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The winners of Motorcycle Live’s ‘Best in Show’ 2021 awards have been announced following visitors to Motorcycle Live, in association with Bikesure Insurance, casting their votes.
Motorcycle Live 2021 welcomed a record 55 manufacturers and boasted more new product reveals than ever before. Visitors had nine opportunities to get to two wheels and there was chance for the whole family to get involved. New for 2021 was the Electric Feature, offering visitors the chance to test some of the latest electric bikes, scooters and bicycles on a dedicated indoor track.
BMW Motorrad UK scooped a double win, taking the trophy for both ‘Best Manufacturer Stand’ and ‘Best Manufacturer Experience’. BMW showcased its full 2022 model range - from the new R 18 Transcontinental to the all-electric CE 04 - as well as one-off R 18 customs and M 1000 RR race bikes fresh from the 2021 British Superbike season. Crowds were wowed by the ‘Make Life A Ride’ live action arena where some of the UK’s best on-and off-road experts showed riders how to best enhance their capabilities.
Winning the award for ‘Best Non-Manufacturer Experience’ was Helmet City who impressed visitors with its knowledgeable staff and extensive product line-up, selling ‘everything apart from the bike’.
Scott Grimsdall, Head of Marketing of BMW Motorrad UK, said: “Motorcycle Live has always provided us with a great opportunity to interact with large numbers of current and prospective customers, so we’re particularly grateful to win both the ‘Best Manufacturer Stand’ and ‘Best Manufacturer Experience’ awards for the latest show. I’d like to thank all of those who voted for us, and those who took the time to experience our products and live demonstrations at the NEC. It took an enormous amount of effort and commitment from the team, and we’re extremely proud of what they achieved.”
Jennifer Holmes, Director of Helmet City, added: “After over 15 years of exhibiting at Motorcycle Live, we are thrilled to have been given this award and it’s testament to the dedication of all our staff. We have always put safety first when fitting helmets correctly, giving our customers honest advice and, of course, giving our best price. Thank you to everyone who voted for us.”
Finlay McAllan, Managing Director of Motorcycle Live, commented: “While it was a year filled with uncertainty for visitors and exhibitors, one thing that we were certain of was that we were going to make sure everyone had the best experience they could. I want to say a big thanks to all those who worked hard to achieve that, and we look forward to seeing you all in 2022!”
Motorcycle Live 2022, in association with Bikesure Insurance, will take place at The NEC, Birmingham, between 19-27 November 2022. See you there!
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The new Harley-Davidson Pan America is nothing less than a milestone in the company's history. Up until now, the Motor Company has never developed a vehicle specifically for offroad use.
Scouting the Adventure Country Track across the Pyrenees, the Touratech test team ascertained that the Pan America is indeed a serious player in this sector. And it's no wonder that numerous concepts for accessories ideal for adventures big and small were born out of this tough ride.
Protectors for comprehensive protection
The Pan America provided an open flank in terms of vehicle protection in offroad use. The developers saw great potential, in terms of remedying the danger to the engine from flying stones and impacts and providing fall protection for radiators, tank and bodywork, and developed solutions. Comprehensive protection is provided through the combination of the Expedition engine guard and the crash bars. The protector package is rounded off by radiator and manifold guards, as well as headlight protectors, with versions available in either metal or Makrolon.
Versatile luggage solutions
For transporting luggage on the Pan Am, Touratech has created the exclusive, specially designed ZEGA Evo X "Premium Edition" system. In addition to the two aluminium panniers made of black anodised aluminium - one of which is recessed to fit snugly around the exhaust - this set includes a black-coated stainless steel rack, two high-quality inner bags and a complete set of locks.
Smaller items of equipment that need to be quickly accessible can be stored in the waterproof, super-durable EXTREME Edition tank bag. And of course, the Touratech developers have also thought of a rack to hold the tried and tested ZEGA topcases.
Attention to detail
Smart details, such as the anti-theft guard for the TFT, the side stand base extension, the comfortable long-distance foot pegs or the mounting adapter for navigation devices, are the direct result of practical travel experience.
With these parts from Touratech, the Harley-Davidson Pan America is ideally equipped for any adventure between Milwaukee and Madagascar.
Further information can be found in the Webshop
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The tragic death of Sapper Bradley Parks in 2019 has been the inspiration for several fundraising events for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity and the latest has been with motorcycle group 365 Warriors. More than £660 raised by 365 Warriors will go to the Staffordshire branch of SSAFA. 
Bradley served in 26 Engineer Regiment, part of the Royal Engineers, based in Tidworth and was diagnosed with bipolar in April 2019, just three months before he took his life. He was in the process of leaving the Army after four years’ service and would have been discharged in February 2020.
John and Rachel Parks – Bradley’s parents – have been raising awareness about mental health and help others who are suffering by supporting SSAFA. Their good friends Mark Pearman and Lydia Holmes, who run 365 Warriors, have supported them in this and with earlier two-wheeled fundraising activities.
Lydia said that 365 Warriors took groups of bikers out on rideouts into the Peak District and surrounding areas, charging £5 per bike, with many donating more. Mark and Lydia, who run M & L Detailing, gave £5 to SSAFA from each bike cleaned. They also held a fun day at a local pub and an auction on Facebook, and sold bike decals and cups, all adding to the generous tally.
Explaining further 365 Warriors’ reason for supporting SSAFA in Bradley’s name, Lydia said: “We’re a charity bike group, and we raise money for good causes by doing what we love: riding our motorbikes, because bikes are our passion and our life.”
Anne MacKinnon, Branch Secretary of SSAFA Staffordshire, added: “The tragic death of Bradley, a young man who became a Sapper to serve his country, has touched the hearts of many in the Forces family, and outside it, around the country. On behalf of SSAFA Staffordshire, I am extremely grateful to Lydia and Mark, 365 Warriors, and all those bikers and others who supported this fundraising drive in Bradley’s name.”
To find out more about SSAFA and the support it provides, visit ssafa.org.uk
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2020, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, from Second World War veterans to young men and women who have served in more recent conflicts, and their families. The SSAFA family includes the Military Wives Choirs, both an independent charity and a subsidiary of SSAFA, which supports women across the military community. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us. ssafa.org.uk
article supplied
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BeMoto insurance launches £35,000 BeLotto prize draw 
* Free to enter prize draw
* Win a Ducati Panigale V4 S
* Scoop a £10,000 Prize Pot as well
* BeMoto insurance customers get automatic entry
BeMoto, the multibike and modified motorbike insurance specialists, have launched BeLotto: a free to enter competition to win a Ducati Panigale V4 S along with a £10,000 prize pot of motorcycling goodies.
Obtaining an entry into the BeMoto BeLotto is incredibly simple: rewarding the loyalty for riders who are insured through BeMoto with a single Motorcycle, Race Van, Quad, Trike or Buggy policy live on April 18, 2022 (the closing date of the draw), they will automatically be entered with two tickets. Further improving the chance to win is that every additional bike insurance in a Multibike road insurance package along with any live SORN, Annual Travel or GAP Insurance Policy on the closing date also counts for an additional two entries per policy.
For those who aren’t insured with BeMoto but desperately want to win this incredible prize package, they can gain an entry into BeLotto by filling out a short and simple online form at www.bemoto.uk/belotto where the full terms and conditions can also be found.
The main prize of a Ducati Panigale V4 S (£25,000) - acquired from Seastar Superbikes in Norwich - is arguably one of the finest sportsbikes ever built; the 211bhp V4 engine is wrapped in a race-winning chassis and beautiful bodywork, tamed by an incredible package of electronics (and wings) to help try to keep both wheels on the floor and all that performance getting to the ground.
Included within the BeLotto Prize Pot is £10,000 worth of motorcycling clothing, accessories, security products and much more. Already ‘in the pot’ are £1200 worth of R&G styling and protection products for the bike, a top of the range Shoei X-Spirit III helmet, a Helite Turtle 2 Air Bag Vest, a Guardsman Barrier from Image4Security, an Innovv motorcycle dash cam, a pair of Knox Handroid gloves, Ultimate custom motorcycle ear plugs, a Titan motorcycle shelter, BeMoto insurance for the bike up to a value of £1000, and much more.
The prize pot is being added to each week, so people are urged to keep checking back to the BeLotto page and BeMoto’s social media to see what further incredible items are being added to the mix.
The BeLotto prize draw closes on April 18, 2022, and the winner will be announced on the BeMoto Facebook page.
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If your motorcycle didn’t have an air filter, dust, dirt and all other airborne contaminants would be able to get into the engine. This would build up and eventually put a huge strain on the motor’s components, wearing down the pistons and cylinder walls. If the piston rings get damaged, gases may be able to escape from the combustion chamber, significantly impacting the engine’s performance.
In short, an effective filter is critical for a healthy motor. However, over time, the filter itself may become clogged with contaminants, which will prevent clean air from getting into the engine and reduce the vehicle’s power and fuel efficiency. This is why it is important to change it at recommended intervals.
Types of air filters
Material
Most air filters are made from paper or cellulose, foam, or an oil-coated cotton material. The quality of the component’s materials and its design ultimately determine its capacity to hold contaminants.
Paper-based air filters are very common as they are cheap to produce and easy to dispose of. However, this may also be a disadvantage because unlike some other components, the part cannot be cleaned or reused once it gets too dirty. They look fairly similar to the filters used in coffee machines, with small pores for trapping fine particles. The filtration element is pleated to increase its holding capacity and allow more air to flow through.
Cotton filtration components are usually the most expensive parts available due to their breathability and durability. They are typically used on high-performance bikes as they provide high-quality filtration at a rapid rate. Although the gauze is quite porous, the oil traps and prevents the contaminants in the air from passing through. The main advantage of these filters is that they can be reused multiple times. You may, however, have to purchase an additional cleaning and re-oiling kit.
Also known as depth filters, they are often used for off-road vehicles or very dusty environments due to their ability to block out contaminants. Many of them are also saturated in oil to trap dirt and grime. They can last a long time but they require regular cleaning and oiling to function.
Manufacturer
You should also consider the brand and production quality of the product when looking for an aftermarket replacement. It is advisable to only select products from trusted manufacturers, such as K&N, Maxima or MUYI. K&N is probably the most well-known brand in Europe as it is an industry leader in automotive filtration technology.
Design
Some air filters are intelligently designed to increase the engine’s horsepower. Your driving habits and environment should be taken into account when making a selection. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is therefore important to check the compatibility of the part with your motorbike. For example, the K&N YA-6098 air filter is oval shaped and designed specifically for Yamaha FZS600 Fazer 600 bikes. 
When to change your motorbike’s air filter
According to the majority of recommendations, you should replace or clean your air filter once every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or once per year. However, if you are using a component made from paper and you regularly drive on dusty roads, it may be a good idea to replace it as often as every 6,000 miles to maintain the engine’s performance.
Article supplied
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