This weekend on 29-30th October, Olympia London will be hosting the KICKBACK Motorcycle Show. KICKBACK is a platform for young engineers, experienced builders, craftsmen, painters, artists, fabricators of all ages...a blank canvass to express their imagination. There will be around 100 masterpieces from the top draw on display in the Invitational Showcase.

One of the special showcase motorcycles on display will be the Award Winning "Speed Weevil". This stunning work of art has just been voted winner at this year's Artistry in Iron Championship at the Las Vegas Bike Fest. Designed, created and built by Pete Pearson who runs (with his wife Lisa) Rocket Bobs Cycle Works, "Speed Weevil" is a salt racer powered by a slightly modified 1935 Triumph L2-1 motor; complete with turbocharger, supercharger, methanol burning and nitrous injected enhancements! On display at KICKBACK making its one and only UK show appearance!

You will be able to enjoy getting up real close to the bikes and studying the detail of these unique customised machines, classics and specials. You will also be able to enjoy other stuff that's going on, such as The Art Space showing fine works of 'motorcycle art' presented by UAL University of the Arts London (Chelsea). Check out the World's coolest barber at the AONO pop up shop. There'll be vintage biker movies showing and live music (in the background) with 3am and Ronnie Ripple & the Ripchords.

Have a coffee or a beer, have some lunch. Talk to your mates and colleagues about frame modifications and flat trackers.

There is going to be around 50 decent traders including product launches from the likes of Dickies Motorcycle Outfitters, & Sons, Oily Rag Clothing, Gold Top, Krazy Horse, Luk3 G Clothing and Cabaret Club Clothing...plus some ace builders and dealers including the likes of Stile Italiano, Krazy Horse London, Bieda, BMG with MV Agusta, TTT Motorcycles and Royal Enfield, Jack Lilley Triumph, Rag & Bones Customs, Righteous Brothers, Sinroja and Sinnis Motorcycles...

You can get in on the door for just £10 cash for an adult weekend pass. Or if you fancy saving a few quid you can buy tickets online for just £8.95 where you'll also see kids for a quid deals.

www.thecustomshow.com

When the 28-man field lines up for the 2016 Macau Motorcyle Grand Prix this November, Manx road racer Conor Cummins will be representing the Honda Racing Team alongside John McGuinness. The race’s qualifying stage takes place on Friday, 18th November at Guia Circuit, and the race itself will be held the following day.

Cummins joins Stuart Easton, Michael Rutter, Martin Jessopp, Ben Wylie, his teammate McGuinness, and the race’s defending champion Peter Hickman among the U.K.’s well-represented contingent of world-class road racers heading to Macau.

The 30-year old favourite of his fellow Manx, along with motorcycle racing fans everywhere, Cummins’ legend is steeped in the history of his homeland’s most famous contest: the Isle of Man TT. A grueling 37-mile journey through the hilly Manx countryside’s Snaefell Mountain Course, which was once dubbed “37 miles of stone walls and telegraph poles” by former world champion racer Barry Sheene. The Isle of Man TT blends pure road racing with jaunts through local landmarks like Alpine Cottage to create one of the world’s most highly competitive, and highly anticipated, motorcycle races.     

Conor’s father William “Billy” Cummins raced in the Tourist Trophy in his day, and Conor himself was born during TT week back in 1986. Both of the Cummins lads are still racing today, but for Connor, the road didn't always run so smoothly.

In 2009 the younger Cummins sibling found himself on top of the racing world. He claimed the crown of Fastest Man on Earth that year, winning the Dundrod 150 Superbike race during Ulster Grand Prix Bike week by posting a final lap speed of 133.284 mph aboard his McAdoo Kawasaki, while also securing his first Isle of Man TT podium finish as runner up in the Senior TT. But on the second lap of very same race one year later, he fell victim to a horrific crash that went viral around the world. He broke five vertebrae, his left arm was completely shattered, and to top off the laundry list of injuries, Cummins suffered dislocation and ligament damage in his knee. The crash was featured in the 2011 documentary Closer to the Edge, which chronicled the 2010 Isle of Man TT through the eyes of Cummins, McGuinness, and fellow U.K. racers Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson.

Cummins isn’t shy in talking about the impact that the crash played on his career, and his life. Befitting his family’s long road racing lineage, he returned to the sport just one year later to begin a comeback from what many believed would be career-ending injuries. He finished third in the Lightweight TT in 2013, but from there the hunt for podium finishes has been fruitless. Nonetheless, in light of a recent change from Preston-based sponsor Jackson Racing to the Padgetts team out of Batley, ahead of this year’s Isle of Man TT, Cummins will be looking to ensure a Manx presence on the podium in Macau.

Along with Cummins, the U.K. will be represented well by a stellar cast of former Macau Grand Prix champions.

Peter Hickman of Burton-upon-Trent conquered the Guia Circuit, a 6.2km street course, last year.

Michael Rutter of Wordsley is an eight-time champion renowned as the “Two Wheel King of Macau”, and he’s searching for a ninth checkered flag after winning the race in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 2004, 2005, 2011, and 2012.

Stuart Easton of Hawick, Scotland was the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix champion in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2014.

Ian Hutchinson of Bingley was the winner in 2013, and Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness – Cummins’ Honda Racing teammate – took top honors in Macau in 2001.

With such a stacked field for this year’s Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, an appearance of the podium would be a surprise for Cummins, especially considering his three-year drought.

He wasn’t expected to race again though, so to see Cummins’ name among the 28-racer field in November represents a win in its own right. And this is motorcycle road racing after all, so a superb run coupled with a little luck could very well see Cummins enjoy the kind of improbable finish that makes this sport so special.

article supplied

This year’s Motorcycle Live is absolutely packed with features and events that make the show truly LIVE, so no matter what type of motorcycle you ride or which two-wheeled activities you love, there is something to ignite your passion...

Kawasaki’s stunt rider extraordinaire Lee Bowers will be back by popular demand after his trick-packed demos were voted ‘Best Manufacturer Experience of 2015’ by show visitors. Lee’s repertoire includes drifting, wheelies, stoppies and acrobatics and it's one you’ll not want to miss!

If you’re looking for inspiration for your next big motorcycling adventure, Nick Sanders will launch his latest film The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man at Motorcycle Live. Nick will be on hand every day to share stories of his adventures, and of course his books and DVDs will be available to buy. 

The Isle of Man TT feature makes a return to the show after being voted ‘Best Non-Manufacturer Stand’ in 2015. The area is home to all the leading TT riders, with fan meet and greets and signing sessions taking place every day. Visitors also have the chance to watch an on-board lap of the TT Mountain Course on a big screen.

For classic bike buffs, Suzuki will be adding to the live entertainment on its stand with Team Classic Suzuki building its latest race bike, the GSX1100SD Katana, which it will campaign in next year’s Endurance Legends event at Donington Park.

Custom fans should head to the Indian Motorcycle UK stand, where the entries submitted to its Project Scout contest will be on display. Indian's dealers have been using their passion and know-how to create an Indian Scout custom – show visitors will be able to vote for their favourite and the winner will be announced on Sunday 27 November. 

The Eurosport Entertainment Zone featuring the Blackhorse Stage will be at the heart of Motorcycle Live and will be the home of the show’s resident hosts, Steve Parrish and James Whitham. The stage will provide non-stop entertainment in the form of games, quizzes and Q&As with a whole host of riders from BSB, WSB, Moto GP, Speedway, and TT.

All these features and events are in addition to 39 of the world’s leading manufacturers, over 150 other exhibitors and nine FREE opportunities to ride!

Motorcycle Live 2016 takes place at The NEC, Birmingham from 19-27 November. 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 (accompanied by a paying adult). There is also a £25 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and a Spada bag worth £29.99**.

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

As a biker, you've experienced the enjoyment and freedom that comes with riding a motorbike. Thinking about giving life saving medical treatment to a fallen biker is probably not the first thing you think about when riding your bike. But having a plan on how to deal with a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) involving a motorcyclist could help to administer first aid or even save a life.

Let me introduce you to the 5 Point Plan (5PP).

Point 1 - As a rider get trained in motorcycle first aid.  Motorcycle first aid training, terminology and environment is different than the normal first aid at work.  There are many organisations across the United Kingdom that cover this type of course. 

Point 2 - Carry a First Aid Kit.  When you are dealing with a casualty that may have sustained a fracture or bleeding wound, not having a first aid kit at your disposal becomes very difficult when one has to improvise.  There is no excuse by not having room on your bike as there are many different types and sizes available to cover all motorcycles.

Point 3 – Dealing with a Road Traffic Accident or Collision.

If you arrive on scene or witness an RTA involving a motorcyclist there is a set procedure to follow.  This would be covered in a motorcycle first aid course however I will summarise the main points. 

Ø  Safety – You are in a high risk environment look after yourself, your casualties and any bystanders.  Call for help 999 on landline, 999/112 on mobile.

Ø  Check for immediate danger and protect the scene by using other motorbikes, cars or bystanders wearing hi visibility clothing.

Ø  Check for casualties who need first aid assistance.  Follow current first aid protocols which is Danger, Airway, Breathing, Bleeding or CPR, Defibrillation, Evacuation) on all casualties.  Evacuation means being moved to hospital via ambulance to Emergency Medical Care (EMS).  Some casualties may have hidden or multiple injuries, prioritise and treat.

Ø  If you suspect major injury ie: Neck, Spinal, Fracture – Do not move them but treat in the position found.  

Point 4 – This is a contentious issue involving helmet removal.

Ø  A motorcyclist who is breathing leave motorcycle helmet on and treat accordingly.

Ø  A motorcyclist who is not breathing, you may need to remove his helmet.  However, it takes 2 people to remove a helmet and only carryout this procedure if you have had suitable training in helmet removal.

Ø  If your casualty is not breathing normally and you feel that you do not have the confidence to remove the helmet then “CPR Only” may be the only option.  I would rather do something than nothing.

There are many schemes in the UK which advises not to remove the helmet ie: the crash card that inserts inside the helmet which carries vital medical information for the ambulance personnel.  Some riders have a sticker on the helmet which states “Only to be removed by medical professionals”.  Whatever system you use, this goes back to having some training in motorcycle first aid.

Point 5 – Don’t forget to “Reassure” the casualty or casualties. This sometimes is forgotten and to be honest, reassuring the casualty is all that is needed prior to the arrival of EMS.

Remember the 5 Point Plan.  “Training, First aid kit,  Get help, Don’t remove the helmet unless absolutely necessary, Reassure”

At the request of THE BIKER GUIDE - This article was written by KJ Training Solutions who deliver Motorcycle First Aid courses locally and nationally.  For further information contact [email protected]

"Blair made us very welcome would recommend to Bikers, with great off road secure parking.

Breakfast beautifully cooked and hot and fruit or cereals to start. Brilliant location, Inverness is on your doorstep. Blair provided a map on arrival and explained where the sights were located. We could see the cathedral from our room."

www.roselodgeguesthouse.co.uk