Welcome to the Bike Safe Newsletter 2/2009.

I would like to thank all those that attended the first Bike Safe presentation on 25^th November 2009.  With over 30 people attending it was a great success.  I hope that even if you left with a small amount of information then it was a worthwhile experience.  My hope is that you leave the sessions with those prompts in mind and next time you are out riding they force you to think about some of the safety issues that occur.
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As the jolly big man in the red suit (Ducati racing leathers that is) prepares to wheel our new toys under the Christmas tree it’s a good time to reflect on the year we’ve had.

It’s been a big year for MATES. We’ve launched a website, been presented with a Road Safety award, we’ve made many new friends both here in Australia and around the world, we’ve managed to touch the lives of many people and we’ve seen a decrease in the number of people killed from motorcycle crashes here on the Gold Coast - and we’d like to think we contributed to that.

We want to thank all the people that have made it all possible, all our supporters, our subscribers and readers, management, the authorities that we work with and of course the motorcycling community as a whole. Without the support we get from all these people and organisations we could not do the work we do.

At this time of year we see an increase in traffic on our roads, and a disproportionate increase in the risks we face. When we throw alcohol, fatigue and inattention into the mix with people in a party mood it gets even more dangerous, so play it safe out there and as motorcyclists we all need to bare in mind that the road users we are surrounded by may not be as alert and attentive as we expect. We want you all to come back to us next year !

We wish each and every one you, your families and your friends, a very happy and safe Christmas, and a wonderfully successful new year. And if you’re out riding, stay safe and enjoy!

MATES Administration

As responsible motorcyclists we should remember an old saying which would fit here perfectly ..

Mates don’t let Mates drink and ride !

Ride safely, celebrate Christmas responsibly … have fun and look out for each other and hope you and your families have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

See you all in 2010 …

Paul

I am a new rider and recently had a new back tyre fitted to my bike. I was warned to be very careful before leaving the tyre place, as new tyres are still quite slick even after being wiped down with acetone.

On exiting the driveway I lent the bike over, hit the gas and watched as the bike spun out from underneath me. (more…)

For those of us with little aspiring motorcycle champions the news that Honda Motorcycles and former National Motocross/Supercross Champion Lee Hogan have teamed up to launch “MotoKids” in 2010 is certainly good news.

The program is already gaining widespread coverage, and rightly so.
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Sunday morning started out as many do for me - 04:45 awake and walk the dogs in the park.

At 0730 I woke my 18 year old step son. His first pillion ride on a motorcycle and it was to be a grand entry - near 1000 bikes in a slow parade around Ipswich in aid of the Salvation Army through the good work of the Lockyer Ulysses Club (Ipswich).
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As a rider and a driver I like to think I’m motorbike aware.

I have a 6 year old daughter, Lola, who will will one day grow up to be a driver and maybe a rider. I decided to plant the seed of motorbike awareness in Lola by making a game out of spotting the motorbike first.

Lola loves this game and even keeps score!

Enjoy the ride…

These days we are often exposed to negative stories in the media about motorcyclists.

As a non-motorcyclist myself, I have come to know and respect many motorcyclists and through my association with them, have come to learn about lots of good stuff they do!

It has come as somewhat of a surprise to me, to find out how many good, decent things motorcyclists do for the community.
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Kawasaki has announced details of the “all new” 2010 model 1400GTR ABS.

The 1400GTR ABS is Kawasaki’s flagship sports-touring motorcycle and is a showcase for the latest in Kawasaki’s road going technology. The new model builds on the success of its predecessor and incorporates a host of upgrades and improvements designed to deliver both impressive performance and comfortable long-distance touring potential.
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A midweek run to Kyogle via Boonah and back up through Murwillumbah and Tomewin, was a great way to get rid of the cobwebs and clear the head.

The normal suspects and a few imports (Ibis, Action, Big Arms, Barree and Tojo) and the normal variety of Cruisers and sports bikes left from Mudgeeraba at 8.30am (we don’t get away early, do we) and headed west  along the normal route to Beaudesert.
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