South East Biker, Issue 53, October-November 2017

The South East’s No.1 FREE bike magazine ISSUE 53 • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2017

BOMBER ON WHEELS

THE CUSTOM CAFÉ

DOC BIKE

SPANISH BUTT

REVIEWS • FEATURES • EVENTS • SPORTS SEB: ON FULL THROTTLE SINCE 2008 southeastbiker.co.uk

HELMET CITY Tatsfield PASSIONATE ABOUT PROTECTION

4000 SQ FT DEDICATED TO HELMETS & CLOTHING

Approach Road, Tatsfield Westerham, Kent/Surrey Border.

TN16 2JT Tel: 01959 577911

Website: www.helmetcity.co.uk

Email: helmetcitytatsfield@live.co.uk

Opening times: Mon-Fri - 9am-5.30pm Sat - 9am-5pm

" FREE OXFORD COMFY on presentation of this voucher!

STARTING GRID

Editor scribes Over the summer we have noticed the number of posts on social media about motorcycle related crime as well as thefts have risen enormously. Despite some high profile demonstrations in London and promises of action from the Mayor himself, the problems seem to be getting out of control.

This affects us motorcyclists on many levels, from putting off existing and prospective bikers from buying machines and riding them, to increased insurance premiums and more unwanted bad publicity for biking in general.

In this issue we have the views of the motorcycle industry trade body in the form of the MCIA and a major riders’ organisation, MAG. We also feature a couple of new products available to help protect your bike and recover its parts if stolen. Hopefully, if organisations that represent us, and us as individuals, can all do our bit the situation will eventually change.

Bikers are generally a pretty determined bunch as we are used to struggling against the elements, bad drivers, terrible roads, poor public perception and all the other obstacles thrown at us. The activities of a few twisted individuals won’t put off the vast majority of us who love motorcycling and everything connected with it.

Contents

4 BOMBER ON WHEELS 8 Wanna Ride Motocross?

10 A Master Scheme 11 The Custom Café 15 Moped Mayhem 16 Waxing Lyrical 18 Autolink 19 Fire Breathing Security 20 Keeping In Touch 22 Don’t Lose Your Cool 23 Moto65

Get out there and enjoy the ride!

Nick

Visit southeastbiker.co.uk for events list CONTACT US

ADVERTISING AND Debbie Tunstill, email: debs@southeastbiker.co.uk

GENERAL ENQUIRIES Tel: 07913 758955 EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Nick Tunstill, email: nick@southeastbiker.co.uk PRODUCTION: Dean Cook: deancook@magazineproduction.com PRINTING: Gemini Print, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex. © 2017 South East Biker (SEB) Magazine is an independent title and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor or of South East Biker magazine. Reproduction of content is strictly prohibited without prior written approval from the editor or publisher.

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

24 28 30 34 36

DOC BIKE Bobbing Around Spain Spanish Butt Silver Dream Racer 50 Years of the Norton Commando 3

MOTORCYCLE REVIEWS

Bomber on Wheels John Allsopp goes cruising on the Kawasaki Vulcan VN2000

S

o, a ride review with a difference. Many magazines are full of the same reviews of new models, often tested in sunny countries, but is this the real world or is it just a fantasy? I thought it was perhaps a good time to try a more real world second hand bike on the less than perfect roads of Sussex.

Now what practical second hand buy to look at? I know a 2 litre cruiser…erm that’s practical isn’t it?

Cruising is all about having a relaxed mindset and there’s no better way to ease yourself into that state than the big Kawasaki Vulcan VN2000. It ticks all the right boxes, lots of lustrous paint, lots of chrome, a huge 200-section rear tyre and, of course, a lolloping wildebeest of an engine.

The Kawasaki VN2000 is not to be rushed, with its soft suspension and low (read ‘non-existent’) ground clearance. Hurried cornering will cost you plenty in replacement footboards. Keep it smooth, keep it slow and keep your powder dry until the road opens up. Braking is average, like all customs the geometry weighs against it.

The Kawasaki VN2000’s fuel-injected, V-twin, two-litre SOHC motor is terrific, with enormous, thudding power pulses that could propel you at least 50 yards with each cycle at tickover.

4

Top pub fact: this pair of pistons are the biggest in motorcycling!

With its Japanese build quality, belt-drive and low state of engine tune, the Kawasaki VN2000 should run forever.

However, in our real world you’ll need to keep its chrome away from winter salt or you’ll quickly wreck it.

With 141lb.ft of torque at 3000 rpm and 116 horsepower at 5000 rpm, the Vulcan 2000 out powers many small cars. It’s also carefully designed to be smooth and usable with the delivery of that power.

Pulling away from a stop for the first time, the Vulcan 2000 is surprisingly controlled. Tame, even. That is until you have some room to let the bike stretch its legs a bit. Strong off the bottom, the Vulcan 2000 just keeps building forward momentum until your eyes get a bit wider and your mouth starts to form those words that you tend to say when you are overwhelmed

October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

MOTORCYCLE REVIEWS

about something.

Then try accelerating in the higher gears, maybe fourth and fifth, and it’s pretty obvious the Vulcan doesn’t seem to care what gear you are in. The rate of acceleration seems identical to the one found in first and second gears. I have never had this sensation on any other bike. It must have something to do with all that torque.

But what does over 2000cc in the engine room give you? Well, bragging rights certainly, and a massive dollop of power to be sure, though perhaps not the tyre-smoking, arm-wrenching shot of acceleration that you might anticipate if you think that displacement automatically delivers horsepower. However, you get the kind of power that delights riders who like a motorcycle that rumbles down the road at a relaxed pace but can still deliver a strong lunge when you roll on the throttle. Both fourth and fifth gears are overdrives, so the engine is turning only about 2250 rpm at 60 mph in fifth. But at that rpm, it is already making a massive 120 foot-pounds of torque, just off the 121-foot-pound peak, which it reaches just above 85 mph. When you roll it on, the engine gets up and chugs.

The V2K’s broad power band thrills a rider who likes to short-shift and still drop right into a strong stream of power the next gear up. In fact, this huge twin is happiest when you shift early. If you launch hard in first, you’ll want to upshift just as soon as you can get your foot to the shift lever. It is also easy to take off smoothly and strongly in second. The power is quite linear, and the tall gearing spreads it over a wide mph range. Even in that tall top gear, it will pull well from 35 mph (about 1300 rpm) with just a hint of surging at first. On a winding road, you can simply leave it in third or fourth gear the entire way and get great acceleration out of corners.

If you really romp on it, the displacement asserts itself despite the tall gearing and the bike’s 340kg.

Throttle response is exceptionally crisp and predictable in all circumstances, thanks, in part, to ECU-managed subthrottle systems in the two huge 46mm

injector throats. The sub-throttles help the engine digest sudden large helpings of throttle, keeping response smooth even when the rider isn’t. And we have no complaints about abrupt response, though the shock absorbers in the drive train do create some lash-like responses if you get on and off the throttle suddenly. Even though there is no backtorque limiter, it seems reluctant to lock up the rear wheel if you get clumsy with downshifts. The belt drive certainly helps to make the drive train smooth and absorbs some shocks.

Clutch disengagement requires a lighter pull than some smaller, less-powerful engines, and it engages very smoothly and predictably, welcome traits when you are hooking up to all that torque spinning rather hefty flywheels. The heel-toe shifter delivers light, short lever throws and positive gear changes, albeit with a hardy clunk in the lower two gears.

The upsizing extends beyond the Vulcan 2000’s displacement. The V2K is a big motorcycle, with a 1700mm wheelbase and 340kg of road-squashing weight. Although the saddle is just 680mm off the road, you feel the mass when you lift the bike off the sidestand (which should be lengthened a bit to keep the motorcycle from leaning so far, in my view). Once rolling, the sense of mass is reduced, though not as dramatically as you might expect. The wide bars offer plenty of leverage, but their length can also create problems when making full-lock turns at walking speeds.

Then the outside grip of that long handlebar will actually be out of reach for shorter riders (also known as me), and the inside end of the handlebar will be bumping into your knee.

It’s pretty awkward. The bar’s width might also be an issue for filtering.

Once moving, steering is remarkably responsive and immediate even though stability is good, the suspension on our pot holed tarmac is a different matter.

The motorcycle feels unusually stable, probably because the chassis is so solid. The emphasis on rigidity is visible

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

5

MOTORCYCLE REVIEWS

everywhere: the fork has massive 49mm legs, forgings are used for the steering-head and swingarm-pivot portions of the frame, the cast wheels are strong and wide, and the triangulated swingarm, with its single damper set near horizontal under the right side of the seat, looks very stiff.

There is no sense of looseness in corners, on bumps or in gusts, and it holds a line well when leaned over.

My only real handling complaint at speed concerns the single-shock rear suspension. Even with the eight-point rebound damping set at its maximum, the rear end kicked up over larger bumps, which unsettled the bike in corners and was unpleasant at other times. This may well be less of an issue for larger riders or when carrying a passenger, but lighter and more ‘jockey like’ riders such as I found the rear end’s ride jarring over the common irregularities that typify our roads in this county.

Kawasaki has matched the Vulcan 2000’s heft and power with strong, controllable triple-disc brakes, a pair of fourpiston calipers on 300mm discs up front. At 90 mph (on private roads of course), I could easily and comfortably get the front tyre squealing, while the rear brake has been tempered a bit to require slightly more than average pressure before it locks. This is an optimal arrangement for non-anti-lock brakes, in my view, though ABS would be a welcome feature. The big Bridgestone Battlax tyres, a 150/8016 in front and that meaty 200/60-16 on the rear, provide decent braking traction on dry tarmac, but you are still stopping a lot of mass, more than half a ton with a rider. The bike isn’t going to stop ‘on a sixpence’.

The stretch to the forward pegs and the rear end’s response crossing big bumps were my only comfort complaints.

6

Obviously for those like me with stumpy legs it’s an actual stretch that began to make my aged hips hurt.

I found vibration is noticeable only when you wind it up near the 5250-rpm rev limit, when it reaches you through the saddle. Under all other conditions, the dual chain-driven counterbalancers and rubber front mounts for the engine keep the vibration down to a pleasant throb.

So, to sum up I think this bike can certainly appeal to those of us that like the cruiser style delivered in a more affordable package than more ‘traditional choices’.

I did enjoy my time with the Vulcan although I’d have to say that I won’t be joining the cruiser group any time soon.

USEFUL INFO

Kawasaki Vulcan VN2000 Year introduced Max power Top speed Average fuel consumption Engine size Engine type Fuel capacity Seat height Bike weight

2004 116 bhp 120 mph 42 mpg 2053cc 8v V-twin, 5 gears 21 litres 680mm 340kg

October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

/////// TEST RIDES AVAILABLE NOW

OFF THE STARTING LINE

WANNA RIDE MOTOcross?

What’s it like getting muddy at speed? Moto-Ward shows you how to get started.

B

elieve it or not the sport of motocross, or scrambling as it used to be known was born in the UK in the early part of the last century.

The first scramble event is recorded as taking place in 1924 in Camberley, Surrey where riders completed a set number of laps and raced to be the first across the line. The sport flourished as manufacturers of road going machinery carried out modifications to make their model stand out and the moto cross bike was born.

It wasn’t however until the late 50’s that the sport got full international championships as the word spread throughout Europe and the USA. Now of course there is a wide range of machinery available for all age groups, and the sport encompasses everyone from five years upwards. motocross is widely respected as one of the the most physically demanding sports that you can undertake and can be brutal at championship level. However thousands of guys and gals compete weekly around the country in a sport that provides enjoyment, physical exercise and a release of tension that allows your kids to enjoy themselves in a controlled and monitored environment, where they can mix with their friends and families can enjoy an all inclusive sport.

8

SO HOW DO YOU GET STARTED? There are a number of organisations in the UK that organise the sport through clubs, motocross events, both at adult and school level.

All motocross sport is licensed through one of the governing bodies, ACU, AMCA, ORPA, MCF, but you can of course go to a number of practice tracks and provided you have the correct equipment and protective gear, pay a fee and ride for the day without any licence at all, but if you do want to race then you will need to join a club and get a licence.

In the South East of England the easiest entry point for the adult sport is through Southern motocross, a club set up to run MX events on a weekly basis and on a turn up and ride basis, no pre-booking needed. Get up in the morning, stretch, think I quite fancy riding my dirt bike and go. They run on three or four bits of land, so the downside is that there is not a lot of variation but it fulfils a need and often attracts quite good entries.

For more varied tracks and competition log on to the ACU, AMCA or MCF websites for a list of clubs and licencing requirements, or BSMA , YMCA or MCF for schoolboy licencing. There’s normally an easy fill questionnaire to make sure you are fit, but after that October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

OFF THE STARTING LINE and the money is paid, you are ready to race. Normally you will have to enter in advance on the website or by phone.

There are also a number of school level clubs that offer adult racing so all age groups can be catered for and everyone gets to ride; dads, mums, sons and daughters. And kids start from just 5 years old on 50cc auto machines.

Try and find a meeting close to you to go and have a watch to get an idea of what happens and when.

Generally on arrival you will sign on and get your bike scrutinised and then do practice, which may also serve as a grading for racing. Racing normally starts around midday and usually you will get three races in a day. All events are professionally run by a dedicated team of mums and dads who give up their time voluntarily to enable the clubs to function and are always happy to answer your questions no matter how silly you may think they are, as they have probably heard it all before anyway!

Google and other search engines are a ready source of information but you can’t beat the down to earth advice and experience you get from a off road bike shop. At Moto-Ward we run and support a number of guys in youth and adult MX who race locally so look out for the Moto-Ward Bikes! Or you can always call in and see us at the shop.

HANDY REFERENCE www.acu.org.uk Adult MX www.mcfederation.com Adult and Junior MX www.amca.uk.com Adult and Youth MX www.orpa.co.uk Adult Organisers MX www.ysmaltd.co.uk Youth Sport All the above are gateways to a mine of information and will help to get you started.

The adventure starts in store

R O A D

•

T R A I L

•

E N D U R O

MOTOWARD.CO.UK

•

M OTO - X

Tel: 01403 823222 • Web: www.motoward.co.uk • Email: motowardsales@aol.co.uk

V I C T O R I A H O U S E , C H U R C H S T R E E T, R U D G W I C K , W E S T S U S S E X . R H 1 2 3 H J

TO P N A M E S I N C LOT H I N G A N D PA RT S • W O R L D W I D E D E L I V E RY South East HP Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk Motoward 0117.indd 1

09/01/2017 10:439

MASTER SECURITY SCHEME

A MASTER SCHEME

R

New figures show that MASTER protected motorcycles are six times less likely to be stolen!

ecent analysis of theft data for new motorcycles sold in 2017, shows there is a huge difference between machines which are marked with the MASTER Security Scheme, compared to those which are not. New MASTER protected bikes are six time less likely to be stolen.

MASTER, which stands for Motorcycle and Scooter Tagged Equipment Registration, is the UK’s only official and national scheme and has been adopted by the majority of major motorcycle manufacturers since its launch in 2013. It both deters theft and makes it easier to secure a conviction.

WHAT DO NEW STATISTICS SHOW? Information from the MASTER Scheme database and new registration data shows 66,423 new motorcycles and scooters were registered in the UK from the beginning of this year to the end of July 2017. 42,254 were marked with the MASTER system, of which only 78 have been reported stolen. Of the 24,169 motorcycles and scooters which were not protected

by MASTER, 285 have been stolen.

10

RATES OF THEFT There is a clear and significant difference in rates of theft. MASTER tagged machines registered in the first seven months of the year have a theft rate of just 0.18%, while non-MASTER tagged new bikes have a theft rate of 1.17%, showing MASTER tagged bikes are more than six times less likely to be stolen than bikes which are not protected by the MASTER Scheme.

Steve Kenward, CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Association, which first introduced the MASTER Scheme in 2013 says: “The MASTER Security Scheme represents a significant investment by major brands and these figures confirm that the decision to invest in the official MASTER scheme was the right thing to do.

This data is very encouraging and hopefully will persuade those manufacturers not yet marking bikes to reconsider the MASTER Scheme as significant benefit to their customers.”

HOW DOES THE MASTER SECURITY SCHEME WORK? The MASTER Security Scheme uses a sophisticated array of technology to mark the motorcycle or scooter’s major component parts providing a unique ‘fingerprint’. This layered approach involves www.southeastbiker.co.uk • South East Biker Magazine

FREE WINTER HEALTH CHECKS! Is your Motorcycle or Scooter ready for Winter?

We are delighted to announce we can now take bookings for FREE winter health checks!

Our factory-trained & qualified technicians will give your vehicle a thorough 30-point check.

We can carry out an oil and filter change for an additional fee.

Contact us today and we will get you booked in on a date to suit your requirements!

Only valid until Friday the 15th December 2017.

“GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY” RECEIVE 10% OFF ANY GORE-TEX ITEM IN STORE!

Waterproof, Windproof, Breathable...

Stay dry ALL year round with Richa, TCX and Alpinestars GORE-TEX products! Multifunctional jackets, trousers, gloves and boots all for sale in our clothing department.

What is GORE-TEX® Product Technology?

Products engineered with GORE-TEX® fabric are durably waterproof and windproof, combined with optimized breathability — enduring products that maximize protection and comfort for the wearer.

And to top it off, we're offering you 10% off any GORE-TEX item when you mention “South East Biker” with your purchase!

PRE-ORDER THE NEW XSR700 IN “BRILLIANT RED” AND RECEIVE £300 TOWARDS ACCESSORIES!* PRE-ORDER THE NEW XSR900 IN “RACING RED” AND RECEIVE £500 TOWARDS ACCESSORIES!* XSR700 £6,839.00 Arriving January 2018.

XSR900 £8,639.00 Arriving November 2017. £99.00 deposit required to secure your pre-order. Finance available to all UK Residents aged 18 and over, subject to status.

Finance quotes or examples can be provided through our sales team either in store, on our website, via email or by telephone. *Only valid on Genuine Yamaha Accessories for the selected Motorcycle. *Includes fitting costs and VAT.

www.mottmotorcycles.co.uk Telephone: 01256 841110 sales@mottmotorcycles.co.uk

www.facebook.co.uk/MottMotorcycles Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:30pm | Saturday 9:00am – 5:30pm Find us: Kempshott Hill (A30), Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 7LL.

MASTER SECURITY SCHEME a combination of visible and concealed elements including tamper evident warning labels, hidden microscopic Datadots, stealth UV etching and a number of unique radio frequency identification transponders which are embedded into parts. This is similar to the technology that allows the chipping of cats and dogs, but cannot be altered or erased.

The combination of hidden elements (detailed above), along with the high visibility and the unique number on each tag, offer both peace of mind to consumers and help the police secure prosecution when recovering stolen motorcycles. Police have access to the MASTER Security Scheme secure database 24 hours a day.

The MASTER Scheme system includes a highly visible ultra-destruct identification/warning label that is fixed in a prominent place on the bike (generally on the frame near the headstock), alerting potential thieves to the fact that it is marked and registered.

The label disintegrates if it is tampered with and alarm bells will ring for police and subsequent owners if the label is missing on models from participating manufacturers.

All motorcycles and scooters from participating manufacturers are registered on the MASTER Security Scheme’s national secure database. This is updated

continuously, which means the reporting of stolen vehicles is immediate.

It would be virtually impossible for a thief to remove all traces of the MASTER Scheme technologies from all parts, which is why this makes protected bikes far less attractive to them.

There are now over 250,000 MASTER protected machines and this number increases each year.

FACTS ABOUT MOTORCYCLE THEFT 43% of all insurance pay outs are due to theft (according to MCIA research).

Many motorcycles are ‘cloned’, which involves being broken up into parts within hours of being stolen and reassembled onto legally acquired frames, which have log books. This can net thieves thousands of pounds a day.* 80% of these ‘cloned’ motorcycles find their way into the legitimate dealer network. Before the MASTER Scheme it was virtually impossible for dealers or the police to identify stolen parts.* **(Facts and figures supplied by the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group).

You can find out more about the MASTER Security Scheme at www.masterscheme.org

This is motorcycle hire made easy If you prefer riding on two wheels rather than four like we do then West Sussex Motorcycle Hire can give you the ride of your life on the bike of your dreams. If you are looking for the best motorcycle hire UK and further afield, look no further.

“Brilliant service, great bikes and friendly staff. Top stuff” – JF “A big thank you…for pulling out all the stops at short notice to make our hoilday a great one.

The bike a R1200GS was fab for me and the wife. Will see you all next year for more of the same.” – PW

Our fantastic rates and legendary service lets you ride in style for a reasonable price. Whether you want a bike with attitude or something sleeker for touring the countryside, you can find it here at West Sussex Motorcycle Hire.

12 West Sussex Motorcycle Hire HP 0117.indd

1

www.southeastbiker.co.uk • South East 09/01/2017 Biker Magazine 10:40

BIKE STOPS

the custom café

O

John Allsopp drops in for a cuppa.

n one of my frequent meanderings I decided to visit the Custom Café in Bexhill. After enjoying a very nice lunch and marvelling at the décor, the owner Caroline kindly took the time to tell me her story, which I would describe as a labour of love.

Back in October 2014, Caroline and her boyfriend Chris (a well known custom bike builder) agreed that they would team up to realise her long term dream of owning a café and also incorporate a small custom shop. Their criteria was to find a suitable location ‘on a road in the middle of nowhere’ and, after looking at four or five possibilities, they arrived in Bexhill.They thought the location was ideal but trouble was already on the horizon.

When visiting the site, Caroline’s bike broke down and they were stranded in the pouring rain for over two hours in that stipulated ‘middle of nowhere’!

Undeterred the couple came back to collect Caroline’s bike the next day and put an offer in for the property.

Now this is where the story gets really tortuous.

The concept was to add another storey to what was originally called The Bungalow Café for a very good reason.There follows a very smorgasbord of issues.

Original issues with the plans that were drawn up led to over 40 different builders being involved and another set of plans being drafted by another architect.

Of course, these things all rumbled on with stops and starts in the work whilst the winter was here and the roof was actually off.

To top it all, the stress involved led to Chris and Caroline splitting up, leaving her with all of the financial burden of realising her dreams. Whilst all this was going on Caroline needed to at least start getting some business and establishing herself on the map. In order to do this a small kiosk was built in the extensive South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

car park and trade started albeit limited by the fact that some people were deterred by the idea of sitting outside in the cold!

The next development was the purchase of a caravan to serve from. This was of course accompanied by more issues such as water pipes freezing in the bitter winter temperatures. Then, following a re-mortgage, the café was finally fully operational just two months ago.

Caroline has started up regular bike nights as well as other ‘themed’ regular events which are listed on their Facebook page. One fortuitous outcome of all the different builders was that one of the guys who worked on the construction has now become the chef there!

The café itself externally has a New England style with the inside reminiscent of an Austrian log cabin, albeit a spacious one, with restaurant seating, a bar, performing stage and comfy lounge. The space is adorned with a veritable cornucopia of original artwork, metalwork fabrication and ‘Kustom’ pin stripping from America and Holland. Everywhere your glance lands there are intriguing objects to delight. Outside there is plenty of space with seating set within the third of an acre the cafe occupies.

I also spoke to Caroline about her plans for the future which, with funds allowing, would include an American-style motel which would certainly not only fit in with the Roadhouse style of the café but would also offer accommodation in an area with little alternative options.

I certainly admire not only her unquestionable determination but her perspicacity. All in all the café is a great place to visit and and gets a strong recommendation from me.

The Custom Café is located on Barnhorn Road Bexhill-on-Sea. TN39 4QR. 13

FASTLANE MOTORCYCLES THE HOME OF PHASED OUT RACING

NEW AND USED MOTORCYCLE SALES FULL WORK SHOP FACILITIES MOT TESTING & TYRE BAY ACCESSORIES AND KIT

www.fastlanemoto.com Tel: 01732 36 36 30 88 Priory Street, Tonbridge, Kent. TN9 2AH Fastlane Motorcycles 0416.indd 1

23/03/2016 10:45

The Power of Dreams

New for 2017

X-ADV Telephone: 020 8399 2417 312-320 Ewell Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7AW

www.honda-tippetts.co.uk 14 Tippetts Honda 0117 HP.indd

1

October-November 2017 • South East 09/01/2017 Biker Magazine 10:28

MOPED MAYHEM

“M

Andy Carrott, Vice Chairman, Motorcycle Action Group

oped Mayhem” was the name for a popular, and extremely amateur, form of racing. Whilst a few teams took it very seriously, many consisted of hungover groups of mates, sometimes in fancy dress, riding under-prepared wrecks around a grass track or dirt oval with straw bale chicanes. A bit of mud and water thrown in for good measure was always an entertaining addition. It was a laugh to watch and I suspect the bruises and bleeding eventually healed up on the riders.

Today there is a new form of moped mayhem on our city streets and it goes by the name of “mopedenabled crime”. You can include scooters in that too. The crimes include muggings (mobile phones ripped from user’s hands and bag snatching), plus motorcycle and scooter theft including serious acts of violence. By serious I mean stabbings, machete attacks and acid-throwing. At least one person has died trying to stop his bike from being stolen. A serious situation; very serious indeed.

Whilst much of the focus from government and police seems to be targeted at the use of mopeds and scooters for crime, one of the messages the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is trying to get across is that riders are victims too. These scumbags are not just stealing parked bikes, they are working in groups to surround their chosen target, knock them off, in broad daylight, often at traffic lights where they can reach across and grab the bike’s key. When chased by Police they often take off their helmets as many forces will not chase helmetless riders.

Delivery riders for the likes of Uber and Deliveroo have been frequent targets, to the extent that there are areas they will now not work, especially after dark.

The economic impact does not end there. Dealers are saying that moped and scooter sales have slowed.

Insurance premiums are affected too. Riders are thinking twice about using bikes for work, potentially putting up the cost of their commute if they choose alternative transport.

Clearly the impact on motorcycling could be huge.

At a time when we are encouraging the use of two -wheelers to help reduce congestion and pollution, riders (and potential riders) are being deterred through fear of violence and theft. Despite this,

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

thousands of urban riders continue to ride in our cities and MAG is campaigning for action to be taken to make sure they can do so safely. MAG and other riders groups also took to the streets to demonstrate for action to deal with this issue.

MAG recently attended a meeting of the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group and attended a Home Office meeting that included MPs, insurance companies, Police, and industry and rider representatives. Lembit Öpik, who represented MAG at the Home Office meeting, reports that the figures for crimes involving mopeds were high, with 16,180 recorded crimes of this nature across the last 12 months. Four out of five of these crimes involved attempts at property theft and it was recognised that just about all of them involved the use of stolen mopeds, often being driven illegally, for example on pavements.

This isn’t just a London thing. In the first half of 2017 a rider in the West Midlands was 16 times more likely to have his/her bike stolen than a car driver of having his/her car stolen. If you owned both types of vehicle you could have had 16 bikes stolen before your car was taken.

Whilst we can all do things to make our bikes more secure when parked (for example using facilities to secure the bike where provided), we are also victims here. MAG requires more secure parking facilities, better security on motorcycles, and Police to take action to catch and arrest these evil individuals. I for one will not lose any sleep if the Police use maximum force when dealing with machete-wielding loons, including the use of firearms or knocking them off their bikes, even if they have removed their helmets.

This may not be MAG policy but many riders share that viewpoint.

Riding is one of life’s most rewarding experiences and it is a shame to be talking about such a negative aspect to it, but we should not be deterred from riding. MAG, with your support, will campaign to see an end to this menace. The Motorcycle Action Group is the country’s leading organisation when it comes to representing rider’s interests and you can be a member for just over 50p per week. Please call 01926 844064: single membership costs £27 (family, joint, affiliated club and corporate memberships also available).

15

PRODOUCTS ON TEST

Waxing lyrical in Classic Style For many years waxed cotton was the main material us bikers wore to keep out the elements. Use of it died out in the sixties and seventies as modern materials that were light, waterproof and breathable became the norm. However, with the resurgence of the hipster, café racer and custom scene, traditional materials have made a comeback. Because, let’s admit it, they look a darn sight cooler than a lot of the high tech kit.

Nick Tunstill and John Allsopp try out a couple of the wide range of offerings…

JOHN’S THREE-QUARTER LENGTH STYLE I was looking for a wax cotton jacket as an intermediate choice between my air flow summer and Hein Gericke winter wear. In the process, I broke one of my golden rules; try for physical fit and not just buy on the internet.

The jacket arrived within two days of me clicking the button on the J&S website.

The BKS Hawker wax cotton motorcycle jacket is described as ‘a premium quality wax cotton jacket that stands alone as a casual jacket but also offers superior protection when on the bike’.

As a chap of a certain age, I do think of this jacket as acceptable for casual wear, and it harks back to my very first bike jacket which was a twelfth hand Belstaff.

The jacket features a Reissa durable waterproof and breathable membrane. It has CE approved armour at the shoulders and elbows, memory foam back protector (CE upgradeable), YKK zips used throughout, heavy duty BKS branded stud fasteners throughout, adjustable belt and quilted detailing in vulnerable places (which also happen to look good). The three quarter length styling, designed in the UK, has subtle BKS branding with removable thermal lining (with mesh underneath).

When I initially tried it on I was reminded of why I have my golden rule of trying stuff on before buying. The removable liner was so thick that I could hardly move! With it removed the jacket was a good comfortable fit. However, as it is waxed cotton, I think when the weather gets slightly cooler my only choice will have to be to wear an EDZ wind shell jacket liner or settle for not being able to bend my arms or take a deep breath.

On the bike (sans liner) it is comfortable and relatively lightweight.

16

The multitude of pockets also renders it useful on a longer trip.

It has also proved itself waterproof in the lovely summer we have just experienced.

As far as wearing it off the bike, it works well. After, that is, you have removed the back protector which only takes a moment.

There is also a hood zipped into the collar. Overall the jacket has been impressive. It has also served as a reminder of why, after thirty-six years of riding, that I have developed my own rules regarding buying rider wear for good reasons.

The BKS Hawker wax cotton motorcycle jacket is available from www.jsaccessories.co.uk for £159.99 NICK’S SHORTER MERLIN SANDON JACKET

I was after the shorter, scrambler styled wax jacket, preferably in a lighter colour than the usual dark green or black and Merlin had exactly what I wanted.

The idea was to have something practical to ride in, but that would work as a casual jacket as well.

It was the autumn when I picked it up and getting a bit too wet and cold for use as a winter biking item on its own, so I wore it without armour as a casual jacket until the spring. Even if you don’t

October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

ON TEST have a bike, the Merlin is a lovely bit of kit with usable pockets inside and out, very stylishly finished and is warm and waterproof. Enough for all year use. There are great little touches like a zipped coin holder on the sleeve and chest vents for summer.

As spring arrived, the armour and back protector went in, and the thermal liner was removed, so it’s been used all year round. If it’s belting down, I slip a lightweight waterproof jacket over the top which I think works best to keep you dry and warm anyway.

The finish is excellent, no sign of any wear and tear, and it’s one of those pieces of clothing that looks better with age, a bit like a leather jacket.

• Halley Stevenson’s 8oz thorn proof Scottish waxed cotton outer

• Reissa waterproof & breathable membrane • 100g removable thermal liner • Italian Safetech CE approved armour to shoulder & elbows • YKK/Max zips throughout with YKK short connecting zip • Diamond stitch quilted shoulder overlays • Removable standard size soft back pad • Multiple pockets inside & out with forearm coin pocket • Adjustment to hem, cuff & bicep • Twin chest vents Merlin’s Sandon Jacket is available from www.merlinbikegear.com for £199.99

wax jacket alternativeS Available from Helmet City at Tatsfield are the Richa Scrambler jacket (left) for £179.99, or, if you want the original, authentic look and have plenty of cash, go for the Belstaff Classic Tourist Trophy (right) for £525.

Visit: www.helmetcity.co.uk

HONDA • DUCATI • KAWASAKI • SUZUKI • TRIUMPH • YAMAHA Quality used road bikes and trials specialist.

Peugeot scooters.

All you need for you and your bike.

Spares, Tyres, Servicing and MOTs. Great selection of clothing and helmets.

Gas Gas, Beta, Sherco trials specialist.

Expert advice and off road parts/accessories SHOEI • ARAI • SIDI • SPADA • RST • HEBO • AIROH ALPINESTARS • OXFORD • MOTUL • CASTROL

Call: 01622 688727 / 01622 765791

99-107 Upper Stone St, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 6HE Email: intabikes@btconnect.com

www.intabikes.com

South East HP Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk Inta 0113 Ad.indd 1

17 15/01/2013 14:00

PRODUCTS ON TEST

Autolink, simple but effective It’s not surprising that many motorbikes are in danger of being stolen specifically for the value of the parts. This is because either the parts are rare or too expensive new. For the police and insurance companies this is a real problem.

Parts rarely have ID on them so cannot be linked back to the theft of the bike. For those that do have marked parts there are drawbacks with systems that either require specialist people and equipment and do not give immediate results, or do not provide individual ID for each component.

Often the police know where these bikes are worked on but cannot obtain a search warrant because they will not be able to link parts to vehicles.

Parts are easily sold with a high demand for spares to keep bikes running.

Autolink have produced a system utilising NFC technology that enables you to easily mark components. NFC tags and UV writing are difficult to find, even for the Police until they have the locations given to them by the owner. NFC and UV markings are revealed with standard police procedures and

equipment (smart phone and UV light).

No annual subscription or concerns over data protection because you don’t have to register any of the ID unless the vehicle is stolen when it’s the Police (PNC) and your insurer you tell. The kit consists of 3 x NFC tags, 1 x UV pen and light.

These self-adhesive tags can be fixed on any surface including metal and are heat resistant and suitable for engine and gearbox but not the exhaust or a catalyser. The tags come pre-programmed but if you have an NFC enabled phone you can add to this and lock it down.

They operate on a frequency that can be read by most police issue smart phones but you have to be able to virtually touch the tag to obtain a reading.

The UV leaves an invisible marking which shows up under ultra violet light. The pen includes a built-in UV torch. You can write whatever ID mark you want. Most police forces in the UK have UV torches.

The RRP is £39.98 + £2.80 P&P. However, we’ve secured a special rate for SEB readers of £35 + £2.80 P&P. Order: www.southeastbiker.co.uk/shop.

AUTOLINK

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PRECIOUS PARTS! An Autolink kit is a simple, cost effective way of marking your motorcycle components and helping the police match stolen parts to the owner.

• NO SUBSCRIPTION • EASY TO FIT • • NO DETAILS HELD ON A DATABASE • An Autolink kit consisting of 3 x NFC tags, 1 x UV pen and light with full instructions

SEB READER OFFER: www.southeastbiker.co.uk/shop 18 Autolink HP 0917.indd

1

11:36 October-November 2017 • South East 22/09/2017 Biker Magazine

PRODUCTS ON TEST

Fire Breathing Dragon Security Recently the amount of motorcycle thefts and related crimes seem to have skyrocketed. With this in mind John Allsopp took his Ducati over to Maidstone to visit Reca Community Café to check out the Fyrdraca Security system.

The Fyrdraca range is very impressive and high tech, utilising GPS technology. In the hideous event of your pride and joy being stolen, information detailing your bike’s movement, direction, mph, etc is sent directly to your smartphone. There are no continuous subscriptions and the system is fitted directly which avoids paying extra for a middle man.

The FYRDRACA website has an abundance of tips on how to prevent motorcycle theft and lots of useful information on the choice of products.

For me, the Fyrdraca DragonFire smoke defence system was the most impressive option.

Activated by SMS Text message to your ‘Track and Alert System’ the DragonFire will quickly surround

your bike in a water based coloured smoke. It is designed to deter and distract a thief, attract the Police and CCTV attention. So, a multi-coloured smoke bomb and screaming alarm activated from my mobile at my command! Wow! If it doesn’t prevent the theft, it will certainly create a lot of attention to the fact my bike is being disturbed.

The overall feeling I got was these guys are really passionate about biking and keeping your ride safe and sound. Additionally it seems to use top end technology but with a personal commitment to service. There are several levels of tracking security available starting from £150 fitted.

To see the video: http://bit.ly/fyrdraca or visit www.fyrdraca.co.uk

MOTORCYCLE SEATS

MOTORCYCLE SEAT UPHOLSTERY SPECIALISTS Quality Craftmandship at Down to Earth prices

We are a small but busy workshop near Brands Hatch supplying and fitting gel pads, memory foam and standard vinyls. We have a full range of faux (fake) and genuine skins. If your seat needs recovering, is uncomfortable or too high or wide, Viking Motorcycle Seats have the solution. How about some customised embroidery? We offer a complete, bespoke service to make your bike unique. While you wait service available.

Call us now on: 07977 874075 Visit: www.viking-motorcycle-seats.co.uk Email: leetheseat@hotmail.co.uk, or pop in and see us at: 27a Heaver Trading Estate, Ash Road, Ash, Kent. TN15 7HJ South East Magazine Viking VinylBiker HP 0515.indd 1 • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

HEATED SEATS

We now supply and fit the fantastic BRAD PADS, heated seat elements to keep you warm all year. These can be inserted into your seat at the same time as a rebuild. A very simple connection to the battery is supplied and the pads come with two settings. Price is just £75 or £95 including wiring into bike.

VIKING MOTORCYCLE SEATS

30 years experience • Quality craftmanship • All work guaranteed

19 12/05/2015 18:00

PRODUCTS ON TEST

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Intercom equipment is ever more becoming an essential bit of kit.

It certainly helps when there are a few of you in a group. John Allsopp talks Interphone Tour.

T

he Interphone Tour is the new top-of-the-line Bluetooth 4.2 intercom system from Interphone.

It marks a new direction for Interphone, as the Tour is quite different from the Italian company’s previous intercom systems. The new design is available in three versions: the Interphone Tour, Sport and Urban. Each is built on the same chassis, with variations in the feature mix.

Before developing the new systems, Interphone first contracted with the GFK Institute to conduct a large user study alongside similar studies for BMW Motorrad and Ducati, so they have an understanding of the motorcycling community and included nearly 700 participants, motorcycle owners like you, to ask about intercom use. The response was clear.

Motorcyclists said to forget the “massive features list” and give us an intercom that’s easy to use, has excellent battery life, fast recharging and excellent sound quality. The new Tour, Sport and Urban intercoms are the result.

Our opinion is that they are indeed easy to use, although not quite as straightforward as Interphone’s goal that the owner should be able to use the system without reading the owner’s manual.

But after a read-through or two of the Quick Start Guide and the full owner’s manual (both available as PDF files), owners won’t need a cheat sheet like they do with the current flagship intercoms from, uh, those “other” companies.

Also, it’s somewhat surprising to find a new high-end intercom system without voice prompts, menus or high-tech group communication features like Cardo’s DMC system. That’s because Interphone is going for a 90% approach to the motorcycle Bluetooth intercom. That is, to provide the real-world functionality you need to actually use the thing 90% of the time without all of those fancy features you might use for the other 10%. How that approach 20

will be marketed to a user base accustomed to paying for the ‘more is better’ feature philosophy remains to be seen.

Will motorcyclists pay a highend price for a system that doesn’t have a big/bigger/biggest feature list? Our answer is this; if you need a motorcycle intercom that’s a functional tool and not just an electronic gadget, the Interphone Tour could be for you.

It’s not quite that simple though, so we included a comparison showing all of the current Interphone intercom features.

And, the bottom line on the Interphone Tour is? Well, it has a rugged build with IP67 water resistance. It has a rated 15 hours of talk time, 1,000 hours of standby and a nice quick charge capability that gives 6 hours of talk time after just 20 minutes of charging. The oversized format and big, labelled buttons are easy to learn and easier to use and you won’t need to have a degree in Electrical Engineering to figure it out.

And if you can do without a few more of the features, like phone call sharing and automatic pairing, you can save yourself quite a few quid by going for the Interphone Sport rather than the Tour.

FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES The change in course by Interphone is pretty dramatic, compared to their previous systems, like the F5MC and F4, but one of the benefits of the new pared-down, function-first and ease-of-use design is that it’s easy to step you through the features. It’s not perfect, but the Interphone Tour system is intuitive enough. One reason for this is that motorcycle Bluetooth intercoms have now been in the mainstream for a decade or more and, finally, the manufacturers have standardised on functions like on/off buttons, pairing and intercom connectivity.

Basically, once you know how to use one Bluetooth system, you pretty much know how to use them all.

On the Interphone Tour, the buttons basically are the menu system.

October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

PRODUCTS ON TEST INTERPHONE TOUR BUTTONS The button arrangement and labelling means you immediately know which button to press to turn it on and to start talking.

The Interphone Tour buttons are clearly labelled, with the FM radio button; the telephone answering/ call button and the music streaming button on top.

Around the perimeter of the intercom module are the volume up and down buttons at the front, on the top and bottom and the infrequently used up and down menu choice buttons at the rear (which also control forward/backward tracking for music streaming). Another nice design feature is that you can jump directly from one function to the other without having to first turn off one before moving to the other. All of this makes the Interphone Tour pretty much foolproof, easy to use and intuitive. So, maybe bigger really is better and more buttons instead of fewer are the answer?

Other features of the Interphone Tour include: Anycom: The Tour can be paired with other brands of Bluetooth intercoms (‘constant on’); Automatic Reconnect: the system will automatically reconnect the pairing when in range; Music Sharing: A pair of Tour intercoms can share music streamed from a Bluetooth connected device, (also possible for devices

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

connected via the auxiliary port); FM Radio: The FM radio reception and quality in the Tour is outstanding — the best FM radio I have ever experienced in a motorcycle intercom system. RDS functionality is included with an 8 preset station memory. It can be mixed in the background while talking on the intercom; Automatic Volume Control: Choose Jet/ Modular/Flip-up or full-face style helmets; Voice Intercom On: Initiate an intercom conversation by speaking “HELLO” into the microphone, without pushing the intercom button; Battery Life: Talk time up to 15 hours with 1,000 hour standby. (F5MC had 12 hours and standby time up to 700 hours.); Quick Charge: 80% charge in 1 hour. 6 hours of talk time in 20 minutes; Range: Up to 1.5 km (0.8 mile) in full duplex mode; Conference Mode: Up to four intercoms can be paired and connected; and Mobile Phone: A2DP and AVRCP profiles. Last number redial.

Music sharing with passenger.

The Tour intercom dual kit comes with two intercom modules and two headsets. The headsets have a stickon microphone for full-face helmets and two boom mics are also included and can be easily swapped out.

The Interphone Tour costs £229.99 (Single), £399.99 (Twin Pack) and is available from BoltBikes. www.boltbikes.co.uk

21

PRODUCTS ON TEST

Don’t lose your cool

I

John Allsopp tries out some kit designed to keep you comfortable on hotter days.

f you have a good memory you will remember the ‘week of summer’ that the UK basked in.

When riding in my leathers I was beginning to feel like a boil in the bag meal at times!

I had previously splashed out on the BMW Airflow jacket and the heat haze finally helped me to decide to buy the trousers too.

A trip down to Chandlers BMW in Brighton and the order was made. The trousers arrived in just a few days and I set off to try them for size.

Some of you may recall that yours truly can be a difficult fit. I have a long body and arms but short legs.

For those that have never met me, just picture a chimp!

The first thing to strike you is that when you get 22

handed the box it feels like it’s empty as the trousers are so light.

Now, I’ll let you picture the usual stretching and squatting postures I engaged in to test the fit. (Thankfully Chandlers have a reasonably sized changing room).

The fit was great and the deal was done.

My first surprise was when I walked outside and the slight breeze blew through the vents which gave the sensation of wearing shorts combined with motorcycle boots.

With over 1,500 miles in I felt it was a reasonable time to feedback my findings.

The BMW AirFlow suit is fully committed to warm weather, although it is not all mesh. Its strategically placed AirTex mesh panels are wide open and have no provision for closure. The flow of air feels almost as strong as with a full mesh suit, yet the wearer gets the protective benefit of the high-tech, abrasion-resistant material Dynatec which, whilst being tear-resistant and extremely robust, is also light and flexible.

The trousers have only one panel per leg, located over the front of the thigh and extending seam to seam. Having said that the actual flow of air is very impressive.

The trousers are a slightly narrow cut but still generous and certainly not skinny. Velcro holds the adjustment straps at the waist and there is a zippered slash pocket on each side. Again, NP2 protectors are included at the knee (height adjustable) and hip.

There is also a zipper to mate to the jacket and the bottoms have zippers with Velcro tab closures.

The lining is poly mesh throughout but for a solid poly panel in the seat and down to the knees. The fabric on the back side of the knee has a different weave, presumably for improved comfort and flexibility when riding.

When riding, the BMW AirFlow trousers, like the jacket, don’t bind or chafe and are a pleasure to wear all day.

Now, I do ride abroad a lot and some of you may be questioning the amount of use you would be able to get from these trousers in our typically cooler climes.

I’d have to say that the waterproofing is actually good and with the easy addition of either a pair of over trousers or (my favoured option) some EDZ wind shell inner trousers making them a very adaptable bit of touring kit that would easily cope with spring and autumn too.

A big thumbs up for both the trousers and Chandlers from me.

Expect to pay around £270 for the BMW Airflow trousers, the jacket costs around £420. www.chandlersbikes.co.uk October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

COMPANY PROFILE

MOTO65 Founder and seasoned motorcyclist Mark fills us in on their background…

M

oto65 are passionate about their bikes and their riding gear. We have all been riding for donkey’s years. From Exotica to Tourers, Sports to Moto X, we’ve ridden them all!

We understand about the old adage of ‘You pay your money, you take your choice.’

Back in the day, we use to put plastic bags on our feet to keep them dry because our boots were crap.

Pull the inners out of our so called ‘waterproof’ gloves because our hands were so cold and wet and the gloves weren’t ‘waterproof.’ We have been there and done that and got the T-Shirt! We appreciate quality gear and that’s why we set up Moto65. We have bought together some market leading motorcycle brands, such as DANE, the pioneers of GORE-TEX® and have for many years been one of the leading specialists in GORE-TEX® apparel in the world. As well as Gerbing, heated clothing wise, they are ‘King of the Hill.’ For over 40 years they have been developing selfheating technology to overcome cold at speed.

We also are introducing brands that are huge in

Europe, but not so well known in the UK, like Difi.

These are guys started in 1960 and are a trusted motorcycle clothing brand in Europe and the US. Finally, Bayard crash helmets. They have been producing motorcycle crash helmets since 1970 and their mantra is ‘quality and safety.’ What all these brands have in common is their quality, product innovation, style and attention to detail. At Moto65 we sell gear that we actually like, trust and it does what it says on the tin.

So why not take a look at what we have to offer, which is great gear at great prices + free UK mainland delivery www.moto65.co.uk

Discerning bike gear for discerning bikers Dane . Difi . Moto One . Bayard . SAS-Tec

www.moto65.co.uk South East Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk Moto65 HPBiker 1017.indd 1

23 22/09/2017 11:28

ROAD SAFETY

DOC BIKE T

The ‘DocBike’ is a collaboration between police and charity that engages with high risk motorcycle users to promote post-test education and awareness. South East Biker takes a look at their aims to promote motorcycle safety and road awareness.

he aim, to eradicate all motorcycle deaths and significantly reduce the number of seriously injured motorcyclists on the roads nationwide. It uses air ambulance (or similarly high-profile) doctors on a blue-light response motorcycle to engage with ‘at risk’ motorcyclists, raising their awareness of the most common causes of serious accidents. The charity is also committed to engaging in research with which to further target injury prevention strategies and show the benefit of certain types of motorcycle protective clothing. At the same time, whilst undertaking injury prevention work, 24

the combination of a pre-hospital doctor on a response motorcycle enables roadside critical care to be delivered should it be required. Multiagency partnership working is a fundamental element of the DocBike charity and helping channel injury prevention strategies to deliver a cohesive and coordinated package across a region is one of its priorities.

In order to deliver an effective motorcycle injury prevention strategy, the circumstances of motorcycle accidents over a 2-4 year period in Dorset were investigated.

72% of motorcycle accidents in which the rider October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

ROAD SAFETY was critically injured or killed would not have happened had the motorcyclist been riding in a safe manner.

This figure rises to 84% for those riding motorcycles greater than 500cc in size. This does not mean that the motorcyclist did not have right of way, but had they been riding safely, the accident would have been avoided. Giving motorcyclists an awareness of the things that most commonly cause a rider to be involved in a serious crash enables them to adopt risk avoidance strategies as part of their everyday riding and so reduces their chances of being critically injured or killed, whilst still having the freedom to enjoy motorcycling at its best!

52% of riders who were critically injured or killed were aged 40-60yrs. While significant numbers of younger motorcyclists were also involved in serious motorcycle accidents, this study does challenge the belief that it is the younger, inexperienced motorcyclist that is most at risk.

Two thirds of significant motorcycle accidents occur on rural roads.

Riding around left-hand corners at excessive speed throws the motorcyclist into the right hand lane and into the path of oncoming traffic. Using excessive speed along straight country roads means that should a car pull across their path, the

motorcyclist is unable to react in time to prevent the collision. Motorcycles have a small profile and their speed is very difficult to judge when travelling directly towards a car. Giving motorcyclists an awareness of their vulnerability allows them to

Service • Repairs • Tyres Suspension Set-up MOTs by Appointment 17 Years Main Dealer Experience

Tel: 01825 766351, Mobile: 07710 784876 Email: info@everestmotorcycles.co.uk Visit: www.everestmotorcycles.co.uk Unit 3, Enterprise Centre, Bell Lane, Uckfield, East Sussex. TN22 1QL

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk Everest Motorcycles HP 0115.indd 1

25 15/01/2015 09:40

ROAD SAFETY anticipate the potential hazards and adopt riding behaviours to prevent the accident from occurring.

Riders travelling in groups are at increased risk of having an accident. In practice, the least experienced riders tend to be at the back of the group. Pushing themselves beyond their capabilities and overtaking inappropriately in an attempt to keep up with their colleagues, they put themselves at greater risk of being involved in an accident. Educating groups to put the least experienced rider at the front, or emphasising that trying to keep up can put the inexperienced rider at more risk, helps to prevent these sorts of accidents from happening.

Motorcyclists are reluctant to speak to police officers, despite them having the most knowledge and experience of motorcycle accidents and are amongst the best motorcyclists on the road.

Motorcyclists do however like organisations such as Air Ambulance charities, there to help them should the worst happen. Putting an air ambulance critical care doctor on a highly visible response motorcycle draws motorcyclists in to speak to the doctor, who can then talk to them about the causes of accidents and point them towards rider awareness and further skills courses.

Having used research to identify the ‘at-risk’ motorcycle groups, the DocBike acts as a conduit with which to channel riders towards schemes aimed at improving their awareness of lifethreatening hazards and reducing the risk of them being involved in an accident. At the same time, the critical care element of the doctor on the motorcycle is available to respond should a serious road traffic collision occur in the vicinity.

‘At-risk’ motorcyclists have often been riding for many years and do not perceive themselves to lack awareness or indeed have any need for further rider training. Talk to them about ‘safety’ and the majority are not interested.

The BikerDown course is a free evening course, which teaches riders how to keep a fellow biker alive until the ambulance arrives. Because it does not appear to be about safety, but more about helping your friend or a fellow biker who has been in an accident, ‘at-risk’ motorcyclists are happy to attend. During the course, the attendees are introduced to the concept of awareness of risk and how to avoid being in an accident. As a result, it is commonplace for BikerDown attendees to then go on to do a BikeSafe course.

Injury prevention is cheap and whilst the

EXPLORE Tried and tested motorcycle tours throughout Europe and across the globe.

Experienced in planning and organisation to enure your enjoyment, comfort and safety. A bespoke service is available for individuals or groups.

www.1066motorcycletours.co.uk or call 07592 193399 26 1066 Motorcycle Tours HP 1116.indd

1

1066

MOTORCYCLE TOURS

13:20 October-November 2017 • South East 22/11/2016 Biker Magazine

ROAD SAFETY monetary savings of preventing motorcyclists from being killed or critically injured can be quantified, avoiding the emotional devastation to families by keeping their loved ones safe through rider education and further skills training cannot.

The DocBike scheme has been phenomenally successful in Dorset and we are now unable to meet the demand from the public who have developed a real appetite for the BikerDown course.

BikerDown in Dorset is delivered by an advanced police motorcycle instructor and an air ambulance critical care doctor, both of whom work full time in their day jobs.

Engagement with the public and delivery of bike safety courses occurs largely in their own time and as such is subject to their availability.

The DocBike project is supported by two volunteers, but because of time constraints and a fixed number of BikeSafe courses with which to direct riders after they have attended the BikerDown evening, currently, delivery of only one BikerDown course per month can be achieved. With more help, they can increase this to meet the demand in the future.

BikeSafe is a police delivered course which

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

must adhere to national criteria. It requires the availability of police motorcyclists to provide observed rides with the candidates. It is the aim of BikerDown to encourage candidates to undertake further rider awareness and improve their riding skills through a BikeSafe, IAM or ROSPA course.

BikeSafe traditionally ‘bridges the gap’ between the Department for Transport motorcycle test and advanced rider training.

27

RIDER REVIEW

BOBBING AROUND SPAIN Catherine Meredith takes the popular new Triumph for a spin in the sun…

T

he alarm woke me at 6am and I jumped out of bed like a spring chicken, which is no mean feat for a 52-year-old woman!

Today’s the day I test ride Triumph’s wonderbike — the Bobber!

We drove the two-and-a-half hours to the Triumph dealership in Zaragoza. The test ride was scheduled at 10am at my request, thinking that it would not have got too hot by then, how wrong I was! On arrival we were met by the guy who was to take us on a tour around Zaragoza, me on the Bobber, my other half on the StreetCup. All legalities sorted, we went to the bikes waiting for us outside the shop. Rightly, in my opinion, I had a riding jacket (a mesh summer one, this is Spain you know), gloves (likewise), and helmet etc.

I was on my own. The others were in T-shirts and no gloves. So, while I was sweltering in the heat, I got

28

to grips with this new machine.

Sit on it, raise it up from the side-stand and get a feel for the weight — check! Key in ignition, electrics on, bike in neutral — check! Start bike up, check location of horn, indicators etc — check!

Bike in gear, check traffic, off we go, wobbling like a good one as in my checks I had overlooked the position of the pegs, I was riding along trying to find where to put my feet. A bit of a rookie error I would declare. It must have been entertaining to watch though.

So off we go, through the busy streets of Zaragoza in the blistering heat, I don’t much like cities I thought to myself as I was battling with buses and lorries around the narrow streets. The bike was performing beautifully, the clutch, which was being used constantly with the stop-start traffic, was as light as a feather.

October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

RIDER REVIEW

I write this as someone who has never ridden a brand-new bike. All the bikes I’ve ridden have been well over 12 years old. Any criticism of this machine I will put down to my inexperience of such things.

Gears were easy, not once finding neutral instead of first or second gear which is a first for me. It’s the first time I have ridden a bike that has the selected gear display and I really liked that. I am not sure I liked it because it was the first time I had ever ridden the Bobber but it was handy at roundabouts when you are unfamiliar with the bike’s handling. Could I live without it if the bike didn’t have it? Yes. I soon stopped looking and just enjoyed the ride. Soon we were out on the open highway and then I started to have a bit of a play with the bike.

The sound. What can I say? I think it is the sweetest sound I have heard for a long time. It has a lovely loud roar/growl which gave me the urge to ‘blip’ the throttle during changing down… and away we go. Six gears, my current bike has five, and I have always thought it needed one more. A few times on the highway I took her up into sixth, and she was so smooth and steady.

Riding along, really settling in on this bike, I started to analyse the Bobber a bit. This bike seems to me to be designed for men. Granted, we are built differently, and this seat definitely accommodates men better than women. I started to get a bit of a numb bum after about 45-minutes.

It could have done with a bit more levelling out, and a bit more padding for my liking, and I can assure you that THIS lady rider has plenty of padding of her own.

The riding position is something completely new to me, and although I favour muscle bikes/ sports tourers, I was starting to enjoy the way it was designed. I don’t think I have ever felt so comfortable on any bike before this. When filtering from a slip road onto a motorway, I was able to turn head, shoulders and the top of my torso around to have a look for a gap in traffic. A bit more than the usual life-saver that I normally

do. The Bobber stayed exactly where she was on the road when I did this. I was enjoying this riding style so much that after a number of miles on the motorway, I started to dangle my left arm ‘Sons of Anarchy’ style, just for a second or two to wind up my husband who was following behind. If only I had an open-faced helmet and denim cut-off to complete this riding style. All jokes aside, it was an eye-opener for me in a good way.

The fly-by-wire throttle took a bit of getting used to, and again I put that down to my lack of experience of such. I was starting to get used to it and read it correctly, but occasionally at roundabouts as I was pulling off into the traffic I felt it let me down a little bit. It was barely noticeable, a nano-second of hesitation to respond. I felt a bit nervous about it at first but I soon got the hang of it.

Now I was really settling in, swinging into and out of roundabouts, opening up that sweet sounding engine on the highway to overtake. She felt so incredibly light for a 1200cc. She felt so solid on the road too, while I was sweeping in and out of bends you could feel the rear tyre sticking to the road, brilliant.

The seat is very low in comparison to my other bike. I would go as far as to say I could ride this bike in reasonable heels. Not that this should be a consideration when buying the next bike, but as a woman, you never know, and I would say it was a definite possibility. Before long we were back in the hot and busy streets of the city centre and back to the dealership. My verdict? I’ll take it!

It’s incredibly light, powerful, easy to use, and very easy on the eye, just need to have a re-think on the seat, for a woman.

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

29

TOURING

SPANISH BUTT PART I

Stephen Cooper attempts to add to his Ironbutt total with a 48-hour round trip to Valencia and back…on a Kymco scooter.

I

t’s 5.15 am on a Monday morning somewhere near Calais and I’m in the wrong hotel. The right one is just 1/2 mile away but it’s shut and even I don’t have the audacity to wake the owner up to claim my room. I have the gait of a constipated humanoid robot and I’ve not slept for about 23 hours. I’m not looking and feeling my best as my feet, arse, legs and chest are soaking wet where my hastily repaired textiles have allowed the elements in.

30

Outside my Kymco Downtown 300i scooter sits exiled on the pavement having done its job perfectly. It’s an ignominious place to leave it when I reflect on the hours of abuse that I’ve just put it through. I’m exceptionally proud of it and if it was capable of understanding words or inflections I’d tell it.

Back inside Cedric, the hotel manager has taken pity on me after I’d informed him where I’d just ridden from and what I’d ridden through. More coffee than I can drink, complemented with more croissant than I can eat arrive on my table as I sit in my own festering damp miasma. I show my thanks with my eyes as I’m having a few issues forming words.

While I’m tucking in something quite strange happens. Gendarme after Gendarme arrive in reception and unconsciously surround me with their blend of good looks, sharp haircuts and well tailored outfits. It’s not the fact that they are the Police that makes me uncomfortable, it’s more the fact that I look like a sack of shit and they look ready for the catwalk that’s concerning me. As even more arrive I start to feel increasingly out of place so I thank Cedric again for his kindness then walk slowly and gingerly back outside to remount the scooter so I can make the short journey to the Channel Tunnel.

Maybe at this point I should tell you how I got here as I feel that I’m going ahead of myself so let’s put this in context. 53 hours and 2162 miles earlier I set out from the hotel Kyriad in Coquelles (the right hotel) with a plan to ride to Valencia and back within 48 hours to achieve three things: 1, to raise money for the Whizz-Kids Charity; 2, to add two more ‘Ironbutt Rides’ to my tally of eight (1000 miles in 24 hours for PTW’s ); and 3, to blatantly promote the Kymco brand as is my wont.

Granted things didn’t get off to the best of starts when two weeks prior to the attempt the UK importers of Kymco Scooters, Masco, went into receivership.

Then, to compound things, Eurotunnel

October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

TOURING

reneged on a deal to sponsor the ride after initially agreeing to a complementary crossing. For many reasons I had to delay the ride by a couple of weeks but after initially agreeing to move the date they reneged again, citing the new date as one of the busiest days of the year. Fair enough I thought, and dutifully bought my ticket, but on my arrival at the train I counted a total of just two bikes in my carriage (one of which one was mine) plus another another five empty carriages behind me. So much for being so busy eh? I may have sulked for the duration of the crossing.

Once I’m out of the tunnel I brim the scooter’s tank and the spare can that I always carry with me on these events then head for the hotel. As I plan to ride through the night I force myself to get a couple of hours kip then at 11.45pm I get kitted up and walk into the courtyard to mount my steed. I’m so focused on getting the job done I forget to leave my room key at the deserted reception, but more about that later.

Just before I punch the starter I give myself a little talking to. It’s just a small reminder that if I’m given the choice to do the sensible thing rather than the selfish and short sighted, I should choose

the first. I leave the security of the hotel car park then slowly amble my way through the village of Coquelles toward the péage. Once I’m on it, I get my head down for short ride to the first toll booth.

The toll and fuel receipts will confirm where I was and when, which will help me when I submit them all to the Ironbutt Association for certification. I’ll also photograph the scooter’s clocks and the petrol pump read outs as a backup.

The roads are empty which is just the way I like it. Empty and dry, more importantly but that was soon about to change as within a couple of hours I’m fighting the front wheel which is tank slapping from side to side. The cause is a short contraflow

Set up to raise funds for the Air Ambulance, MotoRecycle has been collecting used and unwanted motorcycle kit and accessories to sell for donations. Over £300 was raised in September alone, so many thanks to all who contributed.

John Allsopp has kindly agreed to to coordinate pick ups and collect donations.

Currently we have John Harris Motorcycles in Crowborough, West Sussex Motorcycle Hire in Chichester and Moton Motorcycles in St Leonards on Sea willing to take in contributions.

The latest information can be found on the Facebook page: Search for MotoRecycle MotoRecycle HP 1017.indd 1 • www.southeastbiker.co.uk South East Biker Magazine

25/09/2017 15:50 31

TOURING

where the road markings have been painted black.

Light drizzle has made the road surface slick and greasy which is, to say the least, disconcerting. Just outside Rouen I make an early fuel stop as I know from experience that at 2am all the petrol stations in town will be closed. This is France after all.

Once I’m through the slow fiddly bit of the town I get on with getting to Le Mans where, if I’ve timed it right, the sun should come up. It does, but at the same time it rises it starts to pour with rain. Not your normal rain but fat heavy Matrix type rain which sticks with me all the way to Bordeaux, say roughly 300 miles south. Which was nice. As I reach the city limits of Bordeaux the traffic ahead slows to a halt so just like any ex dispatch rider would I filtered to the front only to be greeted by a horrid sight.

A Ducato van is laying on its side having speared off the Armco barrier while vomiting its contents through its back doors. I’m guessing that the driver was helping someone move house because the accident had left a trail of domestic appliances all over the road.

By the time the bad weather was behind me, much of me was sodden but something else more important was about to happen. My Sat Nav which

had been resistant to these kind of downpours in the past suddenly died and no matter how many times I pressed the on button it refused to show any signs of life. I made the assumption that water ingress was the cause of its failure but that’s not where that tale ends. There will be a resurgence of this theme later. Granted it wasn’t a disaster as I’d written my list of destinations on the reverse side of my screen in preparation for just this kind of event but it was still very annoying not to have an arrow with a soothing voice to follow.

The weather became dryer and hotter the closer I got to the Spanish border but sadly so did the frequency of the toll booths. Each time I felt like I was getting somewhere another one would pop up to destroy any momentum I wanted to maintain. Finally I rode into Spain which just felt like another country, which of course it was I guess, but let me explain a little further. Gone was the flat nothingness of southern France and in its place beautiful green rolling hills with a flowing highway that twisted then occasionally bored through its mountainous profile. The scenery was so vivid it looked like I was riding into a cartoon or at least an advert for Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream.

John Harris Motorcycles MOT, Servicing, Parts, Accessories and Clothing HONDA SPECIALIST

All your autumn needs • Halvarssons stockists • • Nolan helmets • Gaerne boots • • Red Torpedo clothing •

Call us now: 01892 652380

Blair House, Whitehill Road, Crowborough, East Sussex. TN6 1JS

www.jhmc.co.uk

32 JOHN HARRIS 0917 HP Ad.indd

1

October-November 2017 • South East 14/09/2017 Biker Magazine 11:09

TOURING

Each time I entered one of the many tunnels the temperature dropped markedly then on the exit I was greeted with a blast of hot air. Spain was in the middle of a heatwave, so to take full advantage of it I unzip all of the available vents in my jacket, not only in an effort to cool down but also to dry out. I also bungie my saturated gloves to my rear seat in the vain hope that they’ll dry out by tonight. For the record, the latter didn’t work but on the up side my impression of a bag of Uncle Ben’s boil in the bag rice improved the further I rode.

On the stretch from Pamplona to Zaragoza the hills are replaced with flat plains which stretch out for miles on both sides but it’s in no way boring. It’s truly beautiful. Apart from the myriad of tolls constantly reining me in I’m really enjoying this part of the ride. It’s hot, sunny, and the Kymco seems to be very happy eating up the miles beneath me. It’s what it’s built for after all. The only real concern is the drive belt as heat isn’t very good for them especially when you don’t give them a chance to cool down.

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

During routine servicing a belt should be replaced around the 6000 mile mark but I’ve turned one into candy floss at 2500 just because if they are kept spinning at high rpms they will eventually delaminate as a result of not having a chance to cool down, so the ambient temperature isn’t going help me in my mission. To prevent issue the nice people at Colwin Motorcycles in Sittingbourne fitted a new drive belt prior to the attempt but even this will be thrown away post ride. It’s a consumable after all!

At Zaragoza I swing South towards Valencia then go looking for my penultimate fuel stop and I find it in the middle of nowhere signposted from the road.

It’s one of those automated pumps so it takes me a while to figure it out as English isn’t an option on the keypad. By the time the Kymco’s tank is full I’ve got steam rising up from my chest and sweat dripping down the inside of my thighs. It’s really bloody hot.

Still only a couple of hours to go, or so I thought. To be continued…

33

DVD REVIEW

silver dream racer I was kindly offered a blu ray version of Silver Dream Racer to review.

I prepared myself for a trip back to my youth, writes John Allsopp…

T

his meant a trip to the Olde Sweetshop for Rhubarb and Custard, Black Jacks and various other nibbles from the era in order to complete the full reminiscence experience.

For any of you unfamiliar with the plot it can essentially be summed up in a few words:A young hot-headed motorbike enthusiast inherits the prototype for an incredibly fast machine which was designed by his brother. He successfully gets the finance for it, and uses the bike to challenge for the world championship at Silverstone.

Essex’s Nick Freeman being as much of a surefire loser as Bruce McBride (Beau Bridges) is as much a winner. Where the American has his bike parked for him in an enormous articulated truck that’s parked in the paddock, Nick Freeman and Cider (spanner man and best friend) push their bike up a homemade ramp into the back of a Bedford van that’s decorated with sponsor’s adverts that look to be more hopeful than actually having been paid for.

With his discovery of the titular bike, that Nick finding it is somewhat miraculous is never in question given that it sparkles and shines more than did Excalibur in Boorman’s fantasy epic. Nick goes from donkey to thoroughbred in almost as short a time has it takes him to complete a lap at Silverstone on his silver dream machine.

34

In fact, the scene where Nick strokes the bike with a lustful glint in his eye would trigger a knowing smile on the face of every bike enthusiast.

The film was either the worst or best bike film ever made, depending on your viewpoint. On the plus side, Silver Dream Racer was like Rocky on two wheels poor boy takes on the world then makes good, gets the girl.

On the downside, the chances of finding a bike in your brother’s shed then winning the 500cc world championship in one race are improbable at best.

But that’s just what happened in the 1981 movie starring none other than gypsy Seventies pin-up boy David Essex.

Singer David Essex surprisingly churns out quite a decently genuine and fitting performance in the lead, where his monotonously dry presence captured the reckless nature and sour humour of his character.

Some of the filming clearly shows its age in the context of the technology available at the time, but, for me the crackling sound of two strokes on full chat took me right back to watching the Transatlantic Trophy at Brands and how it fuelled my passion for bikes that still burns brightly some 36 years later.

I’m not sure if the rivalry between Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts had anything to do with the interplay between Freeman (Essex) and McBride (Beau Bridges).

In my case David Essex character

October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

DVD REVIEW

reminded me of Bazza especially with the training at Brands Hatch and the oft seen images of reaching for a packet of fags.

Now the main talking point has got to be the dramatically downbeat ending. Where did that come from?!

If you actually watch it, do yourself a favour and hit “STOP” as soon as you see Dad smiling as Essex raises his arms in victory. Otherwise you’ll be scarred for life.

I must be getting soft in my dotage but the original UK ending is just like a punch in the gut. It rather reminds me of the feeling that the ending of Planet of the Apes with Charlton Heston gave me. (Rather unsurprisingly the US ending is the happy one). I’ll confess I actually hit the button for the happy ending right after.

It is a special film to me even today. Despite its flaws it can transport me back to my teens (no mean feat!).

The film itself has many areas that can be criticised but did I enjoy it?

Yes indeed I did.

One interesting part I can confirm is real is when David Essex is pulling some wheelies outside the disco (old word for club) it was actually him, he had a very keen interest in motorcycles and I imagine some of the younger folk won’t believe it was possible in the ‘olden days’.

FURTHER FACTOIDS Former racer and the BBC’s current WSB commentator Steve Parrish, opined that the actual bike wasn’t capable of much! .

He says in his characteristically no holds barred way: “It was the biggest pile of shit I’ve ever ridden.”

Parrish tested the bike in France because it was actually developed with the aim of racing in real life before the film crew realised its film star potential.

Former British champion and ex-Red Bull Ducati team manager Roger Marshall did much of the riding for the

film, including footage shot during the British GP at Silverstone in 1979.

“I was in the points in the race until the bike developed a fuel leak,” says Marshall. “So I pulled over and explained to the marshals that we really needed to get a shot of me crossing the finish line pretending I’d won the race. They waited for the last lap then flagged me out on track in between groups of riders and we got the shot we needed!”

Marshall explains in his biography Roger and Out by Keith Martin that he was paid the handsome sum of £200 per day for filming which in 1979 was not to be sniffed at.

Other benefactors were the brothers Harris of Harris Performance who provided endless screens, footpegs and other trinkets to the film company who were trashing stacks of bikes every week for the film’s crash sequences. Harris says: “We probably sold more parts those few weeks than we’ve ever done.”

Silver Dream Machine is available on Blu-Ray (£14.99 )and DVD (£9.99). It is available from www.networkonair.com.

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

35

SOUTH OF ENGLAND CLASSIC SHOW & BIKE JUMBLE

I

Celebrate 50 Years of the Norton Commando with Peter Williams & Friends at Ardingly on Sunday 29th October

t’s 50 years since the launch of the Norton Commando at The Earls Court Show in 1967, and we’ll be celebrating at our next event at Ardingly on Sunday 29th October. With its groundbreaking isolastic suspension frame, the Norton Commando was one of the most popular British motorcycles ever made. Winning MCN Bike of the Year for five years running, it’s still revered by enthusiasts.

To help us celebrate, Norton Guru Peter Williams is our Guest of Honour. Peter was a Norton works rider and also a talented engineer, working in the Norton Design Department.

On the track he was widely recognised as perhaps the best racer never to win a world championship although his record boasts numerous national victories and, of course, that sensational 1973 TT win on the monocoque Norton Commando he developed himself.

We’re also welcoming a host of other Norton employees to a ‘Question and Answer’ session, hosted

by Peter Williams and including the testers and designers from the AMC Plumstead factory where the iconic Commando went into production.

In honour of Peter’s visit bikes booked in to appear include his innovative original 1973 JPN Monocoque, a genuine Thruxton Commando, an original 1963 500cc Dunstall Domiracer, one of the first fastback Commandos made and a Seeley Commando. These will take part in the popular Fire-Up Paddock, giving you the chance to hear these legendary machines.

Norton works rider Peter will be on hand all day, and is bringing copies of his recently republished autobiography ‘Designed to Race’. This book was out of print for many years; with copies fetching extremely high prices on the internet, but now’s your chance to buy a signed copy direct from the author.

SHOW DETAILS The South of England Classic Motorcycle Show & 36

Bikejumble. Date: 10am Sunday 29th October 2017.

10:00 - 14:30 (last admission 13:30). Venue: South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TL. Location Eight miles from M23 junction 10, signposted SOE / Wakehurst Place. Nearest train stations are Haywards Heath and East Grinstead, busses 270 & 272 stop at the showground, but check Sunday timetable www.traveline.info Entrance to the Showground is via the North Gate, opposite the Gardener’s Arms pub. Entry: Gates Open 10 am and admission is £6 adults; £5 65-and-over; kids under 16 free.

FEATURES Five indoor halls of motorcycles & bikejumble. Large indoor all-motorcycle show for pre-1980 motorcycles with Club Stands and hundreds of machines on display.

The Royal British Legion will be providing a Helmet Park in aid of the RBL in The Stockman’s Building.

Large indoor and outdoor Bikejumble with new and used spares, bikes, clothing & accessories for sale.

Free BikeMart display-to-sell area for private vendors.

Cheap garage clear-out stalls available – just £10, must be pre-booked.

Free BikeMart display-to-sell area for private vendors, enquire for details. Cheap garage clear-out stalls are available – just £10, must be pre-booked, visit out website below to download a booking form.

Great range of catering (previous events featured a Hog roast, fantastic Italian smokerie, a baker’s stall, toasty sandwiches and Real Coffee in addition to standard burgers). Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.

Free parking, including disabled parking facilities and priority disabled access scheme so you don’t have to queue!

If you’d like to enter your pre-1980 classic into the Show, and can do so before 1st October, then you’ll be sent a pass which will let you in for absolutely NOTHING. Visit www.elk-promotions.co.uk to download a free entry form. We’re especially looking for Commandos this time!

For more information visit www.elk-promotions. co.uk, email: events@elk-promotions.co.uk, telephone: 01797 344277 October-November 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

South of England Classic Show & BikeJumble

10am Sundayy 29th October Special Guest : Peter Williams G

Celebrating 50 0 Years of the Norton Commando Five Halls of All-Motorcycle Show and Bikejumble

Cheap garage Ch ggarage-clearout -cllearoutt stalls stalls t ll – Team T up With a Friend F i d Free Bik F BikeMart keMart Display Display-to-Sell -to-Sell area; Hog Roast

Free E Entry for Pre Pre-Booked -Booked exhibitors

Vi i o V Visit our website b i & Book B k in i Now! N !

South of o England Showground, Ardingly West Sussex RH17 6TL

© ELK Promotions 2017

2018 Dates: Daates:

South of England Show at Ardingly: Sunday 25th March 2018; Ashford Easter Monday 2nd April; Romney Marsh Sunday 20th May 2018 ELK Promotion Promotions, ns, PO Box 85, New w Romney, Kent TN28 9BE

01797 344277 M.O.T & SERVICE CENTRE LTD

01273 430303 ☎ www.thwaitesgarage.co.uk

www.elk-promotions.co.uk www.e elk-promotions.co.uk

Opening Times Monday - Friday: 8:00 (lunch 12:30-1:30) - 5:30 Saturday: 8:00 - 12:00 noon

Unit 1 William Street, Portslade, West Sussex, BN41 1PZ

We service, repair & carry out Classes

1-2-4-5-7

He’s the man!

M.O.T Testing on motorcycles &

motor vehicles,

which can be arranged either

by

telephone

or can be booked

online.

MOTORCYCLE MOT CENTRE

Bring your bike to the man you can trust.

• • • • • • •

Small independent workshop Motorcycle MOT station Servicing, repairs and tyre fitting Modifications, rebuilds and project work Ultrasonic carburettor cleaning Authorised number plate supplier Over 30 years experience

Ian Scott is...

Telephone 01424 893543 Mobile 07866 289722 ian@themotorcycleman.co.uk www.themotorcycleman.co.uk Unit 2, Mount Pleasant Garage, Ninfield Road Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN39 5JG

South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

Like The Motorcycle Man on Facebook

37

EVENTS

For a full list of What’s On visit

www.southeastbiker.co.uk/events

1st October

29th October

BRIGHTONA

SOUTH OF ENGLAND CLASSIC SHOW AND BIKEJUMBLE Ard

Madeira Drive, Brighton

ingly

8th October

BRITISH SIDECAR CROSS

12th November

RING OF RED (M25)

Canada Heights

www.therideofrespect.co.uk

13-15 October

19th November

BRITISH SUPERBIKES

WOBBLERS TRIAL

Brands Hatch

Canada Heights

Hand made in the UK. Motorcycle and cycle tool rolls and accessories.

Waxed cotton, canvas, leather and stainless steel.

www.purplepatchworkshop.com 38 Purple Patch HP 0417.indd

1

October-November 2017 • South East 17/03/2017 Biker Magazine 12:18

Personal injury specialists with a track record of putting bikers on the road to recovery after accidents.

We are a specialist legal team with extensive experience of supporting people injured in motorbike accidents and providing access to the best rehabilitation support.

We also have an in-house Incident & Investigation Specialist who understands the dynamics of biking.

“We focus on securing damages that truly reflect the impact the injury has had on a person’s life and aim to compensate them for their suffering, recover their losses, and provide access to rehabilitation support to recover physically, as is best possible.”

A compensation claim with Hudgell Solicitors can put you on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.

– Matt Tuff, senior personal injury solicitor, Hudgell Solicitors, London (Winner of Modern Claims Professional of the Year 2016)

Call our accident experts today for free advice on:

0808 301 8554

hudgellsolicitors.co.uk