Following the success of last years inaugural event, Ace Cafe London is again delighted to be able to confirm attendance at this years High Voltage Festival, the prestigious rock festival held in east London's Victoria Park, where the legendary Judas Priest will be headlining on Saturday 23rd July having chosen the 2011 High Voltage Festival as the stage for their final festival show ever in the UK. On Sunday 24th July the main stage headline feature are Dream Theater, a 2011 UK festival performance exclusive.

Alongside these exclusive headliners High Voltage will host a high quality line up of Classic Rock, Prog and Metal acts to include Black Country Communion, Michael Schenker Group, Jethro Tull, Caravan, Spock's Beard, Mostly Autumn, The Enid & Pallas, Curved Air, Neurosis, Electric Wizard, Thin Lizzy, QueensRyche, Thunder, and many more acts.

With an increased designated and dedicated area, to include bar, food and seating, the Ace Cafe London stage returns to High Voltage, together with a display of rare hot rods, cool motorbikes and the legendary Ronnie Lane Mobile Recording studio, housed in a vintage 1967 Airstream trailer, and responsible for recording The Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Eric Clapton, Bob Marley and ... everyone!

Last year at the very first High Voltage Festival, Ace Cafe London & LMS partnership, curating the Ace stage, recorded live, Stephen Dale Petit (now famous as the man who saved The 100 Club, with Rolling Stone, Ronnie Wood) and legendary Ex-Police guitar player, Henry Padovani, now the principal judge on France's first ever X Factor show!

Once again the Ace will be located within a specially created Ace Cafe London "Rockers" experience area and marquee, creating a unique "Ace Corner", to include a Rockers Restaurant BBQ serving Ace sausages, burgers, soft drinks, tea & coffee.

This years Ace stage music line up at High Voltage, kicking down doors and letting in the light, features The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Allegra Shock and thirteen year old guitar prodigy, Aaron Keylock, alongside the best rock ' roll DJ in town, from Noon to 9pm each day.

The cafe's special guests includes the feisty London Rockin' Rollers with their eight-wheeled thrills and spills and the tempestuous temptations of burlesque dancer Sophia St Villier.

Bikes, babes, brew, and bangin' rock n roll. The Ace Cafe London Stage - Bringing The Legend to You...

Pairs of tickets for the High Voltage Festival can be won at the cafe on Triumph, Harley and Hot Rod Nights commencing in May and running through to July.

Tickets:

For more info and deposit scheme, check out www.highvoltagefestival.com.

Over on the NIBikers.com forum riders have voiced their concerns regarding the practice, at MOT test centres, that  testers are lifting bikes fully onto their side stands to test front and rear wheels and bearings.

It was reported that one rider who complained about their bike being lifted in this manner had his bike failed the MOT and is apparently appealing on the grounds that the test centre is not equipped with adequate stands to do the job properly or safely.

While side stands on bikes may seem robust, concerns were raised that side stands are not designed to support the weight of the bike in this manner and could snap or bend the frame and side stand mounting.

One rider commented that the side stand on his KTM is bolted to the engine case, with many owners buying a relocation kit to take the pressure away from this point.

While as a rider, you may be capable of carrying out this manoeuvre, it is your responsibility if something happens, e.g. you drop the bike.  However would you let a total a total stranger do it? Who's at fault as they would claim they had your permission.

At Right To Ride, we do what we do and have fired of a letter to DVTA (Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency) to highlight riders concerns that, “Motorcyclists pay a fee to have their motorcycles tested and would expect that the items on the motorcycle that require to be tested are tested in a safe manner, both for themselves and your staff and there is no risk that damage could be caused to their machines.”

 Our main question was, “What is the policy for MOTing a motorcycle that by design and is fully type approved, that does not have or indeed is not required legally to have a centre stand fitted”?

The DVTA sent a prompt response, “We appreciate that you have brought to our attention the practice of using the motorcycle side stands to raise the road wheels off the ground to assist in the inspection of components.”

They went on to say, “Lifting devices have been provided to raise motorcycles that have no centre stands fitted, however it is recognised that such devices are not suitable for lifting all types of machines.

Where motorcycle road wheels cannot be raised safely from the ground, the examiner is limited to a visual inspection and assessment of components. The annual inspection is in the main a ‘visual inspection’, without any dismantling of vehicles or involving cumbersome processes, therefore there are a few types of motor vehicles and motorcycles which cannot be raised from the ground during the annual inspection.

The inspection of motorcycles is due to be reviewed and it is anticipated that new and improved procedures and methods of inspection will be implemented.

DVA Health & Safety Section has now been made aware of this practice of using the motorcycle side stands to raise the road wheels off the ground and Test Centres have been informed that such a method cannot be used.”

Although the MOT test and issued certificate confirms that your vehicle at the time of its test (as far as can be reasonably determined without dismantling) met the minimum acceptable environmental and road safety standards required by law, it doesn’t mean that the vehicle is roadworthy for the life of the certificate and isn’t a substitute for regular maintenance.

With the promise of a review and new and improved procedures and methods of inspection to be implemented for motorcycles, at Right To Ride we look forward to a test that gives motorcyclists value for money for our test fees (Full Test £22.00 – Retest £14.00), will pick up any faults, without the risk of damaging our bikes or us or them! In other words a proper job!

Right To Ride would like to thank the DVTA for sorting out this issue and riders at NIBikers.com for raising and discussing the issue.

www.nibikers.com

Ninety members of the branch brought their bikes to the lunchtime reception hosted by The Prince of Wales. The motorcycles created an unusual spectacle as they were parked up in the garden of Clarence House. The Prince of Wales tried one of the bikes out for size, revving the engine as the owner pointed out some of the bike’s finer features.

After the reception The Riders Branch Chairman, JJ Jarvis, said:

“We are honoured that The Prince of Wales has recognised the activities of the branch, including the role we take in paying respects to those who have lost their lives on active duty.

“The branch has over 4,440 members, and although they could not all attend, the recognition received today is for the contribution every one of them makes.

“It was a privilege to meet The Prince, who was very enthusiastic about our work and motorcycling. We left him an open invitation to join the branch as an honorary member anytime.”

The branch is the second largest of the Legion’s 2,800 branches. Members, including ex and current serving personnel and civilians, are brought together through their passion for motorcycling and support for The Royal British Legion. 

Branch activities include fundraising for the Poppy Appeal (£150,000 this year), raising the Legion’s profile at motorcycling events and joining with the people of Wootton Bassett to pay respects at repatriations through the town.

The Prince of Wales tries one of the Riders Branch bikes for size at a reception at Clarence House

www.britishlegion.org.uk

"Coming of Age at the Ace Cafe" Exhibition at Coventry Transport Museum is holding a series of themed events from July to September 2011

Saturday 9th July 10.30am - 5pm 50s & 60s Classic Car Drive-In Movie Day featuring GREASE the movie.

Sunday 7th August 10.30am - 5pm Ton-Up/Classic Bike Ride-In Day with the VMCC and special guests Mick Duckworth & David Davies. Three Trophies to be won for Best Cafe Racer, Furthest Travelled Machine & Oldest Bike in Show.

Sunday 14th August 10.30am - 5pmScooters n' Rockers DayAll or Nothing Scooter Club, Triumph Owners Club, Norton Owners Club, BSA Owners ClubAll things British with Scooters and Bikes

Saturday 3rd September 10.30am - 5pmTOMCC (Triumph Owners Motorcycle Club) Day, with special guest Percy Tait "Slippery Sam" (Star test rider with Triumph) Sunday 

4th September 10.30am - 5pm Classic Consul & Classic Capri Owners Club. A collection of classic Ford cars from the 50s and 60s

Saturday 24th September 7.30pm - 11pm Rock n' Roll Night with the Zodiacs, plus the Shake, Rattle n' Roll Dancers.Bar Tickets £10

All spaces for the Millennium Place events and tickets for the Rock n Roll night can be booked by telephoning hotline: 024 7623 4270 or e-mail: [email protected]

www.transport-museum.com/ace

www.ace-cafe-london.com

www.acecafeevents.com

FFMC - the Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (The French Federation of Angry Bikers) are getting hot under the collar, in fact they are getting very angry.

The reason is that their government is planning to introduce a raft of legislation in the name of safety that will not only affect motorcyclists in France, but other French road users as wells as riders and drivers visiting France. The reasons given by the French government is to reduce the number of road accidents.

Motorcycle journalists and organisations in the UK have focused on the issue in the proposed legislation for the mandatory wearing of fluorescent (day-glo) jackets and reflective clothing involving motorcyclists and how (according to them) these proposed French regulations could spread across Europe.

The Motorcycle Action group (MAG UK) have just launched a Facebook page ‘Say No To Day Glo’ supporting the French riders “who are lobbying vigorously against this intrusive proposal and will fiercely resist any moves to make high visibility clothing mandatory in this country.” MAG as sees this issue as open season on bikers, not just in France but in the UK.

Within the French government’s plans are other issues, including the fitting of much larger than normal registration plates and making filtering in congested traffic illegal.

FFMC report that after many unsuccessful attempts to turn the situation around, including meeting with the Minister of the Interior, Claude Guéant, they have decided to cut all communication channels with the French government and have already organised protests in all cities and towns nationwide, for example 4,000 motorcyclists protested in Paris in May.

They have used these protests to express their anger and disgust at their government’s inability to introduce effective measures to increase safety and motorcycle awareness among all road users.

Riders in France also face the prospect of the possible prevention of access to eight French cities to two-wheelers produced before 2004.  Announced by their Minister of Ecology, to preserve the quality of air in these cities, which would exceed the pollution limits decreed by the European Union. However these motorcycles not only meet the standard of Euro3 Emissions since 2003, but as we know, regardless of year of manufacture, motorcycles help alleviate the impact of emissions in congestion due to their ability not to be stuck in traffic.

However the raft of regulations does not only affect motorcyclists, the legislation and action of the French Government includes:

All electronic devices, even smart phones and GPS systems, will be banned if they are able to warn of radar speed checks. Sanctions are draconian and might go up to 30.000 Euros or 2 years prison for the sale of such devices, while its usage will be punished by a fine of 1.500 Euros plus the loss of 6 points of the French traffic account system. 4 million speed detection devices have been sold in France over the last few years.

The removal of speed trap warning signs.
Immediate jail terms for those caught doing more than 30mph (50kph) over the speed limit.

The French, who appear to be very good at organising demonstrations, have announced nationwide demonstrations, under an umbrella organisation for all road users, “The Union des Usagers de la Route” on Saturday the 18th June 2011, to denounce the road safety policy of the government and law enforcement as inadequate and unfair

This association is calling government to demand the respect of drivers and citizens; a real road safety policy; refocus priorities and come to a constructive and intelligent long-term road safety solution.

The Union des Usagers de la Route no longer supports the increasing criminalization of ordinary citizens and refuses to be treated as such and reject the constant threat of disproportionate penalties. Their representatives state that they do not want to be treated like children when all road users are punished for the irresponsible actions of a few and consider that the government has failed to take into account the real causes of road accidents.

Could these regulations from France reach our shores and cross our borders? The French government could pressure the European Union for the introduction of mandatory Hi-Viz. The European Commission as proposers of European regulations/legislation could propose mandatory Hi-Viz across Europe Member States. Closer to home and only a European Border away, we responded http://www.righttoride.co.uk/?page_id=976. to a consultation in 2009 by Irelands Road Safety Authority (RSA). The consultation contained a proposal to introduce regulations for the mandatory wearing of sleeved high visibility upper body clothing for rider and pillion passenger.

So all things are possible this is why we must be vigilante not just at home and while presenting seasoned and rational arguments combined where necessary with action, which is why we support the general action and arguments of riders and their organisations in France.

So if you happen to be heading to France this weekend and see a few thousand bikes riding down the road you may wish to join in.

Full lists of the demonstrations are available on the “The Union des Usagers de la Route” website and for riders coming to the UK the closest would appear to be “Demonstration 59” near Lille organised by FFMC59 www.ffmc59.org