Biker News - Regularly updated

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  1. Distinguished Gentlemens Ride 2017

    For one day a year, however, thousands of Distinguished Gentleman (and genteel ladyfolk) in hundreds of cities worldwide press their cravats, starch their tweed and sit astride their classic-styled motorcycles to raise funds for prostate cancer research and awareness. 

    It’s a day all about spreading merriment, while raising awareness of a really important issue, that affects 1 in 8 blokes across the world. The fundraising supports research into Men's Health by bringing together dapper riders of classic machines, cafe racers, bobbers, custom motorcycles, trackers and undefinable two-wheeled creations.

    The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a celebration of the art of being dapper and the style of classic custom motorcycles. What does that mean, you ask? Think: Monocles, jaunty trimmed moustaches, silk vests, crisp shirts and tailored suits. Ride: Café Racers, Bobbers, Flat Trackers, Scramblers and quirky, undefinable two-wheeled machines. The styles of bike should be reflective of classic motorcycle nature. Think 1970's and the decades before them. Do: Bring your finest manners, neatest beards and a sense of fun and adventure.

    Pay: Nothing to ride (entry is free); but please consider helping our charities by getting your friends and family to sponsor your involvement. Or buy a patch, cap or tshirt. Every little bit helps. Dapper for a Cause: Where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. 

    In 2014, there was 20,000 smartly-dressed gentlefolk in 258 cities across 57 countries. 

    In 2016, there was more than 56,000 dapper riders in over 500 cities across 90 countries, that united for the world’s largest motorcycling charity event upon their classic & vintage styled motorcycles, in the name of men’s health. 

    venue: Thousands of riders in 500+ cities across the globe will ‘join the gentry’ on a ride to raise money for the Prostrate Cancer Foundation. Please note below are UK and Ireland events. Lots more listed on the website and facebook.
    London event | Manchester event | Birmingham event | Bournemouth event | Bristol event | Bury St Edmonds event | Cambridge event | Chester event | Coventry event | Cumbria - Furness Peninsula event | Derbyshire event | Devon event | Doncaster event | Exeter event | Hampshire, Solent event | Isle of Wight event | Lancashire event | Leeds event | Lincoln event | Liverpool event | Maidstone, Kent event | Newcastle event | North Yorkshire event | Northampton event |  Nottingham event | Oxford event | Peterborough event | Plymouth event | Stoke event | Swindon event | Tamworth event  | West Sussex event | Worcestershire event
    Cardiff, Wales event | Pembrokeshire, Wales event | Rhyl, Wales event 
    Belfast event | Clonmel event | Cork event | Dublin Ireland event | 
    Aberdeen, Scotland event | Edinburgh, Scotland event | Glasgow, Scotland event | Inverness, Scotland event | Killin, Scotland event

    website: www.gentlemansride.com
    facebook

  2. Known for being a big fan of all forms of two-wheels, Kawasaki British Superbike rider Leon Haslam’s latest venture is Supermoto and, as a result, the latest addition to his garage is a Supermoto spec Kawasaki KX450F. Kawasaki UK supply Leon Haslam with a Supermoto spec KX450F

    The highly modified KX machine was sent to Trevor Pope Motorcycles in Gosport – an experienced Supermoto machine builder – who turned the lime green machine into a Supermoto special.

    The standard cast Triple Clamps were replaced with an X Trig 16mm Offset Triple Clamp Front End Yoke Set to improve stability, turning and strength. It has a pair of slick Dunlop tyres and the front has been fitted with a Beringer oversize Front Brake Caliper to accept the 320mm oversize wavy Disc to cope with the extra, heavy braking required – there’s a wavy disc on the rear too. The standard clutch has been changed to a Sutter Slipper clutch too – which is essential to enable the rear wheel to break and gain traction. The machine has also received SAMCO Silicone Radiator Hoses – in green, of course, plus much more…

    Leon Haslam said: “I can’t wait to get to have a play on it! Kawasaki have been kind enough to build me a full racing bike – I’ve seen the odd picture of the bike as it’s been built but to see it in the flesh now is awesome. 

    I got into supermoto over the winter for training ahead of the British Superbike Championship. I train out in Spain with the Lowes twins – we ride pit bikes, motocross and supermoto – and was borrowing their bike, so I was keen to get one of my own. From my perspective, I’ll be using it mainly for training.  There’s lots of good spots we go to in the UK too – we usually ride them on pit bikes so to attack them on a super KX450F will be good fun!”

    To view the full range of KX machines, visit: www.kawasaki.co.uk

  3. Advance tickets for Motorcycle Live, the UK's biggest bike show, are on sale now!

    Prices have been frozen at 2016 rates and the tickets remain all-inclusive, so every single live feature, event and experience at the show is absolutely FREE to enjoy. 

    Advance buyers will not only benefit from significant savings in comparison to the on-the-door price, they will also be in with a chance of winning one of hundreds of on-the-spot prizes in the show’s 2017 Golden Ticket promotion.

    The 17 FREE live features and events at Motorcycle Live include ten opportunities to ride a bike, with something on offer for all ages and levels of experience. There will also be non-stop interactive entertainment, celebrity appearances, classic, custom and special manufacturer displays and the awesome FMX Live presented by Arenacross.  

    But arguably the most popular attraction for the thousands of bike fans flooding through the doors every year is the chance to see the brand-new machinery from the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers, on display in the UK for the very first time. There will be at least 38 manufacturers appearing at Motorcycle Live 2017 – that’s a whole lot of new metal for visitors to feast their eyes on.

    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 (under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult). There is also a £25 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and a Spada Gonzo bag worth £29.99**.

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

    Visitors paying for on-site car parking at The NEC either in advance (at a reduced rate), or on the day, will receive a voucher for half-price admission to the National Motorcycle Museum, which is adjacent to the venue. Motorcycle parking at the show is free of charge.

    Motorcycle Live 2017 takes place at The NEC, Birmingham from 18-26 November

    Motorcycle Live 2017 tickets on sale now

    *Advance ticket prices, closing date for advanced tickets 5pm on 17 November 2017. There is a £1.50 fulfilment fee per order.

    **Limited offer while stocks last

    www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

  4. Well, Farmyard Party was a blast and we certainly haven't seen the Main Stage that wild for a while. With an early start on Friday, the party kicked off to what was to be a very hot weekend - literally - and what can I say about the Sex Pissed Dolls and AC/DC UK?

    They put on an absolutely brilliant show to say the least. And, of course, The Purple Helmets and Smacked Arse Comedy Show kept us giggling and entertained throughout the rally. We hope our improvements to this year's entertainment have been worthwhile for you - even if you did have to pay a tad more.

    So, to the final act - Yorkshire Pudding - which has sold out once again!

    So if you've booked a ticket for this rally, this is what you should expect to see. This year's headline bands include Angel Fire - one of our favourites that we haven't seen for a couple of years - and Storm, which we guarantee will rock the house down. Mr David Williams will be headlining The Smacked Arse Comedy show on Saturday afternoon. And to get you on your merry way, we will be serving the usual plethora of fantastic real ales and acoustic sounds during Friday and Saturday afternoons. Full details of all Yorkshire Pudding entertainment below for your perusal.

    Yorkshire Pudding is a pre-book ticket rally only. So, if you haven't got one then tough luck - you'll have to be quicker next year!.

    Pete Walker

    For Bikers, By Bikers, In Aid of Biking

    www.mapevents.co.uk

  5. Team Winfield, one of the most successful Classic motorcycle racing teams on the planet, will once again take to the TT Mountain Course in 2017 having secured the considerable talents of Josh Brookes for the Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts.

    The team will concentrate their efforts this year on the Bennetts Senior Classic TT Race with Australian ace Brookes campaigning the 500cc Paton that John McGuinness took to a record-breaking victory 12 months ago.

    Roger Winfield’s outfit have been ever-present at the Classic TT since 2013, and the Classic Manx Grand Prix before that, and although McGuinness was out of luck in the early years of the Classic TT, he made up for that last year when he won the race and set a new lap record of 113.342mph as he came home over twenty seconds clear of Dean Harrison.

    The 23-time Isle of Man TT had been due to ride Winfield’s rapid 500cc twin cylinder Paton again this year but having sustained leg injuries at the North West 200, the team were in need of a top quality replacement and they’ve got just that in 34-year old Brookes.

    The former British Superbike Champion enjoyed a superb return to the 37.73-mile Mountain Course at this year’s TT as he lapped at close to 131mph on the SG6 Norton on his way to securing sixth place in the Pokerstars Senior Race. He took the same result in the Bennetts Lightweight Race, on Ryan Farquhar’s IEG/KMR Kawasaki. The Northern Irishman himself has a strong link to Team Winfield having taken numerous victories at the Manx Grand Prix on Winfield’s immaculately prepared machines.

    Brookes will be getting his first taste of Classic TT action but there’s not doubt that the combination of his skill and talent and Winfield’s engineering expertise, is one to be feared They will come into this year’s event as one of the pre-race favourites. Indeed, the Sydney rider could well start favourite for his maiden Mountain Course race victory.

    Team owner Roger Winfield commented:

    “We were deeply saddened when John (McGuinness) was ruled out after his crash at the North West 200. Working with John has been a real highlight for our team over the past few years and after some terrible luck we showed what we are capable of last year when he won the race and moved the lap record on considerably. Hopefully he will continue to mend well and we look forward to be able to work with him again in the future.”

    He continued:
     
    “The task of replacing the most successful living TT rider has been a difficult one and we would have been forced to miss the event if we couldn’t find a rider of the very highest calibre to fill John’s boots so we were delighted when Josh Brookes agreed to join our team. While not as experienced on the Mountain Course as some of the riders in the field, there is no question about his skill level, and his results impressed everyone at this year’s TT after two years away. We will give Josh a great bike which hopefully he will get a lot of enjoyment out of riding, and we will see where we all end up after a week’s qualifying and four fast laps in the race itself.”

    Josh Brookes added:

    “It’s great to be riding the team Winfield Paton at the Classic TT. The team and the bike clearly have pedigree having won last year’s race and setting a new lap record. It’s going to be a steep learning curve for me with a type of bike I have no experience of riding, but I am looking forward to the challenge and will give it my all to give Roger and the team a good result.”
     
    Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £20. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 26thAugust the RST Classic TT Legends Dinner on Sunday 27th and the Classic TT Prize giving and Closing Party on Monday 28th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.