Blackstar

Blackstar is a GPS based app that is really designed for hikers and mountain bikers, but the range of features on this little app means that it will come in really useful for motorcyclists too.

With the usual details on your current latitude, longitude, direction speed and altitude, as well as distance to your destination, the app also keeps track of geocache locations in your vicinity (if you’re into that). There are links through to your mapping apps and the latest weather, which keeps everything you might need handy.

For me, though, the killer feature is what the makers call Track Management functionality. With this, you can record, save, and export your rides, perfect for recording and sharing a rideout with mates, organising a trip or just to check where you’ve been.

N.B. Not all Blackberries have GPS, and some of those that do won’t let apps access it, so if you don’t have one of those, this app will not work as intended.

CarFinder

Don’t be put off by the name! Sometimes it can be hard to remember where you’ve parked your bike too, whether you’re at a crowded meet, or if you just need to find your way back to your parking spot in an unfamiliar city.

This free app does just what it says in an intuitive way, and you have the option of using a compass/radar type arrangement, or Blackberry Maps overlay to help you accomplish your mission.

Again this app relies on your phone having built in GPS, so check that it does.

Yelp

Yelp is an app that helps you find the best places to hang out, and track down local businesses with ease, wherever you might be. This app is also available for Android and iPhone, which means that the userbase is pretty big, and therefore more useful, given that it is user powered.

Find a cafe nearby that’s open right now and has favourable reviews? Easy. Find the nearest petrol station when you’re running low? No problem. And, of course you can write a review of the biker-friendly pub you visited last week, to help others find it too.

Another free app, and another that requires GPS.

MileageMeter

Everyone is trying to save fuel these days, and this app, which sells for $3.99 will help you to keep track of how often you’re filling up, as well as how economically you are riding. You can track up to 20 vehicles at once, so if you have more than one bike, you can compare your fuel efficiency across all of them, as well as your car.

Drive Carefully

Another app that comes at my favourite price – free. This app will save you from being unnecessarily distracted while you are riding, without missing any important messages.

As your text messages and emails come in, Drive Carefully will read them out loud, over your Bluetooth helmet set.

Pro Bike Racing

Gaming fans are quite well catered for on Blackberry, and there are a few bike racing games available. This one scores for its variety of options, you can choose from bikes including Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, & Kawasaki models and race around a variety of circuits.

Help, I Crashed My Car

The final app I want to share is not currently available for the UK, but it should be, and Canadian or American users should download this app right away. Typically, the app is aimed at car users with barely a thought to the fact that the same functionality is useful to any road user.

This app does so much that the best I can do is reproduce the blurb, but the short version is that this app will make sure that, if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a minor accident, you can take care of everything with a minimum of fuss.

While we hope you are not one of the millions that experience an accident Help I Crashed My Car? provides you and your family with access to almost everything you need if you are ever involved in an accident!

Help I Crashed My Car?s provides you and your family with a one-click automated emergency communication system that contacts up to 3 family members, your insurance company, and your preferred body shop. It will even send your shop a map of your accident location so they can respond immediately!

Because of its GPS location technology Help I Crashed My Car? makes it easy for you to locate and contact the closest Police department, Ambulance service, Hospital, Towing Company, Rental Car Company, or auto body shop.

Help I Crashed My Car? also provides you with important information on What to Do if You are Involved in an Accident, What to Look for in a Repairer, and what your Consumer Rights are after you have been in an accident.

Help I Crashed My Car? even provides you with the ability to complete an Accident Report and take, store, and send photos from the scene of the accident. You can then send the accident report to your insurance company and garage!

Best of all, it’s free. Someone please do a UK one!

Summing up, it’s clear that although Blackberry may not have the range of apps available to Apple or Android users, but there is certainly a lot of quality where it counts, so there’s no need for Blackberry users to feel hard done by.

If you have a Blackberry, and think we’ve missed a great application, please do let us, and our readers, know via the comments.

Keep your motobike secure

A brief guide to bike security from motorcycle insurance specialist Bikesure. There are loads of different locks and security systems on the market and some cost a fortune.  But bike theft is a huge issue and bikers need to make their rides secure.  So what’s the best security solution for your motorcycle?

Locks, chains and ground anchors

Big, secure locks and chains are a highly visual deterrent, which is good.  The downside is they’re bulky and heavy, so they’re not easy to transport.  However, avoid carrying them in a backpack.  As well as being a pain to carry, they’ll affect the ride balance.  Worse, if there’s an accident they can cause a nasty injury.  If carrying them is a problem, consider using them when the bike’s at home and disc locks when it’s out and about.   If possible, get a ground anchor installed at home to connect them to. Check out Almax Security Chains for some top products.

Disc locks

They’re handy and effective.  However, they’re a less visible deterrent – so much so that one issue is remembering to unlock them before trying to drive off.  The solution to that is to buy disc locks with a handle bar cable – they’re both an added deterrent and a useful reminder the bike’s still locked up.

Alarms, immobilisers and trackers

Alarms and immobilisers are not a visible deterrent but they are effective and easy to live with – provided they don’t go off at the wrong time.  Trackers, which enable your bike to be traced if it’s stolen, are similarly invisible and convenient.  If you select an electronic security device, make sure to use a professional to fit them.  Gap Security offers a wide range of approved products.

CCTV

Unless it’s a back-up for one of the above, this is probably the worst possible solution.  People can invest thousands in a CCTV systems, then some scallywag pops on a £1.99 balaclava and they can have the bike away before anyone can react.

Safe as houses?

Don’t imagine the bike’s safe once it’s home – most bikes get stolen while they’re sitting outside the owner’s house.  That’s where it gets seen by thieves, night and day.  If a garage is an option, use it.  Whatever, make sure the bike is always left secure.

More info: check out the Thatcham site (www.thatcham.org) for information about security.  These are the guys that do research into how effective vehicle alarms are.

Sold Secure was set up to assess security products and their site, www.soldsecure.com, has loads more info and a catalogue of approved products to download.

Let us know about your best ways to secure your motorbike in the comments below.

Top 5 tips for motorcycle holiday preparation

Motorcycle touring in Japan

1. Plan your route. Allow ample time for unexpected hold ups and allow time for plenty of comfort and rest breaks.
2. Check your bike. Make sure your servicing is up-to-date and give your bike a thorough once over. Don’t forget our essential motorcycle maintenance checklist too.
3. Pack and load your bike. It’s best to take only the bare minimum on a motorcycle holiday. Try and distribute the weight evenly across the bike’s centre of mass. Some essentials to take with you include first aid kit, tool kit, torch and a map.
4. Make sure all your documentation is up-to-date and take it along with you. This includes MOT, insurance, road tax and driving license. If you are travelling abroad you will also need to check you bike insurance covers you in your country of travel, as well as making sure you have with you an EHIC card, passport, travel insurance, breakdown cover and V5 registration doc. It is a legal requirement to be able to produce the original V5 registration document in a number of countries.
5. If you are travelling abroad check the legal requirements for country of travel. Be familiar with local speed limits before you travel, too.

Finally make sure you are dressed in comfortable, weather-appropriate protective clothing and have enough fuel and currency for your journey.

Motorcycle holiday resources we like:

Highland Motorcycle Holidays – Nigel provides self guided tour document of motorcycle holiday routes, hire advice and accommodation in the Highlands.

We’ve been asked to pass on some info about this year’s Get On events taking place at dealers up and down the country. This free event is aimed particularly at first time bikers, or those who are considering their first steps into the world of biking, but seasoned bikers will get something out of the day too, as there is tons of great info and offers on some top kit available from the participating dealerships. Newbies get the opportunity to have a ride for free.

The date for your diary is Saturday 19th June, and the motorcycle industry is hoping for Britain’s largest ever biking open day at showrooms across the country. The aim is to encourage bikers and non-bikers alike to find out more about riding and will offer them the chance to win a variety of amazing prizes. Any biker who brings along a non-biker friend will be entered in to a draw to win some great prizes such as on and off-road riding holidays in Italy and Spain as well as kit from top brands Arai, Weise and BKS.

For those that have never ridden before, they will have the opportunity to find out more about motorcycling and sign up to Get On’s free one hour taster session to experience riding for real. Anyone who signs up will be in with the chance to win a selection of iPads, iPod Nanos and digital cameras.

The National Dealer Open Day is being run by Get On which aims to get more people out on to the open road on two wheels. It offers free rides to anyone over the age of 16 who can register and sign up on their site www.geton.co.uk. 65 dealers across the UK are taking part in the day offering prizes and motorcycling information.

In today’s economic climate, and with increasing traffic congestion and environmental concern, travelling by bike and scooter makes sense for more and more people, so events like this are a great way of helping people consider whether they can swap their metal box for the freedom of two wheels. And with some extra special moped and scooter insurance rates available for new riders from Bikesure, there’s every reason to take someone along and change their outlook on life.

The aim of the game is to survive for as long as possible without being destroyed by enemy cars, who will be trying their hardest to hit you. If you are a biker, this may sound a lot like your average road journey, so I’m expecting you to do well! You can pick up a variety of power ups and time bonuses to help you accumulate a good time.

Every entrant will go into a draw for £1000 and if you record a good enough time, you can win money off your insurance. If you like it, please do pass it on to your friends and family so they can save money on their motorcycle insurance, car insurance or home insurance cover.

The night before… I thought that picking out clothes for the shoot would be the easy bit. I thought wrong! Heels or flats, leggings or jeans, t-shirts or jumpers? So with the clock ticking and still undecided, I packed it all.

The day of the shoot… Waking up in the morning, I was still wondering if I’d packed the ‘right sort of clothes’. Too late now I thought to myself, as I was already running late for work, but somehow found time to throw some more clothes into my already over packed overnight bag.

Arriving at work, the first thing was to check with Sarah and Zavanah to see what they had brought with them. While doing this Grant casually walks by looking slightly more groomed than normal I must say. It wasn’t until later, when he went back for a touch up, I realised he was wearing eyeliner, yes eyeliner.

The time came for me and Zav to get all made up, hair done, make up done, just left with what to wear… In this time, I needed to pop back down to the floor, feeling a little embarrassed all dressed up I tried to make it swift. To boost my confidence a bit more I was greeted with Minty’s kind comment of ‘Do you look like a hooker?’

All ready to go, we made our way outside. Grant was just finishing his shoot and looked like he was loving it! The eyeliner had stayed on well and his smile was as cheesey as ever.

My turn… I walked over to the custom bike and perched awkwardly up against it. The first few shoots I was looking like a rabbit in car headlights but after a minute or so soon started enjoying it. Zav’s was up next. Whilst watching I could feel a slight ache in my jaw from all the ‘try not to make it look but it really is’ fake smiling. Zav looked like she was enjoying herself too and being a bit of a natural in front of the camera looked a lot more comfortable than me. That was until a false nail fell off, don’t panic the photographer said, we can photo shop that in. So, one nail down, we carried on and he snapped away.

With the first part of the shoot over, we made our way back inside for ‘look no. 2’.  Joining us was a Mr Millward, needless to say he didn’t hang around for any make up. Leathers on and he was out.

All ready for the next shoot, we made our way outside again. In the spotlight was James looking like a pro in his biker gear. It appears he opted for the ‘mean’ look. I heard the photographer blurting things like “more happy” at him many a time. By this time the sun was going in, and in true British weather style, the wind picked up too. But like professionals we carried on.

Next up was Pete. Looking lovely in leathers, posing with his bike and sporting a huge smile he was like the perfect model. I’m sure he’d done this before. While Pete was grinning away, the big man himself strolled in. Not feeling too excited about having his own photos done, he happily took the mick out of the other lads.

Zav and me where back up, this time with Millwards bike. Seeing his face while we climbed on his pride and joy, while trying not to knock it over or scratch it with our shoes was, in a word, priceless.

Kev. Firstly find a jacket that fits. It appears Kev had been taking tips from James and decided that the ‘cheese look’ wasn’t for him either. The photographer had a bit of an awkward one here, making sure Kev didn’t appear taller than the building and dealing with his comments. “You look more like a gardener than photographer mate” didn’t go down too well. After Kevs solo shots, I joined him in what looks like a father daughter type picture. I think the word uncomfortable would pretty much describe how we both felt.

After a busy morning we headed in for lunch. Sandwiches, crisps, mini pizzas and orange juice, just what we all needed.

I was now finished for the day, but the afternoon pretty much went the same way. Zav and Chelsea did some fluxbabes shots and I think everyone was pretty happy with the end results.

All in all it was a very enjoyable day, everyone was in good spirits and the rain kept away.

On the 2^nd of May 2010, 12 representatives from Bikesure all ran 10km in the Great East Anglian run for local charity Tapping House Hospice.

The runners and riders for this event were, Kyle “Minty” Benefer (me), Jon “Turbo GT” Mellish, Lee “Booboo” Boughen, Pete “Zilla” Sanctuary, Jon “Ladies Man” Howlett, Peter “Blockhead” Millward, Philippa “Model” Rowing, Robert “Texas Ranger” Walker, Jason “Never ran in my life” Masters, Robert “Skinny Twin” Botting, Thomas “TJ” Warner, and Matthew “Long Legs” Sopp.

In not so perfect preparation for this event, myself and a few other members did absolutely no training whatsoever. In fact the night before the run a few of us and a couple of loyal supporters gathered round my gaff for Fifa, a few beers, and a Chinese. Here is some picture proof…

So as we all woke up on the Sunday morning, with a small hangover and a full belly, we all decided to meet in our local McDonalds for breakfast. Only joking, that would be ridiculous. We decided that we would all start the race in the same area, and keep together as a team. This lasted all of about 20 metres past the start line, where a few of us, not naming names, Blockhead, started walking and we got split up.

Speaking for myself I was very pleased with my initial effort. I got through the first 3km without stopping to walk. Bearing in mind I weigh nearly 16 stone I don’t think my knees could take much more of a pounding. At least that’s what I keep telling people. So as the hordes of serious runners came flying past me, my fellow lazy swine, Jon Howlett, tapped me on the shoulder just as I was about to start running again, and pleaded with me to wait for him. So begrudgingly I did, because I’m nice like that.

So after our easy stroll for 5 minutes, I looked back and saw a geriatric gentleman dressed up as a tomato. At which point I turned to Jon and said “I ain’t get beaten by no tomato, fool”. We quickly started off on another run, and 30 seconds later we hit the wall again, only to find the old boy tomato go straight past us without a bead of sweat on his face, and a cheeky little wave as if to say, see you at the finish line boys.

Not even half way, Jon says to me “My feet hurt. I think these trainers are giving me blisters”. I look down to see parts of his shoes hanging off. Probably not the best footwear if you’re running 10km. So I ask him “Did you find them in a skip on the way up here?” Only to find out that he borrowed the shoes from his Step-Dad, who only uses them for his gardening. Seeing as Jon is such a “Ladies Man” and far too “Trendy” (these are his words by the way) he doesn’t own a pair of running shoes, and therefore had to improvise. Maybe his fashionable plimsolls would have been a better choice.

As we’re doing our best to get round the course, we have our loyal supporters Bunts and Dyer standing around with their tins of Strongy, geeing us up at various different stages of course. This for me, had no positive input at all. I started to wonder, why am I putting myself through so much punishment, why am I not standing with Bunts and Dyer with a Strongy in my hand. Then I remember that Soppy is to blame for arranging this whole fiasco.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and when I get some energy back, I will have my vengeance.

Anyway back to the race. Jon is now running around in just his socks. He hasn’t yet thrown his shoes in the bin where he found them, as he fears he may have a backlash from his Step-Dad for losing his favourite gardening shoes.

I’m going to miss out the middle section of the race as there was really nothing interesting happening. Unless you like to watch, unfit, lazy, fat people struggle a lot. The end of the race couldn’t come round soon enough, and I knew I had a big finish in me. We was in the final 150 metres and by this point I couldn’t be bothered to wait for Jon in his socks any more. Such a whiner.

Anyway, so I started picking up the pace and I was passing all the stragglers and some of the spectators started to cheer me on to the finish. I felt like a million dollars I was nearly there. Finally I had done it. Finished the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, and collapsed flat on my face. Probably shouldn’t have sprinted that last 100 metres. Doesn’t matter anyway, I don’t have to do that ever again.

I completed it, in my eyes, in a very respectable 1 hour and 8 minutes, with no previous training and a few beers the night before. I walked straight past Linford Christie and went to find my fellow Bikesurians to bask in our glory.

This is us after we finished…

And this is how we celebrate…

On a serious note. I think we all enjoyed doing the race, and we all felt a lot better about ourselves and it made us even closer as friends and a team. Most importantly we raised a lot of money (over £600 and counting) for a very worthy cause.

1. Pressure: Check your tyre pressures weekly using an accurate gauge – you can buy them in Halfords for pennies. Remember to do it while the tyres are cold – the pressure will increase as the tyre heats up which will give you an incorrect reading. You should maintain your tyres to the pressure recommended in your manufacturer’s handbook. Your bike will perform better, and be more economical. Incorrectly pressurised tyres contribute to a surprisingly large number of accidents.
2. Integrity: Inspect your tyres for any obvious defects, including any cuts, bulges, rips or foreign objects. Check for signs of uneven wear. If you are in any doubt about the tyres integrity or safety, bin it. Your life is more important than a few quid for a new one.
3. Cap It: Always use valve caps as they will keep dirt and oil away from the valve and give you an additional seal too keep everything airtight.
4. Wheels: Check your wheel rims. If they show signs of warping, cracking or other damage, replace them – they are crucial to keeping your tyre attached to your wheel, and you don’t want to find out they aren’t working properly while you are on the move.
5. Tread: Check that your tread depth is well above the legal minimum of 1mm (for bikes over 50cc). In practise, 2mm gives you a better safety margin and you should start thinking about replacements when your tread gets to this level.
6. Stems: The valve stem is easily damaged, because it sticks out, and can also rub or shear against the wheel rim where it pokes through the hole. Pay particular attention to this area.
7. Direction: Make sure your tyre is fitted the right way round, by checking that the directional arrow is pointing the correct way. It is surprisingly easy to get this wrong if you’re not careful, and this will compromise safety, and cost you more money as your bike will be less efficient.
8. Balance: Have your wheel assembly properly balanced to ensure even wear and maximum economy. This will only cost a few quid and could save loads in fuel costs.
9. Clean: Wipe your tyres with a washing up liquid solution – this will clear away any oil and grease they’ve picked up from our filthy roads – just don’t use the wife’s favourite dishcloth…
10. Buying: Check that, where possible, both of your tyres are made by the same manufacturer with the same tread pattern and rubber. Select the correct type of tyre for your machine – often you’ll have a choice of tyres to suit different conditions and different riding conditions. Your local tyre specialist should be able to help you choose something that meets your needs if you aren’t sure. If you are a four seasons biker you should definitely get a set of specialist winter tyres for the winter months.

I always find a checklist helps me accomplish a task more quickly, so we’ve compiled our tips into an easy to follow list.

Here is Bikesure’s Spring Bike Checklist for getting your bike out of cold storage. You can download a printable version to use as you work through it here.

1. Review any notes you made when you put your bike into winter storage. It can be easy to forget little things like that small part you removed to get a matching replacement and never got around to replacing. It’s easy to lose your notes too, but if you remember tinkering with your bike before you stored it, you’ll hopefully remember what you were doing… If not, best check everything!
2. Did you removed the battery for winter storage? Or perhaps as some people prefer, you just left the negative lead attached? Check and clean the battery terminals before refitting.  A bicarbonate of soda solution works well to clean the terminals.
3. Charge and refit the battery.  Positive lead first!
4. Check / change the oil and filter, and check the grease and other lubricants.
5. Check all cables and lubricate with the specified lubricants.
6. Drain the fuel tank, clean and refill with fresh.  This especially applies if you left it nearly empty during the winter.  An empty tank will have air inside, and that air will have moisture, which will condense out in the cold as water.
7. Check the tyre pressure and wear of tread.  If you had a special winter pressure, remember to change it for summer.  Don’t use a tyre cleaner on bike tyres – it will make them hard and slippery.
8. Check all lights.  Don’t forget the flashing ones!
9. Check brake fluid level and ensure brake pads and shoes aren’t worn.
10. Clean the inside of your helmet with a mild soapy solution and ensure it is dry.  Examine it for hairline cracks.
11. If you put away your winter cover during the summer, air it properly, then store it somewhere warm and dry.  Don’t let yourself suddenly discover it damp or mildewy next winter when you suddenly need it again.
12. Start a new log book for the year and write down your starting mileage – and all the actions you took to get out on the open road again.  Promise yourself that you will keep it up to date this year!

Did we forget anything? Please let us know, and we’ll add it.

Don’t for get you can get printable copies of this checklist, which you are welcome to share with friends.

Other motorbike safety resources:

www.bikesafeshow.co.uk – BikeSafe is a national initiative run by UK police forces to promote better biking, improve the safety of motorcyclists on the roads

www.wairbag.com – This ingenious jacket acts like an in-car airbag system. On falling off your motorbike the the airbag system inflates to protect your neck and torso.