MOTORCYCLES can park in designated bike bays in Salisbury’s car parks for as long as they want, a leading councillor has announced.

Salisbury’s parking ambassadors have been told not to book motorcyclists who leave their machines in the free parking bays, even if they do overstay the limit set for car drivers.

Councillor Dennis Brown, portfolio holder for transport and the environment, told the Journal councillors and officers had carried out a review of motorcycle parking after Karen Randall was booked for leaving her motorcycle in Salt Lane for longer than five hours.

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As reported on the front page of the Journal on September 14 this year, Ms Randall was fined for leaving her machine in the Salt Lane motorcycle bay for longer than five hours, even though there are no signs indicating motorbikes are limited in the same way as cars are.

Her case attracted interest from other motorcyclists and from Salisbury MP, Robert Key, most of whom assumed motorcycles could park free and for as long as they wanted.

But Mr Brown said current parking regulations in fact restrict motorcycles to the same time limits as cars, although he said the council accepted most riders did not realise this and there were no signs indicating this was so.

He added: “We have reviewed the situation and will amend the parking regulations so motorcycles can stay in the special bays without time limit.”

(this article was taken from thisiswiltshire.co.uk)

The word from the organisers of the UK International Motorcycle Show 2006;

The International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at Birmingham’s NEC closed its doors today after eleven days of the adrenalin fuelled biking entertainment which has seen more visitor interaction than ever before.

Overall Show attendance dropped by 12% with final figures of 144,870 people passing through the doors.

This year’s Show has been more interactive than ever before, with the all-new Thunderdome Games Arena setting a new standard for live action motorcycle stunt shows - just one of the many features to have provided visitors with the opportunity to watch, ride on, and even learn about motorcycles at this year’s Show.

Finlay McAllan, Managing Director of Show organisers MCI Exhibitions, acknowledged it is disappointing to have a lower attendance but was nevertheless delighted with the overall feedback from exhibitors:

This year’s Show has given visitors an unparalleled combination of brand new bikes to see and interactive features to have a go on. Whilst it is disappointing to see visitor numbers drop, the reaction from exhibitors has been generally positive. We will be sending out research questionnaires to all exhibitors over the forthcoming weeks and are looking forward to receiving more feedback on the Show and working with every single exhibitor to improve the Show further for 2007. I would like to thank all of the exhibitors for their support this year in producing another superb showcase for the motorcycle industry.

Exhibitors have also been expressing their feelings about the Show:

We’ve been overwhelmed by interest in the B-King and GSX-R750 models and its been great to meet so many Suzuki enthusiasts. We are looking forward to an exciting 2007. Paul de Lusignan, Suzuki Marketing Manager

Its been a really busy year for us with lots of people showing interest in our new models and some great leads. The MCI have pulled off a fantastic Show again. Scott Grimsdall, Honda Media Relations Executive

We’ve had a very successful Show for 2006. The area with the supersport machines has been packed out and the days where we’ve had riders such as Colin Edwards on the stand have given us a major boost. Its also been great to get involved with the interactive features such as the Yamaha Supermoto School. Harley Stephens, Yamaha, Press and PR Co-ordinator

The Show has been a great platform for our new Tiger model and we’ve had a lot of positive feedback. We’ve had a very high standard of customer despite the numbers being down. Bruno Tagliaferri, Triumph UK Marketing.

Its been a great chance for us to preview our models for spring next year and we’ve had really good feedback on the new bikes, demonstrating that the product is perfectly suited to the British buyer. Tony Jakeman, BMW UK Marketing Manager

The 2006 Show has been a huge success for Harley-Davidson and Buell UK. We’ve exhibited our two brand new European models to very positive feedback and we’ve completed more than 750 V-Rod experiences as part of the interactive Bike Ride Out feature. Tom Robinson, Harley-Davidson UK Marketing Manager

We’ve had an excellent quality of visitor and look forward to next year’s Show Henry Rivers-Fletcher, Oxford Products

From our point of view its been really great this year. Despite the figures being down, the stand has been bustling and we’ve had some really positive results. Shaun Sisterson, KTM Managing Director

Its been a successful Show, even with attendance down we’ve maintained sales by concentrating on quality product. Rob Puttock, Infinity Motorcycles Managing Director

The 2007 International Motorcycle and Scooter Show will take place at the Birmingham NEC from 25th October - 4th November.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)

On November 17th Honda released this press release:

Honda UK would like to wish a ‘Happy 100th birthday’ to Soichiro Honda - our founder.

Born on November 17th 1906, the son of a blacksmith and a weaver, Soichiro was fascinated by machines and how they worked. One of his earliest memories was being enthralled by the first motor car he had ever seen. He later said: As the car rolled through our small village I turned and chased after that car for all I was worth. I could not understand how it could move under its own power. And when it had driven past me, without even thinking why, I found myself chasing it down the road as hard as I could run. The young Soichiro may not have been able to catch the car, but it signalled the chasing of his dream: to build his own cars and motorcycles and win world championships with them.

By the age of 15 Soichiro hadn’t any formal education, but he had a thirst for knowledge and a passion for engineering. After a few years of helping his father in their bicycle repair business, Soichiro started as an apprentice at a garage, working as a car mechanic before starting his own auto repair business in 1928. Racing was an early passion. Soichiro built his first racing car with parts including a V8 aircraft engine, but he left racing in 1936 after a serious accident.

After selling his first company, in 1948 Honda Motor Co was formed. The first Honda motorcycle - the A Type - was an early success, proving to Soichiro that motorcycles could be the answer to cheap transportation. Early machines were refined until the development of the legendary 1958 Super Cub.

A passion for racing was still in our founder’s blood and soon the Isle of Man TT races would provide the pedestal to advertise the quality of Honda’s motorcycles. In 1954 he said: I here avow my intention that I will participate in the TT race and I proclaim with my fellow employees that I will pour all my energy and creative powers into winning. He was still chasing his dreams and they were soon realised when in 1961, two years after Honda’s debut on the Island, Mike Hailwood won the Ultra-Lightweight and Lightweight TTs. Another dream was achieved. Others have since been chased and realised: Formula 1 wins, a Formula 2 championship and countless motorcycle titles. Since then, Honda has diversified into road cars, All-Terrain Vehicles, engines, generators, outboard motors, personal watercraft, water pumps, scooters, snowblowers, robots and now jet aircraft.

Soichiro Honda remained president until his retirement in 1973, but he stayed on as a director and was appointed ’supreme advisor’ in 1983. During his retirement, Soichiro remembered his humble roots and spent much of his time working with the Honda Foundation, which was set up to aid non-profit-making organisations which help youngsters in minority or impoverished communities. It was fitting that his was an active retirement, as both Soichiro and his wife Sachi both held private pilot’s licences and he also enjoyed sports as diverse as hang-gliding, ski-ing and ballooning. Long after retirement he was still often seen on the shop-floor, discussing problems with his engineers and managers.

Soichiro Honda died on August 5th 1991, but dreams never die. From the HondaJet down to the humblest lawnmower, all our products have been infused by the DNA of the dreams of our founder, Soichiro Honda.

FOR Elton, Holloway and Tansley read France, Italy and Spain.

After securing his first major domestic title, Wirksworth’s Jack Thompson is looking further afield to demonstrate his huge potential.

At the end of October, the 14-year-old wrapped up the YMSA Youth B Class title by a margin of 36 championship points over his nearest rival.

With the YMSA rated as one of the toughest trials series around, it was a significant victory.

The Dales’ testing courses attract the very best riders from around the UK and success in the YMSAs is arguably even more rewarding than in the British championships, in which he also performed well despite missing two rounds.

Now Jack, who has been riding motorbikes since the age of nine and competing for the last two years, is keen to cement his reputation as one of the country’s finest young talents.
But 2007 promises to be a demanding year.

His dad Colin said: “Next year, he’ll really have to prove himself because he goes up into A Class.”

That will mean competing against more experienced riders, who will be expected to dominate the competition. But Jack is undaunted. In fact, the bigger the challenge, the happier he seems to be.

“I feel confident,” he said. “Because it’s harder stuff, and that’s what I practice on.”

“He does seem to do better on the bigger rocks and a lot of the harder sections,” Colin agrees.

“He wants to do the Europeans - there are three rounds - but it’s a big, big commitment.”

There seem to be plenty of sacrifices being made in the Thompson household already.

Travelling all over the country to meetings is a costly business, as is maintaining a bike and buying equipment. There is also the time.

Saturdays and Sundays are tied up with practising and competing for both father and son, with Jack putting in plenty more hours of practice in the week.

Fortunately for Jack and other young trials riders, including Middleton’s Joanne Coles and Stoney Middleton’s Hannah Styles, both of whom have already taken part in the women’s European championships, this area is blessed with the ideal terrain for a strenuous workout for bike and rider.

Jack is totally committed to the sport, and practice does, after all, make perfect, especially if you want to stay ahead of the competition.

“If you stop for two weeks then the others are going to get better and better, and they’ll be at a level in front and you’re a level behind,” he says.

“But if you keep going and do more then you’ll be ahead of them.”

“It takes such dedication and skill,” adds mum Elaine.
“You have to keep practising things over and over again.
Sometimes his muscles are so pumped up from the physical strain, it’s incredible.

“And if he’s not riding the bike he’ll be watching the DVDs and videos or out on his push bike.”

His dedication has earned him recognition as one of Anthony Gell School’s most talented young sportsmen, allowing him to exchange PE lessons for trials practice.

It also set him at odds with a consultant after breaking his collar bone.

Despite the medical advice, he was riding a motorbike again after just two weeks.

But what he and his family would really like him to do is attract the kind of sponsorship some of his rivals enjoy.

He does currently get some assistance from manufacturers, but the cost still very largely still falls to the family.

The compensation they currently get is in seeing him succeed.
“Any father would like their son to win,” said Colin.

“It’s very rare for somebody to win a championship, and it’s a big, big thing considering how many riders are in his class.”

(this article was taken from matlocktoday.c.uk)

Tickets are now on sale for Europe’s biggest off-road motorcycle show and the organisers advise visitors to book tickets in advance to save money and beat the queues, following last year’s record attendance figures.

This is the place to see the latest dirt bikes and quads from Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha, alongside specialist European manufacturers including KTM, Gas Gas and Aprilia. BMW will be joining them for the first time, with their 175kg/105bhp BMW HP2 Enduro, while GoBlade will be showing their 28bhp electric moto crosser.

If you have an off-road bike; MX, enduro, Quad, Trials bike etc you can now obtain insurance cover for your bike whilst it is garaged at home, or parked at a recognised ACU/AMCA organised event. Just call in and see us at the Carole Nash Insurance stand.

We also insure your essential tools as well as your off-road bike, whilst it’s in transit to the event.

What else is at the Dirt Bike Show? There is plenty to see for the growing number of Adventure Sport motorcycle owners.

The organisers have invited two of the UK’s foremost adventure motorcyclists to give vistors an opportunity to talk to the experts. Nick Sanders is the fastest man around the world and is currently organising a motorcycle tour to Timbuktu!

Patsy Quick is the first, and only, British woman to complete the Dakar Rally. What these two can’t tell you about having an adventure on a motorcycle isn’t worth knowing! Meet them both at the Dirt Bike Show.

(this article came from insidebikes.com)

Motor Cycle News (MCN), the UK’s leading motorcycle publication, has awarded Harley-Davidson’s stunning new VRSCDX Night Rod Special ‘Cruiser of the Year 2006′. This places the bike firmly at the top of a fiercely contested category and adds to the unrivalled collection of awards the iconic motorcycle manufacturer has collected over the years.

The Night Rod Special wasn’t the only Harley-Davidson in the ‘Cruiser’ category. The Fat Boy was also a finalist, with the Night Rod Special seeing off competition from Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki. The latest bike follows in the tyre marks of the revolutionary V-Rod which previously collected three consecutive MCN awards in the category. The introduction of the new motorcycle ensures that the family continues to make history, demand attention and challenge rider expectation.

Harley-Davidson UK marketing manager, Allan Brownridge, commented: “We’re obviously extremely excited for the new Night Rod Special to have won this prestigious award. The V-Rod has gone on to win over 30 major awards world-wide and we hope that the latest addition to the family will receive the same recognition.” The blacked-out Night Rod Special retains the long and low street styling of the rest of the VRSC range but replaces brightwork with black - right from the heart. The machine’s powerhouse, a 121hp, 1130cc, liquid cooled 60 degree Revolution V-Twin engine is finished in all-black with highlighted fins.

Taking in the rest of the profile, the eyes widen at the black slotted aluminium wheels with orange pinstripe. The frame, controls, forks and swing arm are all black and, likewise, the brushed straight-shot dual exhaust is black-capped with matching shields. The stunning black-on-black bodywork with racing stripe completes the image.

With rider onboard, the forward controls and black drag handlebars put you in a clamshell position and, when you leave the traffic for dust, with the last impression being the huge new 240mm rear tyre, the appearance is brutal.

The Revolution V-Twin engine is rubber-mounted with a single counter-balancer, dual overhead cams, four valve heads and five speed transmission. Running to a 9,000rpm redline it pounds out a maximum 108Nm of torque, ensuring that the Night Rod Special commands the tougher end of the power cruiser segment.

(this article was taken from femalefirst.co.uk)

It’s official. Motorbike fans across the country have voted Scotland’s Glen Coe and the A82 as Britain’s favourite scenic biking route in a survey of over 1,500 bikers recently conducted by DVLA Personalised Registrations.

Bealach na Ba, situated just off the A696, and the stunning surroundings of the Heights of Kinlochewe found along the A832, were noted as bikers’ second and third most popular routes, positioning Scotland as home to the nation’s top three bike vistas.

Wales also proved a hit, with bikers nominating Horseshoe Pass on the A542 as their fourth favourite vista, closely followed by Shropshire’s striking Clee Hill on the A4117 which is the number one choice in England.

Visitors to the DVLA Personalised Registrations stand at this year’s International Motorcycle and Scooter Show can see video footage of each of the UK’s top ten vistas* and collect a free stress busting CD-ROM featuring still and video images of each route, shot by renowned bike photographer, Chippy Wood.

The CD-ROM allows users to display their favourite vista on their computer and with more than 50 of the world’s leading motorcycles to choose from, uniquely combine it with the dream machine of their choice.

Additionally, visitors can search over 24 million registrations using DVLA’s fully interactive touch screens, featuring virtual plate-making technology, which will enable users to view their ideal number plate on a bike of their choice.

Louise Pierpoint, marketing manager for DVLA Personalised Registrations commented: We have thoroughly enjoyed conducting the bike vista survey and truly believe that visitors to our stand will be amazed by the breathtaking scenery on show.

(this article was taken from femalefirst.co.uk)