Piaggio Zip fans.

On your marks.

Get set.

Go!

The Piaggio Zip 50 RS Limited Edition scooter is now available at Two Wheel Centre.

With 4 of these high profile scooters in stock – that’s 4 out of just 100 in the UK – we are the place to see, try and buy the new Piaggio Zip 50 RS Limited Edition Scooter.

The Piaggio Zip RS 50 features a height adjustable seat, underseat storage large enough for a full face helmet, bag hook and lockable glove and mobile phone compartment.

Featuring the revolutionary Hi-Per4 Piaggio Engine, which is more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly, you can Zip about the town on the cheap, but in style.

With 2 years parts and labour warranty, buying your Piaggio Zip 50cc RS Limited Edition scooter from Two Wheel Centre couldn’t be easier.

Read more about the Piaggio Zip 50 RS.

Hot off the press, we have new images of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade Taylormade Exhaust System.

The Taylormade Exhausts System for the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in now in stock.

Styled by John Keogh, the unique flush-fitted design of a Taylormade Exhaust is truly unique.

Made for only a select number of high-end sportsbikes, Taylormade Exhausts are truly exclusive to the elite end of the motorcycle industry.

These new images of the Taylormade system for the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade are exclusive to Two Wheel Centre, the central UK distributor of Taylormade Exhausts. We hope you enjoy them…

Yamaha have released official images of the all new 2010 FZ8 after their promotional campaign was thwarted months ahead of time.

Just days after releasing the first of many ‘teaser’ images of the new FZ8 in a promotional campaign which should have lasted until Spring, full images of the bike were leaked from an unknown source.

Much to Yamaha’s dismay, they have now released the full official images ahead of schedule.

The replacement for the FZ6, and based closely on the 1000cc FZ1, the FZ8 will be available in both faired and naked versions.

The FZ8 is reported to have 120bhp, as opposed to the 150bhp of the FZ1.

With the crashing economy and rocketing cost of living, how will the motorcycle world fare in 2010?

We take a closer look at three key areas of the industry and what 2010 has in store…

Bike Purchases

Just last week, Motorcycle News reported on price increases across the board on new sportsbikes, including the popular Honda CBR600 and Yamaha YZF-R6.

Here’s what Two Wheel Centre’s managing director, Peter Scott, had to say about the year ahead:

“The bike world has been rocked by the economic downturn, and now because of the weak pound the new bike market is just becoming more and more expensive.

This means there will be a big increase in demand for second-hand bikes this year in the UK, and to make matters worse, the weak pound means people are travelling to the UK to buy these used bikes and export them, which will no doubt cause a shortage of quality used bikes in the UK.

So, my advice would be to buy a second hand bike sooner rather than later – decent ones will be like gold dust later this year.”

Helmets and Clothing

Paralleling this shift towards second hand motorcycles is the migration of buyers scouring high and low for the best deal on motorcycle clothing and accessories online.

There has been an increase in sales of mid-range helmets such as Caberg V2R and HJC IS-16, both £125.99, in comparison to the elite helmets like the new Shoei X-Spirit 2 at £580.00 and Shoei XR-1100 at £379.99. In fact, having noticed this trend, Shoei have dropped the price of their ‘entry level’ helmet, the Shoei Raid II, to be more attractive to the cost-conscious motorcyclists of 2010.

But safety will not be compromised…

However, though cutting back on cost might be a trend to look for in 2010, scrimping on safety will not.

New for 2010, the Hit Air YS high visibility airbag vest is already proving to be a favourite. Retailing at £299.99, these vests are by no means cheap. But the old adage ‘You can’t put a price on your head’ seemingly applies in this instance too, with the high vis airbag vest and the black Hit Air JV Vest being two of the top selling products of 2010 so far.

So it looks like 2010 may well be the year of second hand bikes and mid-range helmets, but quality and safety will still be priority to most bikers.

Any road user will more than likely have used a NCP car park before. What any motorcycle rider needs to know is that this should be free.

Motorcycle News has recently uncovered a scandal – intentional or not – where NCP Car Parks have been charging motorcyclists to park – even though it is written in law that designated bike parking areas are free.

This has understandably sparked outcry among riders and motorcycle groups alike. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) have expressed their utter dismay at the NCP seemingly ‘pocketing’ money which they should never have received.

And the Pay and Display signs in the NCP car parks are similarly misleading.

They state ‘Motorcycles must pay normal tariffs’, but then refers the reader to see a well hidden section of a local bylaw which then states parking for motorcycles is free in designated areas. This information, however, is not readily available.

A really messy mistake, or just another way to plunder the public?