Category: Random

1. Bennetts reveal Britain’s ‘average biker’

   Posted on 8:16am Friday 13th Apr 2012

   Typical motorcyclist is middle-class, rides to work and prefers a Honda!

    

   The traditional stereotype of bikers being free-spirited, leather clad hooligan is thing of the past, according to research by Bennetts. The UK’s number one for bike insurance* has revealed the profile of the ‘average biker’ in 21st Century Britain, a seemingly upstanding, 40-something middle-class citizen who is a married, professional, family man.

    

   The study reveals the average motorcyclist in the UK is a world away from common perceptions, with him being a six-foot tall, brown haired biker who almost certainly owns a car and rides no more than twice a week. Although seemingly conventional, the average biker does seem to have a wild side too, with 50% of the British bikers questioned having a tattoo and a third sporting a beard.

    

   Challenging the old perceptions of bikers even further, only 7% sport either long hair or a pony tail. This is probably because nearly 60% of those surveyed hold down a professional senior/management job, taking home an average wage of £30,000 a year, up 25% on the national average (£24,000)**

    

   Despite an immediate association with Harley Davidson’s and other such loud bikes, the average biker actually prefers to ride on a Honda and manages just 7,500 miles a year, with 80% of bikers surveyed owning a car as well as a motorbike. Biking seems to still be very much associated with a mid-life crisis as the average biker has only been riding for two years, despite his age.

    

   Questionnaire Results

   
   Name: Ben
   Sex: Male (96.8%)
   Age: 41- 50 (31.6%)
   Hair Colour: Brown (66.2%)
   Glasses: No (62.3%)
   Additional features: Tattoos (53.3%) and Beard (32.6%)
   Height: 6ft (33.3%)
   Occupation: Professional (29.0%)
   Motorbike: Honda (30.1%)
   How often do you ride: Twice a week (42.8%)
   Do you use the bike to commute to work: Yes (54.9%)
   Average annual mileage: 5,001 – 10,000 (43.0%)
   Favourite genre of music: Rock/Heavy Metal (48.8%)
   How long have you been riding: 1-3 years (22.9%)
   How many motorbikes have you owned: 6 (47.9%)
   Do you own a car: Yes (80.0%)
   Favourite sport: Superbikes (52.8%)
   Annual income: £20,000 – 39,999 (44.4%)

    

    

    

   *Based on brand tracking research in April 2008
   **Based on National Online Statistics (statistics.gov.uk)

2. Aviva UK - I've Heard That Line Somewhere Before

   Posted on 12:01am Tuesday 31st Jan 2012

   The new star of the Aviva advert is fisherman Ollie where he quotes a line from a famous film also filmed by the riverside.

   Played by actor Paul Whitehouse, who became know for his work with Harry Enfield in The Fast Show. His previous characters in this campaign have been a Plymouth Argyle supporter, a flamboyant dancer and going back to his Welsh roots - an elderly Welsh Goth!

   These characters and videos have been a hit and we are sure that this latest video, along with another Aviva video with Ollie’s best fishing joke, will be as popular as ever.
    
   The ad will be accompanied by a Facebook app which allows users to interact with 'Ollie's Garage', play MultiCarp the fishing arcade game and to create a song with Colin the Carp. 
    
   Although these adverts are humorous, Aviva is a serious insurance provider, being one of the largest insurance providers in the world, including motorcycle insurance.

   This article is sponsored by Aviva

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

3. The Motorcycle Garage unit from Asgard receives the UK Locksmiths Association Accreditation

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 2nd Aug 2011

   The UK Locksmiths Association (UKLA) has awarded its security accreditation to the Motorcycle Garage Plus Storage Unit from Asgard Secure Steel Storage.

   The Motorcycle Garage Unit is manufactured and sold by Asgard and is one of the leading secure outdoor storage units for storing motorcycles, scooter, riding gear, clothing and accessories.  The storage unit has proved to be extremely popular amongst bikers, with thousands being installed in homes and housing estates across the UK.

   The Motorcycle Garage Plus unit went under rigorous testing by the UKLA to determine primarily the security that it offers, as well as the overall design, construction, accessories and options available.

   Tom Robinson from the UK Development Team at UKLA awarded the Asgard Motorcycle Garage Plus Unit with the accreditation saying; “Thanks for the product, really impressed by the standard.  Use the UKLA logo as a statement of our trust in your product".

   Asgard have welcomed this security accrediation for their product and will be working with UKLA in order to develop the range further.  Chris Raby, Head of Design at Asgard Secure Steel Storage said; “We are continuously looking at our product offerings and developing them further in order to provide our customers with the highest level of security from the Asgard Storage Range. We always welcome any feedback from our customers for our units and services”.

   www.asgardsss.co.uk

4. TV STARS IN MOTORCYCLE RIDE FOR HEALTH

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 21st Jul 2011

   Red Dwarf’s ‘Cat’ and BBC MotoGP presenter lead charity ride on bright pink bikes from London to Southern Spain

   Viva Valencia!, the charity ride being undertaken by Red Dwarf’s The Cat, real name Danny John-Jules, BBC MotoGP presenter, Matt Roberts, and Steve Keys, now has an official website – www.motoventures.co.uk
    
   John-Jules and Keys, owner of the UK’s first Yamaha dealer, have been raising awareness and money for the charity, Riders for Health, by attending numerous events and shows on two bright pink Yamaha R1s over the past year. In October, the boys will be joined by Roberts to ride 1200 miles from Ace Cafe London to the Ricardo Tormo circuit, Valencia, Spain for the last race of the 2011 MotoGP championship.

   The new website will bring news, updates, photos and list events that the Viva Valencia! team are attending, but, more importantly, it will be a place for people to donate to the charity, either using the pledge button or buying one of the special T-shirts on offer.

   Riders for Health works by supplying and maintaining reliable transport for health workers to reach people in remote parts of Africa. Millions of people in Africa die from easily preventable diseases and the charity tries to prevent this by making sure these people can receive regular, reliable health care often for the first time in their lives.

   The ride, which will be filmed for a TV documentary, will leave on October 30th from the Ace Cafe on London’s North Circular and follow a route taking in France’s Champagne region, Dijon, Montpellier and Barcelona; giving the boys plenty of time to take in local culture.

   Once the team arrives in Valencia on November 3rd, they will be meeting up with local supporters of Riders for Health and then lead approximately 200 bikes into the circuit for a parade lap, followed by Spain's very own Day of Champions where, it is hoped, they will be auctioning for the charity some of the exclusive items they have gathered during their trip.

   Danny John-Jules, currently in Guadalupe filming the new BBC One series Death in Paradise, said: ‘I’m a huge bike racing fan and supporter of the amazing work that Riders for Health does for the people living in remote parts of Africa. The charity provides and maintains motorcycles so that doctors and medical staff can reach these people – basic, but essential and life saving. To be able to ride down to the Valencia MotoGP with a couple of mates and help this charity along the way is a fantastic way to spend a week!

   Matt Roberts will ride the 1200 miles on the specially painted Yamaha R1 that MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo used during a parade lap at the 2010 Isle of Man TT:

   "As soon as Danny (John-Jules) and Steve (Keys) told me about their plan to ride to Valencia, I wanted in! I know it is going to be a long trip and the R1 isn't exactly built for comfort, but it's all for a great cause and I know there'll be plenty of laughs along the way. I'm also a big Red Dwarf fan so for me it doesn't get much cooler than riding with the Cat!"

   Visit www.motoventures.co.uk to donate and keep up with regular news.

5. Lady riders on the increase

   Posted on 7:57am Friday 9th Jul 2010

   The number of women taking to two wheels has increased significantly during the last eighteen months and this now represents a large proportion of moped, scooter and bike sales for the motorcycle industry.

   As a result of this trend, road safety officers in West Mercia and Warwickshire are actively promoting a series of free and subsidised “Take Control” rider assessment courses to women, in the hope that they will want to develop their riding skills.

   Director of Safety at the Coventry-based Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) Karen Cooke, has recently tried a Take Control course for herself and commented; “I have been riding motorcycles for 28 years and I am always nervous when anyone else analyses my riding technique, but my instructor was great and really put me at ease. Even though I have completed refresher training in the past, he still came up with some helpful suggestions and I was able to iron out one or two bad habits that naturally develop over time. I would encourage all moped and motorcycle riders to learn the Take Control techniques and particularly hope the increasing number of female riders will make a commitment to this sort of self improvement. There is no bravado, no test and no pressure and it helps you to become a safer rider“.                                                                                             

   Motorcycle dealerships are finding that women are buying a wider variety of machines from mopeds and scooters as a main mode of transport for commuting, to larger custom bikes and sports bikes, just for fun. Motorcycling now has a much wider appeal for both sexes, all ages and people from many different backgrounds.

   Communications Manager for the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, Katy Jenkins explains; "Just ten years ago, most women wearing leathers and a crash helmet were presumed to be pillion passengers, but that is simply not the case now. We even know of a few ‘women-only bike clubs. They are often more receptive to advice and more willing to learn and we have a variety of half-day and full day courses that can be tailored to the needs and level of experience of every lady“.

   Take Control rider training costs either £30 or nothing at all, depending on the course you select. It is available to anyone who lives in or travels through the counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Warwickshire. Instructors will usually travel to where clients live or work and ride on their local roads or regular routes.

   More information can be found at www.takecontroltraining.co.uk