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For many, college is one of the most exciting periods of one’s life. Constantly meeting new people, encountering new ways of thinking, perhaps moving to a new city or even country. The pace of life during this period is famous for being fast, dynamic, and action-packed. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that when it comes time to review options for personal transport that many students are drawn to the idea of purchasing a motorcycle.
Motorcycles are famous for their speed, agility, and style, and can make the perfect companion for a student’s college years. But, like with any big purchasing decision, there’s plenty to consider before handing over any cheque. When it comes to owning a motorcycle, there are many pros and cons to consider. One of the main points worthy of consideration in the process and cost of obtaining motorcycle insurance - something that most students will be dealing with for the first time. To help with such an important step in the motorcycle buying process, we’ve put together a quick and helpful guide to thinking over purchasing a motorcycle and obtaining the best student insurance for your college years! 
Prepping for the purchase
While the specific cost of motorcycle insurance will always vary according to the specifications of the driver and vehicle involved, as well as the legislation of the state in which they’re registering, all insurance comes with a price tag. Many students wondering how much is motorcycle insurance will first have to address their finances before deciding what kind of insurance policy to take out.
Some students may fear that with all the homework and assignments, their busy college schedules may prevent them from working or saving enough to afford the cost of owning a bike. But, if prepared for in advance, it’s more than possible to put aside adequate funds without any detriment to your studies. Using online services that offer assignment help is a great way to uphold high standards of academic work while freeing up time to help work or save. To make use of these time-saving measures, you can get help from Edubirdie and cut down on the hours you spend at the writing desk. Balancing the time you spend doing assignments and working means that you can comfortably ride to class on the back of your dream bike with peace of mind!
Pros of owning a motorcycle
- Price: Motorcycles can thankfully be bought at very inexpensive price points, and generally don’t cost that much to upkeep. Buying second hand or refurbished models can drive costs down even further, far below the price tag that one would find if searching to buy a car. What’s more, bikes tend to squeeze out a much more efficient mileage than other types of vehicles, up to 60mpg for smaller models!
- Dynamism: Bikes are, of course, much smaller and more agile than a car, making them a great choice for university students who have to navigate the often narrow streets of college towns in the UK. The nightmare of searching and often paying for parking becomes a thing of the past with a motorcycle, as their small frames mean you can park almost anywhere.
- Lifespan: Owing to their low cost, buying a cheap second-hand motorcycle can be an investment for your student years that doesn’t need to drag on afterwards. Many students opt to spend relatively little on a starter bike for their student years and then decide afterwards whether or not to upgrade.
Bike insurance requirements
Before considering motorcycle insurance costs, it’s important to research what the specific requirements your area may impose when it comes to being insured. Most places will require drivers to purchase liability insurance, which is used to pay out damage or injury costs that may be inflicted on other drivers and vehicles.
On top of basic liability insurance, some places will also require drivers to have certain insurance additions that cover third party damage or medical expenses. As this varies greatly from place to place, it’s important to get to grips with the requirements specific to your local legislation.
Types of insurance
Most insurance companies will offer drivers the chance to tailor-make their insurance policy to their specific needs. Driving insurance often refers to the basic liability coverage that pays out any damage a driver incurs on others, and collision insurance - meaning coverage for damage incurred as part of a road accident.
Comprehensive insurance is a broader policy that also offers coverage for damages or losses as incurred off the road or through any means other than hitting another vehicle, such as damage, theft, or animal collision.
Students looking for cheap motorcycle insurance may be tempted to go for the bare minimum coverage required, but this can be a risky choice in case of major damages or medical costs. Use insurance comparison sites and ask for student quotes to see if companies offer more expansive coverage within your price range.
Tip: Student discounts!
Many insurance companies will offer specially tailored policy plans to students that come at a discounted price.
Keeping all this in mind, you can begin your research into buying your student motorcycle and the right insurance for you. In no time, you too can safely enjoy the thrill of riding up to class in full-throttle style!
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The Isle of Man Time Trial (TT) event is one of the most iconic motorsport events on the planet. Staged on the Isle of Man, an island situated off the coast of north-west England and nestled midway between England and Northern Ireland in the Irish Sea, it’s a unique and wholly challenging venue. It used to be part of the MotoGP Championship, before safety concerns saw it swiftly culled. Even the Moto2 GP Championship, containing the motorbike stars of the future, has remained fiercely loyal to Silverstone and Donington Park on the grounds of rider safety. Spaniard, Augusto Fernandez claimed this year’s British Moto2 GP Grand Prix at Silverstone. The 25-year-old is in great shape to win the Moto2 Championship outright with one race remaining in Valencia. 
The staggering statistic surrounding the Isle of Man TT is that more than 200 entrants have lost their lives mid-race since its inception in 1907. You might wonder if the majority of deaths occurred in the earliest years of the event when race safety may not have been as comprehensive as it is today. However, just last month a French sidecar competitor sustained life-threatening injuries following a crash. Cesar Chanal later died after being transferred to a hospital in his native France.
Both Chanal and his sidecar teammate, Olivier Lavorel, were debutants at the Isle of Man TT but they were certainly no strangers to sidecar racing. The duo had competed regularly in the F1 and F2 National Sidecar Championships in France, finishing on the podium on multiple occasions.
However, the pair crashed on their opening lap of the Isle of Man TT race. This takes the number of deaths from crashes at the Isle of Man TT circuit to a staggering six in 2022 alone. In fact, this year’s TT has now become the deadliest since 1970. Father and son duo, Roger and Bradley Stockton passed away tragically following another sidecar crash at the same spot as Chanal and Lavorel. Meanwhile Northern Irishman Davy Morgan also suffered fatal injuries in the opening Supersport race of the TT.
After a two-year hiatus due to the impact of the pandemic, there was heaps of expectation surrounding the 2022 Isle of Man TT. The lack of the event being staged on the island in 2020 and 2021 resulted in an estimated £4.8 million loss of annual revenue. However, it’s clear that the event’s return made the headlines for all the wrong reasons this year.
The history of course incidents at the Isle of Man TT
Between 2022 and the formation of the Isle of Man TT in 1907, there have been 155 deaths throughout the course of official races or practice runs along the Snaefell Mountain Course. However, there has been a total of 265 fatalities linked to the event in all ways. This includes rides killed during the former Manx Grand Prix and the Clubman TT series.
There is something rather haunting about the TT organisers’ use of red flags, which are waved by race marshals when a potentially life-threatening incident has happened mid-race.
So, why does the Isle of Man TT remain on the annual race calendar, despite its despairing fatality record? For many riders, the adrenaline rush and ‘fear factor’ of racing at the Isle of Man TT is what attracts people to the circuit. If there wasn’t an element of danger, some riders would overlook the event. That doesn’t make it right for the TT to continue, but it explains the reasons behind its ongoing popularity and the blind loyalty shown towards the event by locals and tourists alike. 
It's also a fortnight-long festival of racing, bringing together motorcycling enthusiasts from across Europe and beyond. It’s not just the Snaefell Mountain Course that catches the eye, there’s also a stunt team called the ‘World Famous Purple Helmets’ that are fun to watch.
However, none of this can gloss over the fact that the Isle of Man TT is the deadliest sporting event in the world. Since 1980, there have been just two years where no-one has had the misfortune of dying along this narrow road course.
What makes the Isle of Man TT so treacherous?
One of the obvious dangers of the Isle of Man TT is that the races are held on normal, everyday roads. These are roads that the public use on any other day of the year. The roads aren’t just normal tarmac either, many of them are supremely narrow and winding. The end result being that there’s little margin for error, particularly for amateur riders that have never experienced these roads before.
The Snaefell Mountain Course is described within the community as ’38 miles of terror’ and the undisputed number-one test of bikes and riders. Although the race organisers do their absolute best to provide adequate crash barriers along the course, there are areas where it’s just rock-hard brick walls and ditches for company.
It’s not uncommon for riders to average speeds of well over 120mph around the Snaefell Mountain Course and even high speeds of 200mph. Put simply, riders put their head above the parapet in full knowledge of the dangers and potential pitfalls.
After a tragic year for the event, its organisers have promised to “take any actions that can help improve safety” and apply these at “the earliest opportunity”. In publishing this statement, it’s clear that the event itself is by no means in jeopardy in 2023 and beyond.
That’s unlike the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb’s decision in 2019 to suspend its races altogether following the death of rider Carlin Dunne – despite Dunne’s mother vehemently arguing that the move was not what her son would have wanted.
It seems that despite the unavoidable dangers, the Isle of Man TT remains something of a rite of passage among the motorcycling fraternity. Although some outside of the sport will consider amateur riders to be crazy to even contemplate taking on the challenge, those with a passion for two-wheeled racing still believe in the tradition of the event, come what may.
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Cardo and the global helmet manufacturer are the first to announce an integrated solution based on the new standard.
LS2, one of the world’s largest producers of helmets in all categories, has chosen to adopt the Universal Communication Solution (UCS) standard featuring five new UCS-ready helmets compatible with proven technology from Cardo Systems.
The dedicated LS2 4x product can be added to the whole dual-homologated ADVANT series – a brand-new model unveiled at EICMA – as well as the INFINITY II and INFINITY II Carbon helmets.
Developed by Cardo Systems the LS2 4x connects up to four riders across Bluetooth up to 1.2km/0.75 miles, features Sound by JBL, Natural Voice Operation, OBi and is fully waterproof. The compact unit also boasts auto-reconnecting Bluetooth, so riders can ride their own ride without having to worry about connection issues.
The UCS standard allows motorcyclists the freedom to choose, change and replace communication devices without compromising on fit and looks. Much in the same way that the Automakers and car stereo manufacturers adopted universal car stereo sizing and mounts (DIN/Double DIN Standard), the Universal Communication Solution standardizes communication systems size, and shape, allowing for integrated fitment in new motorcycle helmets, meeting the new ECE 22.06 standards.
Dan Emodi, Chief Marketing Officer at Cardo Systems, comments: “We’re proud to be the communicator of choice for LS2 Helmets. As a company, we pride ourselves on innovation and quality and to work with another brand so closely aligned with these philosophies is a pleasure. We look forward to the millions of LS2 customers enjoying communication by Cardo.”
Giuseppe Porcu, CEO LS2, said: “We chose Cardo Systems because of the company’s forward-thinking and reputation for reliability, values that perfectly represent our brand. Basically, we want to work with experts, and they are the most qualified in their sector.”
The LS2 4x will be available from LS2 retailers in April 2023 for a price of 279€.
For more information on Cardo Systems, visit www.cardosystems.com
See the press conference from EICMA video here:
Image caption: (L-R) Dan Emodi, Chief Marketing Officer at Cardo Systems and Phil Ammendolia, President & CEO, LS2 Helmets USA.
About Cardo Systems
Cardo specializes in the design, development, manufacturing and sale of state-of-the-art wireless communication and entertainment systems for motorcycle riders. Since inception in 2004, Cardo has pioneered the vast majority of innovations for Bluetooth motorcycle communication systems and in 2015, it has also introduced the world’s first mesh powered communication protocol into the motorcycle market. The company’s products, now available in over 100 countries, are the world’s leading communication devices for the motorcycle industry.
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Your motorbike is nothing like an F1 vehicle in terms of speed and performance. However, you can learn a thing or two from F1 maintenance and apply the same principles to your bike. 
Whether you are a street racer or a casual rider, your motorbike can take a beating from the elements and from frequent use. Much like F1 cars, your motorbike requires high levels of maintenance in order to perform optimally. Here’s what you can take from F1 maintenance and apply to your motorcycle:
1. Check for tire integrity
F1 tires are designed to allow for extreme gripping and durability during high-speed races. F1 teams take tire management seriously. Before a race, they will need to choose the right set of tires and check if they are at the proper pressure.
Even on two wheels, you can never remove tire maintenance from the equation. For bikes that run on 1,000cc engines, you need to make sure your tires can withstand accelerated wear and tear. For this, it’s important to check if there are any flat spots on each tire.
If you are a casual rider, you can choose between soft and medium tires that work well in inclement weather. If you are taking the circuit, you will need good quality tires that are within regulation.
F1 tires are known for their nylon and polyester construction, so consider shopping for motorcycle tires that are reinforced by these materials.
2. Test for performance
The performance of your bike mainly relies on how balanced it is during different riding scenarios. Maintaining an F1 car also revolves around this principle.
F1 circuits consist of low and mid-speed turns. Engaging these turns successfully relies on handling, but a great deal of it depends on a number of factors, including engine performance, aerodynamic balance, chassis integrity, and suspension performance. Neglecting these factors will only increase the chances of oversteering during a sharp turn.
In the same way, you need to check if your motorbike is also prepared for the demands of the streets. Whether you are casually going to work or joining a local MotoGP event, it's essential to check every aspect of your bike. Pay close attention to the engine, braking system, and suspensions
Consider going on a test drive first and check if anything feels "off". If the ride doesn’t feel smooth, perhaps you need to change the brake fluid and check for wear and tear on the suspension components.
3. Check fluid levels Due to the demands of F1 racing, F1 cars require an oil and coolant change after or before a race. When it comes to checking fluid levels on your motorcycle, pay attention to the coolant and lubricant needs of your bike.
Consider replacing the coolant every three years. If you are participating in a race, you may have to do a replacement afterward. For lubricant levels, your crew will need to add lubricant when you arrive at the pit stop. For non-racing scenarios, make it a habit to check lubricant levels once a month.
Bonus: Add modifications
Consider giving your bike a full paint job with custom decals to match. To brighten up your bike, consider shopping for glow kits and adding a LED underglow on your bike. As long as your ride is cleared for street use, you can go all-out in painting your MotoGP.
If you like to take the fast lane with your motorcycle, then there’s definitely a lot you can learn from F1 racers and pit crews.
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SHARK-sponsored rider Bradley Ray celebrated a magnificent victory at the final round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch circuit on Sunday, crowning him the 2022 Champion. His long-term sponsor, SHARK Helmets presented him with a one-off custom helmet to mark the special occasion.
Bradley Ray entered the concluding round with a 66 point lead over his closest rival, ready to battle for the championship title in the final three races at the Bennetts British Superbike Showdown. After just one race Brad claimed the title by a focused run to fifth, securing 11 points which put the championship out of Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell’s reach.
Proud sponsors of newly-crowned Bennetts British Superbike Champion, SHARK Helmets unveiled a one-off special helmet and presented it to the 25 year-old rider.
Designed in winning gold and black, the custom Race R Pro GP displayed the Union Jack to celebrate the British title. Brad Ray’s winning helmet design also features a nod to his family with meaningful quotes which his grandad would always say.
SHARK-supported racers wear the Race-R PRO GP with its distinctive rear spoiler for ultimate aerodynamics. This high performance aero profile, developed in close collaboration between the SHARK Research & Development teams and SHARK’s MotoGP riders, is the result of the most advanced technologies in CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) studies.
The Race-R PRO GP derives from a perfect alliance between unique design, security, aerodynamism and technological innovations.
It’s not just SHARK Helmets-supported racer’s who can get their hands on the iconic Race R Pro GP helmet. The SHARK Race R Pro GP is available in six colourways including the all-new Zarco replica with an RRP of £1049.99 and £999.99 for the FIM variation.
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