Charley Boorman, renowned adventure motorcyclist, TV presenter and documentary maker have today announced a collaboration with Compass Expeditions, one of the world’s leading Adventure Bike Tour companies.

Working with Compass Expeditions for the last four years offering adventure tours across Australia, Charley has been impressed with their professionalism, their spirit and their passion for motorcycles and motorcycle touring.

“Our adventure rides into the Outback and Tasmania have been so popular, we’ve now decided to use the same model in South America and Africa. Our groups just can’t get enough and keep coming back for more. Compass have that adventure magic and I’m looking forward to 2016 as we ride across Australia again and, later in the year, South America and Africa.” Charley said.

Charley will also be offering African adventure tours with Compass, with dates to be announced in 2016. His extensive experience of riding in Africa along with his friend and business partner, Billy (Biketruck) Ward, means that riders can be assured of that trip of a lifetime – along with the thrill of sharing stories and adventures with one of the world’s leading characters in the adventure motorcycling fraternity.

“Compass are proud and excited to be working with Charley and to be extending the Boorman rides to cover South America and the African continent. His character, his riding skill and his manner have exceeded all expectations. With enthusiastic clients returning year on year, we’re confident that Charley Boorman, together with the Billy Biketruck ingredient, will guarantee that trip of a lifetime.”

Compass Expeditions has experienced continued growth over the last eight years to become one of the world’s best-known motorcycle tour companies. Today Compass offer twenty-five motorcycle tours in thirty-six countries on four continents with offices in Chile, Peru and Australia plus a sales team that spans the globe. With fleets of motorcycles, professional guides and support vehicles they are truly a world leader in the industry.

Information about Charley Boorman - www.charleyboorman.com
Information about Compass Expeditions - www.compassexpeditions.com

After winning the Best Feature Film Award in New York at the 2015 Motorcycle Film Festival (Sept 23-27th, 2015), Dream Racer is now being nominated at the 2016 Portland Motorcycle Film Festival (Jan 29-30th).

This festival is packed with great films including Moto 7 featuring the best Motocross and Supercross riders in the world, the IOM TT - a legendary 37.7 mile race on the Isle of Man, and the new Hitting the Apex Film narrated by Brad Pitt featuring world's champs Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, as well as the late Marco Simoncelli.

"We are excited to showcase a different kind of extreme racing with Dream Racer and the Dakar Rally - and to be against such great productions is an honour. However Dream Racer is a case of David against Goliath(s) in every sense of the word, but we trust that the depth of the Dream Racer story will win the heart of the audience" says Christophe Barriere-Varju (the subject of the film).

Dream Racer won awards in Los Angeles, Barcelona, New Delhi, Milan, and New York, and has been internationally acclaimed by its viewers worldwide (read testimonials).

The Dream Racer story is based on the famous Dakar Rally, the most extreme and dangerous race on earth where racers brave extreme temperature in the harshest deserts on the planet. A 15 days, 10,000km (6,200 miles) desert race dubbed insanity on wheels where each year since 1979, and with an attrition rate of 50%, racers facing injuries and death attempt the impossible.

The Dream Racer film shows The Dakar Rally in  its purest form – no sponsors, no multi-million dollar team, not even a  mechanic – just one man, a motorbike, his tool-roll, and the world’s  most dangerous motor race. Far more than just a motorbike movie, Dream Racer is a call to arms for anyone who has ever dreamt of doing anything – a spine tingling antidote to the fear of life passing you by unfulfilled.

All of us have dreams and desires, but sometimes they remain just that, dreams, lost in a schedule of a tomorrow that never comes. Dream Racer is a story of dreams, determination, and extreme resilience to make it happen at all cost - a story guaranteed to make you question your real purpose in life.

Dream Racer has also been subtitled in Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German and Russian and is available for acquisition by TV Networks. Dream Racer is available worldwide on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Video-on-Demand at www.dreamracer.tv

Team Classic Suzuki has announced its tie up with Suzuki GB’s Vintage Parts programme for 2016, and confirm that it will officially represent the Japanese manufacturer in high profile classic racing events next season.

The team will contest a number of events throughout the year, including the Classic TT on the Isle of Man, and unveiled the Suzuki XR69s that riders Michael Dunlop and Lee Johnston will campaign in 2016 at Motorcycle Live.

Team Classic Suzuki Owner, Steve Wheatman, said of the tie up,

“We’re delighted to have agreed terms with Suzuki GB for increased support in 2016, and are proud to be officially representing the brand next season. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership, with the team able to benefit from Suzuki’s parts knowledge and input, while the spectators at many of the events we will be racing at in 2016 are enthusiasts and owners of older bikes, who could benefit from Suzuki GB’s parts programme for more classic machines.

“In 2015 Michael Dunlop raced our XR69 to victory at the Classic TT; his second win in three years on our bike, and we’ll be aiming for the top step again at every event we enter in 2016 with both Michael and Lee Johnston.”

Suzuki GB Aftersales Marketing Co-ordinator, Tim Davies, said,

“Being involved with Steve and Team Classic Suzuki is a perfect fit for us. Racing is a hugely important part of Suzuki’s heritage, and even though bikes and technology are always moving forward, we don’t forget about the bikes that got us to where we are. It’s the same with our road bikes too, which is why we’re so committed to supporting the team next season, and we’re sure we’ll be celebrating some good results together in 2016.”

ELVIS “JAILHOUSE ROCK” BIRTHDAY PARTY NIGHT!

(Great prizes to be won!)

9pm – 2am, Saturday 9th January
Entry £10
Sorry no under 18’s

Ace Cafe London’s annual Elvis “jailhouse Rock” birthday party night, features the exceptional singer, songwriter and performer, Paul Ansell, frontman and “voice” of the rock n’ roll band “No.9” – Paul has worked with many of the rock n’ roll greats, including Elvis’ Sun guitarist, the legendary Scotty Moore. With DJ Bill Guntrip on the decks, from 9pm – 2am Saturday 9th January, let’s rock the Ace with the “King”!

This evening includes opportunity to win a range of prizes to include, courtesy of the UK label Vee-Tone Records, limited edition collectors vinyl that captures the young Elvis Presley arguably at his greatest, “Too Much, The British HMV singles ’57 –‘58” Volumes 1 & 2, and three special first album CD’s, courtesy “The Black Shadow”, the iconic cult band from Japan, as well as copies of Vintage Rock Magazine, pairs of tickets to attend the cafe’s annual Gene Vincent Tribute Night on Saturday 20th February, meal vouchers for two, and a selection of Ace goodies!

To be in with a chance of winning, just retain your door entry raffle ticket. Draw will be held on the evening.

www.vintagerockmag.com
www.veetonerecords.com

For more information about what's on at the Ace, check out the scrolling calendar at: www.ace-cafe-london.com

From 1st January 2016 it will be compulsory for all motorcyclists to carry Gilet de haute Visibilité (High Visibility Vest to those not fluent in French ;) ) and wear them in the event of an emergency/breakdown, whilst in France. 

A fine of €11 will be given if you are spot checked by police and you do not have one carried on your motorcycle and if you are not wearing it at the roadside (in the event of a breakdown/emergency and/or on the hard shoulder) the fine is €135. Please note this also applies to the pillion passenger.     

This issue has been talked about for a few years, but with protests from the FFMC – French Federation of Angry Bikers, the (former) French Interior Minister, Claude Guéant did not implement it and for a time compulsory reflective straps around the arm were worn instead. However with a rise in road deaths on French roads the law has been brought in. 

Other rules

Motorcycles must display dipped headlights (even in broad daylight - Ed; "Harley owners will be happy then!"), along with carrying a full set of replacement bulbs. 

French law also states you have reflective stickers on your helmet - (four of) front, back and one on each side. We have found that this is a French law and not a European law, meaning it 'should' only apply to a French citizen and with a motorcycle registered in France, however would you really want to argue this fact in your pigeon French to the local Gendarme on a summer afternoon in a picturesque village?

Great riding and Biker Friendly Places to stay

Wheather it is your first trip to France and you are to explore the historical and emotional WW1 and WW2 sites, museums and war graves in Normandy, or you are heading down to the South of France, for the renowned Mediterranean coastline, give yourself time to enjoy the lovely minor roads, quaint villages and open countryside - avoiding the fast pasted motorways and saving the cost of the tolls!

It may be tempting to just pack your kit-bag onto your bike and just head off, however it is the experienced traveller that plans the routes and where to stay prior and in this modern age it has never been easier...

For example if you give yourself a daily how many miles you want to travel, along with places you really want to visit/stop at, you can then plan your route via Google Maps, pin-pointing an area you wish to stay and then source the accommodation prior. Many do like to just be spontaneous, however once you have ridden in France, during bad weather or when a festive/bank holiday was on and have tried to find room in the proverbial Inn, you will wish you had planned and booked prior.

Once the route is planned and places to stay booked, you can then load this information onto a Sat-Nav to help you get there. We are not saying to purely use this technology to get you there alone, however it is a far easier (and safer) way to tour on roads you do not know, with a plan and schedual to adhere to. 

On THE BIKER GUIDE we have lots of Biker Friendly Accommodation in France and many with British owners who are happy to give advice on routes, where to go and more...

A day at the beach, from Countryside Holidays in France

A Low Emission Zone has also been introduced in Paris, initially affecting only older (Euro 1) trucks and buses. Restrictions will be extended to all older vehicles from 1 July 2016 and tightened progressively between 2017 and 2020.

More information for Urban Road Tolls, Traffic Limited Zones and Traffic Restrictions to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and make historic city centres attractive to tourists can be found on www.urbanaccessregulations.eu