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1. Dawn to Dusk 2013 – ANOTHER FANTASTIC YEAR OF RACING

   Posted on 9:46am Friday 30th Aug 2013

   Last weekend (the 24th-25th August Bank Holiday weekend) saw the return of the annual off road racing event ‘The Dawn to Dusk’ located at Walters Arena, South Wales.
   
   Hundreds of riders flocked to the area to take part in the Youth (2 Hour), 6 Hour, 12 Hour, 24 Hour racing plus a brand new 10 Hour night race, the event attracted huge numbers of Marathon/Solo riders, two man and three man teams, plus a new record was set for Funduro Enduro competitors (a pre-race, single lap short motorcross stage held in elimination heats until the final three shoot it out to take glory).
   
   The Saturday afternoon Youth (2 Hour) race held for youngsters between the ages of 10 and 16 years old kicked off with the Senior class rider Daniel Davies coming first -  the track was designed to provide enough of a challenge without any real extreme sections. With Dean Ewards coming second, followed by Liam Barlett in third place - the youngsters each completed 7 laps of the track.
   
   Following a briefing for the 24 Hour race teams from Nick Plumb (Touratech UK’s MD) the riders raced away at 7:00pm undertaking the ultimate off-road challenge the UK racing scene has to offer. Individual riders and teams leaving in classes dug deep to push themselves through the whole day and night of racing.  At 7:15pm the brand new 10 Hour night race started (made up of bikes of 575cc or less of a single or twin cylinder format beginning with a Lemans start) with groups leaving in waves depending on their allocated classes.
   
   With the sun rising on the Sunday morning the riders  turned off their beams to continue with the remainder of the day course. With a 7:00am start the 12 Hour race competitors rolled up to the start line to warm up their engines eager to tackle the terrain ahead, amongst the fresh 12 Hour riders the 24 hour hard core entrants rode on. The 10 Hour race ended at 5:15am – Single Cylinder format winner John Hustwaite crossed the line in first place after completing 24 laps, closely followed by Steve Rose and William Bowman claiming second (22 laps) and third place (17 laps) respectively. Twin Cylinder winner Chris Prickett put in a respectable 8 laps.
   
   After a punishing ride the chequered flag waved an end to the  24 Hour race  - 4 rider Sportman team winners RJS SUPERBIKE completed 48 laps, 3 rider Sportman team MPM Racing came first completing 42 laps, 3 Rider Clubman team SUNDAY SIDE completed a 52 lap win, 2 Rider Clubman team ROEGHOUWERS achieved a win with 50 laps. Other class winners included Marathon Clubman MARATHON BRIERLEY (42 laps), Marathon Veteran MARATHON GAUNT (37 laps), Marathon Expert MARATHON BILES (47 laps), and 2 Rider Expert winners PSV DIRECT achieved 54 laps.
   
   The 6 Hour Race (the perfect introduction to endurance off-road riding, and a favourite with first time Dawn to Dusk competitors) began at 1pm on Sunday afternoon. With a short run to their bikes with a LeMans style start the riders were keen to swing their legs over their machines and experience the event.
   
   The entire event finished at 7pm once the overall (and well deserved) 24 Hour race winner with 54 laps PSV DIRECT crossed the line, and the mass event chequered flag finish looked absolutely spectacular.
   
   Over £2000 in prize money was handed out at the event, comments we have received from the competitors have been the most positive we have ever had – the aim this year was to reduce the level of extremes to make them ‘slightly’ easier in order to encourage everyone to have a go, a strategy which achieved the desired result of ensuring that all riders/classes fully enjoyed the racing.
   
   Dawn to Dusk 2013 was a great success - not only due to the weather and track conditions (which really gave the riders a boost allowing them to put their off road riding skills to the test) but also because of the excellent support staff/marshals all of whom put in the extra effort.
   
   The next Dawn to Dusk event will  take place during the August 2014 Bank Holiday weekend, our goal is to improve the event year on year and for 2014 it will be bigger and better than ever!
   
   For a complete list of race results

2. When the Going Gets Tough: Touratech's Expedition Engine Guard

   Posted on 10:15am Tuesday 20th Aug 2013

   For anybody who wants to ride their adventure bike off the beaten tracks, Touratech has developed an extremely robust engine protector, which will stand up to the toughest conditions.

   The multiple-folded depressions in the robust aluminium baseplate ensure maximum stability. Thanks to an additional, lower stainless steel mounting plate on the engine, the force of an impact is distributed across the mounting points. In addition, the Expedition engine protector is provided with replaceable plastic slides, which completely cover the already recessed bolt heads and make it considerably easier to slide across stones or tree stumps. This allows you to enjoy off-road trips to their fullest, even when the going gets really tough.

   The Expedition engine protector is available for the BMW F 700 GS, F 650 GS (twin), F 800 GS/Adventure, R 1200 GS (from 2013 on) and the KTM 1190 Adventure.

   Touratech also offers an engine protector extension for the BMW R 1200 GS (from 2013 on), which is easily attached to the main centre stand and closes the gap between the engine protector and the rear wheel. Parts of the exhaust are also protected from dirt and flying stones. If you prefer an all-in-one solution, you can choose the Expedition engine protector XL option. It begins in front of the engine and leads back in a single piece almost to the real wheel, even protecting the catalytic converter.

    

    

3. Touratech Suspension: the *Extreme* Suspension System for the New BMW R 1200 GS

   Posted on 10:35am Wednesday 17th Jul 2013

   Bad roads, a full load, changing riding conditions: long-distance touring exposes an enduro’s suspension to the most extreme conditions.

   Over many miles of testing around the world – even in enduro racing – Extreme shock absorbers from Touratech Suspension have proven that they meet the most extreme requirements. Now riders of the new BMW R 1200 GS (2013 onwards) can also benefit from Touratech Suspension components as Touratech becomes the first manufacturer to offer custom aftermarket shock absorbers for the BMW flagship. Made for journeys away from main roads, the Extreme suspension system is designed to withstand the worst off-road conditions with full touring luggage.

   Touratech Suspension Extreme shock absorbers rank in the premium class of suspension components. Specially developed for frequent dramatic changes in riding and loading conditions while motorcycle touring, they set standards for response characteristics, resistance to bottoming out, comfort and dynamic safety. A handwheel with definite clicks makes it easy to balance the BMW R 1200 GS each time for riding with or without luggage. The fine damping adjustment is located in a separate external reservoir to provide better cooling and give the shock absorbers greater resilience with a longer service life. The suspension damping has separate high speed and low speed settings, allowing optimum adjustment for extreme conditions.

   What’s more, the rear and front Extreme shock absorbers for the new BMW R 1200 GS are both fitted with the PDS system providing hydraulic protection against bottoming out. A second damper piston absorbs the most severe impacts. Even with heavy luggage in the most terrible off-road conditions, the bike will not bottom out and mechanical overload of the shock absorber – the last thing you need on a long-distance tour – is prevented. The vehicle geometry of the BMW R 1200 GS is always fully maintained through all settings while riders benefit from an appreciable improvement in stability and steering precision.

   Another Extreme feature is the ability to adjust the length of the rear shock absorber by a total of 8 mm (- 4 mm, +4 mm). This allows individual handling requirements to be integrated into the bike’s balance from the outset.

   Fully laden to the ends of the earth: with Touratech Suspension Extreme shocks the new R 1200 GS can go anywhere - at least with regard to the suspension.

   Both shock absorbers will be available in the Touratech web shop at http://www.touratech.co.uk/ from September 2013:

   Touratech Suspension rear shock absorber for BMW R 1200 GS (2013 onwards), type *Extreme*

   Item no. 045-5870

   Touratech Suspension front shock absorber for BMW R 1200 GS (2013 onwards), type *Extreme*

   Item no. 045-5876

   Touratech UK came into the spot light when they kitted out Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s BMW GS bikes for both the Long Way Round and the Long Way Down. They also provided equipment for Charley Boorman’s Race to Dakar. They have also provided equipment for other adventure trips, working with celebrities including comedian Ross Noble and actor Danny John-Jules.

   Nick Plumb, Touratech MD has competed in the Dakar Rally 4 times, completing the rally on his first and last attempt. He also features heavily in Race to Dakar.

4. Touratech Travel Event 2013

   Posted on 10:36am Monday 22nd Apr 2013

   4th - 6th May - with Brand New Touratech Trophy

   Touratech UK’s Flag Ship store, will once again be holding its massively popular Travel Event. This will be the 5th travel event held at this location and it attracts people from all over Europe.

   This year the Touratech Travel event will see a big upheaval and its going to be great! They have all the old favourites, talks, workshops off road and on road ride outs (including the famous Walters arena open for riding on Sunday), but they can do better than that... This year you will be able to take part in the Brand New Touratech Trophy. The Touratech trophy is a new idea for this year’s event. A friendly team competition, it will see competitors but into random teams of ten. The teams will then compete over the Saturday and Sunday to be the best team. The genius of Touratech’s idea is that the teams will be picked out of a hat. This encourages the competitors to mix and meet new like minded people while at the same time you don’t get 1 team of top riders that no-one has a hope of beating. This means the best people in the team will have to help the weaker rider improve if they want to win. On the Sunday afternoon the winning team of ten will go into and every man for themselves final. Nick Plumb, MD of Touratech UK says “It’s a great way to have a friendly competition, and it gets rid of any elitism. Most competitions like this cost hundreds to enter but at £30. We are really excited.”

   The other main change to this years event is the evening entertainment, Saturday evening starts with main speaker Nick Sanders giving a talk on his many world record breaking trips. Then Graham Hoskins premiering his new live talk show 'The Graham Hoskins Show', a talk show style event with loads of guests and fun.  The evening is rounded off with some great live music from Elk Redemption. On Sunday evening, Austin Vince will be the main speaker followed by the prize giving for the Touratech Trophy and live music from Red Dirt Skinners. For both evenings there will be a Beer tent and Hog Roast.

   Attendees can also look around the extended showroom which is three times bigger then last year, hear from new speakers, and browse more stands than ever before. On Saturday and Sunday they will be offering talks, workshops, ride outs and of course some retail therapy all while being able to watch the various rounds of the Touratech Trophy. Sunday will also see the opportunity for people to go up to Walters arena and play off road.

   The travel event Starts on Friday evening (03/05/13) with a quiz and open mic night and end on the Bank holiday Monday when there will be a last ride out and a final goodbye before everyone starts heading home at midday.

   Tickets to attend including camping is just £10 a person and to enter the Touratech Trophy is just £20 extra (which includes a T-Shirt and Competitor medal). See you there... 

   Touratech UK came into the spot light when they kitted out Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s BMW GS bikes for both the Long Way Round and the Long Way Down. They also provided equipment for Charley Boorman’s Race to Dakar. They have also provided equipment for other adventure trips, working with celebrities including comedian Ross Noble and actor Danny John-Jules.

   Nick Plumb, Touratech MD has competed in the Dakar Rally 4 times, completing the rally on his first and last attempt. He also features heavily in Race to Dakar.

5. TOURATECH TOURING AND ADVENTURE ZONE ON TOP AT THE CAROLE NASH NEC BIKE SHOW

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 3rd Dec 2009

   The Touratech Touring and Adventure Zone is once again proving to be a giant hit with visitors to the UK’s premier two-wheeled event - The 2009 Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter Show, which is running at the Birmingham NEC until Sunday 6^th December.

   The expanded Touratech Touring and Adventure Zone has been positioned alongside the major manufacturers in Hall 1, which reflects the continual growth of touring and adventure holidays amongst the biking fraternity. The entire Zone is geared to accommodate numerous exhibitors offering motorcycle tours to varying corners of the globe.

   For those new to holidaying with their bike, the Show offers handy tips, useful advice and trips of a lifetime for the most novice rider. For the touring enthusiast, there are trips on offer to far and away destinations, which even the most intrepid explorer would not have thought about visiting by bike, from Transylvania and the Himalayas to Mount Everest!

   Visitors to the Show over the past weekend have been able to meet and get advice on two-wheeled long distance travel from the face of biking adventure, Show ambassador Charley Boorman. Having recently returned from his latest ‘By Any Means’ journey, Boorman has proved to be a real crowd-puller with fans queuing for his autograph at the Touratech stand over the course of the opening weekend.

   Exhibitors at the Touratech Touring and Adventure Zone include Alpine TT, whose signature trip includes guiding groups through Northern Spain and Portugal, taking in the splendour of the Douro Valley, the hot springs at Chaves and an awesome ride through the Picos de Europas. Tour operator  Compass Expeditions has also received impressive levels of interest for their bespoke bike expeditions to South America, which includes Chile and Argentina, whilst MCi Tours offers sensational biking holidays across Europe, America and New Zealand.

   Touratech UK Managing Director, Nick Plumb , commented: “The popularity of touring on motorcycles has steadily grown. All the touring stands at the Show are vibrant with people who see the biking tour as a fantastic way to travel. Touratech has been inundated with attention and our new Streetline range, which is designed for adventures on road-biased bikes, has received an incredible reception from the public. There’s also been a lot of general interest geared towards motorbikes for longer trips to exotic destinations, proving that riders are wanting to explore further afield.”

   Managing Director of MCi Tours Alistair McFarlane , added: “The Show is proving to be a big success for us. Our FlyRide holidays have attracted an incredible range of interest and we’ve distributed more package brochures than ever before and have even drafted in extra staff to cope with the demand. However, it’s the quality of interest, along with the vast cross-section of people that the adventure market is appealing to that has been so impressive.”

   Finlay McAllan, Managing Director of MCI Exhibitions , said: “The Touratech Touring and Adventure Zone continues to be one of the most popular areas of the Show. We are delighted to have so many companies from this growth area of the industry exhibiting at the NEC.”

   For more information visit www.motorcycleshow.co.uk