Table of Contents
Editorial
This week there was a meeting between the NMC (National Motorcyclists Council) and DfT (Department for Transport) to discuss a strategic agenda for motorcycling. Given that UK motorcyclists have been waiting since 2005 to see some Government action, let’s hope that actioning the strategy doesn’t also take 20 years! The agenda a review will include default bus lane access, motorcycle training, testing and licensing. Also, this week the ‘Future of Roads: Pothole Partnership’ group met. There was a discussion of technical issues in highway design, access, maintenance and safety, relating to vulnerable road users including motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. Since 2011, the numbers of motorcyclist KSIs (Killed & Seriously Injured) has flatlined. Only 1-in-5 riders go on to take a motorcycle test. After 8 hours of CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) instruction, of which as little as 4 hours is spent riding a motorcycle, the roads are packed with bikes capable of speeds up to 60mph. The situation is made worse by the vastly increased numbers of fast food delivery riders. It’s no wonder that many are learning by trial and error. It’s the riding errors that cause the most catastrophic injuries. The successful trials are more likely to ingrain poor riding habits. We don’t accept this approach with learner car drivers, so why is it acceptable for young motorcyclists? We will keep advocating for change and opportunities to ride better.
In this week’s newsletter you’ll see that biker’s do some daft things. There is a new world record for being dragged behind a riderless machine. We don’t know how many spills it took before the record was achieved? It’s not something we would recommend, even to get a new world record
There is better riding advice with, amongst many other things, tips for the perfect fitting helmet. My gauge has always been the one that fits, but I may have to reflect on my reasoning. Safer riding is not just about the the physical ability, or a well-fitting helmet, or managing the weight and controls of the bike. It’s as much about the rider’s attitude to riding. Risk taking, clowning around and blaming others for a rider’s lack of skill, doesn’t make for a knowledgeable, skilled and safe rider. Whether you’ve been riding for a day or a lifetime, your attitude to riding will do as much, or more, to keep you safe, as your ability to control the throttle, clutch, steering and brakes.
The recent official police data shows that motorcycle thefts have declined in 2024. Do these statistics give an accurate picture of motorcycle thefts in the UK? From 2002 to 2022 there were about 25,000 motorcycles stolen each year. A small dip in the statistics won’t affect a trend. It’s hardly, as the MCIA claim, a clear indication of industry-wide efforts yielding positive results! In a 2022 YouGov poll, 77% of respondents had little faith that the theft would be investigated, or motorcycles recovered. This belief leads many victims to not even report the crime. There is a lot of regional variation in both the types of motorcycle and motorcycle thefts recorded. London and the West Midlands have higher rates of motorcycle theft than other parts of the UK. Public attitudes are probably shaped by how many motorcycles were stolen locally and the common experience of reporting to the Police. So long as we don’t report thefts and blame the Police for inaction, the reported statistics won’t ever reflect the real problem. This leaves motorcycle thieves with the upper hand. Time to reflect on how we keep our rides safe and ensure that we at least report thefts as soon as possible.
You can read about all the adventures that have been enjoyed by bikers who have held onto their bikes. I’m obsessed with motorcycling history and enjoyed reading about the ‘Goat’, a bike from 1907. Happy reading.
Your success is our success!
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
SAM's Autumn Celebration
Advanced Riding - Safeguarding our Reputation
We all enjoy meeting down at Meadowhall Retail Park, whether it be to take out an associate, go for a ride with friends or just to socialise.
As IAM and SAM members we are part of a charity that promotes road safety and it is crucial that the way we ride is in line with this aim. Public perception of how we ride is really important, as we can be part of the solution to stereotypes about motorcyclists riding dangerously and causing stress or annoyance to other motorists. We should never ride in a way that might reinforce that stereotype or cause danger to ourselves or anyone else. Every member can reflect on the impression they leave on every ride.
Group riding can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of motorcycling when it’s done responsibly. However there are also some common problems created by riding in a group:
- Allowing others to dictate your riding style: Being influenced by others in the group can lead to impulsive overtakes or riding beyond your comfort level without proper assessment of road conditions.
- Riding too fast for your experience: The fear of embarrassment or being left behind can pressure riders to exceed their capabilities, compromising safety.
- Failing to scan the road ahead: Focusing solely on the bike in front can limit your ability to anticipate hazards and react accordingly.
Remember, each time you ride in a group you are representing SAM. Enjoy yourself, be safe and leave a good impression on those you meet along the way.
Online Motorcycling News
General
Mechanics Show sponsored by Carole Nash takes Stafford by storm
There’s a New World Record For Being Dragged Behind a Motorcycle, Apparently
Is there a Guinness World Record for the most pointless Guinness World Record?
We motorcyclists are a crazy bunch. We’re always trying to do some stupid shit on our motorcycles, and more often than not, we pay the price for such stupidity. But as it would turn out, there comes a time that if you practice doing stupid stuff, you get so good at doing stupid stuff that it’s no longer stupid. Read more…
Rider Safety
Do you ride a motorcycle or know someone who does? If so, you’ll know that riding a motorcycle has some risks. In fact, statistics show that motorcyclists are much more likely to be involved in a serious or fatal accident than car drivers. This is why it’s important to take steps to reduce the risks and the Biker I.C.E. Card is one of the most effective solutions available.
The Biker I.C.E. Card is a simple, yet vital tool. It contains your contact details and essential medical information. In the event of an accident, emergency services staff can quickly access this information to help them decide on the right treatment for you. By carrying a Biker I.C.E. Card, you can ensure that emergency services staff have the information they need to take account of any ongoing health problems you have and any current treatments that you are receiving. This can make their job easier and your emergency care safer. Read more...
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“I blew up my engine, man,” used to be a claim to romantic status, implying the dashing rider asks more from engines than they can give. Parts everywhere! Look, you can see the crankshaft! Overuse robs language of meaning. I once heard a customer actually say, “I blew up my battery, man.”
A long plume of red fire streamed out behind the late Yvon Duhamel’s 750 two-stroke, up on the Talladega banking. This was just a hiccup in the two-stroke revolution. We saw him slow, steer his comet down onto the apron. Thinking himself stopped, he stepped off and tumbled head over heels. The bike became a bonfire. Yvon knocked on the window of a pickup truck in which corner workers were sleeping. He pointed to the burning bike and they left the air conditioning and looked for extinguishers. Read more…
TOP TIPS: Choosing the perfect helmet
Picking the right lid goes beyond simply deciding which design you like best, but where do you start?
Whether looking to kit yourself out for the first time or treating yourself to some new attire, choosing a new helmet can have you scratching your head on what to look for. To help make it easier, we’ve rustled up five tips to help make sense of all the options. Read more…
RIDER SKILLS: Adjusting your attitude!
Official motorcycle theft statistics show an overall reduction in all but two areas across the UK
Official police data supplied to MCN by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has shown a 7.9% drop in bike thefts across the UK.
The data shows year-to-date numbers by region to the end of August 2024 – with incidents dropping from 17,188 in 2023 to 15,832 in 2024.
“The decrease in thefts is a clear indication that coordinated industry-wide efforts are yielding positive results, providing hope for even lower theft rates in the future, and hopefully a reduction in insurance premiums,” MCIA boss, Tony Campbell said. Read more…
How To Adjust the Clutch Cable on a Motorcycle
It goes by many names: Clutch free play, clutch slack, or clutch tension describes the amount of free movement your motorcycle’s clutch lever has before it begins pulling on the clutch cable itself. Why does that matter? The clutch installed on your bike is a wear item, and as the friction plates within the clutch wear out from countless engagements and disengagements, they become thinner. That means we must adjust things and ensure they are within specification. It’s a simple routine maintenance task for every motorcycle equipped with a cable-actuated clutch. When things get out of whack, it can lead to everything from minor shifting difficulties to costly damage to the clutch and transmission. In this installment of helpful content, we’ll teach you how to adjust the clutch cable on your motorcycle. Read more…
Adventure & Touring
Life is a game or choices. As we age many opportunities are brought before us. We either back down from the benefits of overcoming such challenges or we seize the moment to grow and become happier, better people. There’s a time and place for all these decisions in life. For me and three good friends, the time was late August of 2021 on the isolated Magruder Corridor, bridging the Idaho/Montana state Line. For the four of us, we chose to seize the moment.
Three years ago, I convinced one of my best friends, Dave, to get a Suzuki DR650. Dave had motorcycled his whole life but was confined to street or dirt. The winning argument for this purchase was the opportunity to do it all with one bike and travel self-sufficiently; similar to backpacking but with the added benefit of the adrenaline inducing horsepower offered by the single piston motor. Read more…
History & Custom
The Intern: A frosty BMW R80 scrambler from the Netherlands
The best custom motorcycles aren’t always the ones that scream the loudest. Some captivate with simplicity, inviting a closer look that reveals a visually enticing, perfectly proportioned, and tastefully upgraded machine. Mastering all of these elements takes years. This frosty BMW R80 scrambler ticks all of those boxes. Remarkably, it’s Tomas Janicek’s first custom motorcycle—but…Read more »
One of the most unusual manuscripts found in the California Historical Society Library’s great treasure trove of handwritten documents is the “Log Book of the Belgian F.N. Four Cylinder Motorcycle ‘Goat’ owned by Walter Brooks.” The logbook also includes a photograph of his motorbike and illustrations of its engine and other details. What makes this so exciting is that there are many handwritten journals and diaries generated by the pioneers documenting overland journeys and sea voyages and even firsthand accounts by motorists narrating their trips in Model T’s, and other early motorcars, but a handwritten logbook of adventures on a motorbike is a true rarity. Brooks, who lived at 1717 Sutter Street in San Francisco’s lower Pacific Heights, purchased his motorcycle on June 26, 1907 and gave it the curious name of “Goat.” However, in his logbook he simply referred to his mechanical mount as “F.N.” As shown by his entries, Brooks rode “F. N.” for pleasure taking twenty-seven day or weekend trips roaring around the Bay Area. One can only imagine what his neighbors and others thought as they would see and hear him whiz by on city streets and country roads clutching the handlebars and squeezing the metal frame with his legs. Read more…
A craze for custom motorcycles were the hottest two-wheeled trend of the early 1960s, when the youth of America discovered the infinite coolness of custom vehicle culture. The writer Tom Wolfe did a superb job of discussing the scene in his essay ‘There Goes (Varoom! Varoom!) That Kandy-Kolored (Thphhhhhh!) Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby (Rahghhh!) Around the Bend(Brummmmmmmmmmmmmmm)…’ published in Esquire in 1963 [read it here], which became the title of his first book (1965), ‘The Kandy Kolored Tangerine Metalflake Baby’, a pioneering example of New Journalism and a work of genius. Wolfe was not originally a custom car fan, just a journalist on assignment by the New York Herald Tribune sent to cover a show in New York City. He submitted his story, but knew it didn’t do justice to the vibrant new scene, so approached Esquire with the idea of a long-form essay that truly captured the vibe of a ‘Teen Fair’ in LA. He references the rigid codes of teen fashion, language, and music, and interviewed George Barris and Ed Roth for their thoughts as the revered elders of a new subculture. It’s a must-read.
The Goodwood Revival is hands-down one of the best classic events of the year—and in the star-studded Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy race, which shines like a diamond in the event’s jewel-laden crown, the Revival offers arguably the greatest historic race in the entire world.
Held late in the English summer at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex, the Revival is three days of classic racing on both two and four wheels. The parkland circuit is owned by the 11th Duke of Richmond and is gloriously old school and fast, but the racing is only half the fun. Celebrities rub shoulders with professional racers, while thousands of enthusiasts show up in period costumes that make you feel like you’ve time-traveled straight back to the 1950s—the outfits are just as important as the racing. Read more…
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
Well done to Advanced-Qualified volunteer rider Tony from Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes for participating In today’s national relay between Blood Bike Charities. Pictured is Clive from Northumbria Blood Bikes. Well done to all involved. #itswhatwedo
Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes would like to express our sincere appreciation to a local member of the Yorkshire motorcycle industry.
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
Tyre safety month:
We just wanted to thank everyone who leaves feedback on our social media posts.Every death and serious injury on the road is a preventable tragedy. Yet, on average, five people die every day on the road in the UK and 82 are seriously injured (10-year average from 2013-2022). This has to change. Help us by sticking to the rules of the road. Brake, the road safety charity
Kevin Williams
Discover how your bike behaves Part 3
Due partly to a long discussion about my recent trail braking video, it’s pretty clear that some riders don’t really ‘connect’ with their bikes even when they make the right inputs to make the machine manoeuvre – they don’t really ‘feel’ what’s happening. A couple of decades ago, I explained that thanks to their design for use on public roads, modern motorcycles are designed to continue in a straight line if we lift our hands off the bars – the idea is to make them straight-line stable. Read more…
The CBT trap for young riders
Back in November 2022, the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) published a new report recommending a full review of the motorcycle licencing regime. Working with Dr. Jessica Andersson-Hudson of Lund University, the study revealed that the peak age for attaining a full motorcycle licence in Great Britain is 24. MAG says this compares unfavourably with the equivalent peak age of 17 for car driving licences.
If you’re surprised to find that the peak age for passing the car test is 17 when many of us would have thought that young people are often putting off learning to drive till later, I’ll just remind you of the terms mean and and mode. Read more…
Positioning for hazards; Space, Surface, Sight
I’m always interested at looking at alternatives to the standard UK approach to advanced riding, and sometimes I find an approach or an insight that I think is worth a second look. And having investigated, occasionally I think it’s a superior to our own way of doing things, or at very least worth looking at because it might enhance our understanding of the conventional UK approach. Read more…
Motorcycling Organsiations
IAM RoadSmart
Has it been a while since you passed your Advanced test? 
Commenting on the announcement that the government has vowed to take action against the rising costs of motor insurance. Read more…
More than half (63%) of motorists aged 17-34 have sounded their horn to express anger at the behaviour of another road user in the past year, adding to concern about increasingly aggressive drivers.
Of the 2,000 people surveyed by IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, one is six (66%) said they are more concerned than last year about aggressive drivers.
Our local Groups offer our members the opportunity to meet new people, and to form new friendships with like-minded people. 
Learn more about our local Groups
Are you aware of the OAP framework when out riding?
National Motorcyclists Council
After the long summer Parliamentary recess, the autumn ‘term’ has started with a flurry of activity at DfT. A meeting has been held with the new Secretary of State Louise Haigh and the Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood, on day one of the new session (October 7th).
Louise Haigh called in a range of organisations to kick off discussions on developing a new Road Safety Strategy, with this aimed to be the first in several years. Several safety NGOs and transport sector groups were present, with the motorcycle sector being represented by the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC). The meeting focussed on broad themes rather than on specific details, though several ideas were put forward by the different bodies present. The NMC said to Ministers that several issues remained outstanding, such as work on motorcycle training and testing reform, bus lane access and the need to refresh the 2005 Government Motorcycle Strategy. The Secretary of State welcomed contributions from the groups present and said that detailed work on a wide range of safety issues would now commence. Read more…
FEMA
The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) has officially joined the European Road Safety Charter (ERSC), marking a significant step toward enhancing road safety for motorcyclists.
The ERSC, spearheaded by the European Commission, is the largest civil society platform dedicated to road safety, with over 4,000 public and private entities actively participating.
This collaboration will enable FEMA to share its expertise and initiatives, contributing to a broader community focused on improving safety for all road users. By joining forces, FEMA and the ERSC aim to inspire and learn from each other, implementing effective actions that target motorcyclists specifically. As Europe’s leading motorcyclists’ organisation, FEMA is poised to make a meaningful impact in promoting safer riding conditions across the continent. Read more…
British Motorcyclists Federation
Electric motorcycle pioneer Energica, which was founded in 2014, has announced that it is going into liquidation. Despite a prominent position in the electric motorcycle market, and acting as sole supplier to the MotoE race series for four seasons, the Italian company was unable to survive, citing increased costs and faltering supply lines. Energica pioneered the electric sports bike market, offering big batteries and fast charging, and the Experia adventure tourer was added to the range in 2022. Read more…
New Rider Hub
What is Ridefree?
Ridefree is an award-winning enhancement to compulsory basic training (CBT), consisting of pre-course eLearning modules. Its aim is to help you prepare for your CBT and riding on the road.
How can it help me?
CBT should be an enjoyable experience. But there’s a lot to learn, and it’s normal to feel anxious about your first bike ride. The good news is that Ridefree will help you become a better and more confident rider…Read more.
It can be hard when you are buying your first bike to make sure you get it right. This page gives you lots of advice so your first bike can be a great one.
Here are some top tips when buying a bike:
- Make sure you are the correct legal age to ride the type of motorcycle you want to ride
- Make sure all the documents are in order. Ask to see the V5C vehicle registration document (logbook), any service records, repair bills, inspection reports and handbooks
- Remember that a V5C vehicle registration document is not proof of ownership; it records who the registered keeper is for legal purposes
- An MOT certificate simply confirms that the motorcycle passed the test on the day it was submitted. It only covers the specific tests required and does not provide an absolute guarantee of the general quality of the motorcycle. If you have a problem with an MOT contact the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which enforces the law relating to these tests
- You can check the MOT history of a vehicle on GOV.UK website; it holds the test date, expiry date, test result, the mileage recorded when it was tested, the reason for an MOT failure and any advisory notice items
- An older motorcycle with high mileage may not be as good as a newer motorcycle with low mileage. It should still be fit for use on the road and in condition that reflects its age and price. Fair wear and tear are not considered to be a fault. Read more…
Young Rider Webinar Replay Available! 
Next SAM Club Night
4th November 2024
Speaker: Kevin Williams – Survival Skills Training UK
How not to Crash!
7.30pm start for meeting at 8pm. Gives you time to catch up on what you’ve missed!
Treeton Miners Welfare Club
Arundel Street
Treeton
Rotherham S60 5PW
Next SAM Committee Meeting
30th October 2024
Details to be arranged
