Bad roads, a full load, changing riding conditions: long-distance touring exposes an enduro’s suspension to the most extreme conditions.

Over many miles of testing around the world – even in enduro racing – Extreme shock absorbers from Touratech Suspension have proven that they meet the most extreme requirements. Now riders of the new BMW R 1200 GS (2013 onwards) can also benefit from Touratech Suspension components as Touratech becomes the first manufacturer to offer custom aftermarket shock absorbers for the BMW flagship. Made for journeys away from main roads, the Extreme suspension system is designed to withstand the worst off-road conditions with full touring luggage.

Touratech Suspension Extreme shock absorbers rank in the premium class of suspension components. Specially developed for frequent dramatic changes in riding and loading conditions while motorcycle touring, they set standards for response characteristics, resistance to bottoming out, comfort and dynamic safety. A handwheel with definite clicks makes it easy to balance the BMW R 1200 GS each time for riding with or without luggage. The fine damping adjustment is located in a separate external reservoir to provide better cooling and give the shock absorbers greater resilience with a longer service life. The suspension damping has separate high speed and low speed settings, allowing optimum adjustment for extreme conditions.

What’s more, the rear and front Extreme shock absorbers for the new BMW R 1200 GS are both fitted with the PDS system providing hydraulic protection against bottoming out. A second damper piston absorbs the most severe impacts. Even with heavy luggage in the most terrible off-road conditions, the bike will not bottom out and mechanical overload of the shock absorber – the last thing you need on a long-distance tour – is prevented. The vehicle geometry of the BMW R 1200 GS is always fully maintained through all settings while riders benefit from an appreciable improvement in stability and steering precision.

Another Extreme feature is the ability to adjust the length of the rear shock absorber by a total of 8 mm (- 4 mm, +4 mm). This allows individual handling requirements to be integrated into the bike’s balance from the outset.

Fully laden to the ends of the earth: with Touratech Suspension Extreme shocks the new R 1200 GS can go anywhere - at least with regard to the suspension.

Both shock absorbers will be available in the Touratech web shop at http://www.touratech.co.uk/ from September 2013:

Touratech Suspension rear shock absorber for BMW R 1200 GS (2013 onwards), type *Extreme*

Item no. 045-5870

Touratech Suspension front shock absorber for BMW R 1200 GS (2013 onwards), type *Extreme*

Item no. 045-5876

Touratech UK came into the spot light when they kitted out Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s BMW GS bikes for both the Long Way Round and the Long Way Down. They also provided equipment for Charley Boorman’s Race to Dakar. They have also provided equipment for other adventure trips, working with celebrities including comedian Ross Noble and actor Danny John-Jules.

Nick Plumb, Touratech MD has competed in the Dakar Rally 4 times, completing the rally on his first and last attempt. He also features heavily in Race to Dakar.

Keep your tyres in check to help you stay safe on motorways – that is the message today from the Institute of Advanced Motorists after a total of 3,852 tyre-related incidents were reported on England’s motorways between April and the end of June 2013  – an average of 1,284 per month.

Many motorists will often put off tyre repairs to save on costs. But it is actually cheaper to replace worn or damaged tyres where necessary, rather than waiting to face a burst tyre and having to be towed off the motorway.

As part of their Motorway Month campaign, the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) offers advice for motorists on how to keep your tyres in check: • P – Performance. You can monitor the state of your tyres through observation of the performance of your vehicle; grip, handling and fuel economy will all be improved with correct tyre care. • A – Air pressure. It is essential that you check your tyre pressures on a regular basis for maximum performance. Low tyre pressure can cause increased fuel consumption as well as making them more susceptible to damage. • C – Condition. Inspect tyres for any cuts, bulges, uneven wear or objects embedded in the tread. • T – Tread depth. Monitoring your tyres’ tread is essential for safety, particularly on wet roads. Check that your tread depth is not below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, although it is worth considering getting them replaced if they are below 3mm.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Regular tyre checks are the best way to keep on top of maintenance and avoid those nasty surprises both to your vehicle and to your wallet.”

But one day you could become one of the thousands unlucky enough to experience a tyre-related breakdown, so having a dry-run of changing your tyre at home can prove very useful and will mean you needn’t rely so heavily on breakdown services, getting you back on the road quicker.”

Incidents contribute to delays which cost the economy billions of pounds each year. According to the Highways Agency’s national satisfaction survey, carried out between April 2012 and the end of March 2013, only 53% of respondents say they regularly check their tyre pressure.

Stuart Lovatt from the Highways Agency said: “Nobody wants to start their holiday off by having a breakdown that leads to them having to extend their journey time.”

By checking that tyres are still in good condition, drivers are helping to avoid incidents and the risk of delays, not only to their own journey but to those of other drivers.”

If you are carrying heavy loads, you will need to increase the air pressure in your car tyres to compensate. You can find the correct tyre pressures for heavy loads in your car’s handbook.

Chairman of TyreSafe Stuart Jackson said: “Before setting off on their summer holidays, it’s essential that drivers give their tyres a thorough inspection. It’s particularly important to ensure tyres are correctly inflated in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s settings, which may be different if extra passengers or heavy luggage is being carried. But remember to readjust your tyre pressures when you start to using your car normally again.”

www.iam.org.uk

Come join us at the Keighley Motorcycle Shop for a FREE fun-filled evening of treasure hunting! There will be a BBQ & refreshments afterwards, and prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

The evening kicks off around 6pm, with the Treasure Hunt in and around Keighley (~10 mile radius, so bring a mode of transport or a fit pair of legs!) expected to take about 1 hour. Post-hunt we'll be serving up some tasty BBQ grub and refreshments, so come join us for a light-hearted, fun, social gathering!

www.colinappleyard.com

The relationship between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Dainese continues with the aim of better protecting astronauts during both training and operations.

Current space suits are designed to protect an astronaut whilst in space and are in effect miniature spacecrafts. The drawback to these suits however is that their construction involves a series of compromises, which affect overall comfort and the very rigid structure of the suits has on occasion caused minor injuries.

The aim of this project is to create special protection that astronauts can wear inside space suits. This material will be an integral part of the undergarment currently in use for controlling body temperature.

MIT Professor Dava Newman who teaches aeronautics and astronautics and Dainese’s Technology Centre have combined their expertise in order to study the problem and provide astronauts with the best possible solution. The project has already been approved by NASA and now involves a detailed investigation of the pressures exercised by the space suit against the body. To achieve this a special suit has been made with a series of sensors, which indicate areas that could cause impact or abrasion injuries. The suit will also allow scientific analysis of the potentially harmful effects of the space suit and provide essential data for re-designing the interaction between the space suit and the astronaut.

A series of in-depth discussions with astronauts has already identified the most exposed areas of the body and allowed possible solutions to be identified. Such solutions will have to be assessed after the investigation on the sensor-fitted suit, and will need to fully comply with NASA’s specifications regarding the use of materials inside the suits, which will be worn under demanding conditions. Even the smallest issue, for example the release of a barely perceptible amount of a chemical substance or even CO2, might create problems in management of the suit micro-atmosphere and mean the astronaut having to return to the space craft.

The project is currently being run in Italy at D-Tec by the engineer Allison Anderson from MIT who, along with Dainese engineers, has created the suit undergarment for detecting the pressure points presented to Prof. Newman during her recent visit to Dainese for meetings about progress on the project. A further collaborating partner is the Industrial Design Studio of Trotti and Associates whose president, the architect Guillermo Trotti, is highly specialised in working on projects with space agencies.

The results of the project will also be made available to other space agencies with the Russian space agency possibly amongst the first to benefit.

www.dainese.com

'A new exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 20 July 2013 at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, near Warwick.  Visitors can learn the behind-the-scenes story of Aston Martin’s first 100-years and the craftsmanship involved in making these iconic cars.

‘Aston Martin - A Century of Craftsmanship’ features material from the collection of Roger Stowers, Aston Martin’s former historian. The Collection was donated to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT) by Aston Martin Lagonda Limited in 2001.  This is the first result of a two-year Project, which was awarded a generous grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Aston Martin Lagonda and the Aston Martin Heritage Trust are also supporting the Project.

The display will take a fresh look at Aston Martin’s history through its long tradition of craftsmanship. This is a chance to see unique documents and photographs, some of which have not been publically available until now.  There will also be a small display of Aston Martin cars which will change throughout the life of the exhibition.

Located on the Mezzanine floor, this exhibition runs from the 20 July 2013 until December 2014 and will evolve during this time, to feature new material and exhibits. Admission to this new exhibition is included within the standard museum entry fees.

www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk