Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the cafe having originally opened in 1938 and the 110th anniversary of Harley Davidson, two of the most famous names in UK motorcycling continue their collaboration into 2013 with Warr's Harley Davidson hosting a year long series of Harley Nights, in partnership with Ace Cafe London.

From 6pm on the last Thursday of every month, starting on Thursday 28th March!

Designed to bring together Harley Davidson owners and potential owners under one roof in a friendly motorcycle inspired atmosphere.      

Warr's HD items will be up for grabs as raffle prizes. Spend £5 or more over the counter and receive a raffle ticket. Draw will take place at 10pm.      

To find out more about Warr's Harley Davidson Harley Nights, or any of its prestigious events contact Warr's Harley Davidson, 611 Kings Road, London, SW6 2EL

IAM’s head of riding standards and advanced biker, Peter Rodger, is advising on getting back on the road after the winter.  

• Check your bike’s fluid levels, brakes, lights, horn and coolant to make sure they’re all in good working order.
• Try starting your bike to check if the battery needs recharging.
• Check that the tyres have sufficient tread, no obvious damage, and are inflated to the right pressure. If you have taken any part of the bike apart over the winter check it is properly back together and that the nuts are all tightened appropriately.
• When you’ve given it the once over, switch on the engine and let your bike warm up before you go out on a ride.
• If you’re feeling particularly rusty, get on your motorcycle in a car park before taking it out on the road.  The first ride should be about settling in gently – you need to get used to riding again.
• Gain confidence by having a few short, simple rides. Consider it a warm up for you and the bike; you've had time away, and both need to warm up again.
• Make sure your leathers and helmet are in good nick– don’t be tempted to take that first ride in street gear because you’re not planning on being out for long.   

Rodger said: “It’s that time of the year when many riders are taking their bikes out from winter storage. Check the bike before you begin this season’s rides, and make sure the rider is up to it as well.”

All new Ducati machines registered from April 1 onwards will now come with the added security of a MASTER Security System. 

 Ducati has joined an industry initiative developed by the Motorcycle Industry Association in adopting the MASTER Security system. The system is fitted free of charge during the pre-delivery inspection at authorised Ducati dealerships and involves a variety of engine, chassis and bodywork parts being marked using a ‘stealth’ UV security etching, glass transponders, ultra violet fluid, Datadots® as well as a discreet warning label to deter would-be thieves.

It is the first and only official national scheme approved by the police authorities, the Home Office and powered by security market leaders, Datatag ID Ltd, and it is hoped it will go some way to reducing the 26,000 motorcycles stolen each year in the UK. These are often stripped and rebuilt around genuine frames and as such recovery rates are low, with the Police unable to prove ownership beyond doubt. With Ducati and other manufacturers united behind one scheme, the industry has a greater opportunity in combating this problem.

Ducati Managing Director, Tim Maccabee, commented "Ducati are committed to ensuring that customers have a good level of security in place and the MASTER Systems will certainly add benefit to the security of their beloved Ducati. The issue of theft is a consideration for each and every customer and this added layer of prevention we feel is vital. We’re very pleased to be part of an industry initiative that helps combat theft in this way and with support from our dealers we are proud to be a part of this effort."

Datatag’s Managing Director Kevin Howells said ‘To have Ducati join the growing list of brands backing the MASTER Scheme is fantastic. They have an incredibly desirable range and by fitting MASTER with our technology we are confident that owners will feel more secure and will have reduced their risk of theft considerably.’

For more information on the Master Security System

For more information on the Ducati range and accessories visit: www.ducatiuk.com

50 free DV cams to be won as part of motorcycle compensation.com's free prize draw

Leading motorcycle legal advice site motorcyclecompensation.com has 50 free mini DV cameras to be won as part their grand prize draw.

Renowned for giving motorcyclists everywhere practical safety advice, the competition forms part of site's ongoing mission to protect the interests of motorcyclists everywhere and provide them with the tools they need to stay safe on Britain's busy roads.

Entries can be made by filling in the form on the website, where riders can also find information, resources and advice on how to seek advice.

Speaking about the competition, Colin Mahoney, MD of motorcyclecompensation.com, is keen to emphasise that beneath the fun there's a serious edge: "We're delighted to be able to offer the 50 free mini DV cameras as part of our grand prize draw.  However there's a genuine point of safety to be made here. Motorcyclists everywhere will benefit from using one of these - they're a fantastic way of recording a journey from beginning to end. By combining high-resolution video with simple controls in one compact package, bikers can capture the details of their ride - great for keeping other road users honest in the event of an incident."

The mini DV motorcycle cam competition comes at a timely moment: March 2013 sees the launch of a £1.3 million Think! Motorcycle campaign designed to encourage other road users to be aware of riders at junctions. With 74 percent of motorcycle deaths and injuries involving another vehicle, it's more imperative than ever that riders protect themselves from other road users and fellow motorists develop greater awareness of what a journey can be like from a motorcyclist's perspective.

As a committed biker and a long-time campaigner for improving road safety, it's a sentiment that Mahoney whole-heartedly agrees with:  "It's a shocking statistic, but despite constituting a mere 1 percent of the total road traffic, riders make up 19 percent of all fatalities out on our roads.  As an organisation we encourage any initiative that brings police, government and road users together in understanding the safety issues that face motorcyclists every time they make a journey - that's why we're delighted to see the government making fresh efforts to publicise rider safety as part of the Think! Motorcycle campaign. Despite this, we still feel there's a long way to go before motorcyclists have a level playing field. Our competition is about acknowledging this reality and arming riders with a way of conveniently documenting their ride and we heartily encourage people to make a real investment in their safety by entering via the motorcyclecompensation.com website."

For more information, visit: www.motorcyclecompensation.com/motorbike-cam

Ninety-one per cent of motorists do not trust the government to reinvest money made from tolls on new roads, according to a survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).  

Sixty per cent of motorists do not support toll roads, and seventy-nine per cent of motorists would not support the introduction of tolls on existing roads. 

Forty per cent of motorists would back more expensive tax discs instead of charging tolls on roads. Forty-one per cent wouldn’t support toll roads even if other types of tax were reduced. 

Motorists were divided on using toll roads. Forty-seven per cent of motorists said they don’t plan their journey to deliberately avoid using toll roads, while forty-four per cent of motorists do. 

Motorists feel strongly about toll roads in their local area. Fifty-six per cent of respondents said that they would use rural or local roads to avoid the toll charges, if a toll was enforced on their local motorway. 

IAM chief executive Simon Best said:  “The cost of motoring is currently at an all-time high, and it’s clear that the idea of bringing in toll roads has no support among everyday motorists. A toll on motorways, our safest roads, may force motorists on to more dangerous rural roads, to save money. The government has a very hard job ahead to convince drivers that tolls are the only way to deliver new roads and improve existing ones.  Only by reducing other motoring taxes can this policy gain the support of the motorist.”