Please mark your agenda! The appointment is given: the Curve Cowboy Reunion will take place on August 28-31 2007 at the Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach, Missouri. A very special motorcycle rally, focused on riders as well as passengers, organised in a beautiful resort with easy access to the wonderful roads of Central and Southern Missouri and the Ozark Mountains. Whatever your motorcycle brand, you're welcome! Maybe will you be the lucky person who will win the BMW F650 Dakar (donated by the Tan-Tar-A Resort) or one of the Unicorn Adventures - Motorcycle Tours Certificates that grant you an important discount for you and your friends on any of our tours (given as a door prize for the Curve Cowboy Reunion)... Be there!

"Riding is the same as listening to music on stereo, you are really part of the environment ". Marianne Weber.

In1944, Marianne Weber is 20. Imagine this young woman, her life… nothing to do with the young women we can meet nowadays. Nevertheless she was about to become a personality in the motorcycle world. Did she already have a feeling about it, days after the end of the WWII?

She decides to organise one of the first motorcycle rallies post war: The "Brabant-Ardenne" (between 135 and 155 miles, depending on the year). Preliminary Inspections of the route, map elaboration without any mistakes… of course men snigger before her first rally, expecting a lot of mistakes and problems. But she succeeds in surprising them. . Marianne’s objective is to finish in the shortest time. On her route, she uses paths that are not yet lanes, and lanes that will only become roads in some 10 or 20 years time. Mud tracks and potholes are on the agenda every year. "As soon as they arrived, most pilots went for a shower, all dressed. They had asked for beautiful and difficult routes, they got them. Year after year they came back to participate in the "Brabant-Ardenne" more and more numerous. I was the first motorcyclist woman post war. I was accepted ".

From motorcyclist woman, Marianne becomes pilot woman. She beats the Belgian speed record, against well-known male pilots. When she doesn’t participate in rallies, she rides in Europe and Africa. Talking about Africa, she remembers a flat tyre in the desert, 350 miles from the nearest village ! "I chewed a whole pack of chewing-gum for a very long time and I filled in the internal tear in the tyre. As soon as it was hard enough, thanks to the sun shining, I could finish the leg ".

She has a really busy life: travels very far from home, rallies and works in technical fields in Belgium factories. Belgium, French and British motorcyclist press appreciate her technical and tourist reports. In the official international Motorcyclist Federation magazines or even in the international press, her articles are on the same pages as ones of male pilots, photographers or well-known journalists of international fame. Source : La Moto au Féminin, mardi 10 juin 2003, par Jean Van Der Rest Automag.be Web site

"Rouler à moto, c’est comme écouter de la musique en stéréo, vous faites vraiment partie de l’environnement". Marianne Weber.

En1944, Marianne Weber a 20 ans. Imaginez cette jeune fille, sa vie… certainement rien à voir avec les jeunes filles que nous croisons dans nos rues en 2007. Dire qu’elle allait marquer le monde de la moto. Le pressentait-elle déjà, en ce lendemain de Seconde Guerre ?

Elle met sur pieds un des premiers rallyes moto de l’après-guerre : le "Brabant-Ardenne" (entre 220 et 250 km, selon l’édition). Reconnaissance préalable du circuit, tracé fidèle sur la carte, sans erreurs… inutile de dire que pour son premier parcours, les hommes ne se gênent pour ricaner, s’attendant à de nombreuses erreurs. Mais elle leur réserve de bonnes surprises. Faire au plus court est l’objectif de Marianne. Au programme des sentiers qui ne sont pas encore des chemins et les chemins qui ne deviendront routes que dix ou vingt ans plus tard ; des plaines maraîchères qui n’envient rien aux chemins de l’enfer du nord les lendemains de semaines pluvieuses. Ornières et bourbiers sont aux rendez-vous presque chaque année. "A l’arrivée, la plupart des pilotes s’offraient une première douche, tout habillé. Ils avaient souhaité des trajets beaux et difficiles, ils les ont eu. Et, ils sont revenus au "Brabant-Ardenne" plus nombreux chaque année. Première femme motocycliste d’après-guerre, j’étais admise".

De femme motocycliste, Marianne passe femme pilote. Elle bat le record de Belgique du kilomètre lancé, côtoyant les grands pilotes de l’époque. Hors saison de courses, elle part pour divers périples européens et africains. Une anecdote rigolote : une crevaison en plein désert à plus de 500 km de la bourgade la plus proche ! "Un paquet de chewing-gum mastiqué à outrance a rempli la déchirure interne de mon pneu. Le temps de laisser durcir la réparation au soleil, je repartais jusqu’à l’étape".

Sa vie est bien remplie : de lointaines randonnées, des rallyes et des représentations d’agent d’usines en Belgique. La presse motocycliste belge, française et anglaise apprécie ses compte-rendus techniques et touristiques. Dans la très officielle revue de la Fédération Motocycliste de Belgique et dans Belgique Sports, jusqu’aux incontournables Motor Cycles de Londres et Techniques Motos de Paris, ses pages voisinent avec celles des pilotes (masculins), photographes ou grands journalistes de renommée internationale de l’époque.

Source : La Moto au Féminin, mardi 10 juin 2003, par Jean Van Der Rest Site Automag.be

What is the problem on the french riviera?

Don't know what is happening but as soon as you ride on the french riviera and cross other bikers do you think they will make a hand sign?

No way they just ignore you! First I thought it has something to do with the bike they ride, or maybe mine?

But then riding in other places Inoticed everyone waves back!

The problem is local! Now consider this: bikers on the riviera for many have a great great great (lets say huge) need to show off! Second they ride only when they are sure the weather is warm, no wind, no clouds, nothing that could be a problem. They also only ride when they get out of their car, during the week end. In summary they don't ride that often and their rides are limited to the beach road and the cafes.

In fact they are scared to remove a hand from the handlebar! and as their glance is fixed to the 3 meteres of road in front of their wheel they can't see you.

Don't be pissed at riviera bikers! Have pity! Those guys are scared like hel to be on a motorcycle! Wave at them! They need you to give them courage!

Au bureau, dans la rue, n’importe où, les femmes se demandent toujours quel dessous a choisi de porter un homme. Allez, ne niez pas ! Et je suis certaine que les hommes ne sont pas en reste ! Eh bien cette question a été posée par le club BMW de Richmond (USA). Voici ce qu’ont donné les réponses sur leur site Internet (http://www.rbmwr.com) : Caleçon : 18,94% Slip : 17,42% Shorty : 39,39% Bikini: 6,82% String: 5,30% Slip de Joe Namath Netted Slingshot (?) : 0,76% Slip Commando: 6,06% Boy Shorts (un article de la marque Victoria's Secret): 5,30% (132 réponses) Et vous ? Unicorn Adventures Ltd vous invite à donner votre avis sur la question. Le résultat paraîtra dans un prochain numéro de notre Newsletter.

At the office, in the street, anywhere women always wonder about the kind of underwear a man can wear. Yes, ladies, don't deny it! And you, guy, don't laugh: you just have the same behaviour! And what about the kind of underwear worn on road trips? This question was asked for a survey by the Richmond BMW Riders club (http://www.rbmwr.com). On their Web site it is possible to see the following answers (132 votes): Boxers: 18,94% Briefs: 17,42% Boxer Briefs: 39,39% Bikini: 6,82% Thong: 5,30% Joe Namath Netted Slingshot Briefs: 0,76% Commando: 6,06% Boy Shorts (This is a Victoria's Secret Thing): 5,30% What about you? Unicorn Adventures Ltd invites you to give your point of view. You’ll see the results in the next issue of our Newsletter!

You guys think you know how to handle a motorcycle? Check that one....

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As some of our North American customers do ride with pride what is world wide known as THE bikers bike we had to test at least one Harley Davidson one day! Lucky us! We could test two of them: the FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic and the FLHRC Road King Classic, both 2007 models with the Twin Cam 96 (B for the Heritage) engine.

Feelings: shiny chrome everywhere, the sun reflecting itself in the huge front light, a large leather saddle, a noise allowing to count each piston move…and the whole beast shaking and vibrating on its side stand. Wow! One has to admit that getting close to a HD to ride it for the first time is a special event in a bike's life. The position of the Heritage feels more fluffy than the one on the Road King, as you are a bit higher and the handle bar is straighter on the second one. Feet are on the large feet rests, first gear in! And here we go! For such heavy pieces of metal they feel surprisingly light, thanks to the low center of gravity. Time for some throttle opening and the very first huge smile thanks to the noise of that HD engine! No idea how those pipes passed the European noise test but well, who cares? That is a noise you like! And enjoy playing with!

Vibrations: when you talk HD and Twin Cam you have to talk about vibrations. Some call them "good vibrations" and some…lose their teeth and bolts. On the Heritage, thanks to a softer engine mount, you will feel less vibrations, but the Road King is there to help you lose what was left to shake away!

Fun: riding a HD is definitely fun! The massive torque gets you and all that US iron flying above the asphalt in a twist of the wrist, but you will mainly stick to the speed limit thanks to the wind in your face and the good vibes. For someone used to the German handling efficiency or the Japanese slim bikes taking the first sharp curve with a HD is a …special moment.

 

What is that sound? As if the foot was on the road! Well in fact your foot IS on the ground only protected from the rude contact by the thickness of the foot rest. Now it becomes all clear why they are that thick! After the first surprise you can't stop playing with the torque and the foot rest scratching! Unfortunately only the people behind you enjoy the sparkles!

Dating: for the first time in the Unicorn Adventures Ltd newsletter we have to talk about the "Dating effect" of a bike (well in fact of two bikes). The style of a HD as well as the exhaust noise are a package that you have to account for! You cannot just jump in your "Honda" (or any other brand) leathers or your latest BMW world touring gear when you want to look like a HD biker! Well you could but then talking about dating doesn't make anymore sense. No! a HD deserves the proper style and look from its biker. Enhancing the beauty of the bike is a must and will point all the lights, fingers and glances at you! With a HD, especially with the Heritage or the Road King Classics with their leather side bags, huge fairing and chromes, people can see you are a serious rider, they see the Route 66 (what is left of it) and see you are a real tough one! Even though you will never make more than 100 km before your rear and back and hands and arms and legs hurt like hell. You will just look like "the right stuff".

Couldn't resist to put that one up!

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Did you ever wonder what happens when you get a helmet over your head?

We bikers know that it means a good ride, the helmet is the sign that something cool is going to happen!

But what happens to a non biker? Check the image and see pure pleasure!

I know the title can sound strange, especially as the Queen song is about biting the dust but just heard the news and the fact that the container freighter Napoli lost something like 50 containers in the channel !
Luckily nothing toxic, at the moment, but definitely a shame for us bikers! What is the link?

Well one of the containers was filled with BMW motorcycles! What a shame!

I guess that some poor UK guys are going to have to wait a couple more month to get their flat-twin!

Yes that titke sounds weird, but in a few hours and after years of motrocycling and motorcycle tours I am going to do something "said as" being special: I am going to ride a real piece of american steel!

In a couple of hours my "used to german efficiency and japaneese lightness" butt will sit on a Harley Davidson!

If I remeber well it will be a Softail Heritage...saw it...huge...guess that thing will need some time to understand how it works! We will see!