AVON GETS TO GRIPS WITH EU RULING

Avon Tyres is to start using ‘clean oil’ in some of its products following an EU ruling that from January 2010 all new motorcycle tyres sold in the European Union have to be made with oil that features very low levels of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).

The company’s technical product manager for motorcycle tyres, Peter McNally, said: “We’ve been working hard with the change to ‘clean oil’ over the last two years because, if we want to sell tyres in Europe next year, we have to make this change.

“Using clean oil has led us to redevelop some of the compounds in our tyres. In the majority of cases, the grip levels have been unaffected, but in the case of our high-performance Avon VP2 Xtremes, grip levels have actually been increased.”

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON...

The son of stunt legend, Evel Kievel, Robbie Knievel, has announced that he will be attempting to jump 16 double-decker buses in London on 22nd May 2010. The stunt is one that his late father famously failed to complete, when he crashed at Wembly in May 1975 while attempting to jump 13 buses.

Knievel will be using the same model of bike – a Harley XR750 – as his father rode during his unsuccessful bid. He’s undertaken every jump that Evel did, with the exception of the Snake River Canyon jump and – until now – the bus jump.

“I’ve never jumped a Harley-Davidson before and I’m ten years older than my dad was when he retired,” Robbie Knievel, 47, which doesn’t really inspire that much confidence. Talks are taking place with Wembley Stadium and the owners of Battersea Power Station over holding the event.

ROLAND SANDS...

... You gotta love him!

HARLEY RECALL

If Harley-Davidson thought it could make it to the end of the year without any more bad news to add to the depressing sales figures, job cuts and cessation of Buell, it was wrong.

The MoCo has issued a recall of all its 2009 and 2010 tourers. All 111,569 of them. According to Harley, there's a problem with the front fuel tank mounts that might cause them to distort in a frontal collision. The recall notice states: 'This condition may cause a fuel leak at the weld of the front bracket to the tunnel. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire, which could lead to injury or death to the rider.' Harley UK is, at present, unable to confirm whether the recall will affect UK bikes.

34 COUPE

Enjoy this impressionistic film about hot rods. Okay, it's about cars, not bikes - so shoot me!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Put your headphones on, turn the sound up, and enjoy...

MOTO MORINI STOPS PRODUCTION

Following our recent item that Moto Morini had gone into receivership, the news comes today that the Italian manufacturer has ceased motorcycle production and closed its doors. After months of staving off increasing debts, and unveiling the 2010 Moto Morini Granferro 1200 at the EICMA Show in Milan in November, Moto Morini has finally thrown in the towel and is seeking a buyer.

4 DAYS, 5 COUNTRIES & 1000 MILES LATER...

... And I'm back from Custombike in Bad Salzuflen, Germany. It was my first visit to the show, and I loved it. Imagine the NEC show with just custom bikes and streetfighters - and better halls, better lighting, cheaper admission, better and cheaper food, free coffee... More when I've waded through the photos.

Incidentally, of the International NEC Motorcycle Show which closed yesterday; a press release we received today hailed it 'a success' despite visitor numbers falling by 17%. You have to admire that sort of optimism.

NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER

As motorcycle clubs in Australia come together to fight the state of South Australia’s anti-association laws, the authorities are determined to make life as difficult as possible.

Last weekend, the United Motorcycle Council organised an event which spokesman, Tom Mackie, described as ‘going back to basics’, with raffles and t-shirts for sale, the aim being to raise $100,000 to mount a High Court challenge against the legislation which is aimed at stamping out back patch clubs, but will also have severe repercussions on all bikers. A run headed into Macclesfield (the version in the Adelaide hills, not the one in Cheshire), but when riders arrives, they found that the police had shut down the town’s two bars. Licensing problems, they said. As they would.

The fight against the Draconian legislation has been dealt a blow by reports that the Rock Machine is threatening to establish its presence in Western Australia, with a national run through Perth this weekend. The Rock Machine originated in Canada, and was involved in a bloody turf war in the 1990s with the Hells Angels. The Rock Machine apparently ceased to exist in 2000 when a number of its members patched over to the Bandidos. Its re-emergence in Australia – there is a Sydney chapter – at such a sensitive time is already being reported in lurid terms by the Canadian press, something that Australian politicians will no doubt leap upon with glee and use as further ammunition.

5 MINUTES IN UTAH

Well, five minutes and forty seconds to be precise. And, thanks to Doug and his BMW, on a wet and dark afternoon in England, it's nice to drift away for five minutes. Okay, five minutes and forty seconds...

RIDESAFE BACKSAFE TOYSAFE

We really didn’t want to mention the festive season any time before Christmas Eve, but I guess this is a good cause. Last Sunday, more than 150 bikers took part in the RideSafe BackSafe Christmas Toy Run to deliver children’s presents to the children’s ward at Royal Preston Hospital and Donna’s Dream House in Blackpool. More than 500 toys were handed out, and Preston Harley-Davidson, Warburtons the Bakers and Springfield Fuels of Salwick all gave their support, as well as Kudos Showers who donated forty teddy bears.

DYMAG GOES BUST

Motorcycle and car wheel manufacturer, Dymag Racing UK, has gone into liquidation with the company’s assets currently up for auction. Dymag has been producing wheels since the 1970s, and made the world’s first magnesium motorcycle racing wheels. The auction is being conducted ONLINE with everything from CNC machines to a pine dining table and office furniture up for grabs.