Showing posts with label birmingham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birmingham. Show all posts
NEC bike show 2008 picture special
We've just got back from the NEC Bike Show in Birmingham - what better way to start the week than with a picture special! Enjoy...
Friday news round-up: helmet safety, all-electric bikes and impotence
A brief round-up of bike news as we head into the weekend...
BMW System 5 helmet: rates highly with SHARP
First up, the Department of Transport's Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) have released their safety ratings of the most popular 'flip-front' helmets on the market.
Twenty flip-front helmets were tested, and SHARP claims that the safety performance of helmets can vary by as much as 70%. Helmets were awarded a rating of one to five stars, broken down as follows:
5: BMW System 5, Caberg Trip
4: AGV Longway, Caberg Justissimo GT, Grex RF2, Lazer Granville, Lazer Revolution, Nolan N103, Nolan N102, ROOF Boxer, Schuberth C2, Shark Evoline, Viper RS RS 101
3: G-MAC Concept, Shark Openline, Shoei Multitech, Viper RS V121
2: Airoh Matisse RS
1: Duchinni D601, KBC FFR
Head injuries occur in 80% of all motorcyclist deaths. Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"If all riders wore the safest helmets available fifty lives could be saved each year. We started the SHARP scheme to ensure that all riders have the best possible independent safety information on which to base their helmet choice."
Full helmet ratings across all makes, models and types can be found at the SHARP site.
The TTX01 (picture Gizmag.com)
A prototype unveiling with a difference, as the world's fastest all-electric bike is revealed at the NEC show. The TTX01 is road-legal in the UK, 100% emission-free, and can apparently do 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds. A limited number will go on sale in late 2009, costing £20,000.
The TTX01 will compete in the TTXGP, the first emission-free race event of its kind, to be held next June as part of Isle of Man TT season.
The prototype on display in Birmingham is built into a regular Suzuki chassis, but production models will have its own lightweight carbon composite chassis design. Two battery-powered electric motors, weighing 11 kilos each, provide 86 bhp.
Travelling at a moderate speed on a full battery charge, the TTX01 has a range of around 50 miles. The battery can be fully charged from a standard plug socket in under two hours.
Finally, news of a study in Japan showing that men who ride motorbikes are at risk of impotence and urinary problems as the vibration of the engine damages nerves in their penises.
The study of 230 riders who ride their bike for around three hours every weekend found that almost 70% had problems with erectile dysfunction or their bladders.
Both the design of bike seats and the vibration from the engine is said to restrict blood flow to the penis, as well as causing a decrease in growth hormones in the bladder and prostate which affect bladder relaxation.
BMW System 5 helmet: rates highly with SHARP
First up, the Department of Transport's Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) have released their safety ratings of the most popular 'flip-front' helmets on the market.
Twenty flip-front helmets were tested, and SHARP claims that the safety performance of helmets can vary by as much as 70%. Helmets were awarded a rating of one to five stars, broken down as follows:
5: BMW System 5, Caberg Trip
4: AGV Longway, Caberg Justissimo GT, Grex RF2, Lazer Granville, Lazer Revolution, Nolan N103, Nolan N102, ROOF Boxer, Schuberth C2, Shark Evoline, Viper RS RS 101
3: G-MAC Concept, Shark Openline, Shoei Multitech, Viper RS V121
2: Airoh Matisse RS
1: Duchinni D601, KBC FFR
Head injuries occur in 80% of all motorcyclist deaths. Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"If all riders wore the safest helmets available fifty lives could be saved each year. We started the SHARP scheme to ensure that all riders have the best possible independent safety information on which to base their helmet choice."
Full helmet ratings across all makes, models and types can be found at the SHARP site.
The TTX01 (picture Gizmag.com)
A prototype unveiling with a difference, as the world's fastest all-electric bike is revealed at the NEC show. The TTX01 is road-legal in the UK, 100% emission-free, and can apparently do 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds. A limited number will go on sale in late 2009, costing £20,000.
The TTX01 will compete in the TTXGP, the first emission-free race event of its kind, to be held next June as part of Isle of Man TT season.
The prototype on display in Birmingham is built into a regular Suzuki chassis, but production models will have its own lightweight carbon composite chassis design. Two battery-powered electric motors, weighing 11 kilos each, provide 86 bhp.
Travelling at a moderate speed on a full battery charge, the TTX01 has a range of around 50 miles. The battery can be fully charged from a standard plug socket in under two hours.
Finally, news of a study in Japan showing that men who ride motorbikes are at risk of impotence and urinary problems as the vibration of the engine damages nerves in their penises.
The study of 230 riders who ride their bike for around three hours every weekend found that almost 70% had problems with erectile dysfunction or their bladders.
Both the design of bike seats and the vibration from the engine is said to restrict blood flow to the penis, as well as causing a decrease in growth hormones in the bladder and prostate which affect bladder relaxation.
NEC show: win a BMW K 1200 R!
NEC bike exhibition fever is brewing here at UKBike Towers, as the show opens for a press day today, followed by the public opening tomorrow.
Word reaches us that there is a brand spanking new BMW K 1200 R (pictured above) up for grabs at the show courtesy of BMW and BEN, the automotive industry charity.
BEN staff will be at the NEC selling national draw tickets, and the winner will be announced on the final day (7th December) at the MCN stand.
BEN's Charles Davis said: "We are extremely grateful to BMW Motorrad for their support in donating such a highly desirable prize. We will have a display model on our stand (2J29, hall 2) and really hope that as many people as possible will visit us and purchase a ticket priced at just £2."
A free bike just in time for Christmas... not bad eh?
NEC show bits and pieces
Another round-up of the latest news ahead of the NEC show which opens to the public on Friday.
Suzuki will be launching their 2009 models in Birmingham, headed by the all-new GSX-R1000 (pictured above) as well as the new Gladius 650 and a revamped Bandit 650. Head to hall four for a chance to see the bikes in action in the test ride area.
Suzuki are also giving away free oil filters to owners at the NEC - simply collect a voucher at their stand, which can then be swapped for a filter at any authorised Suzuki dealer.
The Driving Standards Agency people will also be at the NEC launching their new rider safety initiative. The Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) is part of the the Government's Motorcycling Strategy (that's GMS, abbreviation fans!) to help reduce the number of fatal and serious accidents on the roads that involve bikes.
Qualified bikers who visit the ERS stand will be encouraged to "iron out bad habits and keep you safer on the roads... and it can help to gain riders discounts on insurance" - the words of TV presenter Louise Brady, who will be at the NEC to promote this scheme, along with former Superbike Champion and now MotoGP commentator, Steve Parrish.
NEC show round-up: three days to go
A quick round up of news that has been reaching us since our last NEC-related post.
It has already been confirmed that the Bat Pod from The Dark Knight will be in Hall 2 for the duration of the show. Marvel at the 20" tyres, machine guns, cannons and hooks, as well as the unique steering system operated in the film by the shoulders of legendary stuntman Jean-Pierre Goy.
The Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure will be in town to promote next year's TT, together with a special photo exhibition covering 100 years of racing on the island. Many of the 2009 TT racers will also be at the NEC on Saturday, including John McGuinness, Guy Martin, Steve Plater, Bruce Anstey and Tim Reeves.
MotoGP rider and former World Superbike champion James Toseland will be at the Yamaha area, performing with his band Crash. Also making an appearance is Scott Redding, who became the youngest winner of a 125GP race earlier this year aged just fifteen.
World Superbike legends Carl Fogarty and Troy Corser, winners of the championship six times between them, will also be at the show.
There is a full list of famous names and their appearance dates at the bike show site, although inexplicably there is no mention of the UKBike team who will be wandering around the NEC at the end of this week...
NEC show: t-minus eight days and new models announced
With the Carole Nash Bike Show kicking off in just eight days time, the UKBike inbox is starting to fill up with details on the various models that will be launched at the NEC.
BMW Motorrad's flagship bike at this year's show is the "eagerly anticipated" S 1000 RR, said to be a contender for the 2009 World Superbike crown.
The race trim version will be on show in Birmingham, complete with carbon fibre bodywork - the production model is set to go on sale in early 2010.
The BMW stand will also feature the updated, more powerful K-Series (including the K 1300 R, the K 1300 GT and the K 1300 S). Also appearing will be the all-new F 800 R naked roadster, which BMW tell us is "sportingly designed to deliver uncompromising handling, agility and steering precision, as well as maximum riding enjoyment".
Charley Boorman will be appearing at the NEC, together with the three BMW bikes that he used on Long Way Round, Long Way Down and Race To Dakar.
More importantly, UKBike will also be at the show - if you see us in our fetching t-shirts, come and say hello...
