Category: Random

1. Touratech Accessories for KTM 890 Adventure

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 30th Apr 2021

   To cover the KTM 890 Adventure's broad range of use, Touratech offers an extensive selection of accessories. This selection includes luggage systems, protectors, ergonomically designed parts and lots of practical accessories.
   
   Luggage systems
   For transporting luggage, there is the tried and tested pannier rack made of robust 18 mm stainless steel tubing, which has been perfectly adapted to the geometry of the 890. The rack - available with an electro-polished or black-coated surface - can be fitted with the complete range of ZEGA aluminium panniers. This clever, specially designed system fits tightly around the rear silencer, making particularly efficient use of the space available at the rear and saving on overall width. A topcase rack and luggage plates are also available for securely lashing a luggage roll.
   In addition, there is a choice of numerous soft luggage items including three model-specific tank bags and a range of other bags.
   Protectors
   Of course, robust protector equipment is an absolute must on a meaty enduro like the KTM 790 Adventure. The three-piece Rallye Evo engine guard is designed for tough use. It consists of an extra-robust Skid Plate made of canted aluminium and hydro-formed side panels that hug the engine tightly with their complex three-dimensional design. If you want to continue using the standard KTM engine guard, Touratech offers a Hard Part for reinforcement. A strong bracket made of 25 mm stainless steel tube is responsible for protecting the fairing and the tank. The brand new Defensa hand protectors are, of course, also available for the 890. Thanks to diverse configurations, they can be perfectly adapted to different usage profiles, from hard enduro riding to touring.
   Effective protectors for sensors, expansion tanks or headlight round off the selection.
   Ergonomics
   And, when it comes to ergonomics, the 890 Adventure can also be further upgraded with Touratech Parts. Comfort seats, which are available in three heights, ensure optimum long-distance capability. The Pivot Pegz articulated foot pegs, or wide long-distance foot pegs, and handlebar risers are excellent for off-road use, while the windscreen is a favourite with tour riders.
   Riders who don't like the Adventure's airy seat height will be thrilled by the 30 millimetre lowering of the suspension.
   Accessories
   Touratech also offers a huge range of accessories for the KTM 890 Adventure - from adjustable handlebar levers and a professional tool set through to support widening for the legendary kick stand - providing that little extra bit of riding enjoyment and practical benefit.
   
   Touratech Parts for KTM 890 Adventure (selection)
   • Stainless steel tank crash bar
   • Stainless steel fairing crash bar
   • Rally Evo engine guard
   • Defensa hand protectors
   • Headlight protection
   • Long-distance foot pegs
   • Handlebar riser
   • Comfort seat (available in three heights)
   • Windscreen
   • Topcase rack
   • Stainless steel pannier rack
   • ZEGA Topcase
   • ZEGA Aluminium pannier
   • Ambato Exp tank bag
   • Ambato Pure tank bag
   • Ambato Exp Rallye tank bag
   • Ambato tail rack bag for the luggage rack
   • Suspension lowering

2. Who are Blood Bikers?

   Posted on 11:00am Tuesday 27th Apr 2021

   Blood Bikers might sound like a less than friendly motorcycle gang, but in reality, this is actually an organization that saves lives and makes a huge difference to healthcare. Essentially, blood bikers provide a professional rapid response medi-cal transport service to the NHS transporting things like blood, surgical instru-ments, human donor milk, medication and more recently COVID-19 serial testing.  

   A Noble Charity
   
   Run by unpaid volunteers, Blood Bikers have roots going back over 50 years with the rapid response motorcycle charity providing a highly valuable service to the NHS and public as a whole through delivering key medical products in the quick-est possible way. The group is constantly growing too, which means that they can provide a nationwide service and make a big difference to public health

   Life as a Blood Biker

   Motorbike insurance specialist Carole Nash supports Manchester Blood Bikes and looked into what a day in the life of this important role is like with Malcolm - a Blood Biker from Sunderland. Malcolm decided to join the cause after his sister was involved in a serious accident with her life being saved by the air ambulance. This led Malcolm to seek out ways to support them, which took him to the North-umbria Blood Bikes website. Malcolm described his best experience as a blood biker:

   “One time I got an urgent job for some blood to be taken to a hospital about 15 miles away. Because I was on a blood bike, I could cut through the traffic and ar-rived there very quickly before delivering the blood on time. The next day some-one posted a story about the lady we’d saved on Facebook. Apparently, this lady had cancer, and wouldn’t have survived without the blood transfusion she was able to have as a result of our work as Blood Bikers. That is one of the things that stands out for me. You never know who you are helping from one night to the next.”

   Blood Bikes Leinster

   Blood Bikes Leinster, which was established in 2013 and supports hospitals throughout Ireland. Fergus Lennon, Director of Blood Bikes Leinster, commented on the support offering by the Dublin-based motorbike insurance specialist:

   Blood Bikers do fantastic and noble work helping to transport vital medical supplies in times of need to save lives and make the work of NHS staff much easier. This is also a growing organization and one that deserves as much support and praise as possible.

   “We are truly grateful to Carole Nash who have sponsored us and provided our bike insurance for the fourth year running. Every penny adds up for our small charity and we are so appreciative of their support.”

   “We also take the Carole Nash Blood Bike teddy bear with us on our Blood Bike travels which has brought a smile on the face of many a poorly child.”

    

    

    

    

   Article supplied

3. "What makes a Cafe Biker Friendly to you?"

   Posted on 10:00am Friday 23rd Apr 2021

   We have been asking the question both here and on the website* -

    

   We have picked out some of the best here. (Some, although they made us laugh, cannot be published )
   

   "I want to be able to park up outside the Cafe"
   "Great Coffee" "Proper Bacon" "Decent grub"
   "I like to go to a place where other Bikers go"
   "I want to see other Motorbikes"
   "Have some Biker Banter when I am there"
   "If I can't see my bike I won't stop to eat!"

    

   See THE BIKER GUIDE website for lots of Biker Friendly Cafes across the UK!

   www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerfriendlymeetingplaces.html

   *When people join and the mailing list.
   
   

   

4. Motorbikes to Own if You Won the Jackpot

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 7th Apr 2021

   Everybody has a list, usually mental but sometimes physical which details everything they would buy should they come into a position where they have a significant amount of money. It’ll be holidays, cars, boats, houses, investments, businesses, clothes, watches, a piece of memorabilia. and on and on and on. It’s kept as a source of inspiration, as a reminder to keep working, or as a fun exercise. Anything and everything can be on a list. For those reading this, there will no doubt be motorbikes on it.  

   Two bikes that could make that list.

   Curtiss Motorcycle the One

   This is a radical motorcycle. The company who designed and produced it are the same company who made the Confederate FA-13 Combat Bomber – they’ve just had a name-change. The Combat Bomber was an unconventional and uncompromising bike. It’s pride was its cruising brute force, booming and to-the-point. With the new name came a new approach. The One is electric. It’s battery-powered. Notably, it streamlines the riding experience with no shifting and no clutch, reacting to less stimulation. There is no compromising on power, though, as it gets moving quickly. Weighing in at 139kg, it’s on the lighter end of the cruiser class. Handling and manoeuvring are made easier by its lower centre of gravity.

   The One’s engine has tuning potential. Curtiss seem to be keeping it reigned in, currently. However, performance upgrades can be made via cloud-based software, meaning that it can be adjusted without having to be brought into a dealership. It’s the future.

   This future-ness extends to its design. This is where the bulk of the talk will be focused. It is thin, bare, and has the sleek design of a Tron bike. It’s a £60,000 bike which makes currency and the road it's coasting on look archaic.

   Harley-Davidson CVO Limited

   This satisfies a retro need. The Harley-Davidson CVO Limited is based on the classic dresser tourer bikes of the 1960s. This design is a staple of luxury. The Limited version is worth £35,000 and comes with a bigger engine than the standard. Riders could have road trips on this bike, those longer rides on motorways and dual carriageways, but it looks like a bike better suited for cruising between villages, the rural and open roads going steady until the rider wants to turn on the power. Maybe it’s the image of this Harley next to Cotswold stone that feels right and any Harley in general next to Cotswold stone which feels wrong that makes this prospect so exciting. 

    

    

   article supplied

5. Motorcycle Accidents – who is usually to blame?

   Posted on 11:00am Thursday 1st Apr 2021

   The Highway Code contains a section dedicated to a class of road users described as 'vulnerable.' Vulnerable road users are 'Road users requiring extra care.'

   Rule 204 defines the most vulnerable road users as 'pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders.'

   The aim of the rules relating to this group of road users is to warn motorists of the need to take extra special care in situations in which they encounter or may encounter any of the specified group members. Motorists should exercise caution to be alive to the possibility of motorcycles:

   · Coming out of junctions

   · At roundabouts

   · Overtaking (the motorist)

   · Filtering through traffic

   · Before the motorist emerges from a junction

   · When the motorist is turning off the road

   · When changing direction or lanes

   The rules also advise motorists to:

   · Check mirrors and blind spots

   · Give plenty of room to motorcyclists when passing them and on uneven, oily or wet roads or those full of potholes or where there are other obstacles such as drain covers.

   We can't fault the aims of the Highway Code. However, something isn't working. Otherwise, motorcyclists would not continue to have the highest casualty rates per mile travelled of all road users in the UK.

   Why are more motorcyclists killed or injured (per mile travelled) in road traffic accidents than any other road user type?

   1. Bikers don't benefit from the protection afforded to those who travel in motor vehicles.

   2. Whilst bikers themselves are vulnerable road users, their mode of transport is more powerful than any other. Most bikes are more powerful than the majority of cars. Nevertheless, the bike rider's personal vulnerability is the same as that of cyclists and pedestrians. Accordingly, road traffic accidents involving motorcyclists carry a high likelihood of serious injury to the rider.

   3. In 2017, RoSPA, the road safety charity, produced a research paper that drew on other, in-depth studies into motorcycle accidents. The research paper concluded motorcycle accidents have different 'characteristics' to those involving other road users. Motorcycle accidents are likely to include, amongst their causes:

   a) failure to give way at road junctions (by motorists)

   b) loss of control (by motorcyclists) on bends

   c) overtaking manoeuvres (by a motorcyclist)

   What are the most common types of motorcycle accident?

   1. The biker is usually at fault

   · Losing control on bends (particularly on country roads). Excess speed is often a significant factor in this type of accident
   · Riding too fast, losing control and colliding with traffic bollards and other road fixures
   · Switching lanes when unsafe to do so.
   · Rider error
   · Overtaking other vehicles
   · Drink or drug influence

   2. The motorist is most commonly at fault

   · Failing to give way at a road junction
   · Moving out from a line of stationary traffic into the path of an overtaking motorcycle
   · Changing lanes
   · Filtering
   · Misjudging riders speed
   · Motorist running into the back of a stationary motorcycle
   · Dooring – driver or passenger of a motor vehicle opening their door into the path of a passing motorcycle
   · Motorist failing to leave sufficient space to overtake motorcyclist safely.

   Other causes of motorcycle accidents are:

   · Weather conditions – which party is to blame for an accident between a motorist and a biker in lousy weather-will depend on the accident's particular circumstances. Going too fast for the conditions is often a factor.
   · Potholes or oil leaks – again, much will depend on the individual circumstances of the incident.

   Who's to blame for the majority of motorcycle accidents?   

   In-depth studies of motorcycle accidents suggest that motorists are to blame for over 70% of road traffic accidents involving motor vehicles and motorcyclists. Most motorcycle accidents occur at road junctions.

   Should you get injured in a motorcycle accident, whatever the circumstances, it's a sensible idea to contact an experienced No Win, No Fee, personal injury solicitor who has expertise in motorcycle accident claims. They will be able to advise you on whether you have reasonable prospects of winning a claim if you decide to bring one against the other motorist involved (or the local council or highway authority in the case of a pothole claim).
   
   

    

   Article supplied