| | Biker News - Regularly updated
Category: Random
-
Long-distance motorcycle trips are as much about the stops as they are about the ride itself. The thrill of open roads is heightened when you plan meaningful pauses to enjoy scenic viewpoints, historic landmarks, cultural hotspots, or unique local experiences. Every journey offers opportunities to combine adventure with discovery, making each mile more memorable. For motorcyclists, thinking ahead about where to stop ensures the trip is filled with unforgettable sights and experiences. 
Scenic Viewpoints and Landscapes
One of the top priorities for any long-haul ride is to take in the natural beauty along the route. Mountain passes, coastal roads, and rolling hills provide perfect opportunities to pause and enjoy panoramic views. Stops at famous outlooks, like the North Coast 500 in Scotland or the cliffs along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, allow riders to capture photos, stretch their legs, and simply take in the vistas. Even a quiet country lane can reveal hidden natural beauty, making spontaneous stops just as rewarding as the planned ones.
Iconic Landmarks and Historic Sites
No road trip is complete without visiting landmarks that give a sense of history and culture. Castles, abbeys, and medieval towns in the UK offer fascinating detours for riders. Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge, and Wales’ Pembroke Castle are perfect examples where you can take a break from riding, explore the site, and even enjoy a local café or picnic area. Stopping at these landmarks adds depth to the journey, giving riders the chance to learn more about the places they pass through.
Sports Events Along the Route
For sports fans, timing a trip to coincide with a live game can be an unforgettable experience. Stopping at a football match, rugby game, or horse racing event along your route offers a lively and thrilling break from riding. Many riders enjoy getting even more involved by placing a small wager on their favourite teams while at the venue, adding an extra layer of excitement to the experience. Punters in the UK often opt to wager online at bookmakers not on GamStop, because these platforms operate outside of the UK’s tough rules and offer bettors more flexibility and easier access to a wide range of markets. Beyond easy access and variety, these sites often boast lucrative bonus offers that punters can use to stretch their budget. Experiencing a match live while on the road creates memories and stories that last long after the trip ends.
Local Restaurants and Culinary Experiences
Part of the fun of a road trip is sampling local cuisine. Planning stops at restaurants you’ve always wanted to try—or discovering hidden gems along the way—turns mealtime into a highlight of the journey. From seaside fish and chips to countryside pubs offering hearty meals, taking the time to enjoy local flavours enhances the overall experience. Even a brief coffee or snack stop at a charming café can be a memorable part of the ride.
Natural Wonders and National Parks
Long rides are an excellent excuse to explore national parks and protected landscapes. Stopping at waterfalls, lakes, or forested trails gives motorcyclists the chance to reconnect with nature. Parks like Snowdonia, the Lake District, or the Cairngorms not only provide scenic roads but also walking paths, viewpoints, and picnic spots. These natural stops give riders a break from the engine noise and offer a refreshing way to recharge before continuing the journey.
Cultural and Local Experiences
Beyond landmarks and scenery, taking time to engage with the local environment can turn a simple stop into a memorable adventure. Farmers’ markets like Borough Market in London or the Stow-on-the-Wold market in the Cotswolds provide opportunities to sample fresh produce and artisanal goods. Artisan fairs and local craft markets showcase unique creations, while small community events often feature music, performances, or hands-on workshops. Even casual interactions at a roadside café serving a regional speciality, or chatting with a stallholder at a village market, can enrich the journey, offering insight into local traditions and lifestyles that you might miss by sticking solely to the road.
Hidden Gems and Off-the-Beaten-Path Stops
While famous sights are always worth visiting, the real treasures often lie off the beaten path. Secluded beaches, quiet woodland paths, unusual roadside attractions, or small villages can provide unique experiences and unexpected memories. Riders who embrace these hidden gems often discover quieter, more personal moments of adventure, away from crowds and standard tourist stops.
Conclusion
Long-distance motorcycle trips are about more than just riding—they’re about experiencing the world along the way. Stopping at scenic viewpoints, iconic landmarks, national parks, local restaurants, sports events, and hidden gems ensures that each journey is rich with variety and excitement. From catching a live game to tasting local cuisine, each pause adds a memorable layer to the adventure. Thoughtful planning, combined with the freedom to explore spontaneously, transforms every road trip into an unforgettable series of experiences, making both the ride and the stops equally rewarding.
Image
Man sitting on the motorcycle photo – Free Motorcycle Image on Unsplash
article supplied
-
MotoGP weekends have always drawn attention from motorsport fans, but lately they’ve become more than just race days; they’re turning into full-on social events for the biking community. Across the UK and beyond, bikers are using MotoGP weekends as an excuse to meet up, ride out, cheer for their favourite riders, and soak in the shared passion for two wheels. Whether you’re heading to a local pub screening or riding out to Silverstone, MotoGP is becoming a reason to gather, not just to spectate.
A Shared Passion That Fuels the Ride
What makes MotoGP weekends such strong magnets for meet-ups is the shared love of bikes, speed, and skill. Riders from all over the country find common ground in the roar of the engines and the drama of the track. Watching a rider lean into a corner at 200mph isn’t just exciting, it’s inspiring. It sparks conversation, debate, and admiration that carries on well after the chequered flag. For many bikers, that energy is contagious, turning an ordinary weekend into something worth planning around.
MotoGP also brings together people from different biking backgrounds, sports riders, cruisers, tourers, and café racers alike. The racing might be on slick machines built for the track, but the love of the ride unites everyone. That shared passion builds stronger friendships, makes meet-ups more meaningful, and keeps the biker community connected through every race on the calendar.
With the next MotoGP race on the 2025 calendar set for the Hungarian Grand Prix at Balaton Park Circuit, plans are already in motion, ride-outs, pub viewings, campsite meet-ups, and for some, a bit of wagering to add an extra layer of excitement to the weekend. While official race odds haven’t been released yet, riders in top form like Marc Marquez are already drawing attention. He was recently priced at 1/250 to win the 2025 MotoGP World Championship by some of the best bookmakers not on GamStop in UK betting markets. Many punters will be watching closely for updated odds on the Hungarian GP, especially on platforms known for offering competitive MotoGP markets, fast payouts, welcome rewards, free bets, odds boosts, and fewer restrictions than online sportsbooks tied to the UK’s self-exclusion scheme. For those who live for the thrill of the ride, combining the race with the right platform makes the entire weekend even more unforgettable.
At the heart of it all, MotoGP weekends are about more than just the race, they’re about the people who show up for the same reason: the love of the ride. Whether it's the sound of the engines, the stories swapped over coffee, or the unspoken bond between bikers, that shared passion is what keeps the wheels turning long after the podium celebrations end.
From Living Room Screens to Trackside Gatherings
While some still prefer watching the action from their sofa, more and more bikers are hitting the road to experience MotoGP with others. Some ride to racetracks like Silverstone to catch the action in person, while others gather at biker-friendly pubs and campsites with big screens and barbecue smoke in the air. It’s not just about watching the race, it’s about being part of the atmosphere.
Trackside weekends offer the full package. You get to watch qualifying and race day live, browse the paddocks, meet other fans, and maybe even spot a pro rider up close. It turns a race into a proper weekend out, often with camping, live music, and plenty of socialising around shared stories and classic bikes. These weekends have become mini-festivals for riders who want more than just a televised race.
For those staying local, pubs and cafés known for being biker hangouts often host special MotoGP viewings. These spots become the go-to venues for groups of mates or riding clubs to link up, talk bikes, and enjoy the race together over a pint or Sunday roast.
Planning Rides Around the MotoGP Calendar
It’s not unusual now to see riders planning their road trips to match up with the MotoGP schedule. A summer route through the Peaks or down to the coast can easily end with a group stopover somewhere screening the race. B&Bs and campsites listed on biker-friendly platforms have picked up on the trend and often promote race weekend availability.
Some riding clubs go even further, organising official ride-outs that lead to a MotoGP viewing. It gives the trip a shared purpose and builds that buzz leading up to the race. Whether it’s the season opener in Qatar or the high-stakes final in Valencia, these weekends become bookmarked highlights in the riding season.
Even international MotoGP rounds are drawing UK bikers abroad. Trips to Misano or Assen turn into weeklong adventures, with ferry rides, group touring, and a few nights soaking up the European race scene.
Conclusion
MotoGP weekends have evolved into something more than just a race day on TV. They’ve become a reason to connect, ride, and celebrate everything that makes biking exciting. Whether you're watching at a pub with your riding crew, camping out at Silverstone, or planning a trip around the European rounds, these weekends are now a must on the biker calendar. They bring energy, community, and shared passion, making every throttle twist feel part of something bigger.
Image - Free to use under the Unsplash License
Taken from the recent MotoGP race at the Sepang F1 Circuit in Malaysia.
article supplied
-
Extra Large – the name says it all with the Touratech Expedition XL engine guard. Raised further at the front and sides and extended down to the collector, it offers even more comprehensive protection for the 1300 Boxer than the tried-and-tested standard version.
Rock edges, tree trunks and constant impact from loose stones: the oil sump and engine housing are among the most vulnerable components when riding off-road. To ensure that your off-road adventure doesn't end prematurely in disaster, Touratech offers the Expedition XL engine guard for the BMW R 1300 GS and its sister model, the Adventure.
Built for the toughest demands
Manufactured from four-millimetre-thick aluminium, bent for maximum rigidity, welded and raised extra high at the front and sides, this top-of-the-range protector extends down to below the exhaust manifold. And it takes on all the challenges that off-road use has to offer. It protects against stone impact, distributes the forces in the event of a grounding over a large area to several screw-on points thanks to the stainless steel mounting plate, and glides smoothly over obstacles thanks to its shape and the plastic rails on the underside.
Maximum functionality
Of course, the Touratech developers focused not only on maximum protection, but also on optimum usability. Thanks to the clever design, lean angle is fully retained, and ground clearance is only minimally reduced compared to a completely unprotected engine.
If the Touratech Expedition XL engine guard needs to be removed for maintenance work, this is no problem either. The critical screw heads are securely countersunk and additionally covered by the replaceable plastic rails.
The Touratech Expedition XL engine guard is your reliable companion when the road ends and the adventure begins. It is the logical evolution of the proven Expedition engine guard for particularly tough use on long-distance trips or off-road.
-
Automotive industry charity, Ben, today highlights the ongoing cost-of-living pressures faced by automotive families and launches the third year of its summer holidays support programme.
Ben is spreading the word that the charity is here for families and individuals who are struggling with money worries, debt or urgent financial need this summer and beyond. Ben’s summer holidays support programme continues to provide families with essentials, including food; bills; school uniforms; emotional support and an opportunity to spend quality time together on a day out or activity, creating precious memories as a family.
In the past year, Ben’s helpline supported over 15,000 enquiries and over 700 financial grants were administered to those struggling with money. And, according to Ben’s latest research, money worries remain a big problem for automotive workers, with many still impacted by cost-of-living pressures. 1 in 6 people reported skipping meals, 1 in 5 have experienced issues with debt and 1 in 4 of those considering leaving the industry reported they had financial problems.
With the summer holidays now in full swing, this time of year can be even more challenging for parents. Additional costs add up with children at home and activities, childcare, back-to-school items such as uniforms, bags and PE kits add to the financial strain. This is why Ben is urging automotive families to get in touch if they need support and quality time together. Ben’s purpose is to empower its automotive family to live their best lives – and family time is an integral part of that.
Families who have received Ben’s support recently said:
- “This is amazing.... I don't even know how to thank you for all the help and support.”
- “Thank you again for even taking the time to support me and my family.”
- “Thank you for being there for me. It means a lot.”
- “All uniforms are now purchased. Thanks to you I have one less thing to worry about.
The BMTA Trust is bolstering Ben’s summer support programme this year by providing £3,000 towards costs.
Rachel Clift, Ben’s CEO, said: “While summer should be an enjoyable time when families come together, it can bring real stress for those facing money worries. Ben’s new vision of an automotive family that thinks well, feels well, lives well and works well, focuses on a person’s whole life, including family and loved ones who play a big part in our overall health and wellbeing. That’s why, in addition to vital financial assistance, we’re helping families create meaningful experiences during the holidays, whether that’s a fun day out or a shared activity, that create lasting memories.
“Cost-of-living pressures continue to hit home, and our latest annual health and wellbeing survey found that stress and financial concerns remain among the biggest challenges for our sector. That’s why our purpose of empowering our automotive family to live their best lives is so important – we want to help people thrive.
“It’s vital we spread the word - Ben is here for automotive families this summer and beyond. We urge anyone feeling the financial strain to reach out early, as this can make all the difference.”
How to access Ben’s support
Ben’s helpline and services are available to anyone working, or who has worked, in the automotive industry, plus their family dependents.
Sign up to receive tips, advice and tools from Ben at www.ben.org.uk/signup and, for online support with money, visit www.ben.org.uk/money.
-
|
Touratech celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2025 – a milestone for the long-established company from the Black Forest, which has developed into a leading global supplier of high-quality motorcycle accessories since its foundation in 1990.
Creative early years
The beginnings of Touratech are characterised by creativity and pioneering spirit: two well-travelled motorcycle globetrotters were dissatisfied with the equipment available at the time and began developing motorcycle accessories for their own use in Niedereschach. The first commercially marketed product was the IMO 200T motorcycle computer – a device that was unique worldwide at the time for rally riders and long-distance travellers.
The next milestone followed in 1992 with the ZEGA Case: the first aluminium pannier developed specifically for motorcycles set new standards in luggage transport for adventure bikes – a concept that continues successfully in the ZEGA family to this day. In 1994, Touratech began producing high-strength pannier racks for the BMW R 1100 GS, thereby opening up further market segments.
OEM manufacturing as a driving force for professionalisation
A significant step towards industrialisation followed in 1997 with a major order from KTM for 1,000 IMO units – marking the company's entry into the OEM business. Touratech expanded, increased its production capacity and consistently professionalised its structures.
Consistent expansion of the product portfolio
Touratech AG was founded in 1999. With an expanding product portfolio, including suspension components (Touratech Suspension) and motorcycle clothing (e.g. textile suits from the Compañero range, helmets from the Aventuro family), Touratech established itself as a full-range supplier in the premium segment.
Top quality made in Germany
Production at the Niedereschach site is characterised by a high degree of vertical integration – for many products, this is 100 percent. The high product quality is guaranteed by the interaction of qualified employees and the use of advanced technologies such as CNC machining, laser cutting and state-of-the-art welding robots.
Another milestone in the company's history was ISO certification in 2004, which paved the way for long-term cooperation with premium manufacturers such as BMW. These partnerships, for example for the Vario or Adventure cases, are still characteristic of the high quality and innovative strength that distinguish Touratech as an OEM partner.
Strongly positioned with the Happich Group
Touratech has been part of the internationally active Happich Group since 2018. This affiliation has created new synergies, for example in the development of modern assembly lines and the integration of IT-supported production processes. In this way, series production of the new BMW Adventure case systems began in 2024 with three shifts.
Despite its professionalisation, Touratech has always remained true to its roots. Many of its more than 550 employees share a passion for motorcycling, and quite a few of them live the spirit of adventure, travelling far and wide on their bikes – an enthusiasm that is evident in the products.
Touratech as part of the adventure scene
But Touratech is much more than just a manufacturer of motorcycle equipment. Every year, the company organises one of the world's largest gatherings for motorcycle travellers with its Travel Event. With Touratech Active Adventure, these motorcycle enthusiasts have also created a unique riding event where adventure riders can legally ride a variety of attractive off-road trails in the Black Forest foothills. Twice a year, Touratech keeps the scene informed about the most important innovations in the adventure sector with its lavishly produced customer magazine TRAVEL TIME, which is available in both print and digital formats. And last but not least, as a founding sponsor, Touratech has initiated a Europe-wide movement with Adventure Country Tracks (ACT) that opens up off-road tracks where adventure riders can explore European countries off the beaten track.
Into the future with a strong team and creative energy
Today, Touratech is represented in over 50 countries and supplies not only discerning end customers but also motorcycle manufacturers such as BMW, Ducati and KTM. With its unwavering commitment to its Niedereschach location, a highly motivated team and innovative spirit, the company will confidently celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2025 – while at the same time looking resolutely ahead to the future.
www.touratech.com
|
|
|
