BIKE ME! News

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DVD LAUNCHED

23-Mar-2010

SYDNEY (March, 2010) – Global stuntman, Matt Mingay will launch his new Stuntz Inc. DVD showcasing his pioneering exploits on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Stuntz Inc. Volume 2, launching April 2010 takes you into the hair-raising and sometimes painful world of big screen action and live shows. The soon to be released DVD will initially be available through www.stuntzinc.com.

Global Stuntman Matt Mingay kneeling down like he did when he was Tom Cruise's double

For over a decade Matt has been travelling the world wowing crowds and audiences alike as a professional stunt rider and driver in his Stuntz Inc. shows and with roles in both Hollywood and Bollywood blockbusters. Since mounting a Harley-Davidson, Matt has found a niche in making the American bikes perform like normal motorcycles.

Matt’s new forty seven minute feature takes us through some of the endless shows he and his team perform on a cavalcade of two and four wheel vehicles. While several endless shows seem to end in the allotted forty seven minutes, we cannot blame Matt for this, him being part of the creative team and not like those accountants and other non-creative swill. On a number of Harley-Davidson models, including his Harley-Davidson 1200 Nightster along with a Fat Boy, a Muscle and an Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Matt showcases some of the stunts he has made famous and become synonymous for including circle wheelies, drifting, tank surfing and terminating The Endless.

The once stunt double for Tom Cruise now performs before five million people throughout the year without the opprobrium of being thought a short screaming couch-leaping Scientologist. During the DVD we get a peek in to how he prepares for each performance and what drives the man to do what he does. World renowned stunt rider Carey Hart also gives us some insight as to why he respects Matt so much.

Carey may best sum up Matt’s ability in saying “He (Matt Mingay) can drive or ride the shit out of anything with wheels on it.” This may mean different things to different people, depending on their definition of shit-containing wheeled things, but you have to agree that it saved time researching a less rap-oriented metaphor.

“The DVD has allowed me to give people a real look at what my team and I do when we’re not attempting crazy things with vehicles that aren’t supposed to do them. I love riding my Harley-Davidson and I love performing. I’ve been doing this professionally for 12 years and 33 broken bones and I still can’t get enough of it. I’m so excited about Stuntz Inc. Volume 2 because it’s a chance to share some of the love I have for what I do!” said Matt Mingay.

Here at BIKE ME!, we're totally about broken bones and sharing the love, too; and we want to see pictures of the people whose bones Matt has broken. Unfortunately, the only picture supplied with Matt's press release appears to omit Matt's victims, which just leaves us wanting more. We regard this as a PR masterstroke, and we know you will agree.

Matt’s career has seen him on two and four wheels in some very precarious positions, as those of you who have ever attempted to ride two motorcycles at once will appreciate. Matt plans to continue pushing his own limits and those of his Harley-Davidson 1200 Nightsters in 2010 across numerous events and V8 Supercars rounds nationally.

In the V8 Supercars events, he will be riding four Harley-Davidsons at once in order to stay within the Number of Cylinders rules. We are not sure how he does this, but we think he uses his massive bollocks to control the inner two Harley-Davidsons.

We intend to buy the DVD to find out.

We recommend that you do, too.

THINK OF THE CHILDREN

8-Dec-2009

You can't, can you?

Because, of course, you're thinking about motorcycles. Now's the chance to combine the two.

BIKE ME! member Cameron, whose occupation is some religious thing involving pastoral care of a flock and who rides a Blackbird like forty bastards, has drawn our attention to the Variety Club of Queensland's novel attempt to raise money for sick, disabled and disadvantaged Queensland children.

 
In a nutshell, the plan works like this:
  1. You buy a ticket for fifty bucks.
  2. The money gets given to sick, disabled and disadvantaged Queensland children, and they use it to become well, abled and advantaged
  3. If you're lucky, you get the Fat Boy. We refer to the Harley-Davidson pictured above, not to one of the well, abled and advantaged Queensland children after a lengthy convalescence fuelled by starchy snacks. And what a fabulous motorcycle it is. We are reliably informed that this Softail Fat Boy is classic Harley from the ground up, and that its minimalist boulevard bruiser looks and ergos sit you upright for that unmistakable Harley stance. You know, the stance you have while you're sitting. Riders of other bikes just can't do that.

Sounds like a win-win situation to us. What could possibly go wrong? The answer is nothing, unless you count healthy able children breaking into your house and trying to steal your stuff.

Man up. Get more weapons, and take a punt. Click the pic above or here to get a ticket.

And get one now. The closing date is 24 December 2009, and the draw date is 8 January 2010.

HARLEY COME TO PARTY TWICE

4-Dec-2009

You will all, of course, recall Photo Competition 'Milwaukee' wherein the BIKE ME! Supreme Riding Soviet were chosen to distribute largesse to the masses on behalf of Harley-Davidson back in '08.

Tragically, this resulted in Harley-Davidson losing a shedload of money and having to close Buell and MV Agusta and lay off thousands of workers.

But in a fine display of the animal spirits of businessmen to which Adam Smith referred in The Wealth of Nations, Harley have decided to allow BIKE ME! to distribute the 2009 Harley-Davidson Xmas Giveaway as well.

This year, the prize is even better.

 
 
 

It is tripartite, and comprises:

  • A helmet, which is black and has the words "Harley-Davidson" imprinted on it
  • A jacket, which is black, and has the words "Harley-Davidson" imprinted on it
  • A pair of gloves. They are black gloves, and have the words "Harley-Davidson" imprinted on them
  • Tiger Woods, who is one quarter black and has

Regard the helmet.

Notice its blackness, and the words imprinted on it. Wearing one will probably attract a mate suitable for assisting to propagate your DNA in the future.

Allow your gaze to travel, if you will, to the jacket. It is made from hand-reared cows selected for their Harley-Davidson birthmark, and hand stitched only after the eye fillet was removed to provide a sumptuous repast for the board of Harley-Davidson and their innocent children slaughtered to provide the gloves. (That's the innocent children of the cows, of course. The innocent children of the Harley-Davidson board suffer no such fate, and probably get free motorcycles to boot.)

Ah yes, the gloves. Especially manufactured for Australians, these gloves sport five fingers (the "mainland" style) and come with a full set of instructions as to which one should be donned first under various motorcycle mounting criteria.

"What can I do?", we hear you asking yourself "to prove myself worthy of such booty?"

Listen carefully.

You will have to be a member of the BIKE ME! forums. It's easy. There are instructions on how to join here, and if you are polite no-one will hunt you down and kill you. Not before Christmas, anyway.

And once there you have to find the thread for what we have decided to call Caption Competition Seth, in honour of the leap of faith which Harley-Davidson made in allowing BIKE ME! to give away their stuff again.

Caption Competition Seth will be won by the person who writes the best caption for the below photo of what happened when BIKE ME! member IslandMick fell asleep outside a party being held in a large toolshed.

The prizes will be awarded after Christmas, and announced on this page.

 
Read more about the prize on the Harley-Davidson Australia/NZ web site, where there are even more things to be won, like a trip for two to the Harley-Davidson Museum in the USA.

MOTOGP REPLICA SUZUKI TO BE AUCTIONED

3-Jun-2009

Australian motorcycle enthusiasts will be able to stake their claim for a rare, MotoGP-liveried version of Suzuki's GSX-R1000 in an international charity auction.

Suzuki International Europe is putting the special-edition, 2008 GSX-R1000 up for grabs in a 10-day auction from 25 June, with proceeds split between two major international aid organisations, Riders for Health and Wings for Life.

A replica of Aussie MotoGP ace Chris Vermeulen's machine, the GSX-R1000 is number 7 of the 200 limited edition models built featuring Suzuki's distinctive Blue MotoGP livery and sponsor logos.

The winner of the auction will also receive a limited edition helmet and a VIP package for the German Grand Prix in July.

Two people will enjoy the Sachsenring MotoGP action with grandstand seats, access to Suzuki's corporate hospitality, a pit tour, merchandise and two nights accommodation*. Unless, of course, one of them has a headache or is still angry about that thing you did back in '03, in which case one person will enjoy the action and the other will enjoy her headache.

Vermeulen and team-mate Loris Capirossi will present the winning bidder with their new GSX-R1000 at an official function.

"Our recent Suzuki Victorian Bushfire Appeal received great support from the international motorcycle community," Perry Morison, General Manager, Motorcycles, Suzuki Australia said.

"Now, this international auction gives Australian fans a chance to return the favour and get behind two worthwhile causes by bidding for the sensational prize.

"The MotoGP replica, 2008 Suzuki GSX-R1000 is a superb motorcycle, and a weekend at the German Grand Prix would be one to remember."

Riders for Health is the official aid organisation of the FIM, supporting the development of African nations by providing reliable transport to health workers on the continent. Personally, we wouldn't want to live in a country where the ambulances are motorcycles, but we applaud the hardness of those who do.

The Wings for Life Spinal Research Foundation works to support and accelerate the scientific advancement and medical research of healing a paraplegia in consequence of spinal injury ("SCI"). We guess paraplegia in consequence of spinal injury has just as much right to be known as SCI as Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have to be known as FARC, and we here at BIKE ME! applaud whoever thought of this abbreviation.

Bidding on the limited-edition Suzuki GSX-R1000 starts at 7:30pm Thursday 25 June, (Central European Daylight Saving Time), wrapping up on Sunday 5 July.

The auction can be found at www.ebay.de/starsandcharity.

We note that the page is in German, and here at BIKE ME! we learned all our German from old movies, limiting our vocabulary to "Where are the plans, old man?" and "For you, the war is over." Accordingly, we can make no sense of the page. Some-one appears to want to durchzuführen us, and we are unsure as to whether to punch them in the mouth or admire their motorcycle.

We'll probably do both.

* German Grand Prix package excludes travel.

SUZUKI ADDS C109RT TO BOULEVARD RANGE

2-Jun-2009

Giving riders even more choice, Suzuki has expanded its popular Boulevard cruiser range, welcoming the new Suzuki Boulevard C109RT to Australia.

The sixth model in Suzuki's Boulevard line-up, the Boulevard C109RT is set to stand out from the crowd.

White wall tyres, a distinctive two-tone Red / Black livery and a studded seat complement the Boulevard C109RT's classic, sweeping lines and chrome-plated finishes.

A 19-litre fuel tank offers an extended touring range, while passenger footboards enhance an already comfortable riding experience. The 'T' stands for 'touring'.

 

The new Boulevard C109RT is a variant of the popular Boulevard C109R cruiser, introduced as a new model to Suzuki's Boulevard line-up in 2008.

An all-new concept, the Boulevard C109R combines Suzuki's revered, biggest-displacement production engine and advanced technology with timeless, classic cruiser styling in a unique package. Did we say  the 'T' stands for 'touring'? Sorry. The 'T' stands for 'timeless'.

Packed with advanced technology, the Boulevard C109R is powered by a 1783cc, DOHC, 54 degree V-Twin engine, delivering impressive torque throughout a huge power band. The  'T' stands for 'torque'. Timeless torque, that is.

The engine features massive 112mm forged aluminium pistons and a unique two-stage cam drive system, while Suzuki's Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) fuel injection system ensures smooth power delivery.

Complementing the potent engine, the classic power cruiser incorporates a range of extra features to put the Boulevard C109R ahead of the pack.

A high-tensile, double-cradle steel frame and suspension system with telescopic front forks and a rear swingarm with a preload-adjustable shock absorber deliver a comfortable ride and agile handling.

Braking performance is enhanced by a new combined system, which applies the rear brake and partial front brake when the rear brake lever is applied.

More traditional than the Suzuki's Boulevard 'M' line of muscle cruisers, the Boulevard C109R's upright seating position and pullback handlebars offer impressive rider comfort on long trips.  The 'T' stands for 'traditional', actually. That torquey, timeless, touring tradition of yesteryear.

Now available in Australia, the Boulevard C109RT is backed by Suzuki's two-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

For further information and pricing details on the 2009 Suzuki Boulevard C109RT, interested customers should visit their local Suzuki dealer, who can be found through the Dealer Locator on www.suzuki.com.au, or in the Yellow Pages.

Look under 'T'.

SETH V DEATH UPDATE

30-May-2009

For those of you who missed the live stream of the Seth v Death jump, you can see it now courtesy of Harley-Davidson Australia's new YouTube channel:

Death appears to be the runner-up.

SETH ENSLOW DEFIES GRAVITY & LOGIC ON A HARLEY-DAVIDSON

23-May-2009

 

Motocross legend and crazy stunt rider, Seth Enslow, confirmed today he will perform a freestyle jump on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as part of the upcoming Crusty Demons 'Beyond the Apocalypse' capital city tour.

The unlikely stunt will be performed on a customised XR1200; the modern day incarnation of Evel Knievel's motorcycle, the XR750. True to the craziness of the Evel Knievel stunt genre, which has all but subsided with the prominent use of dirt bikes, Seth's jump defies the current trend in motocross.

Seth Enslow, Harley-Davidson enthusiast said: "My freestyle jump on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle will be something neither Crusty Demons fans nor anyone in Australia has seen before; Harleys simply aren't known for their ability to jump. But the XR1200 is not what you'd expect. I've been doing practice distance jumps on it for a while now and the motorcycle has some serious torque. Even with the short run up of most arenas, this XR1200 is going to fly".

Harley-Davidson Australia's Marketing Manager, Adrian O'Donoughue, said: "Seth is the perfect man for this insane job. The bike we've built for him looks like the love child of a monster truck and an XR1200. With his history of crazy stunts, long distance jumps, and lack of fear he is definitely the right stunt rider to leap on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle".

Seth will continue his freestyle jumps on the XR1200 beyond the Crusty Demons tour and break the current world record for a long distance jump on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in late 2009. The current world record is currently held by Bubba Blackwell, who completed a distance jump of 47.8 meters on a Harley-Davidson in 2008. The XR1200 has been customised specifically for the landing required of a distance jump, both the front and rear suspension systems have been extended and reinforced to absorb a heavier load landing from 40 feet in the air.

Seth Enslow is a true pioneer in modern distance jumping and freestyle motocross, and is one of the original members of the Crusty Demons. His career has spanned some fifteen years of motorcycle riding and he has broken both numerous world records and bones. Seth's motocross skills, daredevil attitude, and infamous jumps captured on countless films, have truly earned him the reputation of the modern day Evel Knievel.

Crusty Demons 'Beyond Apocalypse Now' capital city tour schedule:

  • Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 15th  & 16th May
  • Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane 22nd & 23rd May
  • Acer Arena, Sydney 29th May & 30th May
  • Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide 5th  & 6th June
  • Burswood Dome, Perth 13th June

SHARK EVOLINE

15-May-2009-

The SHARK EvoLine, according to its manufacturer, offers high technology and the utmost functionality through simple and trustworthy solutions, while maintaining a perfect aesthetic balance and very high performance in terms of safety.

The SHARK Evoline full face helmet...

...turns into the SHARK EvoLine not full face helmet

Personally, we're not sure what that means, and we still remember when Robert Mugabe was regarded as simple and trustworthy.

But could Robert Mugabe change himself from a full-face Robert Mugabe to an open face Robert Mugabe?

That's right, he couldn't. But the SHARK EvoLine can change itself from a full face to an open face helmet, without being a socialist whackjob, something beyond Robert.

The SHARK EvoLine marks a technical, functional and aesthetic breakthrough. The movement of its unique and patented Tech-Move System chinstrap provides full comfort and optimal safety through its integrated structure. Unlike Robert Mugabe, whose distribution of comfort and safety has been, thus far, unremarkable.

With just one simple, quick movement the chinstrap unlocks, moves to a back position and fits perfectly with the line of the shell. On the helmet, that is, not on Robert.

EvoLine then turns into a jet helmet with a visor that provides maximum protection, an essential bonus according to SHARK. We're not sure that the words "essential" is a good adjective for "bonus" on account of bonuses are usually unexpected, but SHARK assure us this is so.

The centrally controlled internal sun visor, the Precise Lock chin strap buckle and the treated microfibre lining produce maximum comfort. Kind of like living in a worker's paradise when you're not one of the workers.

EvoLine, just like the whole SHARK range, has a 5 year warranty. This will be wasted on those who believe one should replace one's helmet every two years or so. And probably on everyone else as well. I mean, a helmet isn't a real complicated machine. And if it doesn't work, the user is generally in no condition to make a warranty claim.

However, the SHARK Evoline has lots of features, and these include:

  • 2-in-1 helmet converts from a full-face to an open-face and back again Shell made from injected thermoplastic resin.
  • Multi-component internal shock absorber with different densities.
  • Air flow circulation through integrated channels.
  • Centrally controlled interior anti-scratch sunshield.
  • External high safety toric anti-scratch / demister visor.
  • External visor, easy to dismantle without tools .
  • Chinstrap with an exclusive and patented Tech-Move System guide.
  • Can be opened with one hand.
  • Stainless steel closing system.
  • Inset vents.
  • Hermetic watertight edging.
  • Anti-backwash deflector.
  • Meryl® interior, can be fully dismantled, washable and adjustable.
  • Precise Lock chin strap with click closing device.
  • 5 YEAR warranty.
  • Available in 5 colours and one graphic.
  • Starting from $699.95

 

 
 

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