P&H Motorcycles News & Events

A nice touring holiday for the spring.

It's cold and gloomy outside and Christmas cheer will soon give way to the New Year, so what better time to start planning a touring holiday?

Nothing beats the winter blues like devising a touring holiday, planning routes that will sweep through stunning landscapes and foreign lands once the weather begins to improve again in the spring.

Knowing this, manufacturers have begun to release their new motorcycle accessories to whet the appetites of frustrated bikers.

The latest offering from Honda, for example, is bound to do just that, yet it is not something you will find on a bike.

Jumping on the bandwagon that is the mobile revolution, the Japanese firm has developed a smartphone app to help bikers plan their touring holiday.

Go Touring is free to download for Android devices or the iPhone, and helps users find the best routes across Europe and the UK. So whether you want to wind your way through the Lake District or stare open-mouthed at the stunning beauty of the Alps, the Honda app will help you plan your itinerary.

The app also indicates where Mobike hotels are on the selected routes, while pointing out where the authorised Honda dealers in the area are, just in case. And closer to the time, the app will even provide a handy equipment checklist to ensure riders have all they need for the trip, as well as a long-range weather forecast.

So once you've decided where to go and what to take, you're going to need somewhere to put all that stuff.

Yamaha has introduced a series of new top boxes for 2012, available in 39-litre and 50-litre options. The larger size can comfortably accommodate two full-face helmets, indicating just how many spare pairs of socks and underpants can be stowed away for the trip.

In typical Yamaha fashion, the innovative design can be modified to allow bikers to operate the locking mechanism on the top box with the ignition, doing away with the need for a series of fiddly keys.

Rival manufacturer Suzuki has also launched three new packs of motorcycle accessories for its acclaimed V-Storm 650 ABS. The Tourer Pack includes a number of helpful additions, including a knuckle guard set to reduce the impact of the elements on the hands during those long days gripping the bars.

Also part of the Tourer Pack is a 14-litre magnetic tank bag, tank protector and branded chain guard, helping to protect against the damage that severely slows down a touring holiday.

The Adventure Pack includes all this plus a vario touring screen and a 42-litre top case, while the GT Pack features all this plus an extra 70 litres of carrying capacity, thanks to two large side cases.

Kawasaki, meanwhile, has updated its touring range with the striking new Versys 1000. First introduced to UK bike fans at Motorcycle Live at the Birmingham NEC last month, it is seeking to capitalise on the high levels of interest in the Versys 650.

Although it retains most of the popular aspects of the Versys 650, the 1,000cc model is not simply a clone with a bigger engine. It also features rider selectable traction control and power mode settings to allow riders to adjust the bike to any road conditions while on the move, as well as advanced ABS.

The engine itself and the chassis can also be tuned for a vast range of different riding conditions, making it an incredibly versatile bike.

To complement this, Kawasaki has a 47-litre top case with its typically aggressive styling, complete with lockable lid and a colour scheme that can be matched to that of the bike.