Biker News - Regularly updated

Welcome to our News section, where articles are listed below and if relevant within the categories on the right, just to make it easier for you to find what you wish to read...

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  1. Skegness Charity Bike Night
    Mablethorpe Bike Night 2017
    Brigits Mantle @ The Buck Inn
    Running on MT - The Infl8table One
    Not Forgotten Rally - Dieppe Raid 1942
    Barry Sheene Road Race Festival Powered by Suzuki
    Faro 2017 - International Motorcycle Meeting
    The Purple Rose Coastal Bike Ride
    Cheshire Classic Car and Motorcycle Show
    Sutton on Sea Bike Night The Warm up!
    Kempton Park Motorcycle Jumble
    Flat Track, Off-Road, MX, Supermoto, Scamblers @ Ace Cafe

    See more details (and more events) on the main WHAT'S ON section for July

  2. Barry Sheene’s restored XR14 to be ridden by son Freddie at Olivers Mount

    Barry Sheene’s 1976 world championship-winning XR14 – which has been restored with the help of Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme – will be ridden by his son Freddie at this year’s Sheene Festival at Oliver’s Mount on 22-23 July.

    The bike, which carried Barry Sheene to victory in four Grands Prix in 1976, was recently restored by former Team Suzuki mechanics Martyn Orgborne and Nigel Everett. Freddie will ride the iconic machine in a special parade session during the weekend, while Steve Parrish will ride the 1977 XR14 that Barry also rode to world championship glory. There will also be a display of other bikes raced by Barry Sheene, and a collection of his leathers.

    Suzuki, sponsoring the event for a third consecutive year, will be bringing a fleet of display bikes, including the Team Classic Suzuki Katana and a number of race bikes from the firm’s decorated history. The original GSX-R750F that was restored as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations will also feature, as will the GSX-R1100 restored by Suzuki’s apprenticeship programme and the TL1000S built from new parts.

    The event, held at the only true road-race circuit in England, will also feature a full programme of 21 races, a trade village, and live band on the Saturday night.

    Freddie Sheene said, “I’m really looking forward to the Oliver’s Mount event, not only for the usual atmosphere but for the fact that the public will be able to see the ‘76 and ‘77 world championship-winning bikes back where they belong. Those bikes laid dormant for the past 40 years and it’s a special moment for everyone to be a part of. The whole process of bringing the bikes back to life wouldn’t have been possible without the help from Suzuki GB and most importantly Martyn Ogborne and Nigel Everett; they have put over 600 hours between them to make this happen. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone over the weekend; let’s just hope the weather stays in check.”

    Scott Beaumont from Oliver’s Mount, commented, “To say we are excited about seeing Barry Sheene’s world championship-winning bike riding around Oliver’s Mount again is an understatement. Then the fact that his son Freddie will be riding it simply gives us goosebumps. This is an incredible opportunity to see this bike ridden in the UK for probably the final time. We simply cannot wait for the festival to get underway, and we hope to see all fans of Sheene, Suzuki, Classic Bikes and riding legends attending. See you all trackside for what is likely to be a once in a lifetime event.”

    Suzuki GB aftersales marketing coordiantor, Tim Davies, added, “We’re delighted to be backing the Sheene Festival again this year, and we’re really looking forward to watching Freddie ride Barry’s championship-winning machine RG500. It’s been really special to be involved in the restoration of such an iconic machine, with the help of the Sheene family. It was great to watch it come together, and it’ll be even more special to see Freddie ride it at a circuit that Barry loved and enjoyed much success at.”

    The 2017 Barry Sheene Festival will take place at Oliver’s Mount on 22-23 July. For tickets and event information, visit www.oliversmountracing.com

  3. Classic Ford fans are in for a treat when the British Motor Museum hosts the 9th Old Ford Rally held in conjunction with the Ford Y & C Register. On Sunday 16 July around 600 classic Fords will go on display at the biggest rally of classic Fords in the UK.  Vehicles including commercials, tractors and vehicles with a Ford engine built up to 1990 will be on display, exhibiting the incredible range of vehicles produced by one of the world’s biggest manufacturers.

    Visitors will be able to see a huge range from Model T’s to the cars of the pre-war austerity years plus agricultural vehicles, Thames and Ford commercial vehicles as well as the more luxurious post-war Zephyr’s, Zodiac’s and Granada’s. There will also be the Mk1 and Mk2 Cortina’s, Anglia’s, and Escorts as well as Capri’s from the 1960’s – mid 1980’s. A first for this year is the 1925 Ford Model T Railway Inspection Car which will be running on a short 30m section of track outside the Collections Centre.

    The show will also host a display of Ford or Ford engined military vehicles of all ages and the Bicester Home Guard will also be in attendance supporting the military vehicle section. There will be an autojumble and an arena with live displays and commentary throughout the day. The Midlands Meccano Guild will also be featuring an exhibition of hand built models with over 50 tables of models on display within the Museum. Visitors will have full access to the museum and the Collections Centre as well as the show outside.

    Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum stated “This superb show is a real enthusiasts event and incredibly popular with fans of this iconic marque. Anyone who loves old Ford vehicles is guaranteed a great day out”. 

    Tickets for the show cost £14 on the day for adults, £9 for children and £39 for a family.  Discounted tickets are available in advance online. Camping is available on Saturday 15 July. Price per pitch, tent or caravan, is £25.

    To find out more about the British Motor Museum please visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk

    Classic Ford fans are in for a treat at the Old Ford Rally

  4. For adventure riders Thailand and Laos provide superb, excellent value riding. In this naturally beautiful region with its wonderful cultural heritage, our offroad tours take you to some real hidden gems rarely seen by tourists and travellers.

    On our Dragon's Tail 7 day tour to the top of Thailand's highest mountain - Doi Inthanon - we ride through bamboo forest, elephant camps, the hot springs beauty spot of Pai, along the Ping river with its wooded banks and dramatic waterfalls, through tribal villages and visit the largest cave in SE Asia. As you'd expect the terrain is wonderful and varied - steep mountain mud trails, gentle stony tracks, river crossings, narrow tarmac roads... This is a weeks offroading like no other!  

    Golden Triangle tour extends Dragon's Tail  into the Golden triangle region on the Myanmar and Laos border for a 12 day adventure. Infamous for its historical opium production, this area provides a heady mix of lush jungle, hill-tribe villages, tranquil rice paddies, mist-shrouded mountains and mixed cultures.  We ride across the border into Myanmar, take a riverboat on the mighty Mekong into Laos and take in a little bit of China (in Thailand) in unique Santikharee village. 

    Laos: Gateway to China Adventure is more expedition than tour. We ride through Northern Thailand littered with its hilly national parks and village trails, continue through the Golden Triangle and then into Laos - one of the most unspoilt countries in the world and with many unpaved roads! The World Heritage City of Luang Prabang with its fabulous temples, palaces and museums is a cultural highlight and we visit an elephant camp and cross the Mekong River by boat. Whether you take our New Year tour, aimed at more experienced riders, or go in February you'll be in for a treat - a truly unique 14 day motorcycling experience! 

    Enduro training? Want to improve your offroad skills pre tour? No worries - we offer 1 and 3 day Enduro Training in Chiang Mai where you can get used to your bikes by practising on uphill sections, traversing log bridges, river crossings, sand, mud etc.

    And extra nights accommodation is available at very reasonable prices in Chiang Mai. Either relax by the pool or immerse yourself into the classic culture of elaborately ornamented temples - there's 30 'wats' to choose from. 

    For further details on all our other tours, locations and summer destinations too, please visit our website: www.hctravel.com

     

    H-C Travel, Motorcycle tour operator

  5. Motorcycles are less stable and less visible than cars, and they have good performance capabilities which is sometimes bad and sometimes good. For these and other reasons, motorcycles are very much more likely than cars to experience crashes and get involved in accidents.

    At Siima MotoWear, they have done some research and came up with some useful thoughts for both riders and drivers, so they share the road safely and respect each other.

    Motorcycle riders lack the safety of an indoor vehicle, so they're much more likely to get injured or even killed. Per mile traveled, the involving deaths on motorcycles is roughly 26 times the number of a car. Riders who won't be wearing a helmet are 40 % more likely to suffer a fatal head injury, in contrast to helmeted riders.  

    The actions of motorcyclists can affect motor vehicle operators in various ways. When you follow a motorcycle, bear in mind that motorcycles contain the ability of stopping a whole lot more quickly than other vehicles. So keep your distance to yourself and the biker safe. While maintaining a safe and secure distance from motorcyclists in front of you, check your rearview mirror and be aware of motorcyclists following you. When a motorcyclist is following you, be especially careful not to create any sudden stops. Otherwise you set the rider's life in danger.

    Weather and road conditions present greater problems to motorcyclists. A puddle may hide a dent that jolts your car; the same hidden hole can throw a motorcycle out of control. When it rains, reduced traction makes it difficult for riders to balance. Is actually much harder for the motorcyclist to stop or get control of his motobike on slippery roads. Needless to say, things get a lot worse on icy roads.

    Strong winds are extremely dangerous if not knowing how to deal with. In many occasions winds are able to move your bike to the other lane, creating very dangerous conditions for you. Best thing to do is to slow down at the speed you feel comfortable and able to manage your bike. If the winds are really strong better stop the bike. In these cases, drivers should be extra careful and have their eyes open for motorcyclists. Check your mirros and look for single headlight vehicles, they are probably motorcycles.

    When you are following a motorcycle with a pillion riders, be extra careful. Pillion riders' positionand seat can partly control the motorcycle's behavior and performance. If the motorcyclist is inexperienced in transporting a passenger he/she will probably have extra issues with balancing and controlling the motorcycle. 

    Remember to dress for the slide, not the ride. Always use ATGATT, and make sure you use proper motorcycle safety gear.

    See full article here 

    www.siimajackets.com/single-post/sharing-the-road