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Category: Random
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Internet motorcycle apparel retailer, Motolegends, has conducted a survey of more than 5,000 motorcyclists, and has come to some interesting conclusions about motorcycling today, including the assertion that the UK’s obsession with sportsbikes is well and truly over.
The UK has always been one of Europe’s biggest markets for high-performance superbikes, but the company’s research suggests that just 5% of UK bikers these days are motivated by the speed and on-road performance of a motorbike. It's a group that, in its research, Motolegends has called the Boy Racers.
That this group is now so small may not surprise those in the know. Supersports machines, as they are known in the industry, currently account for around 12% of new motorcycle sales, but nearly half of this volume comes from the smaller capacity 50cc-125cc sector.
Sara Linney, Motolegends MD, also takes the view that the racier end of the market is in decline."These days we sell very, very few one-piece race suits. It's only the trackday guys who buy them. There are still a lot of bikers who put their faith in leather, but now it will be a jacket and perhaps an attachable leather pant that they want. It is simply no longer cool to roar around the countryside on a race-rep, dressed up looking like a Moto GP star. Frankly, most people look a bit daft in this gear and, of course, almost whatever the weather it's not appropriate clothing for riding on the road. The guys who rode high-performance sports bikes in the past are now gravitating, for a whole host of reasons, to machines that are a bit more relaxing to ride. They still want to get a buzz, but they want to get it at lower speeds".
The research seems to indicate that the motorcycle market has fragmented. No longer is there a huge and significant motorcycling phenomenon that brings all motorcyclists together. Rather, a number of biking ‘tribes’ have evolved, into which a significant proportion of nearly all riders fall.
For 6% of motorcyclists, the appeal is travel and adventure, although for some the concept is more important than the reality. Motolegends has termed this group the Globetrotters, and the growth of the adventure bike probably indicates the new found popularity of this particular niche.
About 4% of riders, according to the research, are as concerned about what they wear and how they look on the bike, as they are about the bike itself. This group is known as the Style Councillors.
A similar group, who are obsessed with cafe racers and the rock 'n' roll era of motorcycling, account for another 2% of the market. These are the Ace Boys.
6% ride motorbikes in pursuit of what one might term the American Dream. Known as the Highway Cruisers in the research, these are bikers who romanticise about super-comfy V-twins, and gliding along Route 66 in the company of other like-minded riders.
Almost 10% of bikers are motivated by the challenge of being a better rider. They are keen to become more technically proficient, and perhaps safer on the roads as a result. This group has been dubbed the Captain Sensibles.
Nearly 17% of today's riders are so enthusiastic about all things two-wheeled that they are almost unclassifiable. Motolegends has termed these people Bike Nuts. Their tastes are eclectic. They may love off-road and on-track riding, own a classic bike, and go touring on their holidays. If it has two wheels, they're into it.
The largest group, by quite a margin, known as the Garagistes, and accounting for almost 50% of the sample, appear to want more of an involvement with their machines. Some may well be highly proficient mechanically, although others may know very little about the workings of a modern internal combustion engine. But what unifies this group is the desire to create something unique. They want to make a statement, a statement that reflects their lifestyle and their individual personality.
According to Motolegends MD, Sara Linney: “This is borne out by many of the customers who are currently coming through our doors. The average age of motorcyclists has increased, and guys in their forties and fifties are not trying to prove anything. They still want to enjoy their biking, but they want to do it on their own terms; they want to ride what they want to ride, and wear what they want to wear. And these days, it doesn’t have to be black! They're interesting people, they've often lived very full lives, and they don't follow the herd"
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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
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Have you ever dreamed of exploring an exotic island on a motorbike? This dream could now come true. Under the slogan "United People of Adventure", Touratech founder Herbert Schwarz and his wife Ramona invite motorcycle travellers from six continents to join them on an adventure ride on the Island of Madagascar - of course on fully equipped Touratech bikes and with the appropriate riding gear. If you don't want to miss this once in a lifetime chance, please apply online with a short video (in English language).
Madagascar is the fourth biggest island in the world and enthrals with its unique flora and fauna, impressive landscapes and cultural diversity. This will also play an important role in the "United People of Adventure" project, as the name says it all: Each one of the six team members comes from another continent, so motorbike travellers from Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America as well as Oceania / Australia will join the Touratech crew in April 2016.
"We're looking for fellow riders who share - even though they speak different languages, have different skills and talents and come from different cultural backgrounds - the love for adventure riding beyond the well-trodden paths of tourism", Ramona and Herbert Schwarz point out. The team will be accompanied by an experienced film and photographer crew which were already part of many Touratech journeys in the past: TV journalist Wolfgang Danner, cinematographer Jan-Peter Sölter, photographer Jon Beck, actor and producer Kurt Yaeger and journalist Jonathan Bentman will capture this adventure on film.
It is all about adventure and team spirit. So don't expect pre-booked hotel rooms or defined routes, but sand and gravel, mud and water instead. The riders will get to know the Madagascan way of life, make unforgettable experiences and explore one of the most fascinating islands on the best adventure bikes currently available: Upon arrival at the airport in Antanarivo, a BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, a F 800 GS Adventure, a Ducati Multistrada, a Honda Africa Twin 1000, a KTM 1190 Adventure, a Suzuki DL 1000 V-Strom, a Triumph Tiger 800 XCx and a Yamaha Super Ténéré Worldcrosser will be waiting for the team members - all equipped and provided by Touratech. Touratech will also provide the complete riding gear and pays for the flight tickets, there will be no costs for the participants.
Riders who would like to join this adventure ride in April 2016 are asked to upload a three minute video in English language explaining what makes them a perfect team member for "United People of Adventure". Deadline for the application is December 15th 2015. In the first selection phase two candidates from each continent will be chosen and invited to Niedereschach where they meet with Ramona and Herbert Schwarz. In this personal meeting they will figure out who fits their team the best.
The six lucky “chosen ones” will be announced in February 2016. Please find all the information and conditions of participation at www.real-adv.com. More pictures and videos can be found at #realADV.
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The National Motorcycle Museum had a particularly busy fortnight at this year’s Classic TT Festival, taking part in various high profile activities both on and off the track.
They really did take the museum to the people with no less than 32 Norton’s from every era being transported from the collection over to the island for our huge “pop up” museum display. From 1906 through to the 1990s, a Norton race machine from every decade of the last century was displayed in what many visitors described as “the best display ever seen in a TT paddock”.
One of the biggest highlights for many was the “Norton - The Rotary Years” – Parade.
Whilst individual Norton rotary race bikes have appeared in parade laps around the Mountain Course - and, of course featured in race wins and podiums - never before had so many appeared at one time on the island. A sunny Saturday on 29/08/15 saw no less than 12 of the revolutionary machines, all owned by the National Motorcycle Museum, take to the 37.73-mile course.
A whole host of famous names had the honour of taking part including some of the bike’s original riders including Trevor Nation, Steve Cull & Ian Simpson. Other riders included William and Michael Dunlop, Michael Rutter and Jamie Whitham.
“The White Charger” that the late Steve Hislop famously rode to victory in the 1992 Senior was ridden by 23-time TT Race winner John McGuinness resplendent in replica Hislop leathers & helmet!
Sunday 30/08/15 saw many of the museum’s ex-works rotary Norton’s appear once again on the short circuit at the Festival of Jurby with the likes of McGuinness, Rutter & Cull onboard.
Team National Motorcycle Museum Racing had a challenging week with team rider William Dunlop posting a DNF in the F1 race on the team’s rotary Norton race machine. Museum Director James Hewing commented: “Team National Motorcycle Museum Racing’s entry to run a Norton rotary race machine in the F1 event was a huge challenge and we are obviously disappointed not to have finished. William Dunlop and the whole team worked tirelessly all week with William declaring the bike ‘wicked fast’. Everyone knows that there is no tougher place to go racing and feedback from race fans has been really positive”.
The Museum film crew has created four short films from the event which include the paddock “pop up” museum, the rotary parade, the festival of Jurby and Team National Motorcycle Museum Racing. All these films will be available to view from early October on the museum’s new website www.thenmm.co.uk
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Seven-year-old Lottie Trenchard from Southampton took delivery of her brand new Kawasaki KX65 at the MX Try-Out centre in Newmarket and got the chance to meet – and ride with – her ultimate biking idol, stunt extraordinaire and fellow Kawasaki rider, Lee ‘Pacman’ Bowers.
Lottie has been riding pushbikes since the age of three without stabilisers and has been riding motorcycles since just before her fifth birthday. Currently part of the Tigers Childrens Motorcycle Display Team in Hampshire, Lottie takes part in up to 15 shows a year – all around the country – which involve riding in formation with the other ‘Tigers’ and jumping over ramps with willing volunteers underneath.
To take the next step with her training, Lottie needed a bigger bike and also to learn gears – and her heart was set on a Kawasaki KX65.
Having raised money to buy her new bike by organising sponsored walks and baking cupcakes, Lottie’s parents topped up her contribution so that Lottie could get her hands on her new bike ahead of the Tigers training season starting at the end of September.
‘I’m so happy that I have my new bike. I love it so much and have already been practicing my stunt skills on it. I can’t believe that Lee Bowers is here too to hand it over to me – he’s my favourite motorcycle rider. I’d like to be a stunt rider when I grow up, or a famous motocross rider or a World Superbike Champion. As long as I’m riding bikes I don’t mind!” said an excitable Lottie.
“When we found out that she’d be meeting Lee and getting her new bike on the same day, Lottie asked me to make her a countdown calendar – she’s been very excited!
“There’s nothing else she shows an interest in like she does motorbikes – she’s been hooked on them from a very young age even though myself and her dad don’t ride. As a mum, you want to make sure your child is safe, which is why the Tigers has been so great as I knew she’d be well looked after. As long as she is happy, then I’m happy.
“It’s had a positive affect on her school life too – her concentration was a problem, but her teachers have told her it’s improved so much that she’s jumping up reading levels – something I put down to the practice sessions every Sunday from 9am to 4pm.” said Lottie’s mum, Annette Trenchard.
Stunt rider, Lee Bowers, said: “It’s been so great meeting Lottie today and it’s fantastic to see young people on two-wheels as they’re the future – hopefully she’ll inspire more girls to get onto two wheels too. I’ve been out on track with her today and watched her ride, she’s got some serious skills already – I better watch out!”
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