Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – Weekly Newsletter 03 October 2025
Table of Contents
Editorial
The cooler weather continues, with some very heavy rain at times. However, there have been a pleasing number of bright, sunny, if cold, days that make riding a superb experience. All reports from SAM members suggest they are making the most of those days. New Associates have been out with their Observers using the newly printed training guides.
In the wider world of motorcycling it’s been a week of speed, a focus on rider safety and commentary on some sobering statistics. It began with a record-breaking stunt ride. Jonny Davies reclaim the Guinness World Record for the fastest ‘highchair’ wheelie. For those who don’t know the rider sits with legs over the front of the handlebars with one wheel off the ground. Reaching a speed of 127-mph, on a ZX-10R the spectacular circus trick achieved millions of views on social media feeds across the world. The publicity department may have worked overtime on this project. Many of our local kids try it and often wind up in heap, decorating the road with blood and bones!
In industrial news, innovation and nostalgia move side by side. We have an aging rider population, so it may be thoughts of riding when they were younger. Norton Motorcycles is gearing up for a major relaunch. This Solihull-based brand, once plagued by financial mismanagement, is undergoing a “significant refit” ahead of a new production line. It is a bold mover in the current economic climate that may help to restore faith in British engineering, possibly offering young riders a homegrown alternative to the big Japanese and European names. Kawasaki’s new Z1100 super-naked, priced from £11,099, is a direct challenge to Honda’s CB1000 Hornet. This Z1100 is a muscular, road-focused machine that blends performance with street style. Meanwhile, Royal Enfield’s Goan Classic 350 taps into 1970s Indian moto-culture, celebrating a bohemian spirit of custom bikes.
Electric innovation also made headlines. Honda unveiled the WN7, its first electric motorcycle, boasting an 80+ mile range and 3-hour charge time. It will need a very long lunch before the next 80+ miles is ready to be ridden. Whilst a welcome development, the £12,999 price tag may be out of reach for many younger riders. The lack of qualified motorcycling instructors continues to prevent young people getting onto powered-two-wheels. They’re urging experienced riders to consider teaching, warning that the bottleneck could stall the growth of new motorcyclists and compromise safety standards. Further, it will inhibit the adoption of ‘greener’ electric motorcycles. As older riders show little enthusiasm for ‘going electric’, it will be young people who move the production lines. If they can’t get a CBT certificate, then they can’t legally ride.
The RAC revealed a troubling drop in roads policing officers. Over 1,000 fewer officers, across England and Wales, when compared to a decade ago. This decline raises concerns about enforcement, especially for motorcyclists who are statistically more vulnerable on the roads. Adding to the concern, the Department for Transport (DfT) released its latest road casualty figures. While overall deaths have slightly decreased, motorcyclist fatalities remain disproportionately high. Campaigners argue that the lack of targeted safety measures and reducing police presence are contributing factors. MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) called for “urgent investment in rider education and infrastructure,” warning as without any action the numbers may rise again. However, the DfT (Department for Transport) seems to be in a state of paralysis in making progress on motorcycle rider safety.
Helmet brand Ruroc has been sold to Ruroc Global Holdings, with new investment expected to drive more innovation. Their latest release—the Pennywise-themed EOX IT helmet—blends safety with pop culture flair. That’s if you like a broken eggshell look. Retailing from £579 you need to be a real devotee. LS2 launched the Spectrum intercom system, offering 20 hours of talk time for group rides. It’s a nod to the growing popularity of long-distance touring and connected riding. TVS Motor’s acquisition of Engines Engineering hints at future European expansion, potentially bringing more affordable and competitive models to UK shores. As President Trump’s tariffs on Indian products begin to bite, then the UK and European markets make interesting targets.
In your newsletter this week you can read about whether it is wise to rely on ChatGPT, or any other LLM, to win your legal case. Also, take a look at Yamaha’s electric bike patent that proposes built-in vibration and engine noise production. Until next week, ride smart, stay safe and keep keep showing that we need pushing for a more inclusive future on two wheels. Happy reading.
Your success is our success!
For Your Diary
Meetings
Next SAM Club Night
6th October 2025
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 2025
Details to be arranged
Online Motorcycling News
General
Remember Anthony Hopkins’ acclaimed portrayal of 1960s motorcycle speed record breaker Burt Munro in the movie ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’? Well, the revived American brand have now set a brand-new speed record in exactly the same place.
Indian factory racer and two-time King of the Baggers champion Tyler O’Hara has set a new motorcycle speed record aboard a specially-prepared Indian Challenger – achieving 194.384mph at the the Bonneville Salt Flats, in Utah, USA.
The record was set in the AMA 2000cc APS-AG category for twin-cylinder machinery up to two litres in capacity, and was achieved using a specially modified version of Indian’s Challenger race bike, complete with panniers and fairing. Read more
Forget the typical roar of engines accompanied by rock ‘n’ roll and beer drinking; in northern Portugal, an annual motorcycle gathering offers a distinctly different kind of communion.
Over the weekend, an estimated 180,000 members of Portugal’s motorcycling community gathered at the Fatima shrine for the so-called Blessing of the Helmets.
Now in its tenth year, the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Fatima aims to bestow bikers with a sense of spiritual protection from the Virgin Mary as they ride across Portugal’s open roads. Read more
Get ready to fuel your passion for two wheels at MCL – the UK’s biggest and most interactive bike show. From the latest bikes and cutting-edge technology to thrilling live displays and unforgettable experiences, MCL brings together riders. Whether you’re a seasoned biker, an aspiring rider, or simply curious about the world of biking, It’s YOUR show! Read more
The number of roads policing officers across England and Wales has dropped by more than 1000 in the past decade, new analysis from the RAC has revealed.
Figures taken from Government data show a 21% reduction since 2015, when 5237 officers were employed across 43 police forces. As of 2025, that number has fallen to just 4149 – a decrease of 1088.
The sharpest decline has been seen in traditional traffic units, falling by 22% in the same period. There are now 3889 officers in these roles compared with 5005 a decade ago
RAC head of policy Simon Williams suggests this decline in police visibility: “lessens the fear of being caught breaking the law.”
He continued: “Drivers we’ve surveyed express strong concerns about the dangers posed by others on the road breaking traffic laws, whether that’s speeding, drink- or drug-driving, using a handheld mobile phone, driving in an aggressive way or not having tax or insurance.” Read more
Each month, we take a look at the questions that were sent to the MCN Law column, which is written by Andrew Campbell from BikeLawyer.
In September, Andrew was asked about liability in a filtering accident, accepting insurance settlement offers, using AI like ChatGPT for personal injury claims, and suing uninsured cyclists.
If you need representation or legal advice with a biking matter, visit www.bikelawyer.co.uk or email andrew@bikelawyer.co.uk or call 01446 794169. Read more
Some of the attractions of a motorcycle are its sights, sounds, and vibrations. You’re connected to the thing more so than you are in your average car—supercars aren’t average, btw—and you feel as if you’re a part of the machine. You’re exposed to all those senses, and that’s why a lot of us ride. To feel something out of the ordinary.
Yet, in the oncoming electric revolution, the sights may stick around, but the sounds and the little chatter and movement from an internal combustion engine are dead on arrival. EVs don’t vibrate. They don’t sound like anything outside of the EV motor’s whir or the slap of a chain on the bike’s sprockets. And the latter may not be around at all, as belts and shafts have been favored by some electric motorcycle manufacturers. Read more
Rider Health & 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...
Anyone who gets behind the handlebars of a motorcycle or moped knowingly takes a risk. But the difference between life and death is often measured not by speed, but by the quality of protection. Today, Ukrainian riders and passengers of two-wheeled vehicles have virtually no guarantee that their motorcycle helmet meets modern international safety requirements. And this is no minor issue – it’s a matter of life, health, and billions in losses for the state.
Ukrainian legislation already obliges drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds to wear helmets. This is clearly stated in paragraph 2.3 of the Traffic Rules approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1306. A fine of 510 UAH is imposed under Article 121 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for not wearing a helmet or for violating the rules of its use. However, the problem lies in the absence of any certification standards for these helmets. A rider can buy a cheap, low-quality product without any quality check and still formally comply with the law – even though such a “helmet” may not withstand even a minor impact. Read more
Carole Nash, one of the leading motorcycle insurance brokers in the UK, has revealed worrying data about bike theft in the UK.
It continues to be an issue that causes havoc for bike owners and has been devastating to many people, including myself, as I once lost a Ducati Monster 937 to this type of crime. You may have seen some of our recent reports about theft, including the story we did about the UK seemingly being at the heart of a global enterprise that sees stolen goods shipped to numerous countries. Or, you may have heard about Yogesh Alekari, an Indian world traveller who had his KTM stolen in Nottingham. Read more
Roads policing numbers down 1,000 over 10 years, says RAC
In 2015, there were 5,237 officers across 43 police forces working in a range of roles from traffic units on the roads to safety camera partnerships.
The number of roads policing officers in England and Wales has reduced by more than 1,000 in the last 10 years, RAC analysis of Government data has revealed.
In 2015, there were 5,237 officers across 43 police forces working in a range of roles from traffic units on the roads to safety camera partnerships focused on mobile speed enforcement.
As of 2025, this fell to just 4,149 (1,088 reduction), making for a 21% drop. Read more
Motorcycles are always a step behind the car world when it comes to technology. Cars have been flaunting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and slick infotainment suites, while most bikes still treat connectivity like an optional accessory. A few premium tourers have built-in GPS and phone integration, but for the average rider, the reality is a phone mount, a Bluetooth headset, and whatever mix of apps will cooperate on the open road.
That’s where the Chigee AIO-6 ($560) comes in. This isn’t just a GPS bolted onto your handlebar—it’s a purpose-built, motorcycle-specific smart riding system that feels like it was engineered by people who actually ride. The AIO-6 is designed to live on the machine full-time: It’s tough enough to survive the elements with thick gaskets around the power input and SIM and MicroSD card inputs (more on that later). Plus it’s bright enough to fight off glare, and smart enough to simplify your ride instead of burying you in menus and notifications you don’t need. Read more
The Road Warrior Foundation exists for a simple purpose: to give US military veterans a reset through “adventure therapy.” Instead of clinical walls, this program uses the open road and the shared rhythm of group rides to help vets reconnect with purpose, community, and themselves. It’s the foundation’s operating system, built around three-wheel motorcycles because access matters more than ego.
Since RWF’s founding in ’13, Can-Am (the three-wheeler division of BRP) has been a major partner of the foundation. The Canadian company provides more than just machines—it supplies gear, training, and the platform for veterans to ride. Its involvement has allowed RWF to expand the rides: single-day events, multiday cross-country journeys, even off-road and snowmobiling excursions. These aren’t luxury retreats. They’re purpose-built experiences designed to reconnect veterans with the world. Read more
If you’ve been following along in the latest of our New Rider’s Hub journey, you understand what riding in the dirt is all about. You know the types of bikes, the types of gear, and even some pitfalls riders make when learning off-road skills. In this, the fourth and final installment of the series, we tie it all together and help you understand how all these lessons in the dirt will help you when you come back to the street. Read more
The world of motorcycle tyres can feel pretty byzantine: the more in-depth you look into it, the more depth you uncover.
But before you get into the really complicated stuff of compounds, tread pattern, bias-ply vs radial, and on and on, you have to make a basic decision: tubed or tubeless?
The difference between these types of tyres is self-explanatory: a tubed tyre has an inner tube, like on your bicycle, whereas a tubeless tyre does not, like on your car.
As with the question of spoked vs alloy rims, the answer to which type of tyre is best depends largely on the type of riding you’re doing and where you’re doing it. Read more
Adventure & Touring
I’m always surprised at the amount of attention my well-used and abused BMW F800GS draws wherever I go. Although the bike stands out with its tall stance, ample battle scars and world traveler look, it’s not the bike that truly interests others—it’s the idea that this machine can carry a rider to places they’ve only dreamt of.
Everywhere I stop I’m asked where I’m going and where I’ve been. Luckily, my job permits ample travel on many different types of motorcycles, but it’s curious that I don’t get the same reaction when riding a Harley, Ducati or a sport touring rig… it’s the big adventure bikes that inspire dreams of travel. They’re the vessels that elicit visions of journeys beyond the borders of nations and beyond where the asphalt ends.
But something changed recently that seems to attract an entirely new set of questions than when my bike was a young steed with fresh paint and low miles. When the bike was new the questions were often about it, not my travels. But my steed is now at a stage where no matter how much I scrub it, it never quite looks clean and cannot hide its undeniable patina of travel.
I’ve also been living in a near homeless condition for almost a year. Most of the time I’m on the road for work and when “home” I stay with friends, family, in cheap hotels or even camp. I work at cutting every possible corner to purge personal debt and save enough funds for an extended journey through South America. Because of this, my bike is in constant “travel” mode and although I stay clean-shaven and well-groomed, there’s something that screams the unmistakable look of “traveler.” Read more
Motorcycles are my life; they’re my career, hobby, and passion. So when my daughter Montessa was born, there was never a question about whether I would continue riding; only how to include her in my globe-trotting motorcycle travels in a safe, fun, age-appropriate way. Starting in a sidecar at just four months old, Montessa has now clocked tens of thousands of moto-miles from Mexico to Pakistan and all across the U.S., and we’ve both learned quite a bit along the way. Subsequently, here are my Top Tips for bringing kids into the world of adventure riding.1. Involve them in the planning process.
Spend lots of time together looking at maps, pictures, videos, etc. Show them where your destination is relative to places they’re familiar with, then look at more detailed maps of the areas you will be riding. How is the landscape, culture, food, and riding similar to home? How is it different? What kind of experiences are you looking forward to? Is there anything you’re nervous about? Practice basic phrases in the local language, if applicable. This will help them feel like an important part of the adventure, and help you better understand what will make this ride memorable for all the right reasons. Read more
As a taxi dropped us off, helmets and luggage in hand, in front of the beautiful Say Hotel in Athens, the sights, sounds, and aromas of the ancient city converged, and the immediacy of our experience set in. This would be my first guided international tour, and my wife, Cheryl, would be my pillion companion on a 14-day group adventure from Greece to Croatia led by Edelweiss Bike Travel.As a died-in-the-wool solo rider married to a decidedly independent woman, several questions loomed. How would we fare on a ride through five Balkan countries navigating and interacting with a group of a dozen strangers? How would Cheryl handle being a passenger for nearly 2,000 miles? How would I handle being, well, guided? Read more
History & Custom
Just the other day, the Indonesian workshop Frontwheel Motors wowed us with a feisty Royal Enfield flat tracker. What we didn’t know at the time was that shop boss Chandra Gunawa had history with the Indian marque. He worked at Royal Enfield Indonesia for seven years before opening Frontwheel, and still harbors a passion for the brand.
We have another Frontwheel-built Royal Enfield flat tracker for you to ogle today, although this one is very different from the last. For one, it uses an older donor—a 2016-model Royal Enfield Bullet 500. It also sports a much more vintage aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the Triumph Trackmaster flat track race bikes of the early 70s. Read more
Kevin Williams
Riding in the Rain – smoothly does it!
It’s a glorious autumn day as I write this, with temperatures in the mid-twenties and not a cloud in the sky. But unfortunately, the forecast doesn’t look set to stay that way, and it’s looking very much like we’re in for a much cooler and wetter spell. As it’s been a while since I wrote about riding in the wet, I thought it was time for a refresher on the topic.
I can’t say I particularly enjoy riding in the rain – as we head into the northern hemisphere autumn, it’s often associated with cooler, even cold weather and whilst riding kit has improved significantly since my earliest days, I still haven’t found a pair of gloves that stay 100% waterproof, and I hate wet and cold hands, whilst seeing out of a rain-soaked visor at night is second only to riding in thick fog on my list of ‘don’t bother’ options. Read more
Stepping through the Gears; overtaking
Over the previous two months we’ve been looking at how skills don’t just come to us fully formed but are layered one on top of another, starting with the basics and stepping up from the basics to the complexities. And to emphasise the point, I’ve used the metaphor of the motorcycle gearbox, where each successive gear is achieved only by accelerating through the one below. Last week we saw this framework superimposed on cornering, today we’ll apply it to one of the most risky manoeuvres we make on a motorcycle – overtaking.
Neutral: Mindset
Overtaking is a low-frequency but high-risk skill. What does that mean? Simply this; we don’t overtake very often (not compared with the other two crash hotspots, passing junctions and going round bends), but get an overtake wrong and the resulting crash is high-impact, and not uncommonly fatal. The truth is, if we get an overtake badly wrong, it’s unlikely we’ll get a second opportunity. So it’s not an activity where we can rely on being able to “do better next time”. Getting things right first time round is pretty damned important. it’s essential to master the foundations before we attempt technically-difficult overtakes. Read more
Motorcycles – electric ‘torque’ vs ICE ‘HP’ explained
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Ever wondered why electric motorcycles boast massive torque figures, but their horsepower sounds rather… modest? Let’s break it down.
Torque is basically twisting force — how hard the motor can turn the back wheel.
Electric motors deliver maximum torque instantly, from zero RPM, because the magnetic fields that make the motor spin push against each other as soon as current flows through the windings, even when the motor isn’t moving. That’s why an electric bike can feel explosive off the line compared to petrol bikes. They launch hard the moment you twist the throttle.
By contrast, a petrol engine produces zero torque at zero RPM because there’s no combustion. The crankshaft has to turn to move the pistons through the combustion cycle to produce torque. Internal combustion engines must spin to stay alive – that’s why they idle. Read more
Coaching is more than ‘talk & chalk’ – listen!
“Listening is not the act of hearing the words spoken; it is the art of understanding the meaning behind those words.” – Simon Sinek*
Speaking is a skill that society values enormously. From childhood we are taught to speak and to express ourselves; there are courses and degrees dedicated to communication. Structuring the spoken word requires us to organise our thoughts, develop strong arguments, and tailor a cohesive message for a specific audience, a process seen as strengthening analytical and reasoning abilities.
And in adult life, many jobs and industries rely heavily on strong speaking skills; in the field of law, delivering an argument successfully hinges on communication, sales professionals must be persuasive communicators to pitch products and ideas effectively, and in education there’s a similar need to use strong public speaking skills to deliver engaging lectures, lead class discussions, and effectively impart knowledge. Not surprisingly, verbal clarity is often treated as a core skill in motorcycle coaching too. Read more
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
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
Motorcycling Organisations
IAM RoadSmart
REACTION: IAM RoadSmart response to 2024 reported road casualties in Great Britain
IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said: “Unfortunately, these figures demonstrate a troubling lack of progress in bringing down fatal and serious injuries on our road network. So much so, Great Britain has slipped down the international comparison table, ranking fourth compared to third in 2023.
“Of real concern is the significant 8% increase in motorcycle fatalities, which shows the need for more protection of some of the most vulnerable road users, while an increase in motorway fatalities is also alarming. We look forward to seeing the UK Government’s refreshed road safety strategy which needs to show some serious ambition in bringing down the number of fatal and serious collisions.”
Reported road casualties Great Britain, annual report: 2024 – GOV.UK Read more
ACEM
While acknowledging diplomatic efforts on both sides of the Atlantic, the agreement’s partial scope leaves the European motorcycle industry facing the new general 15% tariff on products exported to the United States. Furthermore, European motorcycles, parts, and accessories are now also subject to 50% tariffs on their steel content.
This unbalanced framework creates an economically unsustainable situation for European manufacturers, as steel represents a fundamental component in motorcycle construction. The persistence of punitive tariffs threatens the competitiveness of ACEM’s member companies and jeopardises jobs they support throughout Europe and in the US. The current arrangement effectively introduces discriminatory treatment that undermines decades of successful transatlantic business relationships. Read more
Motorcycle Industries Association
Automated Passenger Services (APS) Permitting Scheme Consultation
MCIA has submitted its response to the Department for Transport and CCAV’s consultation on the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme.
Our message is clear: All new transport innovations such as APS must from inception be fail safe and consider all other road users and vehicle types.
In our submission, we recommend:
– Mandatory mixed-traffic testing that includes Mopeds, Motorcycles and other L-Category vehicles in varied weather, lighting, and road conditions.
– Transparent incident and near-miss reporting, with independent audits and public accountability.
– Shorter permit periods and mandatory revalidation, reflecting the rapid pace of AV technology change.
– Meaningful engagement with rider groups, ensuring the voices of vulnerable road users shape deployment. Read more
National Motorcycle Dealers Association
The National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) represents franchised motorcycle retailers across the UK. The sector serves the UK’s 1.4 million riders, accounting for approximately 5,000 riders per UK Parliamentary Constituencies.
NMDA’s Dealer Attitude Survey (DAS) gauges the relationship between franchised motorcycle retailers and manufacturers across the UK and serves as a crucial indicator for understanding the complex dynamics between these retailers and their manufacturers.
The Spring 2025 edition of the survey was conducted throughout July, with dealerships responding to questions about key aspects of their business relationship with their respective motorcycle manufacturers. Read more
National Motorcyclists Council
The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) has today (26th August) issued new guidance to some of its vehicle registration policies, making the rules around the notification of modifications to already registered motorcycles old and new more straightforward.
These changes follow a call for evidence which NMC member, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC) responded to with the support of the NMC. Organisations in the four-wheeled historic vehicle sector also responded. As a result, the DVLA is replacing its existing policies on rebuilt and radically altered vehicles with three new sets of guidance that will apply to all vehicles, regardless of age. Read more
FEMA
During a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, proposals were accepted on new EU circularity rules to cover the entire vehicle lifecycle, from design to final end-of-life treatment.
Some of the key points from the accepted text:
All L-class vehicles (motorcycles, mopeds, tricycles, and certain quads) will be included in the regulation. Only power-assisted bicycles (L1e-B) and small series powered two-wheelers are excluded.
Vehicles of historical interest, their parts, and spare parts are excluded.
A new category, “Vehicles of special cultural interest,” has been added to the exclusions.
The competent authority of the Member State where the fleet unit is registered may recognize the vehicle as culturally significant if all the following conditions are met:
Either the owner or the competent authority of the registration Member State has documented the vehicle’s unique historical or cultural value or status, or the vehicle is a single modified or custom-made vehicle;
The vehicle owner is known and identifiable;
The vehicle can be identified by the VIN, serial number, or other official identifier provided by the manufacturer or the competent authority.
The vehicle owner has the right to decide when the vehicle becomes an ELV vehicle.
There are restrictions for used component sales, but these are for economic operators, not for private persons anymore. A new requirement: Prove that the parts and components were sourced from an authorized economic operator.
Restrictions on the sale or transfer of vehicles between private individuals have been lifted. Article 37, which concerned ownership changes, has been amended to concern export. For vehicle export, the requirement for roadworthiness has been removed. The only requirement for export is that the vehicle is not an end-of-life vehicle.
The regulation will come into force 12 months after its publication. For L-class vehicles, there will be an additional 60 months after the regulation comes into force. Read more
A new study is sounding the alarm on the hidden threat all motorcyclists are aware of: the steel safety barriers lining thousands of kilometres of roads.
Motorcyclists across Europe are familiar with the dangers of slippery curves and unexpected obstacles. Researchers confirm that these barriers, designed primarily to protect car occupants, are a serious risk to motorcyclists in a specific type of accident: upright crashes. When a rider hits a barrier in an upright position, their chest or abdomen often slams directly into the sharp upper edge of the guardrail. The research paper calls for better guardrails to protect motorcyclists in these upright crashes.
While ‘motorcycle-friendly’ barriers already exist to reduce injuries from sliding crashes, where riders slide into the barrier after falling off their bike, the upper edge of standard guardrails remains lethal in upright impacts. Published in the journal Infrastructures, the study reviews a wide range of patents and designs aimed at reducing the danger of upper-edge impacts. The research team, made up of safety engineers and infrastructure experts, assessed thirteen international designs for their potential to save lives, including both low-cost retrofits and high-tech barrier add-ons. Read more
British Motorcyclists Federation
This is formal notice that the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) will take place on Saturday 11 October 2025 at 10.00am
The meeting will be held on Zoom.
All full and affiliate members of the BMF are cordially invited to register their intention to take part in the AGM.
Voting rights of those taking part are set out in Section 6 of the BMF Constitution.
Registration of your intention to attend the AGM will be through the BMF administration – please contact admin@bmf.co.uk
Please take the opportunity to update your bmf membership contact details as soon as possible. All future communications regarding the AGM, including the issuing of all papers and documents will be through the BMF membership database. It is important that we have the most up-to-date contact information for you. Read more
M&P, one of the Britain’s leading motorcycle dealerships, appears to have closed down. Although there has been no formal announcement of the company going into administration, there are signs online that M&P may have ceased trading. On 24th September, M&P’s online face, Mike Morgan, posted on the facebook page, “The last one from me. Thank you for everything – M,” plus a black graphic of the M&P logo with the words ‘1978-2025 Ride in Peace.’ Within 24 hours, there were over 500 responses posted by M&P customers, some expressing their sadness at the apparent closure.
According to news website VisorDown, the M&P website was no longer accepting orders, with official messages putting this down to a store update or website maintenance. Access to M&P’s individual Facebook pages (such as M&P KTM) had also been restricted. Read more
Motorcycle Action Group
Lilian Greenwood is back at the Department for Transport after spending just nine days as a Government Whip – matching Lady Jane Grey’s nine-day reign as England’s shortest-serving monarch in 1553. And just like in Tudor times, we’re still working out who’s actually in charge of what.
Greenwood spent exactly nine days as Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip) before being reappointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DfT on 16 September. That’s barely enough time to work out where the ministerial loo is, let alone make policy decisions.
The road safety sector greeted her return with relief – she’d previously served as Minister for the Future of Roads from July 2024 until her September departure. At least we’re not starting from scratch. She briefly attended a Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group meeting in January – though “attended” is doing some heavy lifting there. Since then, despite repeated requests for proper meetings, we’ve had more success booking a GP appointment. Read more
Our Police are completely broken. Instead of policing crimes, they are policing hurt feelings on social media.
Until we fix our country – how do we respond? This video sets out what to do. Watch here
Are you aware that mopeds have become a central weapon in the UK’s most lucrative crash for cash scam? Here’s what every rider needs to know about the fraud that’s driving up all our premiums.
If you’ve noticed your insurance costs creeping up year after year, you’re not alone – and you’re not imagining it. While rising premiums have many causes, how many riders know about this significant factor: a sophisticated criminal network that’s turned moped insurance fraud into a £70 million industry?
DS Marek Coghill from the City of London Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department briefed the Two Wheels London meeting on 22nd September on Operation Fulvus, their investigation into what’s become one of the UK’s most lucrative insurance scams. MAG regularly attends the Two Wheels London road safety forum, where the issue came to light after delivery riders reported being encouraged to participate in the scam. 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.
We’re going to level with you – making the Highway Code seem sexy is a difficult job.
But it is, nonetheless, important to familiarise yourself with the rules of the road.We know it’s a long read – so here are our key takeaways to help you stay safe: Read more
Look after your bike/moped and it will look after you. Carrying out a few simple checks before each ride could save your life. Use POWDERS
Petrol
- Do you have enough for your journey?
- Is the reserve tap off?
- Check there are no leaks Read more…