You asked them, we answered them...
Q: Hello - looking for contact info for Rivet - they make m/c clothing/accessories. A few years back I bought a pair of Rivet leather gloves and they are nearly worn out - would love to get another pair, but haven't been able to find them online. Thought I'd see if you could provide me info so I could contact Rivet directly (email preferably). Thank you for any help.
-Tom Short
A: Tom. Pleased to help. Rivet products are distributed by R&R Speedsports. We use quite a few of them ourselves, including a set of leathers. Drop a line to the man in charge, Lindsay Mc Farlane, at
rrspeed@iimetro.com.au. I’m sure he’ll be interested to learn that his products are hard to find!
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: I am a long time reader of your mag, but no subscription yet. am planning a 5-6 week cycle trip of vietnam , end of april/10. would appreciate any info re bike rentals for several weeks period etc, &any areas of special interest you know of or readers have experienced hopefully yours Dave
A: Sorry, David, this is one question I can’t answer.
All I know is that people have been there and have really enjoyed it. Can I suggest that you write to Spannerman at Motorcycle Trader magazine? He’s been there twice on rides.
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: Hi there. I recently purchased the 2010 Bike Guide magazine and am again disappointed that much data is missing altogether. For example it seems every Yamaha model listed does not provide any power/torque figures. Also pricing was missing on many of the Ducati models. Can you explain why this (rather crucial) data was left out in the same way as last year's issue? Thanks Heath
A: Hi, Heath, and thank you for your note. Yes, I can explain the omission of the figures you mention.
Yamaha does not want power and torque figures released in Australia, and since the company owns this information (all our performance figures are sourced from the manufacturer) we have to honour their decision. Not that we have any choice – we simply can’t get the figures.
Some prices are missing because the manufacturers in question had not set them for the year when we went to press. We hold the pages open until the very last moment, until they absolutely need to go to the printer, but some brands simply don’t make up their minds in time.
I’m truly sorry about this, but there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: An appraisal of new gear was made in your magazine a year or so ago regarding a modren looking open faced helmet suitable for sportsbike use. They were shown in black or red with a racing stripe from front to back.. I thought the brand was called Mofo or Moto but I have thrown out the magazine and can't find this helmet on the web... I was wondering if you could provide me the correct brand name of the helmet or direct me to their website... I'll be delighted to give your magazine a big wrap to your advertiser when I buy one of their helmets.. Regards Trevor
A: Hi, Trevor.
It would be very tempting to have a helmet brand called Mofo (for really tough riders), but the one you’re after is Momo.
Take a look at
http://metro2.com.au/retailers?gclid=CIPrtZv-3qACFQG1bwod8gVLBw for dealers.
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: Hi Bear, Just raising a point here about the RTA press release yesterday about mobile speed camera's. Also in the press release is a paragraph stating that there is to be increased wire rope barriers rolled out - as a measure of safety! I think this issue needs to be highlighted (I know there was a page written by Damien last year) and made known to all riders. I've written to MA and the MCCNSW about this as I believe this is a possible life threatening decision by the minister. Kind regards, Wayne
A: Hi, Wayne.
You’re quite right, and we have been pushing this as hard as we can in a number of ways – it’s good to see you writing to the people responsible, because that’s the way we’ll get some results.
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: Hello, My name is Jessica and I am writing to you today in regards to South Australian Motor sport. I am only sixteen years of age but I have grown up around motorbikes my whole life as my dad is the founding member of the biggest Road bike club in South Australia the Café Racer Club INC. My fathers name is Chris he is also the Road race manger for South Australia. As you may be well aware of there seems to be a lot of people fanging around the roads of Adelaide on Motorbikes often led to fatalities. I have taken it upon myself to send out this email to a few different companies of which I believe can help support us. My dads club (Café racer club of South Australia) is all about getting people off the roads and onto a race track in a safer environment. Where they can let out all the mucking around and competitiveness and if an accident does occur there is always an ambulance on site to provide fast acting medical treatment. Without sponsors the club will just go into the ground. We have around 150-200 members and we run about 5 race meetings at Mallala Motor sport park. We also run Knee scrapers day which is a day teaching people how to ride on a race track. With on track time and classroom time. We have series sponsors however there are some races which can still have sponsorship names. Like ‘Race bike services Steve Martin cup’. As I have sent this to a few different companies I will explain my motives and what I would like to happen. I believe: -We need sponsors to help support the club to build or hire new club rooms as the ones we use now are Vellocette club rooms which are literally falling apart. My dad and the committee have a dream to get a full time café going in the club rooms. Also these club rooms could be a training centre as well as where meetings are held. - We need sponsors to support our club members at the race track as holding events cost a fair amount of money and we are always looking at developing better days out at the track but money is always the issue. If you sponsor a race then you are sponsoring the price money. Also you could give prizes like Red Knot wine have given us wine for prizes and Hoodsweeny technologies gave us printers and MP3 players for prizes. - Maybe you could sponsor a certain rider and supply them with fuel for the weekend or maybe tyres. The young guns of the sport need the support to move up in the ranks and to keep them focused. - Come out and be an official and volunteer for the day, Get up and close with the action and help out. Without officials we can not hold a race meeting and there is never enough people to put their hands up! - Support our club and get word out there that we are trying to make a difference because without my dads club Motorcycling in South Australia would have died out along time ago. Anyways thankyou for your time. I really hope you are kind enough to offer support in one of the ways above or any other way you can think of. My dad is important to me and I know how important this club is to him and its just going to die out if we don’t get support. So email me back what you would like to do and I will get my dad in touch. But I would like to hear from you before I get my dad to call you. Thankyou again. When my dad gets in touch with you he will explain all the benifets and excitment of becoming a sponsor to the club. Jessica Peake -
dozza_1993@hotmail.com
A: Hi, Jessica, and congratulations for taking on this big job.
I don’t think there is much we can do directly – we don’t cover racing, or get involved with it – but I will be happy to put your letter on our website. I think that should get you some interest.
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: G'Day Bear, given the ongoing challenge with service stations and helmets I thought the following whihc I stumbled across might be worth rolling out. A JEDI believer has won an apology from a UK employment centre which threw him out for refusing to remove his hood. The Sun reported Star Wars fan Chris Jarvis, 31, was told he would have to leave if he did not take the top down. Mr Jarvis is a member of the International Church of Jediism - based on the famous sci-fi films - whose doctrine states that followers should be allowed to wear hoods. But when he protested, security escorted him from his local branch in Southend, Essex. He filled out a complaint form - and received a formal letter from the JobCentre Plus branch's boss Wendy Flewers just three days later. "We are committed to provide a customer service which embraces diversity and respects customers' religion," Ms Flewers said. Mr Jarvis said he standing up for his beliefs. ""Muslims can walk around in whatever religious gear they like, so why can't I?, he said"
A: Very good, Pokey. Wonder what they’d do if someone from the Sith church came in – complete with Darth Vader outfit…
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: Too many travelogues - Dear Bear, this morning I picked up an old issue of ARR No. 34 and it struck me that it was a better read than recent issues. Please look back at older issues and re-think your content. I think you are losing the plot with too much travel and too little on bike reviews.
A:Hi, Graham, and thank you for your note. We’re always interested in criticism, but I’m not sure I understand your comments.
Issue #34 featured three bikes and a comparison of five scooters. Bike reviews were one page long, although one was longer. Our latest issue, #59, features five bikes and two scooters, and bike reviews are now usually three pages long. We also have more product reviews and tests. Keep in mind that we are now producing six issues a year, so there are fewer bike released per issue (and at the moment there are few bike launches anyway as the manufacturers lick their wounds). As well, the one request we get more than any other is for more travel!
I’m not sure how we can improve things for you. Can you give me some more detailed suggestions?
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: Please can you advise who are the shark helmet agents in Perth Chris
A: Hi, Chris. Shark helmets are distributed by Ficeda Imports, so just tell your local bike shop to order one from them. Just about every bike shop in Australia would be dealing with them because they distribute such a huge range of stuff.
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: Dear Peter, A few months ago the Royal Hotel Mirrool was handed a copy of the Australian Roadrider Motorcycles & Travel Vol. 8 No.6 (No.39). The article is a fantastic embodiment of the establishment and also the event itself (now just called the Silo Kick Challenge). I was just wondering if such articles are ever revisited and or updated? Regards, Ben.
A: Hi, Ben. I remember writing that! I can’t see why we couldn’t revisit it – what did you have in mind?
Actually, we have a comparison ride of the big sports touring bikes coming up. Maybe we could think about stopping over in Mirrool, and do a little story about the pub. What do you think?
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: Having read your article and other reviews on the BMW G650 xcountry I was tipped in its favour and I bought one. I've been commuting on it for 18 months and 15000ks. It has taken some time, lowering and other minor modifications but I finally fallen in love with the thing. So I really wanted to give some feed back because it occurred to me that there really should be a G650 XCity in the line up because that is what this thing does the best. All BMW needs to do is lower the thing. 780 mm seat height would be nice. 17 inch rims and 180mm travel is plenty adequate for city roads, The economy and light weight make it a winner. They could narrow the bars a hair and re-do the tail so the fuel tank could grow to 12 litres and have a rack to take a top box or whatever as part of the aluminum seat frame. Oddly enough the fact the topbox I fitted does not overhang the back wheel was a huge plus in the decide to purchase considerations. It would be a truly practical bike, weird idea huh?
A: Not weird at all, Edward. What’s weird is that BMW has already discontinued the bike…
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: Looking for some advice if you have the time. I'm doing a trip to Rockhampton from Sydney shortly and was wondering if you could offer some advice on a place to stop over, both heading north and the return trip. I haven't settled on the route yet so feel free to advise there as well. Thanks in advance. ps. I am a regular reader and also have Bears atlas. Ian
A: Hi, Ian. Big question, and not a lot of information – like what kind of riding do you enjoy? If it’s corners, try to take the time to criss-cross the Great Dividing Range; if it’s cruising, either take a sweep inland or just trundle up the coast… What a lot of people who have the Atlas do, is string together some of the rides; that’s actually one of the ways it is intended to be used. As for places to stay, I’m afraid I don’t even know what sort of distances you anticipate doing each day. Here’s a suggestion – work out how far you expect to get each day and then trawl back copies of ARR and Cruiser to see if we’ve mentioned any accommodation nearby. If you’re in the Ulysses Club, you will find a lot of really good advice on the website. That’s probably not a lot of help, but it’s the best I can do.
Best regards,
The Bear
Q: Hello, I'm from Sydney and spent much of last year working as a motorcycle tour guide high up in the Indian Himalayas. On tour we took groups of mainly British bikers (up to 22 at a time) over the 5 official highest roads in the world. Up to 18380ft. On 1950's designed, 500cc Enfield Bullets. I am interested in writing an article (s) about my experience as a guide and putting an ad for the tours in your fantastic mag. I would love to know if this is possible, Kindest regards, Mike
A: Good timing, Mike. We are about to start work on a major story in Road Rider about organized bike tours. I would be very happy to run an item about your tours, and this is probably a good opportunity for you to advertise as well. I’ll copy this reply to my ad manager and he’ll be in touch.
Would you be interested in supplying up to 500 words and, say, half a dozen images for us to choose from? We would incorporate that into the main story, or run it as a sidebar. Deadline would be the 25th of June, and we prefer to receive large files on CD or DVD rather than by e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
The Bear
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