Hustler
H232 Autumn 2013
www.suzukiownersclub.co.uk
Suzuki Owners Club Suite 240 Divo House 29 Belmont Road Uxbridge UB8 1QS
Cover Photo supplied by Luke Robinson Speed Shop
Editor’s Report As the days are shortening and the nights getting colder some are thinking of tucking away their pride and joy, some have winter plans to fix or modify, others are biking as normal but with warmer kit and more cleaning. Apologies to those of you that either didn't receive H231 or got it later than everyone else there were mailing issues at the printers, hopefully that is all sorted now. A typo on page 48 had a missing word, line should have read “do not try to use LESS than this as it will get too hot. Sorry Gordon. I am very gratefully to the members that have sent my their articles without you The Hustler would not be possible. Any comments you have about our magazine please feel free to send to me either by email or via the club PO box. Haynes museum competition is still running, simply answer in which county is the Haynes museum. Answers via email or post please. Have a happy Christmas and a wonderful new year. Keep Warm Ed Alan H Editorsoc@rocketmail.com
Last submission dates are Issue 233 6th January
Neither the Suzuki Owners Club nor its National Committee are necessarily in agreement with the opinions, views or suggestions expressed in this magazine. Any such opinions, views or suggestions are entirely the authors and publishing them does not imply the endorsement of the Suzuki Owners Club copyright Suzuki Owners Club 2007. all rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted in any form without permission of the Suzuki Owners Club.
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Six years with.....A Hyper Optiks Visor Insert At this time of year with the temperature dropping and the increase of rain the problem of visor fogging becomes a real issue. I for one have tried many tips and product over many years most with little success, my first encounter with an effective solution was during my Paintball days we had thin plastic strips that fitted inside our goggles that stopped the water droplets from forming giving a narrow strip of uninterrupted vision. The next evolution in visor technology was a double glazed visor giving 100% clear vision. When I started to encounter the same problems with my motorcycle helmet I searched for a similar product. A Pinlock visor was not available for my Shark lid so a fit yourself self adhesive insert was the logical path to follow. I found the Hyper Optics insert which as well as the anti fog properties it also promised a self darkening tint, much like told reactalite glasses of old. In overcast conditions it holds a very pale green but when the bright sun hits it rapidly darkens down to a Cobalt Blue colour which is still legal. Fitting is a little fiddly but straight forward and once fitted can be forgotten I only remember it is fitted when I notice a small line of misting on the uncovered edges of my visor. Is it worth ÂŁ30 in my honest opinion defiantly. My next lid will be fitted with one as I feel it's a great aid to riding safety. Alan H (Ed)
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From The Chair Your Magazine. This is your club magazine but its content is reliant on you giving the editor articles of all sorts to publish. Non contentious ones of course. Personally, I want to read articles about everything to do with biking like enjoyable bike roads any of you have found. Long term tests on bike clothing, helmets you have bought, was it good, bad, uncomfortable, value for money etc. The same goes for any parts, tyres added to your bike, is your bike handling better, more comfort, power, cheap etc. Places of interest you have stumbled across on your travels you would recommend. Cafes and biker friendly guest houses/hotels to stay in around the country. Workshops to have your bike tuned, serviced etc. Nostalgic articles of yesteryear from members within the club. There are lots of different subjects the magazine can contain about biking but we want you, the members to write them. Don't worry about no computer, write a letter about articles and send to our club address. As a start for a bit of fun, lets find out which member has a Suzuki bike with the most recorded miles on that is currently on the road and in use? If you think your bike has extraordinary mileage on then let us know. I do know that their have been some complaints about the last Hustler. I know it dropped on your mat late but the year did start with hustler 229 print run out of synch (one month late) because of what was needed to be published in there (EGM info). I will say though, that was no fault of the previous editor. We then had a problem with the editorial hard-drive before the print of hustler 231. I know AGM proposals and nominations were not printed before the AGM date and for that I apologise to you all. There will though have been four hustlers throughout the year with print timings not correct. Extenuating circumstances but we look to be on track for 2014. The start of 2013 was a trying to time for the club as we know and now hopefully the SOC can just enjoy a long period of stability. Differing idea's of promoting and growing the club are in place with an aim for us to start to get back to a pre 2005 level. Biking season is truly over and I hope your machines are tucked away but if you are one of the many all year bikers then please ride and stay safe. I want to thank you the members, old and new for your support for the club and wish you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. Suzuki Owners Club Suite 240 Divo House 29 Belmont Road Uxbridge UB8 1QS
BanditAnt 4
Local Centre’s Cumbria Sec: Ron Crawford soccumbria@rocketmail.com st Centre meet: 1 Sunday of the month, 12.00 1 Yeathouse Road Frizington CA26 3PX Yorkshire Sec: Dave Hebblethwaite socyorkshire@rocketmail.com nd Centre meet: 2 Wednesday of every month from 8.30pm New Inn 419 Denby Dale Road East Durkar Wakefield West Yorkshire WF4 3AX
East Midlands (Nott’s, Derby, Leic’s, Rutland) Sec: Alby White soceastmidlands@rocketmail.com th Centre meet: 4 Thursday of the month The Crown Croft Crescent Awsworth NG16 2QY
North East (EG. Durham, Northumberland) Sec: George Frater/Kevin Close socnortheast@rocketmail.com www.northeast.suzukiownersclub.co.uk st Centre meet: 1 Sunday from 7:30pm The Heather Lad Quarrington Hill South Coast Sec: Laura Dyer socsouthcoast@rocketmail.com Centre meet: Loomies Cafe A272 (West Meon Hut) Hampshire GU32 1JX First Sunday of every month Meeting time - 10-12 Staffordshire Sec: Steve Baker socstafford@rocketmail.com www.socstaffs.co.uk Centre meet: 1st Wednesday of the month from 8pm The Barley Mow 28 Main Road Milford Stafford Staffordshire
Peaks, Pennine & Northwest Sec: Martin Bennett socppnw@rocketmail.com Eastern (Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex) Sec: Philip Jackman eastern@suzukiownersclub.co.uk Centre meet: 2nd Sunday of the month at approx 10am at the 8 Ball Café, North Bound A12 between Witham North and Kelveldon South junctions
London Sec: John Carr soclondon@rocketmail.com Centre Meet: 2nd Sunday of every month at 11.30 The Botwell Inn 25-29 Coldharbour Lane Hayes Middlesex UB3 3EB
Czech Republic Mr. Ivo Lauer, Havlíčkova 505 679 32 SVITÁVKA, Česká Republika E-mail gsivo@seznam.cz www.suzukiownersclub.cz
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Kent Sec : Graeme Bartlett sockent@rocketmail.com Centre meet: 2nd Sunday of the month at 10am The Blue & White Cafe Hythe Road (A20) Smeeth
Western Scotland Sec: Joyce Stewart Socwscotland@rocketmail.com
London Centre The people in the London Centre have not done much this month as some of us have been busy trying to get bits done for the NC, we had a ride out to Beaulieu motor museum planed but it did not come off because of the lovely weather we're having at the moment ( rain gales ) so all we did was have our meeting. Most of this meeting was taken up talking about our Christmas dinner as to when and where we were going to hold it , itI was a shame because we really wanted to go there, just to get on our bikes and have a good ride out, you never know we might get there if the weather clears up a bit. We had a nice surprise a new member turned up, welcome Gordon it was nice to see you and have a chat. Most of us at the London Centre are busy gearing up for the NEC next month as well as Stafford show, lets hope we all have a good turn out for both. If we do think of any where to go we will put it on the boards for all to see. Till the next time we meet take care and ride safe and watch out for the nutters out there.
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Membership List of badges handed out since 1.4.2013 congratulations to the following people who have been presented with their membership badges. Please wear your badges with pride. Anyone who thinks that they are missing a badge please e-mail me. Life Badge Joe Close 15 Year Badges David and Rosemary Wilkinson, Alan Collings, Ted Abbot, Stephen Robson. 5 Year Badges Peter Monk, Phillip Anderson, Michael and Karen Caulton, Dave Paskin, Marie Ellis, Cliff Bradley Oct Sept new memberships =26 new memberships =19 4 of which were joint 2 of which were joint + 1 three year joint Renewal's = 14 Renewal's =7 4 of which were joint 2 of which were joint. We have had a couple of good months for membership. Thanks go to the people who joined new members at the shows and also done some renewals. No names you know who you are. well this is my last report for 2013 so I would like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and happy new year. So ride safe and enjoy hope to meet a good few at events in 2014 Keith (keithf on boards) membership sec.
Club Officers Chairman:- Anthony Averns (Bandit Ant) socchairman@rocketmail.com Editor:- Alan Hancock (Alan H) National Secretary:-Sue Carr (Queen Witch) editorsoc@rocketmail.com ncsuzukiownersclub@rocketmail.com Technical:- John Carr (JLCarr) Techofficer@rocketmail.com
Public Relations:- Pete Dibble (Bugman) socpublicrelations@rocketmail.com Membership:- Keith Ferris (Keithf) membershipsecretary@rocketmail.com Treasurer:- John Carr ( JLCarr) soctreasurer@rocketmail.com Events / Welfare Riders Rights:Shows:- Alby White Elaine Constable (Lainy) alby.white@ntlworld.com Events:- socevents@rocketmail.com Welfare / Rights:- Socridersrights@rocketmail.com
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National Secretary Hi Everyone, It has been an interesting time since the AGM, so much to think about and discuss and that is where you the members come in, what would you like for your club? What beeps your Jeep? What sort of events would you like to attend? Lets plan together so we can get the most out of our club, write, or email to the contacts listed, we would love to hear from you all! Suzuki GB are looking to create a web page to celebrate the SOC 40th anniversary, they have asked for some best moment/memories, most popular bikes, anecdotes etc from members so.................................time to have a think and let us have some of input for this page, all help is greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to the upcoming NEC show and hope to meet lots of members there, it’s a great place to find a bargain and get to see all the new stuff that will be coming out as well as having the chance to mix with a few celebs and catch upo with friends, I am really looking forward to being there, it is going to be a great exhibition. The work is continuing, lots of behind the scenes stuff like meetings with Suzuki GB as well as the day to day things that keep the club running which keep us all very busy. It has been a hectic time and hopefully all that is being done will come to fruition and greatly benefit the club, I would like to thank all the members for their support and to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year, here’s to a spectacular 2014! Till the next time ride safe and keep smiling
Membership Renewals Online By Post
Credit or Debit card via the clubs Secure Server at www.suzukiownersclub.co.uk Or Paypal to suzukiownersclub@rocketmail.com
Cheque or postal order with your membership Number to Suzuki owners Club,Suite 240,Divo house, 29 Belmont road, Uxbridge, UB8 1QS
Please help us keep in contact with you. If your details change contact either by post, online pm or email to membershipsecretary@rocketmail.com including your membership number
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In Memoriam Please will you join with us in offering our deepest condolences to Gary Brown (North East Centre) whose son also Gary sadly died in a motorcycle accident recently. A tragic loss of one so young. Our thoughts and prayers to you Gary. Gary would like to thank all the club members for their support and kindness at his time of need. After attending my local remembrance parade today can I ask all members to spare a few moments of thought for all that have lost a loved one wether in armed service or not. Alan H
Public Relations Well the cold dark nights are almost upon us which means Motorcycle Live at the NEC. I have after much trying managed to make contact with the national committee of Nabb. I have since my last report been seeking raffle prizes and have succeeded in gaining some nice prizes for our Grand Draw in aid of NABB. Tickets are now on sale and prizes are as follows. 1 years free bike insurance up to the value of ÂŁ500 1 pair of Pirelli Angel GT Tyres A selection of Tyco Suzuki Merchandise The draw will be made on Christmas Eve. Again I ask if you have local Motorbike publications unique to your areas then please forward me the details so I can publicize our Club and Your events, those of you that regularly read the Motorcycle Monthly will now see that we regularly advertise our forthcoming events. That's all short and sweet, ride safe particularly as winter approaches and hope to see you all soon. Bugman aka Peter Dibble
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Treasurer Hi to all, this is my first report as treasure so here goes. As you all know the club is in a poor financial position, we are trying to keep the costs down to save the club some money and we are looking at ways to cut costs to enable the funds we have to go further The club funds are as follows: Current Account: £851.83 Savings Account: £5,602.39 PayPal: £1,733.11 The current account is used to pay bills and expenses, the savings account remains static and the PayPal account deals with the day to day transactions of new members joining, renewals, merchandise and the dating certificates that have been done. September saw the club funds increase by £710 in membership subscriptions. Thanks to the hard work of the members by shaking tins and selling raffle tickets we raised £1500 for The Rainbows Trust, cheque presentation and pictures soon. Hopefully we can raise a similar amount for the NABB this year. The club has been offered by a company sponsorship to host the NEC show stand this year and we have gratefully accepted their generous offer. I would like to thank Avenue Pest Control for doing this for us all, so we can show our support to them in a big way. It is going to take a while for me to get things in order but I’m ploughing my way through the accounts and files we have, let’s all hope that this year is going to be a good one for the club and we can go from strength to strength.
Tech Officer It has been a busy time with dating certificates and technical queries, it has been interesting doing some of the dating certificates because some of the old bikes that are coming through have been restored to such a mint condition, amazing projects. Up to now the total is 38, there have been 19 for members and 16 for none members with 3 pending, so as you can see this is bringing in the club some much needed revenue. I have one old bike that I am having to wait for Suzuki GB to get back to me about its an old TT 250 of which only 1000 were made, so that will be interesting to find out about. What I will do (with the owner’s permission) is tell you all about this in my next report till then keep the questions and queries coming in. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. 10 11 Ride safe.
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Events Officer Well, this is the last report for Hustler in 2013. It has been a strange year and very much a time of change within the club. Time will tell how it will all pan out. There seems to have been a reduction in the number of events that have taken place over the past few months. It’s unclear what the reasons for this are, I have my own thoughts; falling number of active centres, cost of fuel, too much else to do and too little time. The list goes on. That said there are still a lot of members getting out and about on their bikes and other chosen forms of transport. Let’s hope that the club continues to move forward in 2014. There are already a number of events arranged. Alby has been busy identifying shows we can attend for little or no cost. There are also regular centre meetings, some ride outs, camping weekends, and trips abroad. Hopefully there is something for everyone, and we will start to see new members coming into the club and continue to see some of our lapsed members returning, as has been the case over recent months. The 2014 Invader Rally and AGM is going to be held on 25th – 27thJuly at the Brownlow Arms, High Marnham, Nr Newark. This is as a result of the feedback we had from members who attended the event this year and enjoyed the venue. People felt the location was fairly central and the selection of food and drinks available seemed to suit most tastes. The date has been moved one week earlier (to the end of July). This will hopefully avoid a clash with the Iron Ore Rally which is very popular with our members in Cumbria, the North West and Borders. Plans are in early stages but will be similar to this year with evening entertainment on Friday and Saturday, a ride out on Saturday and the AGM taking place on Sunday morning. There is one last BIG event for 2013 and that is Motorcycle Live at the NEC from 23rdNovember to 1st December. If you are planning on attending remember to go along to the club stand and have a chat with the volunteer members who will be there. You will be able to purchase raffle tickets and have a chance of winning either 1 year bike insurance donated by Bikesure), a pair of Pirelli Angel GT tyres (donated by Pirelli) or a merchandise pack donated by Tyco Suzuki. All funds raised from the raffle will go to National Association of Blood Bikes – the SOC nominated charity for 2013-14. Once again, I am going to ask for the co-operation of all events organisers. Can you PLEASE let me have details of all your meetings and ride outs so they can be promoted as far in advance as possible. This way, those members who are shift workers, or have limited funds are able to plan and budget well in advance. Details of all events are included in Hustler, posted on the club website and can be viewed by everyone regardless of whether they are registered users/club members. They are also promoted in the national motorcycle press by the club Public Relations Officer. Details of all events should be sent to: socevents@rocketmail.com Events Secretary 07703-272295
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New V-Strom 1000. We were invited to the pre launch of the new V-Strom 1000cc at Suzuki GB in Milton Keynes, it was an invite at short notice which was accepted so that we could get a sneak peek at the new bike. Arriving at Suzuki GB with a very pleasant greeting we were ushered into reception and given the booklet of the new bike, there were 50 plus people there including myself and Sue and our PRO Officer Pete Dibble. Jack Burnicle was there as well as a number of dignitaries from Suzuki themselves, everybody had a good look at the new Strom. It is a nice looking bike with significant changes compared to the old one. First thing you notice is how slim the new bike is and the realisation that the Suzuki ‘beak’ is back! Suzuki did a consumer survey about the new bike but they did not ask the dealers they did the best thing which was to ask bike riders who own Strom’s as to what changes they would like to see. Suzuki have put a lot of thought into this bike by asking the riders, Suzuki have taken their time with this bike and made it more rider friendly. First impressions. The bike has a nice look to it with the new style head light it’s an over and under front light keeping the Suzuki look, then you have the beak as they call it this is going back to the old styling days of when they made heavy duty off road bike for things like the Paris Dakar rally. Suzuki have not just updated the bike they have made a complete new bike with things like the front forks being upside down style, ABS being added, traction control to name but a few, the dashboard has had a remodel with one central clock and everything surrounding this area. Seating on the bike has been made smaller for the rider with an option to have the lower seat, this will be done free of charge at the dealers when bought new, so now you can have the seat height from 820mm to 850 mm. Petrol tank size is now at 20 litres so this should give you a range of approximately 250 miles between fill up’s. At an average 59 MPG, the torque has been increased to give you better low down grunt in the rev range so no jumping up and down the gears to pull away at low speed. Suzuki have really gone to town on this bike by making it user friendly for all types of rider from the weekender to the person who does the daily commute to and from work to the serious long haul rider.
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They have made a range of accessories for this bike from full back boxes to panniers, bigger screen, hand guards and all the usual bits and pieces you will need to make things comfortable for use with this bike. Having sat on the bike it does feel very easy to fall into a nice restful riding position over the entire bike has got a good feel to it. Suzuki have made the bike with a lot of test riding involved well over 10.000 miles put in, Jurgen Plaschka who is Suzuki’s main test rider said he has had fun developing this bike but they also test rode their rivals in the market to see which way to go with the new bike, the new V-Strom has been placed in the middle of the competition and the price is not to bad for a lot of bike. Dimensions and Weights overall length:2285mm (90in) Overall width:865mm (34.1in) Overall height:1410mm (55.5in) Wheelbase:1555mm (61.2in) Kerb Mass:228kg (502.7lbs) Fuel capacity:20.0litres (4.4 UK gallons) Engine Specifications engine capacity:1037ccEngine:4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90° V-twinBore:100.0mm x 66.0mmCompression ratio:11.3 : 1 Lubrication: Wet sump Ignition :Electronic ignition Fuel system :Fuel injection Starter: Electric Transmission :6-speed constant mesh Drive: Chain Chassis Specification Front suspension: Inverted telescopic, coil spring, oil damped Rear suspension: Link type, coil spring, oil damped Front brakes: Disc, twin Rear brakes: Disc Front Tyres:110/80R19M/C 59V John Carr Rear tyres:150/70R17M/C 69V 13
When I wrote the last report we were eagerly awaiting London centre camping weekend on the August bank holiday. With 6 members from the south coast riding up for a weekend of fun. Arriving at tea time we were ready to enjoy the weekend. With music and great company from different centres all over the country. A jaunt to the local motorcycle shop to help pass away the rainy morning a ride out to H's CafĂŠ, Oxford for a guided tour. A quiz evening and a bit karioke and a nice long ride out. A lot of fun all round. Brighton Burn Up saw the south coasters go down to the coast, a windy day but signing in at the Suzuki Owners Club Stand and a look around at all who rode their bikes to the seafront. With October Loomies meet turning out to be a great sunny day it was felt we should definitely take advantage of this so as the meet finished most of us cruised off to Goodwood on the quiet Sunday roads. Goodwood having an helicopter fly in weekend some of the members took advantage of a special helicopter flight special. Up, up and away. Sat in the sun. What a great time together. We took part in a very wet Air Ambulance Run leaving from Hedge End in Southampton. Travelling 35 miles the scenic route with 4 other south coast members and many more motorcyclists from the south to Popham for burgers and a raffle. All in all we were wet but really enjoyed ourselves. With the South Coast Centre meet at Loomies the first Sunday of every month from 10-12. Rain or shine, bike or car (as the winter is coming) we will be there. Upcoming events. Lunch at Nelsons diner -Sat16Nov, NEC 23Nov-1Dec, Loomies sun1Dec, Reading Toy Run -Sun8Dec. More details on the web site. We will Probably have a late Christmas meet in the new year for awards and prezzies Have a great run up to Christmas everyone. Enjoy riding and stay safe everyone.
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Ride out’s, Fry up’s & Fly up’s! The first Sunday of October, so it was Loomies here we come! Breakfast without fail, an absolute must on a glorious day. As 3 of us set out on the A32,we soon became more, and when we arrived we became a whole load more than that! Fantastic to see so many enjoying a good fry up & catch up following their ride out’s there. What to do after this gathering though? A few suggestions had been made between our initial little threesome as to where to head to next, but mentions of Goodwood were heard…. So there it was, a lovely welcome to ride along with the rest of the group heading for Glorious Goodwood. Now, being on my 125 with L plates, I have always worried about holding up the group & have never done it before. But why did I ever worry like this? Everyone was fantastic in keeping a great pace; it was a brilliant ride & a great confidence booster, so there it was….my group riding virginity broken!! Wow, experience No 1: I was elated, and Goodwood, we had arrived! A very relaxed time had by all, a wander round the plane hangars, and the sights of the helicopters & planes taking off & landing. This is where my 2nd virginity statement was made “I’ve never been in a helicopter before” Well, within a few more moments the decision was made, let’s take a flight! Wow No 2: So, three of us were off & now flying up! Amazing views and another virginity broken!! A really truly amazing day and it just goes to show what attending the South Coat Centre Monthly meeting can do, especially for those those whom are inexperienced in particular activities !?! Emma. B (AKA Rucksack)
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London Centre Camping Another August Bank Holiday and we welcome the 3rd London Massive Camping Weekend and what a fantastic weekend it was! We arrived at England’s Rose on Friday afternoon to find tents being pitched, the marquee in pride of place and lots of friends to welcome, fabulous! Once the tents were all up it was time to eat, relax and properly catch up with everyone, that is the great thing about camping weekend events, catching up with friends old and new, relaxing and taking time out to have a little fun. It was lovely to see Alby and Sandy go and say hello to Sheila, they have known her for a long time so had lots to catch up on. After grabbing something to eat we settled by the marquee with a drink or 3 and chatted till late. Saturday dawned with drizzle and the threat of rain, not good when camping. Dibbles Diner prepared breakfast for those who could face it, a few were a little under the weather but soon perked up. The plans for the day were reviewed, the planned event had been to have everyone taking their CBT practical on the Chopper bike but it was a shame that rain stopped play. We managed to get a few people to take a spin on the bike during sunny bits, great fun! Later in the afternoon. we headed to H café, we met some lovely people there including a great guy selling relish and chutney, Liz bought some to try and it went down a treat with Peter. After a hearty meal at the café we headed back to camp to prepare for the disco and an evening of fun. The disco and Karioke went down a storm, James in his Hawaiian shirt, Peter D and Alan H in their Suzuki tops and, of course, Gordon in his Barry Sheene fleece, won at the Invader Rally! We all sang and danced and had a great time. We helped celebrate two birthdays that weekend, a very special Happy Birthday to the lovely John Measures and the wonderful Peter Smith, Happy 21st guys! With a nightcap and chat in the marquee we were soon heading for bed leaving the night owls to continue, Biker John, Lainy, CJ, Jonathan and the Bevan boys had a great laugh and were the last ones standing, second year running for Rhys, well done mate. Sunday brought wonderful sunshine, an early start for us all and the lighting of the BBQ for breakfast, a planned ride out to Windsor was on the cards and the weather gave us a great incentive to get motivated. By mid morning we were heading to Windsor and the delights of a beautiful sunny day spent wandering around an historic town.
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Upon arrival we were directed by Keith to a parking area 5 minutes from the centre of town where secure parking had been arranged for all of us, Thank you Keith you are a star! Off we set to explore Windsor, all heading in different direction once we hit the main drag with arrangements made of time and place to meet up for the return journey. We all had a good wander, lots of photos were taken and we enjoyed strolling in the sunshine and exploring the shops, especially the old sweetshop, it was time to head back. Arriving at the agreed meeting place was an ideal photo opportunity, we hope you all liked the picture on the back page of the last Hustler. After retrieving the vehicles it was a quick stop to top up on supplies for the evenings BBQ and breakfast then had back for more fun at the disco! A second night of fun frolics and mayhem along with a few renditions of the Chubby Brown version of ‘Living next door to Alice’, the raffle was drawn with Liz Dibble winning the ‘In Celebration of Wacker’ prize a leopards print onesie, a hilarious pub quiz followed won by Lainy and her team, Ken, Peter S and Alan E with commiserations to Laura, Alan, Aaron, SJ and Steve, our incredibly good losers enjoy the pub quiz book! Everyone cheered when Sheila was made an honorary member of the London Massive, she was chuffed and we will be putting up the SOC sticker so any members visiting will receive a 10% discount on everything, thanks Sheila. A few nightcaps and a good laugh later, with a few spooky goings on, will we ever know how Gary’s chair was upended? it was time for bed with ribs aching and a chorus of ‘Goodnights’ that would have done the Walton’s proud we all finally settled down. More drizzle on Monday meant a very quick pack up following the NC meeting, fond farewells and the reminder to let everyone know when you are safely home brought the camping weekend to an end. A great time was had by all and we are really looking forward to next year’s which will celebrating the 10th anniversary of the London Centre… …….watch out for more details, it’s going to be a good ‘un!!!!
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November
Events 2013
17 Kent Centre Monthly Meeting: Blue & White Cafe, Kent Centre Monthly Meeting Blue & White Cafe. Graeme Bartlett 07092 031347 sockent@rocketmail.com
17 Cumbria Centre Brunch: At The Filling Station CafĂŠ, Crosthwaite Road, Keswick CA12 5PR (off A66). Come and meet the Cumbria Centre for brunch. Have a tea, coffee, breakfast or a lighter snack with SOC members & other bikers. We will be there from 12:30 til 14:30 (possibly later). Ronnie Crawford 01946815600/07990556417 or Danny Crawford 07837173880 17 16thAnnual Hamper Run Meet at Wheel gate Adventure Park, White Post, Farnsfield, Newark NG22 8HX (off A614) to leave at 11:30. CafĂŠ open from 10:30. Ride to Broughton Social Club to deliver food for Christmas Hampers. Tea/coffee/mince-pies & biscuits on arrival Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com
23 Motorcycle Live to The club stand will once again be present at the NEC. Come along and say 1st hello to club members helping on thestand when you visit the show. More information about ticket pricesare on Motorcycle Live website: www.motorcyclelive.co.uk
24 24th Bottesford Toy Run : Meet at the Red Lion, Bottesford from 9:30 to depart at 11:00. Ride to Mere's Leisure Centre, Grantham and then on to Melton Mowbray to regroup at Tescos on theGrantham Rd before going to Grove Primary School, Asfordby Rd Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com 28 East Mids Centre Meeting: Meeting from 20:00 at The Crown Inn, 8 Croft Cresent, Awsworth NG16 2QY (off Jn Jn 26 M1 & A610) Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com
30 St Nicks Rally, Ostend : Annual Santa Rally - For more information contact Paul Devall sockent@rocketmail.com
December 1 South Coast Centre Monthly Meeting:
A warm welcome awaits all at Loomies which is located on the A272, A32 crossroads. There is ample parking and a good menu of well cooked fare, available all day. Of course the terrific A272 and A32 running past the front door. We will be sat with a cuppa from 10 till 12 noon. Then take the long way home. Alan Hancock southcoastevents@rocketmail.com
1 Cumbria Centre Monthly Meeting : Meet @12pm for 12.30pm start. Meeting to be held first Sunday of every month. 1 Yeathouse Rd, Frizington, Cumbria CA26 3PX Ronnie Crawford 01946815600/07990556417 or Danny Crawford 07837173880
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Events 2013 1 North East Centre Monthly Meeting: North East Centre club meet and pre meet ride out. The Heather Lad, Quarrington Hill Durham. Meet at 4ish for a pre meeting ride out for fish and chips etc. Destination to be decided on the day. Actual meeting starts at 7-30pm for those not wanting to go on the run Kevin Close 07949 035419
1 3rd Salvation Army Toy Run : Meet at McDonalds, at Somercotes near Alfreton from 9.00 leaving @ 9:30 to be at Southwell for the 11:00 start. Please bring new or nearly new toys Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com
8 Kent Centre Monthly Meeting: Blue & White Cafe, Kent Centre Monthly Meeting Blue & White Cafe. Graeme Bartlett 07092 031347 sockent@rocketmail.com
8 Ashby Toy Run : Meeting at McDonald's at the Jn of the A38 / A52
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Markeaton Island Derby from 9.30 leaving at 10a.m. to be at the Beeches, 114 Burton Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch for 10.45 am Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com London Centre Monthly Meeting: The monthly London Massive Centre meeting takes place at: The Botwell Inn, 25-29 Coldharbour Lane, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 3EB at 11:30am Everyone is welcome to come and chat, participate, drink lots of tea and coffee and have fun!! Additional information: Ride out to be confirmed John Carr 07768 797125 geordiecarpenter@yahoo.co.uk Eastern Centre Monthly Meeting : D's Diner, Just off Southbound A12 on the Hatfield Peverel North Exit at approx 10:00 Phil Jackman 07725 329062
8 Reading Toy Run : Bring a toy, dress as Santa or anything Christmssy.
Boy blue is again offering tea and a bacon buttybefore we set off. Contact Laura for more info. Laura Dyer 07792 733961 socsouthcoast@rocketmail.com
15 Cumbria Centre Brunch: Details as opposite. 26 Boxing day at Wickham square: For anyone looking for an excuse to get out on
their bikes on Boxing Day. Wickham Square ( North of Fareham on the A32 Hants, about 10 miles south of Loomies..) has an annual meet in the Town Square. There’s anything from steam engines to custom cars, classic bikes, modern bikes and just about anything with wheels. There are also loads of Burger stands for those that didn't get enough to eat the day before. Event starts around 8am and ends pretty promptly around 1pm..Loads to see, we will meet in the the pub in the square The Kings Head/Arms for a chat and sign in at 11am-11.30am so get there early wander round and find us.Laura Dyer 07792 733961 socsouthcoast@rocketmail.com
January 4 Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Show : Newark Showground. Anyone interested in showing their bike please contact Alby White 07762 242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com
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January
Events 2014
4 North East Centre Monthly Meeting : Suzuki-Oke Fundraiser night at The Heather 5 5
Lad, Quarrington Hill Durham 7-30pm. There will be no Sunday Centre meeting in January. Kevin Close 07949 035419 Cumbria Centre Monthly Meeting: Details as December. . South Coast Centre Monthly Meeting: Details as December
12 Kent Centre Monthly Meeting: Details as November. 12 London Centre Monthly Meeting: Details as November 12 Eastern Centre Monthly Meeting : Details as November. 18 South Coast New Years meet up for a belated Christmas lunch:
Bishopestoke Toby Carvery, Fair Oak Road, Eastleigh, SO50 6LD. lunch for 1pm get together for 12.15 for drink and chat before food. Members from all centres are welcome to come and share the afternoon with us. Bring a secret Santa gift, nothing more than a 3 or 4 pounds or a left over Christmas present. South Coast awardsfor the attendance trophy will be presented. Come on your bike orin a car, we’re not worried. For any further details about events contact socsouthcoast@rocketmail.com 19 Cumbria Centre Brunch: Details as November. 19 Tanworth in Arden Ride out to the grave of the late Mike Hailwood : Meet at McDonalds, A38/A52 Markeaton Roundabout 9:30 to leave at 10:00 Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com
23 East Mids Centre Meeting : Details as November.
February 2 2 2 9 9 9
Cumbria Centre Monthly Meeting: Details as December. .South Coast Centre Monthly Meeting: Details as December. North East Centre Monthly Meeting : Details as November. Kent Centre Monthly Meeting: Details as November. London Centre Monthly Meeting: Details as November Eastern Centre Monthly Meeting : Details as November.
9 Coventry Motor Museum : Meet at McDonalds, A38/A52
Markeaton Roundabout 9:30 to leave at 10:00 Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com or Ken Read kenread4@ntlworld.com
16 Cumbria Centre Brunch: Details as November. 27 East Mids Centre Meeting : Details as November.
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Events 2014
4-5 April Fat Skeleton Bike & Blues Weekend. Cabourne Parva, Lincs. : The club stand will be at this rally supporting Youth Bike. For more info check out www.bluesandbikeweekend.co.uk Support our next generation of motorcycle enthusiasts 13 April 24th Bottesford Easter Egg Run : Meet at the Red Lion, Bottesford from 9:30 to depart at 11:00. Ride to Mere's Leisure Centre, Grantham and then on to Melton Mowbray Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com 18 to 21 April Easter in Belgium: Kortrijk ( Courtray) staying in the Ibis Kortrijk Centrum. Kortrijk is located if the Flemish province of West Flanders on the River Leie, 26 miles southwest of Ghent and 16 miles northeast of Lille in France. Rideouts will be on both Saturday and Sunday. Laura Dyer 07792 733961 socsouthcoast@rocketmail.com 2-5 May North East Camping Weekend: The famous North East Centre camping weekend at the Heather Lad Quarrington Hill, Durham. Suzuki-oke courtesy of Steve Goth on the Fri and Sun night with a band on the Sat night. FREE camping with hot showers all weekend, hot food available form a chuck wagon 10-11 May Thundersprint 2014 : See article in Hustler for more details 17 – 18May BMF Show - Peterborough : Club stand will be attending the show. Anyone who wants to put their bike on the stand & help out for a few hours contact Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com 22 – 25 May 35th MTC Zedelgem Rally, Loppem (Nr Bruges): Small, friendly international. More details to follow or contact Alby White 07762-242309 alby.white@ntlworld.com 18 – 20 July Billing Biker Bash: The Big Biker Bash returns to Billing Aquadrome. 19 – 20 July Somme Anniversary Run: Full details in Paul Devall’s Blog http://somme98th.blogspot.co.uk/ or contact Paul at sockent@rocketmail.com 25 -27 July Invader Rally & AGM: Following the success and positive feedback in 2013 the Invader Rally will once again be held at The Brownlow Arms, High Marnham, Newark NG23 6GS. Planning is in the early stages so there will be more details to follow
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Riding the Continent In June , Julie and I visited friends in Sweden, Germany and France. In S. Sweden we visited the family of Lars Nilsson, an old friend who has ridden with me in California. He has a nice Honda 750 Café racer and a beautiful modified Triumph Bonneville. It rained most of June but we found time to ride between showers. Sweden is beautiful, scenic, historic and friendly. We next stopped in Hamburg to visit old friend and SOC Life Member Guenter Wagner and his wonderful family. Hamburg is an amazing city with an old town but also areas of new buildings with interesting architecture. It was still raining and rivers were flooding but Germany is always a treat to visit. On to our favorite city, Paris, before heading for Bordeaux. In the many times I’ve been in Paris I’ve never taken the city tour buses, so we did that . It rained of course, so we left the open top of the bus to sit downstairs, but every time the driver hit his brakes, a wave of water poured down the stairway !! It reminded me of Cole Porter’s song, “ I love Paris when it drizzles’, from the movie “ Can Can “. A TVG took us to Bordeaux, a city that rivals Paris in beauty, history and excitement. Suzuki rider Dennis Townsend picked us up and we visited the sites and sights of the city and the countryside as we drove to his village on the Canal Midi near the Garrone. Rural France is a fairytale wonderland with its architecture , tiny villages, agriculture and beauty. Julie and I rode Dennis’ beautiful Suzuki V Strom on roads and lanes to Biarritz, on the Basque coast near the Spanish border. Wonderful culture and food, castle-like buildings and friendly people make it an ideal destination. Motorcycles and scooters abound in the hilly narrow streets and there is great beauty around the harbor. It was my first time in this area and it only made me want to go back immediately !! I hope to !! David Gearhart
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East Midlands Centre As the weather as been poor these last months we have not been out as much as we would like but the East Mids have been busy sorting out the Children in need Charity Motorbike Ride from CMC Claycross, it was a very mixed day rain then the sun would shine for a bit and then rain again, but we had 60 bikes that turned up on the day and the run raised ÂŁ566 which if the weather was better we may have raised more, but the weather ruled the day, a lady called Angela from Belper heard me on radio Derby talking about the run and gave us a donation of bike gear to sell for the Children in need charity and the money is still coming in for this event, so we will find out the total amount at later date, it was good to see Pudsey there again, thanks to everyone that turned up, look out for the toy runs and the hamper run that the east mids attend. After the children in need run the East Mids went to the Stafford Bike Show, as I have not been there for a few years it was nice to meet up with some old friends and make some new ones, we had Cliff with his two Barry Sheene rep bikes, their always a good crowd puller, we had a Norton rotary on the stand and it came 1st. Me and Pete dibble camped but it was cold and wet and we did not get much sleep but we enjoyed the week-end, plenty of beer helps but the cold still gets to you roll on summer, lol. As on the Sunday Les was packing in on the NC we heard that John Reynolds was at the show on the Sunday and john was asked he would come to the Suzuki Owners club stand to present Les with a tankard, and he agreed, thank you John, john Reynold stayed for photo's and a chat and signed autographs for the public, it was really nice to meet him, he was also doing signing on the tracker Suzuki stand, I think it was tracker Suzuki I met them at the Stoke Show in July which is held at the Football ground, As I have taken on the show organizer role we have booked some shows and waiting for replies to some others, please keep an eye on the events list and if you want to put your bike on the Suzuki owners club stand please let me know alby white 07762242309 or e-mail me on alby.white@ntlworld.com it would be good for the club to have local centres to do the shows in their area, thanks alby
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Motorcycle Live – bigger, better and with 17 FREE features! Motorcycle Live 2013 promises to offer everything that visitors have come to expect and more. Every major manufacturer will be present, showcasing the 2014 model launches in the UK for the first time, while 17 FREE live features and zones – including nine opportunities to ride a bike – will keep motorcycle fans of all ages entertained. There will also be a daily dose of famous biking faces and racing stars from MotoGP, World Superbike, British Superbike and the Isle of Man TT, all taking part in fan meet-and-greets and on-stage game shows and Q&As with racers-turned-broadcasters Steve Parrish and James Whitham. At just £17 per adult in advance, that’s a whole lot of show for your buck! Visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk for details.
Aepcs ltd 27
The adventures of Carpetbagger and Cookie (Paul and Allayne Roper) Holiday time, it is August and Paul and I have been preparing for our trip through France and Spain. It’s certainly different when on a boat as to when we were in the house. Then it was just pop out the front door and pack up the bike. So easy as opposed to now when we have to think a lot more of the procedure of getting things packed up, find a trolley, load it up and take it up to the car a couple of times. That is a task in itself, why – you should see the length of our main pontoon. But then that is life living on a boat. We were excited and on the day as we set off to Eurotunnel; the traffic was kind to us and we went straight through customs. Being disabled, I have a blue badge so can take a different lane which makes us at the front of the queue and ahead of the others be they bikes, cars, vans etc. When we came out of Calais, it was fine and warm and we watched the thermometer in the car rise slowly. We stopped along the way for breaks and set down at Sees, a small village where we found a B&B with accommodation. It was a warm and balmy evening and we enjoyed dinner in the garden of the hotel. We averaged about 200 to 300 miles a day, and hadn't booked any hotels with the exception of Alicante. Most days we started looking for a hotel about 4 or 5 o'clock and either went to Tourist Information who in France were amazing and most days open until 7.30 in the evening or we just took a chance at hotels we went by. We took a leisurely four days to get to Alicante in Spain and went through towns like Bergerac, Lourdes, Huesca and other great towns before we reached Alicante.
Lourdes
Paul and I visited Lourdes whilst we journeyed into Spain. It was a hot day and Lourdes was heaving with tourists and pilgrims. If you were on your bike, then parking would have been much easier than it was for us. We managed to find parking in a place by luck near the centre. Sadly from our point of view, we thought Lourdes was rather commercialised. There was shop after shop wherever you looked it seemed, selling religious regalia, from statues of the Madonna, crosses, rosaries, key rings and the like. Even plastic containers to go down and fill with the "holy water".
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We went down to the basilica weaving in and out the many tourists and pilgrims. There were many statutes of St Bernadette and the Madonna and mosaics around of various saints. It was quite beautiful. The sun shone on the coppers, silver and bronze in the mosaics and you needed glasses to shield your eyes but viewing these amazing works was worth the heat and journey. Inside the basilica, a service was about to take place. It was full of Korean tourists and pilgrims waiting for the service to begin. We were invited to stay or quietly leave as the doors would be closed soon. It was lovely to see the striking costumes of the Korean ladies and men who followed a Madonna down the main aisle. We left them to get on with their service and went outside into the sunshine. I should say next to the main church was a small chapel where people could light candles and Paul, lit one for us both. It was an emotional moment for me, don't ask me why, but I felt very overcome with it all and my simple prayer to look after Paul. Yes I pray for my husband, not me who has the cancer. He suffers just as much as me, as he like many others in our situation are helpless with respect to those they love and care for who have cancer or similar terminal illnesses in whatever form. The grotto of St Bernadette had massive queues to touch the hallowed walls, many pilgrims believed it would help them in one way and I could understand their faith and belief in doing so, There was a seated area fenced off from those queuing and we sat down for a short while for some contemplation. There was even a guard there to ensure you observed silence as many were praying. I understand that they do hold services from this grotto and it must be lovely all lit up with candles of an evening. I believe that St Bernadette saw a statue of the Madonna crying and thus the grotto as it was deemed a magical and spiritual moment. Please correct me if I am wrong. There was an area segregated off for men, women and children. It was for being immersed in the holy waters. Many pilgrims believe it helps them or perhaps in their eyes cures them. Water plays an integral part in Lourdes and many pilgrims believe in its power to heal or relieve their pain. There is much to see at Lourdes and an hour or two is not enough to take it all in and appreciate the beauty of Lourdes. Cookie
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Why A Suzuki? As a motorcyclist for a few decades I have had quite a few bikes. First was an Ariel Leader. Comfy, dry in the wet and a good learners bike (flat-out at 65 mph) on to a Speed twin, Bonneville and many others. A Hagon Jap was my pride and joy for a while along with a BSA C15T. Yes competition was my main fortĂŠ . A spell on a Greeves Silverstone took away the idea of silly speed on "normal" roads. Well roads open to traffic coming the other way. Some injuries and the realisation that my funds would not let me be up at the front with the Japanese machinery saw an end to the racing career. Married life came along and I re-built a bike or two, the idea of helping the budget. The favourite one was a BSA A65, literally brought home in a wheel barrow. Nothing but a pile of spares. It took all winter to re-build but in the end it was a belter. Paint on the tank was done gold as in the James Bond film. Rode it for a couple of years before some bloke came and pressed readies into my sweaty palm. Made a mint, but he was a very happy chappy. A friend , who had an engineering business persuaded me to put the leathers on again and ride his 500cc Suzuki in local events. It was a brute and wheelies were no problem. The biggest job was to stop the beast and handling was something left to be desired. We packed it in after a season as it was eating engine parts like Billy Bunter on cakes. As age crept on me the urge to have a bike never left. My dear wife suggested we went on to BMW's as they seemed solid reliable bikes. Managed to get a nice , used R100RS. Sporty and very comfortable two-up. This bike lasted a year or two and I enjoyed fettling and riding it. Then disaster. Some local felons decided to "borrow" the bike and do some scrambling on one of North Staffordshires coal tips. When they ran-out of petrol they had a bonfire..... I could have killed them. This was replaced with a R100RT. Big, comfortable , reliable and great for cruising. Again it was a companion for a few years and fantastic for winter riding. Everything behind the fairing and the "pots" warming your feet nicely. A bike you could travel quite quickly on for many miles. Continental touring was tried and no problems as the bike had big panniers and a goodly top-box. Moving to live in France saw the RT off as it was just too hot to ride in the summer. Your feet were fried. Onto the K75 series. Again solid and a fantastic mile muncher. Bit on the heavy side if it fell over. No not me , but a friend dropped his getting it out of a parking spot. We had a big effort to get it upright again. I had the K75...the K75S and the Ongar version of the K75RS. Well weather proof but rather top-heavy. Tried an R100GS for a while. Bought it mainly with the intention of restoring it to use . I think I fancied being an intrepid tourer and tootling along green-lanes.
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Well a 29" inside leg on one of those bikes is a joke as I needed steps to climb on the seat. If you stopped in the street you had to juggle which way to lean it to get a foot down. In the wrong gear and leaning the wrong way caused a lot of clutch slipping. Then I saw a GSX 750FY at a bargain price. Dipped into the funds and fetched it home. Bit noisy as it had a blue Flame exhaust fitted. It went OK but the slow running and tick-over were never smooth. It was OK as long as you were twisting your right wrist. Twelve months saw me selling it and using the K75S again. It was too heavy so I bought another GSX . This time a 600. Low mileage and reasonably tidy. A winter and some paint and polish, titivation of the carbs and it was running as sweet as the proverbial. I found the GSX handling much better than the BMW . Better braking though not better on fuel. I missed the self cancelling indicators , build quality and general comfort of the German motor. The 600 was not quite a flexible as the 3 cylinder I was used to but I soon adapted . Careful tuning and the Suzuki would happily travel at 30mph in 6th gear. No jerks or shuddering. Just a bit more torque and it would be perfect. Then I had a bit of luck. A friend wanted a GSX taking back to the UK as he was retiring from bikes. Well he is 78 so I think we can excuse him. I went over to collect the bike and rode it home to put on the trailer for the journey. It was top notch. Low mileage 750FK3 , smooth as a baby's bottom at 30 in top. Loads of torque in mid and low range. This whetted my appetite . but thought I'd persevere with the 600. I sold it "by accident " and managed to obtain a 750FK3 with no problems. Love it and the performance. Standard exhaust system so that goes better with the "pension book" image . All in all I am happy with the Suzuki and look forward to many happy miles aboard. I had a very nice trip to Barcellona on the 750 and did it in one go. Just stopped for lunch 600+ kilometres and good fun through the Pyrenees. Yes I think I am now Suzuki converted. So much so the beloved K75S has gone to pastures fresh. Over 100k on the clock and 2 owners from new. I had it for 13 years doing all the service and repairs during that time. It is hoped that I can get as much out of the GSX . Bit different for the spannering though... Griff
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The National Motorcycle Museum Article from the museum itself. The National Motorcycle Museum is recognised as the finest and largest motorcycle museum in the world. Our aim is to make it even better. Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull houses important and famous machines and motorcycles are forever being added to our collection. It is a place where ‘Legends Live On’ and it is a tribute to and a living record of this once great British industry that dominated world markets for some sixty years. It is a place where an older generation can once again view with nostalgia the machines they rode in days gone by, and younger generations can study the development of the motorcycle from its earlier days to the golden years of the 1930s-60s, when British motorcycles ‘ruled the world’. Biggest & Best. Since opening, this magnificent centre has become the largest motorcycle museum in the world and attracts around 250,000 visitors a year. One of the biggest attractions for many guests is the comprehensive cross-section of machines, spanning the “60 Glorious Year” of motorcycle manufacturing in this country. The museum’s aim is to preserve these pieces of history for future generations to come, as a reminder of this great nations industry, engineering prowess and work ethic. Within the five exhibition halls will be found some 650 plus machines, fully restored to the manufacturers original specifications. At some point over the past 20 years every classic bike enthusiast would have spent an afternoon browsing through the museums halls, and many clubs and organisations have held rallies and events in the grounds. The National Motorcycle Museum has developed into a focal point for the British motorcycle movement. Rising From The Flames. On 16th September 2003 , the museum suffered a devastating fire, resulting in damage to 75% of the structure and some 400 machines. Due to the determination of ownership, staff and contractors, the museum doors re-opened on 1 st December 2004 . Today the museum is home to more than 650 machines, with new acquisitions arriving daily. The conference and banqueting facilities have also been rebuilt with facilities second to none, all suites are lavishly appointed and offer stateof-the-art audio-visual equipment am proud of our unique collection of British Motorcycles and hope that you will find much to interest you in your visit. The motorcycle industry was until recently one of Britain ’s great engineering achievements and we have done our best to create a comprehensive collection of historic machines. We are always changing our exhibits so hope to see you here at the museum in the near future.
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The National Motorcycle Museum is ideally located literally a few minutes away from the NEC and Birmingham International Airport at J6 of the M42. This means that we are within close driving distance of Coventry, Birmingham and Solihull, and we are easy to get to by air and rail. Open seven days a week 9.30am-5.30pm prices from ÂŁ6.95 and group discounts available(10+)
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LEGALITIES WITH JOHN MEASURES FACTS ABOUT FILTERING I have written several previous articles about this, so please bear with me on this one. The reason for again flogging this dead horse is a recent post that has been floating around Facebook and which gives misleading information. It refers to a number of cases and unfortunately not only does it get the names of the cases wrong but also the facts. The Facebook article ends by saying that filtering past stationary traffic is no longer a grey area and that it is completely legal. It goes on the say that it becomes questionable when the traffic begins to move. This is not strictly true and I hope the following clarifies the situation as it presently stands and has done for the last 50 years. Filtering is the manoeuvre carried out by a motorcycle when passing stationary or slow moving traffic. It has, as such, never been illegal unless the manoeuvre itself contravenes road traffic signs, road traffic regulations, carried out in a dangerous or reckless manner, or without courtesy to other road users. In the case of Powell v Moody (1966), the judge described filtering as queue jumping which was a hazardous manoeuvre which had to be carried out with a high degree of care required by the motorcyclist. The Court said that it was effectively the burden of the motorcyclist to ensure that it was safe to overtake. Rule 88 of the Highway Code says “Additionally, when filtering in slow-moving traffic, take care and keep your speed low.� The DSA Motorcycling Handbook says that filtering requires great care and can expose you to additional hazards. Even the Police Riders Handbook, Motorcycle Roadcraft, says that when the traffic is stationary or moving slowly in queues, motorcyclists can use their manoeuverability and limited space requirements to make progress but the advantages of filtering have to be weighed against the disadvantages of increased vulnerability. So what happens if you are involved in an accident when filtering and what criteria do the court use to determine who was at fault? If you have suffered serious injury or loss in the accident, you may find yourself with a reduced award of compensation due to being contributory negligent (partly at fault), or you will receive nothing at all. I must stress that every case is determined on its own merits and facts but judges can refer to and take into consideration , past cases which were decided in a court of equal standing or above.
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These are called precedents. In previous articles, I have referred to several cases over the last 50 years and summarised what the judges have taken into consideration to decide liability. I will not repeat them here save to say that the manner in which both parties drive/ride, together with the accident circumstances are major factors. The judges also focus on the speed of the motorcycle. This was excellently summarised in the 2012 High Court decision of Beasley v Alexander. The Google reference is http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2012/2197.html and I would suggest you read this, particularly the witness evidence and the summary of the judge. The upshot is that the judge found that the speed of the motorcycle was excessive having regard to the circumstances, however, even though the speed was 10 mph above what he considered being safe, he found that even if the motorcycle was travelling at 35 mph, the collision would have occurred in any event. In coming to this decision, the judge referred to the Court of Appeal in Davis v Schrogin where the facts were similar save in that case the defendant car was making a U turn. The claimant motorcyclist was travelling at 40 to 45 mph somewhere near the centre of the right hand lane. The judge had at first thought that the claimant had been travelling too fast but concluded that his speed could not be legitimately criticised. He also held that, if the claimant had been going appreciably slower, it would have made no difference because he was right on top of the point of accident when the defendant first did anything to excite anxiety. So, as Hughes LJ stated: “In other words the judge held that even if there had been excess speed, it was not causative of the collision�. In conclusion, ride at a safe speed having regard to the traffic and road conditions. I have found that many accidents occur when the traffic is stationary and a car emerges from a side road to the left. Be extra vigilant in these situations as this is where you will likely to be found contributory negligent.
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Aepcs ltd Ealing: 0208 848 3300 Slough 01753 439 242 High Wycombe: 01494 611 116 Staines 01784 849 077
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http://www.pestserviceslondon.co.uk/ Aepcs Ltd is the sole sponsor of The SOC NEC show stand 36
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Nec Raffle Prize Win a pair of tyres for your bike Tyres that are at ease for urban, sporting or touring use, designed specifically for the needs of Sport Touring motorcyclists. A new-generation compound with high silica content for sport touring use: excellent grip on dry surfaces with maximum safety also on wet surfaces and at low temperatures. The innovative tread design combines high mileage with a modern and attractive look. The new front and rear profile has been designed for the latest generation sport touring bikes, and can ensure neutral and uniform performance in all road conditions. Excellent mileage with constant and reliable performance right to the end of its life. Holder of 7 WR! On March 15th 2009, 15 Journalists and 12 Pirelli Testers set 7 FIM World Duration Records at Nardò Technical Center in Southern Italy. On just one set of Angel ST tyres they covered a distance of 5,135 km at an average speed of 214 km/h in a tough 24H non stop trial which proved the consistency and the performance of the new ANGEL ST. The revolutionary tread design of the set is the ultimate state of the art of tread development which brings both excellent dry performance and high level control on wet roads. Front tread Design
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Rear tread Design
SUZUKI OWNERS CLUB CHARITY OF THE YEAR. At the AGM the charity for the year was chosen. With many worthy charities put forwards, the final vote went to The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (NABB). This is a registered charity that represents a group of established charities operating across the UK and Ireland. Blood bikes have been established in the UK for more than 40 years. In November 2007 members from Dorset Freewheelers, Freewheelers EVS, SERV and Severn Freewheelers got together in Gloucester to discuss better collaboration between the groups as a result NABB was officially formed in 2010, but prior to this the different groups cooperated with each other and assisted in the setup of new groups. NABB's principle aims are to: Aid the formation of new groups. Assist member groups achieve their objectives. Define a minimum professional operating standard for all members and Raise awareness / sponsorship for the benefit of all NABB members. Each NABB member performs a similar service, using motorcycles (and sometimes cars) to provide an out-of-hours 'medical essentials' courier service to hospitals and other health institutions within their area. The charities carry urgently needed medical items such as blood, biological samples, medical notes, x-rays and scans. The service is offered free of charge to the NHS and all members are unpaid volunteers. Currently existing NABB members reach more than 85% of the UK's population and parts of Ireland, with further expansion planned in 2013. The Suzuki Owners Club will be collecting at every opportunity through NABB collection boxes at all the shows we are attending and through the NEC raffle. So come to the NEC and support your club and its chosen charity. Who knows, you could win a set of tyres for your bike or a years free bike insurance.
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Manx GP Yes I made it to the Manx GP and Classic GP. An excellent event and held at a much better tempo than the manic T.T. OK so I'm a bit long in the tooth ,but it was nice not to have hundreds of rather loud exhausts blasting round the Island. The break started with a bit of a disaster as I left my camera at home ! I asked senior management to take a photo of the departing from Nantwich, which she duly did. I then rode off and forgot to collect my camera. Was age mentioned earlier ? But before this I came over to the UK with my GSX 600F on a trailer so as to keep the costs down a bit. No hotels needed on the way. A chap from Sutton Coldfield asked if the bike was for sale. I suggested a price and blow me down he gave me the asking, so long as he could take it home then and there. Monday night and no transport to the "Island". A quick look at Flea bay and I found a nice , low mileage, Cat.C repair, GSX 750FK3. Tuesday morning and off to Manchester to do the deal. Lovely looking and nice to ride. Slight signs of an oil leak but checking the filter I found it was not tightened properly. Spanner on and a turn later the problem was solved. Got to Douglas OK in time for Fridays practice. Signed on as a Marshall and went to Windy Corner. No practice as the roads were wet. A jar or two in the local at Laxey where I stayed in a home stay. Saturday morning and son James was due to fly over, so I went to the airport to collect him. Got a message on the mobile to say he was sorry that he had missed the plane as he was in the bar at gate closing time !!!!!! Youngsters and the plonk ?????? In the afternoon Greeba Castle was the spot for my duties. Went on the flag at Appledene approach and had the pleasure of Connor Cummings's company as thats where he coasted to a standstill. Seems a decent sort and quite modest really. Sunday saw us at the gathering at Sulby airfield where Ago, Phil Read and various others were riding. Lovely day in glorious sun-shine. Though I was back in France..... Monday saw a return to Greeba and no incidents. Tuesday and Ramsey sprint was on.
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A good fun day where you could take your road bike and blast down the strip. No I was not tempted. Some poor chap on a Triumph, one of those new monster engined jobs, leapt from the start. Alas he was not ready for a wheelie and duly demolished the traffic light starting system. He got one hell of a cheer and it took 4 blokes to lift his bike off him. He was OK but the Trump steering looked a bit "out of line" when he was riding off back to his Hotel. Hope the insurance didn't find out the cause ??? Up to 33rd for Wednesdays racing and it was a bit quick. I could see why the helicopter was parked near there. On Thursday we went to the Mitre at Kirk Michael to see if any other SoC members were out to play. No there was none there. So we went to the Ginger Hall Hotel. Yes a big Suzuki banner and Guy Martins T.T. bike in the bar. Some Suzuki's there and tentative arrangements to meet again next year were made. Also I managed to get SoC members a discount on meals there at next years Manx. So come on and lets have a Suzuki party. The last days racing and the 33rd was again the destiny. Bad weather caused delays and no Senior. In the evening a sector marshalls glass of wobbly water was supped at the "Rovers" in Douglas. Yes it was a good evenings entertainment. For Saturday we saw quite a few sections of the Classic trial. Great old bikes and riders enjoying themselves. John McGuinnes on a Tiger Cub was a revelation. He proved he can handle a bike on a trials section. For me, all in all a fantastic holiday with great company for the week. Only downside was the lack of decent food. OK so pub food and all day full English heart attack, plus fish and chips were readily available and enjoyable. But I missed my French food. Lastly it is not a cheap holiday as I went to Australia to visit a brother and sisters for less cost. Next year ? Back to the Manx and to 'ell with the expense.. Griffo
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Marc Marquez 2013 MotoGP world champion With a 13-point advantage, 20-year-old Marquez only needed fourth place to become the first rookie champion since Kenny Roberts in 1978 and the youngest ever premier class title-winner. Lorenzo needed a win and to hope disaster befell Marquez, and he did his utmost by blasting his Yamaha into the lead at the start, as Marquez fell to third behind Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa. It appeared in the first half of the race that Lorenzo's tactic was to slow the pace and bunch the pack to give rivals ample chance to attack Marquez. Instead all the action was around Lorenzo, as he and Pedrosa engaged in a spectacular tussle. Six times in the first seven laps Pedrosa overtook the double champion, only for Lorenzo to force a way back through each time, as well as hanging on under braking through countless other close calls. The crunch came approaching one-third distance, when Pedrosa took the lead at Turn 1 and Lorenzo's retaliation into Turn 2 ended in contact that sent both wide. As Marquez swept into the lead, Pedrosa fell to fifth behind the swiftlyrecovering Lorenzo, Alvaro Bautista and Valentino Rossi. Race direction will investigate this clash after the race. Lorenzo was soon back in the lead, as Marquez made it easy for him as soon as his very determined championship rival appeared on his tail. The Honda man did repass Lorenzo briefly further around the lap, before deciding to play it safe. Lorenzo then abandoned his previous strategy and made a break for it, leaving Marquez to his own devices and setting a blistering, lap-recordsmashing pace. The Spaniard went on to take his eighth win of 2013 - two more than Marquez by 3.9 seconds. Pedrosa recovered to second, with Marquez settling for a third place that made him champion after a remarkable debut season.Rossi and Bautista fell away in fourth and fifth. Cal Crutchlow was an early crasher in his final race for Tech 3 Yamaha, leaving Stefan Bradl and Bradley Smith to finish sixth and seventh. Text copied from Eurosport.com
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Suzuki Concept Models Suzuki Motor Corporation will be displaying two new concept motorcycles at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, which takes place from 23 November to 1 December, 2013. On display for the first time is the Suzuki Recursion Concept, a compact roadster powered by a new 588cc parallel-twin engine which also features an intercooler turbo, designed to provide both high fuel economy for city riding and ample torque when ridden on open roads. The style and design of the Recursion is also aimed at providing all of the running performance of a bigger capacity motorcycle, while retaining the handling benefits of a middleweight machine. As well as the Recursion, a new, lightweight electric mini-bike will also be making it’s world debut, the new Extrigger; designed to help new and young riders discover the joys of motorcycling. The Extrigger, while small, features a host of quality components including a lightweight aluminium frame, upside down front forks and disc brakes front and rear. It is powered by the same electric motor that appeared in the Suzuki e-Let scooter. Also appearing will be the new V-Strom 1000 and new Burgman 125 model, which will make their UK show debut at Motorcycle Live. Motorcycle Live runs from 23 November to 1 December at the NEC in Birmingham
SOC Dating Certificate Service Contact either by email to Techofficer@rocketmail.com or by post The Technical officer Suzuki Owners Club Suite 240 Divo House 29 Belmont Road Members £20 Uxbridge Non Members £50 UB8 1QS
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WinterizingYour YourMotorcycle Motorcycle Winterizing With the first big storm out of the way for this year and with the first signs of winter all around us it’s time to start thinking about putting the bike to sleep for the winter. How you do it and what you forget to do at this stage is critical to what you will find waiting for you when the first signs of Spring start to warm up the black stuff once more. Miss a few basic steps here and you could find yourself with a hefty repair bill come next year. Get it right and your new season will be a smooth transition back into the seat. The following steps are not exhaustive and are laid out in a logical order. Ideally the storage area for the bike should be inside, heated (if possible) and importantly free from damp and be well ventilated. 1. Pick a nice dry day for one last ride out. 2. Fill up the tank with petrol adding a correct amount of fuel stabilizer to the mixture. 3. Complete your ride out and then thoroughly wash and dry the bike. 4. Do a complete oil and filter change. 5. Top up all fluid levels. 6. If water cooled, ensure the radiator coolant is at the right level and is at winter strength for the anti-freeze. 7. Inspect the bike for damage and repair and make good any paint work damage. 8. Check and fully inflate tyres. 9. Wax and polish the whole bike and apply a light non petroleum lube coating to chrome. 10. Drain the carburettors and float bowls. 11. Support the bike off the ground if possible so the tyres are clear. 12. Remove the battery and store in a dry frost free well-ventilated area. Trickle charge the battery every month or connect to a continuous charger such as an Optimate. 13. Wash, dry and then lubricate the chain. 14. Lubricate all cables. 15. Apply oil or storage spray in the cylinders. 16. Do the same to the exhausts pipes and cans. 17. Wedge oily clean rags into the ends of the exhaust cans. 18. Cover the bike with soft cloth sheets, such as old flannel bed sheets. Using nylon or other man made materials against the paint work could scratch the surface. 19: Complete the cover up with a waterproof tarp or sheet. 20. Ensure the covers are well secured. 21. Check the bike from time to time and where it is stored, is still free from damp or wet. All simple steps, but all important to bring your bike out of hibernation for the Spring in tip top condition.
RockHopper
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More Wintering advice next issue
Following the success of holding the Thundersprint at the Anglesey Circuit in May, plans are already well underway for 2014. Next year the event is going to take place in Derbyshire at the Darley Moor Motor Sport Centre on 10th & 11th May. Situated in the centre of the country it will be the prefect location for a great weekend of classic racing on a beautiful track located in stunning parklands (and yet just 20 miles off the M1). Tickets are already on sale for 2014 and are very competitively priced at just £5 for a weekend spectator pass and £15 for a weekend camping pass. The circuit even allows you to bring the family dog (almost unheard of for a motor racing event). Frank Melling, the event organiser, has kindly agreed that we can take the club stand along to support the event, which will have over 100 trade stands and some of the most exciting motorcycle racers ever taking part. Now it's OUR turn to support Frank and encourage people to come along for what is guaranteed to be a great weekend of classic motorcycle racing. We have been allocated a space on the Start - Finish straight. Anyone who has a classic bike that they would like to display on the club stand please get in contact with Alby White (Shows Co-ordinator) 07762 242309. We hope that as many members as possible come along and enjoy the experience of what will be a fantastic weekend of racing. How about some centres consider putting on a ride out to the event - either for the racing on Sunday, or even better, come along and camp with us for the full weekend? East Midlands Centre have been supporting the event for many years and regularly used to put on a ride out from Derbyshire to Northwich where we would meet up with club members from across the UK. This year it will be in our own back yard ! If anyone needs more encouragement to attend, there is going to be an aerobatic display by one of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfires we saw when we visited the BBMF on our Invader Rally Ride Out – subject to final confirmation by the RAF. There is also a children’s funfair and inflatables and even a Fine Food area. Something for all the family. For more information about Thundersprint 2014 have a look at their website: www.thundersprint.com
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Ring of Red Around the M25 It was a bit of a rush but well worth it to be part of another triumph for British Bikers. I was ready to leave as soon as the two minute silence was over. I watched the Queen lay her wreath on the Cenotaph and then I was out to where Dรถra was waiting. Then it was all action to meet my brother, Neill, near Chatham and ride to the rendezvous point at Dartford just south of the QE Bridge tollbooths. We made it in good time but with maybe not enough to spare had we attempted to go through the Tunnel to the local start point at Thurrock"Lakeside" Services. As the bikes streamed over the Bridge we could see the red line of their riders and pillions. Most wearing red t-shirts and hoodies, some with red hi-viz and others even in onesies! I had started with a red hi-viz but took it off and put on the more comfortable XXXL t-shirt. The hi-viz flapped about at anything over 50mph. We joined the large group and headed to the next rest area at Clacket Lane. Many riders did the entire 117 miles. With my vented summer gloves I was glad of the heated grips and the hand guards that deflected some of the breeze away from my fingertips and those vents. It was later in the day that we learned via Facebook, that we had achieved the goal of a continuous red ring around London. Another brilliant day and another chance for Britain's bikers to show that we aren't all hooligans, as we are always portrayed in movies. Or should I say still portrayed in movies? Paul Devall
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Rear Photo North East Centre Down the mine
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