Category: Other

1. Specialist Motorcycle Insurance Broker Recognise Off Road Training As Advanced Rider Training

   Posted on 11:00am Friday 7th Aug 2015

   MotoScotland is delighted to announce, for the first time in the UK, that their off road training has been recognised by motorbike insurance specialist, Devitt Insurance Services Limited as advanced rider training.

   Further to the shift in perception of this type of training, Devitt has been the first company to announce an insurance premium discount for riders who complete MotoScotland’s Level 2 course. Having insurance discounts for people who complete their training is another UK first for MotoScotland - Scotland’s only off road motorbike training centre.

   Managing Director for Devitt, William Hughes said: “We’re delighted to be working with MotoScotland and offer a discount on our motorcycle insurance to recognise the benefits of off road training. We want our customers to be as safe as possible on public roads and we believe that this type of training can help bikers to stay in control of their motorcycle on potentially hazardous surfaces.”

   Uniquely, MotoScotland train their off road skills in a way that not only helps riders stay in control of their bike in off road conditions, but also helps riders use these skills to dramatically improve their road safety.

   MotoScotland recognises that there are a whole host of “potentially dangerous riding surfaces” on the public highways, including loose gravel, diesel, wet mud, tar over banding, smooth surfaces, moss, grass, metal, leaves, etc.. For some riders, understandably, the thought of riding their bike in these conditions causes a feeling of dread, fear, etc..

   With a clear focus and interest in rider road safety, MotoScotland identified these legitimate concerns and for over two years have been helping riders overcome these feelings by training the skills needed to safely and competently steer / stop and control a motorbike in these slippy conditions.

   Some of the key safety benefits that riders can learn include: 

   · How to steer a motorbike (e.g. in tight circles) at walking speeds without dropping the bike – invaluable skills for safe U-turns on the public highways.

   · How to gain additional grip through tyres on slippy surfaces, e.g. gravel, leaves, mud, diesel, etc. – critical skills when a rider encounters these surfaces unexpectedly, e.g. when cornering!

   · How to ride safely on slippy surfaces – subjects like bike angles, throttling and braking are summarised for control on surfaces like painted lines, wet metal surfaces, e.g. manhole covers, etc..

   · How to safely arrive to and set off from junctions – badly planned junction arrivals can lead to a bike being dropped; unplanned junction set offs can lead to the bike going wide, potentially into oncoming traffic!

   · Managing bike controls better – so that the rider is more pro-active than re-active.

   · How to achieve better balance whilst anticipating changing conditions – one of the most fundamental riding skills that can be learned.

   · Which brake to use on which slippy surface and how to stop safely, under control – critical safety skills to avoid running into other vehicles, etc..

   · How to identify an over-braked front wheel, recover it and avoid falling off – an absolute must for road safety.

   · How to identify an over-braked rear wheel, recover it and avoid falling off – an absolute must for road safety.

   The Department For Transport latest accident statistics reveal a 4% rise in road deaths (1775) in 2014 compared to 2013. The number of motorcyclists seriously injured rose 9% to 5628. Overall motorcyclist casualty numbers also rose by 9% to 20,366 (source BDN 13/7/15). MotoScotland believes that their specific style of training could help reduce accidents and improve road safety.

   MotoScotland Chief Instructor/Centre Manager, Clive Rumbold is an advocate for all motorbike riders to take advanced rider training, e.g. IAM, Bike Safe, RoSPA, etc., to have the right skills to stay in control. He also believes that riders need to keep refreshing these skills to avoid bad habits developing which could lead to danger.

   Anyone trained in off roading can confirm the benefits to their improved control of a road motorbike. With MotoScotland’s training now being recognised by Devitt as “advanced rider training”, an important and significant gap in rider training has now formally been bridged.

   Riders can now be better informed on the choices of training they can undertake to improve their riding skills and safety. This includes new riders who have a CBT licence for a 125cc motorbike or a higher motorbike license.

2. BACK STREET HEROES ENTERS THE FOLD AT MORTONS

   Posted on 10:00am Wednesday 5th Aug 2015

   ONE of the world’s leading custom bike magazines has joined the stable of motorcycle publications at independent publisher Mortons Media Group.

   Back Street Heroes, described by its editorial team as ‘a rock ‘n’ roll biking mag for hard-core customisation fans’, will sit within the company’s portfolio alongside other market-leading brands such as Classic Bike Guide, Motorcycle Sport & Leisure and Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

   Mortons’ publishing director Dan Savage said: “We’re delighted to have completed the acquisition of Back Street Heroes from Ocean Media, and we look forward to building on the 30 years’ of success it has already enjoyed.”

   Each issue covers technical information on a range of vehicle modifications and custom bike-building styles, but also documents the subculture associated with the scene.

   Dan continued: “Adding a title to our range which looks in such detail at the lifestyle associated with custom-bike ownership adds yet another dimension to our current offering.

   “Our publishing efforts mean we are already active at the grassroots across all makes, models and eras of bikes, as well as being regular attendees of several major motorcycle events. We look forward to extending this knowledge and expertise to Back Street Heroes which already has close ties with some of the leading custom shows in the UK.”

   Along with the publication’s assets and archive, the current editorial, design and advertising teams will move will the title, although they’ll continue to work across the UK. Subscription, circulation, marketing and all other logistical operations and activity will be based at Mortons’ offices in Lincolnshire.

3. Rudeness, poor hygiene & bad driving: Top 10 first date turn-offs that really grind our gears‏

   Posted on 10:15am Thursday 30th Jul 2015

   Forget flowers and chocolates, it would appear that the surest way to woo a potential love interest is to grab the L plates and brush up on driving skills as a new survey from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) reveals the UK’s biggest first date turn-offs.

   Whilst rudeness scored highest in the list, with 81% of Brits citing bad manners as the worst thing a suitor can do, driving is a three-point turn off as nearly half of the 10 worst offences happen in the car before the date has even begun.

   The research found road rage to be the worst first-date faux pas for almost half (46%) of people, whilst a similar number say texting at the wheel leaves them wanting to put the brakes on the date.

   Talking on a mobile whilst driving appeared at number seven in the list, grinding the gears of 44 per cent of those questioned. And it’s best to bin those crisp packets as nearly a quarter (23%) finds a dirty car unappealing.

   
   Top 10 first date turn-offs
   
   1. Rudeness (81%)
   2. Bad personal hygiene (80%)
   3. No sense of humour (70%)
   4. Being self-obsessed (69%)
   5. Road rage (46%)
   6. Texting whilst driving (45%)
   7. Talking on a mobile whilst driving (44%)
   8. Bad dress sense (40%)
   9. Sweaty palms (25%)
   10. Dirty car (23%)

   Top 10 first date turn-ons
   
   1. Sense of humour (81%)
   2. Politeness (77%)
   3. Good personal hygiene (69%)
   4. Good dress sense (50%)
   5. Looks (44%)
   6. Confidence (44%)
   7. Generosity (29%)
   8. Good driving skills (11%)
   9. Great shoes (9%)
   10. Nice car (7%)

   A further one in 10 (11%) are irritated by someone who takes 15 minutes to park, whilst an eighth of Brits (13%) find overly cautious drivers who go under the speed limit off-putting.

   Other turn-offs include bad personal hygiene, which causes four in five (80%) of us to lose interest, and no sense of humour which shirks nearly three quarters (70%) of singletons. Being self-obsessed (69%) and sweaty palms (25%) also scored highly in the list.

   On the flipside, more than one in 10 (11%) Brits say good driving skills get their motors running on a first date – beating a nice car (7%) and great shoes (9%).

   The IAM’s chief executive, Sarah Sillars said: “Bad driving not only has an impact on the safety of our roads, but can also affect your chances of romance. Being able to manoeuvre properly and drive carefully should be much higher up on peoples dating priorities.”

   The research revealed that Brits pick up on the driving skills of a date – good or bad - within the first 65 seconds of getting in the car, with half picking up on their potential partner’s prowess behind the wheel in just 20 seconds.

   Singles can improve their driving skills – and chances of romance – by signing up for a free IAM driving assessment worth £39 at iam.org.uk/lovedriving. See if you can improve your ‘pulling’ power today.

   The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving and motorcycling. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 90,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving and motorcycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.

4. MOTORCYCLISTS MAKE FOR SAFER ROAD USERS... IN THEORY

   Posted on 9:39am Wednesday 15th Jul 2015

   RIDERS DEFEAT DRIVERS IN TEST RETAKE
   
   Bikers regularly find themselves on the receiving end of drivers' fury for their alleged reckless behaviour on British roads. All an unfair situation, if we are to believe the findings of new research.
   
   To mark the 80th anniversary of the first driving test, motorcyclists went head-to-head against car drivers as they were subjected to a retake of the theory exam by specialist insurance brokers Carole Nash. The results found that when it comes to road knowledge, two wheels are definitely better than four.
   
   Based on the official DVSA quiz, it has revealed that those who own a motorbike licence fared better than their four-wheeled counterparts in 76% of instances – and more shockingly, that nearly one in five (16%) motorists would potentially fail their test were they to retake it, as opposed to only 6% of bikers.
   
   The research has highlighted road sign recognition as a major concern. Given eight to identify, car drivers finished behind riders in six categories and whilst 83% of bikers were able to correctly identify all eight test signs, only 67% of car drivers were able to replicate the feat.
   
   When it came to other areas of road safety, motorcyclists beat car users eight times out of ten. For instance, 92% of riders knew the correct answer to the question "When may you cross a double solid white line in the middle of the road?" (to pass a road maintenance vehicle travelling at 10 mph or less) as opposed to 71% of car drivers.
   
   Rebecca Donohue, Head of Marketing for Carole Nash, said: “Motorcyclists scored so highly because they must have their wits about them at all times. It's certainly an exhilarating way to travel, but it can also prove risky unless you are fully aware of everything around you and the rules of the road at all times. But more importantly, our study revealed that a rather considerable proportion of car drivers still do not know how to interpret and react to certain everyday road situations involving motorcyclists – something we believe should be addressed as soon as possible."
   
   Only 34% of car drivers were able to accurately point out the sign indicating that special care should be taken when overtaking a slow-moving motorbike.
   
   Additionally, four out of ten car drivers failed to showcase their understanding of why one should allow extra room when overtaking a motorcyclist on a windy day (the rider may be blown across in front of your vehicle). Unsurprisingly, riders scored very highly for both questions (89% and 95% respectively).
   
   The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA)'s Safety and Training Director, Karen Cole, said: "Many motorcyclists are also car drivers and what this survey shows is that experiencing the road using different modes of transport makes you a safer road user. This endorses the idea that motorcycling should be encouraged as a long-term strategy to improve road safety. This was one of the main proposals explored in a policy document written jointly by the National Police Chief’s Council (formerly ACPO) and the MCIA. It also supports our call for a single theory test for drivers and riders.”
   
   Following a preliminary round of research conducted last year, Carole Nash introduced a new policy entitled 'Bikers Only Car Insurance', whereby the company is guaranteeing not simply to match but to beat motorcyclists’ car insurance renewal quote, based on the premises that they make safer road users.
   
   Take the test yourself here

5. Motorbike insurance – how to find the best deal

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 1st Jul 2015

   Ensuring you have adequate motorbike insurance is as essential for a biker as having a helmet and leathers. However not all policies are the same so how do you know the policy you have provides all the cover you need?

   Know what to look for…

   Motorbike insurance is a legal necessity in the UK however many bikers just opt for the cheapest deal they can find. However, this can be a mistake as the cheapest deal may not offer the level of cover you require.

   Choose from:

   • Third party only: This covers liability for injuries to others and damage to their property.
   • Third party, fire and theft: All the protection of third party cover plus cover for your own bike against theft, attempted theft and fire damage.
   • Comprehensive: Everything that’s included in third party, fire and theft cover plus repairs to your own bike in the event of an accident (subject to policy exclusions). What’s offered under comprehensive motorbike insurance will usually vary between companies but typically includes medical expenses, accidental damage cover and personal accident cover.
   • Third party and third party, fire and theft policies are best suited to riders who are inexperienced or who have claims and convictions on their record as premiums for comprehensive insurance may be too high. A third party deal may also be suitable if you ride a relatively inexpensive bike.

   However, generally the more cover you have the better, which is why if you’re comparing comprehensive insurance you should examine the terms and conditions carefully to see exactly what is included in the policy – what is offered as standard by some insurance companies may not be included in other policies and there may also be optional extras to choose from – cover features for which you can pay an additional premium. Some of the policy options to look out for include: breakdown cover; legal expenses cover; a temporary replacement bike while yours is repaired; cover to ride other motorbikes (with the owner’s permission) in emergency situations; and travelling in Europe.

   What else should you consider?

   While the level of cover available should be your primary concern there are several other key factors that are worth considering while you shop around:

   • Excess levels: An excess is the amount you pay towards a claim. Usually this is split into a compulsory excess established by the insurance company itself and a voluntary excess, which is an additional amount you agree to pay, when taking the insurance out, in case a claim is necessary.
   • No-claims discounts: Making claims on your insurance costs your provider money – and so they rewards bikers who don’t make claims. Avoiding claims for four or more years could even reduce premiums by as much as 60 per cent.
   • Other discounts: There may be additional incentives offered by an insurer – for example you may get a discount for insuring more than one bike with the same company; and there may be discounts for buying online.
   • Policy exclusions: Read the terms and conditions of any policy that interests you carefully, and be on the lookout for exclusions (these are circumstances in which you will not be covered).

   So which company offers the best deal?

   There’s no set answer as to which motorbike insurance provider offers the best deal, or indeed which is the cheapest. This is because premiums can vary widely between insurers due to the assessments they make of how likely you are to make a claim – this can be influenced by factors including your riding history; your address – such as if you live in a busy traffic or high crime area; your annual mileage; your personal circumstances – do you use your bike as part of your job, for example; and the bike itself.

   Due to the contrasts in the way these factors are evaluated it makes sense to gather as many quotes as possible before settling on the best deal. A comparison website is a great starting point as the leading websites can compare policies from as many as 25 insurance companies. The key however, is to look beyond price alone (the cheapest deal is listed first) and also consider the level of cover you’re receiving.

   There are steps you can take to reduce premiums too – here are some quick tips:

   • Agree to a mileage limit: The fewer miles you travel, the lower the risk of an accident occurring.
   • Choose a suitable bike: Older bikes with smaller engines usually qualify for cheaper premiums as they are cheaper to repair/replace and less likely to travel at fast speeds.
   • Increase excess: Agreeing to a higher excess can lower premiums but keep it at a level you can comfortably afford.
   • Increase security: Consider adding electronic and mechanical security to reduce the risk of theft and park in a locked garage overnight.
   • Pay annually: By paying premiums upfront you can avoid interest charges.

   See our insurance section