The Nod could be a reference to the greeting that motorcyclists give each other as they pass – sometimes a wave, sometimes a symbol or hand gesture or sometimes a nod. Click here for tips on doing the motorcycle wave.
Charley, who famously rode around thew world on three major journeys depicted in book ad TV series with Star Wars actor and longtime pal Ewan McGregor, is this time joined by bike builder Ant Partridge and mean’s health advocate Ben Bowers.
Their new motorcycle culture and mental health podcast is being launched through Motorcycle News and Bauer Media with audio episodes on Apple and Spotify and video episodes on the Motorcycle News YouTube Channel.
Each episode will feature a guest and we suspect Ewan will be near the top of the list.
While he is not yet confirmed, those who will feature include include former F1 driver Damon Hill, Briths actor Grace Webb, artist D*Face and six-time British Superbike champion, and MotoGP and WSBK racer Shane (Shakey) Byrne.
The show will centre around the love of motorcycles, but also also delve into themes of wellbeing and mental health as they look to normalise and empower conversations.
After putting up a special Triumph-themed Gibson guitar and Gibson-themed Triumph Bonneville as a major fundraiser prize for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, the companies have turned the amp up to 11.
Now they are offering three signed guitars as runner-up prizes for the 10th annual event on May 22. In the past nine years more than 100,000 riders in over 900 cities across the world have raised more than $US31 million for men’s mental health and prostate cancer awareness.
The major prize this year is a 1959 Legends Custom Edition Gibson Les Paul with Triumph design details and a 1959 Legends Custom Edition T120 Bonneville with Gibson design references.
The guitar has a hand-coach-lined pickguard inspired by the Bonneville’s trademark engine fins, and etched pick-up covers, branded truss rod cover and reissue switch backplate.
Gibson’s Triumph tribute
Triumph’s Bonneville T120 Gibson tribute features a hand-painted sunburst paint scheme like the Gibson with black painted guitar neck and headstock shape, edged with hand-painted coach lining, plus a host of branded touches.
Triumph Bonneville T120 Gibson edition
They form the major prize for the best fundraiser at this year’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, a global charity for men’s mental health and prostate cancer awareness and fundraising.
The collaboration makes a lot of sense as many old rockers love their Bonnevilles and probably suffer from prostate issues!
And late last year Triumph Motorcycles announced it will continue its nine-year association with DGR for five more years.
Now, the companies have turned their amps up to 11 to offer more prizes for the DGR.
The three additional guitars are each signed by a famous musician, and each with a custom painted guitar case inspired by a legendary Triumph rider. The “Saints of Speed” custom guitar cases will be painted by the world-renowned guitar artist James Willis.
Gentlefolk Prize (open to participants raising over $US250)
Epiphone J-200
Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ J-200 guitar, signed by American country music star Big Kenny
Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by James Willis
Highest Team Triumph Global Fundraiser
Epiphone SG
Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ SG Standard guitar, signed by Canadian musician Clayton Bellamy of The Road Hammers
Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by James Willis
Spirit of ’59 Prize (open to participants raising over $US59)
Epiphone ’59
Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ 1959 Les Paul Standard guitar, signed by English rock legend, Billy Duffy of The Cult
Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by James Willis
Donated to support The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, in its global charity efforts to raise awareness and funds in support of men’s mental health and prostate cancer, each of the Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ guitars pays homage to a Gibson music legend and each comes with the signature details and features that made them famous.
The custom hard case that comes with each guitar will be painted by famed Nashville guitar artist, James Willis, as part of a new “Saints of Speed” numbered series of custom cases, each commemorating a legendary Triumph rider. Willis is a multi-bike Triumph owner and will be participating in this year’s Gentleman’s Ride on his Scrambler 1200 XC motorcycle.
Further celebrating the connection between music and motorcycles, the guitars will be signed by musicians that are also passionate riders, each participating in this year’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. The Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ J-200 will be signed by American country music artist Big Kenny, of Big & Rich. The Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ SG Standard will be signed by Canadian recording artist Clayton Bellamy of The Road Hammers. The Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ 1959 Les Paul Standard will be signed by English rock musician Billy Duffy of The Cult.
These additional prizes allow the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride to further support fundraising across the world by rewarding fundraisers in unique categories, including the annual Gentlefolk prize, eligible for participants which raise over $US250. New prize categories for 2022 will be the Spirit of ’59 category, for any rider which raises over $US59, and the Team Triumph prize, for the highest fundraiser that has joined the official Triumph team or a Triumph dealership’s fundraising team.
Gibson Guitars and Triumph Legends Custom Cases
Numbered “Saints of Speed” series custom guitar cases, each commemorating a legendary Triumph rider of the winner’s choosing, will be hand painted by famed Nashville guitar artist James Willis.
The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 is a stunning homage to the King of the Flat-Tops – the world-famous Gibson™ SJ-200. Since its introduction in 1937 it has been the choice of “singing cowboys” like Tex Ritter and Gene Autry, as well as folk, rock and country royalty, including Emmylou Harris, Elvis, Jimmy Page, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, The Edge, and many more. Featuring a Super Jumbo non-cutaway solid figured maple body, solid Sitka spruce top, and two-piece maple neck with a mahogany centre strip, the Epiphone J-200 is built with all solid woods for outstanding tone. The visual elements have always been a big part of the J-200’s appeal, and the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 includes a Moustache™ bridge with curved block inlays, Crown headstock inlay and Graduated Crown mother of pearl fingerboard inlays, and a J-200 style pickguard with two-colour graphics.
The Epiphone SG Standard from the new Inspired by Gibson Collection, recreates the legendary 1960s classic that powered the first generation of hard rock and heavy metal bands including The Who, Cream, AC/DC, and Black Sabbath. The guitar features the historic SG profile with “batwing” pickguard, a pair of Epiphone’s Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers, and 18:1 ratio Epiphone Deluxe Tuners. This Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Original model also has the Kalamazoo headstock, rolled neck for a comfortable feel, GraphTech NuBone nut, era-appropriate wiring, and CTS pots. Optional hardshell or EpiLite Case is available.
Made in partnership with the Gibson Custom Shop, the Limited Edition 1959 Les Paul Standard is Epiphone’s stunning recreation of the rare vintage classic. Featuring a mahogany body with a maple top with a AAA figured maple veneer, comfortable 1959 hand-rolled neck profile with long neck tenon, aged finish, Gibson USA BurstBucker 2 & 3 humbucking pickups, Switchcraft selector switch and output jack, CTS pots, 50s era wiring, Mallory capacitors, non-beveled pickguard, new Epiphone Deluxe vintage tuners, and a vintage-style brown hard case. It also comes with an Epiphone Limited Edition metal medallion toggle switchplate.
Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Prize Summary
Highest Global Fundraiser
‘1959 Legends’ custom edition Triumph Bonneville T120 motorcycle and Gibson Les Paul Standard Reissue guitar
Hedon x DGR Kingpin Helmet
ELF Prize Pack
2nd Highest Global Fundraiser
Triumph Thruxton RS motorcycle
Hedon x DGR Hedonist Helmet
ELF Prize Pack
3rd Highest Global Fundraiser
Triumph Speed Twin 1200 motorcycle
Hedon x DGR Hedonist Helmet
ELF Prize Pack
Gentlefolk Competition 1st Prize (open to participants raising over $US250)
Triumph Bonneville Bobber motorcycle
Hedon x DGR Hedonist Helmet
Gentlefolk Competition 2nd Prize (open to participants raising over $US250)
Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ J-200 guitar, signed by country artist Big Kenny
Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by artist James Willis
Highest Team Triumph Global Fundraiser (includes Triumph Dealer fundraising teams)
Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ SG Standard guitar, signed by Canadian artist Clayton Bellamy
Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by artist James Willis
Spirit of ’59 Prize (open to participants raising over $US59)
Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ 1959 Les Paul Standard guitar, signed by English rock legend, Billy Duffy of The Cult
Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by artist James Willis
a global charity for men’s mental health and prostate cancer awareness and fundraising.
Victorian riders are invited to attend a motorcycle safety forum next month to pass on to the State Government.
The forum on 19 May 2022 during National Road Safety Week has been organised by the Victorian Chapter of the Australasian College of Road Safety.
They have invited motorcycle riding group representatives and riders to attend.
College spokesman Dr Tana Tan says the collated input will be submitted to the Victorian Government “for their consideration as they develop the motorcycle safety strategy”.
Aussie Harley riders are being invited to ride their bikes and win the ultimate prize of a trip for two to Harley’s Homecoming event later this year in its hometown of Milwaukee.
The competition is running until September and riders and non-riders can participate in chances to earn virtual badges to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win the grand prize.
Official Rules, program and prize details and more information regarding The Road to Harley-Davidson Homecoming Challenge, download the Harley-Davidson App, or visit H-D.com/ride.
You can compete and earn patches by taking riding challenges such as retracing your first ride, or riding various set distances or routes.
Share them on social media and you earn extra patches to go in the prize draw.
The competition is also open to non-riders who can take part by participating in various polls and surveys, quizzes about Harley product, or simply by calling in to a Harley dealer.
The ride’s call to action “Just Ride!” asks women to be on their motorcycles or powered two and three-wheelers on the first Saturday of May each year.
IFRD was created in 2007 by Vicki Gray, a lifetime motorcycling advocate, road, and race instructor.
Her purpose is to profile and highlight the many diverse female riders, build awareness and strive for parity for women in motorcycling.
Many motorcycle manufacturers are promoting the day, including Harley which has long marketed to women as a growth area given they are half the population but represent less than 20% of riders. In Australia it’s as low as 12%.
Another company promoting heavily to women and encouraging them to ride on IFRD is Can-Am, the makers of the three-wheeled Spyder and Ryker roadsters.
Women with the Can-Am Ryker
They have organised rides and ambassadors in Australia, the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
CanAm Global Consumer Public Relations Brian Manning says that because of their focus on growing female ridership, Can-Am is heavily involved.
“We have rides lined up all over the world plus a call-to-action out to our owners to hit the streets that day,” he says from Quebec.
“We anticipate a lot of love from women coming together to celebrate their mutual passion for riding.”
One of the biggest hurdles to riding often quoted by women is the fear of dropping a bike and not being able to pick it up.
It’s not an issue with a three-wheeler … and of course it’s not an issue if you learn properly and don’t drop the bike.
However, it remains a hurdle that doesn’t exist for the Can-Am Spyder family.
Consequently, Can-Am claims a much higher proportion of female owners than any other brand.
More than 38% of their entry level three-wheeled Can-Am Ryker owners are female.
It’s about double the number of women who ride in the USA and about three times the female involvement in motorcycling in places such as Australia and Europe.
Can-Am’s success is the envy of other motorcycle companies which are gradually realising they should be targeting the forgotten half of the population.
That’s why they are organising rides for IFRD on May 7:
In Sydney, Can-Am Ambassador Helen Chik, editor of the popular lifestyle magazine, Grazia, will be riding her Ryker alongside others to celebrate the day.
Helen with her Ryker
Canada
In Ontario, Olympic Games gold medalist and member of the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team, Natalie Spooner, will join TV host, Sherry Holmes, for a group ride that’s open to Can-Am owners.
In Los Angeles, Can-Am ambassador, actress and model, Karrueche Tran, will host a ride with Can-Am Spyder and Ryker owners.
In 28 other cities around the U.S., the US Spyder Ryders owners’ group is holding rides to mark the occasion.
In the UK, Can-Am ambassador, Sophie Morgan, will be riding her Can-Am Ryker with others to take part in the day’s efforts.
In Lausanne, Switzerland, the Can-Am team based out of the BRP office there will be taking to the streets to celebrate.
In Germany, the Ladies Riding Class community, which counts about thirty members, will also hit the road for the occasion.
Latin America
In Puerto Rico, singer-songwriter, Calma Carmona, will also participate in a “GRRRL Ride” event behind the handlebars of her Can-Am Ryker.
Can-Am is inviting all women riders to “Just Ride” on May 7 to celebrate IFRD along with these riders. If you do, use #IFRD2022 to be part of the movement!
Click here for more about the Can-Am Women of On-Road program and the brand’s participation in IFRD.
Here’s your chance to own some amazing motorcycle memorabilia including helmets owned by famous racers such as Mike Hailwood, Joe Dunlop and Marco Simoncelli.
The contents of the Phil Morris Road Racing Museum, one of the world’s largest collections of motorcycle racing memorabilia and motorcycle spares is to be offered by Bonhams in an online auction from Monday April 18 to May 3.
Phil was a schoolboy trials racer who graduated to four-wheels competing in the RAC Rally.
He is known in British racing circles as a sponsor and team owner and started collecting motorcycle memorabilia in the 1970s.
In 2001 added machines to the mix when he bought back his first Ariel.
Phil set up a dedicated space for the collection in 2007 when it had outgrown his home and his then wife’s patience. Forty to sixty people would visit every Thursday until the doors closed with the first lockdown last year.
His collection is one of the world’s largest arrays of rare sets of spares, matching helmets and leathers for the GP bikes, Moto 2 and Moto 3 motorcycles, raced, worn and won by some of the most famous names on two wheels, such as Phil Read, Joey Dunlop, Mike Hailwood and Kenny Roberts.
More than 330 lots are offered in the online sale, running from Phil’s Museum in Oswestry, dubbed ‘The Church’ by Isle of Man TT rider Rob Barber.
The auction follows the successful sale of racing motorcycles in Phil’s collection in the 2021 Autumn Stafford Sale.
The 2022 Australian Touratech open day will be held at the company’s newly renovated Adventure Centre at Carboor, in Victoria’s beautiful and adventurous high country on May 28.
In the past, the event has been held in Myrtleford or Bright, Victoria, and over the perevious two years it was cancelled by the pandemic.
The Adventure Centre is at 1933 Carboor Everton Rd, Carbour, where you can learn all about the German company’s latest adventure accessories, camping goods, riding gear and other products.
You can also sharpen your off-roading skills with help from the experts and meet like-minded adventurers and hear their stories.
More details on activities, guests and the overall schedule will be available soon.
Meanwhile, you can register your interest by clicking here.
They usually arranged some interesting routes to get you to the venue on some of the region’s best roads.
We have included the routes from last year – one from the north starting in Albury, the other from the south starting in Mansfield.
Specialised routes to the Aussie Touratech Open Day:
Back in black
The famed German motorcycle accessory company was bailed out of a voluntary insolvency in 2017 after an increased demand in sales saw them unable to fulfil many orders – attributed mostly to the late completion of their new factory and showroom.
The new owner is interior design and accessory manufacturer Happich who took over on January 1, 2018.
Hardcore fans of German off-road riding have been hanging out for this one — the announcement of the 2022 BMW GS Safari Enduro event.
For more than two decades BMW Motorrad Australia has been operating road and off-road tours for customers, called safaris.
A fe years ago they split the GS Safari into a road/off-road tour and a hardcore off-road tour with special training requirements.
This year they also added a special “cruisy” safari option called the ‘SoulFuel Escape’ earlier this month for owners of their new R 18 cruisers and R nineT naked bikes.
But for the hardcore off-roading fan, the S Enduro Safari is the peak of adventure, challenge and fun.
The 2022 BMW GS Safari Enduro begins with our Pre-Safari dinner at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in the Central West NSW Town of Dubbo and ends seven days later in South Australia’s wine country at the Barossa Valley.
Bunyeroo Gorge in the Flinders Ranges
The mainly off-road route includes three days riding around the Flinders Ranges, including Wilpena Pound, Cameron Corner, Strezlecki Track, White Cliffs, Tibooburra and Arkaroola, staying two nights at Arkaroola Village.
The event is open only to skilled GS riders and you can sharpen your skills at a two-Day BMW GS Off Road Training Pre-Safari course, in Dubbo, before the Safari.
Ridewrs will need to be able to ride these big Bismarks through sand, so only the skilled and brave need apply.
Riders will be tackled with support vehicles and a luggage truck.
Registrations open on April 21, but you better be quick as places are limited and they go quickly. Click here to register.
The family of champion sidecar racer and world-renowned motorcycle engineer Lindsay Urquhart will race at this year’s Historic Winton in May.
Lindsay has attended the event every year since it started in 1977 and this year his son Rob will race a 1924 Indian Altoona and grandson Daniel will be on a 1922 Anzani at the event on 28-29 May.
He says his love for motorcycles has now spanned five generations of his family as his father was involved racing.
“Even my great grandsons are into bikes now, but they ride the little ones still,” he says.
Lindsay Urquhart and grandson Daniel (Photo by PeterBirthisel)
Lindsay competed on all the great tracks of Europe and in 1956 returned home to win the Australian Racing Sidecar championship for the next seven years.
“I worked in the UK for a year at Associated Motorcycles, who owned Norton and AJS, which led to me returning home and winning the national title on a Manx Norton,” he says.
“Competing in Europe set me up well, with the other sidecar racers expecting me to be faster, since I’d been well-practised after racing overseas.
“In one year, I competed in 16 race meetings across Europe.
“An important advantage was that I always had a reliable bike and the knowledge of how to fix it myself.”
Lindsay Urquhart (Photo by PeterBirthisel)
Urquhart said that it was a bit rough touring around in an early campervan, having to keep the bike serviced, getting to the next country in time and sleeping in tiny booths in the van.
“Racing informed my engineering of motorcycles and was a big advantage in designing and improving form,” he says.
Overseas and in Australia, Urquhart was a leader in motorcycle design and now in retirement, prepares racing motorcycles for his family.
Spectators can meet Lindsay Urquhart and his family and see his flawless racing motorcycles in the competition paddock of Historic Winton.
As well as two days of historic motorbike racing action, 45th Historic Winton celebrates 120 years of Norton and Triumph Motorcycles with displays at the event.
Tickets to Historic Winton are now available online from ticketebo.com.au/historicwinton .
2022 TICKET PRICE DETAILS
Online Tickets: Adult: $35 per day / Kids 17 and under free / Programs: $10
Tickets at Gate: Adult: $45 per day / Kids 17 and under free / Programs: $10
Camping is $50/person/weekend (max of 4 per site) when booking online. $55/person/weekend at the event gate. Camping enquiries should be directed to Winton Motor Raceway Ph: 03 5760 7100.
For accommodation, please contact Enjoy Benalla at 03 5762 1749, https://www.enjoybenalla.com.au/ or [email protected] .
More information can be found at https://www.historicwinton.org/ or on the Historic Winton Facebook page.
Kawasaki is celebrating the Z 50th Anniversary at the event on the Easter weekend of 16-17 April 2022.
The Broadford Bike Bonanza is run by the Museum and Heritage committee of Motorcycling Australia.
Organising committee member and longtime Z fan Shaun Lennard says the Z1 50th Anniversary will be a highlight of the 2022 Broadford Bike Bonanza which was one of the first events cancelled in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Shaun Lennard
The 2021 event was also abandoned.
“But for Easter 2022, the Broadford Bonanza is back, and making the Z1 Anniversary a key part of it makes the event even more special,” he says.
The Z1 was one of the most iconic bikes of the 1970s and starred in the first Mad Max film as well as Stone.
Kawasaki Motors Australia spokesman Robert Walker says the Z family of bikes “shaped motorcycling in Australia”.
“The Z1 was the first of our machines to bear the Z moniker,” he says.
“Through the years, Z motorcycles have established themselves as icons of performance and style.
“The 1972 Kawasaki 900 super4 (Z1) is embedded in motorcycling history.”
Kawasaki Z900RS and Z900RS Cafe
The current Z line-up includes the pocket-sized Z125 Pro, the learner-approved Z650, Z900, the retro Z900RS, the Z1000, the supercharged Z H2 and the new addition for 2022, Z650RS.
The 50th Anniversary Edition models, Z650, Z650RS, Z900, Z900RS, come in heritage colours “Incandescent Fireball” and “Firecracker Red”.
Organisers are aiming to attract not only a large number of Z1s, Z1As, Z1Bs and Z900s for display, but are also hoping the event will draw a wide range of all Z-series bikes, from Z250s to Z1300s.
You can find out more via the Broadford Bike Bonanza’sFacebook page.
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