Five times 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan stars in the latest video created by the Motor Accident Commission in South Australia. His line is “If I’d faced the same obstacles on the race track that you do on the road, I’d probably be dead!” and it comes at the end of a series of real crashes worsened by the presence of obstacles that riders racing on the road often happen to meet and with the most painful and sometimes tragic results. This turns the attached video in one of the best motorcycle safety ads we’ve seen in a long time – subtle and yet full of essence.

Motorcycle safety ad message: road racing is a big No-No originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 2 November 2009 15:41 EST.

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Ardenti Films have come up with a very nice commercial for Scorpion helmets starring gorgeous fitness model Timea Majorova and Jett Schaeffer. Enjoy the video!

Timea Majorova starring in Scorpion helmets commercial originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 22 October 2009 16:01 EST.

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The risk of riding a motorcycle is the same regardless of country, so we’re witnessing an abundance of road-safety videos as part of the campaigns that different countries have. I’m writing this still thinking about the “we are small, but we’re not bugs” motto, which lead to a very original video meant to raise awareness of motorcyclists in Norway and today we’ve come across Australia’s latest road-safety campaign video targeting the dangers of motorcycling. This video may send a hard-hitting message, but at least you’ll be thinking about it and find that the throttle works both ways. Video after the jump.

Australia starts motorcycle safety campaign (w/video) originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 22 October 2009 14:16 EST.

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Through this video, the American Motorcyclist Association sends a message to all drivers to “watch out, you don’t know who may be on that motorcycle.” I say just don’t be the guy in that car regardless of the odds to actually meet the rider any time soon because most of them don’t get to live for payback time.

If you were thinking about this dentist, you were close although not close enough.

The dentist motorcyclist originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 22 September 2009 14:17 EST.

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Because Marines and militaries in general use public roads and motorcycles on which they don’t have much experience (sport bikes) to go in search of an adrenaline rush similar to that experienced as soldiers, the US Marine Corp has launched what is called “Semper Ride”, an educational program that consists in a very interesting film containing an overall responsible riding theme, instructional material, and mentoring from some of the motorcycle industry’s most talented riders.

We’ve added the promotional videos of the actual film because this last is for the moment watched in military bases only.

See the videos after the break.

Semper Ride – Educating the Marines (w/video) originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 11 June 2009 16:10 EST.

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In the video attached to this post, Dainese takes us through different versions of their D-Air system and, implicit, through the history of the innovative airbag safety jacket.

Most important, the latest Dainese D-Air airbag suit was recently put to the test by TT star Guy Martin, who’s impressions are: "It’s mega, the suit feels the same as my normal race suit. After about 10 seconds, the airbag goes back down and you could carry on racing.Top, mega, I love it."

Dainese D-Air put to the test by Guy Martin originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 11 June 2009 15:21 EST.

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Arai has started to take orders for the barely released Haga Monza replica RX-7 GP helmets. A number of 200 units of the Drudi Performance design helmets will be made and they’re sure few, considering that Noriyuki Haga worn this model during the fifth round of the 2009 Superbike World championship earlier this month. Haga came in second in the first race, but bad luck struck in the second race when the pilot hit a bird and crashed shortly after.

Exceeding both ECE 22.05 and the upcoming Snell M2010 standards, Arai’s RX-7 GP is one of the safest helmets out there and the shell is made of structural net composite (SNC).

Arai taking orders for Haga Monza limited edition helmet originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 21 May 2009 12:54 EST.

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With the beginning of the year’s new motorcycle season we start seeing new safety ads addressed either to traffic participants or to motorcyclists themselves. Some better than others, the ads have the clear purpose of both making people aware that bikers exist and to determine these lasts to consider each possible danger when riding just so that they don’t end up in the statistics.

The first ad is from Belgium and the second from Germany. I simply can’t decide which one is better.

Spring motorcycle safety ads originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 29 April 2009 14:36 EST.

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The fans of Valentino Rossi are offered the possibility to create their own Rossi-like custom helmets on an AGV mini site that the helmet producer has put together specifically for this purpose. They wager on the fact that riders simply won’t abstain themselves and buy the self customized helmets featuring graphics of the helmet worn by Rossi during the Mugello 2008 GP race. Apart from that, there are also the plain white, black and silver GP-Tech schemes in the case that riders feel more inspired.

Put your face instead of Rossi's on AGV helmet originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 30 March 2009 16:04 EST.

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As the new motorcycling season begins, the Mayor of London joins forces with the Transport for London to create a safety ad. Produced by M&C Saatchi, the video advises both car drivers and pedestrians to Give Motorcyclists a Second Thought.

London Spring safety ad: “Give motorcyclists a second thought” originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 20 March 2009 10:37 EST.

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Responsible riders who want carry their children as passengers are now offered the ideal solution from Italian motorcycle accessories and equipment company Givi. They have invented the so-called Baby Ride which is no more than a baby seat similar to ones used in cars and which is belted on the back end of 650cc scooters (that’s why the full name is Baby Ride S650).

The special seat is destined to kids in between 5 and 8 years of age and offers proper lateral support as well as a pair of handles and belt footrests. Made of expanded polyurethane, the Baby Ride is both comfortable and rigid so it meets the most important demands for such a task. For more information, visit the company’s official website at www.givi.it.

Baby Ride – the latest invention from Givi originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 20 March 2009 09:08 EST.

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A problem related to the axle shaft wall thickness determined BMW of North America to recall model year 2008 F800 GS motorcycles. According to the German manufacturer, the axle shaft wall thickness may not have been manufactured according to specifications resulting into the possibility of the axle shaft to deform and increase the risk of accidents.

The correction consists in dealers inspecting the axle shaft assembly and replacing or repairing the necessary components free of charge. Although BMW has not yet started the owner notification schedule, all 2008 BMW F800 GS owners can call BMW at 1-800-831-1117 and see the solving of their possible problem from there.

Taking such a measure over a specific model does not necessarily mean that all bikes recalled are affected and that are imminent dangers riding down the streets, but that the manufacturer has a responsible approach towards their customer safety and try to exclude all possible risks of a crash due to mechanical failure.

Recall issued for 2008 BMW F800 GS originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 20 March 2009 08:31 EST.

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German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has come up with some unique creations the past weekend at the Paris Fashion Show. This fully functional motorcycle fur helmet is mink-covered and actually part of the designer’s winter 2010 ready-to-wear collection.

"Now everyone is on scooters, even chic women, so we had to do the helmet," said Lagerfeld who is currently working for Chanel and Fendi.

The fur helmets are also fitted with an iPod connection so they follow the industry’s trend with great accuracy and yet in a unique way. I just wonder what people are going to thing when seeing these things in traffic.

Fur-covered helmets unveiled at the Paris Fashion Show originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 March 2009 17:57 EST.

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Being a loving and caring husband means more than just keeping the vow you’ve made in church on your wedding day. It involves the power to adapt your care and concern towards your life partner’s well being in different and sometimes spontaneous situations. So if you’re a motorcyclist and an ideal husband, it is very likely that you’re already using what is called the Babe Cage.

How was that saying?... “Prepare for the worst, expect for the best!” I believe it suits perfectly to this precise situation.

The Babe Cage (what kind of name is that, anyway?) is securely built around a cruiser’s bodywork so together with your passenger’s life, it also protects your motorcycle. The passenger gets an extra large backrest and even headrest while being safely belted to the cage (I guess there’s no point in having a safety cage if you’re going to fly tens of feet away from the bike in case of an accident). There is also a set of extra lights mounted around the cage so that traffic participants would be aware that you’re pretty much working with overdue gauge out there.

In what concerns the wife, how paranoia does she needs to be in order to let herself be carried like she’s explosive material or something?

Extreme safety – the Babe Cage originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 February 2009 16:12 EST.

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Think! Look twice for motorcyclists, US version originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 19 January 2009 13:16 EST.

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