50% Off Yamaha Leather Suits!

For a limited period, Yamaha are now offering a staggering 50% off the recommended retail price of its Professional 1-piece and Makó 2-piece leather suits throughout its network of Authorised Yamaha Lifestyle Centres.

Manufactured for Yamaha by the world renowned motorcycle clothing manufacturer Dainese, these 1-2mm cowhide suits are fully equipped with composite CE-approved protectors at the shoulders, elbows, knees and along the shin bones with additional external titanium protectors featured on the shoulders of the Professional 1-piece.
Available in red, blue and grey, Yamaha’s latest Professional 1-Piece and Mako 2-piece leather riding suits offer superb style with extremely high standards of protection and excellent levels of comfort that you have come to expect from Yamaha and Dainese.

With Christmas just around the corner, make sure a set of Yamaha leathers are on you list for Santa! But hurry up, offer ends 31st October and with 50% off, they won’t hang around for long!

To get a closer look at these superb suits and find out the location of your nearest Authorised Yamaha Lifestyle Centre, check out the Yamaha website at www.yamaha-motor.co.uk/accessories.

Buell Motorcycles are no more

So much for the recession being old news, not if you work for Buell Motorcycles. Having ridden most of their range and been very impressed with their quirky take on how a motorcycle should look I’m deeply saddened that they’re no more, see release below for more info.

EAST TROY, Wis. (Oct. 15, 2009) – Buell Motorcycle Company officials thanked the company’s customers, employees and dealers for an unforgettable ride, following today’s announcement by Harley-Davidson, Inc. that it will discontinue the Buell® product line as part of Harley-Davidson’s go-forward business strategy. The new long-term strategy aims to drive Company growth through a focus of efforts and resources on the Harley-Davidson® brand.

“I want to personally thank all our past and present Buell employees, dealers and suppliers for their efforts. I also want to thank Buell motorcycle owners for their support and passion for the brand,” said Buell Motorcycle Company President Jon Flickinger.

Flickinger said a limited number of new Buell motorcycles remain available for sale through authorized dealerships and production will wind down by October 30. He also stressed that Harley-Davidson will provide replacement parts and service through dealerships and that warranty coverage will continue as normal for Buell motorcycles.

“I will always be proud of what we have accomplished. It is a testimony to what a small group of passionate and inspired people can do, and with brilliant innovations, we’ve produced some of the best-handling bikes of all time,” said Buell Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Erik Buell. “I personally look forward to exploring how I can continue to work with Harley-Davidson to bring advanced product technology to riders.

“I have also had the great fortune to meet and get to know many Buell riders over the years, and they are an amazing and interesting group of free thinkers,” Buell said. “May you ride with pride into the future. And may your roads ahead be as adventuresome and rewarding as mine have been for the last 26 years.”

A wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc. since 1998, Buell Motorcycle Company was founded in 1983 by Erik Buell and produced more than 135,000 motorcycles. Over the past 26 years, Buell motorcycles won numerous design accolades and awards, and countless races and championships around the world, including the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike championship in 2009.

For more information and to view a video message from Erik Buell, go to www.buell.com
To read the Harley-Davidson, Inc. 3rd quarter earnings announcement, including information related to Buell, go to www.harley-davidson.com.

Naked bike sales up in September

Statistics released by the Motor Cycle Industry Association for September 2009 show a recovery in demand after a poor summer. Sales in September were 21.2% lower than the same month last year, an improvement on the market’s performance in August when a 30.5% fall was recorded. Total registrations of powered two wheelers (PTWs) last month were 12,941, compared with 16,430 a year ago.

The Naked bike sector returned to growth last month, recording a 3.4% increase in registrations compared to September 2008 and a 25.4% increase in market share. The most popular model in this category is Honda’s new CBF 125 M, closely followed by the Yamaha YBR 125. Between them these two learner-legal, commuter-friendly models have taken one-fifth of the market share within the Naked style, with a combined total of 3,788 registrations year-to-date.

The three most popular style of new motorcycles registered in September were Naked (2,471), followed by Scooter (1,983) and Supersport (1,930). The biggest-selling bike in September was the Yamaha YBR 125, with 328 registrations. Yamaha was the biggest-selling manufacturer with 2,233 new registrations, closely followed by Suzuki (1,875) and Honda with 1,764.

Sheila Rainger, MCI’s Director of Communications, said, “The market has done well against the extremely testing conditions of economic uncertainty, poor weather and high-profile problems with the new motorcycle test.

“Continued strong performance in the learner and commuter sectors demonstrates again that people are interested in a budget-friendly, flexible and convenient means of transport.

The 2009 Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter Show is now only 7 weeks away. Applications for press passes are now being taken at www.motorcycleshow.co.uk/press and Trade Day tickets can be purchased at www.motorcycleshow.co.uk/trade. The UK’s largest motorcycle Show will house a brand new off road zone in Hall 5, making this the largest bike Show ever staged at the NEC.

With a great line up of manufacturers, both on and off road, a whole host of interactive feature areas, and live entertainment the 2009 Show will be the only place to be in November.

For more information visit www.motorcycleshow.co.uk

*More information about getting a licence can be found at www.geton.co.uk

Re-name the Highway Code Say GEM Motoring Assist

Road Safety champion GEM Motoring Assist (GEM) says it believes the Highway Code, the basis of road regulations and guidance for the safe use of roads by all, needs renaming.

It is inviting road users to suggest a more relevant name that will help this ‘best seller’ to also be the ‘best read book on the shelf’.

GEM says the use of the word ‘code’ is deceptive and misleading.

Chief Executive of GEM, David Williams, explains that the word ‘code’ means something that is hidden and intended to cause confusion. “The purpose of a code is to contain a hidden message that is only understood by those in the know, he says. That is why it has been used by spies and subversive forces for generations”. He quotes examples like the Enigma Code, the fictitious DaVinci Code and even the Morse Code which was developed for transmitting radio based shipping messages.

“This is the exact opposite of the intention of the Highway Code, says David. “It is a clear and easy read guide to the rules of good road behaviour and an excellent guide to best conduct of all road users. To use the word ‘code’ is misleading and confusing and it needs a new title”, he says.

GEM Motoring Assist has established a ‘suggestion box’ on its website www.motoringassist.com/codename and will present £100 to the person who proposes the most original new name for the Highway Code. Entries close on Friday 27th November 09 and the winner will be announced on Friday 04th December 09.

Shark UK launch 2010 range

Shark UK recently unveiled its 2010 helmet range at its Dorset headquarters to an audience of media and loyal Shark racers including Ryan Farquhar, Ian Lowry, James Westmoreland, Sylvain Guintoli and Scott Redding. Shark displayed a host of new colours and graphics, with one new addition to the range and a world first in helmet design – glow-in-the-dark!

Shark’s RSI Shinto Lumi, S 900 Fost, and Evoline E-tec Lumi helmets are coated with paint that absorbs daylight and glows at night. The photo-luminescent paint recharges after 30 minutes in daylight and will glow for 20 hours before it needs to be recharged.

The new RSI Carbon brings the popular carbon design to the RSI collection. With a slightly different technical specification to the RSR2 Carbon, the RSI has a strip of carbon along the top of the helmet, a spoiler added to the back, and carbon showing along the bottom edge. The RSI Carbon comes in four colours: White, Black, Red and striking Orange. A new design, the Shinto, has also been added to the collection one option with chameleon-style paint, which changes colour in different light.

Black and White dual matt helmets have been added to the popular ultra-light RSR2 Carbon range, with Black, Red and White still available in last year’s style. The RSR2 Carbon has been improved by making some cutaways around the ear area, further improving the fit for riders.

The urban helmets haven’t been left out either. The RSJ welcomes the Jack with a Union Flag design over the helmet – also seen on last year’s
S 800 Hurricane – while the Evoline welcomes a new Wayer design. Some improvements to the visor mechanisms and sun visors have also been made.

For further information on the 2010 Shark range, or for samples for photoshoots, new product tests etc., please contact Becky Simms on 01525 270 100.

Further information can also be found on www.nevism.co.uk.

£1000 of free Dainese kit with selected Yamaha motorcycles at Infinity

Infinity Motorcycles has a reputation for amazing customer offers on top brands of motorcycle clothing and accessories, but their latest offer is truly grand.

Customers buying a 2008 or 2009 model Yamaha R1 or R6 from their Clapham premier centre can choose up to £1000-worth Dainese stock absolutely free.

The offer is subject to sizes and colours currently in stock, but apart from that shoppers can choose whatever they want and the offer even extends to the 0% finance deals available on R6 models.

For example, buy an R1 or R6 and ride away wearing a free Dainese Laguna Seca suit (worth £789) with a Prudhoe D-Dry textile jacket for rainy days (worth £202) and the bike’s keys attached to a Dainese Lobster key ring (worth £7).

This deal is only available while stocks last, but riders living outside London can take advantage of Infinity’s nationwide delivery service.

Contact Infinity Motorcycles on 0207 720 6072 or at www.infinitymotorcycles.com

Notes: Infinity Motorcycles have branches in Farnborough, London (Clapham, Gt. Portland St, Holborn & Hanger Lane), Peterborough, Southampton & York plus nationwide mail order service.

Xena bike security comes to UK

Xena, the world’s most innovative security devices for motorcycles, will be available to UK customers exclusively from Motohaus Powersports, the Hampshire based distributor of niche motorcycle accessories.

“A Xena lock isn’t just a lock; it’s outstanding in its performance and the designs are iconic” .says David Gath, MD of Motohaus. “Both parties believe that Motohaus is best placed to take this message forward in the UK.”

With more approvals for security devices than any other manufacturer in the sector and designs that beg to be displayed on the world’s most exotic machinery, Xena balances form and function with its designs and has recently launched it’s loudest ever disc lock alarm, the XX14 (pictured).

Motohaus has confirmed that it will handle any ongoing supply and support issues with both dealers and consumers alike . For more information contact Motohaus on 01256 704909 or email sales@motohaus.com.

Easton and Hill ensure winning end of year for Hydrex Honda

Stuart Easton and Tommy Hill ensured Hydrex Honda’s 2009 British Superbike season ended on a high note at the weekend when the duo recorded a win and four podiums at Oulton Park. The second ‘triple header’ meeting of the year saw Easton take his first ever pole position and he carried this form over in to the races taking his, and the teams, second win, also claiming yet another second place. Hill, meanwhile, was equally strong throughout the three days of action and he took 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the three races season to firmly prove what a valuable addition to the team he’d been.

In what was without doubt the race of the season, Saturday’s first race saw Stuart and Tommy go head to head with the Airwaves Yamaha pairing of Leon Camier and James Ellison throughout the 12 laps. Hard overtaking manoeuvres were taking place with frequent regularity and it all came down to a last lap showdown. New champion Camier looked like he had seized control but a determined Easton wasn’t to be denied and he dived up the inside at Hizzy’s chicane, holding on for his second win of the season. In a truly memorable race for the Hydrex Honda team, Hill also moved past Ellison on the final lap to take third, the first time in their history that the team had had two riders on a BSB podium.

The opening race on Sunday saw damp conditions after consistent morning drizzle but a dry line got bigger as the race progressed and, after being pushed back to third and fifth respectively, the appearance of the pace car on lap 10 allowed Stuart and Tommy to close right back up to Camier and Ellison. Hill was soon back up to fourth and, on lap 13, Easton overhauled Ellison, once more at Hizzy’s, to set up another final lap showdown. He attempted the same manoeuvre as what he’d done the previous day but, on this occasion, Camier was able to hold his line and he had to settle for second, albeit just 0.08s adrift at the end of the 16 laps. Meanwhile, Tommy held on for fourth, less than two seconds behind at the chequered flag.

With typical autumn conditions greeting the riders in the final race of the year on late Sunday afternoon, it looked like two more podium positions would be heading the way of the Hydrex team. However, on the fifth lap, with Tommy in second and Stuart in third, the Scotsman clipped the kerb at the Britten’s chicane and he crashed out, amazingly his first crash of any description of 2009. That left Hill unchallenged and he was able to take his best result for the team in second.

There wasn’t as much joy in the British Supersport 600cc Championship class for Tom Grant when he had to take a ‘ride-through’ penalty for jumping the start. The infringement dropped him from inside the top 10 to outside the top 20 but he gamely continued and had managed to fight his way back up 17th by the end of the race, just missing out on the points.

Speaking afterwards, race winner Easton said: “On the whole it’s been a good weekend – I got pole position, won the first race and then pushed Leon extremely hard in the second so it’s only the final race that let me down. I could see Leon was edging away and I was desperate to pass Tommy, which led to me getting a bit frustrated. When you’re so close to someone through that chicane, you can’t see the kerb and I just got caught out when the bike decked out. It’s a bit disappointing to end like that but I can’t complain too much as it’s been a great year with wins and podiums along the way so a big thank you to everyone connected with the team.”

Team manager Shaun Muir added: “It’s been the team’s most successful year ever and for a moderately funded team, we can all be extremely proud of what we’ve achieved. It’s been a tough championship once more but our results have been higher than expected and, like we did in 2008 with James Ellison, we’ve re-launched the career of Stuart Easton and he’s moved on to a whole new level. He’s done so much for the team and I think it’s fair to say we’ve both complimented each other throughout the season and together we’ve reaped the rewards.”

“Tommy deservedly won the ‘Rider of the Day’ award and for him to take two podiums at the final round, and be in contention throughout, was very, very pleasing. I think the decision to bring him in for the final third of the season raised a few eyebrows but that decision has been fully vindicated and he’s proved that in the right team and environment, he can be a serious challenger for the BSB title in 2010.”

“I’ve got to say a massive thank you to all of our loyal sponsors and to the entire team, particularly to Mick Shanley and Pete Jennings for jointly managing and coordinating the team, and collectively we’ve proved that with dedication and support, it is possible to achieve results of the highest order. The challenge now is to get the riders, mechanics and funds all in place for 2010 so we can maintain the level we’ve got to now and improve our standing even further – the number one plate is what we’ll be firmly aiming for.”

Pre Race Interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK7qLua0rf8

More Exclusive Photographs will appear on www.hydrexhonda.com

Race 1

1 Stuart Easton (Hydrex Honda)
2 Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha) +0.208s
3 Tommy Hill (Hydrex Honda) +0.222s
4 James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha) +0.331s
5 Sylvain Guintoli (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +13.129s

Race 2

1 Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha)
2 Stuart Easton (Hydrex Honda) +0.080s
3 James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha) +0.743s
4 Tommy Hill (Hydrex Honda) +1.953s
5 Sylvain Guintoli (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +4.042s

Race 3

1 Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha)
2 Tommy Hill (Hydrex Honda) +3.734s
3 Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +10.904s
4 Ian Lowry (Relentless by TAS Suzuki) +15.398s
5 Sylvain Guintoli (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +4.042s

DNF Stuart Easton (Hydrex Honda)

Final Championship table (after 12 rounds)

1 Camier 549.5points
2 Ellison 413
3 Easton (Hydrex Honda) 380
4 Brookes 188
5 Lowry 170
11 Hill (Hydrex Honda) 127

Bonneville celebrates 50 years with four world speed records

The 50th anniversary of the iconic Triumph Bonneville was marked in spectacular style when four officially-recognized FIM world land speed records were set. The quadruple records were recorded at the 2009 edition of the event that gives the bike its name: the Bonneville speed trials.

The original Bonneville, introduced in 1959, was named after the record breaking streamlined Triumph that set numerous records at the Utah Salt Flats venue during the 1950s. To pay tribute, the internationally syndicated journalist Alan Cathcart took two highly-tuned examples of the latest Bonneville back to its spiritual birthplace at this year’s event, held between August 30 and September 3.

Riding a street-legal Thruxton Bonneville prepared by Matt Capri, owner of South Bay Triumph in California, Cathcart broke the 150mph barrier to set a new two-way FIM World Record for the flying mile at 152.678mph, and another for the flying kilometre at 152.770mph, with a best one-way speed of 153.150mph. These speeds set new marks for the FIM’s 1000cc Normally-Aspirated Twin-Cylinder Unstreamlined category.

In addition, Cathcart established two more new FIM world records for the 1000cc Forced Induction Twin-Cylinder Unstreamlined class, riding a turbocharged South Bay Triumph Bonneville with a two-way speed for the flying mile of 165.405mph, 165.672mph for the flying kilometre and a best one-way speed of 171.624 mph. The mile speed qualifies as a new AMA record too, with all records set by the air/oil-cooled parallel-twin British bikes subject to ratification by the relevant authorities.

Cathcart commented: “We’ve been coming to Bonneville since 2007 in preparation for this, the model’s 50th birthday year. Breaking the 150mph barrier with the standard bike was always our main objective, and when the FIM established the new twin-cylinder category for speed records, it was great that we could claim official world records by doing so. Maybe we’ll be back next year to try to join the 200mph club with it!”

The South Bay Triumphs were shod with Pirelli rain tyres supplied by the Italian tyre manufacturer’s road racing division, giving the riders the great traction which was key to achieving such record breaking speeds.

www.triumphmotorcycles.com

MV Agusta F4CC @ a quid under £50,000

The MV Agusta F4CC is a motorcycle masterpiece from the mind of Claudio Castiglioni, Managing Director of MV Agusta, hence the CC intitals. With only 100 made and just one available in the UK, the MV F4CC is the ultimate hyper-performance superbike, with a top speed of 195mph. Exotic materials, latest technology and stunning Italian styling make it more than just a motorcycle. This extraordinary bike, on sale at £49,999, deserves a place in any dream garage.

The F4CC is unique in its genre. Every item has been carefully designed then hand-built using special and exotic materials just about everywhere. The fairing is 100% carbon-fibre while the tailor-made filler cap comes from the aero industry. Italian styling can be seen in the deliberate contrast of painted areas and bare carbon-fibre, creating a striking work of modern motorcycle art. The instrument panel has customised graphics and the all-black seat is made from the exclusive Alcantara® material as used in supercars by Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati.

This exquisite motorcycle also comes with a limited edition Swiss made chronograph by Girard Perregaux (only 100 produced) together with an exclusive limited edition leather jacket by top Italian designer Trussardi. A boxed certificate of origin makes the delivery of this dream bike something very special. The UK machine bears the unique serial number of 10 out of 100 and is confirmed by a platinum plaque on the steering head.

With a price tag of just under £50,000 there is as much behind the fairing as in front, which justifies such a high figure. The F4 frame is made from chrome molybdenum that, whilst being very light, offers the rigidity that a superbike putting out more than 200 horses must have. The swing arm and frame plates are superlight magnesium. Not one item is made using traditional industrial methods. The pistons have been lightened and con-rod geometry changed, with all the engine internals made from exotic materials for each and every element. The intake and exhaust valves are still radial (a unique MV Agusta feature) but are now titanium and the intake valves are now 2mm bigger.

The new valve gear and valve seats are made by Del West, the American market leader in this sector and despite the incredibly high price of these components, they are perfect for a machine as exclusive as the F4CC.

All the protective meshes at the intake ducts and outlets at the tail are made from titanium. The same applies to the lower radiator and the four racing exhausts that form the classic organ pipe arrangement.

In fact, 90% of the components are hand-made specifically for the F4CC, this includes the fork ends, the footpegs (shim adjustable and “filed down” to reduce weight), the upper fork yoke and gear change and brake levers, keeping the weight down to an amazingly light 187 kilos.

The key to the F4CC engine performance lies with the revolutionary, patented Torque Shift System, designed to increase torque in the low to midrange, while still allowing for maximum horsepower at the top of the rev range. Suspension performance is the result of extensive research and close collaboration with expert riders. All the components at the front, like the enormous 50mm forks, are Marzocchi. The forks are carbon nitride treated to decrease friction, which also adds to the bike’s overall aggressive image. The racing mono-shock unit can be adjusted for rebound at both high and low speeds. In effect, the F4CC is fitted with racing suspension and official Brembo Racing monoblock brakes.

The MV Agusta F4CC will soon be on display in the capital at London Superbikes, Park Lane, Mayfair, giving you the opportunity to touch, feel and comprehend the beauty of this exotic superbike. However, all official MV Agusta dealers can organise the sale and delivery of this unique machine, visit www.mvagusta.co.uk to find out your nearest dealer.