South East Biker, Issue 66, December 2019-January 2020

@southeastbiker

The South East’s No.1 FREE bike magazine

ISSUE 66 • DEC 2019–JAN 2020

MINI MONDO WITH WITH AUSTIN AUSTIN VINCE VINCE

o75 REVIEWS A RESURRECTION

SUZUKI’S KATANA

FOR THE FUTURE: APPRENTICESHIPS LOCAL LEGEND: DOC RACER REVIEWS • FEATURES • EVENTS • SPORTS SEB: ON FULL THROTTLE SINCE 2008 southeastbiker.co.uk

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STARTING GRID

Editor scribes The winters in the UK are long, cold, dark and wet as we all know. Some ride their bikes all year round, while others tuck them up somewhere warm when the clocks go back and wait until spring is sprung. It is the perfect season to reflect on the last year’s adventures and plan for the next. Luckily we now have the internet, it may have obvious downsides, but when you need your biking fix while not actually riding, it’s a great resource.

As we head into 2020, the options for gathering motorcycling information and entertainment have never been greater. If you are planning a trip, looking at a new bike or want to try out a new biking experience, it’s all at your fingertips these days. The technology available on modern bikes, as well as how we communicate and navigate on the move, has brought a completely new riding experience.

As our lives are increasingly governed by electronic devices it’s refreshing there is still a demand for simpler, traditional products. Just look at the massive retro bike scene with its air-cooled café racers and old school wax jackets. You can still buy camera film, maps and vinyl records, when logically these formats are obsolete. We like to think that the printed format of SEB still has a place in this fast-changing world.

So, we look forward to bringing you news of next year’s motorbiking adventures, events and other biking goodies in good old paper format as well as via social media.

Stay tuned…

Nick

Visit southeastbiker.co.uk for events list CONTACT US ADVERTISING AND Debbie Tunstill, email: debs@southeastbiker.co.uk GENERAL ENQUIRIES Tel: 07913 759955 EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Nick Tunstill, email: nick@southeastbiker.co.uk

Contents

4 REVIEW: SUZUKI KATANA 8 Mini Mondo 2020 10 Skills for the Future 14 Introducing Doc Racer 16 Green Desert Tours 18 Gripping Stuff

22 AN INSPIRING OVERLANDER 26 Air bag protection

PRODUCTION: Dean Cook: deancook@magazineproduction.com PRINTING: Gemini Print, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex.

28 Frontline News from MAG

30 Used Bike Review

COVER IMAGE: Austin Vince and Mini Mondo

© 2019 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

34 Latest Gear Round-up 38 Biker directory 3

REVIEW

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SUZUKI KATANA

CAN IT CUT IT?

Are we about to take a step back in time or launch ourselves ahead of time with Suzuki’s iconic Katana? Motovlogger, o75, goes back to the future!

O

riginally manufactured between 1981 and 2006, Suzuki reaped rewards from the success of its GSX1100S Katana.

When it was launched, Suzuki claimed it to be the fastest mass-production motorcycle in the world. And you can probably see why.

With distinctive looks, it had unprecedented performance levels too. It was a sales success; the motorcycle's styling had an influence on motorcycle design still visible today.

While the Katana name, taken from a traditionally made Japanese single-edged sword used by the Samurai, remained in some global markets until 2006, it disappeared in others focusing on the GSX-F range. The Katana name

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did reappear with the arrival of Suzuki 50cc AY50 scooters from 1997.

Fast-forward to today, Suzuki has revived its iconic 1980s sharp-edged legend.

Upon first looks, you can distinctly see where old meets new. You can't escape the square splitstyling of the LED headlight. For me, this is the anchor point of its design.

The cutting edge-lip under the headlight, its curved sword lines continue over its broad shoulders holding the 999cc, liquid-cooled, 16v inline-four DOHC engine based on the GSX-R1000 K5.

Mounting the Katana, the tank feels wide.

Seated, it's comfortable, albeit in a more upright

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

REVIEW

position. I do feel my arms slightly extended, with my back and shoulders taking up support as gravity pulls me towards the dash, finding myself hanging over the tank.

The inverted monochrome-looking LCD instrument cluster offers clarity with good-sized fonts, showing rev counter, temp, a five-bar fuel gauge, gear selector, odometer, fuel range, trip and average fuel consumption and time. Symbolled LEDs accompany the screen.

While the short-height screen aids styling, I would imagine it would have little impact to deflect airborne critters.

At certain angles, I like its unique modern styling. The seat looks tidy while emulating the contrasting colours of the '80s original but with a flaired tail helping pull the lines through to the rear of the bike, where the light offers a nice finishing touch.

The OEM rear hugger, which is attached to the swingarm, is, shall we say, a distinctive feature, with the indicators and registration plate positioned lower down. If you're not keen on this look, R&G Racing has an alternative tail tidy which, as they say, 'would radically transform the rear end of the bike'. I would have to agree. It would also save over 1kg in weight too. Visit: http://bit.ly/Katana-Tail-Tidy As we hit the streets, it certainly feels at home; comfortable and predictable. It made a good impact on me. Sitting in an upright position, you can see over the cars in front and feel it would be a joy to ride when commuting.

As I leave a junction, I stalled it. How? One-touch to restart and it stalled again. The guys at On The Wheel Superstore later informed me the bike features a low-RPM Assist which lessens the chances of stalling off the line.

Hmm! That said, I had only been on the bike five-minutes

and never stalled again after that minor hiccup.

Riding around our poorly maintained local roads, it absorbed everything with ease. It is an easy bike to ride. The Katana is very well balanced and feels great for street riding. The throttle response is smooth, giving me bettercontrolled acceleration. As we head up through the ultra-smooth six-speed gearbox, your ear is drawn to the similar sounding rev levels emanating from the exhaust.

Heading onto the dual carriageway, and with plentiful torque, at around 108Nm, it'll swiftly send you to licencelosing speeds within a few seconds or so. For 1000cc fanatics, the respected long-stroke K5 engine makes this a very enjoyable street machine. With traction control and ABS, it will be welcomed by a broader range of riders.

The Brembo four-piston calliper brakes gripping against a 310mm disc are superb; strong and will pull you up to a

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

5

REVIEW

For more o75 vids, subscribe:

YouTube.com/o75uk halt in a heartbeat.

I have to give this bike its dues; it's impressive.

Perfect for a dry-weather Sunday morning ride out if you want to ride something modern, but with a distinctive return to '80s styling.

Looking at the metallic mystic silver fuel tank it certainly seems sizeable, but alas, behind the facade sits a 12-litre tank, so do expect frequent fuel stops. With an average fuel reading of around 52mpg, there is a low chance of a numb derriere as you seek to refuel every 120-130 miles or so.

This could be a little irritating if riding with others who have longer fuel-range bikes. Could looking for a fuel stop every 90 miles become a constant feature?

That aside, the bike plants itself beautifully through the corners. It handles exceptionally well.

Although it is smooth, it can still excite.

It may not appeal to everyone, but then it's unique flavour could be the point to some. It is an everyday commuter bike with a 1000cc as a significant ingredient, which sounds excellent under acceleration.

Looking for alternatives? Try the GSX-S1000 or the faired GSX-S1000F which both have a 17-litre fuel capacity or the smaller GSX-S750 which would be cheaper and could still offer up a whole bag of fun.

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Overall though, with its unique retro-styling influences taken from the original Katana, this offbeat-looking motorcycle did indeed grow on me in the flesh. I would certainly recommend taking one for a test-ride; you'll soon see why Suzuki resurrected the Katana. Nice to see a manufacturer trying something different.

Many thanks to the guys at On The Wheel Motorcycles, based in Southwick, Sussex, for the loan of the Suzuki Katana for our first-impression review.

For more information visit: http://suzuki.onthewheel.co.uk

USEFUL INFO

SUZUKI KATANA Displacement 999cc Power 150bhp @ 10,000rpm Torque 108Nm ay 9,500rpm Transmission 6-speed constant mesh Final drive Chain Wheels Cast Front tyre 120/70-17 Rear tyre 190/50-17 Seat height 825 mm Fuel capacity 12 litres Wet weight 215 kg

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

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15/01/2013 14:00

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ADVENTURE

MINI MONDO

ADVENTURES ADVENTURES 2020 2020 It’s back-to-basics with the Godfather of Adventure Motorcycling’s latest call to arms. Austin Vince outlines his vision for trail riding with Mini Mondo.

The six commandments of lo-fi adventure goonery • ROUGH CAMP: no tents — only tarps, slung between bikes.

• No gas stoves: all cooking done on fires • No privacy: team members live cheek by jowl in close quarters.

• Self-catering: real food, cooked fresh every meal, by you. Nothing processed or dehydrated.

• Daily Diary: everyone contributes to the daily entry, read aloud to the crew after supper.

• Commitment: everybody does everything.

There’s no need for a support team because we support each other. Everyone gets stuck in and works hard as per the roster of tasks.

• No Personal Kit: Pretty much just the clothes you stand up in. Everything else you carry is a group asset and that means…

• Light is Right! Less is More! Stripped back punk rock three chord m/cycle minimalism at its best.

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W

e all dream of jacking in the job.

Leaving our cares behind and setting off around the world. However, it can be hard to do this with real commitments to spouse, children and building societies.

That’s where Mini Mondo comes in. Conceived

by Austin Vince as a five-day blast of pure Mondo Mayhem this bespoke wilderness project is now in its third year. It’s rather odd to have an organised tour conceived by someone who has issued many a fatwa against organised tours but there is wisdom behind the madness, as Austin explained to SEB. “At trade fairs, shows and events, I am besieged by folk who’ve seen my films, like the sound of it, but claim they haven’t got the skills, budget or time for a decent motorcycle adventure. Immediately, I punch them in the face and then whilst they are concussed I enter them into a week of Mini Mondo. By the time they’ve regained consciousness and adjusted their clothing, it’s too late. Six months later they are halfway up a mountain in the Pyrenees, preparing a tenderloin steak fricassé on a roaring camp-fire and already on their third orgasm of the day”.

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

ADVENTURE

Vince is nothing else if not confident of his ethos. All Mini Mondo Members are sworn, by a blood oath, that they will never again attempt to join one of his trips after their first iteration.

He is on a mission, and that mission requires evangelists, apostles and emissaries. Once a rider matriculates from the Mondo Academy they are sworn to lead their own trips with a bunch of pals. Vince is trying to change the face of modern motorcycling by making trail-riding, rough camping and self-catering the new ‘normal’. And it would appear, that it’s working.

As well as the Mini Mondo project being firmly touted as a ‘warm-up’ for folk about to take on that much hoped-for, ‘big’, around-the-world exped, it is also, quite simply, terrific fun for riders who have zero intention of doing such a thing!

Weirdly, the amount of gear and preparation needed for an intense week in Spain is pretty much the same as the kit needed to go off for a year. One thing’s for sure, Mondo Members are shocked at the high quality of life they enjoy on the hillsides with such a small amount of exped clobber. The famous four inch-thick catalogues of the accessory-mongers do seem rather superfluous once you have gone ‘full Mondo’.

In this age of the internet, the blog and the forum, where the individual is the new Messiah, here comes a project that reverses that trend, as Austin explains: “Back in ’95 and indeed, 2001, Mondo Enduro and Terra Circa were pretty ambitious projects for a rag-tag bunch of clueless goons who were unsupported and out of their depth even before they reached Dover. However, with all the ‘wrong’ equipment, small bikes, no internet or mobiles, we absolutely executed the plans that we had fantasised about. We set ‘fantastic’ targets and achieved them. How? By being amazing riders or tough guys? Not for a second. What we did really well, was to forget about our personal ambitions and put the team’s

target as top priority. This sounds pretty obvious but it’s amazing how many people simply, in this day and age, cannot do that.”

On Mini-Mondo, obviously, thousands of miles away from the barren taiga of Siberia, the deserts of Chile and the neglected roads of the Congo, there is one success that CAN be replicated from the actual Mondo Enduro; the teamwork. Instead of ‘surrendering’ yourself to the project being a concession, a chore, a negative, it’s the total commitment to the group that ends up being the intoxicant the people take away from the hills.

Sure, there’s always a bit o’ campfire boozing, a crafty fag, or the thrill of the trails but it’s the intense ‘togetherness’ that people are talking about a year after their return and it’s this that Austin is really promoting: “I’ve been in sports teams all my life, lead expeditions up mountains and been through Sandhurst but I never reached teamwork Nirvana until the last few months of Mondo Enduro in 1996. That was the Johannesburg to London section. I had no idea that one being in a team didn’t mean a thing unless the team thought ‘as one’. Adventure motorcycling has changed my life, for the better. I want to share the intensity that we had back in ’96 and if you’ve only got a week, you can still be part of the gang because I’ve got just what you’re looking for.”

Mini Mondo costs £989 (£889 if you pay a deposit by 20/1/2020. It starts and finishes in Northern Catalunya. You bring your own bike or rent a Honda CRF250L (contact www.catalanadventure.co.uk). Austin & Dai (his assistant guide) provide all the food, booze, petrol and the hotel on the last night. All equipment (including your tarp) is laid on but you bring your own sleeping kit, wash-kit, waterproofs and smile.

In 2020, there are events in May, June and September. See website for full details www.austinvince.com

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

9

SKILL BUILDING

SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE There are times in our lives when some things seem inevitable. There’s the usual birth, death and taxes — unless you’re Greek; but I’m referring to something motorcycle related. Something we all take for granted as bikers is that if your pride and joy is poorly, there will be a suitably qualified, and willing, mechanic to wave a magic spanner and make it better.

Peter Karmios, the World’s Fastest Cypriot, jumps through a few hoops to deliver the bike mechanics of the future…

A

s a garage owner, I have employed mechanics and sponsored apprentices for many years, knowing that a good apprenticeship, coupled with solid experience in the workplace, can produce excellent mechanics. If we don’t encourage the next generation to engage with real, hands-on engineering, what will be the future for our ageing bikes?

About three years ago, the only college in the South East offering motorcycle apprentice training decided to stop running courses. With a young employee waiting to enrol, I wasn’t impressed with the college and tried to find alternatives. After some wrangling, the college reversed its decision and resumed the courses.

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Fast forward to the present day and we are again faced with the same problem. What is going wrong with our further education system?

Having promised my newest employee an apprenticeship, I had no way of delivering on my promise — other than to start my own college.

It sounds a bit extreme, but as our dear editor knows, I do love a challenge!

Fortunately, I met with Colin Denton from North London Garages who operate as an independent college for car apprenticeships.

After his initial assessment that I was barking mad for even trying, he was very supportive and gave me some invaluable help and advice.

It would seem that bikers are not being singled out for shoddy treatment by our educators,

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

SKILL BUILDING motor vehicle courses are also disappearing. The impression I’m getting is that state-run colleges don’t want the hassle and low financial returns of running vehicle apprenticeships.

From their perspective, vehicle workshops consume a large chunk of college space, are expensive to equip and require specialist tutors that are qualified mechanics and can teach — you’d have more luck finding an honest member of parliament! Compare this to cramming a room full of aspiring Hair and Beauty technicians earning the college lots of student fees for not much investment...

So, given the reluctance of state colleges to support motorcycle apprenticeships I put my big boy’s pants on over my trousers, went online and found out how bloody hard it is to become a training provider! The vetting process

is pretty thorough, as you’d expect. Then you get drawn into a twilight zone of real and imagined horrors where every potential danger must be addressed. Risk assessments, safeguarding, gender equality, anti-radicalisation, policies for everything and even a complaints procedure for students before they start training!

Dazed by all the jargon but too stupid to give up, I metaphorically slapped on lots of a well-known lubricant and staggered over all the administrative hurdles like a retarded sumo wrestler.

Eventually, somehow, we were accepted by the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK Register of Learning Providers and the Skills Funding Agency.

Now that Bike Smart Technical has the blessing of the Skills Funding Agency, we can ensure that motorcycle apprenticeships will be available in the South East. They will be the same as the state-run courses, except that we will guarantee to run them and will have industry professionals in charge.

The Motorcycle Technician Standards course is a threeyear apprenticeship course that will result in a professional qualification and NVQ to level 3.

Interestingly, the workshop

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07/11/2019 15:5911

SKILL BUILDING

and classroom facilities we’ve installed at our Haywards Heath premises for apprentice training have allowed us to expand our popular maintenance courses. These weekend courses teach riders how to carry out basic servicing on their own bikes through a combination of theory and practical exercises. In the near future, we will develop courses to cover more advanced tuition, such as repairing fork seals, head bearings, chain and sprockets, clutches, etc.

Our aim with the maintenance course is to promote awareness among riders that their machines are not some magical beast that can only be serviced by the spannering gods.

Anyone with a touch of common sense, basic tools, a workshop manual and the right training can keep their bike safe, roadworthy and well maintained. This attitude probably stems from my distant childhood when bikes were a lot less reliable and you never left home without a pocketful of assorted tools and spare spark plugs. The main reason I smoked Rothmans back then was because of the silver paper in the fag packet. Folding the silver paper once gave me the contact breaker gap, folded twice was perfect for the spark plug gap!

It is my hope for the future that we keep our traditional garages. For some time there has been a trend towards big, main dealerships that have fantastic showrooms and state of the art workshops. Their focus appears to be on newer machines still under warranty and with relatively low miles. Naturally, the old nail that’s your beloved ride will not be too welcome in their shop if it can’t be plugged into a diagnostic computer, and the £100+ per hour labour rate may make the repair unviable.

In summary, if I can help and encourage a future generation of mechanics, both amateur and professional to maintain our bikes and keep them roadworthy, I’ll be a happy idiot!

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December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine 14/05/2018 09:26

LEGAL SUPPORT

MW SOLICITORS

DEFECTIVE PRODUCT CLAIMS FOR MOTORCYCLES BAKER V KTM SPORTMOTORCYCLE UK

We all want our bikes to function at optimum condition at all times, which is why we spend time and money in maintaining them.

But what is the position if a component fails causing injury? A look at the case of Baker v KTM Sportmotorcycle UK Ltd shows how the law works.

I

n November 2009, Mr Baker purchased a KTM Supermoto 990 from a dealer second hand. It had been manufactured in around March 2008. He was an experienced motorcyclist and owned six motorcycles.

On 24 January 2010, he was riding his bike when suddenly the front brake seized. He was thrown off and suffered serious injuries.

He sued the manufacturer, alleging that the accident was caused by a defect in the motorcycle, contrary to section 3(1) of the Consumer Protection Act, and/or their negligence.

An expert mechanical engineer for Mr Baker examined the bike and found the front wheel to be stiff, and markings on the disc suggestive of an imbalanced braking system. An expert from a laboratory found deposits on the brake disc assembly that the engineering expert considered to be indicative of galvanic corrosion, and not road salt causing corrosion. He further concluded that system did not appear to have sufficient protection from galvanic corrosion. KTM’s engineer expert examined the bike some three years later, finding no stiffness, an absence of corrosion and concluded that the brakes failed due to a failure in maintenance.

At the trial a lay witness appeared for Mr Baker who had experienced a similar incident with a KTM bike. KTM called a witness from the design department of Brembo, who had supplied the brake assembly.

The Consumer Protection Act provides that there is a defect if “the safety of the product is not such as persons generally

are entitled to expect”. In determining that, all the circumstances are considered. In Mr Baker’s case, guidance was provided by an earlier case of Ide v ATB Sales Ltd, which concerned an injury to a mountain bike rider, and the issue in that case of whether the fracture to the handlebar occurred because the handlebar was defective or whether it fractured when the rider fell from his bike. In Ide, the Judge found that the handlebar was defective and had fractured instantaneously and, crucially, not as a result of the fall.

At the trial the Judge found that that the cause of the seizing of the brakes was galvanic corrosion which had happened “as a result of a design defect combined with faulty construction or the use of inappropriate or faulty materials” which “was the probable cause of the brakes seizing.”

Further, that the “defects in the braking system” meant that “the safety in the braking system” on the bike was “not such as persons generally are entitled to expect” they were defects within the Act and that they caused the accident and resulting injuries to Mr Baker. Mr Baker’s claim therefore succeeded.

KTM appealed on the basis that there was insufficient evidence that the galvanic corrosion was caused by a defect within the meaning of the Act, which was unsuccessful.

Philip Scarles is an Associate Solicitor at MW Solicitors and has assisted many motorcyclists injured in accidents. Tel: 01732 758544. email: philip.scarles@ mwsolicitors.co.uk or visit the website: www.mwsolicitors.co.uk

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

13

MEETING

MEETING A LOCAL LEGEND

DOC RACER I

Dom Humby meets a two-wheel Doc

have had the privilege to meet a local legend, Doc Racer! Recently, I visited his shop, The Biker Shop, in St Leonards. At first glance, this heavily tattooed guy with a Mohawk and flesh holes might seem intimidating, but the overwhelming warmth of his personality and undeniable passion for racing is a salutary lesson never to judge a book by its cover.

The moment you step into the veritable Aladdin’s cave of pre-loved riding kit, you find yourself enveloped, not only buy the evocative smells of leather, but the warmth of the man himself. From vintage O’Neil boots to modern Furygan gloves and Shark helmets, he is sure to have something that caters for all. We took a stroll around the corner to a local deli, where Doc treated me to a latte and we started talking racing.

At 60 years old, you wouldn’t believe that he only started racing fours years ago and completed his first season in the Suzuki UK Motul Bandit Championship during 2016. Doc goes on to tell me that he very nearly gave up after the first race as he was getting lapped; his brain telling him to call it quits. He was surprised to find that, back at the paddock, plenty of other riders were not only congratulatory but enthusiastically encouraging him to continue racing.

Four years later and he finished last season in ninth place for the senior’s race. Something Doc is extremely proud of, and rightly so! He attributes his success to a lot of hard work and the support he receives from other racers. Everyone chips

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in to help each other. A mantra that Doc uses in not only life trackside, but every day in his local community.

Having owned his shop for ten years, Doc is a specialist in used motorcycle attire and equipment. In previous years, as a motorcycle instructor, he would have students arrive wearing sub-standard clothing for riding a motorcycle. To combat this, he set up a shop to help new riders buy good quality used kit at a fraction of the price. He runs the shop six days a week to provide an income for his family and fund his race season.

The Suzuki UK Motul Bandit Championship consists of 32 races at eight locations in England and Wales, with four heats at each track. Last season saw over 28,000 spectators come to Castle Combe circuit. This is one of the most challenging series of its class to race in. Doc enjoys this challenge and thrives when racing.

Given his relatively short career going from where he started to being placed ninth is no

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

MEETING small accomplishment, so much so it caught the attention of the legendary Paul Wood who said: “I must say Doc, your determination to overcome adversity since you started racing has shone brightly more than anyone in all the years I have been racing.”

Furthermore to this, Doc has been awarded the “Proddy Group 2017” award for “Most Endeavour Given”.

Doc has an unquestionable love for racing. His hard work and dedication to this speak volumes of not only his results but also his character, he went on to say, “it’s the biggest buzz, motorcycle racing makes heroin addiction seem like a vague wish for something salty”.

Until recently, the future for Doc Racer and more specifically next season hasn’t had a bright outlook. Fortunately, local businesses have rallied around in support of Doc and he is now well on the way to smashing next season.

With sponsorship from 1066 Motorcycle Training, Dandelion Deli, Rex’s Speed Shop and Cactus Hound Bar, Doc’s hopes for next season are flourishing. He went on to submit thanks to not just his sponsors but also his family both at home and trackside as, without their support, he wouldn’t be where he is today!

As well as his racing career, and owning his own shop, Doc also is a featured writer for UK Club Sport and previously Open Mega.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Doc. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to pop in and see him. You’ll not only find great kit and decent prices, but be welcomed into what I can only describe as the warmest of environments.

With cracking wit and a characteristic personality you’ll not only have a laugh but also find a sure fire bargain.

If you would be interested in sponsoring Doc Racer please get in touch with us at SEB or directly with him via Facebook or email at: thebikershop@sky.com. @Doc Racer

The adventure starts in store

R O A D

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T R A I L

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E N D U R O

MOTOWARD.CO.UK

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M OTO - X

Tel: 01403 823222 • Web: www.motoward.co.uk • Email: motowardsales@aol.co.uk

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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 HPBiker 0117.indd 1 South East Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

09/01/2017 10:43 15

TOURING

GREEN DESERT M OTO TO U R S

Expanding its range, destinations, itineraries and more…

G

reen Desert Moto Tours are expanding their range of destinations in 2020 to include unique trips around the Iberian Peninsula in association with Duncan Gough and Catalan Adventure. Duncan has been exploring the region for 40 years and clocked up more than 50,000 miles in the process.

Andy Leett, MD of GDMT, explains “we are offering various itineraries, be it cultural where we visit historical sites, sporting to take in a MotoGP or World Superbike Race, or to try some off-road trail riding or other activity. My personal favourite is a Spaghetti Western tour to see the film sets from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. We aim to provide a memorable experience that will stay with you forever.”

Places are limited and the tours are divided into smaller groups of five bikes with varying options for each day’s riding, depending on requirements.

A feature of the tours is there is a minimum of simply getting from A to B; each day is structured to take in points of interest with spectacular riding scenery. Accommodation is a mixture of Paradors and small family run hotels. Customers can choose to bring their own bikes or fly over

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Green Desert Moto Tours are teaming up with Duncan Gough (pictured). Duncan's book review, Sketches of Spain, can be found on page 30.

and pick up a rental bike from various locations which GDMT will arrange.

More information is available on the website www.greendesertmototours.co.uk.

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

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* Excludes flights

Our rural casita provides the perfect base from which to explore this beautiful region on- or off-road

• Fly'n'Ride or stopover as part of your tour • Use your own bikes or our Honda CRF250Ls • Guided day trips on trails and tarmac • Suitable for all levels of experience including novices

• Small groups with a maximum of four riders • Three-bedroom self-catering casita close to local town • Within easy reach of the Mediterranean and Barcelona • Road bike hire arranged if required

For details and packages, contact Nick at catalanadventure@gmail.com

South East Catalan Adventure HPHBiker 0919.indd 1 Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

www.catalanadventure.co.uk

17

06/09/2019 12:29

TYRE SPECIAL

GRIPPING STUFF

o75, Dom Humby and Nick Tunstill offer their choice for road and trail

MICHELIN ROAD 5

Trying to find the right tyre for your bike, riding conditions and intentions can be a difficult decision.

How often do you see people posting on motorcycle Facebook groups asking for tyre recommendations when responses list brands other riders know? While on the one hand, it's great to hear riders recommend tyres, but would they be suited for the rider asking for the recommendation in the first place? o75 has spotted why one particular tyre comes up time, after time.

I've ridden many motorcycles using different tyres, so you do feel the feedback after all this riding. Tyres are developed for a specific purpose so it’s important to find the right tyre for you.

Before spirited Facebook groups became an integrated part of the biking community for recommendations, I relied upon other sources.

I researched manufacturer websites, magazine reviews, and spoke to dealers to find the best type of tyre for me, my bike and the purpose I was to use them for, which is mainly touring.

Back then, Michelin launched the Pilot Road 3s. It was a considerable improvement over the OEM tyre the manufacturer fitted on my bike.

The research ticked all the boxes and, while not competitively priced, the additional expected mileage outweighed the extra expense compared to its competition.

Swapping in pairs since the PR3s, I've had a set of flawless Pilot Road 4s, and, because I knew the brand, the tyre and the technology, it was only a natural progression to fit Road 5s. Seeing a pair of PR4s did just under 10k miles, Michelin claimed these could go further.

The interesting feature with this tyre is the Sipe technology which means, as the tyre is worn, it continues to displace the same amount of water and the outer edges of the tyre remains soft to give you exceptional grip in the dry. Unlike the PR4s, the Sipe technology is away from the edges as Michelin realised riders wouldn't generally lean that far in the wet.

Even when 50% worn, and at 3500 miles, the Road 5s offer the same confidence in wet and dry conditions and stops the bike as quickly as a new set of Pilot Road 4 tyres.

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Using the combined technologies of 2CT and 2CT+ with the latest generation of compounds and evolutionary XST Evo Siped tread, Road 5 does offer excellent continuous grip.

Only once, and very recently, did I have a very slight twitch. It immediately regained grip, and the bike was back under control. Looking back, I put that down to diesel on a country road. I can hardly blame the tyre. It did its job.

Have I used these in the wet? Oh yeah, many times. On one occasion, coming back up through France, I was pushing hard through torrential rain and strong winds for several hours. Not once were they a concern to knock my confidence.

We’re pretty much at 5000 miles; the Road 5s show no sign of squaring off and still offer excellent tread depth. I'm anticipating a change will be required around the 10k mile mark. We shall see.

Overall, for a mixed-road use, whether doing long stretches on the motorway or navigating the fast twisties of the Picos de Europa, I can wholeheartedly give this tyre a five out of five.

You only need to visit Michelin's website to see what other riders think. Or ask the question within your motorcycle Facebook groups; I'm sure you will see Michelin Road 5s would be a common recommendation. www.michelin.co.uk

CONTINENTAL SPORT ATTACK Dom Humby puts on new boots: Over the spring and summer period I’ve been testing some new tyres out on the trusty Honda. Having a 16-inch front wheel means that tyre packages can be somewhat difficult to find with only a limited selection to choose from. Thankfully Graham, from Cambrian Tyres, was on hand to get me sorted.

And he did just that using the Continental Sport Attack Hypersport Continuous Compound tyre.

For those of you who may be new to motorcycling and not know what a continuous compound tyre is, here goes. Continental feature a unique manufacturing process in all of its premium tyres which gives all the benefits of dual compound, but with an added bonus. Typically, a dual compound tyre has a clear dividing point in

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

TYRE SPECIAL the tread between the different types of rubber.

With a variance of wear rate between the two compounds a small ridge can appear later in the tyre life, which leads to a feeling of insecurity when cornering. In the final manufacturing process of curing the tyre in a very hot mould, Continental have engineered a way of varying the heat across the single compounded treaded area.

This variance of heat makes the finished rubber compound react in different ways. The gradient of heat variance is smooth, avoiding the step change between hard and soft rubber. The benefits of this process are the same as dual compound with more durability in the centre and corner grip on the edges. The bonus with the Continental Continuous Compound is that these benefits are maintained throughout the tyre’s life without any drop off in performance.

Centralised at the Continental Sport Attack’s construction is a patented zero-degree steelbelted construction. This provides synchronicity of performance from both front and rear tyres, allowing impeccable straight line high speed stability and forgiving, neutral turn in and handling response. Switching from a Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport to a Continental Sport Attack Hypersport, I saw a noticeable improvement in handling immediately. Although Bridgestone offer a really good amount of grip, I found that the Continentals really keep you planted through the bends, giving you a lot more confidence when cornering at speed.

The Sport Attacks didn’t take very long to generate heat and remain at optimum temperature, which was very useful when heading out and not returning until later in the evening.

To achieve fast warm up times, the Continental Sport Attack is equipped with their unique Black Chili compound, this enables the tyre to operate effectively in cooler conditions and provides wet weather grip that only increases and inspires confidence.

Having covered a little over 1500 miles on them now, I’m really looking forward to see how they will fare in the winter, as throughout this season they’ve been amazing and continue to impress.

Given that they are sold as a summer tyre they do give a lot of grip in the wet, so using them over the winter shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

In my opinion they’re brilliant and worth investing in. Check out your local tyre specialist for a full range and pricing. I’ve never felt more confident in a set of tyres than I do now and will continue to give as much feedback as possible into their durability throughout the winter months. www.conti-bike.co.uk

MICHELIN ANAKEE WILD

Nick Tunstill: Check out any greenlaning or offroad forum and one of the most common subjects is rubber selection. As always, the dreaded word ‘compromise’ often crops up. The balance between usability on tarmac and off-road, combined with grip versus longevity is about as easy to solve as Brexit.

We tested several sets of Michelin’s Anakee Wild tyres on Honda CRF250Ls on sections of the TET (Trans Euro Trail) and local roads in Catalonia to see how they held up. The bikes were also ridden by different riders with various levels of experience and expertise.

One of the advantages of these Michelin 50/50 tyres is that they are designed to be run on varying surfaces without altering tyre pressures, an obvious bonus. Visually the tread pattern looks rounded enough for decent tarmac grip but chunky enough to handle the off-piste stuff as well. With heavy duty motocross tubes fitted, we hoped they would stay puncture free as well (they did).

On the road they scrubbed in quickly; we took it easy for the first 100km, particularly when wet.

The Anakees inspired confidence in all conditions on tarmac, all the riders were impressed with the levels of grip and handling. In fact many were actually surprised how well they performed. Obviously there is not an awful lot of power being put down by a 250, but these would certainly hold up well on the UK’s decrepit roads.

The trails of Spain are generally dry and stony with a bit of gravel and packed mud thrown in for good measure. Unless there has been a heavy downpour mud is not usually an issue. Again the Michelins performed well. Where we did encounter something more slippery they coped with ease. Levels of grip and riding confidence were high overall. As regards overall performance, these Michelins do a great job.

However, the problem with the Anakees was the wear rate, on the rears in particular. After around 2000 km the back tyres were down to under 5 mm. They still were fine on the road but there was a distinct lack of bite on anything remotely wet.

The fronts, however, held up well and would easily see off two sets of rears. For a balance between on-road manners and off-road usability, the Anakees work well. Just don’t ride too far… www.michelin.co.uk

REVIEW

E X O T O G G

"IT'S THE BEST BIT OF KIT I HAVE BOUGHT IN 15 YEARS!" It isn’t cheap, it doesn’t look all that impressive, it is pretty simple BUT it really works! It makes and keeps you warm. Duncan Gough layers up…

C

oming off the ferry the evening of June 19th I had come up over the high Puerto de Escudo (3,300’) and spent a comfortable night at Jesus Obrego’s Hostal and Bar by the Embalse de Ebro. The next morning there was a very light drizzle from the clouds that cloaked the Cantabrians.

I debated what to wear, I normally ride in a cotton ‘T’shirt and my Bikers Paradise denim (with protection) jacket and Lindstrands jeans (with protection).

I totally believe that comfort has as much to do with safety as the gear you wear. It is all very well having thousands of pounds of tailored leather and the kind of armour racers use to survive high speed crashes, but if you are overheating or chilled then your abilities are affected and the chances of a miscalculation leading to an accident increase. As you know, it can get a little warm in Spain and Portugal and over the last twenty years, I have found that denim, which will wick away the heated sweat from your skin, is by far the coolest gear to wear.

Do I put on my light rainproof or not? Not. So often the cloud stops at the Puerto de Escudo or within a few miles that I thought I’d just get going and

probably be in the sunshine shortly.

It was not to be! Hmmm…. The bike is telling me it is actually only 10 degrees and within a couple of miles I could feel the cold creeping into me, on came the heated grips. Cabanas de Virtus is just under 3,000’ but heading south after crossing a high valley one goes over the Puerto de Carrales which is back over 3,300’. Now I ride all winter and I know full well that once you let your temperature fall it takes a lot to get it back.

I pulled over at the pass and got out the neat little package of the Exotogg. Off with the jacket, on with the Exotogg

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December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

vest, a few puffs of air and miraculously I started feeling warm.

And that is what is so brilliant, as soon as you put the warmth of your own breath into the vest it starts radiating your body heat back to you. If you want more insulation then blow it up a bit more. Jacket back on and off I went comfortable, alert and happy!

I used it again when over in the Catalan Pyrenees near Vielha. Two years ago going over the Puerto de la Bonaigua it was down to five degrees (July). The Exotogg is ideal for the Iberian Peninsular where one can frequently gain two thousand feet of altitude and lose 15 degrees of temperature within ten or twenty miles. Easy to put on and off, packs up small enough to go in a pocket AND it has other qualities.

Sleeping in the UK in the back of my car, my blow-up mattress had a slow leak; blew up the Exotogg and slept on top of it, need a pillow for your siesta under a tree – Exotogg!

The Power of Dreams

Weave through city traffic, on to the motorway, then out to the unknown.

CB500X Telephone: 020 8399 2417 312-320 Ewell Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7AW

www.honda-tippetts.co.uk Tippetts Honda 1219 HP.indd 1 South East Biker Magazine • www.southeastbiker.co.uk

13/11/2019 10:47 21

OVERLAND EVENT

THE OVERLAND EVENT 2019

AN ASPIRING OVERLANDER When Dom Humby first started motorcycling, he would constantly watch MotoGP or the IOMTT, the skill involved astounded him. Racing on track and road is unbelievable, but racing is something he doubts he’d personally ever tackle and, as time went on, he found there was something missing…

ADVENTURE! If, like him, you’ve never been 'overlanding' then Overland Magazine’s event is the best place to start.

T

he Overland Event 2019 began with a 5am wake up followed by meeting SEB’s John Allsopp at Polegate Services at 6am.

From there, a trip along the A22 and A272 to Loomies Moto Café was followed by a stint up the A34 to Oxford. Upon arrival we were greeted by the gate staff and a lovely woman checking us off the entry list and providing stickers and wrist bands.

At this point I was excited beyond comprehension; I’d been waiting for ages to go and I didn’t know what to expect. Riding up from the gate we followed a single track past the main site and an array of purveyors with all their adventure bikes and kit. At the half-way point of the track we arrived at the designated motorcycle parking area and we unloaded the bikes and trundled up to the dorms where we’d be sleeping.

After we’d dropped our gear off and settled in, we made our way back down towards the main site to have a bimble around and see what we

22

could find. Paying homage to past and present overlanders was a marquee centralised in the grounds with what I can only describe as possibly the world's greatest collection of overlanding motorcycles. Some had long since retired, like Stanley Glanfield’s Rudge that went around the

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

OVERLAND EVENT

world in 1927/8, but others that are still going strong with hefty mileages and countless stories to tell. Among those ogling these well-travelled machines we found riders from Estonia, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, South Africa, USA and others.

Next to this marquee was the authors’ tent, filled with such intrepid explorers as Sam Manicom, Ted Simon, Jacqui Furneaux, Duncan Ryn Gough and the legendary Elspeth Beard (the first women to motorcycle around the world).

John and I managed to catch up with Neil Foulks for a brief period between some of his many adoring fans. Alas it didn’t take long for

another one to show up as he is a rather popular bloke.

We were greeted by our good friends Tony and Viv from Exotogg, who were as usual in full swing and never quiet for long at any event. We moved on quickly with the promise of a beer and catch up later.

When having a gander around, The Overland Event we found a plethora of brands that cater for any need and would answer any questions we had. Overland doesn’t stop there. The event also plays host to a MotoSkills course, test rides and a range of workshops.

The owner and editor of Overland Magazine,

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

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OVERLAND EVENT

Paddy, gave a very educational lesson on how to get published as a writer (yes, I attended that one).

Photography workshops were run by Margus Sootla, the first Estonian to go global over three years and a regular contributor to Overland Magazine.

There's also a tyre changing workshop with Graham Matcham from Cambrian tyres and first aid training with BikerDown, coupled with talks from Sam Manicom, Hayley Bell, Steph Jeavons, Suzie and Kelvin, Bruce Smart, Ted Simon (the author of Jupiter’s Travels and who many say started it all). And not forgetting Jacqui Furneaux and her beloved Royal Enfield bullet with her extensive inventory of tales spanning seven years visiting 20 countries with absolutely no plan.

After going to the ‘How to get published’ workshop, I had to go and see Elspeth Beard and I haven’t regretted it as it’s filled me with such inspiration that I haven’t shut up about it since.

Seriously, ask John, I haven’t. You can find both Jacqui Furneaux’s book, Hit The Road Jac and Elspeth Beard’s book Lone Rider in book shops now and they’re well worth reading in my humble opinion.

In truth, the whole event has me left me feeling a little blue. Now I feel more determined than ever to not only go overlanding but also to return to this incredible event. You can turn up on absolutely anything and be at one with folk who don’t care what you ride or if you’ve ever been overlanding before. They're just pleased you’re there and happy to share any advice they can.

You will be universally accepted because you’re there for the same reason everyone else is; that little taste of the unknown, learning something from someone else’s experiences or picking up tips for your next or even your first motorcycle adventure.

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The Overland Event has it all and, coupled with some great food vendors, (they have breakfast pizza, nom nom nom) at good prices and a fabulous selection of beverages available at the bar. They also supply free tea and coffee for the entire duration of the event, and if you’re anything like John, you need plenty of coffee. John has talked to me about other events like this that he had attended recently and stated in his concise way “I find that HUBB, whilst good, is about travelling by any means or vehicle.

ABR, whilst also good, is more about off-roading and green-laning in the UK or overseas.

The Overland Event, though, is purely about travelling overseas by any bike. Hence it attracts a real 'hard core' (and wonderful) group of diverse and interesting people. For me it’s therefore the best event of this type of the year.”

After my first experience of The Overland Event I couldn’t agree more as it encompasses everything about motorcycle adventures.

I came away from The Event feeling happy and inspired, having met so many interesting people, of whom two live quite literally down the road in Saltdean and Brighton. I was also feeling somewhat glum because I’ve got to wait a whole year before I can go back and experience it all again. If you get half a chance to go, DO IT! You will not regret it.

I would like to say a massive thank you to Paddy and his team for making it all happen. A massive thank you to all the adventurers who go to share their experiences and lastly a massive thank you to my colleague John who accompanied me and made the experience one to remember.

Tickets for The Overland Event 2020 are available from www.overlandevent.com

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

OVERLAND EVENT

OVERLAND 2020 Photos: Jocke Selin, Matt Purcell and Beki Little

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he Overland Event will be in its sixth year in 2020 and just gets better and better.

Attendees ride in from all over Europe, and occasionally from further afield, to meet icons of overland travel like Ted Simon, Elspeth Beard, Margus Sootla and Austin Vince. There are presentations, film screenings, workshops and everything is linked directly to travelling by bike.

Being on the bike matters too of course, and there are always test rides from manufacturers.

Last year The Event decided to pull together bikes that you may not easily get an opportunity to ride, like the Fantic Caballero 500, SWM 600 Superdual, AJP PR7 and more, all lightweight bikes that make perfect sense for overland travel.

At the Moto Skills Course you can learn loads of low-speed handling skills and ultimately practise riding up and down steps, because who knows what that hotel in Turkey will be like... But don't worry, if you don't fancy using your own machine you can borrow the remarkable Sinnis Terrain to build your skill and confidence level.

The bike show at the heart of The Event is under cover and the machines are spot-lit, making it a great place to just hang out and soak up the atmosphere that only being surrounded by such a fantastic collection of globe-trotting machines can produce. There are museum pieces like Ted Simon's original Triumph from his 1974-78 round the world trip and last year even Stanley Glanfield's Rudge outfit that went global in 1927-28! What tales those bikes could tell. There are usually 30 stunning machines from all eras,

some that even ride in having just completed a marathon trip. There is nothing quite like grabbing an ale from the real ale bar, studying the modifications, or wondering what incident created that particular dent, and then realising you can just ask the rider because they might be lounging on a bean-bag nearby.

The Event has rightly become known as the friendliest, most relaxed bike event on the calendar. It's completely residential, so there are no day visitors coming in and off site, and the sense of community rapidly builds. The tea and coffee is also completely free all weekend but you can of course leave a donation in the charity tin. For the last few years The Overland Event has been focussing its charitable attentions on the health charity 'Motorcycle Outreach' and has been able to buy, deliver and maintain two bikes as well as train riders and mechanics in Flores, Indonesia.

The charity is ultimately the brainchild of Simon Milward who was riding the world from 2000 until his untimely death in Mali in 2005. He was a friend of the Overland team and he'd noticed how, in many parts of the world, the only vehicles which can ensure health care workers remain mobile all year round are small, light motorcycles.

So come to Oxford, enjoy laughter, learn a lot, be inspired to travel somewhere you haven't and enjoy the food, drink and live music from around the world. And if you don't want to camp there are even dorm beds available!

The 2020 dates are 3rd-6th September. OX2 9NJ

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

25

FIGHTING ON THE

FRONTLINE

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Andy Carrott, MAG National Vice Chairman, updates us

he Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) had its annual group conference at the end of September. Torrential rain may have dampened (flooded!) the campsite to such an extent that the changing rooms at the rugby club venue were opened so there was a warm and dry place for those members who couldn’t find accommodation, but spirits were not dampened in the conference. There was much enthusiastic debating of motions, a bit of boring routine reporting of admin, an entertaining review of our campaigns from Lembit Öpik and Colin Brown (our two-man paid campaigns team), followed by much back slapping and emotion with our awards and donations presentations. A very successful event followed by equally successful conference party.

At conference we not only look back to our

past year, we also look forward to where our campaigns might need to take us, but within a few weeks that landscape changed with the announcement of an election (whoopie doo, we all needed that!). The problem is, we are in such a convoluted political atmosphere no one seems to have much time for anything other than the B word (and then the election).

However we did manage to get some questions asked in Parliament. The answers back up our claim that motorcycles (include in that scooters and mopeds), even with internal combustion engines, are part of the solution to environmental concerns. When it comes to one of the pollutants connected with health issues (NOx) the government’s figures show we are far cleaner than other forms of road transport.

We are cleaner in other areas of emissions too, but the computer models often used for such

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December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine 12/05/2015 18:00

analysis do not allow for filtering and often show bikes to be less clean than they really are.

We are worried about the future for the internal combustion engine (ICE) because it clearly has a role to play in the current transport mix, a view even supported by the United Nations in respect to motorcycles. But pollution and climate change concerns are pushing an agenda of proposed bans on the sale of ICE vehicles (2040 in England, 2032 in Scotland, with some campaigners pushing for sooner). Add in congestion and emission zone charges, plus even outright bans on certain types of vehicle (for example diesel vehicles in Bristol), and you can see that the old suck, squeeze, bang, blow that some of us enjoy is under threat.

Never has the future of personal transport been in such a fluid state. Public transport, cycling and walking are clearly to be encouraged, but that doesn’t work for huge swathes of the population, especially in rural areas. Lots of new electric vehicles are coming on the market and nearly every day there’s news of technological advances. Battery range is improving, new fuel cells claimed to give a car a range of 1500 miles

are being developed, and there are rumours of hydrogen-fuelled bikes with 400km range.

Synthetic fuels are available, but not yet in sufficient quantity to support a large number of vehicles. I read recently that floating islands of solar panels could produce large quantities of fuel from the ocean.

This is all great news, but we need to make sure bikes and scooters remain part of the transport mix. It is all well and good if we can zoom about on electric motorcycles but there needs to be suitable charging infrastructure for bikes. I expect we have all encountered problems finding motorcycle parking, so we all know firsthand that motorcycles are sometimes (often!) overlooked. And who knows, if we can retain the internal combustion engine, we may be filling it up with a green, carbon neutral, synthetic fuel?

Whatever the future holds MAG wants two (and three wheeled) motorised vehicles to be part of it. If you would like to support us in that endeavour you can join MAG online at www.mag-uk.org or by calling 01926 844064.

Membership costs just £27 for a year. Family, corporate and club affiliations also available.

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27 23/03/2016 10:45

RIDER SAFETY

IS INFLATION GOOD FOR YOU? We asked Les Smith, ex-motorbike traffic cop, BikeSafe observer, IAM member and off-road god for his take on the inflatable protective kit now on offer. After all, the MotoGP guys use this technology so there must be something in it…

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hat do I think of the inflatable airbag style body protection systems? asked the editor. Are they good, bad or just a lot of wind’n’bluster? Think of it as a life jacket for a motorcycle rider; after all the technology is very similar to the kit used on water by sailors.

Air-bag safety systems in vests and certain jackets have been with us for some time and, in fact, the whole air-bag safety vest/jacket thing has been used by road riders and in sport for a few years now. Their popularity has spread in the equestrian world as well. MotoGP riders all have these systems in their leathers now and they seem to do a good job. Mind you, these riders don’t have kerbs, lamp posts and oncoming traffic to worry about.

I like the idea of an inflatable safety device built into my jacket. Anything that can protect me in

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the event of a crash has to be a good thing and, reflecting on my experience and involvement in road collisions over the years not to mention my own contacts with the tarmac, I have some insight into what happens to a rider unlucky enough to be in a crash. Looking at the way they work, and what they protect on the rider, the effectiveness certainly depends on the dynamics in certain types of crashes. Although they will no doubt give some protection in most crashes, the main protection is centred on the spine and core body areas. Legs and arms can be left vulnerable to injury in some situations, kerbs and such like, but vital organs are well protected from many impact types.

What I don’t like are the more basic aspects.

I don’t like the look of some of the vests and gadgets. And the cost; they are very expensive.

I can already hear some of you saying “you can’t

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

RIDER SAFETY put a price on safety”. Well, sorry to have to be a little subversive, but you can and people do all the time. I feel this is an important issue, especially if riders are to adopt these devices and other safety equipment. Safety kit has to be readily affordable.

Many a time I’ve been in a bike shop listening to riders chew over the price of kit and especially on issues such as leather vs textile. Just look at how crash helmets vary massively in cost and who is prepared to pay for what.

I’ve heard blokes say things like “I got the wife a cheaper lid because she only comes out on the back now and again” or “it’s only for commuting”. Although we may take the moral high ground in theory, in practice money is important.

There’s no getting away from it, the air-bag vests and jackets are expensive, and some systems are even one-use only essentially. If it’s activated, even in a slow speed spill (i.e., fall off in a car park while parking), it sometimes has to be sent away to be reset. Although, in fairness, there is kit out there that can have a new gas canister fitted (£20+ per canister) and, in seconds, you’re off again.

GOOD OR BAD Do I think they are a good or a bad thing? Good overall, any safety kit that is proven to work is worth using and, having read up on the tech and some of the reports and anecdotes from racing as to the effectiveness of the systems, this information is encouraging. The technology differs slightly between manufacturers, but in essence a fall activates a super quick inflation of an air filled “cage” or “external skeleton” protecting the user’s body.

From what I can tell, the air bag inflation is aimed at the prevention of spinal and core body injuries. Back in 2005, I suffered a crush fracture to my thoracic spine (T6) in an off-road crash.

I can vouch for how worrying it is when the consultant says “Mr Smith, you have fractured

your spine”. You would think that I would be the first in the queue to buy and wear one, even when walking the dog. Perhaps.

I don’t have one, (yet) and that’s for several reasons, and it’s not just that I’m a tight Yorkshireman. In the basic form, sadly the vest type protector looks awkward and a bit cumbersome, and just like some other yellow high-vis kit it looks a bit nerdy.

Bikers are, whether they admit it or not, often conscious of what they look like.

The ones I’ve seen built into bike jackets work better than the over-vest type for me visually. I understand the idea some vest type units can be used over any jacket, whereas the built-in stuff is not so versatile.

Also, from a safety point of view there is a large gas canister on the front of the vest type, and I’m not sure I feel comfortable with it in that location. I would worry about injury if it were to dig in during a fall.

Then there’s the weight of the garments as a whole. They are heavy; add this to riding in high summer temperatures and the resultant discomfort (heat) would be more distracting and I reckon therefore more of a risk to safety than the kit I’m wearing. Dehydration and tiredness being a possible factor.

If these air bag protection systems can save riders from serious injuries or worse as a result of a crash then I’m in favour.

Bikers take time to accept new stuff, especially “safety” kit. This is partly because buying safety kit is just not sexy is it? More often than not bikers don’t wear this sort of thing because their peers would take the p***.

Air (peer) pressure is a very powerful thing!

Check out www.lovelifeandride.com for more information and great deals (using code SEB19) on airbag jackets and vests.

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

29

BUYING SECOND HAND

USED BIKE REVIEW

BMW R 1150 RT John Allsopp fills us in on his recent purchase

T

here are some key areas when it comes to a tourer, and the R 1150 RT has them all. If you plan on exploring Europe, or beyond, there are very few better options.

Driving this grand tourer is an old-school aircooled boxer motor. In this incarnation, it’s not quite as polished as the upgraded 1200 model and certainly not a patch on the ultra-refined, partially water-cooled, current generation, but it still delivers exactly what tourers demand.

The gearbox is clunky, but once rolling the boxer delivers strong low-end drive that makes motorway mile crunching a simplicity. The RT will sit at 70mph and just devour miles, while delivering over 45mpg with ease thanks to an ‘overdrive’ top gear to reduce revs. This makes a tank range of 250-miles certainly not out of the question when you factor in its huge 25-litre

30

capacity. Also, it offers no compromises when it comes to comfort levels or rider protection.

The seat is thickly padded for both the rider and pillion, while the large front fairing (with an adjustable screen) is extremely effective at keeping the worst of the windblast away. Add to this high bars, low pegs and options such as heated grips and you can see why high-mile heroes love the RT. But that’s not its only market.

If you are someone who commutes rather than tours, the RT is also excellent. Loads of luggage capacity and remarkably balanced handling at low speed mean it’s more than up for a bit of urban riding. And don’t be put off by its size, the RT is also pretty adept at filtering with its bars giving you a good guide as to if the panniers will make it through the gap!

If you were to ask my colleague, Dom Humby, if

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

BUYING SECOND HAND this bike can be surprisingly nimble on all roads, you'll hear a resounding “yes, but only when I can see it ahead in the distance”.

A price tag of around £2500 for what is a pretty old bike may seem a little steep, but this isn’t just some old hack. The RT may be getting on for twenty years old, but its reliability, practicality and ability to do just about everything that is asked of it makes it a superb used buy.

The R1150RT is a solidly built bike that will keep on going with no major issues. However, this ability to soak up the miles is what determines the points to watch out for when buying a used machine, as while parts tend not to physically break, they do wear out.

Starting with the motor, your major worry is the clutch as swapping it is a massive headache and a costly repair bill, due to the fact you basically have to split the bike in half to gain access to the motor. As a rule of thumb, an RT’s clutch will last about 70,000 miles, however this point can either be extended or reduced depending on its use.

The clutch’s slave cylinder is also a weak point with leaks common, so look for any paint flaking off or wetness in this area that hints the cylinder is about to give up the ghost or is leaking fluid.

There are a few reports of miss-fires, but this is generally as simple as a duff coil, and be wary of bikes that smoke or rattle as the boxer can drink a bit of oil, meaning big ends can potentially get damaged.

Onto the chassis and give the brakes a good look over as the ABS brake servo can have issues, which is a bit of a pain to get fixed. Check for any ABS warning lights and also ensure the discs aren’t warped and the pads have some meat on them. Thanks to the shaft drive there are no chain and sprockets to inspect, but with the RT on its centre stand give the rear wheel a good wobble and also rotate it while listening out for a grumble that may hint at the shaft’s bearings being worn. It’s not a huge job to get fixed, but the bearings are surprisingly costly. After a test ride, always double check this area for any signs of oil leaking out past the seals, hinting that there are a few issues hidden behind them.

Any warning lights on the dash should be treated with extreme caution as sensors are very pricey while, as with all BMW models, buy a bike with all the accessories you want already fitted rather than try and purchase them afterwards.

And check the electric screen goes up and down smoothly!

Generally, a well-cared for R 1150 RT is a safe buy, so let service history, rather than mileage,

dictate your final decision.

The R 1150 RT was never substantially updated as it was only in BMW’s model range for four years. In 2005, it was replaced by the R 1200 RT, which features the updated 1170cc boxer engine that was initially used in the R 1200 GS alongside more advanced electronics and an upgraded chassis. The R 1200 RT gained the twin cam boxer motor in 2010 before the partially watercooled model replaced it in 2014.

The RT’s rugged nature means it is a popular used buy but riders don’t batter a dealer’s door down to own one as it is a bit long in the tooth now. Thanks to this you can find a well-ish used (40,000-miles area) early machine for in the region of £2,500 in a private sale, which is where most R 1150 RTs are sold. A dealer will charge between £3,000 and £3,500, with this rising to the £4,000 area for a later 2004 model.

USEFUL INFO

BMW R1150RT (2001-2004) Used price £2,500-£4,000 Capacity 1030cc Engine layout Boxer twin Engine details Air-cooled, 8v, SOHC Power 93bhp (70kW) @ 7250rpm Top speed 130mph (est) Transmission 6 speed, shaft final drive Average fuel consumption 45mpg (est) Tank size 25.2 litres Max range to empty 250 miles Reserve capacity 40 miles Front suspension Telelever Rear suspension Paralever monoshock Rear suspension Adjustable rebound damping Front brake 2 x 320mm discs,

four-piston calipers.

Rear brake 276mm disc, two-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 – ZR17 Rear tyre 180/60 – ZR17 Seat height 805/845mm Dry weight 255kg

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

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BOOK REVIEWS

R E C H A R G E

W I T H

A

R E A D

MOTORCYCLE GP RACING IN THE 1960S

the most glorious and exciting decades as far as technological diversity was concerned, with machines that displayed a remarkable variety of technical complexity; at least fifty different makes of machine from over half a dozen countries were involved in the events.

This book covers these years in full, the bikes, the riders, and the races, offering a beautifully illustrated and engrossing account of a remarkable era in Grand Prix racing. Published by Veloce and available in hardback for £19.99 from www.bookdepository.com

SKETCHES OF SPAIN

There will be things here that the reader is not aware of and suggestions that will enhance your own Spanish adventure.

Sketches of Spain has over 30 maps covering thousands of kilometres of great roads, and the hidden treasures of mountains, villages and small towns off the normal tourist routes. There are many photos and sketches with personal anecdotes, including sections on perhaps unfamiliar road layouts, legal requirements, camping sites and a few recipes.

Although written from mainly motorbike journeys it is applicable to other forms of transport. Just use your common sense.

Duncan has also produced a set of four guides including: ‘Back Roads to the Catalan Pyrenees’, ‘Back Roads of Spain’ and ‘Back Roads to Monte Perdido’. www.duncan-spanish-travel.com

CHRONICLES OF A MOTORCYCLE GYPSY

This book charts some 38,000 miles of travel around the 49 continental states where Tiffani meets the good, bad and downright ugly of the human condition as well as battling with deep sand and blizzard conditions.

It's an inspirational tale of confronting fears, insecurity and self-doubt in order to follow a dream.

The writing style is as engaging as the subject matter and Tiffani captures many of the facets and flaws of the characters she meets.

Tiffani now writes for Motorcyclist Magazine, is a road racer and scuba diver as well as an artist and motivational speaker. Her next book covers her extended travels in Latin America and is in the draft stage.

We rate this book as a five out of five. www.amazon.co.uk

By Chris Pereira The 1960s was a unique era in the history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing and arguably marked the last period of 'traditional' road racing. The decade saw the rise of the Japanese factories that would eventually dominate the sport and the burgeoning two-stroke technology that would go on to replace the traditional four stroke machines. It was undoubtedly one of

By Duncan Gough Duncan Gough has spent many years exploring Spain on his Moto Guzzi and has written several fascinating books, complete with his own illustations, covering the region.

“The first time I visited Spain I felt at ease, felt like I was coming home. That feeling has only deepened over the years.”

This book represents the fruits of over 30 years of working and travelling through Spain.

Travelling in Spain is a wonderful experience, a new landscape to enjoy, great food and wine. An exceptionally friendly and accepting people and culture.

This book is a personal view and there are as many ways to enjoy Spain as there are tapas.

By Tiffani Burkett Showing how you can snatch victory from the jaws of (seeming) defeat, Tiffani, aged 28, is single, and has just lost her job. For many this would be the sort of situation that would result in hunkering down and consolidating. In Tiffani's case, it is the motivation to take a 2015 FZ-07, make some adjustments for overlanding and strap a tent on before setting off in search of adventure.

It could be said that the bike was 'unsuitable', Tiffani's background was mainly national racing and she that she had hardly ever left Los Angeles.

What could possibly go wrong?

32

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

PRODUCT REVIEW

BLUETOOTH STEREO HEADSET

FODSPORTS M1-S PRO

T

Manny Fry gets connected….

he M1-S PRO is a great little communication unit that retails for under £80. The unit is equipped with Bluetooth 4.1. If used in a large group, the headset has the ability to pair with eight riders at a total distance of 2000 metres, but between riders the range is about 500 metres on a straight. If the distance between the riders is too far, the unit will reconnect automatically. If greater than five minutes apart you may need to push the button to reconnect. I found that I didn’t have to do this as it automatically reconnected after about 30-40 seconds of being within the 500 metre range.

First impressions were good, it pairs easily and effortlessly with my phone and also while trying to sync with other communication units of different makes. It has full phone capabilities, so when on a ride you can receive and make calls easily, even with a very loud engine!

The microphone has a CSR chip that decreases the amount of ambient noise such as wind and engine noise while communicating.

It has fantastic sound quality compared to other headsets I have tried at the same retail price point. The bass and the high tones sound great and well blended in both ears, thanks to the 30 mm speakers. When listening to music you can actually sing the proper lyrics instead of

making ones up because you can’t hear the song properly! The volume controls are easy to find with both thin spring and thick winter gloves on; they respond best to being pressed slowly..

I have trialled the M1-S through rain and wind and it performed as it did in dry conditions. All phone calls and comms were steady and strong and it has a long 900mAh lithium polymer rechargeable battery life of about 20 hours working time with three hours charging time.

When I tested it riding pillion, it worked really well except when the rider and myself had our visors open in town and it was definitely letting in more engine noise. As we were both together it sounded a bit more muffled. However this wasn’t off-putting as the microphone was still able to filter the conversation easily enough and he could still hear me singing dope '80s tunes to him while we rode.

On the down side, the rubber piece that covers the charging and wiring ports fell out fairly easily.

Although the unit itself is waterproof, I would suggest the makers of the M1-S Pro find a way to connect that protective piece to the device better, as that would be really helpful and guarantee that water won’t get in the ports.

Available via Amazon: https://amzn.to/337NpA9 Thank you to the suppliers Fodsports for supplying the M1-S.

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

33

PRODUCT REVIEW

L A T E S T

G E A R

F O R

Y O U

ELEVEIT VERSUS

LEONARD JACKET

A shorter touring/commuter boot in full grain leather with a one touch lacing system.

The boots feature a waterproof, breathable membrane and are very comfortable.

PROS: ankle, counter and toe protection, lightweight and waterproof CONS: style means the boots offer less protection PRICE: £159.99 RATING: JJJJJ VISIT: www.geared-up.co.uk

The Leonard Jacket from Knox is an everyday wearable jacket with the added benefit of being part of the Knox Layering System. The Leonard is perfectly at home on the bike or out in a social environment.

Its windproof and waterproof construction also make it a very practical choice for both.

It also features sleeve and side adjustments.

PROS: comfortable, stylish, practical, shower proof, windproof.

CONS: cheaper products elsewhere that offer more in the way of protection.

PRICE: £229.99 RATING: JJJJJ VISIT: www.planet-knox.com

BLUETOOTH 12 HOUR

EXO 1400 AIR

Customised Bluetooth Plugs from Mercury offer Bluetooth technology and hearing protection in one package, created using moulds taken of your ear and with the ability to take calls as well as stream music and satnav to the confines of your helmet.

PROS: hearing protection, 12 hour battery life, Bluetooth, easy to use, music/sat-nav streaming.

CONS: can become uncomfortable using over a long period of time.

PRICE: £180 RATING: JJJJJ VISIT: www.mercurycustomplugs.com

The latest midrange helmet from Scorpion.

Incorporating their inflatable cheek system, Pinlock and three-stage vent system. Scorpion have produced a top-notch touring helmet. Although, at motorway speed, there is an abundance of wind noise that can become irritating, even with ear plugs.

PROS: 5-year warranty, Pinlock, three-stage vent, inflatable cheek pads, internal sun visor, aggressive styling, TCT structure, three shell sizes.

CONS: noisy at motorway speeds PRICE: £269.99 matt black, £329.99 blackspell RATING: JJJJJ VISIT: http://bit.ly/eco-1400-air

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December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

PRODUCT REVIEW

L A T E S T

G E A R

F O R

Y O U

THUNDERFOOT PUCK

TENSION MONKEY

Introducing the world's first rectractable pocketsized puck which prevents your motorcycle sinking into soft ground like grass, gravel and soft tarmac when parked on its side stand. Two-sided, it has a cord that can be deployed and fastened to the handlebar using the soft silicone loop. It will automatically retract when you lift the bike's weight off the side stand saving you having to balance your heavy bike whilst trying to retrieve it and prevent the possibility of dropping your pride and joy.

PROS: stong, convenient, easy to use and will stop your bike from sinking into soft ground.

CONS: None PRICE: £9.99+P&P RATING: JJJJJ VISIT: www.thethunderfoot.co.uk

Motorcycle maintenance!

Some of us love doing it, some of us dislike it and some of us loathe it to the point we don’t do it and take the bike to the shop to be done. Regardless of your stance on maintenance the fact remains the same….it needs to be done.

The team at Tru Tension have developed a range of tools to aid your maintenance struggles and make it a doddle.

Specifically, in this instance, the tension of your chain.

Using the Tension Monkey, you can easily set your chain to the perfect adjustment.

With a few simple steps that come printed on the back of the Tension Monkey’s packaging you’ll never find chain adjustment a pain again.

Start by measuring your chain link width and then set the Tension Monkey to the specified number and attach it to your chain. Take all the slack out of your chain adjustment and make sure your wheel is aligned correctly. If done correctly you will now find that you have the perfect chain adjustment. And in this case it’s done by the Tension Monkey. Available at a lot of outlets, it’s definitely worth investing in as part of a healthy tool kit.

PROS: so easy, a monkey could do it.

CONS: None.

PRICE: £24.99 RATING: JJJJJ VISIT: www.tru-tension.co.uk

DAKAR ADVENTURE JACKET The Weise Dakar Adventure Jacket is a four season capable jacket with removable windproof thermal and water proof drop liners. It also features removable panels for large vents, arm length zip vents and a hydration pocket. The chin and neck guard are removable.

PROS: 600 Denyer Polyester outer contraction, water/wind and thermal drop liners, four season capabilities, removable panel vents, arm length vents, removable map pocket, under-strap, full five-piece armour.

CONS: neck guard can be fiddly.

PRICE: £279.99 RATING: JJJJJ VISIT: www.thekeycollection.co.uk

CALLING SUPPLIERS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR PRODUCTS HERE? EMAIL NICK@SOUTHEASTBIKER.CO.UK

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

35

ARE BIKERS YOUR CUSTOMERS? Can we support and action your marketing plan throughout 2020 to help attract new business through print and social media?

With a variety of options to suit a range of budgets, say ‘yes’ so bikers across our region can discover you!

If you have a product, service or event and wish to know more, simply drop us a line. Email: nick@southeastbiker.co.uk

@southeastbiker 36

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

M.O.T & SERVICE CENTRE LTD

01273 430303 ☎ www.thwaitesgarage.co.uk

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

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

MOTORCYCLE MOT CENTRE

WORLD’S FIRST FULLY RETRACTABLE MOTORCYCLE SIDESTAND SUPPORT

LOOKING FOR A BIKER CHRIMBO GIFT IDEA AT POCKET-MONEY PRICE?

STABALISES YOUR BIKE ON UNSTABLE GROUND Easy to use • Retractable reel • 150cm cord Soft silicone handlebar strap Withstands 500lb loads • Double-sided

A MUST FOR ANY BIKER WATCH THE VIDEOS AND ORDER ONLINE AT www.thethunderfoot.co.uk

Is it time to get a second opinion?

Thunderfoot QP 1219.indd 1

He’s the man!

Bring your bike to the man you can trust.

• • • • • • •

Small independent workshop Motorcycle MOT station Servicing, repairs and tyre fitting Modifications, rebuilds and project work Ultrasonic carburettor cleaning Authorised number plate supplier Over 30 years experience

Ian Scott is...

Telephone 01424 893543 Mobile 07866 289722 ian@themotorcycleman.co.uk www.themotorcycleman.co.uk Unit 2, Mount Pleasant Garage, Ninfield Road Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN39 5JG

Like The Motorcycle Man on Facebook

06/11/2019 09:10

If you have suffered an accident and were seriously injured, your insurer probably encouraged you to use their panel solicitor to act for you. But is the person handling your case a qualified solicitor? Do they have the right expertise? Have they instructed the best experts for your case?

I am a personal injury solicitor with over 30 years experience and have taken over many cases for motorcyclists who were dissatisfied with their panel solicitor. For a free, no obligation discussion on how I could help you, contact me: Philip.Scarles@mwsolicitors.co.uk or call 01732 758 544.

www.mwsolicitors.co.uk

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

37

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

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

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

01892 457373 www.gerbing.co.uk www.daneclothing.uk www.draggin-mc.co.uk LEGAL SERVICES MW SOLICITORS Serious Injury Specialists

01732 758544 www.mwsolicitors.co.uk MOTORCYCLE HIRE WEST SUSSEX MOTORCYCLE HIRE Motorcycle Hire made easy

01243 780039 www.westsussexmotorcyclehire.co.uk NEW AND USED BIKES FREESTYLE BIKES New and used Yamaha and Husqvarna on and off road

01892 782288/01243 859655 www.freestylebikes.co.uk

PRODUCTS THUNDERFOOT PUCK

World’s first retractable motorcycle puck. Makes for a great gift for any biker.

07400 653357 www.thethunderfoot.co.uk

SERVICING, PARTS, MOTS FASTLANE MOTORCYCLES

Motorcycle Sales, workshop, MOTs, tyres & kit

WEMOTO Huge range of motorcycle parts instore in Sussex and online

01273 597072 www.wemoto.com SPECIALIST SERVICES BIKE-SMART MOTORCYCLE TRAINING CBT, A2 and DAS

01732 363630 www.fastlanemoto.com

01444 441969 www.bike-smart.net

INTA MOTORCYCLE SERVICES

EXOTOGG THERMAL ARMOUR

Used bikes, servicing, tyres, parts & MOTs

01622 688727 www.intabikes.com JB MOTORCYCLES

Used bikes, MOTs, Servicing

Portable protection from the elements

01223 911 117 www.exotogg.com

01825 766351 www.jb-motorcycles.co.uk

LOVE LIFE & RIDE

THE MOTORCYCLE MAN

0118 328 0338 www.lovelifeandride.com

MOTs, Servicing & Repairs

01424 893543 www.themotorcycleman.co.uk MOTOWARD

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

01403 823222 www.motoward.co.uk ON THE WHEEL

Servicing, Repairs, MOTs, Tyres PLUS Bikes, Gear and more…

01273 020980 www.onthewheel.co.uk PAN MOTORCYCLES

Serving, Repairs, MOTs and Tyres

Airbag Vests and Jackets

VIKING MOTORCYCLE SEATS Seat upholstery specialists, repairs and upgrades

07977 874075 www.viking-motorcycle-seats.co.uk TOURING AND HOLIDAYS 1066 MOTORCYCLE TOURS Worldwide motorcycle tours

07592 193399 www.1066motorcycletours.co.uk CATALAN ADVENTURE

TIPPETTS

01444 441969 www.panmotorcycles.co.uk

New and used Hondas, servicing and parts

SNS MOTORCYCLES

0791 375 8955 www.catalanadventure.co.uk

0778 8711533 www.snsmotorcycles.co.uk

KAAPSTAD MOTORCYCLE TOURS

New and used motorcycles, kit and accessories

THWAITES GARAGE

Specialists in Motorcycle Holidays

0208 857 9198 www.warrs.com

01273 430303 www.thwaitesgarage.co.uk

01525 377520 www.Kaapstadmat.com

020 8399 2417 www.honda-tippetts.co.uk WARR’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON

Servicing, Tuning, Tyres & Track Day Preparation

Servicing and MOTs

On/off road guided tours and bike hire in Spain.

and Safaris in South Africa.

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

38

December 2019-January 2020 • South East Biker Magazine

12

GOOD REASONS TO JOIN THE TRF 7

1

ESTABLISHED Helping motorcyclists responsibly and sensitively access the countryside since 1970

2

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

3

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

By comparison there are only 2000 miles of Motorways!

4

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

5

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

6

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

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

FUN We ride all year round – whatever the weather

12

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

TRAIL RIDERS F E L L OW S H I P

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

BLOW YOUR MIND. NOT YOUR BUDGET.

THE IRON 883. NOW WITH £800 OFF.* FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY. WAS £8895 TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY.

*

WARR’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON® (South East) 16-20 MOTTINGHAM ROAD, LONDON SE9 4QW (just 10 mins A20 town bound from Jct 3 M25) Telephone: 0208 857 9198 WWW.WARRS.COM

.