IAM’s head of riding standards and advanced biker, Peter Rodger, is advising on getting back on the road after the winter.

• Check your bike’s fluid levels, brakes, lights, horn and coolant to make sure they’re all in good working order.
• Try starting your bike to check if the battery needs recharging.
• Check that the tyres have sufficient tread, no obvious damage, and are inflated to the right pressure. If you have taken any part of the bike apart over the winter check it is properly back together and that the nuts are all tightened appropriately.
• When you’ve given it the once over, switch on the engine and let your bike warm up before you go out on a ride.
• If you’re feeling particularly rusty, get on your motorcycle in a car park before taking it out on the road. The first ride should be about settling in gently – you need to get used to riding again.
• Gain confidence by having a few short, simple rides. Consider it a warm up for you and the bike; you've had time away, and both need to warm up again.
• Make sure your leathers and helmet are in good nick– don’t be tempted to take that first ride in street gear because you’re not planning on being out for long. 
 
Rodger said: “It’s that time of the year when many riders are taking their bikes out from winter storage. Check the bike before you begin this season’s rides, and make sure the rider is up to it as well.”

www.iam.org.uk

News that the Government is considering plans to privatise sections of the UK’s road network poses a real threat to the rural road network warns the 80,000 strong British Motorcyclists Federation.
 
Commenting on the plans, the BMF say that motorcyclists are far more aware of poorly maintained road surfaces than most car drivers and because private investors will only be interested in high returns from major trunk roads and motorways, the lesser used rural roads favoured by motorcyclists will suffer.

Privatisation will result in a two-tier roads system say the BMF with the most lucrative roads creamed off and the others becoming ‘Cinderella roads’ deprived of investment and left to deteriorate.

While many local authorities already contract out their roads maintenance, their maintenance programme is still under council control. Taking financial control away from them will mean that private profits will take precedence over service say the BMF.
 
Tolling will also be an issue for motorcyclists. The BMF have always maintained that motorcycles make little demands on road construction and inflict negligible damage on road surfaces. In fact say the BMF, motorcycles already incur a disproportionate amount of road tax for their size (£74 pa for a 600cc machine as against £95 for a five seater 1600cc car) and motorcyclists see any additional charges as being grossly unfair.

The UK needs a sound roads infrastructure but the road network is far too important to be privatised say the BMF.

www.bmf.co.uk

“In his Budget speech the Chancellor announced some changes to the rates of vehicle tax for cars, motorcycles, light goods and trade licences. These will apply to tax discs taken out from 1 April 2012. He also announced there will be no changes to vehicle tax rates for all vehicles over 3500kg and buses.”
 
The new rate is to introduced from 1st April 2012 for Motorcycles and Tricycles.
 
Vehicle tax rates for motorcycles not over 150cc remain unchanged at £16 a year, with the no option to tax for six month remaining.
 
Motorcycles from 151cc to 400cc the new vehicle tax rates will be £36 a year, up from £35 a whole increase of £1, with the no option to tax for six month remaining.
 
Motorcycles from 401cc to 600cc the new vehicle tax rates for one year is an increase from £53 a year to £55 and for six months an increase of £1.10 to £30.25 .
 
For motorcycles over 600cc the new vehicle tax rates for one year will cost £76 instead of £74 and for six months £41.80, an increase of £1.10.
 
Tricycles (not over 450kg unladen) over 150cc see an increase for one year of £2.00 to £76.00 and up £1.10 to 41.80 for six months. Those not over 150cc see no change.
 
Read this article and links to NI Direct Government Services at Right To Ride

The winners of the competitions we ran @ The Manchester Bike Show 2012, were as follows...   For the two night stay for two @ The Royal Agricultural College in the heart of the Cotswolds, the winner was Fiona Jones.   For the sets of tickets to attend Stormin' the Castle 2012, the winners were Sheena Groom, Dave Devlin and Bob Allaway.

For the set of tickets to attend Rally in a Chalet 2013, the winner was Jennifer Hughes.

Many thanks to all who entered, all who passed by our stand and well done to the winners...

Bologna, 22 March 2012 – Two highly-anticipated images of the “naked” 1199 Panigale have been released, illustrating Ducati’s innovative and courageous step forward in motorcycle design. Merging multiple parts into one compact and lightweight component, the extremely compact monocoque construction also integrates the airbox to become one of the key elements in reducing the new Superbike’s overall dry weight by an incredible 10kg (22lb) to a benchmark 164kg (361.5lb).

Using the Superquadro engine as a stressed member of the chassis, the short and strong aluminium monocoque is made in die-cast aluminium and is responsible for 5kg (11lb) of the overall weight saving of the new design. The monocoque attaches to the cylinder heads of the new specially designed engine, protruding forward to house the steering head bearings and forming the airbox along the way, which is capped-off and sealed when the lightweight aluminium fuel tank is attached, again using one component to the fulfil the roles of two.

While the cylinders remain true to Ducati’s signature 90° L-twin configuration, the new engine has rotated the top-end backwards around the crankshaft a further 6° to give more clearance on the front wheel and enable engineers to modify the front and rear weight bias. This also enables a front-end geometry of 24.5° of rake and 100mm (3.94in) of trail. Attaching directly to the rear of the engine, the new fully die-cast aluminium, single-sided swingarm is 39mm longer than the 1198, contributing to the increased the wheelbase of 1,437mm (56.6in) and weight distribution of the 1199 Panigale from 50/50 to 52% front and 48% rear with average-size rider onboard.

With the exhaust system now relocated below the engine, the die-cast aluminium rear sub-frame is considerably lighter and also attaches directly to the Superquadro engine, while the super lightweight, magnesium front sub-frame attaches directly to the monocoque frame, providing secure support for the headlamp, instrumentation and fairing.  This combination of weight saving and centralisation of mass around these high front and rear sub-frame areas substantially contributes to overall vehicle agility.

www.ducatiuk.com