Category: Tourism & Travel

1. How to prepare for a track day

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 20th Apr 2016

   This article from Superbike-Coach Corp will give you and idea what rules you're facing, what to bring, how to prepare and even a bunch of tips to make it as safe as possible for yourself and others. 

   • Check for oil moist or leaks under the bike and see oil filter and drain bolt are tight with a proper wrench. Consider to make a oil change before your track day anyway, and go with the best… Bel Ray Oils!
   • Check your chain slag and set it right according to your manual
   • Check your brake pads (no go for 50% off lifetime) and worn rotors. Also consider the age of your braking fluid
   • Check rest life of your tires (no go for 60% off lifetime). If you are worried about your tires: GO CHANGE THEM BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT (we have no tire service in the paddock). Besides knobby tires, we allow all tire types, because you should know best what they and you are capable of. Inform yourself for recommended tire pressures, because we don’t know. New Dunlop motorcycle tires are highly recommended.
   • Bring rain- or street bike tires if it supposed to rain. All track day events and organizers are- like ours- rain or shine! Oh... and some socks to change as well :)
   • Tape over all glass and lights AND tape over the speedometer. You do not need the speedometer on the racetrack. It is an unsafe distraction
   • Suspension setup: Don’t waste time and money on this too much. A better rider would make 10-20 seconds less on your bike with the same setup. Come out and have fun!
   • Safety wire your action cameras to not hurt somebody else!

   Read more here

2. Adventure travel books by Chris Scott

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 13th Apr 2016

   After 25 years in print, the 7th edition of Chris Scott’s legendary Adventure Motorcycling Handbook (AMH) was published recently, including contributions from world travellers like Lois Pryce and Sam Manicom.

    

   Set in the late 1970s and following decade when Thatcherism polarised the nation, Chris’ ‘motobiography’ The Street Riding Years describes his start on bikes and his subsequent dozen years as a London motorcycle messenger. By the end of the 1980s Chris had owned nearly 40 bikes, despatching on everything from classic Brit twins and thundering Italian street racers, to demented dirt bikes and nitrox-injected dinosaurs.

    

   Using a backdrop of major events and films as well as the great bikes and music, Chris recalls was golden era when badly behaved messengers got rich quick during London’s 80s boom, before Gatsos, the internet and even mobile phones. Street Riding is most definitely not a handbook but if you were riding at that time, you’ll get it. The Street Riding Years was voted RiDE magazine’s ‘Book of the Year’ and has been an Amazon best seller since publication. 

   
   Desert Travels is also set in the 1980s but covers a more conventional type of adventuring: Chris’ early biking forays into the Sahara, initially on a clapped-out XT500, then on a series of better prepared Yamaha Teneres. But most of the book covers Chris’ first Sahara tour, an ambitious expedition to the very southern edges of the Algerian Sahara. Six hopeful young riders met up in Marseille port on a selection of trail bikes – only one came back riding.

    

   Some twenty years- and at least as many Sahara trips later, the Desert Riders dvd describes Chris’ most adventurous expedition. Capitalising on his vast experience, and with the aid of fuel and food drops buried in advance, Chris and two mates rode their XR650Ls across southern Algeria’s rocky plateaux and deep into Niger’s Tenere desert to the Lost Tree,
   where the Dakar Rally founder Thierry Sabine had his ashes scattered in 1986. The dvd also includes a shorter version broadcast on National Geographic Channel, as well as other riding films from the Canadian wilderness on KLRs and the Australian Outback aboard BMW GS twins. 
   
   
   

    

   See more on the websites -  

   www.adventure-motorcycling.com
   
   www.sahara-overland.com

    

3. Overland & Adventure Bike Day @ Ace Cafe 20th March 2016

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 18th Mar 2016

   The cafe’s forthcoming annual Overland & Adventure Bike Day, includes with a host of intrepid travellers amongst whom will be Austin Vince, Dylan Samarawickrama, Sam Manicom and Zoe Cano, together with stands and displays by Globe Busters (who last year led the way to Ace Cafe Beijing!), Jack Lilley Triumph, The Trail Riders Fellowship, Adventure Bike Shop, Kaapstadmat Motorcycle Tours, Adventure Peru Motorcycling, Overland Magazine and more, yet to be confirmed.

   Come along and chat with seasoned motorcycle travellers, and see what's on offer in the way of holidays or long haul trips!

   There are also prizes up for grabs, courtesy of those attending the day. Spend £5 or more over the counter from 9am and receive a raffle ticket. Draw to be held at 3pm.

   
   You can also get a free booklet at the counter from THE BIKER GUIDE, whilst stock lasts.

   For more information about what’s on at the Ace, check out the scrolling calendar at: www.ace-cafe-london.com

    

   Sunday 20th March  9am - 5pm

4. The new Touratech catalogue: The whole world of adventure riding

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 15th Feb 2016

   Touratech presents the 2016 2,020-page catalogue with hundreds of new products... 
   Bigger than ever, packed full of products and featuring tons of new items, Touratech presents the world’s largest accessory catalogue for adventure riding. It contains custom-made equipment and parts to suit many models that will soon enliven the 2016 season. 

   One of these is the Honda CRF 1000 L Africa Twin, a bike that has sparked the urge to travel in a whole generation of adventurers. With over 20 years of experience in developing and manufacturing special parts for the Africa Twin, Touratech has an extensive portfolio lined up for the long-awaited successor. From GPS mounting adapters to the Zega pannier system, every desire is fulfilled. Plus there is an exclusive report on the first Touratech test drive with the reborn ‘Desert Queen’.

   Bikes other than the classic touring enduro have inspired the motorcycle accessory specialists from Niedereschach as well – such as the Ducati Scrambler and the BMW S 1000 XR – and of course there are more interesting new developments for nearly every motorbike model.

   Because both the bike and its rider need reliable equipment on the road, Touratech has significantly expanded the riding gear section: the AVENTURO Mod combines the advantages of flip-up and off road helmets, the COMPAÑERO World2 is an enhanced version of the tried-and-tested touring suit, and the DESTINO Adventure is Touratech’s first very own motorcycle boot. All are the result of tens of thousands of kilometres of touring experience. This same expertise has also gone into developing ‘Touratech Waterproof made by Ortlieb’. Another example of European manufacturing quality, this line of waterproof motorcycle luggage products is available now exclusively from Touratech.
   
   With all of this and much more, including great photos and travel stories, Touratech’s 2016/2017 catalogue makes an enticing read: the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro and Ducati Scrambler go on a test tour to Albania, Simon and Lisa Thomas (2 Ride The World) report on their round-the-world journey – now twelve years long – and Dirk Schäfer completes his preliminary Iron Butt trial on the 1,000-kilometre Touratech bike.
   
   To help readers navigate through this mammoth publication, the catalogue includes a detailed index and a clearly structured table of contents. The first section is dedicated to special parts for specific motorbikes, with individual models sorted alphabetically and in descending order of engine size. It is followed by sections on the cockpit, luggage, seats, the new windscreens, Touratech Suspension and universal motorcycle accessories. Finally there are rider equipment, navigation and outdoor sections.

   Two hundred thousand copies of the 2016/2017 Touratech catalogue with its 2,020 pages have been printed in five different languages and will be available at all major trade shows and events where Touratech is represented, as well as from Touratech distributors.
   
   Copies can be ordered by telephone, e-mail or via the internet – free of charge, as always and the catalogue is also available online at www.touratech.com
   

5. Great Biker Friendly places to stay on THE BIKER GUIDE

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 20th Jan 2016

   We have some great places included on THE BIKER GUIDE for you to stay at and sometimes we are sent a great picture from someone who stayed at such an establishment...

    

   Here we have Karen Brunswick @ The Silver Jubilee in Newquay, Cornwall!

    

   Situated in the heart of Newquay, with fine sandy beaches, harbour, restaurants, boat trips, shopping and more.

   Close to the coast Perranporth, the famous Lands End, Bodmin and the Port of Plymouth.

    

   Stay in a choice of seven en-suite rooms, with high standards of furnishings and cleanliness throughout. Start the day with a Full English breakfast, omelettes or french toast. Evening meals are also available during the summer months.

    

   Enjoy a drink in the comfortable bar lounge before you head out to the beachside cafes, chill out bars, along with traditional pubs and nightclubs with live music and top dj's. Minimum two nights stay. Spring and Autumn reduced rates. Andrew and Judith welcome you. Free Wi-Fi. Secure parking - please mention when booking.

    

   www.silverjubileeguesthouse.co.uk