Category: Random

1. Lauge Jensen is the first motorcycle manufacturer in the world to pass the new EURO4 emissions regulations

   Posted on 6:49am Friday 6th Sep 2013

   The Danish manufacturer specialises in creating personalised, premium cruiser motorcycles to its customers’ exact requirements. 

   The EURO4 emissions laws, implemented from 1^st January 2016 to 31st December 2020, are being introduced to drastically reduce the amount of harmful exhaust gases produced by motorcycles. These forthcoming mandatory rules for all manufacturers are almost 50% more difficult to pass than the current EURO3 standard.

   More information can be found in the attached press release, but the highlights are:

    

   • ·      First motorcycle manufacturer in the world to achieve EURO4 emission standards
   • ·      The only custom motorcycle manufacturer with global Type Approval
   • ·      Even with worldwide Type Approval, all Lauge Jensen bikes are unique
   • ·      New ‘1-Eleven Squarehead’ engine is ‘mean, lean and green’
   • ·      Lauge Jensen is the first Danish motorcycle manufacturer since Nimbus in the 1960s
   • ·      Orders being taken now for 2014 machines

2. Dainese presents its 2014 collection

   Posted on 7:43am Thursday 29th Aug 2013

   This evening Dainese presented its 2014 collection in front of selected UK media and supported racers including Pol Esparagaró, Nicky Hayden, James Hillier, Guy Martin and Luis Salom. The special event took place ahead of the 12th round of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 at Silverstone this weekend, where Esparagaró, Hayden and Salom will continue their respective season assaults.

   New products unveiled from the 2014 collection include the Laguna Seca Evo P one-piece suit, two leather jackets (Stripes Evo Pelle and Laguna Evo Lady) and two textile jackets (Carve Master GTX and Laguna Seca D-Dry).

   Three new gloves were introduced, namely the winter-warm Scout Evo GTX, the classically styled Essential and the Veloce sports glove, as well as three new boots – the Lince GTX for touring, a casual sneaker-inspired Street Biker D-WP and the racing-styled TR-Course Out. There were also two new jeans, the D1 1K and the D1 1K Pred, as well as some updates made to the Manis back protector. More new products will be released from the collection later in the year.

   Alongside the new products Dainese presented its D-air systems. Both launched on the market over the last two years the systems are designed to protect riders on track (D-air Racing) and on the road (D-air Street).

   D-air Racing is a wireless system built into a Dainese one-piece leather suit that detects a fall or slide immediately and sends a trigger signal to activate the airbag. Not just an airbag, the system also features data acquisition software developed by German company 2D (2d-datarecording), which supplies some of the top teams in MotoGP and F1. The software gives D-air wearers an effective tool to monitor riding performance and record telemetry data, which can be downloaded and displayed on a computer.

   The D-air Street is vastly different; the airbag and deployment facilities are fitted in the jacket and the mechanics of the whole system are fitted to the motorcycle. D-air Street features a fall sensor that is physically connected to a display unit on the bikes dash. This shows the rider system information, including when the device is connected, the battery life and information about the pillion’s system, if they are wearing one.

   Both D-air systems are available from supported D-air Dainese dealers, while the new collection will start to be available in UK dealers from mid-October.

   For more information, or to find your nearest dealer visit www.dainese.com

3. British Moto GP sponsored by Hertz

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 26th Jul 2013

   The home of motor sport once again opens its doors this summer as Silverstone welcomes the Hertz MotoGP to its iconic track.

   There are reasons this event attracts so much attention across the world and it isn’t just the prestige of the circuit. By September the World Championship will be near its crescendo and three drivers still have a major chance of winning biking’s ultimate crown.

   Current leaders Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo are set to battle for glory on this iconic motorsport circuit and if the Hertz British MotoGP is anything like last year we’re set for some thrilling action. Lorenzo dominated last season, finishing first before using the Silverstone victory to springboard himself to the World Championship. His main rival this term however, was hot on his tail as Pedrosa landed third and will push the Yamaha rider to the limit this summer.

   British hopes lie in Cal Crutchlow, Bradley Smith and Michael Laverty – all three of whom have raced well at Silverstone before. Crutchlow will hope to avenge his nightmare in 2012 when he broke his ankle before qualifying. Nevertheless, he finished sixth after a blistering run but we were left thinking “what if the crash hadn’t happened?” The Silverstone circuit is a tough one to master but there are numerous overtaking zones, which is what makes this race so gripping for spectators across the stands.

   For those looking to attend but don’t want to leave their car in the parking zones Hertz are on hand to provide car and van hire on hertz.co.uk for the British MotoGP. Getting to and from Silverstone couldn’t be easier and whether you’ve a full weekend ticket or a day pass there is ample parking spaces plus ‘park & ride’ facilities to help you get into the thick of the action. After all, the MotoGP experience is all about the race and no one wants any distractions, which is why Hertz has teamed up with the British Grand Prix for another year as the title sponsor.

4. DARREN GOUGH PASSES ADVANCED MOTORCYCLE TEST WITH FLYING COLOURS

   Posted on 8:31am Monday 15th Jul 2013

   This date fourteen years ago would have seen Darren Gough preparing to do battle against Australia in the Fourth Test of the 1997 Ashes series at Headingley. Today the England cricket legend demonstrated his continuing ability to switch from one physical challenge to another by passing his Advanced Motorcycle Test.

   The Bennetts biker has teamed up with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) for a series of further motorcycle training sessions since April, and today was put through his paces under examination conditions. The Skill for Life advanced riding programme offered by the IAM develops five phases of advanced riding; Information, Position, Speed, Gear and Acceleration, ultimately passing on the skills and knowledge to remain confident and in control on a motorcycle. 

   These skills and knowledge are being put to the test as “Goughie” undertakes a series of Bennetts Biking Dream Challenges throughout the summer on a range of different bikes. He recently rode a lap of the famous Mountain Course at the Isle of Man TT under the tuition of ‘Milky’ Quayle, and on Tuesday he will ride to all five of this year’s Ashes Test cricket grounds which span the length of England in a single day. 

   Gough spent over an hour near his home village in Buckinghamshire being assessed, and at the end of the session was presented with a certificate and a full membership of the IAM.

   On passing his Advanced Motorcycle Test today, Gough commented, “I’ve wanted to improve my riding skills ever since I first tried biking and took my CBT in 2009.  It has been an enlightening experience to go through this process with the IAM – they have shown me how relatively easy it is to brush up and enhance not only the safety but also the enjoyment of biking. 

   “Also, I know riders who can provide proof to Bennetts or other insurers that they have passed their IAM Advanced Rider Test, are potentially eligible for a discount, so that was another reason to do it!”

   Geoff Pretty, Senior Observer at the Institute of Advanced Motorists said, “Goughie proved himself to be a very natural biker. He listened, practiced and quickly achieved advanced rider status. The skills he has developed will help him to complete his series of motorcycle challenges.”

5. Parking Bangor‏

   Posted on 11:56am Tuesday 9th Jul 2013

   The bike parking in Bangor Co Down has been there for over ten years – at the very least!

   So if you are  heading for an ice cream or refreshment in this glorious weather or just a ride out to Bangor check out and use the dedicated motorcycle parking!

   Glenn Thompson, who was originally involved in getting the parking in Bangor, posted up this message on Facebook to riders:

   “If anyone is heading into Bangor over the holiday fortnight, I just want to remind you that we have our own dedicated Motorcycle Park in the Queens Parade car park. Council are telling us to use it or lose it, so please use it. It has hitching posts to chain your bike to and is bollarded off from the cars. Plenty of watering holes close by like The Red Berry and Caproni Bangor close by and one minutes walk to the Main St and High St. Come on down. We’ll be glad to see you".

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