Top motorcycling events for Summer 2012

Summer is on the way and that means the biking season is well and truly underway; no matter what the reliably unreliable British weather might throw at us! Whether it rains or shines, nothing is likely to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds at this summer’s big events, or the passion of the bikers at meet-ups and conventions up and down the country over the coming months.

If you’re new to the biking community, you may be wondering where the best events are this year. Why not follow in the footsteps of industry leaders, Bennetts as they kick off their Bennetts:Live tour this year. Your first port of call should be Thundersprint, taking place in Northwich this May. One of Europe’s biggest biking events, it’s typified by a party atmosphere that’s suitable for all the family. Saturday 12th starts it all with a bike show and stands, then Sunday 14th sees bikes racing round the town and against the clock in the ultimate ‘Grand Prix in a car park’. Best of all, it’s all totally free.

One of the most famous biking events of the year is the Isle of Man TT, with its 37 mile course that challenges the very best of the biking world. This amazing event is a spectator experience like no other for any biking aficionado. And hot on its wheels comes the British Round of MotoGP at Silverstone, where the track action is complemented by stunt shows, air displays, a funfair, bands and the Get On experience for new riders. After a brief breather, Silverstone welcomes the bikes back for the Superbike World Championships (British Round), a huge crowd pleaser with two premier races a day plus much more.

If you’re planning on doing some cross-country travel on your motorbike this year, be sure to stop in at one of the many biker-friendly cafes across the land that serve as meet points for bikers of all abilities – they serve up some epic biker grub too! The Manor Café in North Yorkshire is famed for its BIG breakfast and bacon and black pudding butties. It’s also surrounded by some of the UK’s very best biking roads. Then there’s Squires Café, also in North Yorkshire, which has been a bikers’ haven for over 50 years and even has its own campsite if you fancy a sleepover after a few drinks.

Further south, the Ace Café in London plays host to bikers from all over Europe at its annual Reunion weekend in September, before the legendary Brighton Burn Up on the Sunday which has to be seen to be believed! A huge variety of bikes jostle for space on the famous seafront road whilst for family and friends there are amusements aplenty, plus some great tunes blasting from the stands.

Enjoy a Day in Lancashire

Those of you who live north of Birmingham may be interested in a fun weekend at Chipping, Clitheroe in Lancashire. The annual Chipping Steam Fair is being help at the Green Lane Showground in Chipping on Saturday 26th and Sunday, 27th May, 2012. The two day event has many attractions for the whole family including a great display of classic motorcycles, cars, and commercial vehicles. Admission is £8 for adults and £6 for children over the age of 12 and OAPs. There is no charge for children under 12 years.

There will also be a great selection of steam engines on show, but no doubt one of the most famous of these will be the Steam Roller “Betsy” and others from the Fred Dibnah collection. There will also be a fantastic opportunity to see the Mark VB Spitfire W3644 and visitors can have a photo taken with the plane for a small donation to the Spitfire Memorial Fund.

There will be lots of entertainment throughout the two days and the younger members of the family haven’t been forgotten. Attractions include bouncy castles, a ride-on train, Punch and Judy and a fun fair. There will be a craft tent with a large number of exhibitors, together with some demonstrations of woodcraft including basket-making, thatching and chain-saw carving.

With lots of food and drinks available, together with additional Saturday evening entertainment from a couple of live bands, there really is something for everyone. Further information is available at www.chippingsteamfair.co.uk or by ringing the show secretary on 01995 61866.

This sounds great fun for everyone – and there is even free parking.

Special Deals on Honda Bikes

Whilst Honda motorcycles have always been good value for money, the two most popular models in the range have special offers on them. The PCX125 and the CBF125 are both available with a minimum deposit of £99 and 0% APR over thirty six months. This gives a saving of approximately £180 on each machine. The fuel efficiency is terrific on both bikes with the PCX125 giving 129.9 mpg and the CBF125 a whopping 160.2 mpg!

It’s a great time of year to be thinking about buying a new bike. For further details contact www.honda.co.uk, or ring 0845 200 8000 or call in at your local Honda dealership. They’ll be delighted to give you much more information.

Finally

I’m going to close with my usual warning to take care on the roads. There has been a considerable amount of the rain over the past few days, and particularly if you are riding on unfamiliar roads, there’s always a possibility of an accident. Don’t add to the number of fatalities of motorcyclists. It’s always better to arrive late than not to arrive at all!

Update from the Driving Standards Agency

There are new proposals for those motorcyclists who have just completed the first part of their compulsory basic training. These suggestions include placing a restriction on motorcyclists who have taken their basic training on an automatic motorbike or moped. Another idea is regarding the flexibility of the delivery of the syllabus together with a comment that they should be allowed to add and amend the syllabus. Continue reading →

They Say That Summer’s On Its Way

There are a couple of events that need your support and the first one of these is in Ireland, and comes from the North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club. Continue reading →

It’s Spring – But It Certainly Doesn’t Feel like It!

We all expect April showers, but this weather is beyond a joke. In just one day it was cold, wet and windy to start with followed by heavy hailstorms. These aren’t the best conditions for motorcyclists so make sure that you take extra care on the roads. Continue reading →

What’s New This Week?

The weather is beginning to improve again, and after a cold, wet and windy couple of weeks we can just about start to open windows. As the weather wasn’t brilliant over the Easter weekend the roads weren’t as busy as usual. Hopefully, every motorcyclist made it through the weekend safely. Continue reading →

Show Your Support For Safety E-Petition Regarding Motorcyclists

You may remember that a few weeks ago we mentioned the e-petition relating to the current driving theory test which doesn’t ask any questions relating to motorcycles. The e-petition is aiming to get one hundred thousand signatures and is already one third of the way there. The Motorcyclists Matter e-petition has now received a boost by three of the industry’s biggest organisations giving their support to the e-petition. Continue reading →

An Interesting Story

As a change to my usual offering, I read this story and thought that it may interest you. In the UK the sight of a motorcyclist travelling around without the security of a helmet will be as rare as hen’s teeth. This piece, gives an insight into a country where motorcycle helmets only became compulsory headgear some four years ago. Continue reading →

St. Patricks Day – What Other Excuse Do You Need For A Fun Day Out In Dublin?

Well now, Dublin Harley-Davidson celebrates their fifth birthday on St. Paddy’s Day, this Saturday, 17th March by having a day full of fun and activities at their Ballymount dealership. In addition to everything else which is going on there will be some clothes at half of their original price. Continue reading →