Motorcycle Replacements 2004 Ltd News Feed

MCR giving you an electric choice

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At MCR we’re all about giving our customers choice – and now you can choose to ride electric.

We have recently taken on the Super Soco brand of Electric Bikes. These machines not only look great, but get down to business too!

Electric motorcycles are everywhere in China, and they're not viewed as toys for adrenaline junkies. They're viewed as cost effective urban transport, and that's exactly what Super Soco is delivering here. There are 3 styles in the range - wrapped up in a super sweet looking naked bike, café racer, or scooter looking package.

Riding the Super Soco range is scooter-simple. Twist and go, front brakes on the right lever, rear brakes on the left.

Under the pop-up tank lid, there's a small wallet-and-phone sized storage area, and if you lift the bottom out of that, you get access to the battery box (or boxes; you can fit a second battery to double your range). These batteries can be unlocked with the bike key and lifted out, meaning you can take the battery inside to charge the bike if you can't get it close to a power socket. That's a great touch.

At $3990 for the TS model, it certainly comes in as very affordable particularly when you remember it'll need almost no maintenance and cost you next to nothing in electricity. They can all be ridden on a car licence and are registered as a moped.

We have demos available for test rides, so if electric is your thing, or you are looking for an inexpensive commuter with little to no running costs, that also gives you free parking then look no further and get in touch today.

Making dreams come true

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Below is an email we received from a customer - brings a smile to your face when you can be a part of making dreams come true!

"Rick and Rachel, I am technologically challenged, so thought I could at least e-mail you my experience at MCR. I am still working a way to get the facebook thing sorted so I can post this on your site.

I just want to share my experience regarding the MCR team. I recently purchased a Yamaha 650 from MCR and as you would expect from any good business, the standard of sale and service are exceptional from the whole team. They are knowledgeable and helpful with everything from the bike to the gear and beyond.

This however, is not the reason for wanting to voice my experience.

It is the incredible amount of time and effort Rick and his team spent helping me realise a dream.

I had an accident many years ago that significantly impaired my right arm function. While this did not stop my desire to ride, the reality of my situation meant that actually being able to ride was almost impossible.

I refused to let the dream die, though, and spent the best part of the last few years, trying to come up with solutions that may let me ride again. I tried many different avenues, motorbikes shops, automotive engineers, agencies. None could help. Most in fact said that it was too hard and that they didn’t think it could be done (or at least they could not do it). Of the motorbike shops in Dunedin, only Rick at MCR said “let me think about it, and I’m sure we will find a solution”

And that he did. He got to know me and my limitations and he spent a long time discussing and trying different options. And all the while he was up beat and adamant he would get me riding again.

Rick delivered my bike to me 6 weeks ago and I’m now riding as often as I can, including attending an excellent training day organised by MCR at Levels Raceway this past weekend. The changes he made were simple and effective, but have allowed me to fulfil a dream that I thought was all but over.

It is this that make me regard Rick and the team at MCR so highly. They do not only provide great service, but they get to know you and your needs and go well above and beyond to make you sure they can do everything in their power to realise these needs

I regard Rick and the team with the highest respect and gratitude

James McCormick"

MCR sponsoring another rider - Cole Scammell

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Cole has been a long time customer of MCR and a DRS member since 2017. We have been watching him over the last few years and recently offered him the opportinity to become a member of the MCR sponsored riding team. While Cole doesn't ride a Yamaha (there's still time) the MCR brand likes to encourage and assist those keen to give it a go.

Cole races motor bikes, mostly drag racing but also moto cross, motard, hill climbs and track days all over the South Island, he collects and restore motor bikes and have had an interest in anything with two wheels since he started riding at the age of 7. Cole is lucky to be very supported by his partner Tash and while she is his number one fan, she also does a great job of his social media, documenting his achievements with plenty of pics and videos at events.

Coles main passion is Drag racing -flying down the track on his custom built Hyabusa and was very successful at the 2019 Burt Munro bringing home a first place.

Keep an eye on what Cole is up to on his Cole Scammell Racing page https://www.facebook.com/Cole-Scammell-Racing-105331214182367/

Welcome to the team Cole.

Training Day 22 September 2019

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Training Day 22 September 2019

We had a great day for our MCR and Two Wheels Training day in Timaru.

As always, there were plenty of different styles of bikes, from the learner approved bike, right through to the litre sports bike, cruisers and everything in between.

There is an album in our gallery of some of the photos taken of the riders on the track, but if you cant find yourself or would like a high resolution copy , let us know and we can email you a link to a google album so you can check out all 450 odd pics and download whatever you like for yourself.

We run these training days 3-4 times a year so if your'e keen to know when the next one is, get in touch.

How to choose the right helmet

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Choosing the best motorbike helmet style

We’ll take a look at the five different types of helmets and their pros and cons, plus how to choose based on what you’ll use it for. As your helmet is going to help protect you from head injuries, it’s important you know about each type.

All helmets in New Zealand must conform to one or more of the following standards:

UN/ECE Regulation No. 22: Protective helmets and their visors for drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds (Europe)
Australian Standard AS 1698: Protective helmets for vehicle users
New Zealand Standard NZS 5430: Protective helmets for vehicle users
Snell Memorial Foundation: Helmet Standard for use in motorcycling
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218: Motorcycle helmets
British Standard BS 6658: Specification for protective helmets for vehicle users (for type A helmets only)
Japan Industrial Standard T8133.

It’s an offence to sell a helmet in NZ that doesn’t meet the standard. These five types of helmet can all meet the standards, but some provide much better protection than others.

Types of helmet

Full-face

As up to 55% of all motorbike accidents will see an impact to the rider’s face, the full-face helmet provides the most protection. It covers the entire head, face and lower jaw, with a narrow visor for the rider to see out of. The visor will be made of a non-shattering plastic which should also be fairly scratch-resistant. The visor and mouthpiece serve to keep wind and projectiles off the rider’s face and eyes.

The aerodynamic properties of a full-face helmet are good if it is shaped at the back to prevent lift. Look for a ridge or aerofoil along the back that helps push the helmet onto the head rather than create lift as airflow passes over it.

Some riders who are not used to full-face helmets find them claustrophobic. Their main disadvantage is that they reduce sound perception. The visor must also be wide enough not to obstruct peripheral vision. In some weathers, the visor can steam up which is why ventilation holes are included.

A full-face helmet protects the rider’s eyes and face from wind, rain, dust, insects and other debris

Open-face

An open-face, or three-quarter, helmet covers the forehead and the back of the head over the ears and down to the neckline. The face and jaw are exposed, although some helmets will have a flip-down visor to protect the rider’s eyes from projectiles and insects. The face is also exposed to the weather which, in winter, could lead to cold-related skin problems.

An open-face helmet is not as aerodynamic as a full-face helmet. They can be susceptible to lift, and the rider’s face and the edges of the helmet take the full force of the wind.

Their main advantage is being able to drink, eat and talk without taking the helmet off. They are also cooler in hot weather.

Half helmet

A half helmet is the least protective of all the helmet types. They tend to be worn to present an image, e.g. with certain styles of motorbike such as classic bikes and Harleys. They are lighter than full-face helmets due to less material. They only cover the top of the head, and this leaves the whole face, plus the base of the skull at the back exposed to danger.

Their aerodynamic performance is poor, leaving the rider’s face and neck exposed to wind and buffeting. They often don’t have any ability to attach a visor. Classic bike enthusiasts will sometimes wear goggles to protect their eyes.

Modular or flip-up helmet

A modular helmet has a front section that flips up out of the way to create an open-face helmet. This is convenient if the rider wants to take a drink or eat something, communicate with someone, or if the weather is hot and the traffic is very slow.

They are heavier than full-face helmets because of the extra mechanisms in place to allow the front to flip up, plus extra bracing. If they are worn as a full-face helmet they will provide the same protection as a regular full-face helmet, and the same applies with wearing it as an open-face helmet (the risk is increased of a facial injury).

Aerodynamically, riding with the front flipped up at high speed is not advised.

Motocross

Motocross helmets are designed for off-road riding. They are specialist helmets that have a large chin guard, open visor, and usually a clip-on sun visor. The chin portion is extended to provide protection against obstacles like branches, and also to give some breathing room for the rider. Motocross is physically demanding and the extra room around the mouth makes it more comfortable to wear when breathing heavily and gives less fogging issues.

Goggles can be worn to protect the eyes. Goggles are not as protective as a full clear visor but combined with the sun visor and chin guard the overall protection is similar to a full-face helmet. The main risk is projectiles or something heavy intruding into the helmet through the face area.

Motocross helmets are much less aerodynamic than full-face helmets and this can be fatiguing on neck muscles on a long journey.

How to choose

Second-hand helmets

Never purchase a second hand or old helmet because you don’t know if it’s been in an accident. A helmet can appear in tact, but damage such as small cracks can be invisible to the naked eye, or can be hidden underneath the padding in the helmet. Any helmet should be discarded if it is involved in an accident.

Aerodynamics of the helmet

Because a helmet has a rounded top, they create lift at speed. Modern helmets are designed with aerodynamic features at the back to deflect air in order to create a neutral situation or slight downforce. If a helmet is not very aerodynamic it will put a lot of strain on your neck muscles if you don’t have a windshield to duck down behind.

Weight

The weight of the helmet is often influenced by its price. As all helmets must meet a minimum standard, the more expensive helmets differentiate themselves with a lighter weight which is more comfortable to ride with over a long period of time. A heavier helmet has more inertia in a crash. This can have advantages and disadvantages. It means that your neck muscles have to cope with more to arrest the motion of the helmet, but it also means that if the helmet is hit by something solid, the force imparted into the helmet will be slightly less.

Fitting the helmet

The helmet should fit snugly without being tight. You need to be able to do the chin strap up so that the helmet cannot be pulled off your head. Check that you can see well out of the visor.

The components of a motorcycle helmet

A helmet has a rigid outer shell made of an impact-resistant, puncture-resistant plastic-based material. It’s designed to absorb the main impact and prevent sharp objects from hitting your head.

Inside the outer shell is a polystyrene lining glued to the shell. This deforms under impact, allowing your head to slow down more gradually with less g-force.

On the inside of the polystyrene is comfort padding made of material and foam. This gives the helmet a tighter fit, wicks away sweat and provides general cushioning, day-to-day.

A chin strap holds the helmet onto your head.

If a visor is fitted, this will be a clear polycarbonate-type material, often with scratch-resistant and fog-resistant properties.

Some helmets have vents to channel air into the helmet shell and the visor for comfort.

Some helmets have aerodynamic aids moulded into the main shape or clipped on.

Some helmets have clip-on sun visors.

The final word

Now you know the main points in choosing a bike helmet. A full-face helmet will give you the most protection, but if you do a lot of slower city-based riding in a hot climate, a modular helmet can offer slightly more comfort.

By Darren Cottingham

Darren is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and the NZ Motoring Writers' Guild

When should you replace your motorcycle helmet?

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The general rule is to replace your motorcycle helmet every five years, you need to treat a helmet with respect and care and store it in a cool, dry place.

The outside shell – plastic, fibreglass or carbon fibre – is pretty tough, but keep it away from petroleum-based products such as fuel, cleaners and paint.

It’s the interior foam that deforms to absorb the impact in a crash and protect your head. So that means that you shouldn’t store any heavy objects in your helmet. If it drops with something heavy in it, then it will damage the helmet. Also, be careful how you hang your helmet on a hook as this can deform the interior foam. You can prolong your helmet if you store it properly when you’re not using it. Keep it in a cool, dry place and store it inside the helmet bag if it cam with one.

It’s not just the outside that deteriorates over time (unless of course it hits something hard, like the ground for example), but the inside foam and fabric lining. If you notice the helmet getting loose or some of the lining coming out or it leaves little black flakes in your hair, then it’s time to retire it, whether it has reached the five years or not.

Frequent use, sweating in your helmet, having greasy hair or using a lot of “hair product” can all aid in compacting the foam and making the interior lining degenerate faster than normal use.

You can also prolong the life of your helmet interior by wearing a helmet liner, balaclava or scarf that keeps the sweat off.

Another good reason to replace your helmet every five years is that helmet technology is advancing all the time and a new helmet is going to offer more protection than something five years old.

September is Motorcycle Awareness Month

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Motorcycle Awareness Month is back for 2019!

September is Motorcycle Awareness Month (MAM) and signals the start of the motorcycling season. Over half of all motorcyclists start to get their bikes out of the garage and onto the roads after a winter break.

September is an important time to deliver key messages to both riders and drivers, about what they can do to keep motorcyclists safe.

Messages for riders are around refreshing riding skills with Ride Forever coaching, ensuring your gear offers you the right protection, and checking your bike before getting back on the road.

The key message for drivers is that more bikes are back on the road, so ‘Look Twice’ at intersections and before changing lanes. We want to make all road users aware that they play a part in keeping each other safe on the road.

The key message is: ‘Look twice for motorcycles’.

The central hub for Motorcycle Awareness Month is the website. Live from 31^st August.

www.motorcycleawarenessmonth.co.nz

On the MAM website, you can find:

Tips for riders and drivers.
Bio’s on MAM 2019 ambassadors.
A link to articles.
Link to the Ride Forever Facebook, where all social media posts will be promoted.
A link to the MAM Facebook filter.
Any regional events being held around the country.

As part of MAM the Dunedin Police with support from DCC are putting on a motorcycle event on Sunday, 15^th September at the central VTNZ building. There will be a free BBQ & free bike safety checks plus a bunch of other things happening.

Its our 15th Birthday!!

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MCR has been delivering smiles for 15 years, and we're going to celebrate for a month - but you get the presents!

We have loads of stuff planned over the next month so make sure you keep an eye on our website and Facebook pages for updates.

Below are just a few...

Every day for 15 days, starting 23 August we will be doing a daily prize draw. To enter all you need to do is book your bike into the workshop or get 1 entry for every $100 spent in store.

But wait - there's more....

Major prize draw – Sat 7 Sept

All entries stay in the draw for the major prize – a Custom Scooter Grill. Value - Priceless!

On Saturday 7 September we will be celebrating in store with a free BBQ, spot prizes, and cake.

All this as well as great deals in store during the month.

Its all about you – our valued customers, so pop in and help us celebrate.

Women Riders World Relay - Christchurch to Invercargill 10 Sept

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The time has come to invite you to the most exciting gathering of women bikers to hit NZ as part of the Women Riders World Relay. Will you be there? 4 days, 2000kms, 100s of women bikers from the far north to the deep south. Laughs and fun guaranteed. We want our sisters from the east and west to come across and join us down the main state highways. We wish for every women rider in this country to be there, new riders, seasoned riders, big bikes, little bikes, trikes and anything in between, you are all hugely welcome. Join us for a day or two or join us the whole way. Will you be at Waitangi for the Karakia as we head on our way? Or will you be at the grand finale event down south? You choose. So much more to tell you but all will be revealed over the coming months. The route is as follows...

Day 1. Waitangi - Hampton Downs - Taupo - 7th of Sept 538kms
Day 2. Taupo - Bulls - Wellington - 8th of Sept 373kms
Day 3. Wellington - Kaikoura - Christchurch - 9th of Sept 437kms
Day 4. Christchurch - Oamaru - Invercargill - 10 of Sept 607kms

Please share this 4 day event to every women rider you know in this country – Come on NZ let’s make our roads ROAR!

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First you will need to join the main WRWR page...https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenRidersWorldRelay/ as this event is linked to the WRWR page and then make sure you confirm you are interested or going so you receive the info as it comes in. You may have to look back at some of the older posts on the discussion board to find out info or feel free to ask away.