Over breakfast on one of our rideouts we came up with a crazy idea to help our chosen charity Neurosupport. 

So after lots of work and planning twenty of us brave bikers, girls and boys stripped naked for a charity calendar (tastefully done, nothing can be seen). Each month is a funny theme including lots of bikes but all for a serious cause as Neurosupport (Registered Charity Number: 1114999) support people with neurological conditions along with their families and carers and as we found out that includes many bikers.  

www.openairriders.co.uk

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The Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development has confirmed the identity of its new Motorcycling event. The event, which runs from Saturday 17th August to Sunday 1st September 2013, will be called 'The Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling' and replaces the Manx Grand Prix Festival.

The festival's schedule will feature the newly developed Classic TT Races, the Manx Grand Prix Races, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Rally and Festival of Jurby and the Classic and Two Day Trials. In addition, the fortnight's motorcycling celebrations will include period events, exhibitions of exotic classic racing motorcycles, chat shows and autograph sessions with legendary riders, parade laps, air displays and family entertainment.

A new retro inspired logo that features the iconic three legs of Man triskelion, motorsport wings in tribute to the Mercury Trophies and a traditional chequered flag has been created for the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling. This will be used in all collateral and communication for the festival and will form the basis of the festival's commercial programme. The newly devised 'Classic TT' event has also had its own evocative logo developed, featuring historic iconography.

A new website www.iomfom.com, which will carry information about the festival, will shortly be launched. The new site will host links back to the sites of each of the organising bodies involved in the festival events with the Classic TT information being housed inside the official Isle of Man TT web site at iomtt.com.

Geoff Corkish, MBE, MHK, Political Member, Department of Economic Development commented:

“The new event has been developed to capitalise on the Isle of Man's position in the international motorcycling community. We are confident that we have created a schedule and identity that will appeal to race fans, the media and potential commercial partners as we look to develop new revenue streams for the event as well as attracting potential visitors to the Isle of Man."

Fines for drivers of all motor vehicles - including motorcyclists, - who are caught without a breathalyser kit, will be implemented in France from March 2013, according to the IAM. The fines were due to be enforced from 1 November 2012.   All drivers in France, including motorcyclists, are now required to carry a breathalyser kit and the €11 fine is will be applicable to all road users, except for those on mopeds. 

Single-use breathalyser kits will satisfy the requirement.  The legal limit in France is 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, lower than in the UK (the UK limit is 80mg). They cost between £1 and £2 and they will be available at ferry and tunnel terminals for crossings to France. It is intended that people will be able to test themselves to check whether or not they are over the French limit. 

Anyone driving in France is already required to carry a warning triangle and a fluorescent safety vest to use in an emergency. Additionally UK motorists and motorcyclists must display a GB plate. 

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “The new French rule is a genuine attempt to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents. France’s lower limit means it’s very easy to be over the limit the morning after as well. As always, the best advice for road users is not to drink and drive at all.”

www.iam.org.uk

Plans are revving up for this year’s Footman James Classic Motorbike Show, held at Birmingham’s NEC from 16th to 18th November. With over 250 motorcycles on display, the UK’s best motorcycling clubs once again pull out all the stops to showcase rare and exciting motorcycles ranging from the traditional Great British manufacturers, Japanese speed demons, Italian exotica, retro scooters and many more.

Clubs showcasing their amazing motorbikes include the BSA Gold Star Owners Club, which will mark the 75th anniversary of racer Walter Handley, while the BSA Bantam Club celebrates its 10th anniversary. Other clubs joining them include the Goldwing Misfits, Moto Guzzi Club GB, Norton Owners Club, Royal Enfield Owners Club and the Vincent HRD Owners Club to name a few.

British motorcycle racer Guy Martin will make his debut at this year’s show when he meets motorcycle fans and sign autographs on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th. Guy started his career at Team Racing and made a successful debut in the Isle of Man TT. He later moved to AIM Yamaha where he competed in the British Supersport Championship before moving to Hydrex Honda. After four years at Hydrex Honda and a year with Wilson Craig Honda, Guy switched to Relentless Suzuki before joining Tyco Suzuki for the 2012 season. He also starred in the motorcycling documentary film TT3D: Closer to the Edge following the leading riders in the 2010 Isle of Man TT races.

Visitors can find Guy on the Live Motorbike Stage where our host and well known TV and radio presenter and biking enthusiast Steve Berry will interview him about his career and the bikes he has in his own collection – and those he wants to add. There will also be a chance for visitors to ask their own questions in a Q&A session. Steve will also be interviewing motorcycle legends such as motorcycle racer and TT rider Mick Grant and Speedway legend Eric Boocock.

Mick and his team of expert trials riders will be riding classic machinery as they negotiate an extensive purpose built indoor course. All the skills, thrills and spills of a classic trials 'meet', but you won't need your wellies! They will be joined by Eric who’ll be commentating and making sure the riders stay on track.

There will also be the Pride of Ownership competition, supported by Meguiars, where individual owners get to show off their own bikes with chrome gleaming and tyres blacked. There will also be a Vintage Wall of Death, guaranteed to make you hold your breath.

Enthusiasts can also browse the extensive trader village for the latest products and services or motorcycle memorabilia. Search for that elusive part or spare in the Bike Jumble.

You can also enhance your visit by buying a dual ticket that also gives you access to the Footman James Classic Motor Show, with over 1,250 classic cars on display as well as the Wheeler Dealer Live Stage, Restoration Theatre and the chance to have a ride as a passenger in your dream car in exchange for a charitable donation.

Ticket prices range from £10 when purchased in advance.

www.classicmotorbikeshow.com

Motorcyclecompensation.com, has just released a free smartphone app, Bikers Friend, for the growing legion of motorcycle riders.

Bikers Friend provides an effortless way to document motorcycle accidents, collecting evidence that can be used for insurance purposes, and offering other support just when a biker needs it the most. Created by bikers for bikers, Bikers Friend is currently available for the Android market but is soon to be released for Apple devices as well.  

"Bikers Friend is one of those apps you hope you never need," says Colin Mahoney, creator of Motorcyclecompentsation.com, "but you'll be awfully glad you have it if you ever are in an accident." Indeed, as more and more people take to the road on motorcycles, there will inevitably be more motorcycle accidents. "This free app is the best 'witness' any motorcyclist could ever have after an accident," says Mahoney. "By providing an extra layer of protection for motorcyclists, and hard proof and evidence for insurers, we make an already stressful situation a little bit easier for all involved."

Mahoney adds, "As a motorcyclist myself, I've experienced many issues with other road users. They are often very negative and even aggressive towards motorcyclists. Even if a motorcyclist observes all safety rules, accidents happen. And even if the biker wears proper protective gear, injuries can be pretty bad, and potential damage awards can be substantial. It's little wonder that insurance companies will frequently deny liability after a biker has been involved in an accident."   Enter Bikers Friend, which records such data as the biker's exact location (with overlays on a Google map), the other driver's details, and so forth. There are also voice and video recording facilities, and Bikers Friend can locate and call the nearest emergency services - police, ambulance, fire department or other first responder. If the user chooses to do so, the app will send all information to Motorcyclecompensation.com for assessment. However, the app can also be used without giving motorcycle compensation.com instructions to act.  

Bikers Friend is constantly being improved upon, Mahoney notes, and updates and new versions will also be free.  Choosing to create Bikers Friend as a Smartphone app was an easy choice for Motorcyclecompensation.com. "There is no question that the mobile device is the fastest growing online search tool today," says Mahoney. "As millions of people worldwide migrate to Smartphone usage, the number of people who are downloading apps and browsing the web on their phone is growing at an incredibly rapid pace. It is for this reason that Motorcyclecompensation.com has made its innovative and informative app available for free to every motorcyclist worldwide. This is a UK first for sure, and possibly a worldwide first for the motorcycle fraternity and community."  

Mahoney and his colleagues predict Bikers Friend will be a friend to more than just bikers and their insurers; it will also be welcomed by lawyers, who will recognize that it represents innovation and technology at its best.  

Besides being an avid biker, Colin Mahoney is an Internet marketer of legal services, with over 20 years of applicable experience. Of Motorcycle compensation.com, he says, "We're still a small firm of six. But we are all experienced motorcyclists who also happen to understand law and software design." Although originally created for the UK market (Mahoney's firm is regulated in the UK by the Ministry of Justice), Bikers Friend can be used by bikers worldwide.   Mahoney emphasizes that Bikers Friend is a free app, and the company intends to keep it that way. "We will never charge a single penny for this app, ever," he says.  

Currently motorcyclists can download "Bikers Friend" from Google Play, and soon they will be able to download from the Apple Store as well.  

The download page for the app is http://www.motorcyclecompensation.com/bikers-friend

www.motorcyclecompensation.com