Observers - Northamptonshire Advanced Motorcyclists
Transcription
Observers - Northamptonshire Advanced Motorcyclists
THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP The Newsletter for the Northamptonshire Advanced Motorcyclists A Public Apology. “Any chance you could print an apology to Sue regarding my comments about her cooking skills, so I can have sex again” Jim Payne Brackley Bike Fest Dave Jay misses Brackley, due to back problems. He seems to be unable to get it out of bed... SIZE MATTERS! “Now I have bigger equipment, my wife is much happier ” Dave Harrop Cypriot Police vs FP Seemingly, being a newsletter editor doesn't automatically make it acceptable to walk around the complex, taking photographs of topless women. NAMMC.ORG.UK Northamptonshire Advanced Motorcyclists email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 1 September 2012 Issue 38 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP All in all, its been another successful month for Forward Progress with downloads now in to the 90’s, and it seems that each month the number increases exponentially. This month I have decided to include new features in the newsletter, firstly I will be covering stories about Northamptonshire Advanced Motorcyclists, and secondly I will be including stories about motorcycles. My intention was to also include my holiday snaps, but as the Cypriot police won’t give me my camera back, I’ve had to place that idea on the back burner Thanks to all those who sent me their jokes, stories and pictures, For those who would like to contribute to next month’s edition, then please email me at jduffy@nammc.org.uk Also worth mentioning that if you require a login for the website / forum, then again, email me at jduffy@nammc.org.uk. This will enable you to access additional features that are only available to NAM members. And last, but not least, to catch up on the latest news or check out the Sunday morning destinations, visit: www.nammc.org.uk Rgds, James - Editor Always observe as far ahead as possible, ensuring that the road is clear. Use the “Limit Point of Vision” technique to maximise your observation and to manage your speed. DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Forward Progress are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily those of the Editor, Northamptonshire Advanced Motorcyclists or the Institute of Advanced Motorists, unless so stated. DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998 Members are advised that the name and address details are held on a computer database. We will not disclose such information to any third party, but where appropriate we will use such information in carrying out the Group’s various functions and services Members not wishing their details to be held in this way should advise the Secretary, in writing, or the Group may breach the requirements of the Act The contents of this newsletter are copyright Northamptonshire Advanced Motorcyclists and should not be reproduced without prior permission. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 2 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP I refuse to mention the weather.... well I'll try but it does impose on us two wheeler users more than a bit? By the time you are reading this ( dependant on the button pressing skills of our esteemed secretary ) the last planned Better Biking Day of 2012 should have taken place - hopefully in glorious sunshine! Over 60 attendees are expected throughout the day and our hope is that we can introduce some more riders to the joys and yes there are real joys, of advanced riding. Some of you will be reading this excellent publication ( or scurrilous rag dependant on whether you are the target of the editors attention on the day) for the first time. Hopefully it conveys the enthusiasm of all of us involved and the passion shown by all in improving standards for all road users. The skills we have and are still acquiring give us an real 'edge' over those still to take on advanced training and releases the true pleasure of two wheeler use. If you know of a rider who could benefit from an uplift to their skill set please introduce them to us, as always no obligation and no cost for a look see'. Every extra skilled rider reduces the accident statistics that are now being used to reduce speed limits on roads to unrealistically low levels in the vain hope of reducing casualties - it is only by reducing these accident figures that we will stop the relentless march of the 'Speed kills' brigade to the point of the man with the red flag walking in front of all moving vehicles becoming a looming threat again! Rant over for a while but please feel free to relate your thoughts to the editor on any matters raised here or elsewhere in this e-zine, both he and I welcome your views as its only by knowing what you think, that any changes will come about, both to the Group and the magazine. Enjoy your machine, enjoy any roads that allow you to get out of first gear ( sorry I couldn't help myself there) and look forward to seeing you soon. Geoff email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 3 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Motorbike clothing retailer Hein Gericke folds The motorbike clothing and parts retailer Hein Gericke has gone into administration affecting its 49 UK stores and around 200 staff. Administrators, Moorfields Corporate Recovery, said it would try to sell the business and stores were still open. A statement on the company's UK website said the future of the operation was being "determined and hopefully secured". The UK head office of the company is in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Simon Thomas, joint administrator at Moorfields, said: "Whilst the ongoing economic pressures have affected sales in recent years I am confident the business model has a lot of potential with a dedicated customer base and staff who are obviously passionate about working for the company." Hein Gericke was a German biker who opened a motorcycle shop in Germany in the 1970s. Within a few years it had developed into the largest motorcycle dealership in Germany. The Hein Gericke brand is sold through a retail shop presence across Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Luxembourg. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 4 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP IAM want biker-friendly crash barriers Crash barriers are a factor in one in seven motorcyclist's deaths THE IAM is calling the government to redesign crash barriers to make them more motorcycle-friendly. While crash barriers save hundreds of car occupants lives, they're a factor in the death of motorcyclists in up to 16 percent of motorcycle accidents. When they hit a crash barrier, riders are 15 times more likely to be killed than car occupants. IAM chairman Alistair Cheyne OBE said: “Roads in general and crash barriers in particular are largely designed with four or more wheels in mind. The needs of more vulnerable motorcyclists must become a priority." Harley profits up, shares down Both motorcycle and merchandise sales increase, but it's not all good news for HD HARLEY-Davidson have reported a 30 percent rise in profits in Q2 of 2012 but despite the rise, its shares fell following a cautious outlook on Europe. The Milwaukee-based company reported net income of £159.2m but the chief executive, Keith Wandell, said the company races a challenging eurozone economy. Since the decline of sales to baby-boomers, Harley have stepped up their efforts to target women, ethnic minorities and young adults. Surprisingly, motorcycle sales have grown by 4 percent in the US this year. Harley's retail sales are vital to its profits, these sales rose 10 percent in the Asia Pacific region and 37.9 percent in Latin America, offsetting weaker demand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where sales fell by 6.4 percent. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 5 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP The Art Of Online Motorcycle Maintenance With Haynes Motorcyclists can now fix up their bikes using new online manuals from Haynes - the world’s leading publisher of maintenance manuals. The first titles are now available including popular models such as the Honda Gold Wing 1200 and classics such as the Triumph Bonneville. The 50 best-selling motorbike manuals will be available by the end of the year. The online manuals can be accessed on any computer or mobile device and include all the content from the printed books with the additional benefits of: •All-colour photographs and diagrams which can be enlarged to view key details •A quick and easy to use search tool •Quick links to the most popular DIY tasks •A fault finding section to help quickly ascertain the cause of a particular problem •Links to additional related information in other chapters •Dictionary of technical terms •Conversion calculator for imperial and metric units Jeremy Yates-Round, Managing Director at Haynes said: “In a world where our natural instinct is to Google how to fix something, we wanted to create digital guides which motorcyclists know they can trust because the advice comes from Haynes specialists with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Haynes Manuals Online will put the answer at your fingertips, making expert motorcycle maintenance advice more accessible than ever before.” Haynes has sold more than 150 million printed manuals worldwide. Haynes Manuals Online were released in the United States in Autumn 2011 and the top 50 car manuals were published in June in the UK. Jeremy Yates-Round added: “What we are seeing so far in the States is that many motorcyclists are buying the digital version in addition to the printed book.” A lifetime subscription to an online manual costs £33. Or a single motorcycle digital manual can be purchased for £28 from www.haynes.co.uk email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 6 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Well folks, its official, Northamptonshire Advanced Motorcyclists have managed to raise in total, the princely sum of, £930.00 for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Service. Special thanks goes to all those who participated in the event, and everyone who generously donated money to make this amount achievable. Thank you, thank you, thank you. An important part of riding is wearing the right kit to keep you warm, safe and dry. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 7 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP James Bond rides a Honda The new 007 film, Skyfall, will feature Daniel Craig as James Bond aboard a Honda motorcycle. The opening credits of the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall, feature a brace of Honda motorcycles shot on location in Istanbul and Adana, Turkey, earlier this year. Twenty CRF250R were provided, to be adapted for stunt work and styled to suit the plot of the film, which opens in the UK on October 26. One is a Turkish police bike that villain Patrice (Ola Rapace) seizes after a policeman crashes, the other is a Turkish merchant's bike that James Bond (Daniel Craig) uses to pursue Patrice. Both bikes feature extensive modifications courtesy of Chris Corbould's awardwinning special effects team. The film unit also used two Honda CRF450Rs for HD filming of the chase sequences, because they allowed the camera crew to keep up with the action. The Skyfall police and street merchant bikes, alongside an unmodified CRF250R, were unveiled at the National Motor Museum's Bond In Motion exhibition, showcasing 50 vehicles used in the various Bond adventures, which runs until December 31. Gary Powell, stunt co-ordinator for Skyfall, said: "We needed a highly versatile offroad motorbike that could be easily modified, without compromising performance or safety, for the opening sequence of Skyfall. Honda's CRFs are probably the best offroaders out there so it's great that we've been able to partner with Honda as the bikes, while heavily modified, were superb to work with." Fiona Cole, Honda (UK) corporate communications manager, said: "We're delighted to be a partner for Skyfall and are very much looking forward to seeing our CRFs in action in the film and rolling out some great associated activities we've got planned from October when the film is released. It's great to not only have Honda machines selected as the choice of Bond, but also to be working with such a longstanding film franchise." email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 8 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Motorcycling in France From the seat of a motorcycle, France appears to have changed a lot. It used to be a rider’s playground thanks to a combination of few traffic police, lax regulations, empty roads, great food and wine, fabulous scenery and glorious weather. A mad blast to the Bol d’Or 24-hour endurance race at Paul Ricard, north of Toulon, used to be a rite of passage for British bikers from the Seventies to the Nineties, some of whom came back with tales of full-throttle auto-route romps and knees down in Provence, while the more mature have enjoyed the rich scenery from a twowheeled vantage point. It’s always been a favoured destination of British riders, and even when it’s not, it’s still on the route of most foreign biking forays. However, these days there’s a host of bewildering, bike-specific regulations policed by a force which appears determined to squeeze cash out of riders generally – and pounds out of the British, in particular. Did you know, for example, that filtering through slow-moving or stationary traffic is illegal in France? In itself, just another law to be aware of, but the French motorcycle federation, the FFMC, has accused the police on Paris’s périphérique ring road of deliberately slowing the traffic with their cars in order to catch motorcycles unwittingly slipping through the “jam”. There’s plenty more you can be picked up on, too. The drink-driving laws are the same as for car drivers, with a 0.5mg/ml limit, which a single glass of wine or beer could broach, and you could end up with a two-year prison sentence if you do so by a big margin. You must also carry a breathalyser, or rather a pair of them (so even if you use one you still have another working one). These aren’t expensive, at about £6 a pair, and can be found in Halfords, as well as ports and French garages. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 9 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP 125cc scooters and motorcycle buck the sales trend If ever confirmation were needed that modern motorcycling is, on the whole, a leisure pursuit, then it comes from bike sales statistics showing a near-catastrophic collapse in numbers during the recession. Overall sales now are about half what they were pre-recession, with some sectors taking much bigger hits, especially sports bikes which have suffered the double whammy of a demonization of speed with draconian enforcement to back it up. However, economy machines have been showing consistent and substantial growth, especially the 125cc scooter sector. The reasons aren't difficult to guess. Despite June 2012 being a washout, scooter sales were up by a massive 21.1 per cent compared with June 2011, which itself was up by a similar amount over the previous year's numbers. To look at a bigger pictures, in the first six months of this year 125cc sales are 15.2 per cent higher, and with better if not great weather, the same period in 2011 was 22.9 per cent better than 2010. If only we'd had a hot June, who knows how big growth would have been? The various reasons many people have held back from swapping to an economy twowheeler have proved increasingly unconvincing: insurance prices haven't risen as much as with cars (involvement with whiplash claims is much rarer), and there's a growing realisation that not only are accident rates much better than the stereotypes, but whole journey safety starts to look good compared with public transport. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 10 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP << Continued The prime motivation for switching to a 125 is to reduce commuting costs, and they'll certainly do this. A typical 125cc scooter will return about 85mpg around town (and these are real rather than claimed or government figures), with some dropping to 70mpg but others nudging 100mpg. One surprise is that 125cc motorcycles are generally more economical than 125c scooters, primarily because almost all scooters use a variable pulley and belt transmission – like the old Daf cars – which is not particularly efficient. Scooters will save you a fortune in fuel costs over any car, but if you can get used to the manual transmission of a motorcycle (and it's easier than learning a car's), you can get even better economy: Honda's CBF125 will take you 120 miles on one gallon without much throttle restraint. There's no congestion charge in London either. Purchase costs for a new scooter generally vary from £1,500 to £3,500, and we'd recommend scooter and motorcycle novices stick with franchised dealers for used models, too. Chinese brands are best avoided as quality is poor and initial savings are often lost in heavy depreciation, but Taiwanese and Korean brands such as Kymco, Sym and Daelim can be very good value and have decent reliability. A 125 will cruise at 50-60mph, which on major A-roads feels vulnerable when lorries are around, but they're generally fine for commuting up to 20 miles, although some people happily travel much further and still benefit from much quicker commutes than by other methods. This leads to the second big attraction: time saving. In towns and cities nothing comes close to scooters and motorcycles, with some journey times reducing to (and not merely by) a third. On top of that, you can leave home or the office when you want, not in order to fit in with transport timetables. Another little cited advantage is isolation from viruses. Scooter riders are far less exposed to the colds, coughs and other nasties swilling around in buses and trains, and are demonstrably ill and off work less often as a result. To top it all, there's the small matter that many scooter and motorcycle riders actively enjoy the commute to work. COLMATT CONSTRUCTION LTD BUILDING ON OUR REPUTATION Design & Build, Quality Homes, Extensions, Refurbishments, Barn Conversions, Commercial and Domestic Property Maintenance Phone: 01604 696000 Fax: 01604 696111 Email: colmattcon@btinternet.com www.colmattconstruction.co.uk email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 11 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP New Kawasaki Ninja 250R unveiled. The Kawasaki Ninja 250R gets a significant update for 2013, with a whole new look as well as modifications to the engine and optional ABS. The 249cc parallel twin engine gets new pistons and crankcases and the cylinders will be diecast. The new bike is expected to weigh 171kg without ABS, making it 6kg heavier than the current model which was introduced in 2008 Motorcycle sales flat, car sales rise. Cheap finance thought to keep car sales flowing MOTORCYCLE sales for the first six months of the year have been broadly flat, while car sales have shown their fastest rise in two years. In the first six months of motorcycles were sold, a rise same period in 2011. However 3.5% for the year to date, with month alone. this year, 44,938 of just 1.2% on the sales of cars are up 9.6% rise in the last The motorcycle capacity sector showing growth is the 51cc-125cc category with 18,428 unit sold, up 13.7% on last year. The only category types to show growth are Adventure Sport and Scooter (over 125cc). The Adventure Sport category is 32.6% up on last year, with 7,887 units sold, compared to 5,950 for the same period last year. However, despite good sales of Adventure Sport and Maxi Scooters, every other sector is down, with Touring showing the biggest decrease; a 22.7% drop compared to last year. Cheap finance is said to be the driving factor for the increased car sales, with cars like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa in the super-mini sector an impressive 93% up on 2011. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 12 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP 8 Market Square, Higham Ferrers, Northants. NN10 8BP Tel: 01933 312 827 Paris Hilton talks racing with Jay Leno... FLAUNTING her new connection to motorcycling, Paris Hilton arrived to an interview with Jay Leno riding pillion on a GSX-R600 in her team's livery. Motorhead Leno asked the heiress about her motorcycle-mounted entrance: "I have my own racing team. A real racing team. We just won first place at the huge race in France. I'm very proud." Paris continued by giving praise to 16-yearold rookie Maverick Vinales, "Maverick won. He's 16 and incredibly talented," commenting on Vinales impressive performance at Le Mans, "Racing is so exciting. It's such an amazing sport." Leno, who has an impressive collection of motorbikes then spoke with Paris about her own experiences on two wheels, "I have a pink Vespa... I didn't want to hurt the audience, so I didn't trust myself to ride out here," and quizzed on the quickest she had been, "The fastest I've gone is, like, 50." The conversation on bikes only last for a short time, with the topic shifting to her dogs and their palace at her Beverly Hills home. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 13 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP a young Executive was leaving the office at 6 p.m., then he found the Manager standing in front of the shredder with a piece of paper in his hand. "Listen," said the Manager, "this is a very sensitive and important document. Can you make this thing work?" "Certainly," said the young Executive. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the Start button. "Excellent, excellent!" said the Manager as his paper disappeared inside the machine. "I just need two copies." A young boy comes home with a chair under each arm and a settee strapped to his back. His dad goes absolutely crazy and demands, 'How many times do I have to tell you not to accept suites from strangers?' -------------------------------I was visiting my son and daughter-in-law last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. 'This is the 21st century, old man,' my son said. 'We don't waste money on newspapers. Here, you can borrow my iPad.' I can tell you, that bloody fly never knew what hit it… -------------------------------A man is staying in a hotel. 'And will there be anything else, sir?' the bellboy asks after setting out an elaborate dinner for two. 'No thank you,' the gentleman replies, 'That will be all.' As the young man turns to leave he notices a beautiful satin negligee on the bed. 'Anything for your wife?' he asks. 'Yeah! That's a good idea,' the man says, 'Bring me a postcard.' -------------------------------What d'ya call a smart blonde? A golden retriever. -------------------------------A guy goes into a bar and says to the barman "Quick, give me a drink before the trouble starts." The barman pours him a drink and the guy quickly "downs it" and says "Better give me another, before the trouble starts." The barman gives him another drink and the guy knocks that one back as well. The guy then looks around the bar and says "Better give me another one, quick, before the trouble starts." The barman pours him a third drink and says to the guy, "Look, when is all this "trouble" going to start?" The guy replies "As soon as you find out I don't have any money!" email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk Sam quits his job and buys 50 acres in the Yukon as far from humanity as possible. He sees the postman once a week and gets groceries once a month. Otherwise it's total peace and quiet. After six months or so of almost total isolation, someone knocks on his door. He opens it to find a big, fat, bearded man standing there. "Name's Ned....Your neighbour from 40 miles away.... Having a party Friday....Thought you might like to come. About 5..." "Great" says Sam, "after six months out here I'm ready to meet some local folks. Thank you." As Ned is leaving, he stops. "Gotta warn you... There's gonna be some drinkin." "Not a problem....after 25 years in business, I can drink with the best of em." Again, as he starts to leave, Ned stops. "More'n likely gonna be some fightin' too." Sam says, "Well, I get along with people. I'll be there. Thanks again." Once again Ned turns back. "I've seen some wild sex at these parties, too." "Now that's really not a problem" says Sam. "I've been all alone for six months! I'll definitely be there. By the way, what should I bring?" Ned stops again and says, "Bring whatever you want, just gonna be the two of us". IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Opportunity for 100 members of the public to try off-road motorcycling FOR FREE KARL WILLIAMS, NEED NOT APPLY! Members of the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) are holding a ‘Motorcycle OffRoad Experience’ day on Saturday 15th September at Adstone, Northamptonshire for members of the public who have never ridden off-road before to... • Experience the thrill of off-road riding • Take instruction from the UK’s top trainers (including three times world champion – Dave Thorpe) • See how it’s done by the experts at a special pro demonstration • Understand why it’s such a great family sport This is a cross industry effort, sponsored by leading names such as AJP, Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Yamaha and Zero electric motorcycles, in order to highlight how easy it is to get started in off-road motorcycle sport. Who is this for and how do they apply? • It is for people over the age of 16, who have no previous experience of motorcycle off-road riding. • Registration will be on a first come first served basis via www.rideoffroad.co.uk. The website will contain all the relevant information and went live on Monday 6th August. Registration is from 9 am on Monday 13th August. • A deposit of £25 will be payable at the point of successful registration, which will be refunded on arrival on the day. This is taken to ensure people are serious about taking a place. Those who are not successful can join a waiting list and will be contacted should a spare place arise. • Successful applicants will be allocated either a morning or afternoon of off-road riding and all protective clothing will be provided. The benefits Motorcycle off-road sport provides exciting opportunities for riders to pit themselves against a variety of physical challenges. It is accessible to all ages and provides the most economical route to competitive motorsport. This area of motorcycle sport has the highest level of participation in the UK with 1.7 million spectators watching around 55,000 riders attending an average of over 4000 off-road events a year. These range from schoolboy motocross to high level competitions such as the Maxxis British Motocross Championships. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 15 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Brackley Bike Fest Update For NAM, Brackley turned out to be a very successful day with regards to promoting what we do, as well as getting people interested in September’s Better Biking Day (www.betterbiking.co.uk) With a total of 25 names taken on the day, Jim and Sue Payne, Paul and Jude Fowler, Penny Ganser, James Duffy, Andrew Oliver and Dave Craddock worked hard, talking to people from all over the region about the benefits of advanced motorcycling. Also, a big thanks goes to Dave Jay who was instrumental in organising the event, although, couldn't make it on the day, as he had been up all the previous night with bubonic plague and diahorrea. But he’s all better now!!! Useless Facts You're more likely to get stung by a bee on a windy day than in any other weather. Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day. Your ribs move about 5 million times a year, every time you breathe. Your right lung takes in more air than your left one does. Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks otherwise it will digest itself. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk Always aim to complete your braking before you begin to turn into a bend. This slow in, fast out technique is the smoothest, safest and often the most progressive way to ride. IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 16 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Bike With Russian Tank Engine Lands On Guinness As World's Heaviest Running on a Russian tank engine, a giant motorcycle dubbed as Led Zeppelin by its creator has been duly acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's heaviest motorbike. The bike weighs four-and-a-half tons and measures 17 feet four inches long by seven feet six inches tall, prompting creator Tilo Nieber, to remark, "You don't get much more heavy metal than this." Nieber, 39, said it took more than a year for a team of welders and mechanics almost a year to build the bike at the Harzer Bike Schmiede in Zilly, Germany. Advanced riders are able to ride with the skill and precision in all conditions, including difficult situations in the day or at night. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 17 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Officers and PSCOs from the Kettering Safer Community Team are tackling the illegal and anti-social use of motorbikes in Kettering and the surrounding towns and villages. Sgt Simon Lloyd said: “We are patrolling areas where this has been raised as an issue to us on foot, by car and by off-road bike. “We’re certainly not targeting motorcyclists specifically but we want people to be aware that even if your bike is legal and roadworthy, you still risk prosecution if you are riding it in a way which causes other people alarm, distress or annoyance. “Riding in places such as parks and on paths is illegal and of course using any vehicle without insurance is breaking the law. “We focus on things that matter to the community and will be cracking down on those that persist in this behaviour. We can and will seize vehicles and make arrests where appropriate. “I would urge anyone who uses a motorcycle to ensure they are familiar with the law in relation to its use so they can continue to enjoy riding them safely and legally without causing annoyance to others.” email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 18 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Increase in road motorcycle accidents. THERE has been an increase in the number of motorcycle incidents being attended by Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance service. The wet weather has been blamed for the rise in accidents on the county’s roads. An air ambulance spokesman said: “Motorcycle accidents account for about eight per cent of calls responded to by The Air Ambulance Service, but this figure increases in the spring and summer months. “Both Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance, which fall under the umbrella of air ambulance service, have attended seven motorcycle incidents in just five days recently.” Coventry air base manager Philippa Gibbs added: “We often see trends in the different types of accidents that we attend, and unfortunately one of these trends is the increase in motorcycle accidents in the spring time. We’d urge motorcyclists to take extra care even in good weather conditions, and also for motorists to be extra aware of motorcycles on the road.” The service has signed up new charity ambassadors – TV travel adventurer Charley Boorman and former World Superbike champion James Toseland. Avoid becoming an “accidental pedestrian” vulnerable to danger, when you get off your machine at the roadside. Consider all the dangers posed by passing traffic and act accordingly. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 19 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Riding Pillion Taking a pillion can be heaven or hell. Make them read this and avoid any relationship stress Advice for Pillions Before you get on Many people (but not advanced riders) assume the best way to introduce people to the joys of biking is to scare them witless. When you agree to take a pillion ride make it quite clear to the ‘driver’ that you want a safe, sensible ride - no heroics. You won’t be able to talk once you’re on the go (unless you have radio intercom), so arrange a couple of simple signals so you can make it plain if you’re not happy. Getting on and off This catches a lot of people out. The best method is for the rider to get the bike upright, plant both feet on the floor, and for the pillion to stand on one footrest, stand up and swing their leg over to the other side. Some people prefer to slide one leg over the seat, shuffle their bum on and then locate the pegs. (it depends on the bike and the size of the passenger). However you do it, make sure you always ask the rider if he or she is ready before you start to climb aboard. Holding on When you first start riding pillion it is best to hold on round the rider’s waist. That way you’ll be cushioned to some extent from the effects of acceleration and braking, and you’ll stay in line with the bike and rider, helping to avoid upsetting the balance of the bike. Also you hands will be within easy reach of the rider’s genitals should it be necessary to apply pain to correct cretinous behaviour. If you want to use the grab rail/s, you may find this hard work at first - you’ll have to learn to judge braking and acceleration exactly right to avoid lurching backwards and forwards. Clothing If it’s not at least as good as the rider’s, why not? He or she’s the one who has taken responsibility for your safety while you’re on the bike, and that should extend to making sure you’re properly dressed. If they expect you to ride in trainers and a paddock jacket, tell ‘em to sod off. Continued >> email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 20 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP << Continued On the move As a pillion you’re more than just a passenger – everything you do affects the way the bike handles. So you need to take as much interest in your surroundings and the road ahead as the rider does. Under braking you need to try and avoid sliding forward. You can do most of this by taking the strain through your legs, so make sure your feet are firmly on the pegs. On acceleration lean forward and hold on to whatever you’re holding on to as firmly as possible. Initially the temptation will be to lean the opposite way to the bike in corners, especially if you’re nervous (Don’t!), but try to keep your body in line with the bike and rider as much as possible. If you find it difficult to avoid head-butting your rider on gear changes, don’t panic, it’s probably your rider’s fault - he, or she needs to change gear more smoothly. Short-shifting and clutchless changes may help. If you take the attitude that your job as a pillion is to reduce the effect you have on the bike’s handling to such an extent that the rider hardly knows you’re there, you won't go far wrong. It may seem alien at first but relax and it will all come naturally. Tips summary: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Make it clear to the rider that you don’t want to be scared Agree signals in advance –you might not be heard on the move Make sure you have decent, well-fitting protective kit Look ahead and anticipate what the rider’s going to do Make sure your chauffeur/se knows what he/she is doing Extracted from “Brilliant riding The Manual” by BiKE magazine. The italics are mine (Dave H), So is the photo! Ed. Let them get used to the bike at an early stage Courtesy of Dave Harrop email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 21 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Chilli Con Carne Ingredients ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 1 tbsp oil 1 large onion 1 red pepper 2 garlic cloves , peeled 1 heaped tsp hot chilli powder 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp ground cumin 500g lean minced beef 1 beef stock cube 400g can chopped tomatoes ½ tsp dried marjoram 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp tomato purée 410g can red kidney beans plain boiled long grain rice , to serve soured cream , to serve Method 1.Prepare your vegetables. Chop 1 large onion into small dice, about 5mm square. The easiest way to do this is to cut the onion in half from root to tip, peel it and slice each half into thick matchsticks lengthways, not quite cutting all the way to the root end so they are still held together. Slice across the matchsticks into neat dice. Cut 1 red pepper in half lengthways, remove stalk and wash the seeds away, then chop. Peel and finely chop 2 garlic cloves. 2.Start cooking. Put your pan on the hob over a medium heat. Add the oil and leave it for 1-2 minutes until hot (a little longer for an electric hob). Add the onions and cook, stirring fairly frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft, squidgy and slightly translucent. Tip in the garlic, red pepper, 1 heaped tsp hot chilli powder or 1 level tbsp mild chilli powder, 1 tsp paprika and 1 tsp ground cumin. Give it a good stir, then leave it to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3.Brown the 500g lean minced beef. Turn the heat up a bit, add the meat to the pan and break it up with your spoon or spatula. The mix should sizzle a bit when you add the mince. Keep stirring and prodding for at least 5 minutes, until all the mince is in uniform, mince-sized lumps and there are no more pink bits. Make sure you keep the heat hot enough for the meat to fry and become brown, rather than just stew. 4.Making the sauce. Crumble 1 beef stock cube into 300ml hot water. Pour this into the pan with the mince mixture. Open 1 can of chopped tomatoes (400g can) and add these as well. Tip in ½ tsp dried marjoram and 1 tsp sugar, if using (see tip at the bottom), and add a good shake of salt and pepper. Squirt in about 2 tbsp tomato purée and stir the sauce well. 5.Simmer it gently. Bring the whole thing to the boil, give it a good stir and put a lid on the pan. Turn down the heat until it is gently bubbling and leave it for 20 minutes. You should check on the pan occasionally to stir it and make sure the sauce doesn't catch on the bottom of the pan or isn't drying out. If it is, add a couple of tablespoons of water and make sure that the heat really is low enough. After simmering gently, the saucy mince mixture should look thick, moist and juicy. 6.Bring on the beans. Drain and rinse 1 can of red kidney beans (410g can) in a sieve and stir them into the chilli pot. Bring to the boil again, and gently bubble without the lid for another 10 minutes, adding a little more water if it looks too dry. Taste a bit of the chilli and season. It will probably take a lot more seasoning than you think. Now replace the lid, turn off the heat and leave your chilli to stand for 10 minutes before serving, and relax. Leaving your chilli to stand is really important as it allows the flavours to mingle and the meat. 7.Serve with soured cream and plain boiled long grain rice. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 22 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 23 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP FOR SALE Kawasaki ER6f (2008) £2900 o.n.o Got something to sell, looking for something, or know of a good service provided by a 3rd party, then share it here. Scooter for SALE An acquaintance is reluctantly trying to part company with an old scooter. He has been restoring it but got distracted by something shiny. 12,750 Miles Full Kawasaki dealer service history. Taxed till December. Two owners. Rear Hugger and Mirror Extenders. Full 12 months MOT (June 2013) Makes a great first ‘big bike’. Cheap to insure and run. Please contact Dave Jay at davva.jay@gmail.com for more details. email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Lambretta TV 175, 1962, red and white, classic bike. Was being restored but due to kids coming along simply don't have the time or the money to complete. It was all working prior to dropping the engine etc to be sent off (which I never did) all it needs is some TLC and someone who knows what they are doing and it will be a great bike again. (sob) It has many new parts, electronic ignition and it’s Italian original (not Asian!) and I am looking for around £1000. The seat spare wheel and backrest trim is red to match the scooter itself, I also have many rare accessories (bolt ons) if anyone is interested in those too. Contact: marcbuckel@googlemail.com Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 24 THE E-ZINE FOR THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Geoff Russell (Chairman) Dave Harrop (Group Secretary) Phone:- 08700 427648 John Durrant (Treasurer) David Linnitt (Associates Secretary) Tom Palacio (Events Co-ordinator) David Jay (Liaison Officer) Chris Capewell (Forum Admin) James Duffy (Newsletter) Email: chair@nammc.org.uk Email: sec@nammc.org.uk Email: accounts@nammc.org.uk Email: co-ordinator@nammc.org.uk Email: events@nammc.org.uk Email: groupliaison@nammc.org.uk Email: forumadmin@nammc.org.uk Email: newsletter@nammc.org.uk Senior Observers: Richard Debell, John Durrant, Darran Johnson, Geoff Russell, Harvey Upton, Dave Wilkinson, Karl Williams. Observers: Marc Buckel, Chris Capewell, Mark Curtis, Penny Ganser, Paul Fox, Paul Fowler,, Dave Harrop, David Linnitt, Nic Morris, Tom Palacio, Jim Payne, Jeff Pearce, Mike Whitbread Observers in Training: Dave Jay, Debbie Prigmore, Debbie Ruddock, George Simpson email:newsletter@nammc.org.uk IAM Affiliate: 7226. Reg. Charity No: 1107148 Page 25