Table of Contents
Editorial
What a week! Changeable weather meant that some members were picking dryer days to ride to their favourite eateries, usually about 150 miles from the meet-up place. All reports suggest the food was very good! Others threw on the waterproofs and rode through the challenging conditions.
This year has been particularly tragic for some riders suffering serious injury or being killed. The reasons for the extra motorcycling tragedies are very complex. Reports suggest that many succumb to the usual hazards of riding errors and reactions, inexperience or misbehaviour, misjudging other road users, reckless or impatient riding, loss of control, poor turns or manoeuvres and speeding. Contributing factors include visibility issues, road and weather conditions, speed control, misunderstanding the intentions of other road users, mistakes by other road users, lack of focussed riding and alcohol. For the rider this means an increased risk of injury or death, higher insurance costs and restrictions on riding. For the motorcycle industry it means a decline in sales, greater pressure for safety innovation and stricter regulations on motorcycle manufacturing and use. For society it may mean higher health care costs, increased burdens on emergency and health services, a loss of valuable citizens and devastation for family and friends. There are many ways in which, as motorcyclists, we can help ourselves. Take some time in the slower months to think how you can survive and prosper in the future by taking stock of what has gone wrong and right for you this year. Kevin Williams has produced a FREE riding self-assessment chart to guide you through the process.
To help in the quest for a greater understanding of managing hazards, the SAM Committee has invited Kevin Williams to talk at the next SAM Club night, 4th November 2024. Details on the SAM website calendar. With decades of experience, a background as a motorcycle coach and developer of the Survival Skills training, he is definitely the person we should make every effort to hear.
In this week’s newsletter, you can read about the IAM’s requests to the new Government. Removing VAT on life saving air vests, removing the Insurance Premium tax for advanced motorists, delaying the increase in fuel duty, repairing the crumbling roads and authorising GPs to prescribe a mature driver assessment. The NMC continues to call for a revise motorcycle training and licensing and help to ease some of the economic challenges to the motorcycling industry. Let’s hope that the Department for Transport’s ‘Strategy for UK Motorcycling’ can be published before the industry collapses.
You can read and watch how some bikers are making a real difference to their communities by raising funds for charities and stopping to help when they see someone in trouble. This includes our very own ‘SAM Band’ who did a fantastic job of entertaining us at the SAM Pie & Pea Supper on the 26th October 2024. Everyone enjoyed the ‘SAM Band’s’ performance and there is a rumour they may repeat it again at a future SAM event. Also, many thanks to ‘Stereotonin’ for their musical support.
With cooler, more inclement weather on the way, it’s time to refresh your memory about riding in poor conditions. It will also help if the weather turns nasty on an otherwise sunny ride. Remember that mental and physical fatigue occur more rapidly in cooler weather, but that is covered this week too. There is a lot more for you to enjoy before the next issue. Ride safe and happy reading.
SAM Newsletter Editor
PS: Remember there is a popup form for you to have your say about anything in this week’s newsletter.
Your success is our success!
Congratulations to Tim Priest on achieving a FIRST pass on his advanced rider test. Many thanks to his Observer Glynn Waitnidge for the dedicated advanced riding coaching provided for Tim.
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
SAM's November Club Night
Special Guest Speaker
8pm 4th November 2024
ALL members, friends & family welcome
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
Concerns mount as more major motorcycle dealership chains enter administration amid sales shortfall
Three major dealership chains across the UK have recently entered administration, with slow sales and rising costs cited as some of the reasons for decline.
New bike registration data released by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) for the first nine months of the year revealed a 3.8% decline across motorbikes of all engine capacities when compared with the same period in 2023.
Year-to-date figures also showed larger-capacity machinery to be in particular difficulty, with 751-1000cc two-wheelers down by 8.7% at 15,583 units, and the biggest 1000cc+ models dropping by 10.6% to 14,219 overall. Read more…
Redundancies confirmed and dealerships close in firm’s collapse
Jobs remain uncertain and important message has been sent out to customers
Two dealerships have closed after a long-standing motorcycle retailer collapsed into administration. Pidcock Motor Cycles Limited, an approved motorcycle seller for a number of well-known manufacturers, called in administrators following a challenging trading period.
The company has been operating and providing motorcycles in Beeston and Long Eaton since 1975, offering nearing 50 years of service. The demise is said to be linked to cost inflation and ‘weak consumer demand’. Read more…
Scooters a family affair for Sam
A brand new car at 17, or a “crappy scooter” now?
That was the offer Sam Gee’s parents made her as she approached her 16th birthday back in 1988.
“I think they thought ‘we’ve got her’, but I turned round and said ‘a scooter’,” says Sam, chatting at her home in Skegness. “I think they were really disappointed. But on my birthday I still have visions of them coming over to me with this really shitty Vespa PK50 and going ‘there you go’. Read more…
Pierer Mobility AG reduce executive board from six to two as financial difficulties continue
KTM parent company Pierer Mobility AG have announced a reduction in their executive board as they continue to tackle financial difficulty across their portfolio.Back in September, the business group, which owns KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas, WP Suspension, and 50.1% of MV Agusta, announced that 200 employees would lose their jobs in the third quarter of the year following poor sales. Read more…
KTM Automated Manual Transmission Available on Select Models
Motorcycle technology is changing rapidly. Advanced rider aids are being added as options or as standard on new models, and motorcycles powered by electric motors are emerging onto the market. Motorcycle tech is taking an additional step forward as OEMs are developing clutchless transmissions, like the KTM Automated Manual Transmission announced here. Read more…
This thoughtful motorcycle presenter clears traffic to raise patients
Motorcyclist rides from Burnham to Loch Ness RNLI Station
A BURNHAM motorcycle enthusiast has undertaken a long-distance fundraiser for the town’s RNLI Station, by riding to Loch Ness and back. Local motorcycle enthusiast, Ben Preston, set a personal challenge to raise RNLI funds by riding over 1,000 miles in July, from Burnham-on-Sea to Loch Ness lifeboat stations’ and back, in under 24 hours. 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...
Winter riding – tips to keep you safe and warm
How do I prepare myself for winter riding?
The most important thing is to fuel yourself – you wouldn’t ride your bike on empty, so why expect your brain and body to perform at its best on empty? We all remember the advert with the glowing child who had had his Ready-Brek (other cereals are available), so take a leaf out his book and have a hot breakfast if you can. It doesn’t have to be a greasy fry-up, muesli in hot milk is filling, full of slow-release energy and ready in two minutes if you have a microwave. At the very least have a hot sweet drink before you leave. Read more…
Best motorcycle airbag 2024
Did you know that there are TWO DIFFERENT SAFETY STANDARDS used by airbag manufacturers like Alpinestars, Bering, Dainese, Helite, Hit-Air, In&Motion, MotoAirBag and Spidi? That makes it a lot harder to choose the best motorcycle airbag because not only do they have different trigger methods, different ways of wearing them and even different payment methods, they also offer protection against different types of crashes. And I don’t just mean the coverage they provide…Read more…
Open your mind. How to see more and find confidence on a motorcycle.
Close your eyes and replay a mental blast down your favourite road. What are you seeing? I can visualise the geography, the lines, the road surfaces, even the smells of hundreds of different routes all over the UK and beyond.
Oddly, when I’m riding these roads, my conscious thoughts have no relation to any of that. Al that detail is processed by some kind of peripheral awareness.
When I used to do track days other riders would discuss apexes, corner speeds and when to get on the throttle. My memory of Oulton Park would be ‘Was that a chaffinch I saw while going through the chicane?’ I never made world champion.
But I can still replay a lap of Oulton Park’s 1997 track layout in my head like it was yesterday. Read more…
Physical & Mental Fatigue during Prolonged Off-Road Riding
We admire Dakar racers riding their motorbikes for 8,500 km over 14 stages. Of these stages, 4,100 km consisted of hard off-road riding whilst navigating through a variety of terrains and environments. This prolonged physical and mental exertion has significant effects on human performance known as “fatigue.”
Every adventure bike rider is well aware of the feelings of tiredness and lack of energy associated with hard and long rides. However, we should not rely solely on these subjective feelings of fatigue to decide when to stop and have some rest. In fact, a significant reduction in physical and mental performance can occur well before we feel fatigued. Read more…
Lane Splitting In Traffic Is Better For Everyone, Just Watch
You don’t need to be an aggro goon, just look out for each other on the road.
Lane-splitting and filtering, it seems, are incredibly divisive topics.
Every time we bring either one up here, folks like to argue about whether it’s safe, whether it’s beneficial, whether you should even listen to anyone who thinks differently than you do, and whether folks who engage in lane-splitting aren’t just asking to get hurt.
And quite frankly, it’s exhausting. Read more…
Better Riding: How to steer and countersteer a motorcycle
Our Better Riding programme continues with a look at how to steer a motorcycle efficiently and effectively, then we dissect the dark art of countersteering – a phrase many will have heard of but only few will understand its connotations and how it can affect a bike.
This series is aimed squarely at ramping up your enjoyment of riding by being safer and smoother. We’re going to help you get more out of your motorcycling with this self-help series brought to you in conjunction with Honda Motorcycles UK. Read more…
Adventure & Touring
I wandered out of the Moscow airport in just a sweater to see how it felt. Getting a taste of what the Russians mean by “cold” made me suddenly a little less sure this whole thing was such a good idea. This -40°F air felt like I’d inhaled a porcupine, and “SHIT!!!” was about all that came out of my mouth! But, there was no turning back, we had already committed to this trial test of the Siberian Ice Run.
At The Adventurists, before we unleash any new barrage of stupidity upon the public, we like to test these new adventures on ourselves. If we make it back with a reasonable number of limbs, we open it up to people who have done our adventures before. Then, if they come back with wildly exaggerated tales of adventure, big smiles and a good limb ratio, we open the new adventure up to all those who wish to inflict it upon themselves. Read more…
Hands up if the Long Way Up met your expectations—OK, no need to ask anyone to put their hands down.
I jest, but after the Long Way Round and the Long Way Up, documentaries that fueled my adventurous nature and love for motorcycles. But the most recent installment was too focused on McGregor and Boorman struggling with range and charging, leaving me and many other viewers wanting. I still hold high hopes for their new endeavor.
Thankfully, the folks at Klim either got really lucky or have a good marketing team because its latest motorcycle travel-adventure series, Ride To The End, absolutely hit the spot. Read more…
History & Custom
World’s Fastest Indian to Ride Again
A Short History of Motorcycle Dashboards
From simple speedos to touchscreen TFTs, here’s how bike ‘displays’ have evolved
The big news on KTM’s recently announced, updated 2025 models has been their adoption of new, even bigger, touchscreen TFT dashes (below).
Available now in massive eight and 8.8-inch designs, the former mounted vertically on KTM’s range-topping adventure bikes, the latter horizontally on the Super Duke and Super Duke GT, they also now have newly-developed touchscreen functionality (with or without gloves), built-in ‘virtual buttons’ which do away with the need for auxiliary switches, and a design which also allows for more customisation than ever, such as configurable split-screen functionality. Read more…
Big Red: A cheeky Honda Monkey with miles of retro rally style
Ek Chalermphol’s Instagram bio lists his interests as “cars, trucks, bikes, bicycles, and taking photos.” But he neglects to mention his unwavering love for retro rally racers. We’ve featured two of Ek’s custom motorcycles before (a BMW R nineT Urban G/S and a Honda XR600R), and both were heavily inspired by classic Dakar Rally bikes.…Read more
A guide to motorcycle exhausts | Everything you need to know if you’re considering an upgrade
There are a number of ways that we can upgrade and customise our bikes to make them our own, from smaller motorcycle accessories to one of the most popular motorcycle upgrades, an aftermarket exhaust, be that the a full system or a slip on can. One of the more expensive modifications that you can make to your bike, however one of the most transformative to the look and sound. Read more…
Reality Versus Fantasy: Thoughts on Scramblers
Bad Ideas always result in the most entertaining stories. Really Bad Ideas are even better. So here’s mine.
I have a BMW R75/5 motorcycle that I have owned and ridden for forty years. Just like animate beings, the Toaster has evolved over time, having been a naked bike, an ’80s style sport tourer, and its current incarnation, a vintage style scrambler. On the gravel farm roads around my home, it’s as comfortable and capable as any motorcycle. Since I accidentally bought an adventure bike – I’m sure this has happened to you – I’ve been exploring adventure riding. My BMW F800GS Adventure has been both a lot of fun, and an occasional source of not fun, including trying to pound me in like a tent peg in my own garage – rupturing my right bicep tendon and requiring surgery to repair in the process. The event put me in the mind that perhaps smaller, lighter, shorter motorcycles might be better suited to my preferences for off-macadam operation. Read more…
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
Today Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes have participated in another potentially life-saving FMT relay from Birmingham to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital. Pictured are John from Whiteknights with Harry from Northumbria Blood Bikes.
Tonight we have a new addition to the Whiteknights’ Rider Team in West Yorkshire. Good luck Carlton on your first operational tour of duty. We’re right there with you…
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
When to use your fog lights and how to drive safely in fogLearn about fog light symbols
There’s a darkness on the streets, a danger, that puts vulnerable road users; children, cyclists, pedestrians in harms way …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
MEP calls for investigation into Dorna takeover by US company
[From yesterday’s live Elevenses webcast – catch it live at 11am on Wednesdays and Sundays]
Some months ago, in April this year, I reported that a US company called Liberty Media had agreed a deal that would see them purchase an 86 per cent majority stake in Dorna Sports – the promoter and rights holder for MotoGP and World Superbike.
And last month Dorna renewed an agreement with the world governing body of motorcycle sport, the FIM, securing the rights to the motorcycle series until 2060.
On the back of that announcement, Liberty Media have confirmed that their deal to buy out Dorna would duly be completed before the end of 2024.
Or perhaps not. Read more…
Information links – why is there an illuminated sign?
I’ve come back to my Information Links series which was running a couple of months back, with a snipped photo from a DanDanTheFireman video, in which he covers a bike crash which is clearly from the UK.
You can hear what Dan has to say about the incident:
“You’re gonna see right here it says SLOW. Take that as a clue that you should probably go in slow…” Read more…
There’s a reason for maximising sight lines
I won’t show the full video because it’s too distressing – where the video stops, the motorcyclist encountered a vehicle travelling the wrong way. The rider didn’t survive.
Clearly the main cause of the collision was the driver’s error, but a significant factor was the rider’s decision to treat the curve like a race track.
Cutting to the inside of the corner limited his view, but he failed to reduce speed to match. Yes, the vehicle was moving towards him, but I doubt he could have taken evasive action had there been a stationary vehicle in the lane. Read more…
Beyond the ‘Stuff that Kills You’ approach to riding
A few days ago, I was reading an article entitled:
‘From Safety to Survival: Why ‘Stuff That Kills You’ Falls Short in High-Risk Environments’
It’s an interesting analysis of two different approaches to safety in high risk environments:
- the Stuff That Kills You (STKY) approach – the writer, Ron Butcher, says this “has become increasingly popular in high-risk environments, and it’s easy to see why. It provides a clear, straightforward path: Identify the most immediate and obvious hazards, and eliminate or control them. In theory, if you can neutralize the stuff that kills you, you’re safe.”
- the Survival First approach – which he says “takes a fundamentally different approach by emphasizing psychological safety, contextual awareness, and the recognition of human complexity and variability.” Read more…
Motorcycling Organsiations
IAM RoadSmart
Has it been a while since you passed your Advanced test? 
The UK’s leading road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is calling on the Chancellor to take steps to both saves lives and reduce the impact of road traffic collisions in her Autumn Budget. By incentivising the take-up of additional road safety courses through the tax system, it will also help save motorists money as the UK emerges from a cost-of-living crisis.
With the cost of insurance hitting record highs earlier this year and being a huge concern for drivers, particularly the under-25s, the charity recommends striking off Insurance Premium Tax for those who undertake additional driver training. To provide a boost to vulnerable motorcyclists, IAM RoadSmart also wants the Chancellor to reduce VAT on motorcycle air vests. Read more…
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 leadership of Norwegian motorcyclists’ organisation NMCU – a member of FEMA – had meetings with key figures in the Norwegian government. Chairwoman Olea Kvalsvik and CEO Arild Lind had the privilege of sitting down with the Minister for Transportation, Mr. Jon-Ivar Nygaard, and the leader of Parliament’s Committee for Communication and Transportation, MP Sigbjørn Gjelsvik.
These meetings were all about one crucial topic: enhancing motorcycle safety infrastructure across Norway. Several important issues were discussed, with a particular focus on two key areas: the implementation of motorcyclist friendly guard rails and improved road markings. These steps are essential for ensuring the safety of all motorcyclists. Read more…
British Motorcyclists Federation
Road pricing – paying per mile rather than road tax – is back in the news, with the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) urging government to introduce such a scheme straightaway. Cars and bikes would pay an annual rate, based on a mileage check at MOT time.
TBI made the call in the run up to the October Budget, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves was expected to end a temporary 5p cut in fuel duty and possibly increase duty in line with inflation – fuel duty has been frozen for 14 years, falling well behind inflation in real terms. 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! 
CLUB MERCHANDISE
Clothing can be ordered online direct from:
138 Morthern Road, Wickersley
Rotherham S66 1EA
Telephone: 01709 709977
Fax: 01709 709987
Click the link below
Meeting Notices
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
