Get set for a stonking biking summer

New video series is aimed at making sure riders can get themselves and their bikes set for a safe and exciting year

Spring has finally sprung and bikers everywhere are dusting down their leathers and hitting the roads in anticipation of a fantastic summer of riding. To help everyone make the most of their motorcycling, Bikertek and MCN have teamed up to produce a third series of exciting riding videos. Presented by MCN’S Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves, ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’ takes an in-depth look at a wide range of subjects, and how genning up on the safety side can help improve your riding as a whole. Individual episodes cover bike set-up, maintenance, mindset and group riding, as well as what to do if you’re the first on the scene in an emergency, with input from industry experts such as Chris Walker and the Docbike team. ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’ is aimed at seasoned riders to those experiencing twowheeled freedom for the first time. The new series starts on June 8 with a video released every week after that and will be available to view alongside existing episodes on www. bikertekshop.co.uk Mik Barton from Bikertek said: “The first set of videos from Michael Neeves had such a great response that it was an easy decision for Bikertek to support another series. Now that we are all about to enjoy a proper summer at last, Neeves’ words of wisdom are more valuable than ever. “All of the videos can be found in our online shop, alongside the story behind our performance parts for bikers. Pay us a visit.”

1 Get Set… go!

A few simple tweaks can make all the difference to comfort, and by extension, safety and performance. From suspension settings to control lever span, we take a look at what you can do to get your bike set up right.

2 Maintenance

A mechanical failure may leave you stranded at best, while the worst doesn’t bear thinking about. Respected racer and Kawasaki dealer Chris Walker discusses the importance of keeping your bike in tip-top condition.

3 State of mind

We talk to a Police motorcyclist and a former Typhoon display pilot, both of whom ride for pleasure, about how they manage their mindset.

4 Go solo

Neeves breaks down all the aspects of solo riding that he’s covered in the past two series of ‘Secrets of a Road Tester’. Appropriate speed, correct cornering and safe overtaking all get a recap, along with riding to the conditions and how to avoid fatigue.

5 Group riding

It’s great to ride with mates, however being out with a crowd can present its own unique set of challenges. We gather a group of riders together to discuss the potential pitfalls of being in a pack, such as trying to keep up, maintaining optimal visibility and not being a nuisance to other road users.

6 Docbike

One of the advantages of riding a motorcycle is our manoeuvrability through traffic, but that ability to filter through or skirt a jam can also mean that we’re first to arrive at the scene of an accident. This episode looks at what we can do to pave the way for the emergency services in such a situation.