First Ride: Herald 250cc

Birotar Jonjo test riding the Herald Rambler off-road

The small brand, making a BIG noise.

Ever since we first set eyes on the Herald brand at Motorcycle Live in Birmingham last November, we were intrigued. A retro looking yet modern bike for an affordable price. But did the bikes ride as well as they looked?

Herald Rambler posing!

We recently took a trip to Herald HQ to find out more about the brand, the bikes and what really goes in to making a Herald motorcycle. Our day was spent on the carb fed, air cooled, 250cc single cylinder range.

The Herald range is built in a Chinese factory and shipped across to the UK. 'Oh not another cheap Chinese brand' we hear you say!

...And that's what we thought too. Herald put us at ease by telling us that, once the bike comes out the crate there is a whole list of parts they change to improve reliability. These include: chain, sprockets, brakes, oil just to name a few.

RaceTek rear shock on the Herald Nomad

For BirotarUK, most of the time is spent on bikes with well in excess of 100bhp so imagine the feeling of throwing a leg over a bike with just 21bhp. The 250cc range isn’t slow though, with a dry weight of about 130kg the small, punchy engine is more than capable of arriving at 70mph quickly and cruising there in relative comfort.

The clocks on the Herald Rambler

The bike lacks a rev counter, but does have a gear indicator which is really nice to see on a bike of this price. As standard, a buyer is treated to some other goodies which put the Herald 250cc range above its imported competitors; RaceTek adjustable rear shocks, braided brake lines, premium tyres, and uprated chain and sprocket. These changes absolutely transform the way these bikes ride.

The Herald life style

The whole range seems very well made and the bikes are really enjoyable. At the time of the test ride, all the bikes we tested were due their first service and there was no indication that things had started to come loose and perish before they should.

With the bike being so light and having a decent suspension set up, it handles really well, and makes everything predictable. You can chuck the bike into a corner and know exactly what to expect. It's stable and confidence inspiring which was surprising to us given the price and stigma attached to Chinese important machines. The brakes have plenty of feel, meaning you can brake later and with more confidence than you'd expect.

Birotar Jonjo hugging the corner on the Herald Rambler

The one thing the sales brochure won't tell you is how this bike makes you feel. Is it plain, slow & boring? Completely the opposite, the whole 250cc range oozes attitude, class and bags full of 'look at me'.

From the moment you fire up the bike, the exhaust barks and you automatically slip into the roadster life, it's all about looking and sounding good. For us, coming from large tourers and sports bikes, the 250cc range having just 21bhp means you can really have wide open throttle 90% of the time without breaking the speed limit which is something sports bike riders should save for the track.

Hand full of 'look at me'

The whole range is completely customisable meaning you'd never get bored with the look as Herald stock a whole load of bolt on options to keep your ride looking different.The Herald range proves you don’t always need to have big BHP to have fun and we can see the bikes appealing to anyone from a new rider to an inner city commuter. It's certainly a bike we'd consider having in the garage to pootle around on in any weather or enjoy on a twisty country lane bash.

Herald Nomad - just chillin'

The Specs

Weight(Dry): 130kg

Seat Height: 780mm

Engine: Single Four Stroke

Displacement: 249cc

Max Power: 21bhp

Max Torque: 19.5N.m

Transmission: 5 Speed Manual

Top Speed: 80mph

Fuel Tank: 12L 

We believe that the Herald 250cc range isn't necissarily the the premium choice on the market, but that doesn't mean that it's the cheap one either. Someone looking at the Herald as their next purchase, can rest assured that they are making a unique, authentic and informed choice.

Herald say: "Life is a journey not a destination, so enjoy the ride".

After all, riding a motorcycle is all about having fun, and the 250 range  does exactly that. It puts a massive smile on your face without putting a hole in your pocket.

All the best

BirotarUK 

#BirotarUK

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Photography and videography are ©BirotarUK 2016

TomTom Rider 400 review

Motorcycle satellite navigation - testing the TomTom Rider 400

Map applications on mobile devices have become a popular form of navigation for bikers in recent years. As you already know, mobile phones can be fixed to a bike using various mounts, or they can be kept in your pocket and directions can be listened to via some earphones or a bluetooth headset.

This is great, but what if you want to go overseas? Or If you want to plan a particularly twisty route? Well, that’s where the TomTom Rider 400 comes in.

TomTom Rider 400 - ready for an adventure

Unlike other makes of satnav, the TomTom Rider 400 (let's call it TTR400) allows you to program an unconventional route based on how twisty the road is, or even the altitude! This means you can avoid main roads, and enjoy all those hidden ones that you dream about riding when you’re bored at work.

A screenshot of a lovely twisty road in Northern France

We tested the TTR400 during our recent trip to Italy on our GSXR 1000 (#Bthou on Instagram). We covered approx. 2k miles in 3 days and we discovered that there’s a big difference between using a mobile device and the TTR400.

@Birotar_Max about to set off after checking tyre pressures!

Here are just some of the most obvious differences:

• Battery life
• Device access
• Touch screen ability
• Satellite/mobile signal
• Waterproofing
• Charging
  

After a full charge, the TTR400 lasted for approx. 8hrs and once it was plugged into the charging point on the bike, it didn’t forget our route, which meant there was no faffing around. The TTR400 got well and truly soaked and showed no signs of water ingress. The touch screen usability wasn’t effected by thick soggy gloves and the TTR400 functioned perfectly between -2 – 24 degrees Celsius.

The #Bthou posing just after crossing Mont Blanc

Max, BirotarUK test rider (@Birotar_Max on Instagram), is very good at getting lost. But the TTR400, allowed Max to do the whole journey without taking one wrong turning. This meant that there was no wasted time at the side of the road looking for the correct route. This was thanks to TomTom’s easy-to-follow visual directions on the colour display.
 


Mounting the satnav is super easy thanks to the bike-specific RAM mounting system. This requires some preparation, but once installed, it is a very solid and reliable mount that can be used for a variety of other phones/cameras/satnavs. Preparations to the mount include some cutting of a rubber tube and some minimal bolt/nut adjustment (it took approx 10 minutes to install the RAM mount).

The TTR400 comes with a quick release system, but you can also purchase the anti-theft system for an extra £80. This might be worth considering if you don’t have much space on you to put the satnav away in a pocket. It’s not overly sized, but you’ll notice it in your pocket if you’re stopping for a coffee or going for a stroll.

The moment you pick up the TTR400 you realise that TomTom have worked hard to make this device durable. It’s not so heavy that it will effect your 0-60 times, but you can immediately tell that it s a well constructed device.

The menu, maps and navigation are intuitive and responsive to your movement. The satnav can be used vertically or horizontally, and it will automatically adapt your surroundings with the night and day riding modes.

TomTom Rider 400 night mode

The TTR400 will alert you as you enter an area where speed traps are used, even in France and Italy. The TTR400 will also give you a countdown to the exact location where the cameras are. But we didn’t tell you that!

The TTR400 will tell you the speed in MPH as default, but this can be easily converted to KPH in the settings. We kept the setting to MPH for the duration of the trip, and it was nice to see that the TTR400 gives you a constant reminder of the speed limit and it alerts you when there is a new speed limit approaching.

The #Bthou relieved to be recovered

It was our fault for not being prepared enough, but there was something that disappointed us about the TTR400. On the way down through France on the A26, cruising at the speed limit, the GSXR’s throttle cable failed.  Once pulled over in a lay-by, we discovered that our mobile phones had no signal. We immediately reverted to the TTR for support but unfortunately; there were no emergency service, breakdown or motorcycle dealer information on the device.

The #Bthou being recovered on a rediculous flat bed truck.

This was our own fault completely. We should have written down all the numbers for the emergency services of the countries we would be traveling through, and possibly the break down service details also. But it would have been nice, for TomTom to have thought about emergency situations when loading the software. Fortunately, we were able to walk some distance to access mobile internet and get the bike fixed to continue our journey.

If you are thinking about doing a trip like this, we would highly encourage you take out European break down cover and to bring a spare mobile phone with a sim-card loaded with some credit just in case you get stuck – especially if you are travelling on your own!

Lesson learned!

A big bonus about this satnav is that you automatically receive 'lifetime' maps of Western Europe (45 countries), lifetime TomTom Traffic and lifetime TomTom Speed Cameras - all pre-loaded. It might be worth noting that you can also use this satnav in your car, by purchasing the additional windscreen mount.

Taking all of this into consideration, we can highly recommend the TomTom Rider 400 to any biker looking for a versatile and sturdy navigation system that enables you to reach any european destination, regardless of the weather!

The TomTom Rider price ranges on the package you purchase:

TomTom Rider 40 £249.99 (Lifetime maps of Western Europe (23 countries) and Lifetime TomTom Traffic)
TomTom Rider 400 £269.99 (Lifetime maps of Western Europe (45 countries), Lifetime TomTom Traffic and Lifetime TomTom Speed Cameras)
TomTom Rider 400 Premium £349.99 (Lifetime maps of Western Europe (45 countries), Lifetime TomTom Traffic and Lifetime TomTom Speed Cameras; as well as a Car Mounting Kit, Anti-Theft Solution and Travel Carry Case)


You can find the TomTom Rider 400 for sale on the Bike Stop website.
Do you have any questions? Comment below!

All the best

BirotarUK 

#BirotarUK

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Max Cook – Round 1 race report

Max Cook – Race Report – MotoStar Moto3 Championship – Round 1 (1/2 April 2016) - Silverstone

‘Max Thrives at 1st Round of BSB at Silverstone’

 
Last year Max made the step up from the FAB-Racing Junior British Championship, which races on National Go-kart circuits, to the Aprilia Superteen Championship which was his 1st taste of big bike racing on big circuits.  Last year Max rode historic circuits like Brands Hatch and Donington Park, but despite competing in 20 races, in 2 championships, he never got to ride Silverstone, much to his disappointment.  However it all changed this weekend as Max could tick off Silverstone GP Circuit from his list and experience the same stretch of tarmac as the MotoGP riders have in the last few years.

There was a mixture of nerves and excitement going into the 1st round as Max was really looking forward to being re-united with the team and getting back on the moto3, but there were also lots of unknowns, like the circuit, level of competition and riding in front of lots of spectators (plus Live television).  This was all new to Max, but he dealt with it in his typical laid back and professional manner.   Max also had his mentor, coach and friend, Danny Webb (Ex-professional GP rider and Isle of Man TT rider) with him this weekend for support. 

With all things considered, the objective for Max was to have a solid weekend, enjoy the experience, learn the circuit, place top 15 and achieve a dry lap-time of 2:25sec – 2:26sec.
 
Practice Session

Practice was on Friday morning and the conditions were not ideal. The track had been closed for some time due to oil spillage, it was wet and cold. Max managed 2 laps before a culmination of track conditions, bike and rider inexperience resulted in a highside crash at Stow. Max was ok and the bike suffered minor damage, but it was disappointing as Max needed to learn the circuit and track time was precious because the next session went straight into Qualifying!

Qualifying 1

With the bike back together and conditions improving, Max went out for his 1st of 2 qualifying sessions on Friday afternoon. The track was dry and bike felt good, Max upped his pace and started learning the circuit. The best lap-time he could achieve was a 2:29s which put him in 35th out of 47 riders. Sadly the lack of laps from practice meant Max didn’t learn circuit and put him on the back foot. However the positives were; max did learn the circuit quickly and the team had good usable data, which meant everyone was positive a significant improvement would be found in second qualifying session the next day.

Qualifying 2

Going to bed the previous night Max felt confident he would wake to a dry day – sadly this was wrong as the heavens opened early in the morning which meant the second qualifying session was wet!  None of the riders on track could improve their times from the Friday, so the grid for Race 1 in afternoon remained the same.  The good news for Max was he placed 21st out of 47 riders in that session and was immediately comfortable on the Dunlop Wets that he had never ridden before.

RACE 1 (8 laps)

For Race 1 Max was 35th on grid, which put him 13 rows back from the front. The conditions were still wet, but the rain had stopped. Taking advice from the Danny and the team, Max just needed more laps, finish the race and improve his grid position. 

When the lights went out Max had a great start and immediately made up 5 positions by the 1st corner.  By lap 3 Max had made up a further 5 places to 24th.  Max continued to push and the lap-times began to tumble.  By lap 6 Max was in 20th and hunting down a group of riders ahead of him. As the track dried Max was able to pass the group of riders ahead of him into 17th position. On the last lap the rider ahead of him fell at the last corner which gave Max an overall placing of 16th out of 47 riders. However, because the Northern European Moto3 Championship were sharing the BSB race, the riders in that class were removed from the BSB result which meant that Max actually finished in 12th position and secured him 4 valuable championship points.  

Max was so happy after this race as he felt competitive and it was so much fun overtaking and battling through the field. After the race Max spent lots of time with Danny and the team going through the race, bike telemetry, circuit etc and were very confident that between Max and the Bike more could be found for the second race the following day.

RACE 2

What a difference a day makes!  Sunday brought out the fans and spectators. After finding his mojo on the bike and feeling confident Max was excited to race in front a few thousand people. His grid position had also improved from his race yesterday and he was on Row 6 in 16th place.

Again Max got a good start and ran with the leading group of riders for the 1st few corners.  Max was then avoiding falling riders as 6 riders fell in front of Max, which propelled him to 11th place after the 1st lap. Max was in a group of 3-4 riders for a few laps and his lap times improved lap on lap which enabled him to pull away, which put him into 8th place overall.  Max continued to push throughout the race, despite being on his own, and managed to achieve a brilliant lap-time of 2:24s which was better than his target for weekend. At the end of the race he finished 8th overall and when the Northern European Moto3 class were removed it placed Max in a fantastic 6th place.

With both races combined Max is joint 8th in the BSB Championship. For Max to place this highly after his 1st race weekend in the class, at an unknown circuit with tricky conditions, was simply outstanding and shows the potential Max has.

Max:“At the moment I feel absolutely brilliant. After a tough start to the weekend I thought I’d do well to come away with a couple of points, but to come away in the top 10 and have 14 points is awesome. During the races I just wanted to get my head down and do my best, but enjoy it as well. The circuit was new to me and to begin with was pretty scary, as most of the corners are really fast and I’ve never ridden a circuit like it, but once I got used to it I absolutely loved it, especially in the dry. I’m looking forward to seeing MotoGP here later this year as I sort of know what they have to deal with.  

The bike was awesome all weekend and Gary, Stefan, Trick and Andy from Kais Suspension did a great job improving it over weekend and fixing it for me when I crashed on Friday, so a massive thanks to them. It was awesome having Danny with me this weekend, he taught me so much and gave me more confidence, so a huge thanks to him as well”

Overall this was an amazing 1st round, which is a solid start to start building for the remainder of year.

A huge thank you to all of Max sponsors for help and continued support for this season.

Stay tuned for more as we cover Max's racing season! Well done Max, and good luck for the next round.


Please share if you enjoyed reading this!

All the best

BirotarUK 

#BirotarUK

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