Trackdays are just for nutters and racers, aren’t they? Yes, and no. Trackdays are popular with the racing fraternity because race practice is very limited – how and where else can a racer set up their bike? You have to remember that even the quickest rider had their first trackday and, like you, were probably nervous. But don’t forget to ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 30 November 2006
Isn’t your bike’s riding position just something you have to put up with? No - there is a wide variety of small adjustments you can make to even the most comfortable bike to make it fit your body shape and riding needs better. It’s worth the effort because being uncomfortable or unsettled on a bike brings on mental tiredness far ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 05 March 2009
Why bother? As road riders we are quick to learn our limits. Road furniture (eg telegraph poles, hedges etc), other road users and the law help curb our enthusiasm for riding fast. But on an open track, where there is no oncoming traffic or imposed speed limit, your bike can be ridden faster and harder. That’s all great for improving ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 30 November 2006
How can I be spared? Remember this if you’re stopped by a copper: he may just want to offer some words of advice. A hostile response could turn this into a ticket or court appearance, or at best, a Vehicle Defect Rectification Notice (VDRN) and a ‘producer’, which means the inconvenience of producing your documents later at a police station. ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 30 November 2006
Why bother? Because having your motorcycle nicked is about twice as likely as your car being half-inched – and such thefts often occur in temporary parking locations. Of course there’s no guarantee that your bike won’t be stolen – if a professional thief wants your bike he’ll probably get it. But combining as many security measures as reasonably and practically ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 30 November 2006
The twilight zone As the evenings draw in, we have no choice but to spend more time riding in the dark. And as daylight turns to the black of night, all motorcyclists face new challenges – most not seen until the last moment. The onset of twilight mars vision, Even on full beam, the headlight seems to give no extra ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 29 November 2006
Why would I want to ride in the wet? Because it can improve your skills in the dry – and because whether you like it or not, even the sunniest weather can change for the worse when you’re miles from home. Wet roads require a greater level of skill to deal with than dry roads – and any lack of ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 29 November 2006
First things first How many times have you seen a pillion wearing some shonky old lid and casual clothing while the rider is dressed in top-of-the-range safety gear? There’s no reason to treat your pillion’s health and comfort any less seriously than your own so make sure they’re kitted out with a decent, good-fitting helmet and proper protective gear. The ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 29 November 2006
But a spanner is an object of terror to me! If you can ride a bike then you can also carry out simple maintenance/repair tasks. To be able to strip and rebuild a four-cylinder engine is not a natural in-built ability. Most mechanics are self-taught in the first instance, or just learn by watching mates/relatives at work on their bikes. ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 29 November 2006
How much protection do I need? Riding bikes isn’t dangerous. Falling off them, or crashing them into things, is. The only legal requirement for personal protection is to wear a helmet, the rest is down to you. We all know about the protective qualities of decent helmets, leathers, boots and gloves, but there are many other measures you can take ...
- Riding & Events
- Riding Skills
- 29 November 2006
