Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclist Weekly Newsletter – 10 October 2025
Table of Contents
Editorial
The news has been full of motorcycle racing with great rides from the top riders. Closer to home SAM members, it was a weekend of high winds and heavy rain. However, last Saturday saw a brave rider at Meadowhall Retail Park, whilst the rest were on four wheels. Everyone still had a laugh, talked about recent events and went to their favourite eating places. The weekday riders had more fine Autumn days that make riding a joy. Even the food seems to taste better! Which brings us to the SAM Christmas Party 2025. Where has the year gone? The SAM Committee approve the usual raffle prize purchasing, so the shopper is currently planning her shopping campaign. Yes, it takes a lot of thought and discussion on the right mix of prizes. Luckily for us the lady is an expert shopper!! We do need to know numbers to advise our hostess at Treeton Miners Welfare Club, so look out for the booking form on the front page of the SAM website.
The UK Government still has no comprehensive strategy on motorcycling. Having rejected universal bus lane access, there is no follow up on the progress by local authorities to implement safer travel and security for motorcycles and motorcyclists. Sheffield has announced the development of new, secure 24/7, hubs for cyclists. Motorcyclist safety and security seem to have been forgotten, both nationally and locally. As the press and online news feeds scream with outrage at the appalling tragedy of a 50% increase in 2024 motorcyclist KSIs, this is the price we pay.
Breaking the law in Switzerland can be very bad for motorcyclists. A British rider was fined €13,000 and given a lifetime ban. The offence? Overtaking in the Gotthard Tunnel. There was more bad news on reports that a motorcycling couple, riding to Australia, were accused of spying and detained in Iran a year ago. Their physical and mental health has deteriorated from reports of a poor diet and a lack of medical and dental care. A verdict on their case is expected soon. The Foreign Office has advised British citizens not to travel to a number of countries. Adventure riders should avoid them until the situation improves.
There was more bad news for UK road users as the RAC reported a bigger than expected rise in September fuel prices. This may help the smaller bike market. Having a smaller bike to ride whilst the adventure/touring bike stays in the shed is a good idea. Well, winter is on its way. Indian company TVS have made a bold move, dropping some of their current models, ready for newer varieties to show off at EICMA. The company, like Motorad BMW, Cake, Verge and the Hero Motocorp are all expanding into the UK market. Part of the reason may be that young riders may be more tempted by some eco-credentials. Also, US tariffs make Europe and the UK more attractive.
Did Yamaha really file patent for an electrical motorcycle with built-in engine noises? Perhaps it’s just another clickbait story? Something that definitely isn’t click bait is a forthcoming trilogy on understanding and avoiding motorcycle crashes. With his usual incisive and detailed look at the science, practical ways to reduce the risk and effective ‘avoid and evade’ strategies, they will be great reading. You can bag yourself a FREE eBook copy by helping him find a title for the trilogy
There are masses of other great articles in your SAM newsletter this week. See if you can work out the speed at which the brain processes visual information. It’s slower than you think! Have you heard of ‘counterfactual thinking’? You might find it useful when recalling your riding experiences. How about ‘sunstrike’? It’s the time of year when you need to know what to do. Which is better at helmet fastening, rachet or D-ring? Something to think about when it’s time for a new lid. Until next week, ride safe and happy reading.
The SAM Committee are currently discussing the IAM’s proposed membership rights changes. As an affiliate Group, the SAM charity Constitution has to align the Articles of Association of the IAM. This is not a problem as our Constitution, updated in 2024, already contains the requisite provisions. These go further than those of the IAM. They state plainly that our primary purpose is to serve the local community, provide post-test training for motorcyclists, liaise with other charities and road safety groups and provide public education on the social value of motorcycles as a form of personal transport. More information will be forthcoming to SAM members. In the meantime, help us by letting members of the SAM Committee know your views on the IAM changes to membership rights. Thank you.
IMPORTANT: SAM Monthly Club Meeting will be at the Three Merry Lads pub, Three Merry Lads
610 Redmires Road, Sheffield S10 4LJ
Your success is our success!
It’s a brace of successful advanced rider – ALL with a F1st pass. Congratulations to Chris Brown (Observer John Foster), Bryan Wibberley (Observer Clive Lewis) and Paul Clark (Observer Simon Glew). Very well done to you all.
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
For Your Diary
Meetings
Next SAM Club Night
3rd November 2025
7.30pm start for meeting at 8pm. Gives you time to catch up on what you’ve missed!
Three Merry Lads
610 Redmires Road
Sheffield
S10 4LJ
Next SAM Committee Meeting
30th October 2025
Details to be arranged
Online Motorcycling News
General
For more than five decades, ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’ remained the highly modified Scout of legendary Kiwi racer Burt Munro. The fact that the record stood for so long is incredible; that it was done on a machine that left the production line in 1920 is remarkable. But now a new top speed has been set, as Indian Motorcycles themselves recently ventured to the salt flats of Bonneville, with their incredible ‘King of the Baggers’ Challenger. Piloted by two-time series champion Tyler O’Hara, the goal was never to beat Burt, but instead to pay tribute to the legend by returning to those hallowed grounds and prove just how important racing is to the big American company. And with the throttle pinned, O’Hara honoured the masters of old, with a new AMA 2000cc APS-AG record of 194.384 mph. Read more
Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is calling for renewed focus and shared responsibility among all road users, after newly released government figures revealed an 8% rise in motorcycle fatalities on Britain’s roads in 2024.
While it is encouraging to note small decreases in car occupant and cyclist deaths, these gains are overshadowed by the increase in lives lost among motorcyclists. GEM warns that current efforts in road safety are not sufficient and that the comprehensive national strategy, long promised by government, is now urgently required. Read more
Pump prices crept up in September despite no meaningful movement in wholesale oil costs, according to new figures from RAC Fuel Watch
The average price of unleaded rose from 134.64p to 135.41p per litre, while diesel increased from 142.19p to 143.14p – adding roughly £1 to the cost of a full fill-up.
That takes the average car fill-up of petrol to £74, or £78.20 for diesel passenger vehicles (meanwhile bikers will notice a lesser difference at the pumps).While prices remain several pence below the highs recorded in late February, the RAC notes that fuel has now risen in eight of the past 12 months – and argues that retailers are maintaining margins “far above historic levels.” Read more
Indian automotive giants TVS Motor Company are continuing with plans to expand into the UK market, having already begun selling bikes in mainland Europe last year.
The multi-billion-pound firm, who only began building motorised two-wheelers in 1979, entered the Italian market in May 2024 – bringing in a host of models including their Apache 310 RR and RTR single-cylinder sportsbike and naked, plus small commuters like the IQube electric scooter.
Related: BMW G310RR sportsbike is built by TVS
“We see a lot of future prospects to give a wide range of products in Europe,” Senior Vice President of TVS R&D, Babu Rengarajan told MCN. Having worked within the team for the past 38 years, he’s seen the rise of the company first hand Read more
Switzerland is gorgeous to ride in. Honestly, it feels unfair. Like every road is laid out just to show off alpine views and test how long you can hold your breath in a hairpin. But there’s one stretch you do not want to treat like your personal racetrack: the Gotthard Tunnel. Nearly 17 kilometers (about 10.5 miles) of enclosed monotony, hotter than the inside of your helmet after a July desert ride.
It’s a grind. Still, overtaking inside is strictly forbidden.
That didn’t stop one British motorcyclist earlier this year. Instead of choosing the pass, he dove into the tunnel and, well, decided to make his own entertainment. By the time he popped out the other side, he’d overtaken 47 vehicles. Two trucks, forty-five cars, and yes, in a zone where signs might as well read “Don’t even think about it.” That version of this saga was first reported by Motorrad Online.
Swiss police, of course, were waiting at the exit. The fines stacked up like poker chips: about €13,000 in total, plus a lifetime ban from riding or driving in Switzerland. A lifetime. That’s not a slap on the wrist—that’s the system saying, “Don’t bother coming back.” Read more
The family of a UK motorcycling couple detained in Iran since January are fearing for the couple’s health as they wait for a verdict to be delivered in the case.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were on a sweeping road trip from the UK to Australia when they were arrested in late January and charged with espionage. The couple deny the charges.
According to Lindsay Foreman’s son, Joe Bennett, the couple had a court hearing in Tehran on Saturday and a verdict and sentence in the case could be handed down in a few days.
News of the proceedings travels slowly, according to Bennett, who has expressed frustration with the diplomatically tight-lipped UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). That’s the government department tasked with a number of diplomatic responsibilities, including the protection of the interests of British citizens overseas. 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...
Motorcycling is one of the most rewarding ways to travel, but it’s not always easy to feel confident on two wheels. Whether you are a new rider still getting to grips with your bike, or an experienced motorcyclist returning after a break, nerves, anxiety, or even fear can creep in.
The good news? Confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have; it can be built, strengthened, and regained with time, practice, and the right mindset. Read more
When we talk about improving our riding, we often focus on vision, braking, or cornering lines. But there’s another powerful tool at your disposal—one that’s often overlooked: biomechanics.
In this episode of our Better Riding series, I’m joined once again by professional rider coach and ex-MotoGP engineer Mark McVeigh (motorbikecoach.com), who explains how understanding and applying biomechanics can transform your riding — on the road, not just the track. Read more
In this episode, we’re diving into the concept of motorcycle intuition, or what some call the rider’s sixth sense. It’s that gut feeling, that split-second decision-making ability that can mean the difference between a close call and a crash. I’m joined once again by professional rider coach and ex-MotoGP engineer Mark McVeigh (motorbikecoach.com), who explains what a rider’s intuition is and how it can be developed to make you a better, safer rider. Read more
In this episode, we’re tackling a crucial topic: driver behaviours and how they impact motorcyclists. From inattentional blindness to tailgating, we explore the risks posed by other road users and how riders can enhance their risk awareness to stay safe. Read on for a precis of the accompanying video or watch the whole thing here Read more
In this instalment of Better Riding we explore a topic that’s rarely discussed but deeply influential: cognitive bias — the psychological quirks that shape how we ride, learn, and improve.
Joining me is Mark McVeigh, a professional rider coach, ex-MotoGP engineer, and founder of motoDNA. With over 10,000 riders trained, Mark brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on how our minds can be both our greatest asset and our biggest obstacle on two wheels. Read more
In this episode of Better Riding we continue the focus on mindset, building on previous discussions around intuition, cognitive bias, and behavioural psychology by looking at look at the steps it takes to move through a motorcyclist’s journey from novice to mentor.
Using ‘The Hero’s Journey’ – a psychological and practical framework – we look at how each of the twelve steps of growth and change can be related to and relevant for motorcycle riding. Read more
The classic double D-ring system has long been favored for its simplicity and proven safety record, while the micro ratchet buckle appeals to those who want convenience and quick release. Each has its loyal following, often divided along lines of tradition versus modern practicality—sometimes it even strays into regional differences.
In this case, the question wasn’t about protection or comfort, but speed. Which system gets you ready to ride more quickly? Read more
Adventure & Touring
I’m no hero. But I have chosen an unusual life, twice abandoning a successful career to travel the world by motorcycle. Unlike others whose stories of intrepid solo adventures to spectacular, far-flung places have inspired my dreams, I’m a somewhat unremarkable traveler. I’m not attempting world records or challenging myself to do something that has never been done before, and not even facing the world alone. I ride with my partner, Aidan, who is always there to help pick up my bike and to put me in the right headspace to tackle the tougher trails. He goes first, and if his heavier BMW F650GS can do it, then surely so can I on my lightweight Honda NX250.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll never be a fierce rally rider, flying over sand and loose gravel like it’s nothing, but I still fully intend to reach awe-inspiring locations! One such place came up after we’d left Vancouver and were riding the Baja California coast. Other riders we met kept asking if we’d seen YouTube videos of Copper Canyon, which is deeper than the Grand Canyon. That settled it. We’d been enjoying the holiday feel of the lonely beaches and cactus-studded deserts, but it was time to move on to the “real” Mexico waiting for us on the mainland Read more
Walking alongside your bike as it struggles to inch forward isn’t what anyone wants—least of all in Tajikistan, at 15,000 feet, in freezing mountain air. But we had known this moment would come, and here we were.
We arrived in Tajikistan in August on our two Honda Ace CB125s, eager for the Pamir Highway—a stretch of road we’d dreamed about since leaving London in May. The Pamir Highway (or M41, to give it its official name) is a Soviet road built between 1934 and 1940 that cuts across the Pamir Mountains, linking Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.It is the second-highest highway in the world, climbing to over 15,000 feet, and the Tajik section is legendary: remote, demanding, and beautiful, with challenging riding and famously hospitable locals. To put it in perspective, the road runs through a region that makes up nearly half of Tajikistan’s landmass but is home to just two percent of its people. For hundreds of miles it follows the river-border with Afghanistan, giving riders the surreal experience of peering into Taliban-held villages across the rushing water. Read more
History & Custom
We keep wondering why our inbox is flooded with classic BMWs. Now WalzWerk have provided a clue: you can turn an airhead into just about anything.
“We call our BMW series Schizzo,” says owner Marcus Walz, “because it’s schizophrenic how many possibilities there are to build up a bike on the same simple base.” Read more
In 1955, Moto Guzzi shocked the racing world with the legendary “Otto Cilindri” — a 500cc motorcycle powered by a liquid-cooled V8 engine. Producing around 78 horsepower and revving to 12,000 RPM, it could reach an astonishing 170 mph — speeds unheard of for bikes of its era. With eight carburetors, dual overhead cams, and a radical design, it was so advanced that rival teams thought it was science fiction brought to life. Read more
Kevin Williams
Back in November 2022, senior safety consultant Malcolm Palmer wrote a blog item for the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) called ‘The predictable nature of motorcyclist collisions’. Malc, who I happen to know and who worked for many years in the field of rider training wrote:
“A quick look at motorcycle crash statistics through the ages shows that riders typically experience the same few main crash types now as they did then.”
And he pointed to an example; “a UK Department for Transport report from 2004 that used data from police forces in the Midlands. The report highlighted three types of crash that riders were most likely to be involved in: Right of Way Violations (ROWVs), Bends, and Overtaking”.
The report found that ‘the majority (70%+) of motorcycle accidents were covered by the scenarios outlined’. Read more
Is this an ‘electric motorcycle with a fake ICE engine’?
That is what Visordown claimed earlier this week, stating that “Yamaha has patented a unique means of overcoming motorcyclists’ resistance to electric vehicles”, continuing that “Yamaha appears to be developing an electric motorcycle that is equipped with a functionally superfluous engine – there simply to make you forget you’re riding an electric vehicle. That’s what we’re understanding, at least, from a recent patent filed by the Japanese manufacturer.”
The same story also appeared on the RideApart website who claimed to have run the text through Google Translate.
But it’s clearly not an electric motorcycle with a dummy engine – why would that need a spark plug? Read more
How ‘fast’ is the human brain?
A few weeks ago I found a new study that attempted to be “a bit of a counterweight to the endless hyperbole about how incredibly complex and powerful the human brain is”. The study was in to just how fast we process information in our brains. Markus Meister, a neuroscientist at the California Institute of Technology and an author of the study said: “if you actually try to put numbers to it, we are incredibly slow”.
Whilst teaching an introductory neuroscience class Dr Meister wanted to give his students some basic understanding of how fast information flows around the brain, but he realised it was a figure that had never been measured. Read more
The Double Edge of “What If…”
The simple question “what if…?” is one of our most powerful mental tools both looking forwards as we ride, but also looking backwards and evaluating our performance. But as we’ll see, it can also be a negative influence.
Let’s start with looking forwards; in the moment when we’re riding it frames prediction and planning, and underpins proactive hazard anticipation:
“What if… the van ahead pulls out without signalling?”
“What if… the road surface under the trees beyond this corner is wet?”
These ‘prefactual’ forward-looking “what ifs” aim to prevent incidents in real time by enabling us to plan responses before potential hazards rise to the level of an active threat, allowing us to operate with an improved margin of safety. In this sense, “what if…?” represents disciplined foresight, turning uncertainty into structured anticipation. Read more
Sunstrike!
Back in 2018, when I made the first of my trips to New Zealand to work on the Shiny Side Up events, I was introduced to a term I’d never heard before. Sunstrike! And perhaps we should actually introduce it into our vocab, because it’s a very effective way of reminding ourselves that this is the time of year when the sun is likely to be low down on the horizon, morning and evening. And that applies in both hemispheres, incidentally.
Right now, we are pretty much at the equinox, so day lengths are very much the same as the night and that means sunrises and sunsets tend to be happening just about the time we’re either on the way to work or on the way home again. On Sunday night for example, I was driving to Oxford, having left at about 5:30 and since Oxford lies to the west of London, that drive was often straight into the setting sun. And every now and again, the bright sun was quite blinding. Read more
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
Here are our statistics for September 2025.
Thank you to our remarkable volunteers for responding to 308 jobs and 14 relays alongside other Blood Bike charities.
#bloodbikes
Today we had a very important relay our volunteer David took part in taking an urgent blood sample relay to the Institute of Genetics at Newcastle University this morning.
David was part of a team of 3 riders playing pass the parcel up the M1 and A1. The first pass was to Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes from Sheffield who then hand over to Northumbria Blood Bikes at Scotch Corner for the final delivery into Newcastle. The transit time from start to finish was roughly 4.5 hours all in total) This sample was needed for urgent analysis in support of care for a young patient at Glenfield Hospital in Leicestershire. 🩸🏍
Leicestershire & Rutland Blood Bikes
#itswhatwedo #volunteer #bloodbikes #nhssupport #fyp #LRBB #BLOODDELIVERY #leicestershire #supportyourbloodbikers #donate #volunteers #NHS @top fans
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
There’s a darkness on the streets, a danger, that puts vulnerable road users; children, cyclists, pedestrians in harms way …
The darkness makes it harder for you drivers to see, slower to react…
So do right by those citizens, check your headlights and speed
Be the hero behind the wheel the people need
A silent guardian, a watchful protector …
Once … the Dark Nights Return
Find out how you can help save lives on our roads this winter.
#barnsley #doncaster #sheffield #rotherham #darkknight #clocksgoback
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
Has it been a while since you passed your Advanced test? 
IAM RoadSmart in the news: Company car drivers using safety tech “incorrectly”
Only a quarter of high-mileage business drivers are regularly using driver assistance aids in their vehicles that may reduce collisions, with the majority switching them off.
IAM RoadSmart director of policy and standards Nicholas Lyes said: “Through the simple fact that they spend the largest amount of time out on the road, high mileage drivers run the greatest risk of being involved in an accident.
“However, our data shows that these drivers are missing out on using critical vehicle aids which will improve both their comfort and their safety.”
Are you aware of the OAP framework when out riding? 
ACEM
The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) expresses serious concern that the EU-US Framework Agreement of 21 August falls significantly short of addressing the trade challenges facing European manufacturers.
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.
While the Agreement indicates future discussions on Tariff-Rate Quotas (TRQ) for steel, aluminium, and derivative products, ACEM stresses that these discussions must move beyond vague commitments to concrete timelines and measurable outcomes. The industry cannot sustain prolonged uncertainty while fundamental competitive disadvantages persist. European manufacturers require immediate clarity on when comprehensive relief will be achieved. Looking forward, ACEM will continue its regular engagement with European institutions to provide technical expertise and industry perspective for ongoing negotiations. Read more…
Motorcycle Industries Association
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.
Tony Campbell, CEO of the MCIA said: ““Automated passenger services may transform some elements of public transport, but these innovations must not come at the risk to other road user groups including Mopeds and Motorcycles. These themselves provide an excellent low emitting, efficient mode of transport which have characteristics of use that must be scoped into the design and tech APS vehicles will use. Our submission makes clear that APS permits must include robust testing, transparent reporting (not self-reported by the operators as we see with the Electric Scooter Trails). APS has the ability to improve road safety but only if done correctly” 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…
British Motorcyclists Federation
The number of traffic police patrolling UK roads has fallen radically in the past ten years, according to figures revealed by the RAC.
In 2015, 5237 traffic officers were employed by 43 forces across the country – in 2025, the equivalent figure was 4149, a cut of over 20%.
The biggest drop was in traditional traffic units – 3889 now, compared to 5005 in 2015.
Specialist officers working with casualty reduction partnerships have fallen from 186 to 144 over the same time period – these are often police involved in speed camera enforcement programmes.
Although it’s true that the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads has also dropped over the same decade, RAC head of policy Simon Williams pointed to the effect of a visible police presence by the roadside. “The deterrent value of ‘cops in cars’ should not be underestimated,” he said. “We’d very much like to see a return to having more officers on traffic duty.”
At the BMF, chair Jim Freeman said, “This is hardly news in the community, with differing views. The drop is hardly restricted to traffic police. As many riders have discovered when they’ve reported a bike theft , only to get a text message with a crime number and realise that’s going to be the only response they’ll get.” Read more…
Motorcycle Action Group
Why can’t MAG get the DfT to research whether motorcycle licensing actually saves lives—while the government just announced yet another multi-million pound e-scooter evaluation?
Here’s what should make every motorcyclist furious.
On 25 September 2025, the Department for Transport quietly published a research protocol for a second national evaluation of e-scooter trials. No press release. No fanfare. Just another commitment to spend millions more researching a mode that’s been trialled for five years.
Meanwhile, MAG’s formal request for research into motorcycle casualty rates by licence status hasn’t even received a response. This research is crucial. It would tell us if our training system actually works. Read more…
New Rider Hub
This year’s campaign highlights how everyday stress and financial worries are leading drivers to neglect simple tyre checks – at precisely the time of year when they are most needed.
As the popularity of powered two wheelers (PTWs) in London has increased, so has, sadly, the number of motorbike thefts.
Scooters, mopeds and smaller engine motorbikes are particularly vulnerable to theft – after all, they are light and easy to lift and put in a van or pick-up without the rest of the public thinking anything is amiss.
As a result, the theft of motorcycles and scooters has reached almost epidemic levels. While PTWs make up around 2.5% of the vehicles on the road in the UK, they account for 10% of vehicle thefts.
What makes it worse is that recovery rates are far lower than for cars and light vans: most police forces struggle to return more than one-in-seven stolen scooters to their rightful owners. Read more…
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.
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…