Category: Other

1. 7 Ways to Mod Your Bike on a Budget

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 12th Sep 2020

   Buying a motorcycle is great, but after you have spent a few hundred hours gazing at it lovingly, you might start to feel like you want to put your own stamp on it. You might want to alter the way it looks, the way it rides, or both, but very few people have an unlimited budget which allows them to make all the changes they want to. A lot of the most popular modifications come with a hefty price tag and it is likely you have already spent most of your money on the bike itself.

   If this sounds familiar, here are 7 ways to mod your bike when you are on budget.

   1. Take out a loan

   The first way around a small budget is to take out a small loan which will enable you to make the mods you want to without having to compromise or save up for a long time. It is important to ensure you can make all the repayments, but you may be adding value to the bike itself through the improvements.

   2. Add a new exhaust

   A new exhaust is a great way to turn heads thanks to the incredible noise it can create as you tear down the street. It can also improve safety as you will alert other road users to your presence way before you pass them.

   3. Install flush mount lights

   A flush mounted set of lights makes a bike sleeker in appearance as they do not stick out. Obviously, they do not improve a bike’s performance, but they make a big difference to the bike’s appearance.

   4. Upgrade the tyres

   The tires which come with a stock car tend not to be the best, and they may need replacing sooner rather than later. A new set of tyres will be more attractive, but the main benefit is the improved handling and grip they deliver.

   5. Customize the windscreen

   The windscreen on stock motorbikes tends to be less than ideal. By investing in a customized windscreen, you can improve the look of the bike and the driving experience, and the best part is that it is not an expensive modification as many will cost less than £50.

   6. Improve the brake pads

   When trying to improve a bike’s speed, most people will not give much thought to the brakes. However, the quality is vital when cornering in terms of efficiency and safety. Failing brakes can be lethal, so improving them is one of the best investments you can make. Click here for more information on parts and accessories for your bike. 

   7. LED Lights

   An LED light kit is another mod which improves the look and safety of a bike. Other road users will be much more likely to see you on the road if the body of the bike is decorated with bright lights. This is particularly important at night. Light kits are available in a wide range of different colours and strobing patterns and you can play around with their placement depending on the look you are after. Visit The Drive for the best LED light kits of 2020.

2. GLOBAL DEMAND FOR LEADING UK TECH COMPANY’S ELECTRIC MOTORS

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 2nd Sep 2020

   ... TRIGGERS PLANS FOR A NEW PRODUCTION PLANT BRINGING 250 JOBS TO OXFORDSHIRE
   
   Oxfordshire based tech company Saietta announces plans to expand production facilities. Bringing 150-250 jobs in the area over the next three to five years, the new sustainable plant will be powered by solar panels.

    

3. USEFULNESS OF POTHOLE AUDIT QUESTIONED

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 29th Aug 2020

   The Road Surface Treatment Association (RSTA) has welcomed the Department for Transport’s (DfT) proposed pothole mapping audit and hopes sufficient funds to carry out maintenance and repairs will be forthcoming.

    

   DfT has announced that it will work with local authorities, highway data and mapping company Gaist and on-road businesses such as Deliveroo, Uber, Tesco and Ocado to identify pothole hot spots. This will be first-of-its kind audit of potholes in England. It aims to direct where action against potholes is most needed.

    

   “The DfT initiative to provide a comprehensive nation-wide map of potholes is to be welcomed,” said Paul Boss, RSTA Chief Executive. “However, a map telling where the potholes are will be of little use if local authorities do not have the funds to fix them.”

    

   Since 2010 the government has provided over £1.2 billion solely to help repair potholes on the local road network, however, Boss points out that the latest Asphalt Industry Alliance Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey (ALARM) estimated that it would take 11 years and cost £11.4bn.

    

   “The additional pothole funding equates to £120 million a year and that falls far short of the funding necessary to address the plague of potholes resulting from decades of under investment in the local road network,” said Boss. “Furthermore, the proposed audit is reactive. Whilst we have to fill potholes in the short term, local authorities need certainty of long term funding to ensure they can plan and programme road maintenance that will prevent potholes from forming in the first place.”

4. Bike fanatics are being offered the chance to win a striking brand-new Suzuki GSX-R125 for under a fiver!

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 18th Aug 2020

   The Suzuki GSX-R line has defined sport bike performance for over 30 years, with more than a million sold worldwide. This impressive edition in white comes with the best power-to-weight ratio and acceleration in the 125cc class and features some of the most advanced rider technology, including new key-less ignition system and Suzuki Easy Start System. 
   
   The trendy new bike topped a speed test with a speedometer reading of 72.75mph and also topped their track day table making it the most fun 125cc bike to ride.

   Bright Competitions CEO Guy Loveday, said, “This prize is a fantastic one, it’s brand new and has exceptional sporty bodywork.
   
   “This is the first Suzuki model that we have offered, and it is proving to be a huge favourite.
   
   “With our low-ticket prices and huge prizes, you’re guaranteed a great chance of winning, so don’t miss out on this amazing new prize.”

   The bikes sporty paintwork is extremely aerodynamically efficient to reduce drag and maximise efficient speed. It also has the smallest projected frontal area in the 125cc class helping to achieve that best in class acceleration and supports high levels of fuel efficiency. 
   
   The tickets are on sale for just £2.99 and the guaranteed draw will take place on Sunday 23rd of August at 8:30pm.
   
   With only a short time left to get entering, all you have to do is pick a number, answer one of the simple questions and you’re in.

   Also, if you’re feeling extra lucky, there is a multibuy discount, buy 4 tickets for £10.

   To enter the competition for a chance to win this amazing prize, just visit:
   
   Win a Brand New Suzuki GSX-R125 and simply buy your ticket.
   
   Good luck!

   
   
   
   www.brightcompetitions.co.uk/competitions/win-a-suzuki-gsx-r125/

5. Highway maintenance budgets at risk following pandamic cash shortfalls

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 30th Jul 2020

   The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could see councils across England making budget cuts of up to 20 percent. With road maintenance budgets in the firing line the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) is calling for a new approach for the funding and governance of local road networks.

    

   According to the Local Government Association, councils will face additional costs of up to £13 billion this year due to measures required in tackling the pandemic. These additional costs come on top of over a decade in which local authority budgets have been slashed. Between 2015/16 and 2017/18, councils lost 77 percent of their funding from central government used to provide essential services.

    

   The impact of the pandemic has led to many sources of revenue, i.e. the collection of parking fees, drying up. It is estimated that councils could lose up to £1.4 billion from these funding streams, leading to many councils potentially facing a financial black hole. Other losses include £400 million in business rates, fees and charges of £341 million and council tax revenue of £288 million as many people have lost their jobs and others are utilising payment holidays.

    

   To counteract this, the government has allocated a further £3.8 billion to councils in the last two months. But this falls far short of what is required, with many local authorities still reeling from year-on-year cuts to budgets. According to the Local Government Association councils will need up to four times the funding they have been allocated by government so far.

    

   The financial crisis affecting councils post-pandemic could have a significant detrimental impact on highway budgets as councils are forced to use them to pay for social care. The government has announced an additional £2.5 billion highway maintenance funding over the next five years; however, it could cost more than £11 billion to address the current roads repair backlog.

    

   “The additional £500 million a year, although welcomed, is not enough and was allocated pre-Covid. Although following the Transport Select Committee report into local highways funding that was accepted by DfT is envisaged to lead to an announcement of longer term capital funding in the autumn, decades of under investment in the local road network has left a legacy of potholes that needs a new approach if it is to be properly addressed,” said Paul Boss, RSTA Chief Executive.

    

   Boss believes this new approach should be based primarily on prevention rather than cure. He added: “Fixing potholes is just playing catch-up. What is needed is providing councils with a range of simplified governing and funding mechanisms that can enable the development and implementation of planned programmes of maintenance that prevent the deterioration of roads from happening in the first place.”

    

   As part of this new approach the RSTA is calling for the local road network to be treated on parity with the strategic road network which, unlike local roads, has a greater certainty of funding with a 15 year road investment strategy. This contrasts sharply with the annual, often ad hoc, funding for local roads. Funding for local roads should be simplified. Councils have to access a myriad of funding pots which have different legal frameworks, different assessment criteria, business case requirements and timescales. This leads to a lack of effective planning, duplication and waste. Addressing these issues would improve outcomes and value for money. Furthermore, the Government should consider the injection of an additional £1 billion a year into a much-needed programme to address the pothole backlog by investing 2 pence per litre from the existing fuel duty to fix local roads.

    

   Boss concluded: “During the pandemic the Government recognised the essential role that the local road network has in keeping Britain moving. It is time for a new approach that enables councils to ensure that this role is properly realised.”