Category: Motorcycles

1. Triumph Motorcycles unveils new Explorer, Speed Triple and complete new Bonneville range at Motorcycle Live 2015

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 26th Nov 2015

   The launch of the all-new Bonneville family, which has taken four years of development to create, opens a new chapter in the story of the most famous name in motorcycling. From the fun and accessible Street Twin, to the timeless style of the Bonneville T120 and T120 Black, through to the race-inspired Thruxton R, the new range is more powerful, more capable and more beautiful than ever before.

   Visitors to the Triumph stand will also get the chance to see the latest additions to the adventure range, the new Tiger Explorer as well as the all new Speed Triple.

   Triumph Motorcycles are also displaying a complete range of inspiration kits for the new Bonneville range, accessories and clothing.

   The Triumph stand will be manned by our very own Hinckley factory staff. These highly knowledgeable bike enthusiasts will be on hand to answer all your questions.

   We look forward to welcoming you to Motorcycle Live 2015

   

   Click here for more information

2. Jason Kenny OBE, swaps pedal power for horsepower with Kawasaki Z1000SX

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 25th Nov 2015

   Track cyclist and three-time Olympic Champion, Jason Kenny OBE is the proud owner of a brand new 2016 Kawasaki Z1000SX.

   Jason collected his ‘65 plate two-wheeled green machine from Bolton Motorcycles and was handed over the keys by Salesman, Michael Powell – this is his second purchase from the Lancashire-based dealership.

   “I decided it was time for a change of bike as my trusty BMW was due for it’s first MOT and out of warranty – that’s how I justified it to myself anyway! After reading 37,000 reviews online while away racing, I decided on the Z1000SX. It seemed to tick all the boxes for me. After a couple of emails to Bolton motorcycles it was organised for when I got back in the UK. Easy as that, top service as always from from those guys.

   “I’ve done a couple of hundred miles on the bike now and it’s getting better everyday. I’m absolutely over the moon with it, a real pleasure to ride. I’ve got the first service just booked and Jonathan knows I want a track bike after Rio 2016, so he’s lending me a Kawasaki ZX636 to have a bit of fun on, I can’t wait…”, said Jason.

   Since its launch, the Z1000SX has dominated the sports touring segment and it Kawasaki Motor UK’s number one best seller.

   The 2016 Kawasaki Z1000SX now comes with a race-inspired FCC assist and slipper clutch – with 30% lighter feel at the level, the Slipper Clutch will appeal to both sports bike riders and those adjusting to the weight of a pillion and luggage. It also comes with ABS as standard and in new colour options – all with the added bonus of no price increase for 2016.

   Jonathan Hughes, General Manager of Bolton Motorcycles, said: “It’s always a pleasure when Jason comes into the dealership for a catch up. Jason has added the Z1000SX to the Royal Enfield which he also loves to ride. Thanks again for your business and good luck for next year and hopefully Rio.”

   Craig Watson, UK Sales Manager for Kawasaki UK, said: “We’re really pleased that Jason chose the Z1000SX – and with the new upgrades on the 2016 model, it’s great timing for him to buy one. We’ve invited him to join us for one of the British Superbike rounds to see the guys in action and introduce him to our race teams. Maybe after Rio, we can get him on track day!”

   

   Jason Kenny OBE, swaps pedal power for horsepower with Kawasaki Z1000SX

3. MICHELIN RIDER, DALEY MATHISON, WINS MOTO E CHAMPIONSHIP

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 20th Oct 2015

   Michelin-sponsored racer, Daley Mathison, has been crowned champion of the 2015 MotoE series with his electric motorcycle, UoN-01, built by an expert team from the University of Nottingham. Having competed at rounds across Europe, Mathison, famous for his road-racing success, took the final win of the championship at the Portimão circuit.
   
   The MotoE series is a five-round European Championship Cup for electric motorcycle racers with teams from across the globe competing against each other. Constructors come from a variety of different backgrounds, from technical colleges to commercial engineering specialists, and traditional motorsports professionals to privateer inventors.
   
   The bike that Mathison rode to victory was designed and built by a small, highly-talented team within the University of Nottingham’s Power Electronics, Machine and Control Research Group, part of the university’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Daley Mathison was appointed as the team's rider, based on the recommendation of senior officials from the Isle of Man TT.
   
   With a maximum speed of over 180mph and power in excess of 265hp (200kw), the UoN-01, is certainly not your average motorcycle, although it does share some standard superbike parts such as Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes that sit alongside a purpose-built frame and swing arm.
   
   Riding on Michelin tyres, Daley admits that the demands of racing an electric motorcycle are different to a petrol bike: “The electric bike performed fantastically for me throughout this championship. A lot of it is down to the fact there is not as much to do whilst you are on the bike. With a petrol machine you’re constantly thinking about gears and engine braking, while on the electric bike you’ve just got to brake and accelerate, which allows you to really concentrate on hitting the apex and getting the drive out of the corner.”
   
   Daley’s team had a range of Michelin’s high-quality performance tyres to choose from such as the new Power Slick Evo, Power Cup Evo and Power Rain. The Power Slick Evo is designed to provide optimum power on the track, and when racing in the heat of Portugal’s Portimão Circuit, having rubber you can rely on makes a big difference.
   
   For more information about Michelin’s range of motorcycle tyres visit moto.michelin.co.uk or to follow Daley’s racing success check out www.daleymathisonracing.co.uk

4. Museum To Restore Foggys First Bike!‏

   Posted on 10:00am Tuesday 16th Jun 2015

   The National Motorcycle Museum is proud to announce that four times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty MBE has chosen the Museum’s workshop to restore his very first motorcycle!

   This little Honda C50 based special was the product of Honda dealer Ken Martin who made the bike for his son Chris around 1972. Indeed, the specially manufactured tank badge’s still read “motochris” in recognition of the little bikes first owner.

   Purchased from Ken Martin in 1975 by Carl’s dad George the bike was given to Foggy for his 10th Birthday.

   Recently re-united with the bike after nearly 40 years, Foggy was looking to get the machine restored and phoned Museum Director James Hewing.

   Speaking of the call James recalled: “I have worked with Carl in the past & was really pleased that he thought of the Museum’s restoration team to restore the bike for him. We have restored everything from the earliest and rarest veterans through to superbikes of the 1970s but never anything like this!”

   Foggy commented: “It’s in a rough state but I know the lad’s at the Museum will restore it back to just how it was when my dad gave it to me back in 1975”
   
   www.thenmm.co.uk
   

5. Grand Adventures with KTM

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 13th May 2015

   £1,000 TRADE-UP BONUS ON A NEW KTM 1050 ADVENTURE
   KTM UK has launched its ‘Trade-Up’ promotion to give riders of all machines an extra £1000* discount towards the exciting new 1050 ADVENTURE when trading in their existing bike.

   The promotion runs from 1st May to 31st July at all KTM Street dealers in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. The dealer assesses the present value of the trade-in bike to set this amount against the purchase price of a new KTM 1050 ADVENTURE and then pays an additional £1000 Trade-Up bonus on top of that.

   To make the purchase of a new 1050 ADVENTURE even more manageable, KTM Finance has a range of finance packages available through its UK dealer network that include retail finance and personal contract purchase agreements.

   The 1050 ADVENTURE - £10,999 on the road – is fast proving the perfect choice for those who demand a travel enduro that delivers pure riding enjoyment in comfort over long distances but with a chassis that can exploit twisty routes or simply out-manoeuvre traffic, without the need for neither excessive power nor equipment.

   At its heart is the LC8 V-twin engine that is derived from the 1190 Adventure, but the reduction in outright capacity comes without a decrease in fun – matching its bigger brother for power and torque all the way up to its more than sufficient 95 hp. Top level braking and suspension components from Brembo and WP are matched to a sophisticated ABS and traction control system from Bosch. For riders on an A2 licence, the 1050 can also be restricted to meet these requirements.

   As with all KTMs, a dedicated array of official PowerParts allows riders to customise the 1050 ADVENTURE with products that are developed side-by-side with the bike. The catalogue of these optional products includes a varied choice of luggage systems, options to personalise the ergonomics further, mounting brackets for adding GPS systems, right through to adding alarms, auxiliary lighting, enhancing the style or even a stunning lightweight Akrapovič exhaust.

   For further information on the KTM 1050 ADVENTURE, visit www.ktmadventure.com