Honda Electronic ABS

Just a quick blog to let you know about the latests feature article on www.inter-bike.co.uk
Motorcycle journalist Ian Kerr tests Honda's revolutionary new electronic ABS. Now sports bike riders can have the benefits of ABS. Read Ian's article, how he could brake on loose sand on a Honda Fireblade equiped with the new ABS system!!

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

New French Motorcycle Law!

I am sure many of us regularly tour on our bikes in France, well as from the 1st April we may all have a big problem thanks to the French law makers.

I first picked up on this new law following a brief article letter posted in the April edition of the The BMW Club Journal and immediately found the following more detailed explanation on the internet at http://www.motosportsbusiness.com/new-french-motorcycle-laws-protest-nest-pas/

Its amazing that a US biker site has this but there is nothing in the UK biker press about it. Anyway quoting from www.motorsportsbusiness.com 's article here is the new French law:-

"A new motorcycle law that comes into effect in April. Any law enforcement officer, with nothing more to go on that a suspicion, can take away a motorcycle, have it towed (at the owners expense) to a garage to have a technical person check out your motorcycle for legal nonconformity. The law does not stipulate that the person checking out your motorcycle needs to be technically proficient with motorcycles - any old car mechanic is “qualified” to do the job!

After the owner has “repaired” his or her motorcycle to put it into a “legal” state, they will need to have it verified again by the so-called experts. The owner will need to pay for everything, the towing, the initial expert review, the repairs and the validation by the experts. If a motorcycle is towed, and found to be legal, too bad for the owner, he still needs to pay!"

Our question here at www.inter-bike.co.uk to all you bikers out there, does anyone know if this applies to bikes visiting France as well or just French registered bikes? Cos if it applies to any bike not only do the French local bikers have a big problem but any of us who choose to tour on motorbikes in France may well have.

I am sure most of us have modified our bikes in some way, after-market screen, aftermarket legal exhaust etc.,. This new law is a potential minefield!

Anyway, please can someone let us know more detail, so we can share it with all bikers out there?

That's all for now!

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

London Ambulance Service choose Honda ST1300 Pan European

The London Ambulance Service’s has expanded it's motorcycle paramedic fleet with twelve Honda Pan European motorcycles. These additional motorcycles will help cover the whole of London, but more specifically the east-side of the city.

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Pirelli testers and journalists created a World 24 Hour Duration record

Great pic's from Pirelli's recent World 24 Hour Duration Record.
They covering an 3191 miles on only one set of Pirelli’s new Angel ST sport-touring tyres!

At the Nardo test circuit in Italy, the endurance team logged an average speed of 132.9 mph, which in tyre-life terms equals 7,500 miles under normal road conditions.

They used a standard 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa and a second motorcycle, a 2009 Kawasaki GTR 1400. They also generated six additional records including a separate 12-hour World Duration Record.

The 15 international journalists and 12 testing staff each rode at least one of the two motorcycles for half an hour during the 24-hour period.

Some record!

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Race Retro Review

The International Historic Motorsport show is held annually and is known as ‘Race Retro’. Whilst more famous for classic cars it has a growing classic motorcycle section. Motorcycle journalist Ian Kerr went along to discover what motorcycling treasurers their might be.

Read his review on http://www.inter-bike.co.uk/, plus with many more excellent pictures of the show.


Ride safe.

Jon Booth

Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Call to Arms 31st March - No to Bike Parking Charges!

Help support the cause. Watch the video and be there. Trafalgar Square to WCC - 31st March 2009. If you don't want bike parking charges to spread through out the country support the "No to Bike Parking Charges" demo ride!!!

Ride safe.

Jon Booth

Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

New Yamaha XVS950A Midnight Star

Yamaha have announced a new Yamaha XVS950A Midnight Star model with a newly designed 942cc air-cooled 4-valve engine featuring a compact 60 V-twin configuration. With an uneven firing interval of 300 and 420, the belt-drive V-twin apparently delivers a powerful pulse feeling and the engine character is accentuated because no balancer shaft is fitted.

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Motorcycle Industry hit by Credit Crunch

Yesterday the Motor Cycle Industry Association Press Office put out a press release highlighting the dramatic fall off in powered two wheeler sales in February for the UK, down a massive 25% from February 2008.

The motor cycle industry is now asking the UK government for help! It is asking the government to suspend vehicle excise duty (VED or road tax) and the first registration fee on all new mopeds, scooters and motorcycles for a minimum of one year to support the market and recognise the green advantages of motorcycling.

I wonder after all they have spent out supporting the banks and car industry, if the government will hear the plea or even have the money?

All of us the motorcycle industry have to hope so!!! Up to 15000 UK jobs and £3 billion annual turover depend on it.

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Watsonian Monza sidecar and Yamaha XJR1300 outfit

Watsonian-Squire have put out this great picture today of the Watsonian Monza sidecar and Yamaha XJR1300 outfit. Their sidecars are still hand built by British craftsmen in the heart of England.

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Say "NO" to power limits

The BMF have put out a press releases today that draws attention to the proposal of draconian motorcycle power limits being imposed on motorcycles throughout the EU. You can read the full press release on www.inter-bike.co.uk here.

In a nutshell, EU type approval regulation framework, up until now only applying to cars and commercial vehicles, is being considered for motorcycles. One of the main components is to limit power to 100bhp (74Kw), whilst the proposed framework has some merits, I am sure all motorcyclist out there will not want a mandatory power cap. They have the 100 BHP limit in France now, but and has not received a road safety benefit from it.

Please lobby your MEP while you can now to stop this becoming law!
The BMF have a draft letter you can use, available at http://www.bmf.co.uk/pages/bmf_main_pages.php?main_page_id=778 and a list of MEP's at http://www.europarl.org.uk/uk_meps/MembersMain.htm

The full EU consulatation document is available at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/mcwg_meetings/27_02_2009/index.htm

Make your voice heard now, else we may well see the motorcycle power cap happening!

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Victory Hammer S Limited Edition video

This truly eye-catching Victory Hammer S LE model was filmed at the Carole Nash 2008 International Motorcycle and Scooter Show. This Hammer S LE is fact based upon a one-off special makeover done by Hawg Haven to MCN's long term test Victory Eight Ball.

The Hammer S is Victory's sportier version of the awesome Hammer cruiser, sporting a huge 1634cc V-twin engine making 88bhp.

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

The Inventor Chopper video

We took the video of this amazing chopper called "The Inventor" at the 2008 Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter show at the Birmingham NEC. If any one has more details about this fantastic chopper please let us know?

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

April is Bike Tyre Safety month - check your tyres.

TyreSafe the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of the dangers of defective and worn tyres is holding Bike Tyre Safety Month in April, with many garages and tyre dealers around the country offering free tyre checks to bikers.

TyreSafe is reminding the bikers that riding on correctly inflated tyres with sufficient tread depth is fundamental to their safety and will help to ensure optimum handling.

For further information on Bike Tyre Safety Month or motorcycle tyre safety, you can visit www.tyresafe.org or visit your local tyre dealer.

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/