Other bike stories in brief
Road race kicks off in Athea
Athea Motorcycle Road Race's seventh annual race meeting takes place next weekend, June 27th-29th, in Athea - which is nestled in the hills between north Kerry and west Limerick.
Organisers promise a weekend filled with fearless motorcycle racing and plenty of fun for all the family.
Athea is firmly established in the National Championship and is the first race in the Republic. The prize fund on offer is €20,000.
A parade of classic and vintage racing bikes will leave the village at 7pm on Friday. Practice takes place on Saturday with race day on Sunday. Roads close at 10am both days. Visit: www.athearoadrace.com
Honda brake new ground
Honda has unveiled the world's first electronically controlled combined, anti-lock braking system specifically designed for sports bikes.
The revolutionary system was announced at a motorcycle safety workshop in Germany this week.
Combining both anti-lock (ABS) and combined (CBS) systems or "linked" brakes into one lightweight package, it utilises both systems and specifically targets the requirements of a sports bike.
According to Honda: "This system consists of an electronically controlled combined 'brake by wire' system with an innovative stroke simulator.
"Direct motor control ensures precise operation of the ABS. The components are divided into several smaller units so there are more, but smaller units than in previous systems."