt shows, Try & Ride activities, Show & Shine competition, Manufacturer’s Village, and also Splash Waterworld, Fairground, Health Spa, Go-karts, Crazy Golf and so much more.

More information and bookings at http://www.mcnlive.co.uk/. Just get on your bike and get ready for lots of fun.

The MCN Awards were announced at the Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show.

Award: Biking Hero
Winner: Bob Brown. Bob is a former Police motorcyclist. He played a crucial role in organising a very popular Durham Bike Wise motorcycle event.

Award: The Dave Taylor Lifetime achievement
Winner: Sammy Miller MBE.

Award: MCN Man of the Year Award (sponsored by National Accident Helpline)
Winner: Valentino Rossi

Award: MCN Machine of the Year.
Winner: Yamaha YZF-R1

Award: Best dealer with only one outlet
Winner: Lloyd Cooper of Watford

Award: Dealer of the Year specialising in one area
Winner: Get Geared of Leatherhead

Award: Wholesaler of the Year
Winner: Motohaus Powersports

Award: Dealer of the Year with more than one outlet
Winner: George White Superbike Centre

Award: Product of the Year (clothing)
Winner: Forcefield Pro Sub 4 back protector

Award: Product of the Year (accessories or services)
Winner: Scottoiler E-system

Award: Product of the Year (tyre)
Winner: Michelin Power One

Mattie Griffin is a very talented motorbike stuntman. There will be a possibility to see his actions in the Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show on 4-7th February 2010.

Other great performers - Christian Pfeiffer and AC Farias, amongst others, have also performed in the Live Action Arena in London in the past.

Many riders say their routine changes if they perfom in the indoor area but Mattie reckons his experience will let him to ride in a similar way that in the outdoor shows.

“It does make a lot more work for me because you don’t get time to think! As soon as you complete a trick you have to have to get right into the next, and you have no run off area if you make a mistake!

From my experience indoor arenas are much slipperier so it will take a lot more concentration, but I still plan entertain and to carry out all my tricks for this show and keep the visitors on their toes throughout my show!”, Mattie said.

Times of the show are:

SHOW 1 11.30am - 12.00noon
SHOW 2 1.00pm - 1.30pm
SHOW 3 2.30pm - 3.00pm
SHOW 4 4.15pm - 4.45pm

Browse this website http://www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com/ for more information.

The Japanese magazine Auto-By tested the new Yamaha SR400. The carburetor has been replaced with a fuel injection to cut the emission. Other new parts are: new exhaust with a catalyser, lambda sensor and a fuel pump.

As a big pump would affect the tank shape, to avoid this a new solution has been used. The fuel tank feeds fuel to a small sub-tank which is placed under the left side panel containing the pump.
The final change is an air-injection system that cleans the exhaust.

When it comes to the ride, the bike hasn’t changed. The chassis might not be modern, has narrow seat and wide bars, but it still handles very well. It’s worth remembering to smooth corners and throttle opening to load the suspension gently in order to prevent wobbling.

Peak torque in SR400 is a bit lower whereas the torque curve is fatter and more liner so it accelerates quicker and has a better throttle response.

THE FACTS
Yamaha SR400 - £3780
Engine: 399cc, air-cooled 2v OHC four-stroke single. Five gears
Power: 25bhp
Torque: 20 lb-ft
Weight: 174kg
Seat height: 790mm
Fuel capacity: 12 litres

Would you like to be the first one to test the new 2010 Yamaha R6? The test will take place on 2nd February at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire. The riders will compare both, the 2009 and 2010 versions. The riders will appear in Motorcycle News, the organizer of the test.

MCN is looking especially owners of 2009/09 Yamaha R6 but also the ones who do not own this model at the moment but are looking to purchase one in the nearby future.

The riders should be available for the whole day and prepared for the ride in wet conditions. They have to make sure they are have protective clothes and that they have got a full driving licence. MCN will want to know about their riding experience.

The deadline for applying is Friday the 29th January. Later applications will not be considered. Contact: chris.newbigging@motorcyclenews.com. Make sure you describe your interest in the 2010 R6 and your riding experience.