Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – Weekly Newsletter 26 June 2026

Editorial

There is something special about motorcyclists. We come from different backgrounds, ride different machines and enjoy motorcycling in our own way, yet we share an understanding that few outside our community truly appreciate. It is a passion built on freedom, responsibility and a willingness to look out for one another.

That spirit is at the heart of our charity. Every ride, every fundraising event and every hour volunteered helps us make a real difference to the lives of riders and their families. Whether we’re supporting those facing hardship, promoting safer riding or bringing people together through a shared love of motorcycles, our strength comes from the generosity and commitment of our members.

As the riding season continues, it is also worth remembering that every journey is an opportunity to set an example. Ride courteously, keep developing your skills and encourage others to do the same. A positive image of motorcycling benefits every rider, regardless of age, experience or the badge on the fuel tank.

Thank you for your continued support. Your membership does far more than sustain an organisation—it strengthens a community that cares. Together, we can continue to champion motorcycling, support those in need and ensure that our charity remains a trusted friend to riders for many years to come.

Ride safely, enjoy every mile, and thank you for being part of the journey.

Weekly News

Welcome to your definitive weekly roundup of the global motorcycling landscape. The last seven days have delivered a striking mix of heavy-industry political shifts, radical technology rollouts, and custom culture victories. If you are 18 and looking at where the two-wheeled world is heading, this week proved that the future of riding is moving fast.

Industrial Politics: Harley-Davidson Pulls Back

In a major corporate and political U-turn, Harley-Davidson announced it is moving the production of its liquid-cooled Revolution Max powertrain from Thailand back to the United States. This shifts manufacturing back to its domestic hub, heavily impacting its global supply-line strategy . Simultaneously, Harley’s electric offshoot, LiveWire, announced that production has officially commenced on its new S4 Honcho electric bike. Available in both Trail and Street variants, deliveries are expected to commence imminently, reinforcing the brand’s aggressive push into the youth-focused EV market.

Technology & Events: Electric Fleas and Big Shows

On the tech and event horizon, Royal Enfield confirmed that its upcoming electric sub-brand debutants, the Flying Flea C6 and S6, will make their live public debut at the Adventure Bike Rider (ABR) Festival at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire on 26–28 June. Alongside these urban commuters, Enfield will showcase an electric Himalayan test-bed prototype, allowing young riders to see how battery technology handles proper off-road geometry.

Meanwhile, custom culture dominated the headlines at the 40th annual Bike Fest International. British manufacturer BSA and American giant Harley-Davidson cleaned up the awards. A custom BSA 650 chopper named ‘Paruk’, built by Renato Peres, took home the prestigious ‘Best in Show’ title, while superbike legend Carl Fogarty hand-picked an S&S V-twin powered custom BSA named ‘Lulù’ for his personal ‘Foggy’s Best’ award.

Marketing & Gear: Price Cuts and Track DNA

For young riders looking to get on a high-spec middleweight naked bike, Triumph dropped a massive marketing curveball. The British firm announced an unexpected price cut for its highly anticipated 2026 Trident 660. Packing a newly updated triple engine and more power, the roadster will launch cheaper than industry analysts projected, undercutting rivals to appeal directly to newer license holders. Triumph dealers are working hard to promote the latest bike offers, so book yourself a test ride.

On the apparel front, Dainese launched its new Reacto Carbon gloves. Infused with genuine MotoGP protective DNA, these gloves feature carbon-fibre knuckle reinforcement designed to offer track-level safety for everyday road riders.

2023/24 (% passes)
0
2024/25 (% passes)
0
2025/26 (% passes)
0

For your Diary

YOUR success is our success

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - What you should know!Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!

It's FREE! fill it in, update it, carry and it's there when you need it!!

Fill it in, keep it updated, when needed just hand it over to health care staff.

No delay, no sharing of data with private health companies, it’s YOURS, keep it safe!

Meetings

SAM Monthly Meeting

Club nights have been replaced by:

Summer ride-outs


See SAM website calendar for more details.

SAM Committee Meeting

To be arranged

Online Zoom Meeting

 

 

See SAM website calendar for more details.

Kevin Williams

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 26 June 2026

“A good rider needs a good bike”

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve encountered this thinking but here are three examples of how it affects riders.

“I’d ride better if I had better suspension” — One trainee had already spent more than £10,000 replacing components on a brand-new motorcycle when he turned up for the course because he felt the bike’s steering wasn’t right. Only after exhausting the catalogue of aftermarket solutions did he consider the possibility that the issue might not be mechanical. It wasn’t. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 26 June 2026

Fresh Start: Surface

In Week Nine of the ‘Core Skills’ series, where I return to the essential riding foundations and rebuild them from the ground up in a fresh way whilst using a brand-new structure too. Last week, we turned our attention to the concept of traction and the connection between tyres and tarmac. Today we take a Fresh Start look at the other half of the grip equation, and the role of the surface.

#freshstart, #coreskills Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – What you should know!Turn Your Brand Into a Lifesaver:

Put your advert here.

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - riding just gets better

Every rider knows that the difference between a close call and a tragedy often comes down to skill and awareness. By securing this advertising space, your business isn’t just reaching a dedicated audience—it’s actively funding the Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists (SAM).

Every penny of the proceeds goes directly toward advanced rider training and safety initiatives. You’ll be helping motorcyclists sharpen their skills, stay upright and return home safely. It’s a rare opportunity to boost your brand’s visibility while championing a life-saving cause. Let’s make the roads safer, one mile at a time.

Partner with us today.

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 26 June 2026

Fresh Start: Surface

In Week Nine of the ‘Core Skills’ series, where I return to the essential riding foundations and rebuild them from the ground up in a fresh way whilst using a brand-new structure too. Last week, we turned our attention to the concept of traction and the connection between tyres and tarmac. Today we take a Fresh Start look at the other half of the grip equation, and the role of the surface.

#freshstart, #coreskills Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 26 June 2026

Science Of Being Seen on the BBC – it must be true!

A couple of months ago I reported on how Motorcycle News had led with an article that exclaimed that ‘ground-breaking’ (I believe that was the word) new research had just solved the “Sorry Mate, I Didn’t See You” SMIDSY collision between driver and biker at a junction. It was actually a rehash of some of the same elements of science research that I first documented in my ‘Science Of Being Seen’ presentation created for Kent Fire & Rescue, and Jim Sanderson’s ‘Biker Down’ rider safety course. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 26 June 2026No motorcycle tyre, regardless of how grippy the manufacturer says it is, will stick to the road if it doesn’t have something to bite into…

…as this unfortunate rider discovered.

Tyres rely entirely on the microscopic friction created when rubber meets the rough texture of asphalt. When a rider hits a low-friction substance, and here it’s what looks like a diesel spill, that crucial mechanical connection is instantly broken reducing traction to near zero and causing the bike to slide out mid-corner before the rider even has time to react. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 26 June 2026

A foundation for coaching — M6 Framework 4

I’ve been working in rider training for more than three decades (which is a terrifying thought) and something I’ve noticed is that even when I was training up as an instructor, what I was learning was built on a pair of pretty sound foundations. Read more

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – What you should know!Turn Your Brand Into a Lifesaver:

Put your advert here.

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - riding just gets better

Every rider knows that the difference between a close call and a tragedy often comes down to skill and awareness. By securing this advertising space, your business isn’t just reaching a dedicated audience—it’s actively funding the Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists (SAM).

Every penny of the proceeds goes directly toward advanced rider training and safety initiatives. You’ll be helping motorcyclists sharpen their skills, stay upright and return home safely. It’s a rare opportunity to boost your brand’s visibility while championing a life-saving cause. Let’s make the roads safer, one mile at a time.

Partner with us today.

Whiteknights Blood Bikes

Our Sponsors

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - Weekly Newsletter 17 April 2026

34SP.com supports our charity with FREE web hosting. Over many years they have consistently provided WordPress updating, advice on hosting management and technical advice. The company makes ongoing efforts to reduce the digital carbon footprint, noting that high web traffic significantly impacts emissions. To combat this, their Manchester data centre utilizes renewable energy and follows circular IT practices through hardware recycling.Beyond infrastructure, they invest in ancient woodland restoration and global climate projects via Ecologi. These efforts are independently verified by The Green Web Foundation, aiding clients’ ESG reporting. Furthermore, the company integrates social sustainability as a Living Wage employer, blending environmental conservation with ethical local business practices to provide greener hosting solutions.

YOUR registered charity can benefit from FREE web hosting too!

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists - What you should know!
What our Associates (trainee advanced riders) say about us…

“Great bunch of people. Improved my riding skills to another level. Their training is very much based on keeping the rider safe” Stephen

Added to our training work we train NHS Blood Bikers, support other charities, promote motorcycling as a cost-effective, eco-friendly urban transport solution. We also provide public education on the role of motorcycling in our community. Meet us, 9am any Saturday at Meadowhall Retail Park, Attercliffe Road, Sheffield S9 2YZ. You can help us by advertising your services in our newsletter, sponsoring young riders and sharing this newsletter. Sponsors/advertisers should email: sam-editor@iam-sheffield.bike with ‘Sponsorship’ or ‘Advertiser’ in the subject line. Thank you for your support.

The SAM charity is an Associate Group of IAM RoadSmart. This means that our highly skilled and experienced volunteer Observers, are trained to deliver the nationally recognised, quality assured,  advanced rider training curriculum. 

 IAM RoadSmart is the UK’s leading road safety charity. We are recognised and trusted by the UK Government, insurance companies and other road safety organisations. We enable and monitor IAM Groups to deliver our quality assured, nationally recognised, advanced rider and driver training.  Our role is simple, yet vital – to make journeys safer for everyone who uses the road.

Send us your thoughts on the newsletter content!

Got something to share? Want to comment on an item in this newsletter? Fill in this form and we will be very happy to hear from you. Happy reading.

Free Assessed Ride

Want to try before you buy? Fill in the form below and arrange the FREE ride assessment when it’s convenient for you.  Or just ride down to Meadowhall Retail Park, Sheffield S9 1EP, 9am any Saturday morning.

Be safe - ALWAYS carry your Biker I.C.E card!

Riding a motorcycle comes with risks. In an accident, motorcyclists’ injuries are likely to be more serious than those of other road users. To reduce these risks, the Biker I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) Card is a simple but essential tool for riders. It’s easy to use and convenient to carry. It can be folded to fit in your wallet and handed to anyone who needs it, not just accident responders.

The Biker I.C.E. Card contains all necessary information. It has contact information, important health, medical and doctor’s details, a list of medications and your doctor’s contact. If you’re in an accident, emergency services can use the card to quickly understand your health and medical needs t0 provide you with the best care possible.

Just fill in your email address below. We will keep you updated of any design changes. The card is given as FREE public service that you can use and share as many times as you like. You simply add details like your NHS or travel insurance numbers, as these can help emergency responders access your healthcare records or handle costs when travelling abroad.

Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists, well known for our quality assured advanced rider training, support the use of this card. It can be a critical safety tool. While training improves road safety, the card ensures you get the right help should things go wrong.

Download your Biker I.C.E. Card NOW, for safer rides and peace of mind!