South East Biker, April-May 2014, Issue 32

o.1 The South East’s N ine FREE bike magaz

2014 Issue 32: April-May

CB500s on test TEAPOT ONE

KRIEGA R15 M O C I N A M M A S ORTS P S • S T N E V E • FEATURES REVIEWS •

Join us:

www.southeastbiker.co.uk

south east biker magazine

@southeastbiker

www.haslemeremotorcycles.co.uk Tel 01420 488290

Suzuki V-Strom 650A

“The V-Strom’s trump card is its frugalness with fuel.”

(Mel Falconer Motorcycle Monthly) “The comfort of the 650 is excellent with the position of the pegs, bars and seat in harmonony ... as a long distance, mid-range, road-based adventure tourer, the 650 V-Strom is the best out there right now. ” (Alun Davies ABR)

Haslemere Motorcycles in conjunction with British Cafe Racer brings the heritage, style and feeling from the original Cafe Racers of the golden era of British motorcycling in to the modern age.

The reliability, build quality and performance of modern motorcycles provides the foundations that e underpin every mchine.

With each new motorcycle being a bespoke, unique and individual statement based on the latest British classic designs, you can enjoy the style, performance, sound and feel of your individual, hand built motorcycle without the maintenance, repair and reliability worries often associated with older machine machines.

In association with British Cafe Racer ,Haslemere is proud to be able to produce classic Cafe Racer one off Bonneville based motorcycles for the individual that appreciates the design, engineering and style of the classic era.

Call Today

The friendliest dealer in the south www.britishcaferacers.co.uk

Petersfield Road, Whitehill, Bordon, Hants GU34 9AR

STARTING GRID

CONTENTS 4 Three’s A Crowd 6 A Trio Of Twins 10 Race Season Insurance 12 Kit Review Kriega R15 13 Bike 1066 14 FFS Rally 16 Stars Out At The Show 18 A Man With A Mission 20 A Citizen To The World 22 Where In The World Is Teapot One? 24 Philosophers On The Road 26 John Harris Motorcycles 28 Call The Doctor 30 How To Lose The Spare Tyre 32 Project TDR Part 3 34 Events

WHERE CAN YOU FIND SEB MAGAZINE?

South East Biker (SEB) Magazine is delivered to selected motorcycle outlets and businesses across Sussex, Surrey, Kent, London, Essex, Middlesex, Berkshire, Hampshire and Dorset. Please see website for current distribution points.

We are increasing our circulation every month, so if you missed your copy then subscribe for just £9 per annum and we will post you a copy direct to your door so you will never miss an issue ever again. Just email: nick@southeastbiker.co.uk.

www.southeastbiker.co.uk MAKING CONTACT

ADVERTISING Debbie Tunstill & GENERAL Tel: 01892 610808 ENQUIRIES: Email: debs@southeastbiker.co.uk

South East Biker, Wirral Acre, Eridge Road, Crowborough, East Sussex. TN6 2SP EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Nick Tunstill, email: nick@southeastbiker.co.uk PRODUCTION: Dean Cook, email: deancook@magazineproduction.com PRINTING: Evon Print, Henfield, Sussex © 2014 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.

COVER IMAGE: Manny Bernardez by TeamSnapper

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

Is it just me or does there seem to be far too many 40 somethings out on our roads? I am not talking about those in their fifth decade of existence, but those car drivers you get stuck behind who motor at 43mph everywhere, in a 30, a 50 and national speed limits.

They will be found driving a bland car, normally silver and, even though their vehicle is fitted with mirrors, they never use them. A hat seems to be part of the look as well. Ok, this is a bit tongue in cheek, but there is a serious point.

As motorcyclists we need to continually monitor the road conditions all around us using all our senses. We check our mirrors regularly, make sure speed is appropriate to road and traffic conditions and our very survival depends on us being aware of other traffic and anticipating what drivers may try next.

40 somethings are blissfully unaware that they are travelling far too fast through urban areas and far too slowly when there is no reason not to drive at a decent pace.

All in all, these people are dangerous, they wouldn’t have the reactions to stop if a child ran out in front of them and cause frustration to other road users, often making them try rash overtakes. The bizarre thing is they think they are good drivers as they don’t ever drive over 45mph. Hanging’ too good for ‘em.

Anyway, rant over, issue 32 is action packed as ever. We make the most of late winter sunshine and test a pair of CB500s. Sandy Caulfield catches up with our old friends Sam Manicom and Bruce of Teapot One fame. We check out some useful biker products and preview a couple of up and coming events.

Check out Facebook, Twitter and the website for the latest news on what’s going on bikewise this year.

All the best Nick

south east biker magazine @southeastbiker 3

REVIEW: HONDA CB500 TRIPLETS

Honda’s CB family: CBR500R, CB500F and CB500X

THREE IS NOT A CROWD

As the owner of several mid range Honda motorbikes over the years, Nick Tunstill, with Debbie, looked forward to jumping on the new CB500 offerings.

W

e headed off to Maidstone Honda in unusual late winter sunshine, and the roads were actually dry! Happy days. I have owned a couple of CB500s, a CX500 (so good I sold it and then bought it back) and a CB650, which was a bit of a lump, to be honest. The previous incarnation of the mighty CB500 was the epitome of the workhorse bike. Simple, frugal, fun and vastly underrated, the mid range Honda was an extremely competent motorbike, if deeply untrendy.

It was also by far the best 500 up against the GS500 and ER500.

Maidstone Honda opened last year in Aysleford and have a sparkly, well laid out showroom 4

within easy reach of most of Sussex and Kent. One of the first things to strike you when working into a Honda showroom is the colour schemes. The Repsol is simply stunning and the HRC colour scheme across the range from 125cc upwards is spot on.

The CB500 range now consists of the naked F, sporty R and adventure X models. The styling of these bikes is a vast improvement on previous models. My old CB500s were…functional, but not particularly pretty. These motorbikes look cool and turned heads, both when riding and when parked up.

So I jumped on the X, perfect seat height for my 5”10” frame.

It’s shorter than most full on adventure bikes so anyone way

CB500X

over six foot may find it slightly cramped. No overcomplicated technical gizmos of fuel mapping and suspension settings, lucky for a man who can’t even operate

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

BMW Motorrad Motorrad BMW

Spring Spring Safety SafetyCheck Check

The Ultimate The Ultimate Riding Machine Riding Machine

SPRING INTO ACTION. SPRING INTO ACTION. TREAT YOUR BIKE TO A SPRING SAFETY CHECK TREAT YOUR BIKE TOARE A SPRING AND MAKE SURE YOU READYSAFETY TO RIDE CHECK FOR AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO RIDE THE SEASON WITH REAL PEACE OF MIND. FOR THE SEASON WITH REAL PEACE OF MIND.

One of our BMW Motorrad technicians Onecarry of our Motorrad technicians will outBMW a 21-Point Spring Safety check including: will carry out a 21-Point Spring Safety •check Cleanincluding: and check the motorcycle braking system • Clean and check the motorcycle • Check coolant braking system •• Check engine fluid levels Checkall coolant •• Check lights Check all engine fluid levels •• Examine tyre wear and check pressure Check lights •• Check operation of switch gear pressure Examine tyre wear and check • Check suspension • Check operation of switch gear • Check suspension

GET ALL THIS FOR JUST £66.

GET ALL THIS FOR JUST £66.

You’ll be given a report at the end of the check and if any work is required, we’ll give you 10% discount off that work if booked in at the time.

You’ll be given a report at the end of the check and if any work is required, we’ll give you 10% discount off that work if booked in at the time.

SPEAK TO A MEMBER OF THE SERVICE TEAM TODAY OUT MORE ON 01892 628134.

SPEAKTO TOFIND A MEMBER OF THE SERVICE TEAM

TODAY TO FIND OUT MORE ON 01892 628134.

Cooper Tunbridge Wells Motorrad

Longfield Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3UE Cooper Tunbridge Wells Motorrad 01892 628134 www.cooperbikestunbridgewells.co.uk

Longfield Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3UE

REVIEW: HONDA CB500 TRIPLETS

CB500X

Sky TV. The CB’s are equipped with Honda’s HISS immobiliser system as standard, that de-activates by simply switching on the ignition. The bike is perfectly balanced, the clutch is light and pulling away for the first time is really easy. Riding off into the North Kent countryside, I was instantly impressed with the riding position and comfort straight away. Starting with some twisty country lanes, I was really taken with the responsiveness of the twin engine. I was surprised how much of an improvement there was over the older CB500’s, and they were good! The standard tyres offer plenty of grip and I was chucking the CB around much quicker than a lot of demo bikes, bearing in mind the bill if I binned it. The acceleration is really sharp, combined with excellent brakes and handling, the CB500X punches well above its weight.

Maidstone Honda is well positioned to offer access to country roads, motorways and town traffic within a few minutes of each other. An hour’s test ride will give you a great overview of a bike. Luckily we had a bit longer so managed a lunch at the Oakdene, where we had time to compare our steeds. Debbie on the CB500F had a grin on her face so that was a good sign.

I was buzzing I admit.

I was hoping the CB would be good, but it really lived up to and exceeded expectations.

After the obligatory burger and chips, we headed out for some town and motorway work. This is where the X scored, in my opinion. The wide bars, seating position and screen protection added to the comfort. I had a spin on the CB500F, a lot of fun, but the lack of wind protection did become 6

noticeable.

I found on my old CB500s a small flyscreen made a huge difference to the bike.

Whilst riding around the lovely, but potholed, roads of Kent, I reflected on the fact that these are 47bhp A2 licence bikes. The Honda looks, performs and rides like a fully powered motorbike. So why on earth you need to take another test to ride something bigger beggars belief. Still, I don’t make the rules. All I would say is, if you have an A2 licence and are entitled to ride one of these excellent bikes, don’t feel you are missing out. You could buy one of the Honda CB500 range, go to work on it, head off to the coast at the weekend and travel the world whenever you feel like it. The build quality is up to Honda’s high standards.

ABS is standard, you don’t need to add much apart from some luggage to head off and do some long distance exploring. The single front disc provides brilliant braking efficiency, suspension seems well set up and the comfort, mirrors and overall vision are outstanding. Oh, and did I mention they return up to 75mpg?? For around 5 grand, these bikes really offer superb value for money. Well done Honda. Any niggles? Well, as Debbie mentioned, the horn button is above the indicators which easily confused an old man like me. Also, unusually for a Honda, the bike tended to hit neutral easily unless you were very positive when shifting up from first. Very minor points though on an otherwise great bike.

This is clever stuff from Honda, covering the three main styles of motorbike with one basic format. Very nice…Many thanks to Maidstone Honda for the use of their excellent motorbikes. www.maidstonehonda.co.uk A TRIO OF TWINS DEBBIE: Nick and I were lucky to be able to test out the Honda CB500 range on one of the first really nice days in February. I was interested to try this bike as Nick owned a CB500 when I met him and it was the first bike I tried to ride.

I sat on the CB500X first but as standard I was not able to touch the floor. As they didn’t have the CBR500R as a demo I had to ride the CB500R naked CB500F on which I comfortably could reach the floor. The controls of the bike are simple and easy to use, but for us two there was one problem. Every time we both tried to indicate we tooted the horn, it became hilarious April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

HELMET CITY Passionate About Protection Approach Road, Tatsfield Westerham, Kent/Surrey Border.

TN16 2JT

4000 SQ FT DEDICATED TO HELMETS & CLOTHING Tel: 01959 577911 Website: www.helmetcity.co.uk Email: helmetcitytatsfield@live.co.uk Opening times: Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm Sat 9am-5pm FREE SPIDER BUNGEE OR OXFORD COMFY on presentation of this voucher!

1 Voucher per Household

REVIEW: HONDA CB500 TRIPLETS

CB500F

when Nick started to overtake a car and I guess he wanted to indicate but tooted instead! The poor woman in the car in front jumped out of her skin and woke up from what seemed to be a nice doze. I suppose it worked in a way because she knew he was overtaking at least.

Anyway back to the bike, the CB500F is not what I would call a stunning looking bike, but ride it and you will see why we had so much fun. The 500cc twin is so quick to pick up from the moment you open the throttle helped by the fuel injection; the Honda is so lightweight, it was easy for me to move around on my own. Filtering is a breeze as the engine to picks up so swiftly but the engine braking comes in quickly when you close the throttle down. Riding around town this bike performs just as well as it does around country lanes. I am probably a little biased as I am a twin fan being that I own an SV. I really enjoyed riding this bike, I dare anyone to take the Honda out and not have some fun. The great thing about a mid range bike is that they can hold their 8

speed through corners and pick up quickly coming out as the road changes. The straight handlebars with the mirrors on make it easy to see behind you, the leg position is really comfortable too. There are a couple of things I would change or add to the Honda if I bought one. It does seem to be a trend with most manufacturers at the moment to load a huge amount of useless plastic on the bikes. I would replace it with a tail tidy just to give it a sleeker look, this again is totally personal. The only other thing I would change is, add a screen, as I could feel the wind hitting my chest, then again, I find anything without a fairing a struggle to ride for a long time, due to my arthritis.

The sitting position is actually quite comfortable too. It would be the perfect bike for a new rider, anyone on an A2 licence or someone wanting a great fun bike that does not cost a fortune to buy or run. This bike is a little on the quiet side but it still sounds good, there are plenty of accessories to make CB500F your own from panniers to seat cowl and chain case to high windscreen.

It comes in Candy Ruby Red, Pearl Himalayas, White and Graphite Black. The CB500R fully faired sports version is beautiful and standing next to the CBR600RR and the Daddy CBR1000RR it does not look out of place.

USEFUL INFO

HONDA CB500X

Top speed 125 mph Max power 47 bhp Weight 196 kg Seat height 810 mm Fuel capacity 15.7 litres Engine size 471 cc Engine Dohc, 8v parallel twin.

Gears 6 gears, chain drive.

Frame Tubular steel diamond, box section swing arm Suspension Front: adjustment 41mm telescopic forks, no adjust. Rear: adjustment, Prolink monoshock with 9-way preload adjust Front brake 320mm wavy disc with twin-piston caliper and ABS Rear brake 240mm wavy disc with single-piston caliper and ABS Front tyre 120/70 ZR 17 Rear tyre 160/60 ZR 17

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

For the ultimate Sports Bike or Touring Adventure, contact the only Bike Hire Company with a complete selection of quality machines…

THWAITES Superbike Rental HP 0613.indd 1

16/05/2013 15:31

BIKE & CAR MOT & SERVICE CENTRE BRIGHTON & HOVE’S MG, ROVER, AND NEW MINI AUTHORISED REPAIR CENTRE Thwaites Mot & Service Centre is a familyrun independent garage, situated in a new purpose-built workshop in Portslade.

We pride ourselves on a high standard of workmanship carried out in clean and tidy conditions using the latest up to date testing equipment.

We’re proud to know most of our clients are brought to us by word-ofmouth recommendation.

Telephone: 01273 430 303 • Website: www.thwaitesgarage.co.uk Unit 1, William Street, Portslade, West Sussex. BN41 1PZ South EastHP Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk Thwaites 0114.indd 1

16/01/2014 10:449

INSURANCE

RACE SEASON April marks the beginning of the Motorcycle race season around the world, so to celebrate we have listed the exciting events happening over the next two months.

M

otorcycle racing is by far one of the most exciting and adrenaline pumping sports to watch and partake in, as the riders reach breath-taking speeds, seemingly defy gravity as they hang to round corners, and tuck in low on the straights to reach maximum velocity.

This explains why Bike Racing is so popular around the world, and especially in Europe, because unlike other motor sports which include pit stops and constant communication, the focus is totally on the performance of the bike, the skill of the rider, and the competition of the other racers.

Although some races may occur during February and March, April 10

really marks the true start of the bike racing season, and the World Superbike and MotoGP have announced some fantastic race dates which are not to be missed.

In April and May alone, the MotoGP has races taking place in the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas (13th April), Grand Premio Red Bull De La República Argentina (27th April), and the Grand Premio bwin De Espana (4th May). The World Superbike Championships also list races in Aragon (13th April), Assen (27th April), Imola (11th May) and then back to the UK to visit the Donington track (25th May).

If you’re lucky enough to be going to see any of these races, then don’t forget to invest in Travel

Insurance, to protect you during your trip.

Alternatively, if you are an amateur racer yourself, and planning to participate in any track events or smaller race series, then you need to ensure that you invest in quality Motorcycle Travel Insurance. Many bikers forget the importance of specialist Travel Insurance when riding abroad, however it is absolutely essential, and especially if you’re planning to race.

Without specialist race insurance, you will not be covered if you are injured at the track, or if your leathers, gloves, helmets and boots are damaged during the race.

However, despite the importance of quality insurance, many bikers many find it difficult to obtain an affordbale policy to protect them throughout their entire trip, as many providers will exclude cover for racing altogether.

Holidaysafe offer a range of Motorcycle Travel Insurance policies which have been created

by Bikers, for Bikers, so you can obtain cover for medical, cancellation, plus your apparel and much more, whether you’re planning to Tour, Off Road, Race, or participate in a Track Event, either in the UK, Europe, or World Wide.

For more information about specialist worldwide Racing Insurance, and Motorcycle Travel Insurance, visit Holidaysafe. co.uk/SEB or call 0845 2307 622.

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

Enjoy what the world has to offer with Holidaysafe SAVE

20%

Cover from as little as

£P2ER .D7AY4

*

online with discou code SEB5

nt

Ends: 31/05/14

Motorcycle Travel Insurance • Cover for track days, off roading and Motorcycle touring as standard.

• Cover for damage or loss to your leathers, helmet, gloves, boots, tank bag and much more.

• Cover for medical emergencies and personal accident.

• Cover for Pillion passengers, plus discounts for couples.

• Cover towards the cost of collecting your bike if you are forced to leave it behind due to illness, injury or mechanical failure.

SAVE 20%* online at www.Holidaysafe.co.uk/SEB5 or call 0845 2307 622 *Saving of 20% is made with our 15% online discount PLUS an extra 5% for SEB Readers using code SEB5 – valid on purchases until 31st May 2014.

Holidaysafe voted Travel Insurance Provider of the Year 2014 by Consumer Experts Moneyfacts

KIT REVIEW

Kriega R15

Review by Nick Tunstill

I

have worn a rucksack ever since I started riding bikes. In all that time I have never used a motorbike specific item.

Regular rucksacks vary in quality and capacity and, of course, are not designed with motorcycling in mind. As a result they have never been particularly comfortable and the straps always seem to be in the wrong place…

First of all decide what size backpack you will need. The Kriega range covers everything from a small three litre waistpack to full on round the world luggage systems. Kriega were at the MCN bike show so it was the perfect opportunity to try out the whole range and ask plenty of questions. The gear really is top quality and superbly designed and thought out.

You do pay for this and the price did make me have a good think as to whether it was worth the investment. Anyway I took the plunge.

I went for the R15, the figures represent the capacity in litres. I ride every day to work so it needs to be comfortable, waterproof and have enough space for essentials like sarnies, mars bars, phone, notebook and other goodies. I also need to be able to find stuff without having to fish around in a bulky sack for ages. The Kriega representative went through all the features and explained why it was so good. The main straps link in the centre with a simple clip system. It is designed to pull the straps away from the shoulders and works superbly. Kriega 12

Back PACK

have a unique rider adjustable system which allows unrestricted arm movement and perfect weight distribution.

The zips are covered and are of excellent quality. The R15 has a good sized main section with a zipped waterproof pouch inside and an adjustable pocket. There is an easy access outer pocket, ideal for wallets etc. The fit is amazing, until you wear motorcycling items of this quality, you don’t realise how average everyday kit is. I bought a dead handy add on called a Kube Pocket, this pouch fits on the front strap so you can access your wallet or phone without taking the rucksack off. Perfect for buying fuel. This model can also cater for a Hyrdapak reservoir and can bolt on a 5litre or 10litre drypack, how cool is that? It doesn’t end there! Forcefield have teamed up with Kriega to supply Level 2 soft body armour to fit the rucksack. Oh and it has Scotchlite reflective panels.

It’s not until you wear something engineered for an activity that you realise what you were missing. Overall, the Kriega systems are superb, the price of the R15 is £79, the armour for this is £45. The Kube Pocket was £15. This is expensive, but, to be honest, really good value. Kriega back their kit up with a 10 year guarantee.

And it’s designed in England. I was a sceptic but am now a convert!!

Kriega kit is available from GetGeared, John Harris or visit www.kriega.com April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

BIKE 1066

BANK HOLIDAY FUN

The UK’s biggest one day FREE TO ATTEND motorcycle event.

What: Bike1066 Spring opener 2013 attendance 32,000 motorcycles 76,000 people (police estimates). When: Monday May 5th 2014 0800-1700 ( May Day Bank holiday Monday).

Where: Hastings Sea front and town centre, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1GW. Online: www.bike1066.com

F

or 36 years thousands of bikers have made a pilgrimage on May Day to welcome in the Spring on Hastings Sea front.

But this isn’t an invasion or battle, the bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country have turned the annual Mayday Run into the biggest free to attend motorcycle festival in the UK. With over 32,000 bikes and 76,000 people in the town Hastings now attracts more bikers in one day than the Isle of Man TT does in a fortnight.

It all started way back in the days of flares and bomber jackets as riding gear when in 1979 Tim Gooderson, a 21 year old electronics engineer, got together with some mates to ride from Locksbottom in Kent down to Hastings to celebrate the new May Day bank holiday. On that first Mayday Run (as Tim called it) there were about 200 bikes, for the 36th anniversary on May 5th up to 40,000 are expected. Since 2010 the local council in Hastings have been working with Bike1066, a local company that promotes motorcycle tourism, to develop the event with traders and exhibitors, live music in local pubs and a giant video screen in the town centre that offers live coverage of the BSB racing from Oulton Park.

The Mayday Run traditionally starts at Locksbottom in Kent and follows the route of the old A21 but most people who are not licence restricted jump on to the M25 for a short hop between A21 sections before heading into Hastings and meeting up along the miles of seafront that are packed with bikes. The road is seriously jammed with bikes of all types from race reps to full dress tourers, from pizza delivery twist’n’goes to serious custom cruisers, everyone enjoying the unique atmosphere of one of the best mass rides in Europe. Popular viewing places all along the A21 attract kids and families picnicking and waving the bikes past. Because of overcrowding on the A21 many groups now also start in the west from Box Hill and the Ace Café.

Other groups are travelling from the west midlands and as far north as Newcastle. About 600 riders are planning a memorial ride down from Derbyshire. The Mayday Run is now a truly national motorcycle event. www.bike1066.com

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

13

S F F RALLY

EVENTS

A

Motorcycle Clubs have been around for decades, almost as long as motorcycles have been around.

In 1947, a motorcycle event was held in Hollister, California, USA where several motorcycle enthusiasts had attended. During the event, a member of the Booze Fighters MC made history that made the front page feature on most newspapers. This story was later used as the building blocks of a movie called, “The Wild Ones” and the “Biker Club” image was born. Over a half a century on, the image persists – however the reality, for most part, is very different.

14

lthough the Nordic Brotherhood Sussex Chapter is a fairly new club in its own right, most of its members have been in different MCC clubs in the South East of England.

They are under their own president and wear their colours proudly and take great pride in what they stand for: LOYALTY – HONOUR – RESPECT. Being a part of a Brotherhood means taking care of each other and working as a unit. Being in a Brotherhood means you are surrounded by people you can count on and trust; it is a “fraternal bond that goes deeper than blood” and above all it is a bond that is earned. To this extent the same qualities and values that can be found in Club life often resonate with those that have had a military background where loyalty, integrity and honour are the cornerstones of military service. It is therefore no surprise that many bike Clubs were not only formed by returning military personnel but also contain a high disproportionate numbers of exservicemen.

With this in mind it is no wonder then that many bike Clubs are keen to support organisations that provide support for ex-service men, and women, but also those key support services that are struggling due to lack of funding from central Government. To this aim Nordic Brotherhood Sussex, are putting on a Motorcycle Rally in July 2014 in order to raise funds so they can make donations to their two nominated charities this year: Combat Stress and SERV. This is likely to be a massive event in the Sussex event calendar where they aim to have around 15+ trade stands, autojumble, custom and classic bike show, numerous bands, camping, food and beer tents.

Combat Stress is the leading UK charity specialising in the care of Veterans’ mental health. Over the years they have supported more than 100,000 Veterans.

They are currently supporting more than 5,400 ex-Service men and women. This includes 806 who served in Iraq and 519 who served in Afghanistan. In the last financial year they received 1,700 new referrals – a 12% increase on the previous

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

EVENTS

year. They treat conditions including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety.

To help Veterans rebuild their lives, they provide a range of free services: Short-stay clinical treatment, A specialist PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme, Occupational Therapy, Community and Outreach, Reserve Forces Liaison Team & A 24-hour Helpline. The Service is run entirely on donations & non-statutory funding so they are keen to provide what support they can.

SERV is a registered charity that provides a free out of hours motorcycle transportation service for NHS Hospitals across Sussex 365 days of the year.

SERV transports blood products and other urgent consignments allowing hospitals to divert their important resources elsewhere. The Service is run entirely on donations, they do not receive any funding apart from charitable donations. SERV Sussex has to raise over £20,000 a year to function so they are proud to be part of the support network raising money for this very worthy local charity.

So what can the public do to help them in their quest? Well the first thing is to come to the rally!

Tickets are available at a number of local outlets: Route 23 Diner, Wessons Café, 1066 Café, Wheels

to Work or they are available through Paypal at ffsrallytickets@gmail.com priced at £15 for a weekend ticket or £10 for a day ticket. Alternatively they are looking for donations for their raffle as well as offering sponsorship opportunities for local businesses.

They are also looking for more craft, autojumble and other trade stands as well as bands and other forms of entertainers i.e. fire eaters, jugglers etc. In order to support local businesses they are offering all pitches free of charge (subject to agreement of their terms and conditions). So if you fit into any of these categories then please e-mail: ffsrally@gmail.com or call 07775 676295 / 07780 704357 for further details.

The more money they raise the more they can donate to these worthy causes.

For further information please like their Facebook page: http://tiny.cc/085lcx

COMPETITION TIME!!

They will be giving away a pair of weekend tickets to one lucky reader, so if you would like a pair then e-mail them at ffsrally@gmail.com with the subject heading FFS Competition indicating why you deserve to win. The draw will take place on 26th June 2014 and winners will be notified accordingly by e-mail.

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

WE HAVE MOVED

Unit 3, Enterprise Centre, Bell Lane, Uckfield, East Sussex,TN22 1QL. NEW TELEPHONE TOO:

01825 766351

Bring this advert with you and get a MOT for JUST £25!

Everest Motorcycles HP 0414.indd 1 South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

12/03/2014 13:32 15

MCN BIKE SHOW

STARS OUT AT THE BIKE SHOW

Terry ‘The Poinsoner’ Dunn and the troops, that’s Scott, Nikki, Nigel and eight year old Marky-Mark, went to the MCN bike show at the ExCel centre in London. It’s one of those winter must do’s for bikers, and yet somehow it doesn’t hold the same sort of kudos that the NEC Birmingham show does.

P

erhaps it doesn’t carry as much history or maybe its location means the too-and-from is more fraught and a bit of a trial. It certainly felt like numbers were down on previous years although we went on the Friday and the terrible countrywide weather no doubt contributed.

Anyway, on with the show, as they say.

If you want to see the stars, Friday is the best day. Simply strolling around enabled you to Biker TNG bump into lots of people you’d only normally see on track or on the telly. John McGuinness and Michael Rutter ambled by while I was having a chinwag with Michael ‘Neevesy’ Neeves of MCN fame. Carl Fogarty was there, saw Charley Boorman and even Danny John-Jules from Red Dwarf, Murder in Paradise and he of the infamous pink R1! But back Sharpest ever plastic maggot? to the racers. Spoke to the legend Chris Walker and then went to the BT Sport stage where Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith were due to appear at 12:30. We rocked up at about twenty past twelve to get a decent spot, then wasted half an hour of show exploring time (and my life) which I’ll never get back, listening to over twenty minutes of Can you believe this BT sports channel waffle actually worked? before Cal and Bradley 16

finally came on for a mere seven minutes before end of show and the crowd dispersed. I wonder if they felt as cheated as I did?

Moving on round the show, out of nowhere I hear “Hey, Terry the Poisoner!” and turn to find our illustrious editor Nick manning a stand promoting NOKALERT. Turns out this is a system to give emergency services instant access to important and potentially lifesaving personal details in the unlucky event of it all going pear shaped when you’re out on the road. A simple sticker on your helmet or an attached key fob/zipper pull can be scanned by phone or other tech and voila, up come your vital statistics, allergies or medical conditions. No need for passwords, logging on or transfers to other tech or such malarkey. Like a personal bar code, just scan and read. With speed of the essence in a bad situation, this thing really could save your life. It’s a great idea and I hope it takes off. www.nokalert. co.uk is the place to go if you’re interested.

The show had a good selection of stands, well spaced and well manned, or womaned if your camera apparatus is handy. Took a few handsome snaps myself!

Bizarrely, there were three very long legged April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

MCN BIKE SHOW ladies strolling about promoting Spearmint Rhino. Don’t know how much they were into biking but I’ve never before seen wedgies that looked good!

My mate Scott was in the market for a new Arai and replacement cheek pieces for his current hardhat but he likes to talk to the organ grinder rather than the monkey. A good perusal of the show floor revealed several trade stands were selling Arai hats but there was no actual Arai stand. There was also no Demon Tweeks stand, Busters or M&P and, most noticeably, no Suzuki stand. Moving from the adventure section, through the main manufacturers stands and on into the road and race sections provided plenty to see, climb on and pore over. Everything from the latest BMW 1000RR to James May’s TT meccano ride gave us plenty of talking points throughout the day.

The NEC could also learn a thing

Legend

Just Lovely.

or two from the ExCel’s culinary choices in the food hall. The variety and quality was much better, but in London you certainly pay for it. £7.85 for a jacket potato with beans and cheese! And if you want a drink with that, say goodbye to a tenner.

I did chase up a few little items for myself. New swing arm bobbins, some stainless bleed nipples and had a good chat with the Accosatto brakes man. Always useful to know the UK outlet for Italian parts.

It was snug and warm in the halls, with carpeted floors and the event filled me with that feeling that I wished the days would draw out quicker and the weather would ease off just enough so everyone could get back out there.

It was definitely a good day out and I did leave the place cheered.

If you missed it this year, make a space now in your diary for it in 2015.

Your emergency contact and medical information accessible by Smartphone carried by first responders.

A simple yet effective scannable sticker, key-fob, or luggage label.

Your information is stored in a QR Code and NFC Tag.

SEB

READER OFFER 2 X STICKERS 2 TAGS 1 X KEYRING

Use Code SEB045

£15.99

Order yours today: www.nokalert.co.uk South East Biker Magazine1 • www.southeastbiker.co.uk NOKALERT 0414 HPH.indd

17 18/03/2014 10:41

AIMING FOR A GOAL

A MAN WITH A MISSION PART 1

After the last few years battling with cancer, Pete Mills stumbles across Bikers4Macmillan who run an annual Sunset-2-Sunrise tour – it became his perfect goal.

A

s we waited to be called I stared into my iPhone image of me trying to achieve the knee down Holy Grail at Brands Hatch in 2011.

Mr. Mills? My loving wife, Yvonne, walked with me into a room where we were greeted by Louise, the Macmillan nurse and the Oncology Team. Nervously, amidst the small talk and the caring build-up, the dreaded sentence arrived – “you do have cancer Mr. Mills”.

At that moment I remember squeezing Von’s hand thinking life is about to change for those I hold dear.

We were understandably stunned.

The rest of the meeting became a blur with voices echoing in the background. This is when Louise, our Macmillan Nurse, helped us through one of our darkest days. She helped us hear the Consultant’s important words, that they were quietly confident of successfully treating the cancer, but couldn’t guarantee it and to come to terms with the diagnosis of cancer of my tonsil and suspected base of the tongue. She had such compassion and was totally in tune with how we were feeling as individuals and as a couple. She went to great lengths to ensure that we knew we were in great hands and with people who 18

cared and it showed.

That was back in September 2012. Since then a tricky operation to remove a tumour has been a success, thanks to a superb surgeon, Mr. Patel, and his team.

The next stage was chemo (Cetuximab) and radiotherapy (IMRT). This was a rough ride as the treatment effects were cumulative. Each day consisted of 30 minutes radiotherapy with weekly chemo. By the end of the treatment my mouth had swollen considerably and was burnt too making eating food impossible. As part of the process a nasal gastric tube was fitted that allowed food supplements to be pumped to the stomach.

A Radiographer Jen, gave me the best advice ever through the radiotherapy treatment. “Think of it as the sip Olympics”. What she meant was to sip water frequently, as losing the ability to swallow is quite easy with feeding taking place through a gastric nasal tube. So, sip for England is what I did!

The Mask for IMRT Treatment

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

AIMING FOR A GOAL nosa derrumquati dolorep sus doluptu ribus, nulpa voluptas ienimus iunt plabori oremque late nimi, debisto taturer spidust iorecus net, udant, optatem poreribus nobis ium quiaeped et qui volorer TM illuptatibus excepre periscia vel nullabo. Accus. natur, in cuptatectur sequam et mo cor rem consect uribus eos Ugitiis magnat. Hari nonsectorro anducia spereca eprovita pore rem exereiciunt volo beris estemol incto moles quias et periostota voluptatquid estior anti vendis HearingsiProtection Systems estibus re volest aut rehenisquae occum volupti osamus, consed exerum imagnatem. Giatiis sum cum quiantia illam ra voluptatiae. quidi ut ea ipidem dellendia vollab inisin custio es event.

Nempore henihil luptatur sitatur?

Berovid quam, untemperrum sita dolesequodit et late commolu Ehenimus ditatus dere volenem ut ptistrum que lab id elit faciis nonsectessi ressus acereprerum laborum ent, quatem de laut alis aut earum aliaectisim dent apid nusdam quisim et quiaspe volupta secum rem res assequi sus. tiscipsam, sam quam incimus plam molupic aboreriat fugia que Xero consequis aut dolo blaut volo estrum volorro magnimus lique et laboriae nonsed magnate labo. Nequatur? Evendestis siminum quam quosapis dolorum ellaccus estiberati ommod ut moluptiunt, simus aut abor as de consequodi doles mod quas am nos si officitatur sit liberum sunt modi dero ipidebis et que ra imus elesequos quidebis magnihiti incia vid eum ut plam nusam quias velit quatiae ctectotatem solupis faccuptatem que prae a nis alibus, nataturento inus, sum dolorrum tempore perferibus et dolupid ut dolor alitas et, quiant audit verum earibus apediciam qui volo dolupis eatendigni quo quaspie ntiostione et accuptas vendell andebisit, aliquid ioritatiis re cus.the day after my wife’s On 16th April 2013, birthday, volorum Oreptur sunto blanissit, the all clear was given.

Since then it’s allqui been aboutquist, et explitatem quibusa pisquissit, ilit re, aut essitia aliaspe ratatisci sumentiam the tough recovery.

At only 5’8” my weight dropped volupta dolorum expelis quisquas sequis79kgs eatam, from a healthy to conempo 54.5kgs. I now tatiscia have had a quo qui renimet audipisque ressinctium sitiisqui quatet2014 which allows RIG tube fitted in January me to eaque restis et quam, sus eaqueinto myvelictent take food supplements directly stomacheos mi, ommoluptatur volendi at venis quas along with eating wetdoluptia foods. My mouthsunt, will omnimus, only ever ut et arum alis volupitem sanda siminita doluptis autemof thin, watery generate very small amounts salivaquidusdae nonsecta sapis ipis auditae peruptio. qui denow pliaectatur apiseating aut quiat from on, making dry foodsdolorit, impossible.

Ut anditistrum estor aute niamneeded qui berum labor I desperately a goal, something to strive for si doluptas di quodion emoluptio tem quis ra volore autmotivate que vel eium re, my weight that would me with and also give seby nimagnam officitem laut eiurtosiMacmillan cusdae vent something back and quite accident as volore, que sit laborerum acilibus. sequisq Iium found it. uidelli genist ra que Odi alicabo ribus, velis est del maximet tiumqui Surfing thelitiis webmolupta I stumbled across Bikers4Macmillan dolore vel es di inus ant quam, beat. (www.bikers4macmillan.org.uk) who run an annual il moluptatio.

Rat repe porum Mendit restem harum sus event in June called the int, Sunset-2-Sunrise tour. It repercide delibusHolyhead dantis moontothe expe macoast at 9.30pm leaves west Satnosam re nienis eaquam quo quas ant vercil est ad con paruptae di corrum night, June 21st, arrivingdolupta at Skegness on theint east prent ad maio. Em utem temquidere volor sitio quae nihicit, coast at 4.15am the following morning.qui Thecon whole trip venibe officabo.

Ic totatiis will about 800 miles nus fromdem my home.ipiendu ciasiment et, et molent hil erum dolorpos dit,Itaut That wasatias my eliquaecea perfect goal. would raise muchvolenim voluptius eiusae venimi, and evella quia quaecup verro mi,money incil eossum voluptaCancer Support needed for Macmillan tationsed mod undestrumqui culpame niam, nimagnim quo help on the road tolaut good health – Perfect! volent, que volleca borrovidem optio.

Sapic temquo cuptibus My Just Giving page (www.justgiving.com/ cuptatetfor ea dolor accupta aut velloru meniam harumenimi, inti sponsorship falcopete) has been setup to raise labore pellibeata voluptaqui sit earibus dandaer itaturia nes Macmillan and my story. iur, cullum nobis mosam consequis Why not estotat drop in,quiam, have a sam bite la to eat atdolecab my favourite faccabo rionsequi aut rempor atiis quideniatust harum ‘caf’ . You’ll be unte madeamet welcome and see what it’s all num lam is quuntoreped eost utaspel about at Loomies, West Meon Hut, GU32 1JX, onque num et vidus pelique USEFUL INFO TRIUMPH TIGER 800 ex etallowed aceptatur re praesecepe luptatenis quam asperitatio.

Ent havedel Sunday 27th April.

Jane and Leon kindly Top Speed................................ 130mph re nestibus sa pos aspernam atis hilibus, odup quidis autraising omnisand sinit,information me to set a fund stall. The Power............................................94bhp nonfor nime sit officiae eiurem quasJust look guys from B4M willsoloreped be there too. thesus diciur, sam aut am Weight...........................................210kg fugitem quae net landerum lit magniendunt green tutu andautatus. wig!

Seat Height....................... 810-830mm Engine................................ 799cc Triple mos enihilmore into voluptibusam quis Tem incide re, Next month:voluptam the challenges, my fettled Aprilia, Fuel Capacity............................ 19 litres sus re arum quis dent, sinvent, omnistio con re Macmillan. corerci pissit odit, about B4M and

ultimate

CUSTOM

EAR PLUGS HEARING PROTECTION

& COMMUNICATION FOR MOTORSPORTS

u l t i m ate e a r.com

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

19

ADVENTURE

A CITIZEN TO

THE WORLD

Ted Simon is a legend. ‘Jupiter’s Travels’ is the bible for free spirits and bike adventurers. We all know that. But what about Sam Manicom? Have you heard of him? If not, where have you been? Sam Manicom has been travelling the world on his BMW R80 GS for a large chunk of his life. He has four books to prove it, and is a pioneer for independent adventure via HUBB UK. Sandy Caulfield catches up with him…

S

am Manicom is a true citizen of the world. Born in West Africa, his first overseas adventure was to the UK at ten years old, where he discovered to his dismay that you were supposed to wear boots to play football.

He embarked on his first solo overland expedition at the tender age of 16, when he took himself and his push-bike off to Amsterdam. Then followed many adventures – planes, trains, boats and automobiles - until, at the age of 34, he took and passed his motorbike test. From then on, life was never the same.

20

He bought a BMW R80 GS which he nick-named ‘Libby’, short for Liberty as that what she gave him. And three months after passing his bike test, Sam was in the Sahara.

He spent a total of eight years in Africa, and in his first book, ‘Into Africa’, he recounts many spectacularly exciting moments. Not all of them were good!

He recalls “One of my lowest moments came in Africa. I was arrested and thrown into jail – still the scariest moment of my life. I got shot at twice in Africa too, but they were bad shots.”

However, in a land of dramatic contrasts, Africa also provided Sam with some of the highlights of his life...

“Being raced by a horseman along the gravel tracks in the mountains of Ethiopia.

Sitting on the slopes of Kilimanjaro under a clear blue sky, looking over the mustards and yellows of the plains of Tanzania. Sitting under the stars in the desert in Northern Kenya watching shooting stars. There are so many high moments. How long do you have?”

Sam’s second book, ‘Under Asian Skies’ details his travels in Australasia. His third and fourth books take a slightly different turn because, by then, he had met his partner, Birgit, and was no longer travelling solo. He April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

ADVENTURE says, “I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend and she certainly wasn’t looking for a boyfriend like me!”

Sam invited Birgit to go travelling in South America with him, and she responded with two conditions: 1, that she was on her own bike; and 2, that he took her to Africa first.

Birgit subsequently passed her test, and bought a BMW R60 which she christened @ Sir Henry the Hybrid’, because he was cobbled together from so many different parts from different bikes. When Sam and Birgit arrived in Kenya, Birgit had been riding for just 600 miles. Sam refers to her as his ‘Plucky Lass!’

Then followed two more books; ‘Distant Suns’ and ‘Tortillas to Totems’, in which Sam and Birgit ride first through Southern Africa and South and Central America, then into the USA and Canada. To Sam’s surprise he found North America fascinating. He loved it, and says of it, “To put it simply, North America is one of the most diverse and fascinating parts of the world I’ve ridden in, and I didn’t expect it to be so. Far from it!”

Sam’s current focus is the HUBB UK event, which will take place at Donnington Park from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd June 2014. He delights in telling us that “This is the most fascinating and the most fun event I

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

have ever been to.”

Started in 2000 by the Horizon’s Unlimited Overlanders website owners Grant and Susan Johnson, HUBB UK is an eclectic festival of adventure travel events; live bands, talks from inspirational overland travellers, book signings, a real ale bar, camping, a ‘Slow Bike Race’, skills courses and access to overlanding specialist equipment companies. Sam says “The HUBB UK is unlike any other shows in that most people book for the full four days. Most overlanders go because it’s the one place they don’t have to explain who they are or what their dreams are.”

Sam is also working on putting his books into audio version. He says it was a risk, but is proving to be a success. He laughs, “I had one chap who listened to ‘Into Africa’ in his helmet as he rode across Australia.

Must have been a real mind tease!’

More information about Sam can be found on his website www.sam-manicom.com Information about HUBB UK can be found at www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubbuk

21

AROUND THE WORLD

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS TEA POT ONE?

Bruce Smart is living the dream. He’s the one. He has upped and done what most of us have only talked about; wished for; hankered after. But who is he? And why would a man in a successful career, with a partner, a child and commitments, take off on his Gixxer and not come back – well not for a long time anyway?

“L

ook after those you love, but LIVE your life.”

Those were the words which burned into Bruce Smart’s soul, spoken by his mother just a few weeks before she died.

This advice, and the fact that some lunatic had recently pulled a gun on him as he routinely performed his duties as a Police Officer with the Metropolitan Police, gave him a bit of a reality check. It spurred him into putting one foot on the long road to fulfilling a life-long dream - to travel round the world on a motorbike, a trip that became known as ‘Tea Pot One’.

22

Problem was, Bruce didn’t have a motorcycle licence and, when he finally got one, the bike he bought was a GSX-R1000, not an adventure bike. No matter. Bruce had always loved Gixxers and as he says, “I wanted to be a bit different.” Bruce also figured that his unlikely choice of steed might draw attention to his trip, which he had decided was going to be in aid of some charities close to his heart, and so he thought “Bugger it! I’ll do it on the Gixxer”.

Of his decision he says, “When the roads aren’t great, progress can be slow, and painful. But the sense of achievement is amazing. I’d do the

whole trip again on the same bike.”

Bruce travels extremely light, having very restricted luggage options on the Gixxer! But he says the bit of kit he could not live without is his phone. He says, “I use it to keep in touch with the world and the people I love, but also I can research the place I’m in, and the places I’ll soon be going to. I can do all that from my phone.”

Bruce left London from the Cenotaph on 1st October 2012.

Since then he has ridden over 55,000 miles, through 50 countries.

At the time of writing he is in Mexico, which turned out to have a bit of a sting in the tail. Hit by an unexpected $600 import tax at the border, he found himself tired, thirsty and hungry and with no access to money in a land where he didn’t ‘speak the lingo’. Thankfully his father, his girlfriend Nikki, and his sponsor Delta Energy Services were able to bail him out, and he continued his trip.

The past 18 months have truly been an adventure for Bruce, punctuated by highs and lows which he says are “too numerous to mention”.

He says, “There have been scary moments, like being stuck up in the remote mountains of Laos at night. I’d pitched my tent as it was too dangerous to ride through the night, but I got moved on by a group of men with guns. I rode on, through the darkness, and was blocked by another group of riflemen. Then out of the pitch dark a voice in perfect English said I must stay with them in the village for the night. I spent the night on the ground outside a hut, and was woken by a kiss from a pot-bellied pig!”

However, he recalls Africa as particularly difficult.

“Mauritania in West Africa was my worst point in the trip. I crossed into the country from Western Sahara right at the time the Islamic

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

AROUND THE WORLD Fundamentalists were uprising through Mali and Mauritania. Police and military presence was huge, and there were many road blocks.

Sometimes they just pointed their MK-47s at me and took whatever money I had. There were also road-blocks by ‘entrepreneurs’ who basically did the same thing.”

Bruce was forced to return to the UK and restart his trip on a different route, travelling east through Scandinavia and then into Eastern Europe. However, this twist in the tale brought about one of the most treasured of Bruce’s memories – Norway. He says, “One of the best bits has been Norway. The country is truly beautiful. The people are among the friendliest in the world, the biking community is as strong as I’ve seen, and I just loved the raw beauty of the place.

It’s not far from Blighty at all, but it feels like a different world.”

He also remembers Russia as an amazing experience. He says “The people were just awesome.

Countless times I was approached at fuel stations by people who spoke no English, and I don’t speak Russian. Yet they’d invite me back to their home to share their meal and drink. It’s amazing how you can have a whole night’s conversation without speaking a word of each other’s language. Vodka obviously helps... LOTS of vodka!”

Bruce says that his epic journey has most certainly changed him as a person. He says, “Over the last 15 years I had lost touch with who I really was as a person. Having all this time on the road has allowed me to reset myself. I’ve learned that anything is possible if you’re prepared to work hard and invest time and effort. I’ve also learnt that, for once, my stubbornness can actually be a positive!”

With around 20,000 miles and

four countries to go, including the mighty USA and Canada, Bruce reflects on his trip, saying “I’ve been incredibly lucky to have been able to do it, a fact I’ve reminded myself of many times when the going got really tough. But the things I couldn’t wait to get away from, the hum-drum boring everyday things, are the things I long for now.

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

Normality, that’s what I miss. I’m looking forward to getting home so I can get on with my life with my girlfriend, and spend time with my son.”

There is still, however, one burning question surrounding Bruce’s mammoth voyage – “Why does he call his trip ‘Tea Pot One’?

He replies with a laugh.

“Tea Pot One is the call sign of the Met Police’s catering truck that is deployed when there are large numbers of officers at an event, such as a public disorder incident, demonstrations and football matches. One of my friends said to call it ‘Tea Pot One’ as I was taking a break from the job.

It stuck and that was that!”

Bruce’s home-coming ride will take place on Thursday 12th June, when he will ride from Silverstone back to his original staring place, the Cenotaph in London. He aims to arrive at the Cenotaph at 2pm. He adds, “If anyone fancies joining me for the ride home, it’d be great to have some company.”

To date, Bruce has raised £9,500, towards his target of £70,000 roughly one pound for every mile travelled. The monies will go to five charities; The Children’s Trust, The Lymphoma Association, Born free Foundation, The Royal British legion, and St Christopher’s Hospice in Penge, South east London, which is a deeply personal choice for Bruce as that is where his mother died following her brave ten-year battle with cancer. He says, “I saw first-hand the incredible work they do.”

Donations to the charity of your choice can be made via Bruce’s ‘Just Giving’ site at www.teapotone. com/site/donate You can follow Bruce’s progress on www.teapotone.com and at facebook.com/teapotone.

23

BOOK REVIEW

PHILOSOPHERS ON THE ROAD A review by Nick Tunstill

M

any years ago, when I was at school and was whizzing around on a Casal moped pretending to be Barry Sheene, I bought a book entitled Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I loved motorbikes and books, so reading about bikes was a great crossover. I got about a third of the way through and admitted defeat. The book wasn’t quite what I had expected!

The 1970’s isn’t a renowned period for motorcycling literature. Luckily, now for those of us who still prefer the printed word, we have a vast array of bike books at our disposal. From biographies, travel books and technical manuals, there is enough material to keep me entertained all year round.

So when I received a copy of Philosophers on the Road, I expected to read a tale of a journey taken with some reflections on life. But this is very different so don’t expect a straight forward motorcycling adventure book. It is, however, very readable and makes you think about biking and life in general, which can’t be a bad thing.

Johan Nilsson is a Swedish chiropractor who has written this short book that looks at how motorcycling and life are intertwined and how we can control and improve both.

Luckily there is a lot more motorcycling content than Zen, it’s also short enough to read in a couple of hours.

Riding motorbikes is to some a form of transport, to others something more spiritual and involving. There are casual bikers out there, who can take it or leave it. But most of us become hooked and spend large chunks of our lives (and income) on this addiction. I wouldn’t recommend this as an essential motorcycling read, such as Jupiter’s Travels, however for those who like to think a little deeper it may well be of interest.

Available from Amazon as print or e-book or check out the website: www.philosophersontheroad.com

24

JOHAN NILSSON Johan first sat on a bike when he was four years old and became hooked. Born in Lapland, Sweden in 1967, he grew up in Helsingborg in southern Sweden and bought his first motorcycle aged 14. Since 1991 Johan has worked as a Chiropractor, running two successful practices with his wife and fellow Chiropractor Sharon, on the Costa Blanca, Spain.

Johan is a silver standard member of Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and member of Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

Johan continuously participates in events to further his knowledge of human behaviour and share with others as a public speaker, radio and television presenter. Johan currently rides a Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird, Honda CRF450 and when his wife lets him, her Kawasaki ZX636R Ninja.

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

THE UKS BIG NEW

FREE

TO ATTEND MOTORCYCLE SPORTS EVENT

BEXHILL MotoFEST July 27th 2014 from 9am SEAFRONT, BEXHILL ON SEA, EAST SUSSEX, TN40 1DP

LIVE MOTO GYMKHANA UK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND IV

MOTORCYCLE CAVALCADE AND MOTORCYCLE AS ART DISPLAY. LIVE MUSIC • GREAT FOOD • FAMILY FUNFAIR. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

www.bexhillmotofest.com SUPPORTED BY SEB MAGAZINE, ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL

WE HAVE MOVED

Situated in Edenbridge, Kent, we offer a wide range of quality bikes at affordable prices.

JB Motorcycles pride ourselves for our courteous, honest service.

Our customers appreciate the way we do business, and we know you will too.

Whether you are purchasing a new or used bike, having your existing one repaired or serviced, we think you will find the buying experience at J B Motorcycles noticeably refreshingly different from all other retailers.

JB Motorcycles, Skitts Manor Farm, Moor Lane, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 5RA

CALL TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. Tel: 01732 867971.

Email: jbmotorcycles@hotmail.com Website: www.jb-motorcycles.co.uk

SERVICING • VEHICLES WANTED • USED BIKE SALES • ACCESSORIES • PART EXCHANGE • RECOVERY AND DELIVERY

South East BikerHPMagazine JB Motorcycles 0114.indd •1www.southeastbiker.co.uk

25 14/01/2014 18:26

FOCUS

JOHN HARRIS MOTORCYCLES

This issue we visit John Harris Motorcycles, a family business based in Crowborough and they invited us to look at a recent investment.

L

ong established family motorbike business, John Harris Motorcycles of Crowborough is now stocking the latest Halvarssons range.

How good is this stuff? Well Police bikers wear it.

So that’s a pretty good endorsement. There will be a review in a future SEB. Drop in to JHM and they can explain why this kit is seriously good.

Steve Harris showed me their latest bit of technological wizardry, an Ultrasonic Cleaner.

BEFORE

AFTER

Ultrasonic cleaning is a process that thoroughly cleans components inside and out. As well as removing dirt, rust, oil and grease, the system will clean off any fuel residue that builds up. The machine emits nonaudible sound waves create a scrubbing brush action to effectively remove scale from carburetors and other components. This non intrusive process loosens and lifts off contaminents in the most intricate and hidden recesses.

John Harris Motorcycles offer a carburetor cleaning service where you can bring in your components and pick them up looking and working like new. The cost starts at £30 for a single carb. Give them a call for a quote.

JHM have full service facilities, can MOT your bike, kit you out and provide a wide range of parts and accessories. They also have an interesting range of used bikes for sale, some of which are pretty unique!

26

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

John Harris Motorcycles MOT, Servicing, Parts, Accessories, Accident Repairs, Clothing and Rider Training HONDA SPECIALIST

All your Spring, Summer and Winter seasons’ needs available for you and your bike.

Full Range of Halvarssons Available!

Call us now: 01892 652380

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

www.jhmc.co.uk

South East Biker0413 Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk JOHN HARRIS HP Ad.indd 1

27 17/03/2014 17:33

FOCUS

CALL THE DOCTOR

T

Everyone needs a good doctor, and if you can find one for your beloved motorbikes, even better. What hidden gems we find tucked away in the lovely countryside of the South East, and we have unearthed another one…

he Motorcycle Doctor Sussex is a relatively new business built on the back of many years’ experience in the bike industry. We had a trip over to Ashurst Wood near East Grinstead for a chat with Andy Johnson and find out what they get up to.

To say Andy is passionate about bikes is a bit of an understatement.

As well as being a fully qualified, factory trained technician to ATA & IMI standards Andy has been involved with businesses undertaking accident repairs, rebuilds and some incredible paint jobs on all sorts of machines. He also has a very impressive racing pedigree, both competing and instructing, so basically knows motorbikes inside and out.

The clean and organised work area reflects Andy’s ethos He is meticulous in his approach to servicing and repairs, making sure everything is double checked and working perfectly before the machine is deemed ready to roll.

I must admit we learned a lot about the motorcycle industry in the couple of hours we spent with the Doctor, I did not realise that if you have any reservations or a complaint you are well within your rights to request to see the job card to see if the technician has a reason for not completing the work you have asked for. Any reputable business should never have an issue going through what work has been carried out for their customers.

You are paying good money for these services and we have all 28

come across complaints of bikes being delivered and services either not having been done properly or, worse still, being told they have been done when they haven’t been completed.

Andy was particularly keen to emphasise his attention to detail and, if he spots something on your bike that needs attention, he will make sure you are contacted before he undertakes any extra work, and that doesn’t happen everywhere!

The Motorcycle Doctor has access to the latest diagnostic technology so can tackle the latest machinery. Add this to Andy’s high level of professional training and you are assured of the best possible treatment for your ailing motorbike.

The website contains plenty of information on the levels of service offered and he can give you an idea of the likely cost of the options. It’s worth bearing in mind that just because your bike is still in the warranty period, you don’t necessarily have to have it serviced

by a main dealer to maintain the warranty. We would always advise that you check the small print of the warranty for any clauses that may be in place. The main stipulations are normally as long as genuine parts are used, the correct service schedule adhered to and the technician is of a proven competent ability to carry out the work then you are covered.

MOT’s are done on site for £25 and a full range of tyre brands are available to order. Collection and delivery is available at decent rates and Andy is as comfortable with a 2 stroke as a four stroke.

Have a good look at the website www.mdsmot.com where there is plenty of useful information.

Or drop by when riding around Ashdown Forest, it is situated in a lovely part of the world.

It is hard to find a good doctor, and even harder to find a decent motorcycle doctor. However, we were really impressed with our visit and I can honestly say Andy is the first doctor I have met who I would trust!

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

Evolution Paintwork All types of motorcycle paintwork and classic restoration undertaken Track day/race fairings Plastic repairs Accident repairs 20 years panel beating & painting experience Martin Watts T: 07842 968863 E: evolutionpaintwork@gmail.com W: www.evolutionpaintwork.co.uk Find me on Facebook Unit 6 Oaks Farm Workshops, Framfield, East Sussex, TN22 5PN

Evolution Paintwork 0313 HP.indd 1

15/03/2013 15:19

DOCTOR Servicing, Repairs, Tyres, Diagnostics Renovations & Engine Rebuilds MOTORCYCLE, SCOOTER & QUAD BIKES MOT SPECIAL OFFER: £25 Tel: 07794 919333 • www.mdsmot.com Unit 2, Ivy Dene Industrial Estate, Ivy Dene Lane, Ashurst Wood, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3TN

Motorcycle DoctorMagazine 0414 HPH.indd 1 South East Biker • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

17/03/2014 12:30 29

FITNESS

How to lose your spare tyre!

O

Many of us will be dusting off the bike after winter, doing essential checks to get your trusty steed back on the road but Simon Thorne wants to look at your spare tyre. ne area that may be overlooked is that spare tyre hanging around your middle that over winter or possibly, let’s face it, maybe a little more time than that, seems to have suddenly arrived unannounced!

Whether it’s your classic bike, sports bike, or off-roader, let’s see if we can help that bike out this Spring by dropping a few pounds and in doing this make for a happier healthier 2014!

So all sounds good in theory, but I can already hear you saying ‘I’m no Lycra wearing gym junky!’ Well the good news is that you don’t even need to sign up for the gym membership or even buy any fancy gear to get started on your ‘lose the spare tyre mission!’

WALK Going for a walk has to be one of the most natural and easy ways to boost up your fitness. You will be amazed how many calories you can burn on a walk!

Try and find ways of incorporating a walk into things you do every day, ditch the car or tube and use the stairs where possible. Start with these small things and build up into longer walks in time. You don’t have to live in the countryside to find fantastic places to take a stroll or power walk. Look out for parks, tow paths, and commons. Try and get a route in mind before you set off and stick to a pace as much as you can.

WORK OUT WITH A FRIEND Working out together can be a far better way to train.

Either friend, partner or as a group. It is far more likely that you will stick to your new routine or goal if you work out with like minded individuals. Others will stop you quitting, losing interest, and will keep you motivated while you’re on your biker fitness and weight loss mission!

30

GOAL SETTING It is very important that you set some type of goal.

This may be short term for example, to lose a pound a week and a long term goal of losing half a stone in total. Goals could be simple like fitting into a pair of your old leathers ready for the May Day Run or as grand as signing up for a 5k charity fun. Once you have decided to make a goal you must stick to it. Also the goal must be a clear way to measure success. For example weigh and measure yourself or take pictures.

You won’t like doing this at first but when you look back weeks and months later you will be chuffed with what you see!

FOOD Let’s keep this section as simple to follow as possible.

First start with a diary of your food and water intake for at least a two week period. This will give a good look at what you are consuming. Make sure you include alcohol! Then take a highlighter pen and go through on your own and highlight any things that you know may be bad for you for example high in calories, sugar or salts. Then over the next few weeks try and improve your diet and refer back to the first two weeks to check you’re not going back to bad habits! Look out for processed foods and juices that are from concentrate. Try not to diet as often these can be dangerous to the body and are nearly always impossible to stick to. This can result in a yo-yo style effect with your weight. Instead stick to something April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

FITNESS that is gradual where the weight can come off slowly and steadily. It is much more likely that the weight will then stay off long term.

If you’re trying to bulk up then a two week food diary will also help you to record what you eat and how quickly you are gaining the weight. You will be able to develop trends in what foods help you to gain those extra pounds. You still need to watch what you eat as you don’t want to be gaining fat instead of muscle. Protein is a must but this doesn’t mean eating steak 3 times a day, 7 days a week. Vary your meats so that it is a balance between red and white meats and incorporate eggs (free range or organic where possible). Avoid eating lots of meat late in the evening. Your body needs time to break these proteins down and this is not ideal to do so before you sleep.

WATER You wouldn’t leave your radiator without any coolant would you?!

There are lots of

processes that happen in the human body and water is essential. Body temperature, cells and digestion to name just a few. 75% of the body is made up of water. So it is very important for the function of our body that we remain hydrated. While we are trying to lose weight it is of great importance that we remain hydrated to aid these essential processes otherwise the body will slow down and fats will be harder to dissolve.

AUTHOR BIO Simon Thorne has worked in the fitness industry for over 15 years, 13 of those as a Personal Trainer.

He is confident in his ability to achieve results through sound knowledge and understanding.

Simon also enjoys motorbiking of all aspects, especially popping down to the local on his custom CB250 cafe racer.

He runs fun and varied sessions on an individual and group basis in the East Sussex and Kent area. Please check out his web site for more information www. thornefitness.co.uk, you can also follow him on Twitter for fitness updates and Facebook for inspiration. #HealthIsWealth #FitFor14 Simon is looking to start up a motorcycle specific bootcamp in collaboration with Freestyle Motorbikes – who’s interested?!

Check out our new website and online store!

WWW.FREESTYLEBIKES.CO.UK TEL: 01892 782288 WADHURST ROAD, MARK CROSS, EAST SUSSEX, TN6 3PD

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

31

RESTORATION PROJECT

PROJECT TDR PART 3 In the October/November 2013 issue of SEB Neil Allen had been beavering away on his restoration project and now fills us in on his ongoing two stroke rebuild.

T

he winter months seem ideal to spend some time in the garage and continue with a restoration, but with the usual New Year expenses combined with car woes and a new job have led to the TDR dropping down the list of priorities.

I envisaged a project bike to be a challenge, repair or replace the worn parts and splash out on some shiny new trick bits to finish it off and it’d soon be back to life and ready to be thrashed! However we’re now the best part of a year down the line and probably about three quarters complete on the bike too. My initial optimism carried me through the original strip down, accompanied with hours of trawling through Internet forums with two-stroke nerds gushing about what and why each and every part should either be replaced to improve performance or kept standard to 32

remain as close to the original as possible.

The reality now is that although most of the bigger jobs have been done or in the process of being sorted, it’s the smaller fixes which have been the most time consuming and have made me feel like a wall has been hit. Sourcing a rear brake caliper for example is a nightmare. The recent popularity of two-stroke restorations combined with a lack of available parts means even the poorest examples go for silly money on certain Internet auction sites! None of this would have been an issue if we hadn’t broken the original one which had seized on of course… but that’s part of the appeal in a rebuild, right?

There have been some positives since the last article – the barrels were in need of some attention and were sent off to PJME engineering. It took only a few days for them to return them to me having been re-bored, honed and looking the part, supplied with a new set of pistons and rings all ready to go. It’s not too often I’m bothered by some engineering but I was really impressed with how these turned out. Not too bad for something that’s been on a motorbike older than I am.

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

CHARITY Whilst the engine was stripped the carbs were taken apart. These weren’t in the best state, having been sat for years with old petrol sitting inside them.

I can’t take any credit for tidying these up but my dad managed to spend a few painstaking hours armed with a toothbrush, some generic motorbike grease removal spray and a domestic steam cleaner.

Having read up on how best to clean carbs we researched what would be most effective – the options seemed to range from ultrasonic cleaning to popping them in the dishwasher. Naturally the idea was hatched that a handheld steam cleaner would do a good enough job, and it really did (as you can see from the before and after photos).

These two jobs have seemed to drag on over a

couple of months as my enthusiasm dropped… but the arrival of the first sunny weekend and a reminder of how frustrating it is to sit in a car in traffic whilst bikes filter past might be enough to give me a kick in the right direction to get started again! My aim around Christmas time was to have the bike ready to go by May bank holiday weekend to go on the Mayday run but even that deadline now seems to be creeping around quickly! Once the engine has been put back together it’s (in theory) just a few smaller fiddly issues to correct – however one of these happens to be finishing off the electrics for the Vapor dash, so expect the next update to be an account of some DIY soldering, where my electronics GCSE may finally be of vague use.

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 EastHP Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk Inta 0113 Ad.indd 1

33 15/01/2013 14:00

South East Biker Events Apr 5-6 Apr 12 Apr 13 Apr 13 Apr 21 Apr 21

APRIL EVENTS

BMRC Club Racing, Brands Hatch www.bemsee.net Track Day Lydden Hill www.lyddenhill.co.uk

April Motocross, Canada Heights: www.sidcupmotorcycleclub.co.uk The Pioneer Run www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk/ entryinfo?id=134>

Ashford Classic Motorcycle Show www.elkpromotions.co.uk

April Wobblers Trial, Canada Heights www.sidcupmotorcycleclub.co.uk

Apr 19-21 British Superbikes, Brands Hatch www.britishsuperbike.com Apr 21 Apr 27

Ace Cafe Southend Shakedown www.southeastbiker.co.uk/events/ ww.ace-cafe-london.com Vintage Motor Cycle Club Road Trial www.acu.org.uk/ events/default.asp

MAY EVENTS

May 2-5 Guy Martin’s Big Brew May 5

The MayDay Run Spring Opener

May 5

Commemorative Ride to mark

May 18

Maxxis British Motocross

www.bike1066.com

start of WW1, Wesson’s Café

Championship, Canada Heights

www.sidcupmotorcycleclub.co.uk May 22

Lee Rigby Memorial Ride,

May 25

Romney Marsh

Wesson’s Cafe

Classic Bike Jumble

www.elkpromotions.co.uk May 26

Ace Cafe Margate Meltdown

www.southeastbiker.co.uk/events/ ww.ace-cafe-london.com

PLEASE NOTE: we cannot be held responsible for the information provided on this page. Much of it is provided independently. We suggest you check details with the organisers before making commitments. Further details and contacts for some of these events can be found at www.southeastbiker.co.uk.

For South East Biker Track Days contact: debs@southeastbiker.co.uk

If you have an event you would like listed then email: nick@southeastbiker.co.uk.

April/May entries to be in by 6th May 2014. Entries are limited to first come first in.

NEW FOR 2014: ECUADOR AND COLUMBIA

We still have spaces on our 2014 tours

CALL 01424 838618 NOW BECAUSE LIFE IS TOO SHORT

Visit: www.perumotorcycling.com or email: info@perumotorcycling.com

Adventure Peru QPV 0414.indd 1

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

19/03/2014 13:51

35

TRADE SERVICES

NEW BIKES Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3UE Tel: 0845 601 8593

Servicing • Vehicles Wanted Used Bike Sales • Accessories Part Exchange Recovery & Delivery

MAIDSTONE HONDA

Call 07717 013566 jbmotorcycles@hotmail.com www.jb-motorcycles.co.uk

Cooper BMW Motorrad New demo bikes available to try.

Sales, Servicing, Clothing and parts.

Aylesford Wharf, Forstal Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7XA Tel: 01622 713950 www.maidstonehonda.co.uk

The exciting new Honda dealership in mid-Kent. Open since September 2013, we have already established ourselves as a destination for Honda motorcyclists throughout Kent and throughout the South East.

Haslemere Motorcycles

Petersfield Road, Whitehill, Hampshire GU35 9AR Sales: 01420 488290 Main Suzuki, Yamaha dealer with good quality used motorcycles and Harleys. Test ride the new GSXR600 or try some of our great 125’s on sale.

Kent Motorcycles

Dover Road (A2), CT4 6SA Tel: 01227 832601

Everything Honda, New demo’s available to test ride, CBF 125, CBR 250 and VFR. MOT’s, Servicing, Clothing and Accessories.

USED BIKES J. S. Gedge (Honda)

406-410 Old London Road, Hastings, E. Sussex. TN35 5BB Tel: 01424 423708 The one stop Honda shop.

INTA Motorcycles

99-107 Upper Stone Street, Maidstone. Kent. ME15 6HE Tel: 01622 688727 or 01622 765791

Email: intabikes@btconnect.com We specialise in quality used motorcycles and are Kent’s leading motorcycle trials specialists.

36

J B MOTORCYCLES

Skitts Manor Farm, Moor Lane, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 5RA

Helmet City Waylands Farm, Tatsfield, TN16 2JT Tel: 01959 577911 Email: sales@helmetcity.co.uk Large range of Helmets, clothing and accessories in stock.

Outlets in Chichester and Dorset. www.helmetcity.com

TRAINING Sussex Motorbikes

SERVICING Fastlane Motorcycles 88 Priory Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2AH Tel: 01732 363630 Email: fastlanebikes@aol.com

Tyres, Servicing, MOTs, Repairs, Sales & Training www.sussexmotorbikes.co.uk CBT, DAS, ERS with bike and kit hire available. We are an established training centre that can take you from CBT to advanced training.

We have a wide range of Used bikes, Clothing, Servicing, MOT’s, Parts,Track and Race Preparation.

MTS SUSSEX Motorcycle Training for Sussex, Surrey and Kent

MOTORCYCLE DOCTOR

• ERS • Advanced • Back to Biking •

• Taster Sessions • CBT • A2/DAS • • Free Assessments • Ladies Only Days •

Unit 2, Ivy Dene Industrial Estate, Ivy Dene Lane, Ashurst Wood, East Grinstead, West Sussex.

RH19 3TH MOT, Servicing, Repairs, Tyres, Diagnostics, Renovation and Engine Rebuilds.

Call us now on 01342 890006 enquiries@mtssussex.co.uk www.mtssussex.co.uk

MISCELLANEOUS BIKESURE

Insurance Champions Call 0800 089 2000 or visit www.bikesure.co.uk

CLOTHING GetGeared 290 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7QE Tel: 01372 225100 Everything you need under one roof or check out our

Viking Motorcycle Seats 27A Heaver Trading Estate, Ash, Kent TN15 7HJ Tel: 07977 874075 Seat modifications, Gel pads,

extensive website.

re-covering and embroidery

www.getgeared.co.uk

www.viking-motorcycle-seats.co.uk

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

IF YOU ARE A BIKER AND RUN A NON-BIKE RELATED BUSINESS, CONTACT US FOR SPECIAL RATES • BIKER BUSINESS

Stone Refrigeration

Fridge and Freezer Repairs covering West Kent and East Sussex

Mark Stone Telephone: 01892 535559 Mobile: 07831 401140 Email: fridges@talk21.com

BIKESAFE – Education in partnership with the road user WHAT WILL IT ENTAIL?

“Lifetime skills helping to create a safer riding environment” WHAT IS IT?

BikeSafe is a National Police run motorcycle scheme, aimed at working with bikers in a relaxed environment.

The idea is to raise awareness and to create a genuine desire for you to progress to accredited post test training. The end result — a reduction in casualties.

The format of BikeSafe workshops may vary in different parts of the country but all contain information on real life needs: • Attitudinal issues • Systematic methods • Collision causation • Cornering • Positioning • Overtaking • Observation • Braking • Hazard perception • Use of gears A BikeSafe workshop will include an on road observed ride with a police motorcyclist or approved BikeSafe observer. It’s fun and the benefits could last a lifetime.

WHAT DOES IT GIVE YOU?

• A taste of safer motorcycling techniques • An observation of training needs • A certificate of completion • An opportunity to benefit from incentives

AND IMPORTANTLY

It helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses in preparation for training by recognised accredited providers.

Bikesafe

@BikesafeUK

For more information and to book visit: www.bikesafe.co.uk

Bikesafe HP 0414.indd 1

38

24/03/2014 10:18

April-May 2014 • South East Biker Magazine

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.

NEW PRODUCT: 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.

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 30 years experience • Quality craftmanship • All work guaranteed

VIKING MOTORCYCLE SEATS