As promised it was worn doing the North Coast 500 trip in Scotland.   

Thanks again

Kind regards Jan Route 66 Transporter

We are preparing for the next issue of our VERY popular booklet, here @ THE BIKER GUIDE, which we distribute for free throughout the year at various events, cafes, meeting places and also via the website...

So we are asking the visitors of the website and readers of the booklet - Do you have a great picture that you have taken on your motorcycle that you would like to see on the front cover and of course your name in 1,000's of booklets?

If so, please send to [email protected] letting us know when and where it was taken, along with your full name.

Of course for any images we include you will be sent a copy of the booklet. 

'Best information mag around for Bikers' - Oggy Dave.

Despite threateningly dark grey skies, the weather did not interfere with the first two practice sessions at Silverstone, held on a dry track. The MotoGP riders found rather bumpy asphalt and less than optimum grip, conditions that have an impact on bike performance, especially in acceleration.

The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders struggled particularly in this area, both complaining of a certain difficulty exploiting the power of their RS-GP machines coming out of corners due to the lack of stability. Therefore, both Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl are hard at work with their mechanics, assessing changes to the setup, both of the chassis and the electronics, that will allow them to be more incisive in practice and qualifying tomorrow.


ALVARO BAUTISTA
"Today was a difficult day. We are struggling a lot. The bike is not stable and I am unable to take advantage of the power coming out of corners. I am always too close to the limit and that keeps me from pushing. We tried to work on the power output to make it less aggressive, but that was not enough. For tomorrow we will need to make some significant changes to solve the problems".

STEFAN BRADL
"We used a few solutions that we found in the Misano tests which especially improve braking performance, but here at Silverstone acceleration and shock absorption are also important. From this point of view, there is still room for improvement, besides being ready for the different weather conditions that we could encounter. Today we were lucky not to have any rain in the two sessions, but things can change very quickly here".

IAM RoadSmart is staging its first ever riding skills day for female bikers only, focusing on handling, skills development and getting the most from their riding. The day will focus on individuals’ own development goals and all levels of ability and experience are welcome.

The women only riding day takes place at Thruxton circuit in Hampshire on 19th September and you don’t need to be an IAM RoadSmart member to take part.

Amanda Smith, IAM RoadSmart, head of field service delivery, said: “Our members have been asking for a women-only skills day so they could learn skills at their own pace with like-minded follow bikers. We were more than happy to provide this.

“This day is for all female riders who want to improve their skills whilst also having some fun.”

Subjects covered on the day will include:

• Vanishing points, entry, apex and exit points, how they vary from road to circuit, why and how we use them, where we should position for view, progress and safety together with braking

• Where to brake, when and how much to brake, how it feels in an emergency and finishing on accelerator (throttle) application to set the balance of the bike for controlled smooth cornering

• Gear selection – how to decide which is the most appropriate gear for the circumstances and control

• How to use the accelerator/throttle to add stability to the bike when entering corners, blipping or constant accelerator techniques when changing down gears.

Place on this skills day are £135 each and can be booked by calling 0300 303 1134. Family and friends are also welcome as spectators. Please note this is not a racing day and attendees will be required to bring their own bike to take part.

In the second of six short videos released in the build up to Motorcycle Live 2016, long-distance rider Nathan Millward shares his passion for the open road and explains how his love of motorcycling fuelled a nine-month, 23,000-mile trip through 18 countries on a 105cc postal bike.

View the video here

Motorcycle Live 2016 takes place at The NEC, Birmingham from 19-27 November. Advance tickets are on sale now, priced at just £19.50 per adult, £12 for Seniors, £1 for 11-16 year olds* and FREE for children aged ten and under (accompanied by a paying adult). There is also a £25 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and a Spada bag worth £29.99**.

To book, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk