Bikertek and MCN ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’

BikerTek and MCN have teamed up to produce a third series of exciting riding videos to make your biking summer both exciting and safe.

Presented by MCN’s Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves, Secrets of a Road Tester takes an in-depth look at a wide range of subjects, and how focusing on the safety side can help boost your riding skills as a whole.

Individual episodes cover setup, maintenance, mindset and group riding, as well as what to do if you’re the first on the scene in an emergency – with input from industry experts such as Chris Walker and the DocBike team.

Watch the latest episodes from Series 3: “Secrets of a Road Tester” and catch all the episodes from Series 1 and 2 below.

 

Series 1: ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’

Episode 1 - A State Of Mind

In the first episode Neeves talks first of the preparations before any road test, trip or holiday. It can even start with nothing more than a cloth in your hand.

 

Episode 2 - Water Is Boring But Effective

In the second episode of his video series "Secrets of a Road Tester" Michael talks about a few things that are necessary, not always the most exciting but, ultimately, enhance the enjoyment of riding.

 

Episode 3 - Keeping it Smooth

In the third episode of ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’, MCN’s Michael Neeves looks at speed and braking.

 

Episode 4 - The Subtle Art of Cornering

In the fourth episode of ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’, MCN’s Michael Neeves moves on to skilful cornering, explaining how vision is always the top priority.

 

Episode 5 - Shadow of a Doubt

In the latest of his series ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’, MCN’s Michael Neeves takes on what he describes as "perhaps the most hazardous parts of riding." Overtaking.

 

How To Ride Like a Road Tester

In the final episode of his series ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’, Michael Neeves summarises his approach to riding.

 

Series 2: ‘More Secrets of a Road Tester’

Episode 1 - Cornering

Even experienced riders will often need help with road and body position, vision, braking, steering and throttle control. There’s always room for improvement when it comes to getting around a bend on a bike and Chris Pecorella benefits from this cornering masterclass.

 

Episode 2 - State of Mind

In this instalment Neeves looks in depth at a rider’s state of mind. Still the most important subject overall, even more so after lockdown has forced riding habits to change. We’ll be able to see the rider’s state of mind before and during their ride and then give tips at the end of the assessment session on how to improve.

 

Episode 3 - Speed

In this episode of ‘More Secrets of a Road Tester’ Michael Neeves looks at how you should use your speed on the road. It’s is all about being in charge of every situation; riding too slowly puts your destiny in someone else’s hands. Stick to speed limits, but ride at a pace where you can take action where things are likely to happen.

 
 

Episode 4 - Riding to the Conditions

In this episode of ‘More Secrets of a Road Tester’ Michael Neeves helps even the most experienced riders master challenging conditions.

 

Episode 5 - More Secrets of a Road Tester - WRAPPED UP

Check out another excellent video from Michael Neeves, packed with all the riding tips you’ll need this summer. MCN’s chief road tester rounds up all of the key advice covered in the first four instalments of the new ‘More Secrets of a Road Tester’ series, featuring both new and experiences riders – proving no matter how long you’ve been riding motorcycles, there’s always room for improvement.

 

Episode 5 - DocBike

The latest episode in MCN’s new video series takes an in-depth look at the expert team who are trying to make motorcycling safer.

 

Series 3: ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’

Episode 1 - Bike Set Up

A basic set-up is something that many people seem to overlook, but a few simple tweaks can make all the difference to comfort, and by extension, safety and performance. From suspension settings to lever span, we take a look at what you can do to tailor your ride for a perfect fit.

 

Episode 2 - Bike Maintenance

A mechanical failure through neglected servicing may leave you stranded at best, while the worst doesn’t bear thinking about. Respected racer Chris Walker lifts the lid on some of the poorly maintained machines that get brought to his dealership and discusses the importance of keeping your bike in tip top condition.

 

Episode 3 – State of mind

Keeping your head in the game is one of the most Important aspects of safe riding and as relevant to big miles as it is to a routine commute. We talk to a Police motorcyclist and a former Typhoon display pilot, both of whom ride for pleasure, about how they manage their mindset.

 

Episode 4 - Cornering

With additional on-board footage and a detailed commentary, Neeves breaks down all the aspects of solo riding that he’s covered in the past two series of ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’. Appropriate speed, correct cornering and safe overtaking all get a recap, along with riding to the conditions and the dangers of fatigue.

 

Episode 5 – Group Riding

It’s great to ride with mates, but being out with a crowd can present its own unique set of challenges. We gather a group of riders to discuss the potential pitfalls of being in a pack, such as trying to keep up, maintaining optimal visibility and not being a nuisance to other road users.

 
 

Episode 6 - DocBike

One of the advantages of riding a motorcycle is our manoeuvrability through traffic, but that ability to filter through or skirt a jam can also mean that we’re first to arrive at the scene of an accident. This episode looks at what we can do to pave the way for the emergency services in such a situation.

 
 

Series 4: ‘Secrets of a Road Tester Bootcamp ’

Episode 1 - Speed Management

Getting a bend right can be the best feeling in biking and this episode suggests the best way to achieve this. Road positioning, braking tactics, speed and getting the right line are all discussed in this episode.

 
 

Episode 2 - Cornering

Getting a bend right can be the best feeling in biking and this episode suggests the best way to achieve this. Road positioning, braking tactics, speed and getting the right line are all discussed in this episode.

 

Episode 3 - Overtaking

Blasting past a car or stacked-up traffic is when a motorcyclist literally puts themselves in the line of fire and this video suggests ways to make this manoeuvre as safely as possible, without antagonising other road users.

 

Episode 4 - Tiredness

Being alert is obviously fundamental to having an enjoyable and danger-free two-wheeled trip. In this episode, Neeves and Freeman look at how to spot the signs and dangers of tiredness and how deal with it.

 

Episode 5 - Bike Set-up

Getting your levers and suspension set correctly can be a game-changer. Neeves gives Freeman a few pointers on how to get his BMW tailored to his needs. A lot of the lessons here will work on any motorcycle.