South East Biker, Issue 59, October-November 2018

The South East’s No.1 FREE bike magazine

ISSUE 59 • OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2018

MOTORCYCLE LIVE

WIN TICKETS

QUICK OFF THE MARK

REVIEW NIPPY NORMANS HONDA ONE STEPH BEYOND CRF250L

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

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STARTING GRID

Editor scribes Most years, as we head into autumn, we reflect upon a disappointing summer with the occasional sunny spell when we have been able to get out and enjoy ourselves. 2018 however, with a few exceptions, will be remembered for the long heatwave after a cold start to the year. Bike events have seen great turnouts and cafés and other destinations have had car parks rammed with motorbikes. All good.

According to the media, extreme weather, such as we have had this year, will become more frequent.

We shall see! In the meantime, any good weather should be enjoyed before the next ice-age hits.

In this issue we introduce Dom Humby, our specialist product reviewer. Dom is a real world rider and gives an honest opinion on the effectiveness of products and their value for money.

Get in touch if there is anything in particular you would like testing.

We catch up with Steph Jeavons, the first solo female rider to have visited all seven continents and review the Honda CRF250 that she chose for the trip. Farid Mehr tells us how he ended up riding a monster V Max at Brighton Speed Trials and we review and preview some of the region’s best biking events.

Enjoy the autumn and make the most of the rest of the biking season.

All the best Nick

Visit southeastbiker.co.uk for events list CONTACT US ADVERTISING AND Debbie Tunstill, email: debs@southeastbiker.co.uk GENERAL ENQUIRIES Tel: 07913 759955 EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Nick Tunstill, email: nick@southeastbiker.co.uk PRODUCTION: Dean Cook: deancook@magazineproduction.com PRINTING: Gemini Print, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex.

COVER IMAGE: Farid Mehr on his V-Max (© F. Mehr)

© 2018 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

Contents

4 ONE STEPH BEYOND 10 A Bike For All Seasons 14 The Café Racer Cup 18 Tucano Waterproofs 19 Painful Potholes

21 QUICK OFF THE MARK 24 Charitable Works 26 Nippy Norman 29 MAG News 30 Motoport 32 The Wings Museum 34 80 Years Of AMC 36 New Kid On The Block 3

WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES

HEADLINE One Steph Beyond S H O R E H A M - B Y- S E A

John Allsopp goes in search of his inner hipster on the South Coast…

W

hatever you might think of the hipster premises, around 4 months ago, with the aim of subculture I believe that several being able to hold a better selection and range of Steph Jeavons is an journalist, speaker and adventurer whochanging in April things can be saidauthor, in its favour where stock as well as offering free parking, itthis meshes with motorcycling. no rooms, coffee and hosting events. year completed a There solo are around-the-world trip (RTW) that took her to all signs that it is a flash in the pan. This is clearly When you visit the shop you discover that it’s seven continents.

She has the justBike becomecertainly the first British tosubstance. do so. The shown by the massive draw of both not a case of biker style over Shed MC in Shoreditch as well as the incredibly Cafe Racer are the UK’s leading supplier of journey lasted four years, during which she logged 54 countries and more popular BSMC show that I attended last year. retro and vintage style motorcycle apparel and Additionally, miles, over the 74,000, way that manufacturers on a Hondahave CRF250, accessories than anyone to keep you who’s safe and come stylish before. on embraced the movement by creating bikes like your classic bike, café racer, bobber, brat style the Triumph teph has Bobber been around underlines motorbikes its relevance. most custom or scrambler. They are official stockists Anything of herthat life might with both drawparents people and (whoone for Belstaff Motorcycle Jackets and Barbour otherwise of her might two not sisters consider ridingtwo as well. wheels Her at all) International as well as being the first dealer to into grandmother the wonderful evenworld rode of bikes motorcycling during theiswar! a introduce Deus Ex Machina clothing to the UK . good Stephthing, herself both hasfor been them riding and the since rest the ofage us. of They also stock established brands such as 21.

Also, I think the you movement’s can safely connection say it’s inwith the blood. high Davida, Bell, Roland Sands Design and Biltwell profile Stephevents had her likeson thevery Distinguished young and, Gentleman’s to keep alongside exciting emerging brands such as Ride her going and latterly through the the Ride tough of the times, Ruperts she kept Hedon and Resurgence Gear. promotes hold of a dream a positive to see image the of world. motorcyclists In 2008, with in The shop is run by friendly and enthusiastic general borrowed in the bikes eyes andofland, the public she set inup general. her own bike nuts with an in-depth knowledge of all the off-road So, withmotorcycle its emphasis school on style in the it necessarily UK as well as products they offer. follows undertaking that people desert interested tours in Morocco in this need alongside The Café Racer a Bike Night on the Wednesday somewhere the British Dakar to access riderall Mick the Extance. accoutrements Withinthey of the month. All details on these events can be need. six months they had gained sponsorship from found and in on theFacebook Sahara five under... times. She has crossed the Honda Cafe Racer UK and arewithin an independent 12 months Brighton(-ish) had become the US coast-to-coast four times, got muddy in Wales based biggest company off road who school started in thearound country.

7 years with names like John McGuinness and once, just ago Steph at inhas Hove. ridden They across have the just Atlas moved Mountains into new once, nearly punched Carl Fogarty! Steph also

S

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October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

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WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES

worked with Nick Sanders (ambassador for Yamaha motorcycles) setting up his expedition centre in Machynlleth.

She left all this excitement behind to pursue her dream of riding her motorcycle to all seven continents — solo!

All motorcycle trips are an adventure but something on this scale is unimaginable to most bikers. So how do you actually set about it all?

Obviously time and money are the biggest practical hurdles, then there are the issues of family, loneliness and simply the apprehension of distancing yourself so far from your normal comfortable routine. But, as many have proved, it can be done with the right approach.

Steph is the kind of person who will do something with total commitment, no half measures.

Having told everyone what she planned to do, she had to see it through and so set off from the Ace Café in March 2014. She looked a lot more confident than she felt inside and wasn’t convinced she would even make it out of Europe. But onward Steph went, and the three year trip turned into a four year adventure.

During her journey, Steph got caught in a Himalayan landslide on the highest motorable road in the world; rode Rhonda (her Honda) on Antarctica; visited, in turn, the hottest, driest, wettest, and coldest places on the planet; and graciously turned down six marriage proposals.

She particularly loved Ethiopia with its wonderful scenery, mix of cultures and great off road routes. Much of Africa is extremely hot and Ethiopia is relatively high with cooler air which

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was quite a relief. The biggest challenge was often dealing with the temperature. India was very warm and humid and the traffic can be bad. Steph suffered from heat exhaustion there twice plus altitude sickness.

Getting to Antarctica was obviously a great challenge, involving getting the bike into a small dinghy and crossing one of roughest and coldest seas in the world. It was worth it though and it included a very close encounter with an enormous leopard seal. Antarctica was a particular highlight for Steph, being the first British female motorcyclist to land there and ride.

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

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GOOD REASONS TO JOIN THE TRF 7

1

ESTABLISHED Helping motorcyclists responsibly and sensitively access the countryside since 1970

2

GROWING The TRF is an active club with over 5000 members to ride with and 43 groups meet new friends with similar views

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ACCESS Knowledge of over 6000 miles of Green Roads including all of your local lanes.

By comparison there are only 2000 miles of Motorways!

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IMPROVE Develop riding skills with monthly beginners rides, accredited training and access to advanced rides

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IDENTIFY Be seen as a Professional & Responsible Trail Rider with bike stickers and a membership card

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DEFENCE We will back you legally if you are stopped riding a Green Road

SUSTAINABILITY Support the fight to TRF keep lanes open and maintain your rights to use them

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ACU EVENTS TRF are an ACU club and you can gain access to ACU Events and training

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INSURANCE The TRF provides insurance and training for ride leading and events

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CONTACT Member only trail riding groups and comprehensive maps of legal lanes

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FUN We ride all year round – whatever the weather

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TRAIL MAGAZINE The only Trail bike focussed magazine in print and sent to your door

TRAIL RIDERS F E L L OW S H I P

Find your local group at www.TRF.org.uk

WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES

As if riding RTW isn’t enough of a challenge, Steph made regular blog and vlog posts on her web site and authored her first book, Embrace the Cow: How to Ride Around the World on a Budget in her ‘spare time’. She also wrote a monthly column for Ride magazine and produced freelance articles for ADV Moto, Bike, Cycle World, TBM and MCN. She has appeared on prime-time television (with Rhonda the Honda) in 10 countries, been interviewed by various radio stations and newspapers and been featured in a host of podcasts. She was also interviewed by Charley Boorman (Ambassador for Triumph) for a programme on ‘people who do crazy things on motorbikes’. Steph’s footage was used by Honda UK at the NEC and on the Honda Dreams video.

‘I’m certainly no expert and I don’t confess to

being a demon on two wheels. My mission is to share the love of motorcycling in a down to earth, approachable, and fun manner and that there is a bike out there for everyone. I want to show people of all ages, shapes and sizes that if I can do it, anyone can. I want people to chase their dreams, no matter how big or small’.

Unwilling to stay still for very long, she is currently planning to lead the first-ever all female motorcyclist trip to Everest Base camp in 2019, barely a year after completing her RTW. More details are on www.nomadicknights.com/girls-ontop-everest-base-camp. Keep an eye out in future SEB editions for a full write up.

WHY DID STEPH CHOOSE THE CRF250L? It’s a lightweight dual sport bike that can be picked up by one person, it’s reliable and is perfect when speed is not the issue. Of course, there were times when she would have liked to have had a bigger engine underneath her when riding on some of the longer, straighter and more boring tarmacked roads. But when taking in all the different conditions a trip like this will throw up, the CRF is a pretty good choice. It only broke down once and was soon fixed. The main modifications were adding hand guards, a

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October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine 12/05/2015 18:00

WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES

bash plate, screen, front luggage rack and she ran a spare clutch cable in case a fix was needed quickly. Steph stuck with the stock seat until she got to the States. Pretty standard then.

Four years of adventure are difficult to capture in one article so it’s well worth checking out Steph’s blog at www.stephmoto-adventurebikeblog.com and website www.onestephbeyond.com. There is also plenty of footage on Youtube under Steph Jeavons and her book, Embrace the Cow, is available on Amazon.

Steph is currently writing her second book, this one about the RTW adventure. You may also bump into her at various shows and bike events around the country so keep an eye out for her. Inspiring stuff!

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17/09/2018 16:279

MOTORCYCLE REVIEW

A BIKE FOR ALL SEASONS

HONDA CRF250L Dual sport motorcycles enjoyed a lot of popularity in the 80’s and 90’s and then started to drift out of fashion with the arrival of the larger ‘Adventure Bikes’. BMW GS 1200s, KTM Adventures, Africa Twins and Ducati Multistradas abound and are competent machines, both on and off road. In fact, it’s quite rare to see riders aboard out and out tourers these days. But the small dual sport bike has never gone away, and for good reason.

Review by Nick Tunstill 10

W

hy would you want a humble single cylinder 250cc bike in your garage?

Well, they are cheap to buy and run, light, reliable and straightforward. A small dual sport bike will commute, tour and hit the trails with ease. Ok, all of these activities are a compromise but what bike isn’t really, in one way or another? As a first bike, you will be able to go wherever you want, at a reasonable cost, and you can gain valuable biking experience without losing your licence or worse. You can also grasp the basics of bike maintenance as they are generally simple to work on.

If you already have a larger machine, be it a sports bike, cruiser or adventure bike, a small dual sport makes perfect sense for an economical option to nip to the shops on or try out some green laning. As well as being affordable in the first place, they hold their value well if properly

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

MOTORCYCLE REVIEW maintained, as they are always sought after. If you buy a new model at around £4669, you will probably only lose around £2500 over a decade or so, and it will still be going strong. Compare that to the depreciation on some larger models!

HOW DOES THE CRF250L MEASURE UP AGAINST OTHER MODELS? Having ridden a lot of miles on these bikes over the last year or so I would certainly recommend you take a good look at one if you want something for 50/50 tarmac/trail riding.

If you do a lot of hardcore dirt riding or enduro, you will probably get bored of it. It’s perfectly capable off-road, but the lack of power and compromise suspension would frustrate a real enthusiast. The suspension is fine for most trail and road work though, with decent travel, but only the rear is adjustable. It works well on factory settings and, despite having different riders aboard, I haven’t had to alter anything. The liquid cooled engine is a detuned CBR250 lump, knocking out a mighty 24bhp. It won’t rip your arm off or catch you out if your right-hand slips while out on the trails. There is enough power for most general green laning type malarkey when combined with the light 144kg weight of the

bike. In fact, it will take on most you throw at it while out on the trails.

The fuel injection works flawlessly, and there is a decent amount of low down power. It’s only on faster roads that the small engine shows its limitations. It will whip you up to about 80mph odd then it runs out of steam. Overtakes certainly need a bit of planning as there is nothing in reserve. Aftermarket cans and air filters can free up some more horses if you do a lot of road work. The CRF is not about speed though, so

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MOTORCYCLE REVIEW

if you want to ride everywhere in a hurry look elsewhere. But if you enjoy the smaller back roads and taking in the scenery, it’s spot on.

The upright seating position is always a bonus on this style of bike. It gives you a lot more presence when in traffic and a better view of the world in general. The stock seat is comfortable enough; you would probably want to stop once an hour or so anyway if on a longer trip, just to stretch your legs. With modern soft luggage options, it does make a practical small tourer.

The single front disc brake does a great job; you can sling it about a bit with confidence. It comes with ABS that can be deactivated at the rear when in the dirt. It does reset itself everytime the

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engine is switched off though.

A seat height of 875mm means I can get both feet flat on the ground (I am 5’10”) as the suspension compresses a fair way. The LCD dash is clear and functional without being over complicated. Speed, revs, fuel remaining, trip meter and clock, all you need on a bike really.

Fuel capacity is small at 7.8L, which at around 80mpg, should give a range of 150 miles or so. And then you would be ready for a break anyway! A larger aftermarket tank is available, but of course, you are adding to the weight.

Honda has got it right with the stock exhaust, loud enough to be heard but inoffensive enough for trail riding.

The little Honda will tackle pretty much everything you throw at it and is very novice friendly, with a superlight clutch and responsive engine, good suspension and brakes.

Riding on the road or commuting really puts a grin on your face as you can rag it without the worry of coming too unstuck. It really is fun to ride both on trails and roads. In fact, it’s such a good machine that it’s been my first choice of bike for two wheeled travel over the last year, despite having larger bikes available.

It makes sense on many levels as a novice or

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

MOTORCYCLE REVIEW second (or even main) motorcycle.

The service intervals are a useful 8,000 miles and are simple and straightforward. My Tiger 800 XRX had 6,000-mile intervals, and it wasn’t a cheap undertaking either. The first valve clearance is at 16,000 miles, which is a good interval for a bike this size.

Add in a very frugal mpg, low tax, insurance and cost of parts etc., even your other half or bank manager would struggle to put up financial objections!

Honda has done an excellent job with the CRF, even the styling is spot on and looks really current. It all appears a bit more hardcore than it actually is. Everything about the stock bike works well; the only slight gripe is that a slightly bigger tank may be useful. A USB charger socket would also be handy on all bikes these days. I have added hand guards and a better bash plate as they are essential for any kind of trail riding.

Apart from those additions you could ride out of the dealership and head off around the world.

The little Honda is a popular choice for long overland adventures, and you can see why. Just have a look on Youtube, and you will see why Steph Jeavson and many others have chosen it for their RTW trips.

USEFUL INFO

HONDA CRF250L Engine 249cc liquid cooled single Starting system Electric, transistorised ignition Transmission 6-speed manual Front suspension 43mm telescopic inverted fork Rear suspension Pro-link single shock Front tyres 3.00 21” Rear tyres 120/80 18” Seat height 875mm Fuel capacity 7.7litres Weight 144kg Price £4699

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24/01/2018 11:07 13

CAFÉ RACER CUP

CAFÉ RACER CUP LY D D E N H I L L

The Bike Shed in London’s East End has gone from strength to strength and has inspired a new generation of bikers to hit the streets, which can only be a good thing. They have managed to combine heritage, nostalgia and trendiness, bringing a new level of professionalism to the passion enjoyed by so many of us. John Allsopp checks out their race day at Lydden Hill.

I

t was the Bike Shed’s brand new summer event held on Saturday 21st July; we were promised a packed day of Café Racer action.

I can indeed confirm that they delivered.

Some of the café racers I was privileged to see on the day were firmly rooted in the present and are perhaps living proof that the leathers, slicked back hair and attitude never really went away.

Their forebears earned the Ton Up tag for tuning their stripped back street bikes to hit the halcyon 100mph mark around the streets of 1950’s London and beyond, racing from tea bar to coffee house before the last rock ‘n roll riff had finished.

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October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

The adventure starts in store

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CAFÉ RACER CUP

Haunts like the Ace Café were home to these riders, men and women who cocked a snook at safety in pursuit of the almost impossible.

Back in the day, flicking the V at rules, these rebels with a cause earned a place in the hearts of anyone who denounced authority.

As years passed, the traffic levels grew, and the powers-that-be cracked down on the speed culture, and the devilmay-care style took to the tracks. Not for them though any organised race day, these were the type of guys who’d roll up in a Transit van and roll their ride out for an impromptu run.

Today, the London Bike Shed is the embodiment of the ‘less is more’ culture, which shows no signs of disappearing off the riding radar.

Its founder, Dutch van Someren, is ensuring the culture lives long and prospers.

I have to say it was a well-organised day out in the beautiful Kent countryside, backed by the usual Bike Shed hospitality and crew running the event. There were cafes, bars, street food vendors, retail plus plenty of space to sit and watch all the on-track action in comfortable surroundings.

According to the organisers, Lydden Hill

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was chosen for this event mainly because the track is well maintained, easy to learn, and gives spectators great views from pretty much anywhere. There are new toilets, marquees, food vendor spaces and a modern control tower.

The racing itself was arranged like this: Practice, 10:00-11:55; Exhibition race 1 & 2, 12:40; Final Practice, 13:20-15:00; Rookie Qualifying, 15:30; Regular Qualifying, 15:50; Rapid Qualifying, 14:10; Rookie Race, 16:40; Regular Race, 17:00; Rapid Race, 17:20; and presentations at 17.55.

There were other things to tempt the eyes away from the track too, such as the Bike Shed Store, Hedon Helmets as well as all of the spannering going on at John Rooster, needing to raise their 125 Bullit from the doldrums and grace the circuit. Pirelli was also there offering tyres advice and support.

I also got to have a great catch up with Adam ‘Chad’ Childs (from erhmm some little-known publication called MCN?).

There were loads of beautiful machines as well as a real spectrum of attendees. Again, proof of the accessibility of the Bikes Shed’s ethos.

The event was centred around getting everyday riders on the track, it also created a fantastic day out for spectators with a venue that’s set out with a great view of the track wherever you sit, and quality facilities that exceed expectations for such a small, characterful circuit.

Have a look at thebikeshed.cc for details of all their activities plus links to more photos, videos and other goodies.

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

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17 16/05/2018 09:10

GEAR REVIEW

TUCANO URBANO NANO WATERPROOFS On the recommendation of motorcycle traveller and author Derek Mansfield I decided to purchase this rain wear.

And, with the weather resuming normal service in the UK, I got the chance to test them out. John Allsopp gets kitted up…

One of the great advantages of this kit is its weight and ability to pack down really small.

Many of us are familiar with the issues of space and weight when packing for that two wheeled trip, whether it is just a day out or something more adventurous.

Here we have waterproofs that can literally fit into your pocket.

They are lightweight too, the jacket is 180 grams, the trousers 170. Both can fold into tiny 50cl bags and take up less room than a bottle of water, therefore I am more likely to have them with me when the weather turns.

After what I would describe as a ride though a deluge that had me looking out for Mount Ararat, I can confirm that I remained totally dry.

The jacket also has a hood that folds away into the collar for when you are off the bike, which is a nice touch.

I’d advise that you consider getting a size up from your normal kit to ensure that they fit over whatever body armour your riding suit comes with.

The jacket retails for around £49.99 and the trousers £39.99 and both are available from www.infinitymotorcycles.com amongst others. There is also a complete oversuit available for £59.99.

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TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION • Super-compact rain trousers • HYDROSCUD® • Breathable, windproof and waterproof outer shell made from Polyamide • Taped seams

• Waterproof seal on central zip (neck included) • EN 14360:2004 – Rain tower tested • Reflective inserts • Adjustable hem • Minimum packaging

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

PAINFUL POTHOLES G iven the particularly hot weather over the past few months, the recent publicity and campaigns, the condition of our roads has become something of a major talking issue, both in the national press and on social media. But regardless of the time of year, as motorcyclists, we are constantly having to look out for poorly maintained road surfaces, loose gravel, diesel spillage, pot holes, in fact a whole manner of potential problems that can affect the balance, grip and stability of the bike, all areas that can affect our safety.

Where the roads have been poorly maintained, or there is poor signage, or inadequate advanced warning of restricted visibility or debris, there are many people that will tell you to sue the local authority regardless (and bear in mind I am not just talking pot holes here). In some cases this course of action may well be justified, however, before everyone jumps on the bandwagon, remember that any potential legal action against the local authority will be drawn out with no guarantee of success.

Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 imposes a duty on the local authority to maintain a road.

Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980 goes on to say that there will be a statutory defence if the Highways Authority has taken such care as is, in all the circumstances, reasonably required.

The issue of liability against the Highways Authority was highlighted in the case of Gorringe v Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (2002). In Gorringe, the Claimant was involved in a head-on collision with a bus on the crest of

Us motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to poor or dangerous road surfaces. So what happens if we are injured, through no fault of our own, due to a lack of highway maintenance? Tony Carter from Hudgell solicitors provides some answers.

a hill in West Yorkshire. On the approach to the crest there was a point at which the road dipped gently and turned to the right before rising uphill to the crest. Before the dip, the course of the road was clearly visible. However, once in the dip, a driver could not see the road beyond the brow of the hill until virtually at the crest, and in particular drivers would not be able to see the sharp left hand bend at the crest along with a sudden change in gradient and the adverse camber.

Although a sign informing drivers of an uneven road surface stood between the dip and the crest, there had also once been a ‘SLOW’ road marking which was found to be no longer visible as a result of wear and tear and/or resurfacing.

At first it was held that the Council had breached its duty to maintain the highway and the fact that it had failed to repaint the road markings was considered sufficient to find in favour of the Claimant. However, the Court of

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

19

LEGAL ASSISTANCE Appeal decided that a road marking was not part of the physical or structural condition of the roadway and therefore lay outside the Council’s duty of care. The appeal was allowed.

This case suggests that the odds may be somewhat stacked against us, as you would think that advance warning signs are an important part of our decision making process, but all is not lost. Section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it a requirement for every local authority to carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety. They must carry out studies into accidents arising from the use of vehicles on any road other than trunk roads within their area and, in light of those studies, take such measures as appear appropriate to the authority to prevent such accidents. This will include the construction, improvement, maintenance or repair of roads for which they are the highway authority.

In the case of Lavis v Kent County Council (1992) a motorcyclist suffered severe injuries when he collided with a kerbstone on a sharp bend. The rider claimed negligence against the Council for failure to erect various signs warning motorists of the bend. The Council succeeded initially in having the case dismissed, but the rider appealed. The appeal was successful as the Court of Appeal concluded that the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 imposed a duty on the authority to take reasonable care in implementing the requirements of the Act. They had taken no appropriate steps at all.

However, in 1994 the same Council faced a similar claim! It was alleged that the authority was responsible for the Claimant’s accident in that it failed to erect a road sign in addition to the double broken white lines already in existence thereby providing warning of an approaching T junction. In the absence of evidence from a competent road engineer, the Claimant (Mr Lavis) failed to establish that any additional warning was necessary. The Claimant was found wholly responsible for his accident.

More recently in the case of Wilkinson v City of York Council (2011) the Court of Appeal ruled that where the frequency of inspection of a highway was inadequate and such that it could not be said that the highway authority had taken such care as was reasonably required to ensure the highway was not dangerous. It was considered irrelevant that the frequency had been set due to budgetary issues.

The facts of this case are that the Claimant fell from her motorcycle in May 2006 when the front wheel hit a pothole in the road. She brought a

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damages claim.

The prescribed frequency of inspection under the council’s code was annual. The council inspected the road approximately ten months prior to the accident and no defect was recorded.

Again, this was not seriously disputed. Rather the Claimant’s case was that the frequency of inspection was inadequate because the national code of practice suggested the road was of a type that ought to have been inspected every three months. The council’s case was that the deviation from the national code was a matter of limited manpower and financial resources. The deviation was not based on any risk assessment as the national code suggested it ought to be.

The Claimant in the case was successful before the District Judge who concluded that the frequency was inadequate.

The council appealed successfully to the Circuit Judge who held that insufficient heed had been given to the financial considerations which led the highway authority to adopt the programme that it did. In his view resources were ‘always a factor’ and the court ‘should be slow to reject the evidence … that resources did not permit a more frequent inspection’. The Claimant appealed successfully to the Court of Appeal.

At the Court of Appeal, it accepted that the national code was not a document that carried the force of law. However, on the evidence given at trial (which suggested reasonably heavy pedestrian traffic) it was open to the District Judge to conclude than an annual system of inspection was inadequate. Financial considerations were not a factor when looking at whether the council had done what ‘was reasonably required’. The Claimant won the day.

The local authority does have a duty of care to keep our roads in a serviceable and safe condition but it is not always a cut and dried issue, especially with the current pothole situation. In the majority of cases liability will be strongly, and quite possibly successfully, contested especially as so many local authorities are pleading poverty.

If you feel that there is a case to answer and you want to start the ball rolling, make sure you are properly advised and be prepared for a long drawn out fight especially if you have been injured as a result of the condition of the road.

More importantly don’t be surprised if the end result is rather different to what you expected!

For professional advice on this or any other legal matter where an injury has occurred speak to Hudgell Solicitors on 0808 301 8554 or www. hudgellsolicitors.co.uk

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

SPRINT RACING

QUICK OFF THE MARK

Motorcycle sport takes many forms, racing on and off road, enduro and trials for example. But how about just building a massively powerful motorbike and seeing how fast you can go in a straight line over a short distance? Farid Mehr fills us in on the attractions of Sprint Racing.

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am 47, involved in engineering as well as property investing. I started going around Brands Hatch when I was 14-years-old in cars. At the age of 18, I would do track days on my Yamaha OWO1 but, at 19, I gave up riding due to a crash and just carried on going around the tracks in cars at Castle Combe, Brands Hatch, Goodwood etc.

I have a national B race licence and also hold a Lantra 4x4 instructors’ licence. In my early 30s I started working for three motorsport companies teaching high-speed driving on race tracks in supercars. I spent two years at Bruntingthorpe, two years at Long Marston and around a year at Brands Hatch in Renault Megan sports before I quit motorsports.

MY PASSION FOR THE V-MAX BRAND Since 1984, after seeing pictures of a 1200cc V-Max, I always wanted to own and ride one but I couldn’t at the time. In 2009, when the 1700cc second generation was released my old passion was re-ignited.

In the meantime, I had my sights set on other goals. In 2013, after three and a half years training, I realised my biggest life-long dream.

I finally went to the Himalayas and attempted to climb Everest, twice. Incredible and tragic things happened out there. After coming down the mountain, I was air evacuated in a helicopter from Base Camp and flown to Lukla airport and back to Kathmandu to be taken to hospital.

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

21

SPRINT RACING

Farid Mehr

Back home from Everest, it took a while to realise I needed a new challenge. So, at the age of 43, much more wise and mature, and having all the high speed experiences as a

racing instructor in supercars, I finally made the decision to go ahead and buy a full power (145BHP) first Generation 1200 V-Max. I had the first generation for one year then sold it to purchase the second generation 1700 V-Max. The bike was completely standard when I purchased it and after six months I started to buy all the parts in order to de-restrict the bike.

It only had 200hp with 166.8NM of torque!

The parts needed to de-restricts a 1700 V-Max were: Akrapovic titanium collector pipes weighing around 2.4lbs, to replace a cat weighing around 23lbs; Akrapovic titanium exhaust cans; restrictor plate removed from the Air Box; re-flashed ECU; K&N air filter; special retainer ring for a Double Diaphragm clutch spring; and a carbon fibre clutch. It was a completely different motorcycle. I would like to mention that the bike can run standard power by replacing the ECU with the standard one.

Around two years ago, I went to watch the Brighton Speed Trials. I met and chatted with some of the officials. I found them very friendly and told them about my motorsports background and expressed my interest in

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October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

SPRINT RACING

WIN TICKETS TO THE UK’S BIGGEST MOTORCYCLE SHOW!

racing my bike and the possibility of taking part.

Earlier this year, I also started to race at Santa Pod Raceway. A test at Santa Pod was a big success; I passed the finish line at 10.73 seconds with the first 60ft at 1.81 seconds. This is currently my personal best.

Competing at the Brighton Speed Trials is very important for me; it is the oldest British motorsports event in the UK which first ran in July 1905 — nearly two years before the first Isle of Man TT. It is up to people like us to support Brighton Speed Trials and keep it going for future generations. Taking part in this event is contributing directly in its history.

Competing in this year’s event, one of my runs was clocked at 150.1mph. I was really pleased with the result.

Courtesy of his sponsors BST Blackstone TEK and Avon Tyres UK, Farid upgraded the wheels to a 240mm rear carbon fibre and 130mm front fitting them with Avon Cobra tyres which he used to test as Santa Pod and at the Brighton Speed Trials.

You can see some of Farid’s speed trials on Youtube at From the Edge of Darkness.

Motorcycle Live, the UK’s biggest motorcycle show, returns to The NEC, Birmingham from 17-25 November 2018, offering two-wheeled entertainment for bike fans of all ages and levels of experience. Advance tickets are on sale now with adults saving £5.50 compared to the on-the-door-price*. Kids under 10 get in FREE and those aged 11-16 are just £1**.

The all-inclusive show ticket allows access to four halls packed with everything the world of motorcycling has to offer, including: brand-new, just-unveiled models from over 35 leading manufacturers; all the latest motorcycle kit and accessories; 10 FREE interactive riding features; non-stop live entertainment; biking celebrities and a brandnew FREE, high octane extravaganza that promises to have the crowd on the edge of their seats — Moto-Cirque.

Motorcycle Live is not just for seasoned motorcyclists, so whether you’re a wannabe biker, new to two wheels, an adventure enthusiast, a racing fan, a lover of extreme sports or you’ve got kids or mates that are itching to get into biking, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The show takes place at The NEC, Birmingham from 17-25 November. Advance tickets are on sale on now priced at just £19.50 per adult, £12 for Seniors, £1 for 11-16 year olds* and FREE for children aged ten and under**.

There is also a £25.00 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and an Oxford Products bike lock worth £25.00. A discounted car parking rate is also available by booking in advance. Motorcycle parking is FREE. We have 2 PAIRS of tickets for the show to give away. To enter simply email nick@southeastbiker.co.uk with ‘Motorcycle Live’ as the subject and supplying a phone number and address as text. Closing date is 31/10/18. Winners will be notified via email.

To book or for more information, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk *Advance ticket prices, closing date for advanced tickets 5pm on 16 November 2018. There is a £1.50 fulfilment fee per order. **Under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. All information correct at time of release.

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

23

A CHARITABLE RUN

CHARITABLE WORKS ON THE OPEN ROAD There’s nothing quite like the freedom of the long open road. Never-ending back roads, wide meandering country tracks and beautiful bends through some of Scotland’s finest coastal scenery are just a few things you can expect along the North Coast 500. John Allsopp reports.

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t was with this inspiration that Simon Ashdown decided to honour the memory of a good friend whilst raising money for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance. (KSSA).

THE KSSA www.kssairambulance.org.uk The KSSA is a lifesaving charity that should need little introduction and is close to many bikers’ hearts. Simon was inspired to undertake the trip after receiving some shattering news.

His very good friend Andy was sadly diagnosed with lung cancer and given three months to live. Crushingly, he passed away only one month later. When Andy was diagnosed Simon had asked him what he would like as something to remember him. It was at this point that the charity ride was decided upon.

The NC500 was selected as the route and the Just Giving page was created. Simon also created Andy the Bear to promote the charity itself as well as the ride. I must say he is rather cute. (The bear that is!). The guys were also kindly supported by Oz at Inta Motorcycles (www.intabikes.co.uk) who sponsored them for the fuel needed for the trip.

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Simon was joined by his friend of thirty-years, Mark Ironmonger, to undertake the venture.

Once organised, our intrepid fund raisers flew to Inverness (thus, avoiding miles of tedious motorway miles) and hired an Africa Twin and a 500cc Honda from www. highlandmotorcyclehire.co.uk where the generous owner not only supplied the motorcycles and kit but also made a contribution to the charity.

Simon and Mark described the route as amazing in terms of the roads themselves as well as the scenery. ‘There were loads of corners and very good surfaces on much of the route, many of the drivers of other vehicles that

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

A CHARITABLE RUN we came across were also very accommodating in letting us pass too.’

However, the boys tell me that there are some challenging sections which include loose gravel that they do not recommend for the less experienced rider.

Another worthwhile piece of advice is to top up the tank when you can as some stretches are definitely the ‘road less travelled’. Also, be aware of the possibility of meeting the local wildlife such as sheep and highland cattle who simply haven’t read the Highway Code! The boys also found the locals very friendly and welcoming to twowheeled visitors to their home.

On average the boys rode between 85-100 miles a day in order to be able to admire the scenery along the way. Additionally, they opted to add a few miles to their circuit by leaving the marked route at Ullapool and re-joining it at Lochinvar.

The addition was highly recommended as hugging the coast the views were ‘amazing’.

Another top recommendation was to book any accommodation well in advance in order to avoid sleeping out.

They were also blessed with dry weather every day and no midges! Charmed lives is a phrase that springs to mind here at SEB. Simon had experienced issues with setting up

the Just Giving page that has seriously impacted on the money they’ve been able to raise so far.

So, we are putting it out there to help him help the community. We’d ask that you think about supporting him if you can, as we may all need the KSSA at some point and the charity is, of course, close to the heart of many a biker.

ROUTE OVERVIEW The NC500 starts in the northern city of Inverness, weaves along the west coast to Applecross and then northwards towards the towns of Torridon and Ullapool. From there, you’ll venture to some of the most northerly coastal points in Scotland, passing by Caithness and John o’Groats before heading south again through Dingwall and finally back to Inverness.

FAST FACTS • Distance: 516 miles • Trip length: at least 5-7 days is recommended.

• Accommodation: book well in advance — make sure you consider camping as an option.

More information on the route can be found at www.northcoast500.com. If you would like to contribute or see how the fundraising is going visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ simon-ashdown

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25 14/05/2018 09:26

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK

NIPPY NORMAN

When motorcycling was in its infancy many small manufacturers were spread across the country. We came across the fascinating story of Norman Cycles made in Kent. Information kindly supplied by Gary Pilcher

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harles and Fred Norman started their frame making, enamelling and metal plating business (Kent Plating & Enamelling Co) in a garden shed just off Jemmett Road, Ashford, Kent on their return from France at the end of the First World War. In the 1920’s they started producing cycles and went on to produce many thousands requiring a larger premises in Victoria Road.

In 1935, they had a new factory built in Beaver Road and the company was renamed Norman Cycles Limited. Many cycles and mopeds were exported under the Rambler trademark to Central America, Malaya, Canada and other Commonwealth countries.

Fred had been a fighter pilot in the First World War. He presented Guy Gibson, the legendary leader of 617 Squadron on the Dambuster Raids, with the lightweight

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motorcycle for riding around his home airfield (RAF Scampton).

The Nobby Norman range of children’s cycles and Norman Invader sporting cycles were very popular in the 1950’s.

The factory also had a competition side which was entered in the Scottish Six Day Trials in the early 1950’s. The Scottish Norman agent Ian McIntyre won the 125cc SSDT class outright in 1953. The Norman B2C, B2CS & B4C were produced mainly for off road riders in club competition. They were very popular and successful in the South East of England. Derek Minter, the famous road racer, was loaned machines by the factory and featured in publicity for the road going models.

A range of lightweight motorcycles, autocycles and mopeds were produced from 1938 to 1961. The first motorised Normans

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK

were the Motobyk autocycle and 125cc engined lightweight motorcycle. During the Second World War small paratrooper’s motorcycles and the Rudge autocycle were produced alongside the cycles. In 1943 the rights to the Rudge autocycle were acquired and were manufactured and sold under the Norman brand.

The first model available after the war was the lightweight model. The postwar range consisted mainly of autocycles and 122, 149 & 197cc single cylinder Villiers engined motorcycles. In 1955 a 250cc British Anzani engined twin cylinder machine was launched.

In 1954, Normans started to plan moped production of 40-60 machines per day. They went on to produce thousands of Norman Nippy and Lido mopeds. The first Nippy was built under licence from the German Achilles company and was in fact a Dutch made German Capri. In 1957 the Achilles Company

was acquired, the presses and some of the former employees moved to Ashford, this resulted in the Lido moped.

Norman Cycles were acquired by Tube Investments (TI). This brought membership to the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA). The factory spent a week every year at the proving ground with a vanload of bikes and a handful of factory personnel.

The Belgium roads caused frame failures just below the headstock, resulting in tapered tubes being fitted into the cast iron headstock castings. In fact a number of bikes returned under warranty with broken frames were used by Karl Pugh and the factory to develop the off road bikes in the early 1950’s.

Dealer Hallets of Canterbury entered a two-rider team in the 1959 & 1960 Thruxton 500 mile races. Les Hatch (Norman employee) and John Punnet (Greengrocer) rode a factory prepared B3 Sports, the engine was specially tuned by Villiers. The B3 Sports was more or less standard and they came second in the 250 class in 1959. The result boosted the Norman order book by £10,000 overnight. One of the early sports twins sent to MIRA was entered on the way home in a club race at Brands Hatch by the tester Les Hatch. The Ashford bypass (now the M20) had just been built and Les Hatch tested one twin at 90mph.

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

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TURNING BACK THE CLOCK

Inspired by the Italian machines on display at the Milan motorcyle shows, the distinctive Italian styled B4 Sports 250 twin was introduced in 1961. A revised sub frame was developed, which was gas welded for the first time. A traditional Roadster version with heavy side panels was available, along with B4C trials and B4 Scrambles versions.

Both offroad machines were fitted with 250cc single cylinder Villiers engines (Villiers specification 226D).

Production in the motorcycle works could average twelve machines a day. Following the Thruxton success in June 1959 and introduction of the Nippy Mk IV for 1960, 1960–1961 saw record production of 1000 motorcycles and 3000 mopeds per annum.

Normans had been working increasingly closely with the Italian Mival company towards the end. Mival were a well respected machine tool company, who built their own range of motorcycles up to 1968. A Nippy was sent out to Italy where they turned it into a sort of sports moped, with vastly increased performance. This Nippy had the 98cc Sachs engine and was ridden hard down Chilham Hill at 68 mph with a pillion on the back.

Apparently the Sachs engine was far superior to the Villiers 3K. The Mk 3 Nippy with Norman badged Mival engine was designed down to a price, the price being the same as a high specification cycle.

Tube Investments (TI) had owned Normans from 1953/54 and TI used the monopoly of the cycle tube business to acquire Normans.

TI formed the British Cycle Corporation to incorporate all their separate cycle brands Norman, Phillips, Hercules & Sun. In 1960 Raleigh were acquired, they were given control of the TI cycle business, which then controlled 75% of the UK market. 1959 was a high point for motorcycle/scooter sales and from 1960 sales slumped. Throughout the 1950’s UK cycle sales were rapidly declining due to the popularity of small cheap cars.

Raleigh consolidated all the TI cycle/moped/ motorcycle interests at their Nottingham plant and Normans, Phillips, Hercules and Sun’s factories would close.

Fred and Charles Norman retired and the Ashford factory closed on 30 August 1961.

The new outfit soon starting losing large export orders to the USA and Commonwealth Nations, which Norman had been so

28

successful in winning.

Raleigh transferred parts for the B4 motorcycles and some mopeds to Smethwick (Birmingham) and Nottingham and carried on marketing the machines until late 1962. From May 1962 these machines were made to order in small batches and had the RN (Raleigh Norman) prefix to the frame number. The B4 Roadster was marketed until June 1962, the Sports model until late 1962. Rumours persist that some B4 Sports models were assembled with 4T engines after this time.

In 1962 Raleigh marketed the Nippy V and Lido 111 as Normans but they were essentially Raleigh models produced by Motorbecane in France. Some Nippy IV’s were sold by Raleigh.

NORMAN CYCLES CLUB The Norman Cycles Club is based at the Willesborough windmill in Ashford Kent, home town to the Norman factory. The motorcycles are rare and it is the only club dedicated to keeping them on the road.

The National Autocycle & Cyclemotor Club (NACC) do a splendid job for the small motorised Normans, their web site is well worth checking out (www.buzzing.org).

Many of the former factory buildings still stand in Beaver Road and the new road outside of the former factory site has been named Norman Road.

A museum is located in the windmill’s barn, this features a collection of cycles and mopeds, and a large wall display.

The mill is open 14.00 to 17.00 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays from late March to late September.

The club was formed early in 2001, by the end of 2001 had sixty two members including Charles Norman’s widow and son. Mrs Marks (Mrs Norman) had accepted the role of Honorary President. The club has members in countries around the globe including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Bermuda and Australia.

The membership is diverse with members of the Norman family, former employees, cycle enthusiasts, tricycle owners, moped owners, trials competition people and motorcycle owners.

There is an annual Norman Day at the Willesborough windmill in Ashford, on the second Sunday in May. More about Norman Motorcycles can be found at www.normanmotorcycles.org.uk

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

A WIN FOR MAG Andy Carrott, National Vice Chairman, Motorcycle Action Group

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egular readers of this column will be familiar with the acronym ULEZ. In case you are not, it stands for Ultra Low Emission Zone. A certain Mayor Khan is introducing one in London. It will, unless we can get him to see some common sense, cost someone on a pre-2007 bike £12.50 a day to visit London. A bit of a blow for Joe Bloggs on his old C90 riding to work at the Aston Martin garage.

It will cost him over 60 quid a week to get to work on his 100mpg bike but the new Vantage guzzling fuel at 19.9 mpg pays nothing. I wonder which one will have the biggest carbon footprint and produce the most pollution in its life?

Other cities around the UK are looking at implementing similar schemes with Clean Air Zones (CAZs). One such city is Birmingham, but this is where things are different. MAG activists there (as in London) have been campaigning for bikes to be exempt from charging and we are delighted that MAG’s campaign has resulted in the proposal to exempt all motorcycles from charges in the zone. Birmingham City Council has recognised and accepted MAG’s position that motorcycles are net reducers of harmful emissions and thus should be exempt from charges.

Birmingham is the first authority outside London to propose the “class D” clean air zone model that allows for charging of all vehicles including private transport. The Motorcycle Action Group has consistently argued that motorcycles act within the transport system as net reducers of congestion and pollution, pointing to studies that demonstrate that a simple 10% modal shift from single-occupancy cars to motorcycles and scooters will yield a 40% reduction in congestion for all road users and result in a 7.5% reduction in CO2, a 5.5% reduction in NO2 and a 20% reduction in particulate matter.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: “I have found Birmingham City Council to be informed, serious about their emissions policy development and capable of understanding the science, and

credit to them for taking such a mature view.

This decision sets the precedent for all future CAZ proposals in other parts of the country, demonstrating a clear endorsement of the fact that motorcycles contribute to improving air quality.”

The exemption from charges is a vital first step towards a policy to positively promote modal shift to motorcycles. There is pioneering work on this policy being done already in Northamptonshire, and we look forward to discussing with Birmingham City Council and Transport for West Midlands how application of this policy in the region will accelerate the journey towards compliance of legal targets for NO2 emissions. Achieving this goal will remove the threat of fines for non-compliance and benefit the entire community.

MAG’s Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Opik, believes that this excellent result in the West Midlands now has significant implications for the legitimacy of the poor decisions being made in the Capital and MAG will be continuing its efforts to persuade Sadiq Khan to reverse the illogical and counterproductive charging of pre-Euro 3 motorcycles in his Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) due to come into effect in April 2019.

MAG is quite rightly pleased with this result and the Chairman of the Motorcycle Action Group, Selina Lavender, has praised the hard work by MAG’s political unit and the support of MAG members and supporters, thanking the efforts of all those who supported the campaign, signed the petition and responded as individuals to the consultation. She said “Working together we can see great results, not just for riders, but for the whole community.”

The Motorcycle Action Group is the country’s leading organisation when it comes to representing riders’ interests and you can be a member for just over 50p per week. Individual membership costs £27 per year (family, joint, affiliated club and corporate memberships also available). Contact MAG at 01926 844064 or central-office@mag-uk.org

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

29

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October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

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

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RIDE OUT

A R I D E TO…

THE WINGS MUSEUM We all love to go for a bimble in the countryside and it’s even better when there is a destination to head for. Dave Figg provides details of a fascinating museum in the heart of the lovely Sussex countryside.

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ou will need to do this visit at the weekend between May and 11 November as this is the only time the museum is open. Hours are 10am to 5pm. Just to confirm for us older bikers, the Wings museum has nothing to do with Paul McCartney or the Mull of Kintyre!

First though, breathe in some Sussex air and travel awhile in this beautiful county. Wherever you live I suggest you start your day by going along the A272 to Cowfold and then take the A281 towards Henfield. On this road you will find the biker friendly Chalet Café (SEB available!). It’s open between 7am and 2pm. Enjoy a breakfast and, if fine, sit outside and feel the sun on your face, smell the leather and look at the bikes. Play, I spy! Something beginning with ‘H’. Honda? No. Harley!

Take the A281 back but follow round on the B2210 to Handcross. Once you’ve crossed the A23, the Wings Museum is just a short way on, signposted along Brantridge Lane. The museum is

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in a large atmospheric hanger. It’s £8 to get in but I think it’s money well spent.

They have stacks of memorabilia from RAF fighter command to D Day, as well as equipment and medals that tell a human story. There are aeroplane fuselages, some of which you can climb into as well as the fuselage of the Douglas C-47 Dakota that appeared in Band of Brothers.

The volunteers there undertake restoration work and the museum is obviously the result of their passion. Climb inside an Anderson shelter and listen to how it sounded in the Blitz. There are plenty of stories that make you appreciate the sacrifices made and the tragedies that unfolded during WW2, even on some of the less well known fronts.

If you want some lunch or a drink afterwards, I can recommend the Cowdray Arms along the B2210 towards Turners Hill, an attractive and interesting pub.

You can find out more about the fascinating Wings Museum at www.wingsmuseum.co.uk

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

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

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

23/03/2016 10:45

33

CLASSIC BIKE SHOW

80 YEARS OF AMC Celebrating 80 Years of AMC at Ardingly: Sunday 28th October 2018, Julie Diplock from ELK Promotions previews the South of England Classic Bike Show at Ardingly

W

e’re celebrating 80 years of AMC at The South of England Classic Bike Show & Jumble on Sunday 28th October, with the help of the Sussex branch of the AJS and Matchless Owners’ Club.

Famed frame-builder Colin Seeley is our guest of honour and, together with a host of former AMC employees, will be on hand to answer your questions about this popular manufacturer. Colin has a long association with AMC and his designs proved so successful in competition that he earned a reputation as one of the best motorcycle frame designers in the industry.

Brian Crichton will be presenting The Wonderful World of Woolwich Question and Answer session with Colin Seeley and the former AMC employees, which promises to be a really informative.

There’ll also be two Fire-Up sessions on the day, giving you the chance to hear the legendary products of the Woolwich factory, with several examples of Seeley-framed machines already booked in.

Other news includes your chance to have your Pride & Joy Dynotested at the Show. No need to book, first come, first served. Richard from www. dynabike.co.uk tells us “Any bike you like. Gentle rolling road test with air/fuel analysis will confirm

34

correct fuelling”, Julie says “first one to get their Vincent on the rollers goes for free!” Find them outside next to the Fire-Up Paddock on Sunday 28th October.

Bill Snelling’s famous Isle of Man FoTTofinders photograph exhibition comes on tour to the mainland at Ardingly. Donations to the TT and MGP marshals and supporters’ Club. Find it in the Stockman’s Hall, where seating is available all day, the ideal place to take a break and eat your sandwiches!

Event Details: The South of England Classic Bike Show & Jumble: Sunday 28th October 2018.

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

CLASSIC BIKE SHOW Five indoor halls of motorcycles & bikejumble.

Large indoor all motorcycle show for pre-1980 motorcycles with Club Stands and hundreds of machines on display. Coming by bike? Lookout for The Royal British Legion Riders’ Branch Helmet Park in aid of the RBL in The Stockman’s Building.

There’s the popular all-motorcycle Bikejumble with new and used spares, bikes, clothing & accessories for sale. This takes place over four halls plus outside where there are tons of bargains.

There’s a free BikeMart display-to-sell area for private vendors, or cheap garage clear-out stalls are available for just £10 if you’re clearing your shed or garage. Enquire for more details. These aren’t for regular traders, and must be prebooked.

Free parking, refreshments available. Previous events featured local hog roast, artisanal bakery, toasty sandwiches and real coffee in addition to chips & burgers. Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.

Opens: 10am-2:30pm (last admission 1:30pm) Public Admission at 10am: £6 adults; £5 for 65-and-over; kids under 16 free Venue: The South of England Showground,

Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TL. Location: eight miles from M23 junction 10, sign-posted SOE / Wakehurst Place. Nearest train stations are Haywards Heath and East Grinstead.

Entrance to the Showground is via the North Gate, opposite the Gardener’s Arms pub.

Contact: Post: ELK Promotions, PO Box 85, New Romney, Kent TN28 9BE Phone: 01797 344277 Email: events@elk-promotions.co.uk Our events are all-motorcycle and are familyrun by enthusiasts for over 25 years. Real not just Retro!

South of England Classic Show & BikeJumble

10am Sunday 28th October Special Guest : Colin Seeley

Celebrating 80 Years of AMC: The Wonderful World of Woolwich Q&A Session with Colin Seeley and former AJS & Matchless Workers Plus See Barry Sheene’s Seeley-Framed Suzukis!

Five Halls of All-Motorcycle Show & ‘Jumble Garage Clearout Stalls – Team up With a Friend Free BikeMart Display-to-Sell area; Hog Roast

New: Onsite Mobile DynoTesting

South of England Showground, Ardingly West Sussex RH17 6TL

© ELK Promotions 2018

2019 Dates ~ Romney Marsh Dates to Follow:

South of England Show at Ardingly: Sunday 31st March 2019; Ashford Easter Monday 22nd April; Ardingly 14th July & 27th October 2019 ELK Promotions, PO Box 85, New Romney, Kent TN28 9BE

01797 344277

www.elk-promotions.co.uk

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

35

ON THE TEAM

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK Introducing Dom Humby

W

henever I read a magazine and see the columns and product reviews something in my head goes “I wouldn’t mind having a go at that”. Now that I’m actually doing it I find that I have probably underestimated how difficult this can be.

My name is Dom Humby and I am a new product tester/reviewer for South East Biker Magazine. I also write reviews for my own Facebook page called ‘The Riders Recommend’ so feel free to go and have a look.

I’ve been riding for nearly 15 years and had a couple of mishaps on the way which resulted in a shattered wrist (accident No. 1) and then breaking both my tibia and fibula in my lower left leg (accident No. 2). These resulted in having various pieces of titanium put inside my body to correct the damage that’s been done, along with a few screws here and there, even though most who know me would say I still have one loose somewhere!

Being a diabetic (type 1) does mean healing after these accidents takes a little longer, needless

He’s the man!

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

36

Like The Motorcycle Man on Facebook

to say nothing keeps me away from bikes.

I’ve been testing products for around a year now and owned a fair amount of kit in the 15 years I have been riding. I must admit I do like to be picky, pulling things apart so I can make some understanding of not only what the product has, but why it has it and the benefits or pitfalls. I hope to make some Youtube videos as well for all of you with the sole aim of information on products.

With this, nothing is off limits, from security for you and your bike or paddock shoes and special socks that make you ride like Valentino Rossi. Everything that can be tested I will test and relay as much impartial, unbiased and honest information as possible to you all. Feel free to make any suggestions by popping me an email to the address at the bottom.

If you see me out and about, feel free to come say hello and have a chat. If you’re lucky I may even buy you a beverage. I hope that you will enjoy what I think and have to say and, if you think I could be wrong in any way, please get in touch as I’m always open to criticism and it’s always nice to hear another perspective.

I would like to say a massive thank you to John Allsopp for being a top notch mentor and putting me forward for this role at South East Biker Magazine.

I look forward to possibly meeting and hearing from you all. Stay shiny side up and ride safe.

Dom Humby, Product tester/reviewer.

Email: domhumby@southeastbiker.co.uk

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

BIKER LISTINGS

BIKER DIRECTORY EVENTS ELK PROMOTIONS Classic Motorcycle Events in the South East

elkpromotions.co.uk KIT AND ACCESSORIES BOLT BIKES Motorcycle Helmets, Clothing & Accessories

01424 272121 boltbikes.co.uk MOTOPORT LTD Stockists of high-quality brands – Gerbing Heated Clothing, Dane, Difi, Draggin’ jeans & Bayard helmets

01892 457373 gerbing.co.uk daneclothing.uk draggin-mc.co.uk HELMET CITY TATSFIELD Huge range of kit and accessories in store and online. Free UK shipping

01959 577 911 helmetcity.co.uk LEGAL SERVICES HUDGELL SOLICITORS Personal injury specialists

0808 301 8554 hudgellsolicitors.co.uk MOTORCYCLE HIRE WEST SUSSEX MOTORCYCLE HIRE Motorcycle Hire made easy

01243 780039 westsussexmotorcyclehire.co.uk NEW AND USED BIKES

SOUTH COAST HONDA

MOTOWARD

New and used Hondas, servicing and parts

Off road Yamaha specialists, workshop, parts, kit & accessories

01243 884144 southcoasthonda.co.uk

01403 823222 motoward.co.uk

TIPPETTS

THWAITES GARAGE

New and used Hondas, servicing and parts

Servicing and MOTs

020 8399 2417 honda-tippetts.co.uk WARR’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON New and used motorcycles, kit and accessories

0208 857 9198 warrs.com SERVICING, PARTS, MOTS

01273 430303 thwaitesgarage.co.uk WEMOTO Huge range of motorcycle parts instore in Sussex and online

01273 597072 Wemoto.com SPECIALIST SERVICES

EVEREST MOTORCYCLES

VIKING MOTORCYCLE SEATS

Servicing, Repairs, MOTs, Tyres & Track Prep

Seat upholstery specialists, repairs and upgrades

01825 766351 Everestmotorcycles.co.uk

07977 874075 Viking-motorcycle-seats.co.uk

FASTLANE MOTORCYCLES

TOURING AND HOLIDAYS

Motorcycle Sales, workshop, MOTs, tyres & kit

1066 MOTORCYCLE TOURS

01732 363630 Fastlanemoto.com

07592 193399 1066motorcycletours.co.uk

INTA MOTORCYCLE SERVICES

CATALAN ADVENTURE

Used bikes, servicing, tyres, parts & MOTs

Rural Finca base for exploring on tarmac and trails

01622 688727 intabikes.com JB MOTORCYCLES Used bikes, MOTs, Servicing

01825 766351 jb-motorcycles.co.uk

Worldwide motorcycle tours

0791 3759955 catalanadventure.co.uk KAAPSTAD MOTORCYCLE TOURS Specialists in Motorcycle Holidays and Safaris in South Africa.

FREESTYLE BIKES

JOHN HARRIS MOTORCYCLES

New and used Yamaha and Husqvarna on and off road

MOTs, Servicing, Parts, Accessories & Clothing

01892 782288/01243 859655 freestylebikes.co.uk

01892 652380 jhmc.co.uk

ORWELL MOTORCYCLES

THE MOTORCYCLE MAN

New and used bikes, servicing and parts

MOTs, Servicing & Repairs

Guidance towards taking the IAM test

01473 257401 orwell.co.uk

01424 893543 themotorcycleman.co.uk

0300 2010 520 ekam.org.uk

01525 377520 Kaapstadmat.com TRAINING EAST KENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS

IF YOU’RE INTETREST IN A LISTING HERE PLEASE EMAIL NICK@SOUTHEASTBIKER.CO.UK

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

37

M.O.T & SERVICE CENTRE LTD

01273 430303 ☎ www.thwaitesgarage.co.uk

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

Exclusive offers with SUZUKI for all Defence Discount Service (DDS), and Blue Light (BLC) Card holders.

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

MOTORCYCLE MOT CENTRE

New & Used Motorcycle Sales, Accessories, Servicing Clothing, Parts MOT WWW.ORWELL.CO.UK

 01473 257401

200 Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 0AQ

EVENTS

For a full list of What’s On visit

www.southeastbiker.co.uk/events

11th November

14th October

BRITISH SUPERBIKES

RING OF RED, M25 JUST TURN UP

Brands Hatch, Kent

18th November

14th October

BRIGHTONA

WOBBLER’S TRIAL

28th October

17th-26th November

Madeira Drive, Brighton

D SOUTH OF ENGLAN CLASSIC SHOW ARDINGLY

38

Canada Heights, Kent

MOTORCYCLE LIVE NEC BIRMINGHAM

October-November 2018 • South East Biker Magazine

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