ArtBiker World Blog

For motorcycle enthusiasts unable to get out on the open road, that two-wheeled excitement could be as close as an iPhone.

A new program, or ‘app’ as they’re called in the addictive iPhone world called Daredevil Dave: Motorcycle Stuntman! 1.0 has been released by M-Digital Media. The game, which can be played on an iPod Touch as well as the iPhone features a humorous combination of ragdoll physics and high speed, high flying motorcycle action.

Players attempt to complete Daredevil Dave’s tour of 18 motorcycle jumps while sustaining as few injuries as possible. The player wins money each time a jump is successfully completed. In the event of a crash, Dave’s medical bills must be paid out of the players winnings. If the player runs out of cash during the tour, the tour is lost and Dave must retire.

After successful completion of the tour, Injury Mode is unlocked. In Injury Mode the goal is to crash on all of the jumps and rack up the highest combined medical bill at the end of the tour. The medical bills are tied directly into the advanced physics engine. Injuries are calculated by how hard Dave hits a surface, and what body part is involved. Dave can get anything from a bad headache to a broken back, crushed knees, torn ligaments, missing limbs, burns, and even worse!

Features:

Career Mode with 18 unique and challenging jumps

Injury Mode: See how high of a hospital bill you can get by crashing Dave in creative ways

Ragdoll physics provide outrageous head-over-heels crashes

Replayability. Jumps have random elements so you never play the same game twice

Find creative ways to crash Dave and earn more money! Get eaten by sharks, blown up, tumble down a rocky canyon, vaporized by hot lava, chopped up by a helicopter, run over by a big rig truck, and much much more

Share your high scores and achievements using AGON

Beautiful 3D graphics provide a wide variety of jump settings

Hear Dave’s hilarious “words of wisdom” as well as his cries of pain

Multiple views including TV cameras, and an on-the bike camera

Adjust your ramp-tilt and speed to land each jump successfully

Daredevil Dave: Motorcycle Stuntman! 1.0 is only $2.99 USD and available exclusively through the App Store in the Games category.

On my way to the Republic of Texas Rally (ROT) and thought I would send out a list of lids that would be a good choice for anyone hitting the road.  I love going without a lid, and I hate being told I have to wear one… but when I do wear one, I want to wear a good one.

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

New safety ratings for motorcycle helmets were published today by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning (see list below).  He also unveiled a new website to give motorcyclists the best advice and information on choosing a helmet.

An extra 27 motorcycle helmets have been rated by SHARP – the Department for Transport’s Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme – taking the total number of ratings published past the 200 mark.

All these ratings are today published on the new SHARP website which has been overhauled to include more information for motorcyclists on how to find the right helmet for them.  The site also includes demonstrations of how the SHARP tests are carried out and how to make sure a helmet fits properly.

In addition, new in-store information leaflets are being made available for retailers to give them and their customers more information about the SHARP scheme.

Mike Penning said “We estimate that 50 deaths could be prevented each year if all riders wore the safest helmets available.  That is why I am delighted to be announcing additional SHARP ratings today at the same time as the new and improved SHARP website is launched.

“By making sure that motorcyclists have access to the best safety information, promoting further training and safe riding, and reminding drivers to look out for bikers I hope that we can improve safety for motorcyclists and reduce the number of tragedies we see on the roads each year.”

All helmets must meet minimum legal safety standards but the SHARP scheme uses a wider range of tests to provide riders with more information on how much protection a helmet can provide in a crash.

The objective advice, which includes important guidance on how to select a good fitting helmet, will help riders to choose the safest helmet suitable for them.

The SHARP tests – which award ratings of between one and five stars – show that the safety performance of helmets can vary by as much as 70%.  With helmets across a wide price range scoring highly all riders should be able to find a high performing helmet in a size and style that fits them and at a price they want to pay.

The new website was developed in response to feedback from consumers and the motorcycle industry and SHARP is inviting motorcyclists to continue giving feedback on the new site so that it best meets their needs.

The SHARP system was unveiled on June 12, 2008.

For more information about the SHARP programme, visit the SHARP website.

SHARP Helmet Ratings Following is the list of the first 56 helmets rated by SHARP.  Note that some of these helmets may not be available in all countries, and some helmets are sold under different names in different countries.

Also, it’s difficult to determine whether the construction of these helmets are identical to helmets that are sold in markets outside the UK to meet different safety standard ratings.  This is not an official list; check with SHARP for the details.

I have written a little bit about the problems that can come up from someone wearing the wrong thing at the wrong time or in the wrong place.  Well, there is a new jacket being put out that is very, very cool, but might also be a little too close in design to a club’s colors.

Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) member and West Midlands resident Carl Lolley says he believes the logo on Triumph’s Marlon Brando jacket is too similar to that of notorious biker group the Outlaws.

“This is the area where the guys who killed [Hell’s Angel] Gerry Tobin came from. It’s still very touchy. Wearing something like that could get you hurt”.

Both logos feature a skull and crossed pistons, though Triumph says its jacket is solely a tribute to Brando’s character Johnny Strabler from movie The Wild One (the letters stand for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), and has nothing whatever to do with the Outlaws’ infamous emblem, known as Charlie.

There are many of you who live in areas where this will not be a problem at all, but if you are the slightest bit worried about it, pass on this jacket.  Better to not accidentally get into something if you can avoid it.

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker

A previous, related post may be read here.

For all you Saints fans out there, congrats on the big win!!  Yup, you made Super Bowl history and Mardi Gras is getting an early start this year.

Now, for those of you who are in the know, Frank and Nino925 has some KILLER Fleur De Lis jewelry and this might just be the time to order some up.  He is quick, quick, quick and you can get something in time for Valentines Day if you like.  He has a ton of amazing bling for both the guys and gals and any biker would be proud to wear what he is pushing.

Because of the Super Bowl win, let me just show you a few things… but be sure to check out his website for a larger selection and gift ideas for every budget.  www.Nino925.com

Love, Respect, and Saints,

ArtBiker

J&P just sent us a note asking us to let you all know that they are going to offer you 10% off your purchases if you order something up today or tomorrow.  I love J&P and am sure you have checked them out as well… Now might be the time for that gift you promised yourself but didn’t have the green to put under the tree.  Gotta love discounts.  Just go to J&P’s website, www.jpcycles.com, and use the promo code “1025″ when you check out.

Love, Respect, and Ride Safe,

ArtBiker