SAM Weekly Newsletter – 11th April 2025
Table of Contents
Editorial
It’s been a busy time for motorcycling lately. There are proposals in the EU for:
- Digital driving licences could be part of a mobile digital identity wallet by 2030
- Limiting the license period for riders to 15 years for riders under 60-years-old; but, each country may shorten this to 10 years, with frequent medical checks, for older drivers/riders
- Raising the minimum age for motorcycle licenses: A1:16, A2:18, A:20 or 24
- Changes to training and testing with a greater emphasis on the needs of vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists
- Harmonised medical screening and fitness requirements
- A 2-year probationary period for novice drivers
- Cross-border enforcement of driving offences and driving bans, with stricter testing on the present of drugs or drink
Why should we care, we are not part of the EU? Well, the UK Government is currently drawing up its transport strategy for the future. In the past 12 months, every publicly supported request for improving rider safety has been turned down. This includes default access to bus lanes, removing VAT on rider safety clothing, training and licensing changes. The EU initiative might be seen as the chance to harmonise the UK’s motorcycling future to the proposed EU changes. Just a thought?
In the rest of your SAM newsletter, for ease of access, organised events appear in the Members Section below. Sadly, I missed the SAM breakfast, so THANK YOU to all those members who made it a great success. Also, there were 30 entries, slightly down on previous years, to the SAM Annual Photo Competition. There were some great photos and our independent judge chose ‘Portee, Skye’ as the winner. SAM member Steve Harper can add to his collection.
In other news, take look at motorcycle accident management, US style. There is advice on keeping your bike safe from criminals. Interesting information on how to start adventure riding. There is a discussion on braking into corners and so much more. Until next week, happy reading.
PS: Click the link, for the results of the SAM ANNUAL PHOTO COMPETITION.
Your success is our success!
Andre Chow
…is now a fully qualified advanced motorcycle rider.
(SAM Observer: Clive Lewis)
Julian Carter
…is now a fully qualified advanced motorcycle rider.
(SAM Observer: Ian Corner)
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
SAM Members Events
For Your Diary!
SAM Spring Breakfast
Meetings
Next SAM Club Night
7th April 2025
SAM Annual General Meeting
Come along and support SAM!
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
24th April 2025
Details to be arranged
Online Motorcycling News
General
Mods have been putting extra lights and mirrors on their scooters since the 1960s, along with fox tails, backrests, whip antennas, fly screens, and any number of other accessories.
Dave Wyton, who has travelled from Birmingham for the Great Yarmouth Scooter Weekender, has gone the whole hog on the mirror front.
At the last count, there are 56 mirrors adorning his ‘66 Lambretta Li150, but he doesn’t plan on stopping there.
“I’ve just bought some more ready to go on,” he smiles, chatting by the seafront with his friend Emma. “The target is 100 mirrors. I think I just love being ‘the mod’, and it’s just a bit different. Read more…
Motorcycles are one of the best options for commuters, especially in cities, as they are cheap to run, easy to park and often have low emissions.
With low-emission zones becoming more prevalent in UK cities and commuter areas, there has never been a better time to own a commuter motorbike.
But with so many to choose from, how do you know which one to get? Read our blog on the best commuter motorcycle to find some great options that can handle all-year-round riding.
All the bikes on this list are ULEZ-compliant so you don’t have to worry about paying the ULEZ charge. Read more…
Television presenter Henry Cole appears on Full Chat to discuss his TV shows and why manufacturers shouldn’t be targeting young people.
Cole 61, is best known for presenting television shows such as ITV’s The Motorbike Show, Shed and Buried and World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides.
He sat down with hosts David Prutton and Iwan Thomas to discuss why younger people are not riding bikes like they used to, and why he doesn’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. 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...
Accidents are a possibility (but not an inevitability) when you ride motorcycles. You may never have an accident, but if you ride with others, something might happen to a fellow rider. It goes without saying you should be familiar with basic first aid, and have a first aid kit packed away where you can quickly get to it. But, before you even think about first aid, or even reach for a Band-Aid, let’s take a step back and looks at one possible (and typical) accident scenario:
All winter you and two of your friends had planned this adventure. It’s your third day out and the others are somewhere ahead of you. Your bike is running perfectly and you’re enjoying the challenging mix of off-road and pavement riding.
As you approach a corner, you’re shocked to see one motorcycle down, off the rocky shoulder of the road. You brake rapidly and stop next to the downed bike. It’s Bill’s bike, the rear wheel still spinning as the motor chugs fitfully.
Bill’s lying on his back, right next to his bike, and he isn’t moving.
Alex, your other friend, comes back up around the curve. He brakes to a halt. “What happened?” he yells. “We were going a little fast, but Bill was right behind me. I looked in the mirror and he was gone. Is he okay?”
As he’s asking this question, and while you’re still trying to make sense of what’s happening, a Jeep comes around the corner and almost hits the two of you on the road. The Jeep swerves, crunches to a halt and the occupants emerge and jog towards you. Alex grabs your arm. “What’s wrong with Bill? C’mon, help him!” Read more…
Seeing how criminal gangs move their operations around the UK can help motorcyclists realise the importance of locking their bikes, and be more prepared when thefts rise in their area.
It’s great to see that Cheshire police have more than halved PTW (Powered Two Wheeler) thefts in the past month, going from 20 to nine, with Dyfed and Powys close behind dropping from six to three. This map shows the increases and decreases of motorcycle and scooter thefts by comparing the last full month’s data with the month before that.
Kent Police reported a 25% drop from 56 to 42, thanks to a clampdown by officers. Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon said: “We are continuing to proactively identify and target suspects, including those we know travel from areas of London and Essex to target homes and vehicles in west Kent which are close to the motorway network. Read more…
Q. I have always wanted to live in Spain, so after the dreaded COVID-19 malarkey, I decided to take the plunge. I got all my worldly possessions shipped down to near Malaga in 2022, including my KTM 1190 Adventure. My plan was to get my bike registered in Spain. However, after a lot of faffing about and false leads, I discovered it was going to cost a small fortune so decided against it. Instead, I rode the bike around on UK plates with no issues at all (I never got stopped or had an accident, etc.). All was well until I needed to come back to the UK after my Dad passed away. He has a massive bungalow and as I have now retired, I had the time to ride back on the bike, up through France and into the UK. I must confess that as I had been out of the UK for nearly three years, the bike didn’t have an MOT and hadn’t been taxed or insured for about two years. However, I risked it and got back to my Dad’s place with no issues. I parked the bike outside. Read more…
A mother and daughter duo from Kent are planning to ride a motorcycle and sidecar outfit from Land’s End to John o’ Groats raising money for brain injury charity Headway.
Claire and Susie Colston will take to the road in April 2026, riding a 2021 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 bolted to a 1969 Watsonian Squire sidecar borrowed from their friend Sylvie.
“We are riding in memory of my father who died of brain cancer, and a friend who sadly died of a brain haemorrhage. Both were only in their 50s,” Claire explained.They are now hoping to find companies and sponsors ahead of the ride to provide motorcycle riding gear and accessories, as well as accommodation along the way – with the ride set to last between four and five days including overnight stops. Read more…
Adventure & Touring
Think of line selection like a game of chess—each move sets up the next, and you’ve got to be thinking several steps ahead for success. The best line is the one that offers the highest amount of traction to keep moving you forward. This is known as “momentum control.”
• Understanding Line Selection Basics
Picking the ideal path isn’t just about avoiding hazards, it’s also spotting those stretches where you can safely push the pace and head for the next spot with high traction. Keeping up a steady pace on the trail means you’ve got to keep a sharp eye out and consistently nail those fundamental riding positions. Hone the skills mentioned here, and you’ll hit those sweet spots that allow your bike to maintain momentum almost effortlessly. Read more…
Entering the ADV world and overcoming the challenges can seem daunting at first. But the obstacles that keep you from your adventure-riding dreams ultimately boil down to two major categories: knowledge and cost.
Let’s start with knowledge. Training to become a “safe rider” is a lie. We take training to improve as a rider, which reduces risk, not to become a safer rider. I choose my words carefully here because safety is not the ultimate goal. If you want to be safe, stop reading this now, burn this magazine, and sell your motorcycle—that will make you safer! Otherwise, you need to focus on improving your skills to better handle the unsafe situations that you will inevitably encounter, no matter how much time you’ve spent training.
When I started coaching 28 years ago, I truly believed I was training riders to be safe, but time provides the greatest perspective. Ultimately, motorcycle training gives you knowledge. This knowledge gives you the skills and understanding to make wise choices that ultimately reduce risk and make riding more fun. The hazards still exist, but you have a greater capability to handle them and a greater enjoyment of riding in general. Read more…
“This trail gets a little singletracky, and after that, I’m not sure… could be a pretty cool path through the jungle. Could be a dead-end,” remarked Jurga, my riding buddy and partner in crime, as she pointed at an orange line on her Wikiloc screen. “Let’s give it a go?”
Armed with mosquito repellent, a vague sense of direction, and the aforementioned Wikiloc map that would sometimes work and mainly wouldn’t, we were scouting backcountry routes in Belize aboard two rental Lifan 250cc dual-sports. In just one week, we’d lead a group of female riders across the entire country, exploring dirt trails, rainforest tracks, caves, and remote places off the beaten path. But first, we needed to understand the lay of the land, test the mud soup sloshing ahead of us, and see just how much abuse the Lifans could take.
Belize is best known for its perfect white sand beaches, Caribbean turquoise blue waters, island resorts, sailing, and world-class diving. It’s a tiny country wedged between Mexico and Guatemala and isn’t exactly famous for motorcycle adventures.
But discovering the undiscovered is precisely what drew us there. Better yet, on dirt bikes. Best of all, in the company of other female riders. Read more…
History & Custom
Freshly Squeezed: A zesty KTM 525 EXC street tracker by Mule Motorcycles
Richard Pollock has been building motorcycles since before Bike EXIF existed. With such a tenure comes a measure of consistency; the man behind the Mule Motorcycles moniker never disappoints. Although Mule is best known for his impeccable Harley flat trackers, he does just as well with other marques too. His latest project is a 2005…Read more »
Kevin Williams
Recalibrating cornering safety Part One
On Wednesday, if you were with me for Elevenses, you will probably remember that I opened the show with a quick report on an inquest into the death of another motorcyclist. The crash happened just outside the village of Ladock in Cornwall where just a day or two earlier I’d been delivering a presentation to the local advanced riding group.
Sadly, Nigel Cullen, 57, a former Air Ambulance helicopter pilot, suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene. The inquest heard that he had ‘lost control’ of his BMW on a left-hand bend, and ended up on the other side of the road where he collided with a blue Ford Fiesta. The officer in the case said for an unknown reason Mr Cullen had applied emergency braking on the bend, causing the bike to carry on in a straight line. The driver said she had no time to react before the impact. Read more…
Yes – you CAN brake INTO and IN corners…
I confess I am getting a little frustrated with the CanyonChasers YouTube channel. This video is a few months old but it just popped up and caught my eye with the clickbait title: “The One Braking MISTAKE That Could Cost You Your Life”, which adds the following exhortation:
“Braking into corners is a technique only for the racetrack! Riders should NEVER brake in a corner. Do all your braking before the corner and then gently accelerate throughout the turn to stabilize the bike. Or maybe not?” Read more…
Rediscover the Ride Part 3 – First gear
This short Rediscover the Ride series is all about rethinking some of the basics, maybe to remind experienced riders of sound practices that may have slipped our minds over time, whilst reminding less-experienced riders of issues that may have been forgotten in the flurry of learning.
So today, let’s start with a really simple question; what is first gear for? If the Haynes Manuals riding tip is to be believed the answer is that: Read more…
Priorite a Droit hasn’t gone away
This is what I was writing about ten years ago on my Facebook page – the European system of priority to the right, which many riders (and drivers) experience for the first time when they land in France. I was writing in response to what I found on a website aime at people touring abroad for the first time.
I found this statement on an otherwise pretty informative website:
“The old and completely barmy French rule about having to give way to vehicles entering a main road from a side road (“Priorité à Droit”) is almost completely dropped, and if not, is clearly signed. Good thing too, as it’s a killer idea which must have cost many lives.” Read more…
Recalibrating cornering safety Part One
On Wednesday, if you were with me for Elevenses, you will probably remember that I opened the show with a quick report on an inquest into the death of another motorcyclist. The crash happened just outside the village of Ladock in Cornwall where just a day or two earlier I’d been delivering a presentation to the local advanced riding group.
Sadly, Nigel Cullen, 57, a former Air Ambulance helicopter pilot, suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene. The inquest heard that he had ‘lost control’ of his BMW on a left-hand bend, and ended up on the other side of the road where he collided with a blue Ford Fiesta. The officer in the case said for an unknown reason Mr Cullen had applied emergency braking on the bend, causing the bike to carry on in a straight line. The driver said she had no time to react before the impact. Read more…
‘Bikes in Bus Lanes’ petition fails
[Based on items from yesterday’s live Elevenses webcast]
Predictably – so entirely predictable that even MAG expected it – the Department for Transport (DfT) published their response to the MAG ‘bikes in bus lanes’ petition after it reached the necessary 10k signatures to require a written response.
Why predictable? They repeated the same reasons previously stated for not following up the positive results of the consultation carried out under the previous government.
In the first place the DfT repeated their position that “local authorities are best placed to understand the needs of their local road networks”. That DOES have some validity, though of course the proposals for motorcycle access to bus lanes would have allowed for councils to specifically exclude PTWs where they felt that could have been dangerous. Read more…
Rediscover the Ride Part 4 – Smoothing throttle use
This short ‘Rediscover the Ride’ series takes us back to some of the basics, to help less-experienced riders of issues make sense of issues that may have been forgotten or not covered in basic training, and to remind more experienced riders of ways they can keep their skills fresh.
Today, we’ll talk about smoothing out throttle use and getting a feel for how the gears affect the bike’s drive at a particular speed. I remember one woman’s riding being transformed with this simple game; she’d switched from a 170hp inline four sports machine to a rather less powerful V-twin Ducati adventure bike. The One Gear Game helped her understand why revving the engine hard wasn’t nearly so necessary on the Ducati. Read more…
It’s not colour, it’s CONTRAST that matters
Just a very quick one tonight, but spring’s here and that means the buds on the hedgerows are starting to burst with the vivid green leaves again. And that Saturn yellow vest you’ve been wearing all winter? It’s now acting more like camouflage than a conspicuity aid.
Check out the photo, clipped from a BikeSafe page. Spot the bikes. Does one rider and machine stand out rather less well then the other two? It’s thanks to the grass bank. And just wait till the hedgerow in the background comes into leaf! Read more…
Don’t be reactive – hit the Pause Button
Social media is great… on the whole. I’ve been using Facebook and various other outlets to make my content available to anyone who has a few minutes to read it. But it does come with a drawback. The design of social media platforms is predicated to instant reaction. Liking can be done with the click of a button, and of course content often invites comment, which I enjoy because it opens up a dialogue.
Unfortunately, that’s also something that many of us tend to give rather reactively too. It’s not uncommon that I get a comment on a post that tells me I’ve forgotten something, some topic or aspect of what I’ve been writing about. Read more…
Recalibrating cornering safety Part Two
In one way at least, cornering is simple. There are only two outcomes in any corner. We get it right. Or we get it wrong. What’s more difficult is ensuring we gather as much information about the corner as we can, then we process it in order to come up with a sensible decision about how to ride around it.
So this week, let’s look at the relatively simple task of deciding ‘how fast’ to approach and enter the corner. Read more…
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
Whiteknights have today been involved in another national relay for a consignment travelling transporting a blood sample from Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy to the Specialist Blood & Pathology at St James Leeds.South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
Scooter safety: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? 
Shona, a highly experienced transport policy professional with a background in sustainable transport, will join the board in April from the Thames Estuary Growth Board executive team, where she has been Portfolio Director for Housing and Infrastructure. She was also Vice Chair of the Local Government Association Economy and Transport Board, a member of the Commission for Integrated Transport, and National Cycling Strategy Board. Read more…
Are you aware of the OAP framework when out riding? 
National Motorcyclists Council
The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has welcomed news that the Department for Transport (DfT) is considering options for reviewing the current training, testing and licensing regime. The NMC, along several motorcycling organisations and other road safety stakeholders were told the news by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Lilian Greenwood MP who attended a round table meeting of the Government’s Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group on January 20th to discuss licensing and other aspects of motorcycle safety and policy. Read more…
The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) is today renewing calls on the Government to move much further and faster on its commitment to improve roads maintenance. The call comes as the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) publishes its latest annual report. The 2025 Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey Report reveals that the backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales has reached new heights at almost £17 billion, while roads are only surfaced, on average, once every 93 years. More than half (52%) – equivalent to around 106,000 miles– of the local road network is reported to have less than 15 years’ structural life remaining. Almost a third of these – 34,600 miles or one in six of the total – may only have up to five years life left.
Almost all local authorities told the AIA that in their opinion, there has been no improvement to their network over the last year, with 65% stating that conditions have declined. Over £20 billion has been spent on carriageway maintenance in England and Wales over the last decade but, due to the short-term allocation of this funding, there have been no significant improvements in structural road conditions. Read more…
The National Motorcyclists Council has called for a full and proper consideration of motorcycling within transport policy as part of its response to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Call for Evidence: Integrated National Transport Strategy: a Call for Ideas’.
Ultimately, integrated transport should be about choice, not just favouring one or two modes of transport over others. The NMC feel that the forthcoming strategy should extend and enable individual choice, so that the full range of options are available and supported for those who seek an alternative to the car. Statistics reveal that the majority of motorcyclists are regular commuter or utility transport users, with over a million who ride regularly, often in conditions that leave them more vulnerable on the roads than should be the case. Read more…
FEMA
The United Kingdom may no longer be part of the European Union, the British motorcyclists are certainly still part of the European motorcycling community. FEMA has strong bonds with the riders’ organisation BMF, the British Motorcyclists Federation and with the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), which is the coalition of organisations that work on motorcycling issues in the UK. Here are some of the current issues: Read more…
Riding a motorcycle is all about pure freedom – the wind on your face, the power in your hands, and the road stretching endlessly ahead. It’s the thrill of adrenaline and the feeling of being one with the machine. Whether you’re cruising through city lights or winding country roads, every ride is a reminder of strength, independence, and a thirst for adventure.
‘Freedom on two wheels belongs to everyone – and there’s nothing better than choosing your own direction.’
Sveriges Motorcyklister (SMC) asked women about their main reason for getting a motorcycle license. Over 500 women responded, and more than 50% agreed on one clear answer: the feeling of freedom on two wheels – the rush of the wind, the connection to nature, and the unbeatable sense of adventure. Other common reasons included inspiration from family and friends – many grew up around motorcycles or were encouraged by their partner. A strong motivator was also the desire to move from passenger to rider – to take control of the motorcycle and the riding experience. Motorcycling is attracting more and more women – and for many, it’s far more than just transportation. It’s a lifestyle. Read more…
The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the update of the driving licence directive and on the implementation of driving disqualifications in the EU.
Driving licence.
This update of the directive will have an important impact on the issuing of driving permits throughout the EU, updating the minimum requirements related to fitness of drivers across the EU, harmonising rules regarding probationary periods for novice drivers and creating a scheme for accompanied driving with a licence obtained at the age of 17. Read more…
British Motorcyclists Federation
Paul Varnsverry, the highly respected motorcycling clothing expert, is launching a campaign aimed at eliminating uncertified and potentially unsafe bike kit, currently being imported into the UK and offered for sale online. Varnsverry, Technical Director of clothing consultant at PVA-PPE, is started a petition aimed at alerting Government to the dangers of untested kit. In conversation with MCN, he praised the efforts of Trading Standards in the last three years, in checking bike shows and high street shops for sub-standard kit. But he added that clothing offered online is attempting to circumvent these checks. Read more… 
Two Wheels for Life, the charity which provides motorcycles for health workers in sub-Saharan Africa, is now offering a free will writing service. Applicants can write their will online, by phone and there’s even a limited number of face-to-face solicitor appointments available, all for free. All are provided by Farewill, the UK’s biggest will writing service.
Now you might expect that Two Wheels for Life is expecting any successful applicant to leave them a healthy legacy, but apparently not. “It is not essential to leave us a gift in your will when using our free wills service,” reads a statement on the charity’s website, “but we’d love you to consider giving to Two Wheels after taking care of those important to you.”
Following extensive lobbying of government Ministers and officials by the motorcycling, motoring and cycling lobbies over the last 18 months, the Government has today announced a £1.6 bn investment to tackle the scourge of potholes and poor road surfaces, together with an extra £500 million “roads pot” – enough to fill 7 million potholes a year. The funding will start to be delivered to local councils from next month . In addition, an extra £4.8 bn will be made available to National Highways to deliver critical road schemes for 2025/6 and to maintain motorways and major A-roads. But the full funding to local authorities comes with clear stipulations to ensure that the money is spent where it is required – on fixing pothole-ridden roads. In order to receive their full share of funding all councils in England must from today (Monday 24 March) publish annual progress reports and prove public confidence in their work. They must clearly show where they are spending the money, how much is being spent on fixing potholes and how many potholes have been filled and also provide a wider overview on the overall condition of their local roads. Local authorities who fail to meet these strict conditions will see 25% of their overall uplift (£125m in total) withheld. https://www.britishmotorcyclists.co.uk/gov-announces-fund-to-fix-the-pothole-plague/
New Rider Hub
The 2025 National Young Rider Day will take place on Wednesday 11 June – when the focus across the country will be on young motorcyclists.
As a result of the cost-of-living crisis, more and more young people are choosing to ride a motorcycle to work, college, or simply to get around.
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…
