South East Biker, Issue 39, June-July 2015 by The Magazine Production Company

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

2015 Issue 39: June-July

SUPPLEMENT

INSIDE

A TIGER’S TAIL BEXHILL MOTOFEST

RIDE YOUR DREAM

TAFFY DAKAR

ORTS P S • S T N E V E • URES REVIEWS • FEAT www.southeastbiker.co.uk Join us:

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@southeastbiker

STARTING GRID

For a list of South East biking events visit: www.southeastbiker.co.uk

You may notice a bit of a British theme running through this issue. After all, we have a lot to celebrate motorcyclingwise on these islands. We take out a couple of Triumphs, courtesy of Jack Lilley, a Great British success story of the last quarter century. 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the brand’s relaunch at the NEC.

CONTENTS

We profile growing South-East bike businesses including Wemoto, a classic example of a small local firm growing into a successful international company.

4 Release the inner hooligan 6 A Tiger’s Tail 10 Aladdin’s Cave in Sussex 14 Dealing with an accident 18 Spring back into biking 20 The Adventure Travel Film Festival 23 Bexhill Motofest 28 Rent a dream 30 Taffy Dakar 36 Full Throttle 38 Local rider round up 40 One man on a bike 44 True Heroes Racing

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 459080 ENQUIRIES: Email: debs@southeastbiker.co.uk

South East Biker, Friars Gate Farm, Mardens Hill, Crowborough, East Sussex. TN6 1XH EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Nick Tunstill, email: nick@southeastbiker.co.uk PRODUCTION: Dean Cook, email: deancook@magazineproduction.com PRINTING: Evon Print, Henfield, Sussex © 2015 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: TRIUMPH 800 XRX © Triumph 2015

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

The UK has some of the best motorcycling roads in Europe, there are even one or two decent ones in the South East if you plan your rides carefully! All of these are within a few hours’ ride of our patch. If you look at motorcycle sport, Brits are always in the mix, with World Superbike podiums in particular always having a pleasing backdrop of Union Flags. Danny Kent on Moto3 is breaking records set by Barry Sheene, that is a bright prospect for the future of the sport. Britain also boasts front runners in the world of speedway, enduro, motocross and trials amongst others. Behind the scenes, British engineering and technology is prominent in much of the machinery we see hurtling around various circuits on our TV screens. We also have a huge choice of biking events to entertain us every weekend of the summer, from race meets to rallies, the Adventure Travel Film Festival to Bexhill Motofest, there is something for everyone with an interest in two wheels! All the best Nick 3

SEB BIKE REVIEW: TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1050

RELEASE THE INNER HOOLIGAN A lovely sunny spring day in Essex was the perfect opportunity to take out Triumph’s original, full on hooligan bike from Jack Lilley. Nick Tunstill relives his youth…

he big naked bike sector is buoyant at the moment with all the major manufacturers providing plenty of choice, all of which are capable of providing huge amounts of motorbiking entertainment. The Speed Triple has now come of age at 21 and shows no signs of growing up and acting sensibly, thank God. It was the bike Triumph got right from the start and has been their flagship bike, in many ways, ever since. But with adventure bikes improving every year, how does the Triple hold up over the years? The bike has “love it or hate it” looks. To me it looks great, the only part that doesn’t seem quite balanced is the headlight section. However even this bit works with the small flyscreen and the view from the front is 4

certainly distinctive. Overall though, it looks like a muscle bike that means business. The upswept pipes and single sided swing arm really finish it off nicely. Quality of finish is very high; you are looking at a motorbike that is designed to perform to a high level and last for years. I took out a Crystal White version, not my

first choice of colour on a bike, but the paintwork was rather lovely in the spring sunshine, though personally I would probably go for the Diablo Red. The Arrow slip-on can finished it off beautifully and sounded awesome, burbling along the Essex lanes. Luckily for me the Speed Triple isn’t overloaded with too

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

SEB BIKE REVIEW: TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1050 many technical gizmos such as switchable engine modes and electronically adjustable suspension. However, what it does have is a lush 133BHP triple cylinder power plant with a dry weight of 186kg and, when combined with Brembo front brakes and Showa suspension, you have a hell of a package. Apart from the luxury of ABS, it’s really down to you and your right hand. The seat height is 825mm, enough for me to place both feet comfortably on the ground, the Speed Triple being perfectly balanced. We set off into the wilds of Essex with some town work to deal before we hit the ”open road”. Compared to many modern motorbikes, the Triple had a fairly stiff clutch, something I am used to, but could be an issue to those who prefer a featherlight touch on the lever. The bike dealt with the busy traffic comfortably and filtering is simple with the 795mm relatively straight bars and upright riding position making town work a breeze. At low speeds, you can feel the massive torque itching to get out, but the motorbike is as easy to ride slowly as it is fast. Once we started to hit the more open roads of Essex, the Speed Triple really starts to come into its own. Overtaking is almost ridiculously easy, as I had complete confidence in the combination of engine power, balance and brakes. It might be a motorbiking cliché but this bike really does you have grinning inside your helmet as you line up another victim on four wheels, or see the warning triangle for a series a twisties ahead. It’s almost as if these signs should have a smiley face on them for Speed Triple riders. It was one of those days when you didn’t really want to stop. The perfect combination of great weather, roads with decent

tarmac and plenty of gentle curves together with a powerful motorcycle that seems to have hit just the right balance of performance and comfort, kind of sums up what biking is all about. One of the things I loved about the Speed Triple is that you can sit up and have a good look around and ride at a leisurely pace or push your backside back in the seat, crouch down, and let your inner hooligan have its wicked way. Overall, on pretty much every level, this bike scores top marks. The engine, brakes, suspension and comfort levels are all excellent. It has all the on board equipment and features I would really need. Maybe add some heated grips for the winter, or a power connection for heated kit, and that’s about it. The Speed Triple would make your daily commute something to treasure instead of dread. Touring shouldn’t be a major problem. It would hold its own comfortably on a track day. All in all, a fantastic,

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

in fact I would say a proper, motorbike. If it’s a powerful naked bike you are after, make sure you give the Speed Triple a go. Let’s hope Triumph keep the Speed Triple going for another 21 years Thanks to Jack Lilley, Romford: www.jacklilley.com. USEFUL INFO

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 1050

Engine......................1050cc 3 cylinder Frame......Aluminium beam twin spar Tyres........................Front 120/70 ZR17 Rear 190/55 ZR17 Suspension..........Front Showa 43mm Rear Showa Monoshock Brakes.............. Front Brembo 320mm Rear Nissin 255mm Instrument Features......... Digital LCD speedo, fuel guage, trip computer, analogue tachometer, lap timer, programmable gear change lights, service interval indicator, switchable ABS Length..................................... 2100mm Seat height................................825mm Dry weight....................................214kg Tank capacity................................. 15.5l Max Power................................ 133BHP Fuel consumption........ Urban 41mpg 56mph 60mpg, 75mph 54mpg On the road cost.........................£9,749

SEB BIKE REVIEW: TRIUMPH 800 XRx

A TIGER’S TAIL The Triumph Tiger has gone through so many changes over the past few years and it has always been a bike I would like to try but I have never been able to touch the ground on it. Eureka, Jack Lilley at Romford let me test out the Tiger XRX on the Essex country side. Debbie Tunstill reports…

he standard Tiger XRX has a seat height of 860mm that can be adjusted to 840mm. There is an accessory option of an 820mm seat also. I was able to sit on the Sport and the XCX but the XRX was the one I was taking out. When you sit on the Tiger XRX you can feel how light it is to move around. Ken showed me the different settings you can ride the bike on with traction control, ABS and cruise control as standard. The digital dash could be a little confusing so it takes a few minutes to get used to it, but for those who like gadgets this could be the bike for you. The different settings and mapping helps you to set your preferences and lock them in. I started off with the Tiger in just Road mode with traction control off, as we filtered the bike felt well 6

balanced and easy to manoeuvre in and out of the traffic. Pulling away from traffic lights, the Tiger is not that quick off the mark but speedy enough to be ahead of the traffic. I thought the riding position for me would be too upright, but the whole time I felt comfortable and at ease. As we

made our way across country I started to feel more confident with the Tiger XRX and it is so easy to ride. It grips the road well and you can really start to enjoy yourself by driving it out of the corner to get the speed up quickly. Changing the bike into the Sport mode you can feel the bike

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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SEB BIKE REVIEW: TRIUMPH 800 XRx

change in mentality, it makes the throttle much more responsive. The only problem I could see is that to change the riding mode from Normal to Sport you have to have the bike in neutral, press the button to the mode you want, then pull the clutch in and out for the new mode. I didn’t use the Off road mode as that isn’t what I want to do and that is the difference between the XR and the XRX. Overtaking feels easy as the Tiger doesn’t scream when you drop a gear and are passing a very slow driver who seemed not to be able to go faster than 35 in a national, holding up a huge queue of cars. I managed to nip in and out, making my way down the line, of course never breaking the speed limit, and the Tiger pulled away to get to 60 in no time. The 800 engine with the in-line 3 cylinder has that typical Triumph triple sound. The suspension is set up more for touring so provides a comfortable ride and the handling 8

feels very responsive with the slightly smaller front wheel. Riding through the twisty lanes of Essex you can see how this bike would make a great tourer for trips abroad and home. Even if you don’t go abroad and just use it to commute you would always get to your destination after having a great ride. I have to say this would be another bike to add to the stable of bikes we now own (or want to own). The price for the Tiger XRX is £9,499 but the XR which does not have the Off Road Mode is £1,000 cheaper at £8,499, this to me makes more sense. It really is down to what you feel you need and I do feel I need a Tiger in my life and, as a Suzuki fan through and through, I never thought I would hear myself saying that. If I take the mick enough out of Nick and his old tractor (955i Tiger blowing smoke) just maybe he will get a new one and I can ride it too! Thanks to Jack Lilley of Romford www.jacklilley.com

USEFUL INFO

TRIUMPH 800 XRX

Engine Type...................Liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder Displacement CC..........................800.0 Bore X Stroke...74.05mm x 61.94mm Max Power Output.... 95PS (70KW) @ 9.250 RPM Max Torque.....................79NM @ 7850 Oil Capacity............................... 3.7 litre Fuel Tank Capacity.................. 19 litres Transmission Type..................6-Speed Dimensions LxWxH........... 2215mm x 829 mm x 1350mm Wheelbase.............................. 1530mm Seat Height................840mm 860 mm (820mm with Accessory Low Seat) Kerb Weight..................................216kg Tyre Size Front..................... 100/90-19 Tyre Size Rear..................... 150/70 R17 Brakes Type Front.......... Twin 308mm floating discs, Nissin 2-piston floating calipers, switchable ABS Brakes Type Rear......... Single 255mm disc, Nissin single piston floating caliper, switchable ABS

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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COMPANY FOCUS: WEMOTO

WEMOTO A Bikers’ Aladdin’s Cave in Sussex

We have been buying motorbike spares from Wemoto for years so thought it was time we paid them a visit. So we took a trip down to Wemoto HQ in sunny Southwick, just outside Brighton, to have a proper look at what they get up to…

he first question I wanted to ask John Younge, who kindly showed us around the premises with Lucy who runs the marketing, was “Where does the name come from?” Well, the business started as a bike courier company in World’s End, Chelsea, hence the name, World’s End Motorcycles. Motorbike couriers were everywhere in London in the 80’s and 90’s and it was good business. As a result of having to maintain and repair the fleet of bikes, the company began to order and supply parts and this grew into the major part of the business. Moving to Brighton in 2000 and then Southwick with more warehouse space in 2008, Wemoto saw the potential of the exciting new way of communicating and 10

purchasing that was the world wide web, something it’s hard to imagine living without these days. But back then all we had was our local bike shop ordering us bits in, or mail order. Capitalising on this

radical change in the way we buy stuff, Wemoto has steadily grown and now holds over a million OEM and pattern parts. They now also have five franchises around the world and are still expanding,

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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COMPANY FOCUS: WEMOTO supplying both trade and consumers direct. Until you go behind the scenes at an organisation like this, it is hard to visualise the vast array of components that Wemoto stock in order to cover all the hundreds of models of bikes going back many years. The three warehouses are incredibly well laid out with thirty plus employees constantly collecting parts and putting orders together for dispatch. When you see huge racks of batteries, oils and all the other bike consumables we take for granted, it really sinks in how much stock is required to provide such a great service to bikers. Wemoto maintain their own on-site IT department with everything running on their servers so that the ordering and dispatch system works flawlessly. Over the years, Wemoto have started to arrange manufacture of various components such as chains and cables. This means they can provide essential spares of a very high quality whilst at the same time providing very competitively priced items. We were blown away with the range of motorbike parts and accessories that Wemoto actually offer, far more than we had envisaged before visiting. For instance they offer a paint matching service where you can obtain touch up materials to repair those small scuffs that will inevitably occur when riding. Very handy. Wemoto also use trusted manufacturers such as YSS for shocks. They know they work and are a sensible price so they can sell them with confidence,

knowing they will have no issues with them. The website has the very useful option of being able to select your own model of bike and scroll through all the parts and accessories available for that machine. However, one very important point is that just because something isn’t listed for your bike, doesn’t mean it’s not available or obtainable. Give Wemoto a call and they will be able to help. Debbie had a lot of problems obtaining a pattern rear brake lever for her SV650, but the folks at Wemoto managed to get her one using their extensive knowledge and contacts! Very impressive service. In fact customer service is Wemoto’s absolute priority and they pride themselves on having thousands of loyal customers. Another impressive side to the Wemoto business is their support of motorcycling in general. They are not just an internet, parts selling company, they have a presence at many of the motorbike shows. Wemoto are a sponsor of the Jurby Festival on the Isle of Man and support the Air Ambulance with fund raising events. You can keep up with all their motorcycling news at www.wemoto.com/news, follow them @wemoto or facebook.com/WemotoLtd. It’s great and inspiring to see such a local success strory, growing from a small business into a large international organisation. Next time you need that spare or accessory for your bike, give Wemoto a call, or better still, take a ride down the sunny Sussex coast and check out their trade counter. Call on 01273 597072 or www.wemoto.com. June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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13 13/01/2015 09:51

LEGAL

DEALING WITH AN ACCIDENT

For many bikers, touring is a chance to relax and unwind; the last thing they want to think about is being involved in an accident. Hopefully Tony Carter, from MW Solicitors, can help you understand what you need to do to make your life easier in the unfortunate event that things do go wrong.

any of us would probably never go near a bike if we seriously thought about the possibility of being knocked off. However we have to face up to reality and accept that it is more likely to be a case of when and not if. After all, how many people do you know that have never bumped a car? While it is bad enough dropping your machine close to home, when it happens on holiday, a long way from home and miles from anywhere, all sorts of thoughts can go racing through your mind. How serious are my injuries? How badly damaged is the bike? How will I get it home? Are there any witnesses? What about no claims? By this time white knuckled panic will possibly have well and truly taken hold and it is very easy to forget the basics. We all hope that an accident never happens, but if it does, here is a simple check-list of things that should be done, if possible, to make life easier for you, your insurance company and your lawyer. WITNESSES Obtain the names and contact details of as many witnesses as possible. They may be able to provide valuable assistance in

several ways. For example: • The circumstances leading up to the accident. • Your position on the road following the accident, relative to your bike and any other vehicles involved. This would be relevant if accident reconstruction experts have to be engaged as they gain considerable assistance from knowing the position of vehicles and the parties involved following a collision. • The position of a helmet relative to the rider if the helmet came off during the collision. • If you are injured, how you were immediately following the accident. For example, your level of consciousness, whether you were able to communicate normally or not. This could be of assistance to medical experts in determining your injuries, for example, whether you sustained a brain injury and, if so, the severity of this. PHOTOGRAPHS If you can, take photographs of the accident scene, or ask someone to take a photograph for you. Pictures can convey what words cannot, particularly if there is a feature you feel may have contributed to the accident, such

as a poor road surface or badly sign posted obstruction. Also, if it is possible, take photographs of the approach to the accident scene and of any other vehicles involved in the accident, again at approaching distances. Lines of sight can be an important aspect of a collision, for example, whether a road sign or road marking was visible, or whether they were obscured by foliage from a tree or another sign. What was visible on the day of the accident can also be all important. POLICE If the police attend, obtain their name, rank, number and address. At a later date the police can be contacted for further information and are able to give statements in personal injury claims. STATEMENT As soon as possible after the accident write down as much as you can remember about what happened. A fresh memory is better than a stale one. It is better to write down too much than not enough. There may be details which you consider irrelevant, but it is easier to take things out than try and add them later on. It is also worth bearing in mind that if you write down everything as soon as possible after the

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

BIKE SOLICITORS are in my corner, and got my team “ MW riding again despite our injuries

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Car and Motorcycle accidents are awful, but the aftermath can be even worse. If you are kept away from work, off the road, or left disabled, you will need help to move on positively. We will help make sure the accident was the worst of it and minimise the stress and complications of anything that comes after – for your sake and the sake of those who rely on and care for you.

020 3551 8200 or bikes@mwsolicitors.co.uk www.mwsolicitors.co.uk - @MWSolicitors

LEGAL event, these notes can be treated as contemporaneous, in other words, notes made as soon as possible after the event which becomes good evidence if your case were to go to court for a civil trial. REPLACEMENT COSTS Obtain an estimate of the cost of replacing any damaged equipment such as your crash helmet, leathers, boots and gloves, and this may also include the cost of repairing or replacing the bike. It also includes damaged items such as broken watches, personal items, in fact anything that was damaged directly as a result of the crash. Retain all of these items as they may need to be produced in a civil claim. LOSS OF EARNINGS If you cannot work, get paid less or lose your salary and have to go onto statutory sick pay (SSP) as a result of your injuries, retain your salary slips. DIARY Keep a diary and list all of the expenses incurred as a result of your accident. Details of dates and expenses, plus copies of all your receipts (wherever possible), will make it far easier to recover the money. Taxi fares, public transport, car park and fuel costs, telephone calls and postage are all claimable. Even if you have to pay for someone to come and cut your lawn or walk the dog, this can also be claimed back. You are allowed to claim for anything which has incurred an out of pocket expense, and the list can be wide ranging. All you have to bear in mind is that you have to justify and substantiate the costs incurred. 16

CORRESPONDENCE Ensure that all correspondence from the third party (The other side) or their representative is passed on to your insurance company or solicitor without delay. Avoid entering into any correspondence yourself as you may say something that you later regret, is inaccurate or is used against you.

ACCIDENT ABROAD If your accident happens while travelling abroad then the same rules apply. However, extra emphasis should be placed on ensuring that all the details have been gathered at the scene, including witness names and addresses and photographs of the location, as it will be very difficult to go back and check these after returning home. If possible get the police to attend so that all the details of the accident are recorded. If you are injured abroad and any financial loss is ongoing back in the UK, the law has recently changed and in some instances, usually the more serious cases, jurisdiction can be transferred to the UK. In addition, when riding outside the UK make sure you have your driving licence, certificate of insurance and vehicle registration documents with you at all times. In many countries an inability to produce these for the police can lead to a heavy on the spot fine and may delay the process of dealing with the incident.

INJURIES If you have an injury that does not require hospitalisation, see a doctor as soon as possible after the incident. Medical records will help to prove your injuries. Sometimes, injuries do not become apparent straight away. For example what might appear to be nothing more than a sprained wrist could be a fracture. Some injuries and medical conditions only become apparent in the weeks and months following an accident. If your injuries are not that serious, or they heal quite quickly, then your case will be handled under what is called the “Fast Track” scheme. This means that law firms will represent you, but they will receive a fixed fee for handling your case. SERIOUS INJURIES If you are seriously injured, take steps to instruct a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible. Not only will they investigate the liability aspect of your accident, if required they can engage medical and rehabilitation professionals, a case manager and seeking interim payments as soon as possible, all of which could be vital to maximising your recovery as soon as possible. Most importantly, if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, wherever you are, don’t panic. Help is never far away. Tony Carter is a former police motorcyclist and has acted as an expert witness in many road traffic accidents involving motorcyclists. You can contact him on 0203 551 5800 or email enquiries@mwsolicitors.co.uk www.mwsolicitors.co.uk

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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17 18/05/2015 16:21

EAST SUSSEX ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS

SPRING BACK INTO BIKING The promise of summer is in the air and motorcyclists of every persuasion will be dusting off their machines and eager to get out on the road again after the dreary winter months. However spring and summer can be testing times for bikers, especially those who have had their bikes laid up over winter. Pauline Goldsmith tells us more…

efore leaping onto an extremely powerful machine, bikers should perhaps pose themselves a couple of questions. Is my bike fully roadworthy, both road legal and mechanically sound? How are my riding skills? It is vitally important that motorcyclists return to the road fully confident that both they and their machines are in prime condition, ready to meet the challenges they will encounter on today’s roads. Bikers are an extremely vulnerable group of road users. In the event of an accident, the risk of death or injury to a motorcyclist is 35 times greater than that to a car driver. There is no protection offered to them by their mode of transport. All that stands between the biker and the road surface is their protective clothing and their riding skills. On today’s busy roads, an increasing number of motorcyclists are recognising the need to ride in a manner which gives them the edge and are actively seeking advanced rider training. Advanced riding is not about slowing you down, it’s about sharpening awareness, predicting hazards well in advance, making motorcyclists more adept at observing other road users and road signs and producing smoother, more controlled and ultimately safer riders. ESAM (East Sussex Advanced Motorcyclists) is affiliated to the Institute of Advanced Motorists and offers free NO OBLIGATION assessment rides with qualified Observers. Assessed rides are NOT about criticising your riding, they offer you an opportunity to gain an appreciation of how improving your motorcycling skills can make your riding safer and more pleasurable. Remember our trained Observers are experienced, friendly motorcyclists and there to help you. If you’re a motorcyclist who lives in or near East Sussex, please come along to an ESAM Open Day. We meet on the second Sunday of every month at Reid Hall, Boreham Street, Nr Herstmonceux in East Sussex, between 9am and 1pm, and

welcome not only our own club members but also any motorcyclists interested in finding out more about what ESAM has to offer. We are an approachable group of people, enthusiastic about what we do, so please be assured that you will be the one judging us and not vice versa. If you would like to know more about ESAM, please see the website www. es_am.org.uk, or call the number below, we will be happy to chat with you. Alternatively, why not just turn up to one of the Open Sundays where you will be most welcome. ESAM - 01323 749473 www.es-am.org.uk

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

In conjunction with Groombridge Motorcycles we are holding a demo day, with motorcycles (obviously!). Tea/coffee, burgers etc and general conviviality at Reid Hall on Sunday 14th June from 9.30am til 4pm. This is primarily an event for ESAM members with guests welcome. There will be a good selection of motorcycles for folk to try out.

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ADVENTURE TRAVEL FILM FESTIVAL

ADVENTURE TRAVEL FILM FESTIVAL There is only one Austin Vince, as far as we know, and there is only one Adventure Travel Film Festival in the world for sure. So if you are a fan of adventure travel, film and motorcycling, get yourselves along to the new venue for this event just outside London…

ustin Vince is best known for the ground breaking Mondo Enduro trip and subsequent film, made in the days before satnav and mobile phones took over our lives. Lois Pryce is one of the foremost motorcycle adventure travel authors and has ridden solo to places I would only visit with a military escort. Together they have come up with the splendid idea of devoting a summer’s weekend to a celebration of adventure films shot across the years and varying widely in content. They come from all over the globe and cover every form of transport — 20

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

The Adventure Travel Film Festival

A weekend of films, camping and outdoor action, hosted by Austin Vince and Lois Pryce 2015 marks our fifth birthday and a fabulous new venue in our great capital city – the beautiful rolling grounds and grand buildings of Mill Hill School. We have been digging deep to bring you the most impressive line-up of films yet, ranging from the 1930s to the present day, on all forms of transport in every corner of the world, made by an international folio of film-makers. Prepare to have your minds seriously blown! This year’s festival focus is the Lost Art of Hitch-hiking, and we are proud to present our cover star and speaker, legendary French traveller and author, Andre Brugiroux, who hitched around the world in the ’60s and ’70s and has visited every country in the world! We’ll be showing hitching films, discussing the highs and lows of thumbing a ride and giving a prize to whoever hitchhikes the furthest to attend the festival.

To celebrate our move to London we have some brand new features including workshops on Travel Photography and Crowdfunding, ‘Ask The Experts’ panels on Human-Powered and Vehicle Expeditions, and the highlight of the weekend – Austin’s epic Adventure Travel Quiz. And of course, there’s all the favourite bushcraft action, filmmaking and travel-writing workshops, the campfire cooking competition and live music on the Saturday night. We can barely contain ourselves… See you there!

14-16 August 2015 Mill Hill School, London

www.adventuretravelfilmfestival.com

ADVENTURE TRAVEL FILM FESTIVAL boats, bicycles, buses, motorcycles, 4x4s and even hitch-hiking and train-hopping. These aren’t the polished travel shows we see on TV with a celebrity telling us what a wonderful time they are having, but real life dramas filmed mainly by enthusiastic amateurs. The ethos behind the event is: 1. To showcase the best independent adventure travel films ever made. 2. To guarantee a platform for future adventure film-makers. 3. To bring together the adventure travel community. 4. To show you how to make a good film yourself. 5. To have loads of fun while doing all the above! There are 15 films on offer, dating back to rare 1930’s footage plus a selection of short contributions. And it’s not just all film, there are speakers to stimulate the Wanderlust in us all; Andre Brugiroux, Jonny Bealby, Anna McNuff and Chris Scott, whose Adventures in Motorcycling book received rave reviews in SEB. THERE ARE ALSO FASCINATING SIDE-SHOWS • Woodland Ways – Bushcraft & Foraging with Kevan Palmer • The Jolly Woodsman Knot Workshop with Adam Thompson • The Campfire Cooking Competition • Yoga for Travellers with Charlotte Bolton • Austin Vince’s Adventure Travel Quiz (surely the highlight of the weekend?) • Live music is provided by Foghorn Leghorn ASK THE EXPERTS With tips on hitch hiking, human powered travel, and of course two wheeled adventure, all bases are certainly covered. If you can’t find the information about your adventure travel plans from one of these guys, then you aren’t asking the right questions!

STARLIGHT SCREENINGS, A HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEKEND On Friday and Saturday nights the headline film will be shown on a giant outdoor screen (weather permitting). If the plan is foiled by rain everyone will all pile into the giant sports hall – the whole gang under roof! ALL THIS SUMMER EXCITEMENT TAKES PLACE JUST OUTSIDE LONDON AT MILL HILL SCHOOL, NW7 The school is set in 120 acres of rolling fields that features many rare trees on its grounds. The facilities are excellent and include a sparkling shower/toilet block as well as access to a fabulous swimming pool. Mill Hill is just 10 miles from Central London, with easy access from the M1, Luton Airport and overground and underground train services. Camping is within the grounds and is included in the ticket price. The venue has a superb range of auditoria fitted out with bespoke audio systems, projectors, screens and comfortable seating. The venue provides cooked breakfasts and two-course evening meals. Meals must be booked in advance by purchasing the appropriate ticket. They cannot be purchased on spec during the festival. There will be light lunches, snacks, tea and coffee available during the day on a casual basis. You do not need to sign up for these. Camper vans and caravans are most welcome but there is no hook-up. And most importantly, there is a bar! Sorry, the venue does not allow dogs. For full information on the event check out www.adventuretravelfilmfestival.com

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS

Sounds great eh?? Well how about winning a pair of tickets for this brilliant event courtesy of the Adventure Travel Film Festival folk? All you have to is answer the following question: In what year was the film 14 Horsepower through Africa made? A little clue, the answer can be found on the event’s website. Email your answer together with contact details to nick@southeastbiker.co.uk by 5pm, Monday 20th July. The editor’s decision is final. 22

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

THE UKS BIG NEW

FREE

TO ATTEND MOTORCYCLE SPORTS EVENT

BEXHILL MotoFEST

BRITAIN'S BIG NEW FREE MOTORCYCLE FESTIVAL

July 26th 2015 from 9am

SUNDAY 27TH JULY 2014 BEXHILL ON SEA, EAST SUSSEX SPECIAL PULL-OUT SUPPLEMENT

DE LA WARR PAVILION, BEXHILL ON SEA, EAST SUSSEX, TN40 1DP

Moto Gymkhana UK National Championship Round IV Live on Bexhill Seafront

• MINI MOTO • MINI GP • • MINI SIDECAR RACING • LIVE ON BEXHILL SEAFRONT

www.bexhillmotofest.com

BEXHILL MOTOFEST

TRADERS and EXHIBITORS at BEXHILL MotoFest

Orange & Black – the official Harley Davidson Tour Company Holiday Safe – the specialist motorcycle travel insurer. Doble Honda Robinson Foundry Carole Nash Insurance Swinton Insurance The Sweetest Thing Eat Fresh Catering Adventure Peru Adventures in Arizona FlyandRide Motus Bikewear City of Leather Brilliant Americana Triboseat Photographer Ahead Mercury Ear Protection West Sussex Motorcycle Hire The Motorcycle Man 1066 Training South East Biker Magazine And many morE… 24

MotoFest brings Motor Sport home for a second glorious year…

BEXHILL MotoFest is FREE to ATTEND and relies on the support and good will of Sponsors: Rother District Council, De La Warr Pavilion, Polecat Property, Bexhill Chamber of Commerce, Orange and Black the Official Harley Davidson Tour company, Holiday Safe the specialist motorcycle travel insurer, Dobles Honda and the many traders and exhibitors who attend.

exhill MotoFest is a massive family friendly festival for everything biking. Thousands of motorcycles roar into the usually sedate seaside town to celebrate the birthplace of British motor and motorcycle sport. Now in its second great year the event once again brings a brings exciting motorcycle sport to the sea front car park, live music on the De La Warr terrace and presents a unique MotorcycleAsART exhibition. There is also be a charity motorcycle cavalcade into the town lead by the local 1066 HOG Harley Davidson owners’ group. And the great thing is it’s all absolutely FREE to attend. FAB Mini Moto Racing will be organising an under 13s championship on the main sea front car park as well as giving everyone the opportunity to “have a go”. Mini Moto Racing is just as exciting as full blown GP or Superbike Racing but done on micro motorcycles that look no bigger than remote control toys. When you see the infectious enthusiasm and comradery of the kids racing it’s easy to understand why this sport now features on Motors TV and is the breeding

championship for international stars. There will also be Mini GP demonstrations, basically one third size GP bikes , and Mini Sidecar racing. MotorcycleAsART is now also in its second year and is already attracting international attention for the unique way that we combine the motorcycle with art in various mediums. With the help and support of both Rother District Council and the prestigious De La Warr Pavilion – this year exhibitions include motorcycle sculptures from Belgium artist Rolan Groteclaes and stunning motorcycle portraiture from local photographic artist Michelle Szpak, there will also be distinctive exhibits of more traditional motorcycle art in custom bikes. There is also a great line up of live music headlined by last year’s massive success KICK and local hillbillie favourites the Cajun Dawgs as well as a family funfair, lots of traders and exhibitors, motorcycle display parking throughout the town and over 50 cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars all open and joining in the fun, BEXHILL MotoFest really is a great day out for everyone whether you come by motorbike, pushbike, car, foot or public transport.

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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MOTORCYCLE TRADERS AND EXHIBITORS FAMILY FUNFAIR AND BARBECUE

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FAB MINI MOTO RACING

Grass Roots to Grand Prix: Mini Moto, Mini GP and Mini Sidecar Racing is the fast growing entry level motorcycle sport that is rapidly becoming the breeding ground for champions. What Karting is to Formula One Mini Moto is to Moto GP British and World Superbikes. Champions such as Scott Redding and BSB star Chris Walker cut their teeth racing Mini Motos and Mini GPs around Karting tracks. But this racing isn’t just for kids – adults can have a go too – Mini Moto Racing is a fun and exciting hobby for all the family, or you can get together with a bunch of mates and set up your own races with the help and support of FAB Racing – the ACU recognised authority on Mini Moto Racing. For further information go to: www.fab-racing.co.uk/ HAVE A GO FOR YOURSELF: Bring your bike kit and you (over 18s) can rent a mini moto bike to have a go for yourselves round our exclusive Bexhill track. Great fun and far cheaper than a trackday. South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

THE UKS BIG NEW

FREE

TO ATTEND MOTORCYCLE SPORTS EVENT

BEXHILL MotoFEST July 26th 2015 from 9am

DE LA WARR PAVILION CAR PARK, BEXHILL ON SEA, EAST SUSSEX, TN40 1DP motofest-a6-flyer_Layout 1 02/04/2014 16:11 Page 2

SUPPORTED BY SOUTH EAST BIKER MAGAZINE AND ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL

Sunday 27th July 2014 9AM - 5PM De La Warr Pavilion Car Park Bexhill on Sea, TN40 1DP

supported by

BEXHILL MotoFest - Live Moto Gymkhana - motorcycle cavalcade Motorcycle as Art display - traders and exhibitors - live music motorsport trail - family funfair - over 50 restaurants and cafes

FOR ONE DAY BEXHILL-ON-SEA BECOMES ‘BIKING-ON-SEA’ BE PART OF HISTORY - Moto Gymkhana is the urban trials sport open to anyone over 18 with a minimum CBT motorcycle licence.

Use your own bike or hireINFORMATION an event bike to make your own FOR FURTHER attack on the championship. See online for details.

For one day Bexhill on Sea becomes Biking on Sea www.bexhillmotofest.com

www.bexhillmotofest.com

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27 15/01/2015 09:40

MOTORCYCLE HIRE

Rent-A-Dream

Over the last twenty years motorcycling has increasingly become a leisure activity as opposed to day to day transport. While thousands of us use bikes everyday to travel to work and around the overcrowded roads of the South East, many bikers now just dust off their steeds for a weekend blast or the annual tour. Nick Tunstill reports on a growing sector of the motorcycle industry tapping into this market and offering us new options

enting a motorbike isn’t a new idea, however the days of back street bike shops with a shed of old nails hammered by couriers are long gone. Motorbike rental businesses now are highly professional and customers expect a high level of service. So, why rent a motorbike rather than buy one? You may not ride on a regular basis for many reasons; lack of time, family, work, finances or simply have nowhere to keep a bike safely. If you just have the odd weekend away or annual tour, it may be more cost effective to hire than buy. Maybe you just fancy trying something different, a bike that you probably wouldn’t buy but would love to ride for a decent amount of time. If you are considering buying a particular model and a thirty minute test ride around the local roads isn’t enough, why not take one for a weekend away? That’s a proper test, and when you are looking at spending a large amount on a new bike, could be money well spent (as well as simply fun). It could be your bike is in for servicing or repair and you would rather ride than take to four wheels or the bus. While motorbike hire companies all have their own specialities, what they do have in common is that you will be on a properly prepared and serviced machine with all the back up you need in case there are any issues. When time is one of our most valuable commodities these days, particularly on a holiday, then ensuring the bike we are on is reliable and up to the job is a real bonus. In Europe and around the world, rental in general, not just of bikes, is much more widespread and is starting to become more accepted in the UK. We have seen it with cars, businesses in particular are using leasing and contract hire as affordable solutions for transport. So why not bikes? As well as the motorcycles, the rental companies also offer luggage, bike kit, sat-nav and all the other essentials, so you don’t actually need to own anything bike related apart from a licence! They will provide insurance and can provide

plenty of useful info on motorcycle touring both here and abroad. All the hire companies we deal with are run by experienced motorcylists who take a great deal of pride in their motorbikes and levels of service. Call the owners and have a chat about your requirements.

WEST SUSSEX MOTORCYCLE HIRE are based in Chichester and have been operating for five years. They have a fleet of around 28 bikes, from the awesome BMW HP4, learner friendly Sinnis 125s to the ubiquitous BMW GS adventure tourers. Pete, who runs the business, offers hire from half a day to as long as you like. Many of their customers come from abroad. The premises is handily situated near the ferry terminal at Portsmouth for that Euro jaunt, as well as having great access to the South East in general. The company has a wide range of machines to suit everyone from learners to round the world travellers with a great selection from BMW, Suzuki, Honda, Hyosung and even a Royal Enfield Continental GT! While we were chatting to Pete, a lady dropped by who was just about to do her CBT and wanted to hire a 125 to practice before her DAS, a good alternative to having the hassle and expense of buying and running your own machine. June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

MOTORCYCLE HIRE There are luggage sets, bike kit and useful extras like sat-nav available for long or short term hire. Most of the bikes have unlimited mileage as part of the deal and you will get insurance and breakdown cover. Pete is very keen on the social side of biking and runs ride outs where you can hire a bike for the day and have the opportunity to swap with another rider during the ride. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for these events. West Sussex Motorcycle Hire have partnered with Chandlers BMW and, if you rent a Beemer and then want to buy one, Chandlers will refund the hire fee depending on terms and conditions; an extended test ride, if you like. They also have servicing facilities in-house so can deal with bike maintenance issues as they occur. You can also buy the highly rated Sinnis bikes from West Sussex and there is a bike trailer available for hire. West Sussex Motorcycle Hire are attending many of the local bike events this year such as Bexhill Motofest and the Chichester Bike show so have a chat with Pete if you are at any of these and he can furnish you with more details. www.westsussexmotorcyclehire.co.uk

SUPERBIKE RENTAL are situated in the Essex countryside just 25 miles from the centre of London and well situated for the M25 and access to the Channel or if you are heading up north. This long established bike rental business has a wide range of bikes covering the BMW, Yamaha, Ducati, Triumph, KTM, Suzuki and Honda range. With over thirty bikes, from 125â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, tourers, midrange machines and with a particular emphasis on sports bikes, there really is something for everyone here. They have lowered and restricted models in the range so everyone is catered for. Many of their customers fly in from around the world and take the bikes to events such as the Isle of Man TT. Again all the necessary kit and accessories June-July 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ South East Biker Magazine

are available. Have a chat with Mark and he will be able to sort out a machine to suit your requirements and budget. www.superbikerental.co.uk

ROADTRIP are the new kids on the block. Based handily in Woking, they are easy to find being close to the M25, Gatwick, Heathrow and a short train ride from London. There are plenty of hotels locally for those travelling some distance and RoadTrip will collect and drop you off again if required. We called by to have a proper look around and meet the owners, Keith and Iain. All the bikes are brand new for this year and they specialise in using the top of the range of each model. BMWs feature highly again with the R1200GS, and F700 models as well as the S1000 XR Sport SE. They also have a rather lovely 899 Panigale and a mint Daytona 675R as well as the popular Yamaha MT09 Tracer and naked MT07. Also in the line up is the Bonneville T100 Special, so offering something for all tastes. There are hard and soft luggage sets for the bikes that are specifically made by the manufacturers for the relevant machines. RoadTrip have partnered up with Jack Lilley for Triumph, WM Snell for Ducati, Woking Yamaha and Vines BMW to ensure the machines are all in pristine condition. Infinity Motorcycles have supplied most of the kit, tried and used by the owners themselves. The insurance can be arranged so that two or three riders can be insured on the bikes and then you can swap around and try them all out at your leisure. RoadTrip Motorcycle Hire aim to supply competitively priced premium machines, with all the appropriate kit and accessories available. Have a chat with Iain or Keith to discuss what they can do to ensure your RoadTrip goes smoothly. www.roadtrip.uk 29

READERS’ RIDES

We came, We saw, We fell off… South East Biker (Off Road section) decided to have a crack at the Taffy Dakar, a hard core trail event in the Brecon Beacons. With our normal high levels of professional preparation we threw bikes, beer and bog rolls into the back of a couple of vans and left sunny Sussex to see if we could find Wales…Nick Tunstill made it there and back

he Romans managed to carve out straight roads through the Brecon Beacons a couple of thousand years ago so our task was to see if we could conquer these same hills, using some of the ancient byways, on our trail bikes. The Taffy Dakar is an orienteering/trail/road riding event aimed very much at the amateur and novice off roader. The main aim is to have fun, meet other bikers and challenge yourself and your bike. We set off from Sussex on friday, arriving at the campsite in the early evening. The sun was out until we were crossing the Severn Bridge when it started lashing it down… Welcome to Wales! Despite being in the middle of nowhere, the Taffy is situated behind a rather decent country pub so there are a few home comforts. South East Biker went under the radar as “The Wrong Way Round” team, we didn’t want any V.I.P. treatment!! Consisting of yours truly, Pete, Bex and Colin, our combined off road experience probably adds up to not much more than 24 hours. We had a few practice sesseions planned but only

one brief excursion managed to materialise. Colin bravely decided to go for the canvas option and we weren’t that envious, to be honest, as we helped him put his tent up in the early evening drizzle. After a couple of pints of the local brew, the organisers gave us a light hearted overview of the weekend. The saturday was a competition consisting of an orienteering type of exercise around the Welsh hills. Sunday consisted of accompanied trail rides around the local area. The Taffy Dakar is strictly not for Enduro bikes, pretty much anything else is acceptable, but the idea is not to charge at high speed around the countryside. There were a surprising amount of amount of road adventure bikes, GS’s, Tigers and the like. Fair play to them, especially as many seemed to have relatively road going looking tyres. There was a team of C90’s, equipped with knobblies, and even a couple of side car outfits! Probably the most common bikes were 90’s trail bikes, medium sized singles, perfect for the job really. Our bikes were two Suzuki DR350s, a Sinnis Apache with Supermoto wheels and knobblies and a

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

Freehouse Pub and Hotel

Next time you’re in Hastings pop in or, better still, stay! Ten Real Ales, Live Music and Accommodation. Biker friendly with secure parking for hotel. For regular live music, entertainment and beer festivals visit: www.jennylindhastings.co.uk/what-s-on. The Jenny Lind Inn, 69 High Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3EW Telephone: 01424 421392 Visit: www.jennylindhastings.co.uk

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In Store - Online - Mobile

www.Freestylebikes.co.uk Sussex: 01892 782288 WADHURST ROAD, MARK CROSS, EAST SUSSEX, TN6 3PD Powys: 01686 807888 10 ST GILES BUSINESS PARK, POOL ROAD, NEWTOWN, POWYS, SY16 3AJ South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

OFF-ROAD SUPPORT CCM. We were handed our routes and clues for the saturday, luckily we were divided into groups based on experience and ability, unluckily there wasn’t a group below Novice, so we were stuck with that. A couple more beers then off to the one star van accommodation for a good night’s rest before it all got serious. A combination of drumming rain on the roof and a large partying Irish contingent, who seemed to survive and thrive on no sleep and plenty of beer, ensured we awoke bleary-eyed and ready to go. Bike preparation consisted of putting our stickers on the bikes and fitting as many Mars bars as possible into the Kriega bag. We were meant to have studied the maps the previous evening to plan our routes and tactics, but the lure of a warm bar overcame any last pretence of professionalism. Marshalls are scattered around the area and there was a back up van in the case of beakdowns and other mishaps. So we felt quite reassured we would be found eventually as we would no doubt get lost. One of the hardest things about greenlaning is to find the entrance to the first trail. We spent an hour or so going down footpaths and cycle only tracks being laughed at by the locals. Not a great start, we were not expecting to set any records, but it would be nice to find at least one trail and solve a clue or two!

Bike preparation

And, I have to say, once we actually hit the trail, it was one of the best motorcycling days I 32

have ever had. The trails weren’t particularly challenging but they just went on and on, across moors, through fields and forests and across streams. At one point we must have ridden for at least an hour without seeing another human or vehicle…bliss. A lot of the ground consisted of loose rock and gravel, with a few muddy sections thrown in. I managed to become the first to fall off, while getting off the wrong side of the bike to open a gate. We had one or two spills along the way, no major drama, apart from Colin bending his hand guard meaning he couldn’t operate the clutch. Lesson here, tools are great but not much use left in the van several miles away. It’s always worth taking some Alllen keys, screwdriver and a spanner or two. Eventually we managed to remove the guard and carry on.

Highly technical

The road sections were just as much fun as the trails to be honest. The traffic was minimal and we rode through some fabulous countryside with awesome views. We stopped for a water drink in a deserted lay by at the end of one trail and a police car pulled in. “We have had some reports of motorcyclists ripping up our mountains”, he said with a grin on his face. “Not us of course” we responded, but I think it was his friendly way of just making sure we respect the environment! We found a motorcycle friendly café for lunch and a cuppa. It was warm and dry for once, but we were on a bit of a schedule as the organisers wanted us back at a sensible time so they didn’t have to

spend the night trawling the Welsh mountains. In the afternoon we found some excellent trails around a huge reservoir then some more in a vast forest, complete with herds(?) of wild horses. Eventually we had to turn for base and we found a fantastic, deserted, twisty road across the hills and managed to find our way back. All in all, totally brilliant riding, both on and off road. We arrived back at the site in time for a wash, beer and to rustle up some food before heading to the awards ceremony. The Taffy Dakar was raising money for the Air Ambulance and SERV so there was a good raffle with a lot of local support from bike businesses. The winners were a team of South Africans mainly consisting of BMW GS1200’s with the runners up being the C90 team, just shows the wide range of bikers competing. Everyone got a T shirt and a medal, though I think ours was more for surviving the weather than our motorcycling exploits! On the saturday night, there was a live band and plenty of drinking, all good fun. Sunday morning and we were greeted with…rain. It was a more leisurely start with many of the riders heading off for the accompanied trail rides. Pete and crew had to head back to Sussex and I had to get back to get organised for our Mayday stand the next day so had a sneaky little blast around the Gower Peninsular with my eldest son Josh, who was there for a road riding motorbike trip. The Taffy Dakar takes place on the Mayday weekend. Information is on the website www.taffydakar.org.uk. If you like this kind of shenanigans, join the TRF and help keep the routes open as they are constantly threatened with closure www.trf.org.uk

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

OFF-ROAD SUPPORT

The Taffy Dakar: THE Bikes and Kit

In theory this event can be done on pretty much any bike apart from Enduros, and with basic road kit. However, you can make life easier by using an appropriate bike (in my case, one I can pick up on my own!) and kit that protects you but keeps you warm and dry, or cool and dry, depending on conditions and is flexible, light and comfortable.

first tried green laning on my Tiger 955i, it was interesting, especially on road tyres and luckily it was a dry day. I soon realised if I wanted to do this more regularly, I would need something more suitable. My stepson had a DT125 and I managed to find a spare set of wheels that I could put knobblies on. This did the trick pretty well until a friend of mine told me he was selling his 99 Suzuki DR350 and I snapped it up. The DR is light enough to pick up, with a decent amount of power to have a bit of fun on and it also holds up well on the road. The model I have has an electric start which is handy, though Pete has a kick start version and this worked fine over the Taffy weekend.

The bike is pretty rugged, takes plenty of abuse, is cheap to run and there are plenty of spares. There are many other bike options, but unless you are fairly serious, a mid range Japanes single is as good as anything. Serious green laners tend to favour KTM’s and Husqvarnas but these will cost a fair chunk of cash more. A reasonable entry level bike will cost £1200-£1500. They hold their value really well though so after that it’s just the running costs. I have put a heated jacket/glove connection on mine and use as a winter road bike. HELMET – Anything will do but after a while I found my road going Shoei kept steaming up, the visor takes a lot of abuse from branches and it got covered in mud a lot. Basically it is too nice to use off South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

road so I went to Helmet City www. helmetcity.co.uk and bought a Shark SX2 for £109.99, just the job with a basic pair of goggles. The design means you get decent protection and can breathe comfortably and is not so expensive that you get precious about it. ARMOUR – I have been using my standard road jacket with inbuilt armour. This isn’t ideal for off road as it’s not all that comfortable because you are moving around on the bike a lot more. So I went along to Motoward in Rudgwick, www. motoward.co.uk, and bought an Acerbis X fit protective vest. This is an excellent bit of kit, extremely comfortable and lightweight and, at £115, great value for money. This can be used on and off road and under any kit basically off road, so very flexible all round. I also bought a pair of Halvarssons knee pockets for armour for £19.99 from John Harris Motorcycles, wwwjhmc.co.uk. They hold the knee armour in place nicely and are very comfortable with D30 knee protectors. Again these are really handy to wear under all my bike trousers, especially the Bull-it jeans I use. The jeans are quite loose around the legs and the knee armour just flaps about when used in the armour pockets in the jeans. TROUSERS – Up to now I have been using some Spada trousers, which are waterproof and tough but 33

OFF-ROAD SUPPORT the lining isn’t removable so when you get warm you sweat like a pig. I came across some enduro trousers at John Harris Motorcycles, www. jhmc.co.uk. The strangely named Lizard trousers by Halvarssons are not cheap at £159, but they are damn good. They are made from Polyoxford (no, I don’t know what that is either), but it’s a tough, breathable material. They have a removable inner waterproof liner, plenty of pockets and zippy bits, space for armour and detachable lower sections so they turn into shorts!! The trousers do have plenty of vents, so should work well in all temperatures. They are extremely well made as you would expect from Halvarssons. As well as being brilliant off road gear, these would be useful for touring and I will be giving them a go over the summer. KRIEGA U10 — I bought the Kriega R15 rucksack last year and use it every day. It really is a superb bit of kit. However a ruck sack isn’t ideal off road and I wanted something soft and simple to strap on the back of the DR. A trip to GetGeared at Leatherhead,

www.getgeared.co.uk, lead me to come away with the US10 drypack. This is a 100% waterproof pack with a natty strap system so that you can quickly take it off the bike. The design of the Kreiga luggage is simply brilliant. No wonder it’s so popular. It is designed to clip onto the other rucksack systems as well, so highly flexible and well though out. Plus it’s a British company and comes with a 10 year warranty. Not cheap at £54.99 but well worth it. GLOVES — Again, you can use anything but leather road gloves may get ruined and be a pain when wet. I bought some cheap Buffalo motocross gloves for £10 which do the job well. A bit chilly on the road but they dry out really quickly. BOOTS — My old TCX Infinity pair have done well, but boots are something that take a hammering so avoid expensive road boots. I bought a pair of motocross boots off eBay for £50. They are a bit too stiff really, however your legs often bear the brunt of any spill and they have protected my ankles well on a few occasions. They let the damp in though so waterproof socks are the way forward apparently…

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35 12/05/2015 18:00

THE REV MEMORIAL RIDE

Three riders, two Go-Pros, one War. Young motorcycle riders make World War One history come alive

he REV Memorial Ride is a film that offers an educational resource with a difference. Filmed in the style of a road movie, this documentary explores the history of World War One from the saddle of a motorcycle. It follows the journey of Sam McKinven, as she rides in the tyre marks of World War One motorcycle despatch rider Captain William Watson. She explores the battlefields, trenches, towns and memorials of the Western Front of the Great War. It can be difficult to generate interest in the First World War among today’s youth, as many adults and education providers have found. The REV Memorial Ride makes use of the iconic imagery of motorcycling as a vehicle to explore the heritage of the Great War and a tool to raise interest. From the real-life trenches of Sanctuary Hill to the daily Last Post at the Menin Gate, the film 36

offers an insight into the lives and living conditions of soldiers fighting on the front line in a way that will engage the interest of young people and adults. This well made short film provides a concise historical background, without being too detailed, but manages to convey the scale and horror of the conflict. Motorcycles were widely used in the First World War and

bikers seem to have a particular appreciation of the sacrifices made. With some interesting motorbike history and mixing current footage with readings from despatch riders, the film is well balanced and informative. Well worth a watch and hopefully it will inspire youngsters and current riders to follow in their tyre tracks and visit these important historic sites. Kent is fortunate to have a rich heritage in involvement in the First World War. Captain William Watson, who served on the Western Front as a motorcycle despatch rider, wrote one of the earliest travel journals, Adventures of a Despatch Rider, published in 1914. Watson was stationed with the Royal Engineers. Dan Harris, Project Director of Full Throttle UK, says: “Many young people do not see the relevance of the First World War to their lives today. By creating a film in the style of a road movie, and filmed on motorcycles, we hope that we can make history come alive for young people of today.” The project is a partnership between Full Throttle UK, Canterbury College and the Kent Family History Society. It is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Full Throttle UK is a charity that supports children, young people and young adults travelling along the road of life. They use the “the journey of life” metaphor to explore and respond to the complex issues that face young people. These include affordable personal transportation, faith and spiritual direction, and citizenship. (www.fullthrottleuk.org.uk) View the film online at http://bit.ly/rev-ww1

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

REUNITED

Chris Scott reunited with Sahara bike after 33 years A magazine feature about Chris Scott’s recent book (reviewed in SEB 36) led to Herefordshire biker Harry Waymouth joining the dots and realising he owned the adventure-motorcycling author’s first Sahara bike: a ratty ’78 Yamaha XT500. ‘It was actually my old mate Charlie who pointed it out. He bought it off Chris back in 1982 after it staggered back from the desert, then he sold it on to me. We gave it an overhaul and headed for Turkey in 1987. It needed more work on the road including the ally tank Chris had repaired halfway across the Sahara. While the resin cured, a storm blew in overnight and knocked over the tree the XT was leaning against. Luckily the tree fell in the opposite direction!’ Since then the XT has been ‘resting’ but still sports Chris’ original Craven rack, the hand-beaten 20-litre tank, an oversized Citroen oil cooler and Suzuki motocross forks. They got fitted when the back of a London bus caught the XT by surprise one night. ‘That old thumper is as indestructible as the Top

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

Gear Hilux,’ says Chris now. He thinks seeing the XT after 33 years was like meeting up with an old flame. ‘I’ve owned over 50 bikes but the XT is special, it took me on my first real adventure into Africa – you can draw your own ‘girlfriend’ analogies…’ Harry kindly agreed to lend the bike for display at the MCN London Motorcycle Show. The old crate was on the Touratech stand where the likes of Chris, Austin Vince and Nathan Millward were selling their books during the three-day event. Do you have a bike you have been re-united with after many years of separation? Why not tell us your story? Or maybe we can help you track down that first love in SEB…

LOCAL LADS

ROB AND SAM ROUND UP

ROB GUIVER ob Guiver, from Rainham, is an old hand at this bike racing business, having won several British championships over the years. We had a chat with him at Brands, which was the first round of the BSB support series, the Ducati Tri-options cup. Hyside Motorcycles of Romford are again backing Rob. The campaign started brilliantly with Rob holding off Denis Hobbs for a great victory. However the result was overturned when scrutineering picked up on a technical infringement on a front brake disc which had been replaced at the last minute! This meant Rob had to start 8th on the grid in race two, but managed to work his way to 2nd and was looking for the win but yellow flags prevented him overtaking. A positive weekend overall. Oulton Park started wet with Rob coming in a disappointing 13th. An amazing race on the sunday has us shouting at the TV as Rob carved through the field, breaking the lap record four times, and he got up to second before low fuel problems caused Rob to take to the grass. He managed to hold on and finished a creditable third. Watch out for Rob on the #13 Ducati. Follow his progress at www.robguiverracing.com

SAM COX RACING am has been riding bikes since turning 13 back in 2003. After learning the basics on a Honda CB125 (in the carpark at Lee Valley Cycle Park) the next step was a visit to the Ron Haslam Race school at the Donington Circuit for a memorable 40 minutes on the track – again aboard a CB125. The bike bug had truly bitten and Sam pestered his Dad, Graham, to find him a bike of his own.

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Avoiding the then-fashionable ‘mini moto’ bikes, Graham instead found Sam an Aprilia RS 250. Many other bikes and plenty of track days followed, as Sam continued to hone his riding skills. In 2009 he entered the MRO Minitwin Championship in 2009 on a Suzuki 650 Minitwin, marking the beginning of a serious racing career. This season Sam is riding in the Motorpoint BSB Supersport EVO class with a Triumph Daytona supported by Jack Lilley. It has been a steep learning curve with Sam adjusting to the bike and the class, mixing it with some very experienced riders. So far he is on target to meet his aim of a high finish in the Evo class. Sam can be followed at www.samcoxracing.com. His main sponsors are Royal Oak Contracts of London and Jack Lilley Motorcycles. June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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The adventure starts in store

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39 13/03/2015 10:12

BOOK REVIEW

One Man on a Bike BY RICHARD GEORGIOU

trip from East Sussex to the Sahara seems a pretty good idea until you realise Richard is riding it in mid summer…in leathers. Now Sussex can be quite warm at that time of year, but the Sahara? Positively suicidal! With the incentive of some friends’ sponsorship for the British Epilepsy Association for the ride, Richard was committed and One Man on a Bike charts his journey there and back. At less than 140 pages it’s not the most in depth piece of motorcycle travel writing I have read. However it is entertaining and gives quite an insight into how dramatically different life is once you have crossed the small stretch of water that separates Europe from Africa. Not only is the climate, landscape and culture worlds apart but you lose that psychological safety net we have whilst inside our Western European borders. Richard nicely captures the feel and incredible heat of the Sahara desert as he heads into Morocco. Thousands of tourists travel to these areas today, but the vast majority are on organised package holidays, with pretty much all of the adventure aspects removed. You are always vulnerable on a bike, but even more so when alone, on unfamiliar roads with no accommodation to rely on each day. So, fair play to anyone like Richard who does what many dream of. One Man, on your bike, and on the road. It’s a good read just a shame there aren’t photos in the book. However there are plenty to illustrate the 40

trip on www.onemanonabike.com. One Man on a Bike can be bought from Amazon for £7.99 and there is also a Kindle version. If you would like to win a copy…email nick@southeastbiker.co.uk and we will send a copy to one lucky reader. Closing date 31-07-15.

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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TRUE HEROES

Keeping British Forces rehab on track “True Heroes Racing” is the brain child of a serving Royal Navy sailor who has been lucky enough to return from several Tours of Duty in Afghanistan uninjured. After working with a large number of injured UK Service personnel on motorsport charity events it was decided to try and use competitive motorsport as a way of restoring a sense of direction and focus for our injured UK Service personnel and in 2012 “True Heroes Racing” was formed”.

ne thing will always be apparent to anyone who has met an injured UK Service person and that is the medical support and assistance they receive from the point of injury is second to none, and the positive mental attitude and focus on recovery and medical rehabilitation that they have is phenomenal. Unfortunately, due to the nature and severity of the injuries many of these individuals have suffered, a career in the military is no longer an option once they reach the end of their medical rehabilitation. It is at this point of their recovery that a loss of direction and a realisation of the severity of their situation really hits home. What the project aims to do is to be able to use the world of motorsport to firstly prove to these individuals and the wider community that they can compete on a level playing field with their able bodied counterparts within the fast, often frenetic and pressurised environment of top level motorsport. An environment with pressures and timelines not unlike their military deployments, yet an environment that most Service personnel have little or no involvement with even before they suffer their injuries. Secondly, to use all aspects of motorsport to provide exposure and experience as well as, hopefully in time, retraining and qualification opportunities for members of the 42

project, which could potentially help them decide on future career options outside of the military. But most importantly, to give all injured members of the project a new sense of purpose and a focus for them to set and achieve new goals. A motorcycle race team was formed in 2012 consisting, as far as practically possible, of injured Service personnel. The team was formed around rider, LCPL Murray Hambro. Murray unfortunately lost both his legs below the knee in an explosion, but is able to ride a motorcycle with artificial legs. True Heroes Racing is not all about the rider though; the whole team ethos is just as important. Murray was supported technically by other injured Servicemen, who also had severe life changing injuries. After a short season learning the ropes at a Club level, True Heroes Racing broke new ground and became the UK’s first injured Serviceman’s motorcycle race team to compete on the National stage, when they took Murray

Hambro to the world renowned British Superbike Championships to compete in the 2013 Triumph Triple Challenge. After the huge success of 2013, and with additional support and sponsorship, the team were able to grow and for 2014 ran a second injured rider, Cpl Luke Smith, alongside Murray. Both riders were again supported by other injured UK Service personnel in the Triumph Triple Challenge at the British Superbike Championships. For 2015 True Heroes Racing is again growing, involving more injured UK Service personnel and increasing their footprint within the British Superbike Championships. For 2015 the team has switched from Triumph Daytonas to Ducati 899 Panigales and is fielding a 3 rider team in the Ducati Tri Options Cup, with the addition of ex Soldier Dave Mackay alongside Murray and Luke. Why not show your support? Follow True Heroes Racing on FaceBook and Twitter. www.TrueHeroesRacing.co.uk

June-July 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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