SHARP issue 11 new ratings

SHARP has published safety ratings for a further 11 motorcycle helmets

The ratings include 8 full face and 3 flip-front models, taking the total number of helmets rated by SHARP to 300.

Further helmets will be tested by SHARP through the summer and we anticipate they will be publishing some further results later in the year. We will let you know when these the ratings are published.

To view the new ratings or to check out how your own helmet rates please visit their website by clicking on the image or this link : http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/

Next Meeting(s) of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club

Well…. Spring has arrived and we can tell you when the next meeting (s)  of the club will be !!

Karting North East (Warden Law) will be starting their fortnightly sessions from Monday 25th March (1700hrs - 2000hrs). In view of this weekends weather forecast and the location of Karting NE, we would advise you to ring the centre on 0191 521 4050 if you have any doubts about the weather before travelling. (These events are not run by the BWMBC)

The next meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club will be either  Saturday, 6^th April at QC Space, Peterlee OR Sunday 7^th April outdoor at Carrville.

We would prefer to run outdoor at Carrville but will have to make a decision dependant upon the weather closer to the time so please keep checking the website.

  Usual start time of 1030hrs with signing on from 1000hrs.
(We will not be able to train any new starters indoors at QC Space,  as we do not have the facilities.)

New £1.3million Think! Motorcycle campaign launched

The Government has (once again) launched a new £1.3million campaign to get drivers to look out for riders at junctions.

Radio and petrol station ads will run from now until May urging drivers to take longer to look for riders.

Ads will also appear on Video On Demand TV, aimed particularly at young drivers.
The campaign tells drivers to ‘see the person behind the helmet’ and is timed to coincide with riders returning to the roads for spring. 

In 2011, 74% of motorcyclist deaths and serious injuries involved another vehicle.
The Department for Transport is spending more on the initiative than almost any other road safety campaign this year apart from a push to curb drink-driving. 

Launching the campaign, Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said:  “Thirty bikers are killed or injured in accidents at junctions every day. I am determined to reduce this terrible toll.

"That is why we are funding this THINK! campaign to remind drivers to look out for motorcyclists - particularly at junctions - and to see the person behind the helmet, not just a motorbike."

A DfT statement said: ‘The campaign was informed by accident statistics, which show that motorists pulling out in front of motorcyclists is a major cause of deaths and injuries; and wider research showing that drivers are more likely to notice motorcyclists on the roads if they know a biker themselves.’

Injuries to motorcyclists are out of proportion to their presence on our roads. Motorcyclists are just 1% of total road traffic, but account for 19% of all road user deaths.

The facts

• In 2011 362 motorcyclists died and 5,247 were seriously injured in road collisions in Great Britain.
• Motorcyclists are 25 times more likely to be killed compared to all other road users.
• Motorcyclist KSIs have fallen since 2008 when 493 motorcyclists were killed and 5,556 were seriously injured on Britain's roads.

• 30 motorcyclists are killed or injured every day at junctions.

Motorcycle Parking at Durham Services

The two motorcycle frames that were installed at the Roadchef Services (Durham Services) in 1995 have had a bit of a spring clean and been brought ‘up to date’ .

The frames were originally purchased with funding from the Durham Agency Against Crime and were installed when the new RoadChef (Durham) Services were opened. This coincided with our first BikeWise show in 1995 which was opened by ‘Sgt Bob Cryer’, actor & keen motorcyclist Eric Richard who was the star of the long running TV series ‘The Bill’

Eric is seen in the bottom photograph at the opening of the motorcycle parking area with retired Sgt Bob Brown and PC Paul Rodgers.

Eric still keeps ‘up to date’ with the BikeWise ‘world’ through his nephew, PC Ian Squire who is a serving officer on the Dog Section of Durham Constabulary and can be seen most years at the dog display at BikeWise show.

The frames have been well used by thousands of motorcyclists as the services are a regular meeting place for many motorcycle groups including our own BikeWise Training and Durham Advanced Motorcyclists and were looking ‘tired’. The new signs reflect the image of BikeWise and also promote the website : www.bikewise.org.uk

To view the location of the services and parking area please click here

Next Meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club

The next meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club will be  Saturday, 9^th March at QC Space, Peterlee.

Usual start time of 1030hrs with signing on from 1000hrs.

(We will not be able to train any new starters indoors as we do not have the space.)

TT Legends : 2030 hrs on ITV 4

Must Watch…

2030hrs on ITV4, part 4 of the TT Legends.

After racing around Ireland in the NW200 last week, the Legends are off to the Isle of Man for the TT’s.

‘The Legend’, John McGuinness will be doing his stuff , no doubt supported by his good wife Becky..

Get a hold of the remote or press record and tune in to the best motorcycle documentary we’ve seen.

Tonight 8.30pm

Using 112 on Mobile Phones in an emergency

Next Meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club

The next meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club will be at QC Space, Peterlee this Saturday, 23^rd February.

Usual start time of 1030hrs with signing on from 1000hrs.

(We will not be able to train any new starters indoors as we do not have the space.)

Photo’s & Video now online from last weeks meeting of the BWMBC

Photo’s & video are now online on the BikeWise Mini Bike Club website from last Saturdays meeting at QC Space, Peterlee.

It was bitterly cold and the surface was very slippery but we had a great meeting members with some fantastic riding by our members

MANY THANKS to all who attended and in particular to those who come along to help marshal, etc even though they have no family members riding at the event.

A big ‘Thank You’ to Blyth Valley MAG who have donated £100 to the club

To view the photo’s CLICK HERE and then click on the relevant thumbnail image for the 2^th February 2013. Many Thanks to John Attle for taking the photo’s

Video’s can be viewed online on the Durham BikeWise ‘You Tube’ page or via the Mini Bike Club website and clicking on the  Video’s to watch button. If you click on this link to YouTube you will be taken to Durham BikeWise’s video page where you can tick the subscribe box and then you will always be up to date with the video’s we make at meetings.

There are four video’s from last weeks meeting – Groups 1,2,3 & 4

 

Maintenance session on Wednesday 13th February at Alderson's garage (1800hrs) and the next meeting of the club is Saturday 23rd February at QC Space, Peterlee.

MCN Fantasy Road Racing 2013

MCN Fantasy Road Race, in association with RAC Insurance is back for 2013!

Once again the game is totally FREE to play, and this year we're giving away an awesome Honda CBR500R!

All you have to do is pick a team of six riders, comprising the stars of MotoGP, World Superbikes and British Superbikes, then just sit back and let them win you some fantastic prizes!

 

The game starts at 04:00 GMT on Saturday, 23 February so give yourself a chance of winning this yea's top prize - a brand new Honda CBR500R - and enter your team of riders today. For more information on prizes, just click here

 

There is a fantastic prize awaiting this year's winner...

If you are top of the pile come November you will win an awesome new Honda CBR500R!

As well as the amazing top prize, there are eight separate prizes up on offer (one for each Game Round), courtesy of Pirelli.

Each Game Round winner will receive two tickets to a 2013 or 2014 BSB round of their choice, including a paddock and garage tour.*

The Game Rounds are as follows:

Game Round 1: 23 February to 22 April
Game Round 2: 27 April to 27 May
Game Round 3: 1 June to 1 July
Game Round 4: 6 July to 22 July
Game Round 5: 3 August to 26 August
Game Round 6: 31 August to 23 September
Game Round 7: 28 September to 14 October
Game Round 8: 19 October to 18 November

Once you’ve registered then join the BikeWise League – so that we can all share in the fun.

The PIN number you need to enter the BikeWise  league is : 7714  (Tell all your friends)

If you want to look at your racer’s in action then check out our Moto GP and WSB photo galleries on the new BikeWise website at www.bikewise.org.uk/galleries/  (photo’s will be added as the season progresses)
So – register your team and enter our league – it’s all FREE and you could have a lot of fun and win a bike or tickets to a BSB round

TT Legends will debut on ITV4 at 8.30pm on Monday 4th February, 2013

There are a couple of new televisual highlights coming up for motorcycle fans in February on ITV4!
One is a documentary series about motorcycle TT racing which does what it says on the tin - details the 'behind the scenes world' of the TT - from the viewpoint of the Honda TT Legends Team.

This will feature HM Plant sponsored TT Legend : John McGuinness who has been a regular visitor to BikeWise over the years through his connection with HM Plant
 
This film was made by Gaucho Productions, who were given exclusive access to the Honda TT Legends team during the tough 2012 season. The film crew followed the racers, both out on the track and between races, as they competed in the World Endurance Championship and raced in the Isle of Man TT, the NW200, the Le Mans 24-hour and the Suzuka 8-hour. The documentary team followed them when they were not racing, filming them when they were relaxing and recovering after the races and finding out about these ordinary but extraordinary men. The series is in-depth and fly on the wall, lasting for eight episodes, and shows all the highs and lows of this dedicated team as they moved through the season, taking on some of the toughest motorcycle races out there. John McGuinness John McGuinness AKA 'The Morecombe Missile' who is an ex brickie and mussel picker who obviously fancied a bit of a career change, is in the Honda TT Legends team. He is famous for winning the Isle of Man TT a staggering nineteen times! Other members of the Team are the Aussie Cameron Donald who has won the TT twice and Simon Andrews who was the fastest newcomer in the TT in 2011 - pretty impressive form for all three racers.
Featuring action from the World Endurance Championship, The Isle of Man TT, and the North West 200 and the Suzuka 8-hour, the eight part series will hit the screens on ITV4 on Monday 4 February. Given the characters in the team, it’s going to be interesting and entertaining in equal measure.
Make sure you don’t miss out!

TT Legends is an eight-part series which will debut on ITV4 at 8.30pm on Monday 4th February, 2013.

The other treat is a one-off documentary called 'Grand Prix Racer' which was filmed during the 2012 Manx Grand Prix, and gives an in-depth insight into this famous and gruelling race. Grand Prix Racer will air on Tuesday 5th February at 8pm so don't let the two-for-one pizza in the pub tempt you out on Monday or Tuesday in early February, sit back and enjoy the ride!

Next meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club

The next meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club will be at QC Space, Peterlee this Saturday, 2nd February.

Usual start time of 1030hrs with signing on from 1000hrs.

(We will not be able to train any new starters indoors as we do not have the space.)

Today’s Meeting : Cancelled

Today’s meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club has had to be cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions.

Road conditions in the Durham area are treacherous and it would not be safe to travel to Peterlee in order to run the meeting.

Hopefully we can (subject to weather & availability of the premises), reschedule the meeting to next Saturday.

Please check the website next week for further info.

Mini Moto Racing ??

As Polini have now stopped making Midi sized adult minimotos, Alan McIntosh, the Polini UK importer has now taken on another franchise, the company is DM. So if you’re in the market for a new production bike or open class bike, or want to take up Mini Moto Racing on a quality bike then contact Alan McIntosh : http://www.polini.co.uk/   (For more information call 0131 654 0786)

DM have amassed over 50 Italian and European championship titles since they started so have a proven record in the world of Minimoto racing.

With bike racing and track days becoming so expensive, why not consider an affordable form of racing, easy to transport and you can really have a lot of fun as some of our BWMBC riders show in this video from Karting NE at Warden Law.

Alan McIntosh runs an eight series Scottish Mini Moto Championship : http://www.polini.co.uk/scottish_minimoto_championship/index.htm

Next Meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club

The next meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club will be at QC Space, Peterlee this Saturday, 26th January.

Usual start time of 1030hrs with signing on from 1000hrs.

The weather forecast for Friday night is showing snow in our area so please check your emails before travelling on Saturday morning. If the roads are too bad to take the van and trailer out then we will have to cancel.

We will make a decision and post an email and notice on the website before 0900hrs.

Fingers crossed....

(We will not be able to train any new starters indoors as we do not have the space.)

Lanchester Centurions : Ben Hur Rally

Lanchester Centurions MCC are to host their 18th Ben Hur Rally on the weekend of May 10^th – 12^th 2013

The Ben Hur Rally has, for many many years, been a favourite & core weekend for bikers on the rally calendar.  You can now pay for tickets securely by Paypal  by clicking  HERE.  Due to licensing restrictions, there is a strict 499 limit to ticket sales.

Centurions are now in their 21st year on the road,  and extend an invitation to bikers & trikers to come and celebrate with them.  

Please remember the rally is pre-book only.

For further details please visit their website at : http://www.lanchestercenturions.net/

New motorcycle rules coming into force

New rules affecting motorcyclists in Great Britain will be introduced from Saturday 19 January 2013.

They include changes to motorcycles you can ride and the age you have to be to ride them.

This also affects the rules for the motorcycle you use for your practical riding test. Your test will be cancelled and you may lose your fee if your vehicle doesn't meet the new rules.

Minimum age to ride larger motorcycles increasing

Access to more powerful motorcycles will be staged subject to competence, age and previous experience.

The minimum age to ride the largest motorcycles without previous experience is rising from 21 to 24.

Please view the video below for full details :

 

Photo’s now online from Saturdays meeting of the BWMBC

Photo’s are now online on the BikeWise Mini Bike Club website from Saturdays meeting at QC Space, Peterlee.
This was our first indoor meeting of 2013 and whilst cold it was great to be able to run a meeting without worrying about the weather.
Some fantastic riding by our riders on a slippery surface.

Lots of new mini moto’s and riding equipment on display – Santa obviously thought well of our riders and they must have been doing something right throughout the year

MANY THANKS to all who attended and to those who come along to help marshal, etc even though they have no family members riding at the event.

To view the photo’s CLICK HERE and then click on the relevant thumbnail image for the 5^th January 2013

Many Thanks to John Attle for taking the photo’s

Next Meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club

The next meeting of the BikeWise Mini Bike Club will be at QC Space, Peterlee on Saturday 5^th January 2013

Usual start time of 1030hrs with signing on from 1000hrs.

We will not be able to train any new starters indoors as we do not have the space.

Happy New Year…

Happy New Year...

Here's wishing you all a happy, healthy, prosperous and safe 2013.