Alun Parry - Streetbike "Track Stars" 2010 Champ.

The Streetbike "Track Stars" Fantasy Road Race league came to a spectacular finale last month and the season champion was Alun Parry of Thunder Road Motorcycles in Bridgend. Wales premier Boatian and Cheng-Shin dealers.

Alun, wins a replica helmet of his choice as well as £50 of Streetbike gift vouchers. In this case a £600 Arai RX7-GP helmet in the colours Brit WSB ace Cal Crutchlow.

Alun (39), seen here on the right, receives his prize from Mike "Chunky" Ridley (21, no fixed skin condition) - Thunder Roads clothing director.

Parry was delighted with his prize but admitted he will probably put it on ebay and use the funds to change his nationality, by deed poll, from Welsh to English. "You can only live the lie for so long" he said.

Likewise, Ridley was most taken with the helmet. "Its the prettiest thing. Pretty, pretty, pretty" Then licked it.

Praise indeed.

Streetbike "Track Stars" is a free to enter Fantasy Road Race League run in conjunction with MCN. Entrants have to pick a team of two riders for each of the major motorcycle road race championships - Moto GP -World Superbike (WSB) and British Superbikes (BSB). Riders score points each race. The "Track Star" with the highest score across all three series is the champ.

As well as national prizes offered by MCN, Streetbike Track stars offers game round prizes throughout the season and a replica helmet to the season champion.

The 2011 season kicks off in March. If you want to be considered for a free entry into next years Streetbike "Track stars" league, send an e-mail with your name address and best contact number to marketing@streetbike.co.uk


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Christmas & New Year Opening Times

December 2010
Friday 24th 9.00am - 4pm
Saturday 25th CLOSED
Sunday 26th CLOSED
Monday 27th 10.00am - 4pm
Tuesday 28th 10.00am - 4pm
Wednesday 29th 9.00am - 6pm
Thursday 30th 9.00am - 6pm
Friday 31st 9.00am - 5pm


January 2011
Saturday 1st CLOSED
Sunday 2nd 10.00am - 4pm
Monday 3rd Back to Normal 9.00am - 6pm...

We would like to wish you all
a Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year…



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Yamaha Prices Rise from 1st January 2011

If you've been thinking of a New Yamaha...now might be good.

Yamaha will be increasing new bike prices by an average of 3.4% across the range from Jan 1st. The extra 2.5% VAT increase on the 4th puts that average up to nearer 5% for all of us.

It's not all gloom though...

If you can buy your 2011 bike in the next month there are some amazing savings to be made. Even more so if you can do it before the 13th December - until then there's 5 years 0% finance on XJ6's and 3yrs 0% on nearly everything else.

A full list of affected models is available here but the headliners are:

• YZF-R1 will be £13500 up from £12600 our current sale price is £11500 so that's a saving of £2000 and until 13th Dec you can get it on 3yrs 0% finance or have free Aki cans !
  
  
• MT01 will be £12950 up from £12600 our current sale price is £10600 so that's a saving of £2350 plus you get Free Monster paintwork.
  
  
• FZ1SA will be £11,100 up from £10,500 our current sale price is £8500 so that's a saving of £2600 1 only and until 13th Dec there's 3 yrs 0% APR available.
  
  
• XJ6N will be £6100 up from £5500 so that's a saving of £600 and until 13th Dec there's 5 YRS 0% APR Finance available.

So, if you've been looking at a new Yamaha but haven't made the move yet, whether it be at Streetbike or any other Yamaha dealer, you might want to have a look at it sooner rather than later.

As ever, winter is a bit of a rubbish time to ride a bike but....a bloody good time to buy one.

Hope this is useful and you know where we are if you need anything. We are holding all our sale prices until the 4th Jan or 'til stock sells out whichever comes sooner.

Come in and fill yer boots. It will be great to see you. Cafe's open. Coffees on



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Check out the Massive Yamaha & Suzuki stands...

Don't forget to pop in and see us on your way to the Carol Nash Motorcycle Live Show at the NEC...


Taking a non-biking mate with you ?
If they booked a FREE Get ON ride anytime before 28th October 2010...
...they can claim 2 FREE tickets to Motorcycle Live.

Click here to get them... 


In the meantime - here's a sneak peek of the Yamaha Stand...

and the Suzuki Stand...

PLUS click here for your chance to win a brand new 2011 GSXR600


Enjoy the show !
 
 
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Riding Home in High Winds...

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THAR SHE BLOWS!
Apparently we’ve got some weather coming, so...

RULE 1. If you haven’t really got to ride in this, you know what… Don’t

But if you have to:

Here’s 10 top tips from our slightly barking, every day- all weather riders here at Streetbike…



1. Go later and avoid the Traffic

2. Avoid Elevated Sections of Motorways. They’re the blowiest. M5 J1- J2 is a particularly blustery hot spot. So keep low.

3. Avoid High Sided Trucks – Don’t pass unless necessary and keep well back out of their bow wave! If you have to pass, keep wide. You pay your taxes so use the 3rd lane on the M-Way if you need to. Just give trucks a very wide berth.

4. Keep your speed down – acceleration makes the front of the bike light and more susceptible to cross winds. Likewise, hard braking makes the back light - ditto susceptibility. Smooth works always and especially now.

5. Relax on the bike – use a light but firm grip on the bars AND KEEP LOOKING AROUND YOU.

6. Allow plenty of space between you and any traffic or pedestrians. Gusts are unpredicatable for everybody.

7. If you’re getting buffeted, particularly passing trucks, drag your back brake lightly, this will stabilize the bike.

8. Keep looking around you and plan ahead. Watch what the trees are doing for an indication of what the winds doing ahead of you. If the tree’s in the road – the winds up!

9. Keep an eye out for open spaces either side of you. Roads approaching from the left or right can channel wind right across your path with very little warning. Slow your approach to junctions.

10. ENJOY IT. Seriously. All experience is education and this is sharp end training for that round the world bike trip you’re going to do…aren’t you? After all, if its 200 miles to the last ferry out of Tangier, you’ve got to make it wind or no wind. This stuff hones the 6th sense you’re going to need for a full life of biking.

And if we’ve misssed anything, click here to throw your tips our way and we’ll slot them in. Keep upright.

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Training and tests - Last Part by customer Cy Pearson...

Streetbike Instructor Paul Sturgiss with a very happy Cy Pearson

I just got in from Bromsgrove...
So what you’re saying… but I’m telling you I just got back from Bromsgrove...

Big Boots
After my very dejected ride back to Halesown I’m then faced with a bleak diary of available Mod 1 slots that fit with my work and availability of the guys at Streetbike and actual test slots. I had to wait over 2 weeks, it was just infuriating, only slot I could get was 30th September, patience is a virtue I kept telling myself, it will some come around – but no bike rides in between and the Yamaha was still sat in pristine condition in the garage. Nice having it in showroom condition but I much rather get it dirty and use it.

The day finally came, early start at Streetbike, 7am to get to Wolverhampton for a test at 8:30. Good ride to the site, cup of tea in the café opposite. Tony who I’d done a few lessons with was also with me, he was up first. Waiting was a killer but he came back and passed first go so he’d beaten me but I was determined this time. Don’t go too slow through the speed traps was running through my mind that was the focus. Park in the green cones, manual manoeuvre – easy. Slalom, figure of eight – easy. Now the swerve DON’T GO TOO SLOW… nicely around the curve opened it up sights set on the curve, through the trap, clatter…. Yes you guessed it, big boot meet blue cone… Game Over.

Would you like to carry on with the test, John the very nice examiner asked, will it change the fact I just whacked a cone I asked… Sorry no he said. So shoulders down and lots of cursing and swearing to myself I tootled back to the gate to be allowed off… 50% pass for Paul today.

3rd Time Lucky – Hopefully
I know, getting tedious isn’t it… Another 2 weeks wait and I’m up again with a very nice lady whose name I forget but she had a 125 and was using it daily and wanted to lose the L plates… Maybe I should have done that… Another early start, and I’m up first…

I'll spare you a long drawn out paragraph – bike, green fence, green, yellow, blue and red cones, examiner, me and a bike = PASSED, sadly the nice lady got very nervous and think that was what did for her and she failed – I knew how that felt. Oh my god, I might actually get to ride my bike before it becomes a classic.

Mod 2
Mod 2’s are in short supply and I couldn’t get booked in for 3 weeks. I couldn’t go straight to the test I wanted to have a ride the weekend before. Paul was off so out with Steve and Will who was about my age and just getting started, he was out on the 125 and I was given the label experienced rider – no pressure then.

I had a great ride, everything flowed really nicely, missed a couple of observations but I knew I’d done it so I could rectify it, everything else was a dream, thorough pleasure to be out riding.

The test day arrives, Wednesday and a late morning slots for us. I’d had the worst Tuesday at work and needed to focus on the bike, nice ride around in the morning, felt very comfortable – I’m not superstitious but for the first time I was on the “other” bike… it was a little higher than the usual bike – Don’t be a fool, it makes no difference…

The examiner was John from “Conegate” – don’t think he recognised me, wasn’t going to mention it… Got the bike and passenger questions out of the way at the start and off we went. As soon as we left the test station we pulled over and straight into the “follow the signs” bit of the test, been doing it since 1987 when I passed my car test so no issue really. Road works in Bilston and massive queues around the Bilston St Island traffic not leaving the junctions clear – nightmare. I was thinking about moving over on the dual carriageway into the outside lane to try to make progress when I saw John move over edging towards a car telling me to get in front of him so I thought I’d failed for not making progress – but you never know so carry on…

Some national speed limit which was fun, pulling out from the kerb and a hill start, all covered and we were on the way back to the test station. I got into a muddle with three lanes enter an island, right indicator on going straight on but I was surrounded by cars so they were probably not looking at lights but my position. Nearly at the test station and the message pull in behind that parked car. Normally Paul gives you the instruction about a bike length away, but the instruction a car length came over the radio so I thought Volvo estate seem like a good length.

I thought I had fluffed it up, few things in my mind that I might get picked up on but I didn’t know if there were serious faults or not. Congratulations you’ve passed… What a fantastic feeling… 5 minor faults including 2 stalls – bit of nerves…

I just got in from Bromsgrove...
To finish where I started, I just got back from Bromsgrove where I went to visit a pal I don’t see very often – why is that of any interest – I went on my very own bike all on my own – Journey number 1!


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Congratulations to Yamaha on third consecutive Triple Crown Win

All of us at Streetbike would like to congratulate Yamaha on winning their third consecutive MotoGP Triple Crown with the Team, Rider and Manufacturers' titles. The achievement marks the first time since the Triple Crown's inception that any manufacturer has won it three times in a row.

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