Category: News

August Update 2019

It’s been a little while since my last update here, July and August have been a rather hectic with all kinds of biking antics on the go. Here’s a brief catchup of the highlights:

Mary in Scotland

The end of July saw Mary heading up to Scotland for a the Curvy Riders MC annual meet up. This year located just outside Glasgow, many women bikers from across the UK gathering for the club’s AGM, ride outs, spa sessions and of course much partying. A bit of a mission from London, made worse by the crazy heatwave hitting the country.

Tags Adventure, Track

News

Shoei’s Personal Fitting System

Post author By FortaMoto.com
Post date June 5, 2019
No Comments on Shoei’s Personal Fitting System

When searching for new motorcycle helmet you can get pretty lucky, and by lucky I mean that you find ‘the one’ straight away – or at least within minutes. But for many riders, this couldn’t be further away from the truth.

Different head shapes

Everybody has a uniquely shaped noggin, and seen as nobody is producing 3D shaped helmets yet – the truth is that it can be a very frustrating task to find a well-fitting motorcycle helmet. There is a very big chance that you won’t fit the helmet you saw in that fancy magazine, or the one your experienced biker friend told you to check out. The reason is simple: your head is either too round, too oval – or simply too large or too small for a certain type of helmet. In most cases that’s the end of it, you will need to search for a different model – which could be your second or third choice. You can’t change the shape of your head, but what if you could change the shape of the helmet..?

Tags Helmets

News

Year End Pitstop

With a new year dawning, let us take a quick pitstop to look back at the years past adventures and look forward at future adventures planned. 2018 was a busy year for me with my main day job, involving many trips abroad to San Francisco, San Diego and Berlin and almost trips to Belgium and Switzerland, but these I managed to delegate to others in my team.

Cruising on a HD Road King through California’s Redwood forests

The longer trips to California were great as they afforded me time off to hire some bikes to explore the San Fran Bay area more. First a big Harley Road King from Eagle Rider and later a Triumph Bonneville T100 from Dubbelju. Very different bikes, but both a lot of fun in their own ways. I was pleasantly surprised how well the Bonney could be hustled around the winding forest roads, whilst presenting an air of relaxed sophistication. California has some epic scenery and roads to explore, from the sweeping Pacific coast line, huge Redwood forests to nearby mountain ranges. If you’re in the area, definitely get yourself a bike to explore, you won’t regret it.

News

MCN Festival Peterborough Low Down

Post author By Arthur
Post date May 27, 2018
No Comments on MCN Festival Peterborough Low Down

A sunny weekend, lumbered with the bored kids and wishing I was out on the bike. Hmm, what to do instead? Well, the MCN Festival up near Peterborough was on and looked like a good day out. At £16 quid for an advance day ticket, kids going free, only an hour and bit drive away and plenty on schedule – it seemed a good option.

Located at the easily accessible East of England show ground it was a surprisingly big event. My first time in attendance and I’d certainly not been to the old BMF rally it descended from either. A large number of manufacturers and key dealers were present displaying the latest bikes to see up close, sit on and take for a quick test ride out on nearby roads.

Tags Shows

News Videos

Video Montage 2017 Highlights

Post author By Arthur
Post date January 15, 2018
No Comments on Video Montage 2017 Highlights

A new year, but before we look forward, here are some of the highlights from 2017

A little late maybe, but that ruddy flu got me and has set me back.

News

Farewll 2017, Roll on 2018

Post author By Arthur
Post date January 14, 2018
No Comments on Farewll 2017, Roll on 2018

2017 was quite the packed year on and off the road. In my main line of work as a software team lead I’ve been managing multiple projects in parallel, done three work trips to New Jersey and one to San Francisco, and have now just taken over a second team!

On the biking front, I’ve also been busy in 2017. The highlights were a couple of track days (except when I binned it), an Essex Fire Service/Hopp Rider skills day, hiring a big fat Harley Dyna in California and seeing my better half, Mary Crash Bobbins improve her riding on her IAM course. I’ve been heavily involved with ELAM, sorting out their new website which has been very rewarding. And let’s not forget all the great rides over the year, with ELAM, London Bikers, solo or as a couple with Mary.

News

New ELAM Website Launched

Post author By Arthur
Post date December 30, 2017
No Comments on New ELAM Website Launched

As well as working on this blog, I am involved with the East London Advanced Motorcyclist (ELAM) group and over the last few months have been revamping their website. That’s my excuse for the somewhat sporadic updates to on this blog recently.

The group’s old site was pretty dated, but was WordPress based so plain sailing to update with a theme change. Fresh photos were sourced and page layouts reworked make things more engaging. Whether the IAM is something you’ve considered or not, take a look, any feedback would be much appreciated.

News

Pre-65 Vintage Motocross Scramble at Marks Tey

Post author By Arthur
Post date May 30, 2017
No Comments on Pre-65 Vintage Motocross Scramble at Marks Tey

Vintage bikes and dirt track scrambling – what’s not to like? This weekend saw a blast out to Marks Tey in deepest Essex, to catch one of the Pre-65 Motocross Club scramble meets. A low key affair in a field beside the busy A12, it had a friendly atmosphere of motocross enthusiasts having lots of fun on vintage twin shock bikes from the ’60s and ’70s. It was great to see a wide pedigree of classic bikes from the likes of BSA, CZ, Triumph, Bultaco, Greeves and many others not just looking great, but being used for their built purpose. A super polished classic in a museum is one thing, but a classic in it’s element haring round a track is really quite something else.

Tags Racing

News

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance North Weald Fun Day

Post author By Arthur
Post date May 27, 2017
No Comments on Essex & Herts Air Ambulance North Weald Fun Day

I popped along to this local fun day a couple of years ago, I recall it being a bit small – just only a handful of stalls. Returning this year, it was good to see the event had developed and had a lot more going on.

The fund raising event is organised by the Essex & Herts air ambulance, a entirely charity funded service, and one that is often deployed to a fallen motorcyclist. North Weald airfield is a great venue for the day, and obviously where the air ambulance runs from.

Tags Shows

News

Telford Classic Dirt Bike Show Report

Post author By Arthur
Post date February 21, 2017
No Comments on Telford Classic Dirt Bike Show Report

At the weekend I popped by the Classic Dirt Bike Show up in Telford. Being in the area with family and having not checked it out before, it seemed too good to miss. Admittedly I’m no off road dirt biker, but some green lane and trail riding has always been on my list of stuff to try. So with kids in toe we rocked up to ponder all these curious bikes with knobbles.

Tags Shows