UP THE HILL @ GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON

Literally blown away by what I just experienced. Going up the hill at the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed on the new electric @harleydavidson_uk Livewire was out of this world 🚀

I’ve got to admit I was shitting myself.

I’d never ridden in full leathers before✔️Never ridden the bike before ✔️ Never ridden an electric bike before ✔️Ok, now go do it in front of thousands of people ✔️ and on a track you’ve never ridden before ✔️ Eeeeeeek! But thanks to the amazing team and a little bit of kit loan (thanks @stockwell__design and @bell_powersports ) I shoved the fear way down in my boots and the second I crossed the start line of couldn’t stop laughing inside my helmet about how incredible this bike and this experience was. When I finally got back down the hill my face was aching 🤣 It just shows that sometimes you just gotta get on with it even if it scares the shit out of you as you might just be missing out on one of the best rides of your life 😊

Coming out of the drivers lounge later on, after meeting some of my absolute hero’s in the changing rooms @20thcenturyracing @mariacostellombe @jennytinmouth @motorshellninja @abbieeaton44 , my little boy was walking around wearing my helmet. A guy walking by said “he looks like he loves wearing daddy’s helmet”. I said “don’t you mean his mama’s helmet?” Proud moment sealed and locked in forever. 😊

A massive thanks to the team @harleydavidson_uk for letting me be only the 5th person outside of @harleydavidson to officially ride this animal and thanks for letting me bring my little family along for the ride ⚡️✌️

I can honestly say that this bike is incredible and the power delivery is phenomenal. If you are lucky enough to get a chance to ride one do it. It will knock your socks off. ⚡️🚀 Check out the video below for what I thought about the bike and about the future of electric!

NIKE SB RELEASES FIRST-EVER ALL FEMALE SKATE FILM 'GIZMO'

Nike SB has released its first all-female skate video, entitled Gizmo Featuring some of the most bad ass skate boarders of today (including our homie, the awesome Josie Millard) . The new film remains a tribute to renowned skateboarder Elissa Steamer, nicknamed “Gizmo,” who has been embroiled within the lifestyle since the 1980s and is one of the first women to become a professional skater within the history of the sport.

Directed by Jason Hernandez, the film features an all-star cast including Lacey Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Sarah Meurle, Josie Millard, and Elissa Steamer herself and is filmed over the course of a year and following the skaters in all corners of the world from North America, China, Europe, and Australia.

One thing is for sure, this is one film that will have you reaching for a board whether you’re a seasoned skater or just starting out.

VC TEAM TALKS @ HOUSE OF VANS LONDON

Reece Leung

At our VC TAKEOVER at the House of Vans London last week we were lucky enough to be able to present a VC Team Talks as part of the event with an incredible line up:

• Olympic Gold Medallist Victoria Pendleton

• Groundbreaking skateboarder Helena Long

• Founder of The Shextreme Film Festival Dr Ruth Farrar

We spent time talking about being a beginner, not being afraid to fail, building communities, the changing face of the skate scene and the power of the outdoors on your mental wellbeing all in front of a packed house!

A massive thanks to all involved that made this talk from the team at House of Vans to the awesome Red Bull for all their support in our VC Team Talks project.

If you missed the talk… well first of all you missed out big time…..but worry not!

We’ve got a video of the talks coming soon here so watch this space.

Victoria Pendleton by Sarah Emma Smith

Sarah Emma Smith

Sarah Emma Smith

Sarah Emma Smith

Dr. Ruth Farrar by Sarah Emma Smith

Sarah Emma Smith

Helena Long by Sarah Emma Smith

Sarah Emma Smith

VC TAKEOVER @ HOUSE OF VANS , LONDON

Build it and they will come….

So that was it! Our VC TAKEOVER House of Vans, London was an enormous success with a ton of people of all ages coming down to see everything from our amazing bike show to skating and getting involved with everything going on throughout the day.

An enormous THANK YOU to everyone who came down to talk bikes, skate, shoot some football, see the show, listen to the talks and get down with the event and of course a huge thanks to everyone that make an event like this come to life (both gals and guys ). From the team @houseofvansldn to all the awesome collectives, businesses, teams, individuals and creatives! You guys are incredible!

Photos: Sarah Emma Smith // @sarahemmasmith & Reece Leung // @reeceleung

Sarah Emma Smith

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Sarah Emma Smith

Reece Leung

Sarah Emma Smith

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Sarah Emma Smith

Sarah Emma Smith

The Whippets by Sarah Emma Smith

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Peggy Brown by Sarah Emma Smith

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Reece Leung

Sarah Emma Smith

Reece Leung

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Upset Stomach by Sarah Emma Smith

Peach Club by Sarah Emma Smith

Peach club by Sarah Emma Smith

VC X BBC

👋 Look mum. We’re ont’ telly!

We were very lucky to have @bbcnews come speak to us recently as part of their IWD features on women doing good stuff. Fanks guys!

Check out the video and the full article by clicking HERE

VC BRIDGE RIDE OUT

SOOOO MANY BRIDGES SO LITTLE TIME!

Thanks to all the awesome ladies who came out for our VC ride out through London Town yesterday... and a big shout out to @hardtailchop as always for being the best ride leader (and for doing it all on a monkey bike)!

Our ride outs are open to everyone no matter what your bike or experience level so get involved ladies!

Stay tuned for news of the next VC ride out coming soon!

FLAT TRACKING IS THE MOST EXCITING SPORT YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF - Hannah Elliot & Ysa Perez for Bloomberg

Image by Ysa Perez

By now many of you who follow some form the UK motorcycle community via social media will have started to hear about the rising sport of Flat Track racing. Run in the UK by The Dirt Track Riders Association (or DTRA for short) flat track is the sport that attracts all types of rider and experience levels - from chopper riders to off road enduro racers & pitches them against one another on purpose built flat track bikes (either DTX bikes, vintage classics, the inappropriate hooligan street bikes class or stock 100cc/ 125cc for the mini bike round) for a left turning, all out race on purpose built dirt oval tracks, horse trotting tracks, and speedway tracks across the UK.

But over in USA flat track racing is national sport with a long history renowned country wide and its racers are heroes of the story. None more so than trailblazer Shayna Texter. As one of only two women who compete at professional level in then USA Texter has had more wins than any other racer in the AFT single cylinder race class. Recently we came across this great article written by Hannah Elliot with some seriously amazing accompanying images by the talented Ysa Perez that anyone who wants to know about the sport of flat track needs to read instantly!

Just like her counterpart over this side of the pond , pro flat track racer Leah Tokelove, Shayna is first and foremost an extremely talented racer with the fact thats she's a woman coming in a distant second to her prowess as a leading motorsports athlete. She's up there competing at the highest level against other professional racers (mostly guys) and winning on a regular basis.

Although Shayna like many other women in sport doesn't want to be singled out as a poster girl due only to her being one of the only prominent women within the sport its impossible to put aside the fact that she represents the seeds of a shift within motorsport. Women like these have to come first to kick down the doors, blaze a trail & set a raising standard for the performance level & visibility of women within the motorsports world. This in turn is only helping to inspire more young girls to start out in motor sport at an early age & raise the bar even higher fr future generations. A true trailblazer in every way.

Read below for an excerpt from the article below And we've been lucky enough to get our hands on some unseen shots from the shoot from the lovely Ysa Perez. 

A big thanks to Ysa Perez for throwing these incredibly inspiring images our way. Killin' it girl!

Image by Ysa Perez

The thing about flat-track racing is that you’ll eventually get hurt flat-track racing. In April at the Texas Motor Speedway outside Fort Worth, I watch five riders crash on the same unrelenting turn, tumbling over one another like dominoes into a heap of cracked femurs, collarbones, and ankles.

Blame the dirt—or, technically, the “Texas gumbo clay.” The sport’s greatest challenge is to successfully slide a 300-pound bike around a 180-degree turn at more than 100 mph. Adding to the difficulty is the short, half-mile oval track, which is pretty much flat: There’s no banked curve to help riders counter the centrifugal force that could send them flying into the air.

Image by Ysa Perez

 To get ahead, the really good riders will find split-second openings between all those skidding, dirt-spitting machines and dart through them. Winning isn’t so much a question of speed, because the track is so small that most of the race is spent in the turns. It requires a combination of timing, balance, aggression, and the luck of a survivor.

YSA PEREZ

To read the full article by Hannah Elliot click HERE

To find out more about UK flat track get yourselves over to www.dirttrackriders.co.uk & institution of the flat track scene www.sideburnmagazine.com

VC X RIDE WITH NORMAN REEDUS

They say never meet your heroes.... well they’re freakin’ wrong!

Last year we were lucky enough to not only do some hanging and riding with the legendary lads @bigbaldhead and @jeffreydeanmorgan but we also got to take them on a ride to meet our good friend, the absolute inspiring force that is @elspethbeard.

It never fails to amaze us the incredible people we meet and things we get to be a part of through VC.... This one really was one for the books. .

Catch the first episode of @rideamcthis Sunday in the US on @rideamcchannel 🤙 Also watch out also for the lovely @vikkivansomeren & @dutchbsmc of @bikeshedmc on there. London REPRESENT! 🇬🇧✌️

VC X 100 YEARS OF CHAMPION

TEAM VC

So freakin’ stoked to have been recently asked by Champion to take part in their 100 year anniversary campaign celebrating the team alongside some other awesome teams from around the world annnnnnnd ... the legendary Magic Johnson !!!!! 

What may have begun with three friends has grown so much over the last few years and we’re so proud to work with so many inspiring people as part of our VC London team.

A massive thanks to Champion for featuring our lil’ team.

We <3 ya!

VC X VANS FOR HUCK MAGAZINE

Stoked to be asked by VANS and HUCK MAGAZINE to come chat about what we do here at VC, how we came to be and take them on a little ride out to one of our favourite London spots <3

Thanks to the HUCK team for the sick animated vid….. we always wanted to be cartoons innit :)

For the full article on HUCK MAGAZINES website click HERE

VC ACE CAFE RIDE OUT

♠️VC Ride Out to the Ace Cafe ♠️.

Thanks to all the awesome ladies who came and braved the cold on every manner of bike, from cubs to chops, with us to get us some fry up ☕️🍳🥓 and to @hardtailchop for being mum and getting us all there in one piece 🤙.

Who’s up for the next one?

CHOPPERS, BOBBERS AND BABIES FOR DICE MAGAZINE

p// TOM BING

p// TOM BING

So stoked to be featured in the newest issue of the legendary chopper bible DICE MAGAZINE (with a little appearance from the new addition Stan )

Chopper mamas forever ! :)

Pick up a copy online now or in selected moto stores in the UK.

All images by the awesome Tom Bing

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p// TOM BING

p// TOM BING

p// TOM BING

BASIC BIKE MAINTENANCE - WTF?

So you’ve got yourself on the road & bought your first set of wheels. Good on you!

So what now?

I found that I learned alot about my bike & how to begin to look after it when I was practicing for my theory test as alot of this info is included in there, but before that on just a CBT it took me a while to learn the basics about my bike & how to maintain it. With the help of a few tips & hacks from workshop buddies I started to know my way around my bike & this has helped me out of many a sticky breakdown on road trips.  

Alot of people have been asking us about basic moto maintenance recently so we thought we'd do a quick run down of the basic stuff you can learn to keep to your wheels & before a ride out which you'll only need a basic set of tools & a bit of noggin to do! 

Its not the be all & end all in terms of moto maintenance but enough to get you started & hopefully get you on your way to not always having to rely on others to catch what might be a simple thing to sort yourself .... Enjoy!  

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FIRST UP........

Firstly, before anything else, get on over to HAYNES & grab a workshop manual for your model of bike. These things are worth their weight in gold as they have every setting, tips & breakdowns of different bits of your bike. even just a good read in general to get to know whats located where & what bit does what..... usually the manual will also list the tools you'll need to do the job. 

Number two: Good quality tools do what they say on the tin. They are totally worth the money to invest in (just a basic set at first & then you'll find you collect a few more along the way when you come across jobs where you need specific things. Halfords do a pretty good starter set thats pretty good quite for the cash.

Finally if you dont feel 100% confident dont be afraid to ask someone for help! Two heads are always better than one when problem solving, even when you're experienced with bikes. Ive learned everything I know so far (and by the way I'm no expert) from trying to solve stuff with other people around our shop or helping out mates with their bikes.

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TYRES

TOOLS: A good quality pressure gauge

I know its a no brainier but checking your tyre pressure is something that you should always remember to do. Its a pretty vital part of your bikes handling as under inflated tyres massively affect handling & braking. You can also overinflate them (this can result in a lack of grip when braking) so its worth getting a good quality pressure gauge to get it right. This is when your manual comes in handy as it'll tell you correct pressure for your bike & in which circumstance e.g. you may need more pressure if you're regularly carrying a passenger or heavy stuff. Try to check it once a week & also before any long trips. It's also worth checking the condition and tread depth of the tyres while you're at it.

TIP: Always check your pressures when they're cold!

IMAGE BY HEIDI ZUMBRUN

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CHAIN

TOOLS: A torque wrench

Incorrect chain tension can result in sprocket and gearbox wear, unsmooth gearshifts, snatchy transmission, hamper your bike's rear suspension travel and reduce the life of your bike's chain so its pretty important to check this regularly.

Check your manual for how to adjust your bike's chain to the correct tension. Remember to set the tension with some load on the bike (something heavy or with someone on it) as the chain will tighten up once a you have a passenger on board.  Your manual will also tell you the correct torque settings for each bolt - how much force to use when retightening each bolt. This is when you'll need your torque wrench to do this properly. 

TIP: Its a good idea to also lubricate the chain while you're at it, as this will help it last longer! Its also a good time to check the condition of your back sprocket for teeth missing or wear & tear. These can be easily replaced & you can find replacement parts pretty easily at places like WEMOTO

IMAGE BY DAMIAN PAJAK

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BATTERY

TOOLS/ SUPPLIES:  Manual & battery acid (if needed)

If a battery is allowed to run dry or drop into a deep state of discharge then usually it kills it, so you should try check it out regularly to see what state its in.

Ideally, remove the battery from its holder before carrying out any work. Remember,  batteries contain strong acid, which can be harmful if it comes into contact with your skin so wear gloves & watch out where you get it.

Check the acid level in your battery by placing it on a level surface. If the level's low then top up with de-ionised water before placing the battery on charge, using a car or motorcycle charger. Remember not to overfill, as acid will drain out the overflow pipe when you're on the move. Many moden batteries are sealed, so you won't be able to top them up, meaning you'll have to buy a new one. Again WEMOTO is a great site to grab one from or if you're going custom a fancy lithium racing battery can take up half the space & fit nicely under the seat but you'll need to fabricate a new holder or battery box for this probably. 

TIP: Greasing your bike's battery terminals before placing the battery back in the bike will help avoid corrosion build up. Just remember not to touch both terminals at the same time or else ZAP!

IMAGE: HEIDI ZUMBRUN

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COOLANT

Checking you coolant only takes a few minutes to do but again its a pretty vital bit of maintenance. Not all bikes are liquid cooled. Some are also air-cooled (see here for a good guide on the differences)

First of all check out your manual to locate your bike's 'expansion' tank (if it has one); high and low levels should be marked on the outside of the translucent tank. Alternatively, remove the radiator filler cap to check the level. Only do this when the water is cold. And while your at it, think about changing the coolant altogether. Another easy job that takes about 30 minutes. Here's how it's done:

- When the radiator's stone cold, remove the cap the bottom rubber hose, allowing the old coolant to drain into a bucket. You may need to undo a drain plug situated near the water pump to extract all the liquid. Check your owner's manual for how to do it.

- Once the system's drained, reattach the bottom hose and replace the drain plug before making up a new batch of coolant using a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and de-ionised water.

- Fill to the correct level ensuring no air is trapped in the system. This can be alleviated by squeezing the radiator hoses to expel unwanted air. Check the level again after your first test ride.

IMAGE: BROTHER MOTO

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OIL

Changing your bikes oil is all part & parcel of keeping it in good knick. Some bikes need it changing more often than others (dirt bikes need oil changes every few hours of riding time where as road bikes need it alot less) all you need are the right tools, decent oil and the correct filter.

Check your workshop manual for a detailed explanation of how to do this very specifically on your bike. Also consider asking a mate to oversee progress from start to finish.

TIP: Always check your oil levels when the engine is warmed. Go for a quick spin then let the bike sit for about 15mins before checking. Also, always make sure your bike is upright (on the centre stand if you have one, or held up by someone else) to make sure you're reading the levels right.

If you're a bit low & need a change or top up: Get engine warmed through, remove the bike's oil filler cap, place a tray under the bike and remove the sump plug. Make sure you're 100 sure you're removing the right bolt; it should be the biggest one on the sump, usually on the bottom or on the side.

- Once the oil's drained, remove the filter, either by hand or using a filter removal wrench. 

- Replace the sump plug, tighten to the correct torque setting as recommended in the owner's manual before spinning on a new filter. Smear the rubber filter gasket in clean oil before tightening by hand. Nip it up half a turn with the filter wrench. 

- Refill the engine with the correct amount of new oil. Start the bike up, check for leaks, stop the engine Give it five minutes for the oil to drain back into the sump before checking the level again. Add oil if necessary.

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SPARK PLUGS

TOOLS:  Socket wrench with a spark plug extension

Unlike some of the other jobs changing your bike's spark plugs isn't a job that usually needs doing regularly but its a good check to do to avoid any breakdowns ( especially if you have a 50 year old shitty triumph chop like me) as a result of blackened or dirty plugs, making it difficult to start the bike. You can consult your manual for how often in should be done.

On most small or old bikes checking or changing the spark plugs should take you only a few minutes. Firstly make sure you have the correct plugs for your bike; the code number on each one will differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Check the owner's manual for the correct gap; you'll need feeler gauges to set it correctly.

TIP: Remove the plugs one at a time to avoid mixing up the HT leads & try not to over tighten them! Best way to do this is to screw them in by hand and nip them up a quarter-turn with a plug wrench to finish up.

IMAGE: DAMIAN PAJAK

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BRAKES.... PADS OR DRUMS

TOOLS: Good spanners, sockets or Allen keys of the correct size to fit the caliper retaining bolts; some brake cleaner spray; a rag or old toothbrush; a large flat-headed screwdriver, copper grease, a torque wrench, a pair of pliers and brake fluid (of the right grade).

Firstly, does your bike have drum brakes (common on older bikes) or disc brakes??  Click here for a good guide to the difference between drum brakes & disc brakes.

 If you're bike has disc brakes a good way to check them is: 

• Start by checking the brake pedal and hand control brake.  You want to make sure they’re firm and not soft or spongy.

• Visually inspect both the front and rear brakes looking for wear on your brake pads.

• Make sure there is at least 3mm of pad left.  If the pads wear down less than this, you’ll get metal-on-metal grinding between the brake and the rotor. 

Checking & replacing your bike's brake pads sounds fairly intensive but is actually a pretty straightforward job although first time I'd ask someone experienced to give you a hand.

There are so many great video guides on you tube for this that its kind of pointless for me to put it into words but basically you'll need to remove the caliper from the fork leg, take out the retaining clips, followed by then pins and springs. The pads should then come out with ease. 

TIP: Use an aerosol brake cleaner to smarten up the job when you're finished and remove any unwanted grease as this is very dangerous around disc brakes.

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Don’t know where to find replacement parts for your bikes

Here are some good UK based websites for stock replacement bits for a wide range of bikes :

WEMOTO

MOTORCYCLE PRODUCTS

M & P

PATTERN PARTS

HAPPY WRENCHING PEOPLE!