Poster Campaign Launched To Cut Motorbike Deaths
A gritty and strong Thames Valley Police campaign has just been launched with the aim of reducing the number of motorcyclists killed and injured on the roads of Wokingham and the surrounding areas.
Thames Valley Police’s Safer Rider Campaign will involve new billboards and posters around the area to highlight the dangers to motorcyclists.
In the last 3 years, 715 motorcyclists have been killed or seriously injured in the area which is unacceptable.
Insp Bob Jarrett, who is leading the campaign, said: “We have attended crashes in which nearly 100 bikers have lost their lives in the last few years and we simply cannot stand by and watch this tragic waste of life.”
“Motorcyclists need to understand the risks they run when they get on the bike, and everyone should be aware of the consquences when a bike is involved in an accident, because for many bikers their first crash is their last crash.”
Supt Mick Doyle, head of roads policing for Thames Valley, said: “Reducing motorcycle casualties is a major challenge for the force and one which we are determined to rise to.”
“We have been successful in reducing the overall number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions, but the number of motorcycle-related casualties has remained stable. The Safer Rider campaign will be at the heart of our efforts to reduce this.”
The posters show a child distraught at the loss of its father, who has died in an accident.
Dan Campsall, communications manager, said: “Our research shows 90 per cent of motorcycle fatalities are men and many of them leave behind long-term partners and young children. It’s not just the crash itself we are concerned about, it’s the many lives that are devastated by losing a loved one”
Personally I think this is a great idea; by reducing the number of collisions involving motorcycles it helps to lower insurance rates.
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Motorbike tutors’ jobs on the line
Motorbike instructors in Moray face uncertain times with the imminent closure of the Elgin test centre.
The owners of two companies, Two Wheelers at Elgin, and Fast Track at Buckie, are already feeling the effect of a national shake-up coming into force next month.
The Elgin test centre will close with 52 others in Scotland as part of a raft of changes imposed by the Driving Standards Agency.
The nearest test centre to Moray will be Inverness or Aberdeen.
However, it is unsure when either centre will be able to examine additional people.
John Miller, who is taking over the Fast Track learner centre at Buckie next month, is concerned about the business.
Mr Miller, who has put 180 motorcyclists through their test since January, said: “I cannot take bookings for October because I can’t offer them a test date as there is no venue. Why would people book lessons if they can’t go for their test?
“I have already lost a whole month’s income from this.”
Mary Marshall, who owns Two Wheelers at Elgin, said she was also concerned.
Angus Robertson, the SNP MSP for Moray, this week condemned “the failure of the DSA to provide proper motorcycle test facilities”.
He added: “The DSA has given conflicting reports of when other centres will be available, with one suggestion being Inverness some time in October, while another DSA representative suggested that Inverness would not be ready until 2009.”
A spokesman for the DSA said: “Test centres in Inverness and Aberdeen are under construction and expected to be operational either by or shortly after September 29.”
It’s sad to see test centres closing because now more than ever it make ecconomical sense to ride a bike or scooter, they are cheaper to run and motorbike and scooter insurance is very cheap.
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John Hopkins Fit For Czech MotoGP
John Hopkins will make his return to MotoGP after almost seven weeks away from the racetrack at this weekend’s Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno.
The 25-year-old Anglo-American fractured his left leg in a high-speed qualifying crash during the Dutch TT but has been working hard over the past month on his fitness.
Hopkins’ rehabilitation and training schedule has been aimed at strengthening his injured leg during the summer break. A combination of physio and cycling has helped the Kawasaki star return to racing fitness. He said:
“I’m feeling pretty good now, and I’m anxious to get back on track. I’ve now got full movement back in the injured knee and it’s been fine during my training regime up to now.
“I don’t think it’s going to cause me any problems on the bike, but it’s been almost seven weeks since I’ve thrown a leg over the Ninja ZX-RR, so I won’t know for sure until we start free practice on Friday. Brno is a track I like a lot, and I believe it’s the MotoGP track I’ve ridden most frequently in my career, which means I know the place like the back of my hand.
“Also, our Bridgestone tyres work well at this track, and this combined with the new parts that Kawasaki are bringing to the Czech Grand Prix means we’ve got some positive things to work with. Even though the rehab at home with family and friends has been enjoyable, I am really looking forward to seeing the team, getting back on the bike and finding again the total mental focus necessary for the best possible result this weekend.”
Both Hopkins and his team-mate Anthony West will race the evolution version of the Ninja ZX-RR engine for the first time at Brno.
Source - [Visor Down]
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TVS Flame 125cc Launched In India
TVS Auto Bangladesh Limited yesterday launched a new kind of Indian made diesel-driven 125cc motorcycle, dubbed ‘TVS Flame.’
The prices of the newly launched motorcycle range between Tk 1.20 lakh and Tk 1.25 lakh.
The motorbike was formally launched at a Meet the Press held at a hotel in the city yesterday. Aktar Hussain, Vice Chairman, TVS Auto Bangladesh Ltd formally launched the new motorbike unveiling its cover.
HS Goindi, Senior Vice President, International and Domestic Business, TVS Auto India, SV Nana Rau, Vice President, Global Expansion, TVS and Sons, India, J Ekram Hussain, Managing Director, TVS Auto Bangladesh Ltd and Riaz Ahmed, Chief Operating Official, TVS Auto Bangladesh Ltd, among others, were present at the launching ceremony.
They company introduced two types of 125cc Flame brand motorbike at the prices of Tk 1,25,000 and 1,20,000.
TVS Auto Bangladesh unveiled its new 3-value, dual induction engine patented by AVL, Australia and licensed to TVS.
The CCVTi engine is first feature on the new TVS Flame 125cc motorcycle, which is presented by TVS Auto Bangladesh.
This is the hottest biking experience in India TVS in keeping with its tradition of breaking new ground in two wheelers in proud to have brought world-class engine technology into India with CCVTi engine. This engine has been developed and patented by AVL and licensed to TVS in India. AVL, Australia is on of the world leading companies of Internal combustion engine technology.
Due to it’s small 125cc engine the TVS Flame flame should be very cheap to insure which is great news for those of you looking for a cheap bike and cheap motorcycle insurance.
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Bikers Rev Up Glasgow
Around twenty of the world’s fastest bikers will transform Glasgow city centre into a high-octane motorsports arena.
They are taking part in Superbikes in the Square, which is expected to attract around 20,000 spectators.
Tomorrow’s event will see George Square converted into a mini track as teams from the British Superbike Championships thrill the crowds with demonstration laps from 5.30-8pm.
The championship event will see riders race their 1000cc machines at speeds of up to 180mph.
It will kick off with Texan Eric Scot, better known as “go fast jet-pack man”. I wonder how much his motorcycle insurance costs?
Scottish ace Niall Mackenzie, the three-time British superbike champion, will also appear.
The race car of Scottish star David Leslie, who was killed in an aircraft crash in Kent this year, will also be on show.
Superbikes in the Square heralds the build-up to Scotland’s top motor-racing weekend of 2008, including the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, which is on August 16 and 17 at Knockhill, Fife.
A number of roads around George Square will be closed for parts of tomorrow, including Cochrane Street, Montrose Street and South Frederick St.
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The Balaton Ring High Speed Challenge
More details have been revealed about the newly announced Balaton ring, which is set to make its debut on the MotoGP calendar in September 2009.
The Hungarian circuit was a surprise new choice to be added onto the MotoGP roster for 2009, but while relatively little is known about the track, which will be built near Lake Balaton, details suggest it will pose a considerable challenge.
The first time the championship will visit Hungary since the more recognised Hungaroring hosted a race in 1992, the Balatonring will be a stadium-style circuit in a similar vein to that of Valencia.
The Balatonring comes to the 2009 calendar in place of the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit. Although motorbike racing in Hungary has long been popular, the Eastern European country has hosted just two MotoGP races since the circuit was built in 1986.
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Historic Triumph Shown At Llangollen’s Show
A vintage motorcycle believed to have delivered Kaiser Wilhelm II’s surrender letter to the Allies at the end of WWI, will take centre stage at a new Llangollen Motorcycle Show.
The 550cc Triumph Model H belongs to Froncysyllte-based enthusiast Brad Jones. Mr Jones acquired the bike 11 years ago and has always been fascinated by the story that came with it.
In a recent interview Mr Jones said
“I got the Triumph back in 1997 for £4,000, with the intention of using it on special occasions, The bike had been in the same family since the early 1920s, with the father of the person I bought it off being a Colonel in the British Army, who kept the bike when he left the forces. It came with letters from previous riders of the machine in the London and Brighton areas, stating they believed this was the very bike that carried the letter of surrender from the Kaiser to the Allies in 1918.I was stunned. Not only had I got the model I’d been after for some time but I’d also acquired a bit of world history.”
The Model H was the successor to the earlier Model A in early 1915 and is considered by many to be the first ‘modern’ motorcycle.
Its 4bhp engine and outstanding reliability made it the bike of choice for British despatch riders throughout the war, acquiring the nickname ‘The Trusty Triumph’.
Organiser David Green said: “Brad bringing this very important Triumph along is a real coup for the show, and I know interest in it will be extremely high.”
So how much do you think the motorcycle insurance would be for that?
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New circuit for MotoGP - Lake Balaton Hungary
The organisers of MotoGP are likely add a new circuit in to the championship calendar in 2009.
MotoGP rights holders, Dorna Sports, have said that the new circuit at Lake Balaton in Hungary should be ready in time for the 2009 season. The new circuit is expected to stage round 14 of the series in September next year.
Magyar Turizmus Zrt. has formed a subsidiary to promote any possible MotoGP races in the new Hungarian circuit. The racetrack itself will be operated by a company, named Balatonring Zrt., 30 per cent of which is controlled by Magyar Turizmus Zrt. and the remaining 70 per cent by Worldwide Circuit Management S.L. (WCM) of Spain. The track will be built by Sedesa.
The provisional calendar for the 2009 championship will see the 2009 series staged over 18 rounds, starting in Qatar in April and concluding in Spain in November.
Persoanlly I hope that Bennetts Motorcycle Insurance backed rider James Toseland has a cracking season next year!
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Winter Motorcycle Insurance
It’s time again for another question form one of our reader.
I am looking to get a motorcycle in the future and I know it takes time and money, but most people do not ride in the winter, so my question is, can I cancel my motorcycle insurance during winter months, so I am not paying all year round? Also, are there any reprocussions to doing this?
Ok my advice is ALWAYS keep your bike insured. We all know how easy it is to steal a bike so if you have a nicer bike, I would suggest full coverage.
In the event that somebody steals your bike, you are totally covered. Motorcycle thefts happen a lot b/c its so easy to steal one. I had two bikes and both got stolen from my home and it was a good job I was covered. My motorcycle insurance covered the costs of the bikes, so I didn’t lose any money.
At the end of the day Motorcyle insurance is cheap enough so there isn’t any reason not to insure it!
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11 Essential Motorcycle Insurance Tips
Insuring a motorcycle protects the owners from theft, vandalism, accidents, and more. Motorcycle insurance can be bought online or off line from leading Insurance companies.
We have put together a handy list of 11 Essential Motorcycle Insurance Tips to keep in mind when renewing your insurance policy.
- Before setting out to buy motorcycle insurance it is important to know what insurance companies base their premiums on. Surf the internet and read up on motorcycle insurance essentials.
- If the bike is branded and comes from a reliable manufacturer, then the premiums cost less. Insurance companies compute costs of repair when setting premiums. It is advisable to enquire about insurance before buying a bike.
- Buy a policy that covers: Liability, collision, no-fault, service coverage, uninsured coverage, passenger coverage, bodily injury coverage, theft, medical coverage, and so on.
- Use online insurance tools to get at least three quotes for different insurance companies. Always compare insurance coverage and quotes.
- Find out about multiple policy discounts. If you have a home or car insured and are known as a reliable risk by the insurance company they will cover the motorcycle at a discount. Ask about multiple policy discounts.
- Follow all maintenance and safety regulations and the premiums on your motorcycle will be much lower.
- Learn all about capping your mileage. Insurers offer great discounts to people who use their bikes sparingly.
- Surf the internet for great discount offers on insurance and read up the latest laws and news on motorcycle insurance. This will help you lower insurance costs greatly.
- Try and ride the motorcycle safety and take good care of wear and tear. No claims means much lowered premiums and great savings for you.
- Factors that effect insurance premiums are: your age, make of bike, where you live, your driving record and so on. So if you reside in what is considered a safe locality then your insurance premium for the motorcycle will be reduced considerably; find out what affects premium rates and do your best to follow recommendations like safe storage of bike, no riding in winter and so on.
- Taking DVLA or special motorcycle training can get you a better insurance deal. Learn how to save by taking the required classes.
