Gloves and boots are one of the most important aspects of Motorcycle safety.

Motorcycle boots and gloves should not be underestimated. In the event of a crash it's highly likely that hands and feet are going to hit the ground, which can cause extreme damage and skin loss to hands and feet if not properly protected.

When buying gloves, keep the following tips in mind:

- Choose gloves that are going to suit the type of riding you do, for example consider weather conditions, racing versus recreational riding.
- Make sure the gloves fit comfortably to improve your grip on the handlebars.
- Gloves that are to tight may restrict circulation, causing your hands to become cold.
- Gloves that are to bulky may create problems in operating the motorcycle controls.

Purchasing a pair of Motorcycle boots also provides protection for the lower legs , ankles and feet, boots are heavily reinforced in certain areas which sustain most stress and injury. Boots are extremely important in the event of a crash as riders often trap their feet under a motorcycle as it goes down the road.

Motorcycle boots made to remain in place, where other types of footwear frequently can come off in a crash.

Keeping in mind that all Motorcycle safety gear is purpose made, any other gear will not provide the same level of protection as specially desgined equipment.

Honda recently debuted it's groundbreaking space age DN-01 at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Honda have spent years and years of development into the HFT automatic transmission that caters for sport and manual modes, the DN-01 even has a switch for neutral and has ABS for confident braking.

Honda promises strong performance from its slim liquid cooled 680cc twin, it definately looks fast.

 

 

 

 

Amongst such horrific loss and devastation Harley-Davidson is standing up for the motorcycle community by doing their bit to help out.

Harley-Davidson Australia promised to match its dealerships fundraising efforts, so when dealers around New Zealand and Australia came together and managed to raise $40,000, Harley-Davidson head office without hesitation matched the figure, bringing the total to $80,000.

CEO of Harley-Davidson Australia Peter Nochar, said “Our dealerships, many of which are owner / operated businesses, wanted to share in the spirit of generosity shown by corporate Australia and support the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal,”

“All of us in the Australian and New Zealand Harley-Davidson family were so moved by the loss of life, injuries and the devastation of homes that collectively as group we had to act. The thoughts of our staff are with those families affected”.

The Harley-Davidson donation was pledged as part of Channel Nine’s Victorian Bush Fire Appeal televised on February 12^th 2009.

Make sure it fits right.

It is extremely important to buy a helmet that fits correctly. In the event of a crash a helmet that is too loose can come off and a helmet that is to tight will cause discomfort. As a general rule a slightly snug fit is better than a looser fit, the padding in the helmet will give after some wear and mould to an individuals head shape.

You should determine the circumference of the widest part of your head, this can be done by measuring with a flexible tape measure around the widest part of a person's head, which is generally the area one-inch above the eyes and ears.

Simple Test: A test before buying or using a helmet that can de conducted is the simple roll-off test. With the chin strap secured, push the rear lip of the helmet and try to roll it forward off your head. If you are able to roll the helmet off then you need a smaller size.

Handy Tips

If you currently wear a Medium in a certain brand and model that does not mean that another model will fit you best in the same size. You need to try it on.

A tinted Visor is good feature for those glary days. A yellow tinted visor for cloudy and rainy days is also a good idea.

Wearing a bright coloured helmet is a great idea as it will help you be visible to other road users.

Helmets should be replaced if they have been involved in a crash, dropped or appear to be damaged. Depending on helmet manufacturers it is recommended to replace your helmet every 2-4 years, it is a good idea to update your helmet every few years as newer materials and helmet designs are available, which offer lighter, more comfortable and stronger helmets.

A important tip to remember is avoid hanging your helmet on the motorcycle's mirrors, turn signals as the inner padding can be easily damaged.

Honda recently debuted it's space age DN-01 at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Honda has spent years and years of development into the HFT automatic transmission that allows for sport and manual modes, it even has a switch for neutral and it even has ABS for confident braking.

Honda promises strong performance from its slim liquid cooled 680cc twin, it definately looks fas. Check back at MotorbikeTransport.com.au for more in the coming months.

Chris Vermeulen and Peter Stevens this week.

Join Chris Vermeulen as we take a behind the scene's look into the action packed world of MotoGP.

Rush is a inside look at the 2008 Red Bull Indianapolis, both track side and behind the scenes narrated by former world champion Nicky Hayden, with interviews from Casey Stoner and Chris Vermeulen.

Find out what it takes to be the best on the track.

 

Where : Peter Stevens - Melbourne - 339 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, 3000

When : Friday 13th February 2009

Time : From 5pm onwards

Contact : 03 9602 5833

 

Here is a quick guide directed mainly at those starting out riding and are unsure where parking is permitted.

 

In Victoria you may park your motorcycle on the footpath.

Points to remember

• Do not park where a sign prohibits you to do so
• Do not obstruct pedestrians
• Do not obstruct public transport users
• Do not obstruct delivery vehicles
• Do not block access to and from parked vehicles
• Do not park within 1m of a fire hydrant
• Do not park covering a manhole
• Do not obstruct doorways
• Do not park on private property, unless you have permission to do so
• Do not park in front of disability bays
• Do not park in taxi bays
  

Remember these points and apply common sense.

Australian Motorcycle Expo Gold Coast is almost here offering patrons a chance to get a feel for some of the market’s most sought after motorcycles and personal watercraft, with the chance to test ride various machines.

Buell, Harley-Davidson and the inventors of the iconic CanAm Spyder, BRP, are offering enthusiasts the chance to test their latest products on the open road.
 
Watercraft enthusiasts are not forgotten, you can also sample a slice of the action, with test rides available on the new Yamaha, Kawasaki and Sea Doo models, rides will be held in the river adjacent to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
 
The price for a test ride is the best bit, that’s right it’s FREE! included as part of the value-packed ticket price. Enthusiasts should be dressed appropriately for their choice of test ride.
 
Test rides can be scheduled by visiting the respective manufacturer’s exhibition within the Australian Motorcycle Expo.

Australian Motorcycle Expo Gold Coast opens at 10am on Friday February 20, and is held across three action packed days to Sunday February 22.
 
Tickets begin at only $13 and are available from booths at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Sunday 22 ^nd February 2009

In association with the Motorcycle Community, the E.J. Whitten Foundation is conducting a second fundraising Motorcycle Ride to create greater awareness of Prostate Cancer and the importance of early detection as well as raising funds to help find a cure of the insidious disease.

Leaving: Waterfront City, Docklands 11:00am (Mel. 2E D5)
(Breakfast available from 8.30am)

Event Venue and Destination:
Werribee Park (Equestrian Centre) (Mel. 201 D3)
Note: Different area to last year.
Well known band – Retromax, refreshments, food, trade stalls,
great prizes and much more.

Registrations: Register available online

Registration on the day opens at 9.30am at James Squires Brewhouse, Waterfront City, Docklands.

Registration Fee: $20 per rider $10 per pillion.

Sponsorship and Stalls available.

Please contact E.J. Whitten Foundation
Ph: 1300WHITTEN

Since the introduction of the Suzuki Hayabusa, it's has only had one competitor, Itself. This is why the all new Hayabusa is so impressive compared to the original.

For Suzuki Hayabusa fans, the comparison will make your heart race.

The Hayabusa builds on impeccable pedigree, featuring a number of major developments to consolidate its reign at the pinnacle of sportsbike styling, performance and engineering.

The Suzuki Hayabusa effortlessly delivers broad, muscular torque, the Hayabusa is powered by a 1,340cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled, four-cylinder, 16-valve engine, which offers a mind boggling 11% greater performance and smoother running than its predecessor.

Suzuki's Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) fuel injection system, with dual injectors per cylinder, offers increased power delivery for a more linear response, reduced emissions and fuel economy.

Idle Speed Control (ISC) improves cold starts whilst maintaining a stable idle, the Suzuki Pulsed-secondary AIR-injection (PAIR) system and large-volume catalyser reduces emissions.

The Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) offers a choice of three various engine power characteristic settings to suit riding conditions and styles.

The all new 4-2-1-2 exhaust system offers dual, large-volume, tapered mufflers for increased banking angle, cornering clearance, increased power and reduces noise.

The six-speed transmission works magnificantly in conjunction with the innovative Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS) back-torque-limiting clutch to deliver smooth and controlled downshifts.

The Hayabusa features a fully-adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping on the front suspension and link-type rear shock absorber, Hayabusa's also offers inverted cartridge forks that use Diamond-Like Coating (DLC) surface treatment that minimise static friction and improve rider feel.

The Suzuki Hayabuse is race-proven with aluminium piston, radial-mount front brake calipers combined with smaller 310mm dual-floating-discs that reduce unsprung weight and improve handling.

The original Suzuki Hayabusa was the best, but if it's at all possible, Suzuki has again outdone themselves by providing us with a Hayabusa that is somehow even better than the original.