Events: Suzuki Biker Cafe Days

Suzuki, which saw an upturn in its registration figures for May, is to visit a number of popular biker haunts with a fleet of demo machines including the new GSX-S1000.

Suzuki's GSX-S1000

The manufacturer will stage six Biker Cafe Days at popular venues chosen by Facebook and Twitter followers. Ride-outs will be led by three-time British Superbike champion John Reynolds.

Suzuki GB Marketing Manager Rob Cooper said ahead of the first event: "There are few better places to visit on a ride out than a proper biker café, and we're looking forward to getting back on the road and visiting some of the most popular ones again this summer. The events last summer were a real success and we really enjoyed every single one of them. It was also great to be able to ask our social media followers where they thought we should go again this year.

"These days give us an excellent opportunity to get out and meet like-minded people, and also give those that stop by the chance to take a test ride on a new Suzuki. We're looking forward to getting the first one under way."

The events started Sunday, 14 June, at the Super Sausage café, off the A5 near Towcester, before heading to Squires café, Leeds on 26 July; Food Stop café, Bridgnorth on 1 August; Oakdene café, Kent on 9 August;  Loomies café, New Forest on 16 August; and the  Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum on13 September.

With the paper counterpart for UK driving licences now redundant, those willing to take a test ride at any of the events must show both a photo card driving licence and their national insurance number so licence checks can be carried out. Test rides available to persons aged 25 and over. Terms and conditions apply.

Check out Suzuki events at the link below:

www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/motorcycles/events/

In the motorcycle / related trades? Register for FREE motorcycle industry news at www.britishdealernews.co.uk

NEWS: MUSEUM TO RESTORE FOGGY’S FIRST BIKE

MUSEUM TO RESTORE FOGGY’S FIRST BIKE

Foggy's first bike

The National Motorcycle Museum is to restore Foggy’s first bike.

The Honda C50-based special that set Carl Fogarty on the course to becoming four-times World Superbike champion will be fixed up by the museum’s workshop.

The bike was the work of Honda dealer Ken Martin, who made the bike for his son Chris around 1972. Indeed, the specially manufactured tank badge still read “Motochris” in recognition of the little bike’s first owner.

Purchased from Ken Martin in 1975 by Carl’s dad George, the bike was given to Foggy for his 10th birthday.  

Recently re-united with the bike after nearly 40 years, Foggy was looking to get the machine restored and phoned museum director James Hewing.

Speaking of the call, Hewing, pictured with Foggy, recalled: “I have worked with Carl in the past and was really pleased he thought of the museum’s restoration team to restore the bike for him. We have restored everything from the earliest and rarest veterans through to superbikes of the 1970s but never anything like this!”  

Foggy commented: “It’s in a rough state but I know the lads at the museum will restore it back to just how it was when my dad gave it to me back in 1975.”

For more on the museum’s restoration service, e-mail james@thenmm.co.uk

In the motorcycle / related trades? Register for FREE motorcycle industry news at www.britishdealernews.co.uk

EVENT: Motorcycle Off-Road Experience

This year’s Motorcycle Off-Road Experience (MORE) will take place over four days – between Tuesday 7th July to Friday 10th July.  It’s a national event, which has been staged in various parts of the UK since it started three years ago.  This year it will take place in Upavon in Wiltshire.

The price, which is heavily subsidised, is just £30. This includes hire of all kit, bikes and top class instruction for either a morning or afternoon session. Places are highly sought after, the majority of which usually go within the first few hours of booking going ‘live’.

The group behind MORE includes Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha, who will all be bringing their latest models, including KTM’s electric FREERIDE.  Off-road sporting body AMCA run the practical side of the day and it is project managed by the Motorcycle Industry Association to encourage new people to off-road riding and sport.  Instruction is by the UK’s top trainers, who have all competed nationally and internationally, including three times world champion Dave Thorpe.

Here’s the critical bit.  Booking is via the website www.rideoffroad.co.uk and went ‘live’ on Saturday May 16th at 10am.  Places go quickly, so if you want one, you need to be on the website with your credit or debit card ready.

Sandra Cole, event manager for the Motorcycle Industry Association says:

“You don’t necessarily need to be an experienced road rider or have a license.  You just need to be interested in having a go off-road.  Whether your long term goal is some gentle green laning, becoming the next motocross star, or you have a David Beckham style off-road adventure in your sights - you have to start somewhere and MORE gives you that first opportunity”. 

www.rideoffroad.co.uk

In the motorcycle / related trades? Register for FREE motorcycle industry news at www.britishdealernews.co.uk

NEWS: PIAGGIO CELEBRATES WITH VESPA 946 EMPORIO ARMANI

PIAGGIO CELEBRATES WITH VESPA 946 EMPORIO ARMANI

Armani Vespa

Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani and the Piaggio Group have collaborated on a special edition Vespa 946. The scooter has been created to mark the 40th anniversary of the fashion house and the 130th birthday of the Piaggio Group.

In keeping with Armani’s signature subdued colour palette, the designer has come up with a special combination of greys with subtle hints of green visible only under particular light conditions for the project.

The name Vespa 946 alludes to the year – 1946 – that this famous scooter was first made. The design of the new Emporio Armani is a modern interpretation of the original Vespa style.

The galvanised metal parts have a satin finish and create an opaque effect in line with the finishing touches of the body. The words “Emporio Armani” appear on the side, while the iconic eagle logo of the brand sits above the headlight.

The Vespa 946 Emporio Armani is, says Piaggio, about technology as well as style. Its aluminium cylinder blocks, brown-leather finishes, luxury accessories, electronic riding controls (which also interface with the latest internet devices) complement the innovative four-stroke electronic injection engine.

The Vespa 946 Emporio Armani will be produced in an unspecified limited-edition run of individually numbered scooters, and is now on sale in the world’s most important cities.

Picture: Piaggio Group chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno and Giorgio Armani unveil the new 946 Emporio Armani.

In the motorcycle / related trades? Register for FREE motorcycle industry news at www.britishdealernews.co.uk

NEWS: World of Kawasaki event

Final attractions confirmed for 28 June World of Kawasaki event

World of Kawasaki event: Rockingham, 28th June

Building on the successes of visits to both Silverstone and Donington Park, the annual World of Kawasaki event bases itself at Northamptonshire’s Rockingham Speedway on Sunday 28 June and the final list of attractions is considerable.

With an emphasis on try-out sessions and creating an event that delivers an array of fun for the whole family, the most obvious attraction is a chance - for a small fee and subject to conditions - to ride on the famous Rockingham track on hire machines from Kawasaki activity partner, Focused Events or the motorcycle that the visitor turned up on themselves. Added to that Kawasaki off-road bike and Utility Vehicle try-outs are also planned.  

Local roads will play host to demo ride outs taking advantage of some of the best biking roads in the midlands and offering the chance to ride machines such as the Z family of naked bikes, the Versys range and others such as the new Z300 and Ninja 250SL.

Kawasaki H2R can be seen at the World of Kawasaki event

On track during the day an amazing Ninja H2 and Ninja H2R owner’s session will see perhaps the largest gathering of these very rare Supercharged machines in 2015. Led by James Ellison, the parade will also feature Chris Walker who will ride the Ninja H2R display machine that usually sits proudly in the window of this his new dealership.

A sight for the family to marvel at, Lee Bowers will be performing his stunt show during the day while round three of the UK stunt championship will include Freestyle and Challenge events as well as a search for the UK’s longest “stoppie”.

Kids can get their first taste of two wheels with the Minimoto attraction. Also the Maxxis drift car will be on hand for some serious tyre torturing action as well as the chance to examine the awesome Maxxis monster truck. Other family activities include a bungee trampoline plus the ever popular bouncy castle.

For serious race fans who are looking for something a little bit special, World of Kawasaki will be the next stop for two unique Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R machines after their historic parade lap of the TT course in the hands of Kawasaki World Superbike riders, Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea. The machines are road going replicas of the KRT Superbikes currently being raced to such acclaim by the two British riders. These unique machines will be offered for a closed bid auction at World of Kawasaki so two lucky fans could secure a little piece of Kawasaki history on the day.

Ninja ZX-10R TT Rea - Sykes replicas

Fans of classic Kawasaki machinery should make an attempt to attend as Dickies UK Worker of the Year will be scouring the event for the oldest machine in attendance as well as offering prizes for other cherished classic machines that turn up.

Ensuring the day runs smoothly will be the presenting duo of Suzy Taylor and Jack Burnicle who - among other duties – will be interviewing James Ellison, Chris Walker, Danny Buchan, Glenn Irwin, Ben Wilson, Luke Mossey and Howie Mainwaring

“Each year we try to do something different and fresh at World of Kawasaki”, commented Marketing Section Head for Kawasaki, Gill Jockel. “It is always a great day and a chance to see and experience bikes from the Kawasaki range. We see it as a great opportunity for confirmed Kawasaki fans and those new to the brand to meet us and discover more in a relaxed atmosphere”.

Note: To register for the event go to www.worldofkawasaki.co.uk

In the motorcycle / related trades? Register for FREE motorcycle industry news at www.britishdealernews.co.uk

NEWS: JOHN ASHCROFT: 12 JULY, 1945 - 3 JUNE, 2015

John Ascroft   

John Ashcroft, passed away on 3rd June

12 July, 1945 - 3 June, 2015

John Ascroft, whose personality, infectious sense of humour and deep knowledge of bikes was central to the success of family-owned Fastline Superbikes of Preston, has passed away after battling cancer for nearly a year. John's funeral will be held at St Helen’s Crematorium at 10am on 18 June.

Paying tribute, Fastbike's Gary and Hilary Mitchell said: "It is with great sadness we announce the loss of John Ascroft who worked with us for many years and who many of you will know personally. John had a personality and sense of humour that was infectious and wherever John was in the building there was always the sound of laughter and banter with his own little fan club around him. Very often John would be seen playing tricks on customers in the showroom. 

"John loved his job and was a great inspiration to many, in particular the learner riders - always keen to offer guidance on riding and what bikes to progress on to.  Over the years John's customers would be back time and time again.

"John didn’t want to retire at 65. He loved the work he did, the people he met and I like to think the people he worked with (most of the time). Fastline will not be the same without him.

"It has been a great honour and privilege working with John over the years. He was not only a colleague but a great friend and will be sorely missed by us all. On behalf of John’s family we thank everyone for the many messages that have been flooding in. This would mean a great deal to John we know."

In the motorcycle / related trades? Register for FREE motorcycle industry news at www.britishdealernews.co.uk

NEWS: TRACKDAY SPECIALIST GOES BUST

TRACKDAY SPECIALIST GOES BUST

Hottrax: into liquidation

Hottrax Motorsport, a well-known trackday and race promoter headed up by Dave Mabbutt, has folded.

In a statement, Mabbutt said: “It is with great regret and sadness that Hottrax Motorsport Racing Club Ltd announces that we must cease trading as of 29 May, 2015. After taking advice from our financial advisers it has become apparent that we cannot meet our financial commitments. The directors have no choice but to cancel all future events and place the company into liquidation.”

In the motorcycle / related trades? Register for FREE motorcycle industry news at www.britishdealernews.co.uk