Bike Industry News

Nottinghamshire Police has revealed worrying findings after carrying out spot checks on motorcycles on the county’s roads.

AP Racing, the leading manufacturer of performance braking and clutch systems for race and road use, is pleased to announce continued involvement in the World Superbike Championship (SBK) in 2008 with team Yamaha France GMT 94.

The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has reacted angrily to the publication of a so-called ‘official’ report into an experimental scheme which allows motorcycles to use bus lanes on routes in London by Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Powered two wheeler (PTW) sales were up by 5.5 per cent last month with 5,476 mopeds, scooters and motorcycles registered, according to figures released by the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA).

Since the start of the first ever Bike Tyre Safety Month, which extends throughout the month of March, TyreSafe has witnessed a surge in the popularity of its “Motorcycle Tyres and Your Safety” leaflet, which is only one of several information guides on tyre safety which can be downloaded free of charge from the TyreSafe website (TyreSafe.org).

Peterborough was the hub of the UK motorcycle scene on Friday, 29 February when BCA in Boongate staged a special auction featuring 188 motorbikes. Records fell as 176 motorbikes were sold for a turnover in excess of £500,000.

ProTyre, the UK’s leading independent tyre retailer, has today revealed shocking research that graphically demonstrates the extent of defective motorcycle tyres on British roads.

More and more commuters are switching to motorbikes than ever before. Over 3.5 million are now licensed to ride a bike and as a result, Tesco has launched a Motorbike Insurance Finder. This is the first time a supermarket has offered such a service.

Defective tyres now account for the fourth biggest failure of motorcycle MOTs in the UK, after lights, brakes and suspension, according to the latest statistics from the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA)

Motorcycle, moped and scooter registrations were down 5.2 per cent last month compared with January last year, according to the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA).

The latest-generation Astucia SolarLite flush-mounted road studs offer lower risks to bikers and cyclists, as well as giving a ten-fold improvement in night time road visibility.

For the first time, TyreSafe is mounting a tyre safety campaign throughout the month of March to highlight the dangers of defective or badly worn tyres on motorcycles and scooters.

A claim this week that nearly 40 per cent of motorcyclists are evading the payment of vehicle excise duty (VED or road tax) has been slammed as a gross over-estimate of the true problem using deeply flawed methodology.

Leaders of the UK motorcycle industry are calling for government, legislators, local authorities and transport planners to start treating motorcycling as a serious and relevant alternative to the use of cars and public transport.

Motorcycle, moped and scooter registrations were up 8.6 per cent last year to record the biggest increase in seven years.

From a solo trip in the desert for weeks, to a few days off the beaten track closer to home, adventure motorcycling means different things to different people. It requires commitment – physical, mental and financial – but the rewards are far greater.

World Superbike Champion James Toseland was told to get on his bike by personal sponsor Bennetts when the team presented him with a top-of-the-range Pinarello Prince cycle.

Motorcycling nostalgia spanning over 70 years will be showcased at Race Retro 2008, the international historic motorsport show.

Fanatical biker-turned-amateur photographer Ian Smart made the 10-hour round trip from West Lothian to Birmingham… to collect his DVLA Personalised Registrations Bike Vistas II prize at the International Motorbike and Scooter Show.

Using synthetic lubricant in two-stroke motorcycles could help to improve air quality in urban areas according to the RMI’s Motorcycle Retailers Association (MRA).

With a top line up of the world’s best motorcycle manufacturers, outstanding live stunt shows and everything you could ever want for your bike, this year’s MCN London Motorcycle Show is already set to be the best ever;

The MCN London Motorcycle Show 2008 is rapidly approaching and is set to be a feast of excellent exhibitions and entertainment! From 31st January – 3rd February, ExCeL London will be transformed into a biker’s paradise, with everything from trade stands to thrilling stunt shows in the Live Action Arena!

A pioneering new Government motorcycle helmet safety rating scheme which could save the lives of 50 riders a year was officially launched by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.

DVLA Personalised Registrations is dispelling, once and for all, the “grease monkey” image often linked with motorcyclists - thanks to the phenomenal response to its on-line Bike Vistas II photographic competition.

In another closely fought scrap, the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship was decided at the last round, with Japanese star Ryuichi Kiyonari clinching the title for a second successive year.

The 2007 season marked a new beginning for MotoGP as the bikes dropped down to 800cc and the series got a new champion in the form of 21-year-old Australian Casey Stoner.

Bike enthusiasts visiting the International Motorcycle & Scooter Show, from 22 November to 2 December at the NEC are encouraged to visit Hall 1, Stand IF42. They will be greeted by staff from BEN, the Automotive Industry Charity, and selling raffle tickets for their National Draw to win a Harley-Davidson XL 883 Sportster.

With Britain’s increasingly over-crowded roads, where can you go to get away and discover the freedom, space and stunning scenery that makes motorbike riding so exhilarating?

Motorcycle giants Harley-Davidson and Buell has announced they will be unveiling their stunning line-up of brand new 2008 models at the re-launched International Motorcycle and Scooter Show, in what will be their first appearance in the UK.