Diesel spills are increasing as the public and
commercial/industrial businesses are making the most of fuel prices
dropping.
On the ride into work this morning, we found huge amounts of
diesel spills on the country lanes, B-roads and dual carriageways. This made
riding in increasingly difficult, as our focus was immediately changed to
avoiding the slippery patches of diesel.
The problem is that the diesel spill happens without the
driver of vehicle even realising. When diesel spills, it doesn’t evaporate like
petrol, so it sits on the road surface for anything up to 15hrs depending on
the weather. If the roads are damp or wet, it’s even more dangerous.
Has diesel ever effected your journey on a bike? If you come
across a diesel spill – report it to your local non-emergency Police service
and let your fellow bikers know about it! #ReportaSpill
Have you ever got off your bike, taken a step back to admire it, and
thought: "corr, it needs another clean now!"? What if we could introduce you to a 7-step
process and some products that can not only enhance that 'just been
cleaned look' we all enjoy, but also protect your bike's paint and plastics from the elements?
Before we do that, we need to tell you what the difference is between cleaning and detailing a
bike.
We believe that ‘cleaning’ is a process that ‘removes dirt’
from the bike. Usually involving a hose pipe, a bucket of soapy water and some
kind of drying towel.
Detailing however, is what AutoFinesse (AF) like to refer to as an ‘art’.
An ‘ART’?! Yes, trust us on this one.
After some extensive research on the web, and many visits to un-named
high-street aftermarket automotive superstores, we have discovered that you, the motorcycle rider, are suffering
from a lack of choice of quality motorcycle cleaning and detailing products.
You have to hunt specialist websites
to find products that are adequate for cleaning a motorcycle, which most of the time are not motorcycle specific. You could use car detailing
products, but the results of our testing suggest that many products are not
quite up to the job.
Just so you know, we’re not here to discriminate agaisnt any
brands but we can tell you now, that you will notice an immediate and long term difference in the
results between using an supermarket car shampoo, and specialist cleaning and
detailing products.
If you’re quite happy using fairy liquid to clean your bike,
we’re not going point and laugh. But if you’ve been on the hunt for a range of
products to clean, and protect your bike from the cr*p that sits our lovely
British roads, then you should watch this video.
Step 1: Snow foam is a great product which will is used as a pre-shampoo contactless wash. To put into simple terms, it’s like letting your bike soak in a nice bubble bath before giving it a scrub making it easier to remove tough and stubborn dirt. Using snowfoam before washing your bike will aid in reducing swirl makes too. To use snowfoam you will need a foam lance and a pressure washer.
Step 2: Being a motorcyclist, you will
all know the trouble of bugs littering the front of your bike from the
top of the screen to the bottom of the forks. Autofinesse claim their
citrus spray will make light work of bugs and road grime on any area of
your vehicle without stripping away layers of wax or sealant. It
certainly did make light work of the bugs and grime all over the bike
except the rear wheel, we found the product wasn't strong enough to
remove the grease and grime that often comes off the chain, in fact we
found simply spraying some WD40 on a cloth and wiping the rear wheel to
give amazing results. Another point to note and a common theme across
the Autofinesse products we tried was the very pleasant smell of them
all.
Step 3: A lot of people will just shampoo their bike and there is nothing
wrong with that, what AutoFinesse bring to the table is a scented pH neutral
shampoo with highly concentrated lubricants which will help to prevent swirl
marks on your paintwork. We found Lather to do just that, giving nice suds in the wash bucket and over the bike, and once rinsed off it leaves no residue
either – great! The added benefit of this product is it’s wax and sealant safe
so you can be sure once you’ve spent all that time waxing your bike, it won't be stripped wash after wash. AF Triple – polish
£7.95
Step 4: Tripple is a great multi
functional product, not only will it polish all surfaces on your bike
but it will deep clean and add a layer of wax. Tripple is easy to apply
as finishing product for after you've washed your bike adding a deep
glossy shine. AutoFinesse claim Tripple can give a months worth a protection which makes it ideal as a "top up" product for after those quick washes. AF Temptation–wax
£24.95
Step 5: Temptation wax is described by AutoFinesse as an entry level wax that
gives a glowing finish. The instructions on the bottom of the pot are easy to
follow, the product is effortless to apply and very easy to buff off leaving as
promised; a glowing finish which makes you take a step back from you bike
and admire the finish (the sweet pineapple smell does wonders too). They say the
durability of the product is around two months, we are happy using this product
through summer months but would look for something more durable as we approach the Autumn and Winter months.
Step 6: Dressle is a water based, dry
touch spray that contains UV inhibitors. We found this product to really
enhance the shine on plastic fairings. all we had to do was spray some
onto a cloth and wipe across the fairings. Because dressle contains UV
inhibitors we are told this will reduce paint fade over time, always
good for maintaining that factory fresh look.
Step 7: Being the first wheel wax we've used from AutoFinesse,
it was a pleasure to open the container to find Mint Rims genuinely
does smell like mint! It was easy to apply using a foam applicator pad
with equal ease to buff off, revealing an awesome shine. AutoFinesse claim 2-3 month durability even in extreme uses, and one month in, we can see no reason not to believe this. What we really like about this wax is that it makes it very easy to wipe off chain grease from the rear wheel! AF Hog Hair brushes– £24.95
The market is flooded with alloy wheel brushes which don't really aid us motorcyclists. AutoFinesse
have created these impressive hog hair brushes which don't only look
great but really work in all those hard to reach areas around the engine
and in between fairings. The soft natural brushes won't scratch
paintwork and with this in mind it was great to attack the bugs stuck on
the front of the bike and those harder to reach dirty areas. We've been
told these brushes are durable and certainly after a few uses we
haven't lost any bristles and the brushes haven't deformed or frayed.
Apart from the clever names for the products, AF have also
created a genuinely brilliant range of products, which have exceeded our
expectations. It’s also worth knowing that you can get cloths,
mitts, towels and applicator pads all from the same place.
What we really like about AF though, is the strength of their brand and their
associated media engagement and event presence. If you haven't already, make sure
you check them out!
Please share this if you enjoyed reading it! All the best
BirotarUK
In 1993, BMW introduced the F650 "funduro" built in Italy by Aprilia and gifted it the reasonably well proven rotax engine.
The
appeal of the F650 was a solid base for a bike that could do anything
and be run very cheaply. Carb models could average over 57mpg and the
newer FI models averaging over 67mpg boasting a tank range well over 200
miles.
Our
F650 was the Strada (ST) version, which was introduced in 1997 with a
shorter wheel base, 18" front wheel and lower seat height. Making the ST
the more road biased version.
We
took a trip to Southend to view a blue F650 with low owners, full
service history, heated grips, engine crash bars, new tyres and full
hard luggage. One evening later that week saw us riding it home!
Initial
thoughts of the F650 was the very good handling on low speed
manoeuvres, a silky smooth gearbox and a punchy amount of torque
available as soon as you twist the throttle. With a 50 mile motorway
trip home in the cold and dark the initial grin very quickly turned into
serious doubts by one simple thing: the buffeting at 70mph.
Seriously
it was bad, not helped by forgetting ear plugs. A taller screen was
ordered and this did settle some of the buffeting around the head but it
was never enough to completely avoid it.
Our
F650 was used for everything; commuting, fun and green laning. Oh yes,
we took this beast off road with fully road going tyres, the result was
interesting but we managed to keep it upright and fly through the odd
rutt and puddle.
Maintenance
was simple on the F650, with 12,000 mile service intervals and a centre
stand making for easy chain adjustment. We do have to admit the dry
sump took a few oil checks to get used to, starting the engine for a few
minutes before checking the oil on a dipstick didn't come naturally.
As
mentioned above, the gearbox was silky smooth through all gears and
allowed for very quick clutch-less shifting when on the move. The 650cc
single, 50bhp, engine was good until a point, and this point was trying
to cruise on the motorway with some luggage on the bike. Which became
clear when travelling to and from the motorcycle live show in
Birmingham. The bike felt like it was almost struggling between 75/80mph
and had very little puff above that.
To throw a complete
comparison the lower end of the rev range was actually pretty good with
enough torque go accelerate quickly in and out of traffic and throw the
bike into a corner knowing there was some power to push you out the
other side, even when making a hasty escape from the flights the front
wheel wasn't adverse to popping up.
In
short, the F650 was a reasonable all rounder, quite good fun to throw
around and very easy to ride on the limit with those skinny tyres which
was great fun. It was incredibly cheap and easy to run and maintain.
It's just a shame the bike did have some annoying flaws.
Please share this if you enjoyed reading it! All the best
BirotarUK
We recently did our first track day on our ZXR 400 and GSXR
600 at Mallory Park with NoLimits. It was our first ‘proper’ full day on track on our own
bikes, and it was absolutely awesome. We were very lucky to have dry weather and little
wind,
someone must have been looking over us because the forecast for the day
was supposed
to be poor. As you can see from the video, we have got some practicing
to do. Our position on the bike needs improving, the braking points and
racing line also needs to be improved - but hey, that's what a track
day is all about! (Please excuse the shaky footage!)
If you’re thinking about
doing a track day yourself, here are a few things that are worth considering.
Gear - what you need
You need a ‘double-d-ring’ helmet
You need a full (2pc/1pc) leather suit
You need a good set of boots and gloves
We recommend a back protector
Tracks are very strict and will NOT let you on the track if
you do not have this equipment.
Bike - things to bare in mind
Photograph by Wil Collins Photography
Photograph by Wil Collins Photography
You can
take your own road/track bike to most track days, but if you are taking your
road bike on track, there are a few things that will be recommended for you to do to your
bike before you start the session:
Remove mirrors
Tape over the speedo
Your bike will have to be noise tested before you go out on
track; noise limits range from track to track but our session was limited to
103dB. If you are worried that your exhaust might not pass, buy, borrow or
steal a standard exhaust for your bike (okay, maybe don’t steal it!). It’s not
worth you making the effort of booking the day, getting there and not being
able to ride!
Photograph by Wil Collins Photography
Tyre pressures
are important
Photograph by Wil Collins Photography
Most tracks have a tyre specialist on site so make sure that
you visit them before you go out on track. Road pressures and track pressures
are different – DO NOT RIDE ON TRACK WITH ROAD PRESSURES IN YOUR TYRES. You can
buy a pressure gauge from an online store or your local automotive shop so that
you can check them yourself.
Tyre condition is
also very important
Photograph by Wil Collins Photography
Check the condition of tyres by looking for
splits, tears,
nails, screws, tread depth, uneven tyre wear at least a week before you
go on
track, so that you have enough time to replace them if necessary. Your
road tyres
will be able to lean further than you think, but ideally you want a
decent set
of branded tyres on your bike. Remember that the only thing between you
and the
track are you tyres. Some track day hoonigans have multiple sets of
wheels for their
bike with slicks and wets. If you’re a track day virgin (like us) and
you want
to do an evening session or a full day, you don’t need to go to that
extent. But bare in mind that you will be working your tyres hard on a
track day!
Fluids: check them
all, and top them up if necessary
We changed the oil before our track day – if
you have the ability to do this yourself, we would recommend it as you will be
working the engine hard. We also changed the coolant and brake fluid. If you
are riding to the track, fill up your fuel tank to the top before you enter the
circuit grounds. If you are towing or taking your bike to the track in a van,
fill up a few jerry cans with fuel. We used 15-20 litres of between the two of
us but even if you don’t use it all on track, you’ll have some spare for
another day. Most tracks have a fuel pump but expect to pay more for the convenience.
Brakes will help you stop
Photograph by track side photographer
If you
ride your bike on the road, and you know the brakes aren’t great, upgrade the
pads to something more abrasive (we recommend ‘HH Sintered’). If you have an
older bike and you can afford it, upgraded the lines too. And if that doesn’t help,
upgrade the master cylinder (MC). We changed the calliper seals, upgraded the
brake lines, changed the pads to HH sintered, and fitted a GSXR K6 MC to our
SRAD because, frankly the brakes were sh*t. You have run off areas on most
tracks, but you don’t want to go into the gravel at 130mph after the main
straight!
Set up
We had
our suspension set up and had a power run at Race Engineering in Essex. Find
out more about this here.
Spares
Takespare fluids with you, tools, and
anything else you believe you and your bike might need. Spare pair of pants?
You
Photograph by track side photographer
Prepare yourself
for some serious fun but be aware of your ability and don’t push yourself past
your comfort zone unless you feel ready to. The first few sessions on the track
are for you to learn the track and for you get an idea of where the
braking/turning/acceleration points are. Take it easy! Someone at Mallory crashed
on the first lap of the first session and damaged his bike. We felt bad for
him because unfortunately he rode the bike there. So we suggest to warm up your tyres and your
mind-set before you ride hard, it won’t hurt. Keep hydrated, and make sure you eat properly through the
day. You will need all the energy you can get.
Insurance? Well
this is up to you…
Novice, intermediate
or fast?
When you book your track day you will need to choose a group to
ride in. If you have any doubts, choose novice. If you’ve done track days
before and you felt like other riders were holding you up, choose intermediate.
If you’re fast, then you will know it and your choice will be easy. We’re not
sure if you can swap once you have made your decision, but its worth asking if
you feel like you’re in the wrong group.
Photograph by Wil Collins Photography
Costs – expect to
pay anything between £79 - £300 for a full track day.
It depends who you go with,
what track it is and if tuition is included. The photography service is pretty
cool, so set aside £20 - £45 for some cool pictures of you trying to get your
knee down! Consider van rental, fuel, overnight stay, meals etc…
Photograph by track side photographer
This is what we paid for our track day at Mallory:
Track day £198
(£99x2) Van £49 Fuel for van £50 Fuel for bikes £25 Hotel £40 Dinner £20 Lunch, snacks and water £10 Photography £25 Total: £417
So you’ve got an idea of what you have to think about before your track day. But
let us stress one more thing you shouldn’t forget: it is so much fun! It’s one
of the most exciting things to do on a motorcycle. We would recommend it to
anyone who enjoys riding. You learn your limits, the bike’s limits, and you are improving your
riding skills, whilst having a good time.
Photograph by track side photographer
It’s okay to be nervous, it is a
risky sport. But where is it safer to ride fast and hard but in a controlled environment
that is purpose built? There will be no ‘unaware’ road users pulling out on you,
everyone is going in the same direction (we hope), there will be a perfect road
surface, and most importantly no police or speed cameras to try and trip you up!
Just book your track day and have some fun, you will be hooked. Let us know if
you have any questions, we will do what we can to help.
Photograph by track side photographer
P.S. share the photos of your track with us!
We look forward to
hearing about your track day and hopefully you found our tips useful.
Please remember that this is advice only, track day companies have
different rules and we recommend that you check them
before you book your track day. We can't be held liable if you make any
bad judgments.
Photograph by track side photographer
Photograph by track side photographer
Photograph by track side photographer
Photograph by track side photographer
Photograph by track side photographer
Photograph by Wil Collins Photography
Please share this if you enjoyed reading it! All the best
BirotarUK
Trying to find a good 'un-discovered' photoshoot location can be difficult! We're always on the hunt to try and find somewhere new to take some pictures, so one evening we set out on a mission. After a visit to the legendary Ace Cafe with Wil Collins, we went for a ride and ended up at Alexandra Palace.
Alexandra Palace, London
The sun had just set and the city lights in the distance made for a great setting. Here are the results:
Photograph by Wil Collins photography
After a short while, it got darker and Wil worked his magic in this awesome night time setting.
Photograph by Wil Collins photography
Honda VTR SP1
Suzuki GSF Bandit S 600
BMW R1200GS
We hope you like these shots! A big thank you to Wil for the photographs. You can check out his work here. #BirotarUK Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
