French manufacturer Furygan has created a new range of leather jackets designed with racing in mind. The Race, Akira, Block and Brutale Evo are new-for-2013, combining Furygan’s renowned style and quality with its on-track expertise developed with pro racers.

Although they differ in style, the four jackets do have some similarities, for example each one is crafted from CE homologated 1.4mm waterproofed leather. Areas exposed to abrasion in a crash situation are reinforced with triple stitching to avoid tearing and each jacket features D3O T5 Pro Evo level 2 armour in the elbow and shoulders and a back protector (1621-2 level 1 central back type), offering full protection without restricting comfort and movement. The back protector pocket in each can also accommodate a level 2 full back protector as an added extra.

Each jacket features Furygan’s Skin Protect lining and a thermal padded lining that includes aluminum inserts on the chest for maximum protection against the cold. There are two connecting zips (one short and one full) mounted on an elastic belt, adjusters on the waist and four pockets – two inside and two outside. All four jackets also carry the Ergomax label, ensuring maximum comfort and a perfect fit, with the Race carrying the Ergomax Racing label.

Combining all Furygan’s sports jacket expertise and developed and tested by pro-riders, the top-of-the-range Race jacket, made from full grained leather, is a must-have for any serious sports bike rider. It incorporates removable foam inserts on the chest to protect from fuel tank shocks and aids rider posture, as well as a racing hump for aerodynamics. New integral racing sleeves – equipped with bi-stretch Cordura and constructed with a triple stitching technique – offer unparalleled comfort and mobility. This sports jacket also has external protection shells on the shoulders and elbows. The Race is available in black-white-silver, black-white-red and black-silver-fluorescent yellow, sizes S-3XL with an RRP of £439.99.

Made from Ago plain matt leather, the Akira was the first jacket of the new generation to include external protection shells on the elbows and shoulders. The ergonomic design of the jacket includes the Furygan AFS system - vents with water repellent zips on the chest and back that can be opened to create an airflow through the vest. Leather stretch behind the shoulders and Cordura stretch on the elbows, as well as neoprene inserts on the collar and wrists ensure maximum comfort. The Akira is available in black-white and white-black, sizes S-3XL with an RRP of £379.99.

The Block, made from soft and extremely resilient Ago leather, is classed as a top racing leather jacket. With the inclusion of a racing hump, racing sleeves with bi-stretch Cordura inside the arms, neoprene inserts on the collar and wrists and leather stretch behind the shoulders and elbows, the high-end ergonomics make for a comfortable sports fit. This jacket also includes external protection shells with aluminum inserts for elbows and shoulders. The Block is available in black-chrome, sizes S-3XL with an RRP of £379.99.

The Brutale Evo is made from full grained leather and combines quality leather construction with classic Furygan styling. It incorporates racing sleeves with bi-stretch Cordura stretch inside the arms for a comfortable fit as well as leather stretch behind the shoulders and the elbows. Neoprene inserts on the collar and wrists are also included. The Brutale Evo is available in black-white, sizes S-3XL with an RRP of £369.99.

www.nevis.uk.com

Stormin' as usual will have a great line up of bands on two stages over the weekend...

We will have some of the best bands from the North East, some old Stormin' favourites and some newbies & some top tribute bands too.
Confirmed bands include: A Foreigners Journey, ...   See more here:

Ducati 1199 Panigale wins “best-of-the-best” in premier design competition: The red dot design awards

•4,662 products assessed for the 2013 edition •Official award ceremony held Monday, 1 July in Essen, Germany •The award-winning Ducati 1199 Panigale to be exhibited in red dot design museum, Singapore.

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 02 July 2013 – The Ducati 1199 Panigale Superbike, an icon of style, innovation and technology has been judged by a jury of 37 experts and awarded “best-of-the-best” within the product design category of the red dot awards, one of the biggest and most prestigious international design competitions.

The 2013 edition of the competition saw a staggering 4,662 products go through the rigorous selection process, with the Bologna-based manufacturer clinching the award for the innovative motorcycle that has further underlined the company’s status as a design icon within the motorcycle industry.

Held at the Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany, on Monday, 1 July, the glittering awards ceremony was attended by some of the biggest names in the world of design. The highly influential audience enjoyed an intriguing display of jury-selected products, of which Ducati’s 1199 Panigale became the star of the show.

Ducati’s award-winning Superbike will be exhibited for four weeks at the red dot design museum in Germany, at an exhibition in Taiwan and, for one year, at the impressive red dot design museum in Singapore. The  red dot design award is the only international award that boasts two dedicated design museums, in Germany and Singapore, thus giving further visibility and added credibility to awarded product designs.

The 1199 Panigale’s cutting-edge technology and aesthetic brilliance have combined to create a work of art and by going beyond the barriers of motorcycle design, is now enjoying international success. Ducati’s charm has also now spread beyond the boundaries of the motorcycling industry and is fascinating the whole world.

With every single component designed to maximise performance, while achieving aesthetic perfection, the motorcycle’s description further validates its design success. The 1199 Panigale’s shape and form captures light in a way that conveys the dynamism of a body that is solid yet nimble and elegant yet powerful. Its smooth streamlining flows effortlessly from the front fairing to the rear light, artfully housed in the motorcycle’s tail. Even its empty spaces become an essential aspect, with LED lights shaping a surface for the frontal air intakes. Both the engine and exhausts reveal themselves and yet remain hidden, seemingly playing out a subtle game in which exposure constantly interacts with audacious absence. The result expresses the essence of beauty in every last detail leaving the new 1199 Panigale to celebrate Ducati originality, acknowledged by all as the pinnacle of motorcycling design.

“The red dot ‘best of the best’ award acknowledges all the hard work put in by everyone at Ducati R&D for over three years,” commented Andrea Ferraresi, Ducati Design Centre Director, during the prize-giving ceremony. “Moreover, joining the ranks of the award’s top winners has made this product – and Ducati – part of product design history. Every single component has been designed to be performance-oriented and function-specific. Together, all these components form a harmonious, light, visually stunning product. Which is just how a Ducati should be.”

Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of red dot, highlighted how outstanding design capacity and economic success go hand-in-hand: “The winners of the red dot product design award 2013 are the protagonists of fast developments within the very culture of industrial design. The last few days have seen us engaged in the extremely difficult task of selecting the best, most deserving designs. Indeed, it is sometimes just a single detail that makes the difference when it comes to showing off a product’s special qualities. All these creations have been assessed and examined by the expert and critical eyes of an international red dot jury.”

The Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore covers 4000m2 and houses over 2000 products inside one of the world’s greatest contemporary design exhibitions. From 2-28 July, the museum will host the winning products of 2013 in an exhibition entitled “design on stage - red dot award winners: product design 2013”, a unique event that will highlight the latest design trends. The Ducati 1199 Panigale will be a part of the exhibition and visitors will have the opportunity to take a close look at the originality and innovation of this impressive “best-of-the-best” motorcycle in the extraordinary setting of the red dot design museum.

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A – An Audi Group Company

Founded in 1926, Ducati has been producing sport-inspired motorcycles since 1946. Their motorcycles are characterised by “Desmodromic” performance engines, innovative design and avant-garde technology. Covering several market segments, Ducati's range of motorcycles are divided into model families which include: Diavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, Streetfighter and Superbike.

These authentic icons of “made in Italy” are sold in over 80 countries around the world, with concentration on the European, North-American and Asia Pacific markets. Ducati competes in both the World Superbike Championship and, with an official team, the World MotoGP Championship. In Superbike Ducati has won 17 Manufacturers' titles and 14 Riders' titles and in 2011 passed the historic milestone of 300 race victories. Ducati have participated in MotoGP since 2003, and took both the Manufacturers' and Riders' titles in 2007.

The Red Dot Design Award

With the red dot design award, the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen created one of the world’s most acclaimed competitions. The prize, the “red dot”, has established itself internationally as one of the most sought-after quality marks for excellent design. The Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen displays the award-winning products in the red dot design museum for at least one year.

In order to appraise the diversity in the field of design in a professional manner, the red dot design award breaks down into different disciplines: the “red dot award: product design”, “red dot award: communication design” and “red dot award: design concept”.  Further information is available at: www.red-dot.de/press

A bit of a round up on issues and articles put up on the Right To Ride and Right To Ride EU website and facebook pages

Most important is the issue around the European Commissions Road Worthiness Testing proposal concerning motorcycles. Our article “Down to the Wire” rounds what has been discussed on the European stage regards this but covers the last few days running up to tomorrow’s, (Monday 1st July 2013) debate and the subsequent scheduled vote on Tuesday in the European Parliaments Plenary session in Strasbourg.  

The position adopted by both council and the parliamentary committees, is the deletion of the requirements to introduce mandatory road worthiness testing for motorcycles throughout, which would thus leave this decision to member states to keep testing procedures for motorcycles or to introduce them.

This position was adopted by the European Council (representatives of democratically elected governments), the TRAN (Transport and Tourism) Committee, in charge of the Road Worthiness Proposal, and the IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) Committee, both committees of MEPs, democratically elected by European Citizens, that is you and me!  At the eleventh hour ALDE rapporteur and Lib Dem MEP Phil Bennion broke ranks and added amendments to re-introduce the inclusion of 2 and 3 three wheeled vehicles. 

The Green party representatives have included further amendments of a similar nature. We can only speculate why at this point in time these MEPs have evidently thrown a spanner in the works and whilst using the procedures that are allowed in the European Parliament, because they did not get their way in the democratic procedure through debate and voting, they have now made all the efforts of the TRAN and IMCO Committee and the European Council appear to be futile.  

This is effectively sticking two fingers up at the democratic process, to fellow MEPs, to governments and to the rider organisations who have lobbied fair and square and a process in which Mr Bennion took an active part.   We respectfully request that our UK MEPs do not to support any amendments which would reintroduce mandatory road worthiness for motorcycles across Europe and to support the previous position of the Council – TRAN and IMCO Committees in this matter and to encourage their colleagues to do likewise.  

View this whole article

The Thankful Villages Run is a nine-day charity ride-out to all 51 villages in the UK who had all their soldiers return home alive at the end of the Great War in 1918 and we want you to take part!

The run, which takes place between 27th July and 4th August 2013, is the brainchild of motorcyclists Dougie Bancroft and Medwyn Parry and appropriately aims to raise £51,000 for the Royal British Legion.

Triumph, who supplied 30,000 motorcycles to the allied forces during WW1, have loaned two, bespoke liveried Trophys to the duo, to enable them to undertake this historic tour.

The bikes have now been collected, the route planned, the GPS, tracker and comms fitted, now all that’s left to do is invite you to join the Thankful Villages Run.

Pick as much or little of the route as you like and follow the two Triumph Trophys between the Thankful Villages. Riders who join the ride are asked to donate a minimum £5 towards the Royal British Legion and can do this by texting ‘THVR51 £5’ to 70070, via the website or in cash on the day.

Further details, including the complete village-by-village schedule, are available on the Thankful Village Run website.

Schedule   Saturday 27 July Ceredigion – Gloucestershire Sunday 28 July Gloucestershire – Somerset Monday 29 July Somerset – Sussex Tuesday 30 July Kent – Northamptonshire Wednesday 31 July Essex – Leicestershire Thursday 1 August Nottinghamshire – Lincolnshire Friday 2 August Lincolnshire – Yorkshire Saturday 3 August Yorkshire – Lancashire Sunday 4 August Lancashire - Ceredigion

www.thankfulvillagesrun.com