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.

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!

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.

The proposals would be subject to regulatory approval and consultation and changes wouldn’t be expected before 2014. In the meantime the DSA will review the proposals.

Charley Boorman Continues his Involvement with Carole Nash

Carole Nash Insurance is delighted that Charley Boorman will reprise his role as an ambassador for the company. The popular motorcycle adventurer will attend motorcycle shows throughout 2012 and updates to his blog are available at the company’s website www.carolenash.com/insidebikes. Best known for his road trips with Ewan McGregor, Long Way Round in 2004 and Long Way Down in 2007, he has increased the profile of bikers. Customers of Carole Nash will be able to benefit from discounts on Charley’s books, DVDs and tickets to his show.

A spokesperson at Carole Nash said “We’re really excited to have Charley back on board for 2012. His appeal with a broad motorcycling audience fits very well with our customers and we’re looking forward to continue working with him.”

Charley commented “I’m so happy to be able to continue representing Carole Nash as a brand ambassador. The company has a really special affinity with Britain’s bikers and understands their needs precisely – and not just for insurance products. It’s a privilege for me to fly the Carole Nash flag further afield too, and I’ll be doing that on another adventure through Africa later this summer.”

Kawasaki On The Road Tour 2012

The first of four major events this year is to be held at Silverstone on 26th May. Each of these events is designed for enthusiasts to be able to talk and ride one of a huge choice of Kawasaki road test models. There is free entry and free testing riding for those wearing the correct gear.

The Kawasaki Riders Club will be attending, which enables people to join up whilst they are there. There will be a photographer, clothing store and prizes available making it a really fun day out.

The other three events are on Sunday 10th June at Goodwood race course, 7th July at Oulton Park, and 21st July at Brands Hatch. Every event will open at 8am and finish at 4pm.

I’m sure that there will be much further information available closer to the dates, or by checking the Kawasaki website.

Finally

Motorcyclists do need to take extra care in watching out for inexperienced drivers who aren’t used to busy road conditions to minimise the risk of accidents.

Enjoy your week whilst remembering that every other road user isn’t as sensible as you. Make allowances for them and let’s hope that there aren’t any more motorcyclists injured this week.

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.

Tandragee 100 Road Race Event

Running costs for the two day event which this year (2012) will be held on Saturday and Sunday, 4th and 5th May are over £70,000 and the clubs officials could do with members helping them with a little financial support. Fans can purchase a copy of the two day programme for £10 and there will be officials available to collect donations of £5.

The meeting will be opened by The People’s Race for bikes 201cc to1010cc. Anyone making a donation towards the race will have their names in the programme.

There will be lots of fund-raising events before the Tandragee 100 to raise awareness. A ‘rideout’ has been organised by the Tandragee 100 Supporters’ Cub and their designated charity is Cancer Research UK. Riders need to meet at Tandragee Recreation Centre before the 10.30am start time. Motorbikes, scooters and trikes etc are all invited to take part. There will be a barbecue on the returning to Tandragee Rovers Football Clubs Madden Road pitch.

The entry fee is £10 – further information is available from Jim Davison on 02838840712 or Kieran McConville on 07876378661.

The Injured Riders’ Welfare Fund charity walk is on Sunday, 29th April and will start at 2pm at Moyrourkan Orange Hall. After the walk refreshments will be served in the hall. The charity walk will give race newcomers the opportunity of learning the course, with help from some experienced competitors.

Further information is available from Sheila Sinton on 02838841367 or 07780916107.

Sunset to Sunrise Charity Motorcycle Ride

This is the fourth annual ride for Macmillan Cancer Support and this year starts on Saturday, 23rd June at Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey. Meeting at sunset the bikers ride overnight across the country until they arrive in Skegness by sunrise.

Sarah Birch is the spokesperson and is encouraging more motorcyclists to take part. She said “Last year we had 32 riders take part and we raised over £5,000. This year has seen a significant increase in participants with more than 130 riders registered already with two months to go. Riders take part from all over the country and we have people registered from as far away as Poland, the Highlands of Scotland, Kent and Cornwall. If you have never ridden over the Lincolnshire Wolds at half three in the morning and seen the first light of dawn breaking over Skegness and a flat, calm sea, you need to do this event.”

The motorbikes fly the flags in support of the Macmillon Cancer charity. On arrival at Skegness, the riders all have a cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich at a café close to the beach, and then walk the last fifty yards to the beach in time to watch the sunrise.

The registration fee is £10 or £15 for a rider and pillion. Further details are available at www.bikers4macmillon.org.uk/registration.

These are two worthwhile events and whilst the motorcyclists will have great fun, they will be helping to support well-known charities.

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.

Well Done – £1500 Raised

The Fun Day which was held at Carpenders Park in Watford last Sunday, 15th April 2012 added a further £1500 to the monies already raised for Whizz-Kidz, a charity which provides wheelchairs and other equipment for children. During the past few months two local women, Ella Palfrey and Lisa Buckoke have raised about £4,500 for the charity and on Sunday, 22nd April will be running in the London Marathon in support of the Whizz-Kidz.

Over 300 people attended the fun day and thoroughly enjoyed the event which was hailed as an incredible success.

A Memorial Ride for a Well Loved Biker

Noel Daley from Carlisle was a much loved local biker who died in a motorcycle accident in April 2007. Around 200 bikers rode out last Saturday to remember Noel and to remind people of the dangers of the road. Noel’s death was one of many motorcycling fatalities and happened as a result of a collision with a tractor on a country road.

Noel was an experienced motorcyclist who enjoyed riding around Cumbria. Around 475 bikers die each year in England and Wales as a result of accidents.

The sixty mile ride out was organised by the Leviathan MCC and the funds raised from the charity ride will be donated to the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Yamaha Adventurer

Nick Sanders has already toured fifteen Yamaha dealers this year recounting tales of his adventures. These have proved so popular that a further seven dealers have been included. Motorcycling’s prolific record breaker will enthral everyone with stories of his various trips. Taking centre stage will be his latest journey, the incredible Ride and the audience will be entertained by Nick and his exploits.

Tickets are free, and there will be many giveaways at each event. For details of the dates and venues contact the Yamaha dealer holding the event, or check Nick’s website www.nicksanders.com or email him at nick@nicksanders.com. The dates and venues are listed below.

• 23rd April Dave Death Motorcycles, Newport, Isle of Wight
• 24th April Bridge Motorcycles, Exeter, Devon
• 25th April Moore’s Motorcycles, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
• 26th April MCM Motorcycles, Cannock, Staffordshire
• 27th April Motorcycle Mart, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
• 7th June Tamworth Yamaha, Tamworth, Staffordshire
• 30th June Powerbiking, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Enjoy an evening out, which doesn’t cost a fortune, and perhaps you may even make a few new friends.

New Off-Road Dealerships for Yamaha

There have been two new dealerships added to the Yamaha Off-Road stable which concentrate on motocross and endure machines. There are now seventeen dealers in the UK which sell the full range of off-roaders. The two new dealers already hold road franchises, so will already be well known to Yamaha customers. Expanding into the off-road bikes will provide welcome coverage in Yorkshire and the Midlands.

The new dealers are –

Colin Appleyard, Wellington Road, Worth Way, Keighley, BD21 5AJ. Telephone 01535 606311 or www.colinappleyard.com/motorcycles and

Tamworth Yamaha, Riverside Industrial Estate, Atherstone Street, Fazeley, Tamworth B78 3RW. Telephone 01827 254994 or www.tamworthyamaha.com

They will both be delighted to welcome old and new customers. For opening hours either ring or check out the websites.

We’re really pleased that today we’ve been awarded a Turquoise Star from eBay.

These are awarded when you receive 100 positive feedback.

We always aim to get our items dispatched ASAP and try to provide clear communication with our customers – it’s nice to see we’re doing OK so far.

See our eBay account here

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.

We’re starting with an event in aid of Whizz-Kids a charity which provides children with wheelchairs and other equipment. This is short notice I’m afraid but I’m sure that as many of you as possible will support the event. The details are below.

Charity Event on Sunday in Watford

A local charity event planned for this Sunday, 15th April needs support from as many people as possible. It is being held in Carpenders Park at The Partridge Pub, St Georges Drive and is from 1pm to 6pm. It is a fun-day in aid of the Whizz-Kids charity which provides wheelchairs and other life-changing equipment for children with disabilities who live in the UK.

The event will have a bouncy castle, DJ and Barbeque and an auction, for which the top prize of a British superbikes package, has been donated by Motorcycles Direct, which is on Queens Road. The prize-winner will meet the British Superbike team, take a behind the scenes tour of the tracks and pits, get autographs and will also be able to take a ride with some of the Kawasaki riders.

The fun-day will feature a raffle with prizes including a meal for six people at Modello Restaurant, two tickets to Jongleurs comedy club and two tickets to Watford Football Club. There will also be the opportunity to have five minute massage from one of the three masseurs from Cassio College. These will be given in exchange for a donation to the charity.

Further information and the opportunity to make a donation is available at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/lisabuckoke.

Royal Enfield 80th Anniversary Celebrations

The open weekend this year is on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June and will celebrate their eightieth birthday. Everyone is welcome to attend the event at which there will be new generation bikes to test ride, together with the opportunity to tour the Royal Enfield UK’s Cotswold Headquarters.

Anyone wishing to have a test ride on one of the modern fuel-injected Royal Enfield Bullets needs to bring both parts of their driving licence and suitable riding gear. There will be lots of attractions and special guests. Check the website for updated information.

Entry to the weekend is free and is open for all to enjoy. It is being held at the Watsonian-Squire works in Blockley, Gloucestershire.

Further information is available from www.royal-enfield.com or by ringing 01386 700907.

Special Spring Offers from Honda

Are you in the market for a new bike? If so it’s a great time to check out the various special offers from Honda which will be available until 30th June. There is a good choice of finance packages, combined in some instances with upgrades from one model to another.

There is the opportunity for finance at 0% APR over 36 months with low deposits starting at £99. Other machines have thousands of pounds of accessories included in the price.

Go and find the best deal for you at your local dealership or at www.honda.co.uk. Alternatively please ring 0845 200 8000.

Finally

As always take great care on the roads – you are probably a great rider; however you can’t vouch for every other road user.

Specialist Sale of 95 Motorcycles

There are 95 terrific motorcycles in the first of H & H new “specialist sales” which will take place on Thursday, 19th April, 2012.  The auction will take place at The Imperial War Museum, Duxford and there are some wonderful iconic bikes available at interesting guide prices. The motorcycles for auction have come from various sources including

• 33 motorbikes from Roger Banks who is a retired motor trader
• 21 bikes from the Wycke Hill collection
• 13 bikes from an anonymous West country collector
• 28 Individual lots

This auction should make for a really good opportunity for collectors, and other motorcycle enthusiasts.  There are also some 83 collectors’ cars which will be auctioned at the same event.

Much more information about the individual lots is available at www.handh.co.uk together with details of all of their other auctions.

The PACT Campaign

This campaign is organised by TyreSafe and relates to rider safety and the performance of the bike.  TyreSafe are conscious of the fact that tyre safety is essential throughout the year, but as many motorcycles are garaged over the winter months and come out for the summer months – beginning with the Easter weekend!  There are several bank holidays over the next few weeks, and many bikers like to take the opportunity – weather permitting – to enjoy their favourite hobby.

This is the time of year when many bikers dust off their motorbike which has been languishing in storage over the winter, so it is a really good opportunity to thoroughly check the bike to make sure that everything is running and in perfect condition.

TyreSafe has now launched its PACT campaign.  PACT stands for Performance, Air, Condition and Tread.  The intention from TyreSafe is for bikers to make a PACT with their bikes to check the Air pressure of their tyres, have sufficient Tread and finally they need to check their overall Condition.  This will lead to better Performance for road handling, fuel economy and grip.  In other words, every time you go out on your bike, a quick check of the tyres will help to ensure that you have a safer ride.  It is also important to look to see whether there are any cuts, bulges or cracks in the tyres, but if there is any doubt at all, contact the professionals.

There are many tyre retailers and bike dealers throughout the UK which will be supporting TyreSafe and its PACT by offering free tyre safety checks.  TyreSafe has additional information on its website which should be of interest.  Check it out at www.tyresafe.org which is where a free downloadable leaflet is also available.

Beat Petrol Prices – Ride a Scooter!

The latest registration figures from MCI show that the most popular scooter during February had a fuel economy of 146 mpg.  Sales of scooters rose during 2011 by about seventeen per cent, and with fuel costs still a bone of contention, the indications are that 2012 will have a similar outcome.  Currently the sales of scooters are up ten per cent on this time last year.

Sales of motorcycles with an engine size of 125cc or below are accounting for more than fifty per cent of the new registrations, which indicates that motorcycling is becoming a more economical way to travel.  Road tax and insurance are cheaper, and parking in city centres can often be free.

One Final Comment

Please enjoy the Easter weekend.  The weather isn’t particularly good, so if you are taking to the roads, do take extra care.

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.

MCI, BMF and MAG are publicly giving their support in asking the government to assist in raising awareness for motorcyclists in the UK by making sure that questions relating to motorcycling are compulsory in the driving theory test. Motorcycles only total one per cent of the traffic on the road; however they account for nearly twenty per cent of fatal injuries. Simply asking one or two questions as part of the theory test will ensure that drivers are aware of motorcycles from the beginning of their driving life. Nearly two thirds of all accidents which involve motorcycles are caused by the carelessness of drivers.

Please add your support to the e-petition by adding your signature. It is available at www.bikerpetition.co.uk. With approximately 1.3 million motorcyclists on the UK roads it is essential that all drivers are aware of safety issues surrounding bikers.

First Open Day of the Year for Black Bear Harley-Davidson

The popular Newmarket showroom welcomes everyone to its first open weekend of 2012 which starts on Saturday, 14th April. It has become something of a tradition and the event promises to be a lively affair. Two new Harley-Davidson models the Seventy Two and Softail Slim will be available for demonstration rides.

There will be live music by Norfolk band Firewire, spectacular bikes and accessories to enjoy. The only other thing to add to the perfect weekend would be co-operation by the weather. Further information about this great day out is available at www.blackbear.co.uk or by phone at 01638 664455.

BEN’S Motorcycle Rally 2012

The automotive industry charity, BEN, has announced that the Motorcycle Rally for 2012 will take place on 22nd September. This will be from Dover to Monaco with entrants crossing the English Channel, enjoying the beauty of the French countryside whilst on their way to Monaco in Southern France.

The entry fee of £475 covers two people sharing the accommodation, ferry crossings, breakfasts and evening meals. Although there isn’t a minimum sponsorship requirement, obviously as it is a charity event, the higher the sponsorship amount raised the better!

This is a new event which should prove popular. Much more information is available at http://www.ben.org.uk/mcr2012. Alternatively ring Lewis Honeywill on 01344 294700 or by email lewis.honeywill@ben.org.uk.

All monies raised from this event will support and give care to colleagues and their dependents within the automotive industry.

This is a great way to raise funds whilst having a wonderful experience of motorcycling to Monaco.

Finally

The weather is being very kind to us at present which means that there will be more vehicles on the roads, particularly at the weekend. Ensure that you keep your distance from drivers who may not be as bike-aware as necessary.

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.

Vietnam – Fashion before Safety

As mentioned above wearing a motorcycle helmet has only become a legal requirement very recently. However it does appear that some bikers aren’t taking it very seriously. Young men appear to flout the rules on a regular basis – something to do with fashion and their hairstyles!

They don’t have the monopoly on stupidity though. Women with posh hairdos are also avoiding the weight of a helmet.

When caught by the police there is a $10 fine. However, there are high numbers of motorcyclists who do wear their helmet, but unfortunately these motorcycle helmets don’t appear to have the same level of safety features. Many riders don’t fasten the strap under their chin. They choose the alternative, more stylish way – over the top of the helmet, and others fasten it loosely so that the helmet wobbles towards the back of the head.

Some helmets have twee designs on them; Winnie the Pooh is just one, and the helmets are poorly-made in China. They retail from as little as $2.40 and there are helmets made especially for those people who sport a ponytail, via a cut-out section at the back. There are helmets for those who support football teams, and helmets which appear to be baseball caps.

Interesting View of A Different Side of Life

It is scary to realise that motorcyclists don’t take either their own, or anyone else’s safety very seriously. Perhaps someone will show them the error of their ways – or will it take a catastrophic accident before safety issues are improved.

Now back to relative sanity.

Launch of Triumph Tiger Explorer

It is the official launch of the new Triumph Tiger Explorer at dealerships across the UK at 6pm today, Thursday, 22nd March. This bike is Triumph’s first trip into the large-capacity adventure sector.

There is a range of bespoke accessories available for the launch. These include hard and soft luggage, various seat options and a large selection of electrical and heated accessories. There is also an onboard 950w generator.

The Triumph Tiger has a retail price of £11,149 on the road. There are also limited numbers of launch edition models with additional accessories which are priced at £11,999.

Take a trip to your local dealership if you are in the market for a new motorcycle – or even if you just want to check it out!