South East Biker, Issue 40, August-September 2015

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

tember 2015 Issue 40: August-Sep

HOGHTON OTO-WARD M TOWER SPRINT ADVENTURE

0 7 T A Y A D E V E D I R A MONSTER ORTS P S • S T N E V E • URES REVIEWS • FEAT www.southeastbiker.co.uk Join us:

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STARTING GRID After motorbike trips to

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

Wales and across Europe this summer, it can be a bit of an anti-climax riding around the south east. We have plenty of beautiful and varied countryside, unfortunately the terrible state of the overcrowded roads and ignorant

CONTENTS 4 KTM 390 Duke 5 A Monster Ride 6 Kawasaki Versys 650 8 Young Guns on the Road 10 Nolan N64 Gemini 12 Taking a Bonneville back to Bonneville 14 What’s it worth?

20 Win a Beckham Bonneville 24 TXC X Street Ladies’ Boots 26 Moto-Ward an Adventure in Store 28 So, you want to ride Enduro?

31 Spray and Peel 32 VE Day at 70 36 The Essential Buyer’s Guide 38 Hoghton Tower Sprint

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: Steve Walton at Hoghton Tower Sprint © Photography by Susan Rigby at www.SK-Art.co.uk

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

attitude of many drivers can spoil a ride out. I think a lot of this is down to the stress of trying to travel anywhere in the region by four wheels and seeing others enjoying their bikes, filtering past jams and parking with ease. This seems to annoy many motorists. However, this makes biking all the more fun, not being stuck in traffic, particularly on a lovely day and arriving at work with a smile on your face.

The other advantage is, if you can cope with the South East’s roads and traffic, travelling further afield is a real pleasure.

In this issue, we review some of the latest excellent bikes by Ducati, KTM and Kawasaki. Manufacturers have really started to address the issues of attracting younger and female riders with lighter and more adaptable machines. We check out some of the latest kit, again an area that has come on leaps and bounds in recent years.

There is a test on an interesting new paint product, we also review some useful bike buyers’ guides and try out a snazzy helmet from Nolan.

We take a trip to Moto-Ward in West Sussex to give you a taste you of their special customer service.

I hope you enjoy it!

All the best Nick 3

SEB BIKE REVIEW: KTM 390 DUKE

KTM 390 Duke

D

ucati and KTM dealers Hyside of Romford let us loose in the Essex countryside on a couple of their naked beasts. I plumped for the little KTM, a cracking looking bike that, to my old eyes, I imagine would appeal to those a couple of decades younger who were after their first motorbike.

KTM’s Japanese rivals have gone for the more traditional sporty look with the Ninja 300, Yamaha YZF-R3, Suzuki Inazuma 250F and Honda CBR300R all in the hunt for new riders. They also offer fairly conservatively styled naked versions. KTM offer the sporty faired RC390, however they have taken the 690 and 1290 Superduke’s distinctive looks and scaled them down to provide a smaller motorbike that genuinely stands out, with 4

Attracting new riders, particularly youngsters, is vital for the future of the motorcycle industry. With the complicated licencing process now in place, A2 compatible machines are particularly prolific. I take out the KTM 390 Duke, a machine squarely aimed at this market and age group… a more aggressive, supermoto attitude. You could see more heads than usual turn as we made our way through the busy streets of Romford out towards the countryside.

So, not only is the KTM small engine wise, but with a narrow seat at only 800mm high, it’s certainly not an intimidating piece of equipment. Pulling away requires a good dose of throttle and you need to shift up to 2nd pretty smartly to keep the engine buzzing. The 44bhp single swiftly gets the 139kg motorbike moving and it’s no problem reaching 80mph and holding it there without the common vibrations that small singles can sometimes supply at speed. Apparently this is due to a counterbalancer and the rubber covered footpegs help as well. Between 6500rpm and

7500rpm the Duke has a pleasing step up in power, which makes overtakes a doddle. Top speed is reckoned to be over 100mph but I found much over 85mph was pushing it a bit. The clutch is slightly on the stiffer side, as is the ride as a whole but the six speed gearbox works well. It comes with an anti-hopping slipper style clutch, unusual on a bike of this level. The WP suspension does an excellent job, combined with ABS assisted, single front disc brakes.

The KTM is light, nimble, nippy and great fun to ride. If I was 19 and this was my first bike, I would be grinning like a Cheshire cat every time I pushed the starter button. There were a couple of niggles though. I didn’t find it particularly comfortable after half an hour’s riding. The combination of hard, thin seat and relatively

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

SEB BIKE REVIEW: DUCATI MONSTER 821 high pegs had me stretching the old legs as I was riding. However, me being used to more plush adventure styled bikes, and with my well past teenage limbs, that’s not particularly surprising. I also found I had to physically move my head to look down and check the instrument panel, which is not the bike’s greatest feature either.

This is a motorbike that is perfect for a lively commute and certainly for summer and weekend blasts.

A lot of fun can be had from a lightweight single when ridden enthusiastically. With a 12 litre tank and decent fuel economy, this should give plenty of range if you are travelling further afield as well. The engine, gearbox, brakes and suspension all work really well as a package. When combined with striking looks and a very reasonable price tag of £4,499, it is well worth a test ride if you are after a bike in this range.

Have a chat with Hyside Motorcycles on 01708 706677 or have a look at www. hysidemotorcycles.co.uk USEFUL INFO

KTM 390 DUKE

Engine size.................................... 373cc Engine type.......................Four-stroke,

liquid-cooled DOHC, 4v single Frame type...................... Tubular steel Fuel capacity............................ 11 litres Seat height................................800mm Bike weight...................................139kg Front suspension................WP 43mm

inverted forks, non-adjustable Rear suspension..........WP rear shock,

adjustable spring preload Front brake................ 1x300mm discs.

Four-piston radial caliper. ABS Rear brake.................... 1x220mm disc,

single-piston caliper. ABS Front tyre size.................. 110/70ZR17 Rear tyre size.................... 150/60ZR17 Max power.................................. 44 bhp Max torque.................................26 ft-lb Top speed................................105 mph Average fuel consumption....55 mpg Tank range............................. 130 miles

A Monster Ride

The new 821 monster was offered to me to test ride

by Hyside Motorcycles at Romford, Essex. I have never ridden a Ducati before but have friends that are besotted with theirs so it was interesting for me to see what the appeal really is…Debbie Tunstill tries one out

Y

ou can see the styling of the new monster straight away, typically Italian with every nut and bolt thought about in the design, it is a beautiful bike to look at but what was it like to ride? I had no problems with swinging my leg over the bike and Simon from Hyside showed me the different settings for the different modes to ride it on. The electronic dash lights up like a fighter jet, the speedometer glows in blue.

Then you decide whether you want Sport, Touring or Urban mode.

The 821 Monster was launched last year after its bigger brother, the 1200, had been a success. Start the bike up and the sound is amazing, it really is a monster roar. I set off down the road, people turned to look at what was making such a loud noise. We stopped at the lights and, as the lights changed, I was a little quick off the clutch and up the front went.

Hardly anyone noticed so I got away with that one, but this bike is a bit of a hooligan, of course if you change the riding mode that does change the temperament. Back in Urban it is a bit more sedate and so more comfortable. The Monster is perfect for commuting during the week on Urban mode then change to Sport mode for the weekend and, for long journeys, Touring is the mode for you. I have not ridden the 1200 version yet, but can imagine if it is like its brother, just with the bigger engine, it would be a beast let alone a monster.

Ducati have given this bike a bold design, but kept in mind the ride should be a pleasure. The Monster is an iconic bike, and when other manufacturers were bringing out naked commuter bikes that do the job, Ducati thought “let’s make it look good too”. It has fully adjustable suspension and is great for the shorter leg, I could imagine someone tall may feel a little cramped on it.

I enjoyed riding the Monster 821 Stripe and Ducati now have a range that could suit all tastes and budgets from the new Scrambler to the brand new 1299 Panigale. The Monster 821 Stripe retails at £9,495. Yes, it is not the cheapest on the market but let’s face it, you don’t just buy a Ducati because the price is right, it is about the culture, styling and the name that comes with it!

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

5

SEB BIKE REVIEW: KAWASAKI VERSYS 650

Kawasaki Versys 650 A couple of years ago I reviewed the Versys 1000, a great bike and a good option if you are looking at a large adventure bike. So would its smaller brother just be an underpowered version? I took one for a spin courtesy of JW Groombridge…

I

must admit I was expecting a bit of a gutless version of the big brother but from pulling away from the car park onwards I was quickly converted to the nimble parallel twin. There’s nothing intimidating about the Kawasaki, the ride height and position are both reassuring and comfortable.

From the outset I was really impressed with the engine and overall handling of the Versys. It’s actually great fun to ride with a superb throttle response and well set up suspension and brakes. The latest version of the engine has an extra 5bhp and this makes it that bit more perky.

Overtaking and filtering were done with ease and confidence 6

even though I had only just jumped on the machine. It fairs well against Honda’s CB500 range, another set of mid-sized bikes that are actually a joy to ride. Whilst certainly not aimed at the off-roader, I can see no reason why the Versys 650 won’t cope with urban work, motorways, B roads and even the odd gravel track excursion with ease.

Overall, I was mightily impressed.

Sometimes, when you don’t expect much from a motorbike, it turns up trumps and surprises you.

This was certainly the case with the Kawasaki. Personally, I would take the 650 over the 1000 unless I was looking at large distance 2 up touring. It is a machine that would give a new rider an immense amount of pleasure and

experienced bikers plenty of grins and loyal service. Well worth a test ride in my opinion.

The version I rode was the Grand Tourer, which comes with hand guards, top box, fog lights, gear indicator and power socket. All of these items are extremely useful on a bike that will be used mainly as a commuter and one up tourer.

It looks pretty sharp, maybe not a head turner but certainly great effort has gone into making the bike look up to date. The build standard looks very good and the quality of components is top notch for what you will pay. Prices are £6,749, Tourer £7,249, Grand Tourer £7,999 Thanks to JW Groombridge for the loan of the bike.

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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SEB BIKE REVIEW: KAWASAKI Z300

Young Guns on the Road The Kawasaki Z300 is the latest addition to the Z Series.

Debbie test rode the Z800 and was quite impressed with the bike. Now Kawasaki have launched a new model based on its bigger brother with its aggressive Supernaked design. Its bodywork gives a bigger bike look and ensures that the Z300 stands out from the crowd...

A

t last the manufacturers are thinking about the small engine bikes, whether it is to bring younger riders in or for someone looking for a small run around. For a long time there was not much choice, but now with the Z250 and Z300 from Kawasaki there really is a good range to choose from.

Of course it will never win a race against a sports bike, but these lightweight machines have other advantages. Nick and I met up with the East Sussex IAM group near Hailsham where they had 8

a plethora of bikes from J. W. Groombridge which were available to test ride. I rode out on the Z300 in the one slot that was available as it was a popular choice.

Pulling away the sound is great, as it does not sound like a small bike but it has the throaty roar of a bigger machine. I enjoyed riding the Z800 and this did not disappoint. It handles like a dream and as long as you use the gears to help you, overtaking is achievable, but one car at a time.

Filtering was so easy as it is narrow and light, the bike makes easy

work of nipping through traffic. It has ABS as standard and is a four stroke parallel twin. The Z300 has a number of accessories, one that probably you may like to consider is the Akrapovic can which you can add at the time of purchase.

At ÂŁ4,349.00 the Z300 would be a fun and economical choice so why not take it for a test ride and see what you think? Thanks to J.W. Groombridge.

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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HELMET REVIEW

Nolan N64 Gemini

N64 is Nolan’s full-face helmet, designed for road use, with race graphics giving it a sporty touch. The sporty design and its competitive price makes it a good choice.

The fully removable and washable fabric liner is particularly comfortable and well designed, so how did I rate it?

Debbie Tunstill tries it on…

I

get a lot of ribbing from my friends, and Nick, about how many different helmets I have but, as I said before, you can never have too many! Let’s face it, you need one to match your kit, but also the bike you’re riding.

Nolan helmets were made more famous internationally by Casey Stoner, but they never appealed to me until now. After a trip to Inta Motorcycles in Maidstone, Steve O’ (real name Luke) showed me the Nolan N64 Gemini helmet that was reduced in price to £150. It called out to me because the Chaz Davis design is so loud, just like me, so was it the perfect fit?

It is really difficult to get the right helmet, as you can’t tell how quiet they are until you have taken it out on the bike, and once you 10

have done that it is hard to take a helmet back. Now, there are plenty of helmets out there with great designs but this one is quite lightweight too, only 1370g and that is lighter than my Shark Vision R. The design is bright and does stand out, so I have been told. The Nolan N64 has a small shell so it gives you room to turn your head even when you have on bulky winter clothing.

The padding is so soft you can hardly feel it but it does make you look a little hamster-like. I like the balance of it, as it feels as if you are not wearing it, and the visor locks in place nicely. I had bought it without the Pinlock insert and this was a mistake as, when it was raining, it kept steaming up. After getting the Pinlock fitted, it was perfect, no steaming up.

The vents allow the air to flow into the helmet, which keeps

your head cool on warmer days.

Closing the vents, you can really notice the difference which I did as my hay fever kicked in on the way to Birling Gap one day. After a sneezing fit, I closed the vents and it seemed to help. All the lining is removable and washable, so maintenance is easy.

I was surprised that I liked this helmet so much, my neck felt great having the lighter weight and small shell. I was struck by how much quieter it was compared to my other helmets. It is not their top of the range helmet and for the smaller wallets this makes a great option. I know it is last year’s Chaz Davies design, but that doesn’t bother me. I noticed that Helmet City has this design reduced also to an amazing £149.99, so why not try it on and see what you think.

It has shown me that I should not be so dismissive of other brands and to try new ones out. We all get stuck in our ways and this really has shown me that, yes I went for design first but it worked out for the best and I now have a favourite helmet!!

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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SPEED RECORD

Taking A Bonneville BACK to Bonneville

A dear friend to many, Mike Page, AKA MikeyMan, sadly died in 2010 aged just 44 years old. During his wake, a group of his good friends hatched a plan to rebuild his old Triumph Bonneville in his honour and memory…

M

ike had owned the Bonneville for about 18 years and it spent many of those years in various parts and pieces around his front room, with him forever plotting and planning how to get it back on the road! It became such a long standing joke with his friends and family, rebuilding it seemed like a great way to remember Mike.

Not only did his friends rebuild the Bonneville, they also took it to Utah and raced on the Salt Flats in August 2012, thanks to the massive snowball effect their memorial had started. From a small acorn in his memory — to a record breaking attempt in the States!

Team Page was filmed as they prepared for and participated in Bonneville Race Week and the documentary followed Team Page on their mission to rebuild the Bonneville both on a tight budget an in a tight timescale.

Since the airing of the documentary in January 2013, called ‘Speed Dreams — the fastest place on 12

Earth’, the team gained even more support — with everyone talking about how touching it was to see what Team Page had done.

Those that followed Team Page on the documentary will know that their record breaking attempt was unsuccessful, and thus Bonneville 2015 was marked in the calendar for the next trip to the Salt Flats.

Team Page were in the final stages of rebuilding the Triumph and have worked tirelessly to meet the crate deadline for shipping it off to America in time for this year’s Speed Week event.

The Team held a fundraising event on Saturday 6th June, just prior to crate date, to give supporters and well-wishers the opportunity to take a final look at the Mike Page Special before it heads off across the Ocean.

The event was held at Broadlakes Social Club.

For more information or to join the support, visit www.teampage.co.uk, follow on Twitter @ teampage69, or join their Facebook page ‘Team Page go to Bonneville’ - http://www.facebook. com/#!/groups/Teampage69/ where full details of the event and the project can be found.

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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LEGAL

WHAT’S IT WORTH? Nobody wants to be involved in a crash, whether it be a minor knock or a major ‘off’, but as motorcyclists it is a risk we face everyday and, let’s be fair, we accept that risk as part of the lifestyle and our love of bikes. Tony Carter provides some tips…

I

n a previous article, I gave advice on things that you can do to make life easier for you and your legal team wherever possible immediately after the crash, but once the dust settles, the next question that crops up on a regular basis is “How much is my claim likely to be worth?”

One of the important things to bear in mind is that in personal injury claims, there is what is called the ‘limitation’. What this means is that there is a specific time-frame in which court proceedings must be issued against a defendant, otherwise your claim becomes time-barred and is prevented from continuing. Limitation in personal injury cases is generally 3 years from the date of the accident or injury. However, there are cases where you may not realise that you have suffered a significant injury or that you may have a claim until later; in such cases, limitation may run from what is know as your ‘date of knowledge’ (the date on which you knew or ought to have known that you had suffered a significant injury due to the defendant). An exception to the general rule is in the case of children where the 3-year period does not start to run until their 18th birthday, i.e. when they become adult. Another exception is for people who do not have the capacity to conduct their own affairs, e.g. people who have suffered a severe brain injury; in such cases, there is, effectively, no limitation period. Having said all that, it is also fair to say that the majority of cases are settled without

14

the need ever to issue proceedings or to see the inside of a court room.

One very important point to make at the outset is that the system of compensation in this country is designed to put the person in the position that they would have been in had they not had the accident, i.e. to compensate for losses arising from it, not to provide any bonus or windfall for the injured party or, generally, speaking, to punish the wrongdoer.

When it comes to compensation (or ‘damages’) in a personal injury claim, there are 2 elements to consider: GENERAL DAMAGES The first part is called ‘General Damages’: this is the part of the claim that deals with the injuries sustained and includes payment for the actual pain and suffering, as well as any inability to lead your normal life as a result of the injuries.

The compensation ‘value’ of an injury is determined by the courts according to how serious it is, i.e. whether it is minor, moderate or severe. So, for example, severe bruising would be classed as fairly minor, whereas a brain injury or paraplegia falls into the most severe category of catastrophic injuries.

When I speak to groups and clubs, one of the questions I always ask out of interest is how much they think a catastrophic injury such as a severe brain injury is worth. The answers range from half a million August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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LEGAL pounds to several million; the truth might be more surprising.

Unlike countries like the USA where multi-milliondollar awards just for the injuries are commonplace, here in the UK the maximum someone can be awarded for a severe brain injury or tetraplegia (i.e. paralysed from the neck down) is a little over £325,000, which on the face of it does not seem very much for a life-changing injury caused by someone else’s negligence.

At the opposite end of the scale, a minor injury such as cuts and bruises may be worth less than £1,000, but this would be dependent on issues such as any continuing problems or if the injuries prevented you from carrying on with your life normally.

Generally speaking, if you suffer several different injuries, you do not simply get a payment for the value of each distinct injury. The total figure is usually discounted to allow for the fact that there is overlap between the pain from the injuries and the way they prevent you from leading your normal life.

If you read any of the motorcycle forums, quite a common question asked is “I received such and such an injury, how much is it worth?” Everyone and his mate will offer a value, and if you speak to 10 riders who all sustained the same or similar injuries and claimed compensation, the figures awarded will often vary considerably. This is because every case has to be judged on its own individual merits and the way a similar injury affects people will also vary, as will the time it takes for them to recover and there may also be a situation where a degree of contributory negligence has to be taken into account and so it is impossible to put an exact figure on a specific injury; this is where your solicitors’ knowledge and skills come to the fore.

Additionally, no two people have the same personal circumstances, e.g. one person may have lost a lot of pay as a result of the accident compared with another, and this also has a bearing, so nobody can provide specific figures without having all the facts of the individual case.

SPECIAL DAMAGES & FUTURE LOSSES The second element of the claim is called ‘Special Damages’: this is where the high values in the serious cases that you often hear about come into play.

Broadly, Special Damages covers all the quantifiable, financial losses that the injured person has suffered, or is likely to suffer as a result of the crash and the injuries that were sustained.

16

The list of what can be claimed for is not really restricted, providing it is justified and can be substantiated and results from the defendant’s negligence. In minor cases, the most obvious elements of the special damages claim are things like out-of-pocket expenses, so for example, travelling costs, if you have to make visits to the hospital or to see your doctor; car parking costs; prescription costs; the cost of replacing damaged, personal items, such as clothing, crash helmets and the like.

Then there are less obvious things: for example, if you walk the dog every evening for an hour and as a result of your injuries you can no longer perform this task, then you could pay someone to walk your dog for you and this would be a claimable expense.

Maybe you cannot keep your garden in order and you need to pay for someone to come in and look after it for you during your incapacity, or maybe you just need someone to go and do your weekly grocery shop for you; this can all be claimed back.

One of my colleagues recently argued successfully that one of his clients, prior to his accident, travelled long haul for business and holidays. His injuries were such that he could no longer fly in economy class because of the discomfort and the possibility of developing a deep vein thrombosis and so he included in his schedule of loss 2 business-class long-haul flights (the amount being the difference between an economy class ticket and business class ticket) a year, as there was substantially more legroom in business class; therefore, it reduced the possibility of a serious problem occurring. The defendants accepted this argument and agreed to the claim.

What I always advise people is, wherever possible, keep a diary and enter all your various costs into the diary and also to keep any relevant receipts, invoices, etc. you have. The defendant insurers will often try and question or ask you to mitigate these expenses, but if you have it all in a diary with what you paid for and why, together with any receipts you have managed to keep, then it makes it much more difficult for the defendant to contest that element of the claim.

In the very serious cases, such as a severe brain injury or tetraplegia, then this is where the costs can go soaring. For example, the person might need 24-hour, around-the-clock medical care; they may need to have their home adapted; or they may need to have a specially-adapted vehicle, which in turn will need to be replaced every few years.

Then there is the loss of earnings. Someone badly August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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17

LEGAL injured in, say, their early 30’s in a high-paid job, who was expected to progress in their career, is going to suffer severe financial losses and so this loss is carefully calculated by the experts and lawyers. This may also take into account any resulting pension loss as well.

If the injured person has young children and he or she is unable to work, then the children’s future educational needs also have to be considered, especially if they may be considering going to university later.

So, the list really is not definitive as to what can be claimed but, in the same vein, these losses have to be mitigated where possible. A good example of this is bike hire: if you are badly injured and therefore unable to ride, then a claims management firm hiring you a motorcycle is likely to be contested on the grounds that they are being asked to pay for something that was not cost-effective on the grounds that you were unable to ride it during your period of incapacity. If however it was for say an MPV on the basis that you were able to get into it easily and it allowed you to retain a degree of independence, even with someone else driving, then you have mitigated and justified the costs.

Likewise, if you are driving a 20-year-old banger of a car and then hire a Ferrari whilst your car is being repaired, the other side are going to challenge that part of the claim on the basis that it was not a like for like, whereas if you hired a cheap-but-decent car as a means of maintaining your independence whilst your vehicle is being sorted, it becomes a much more difficult expense to challenge.

HOW LONG WILL MY CLAIM TAKE TO SETTLE? This is another question that is difficult to answer as again, no two cases are ever the same. Many of the high-volume non-specialist law and claimsmanagement firms will make promises of a fast settlement which can lead to a number of issues.

Firstly, if the claim is settled before you have fully recovered and you sign a full-and-final settlement, and then you find that your problems persist, then you will not be able to re-open the case, leaving only one option which is to sue your legal representative for professional negligence.

But in any case, if your case is settled too quickly, then there is a fair chance that your claim will have been undervalued for a quick settlement which could leave you well out of pocket.

That said, there are some minor injuries that do heal quickly and have no lasting knock-on effect, but as a 18

general rule, the approximate settlement times can be broken into three time periods: Minor Injuries: 12-18 months Moderate Injuries: 18-36 months Serious and/or Catastrophic Injuries: 3 years + In the case of a brain injury, you are looking at a potential claim period of 5 years or more, as it takes a number of years before the doctors can determine the true severity of the injury and its long-term effects. Once the injury has stabilised and the likely capability of the individual can be established, then an accurate value can start to be calculated for the appropriate amount of compensation.

WHO DECIDES HOW SERIOUS THE INJURY IS? From a practical point of view, most of us will know whether an injury is minor or serious, but from a legal point of view, in order to claim compensation, then it needs a properly-qualified, independent, medical expert to make that determination.

In most cases, the claimant at some stage during the claims process (often once they have made a recovery or are well on the road to recovery) will be asked to attend a medical examination with a qualified medical expert who will discuss with the claimant the crash and the injuries, as well as any on-going issues. The expert will then submit a written report on their findings and it is this report that helps your solicitor value the case.

In the case of a severe or catastrophic injury, then the medical assessments will be on-going from an early stage in the claims process and may well involve a number of specialist medical experts from a range of specialist fields. This is because you have to have an expert from the correct medical field to assess each type of injury, e.g. if you have broken your leg, you will need an orthopaedic expert, but if you have suffered a brain injury you will need a neurologist, amongst others.

The bottom line is that the only person who can reliably provide you with a figure as to the value is your solicitor or legal representative. If your claim is handled properly, then there is no quick settlement solution, but if you have the right people looking after you, then in the long term your case should realise its full and proper value.

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 August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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any people assumed that the bikes they rode were Triumph’s latest Scrambler model; and that was because, like the Scrambler, those bikes wore a high-level, off road, Arrow exhaust. But, in fact, the starting point was nothing other than a humble Bonneville.

Motolegends acquired their donor bike, a 2001 model, from a local ex-policeman. Even though it was over 10 years old, it had been meticulously looked after, and so presented an excellent starting point for 20

Motolegends, the Guildford based retro clothing specialist, has recently created a replica of the customised Triumph Bonnevilles that David Beckham and his pals rode up the Amazon last year. The bike is going to be given away at the NEC later this year, in a free prize draw…

the project. The build was actually incredibly simple, and although the end result is quite dramatic, the work is well within the scope of any budding ,‘bike-shed’ mechanic.

Part one was the strip-down. Off came the mudguards, the indicators, the rear grab rail, the exhaust, and so on. What was left was treated to a matt black paint job that included the wheels, fuel tank, engine casing, cylinder head and, handlebars on.

The wheels were re-shod with Metzler Karoo 3s as per August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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21 10/07/2015 16:49

BECKHAM BONNEVILLE

the original bike; rubber fork gaiters were added, the seat was re-trimmed, and a new rear mudguard and number plate holder was fabricated.

The pièce de résistance, and the most expensive single part on the bike, was the Arrow exhaust. But it only comes in a metal finish, so it was sent off for a black ceramic coating. A bracket was fabricated, to allow it to hang correctly off the side of the bike.

Final touches involved moving the rear brake master cylinder to a new location, as the rear brake positioning couldn’t have been at all convenient on the original bikes.

Discrete indicators were then fitted front and back. On the Amazon bikes there were no rear indicators; just front ones. The end result is a bike that somehow seems more than the sum of its parts. There are hugely complicated and intricate builds out there that sometimes fail to hit the spot. This bike is simplicity itself, yet has an undeniable wow factor to it.

With the baffle removed, the bike sounds far better than a Bonneville has any right to. Being lighter than the original, it handles well, and the Metzeler tyres give a purposeful look, without any real detrimental effect as far as rideabilty and comfort are concerned.

The bike was built by Phil and Graham at FCL in Cranleigh.

Including the original bike, parts, paint labour and so on, the build came in at around £10k, although some specialists are demanding £16,000 or more for similar replicas.

It’s got to be said that, close as the bike is to Beckham’s, it’s not a slavish reproduction. But it’s certainly not far off!

The only part that proved totally elusive was the small, under-handlebar mirror that the Amazon bikes sported. If anyone knows where it’s from, Motolegends would like to know!

Beckham fan or not, there’s no denying that the bike has an ineffably cool, laid back vibe to it.

And all it takes, if you want the chance to lock it away in your shed, is for you to give your name and address to Motolegends. To enter the competition, just follow http://bit. ly/beckham-bonneville The bike will be given away at the end of the NEC show this November.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN BECKHAM SCRAMBLER IN 10 EASY STEPS 1. Download multiple images of the bike from the internet. Or visit the National Motorcycle Museum to see one of the actual bikes.

2. Starting point is any modern era Triumph Bonneville.

3. Remove mudguards, rear grab rail and indicators.

4. Paint all metal black, including engine casing, spoked wheels, tank and handlebars.

If it glistens, paint it.

22

5. Fit Metzler karoo3 tyres front and back.

6. Get seat re-trimmed in brown with black piping. 13 panels, front to back.

7. Fit Arrow Scrambler exhaust. Ceramic coat in black. Fabricate hanger. Remove baffle!

8. Fit new mini indicators front and back.

9. Fabricate rear number pate holder, to double as minimalist rear mudguard.

10. If it doesn’t all go back together, take it to Phil and Graham at FCL in Cranleigh!

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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

23 15/01/2015 09:40

PRODUCT REVIEW

TCX X-STREET LADY BOOTS

Debbie Tunstill tries out some alternative summer biking footwear…

I

have two pairs of the TCX Lillly boot but they are not great in really warm weather as they can make you very hot, so I got a pair of the TCX X-Street Boots. They are priced at £109.99 so not the cheapest of boots you can buy, but they fit my feet perfectly. I wanted more of a shoe so when walking around or riding in the summer I can feel much cooler.

At first it feels a bit weird to be riding without my normal boots on but on a really warm day it was a nice change to have a bit of air flowing around my ankles.

Even in the rain the X-Street seem to be water resistant, but I must admit I haven’t tried them in a long period of heavy rain. The colour I chose is a dark grey but you can have them in light grey or black. They do take some wearing in as with most bike boots. As they are breathable you don’t get too hot but they do stretch a little and become so comfy. It was interesting riding in them for the first few times out, but once they are broken in they are great. I wore them from 9am to 8pm walking around Goodwood Festival of Speed and had no problems.

TCX launched these boots back in 2012, the X-Street Lady boots from TCX are a stylish but practical motorcycle sneaker, available for both women and men.

The X-Street is a versatile shoe that will not look out of 24

place off your motorcycle, however they are comfortable when on a bike too. Thanks to TCX’s development work, the X-Street has gained full CE Certification and boast safety features such as ankle, heel and toe reinforcements.

TCX say “the shape of the TCX Lady range has been designed to perfectly fit the female foot, which is structurally different from the male foot, especially the metatarsal area, where it is thinner with a more accentuated instep area and a generally smaller heel. The Comfort Fit System, developed as a result of years of TCX® knowhow, has always been one of the strong points of touring products. This special and virtually entirely manual technique allows the boot to be shaped on a “mould” that faithfully reproduces the anatomy of the foot, making the product exceptionally comfortable and ideal for prolonged use in different situations.”

They are priced at £109.99 from Helmet City, Tatsfield, GetGeared or Groombridge Motorcycles, near Heathfield.

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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RETAILER FOCUS

Moto-Ward: an Adventure in Store

Deep in the lovely West Sussex countryside, in the small village of Rudgwick, you can find off road specialists Moto-Ward. It’s a great ride out from anywhere in the SEB area and you will always receive a warm welcome. We took a trip over to find out what makes them tick...

M

artin, the owner, kindly showed us around and explained how they started and why they are different.

He said, “Moving to the wilds of the Sussex countryside was always going to be a risk, a calculatable risk but a risk nonetheless.”

Moto-Ward started business in June 1993 from a small premises in fashionable commuter Surbiton.

The country was in the grip of a recession and bike sales were flagging but as Martin Ward the MD recalls, they had a start up advantage that was to ensure a flow of customers seeking out the business from Day 1.

“My father retired from the business that he built up over 28 years called Meeten & Ward, based in Ewell near Epsom. I was only five when he started and things were a lot different then. When he retired I bought the stock and re located to Surbiton as the lease at the old shop was up for renewal and they had advised us that they were going to double the rent, making it a non viable position.

26

“We didn’t really want to leave but they gave us no choice and the old shop stayed empty for five years after that. We closed the old shop on Saturday night and moved everything the five miles to the new shop over the weekend and were ready to open Tuesday morning, it was a logistical nightmare as the shape and size of the new shop being older and more quirky did not make it easy to fit racking.

However the business was up and running and, over the next 10 years, grew using up the various rooms, lock ups and cellars as they became available.

“Then a chance flip through the property section in the Times newspaper revealed a larger premises in Rudgwick, West Sussex up for sale with two apartments above. The decision was made to move and 12 years on the company is still trading from the building that is nicely located with parking and easy links to the coast and to London. We still attract some of our old customers from Surbiton who travel because they appreciate our honest, down to earth, friendly service and our extensive

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

RETAILER FOCUS stock of parts and accessories held in our bright airy showroom. Plus of course all the new customers who come up from the coast, Kent and Berkshire to visit and buy products.

“The last few years have been hard on all motorcycle businesses and the rise of the internet as a shopping avenue hasn’t helped the shops come out of recession as quickly as previously.

The nature of the bike business means that it’s not all about price, it’s about getting the right parts when you need them and then the advice and knowledge required to fit. It’s about friendship and understanding, of the sport and its many variations, of biking in general and that whole experience of

undertaking a hobby you love with like minded people behind the counter that you can share that with, from the youngest starter to the oldest rider.

“Moto-Ward specialises in Yamaha, new and old, off road and on road . We have a large stock of spares off the shelf and normally factory sourced parts are just 48 hours away. We also carry service and accessory items for the other Japanese brands and KTM. We run a comprehensive workshop service, dealing with everything from engine rebuilds, suspension service and wheels.

“We also run a team of lads riding in local motocross and enduro events all in the Moto-Ward livery”.

The adventure starts in store

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TO P N A M E S I N C LOT H I N G A N D PA RT S • W O R L D W I D E D E L I V E RY Motoward HP 0315.indd August-September 20151 • South East Biker Magazine

13/03/2015 10:12 27

RETAILER FOCUS

So, you want to ride Enduro?

With pressure on green lane riding, more and more people are turning to Enduro to satisfy their need for off road adrenalin, but what is an Enduro and how do you get involved to ride one? Martin Ward points us in the right direction…

T

In order to compete you need to be a member of here are two main versions of the one of these clubs and hold an ACU competition Enduro format, Time card and Hare and licence, both of which are normally taken out at the Hounds. Primarily a Time card Enduro is beginning of the year and run to December 31st. an endurance event held normally on a closed For someone who just wants to course without roads where try out they can take out a day the rider has to complete licence and membership. a number of timed checks.

There are various classes from Riders are set off normally in Sportsman to Championship pairs at minute intervals and catering for all abilities and given a time to travel from all are welcome For enduro the start to a checkpoint competition the minimum age is where if they arrive after 15 and providing you are healthy their allotted time they are there is no maximum age. penalised 60 points per Courses can vary from 3-12 minute late. If they arrive miles normally in the south early they cannot pass the east and can be a mix of check until their allotted woodland and open sandy time and can use the time to going, with a mix of obstacles refuel, drink, eat and make and natural hills and drops. repairs to the bike. When The beauty of Enduro is that their time arrives they pass you can compete on virtually through the checkpoint, any bike from a road going trail have their time recorded and bike to the latest fuel injected set off on the next part of enduro dirt bike, with a few the course, normally as the Ben Harding tackles a tricky log field mods and the right tyres it’s day goes on the check times all go! become shorter and shorter There are no admission until only the best remain charges to an Enduro so you on time. There is normally a can pick a venue and go along special test which is timed and have a chat and a view to a 100th of a second which anytime. will decide ties on course So don’t delay, get on board time. today and enjoy a different The Hare and Hounds format kind of bike sport. is more simple as riders are At Moto-Ward we support set off on mass in their groups a four man team of riders in Louis Zullo having fun in the sun! and follow a marked course various classes Expert, Matthew Ward and Felix with the aim of completing as many laps as they Warren, Clubman A Adam Brady and Clubman B can in a set time period, normally 3 hours and, as an Ben Harding . Look out for the lads. introduction to Enduro, this format is normally the For club information, fixture list and dates simplest to start with.

South East Enduro combine: www.seecenduro.

In the south east there is a group of motorcycle co.uk. For governing body, insurance and licence clubs that run events throughout the year called the details ACU: www. acu.org.uk South East Enduro Combine abbreviated to SEEC.

28

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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

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

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

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

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In Store - Online - Mobile

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’s No.1 The South East azine FREE bike mag

Issue 32: April-May

The South #13 East’s No.1

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Issue 33: June-July

2014

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Why not advertise your Company in the South East’s No 1 FREE magazine for bikers?

Maximise your company’s full potential by promoting it in South East Biker Magazine and make sure your company’s name reaches the customers you need.

SEB has a readership of around 20,000 in the height of summer. SEB also has an active website, Facebook Group and Twitter to keep our readers in touch with what’s going on around the South East. With a fully readable edition online our readership is worldwide.

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Call Debbie Tunstill today on 01892 610808 or email debs@southeastbiker.co.uk 30

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

PRODUCT REVIEW

Spray and Peel If you don’t want a permanent colour change and can’t be bothered with all the preparation, read on. I tried out a new product from Rust-Oleum and manufactured in the UK by Tor Coatings.

T

here have been a few innovative products recently along these lines and they are popular for short term colour changes to vehicles for events, track or just a bit of fun. Often the cost and preparation involved with a paint respray or vinyling can be prohibitive, so here is a simple alternative.

Rust-Oleum Peel Coat is a temporary, peelable coating intended for customising various parts of a vehicle such as wheel trims, alloys, bonnets and more.

APPLICATIONS Peel Coat can be applied to metal, plastic and glass surfaces.

FEATURES • Applies easily, peels right off • High build, smooth, matt finish • Washable • Available in 6 colours

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

I dug out a bit of old Honda fairing from the shed, which was scuffed and generally pretty ropey. I gave it a wash but didn’t bother with sanding down or anything time consuming. Once dry, I gave it a few coats of matt green Peel Coat.

I built it up over a 24 hour period, allowing each coat to dry properly. It was pretty simple, coming in a handy can. The finish wasn’t professional quality, more down to me than anything else, however I was impressed with the matt finish and ease of use. I left it a few of days then it was time for removal. Again, very simple, a scalpel blade to lift the edge then it peeled off nicely. It reminded me of the villain’s masks in the Bond films, where they peel off the latex face masks!

It is recommended for use up to three months and is apparently waterproof. So if you fancy tarting up your loved one simply and short term, this could well be an option.

Peel Coat is available in aerosol cans for £9.99 from Halfords and www.makeityours.co.uk 31

RAF BENEVOLENT FUND

VE DAY AT 70

CHARITY RIDE COMPLETED

Carrying on from an article about our ride in the April-May issue called VE Dayat70, we completed the ride on 10th May, two weeks riding, 3000 miles and some great memories. Dave Muckle reports…

French prisoners, and 2) There is now a replica of the glider in the loft in the same place as it was in 1945, they also have the glider built for a TV programme to see if it would have flown — it did!

Having serving and ex serving RAF bods with us, they were totally taken aback by the ingenuity, attention to detail, and big cahoona’s of the guys involved in organising and taking part in the escapes. If you have any interest in this kind of thing at all it’s the place to go, a two day ride being sensible and so worth it.

T

he whole ride was to tell the story, starting in the UK with the airbases the crews flew from, of Op Market Garden where the RAF played a huge part using both planes and gliders. We visited the Airbourne cemetery at Oosterbeek, Arnhem where 1436 allied forces are buried, then onto Reichswald Cemetery nr Kleve where some 7,594 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War are buried or commemorated in the cemetery, a lot of whom were RAF. 176 of the burials are unidentified. There are also 78 war graves of other nationalities, most of them Polish.

Onto a site of success for the RAF and the Mohne Dam just south of Soest, it’s an imposing sight as you ride in from the west on the ‘dry’ side. Just past is a cafe where our first and only piece of Apple Cake was eaten, last time a daily ritual but on motorways there’s not much about. That afternoon onto Wewelsberg Castle, the former SS HQ, for a tour and overnight accommodation. Bit creepy, one Swastika remaining in the cellar but okay.

Colditz Castle and another excellent tour with Steffi (schubert. steffi@t-online.de), for Pete and myself it was our 3rd visit and Kriege’s 2nd but there is always something new to see, and they are still discovering things made/hidden by the prisoners.

Two things of note this trip 1) they have finished the restoration of the chapel including the tunnel dug under the floor by the 32

Next up Berlin. Because of time restraints we didn’t have much spare, so by the time we arrived, the photo car which had gone on ahead was set up waiting for us at the Brandenburg Gate. We were there for about an hour but we did give the guys a verbal tour and pointed out some of the more obvious landmarks like the Reichstag, Russian Memorial and British War Cemetery.

NB. If you ever find yourself travelling from Berlin on the B188, just past the town of Stechow on the right hand side is a lay-by where you can get some of the tastiest roadside food you’ll find anywhere!

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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33 12/05/2015 18:00

RAF BENEVOLENT FUND

Overnight at Hohne Garrison, an interview with the British Forces Broadcasting Service and a look around the world famous Roundhouse (which still has a huge Swastika under the lino in the ballroom apparently) and we were off to Luneberg Heath where the surrender of the German Northern Forces was signed on 4th May 1945. A few photos there and the long haul to get us to Rotterdam at a reasonable time, which as it turned out wasn’t too bad.

We over nighted in the Dutch Marines base, a place that was deserted apart from us and the armed security guards who kindly gave us all a lift to a local Chinese and opened the bar for us and left us to it - it’s called an honesty bar so we made sure there was a tip left for them.

Last day but one and we were met at the base by a local teacher who led us to the monument for Operation Manna, a little known event but never forgotten by the local Dutch people. It was basically a food drop for the starving people along the lines of the Berlin Airlift but the planes never landed, the food was literally dropped through the bomb doors.

The Germans had agreed they would not shoot the planes down but speaking to pilots who took part, having the German guns trailing you as you flew past was a scary thing.

In commemoration of this, we as a team took some local produce over which we collected from Horton le Clay primary school in Lincolnshire.

The school site is built on what was part of RAF Waltham where planes on these flights took off from. There were also pen letters written by the local children to be delivered to the school over there as way of a twinning between the two towns. We were taken to the town of Bleiswijk where the residents, some of who were among the starving, have made their own museum to the events.

Unknown to us half the town and local press had come out to greet us, as soon as we had parked the bikes they were all over us, not literally but very happy that we had made the effort to visit their town, and the reasons behind it. After some speeches by the locals and our man Pete they turned the tables on us, two children walked in carrying a box which contained 13 sets of original 1945 UK issue mess tins that came from the food drops, inside were some local food products. A fantastic gesture and one that we will always remember and keep safe.

A local author has written a book on the event, which we were each given a copy of, and there is an online version in English at www.oranjecomite-bleiswijk.nl/, we all signed a copy for the author. We presented the town with one of the RAFBF t-shirts we were wearing and were asked to sign that to go in their display. A memorable and quiet humbling day.

34

The last day before home saw us ride to Ypres in Belgium and a couple of solemn duties to perform, for myself it was to lay a cross for my Great Grandad who was never found and also the same for Little Jim in the same position — both names are on the wall and we all had a nip in their memory. At 8pm Little Jim, Big Jim and Kreige, resplendent in their blues with medals laid three wreaths at the Menin Gate, there were some nerves before hand but they did the job well and were all touched by the experience.

We were staying at the peace village at Mesin, along with around 100 members of the Blue Knights MC. They had their own bar operating and hot dogs and we had been invited prior to that to join them, we had two members with us anyway and one thinking about it so it made sense. Among that motley crew were two members of the Great Escape 2 charity ride that myself, Pete and Kriege were on in 2011, so old friendships were rekindled over a beer or two. We found out in the morning that at around 2am there had been a ‘free bar’ declared as they had to use all the beer up, some coped better than others!

Final day and the ride back to Blighty. A quick hour to Dunkirk for the ferry, breakfast on board and a doss before the last leg, a drop off into Ashford Triumph to be officially be welcomed back by Triumph. We picked up an escort of other local bikers then onto the last stop at Maidstone Harley Davidson where our families and the press were waiting for us.

A fantastic trip with a great bunch of guys, and a lot learnt by all.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Laguna Motorcycles, Bikesure Insurance, Babcocks, Nevis Marketing and Dovetail Games.

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

Bikers welcome at

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

23/07/2015 11:47

35

ESSENTIAL READING

THE ESSENTIAL BUYER’S GUIDE

live with? Could you cope with a kickstart, iffy electrics and lights, oil leaks and short service intervals?

The guide runs through the availability and prices of spares, something vital for long term ownership. Before you even commit time and fuel for a viewing, there is a list of questions to ask the vendor. If it’s worth checking out, what should you take with you?

When you finally meet to view the machine, what should you look for on the bike? What is important paperwork-wise, and where do you find all the relevant engine and frame numbers?

If the bike is a restoration project, there is a handy section to give you some advice on what will be the most problematic and expensive areas. It’s very easy to underestimate the costs and time involved in restoration. The guides contain some very useful contact resources to do your research before you even start looking for your dream machine.

The Essential Buyer’s Guides are published by Veloce, www.veloce.co.uk 01305 260038.

They cost £12.99 and are a handy little South East Biker sized A5, well laid out and printed with plenty of colour photos. The three guides I have are all 64 pages and, even if you just have a passing interest in these bikes, the books are fascinating reads.

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WIN A COPY

lassic and vintage motorbikes are now highly sought after and can often be a great investment. Some buy to ride and enjoy, some to restore and others just collect these machines. But there are many potential pitfalls to look out for when considering an old bike. It would be easy to part with your hard earned on a pile of junk unless you have some guidance. To help with this, Veloce Publishing have produced a series of rather handy pocket guides to point you in the right direction…

Written by experts on each model, the books cover a wide range of topics, many of which wouldn’t spring to mind immediately. Presuming you are actually going to ride your new, old bike at some point, there is an introduction raising the valid point that the bike might not be the right one for you anyway. What is it like to

We have TWO copies of the guides to give away: Moto Guzzi 2-Valve Big Twins; and BSA 350, 441 and 500 Singles. If you fancy a copy, email nick@ southeastbiker.co.uk with ‘Moto Guzzi’ or ‘BSA’ as the subject and your contact details in the text. We will pick names at random and send out copies to the winners. Closing date is September 25th.

36

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

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Visit: www.perumotorcycling.com or email: info@perumotorcycling.com South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

37

Hoghton Tower Sprint

The Brighton Speed Trials are held in September along Madeira Drive and the event is well worth a ride down to see. This year it takes place on September 5th. It first took place in 1905 and this type of motor sport was one of the earliest forms of competition. It’s great to see it still taking place. We caught up with Steve Walton, whilst at Jack Lilley in Romford, who has competed in the Sprints in past years. He fills us in another event that may well be worth attending…

D

espite finishing second overall in the ACU British Sprint Championship last year unfortunately due to lack of funds/sponsor I am unlikely to be able to be a contender for the championship this year so will probably only be able to do selected events. I did however make the annual trek north to the Hoghton Tower Sprint recently. Held at the fabulous venue of Hoghton Tower near Preston with the kind permission of Sir Bernard de Hoghton, this was the 40th running of this historic event. This year saw a large entry of well over 100 machines covering a diverse range of machinery. I was entered into the largest class - Modern Superbike (1000 4 cylinder, 1200 Twins & Triples) which included some previous winners of the coveted Roderick Collins Trophy for Fastest Time of the Day! Weather conditions were much better than last year although the more powerful machines were still struggling for grip. Each competitor had two practice runs before lunch although for some reason there was a glitch with the timing gear and I didn’t get a time for one of my runs. After the lunch break the timed runs began in earnest and despite the skies looking threatening it remained dry. Grip was still at a premium, however it had improved slightly as rubber was laid down on the surface. My first timed run was okay but I did experience a little wheelspin away from the line but at the end of the first session I was leading 38

my class as well as the event overall! My second run was just 0.099 seconds quicker to consolidate my lead.

The third and final run times weren’t given out straight away so I had to wait until the prize giving ceremony to find out where I had finished. With the prizes being awarded by Sir Bernard de Hoghton and a member of the Collins family it was confirmed that I had not only won my class but also recorded the fastest time of the day although it was a close run thing with my nearest rival being just 0.016 seconds behind!

August-September 2015 • South East Biker Magazine

Photos: © Susan Rigby. www.SK-Art.co.uk

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