BikeStormer

Taken from a press-release sent to us but moments ago, I'm really curious as to what the Combined ABS Fireblade will be like to ride.

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Honda today announces the first of its exciting motorcycle model line-up for the 2009 model year.

New and updated models include the class-winning and still breathtaking CBR1000RR Fireblade and CBR600RR Supersport machines, both of which will be available with Honda’s all-new electronically-controlled Combined ABS as an option.

Meanwhile, in the Off-Road category, the new 2009 CRF450R raises the bar further with an all-new lightweight fuel-injection and ignition system, while the 250cc version, the CRF250R, offers even greater technical refinements and style.

Youtube is awash with footage of people crashing, horrible high speed crashes that make you wince just to watch them. That's not what we are sharing today, oh no, these films are of when someone managed to pull it back from the brink. Watch and enjoy.

This first one should get points for the sort of plucky spirit that just never gives up, especially in the middle section when it all goes a bit wrong.

The new bike test comes into effect in a couple of months; and it's going to make it a bit harder to pass the test which isn't a bad thing. I definitely approve of getting new riders getting better training before they ride although personally I think it would be better if the new parts of the test were actually added to the CBT instead. If these skills are so important shouldn't people have them before they get on the road on any bike?

People in the industry are worried that the harder test will make people less likely to take up riding, but that's not the real issue here. The real issue is the demands it's making on the test centres.

The new test requires a vast area of tarmac for candidates to wobble around as the practice emergency stops and figures of eight. When the changes on the test come into effect only half the test centres will be ready. The test is also now longer so examiners will be able to conduct fewer tests over the course of the day.

We all dream of an epic bike trip. Loading up our favourite machine with everything we might need and then setting off into the Sunset in search of adventure and mishaps. Not everyone does it of course, which is a sad thing because a road trip, especially on a bike is an amazing way to spend time.

There are loads of different ways of doing it but one account that has recently caught our eye is Poor Circulation. Two motorcycle couriers from London have set off to ride around the world on a budget of £20 a day. They are raising some cash for charity but mostly it is about going on an adventure with very little support.

This blog account is one worth starting at the beginning.

It's the summer. Summer on a bike is great.

But soon it'll be winter again, I hate the winter, especially, if like me, you're not one of those awful fair-weather tits who suddenly arrives at BoxHill on an immaculate Ducati 1098 head to toe in a Dainese Bora leather Suit with spanking new and perfectly intact knee and toe sliders poncing up and down like he owns the fucking gaff only to slowly ride back to his mansion in Banstead and park his annually used machine next to his Bentley and fucking Porsche, the c**t.

I ride all year round, always have done, always will.

This is why the right gear is essential, if you're new to biking or are too scared to ride when it's drizzling or a bit nippy here are some tips for you.

Time for some more video nonsense to make you lean back from your computer and wince. This time it's people messing around with KTM's brilliant 125cc off-road bike. In the first video this chap is actually rather good at chucking his bike around and pulls off an excellent wheelie that almost goes too far, you can hear some scraping which is the point we think he probably needed to change his trousers.

Ah, we love a bit of innovation at BikeStormer. Proper innovation that makes you go take a step back and think about how you would have never have thought of that.

These Yamaha branded bikes named 'Deus Ex Machina' do just that. Although we have to wonder if anyone at Yamaha actually looked up what Deus Ex Machina means, or if they just thought it sounded cool.

Deus Ex Machina is a plot device in a play, film or book that comes out of no-where to change the plot, so like when a character in the film suddenly reveals that they are immune to acid for no good reason and then saves the day.

Anyone who rides a bike will have cause to insult a motorist, usually one in a BMW. Back in the day it was the Volvo that epitomised all that was shit about car drivers, 400 foot of bonnet would suddenly pop out of a junction whilst the driver, still a good mile behind, would have no more knowledge of your Being There than Chancey Gardener.

But this crown of crap has been handed over. The BMW exists solely to isolate the motorist from anything outside of the machine that's real. It's like they're driving about in a fucking cot cuddled up to mummy's titty slurping away without a care in the world. At least when you did unleash a stream of garbled invective at the beardy weirdy Volvo guy he looked suitably alarmed, the little lad in the BMW has barely an idea of what he's driving for.

A chap's first pair of boots will be an important moment. Your helmet, gloves and boots form the holy trinity of things you should spend as much as possible on because they are the sensitive bits that tend to do worst if something goes wrong. Good boots are especially important if you do a lot of urban riding as some cyclists, and people in cars seem to forget that the fleshy bits on the ends of your legs aren't for riding over.

As with most motorcycling gear there is almost no upper limit on what you can spend on boots but I was planning on trying to get something decent for about the £150 mark. This didn't work out really, as I ended out spending a little more (£189) on some Sidi Vertigo Goretex boots, but I'm not upset in the slightest.

This could be the start of a regular feature where we find videos of people doing stupid things with their motorcycles, hopefully by watching other people do stupid things we will all be encouraged to act a bit more responsibly. I know I won't try anything like the man in the first video after seeing what happened to him.

The Suzuki SV650 is an excellent first big bike, so excellent that it can cause people to get over confident and do very silly things to impress other people. Silly things like this.

At least he was wearing proper safety gear unlike the chap in the next video. Click 'read more' to see it.