Political pressure on motorcycle noise intensified this week as Hampshire PCC Donna Jones urged stronger action against illegally modified exhausts, calling the noise “unbearable for many”.
BMW dominated industry headlines with new spy shots hinting at a mid‑capacity GS twin positioned against Yamaha’s Ténéré 700, alongside sightings of a next‑gen S1000RR and the huge R20 boxer twin. Meanwhile, Chinese brand ZXMoto confirmed its 500RR four‑cylinder sportsbike will arrive in UK dealerships mid‑September at £5899 plus on‑the‑road costs.
Heritage interest remains strong. Motorcycle Live announced a curated 12‑bike display of 1980s–2000s machines. Steve Hislop’s 2002 BSB‑winning Ducati 998RS went on sale for £180,000. The Hizzy Memorial Run returns on 30 August for its 22nd year.
Racing delivered major drama. Ryan Vickers secured his first BSB win of 2026 at Thruxton, ending Kyle Ryde’s podium streak. Max Cook was transferred to hospital after a heavy crash. MotoGP’s Johann Zarco is aiming to return at Aragon pending medical clearance.
Security concerns rose after six arrests in Manchester linked to motorcycle‑theft warrants. Wales’ Tonfanau circuit confirmed its final motorcycle race meeting after 30 years of competition.
Salt, Subsidies and Superbikes: The Two-Wheeled World This Week
If you think motorcycling is purely about leaning into turns on a Sunday morning, the past seven days have proven that the real action spans far beyond local twisties. From high-speed salt flats to geopolitical EV mandates, the motorcycle landscape is shifting fast.
Land Speed Madness at Bonneville
The biggest headline this week comes straight out of the Utah desert. Ahead of the 2026 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials (23–27 August), American drag racer Chris Rivas and team owner Denis Manning are locking in their final preparations to smash the absolute land speed record. Riding the infamous BUB Seven—a 2,997cc turbocharged V4 streamliner—Rivas is targeting a mind-boggling 400mph barrier. Following chassis, suspension and skid plate modifications designed to handle unpredictable salt textures, all eyes are on the FIM-sanctioned course to see if Rocky Robinson’s 376.363mph benchmark finally falls.
Governments Force the Electric Shift
On the political and economic front, governments are stepping up their involvement in two-wheeled infrastructure. Indonesia officially launched its National Electric Motorcycle initiative (“Molinas”) at the ALVA production facility in Cikarang. Designed to transition the country away from imported petrol units to a domestic EV supply chain, the government is backing local manufacturers with trade-in schemes and targeted subsidies. Closer to home, Coventry-based electric startup Maeving secured a £3 million government-backed deal through UK Export Finance. The funding will fuel export operations into Germany, France and the US, proving that light electric commuters are gaining serious traction despite global economic headwinds.
Track Tech and Market Shifts
In product and market news, Japanese manufacturers are fighting back against rising urban EV sales with clever consumer incentives. Kawasaki UK announced a £1,500 part-exchange allowance on their Ninja 7 and Z 7 Hybrids to encourage skeptical riders onto dual-fuel platforms. Meanwhile, on the track, Yamaha’s highly anticipated CP3-powered R9 sports bike has officially hit long-term press fleets, signaling a massive industry-wide push away from ultra-expensive 1,000cc superbikes toward real-world middleweights.
Heroics and Heritage
Rounding out the week, British off-road legend Sam Sunderland announced his return to competitive shape following last year’s spinal injury. Backed by Triumph and Red Bull, Sunderland is preparing for a September round-the-world record attempt aboard a Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer, aiming to cover over 18,000 miles across five continents in under 19 days. Simultaneously, the Classic TT launched a special 30-year retrospective exhibition celebrating 23-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness, displaying ten of his most iconic race machines.
Whether you prefer 300hp land-speed rockets or minimalist urban commuters, the motorcycling ecosystem is evolving rapidly—combining old-school grit with cutting-edge tech.
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
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!
7th September 2026
7.30pm Treeton Miners Welfare Club
Arundel Road
Treeton
Rotherham S60 5PW
Come along to have your say and hear our plans for the coming year. There’s FOOD!!!
7.30pm start for meeting at 8pm. Gives you time to catch up on what you’ve missed!
See SAM website calendar for more details.
27th September 2026
Online Zoom Meeting
Details to be circulated
29th August 2026
Are you a Sheffield biker who loves bikes, bikers and biking? Whether you’re an experienced rider or you’re looking to level up, the Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists charity would love to hear from you.
This is more than just a ride-out or a chat about motorcycles—this is your chance to become an advanced rider and a safer road user with expert guidance, feedback and community support.
Join Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists today.
DfT – “no reporting mechanism for illegal e-cycles”
Every year the Department for Transport announces the latest road casualties figures for Great Britain. 2025’s came out at the end of last month. And every year, the numbers of motorcyclists killed and injured is used as the basis for a renewed effort to improve rider safety.
But how accurate are the stats? Read more
After the drought, the flood
I’m interrupting the ‘Fresh Start: Decoding the Road’ articles and posting earlier than usual for a quick practical example of why recognizing what’s going on around us is so important and I’ve butched the Dambusters’ biblical motto for this morning’s quick reminder:
“After the drought, the flood”. Read more
You’ll likely have noticed a few visual updates on my Ko‑Fi page. I’m starting to reorganise things properly as I build what I’m now calling the Deep Dive Archive — a clearer home for the long‑form Survival Skills content.
Over the next few weeks, the Archive will also become the home for: Read more
Rudge is back – at least in name
Remember Rudge? I don’t, at least not as a functioning motorcycle manufacturer, just as a name from the history books and classic bike shows and museums. But a new company is explicitly positioning Rudge as a premium British motorcycle marque, drawing heavily on its heritage, royal connections and historic racing reputation. Its own website says it intends to build British motorcycles combining craftsmanship with modern performance. Read more
Yesterday, I explained why you might have noticed visual updates to my Ko‑Fi page. I am slowly reorganising it to create a structured home to the Deep Dive Archive of historic posts, as well as the ‘Science Of Being Seen’, the ‘No Surprise? No Accident!’ initiative and my latest ‘M6 Framework’ project.
Today, I want to explain a little more about how access to my work will structured going forward: Read more
Proximity is the risk, speed is the multiplier
This crash appeared on LinkedIn. One response was that it could have been prevented with “clear, objective operating conditions” to “help align the expectations of all road users.”
He used the Australian state of Victoria – which limits lane splitting to traffic travelling at 30 km/h or less – as an example. He said it was better than than “relying solely on a subjective requirement such as ‘only when safe to do so'” because it provides clearer boundaries. And then enforcement becomes more straightforward.” Read more
Oiling our thought processes
Riding a motorcycle, we’re in the middle of a highly dynamic environment, one that changes from moment to moment; even roads we know well never present the same problem two days running. And if we’re to ride and deal with the hazards efficiently and avoid being SURPRISED!, we have to employ a combination of approaches: Read more
Avoiding being rear-ended
A question appeared on one of my feeds the other day; “how common is it for a bike to be rear-ended”? Good question and I can’t say I know the answer but it does happen, and it’s happened to me three times.
The first time I was a learner on my 125 and a very nice and very apologetic French couple gently rolled the bonnet of their 2CV under the rack on my 125 and lifted the rear wheel off the ground. They’d been looking at the rather lovely Bishops Palace in Maidstone, and hadn’t noticed their Citroen was still moving. Read more
“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.
Are you a Sheffield biker who loves bikes, bikers and biking? Whether you’re an experienced rider or you’re looking to level up, the Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists charity would love to hear from you.
This is more than just a ride-out or a chat about motorcycles—this is your chance to become an advanced rider and a safer road user with expert guidance, feedback and community support.
Join Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists today.
Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists – What you should know!Turn Your Brand Into a Lifesaver:
Put your advert here.
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.
Passing your UK motorcycle test is an important milestone, but it’s also just the beginning of getting the most from your riding. Progressing to advanced rider training helps you build deeper understanding of hazards, spacing, and road positioning—skills that protect you when conditions change unexpectedly. You’ll practise seeing further, reading traffic early, and making smoother, more confident decisions at speed. Advanced riders learn how to manage risk proactively, ride more efficiently, and stay calmer under pressure. Most importantly, continued progression keeps you curious and motivated, turning years of experience into real, lifelong safety. You’ve earned the right to improve—go for it.
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!
Google provides approved Non-Profit organisations with Google Workspace apps. This help SAM’s Trustees to manage communication, meetings and supports our advanced motorcycle training and education to increase road safety. We also support our advanced riders to become volunteer NHS Blood Bikers.
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.
© 2026 Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists. All rights reserved. All content in this newsletter, including text, graphics and images, is protected by UK copyright law. We gratefully acknowledge the copyright of original publishers and creators for any third-party materials featured. All such materials are used with implied permission, from online publicly shareable URLs, or under fair dealing rules on information, education and public interest. Any such content is used solely for our purposes to educate and inform our readers. Material from other providers is not not used for any commercial purpose. All URLs link directly to copyright holders. The correctness and truthfulness of all such content is the sole responsibility of those providers No part of this publication may be reproduced or shared without prior written consent from the respective copyright holders.Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1089671)
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!
