"Just a few of the CSB in Scarborough watching the sun rise after doing the epic dusk till dawn ride from Blackpool"

- Dan Kirkham 

For new riders, passing their motorcycle test can be exciting and overwhelming in equal measure. Where do they go from here? Which bike is right for them? Of all the kit and accessories, what do they actually need?

There is a one-stop shop where new riders can find everything they need under one roof and that’s Motorcycle Live, the UK’s biggest bike show, which takes place at The NEC, Birmingham from 17-25 November 2018. Here's a whistle-stop guide on how to get the most out of Motorcycle Live if you're new to the world of two wheels... 

See, touch and ride bikes
First up, you need a bike! Motorcycle Live plays host to over 40 of the world’s leading manufacturers, so whether you’re after a scooter, a sports bike, a cruiser or an adventure machine, you’ll find almost every model available under one roof at The NEC. You can talk to experts from each brand, sit on the bikes to try them for size and even test ride a selection on the open road.

Get the look
Next, you need all the gear! With over 100 retail stands at Motorcycle Live, you could walk away from the show with every single item of essential protective clothing you could possibly need. There are hundreds of styles of helmets, boots, jackets, trousers and gloves to choose from and a whole host of experts from the UK’s premier retailers on hand to offer advice on the best options for your two-wheel needs.

All the gear
If there’s a two-wheel accessory, gadget or gizmo in existence, chances are you’ll find it at Motorcycle Live. From custom-made ear plugs, paddock stands, aftermarket exhausts, tools and luggage, to bike locks, helmet cameras, sat nav systems, trackers, bike cleaning products and much more, you can check it all out and gather all the information you need at the show.

Build your bucket list  
You might have passed your test for the convenience of two-wheeled travel, but you now have a passport to a whole world of amazing events and experiences. Whether it’s travelling the world by motorcycle, learning to ride off-road, doing your first track day or attending a world-famous road race, you can build your bucket list just by chatting to the exhibitors at Motorcycle Live.

Find your tribe
Motorcyclists form a close-knit community that will welcome you with open arms and there’s no better place to experience that camaraderie than at Motorcycle Live. Grab a beer at the bar and you’ll find like-minded people happy to offer advice, enjoy the banter on the main stage or chat to one of the many motorcycle clubs exhibiting at the show. You’ll find friendly folk ready and willing to bring you into the fold!

Motorcycle Live 2018 takes place at The NEC, Birmingham from 17-25 November. Advance tickets are on sale now priced at just £19.50 per adult, £12 for Seniors, £1 for 11-16 year olds* and FREE for children aged ten and under**. There is also a £25 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and an Oxford HD MAX disc lock worth £25.00.

To book, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

No-one can argue about what the oldest, fastest or most expensive motorcycles are - but how do you define something’s collectability? What makes one motorbike cooler, or more iconic than another?

There are plenty of lists online which claim to show the best of the best - but by comparing those claims with what people are actually hunting for and admiring online, Bikesure have produced a definitive set of Britain’s most collectible bikes.

Using Google search data to get inside the minds of the UK’s bikers, Bikesure examined whether the motorbikes we often see in lists of the best, fastest and most stylish rides are actually as desirable as they seem.

Bikesure’s final list reveals the 11 most searched-for and in-demand motorcycles in the UK, including:

· Honda Gold Wing
· Kawasaki Ninja
· Ducati 916
· Triumph Bonneville T120
· Norton Commando

Each bike is accompanied by commentary from four-times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty, who gives his view on whether each one deserves its place – and whether there’s anything missing:

“If I was choosing a bike for this or had to say what’s missing, I’d go with a Yamaha HRD 250 LC or 350 or the Honda RC30. The Honda in particular was way ahead of its time and dominated everything for a few years in circuits like the Isle of Mann TT”

To see the findings in full, head here

With the news today that three police forces are trialling roadside eyesight tests and could take licenses away at the roadside, IAM RoadSmart has warned motorists that they can expect to be tested for a suite of reasons if they happen to be stopped by the police for any reason.

Every driver stopped by police from Thames Valley, Hampshire and the West Midlands in September will be required to read a number plate from 20 metres. Anyone who fails will have their driving licence revoked there and then.

Police officers in those areas will be implementing their powers to request an urgent revocation of a licence through the DVLA, if they believe the safety of other road users will be at risk if that motorist remains on the road.

IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, has welcomed this new trial and warns drivers that if it is a success they can expect additional basic safety checks from traffic police in the future.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “Law abiding drivers have nothing to fear from this – but we believe that extending the range of checks that the police could and should be doing will help remove many more unsafe drivers from our roads.

“They should be, as a matter of course, examining the following five key items: driving licence, MOT, vehicle insurance, drink/drugs and now eyesight.

“Adding a vision test to the standard list of roadside checks will be a sharp warning to those drivers who chose not to wear their glasses, or not get their eyesight checked, that the enforcement is now out there to back up the regulations. Our message is simple - don’t risk it!”

It started in 1938 and just keeps rocking n’ rolling into 2018 and beyond.

From Sept 7th to Sept 9th the legendary Ace Cafe London celebrates its 80th Anniversary and 25th annual Ace Cafe Reunion at the cafe on London´s North Circular Road and on Madeira Drive in Brighton.

Performing live and joining the celebrations at the Ace and at Brighton is Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom. Considered by many as the coolest drummer in rock n’ roll, and with over 30 million record sales, Slim Jim is set to lift the roof off at the Ace on Saturday 8th September, and then as the culmination of the Burn Up on Sunday 9th, to “Strut” n’ “Rumble” in Brighton

Slim Jim Phantom

With Isle of Man TT racing Guest of Honour, Manxman Conor Cummins, and our premium partner Blaze Wear launching their all new Motor Wear Range, the packed full weekend long programme includes Ride Outs and Awards. 

The arrival of the ‘Continental Run’ at the famous north London Ace Cafe on Friday 7th, special guests, plenty of live music, and the run from the Ace down to Brighton´s famous seafront on Sunday 9th all add to the buzz!

Come and join thousands of riders from around the UK, across Europe and  far flung overseas places.