South East Biker, Issue 49, February 2017 by The Magazine Production Company

The South East’s No.1 FREE bike magazine ISSUE 49 • FEBRUARY-MARCH 2017

OUT OF AFRICA

NEW GEAR

HUGH’S BONNEVILLE CHALLENGE GRAN MILANO

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

STARTING GRID

Editor scribes This year sees the widest range of new and revamped motorcycle models for a long time. Every style is really well catered for with the naked, café racer and custom scrambler models becoming particularly popular. While sportsbike sales have declined over the last decade, the new models from the major manufacturers have superb specs and should satisfy any speed demon! Interesting new trends such as smaller capacity adventure bikes and completely new styles such as Honda’s X-ADV provide even more choice. Why not try out a different type of bike this year? We test ride and review motorbikes we have no intention of buying and normally wouldn’t give a second look, but fairly frequently we go out for a spin and admit, “actually that bike is great!” I often hear bikers talking about how they would never buy a custom/ sports/adventure/retro bike or anything made by a particular manufacturer. But things have moved on rapidly and most of these bikes now offer a superb level of performance with a comfortable ride and all the latest technology to enhance the riding experience.

Contents

4 OUT OF AFRICA 10 Gran Milano

Give it a go. What have you got to lose? All the best Nick

Visit southeastbiker.co.uk for events list

18 IN SEARCH OF BILLY WARD 20 A Trip To Tippetts 20 News from MAG 22 New Gear 24 Is Your Baby Safe?

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

GENERAL ENQUIRIES Tel: 01892 459080 EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Nick Tunstill, email: nick@southeastbiker.co.uk South East Biker, 2 St John’s Road, Crowborough, East Sussex. TN6 1RW PRODUCTION: Dean Cook: deancook@magazineproduction.com PRINTING: Evon Print, Henfield, Sussex © 2017 South East Biker (SEB) Magazine is an independent title and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor or of South East Biker magazine. Reproduction of content is strictly prohibited without prior written approval from the editor or publisher.

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

28 HUGH’S BONNEVILLE CHALLENGE 30 Where to go in 2017 34 Chloe Jones Racing 38 Events 3

BIKE REVIEW

Out of Africa Les Smith and Nick Tunstill take a spin on the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin and the NC750X. First up: the eagerly anticipated latest incarnation of the original adventure bike, the Africa Twin, which has been available for a year now, and we were interested to see if it lived up to the hype.

his was going to be one of those fairly short test rides on roads only, basically the time your average punter gets to assess their potential new machine. I have heard a lot of comments on the Africa Twin, mainly positive with a couple of mixed opinions. Over the last few years the likes of Ducati, Yamaha, BMW and KTM have launched 150bhp plus adventure bikes rammed with electronic gizmos that will whisk you anywhere in comfort, 2 up, with luggage, and at whatever speed you want. Basically sports bikes that are comfortable. The Africa Twin was not designed to be that type of machine and, if you approach it with that in mind, it may well make sense. 4

February-March 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ South East Biker Magazine

CELEBRATING

40 YEARS 1976-2016

Suzuki Dealer of the Year 2016 • Number one nationally for ‘Sales Customer Satisfaction” with Suzuki 2016 (Oct 2016). • Number one nationally for “Afters sales customer satisfaction” with Suzuki. (Jan-June 2016). • Suzuki Main dealer for 35 years. (1982-2016) • Yamaha Dealer for 35 years. (1982-2016) • Most Test Rides on a Suzuki Dealer event (2013) • Most Test rides on a Suzuki Dealer event (2012). • Suzuki Dealer of the Year 2011. • Moved to Whitehill, Bordon 2008 with kind assistance from our customers! • Suzuki Long service award 2007 (30 years) • Highest “Ride Survey rated” dealer in the South East 2008 • Highly ranked in the ride survey 2005 (17th out of 300).

• Haslemere Sponsored rider ‘podiums’ at the TT (Mark Parrett) 2004. • Haslemere MC Sponsored rider wins Manx GP (Mark Parrett). 2003. • Successful Triumph Dealer, 2002-2008. • Successful Honda Dealer, 1979-2005. • National Motorcycle Racing champions 1987 (King of the Roads, Roger Hurst). • National Motorcycle Racing champions 1986 (Superstock, Kenny Irons). • Competed in world Endurance Championships mid 70s to early 80s. • Moved from Cranleigh Motorcycles 1982, became Haslemere Motorcycles. • Competed at the the Suzuka 8-hour (1981). • Company Started 1976.

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BIKE REVIEW

Nick says: First of all, it’s a good looking motorbike, lovely lines and a great paint job, you just need to lose the now obligatory pig ugly silencer. Unlike some of its bigger rivals, it’s not huge and intimidating. The narrow profile means the adjustable seat height of 850-870mm enables an average height male rider to plant both feet on the ground. The controls and dash display are simple and easy to understand and use. The traction control and ABS systems are intuitive and warning lights let you know when they are switched off. It’s quite nice to be able to just ride off on a large bike these days without having to complete an Open University course in electronics beforehand! The main feature that struck me initially about the Honda was how comfortable and easy it is to ride. It’s beautifully balanced and works really well at low speed and in traffic. I presume this is why it is meant to work so efficiently off road as well. I am sure the larger bikes are great in the mud if you are a bit of a pro, but would they be any good for a novice? I wouldn’t fancy it but wouldn’t mind seeing how the Honda performs. The twin engine works well on the road, smooth with plenty of torque and the 95bhp is ample for most riding you are likely to do. So, based on my test ride of suburban traffic work, a bit of M25 and some A and B roads around Boxhill, would I be happy to part with the ten and a half grand required by Mr Honda? Well, yes I would. Honda have designed the Africa Twin to fulfil a particular purpose and it works really well. Unless you are after sportsbike performance or all the comfort and electrickery of a full on tourer, this machine is well 6

worth trying. Les’s take: So, I finally got a quick spin on the much talked about and test ridden Africa Twin from Honda. I’m an adventure bike fan and have been for the last ten years or so, I’ve had two big KTM adventure bikes in that time, so a ride on a new bike is always a treat. I actually remember riding a BMW GS1000 (bumble bee colours ) in the early 90s and loving it but at that time the price stopped me buying one. I don’t know why I avoided the GS when I got back into Adventure bikes really, probably still cost to be honest. Anyway, now that the hype about Honda’s latest version of the Africa Twin adventure bike is settling down I thought I should have a go on one. It seems that all the trendy types are calling it the “AT” So for ease I’ll follow fashion. Tippets Honda were very nice about letting us ride their AT, I had arrived expecting to ride a commuter scooter and the NC750X. Luckily for me the scooter was not available so the AT stepped in, I’m not a scooter rider really, nothing wrong with scooters mind, just not my thing. So, first impressions of the AT. To be fair an impression is what you are getting as I only had enough time for a quick 45-minute spin. After such a short blip, I was pleasantly surprised by the balance and riding position to start with. The gearbox was a bit clunky compared to my Triumph 800 Tiger but it was way better than a cold engined GS. Comfort was ok too but I would need to have a few more hours in the saddle to really judge and the fairing worked really well with the standard screen February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

BIKE REVIEW

offering a reasonable amount of protection from the wind on a chilly October day, so a “tick” there. The engine was strong and not too vibey, but it let me know it’s a grunty twin with a nice little bit of drive from low revs. The engine’s linear power was easy to use although fast road overtakes demanded a concerted effort. The AT is not slow, but I reckon it needs to be ridden harder in some conditions than other bikes of a similar genre. I put it in the pack with the BMW 800 GS, KTM 990 Adventure and Triumph 800 Tiger XC based on power and performance. It’s a little quicker that the 800 GS but a bit softer than the KTM. First impressions for me are of a very competent adventure bike, others have said it has great off road manners and I suspect I would agree. It feels dirt bike like, which I like. But I’ll have to get one dirty another time. Overall I like the bike, it rides really well and I can see why it’s been a great seller so

far. I have heard some riders are unhappy with the performance and I can see where that comes from, but if you want a fast bike for the road it may not be for you, but then a faster road bike may not be so good as an all terrain adventure bike. It may well be that less is possibly more! The fact that I would like a second go, perhaps a longer ride with a bit of trail riding shows me I have a niggling curiosity about this bike. First impressions have been good, I liked it, but will you? I suppose the answer is to read all the bumf then ride it yourself and see. The adventure bike genre is taking over the world, no pun intended, so give this one a go. HONDA’S NC750X We swapped bikes and Les rode the same route backwards on the NC750X Les on the NC750X: This bike is a bit of marmite bike, a soft fifty odd BHP commuter bike that looks like it should be a bit of a super moto/sporty street scratcher, but with a scooter style storage hole (full face helmet does fit) where a motorcycle petrol tank normally sits. The bike felt small after the AT and a little firmer too, the proper 17 inch wheels give the bike a much more road bike feel and the firm seat adds to the promise of a cracking sporty road bike. The engine is nice in a soft marshmallow sort of way but ok for town and suburb stuff. The little bit of dual carriageway I rode on showed it had to be revved to make brisk progress but if you want to tear up the Tarmac you would be sat on a different bike, I reckon.

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

BIKE REVIEW As with all Hondas the quality of build looks great so, as a long term keeper for all round bike-transport stuff, the NC is a good bet. The bike is apparently very good on fuel but we didn’t cover enough miles to test that out. The NC750X is a very nice bike, I think that sums it up really, clearly built to a budget, see RRP, it ticks many of the boxes the old CX500 ticked all those years ago, but the NC is much better looking. The NC750X strikes me as a good solid and dependable bike without feeling the need to shout about it. Very Nice. Nick observes: As I walk along the line of Hondas outside Tippetts, the NC doesn’t exactly jump out and scream ‘ride me’. Between a Fireblade and the Africa Twin, it seems a little anonymous. But in some ways this is where Honda really excel. I bought a CB500 as a short term machine and kept it for seven years as it was so good. I also had the reliable but very untrendy CX500 in my youth. I loved both these Hondas and they were my everyday transport, weekend playthings and holiday tourers. None of these bikes turn heads but do exactly what’s asked of them without being flash or pretentious. That’s not to say the NC isn’t a decent looking bike. The latest version has been sharpened up a lot and does look modern and up to date. It’s really well designed and built, a motorcyclist’s motorbike. It’s comfortable, a doddle to ride and works really well on anything from congested city streets to motorways. The NC is fairly tall and heavy for its spec but this is a help for anyone above average height when on the move as it’s a real USEFUL INFO

From £10,849

HONDA AFRICA TWIN CRF1000L Engine capacity Engine

998cc Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 8-valve Parallel Twin with 270° crank and uni-cam Max. Power Output 70kW/7,500rpm (95/1/EC) Brakes Front: 310mm dual wave floating hydraulic disc with aluminium hub and radial fit 4-piston calipers and sintered metal pads. Rear: 256mm wave hydraulic disc with 2-piston caliper and sintered metal pads. 2-Channel with rear ABS off switch. Tyres Front 90/90-21 tube type Tyres Rear 150/70-R18 tube type Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) 2,335 x 930 x 1,475mm Frame type Steel semi-double cradle type with high-tensile strength steel rear subframe Ground Clearance (mm) 250mm Kerb Weight (kg) 232 kg (ABS) Seat Height (mm) 870/850mm (STD position / Low position) Wheelbase (mm) 1,575mm Fuel tank capacity 18.8litres

bonus when filtering and gives a commanding view from the upright riding position. The clever use of the dummy fuel tank makes it perfect for real world daily usage with 22litres of storage. Combined with a claimed fuel efficiency of 70-80mpg, the 200 plus tank range makes it extremely practical. The gearbox, screen, suspension and riding position combined give the bike a great overall feel and their owners swear by them. It stacks up well against rivals such as the Kawasaki Versys 650, Suzuki V Strom 650 and BMW700GS. If you are in the market for a well priced, genuine all rounder that will commute and tour, the NC750X is worth slinging a leg over. If you want a pretty summer pub bike it may not be what you are after. Thanks to all at Tippetts for use of their motorbikes. USEFUL INFO

HONDA NC750X

From £6,749

Engine capacity Engine

745cc Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 8-valve, SOHC parallel 2-cylinder. EURO4 Compliant Max. Power Output 40.3kW @ 6250 rpm Brakes Front: 320mm single wavy hydraulic disc with 2-piston caliper and sintered metal pads. Rear: 240mm single wavy hydraulic disc with 2-piston caliper and resin mold pads Tyres Front 120/70ZR-17M/C Tyres Rear 160/60ZR-17M/C Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) 2230mm x 845mm x 1350mm Frame type Diamond; steel pipe Fuel Consumption 80.8mpg (WMTC) Ground Clearance (mm) 165mm (minimum) Kerb Weight (kg) 220kg Seat Height (mm) 830mm Wheelbase (mm) 1535mm Fuel Tank capacity 14.1litres

Both machines come with the option of Dual Clutch Transmission. 8

February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

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BIKE REVIEW

Gran Milano: affordable Italian style A filthy wet, late autumn Saturday saw me heading off to Maidstone for a spin on the SWM 440R Café Racer. Nick Tunstill was tempted to just stay huddled up under the duvet with a cuppa but decided to brave the elements and get damp in the wilds of Kent. So was it worth the trip?

am sure I am not the only one who hasn’t heard of SWM so I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I presumed it would be another one of the Chinese style retro replicas that seem quite prevalent but I was wrong. So, a bit of background information. The original Italian company built trials and enduro bikes in the 1970s, finally winding up in the mid 80s. They resurfaced a couple of years ago, taking over an old Husqvarna factory in Italy with Chinese backing and local management. Looking at photos I was expecting something a bit budget, but up close it seems nicely put together and although electronically fairly simple, boasts some decent features, Brembo four pot calipers on the front, fully 10

adjustable front suspension and stainless steel exhaust. Definitely a cut above some of the other style over substance machines. It also comes with a solo seat and rear components as part of the package. The SWM looks quite cool as well, I am not sure about the colour, bronze, apparently it looks better in sunlight than misty Kent drizzle! Engine wise it’s an air cooled single 445cc with a five speed gearbox. I am not a big fan of head down, arse up type riding but the riding position is actually really comfortable. There’s no real weight on the wrists and your knees aren’t under your chin either. On starting the bike up, your ears are filled with a pleasant burbling soundtrack, reminiscent of an era before over sanitised silencers

were standard. As I headed off out of town and onto some of the more interesting A and B roads I was slowly starting to become impressed with the overall package of the Italian single. It is well balanced, and responds well to a decent twist of the wrist, making light of the fact that it’s only got 35bhp to play with. The bike works well when the revs are spinning up to 4000 plus and it sings along happily up to about 80 or so when you start to feel a bit of wind blast. The Brembo brakes are excellent, giving great confidence and feedback even on wet, muddy roads and with unknown tyres. It’s a bit vibey being a single but the gearbox was smooth enough and instruments are clear and give you all the info you really need. Better mirrors may help but I have seen worse on bikes twice the price. The SWM is a cut above the cheaper Chinese café racers and at £4999, I think is excellent value for money. It squares up against the Royal Enfield Continental GT and I reckon the SWM is a far better machine. If you are looking for something a little different and fancy some Italian style without frightening the bank manager, the 440 may well be up your street. I was expecting to be underwhelmed but was pleasantly surprised to really enjoy riding this motorbike and it certainly exceeded my expectations and put a smile on my face in the Kent drizzle. Thanks to Inta Motorcycle Services for the loan of the bike. www.intabikes.com USEFUL INFO

SWM 440R

From £4,999

Engine 445cc single air cooled Power 35bhp Weight 145kg Seat height 809mm Fuel Tank Capacity 22.5litres Fuel Consumption 65mpg 2 year warranty

February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

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WHO IS…

In search of Billy Ward

Some of you will be just asking yourself who is Billy Ward? This is the very reason John Allsopp is writing this article!

hen I mentioned to Billy himself his lesser known status he agreed the point. “I have my own identity, of course, but I’m known in the context of Ross Noble and Charley Boorman”. Exactly my point Billy! Billy’s biking life started around the age of 13 with a Honda 50 step through (one of several he had owned) which he got “to play with mechanical things”. He put one of these engines in a wooden go kart and used it around his local housing estates. This apparently was not seen as a jolly jape by the local police. Billy spent his childhood split between Liverpool and Omeath in Ireland. It was in Ireland that he had a Mobylette sports special moped NSU Raleigh. This particular bike had no throttle twist grip and was 12

accelerated by pulling the cable by hand. As many of us did, Billy then started to progress in engine size buying a Kawasaki 250cc motocross bike, although he told me that most of his riding focussed on road riding in those years. So, how did the biking bug bite? “I enjoyed the smell, feel and looks of bikes”. With this beginning a love affair begins to blossom. Over the years he has owned a, Suzuki GT750 and a Suzuki GS1000E amongst others. (More of the GS later). Sadly at this time (11 years ago) his marriage was in trouble and, as part of his efforts to shore up the relationship, he sold the GS. These bikes around this time were often selling for around the £4000 mark, but it was sold at Bonham’s in Billy’s absence for about £600! Whilst he clearly regrets selling the GS he told me he regrets every bike he ever sold. “I wish I had a big garage to store them all as it would be my biking family tree linking me with priceless memories of my past”. February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

WHO IS… This sentiment certainly resonates with me as it may well do with many of you, dear readers. After all this, the marriage ended around two months later. Billy’s ex-wife was a divorce lawyer so you can image for yourself how that went. It’s obvious that divorce can be a very traumatic event in anyone’s life but it was also a big turning point for his future in a positive way. Billy had always been on bikes although he told me at that time he had never harboured any big travel plans on two wheels. So, post-divorce, Billy is watching the Long Way Round series and found it the perfect escape from the stresses of the changes in his life. At the end of the series he thought to himself “I could be Ewan’s mate and travel the world”. I certainly felt the same way, but here Billy catches what I believe they call a break.

Having seen in Motorcycle News an advert for a talk to be given by Charley on Long Way Round in Yorkshire at Squires Motorcycle Café he bought a ticket. He told me that when he arrived there were around 500 bikers, Charley had no microphone and a small 5” screen to show clips on. “No one could see or hear properly and I snagged the microphone from the lady calling out the order numbers for food and suggested Charley stand on a table”, Billy told me.

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WHO IS…

After the show Billy duly queued up with other fans to get an autograph, but when he got to the front told Charley that he’d felt the performance “was a bit crap”. Apparently, Charley initially responded to such constructive criticism in a manner that is entirely in keeping (having met him myself!). However, Billy went on to state that he hadn’t really meant the comment as a put down, rather as a starting point to how the delivery of the content could be much improved. This conversation leads up to an incident of great inventiveness on Billy’s part where he told Charley that he was a theatre producer. (At the time Billy was working in IT for Cable and Wireless Accenture and, hmmmmm, not as a theatre producer at all!!). The culmination of this chat was a meeting arranged at Bulwer Street with Russ Malkin the founder of television production company Big Earth. Billy told me that he arrived on the train from Newcastle at Kings Cross and as luck would have it there was a machine that printed business cards. So, after a small investment Billy went forth as the proud owner of fifty business cards proclaiming his credentials as a theatre producer. What a guy! I’d say that day was a perfect example of how Billy’s creative talents, perspicacity and sheer brass neck stand him in such good stead. Now, Russ Malkin is a professional film director and asked Billy all manner of questions on subjects such as return on investments and what productions he’d been involved with in the past. I understand Billy blagged with consummate skills and was assisted in the fact that Russ took calls on his phone throughout the meeting. At one point Russ left the room and Billy took the opportunity to float his proposition to Charley. The proposition was that Billy would fund a one-off show, and its production and exploitation at his own expense and that he would split the proceeds with Charley himself. Charley duly agreed and the first show was launched around three months later in the Tyne Theatre Newcastle. 14

Billy had arranged for Patsy Quick to attend (the first British woman to compete in the Dakar Rally in 2003 and who became the first British woman to complete it in 2006. The Hairy Bikers, Chris Scott (The author of the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook) and Mick Extance (who has entered seven Dakar Rallies in total and has been one of the most successful British competitors on a motorcycle) were also on board. Billy also organised a charity auction of Long Way Down merchandise for charity and sold 750 out of a total of 1000 seats in the theatre. So, as Billy sums up that whole experience “it changed my life”. The show went on to tour for 30 nights around the UK and this was followed by a further 28 nights. A note for your dairies is that the show will again travel the UK in November 2017. In 2006 Billy bought a KTM and followed Charley as he undertook ‘The Race to Dakar’ Bikes have now become the key for Billy to unlock the combination of the joy of travel with the love of riding. I asked Billy to tell me what this life changing experience has meant to him and I think he encapsulated it when he told me,`’Sometimes I pinch myself and say I’m so fecking lucky”. Yes, Billy you are! Of course there is a downside. “In 2015 I slept with Charley Boorman longer than his wife, as we were in Southern Africa and Australia for seven months overall”. Now just image the hardship people. Billy’s current bikes are a KTM 990 and 400 Enduro, Beta 300 Evo trials as well as a BMW 1200GS . 2016 saw Billy travelling over 30,000km around Australia, Africa and South America. Billy says “One of the highlights of last year was riding the Triumph 800XCX for three months around South America, covering Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and Chile taking in some notorious Dakar pistes”. February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

Clean Bike Clinic “Cleaned with the passion it deserves” Hi, I’m Nigel – whether you ride on your bike everyday or just on dry weekends – dirt, grime and corrosion accumulate to spoil both the appearance and eventually severely effect the condition of your machine. I provide a personal, caring and friendly valet service for you and your bike. I come to your home or workplace and just need to plug in and clean. I specialise in Harley Davidsons’s but will clean all classic and modern bikes. The South of England’s only specialist motorcycle valeter covering 100 mile radius of Gatwick Airport.

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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. 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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“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

15 09/01/2017 10:40

WHO IS… His relationship with Triumph has grown stronger with the surprise move of Charley Boorman from BMW. Billy commented “Triumph have been so supportive this year (2016) and their Tiger 800 has to be the mid-range adventure leader at the moment. Hopefully I can continue doing exciting stuff with them in 2017, fingers crossed”. Billy has also compered at the following events: Dirtquake – which he has compered for last two years. Competitors include Guy Martin, Charley and Carl Fogarty. Carl came second this year on a Street Triple. www.dirtquake.co.uk GS Trophy Rally — Billy has compered and competed for the last two years. The next Rally is scheduled for May 2017. www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk BMW Off Road Skills arena at NEC Motorcycle live — Billy has compered that over the last few years. https://youtu.be/YXFXHvYwexA — Unbelievably 300,000 hits on this link. Billy continues as the producer of ‘Charley Boorman Live’.: https://youtu.be/2fEH7Sot4NQ Billy writes regular articles for Australian Road Rider Magazine, Brake Magazine, Overland Magazine and the Chilean Travel Mag. He also qualified earlier in the year as a registered South African Field Guide He has worked with comedian and bike nut Ross Noble, from TV work to tour manager.

This year Billy’s trips will be to South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. He will also be undertaking a recce and live trip with Charley. Also, he will be working with the Jedi Master of Documentary Filmmaking, Claudio von Planta, running ‘Learn to Film your Adventure’ in South Africa. As well as all that Billy will also be working at Dirtquake and the GS Trophy Rally again. To see Billy in action in Claudio Van Planta’s video of the Triumph 800 check out: https://youtu.be/3wUtNZoJXd0 Billy can be reached via his Twitter handle @biketruck and biketruck.com

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February-March 2017 • South East 17/03/2016 Biker Magazine 10:56

The adventure starts in store

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DEALER FOCUS

A Trip to Tippetts

Situated just on the edge of London, Surbiton sits within easy reach of both rural Surrey and Central London. We took a ride over to test out a couple of bikes and have a good nose about…

t’s always a pleasure to come across a motorcycle business that is still essentially family run. Mark showed us around and filled us in on some of the background of the company. Walter Tippett opened for business in 1919, repairing cars until 1937. They then relocated to Ewell Road, the present site, while the focus of the business had started to shift from cars to motorcycles. The main brands rolling out of the doors in those days were AJS and Matchless. After the war Phil Alexander and

February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

DEALER FOCUS Jack Wheeler were employed and then took over the company after Walter died. The enthusiasm brought by the young men enabled the company to expand, eventually becoming only the second Honda dealer in the country and the only original Solus dealer still trading. Mark and Richard Alexander own and run the family business with the passion for bikes that has become a Tippetts trademark. Over the years Tippetts have built up a vast store of parts, knowledge and expertise. They have over 15,000 parts on their shelves at any one time. Not only do they have a massive Aladdinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cave of Honda spares, but Mark showed me an impressive collection of old workshop manuals, many of which I imagine are unique. As well as a fully equipped workshop, Tippetts have clothing and accessory departments so you can pick up the complete Honda motorcycling package from

them. 2017 should be a good year for Honda with the launch of the much anticipated new Fireblade, the revolutionary new X-ADV bike and significant upgrades to many of its existing models. So whether you are a new rider or simply in the market for another motorbike or scooter, or for parts, servicing or kit, a trip to Tippetts to check out the range could well be worthwhile. More information can be found by visiting: www.honda-tippetts.co.uk. Tippetts Motors (Surbiton) Ltd, 312-320 Ewell Road, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey. KT6 7AW Sales: 0208 399 2417 Servicing: 0208 390 4621

The Power of Dreams

New for 2017

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

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19 09/01/2017 10:28

MOTORCYCLE ACTION GROUP

Halloween, Stingers and Injunctions Here we are post-Christmas and New Year celebrations, many of us having taken part in traditions with their roots in ancient times and, in some instances, pagan ritual says Andy Carrott, Vice Chairman, the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

few minutes on the net will tell you all you need to know about Christmas trees, mistletoe, gift-giving and the winter solstice, but for most of us we neither know nor care about the history; it’s just about doing things with family and friends. Take also, for example, Halloween and the ancient tradition of Trick or Treat. In the UK we appear to have fully embraced this in its American guise of kids dressing up and knocking on doors for sweets. There’s also something else with its roots in the good ole US of A that some call “Biker Life”. It’s based around urban riding, quite often involving dirt bikes, and as recent events have shown, some of the riders like a ride at Halloween. The way it’s been developing it’s not a tradition I want to see grow. In 2015 around 200 riders caused chaos in south London, jumping red lights, riding on pavements, and speeding as families were out trick or treating. In 2016 in Kirkstall Road, Leeds, a large group of riders rode at speed through busy streets. According to the BBC around 50 were involved, riding mostly off-road bikes and quads. Similar events took place again in London last year and stingers were used to stop bikes and quads. These events are often promoted through social media. This sort of behaviour has been reported through most of 2016. You can find video clips and press reports on the internet 20

and, if it’s still on iPlayer, you can watch a BBC programme called ‘Britain’s Most Wanted Motorcycle Gangs?’. What you will see are lots of dirt bikes, ski masks, quads and wheelies. If you are just a regular Joe Biker, what you won’t see is many like you. There have been police raids and arrests with stolen motorcycles being recovered. Local authorities are resorting to injunctions to try and control it despite most if not all of the behaviour being already covered by existing legislation. The problem is that the injunctions affect all of us, as they do not differentiate between a mob rampaging through a pedestrianised area or the local bike club taking part in a charity ride. Some of the injunctions are so badly worded that they make just doing normal things illegal, like sounding your horn, or riding in a group of two or more. You and a group of mates could ride to a part of the country where an injunction is in place and unwittingly fall foul of the law. It would be great to get the injunctions lifted but we have to acknowledge there is an antisocial behaviour issue that needs addressing. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is trying to work with the authorities to get a form of words to use in injunctions that addresses anti-social behaviour without impacting the law-abiding rider. This is, however, an uphill struggle. Last year, riders at a popular

bike meet were horrified to see a policeman apparently preparing a stinger (a tyre deflation device consisting of a series of linked spikes that can be thrown across the road) to deploy against riders misbehaving on the road to and from the bike meet. At the time it caused quite a stir on biker forums but with bike theft in some areas a major problem alongside the growth in anti-social riding, this use of what many riders think is potentially lethal force is receiving mixed support from motorcyclists. I can see no rational reason not to oppose the use of a stinger against a terrorist on a motorcycle, but to use potentially lethal force against 15 year old Johnny Scrote on a nicked Speedfight, I’m not so sure (heart says no sympathy for bike thieves, but head says the kid needs help, not a possible death sentence or crippling for life). MAG is seeking clarification on the protocols used by the Police for the deployment of stingers. It’s going to be a busy time for MAG in 2017, with these issues representing just a few of the many that require a strong voice representing riders. We really would appreciate your support and you can do so simply by joining to help fund its campaign activities or, if you want to get more involved, attend a local branch. To join call 01926 844064; single membership costs £27; joint and club affiliated membership also available. Have a great 2017, and stay rubber side down.

February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

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NEW GEAR

NEW GEAR NEW GEAR NEW GEAR Parka Life

Winter’s already upon us — but there’s no need to abandon your motorcycle or scooter if you get properly geared up. The new Tucano Urbano Central Park jacket is a three-quarter length riding jacket that looks like it could feature in a highstreet fashion store. But don’t let your eyes fool you: the stylish Central Park (for men) and Hyde Park (for women) have been designed to keep you 100% warm, dry and safe at all times whilst commuting on two wheels. The Hydroscud® windproof, waterproof and breathable outer shell is made from Polyamide fabric and has taped seams to keep even the heaviest rain at bay. Unlike on less-effective designs, the jacket’s waterproof layer is bonded on the outside of the jacket. That keeps you warmer and drier, because rain can’t soak in the outer layers. To keep you warm in winter, the Central Park features a removable thermal inner liner that can be easily taken out for riding during the warmer season. Tucano Urbano further underlines its commitment to rider safety with the new Central and Hyde Park’s protection package. It comes with D3O™ shoulder and elbow armour and there’s a pocket for an optional back protector. Plus, in order to increase visibility, the jacket features the brand’s distinctive Reflactive System® panels. The Central Park jacket is available in dark blue and dark green, in sizes ranging from S to 3XL and it retails at a price of £209.99 (VAT included). Meanwhile, the Hyde Park jacket (for women) is available in dark blue, in sizes ranging from XS to XXL and retails at £219.99 (VAT included). www.tucanourbano.co.uk 22

GET TOOLED UP

Compact yet amazingly practical, the Wunderlich On-Board Tool Set fits all models of BMW motorcycle from 2004 onwards and includes an array of useful utensils, ideal for those quick roadside jobs. There are Wera Torx bits in sizes 20/25/27/30/40/45/50 for removing/ tightening screens and bodywork and a special Wunderlich wheel removal tool, which can be used with the screwdriver from the standard tool kit as a ‘tommy bar’ for extra leverage. The kit is supplied in its own handy leather carry case, which can be stashed under the seat or in luggage. The Wunderlich On-Board Tool Set sells for £25.00 including VAT. German-made Proxxon tools come from the world’s largest socket and spanner factory, utilising the most modern production techniques. This 10 piece L handle Torx key set is manufactured from NickelChrome-Molybdenum steel and exceeds DIN/ISO requirements for hardness and maximum torque. Supplied with a robust metal holder, marked with clear size specifications for tidy storage, it contains one each TX 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 40, 45 and 50. Using either short or long blade, the driver can exert very high torque and pressure, which prevents slipping, while form-locking, no-loss transmission of tightening forces is ideal for dealing with with rusty components. Its ergonomic, asymmetrical handle makes for easier operation too. The Proxxon L handle Torx key set fits all BMW models 2004 onwards, has a 2 year warranty and retails at £39.00. www.nippynormans.com February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

NEW GEAR

MICRO-LOCK ARMOUR Magura’s Retro 225 master cylinder and lever replacement kits are traditionally styled and compact all-in-one units, for a simple fit where space is limited. They are ideal for bike builders wishing to replace the hydraulic clutch and/or braking systems increasingly used on modern machines with something more in keeping with the stripped-down theme of special/custom builds. The 225 brake kit comes complete with a polished lever, a black painted housing and a 22 mm clamp, which will fit most standard motorcycle bars. It’s fitted with a fluid reservoir and is pre-threaded for a brake light switch and rear-view mirror. It is available in 13 mm and 16 mm piston versions. Retail price £112.15 including VAT.

DIAMOND BRITE

Bigger, faster, stronger and now rechargeable, the new and improved Sonic Scrubber Professional makes even lighter work of bike cleaning. Both tool and heads are 45% thicker and stronger than the standard model — the Sonic Scrubber Professional is designed to be tough enough to take the hits of regular use. Internal components have been upgraded to steel and the tool now features a refined motor that delivers higher torque figures than the standard model. A new brush replacement system allows the user to replace the bristles, rather than whole head stem, making the kit more compact and more costeffective too. The Sonic Scrubber Professional also uses a rechargeable battery pack (instead of the standard model’s AA batteries), providing up to three hours of constant use. The battery charging pack comes with two charging slots to keep an additional battery South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

The 225 clutch master cylinder also comes as a complete unit, with fluid reservoir, polished alloy lever, black painted housing and 22 mm clamp. It is prepared for a mirror, and is available in 13 mm and 16 mm piston versions. at £112.15 (incl. VAT). For bikes with a standard cable-operated clutch, the Magura Clutch Lever matches the style of the 225 brake lever and sells for just £43 (incl. VAT). Call 01306 885111, or visit www.venhill.co.uk

(purchased separately) topped up. Working on a similar principle to an electric toothbrush, the SonicScrubber’s cleaning head oscillates 10,000 times per minute – 25 times faster than the human hand - taking the hard work out of cleaning a bike. It also means users don’t need to press as hard as when using a manual brush – or to move it around as vigorously - so although it’s very tough on dirt, it’s less likely to cause damage to sensitive surfaces. Multiple shapes and sizes of brush heads make it easier to tackle larger and flatter surfaces, like bodywork and engine casings, as well as those hard-to reach and tricky areas, such as spokes and brake callipers, suspension components, and crevices in engines and frames. It can even be used on chains and sprockets, and is capable of removing light rust/corrosion from bright-work. The Sonic Scrubber Professional Cleaning Kit is available from Nippy Normans, priced at £49.00 including VAT. www.nippynormans.com 23

SECURITY

IS YOUR BABY SAFE?

It’s a sickening feeling, walking back to where you parked your motorbike or opening your garage door and discovering your pride and joy has disappeared. It happened to Nick Tunstill and his wife, Debbie, last summer and, obviously, they are not alone…

f you spend anytime at all on social media such as Facebook you cannot fail to have noticed the alarming rise in ‘Please share… stolen motorcycle’ posts. And most of us know of someone who has had their bike stolen over the last few years. Two of our own advertisers were targeted by thefts in the first week of January alone. Until fairly recently the targets seemed to be mainly off road machines, these are still highly knickable but we have seen heavy cruisers, adventure bikes, sports bikes and even classics pinched and vanish without trace. So, is it just the perception that more motorbikes are being stolen or are there statistics to back this hunch up? Well unfortunately yes, quite a few. Around 50% of motorcycle thefts in the country occur in London and between 2012 and 2014 stolen bike reports rose by 44% and this has been getting worse. Bromley, for example, had an 89% rise in thefts from 2014 to 2015. You may not live or work in London, but how many of us live an hour or two outside the Capital’s suburbs? Quite a few, in fact most of the distribution area for this magazine. Thieves are becoming bolder, happily turning up in vans or on scooters, in full view of the public and in broad daylight and angle grinding locks off and heading off without a care in the world. There has been footage of thieves on bikes trying to force other riders to stop, get off their bikes and hand over the keys. Bikers and members of the public who have bravely tried to intervene have been threatened or attacked. Despite the huge rise in CCTV, the use of vehicle cameras and the ease at which notices can be 24

spread via social media, the crime wave is becoming an epidemic. There are many reasons why thieves feel it’s worthwhile taking the risks to pinch motorbikes. Car and van security has improved immensely and they are now pretty challenging to break into and start, particularly for the casual thief. Motorbike security is lagging a long way behind, they are easy to bundle into the back of a van and then can be broken down, shipped abroad or have a false plate attached and be used for other suspicious activities. The spiralling costs of bike parts compared to car parts doesn’t help. A new Fireblade or R1 in 2007 was under £9000 whereas now they are up around the £13-15,000 mark and a lot of premium brand’s everyday machines are knocking on for ten grand. That’s a tempting amount of cash sitting parked up. A £1500 aftermarket exhaust system isn’t unusual these days and imagine how easy that would be to sell. Smaller bikes and scooters are just as likely to disappear as they are used for thefts or just ragged around and, of course, are even simpler to steal. Well that’s the bad news, so what can be done about it? We found the police really helpful when Debbie’s bike was knicked, but they are overwhelmed, under resourced and with violent crime and terrorism as ever present threats, vehicle crime is well down the list of priorities. After all, we are insured aren’t we, so will be able to buy another bike, albeit normally after a long wrangle over details and the apparent value of your bike. But we can leave dealing with insurance companies for another time! However, there is a reasonable amount of evidence that suggests February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

SECURITY victims of bike theft quite often don’t bother buying another one — I know of at least one rider who has had enough. This is bad news for bike dealers, kit manfacturers and anyone involved with the industry. Another potential lifelong biker lost. The motorcycle industry recognise the problems and have been working to encourage wider use of marking systems and immobilisers. This is all very well, but Debbie’s bike, for example, had Datatag, Suzuki immobiliser and a disclock. It was parked in a busy car park on a main road on a sunny Sunday. An awful lot of people would have seen it being taken but not one thought to even take a photo of it happening. WHAT CAN YOU DO? If it’s parked at home, put in a garage or shed, use a ground anchor, chain and locks. Consider a security camera (see Y Cam review on page 27). If it’s on a driveway or road try and lock it to something solid with a substantial, Thatcham approved chain and use a disc or U lock as well. Keep chains off the ground if possible and thread it through the frame or, at least, the rear wheel as the front can easily be removed. Cover it as well. It’s a simple idea but remarkably effective. If you are out and about, consider where you park. Ideally in designated motorcycle parking bays, some have bars to chain bikes to. See if there is a

CCTV system, though this can be a false security as they often seem to be out of order, facing the wrong way, blocked by tree branches etc! Again, if you have a cover, use it. You want your bike to be as inconspicuous as possible. Vary where you park if you commute, a bike left from 9-5 in the same place every day gives a thief a nice time window to get well clear before anyone notices. Of course you can also have alarms, immobilisers and trackers fitted. These all work well to an extent so work out what your favourite options are and remember anything is better than nothing. It’s a bit like wearing protective bike kit; there’s a limit to how much you wear offset against the simple freedom of riding a bike. If you have to carry two big locks, a chain, a cover, set an alarm and a tracker and still worry you may return to an empty bit of concrete, then the pleasure of riding a motorbike is rather diminished unfortunately. The likes of MAG, the BMF and the Motorcycle Industry Association are all working on our behalf with the police and local authorities to improve things, so let’s support these organisations wherever we can. It’s the best hope we have a long term solution. For professional advice on securing your motorbike or scooter have a chat with your local dealer or an accessory shop such as Helmet City.

MOTORCYCLE SEATS

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HEATED SEATS

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

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25 12/05/2015 18:00

SECURITY

SECURITY DEVICES

As with a lot of things in life, the more you pay, generally the better quality you get. The only downside of this with motorcycle security is that better means bigger and heavier, so there’s a compromise on how much hardware you are prepared to lug around and actually bother to use. It’s worth looking at Thatcham approved devices and check your insurance to see what discounts are available. Don’t forget to inform them what security measures you have taken. They will ask and possibly check if you make a claim. DISC LOCKS Vary from cheap lightweight compact versions that are easy to carry or pop under a seat, to heavy duty alarmed versions that scream like a petulant child when you touch them. Buy one of those fluorescent springy string things that run from the handle bar to the lock as a reminder. Anyone else ridden off with a disc lock on and come to a sickening grinding halt after a couple of feet?? Thought so! U LOCKS Nice and solid and can often be stored under a seat. Some of these are alarmed as well. LOCKS AND CHAINS Again vary hugely in price, quality and strength. Have a good look around and work out what will be the most suitable for you, in particular work out what length suits you best. If you are chaining 2 bikes together you could do with a decent length but there’s not much point having a chain trailing halfway across the shed. These boys weigh a lot too so consider how you are 26

going to carry it when out. You certainly don’t want in it a rucksack and definitely don’t wear them around your neck! BIKE MARKING SYSTEMS Datatag and other ID systems are now widely used and fingerprint components of your bike if discovered in bits. They are particularly useful in helping the police find out what bits belong to whom in a lockup full of dismantled machines. Less likely to be a visible deterrent but will certainly help to incriminate some of these scumbags if collared. You are also going to stand a better chance of getting your bike (or some of it!) back. The larger manufacturers now generally supply a new bike with security markings and, if not, see if you can get it thrown in as part of the deal. TRACKING DEVICES Ranging from selfmonitored sub £20 jobs to annual schemes where your alerts are monitored, the police informed and your motorbike recovered for you. The quickest way to know something has happened to your bike that you may like to be aware of. Most come with an installation cost and annual monitoring fee. Tracking devices have been proven to have a good recovery success rate so combining this with a decent lock and a cover is about as much as you can do in the real world. ALARMS AND IMMOBILISERS The larger manufacturers now normally incorporate security chips into the keys and ignition systems. This doesn’t seem to be the greatest of deterrents though, it normally means it goes into a van rather than is hotwired and ridden away. Alarms are a bit hit a miss as well. They can be a pain when they go wrong and you have remember to disarm them when moving the bike, or cleaning it, or servicing it or when travelling on a ferry. A useful tool but has anyone seen people take much notice of vehicle alarms? February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

SECURITY

Y-Cam Evo indoor camera

We tried out the indoor version of the Y-cam which could be used in a garage or anywhere motorbikes are kept inside. It was actually very easy to set up and connect to my smartphone. I am not a huge fan of phone and app related gizmos but it wasn’t too daunting to actually getting the Y-cam working. It’s a

small inconspicuous unit that comes with the screws and fixings to put somewhere discreet. Basically it alerts you when motion is detected. Storage of footage for the last seven days is in the cloud and is free. You can set your own preferences to set alerts and it runs via a free app you download. It works in the dark too with an inbuilt infrared LED. Recordings can be downloaded and kept. Cameras can be added both internally and externally to enable multiple monitoring and a complete security system. The Y-cam Evo HD camera costs £129.99 and external ones cost from £179.99. I found you do need a good wi-fi connection to ensure good streaming so it must be used where there is good coverage. The picture quality is good (HD 1280 x 720) and the features all seem to work and are easy to set up. These cameras are now affordable and work well, both as a deterant, an alert and for recording evidence. They would be a good back up to a tracking system so you are not only aware that someone is poking around your property and bike but have a reasonable chance of seeing who it is and how many there are, maybe even a vehicle being used. This would be helpful to the police to enable a swifter recovery. At under £200 and with no ongoing costs, it’s a feasible option. Check out www.y-cam. com for more details on the range and to order.

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27 23/03/2016 10:45

A CLASSIC CHALLENGE

Hugh’s Bonneville

Challenge

Who says classic motorbikes aren’t competitive? Hugh Brown, who restores Triumphs to an incredibly high standard, takes to the tarmac with Sean Kelly…

t was Tuesday 18th October 2016, Elvington, blue skies and Hugh Brown and Sean Kelly with their concours Thebikeshed preparedTriumph Bonnevilles decided to have a crack at the standing start mile. People admired the bikes and said “you aren’t going to race these, they are show bikes, they won’t go, and they will chuck oil out everywhere!!” We laughed and said, “wait till we have done a run and come back to have a look!” “OK,” was their smug reply and, to their dismay, there wasn’t a drop to be seen. “How come?” one chap said, “they are British bikes and they always leak oil!” “Well,” I replied, “with careful attention to detail and making sure everything fits as it should there should be no problem and you can make a Triumph 650cc oil tight”. Well my bike (the 1968 Bonneville used on the front cover of the book ‘Triumph Bonneville Portrait of a Legend’) with 510 miles of running and Sean’s (1964 classic show winning Bonneville) had done 2477 miles so we thought it would be interesting to say the least! 28

THE RESULTS Run 1, Hugh: 108.773mph revving to 6500+ Run 2, Hugh: 108.645mph revving to 6600+ Run 1, Sean: 113.012mph revving to 7400+ Run 2, Sean: 116.962mph revving to 8000+ Both of these engines are completely standard except for gas flowed heads, dynamically balanced crankshafts, Morgo oil pumps and Boyer ignition, running BP 97 octane pump fuel. No fancy cams or high compression pistons, larger carbs, air shifter, hydraulic clutch, slipper pistons, or non-standard exhausts were fitted. Alternator and rotor were left in situ; these are plain road going bikes with full MOT’s. I was running concentric carburettors with standard air filters (correct for the year), which I found strangled the motor at the top end, and Sean was running unfiltered Monoblocs (again correct for the year). Unfortunately the weather changed for the worse after lunch, before I could re-jet my ‘68 and remove the filters the meeting was cancelled. So here is a challenge to everyone. Have a go at an February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

A CLASSIC CHALLENGE

organised event like www.straightlinersonline.co.uk with your standard Triumph 650 filled with pump fuel, running lights, no external modifications at all, fully silenced (we were measured at 98db) 4 speed

gearbox. The bike must LOOK completely standard, so come on you trailer queen guys, let’s see what your bikes can achieve! Hugh Brown: www.thebikeshed.net

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29 17/01/2017 09:02

CLASSIC CORNER

Into Classics? Where to Go in 2017

Julie Diplock from Elk Promotions helps us plan the Classic year…

f you’re interested in classic bikes there’s tons to see and do in 2017. I’ve rounded up some classic events for the South East, including the events I organise with my ELK Promotions hat on. Apologies to anything I’ve missed out; as ever, do contact the organisers if you have any queries. FEBRUARY: MCN London Excel 17-19th February has a good classic section, admission is pricy but it’s a good way to get your biking fix in this gloomy month without getting wet and cold! (Unless you go by bike, here we are aboard the Woolwich ferry en route for Excel in 2015!) www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com 30

MARCH: The massive Kempton Park autojumble is on Saturday 11th March at Kempton Park racecourse, Sunbury. Further 2017 dates are 20th May, 22nd July, 16th September, 21st October and 2nd December. www.kemptonparkautojumble.co.uk One of the highlights of my year is the annual Pioneer Run on March 19th, which is the London to Brighton run for veteran motorcycles and three-wheelers. Organised by The Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club, all the machines taking part were manufactured before 1915. They leave Tattenham corner on Epsom Downs from 8am and hope to arrive at Madeira Drive on Brighton Seafront from 10am. As well as the hundreds of veteran machines on display at Brighton, thousands of spectators arrive by motorcycle, and parking is provided on the seafront with access from Dukes Mound. It’s the biggest gathering of pre-1915 bikes in the UK, and possibly the world, and is a great free day out. If you’re following the run on a modern bike, don’t forget that the veteran bikes often have pretty primitive braking, so make sure you give them plenty of room! www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

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South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk JOHN HARRIS 0217 HP Ad.indd 1

31 19/01/2017 16:54

CLASSIC CORNER APRIL: The South of England Show & Bikejumble returns to Ardingly on Sunday 2nd April, with five halls of show and autojumble plus more stalls outside, it’s always busy. Guest of Honour is Dave Degens, the legendary Triton builder and Barcelona 24-Hour Endurance winner. Further 2017 dates are Sunday 16th July and Sunday 29th October. www.elk-promotions.co.uk The East Sussex section of the Vintage Motor Cycle club organise the popular Snow Mann Test Day which is a timed hill-climb at Bo-Peep Hill, Selmeston, East Sussex from 8am on Sunday 9th April. www.vmcc-eastsussex.co.uk The Ashford Classic Motorcycle Show is on Easter Monday, 17th April at Ashford Livestock Market. Now in its 18th year, there’s a large all-motorcycle autojumble as well as the indoor show. www.elk-promotions.co.uk The Rotary Club and Sussex British Motorcycle Owners Club jointly run the popular Engineerium Run, which is on Sunday 23rd April at The British Engineerium, Hove. This is a Victorian pumping station currently under renovation. www.sbmoc.vpweb.co.uk/ The Sunbeam MCC holds the Ixion Cavalcade on Sunday 30th April for pre-1940 bikes. Ixion was the nom-de-plume of Canon Basil Henry Davies, who for many years was the vicar of St Barnabas Church, Bexhill on Sea which he combined with writing for The Motor Cycle magazine from 1903 until 1961. www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk MAY: If you don’t fancy the hurly-burly of Hastings on Bank Holiday Monday there’s always the Velocette Owners Club Open Day, and the surrounding roads are quiet too. From 10am at Hamstreet Victory Hall on May Bank Holiday Monday, 1st May. There’s always a really nice line-up of Velocettes on show in the village hall. Sunday 7th May Amberley Museum Classic Motorcycle Day, Near Arundel, West Sussex. www.amberleymuseum.co.uk Dover Classic Motorcycle Show at Dover Transport Museum at Whitfield is on Sunday 14th May. Difficult to find the first time, but well worth the visit. www.dovertransportmuseum.org.uk The Romney Marsh Classic Bikejumble on 32

Sunday 21st May has a Ride-in Show with spot cash prizes for the first time. Further dates are Sunday 25th June (with Classic Show, live music and beer tent) and Sunday 17th September. www. elk-promotions.co.uk Sunbeam MCC Conyboro Run 27th & 28th May at The Six Bells, Chiddingly, East Sussex. This is a great pub, famed for its live music, beer and food. The main run is on Sunday and a club members autojumble on Saturday. www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk The famous Ace Cafe are behind the Margate Meltdown on the late May Bank Holiday, 29th May. Check-out their website www. ace-cafe-london.com for details of their regular British Bike nights at the cafe. JUNE: 11th June sees the new BikeFest South event at Goodwood, Chichester, Sussex. I’m not sure how classic this event is, but it’s a great historic venue! www.goodwood.com British Bike Night from 7pm on Thursday 21st June at The Wagon and Horses, Charing, Kent. Always a fantastic turn-out of bikes, parking for Brit bikes is in the main pub car park, while the rest park in the field.

CONTACTS

Ace Cafe www.ace-cafe-london.com Amberley Museum www.amberleymuseum.co.uk Brighton & Hove Motor Club www.brightonandhovemotorclub.co.uk Brooklands Museum www.brooklandsmuseum.com Classic Racing Motorcycle Club www.crmc.co.uk Dover Transport Museum www.dovertransportmuseum.org.uk ELK Promotions www.elk-promotions.co.uk Goodwood Circuit www.goodwood.com Kempton Park Autojumble www.kemptonparkautojumble.co.uk MCN London Motorcycle Show, Excel www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk Sussex British Motorcycle Owners Club http://sbmoc.vpweb.co.uk/ VMCC East Sussex Section www.vmcc-eastsussex.co.uk VMCC West Kent Section www.iwkr.co.uk Keep an eye on www.southeastbiker.co.uk/events for the latest information. Julie Diplock runs ELK Promotions, who organise the Classic Shows and Bikejumbles at Ardingly, Ashford and Romney Marsh. www.elk-promotions.co.uk February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

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33 15/01/2013 14:00

LITTLE STARS

Chloe Jones

Racing

Silver Pre-Teen Racer, John Allsopp catches up with a rising star…

stumbled across a post from twelve year old racer Chloe whilst meandering through Facebook. I was immediately intrigued about this young lady’s career in racing so far, so I arranged to speak to both her and her mum Charlotte. A very simple one to start. Chloe, what age did you actually start to ride? I started riding my bike just after I turned 11. How did your interest in bikes and racing first show itself? I started going to some events with my dad as he used to help his friend in the paddocks. I loved watching the bikes and ended up going to every event they did. 34

I loved spending the weekends there mainly to watch the bikes but I just loved the paddock life. It was amazing. A question for Chloe and her mum: Chloe, what do you get out of racing that will help you in later life? CJ: I think racing gives me focus. I think it also makes me more aware of things as when I’m on track I have to be constantly looking out for others making sure I’m not putting myself or anyone else in danger. I feel that that helps me off the track too as it makes me a bit more aware of my surroundings. Mum calls it being a bit more street aware. Mum: I feel Chloe’s racing definitely gives her more focus, I

know many people probably say it but Chloe really does love and live for her racing. She is always talking about it, watching it and I do believe had many dreams about it, ha-ha. I know it has helped her behave, not that she was ever a naughty child, as she knows she has to do well at school, stay out of any trouble and just be a good person in general. She knows already that what she does, people notice and she should set a good example for others. How many hours a week do you, Chloe, practice, including running, gym work etc.? I practice every Tuesday at Whilton Mill track when it’s open from when the clocks change in March until they go back in October. I

February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

LITTLE STARS

also do other tracks when they have track days on weekends. I generally just go as often as I can when time and money allow. I do lots of sports at school to try and keep fit. I play in the football team and the netball team for the school, practicing every week and doing all the tournaments. I’m hoping to start some gym work soon as well to try and build up my fitness and stamina. Mum, how does Chloe fit in her school work, and do you think she is performing well in this area in comparison to her peers? Chloe does well at school, she is on target or slightly above target in all subjects. She is excelling in sport, doing well above average. She makes time every night to do any homework she has and if she knows she has practice that night she will either do the homework in her lunch break or in her free form time. As parents we have told her she has to carry on doing well at school that is very important. We feel doing her racing definitely keeps Chloe grounded as she knows she cannot get into any trouble. I think it also does make her a bit more mature for her age. Being out on that bike takes a lot of maturity and I think all the kids that ride definitely need a good head on their shoulders. And, how much does racing take over family life and what is the family’s commitment in time as well as financially?” Mum: Racing takes over our family, it has become a new way of life. Chloe has two sisters, Megan who is older at 14 and Emily who is younger being 11. They give up lots of their weekends to take Chloe up and down the country to all the different race tracks. On the odd occasion they have stayed behind at relatives’ houses if they have had something on. Although, in all honestly they also love the racing life, they have all South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

made so many friends there that they go off and play with at some races and with some family members of other racers. For anyone who hasn’t lived the paddock life the people there honestly become like a second family. So I guess in a way, yes we do miss out on some of our own family events, but we are also lucky to share a lot of other memories with a whole new family. We are very lucky to have two families. Financially, yes it can get hard. Me and Chloe’s dad are not in the highest paid jobs but we manage. The first year of her racing was very hard and was a big wake up call for us all, but Chloe showed so much potential we knew we had to try take her as far as we could. This year, her second year in racing, we have been very lucky to have some amazing support from some great sponsors. LRJ RACING, NGK SPARK PLUGS, EBC BRAKES, AT1PRO RACE SUITS, PERSONALISED KNEE SLIDERS, MINI BIKE TYRES UK, FUCHS SILKOLENE, A & S PLANT SERVICES, CIRCUIT ELECTRICAL SERVICES, HASCO UK, UK ZED HEADS, ELK PROMOTIONS, SOUTH YORKSHIRE LADY BIKERS, 151’S , TANMAG SIGN SERVICES, JONATHAN SETTLE AND COLIN NEILL plus numerous others who donated to her fund raising team. For anyone that would like to help out: www.gofundme.com/chloe-jones-racing-2017 35

LITTLE STARS How do you, as a family, ensure Chloe still experiences the ‘fun factor’? Mum: Chloe still gets to do everything that her sisters do. She still gets to go out with her friends on the weekends we are not racing. She will go to the cinema or boost trampolining. She lives the same life as other children her age she just has the added extra of having her racing.

Chloe, who are you biking heroes and why? I am a massive Rossi fan, he is an amazing rider and really inspires me. I would love to have his talent one day. I dream of being able to go out to his ranch to be taught by him. Also Shakey Byrne, I’d love to follow in his footsteps. I’ve watched so many of his clips and videos he seems like a really nice man. It’s so hard to choose as I really do look up to so many riders. Maria Costello as well, as a female she has done amazing things. I’ve met her as well she came up to my awning when I was racing, she was so nice. I was star struck! Do you think your experience in risk assessment from track riding helps you in life in general? Definitely, yes on track I’m constantly looking ahead for my next move. Looking how I’m going to overtake. In the real world I definitely think that makes me more aware of my surroundings. I think it makes me safer walking the streets and crossing roads. Do you see any differences in your outlook to other children your age? I think I see a difference yes. Some of my friends will mess around at school and get in trouble but I know if I do that I won’t be able to race. I love racing and I would do anything to do it. I won’t be naughty because I know I risk losing it all. One of my sponsors said once they let a boy go because he was naughty. I don’t ever want that to happen to me. I work hard on my racing and I don’t want to risk losing all my hard work.

Finally Chloe, what are your dreams and aspirations for the future? I have my heart set on being in BSB and then MotoGP. I know I’m only 12 but I have a bucket list and those are the only two things on it! As a girl I would like to be an inspiration to other girls to get into the sport. I remember when I first got on the bike to race it was scary as it is mainly all boys and men there but it has been great, they all have acccepted me there and I have some amazing friends. Chloe now has a total of 30 trophies and is waiting for her parents to put up more shelves. Chloe had never even ridden a pit bike before July and it is a testament to her that she not only came first in her first race but ended up third overall in the championship (having been unable to compete in every race). Next season Chloe will be focussing on the Mini GP 140 series and I’m sure she will be showing a clean pair of heals there too. I am looking forward to hearing more about this talented young lady as I’m sure many others will as well. All the photos are courtesy of Andy Walker from British mini bike photos. Visit: http://bit.ly/British-MiniBikes2016-R9-Rednal to see Chloe in action. Chloe can also be followed on her Facebook page Chloe Jones Racing

Do your friends feel jealous or, are they supportive? I have some great friends that support me. They are always asking me how I have done and they are amazed at my trophies. My school support me, they have pictures of me up all around the school. Unfortunately there are a few people who are jealous as I think they would like to do it but their parents won’t let them. I’m very lucky to have my parents. 36

February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

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EVENTS

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17-19th February

THE LONDON MOTORCYCLE SHOW Excel, London

19th February

Bike Day at The Ace Café 11th March

Kempton Park Motorcycle Autojumble Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex

5th March

GRAVESEND EAGLES MC TRIALS Horsemonden, Kent 19th March

THE PIONEER RUN Epsom to Brighton

28th March

SOUTHEND SHAKEDOWN

Ace Café to Southend

February-March 2017 • South East Biker Magazine

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