The British Motor Museum is delighted to announce the appointment of Imogen Watts as its new Senior Archivist.  Imogen will be responsible for the overall running of the Archive department, looking after the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust’s nationally recognised, Designated collections of documents, film and photographs, as well as the Heritage Certificate service.

Originally a Drama graduate, Imogen qualified as an Archivist in 2016. She most recently worked for Gloucestershire County Council as Corporate & Digital Records Manager.

Imogen Watts, Senior Archivist said “I’m thrilled to have joined the team at the British Motor Museum. I’m looking forward to getting to know the collections and unlocking more of its hidden gems. I will be working closely with Cat Boxall, our Curator, to deliver content for exhibitions and looking at how we can develop the archive service for the future. I would like to make the Archive collections more visible to visitors to the Museum and its channels, as well as continuing to provide dedicated access for researchers.”

Imogen will be joining the 7 strong team which includes Richard, Lisa and Sharon who deliver the Heritage Certificates service, Paramjit and Cath who look after the records in the Archive, and Sarah-Jane who runs the photographic service. The Archive collections encompass a wide range of British automotive manufacturers and connected companies, and include a variety of records from factory ledgers and sales brochures to motoring journals and the personal papers of the industry greats. The Archive also holds an extensive collection of photographs and film footage, and items from the collection are regularly included in books, publications and television programmes.

Stephen Laing, Head of Collections at the British Motor Museum said “I'm delighted to welcome Imogen to the British Motor Museum. Imogen brings a fresh perspective to how we can develop our unrivalled collections and I look forward to working with her along with the rest of our talented team to make our collections even more accessible, engaging and enjoyable for all”.

To find out more about the British Motor Museum archive please visit https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/archive or call 01926 641188

KICKBACK: The UK's Custom + Retro Bike Show is inside the Avon Hall at the Three Counties Showground Worcestershire WR13 6NW from 2+3 April 2022.

To see some of the latest bikes to reach the FINALS of the 2022 UK National Championships to be staged once again at KICKBACK next April, please go to kickbackshow.blogspot.com

It is indeed 13 years since the button was pressed and we went live on the great world wide web... and 4748 days later we have millions of visitors from across the globe who regularly use the website to enhance their Biker lifestyle...

The aim was (and still is) to bringing together a collection of information specifically for the Biker Community, with an extensive business directory included, all on one free and easy to use website... and I guess we did it and will continue to do so.

We would sincerely like to thank all our all our visitors, customers, contributors and supporters.

THE BIKER GUIDE® - Established 8th January 2009!

www.thebikerguide.co.uk - www.thebikerguide.com

Getting your first motorcycle should be a fun experience. You get to enjoy the thrill of hitting the open road after getting your licence. Although motorcycling has plenty of lasting memories, freedom and exhilarating moments, there are also a few things to consider before buying one.

Whether you plan on buying a motorcycle for leisure, adventure or commuting, there are plenty of beginner-friendly options to consider. So, how do you find your first motorcycle? Here is everything you should know before buying one.

Budget

Buying your first bike can be expensive. One mistake most people make is to only save up for the bike. However, you should also remember that gear and maintenance can be costly. In fact, equipment is amongst the most expensive elements of a motorcycle. For example, a high-end helmet might cost you north of $1,000. In addition, you will also need a safety jacket, some bike pants, boots, and gloves. Budgeting and pre-planning are great ways to save some money and strategise for the future not just when purchasing a motorcycle but even when doing other things like playing a long strategy game or even playing exciting games at Platincasino Ireland.

Identify Your Needs

There are many reasons you might need a motorcycle. For one, you may need a bike to commute. However, if you want a bike for fun, you should consider either a track bike or a dirt bike. Remember that you can use either of these bikes for casual riding.

A dirt bike is high up because of the tall suspension. It's comfortable for your back because it uses handlebars. Track bikes have an aggressive racing position that might not be ideal for long commutes.

How Much Power?

This is a question that every new rider asks themselves. The power of a motorcycle varies depending on the engine's cubic capacity (cc). As a beginner, the best engine capacity should be anything below 700 cc's.

Most bikes between 150 to 700 cc will produce between 10 to 70 horsepower. This is enough power for most beginners. You should also check the laws in your country to know whether there is a stipulated cc size for a beginner. However, when considering the power, go with the bike you are comfortable with.

Suitability

There's more to owning a bike than budget and power. It would be best to consider a bike that you can easily handle. Therefore, check the weight of the bike and its riding height. Most dirt and sport bikes are light and easy to handle.

However, adventure bikes and cruisers are on the heavier side. These bikes also have low ride heights, thus a low centre of gravity, making them perfect for short riders. As for comfort, you can adjust it by purchasing plushier seats that either add or reduce the ride height.

Conclusion

Buying your first bike can be arduous without ample research. However, by following this guide, you can purchase a bike depending on your budget, requirements, power, and manageability.

A good beginner bike shouldn't have too much power, but it shouldn't be slow either. Therefore, consider a bike with all the features that you might need. For example, if you plan to make longer journeys, you need a comfortable bike with extra features like cruise control and a quick shifter.

With all this in mind, you should be able to choose a perfect first motorcycle. Good Luck!

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The 2021 MotoGP season only came to a close in mid-November, after the Valencia Grand Prix. The race was won by Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia, four spots ahead of title winner Fabio Quartararo.  

But while the dust has just about settled on 2021, teams, riders, and fans are all gearing up for the 2022 season.  

Bikes have already hit the track, with a test session taking place at Jerez on 18th November. More testing is scheduled for the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia and the Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia in early February, less than a month before the start of the season.  

So with just a matter of weeks to go before the lights go out, here are some of the things to look for in 2022.  

2022 MotoGP Favourites 

Betting on MotoGP has grown in popularity in recent years, with most major bookmakers now offering odds on individual Grands Prix and the championship as a whole. This is also helped by the growing number of free bet promotions that are offered by these bookies, allowing bettors to get more value from the wagers that they place.  

Few bookies have released their odds for the 2022 season yet, but it’s still possible to make some predictions about the upcoming season.  

In recent years, Marc Márquez has been a dominant force in the sport. The Spanish rider will turn 29 just before the start of the new season, in which he hopes he will make a triumphant return. The Honda rider missed much of 2020 and several races in 2021 due to an arm injury. If he can put that behind him, expect him to be back at the front of the pack.  

Fellow Spaniard and 2020 title winner Joan Mir is also likely to be a strong contender, as is reigning champion Fabio Quartararo.  

The 2022 season is likely to be a close battle, which should make it exciting from start to finish.  

No Rossi 

This year will be the first time this century that the MotoGP paddock will not feature the legendary Italian rider, Valentino Rossi. The Yamaha rider finally hung up his gloves at the end of the 2021 Valencia Grand Prix, finishing just 18th in the championship - a far cry from the impressive seven world titles he won between 2001 and 2009.  

After finishing the season in third place in 2018, Rossi has ended each of the following three in 7th, 15th, and 18th respectively. While he hasn’t been at the front, battling for wins anywhere near as much as earlier in his career, the Italian will still leave a large hole in the paddock for 2022.   

Although he won’t be riding, Rossi won’t be going too far as the Italian will be running his own team known Racing Team VR46 in 2022.  

A Changed Calendar 

After a turbulent few years in which global sports like MotoGP had to adapt and change its scheduling to pack in as much racing as possible, the 2022 calendar is expected to be more of a return to normality.  

The Argentinian, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese, Australian, and Finnish Grands Prix are all set to return. This does, however, mean that the doubleheaders in Qatar, Portugal, San Marino, and Austria have been dropped.  

The Indonesian Grand Prix’s return after 24 years will take place on the newly-built Mandalika International Street Circuit. Meanwhile, the KymiRing, another new track, will become the new home of the Finnish Grand Prix, after a 39-year absence.  

Lineup Changes 

As happens each year, there will be new rider and team combinations for 2022. One of the most notable, aside from Rossi’s absence, will be the return of Aprilia as a full factory team for the first time since 2004.  

Esponsorama Racing will be replaced by Rossi’s Racing Team VR46, Gresini Racing returns as a fully independent outfit, and RNG MotoGP Racing will take the place of Petronas SRT.  

Meanwhile last year’s Moto2 champion and runner-up, Remy Gardner and Raúl Fernández, will be moving up into MotoGP, riding for Tech3 KTM. Other new faces on the grid include Enea Bastianini, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Marco Bezzecchi.  

With so many new faces, teams, and tracks the 2022 MotoGP season is shaping up to be an exciting one.  

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