Category: Random

1. United People of Adventure: Discover Madagascar with Touratech

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 15th Oct 2015

   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.

   

2. National Motorcycle Museum - Busy Time At The Classic TT!

   Posted on 10:10am Wednesday 30th Sep 2015

   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
   
   
   
   

3. Lucky Lottie gets her brand new bike and meets her biking idol‏

   Posted on 10:31am Tuesday 22nd Sep 2015

   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!”
   
   

   

4. Motorcycle owners wanted for to hear your thoughts on riding and bikes

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 4th Sep 2015

   On behalf of a major motorcycle manufacturer, MM-Eye would like to invite a few motorcycle owners along for a focus group discussion to hear your thoughts on riding and bikes. Your opinions will be greatly appreciated and all participants will each receive a monetary token of appreciation.

   The event will last 2.5 hrs and will take place:

   Date: Saturday 19th September 2015 
   Time: 15:00 – 17:30 
   Location: near Birmingham

   We are looking to speak with people who own one of the following models:
   
   Harley-Davidson Iron 883
   Yamaha XJR 1300
   Honda CB1100
   BMW R Nine T
   Moto Guzzi V7 (any variant)
   Ducati Scrambler

   If you own one of these models and are interested in participating, please send an email to [email protected] with the following information:
   
   • Model owned
   • Year of purchase
   • Contact telephone number

   Spaces are limited for what they anticipate will be an interesting occasion, where you will have an opportunity to share your views on a future range of motorcycle products. 
   
   Previous events have proved very popular, so please contact Karen ( [email protected]) at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment – this is a first come, first served registration.

5. Mediocre museums, ringside comedy gold and grandiose cathedrals

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 24th Aug 2015

   Upon saying our toodaloos to Leanne and Calvin in El Tule, we tootled off with the mountains and volcanoes flirting in our periphery onto Puebla—70 miles southeast of the capital. As well as the city, Puebla is also a Mexican state and the Spanish word for ‘seed that a gardener sows’. Might as well kill three birds…Meeting overlanders Chloe and Toby (from Carpe Viam), with whom we’d become acquainted at Overlander Oasis at an Air B&B apartment there was both a respite and a splurge for the month. Jason’s eye had just been all but taken out by a firework, unlucky lad.

   Indulging in the apartment’s amenities such as: the swallow-me-whole-and-leave-me-here-forever sofa, coffee machine and double bed with en suite, set the mood to be a comfortable and convenient one. Just as well because a mind-bogglingly abstract tour around a museum in the afternoon left me uninspired and my brain aching—post a couple of hours of failing to fathom what the heck I was looking at—much to Chloe’s amusement and Toby’s surprise. Thank Karma it was free entry that day.

   Clearly far more cultured city folk than we were, Toby arched his perplexed brow and asked inquisitively “Well if you’re not museum people, what kind of people are you?” ‘Oh that’s easy!’ I mused. “We’re outdoorsy types, anywhere there are big open spaces preferably with wildlife,” I conveyed in a smiling tone. “Oh.”
   
   Read more here