Whilst motorbikes provide one of the most cost effective and exciting means of transport on our roads today, they are not without draw backs.

Their compact size mean they are less noticeable and their lack of protection is evident to all, especially to those who have been involved in an accident and sustained motorbike injuries. Wearing bright and protective clothing can help to modify these motorbike injury factors in order to make riding as safe as possible. 

However, it is fact that accidents do and will unfortunately continue to occur. Motorbikes make up around 1% of UK traffic but motorbike injuries consist of 9% of all road casualties. They comprise 19% of those killed or seriously injured on the UKs roads and over 7% of those slightly injured, making bikers the most vunerable UK road user. Sadly as biking becomes more popular, this motorcycle injury percentage is slowly increasing. The most common motorcycle accident is when the driver of another vehicle fails to look properly.

In 47% of motorbike accidents with a car, the driver of the car was at fault for not looking properly. This statistic increases to over 68% at junctions. Motorcyclists themselves as a group of road users are least likely not to look properly, being at fault for this in only 16% of accidents.  

Insurance injury claims on the part of bikers count for less that 1% of claims and their claim freqency is almost two thirds less that that of car drivers. However, when loss of earnings, motorbike injuries and medical costs are factored in, the personal cost of an accident may be much more than just the bike and clothing that needs replacing.  

Common motorbike injuries include whiplash, ‘road rash’ and upper and lower limb fractures. These motorbike injuries are seldom minor and often require hospital treatment and operations.  Most commonly, hospitals operate on bikers who have sustained lower limb, upper limb and neck injuries.   

Dr Rob Patterson   M.B. Ch.B.  D.R.C.O.G.

 

 

 

 

 

article supplied 2013

Motorbikes are more than a hobby - they can be a lifetime project, a labour of love. Some motorbikes are perfect for just getting from point 'A' to point 'B' fast, others are all about style. Today we’re going to take a look at some of the most expensive motorbikes on the planet.

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Onto the list:

10. £184,000 - Ducati Testa Stretta NCR Macchia Nera   

The Ducati Testa Stretta NCR Macchia Nera is a fierce-looking beast and definitely a bike that will turn a few heads. The top range model comes with a cool 180 grand price tag, a pretty penny indeed, and is designed by the one and only Aldo Drudi.

Lightweight (the beast is surprisingly only 135kg), nippy and limited edition, this Testa Stretta isn't the fastest bike in the world but when it comes to looks, it’s absolutely sublime. One for the collectors.

9. £192,000 - Ducati Desmosedici D16RR NCR M16

A titanium monster, the Ducati Desmosedici D16RR NCR M16 is purely designed around speed, with every inch being meticulously designed to help the model achieve some serious horsepower.

Whilst the standard model will set you back around £60,000, the upgrades are what bump the price up here. You can get this machine up to 200 hp with a Ducati 989 cc v$ desmodromic engine - totally road legal and weighing in at about 144kg.

8. £245,000 - Ecosse Founder’s Edition Ti XX

If you have some money to splurge and want a classy-looking steel horse, then the Ecosse Founder’s Edition Ti XX could be the one for you.

A titanium and carbon fibre chassis helps keep the weight down and the rear exhausts are also made from titanium. The engine transmits a mighty 228PS of raw power to the rear wheel making for some quick getaways. To top it all off, you've got an absolutely magnificent seat which is made from hand-crafted leather.

7. £327,000 - Legendary British Vintage Black

For a more classic style of bike, you should take a look at the Legendary British Vintage Black. Released all the way back in 1948, the modern version combines the vintage aesthetic with modern-day upgrades.

The run of bikes was limited to only 33 models, making it highly collectable and the reason why the bike is priced so high. The 250cc of performance under the hood made it the fastest legal road bike in the world at one point in history. You can find this bike in many classic films, a truly iconic motorbike.

6. £450,000 - Dodge Tomahawk V10 Superbike

Looking like something that wouldn’t be amiss in a Mad max film, the Dodge Tomahawk V10 Superbike is a real show-stopper when it comes to its design.

The futuristic-looking bike is one of the most expensive on the planet, although it’s just a concept bike and not actually road legal (yet!). Weighing a whopping 680 kg and reaching 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, in theory, the bike could reach top speeds of 400 mph - certainly not one you would take out touring.

5. £1.2 million - Harley-Davidson Cosmic Starship

Yep - we’ve broken the £1 million mark! Starting off our top 5, the Harley-Davidson Cosmic Starship is a one-of-a-kind bike. It was painted by renowned artist Jack Armstrong, whose other works have sold for as much as £3 million.

Whilst the performance of the bike isn’t anything to shout about, its aesthetic appeal is undeniable.

4. £2.4 million - The Yamaha BMS Chopper  

Yamaha has done more than create a bike with the BMS chopper - they’ve created a piece of art.

Not designed for the road - you can tell immediately from looking at the bike - this is purely a collector's piece that’s meant to be enjoyed and appreciated as a piece of art. It almost looks like a vehicle out of a Marvel film

Yes, there’s a scary 1,700cc engine on this, but the fact that it's coated in 24-carat gold and the upholstered seat is pure red velvet, you won’t want to take it on the road!

3. £2.95 million - Ecosse ES1 Spirit

Another limited edition titanium motorcycle, some bike lovers have described its appearance as a little bit goofy. But what it lacks in appearance it more than makes up for in performance.

This mean machine is capable of almost 230 mph! This is why before you can even think about buying the Spirit, you have to take a special two-week class at Ecosse headquarters to see if you're worthy enough of riding.

2. £5.7 million - 1949 E90 AJS Porcupine

Whilst it doesn't look like anything special, you have to have some serious cash to get your hands on one of these porcupines.

With 4 only ever being produced, one of them was used by Les Graham to win the 1949 World Championship, which only adds to the price tag.

1.£9 million - Neiman Marcus Limited Edition Fighter

Coming in as the world's most expensive bike is the limited edition fighter by Neiman Marcus. Limited to only one model, Neiman Marcus is a chain of high-end, extremely luxurious retail stores in America that decided to throw their hat into the motorbike game.

When the bike was unveiled at auction, the start price was only £90,000 - but the bike eventually worked its way up to a staggering £9 million!

 

 

 

 

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Those who are just about to buy a flatbed truck will inevitably need help during its operation. Usually, they are associated with ignorance of the car or its imperfection. Therefore, a few tips for those who need more experience will not be excessive.

Tips for usage in extreme conditions

Extreme conditions are often considered too high or too low air temperatures, especially in those regions where such weather is the norm. In such a case, the flatbed truck needs to be refurbished and special attention paid to maintenance.  

Preparing for the summer

Drivers of flatbed trucks fail to prepare their vehicles for winter, but many people forget about summer. In order to minimize the occurrence of hazardous situations, a number of things should be done.

1. Conduct a technical inspection of the cooling system. There must be enough refrigerant in the air conditioner, because one of the biggest dangers in summer is overheating of the engine. In addition, you need to flush the radiator. At this time of the year, there is a lot of dust, pollen, and plant fluff in the air. They get into the radiator and can also lead to overheating.

2. You need to check the thermostat. If it is faulty, the engine may break down. That will entail costly repairs and significantly reduce the sale price of a flatbed truck.

3. Check engine coolant and oil. Every driver should have a can of antifreeze and distilled water with them. Ordinary pouring is impossible because this can cause the breakage of expensive parts.

Preparing for winter

Winter is a more challenging period for a mini truck with the weight up to 1 ton. In addition to the standard tips for replacing tires and carrying out maintenance, I would like to highlight a few more points:

* You need to choose the right oil for the engine. It should have a viscosity of 5 units less than what is used in autumn and spring;

* it would be best if you took care of the fuel heating system since it can freeze in winter;

* Pneumatic systems need to be adjusted. Sometimes the engine will not start due to fluid that freezes in the valves. Water gets there from the surrounding air, so truck owners install dehumidifiers.

Driving tips for novice drivers

Do not turn off the engine at high speeds. So you deprive scorching parts of cooling. The engine may overheat. In addition, the relay regulator will immediately turn off. Its function is to stabilize the voltage that is in the onboard network. After turning off the engine, the generator will continue to supply voltage to the network for some time, affecting the reliability of electrical equipment.

Start in first gear if you have a trailer on soft ground and slippery ground.

And one more thing, remember, a truck is a dangerous participant in the movement for others. It would help if you were predictable to others, kept your distance, and did not make hazardous maneuvers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• The limited and numbered series Panigale V4 Bagnaia 2022 World Champion Replica and Panigale V4 Bautista 2022 World Champion Replica will be produced in 260 examples each, made unique by the rider's original signature on the tank
• The celebratory bikes were presented and displayed during the "Campioni in Piazza2" party
• All bikes have been assigned in just a few hours, with many Ducatisti enthusiasts ordering both models

Borgo Panigale, Bologna, 22 December 2022 – In just a few hours all the bikes of the numbered and limited series of 260+260 examples of the Panigale V4 Bagnaia 2022 World Champion Replica and Panigale V4 Bautista 2022 World Champion Replica have been assigned, after being unveiled on the day of "Campioni in Piazza2", the event with which Ducati celebrated its historic double success in MotoGP and WSBK with its fans.

The bikes were presented at a press conference by Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, together with Pecco Bagnaia and Álvaro Bautista, and proved to be an immediate success, with many Ducatisti wanting to enrich their collection with both Panigale V4 2022 World Champion Replica bikes. It took only a few days to completely sell out the available examples of the limited series.

Francesco Milicia, VP Global Sales & After Sales Ducati:  “2022 has been an incredible year for Ducati both on the track and in the market, confirming the integration and continuous transfer of technology and expertise between production and racing that is unparalleled in the world of motorcycling. We thought the best way to share the successes of 2022 with the most passionate Ducatisti was to provide them with exclusive, numbered bikes, individually signed by Pecco and Álvaro. At this time, when our brand is as solid as ever and projected into the future, we also wanted to pay homage to our history, recalling with both replicas the founding of Ducati, which dates back to 1926".

The two special series, based on the Panigale V4 S, feature the bike liveries of Pecco Bagnaia #63 and Álvaro Bautista #19. Each model in the series will be autographed in original on the tank by the rider, and the signature will then be protected by a layer of clear coat. The two motorbikes are produced in a limited numbered series of 260, celebrating Ducati's year of birth, 1926.

The Panigale V4 2022 World Champion Replica is offered in the single-seater configuration only, enriched by the model name, progressive number and race number laser-engraved on the upper clamp. The technical equipment is enhanced by components such as the dry clutch, Akrapovič street-legal silencer, Brembo Stylema®  R calipers with MCS pump, Rizoma billet aluminium adjustable footpegs and racing plexiglass. There are several carbon fibre components: the heat shield for the rear exhaust manifolds, the alternator cover, the front and rear mudguards, the brake manifolds, the cover protecting the single-sided swingarm. The series dedicated to Álvaro Bautista #19 features a brushed aluminium tank, as on the more sophisticated versions of the Panigale V4.

Those who want to exploit the performance of these two motorcycles on the circuit may choose to fit the additional accessories supplied, such as the open carbon fibre clutch cover, the kits for removing number plate holder and mirrors and the racing fuel tank cap in billet aluminium. Each bike will be delivered in a packing case with dedicated graphics and will come with a certificate of authenticity, a personalised bike cover and the Ducati Data Analyser+ data acquisition system.

Finding yourself opting for a bike over a more traditional vehicle like a car might be a sensible choice as far as you’re concerned, but if you’re in the minority among the people that you know, you might not be fully aware of the types of insurance that better suit you compared to your car-driving friends. Still, this shouldn’t be something that slows you down, and making yourself aware of the different types of insurance that are available can have you enjoying your biking hobby with even more confidence and comfort than before.

The way in which you specifically enjoy your hobby is bound to make a difference here as well.

For the Racers     

For example, your interest in motorbikes might not just stem from a love of riding them or maintaining them in a casual sense, but from a more competitive angle. Of course, this is a whole subsection of motorsports, and as a result, you will find yourself with a lot of other fans to interact with. Naturally, though, a certain danger can come from racing which is not so actively present when riding motorbikes at lower speeds on normal roads, and so having tailored insurance for track racing can make a lot of sense for riders that enjoy track days.

This might be something that you’re interested in viewing before you get involved yourself, though, and if that’s the case, visiting MotoGP might help you to get acquainted.

A More Casual Approach

That being said, you might just like to use your motorbike in the same way anyone with a vehicle would. In this sense, you might find that the types of insurance that you need are somewhat similar to what you would require with other vehicles. Third-party insurance can help you to cover yourself against damage, but learning more about what’s specific to motorbikes might require further research. This is obviously something that you can do yourself with the help of the internet, but if you did like the idea of finding dedicated communities with whom you can share your passion, there are plenty out there that can help to expand your knowledge of this particular hobby.

Protection Against Theft

It might have also come to your attention that a bike could be easier to steal than something like a car, which might make you a bit more cautious and protective of it. While there are several things that you can do to keep your bike safe, what might make you most comfortable is the knowledge that you’ve covered yourself with the right theft insurance. It’s important that you are cautious, and aware of different methods that can reduce the risk of this happening in the first place, but it’s also important to understand that you’re not going to be able to be constantly on your guard when it comes to something like this – especially if you’re planning on your motorbike being your primary vehicle.

 

 

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