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

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

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

Suzuki has announced details of the new RM-Z450, which gets an all-new chassis to reduce weight and improve handling performance, an improved and updated engine that produces more power and torque, plus the newest version of the Suzuki’s holeshot assist and traction management, all wrapped in fresh new styling for 2018.

Chassis

The 2018 RM-Z450 gets a completely new chassis, with a frame that improves cornering performance, stability, and shock absorption, thanks to a weight reduction of 700g and further optimised rigidity. A new swingarm follows a similar design philosophy, and sees a further weight saving of 100g to contribute the improved handling performance. The subframe gets a new hexagonal structure that improves rigidity, and with a slimmer design it improves the overall look of the bike. An added practicality benefit is the ease in which the air filter can be removed.

In turn, the seat rails are moved closer together and raised to help accommodate the new rear shock; Showa’s Balance Free unit. It means the RM-Z450 becomes the first production motocross machine to adopt Showa’s premium, race-proven shock, which uses an external damping circuit to avoid variations in the balance of pressure. The movement of the damping mechanism to the outside of the cylinder optimises oil flow and achieves smooth, controlled responsiveness to deliver better absorption over bumps and increased traction.

For 2018 front suspension is again provided by Showa, with new coil spring forks replacing the air forks of the previous model. The new, larger forks improve responsiveness and feel for the rider. Fork diameter is increased from 58.5mm to 59.3mm.

The changes to the RM-Z450’s chassis mean the wheelbase is now shorter, 1480mm down from the 1495mm of the previous model, with the headstock moved 10mm backwards and the handlebars moved 7mm forward, to increase the bike’s agility. Bars remain Renthal, but are straighter and flatter to allow riders to easily shift their weight over the front of the bike.

Weight saving is not only achieved by the new RM-Z450’s frame and swingarm. A new fuel tank, which goes from aluminium to resin reduces weight by 275g, while also increases capacity from 6.2 litres to 6.3 litres. Lighter front and rear wheels save 70g, 34g are saved with a new top yoke, 30g with a new chain guide, and 246g with a new seat.

A new, bigger front brake disc, which goes from 250mm to 270mm, and new rear brake master cylinder improve braking performance, while a new guard helps protect the engine during races, and covers the water pump and magneto cover.

Engine

The RM-Z450’s engine delivers higher peak power and improved low-midrange torque for 2018, as well as an improved throttle response. New and smoother porting in the cylinder head has increased tumble flow by 25%. It helps with a more efficient combustion and helps achieve a higher peak power without sacrificing low-to-mid range power. A 30% larger air filter aperture increases power output at all engine speeds.  A new intake cam profile raises valve lift, improving intake efficiency and further helps to increase power across the rev range. As a result, there’s also a new piston designed to endure the higher peak power output.

Throttle response is improved thanks to a variety of changes, including a new fuel pump which increases fuel pressure by 17% and promotes more effective mixing of air and fuel. There’s also a new throttle body and fuel injector, which now injects fuel upwards and directly onto the butterfly valve.

Electronics

The very latest version of Suzuki’s holeshot assist system means the new RM-Z450 is even better equipped when it comes to launching from the gate and leading into the first corner. The system optimises ignition timing and offers two modes for riders to choose from, depending on the conditions.

A-mode, for use on hard surfaces or in slippery conditions, has been heavily revised, and retards ignition timing for a smoother launch. B-mode is for use in conditions with more grip, and advances ignition timing during launch.

Pressing and holding the switch for 0.7 seconds will activate A-mode, indicated by a flashing flight. Holding for 1.8 seconds will activate B-mode, indicated by the light flashing faster. The system can be turned off by pressing the switch again.

The system advances or retards ignition timing during the launch from the gate, and returns to normal six seconds after the launch, when the rider shifts into fifth gear, or when the throttle is closed. The ignition timing is optimised for the three stages of launch; moment of launch, riding over the gate, and acceleration to the first turn.

The 2018 RM-Z450 also gets an evolved version of Suzuki’s traction management system. The ECM – which  boasts 1.6x faster data processing and 2.5x the memory capacity – monitors the throttle position, engine speed, and gear position. The information is used to control ignition timing, adjust the fuel injection rate and control engine output to optimise traction to best match the riding conditions.

It differs from road-going traction control in that it does not monitor rear wheel spin. Instead, it operates based on programming coded into the ECM. It does not control traction once the wheel spins, but delivers constant control that maximises traction.

Styling

The RM-Z450’s new chassis and upgraded engine is all wrapped in new bodywork, with more aggressive styling that imitates the factory race bikes. Close attention was paid by the design team to the lines and flow of the new machine, with a sharper design to the bodywork and the machine’s livery design.

Availability

The new RM-Z450 is forecast to arrive in dealerships in the autumn. For more information visit https://bikes.suzuki.co.uk/mx