SAM Weekly Newsletter – 16th May 2025
Table of Contents
Editorial
“What is the most important thing a rider can do on a motorcycle? Answer: Keep their eyes open!“
The weather has gotten cooler this week, but riders are still making the most of dry roads.
MCIA pressing the UK Government for a review of motorcycle training. It’s not just training that needs reviewing, but whole process of getting a motorcycle licence. Some writers suspect, that a body that represents manufacturers and component suppliers, only want to sell more motorcycles and add-on bits. We don’t see anything wrong with those motives! Less widely reported is the Government’s allocation of a £350,000 fund to encourage the motorcycle industry to develop zero-emission motorcycles more quickly. With a market share for electric motorcycles at 3%, a lack of buyer enthusiasm for these machines, this fund does not look anything more than a token gesture. The removal of tax revenue from VAT on protective clothing and removal of vehicle excise duty would show more commitment. At least electric motorcycles are exempt from ULEZ charges.
BMW are following other manufacturers and targeting younger riders. A new 450cc GS has been spotted being tested in India. It makes sense, the country does have some very rough roads and the bike may be built there too. In other manufacturing developments, the Yamaha Tracer 7 and GT models get tech improvements. Ride by wire, cruise control and a range of ride modes. In addition, the company began a youth-focussed campaign, “Start Small, Think Big” centered around their popular R3 and MT-03 models. Kawasaki have also updated the Ninja 500 and Z500. Let’s hope that those who sell the tech and those who buy can use it effectively. Maeving are selling a new limited edition RM1S electric motorcycle. With a reported 80 mile range and a top speed of 70mph, at £8,995, it is likely to appeal to the short commute traveller. It will certainly be a realistic alternative to limited, unreliable and expensive public transport. As part of the market effort to attract more young riders, manufactures are using social media influencers, documenting their path to a full motorcycle licence. Let’s hope they include post-test training too. Chinese manufacturers are helping to drive demand by importing, through MotoGB, affordable and tech heavy machines. Following import tariff increases by the EU and US, the UK market now looks more attractive.
In Derbyshire last week, 15 motorcyclists were stopped and cautioned, by the police, about safe riding. A further 10 are facing prosecution for a variety of offences. Who says you won’t get caught?
Following last week’s report of IAM RoadSmart’s research on the missiles and misjudgements of other road users causing problems for riders, the issue has received wider publicity. The way to look at the problem is to take note of the debris littering the verge and carriageway and it will give a scale of the problems faced by riders. The 30mph swerve test, used on the UK motorcycle test, may not prepare the rider travelling at 60mph to avoid the flying object. The same goes for high-speed braking too.
We are continuing our successful advanced rider training courses that have produced a number of test passes recently. Those riders who take up an advanced riding course can be rely on our, quality assured, IAM RoadSmart training that makes your success our success.
There is a lot more interesting material in these week’s SAM newsletter. Ride safe and happy reading.
Your Success is our success
Advanced riders are safer road users, ride longer, rider further, meet more people and enjoy a healthier, happier life!
Learning and Having Fun!
For Your Diary
Meetings
Next SAM Club Night
12th June 2025
7.30pm start for meeting at 8pm. Gives you time to catch up on what you’ve missed!
Treeton Miners Welfare Club
Arundel Street
Treeton
Rotherham S60 5PW
Next SAM Committee Meeting
29th May 2025
Details to be arranged
Online Motorcycling News
General
If you’re trying to beat the traffic and keep costs down on your way to work then a 125cc motorcycle may well be perfect for you.
They’re affordable bikes which are cheap to run, and the best can easily reach the kind of speeds you’d need for getting across town without hassle – plus they’re fun to boot!
We look at some of the latest 125cc bikes that are ideal for commuters. Read more…
Nearly 30 years ago, the first Mission: Impossible film was released, sparking a line of sequels that gave Tom Cruise the opportunity to ride a lot of really cool motorcycles.
With the eighth and maybe final film in the series being released in 2025, now is the perfect time to take a look at the bikes that have helped Mission: Impossible become one of the most popular movie franchises ever. 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.
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. Remember – this is a MONTHLY overview. Read more…
The Magnificent 10 biking deals of the week
What are the best motorcycle and kit deals and discounts available right now?
Continuing our regular weekly guides to current biking offers and bargains, we’ve been scouring the marketplace – so you don’t have to! Save £9996 on a Zero SR/S
Although smaller electric bikes and scooters sell reasonably well, full size electric motorcycles, such as Harley’s LiveWire or those from leading California brand Zero, continue to struggle and are particularly hindered by their often high prices, which is why you’ll often see them subjected to big dealer discounts, as is the case here – but this almost £10K saving is among the biggest we’ve seen so far. Read more…
UK biking body, the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) are supporting calls from Europe encouraging riders to take additional post-test training.Motorcycling is under constant pressure to improve its road safety record, and it’s vital that we, as a sector, do all we can to address this,” MCIA Chief Executive, Tony Campbell said.“While riders and the industry are stepping up, we will also be pressing the Government and road safety organisations to take more action.”According to UK Government data, there were 29,540 killed or seriously injured road users in the year ending June 2024. Of this, 20% of the fatalities (319) were motorcyclists – despite making up around 1% of the traffic on British roads. Read more…
The MotoGP paddock has always acted as a crucible for the development of parts and systems that, once proven, make their way from the track, through mass production and eventually onto the street.
Spanish brake component manufacturers, and wavy disc pioneers, Galfer are proof of this and have today (May 7) unveiled an all-new disc design called Floatech – the core concept of which remains consistent with those used in international competition.
Following extensive development (and fitment to Ai Ogura’s 2024 world championship winning Moto2 racer) the patented technology within the Floatech disc revolves around how the floating outer track, which is the area that contacts with the pads to create friction, and the fixed inner carrier are fitted together.Key to this is the design of the anchoring system, which includes an innovative retaining pin and washer to connect those elements of the disc assembly. 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...
This map shows the location of Streets Ahead Planned Works in Sheffield.
You can search for a road, postcode or address in the search bar, click on the compass button to find your current location or zoom and pan around the map to find a location. To return to the whole city view use the house button.
Click on the coloured features to show information about the works planned. Read more…
#MOTORCYCLES | Fifteen motorcyclists were spoken to by officers about their speed last week as a dedicated policing operation to keep riders safe continued.
A further ten are being prosecuted for speeding offences after extra targeted patrols were carried out over the bank holiday weekend.
We know that speed is a significant factor in collisions and also has an impact on how quickly riders can react so officers are urging people to ride safely, within the limits and to the conditions.
Last year, 15 riders lost their lives in collisions in Derbyshire – with five dying in two separate collisions on a single day in August.
This operation has been launched to help target dangerous riding and keep people safe as bikers from across the country head to Derbyshire to enjoy the stunning scenery and popular motorcycling routes.
Officers from our Roads Policing Unit and local officers, have been out on the roads speaking with motorcyclists about how to stay safe as well as dealing with any dangerous riders that are seen.
Last weekend, over the bank holiday weekend officers detected a further 13 offences and covered over 700 miles.
So far during the operation, officers have covered over 2,000 miles and spoken to hundreds of bikers across the county.
This weekend officers will be out across the Peak District continuing these patrols and helping to ensure that motorcyclists can enjoy the beauty of the area and then get home safe to their families.
Motorcycle riding brings freedom, speed, and a sense of adventure that few other forms of travel can match. It also comes with a unique set of risks. For beginners, the learning curve is steep, and many of the most dangerous habits develop quietly and without intention. What starts as a small oversight can quickly become a serious hazard on the road.
The good news is that awareness can go a long way. Identifying common mistakes made by new riders gives you the opportunity to build safer habits early and reduce your chances of a crash. Experience is the best teacher, but smart preparation can keep you from learning the hard way. Read more…
Sixty five per cent of car drivers don’t see motorcycles when driving. How do we know this? Because a recent study by IAM Roadsmart asked 1000 car drivers if they’d been tailgated by motorcyclists or surprised by a rider making a close pass and 35% of them replied ‘Yes’.
We also know, as riders that pretty much every single one of us tailgates and makes close passes, so for only 35% of car drivers to see it means that 65% of them don’t even notice us when we are most noticeably affecting their journey. Read more…
It’s been a minute since we last checked up on Grind Hard Plumbing Co., the YouTubers responsible for giving life to all our wildest 2am and caffeine-induced bad ideas. And, you’ll never believe it, but they’re still doing exactly that. This time, however, they’re building something even I wouldn’t get within 10 feet of.
You may recall that Grind Hard’s last big build was something they called a Monster Chopper, as RideApart extensively covered the build. It was a custom tube-frame chassis with the heart of a KTM and the tires basically off a monster truck. The “motorcycle” was a gnarly thing, one that they did all sorts of events with, including a hill climb and riding (partially) to Sturgis for the annual show.
This build, however, puts that to shame.
What’s better than two wheels? Three, apparently. Say hello to the Monster Trike, a diesel-powered three-wheeler with a tractor tire at the front and some seriously terrifying engineering. Don’t believe that statement? During its initial steering test, it snapped in half… Read more…
Adventure & Touring
It’s a beautiful day as my bike effortlessly glides around the bend; suddenly, the rider discovers that the road is tightening up and, being experienced he responds with lightning fast reflexes—closing the throttle and pushing the bike deeper into the lean….
As he lies in the ditch listening to the approaching siren, he’s still trying to figure out what went wrong. Sifting through all of the fancy talk, concepts, and advice, the reality is that each of us are dealing with a brain that has only evolved to travel at four MPH—not at 30, 60, or 100 MPH.
We’re all operating within the perimeters of a brain that, although it’s been evolving over millions of years, still clings to many obsolete behaviors. Within those confines, it’s fear that causes us to brake early, turn the bike too soon, dump the throttle in the middle of the corner, tense up, and keeps us from mastering visual acuity.
Understanding and knowing how to cope with fear is how one advances to the next skill level as a rider. Fear is the reaction our brain manifests in survival mode; the byproduct of which are reactions that are often the opposite of what we need to do when riding a motorcycle, interfering with riding ability, or worse, causing a crash. Read more…
ABS is becoming more accepted, standard and affordable than ever before. Since 2016 ABS became standard on all street bikes in Europe over 125cc.
Simply put, ABS works. Yet there are riders who still think they can out-brake a computer. Even in the dirt our skills are beginning to pale in comparison to ABS. Both BMW and KTM have released adventure bikes with dirt ABS. And Yamaha was so sure of their ability to use ABS in the dirt that the Super Tenere was released with non-switchable ABS. Although many complained about the lack of a switch, I’ve yet to find an owner that’s found the ABS didn’t out perform their braking in most situations.
In the legal community (I’m an expert witness in motorcycle litigations) it’s commonly accepted that experience street riders average about a .7G force stops in maximum situations, whereas independent testing shows most motorcycles their riding have a braking capability of 1G+/-. I’ve seen this confirmed during training I’ve conducted for the federal government, as well as the five plus years I’ve worked with a team of specialized PSSOR instructors to measure the braking distances of experienced riders. In calculating the average deceleration G force, our data indicates that riders commonly range from .5G to about .8G with the majority landing in the .6–.75G range. Read more…
Is this the afterlife?
Did I murder someone, or was I mauled by a pissed-off bear who didn’t appreciate my snoring?
Did my favorite tent just become a body bag?
Those were just a few of the bizarre thoughts racing through my mind as I flipped sides in my Big Agnes Diamond Park sleeping bag on a chilly, pre-dawn Sunday in Canton, Pennsylvania, during the Tour Armenia Mountain Fall ADV Tour.
I was half-asleep when I first felt it: something wet near my knees, then creeping across my chest, my back, and finally reaching my hands. Read more…
History & Custom
Sipping and Swiping I can trace the genesis of this idea back to a particular Whiskey Wednesday in June of 2023. Somehow, Jeff had stumbled upon a small air-cooled diesel engine on Amazon selling for a measly $179.99. Essentially the redneck cousin of Harbor Freight’s Predator 212, the Amazon diesel displaces 196 cc and is rated at 3 hp and (wait for it) 35 Nm [26 lb-ft]. I trust that figure as much as anything else on Amazon, but there was no doubt that we had to get our hands on one of these engines.
It arrived in Amazon Prime fashion just several days later in a ridiculous wooden crate, and we had it billowing black smoke several minutes later with the hokey wing-nut silencer removed. Boys will be boys, I guess. The little diesel is one hell of a buy if you ask us. It starts and runs great, and the build quality is far better than expected for the price of admission. Where things get a little silly is the language barrier. Read more…
Kevin Williams
“The only way to do great work…”
“…is to love what you do.” That’s attributed to Steve Jobs, though I’m sure many people have said something similar. And certainly motorcycle riders frequently report how much they enjoy the sense of freedom when they take to the open road.
There’s actually some solid research-based evidence that enjoyment of riding reduces stress hormones, suggesting a unique blend of arousal and relaxation. Research found that twenty minutes of riding boosts heart rate by 11% and adrenaline by 27%, like light exercise, but uniquely pairs these changes with improved sensory focus when compared to car driving.Read more…
Knowledge, expectations and unknowables Pt 2
Last week we looked at the interplay between what we already know, our expectations based on that knowledge, and the realm of unknowables and how that creates a dynamic framework that guides, yet also limits, our decision-making.
In Part One I talked about a very straightforward example – approaching a traffic signal. But this forward projection happens on a surprising number of levels; at the other end of the spectrum, how do knowledge, expectations and unknowables come into play on a very different scale when we’re planning a trip? Read more…
One similarity is luck, two is coincidence… but FOUR?
When I first got into advanced training in 1997, I had a good search and I found just two other advanced trainers in Kent. One was in Folkestone, if I remember right, and attached to a local basic training school, and the other was on the fringes of SW London and was a franchise from another school based in Aylesbury – again, assuming my memory is right. So, to be honest, there wasn’t a lot of competition.
Nor was there much online at the time. James R Davis had a big site with plenty of motorcycle tips and techniques. It seems to have launched in around 2007 but it seems to have gone offline now. Read more…
When others make mistakes Part 2
The human condition is to make errors. None of us are perfect, and we have to expect others to make mistakes. Since we share the road, we need to anticipate driving errors, but even more importantly, we need to avoid the adverse psychological effects of high-stress events such as confrontations and road rage when drivers around us put us at risk.
Riding while angry triggers the body’s fight‑or‑flight response, elevating heart rate and stress hormones. Anger impairs judgment and promotes deliberate risky behaviours like running red lights, tailgating, dangerous overtaking, aggressive swerves, even brake-checking, substantially raising the likelihood of collisions. One of my video nasty YouTube shorts showed a rider brake-checking a car and getting knocked off by the driver who clearly wasn’t expecting the bike suddenly slow down. That was hardly a well-judged manoeuvre. Read more…
Drivers should look for bikes, but riders can look for cars too
A few days ago, the MCIA called on the Government and Department for Transport to take a fresh look at how other road users are trained in hazard perception, with the goal of making roads safer for all vulnerable users – including motorcyclists. This is all about the most common motorcycle crash of all – a collision with another vehicle, usually a car.
It was all dressed up as concern about the need to portray motorcycling in a positive light, but we should never lose sight of the organisation’s title – the Motorcycle INDUSTRY association. Their job is not to make motorcycling safer, except incidentally as the perception of the activity becoming safer might help their members sell more motorcycles. Read more…
Whiteknights Blood Bikes
Here are our stats for April 2025.
We are increasingly busy collecting pharmacy items for the benefit of patients under the care of hospices. Just one example of the broad range of duties and how we support hospitals and hospices in Yorkshire.
We believe we saved the NHS nearly £14,000 last month because of our voluntary work.
#bloodbike
Whiteknights South Yorkshire were on display at The Moor event today. Thank you for stopping by..,
South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
While we’re on the subject of FOUR – do you reckon you can name the four leading contributory factors in a fatal or serious collision?
By doing these four things, you are dramatically reducing your chances of being seriously injured in a collision.
We can’t control other road users’ decisions, but we can make safe choices ourselves.
✔ Always wear a seatbelt
✔ Always drive at an appropriate speed and stick to the speed limit
✔ Put your mobile phone away while driving – avoid distractions
✔ Never drive or ride under the influence of drink or drugs
Four ways to make yourself and your loved ones safer.
#fatal4 #barnsley #doncaster #sheffield #rotherham See less
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? 
New research by IAM RoadSmart reveals that one third of bikers have experienced the shocking behaviour in the past 12 months, including being doused in windscreen wash
Eight in ten report that drivers fail to look out for bikers when pulling out of junctions
Motorcyclists are one of the most vulnerable of all road users and are 52 times more likely to be killed in a road traffic accident than car occupants
Drivers are chucking litter and cigarette butts out of their windows as motorcyclists overtake their vehicles, according to new research. One third (37%) of bikers reported the shocking behaviour to road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which surveyed 600 of its motorcycle members on their experiences over the past 12 months.[i]
Motorcyclists told the charity some drivers are deliberately spraying windscreen wash when they are behind them, as well as cutting them up and preventing them from filtering through traffic. Filtering through slow moving traffic is legal if it is done safely and with due care and attention. Eight in ten (80%) motorcyclists also reported seeing drivers being distracted by mobile phones, and 80 percent said drivers failed to look out for bikers when pulling out of junctions. 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…
Drivers are chucking litter and cigarette butts out of their windows as motorcyclists overtake their vehicles, according to new research. One third (37%) of riders reported the shocking behaviour to road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which surveyed 600 of its motorcycle members on their experiences over the past 12 months.
Motorcyclists told the charity some drivers are deliberately spraying windscreen wash when they are behind them, as well as cutting them up and preventing them from filtering through traffic. Filtering through slow moving traffic is legal if it is done safely and with due care and attention. Eight in ten (80%) motorcyclists also reported seeing drivers being distracted by mobile phones, and 80 percent said drivers failed to look out for bikers when pulling out of junctions. Read more…
FEMA
For several years, the FFMC – a member of FEMA – has been sharing its expertise in training and protective equipment at the French and European levels. This in-depth work has generated interest in road safety in France, as well as among Korean authorities, eager to improve motorcyclist safety in their country.
At the FFMC headquarters in Montreuil, a unique partnership was signed between the French motorcyclists’ organisation FFMC and the South-Korean Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA). This memorandum of understanding marks a milestone in international cooperation for the prevention of powered two-wheeler risks.
While in France, 125cc training for B licence holders remains at seven hours, Korea has chosen to go further. Following discussions initiated with the FFMC, it has set up a complete 16-hour motorcycle school driving course, accompanied by the provision of a HJC helmet – a local brand – and a 3% discount on their insurance. This is a proactive policy, financed by the Korean government, which considers these investments as an effective lever for reducing accidents, a true inter-ministerial effort between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Health and Welfare! Read more…
Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users and yet road infrastructure across Europe and beyond is often designed with cars in mind. While protective gear and riding skills play a role in rider safety, there’s a critical element that often gets overlooked: the roads themselves.
If we are serious about reducing motorcycle accidents and fatalities, we need to stop treating riders as an afterthought in infrastructure planning. Instead, let’s prioritize them with smart, safety-driven changes. Here’s how we can start: Read more…
Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)
As the Government shapes its Integrated National Transport Strategy (INTS), MAG is leading the charge to prove that mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles are vital. They are a practical, sustainable transport future. With congestion clogging Britain’s roads and emissions targets looming, this is the moment for riders to ride loud and proud.
MAG’s vision – submitted to the INTS call for ideas – highlights how motorcycling slashes traffic. Motorcycles cut emissions and give people real travel choice: urban and rural alike. On 10 June, riders will turn that vision into action, demonstrating how two wheels ease gridlock, from London’s rush hour to Cornwall’s winding lanes.
“This isn’t just a day—it’s a movement,” says Colin Brown, MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement. “We’ve told the Government what motorcycling can do; now we’ll show them.” 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… 
The 2025 National Young Rider Day will take place on Wednesday 11th June, with a focus on young motorcyclists.
Founded by the National Young Rider Forum (NYRF) just two years ago, and aims to celebrate the access of young people to powered two-wheelers (PTWs), and help them to stay safe on the road. As a member of the NYRF, and as one of the leading motorcycle rider organisations in the UK, the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) strongly supports National Rider Day with its focus on the safety and development of young riders. Read more…
TrailVidz is a new online platform aiming to make Britain’s network of green lanes easier to access legally. Using videos and still pictures it should give riders a good idea of what to expect, especially if they are newcomers to trail riding.
It’s the brainchild of Dan Maurice, who was inspired to set the platform up after looking for legal green lanes himself. “Really, there wasn’t anything out there to answer the questions,” he told MCN. “Where are the trails, what do they look like and can I ride them…I thought I should come up with a solution, and it’s since become a passion project that’s gone out of control.” He added that TrailVidz is intended to be complementary to membership of the Trail Riders Fellowship. (TRF) Read more…
The EU has responded to Donald Trump’s unilateral imposition of tariffs with an extra 50% import duty on American-made motorcycles over 500cc. In an announcement made before Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ global tariff barrier was unveiled, the EU was responding to his earlier imposition of 25% tariffs on EU and UK steel, aluminium and derivatives.
A rate of up to 50% will be applied to a wide range of imports from the US, with the top rate hitting Harley-Davidson and Indian, but not electric bike maker Zero. A second phase of tariffs, to include smaller bikes and electrics, may follow, but it’s highly likely that the Trump administration will retaliate in turn, imposing tariffs on European bikes, leading to just the sort of trade war from which no one benefits. Read more…
New Rider Hub
What is Ridefree?
Ridefree is an award-winning enhancement to compulsory basic training (CBT), consisting of pre-course eLearning modules. Its aim is to help you prepare for your CBT and riding on the road.
How can it help me?
CBT should be an enjoyable experience. But there’s a lot to learn, and it’s normal to feel anxious about your first bike ride. The good news is that Ridefree will help you become a better and more confident rider…Read more.
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…
